Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Chinese folk art exhibition opens in Sarajevo Xinhua) 08:53, April 21, 2025 A girl looks at postcards made by Chinese farmer-artists at a Chinese folk art exhibition in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Xiaosheng) A Chinese folk art exhibition held in Sarajevo showcased nearly 60 paintings and paper cuttings by farmer-artists, and faculty and students from Northwest Normal University. SARAJEVO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese folk art exhibition titled "Chinese Intangible Heritage, Shared by the World", opened Saturday in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The exhibition, jointly organized by Northwest Normal University and the University of Sarajevo, showcased nearly 60 pieces of traditional Chinese art, including paintings and paper cuttings created by Chinese farmer-artists, as well as faculty and students from Northwest Normal University. The event is held in celebration of the upcoming United Nations Chinese Language Day and will run until April 23. People view artwork at a Chinese folk art exhibition in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Xiaosheng) Zhang Xuezhong, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sarajevo, said the exhibition coincides with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and BiH, and the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute, co-founded by the two universities. He expressed hope that cultural exchanges would further strengthen the bonds between the two peoples. Dusanka Boskovic, vice-rector of the University of Sarajevo, said that these Chinese folk artworks - often made by farmers - celebrate life and joy, and would be warmly received by local visitors. People view artwork at a Chinese folk art exhibition in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Xiaosheng) Zhang Guorong, a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts at Northwest Normal University, emphasized that artistic exchange serves as a bridge between cultures. In addition to the exhibition, academic lectures and hands-on workshops on Chinese folk art will be held at various local institutions. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A Huntsville man was one of eight people recently charged in connection with an international scheme to bill $10 million in fraudulent market survey data, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. Each of the following individuals has been indicted on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud: Frank Hayden, 57, of Evanston, Illinois. Daniel Harriman, 38, of Huntsville. Frank Nappo, 55, of Rye, New Hampshire. Ryan Stoudt, 38, of Dallas, Texas. Katarina Grubljesic, 46, of Belgrade, Serbia. Strahinja Grubljesic, 38, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Archie Ignacio, 46, of Verona, New Jersey. Arvind Iyer, a/k/a S. Aravindan, of Delhi, India. In 2014, Hayden, Harriman, and Nappo, who were senior leaders at U.S. market research company Op4G, decided to increase company revenues by generating fabricated survey data, according to the recently unsealed indictment. To execute the scheme, some of the defendants recruited ants, who pretended to be legitimate survey takers but instead were paid a nominal fee for completing surveys that produced fraudulent market research data. Some of the defendants themselves served as ants and fraudulently took large quantities of surveys and received significant payment for their ant work, according to the indictment. Around 2018, Nappo, Hayden and others, decided that Op4G should move the fraudulent survey operation to a new company, which became Slice. By 2019, Op4G and Slice began conspiring with Iyer, a senior leader at an international company, SNWare. By 2021, Katarina Grublijesic left Op4G, but she continued to conspire with the defendants using her international company, Bright Analytic Consulting. To evade detection, the defendants, including Stoudt and Ignacio, exchanged instructions with each other and the ants, the indictment says. These instructions included directions on how to answer survey screener questions, provided parameters on how long ants should remain on surveys, and encouraged the use of virtual private network (VPN) services to conceal real IP addresses. Hayden, Harriman, Nappo, Stoudt, and Ignacio will appear in federal court at a later date, according to McCormacks announcement. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Companies that purchased survey data from Op4G or Slice between 2014-2024 have been encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorneys office at usanh.webmail@usdoj.gov with the subject line Slice, the release says. The details contained in the indictment are allegations, it adds. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Huntsville-area real estate agent Ronald "Ronnie" Dumas Jr. has been missing since Sunday, Dec. 15. via Facebook After four months of seeking answers, the family of abducted Huntsville realtor Ronald Leslie Dumas Jr. are pleading with the public to share any information they might have. What we want is a resolution to this case, said Dumas father, Ronald Dumas Sr., at a press conference hosted Monday by the Alabama NAACP. We want Ronald found safe and sound. We want the people that abducted him to be caught and prosecuted. This is absurd, he said. FOX13 reported earlier this month that two people who were arrested in the case face multiple charges and also have a history of being accused of kidnapping. Quintarius Shikelion White, 32, and Kierra Symone Clark, 27, both of Memphis, are currently in the Shelby County, Tenn. jail. Three other people were arrested as accessories after the fact - harboring: Dedrick Woodard, 26; Cassy Feathers, 43, and Jasmine Braden, 28. White had warrants issued charging him with especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, robbery, trafficking for a commercial sex act, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault- acting in concert. Clark had warrants charging her with aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated kidnapping, trafficking for a commercial sex act, assault- bodily harm, aggravated burglary and aggravated assault acting in concert. White and Clark were among five people wanted since February in connection with the December 2024 disappearance of Dumas. According to FOX 13, White was charged nearly two years ago with multiple counts of kidnapping, multiple counts of trafficking for a commercial sex act, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Clark also was charged that year with multiple counts of kidnapping, several counts of trafficking for commercial sex acts, aggravated assault, assault, and aggravated burglary. Both were out on bond. Dumas was last seen on surveillance footage entering a liquor store with two women on Dec. 15. He left the store with them, appearing unharmed. Dumas car was found on Interstate 40 in Camden, Tenn., on Dec. 16. His phone was also tracked heading south from Memphis on Dec. 21. He was placed on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Missing Persons List as a missing adult on Dec. 23. One truth remains, Talia Berryhill, mother to all but one of Dumas children, said at Mondays press conference. Someone knows something. We are asking you to please say something. Not one detail is too small. Please help bring him home to his children who ask for him every day, she continued. In February, Huntsville police said investigators had obtained critical new evidence indicating that [Dumas] was abducted. At that time, police issued five warrants in connection with the case, which included White and Clark. Others still being sought are: Toure Laron McLaurin, 33, of Memphis, wanted for first degree kidnapping. Sabrina Rochelle Chambers, 27, of Huntsville, wanted for first degree kidnapping. Carissa Cash, 33, of Memphis, wanted for first degree receiving stolen property. Huntsville police are asking that anyone who recognizes or encounters these people to report their whereabouts immediately to local law enforcement. Anyone with information may contact Investigator Gregory Hayden at (256) 427-5485 or provide an anonymous tip by calling (256) 532-7463. Mr. Dumas is a father, a son, brother, nephew, and friend, Alabama NAACP Legal Redress Chair, Joyce Marie said Monday. His disappearance has been heart wrenching to his family, friends, coworkers, church members and concerned citizens following this story. Alabama NAACP would like to bring attention to his disappearance in the hopes that anyone listening to or viewing this press conference has any information to provide to the police you will speak up, she continued. Help bring comfort to the Dumas family. A California man was arrested April 18, 2025, at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport after more than 10 kilos of marijuana were found in his possession. (Birmingham Police) A California man is jailed in Alabama after police said he was found with 24 pounds of marijuana stashed in a suitcase at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Birmingham Police Departments vice and narcotics detectives on Friday arrested 22-year-old Christian Machado on Friday. He is from Fresno. Details surrounding the arrest have not been released. The suspect had more than 10 kilos of packaged marijuana in a roller suitcase. The load has a street value of $163,860, according to Birmingham police. Machado is charged with trafficking marijuana. He remains held in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $500,000. Machado is set to make his first court appearance on Tuesday. Alabama-based EWTN, the worlds largest Catholic TV network, has jumped into full coverage of the death of the pope, the expected nine days of mourning and the coming conclave to pick a new pope by next month. The EWTN Global Catholic Network, founded in Irondale in 1981 by Mother Angelica, released a statement mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 years old at 7:35 a.m. Rome time on Monday, April 21, 2025. The network immediately turned its programming to a lineup honoring the life of Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, including Masses, rosaries, and devotions. All events from St. Peters Square and the Vatican, as well as the Holy Fathers funeral Mass will be carried in real time on EWTNs television channels, live on YouTube, and through its on-demand app and digital platforms, the network said. The death of Pope Francis is a moment of personal grief for Catholics around the world, said EWTN CEO Michael P. Warsaw. Together with our entire EWTN Family, I mourn his passing and join the Church in prayers for the repose of his soul. Warsaw reflected on his personal meetings with Pope Francis. I was privileged to be able to meet Pope Francis a number of times throughout the years and was always struck by his kindness and good humor in our encounters, Warsaw said. As Catholics, we thank God for the life and pontificate of Pope Francis, and in particular for his tireless advocacy for those on the peripheries. EWTN will recap the popes life and ministry in its coverage. As part of our service to the Church in this moment, EWTN will air programming to honor Pope Franciss life and legacy as well as coverage of the many devotions and Masses from the Vatican, including the Holy Fathers funeral Mass, Warsaw said. We invite our global audience to join us in this period of mourning. May God have mercy on His servant and grant him eternal rest. EWTN already had a spotlight on the Vatican during Holy Week and Easter. The pope died within 24 hours of celebrating Easter publicly at St. Peters Square, including a ride in the popemobile amidst thousands of pilgrims. Pope Francis wrestled publicly with his declining health over the past several months and emphasized the value of the elderly and infirm with his personal witness, said EWTN News President Montse Alvarado. His legacy will include many firsts for the papacy: the first from Latin America, the first Jesuit. Most significantly, he bridged the gap between old and new forms of communication. He was our first digital pope. EWTN has a bureau in Rome. This will be an international effort by EWTN over the coming weeks, said EWTN Vice President of Programming and Production Peter Gagnon. We will be on the ground in Rome covering the Masses, lying in state, and the funeral, and EWTN will offer specials about Pope Francis and the papacy. Later, EWTN will transition to prayer for the future of the Church as we provide coverage of the conclave and the Papal inauguration. Coverage will be available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, German, Hungarian, and Polish from EWTNs studios in the Vatican and affiliates worldwide. For details on EWTNs coverage, resources on what happens when a Pope dies, and continuous updates on programming, go to https://ewtn.com/interregnum or visit EWTN on Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/everywhere. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP Bishop Steven J. Raica, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, released a statement today mourning the death of Pope Francis. It is with profound sorrow and deep reverence that the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama joins the universal Church in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Raica said. Pope Francis died early Monday morning. He was 88. His departure from this world leaves a deep void in our hearts, yet we remain uplifted by the enduring witness of his life, his faith, and his tireless devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Raica wrote. Pope Francis brought to the Church a unique and courageous visionone rooted in humility, mercy, and a missionary spirit. From the very beginning of his papacy, he called the Church to look outward, not inward. He often reminded us that the Church must not be self-referential, but rather a Church that goes fortha Church always on mission. Pope Francis, from Argentina, was elected in March 2013. His words and actions consistently reflected a love for those who live in the periphery of society and are often overlooked, Raica said. He had a large heart for the poor and a longing that every soul might encounter the transformative love of Christ. In Gods mysterious providence, Pope Francis passed into eternal life on Easter Monday, within the Octave of Eastera week steeped in the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Victor over death. That he would be called home during this sacred time is a moving testament to the hope he so often proclaimed: that life does not end in death but is changed. In the Resurrection, Pope Francis found the courage to lead with joy, even in suffering. And now, we entrust him to the same Risen Lord, in Whom he placed his every hope. As we pray for the repose of his soul, we also give thanks to God for the gift of his papacy. May his legacy inspire us to live with compassion, to seek justice, and to go forth in loveever on mission for Christ. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP World leaders reacted to the news Monday that Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, died Monday at the age of 88. Francis entered Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia and, at 38 days, became the longest hospitalization of his papacy. Part of his right lung was removed in the late 1950s after a bout of pneumonia, and he suffered from chronic lung disease. He emerged on Easter Sunday his last public appearance, a day before his death to bless thousands of people in St. Peters Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. The death now sets off a weekslong process of allowing the faithful to pay their final respects, first for Vatican officials in the Santa Marta chapel and then in St. Peters for the general public, followed by a funeral and a conclave to elect a new pope. World leaders reacted to the news on social media. Francis last official meeting was with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday, just one day before his passing. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025 In a post on X, Vance wrote: I just leaned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. The White Houses official X account posted two photos of the pope, one with President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, and the other with Vance, alongside a caption that read: Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/8CGwKaNnTh The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 21, 2025 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on her official Facebook account that read: Pope Francis has returned to the Fathers house. A news that pains us deeply, because a great man and a great pastor leaves us. I have had the privilege to enjoy his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never diminished even in times of trial and suffering. From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite people with one another and with nature. May this hope be reborn endlessly beyond him. To all Catholics, to a grieving world, my wife and I send our thoughts. pic.twitter.com/UTmNxC1r4V Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 21, 2025 French President Emmanual Macron, in a post on X, wrote: From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. May it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him. My wife and I send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving world. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on X: Pope Francis was in every way a man of the people. The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them. With his sober way of life, acts of service and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many Dick Schoof (@MinPres) April 21, 2025 Pope Francis was in every way a man of the people. The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them. With his sober way of life, acts of service and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many Catholics and non-Catholics alike. We remember him with great respect." The Kings message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025 The U.K.s King Charles issued a statement from the Royal Family, saying that he and the Queen will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ and that the late Pope would be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell, second from left, flanked by, from left, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Substitute for the Secretariat of State, Cardinal Edgar PeOa Parra, and Vatican Master of Ceremonies, Archbisop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, announces the death of Pope Francis at the Vatican. Vatican Media via AP The death of a pope starts a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths by the cardinals electing a successor, the piercing of ballots with a needle and thread after theyre counted, and then burning them to produce either the white or black smoke to signal if theres a new leader for the worlds 1.3 billion Catholics. The election itself is shrouded in secrecy, with cardinals forbidden from communicating with the outside world what happened during the voting in the conclave behind the frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel. St. John Paul II rewrote the regulations on papal elections in a 1996 document that remains largely in force, though Pope Benedict XVI amended it twice before he resigned. Here is what happens when a pope dies, a period known as the sede vacante, or the vacant See. Whos in charge? If the pope has died, the camerlengo, or chamberlain, must certify the death and seal the papal apartment. He runs administrative and financial duties of the Holy See until a new pope takes over. The largely ceremonial job of camerlengo is currently held by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born American head of the Vaticans laity office. Nearly all prefects of Vatican offices lose their jobs when a pope dies, but a few stay on, including the foreign minister and the master of liturgical ceremonies, who plays a key role in assembling the conclave. The dean of the College of Cardinals summons the cardinals for the funeral, presiding at the Mass before the conclave begins. That position is currently held by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the retired head of the Vaticans office for bishops. In November 2024, Francis reformed the rites to be used for his funeral, simplifying them to emphasize his role as a mere bishop and allowing for burial outside the Vatican. Francis has chosen to be buried in St. Mary Major Basilica, where his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, the Salus Populi Romani, is located. Whats the timing? The death of a pope begins a precise sequence of events that include the confirmation of death in the pontiffs home, the transfer of the coffin to St. Peters Basilica for public viewing, a funeral Mass and burial. Interment must take place between the fourth and sixth day after his death. After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, known as the novendiali. During this period, the cardinals arrive in Rome. To give everyone time to assemble, the conclave must begin 15-20 days after the sede vacante is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree. Who can elect a pope? Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible, and current regulations limit the number of electors to 120. According to the most recently updated Vatican statistics, there were 136 cardinals under age 80 and eligible to vote, though that number may change before the conclave begins. Those over 80 cant vote but can participate in pre-conclave meetings, known as general congregations, in which church problems are discussed. It was in these meetings in 2013 that then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio spoke about the need for the church to go to the existential peripheries to find those who suffer an off-the-cuff speech that helped his election. Who are possible candidates? Any baptized Roman Catholic male is eligible to be pope, but since 1378, only cardinals have been selected. Some current leading candidates: Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, 70, Francis secretary of state and a veteran Vatican diplomat. Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada, 80, head of the Vaticans bishops office from 2010 to 2023. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Austria, 80, a student of Pope Benedict XVI, and thus ostensibly having appeal for conservatives. Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines, 67, brought by Francis to head the Vaticans massive missionary office. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Italy, 69, a Francis protege who headed the Italian bishops conference. How are the votes taken? A first ballot is held in the Sistine Chapel on the afternoon after the initial Mass. If no pope is elected, over the ensuing days two ballots are held each morning and two each afternoon. The ballots are rectangular pieces of paper with the words: Eligo in Summum Pontificem (I elect as supreme pontiff) written on top, with a space for a name. Each cardinal makes his choice, folds the paper in half, walks to the front of the chapel and declares: I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected. He then puts the ballot on a tray and tips it into a receptacle. Three designated cardinals, known as scrutineers, check each ballot to see if it is filled out correctly. Each name is read aloud and counted, with the results announced to the conclave after each round. If no one gets the needed two-thirds of votes, the ballots are pierced with a needle and thread, which is then knotted and placed on a tray, and another round of voting is prepared. Benedict modified some of John Pauls 1996 conclave rules, most notably excluding his vision that a pope could be elected by a simple majority if voting was stalemated. Benedict decreed that a two-thirds majority is always needed, no matter how long it takes. He did so to prevent cardinals from holding out for the 12 days foreseen by John Paul and then pushing through a candidate with a slim majority. What about secrecy? Benedict also tightened the oath of secrecy in the conclave, making clear that anyone who reveals what went on inside faces automatic excommunication. In John Pauls rules, excommunication was always a possibility, but Benedict revised the oath that liturgical assistants and secretaries take to make it explicit, saying they must observe absolute and perpetual secrecy and explicitly refrain from using any audio or video recording devices. They now declare: I take this oath fully aware that an infraction thereof will incur the penalty of automatic excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See. So help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand. Cardinals also are bound by secrecy, although the threat of excommunication only hangs over them explicitly if they are found to have accepted payment for their vote, allowed secular powers to influence it, or entered into pacts with other cardinals to back a candidate. Do we have a pope? After the ballots are pierced, they are burned in a cylindrical stove at the end of the voting session. Black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney means no decision; white smoke signals the cardinals have chosen a pope and that he has accepted. Chemical cartridges are added to ensure there is no confusion over the color. To produce black smoke, a cartridge containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene the component of coal tar and sulfur is burned with the ballots. For white smoke, a cartridge of potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin is burned with the ballots. Bells also are rung to signal the election of a pope for further clarity. The new pope is introduced from the loggia overlooking St. Peters Square with the words, Habemus Papam! (We have a pope!) and his chosen papal name. The new pope then emerges and gives his first blessing. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP President Donald Trump signed an executive order today that flags be flown at half staff to honor Pope Francis. He was a good man, Trump said. He worked hard; he loved the world. And its an honor to do that. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey joined in. In accordance with the Presidential proclamation, Gov. Kay Ivey has authorized flags be flown at half-staff effective immediately on the grounds of the Alabama State Capitol Complex in Montgomery and throughout the state of Alabama until the day of interment of Pope Francis, who died early on Monday morning at 88. Born in Argentina of Italian immigrant parents, Pope Francis was the first head of the Catholic Church from the Americas, Ivey said. He left a legacy of love and compassion for all. The flags on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex and throughout the state of Alabama may be flown at half-staff from today until sunset on the day of interment of Pope Francis. The Vatican observes nine days of mourning for the pope, and a conclave of the College of Cardinals takes place in 15 to 20 days to choose a new pope. Ann Coulter attends The Hollywood Reporter's annual Most Powerful People in Media issue celebration at The Pool on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Conservative pundit Ann Coulter appeared to link Vice President JD Vances Easter Sunday visit to the Vatican with the death of Pope Francis. Good work, JD, Coulter posted on X Monday. The 88-year-old pontiff, largely viewed as more liberal than his predecessors, died Monday morning. Hed been hospitalized in poor health with pneumonia and bronchitis weeks before his meeting with Vance. The Vatican said the popes cause of death was irreversible heart failure following a cerebral stroke. See also: Marjorie Taylor Greene says evil is being defeated after death of Pope Francis The Vice President said hed received news of the Popes death and was grieving along with Catholics worldwide. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill, Vance said Monday. Vance was raised a Christian and converted to Catholicism in 2019. Hes credited his faith for shaping his worldview. Coulter has been largely critical of the Argentinian pope, whom she accused in 2015 of holding antiquated opinions. THIS Popes philosophy of worshiping the poor, blaming the rich leads to Latin American poverty, she posted on social media. American Catholicism leads to success. Coulter joked in her 2007 book If Democrats Had Any Brains, Theyd Be Republicans that shes a Christian first and a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative second, according to an excerpt on Goodreads.com. She wasnt alone in connecting Vances visit to Pope Franciss death on social media. Jack Schlossberg, the outspoken grandson of Catholic President John F. Kennedy, praised Francis for making the church more DIVERSE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE in an Instagram post claiming JD killed the Pope. 2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. With less than three weeks left to get their STAR IDs, many Alabamians may be wondering what they need to fly without it. Starting on May 7, only state-issued drivers licenses and identification cards that meet the security requirements established by the 2005 REAL ID Act will be allowed for official purposes, including boarding commercial aircraft, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Without their REAL ID, travelers will have to bring an Enhanced ID or passport in order to board any flight in the U.S. According to the TSA website, all of the following are acceptable alternatives to a REAL ID for domestic travel: U.S. passport U.S. passport card DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents Permanent resident card Border crossing card An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs). HSPD-12 PIV card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial drivers license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) STAR which stands for Secure, Trusted, Reliable is part of the Real ID Act, which modifies federal laws dealing with security, authentication and issuance procedure standards for state driver licenses and identification cards. Alabama STAR IDs will look like traditional driver licenses except with a gold star in the upper left corners. Tara Corse, TSA federal security director for Alabama, said anyone who doesnt have their REAL ID might need to expect delays for additional screening and identity verification. Screeners will first ask travelers for a passport or other forms of identification, Corse told AL.coms John Roby. A Department of Defense ID along with another government-issued ID would likely be accepted, she said. The requirement also does not apply to children under 18. Those without a passport or valid secondary ID will undergo enhanced screening, Corse said. That applies as well to travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck. Enhanced screening is much more involved: Swabbing individuals, secondary pat-downs if you have TSA PreCheck, you will not be going through PreCheck, youre going to be going through standard line screening along with additional actions on top of that, Corse said. Finally, travelers who do not pass additional screening, will be flatly denied and routed back to the airline for rebooking, she said. Residents can apply for STAR IDs at ALEA Driver License examining offices. You can see a list of those here. Applicants must present four documents to verify identity/date of birth, Social Security number and address of principal residence. Among the accepted documents are a valid, unexpired U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate or a certificate of naturalization. Other documents will be needed to verify Social Security number and address. You can see a complete list of accepted documents here. More info on STAR ID can be found here. An estimated 250,000 Catholics in Alabama lost their spiritual leader early Monday with the death of Pope Francis. AL.com reported that Archbishop Thomas Rodi of Mobile called the pontiff, a man of humility and compassion in a statement released after his death was announced by the Vatican. [Francis] was a remarkable leader who devoted his life to service of God and neighbor, Rodis statement read in part. He was constant in urging the nations of the world to strive for peace. Although not one of the states largest denominations, Catholic congregations in Alabama are estimated to number more than 150, with sizeable concentrations of the faithful in most of the states large cities, according to the best available data on religious membership by geography. Data on religious affiliation is less widely available than, for instance, Census data. [Cant see the map? Click here.] The U.S. Census Bureau is prohibited by law from asking questions about religious affiliation in its decennial census. But once per decade since 1952, the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies has conducted the U.S. Religion Census. Formal congregations are surveyed every 10 years, according to the organization, and religious communities without a national headquarters are contacted directly. Researchers request and report data including congregational counts, attendance and membership all on a county level. Rodis archdiocese is centered in the largest concentration of Catholics in Alabama. The 2020 survey counted 162 Catholic congregations in Alabama and estimated church membership in the state at 249,650. Data from the Pew Research Center estimates about 73% of Alabama adults identify as Christians, meaning Catholics made up about 6.8% of Alabamians in 2020. Catholics were counted in all but nine counties in the 2020 survey, with the largest counties for Catholic affiliation being Baldwin, at 13.6%, and Mobile, at 10.7%. Those are the only two counties that top 10%, though the Huntsville and Birmingham metro areas are also home to sizable Catholic populations, according to the data. A Birmingham-based non-profit is currently working to acquire the citys historic Powell Avenue Steam Plant to create what one board member calls an inspiration and innovation center for the disabled community. KultureCity is currently in talks to acquire the property which was once Birminghams source for electrical power. Founded in 2013, KultureCity provides several services to assist those with sensory processing disorders. The project would be in keeping with the organizations identity as a nonprofit with the disruptor character of a startup. Attempts to reach the organization for comment were not immediately successful. Actress Ming-Na Wen, a KultureCity board member, revealed in an Instagram post Sunday that she met with fellow board members - actress Jae Suh Park, UAB professor and KultureCity co-founder Dr. Michelle Kong, and actor and comedian Ken Jeong - to talk about the project. In her post, she wrote: Now the hard work begins. The VISION? Transforming this massive depilated, abandoned, historical plant into the worlds first center that will provide inspiration, information and innovation for both the disability community and the community at large. It will be home to a museum to showcase & inspire those whove achieved in spite of their disabilities, a research facility, a place to offer counsel, info and sensory accessibility. BIG BIG GOALS! She also shared artist conceptions of the property. Wen said she joined the board because of its work with autism, dementia, Parkinsons, PTSD and other disabilities. In my family, we have several members with autism, dementia, and Parkinsons, she wrote. Our son has RP, (retinitis pigmentosa). In fact, 1 in 4 individuals have sensory need or an invisible disability. So most of us are the people this org wants to help. The Powell Avenue Steam Plant, which once provided electricity for downtown and powered the city streetcar system, was listed in January for sale with an asking price of $10 million. Situated at 1830 Powell Ave. S., the plant is listed with Shannon Waltchack, with Len Shannon and Derek Waltchack as brokers. The 80,105 square foot structure, situated in the heart of downtown, was built in 1895 by the Consolidated Electric Light & Power Co. In December, Alabama Power announced it was withdrawing from the planned redevelopment of the plant, which came after another plan of the companys own devising stalled. In a statement, Alabama Power said that it has determined that the future of Powell Avenue should be led by a team with more expertise in commercial development. The decision came after much consideration and more than a decade of hard work. The plant was acquired by Alabama Power in 1952 and was added in 2015 to the National Register of Historic Places. Alabama Power and Orchestra Partners, a Birmingham-area real estate development group, announced a plan back in February 2022 to redevelop the steam plant as part of a general project for Parkside. Alamo Drafthouse would have been the anchor tenant for the redevelopment project, along with retail and dining. It would have been the movie chains first location in the Deep South. But Alamo withdrew from the project. The Alamo Drafthouse redevelopment was the third incarnation of a plan to redevelop the property. Orchestra Partners first unveiled a redevelopment in 2019, and before that, Alabama Power announced its own. In his quest to end diversity, equity and inclusion, President Donald Trump has killed plans to address raw sewage running into yards in Alabamas Black Belt. Its not DEI, its just common decency, said Stephanie Wallace, a longtime Lowndes County resident. It shouldnt be a black or white issue, it should be a human issue. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice terminated a settlement agreement that required the Alabama Department of Public Health to address problems with inadequate sanitation in Lowndes County. Todays closure is another step this administration has taken to eradicate illegal DEI preferences and environmental justice across the government and in the private sector, Trumps Justice Department stated in a news release. But some advocates say that framing the issue around DEI is dismissive of what residents are experiencing in one of the poorest regions in the nation. Wallace, a project manager with the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice, said Trumps reasoning was confounding. I was shocked when I heard, like what in the world? Wallace said. I dont get why Trump connected this to DEI. Wallace told AL.com that both Black and white residents of Lowndes County have issues with improper sanitation. The largely rural county is a little more than 72% Black, and almost 26% white, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Lowndes is one of more than a dozen counties in Alabamas Black Belt, named for the dense, dark clay soil in the area that is good for agriculture. But that same soil makes it difficult for septic systems to function, and Lowndes County is so rural that traditional sewage systems typically arent feasible. As a result, some residents have resorted to straight piping sewage into the ground. This practice can lead to sewage in yards, where children and pets play. The sewage can then make its way back into the house, Wallace said. While some residents may have septic systems, the sewage backs up into their home or overflows into their yard, Wallace said. Exposure to raw sewage can lead to health problems: one 2017 study from Baylor University showed genetic evidence of hookworm in 34% of people living in Lowndes County. Despite the settlement ending, Alabamas health department said it will not resume issuing criminal penalties and fines to people in Lowndes County for having inadequate sanitation. The department told AL.com earlier this month that it will continue to assist in installing septic systems under the terms of the settlement until money that has already been dedicated toward the project runs out. Catherine Coleman Flowers, Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Former EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Former White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu and homeowner Aquella Grant hold a press conference near a "straight pipe" sewage disposal area near Grant's mobile home. After President Joe Biden's administration took several steps to address raw sewage overflows in the Black Belt, last week President Donald Trump's Department of Justice ended a settlement that would address the issue. Dennis Pillion Catherine Coleman Flowers, a Lowndes County native who founded the nonprofit Wallace works for, said she wasnt surprised that the new Trump administration ended the agreement, but she was surprised by the characterization as DEI. She said the characterization dismisses the need for the agreement, not just in Lowndes County but across the U.S. I would really like to invite those people that have come to that conclusion to visit not only Lowndes County, but those other areas of rural America that are dealing with the same problem, Flowers said. I think that its easy to dismiss it in terms that are divisive when one has not seen it. But if they can go and see it, I think that their view, their humanity, would cause them to take a different view. Under President Joe Biden, the federal government took several steps toward addressing the problem, framing the issue as one of civil rights. In 2021, Bidens Justice Department began investigating the health department for potential civil rights violations related to inadequate sewage in the county, leading to the 2023 settlement , the first-ever environmental justice settlement under U.S. civil rights law. Also in 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency opened a civil rights investigation against the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, following a complaint from Flowers in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Flowers and her partners argued that the departments implementation of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund discriminates against Black Belt residents. The fund is more than $1 billion in federal money for water and wastewater improvements. ADEMs point system for allocating that money makes it nearly impossible for Black Belt counties to receive the funds, they argue. ADEM disputes those allegations, telling AL.com the Black Belt receives funding at three times the rate other areas in the state receive. That investigation remains pending, Flowers told AL.com last week, adding that she has not received any news recently. Flowers argues that sanitation is a human right. The United Nations recognizes access to water and sanitation as a human right. The soil does not discriminate, Flowers said. The sea level, the rising water tables, they dont discriminate. They dont care which political party youre in. We have to deal with the reality that Mother Nature has a voice, and we need to work in conjunction to make sure that the American public, whether theyre in rural communities or more affluent communities, are protected. And they have access to working and sustainable sanitation. Chick-fil-A is opening its newest location in Northport this week. The restaurant, at 6275 McFarland Blvd., will begin serving Thursday, offering dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, delivery, catering and mobile app service. The eatery also features a childrens playground. The opening will create about 90 jobs. The new restaurant will be open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ashley Gill to be the local owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Northport West, marking her second restaurant in the area, joining Chick-Fil-A Northport. Gill is celebrating her 20th year with the company and is a third-generation owner-operator, following her father and grandfather. Her brother also owns and operates a Chick-fil-A in Jacksonville. Chick-fil-A has been a meaningful part of my life and my familys story, Gill said. Im thankful for this opportunity because it allows us to enhance the dining experience for guests and create new opportunities for team members. I cant wait to cultivate new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Chick-fil-A is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the U.S., with more than 200,000 employees in more than 3,000 restaurants across North America. Alabama has more than 100 locations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP A leading House Republican on Monday suggested Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should no longer be in charge of the Pentagon as the White House slammed a report that it is vetting potential successors as fake news. Im not going to tell the White House how to manage this but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldnt tolerate it if I was in charge" Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who chairs the House Armed Services Committees Cyber, Information Technologies and Innovation Subcommittee, told Politicos Rachel Bade. Hegseth, who faced scrutiny last month after it was revealed he divulged Yemen attack plans in a private group chat that included a magazine reporter, is now embroiled in a similar scandal involving his brother, wife and personal attorney. Hes acting like hes above the law and that shows an amateur person," Bacon said. Earlier Monday, both President Donald Trump and Karoline Leavitt said Hegseth has the White Houses support to continue as defense secretary. Hes doing a great job ... ask the Houthis how hes doing, ask the Houthis how much dysfunction they have. Petes doing a great job, everybodys happy with him, Trump said at the White House Easter Egg Roll. Meanwhile, NPR reported the White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, citing an anonymous U.S. official. Trump slammed the report as fake news. Lies from NPR which, as we all know, is a Fake News propaganda machine," the White House tweeted Monday afternoon. On Sunday, The New York Times reported Hegseth shared Yemen attack plans in a Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal attorney. Some of those people said that the information Mr. Hegseth shared on the Signal chat included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen essentially the same attack plans that he shared on a separate Signal chat the same day that mistakenly included the editor of The Atlantic," The Times reported. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, was condemned on social media after tweeting that God defeated evil hours after Pope Francis death was announced. Today there were major shifts in global leaderships. Evil is being defeated by the hand of God, Greene tweeted late Monday morning. Today there were major shifts in global leaderships. Evil is being defeated by the hand of God. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) April 21, 2025 She did not elaborate on what those shifts were, but critics on social media took her tweet to be referencing Francis. If you are here, who is running hell? responded Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla. If you are here, who is running hell? https://t.co/uDhk0ZOTgW Jared Moskowitz (@JaredEMoskowitz) April 21, 2025 Adam Kinzinger, a former Republican congressman from Illinois who has become critical of President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, also reacted to the tweet. Youre pure evil, Kinzinger told the Georgia congresswoman. Youre pure evil Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) (@AdamKinzinger) April 21, 2025 Francis, historys first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humility and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives over climate change and critiques of capitalism, died Monday. He was 88. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Ferrell said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. April 21, 2025 Congressman Shomari Figures Thasunda Duckett By Hazel Scott/ASU Alabama State University will celebrate the achievements of its spring graduates during the Universitys 311th Commencement Convocation on Friday, May 2, 2025. This years ceremonies will feature keynote addresses from two prominent leaders known for their influence in their fields and dedication to service and community impact. The Commencement exercises, which will take place at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome, will recognize students' accomplishments across undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. CONGRESSMAN FIGURES TO SPEAK AT THE MORNING CONVOCATION The events will begin at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, May 2, with Congressman Shomari C. Figures, the representative for Alabamas 2nd Congressional District, as the keynote speaker. Figures dedication to public service was inspired by his parents. His father, the late Michael Figures, served as a state senator and lawyer who advocated for civil rights in Alabama. His mother, Vivian Figures, served on the Mobile City Council and currently holds the position of state senator. The Mobile, Alabama, native attended the University of Alabama for both his undergraduate and law degrees. Before being elected to Congress, he held several roles across the federal government. He first served as a federal law clerk, then as President Barack Obamas White House Domestic Director of Presidential Personnel. He later served as a White House Liaison at the Department of Justice before becoming a counsel in the United States Senate. Figures returned to the Department of Justice as Deputy Chief of Staff to Attorney General Merrick Garland. Figures is married to Dr. Kalisha Dessources Figures, and they have three children. TIAA CEO THASUNDA BROWN DUCKETT TO ADDRESS GRADUATES AT AFTERNOON CONVOCATION Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and CEO of TIAA, will be the keynote speaker at the 1:45 p.m. commencement ceremony. Duckett oversees a major U.S. financial services firm providing secure retirements and investment solutions for millions of people and thousands of institutions. Under her leadership, TIAA has extended its mission beyond higher education to help all Americans saving for retirement. Duckett influences various spheres as she serves on boards including NIKE, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and Sesame Workshop. She is also a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. An MBA graduate from Baylor University and an alumna of the University of Houston, Duckett exemplifies resilience and commitment. She actively supports initiatives to advance financial inclusion and opportunity. COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE 8:45 a.m. Ceremony Students from the following schools will graduate at this ceremony: The Harold Lloyd Murphy Graduate School The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences The College of Education The College of Visual and Performing Arts The University College 1:45 p.m. Ceremony Students from the following schools will graduate at this ceremony: The Harold Lloyd Murphy Graduate School The College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics The Dr. Percy J. Vaughn, Jr., College of Business Administration The College of Health Sciences COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION Please note that the University will be enforcing its Clear Bag Policy for all attendees. For additional information, contact ASU's Academic Affairs office at 334-229-4232. The phrase the hill you choose to die on is an expression meaning a belief, opinion, or position that one is fiercely committed to defending, even when it is impractical or contrary to ones long-term goals. It suggests a willingness to fight or resist to the point of losing, rather than pivoting, conceding, or compromising. In the political world, most players lack conviction or principles. They are swayed by the political winds, the latest opinion polls, or the size of the most recent campaign contributions they receive. Their positions are primarily situational, influenced by their proximity to the next reelection bid or which Sunday morning talk show has invited them as guests. Democrats, finding themselves in the minority during President Donald Trumps second term, are attempting to stem their political bleeding by choosing odd hills to stand on in an effort to bolster their political appeal ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Fortunately for Trump and his party, Democrats are selecting sinkholes rather than hills. As Trump settles into his three-month groove, Democrats are grasping at political straws, trying to derail the Trump train. Rasmussen Reports shows Trump with a solid 50 percent approval rating among likely US voters. A new Daily Mail poll places his current approval rating at 54 percent, tying with his all-time highest. This is after the recent tariff chaos. YouTube screen grab Start with immigration and Trumps deportation of illegal aliens. According to a Pew Research Center poll, Of the roughly 51% of adults who support at least some deportation of illegal immigrants, nearly all support deporting those who commit violent crimes, according to the poll. Democrats are standing up for criminal illegal aliens and ignoring the victims of such crimes. When President Trump acknowledged one such victim in his recent congressional address, all Democrats sat on their hands, refusing to stand or applaud. More recently, the White House acknowledged and honored the mother of Rachel Morin, who was raped and murdered by an illegal alien from El Salvador. Corporate media, which serve as an arm of the Democrat party, devoted zero minutes of coverage to this story. Yet these networks spent over an hour covering the Maryland Man deported to El Salvador. This pillar of his Maryland community was actually alleged to be an active member of the MS-13 gang and was in America illegally. This alleged wife-beater, with a previous deportation order, is the new George Floyd or Trayvon Martin for the Democrats, a hero, a role model. Garcia is also suspected of partaking in labor/human trafficking, according to Homeland Security Investigations memo. Are Democrats truly hitching their wagon to this guy? Yes, they are. Rather than supporting the millions of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, prominent Democrats are pinning their hopes on sympathy for this illegal alien thug. Senator Chris Van Hollen beclowned himself by flying to El Salvador, at the expense of US taxpayers, to plead for the thugs return to the US. Garcia was reportedly being held in El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison, a Maryland man whisked away by the bad Orange Man to face torture and abuse. Imagine a day later seeing Van Hollen with his new BFF dressed in country club plaid, sharing drinks with the Maryland Senator. He was miraculously risen from the dead, as El Salvador President Nayib Bukele observed. Supporting criminal illegal aliens over his constituents is nothing new for Senator Von Hollen. He voted no on the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the federal detention of illegal immigrants who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury. Democrats want to die on the hill of criminal illegal aliens and condemn any Americans who advocate for the safety and well-being of themselves and their families. Recall when the Clinton administration sent a SWAT team to deport 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba? Not an allegedly wife-beating criminal alien gang member, but a young child. Do you remember any Democrat senators flying to Cuba to demand his release? I dont either. An elder Democrat strategist who worked in the Clinton White House when young Elian was deported had no problem with that, but today is fully supportive of the wife-beating thug returning to the US, calling it Democrats top agenda. Is this a hill Democrats want to die on? Illegal aliens also influence our elections. Which side are Democrats on in this fight? Only four Democrats voted for the SAVE Act, which aims to prevent illegal aliens from voting in U.S. elections. How do voters feel about the SAVE Act? Rasmussen Reports asked and discovered that 64 percent of likely US voters favor the Act, including 50 percent of Democrats and 58 percent of unaffiliated voters. Democrats believe they are dying on a hill but are instead falling into a deep hole of their own making. Another hill on which the Democrats are willing to die is transgenderism. An Ipsos/NY Times survey found, Nearly 80 percent of Americans dont want men playing in womens sports. Where are Democrats, the party that stood up for women by wearing pink pussy hats eight years ago? They are now sitting for women regarding this 80-20 issue, U.S. Senate Democrats block bill banning transgender athletes from womens school sports. Democrats are the party that supports full-term abortion, up to and including the moment of birth. Only 22 percent of Americans say, Abortion should be available any time during a pregnancy. Once again, Democrats find themselves on the wrong side of a 20/80 issue. Democrats bribed and shamed Americans into purchasing and driving electric vehicles to save the whales, Bambi, or whatever. Now they are keying Teslas and setting charging stations on fire. On certain issues, Democrats receive a bit of Republican support, but they are fully committed and willing to stand firm, while indecisive Republicans gauge the political climate. Democrats want no end to the Ukraine war, which is, in reality, a US proxy war against Russia and, by the way, we are losing. They are firmly against Elon Musks DOGE commission, which aims to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in government. How many voters want their hard-earned tax dollars wasted on nonsense? Taxes are nirvana for Democrats, while they react to any government spending cuts as the devil recoils when sprinkled with holy water. Election integrity is another issue on which Democrats are on the losing side. Rasmussen Reports found, 60 percent favor requiring paper ballots. The SAVE Act, as mentioned above, represents another step toward secure elections, and Democrats are uniformly against this. Gallup ranked the issues most important to voters in the 2024 election. At the top were Republican concerns, including the economy, democracy in the U.S., terrorism and national security, immigration, and education. The two least important issues to voters were climate change and transgender rights, both of which are core issues that Democrats have staked their careers on. Fortunately, President Trump is tuned in to the American voter, reflecting his significant win last November. Republicans would be wise to hitch their wagons and fortunes to Trump and the issues important to voting Americans. Messaging is important, given that virtually all cable, network, and print media align closely with the Democrat party. These issues are easy to understand, and Republicans need to present their case clearly and simply. Trump represents just one voice, and some voters are put off by his bluntness and bravado. All elected Republicans ought to advocate for the MAGA agenda. Scott Jennings, the sole voice of reason and sanity on CNN, asks this simple question: Why does the American left fall in love with the worst people? The same left looks upon honest, hard-working, and wholesome Americans with contempt and scorn. If the Democrats choose to die on the hill of frivolous and unpopular issues, then get out of their way and let them see how that plays out in about 19 months. Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor Substack Dr. Brians Substack Truth Social @BrianJoondeph LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph Email brianjoondeph@gmail.com Thirteen years ago, Daniel Greenfield pointed out that Murfreesboro, a city in the heart of Tennessee, and, Marseille, Frances second-largest city and its largest city on the Mediterranean coast, have few things in common. The two cities are separated by nearly 5,000 miles, and by equally wide divisions of language and culture. And yet Murfreesboro and Marseille are connected by a common challenge. Both cities have struggled against the creeping rise of the mega mosques. The mega mosque business is booming around the world. The Marseille mega mosque has a proposed capacity of 7,000 seats which would make it the largest mosque in France, overshadowing the Ervy mosque which has a mere 5,000 seats. Both of these French mega mosques would have been dwarfed by a proposed London mega mosque with 12,000 seats and usability targets as high as 40,000. If the London mosque is ever built, it will dominate the Mosque of Rome, currently the most mega of all the mega mosques of Western Europe. At that time, Eric Allen Bell questioned why it was such a big deal that a Muslim community [was] simply trying to build a house of worship. But Bell did wonder why ... a 53,000 square foot mega mosque was needed for 250-plus Muslim families living in the area at that time. And, he asked, where is all this money coming from? Most puzzling, why is it that after the horrific 9-11 attacks, mosque construction in America has nearly doubled? A bit of history is important to answer the previous question. Amy Mek explains that for those unfamiliar with the term, Hijrah refers to Islamic migration meant to spread Islam into new territories a strategy as old as Muhammad himself. This is how Islam has expanded for 1,400 years, and its happening right now in Texas. Hijrah remains the model to this day for jihadists who seek to populate and dominate new lands. To emigrate in the cause of Allah is considered in Islam to be a highly meritorious act. The Quran makes this clear. Moreover, as far back as 2012, the question was asked: Is Hamas building a 53,000 square foot facility in America? Given that Hamas has engaged in countless acts of Islamic terrorism, it was a logical question. The process of settlement is a Civilization-Jihadist Process. The Muslim Brotherhood [believes] that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allahs religion is made victorious over all other religions. The Islamic takeover of America has been steadily proceeding. It is now accelerating in Texas. EPIC City in Plano, Texas is, in essence, Americas No-Go Zone. In fact, it is an already-functioning Sharia-based parallel society inside Texas. Sharia-based finance and governance are at the core of the site. Consequently, the developments surrounding EPIC City mirror patterns observed in parts of Europe. Such initiatives resemble those seen in areas like France, particularly around Paris, where the lack of assimilation has led to societal fracture lines Europe is now collapsing under. Moreover, newly surfaced promotional videos reveal that a Christian church in the Dallas suburb of Rowlett has been converted into a mosque by the Islamic Center of Rowlett. The building, purchased for $2.2 million, is now being repurposed into a full-scale Islamic center and madrasa. To raise funds for the purchase, the mosque enlisted Siraj Wahhaj, a controversial imam who was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Moreover, Muslim leaders themselves now identify Texas as one of the most desirable destinations for Hijrahthe religious migration commanded by Islamic tradition to spread Islam and establish its influence. And theyre not hiding that ambition. On social media, in fundraising campaigns, and in mosque programming, they openly describe Texas as fertile ground for Islamic growth. See also here. All this is being done quite deliberately. This is not about religious freedom it is about strategic replacement. There is a calculated precision often under the guise of a moderate intellectual facade. But the ulterior motive is to mobilize the Muslim community for territorial and ideological expansion. America must become sharia-compliant. Coupled with this is election jihad, which shows how thoroughly Islamists have infiltrated our political system and the threat that they pose. Why, for example, would Pakistani Texans be recognizing Pakistan Day when Pakistan is sentencing Christian citizens to death for blasphemy and Muslims are abducting young Christian girls and coercing them into converting to Islam? This Islamic takeover is certainly not limited to America. After all, British Muslims, led by notorious Islamic terrorist-supporter, Anjem Choudary, are threatening to file a lawsuit before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. They allege that Spains traditional Holy Week processions are an offense to Islam and to the Prophet Muhammad, demanding their immediate ban. No one can claim innocence anymore concerning the intentions of these mega-mosques and the infiltration of stealth jihad into our country. It always follows that antisemitism increases, given that antisemitic attitudes are much more prevalent among Muslims. And the First Amendment of the Constitution is not an invitation to demolish ... rights in an effort to accommodate and placate an ideology bent on destruction. As Bruce Bawer has asserted, Its happened all over Western Europe. In Amsterdam, several neighborhoods, including the Oud-West, De Pijp, and De Baarsjes, are now heavily Muslim. So are Molenbeek, a Brussels suburb, and Gruddalen, the vast valley that forms much of the eastern half of Oslo. Four out of ten people in Tower Hamlets, London, are Muslims, as is nearly thirty-five percent of the population of Luton. Several of the banlieues, or suburbs, of Paris are no-go zones; Marseille is about one-third Islam. The Rinkeby district of Stockholm is heavily Muslim, as are parts of Malmo, not to mention the Nrrebro neighborhood of Copenhagen. Many of these areas can fairly be described as Muslim enclaves. Regular police stay out of some of them, leaving it to the Islamic moral police to patrol the streets, as in Iran, keeping their eyes out for Muslim girls or women who are violating sharia law. In these areas, many women are as tightly controlled by their fathers or husbands as they would be in their home villages back in the old country. Yes, there are non-Muslim residents in these neighborhoods, but their numbers are steadily dwindling. They live in an ever-intensifying state of siege. Its dangerous for them to come home at night. At school, their sons are beaten up and their daughters are sexually harassed. Which is why we should all be worried about EPIC City. In fact, one survey of Western Muslims after another has shown that an unsettling majority of them want to live under sharia law and expect to be living under it before too long. The goal of broadening ... sharia law, after all, is a major reason why millions of Muslims moved from their native lands to the West in the first place. And lying about it to infidels is called taqiyya. As Pamela Geller notes, Islams modus operandi is as follows: when Muslims are in a minority in countries to which they have migrated they claim Islam is a religion of peace. Once their numbers increase they start to agitate for considerations unavailable to non-Muslims in those countries under the guise of obtaining civil liberties. When they gain power its, Do as we say or we will kill you. That is how a country loses its culture, its values and its traditions. Will we have to wait another decade to decry what the jihadists have accomplished, or will we stop their depredations once and for all? Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com. Image: Robert Couse-Baker via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. The Breitbart headline looks like something ripped straight from the Babylon Bee: New Mexico Democrat Judge Resigns After ICE Arrests Alleged Tren de Aragua Gang Member in His Home. But its not satire about the Democrat partys abiding love for illegal aliens, especially the more violent ones. Instead, if true, its yet more evidence that the Democrat party no longer represents or even cares about ordinary Americans. Its also evidenceadmittedly, just one item, but still evidence--of the fact that Democrat judges have little regard for the law. Ive made my disdain for judges clear over the years. Having practiced before leftist judges for decades in the San Francisco Bay Area, I long ago observed that they reach their conclusions based upon their political biases, and then find bits and pieces of statutory and case authority to give a slender gloss of legitimacy to those rulings. My disdain extends from the lowliest local court magistrate all the way up to the leftists and squishes on the Supreme Court. Image: Cristhian Ortega. US Attorneys Office. Having said that, I was still surprised to read this report: A Democrat judge in New Mexico resigned from his bench last month after immigration agents arrested an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member living in his home. The illegal alien entered the U.S. in Eagle Pass, Texas, before being released on an immigration parole due to overcrowding. He eventually moved to New Mexico. Federal prosecutors in the District of New Mexico allege that 23-year-old Cristhian Ortega-Lopez was illegally in possession of a firearm and has ties to the hyperviolent Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump and the U.S. State Department declared the gang to be a foreign terrorist organization. Venezuelan Illegal With Alleged Tren de Aragua Ties Arrested for Possession of Firearm While Reportedly Living at Home of New Mexico Judge Judge Jose "Joel" Cano abruptly resigned days after ICE HSI raid at his house in Las Cruces Full story coming... pic.twitter.com/UvkrAC2PDT Border Hawk (@BorderHawkNews) April 18, 2025 There doesnt seem to be much doubt that the young man living in Judge Canos home was an illegal alien. Indeed, Judge Cano knew that fact: Cano, a former police officer, allowed Ortega-Lopez to file a request for immigration relief using the judges residential address. Court exhibits also posted social media posts of the foreign national posing with the judge. The big question is whether Canoagain, a former police officerknew about the alleged gang affiliations. There certainly seems to be a lot of evidence that the young illegal alien really liked guns, lots and lots of guns: Social media posts obtained by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico showed Ortega-Lopez and other illegal aliens at a shooting range. They appeared to be in possession of multiple firearms and a large quantity of handgun and rifle ammunition. In one image, the man is holding an AR-15-style rifle in one hand and a semi-automatic pistol in the other. A video showed the Venezuelan migrant in possession of another AR-15 equipped with a suppressor. He fired the rifle until it was empty and then reloaded it with a new magazine, which he continued to fire, prosecutors stated. Many of those guns seemingly came from the judges stepdaughter. Given that Ortega-Lopez was seeking to stay in America by claiming refugee status, I doubt that Judge Cano committed wrongdoing by housing him while that process was ongoing. Having said that, if he facilitated an illegal aliens gun possession or had any inkling about the mans gang affiliations...well, thats a different kettle of fish. In that case, I hope that the DOJ takes any such allegations very, very seriously. Much of the global left is wailing about the imprisonment of repatriated gang members into the famous CECOT high-security prison of El Salvador. They're yelling torture, they're yelling human rights violations, they're howling about due process. Democrat congressmembers are falling all over themselves to join the flights to San Salvador. Sen. Chris Van Hollen has made a complete fool of himself. None of this has escaped the mind of Venezuela's Marxist dictator, Nicolas Maduro, who's another member of the global left, crying crocodile tears about the Venezuelan gangbangers now shipped to that facility. And El Salvador's popular President Nayyib Bukele is watching that, drawing a new troll target on the detested Venezuelan dictator to prove he's as aggrieved as he claims to be. He put out this tweet: Senor @NicolasMaduro, usted ha dicho en numerosas ocasiones que quiere a los venezolanos de regreso y en libertad. A diferencia de usted, que tiene presos politicos, nosotros no tenemos presos politicos. Todos los venezolanos que tenemos bajo custodia fueron detenidos en el Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 20, 2025 Google Translate: I went to Easter Vigil Mass last night at Holy Family parish in San Diego. It was a beautiful multicultural service. Oh, it wasn't woke. It was actually all about the Resurrection, and just done in four languages -- English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Tagalog, which is the main language of the Philippines. Maybe five, if you include the Latin parts. Auxiliary Bishop Ramon Bejarano, a warm-hearted, popular church leader, presided, which was kind of an honor for us. I always like it because I get to learn a few words in Vietnamese and Tagalog, as well as smooth out my Spanish as we sing in different languages. I feel the parish does this not for woke reasons, but because it normally has Masses in different languages, which has always been done for ethnic communities since the dawn of the U.S. But by bringing the parish together for a multicultural Mass a few times a year, it makes the parish one parish, not a lot of splinter cliques. We get to know each others' names, enjoy the magnificent Vietnamese choir, and make friends we might not otherwise make. It was a classical Easter Vigil Mass, standing room only, with a big procession into the church, and people lighting and bearing candles. There were baptisms and confirmations of catechumens, or converts. The litany of the saints was read. The story of Creation was read. There was incense, holy water sprinking, and all the sensory things that make Mass intriguing for many. There were many flowers on the altar. There were amusing stumbles and bumbles in the choreography. When the bishop was saying the central part of the Mass, changing bread into the body and wine into the blood of Christ, the parish priest quietly snuck up on him from behind and silently yanked his hot pink beanie off. Apparently, the bishop cap is not supposed to be worn for this event. I almost laughed because it sort of looked like little kids playing pranks. As a lector, I read the story of Creation, of God making the birds and fishes, and commanding Man to have dominion over this creation, making man and woman -- and it was such a majestic passage. I also erred a bit during the prayers of the faithful, somehow forgetting to not get off the podium until the bishop had spoken (I darted off early), so I had my own bumbles. But it was beautiful, and it worked. Here's what I noticed this time: With all the different ethnic components of the Church, I noticed one very positive thing in them -- the sense of reverence and tradition that otherwise wouldn't have been there without them. The Mexican and Vietnamese kids were well behaved and respectful. The little girls with Spanish names getting baptism dressed in splendid white dresses, sort of quineanera-looking, definitely a special occasion. The Latinos in particular insisted on taking Communion on the tongue during that part of the Mass, many kneeling down. The church itself has gotten more traditional in appearance as the immigration population has grown, the altar in particular is looking more like the kind of altar with statues and niches seen in the San Diego Mission of St. Junipero Serra, who founded the city in 1769, than the spare, modern look it had when the church was constructed around 1970. I saw the pattern repeat again and again -- the Vietnamese choir was elaborate and classically trained in its songs. There was an amazing fiery baritone -- a young man in his 20s with longish hair -- leading the singing. All of them were dressed in classical Vietnamese attire worn for special occasions. The little old Vietnamese lady next to me told me to sit up straight when I slouched down and crossed my legs. I know there are things that will come back to me later, but the broad thing I concluded was that these immigrants were strengthening the Church and its mission and message just by their focus on tradition, the very tradition the Vatican is always looking for ways to shut down. When I think what Mass was like at this same parish before them -- with godawful guitar Masses, happy-happy-happy psychobabble catechism materials, rainbow flags, people showing up like slobs to attend Mass -- it was so beautiful to see respect and dignity and reverence restored to worship -- and clearly driven by these immigrants. They are like a secret weapon revitalizing the Church in the direction the traditionalists have been seeking all along, even though the Church leaders who loathe Latin Mass and many Church traditions may not know this. It corresponds with something that occurred to me earlier: that as the Church leaders repress Latin Mass, that I know I can get just about the same thing in Spanish Mass, that same sense of reverence and tradition. Could it be that as the older wokester generation of Church leaders, the ones who brought us guitar Mass and other weak tea that looks little different from some mainline Protestant denominations, passes the baton to the younger, secret-weapon Catholics from the ethnic communities, the Church will grow ever more traditional as the traditionalists have looked for all along? It seems like it. All I could think at this Mass was 'thank goodness for the immigrants in the Church.' Image: Pexels / Pexels License Why have Democrats decided to die on another barren hill? I'm talking about the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case in El Salvador, also known as the story of the "Maryland dad" who got deported without cause. Why fight for such a man when the evidence is overwhelming that he was here illegally and should have deported before? I think that the answer lies in the civil war occurring on the Democrat side. It's also a generational war, a fight between the 20-year-olds and the 80-year-olds. This is from The Hill: Calls for generational change among Democrats are growing louder as the party seeks to chart a path forward going into the 2026 midterms. On Wednesday, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hoggs group Leaders We Deserve PAC launched a $20 million effort aimed at launching primary challenges against House Democratic incumbents in safe seats in hopes of electing younger candidates. A number of young progressive candidates have already launched primary bids against longtime incumbent House Democrats. The efforts come as young, progressive figures in the party like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are playing a central role in galvanizing the partys grassroots in large-scale rallies across the country. The Democratic Party says over and over again we have to care about democracy, we have to care about democracy, and we do, Hogg said in an interview with The Hill. But the best way to do that is not just to say we need to care about democracy, it is to use democracy to actively help people improve their lives and show them how democracy is the best vehicle to do that. One of the incumbent Democrats hearing that call is Sen. Chuck Schumer, who may face a primary challenge from AOC, the darling of the Left. I'm sure that the Minority Leader remembers how AOC took out an established congressman. As we know, primaries are all about energy, and the energy is with AOC's side. This is why you will see more and more incumbent Democrats scared of a challenge. They will respond by going deeper into Trump Derangement Syndrome and sign on to any attacks on the President. Last, but not least, I would add that the Left never recovered from what the establishment did to Senator Bernie Sanders in 2016 and especially in 2020. In both cycles, the energy was with Senator Sanders because Secretary Clinton and VP Biden did not turn anyone on. The Left remembers how the rules were altered to hurt Sanders and supporters. So Abrego Garcia in El Salvador is just another convenient case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, especially all the stuff we are hearing about anyone being deported without due process. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. Pope Francis died this morning in Rome. He had been sick for several months, though the Vatican press office had constantly told us he was improving. He wasn't. He was very ill, it was very obvious in how he looked, and it was hard to understand why the Vatican minions kept making or allowing him work given his condition. At least they didn't conceal that he had died. Given the number of disagreements many of us have had with him -- on illegal immigration, gays, global warming, his repression of the Latin Mass, his refusal to say anything about the catastrophe in Catholic Venezuela, his Castro-coddling, his recrudescence of liberation theology, his tendency to always side with the state over the individuals, his loathing for President Trump, and his far left and even kinky, creepy, associates -- it came as something of a relief. A course correction may follow, particularly if the next pope to emerge from the white smoke brings us a tough-minded African or Asian pope. All the same, we are not ghouls, we don't wish anyone to die, and he was the head of the Church, so we wish him well. J.D. Vance, who was one of the last people to see him alive, wrote a gracious acknowledgment on X: I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025 His meeting was here: Remarkably, U.S. Vice President JD Vance was among the last to see Pope Francis on his final day The Pope passed away this morning, April 21st, at 7:35 a.m. Italian time pic.twitter.com/9VhZyTwHQM Mambo Italiano (@mamboitaliano__) April 21, 2025 There were many things that we did appreciate about him -- from his unwavering defense of life, to his refusal to endorse trans ideology, to the fact that he tried to clean up some of the Vatican's skeezy finances. Unlike leftist politicians, his hand was never found in the till. I always appreciated his condemnation of "throwaway culture," which encompassed many undesirable things in consumer culture. And despite being sick, he did make time to meet with J.D. Vance, and give small gifts to his family, which the vice president expressed appreciation for. His gaffes, e.g., "too much faggotry in the seminaries" were often actually endearing, given that many of us know that rampant homosexuality in seminaries, actually chasing out non-homosexuals, has been a problem -- it was intriguing that he knew this, too, though most of us wouldn't have used his language. His smacking of a pilgrim who grabbed at his sleeve was endearing, too -- who wouldn't get fed up with that kind of behavior? He was sincerely apologetic in both instances, which is rare in a world leader of any kind. His forays into U.S. politics were less endearing, particularly his coddling of powerful global abortion promoters such as Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, refusing to deny them Holy Communion despite the obvious blood on their hands, and his conflicts with President Trump and President Milei of his native Argentina. He also punished more orthodox bishops, seemingly for vindictive reasons. But in all, his intentions were good, and he tried to do the right thing. Whether he was able, or fell short is where the contentiousness lies. He was limited by the Vatican deep-state bureaucracy, though he was also a micromanager, enough to be called the "dictator pope" by some, and he was limited by having only lived in Argentina, which is where he learned his economics. But now that he has passed, we can try to recall the good things he did, the broad message of caring for the marginalized, and say a prayer for his soul, as he would have appreciated. Rest in peace. Image: Screen shot from X video Because Democrats have decided to stake their political future on so-called transgenderism, its important to remind people that, until recently, transgenderismor, more accurately, body dysphoriawas defined as a mental illness. That may explain the rise in violence by so-called transwoman. What you see is delusional people with the aggression of men and the emotionalism of women. This is a very dangerous combination. The news this weekend is rife with stories about so-called transwomen rampaging, both in the U.S. against Musk and Trump, and in the UK, where the Supreme Court, at least temporarily, announced that men dont have an automatic right to invade womens bathrooms, locker rooms, and prisons, even if they call themselves women. Here are some of these reports. A man in Scotland has said that, if anyone tries to remove him from womens restrooms, hell claim hes being assaultedan assertion met with appropriate ridicule: To the all the Gender Critical people. Just try and fucking stop me using female spaces. I'm a woman. It is my right. pic.twitter.com/wvjfjRERan Sophie Molly (@SophieMolly_OFF) April 17, 2025 .@PoliceScotland I will scream rape at any of your officers if they try to force me out of a female space. I will accept no violation of my human rights as a woman. Sophie Molly (@SophieMolly_OFF) April 18, 2025 It is my understanding - and I could be wrong in this - that rape allegations carry considerably less weight if one announces on social media to the entire world that they are going to make false rape accusations as a matter of standard practice. Schmo (@BlackCoffeeSobr) April 18, 2025 Also in the UK, so-called transwomen are insisting on the right to urinate wherever they want. The primary goal, of course, is to get into womens restrooms, but theyve also started a campaign of urinating in public, in bottles (that they then toss at people they dislike), and on each other and themselves. Im not going to embed this tweet thread, because its disgusting, but you should check it out if you want to understand the sexual perversion and exhibitionism that drives so much so-called transgenderism. As a general matter, when it comes to the UK, Brendan ONeill has written a hilarious essay thats too sprinkled with obscenities to reprint here. Still, its worth reading because it offers a look at the meltdown amongst so-called trans women in the wake of the UK Supreme Courts ruling. Dont believe for a minute, though, that the UK has a monopoly on violent, perverse trans madness. Here at home, more and more of the most violent anti-Tesla activiststhe ones who have escalated beyond the crime of keying cars (which is bad enough and deserves serious consequences) to the greater crime of fire bombingare transgender: They each face 20 years in prison for firebombing Tesla stores. But serious question; why are they trans? pic.twitter.com/UdG29EACID Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 20, 2025 Tesla dealership attacker in Kansas City Why do they/them all look like this? pic.twitter.com/AyhxkdC49A End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) April 18, 2025 Trans Tesla vandal who allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at cars lives with mom and calls herself baby: sources https://t.co/xLcFmrCKBp pic.twitter.com/q5FL1U4U7r New York Post (@nypost) March 14, 2025 I really cant speculate about the chicken or the egg of it all. Are there more violent so-called transgender people because weve changed the definition of mental illness? Once, manifestly mentally ill people, whether suffering from gender dysphoria or something else, would have been treated or institutionalized. Now, though, if the mentally ill slap a transgender label on themselves, they get treated with excessive solicitude and deference, with nothing being done about dangerous underlying disorders. Or have we driven people, especially men, insane, with our constant attacks on normal masculine traits, the beatdowns for alleged toxic masculinity, the removal of male role models from their lives as well as fathers from their homes, the manic elevation of women, and the absence of any moral anchors? I have no idea. I just know that theres something very wrong and increasingly dangerous going on. Image: X screen grab. Pope Francis interpreted his faith through a Marxist lens. He had strong criticism for national borders, a generic leftist position. And of course, he strongly supported Gaza, and Gaza is Hamas. Now that this old, sick man has passed away, the leftists are out in force, blessing his memory and blaming both JD Vance and Israel for his passing. No one, whether they loved or hated the Pope, can deny his left-wing creds. He attacked the Trump administration for seeking to keep illegal aliens out of America: BREAKING: Pope Francis pens surprise letter to all bishops in the US re immigration in these delicate moments. He criticizes Trump's moves against illegal immigrants and Vance's citing of Ordo Amoris: The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and pic.twitter.com/bfiMWxl2O0 Michael Haynes (@MLJHaynes) February 11, 2025 He also enthusiastically supported both Islam and bringing millions of Muslims into Europe: The pope has urged every parish and religious community in Europe to house a refugee family http://t.co/7j8pD8nECh pic.twitter.com/uA4TZMN84t The Economist (@TheEconomist) September 7, 2015 On landing in Rome, Pope emerges with Syrian refugees he brought back (seated with papal party at plane's front) pic.twitter.com/8Iy5dWniSM Rocco Palmo (@roccopalmo) April 16, 2016 Pope Francis washes the feet of Muslim migrants, calls them "children of the same God" https://t.co/In89uuXbkU pic.twitter.com/W5hTLNwyBc The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 25, 2016 He also enthusiastically supported both Islam and bringing millions of Muslims into Europe: I never could square in my mind the Popes disdain for other nations borders, when he never opened Vatican City to migrants, nor did he remove the Swiss Guard from their duty to keep people out of Vatican City. But what baffled me most of all was the Popes staunch support for Muslims. After all, Judaism and Christianity are both faiths based on the Bible. Israel allows Christianity (and, indeed, all religions) to be practiced freely within its borders. Meanwhile, Islam, although its adherents claim descent from Abraham, is a radically different faith, and one that has as a core tenet the obligation to convert, enslave, or murder all adherents of other faiths, whether Jewish, Christian, Hindu, or anything else. Gaza, for example, has routinely slaughtered Jews who accidentally crossed into it, and has driven out the ancient Christian population. Meanwhile, just over this past Easter week, Muslims went on a Christian massacre spree in Africa. This didnt make many headlines because these mass murders are something that, sadly, are as routine as any other dog bites man story. Nevertheless, Pope Franciss sympathies were clear, and they escalated in obviousness when Israel, having been the subject of an unbelievably savage attack against its civilian population by Hamas militants, took the war to Hamas: JUDGE HIM ON THIS ONE ACTION Pope Francis made daily video calls to Gaza during Israel's genocidal campaign. AROUND 560 CALLS EVERYDAY SINCE 9th OCTOBER 2023 pic.twitter.com/cY57rfkZzZ Earth Hippy (@hippyygoat) April 21, 2025 Pope Francis was the only Church leader who dared to defy: To recognize LGBTQIA+ rights, to speak out against Israel's genocide in Palestine, to snub JD Vance and put him in his place, to denounce human rights abuses elsewhere, to fight for climate and environment. Rest in power. karl #MarcosMamamatayTao (@eicvsfascism) April 21, 2025 Pope Francis died standing with Palestine, not Israelpic.twitter.com/TdEmPrzlAU Donya (@donyaihsan) April 21, 2025 So, thats where we are: The Pope was hostile to the Trump administration, and JD Vance was the last national official to see him, and the Pope was hostile to Israel and called, yet again, for it to give up its successful war against the genocidal Hamas militia. So, of course, it shouldnt surprise anyone that, within hours of his death, people were claiming that either JD Vance or Israel had murdered him. That the Pope was 88 (that is, hed exceeded the actuarial lifespan for men in Italy by seven years) and that hed been desperately ill for months now were irrelevant. The anti-Trump and pro-Hamas crowds, in tweets viewed by tens of thousands of people, know who done it. Here are a handful of the tweets naming Vance as a killer, some of which may be tongue-in-cheek, others of which are obviously seriously meant. (The left is so crazy, its hard to tell): As always, I ask myself, were there always this many crazy people in America, and we just didnt know it? Were they hanging out in basements and squalid bars, where no one saw their pathology? And was it just the internet that exposed them to view, making us aware that beneath Americas seemingly functional surface, all was not as normal as we thought? And then I look at the modern Democrat party, and I think to myself that social media isnt merely giving us a view into the crazy world thats always existed on the periphery of any society. Instead, this rot infects every aspect of the party, from the basement dwellers on up. Its just that, as the above tweets show, the basement dwellers are more obvious about it. As for me, when the cardinals convene to select a new Pope, I hope they choose someone in the mold of John Paul II, one of the greatest men in modern history. Image: X screen grab. In Astronauts carefully tell the truth, I noted astronaut Butch Wilmore confirmed Elon Musks assertion that he and Suni Williams really were stranded on the ISS, and that Musk offered to bring them home during Bidens Handlers Administration but was refused because they didnt want Biden to look bad before the election. The Biden Administration and the Democrat media went to great lengths to deny they were stranded. Arizona Democrat Senator Mark Kellys brother Scott claimed there was always a capsule docked there so they could come home at will. While there was a capsule docked, it was there as a "the ISS has totally failed measure for every astronaut on the International Space Station. Wilmore and Williams eight day mission at the ISS stretched to nearly a year as NASA couldnt figure out what was wrong with their Starliner." At Donald Trumps request, Musk sent a SpaceX capsule to bring them home. Graphic: B oeing/NASA Starliner docked at ISS. Public Domain. Now were learning the problems with the Starliner were far worse than NASA has admitted. They were so severe Wilmore didnt know if the thrusters would work well enough to allow him to dock with the ISS, and had no idea if theyd function well enough to de-orbit the capsule without burning up in the atmosphere. If they couldnt dock, their oxygen would quickly run out, and if they couldnt de-orbit in the proper orientation theyd immolate. Fortunately, they were, barely, able to dock. NASA couldnt diagnose the problem from Earth and eventually decided to try to bring the Starliner back empty. It made it back in one piece but Boeing still doesnt know what went wrong or if it will ever fly again. Wilmore added that he felt pretty confident, in the aftermath of docking to the space station, that Starliner probably would not be their ride home. Wilmore: I was thinking, we might not come home in the spacecraft. We might not. And one of the first phone calls I made was to Vincent LaCourt, the ISS flight director, who was one of the ones that made the call about waiving the flight rule. I said, OK, what about this spacecraft, is it our safe haven?' It was unlikely to happen, but if some catastrophic space station emergency occurred while Wilmore and Williams were in orbit, what were they supposed to do? Should they retreat to Starliner for an emergency departure, or cram into one of the other vehicles on station, for which they did not have seats or spacesuits? LaCourt said they should use Starliner as a safe haven for the time being. Therein followed a long series of meetings and discussions about Starliners suitability for flying crew back to Earth. Publicly, NASA and Boeing expressed confidence in Starliners safe return with crew. But Williams and Wilmore, who had just made that harrowing ride, felt differently. Wilmore: I was very skeptical, just because of what wed experienced. I just didnt see that we could make it. [emphasis mine] Astronauts must be careful not to express doubt about the manned space program. There are more than enough congressmen willing to defund it in favor of their pet projects, and taxpayer-funded manned missions have been cash-strapped for decades. They also know if NASA gets mad at them their space flight days are over. Then again, astronauts who know NASAs equipment almost got them killed, and NASA and the Bidens Handlers Administration left them stranded with no firm date for getting them home might not much care. Being naturally lazy as all bureaucrats are, NASA management decided to instead take for them the easiest route, bringing Freedom to ISS in September as scheduled, even though it left these two humans without a lifeboat for a period of about four months. Flying a quickly put together rescue mission also risked a lot of bad press, both for Boeing and for the Biden administration during the election campaign. (Bidens fear was really unfounded. The press would have correctly lauded NASA and Biden for acting diligently and with speed.) That both Wilmore and Williams are being so open and honest about these facts now suggests they either fear no retribution from the Trump administration, or do not ever expect to get another flight from NASA. The Trump Administration isnt going to retaliate against them. But federal bureaucrats have long memories and easily take offense. Wilmore and Williams certainly know their astronaut careers are over. On the other hand, theyve spent more time in space than most and Williams holds the record for the most female spacewalking time. Whether the unnecessary risk to their lives and Biden's Handler's and the media's lies are justifiable is another matter. On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. In the John Wayne classic Eldorado, the storyline is John Wayne as Cole Thornton, a gunfighter, travels back to Eldorado to help his now-town-drunk friend, Eldorado sheriff J.P. Harrah, because a feud is brewing between the wealthy, evil rancher Bart Jason and Kevin McDonald, a long-time rancher in the area, over water rights. In 2025, Oregon's supermajority Democrats are acting like Bart Jason, pushing for control of all water rights across Oregon. Many small ranches and farms in Oregon are being threatened with well monitoring and paying for water under their own land. The Democrat-led Oregon legislature is using its power and money to pressure landowners, wineries, farmers, and ranchers to give up their God-given water rights to the state of Oregon. When we look at who is behind these proposals and bills, we find self-important Democrat lawmakers who fashion themselves as environmental crusaders. Yet, these very same legislators do not live in rural Oregon. They are urban dwellers who use public water systems for their needs yet believe they can tell others what they must do with their land and water. So this is an old problem, the struggle about who owns the water rights, the new Bart Jasons or the hard-working people farming, ranching, and raising food for the rest of the country. A friend talked to me about their struggles to make their small farm a success and how Oregon continues to put in place foolish tax policies and fees designed to rob wealth from the workers and give it to the state. Oregon is such a broken, corrupt, depressing place that most people you talk to eventually get to the conversation of leaving Oregon and their money-grubbing Democrat politicians. Eldorado the movie was entertaining, the sequel Oregon 2025 is maddening and depressing John Woods: Father, Husband, Conservative, Activist, Patriot, Veteran, Voting Delegate to the state Oregon Republican Party. Images: Public Domain Pictures Summary: While Donald Trump has excluded certain forms of tech from the tariffs, Apple could still suffer from them. China has threatened to retaliate against companies that cooperate with the U.S. in any way that affects Beijing negatively. This could bode ill for Apple. A few days ago, many companies in the tech industry breathed a sigh of relief, as U.S. President Donald Trump announced certain types of tech, like semiconductors, were excempt from the tariffs. This helped some companies, but its not a solution to the problem. Theres still an ongoing trade war with China that could still have some pretty bad effects on the global economy. Right now, one of the main companies that could be affected by the tariffs is Apple. Were all watching for the price of the coming iPhones because they could skyrocket if these tariffs dont change. The company is left with a tough decision. It could either take the extra cost of its iPhones or it could trickle it down to its customers. The possibility of a $3,000 iPhone is still up in the air. Apple could still suffer because of the tariffs Right now, its tough to know whats going to happen. Chinas threats only make things even worse. The U.S. is trying to pressure other countries to limit their dealings with China using tariffs. As such, China has threatened to reciprocate and impose tariffs on any country that goes along with the U.S. This means that Apple is not out of the woods just yet. While theres a 90-day pause on the tariffs, the current situation could make building the iPhone in China an impossibility. Most of the units are built in China, so anything that happen in China can effect the iPhone as a whole. This trade war is still raging on, and we have no idea who will come out on top. All we know is that the first casualty will be the customer. Summary: Google has decided to share another press release in which it talks about DOJ proposals; this post basically warns of the consequences of those proposals. The company says that they would undermine American economic and tech leadership. Google goes into detail on this, explaining how each decision would affect consumers, companies that rely on those services, and more. As many of you know by now, last week, Google lost another battle with the DOJ. After a three-week trial, it was concluded that Google used anticompetitive practices in order to dominate the market. Google does plan to appeal this verdict. Google warns everyone that DOJ proposals would undermine American economic & tech leadership Following what happened, Google has decided to issue a new statement. The company basically issued a warning that DOJ proposals would undermine American economic and tech leadership. In this post, Google looks back on the DOJs 202 search distribution lawsuit. The company said that its a backwards-looking case at a time of intense competition and unprecedented innovation. With new services like ChatGPT (and foreign competitors like DeepSeek) thriving, DOJs sweeping remedy proposals are both unnecessary and harmful. Google will appeal the Courts decision Google highlighted once again that it disagrees with the Courts decision and that it will appeal it. Before that happens, however, the Court must decide what remedies best address its liability decision. Following that, Google decided to break down why it thinks that the Courts decision would hurt Americas consumers, economy, and technological leadership. Google said that the decision would make it harder for users to get to services they prefer. The company once again highlighted that users use Google because they want to, not because they have to. The company also talked about how prices could rise & innovation could slow down It was also said that the DOJs proposal to prevent Google from competing for the right to distribute Search would raise prices and slow innovation. Google said that device makers and web browsers (like Firefox) rely on the revenue they receive from search distribution. This move would raise the cost of mobile phones and handicap web browsers, it has been said. Furthermore, the DOJs proposal would force Google to share your most sensitive and private search queries with companies you may never have heard of, that would jeopardize your privacy and security. Google highlighted that this proposal would also hamstring how the AI is developed. That could be a huge issue considering the competition in the AI market at the moment. Chrome & Android breakup situation was also touched upon The last point that Google made has to do with Chrome and Android. Google said that it build both of those at great cost over many years and that theyre both available for free. Their breakup would hurt businesses built on them, and undermine security, says the company. Google then took the opportunity to point to its proposed remedies, which would not harm consumers, or Americas economy, tech leadership, and national security. Summary: The Motorola Loop Buds and Watch Fit devices are coming, as their designs were just revealed. Very first images were shared of both devices, and these could arrive on April 24, alongside the companys new Razr phones. Motorola will announce some new products in addition to its Razr phones soon. The company will host a press event on April 24 to announce the Motorola Razr 60 (Razr 2025) and Motorola Razr 60 Ultra (Razr+ 2025). Theyll have different names in different markets. The Motorola Loop Buds & Watch Fit designs get revealed via very first images In addition to those phones, the Motorola Loop Buds and Motorola Watch Fit devices will also arrive, it seems. Both of those devices were leaked by Evan Blass, a well-known tipster. In the gallery below, youll see the Motorola Loop Buds. These earbuds have a C-bridgedesign, and each earbud kind of looks like an earring in this variant. It seems like Motorola is aiming at that. Motorola will announce open-ear earbuds These are open ear earbuds, they dont go into your ear, but you attach them to the ear itself. Needless to say, the noise canceling is not exactly in focus with open ear earbuds. Evan Blass showed us one color of these earbuds (silver), while ytechb added the green one on top of that (gallery below). The Motorola Watch Fit smartwatch will include a square display In addition to the Motorola Loop Buds, both Evan Blass and ytechb shared some images of the Motorola Watch Fit. You can check out that smartwatch in the gallery below, as combined images from both sources are included in there. This smartwatch has a square display, while the bezels dont seem to be the thinnest around. There is a button on the right-hand side, but Motorola opted not to include a rotating crown here. The version of the watch shown here combines gray and green colors for its design. Samsung is among the smartphone brands that have most invested in implementing AI in mobile devices. The company leveraged its partnership with Google, where they work together and share technology, to pioneer the segment. The launch of the Galaxy S25 series made it clear that the firm will continue on this path long-term. In a Q&A round, a Samsung executive disclosed the companys vision for the future of AI in mobile devices. Carl Nordenberg, head of Samsung MX for Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO), talked about how the brand views mobile artificial intelligence, its main goals, and what we can expect in the future. Samsung, proud to be a pioneer in mobile AI implementation The executive was asked about the evolution of smartphones in the current AI revolution. Nordenberg expressed pride that Samsung is among the pioneers in implementing the technology in its Galaxy phones and tablets. The company began this journey with the launch of the Galaxy S24 series in 2024. Since then, the Galaxy AI suite has reached other flagships, mid-rangers, and even low-end devices, both old and new. One year on, Im glad to say that weve reached a point where AI is no longer a futuristic technology, but something thats built into the devices we use every day, Nordenberg stated. And were just beginning to see AIs true potential! He added. The executive also addressed consumers priorities when choosing a new smartphone in todays market. Nordenberg listed five key aspects: advanced camera features, integrated AI capabilities, improved durability, long-lasting battery life, and high-performance processing for AI and gaming. Yes, he claims that AI has already become a priority for smartphone users. This contrasts with the situation 18 months ago, where many wouldnt even consider it, according to Nordenberg. An AI that learns and adapts to you The Q&A touched on the topic of personalization in the context of mobile AI. For Samsung, this means AI learning about you, your tastes, and your usage patterns to offer you truly useful features and suggestions. Nordenberg gives the example of Now Brief, the Galaxy S25 feature that offers personalized tips throughout the day. It considers multiple parameters and learns from the user to provide suggestions, shortcuts, and data that become more useful over time. The real breakthrough comes when AI understands not just what you do, but the context around it. Boosting the camera experience with AI How relevant is AI to mobile photography? The executive received a related question and discussed Samsungs approach. The company doesnt want AI to significantly change the experience of taking photos and videos. On the contrary, it wants to seamlessly integrate it into your everyday experience but offer more control options with a few simple taps. Take features like Object Eraser, Best Face, and Audio Eraser these are AI-enabled innovations that dont interfere with how you capture the moment, but they give you unprecedented control over the final image or video from your fingertips. In the age of AI, privacy is a top concern. After all, AI models thrive on data, and much of this data comes from users. Some people dont like feeling theyre constantly being tracked. Nordenberg answered a question about how Samsung balances personalization with privacy concerns. According to the executive, the companys focus is on transparency and control options. First, the company tries to be as clear as possible about the collection and use of data. If you would rather not participate in AI data collection, you can disable cloud processing. That said, disabling this option impacts some AI-powered featuresprimarily those that rely on cloud processing. They may perform worse or not work at all. However, if privacy is what you want, there are sacrifices you must make. As such, we want to give users the flexibility to customize their privacy and security settings, exactly according to their preferences. Users can decide which Galaxy AI feature to operate on their device, with the option to opt out of cloud-based processing. Samsungs vision for the future and evolution of mobile AI in the coming years Nordenberg concluded the Q&A session by answering questions about the evolution and future of mobile AI. Samsung projects that multimodal capabilities will be at the forefront. AI platforms and services will be able to handle more input types in all formats. This also includes real-time features, such as Gemini Lives with Camera mode. He also said that the democratization of mobile AI will be key going forward. Most importantly, AI will become more democratized. Advanced capabilities that once required specialized knowledge or expensive hardware will become accessible to everyone through their smartphones. This democratization of AI has the potential to level the playing field and empower people in unprecedented ways, Nordenberg stated. Summary: Samsung is developing a vertically expanding rollable smartphone that transforms from a compact device into a full-sized screen, but its still in the early stages and unlikely to launch this year. A recent patent hints at a dual-camera design and thick bottom bezel, with pricing and economic timing likely delaying its debut. Samsung is working on a vertical rollable smartphone, big surprise there, right? It looks like Samsungs first rollable smartphone is coming together quite nicely, as @xleaks7 has spotted a patent that reveals what the first Samsung rollable would look like. While some other rollable concepts weve seen recently expand horizontally, Samsungs is going to expand vertical. Going from a smaller, pocketable device, to a larger full-sized screen. Though, were unsure what the screen sizes would be. It does look to be very compact when it if fully rolled up. Samsung does also have a dual-camera setup on the rear, similar to the Galaxy Z Flip lineup. However, it does appear to have a pretty thick bottom bezel. This is not that surprising, since that is likely where the motor and the rest of the screen lives when it is not expanded. Of course, we saw huge bezels on early foldable devices, so this is likely going to improve after a couple of generations. Dont expect a Samsung rollable this year It would be very surprising to see Samsung release a rollable device this year, or even show off a concept. So far, they have not shown off a concept rollable device only Samsung Display has. So we are likely still quite a ways off from the device being made available. However, I do think Samsung will be one of the first to release a rollable smartphone. Despite seeing concepts from some other phone makers including LG before it decided to kill off its smartphone business. The first rollable is going to be quite pricey, due to all of the new parts that are expensive to make, as well as all of the R&D spent on making the device. So its probably not a good idea to release it in the current economic climate. Summary: A three-week trial is before us, starting today, and it could shatter Google the way we know it. This is a remedies hearing following Googles defeat in court last year. It regards Googles Search dominance. After this trial, Google will be ordered to make specific steps in order to appease the Court. A three-week trial is before us. A trial that could shatter Google as we know it, basically. Google has lost to DOJ last week, when it was ruled that Google unlawfully maintained a monopoly over key segments of the ad tech industry. This three-week remedies trial could shatter Google as we know it Google will appeal that decision, but before that happens, a new three-week trial is here, starting today. Google is facing the DOJ once again, as itll try to prevent the breakup of its company. This is part of the search monopoly case against Google, and it follows the loss in court Google suffered last year. The trial will take place in a Washington courtroom. This is a remedy hearing, just to be clear, as Google already lost the battle in court. Many witnesses will take the stand, including Googles CEO, Sundar Pichai. The DOJ wants a federal judge to take some radical measures in order to change the course of things for Google. Based on the rulling, it could mean huge changes for Google, including a breakup of the company. The DOJ has a number of requests, but it remains to be seen what the remedies list will look like The DOJ wants the federal judge to ban Google from striking multibillion-dollar deals with Apple and other tech companies. That is seen as a way to maintain the Search monopoly. That is only one of the details that will be decided. A full set of remedies should be laid out at the end of the trial. Googles illegal conduct has created an economic goliath, one that wreaks havoc over the marketplace to ensure that no matter what occurs Google always wins, said the DOJ in documents which outlined possible penalties for Google. Google, on the other hand, says that the DOJs proposed changes are unwarranted. Google laid out a number of reasons for that during the trial and after it, but the main one is consumers actually want to use it, theyre not forced to. Things will get really heated up in the courtroom over the next three weeks. BAE Systems has been developing new methods to make sufficient explosives and propellants in the UK. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images Britain is set to significantly increase its weapons production in order to no longer rely on importing from the US and France. This comes as British and European defence companies move away from buying US-made weaponry and equipment due to concerns over president Donald Trump making the country an unreliable military partner. First reported by The Times, BAE Systems, the UK defence company, has been developing new methods to make sufficient explosives and propellants in the UK to meet the Ministry of Defence and export requirements. One of the ways the company, the largest defence contractor in Europe, is doing this is by creating sites across the UK to produce RDX explosives, which are used in 155mm rounds in British Army guns and weapons. It will also be seeking to build three new sites to add resilience and support our ramp-up of critical munitions production. According to John Healey, the defence secretary, the defence industry is the foundation of our ability to fight and win on the battlefield. He said: Strengthening homegrown artillery production is an important step in learning the lessons from Ukraine, boosting our industrial resilience and making defence an engine for growth. BAE Systems said it has developed new methods to create the new weapons, describing it as an innovative way to keep up with demand while removing the need for nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine, which are high in demand across global supply chains. Previously, the company imported RDX explosives from two main sources, the US and France. However, it wants to be in a place where its munitions are deemed to be Itar-free, meaning it can be bought and sold on without any restrictions from the US. Steve Cardew, the business development director at BAE Systems maritime and land defence solutions, said: Our leap forward in synthetic energetics and propellant manufacture will strengthen the UKs supply chain resilience and support our ramp up of critical munitions production to meet growing demand in response to the increasingly uncertain world were living in. It also supports economic growth through high-skilled jobs and potential export opportunities. Pete Hegseth at the Easter Egg roll at the White House on Monday - SAMUEL CORUM/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Donald Trump has backed Pete Hegseth amid rumours the White House has begun the process of looking for a new defence secretary. It comes after it was reported Mr Hegseth shared details of a attack on Houthi rebels in a Signal group chat with his wife and brother. Despite blaming leakers for the report and making clear that he had Mr Hegseths back, the president is said to have begun looking for a replacement, according to NPR. Mr Hegseth, who came under intense pressure last month for sharing US strike plans in a Signal chat which a journalist had mistakenly been added into, is said to have posted the same details in another group, which included his family members and his personal lawyer, sources said. In the second chat, which is understood to have been created by Mr Hegseth himself on his personal phone, the cabinet member allegedly posted details of the flight schedules of the F/A-18 air strikes against the Iran-backed group in Yemen. Mr Hegseths wife Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, has previously been criticised for reportedly attending sensitive meetings with foreign military counterparts, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move invited further questions about national security and top US officials using unclassified messaging apps to share sensitive information. Meanwhile, NPR reported the White House had begun the process of looking for a new defence secretary, citing a US official who was not authorised to speak publicly. Fake news Karoline Leavitt, Mr Trumps press secretary, who earlier insisted Mr Hegseth had the White Houses full backing, branded the story fake news. This @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about, she wrote on X. As the president said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef. The second Signal chat, which was named Defense Team Huddle included around a dozen people and was reportedly created before Mr Hegseth was confirmed as defence secretary. Mr Hegseth reportedly posted details of the strikes in both chats at around the same time. A source told The New York Times that Mr Hegseths aides had urged him not to discuss sensitive operations in his Signal group chat days before the strikes. While Mr Hegseths brother Phil and Tim Parlatore, his lawyer, both have jobs in the Pentagon, it is not clear why they would be informed about the planned strikes. The Signal chat reportedly included Dan Caldwell, one of Mr Hegseths leading advisers, who was escorted from the Pentagon last week after being identified during an investigation into leaks at the department of defence, according to officials. Following Mr Caldwells departure, less senior officials Darin Selnick, who recently became Mr Hegseths deputy chief of staff, and Colin Carroll were put on administrative leave, pending an investigation, the Pentagon confirmed. Mr Caldwell, Mr Selnick and Mr Carroll have denied leaking. In a joint statement on Saturday they said: Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. We still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with. Pentagon in disarray Elsewhere, in a bombshell op-ed for Politico, John Ullyot, who resigned from the Pentagon, said it is in total chaos and that Mr Hegseth was unlikely to remain in his role. The building is in disarray under Hegseths leadership, Mr Ullyot wrote on Sunday. The dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership. Mr Hegseth told reporters at the White House Easter Egg roll on Monday: [The media] take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me. I have spoken to the president, and we are going to continue fighting, on the same page all the way, he added. The president offered his full support to Mr Hegseth in a phone call on Saturday, the New York Times reported. Donald and Melania Trump on the Blue Room Balcony at the White House Easter egg roll on Monday The embattled defence secretary called Mr Trump at around 8pm, who blamed leakers for the report and made clear that he had his defence secretarys back. The president then instructed his team to publicly defend Mr Hegseth, according to the Times. During the White House Easter egg roll, Mr Trump expressed confidence in Mr Hegseth and criticised the fake news media. On the question of whether Mr Hegseth is doing a good job, he remarked: Ask the Houthis. Rachel Roddys fennel with pistachio, lemon and anchovy sauce. Photograph: Rachel Roddy/The Guardian I am looking after a pile of cookbooks at the moment. They belonged to the late cook and teacher Carla Tomasi, who wanted them to be useful, so gave them to the Latteria cooking studio. However, until the studio has more shelves, I have 15 of Carlas 60 books sitting by my desk. They are a well-loved pile, but five in particular stand out as having been used and used. The first is Dan Lepards Short and Sweet, which, thanks to grey duct tape, is just about holding together, and the second is Thane Princes Perfect Preserves, also duct-taped. The third is a 1985 edition of Claudia Rodens A Book of Middle Eastern Food, the fourth Elisabeth Luards 1991 The Flavours of Andalusia and the fifth Anna del Contes 1987 Gastronomy of Italy, all of which are missing at least one cover, have loose pages and bite marks (dogs?), are covered in brown paper and have their titles written on them with marker pen. As anyone who worked with or was taught by Carla will know, she was a cooking snowball: always gathering. Also, that she was immensely generous in her acknowledgements, carefully noting the place, book or person from whom she had gathered it. Del Conte, in particular, was someone who came up constantly, and Carla referred to Gastronomy of Italy, which she bought a few years after arriving in London, as a life-changing book that taught her about the country she had left. I have been imagining myself as 35-year-old Carla, sitting at her kitchen table just off Tottenham Court Road, making notes on the map at the beginning of the book. Later, when Carla was giving lessons upstairs at Books for Cooks, she would meet Anna. Years after that, Carla and I would make Annas fennel with pistachio, lemon and anchovy sauce for a class at Latteria Studio. Anna had learned the recipe from the 18th-century writer Vincenzo Corrado, to whom she refers as one of her favourite cookery writers and notes that the dish leaves you delighted yet puzzled as to how such an unlikely combination of flavours could blend with such complete harmony. Carla agreed and I did, too and here is the recipe. Corrados concise recipe includes no mention of resting, or indeed any serving suggestions, for that matter, but he was writing in 1773 and for experienced cooks preparing extravagant, carefully controlled feasts. Del Conte, on the other hand, writing in 1986, suggests covering and resting the dish in the fridge for 24 hours, then bringing it back to room temperature before serving. I took the opportunity to taste at various stages and two stood out: about an hour after mixing, when the dressing has started to sink in but the lemon is still fresh; and after 24 hours, by which time the dressing and fennel are inseparable and the dish sits halfway between a dressed vegetable and a relish. Complete harmony served with a few crushed pistachios, more olive oil and the reserved fennel fronds, plus roast chicken, grilled fish, pork chops or hard-boiled eggs. Anna del Conte and Vincenzo Corrados fennel with pistachio, lemon and anchovy sauce Serves 4 3-4 fennel bulbs (about 700g in total) 300ml dry white wine 2 bay leaves 2cm cinnamon stick 8 whole peppercorns 30g pistachios, skin rubbed away as much as possible, plus extra to finish 3 anchovy fillets 1 tsp sugar 4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra to serve 2 tsp white-wine vinegar 2-4 tbsp lemon juice, plus finely grated lemon zest to taste Trim the fennel and remove and discard the outer layer if bruised or particularly thick; save any frilly fronds. Cut the bulbs first into quarters and then into slim wedges (dont worry if they fall apart a bit). Put the wine, bay leaves, cinnamon and peppercorns in a pan, add the fennel and enough water just to cover the fennel, then bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about eight minutes, until the fennel is just tender. Drain and put the fennel in a shallow dish. For the sauce, and working in either a mortar or food processor, grind or blend the pistachios, anchovy, sugar, olive oil and white-wine vinegar to a thick paste. Add the lemon juice, tasting as you go, and the lemon zest to your liking. Pour the dressing over the fennel, toss well, then rest for 20 minutes to 24 hours (for anything over two hours, cover and keep in fridge). Before serving, let the dish return to room temperature, then finish with a few crushed pistachios, a bit more olive oil and the reserved fennel fronds, if you like. Pete Hegseth at the White House on 17 April. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Pressure was mounting on the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, on Monday following reports of a second Signal chatroom used to discuss sensitive military operations, while a former top Pentagon spokesperson slammed the USs top military officials leadership of the Department of Defense. John Ullyot, who resigned last week after initially serving as Pentagon spokesperson, said in a opinion essay published by Politico on Sunday that the Pentagon has been overwhelmed by staff drama and turnover in the initial months of the second Trump administration. Ullyot called the situation a full-blown meltdown that could cost Hegseth, a 44-year-old former Fox News host and national guard officer, his job as defense secretary. Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership, Ullyot wrote. Related: Pete Hegseth shared Yemen attack details in second Signal chat report Donald Trump Jr pushed back on the opinion piece, saying the author is officially exiled from Trumps political movement. This guy is not America First, Trump Jr wrote on X. Ive been hearing for years that he works his ass off to subvert my fathers agenda. That ends today. The warning came as the New York Times reported that Hegseth shared details of a US attack on Yemeni Houthi rebels last month in a second Signal chat that he created himself and included his wife, his brother and about a dozen other people. The Guardian has independently confirmed the existence of Hegseths own private group chat. According to unnamed sources familiar with the chat who spoke to the Times, Hegseth sent the private group of his personal associates some of the same information, including the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets that would strike Houthi rebel targets in Yemen, that he also shared with another Signal group of top officials that was created by Mike Waltz, the national security adviser. The existence of the Signal group chat created by Waltz, in which detailed attack plans were divulged by Hegseth to other Trump administration officials on the private messaging app, were made public by the Atlantic magazines Jeffrey Goldberg, who had been accidentally added to the group. The existence of a second Signal chat, coupled with Ullyots devastating portrait of the Pentagon under Hegseth, is likely to increase pressure on the White House to take action. Trump defended Hegseth at the annual Easter egg roll event at the White House. Petes doing a great job, the president said. Just ask the Houthis how hes doing. Its just fake news. They just bring up stories. It sounds like disgruntled employees. He was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people and thats what hes doing. You dont always have friends when you do that. Hegseth himself blamed disgruntled former employees in remarks to reporters at the same event. What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax, Hegseth said. This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. He continued: Not going to work with me, because were changing the defense department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war-fighters. And anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesnt matter. The Pentagons chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, issued a statement in a post on X on Sunday night following the New York Times report. Another day, another old story back from the dead, Parnell said. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trumps agenda. This time, the New York Times and all other Fake News that repeat their garbage are enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trumps agenda. Weve already achieved so much for the American warfighter, and will never back down. Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic senator from Illinois and combat veteran, said in a statement that the second Signal chat put the lives of US men and women in uniform at greater risk: How many times does Pete Hegseth need to leak classified intelligence before Donald Trump and Republicans understand that he isnt only a f*cking liar, he is a threat to our national security? Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops lives are endangered by his singular stupidity, Duckworth said. He must resign in disgrace. Related: US federal employees improperly shared sensitive documents report Jack Reed, a Democratic senator from Rhode Island and a senior member of the Senate armed services committee, said the report, if true, is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseths reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military service member is required to follow. Reed called on Hegseth to immediately explain why he reportedly texted classified information that could endanger American service members lives on a commercial app that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. Reed said he had warned that Mr Hegseth lacks the experience, competence, and character to run the Department of Defense. In light of the ongoing chaos, dysfunction, and mass firings under Mr Hegseths leadership, it seems that those objections were well-founded. Ullyot warned that under Hegseth the Pentagon focus is no longer on warfighting, but on endless drama and said the president deserves better than the current mishegoss at the Pentagon. Pete Hegseth at the White House Easter egg roll on Monday - Alex Brandon The US defence secretary allegedly shared details of a secret attack on Houthi rebels in a message group that included his wife and brother. Pete Hegseth, who came under intense pressure last month for sharing US strike plans in a Signal chat with a journalist, posted the same details in another group, which included his family members and his personal lawyer, sources said. In the second chat, which is understood to have been created by Mr Hegseth himself on his personal phone, Mr Trumps cabinet member allegedly posted details of the flight schedules of the F/A-18 air strikes against the Iran-backed group in Yemen. Mr Hegseths wife Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, has been criticised for reportedly attending sensitive meetings with foreign military counterparts, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move will invite further questions about national security and top US officials using unclassified messaging apps to share sensitive information. One US defence source told The Times that the Pentagon emailed staff threatening them with potential lie detector tests if they were suspected of leaking classified or sensitive information. It comes after Donald Trumps most senior national security officials were last month embroiled in a row after details of an attack on the Houthis were shared in a chat Signal group that included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Mr Trump dismissed the scandal as a witch-hunt, attacked Mr Goldberg and defied calls to sack Mike Waltz, his national security adviser who added the journalist to the chat. The second Signal chat, which was named Defense Team Huddle included around a dozen people and was reportedly created before Mr Hegseth was confirmed as defence secretary. Mr Hegseth reportedly posted details of the strikes in both chats at around the same time. A source told The New York Times Mr Hegseths aides had urged him not to discuss sensitive operations in his Signal group chat days before the strikes. While Mr Hegseths brother Phil and Tim Parlatore, his lawyer, both have jobs in the Pentagon, it is not clear why they would need to have been informed about the planned strikes. The Signal chat reportedly included Dan Caldwell, one of Mr Hegseths leading advisers, who was escorted from the Pentagon last week after being identified during an investigation into leaks at the department of defence, according to officials. Following Mr Caldwells departure, less senior officials Darin Selnick, who recently became Mr Hegseths deputy chief of staff, and Colin Carroll were put on administrative leave, officials said. Mr Caldwell, Mr Selnick and Mr Carroll have denied leaking. In a joint statement on Saturday they said: Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. We still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with. Sources told The New York Times that Mr Hegseth did not use the second chat to discuss sensitive military operations and said it did not include other cabinet officials. The truth is that there is an informal group chat that started before confirmation of his closest advisers, an official told the paper. Nothing classified was ever discussed on that chat. We are going to continue fighting Mr Hegseth told reporters at the White House Easter Egg roll: [The media] take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me. I have spoken to the president, and we are going to continue fighting, on the same page all the way, he added. The president offered his full support to Mr Hegseth in a phone call on Saturday, the New York Times reported. The embattled defence secretary called Mr Trump at around 8pm, who blamed leakers for the report and made clear that he had his defence secretarys back. The president then instructed his team to publicly defend Mr Hegseth, according to the Times. During the White House Easter egg roll on Monday, Mr Trump expressed confidence in Mr Hegseth and criticised the fake news media. Mr Trump defended Mr Hegseth during the Easter event at the White House - Alex Brandon On the question of whether Mr Hegseth is doing a good job, he remarked: Ask the Houthis. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, also reiterated that Mr Trump is standing behind his defence secretary. The president absolutely has confidence in secretary Hegseth. I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands behind him, she said. Reports about the second chat come weeks after Steven Stebbins, the head of the Pentagons internal watchdog, would review Mr Hegseths use of the messaging app Signal to discuss highly sensitive military information. John Ullyot, who resigned from the Pentagon last week, wrote on Sunday that the department of defence was close to collapse. Mr Ullyot, who insists he still supports the Trump administrations national security policies, in Politico: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon and its becoming a real problem for the administration. Top staff at the Pentagon were fired last week and Mr Ullyot warned there may be more to come. Hegseth is now presiding over a strange and baffling purge that has left him without senior advisers, Mr Ullyot wrote. More firings may be coming, according to rumors in the building. Biden and Trump staff shared White House floor plans with thousands The reports come after White House officials under Joe Biden and Mr Trumps administration reportedly shared floor plans of the presidents official residence with thousands of federal workers. Staff at the General Service Administration (GSA) shared a Google Drive folder containing sensitive documents from at least 2021 until last week with the agencys 11,200 staff members, the Washington Post reported. The information shared included potentially classified information, such as details of a proposed blast door for the White House visitors centre, and staff were able to access and edit at least 10 of the 15 documents. Nine of the files were reportedly marked CUI for controlled unclassified information, which refers to sensitive information that does not meet the criteria for classification but must still be protected. A White House spokesman said: No matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same non-story, they cant change the fact that no classified information was shared. Recently-fired leakers are continuing to misrepresent the truth to soothe their shattered egos and undermine the Presidents agenda, but the administration will continue to hold them accountable. A spokesman for the Pentagon said: Another day, another old story back from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trumps agenda. This time, the New York Times and all other fake news that repeat their garbage are enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the secretary and the presidents agenda. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the office of the secretary of defence is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing president Trumps agenda. Weve already achieved so much for the American war fighter and will never back down. The Telegraph contacted the GSA for comment. Pope Francis with the US vice-president, JD Vance, at the popes Domus Santa Marta residence on 20 April. Photograph: Vatican/Getty Images Not long before what would turn out to be his final public appearance, a blessing of the crowds who had gathered for Easter Sunday mass in St Peters Square and an unexpected popemobile tour of the piazza, Pope Francis received a devout if perhaps unlikely visitor. Among the last people to see and speak to the pontiff in the hours before his death early on Monday morning was the US vice-president, JD Vance, a zealous, albeit comparatively recent, convert to Roman Catholicism. The pair met on Sunday morning at the Domus Santa Marta guest house, the down-to-earth lodgings where Francis lived during his 12-year papacy. According to statements from the Vatican and Vances office, the two men spoke for a few minutes to exchange Easter greetings, and the 88-year-old pope gave the vice-president rosaries, a Vatican tie and three big chocolate Easter eggs, one for each of his children. Despite Vances much-touted faith, the encounter was one that few in Washington or Rome would have predicted. He and Francis had had deep and public disagreements in recent months over the Trump administrations attitudes to immigration, not least its mass deportation efforts. In a letter to Catholic bishops in the US in February, the leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Roman Catholics described the mass deportations as a major crisis that was damaging the dignity of many men and women. Francis acknowledged the right of a country to keep its communities safe from people who had committed violent or serious crimes, but said: What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly. For a US administration that prides itself on plain speaking, the bishop of Romes thoughts could not have been more plainly spoken. Francis also sought to rebut Vances claims that the US governments actions were justified by a concept from medieval Catholic theology known as ordo amoris, or rightly ordered love. The vice-president had invoked the concept to suggest there was a clear hierarchy of care, and that compassion should be focused on ones community and fellow citizens before it was extended to the rest of the world. Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups, the pope pointed out in his letter to the bishops. The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception. Vance acknowledged the pontiffs criticism, but said he would continue to defend his views. He did not address the issue specifically during an appearance at the national Catholic prayer breakfast in Washington DC in February, but called himself a baby Catholic and acknowledged there were things about the faith that I dont know. It was not the first time that Francis had openly criticised Trumps policies. During a visit to Mexico in February 2016, nine months before the election that gave Trump his first term, the pontiff offered a blunt response to the business magnates plans for a border wall between the US and its southern neighbour. A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian, he said. This is not the gospel. Trump was stung. For a religious leader to question a persons faith is disgraceful, he said in response. No leader, especially a religious leader, has the right to question another mans religion or faith. The day before he met the pope, Trumps No 2 had sat down with the Vaticans secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and its foreign minister, the archbishop Paul Gallagher. The Vatican said the talks had been cordial, but it noted that there had been an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners. For all their past disagreements, one of Franciss final visitors was among the first to offer his condolences on the popes death. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis, Vance posted on X on Monday. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of Covid. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. The contents of Sunday mornings meeting between the two men are unlikely ever to be divulged, but in Franciss final Urbi et Orbi message, which was read out on his behalf at mass in St Peters Square on Sunday, the Jesuit pope issued a familiar and characteristic appeal for kindness and empathy. How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalised, and migrants, he said. On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas. For all of us are children of God. Public figures across the world have paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death, including US vice president JD Vance who met the obviously very ill pontiff on Sunday. Mr Vance met Pope Francis in Rome on Easter Sunday, just hours before the pontiffs death aged 88. Months after Francis criticised President Donald Trumps administration over their plans to deport migrants en masse, Pope Francis offered Mr Vance three chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children in Sundays brief meeting. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025 I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis, Mr Vance posted to X. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. Mr Vance said he will always remember the pontiff for a beautiful homily he gave after the outbreak of Covid-19 in which Pope Francis called for listeners to embrace hope. Mr Trump later posted to his Truth Social account: Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! French President Emmanuel Macron said Pope Francis wanted to unite people with one another and with nature as he shared a tribute to a grieving world. Da Buenos Aires a Roma, Papa Francesco voleva che la Chiesa porti gioia e speranza ai piu poveri. Che unisca gli Umani tra di loro e con la natura. Possa tale speranza risuscitare perpetuamente oltre a lui. A tutti i Cattolici, pic.twitter.com/5vBJOcHZMe Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 21, 2025 From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest, Mr Macron said on X. To unite people with one another and with nature. May this hope be reborn endlessly beyond him. Fondly recalling meetings with the pontiff, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modhi said he was deeply pained by the death. Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the pic.twitter.com/QKod5yTXrB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2025 Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world, he said in a statement posted to X. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky shared a photograph from a 2023 meeting he had with Francis in which the pontiff told him he is praying for peace after Russias invasion of Ukraine. Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Franciss passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church. He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We pic.twitter.com/Ww6NtsbWWS Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) April 21, 2025 He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity, Mr Zelensky said in his statement. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. US actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg said Francis had a love of humanity and laughter. Goldberg met the Pope twice in 12 months, first in 2023 and then as one of a group of 100 of the worlds most famous comedians who congregated at an event organised by the Vatican in Rome in 2024. Whoopi Goldberg said Pope Francis had a love for humanit and laughter (Isabel Infantes/PA) The meeting of comics was organised by the Vatican, with Pope Francis stating at the event that comedians have the power to spread serenity and smiles. You unite people because laughter is contagious, he told the congregation. Goldberg said in a post to Instagram: He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christs love enveloped believer and none believer. He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Francis with your love of humanity (and) laughter. Former US president Barack Obama said Pope Francis made us want to be better people. Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we pic.twitter.com/AFI0BEotUO Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 21, 2025 Sharing a picture to X of the pair smiling as they shook hands in the White Houses Oval Office in 2015, Mr Obama said: Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another. May we continue to heed his call to never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope. Meanwhile, fellow former US president Joe Biden said the pontiff will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time. It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. For decades, he served pic.twitter.com/GsE03QNoHj Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 21, 2025 He was unlike any who came before him, Mr Biden said on X. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the Peoples Pope a light of faith, hope, and love. In televised remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that the pope died immediately after Easter, suggesting that this is a special sign that the person has lived their life not in vain and has done a lot of good. Mr Putin said Russians will always remember his highly positive attitude to Russia. BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley has said that her sister is the best shes ever been, after being moved into a residential care home. The DJ, 59, has been vocal about her younger sister, Frances, who has cri du chat syndrome, a genetic disorder, and has spoken up for people with learning difficulties, saying they are often neglected. In an interview with Saga Magazine, Whiley spoke about moving her sister into a care home run by Mencap, an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities, and the constant worry she has about whether or not her sister is happy. She said: So many people who were carers or had children or siblings in care said it was such a relief to see that, because it is so hard relinquishing someone you love to somebody elses care. You worry so much. The one constant throughout my life is whether Frances is happy, and that awful feeling of, Oh God, is she being looked after?. Weve tried many different homes. Frances doesnt sleep easily she wont sleep in her bedroom, she has tantrums, so you need a place thats very tolerant of challenging behaviour and knows how to manage things like her running away. But right now shes probably the best shes ever been. Earlier this year she posted a video on Instagram of Frances in the residential care home, praising care workers and staff for their support. She said: I just wanted to share this because its so lovely and brilliant on many levels. My sister Frances lives in a residential care home. One of her brilliant support workers, Sarah sent me this film of Frances listening to my radio show last week. She heard me say it was Peter Gabriels 75th Birthday and then play Dont Give Up so you can hear her say Happy Birthday Gabriel!! and then she sings along to the song accompanied by her beloved day-glo Furbies who look like theyre really going for it! Fantastic heart-melting stuff that I just wanted to share. Glimpses of life like this is invaluable to anyone who has a family member living in the care of others. If you do work in the care system please know you are massively appreciated and the role you play in the lives of families is huge. Also the power of music and radio to bring joy and connectivity never to be underestimated Whiley also spoke about the anticipation of an empty nest, before her youngest daughter Coco, heads to university, and how she coped when her eldest, India, left home. She said: The first time I dropped India off I had to take a Valium. I guess well go and see friends and away for weekends to fill the gaps. But actually Im very contented in my own company, pottering about. Its more the anticipation of an empty nest. There are so many dogs and other pets that are surrendered to shelters by their families. Sometimes it's due to situations out of the family's control, like loss of job or home, a major illness, or even a move to a new place that doesn't allow pets. Other times, people just tire of their pet or decide they no longer want to take care of them. I'm not sure why this senior dog named Angel's family decided to surrender him, but he's still waiting for them to come back for him. Angel is currently at a shelter in Riverside, California, and the sad old guy spends his day looking for his family. When I got to the part in the video that said, "How do you tell him he's euth listed because nobody wants him," it broke my heart! It breaks my heart to see Angel just waiting for his family to come back. He must be so sad and confused. He needs a second chance! TikToker Mistermnn shared the video and is begging for someone to give this sweet boy a home in which to spend his golden years. He shared in the video's caption, "He needs medical care ASAP, and dental care very badly. Medical, spay, dental, and supplies will easily cost $1300. If we can raise enough pledges and funds for him, we can save him." Related: Orange Cat Abandoned by Family Still 'Waits at Bus Stop' for Kids to Come Home Commenters Reactions to Senior Dog Angel's Need for Medical Care Reading through the comments was so heartwarming. People care about Angel and want to help find him a home. @EvanIsabelle shared, "I hope this goes viral and he gets all the help and love he needs!" Many viewers left comments similar to @Juliana's Mom, "Boosting for this very sweet deserving baby!" Mistermnn said in the video's caption, "This angel needs a foster home (Orange County, Riverside County and San Diego County)." Commenter @Robyn stepped up, "Im in Costa Mesa, California and can foster." I hope that she does! If you'd like to learn more about Angel or other dogs in need in Riverside County, you can visit the website. You can also learn about how to become a foster or make a donation as well. Your donation doesn't have to be monetary! You can volunteer at one of their shelters to help support the animals in need there. It's a great way to give back to your community and to get some dog snuggles while you're at it! Narayan Kumar Subedi showing a photo of his son. Composite: Gaurav Pokharel/The Guardian When Narayan Kumar Subedi received a call from his daughter in the United States three weeks ago, he expected to hear news of his two childrens life abroad, perhaps even plans for a long-awaited reunion. Instead, he was told his 36-year-old son Ashish, a Bhutanese refugee resettled in the US, was being deported. Ashish had been caught in a domestic dispute that led to police involvement. After several days in detention without proper legal support, he was caught up in Donald Trumps migration crackdown and deported to Bhutan. But what followed was a surreal sequence of events that left Ashish and nine other Bhutanese refugees stateless: abandoned by the country they once fled, expelled by the one they tried to call home, and detained by the one they sought refuge in. Narayan was one of 100,000 Nepali-speaking Bhutanese who fled the country in the early 1990s to escape persecution. Many saw emigration as the only hope for a future. Narayans children were granted refugee status in the US, but Narayan himself was disqualified over paperwork errors and he still lives in the Beldangi refugee camp in eastern Nepal. Now, decades later, his son is back but not welcomed by Bhutan, nor recognized in Nepal. According to Nepals director general of immigration, Govinda Prasad Rijal, four of the 10 deported Bhutanese refugees, including Ashish, were taken into custody for entering Nepal illegally via India. They were taken from the refugee camp on 28 March because they had entered Nepal without valid visas, he said. Since the matter is still under investigation, we have not decided whether they will be deported to India, returned to Bhutan, or what other action might be taken. However, after the family filed a habeas corpus petition in Nepals supreme court, the court issued an order to produce them before the court on 24 April and not to deport them until then. Ashish and nine others were first flown from the US to Delhi, where they were reportedly treated well and even put up in a hotel during transit. The following day, they were flown to Paro international airport in Bhutan. There, according to Ashishs father, the Bhutanese government welcomed them courteously but didnt allow them to stay long. After routine questioning, the group was handed 30,000 Indian rupees each and transported to the Indian border town of Phuentsholing. Within 24 hours, they were out of Bhutan again. The fact that Bhutan accepted them from the United States shows an acknowledgment of their citizenship. But deporting them to the Indian border within a day reveals a deceptive character, said Dr Gopal Krishna Shiwakoti, former chair of the Asia Pacific Rights Network. Its strange in itself to send them to a country that had earlier refused to recognize them as its citizens, leading the US to resettle them in a third country. From Phuentsholing, the group made its way to Nepal through Indian intermediaries. Later, Ashish and his friends Santosh Darji, Roshan Tamang and Ashok Gurung were detained by Nepalese authorities. I was shocked, Narayan says. To be treated like a criminal in your own refugee camp, after all these years it breaks you. Nepal has no comprehensive legal framework addressing refugee protection or statelessness. That leaves people like Ashish in legal limbo neither welcomed back by Bhutan nor recognized as refugees in Nepal. Tulsi Bhattarai, the immigration officer leading the investigation, confirmed that four of the 10 individuals were in custody. Their statements confirm they entered Nepal from Bhutan via India, he said. Weve collected documents from their time in the refugee camps and submitted a full report. Activists argue the situation echoes the early days of the 1990s refugee crisis. Weve come full circle, says Shiwakoti. This is a 360-degree repeat of history. Nepal must urgently initiate diplomatic engagement with Bhutan to resolve this issue. From 2007 to 2018, more than 113,000 Bhutanese refugees were resettled in third countries, mainly the US, according to the UNHCR. But about 6,500 still remain in camps in Nepal, caught in a state of indefinite limbo. Now, for deportees like Ashish, a new crisis is unfolding. International rights groups are raising alarm. In a joint statement, Bhutanese political and civil society leaders have appealed to the United Nations, the US and Indian embassies, and the government of Nepal for intervention. Their core demand is that the 10 deported individuals be recognized as Bhutanese nationals and protected under international refugee law. These people are not just numbers. They have histories, identities and rights, says Ram Karki, coordinator of the Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB). Back in Beldangi, Narayan waits. His son remains in custody, with uncertain future. I just want my son to be free, he adds. We lost our country once. Must we lose it again? Veteran ice cream seller Paul St Hilaire Sr (right), pictured with his son Paul, accused the authority of wanting to stop genuine competition A Labour-run council has denied being anti-ice cream over plans to restrict sales in some streets. The Royal Borough of Greenwich, in south-east London, wants to ban itinerant ice cream vans from trading in more than 30 roads in the area, including King William Walk, a popular tourist site near the Royal Observatory. But the plans have faced opposition, including from Paul St Hilaire Sr, who has been selling ice creams in the borough for 30 years. He previously challenged the ban at Bromley magistrates court, which last August ordered the council to re-run its consultation into the proposals. However, the ban is now expected to be approved at a full council meeting after residents and 16 local organisations expressed support for the proposal during the new consultation, with nine opposed. The council said the restrictions were needed in King William Walk because ice cream queues were blocking the path for pedestrians, causing particular problems for the elderly, the disabled and those with pushchairs. Residents have also raised concerns about pollution from vans, which keep their engines running to power their machines. We do love an ice cream, actually Cllr Pat Slattery, the authoritys cabinet member for neighbourhoods, told a recent council meeting: I think it is important to say that the council is not anti-ice cream. There are ice cream vendors in a reasonable spit of where this ice cream van regularly parks up. Cllr Anthony Okereke, the leader of the council, said: We are not banning ice creams in Greenwich in any way, shape or form. We do love an ice cream, actually. However, Susan Hall, a Conservative London Assembly member, described the ban as ludicrous, telling The Telegraph: The council should rethink this policy. Are they all hell-bent on destroying any fun in Sadiq Khans London? In documents seen by The Telegraph, one local said they feared exhaust fumes were damaging the health of people living nearby, with some ice cream vans keeping their engines running for up to eight hours a day. Another complained the vans blocked views of the areas World Heritage Site, while also contributing to noise pollution caused by their chimes. Unsuitable location The University of Greenwich was among the groups to support the restrictions. It said King William Walk was an unsuitable location for ice cream vans because of the obstruction caused to traffic and pedestrians, while also warning that they affect local businesses. Mr St Hilaire Sr has previously accused the council of wanting to stop genuine competition. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service last year: Ive been doing my business for 30 years, Ive raised a family. I have all my children that are here working and providing services for the wider community. All I want is to be able to sell my ice cream. A council spokesperson said: We want vibrant, safe, and attractive town centres, high streets and shopping parades, that suit local people and support inclusive economic growth. Ice cream vans have never been banned from the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Itinerant ice cream vans, ones that move from place to place, can trade from hundreds of roads in our borough and this is still the case. Earlier this year we re-ran a small part of a consultation about street trading in King William Walk. This is a busy road in the middle of Greenwich Town Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We encouraged feedback from neighbours, ice cream traders and residents and businesses. As a result, cabinet is recommended to prohibit itinerant ice cream vans on this road, as it would potentially force people, including the elderly, disabled and those with pushchairs, into the road. This is particularly pronounced in Greenwich, which is a historic town centre with narrow pavements. The majority of consultees agreed with the proposals. Kathy Bates portrayed Annie Wilkes, an obsessive former nurse who held a best-selling author captive, in the 1990 film Misery - Maximum Film/Alamy Stock Photo A stalker who styled herself after a character from a horror film has been jailed. Holly White, 27, sent sinister messages to a male nurse and his girlfriend under the name of Kathy Bates, the actress who played an obsessive character in the psychological thriller Misery. White, who was a psychiatric patient at Liverpools Clock View mental health facilities in 2019, became infatuated with Daniel McCann, who was a nursing assistant. Sefton magistrates court heard White first messaged him on Facebook claiming she wanted to thank him for his help and told him: You are a credit to the NHS. White claimed that she had fallen in love with Mr McCann. When he did not reply to her messages, she contacted him under the alias Kathy Bates, the actress who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes, a murderous former nurse who holds a best-selling author captive, claiming to be his number one fan. Holly White claimed she was in love with Mr McCann, a nursing assistant at the hospital she was staying at for mental health issues - Cavendish Press Mr McCann brushed off the messages at first, but contacted the police when White sent death threats to Eva Hegarty, his girlfriend, writing: Hope you can run because if I ever see you, you are dead. I hate you, you dirty little paedo. Good luck getting a fella if you ever break up with Daniel. Ms Hegarty also received messages from the Kathy Bates account, which said: Does Danny being fat make you uncomfortable? and No engagement ring yet sexy? The couple, who are both nurses, were disturbed by the messages and moved away from Liverpool to an undisclosed location. I had to move away In statements read to the court, Mr McCann and Ms Hegarty said White had left them extremely anxious and stressed. Ms Hegarty said: She threatened to hurt me and she even stated that she hoped I would get raped. I wouldnt stay on my own in my own home. I was constantly looking over my shoulder. At one stage, I was too afraid to walk down the street in daylight hours in case she was around. She has really changed the way we are living our lives. Mr McCann said: I am constantly stressed and paranoid about any contact from Holly. I felt intimidated by her. Eventually, I had to move away from Liverpool, a city I was born and raised in. White also sent topless photos to Mr McCanns mother. The court also heard White had spent two months in hospital for various mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, which is how she crossed paths with Mr McCann. According to the Daily Mail, White was jailed for 16 weeks after admitting to one charge of harassment against the couple between February and June last year, along with one count of threatening to do serious harm to Ms Hegarty. White was also issued a restraining order that banned her from contacting the couple for 10 years. Steve Charters, defending, said that White was having relationship issues, has since reduced her medication and is now in a better place. Rubbish piles up on the streets of Birmingham In apparent desperation, local government officials recently served papers on persons unknown living on a roundabout in central London. The occupants of the area highlighted in court documents are a shifting cast of characters who, as those whove witnessed it will attest, sleep under dirty sheets of plastic, use the verge as a toilet and subsist by taking what they can from bins, skips and shops. They while away their days lounging around their camp, fiddling with their smartphones and swilling beer. Apparently, there are frequent fights. For the best part of six months, council officials and charities have offered these unsavoury characters little more than tea and sympathy. The Lefts common refrain is that nobody chooses to sleep rough. Except it seems sometimes they do: many of this lot have repeatedly been offered alternative accommodation, yet insist on staying put. It would be nice to share their story: where they come from and why they choose to make public land beneath the A40 Westway in Paddington their home. If they are not in fact guilty of daily raids on nearby branches of fast food joints or local stores (as exasperated staff at these businesses claim) they could make that plain. Unfortunately, as those who have been threatened, chased, and even pelted with stones can testify, approaching them can be dangerous. Month after month, Londoners are expected to put up with this just as communities all over the country are expected to put up with other appalling anti-social behaviour on our streets. Too often, the police cannot, or will not, do anything hence Transport for Londons (TfL) appeal to the courts for possession of property in Paddington. Doubtless, proceedings will take an age. In the meantime, the lads known locally as the Stella Boys due to their daytime lager-drinking habit continue to do exactly as they please. The same goes for umpteen other petty criminals, vandals, muggers and drug dealers in our towns and cities. Many appear to have no fear whatsoever of breaking the law littering, ticket-dodging, grabbing what they can from shops in broad daylight. Of course urban areas have always had pickpockets and hoodlums. The difference these days is the way authorities respond. Confronted with wilful vagrancy, officials bend over backwards to appease those responsible for degrading our streets. Even as councils face financial crises, all the talk is of safeguarding homeless residents, as opposed to condemnation of criminal behaviour. When TfL and Westminster city council were battling to remove an encampment of Roma from the heart of Mayfair last year, for example, TfL persistently emphasised the safety and welfare of a group of self-confessed professional beggars. The council adopted the same tone, declaring the welfare of rough sleepers to be of the utmost importance. What about the welfare of taxpayers; and the importance of clean, safe cities? Dealing with a similar problem outside one of Londons premier teaching hospitals, nearby Camden council was even more craven. After countless police reports of drug use, urination, defecation, and intimidation of NHS staff and patients, the local authority briefly took a stand, ordering bin men to remove a tent and other detritus. Cue a furious backlash from the usual hand-wringers and a grovelling public apology. Instead of doubling down, the council which is in financial crisis pledged to provide even more services to this vulnerable group. Up and down the country, such indulgence has only served to embolden those who have seemingly no interest in making any positive contribution to our communities. And this problem will only escalate, given an increasing number of asylum seekers and illegal migrants are now reportedly homeless. Barred from working, they have little to do. And it seems that, far from demonstrating any gratitude for the sanctuary they have found in the UK, some appear to feel entitled to treat their hosts the British taxpayer with contempt. As more migrants pour across the Channel, stretching the capacity of Houses in Multiple Occupation and hotels, slums like this could mushroom, and we seem likely to witness more of the conduct which has no place in a civilised country like ours. It would be little surprise if some individuals arriving from war zones and other desperate places brought a fighting-for-survival mentality with them. When convicted paedophiles, drug dealers and other violent criminals routinely avoid being returned to their countries of origin, when failed asylum seekers are allowed to remain in Britain because they have been here too long to be deported, is it any wonder that those guilty of lesser offences might feel no fear? In a glimpse of how bad things have already become, earlier this month, a machete-wielding youth was spotted casually wandering around a housing estate in Boston, Lincolnshire. This was suburbia on a sunny Friday afternoon. Such behaviour should be unthinkable, yet is becoming more common in modern-day Britain. Lest this come across as immigrant bashing, let me reiterate that appalling behaviour in public places is hardly the preserve of recent arrivals. The most notorious gangs linked to stabbings and shootings in London, Manchester and other conurbations were born and bred here. But whilst notorious mobs are very definitely a problem for the UK Government, asylum seekers and other recent immigrants who flagrantly abuse our hospitality and break the law ought to be someone elses concern. Their right to remain should be conditional on minimum standards of behaviour. As of last Friday, the court papers served on the Stella Boys lay unopened a few metres from their encampment. The documents appear to have been deposited on the tarmac by someone in a hurry. Presumably, they didnt fancy getting too close and who can blame them? The claim describes how much effort has been made by staff employed by the Greater London Authority and other outreach and charitable organisations to encourage the gang to leave. The truth? Far too much time has been wasted playing nice with thugs, at the expense of everyone else. Until tea and sympathy is replaced with something much more robust, we will not reclaim our increasingly lawless streets. George Chen, in an undated photo. Photograph: Courtesy of Eight Tables Chang Chang, a Sichuan restaurant in Washington DC, was already noticing that some of its business had dropped off after tens of thousands of federal workers living in the area lost their jobs. But the recent tariff rate hikes mark an even greater blow for the restaurant. Sichuan peppercorns, which create the signature numbing spice of the regional Chinese cuisine, along with other ingredients, face an at least 145% tariff after last weeks tit-for-tat trade battle between China and the United States. The steep rate is an existential threat for restaurants across the country that rely on specialty ingredients imported from China to craft the authentic flavors of their dishes, said operators who were blindsided. Were really worried, said Jen Lin-Liu, the director of events for Chang Chang. The restaurant is part of the Peter Chang restaurant group that operates a dozen Sichuan restaurants across Washington, Virginia and Maryland. Related: Could Trumps tariffs give a green light for corporate profiteering? The restaurant group sources meats and vegetables from local farmers, including an Amish community in the Finger Lakes region that supplies its shiitake mushrooms and organic pork. Still, it is dependent on imported items such as fermented chili peppers and soy sauce, which give the dishes their unique taste. Some of the products that we need just do not exist in the United States, Lin-Liu said. The cost of other items is rising as well. There are increases in any supply you can think of, from takeout boxes to printer paper to menu printing paper, she said, adding that if the tariff rates stick, the price of a $20 dish may rise to $35 or $40. George Chen, the chef who created Eight Tables, a fine-dining restaurant in San Francisco, said that while some of the items on his menu may be replaceable with options from Taiwan, it undermines the integrity hes put into sourcing the unique ingredients for his dishes. Replacements disrupt complex long-term relationships, explained Chen. It took me years to find the special spice vendors or the organic tea farmer in China from my many years living and working there. Eight Tables is part of a larger marketplace called China Live, which includes a dining hall, a cold-drinks bar and a shop that sells wares including chopsticks, glass tea mugs and pots. The area most concerning is our retail platform, said Chen. For those items, its not possible to re-order at the tariff rates. For direct importers, like the Mala Market, an online shop, the tariffs on Chinese products threaten its entire business model. Sichuan peppercorns are popular on the site, but it also sells a number of items produced in their original region using traditional methods. The owner, Taylor Holliday, calls these heritage products, which include soy sauce handcrafted in Zhongba, fermented soybeans aged for three years in Sichuan and sesame paste stone-ground in Shandong. Related: US small business owner says China tariffs endanger her company: I could lose my home These are products which have been made in that exact area for hundreds if not thousands of years, said Holliday. They have such a history, theres no way these products can be made anywhere else. While part of Hollidays business supplies wholesale items to restaurants around the country, the majority of its orders are from home cooks. A lot of our customers are people who have a cultural or emotional attachment to China, Holliday said. Its more than just the food, its a cultural attachment to these products. EMei, a Sichuan restaurant in Philadelphia, sources not only its peppercorns from China but also items such as chopsticks and plastic cutlery for takeout orders. Similar to many Chinese restaurants, delivery is a major part of the restaurants business. So far, this is the main impact for us, said Dan Tsao, the owner of EMei, who said the tariff hikes add about $1 to $1.50 to each delivery order. The tariffs may also create a supply issue for these items. Importers are pausing more of their orders from China. They think 125% is crazy, Tsao said. While the restaurant sources many of its ingredients from local farmers, it still relies on some imports from other countries. It orders broccoli from Mexico, shrimp from Ecuador and rice from Thailand. Rice is especially critical; the restaurant runs through a supply of about 200 pounds each night, Tsao said. Since Donald Trumps liberation day announcement earlier this month, the price per pound has already risen more than 25%. The frenetic nature of the tariff policy shifts has left owners and suppliers cautious about which steps to take and how to plan for the future. Related: Temu and Shein warn of US price hikes from next week due to Trump tariffs Tsao has plans to open two more restaurants later this year and has noticed some construction estimates for renovations rising. Most of the building materials come from China, too. Im hesitating now, he said. The possibility of a recession while the prices of supplies and renovations keep going up may change his calculation. There will be all these ripple effects on the system and theres so much economic uncertainty, he added. Holliday said she has one container of product already on the way from China that is scheduled to clear US customs in about five weeks, but will not raise prices until she is forced to. Im praying that something happens by then, she said. But if it doesnt, shes resigned to paying the tariffs. Theres no other way we can run our business, she said. Every shelter dog deserves the night that Nina had recently. The dog got to experience some true lovin at the hands of one of the shelter volunteers when the woman brought her home for a sleepover. How cute! Now the dog needs someone to come and adopt her, so that every night will be just as fun as this one. Nine is currently at City Dogs in Cleveland, Ohio where shes getting the best care. However Nina needs so much more than a shelter can give her. Which is where you can step in. All it takes is one person going the extra mile for a rescue dog to totally change their day. Just take a look at how much the Pit Bull was loving all the one-on-one time with the shelters volunteers. She was really into every moment. Look at how comfy she got on the volunteers couch! Related: Moment Terrified Rescue Pit Bull Finds Courage to Step Out of Crate Is Everything What a gentle, sweet girl! But as the shelter themselves noted, the fun cant stop here. Shes ready for a home of her own, they explained. The Pittie has been waiting for a permanent place since December. Lets see that she gets one! People in the comments section were hoping pulling for Nina. Someone please bless this beautiful pup with a forever home, wrote one person. Im so glad she got to go on a sleepover. What a relief to get a break from the shelter. I love how comfortable she is. Hopefully her new lucky family sees this video and goes and adopts her, chimed in another commenter. It wouldnt last as a sleep over. They would be home. I couldnt return them without a part of me dying inside, admitted one person. May Nina get the comfiest couch to melt into furever, someone else added. If Ninas stolen your heart, you can still apply for adoption! Just head to the City Dogs website and fill out their online forms. This good girl could be yours! And just think of all the sleepovers youll have in the future! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. A mass was held for the soul of Pope Francis hours after his death on Easter Monday, as the Archbishop of Glasgow said his social values resonated with the people of Scotland. Around 400 mourners attended a 1pm mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in Glasgow less than seven hours after Franciss death aged 88 on Easter Monday. The Easter Monday Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis hailed the late leader of the Catholic Church as a father. The Most Rev William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow, told the congregation: Today we mark the passing of Pope Francis from one life to the next. Commemorative order of service for a special Easter Monday Mass in memory of Pope Francis in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA) He added: That he died on Easter Monday reminds us that death has no end. In a eulogy, Archbishop Nolan said Pope Francis was very keen that the church should bring hope to people and compared him to a father. The archbishop praised the late Popes mercy and compassion, adding: We are all sad. Today we have lost a father. He told the congregation that when Francis was elected 12 years ago, aged 76, it didnt look like he would last that long. Archbishop Nolan said: His message yesterday in St Peters Square was a plea for peace in the world. Freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of thought the futility of the senseless deaths that are happening. Members of the congregation during a special Easter Monday Mass at St Andrews RC Metropolitan Cathedral in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA) After the eulogy, the archbishop said: All the resurrection hymns for Easter, let us hold in our minds today. The service was attended by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and MSP Paul Sweeney. Speaking after the service, Mr Sarwar described the Popes death as heartbreaking and praised his decency. Mr Sarwar said: The Pope was loved and respected by Catholics in Scotland, and around the world. He was loved and respected by all faiths. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (centre) was among those who attended the mass (Jane Barlow/PA) He urged for all of us to copy just a little of the decency, empathy and justice that the Pope encapsulated. After the service, Mr Nolan said he believed Pope Francis had changed the perception of the Catholic Church and that his strong social values resonated particularly with people in Scotland. He said the Glaswegian congregation was very supportive of the Pope due to his sense of social justice. Archbishop Nolan said: He was very keen the poor should be treated like fellow human beings and treated with dignity. He said Pope Franciss Easter message was his final words and his legacy, and that he had changed the perception of the Catholic church around the world. Mr Nolan said: We need compassion. We need people to compromise. What are my rights when a flight is delayed? Passengers who suffer flight disruption are often left unsure what they are entitled to. Here the PA news agency answers 13 key questions on assistance and compensation. Passengers often struggle to receive the assistance they are entitled to during major disruption (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) What flights are covered by UK consumer law? Flights operated by an airline departing from a UK airport, flights operated by a UK or EU airline arriving at a UK airport, or flights operated by a UK airline arriving at an EU airport. How long must a flight be delayed before I am entitled to assistance? It depends on the distance of the flight. For flights under 1,500km (932 miles) such as from Glasgow to Amsterdam: at least two hours. For flights between 1,500km (932 miles) and 3,500km (2,175 miles) such as from Manchester to Marrakesh: at least three hours. For flights over 3,500km (2,175 miles) such as from Heathrow to New York: at least four hours. What should this assistance include? A reasonable amount of food and drink (often via vouchers), a means for you to communicate (often by refunding the cost of phone calls), and accommodation and transfers if an overnight stay is required. What happens in reality? Airlines often fail to provide this assistance during major disruption because of being overwhelmed by requests and a shortage of available rooms in local hotels. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says in this scenario, passengers can organise their own assistance and claim the costs back from the airline by submitting receipts. Does that mean I should book a luxury hotel suite and order champagne? Airlines are unlikely to reimburse you for that. The CAA advises passengers not to spend more than is reasonable. How long must assistance be provided? Until your flight takes off or you accept a refund after deciding not to travel. What about getting to my destination? If a flight is cancelled, airlines are required to get you to your destination if you still want to travel. Most will book you onto another of their flights, but you may be entitled to travel with another airline or by an alternative mode of transport if it will get you to your destination significantly sooner. Passengers doing this are often required to purchase their own tickets and submit a claim to their original airline for reimbursement. What if I no longer want to travel? You are entitled to a refund if you have been delayed by more than five hours. Am I entitled to compensation for a delayed flight? Airlines may be liable for compensation if the reason for a delay is deemed within their control, such as a fault with the aircraft or pilot sickness. Causes of disruption classed as outside their control include severe weather, air traffic control restrictions and security alerts. How much can I claim for a delay? It depends on the length of the flight and how much its arrival was later than scheduled. For flights under 1,500km (932 miles): 220 for a delay of at least three hours. For flights between 1,500km (932 miles) and 3,500km (2,175 miles): 350 for a delay of at least three hours. For flights over 3,500km (2,175 miles): 260 for a delay of at least three hours but less than four hours. For flights over 3,500km (2,175 miles): 520 for a delay of at least four hours. What if my flight is cancelled? You are entitled to a refund or a replacement flight, and the same assistance as if your flight was delayed. Can I claim compensation if my flight is cancelled? You can if the reason is deemed within the airlines control, you received no more than 14 days notice, and depending on the timings of a new flight offered. If I can claim, how much money will I get? Between 110 and 520, depending on the length of the route and the timings of a new flight. Mourners attended Mass at the Basilica de San Jose de Flores in Argentina - Gustavo Garello/AP They poured in from all over the world from Kosovo and Indonesia to Norway and Australia. In dazzling sunshine, under cloudless blue skies, tens of thousands of people streamed up the broad avenue leading from the banks of the River Tiber to St Peters Basilica. Some were devout Catholics, there to pay their respects. Others simply happened to be on holiday in Rome and were anxious to experience a historic moment the death of a Pope. And then there were those who were in deep shock at the news that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88, just when it appeared that he was getting stronger after bouts of bronchitis and double pneumonia. Dominick Kerins, 24, from Leicester, was standing in a patch of shade opposite the basilica, trying to take it all in. He said: The whole thing is surreal because I was down in the tomb of the popes, beneath St Peters, when I got a text from my mum saying that Pope Francis had died. Im still in shock. I didnt expect it. I came here on holiday to experience Easter in Rome. Its an Easter I will never forget. A few hundred yards from St Peters, the Union flag outside the British embassy to the Holy See was flying at half mast. Television correspondents from around the world gave live interviews to their networks from positions in front of St Peters Square as priests, nuns and ordinary families gathered to remember Pope Francis. Less than 24 hours before that, the Argentinian pontiff had been driven around the square in his white popemobile. He had greeted the crowds with a few words from the balcony of St Peters Basilica and before that had granted an audience to JD Vance, the US vice-president. He may have looked a little frail, and his voice was hoarse, but to the world it seemed he was continuing along the road to recovery after surviving weeks in hospital and nearly dying from pneumonia. Mourners gathered in New Delhi and lit candles - Adnan Abidi/REUTERS Its a huge shock. Only yesterday he gave a blessing here in St Peters Square, said Emanuele Ponti, 50. He and his wife, Daniela Filippucci, 49, are from Assisi, in Umbria. The town is associated with St Francis, from whom the Pope took his name when he was elected in 2013, and the couple said they felt a particular affinity with the pontiff. Mr Ponti said: I am very sorry for his passing. Its the same feeling as when a close relative dies. You feel very alone. He was very different from those who went before him. He was the Pope of the poor, of the forgotten. But there were others who were less surprised by Pope Franciss death. Jenny Schon, 24, from Perth, who is on holiday with a friend, said: We were here yesterday [Sunday] and we saw the Pope say a few words from the balcony. Both of us thought Oh my God, he doesnt look very well. Its a bit eerie, the fact that he died just the day after he met JD Vance. Its a bit like when the Queen died after meeting Liz Truss. Seated in a wheelchair and sounding weak, the Pope greeted crowds on Easter Sunday and said: Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter. Credit: Vatican Media Jorgen Solum, 29, a Norwegian tourist on holiday with his girlfriend, Benedicte Johansen, 25, said: We saw him here in St Peters Square on Sunday and he looked pretty sick. He was only able to say four words. The Norwegians, both atheists, said they felt no spiritual connection to Pope Francis or the Catholic Church. Mr Solum said: It is sad that he is dead, of course. We came here because we wanted to see peoples reactions. I understand their sadness, even if I am not religious myself. For others, the death of the Pope has touched them deeply. Marco Limi, from Modena in northern Italy, said: Im very sad. He was truly a man of peace. He was an important figure for us Italians but also for the world as shown by the fact that he sat down with the American vice-president just yesterday. Mourners in St Peters Square held pictures of the Pope - Antonio Masiello/Getty A bouquet of flowers was placed on the base of an ornate lamp post in the middle of St Peters Square, along with a single red rose and a sunflower. At a nearby kiosk, owner Alessandro Trabalzini said the demand for Pope Francis rosaries was like nothing he had seen. He said: Normally we would sell around 100 a day. But so far and its only lunchtime we have sold nearly 1,000. Claire Trotter, from the Isle of Wight, said: Im not Catholic, but I can see its a big deal. I got goosebumps when I heard the news. Reni Meak, a nun from West Timor in Indonesia, said: For me its a shock. We knew his condition but we didnt expect him to die at Easter. We feel lost. For me, he was not only the Pope but a guide to my spiritual life. For some Catholic countries, there was a sharp generational difference in their reaction to the Popes death. Niamh Flynn, 27, from Kildare, was one of a group of young Irish women who were on holiday in Rome and went to St Peters after hearing the news. She said: My mum was crying when she heard the news, but for our generation it is very different. The sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests and the treatment of young unmarried mothers in the Magdalene Laundries has turned many Irish people against the Vatican, the young women said. Rachel OToole, 25, from Dublin, said: Ireland has changed. A lot of people have stepped away from the Church. In Britain, crowds of mourners gathered at the foot of a newly erected portrait of Pope Francis at the entrance of Westminster Cathedral in London. Some knelt and wept, while others lit candles in the Popes memory. Prayers were offered during a Latin Mass. Kyla Cordero, 34, a nurse, said: I really feel devastated, its a big loss for me, my family, for everyone who loves him. Catherine Michel, 74, a nanny, said: Its just very sad. He was so ill. He tried at the end to appear at the Easter celebration, and I thought that was marvellous. Sharirose Abat, 52, also a nurse, said: Were sad because we thought we were going to be able to see him when we visited Rome this Friday. Well still go and see his body. Angela Evans, 78, from Orpington in Kent, said she was shocked at the Popes death but drew some comfort from its timing. She said: Hes made it to Easter. I think thats probably what he wanted to do. Donald Trump and Pope Francis in 2017 - ALESSANDRA TARANTINO Donald Trump said he agrees with Pope Franciss message of tolerance for migrants, despite the White House previously clashing with the late pontiff. Speaking to reporters at the White House Easter egg roll on Monday, the US president was asked if he agreed with the Popes message of tolerance for migrants, to which he responded: Yeah, I do. He did not elaborate. Since January, Mr Trump has cracked down on the US-Mexico border and championed hardline immigration policies, including the deportation of hundreds of migrants to a top-security prison in El Salvador. Mr Trump described the late Pope as a very good man who loved the world, adding: and he especially loved people who were having a hard time, and thats good with me. The president also said that he wasnt sure if he would attend Pope Franciss funeral as he was still working on his schedule. The Pope met with JD Vance, the US vice-president, the day before he died. JD Vance and the Pope met hours before the pontiff died The pair had previously clashed over the administrations stance on migration and their plans to deport migrants en masse. The Pope had made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative US catholic church. After a public appeal from Pope Francis just weeks before Mr Trump took office, Joe Biden, the then-president, commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. The Pope changed church teaching to proclaim capital punishment inadmissible in all cases. The death penalty remains legal in 27 US states. Just days before he was hospitalised in February, the Pope also criticised the Trump administrations deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, the Pope appeared to respond to Mr Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Mr Vance had defended the administrations America-first crackdown by citing a concept from mediaeval Catholic theology known in Latin as ordo amoris. He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care to family first, followed by neighbours, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere. In his Feb 10 letter, Pope Francis appeared to correct Mr Vances understanding of the concept. Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups, he wrote. The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception. Mr Vance has since acknowledged the criticism but said he would continue to defend his views. During a Feb 28, appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, he called himself a baby Catholic and acknowledged there are things about the faith that I dont know. During his first presidential campaign, Mr Trump called the pontiffs suggestion he was not a Christian because of his plans to build a wall at the Mexican border disgraceful. A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian, the Pope said at the time. Sir Keir Starmer will aim to strengthen the UKs defence ties with New Zealand as he hosts the countrys prime minister on Tuesday. The Prime Minister and his counterpart, Christopher Luxon, are expected to visit a military base to see British and New Zealand personnel train Ukrainian troops as part of the UKs Operation Interflex. More than 54,000 Ukrainians have already received training under Operation Interflex, and Mr Luxon is expected to confirm on Tuesday that New Zealand will extend its support for the programme to the end of the year. In a further show of support for Ukraine, Sir Keir is expected to announce a deal worth 30 million for drones produced by SYOS Aerospace, a New Zealand company with a factory in Hampshire. Drones have become increasingly important over the course of the war in Ukraine, and now account for more battlefield casualties than artillery. The pair will also instruct their respective defence ministers to begin work on a new defence partnership between the UK and New Zealand, replacing the one signed in 2015. The UK and New Zealand already have long-standing defence links, with both nations belonging to the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network and the Royal New Zealand Navy providing a frigate, HMNZS Te Kaha, for the UK carrier strike group due to set sail for the Indian Ocean from Portsmouth on Tuesday. The UK is one of New Zealands oldest and closest partners. Together as Prime Ministers, @Keir_Starmer and I committed to that partnership. Together, we will work on shared issues such as economic growth, defence and global security. pic.twitter.com/2KkMypGDzL Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) October 24, 2024 Sir Keir said: From the beaches of Gallipoli to the vital work we have been doing together on Operation Interflex and our support for Ukraine, the UK and New Zealand have stood shoulder to shoulder for generations in pursuit of peace and stability. As the world becomes an increasingly dangerous place, I am proud how much we are doing together to support our national and economic security stepping up our defence spending, deploying our navies together in the Indo-Pacific, and continuing our work to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia. Later on Tuesday, Sir Keir is expected to welcome Mr Luxon to Downing Street for talks on trade and economic ties between their two countries. Observer front pages. Composite: The Observer Its known in every newsroom that a paper making almost any mistake is preferable to dealing with the fallout from moving the crossword. Youd rather print a weather forecast of locust rain. A recipe for poisoned cakes. Just so long as the puzzle is in its usual place. Puzzles do, however, move not often. Sometimes they even move publication, like when the Listeners tricky one moved to the Times. Whats about to happen in these parts is not that dramatic but it does mean we must brace ourselves that three puzzles will not be appearing in their usual places. Here are the answers to some anticipated questions as the Observer moves to its new premises. Where have you put my beloved Azed? Azeds up to 2,757 will remain in place on this website, accessible from the Azed index. From 2,758 (27 April), Azeds will appear at observer.co.uk. There will be a new postal address for entries, while the PO box for the clue-writing competition will be just the same. Right but what about Everyman? And the Speedy, come to that? The entry-level Everyman puzzle and the noncryptic Speedy will likewise be found at observer.co.uk from numbers 4,097 and 1,542 respectively. Older ones will stay where they are in their archives. But I like to do a new quick crossword every day, including Sunday. Why didnt you think about that? A fair point, and we did. From 27 April, a Guardian quick crossword will appear seven days a week (and our noncryptic Weekend crossword is always there on Saturdays). For aspiring cryptic solvers, we have the weekend quick cryptic, then the Guardian week now begins in earnest on a Sunday with the gentler quiptic. For a more demanding, Azed-style puzzle, we have our monthly Genius and we hope to add some exciting new puzzles after the dust has settled. Im still not happy about the time you ran the quick on the same page as the cryptic. In the 1997 redesign, yes. My predecessor, Hugh Stephenson, remembers households with more than one solver fighting turf wars over the same section or, worse, tearing it in two. Everyone learned plenty from that experience, and now the Tortoise and Guardian teams are working together towards a seamless segue. Sorry again about 1997, though. Any other questions? No, you seem to have covered everything. Thanks. Ill check the comments in case anything else comes up. While Im here, its hard to comprehend that Paul has now been setting for the Guardian for 30 years, an anniversary we will return to here. And in our cluing conference for SOUNDALIKE, the audacity award goes to GappyTooths self-referential Alans hollow kludos that is distributed when ones won, perhaps. The runners-up are AmusingJays A thumbs up online after solid cryptic clue, and Schroducks Type of crossword clue thats even more decent, as a Geordie might say?. And the winner is the arty Impressionist is very French, a surrealist and extremely knowledgable. Kludos to Mr_Rob_T and please leave entries for CHANGE below, along with any favourite clues or puzzles you have spotted. 188 Words for Rain by Alan Connor is published by Ebury (16.99). To support the Guardian and the Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply COLUMBUS, Ohio Sally Malaret said she always joked that once she and her therapy dog, Fiona, accomplished 1,000 visits, the team could retire. On February 11, the duo accomplished that goal. But just two weeks later, on February 26, Fiona unexpectedly passed away. The 11-year-old Great Pyrenees-golden retriever mix developed sepsis in her stomach overnight. She had just completed 1,005 therapeutic visits. "She'd been at school Monday. She'd been at school Tuesday and Wednesday morning. She woke up not feeling well, and I immediately called the vet. Within eight hours, she was gone," Malaret said. Malaret, a resident of Pickerington, a Columbus, Ohio suburb, said her dog was a natural-born healer who was adept at making people feel better. Fiona was Malaret's second therapy dog, following the death of her golden retriever-Australian shepherd mix, Max, in 2014. "Fiona loved what she did. She never discriminated. She thought everyone should be her friend," she Malaret. "She could pick up (on) things going on with other people that I did not even pick up, and I would say, 'Is this going on in your life?' Or 'Why are you so sad today?' And they would say, 'How did you know?' And I'm like, 'I don't. My dog knew,'" she continued. 'Doors are being shut': Fake service dogs hurt real service animals' credibility, advocates warn Fiona, a therapy dog, and her owner and handler, Sally Malaret, were a dynamic duo. Just after completing 1,005 therapeutic visits, Fiona unexpectedly passed away on Feb. 26, 2025. Helping people heal: 'Something to cheer them up' Reflecting on Fiona's ability to make people smile, especially struggling children and older adults, Malaret said her dog made people feel safe to open up and share what they were going through. The pair would visit assisted living facilities, hospitals, behavioral health centers and students at both the Ohio State University and within the Pickerington Local School District. Recognized throughout the community, Fiona was the first dog to be recognized as an Everyday Kindness Hero in December 2024 by The Columbus Dispatch and Dispatch Magazines, part of the USA TODAY Network, alongside the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation. Malaret and Fiona were also named outstanding individuals for Pickerington Ridgeview Junior High School last spring. The duo's service to the community extended beyond schools and older people. Malaret said her dog helped her heal from the grief of losing her husband of 49 years, Bob, in April 2021. "When Fiona and I started, I just felt like we were doing a great service by seeing people smile that were in sad situations: kids struggling in the psych hospital, people being in detox facilities, just something to cheer them up," Malaret said. Meet Beacon. Beacon may need an agent, but you won't see the therapy dog with US gymnasts in Paris "If people would smile, it helped me to heal and not miss my husband so much, and she was just a constant companion. One night, I went to go to bed, and I was crying about my husband. She just came over to lay a paw on my arm, like, 'I'm not going until you stop crying,'" she added. From the beginning when Malaret and her husband drove to Kentucky on a whim to pick up their new dog to Fiona's passing just weeks after accomplishing the goal set out for her, Malaret said the timing with everything regarding Fiona was unexpected. She has continued her volunteering within Pickerington Schools following the loss of her dog, and now the community is working toward healing together. "I went to the high school. They want me to come back and just visit with the kids. One of the young men came in, and he said, 'Where is Fiona?' And I said, 'She passed away.' He stepped back out in the hallway," Malaret said. "I think he gave me three hugs because he was just trying to deal with Fiona being gone." Fiona was known to just walk into a room and make people smile. It was something she could do easily in the community to help people. Fiona had a 'very special bond' with resident at an assisted living facility One of Fiona's best friends was Agnes Stebelton, who was a resident at Abbington of Pickerington, an assisted living facility just east of Columbus. Stebelton lost her vision toward the end of her life, and the connection she and Fiona shared was innate, Sarita Bower, a close friend and former neighbor of Stebelton, said. "She (Fiona) would go immediately to Agnes' room door and just stop, and they would spend more time (together). She would just roll over and let her rub her belly, and they just had a very, very special bond," Bower said. When Stebelton passed away in 2018, Fiona attended her funeral. She seemed aware of the somber event, Bower said, almost like she was saying goodbye to her friend. "I tell you, that dog knew. Fiona knew. It was an open casket, and Fiona jumped up, and it was just like she was saying goodbye," Bower reflected. Similar to the support Fiona once gave her friend, the local community showed up for her celebration of life on March 7 the first held for a dog at the campus. Fiona, an 11-year-old Great Pyrenees-golden retriever mix, passed away unexpectedly at the end of February, soon after completing 1,000 visits as a therapy dog. This article was made possible by support from the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation, which has partnered with The Columbus Dispatch to profile those making our community a better place. Help us inspire kindness by suggesting people, initiatives, or organizations for Reporter Sophia Veneziano to profile. She can be reached at sveneziano@dispatch.com. Learn more at Dispatch.com/Kindness. The Dispatch retains full editorial independence for all content. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: An Ohio therapy dog's incredible 1,005 visits of comfort remembered Lindsey Granger and Kolyn Boyd shared tips for international trips with a baby or toddler. "World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus Lindsey Granger and Kolyn Boyd travel internationally with their toddler, Kynsley. They shared their top tips for international travel with young kids. They suggest building airline loyalty, packing medicines, and avoiding bus tours. International travel can be as overwhelming as it is awe-inspiring, especially when traveling with a toddler or baby. Enter Lindsey Granger and Kolyn Boyd, the Denver-based journalist and director/producer power couple who have traveled 167,000 miles with their 3-year-old Kynsley. They share their experiences on the " World of Travel " docuseries on Samsung TV Plus. Kynsley has been on 10 international trips to seven countries, including the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, St. Lucia, France, the UK, Turkey, and Greece. Granger and Boyd shared their top tips for traveling internationally with a baby or toddler with Business Insider. Airline loyalty can go a long way when traveling internationally. Kynsley chills in a premium cabin on an international flight. "World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus International travel often comes with connecting flights, which means there are multiple opportunities for delays and cancellations. So, airline loyalty can make a huge difference in how the carrier makes amends when things go awry. Granger and Boyd learned this on a trip to Greece when Kynsley was 2. They booked with Delta, an airline where they'd built up a rewards status. What should have been a one-day, two-flight trip became a two-day, three-flight trip. Their first flight was delayed, forcing them to take an additional connecting flight domestically to arrive the same day. Then, their international flight to Greece was canceled, so they were stuck overnight in New York City. Granger recapped their entire journey with a manager. "Please show some more courtesy or sympathy for the travel plan," she recalls saying. She said Delta then upgraded their entire group to first class for their round-trip flight to Greece. "We'd spent so much money and accumulated so many points with Delta that we were able to use that as collateral in that situation," Boyd said. "They helped us all out because of the status that we had at the time." If your child travels with another adult at any point during the trip, ensure you have the correct documentation. Additional documents are often required when a child travels internationally without a parent. "World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus Granger said it's important to ensure you understand all the passport and visa documentation your child needs to enter or exit the country you're traveling to, especially if your kid will be flying with another adult during your trip. According to the US Government, many countries require a consent letter when traveling without both parents. "Kynsley traveled with us to South Africa, and on the way back, she came home with my mom and dad," Granger said. "There were so many documents that she needed, rightfully so, to leave the country with her grandparents. I've read a lot of stories about people getting held up by not having those documents." When traveling with a baby, pack a noise machine. A noise machine may make your baby more comfortable abroad. kremez/Getty Images International destinations may lack certain comforts of home that babies and toddlers are used to, so Granger and Boyd suggest finding ways to bring those comforts along. For example, when Kynsley was a baby, Boyd said she slept with a noise machine that played ocean and wind sounds. "We traveled with the noisemaker so we could create the environment at home anywhere we went," Boyd said. "And we turned it up to 10." Granger said they'd blast the sound machine at the front of her door on international trips. "Even though at home it was lower, I knew all the noise happening outside, whether it was us or friends or family we were traveling with, would not distract her if she heard the sound that comforts her," Granger said. If you're headed to Europe, pack a stroller that can manage cobblestone streets. Kynsley's stroller broke while rolling on cobblestone streets. "World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus Granger and Boyd brought a cheap, folding stroller on their trip to Greece because they thought it would be easier to travel with than a heavy-duty stroller. But once they started to roll it on the cobblestone roads of Athens, they regretted it. "It's a very old, beautiful place, but our cheap stroller could not stand up to the cobblestone," Boyd said. Their stroller broke, and they had to buy a new one in Greece. So, the couple advises looking at the terrain of your destination and finding a stroller that can handle it. "Don't sacrifice on the stroller," Granger said. "Having something that's super sturdy but also very small might be worth the investment." Granger and Boyd recommend the Guava Roam Stroller because it's compact, foldable, and sturdy on all terrains. Pack over-the-counter medications rather than purchasing them as needed at your destination. A children's medicine aisle at a US pharmacy. Jeff Greenberg/Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images When traveling to another country with Kynsley, Granger said she packs a first-aid kit with "every option available over the counter," from cough and cold to allergy medications. "She rarely needs them, but there's always something that comes up when we're in another country and I'm not positive about their equivalent for something like Benadryl, for example," Granger said. "So instead of scrambling, I just have my whole tool kit on me." Granger noted that her medicine bag is often pulled to the side at TSA checkpoints, so it takes longer to get through security. "But that hassle is way less than the stress that you might have being international, where you don't have the right tools for your baby's sickness at 4 a.m.," she added. Before your trip, look up local clinics and pharmacies. A map of clinics and hospitals in Athens, Greece. Google Maps If you forget or run out of medicine, or your child has an unexpected health concern, you'll want to be prepared. So Granger advises researching clinics and pharmacies in the area just in case. She added that many hotels have on-call services. For example, Kynsley and Boyd got sunburn in Abu Dhabi, and they had a pharmacist deliver aloe vera at midnight. Skip the bus tour. Avoid bus tours with small kids. Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto You may be tempted to take a bus tour to get a lay of the land in a foreign country. Granger and Boyd have done so with Kynsley, but they regretted it. On these tours, Granger said Kynsley just wants to move around, not sit still. "I think kids are just too antsy to spend hours on a bus just hearing somebody speaking over the loudspeaker, explaining what's out the window," she said. "I think there have to be more options for engagement." Be wary of planning walking tours on busy streets. A busy street in Milan. Joey Hadden/Business Insider When the family went to Greece, Granger wanted to kick off the trip with a food tour. Boyd and Kynsley joined for 10 minutes before going back to the hotel. Why? A high traffic volume on cobblestone side streets, from cars to bikes and mopeds, made them feel unsafe with their 2-year-old in a stroller. "They were taking us to hole-in-the-walls to try local food, and it was just uncomfortable with mopeds flying by," Granger said. "When you think about the traffic situation, it becomes harder when a baby is too little and can't walk, and with a small kid." With a toddler, try taking public transportation in places with clean, efficient systems, like Europe. Public transit in Berlin. Joey Hadden/Insider When Kynsley was a baby, Granger and Boyd avoided public transportation because lugging baggage around with a baby is challenging, as is dealing with diaper changes when trying to catch a train. Now that Kynsley is 3.5 years old, they have started doing so in places like Europe, where they've found clean, efficient trains. They said Kynsley sees the train as another activity and enjoys looking out the windows and walking up and down the cars. "My No. 1 advice for traveling with a kid on a train is to avoid rush hour," Granger said. "So the middle of the day, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., is a great time to take the train with the kid. But other than that, just avoid it." Download Google Translate and learn basic words if you're traveling to a country where you don't speak the language. Google Translate is helpful for parents traveling to foreign countries. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto Communication can be challenging in foreign countries where you don't speak the language. And when you're traveling with a kid, there may be urgent situations where you need to get information right away, like where the bathroom is located. Granger recommends downloading Google Translate. "Most times, Google Translate is the way that we learn to speak another language very proper, not the way that people actually speak, but I think they usually get the gist and will point me in the right direction," she said. Granger said that being patient and considerate is important when asking for help. "You have to find somebody who looks open to having that conversation because people are just enjoying their regular days of their lives, not on vacation like you," she said. Before trips, Granger also learns basic words like "toilet" and "pharmacy" to facilitate communication. Read the original article on Business Insider Some 5 million Americans with defaulted student loan payments will have their loans sent for collections on May 5, the Department of Education announced on Monday. Next month, for the first time since student loan payments were paused due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Education Department will collect the debts from borrowers who had defaulted -- which means they hadnt paid their debts for around nine months or 270 days -- before the pandemic. The announcement comes as scores of Federal Student Aid (FSA) employees have been terminated at the Department of Education as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to shutter the agency, which creates uncertainty for borrowers and the future of the student loan system, according to former Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. MORE: Students protest Education Department closure in 'Hands Off Our Schools' rally The concern is that the department is, you know, cutting the people who would help borrowers make this transition, Kvaal told ABC News. Borrowers who are trying to get help by getting into an affordable repayment plan or by applying for loan forgiveness, if they're eligible, you know, just don't have the same resources that they did before the department staff was cut in half. PHOTO: An exterior view of the Department of Education building, March 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The pause -- started in 2020 in Trump's first administration -- for all 43 million student loan borrowers was implemented due to the economic hardship and disruption caused by COVID. This will be the first time in five years the repayments have begun. Kvaal said defaults can be tragic for borrowers. In some cases, Kvaal said, defaults can negatively impact credit scores and future student aid, and several states revoke drivers licenses over defaults. However, the department emphasized that its effort will protect taxpayers from shouldering the cost of federal student loans that borrowers "willingly" undertook. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon also said taxpayers will no longer be responsible for the irresponsible student loan policies of the previous administration. The Biden Administration misled borrowers: the executive branch does not have the constitutional authority to wipe debt away, nor do the loan balances simply disappear, McMahon wrote in a department release. Hundreds of billions have already been transferred to taxpayers. Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment -- both for the sake of their own financial health and our nations economic outlook. A defaulted loan is a loan that a borrower hasn't made payments on for 270 days, according to the office of federal student aid. When the loan officially enters default, it becomes eligible for mandatory collections. The collections on loans are typically done through wage garnishments, a legal procedure in which a person's earnings are required by court order to be withheld by an employer for the payment of a debt, according to the Department of Labor. Student debt can also be collected through offsetting tax refunds or other federal benefits, which Kvaal said can include ones Social Security. The collections process starting in just two weeks is blocking these borrowers' path out of default, according to Student Borrower Protection Center Executive Director Mike Pierce. Pierce said the Trump administration is feeding them into the maw of the government debt collection machine. MORE: Elizabeth Warren launches campaign to investigate Department of Education closure: 'I will fight it with everything I've got' This is cruel, unnecessary and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country," Pierce told ABC News in a statement. But the administration's efforts to place borrowers into involuntary collections programs will be paired with a comprehensive communications and outreach campaign to ensure borrowers understand how to return to repayment or get out of default, according to the department release. PHOTO: Students walk on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Feb. 5, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) The news also comes as the administration is working to rehome the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to other agencies. Trump announced the loan system would be moved to the Small Business Administration immediately during a White House event last month. After the announcement, Kvaal, who worked in senior roles in the Obama and Biden administrations, told ABC News his higher education portfolio under Obama included moving some loan functions to the Department of Treasury. But he warned shifting the student loan portfolio again could lead to real world consequences. We're at a point now where millions of borrowers are late on their student loans, he said. For the department to be focused on laying off half its staff and going through a fundamental reorganization of how it administers these programs, you know, in really critical weeks for borrowers who are trying to get into repayment plans or get loan forgiveness, I think it's very dangerous and puts at risk millions of borrowers of going into default on their loans. 5 million student loan borrowers face mandatory collections starting May 5 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Lion safari iStock.com/phototrip There are so many impressive creatures that roam freely in Africa, and going on an African safari is the coolest way to see them firsthand. Sure, zoos are great. But finding a black rhino in the wild or seeing the way giraffes interact in their natural habitat is an indescribable experience. Plus, just think of the amazing photos you can take if you see a real-life buffalo, cheetah, or chimpanzee up close! If youre planning a trip to Africa, which is no small undertaking, then you want to maximize your time there, which means a safari should be at the top of your to-do list. Although no tour can guarantee animal sightings, these highly rated tours, staffed by locals who are intimately familiar with the landscape, are your best chance of finding great spots to snap photos or simply soak in the moment. Its truly a bucket list experience, and with one of these amazing options booked, youll be all set. Get ready for an adventure in Africa that youll never forget. African Wildlife Safaris: Ultimate South Africa Here, a lioness snuggles with her cub in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Thomas Retterath/iStock via Getty Images When you think of African safaris, youre probably picturing South Africa, home to one of the most iconic wildlife safari destinations: Kruger National Park. On the Ultimate South Africa trip, you will see the Big 5 animals (lions, leopards, cape buffalo, elephants, and black rhinos, which are the most sought-after animals on the continent) at the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, bordering Kruger National Park. Youll go out on game drives, then relax in luxurious guest suites. Later, take a flight to Pretoria, where you can go on a stunning train ride to Cape Town. Youll also see the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve by horseback or check out the Marine Big 5, consisting of the great white shark, southern right whale, bottlenose dolphin, the Cape fur seal, and the African penguin. Incredible is an understatement. Prices vary and are available upon request. Learn more at AfricanWildlifeSafaris.com. Natural Habitat Adventures: Secluded Botswana Safari More than 70,000 elephants live in Botswanas Chobe National Park. iStock.com/Ondrej Prosicky Get fully immersed in the wildlife in Botswana on this Natural Habitat Adventures 12-day trip. Over nearly two weeks, youll see elephant herds, hippos and crocodiles, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions, leopards, and more wildlife in their natural habitats. Its the safari of your dreams! Fly just over the border in Zambia to begin your trip, where you will search for white rhinos in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Cross the border and visit Chobe National Park in Botswana to see its famous elephant herds. Youll also get to see big game in Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, stay in the organizations exclusive safari camp inside Okavango Delta to spot wild birds, and fly to Nat Habs Gomoti Camp-Okavango South to see a diverse medley of creatures. Prices start at $17,795. Learn more at NatHab.com. Ashanti African Tours: Ghana, Togo, and Benin Wildlife Tours See leopards in the savanna of West Africa and chimpanzees in the local rainforests. UrmasPhotoCom/iStock via Getty Images Visit West Africa to go on a safari tour in Ghana, where you can see black-bellied and white-bellied pangolin, forest elephants, bongos, chimpanzees, and other creatures in the local rainforests or the African elephant, leopard, lion, hyenas, and more in the savanna habitat of central Ghana. Ashanti African Tours offers a special three-country experience in their Ghana, Togo, and Benin Wildlife Tours, where you can see the Upper Guinea rainforests in Ghana and the wildlife park Pendjari in Benin, as well as dancing horses in northern Togo. If youre looking for an African safari that is a little different, this one is perfect. Prices vary and are available upon request. Learn more at AshantiAfricanTours.com. National Geographic Journeys: Kenya & Tanzania Safari Black rhinos are rare, and seeing one would be a highlight of a trip to Tanzania and Kenya. iStock.com/Black Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros, Savannah, Tanzania, Animal All the animals you might expect to see in an African safari like zebras, lions, and elephants and more await you on the National Geographic Journeys tour through Kenya and Tanzania. Lucky explorers might even spot the rare black rhino in the wild! This trip includes a visit to six different national parks, from Kenyas Masai Mara to the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Youll start in Nairobi, where youll see the pink flamingos and other birds at Lake Nakuru. Later, youll unpack your bags at the safari lodge inside Lake Nakuru National Park and go on a drive to spot rhinos. When you wake up, youll get another tour of this stunning area, where you can look for buffalo, impalas, lions, and other animals out in the wild. Other highlights in the trip include seeing hippos in Lake Naivasha; wildebeest, zebras, and giraffes on Crescent Island; lions and elephants on the Masai Mara National Reserve; leopards in the Serengeti National Park; and so much more. Overall, this trip will take you through six wildlife refuges, where you will stay in a variety of hotels and campgrounds. Its truly an immersive experience. Prices begin at $9,549 for 14 days. Learn more at NationalGeographic.com. Jenman African Safari: Madagascar Diving & Wildlife Adventure See the Indri Indri, the largest lemur species, on a trip to Madagascar. Pierre-Yves Babelon/Shutterstock.com Visit Madagascar for a different type of safari one thatll take you under the sea! Jenman African Safari offers many different Madagascar tours, including this one that shows you both land animals like Indri Indri, the largest lemur species, and sea creatures. Start in Nosy Sakatia, a little island in Madagascar reachable by a boat ride from Nosy Be Island. Here, youll stay in Sakatia Beachfront Villas. (Can you say paradise?) For the next few days, youll get to scuba dive in the clear blue waters and see the coral reefs, spinner dolphins, migrating humpback whales, sea turtles, and other species. From there, youll fly to Ivato Airport and make your way to Andasibe National Park, where youll see the beautiful rainforest. Guests will also visit Lemur Island to see these cuddly creatures up close. It may not be your typical African safari, but itll be a wonderful adventure, nonetheless. Prices start at $2,210. Learn more at JenmanSafaris.com. The post 5 Top-Rated African Safaris That Blow Your Mind appeared first on A-Z Animals. The reporter went on her first cruise with Royal Caribbean. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I went on my first cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in April 2022. After taking the trip, I think there are some things everyone should know before going on a cruise. Here's what I learned about what to pack, how to pick a cabin, and where to go for dinner. I had never even seen a cruise ship before I took my first cruise in April 2022. It was a seven-night voyage on one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. The ship sailed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. While I had a good time, some things would've made my trip easier and more comfortable. Here's what I think all first-time cruisers should know before setting sail. Some cruise ship cabins, like those at the front of the ship, can be rockier than others. The reporter's room was at the front of the ship. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Before booking, I should have researched how the location of a cabin can affect the amount of motion you feel while the ship is moving. My ocean-view cabin was at the front of the ship, and I didn't expect to feel as much movement in my cabin as I did. Shaky nights made it tough to sleep on the ship. Several seasoned cruisers on the voyage told me that the front of the ship was one of the worst places to feel motion. Higher decks in the middle of the ship felt calmer and more stable. If you are as prone to motion sickness as I am, I suggest choosing a room in the middle of the ship. The restaurants included in the cruise rate had a variety of food types and were high quality, so splurging on specialty restaurants wasn't necessary. The reporter's dinner in the main dining room. Joey Hadden/Business Insider One of the most distinctive things about cruising is that most meals, snacks, and drinks are included in the cruise rate. But on large ships like Wonder of the Seas, more than a dozen restaurants with specialty offerings, like sushi, are not included and incur additional charges, either a one-time fee or by the dish. I paid $40 to $60 for each meal. I reserved all specialty restaurants before my trip, but I wish I hadn't booked so many once I realized the included restaurants offered a wide range of delicious food. There was more than one buffet, and the main dining room served a three-course meal with changing menu items each night. These included options that satisfied every craving. One of the best meals I had was in the main dining room. Since I booked so many specialty restaurants, I didn't have time to try all the buffets or eat in the main dining room more than once. If I had known they'd be so satisfying, I would've saved money and eaten more of the included meals instead. Formal nights weren't enforced, so don't waste luggage space on nice outfits if you don't want to participate. The reporter on the first formal night. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I hate dressing formally, but I knew cruises required formal nights, so I brought one nice dress. After the first formal night, however, I learned that the dress code wasn't strictly enforced. I noticed people wore a variety of outfits, from evening gowns to T-shirts. I relaxed my look on the other two formal nights, but the dress felt like a waste of the limited space in my suitcase. If I had known it wasn't necessary to wear, I would've left it at home and brought multiple other articles in its place. Laundry on board was expensive, so bring a bar of laundry soap to save money. Inside the reporter's closet in her cabin. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Since I brought only a carry-on suitcase, I hoped to get some laundry done on board, but then I saw the pricing sheet. I live in New York City, and most apartments I've rented haven't included in-unit laundry, so I'm used to paying for my clothes to be washed. But rather than pricing by weight like local New York laundromats, Royal Caribbean charges for each article of clothing. Each shirt costs $4, and a dress costs $9, while washing just one pair of underwear costs $2. I thought this would add up fast, so I didn't do any laundry on my trip. In hindsight, I should have brought a bar of laundry soap to hand-wash a few things. Though it was a Caribbean cruise, I got chilly, so bring some warm clothing. The reporter on the windy top deck just after sunrise. Joey Hadden/Business Insider My favorite times to be on the top decks of the ship were early in the morning and late at night, when there weren't as many crowds. These were also the coldest, windiest parts of the day, which made me wish I'd brought more than one sweater and pair of pants. I would've brought a few more pairs of pants and another sweater to keep me warm (instead of the poofy formal dress). Since I didn't, I ended up wearing the same pants and sweater nearly every morning and evening. I would've brought my own case of water if I knew it was allowed. A case of water bottles in the author's room. Joey Hadden/Business Insider To ensure I stayed hydrated throughout my trip, I opted for the water bottle package while booking trip extras like restaurant reservations and excursions. For $16, Royal Caribbean delivered a case of 24 water bottles to my cabin. It seemed expensive for a pack of water, but I thought this was just part of the price of cruising. When I was boarding the ship, though, I noticed people carrying their own cases of water. That's when I realized Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring their own nonalcoholic beverages. If I had known this, I would've brought my own water and saved a few bucks. If I had known these details before my cruise, I could have had a better time while saving some money. Hopefully, my findings will help other first-time cruisers. The reporter at a port in front of the world's largest cruise ship. Joey Hadden/Business Insider While I enjoyed parts of my cruise, some of this knowledge could've made my trip much more comfortable. On my next cruise, I'll remember what I learned about cabin locations, formal nights, and cool, windy mornings sailing in the Caribbean Sea. Read the original article on Business Insider Evgeniya Vlasova/Travel + Leisure Scenic cityscape of Florence, Italy. Train vacation booking platform Railbookers has an Italian rail journey between Florence and Rome. The seven-day trip has cooking classes and wine tastings. In addition to food, you can explore the local art and architecture. Food is one of the best things about travelgoing to new places and eating dishes you may have never even heard of before is one of the most exciting things about visiting a new place. Now, train vacation booking platform Railbookers has a delicious new trip through Italy. The seven-day Florence to Rome: A Food Adventure takes travelers between the two iconic Italian cities, combining the country's rich history and architecture with its renowned culinary traditions. The excursion begins with three nights in Florence, where highlights include hands-on pizza and gelato-making classes and wine tastings in the picturesque Chianti Hills. However, the focus isn't solely on foodyou can also see Renaissance and Romanesque art and architecture like the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo di Firenze, and museums like the Uffizi Galleries or the Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze. In the evenings, travelers can feast on traditional Italian dinners at local enotecas (a wine cellar) and unwind in lively squares such as Piazza della Signoria. Related | A Local's Guide to Florence | Learn More Railbookers A pasta making class in Florence. During the journey, guests will travel on the high-speed Frecciarossa rail service, which has a leg operating between Florence and Rome. In Rome, travelers will spend three nights visiting ancient landmarks like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Roman Forumand, of course, they will also experience the Eternal Citys incredible food scene through guided food tours in historic piazzas and charming trattorias. As an added bonus, there's a pasta-making class, too. Related | 20 Best Things to Do in Rome | Learn More Although the Rome to Italy itinerary is certainly a standout option, Railbookers launched 11 new food-focused trips across Europe that range from seven to 17 days in length and combine the joy of European train travel with cooking classes, food tours, and wine tastings across destinations like Paris and Vienna. Other fun trips to consider include the Taste of Portugal, which visits Lisbon, the Douro Valley, and Porto; and the Taste of Spain, which visits several cities across the country. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Sumter County Sheriff's Office; GoFundMe Reuben Leonard; Ashly McFarland A South Carolina Man is accused of murdering his wife and then walking next door and murdering his neighbor's 11-year-old granddaughter. The Sumter County Sheriff's office alleges that Arthur Leonard, 80, walked into his neighbors' house with an assault rifle on the night of April 16 and began firing at the 10 or 11 people inside the dwelling at that time. Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner of the SCSO said at a news conference that an "11-year-old girl was shot and killed" in the gunfire. The Sumter County Coroner's Office identified the young victim to PEOPLE as Ashly McFarland. A GoFundMe set up for the family claims that the young girl's father was also shot while trying to take the shooter down after he opened fire. Sumter County Sheriff's Office Reuben Leonard Police were called to the house just before 11 p.m. in response to the incident and found family members holding Leonard back, according to the SCSO. Life-saving measures were performed on the girl by emergency medical technicians, but she was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, said Gardner. Things took an unexpected turn when deputies brought Leonard in for booking and he allegedly informed them that he'd also murdered his wife, according to the SCSO. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Deputies notified the Sumter Police Department, who went to perform a welfare check on Leonard's home and discovered his wife dead in their garage from an apparent gunshot wound. The Sumter County Coroner's Office identified that victim as 76-year-old Felicia Leonard. Gardner said at the press conference that there have been tensions between Leonard and the neighbors for some time because they often practice target shooting in their backyard, which is legal under state law. Leonard had called the SCSO on numerous occasions to complain about his neighbors, said Deputy Gardner, and many of the deputies were familiar with him and the situation involving his neighbors. GoFundMe Ashly McFarland The suspect was transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries and the following day booked into the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. Court records show that deputies had arrested Leonard just two days before the shooting on a breach of peace count. Leonard does not have a lawyer listed at this time. Meanwhile, the Sumter School District release a statement about Ashly, writing in part: "She was a bright and joyful student who made a lasting impact on her classmates, teachers, and school community. Her passing is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." Sheriff Anthony Dennis said that his investigators are "working diligently to uncover all the details," and said that the SCSO will share more information on this "horrific incident" once it becomes available. Read the original article on People Baleen Whale Migration - Gray Whale Migration Map EreborMountain/Shutterstock.com Baleen whales are some of the most unique and breathtaking animals. These huge marine mammals are some of the biggest to have ever existed and are found all over the world. Despite their size, these gentle giants are famed for eating only the smallest animals around. Not only that, but they are known for undertaking some of the longest migrations of any animal. Here well discover exactly why baleen whales migrate and where they travel to. What are Baleen Whales? Baleen whale have baleen plates instead of teeth jo Crebbin/Shutterstock.com There are fourteen species of baleen whale including blue, bowhead, right, fin, humpback, minke, and gray whales. Baleen whales are whales that have baleen plates instead of teeth. These baleen plates are made of keratin and grow in rows on each side of their mouths. They have bristles on them which act as a filter when the whale is feeding. The length of the baleen differs between species, with the right whale having the longest of them all. Baleen whales have two blowholes rather than one and are also usually much larger than their toothed counterparts. The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever lived and has been known to reach a whopping 110 feet long. Baleen whales mainly feed on krill, plankton, and small fish. They feed by taking in great mouthfuls of water which is filtered through the baleen plates which catch the krill or fish which the whales then swallow. Baleen whales have two methods of feeding skim feeding and lunge feeding. When they are skim feeding they swim slowly through swarms of fish or plankton with their mouth open to catch mouthfuls of food. However, some species such as the blue whale are lunge feeders and lunge at speed through huge clouds of krill to feed in mass quantities. Unlike toothed whales, baleen whales are usually solitary or travel in small groups, rather than large, social pods. They dont use echolocation, instead they communicate using low-frequency sounds known as songswhich can travel great distances. Even though they are solitary animals, they are usually always within communication range of other members of their species. These communication songs are thought to be used to warn of danger and to find each other for mating. Where do Baleen Whales Migrate to? Baleen whales migrate to tropical breeding grounds in the winter iStock.com/kenglye Although baleen whales are found in every major ocean, they are highly migratory. Many species of baleen whales migrate every year from the cold water feeding grounds where they spend the summer to the warm water breeding grounds for the winter. Their feeding grounds are higher latitude areas closer to the poles where the water is colder and the food is much more abundant, while the breeding grounds are closer to the equator. Baleen whales usually spend between four and six months during the summer in the rich feeding grounds of the polar waters. During this time they eat around 4% of their body weight each day which is much more than they require. All of this excess energy is stored as fat in their thick layer of blubber to sustain them through the winter. During the winter, baleen whales spend between six and eight months travelling to the tropical waters and giving birth. Throughout this time baleen whales eat much less or even not at all as there is much less food available. On average, they only eat 0.4% of their body weight per day during the winter, instead relying on the fat that they have stored up during the feeding season. Why do Baleen Whales Migrate? Baleen whales migrate so that calves are born in warmer water Christin Khan, NOAA / NEFSC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Original / License The main reason that the baleen whales migrate is so that they can give birth in the warmer tropical waters. When baleen whale calves are born they have underdeveloped blubber, which is the layer of fat that keeps them warm. As their blubber isnt fully developed it isnt thick enough to keep them warm in colder waters. This means that cold water could kill them. Therefore, by giving birth in the warmer waters, calves have enough time to develop a thick layer of blubber before they migrate back to their cold water feeding grounds. The other reason that baleen whales migrate to give birth in warmer waters is to protect their calves from killer whales. Killer whales are one of the main predators of baleen whale calves and are apex predators that hunt in packs. Although they can sometimes be found in tropical waters, they usually prefer colder water. This makes tropical waters much safer for baleen whale calves to be born in. Calves nurse for between 4 and 11 months and stick close to their mothers during the entire period. Nursing calves quickly grow from their mothers milk which has a fat content of almost 50%. During the nursing period, the calves learn many important behaviors from their mother, such as how to feed. Calves are usually weaned in their first summer spent in the feeding grounds and return to the tropical waters alone the following winter. How far do Baleen Whales Migrate? Gray whales have the longest migration of any animal in the world Mogens Trolle/Shutterstock.com Most species of baleen whale travel between 1,800 and 3,000 miles each way. Southern populations of humpback whales leave their Antarctic feeding grounds in January every year and spend three months travelling 3,000 miles to their breeding grounds in the waters of northern Australia. However, some species actually travel much shorter distances. The feeding grounds of sei whales arent as close to the poles so they dont migrate as far each year. Brydes whales prefer warmer waters of 16 degrees Celsius or more (61 degrees Fahrenheit) so they have a shorter migration as they feed in temperate waters and then travel to the equator to breed. However, some populations of Brydes whales are classed as resident whales. This is because they dont migrate at all and remain in one area all year round. Gray Whale Migration: The Longest Migration of Any Animal in the World! Gray whales have a single migratory pattern EreborMountain/Shutterstock.com Depending on the species and where they are located, some of these migrations can be extremely long. The gray whale has the longest recorded migration, not just of a whale, but of any animal in the world. Gray whales have been recorded as traveling an incredible 14,000 miles from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Baja Peninsula. Scientists recorded a gray whale migration in 2015 using GPS and were astonished that a 9-year old gray whale named Varvara logged a 13,887 mile journey! Amazingly, while gray whales cover journeys that reach nearly 14,000 miles, they are only three calving lagoons where they give birth to their babies. All are in Baja California. Blue Whale Migration Blue whales have migratory patterns across the world. (Please note the feeding and breeding rounds in the Southern hemisphere are flipped, any dots near the equator are breeding grounds) EreborMountain/Shutterstock.com The migratory patterns of blue whales are much more varied than gray whales and scientists are still searching for many answers into their migrations. For example, the breeding grounds of Southern hemisphere blue whales are still unknown, but are believed to be in the deep ocean across the tropical Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. In the Northern Hemisphere, blue whale migrations occur between favored breeding grounds such as Costa Rica and off the coast of California and the northerly waters they travel to to gorge themselves on abundant food. With blue whales having much less specific migratory patterns, some may even maintain year-round residency in certain geographies. Humpback Whale Migration Unlike gray whales, humpback whales have migratory patterns across the world and many breeding grounds (Please note the feeding and breeding rounds in the Southern hemisphere are flipped, any dots near the equator are breeding grounds) EreborMountain/Shutterstock.com Humpback whales maintain much more varied breeding grounds than gray whales. One popular breeding ground is Hawaii, where about 10,000 humpback whales migrate to each winter when they can be found between November and May. Cabo San Lucas is another popular location for spotting humpback whales during the winter, as humpbacks pass by on their way to breeding grounds in the Sea of Cortez and across the Mexican coast. Other popular breeding grounds for humpbacks are off the coast of Brazil, equatorial Africa on both coasts, along Japan, and Australias Queensland and western coasts. While most humpbacks migrate, its believed that the Arabian sea humpback is the exception. This little-studied group of humpbacks is isolated and appears to not follow migratory patterns seen in other humpbacks. Are Baleen Whales Endangered? Several species of baleen whale including humpback whales are endangered Paul S. Wolf/Shutterstock.com Sadly, several species of baleen whale are under threat, with blue, right, humpback, and sei whales all classed as endangered. Many of these populations were hunted almost to extinction during commercial whaling operations. However, although large-scale whaling is now a thing of the past there are still many hazards for these magnificent whales. Collisions with ships are a major factor for some species, particularly blue whales which are often unable to get out of the way quick enough due to their huge size. An increase in the speed of modern vessels in already busy shipping lanes also adds to this risk. As well as ship strikes, baleen whales face threats from pollution, disease, and entanglement in fishing gear. The post Discover the Incredible Baleen Whale Migration appeared first on A-Z Animals. The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history and the worst domestic terror attack on Hispanics the country has ever seen. Patrick Crusius, 26, entered a guilty plea to capital murder and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on April 21. Wearing a bulletproof vest, he stared straight ahead as the El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya read out the names of the nearly two dozen people killed in the massacre. District Court Judge Sam Medrano told the gunman that as he spends the rest of his life in prison, his name and hatred will be forgotten. On Aug. 3, 2019, you traveled nine hours to a city that would have welcomed you with open arms, but you brought hate, Medrano said. Now, as you begin to spend your life in prison, know your mission failed. You didnt make this community weaker, you made it stronger." He will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole as part of a deal that allowed him to avoid the death penalty. Montoya said last month that he was offering Crusius the deal in an effort to bring the case to a close for the victims' families. Crusius has already received 90 consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty to federal hate crimes and weapons charges in 2023. Federal prosecutors declined to pursue the death penalty. Gunman drove to El Paso targeting Hispanics On the morning of the attack, the gunman, who drove nearly 700 miles from Allen, Texas, to El Paso, began shooting at shoppers in the Walmart parking lot. He continued into the store and shot nine people to death in a bank inside the store. He killed another nine people in the aisles of the supermarket. In total, he killed 23 people and injured dozens. He turned himself in to a Texas Department of Public Safety state trooper. He admitted to law enforcement that he carried out the attack to stop what he claimed was the invasion of Hispanics into the United States. U.S. and Mexican citizens were killed in the attack. Minutes before the shootings, he posted writings online in which "he characterized himself as a white nationalist, motivated to kill Hispanics because they were immigrating to the United States," according to the Justice Department. "Crusius admitted to selecting El Paso, a border city, as his target to dissuade Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants from coming to the United States." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: El Paso Walmart shooting: Gunman who killed 23 pleads guilty By Fanny Potkin and Che Pan SINGAPORE/BEIJING (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies plans to begin mass shipments of its advanced 910C artificial intelligence chip to Chinese customers as early as next month, two people familiar with the matter said. Some shipments have already been made, they added. The timing is fortuitous for Chinese AI companies which have been left scrambling for domestic alternatives to the H20, the primary AI chip that Nvidia had until recently been allowed to sell freely in the Chinese market. This month, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration told Nvidia that sales of the H20 would require an export licence. Huawei's 910C, a graphics processing unit (GPU), represents an architectural evolution rather than a technological breakthrough, according to one of the two people and a third source familiar with its design. It achieves performance comparable to Nvidia's H100 chip by combining two 910B processors into a single package through advanced integration techniques, they said. That means it has double the computing power and memory capacity of the 910B and it also has incremental improvements, including enhanced support for diverse AI workload data, they added. All sources were not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified. Huawei declined to comment on what it called speculation about shipment plans for the 910C and its capabilities. Seeking to limit China's technological development, particularly advances for its military, Washington has cut China off from Nvidia's most advanced AI products including its flagship B200 chip. The H100 chip, for example, was banned from sale in China in 2022 by U.S. authorities before it was even launched. This has allowed Huawei and Chinese GPU startups such as Moore Threads and Iluvatar CoreX to go after what has primarily been a market dominated by Nvidia. The U.S. Commerce Department's latest export curbs on Nvidia's H20 "will mean that Huawei's Ascend 910C GPU will now become the hardware of choice for (Chinese) AI model developers and for deploying inference capacity," said Paul Triolo, a partner at consulting firm Albright Stonebridge Group. Late last year, Huawei distributed samples of the 910C to several technology firms and started accepting orders, sources have said. Reuters was not able to ascertain which companies would be primarily producing the 910C. China's SMIC is manufacturing some main components of the GPUs using its N+2 7nm process technology although its chip yield rates are low, a source has previously said. At least some of Huawei's 910C GPUs use semiconductors that were made by TSMC for China-based Sophgo, according to one of the sources and a fourth person. The Commerce Department has been investigating work done by the Taiwanese contract chip manufacturing giant for Sophgo after one of its TSMC-made chips was found in a 910B processor. TSMC made nearly three million chips in recent years that matched the design ordered by Sophgo, according to Lennart Heim, a researcher at RAND's Technology and Security and Policy Center in Arlington, Virginia, who is tracking Chinese developments in AI. Huawei reiterated that it has not used TSMC-made Sophgo chips. Sophgo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TSMC said it complies with regulatory requirements and it has not supplied Huawei since mid-September 2020. (Reporting by Fanny Potkin, Che Pan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) Brevard County Sheriff's Office Karly Anderson, 45 Newly released body cam footage shows elementary school teacher Karly Anderson arguing with police during a party attended by underage students Anderson was placed on administrative leave for a second time on April 14, as authorities investigate her attendance at the house party thrown by her former boss, the elementary school's principal One of the students allegedly got so drunk at the Jan. 19 party that EMTs had to come treat him on the front lawn of the principal's house, police said. The Florida teacher arrested for allegedly taking part in an alcohol-fueled house party attended by more than 100 students was placed on paid administrative leave for a second time after body cam footage showing her arguing with police became public. In newly released footage first obtained by ClickOrlando, an allegedly drunk Karly Anderson, 45, of Cocoa Beach, can be seen cursing and yelling at police when a student was placed in an ambulance. Who the f--- did you... who got put in that car? she says, seemingly slurring her words and referring to an ambulance, the footage shows, Fox 35 reports. 'Im concerned about a child thats being put into a machine, into one of these vehicles, and its not my f---ing business?" she allegedly says in the video, which was released by the State Attorney's Office. At one point during the video, she explains, Well, you know Im a teacher," NBC Miami reports. Related: Principal Accused of Hosting Alcohol-Fueled House Party with 100 Students, Including 1 Who Suffered 'Medical Event I was here hanging out at this party, she says. I mean, what the f---. The officer in the body cam footage tells Anderson there are like 200 kids here who are drinking, and then says, "and youre drunk as well. Anderson shoots back, Im not drunk. When he tells her he can smell it," she says, Oh, you smell it? At one point, Anderson asks the officer why he is yelling. Because youre here with your boss having a party with 200 kids who are drinking! the officer shouts at her. Get out of my face, now! On Tuesday, April 15, Anderson was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of her criminal case and an internal district investigation, ClickOrlando reports. The announcement came a day after Anderson had been reassigned from Roosevelt Elementary School to Saturn Elementary School because of her January arrest. 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. On the night of Jan. 19, police were called to the home of Roosevelt Elementary School principal Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, 47, of Cocoa Beach, after receiving calls about underage drinking and fighting at her home, Cocoa Beach Police said at the time. There, officers found more than 100 juveniles, many ages 13 to 17, many of whom were consuming alcohol that was later learned to be available in coolers at the residence, police said. The students were attending a White Lie party in which partygoers wore white t-shirts with little white lies written on them, Fox 35 reports. One underage partygoer was so heavily intoxicated that Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) had to respond to treat them, police said. Hill-Brodigan was charged with child neglect, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and holding an open house party, police said. Anderson was arrested and charged with child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She and Hill-Brodigan were placed on administrative leave at the time. On April 1, prosecutors dropped the child neglect charge against Anderson and charged her with disorderly conduct and disorderly intoxication, which are both misdemeanors, WESH reports. In a statement from Brevard Public Schools on Monday, April 14, it said, The State Attorney cleared Karly Anderson of the felony charges. [The] Department of Children and Family Services cleared Ms. Anderson as well. Shes a certified teacher and as of today shes been placed by the district back into a classroom." People in the community are upset at the two educators and what they saw in the footage, which led her to be placed on leave again. Brevard County Public School Board member Matt Susin called Andersons alleged actions in the body cam footage deplorable and disgusting, Fox 35 reports. Read the original article on People Last October, Hong Kongs highest-ranking financial minister trooped to Riyadh, Saudi Arabias capital city and the home of the Tadawul, its stock exchange. Surrounded by Saudi officials, Paul Chan pressed a button to launch the Middle Easts largest exchange-traded fund. The new ETF has $1.2 billion in assets under management, tracking 30 sharia-compliant companies that trade in the Chinese city. (One company that was excluded? Megabank HSBC, for charging interest.) Chan and several of his peers, including Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing CEO Bonnie Chan (no relation), are now regular visitors to the Middle East as the Chinese city tries to build ties with new sources of capital in the Gulf. The Hong KongDubai Cathay Pacific flight has just been packed the last three to four years, says Frederic Neumann, chief Asia economist at HSBC (who notes that he, too, has been traveling to the Middle East much more). Hong Kong is just one Asian economy trying to court Gulf moneyand not just from retail investors. Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, whether its Saudi Arabias trillion-dollar Public Investment Fund (PIF) or the UAEs array of institutions, are shifting their focus to the East. Investors in the Gulf are looking to diversify their investmentsand Asia, with its young populations, vibrant tech sectors, and fast-growing economies, offers the most exciting opportunities. Gulf countries need to find new markets, and the new markets which are most compelling are in Asia, explains Vasuki Shastry, a Dubai-based senior advisor at geopolitical risk firm Gatehouse Advisory Partners. If they can partner with other investment funds, can they find the next Jack Ma, the next diamond in the rough? Yet these closer financial ties are more than just a commercial exercise. They are strategic, as the Middle East tries to build a post-oil economy. And theyre geopolitical, as both the Gulf and Asia seek to hedge their bets as the U.S. flexes its economic muscle and the new Trump administration threatens to shake up trade and investment relationships. The Middle East's governments originally took (and still take) a more Eurocentric approach to money management. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates funneled their oil revenues toward public markets in developed economies in North America and Europe. Abu Dhabis Mubadala Investment Co., for example, allots just under half of its overseas investments to the U.S., far ahead of any other jurisdiction, per data from think tank Asia House. Just 2% is in China. That means investors in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) missed the boat a little bit in Asias rise, says Neumann. Now the Middle East is trying to catch up. Gulf investors are also looking to add other options to their portfolios, at a time when Western governments are stepping up scrutiny of overseas investments. Last year, the U.K. blocked a UAE backed effort to take over the Telegraph newspaper, and European governments grumbled over Gulf entities trying to expand their stake in local telcos. Its not an easy proposition that they can simply go out and buy a Western asset, Shastry says. The Gulf countries are uncomfortable with the level of scrutiny that comes with those kinds of investments. Thats pushing the Gulf to look at other markets, particularly Asia. Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds have continued quite an aggressive investment strategy in the region, says Ana Nacvalovaite, a sovereign wealth funds expert at the University of Oxford. Gulf investments in Asia are small, but growing. According to Global SWF, which tracks sovereign investments, the PIF invested $6.6 billion in Asian economies between 2022 and 2024, twice as much as what it invested in the region for the three years prior. Other GCC fundslike the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the Mubadala Investment Co., and the Qatar Investment Authorityalso grew their Asia investments over the same period. Still, Gulf investors are looking for more than a return on investment when it comes to Asia. HSBCs Neumann suggests that Middle Eastern funds are trying to get access to technology and know-how that can help their own domestic economies. Gulf investors, particularly from the UAE, have traditionally looked to India, banking on the regions long trading and business ties with the South Asian economy. Obviously, the UAE is home to any number of Indian billionaires. Theres familiarity there, says Shastry. India is almost like investing at home. Then theres China, a major buyer of Middle Eastern oil. GCC investment in China is more targeted than its investment elsewhere, even in Asia, Neumann says: You invest in China because theres a geostrategic diversification imperative and an access to technology imperative. Middle East investors are looking for big opportunities in key areasand in Asia, thats technology, says Nacvalovaite. Take EVs: In late 2023, CYVN Holdings, an Abu Dhabilinked company focused on mobility, invested $2.2 billion in Chinese EV startup Nio. Video gaming is another up-and-coming sector winning Middle Eastern attention. The PIFs many gaming investments include stakes in game developers Nintendo, Capcom, and Nexon, as well as China-based e-sports company Hero Esports. Hicham Chahine, founder of e-sports company NIP Group, soon to be based in Abu Dhabi, says the Gulfs interest in this sector helps investors tap a booming market: China is the largest gaming market in the world. Look at the potential of India, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea. The East has always been more advanced in gaming and e-sports than the West. Finally, theres Southeast Asia, particularly the Muslim-majority countries of Malaysia and Indonesia, which hope to bank on shared cultural and religious ties. The Indonesians and Malaysians are placing a great deal of emphasis on cultural similarity, Shastry explains. Here, Gulf investors are putting money toward real estate, data centers, raw materials, and infrastructure. Indonesia recently won a $10 billion pledge from the UAE for a new renewable-energy joint venture, backed by Indonesias new Danantara sovereign wealth fund. Pandu Sjahrir, chief investment officer of Danantara, notes that Abu Dhabi investors have been in very close contact as the fund was established. Hes bullish on Indonesia getting more investment from the Gulf. They see Indonesia has great wealth in resources, cheap energy, an abundant population, especially from the consumer side, Pandu says. Theyve made money the last eight to 10 years with Indonesia. They want to do more." Asian Financial centers are also trying to attract more Middle Eastern investment. Hong Kong and Singaporeboth hubs for wealth and family officesare trying to encourage wealthy people from the Gulf to put money in their cities. Hong Kong is particularly keen on this. In 2023, city officials made a boldand, so far, unsuccessfulbid to have oil giant Saudi Aramco conduct a secondary listing there. HKEX, meanwhile, opened an office in Riyadh. Hong Kong also hosts the Capital Markets Forum, a conference organized by the Saudi Tadawul. Neumann, from HSBC, admits its still too early to tell whether Hong Kongs courting of Middle Eastern money is working. But the citys tight links to Chinaimportant as a source of technology, buyer of oil, and potential security partnercould give it a leg up in attracting financial flows. Money does follow the political realities of the day, he says. Asian countries and companies are also looking to invest in the Gulf, as Saudi Arabia and the UAE strive to invest domestically and internationally. An array of large Chinese companies are choosing to expand into the Middle East. Meituan, the Chinese food delivery giant, launched services in Saudi Arabia last year, its first venture outside Chinese territory. Its the most lucrative market for Chinese companies, Shastry says, particularly as developed markets like the U.S. and Europe slap tariffs on Chinese goods. Dubai, he adds, "is completely filled with Chinese-made cars. According to research firm Canalys, three Chinese mobilephone brandsTranssion, Xiaomi, and Honorheld 37% of the Middle Eastern market (that includes Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, along with Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel), outweighing Apples or Samsungs market share. And Chinese companies looking for new markets may get a helping hand from Gulf governments. Funds like the PIF are eager to invest in their own domestic economies and are leveraging money to win new domestic offices and manufacturing hubs. In early January, PC manufacturer Lenovo won a $2 billion investment from Alat, a PIF-linked company, leading to a new Middle East headquarters in Riyadh and a Saudi-based factory. Even before the rise of U.S. President Donald Trump, Gulf countries were considering other options. Last year, Saudi Arabia and the UAE said they were thinking of joining the BRICS, the international bloc thats increasingly positioned as a counterweight to the West. The UAE is now a full member. Still, the Middle Easts security ties to the U.S. might make it difficult for the Gulf to have an unfettered financial relationship with China. In 2023, the U.S. grew increasingly concerned about G42, an Emirati AI company that boasted close relations with Chinese tech companies, including the U.S.-sanctioned Huawei. By the end of that year, G42 had agreed to cut ties with Chinese hardware suppliers, with CEO Peng Xiao admitting that the firm cant work with both sides. A few months later, Microsoft swooped in with a $1.5 billion investment. But the Gulf nations may decide that a more complicated world requires some investment flexibility. The geopolitical realities are such that global investors are looking more at diversification today. And thats true for Middle Eastern investors too, Neumann, from HSBC, says. And Pandu, from Danantara, is bullish that the Gulf will be convinced by what his country of Indonesia has to offer: The Gulf missed out on India; they missed out on China. They dont want to miss out on this one. This article appears in the April/May 2025: Asia issue of Fortune with the headline "Middle East money flows east." This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Getty Images George Clooney George Clooney has become one of Hollywoods most well-known silver foxes, proudly showing off variations of his natural salt-and-pepper hair and stubble in recent years. That all changed in March when the Oceans Eleven actor ditched his gray locks in favor of a dark brunette dye joband he revealed that fans dont recognize him anymore while giving a better look at the dramatic transformation during a recent interview. Clooney, who dyed his hair to star in a Broadway adaptation of Good Night, And Good Luck, told CNNs Jake Tapper that theres one silver lining in his otherwise horrible hair transformation. Showing off his dark brown hair, matching eyebrows, and a clean-shaven look for his portrayal of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, Clooney revealed that his makeover is so dramatic that it has given him a significant degree of anonymity. YouTube/CNN George Clooney's dark hair dye job during CNN interview with Jake Tapper The only good news is that I can walk in the streets of New York and nobody recognizes me. Its the craziest thing, he told the journalist. However, Clooney admitted he was eager to get back to his grays, adding, "Ive had this hair going for a bit and I hate it. Getty Images George Clooney backstage at Good Night, and good Luck Broadway play on April 10 While Clooneys CNN appearance had fans comparing him to John Goodman, Joe Piscopo, and even a "game show host" on X (formerly Twitter), he revealed that his wife Amal has strong feelings about the hair transformation. My wife hates it. She says, `Its not a good look on you, he shared. Getty Images George Clooney with Amal Clooney, who hates his dye job. Its not the first time the Up in the Air star has spoken out about his new look, as he previously told The New York Times in a February interview that Amal was going to hate it because nothing makes you look older than when an older guy dyes his hair." He also revealed that he was anticipating a not-so-favorable reaction to his new hair from his 7-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, telling the publication, "My kids are going to just laugh at me nonstop." Read the original article on InStyle A Washington state handyman is facing charges after allegedly murdering an elderly woman and then partially encasing her remains in concrete underneath a shed, officials said Sunday. Jeffrey Zizz, 47, was arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, and unlawful disposal of human remains in connection with the April death of 82-year-old Marcia Norman, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office announced in a statement. Zizz, a former pastor, was previously convicted of child sex crimes. "We extend our deepest condolences to the Norman family during this unimaginable loss," the sheriff's office said. "Despite their grief, the family has been actively engaged, supportive, and helpful throughout the investigation. " Zizzs attorney could not be immediately reached for comment on Monday morning. He has been booked into Thurston County Jail after his arrest at a motel in Montana and is scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon for a preliminary hearing. "Our family has experienced the loss of our center," Norman's family said in a Sunday statement. "Marcia was an engaged member of the community and family, full of life with plans for the future." Marcia Norman. Authorities launched an investigation into Norman's whereabouts on April 4 after her family had not seen or heard from her since April 1. After Norman was reported missing, the sheriff's office alleged that Zizz, her handyman, "built a shed at an unrelated property in Olympia." Detectives then found Normans remains "buried under the shed and partially encased in concrete," according to the sheriff. The Thurston County Coroner's Office confirmed the remains were Norman on April 10. Before Zizz was arrested, the sheriff's department identified him as a "person of interest" by the sheriff's office and held him in custody for allegedly violating the terms of his release in connection with child sex crimes. Zizz, once a pastor at Calvary Chapel of North Thurston, pleaded guilty in 2022 to two counts of second-degree child molestation against victims ages 12 to 14, records showed. He only served 11 months in custody before he was freed to enter a treatment program that included a host of conditions, including not leaving Washington state, court records showed. The sheriff's office said that once deputies started investigating Norman's disappearance, Zizz allegedly fled to Montana, where he was arrested. He was extradited back to Washington on April 13. Additional charges may follow as the investigation continues, the sheriff said Sunday. The Thurston County Sheriffs Office and District Attorney's Office are set to hold a press conference about the case on Monday at 5 p.m. PDT. WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing renewed scrutiny after a new report that he shared the timing of U.S. air strikes on Houthi rebels with his wife and brother on an encrypted commercial messaging app. Hegseth already has acknowledged that he had participated in a Signal chat about the March 15 attacks with senior Trump administration officials; that chat is under review by the Pentagon Inspector General for the handling of sensitive information. Late April 20, Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, called on the inspector general to expand the review to the latest allegation of spilling sensitive information to family members. The second chat included the same information about the timing of the airstrikes carried out by pilots on F-18 warplanes and missiles fired from ships, according to reports in the New York Times and CNN. Current and former military officials have told USA TODAY that the information was highly sensitive and probably classified. Its interception by adversaries could have had dire implications for those carrying out the attacks. More: What is Signal? Messaging app at the center of Trump officials' leaked attack plans President Donald Trump defended his embattled secretary of Defense on April 21 and said claims of dysfunction at the Pentagon arent true when asked whether he still has confidence in Hegseth. Ask the Houthis how much dysfunction there is. Theres none, Trump told reporters after he spoke at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Pete's doing a great job, he added. Everybody's happy with him. We have the highest recruitment numbers, I think we've had in 28 years. No, he's doing a great job. It's just fake news. They just bring up stories. I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and thats what hes doing. And Hegseth dismissed the matter when asked about it during the White House Easter Egg Roll, calling the reports "anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees." "What a big surprise," he said, "that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out." Sean Parnell, the Pentagon press secretary, repeated Hegseths statements that no secret information had been discussed in the chat. But he did not deny that the previously unreported Signal text chain existed. It reportedly included Hegseths wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer. Also on the chat: Hegseths personal attorney and brother, both of whom work for Hegseth at the Pentagon. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story, Parnell said in a statement. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trump's agenda. More: 'We've all done this': Trump admin group chat scandal is its most relatable fail Last week, Hegseth fired several top aides for allegedly disclosing sensitive information. Parnell blamed them and the Trump-hating media for reporting on the chats. They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the President's agenda, Parnell said. Reed, who voted against Hegseths nomination for Defense chief, said that he had warned that Hegseth lacks the experience, competence, and character to run the Department of Defense. Reed blasted Hegseth for chaos, dysfunction and mass firings at the Pentagon. Reed called on Hegseth to explain why he had shared sensitive information with his wife and others. If true, this incident is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseths reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military servicemember is required to follow, Reed said in a statement. He must immediately explain why he reportedly texted classified information that could endanger American servicemembers lives on a commercial app that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hegseth facing pressure over second Signal chat leak Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the Oval Office on Friday. The Trump administration said Monday it will announce a plan to remove petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nations food supply. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary are expected to discuss the plan at a news conference Tuesday afternoon, according to a release from the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has vowed to eliminate artificial dyes from the nations food supply, claiming that the dyes are responsible for behavioral problems in children, including hyperactivity a link that the FDA says it is monitoring but that hasnt been established. The FDA has approved 36 food dyes, nine of which are artificial and made from petroleum. The others are derived from natural sources, like vegetables. Among them is Red No. 3, which is made from petroleum and gives food and drinks a cherry color and was banned in January over concerns about possible cancer risks. It was approved for use in foods in 1907. Food companies will have until 2027 to remove the dye; drug companies get an additional year. The dyes are commonly used in thousands of products marketed to kids, including candy, breakfast cereals and soda, giving the products bright, vibrant hues. Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, called the issue an easy one for Kennedy to address. While the FDA hasnt established a link, Nestle said there is some research that dyes might contribute to behavioral problems in kids. A 2021 report from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, for example, reviewed 27 trials in children and concluded food dyes can interfere with normal behavior in at least some kids. Nestle who added that the dyes serve no purpose for food beyond cosmetics noted that other countries have moved to either restrict or ban the dyes. In those countries, she said, companies have introduced natural alternatives. This should have been done a long time ago, Nestle said. Theyve been promising to get rid of these things for years and balking. Theyve gotten rid of them in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Theres no reason why we cant use something else. Jerold Mande, an adjunct professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who is also a former FDA senior adviser and former deputy undersecretary for food safety at the Agriculture Department, said food dyes make ultra-processed foods look more appealing, resulting in over-eating and obesity. Overweight is the primary food cause of cancer, he said in an email. Thus, we must regulate the use of both synthetic and natural colors as well as flavors that allow food companies to transform powders and sludges into calorically dense, hyperpalatable ultra processed foods that are making us and our children sick. The FDA began looking into a possible link between dyes and behavioral problems in kids in the 1970s, when a California allergist and pediatrician proposed a possible connection. In 2011 and 2019, however, the FDA determined that no causal relationship could be established. Still, theres also a growing movement among several states to eliminate dyes. In March, Kennedy praised West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey after he signed a law banning seven artificial dyes approved by the FDA. The law takes effect in 2028. The law follows a similar move by California last year that banned six dyes from food served in public schools. That same month, Kennedy also told executives from major food companies in a closed-door meeting that he wanted them all gone by the end of his term. The Consumer Brands Association, an industry trade group, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement in March, Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the group, said food and beverage makers are committed to food safety. Larry David doesn't sound happy about Bill Maher's dinner with President Donald Trump. The "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star, 77, published a satirical essay in The New York Times on April 21 that appeared to be a response to Maher's recent meeting with the president at the White House. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Maher and David for comment. The fictional piece was written from the perspective of a person who had dinner with Adolf Hitler in 1939 and came away impressed that the Nazi leader was so personable, despite having been a "vocal critic of his on the radio from the beginning." David, who is Jewish, never mentioned Maher or Trump in the article, but the language he used closely mirrored the way the "Real Time" host spoke about his dinner with Trump. "I found the whole thing quite disarming," David's essay read. "I joked that I was surprised to see him in a tan suit because if he wore that out, it would be perceived as un-Fuhrer-like. That amused him to no end, and I realized I'd never seen him laugh before. Suddenly he seemed so human." Larry David, left, published an essay in The New York Times that appeared to be a criticism of Bill Maher's recent meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump. He wrote, "Here I was, prepared to meet Hitler, the one I'd seen and heard the public Hitler. But this private Hitler was a completely different animal. And oddly enough, this one seemed more authentic, like this was the real Hitler. The whole thing had my head spinning." Maher similarly said on his HBO show "Real Time" that the "guy I met is not the" same Trump that the public sees. He described Trump as "gracious" and "measured" during their dinner and said he was surprised to find that the president has a sense of humor. "I'd never seen him laugh in public, but he does, including at himself," Maher said. In David's essay, the author writes about deciding to meet with Hitler because "hate gets us nowhere" and "we need to talk to the other side," echoing Maher's comments that "there's got to be a better way of running this country than hating each other every minute." In a separate article, The New York Times' deputy opinion editor Patrick Healy explained why the outlet published David's essay that invokes Hitler, despite the fact that "callbacks to history can be offensive, imprecise or in terrible taste when you are leveraging genocidal dictators to make a point." Read the transcript: Bill Maher's full monologue on his Donald Trump meeting "Larry's piece is not equating Trump with Hitler. It is about seeing someone for who they really are and not losing sight of that," Healy wrote, adding that David, who "listened to Bill Maher talk about his recent dinner with Trump," is "arguing that during a single dinner or a private meeting, anyone can be human, and it means nothing in the end about what they're capable of." In the comments on David's essay, readers were quick to point out the link to Maher's Trump meeting. "I'm generally not a big fan of Larry David's humor, but this piece made a good point," one comment said. "People are complex, but being able to tell a joke or appreciate a good meal do not negate sociopathic behavior." Bill Maher calls himself 'a hero': The comedian says he spoke 'truth to power' during Trump meeting Another reader wrote that they saw the essay as a "commentary on millions of people," including David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" co-star Cheryl Hines, who is married to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "Brilliant satire and I found it validating," the comment said. Maher visited the White House to meet with Trump in March for a dinner that was set up by Kid Rock. In a subsequent "Real Time" monologue, the comedian concluded that Trump is "much more self-aware than he lets on in public," though Maher assured his liberal fans that he "didn't go MAGA." Larry David speaks onstage during "An Evening With Larry David" on April 5, 2024. "Look, I get it: It doesn't matter who he is at a private dinner with a comedian," Maher said. "It matters who he is on the world stage. I'm just taking as a positive that this person exists, because everything I've ever not liked about him was, I swear to God, absent, at least on this night, with this guy." David is a vocal critic of Trump and told CNN in 2024 that "you can't go a day without thinking about what he's done to this country." "He's such a little baby that he's thrown 250 years of democracy out the window by not accepting the results of an (election)," the "Seinfeld" co-creator said. "It's so crazy. He's such a sociopath. ... He's such a sick man." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Larry David skewers Bill Maher's Trump meeting in Hitler essay South Wales Police Paria Veisi A man and a woman have been charged in relation to the death of Paria Veisi Veisi went missing after leaving work on April 12, and her body was found in Cardiff, Wales days later The man and woman were arrested as the search for Veisi was still ongoing A man and a woman have been charged after the death of a woman in Cardiff, Wales. On April 19, South Wales Police confirmed in a press release that a 41-year-old man from Cardiff had been charged in relation to the murder of Paria Veisi, 37. A 48-year-old woman from London also faced charges. The update came after Veisi's body was found in Penylan, Cardiff. PEOPLE previously reported that a man and woman had been arrested after Veisi was last seen leaving her workplace on Saturday, April 12. Detectives investigating the murder of Paria Veisi have discovered her body at an address in Penylan, Cardiff, South Wales Police confirmed in the press release. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Getty Crown Court building in Cardiff civic centre The man has been charged with murder; preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body and assaulting a person occasioning them actual bodily harm." Meanwhile, the woman has been charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body and conspiring to pervert the course of justice. Authorities added that the man and woman appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court on Saturday, April 19. They both remain in custody and are set to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, April 22. GettyBen Birchall/PA Images via Getty South Wales Police car This brings our search for Paria to a sad and tragic end, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell said in a statement. Parias family, all those who knew her, and those in her local community, will be deeply saddened and shocked by these latest developments. Powell added, Family liaison officers are continuing to support Parias family. I would like to thank all those who have come forward so far with information since our appeal was launched. There will continue to be detectives and crime scene investigators working in the Penylan area over the next week, " he said, adding that anyone with information should contact the police. Read the original article on People By Poppy McPherson BANGKOK (Reuters) - Asian crime syndicates behind the multibillion-dollar cyberscam industry are expanding globally including to South America and Africa, as raids in Southeast Asia fail to contain their activities, the United Nations said in a report on Monday. Criminal networks that emerged in Southeast Asia in recent years, opening sprawling compounds housing tens of thousands of workers, many trafficked and forced to scam victims around the world, have evolved into a sophisticated global industry, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said. Even as Southeast Asian governments have intensified a crackdown, syndicates have moved within and beyond the region, the agency said, adding that a potentially irreversible spillover has taken place... leaving criminal groups free to pick, choose, and move... as needed. It spreads like a cancer, said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC acting regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Authorities treat it in one area, but the roots never disappear; they simply migrate. Conservative estimates indicate there are hundreds of large-scale scam farms around the world generating tens of billions of dollars in annual profits, the UNODC said. The agency called on countries to work together and intensify efforts to disrupt the gangs' financing. The regional cyberfraud industry... has outpaced other transnational crimes, given that it is easily scalable and able to reach millions of potential victims online, with no need to move or traffic illicit goods across borders, said John Wojcik, a regional analyst with UNODC. The United States alone reported more than $5.6 billion in losses to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, including more than $4 billion in so-called pig-butchering scams or romance scams designed to extort money from often elderly and vulnerable people. 'INFLECTION POINT' In recent months, authorities from China, where many of the gangs originate, Thailand and Myanmar have led a crackdown on scam operations in lawless areas of the Thai-Myanmar border, with Thailand cutting power, fuel and internet supply to areas housing scam compounds. But syndicates have adapted, shifting operations between the most remote, vulnerable, and underprepared parts of Southeast Asia, especially in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, and beyond, exploiting jurisdictions with weak governance and high rates of corruption, the UNODC said. Raids in parts of Cambodia where the industry is most visible led to significant expansion in more remote locations, including the countrys western Koh Kong province, as well as areas bordering Thailand and Vietnam, the U.N. agency said. Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona said the country is among the victims of the cyberfraud industry and is committed to fighting it. The government recently established an ad-hoc commission chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet to address the issue by strengthening law enforcement, developing a legislative framework and increasing collaboration with partner nations and the U.N, he said. To overcome the "complex problem, we need collaboration not blame", he said. A spokesperson for the Myanmar junta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Syndicates have expanded into South America, the U.N. agency said, seeking to enhance money laundering and underground banking partnerships with South American drug cartels. They are increasingly establishing operations in Africa, including in Zambia, Angola, and Namibia, and in Eastern Europe including Georgia, the agency said. Gangs have also rapidly diversified their workforce, recruiting people from dozens of nationalities, according to the agency, reflecting how the industry scams targets across the globe and has sought to evade anti-trafficking efforts. Citizens of more than 50 countries from Brazil to Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan - were rescued during recent crackdowns on the Thai-Myanmar border. The international community is at a critical inflection point, the UNODC said, urging that failure to address the problem would have unprecedented consequences for Southeast Asia that reverberate globally. (This story has been corrected to change '$4 million' to '$4 billion' in paragraph 7) (Reporting by Poppy McPherson; Editing by Kate Mayberry and Daren Butler) By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Nadine Menendez, the wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted on Monday of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of bribes in exchange for her husband doing favors for Egypt and New Jersey businessmen. Nadine Menendez, 58, was found guilty on all 15 counts she faced, including bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent. She had pleaded not guilty. Menendez will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan on June 12. Bob Menendez, a Democrat who represented New Jersey for 18-1/2 years, was sentenced in January to 11 years in prison. "Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez were partners in crime," acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said in a statement after the verdict. "Together, Nadine Menendez and the Senator placed their own interests and greed ahead of the interests of the citizens the Senator was elected to serve." The once powerful chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations had been convicted at trial last July for shepherding military aid to Egypt, providing assistance to Qatar and interfering in local prosecutions of businessmen in exchange for bribes including gold, cash and a Mercedes-Benz. Menendez resigned from the Senate the next month. Nadine Menendez was to be tried with her husband for her alleged role in his scheme, but her trial was postponed after her lawyers said she needed treatment for breast cancer. Prosecutors said New Jersey businessman Wael Hana arranged meetings between the senator and Egyptian officials, who pressed him to sign off on military aid. In return, the businessman put Nadine Menendez on the payroll of a company he controlled, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said Hana and Nadine Menendez communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to the senator. Hana was convicted alongside Menendez and sentenced to just over eight years in prison. Another defendant, businessman Fred Daibes, was also convicted and received a seven-year prison sentence. Menendez was the first U.S. senator found guilty of acting as a foreign agent. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi - AP/Getty Images US envoy Steve Witkoff has said that moving forward, talks with Iran would be about verification of its nuclear program. The conversation with the Iranians will be much about two critical points, Witkoff told Fox News on Monday. The first is verification of uranium enrichment, and ultimately verification on weaponization, that includes missiles, type of missiles that they have stockpiled there, and it includes the trigger for a bomb. In the interview, Witkoff did not mention a demand to fully dismantle Irans nuclear program, as other US officials have, saying only that Iran does not need to enrich uranium past 3.67% to run a civilian program. However, Witkoff later reversed his position in a statement on X in which he said any final deal with Iran would require it to stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program. Asked to explain Witkoffs apparent reversal, an administration official told CNN: Its the most recent elaboration of policy. Other officials have been hawkish on what the US expects from Iran. On Sunday, a day after Witkoff started talks with Iranian negotiators in Oman, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Tehran to fully dismantle its nuclear program. Iran, come to the table, negotiate, full dismantlement of your nuclear capabilities, he said on Fox News, echoing earlier remarks by US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who told CBS last month that US President Donald Trump would demand a full dismantlement. Iranian officials have dismissed that proposal as a non-starter, accusing the US of using it as a pretext to weaken and ultimately topple the Islamic Republic. Tehran is entitled to a civilian nuclear energy program under a UN treaty. The UN nuclear watchdog has however warned that Iran has been accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, closer to the roughly 90% level that is weapons grade. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, in Bushehr, Iran on November 10, 2019. - Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Uranium is a powerful fuel used in nuclear energy and weapons. When enriched, it can be used either to generate electricity or make bombs, depending on how much it is enriched. On Friday, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iran had set strict terms ahead of the talks with the US, saying that red lines include threatening language by the Trump administration and excessive demands regarding Irans nuclear program. The US must also refrain from raising issues relating to Irans defense industry, Tasnim said, likely referring Irans ballistic missile program, which the US Middle Eastern allies see as a threat to their security. Witkoff began talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday, which both sides described as positive. The next round of talks will take place on April 19. Rome had been considered for a location but its still being figured out, a person familiar with the planning told CNN. It is unclear how the deal Trump envisions would differ from the one brokered by the Obama administration in 2015, which Trump withdrew from three years later. Trump has vowed to strike a stronger agreement this time around. In his first comments on the issue since Iranian and American negotiators met over the weekend, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday against repeating the mistake we made in the last negotiations with the US. He said Iranians should not tie the countrys issues to these talks. A deal may come to fruition, or it may not, he said. Israel has been among the loudest advocates for Iran to fully dismantle its nuclear program. Speaking alongside Trump at the Oval Office last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touted a Libya-style nuclear deal between the US and Iran, which in 2003 dismantled the North African nations nuclear program in the hopes of ushering in a new era of relations with the US after its two-decade oil embargo on Muammar Qaddafis regime. After relinquishing its nuclear program, Libya descended into civil war following a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Qaddafis regime and led to his killing. Iranian officials have long warned that a similar deal would be rejected from the outset. This story has been updated with additional developments. CNNs Leila Gharagozlou, Alex Marquardt, Kevin Liptak and Abbas Al Lawati contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A view of Mount Paektu from the North Korean side of the mountain, taken in June 2017. - Justin Robertson/CNN High atop the Korean Peninsula, past military checkpoints and bumpy dirt roads in one of the worlds most secretive countries, rises a volcano and deep crater lake steeped in symbolism. Mount Paektu, an active stratovolcano straddling the border of North Korea and China, is the highest peak on the Korean peninsula and lies at the heart of North Koreas foundation myth. The North Korean side of the mountain was recently designated a UNESCO Global Geopark, marking North Koreas first natural site to be included on the list. The executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the site for its impressive natural and cultural heritage, including its volcanic eruptions and geological features, in a meeting held in February. But to grasp the significance, you have to stand at the edge of Lake Chon a caldera around 7,200 feet above sea level, formed by a massive eruption more than a thousand years ago and feel the wind cut across your face. I did just that in June 2017, as one of the few Western journalists to reach Paektus summit from the North Korean side. The trip, sanctioned and closely monitored by Pyongyang, offered rare access and a window into how the regime elevates this mountain into something almost divine. The Mount Paektu bloodline The mountain was the birthplace of Dangun, the mythical founder of the first Korean kingdom, according to North Korean legend. Kim Il Sung, North Koreas founder and Kim Jong Uns grandfather, purportedly used the mountain as a hideout when fighting against the Japanese occupation for independence in the 1940s. State media often refers to the eldest Kim in reference to the mountain, using titles like the legendary hero of Paektu. North Korea claims Kim Jong Il, the late leader and father of Kim Jong Un, was born near Paektus summit. Guides showed me a wooden cabin where, they say, snow melted and the sun broke through, flowers bloomed, and a new star appeared in the sky to mark his birth. Theres no historical evidence for this and many scholars believe Kim was likely born in Russia, but the story is told without a hint of doubt throughout North Korea. Paektu isnt just a mountain its a national altar. The mountain has been widely used by the Kim dynasty to showcase the familys own lore and deification. Its peaks have been emblazoned on the countrys national emblem and its name has been lent to everything from rockets to power stations and, occasionally, the country itself. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rides a horse during snowfall in Mount Paektu in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 16, 2019. - KCNA/Reuters North Korean society prizes racial purity and state propaganda glorifies the Kim family for their Mount Paektu bloodline, which is said to be a noble and heroic lineage tied to the ancient legendary kings of the Korean peninsula. This is the soul of Koreas revolution, a guide told me, as North Korean pilgrims stood quietly nearby, some in tears, believing they were on hallowed ground. Kim Jong Un has often visited the sacred mountain, usually before major shakeups like the 2013 execution of his uncle and the 2016 nuclear test. In 2018, he brought then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in up to the summit in a rare moment of unity. Moon, who stood at the top clutching Kims hand alongside their wives, called the visit the realization of a dream. I wondered if I was ever going to have a chance (to come here) but my wish has come true, Moon said. For Koreans on both sides of the border, reaching the peak has long been a rite of passage, but access has been closed off to most living in South Korea. In 2019, North Korean state media released photographs of Kim riding on a white horse up the sacred mountain on at least two separate occasions amid tensions on the peninsula. Geological significance In its recognition, the UNESCO executive board cited Paektus volcanic legacy, valleys shaped by glacial erosion, and rocky plains as part of its global significance. It also noted the millennial eruption that occurred on Mount Paektu more than a thousand years ago in 946 CE one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history. Currently, there are more than 200 geoparks in 49 countries, according to the organization. UNESCO Global Geoparks are recognized as single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. Last year, the UNESCO board designated the Chinese side of the mountain as a global geopark under its Chinese name, Changbaishan. North Korea sought the UNESCO geopark designation in 2019, a year before China, but an on-site inspection of the site in North Korea was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the designation, Pyongyang may now try to rebrand Paektu as a geotourism destination promoting its natural wonders as well as Korean mythology. Back in 2017, the journey to Paektu took us through remote farming villages where children ran away from our cameras some likely having never seen a foreigner. In Samjiyon, the closest town, monuments to Kim Il Sung dot the landscape, and buildings bear scars from battles with Japanese occupiers. CNN Senior International Correspondent Will Ripley, Senior Vice President & Managing Editor Ellana Lee, producer Tim Schwarz and photojournalist Justin Robertson (left to right), at the site of Lake Chon atop Mount Paektu, June 2017. - Justin Robertson/CNN Life near Paektu is rural and sparse. But the people we met spoke with quiet pride of their history, their home, and the belief that they live in a place that matters. With this UNESCO recognition, Mount Paektu is now not just a national symbol, but recognized as a site of global geological value. Whether that leads to more engagement or remains another tool for Pyongyangs narrative is unclear. For now, the mountain stands, its slopes cloaked in clouds and its stories passed down through generations. And if you ever find yourself at the summit, staring into Lake Chon and breathing in the frigid air, you might understand why so many, North and South, believe it holds the soul of Korea. CNNs Yoonjung Seo and Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Jihoon Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea has found increased attempts to disguise foreign products as Korean exports, primarily from China, to avoid U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, its customs agency said on Monday. The Korea Customs Service said it has found 29.5 billion won ($20.81 million) worth of violations related to country of origin from the first quarter, with U.S.-bound shipments accounting for 97% of the total, after a special probe last month. That compared to a total of 34.8 billion won worth of violations for all of 2024, among which U.S.-bound shipments accounted for 62%. Trump, who took office in January, has imposed significant tariffs on various products and countries, including those on China that began to rise from February. "There was a rise in disguised export attempts during Trump's first presidency and we expect there to be a similar trend," said Lee Kwang-woo, investigation planning director at the KCS. Anticipating increased risks, authorities conducted the latest investigation preemptively to prevent illegal exports. They have already found signs of such attempts to avoid Trump's tariffs from the first quarter, Lee said during a media briefing. On Monday, South Korean customs officials held a meeting with U.S. officials to discuss joint investigation efforts. South Korean officials have said there could be a rise in attempts by foreign companies, such as those in neighbouring China, to use South Korea, which is a major U.S. ally and has a free-trade pact, as a bypass to avoid tariffs and regulations. Trump slapped 25% tariffs on South Korea this month, among a new set of sweeping levies, which were later suspended for three months. The U.S. now imposes 145% tariffs on China after back-and-forth retaliatory actions, which economists say have severed trade between the world's two biggest economies. Monday's findings include 3.3 billion won worth of cathode materials used for batteries, imported from China and shipped to the U.S. with South Korea falsely marked as the country of origin, to avoid already high tariffs in January even before Trump's tariffs took effect. In March, 19.3 billion won worth of surveillance cameras were imported from China in parts and reassembled in South Korea to bypass U.S. restrictions on Chinese communication devices. Some of the goods have been shipped abroad while others are still at the port. The Korea Customs Service has launched a special task force to prevent attempts to illegally export such goods and plans to come up with more specific response measures to protect domestic companies. Meanwhile, the violations discovered will be referred to prosecutors. ($1 = 1,417.4900 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rod Nickel and Jacqueline Wong) Courtesy of Capriole Judy Schad didnt set out to become one of Americas foremost cheesemakers when she moved to a dilapidated southern Indiana farm with her husband and three young kids in 1976. But after a neighbor brought a lone goat by, it was only a matter of time before the Schad family was milking 500 goats and making one of the countrys first marks on the world of American goat cheese. Everyone else was joining the country club, says Schad of her move to a burnt-out and overgrown 80-acre farm among 300-year-old oak trees on the limestone hills just north of Louisville. We got a goat. For a former high school English teacher working on her PhD in Renaissance Literature while teaching at the University of Louisville, the move from one goat to 500 was gradual. And stepping into cheesemaking was part interest and part because, well, she was swimming in unwanted goat milk. How this started for me is that I love to cook, she says. We had all this milk, and the kids wouldnt drink it. So, Schad, now 82, learned how to make cheese. She launched Capriole Goat Cheese in 1988 and quickly formed friendships with other cheesemakers across the country using a similar artisanal process Mary Keehn of Cypress Grove, Jennifer Bice of Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, Paula Lambert of Mozzarella Co., and Allison Hooper of Vermont Creamery. It was not much of anything, she says. It was nothing but a bunch of women with a handful of goats. The goats allowed for Schad to turn the farm kitchen hobby that she shared with family and friends into a real business, selling goat cheese across the country and taking home countless awards. Schad has served as vice president of the American Cheese Society, on the board of the American Dairy Goat Association, and is a recipient of the Women Chefs and Restaurateurs Outstanding in Her Field Award, and was made Maitre du Fromage from the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers and developed new varieties of American goat cheese. She created Old Kentucky Tomme for a special Kentucky Derby event. Buttery and rich with mild white mushroom overtones, the Tomme falls between an American Jack and a Tomme du Savoie. The rind darkens and becomes crusty with age as the flavor continues to develop with a lipase kick of sharp flavor and a texture like Fontina. Capriole still supplies cheeses for Churchill Downs (Schad is a lifelong fan of the race and was in attendance when Secretariat won in 1973). Getting into goat cheese Courtesy of Capriole As the business started, the Schads were hauling 70 gallons of milk to nearby Hubers Orchard and Winery to use their facility to make cheese, but by 1992 theyd even outgrown that arrangement. So, they built their own cheesemaking facility on the farm. It was all a bit wild west in the world of cheesemaking at that time. Schad says nobody wanted to buy local, as the rage was anything food-related coming from France, and goat cheese certainly wasnt vogue. The family kept at it Larry milked goats before and after his work as a lawyer and they sold cheese around the region. Schad didnt slow. She took a trip to France with Keehn to learn the French process of cheesemaking, which inspired Caprioles Wabash Cannonball variety and her cheesemaking process. A combination of factors soon propelled Capriole onto the national stage. There were so few of us experimenting with artisan cheeses, she says. Almost all were goat cheeses and a few sheep. Cow milk cheeses already had a market, so in a way we were the darlings for specialty retail and signature restaurants, as well as food writers. At a visit to an American Institute of Food & Wine event in Chicago, she offered samples of the cheese to the public, everyone from folks on the street to Julia Child. That was our launch into a wider market, she says. While the 1990s offered limited demand for domestic cheeses especially specialty cheese from southern Indiana the dedication paid off, and demand grew so much that by 2012 the family sold the 500-goat herd to focus solely on making cheese. Capriole had stretched to the East Coast and California as major markets and just recently has seen sustained growth in the American South. How goat cheese is made Courtesy of Capriole Now, the farm buys milk from nearly half a dozen local Amish farmers, filling the sites 1,200-gallon tank, Sam Schad, Judys grandson and the farms general manager, says. The milk gets moved into a 400-gallon pasteurizer heated with steam to 145F for 35 minutes before being hand-ladled into a vat in 36-pound increments for mixing with ingredients and letting the milk set overnight at 75F. Everything we do is low and slow, Sam says. The very laborious method undergoes the French process the entire way, with the French technique unique to the creamery including hand-ladling, the use of vegetable ash, and the mix of the Geotrichum candidum mold on ripened cheeses and the Penicillium candidum mold on some aged varieties. Judy admits that hand-ladling isnt the most efficient method for handling the curd, but certainly the best for maintaining texture, the calling card of goat cheese. Caprioles is held in the ripening cage for up to seven days, depending on the variety and then sent to the different mold-specific drying and aging rooms including one Geotrichum room set to 58F and another for aging cheeses for three to four months at 42F. The rind room is home to one of the funkiest smells on the farm, where the wash gets put on the rind. Youre paying for the rank, Sam says of the unique flavors imparted on the Capriole cheeses thanks to the rind rooms mold-focused longevity. Goat cheese varieties Courtesy of Capriole Capriole produces roughly 11 cheeses, a mix of fresh, ripened, and aged that rotates seasonally. The Fresh Chevre was the first made and is still popular regionally. Shaped into a Buche (log), the texture sets it apart, and the taste goes with everything, Judy says. The Tea Rose, named after a top-producing goat now depicted on the farms label, features a fresh chevre with a dusting of fennel pollen and herbs with aromatic flower petals. It is one of the most popular cheeses for the farm. The chevre is meant to pair with floral white wines and flowery teas. Another distinct fresh goat cheese is OBanon, which is wrapped in bourbon-soaked chestnut leaves to create a mix of tart fruit and mild tannic notes. Flavoring the curds was the next step in the Capriole evolution and two of the ripened varieties Sofia, named after friend and cheese lover Sofia Solomon, and Pipers Pyramide, named after Judys red-haired granddaughter and now Capriole marketing director are the most popular nationwide. The ripened Sofia was one of the first created by Judy in the early 1990s. Sofia, less than two weeks old, is shipped Caprioles farmer-made wooden crates for delivery are popular in the industry as soon as the delicate cheese forms a rind marbled with vegetable ash that has citrus and cream flavors. In keeping with Frances Loire Valley traditions, Sofia becomes denser and creamier for up to seven weeks from production. It is one of the cheeses featuring a mold inspired by Judys trip to France. Pipers Pyramide comes laced with a touch of smoked paprika for a singular flavor. Another ripened variety, Flora, named after Judys grandmother, is one of the newest and a bloomy rind that intensifies in flavor as it ages. A distinct ripened cheese from Capriole is the Wabash Cannonball, aged 10 days to form a wrinkly exterior on the spherical product. While young, theres still a complexity to the taste and it can last up to four weeks. Judy wanted to create something truly distinct in the world of American goat cheese. She pulled it off with Old Kentucky Tomme, one of the first aged goat cheeses in the U.S. and one of the farms first unique artisan cheeses. When looking to craft an American flavor, Judy says she was inspired by Monterey Jack, arguably the only American-born cheese in the market. The Julianna, popular nationwide and named after an intern experimenting on the farm, is an experimental version of the Old Kentucky Tomme with a nuttier and firmer feel like a Tomme du Savoie while featuring a coating of Herbes de Provence, calendula petals, and safflower petals for a creative aromatic finish. Named for a nearby Franciscan retreat, Mont St. Francis was first made in 1994 when America wasnt known for washed-rind cheeses. The stinky cheese is washed in His Dark Materials stout from Louisvilles Monnik Beer Company and aged a minimum of three months (up to a year) to help build a funky flavor with a smoky finish. The semi-firm, extra-fine feel offers a singular texture for a goat cheese. Judy still lives on the farm and loves the balance of trying new creations and enjoying her favorites. You can taste them in salads and on charcuterie boards at the Kentucky Derby and at farmers markets in the Louisville region. Read the original article on Food & Wine On Friday in Vermont, District Court Judge William Sessions ordered that Rumeysa Ozturk be brought back from Louisiana for a hearing. She will still be in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Ozturk is the Turkish doctoral candidate in Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University in Boston whose student visa was revoked because of her support for Palestinians. As her case moves forward, it is important to remember why the judge had to make such a ruling. At a hearing last week, while Ozturk was detained far away, the lawyers spoke calmly. The judge thanked both sides for their professionalism, and the governments extremism was almost hidden in the politeness. The government argues that even if Ozturks rights to free speech and due process were violated, the Vermont judge cannot hear her case and cannot order her release. (A hearing now scheduled for May would address the possibility of release on bail.) Ozturks lawyers had originally filed a habeas corpus petition in Massachusetts, where their client was arrested. The Massachusetts judge sent the case to Vermont because it turned out that Ozturk was in the governments custody there somewhere in a government vehicle by the time the case was filed. The government didnt want the case heard in Massachusetts or Vermont, near Ozturks lawyers, her community, her school and her work. The government argues that because Ozturk is detained in Louisiana, thats where the case and the prisoner must remain. At the hearing, the government lawyer acknowledged that Ozturks attorneys were doing their best. They were trying to represent their client but they didnt know where she was, he said. But they didnt know where she was because U.S. government officials refused to tell them, and refused to let her contact them. The government was hiding her because in order to file a habeas petition, which is meant for someone alleged to be illegally confined, you have to know where the prisoner is and who is holding her. You have to identify the district of confinement and the immediate custodian. Judge Sessions asked whether it makes any difference that the reason Ozturks lawyers didnt know where to file the case was that government officials repeatedly refused to say where she was. The government lawyer, Michael Drescher, said it makes no difference. For decades, ICE has exploited its decentralized network of detention centers to keep immigration prisoners away from their lawyers, families and support networks, as well as from courts that are more likely to rule in favor of the prisoners. The Trump administration is building new extremes of lawlessness on this foundation. Immigration lawyers with decades of experience in New England told the court that they had never seen anything like what officials did with Ozturk. In the widely seen video, masked ICE agents, refusing to identify themselves, arrested Ozturk on the street in Somerville, Mass.. They drove her to Methuen, Mass., then to Lebanon, N.H. and then to St. Albans, Vt., where they arrived about five hours after the arrest. The next morning, ICE flew her from Burlington, Vt., to Alexandria, La. She was incarcerated at the private GEO Groups South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile. The government claims that ICE moved Ozturk to Louisiana because it couldnt find a detention bed for her in New England. Managing bedspace is a recurrent issue, the government lawyer said. But immigration lawyers with detailed knowledge of detention operations in New England told the court exactly where ICE had available detention beds nearby. Instead, the agency processed Ozturk at an office hundreds of miles away from its Boston office, even though she was arrested in the Boston area. In St. Albans, she was held overnight in a cell with a bench but no bed. ICE kept her there because this isnt actually a detention facility, so even after booking, Ozturks name would not appear in the ICE or Department of Corrections inmate locator systems. This maze of logistical and legal detail is meant to be disorienting, but the situation is straightforward. Ozturk has been locked up for writing an op-ed, as one of her lawyers told the judge. Shes being held in retaliation for her speech. We know Ozturks name, and the names of several others, but the State Department has cancelled more than 1,000 student visas since Trump took office. In March, ICE was detaining some 7,025 people in Louisiana and over 47,000 nationwide. Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations blueprint for the second Trump administration, recommends 100,000 detention beds, as well as tent cities, within the U.S. And there is Guantanamo, and El Salvadors CECOT prison. The law says that a prisoner or her lawyers filing a habeas must provide the name of the person who has custody. When Ozturk had been in ICE custody for three weeks, the government lawyer told the judge, I dont have a name for you right now. Ozturk said in a written statement that it was only in New Hampshire, when agents stopped at what looked like a police station, that I first thought it might be a US law enforcement agency detaining me rather than kidnappers. But it was both. Despite President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio and the executive orders, none of this could happen without thousands of unnamed agents. One of those captors, Ozturk said, seemed to feel guilty and said we are not monsters, we do what the government tells us. Mark Dow is the author of American Gulag: Inside U.S. Immigration Prisons. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. For some people, becoming president of the United States marks the apex of their ambition. However, it is not always the high point of their careers in public service. Perhaps the clearest examples of distinguished public careers taking a back seat to a mixed legacy as president are those of John and John Quincy Adams. Although John Adams has been the subject of several recent admiring biographies, including one that was transformed into an HBO miniseries, more recently he served as nothing more than a punchline in Lin-Manuel Mirandas Hamilton: A Musical. Even Aaron Burr and King George III fared better. Yet Adams was a revolutionary long before Hamilton arrived in Manhattan, using his own legal skills as well as his propensity for writing to advance what evolved from an assertion of colonists rights to a call for independence. Without Adams, 1776 might just have been another year in Americas chronology. As we approach the bicentennial of the elder Adamss passing (during his sons presidency), it is time to recognize the Adams achievements and service to the nation they did so much to create and establish. The Great American Heroes Act was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to extend the work of the John Adams Memorial Commission to establish a fitting memorial and to select a location near the White House. As a diplomat Adams may have lacked the color of a Benjamin Franklin or the flair of a Thomas Jefferson, but his successes, especially in securing financial support, proved critical to winning the Revolution and representing the new republic. Contemporaries understood that when he (and not Jefferson, Madison, or Hamilton) was elected vice president, he was surpassed only by George Washington. Adams endured the thankless task of finding out just how anonymous that office might be before having to follow Washington in office as president, a rather daunting task. Yet at a time when Adams could finally have enjoyed the unalloyed popularity, he had so long craved, his decision to seek a diplomatic resolution of an undeclared war with France proved pivotal in damaging his chances at reelection. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, Adams once wrote his wife Abigail. Yet his eldest son, John Quincy Adams, followed in his fathers footsteps, serving the young republic as a diplomat and a member of Congress, and was part of the American delegation that negotiated a settlement with Great Britain that ended the War of 1812. Quincy Adams was rewarded less than two years later with the position of Secretary of State under James Monroe. Quincy Adamss eight years of service in that position were momentous ones, whether it was establishing his nations claim to the Pacific Coast, reconciling disagreements and establishing borders with Great Britain and Spain, securing Florida, or in advancing the principles that ultimately became known as the Monroe Doctrine in 1823. The next year Quincy Adams ran for president: His ultimate victory proved controversial, fostering immediate efforts to obstruct his presidency. Four years later, like his father, he lost reelection; like his father, he failed to attend his successors inauguration. However, John Quincy Adams, unlike his father, enjoyed a second act in public life. Elected to Congress as a representative from Massachusetts in 1830, he became known as a staunch antislavery advocate who highlighted white southerners willingness to flaunt constitutional safeguards to advance the cause of slavery. Like his father, who had undertaken the formidable task of defending those British soldiers indicted for murder in the aftermath of the Boston Massacre in 1770, Adams undertook to defend before the Supreme Court the enslaved Africans who had taken over the Spanish slave ship Amistad in a bloody effort to seize their freedom. He prevailed. Some say that behind every great man is a woman. In the cases of John and John Quincy Adams, that woman was Abigail (Smith) Adams, who has perhaps fared better than has either her husband or eldest son in Americans historical memory. Remember the ladies, she admonished her husband in 1776 as he endeavored to establish the basis for American independence. Educated by her mother and grandmother, she became a voracious reader, which served her well when she conversed with her husband on various public matters in war and peace. Her correspondence with John remains an importance source for understanding the period. Americans have not always appreciated the contributions of these three people to the founding and expansion of the American republic. An effort to raise a memorial to their contributions (as well as those of other family members) has encountered challenges over time, despite Congressional authorization. Neither John nor John Quincy Adams would be surprised: they were always suspicious of the tenuous nature of public acclaim even as they hoped to receive it. Brooks D. Simpson is ASU Foundation Professor of History at Arizona State University. He writes and speaks on American political and military history, especially during the era of the American Civil War and Reconstruction, as well as the American presidency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pope Francis, a reformer from Argentina who rattled the Catholic Churchs traditionalists and inspired progressives by reaching out to gay people and championing the rights of immigrants and the poor, has died, the Vatican announced Monday. He was 88. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement released by the Vatican during the early hours of Monday. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized, Farrell added. Follow live coverage Pilgrims who have made the trip to the Vatican on Easter Monday, some to express love and support for the pontiff, were only slowly learning about the news of his death. Some arrived unaware, others prayed somberly as the news sank in. Mourners gathered as a hush fell over St. Peters Square, where the pope had appeared the day earlier in his wheelchair to bless worshippers. Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter, Francis said in what would be his last Easter address, waving and giving his blessing to applause. Pope Francis on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Sunday. Upon hearing of Francis' death, a stream of people began making their way toward the basilica to pay their respects. Even if I wont be able to enter the Basilica, I came here with my husband to say a prayer, Titti Lepore, 56, told NBC News, adding, Im Catholic, so as soon as I heard about Pope Franciss death, I felt the need to come here. The Vatican on Monday laid out plans for Francis' body, saying that it would be placed in his coffin tonight in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell will preside over "the rite of confirmation of death and the placing of the body in the coffin, the Vatican said in a statement. Francis' body will then be transferred to St. Peters Basilica to allow his worshippers to pay their respects, which the Vatican said may take place as early as Wednesday morning. Tributes have been pouring in from leaders around the world, with Vice President JD Vance, who met with Francis just Sunday to exchange Easter greetings, remembering the pope in a post on X. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a Facebook post that the news of the pontiffs death pains us deeply, because a great man and a great pastor leaves us, while French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X: From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest." Britain's King Charles, who met Francis in early April alongside Queen Camilla, said he recalled their meetings with particular affection, in a statement issued by the royal palace. Francis body will be put on display in an open coffin in St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican, one of Christianitys holiest sites, where most pontiffs have been buried for hundreds of years. But in accordance with his wishes, he is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, which lies outside the Vatican's walls. His successor will be chosen during a conclave, a gathering of cardinals who are charged with electing a new pope in strict seclusion at the Vatican. Toward the end of his life, Francis battled a host of health issues that left him weakened and often forced to rely on a wheelchair or canes. Most recently, he struggled with diverticulitis and bronchitis, and at times needed aides to read his speeches because he was out of breath. He spent much of the last two months in hospital battling pneumonia. The son of Italian emigrants to Argentina, Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on Dec. 17, 1936. As a young man, Bergoglio worked as a bouncer and a janitor, and trained as a chemist and a food technician before being ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969. He rose through the ranks in Argentina and in 1998 was appointed head of the archdiocese. In 2001, Pope John Paul II named him to the Sacred College of Cardinals, which elects new popes. In 2013, Francis succeeded retired Pope Benedict XVI as the 266th pontiff, becoming the first Jesuit and non-European to hold the churchs highest office in more than 1,000 years, leading more than 1 billion Catholics around the globe. In Argentina, President Javier Milei recalled the legacy left by Francis as the first Argentine and Latin American to lead the Catholic Church. "As President, as an Argentine, and, fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news," Milei said in a post on X. Francis took the reins of a church tarnished by the clerical sex abuse crisis and financial scandals, and reeling from the abrupt resignation of Benedict, the first pontiff to step down in 600 years. Instead of following in the footsteps of Benedict, a strict conservative, Francis angered many traditionalists by reaching out to gay and lesbian people, and trying to shake up the church bureaucracy. In 2015, he became only the third pope to visit the White House and the first to address Congress, where he urged lawmakers to tackle climate change, a theme he returned to often. In December 2023, Francis announced a radical change in Vatican policy by allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, alienating many Catholics, including in the United States. He took on the churchs sprawling clerical child sexual abuse crisis by issuing the most extensive revision to the churchs laws in four decades, and insisted that bishops take action against clerics who sexually abuse minors and vulnerable adults. But some critics said he did not do enough for many victims of abuse and their families. In 2019, advocates criticized Francis mandate that priests and nuns report clerical sex abuse to their superiors, instead of notifying law enforcement. Francis also faced stiff resistance from archconservative American clerics when he urged people to get vaccinated against Covid. He also found himself being accused of heresy for, among other things, softening the ban on giving Communion to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics. Still, like his predecessors, Francis also held conservative clerical values. He was against abortion, saying the procedure was like hiring a hit man to solve a problem. He was also in favor of clerical celibacy and was opposed to ordaining women, although he was open to giving them a greater role in running the church. CORRECTION (April 21, 2025, 10:15 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated how many years it had been since a pope had resigned before Benedict. He was the first pope to resign in 600 years, not 700. MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time in years, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was prepared for any discussion to halt attacks on civilian targets. Putin and Zelenskyy face pressure from the U.S., which has threatened to walk away from its peace efforts unless some progress is achieved. Russia and Ukraine have said they are open to further ceasefires after a 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow at the weekend. Each side accused the other of violating it. More: Trump could abandon peace negotiations in Russia's war on Ukraine Talks are scheduled this week in London. Ukraine said on Monday it was sending a delegation to meet officials from the United States and European countries. The talks are a follow-up to a Paris meeting last week where the U.S. and European states discussed ways to end the more than three-year-old war. Putin, speaking to a Russian state TV reporter on April 21, said fighting had resumed after the Easter ceasefire, which he announced unilaterally on Saturday. And Moscow, he said, was open to any peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv. "We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way," Putin told state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted later by Interfax news agency, told reporters: "When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side." There have been no direct talks between the two sides since the early weeks after Russia's February 2022 invasion. Attacks on civilian targets Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address, said Ukraine stood by its proposal for an end to attacks on civilian targets and was ready for any form of discussion to achieve it. Previously, the U.S. and Ukraine had framed this as a 30-day ceasefire. "Ukraine maintains its proposal not to strike at the very least civilian targets. And we are expecting a clear response from Moscow," he said. "We are ready for any conversation about how to achieve this." A grave is decorated with an Easter egg and the portrait of a fallen Ukrainian soldier at the Lychakiv Military Cemetery on Easter Sunday in Lviv, Ukraine, on April 20, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He said the London talks "have a primary task: to push for an unconditional ceasefire. This must be the starting point." Zelenskyy had earlier on Monday said an unconditional ceasefire would be "followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace." Washington has said it would welcome an extension of the weekend truce. Zelenskyy said continued Russian attacks during the brief Easter ceasefire showed Moscow was intent on prolonging the war. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine's forces were instructed to continue to mirror the Russian army's actions. "The nature of Ukraine's actions will remain symmetrical: ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defence. Actions always speak louder than words," he said on X. Russian demands U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both said on Friday that Washington could walk away from peace talks altogether if the sides do not make more progress within days. Trump struck a more optimistic note Sunday, saying that "hopefully" the two sides would make a deal "this week." Russia's demands including Ukraine ceding all the land Putin claims to have annexed and accept permanent neutrality. Ukraine says that would amount to surrender and leave it undefended if Moscow attacks again. "President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results," Peskov told reporters. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Putin says he's ready for direct talks with Ukraine Religious communities around the world joined Catholics mourning the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. Francis' election as the spiritual leader of the nearly 1.4 billion baptized Catholics worldwide in 2013 was celebrated by many spiritual leaders who expressed hope that his tenure would usher in new opportunities for interfaith dialogue. Francis, 88, fostered those connections by making more than 45 international trips, including historic visits to the Middle East, where he met with people of other faiths including Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. Francis was remembered Monday for his calls for inclusivity and efforts to foster solidarity among Catholics, other other religious communities and even atheists. "All religions are paths to God. I will use an analogy, they are like different languages that express the divine," Francis said during a September trip to Singapore. "But God is for everyone, and therefore, we are all Gods children." Francis marked many firsts during his papacy, including meeting the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints face-to-face for the first time in 2019, Desert News reported. President Russell M. Nelson joined several other religious leaders with whom Francis forged bonds in mourning his passing. His courageous and compassionate leadership has blessed countless lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who looked to him for inspiration and counsel," Nelson said in a statement. "As the world pauses to remember his example of forgiveness and service, we feel deep gratitude for the goodness of a life well lived and rejoice in the hope of a glorious resurrection made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Francis fostered 'strong ties with the Jewish world' From the beginning of his tenure, Francis recognized the importance of Catholic-Jewish relations and condemned antisemitism, according to the American Jewish Committee. Francis made pilgrimages to Israel, the Great Synagogue in Rome and the Auschwitz death camp, and the committee's leadership met with him at the Vatican in 2014 and 2019. Members of the organization gathered in Rome to pray for his recovery after he was hospitalized due to a bout of bronchitis and bilateral pneumonia, the American Jewish Committee said. Israeli President Isaac Herzog echoed the AJC sentiment, saying Francis saw "great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect." Herzog sent his "deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel the Holy Land on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Frances," in a post on X on Monday. Pope Francis touches the stones of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City in May 2014. Rabbi Noam E. Marans recalled that each time he met Francis, the late pope was able to create an "inimitable intimacy" through eye contact and warmth. "When you were with him, whether you were one of just a few or one of many hundreds, he left you - when he clasped your hand - with a pastoral fellowship," Marans said. Like his immediate predecessors, Francis actively implemented the goals of the Nostra Aetate, which transformed Catholic-Jewish relations from adversarial to friendly and fraternal, according to Marans, who leads interfaith affairs for the AJC. "We never take that for granted," Marans said. Though the relationship between the two religious communities is not without challenges - in particular surrounding Francis' views on the war between Israel and Hamas - Maran said, "the difference is that when there are challenges, even severe ones, in the post Nostra Aetate era that they were discussed and addressed and sometimes resolved and sometimes not resolved between friends." Francis hailed as 'true advocate for peace' In 2019, Francis became the first pontiff to set foot on the peninsula where Islam was born. Just a few years after this historic trip to the United Arab Emirates, he became the first pope to visit Iraq, where Muslims and Christians shared stories with him of life under Islamic State rule in Mosul. Francis urged political leaders to guard against religious extremism and warned Catholics not to force their faith on others during a 2024 visit to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country. Anwar Abbas, a senior leader of the nation's top Muslim clerical body, called Francis "a true advocate of peace" and heralded his relationship with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar mosque, DPA reported. "Among Muslims, his relationship with the sheikh of al-Azhar was especially notable in their shared mission for world peace," said Abbas, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council. Pope Francis prays for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's old city, Iraq in March 2021. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has commended Francis for speaking out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, also offered condolences to the Christian community on Monday. "The American Muslim community and many Muslims around the world appreciated Pope Francis' emphasis on the compassionate treatment of migrants and others facing crisis, his efforts to uphold the traditional values of his faith while maintaining a respectful tone, and his consistent condemnation of war crimes around the world, including in Gaza," said Nihad Awad, the council's national executive director. Pope Francis 'dedicated himself to the service of others,' Dalai Lama says Pope Francis meets with Buddhist delegation from the Sangha Assembly of Chetuphon, Thailand, at the Vatican in June 2022. After taking a trip to Thailand in 2019, Francis welcomed a delegation of about 100 Buddhist monks from the Wat Phra Cetuphon temple in Bangkok in 2024, the Vatican News reported. Francis urged Christians and Buddhists to work together to build a more inclusive world, saying "we are interconnected and interdependent." The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, wrote to the leadership of the Vatican to offer his prayers and condolences after Pope Francis died on Monday, according to a statement on his website. A memorial service is being held by the Tibetan community at the Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple, in Dharamsala. Francis was "consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life. The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can," the Dalai Lama said. "His Holiness Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others," the Dalai Lama said. Death of Pope Francis is a loss for nonbelievers, too Though Dale McGowan isn't a Catholic, he felt a mix of emotions when he learned of Francis' death on Monday morning. "I'm sorry to see him gone, but also, I know he'd been suffering," said McGowan, an author who writes about nonreligious life. Though his predecessor, Benedict XVI, was a vocal opponent of secularism and religious disbelief, Francis made clear that atheists and people of faith should come together to do good in a homily delivered shortly after he became pope. All people, "even the atheists," are "redeemed" through "the Blood of Christ," Francis said in 2013. McGowan, a secular humanist, said it was satisfying to see someone in a position of power like Francis use their platform to advocate for issues that matter to nonbelievers like climate change and income inequality. "He spoke to nonreligious people just as much as religious people in the things that he valued, the things that he cared enough to speak about," McGowan said. "He was an advocate for human dignity." Contributing: Reuters; Kimberley Winston, Religion News Service This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'God is for everyone': Pope Francis mourned by religious leaders In life, Pope Francis strayed from the more conservative path forged by his predecessors Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict. But in death, Francis will be following in many of John Pauls footsteps. The demise of the first Argentine to lead the Roman Catholic Church set into motion a series of rituals, some of which go back more than 2,000 years and have been used to bury more than 250 popes. They are compiled in a more than 400-page tome called the Ordo exsequiarum Romani pontificis, which includes the liturgy, music and prayers used for papal funerals over the centuries. The Ordo covers the rituals that are followed from the moment a pope dies to the moment a pope is buried, said the Rev. David Collins, an associate professor and the director of Catholic studies at Georgetown University. Follow live coverage But in accordance with his wishes, Francis is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, which lies outside the Vaticans walls. The Vatican laid out plans for the body of Pope Francis on Monday, saying that he will be placed in his coffin later the same night. His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of confirmation of death and the placing of the body in the coffin, the Vatican said in a statement. The rite will take place in the Chapel of the Domus Sanct Marth. His body could be moved to St Peters Basilica as early as Wednesday to allow his worshippers to pay their respects, the Vatican said, adding that a formal decision on the issue would be made by a group of cardinals during a meeting on Tuesday. The playbook for Francis funeral will also draw from a 20-page document called the Universi Dominici Gregis, which is Latin for The Shepherd of the Lords Whole Flock and was issued by John Paul in 1996, Collins said. This, essentially, lays out the procedures for what happens after a reigning pope dies between the death of one pope and the election of his successor, a period called the papal interregnum, Collins said. Those were the rules that were in place during the send-off of John Paul, who died April 2, 2005, and was buried six days later. During those six days, millions of people filed past his coffin in St. Peters Basilica, and there was a funeral attended by presidents and monarchs. Because Benedict resigned and was not the pope when he died, Francis ceremonies will more closely resemble John Pauls. This is what happens during the interregnum, which started with Francis death and will last until the College of Cardinals chooses a new pope: Bernini's Colonnade frames St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican. Day 1 The papal chamberlain, or camerlengo, Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is also the former bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, temporarily takes over the reins of the church. But his first task is to confirm that Francis is dead. In this case, as in the case of the last several popes, doctors would be on hand to make the call, Collins said. The camerlengo is there to ensure this happens. There is an enduring myth, which has been accepted in some places as fact, that a popes death is confirmed by tapping on his forehead with a ceremonial hammer while calling out his baptismal name three times. But Notre Dame theology professor Ulrich Lehner said, The hammer episode is an old tale which is not mentioned in any official text. Tradition holds that once death is confirmed, the camerlengo announces in Latin to everyone around the deathbed that the pope has passed away. Vere, Franciscus mortus est, or Truly, Francis is dead, Farrell would say. But because the pope is also the bishop of Rome, it becomes the responsibility of the chief administrator of the Diocese of Rome to announce to the city of Rome that the pope is dead, Collins said. That has the effect of telling it to the world, Collins said. Church bells toll in St. Peters Square and across Rome, and the white-and-gold Vatican flags will be lowered to half-staff. Emails will be sent out to summon the cardinals to the Vatican. While that is going on, the camerlengo will be securing the room, taking an inventory of the items, determining whether there is a last will or testament among the popes effects, things like that, Collins said. The camerlengo also authorizes the death certificate, seals the popes room and posts a guard outside to secure the premises. Meanwhile, Francis will be clad in his funeral garments. Usually, for a funeral, vestments can be white or black or even purple, Collins said. In the case of a pope, the deceased pope will be vested in red over his white cassock. The clergy who officiate at the funeral Mass will also wear red vestments. In addition, the camerlengo takes control of the papal ring, known as the Fishermans Ring, which used to be ceremonially smashed, when the cardinals arrive to pick a new pope to symbolize the end of Francis papacy, the experts said. The original purpose of this was to prevent forgery and ensure that nobody used the papal ring to seal a false document, Collins said. Once a new pope is chosen, another ring will be struck bearing the name of Francis successor surrounding the image of St. Peter casting a fishing net. Back in the day, the Vatican would mint coins and produce medals commemorating the Sede Vacante, or the period during which there is no pope. The money generated by the sales of such items would help pay for the papal funeral. Collins said thats not happening here. The period without a pope is not that long, Collins said. For example, the interregnum between John Paul II and Benedict XVI was less than three weeks. And in any event, Vatican uses the euro now. The papal ring, known as the Fishermans Ring, is removed after a pope dies. Day 2 The day after the death, a group called the College of Cardinals gathers in what is known as the general congregation to discuss the plans for the popes funeral and the process of choosing a successor. All the churchs cardinals who can take part in the election council, which can trace its roots to 1059, will do so. The group must decide the date of the funeral. In 2005, John Paul IIs funeral was six days after his death, and the conclave to choose a successor met 10 days later. It must also decide when the popes body can be taken to St Peters in the Vatican, where it will lie in state as part of the Novemdiales, a nine-day period of mourning that dates back to ancient Rome. The funeral Mass must take place four to six days after the popes death. The conclave, the cardinals who will elect the next pope, must meet 15 to 20 days after his death. The historic reasons for the long delay were to get cardinals to Rome from different parts of the world. But in a more geographically diverse church, it still has its uses. To some extent that long period is relevant now: Even though the cardinals can jump on a flight, Pope Francis has appointed more cardinals from different parts of the world than ever before. They will come from Oceania, from Latin America, there are now cardinals from Myanmar, Tonga and Mongolia, for example, said Deborah Lubov, NBC News Vatican analyst. Historically, cardinals have primarily come from Europe and the United States, but the church is declining in these places, while in places like Asia its booming. You could see that reflected in the College of Cardinals and then possibly in the popes successor. Black smoke billows from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in 2013, indicating that the College of Cardinals has failed to elect a new pope. Preparing the body The popes body will be placed in three caskets: one made from cypress, the second from metal and the third from elm or oak. Alongside him will be several symbolic items, or vestments. They include the miter, the popes pointed hat, and the crozier, or pastoral staff, signifying the popes role as the pastor of all the pastors. After the pope is blessed with holy water, his face is covered in white silk. A small bag of coins minted during his reign is also placed in the coffin John Paul II was buried alongside 26 coins, one for each year of his reign. A legal document called a rogito, which records the popes life and works, is then read out and signed by all those present before it is placed in the coffin. A second copy goes to the Vaticans archives. Traditionally, popes are buried holding a rosary, a death certificate and the broken fishermans ring. The body may or may not be embalmed. John Paul IIs was not, but it was treated so it would be preserved during public viewing. The body of Pope John XXIII was also not embalmed on his death in 1963, but it was treated with preservatives that were so effective that his face was perfectly preserved when the casket was opened and moved to a new resting place in 2001. The coffin is finally sealed before an audience of senior Vatican officials and cardinals, who all then sing Psalm 42, which reads: Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul in longing for you, my God. People pray at St. Peter's Square after the death of Pope Francis on Monday. The funeral Before the funeral, the popes body is expected to lie in state at St. Peters Basilica for three days. Regardless of where the pope dies, the funeral always takes place at the Vatican, specifically in St. Peters Square, weather permitting. The 2-hour service is mostly held in Latin. It will for the most part be a conventional Catholic funeral, but with added papal rituals. The Swiss Guards, who have protected the pope and the Apostolic Palace since 1506, will kneel for the consecration of the host, the blessing of the bread and wine that, according to Catholic tradition, then become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. A homily or sermon will be delivered that will refer to the life of the pope but technically it is not a eulogy. The event requires a huge security operation. An estimated 4 million people thronged the streets of the Vatican during John Paul IIs funeral in 2005, alongside 8,000 security staff members, including 2,000 uniformed police officers and 1,400 plainclothes officers. After the service, the body is carried through the door of death to the left of the altar at St. Peters, while a 10-ton funeral bell tolls. The congregations chants include lines from Psalm 117 (Open to me the gate of justice) and Psalm 41 (In the splendid company of the saints, I will go to the house of God). Breaking with recent tradition, Francis requested that he be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, citing his very strong connection with the ancient church, which lies outside the Vatican walls. Collins pointed out that he might not get his wish. Popes could leave other instructions in their last testaments to be buried elsewhere. John Paul specifically asked that his body be returned to Poland. But the cardinals said no, and he was buried in the Vatican, he said. As with John Paul II, this is a case where the pope does not have the last word. Normally, a papal family of senior cardinals and officials leads a procession to the crypt, which houses the remains of 148 popes, out of a total of more than 260. The cypress coffin is bound with red ribbon featuring the seals of the camerlengos office and other branches of the papacy before it is placed into the metal coffin, which is then soldered closed. The whole thing is placed into the elm coffin and finally lowered into the crypt. The coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is sealed before it is buried in the Vatican Grottoes in 2023. The conclave This secretive council of cardinals has met in the Sistine Chapel to vote for the next pope since 1878. Up to 120 cardinals can take part, but each must be younger than 80 on the day they conclave opens. The conclave will meet 15 to 20 days after the popes death. The word, which comes from con clave, Latin for with key, dates to 1274, when Pope Gregory X said electors should be locked away and unable to leave until they had chosen a new pope. Each elector swears an oath to protect the churchs freedom and the secrecy of the conclave. As the last oath is complete, the master of ceremonies chants Extra omnes, meaning Everyone out. Electors are now forbidden from accessing the outside world in 2013, some electors said their temporary goodbyes to the world on Twitter. The last conclave in 2013 elected Pope Francis, who until then was known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The first vote happens on the first day the electors are in the Sistine Chapel, and voting continues with four ballots every day until on the fifth day the cardinals pause for a day of prayer. The next day the voting continues, and after the sixth day of conclave there will have been up to 17 votes and that continues for as long as necessary until there is a two-thirds majority. The cardinals are allowed to leave at the end of each day, and they will stay at the Casa Santa Marta, a $20 million guesthouse on the grounds of the Apostolic Palace that looks more like an upscale hotel. All staff members are required to take an oath of secrecy. Two stoves are placed near the chapel entrance one to issue black smoke, meaning there has been no successful election yet, and one to issue white smoke, meaning a new pope has been chosen. The current stove system, which was first used in 1939, stretches from the chapel floor to its roof 98 feet above. Bells and smoke are the only permitted ways to communicate the election of the pope. During the last papal conclave in 2013, a white seagull stepped on the external part of the chimney right after black smoke was emitted, amusing TV audiences around the world before it flew off 30 minutes later. In recent history, its not typical for the conclave to last too long, because its a symbol of the trust in the winning candidate. If it goes on it automatically, gives the impression that there is not a lot of certainty in this person, Lubov said. Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2020. Choosing a new pope At last, when a new pope is chosen the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him: Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff? From the moment the candidate-elect says Accepto, he is the new pope. From that moment the pope is not just the leader of the Catholic church but also the leader of the worlds smallest state, Vatican City. The dean then asks by which name the new pope would like to be known. John is the most popular name in papal history; it has been used more than 20 times. Traditionally, the new pope is then taken to a small sacristy behind the Last Judgment wall of the Sistine Chapel. It is sometimes referred to as the Room of Tears, because some newly elected popes are said to have become overwhelmed by their elections and broken down in tears. While there, the new pope puts on three cassocks and receives his fishermans ring before he returns to the main chapel and receives the prayers of thanksgiving from the cardinal-electors. At that point, the bells of St. Peters will have rung and the famous white smoke will have risen from the Sistine Chapels chimney to signal the election of a new pope. Normally, within a week of the election, the church holds an installation Mass, which will be attended by heads of state and all cardinals. It is largely symbolic, as the new pope has already been elected, but its an important statement of the Catholic Churchs reach and importance across the world. The recent stock market sell-off left nearly all stocks down from their all-time highs. However, some stocks were beaten down before the broader sell-off began, so they look unbelievably cheap now. This opens up a massive buying opportunity for long-term investors, as it's not often that you can scoop up shares this cheap. Three stocks that look like absolute bargains right now are Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM), and Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE). All three of these companies are well off their highs, yet they don't have a good reason to be trading this cheaply. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More The S&P 500 is the baseline for comparison For my baseline of what I describe as "cheap," I'm using each stock's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. This metric uses analysts' projections to determine the denominator. Those projections aren't perfect, but I think it's superior to the trailing P/E ratio because it looks at where the stock is going, rather than where it was. The market is a forward-looking entity, so the valuation metrics that we choose should follow that approach. I'll use the S&P 500's forward P/E ratio of 20.2 as a baseline. If a stock is cheaper than this mark, then it can likely be considered somewhat of a bargain, as it's trading below the most common and broad index. This is already a conservative measure, as all three of these companies are tech giants that are likely better compared to the Nasdaq-100 index, which has a forward P/E of 24. However, by using a more conservative index (the S&P 500), investors can have even more confidence that these stocks are on sale right now. Alphabet Alphabet trades at 17.5 times forward earnings. GOOGL PE Ratio (Forward) Chart GOOGL PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts. Alphabet has long traded at a discount to its peers, mainly due to its dependence on advertising revenue. Ad revenue is cyclical and often falls in preparation for a recession or an economic downturn. Ad revenue is an easy place for companies to save money, and it's often the first casualty during budget cuts, which would clearly hurt Alphabet. That's part of the reason Alphabet is so cheap right now. But even using the trailing P/E ratio, the price you're paying today is clearly historically low. GOOGL PE Ratio Chart GOOGL PE Ratio data by YCharts. We're approaching the lowest valuation point in the past decade, which occurred in early 2023 when the market was convinced that the U.S. was headed for a recession. Investors are in a similar mindset right now as they digest how tariffs will affect the economy. Another factor investors must weigh is two court rulings that went against Alphabet. A U.S. district judge recently declared Google's digital ad network an illegal monopoly, adding to an earlier ruling that its search engine was also an illegal monopoly. This is far from the end of this saga, as Alphabet will appeal these rulings, and the Justice Department would need to devise remedies for Alphabet so that it isn't deemed an illegal monopoly. We're still years away from any resolution on this, but there's still a solid business to invest in here. While I'm not sure how the rest of 2025 (or beyond) will shake out for Alphabet, it holds a dominant position in the advertising space (which got it into trouble with the U.S. government) with its Google family of products,. Even if the company is split up, the pieces that come from this breakup will be incredibly valuable and will likely create extra shareholder value. As a result, I think Alphabet can still be purchased right now. Adobe Adobe used to be one of the most premium-valued big tech companies, but it no longer holds that spot. Investors are worried that various generative AI platforms will eat into Adobe's market share. We haven't seen this happen yet, and Adobe has hit back with its own generative AI models. Its growth has also remained fairly steady at around 10%, which leads me to believe it's still doing OK. However, Adobe has lost the premium valuation that it traded at for a decade. ADBE PE Ratio Chart ADBE PE Ratio data by YCharts. Adobe's trailing P/E ratio has never been this low in the past decade, and the forward P/E is also well below the market's price. This looks like a rotation from Adobe being a growth company to being a value company, and scooping up shares during this transition is a smart long-term move for investors. Taiwan Semiconductor Last is Taiwan Semi, a chip fabricator for many leading tech companies. Investors are worried about how its business will hold up with tariffs, but there are currently no tariffs on semiconductors, although there may be some in the coming months. Regardless, TSMC is already investing $100 billion to expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint, which will help keep the company in President Donald Trump's graces. Even with that great news, Taiwan Semiconductor's stock trades at a significant discount to the market. TSM PE Ratio Chart TSM PE Ratio data by YCharts. We've seen Taiwan Semi's stock cheaper than this, but 17 times forward earnings is still a bargain for one of the world's most important companies. Taiwan Semiconductor's long-term growth trajectory is still fantastic, and I think the cheap stock price warrants investors scooping up the stock today. Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now? Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Alphabet wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $524,747!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $622,041!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 792% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 153% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of April 14, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Keithen Drury has positions in Adobe, Alphabet, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Adobe, Alphabet, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. A Vietnamese property tycoon who was jailed for life in a $17 billion money laundering case had her sentence cut to 30 years on appeal on Monday after she claimed what happened was "an accident." Property developer Truong My Lan had already lost a challenge against the death penalty in a separate case in which she was found guilty in April last year of stealing money from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) and fraud amounting to $27 billion. The appeal court ruled there was no basis to reduce her sentence but said she could still escape the death penalty if she returned three-quarters of the stolen assets. That means she could still avoid execution if she returns $9 billion, or three-quarters of the $12 billion she embezzled, the BBC reported. Four months later, an appeal court in Ho Chi Minh City ruled on Monday that a life sentence she was handed for three crimes during a second trial in October would be reduced to 30 years. "Lan played the major role... (but) we also take into consideration the amount of money that Lan has spent on overcoming the consequences," judge Pham Cong Muoi said following discussions during the appeal about how her assets may be used to compensate victims of her crimes. Prosecutors said she had repaid a quarter of the $1.2 billion she defrauded from thousands of bond investors. Vietnamese property tycoon Truong My Lan (C-L) looks on at a court in Ho Chi Minh city on March 25, 2025. / Credit: STR/AFP via Getty Images "The total value of her holdings actually exceeds the required compensation amount," lawyer Nguyen Huy Thiep told the BBC before her appeal was rejected. "However, these require time and effort to sell, as many of the assets are real estate and take time to liquidate. Truong My Lan hopes the court can create the most favorable conditions for her to continue making compensation." Lan's husband Chu Lap Co did not appeal, but the judging panel concluded that his two-year sentence should be cut by half after he paid back the $1.2 million he was found to have laundered. In her final words before the court last week, Lan described what happened as "an accident." "Since being jailed, I have tried my best... to seek the best solutions to (deal with my) projects and properties," she was quoted as saying by state media. "Please acknowledge my effort," she added. Court determined Lan was "the mastermind" The 68-year-old was found guilty in October of laundering $17.7 billion and illegal cross-border trafficking of $4.5 billion. She was also found guilty of bond fraud. The court determined during the trial that Lan was "the mastermind, committed the crime with sophisticated methods, many times, causing especially serious consequences." During her first trial in April 2024, Lan was found guilty of embezzling $12.5 billion but prosecutors said the damages caused by the scam totaled $27 billion equivalent to around 6% of Vietnam's 2023 GDP. Lan owned just 5% of shares in SCB on paper but the court concluded that she effectively controlled more than 90% through family, friends and staff. Tens of thousands of people who had invested their savings in the bank lost money, prompting rare protests in the communist nation. During her trial, Lan was sometimes defiant, but in the recent hearings for her appeal against the sentence she was more contrite, the BBC reported. She said she was ashamed to have been such a drain on the state, and that her only thought was to pay back what she had taken. "I feel pained due to the waste of national resources," Lan said in November, adding she felt "very embarrassed to be charged with this crime." Inside the monarch butterfly migration mystery: flying to Mexico from Canada, the U.S. Chocolate Easter eggs: Cracking open a candy tradition Inside the transformation of the Frick Collection Policia Civil do Maranhao/Instagram Arrest of Jordelia Pereira Barbos A woman accused of hatching a murder plot which inadvertently killed the young son of her ex-boyfriend's new partner had allegedly tried to poison the woman at least once before. Jordelia Pereira Barbosa, 35, was arrested in the Brazilian state of Maranhao last week, after allegedly sending an Easter egg to Mirian Lira, her ex-boyfriends new romantic partner. Lira, 35, ended up in the hospital in critical condition alongside her teen daughter Evelyn Fernanda, after allegedly consuming the eggs on Wednesday, April 16, per local outlets FDamiaoNoticias and Imperatriz. According to the outlets, authorities suspect her son, 7-year-old Luis Silva, fell "severely ill" after consuming the chocolate and died. Local authorities allege Barbosa sent Liras family an Easter egg with the note: With love, to Miriam Lira. Happy Easter, CNN Brasil and FDamiaoNoticias reported. Investigators believe her actions were fueled by jealousy, Imperatriz and CNN Brasil reported. Authorities believe the alleged poisoning represented Barbosa's second attempt to take Lira's life: Investigators allege that previously, the suspect tried to hand out candies at a supermarket where Lira worked, Imperatriz reported. Barbosa allegedly went to Liras workplace under the guise of offering a chocolate tasting to employees there, authorities said, per the outlet. She was turned away when she was unable to give any details about the company she was purportedly representing. Barbosa then allegedly went to the supermarket's parking lot and tried to hand out chocolates to the employees, but Lira was not present, authorities said, the outlet reported. Barbosa then allegedly bought an Easter egg and had it delivered to Liras place. This, say authorities, led to the death of Lira's son. It wasnt immediately clear if any of Liras co-workers at the supermarket were harmed in the alleged attempt. Related: Woman Gifted Her Ex's New Family Easter Eggs. Now, 1 Child Is Dead and 2 Other Family Members Are in Critical Condition Security footage obtained by CNN Brasil shows a woman alleged to be Barbosa in a wig and glasses that cover most of her face as she purchases a box of chocolates. Authorities later seized a wig, glasses, a fake badge and a portion of chocolate she was allegedly carrying, per CNN Brasil. 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. It wasn't immediately clear what charges Barbosa is facing. On Monday afternoon, Imperatriz reported in an update that Lira is recovering and communicating with relatives as she receives psychological treatment. Fernanda, 13, remains in critical condition. Read the original article on People Kennedy News and Media Gemma Underwood says after an intense workout she developed rhabdomyolysis. Gemma Underwood was hospitalized after her muscles swelled and her urine turned a dark brown, comparing it to Coca-Cola The 41-year-old was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening injury caused by intense workouts that requires extensive rest She said she was "very scared knowing I could have died" A woman was hospitalized with a severe reaction to working out that caused her muscles to balloon and her urine to turn dark. Gemma Underwood, 41, is an orange belt in karate, and said she felt sore after an intense session in March, according to The Daily Mail. But the next morning, Underwood who hails from the South Ayrshire in Scotland woke up and couldnt get out of bed. Her muscles were swelling and her urine was so dark she compared it to Coca-Cola. She rushed to the emergency room, where doctors diagnosed her with rhabdomyolysis. Its a rare muscle injury where your muscles break down, the Cleveland Clinic explains. It can also be fatal: Its a life-threatening condition that can happen after an injury or excessive exercise without rest. Kennedy News and Media Gemma Underwood developed rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening muscle condition. Related: Former High School Coach Accused of Forcing Students to Do 400 Push-Ups with No Break as Punishment In Underwoods case, her rhabdomyolysis was fueled by a lack of water. Doctors said I wasn't hydrated enough while doing an intense workout. I should have been drinking more water before, she shared. In rhabdomyolysis or rhabado your muscles break down (disintegrate), which leads to muscle death. When this happens, toxic components of your muscle fibers enter your circulation system and kidneys. Underwood was hospitalized for five days, where she received intravenous fluid and needed a catheter. Shes now home, but said, I'm very drained treatment can take a few weeks or a few months depending on complications. Related: Tufts Lacrosse Players All Released from Hospital After Developing Life-Threatening Muscle Condition in Workout I am currently resting, no exercise at all for at least three weeks, and drinking plenty of fluids, Underwood explained. It's really important to know the symptoms, which are muscle pain and weakness, and dark urine. 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 cautioned. It's something that can happen to anyone. 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. Read the original article on People The Xinde Catholic website has widely reported Franciss death. So far, no word has come from President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government, nor the Patriotic Association. The Diocese of Hong Kong remembers the pontiffs trip to Mongolia and his attention for relations between the Vatican and China. Milan (AsiaNews) In China, Catholics have reacted to Pope Franciss death with prayers and strong emotions, but Chinese authorities and state-controlled Catholic organisations have not yet issued any statement. In China, as in the rest of the world, reports of the pontiff's death became trending news within minutes, starting in the early afternoon, local time. Xinde, the site most followed by local Catholics, immediately posted a Chinese translation of the statement made Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, inviting the faithful to pray. Yet by evening, nothing was posted about the popes death on China Catholic, the website of the Patriotic Association, or on any diocesan website, like that of the Diocese of Shanghai, headed by Archbishop Joseph Shen Bin, the most authoritative face of the Church in mainland China today. The impression is that, despite the unique contribution made in recent years by Pope Francis to dialogue with Beijing, with the readmission of all bishops into full communion with Rome, the Communist Party of China must first dictate the official reaction, which is likely to come in the next few hours. It will be interesting to see in what form. But for now, all we have is Chinas semi-official English-language newspaper, Global Times, which picked up stories from international agencies on the pontiffs death, focusing on the 2018 agreement with the People's Republic of China on episcopal appointment. The paper quoted the message Pope Francis sent to Chinese President Xi Jinping in August 2023 when he flew over China during his apostolic journey to Mongolia. When asked to comment on Pope's message, then Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China noted the reports, writes the Global Times. The greetings from the Vatican embody friendship and goodwill. China and the Vatican have maintained communication in recent years. China would like to continue the constructive dialogue with the Vatican, enhance understanding, build up mutual trust and advance the process of improving the relations between the two sides. The article, however, does not mention the historic interview Pope Francis gave in 2016 to the Hong Kong-based Asia Times news digital platform. In Hong Kong, Bishop Stephen Chow, elevated to the cardinalate by Francis himself in 2023, expressed the dioceses condolences, inviting the faithful to pray. During his pontificate, Pope Francis visited Mongolia in September 2023, his visit has also brought attention to the relations between the Vatican and China, writes the diocesan weekly Sunday Examiner. The website of the Diocese of Macau also features a large photo of Pope Francis listed in mourning, linked to the Vatican video announcing the pontiff's death. For Indian Prime Minister Modi, the pontiff was a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage. The President of Israel Isaac Herzog hopes his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered. Iran also offered its condolences. Until the end, he showed the world a beautiful example, South Korean bishops write. A Mass of suffrage will be held on Wednesday morning at the Holy Sepulchre. Milan (AsiaNews) Messages of condolence for the death of Pope Francis continue to arrive from all over the world, including from many countries in Asia, a continent for which Bergoglio showed great fondness during his pontificate. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first heads of state and government to express his condolences. He says he is "deeply pained" by the pontiffs passing in a message on X together with images of his meeting with Francis in the Vatican. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. The Indian leader added: I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in Gods embrace. In a message signed by its president, Bishop Mathias Ri Iong-hoon (Lee Yong-Hoon), the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea highlights Pope Franciss closeness to the peninsula and his apostolic journey in 2014. [H]e emphasised that the Catholic Church in Korea has a responsibility to act as a guardian of hope and peace on the divided Korean Peninsula and around the world, and to do so, he urged that, above all else, priority should be given to the poor and the marginalised. The message also notes the many times in which Francis made his closeness felt when national tragedies struck, comforting the victims, their families, and the people of our country more broadly, and showing in this solidarity "the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of humanity and died on the cross. Pope Francis left his final journey on earth entirely to the providence of God, but he was concerned about the world until the end and wished for complete peace without war or conflict. In doing so, he showed the world a beautiful example of returning to Gods embrace. In the Philippines, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Kalookan and president of the Bishops' Conference, said that he was shocked at the news. On a social media post, he urged Filipinos to pray, and ring the bells of our churches and call our people to prayer for the eternal repose of the Holy Father Pope Francis. The death of Pope Francis is also arousing deep emotions in the war-wounded Middle East, to which Francis dedicated himself until his last breath. In a tweet, Israel's President Isaac Herzog called him A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, who dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world. Hence, I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered. Iran also reacted to the popes death, expressing closeness. "My colleagues have just informed me of the news ... I offer my condolences to all Christians around the world," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai during a press briefing, adding that he "prays to Almighty God for the peace" of Pope Francis. In Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarchate announced that a Mass for the pope will be held at the Holy Sepulchre on Wednesday morning at 10 am. We gather in faith, hope, gratitude to the Lord for the gift of Pope Francis and for his paternal service to the Universal Church, reads the call to the faithful. UN envoy "gravely concerned" over U.S. airstrikes in, around Yemen's fuel port Xinhua) 09:08, April 21, 2025 This video screenshot provided by the Houthi Media Center shows a blazing tank truck after U.S. airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa in Hodeidah, Yemen, April, 17, 2025. (Xinhua) ADEN, Yemen, April 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg on Sunday voiced his grave concern over recent U.S. airstrikes in and around the Ras Isa fuel port northwest of Yemen's Red Sea city of Hodeidah. "Echoing the (UN) Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres), I am gravely concerned about the impact of the U.S. airstrikes in and around Ras Isa port on civilians, particularly truck drivers and port workers, as well as on civilian infrastructure," Grundberg wrote on social media platform X. The cycle of attacks on the Red Sea by Houthis and the United States "jeopardizes peace efforts and risks drawing Yemen further into the regional conflict," he wrote, urging restraint, de-escalation, and protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure by all sides in accordance with international law. Attacks on the Red Sea must stop with "credible guarantees" that protect it from "becoming a prolonged arena of conflict," which are "essential" for keeping Yemen "from sliding further away from peace" and for global security, he wrote. In the deadliest raid since the renewed U.S. airstrikes in mid-March, the U.S. army launched a series of attacks on Thursday night targeting and destroying the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa fuel port and concrete tanks storing imported fuel. According to an update from Houthi-run health authorities early Saturday, at least 80 people were killed and 150 others wounded. Among the casualties were port workers and five paramedics, who were reportedly killed in a second wave of airstrikes while arriving on ambulances to assist the wounded. Early Saturday, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Revolutionary Committee, vowed to retaliate against the renewed U.S. airstrikes. The group said later in the day that it shot down two U.S.-made MQ-9 drones in 24 hours. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 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. The supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church expressed serious concern over continuous unacceptable actions and campaigns within our reality as he led an Easter Mass at the churchs main cathedral in Echmiadzin which was again boycotted by Armenias political leadership. In our collective memory, the Armenian Genocide remains an open wound, he said. The unhealed pain of this horrific crime is further intensified by reprehensible attempts to deny or question it, as well as by the occurrence of new genocidal acts around the world. One such manifestation of this crime was the recent atrocity committed against our people: the forceful occupation of Artsakh and the violent displacement of the Armenians of Artsakh from their ancestral land. Garegin did not elaborate on those attempts. He said only that Armenians should reject words and works that degrade our past, diminish our historical memory, and threaten our future. Pashinian provoked a storm of criticism at home when he essentially questioned the genocide during a visit to Switzerland on January 24. Pashinian said Armenians should understand what happened in 1915 and what prompted the subsequent campaign for international recognition of the slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. He seemed to imply that foreign powers, notably the Soviet Union, were behind that campaign. Armenian historians, opposition figures and retired diplomats expressed outrage at the remarks, saying that Pashinian cast doubt on the fact of the genocide officially recognized by over three dozen countries, including the United Staes. Some of them claimed that this is part of his efforts to cozy up to Turkey, which continues to deny a deliberate government effort to exterminate the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. Armenian Diaspora groups that have long been at the forefront of the recognition campaign also deplored Pashinians remarks. Speaking with visiting Turkish journalists last month, Pashinian made clear that his government will not strive get more countries and international bodies to recognize the genocide. He questioned the wisdom of genocide resolutions already adopted by many foreign parliaments, saying that they undermine stability in the region. Pashinians relationship with the ancient church, to which the vast majority of Armenians belong, has increasingly deteriorated in recent years and especially since the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Garegin and other senior clergymen joined the Armenian opposition in calling for Pashinians resignation following Armenias defeat in the six-week war. They also condemned Pashinian for recognizing Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh months before Baku recaptured the region in September 2023. The premier has accused the church of meddling in politics. 21 April 2025 16:58 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more In the shifting landscape of Eurasian geopolitics, one countrys strategic positioning, economic ambition, and diplomatic finesse have quietly but effectively pushed it to the forefront of regional integration: Azerbaijan. As a long-standing member of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) a bloc of ten countries stretching from the Middle East to Central and South Asia Azerbaijan has transitioned from a participating voice to a regional leader with bold, forward-thinking economic initiatives. While headlines tend to focus on the broader rivalries between China, Russia, and the West, Azerbaijans expanding influence across trade, energy, and transport corridors is shaping the infrastructure and future of Eurasia in ways that demand global attention. At the heart of this transformation lies Bakus strategic pragmatism. Nestled between Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan has taken full advantage of its geography. The BakuTbilisiKars railway, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and the Southern Gas Corridor are not just regional projects they are Eurasian arteries, linking the Caucasus with European and Asian markets. In doing so, Azerbaijan has not only positioned itself as a bridge between continents but as a reliable transit and energy hub in a region plagued by volatility and competing interests. More significantly, Azerbaijans contributions to the ECO framework have extended beyond infrastructure. The country has emerged as a consistent voice for economic cooperation and environmental sustainability, backing initiatives in green energy, agriculture, and digital connectivity. This is not merely a question of ambition its about redefining what regional cooperation can look like in the 21st century. One might argue that the ECO has long struggled with cohesion and visibility on the world stage. But Azerbaijan has treated the organization not as a passive forum but as a platform to project stability, development, and multilateral diplomacy. By hosting two pivotal ECO summits in 2006 and 2012, and by shaping the dialogue around energy security and sustainable growth, Baku has reaffirmed its commitment to turning regional rhetoric into actionable policy. Such leadership is not without broader implications. As Europe searches for alternatives to Russian energy, Azerbaijans strategic infrastructure is becoming central to diversifying the continents gas supply. Meanwhile, for ECO member states like Pakistan, Iran, and the Central Asian republics, Azerbaijan offers not only access to European markets but a model for pragmatic diplomacy and infrastructure-led growth. Yet, what makes Azerbaijans approach truly noteworthy is its ability to balance East and West, while remaining firmly anchored in the principles of regional cooperation. In an era where geopolitical alliances are increasingly transactional and short-lived, Bakus long-term vision within the ECO offers a refreshing contrast. Its not about dominating neighbors its about connecting them. To be sure, challenges remain. The region is still vulnerable to political tensions, and economic disparities among ECO members pose hurdles to full integration. But if Azerbaijans trajectory is any indication, the path forward lies not in isolation or competition but in connectivity, cooperation, and coordinated growth. The West would do well to pay closer attention. As global supply chains reroute, and new energy corridors emerge, countries like Azerbaijan will no longer be seen as peripheral players. They are becoming central to the story of regional resilience and global transition. Azerbaijan may be quietly leading, but the impact of its leadership is loud and clear. 21 April 2025 19:57 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more A comprehensive analysis published in the Israeli daily Maariv underscores Azerbaijans growing strategic influence in the South Caucasus and beyond, highlighting its dynamic multi-vector foreign policy and deepening partnerships with both Israel and Turkiye. The articleauthored by political analyst Dr. Anat Hochberg-Maromemphasizes that Azerbaijan is emerging not only as an energy power, but also as a diplomatic, military, and geopolitical player in the region. Azerbaijan as a regional mediator One of the key takeaways of the analysis is Azerbaijans role as a bridge between Israel and Turkiye, two regional allies with a history of fluctuating relations. Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions with Iran, Azerbaijans mediation efforts are seen as both timely and beneficialstrengthening Bakus diplomatic profile while contributing to broader regional stability. President Ilham Aliyevs recent remarks on the need for de-escalation between Ankara and Tel Aviv, particularly in light of their diverging positions on Syria, reaffirm Bakus commitment to acting as a stabilizing force. The article notes that Azerbaijan played a similar role during the 2022 normalization phase between the two countries and stands ready to support a renewed reconciliation process. With Turkiye boosting its military presence in Syria and Israel viewing this as a growing concern, Bakus diplomatic mediation is considered crucial in preventing further escalation. Backing from Washington and international partners The Maariv article further notes that the United States, under President Donald Trump, has welcomed efforts to establish dialogue channels between Israel and Turkiye, viewing Azerbaijan as a credible and neutral facilitator. If successful, such initiatives could lay the foundation for a new axis of stability between Baku, Ankara, and Jerusalem, solidifying Azerbaijans strategic footprint in both the South Caucasus and the broader Eurasian landscape. Realpolitik and strategic balance Dr. Hochberg-Marom also draws attention to Azerbaijans carefully calibrated foreign policymarked by its historic and economic closeness to Turkiye and simultaneously strategic loyalty to Israel. In 2024, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkiye reached $6.13 billion, while Azerbaijans exports to Israel stood at $898 millionoutpacing total exports to all Arab states combined. Azerbaijans influence in Israels energy sector is also expanding: state oil company SOCAR holds a 10% stake in the Tamar gas field, further tying Baku into the Eastern Mediterranean energy network. On the defense front, Israel remains a key partner, supplying UAVs, radar systems, and advanced military technology to Azerbaijan. Between 2018 and 2022, 9% of Israels total defense exports were directed to Baku. Iran: a relationship marked by tension and pragmatism While the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran reached $580 million in 2024, the relationship remains fraught. The article points to Irans open support for Armenia and its antagonistic stance towards Israel as major friction points. Tensions were further aggravated by the recent foiling of an Iranian plot to assassinate the leader of Azerbaijans Jewish community. Strategic outlook: beyond energy Ultimately, Maariv concludes that Azerbaijan is no longer merely an energy supplierit is transforming into a regional power with diplomatic agility, economic strength, and geopolitical ambition. While it may not be able to resolve entrenched conflicts such as the Israeli-Palestinian issue or the deep divide between Turkiye and Israel, Baku is positioned to leverage these dynamics to its advantage. By deepening energy ties with Turkiye, enhancing technological and defense cooperation with Israel, and seeking closer strategic alignment with Washington, including interest in joining the Abraham Accords, Azerbaijan is steadily reinforcing its regional influence. As the article puts it: "Baku is no longer just the oil-rich capital of the Caucasusit is emerging as a key player shaping the future of Eurasia and the Middle East." Note: This article is a translated and adapted version of Dr. Anat Hochberg-Maroms original analysis published in Israels "Maariv" newspaper. 21 April 2025 14:17 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The COP29 Presidency, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), hosted a hybrid conference on "COP29 Energy Initiatives and Commitments: Progress and Next Steps" at the Vienna International Centre, Azernews reports, citing the COP29 Presidency. The event aimed to build momentum for COP29 by promoting sustainability in international climate and energy relations, while also mobilizing support and action for COP30. The conference brought together both in-person and virtual participants from diplomatic missions, government representatives, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society in Vienna. The event sought to encourage broad participation in global energy initiatives, strengthen multilateral dialogue, and conceptualize next steps to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy systems. Hen Liu, UNIDOs Senior Technical Advisor on Climate and Technology Partnerships, opened and moderated the event. The conference featured addresses by Fatu Haydara, Deputy Director-General and Executive Director of the Global Partnerships and External Relations Department of UNIDO; Rovshan Sadigbayli, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Austria and Permanent Representative to UNIDO; and others. Following the opening session, Rana Goneim, Head of the Energy and Climate Action Department of UNIDO, Elmar Mammadov, Jala Ibrahimova, Co-Chairs of the COP29 Action Agenda Global Initiatives Group, Lala Mehdiyeva, a group member, and Ashraf Shikhaliyev, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, gave a joint presentation on energy initiatives at COP29. According to information from the opening day of the conference in Vienna, the "Commitment on Green Energy Zones and Corridors" was approved by 57 Parties and 9 non-Parties at COP29. The "Hydrogen Declaration" was endorsed by 63 Parties and 15 non-Parties, while the "Energy Storage and Grid Commitment" received endorsement from 65 Parties and 42 non-Parties at COP29. All commitments remain open for endorsement, and non-Parties and interested parties can express their support by sending a letter or verbal note to the respective addresses provided. 21 April 2025 11:18 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The program for the Second Fidan Hajiyeva's International Opera Festival, set to take place in Baku on April 23-29, has been officially announced, Azernews reports. Over the course of seven days, a series of concerts will feature renowned artists alongside promising young talents aged 6-16, many of whom will be performing on a grand stage for the first time. People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Fidan Hajiyeva, will grace all the festival events. The festival will kick off on April 23 at 19:00 with a performance of the operetta "Arshin Mal Alan" (The Cloth Peddler) composed by Uzeyir Hajibayli, at the Opera Studio of the Baku Music Academy. This new production will showcase young talents from the Fidan Hajiyeva Music School of Vocal, who will portray the lead roles. Notable participants include Vugar Hajiyev (Asgar), Aysu Aliyeva (Gulchohra), Rauf Mammadzade (Suleiman), Shakhira Rzayeva (Asya), and Roya Aliyeva (Telli). Fidan Hajiyeva will take on the role of Jahan Khal, with Honored Artist Tural Aghasiyev portraying Veli and Honored Artist Farid Aliyev directing the performance. The conductor will be People's Artist Javanshir Jafarov. On April 24 at 19:00, the Central School of Arts named after Gara Garayev will host the concert "Qlbimizd yasayanlar" (Living in our Souls), featuring students from the school alongside the "Academy of Arts of Children of Martyrs," directed by Konul Huseynova, a professor at the Baku Music Academy and the widow of martyr Lieutenant Colonel Rashad Atakishiyev. On April 25 at 19:00, the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theater will present "Gnc opera ulduzlar" (Young Opera Stars), featuring the womens chamber orchestra MEZZO and emerging talents. To purchase tickets, visit, please visit iTicket.Az April 26 at 14:00 will see the "Opera tarixi" (History of Opera) concert at the Belcanto Concert Hall of the Fidan Hajiyeva Music School of Vocal, showcasing the institution's students. Tickets can be purchased here. On April 27 at 18:00, the "Belcanto" concert hall will feature a performance titled "Irs" led by People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Professor Gulnaz Ismayilova, alongside her students. April 28 at 15:00 will resonate with Fidan Hajiyeva's solo concert "Desire," followed by the evening performance at 19:00, "Operann glck nsli, yeni nfsi" (The Future of Opera Art - New Breath), at the Fikrat Amirov Conference and Concert Center, featuring the Khazar University Chamber Orchestra. The festival will culminate on April 29 at 19:00 with the closing ceremony "Viva Opera," held at the Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic. This gala concert will feature both young and established artists, accompanied by a symphony orchestra under the baton of renowned conductor Boian Videnoff. To purchase tickets, please click on the following link. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az,Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az. 21 April 2025 15:38 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Masalli State Art Gallery has presented a traveling exhibition of paintings and photographs, Azernews reports. The project was organized by Azerbaijan Culture Ministry within the framework of the "Year of Constitution and Sovereignty" declared in Azerbaijan, aimed at demonstrating ethnic diversity in Azerbaijan, commitment to the values of multiculturalism, encouraging dialogue between ethnic groups and strengthening tolerance in society. Deputy Culture Minister Murad Huseynov, head of the Masalli Executive Authority District Araz Ahmadov, representatives of culture and the public took part in the event. Before the opening, flowers were laid at the monument to the National Leader of the Azerbaijani People Heydar Aliyev. The name of the exhibition "Muxtlifliy qucaq acaq" (Let's embrace diversity) symbolizes the coexistence and harmony of various ethnic groups and cultures in Azerbaijan, as well as the value and preservation of this diversity. Paintings and graphic works by well-known Azerbaijani artists, included in the State Art Gallery's collection, photographs from Azerbaijan Photographers Union's collection, as well as an installation "Echo" were demonstrated as part of the exhibition. In the installation, consisting of mirrors, phrases in the languages of different nations will be written in neon paint. The mirror symbolizes the viewer's involvement in multicultural Azerbaijan, the transparent circle - the openness and lack of boundaries of cultural diversity, and the neon inscriptions demonstrate the invisible but strong connections between different languages and cultures. An interactive exhibition called "The Tree of the Genetic Code" is also presented as part of the 15-day project. Participants will draw leaves on a canvas with a tree using fingerprints. The roots of the tree symbolize our heritage, and the branches - our future. Guests were also presented with a book exhibition in Heydar Aliyev Park, publications reflecting the cultural diversity of Azerbaijan, written in the languages of different nations and telling about their folklore and history. Then, Children's Art School presented a concert program with the participation of folklore groups of small peoples. Deputy Culture Minister Murad Huseynov got acquainted with the activities of the Children's Art School in Masalli and attended the concert program prepared by the students. In conclusion, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Murad Huseynov held a master class for students studying in the specialty "Piano" in schools of the districts covered by the activities of the Lankaran-Astara Regional Department of Culture. 21 April 2025 17:56 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan National Art Museum has hosted an exciting magical event, where writer, artist, and illustrator Ekaterina Sokolova-Zyzak introduced her new children's book, "In Search of the Magic Carpet," Azernews reports. The book takes readers on a colorful adventure with two curious cats traveling to Baku to find a mysterious carpet.Their journey is filled with amazing experiences and discoveries, showcasing the beautiful Azerbaijani carpets that are rich in history and vibrant in colors. Through the enchanting patterns and designs, young readers will learn about Azerbaijan's impressive carpet weaving tradition. The author's stunning illustrations bring the delightful tale to life. Shirin Malikova, the museum director and a Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, highlighted that each page of the book not only tells a magical story but also has educational value, helping to develop the taste of young readers. At the book presentation, led by Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy Teymur Daimi, the author shared insights about how she created the book, what inspired her, and the artistic choices she made. Ekaterina Sokolova-Zyzak was born in Moscow into a family of artists; her grandfather, Nikolai Sokolov, and father, Mikhail Sokolov, were both creators. Nikolai was a member of the renowned satirical art group Kukryniksy. Ekaterina studied watercolor at the Surikov Institute's art museum and ceramics at the Moscow Institute of Applied Arts. Since 1986, she has lived and worked in Warsaw and is a member of the Polish Artists' Union. She works with various mediums, including ceramics (porcelain), watercolors, gouache, and easel painting (oil and acrylic). Since 1980, she has actively participated in the art world, showcasing her work in over 250 group exhibitions and international symposiums, along with 35 solo exhibitions. Her artwork can be found in museums and private collections across countries such as Russia, France, Germany, Finland, India, the USA, and Chile. Founded in 1937, Azerbaijan National Art Museum offers art connoisseurs some of the best examples of decorative-applied arts of Western Europe. Over 3,000 items in 60 rooms are on permanent display at the museum, and around 12,000 items are kept in storage. Here, you can see masterpieces of the Italian, French, German, and Polish masters of brush. The museum has successfully organized and hosted numerous high-level international exhibitions, showcasing the works of renowned artists. These exhibitions have not only attracted art enthusiasts but have also contributed to the cultural exchange between Azerbaijan and other countries. 21 April 2025 14:33 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The full-length feature film "Dogma torpaq", produced with financial support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Cinema Agency and Narimanfilm studio, had its premiere at the Nizami Cinema Center, Azernews reports. The gala event was attended by Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Azerbaijan Republic Sabina Aliyeva, Chairperson of the Azerbaijan's State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Bahar Muradova, Deputy Chairperson of the Azerbaijani Parliament and Academician Rafael Huseynov, First Secretary of the Azerbaijan Film-Makers Union, People's Artist Shafiga Mammadova, along with prominent figures from the realms of science, culture, and cinema lovers. Before the screening, it was emphasized that "Dogma torpaq" is distinguished as the first artistic work created in the territories liberated after the 44-day Patriotic War, particularly in the city of Shusha. The film delves into three pivotal events in Azerbaijan's contemporary history: the forced displacement of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral landsnow part of Armenia, the first Garabagh war, including the Khojaly genocide, and the resounding victory of Azerbaijan in the recent conflict. Set against the backdrop of 1992, at a time when the independent Azerbaijan Republic was embroiled in a struggle against Armenian separatists in Garabagh, the story follows Miranda, a journalist from London, who travels to Azerbaijan to create a documentary about the Caucasian leopard. Her journey intertwines with that of Emil, an intelligence officer, as they navigate numerous challenges together. Audience reception of "Dogma torpaq" was overwhelmingly positive, with viewers expressing profound interest and emotion, culminating in a standing ovation at the end of the premiere. Following the screening, the creative team took to the stage to discuss their five-year journey in bringing the project to life. Filming locations included not just Shusha but also Baku, Gobustan, Guba, Barda, Zagatala, and Gakh. The film was scripted and directed by Ilgar Safat, produced by Nariman Mammadov, with line production overseen by Leyla Dostalizade. The cinematography was handled by Konstantin Esadze, while Araz Gumbetli composed the score, with sound engineering by Ivan Gusakov and Mehman Nadirov. The main roles in the film were played by Rustam Jabrayilov and Russian actress Alina Vorontsova, supported by a cast that included People's Artists Haji Ismailov and Mabud Maharramov, along with actors such as Azer Aydamir, Gorgud Jafarli, Rashad Safarov, and many more. Plans are underway for the film to be screened in several foreign nations and to participate in international film festivals. "Dogma torpaq" is set to be released in theaters across the country starting April 24. 21 April 2025 19:04 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Sick leave will now be processed as an e-document, serving as the basis for assigning benefits to employees. Azernews reports that this was stated in a joint announcement by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, and the Association of Management of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB). As part of an innovative initiative implemented under the relevant Cabinet of Ministers' Resolution, starting May 1, sick leave for insured persons will be issued as an electronic document in medical institutions under the Ministry of Health and TABIB. This will be done through the Ministry of Health's "Unified Health Information System." After being approved with an e-signature by medical institutions, the document will be sent electronically to the employer and the State Social Protection Fund (SSPF) under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. This e-document will serve as the basis for the SSPF to assign benefits to employees for temporary work incapacity or pregnancy and childbirth. To facilitate this process, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, has consolidated information on electronic sick leave into a single e-register. As a result, employers will be able to easily access these "e-bulletins" from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Populations information system, and medical workers can retrieve them via the "e-health" portal and mobile app. The transition to the e-bulletin system will reduce the workload related to the storage and processing of paper documents, minimize time loss, enhance service flexibility, and improve the overall quality and transparency of services. 21 April 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has welcomed the resumption of direct flights between Lahore and Baku by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), calling it a significant step toward strengthening ties with Azerbaijan. Azernews reports that Sharif, in his official statement, described the launch of the new route as a major milestone for the development of tourism and regional relations between the two brotherly countries. We remain committed to reaching new heights in brotherly relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan by deepening our cooperation in all sectors, the Prime Minister emphasized. It should be noted that the first direct PIA flight from Lahore to Baku was operated on April 20 after a two-year pause. The airline will now conduct flights on this route twice a weekon Wednesdays and Saturdaysfurther enhancing air transport connectivity between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. 21 April 2025 11:32 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva conducted a number of meetings on April 21 as part of her visit to Vietnam, Azernews reports. At the Ha Noi College of Commerce and Tourism, Leyla Aliyeva met with representatives of the creative industry and leaders of educational institutions, as well as Vietnamese graduates who studied in Azerbaijan during the Soviet era. It was noted at the meeting that the Ha Noi College of Commerce and Tourism, operating since 1965, is one of the largest and most prestigious educational institutions in Vietnam in this field. The college, which has about 3,000 students, has more than 50 training programs at various levels of academic and professional education. At the same time, the existing relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in various fields, the strong friendly relations between the two peoples, and the exceptional services of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in establishing these relations were emphasized. It was emphasized that the state visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Vietnam in 2014 opened a new page in relations between the countries. It was noted that the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, contributed to the expansion of existing relations. The Foundation's educational and social projects also cover Vietnam. In this regard, it was recalled that a primary school was built in Ha Giang province of Vietnam with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. During the meeting, views were exchanged on bilateral relations, the contributions of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev to the friendship of the two countries and peoples, and the current high-level relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam. The further expansion of existing relations and the projects to be implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the educational and social spheres within this framework were discussed. A meeting was held at the College of Trade and Tourism, as well as with Vietnamese graduates who studied at various higher educational institutions of Azerbaijan in 1968-1990. It was noted that Vietnamese graduates who studied in Azerbaijan played a special role in the formation of friendly relations between the two countries. The number of Vietnamese students studying in Azerbaijan increased after Heydar Aliyev's visit to Vietnam in 1983. During the Soviet period, up to 5,000 Vietnamese studied in Azerbaijan. At the meeting, a certificate of financial support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was presented to the Ha Noi College of Commerce and Tourism. Then, samples of Azerbaijani cuisine were presented by the Vice-President of the World Barbecue Association, renowned chef David Israfilov. 21 April 2025 14:40 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Today, during a continuing session at the Baku Military Court, defendant Arkadi Ghukasyan responded to questions regarding the Khojaly massacreone of the darkest chapters of the First Garabagh Warwhere hundreds of innocent Azerbaijani civilians were systematically killed on the night of February 2526, 1992, solely on the grounds of their ethnicity. Ghukasyan claimed he first received information about the events in Khojaly in February 1992 through what he referred to as "official sources." "At the time, we didnt fully grasp the scale of the tragedy. We knew that hundreds of Azerbaijanis had been brought to Khankendi from Khojaly. Later, they were handed over to the other side," he stated. Ghukasyan also expressed condemnation of the killing of civilians, calling it "unacceptable" and describing the incident as "one of the bloody pages of war." The trial, which is still ongoing, involves Armenian citizens accused of a wide array of grave crimes, including war crimes, crimes against peace and humanity, the planning and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and numerous other serious offenses, all committed in the context of Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan. 21 April 2025 20:33 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an exclusive interview to Chinas Xinhua News Agency. Azernews presents the interview via Azertag: - Dear Mr. President, we remember you and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping signing the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership at the 24th SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Summit in Astana last July. In that document, you jointly declared the establishment of strategic partnership based on the principles of mutual respect, equal trust, mutual support and cooperation. This is an important milestone in the history of relations between the two countries. In your opinion, what important results have been achieved in the development of relations between China and Azerbaijan and how would you evaluate them? - You are right. The Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China was adopted within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Astana on July 3, 2024. The Declaration emphasizes that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations on April 2, 1992, our bilateral cooperation has brought about many fruitful results. At the same time, we agreed to further expand this cooperation, strengthen our interaction in international affairs, jointly safeguard the common interests of the two countries, and jointly advance the cause of regional and global peace, stability and development. We jointly declared that our strategic partnership would rest on such fundamental principles of bilateral relations as mutual respect, equality, trust, mutual support, mutual benefit and cooperation. In the Declaration, we also reaffirmed that we are priority and reliable partners who treat each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity with due respect, pursuing an independent foreign policy based on the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful coexistence. I do believe that our meeting in Astana and the joint declaration adopted as a result are a historic event that ushers in a new page in Azerbaijani-Chinese relations. Speaking at the bilateral meeting with President of China Xi Jinping, I noted that the adopted Declaration officially turns China and Azerbaijan into strategic partners, which is a great achievement and also a great responsibility. During our meeting in Astana, I was invited to pay a state visit to China, and I was pleased to accept the invitation. I also invited the President of China to visit our country at a convenient time. I am convinced that such an exchange of high-level visits will give additional impetus to the process of deepening our interstate relations. We attach particular importance to the development of cooperation between our countries in all areas of mutual interest and view the deepening of bilateral relations as one of the important directions of Azerbaijan's foreign policy. We can say with confidence today that our relations have gained a very positive momentum. High-ranking members of the government and parliament, heads of ministries and departments, the Prosecutor General's Office, as well as officials from the Presidential Administration and the central office of the New Azerbaijan Party, visited China in 2024. Last year, the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Chairman of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries visited Azerbaijan. The participation of the Vice Prime Minister of the Peoples Republic of China in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP29, was a landmark event. The conference was attended by representatives from 196 countries, over 150 international organizations and UN agencies, as well as nearly 2,000 NGOs. The key decisions made at COP29 have been the provision of climate financing to developing countries, the introduction of the Loss and Damage Fund, and the full implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. As part of its presidency of COP29, Azerbaijan proposed 14 global initiatives addressing the links between climate action and sustainable development goals, which have already received broad international support. The agreements reached, the initiatives supported and the decisions made are of exceptional importance for the future of humanity and the global climate agenda. Despite the large-scale and unfounded campaign of pressure and boycott against Azerbaijan, led by certain Western circles, in relation to such an important event for the global community, we once again demonstrated strong political will and professionalism. This enabled us to host the Conference at a high level, achieve historic results, and make a real breakthrough in multilateral negotiations. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the Chinese delegation for its active participation and valuable contribution to global efforts to combat climate change. - According to the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, China accounted for 7.9 percent of Azerbaijan's total foreign trade in 2024. China is your country's fourth largest trading partner and has become the main source of imports for the first time. On November 24, the first Azerbaijani train with export goods left Baku for China. Trading houses of Azerbaijan are emerging in Chinese cities, Azerbaijani carpets, pomegranate juice and other high-quality products are reaching thousands of Chinese families. What is your view about the role of the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road in promoting this cooperation between the two countries? - I would like to draw your attention to another important agreement reached during my meeting with the President of the People's Republic of China in Astana. We are talking about further expanding trade and economic ties between our countries and filling them with new high-quality content. In 2024, the volume of trade between Azerbaijan and China increased by 20.7 percent compared to the previous year, totaling 3.744 billion US dollars. Indeed, China has become the fourth largest trading partner for Azerbaijan and its share in the country's foreign trade has reached 7.9 percent. It is also the leader in imports, with its share amounting to 17.69 percent. Despite the progressive trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, there is still a huge untapped potential. I do believe that the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the two countries is an important mechanism for deepening bilateral economic ties, identifying promising areas of cooperation and consolidating them further in the legal plane. Timely implementation of the Commission's decisions will be key to the success of our efforts. Ahead of my visit to China, the 10th meeting of the Commission is due to be held in Baku. The Azerbaijani trading and wine houses you mentioned are already operating in such cities of China as Beijing, Shanghai, Urumqi, Qingdao, Chengdu, Nanjing and Zhangjiajie. They are making a significant contribution to the development of our bilateral trade relations. Azerbaijans trading house has also been created on the well-known international online trading platform JD in China. To date, a total of 375 companies with Chinese capital are registered in Azerbaijan, of which 298 operate quite actively in the country. Currently, negotiations are underway between Azerbaijan and China on the prospects for joint cooperation in the non-oil sector, in particular, in attracting direct investment in hi-tech and innovation, alternative and renewable energy. As you may know, Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to support the Belt and Road initiative put forward by the President of the Peoples Republic of China. We are implementing serious projects in this direction. It is safe to say that Azerbaijan is the second country after China to have invested the most in this project both on its own territory and abroad. Speaking at the second Belt and Road Forum held in China in April 2019, I noted that this project not only provides transport links, but also strengthens the relations between different countries, serves to bolster dialogue and cooperation, and creates new opportunities for international trade. We are expanding our cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative. Significant progress has already been made in this direction. Leveraging its advantageous geographical location, Azerbaijan continues to extensively develop international transport corridors, create modern infrastructure and invest additional funds in increasing their capacity in response to the sharp increase in cargo traffic through our territory. Over the past 20 years, 21,000 kilometers of highways have been built and renovated, 335 bridges and overpasses, 45 tunnels, 163 overland and underground crossings have been built in Azerbaijan. Considerable progress has also been made in improving railway infrastructure including the construction of over 1,500 kilometers of new railways and the renovation of 1,800 kilometers of existing tracks. Such important transport projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), as well as the Baku International Trade Seaport, one of the major ports on the Caspian Sea, are opening up new horizons for the implementation of economic and transport opportunities within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative. I would also like to highlight that the Middle Corridor is a reliable and safe route connecting Europe with Central Asia and China via the Caspian Sea. It is also the most competitive route for delivering goods between China and Europe, and its importance is growing rapidly. The volume of transit traffic between Azerbaijan and China in 2024 amounted to 378,000 tons, which is 86 percent more than in 2023. In 2024, 287 block trains were dispatched from China to Azerbaijan along the Middle Corridor in import and transit modes. - China and Azerbaijan are the centers of civilizations on the ancient Silk Road. Humanitarian exchanges between the two countries have flourished in recent years, especially in the fields of language education and tourism. Beijing Foreign Studies University has launched a program to study the Azerbaijani language. More and more Azerbaijani students are showing interest in the Chinese language. According to Azerbaijani sources, the number of Chinese tourists who visited Azerbaijan last year doubled compared to the previous year. What do you expect from this trend? - You have touched upon important areas of cooperation both countries attach particular importance to. The Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership points to the sustainable development of cooperation in the field of education as part of the existing legal framework between the two countries. At the same time, we have been paying special attention to cooperation in the field of language learning and teaching. The number of citizens from both our countries who have had the opportunity to study various disciplines at higher education institutions of Azerbaijan and China at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels has been steadily growing year by year. A number of higher education institutions in Azerbaijan that are partners of the Confucius Institute provide teaching of Chinese. It is also encouraging to note that centers dedicated to the study of Azerbaijani language and culture have been established in China in recent years. A corresponding department has been established. There is fruitful cooperation between the universities of the two countries, the necessary legal framework is being put in place. I am confident that state support for the teaching of the Chinese and Azerbaijani languages in educational institutions, exchanges between teachers and training of specialists will contribute to the effective interaction between states in various fields, bring the two countries even closer together and serve the cultural enrichment of the two peoples. Last year, Azerbaijan unilaterally introduced a visa-free regime for Chinese citizens in order to develop tourism and facilitate business activity. Facilitating mutual visa-free travel for citizens of our countries will help increase tourist flows and, thus, further expand economic, humanitarian and cultural ties. - In 2016, Azerbaijan became an SCO dialogue partner country and is an important member of the SCO family. It was during the SCO Astana Summit that the two countries established a strategic partnership. China, as the SCO chair in 2024-2025, will host the 25th meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council in 2025. What are your expectations from this summit? - I believe that China's chairmanship under the slogan of Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action will contribute to the further institutionalization and strengthening of its role in the international arena. China is one of the founding countries of the SCO and continues to be one of the leading forces in developing the organization. I am confident that the efforts undertaken by China within the framework of its extensive chairmanship program will give additional impetus to strengthening multilateral cooperation based on the SCO principles, as well as the implementation of its tasks. Last year, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, I took part in the SCO summit. Currently, Azerbaijan has the status of a dialogue partner of the SCO. Azerbaijan's cooperation with the SCO covers a broad range of areas such as the fight against terrorism, extremism and separatism, regional security and stability. The focus is also on issues such as inter-civilizational dialogue, multiculturalism and promotion of tolerance. As is known, our country plays an active role in these areas in the international arena. We attach great importance to the activities of the SCO and share the principles underlying this organization. As a reliable partner and an important state in the region, Azerbaijan continues to contribute to maintaining international and regional peace and security, implements large-scale trade, economic, transport, infrastructure and energy projects aimed at expanding trade, commercial and investment ties, thus contributing to global economic growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I am also confident that close bilateral cooperation between our countries will contribute most fruitfully to the deepening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the SCO and the enhancement of its status in this organization. - China and Azerbaijan are important members of the Global South, maintaining close cooperation on multilateral platforms and effectively defending international justice. How would you assess the impact of the growing role of the Global South on global governance? And how would you evaluate the concept of a community of common destiny put forward by China? - Last year in Astana, President of China Xi Jinping and I declared our desire to promote the creation of a community of common destiny for mankind. We advocate the promotion of such common values of mankind as peace, development, equality, justice, democracy and freedom, while opposing hegemony and power politics. We have expressed our readiness to jointly support the international system under the auspices of the UN, its role in international affairs, adhere to genuine multilateralism, as well as an international order based on international law and the goals and principles of the UN Charter. I have already mentioned that, being part of the Global South, we have always defended its interests. In 2019-2023, Azerbaijan chaired the Non-Aligned Movement, the second largest international organization after the UN. During that period, our presidency made a number of systematic efforts to enhance the role and status of this important platform uniting the countries of the Global South. One of our ideas during the COP29 presidency was to build stronger bridges between the Global South and the Global North. Today, countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, which together form the Global South, make up almost two-thirds of the UN member states. They account for about 80 percent of the world's population, about 50 percent of the world's GDP and about half of the total volume of international trade. The participation of the Global South in building a more sustainable, fair and secure world order is a natural process. - Almost six years have passed since your visit to China in April 2019. Can you share your impressions of your previous visits to China? What are your expectations for your upcoming visit to China? - China is one of the worlds fastest growing countries. China's achievements and successes in all areas under the resolute and wise leadership of President Xi Jinping have elevated it to the ranks of the most powerful and advanced countries in the world, further strengthening its standing in the international arena. Under President Xi Jinpings leadership, China has made significant progress. Chinas development meets the interests not only of the Chinese people but also the entire world. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, I paid a working visit to China in 2014 and a state visit to the Peoples Republic of China in 2015. In 2019, at the invitation of the President of China, I participated in the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing. I have warm memories of our meetings and fruitful discussions with President Xi Jinping. I am glad that Azerbaijani-Chinese relations, based on ancient history and good traditions, are developing in an upward direction and our strategic partnership is enriched with new positive content. Our active dialogue, mutual respect and trust, developed on the basis of personal meetings, telephone conversations and exchanges of letters, are playing a valuable role in deepening bilateral relations. I can say with confidence that all previous visits to the Peoples Republic of China had a very rich program and were accompanied by the signing of a number of important bilateral documents aimed at expanding the comprehensive Azerbaijani-Chinese cooperation in line with our mutual interests. I am convinced that the upcoming visit will also serve to deepen the strategic partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China. 21 April 2025 20:50 (UTC+04:00) I do believe that our meeting in Astana (with President of China Xi Jinping - ed.) and the Joint Declaration adopted as a result are a historic event that ushers in a new page in Azerbaijani-Chinese relations. Azernews reports that Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said this during his exclusive interview with Chinas Xinhua News Agency. Speaking at the bilateral meeting with President of China Xi Jinping, I noted that the adopted Declaration officially turns China and Azerbaijan into strategic partners, which is a great achievement and also a great responsibility, the head of state emphasized. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his confidence that the exchange of high-level visits will give additional impetus to the process of deepening interstate relations. 21 April 2025 15:22 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Exports of crude oil and related products from Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom saw a significant surge in the first quarter of 2025, according to the State Customs Committee, Azernews reports. From January to March, Azerbaijan exported over... Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 21 April 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) The Ukrainian delegation will take part in upcoming talks in London next week, where representatives from the United States and European countries are expected to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine, Azernews reports citing UNIAN. The information was confirmed by Sergey Leshchenko, an adviser to the head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Our group will participate. I will not disclose the composition. If necessary, adjustments will be made to the composition, but Ukraine will definitely participate in these talks, Leshchenko stated. He also recalled that Ukraine was represented at the Paris meeting on April 17 by the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. 21 April 2025 10:56 (UTC+04:00) US Vice President JD Vance held meetings on Saturday with senior Vatican officials, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vaticans foreign minister. The discussions took place against a backdrop of ongoing tensions regarding US immigration policies, international conflicts, and human rights issues involving prisoners. According to a statement from Vances office, the vice president and Parolin shared reflections on their Catholic faith, the role of Catholicism in the United States, the global persecution of Christian communities, and former President Trumps commitment to fostering global peace. The Vatican characterized the talks as cordial and constructive, noting a shared exchange of views on global affairs, especially migration, refugee movements, and the treatment of prisoners. The Holy See also reiterated its support for religious freedom and called for a calm and cooperative relationship between religious institutions and government. The meeting came after months of visible tension between Vance, a Catholic convert since 2019, and Pope Francis, particularly over US immigration policies. In a notable exchange in February, the Pope publicly disagreed with Vances reference to the theological concept ordo amoris (the right order of love) to support mass deportation. Pope Francis responded that true love, as taught by Christian doctrine, embraces universal fraternity without exclusion. During his Easter visit to Rome, Vance also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and participated in Good Friday services at St. Peters Basilica. He and the Pope shared a brief meeting afterward to exchange Easter greetings. 21 April 2025 12:19 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated a $1.25 billion loan for a decarbonization project by Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, Azernews reports, citing the ADB. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 21 April 2025 20:19 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The UK is set to significantly increase the production of RDX (Research Department Explosive) explosives and 155 mm artillery shells to reduce its dependence on supplies from the United States and France, Azernews reports. In the next two years, the British defense company BAE Systems plans to ramp up its production of 155 mm shells for howitzers and self-propelled guns by 16 times. In an interview, Steve Cardew, a senior member of BAE management, revealed that the company has developed a new technology for producing RDX, which is the first of its kind globally. According to Cardew, the company has designed an automated production facility that can be housed in a standard cargo container. This facility is capable of producing up to 100 tons of explosives per year. BAE plans to sell this decentralized RDX production technology to other countries in the future. Cardew also mentioned that the company expects growing demand for such technology due to the policies of the new US administration and escalating global tensions. The finished artillery shells will be produced at a new BAE factory in Wales, which is expected to begin operations this summer. As Europes largest arms supplier, BAE intends to manufacture ammunition without relying on American technology or components. This approach will enable the company to supply its products to other countries without the restrictions imposed by International Arms Trade Regulations (ITAR), which govern the transfer of US-made military goods and technologies. Currently, BAE is the UK's only manufacturer of NATO-standard 155 mm artillery shells, but it has been dependent on RDX supplies from the USA and France for their production. This move by the UK and BAE underscores a growing trend among countries to reduce reliance on foreign supplies for critical military components, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions. By building domestic capabilities in RDX production, the UK can strengthen its defense autonomy and enhance its national security posture. 21 April 2025 20:38 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Five Hyundai Motor electric buses will begin operating in June on Japan's Yakushima Island, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site known for its unique ecosystem, Azernews reports. Hyundai signed a supply deal with Iwasaki Group, a Japanese tourism service company, in July of last year, marking the company's entry into Japans commercial electric vehicle (EV) market. The buses, called Elec City Town, were officially delivered to Iwasaki Group on Monday in a ceremony held at the Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel, Hyundai reported. The units were then handed over to Tanegashima-Yakushima Kotsu, a transportation company under the Iwasaki Group. The ceremony was attended by around 80 people, including Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Chang Jae-hoon, Hyundai Mobility Japan Head Toshiyuki Shimegi, Iwasaki Group President and CEO Yoshitaro Iwasaki, and the town mayor Koji Araki, according to Hyundai. "Yakushima is the perfect environment where mobility solutions can truly shine," said Chang during his congratulatory speech, emphasizing the shared goal of Hyundai and the Yakushima government to demonstrate the harmonious coexistence of nature, technology, and the local community. The Elec City Town buses will operate on a route connecting Yakushima Airport, Miyanoura Port, and Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge starting in June. These mid-size, low-floor buses are specially designed to handle the islands challenging terrain and endure its subtropical climate and geographical conditions, Hyundai explained. Hyundai has also signed an agreement with the Yakushima government on Sunday to use the Elec City Town's vehicle-to-home (V2H) function to provide power to evacuation centers and medical facilities during natural disasters, such as typhoons or heavy rain. The company expects this V2H capability to serve as a backup power source during blackouts. Additionally, Hyundai plans to install charging stations on the island for use by both residents and tourists, as part of future agreements. Kagoshima Prefecture, where Yakushima is located, has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with plans to replace all vehicles on the island with electric or other zero-emission vehicles. As a leader in electrification, we aim to strengthen our position in the market while contributing to carbon reduction and becoming a brand that supports the local community, said a Hyundai spokesperson. The project highlights how electric vehicles are increasingly being integrated into sustainable tourism efforts, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas like Yakushima. The introduction of EV buses can help reduce the carbon footprint of the tourism sector while maintaining the island's UNESCO-protected environment. Be Jeweled Returns to Central Oregon Coast, Newport's Dazzling, Arty Jewelry Event Published 04/18/25 at 7:49 a.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Newport, Oregon) A central Oregon coast tradition returns one that goes back almost 20 years. Get ready for the sixteenth annual Be Jeweled pre-loved jewelry sale, happening Saturday, May 10, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Central Coast Assembly Church, located at 236 NE 6th St., Newport. This cherished annual event raises funds for Food Share of Lincoln County, an organization committed to fighting hunger by providing food access through local pantries, meal sites, backpack programs, senior outreach initiatives, and youth programs. Shoppers will have the opportunity to browse more than 2,000 donated pieces of jewelry, ranging from vintage pins, earrings, and pendants to elegant sterling silver necklaces and bangles. Thanks to the generosity of donors, treasures include pearls, jade, and fine jewelry crafted in silver and gold. Handmade artisan creations - earrings and necklaces specially made for the event - add unique touches. For craft enthusiasts, theres even a dedicated table filled with components for custom jewelry-making. From past Be Jeweled events Doors are open at 10 AM, and shoppers can explore Be Jeweled finds until 1 PM. Nancy Mitchell, Executive Director of Food Share of Lincoln County, highlights the uniqueness of the central Oregon coast event. "Theres no other event like this on the coast, Mitchell said. Its a fantastic way to support Food Share by donating your pre-loved jewelry and shopping for new treasures. We briefly close from 1 to 2 PM to give our hardworking team of 50 volunteers a break, then reopen with excitement for our half-price sale from 2 to 4 PM. We see dedicated shoppers who return year after year, as well as newcomers experiencing the magic for the first time. Its a fun and meaningful way to give back to the community." Beyond Be Jeweled, year-round jewelry sales at Rustic Ridge Antique Mall, Nostalgia Estate Sales Antique Mall, Oceanic Arts, and the Food Share of Lincoln County eBay store help generate over $30,000 annually, funding essential food distribution programs. Mitchell emphasizes the growing need. "Weve seen about a 19% increase in families relying on food programs in Lincoln County over the past year or two, Mitchell said. With recent USDA budget cuts, well have less food and even more people to serve. The gap is wide, and support is critical. Coming to Be Jeweled is a special way to help - its a little bit of light in tough times." To learn more about Be Jeweled, contact Food Share of Lincoln County at 541-265-8578 or visit www.foodsharelc.org. Hotels in Newport - Where to eat - Newport Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted N. Oregon Coast's 'Cheese War' a Quiet Part of Tillamook-Area History: See the Lecture Published 04/20/25 at 8:09 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Nehalem, Oregon) Not all is always lovely, calm or delicious when it comes to the cheese industry of the north Oregon coast. There was a time when cheesemakers in the Tillamook area had what was called the Cheese Wars by some. That is going to be the subject of a history talk in Nehalem on April 26 called Cheese War, Conflict and Courage in Tillamook County, Oregon, given by author Marilyn Milne. She penned the book of that same name, digging into a part of regional history that is often overlooked. Presented by Marilyn Milne, co-author of *Cheese War, Conflict and Courage in Tillamook County, Oregon. Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 3:30 p.m It happens at the North County Recreation District, 36155 9th St. Nehalem. $10 at the door. Milne said the Tillamook County Creamery Association has grown into a billion-dollar successful company: a co-op founded on the strength of dairy farmers and great-tasting cheese and ice cream. But as with all strong companies, they have weathered equally strong storms along the way. Milne, along with her co-author sister, Linda Kirk, relay the story of the challenges around them in the 1960s as local dairy farmers and those in leadership positions battled it out in the courts. It occurred at a time when small local factories were giving way to larger ones that incorporated individual dairy operations. The Cheese War was fought for nearly 10 years, Milne said, part of a complex system of family and business relationships. She and her sister watched as parents and other families were impacted, damaging relationships that were sometimes never fixed. This story was largely unknown outside of Tillamook County, inspiring the sisters to uncover the true and wide story with compassion and fairness, said the Nehalem Valley Historical Society. Milne will talk about the Aldervale and Mohler factories, as well as a few north county farmers. Tillamook Dairy History Background On September 25, 1968, the Statesman Journal wrote about the cheese wars in the Tillamook area, what seemed to be the end of the dispute. It all apparently began around 1963 when the Tillamook Cheese and Dairy Association left the Tillamook County Creamery Association. That began a series of anti-trust investigations in both federal and local courts, and a lawsuit over which one had the right to use the word Tillamook in its moniker. Both represented a total of 250 dairy farmers in the region. The settlement announced Tuesday included a provision that all pending litigation in federal and state courts would be dismissed, and the Tillamook Cheese and Dairy Association would be dissolved immediately, the paper wrote. Part of the saga involved renovations of a cheese plant north of Tillamook. While the dispute raged between the two north Oregon coast entities the plant was closed. It was reopened eventually after this joining of associations. Call (503) 368-7460. Hotels in Tillamook Bay - Where to eat - Tillamook Maps and Virtual Tours Hotels in Three Capes - Where to eat - Three Capes Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Lyrid Meteors with a Possible Side of Aurora for Washington, Oregon, Coastlines Published 04/19/25 at 5:49 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Westport, Washington) Looking for Aurora Borealis is all the rage these days, the totally fire new topic for social and older folks alike. There's plenty more from space coming up, with the Pacific Northwest skies looking clear this week, coinciding with the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower and Washington maybe getting a glimpse of the northern lights. (NASA photo) For places along the Oregon and Washington coast, many will see even clearer skies on some of these days than inland, such as Tacoma, Portland or Eugene. There is currently a G2 (minor) geomagnetic storm alert from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) for Sunday through Tuesday. Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state, the SWPC said. AccuWeather Meteorologist and Astronomy Expert Brian Lada said the West Coast is getting the good end of the deal for meteor spotting. Aurora Borealis from Cape Blanco near Port Orford, Oregon (Courtes Explore Port Orford) The peak of the Lyrid meteor shower will occur on Monday night into the early morning hours of Tuesday. If youre lucky enough to be in an area with a clear sky and little to no light pollution, you could see up to 20 shooting stars per hour during the peak, Lada said. This is a great opportunity to join family or friends outside and experience the wonders of our universe and solar system for Earth Day. The coastlines of Oregon and Washington as well as inland towns are sitting the prettiest for all this right now. The best places to witness the Lyrid meteor shower will be across the western U.S., parts of the Southwest, central Texas and in a pocket of the Midwest, including areas west and south of Chicago. Oregon Coast Beach Connection The Lyrid meteor showers begin around April 12 and go through April 25, according to Portland astronomy expert Jim Todd. Yet the peak is the 21st and 22nd. It's a narrow stretch, say astronomers. It's known for fast shooting stars but can produce long, persistent trails. That's more than half the fun of these intersolar flashes of light. SEE - Washington Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Weather - Inland Oregon Weather Lada says people hoping to witness the meteor shower should be patient and keep their eyes trained on the sky and off their cell phone and other sources of light. You have to be willing to stay up late to witness the best part of the Lyrid meteor shower, which will take place after midnight and the early morning before daybreak. There will be some competition in the sky with a waning crescent moon. That moonlight can make it difficult to spot shooting stars. What are the best meteor-watching spots on the Oregon coast or Washington coast? Weather and misty conditions are, of course, a big factor, but the entire coastline is known for being a great dark sky area. Any beach area should suffice, but high-elevation viewpoints are usually even better. The lookouts above Bandon's beaches, Anderson's Viewpoint near Oceanside, Cape Sebastian near Gold Beach, or the little gravel pullout near Cape Perpetua (Yachats) are just...well..stellar. Cape Foulweather near Depoe Bay would be another but its parking area is closed right now. Yet perhaps the granddaddy of them all is the Neahkahnie Overlooks above Manzanita. Lada said: "We recommend focusing your attention on darker areas of the sky with the moon out of direct sight to increase your odds of witnessing the Lyrid meteor shower. Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted N. Oregon Coast Bridge Work During Travel Season: Some Traffic Delays on Astoria-Megler Bridge Published 04/17/25 at 5:49 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Astoria, Oregon) Some amount of traffic issues are coming to the famed bridge connects the Oregon coast to the Washington side. Plan ahead for intermittent single-lane closures on the Astoria-Megler Bridge from early June through September as crews work to replace key bridge supports and concrete bases. (Photo Angi D Wildt Gallery) Well be replacing some of the bridges support elements and concrete bases - critical components that help keep this iconic structure safe and functional, ODOT's Mindy McCartt said. Most of this work is happening underneath the bridge using temporary work platforms, so the visible impact above deck will be fairly limited. Still, we will need to close one lane during weekdays to safely complete the work. Construction is scheduled to run from June through September, with lane closures occurring periodically from Sunday nights at 7 p.m. through Friday at noon. Weekends, including the period from Friday noon to Sunday at 7 p.m., as well as major holidays, will remain free from closures to reduce travel disruption. It does mean, however, a portion of the high-population travel season will see a little run of traffic headaches on that road between Washington and Oregon coast. ODOT said that while peak tourism months could see some delays due to lane closures, efforts have been made to minimize disruption by keeping weekends open to traffic and concentrating work primarily beneath the bridge. Luckily, there are months to look ahead with this announcement, ODOT said. Photo Angi D Wildt Gallery The existing 12-foot-wide load restriction on the bridge will remain in place around the clock. Vehicles exceeding this width must coordinate with ODOT Permits for approval and scheduling. With 48 hours notice, accommodations may be possible depending on the days construction activities. Historic photo of the bridge being built in the '60s This project is part of ODOTs ongoing commitment to maintaining and preserving the Astoria-Megler Bridge, which has stood for more than 55 years. As with any aging structure, maintenance presents unique challenges - especially when sourcing or fabricating parts that match the original design and materials. Cost of designing the bridge work was $40,000. Cost of construction has not been determined yet. Twists, Turns of Construction History of Astoria-Megler Bridge, Longest Oregon Coast Landmark - On July 29, 1966 the bridge to the Washington coast opened. Hotels in Astoria - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Whale Body Parts Found Oregon Coast, Human Cause. Two Whales Strand Washington Coast Published 04/21/25 at 12:01 a.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Warrenton, Oregon) It's starting read a bit like a true crime piece. Two body parts of whales have washed up on the Oregon coast in recent weeks with the latest Saturday and a couple of large deceased whales have rolled up onto the Washington coast. (Photos courtesy Sara Eads) The latter situation of whale carcasses showing up is not especially new, but having whale body parts show up is. In fact, one researcher called it weird. Part of a whale fluke was found Saturyda (April 19) at Fort Stevens. Sara Eads reported to authorities including the Oregon Coast Killer Whale Monitoring Program she had found a large piece of black animal tissue. The program's Josh McInnes said Eads sent him photographs. McInnes is also a researcher from the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Marine Mammal Research Unit and with the University of British Columbia. I have been able to confirm that it is part of the fluke (tail region) of a killer whale, McInnes said. The fluke section was 30 inches by 20 inches and several inches thick. Weighed at least 25-30 lbs. McInnes said on social the cut looked rather clean, like a propeller strike from a ship. He also noted how rare this was to find an orca part lying on the beach. Seaside Aquarium's Keith Chandler and Tiffany Boothe were dispatched to pick up the fluke for further testing. Oregon State University's Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network (OMMSN) along with Portland State University scientists are now involved, and testing will likely be done by OSU staff. Chandler told Oregon Coast Beach Connection it looked like human interaction was involved in some way. It was sliced and cut pretty clean by something, Chandler said. The orca body part had been in the ocean for awhile, he said. It wasn't fresh, he said. It was pretty rotten. Jim Rice, head of the OMMSN, said he had been alerted to another whale body part near Newport a few weeks ago. We actually found the left lobe of a whale fluke near Newport a few weeks ago, Rice told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Im still awaiting the results of the DNA test to determine the species of whale it came from. I dont think it was from a killer whale. Human interaction is also suspected here but in a way that poses all kinds of federal law questions. It looked like it had been cut off by someone using a knife, Rice said. Federal law prohibits the collection of any part of a marine mammal, dead or alive. There was a case of this in Cannon Beach around 2007, where a man cut part of a dead whale off and was fined by the feds. This includes, but is not limited to, the collection of any dead or injured marine mammal, or any part thereof, the law reads. Other whale carcasses have washed up on the Washington coast recently. A gray whale rolled up near Ocean Shores in early April, showing signs of a ship strike. Chandler said another has washed around Seaview, Washington and the aquarium crew will be investigating that one on Monday. Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Political Scene About to Make Major Reset in Beaufort County BY: THE BEAUFORT OBSERVER EDITORIAL TEAM Some changes come as slow as molasses runs. Other profound changes hit like lightning. Illegal drugs and the cell phone mania have crept up on society. Both illegal drugs and the cell phone mania are still slowly impacting all of our lives, either directly or indirectly. The billionaires who profit from both are not at all concerned about the lives ruined by illegal drugs and cell phones. Cell phones and illegal drugs separate us from a lot of our money. Sooner or later society has to face these issues and decide whether or not we can afford cell phones or illegal drugs. Most people are now aware of the horrible condition of education in the United States, in every county and every state. Do not believe all of the horrors of education are in California or Chicago. We have it here in Beaufort County. There are two events that we believe will supercharge the publics interest in education. That includes all education, from pre-kindergarten to the college graduate. One will be the opening of the new 52.5-million-dollar Eastern Elementary School. Once parents realize their six-year-old is in a school with another 899 students, and that child is not adapting well to the dictated herd mentality, they will turn on the geniuses who are responsible. The other is the closing of or attempted closing of the S. W. Snowden School at Aurora. Parents will not be happy with their childrens loss of a normal childhood when they realize that their child will leave home before daylight and get home after dark. Parents are already upset about the quality of education. That is why they are removing children from the public schools. Public school boards and administrators have not figured out the problems with the schools are caused by them. They have no reason to change and will not change. The changes will come with the newly elected politicians who replace them. Only a heartless person could cram small children into these consolidated schools and have them leave home at 6:00 AM and return at 5:00 or 6:00 PM. Those same people are responsible for failing to teach cursive writing, teaching illogical mathematics, introducing young and immature minds to sexual orientation perversions, eliminating textbooks, pronoun hogwash, critical race theory, and diversity-equity-inclusion socialism. In order to make all of this work the liberals need consolidated schools. Consolidated schools get these young minds as far as possible away from parents and Christian teachings. The image builder for these children becomes the government, not the parent or the church. With computer assisted teaching and few textbooks, parents have no idea what their children are learning in these consolidated schools. Neighborhood schools with 400 to 600 students allow parents to conveniently visit schools, teachers and children. It is far better for students to observe parents coming and going from a school than it is to see police on a daily basis. Seeing police daily conditions the child to become submissive to the police state. There is a world of difference between being submissive to police behavior patterns and knowing how to behave. Parents and teachers are needed to provide examples of acceptable behavior, not police. There have been several disastrous events in Beaufort County that rank on the same level as closing Snowden. In each case decisions were made by either County Commissioners or School Boards. Some of them are: the routing of US 17 on the west side of Washington instead of linking the north and south sides of the county, the county allowing the Belhaven hospital to close while giving away the County hospital, the school building program that started at around 22 million and wound up at around 42 million dollars resulting in overbuilding schools so that 50 percent of our present buildings are empty, and pumping millions into telephone companies to expand the internet. Millions of dollars of Beaufort County taxpayer dollars were wasted on each of these projects. Several years ago, the Beaufort County Conservative Club realized something is wrong with education in Beaufort County. That Club formed committees that raised money and supported candidates who said they would change the education system. They successfully elected more than eight commissioners and school board members who ran as conservative Republicans. The Clubs efforts deserve high praise. However, the majority of their candidates have been disappointing. It is with great sadness that Don Shreve, Gary Carlton and Daniel Hudson have supported the 52-million-dollar Eastern Elementary consolidated school in Washington and voted to close S. W. Snowden. Two candidates supported by the Conservative Club voted not to close S. W. Snowden. They are Stacy Davis and Charles Hickman. Had Carlton, Shreve and Hudson behaved as they represented themselves to be, in order to get elected, the S. W. Snowden School would not be a candidate for closing. Discussions with Carlton, Hudson, and Shreve last week at the hearing on closing Snowden raised objections from the three that they did not vote to close the school. In order to close the school, the general statutes say the majority of the board has to vote to hold the hearings. Yet, these three adults claim they did nothing to harm Snowden. These three need to be held accountable for their bad decision making and failure to be honest about their behavior. If they are truly dumb enough to drink the Big Cheeses Kool-Aid, they need to repeat the third grade and all subsequent grades. However, the Big Cheese came to the rescue. He admitted more than once in his long presentation during the Snowden hearing that the process for closing Snowden has been started. If Carlton, Hudson and Shreve were hornswoggled by the Big Cheese, they can redeem themselves by voting to keep this school open at the decision-making meeting on May 1 at 6:00 PM at the S. W. Snowden School in Aurora. Should they do the honorable thing, we will certainly apologize for this misunderstanding. Having common sense in making education decisions in Beaufort County is handicapped by the unethical relationship between two husbands and wives elected to the County Commissioners and the School Board. They are Randy and Carolyn Walker and Ed and Eltha Booth. The appearance of corruption comes with the four voting in lock step to apparently close Snowden and consolidate Eastern Elementary. Carlton, Hudson and Shreve have done very little to stop the liberal curriculum being used in the county schools. While there is no law against husbands and wives serving, there are certainly ethical issues that point to corrupt government. Another ethical issue involves the Chairman of the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners, Fake Frankie Waters, suddenly proposing to close Snowden and two schools at Chocowinity, and build yet another consolidated school somewhere in the wilds of Beaufort County on the south side of the River. Such a school, according to his proposal, would be centrally located. That looks like about 10 miles from any population center. The ethical issue here is that Fake Frankie has never discussed any of this in meetings with the Board of Commissioners. King Fake Frankie Waters along with the Big Cheese secretly negotiated for the grant money to build the Consolidated Eastern Elementary School. To do this he had to have represented and used his position as chairman without the knowledge of the Board. This is not ethical behavior. Ethical is another word for honest. We believe that if S. W. Snowden closes, the political future of Terry Williams, Don Shreve, Gary Carlton and Daniel Hudson will be very problematic. There should be little difficulty in getting people to run against them in their next elections. Williams may have little choice but to vote the way the Big Cheese tells him because of the jobs his relatives hold in the school system. People with these kinds of ethical conflicts should not hold a public office that supervises their relatives. There is virtually zero cost savings between keeping Snowden open and closing it. There is a huge additional cost in transporting students from Aurora to Chocowinity. The closing Snowden fiasco is driven by liberals who want school consolidation with huge schools out of the reach of parents and the public. It is driven by Democrats and RINOs (Republican In Name Only) who want California and Chicago style education. School consolidation is not working, it is destroying our nation. A Belfast man allegedly threatened to stamp on his ex-girlfriends neck and put in her windows after she ended their relationship, a court heard today. Daniel McCartney, 32, is accused of subjecting the woman to a relentless series of phone calls which also involved declaring an intention to attack her father. Mass-goers in Belfast and senior Catholic clerics react to the death of pope in Vatican at age of 88 St Marys Church in Belfast after the death of Pope Francis on the 21st April 2025 (Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph) Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter Mass on Sunday The news came as a shock to many on Monday morning, leaving people across Northern Ireland mourning the loss of the compassionate Pope Francis. Worshippers on their way to Mass learned the pontiff had died following a two-month illness, and were asked to keep him in their prayers. Some of the faithful speculated the aging head of the Catholic Church had held on until Easter Monday one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. Father Gary Donegan of Holy Cross in Ardoyne spoke of Francis humble nature. He said: It was something we were expecting. With him bestowing a blessing on people last night, it was like he was planning his own death. When he was sworn in as pope, someone brought him the vestments, and he joked: If you want, you can wear them. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter Mass on Sunday Pope Francis Dies at 88, Vatican Announces When he came out to greet the people, he said: Pray for me. It was the most simple beginning to a most wonderful papacy... going on the buses with the cardinals in their red, he wore his simple white. At this moment in the whole world, with the lack of statesmanship in leaders, he was a beacon. He was so compassionate he was all-encompassing. St Marys Church in Belfast after the death of Pope Francis on the 21st April 2025 (Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph) In churches across the city Catholics offered their prayers, lighting candles in memory of the Argentinian pontiff. The faithful came and went at Clonard Monastery, among them Martin White. He said: I was surprised (at his death), because I did see him on TV on Easter Sunday. What I am doing at the minute is praying a Divine Mercy. It starts on Good Friday and ends on Saturday this week. I heard about his passing this morning, so I decided to come up here for an extra half-hour to pray. He was very good, he was always for the poor. The day he started his new job, he went to his residence, but he said no, he wanted something small. He didnt dress up in fancy clothes, he didnt drive a fancy car, he was for the people. Martin White outside Clonard Monastery Also at Clonard Monastery was John, who didnt wish to give his surname. He said: He was giving blessings on Easter Sunday, and he passed away 24 hours later. It shows how much his faith meant to him, and how much it meant to the people to see him out and about. Following Easter Monday Mass at St Malachys, Carrol Black said she had been shocked by news of the popes passing. She added: I am saddened and now I just hope he is at peace I am sure he is at peace with God. He was a very humble man. I think his legacy will be of his faith, of him looking more into climate change, to the poor, to those on the margins, and a legacy of peace and love for one another. Carrol Black outside St Malachy's Also at St Malachys Church was Arthur Peters. He said: He did an awful lot for the unity of the church and for the LGBT community he has been a very welcoming pope. That is very important to a lot of people. It doesnt matter where you stand on the matter, the church is for everyone, not just for certain people. He was, across the board, one of the good ones. I think we are seeing a lot of young men joining the church now. Im from England, so it is happening over there as well. Arthur Peters outside St Malachy's Catholic Primate Eamon Martin described Francis papacy as a profound gift. The Archbishop of Armagh added: There was something different about this pope, who came to us 12 years ago from the ends of the world. On that very first night when he stood on the balcony of Saint Peters Basilica, our hearts were moved as he greeted the people with a simple Buonasera, and asked us to pray for the Lord to bless him. The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin (left), and Archbishop Dermot Farrell Archbishop of Dublin, lead prayers at St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh following the death of Pope Francis (Niall Carson/PA) Bishop of Down and Connor Alan McGuckian took to social media to post: It is with great sadness that I received news earlier this morning that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has died. I know that my sorrow will be shared by many people across the Diocese of Down and Connor, and across the world, who were inspired by the humility and humanity of Pope Francis. Pope Francis exercised this ministry of hope, a hope that was firmly grounded in the assured presence of the risen Christ. Bishop McGuckian added: I know that parishioners across the Diocese of Down and Connor will now be praying that, with the Risen Christ of Easter, Pope Francis will be received into the loving arms of God. Pope Francis waves from the Popemobile on his way to attend the Via Crucis on Copacabana Beach during World Youth Day celebrations on July 26, 2013, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) A woman struggles with an umbrella as she walks over Westminster Bridge during high winds and wet weather in London as Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022. After a washout Easter, it looks like the rain is here to stay for a bit longer in Northern Ireland, with sporadic showers expected for the rest of the week. The recent rain brought an end to over a week of blue skies and sunshine earlier this month, but more settled spring weather is thought to be on the way. The Met Office predicts that Tuesday will have a dry, bright start, but it will be become cloudy as the morning goes on, with outbreaks of rain spreading east in the afternoon and evening. These showers will become heavier at times. However, it will be quite warm, with freshening southeast winds and a maximum temperature of 14C in NI. Wednesday will be mainly dry with some sunshine. Thursday and Friday will again be cloudy, with rain gradually spreading eastwards, possibly turning heavy on Friday. The national forecasters long-range predictions see little changes through the weekend, although the chance of a few heavy showers may increase. Into the following week, the weather will most probably be high pressure dominated, with large amounts of fine weather, and perhaps the odd heavy shower. However, there is a small chance of an alternative scenario coming off, with cloudier and wetter weather more extensive, especially across the south and west of the UK. Winds are most likely to be light, with temperatures probably at or slightly above normal. A woman struggles with an umbrella as she walks over Westminster Bridge during high winds and wet weather in London as Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022. Pope Francis Dies at 88, Vatican Announces A yellow weather warning for rain had been issued for NI over much of the Easter weekend, with the warning impacting parts of Co Down and Co Antrim from 2pm on Friday until 3pm on Saturday. The outlook for Easter came as a yellow weather warning was also put into force across 11 counties in the Republic of Ireland with a caution of potential for flooding on Friday. Met Eireann issued a Status Yellow warning for Galway and Mayo between 6am this morning until 9pm on Friday night. A third rain warning came into effect for counties Carlow, Dublin, Louth, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford between 6am on Friday until 6am on Saturday. Temperatures across Northern Ireland on Easter Monday stayed at a steady 11C, with heavy rain in some parts, particularly in Ballymena and Belfast at times. April 11 marked the hottest day here this year so far, with Castlederg in Co Tyrone reaching up to 22C an unseasonably warm time for the month. A spokesperson for the Met Office said that there is some truth to the weather lore that April showers bring May flowers, as April does tend to be a showery month, and the warmth of May soon follows bringing the familiar colours of the UK spring. Remorseful nurse who breached person's medical records quits profession Craigavon hospital medic follows dream of running a restaurant after NMC case left her in tears Stock image: Alamy/PA Stephen Gordon Mon 21 Apr 2025 at 07:00 A Northern Ireland nurse accused of twice accessing a person's medical record without authorisation or clinical justification has quit the profession after expressing remorse. Children queuing for communion during Pope Francis closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families in Dublins Phoenix park in 2018 (Brian Lawless/PA) Pope Francis was asked by the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland to visit Northern Ireland as part of his historic 2018 trip to Ireland. The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, said he travelled to Rome to ask if Francis would travel north of the border to affirm the peace process. But he said it became clear that it would be a 36-hour visit to Dublin, apart from a quick trip to Co Mayo. Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St Peters Square at The Vatican on April 6 (Andrew Medichini/PA) The primate of Ireland also said that the popes words of repentance for clerical abuse scandals during the 2018 visit were worth so much and that his promotion of empathy towards migrants will be one of his strongest legacies. The pontiff visited Ireland for two days in August 2018, which included a visit to Knock, a meeting with victims of clerical abuse, and a visit to a homeless centre run by the Capuchin Fathers. The visit culminated in an open-air Sunday Mass in Dublins Phoenix Park, where pilgrims attendance was a fraction of the million people who greeted Pope John Paul II at the same spot in 1979. The legacy of church abuse cast a long shadow over the popes Irish visit, during which he addressed a number of crimes by its institutions and members. Speaking to the PA news agency, Archbishop Martin said that his address to the victims of clerical abuse and mistreatment during the Phoenix Park event were worth a lot. I think the actual words that the pope spoke, particularly whenever he expressed those very, very, sincere apologies and repentance to victims and survivors of abuse, I think, really, they were worth so much. Much was made of the attendance numbers during that visit as it was observed that they were significantly down on Pope John Paul IIs visit. Most of us expected that this would be something much smaller, not least because the world has changed, the archbishop said. People use mobile phones now, they tune into things online, they tend not to go to big, big, massive gatherings. A lot of people watched it on TV, they tuned in on their radios or on their mobile phones, and only a much smaller crowd arrived in the Phoenix Park that afternoon. So I will say I was probably thinking, Oh this is going to be disappointing, however, were told that it was actually one of the biggest gatherings of people in Europe that year, and so it was still a big gathering of people. The archbishop said that as soon as it was announced that the pope would attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, a religious event held every three years in a different location, there was a lot of excitement. We wanted to plan for it, and everybody wanted the pope to visit them. I remember at the time asking if Pope Francis could come to Northern Ireland, just to affirm the peace process and also because when Pope John Paul II came to Ireland back in 1979 he intended to come north and to come here to Armagh, but unfortunately, he couldnt because of the violence, so he held that meeting instead south of the border in Drogheda. So I actually went over to Rome to try to petition Pope Francis to come to the north, but by then it was clear he was only coming to the World Meeting of Families. It was going to be a very short visit of 36 hours, roughly, to Ireland and the only thing he was going to do different was he was going to go over to Knock for a short period of prayer and come straight back to Dublin. Archbishop Eamon Martin (PA) He said that the Argentinian-born Jesuit spent a sabbatical in Dublin in 1980 to learn English and asked him regularly about the peace process. Whenever I would meet him, he would always ask me about Ireland, the green country he would say, and then he would like to know how things were going, particularly in terms of the peace process. He had clearly a big interest in peace and also in the progress of our peace. He said one of Francis strongest legacies during his papacy would be his call for empathy towards migrants and refugees. We have to remember Pope Francis himself was a descendant of migrants from Italy to Argentina, and its clear, even in his own autobiography which he produced called Hope, its clear that he was so motivated by that story of his grandparents and how they came over from Italy. Its interesting that one of the very first things he did as pope is he went to the island of Lampedusa, a small island which had been overwhelmed by a huge number of people trying to find solace, trying to find asylum, and trying to make their way to a better world. He exposed for the entire world the reality and indeed the scandal of the displacement of people in the world, in many cases due to war, and how these people were not finding a welcome, how so many of them were dying, how so many of them were victims of the exploitation of human trafficking. The plight of migrants he would have seen as the modern day marginalised, those on the peripheries who people didnt want, they didnt want to welcome them. Some of his strongest statements have been very challenging for all of us about the need to promote help for these people, the need to integrate people who are migrants, and I think that that has been troubling for a lot of us, because people tend to say, well thats fine, but we need we have services that will look after ourselves. That has been a big issue in Ireland, both north and south. People in Westminster Cathedral following the announcement by the Vatican of the death of Pope Francis aged 88 (James Manning/PA) Pope Francis has been remembered as someone full of compassion, mercy and irrepressible hope as Catholics came together to mourn the death of a pontiff hailed by the King and other world leaders. Francis, who died following a stroke aged 88 on Easter Monday just a day after greeting crowds in Vatican City, drew tributes for his strong advocacy for the poor and marginalised. The leader of the worlds Roman Catholics was described by the King, whom he met in recent weeks, as someone who had profoundly touched the lives of so many. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Francis had been a Pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. At a mass in London in the Popes honour on Monday evening, the leader of Catholics in England and Wales said while there is a sadness of loss, there remains a confidence of faith and hope. Cardinal Vincent Nichols told worshippers at Westminster Cathedral: We know a voice has fallen silent, a voice thats been heard in every corner of the world, a voice of warm encouragement and sharp challenge, expressing both the love of God and a deep love of our shared humanity. This voice is silent, for a more authoritative voice has spoken that of his heavenly father, calling him home to be with his lord and master forever. Mourners flocked to Westminster Cathedral in London (James Manning/PA) Francis died after a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican has confirmed. He had resumed some official duties earlier this month during his recovery from double pneumonia. The Pope made his first public appearance on April 6 since becoming ill, when he appeared in St Peters Square in a wheelchair during a special jubilee mass for the sick following his discharge from hospital two weeks previously. He had spent some time privately with Charles and Camilla on April 9 during their recent trip to Italy, and on Easter Sunday he briefly met Catholic US Vice President JD Vance. The Vatican said Francis has decreed in his will that he will be buried in St Mary Major Basilica in a simple underground tomb with only Franciscus written on it. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St Peters Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass on Sunday (Gregorio Borgia/AP) Charles said he and Camilla were most deeply saddened to learn of the Popes death and were greatly moved to have been able to visit him so recently. In a statement on Monday, Charles said: Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. The King and Queen held a private meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican on their 20th wedding anniversary (The Vatican/PA) Cardinal Nichols said the words mercy and hope had defined Pope Franciss vocation in the priesthood. He told those at Westminster Cathedral for the evening requiem mass: His voice so often called us not to optimism, but to renewed effort to protect those who were without hope, who could see no way forward. He was sharply critical of all who ignored the wellbeing of so many and held them to be of no significance in their calculations and actions. Constantly, he spoke for those on the margins of society, challenging us with words such as these, if you want to know how successful your economy is, then go and speak to an unemployed person. And of those imprisoned in slavery, those suffering other terrible forms of abuse, he said These are gaping wounds in the flesh of humanity, wounds in the flesh of Christ Himself. He was filled with compassion, mercy, righteous indignation and irrepressible hope, for which we thank God. Cardinal Nichols is among those expected to travel to Rome in the coming days as a period of mourning gets under way ahead of the Popes funeral and the conclave meeting to elect his successor. There are currently five cardinals across the UK and Ireland, although only three Cardinal Nichols, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe and Rome-based Cardinal Arthur Roche who are younger than 80 and therefore of voting age. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content US President Donald Trump said on social media he and his wife Melania plan to attend the funeral. Outside of the Catholic Church, the leaders of other religions also paid tribute to Francis. The Church of Englands current most senior bishop Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell described the Pope as having been witty, lively, good to be with. He said in a statement: Pope Francis was acutely aware of the divisions between our churches and how they stand in the way of seeing Jesus Christ more fully. Pope Francis visited Dublin in 2018 (PA) Former archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the Pope had been a friend, adding that he will miss him deeply. Mr Welby said the Pope had become someone who spoke not just to the Catholic Church, but far beyond it, and that his leadership had been felt powerfully among us in the Anglican Communion. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said it was a moment of great sadness for our Catholic friends as he offered comfort and strength in the coming weeks, as the Catholic Church begins a new chapter. Dublin Bus said it is providing full support to the driver involved and liaising with An Garda Siochana (Alamy/PA) Certain bus services in Dublin city centre continue to be impacted in the wake of an alleged threat against a bus driver by a man who appeared to be wielding a gun, a union has said. Siptu said that a bus on Route 13 was parked on Mountjoy Square at around 11.10pm on Friday while it was waiting to start a journey. Siptu bus driver committee president Brendan McInerney said an individual boarded a bus which was switched off and not due to depart for a few minutes. He said that after being told this by the driver, the man initially exited the bus before turning around and producing what appeared to be a gun and began motioning as if he was loading the weapon. Mr McInerney said: He told the driver he would blow his head off but thankfully then departed the scene. He added: The driver was extremely shocked and upset by the incident. Mr McInerney said he requested Siptu member drivers to withdraw services from the Mountjoy Square area immediately. I have further requested that no drivers should terminate services in the area after 7pm at night until Union representatives meet with management and agree appropriate actions to improve their safety. Siptu sector organiser John Murphy said: This is yet another very disturbing and dangerous situation to occur on the public transport network. The Programme for Government contains a commitment for the creation of a force with powers of arrest to police the public transport network. The establishment of this body is a matter of urgent importance to our members. We are renewing our call to meet with the Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien to discuss the establishment of this force in as short a time frame as possible. Services remained impacted for a third consecutive day by Sunday night. A Garda spokeswoman said it had received a report involving a suspected firearm. She added: No injuries were reported. Investigations are ongoing. Dublin Bus confirmed there was an incident on Friday night, adding that no customers were on board. The company said it is providing full support to the driver involved and liaising with An Garda Siochana. A spokesman added: We will continue to assist them in any way possible. As the investigation is ongoing, we are not in a position to comment further at this time. Dublin Bus said it is actively working to address the issue of anti-social behaviour and is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for customers and employees. Routes 7/a and 13 are not serving their terminus at Mountjoy Square until further notice. The nearest stop available for Route 7/a is on OConnell Street while the nearest stop for Route 13 is on Parnell Square East. The Department of Transport has been contacted for comment. Charles and Camilla during a private meeting with Pope Francis in Rome on April 9 (The Vatican/PA) The King and Queen have expressed their most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy following the death of Pope Francis. Charles and Camilla had a moving meeting with the ailing 88-year-old while he was convalescing just 12 days ago. The couples historic state visit to the Vatican in early April was cancelled because of the Popes poor health, but they managed to visit the head of the Roman Catholic Church privately during their trip to Italy. The King, in an official message released following the news of the pontiffs death on Monday, said he and Camilla were most deeply saddened. He praised Pope Francis for his compassion and tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Union flag will be flown half-mast at royal residences where Charles is not in residence as a mark of respect and in accordance with Government guidance. Sombre music will played at the Changing the Guard ceremony to reflect the sadness of the occasion, a royal source said. A member of the royal family is expected to attend the Popes funeral, if the Vatican is in agreement, but it is too early to say who will travel to pay their respects. Pope Francis tours St Peters Square in his Popemobile on Easter Sunday (Gregorio Borgia/AP) Royal engagements are likely to continue as planned, but will take into account any sensitivities regarding tone in the wake of Franciss death. The King said: My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. A nun prays in Westminster Cathedral in central London following the announcement of the death of Pope Francis (James Manning/PA) His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Charles and Camillas meeting with the Pope in what would be his final weeks was arranged at the last minute and took place on their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9, with the pontiff wanting to personally wish them a happy anniversary. A senior Palace official said afterwards: I think outside of the official programme, the most significant and indeed moving thing was that visit to the Pope. We didnt know until the last minute that it would be possible. But when the Pope asked if he could see the King and Queen, Their Majesties were clearly very pleased; after all, they have known him over many years and, with the rest of the world, have been praying for his recovery. The Pope wanted personally to wish them a happy anniversary, not least because it hadnt been possible to do the state visit on this occasion. Their Majesties both came away feeling that it had been a very significant and special moment. Charles and Camilla met Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017 (Tim Rooke/PA) Twenty years ago, Charles and Camillas marriage ceremony was postponed with just four days to go following the death of Pope John Paul II. The then-Prince of Wales put duty first and his wedding date was moved from April 8 to April 9 2005 because it clashed with the popes funeral. Charles represented the late Queen by travelling to Rome to attend the service, alongside more than 100 world leaders and ended up shaking hands with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. The then-archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who was due to conduct the princes blessing in St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle after his civil ceremony had made it clear he wished to break with tradition and attend the popes funeral. Charles and Camilla were finally married on April 9 2005 in a civil ceremony, followed by a blessing the same day (Reuters/Pool/PA) The 24-hour postponement of the royal wedding from the Friday to the Saturday meant Charles and Mrs Parker Bowless civil wedding had to be slotted in ahead of three other weddings already taking place at the Guildhall in Windsor. The King met Pope Francis twice as the Prince of Wales, but the visit in April was his first as monarch and head of the Church of England. The pair are said to have had huge respect for one another. Queen Elizabeth II with Pope Francis look at a papal gift to Prince George as they met at the Vatican in 2014 (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA) When Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, the Pope sent his heartfelt condolences to Charles, the new sovereign, in a telegram. He said he joined all in mourning her loss and paid tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith. The late Queen met Pope Francis in 2014 at the Vatican, when he gave her eight-month-old great-grandson Prince George a lapis lazuli orb decorated with a silver cross of Edward the Confessor, the 11th century English king who was made a saint. The Queen gave the Pope a hamper full of produce from royal estates including honey from Buckingham Palace and Balmoral whisky. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall during an audience with Pope Francis in 2017 (Tim Rooke/PA) Charles and Pope Francis first met in 2017, when the prince and Camilla were received at a papal audience in the Vatican at the end of a European tour. The Pope urged Charles to work to bring peace in the world, telling him Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace, with the prince replying Ill do my best. They exchanged gifts, with the prince giving the pontiff a large hamper of produce from his Highgrove estate for the poor and the homeless and framed photographs of himself and his wife. The Pope presented him with a bronze olive branch, signifying peace, and copies of his writings on climate change bound in red leather and other papal writings. Charles and Camilla during their audience with the Pope (Tim Rooke/PA) Franciss reputation as a pope with the common touch and a taste for simple living saw him dispense with some of the formality and trappings of his position. In keeping with the relaxed nature of the meeting, Camilla did not wear black or a mantilla, a lace veil, in 2017 as she did when the royal couple met Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, but opted for a gold silk Anna Valentine dress. But both the King and Queen were dressed in black as a traditional mark of respect when they met the Pope in April. In 2019, Charles travelled solo to the Vatican and met Pope Francis ahead of the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman at an open-air Mass in St Peters Square. The Prince of Wales attends a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis for the canonisation of Cardinal Newman in St Peters Square, Vatican City, in October 2019 (Alamy/PA) The King is Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The role dates back to Henry VIII, who named himself Supreme Head of the Church of England after he was excommunicated by the pope, Pope Paul III, and broke from the Catholic Church in the 16th century to marry Anne Boleyn. A nine-day mourning period will begin in honour of Francis, with his funeral in around four to six days time after his body lies in state in St Peters Basilica in Vatican City. Italy also usually declares a period of national mourning. Two to three weeks later, the conclave to elect a new pope convenes, with the College of Cardinals locked inside the the Sistine Chapel to vote in secret four times a day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority, with a white smoke signal released through a chimney to announce a pope has been chosen. Pope Francis has died, the Vatican has said Pope Francis has died, a senior Vatican official has said. Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement on Monday: At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. The 88-year-old Pope emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St Peters Square in Vatican City. He had recently resumed some official duties during his recovery from pneumonia. He made his first public appearance since his bout of double pneumonia on April 6, when he appeared in St Peters Square in a wheelchair during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick following his discharge from hospital two weeks previously. The King and Queen visited the pontiff at the Vatican on April 9, the day Charles and Camilla celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. The King and Queen had a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on their 20th wedding anniversary (The Vatican/PA) Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell paid tribute to Francis, whom he described as witty, lively, good to be with. He said in a statement: Pope Francis was acutely aware of the divisions between our churches and how they stand in the way of seeing Jesus Christ more fully. I remember the powerful work the Pope did with the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland in promoting peacebuilding in South Sudan. He was a listening Pope whose commitment to the principle and the process of synodality will be a permanent legacy to the Roman Catholic Church and to all of us. I remember, in the brief times I spent with him, how this holy man of God was also very human. He was witty, lively, good to be with, and the warmth of his personality and interest in others shone out from him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Teachers will be given permanent contracts after one year, under new measures announced by the education minister. Helen McEntee has put forward a new set of policy steps to address teacher supply, which also include assistance for eligible teachers who trained outside of Ireland to work within the country. Currently teachers are required to complete two consecutive contracts before qualifying for a permanent position. Under the new regulations, teachers taking up their first contract in a viable teaching post in September 2025 will become eligible for a permanent contract in September 2026, provided the post remains viable. This eligibility is contingent upon successful reappointment following a competitive recruitment process. Teachers not covered by this new policy, such as those in substitute roles or those whose posts are not deemed viable after one year, will continue to follow the existing route to permanency, which typically involves achieving a contract of indefinite duration (CID) after a third contract. Ms McEntee has also committed to working with the Teaching Council to streamline the registration process for eligible teachers who qualified outside of Ireland, allowing them to apply for registration and complete their induction requirements within the country. She said: There are currently over 78,000 qualified teachers employed in Ireland, more than ever before. For their sake, I am determined to address job security and make teaching a more attractive, sustainable career. Allowing newly qualified teachers who are starting in September to gain a permanent contract a year earlier will help teachers to place their careers on a more stable footing much sooner than before. This will provide teachers with the certainty that they need, particularly when applying for mortgages. Enabling eligible teachers who qualified outside of Ireland to apply for registration and complete their induction here in Ireland is another practical, common-sense measure that will encourage more teachers to work and start their careers here in Ireland. I am committed to building on todays announcements and introduce further measures in the coming months to further address teacher supply. I am absolutely dedicated to ensuring a high-quality and well-staffed education system for all students in Ireland. The announcements come as the major teaching unions Into, TUI and Asti hold conferences this week. Into said the conferences take place at a time of growing frustration among teachers regarding the resourcing, workload and staffing of the primary education system. The unions general secretary, John Boyle, said: Our job is to teach but, too often, teachers are being pulled in every direction. He added: Workload has become unsustainable, and thats affecting recruitment, retention and the wellbeing of our members. Unless this is taken seriously, industrial action is a real possibility. Mr Boyle welcomed the reduced pathway for permanent contracts as worth a try, but said the move is not a panacea. The union is calling for a reduction in class sizes and guaranteed substitute cover for all teacher absences. Into is also demanding action on teacher shortages, including a restructuring of salary scales, greater career progression opportunities and more teacher training places. It also says teachers need stronger support from psychological, therapeutic and counselling services at school level. Mr Boyle said: High living costs, limited career incentives and lack of housing are driving teachers abroad or out of the profession altogether. We need serious, targeted interventions, not vague commitments. The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell saying praying with Pope Francis had changed him (Danny Lawson/PA) The Church of Englands most senior bishop has recalled how meeting the Pope and saying the Lords Prayer together changed me. Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said he had been privileged to meet Pope Francis on a few occasions, and remembered one encounter a few years ago when they prayed together. Mr Cottrell said despite having said the Lords Prayer also known as the Our Father countless times before, it was when he said it with Francis that the significance of the word our came through. He told Sky News: Ive said the Lords Prayer thousands of times I say it every day but sitting there saying the Lords Prayer with Pope Francis, the opening word of the Lords Prayer suddenly struck me our. Our Father, our God, and what that means, therefore, is that everybody else who says this prayer is my sister and my brother, whether I like it or not, these are the people that God has made into his church. And just saying the Lords Prayer with Pope Francis changed me changed and renewed and refreshed my understanding of what it is to be the church, that we belong to each other across these denominational barriers, and then I think, what a message for the world. We live in a world thats so divided, you know, where the church itself has made many mistakes and failings. We need to be a humble church. We need to be a penitent church but we also need to be a church where we recognise our common humanity and our belonging one to another. Thats what Pope Francis reawakened in me, and I believe that will be his great legacy, both to the church but also to the world. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Mr Cottrell has faced his own difficulties in recent times, including calls to resign over alleged safeguarding failures in the Church of England. In February at the churchs General Synod also know as the Church of Englands parliament Mr Cottrell admitted he had made mistakes but vowed he is determined to do what he can to work with others to lead the change we all know we need. Continuing his praise of Pope Francis on Sky News, the archbishop said the pontiff had died while still serving the faithful of the Catholic church. Noting Franciss appearance on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people gathered in St Peters Square in Vatican City, Mr Cottrell said: Its amazing, isnt it, that, you know he, as it were, died with his boots on. Still serving, still praying, still blessing, still doing the things that Christian ministers do. And again, that characterizes his ministry. Patrick Crusius during his sentencing hearing in El Paso, Texas (Ruben R Ramirez/Pool Photo via AP) The gunman who killed 23 people when he targeted Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart store in Texas in 2019 has pleaded guilty to capital murder and was scolded by a judge over the racist attack in El Paso near the US-Mexico border. Patrick Crusius, a white 26-year-old community college dropout, wore a striped jumpsuit, shackles and a protective vest in the El Paso courtroom, as many dozens of victims relatives waited in the gallery to address him face to face. Crusius did not address the families while accepting his plea deal, which meant he would not face the death penalty. He had already been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms on federal hate crime charges. Accepting the plea agreement from Texas prosecutors means an end to six years of efforts to punish Crusius by state and federal authorities. He drove more than 700 miles from Dallas to carry out the shooting on August 3 2019. You came to inflict terror, to take innocent lives and to shatter a community that had done nothing but stand for kindness, unity and love, state district Judge Sam Medrano said. You slaughtered fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. Now as you begin the rest of your life locked away, remember this: your mission failed. A woman wipes tears from her eyes during the sentencing (Ruben R Ramirez/AP) You did not divide this city, you strengthened it; you did not silence its voice, you made it louder; you did not instil fear, you inspired unity: El Paso rose, stronger and braver. Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty and for no other reason? Judge Medrano asked the defendant. Yes, your honour, Crusius calmly responded before he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His lawyer Joe Spencer told the court: We offer our deepest condolences, adding: Patrick will leave prison only in a coffin on Gods time. Crusius also pleaded guilty to 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which were enhanced with violence and prejudice findings, in relation to 22 victims who were injured but survived. He was sentenced to 22 additional life sentences on those charges. Patrick Crusius was led into court in a protective vest (Omar Ornelas/Pool Photo via AP) He had acknowledged he targeted Hispanics in the attack at the Walmart in the border city that was crowded with weekend shoppers from the US and Mexico. In a posting to an online message board just before the massacre, Crusius said the shooting was in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. Mr Spencer told the court Crusius has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which can be marked by hallucinations, delusions and mood swings. His thinking became increasingly divorced from reality. We share this not as an excuse, but as part of the explanation for the inexplicable, the lawyer added. Before the attack, Crusius appears to have been consumed by the US immigration debate, posting online in support of building a border wall and praising the hard-line border policies of Donald Trump, who was then in his first term as president. The people who were killed at the Walmart ranged in age from a 15-year-old high school athlete to elderly grandparents and included immigrants, a retired bus driver, a teacher and several Mexican nationals who had crossed the border on routine shopping trips. US air strikes targeting Yemens capital have killed 12 people and injured 30 others, the Houthi rebels said (AP) US air strikes targeting Yemens capital have killed 12 people and injured 34 others, the Houthi rebels said early on Monday. The deaths mark the latest in Americas intensified campaign of attacks targeting the rebels. The US militarys Central Command declined to answer questions about the strike or discuss civilian casualties from its campaign. The Houthis described the strike as hitting the Farwa neighbourhood market in Sanaas Shuub district, an area that has been targeted by the Americans before. Footage aired by the Houthis al-Masirah satellite news channel showed damage to vehicles and buildings in the area, with screaming onlookers holding what appeared to be a dead child. Others wailed on stretchers being taken to hospital. A Yemeni man shows remains of one of the shells from a location reportedly struck by US air strikes in Sanaa (AP) Strikes overnight into Monday also hit other areas of the country, including Yemens Amran, Hodeida, Marib and Saada governorates. The attack came after US air strikes hit the Ras Isa fuel port in Yemen last week, killing at least 74 people and injuring 171 others. The strikes follow the resumption of negotiations in Rome between the US and Iran over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear programme, which Washington has linked to its attacks in Yemen. The US is targeting the Houthis because of the groups attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are the last militant group in Irans self-described Axis of Resistance that is capable of regularly attacking Israel. The new US operation against the Houthis under President Donald Trump appears more extensive than attacks on the group were under Joe Biden, an Associated Press 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. Yemenis look at damaged motorcycles at Farwah market in Sanaa, which Houthi rebels said was hit by US air strikes (AP) 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 one trillion dollars worth of goods move through it. The Houthis have also launched attacks targeting American warships but without success. Assessing the toll of the month-old US air strike campaign has been difficult because the military has not 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 do not publish complete information on the strikes, many of which are likely to have targeted military and security sites. Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill says Francis strong determined leader as deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly offers her tributeKing and Queen express most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathiesVatican says Pope died after a cerebral stroke that led to irreversible heart failure Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St Peters Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass on Sunday (Gregorio Borgia/AP) Pope Francis during his visit to Ireland in 2018. Northern Irelands First Minister has led tributes to strong determined leader Pope Francis after the Vatican announced his death on Monday morning. Pope Francis died at the age of 88 after a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican confirmed this evening. Michelle ONeill said she was "very sad" to learn of the Popes death this morning and called him a "man of great faith, adding that Catholics right across the world, including here in Ireland, will feel his loss deeply. It comes as DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the pontiff was "held in high regard and admiration by so many, not only here in Northern Ireland, but across the rest of the United Kingdom, and Ireland". Pope Francis during his visit to Ireland in 2018. Pope Francis Dies at 88, Vatican Announces Her party leader Gavin Robinson said he extended his respectful sympathies to all those grieving his passing. Tributes to Francis have also come from the King and Queen, who expressed their most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy. Meanwhile Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Popes death is a reminder of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs. In his statement, Mr Robinson said it was important to recognise the profound respect and admiration that many of our fellow countrymen and women had for the humble caretaker who entered the priesthood and died as the head of the Roman Catholic church. Tributes also came flooding in from around the world, including the US vice president JD Vance, who was one of the last world leaders to meet with the Pope at the weekend. The news of the Popes death was announced this morning by Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell. The senior official said on Monday: At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. Pope Francis during his visit to Ireland in 2018. Pope Francis waves to crowds at Vatican's Easter Sunday open-air Mass His death comes after months of illness for Francis, who had been recovering from a bout of double pneumonia. He had only appeared in public a handful of times since returning to the Vatican on March 23 after his 38-day hospital stay. His passing comes just a day after he had emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St Peters Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile drive through the piazza. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St Peters Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday (Gregorio Borgia/AP) Pope Francis had died at the age of 88, a senior Vatican official has announced. Historys first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived. Pope Francis tours St Peters Square in his Popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi blessing at the end of the Easter Mass (Gregorio Borgia/AP) At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, he said. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy. However, he emerged on Easter Sunday a day before his death to bless thousands of people in St Peters Square and treat them to a surprise Popemobile tour of the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St Peters Basilica on Easter Sunday (Andrew Medichini/AP) Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof paid tribute to Francis, saying the Pope was in every way a man of the people. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them. With his sober way of life, acts of service and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many Catholics and non-Catholics alike. We remember him with great respect. Israels mostly ceremonial president offered condolences to Christians after the Popes death, calling him a man of deep faith and boundless compassion. In a post on X, Isaac Herzog said the Pope had fostered strong ties with Jews and advanced interfaith dialogue. I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered, he wrote, referring to the Popes repeated calls for an end to the war and the release of captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Francis had repeatedly criticised Israels wartime conduct and said allegations of genocide, which Israel has adamantly denied, should be investigated. Francis had repeatedly called for an end to Israels war in the Gaza Strip and the release of captives held by Hamas (Michael Sohn/AP) European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen remembered Francis as an inspiration for the entire world, not just Christians. Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, she wrote on X. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose country has nearly 30 million Christians who make up 2.3% of the population, says Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope, he said. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Indian leader posted a photo of himself with the Pope and said he was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the news of Franciss death deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd. I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering, she said. She added that his teaching and legacy will not be lost. We bid farewell to the Holy Father with hearts full of sorrow, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, shared his condolences in a post on X. From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him. In the annals of papal history, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who has died at the age of 88, will be remembered principally as the self-proclaimed pope from the ends of the Earth. Pope Francis was the first Latin American pontiff and the first Jesuit to lead the worlds 1.3 billion Catholics. For 12 years, and through four encyclicals, as well as letters, books and writings, he emphasised a strongly social and pastoral vision, which prioritised the poor, the marginalised and the environment. From the moment he appeared on the balcony of St Peters Basilica on March 13, 2013, asking people to pray for him, Francis was a breath of fresh air. Many reported a sense of uplift on hearing his gentle and humble, Buona sera that wet evening. Eschewing the pomp and spectacle of his predecessor Benedict XVI, he chose simple black shoes and a white cassock over the Germans retro flourishes. In keeping with his namesake, Francis chose to live in a small, simple room in the Vaticans Santa Marta hostel rather than the splendid papal apartments. He took time to visit the sick and elderly of his own diocese of Rome, often in person. He made unexpected telephone calls to victims of abuse and those who had written to him. He blessed children, embraced prisoners and promoted mercy. Franciss church was a field hospital. The Argentinian, who before his papal election was considered by some to be austere, used his stubborn streak to stand up to the Roman curia, which defeated Benedict. He was not averse to giving the curia a public dressing down for its spiritual failings. He reformed and streamlined its structures through the apostolic constitution, Praedicate evangelium, of March 2022. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as a teenager in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bergoglio family photo via AP) Franciss signature project was synodality, through which he sought to promote a greater sense of the shared responsibility of all baptised Catholics in the life and mission of the church, spearheading a shift away from a pyramidal Eurocentric church. His aim was to see through the reforms of Vatican II, which had been put on ice under the papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Amid the looming climate crisis, Francis provided bold leadership on care for the planet and biodiversity loss in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si and its follow-on, Laudate Deum (2023). These writings garnered support from other religions, as well as the political and scientific communities. It did not, however, endear Francis to those in favour of Donald Trumps agenda of drill, baby, drill. Nor did Franciss solidarity and courageous stance on refugees and migrants endear him to the far right, who hoped that their traditionalist social values would align with those of the church. Francis, as the son and grandson of Italian immigrants forced to leave Piedmont in the north-west of Italy in search of work and in the shadow of Mussolini, was empathetic towards those forced to flee and build a new life in a new country due to war, tyranny or poverty. His time at the helm was certainly not all plain sailing. Conservatives and traditionalists were appalled by his vision for the church, at times threatening schism. The fallout of clerical abuse scandals dogged this papacy, notably in Chile. One of the low points was undoubtedly his two-day visit to Ireland in August 2018, which took place against the backdrop of church abuse in Ireland. Outraged protesters took part in the Stand for Truth rally in Dublin as the papal gathering in the rain-soaked Phoenix Park attracted just over 100,000 people. Compounding the fraught atmosphere, the former Vatican ambassador to the US, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, linked to conservative factions, lobbed a metaphorical grenade at Francis in the final hours of his Irish visit, calling for his resignation and accusing him of covering up sexual abuse by disgraced US prelate Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Pope Francis Photo: Vatican Pool/Getty Images. Other major challenges for Francis were the issues of women and treatment of LGBTQ+ people. For former president of Ireland Mary McAleese, his approach was to flip-flop specifically on the issues of female deacons and female priests. Francis was a reformer, not a radical. He had no intention of changing this teaching. Rather, he gave space for the issue to be at least discussed, something forbidden on pain of excommunication thanks to John Paul II. Born in the working-class barrio of Flores in the Argentinian capital on December 17, 1936, Francis was the eldest of five children. After qualifying as a chemical technician, he set aside his love of tango for a vocation. The decision followed a severe case of pneumonia which led to part of his lung being removed. He joined the Jesuits on March 11, 1958, and studied in Chile and Argentina, graduating in 1963 with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San Jose in San Miguel. From 1964 to 1966, he taught literature and psychology, and from 1967-70 he studied theology, before he was ordained a Jesuit priest on December 13, 1969. He was appointed provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina in 1973, an office he held for six years. We mustnt be a Church that is fixed and frozen His time as provincial was controversial as it coincided with Argentinas Dirty War. According to Fr Thomas Reese, writing in the National Catholic Reporter, there were disagreements among the Jesuits about how to respond to the military junta. As provincial, Fr Bergoglio was responsible for the safety of his men. His concern for two of his confreres, Fr Orlando Yorio and Fr Franz Jalics, who were threatened by the military, prompted him to try to pull them out of their ministry. Contrary to rumour, he did not throw them out of the [Jesuits] and therefore remove them from the protection of the Society of Jesus, Fr Reese said. However, there were disagreements later over whether he did as much as he should have for them. Appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and cardinal in 2001, he arranged for the Argentine bishops to ask forgiveness for not having done enough during the Dirty War. His autocratic style led to a period of reflection and isolation within the order, but in time he became an even stronger champion of the poor. Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at The Vatican in 2023. Photo: AP My people are poor, and I am one of them, he said repeatedly as he encouraged a culture of encounter and solidarity, opposing the throwaway culture and critiquing capitalism and rampant consumerism. His encyclical Fratelli Tutti encouraged people to hear not just the cry of the earth, but also the cry of the poor, and to challenge not just individual vice, but structural sin. Through his travels to many unexpected places, including South Sudan, Indonesia and Timor Leste, Iraq, South-East Asia and Morocco, he fostered interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance. He himself described his visit to Mongolia as his most eccentric apostolic journey, where a tiny Catholic community inhabits a vast territory. His aim was to show his closeness to his people, especially those small, forgotten minorities on the margins. Franciss health declined in recent years, forcing him to use a wheelchair. He had a colon operation in 2021 and was hospitalised twice with bronchitis, notably forcing him to cancel his attendance at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai. The Church will go on. I am just one step in its history Having had part of his lung removed as a young man, he was susceptible to lung and bronchial infections. However, unlike Benedict XVI, he ruled out resigning a number of times. At the start of this year, Francis made history by becoming the first pontiff to publish his life story while still in office. Hope was originally intended for publication after his death, but he changed his mind so it could coincide with the beginning of a papal jubilee which is themed Pilgrims of Hope. Carlo Musso, co-author of Pope Franciss autobiography, said the word that embodies his outlook, apart from humility, was onward. We mustnt be a church that is fixed and frozen, Francis warned and stressed that rigidity is not Christian, because it denies the movement of the spirit. Rigidity is sectarian. Rigidity is self-referential. Rigidity is a daily heresy. Pope Francis will be laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the church he returned to after every papal visit overseas to pray. The location is a break with Vatican tradition, as popes are usually buried in the crypt beneath St Peters Basilica. As he underlined in the last chapter of Hope: The Church will go on. I am just one step in its history. A number of Roman Catholic cardinals are possible contenders to become pontiff following the death of Pope Francis (Niall Carson/PA) A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal. It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christs Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church. Nevertheless, there are always front-runners, known as papabile, who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope much like those depicted in last years Oscar-nominated film Conclave. Any baptised Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate. Pope Francis, who died on Monday, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture. Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at 76, and that Karol Wojtyla was not on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II. Some possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis are: Cardinal Peter Erdo Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo is interviewed by the Associated Press in Budapest in April 2023 (Denes Erdos/AP) The 72-year-old Archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011, suggesting he enjoys the esteem of European cardinals who make up the biggest voting bloc of electors. In that capacity, he got to know many African cardinals because the council hosts regular sessions with African bishops conferences. He had even more exposure when he helped organise Franciss 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family and delivered key speeches, as well as during papal visits to Budapest in 2021 and 2023. Cardinal Reinhard Marx Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, gives a statement to the press at his residence in Munich in June 2021 (Peter Kneffel/dpa/AP) The 71-year-old Archbishop of Munich and Freising was chosen by Pope Francis as a key adviser in 2013, and was later named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening. The former president of the German bishops conference was a strong proponent of the controversial synodal path process of dialogue in the German church that began in 2020 as a response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal there. As a result, he is viewed with scepticism by conservatives who considered the process a threat to church unity, given it involved debating issues such as celibacy, homosexuality and womens ordination. He made headlines in 2021 when he dramatically offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German churchs dreadful abuse record, but Francis quickly rejected the resignation and told him to stay. Cardinal Marc Ouellet Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Pope Francis arrive for the opening of a three-day Symposium on Vocations at the Vatican in February 2022 (Gregorio Borgia/AP) The 80-year-old Canadian led the Vaticans influential bishops office for more than a decade, overseeing the key clearing house for potential candidates to head dioceses around the world. Francis kept him in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff. Considered more of a conservative than Francis, Cardinal Ouellet still selected pastorally minded bishops to reflect Franciss belief that bishops should smell like the sheep of their flock. He defended priestly celibacy for the Latin Rite church and upheld the ban on womens ordination but called for women to have a greater role in church governance. He has good contacts with the Latin American church, having headed the Vaticans Pontifical Commission for Latin America for more than a decade. Since 2019, his office has taken charge of investigating bishops accused of covering up for predator priests, a job that would have made him no friends among those sanctioned but could also have given him lots of otherwise confidential and possibly compromising information about fellow cardinals. Cardinal Pietro Parolin Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin smiles as he is welcomed to a meeting at the Bellevue palace in Berlin, Germany, in June 2021. (Michael Sohn/AP) The 70-year-old Italian has been Franciss secretary of state since 2014 and is considered one of the main contenders to be pope, given his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. The veteran diplomat oversaw the Holy Sees controversial deal with China over bishop nominations and was involved but not charged in the Vaticans botched investment in a London real estate venture that led to the trial in 2021 of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Cardinal Parolin knows the Latin American church well. He would be seen as someone who would continue in Franciss tradition but as a more sober and timid diplomatic insider, returning an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St John Paul II (Poland), Benedict (Germany) and Francis (Argentina). But while he has managed the Vatican bureaucracy, he has no real pastoral experience. His ties to the London scandal, in which his office lost of tens of millions of dollars to bad deals and shady businessmen, could count against him. Cardinal Robert Prevost New Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost poses for a photo at the end of the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in September 2023 (Riccardo De Luca/AP) The idea of an American pope has long been taboo, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States, but the Chicago-born 69-year-old could be a first. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is currently prefect of the Vaticans powerful Dicastery for Bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years and sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Cardinal Prevost is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that keeps him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics. In addition to his nationality, his comparative youth could count against him if his brother cardinals do not want to commit to a pope who might reign for another two decades. Cardinal Robert Sarah Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in Rome in October 2015 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 79-year-old, from Guinea, the retired head of the Vaticans liturgy office, has long been considered the best hope for an African pope. Beloved by conservatives, he would signal a return to the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of John Paul II and Benedict. Cardinal Sarah, who had previously headed the Vaticans charity office Cor Unum, clashed with Francis on several occasions, none more seriously than when he and Benedict co-authored a book advocating the necessity of continued celibacy for Latin Rite priests. The book came out as Francis was weighing whether to allow married priests in the Amazon to address a priest shortage there. The implication was that Sarah had manipulated Benedict into lending his name and moral authority to a book that had all the appearances of being a counterweight to Franciss own teaching. Francis dismissed Benedicts secretary and several months later retired Cardinal Sarah after he turned 75. Even the cardinals own supporters lamented that the episode might hurt his papal chances. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn attends a press conference to present the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) at the Vatican in April 2016 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 80-year-old Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, was a student of Benedicts, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives. However, he became associated with one of Franciss most controversial moves by defending his outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics as an organic development of doctrine, not the rupture that some conservatives contended. Cardinal Schoenborns parents divorced when he was a teenager, so the issue is personal. He also took heat from the Vatican when he criticised its past refusal to sanction high-ranking sexual abusers, including his predecessor as archbishop of Vienna. He has expressed support for civil unions and women as deacons, and was instrumental in editing the 1992 update of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the handbook of the churchs teaching that Benedict had spearheaded when he headed the Vaticans doctrine office. Cardinal Luis Tagle Pope Francis greets Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila during his weekly general audience at the Vatican in September 2017 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 67-year-old, from the Philippines, would appear to be Franciss pick for the first Asian pope. Francis brought the popular Archbishop of Manila to Rome to head the Vaticans missionary evangelisation office, which serves the needs of the Catholic Church in much of Asia and Africa. His role took on greater weight when Francis reformed the Vatican bureaucracy and raised the importance of his evangelisation office. Cardinal Tagle often cites his Chinese lineage his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines and he is known for becoming emotional when discussing his childhood. Though he has pastoral, Vatican and management experience he headed the Vaticans Caritas Internationalis federation of charity groups before coming to Rome permanently he would be on the young side to be elected pope for life, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Cardinal Matteo Zuppi delivers his address opening the works of the 77th General Assembly of the Italian Bishops Conference at the Vatican in May 2023 (Gregorio Borgia/AP) The 69-year-old Archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops conference, elected in 2022, is closely affiliated with the SantEgidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis, particularly in interfaith dialogue. He was part of the SantEgidio team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambiques civil war in the 1990s and was named Franciss peace envoy for Russias war in Ukraine. Francis made him a cardinal in 2019 and later made clear he wanted him in charge of Italys bishops, a sign of his admiration for the prelate who, like Francis, is known as a street priest. In another sign of his progressive leanings and closeness to Francis, Cardinal Zuppi wrote the introduction to the Italian edition of Building A Bridge, by the Rev James Martin, an American Jesuit, about the Churchs need to improve its outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. He would be a candidate in Franciss tradition of ministering to those on the margins, although his relative youth would count against him for cardinals seeking a short papacy. His family has strong institutional ties: his father worked for the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano, and his mother was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, dean of the College of Cardinals in the 1960s and 1970s. The White House expressed its support for defence secretary Pete Hegseth following media reports that he shared sensitive military details in another Signal messaging chat, this time with his wife and brother. Neither the White House nor Mr Hegseth denied that he had shared such information in a second chat, instead focusing their responses on what they called the disgruntled workers whom they blamed for leaking to the media and insisting that no classified information had been disclosed. Its just fake news. They just bring up stories, President Donald Trump told reporters. I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and thats what hes doing. So you dont always have friends when you do that, Mr Trump said. The administrations posture was meant to hold the line against Democratic demands for Mr Hegseths firing at a time when the Pentagon is engulfed in turmoil, including the departures of several senior aides and an internal investigation over information leaks. The White House also tried to deflect attention from the national security implications of the latest Signal revelation by framing it as the outgrowth of an institutional power struggle between Mr Hegseth and the career workforce. But some of the recently departed officials the administration appeared to dismiss as disgruntled were part of Mr Hegseths initial inner circle, brought in when he took the job. This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change that you are trying to implement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in remarks amplified by a Pentagon social media account. Pete Hegseth (Nathan Howard/AP) The latest news added to questions about the judgment of the embattled Pentagon chief, coming on top of last months disclosure of his participation in a Signal chat with top Trump administration leaders in which details about the military airstrike against Yemens Houthi militants were shared. Pete Hegseth must be fired, Senate democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. The New York Times reported on Sunday that the information shared in a Signal messaging chat with Mr Hegseths wife, brother and others was similar to what was communicated in the already disclosed chain with Trump administration officials. A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press. The person said it included 13 people and was dubbed Defense Team Huddle. White House officials first learned of the second Signal chat from news reports on Sunday, according to an official. Mr Hegseth, talking to reporters while attending the White House Easter Egg Roll, did not address the substance of the allegations or the national security implications they raised but assailed the media. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations, Mr Hegseth said. Not going to work with me. Because were changing the defence department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters. And anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesnt matter. Republican senator Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, struck a similar tone, writing on X: Secretary Hegseth is busy implementing President Trumps America First agenda, while these leakers are trying to undermine them both. Shameful. The Trump administration has struggled in its public explanations about senior officials use of Signal, a commercially available app not authorised to be used to communicate sensitive or classified national defence information. The first chat, set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group. Officials have repeatedly insisted that the information shared on Signal was not classified, though the contents of that chat, which The Atlantic published, show that Mr Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on the Iran-backed Houthis last month. Multiple current and former military officials say launch times and munitions drop times are classified information, and putting those details on an unsecured channel could have put those pilots at risk. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Trump administration has faced criticism for failing to take action so far against top national security officials who discussed plans for the strike in Signal, and the latest report fuelled additional calls for Mr Hegseths ouster. The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him, Mr Schumer posted Sunday on X. The New York Times reported that the group in the second chat included Mr Hegseths wife, Jennifer, who is a former Fox News producer, and his brother Phil Hegseth, who was hired at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. The Times said the second chat had the same warplane launch times as the first chat. Mr Hegseths use of Signal is under investigation by the defence departments acting inspector general at the request of the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The senior Democratic member, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, urged the watchdog to look into the reported second chat as well. There is a subject I tend to avoid writing about, not because it doesnt interest me, but because it is a debate that has become so toxic that every line is pored over by those seeking to place their own interpretation on it. Frostbit boy, no surrender woman and Kim Kardashian all make appearances on Whitenoises customer gifts An award-winning Belfast creative agency is celebrating its 25th anniversary by launching a deck of playing cards documenting pop culture moments from 2000 to the present day. Whitenoise, which has helped build brands for clients such as the Ulster University, Q Radio, Translink and the Council for Integrated Education, marks company milestones in unique and creative ways that tell a story while also promoting the teams talents. Travel review: Stopover at Irish Station House is one for the foodies Short gourmet breaks are a big part of the hotel offering these days, and this Meath gem is up there with best of them Station House hotel Ciaran Barnes Mon 21 Apr 2025 at 13:00 If there is a hotel in Ireland offering gourmet food breaks better that the Station House in Meath, then I want to know. Eight men jailed for combined 129 years after Irelands largest ever drugs haul on MV Matthew Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. He was 88 years old. Francis, historys first Latin American pontiff, passed away at 7:35 a.m. in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guesthouse where he chose to live instead of the traditional Apostolic Palace. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, made the official announcement from the chapel there, saying: At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. The Vatican shared a few hours later that Pope Francis died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. Bells tolled in churches across Rome following the news. The popes death on Easter Mondayjust one day after his final public appearanceadds poignant significance to the timing. It now sets in motion a solemn, weeks-long process of mourning and transition, including time for Vatican officials and the public to pay their final respects, a funeral, and a conclave to elect a new pope. Despite suffering from chronic lung disease and having part of one lung removed as a young man, Pope Francis remained active in his final years. He was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that progressed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days in the hospitalthe longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. His final public appearance came just one day before his death, on Easter Sunday, when he stepped onto the loggia overlooking St. Peters Square to deliver a blessing to thousands, drawing cheers and applause. Prior to that, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis once worked as a janitor and a bouncer before training to be a chemist. After recovering from a severe illness in his youth, he felt called to join the Jesuit order in 1958. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. In 1998, he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. After Pope Benedict XVIs resignation in 2013, Bergoglio was elected the 266th pope by the conclave and chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Known for his humility, Francis broke with many papal traditionsopting for simpler vestments, personally paying his hotel bill after his election, and living among other clergy and visitors in the Domus Sanctae Marthae instead of the papal apartments. His approach emphasized compassion, service to the poor, and inclusivity. Francis made historic strides in reforming the Vatican, elevating women to full members of dicasteries, calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality, and expressing openness to blessing same-sex unions. He advocated for climate action, economic justice, and the dignity of all peoplepositions that drew both admiration and criticism. While many were inspired by his concern for the marginalized, conservatives were often alienated by his critiques of capitalism and focus on global environmental issues. He vehemently opposed the death penalty, calling it inadmissible and committing the Church to its global abolition. In foreign affairs, he played a pivotal role in restoring diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, forged a controversial agreement with China over bishop appointments, and stood firmly in support of refugees during humanitarian crises. In 2022, he made a landmark apology for the Catholic Churchs role in the cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples in Canada. He also initiated the Synod of Synodality, widely considered the most significant Church event since Vatican II. Though his papacy was marked by deep affection from many around the world, Francis was no stranger to controversy. Over time, some within the Church expressed discontent with his decisions and direction. Yet through it all, Francis remained steadfastguided by grace, grounded in humility, and determined to reflect the heart of Christ in his leadership. After more than a decade leading the global Church, Pope Francis leaves behind a complex and impactful legacyone defined by bold compassion, humble service, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel. Miss Hall's School alumna Hilary Simon, left, with history teacher Matthew Rutledge at Simon's graduation in 2005. Simon is the second alumna to publicly accuse Rutledge of sexual misconduct with her while she was a student. Now Simon is also the second to file a lawsuit alleging the school and administrators did not protect her and other students from the alleged predatory behavior of Rutledge. 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. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal. It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christs Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church. Advertisement Nevertheless, there are always front-runners, known as papabile, who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope much like those depicted in last years Oscar-nominated film Conclave. Any baptised Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate. Pope Francis, who died on Monday, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture. Advertisement Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at 76, and that Karol Wojtyla was not on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II. Some possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis are: Cardinal Peter Erdo Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo is interviewed by the Associated Press in Budapest in April 2023 (Denes Erdos/AP) The 72-year-old Archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011, suggesting he enjoys the esteem of European cardinals who make up the biggest voting bloc of electors. In that capacity, he got to know many African cardinals because the council hosts regular sessions with African bishops conferences. Advertisement He had even more exposure when he helped organise Franciss 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family and delivered key speeches, as well as during papal visits to Budapest in 2021 and 2023. Cardinal Reinhard Marx FILE Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, gives a statement to the press at his residence in Munich in June 2021 (Peter Kneffel/dpa/AP) The 71-year-old Archbishop of Munich and Freising was chosen by Pope Francis as a key adviser in 2013, and was later named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening. The former president of the German bishops conference was a strong proponent of the controversial synodal path process of dialogue in the German church that began in 2020 as a response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal there. As a result, he is viewed with scepticism by conservatives who considered the process a threat to church unity, given it involved debating issues such as celibacy, homosexuality and womens ordination. Advertisement He made headlines in 2021 when he dramatically offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German churchs dreadful abuse record, but Francis quickly rejected the resignation and told him to stay. Cardinal Marc Ouellet Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Pope Francis arrive for the opening of a three-day Symposium on Vocations at the Vatican in February 2022 (Gregorio Borgia/AP) The 80-year-old Canadian led the Vaticans influential bishops office for more than a decade, overseeing the key clearing house for potential candidates to head dioceses around the world. Francis kept him in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff. Considered more of a conservative than Francis, Cardinal Ouellet still selected pastorally minded bishops to reflect Franciss belief that bishops should smell like the sheep of their flock. Advertisement He defended priestly celibacy for the Latin Rite church and upheld the ban on womens ordination but called for women to have a greater role in church governance. He has good contacts with the Latin American church, having headed the Vaticans Pontifical Commission for Latin America for more than a decade. Since 2019, his office has taken charge of investigating bishops accused of covering up for predator priests, a job that would have made him no friends among those sanctioned but could also have given him lots of otherwise confidential and possibly compromising information about fellow cardinals. Cardinal Pietro Parolin Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin smiles as he is welcomed to a meeting at the Bellevue palace in Berlin, Germany, in June 2021. (Michael Sohn/AP) The 70-year-old Italian has been Franciss secretary of state since 2014 and is considered one of the main contenders to be pope, given his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. The veteran diplomat oversaw the Holy Sees controversial deal with China over bishop nominations and was involved but not charged in the Vaticans botched investment in a London real estate venture that led to the trial in 2021 of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Cardinal Parolin knows the Latin American church well. He would be seen as someone who would continue in Franciss tradition but as a more sober and timid diplomatic insider, returning an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St John Paul II (Poland), Benedict (Germany) and Francis (Argentina). But while he has managed the Vatican bureaucracy, he has no real pastoral experience. His ties to the London scandal, in which his office lost of tens of millions of dollars to bad deals and shady businessmen, could count against him. Cardinal Robert Prevost New Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost poses for a photo at the end of the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in September 2023 (Riccardo De Luca/AP) The idea of an American pope has long been taboo, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States, but the Chicago-born 69-year-old could be a first. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is currently prefect of the Vaticans powerful Dicastery for Bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years and sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Cardinal Prevost is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that keeps him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics. In addition to his nationality, his comparative youth could count against him if his brother cardinals do not want to commit to a pope who might reign for another two decades. Cardinal Robert Sarah Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in Rome in October 2015 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 79-year-old, from Guinea, the retired head of the Vaticans liturgy office, has long been considered the best hope for an African pope. Beloved by conservatives, he would signal a return to the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of John Paul II and Benedict. Cardinal Sarah, who had previously headed the Vaticans charity office Cor Unum, clashed with Francis on several occasions, none more seriously than when he and Benedict co-authored a book advocating the necessity of continued celibacy for Latin Rite priests. The book came out as Francis was weighing whether to allow married priests in the Amazon to address a priest shortage there. The implication was that Sarah had manipulated Benedict into lending his name and moral authority to a book that had all the appearances of being a counterweight to Franciss own teaching. Francis dismissed Benedicts secretary and several months later retired Cardinal Sarah after he turned 75. Even the cardinals own supporters lamented that the episode might hurt his papal chances. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn attends a press conference to present the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) at the Vatican in April 2016 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 80-year-old Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, was a student of Benedicts, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives. However, he became associated with one of Franciss most controversial moves by defending his outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics as an organic development of doctrine, not the rupture that some conservatives contended. Cardinal Schoenborns parents divorced when he was a teenager, so the issue is personal. He also took heat from the Vatican when he criticised its past refusal to sanction high-ranking sexual abusers, including his predecessor as archbishop of Vienna. He has expressed support for civil unions and women as deacons, and was instrumental in editing the 1992 update of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the handbook of the churchs teaching that Benedict had spearheaded when he headed the Vaticans doctrine office. Cardinal Luis Tagle Pope Francis greets Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila during his weekly general audience at the Vatican in September 2017 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 67-year-old, from the Philippines, would appear to be Francis pick for the first Asian pope. Francis brought the popular Archbishop of Manila to Rome to head the Vaticans missionary evangelisation office, which serves the needs of the Catholic Church in much of Asia and Africa. His role took on greater weight when Francis reformed the Vatican bureaucracy and raised the importance of his evangelisation office. Cardinal Tagle often cites his Chinese lineage his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines and he is known for becoming emotional when discussing his childhood. Though he has pastoral, Vatican and management experience he headed the Vaticans Caritas Internationalis federation of charity groups before coming to Rome permanently he would be on the young side to be elected pope for life, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Cardinal Matteo Zuppi delivers his address opening the works of the 77th General Assembly of the Italian Bishops Conference at the Vatican in May 2023 (Gregorio Borgia/AP) The 69-year-old Archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops conference, elected in 2022, is closely affiliated with the SantEgidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis, particularly in interfaith dialogue. He was part of the SantEgidio team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambiques civil war in the 1990s and was named Franciss peace envoy for Russias war in Ukraine. Francis made him a cardinal in 2019 and later made clear he wanted him in charge of Italys bishops, a sign of his admiration for the prelate who, like Francis, is known as a street priest. In another sign of his progressive leanings and closeness to Francis, Cardinal Zuppi wrote the introduction to the Italian edition of Building A Bridge, by the Rev James Martin, an American Jesuit, about the Churchs need to improve its outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. He would be a candidate in Franciss tradition of ministering to those on the margins, although his relative youth would count against him for cardinals seeking a short papacy. His family has strong institutional ties: his father worked for the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano, and his mother was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, dean of the College of Cardinals in the 1960s and 1970s. As the bells at St Patricks Cathedral rang out 88 times to signify each year of Pope Franciss life, inside young and old sat in silent reflection to mark the death of the pontiff. Outside the landmark twin-spired cathedral, flags of the Vatican City flew at half-mast as people arrived to pay their respects. Advertisement Among those stopping by to say a prayer and light a candle were members of the local congregation but also others from further afield who felt drawn to the seat of the Catholic Church on the island of Ireland. Barry ONeill, Clara ONeill, Claire ONeill, Ben Og ONeill and Conan McGerr at St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh (David Young/PA). Shortly before 2pm, the Catholic primate of all-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin and the Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell led an impromptu prayer service ahead of formally opening a book of condolences. Over the next few days, I imagine many people will come here just to sign their names because I think we all loved Pope Francis and he was a great witness to us, said Archbishop Martin. Even in the last few months with his own illness and being able to carry that suffering and show resilience in the face of suffering. I know it meant a lot to a lot of people who were like him, frail and maybe struggling and suffering in their final days. Advertisement He was very, very convinced that God was merciful and he kept saying that I am sinner. So I am just hoping and praying that the merciful God today is welcoming him into his heavenly home. The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, watched by Archbishop Dermot Farrell Archbishop of Dublin, signs a book of condolences for Pope Francis (Niall Carson/PA) One of those who came to pay respects was local Armagh man Patrick Douglas. He travelled to the Knock Shrine in Co Mayo in 2018 to see Pope Francis just as he had journeyed to Galway in 1979 when Pope John Paul II had visited Ireland. Its just lovely to come up here to the cathedral today, he said. Advertisement Just to light a candle and say a prayer. Patrick Douglas paid his respects at St Patricks Cathedral (David Young/PA). Claire and Barry ONeill came to the church with their children, Clara and Ben Og and nephew Conan McGerr. The family had been away on holiday for a few days in Carlingford, Co Louth and decided to divert to the cathedral on their way home to Moneymore in Co Derry. He was a man that changed the world, said Mrs ONeill. Advertisement He wanted to make a difference, no matter what you were, to guide everybody, whatever your faith is, just to bring everybody together. He was very humble, very empowering. Mrs ONeill said it had been an uplifting experience to be in the cathedral on such a day. Everybodys here to pay their respects to a really nice man, she added. Irish cardinal Sean Brady will not have a say in the papal selection process due to his age. Any baptised Catholic male is eligible to be Pope, but only cardinals have been selected since 1378. Advertisement Whoever is selected must have received at least two-thirds of the vote from cardinals under the age of 80 and thus be eligible to participate. Cardinal Sean Brady, the former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, will not have a vote in the next papal conclave because he is 85 years of age. Only cardinals who are under the age of 80 at the time the papacy becomes vacant (either by death or resignation of the pope) are eligible to enter the conclave and vote for the new pope. This rule is meant to ensure that the voting body is made up of relatively active and involved cardinals, who are presumably more in touch with the current needs of the Church. Because Sean Brady passed the age threshold, he is no longer eligible to participate in any future conclaves, regardless of his previous standing or title. He still holds the title of cardinal, but he is considered non-elector status. However, cardinal Kevin Farrell, 77, will have a say. The President and Taoiseach have paid tribute to Pope Francis as a remarkable figure who had a profound commitment to alleviating suffering. President Michael D Higgins said Pope Francis had approached his papacy with a unique humility and advocated for the importance of human dignity. Advertisement President Higgins also said Pope Francis had sought to play a positive role on issues such as attitudes to women and the LGBT+ community in the Catholic Church. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Pope Francis was an exceptional leader who held a special place in the hearts of Irish people. Tanaiste Simon Harris called Pope Francis a remarkable figure who bore his illness with great dignity and courage. Mr Higgins said: As President of Ireland, may I join with all those across the world, from their different stations in life, who have expressed such profound sadness on learning of the death of Pope Francis. Advertisement Pope Francis, in his important messages and in the presentation of his papacy with a unique humility, sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways the extraordinary importance of the spiritual as a powerful source of global ethics in the challenges of contemporary life. President Michael D Higgins said Pope Francis had constantly invoked a shared humanity (Danny Lawson/PA) On the vital issues of our time such as global hunger and poverty, of climate change and justice, of the plight of migrants and indigenous peoples, of the dispossessed, of the fundamental necessity of global peace and diplomacy Pope Franciss voice constituted a consistent invocation of a shared humanity that is represented by acknowledgement of the essential dignity of each human person. Mr Higgins said he and the Pope had discussed these issues at length during five meetings they had during his papacy. He said that during the Popes 2018 visit to Ireland, as part of the World Meeting of Families, Francis had spoken of the scandal of child abuse, including in the Church, and its consequences for victims and families. Advertisement On such matters, and on others, such as attitudes towards women and those of the LGBTQ+ community within the Church, Pope Francis sought to play a positive role, Mr Higgins said. Pope Francis attended the closing mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin in 2018 (Brian Lawless/PA) I recall at the end of our meetings, he would say as to his work on such issues, it is very difficult, as he asked for and offered prayers. It is important that the steps he took are built upon as they constitute a source of hope in the years to come. Mr Martin said he had been impressed by Pope Francis when he met him during his visit to Ireland in 2018. Advertisement I had the honour of meeting Pope Francis in Dublin Castle during that visit and was impressed by his vision of a Catholic Church that is open, compassionate, and focused on the needs of the most vulnerable, the Taoiseach said in a statement. He shared with us his deep concern with the issues of social justice and human rights, and his profound commitment to alleviating suffering. He said that people would also remember the Popes expression of pain and shame during the visit over historic child abuse in the Catholic Church. During his visit to Ireland, many will also remember Pope Franciss expression of pain and shame about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church and his outrage about the failure of Church authorities to adequately address these appalling crimes. Advertisement Meanwhile, Mr Harris said the 2018 visit was particularly significant, inspiring hope and renewal within the Church. The Tanaiste said his influence transcended the Vatican, offering moral leadership during times of uncertainty. On behalf of the people of Ireland, I offer my condolences to His Eminence Cardinal Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, the entire Roman Catholic Church, and all those mourning his loss worldwide, he said in a statement. Pope Franciss commitment to justice, peace, and human dignity touched millions. Through his advocacy for the poor, his calls for interfaith dialogue, and his focus on environmental issues, he was a beacon of hope and a voice for the voiceless. He urged us to care for the Earth as a moral responsibility, integral to the Christian faith. Ireland Pope Francis visit to Ireland provided powerful... Read More Pope Francis also worked to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, promoting reconciliation, unity, and compassion over division. His emphasis on mercy, healing, and reconciliation continues to resonate in our efforts towards addressing the challenges of the past and building a more inclusive future. His teachings on poverty, migration, and refugees remain relevant as we confront global inequality and division. The search for a man in his 50s reported to have fallen overboard from a yacht off the Co Waterford coast on Saturday night continues this afternoon. The rescue began when an alert was raised by another man, believed to be related to the missing man, who was still on board the UK registered vessel. Both men are understood to be from Wales. Advertisement The operation was launched after the Coast Guard received an emergency call from the man on board the vessel who reported the incident at around 10:40pm. The UK Coast Guard was also contacted after the man said they believed the vessel was off the coast of Swansea in Wales. However, the Irish Coast Guard situated the vessel off the coast of Ceann Heilbhic in Co Waterford. The yacht was located 16 nautical miles off the South of Dunmore East in the Irish Sea. The yacht was travelling from Brighton to Swansea via Falmouth. Advertisement Waterford based Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 117 carried out searches on Saturday night, assisted by a fixed wing aircraft from the UK, and the RNLI lifeboats from Dunmore East in Waterford and Ballycotton, Co Cork. Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 based out of Dublin joined the search operation on Sunday. The man aboard the yacht was taken safely to shore by search and rescue teams. A spokesperson for the The Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) confirmed that the Coast Guard are continuing to coordinate the search for the missing man. The Coast Guard Coordination centre in Dublin resumed the search this morning for a missing Male having gone overboard from a UK registered yacht late on Saturday night, the spokesperson continued. The Coast Guard helicopter R117 and Kilmore Quay lifeboat are conducting the search this morning into the afternoon and the Coast Guard will continue to liaise with An Garda Siochana for the remaining phase of the search. The gunman who killed 23 people when he targeted Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart store in Texas in 2019 has pleaded guilty to capital murder and was scolded by a judge over the racist attack in El Paso near the US-Mexico border. Patrick Crusius, a white 26-year-old community college dropout, wore a striped jumpsuit, shackles and a protective vest in the El Paso courtroom, as many dozens of victims relatives waited in the gallery to address him face to face. Advertisement Crusius did not address the families while accepting his plea deal, which meant he would not face the death penalty. He had already been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms on federal hate crime charges. Accepting the plea agreement from Texas prosecutors means an end to six years of efforts to punish Crusius by state and federal authorities. He drove more than 700 miles from Dallas to carry out the shooting on August 3 2019. Advertisement You came to inflict terror, to take innocent lives and to shatter a community that had done nothing but stand for kindness, unity and love, state district Judge Sam Medrano said. You slaughtered fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. Now as you begin the rest of your life locked away, remember this: your mission failed. A woman wipes tears from her eyes during the sentencing (Ruben R Ramirez/AP) You did not divide this city, you strengthened it; you did not silence its voice, you made it louder; you did not instil fear, you inspired unity: El Paso rose, stronger and braver. Advertisement Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty and for no other reason? Judge Medrano asked the defendant. Yes, your honour, Crusius calmly responded before he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His lawyer Joe Spencer told the court: We offer our deepest condolences, adding: Patrick will leave prison only in a coffin on Gods time. Crusius also pleaded guilty to 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which were enhanced with violence and prejudice findings, in relation to 22 victims who were injured but survived. He was sentenced to 22 additional life sentences on those charges. Advertisement Patrick Crusius was led into court in a protective vest (Omar Ornelas/Pool Photo via AP) He had acknowledged he targeted Hispanics in the attack at the Walmart in the border city that was crowded with weekend shoppers from the US and Mexico. In a posting to an online message board just before the massacre, Crusius said the shooting was in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. Mr Spencer told the court Crusius has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which can be marked by hallucinations, delusions and mood swings. His thinking became increasingly divorced from reality. We share this not as an excuse, but as part of the explanation for the inexplicable, the lawyer added. Advertisement Before the attack, Crusius appears to have been consumed by the US immigration debate, posting online in support of building a border wall and praising the hard-line border policies of Donald Trump, who was then in his first term as president. The people who were killed at the Walmart ranged in age from a 15-year-old high school athlete to elderly grandparents and included immigrants, a retired bus driver, a teacher and several Mexican nationals who had crossed the border on routine shopping trips. Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by Prince Andrew at the traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle. Andrew arrived at St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, with Princess Anne, his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York and Annes husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Advertisement A member of the gathered crowd shouted Happy Easter, sir to Andrew as he left St Georges Chapel after the service. He glanced at them before walking off with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, who smiled and waved at well-wishers. Camilla was presented with flowers before she and Charles walked over to members of the public and briefly greeted some of them. They were wished a Happy Easter and they smiled and waved before being driven off. Advertisement The Dean of Windsor, the Right Rev Christopher Cocksworth, stands with Charles and Camilla, as they look at a young girl who will present a posy (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA) Andrew quickly entered the chapel ahead of Anne as she spoke with the Dean of Windsor, the Right Rev Christopher Cocksworth outside. Andrew came back outside as Charles and Camilla arrived. Andrew has not been pictured at a formal British royal family event since last Easter. He had disappeared from public life after stepping down from official duties. Advertisement Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla, leave after attending the Easter Mattins service (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA) Britain's Prince and Princess of Wales were not there as they are spending the weekend with their children in Norfolk. The Waleses, who have a country home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate, missed the annual service last year after Kate, who is now in remission, was diagnosed with cancer. Andrew missed the royal familys traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham last year amid the controversy surrounding his links to an alleged Chinese spy. Andrew stepped down from public life after criticism over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a few years later paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met. Advertisement It followed his Newsnight interview in 2019 when he said he did not regret his friendship with Epstein, who had trafficked Ms Giuffre, and was heavily criticised for failing to show sympathy with the sex offenders victims. Andrew announced at the time he would be stepping back from public duties for the foreseeable future and disappeared from a string of high-profile national events involving the monarchy. His mother Queen Elizabeth II later stripped him of his honorary military roles, remaining royal patronages and he gave up his HRH style in a dramatic fallout from his civil sex case. A number of MPs have called for Donald Trump to be blocked from addressing the British parliament when he visits the UK. The US president has suggested Buckingham Palace is setting a date for September for him to stay in Britain. Advertisement But some parliamentarians have voiced concerns that it would be inappropriate for him to speak in the Palace of Westminster as his predecessors Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton did. First reported in The Times newspaper, a message sent to Lord McFall of Alcluith, the Lord Speaker, said: If it is suggested that he be invited to address both Houses of Parliament, I hope that you and Lindsay will suggest that would be inappropriate on this occasion because of his attitude towards and comments about the UK, parliamentary democracy, the Nato alliance and Ukraine. Efforts to prevent Mr Trump addressing parliamentarians are being co-ordinated by Lord Foulkes, a minister in Sir Tony Blairs former government. Lord Foulkes said: While the Government is obliged to deal with governments of all kinds, Parliament should not welcome a leader who is anti-democratic and flouts the courts and the rule of law. Advertisement He also fails to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which all parties in the UK Parliament have done. Meanwhile, Labour MP Kate Osborne is said to have asked UK Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to follow his predecessor John Bercow in opposing an address from the president. In a letter to Sir Lindsay she reportedly said: I am asking you as the Speaker to agree it would be inappropriate and mirror the previous Speakers recommendation. Ms Osborne has been contacted for comment. Advertisement Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Mr Obama. UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer handed US president Donald Trump an invitation for a second state visit when they met at the White House in February (Carl Court/PA) UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer handed Mr Trump what he described at the time as a truly historic personal invitation from King Charles for a second state visit when they met at the White House in February. However, reports suggest that the venue for the trip is now expected to be Windsor Castle, rather than Balmoral or Dumfries House, as previously thought. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office last week, Mr Trump said: Theyre going to do a second, as you know, a second fest thats what it is: a fest, and its beautiful, and its the first time its ever happened to one person. Advertisement And the reason is we have two separate terms, and its an honour Im 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. Pope Francis had died at the age of 88, a senior Vatican official has announced. Historys first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. Advertisement Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived. Pope Francis tours St Peters Square in his Popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi blessing at the end of the Easter Mass (Gregorio Borgia/AP) At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, he said. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. Advertisement Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy. However, he emerged on Easter Sunday a day before his death to bless thousands of people in St Peters Square and treat them to a surprise Popemobile tour of the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St Peters Basilica on Easter Sunday (Andrew Medichini/AP) Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof paid tribute to Francis, saying the Pope was in every way a man of the people. Advertisement He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them. With his sober way of life, acts of service and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many Catholics and non-Catholics alike. We remember him with great respect. Israels mostly ceremonial president offered condolences to Christians after the Popes death, calling him a man of deep faith and boundless compassion. In a post on X, Isaac Herzog said the Pope had fostered strong ties with Jews and advanced interfaith dialogue. I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered, he wrote, referring to the Popes repeated calls for an end to the war and the release of captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Francis had repeatedly criticised Israels wartime conduct and said allegations of genocide, which Israel has adamantly denied, should be investigated. Francis had repeatedly called for an end to Israels war in the Gaza Strip and the release of captives held by Hamas (Michael Sohn/AP) European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen remembered Francis as an inspiration for the entire world, not just Christians. Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, she wrote on X. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. Advertisement My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose country has nearly 30 million Christians who make up 2.3% of the population, says Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope, he said. The Indian leader posted a photo of himself with the Pope and said he was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the news of Franciss death deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd. I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering, she said. She added that his teaching and legacy will not be lost. We bid farewell to the Holy Father with hearts full of sorrow, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, shared his condolences in a post on X. From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him. Russian attacks during the 30-hour Easter ceasefire unilaterally declared by President Vladimir Putin over the weekend killed three people in Ukraines southern Kherson region, the local governor said on Monday. Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram that the casualties occurred over the last 24 hours, adding that three other people were injured. Advertisement Overall, Russia violated the ceasefire more than 2,900 times, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram statement in the early hours on Monday. A report by Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi as of 12:00 a.m., following the end of Easter. The total number of violations by the Russian army of Russias own ceasefire promise throughout the day reached 2,935. The highest number of shellings and assaults occurred in the Pokrovsk Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) April 20, 2025 Mr Zelensky said Russian forces carried out 96 assault operations along the front line, shelled Ukrainian positions more than 1,800 times, and used hundreds of drones during the course of the ceasefire. The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirror-like: we will respond to silence with silence, and our blows will be a defence against Russian blows. Actions always speak louder than words, he said. The Russian Defence Ministry, for its part, listed 4,900 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire. It charged that Moscows forces strictly observed the ceasefire and remained at previously occupied lines and positions. Advertisement Speaking on Monday, Mr Putin said that the fighting resumed after the ceasefire expired at midnight. Commenting on Mr Zelenskys call for a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire or, at least, a halt on strikes on civilian facilities, the Russian leader noted that Kyiv was trying to seize the initiative, adding that we must think about it, carefully assess everything and look at the results of the ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin said fighting with Ukraine resumed once the ceasefire expired at midnight (Sofia Sandurskaya, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Russia would inform all the interested parties about the Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire. Mr Peskov said that Russia remains open to searching for a peaceful settlement and is continuing to work with the American side, adding that we certainly hope that this work will produce results. Advertisement Overnight into Monday, Russian forces fired three missiles at Ukraines southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv, as well as 96 Shahed drones targeting other parts of the country, Ukraines air force reported. It said it downed 42 drones, while 47 others were jammed mid-flight. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian drones sparked a fire at an outbuilding and a food enterprise, Governor Serhii Lysak wrote on Telegram. No-one was injured in the attack, he added. Advertisement A chaplain blesses Ukrainian soldiers marking Easter on the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region (Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraines 65th Mechanised Brigade/AP) An unspecified infrastructure object was damaged in the Cherkasy region overnight, Governor Ihor Taburets said on Telegram. In a statement on Monday, the Russian Defence Ministry maintained that Moscows forces strictly observed the ceasefire and remained at previously occupied lines and positions. It accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire 4,900 times, including six attempts at assault operations, 1,404 attacks from artillery, multiple rocket launchers and mortars, and 3,316 drone strikes targeting Russian troops. The ministry said that, once the ceasefire expired, the Russian military resumed the special military operation in Ukraine. US airstrikes targeting Yemens capital killed 12 people and wounded 30 others, the Houthi rebels said early Monday. The deaths mark the latest in Americas intensified campaign of strikes targeting the rebels. Advertisement The US militarys Central Command declined to answer questions about the strike or discuss civilian casualties from its campaign. The Houthis described the strike as hitting the Farwa neighbourhood market in Sanaas Shuub district. That area has been targeted before by the Americans. Strikes overnight into Monday also hit other areas of the country. A Yemeni shows remains of one of the shells from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa (AP) The strikes come after US airstrikes hit the Ras Isa fuel port in Yemen last week, killing at least 74 people and wounding 171 others. Advertisement The strikes follow the resumption of negotiations in Rome between the US and Iran over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program, which Washington has linked to its attacks in Yemen. The US is targeting the Houthis because of the groups attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are the last militant group in Irans self-described Axis of Resistance that is capable of regularly attacking Israel. The new US operation against the Houthis under Donald Trump appears more extensive than attacks on the group were under former president Joe Biden, an AP review found. The new campaign started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting ships potentially linked to Israel or that may block aid from entering the Gaza Strip. Advertisement 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 dollars (748 billion) of goods move through it. The Houthis also launched attacks targeting American warships without success. Assessing the toll of the month-old US airstrike campaign has been difficult because the military has not 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 do not publish complete information on the strikes, many of which likely have targeted military and security sites. The United States Department of State said on Sunday that America is committed to a full and comprehensive ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Sundays statement noted encouraging discussions in the past week in Paris about peace prospects in Ukraine, which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed in a call to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Advertisement The American statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of creating a false appearance of honouring an Easter ceasefire. He said Moscow continued to launch attacks overnight after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral temporary truce in Ukraine. As of Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places, it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine, Mr Zelensky said in a post on X. Despite Mr Putins declaration of an Easter ceasefire on Saturday, Mr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had recorded 59 instances of Russian shelling and five assaults by units across various areas along the front line, as well as dozens of drone strikes. Advertisement In later updates, Mr Zelensky said that despite Ukraine declaring a symmetrical approach to Russian actions, the trend of increasing the use of heavy weaponry by Russian forces continues. He said, however, that it was a good thing, at least, that there were no air raid sirens. He noted that some Ukrainian troops were killed in a Russian ambush on Sunday in the Donetsk region, and said the Russian soldiers responsible would be eliminated. Russias Defence Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of overnight attacks in the Donetsk region despite the ceasefire. Advertisement It said Ukraine had sent 48 drones into Russian territory. According to the ministry, there were dead and wounded among the civilian population, without giving details. It claimed Russian troops had strictly observed the truce. Russia-installed officials in the partially occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson also said Ukrainian forces had launched attacks. Mr Zelensky said Russia must fully adhere to the ceasefire conditions and reiterated Ukraines offer to extend the truce for 30 days, starting on Sunday at midnight. Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin attend the Orthodox Easter service at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow (Ramil Sitdikov/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool/AP) Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Moscow had not responded to Kyivs proposal. Just hours after the Russian president announced the ceasefire, he attended an Easter service late Saturday at Moscows Cathedral of Christ the Saviour led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a vocal supporter of Mr Putin and the war in Ukraine. Mr Putin offered no details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or ongoing ground battles that rage around the clock. His ceasefire announcement came after US President Donald Trump said on Friday that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding three-year war. The White House expressed its support for defence secretary Pete Hegseth following media reports that he shared sensitive military details in another Signal messaging chat, this time with his wife and brother. Neither the White House nor Mr Hegseth denied that he had shared such information in a second chat, instead focusing their responses on what they called the disgruntled workers whom they blamed for leaking to the media and insisting that no classified information had been disclosed. Advertisement Its just fake news. They just bring up stories, President Donald Trump told reporters. I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and thats what hes doing. So you dont always have friends when you do that, Mr Trump said. The administrations posture was meant to hold the line against Democratic demands for Mr Hegseths firing at a time when the Pentagon is engulfed in turmoil, including the departures of several senior aides and an internal investigation over information leaks. The White House also tried to deflect attention from the national security implications of the latest Signal revelation by framing it as the outgrowth of an institutional power struggle between Mr Hegseth and the career workforce. But some of the recently departed officials the administration appeared to dismiss as disgruntled were part of Mr Hegseths initial inner circle, brought in when he took the job. Advertisement This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change that you are trying to implement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in remarks amplified by a Pentagon social media account. Pete Hegseth (Nathan Howard/AP) The latest news added to questions about the judgment of the embattled Pentagon chief, coming on top of last months disclosure of his participation in a Signal chat with top Trump administration leaders in which details about the military airstrike against Yemens Houthi militants were shared. Pete Hegseth must be fired, Senate democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. The New York Times reported on Sunday that the information shared in a Signal messaging chat with Mr Hegseths wife, brother and others was similar to what was communicated in the already disclosed chain with Trump administration officials. Advertisement A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press. The person said it included 13 people and was dubbed Defense Team Huddle. White House officials first learned of the second Signal chat from news reports on Sunday, according to an official. Mr Hegseth, talking to reporters while attending the White House Easter Egg Roll, did not address the substance of the allegations or the national security implications they raised but assailed the media. Advertisement They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations, Mr Hegseth said. Not going to work with me. Because were changing the defence department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters. And anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesnt matter. Republican senator Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, struck a similar tone, writing on X: Secretary Hegseth is busy implementing President Trumps America First agenda, while these leakers are trying to undermine them both. Shameful. The Trump administration has struggled in its public explanations about senior officials use of Signal, a commercially available app not authorised to be used to communicate sensitive or classified national defence information. Advertisement The first chat, set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group. Officials have repeatedly insisted that the information shared on Signal was not classified, though the contents of that chat, which The Atlantic published, show that Mr Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on the Iran-backed Houthis last month. Multiple current and former military officials say launch times and munitions drop times are classified information, and putting those details on an unsecured channel could have put those pilots at risk. The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 20, 2025 The Trump administration has faced criticism for failing to take action so far against top national security officials who discussed plans for the strike in Signal, and the latest report fuelled additional calls for Mr Hegseths ouster. The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him, Mr Schumer posted Sunday on X. The New York Times reported that the group in the second chat included Mr Hegseths wife, Jennifer, who is a former Fox News producer, and his brother Phil Hegseth, who was hired at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. The Times said the second chat had the same warplane launch times as the first chat. Mr Hegseths use of Signal is under investigation by the defence departments acting inspector general at the request of the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The senior Democratic member, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, urged the watchdog to look into the reported second chat as well. As status symbols go among Sydneys cashed-up Mandarin speakers, owning Indulgence magazine would have to rank as a fairly good one. The glossy quarterly is, after all, pitched as the only magazine designed exclusively for wealthy Chinese tourists, business travellers, professionals and high-net-worth individuals living in Australia. What could be better? A trophy home, of course. And so it is that Linge Dai has rounded out his discretionary spending to include the $55 million beachfront house in Rose Bay sold by recycled shopping bag businessman Frank Qiang Geng and Juanjuan Zhao. Architect Bruce Stafford designed the Rose Bay house that recently sold for $55 million. Credit: Domain Alas for Dai, the 62-year-old might have maintained a level of relative anonymity among Sydneys media proprietors if not for his purchase of recent months, revealed on publicly available title records and expected to settle later this year. Home owners juggling interest rates and cost-of-living expenses will be heartened to know the Rose Bay house is the highest sale price of the year so far. Ten years ago, when British comedian and director Elf Lyons was studying clowning at the famous Ecole Philippe Gaulier in France, she was desperate to be liked. Her teacher, the legendary 82-year-old founder and master clown Philippe Gaulier, sensed this straightaway. He said, No, this is not going to happen, Lyons recounts. You dont want to be beautiful, you dont want to be liked. You need to be a bitch. And you need to be a horse. Elf Lyons stars as the Trojan Horse and Seabiscuit and Treacle. Credit: Jason South So Lyons got up in front of her class and, after playing some bitchy characters, pretended to be a horse. She loved it. Her classmates laughed. And Gaulier, in his famously reserved way, was pleased. UK comedian Sara Pascoe is setting a high bar for her sons career expectations the lesson theyre learning is that work means friendly folk in theatres offering delicious treats. We try to take them with us, because there is an element of our work kind of interfering with our lives, of shaping our home life, the 43-year-old mother-of-two says. Sara Pascoe became a mum at the age of 40 its given her a wealth of new material. Credit: Alexandra Cameron With the tech runs in the afternoon, thats when they just need to run amok anyway; its sort of like a brand-new space for them to do that. I found that people working in venues are very tolerant, and my son gets very excited because sometimes people have big bowls of crisps and sweets. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The Who frontman Roger Daltrey abruptly stopped mid-song, tapped his earpiece and shook his head. Ill sing it any key you want, but Ive got to be able to hear, he said as he shot an accusatory glare at drummer Zak Starkey. To sing that song, I do need to hear the key, and I cant. All Ive got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I cant sing to that. Im sorry, guys. Zak Starkey drumming with the Who in 2017 as Roger Daltrey sings. Credit: Getty Images The on-stage taunt was the opening jibe in a tumultuous three-week row in which Starkey, son of the Beatles legendary drummer Ringo Starr and the Whos drummer since 1996, was fired and reinstated within days. An out-of-key Daltrey struggled through The Song is Overs opening notes at a Royal Albert Hall charity concert at the end of March. The band was attempting a song they had never performed live. After the performance, frontman Daltrey and drummer Starkey, 59, had a war of words in the dressing room, arguing over who was to blame for the technical failure, according to a well-placed source. The ensuing drama has echoed the great rocknroll spats of the 1960s and 1970s. Advertisement Although they appear to have reconciled, with Starkey publicly reinstated to the Who on Saturday, sources close to the band told The Telegraph how the lovers tiff threatened to derail one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. The band, which formed in London in 1964 and found huge success with songs such as Baba ORiley and Wont Get Fooled Again, performed two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in March to support Teenage Cancer Trust. Daltrey and songwriter Pete Townshend, 79, who have been the only constant members throughout the bands history, viewed the shows as a time to experiment with their set list before a major tour of the US this year, according to a well-placed source. The tour, the dates of which have not been announced, is expected to be the bands final one and may define its legacy. It wasnt a dress rehearsal for the tour but its a good time to experiment because youre not going to get bad reviews when youre doing it for charity, the source said. They are probably thinking, If it works, we can do it on tour. Roger knows, deep down, this is the end of the road and he wants it to be perfect. With the licence to experiment, the band finished their second show on March 30 with The Song Is Over, a ballad from their 1971 album Whos Next that they had never before performed in concert. Advertisement The performance fell flat as Daltrey, who has suffered from hearing problems for years, struggled to hear the key through his earpiece. It was a song they had never played live and it didnt work because he [Daltrey] couldnt hear what was going on, the source said. That was more to do with whoever was doing the mix. If anyone should have copped for it, it should have been the drum technician or a sound guy. Its such a huge crew, nothing should ever go wrong, but for whatever reason, Roger threw his toys. Roger Daltrey (left) and Peter Townshend of the Who. Credit: Reuters After coming off stage that night, Daltrey blamed his drummer for the botched performance while Starkey gave him lip back, the source revealed. The Who were once notorious for its fallouts Townshend fired drummer Doug Sandom after an argument in 1964 and fought on stage with Sandoms replacement, Keith Moon, in 1966 but the disputes have largely disappeared in recent years. That was until last week, when Starkey referred to Daltrey as Toger in a rambling social media post on April 12. The post added: Heard today Daltrey was unhappy with Zak the drummers performance. Advertisement Three days later, he had left the band. The Whos spokesman suggested it was by mutual consent, while sources claimed he was forced out by Daltrey. He told Rolling Stone at the time filling the shoes of my godfather Uncle Keith has been the biggest honour and I remain their biggest fan. Theyve been like family to me. After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, Im surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do? Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best. The original line-up of The Who (from left): Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon. Credit: AP Nevertheless, his absence was short-lived. With the US tour looming, the band did not have time to replace Starkey, who is understood to have been welcomed back to the fold by April 17 after Townshend intervened. Townshend said in a statement on Saturday: Hes not being asked to step down from the Who. There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily. He revealed Starkey was asked to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style, adding, he has readily agreed. Advertisement I take responsibility for some of the confusion, Townshend said, calling the Royal Albert Hall show a little tricky. Loading Our TCT (Teenage Cancer Trust) shows at the Royal Albert Hall were a little tricky for me. I thought that four-and-a-half weeks would be enough time to recover completely from having a complete knee replacement. (Why did I ever think I could land on my knees?) Wrong! Maybe we didnt put enough time into sound checks, giving us problems on stage. The sound in the centre of the stage is always the most difficult to work with. Roger did nothing wrong but fiddle with his in-ear monitors. Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised. Albeit with a rubber duck drummer. Starkey wrote on social media: V grateful to be a part of The Who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx. Starkey first performed with Daltrey on his 1994 tour Daltrey Sings Townshend, and worked with the Who on their Quadrophenia tour in 1996. Both Townshend and Daltrey stated that Starkey was the best match for the band since the death of celebrated drummer Moon in 1978. The Telegraph, London The Coalition has seized on community concerns about crime to launch an extraordinary claim about the rising threat of violence, suggesting that many Victorians were scared to go to the shops because of the risk to their safety. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton ramped up his warnings about the problem after pledging $750 million to keep communities safe, while backing a Liberal candidate who warned that people did not feel safe in their homes or at the local shops. The statements echoed a controversial claim from Dutton as home affairs minister seven years ago when he visited Melbourne and declared that residents of the city were scared to go out to restaurants at night because they would be followed home by gangs. Peter Dutton speaking in Frankston on his proposed crime crackdown alongside Liberal candidate Nathan Conroy (left) and Senator James Paterson (right). Credit: James Brickwood The Coalition on Monday outlined its law-and-order plan on the eve of early voting in the federal election, with polling stations opening on Tuesday morning to accept millions of votes before election day on May 3. 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 In the end, it was not the solemn corridors of a hospital ward that bore witness to Pope Franciss final days, but the sun-drenched square of St Peters Basilica, draped in spring tulips and echoing with chants of Viva il Papa. Doctors had pleaded with him to rest. The double pneumonia had nearly claimed him just weeks before. He was 88, frail, and barely breathing at times during a 38-day hospital stay so dire his physicians, in private, considered letting nature take its course. Yet, Francis had a different kind of prognosis in mind one not guided by medicine, but by a mission. He would live until Easter. He would speak one last time to the world. Holy Week, with its heavy symbolism of sacrifice and renewal, saw the Pontiff re-emerge from convalescence in what now seems an act of sheer spiritual defiance. Earlier in the week, he had received a small group of children at the Apostolic Palace, surprising them with Easter sweets and simple words of affection. Advertisement Loading I cant do what I used to, he reportedly told them, but I can still smile. From Maundy Thursday, when he insisted on visiting inmates at Romes Regina Coeli prison despite being too weak to perform the traditional foot-washing, to Holy Saturday, where he quietly prayed with children at the Vatican, every public appearance was a chapter in a final homily. Though his body failed him, he was determined to keep to tradition in spirit. On Good Friday, the Pope broke with public appearances but maintained private devotion. Inside the Domus Santa Marta, where he resided, he held a moment of personal reflection and prayer for the Passion of Christ a rite he had never missed. On Easter Sunday, Francis took his place atop the loggia of St Peters, wrapped in white, thinned by illness but alert and resolute. He didnt deliver the full Urbi et Orbi message the effort was too great but the words read aloud to the crowd gathered by an aide were his. A benediction to the faithful. A plea to the world. On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew, the Pope had written. To revive our trust in others for all of us are children of God. Advertisement It was a moment made all the more poignant as the Church prepared for the Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025 a celebration of renewal that Francis was determined to see through to its threshold. His final message, rich with calls for peace, mercy and compassion, now becomes a kind of prelude to that Jubilee one he did not live to witness, but helped usher in with a message of enduring hope. It was Easter distilled not just in liturgy, but in living metaphor. A man who had nearly died weeks earlier now stood, weak but unyielding, to deliver a sermon about new beginnings. It was his final act. By the next morning, the Vatican confirmed, the pope had died peacefully, from a stroke and subsequent heart failure. Those who encountered him up close in his final days spoke of a man visibly diminished his voice thin, his breathing heavy, words laboured, and discomfort across his face. Loading While in hospital, as his doctors delivered stark daily bulletins, he had channelled his suffering into reflection highlighting the futility of war when viewed from a bed lined with IV drips and silent prayers. Advertisement He wanted to act as Pope until the last minute, and he did it, wrote Vatican correspondent Aldo Cazzullo in the Corriere della Sera newspaper. To some, it may appear stubbornness. To others, divine timing. But for Francis, it was likely neither. It was, in his view, his duty. The final delivery of a message he had carried since his first day in office: that the margins matter most, and love for the stranger is the test of true faith. Pope Francis had a brief private meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance on Sunday. Credit: AP Even his last diplomatic encounter was freighted with quiet resistance. In a short Easter Sunday meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance a Catholic convert and right-hand man to Donald Trump the two men exchanged pleasantries. But Franciss Easter address, released just hours later, did not shy from a pointed reiteration of his condemnation of anti-immigrant policies. How much contempt is stirred up towards migrants, he wrote. Yet we are all brothers and sisters. The juxtaposition was unmistakable. The Pontiffs smile was warm yet his message firm. Advertisement Francis, who had led the worlds 1.3 billion Roman Catholics since 2013, had been in increasingly poor health and pain, using a wheelchair or cane for more than a year after undergoing several operations, including major stomach surgery. He had been convalescing at the Vatican after developing pneumonia in both lungs in February and spending 38 days in Romes Gemelli hospital. He was discharged on March 23. In line with centuries-old church protocols, his death was first verified by the camerlengo the Vaticans overseer of property and revenues who ceremonially called out the Popes baptismal name, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, three times. Upon receiving no response, he pronounced the Pope dead and informed church staff and the public. Francis death will spark an official nine-day mourning period and weeks of intrigue as to who will succeed him in the role, with more than 140 cardinals to arrive at the Vatican within 15 to 20 days to begin the papal conclave, a secretive election process held to determine a successor. His burial must take place between four and six days after his death, according to the Universi Dominici Gregis constitution that governs the papal transition, and the church will observe nine days of mourning during the papal interregnum. While many popes are buried in the crypts beneath St Peters Basilica, Francis made it known in December 2023 that he wanted a vastly stripped-back funeral service and to be buried in Romes Basilica of Santa Maria. The funeral Mass is expected to be held in St Peters Square. The last pope to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII, who died in 1903 and is buried in the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome. Cardinals will then lock themselves in the Sistine Chapel, disconnected from news media and telephones to block any outside influence, and undertake several rounds of voting until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The process could take days, if not weeks, before the result is announced when white smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel. Francis was born in Buenos Aires in 1936. His reign was controversial from the beginning, when he was elected to the role following the shock resignation of former pope Benedict the first pontiff to quit in 600 years. The pair formed a close bond in the almost 10 years that followed, when there were unusually two popes in the Vatican. Benedict died on the last day of 2022. Francis, the 266th pontiff in the churchs 2000-year history, inherited the role at a time of great crisis and difficulty for the church, which had been battered by sexual abuse scandals, mired in financial mismanagement and polarised between conservatives and progressives. Although he did not change doctrine, he was revolutionary in every other way by almost immediately attacking clericalism, seeking to empower the laity, promoting women to positions of power in the bureaucracy although not ordaining them priests and speaking out about climate change. While he became known for his compassion and kindness, this did not apply to the clergy. He clashed publicly with the more conservative factions within the church and removed bishops who had not dealt forthrightly with sexual abuse. He also fought hard to reform the Holy See and Vatican City State, establishing an anti-corruption authority that carried out financial audits of entities belonging to them. During the recent synod, during which Catholics around the world were asked about their vision for the future of the church, he called for an ever more symphonic and synodal church, using the metaphor of an orchestra to refer to divisions between progressives and conservatives, saying one section or instrument could not play alone or drown out the others. It was his job, as conductor to listen and try to achieve a creative fidelity. He fought without great success to change the churchs power dynamics and give a greater voice to lay Catholics, including women, and people on the margins of society. In an interview during his first year in office, he said he would not obsess over abortion, same-sex marriage and birth control since everyone knew what the church taught on these topics. Loading Late last year, Francis surprised many when he named 21 new cardinals in a power play that will ensure the now 140-member College of Cardinals whose main job is to elect the next pope is 80 per cent made up of those of his choosing. The percentage of Asian and African cardinal electors has grown significantly reflecting Francis quest to increase the churchs embrace of the developing world while the proportion of those from Europe has fallen. His visit to the Philippines in January 2015 included the largest papal event in history, with an estimated 6 million attending his final Mass in Manila, surpassing the then-largest papal event at World Youth Day 1995 at the same venue 20 years earlier. On the contrary, Trump has given Russia special treatment. He granted Moscow an exemption from all his recent waves of tariffs. The two public explanations from the White House were, one, that there was no meaningful trade between the US and Russia anyway, and, two, that Russia already was under heavy US sanctions. Neither withstands scrutiny. Two-way trade last year was valued at $US3.5 billion, more than the value of American trade with many of the nations hit with Trump tariffs. Fiji, for instance. And other countries labouring under intense US sanctions regimes were not given exemptions. Iran, for example. Remember when Trump said that he had a secret and unique power to compel Putin to agree? Russia wants to make a deal because in a certain different way a different way that only I know they have no choice. That secret remains so. Trump has encountered Putins intransigence and all the signs are that Trump, having failed, will simply ditch Ukraine, leaving it to its fate, says Wilson. We have weighty and accumulating evidence that Trump is about to wash his hands of Ukraine. Donald Trump has threatened to walk away from peace talks with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky and Russias Vladimir Putin. Credit: AP Trump has even made excuses for Putins lethal targeting of civilians. When Russia fired two ballistic missiles at the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Palm Sunday, killing at least 35 people including two children and injuring another 129 people, Trump described the attack as horrible but excused it because I was told they made a mistake. He blamed Ukraine for starting the war in the first place, which is, of course, insultingly untrue. In truth, Putin never intended to halt his invasion. Putin is winning, observes Wilson, why would he make any concessions? He points out that Kremlin spokespeople consistently have stated that we will stop at nothing except complete victory. And, in truth, Trump never intended to do anything other than gratify Putin. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been glaringly in thrall to Moscow and barely bothering to hide it. The day after the Putins Palm Sunday atrocity in Sumy, Witkoff said that hed just had a compelling meeting with the Russian dictator and that a peace deal was taking shape. Why compelling? There was, said Witkoff, a possibility to reshape the Russia-US relationship through some very compelling commercial opportunities that Putin had proposed to his American interlocutors. How nice. At the last moment, after Trumps Friday signal that he was prepared to walk away from peace efforts, Putin on Saturday announced a supposed 30-hour ceasefire by Russia. There was no ceasefire. It was merely a Putin ruse to portray himself as being reasonable even as the Trump show foundered on Putins unreasonableness. The net outcome of all this for Ukraine? First, Volodymyr Zelensky had been humiliated publicly by Trump in a stage-managed broadcast from the Oval Office. Second, Trump denounced him and his brave compatriots as warmongers and troublemakers the villains, not the victims. This gave Trump a pretext for, third, refusing any new US assistance to Ukraine. Fourth, Trump obliged Zelensky to sign over to the US a share of Ukraines mineral wealth, a deal now agreed but yet to be disclosed in any detail. And, fifth, Trump now is poised to walk away from any pretence at being a peace negotiator. Leaving Ukraine deeply weakened, in Kyle Wilsons assessment. Trump is moving on; hes dispatched Witkoff, having done such a fine job with Putin, to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. For Australia, there are three lessons. The most important is that Trump remains committed to his longstanding special relationship with Putin. He will align with Putin rather than US traditional allies. Friedrich Merz, who takes office as the chancellor of Germany on May 6, has observed that Europe is now under such massive pressure from two sides Russia on one and Trumps America on the other. Loading Second, because of this US realignment, we cant count on US support as Putin probes for new bases in South-East Asia. Australia was startled by last weeks report that Moscow wants to operate its air force through the region. Anyone whos followed Russias courtship of Indonesia over the years understands that Russia has two very strong cards to offer Jakarta nuclear technology and space technology, says Wilson. This bears close watching. Third, because the US is no longer leader of the free world, Western interests and values will have to be upheld by a West without America. He understands but does not speak Italian potentially a major drawback for a job that also carries the title Bishop of Rome and requires familiarity with the citys power games and intrigues. Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72 (Hungarian) Cardinal Peter Erdo celebrates Christmas Day Mass in Budapest in 2016. Credit: AP If Erdo is elected, he would inevitably be seen as a compromise candidate someone from the conservative camp who has nonetheless built bridges with Francis progressive world. Erdo was already considered a papal contender in the last conclave in 2013 thanks to his extensive church contacts in Europe and Africa and the fact he was seen as a pioneer of the New Evangelisation drive to rekindle the Catholic faith in secularised advanced nations a top priority for many cardinals. He ranks as a conservative in theology and in speeches throughout Europe he stresses the Christian roots of the continent. However, he is also seen to be pragmatic and never clashed openly with Francis, unlike other tradition-minded clerics. That said, he raised eyebrows in the Vatican during the 2015 migrant crisis when he went against Francis call for churches to take in refugees, saying this would amount to human trafficking seemingly aligning himself with Hungarys nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. An expert in church law, Erdo has been on a fast track his entire career, becoming a bishop in his 40s and a cardinal in 2003 when he was just 51, making him the youngest member of the College of Cardinals until 2010. He has excellent Italian and speaks German, French, Spanish and Russian, which could help thaw relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches after the deep chill of the war in Ukraine. Erdo is not a charismatic speaker, but while this was once undoubtedly viewed as a serious drawback, it could potentially be seen as an advantage this time around if cardinals want a calm papacy following the fireworks of Francis rule. Synod of Bishops Secretary General Cardinal Mario Grech, 68 (Maltese) Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech celebrating Holy Mass at St Peters Basilica in October 2023. Credit: Getty Images Grech comes from Gozo, a tiny island that is part of Malta, the smallest country in the European Union. But from small beginnings he has gone on to big things, appointed by Francis to be secretary general of the Synod of Bishops a heavyweight position within the Vatican. Initially viewed as a conservative, Grech has become a torchbearer of Francis reforms within the church for years, moving sharply with the times. In 2008, several gay Maltese citizens declared they were leaving the church in protest at what they saw as the anti-LGBTQ stance of the then-pontiff, Pope Benedict. Loading Grech offered them little sympathy at the time but, speaking in the Vatican in 2014, he called for the church to be more accepting of its LGBTQ members and creative in finding new ways to address contemporary family situations. The following day, Francis tapped him on the shoulder at breakfast and complimented him on the speech, marking him out for future promotion. In 2018, Grech spoke about how he relished the challenges faced by the church, warning that it would not remain relevant to modern society if it did not move beyond nostalgia. His views have won him some high-profile enemies. Conservative Cardinal Gerhard Muller turned on him in 2022, belittling his academic profile and accusing him of going against Catholic doctrine. Grechs allies insist he has friends in both the conservative and moderate camps and is known by many cardinals an advantage in a conclave where so many cardinals are relative unknowns to each other. Coming from a tiny country, his election as pope wouldnt create any diplomatic or geopolitical headaches. He has stressed that he always seeks consensus over confrontation, but he has sometimes courted controversy. In 2016, he led a pilgrimage to pray for rain after meeting farmers worried about drought. A local newspaper said it was a throwback to prehistoric attempts at inducing rain but a few days after the event, it did indeed start to rain. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70 (Italian) Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin presides at Mass at St Peters Basilica this month, marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. Credit: Getty Images Parolin is seen as a compromise candidate between progressives and conservatives. He has been a church diplomat for most of his life and served as Francis secretary of state since 2013. The position is similar to that of a prime minister, and secretaries of state are often called the deputy pope because they rank second to the pontiff in the Vatican hierarchy. Parolin previously served as deputy foreign minister under Pope Benedict, who in 2009 appointed him the Vaticans ambassador in Venezuela, where he defended the church against moves to weaken it by then-president Hugo Chavez. He was the main architect of the Vaticans rapprochement with China and Vietnam. Conservatives have attacked him for an agreement on the appointment of bishops in communist China. He has defended the agreement saying that, while it was not perfect, it avoided a schism and provided some form of communication with the government in Beijing. Parolin was never a frontline or noisy activist in the churchs so-called culture wars, which centred on issues such as abortion and gay rights, although he did once condemn the legalisation of same-sex marriage in many countries as a defeat for humanity. He has defended the Vaticans power and said local churches cannot make decisions that would end up affecting all Catholics. Softly spoken and genteel, Parolin would return the papacy to the Italians after three successive non-Italian popes John Paul II of Poland, Benedict of Germany and Francis of Argentina. He entered the Vaticans diplomatic service just three years after his priestly ordination in 1980 so his pastoral experience is limited, but a factor in his favour is that he speaks a number of languages. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, 67 (Filipino) Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle in 2017. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini Tagle is often called the Asian Francis because of his similar commitment to social justice and, if elected, he would be the first pontiff from Asia. On paper, Tagle who generally prefers to be called by his nickname Chito seems to have all the boxes ticked to qualify him to be a pope. He has had decades of pastoral experience since his ordination to the priesthood in 1982. He then gained administrative experience, first as bishop of Imus and then as archbishop of Manila. Benedict made him a cardinal in 2012. In a move seen by some as a strategy by Francis to give Tagle some Vatican experience, the Pope in 2019 transferred him from Manila and appointed him head of the churchs missionary arm the Dicastery for Evangelisation. He comes from what some called Asias Catholic lung because the Philippines has the regions largest Catholic population. His mother was an ethnic Chinese Filipino. He speaks fluent Italian and English. Between 2015 and 2022, he was the top leader of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of more than 160 Catholic relief, social service and development organisations around the world. In 2022, Francis fired its entire leadership following accusations of bullying and humiliation of employees, and appointed a commissioner to run it. Tagle, who was also removed from his role, had been nominally president but was not involved in the day-to-day operations. It remains to be seen how the saga will affect Tagles chances at the papacy. Vatican official Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 76 (Ghanaian) Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson in 2021. Credit: Joshua Sammer/Getty Images From humble beginnings in a small African town, Cardinal Peter Turkson has gone on to great things in the church, making him a contender to become the first pope from sub-Saharan Africa. He combines a long pastoral background of tending to congregations in Ghana with hands-on experience of leading several Vatican offices, as well as strong communication skills. That he comes from one of the most dynamic regions for the church, which is struggling against the forces of secularism in its European heartlands, should also bolster his standing. The fourth son in a family of 10 children, Turkson was born in Wassaw Nsuta, in what was then called the Gold Coast in the British Empire. His father worked in a nearby mine and doubled as a carpenter while his mother sold vegetables in the market. He studied at seminaries in Ghana and New York, was ordained in 1975, and then taught in his former Ghanaian seminary and did advanced biblical studies in Rome. John Paul II appointed him archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 and 11 years later made him the first cardinal in the history of the West African state. Promotions continued under John Pauls successor, Benedict, who brought him to the Vatican in 2009 and made him the head of the body that promotes social justice, human rights and world peace. In that role, he was one of the Popes closest advisers on issues such as climate change and drew attention by attending conferences such as the Davos economic forum. In 2023, he told the BBC he prayed against the possibility that he would be elected pope but some of his detractors said that, given his media appearances, it appeared he was campaigning for the job. Bologna Archbishop Matteo Maria Zuppi, 69 (Italian) Archbishop Matteo Maria Zuppi at the Vatican in 2019. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini When Zuppi got a promotion in 2015 and became archbishop of Bologna, national media referred to him as the Italian Bergoglio, due to his affinity with Francis, the Argentinian Pope who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Zuppi would be the first Italian pope since 1978. Much like Francis when he lived in Buenos Aires, Zuppi is known as a street priest who focuses on migrants and the poor and cares little for pomp and protocol. He goes by the name of Father Matteo, and in Bologna he sometimes uses a bicycle rather than an official car. In a city that loves its meat products, he once made waves when pork-free tortellini was served, as an option, for the feast day of Bolognas patron saint. Zuppi called the Muslim-friendly move a normal gesture of respect and courtesy. Loading If he were made pope, conservatives would most likely view him with suspicion. Victims of church sexual abuse might also object to him, since the Italian Catholic Church which he has led since 2022 has been slow to investigate and confront the issue. The Italian cardinal is closely associated with the Community of SantEgidio, a global peace and justice Catholic group based in the historic Rome district of Trastevere, where he spent most of his life as a priest. SantEgidio, sometimes called the United Nations of Trastevere, brokered a 1992 peace agreement that ended a 17-year-old civil war in Mozambique, with the help of Zuppi as one of the mediators. He has engaged in more diplomacy recently as papal envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, concentrating on efforts to repatriate children who Ukraine says have been deported to Russia or Russian-held territories. The Israeli military said soldiers buried the bodies to prevent them from being mangled by stray dogs and coyotes until they could be collected, and that the ambulances were moved to allow the route to be used for civilian evacuations later that day. The investigation found that the decision to crush the ambulances was wrong, but said there was no attempt to conceal the shootings. Mourners carry the bodies of Red Crescent emergency responders, recovered in Rafah after a March 23 Israeli attack. Credit: AP Major-General Yoav Har-Even, who oversees the militarys investigations, said it notified international organisations later that day and helped rescue workers locate the bodies. The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has said the men were targeted at close range. Night-vision drone footage provided by the military shows soldiers were 20 to 30 metres away from the ambulances. The deputy commander was the first to open fire, leading the rest of the soldiers to start shooting, Har-Even said. The investigation found the paramedics were killed due to an operational misunderstanding by Israeli forces, and that shooting at the UN car was a breach of orders. The findings asserted that six of those killed were Hamas militants it did not give their names and said three other paramedics were originally misidentified as Hamas. The Civil Defence is part of the Hamas-run government. No paramedic was armed and no weapons were found in any vehicle, Har-Even said. One survivor was detained for investigation and remains in custody for further questioning. According to the military, soldiers who questioned the survivor thought he identified himself as a Hamas member, which was later refuted. Har-Even said the deputy commander was fired for giving a not completely accurate report to investigators about the firing on a UN vehicle. The statement on the findings concluded by saying that Israels military regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians. The site where the 15 bodies were found. The UN described it as a mass grave. Credit: X/@_jwhittall Without accountability, we risk continuing to watch atrocities unfolding, and the norms designed to protect us all, eroding. Too many civilians, including aid workers, have been killed in Gaza. Their stories have not all made the headlines, Jonathan Whittall, interim head in Gaza of the UN humanitarian office OCHA, said in a statement responding to the findings. There was no immediate public reaction from the Red Crescent or Civil Defence. The findings have been turned over the Military Advocate General, which can decide whether to file civil charges. It is meant to be an independent body, with oversight by Israels attorney general and Supreme Court. There are no outside investigations of the killings under way. Israeli strikes have killed more than 150 emergency responders from the Red Crescent and Civil Defence, most of them while on duty, and more 1000 health workers during the war, according to the UN. The Israeli military rarely investigates such incidents. Israel has accused Hamas of moving and hiding its fighters inside ambulances and emergency vehicles, as well as in hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, arguing that justifies strikes on them. Medical personnel largely deny the accusations. Palestinians and international human rights groups have repeatedly accused Israels military of failing to properly investigate or whitewashing misconduct by its troops. Har-Even said the Israeli military was currently investigating 421 incidents in Gaza during the war, with 51 concluded and sent to the Military Advocate General. There was no immediate information on the number of investigations involving potential wrongful deaths or how many times the MAG has pursued criminal charges. The International Criminal Court, established by the international community as a court of last resort, has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes. Israel, which is not a member of the court, has long asserted that its legal system is capable of investigating the army, and Netanyahu has accused the ICC of antisemitism. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1200 people and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of them believed to be alive. 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. Frustration has been growing on both sides, with rare public protests against Hamas in Gaza and continued weekly rallies in Israel pressing the government to reach a deal to bring all hostages home. The chat revealed by The Atlantic in March was created by President Donald Trumps national security adviser, Mike Waltz, so that the most senior national security officials across the executive branch, such as the vice president, the director of national intelligence and Hegseth, could co-ordinate among themselves and their deputies before the US attacks. Loading Waltz took responsibility for inadvertently adding Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, to the chat. He called it Houthi PC small group to reflect the presence of members of the administrations principals committee, who come together to discuss the most sensitive and important national security issues. Hegseth created the separate Signal group initially as a forum for discussing routine administrative or scheduling information, two people familiar with the chat said. The people said Hegseth typically did not use the chat to discuss sensitive military operations and said it did not include other cabinet-level officials. He shared information about the Yemen strikes in the Defense | Team Huddle chat at roughly the same time he was putting the same details in the other Signal chat group that included senior US officials and The Atlantic, the people familiar with Hegseths chat group said. The Yemen strikes, designed to punish Houthi fighters for attacking international cargo ships passing through the Red Sea, were among the first big military strikes of Hegseths tenure. After The Atlantic disclosed that Hegseth had used Waltzs Signal group to communicate details of the strikes as they were being launched, the Trump administration said he had not shared war plans or any classified information, an assertion that was viewed with tremendous scepticism by national security experts. White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in March. Credit: AP In the case of Hegseths Signal group, a US official declined to comment on whether Hegseth shared detailed targeting information but maintained that there was no national security breach. The truth is that there is an informal group chat that started before confirmation of his closest advisers, the official said. Nothing classified was ever discussed on that chat. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell did not respond to requests for comment. After it was published, he wrote on social media: Another day, another old story back from the dead. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. The Defense | Team Huddle Signal chat until recently included about a dozen of Hegseths top aides and Parnell. The chat also included two senior advisers to Hegseth Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick who were accused of leaking unauthorised information last week and were fired. Caldwell and Selnick were among three former top Pentagon officials who proclaimed their innocence in a public statement in response to the leak inquiry that led to their dismissals. Another former defence department official, John Ullyot, who left the department last week, said in a weekend opinion essay for Politico that the Pentagon was in disarray under Hegseths leadership and suggested Trump should remove him. When Goldberg released details of what Hegseth put into the Signal chat created by Waltz regarding the upcoming strikes in Yemen, Trump defended him and said he had done nothing wrong. In a statement, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly did the same after the latest revelation. No matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same non-story, they cant change the fact that no classified information was shared, she said. Some congressional Democrats said it was fresh proof that Hegseth should be removed. Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops lives are endangered by his singular stupidity, said Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the senior Democrat on the armed services committee, said: If true, this incident is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseths reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military service member is required to follow. While the Signal chat created by Waltz for senior officials was criticised for sharing details of a military operation on an encrypted but unclassified app, the participants other than Goldberg of The Atlantic, who appears to have been added accidentally were senior government officials with reason to track the progress of the attack. But some of the participants in the group chat created by Hegseth were not officials with any apparent need to be given real-time information on details of the operation. Jennifer Hegseth has drawn attention for the access her husband has given her. He brought her into two meetings with foreign military counterparts in February and early March where sensitive information was discussed, a development first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Parlatore, who has been Pete Hegseths personal lawyer for the past eight years, was commissioned as a Navy commander in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps about a week before the Yemen strikes were initiated. Hegseths brother, Phil, works inside the Pentagon as a liaison to the Department of Homeland Security and as a senior adviser to the defence secretary. Steven Stebbins, the Pentagons acting inspector general, announced in April that he would review Hegseths Yemen strike disclosures on the Signal chat that included top Trump aides. Its not clear whether the review has uncovered the Signal chat that included Hegseths wife and other advisers. Over 970 sign "anti-tariff declaration" against Trump's tariff policy: media reports Xinhua) 09:10, April 21, 2025 BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Over 970 people, including dozens of the world's top economists have signed an "anti-tariff declaration" criticizing the tariff policy adopted by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration as "misguided" while warning of a potential "self-inflicted recession," reports by media outlets have said. The letter, signed by renowned economists including Nobel laureates James Heckman and Vernon Smith, was circulated over the weekend, and by the dawn of Sunday, it had been signed by 976 individuals, the reports said. In this "Trade and Tariffs Declaration: A Statement on the Principles of American Prosperity," the authors denounced Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs that are affecting more than 180 countries and regions around the world. The "reciprocal" tariff rates are "calculated using an erroneous and improvised formula with no basis in economic reality," the letter said. On April 2, Trump announced sweeping tariffs against the U.S. trading partners, calling the day "liberation day." But only one week later, he ordered a 90-day pause on the highest tariffs while keeping a 10 percent baseline rate for most countries. Trump's tariff policy has triggered massive sell-offs on stock markets, as well as retaliatory tariffs and other countermeasures by countries. "We anticipate that American workers will incur the brunt of these misguided policies in the form of increased prices and the risk of a self-inflicted recession," the letter said. Trump has argued the tariffs are meant to reverse a persistent overall trade deficit and help boost the U.S. manufacturing industry. However, the letter pointed out: "The current administration's tariffs are motivated by a mistaken understanding of the economic conditions faced by ordinary Americans." The authors urged an end to Trump's "incoherent and damaging policies" on trade, adding "We remain hopeful, however, that sound economic principles, empirical evidence, and the warnings of history will prevail over the protectionist mythologies of the moment." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A TINRYLAND woman has just been appointed deputy CEO in a leading PR firm. Niamh Breathnach has taken up the role in the communications company Alice Public Relations. The daughter of Meliosa and Joe Walshe, Niamh is a past pupil of Tinryland NS and Gaelcholaiste Cheatharlach. She studied communications at Dublin City University before completing a masters in public relations at DIT (now TU Dublin). She began working with Alice Public Relations as a client executive in 2016 during its first year in business. Since then, she has risen through the ranks, joining the executive leadership team in 2018 and the board of directors in 2023. Her high calibre of work was recognised by the PR industry in 2019, when she was selected as the winner of the Young Communications Professional of the Year at the PRII/PRCA Awards for Excellence in PR. Niamh Breathnach said: Im delighted to step into the new position of deputy CEO, at an exciting time for our business as we celebrate our tenth anniversary this year. Having worked with Alice since the early days of the company, I have been part of the various stages of growth and the ups and downs that come with that. "As we enter this new phase, I look forward to continuing to work with our clients and indeed with our own team to ensure we meet the ambitious targets we have set for the years ahead. Alice was founded in 2015 and operates on an all-island basis with offices in Dublin and Belfast. The company has a team of almost 30, and specialises in working with organisations that serve the public good, including public sector bodies, semi-state companies and charities. A Criminal Court jury on Tuesday, after lengthy deliberations, found Darryl Roberts guilty of second-degree murder in the downtown slaying of businessman Chris Wright. Jurors also found Roberts guilty of being a dangerous felon in possession of a weapon. That was in a separate hearing. The Wright family issued this statement after the verdict: "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 generosity - always 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." Prosecutors on Monday afternoon had asked the jury to sentence the 59-year-old Roberts to pre-meditated first-degree murder in the Sept. 28, 2023, downtown "execution" of businessman and Baylor School and Yale graduate Wright. Jurors deliberated for several hours before going home for the night. The panel deliberated three more hours on Tuesday morning before going to lunch until 2 p.m., when they had more talks. Prosecutor Paul Moyle said, "You don't get to kill somebody on a public sidewalk in Chattanooga, Tennessee and argue passion after the fact. It just doesn't happen." He added, "If this is not an unlawful killing, then what is?" Public Defender Steve Smith contended that Roberts was "over-charged" and the jury should consider a sentence along the line of voluntary manslaughter, which would carry much less time than a life sentence (52 years). He told the panel, "Mr. Roberts isn't a monster. Mr. Wright isn't a hero." The public defender said Mr. Wright, who was celebrating his 20th Baylor reunion, was aggressive during several bar stops that evening and "felt rejected and frustrated" after his high school friend and a woman who was with them went home from Jack Brown's bar. He said it was testified that his mood then turned from being playful to angry. He said Mr. Wright also felt rejected by Roberts and another man sitting in front of Patten Towers, as they reached out his hand to them and they hollered for him to move on down the street. Prosecutor Moyle said the only evidence that Mr. Wright used the N-word was from the defendant. He said a video showed the two men at the Patten not showing any reaction at the time Roberts claims it was made. He told jurors the killing "was so depraved that when you first saw it there was a visceral reaction of disgust - because it is disgusting." The prosecutor said the defense engaged in "character assassination" of the victim by spending a lengthy time showing bar video. He said Roberts had ample time to back off from firing the gun after he reached in his pocket for it and took steps toward the unarmed Wright, "but he didn't because it was his choice." Concerning defense allegations about the case involving "power, wealth and race," he noted he had tried a case in January "in which an unarmed black man was shot in the head as he was leaving work." Prosecutor Andrew Coyle said of Roberts, "Nothing else was going to happen but death when he held a 357 to his forehead and pulled the trigger." He said Roberts could have walked away, "and Chris could have gone home to his three kids, his wife, and his mother." Prosecutor Coyle said the defense had "tried to degrade this man and convince one or two of you that he deserved it and put himself in this situation." He said whatever was said during the 11:50 p.m. encounter "it was not cause to shoot someone in the head." He said Chris Wright "was so much more than he was portrayed in this trial" on the night "when he was out drinking with his friends and when he met his execution." Public Defender Smith said, "Just watching the video and being angered by it, that's mob justice." He said the jury should consider that Roberts "acted out of fear," while noting testimony about the area around the Patten being dangerous late at night and of his companion being attacked there once before. The attorney said Chris Wright was 30 pounds heavier than Darryl Roberts and 20 years younger. He said Mr. Wright had chosen to not stop at his office at the Volunteer Building as he told a bartender he planned to do, but was apparently headed to his car to drive home despite his heavy intoxication. Judge Boyd Patterson is presiding over the trial at the Courts Building. Despite defense argument, he declined to include a section on self-defense in the jury charge. Mary Francis Hoots, previous director of communications in the administration of County Mayor Weston Wamp, has shifted into the role of deputy chief of staff. At the same time, Paris Vinnett is moving from a city post to become director of communications. Ms. Hoots is assuming many of the responsibilities of the former director of operations position, it was stated. Officials said, "A dynamic communications professional, Ms. Vinnett brings nearly a decade of experience in local government with a strong background in media relations and community engagement." Paris is a gifted communicator with a proven ability to connect citizens with their local government, said County Mayor Wamp. We are grateful she has joined our office as we enter an important year of following through on major initiatives ranging from career and technical education to roads and infrastructure improvements. Ms. Vinnett currently serves as press secretary for the city of Chattanooga and previously served as the director of communications for the city of Kenner and Jefferson Parish Public Schools in Louisiana. Throughout her career, she has led strategic campaigns that effectively communicated key administrative priorities and elevated public engagement, it was stated. Im honored to join Mayor Wamps administration and contribute to the important work happening across Hamilton County, said Ms. Vinnett. Eective communication is an essential part of good governance, and I look forward to serving our residents with clarity, integrity, and purpose. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Louisiana State University and a bachelors degree in marketing from the University of New Orleans. Officials said, "Ms. Vinnett's proven ability to translate policy into clear, compelling messaging will support Mayor Wamps commitment to transparency and eective communication." This reorganization is budget neutral, it was stated. Cherokee Nation Secretary of Veterans Affairs S. Joe Crittenden, left, CN At-Large Councilor Johnny Jack Kidwell, CN At-Large Councilor Julia Coates, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., and CN Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan honored Cherokee veteran Lee Roy Smith (center) at the April 14 Tribal Council meeting. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Wikimedia Commons/Aleteia Image Department/ Marko Vombergar Pope Francis has died aged 88, the Vatican says. At 9:45 AM on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, from the Casa Santa Marta. He expressed his sorrow with the following words: Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God. According to the Vatican News, The Pope had been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14, 2025, after suffering from bronchitis for several days. His clinical condition gradually deteriorated, leading to a diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia on February 18. After spending 38 days in the hospital, Pope Francis returned to his residence at Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery. In 1957, a young Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection. As he aged, Pope Francis experienced recurring respiratory issues, including a cancellation of a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation. Typically, the ascertainment of death occurs in the chapel rather than the room where the individual passed away, and the body is promptly placed in a coffin. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified to focus on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ. The renewed rite, Archbishop Ravelli stated, seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world. Home News IDF dismisses, reprimands 2 senior officers for role in killing of 15 Palestinian rescue workers in Gaza Following an investigation into the March 23 incident that resulted in the killing of 15 Palestinians by Israeli fire a case that drew international attention Israel Defense Forces dismissed one officer and reprimanded another for breaches of protocol and professional misconduct. In a statement published on Sunday, the IDF emphasized that the armys code of ethics was not violated; however, the examination identified several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident. The IDF was excoriated by media around the world, as well as by the United Nations, after the Palestinian Red Crescent Society accused it of killing 15 workers in cold blood, despite being marked as medical and humanitarian aid personnel. 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 IDF later discovered that at least six of the individuals were members of the Hamas terrorist organization. The investigation of the incident was conducted by the General Staff Fact-Finding Mechanism, a separate unit from the operational chain of command. After receiving the results of its findings, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir issued a reprimand to be recorded in his personal file to the colonel in command of the 14th Brigade who led the operation, for his overall responsibility for the incident, including the procedure of combat and management of the scene afterward. In addition, the major, the deputy commander of the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion who led the force in the field, will be dismissed from his position due to his responsibilities as the field commander in this incident and for providing an incomplete and inaccurate report during the debrief, the IDF stated. According to Ynet News, the 36th Division is conducting another probe of the incident and may take additional disciplinary measures against the soldiers involved. The findings were also submitted to the Military Attorneys Office to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to launch a criminal investigation by the Military Police. The incident occurred during a nighttime IDF ambush in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah. The IDF stressed that the incident happened in a hostile and dangerous combat zone, in the context of the responsibility of the IDF to respect and protect medical teams while also confronting Hamas' repeated use of such infrastructure for terrorism, including using ambulances to transport terrorists and weapons. During the Golani Brigade soldiers ambush, several vehicles passed safely along the observed route, indicating that the troops did not fire indiscriminately or intentionally target ambulances, according to the investigation. The incident began when soldiers fired on a nearby Hamas vehicle, killing its passengers. Shortly afterward, several vehicles including an ambulance and a firetruck traveled along the same road, while two other Palestinians who passed by on foot were detained and later released. An hour after the first shooting, a firetruck and ambulances quickly approached the scene of the first shooting and surveillance units alerted the ambush team. The deputy battalion commander assessed the vehicles as employed by Hamas forces, who arrived to assist the first vehicles passengers. Under this impression and sense of threat, he ordered to open fire, the probe revealed. The IDF initially said the vehicles approached without headlights or emergency signals, based on the testimony of the deputy battalion commander. However, a video published by The New York Times contradicted this. The probe found that due to poor night visibility, the deputy commander did not initially recognize the vehicles as ambulances. According to Ynet, the investigation showed that the officers insufficient field of view or thermal night vision equipment prevented him from accurately distinguishing between the flashing lights of a firetruck and those of a police vehicle. He allegedly claimed that he opened fire because he thought the first car was a large Hamas police vehicle, aware that a Hamas police checkpoint was located nearby. When the soldiers approached the truck, they found two deceased passengers, later identified as Hamas members, and a third who had survived and was detained. He was interrogated and later released, further indicating that the soldiers did not attempt to execute all the passengers or hide evidence from the incident, contrary to Palestinian claims. The examination found no evidence to support claims of execution or that any of the deceased were bound before or after the shooting. Such claims are blood libels and false accusations against IDF soldiers. Fifteen Palestinians were killed, six of whom were identified in a retrospective examination as Hamas terrorists, the IDF concluded. The first two incidents were determined to be operational misunderstandings, as the soldiers reasonably believed they were facing a tangible threat from enemy forces. A third incident took place shortly afterward, when the troops fired at a Palestinian UN vehicle due to operational errors in breach of regulations. The troops commander initially reported the event, and additional details emerged later in the examination. This involved a breach of orders during a combat setting, according to the probe. Responding to claims that the soldiers then tried to hide the evidence by burying the bodies and crushing the vehicles, the IDF said that it was decided to gather and cover the bodies to prevent further harm and clear the vehicles from the route in preparation for civilian evacuation. It is standard protocol in Gaza for the IDF to cover bodies with sand to prevent them from being eaten by stray dogs and other animals. The examination concluded that removing the bodies was reasonable under the circumstances, but the decision to crush the vehicles was wrong. In general, there was no attempt to conceal the event, which was discussed with international organizations and the UN. In its statement, the military stressed that the deputy commander of the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion is a highly respected officer, whose military service and personal story reflect a spirit of combat, volunteerism, and great dedication. Following October 7, he returned from abroad to serve in reserve duty, continued to operate in Gaza until he was injured in the combat, and returned to service after his recovery. The IDF further emphasized its regret over the harm caused to uninvolved civilians and vowed to continue learning from such incidents to prevent future occurrences. Existing protocols have been clarified and reinforced emphasizing the need for heightened caution when operating near rescue forces and medical personnel, even in high-intensity combat zones, the IDF concluded. In addition, IDF International Spokesman Lt.-Col. Nadav Shoshani acknowledged that the armys initial reports were faulty, and were based on real-time updates from the forces on the ground. As a spokesperson, my mission statement is to give honest and accurate information, especially when it comes to difficult events. There was never any intention to mislead or deceive the public or media. We have learned from this, implemented our lessons, and held those accountable responsible both for the incident and the faulty report. The IDF is committed to truth and transparency, as a foundation of our operations. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home News Pastor Jamal Bryant rejects Target offer to settle DEI dispute, declares full boycott Megachurch Pastor Jamal Bryant said Targets pledge to invest $2 billion into black-owned businesses by July 31 was not enough to settle a dispute over the retail giants decision to scale back its DEI initiatives. The rejection of the offer comes just days after Target CEO Brian Cornell had a meeting in New York City with the Rev. Al Sharpton who called it very constructive. 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 in a statement. 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 Bryant, who leads the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, told congregants at his church on Sunday that he had a different impression of the meeting. Ladies and gentlemen you already have read the report that a meeting took place and in that meeting I wanted to share with you the outcome of it. We had four asks and only walked away with one thing. I want to tell you what that one thing is. Target has agreed that by July the 31st they will complete the pledge of $2 billion for black business, he said. But the other three things we have no commitment on and we don't have anything to stand on because their currency does not ride with us, he added. Beginning on March 5, Bryant and his church committed to a 40-day fast which included not shopping at Target. In joining the pushback against Target, the Georgia pastor accused the retail giant 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. 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. The Georgia pastor who called Targets DEI rollback a "spit in the face of black people insisted to his congregants on Sunday that their boycott had caused the share price of the company to tumble. When we started this Target fast, a trillion dollar company, a Fortune 500 company, was trading on the New York Stock Exchange at $138 a share. Because of how it is, that stridently you have put your hand to the plow, their stock started at $138 a share. As of Friday, it is down to $94 a share, Bryant declared while erroneously suggesting that Target is a trillion company. Target shares were trading around $93 on Monday. Foot traffic at Target has gone down by 7.9 percent. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that you will share with me in your enthusiasm for people who thought it was ineffective and there would be no results, is that because of your fast Target has lost $12 billion. Come on, y'all ought to be shouting, he continued to applause. They tried to put out a statement that their loss is because of the economy, because of tariffs with China, but the reality is that while they were losing, Costco was gaining, he asserted. While Costco has defended its DEI policies as others like Target have cut back on theirs, it has also not been immune to the volatile market conditions. The companys share price has trended up and down as well. In addition to the demand that Target honors its $2 billion pledge to the black business community "through products, services, and black media buys," the Target Fast campaign, which Bryant calls a grassroots movement also called on the retailer to: 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." Bryant claimed that Targets offer to commit to only one of the demands is not enough to appease the black community. If in all of these years we have been loyal customers and clients and then in the moment of dis-ease you turn your back. And so, I had to share with Target that we gave you 40 days to answer four, not one. And they only came back with one. So I told them what I'm getting ready to tell you. We ain't going back in there. And so, the fast shifts to a full out boycott, he declared. With more than 200,000 people already signed up for the boycott, Bryant urged his followers who had not yet joined the boycott to sign-up at targetfast.org. Bryant said he will be hosting a townhall meeting at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Tuesday and has invited Targets CEO to speak directly to the community but he isnt sure if he will attend. I sent last night an invitation to the president and CEO of Target as well as the chairman of the board to come to New Birth on this coming Tuesday to speak to the people directly, not in a private closed meeting, but in an open venue to talk about where Targets commitment is and where it is that we are going, he said. I don't know whether it is that the president is coming or the chair of the board is coming or anybody for that matter from Target is coming. But I need you to be here so that we plan and chart out what is our future going forward. He also reiterated that the Target boycott isnt a campaign started by him or his church. This is a national movement, and so, as a consequence on Tuesday, I will be introducing to you what is the national committee on this Target boycott, he said. I am introducing all of them by name and by organization and affiliation so that Target knows you only talk to these people. Everybody don't represent us. These are the people who are in agreement, in alignment with where it is that we are going and how it is that we move. Home News Pope Francis dies at 88, hours after offering Easter blessing from balcony of St. Peters Basilica Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff in the history of the Roman Catholic Church who was known for giving a renewed sense of welcome to the global religious institution while also stirring controversy over some of his comments and actions, has died at age 88. Vatican News posted an announcement by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, stating that the pontiff passed away on the morning of Easter Monday. His death came hours after he gave a traditional Easter blessing on Sunday from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in what turned out to be his last public appearance. The pope recently finished a lengthy stay at a hospital in Rome in which he battled double pneumonia and was considered by many to be near death. 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 "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized," stated Farrell. "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936, he was one of five children from an Italian immigrant couple and was ordained a priest in 1969. Bergoglio became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and then was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. He held other prominent leadership positions in the Catholic Church, including grand chancellor of the Catholic University of Argentina and ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina. He was a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. On March 13, 2013, Bergoglio was elected pope, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, who became the first pontiff in nearly 600 years to step down from office rather than die in power. In addition to being the first pope from Latin America, Bergoglio was also the first pontiff to belong to the order of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. Upon becoming pope, Bergoglio took the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis developed a reputation for being more inclusive than his predecessor, gaining headlines for comments he made in July 2013 where he said, "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?" Although the comments were consistent with longstanding Catholic Church teaching, and the pontiff has since reaffirmed that homosexuality is a sin, many interpreted his remarks as changing the Catholic Church's approach to how it treated the LGBT community. In 2023, Francis approved a measure from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to allow Roman Catholic priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples, as long as the blessing is not considered akin to marriage, while still labeling such relationships sinful. In 2015, Francis became the first pope to address a joint session of U.S. Congress, giving a 50-minute-long speech that touched on such issues as care for immigrants, protecting the planet, protecting life at all stages of development and the dangers of ideological extremism. "This means that we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind," Pope Francis told the members of Congress. "A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms." As with his immediate predecessors, Francis dealt with the ongoing fallout from the priest sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church, with more revelations being announced of past abuse and coverups in various dioceses across the world. In February 2019, Francis opened a summit titled "The Protection of Minors in the Church," featuring approximately 200 Catholic Church leaders worldwide. "The holy People of God looks to us and expects not simple and predictable condemnations from us, but concrete and effective measures to be undertaken. We need to be concrete," said the pontiff in a speech at the summit. Francis weathered allegations that he directly covered up acts of abuse. In 2018, former Vatican official Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano accused Francis of knowing about credible allegations of abuse directed at Cardinal Theodore McCarrick but covering for McCarrick and even putting him in a position of power in the Vatican. A Vatican report released in 2020 later showed that Francis was only "vaguely aware" of the allegations against McCarrick and that he was told that the allegations were "reviewed and rejected by Pope John Paul II" and thus "Pope Francis did not see the need to alter the approach that had been adopted in prior years." Francis was also known for increasing the presence of women in positions of authority within the Catholic Church, albeit without changing the denomination's longstanding ban on female ordination. In 2018, Francis appointed three female theologians to the Catholic Church's prominent Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the first time women and laity served in that entity. In April 2023, Francis decided to let women be voting members of the Synod of Bishops, which marked the first time this was allowed since the advisory body was created over 50 years ago. The pontiff announced in January that he appointed Sister Simona Brambilla of the Consolata Missionaries to serve as prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. It marked the first time a woman headed a dicastery. Last September, Pope Francis garnered controversy for remarks he made at an interreligious meeting with young people at a Catholic junior college in Singapore when he appeared to endorse universalism. "If you start to fight, 'my religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn't,' where will that lead us?" he asked, according to Crux Now. "There's only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and they are different paths [to God]." Bishop Joseph Strickland, who oversaw the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler, Texas, until his dismissal by the Vatican last year, told supporters in a post to X to "pray for Pope Francis to clearly state that Jesus Christ is the only Way. To deny this is to deny Him. If we deny Christ, He will deny us, He cannot deny Himself." In 2022, Francis began to experience a series of various serious health issues, which included the need to use a wheelchair to get around due to chronic knee pain. The pontiff was hospitalized in March 2023 at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome with a respiratory infection, eventually undergoing treatment that took a few days before being released. In 2014, after completing a five-day trip to South Korea, Francis told reporters that he probably only had "two or three years" left to live and openly considered resigning like his predecessor. "I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, so as not to think that I am somebody," Francis said at the time. "Because I know this will last a short time, two or three years, and then to the house of the Father." Home News Rescued Tennessee missionary Josh Sullivan breaks silence with gratitude In his first public comments since he was rescued from his kidnappers after a deadly shootout in South Africa last Tuesday, Tennessee missionary Josh Sullivan expressed immense gratitude to God and the people who prayed for him. He is also looking forward to sharing his "miraculous story." Sullivan, 34, was kidnapped by multiple armed men on April 10 during a sermon at his Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, South Africa. His captors demanded a ransom for his release. But on April 15, local police rescued him "miraculously unharmed" following a "high-intensity shootout" that left three of his suspected captors dead. "I want to begin by thanking God for delivering me from what was undoubtedly the worst experience of our life. I also want to thank him for delivering me from my sin 28 years ago when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior," Sullivan said in his first public statement on Saturday. "Because of my personal relationship with Jesus, He gave me the peace I needed to get through." 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 South African Police Service said the deadly shootout last Tuesday happened at a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha, where the 34-year-old pastor was being held captive. "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 police service announced in a statement. "The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded." "The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack. Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition." In his Facebook post Saturday, Sullivan gave thanks to the local police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, his wife, Meagan, and the thousands of people who prayed for his rescue. "I am deeply grateful to the thousands of people who prayed for me while I was in captivity. It was because of these prayers that God performed a miracle a few nights ago. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the South African Police Department, HAWKS, FBI, DSS special agents, and my dear friend, Jeremy Hall, whose efforts were instrumental in locating me," he wrote. "I am especially thankful for my wife, Meagan, whose strength, and resilience made her the strongest woman in the world last week. As we begin the difficult process of healing and moving forward, we kindly ask for privacy during this time. I have a miraculous story to share, and I look forward to telling it when the time is right," he added. Sullivan's kidnapping triggered a global prayer rally starting with his home church, Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, led by Pastor Tom Hatley. Last Wednesday, after his rescue, church secretary Heather Shirley celebrated his release and told The Christian Post that the congregation is looking forward to his testimony. "We prefer to get it firsthand, you know. Everything's more correct if you're getting it [firsthand]. We want to let Josh tell the whole story as he wants to or give us something to give to our people so that they understand exactly how he felt," Shirley told CP when asked about the deadly shootout. "I don't think any of us can understand how he felt in that situation. I mean, there had to just be a hedge of protection around him, provided by God, that's the only explanation for it." Home News Failed resolution honoring former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards made no mention of abortion A memorial resolution set for vote ahead of the Easter holiday weekend honoring Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood and a Texas native, omitted any reference to abortion despite Richards' leadership of the nation's largest abortion services provider. Texas House Resolution 236, introduced by Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, was intended as a tribute to Richards, who died of brain cancer on January 20 at age 67, as "one of the leading voices in the debate over reproductive health" during her time as president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), where, the resolution stated, she "valiantly upheld the importance of the organization's services." HR 236 highlights Richards' upbringing as the daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and civil rights attorney David Richards, her early activism, her career, including founding the Texas Freedom Network, serving as deputy chief of staff to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, as well as her involvement with PPFA. She served as PPFA president from 2006 to 2018 and is credited with expanding the abortion provider's social and political influence. 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 "Though it is impossible to gauge the full effect of one person's life, some individuals leave their unmistakable mark on the world as they move through it, and the exceptional contributions of Cecile Richards will continue to resonate for years to come," the resolution noted. While the resolution noted Richards' founding of Supermajority, a group advocating for more women to enter politics, and her receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024 from President Joe Biden, the resolution did not make a single reference to abortion. During Richards' tenure, PPFA performed a record 354,871 abortions in 2019 alone, according to its 2019-2020 annual report. By the end of her tenure, the number of abortions carried out each year by PPFA increased by almost 70,000, according to data cited by Mary Szoch, director of the Center for Human Dignity at Family Research Council, in a 2024 op-ed. The resolution, part of a slate of memorials for deceased Texans, was withdrawn after intense debate, effectively halting tributes to others, including conservative activist Jill Glover and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. HR 236 was meant to pass quietly alongside tributes to Glover and Corey Comperatore, a father killed shielding his family during an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Instead, it drew condemnation from several Republicans, including Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, who said, "If you vote for this calendar, you are voting to honor a woman who is largely responsible for the extermination of millions of young Americans." Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, called it a matter of conscience, urging colleagues to reject the measure. "A yes vote to this calendar today is to silence the voices of those who have no voice," he said. Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, framed the vote as a defense of the "defenseless," saying, "What we're doing is we're forcing a record vote to remove this so that we can honor the 60-plus million innocent, unborn, defenseless children that were murdered in the U.S. The organization that did it, she was in charge of." Several Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Ramon Romero, D-Fort Worth, and Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, pushed back against the protests. But ultimately, the vote was sent back to the committee, where its future is uncertain. During Richards' time as president, PPFA became the subject of controversy when a series of undercover videos were released in 2015, purportedly showing employees and abortionists discussing the sale of aborted baby body parts, including hearts, lungs, liver, limbs and tissue. Released online by the pro-life group Center for Medical Progress, the videos prompted several investigations into Planned Parenthood at the state and federal level, with Richards denying any wrongdoing. In September 2015, before the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, Richards testified that, contrary to the claims of herself, other pro-choice activists and politicians, Planned Parenthood clinics did not provide mammograms. "There aren't any Planned Parenthood clinics, I believe, to the best of my knowledge, not any have mammogram machines at their facilities," responded Richards. "We have different kinds of arrangements with, depending on the state, to refer women for mammograms." Home News What pro-lifers can take away from Guttmacher's 2024 abortion data While a pro-life researcher advised advocates to view the Guttmacher Institute's latest estimates showing a slight abortion increase in 2024 with some skepticism, the scholar believes that the data does offer a few insights about the impact of public policy on the incidence of abortion. Michael New, a senior associate scholar at the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute and assistant professor of social research at the Catholic University of America, broke down the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute's updated abortion estimates for 2024 released this month, showing that 1,038,100 abortions were performed that year. Planned Parenthood's former research arm notes that the total rise in abortions represents an increase of less than 1% since 2023. "While pro-lifers should take these Guttmacher estimates with a grain of salt, their report contains some interesting information for pro-lifers," New told The Christian Post. 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 data comes from the Guttmacher Institute's Monthly Abortion Provision survey, and the organization admits these calculations come from a "slimmer portfolio of data," New noted in an op-ed Wednesday for The National Review. This means that the data may not be as accurate as Guttmacher's previous estimates, New contends. In response to an inquiry from CP, a spokesperson for the Guttmacher Institute stated that both sides of the abortion debate cite the organization's research and Guttmacher's scientists are transparent about their work's methodology and potential limitations. "We remain committed to providing the facts and analysis to counter misinformation and to help our audiences better understand the constantly shifting landscape of abortion provision in the United States," the spokesperson stated. Despite the potential limitations, New asserts that the research shows how policy decisions at the state level impact abortion rates, highlighting the data from Wisconsin. The state had one of the largest increases in abortion numbers, according to the Guttmacher Institute's estimates, going from 1,300 abortions in 2023 to 6,100 in 2024. New attributed the increase to a 2023 ruling by Circuit Court Judge Diane Schlipper. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, an 1849 law that reportedly banned abortion in Wisconsin went back into effect. In July 2023, however, Schlipper ruled that the law doesn't use the term "abortion," and that it only prohibits attacking a pregnant woman to kill her unborn child. As a result of the circuit court judge's ruling, Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin resumed offering abortions, and, according to New, this expanded access caused abortions to "skyrocket" in the state. "Similarly, Rhode Island saw abortion numbers increase by 20% after its Medicaid program started to cover elective abortions," New told CP. "However, both Florida and South Carolina saw large abortion declines after Heartbeat Laws took effect in 2023." Another section of the Guttmacher Institute's data appears to show a reduction in the number of in-state abortions. In Florida, for example, the Guttmacher Institute reported that there were 12,100 fewer abortions provided in the state than in 2023. New attributed this decline to a law going into effect that bans abortions once a preborn child's heartbeat becomes detectable, usually around six weeks gestation. South Carolina experienced a similar decline around the same time its six-week abortion ban went into effect, and 3,500 fewer abortions were provided in the state in 2024 than in 2023. The total number of women who crossed state lines for an abortion also declined by over 8% between 2023 and 2024, New noted. However, New said that pro-life advocates and the Food and Drug Administration should not ignore the increase in the number of abortions provided by online clinics. As the Guttmacher Institute reported, abortions via online-only clinics in states without total bans rose to 14% in 2024 from 10% in 2023. "As such, pro-lifers need to step up their efforts to get Food and Drug Administration officials to restore limits on chemical abortion drugs," New told CP. Trump Closes Disinformation Office, Did Netflix Omit 'Forbidden Chapter' From The Passion? Kilmar Garcia Controversy link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:22 07:22 Top headlines for Monday, April 21, 2025 In this episode, we dive into the recent decision by the Trump administration to shut down an office dedicated to monitoring and countering foreign disinformation. What does this mean for the future of truth and transparency? We also explore claims surrounding a famous biblical verse allegedly omitted from Netflixs rendition of The Passion of the Christa passage some scholars refer to as the forbidden chapter. Plus, we reflect on a powerful moment at the White House, where staff and guests united in song, singing Amazing Grace after evangelist Franklin Graham's gospel presentation. 00:11 Trump admin. closes State Dept. foreign disinformation office 01:09 Indiana passes law banning men from women's collegiate sports 02:03 Catholic charity efforts hampered by USAID cuts: report 02:59 Did Netflix cut Isaiah 53 from 'Passion of the Christ'? 03:55 Appeals court says Trump admin. must return Kilmar Abrego Garcia 04:49 Eric LaRue explores faith, grief and motherhood 05:43 White House staffers rise for Amazing Grace hymn Home Books Costi Hinn identifies manipulative red flags in church leadership, offers biblical clarity on Gods will In a time when many Christians are desperate for clarity amid chaos, pastor and author Costi Hinn believes the Church must be more discerning than ever, especially when it comes to identifying false teaching. "One of the most blatant and prevalent [red flags] today is when church leaders say, 'God told me that you need to ... ' Hinn, pastor of Shepherd's House Bible Church in Chandler, Arizona, told The Christian Post. "And then they give some sort of command or directive, and it's related to things that are self-interested. That could be money. That could be guilt-tripping someone into staying in their church. Thats not biblical. Thats manipulation." Hinn, who is also the founder and president of For The Gospel, speaks from experience. The nephew of famed prosperity gospel televangelist Benny Hinn, he once worked inside the very ministry he now critiques. In his bestselling debut God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel, Hinn, who now leads a reformed church, offered an insider's view of a theology he now says is "one of the most prominent and dangerous in the world." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Now, in his new book,Walking in God's Will: Demystify God's Plan for Your Life and Make Decisions with Confidence, Hinn brings his pastoral insight into how Christians can know and do the will of God. "I had two ideas for my next book," he says. "I took them to one of our pastors and our director of prayer ministry, and they both jumped at this one. They said, 'You have to write on God's will. That's the number one question we get.'" What followed is a guide that the pastor described as both theological and practical. It's not about checking spiritual boxes, Hinn emphasized, but about pursuing Gods revealed Word and embracing His grace. "I want people to be confident. I've been through anxiety, perfectionism and second-guessing decisions. But when you look at what the Bible teaches, there's a framework for making confident, no-regret decisions, he said. In Walking in Gods Will, Hinn structures that framework around what he calls the "Seven Ps" of decision-making: Process, Prayer, Priorities, Principles, People, Providence and Peace. "Usually, the best decisions aren't made in haste," he explained. "First, think through your process like an architect would. Second, ask: Have we prayed? One of the worst things is to be prayerless when we need wisdom. James 1:5 tells us if we ask in faith, God gives wisdom." From there, priorities must be considered: spiritual, financial, relational and eternal, Hinn said, encouraging believers to ask if a decision will draw them closer to Christ, whether it aligns with their financial responsibilities and what kind of eternal impact it might have. Hinn shared a story from his own church, where a man asked if relocating his family to Tennessee for a quieter life would be considered sinful. "My heart exploded," Hinn said. "Imagine if we were that person. God's not mad at you because you want to move or have a few acres. He's interested in the heart." Its a theme that runs through the book: liberty, not legalism. "God has given us permission to enjoy good gifts, to live and make decisions within the bounds of Christian liberty," Hinn said. "We dont need to feel guilty for wants, as long as our priorities are in order." He also emphasized the importance of community and wise counsel. "When a husband and wife aren't on the same page, that's grounds to pause. We should seek peace, not just a feeling, but peace confirmed by the right relationships: spouses, pastors, godly mentors." One of the book's most vital chapters addresses suffering as a part of Gods will, a subject Hinn feels is too often ignored or distorted by misguided pastors and ministry leaders. There are a lot of people that are teaching the wrong things about suffering, and they will tell people, You're just not living the victorious life, and, You're not a very good Christian, and You're not walking in blessing, and you don't have enough faith, and you're not doing all the right things. Otherwise, your life wouldn't be this hard. But suffering, the pastor contended, is something God uses for His purposes: "Why is it essential to understand suffering in the Christian journey? First of all, because God cares," Hinn said. "He's not some sadistic cosmic abuser. He's a loving Father who walks with us in our brokenness." He quoted Joni Eareckson Tada: "God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves." "That brought me so much comfort," he said. "It reminded me that God doesnt take pleasure in our pain. But He uses it to cleanse us of pride, selfishness, and to give us eternal perspective. God's will is not detached from your situation, Hinn added. He cares about the cancer diagnosis. He cares about the job loss. He cares about the sin that someone committed against you and how it destroyed a relationship or your marriage. He cares about the abused and the neglected and the forgotten, and His will is not detached from those things. A father of six, Hinn said hes thankful his eyes were opened to the truth of the Gospel and the errors of theologies like the prosperity gospel, especially as he raises his own children. I'm thankful for the testimony God's given, but the goal isn't to have a hardcore testimony. The goal is to be faithful and be raised in the ways of the Lord, he said. And through Walking in Gods Will, the pastor said he wants to equip believers to make confident, biblically-grounded decisions. We dont have to second guess ourselves as Christians, he said. Focus on living all out for the Lord and for the Gospel and for the glory of God. Watch: as your life is saturated with prayer and Scripture, the Lord will put your feet right where they're supposed to go. Walking in God's Will: Demystify God's Plan for Your Life and Make Decisions with Confidence is now available. Home News 9 Christians imprisoned, fined over $100K for distributing Bibles in China Nine Christians were imprisoned in Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region located in the northern part of China, for distributing Bibles, with sentences ranging from one to nearly five years and fines as high as 1 million yuan ($137,000). The Christians were convicted for illegally reselling legally published Bibles through an unregistered house church, Bitter Winter reported, adding that the Hohhot Huimin District Court sentenced the nine individuals on charges of illegal business operations, concluding a highly scrutinized legal battle. The longest sentence was handed to Wang Honglan, who received four years and 10 months in prison and a fine of 1 million. Wang Jiale and Liu Minna each were sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment and fined 200,000 (roughly $27,500). 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 Yang Zhijun was sentenced to four years and three months, facing a fine of 150,000 ($20,500). Ji Heying, Ji Guolong, Zhang Wang and Liu Wei were each sentenced to three years imprisonment, with individual fines of 20,000 ($2,700). Li Chao received the shortest sentence of one year and was fined 5,000 (roughly $685). Ban Yanhong, a key group member, had previously received a five-year sentence in April 2024. The convictions stemmed from events beginning in April 2021, when authorities arrested 10 Christians for distributing legally published Bibles. Though the Bibles were officially authorized and printed in Nanjing, authorities prosecuted the group for conducting unauthorized distribution through their house church. Prosecutors contended that even legally printed religious texts became illegal when sold outside officially approved channels. The religious freedom watchdog International Christian Concern noted that the Christians re-sold and distributed Bibles at much lower prices as they wanted to share Gods Word as a means of evangelism. They were arrested because the group refused to join the government-sanctioned and controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Authorities identified Wang Honglan and Ban Yanhong as primary figures within the group. Wang Honglan had a history of previous persecutions in which he was incarcerated, including five years in prison and one year in a labor camp. During court proceedings, the defendants underlined that their intentions were purely evangelistic rather than commercial. They reported financial losses, having purchased the Bibles at 95% of their cover price but reselling them at only 75% to facilitate broader distribution. The decision was initially reported to relatives and fellow believers earlier this month, although the actual judgment was dated Nov. 20, 2024. Five of the defendants, including Ji Heying, Ji Guolong, Zhang Wang, Liu Wei and Li Chao, had completed their prison terms through pre-trial detention by the date of the announcement. China recently banned foreign missionaries from preaching and establishing religious organizations, justifying the move as necessary for national security. The latest restrictions, announced by the Chinese Communist Party, will take effect on May 1, intensifying the crackdown on Christianity in the country. The newly revised rules explicitly prohibit non-Chinese citizens living in China from preaching without authorization, founding religious schools, producing or selling religious literature, accepting religious donations, or recruiting Chinese citizens as religious followers, according to Mission News Network. Foreign clergy can only preach if officially invited by state-sanctioned religious institutions, and all preaching content must receive prior government approval. Home News Alabama could require public schools to display Ten Commandments, ban LGBT pride flags Alabama lawmakers have approved a series of bills that would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments, ban LGBT pride flags and prohibit school employees from using pronouns that don't align with students' sex. The Alabama House of Representatives passed the bills on Thursday, with House Bill 178 passing the chamber in an 88-11 vote. The bill would mandate that K-12 public schools display the Ten Commandments in an entryway or in common areas like cafeterias and classrooms where U.S. history is taught. According to the bill, no local board of education is required to use its funds to comply with the mandate, and the bill states that it can accept donations. 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 On the same day that the state House approved the Ten Commandments measure, lawmakers also passed House Bill 244, which would prohibit classroom instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in public school prekindergarten through the twelfth grade. The bill would also prohibit teachers from displaying LGBT pride flags and using "pronouns inconsistent with a student's biological sex." Lawmakers also passed House Bill 67, prohibiting public schools or libraries from hosting drag performances. The bill would also forbid certain state entities from allowing minors to share facilities with members of the opposite sex during overnight programs unless the individual is a relative and the child has received permission from a parent or legal guardian. All three bills are currently awaiting approval from the state Senate. Republican Rep. Mark Gidley, House Bill 178's sponsor and a former pastor at Faith Worship Center, said in a Thursday statement that the Ten Commandments are historical, arguing that the bill does not promote one religion over another. "This is about returning foundational principles to schools to be taught," the bill's sponsor said. In addition to requiring that displays of the Ten Commandments be at least 11-by-14 inches in size, House Bill 178 mandates that schools include text that explains how they shaped Western civilization. "The Ten 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," the bill's text states. "In particular, because they include what John Quincy Adams described as both 'civil and municipal' provisions as well as 'moral and religious' provisions, the Ten Commandments have historical significance as one of the foundations of our legal system," the document reads. "Teaching students about the Ten Commandments promotes historical understanding and helps to foster a common cultural heritage and awareness." The left-leaning advocacy group American Civil Liberties Union argued in a statement against the bill requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments that such a mandate is "unconstitutional plain and simple." "The First Amendment guarantees that students and their families not politicians or the government get to decide which religious beliefs, if any, they adopt and what role those beliefs will play in their lives," the ACLU stated. "Displaying the Ten Commandments in public-school classrooms blatantly violates this promise. Students can't focus on learning if they don't feel safe and welcome in their schools." The one Democrat who supported the legislation, Rep. Patrick Sellers, agreed that the Ten Commandments teach values that students should learn in school. Sellers, who served as pastor at both Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church and the Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church, believes that reminding children of these principles can provide them with something that has been "missing" in their lives. "These are principles that our children need, and even if it's 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 in a Thursday statement on the House floor. "That's what's missing in our schools. That's what's missing in our homes, that's what's missing in our families." Alabama is among several states considering legislation to require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. This month, Arkansas' Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Senate Bill 433 into law. The bill requires all classrooms and libraries in K-12 public schools, postsecondary institutions and state buildings maintained by taxpayer funds to display a poster or framed copy of The Ten Commandments. In addition, the bill requires these entities to display a poster or framed copy of the U.S. national motto, "In God We Trust." Last year, Louisiana became the first state to require a Ten Commandments display in public school classrooms, a law that was ruled unconstitutional by a federal court in November. Home News Man killed, pastor hospitalized in freak accident after leaving Bible study A man was killed and a pastor critically injured when a tree crushed their vehicle in a freak accident after leaving Bible study in Toledo, Ohio. Richard Miller, 35, died instantly at the scene, while Pastor Andrew Edwards III, who was driving, was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Thursday when a tree and power lines fell onto the pastor's truck, WTOL11 reported. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Pastor Edwards, from Northwest Baptist Church located on West Alexis Road, had just dropped off another churchgoer and was driving Miller home. Toledo Fire and Rescue officials described the event as a freak accident involving the simultaneous collapse of a tree and power lines, according to WTVG. Emergency responders pronounced Miller dead at the scene, while Edwards was transported to the hospital in critical condition. According to a statement posted by Northwest Baptist Church, Edwards remains in critical care but is stable and responsive. Medical personnel reported that he suffered fractures to his clavicle, sternum and a vertebra in his back, and his condition is complicated by a minor brain bleed, which doctors continue to monitor. The fallen tree also damaged two additional vehicles traveling nearby, though police confirmed that no one in those vehicles sustained injuries. Northwest Baptist issued a statement on social media requesting prayers for Pastor Edwards recovery and comfort for the Miller family. The churchs Facebook post read: As hard as this is to believe and share, Bro Richard was taken home to be with the Lord. Pastor Edwards is in critical care but he is stable and responsive and has movement in all extremities. Councilman Melden was quoted as saying that the tree that fell originated from private property, and no prior complaints regarding the tree had been recorded in Toledos public reporting system, Engage Toledo. Heritage Baptist Church in Toledo also acknowledged the accident on social media. Officials continue investigating the precise circumstances surrounding the sudden collapse of the tree and associated power lines. Miller was known among congregants for his active participation and warmth. Northwest Baptist has urged financial help for the two families. All funds will be given to the family to help them with the expenses and any needs that they have during this time. Thank you to those who have already been so generous, the church wrote on Facebook. Home News NYC woman sues DNA company after botched paternity test led her to get an abortion A New York City woman is taking legal action after a botched paternity test influenced her decision to get an abortion when she was around five months pregnant because it led her to believe her fiance wasn't the father of her child. The unnamed woman filed an amended complaint against Winn Health Labs in the Bronx and Ohio's DNA Diagnostics Center earlier this month, People reported. According to the 28-year-old administrative assistant, who first took legal action in March, the mistake led to the death of her daughter and the end of a long-term relationship. 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 "My daughter would have been born on the 17th of April," the mother told The New York Post this month. "I'm grieving. I just have a lot of emotions. These results were the reason why I decided to do what I did." The woman revealed that she is now in therapy and that her relationship with her fiance ended last month. She told The Post she wants to see the labs in the suit held accountable for their mistake. Winn Health Labs in the Bronx and the DNA Diagnostics Center did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. According to legal documents obtained by People, the woman and her fiance, referred to as John Doe in the filing, broke up for three weeks last summer due to the stress and frustration over their struggle to conceive a child. During the couple's brief separation, the woman had a "sexual encounter" with another man, identified as Jack Doe in the suit. She eventually resumed her relationship with John Doe, discovering in August that she was pregnant. After the results of an at-home test that she took with Jack Doe came back as "inconclusive," according to the filing, the woman wanted to make sure that John Doe was the baby's father. In October, Jack Doe and the woman contacted the DNA Diagnostics Center and paid for "in-person, Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity testing." The DNA Diagnostics Center provided the address for Winn Health Labs, where she and Jack Doe had to give samples for the test. Upon arriving at Winn Health Labs, the woman noticed that one portion of the lab where she went to have blood drawn housed a beauty salon. Confident that the test would prove John Doe was the baby's father, the woman hosted a gender reveal party for her unborn daughter on Oct. 26. To her surprise, the test results she received five days later showed there was a 99.9% certainty that Jack Doe was the father, according to the filing. In an attempt to "salvage" her relationship with John Doe, the woman had an abortion on Nov. 7. Months later, a representative with the DNA Diagnostics Center called to say that there had been an "IT error," and there was actually a 0% chance that Jack Doe was the father. The woman claims that she would never have had an abortion if the company had provided her with the correct results in the first place. In her complaint, the woman claims that she has suffered "irreparable loss and injury" and "mental distress" as a result of the incident. "You took away the family I could have had. This was the person I was marrying. This is the person I wanted to build a family with," the woman said in a statement to NBC New York last month. "The reason I took action was because I believed in these results," she added. "I thought this was something that was one hundred percent true. And it led me to the abortion." In a statement to NBC News, the DNA Diagnostics Center stressed that it had provided millions of customers with "reliable and accurate testing" for over 30 years. "If any issue or concern is raised, we take immediate action, and DDC will perform a retest to validate the initial result," the company stated. "We have established industry-leading processes and best practices across our laboratory and company to ensure customers are rapidly notified of any issues and quality assurance steps are followed." Home News Pope Francis' cause of death revealed The cause of death for Pope Francis has been released, hours after the Vatican announced that the head of the Roman Catholic Church died at age 88. Vatican News reported that the pontiff died as a result of a stroke that was followed by a coma, along with irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. Francis had a history of pulmonary issues, including acute respiratory failure, pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure and Type II diabetes. 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 Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, issued the official certification of the medical report, which was confirmed via a recording of heart activity known as electrocardiographic thanatography. Francis' death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, who stated that the pontiff passed away on the morning of Easter Monday. "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized," stated Farrell. "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013, replacing Pope Benedict XVI, who had resigned from office. In addition to being the first Latin American pope, Bergoglio was also the first pontiff to belong to the order of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He was also the first pope to address a joint session of U.S. Congress, giving a 50-minute-long speech that touched on issues including immigration, environmentalism, and the dangers of ideological extremism. "This means that we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind," Pope Francis told the members of Congress in the 2015 address. "A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms." In February, Francis was sent to Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to a severe respiratory infection, prompting the Vatican to cancel multiple meetings as he received treatment. Over the next few weeks, Francis battled double pneumonia and, for a time, required mechanical ventilation, causing many to speculate that he was going to die while at the hospital. However, the pope showed improvement, and last month, he was released from the hospital and allowed to continue his recovery at his residence in the Vatican. In a statement released the day he was discharged from the hospital, the pope said, "I have had the opportunity to experience the patience of the Lord, which I also see reflected in the tireless care of doctors and health workers, as well as in the care and hopes of the relatives of the sick." "This trusting patience, anchored in the love of God that does not fail, is truly necessary in our life, especially to face the most difficult and painful situations," he continued. Hours before he died, Pope Francis gave a traditional Easter blessing on Sunday from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in what ended up being his final public appearance. Home News Pope Francis calls for Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages in Easter message after meeting JD Vance Update at 4 a.m. ET on April 21, 2025: Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday at 07:35 local time. The pontiff's passing has initiated traditional procedures within the Vatican for electing a new pontiff. His death followed a five-week hospitalization for pneumonia and marked the end of his significant pontificate, distinguished by repeated calls for global peace and compassion toward the suffering. Original report: Pope Francis called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages in his Easter Sunday message shortly after a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance. 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 Vatican announced that Francis met briefly with Vance on Sunday morning and offered the Urbi et Orbi blessing to the city [of Rome] and to the World while an aide read his address. Francis' brief meeting with the vice president involved an exchange of Easter greetings and gifts, with the pontiff presenting Vance with three Easter eggs for his children, The Wall Street Journal reported. Vances brief exchange with the pope was crucial due to recent public disagreements between the Vatican and the Trump administration over U.S. immigration policies. Francis had publicly criticized President Donald Trumps deportation of criminal illegal immigrants, which he claimed damages the dignity of many men and women. Trump administration officials reacted strongly, with border czar Tom Homan advising the pope to focus solely on church matters. Despite the earlier tensions, the popes meeting with Vance reflected an effort by both the Vatican and the White House to ease diplomatic friction. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, had publicly stated he did not intend to dispute religious interpretations with the pope, while expressing surprise over the popes criticism of U.S. immigration policy. Earlier this year, Francis addressed Vances interpretation of the theological concept ordo amoris the order of love used by Vance to support prioritizing immigration policies favoring citizens over migrants. The pope rejected Vances stance, stating in a letter to U.S. bishops that true Christian love builds fraternity without any exclusions, likening it to the parable of the Good Samaritan. The previous day, Vance had a longer meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, described by the Vatican as a cordial discussion covering immigration and other pertinent topics. Vances visit to Rome included diplomatic engagements with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who maintains close ties with the Trump administration. Meloni, viewed favorably by the U.S. government, hosted Vance warmly, reflecting efforts to bolster trans-Atlantic relations amid recent tensions between Trump and European allies over trade tariffs. The vice presidents European trip marked his first since publicly criticizing European governments in February at the Munich Security Conference. Speaking from St. Peters Basilica after meeting with Vance on Easter Sunday, the pope appealed specifically for peace in Gaza, urging an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, according to Vatican News. Archbishop Diego Ravelli read the popes prepared remarks, as the pontiff continues to recover from bilateral pneumonia. Francis expressed deep concern for the region, describing Gaza as enduring the terrible conflict [that] continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation. The popes Easter address included other regions suffering conflict, including Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and the broader Middle East. Francis called explicitly for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, a nation devastated by war, and invited all involved parties in Yemen to pursue a constructive dialogue to resolve one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. His message also included prayers for reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus and called for calm amid rising tensions in the Western Balkans. Francis reiterated his longstanding message of compassion toward migrants and marginalized groups, decrying contempt toward vulnerable individuals. He urged political leaders to replace investments in weaponry with resources directed toward alleviating hunger and promoting development. Home News World leaders remember Pope Francis; Trump orders flags to fly at half-staff Following the death of Pope Francis at age 88 on Monday, world leaders paid their respects to the pontiff as they reflected on his legacy, with President Donald Trump ordering that flags at federal properties be flown at half-staff as a sign of respect. Trump announced in a post published Monday morning that he was ordering the U.S. flag to fly at half-staff at the White House as well as "all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government and the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions" through sunset on the day of Francis' interment. Trump's order is done "as a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis," Trump stated. 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 order also applies to "all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations." Vice President J.D. Vance, who met with Francis on Easter Sunday just before his death, released a statement on X Monday, saying his "heart goes out" to the millions of Christians worldwide who adored Pope Francis. "I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill," Vance said. Echoing remarks he made at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in February, Vance shared a link to his favorite homily given by Francis. "May God rest his soul," he concluded. Earlier in the morning, Trump released a much shorter statement on Truth Social addressing Francis' death Monday morning. "Rest in peace Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!" he proclaimed. In a statement posted on X Monday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shared a lengthy message reflecting on Francis' life. "Pope Francis has returned to the house of the Father," she declared. "This news saddens us deeply because a great man and a great pastor has left us," Meloni wrote. "I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering." Meloni vowed that Francis' "teaching and his legacy will not be lost," adding, "We greet the Holy Father with hearts full of sadness, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord." French President Emmanuel Macron shared a picture of himself meeting with Francis in a post on social media, with a caption reading, "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest." Macron's post reflects the fact that Francis is originally from Argentina. He identified Francis' mission as to "unite people with one another and with nature." King Charles of the United Kingdom offered condolences to those mourning the pontiff's death in a statement published Monday. "His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world." "Through his work and care for both people and the planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many," Charles added. "The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month." "We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ." Home Opinion Alerting parents: The horrific bill passing through Colorado's Legislature A horrific bill is making its way through the Colorado legislature as we speak. Radical legislators are rushing HB 1312 through the General Assembly under the guise of providing legal protections for transgender individuals. But far from protecting an allegedly discriminated-against minority, this bill could facilitate Child Protective Services kidnapping children from parents who refuse to affirm their childs gender identity. 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 Since 2016, in various states, Child Protective Services has removed children from homes where parents refuse to transition their child either socially through a new name and pronouns or medically through damaging, experimental drugs, hormones and surgeries. HB 1312, which has already passed the Colorado House, would formalize these practices by stipulating that in custody disputes, courts must take into consideration parents deadnaming and misgendering their children, likening it to abuse. The bill also makes Colorado a destination state for parents who wish to harm their children with transgender drugs and surgeries. It prohibits Colorado courts from complying with another states law that authorizes a state agency to remove a child from the childs parent or guardian because the parent or guardian allowed the child to receive gender-affirming health-care services. If that wasnt bad enough, HB 1312 adds deadnaming and misgendering to Colorados Anti-Discrimination Act, prohibiting these discriminatory acts in places of public accommodation, mandating employees and businesses use false language and play along with the transgender dogma or else. The legislatures cloak-and-dagger tactics have given opponents little time to organize resistance. The bill was introduced late in the day on Friday, March 28. On Monday, a committee hearing was scheduled for the following day. Despite the rushed schedule, over 100 people testified against the legislation. The bill passed out of committee with a 7-4 vote along party lines and was quickly approved by the full House. Not that Democrat legislators care much what the other side thinks anyway. They have labeled opponents of the bill hate groups, equated them with the KKK, and said pro-family groups echo hateful rhetoric against the trans community. So much for tolerance. Its not hateful to make sure the government cant rip children from the arms of a parent who believes in biological reality and who wont participate in mutilating their child with life-altering transgender drugs, hormones and surgeries. Indeed, the Colorado legislature is trying to force every area of society to comply with the transgender agenda. Parents, pastors and civic leaders are speaking out against this horrific legislation. But more are needed to fight for the protection of children. All proponents of truth can and must speak up and speak out. Refuse to remain silent. In his renowned address Live Not by Lies, the great Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, The simple and most accessible key to our self-neglected liberation is this: personal non-participation in lies. Faced with this evil and immoral bill, Coloradans must say one of the most powerful words in the English language: No. We refuse to comply. We will oppose every attempt to destroy parental rights, to harm struggling and confused children, and to force us to use reality-denying and biology-defying language. Speak up now by signing a petition to all Colorado legislators opposing HB 1312. Sign up to testify before the Colorado Senate or submit a written testimony against HB 1312. The best time to speak up and act was yesterday. The second-best time is now. This is indeed an urgent matter. The state Senate may schedule a hearing on the bill as soon as Good Friday hoping to catch Christians asleep and unaware. Or they may try to jam it through on the final day of the legislative session on May 7. Will you remain silent? Or will you choose to meet the moment and act now? Home Opinion The most political church in town A few weeks ago, I attended a pro-life breakfast with around 600 fellow Northwest Ohio pro-life advocates. While there, I ran into a local pastor who introduced me to someone else as the pastor of the most political church in town. He went on to say, I hear things are going well for you. You know, when you pick a lane like that, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. It was hard to take what he meant as anything other than that our seven-fold growth in the last five years is simply a result of appealing to a political allegiance, as though we used being political as a growth strategy. This is a sad but common misunderstanding. 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 need for political pastors Faithful pastors in our day must be political. However, they must not be political simply to appease the masses they must be political because its absolutely necessary in order to faithfully and biblically shepherd the Church in our age. There is no way around it. Preaching the Bible in a way that applies to the issues our congregants face means you will be political. And for some, if you are at all political, that means you are too political. In the state of Colorado, right now, dozens of pastors are being given this label because they are standing against an egregious anti-parent bill proposed by the Democrat-controlled state government. (If you want to involve yourself in that fight, read this article here.) To stand against this, as the Church, publicly, from the pulpit, is not to go beyond the pastoral remit and enter the world of politics. It is the only way to be faithful to Scripture in a situation like this. And the same is true for pastors who stand for the right to life, biblical sexuality, and freedom of speech and religion. I, for one, will gladly own the moniker most political pastor if that means defending the unborn and preaching on biblical sexuality. Sadly, far too many megachurch and megachurch-adjacent pastors, whether they be connected with the Andy Stanley-style attractional movement or many other organizations, are acting cowardly. Thats not to say all of them are cowards. But far too many indeed are. Causes of cowardice I believe there are four causes of this widespread cowardice we see in our pulpits today: Modeling Most are convinced that the old third-way model the idea that we can find a path in between the political left and the political right that appeases both sides is still possible and effective in todays world. To quote my friend Rosaria Butterfield, Third Way-ism was wrong back then and its wrong today. Many pastors will hold to officially orthodox stances on those issues to try and appease conservatives but refuse to say anything about them to appease the liberals. This simply doesnt work. Even though many of the most prominent leaders of these movements bowed to the government during COVID, flew BLM flags to appease the mob, divided their congregations by vaccination status, or demanded their congregations confess their whiteness, far too many pastors still take their cues from them. Fear of man Paul reminds us in Galatians that seeking to please man means you are not pleasing God. Of course, we dont need to unnecessarily offend people with crude behavior, arrogance, or a lack of kindness. But there are times when that offense is necessary. And in an easily offended age, those times are increasing. We must remember that some mystical middle-ground where we can both remain faithful to God and not offend those who hate Him does not exist. Whether were talking about your woke child, your liberal peers, or the politically conscious center-left person, it really doesnt matter. Fear of man is a sin, regardless of who the man is. They are actually just liberal, not cowards It took me a long time, and a good deal of personal experience, to realize that many of the individuals I thought were cowards were in fact just liberals. I assumed that they actually believed the things they espoused in their official statements of faith and taught in their church membership classes. But as James says, you show me your faith by your works, and it has become increasingly clear that many of these leaders are in fact devotees of an extremely liberal form of Christianity. Sure, they use those official stances to appease the center-right conservatives who actually fund and build their churches, but their repeated actions and regular teaching show where their true allegiance lies. Lines like This isnt a church issue abound, allowing them to hide the fact that they actually just agree with unbiblical ideas. Church concern Too many churches, having been silent on such issues for decades, have now allowed biblically-errant congregants into vital lay leadership positions, and many have surprisingly radical leftists on their staff teams. This puts them in a difficult position. For instance, back in 2023, Ohio faced an egregious proposed amendment that enshrined abortion into the state constitution. While working to rally pastors to oppose this change, one pastor from a typical modern megachurch responded to our inquiry for help by saying, If I talk about abortion from the stage, Ill lose half my people. Of course, this was in fact a great discipleship opportunity for the Church, but the fact that it would have negatively impacted attendance, giving, serving and much more, meant he steered clear. A cure for cowardice To those pastors who do in fact hold to Scripture on these issues, but who are struggling to find the gumption to stand for truth, let me remind you of a few things: 1. Fear God, not man (Galatians 1:10). In the end, who cares what the world thinks of you? You have been called to preach the full counsel of the Word of God. Including, and perhaps especially, what is not popular or easy to say in todays world. Care enough to tell people the truth (John 17:17, John 8:32). Only the truth will set people free. When you refrain from preaching it, you hinder peoples ability to walk in freedom, condemning them to a life of slavery to sin because of their ignorance. How will they hear without a preacher? 2. Youll be held accountable for your actions ... and your inactions (James 3:1 / 4:16) The task of setting people free through preaching the Gospel, of stewarding the oracles of God, of wielding the sword of truth, is one of the most serious responsibilities one can have. Preachers are warriors in the battle of our age, and warriors are not permitted to lay down their arms. All who stand at the pulpit will be evaluated on what they did with this message. I remind you of Isaiahs words, Cry aloud, do not hold back! Contagious courage There are three major impacts that happen when pastors stand with courage: First, it either lets the everyday believer in your congregation know that you care about the things that they are talking about at the dinner table, or it wakes those believers up who have not yet even recognized the times to think about such things. It strengthens the desperately needed spine of your people. Second, it encourages elected officials in your church to boldly stand for Christ in the political arena. If you arent willing to stand, why should they? By preaching this way, you become an example to them of following Christ. Silence says that politics is unimportant and not worth fighting for, but if you stand in a way that costs you something in this area, they will see it and also take bold, difficult stances when needed. Lastly, your refusal to be silent will challenge and inspire pastors around your town. None of us can win the battle alone. But we can start it alone. Start by standing up when there is no one else doing the same, and if you keep standing, youll soon find someone is standing next to you. Originally published at Clear Truth Media. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. The headline read: Whats Going On over There? Previously, the place in question had been known as the Cook Ranch. Now it was Cerro Pelon (Bald Hill) Ranch; in 1999, the grounds vegetation was razed in a pyrotechnics fire during the filming of Wild Wild West. For years, this settinga gigantic expanse in New Mexicos Galisteo Basin, abutting the tiny village of Galisteohad hosted movie crews making one kind of western or another. Then, in 2001, Tom Ford, the fashion designer, bought the property. These layers of recent history are connected with older ones in print by an art writer and curator named Lucy Lippard, who, for nearly thirty years, has been running a local newspaper called El Puente de Galisteo. The Whats Going On over There? article, from 2004, covered plans for Fords ranch, as well as apprehensions about water use, aesthetics, and fertilizer. Lippard reported that low volume mist would water a soft layer of Australian clover meant to harbor beneficial insects. Fords fondness for black is a plus here, she wrote, in that the irrigation riserswhich are usually white and stand out like sore thumbswill all be black. Finally, she noted, the only fertilizer is compost. Lippard printed the ranch managers phone number in El Puente, encouraging residents to see for ourselves whats going on. Lippard, at eighty-eight, is one of the best-known multi-hyphenate art writers (-curators-critics-activists) of the past half century. Her career has focused on the large realms of feminism, activism, place, politics, and culture. She has also, in recent editions of El Puente, noted two recent road kills: a deer and a racoon, summarized local meetings about road signage, and edited an obituary, her name appearing not as a byline, but at the bottom corner of the newsletters final page, near the classifieds, some of which have continued to run unchanged since the mid-nineties, when El Puente began. El Puente, which Lippard often refers to as a newsletter (Whats the difference? she asked me), is an extraordinary (mostly solo) work of journalism, a map of history in progress, revealing a shifting landscape. Galisteo, about thirty minutes south of Sante Fe, is an old, small village, composed of about two hundred and fifty people. Anna Cardenaswhose family has been in Galisteo for at least five generations, and who was once the author of El Puentes Dichos y Cuentos column, printed in Spanish has been a witness to much change, over the years. She remembers getting the bus to school at Saddleback Ranch, which is now Modern Elder Academy: the worlds first midlife wisdom school, run by Chip Conley, formerly Airbnbs head of global hospitality and strategy. Life here was pretty simple, Cardenas recalled. Artists from elsewhere started showing up in the seventiesAgnes Martin, Bruce Nauman, Fritz Scholderand in the eighties, a boom of newcomers arrived to the area, building houses. Property taxes spiked. Cardenass father and brothers, all in the construction business, lost work as cheap labor proliferated. As Cardenas and others remember it, many of the locals sold their houses or moved into mobile homes. An apocryphal story about Lippards arrival in Galisteo revolves around visiting to see Halleys Comet, but that was a different year than Lippards first time out, and anyway, when she looked up she thought the comet was sort of underwhelming, she told me. She was more excited by the petroglyphs. Her house, which is off the grid, she used to power occasionally via her car; it sits across the bridge for which El Puente is named. The main room is painted banana-yellow and contains a lofted bed that she climbs a ladder into each night. On her coffee table, made by the artist Sol LeWitt, a friend, a thick crust of books rises. (LeWitt often complained the table was so covered with Lippards reading material that his handiwork was rendered invisible.) Lippardwho has gray hair and humored, flashing eyescasually uses phrases such as who gives a sweet hot damn and, describing herself, thick skin. But she is also markedly curious, listening until she suddenly becomes volubly, generously plainspoken. When I visited, she sat in her fathers old La-Z-Boy, near which her dogs crate served as a makeshift desk. Im ridiculously proud of living like a teenage boy, she has written. Carolyn Graham, the editor of the Santa Fe New Mexicans weekly arts and culture magazine Pasatiempo, argues that living in a community such as Galisteo, or even Santa Fe, involves a sense of isolation. We need each other, more than you do in a big city like LA or New York, she told me. You need your neighbors. Were these small towns. We need to know, like, what the weather is going to be. If theres something coming that we need to know about. Of El Puente, she said, Its like, who lost their dog, or whos got a building permit going. You need help getting a rattlesnake off your property? I know this guy over here who does that. The answers to these questions are vital: news you can use. Lippard, as El Puentes proprietor, has come to be viewedby both longtime Galisteans and million-dollar homebuyersas providing a kind of public utility in their hometown, built from a sense of local need and sponsored by whoever decides to throw some support the papers way. (Nauman gave the biggest donation Ive ever had for the newsletter, Lippard told me. It was kind of by mistake: He gave five hundred, and then the check didnt seem to be coming, so he gave another.) Alex Finlayson, who recently started working as El Puentes stringer, calls the paper a ribbon that binds this community. Stella Maestas, an old-time Galistean, said, of Lippard, she is one of ours. Lucy does it all, Jean Anaya Moya, the chief of the Galisteo Volunteer Fire and Rescue, said, of El Puente. She writes it, she edits it, she folds them and puts them in the envelope and puts the stamp on them and mails them, she told me. In a small community, theres a lot of us that are tasked with a lot of responsibilities here to make this community work. We have a community association, water boards, the fire department, the art studio tour. Theres a lot of jobs that need to be done, and not a lot of people willing to do those jobs. When Lippard moved to Galisteo, she was almost in her sixties. As a kid, her parents called her an antisnob snob. She worked at the MoMA, and later, the Village Voicetrying, she wrote, to punch holes in my art-centered specialization as I try to be accessible to a much larger audienceuntil she left abruptly, with some acrimony, in 1985. In a piece from the time, she railed against her editor, and the liberal assumption that significant questions and analyses can only be made from a so-called neutral and objective middle ground, that anything to the left of that particular position is unsophisticated (read uneducated, with class implications) or rhetorical (read a little too clear, and potentially dangerous). She later published a column called The Snipers Nest at Z Magazine and contributed to In These Times. She also cofounded Printed Matter, the artist-book collective, as well as the Heresies Collective, a group of feminist artists who put out an art journal by the same name. She curated major exhibits, guest-lectured, protested, wrote reams. She spent a period in Colorado. Her latest book, Stuff: Instead of a Memoir, quotes John Berger: the past is not for living in. It is a well of conclusions from which we draw in order to act. She calls El Puente her great love. Sign up for CJRs daily email Ive always worked with community and activist stuff, Lippard told me. I couldnt figure out how to do the kind of thing, you know, yelling and screaming in the streets and wheatpasting and so forth that Id been doing in New York and Boulder, Colorado. And so I thought: a newsletter. Maria Ortiz y Pino, a Galisteo old-timer who with discernible relish called El Puente a good little ragemphasis, I took it, on the ragrecalled the early days of Lippards reporting. All of a sudden this lady from wherever she was from was starting to ask a lot of questions, she said. Ortiz y Pino was skeptical. Ive been around long enough, she thought. I know people who know more than she does. I really dont have to read it if I dont want to. The paper was originally called La Puente, the more New Mexicanas opposed to Spanishversion of its name. We got some calls, Lippard wrote in the inaugural issue (word had already, apparently, gotten out, even before the paper was published). If you think we made the wrong choice, let us know. The next issue, then, featured an immediate follow-up: As you see, weve bowed to popular opinion and restored EL PUENTE to popular Spanish, Lippard wrote. We have also made the type larger and tried to lighten up a little, as requested. Early issues were slim, wild, vibrant with guest opinions, and heavy on local lore. A column titled Here Then/Aqui Antes spotlighted old-timer Mela Montoyas memories of tiny snakes, thin like a pencil, called pichiquates, and a diphtheria epidemic that killed numerous children she knew. A photo announced an astounding find: a large ammonite fossil from between sixty-five and a hundred million years earlier. A caption noted the presidential award given to Agnes Martin, accompanied by a Romona Scholder, who seems to be keeping her distance from Bill [Clinton], while Agnes looks none too happy! Lippard examined the cadial, a large cocklebur pasture on the edge of the village with a tangled history of common and private use. A llama was stolen. A New Age institute sold, for years, in the classifieds, edible flowers and rented VHS tapes. Rebecca Solnit, passing through, became addicted to the tamales made by Josephine Anaya. Threatsmany, seriousseemed to close in. No blood for oil in Iraq, no beauty for oil in the Galisteo Basin, read a sign held in Lippards hands, in a photo of several female Galisteans at an anti-drilling march in Santa Fe. Five species of woodpecker were elucidated. The coverage reflected Grahams observation about the practical aspects of what it means to make news in New Mexicokeeping an eye on the weather, on the water, on fires, and on the acequia system (the specific and precious communal ditch system by which New Mexicos surface water rights operate)as well as a need to connect the present to that which came before. This is a place where the immediate, the very-very-hyper-hyper-local, as Graham put it, can signal major stories, shifts. In late March, we had almost three days without water, courtesy of a difficult leak, Lippard reported in an April 2024 El Puente, plus three days (and counting) without Internet, courtesy of CenturyLink. Living in rural New Mexico aint always easy. Here, a piece of rock art tells a story, a rodent can destroy a vehicle and thereby your way of getting to a grocery store in winter, a knot in a rope signals an imminent revolt, a dried-up creek points to invasive, thirsty Russian olives and a fire waiting to happen. But whatever the first impression of these vast spaces, Lippard wrote in her book Pueblo Chico, about Galisteo, this is in no sense a timeless landscape. It is a landscape of many times thatonce the history becomes knowncan be experienced almost simultaneously. An article on the bone-dry Rio Galisteo notes that a green team may need to be assembled in order to lop back thirsty Russian olives, but also that Charles and Anne Lindbergh, flying over Galisteo in the 1920s, took aerial photos that show a treeless arroyo, and that in the 1950s, a Galisteans mother-in-law planted sediment-accruing cottonwoods. All of this history relates to the disappearance of water from the ojitos, the springs, a common anxiety addressed by Lippard in El Puente. In a way, the paper is the New Mexicovillage version of Lippards long-held idea, from when she lived in the loft scene in New York City, to make an artwork consisting of a pile of maps on transparent acrylic sheets showing the trajectories of a large number of artists from one loft and neighborhood to another, detailing her or his partners, jobs, gallery affiliations, best art pals, and so forth, in order to display the subterranean networks that often determined aesthetic influences, careers, politics, and love lives. Replace artists, maybe, with water, cottonwoods, old families, Russian olives, deep time, state politics. The point of such a projectif art can be spoken about in such termsis the same as that of any news outlet: to keep track of real life. Then again, it may be a stretch to call El Puente an art project; after all, that framing perpetuates an idea shes spent a good deal of her career working against, that art and information are oppositional, and that the former belongs in an airy and impenetrable world. Like Lippard, El Puente might be better understood as a force, in Finlaysons words. Finlayson added later, I believe El Puente is propelled by Lucys need to know Galisteo and to make sense of a very complicated place. In the end, the newsletter may belong more to her insatiable curiosity than it does to us. I cant imagine it without her. Succession is not an uncommon problem for local news editors and publishers. Lippard may be particularly uninterested in modernizing business strategies, applying for grants, developing a newsroomnor is that necessarily what suits Galisteo. El Puente is primarily a print operation (Cardenas told me that she holds on to old copies: Weve got so many newsletters in our house that weve started putting it in a notebook, she said), though the archives are now, mostly, available online, with a tool that tells visitors how to search. For years, the kind disregard of the local postman enabled Lippard to illegally deliver print issues to all of the village mailboxes, until those mailboxes were replaced by a monolithic bank of lockboxes, to which El Puente is delivered, and, more expensively, by the USPS. Finlayson, who debuted as a stringer in 2024, is seventy-three. She had been a playwright, and first drove into the Galisteo Basin a few years ago while she and her husband, Steve, were visiting their son, who lives across the highway, in the town of Lamy. I tried to google Galisteo, but there was no phone service, she recalled. She has, she told me, maybe the perfect background for El Puente. Drama, dark humor, lost causes, failure, humility, a nose for newsand as a stringer, Im almost anonymous. Each month, she goes to Lippard with story ideas that get green-lit, or not. If its a personal piecesuch as one she wrote on native grassesFinlayson gets a byline. If its straight reportage, she doesnt, and Lippard edits the story down. Finlaysons first story was a piece on the vultures that swoop down on Galisteo nearly on the same late-March day every year, most recently roosting in Romona Scholders trees. (While vultures are quiet birds, their routine behavior includes projectile vomiting up to 10 [feet] if a bird is frightened; peeing and defecating down their legs to keep themselves cool; and streams of toxic white liquid scat which you can see on the wall beneath the roost. None of this bothers Romona.) People were appreciative, Finlayson said. She thanked Lippard, who immediately deflected and said something like It helps that you live next door. Ones ego always stays in check with Lucy. That is Lippards way: even with her own pieces, she is occasionally an editorial voice (your editor), but it can be easy enough to forget, reading, that she is behind El Puente at all. My writing is often called reductivenot a compliment, she wrote once, in an essay subtitled Notes from the Radical Whirlwind. Yet reduction, or distillation, of complex ideas to forthright and accessible sentences is my deliberate intention as a writer. Who else would devote an article to Tom Fords sprinkler system, instead of the secondhand spray of his fame? Some of that may be attributable to awareness of her own presence as a person who came from elsewhere. A century ago, one of the largest grazing empires in New Mexico, owned by Don Jose Ortiz y Pino, was headquartered in Galisteo, Lippard writes in Pueblo Chico. It was a company town. Today, she told me, Galisteo is basically run by Anglos. Lippard came just on the cusp of the gentrification, she said. I mean, thered been Anglos here before, but they didnt rule the place. A water hookup now costs ten thousand dollars. Moya described the village to me, these days, as an aging community; she can count the number of kids growing up here on one handa far cry from her and others memories of being kids themselves, playing all day in the bosque. On the brown historic plaque at the center of town, whose first line reads Spanish explorers found several Tano-speaking pueblos in the Galisteo Basin in 1540, someone has put quotation marks around found and offered, above it, LOL. So Lippard fills El Puente with traces of people who have come and gone, impassioned editorials, reminders about birthday parties. April Fools editions, called El Arroyo, are stuffed with truly fake news. And there are corrections: a wedding anniversary was the sixty-seventh, not the fifty-seventh; Lippards highly recommended plumbers phone no. didnt make the [new Galisteo phone directory] so here it is ; a new subdivision had an illogical name (Hacienda Tranquilas) that Lippard had given as Haciendas Tranquilas, correctly according to the rules of Spanish, though also technically incorrectly according to the actual name of the subdivision. To do local journalism is, perhaps, to be of and for a community. When Lippard, the famous art world veteran, is asked by publications for a brief description of herself, she often chooses to mention her role as the editor of El Puente. She wants to leave Galisteo feet first, she has written. If I cant read and cant walk, please shoot me. Southern California Edison, a subsidiary of utility Edison International, said on Friday it had submitted an initial plan to rebuild the areas within its service territory that were devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires in January. The preliminary plan was submitted to California Governor Gavin Newsom and is estimated to cost between $860 million and $925 million, SCE said, adding that securing alternate funding sources was critical to making the plan a reality. The wildfires tore across L.A. starting on January 7, leading to dozens of deaths and destroying thousands of homes. It is estimated to be the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history. Although no official cause for the fires has been released, several lawsuits have claimed that SCE power lines and towers in Altadena started one of the blazes the Eaton Fire. SCE has also been sued by the LA County and the City of Pasadena. The company said on Friday the investigation was ongoing and it remains committed to transparency with the public. It also said that its preliminary plan would primarily focus on undergrounding power lines in the Altadena and Malibu areas located in the Los Angeles county. (Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) 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 U.S. 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. Related: Uber Targets Personal Injury Lawyers in Multimillion Dollar Ad Campaign 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. Photo: Uber signage on a vehicle in San Francisco, California, US, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Uber Technologies Inc. is expected to release earnings figures on May 2. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg) Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Norfolk Southern reached an agreement with one of two companies about how much each side will help pay for a $600 million class-action settlement, which the railroad agreed to after the disastrous 2023 Ohio train derailment and toxic chemicals that were released and burned. This lawsuit doesnt change anything about how much money people will receive from the settlement or any payments to the village of East Palestine or anyone else those are all established in various settlement agreements. This case only affects which companies have to write the checks to pay for the class-action settlement, which is separate from the cost of the massive environmental cleanup. The railroad and OxyVinyls, the chemical company that made the vinyl chloride that was released and burned after the derailment, announced the settlement Thursday in the midst of the ongoing trial over who should pay people affected by the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Related: Norfolk Southern Wins Dismissal of Bondholder Lawsuit Over 2023 Ohio Derailment The two companies didnt disclose any details of the agreement in their brief statement. The third company involved in the lawsuit, GATX, which owned the railcar that caused the derailment, declined to comment on the settlement. The case is expected to go to the jury next week in a trial that began late last month. Residents are still waiting to receive most of the money from the settlement because of pending appeals, although some payments have started to go out. After the train derailed in East Palestine, an assortment of chemicals spilled and caught fire. Then three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode, generating a massive black plume of smoke that spread over the area and forced evacuations. The potential health consequences from the derailment remain a concern for many residents. Related: Few Households Opt Out of $600M Ohio Train Derailment Settlement The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed in its investigation that the vent-and-burn operation was unnecessary because the tank cars were starting to cool off and the railroad failed to listen to the advice from OxyVinyls experts or share their opinions with the officials who made the decision. But during the trial, Norfolk Southern raised questions about conflicting information that OxyVinyls representatives on scene and at headquarters provided as officials were deciding whether to release and burn the vinyl chloride. Norfolk Southern has said all along that it believes OxyVinyls should help pay because the railroad says the chemical manufacturer provided inconsistent and inaccurate information about its vinyl chloride before officials decided to burn it. Last year, Norfolk Southern lost a similar lawsuit when it tried to force GATX and OxyVinyls to help pay for the environmental cleanup after the derailment, which has cost the Atlanta-based railroad more than $1 billion. It made similar arguments in this trial to get help paying for the class-action settlement. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. FILE - A sign for a Chipotle restaurant in Pittsburgh's Market Square. The fast-casual chain recently announced plans for its first location in Mexico. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) AP Chipotle Mexican Grill is coming to Mexico. The California-based chain said Monday its planning to open a restaurant in Mexico early next year, its first location south of the border in its 30-year history. Chipotle is partnering with Alsea in Mexico City, a company that operates Dominos, Starbucks, Burger King, Chilis and other brands in South America and Europe. Alsea plans to explore additional expansion in Mexico and other locations in the region. Nate Lawton, Chipotles chief business development officer, said the company is confident that its menu will resonate with Mexican diners. The countrys familiarity with our ingredients and affinity for fresh food make it an attractive growth market for our company, Lawton said in a statement. The expansion arrives as President Donald Trumps tariffs on Mexican imports could increase costs for U.S. Chipotle locations. Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department said it plans to withdraw from a 2019 agreement suspending an antidumping investigation into fresh tomato imports from Mexico. That termination, set to take effect July 14, means most tomatoes from Mexico will be subject to a 20.91% tariff. Chipotle gets around half of its avocados from Mexico, but so far those are not subject to tariffs. Chipotle, which was founded in Denver in 1993, has 3,700 restaurants and plans to open up to 345 new locations this year. It has been focused on growing its international footprint. Last year, it partnered with Alshaya Group to open a restaurant in Kuwait, its first new market in a decade. It now has three restaurants in Kuwait and two in the United Arab Emirates. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Andy Staron stood outside the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on Monday, praying the rosary and touching the beads that he says Pope Francis had given him during a trip to the Vatican. Staron waited for a noon Mass that commemorated the life of the pontiff, 88, who died a day after Easter. Staron said the loss hit him especially hard. Grand Rapids Community College students saved about $3.3 million in textbook costs this past academic year through a partnership with OpenStax, Rice University's open educational resources program that provides free, high-quality peer-reviewed textbooks. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohios colleges oppose a bill in the Ohio House that would shift some dual-enrollment tuition and textbook costs to higher education institutions. Ohios dual-enrollment program is called College Credit Plus. Public and private school students in grades seven through 12 can enroll in college courses for free through a local community college or university. Sometimes students drive to the college to take the course, while others are offered online or in a students secondary school. Population of critically endangered diving duck surges in China Xinhua) 09:49, April 21, 2025 This photo taken on March 30, 2024 shows Baer's pochards, a critically endangered diving duck, in Dengkou County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Li Yunping) BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The population of the Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri), a critically endangered diving duck, has more than doubled in China over the past years, according to a nationwide wintering survey by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. The survey revealed that 2,555 such ducks were recorded across the country, a remarkable increase from the 1,000 individuals in 2012. The findings underscore significant progress in the conservation of one of the world's most endangered waterfowl species. Listed as critically endangered on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and designated as a first-class protected wildlife species in China, the Baer's Pochard has been a focal point of conservation efforts across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Once widespread across East and Southeast Asia and the Russian Far East, the species has experienced a dramatic population decline since the 20th century due to habitat loss and illegal hunting. Today, China is home to the majority of the global population, with only sporadic sightings reported from other countries in recent years. The latest survey showed that the birds now winter in 76 sites across China, with 16 of these sites hosting more than 30 individuals each. These high-density habitats account for 2,136 birds, or 83.6 percent of the total recorded population. The administration noted that the results provide a comprehensive overview of the Baer's Pochard population in China and reflect the effectiveness of the country's conservation efforts. China has in recent years ramped up efforts to protect bird species like the Baer's Pochard. The measures include the introduction of a national action plan for protecting migratory corridors, the publication of a key habitats list for terrestrial wildlife, and the strengthened protection of nature reserves and vital wildlife habitats. Looking ahead, the administration said it will build on the survey's findings to enhance monitoring systems, intensify conservation efforts in critical areas, and advance the protection of migratory birds and other endangered wildlife species. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito attend a private ceremony for retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor before public repose in the Great Hall at the Supreme Court on December 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito criticized the court majority for "hastily and prematurely" blocking the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants with an emergency ruling in the early morning hours of a holiday weekend. Alito's five-page dissent arrived late Saturday night, nearly 24 hours after the Supreme Court temporarily barred the government from deporting a group of accused Venezuelan gang members under a rarely used wartime law known as the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. "In sum, literally in the middle of the night, the Court issued unprecedented and legally questionable relief without giving the lower courts a chance to rule, without hearing from the opposing party, within eight hours of receiving the application, with dubious factual support for its order, and without providing any explanation for its order," Alito wrote in the dissent, which was also joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. Alito and Thomas are members of the court's 6-3 conservative majority. American Civil Liberties Union lawyers had asked the high court to intervene on an emergency basis, arguing that dozens of Venezuelan migrants faced imminent deportation without having a realistic opportunity to contest their removal, despite a previous Supreme Court ruling that they must be allowed judicial review. "The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court," the justices said in an unsigned decision issued around 12:55 a.m. ET (0455 GMT) on Saturday. The White House responded that President Donald Trump would stay the course in his immigration crackdown but gave no immediate indication that the administration would defy the Supreme Court, appearing for now to avert a potential constitutional crisis between coequal branches of government. Although it was unclear where the Venezuelan migrants were headed, the Trump administration already has deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador more than 200 Venezuelan and Salvadoran men it claims are gang members. Many of the migrants' lawyers and family members say they were not gang members and had no chance to dispute the government's assertion that they were. Elected last year on a promise to crack down on migrants, Trump and his senior aides have asserted that their executive power grants them wide authority on immigration matters. They have shown limited evidence linking the detainees to Tren de Aragua, a violent gang that is active in South America but one that has a smaller presence in the United States. Pope Francis greets people as he attends the weekly general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, March 8, 2023. Tributes and condolences poured in from around the world following news of the death of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88. Francis, who was elected the Catholic Church's 266th pope after the retirement of Benedict XVI in 2013, was the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, born in Argentina to Italian-Argentinian parents. He made waves during his papacy as a reformer who often rattled the church's most conservative quarters, but found popularity among progressives who embraced his championing of social justice and support for marginalized groups. Francis' last official meeting was with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday, just one day before his passing. In a post on X, Vance wrote: "I just leaned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul." The White House's official X account posted two photos of the pope, one with President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, and the other with Vance, alongside a caption that read: "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis." Trump on his Truth Social account, meanwhile, posted: "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted an emotional message on her official Facebook account that read: "Pope Francis has returned to the Father's house. A news that pains us deeply, because a great man and a great pastor leaves us. I have had the privilege to enjoy his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never diminished even in times of trial and suffering." Amazon has delayed some commitments around new data center leases, Wells Fargo analysts said Monday, the latest sign that economic concerns may be affecting tech companies' spending plans. A week ago, a Microsoft executive said the software company was slowing down or temporarily holding off on advancing early build-outs. Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft are the leading providers of cloud infrastructure, and both have ramped up their capital expenditures in recent quarters to meet the demands of the generative artificial intelligence boom. "Over the weekend, we heard from several industry sources that AWS has paused a portion of its leasing discussions on the colocation side (particularly international ones)," Wells Fargo analysts wrote in a note. They added that "the positioning is similar to what we've heard recently from MSFT," in that both companies are reeling in some new projects but not canceling signed deals. Tech stocks have been under pressure across the board his year as President Donald Trump's proposals for widespread tariffs raised the prospect for dramatically higher costs on imports of equipment while also threatening to slow the economy. Cloud infrastructure providers have been aggressively announcing plans to collectively spend hundreds of billions of dollars securing Nvidia's graphics processing units, or GPUs, and building new data centers. That was before the announcement on tariffs earlier this month. Microsoft and Amazon both report quarterly results next week. Their stock prices were down on Monday, bringing Amazon's decline for the year to 25% and Microsoft's drop to 15%. Earlier this month, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin that he did not see the company cutting down on data center construction. "This is routine capacity management, and there haven't been any recent fundamental changes in our expansion plans," Kevin Miller, AWS' vice president of global data centers, wrote in a LinkedIn post. Wells Fargo has a hold rating on Amazon shares. BEIJING China on Monday warned it will retaliate against countries that cooperate with the U.S. in ways that compromise Beijing's interests, as the trade war between the world's two largest economies threatens to embroil other nations. China's warning comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly planning to use tariff negotiations to pressure U.S. partners to limit their dealings with China. Trump this month paused major tariff increases on other countries for 90 days, while hiking duties further on goods from China to 145%. "China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China's interests. If this happens, China will not accept it and will resolutely take reciprocal countermeasures," the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said, according to a CNBC translation. The ministry cautioned about the risk to all countries once international trade returns to the "law of the jungle." The statement also sought to cast China as willing to work with all parties and "defend international fairness and justice," while describing the U.S. actions as "abusing tariffs" and "unilateral bullying." Chipotle Mexican Grill logo is seen in Manhattan, New York, United States of America, on July 6th, 2024. Chipotle Mexican Grill will open its first location in Mexico early next year as the latest stage in its international expansion. The company announced Monday that it has signed a development agreement with Alsea, which operates Latin American and European locations of Starbucks , Domino's Pizza and Burger King , among other chains. After the initial restaurant opens in 2026, Chipotle plans to explore "additional expansion markets in the region," which could mean broader Latin American development. The deal to expand in Mexico comes as President Donald Trump wages a trade war with the country, straining the relationship between the two neighbors. Avocados from Mexico were originally subject to a 25% tariff until he paused new duties on goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. While Chipotle has diversified its avocado sourcing in recent years, it still imports about half of its avocados from Mexico. In recent years, Chipotle has been trying to expand internationally, after decades focusing almost entirely on its U.S. business. The company operates 58 locations in Canada, 20 in the United Kingdom, six in France and two in Germany. Chipotle also currently has three restaurants in Kuwait and two in the United Arab Emirates through a deal with Alshaya Group. Chipotle is betting that Mexico's familiarity with its ingredients and appreciation for fresh food will win over consumers, according to a statement from Nate Lawton, Chipotle's chief business development officer. But U.S. interpretations of Mexican food don't always resonate in the market; Yum Brands' Taco Bell has twice attempted to expand into Mexico, but both efforts failed quickly. A person holds a sign during a protest against cuts made by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to the Social Security Administration, in White Plains, New York, U.S., March 22, 2025. A federal judge has once again blocked Department of Government Efficiency staffers, operating inside the Social Security Administration, from accessing sensitive personal data of millions of Americans. U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction to block the so-called DOGE from further accessing sensitive personal data stored by the agency. As a result, DOGE will have to comply with certain legal requirements when accessing SSA data. The order applies specifically to SSA employees who are working on the DOGE agenda. The lawsuit was brought by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees; the AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers and Alliance for Retired Americans. They are represented by national legal organization Democracy Forward. The plaintiffs argue DOGE's actions violate the Privacy Act, Social Security Act, Internal Revenue Code and Administrative Procedure Act. More from Personal Finance: Estimates point to lower Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in 2026 Social Security Administration updates new anti-fraud measures Disability advocates sue Social Security and DOGE to stop service cuts Defendants in the case include the Social Security Administration; the agency's acting commissioner Leland Dudek; SSA chief information officer Michael Russo and/or his successor; Elon Musk, senior advisor to the president, and DOGE acting administrator Amy Gleason. The order blocks the agency and its agents and employees from granting access to systems containing personally identifiable information including Social Security numbers, medical records, mental health records, employer and employee payment records, employee earnings, addresses, bank records, tax information and family court records. DOGE and its affiliates must also disgorge and delete all non-anonymized personally identifiable information in their possession or control since Jan. 20, according to the order. They are also prohibited from installing any software on Social Security Administration systems and must remove any software installed since Jan. 20, the order states. In addition, the defendants are blocked from accessing, altering or disclosing the agency's computer or software code. Kate Gallego knew she wanted to run for mayor of Phoenix, but the timing couldn't have been worse. In 2017, she was serving on the Phoenix City Council when the outgoing mayor announced he was leaving to run for Congress, leaving the seat open. "I had long been interested in running, but it was a rough time in my personal life: My mom had just been diagnosed with stage four cancer, and I was pregnant, and my marriage fell apart, so I was newly divorced with an infant," Gallego, now 43, told CNBC's Morgan Brennan at the recent 2025 Changemakers Summit in Los Angeles. Gallego initially decided she couldn't pursue the mayoral seat: "It was too much. I felt like everyone was asking questions about my divorce and my personal life, and I didn't want to put myself in too much scrutiny over that." But months after becoming a mother, she began to think otherwise. She was getting more sleep, for one, and also recognized that all around her were "wonderful people who wanted to support me and help me be successful in public service and be a successful mother," she told CNBC. If you share what your goal is and what the vision is, what you hope to achieve, a lot of people are willing to help you along the way. Kate Gallego Mayor of Phoenix "I realized there wasn't a need to be a perfect mayor with your entire life in order," Gallego said. "In fact, it maybe makes you a better mayor if you're juggling the same challenges everyone else is and have the same pressures." Gallego, a Democrat, ran for mayor and in 2019 became the second woman elected mayor in Phoenix history and one of the youngest big-city mayors in the nation. Gallego said she was glad she took the leap and urges others to not wait for the "right" time to pursue their ambitions. "If there's anyone out there and you're making a big life decision and you want to wait till your life is perfect, I would say, don't [wait]," she said. "At least, my life has never been perfect. But I think if you share what your goal is and what the vision is, what you hope to achieve, a lot of people are willing to help you along the way." Gallego said sharing her experience connected her with the many others who had similar life moments, and "hopefully I will make it easier for the next mom who wants to do a career change or promotion." "Just knowing that the people of Phoenix were very, very supportive, it did not end up being the huge issue that I thought," she said. "It worked out for me, but it was a lot of doubt along the way." Leading Phoenix to be 'future-ready' The U.S. tariff rate on Chinese goods now stands at 145%, according to The White House. Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty Images While recent news of United States President Donald Trumps on-again off-again tariffs has led to wild swings in markets and shaken businesses globally, companies that rely on open trade between China and the U.S. are among the most susceptible to becoming collateral damage. Temu and Shein arent the only companies that will be disrupted by a trade war between the U.S. and China. Many other small and medium-sized businesses, such as those involved in dropshipping, will also be affected. "At the moment, we're seeing about a 33% decrease in revenue," said Kamil Sattar. The 25-year-old runs a dropshipping business with online stores that sell items such as outerwear, mobile accessories and more. Dropshipping is a type of e-commerce fulfillment method where sellers process orders by passing them to suppliers, who then ship the products directly to the customers. This often involves buying items sourced from Chinese suppliers or manufacturers and selling to the U.S. or other developed markets. This ultimately eliminates the need for sellers to carry their own inventory. You're able to sell products online, but you don't have to pay for the stock until a customer comes on your online store and makes a purchase, said Sattar. It is a popular business model among side hustlers and entrepreneurs, as it requires little capital and can be built entirely online using platforms like Shopify, along with marketing tools such as paid ads and content creation. It is becoming a lot harder to sell in the U.S., because a lot of products from China are now being stopped at the borders for inspection. So it's not even just losing more money in terms of profitability. You're also getting the product stuck. Kamil Sattar E-commerce entrepreneur Therefore, the current 145% cumulative tariff on Chinese goods is putting pressure on many dropshipping businesses. Dropshipping under pressure Like many others, Sattars dropshipping business sources most of its products from China about 90%, most of which are for the U.S. market. In response to the tariffs, Sattar has hiked the prices on some of his products, which continue to be in demand in the U.S. "We're not selling to the U.S. as much as we used to... 60% [of our products] used to be sold to the U.S. and now it's gone down to about 20 to 30%," Sattar told CNBC Make It. "We're now slowing down on U.S. consumption, and we're focusing on the European market." We know that if consumer confidence is low, that's going to [impact] our sales... that's going to negatively affect the U.S. dropshipping space. Kamil Sattar E-commerce entrepreneur A weakening dollar and a decline in consumer spending are adding to the woes faced by dropshipping businesses selling to the U.S. Demise of de minimis Trump's elimination of the de minimis exemption dealt the biggest blow to the dropshipping industry. This provision has historically benefited dropshippers and e-commerce retailers. What was once a loophole that allowed shipments valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S. duty-free will end for goods from China and Hong Kong starting May 2nd, according to an official announcement by the White House in April. In 2024, more than 90% of all packages entering the U.S. arrived via de minimis, or about 4 million shipments daily on average. However, these goods will now be "subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025)," according to the statement by the White House. You're going to see a big nose dive of all these Amazon [and] Shopify sellers ... a lot of those micro entrepreneurs with just one single source of supply, one single source of customer, are going to be in deep trouble. Yinglan Tan Founding managing partner, Insignia Ventures Partners The de minimis exemption was temporarily suspended in February, leading to major delays in the shipment of goods to the U.S. as more than a million packages piled up at U.S. ports. Days later, President Trump reversed course and delayed the elimination of the rule to May 2. "It is becoming a lot harder to sell in the U.S., because a lot of products from China are now being stopped at the borders for inspection. So it's not even just losing more money in terms of profitability. You're also getting the product stuck," said Sattar. "This is the serious part that people don't realize ... If your package is stuck at the border, your customer's gonna want refunds. We've been facing that for a while, so that's why we don't want to sell [some of] our Chinese products in the U.S.," Sattar added. "Profit margins have now been slashed by that." In China, the impact of the U.S. tariffs has also created turbulence. "We can see that our small and medium-sized enterprises have been severely hurt in the cross-border e-commerce sector, especially some general merchandise or low value-added products, which are now facing great difficulties in exporting," Xin Wang, head of the Shenzhen Cross Border E-commerce Association, told CNBC's Emily Tan on "The China Connection" on Thursday, according to a CNBC translation of her Mandarin-language response. "We conducted some surveys on about 228 companies, and we found that very few of these companies are currently optimistic; everyone is very pessimistic," said Wang. "60 to 70% of the companies are taking a wait-and-see attitude, while some companies are actively developing markets in other countries." Meanwhile, for newly shipped goods, added fees from the tariffs will be passed onto American consumers, added Wang. Is dropshipping still viable? Industry insiders agree that having a diverse set of markets to supply from and sell to is crucial in navigating the current trade environment. "I would say, especially if anyone is shipping from China to U.S. ... and out of all of them, the small packages ones like the Shein or the Temu kind of business model, [will get] impacted the most, probably to the degree that they just can't even run their business anymore," said Julia Xu, co-founder & CEO of Wayo. The headquarters of the Department of Education on March 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that its Office of Federal Student Aid will resume "involuntary collections" on May 5 for federal student loans that are in default. Collections will be made through the so-called Treasury Offset Program, which can reduce or withhold payments from the government such as tax refunds, Social Security benefits, federal salaries and other benefits paid through a federal agency to satisfy a past-due debt to the government. "American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies," U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. "The Biden Administration misled borrowers: the executive branch does not have the constitutional authority to wipe debt away, nor do the loan balances simply disappear." More from Personal Finance: Is college still worth it? It is for most, but not all How to maximize your college financial aid offer Top colleges roll out more generous financial aid packages The department has not collected on defaulted student loans since March 2020. After the Covid pandemic-era pause on federal student loan payments expired in September 2023, the Biden administration offered borrowers another year in which they would be shielded from the impacts of missed payments. More than 5 million borrowers are currently in default, according to the Education Department, with another 4 million borrowers in "late-stage delinquency," or over 90 days past due on payments. The Federal Trade Commission on Monday sued Uber , accusing the ride-hailing and delivery company of deceptive billing and cancellation practices tied to its subscription service. The agency claims Uber violated the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act by providing misleading information about its Uber One subscription service, failing to provide a simple way for users to cancel their membership, and charging them without their consent. "Americans are tired of getting signed up for unwanted subscriptions that seem impossible to cancel," FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said in a statement. "The Trump-Vance FTC is fighting back on behalf of the American people." The complaint marks the first FTC action against a major tech company since President Donald Trump began his second term in January. The FTC has several ongoing lawsuits against tech's megacap companies, including Meta , Google and Amazon . Some cases were brought during President Joe Biden's presidency, but Trump's FTC was aggressive during his first term, most notably going after Meta. Uber and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi each reportedly donated $1 million to President Trump's inaugural fund, joining a lengthy roster of tech companies and executives attempting to cozy up to the incoming administration. Noah Edwardsen, an Uber spokesperson, said in an email that the company is "disappointed" by the FTC's complaint, but that it's confident the courts will rule in its favor. "Uber One's sign-up and cancellation processes are clear, simple, and follow the letter and spirit of the law," Edwardsen said. "Uber does not sign up or charge consumers without their consent, and cancellations can now be done anytime in-app and take most people 20 seconds or less." Uber One, launched in 2021, costs $9.99 a month or $96 a year and offers perks like fee-free delivery and discounts on some ride bookings, delivery and pickup orders. The company had about 30 million Uber One subscribers as of December, according to its latest annual report. In its complaint, the FTC argues that Uber advertises its subscription as offering "savings of $25 a month" without calculating the monthly cost of its membership. It also accuses Uber of charging consumers before their billing date. When users try to cancel their Uber One subscription, Uber makes it "extremely difficult," while some users are told to contact customer service representatives to proceed with their cancellation, but are given no way to contact them, the FTC alleged. Some users claim that Uber charged them for another billing cycle after they canceled their Uber One membership, the agency said in its complaint. Ferguson told CNBC last month that the agency will continue to closely scrutinize major tech companies. "I've said since day one Big Tech is one of the main priorities of the Trump-Vance FTC," Ferguson said. "It's one of the reasons the president appointed me to this position." Khosrowshahi said in January in an interview at the Wall Street Journal's Journal House in Davos that the company wants "to engage with every government we are a part of," adding that a "diversity of voices" in government can be a positive, the Journal reported. WATCH: Former DOJ antitrust chief on importance of enforcement As Google heads back to the courtroom Monday, the company is arguing that the U.S. needs the company in its full form to take on chief adversary China and uphold national security in the process. The remedies trial in Washington, D.C., follows a judge's ruling in August that Google has held a monopoly in its core market of internet search, the most-significant antitrust ruling in the tech industry since the case against Microsoft more than 20 years ago. The Justice Department has called for Google to divest its Chrome browser unit and open its search data to rivals. Google said in a blog post on Monday that such a move is not in the best interest of the country as the global battle for supremacy in artificial intelligence rapidly intensifies. In the first paragraph of the post, Google named China's DeepSeek as an emerging AI competitor. The DOJ's proposal would "hamstring how we develop AI, and have a government-appointed committee regulate the design and development of our products," Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's vice president of regulatory affairs, wrote in the post. "That would hold back American innovation at a critical juncture. We're in a fiercely competitive global race with China for the next generation of technology leadership, and Google is at the forefront of American companies making scientific and technological breakthroughs." Google is one of a number of U.S. tech companies trying to fend off the Trump administration's antirust pursuits, most of which is held over from the Biden administration. Google lost a separate antitrust case last week, when a federal judge ruled Thursday that Google held illegal monopolies in online advertising markets due to its position between ad buyers and sellers. Meta is currently in court against the Federal Trade Commission, which has alleged that the company monopolizes the social networking market and shouldn't have been able to acquire Instagram and WhatsApp. Amazon also faces an FTC lawsuit for allegedly maintaining an illegal monopoly. And beyond antitrust, Trump's FTC on Monday sued Uber , accusing the ride-hailing company of deceptive billing and cancellation practices tied to its subscription service. It's the type of enforcement actions the tech industry was hoping to avoid when President Trump took office in January. Google, Meta, Amazon and Uber and top executives from some publicly donated to Trump's inaugural fund, part of a widespread corporate effort to cozy up to the incoming administration. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 10, 2025. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used his personal phone to send information about U.S. military operations in Yemen to a 13-person Signal group chat, including his wife and his brother, two sources with knowledge of the matter confirmed to NBC News. He did so after an aide had warned him to be careful not to share sensitive information on an unsecure communications system before the Yemen operation, the sources said. The development comes about a month after it became public that Hegseth shared details of strikes in Yemen in a separate Signal chat with top administration officials. The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic was mistakenly added to that chain. The New York Times first reported the existence of the second Signal chat. The Times cited four unnamed sources. Some of them, the Times reported, said the information Hegseth sent in the second chat such as the flight schedule of the FA-18 planes being used appeared to be similar to information he had shared in the Signal chat reported by the editor of The Atlantic. One source confirmed that to NBC News. Sean Parnell, the chief Defense Department spokesman, denied that Hegseth had shared classified information. "There was no classified information in any Signal chat," he said on X. Anna Kelly, a White House deputy press secretary, played down the significance of the second group chat. "No matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same non-story, they can't change the fact that no classified information was shared," she said in a statement. Thirteen people were in the second Signal group chat, but no other Cabinet-level officials were included, the two sources said. Participants included Joe Kasper, Hegseth's chief of staff; Darin Selnick, his deputy chief of staff; Eric Geressy, a retired Army sergeant major and Hegseth adviser; Tim Parlatore, a legal adviser to Hegseth and a Navy commander in the Judge Advocate General's Corps; Hegseth's brother, Phil, senior adviser to Hegseth for the Department of Homeland Security; and Hegseth's wife, Jennifer, according to the two sources. In March, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a Signal chat with multiple national security leaders, on which Hegseth shared operational plans for striking military targets in Yemen before they occurred. That chat is now the subject of an investigation by the Defense Department's inspector general. In both instances, Hegseth used his personal phone, rather than his official one, the two sources said. Hegseth came under scrutiny last month after it was revealed that his wife, a former Fox News producer, attended sensitive Defense Department meetings with British and NATO leaders. Jennifer Hegseth is not a Pentagon employee. Hegseth's brother, Phil, is employed in the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security adviser to Hegseth but it is not clear why he or Jennifer Hegseth would need to know or be privy to information about the military strikes in Yemen. My top 10 things to watch Monday, April 21 1. Tesla is among the many influential companies reporting earnings this week . Wedbush's Dan Ives says the EV maker is facing a "code red situation" if CEO Elon Musk stays in Washington at the Department of Government Efficiency. Tesla's numbers are due out tomorrow night. 2. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Friday that President Donald Trump is studying whether he can fire Powell. Powell has said the law is clear he cannot be fired or demoted, but does that matter? Can anyone be fired? 3. Stocks are set to open lower this morning after a losing week. The 10-year Treasury yield rose, the U.S. dollar index fell to a three-year low, and gold hit another record high. Wall Street is looking for progress on trade deal talks, but not much concrete yet. 4. China's latest trade war moves: Beijing said it will retaliate against countries that sign trade deals with the U.S. that come "at the expense of China's interests." Also, Chinese state-backed funds are retreating from investing in U.S. private equity, although it's not clear how much they were in PE. 5. Raymond James downgraded Club name Amazon to an outperform rating from "strong buy," citing operating income pressures. I see Amazon as the cheapest place to buy things, and it has cloud service AWS. We recently added to our position for the Club. 6. DA Davidson took Salesforce to an underperform sell rating from neutral, saying it is neglecting its core products in favor of AI. Devastating downgrade, but the Club stock has been doing down forever. 7. Multiple price-target bumps for sainted Netflix after earnings last week. KeyBanc went to $1,070 a share from $1,000. JPMorgan went to $1,150 from $1,025. The streaming giant can do no wrong whatsoever. 8. The remedy phase of Google's search monopoly case kicks off today, a few days after the company lost another antitrust case. The latest defeat was about its online ad business. On Thursday on "Mad Money," I spoke with the former Justice Department official who brought the ad lawsuit. 9. Huawei is readying mass shipments of its new AI chip in China. This technically ups the competition for Club name Nvidia in the Chinese market, but Nvidia is no longer able to sell its made-for-China H20 chip anyways. 10. A round of price-target cuts for UnitedHealth after it lowered its earnings guidance last week. KeyBanc went to $575 a share from $650. Barclays went to $560 from $642. Of course, both analysts kept overweight buy ratings on the stock. Nobody wants to downgrade this one. Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. If you're speaking with Mickey Drexler, ditch the formality. The 80-year-old chairman of clothing brand Alex Mill, and former CEO of Gap and J.Crew Group, says he'd much rather colleagues and employees address him like a regular person, using his first name only. "No one can call me 'mister.' I don't care who it is," Drexler said during a LinkedIn interview on April 10, adding that the title goes against his leadership philosophy of being on the same level as the people around him. "Even in restaurants, I [tell people to call me] Mickey, that's it. I want them to feel not beneath me." Drexler's accolades in the apparel industry are lengthy, from revitalizing Ann Taylor and turning Gap into a $14 billion powerhouse to founding brands like Old Navy and Madewell. He also served as an Apple board member from 1999 to 2015. No matter his accomplishments, Drexler insisted that he's no better than your average employee, and other bosses should have a similar outlook, he said. It's easy to get wrapped up running a company, but connecting with your colleagues is an essential part of leadership, he added. "You have to connect to the team. You can't be in your ivory tower. You don't learn in a bureaucracy [or] in an office," said Drexler, noting that he similarly doesn't like the "bad connotation" of the name "CEO." DON'T MISS: How to change careers and be happier at work Bosses who engage with their employees by asking for input, offering feedback or simply checking in encourage career growth and send a clear message that their people matter. Employees increasingly value having connections with their managers, according to a March 2023 survey from Pew Research Center. Empathy and transparency are both green-flag traits in bosses, Deepali Vyas, the global head of fintech, payments and crypto practice at Korn Ferry, told CNBC Make It in October. "Managers that master the balance of emotional intelligence and not being so rigid that's a good boss," said Vyas, who has 25 years of recruiting experience. He added that employees should also look for a boss that has "adaptability and someone that's empowering you to grow." Drexler converses with his colleagues, both entry-level and executive, by asking simple, open-ended questions about their job or upbringing, he said. He calls it "schmoozing," but you might refer to it as small talk or networking creating a connection with an informal, friendly interaction. "Meet all the people," said Drexler, adding that small talk is a skill he developed as an executive, not something he's always done. "Be a normal [person], not [an] ivory-tower person who thinks they're smarter than everyone. You never learn [something new] unless you have a relationship with someone." Want a new career that's higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC's new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Start today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+taxes and fees) through May 13, 2025. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks at the Border Security Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, April 8, 2025. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen Sunday night while she was dining at a restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C., two law enforcement sources confirmed to CNBC. Noem's bag contained roughly $3,000 in cash, which she had withdrawn to treat her family to dinner and Easter gifts and activities, a DHS spokesperson said Monday. The bag also contained Noem's passport, makeup, blank checks, her driver's license, keys and medication, according to CNN, which first reported the theft. The U.S. Secret Service has reviewed security footage that shows an unidentified white male, who wore a medical mask, snatching the bag, CNN reported. Noem, asked about the theft during the White House Easter Egg Roll later Monday morning, said that it is "not resolved yet." She told NBC News that the Secret Service is aware of the incident, but that she has not yet spoken to the agency about it. The Secret Service is still gathering information about the theft, a spokesperson for the agency told CNBC. watch now Pope Francis, the Argentine Jesuit who became the first Roman Catholic pontiff from the Americas, has died, the Vatican said Monday. He was 88. In a video address, Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the news. "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," he said, according to a translation. "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized," the cardinal said. "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God." Francis died of a stroke that led to irreversible heart failure, according to a death certificate issued by the Vatican. The certificate lists cause of death as cerebral stroke, coma and "irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse." Francis died at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. A day prior he gave his traditional Easter Sunday address from a wheelchair at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. He also met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The pope had been in ill health since February and was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, with bronchitis. On Feb. 21, his medical team said he was battling pneumonia in both lungs along with bacterial, viral and fungal infections on top of chronic bronchitis. Francis left the hospital and returned to his Vatican residence after 38 days. He is expected to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. Francis' successor will be chosen during a conclave, a gathering of the College of Cardinals who are tasked with electing the next pope. A pope of firsts Francis, who was elected the church's 266th pope after the retirement of Benedict XVI in 2013, was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in the middle-class neighborhood of Flores in Buenos Aires on Dec. 17, 1936. He was the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere. He was the first person from outside Europe selected to lead the church in nearly 1,300 years, after Pope Gregory III of Syria, who was chosen in 731. Faithfuls light candles for Pope Francis at Piramide de Mayo monument during a Torchlight March in support of the health of Pope Francis on March 7, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tobias Skarlovnik | Getty Images News | Getty Images The son of an Italian immigrant father and an Italian Argentine mother, Francis was the eldest of five children. As a student, he worked as a janitor and nightclub bouncer before becoming a chemical technician. Francis was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1969 and became head of the Society of Jesus order in Argentina and Uruguay in 1973 at the youthful age of 36, holding the position until 1979. Pope John Paul II appointed Francis a bishop in 1992, and six years later Francis became archbishop of Buenos Aires. In 2001 John Paul made him a cardinal. Francis presided over the Catholic Church during a time of rising tension. In 2021, U.S. bishops drafted a proposal that would have denied communion to newly elected President Joe Biden for his support of abortion rights. The vote by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to draft the plan came over objections from the pope's top doctrinal advisor, Cardinal Luis Ladaria. Pope Francis leads the Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Square on March 20, 2016 in Vatican City, Vatican. Franco Origlia | Getty Images More than two months later, Francis himself strongly hinted his opposition to the proposal by the U.S. bishops, telling reporters: "Communion is not a prize for the perfect." "I have never refused the eucharist to anyone," the pope said, calling on bishops to be pastors, not politicians. "What must the pastor do?" he continued. "Be a pastor, don't go condemning. Be a pastor, because he is a pastor also for the excommunicated." But he also firmly stated his opposition to abortion, calling it "homicide." "Whoever has an abortion kills," he said. Although Francis strived to avoid an escalation of the culture wars and a polarization of his flock, he offered encouraging words to LGBTQ+ Catholics. While flying back to Rome from Portugal in August 2023, he told reporters that the Catholic Church was open to all and that it has a duty to accompany people on their personal path of spirituality within the framework of its rules. During one event in Portugal, Francis touted the inclusive nature of the church by leading a crowd in a chant of "Todos, todos, todos!" (Everyone, everyone, everyone!). VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 31: Pope Francis leads the Pentecost Mass on May 31, 2020 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis celebrated the Solemnity of Pentecost with a Mass in St. Peters Basilica, with a limited number of the faithful in attendance, as health protocols of the Covid-19 pandemic are still in place in Italy and the Vatican. (Photo by Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis | Corbis News | Getty Images He capped off 2023 by saying priests could bless same-sex couples, a major change in Vatican policy. The pope said such blessings shouldn't resemble marriages, but that people seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to "an exhaustive moral analysis" to receive it. He also wanted a greater role for women in the church, particularly in high-ranking Vatican positions. In April 2023, he announced that he had decided to give women the right to vote at an upcoming meeting of bishops. It was a historic first and accomplished two goals: giving women greater decision-making responsibilities and allowing laypeople more say in the life of the church. Health battles When Francis was a young man, he had part of a lung removed because of complications from a pulmonary illness, a health issue the Vatican said in 2013 had never affected his work. Pope Francis arrives to lead Holy Mass for Jubilee of the armed forces, police and security personnel in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican Feb. 9, 2025. Remo Casilli | Reuters South Korea has found increased attempts to disguise foreign products as Korean exports, primarily from China, to avoid U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, its customs agency said on Monday. South Korea has found increased attempts to disguise foreign products as Korean exports, primarily from China, to avoid U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, its customs agency said Monday. The Korea Customs Service said it has found 29.5 billion won ($20.81 million) worth of violations related to country of origin from the first quarter, with U.S.-bound shipments accounting for 97% of the total, after a special probe last month. That compared to a total of 34.8 billion won worth of violations for all of 2024, among which U.S.-bound shipments accounted for 62%. Trump, who took office in January, has imposed significant tariffs on various products and countries, including those on China that began to rise from February. "There was a rise in disguised export attempts during Trump's first presidency and we expect there to be a similar trend," said Lee Kwang-woo, investigation planning director at the KCS. Anticipating increased risks, authorities conducted the latest investigation preemptively to prevent illegal exports. They have already found signs of such attempts to avoid Trump's tariffs from the first quarter, Lee said during a media briefing. On Monday, South Korean customs officials held a meeting with U.S. officials to discuss joint investigation efforts. South Korean officials have said there could be a rise in attempts by foreign companies, such as those in neighboring China, to use South Korea, which is a major U.S. ally and has a free-trade pact, as a bypass to avoid tariffs and regulations. Trump slapped 25% tariffs on South Korea this month, among a new set of sweeping levies, which were later suspended for three months. The U.S. now imposes 145% tariffs on China after back-and-forth retaliatory actions, which economists say have severed trade between the world's two biggest economies. Monday's findings include 3.3 billion won worth of cathode materials used for batteries, imported from China and shipped to the U.S. with South Korea falsely marked as the country of origin, to avoid already high tariffs in January even before Trump's tariffs took effect. In March, 19.3 billion won worth of surveillance cameras were imported from China in parts and reassembled in South Korea to bypass U.S. restrictions on Chinese communication devices. Some of the goods have been shipped abroad while others are still at the port. The Korea Customs Service has launched a special task force to prevent attempts to illegally export such goods and plans to come up with more specific response measures to protect domestic companies. Meanwhile, the violations discovered will be referred to prosecutors. Check out the companies making headlines in extended trading: BOK Financial The Oklahoma bank's shares slid 3% after earnings per share for the first quarter missed Wall Street expectations. BOK earned $1.86 per share, while the consensus estimate of analysts polled by FactSet came in at $1.99 per share. The firm also posted a net interest margin of 2.78%, under the Street's projection of 2.84%. Zions Bancorporation The Utah-based bank's shares dropped nearly 6% following weaker-than-expected earnings per share. Zions recorded $1.13 in earnings per share for the first quarter, while analysts polled by LSEG penciled in $1.18 per share. Calix The technology services stock jumped 14% on stronger-than-expected earnings for the first quarter and upbeat current-quarter guidance. Calix earned 19 cents per share, excluding items, on $220.2 million in revenue, while analysts surveyed by FactSet anticipated 13 cents per share in earnings and $207.1 million in revenue. MongoDB Shares retreated 2% after the developer data platform said Srdjan Tanjga was resigning as interim chief financial officer, effective May 8. MongoDB said it expects to announce a new finance chief in the next seven to 10 days. Western Alliance Bancorp Shares of the Arizona-based bank fell 2%. Despite the company posting a slight beat on earnings per share for the first quarter, its net interest income and net interest margin came in lower than analysts anticipated, per FactSet. Medpace Holdings Shares of the clinical research organization slid 6%. Net new business awards in the first quarter came in at $500 million, reflecting a decline of nearly 19% from the year-ago period. CNBC's Darla Mercado contributed reporting. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited! Check out the companies making headlines in premarket trading: Tesla The electric vehicle company pulled back more than 4% after Barclays cut its price target on Tesla, citing "confusing" visibility into first-quarter earnings. Netflix The streaming giant's stock added 2% following the company's first-quarter earnings and revenue beat. Netflix also said it sees no significant effect from tariffs. On Monday, several Wall Street analysts increased their price targets on the stock. Amazon Shares of the e-commerce giant ticked 1.7% lower following Raymond James' downgrade to outperform from strong buy. The firm also slashed its price target, citing headwinds tied to tariffs and concerns with the economic backdrop. Apple Shares slipped nearly 3% as the company continues to contend with uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump's tariffs. The iPhone maker is down more than 11% in April. Alphabet The tech giant fell 1.4% after a federal judge last week determined Alphabet holds an illegal monopoly in online advertising markets. That comes ahead of the Google parent's earnings results set to release Thursday. Spotify The streaming music company rose 1% after an upgrade to outperform from peer perform at Wolfe Research. The investment firm said Spotify's moves to diversify away from music should help expand its margins. Hertz Global The car rental company dropped nearly 10%, giving back a chunk of its sharp gains from last week. Hertz shares more than doubled last week after billionaire investor Bill Ackman disclosed a stake in the company. Newmont Shares of the gold miner climbed more than 3% as the precious metal climbed to fresh record highs above $3,400 per ounce. The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) also traded over 3% higher. CNBC's Jesse Pound, Alex Harring, Michelle Fox and Sarah Min contributed reporting. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited! In this article NVDA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT "There are several local Chinese companies that produce chips to compete with Nvidia," said Brady Wang, associate director at Counterpoint Research. Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images As the U.S. tightens controls on Nvidia's sales to China, the country's rising domestic artificial intelligence chipmakers like Huawei stand to benefit, semiconductor analysts say. The Commerce Department said last week that Nvidia's H20 graphics processing units designed to comply with previous U.S. restrictions would now require export licenses, as would additional chips from AMD . Nvidia says it has already halted exports of the GPUs, resulting in a quarterly charge of approximately $5.5 billion. But the American AI darling's loss could be a gain for China's local AI chip players as Beijing continues to search for its own Nvidia alternative, semiconductor analysts told CNBC. "There are several local Chinese companies that produce chips to compete with Nvidia," said Brady Wang, associate director at Counterpoint Research. Examples of these local AI chipmakers include tech powerhouse Huawei and the partially state-owned and publicly listed Cambricon Technologies, which designs GPUs. Shares of Cambricon were up over 10% in the past five trading days amid news of the latest Nvidia controls. The stock is up over 400% in the past 12 months. These local competitors now have greater impetus and opportunity to grow and improve their solutions, Wang said, adding that he expects that demand for their GPUs will increase. Can China fill the gap? Analysts pointed to Huawei as a clear leader in China's race to find a Nvidia competitor. The U.S.-blacklisted company has been working on its own "Ascend 910" GPU series, the latest of which is reportedly the Ascend 910C. "With NVIDIA's H20 and other advanced GPUs restricted, domestic alternatives like Huawei's Ascend series are gaining traction," said Doug O'Laughlin, an industry analyst at independent semiconductor research company SemiAnalysis. A recent report from SemiAnalysis states that although Huawei remains "a generation behind in chips," the company is "making waves" with the hardware that uses them. "While there are still gaps in software maturity and overall ecosystem readiness, hardware performance is closing in fast," O'Laughlin added. watch now However, experts note that export controls have also hindered China's ability to produce advanced GPUs at the same scale that Nvidia can through its partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company , the world's largest contract chip maker. "Huawei has shown to be a competitive fabless chip designer ... but they struggle to find enough supply from their foundries," said Phelix Lee, a semiconductor-focused equity analyst for Morningstar. Because TSMC's chipmaking equipment includes U.S. technology, the company has complied with U.S. trade restrictions on Huawei and the shipment of advanced chips to China. That has left Chinese companies increasingly reliant on domestic foundries like Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation . Nevertheless, SMIC is under its own export controls, which prevents it from accessing some of the world's most advanced chipmaking equipment. Given those conditions, Lee said, he remains "very skeptical" that Chinese chip foundries would be able to supply enough H20 GPU alternatives to meet the demand of Chinese tech companies anytime soon. Are export controls working? However, experts say that Chinese chip makers won't need to immediately fill this H20 demand thanks to stockpiles and previous export exemptions and loopholes. Last month, the Information reported that Chinese companies had placed orders for at least $16 billion in H20 server chips in the first three months of the year. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment. According to Counterpoint's Wang, it's unclear how long different firms' existing stockpiles will last, but they provide Chinese chipmakers more time to scale up their GPU manufacturing. In the short term, "I believe the impact of the controls is limited ... In the middle to longer term, it will depend on the progress of this local GPU development," he said. Meanwhile, according to the SemiAnalysis report, Huawei's Ascend chip shows how China's export controls have failed to stop firms like Huawei from accessing critical foreign tools and sub-components needed for advanced GPUs. "While the Ascend chip can be fabricated at SMIC, this is a global chip that has HBM from Korea, primary wafer production from TSMC, and is fabricated by 10s of billions of wafer fabrication equipment from the US, Netherlands, and Japan," the report said. watch now Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, is certain the U.S. will fall into a recession this year if tariffs stay where they are. "It's all conditioned on tariffs staying in place at these levels, and if they stay at these levels, we will absolutely have a recession in 2025," Slok told CNBC's " Squawk on the Street " on Monday. If the high tariffs that were put in place earlier this month remain in effect, odds of a two-quarter contraction in economic output stand at 90%, with gross domestic product dropping by 4 percentage points, according to the private equity firm's economist. President Donald Trump on April 9 granted a 90-day reprieve for many tariffs, while hiking those on China to 145%. Central to Slok's recession forecast are the China tariffs, which he contends are especially damaging for small businesses that are less likely to hold sufficient cash on hand to pay the higher tax on imported goods. "They basically do not have money and cash to pay 145% extra," Slok said. "So, we will have bankruptcies of retailers of very significant magnitudes if this is allowed to continue." Jobs, sentiment damage Any slump in retail would end up damaging the labor market and consumer sentiment, since small businesses with fewer than 500 workers make up 80% of total employment, according to Slok, who previously worked at Deutsche Bank and Bank of America after stints at the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Particular attention should be paid to weekly jobless claims reports as job market weakness will show up there first. "The impact of tariffs, especially on China, is still weighing heavily, in particular, on small businesses," Slok said. "And we have not seen that in jobless claims yet, but we should expect to see that." Recession calls have grown on Wall Street in April, though the frequent tariff changes have made it nearly impossible for forecasters to measure the full impact. Earlier this month, JPMorgan Asset Management's David Kelly, immediately following the April 2 announcement, said there's a 60% chance of a recession, depending on whether high tariffs stay in place. 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! We will make two trades shortly after the opening bell on Monday. We wanted to make these sales last week but couldn't because of trading restrictions on the Charitable Trust. We are selling 200 shares of Apple at roughly $192. Following the trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 600 shares of AAPL, decreasing its weighting to slightly below 4% from about 5.2% We are selling 150 shares of Nvidia at roughly $98. Following the trade, the trust will own 900 shares of NVDA, decreasing its weighting to about 3% from 3.5%. These sales are consistent with what Jim wrote in his April 13 column, that Apple and Nvidia have become tough to own in the Trump era . For Apple, our concerns center around the risks to margins its massive supply chain creates in a high tariff world. "The company's shifting of some production to India, the default destination for the iPhone, may not be what the president wants. There are hardliners within the government who want no exemptions," Cramer wrote. "The potential saving grace would be if this means phones made in South Korea are also subject to tariffs," Cramer continued. "If so, Apple could steal more market share from Samsung. Of course, phone companies must continue to subsidize the selection of new phones to encourage switching. Again, that means we have a reprieve but it's going to be a new status quo, and it is one that I find untenable when it comes to investing. I believe it is an imperative to cut back this position tomorrow into any strength." We were not able to trim Apple the next day, April 14, due to the Charitable Trust's trading restrictions. As for Nvidia, Cramer voiced concerns about how the stock has become hostage to short-term investors who focus on high risk, leveraged ETFs and daily option trades, causing the stock to become divorced from its fundamentals. Last week's news that the U.S. government will require Nvidia to obtain export licenses to ship H20 artificial intelligence chips to China further complicated the investment case. It's unlikely Nvidia will receive those licenses, prompting the company to take $5.5 billion charge in its fiscal 2026 first quarter tied to H20 inventory, purchase commitments, and "related reserves." "I have lost more sleep on Apple and Nvidia than any two stocks in my life. And, the only solution is to make them smaller before they become smaller themselves," Cramer said last Wednesday during our April Monthly Meeting , when he "retired" his long held "own it, don't trade it" mantra for these two stocks. Both Apple and Nvidia have fallen more than 20% in 2025, but staying true to our investment discipline has helped. We trimmed our Apple position in late December 2024 near its all-time high, and we started 2025 off with a sale of Nvidia. From these sales, we'll realize an average gain of about 870% on Apple shares purchased in December 2013 and April 2014 and a gain of more than 675% on Nvidia stock purchased in March 2021. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AAPL and NVDA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. KFin Tech sees international revenue climbing to 50% with Ascent acquisition KFin Technologies is acquiring a 51% stake in Singapore-based Ascent Fund Services for around $35 million, with plans to buy the remaining 49% between FY28 and FY30. The final deal value could go up to $170 million depending on the firms performance. Multiple Australian universities have prohibited students from enrolling from at least six Indian states.The universities have placed limits on admitting students from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir due to growing concerns about student visa fraud and abuse of the educational system.Authorities made the move after noticing an increase in fraudulent applications utilising student visas as a gateway to immigration instead of education, the Deccan Chronicle reported.The ban was implemented by a few universities that experienced issues with student admissions. Applications from students in the states specified above are now either not processed at all or are subject to more stringent screening and verification processes.Australian officials have voiced concerns that their system of international education might have been compromised. The Department of Home Affairs and universities are closely collaborating to streamline the student visa application process.Indian education experts claimed that legitimate applicants are now confused and disappointed by this decision because India remains one of Australia's biggest sources of international students.Unless this recent development is addressed diplomatically or by policy measures, it might affect the next admission cycle and bilateral education ties.This is a significant shock to the students looking for alternatives after US President Donald Trump enforced extremely stringent regulations regarding Indian students' visas."The assertion that Indian university student applications from specific Indian states are being banned, or restricted, is incorrect."There are over 125,000 Indian students currently studying in Australia the second largest cohort of students from any country - and the Australian Government continues to process Indian student visa applications in line with our global standards."India and Australia continue to have a very strong relationship in the field of education. Australia deeply values Indian students, and the Australian Government welcomes their contribution to our classrooms and Australian society," a spokesperson at the Australian High Commission, New Delhi, said.In 2024, Australia warned several universities about immoral student recruitment techniques in an attempt to control record migration.They also declared that it would increase the amount of savings required for international students to obtain a visa. Starting from May 10, 2024, international students should submit evidence of savings of at least A$29,710 ($19,576) to be granted a visa.That was the second increase in around seven months after it was increased from A$21,041 to A$24,505 in October 2023.Dodgy providers have no place in our international education sector. These actions will help weed out the bottom feeders in the sector that seek to exploit people and trash the reputation of the sector, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said at the time.Since the COVID-19 limits were lifted in 2022, a rapid rush of migrants compounded the pressure on an existing limited rental market, prompting a series of initiatives to tighten the criteria governing student visas. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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Copyright 2025 Consumers Unified, LLC DBA ConsumerAffairs. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. The central conceit of classic sitcom The Munsters was that the family of vampires and ghouls was just like the clan on Leave It to Beaver, except the relatives occasionally transformed into bats. To get the point across, the earliest seasons of The Munsters patterned their opening theme song off another classic sitcom, only with a morbid twist. While The Donna Reed Show hasnt stayed in the public consciousness as long as The Munsters (heck, Rob Zombie made a Munsters movie just three years ago), it lasted for a whopping 275 episodes over eight seasons from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s. Families didnt get much more whitebred than the Stones, and each episode began with Donna Stone (Reed) handing out nutritious lunches to her children and husband as they left for another mundane day outside the family home. In its first season, The Munsters openly mocked The Donna Reed Show open, recreating each of its beats but with a ghoulish flourish. Lily Munster, like Donna Stone, apparently stays home all day and begins each morning by sending her family members off into the world. First up is Grandpa, whos looking for his lunch just like the Stone kids, but hell get his by biting into Lilys radial artery. With a tsk-tsking finger wag, she refuses to be a blood donor and shoos the elderly vampire out the door. Advertisement She sends human niece Marilyn and werewolf son Eddie off to school with their books, then hands an oversized lunchbox to her monstrous husband Herman as he leaves for his gravedigging job. Just like Donna Stone, she gets a quick kiss for her trouble. Unlike hubby Alex Stone, the kiss seems to send Herman into orgasmic orbit, a look of goofy post-coital bliss on his face as he stomps out the door. The whole business was a funny way to tell viewers, Youve seen this before, but were going to get weird with it. Advertisement Like their respective shows, the Munsters theme song has lived on well after the forgettable Donna Reed melody. People still share the groove on social media and YouTube is full of alt covers, including rockabilly and heavy metal versions. The song also had lyrics, although they were never used on the air. Advertisement Advertisement Play Maybe this version with a childrens chorus was just too creepy, adding an extra layer of shiver to lyrics like: If when you're sleeping you dream a lot Ghoulish nightmares parade through your head And then you wake up and scream a lot, Oh the Munsters are under your bed. Say what you want about Donna Reed, but she rarely hid under your furniture. Real comedians like Marlon Wayans never have to say theyre sorry. When he appeared in Washington, D.C. as part of his Wild Child stand-up tour, the comic told journalist Nicholas Ballasy that he wasnt softening up any of his material for a politically correct D.C. audience. They like to laugh. And the great thing about me is my sets not about politics, Wayans explained. My sets about me. Its about what I went through and nuggets of knowledge I found and how I can spread that, give that to somebody else for their life journey. Politically correct comedy and cancel culture arent real anyway, said Wayans. Thats all in societys mind. Ive never succumbed to that. I've been the same comedian that I was since we first started. Real comedians, we stayed the course. Don't Miss So Wayans has never been tempted to change up his material to fit the times? No, no, he insisted. Because humor is something that you have to be honest. You have to dig deep, and you got to touch nerves. Youre going to hurt feelings. Thats part of finding a good joke. Again, Wayans refuses to cut punchlines that might offend a particular audience. I can tell any joke. It may take me a little time to understand how to say it, but Im not afraid to go to anyone. I think its important, he told Ballasy. I just want to make people laugh and go to dark places and find some light. And you know, were going to keep that same energy. Fans of Wayans wont be surprised by the comics latest remarks. In 2022, he proclaimed that potentially uncomfortable comedies like White Chicks are needed more than ever. I dont know what planet were on, where you think people dont need laughter, and that people need to be censored and canceled, he said. If a joke is gonna get me canceled, thank you for doing me that favor. Wayans equates new audiences finding White Chicks unfunny with a culture that no longer has a sense of humor. Its sad that society is in this place where we cant laugh anymore, he maintained. I aint listening to this damn generation. I aint listening to these folks: These scared-ass people, these scared executives. Advertisement Now that scared-ass executives have greenlit another Wayans-produced Scary Movie installment, hell get his chance to stick it to the damn generation of people who dont care for his brand of humor. Thats at least what he promises about his approach to the new Scary Movie: Unforgivable, unwavered and equal opportunity offenders. Jim Gaffigan has always loved performing stand-up comedy in Canada, but these days, its citizens aren't always loving him back. On a recent episode of the We Might Be Drunk podcast, Gaffigan noted a marked change these days when he performs for Canadian audiences. Over the years, Vancouver has always had amazing comedy crowds, Gaffigan noted, a motion seconded by one of the podcasts cohosts, comedian Sam Morril. Im going there soon, he said. I love Vancouver. You could always count on Canada, Gaffigan reiterated. It wasnt like performing in Europe, where the English are just condescending in general and the Irish turned on Americans after the Gulf War. The Canadians were always like, Yeah, you know, it's not you. It's your government doing this foreign policy. Don't Miss But lately maybe it has something to do with Donald Trumps needling about Canada becoming Americas 51st state the perpetually nice nation has turned on Gaffigan. My joke was I would bring up that the Canadians were always there, he said. And now the Canadians are like, We hate you. Theyre furious. Its not just on stage. Gaffigan went to a whiskey bar in Vancouver because, you know, Im an alcoholic. I do that in every city now. Gaffigan enjoys bourbon and ordered one. Only problem: No bourbon. I go, This is a world whiskey bar. And theyre like, No, were not selling any American whiskey. And I go, So did you get rid of it? And theyre like, Oh, its back there. Were just not selling it. Okay, thought Gaffigan. He went back to his hotel, which was owned by an American company, and got his bourbon. But the point remains: Canada is mad, and its not going to take it anymore. Advertisement Broadway Video Comic Tom Green wrote an op-ed on Vulture last week, encouraging more of his fellow Canadians to voice their displeasure about whats going on in the U.S. He applauded Mike Myers for sporting a Canada is not for sale shirt when he guested on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago, a cue for even more Canadians to speak up. I lived and worked in the United States for 20 years of my life, and four years ago, I moved back to Canada, Green said. Im glad I did. Canadas mad at us, said co-host and comedian Mark Normand. Never thought Id see that. Psychologists have revealed the tell-tale sign that could indicate a person is a psychopath. Among the many infamous people who are considered to be psychopaths, are serial killers Ted Bundy, Fred West, and Richard Ramirez. Although it's not possible to gauge whether someone is a psychopath simply by looking at them, there are some interesting signs to be aware of. Researchers at Cardiff and Swansea Universities examined the effect of showing unpleasant images to offenders who are psychopathic and offenders who aren't. They saw a marked difference in the eyes of the two groups when they looked at the pictures. They noted that the psychopathic participants had a unique reaction to horrific scenes - their pupils did not widen. In contrast, pupils of non-psychopaths dilate when they see upsetting or distressing images as part of a natural response. This look is typically known as the 'psychopathic stare' or 'psychopathic eyes' - and can reflect a cold attitude towards events most people would find distressing. Ted Bundy, an American serial killer who confessed to 28 murders, but is believed to be responsible for more than 100, was considered to be a psychopath. He was executed by electric chair in January 1989 in Florida (pictured in 1978) Speaking when the research was published in 2018, lead author, Dr Dan Burley, from Cardiff University's School of Psychology, said: 'Our findings provide physical evidence of an emotional deficit common to psychopathic offenders. 'The pupil has long been known to be an indicator of a person's arousal. 'Card sharks have learnt to look carefully at the eyes of their opponents to gauge if they have a great hand, and many an astute salesperson knows to up their price if your eyes reveal your excitement at their product. 'Likewise, the pupil usually dilates when an image shocks or scares us. 'The fact that this normal physiological response to threat is reduced in psychopathic offenders provides us with an obvious physical marker for this condition.' Pupil dilation in the eyes the psychopaths was abnormal when looking at distressing scenes. However, researchers were surprised to see that their pupils dilated when looking at positive pictures, just as the pupils of non-psychopaths do. As a result of these findings, the scientists suggested this indicates that psychopathy is not associated with an overall difficulty in responding to emotion. Serial killer Fred West, who has been described as a psychopath, is believed to have killed at least 12 people. He didn't stand trial for the murders as he took his own life in 1995 before the case was tried (pictured with Rose West) Richard Ramirez, also known as the 'Night Stalker', was convicted of 13 murders in 1989. While on death row in in San Quentin prison in California, he died of natural causes in 2013, aged 59 (pictured during a court appearance in Los Angeles in 1985) Rather, they said, it suggests a specific insensitivity to threatening information. Professor Nicola Gray is a clinical and forensic psychologist from Swansea University, who provided clinical supervision for the project. Speaking at the time, she said: 'This is one of the first times we have objective, physiological, evidence of an emotional deficit underpinning the offending behaviour of psychopathic offenders that does not depend on invasive methods or expensive equipment. 'We hope to be able to develop this methodology to assist with clinical assessment and intervention in offender populations.' Professor Robert Snowden from Cardiff University said that many psychopathic offenders appear to be bold, confident, and can act in cold-blooded manner. He added: 'It's much easier to act bold if you have no feelings of fear, and to be cold-blooded if there is no emotion to get in the way of the act.' The term psychopath is not a diagnosis, and while some people believe it is the same as antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), according to Dr David Tzall, a licensed psychologist, they are not the same thing. Speaking to Psych Central, he said that the two conditions are 'similar in scope but different in terms of details' describing ASPD as 'a diagnosable personality disorder characterised by a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of others, the safety of themselves and others, impulsivity, and socially accepted norms and rules'. Meanwhile, he said: 'Psychopathy is a personality construct that describes a set of interpersonal, affective, and behavioural traits that are similar to those observed in ASPD.' 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 I had a sobering moment recently: I realised I was wearing a cap emblazoned with The Ritzs logo while staying in a Travelodge on the side of a British motorway. I can only hope the check-in staff thought I was less delusional, more aspirational. For resortcore is having a moment. Resortcore? The expansion of luxury hotel merchandise, often in collaboration with of-the-moment fashion brands. The allure? The right merch signals youre part of the right club. And, lets be honest, it makes people think youve just come back from a five star break. The good news is - you dont need to take on a new mortgage, or even leave your sofa to get in on the action. What could once only be purchased at the resort shop by guests forking out a fortune, can now be snapped up online...So if your taste is The Plaza, but budget more Premier Inn, heres our guide to the trendiest luxury hotel merch of the moment. The Four Seasons We know, we know, The White Lotus is a fictional hotel but all three series of the smash series have been filmed at tropical Four Seasons resorts. And the White Lotus effect means the Four Seasons look think bright, printed resortwear is all the rage. For pricey paradisiacal prints, head to Camilla - theyve collaborated with The White Lotus on a clothing range that subtly features the fictional hotels iconography. The sarong (254, uk.camilla.com) is a multi-ways-to-wear wonder Back in the real world, London brand Paper has partnered with the Hampshire branch of the Four Seasons to produce a chic tote bag that would be equally at home in Hampshire and Hawaii (75, paperlondon.com). The Ritz Paris An international byword for luxury? The Ritz Paris, bien sur. Coco Chanel lived there in the latter years of her life, for goodness sake. It doesnt get much chicer than that. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Princess Diana also famously stayed. And recently, the hotel released their fourth collaboration with American denim brand Frame, combining French elegance with sportswear cool. Such is the allure of the legendary hotel that even those well known to have the budget to permanently abide there cant resist signalling their allegiance more widely Hailey Bieber has been spotted in the Frame x The Ritz cap. The logo-emblazoned (trust The Ritz to make logos chic) Breton t-shirt (188, farfetch.com) offers Parisian prestige wherever you go even if it is a Travelodge. The Fife Arms Located just 15 minutes from Balmoral in the village of Braemar, The Fife Arms is a firm favourite with A-listers including Rita Ora and Judi Dench. And no wonder its unique combination of old-world Caledonian charm with modern luxury is summed up by the fact artworks by Picasso hang on its walls alongside watercolours by Queen Victoria and the King. The Fifes merch nods to their Highlands heritage highlights include their silk scarf boasting pictures of the hotel through the ages (75, shop.thefifearms.com) and cashmere socks exclusively made for them by Scottish cashmere queen Rosie Sugden (40). The Newt A country estate reimagined is The Newt in Somersets tagline. The members clubs luxurious facilities (restaurants, swimming pools, a spa) are set amongst rolling orchards and woodland, with a Georgian manor house as the focal point. Talk about bucolic. This perfectly balanced old-meets-new fusion attracts the most stylish of the Somerset set, who come from the nearby trendy towns of Bruton and Frome. The good news? The goodies sold at the idyllic shops on The Newts grounds are available to shop online too. So even if your lifestyle is less slow Somerset living, more sweating on the Central Line, you can channel the former anyway. Their adorable baguette bag epitomises their slow living ethos (6.50, shop.thenewtinsomerset.com). Estelle Manor A new school club with old school values, Estelle Manor is the Oxfordshire companion to Mayfair members club Maison Estelle. On the doorstep of the Cotswolds, Estelles parkland and Grade II-listed house perfectly befit Jilly Coopers favourite setting. No wonder their shop doesnt sell overpriced magnets and mechanical pencils. Their shop, rather, is so beautifully curated its a destination in its own right. And while you need to be a member to visit in person, the online store has democratised a slice of Estelle living. Their tote is humorously self-aware (60), or try their menswear-style shirts (270) (themuse.estellemanor.com). The Carlyle Great news for those lacking air miles you no longer need to travel transatlantic to dip your toe in the luxury of New Yorks most iconic hotel. Located on the Upper East Side (naturally), The Carlyle is where A-listers stay when attending the Met Gala. So well-frequented by celebrities since its opening 1930, its earned the nickname the Palace of Secrets. And The Carlyles recent collaboration with sportswear brand of the moment Sporty & Rich evokes the decadent repose for which the hotel is famous. The cashmere crewneck jumpers (179) and 100% US-grown cotton sweatshirts (137, sportyandrich.com), featuring the hotels instantly recognisable, elegant cursive logo, offer a welcome upscaling to the itchy polyester t-shirts typically associated with merchandise. Talk about encapsulating a stay at a luxury hotel. I never liked the queues at Heathrow anyway. A new mother has revealed some of the hilarious things she said while under anaesthesia during labour - and even asked her midwives to rate how much fun they were having out of ten. Emma, a Birmingham City University student, shared her experience in a video on TikTok which has gone viral, with more than 116,000 likes. The student, who welcomed a daughter less than a week ago, took to social media to share the unfiltered video which captured her reaction to giving birth. In the clip, Emma, sucking on gas and air, provided hilarious commentary on the life-changing experience. During the montage, the law student said: 'What a process this is', as she lay back on a bed, sucking on the anaesthesia while wearing a hospital nightgown and pink bonnet. She then added: 'You can't just push out a baby and call it a day' while a midwife, seemingly trying not to laugh, agreed it was a long process. Other funny comments included: 'Honestly us mothers innit mummy,' and telling her sister off for suggesting she didn't need more gas and air. Then, faking an American accent, Emma told her sister who was filming her: 'I aint ever did a whip a day in my life - get that on camera not like all the rest of you at university. I only do this medicated.' Emma, a Birmingham City University student, shared her experience of giving birth in a video on TikTok which has gone viral, with more than 116,000 likes Still under the anaesthetic, Emma then calls out for her baby, saying: 'Where's my good sis, my baby?' before comparing the gas and air mouthpiece to a trumpet, miming playing while her sister tells her repeatedly not to blow in to it. Afterwards, amazed, she said: 'I can't believe this, what a day', before asking the midwives to rate her performance. She says: 'Have we had fun guys? On a scale of one to ten, how much fun have we had?'. At the end of the clip, Emma looks at the camera and mumbles: My poor baby' before pausing and adding, 'joking - my rich baby. Tell her I'm investing in stocks and shares for her. Vanguard S&P 500'. And TikTok users ran to Emma's comments to share their own hilarious experiences of gas and air, with some even confessing watching her video had made them want to have children themselves. One person commented: 'I was so licked off all the drugs and gas and air I was convinced I'd seen my midwife on Take Me Out and was like f**k Paddy Doherty (I know now his name is Paddy Mcguinness). Another wrote: 'This is the first thing I've seen that's made me think, maybe I should have a kid'. Another mother said: 'I offered the gas and air to my partner & the midwives during labour and told them it was just like doing balloons, and repeatedly kept saying 'honestly just try it, have some!' I won't tell anyone.' In the clip, Emma, sucking on gas and air, provides hilarious commentary on the life-changing experience including asking the midwives to rate her She also told her sister who was filming that she wanted to invest in stocks and shares to make sure her little girl would be rich One said: 'Becky I love gas and air I kept asking my midwife when my Amazon parcel was coming, I hadn't ordered anything. I was referring to my baby. My baby was an Amazon parcel'. While a fellow mother commented: ''What a day' absolutely sending me! I was practically chewing the gas and air when I was in labour. Congrats on your baby!'. And Emma is not the only new mother who got a kick out of the anaesthesia while giving birth. Lauren Hawking, from Plymouth, was filmed by her partner laughing her head off whilst pointing at her newborn - leaving viewers in hysterics. The 27-year-old was on gas and air after giving birth to help ease the pain but was left high as a kite, making her giggle at her baby boy. Lauren said: 'My partner started filming as he thought it was funny. It just makes me laugh. Just to clarify, I love my baby very much and it was filmed right after I had Rowan.' TikTok users ran to Emma's comments to share their own hilarious experiences of gas and air, with some even confessing watching her video had made them want to have children The hilarious clip, which racked up over 10 million views on TikTok, showed Lauren pointing at her baby and laughing hysterically. Through fits of giggles Lauren says in the video: 'Look', her partner said: 'Why are you pointing at the baby.' The new mum responded with: 'Look at that kid, look at that baby, that's your baby, that ain't mine.' 'I had water retention, interstitial cystitis and had a catheter fitted while I had internal trauma. Denmark's royal household has released Princess Isabella's first official gala portraits to mark her 18th birthday today. The eldest daughter of Queen Mary and King Frederik X of Denmark, who enjoyed multiple events in honour of her birthday last week, posed for the photographs at Knight's Hall of Frederick VIII's Palace in Amalienborg. Isabella put on a dashing display in a vibrant orange ballgown, which was adorned with the Order of the Elephant and a miniature portrait of her father. The 18-year-old, who opted for a glowing makeup look, added a pair of turquoise and diamond earrings and a matching tiara. The caption read: '18 years ago today Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella was born.' 'The birthday itself is marked with the publication of the Princess's first official gala portraits. 'The princess is photographed in the Knight's Hall of Frederick VIII's Palace in Amalienborg, and on the portraits Her Royal Highness wears the Order of the Elephant with a star chest... and a miniature Order portrait of her father, His Majesty the King.' One day before Isabella's birthday, the Danish Royal Family shared a scrapbook of adorable intimate family pictures. The Danish royal household has released Princess Isabella of Denmark's first official gala portraits to mark her 18th birthday today To mark her milestone birthday, the proud parents posted an array of childhood snaps of Isabella and her family throughout various stages of her life. The royal family's Instagram caption read: 'Little glimpses from childhood to 18 years old. 'On the occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella's 18th birthday on Monday, Their Majesties the King and Queen share here a selection of memories.' These included an adorable snap of Queen Margrethe - who abdicated the Danish throne in January last year - holding her newborn granddaughter shortly after she was born. The former monarch was seen smiling as she looked down at Isabella while cradling her in her arms. Another sweet black and white image also showed a young Isabella smiling as she clutched onto her mother's back. Isabella donned a orange ballgown, which was adorned with the Order of the Elephant and a miniature portrait of her father A sweet black and white image showed a young Isabella smiling as she clutched onto her mother Queen Mary's back Princess Isabella steps out in a glitzy ballgown as she throws a gigantic birthday bash on Tuesday last week An adorable snap of Queen Margrethe - who abdicated the Danish throne in January last year - holding her granddaughter when she had just been born A second endearing photograph showed older sister Isabella touching Mary's baby bump when she was pregnant with twins Josephine and Vincent in 2010. The couple also chose a picture of Isabella - who is called Bella for short in some of the scrapbook captions - and her late grandfather, Prince Henrik of Denmark, who passed away in 2018. The monochrome image showed the Princess wrapping her arms around Henrik, giving him a huge hug. The extensive post also included snaps of Isabella with her Australian Scottish grandparents on Mary's side. Mary's parents are Scottish, but they emigrated to Hobart, Tasmania, where she was born in 1972. Her mother, Henrietta Clark Donaldson, sadly passed in 1997 following complications from a heart surgery when Mary was just 25 years old. Her father, John Dalgleish Donaldson, remarried a British crime writer Susan Horwood, who writes under the name Susan Moody. Elsewhere, another picture showed a young Isabella swimming and spending quality time with her father, King Frederik. Princess Isabella is pictured with Queen Mary of Denmark before her birthday performance last Tuesday The couple also chose a picture of Isabella and her late grandfather, Prince Henrik of Denmark, who passed away in 2018 Numerous images showed Isabella from when was around five years old on family trips in Tisvilde, a seaside town in Denmark Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine posed for a precious family snap with John and Susan - Mary's father and stepmother - on their grandfather's birthday Another heartwarming picture showed a young Isabella swimming with her father, King Frederik A second endearing photograph showed older sister Isabella touching Mary's baby bump when she was pregnant with twins Josephine and Vincent in 2010 Also in the scrapbook were adorable family snaps of Frederik and Mary with their two eldest children Princess Isabella and Prince Christian Pictured L-R: Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine, Queen Mary, Princess Isabella, King Frederik, Prince Christian last Tuesday Queen Mary and King Frederik also included more recent snaps of Isabella with the family border collie, Grace Other images showed Isabella from when was around five years old on family trips in Tisvilde, a seaside town in Denmark, and her feeding a horse - along with more recent snaps of her with the family border collie, Grace. Princess Isabella is expected to enjoy a private birthday celebration with family and loved ones to mark the occasion today. From this year onwards, Princess Isabella will also have her birthday added into the rotation of annual flag days, which are the official dates when the national flag is traditionally flown. In addition to celebrating at the lavish Royal Theatre's Old Stage in Copenhagen last Tuesday, Isabella also had an earlier party on April 11, which, according to Hello, cost a staggering 32,542. The middle-aged woman was slumped in the office chair, head in hands. It was clear to divorce lawyer Sheela Mackintosh-Stewart that this client's marriage had reached the end of its road. Sheela's mind raced through the usual triggers: an affair, coercion, money problems? Then she asked: 'What brings you to my office?' The answer took her by surprise. 'Toenail clippings,' the woman replied. 'I cannot tolerate one more day of having to listen to the sound of his yellowing toenails ricocheting off the bathroom tiles. I want a divorce.' Trimming your toenails might seem a petty offence, but Sheela and many other divorce lawyers are increasingly seeing people at the end of their marital tether due to seemingly inconsequential habits and actions. Sheela has counselled numerous couples driven to the brink by petty offences, such as the 'correct' way to load a dishwasher, the cardboard inner tube of the loo roll never making it to the bin, nasal hair being left sprinkled around the edge of the sink, snoring, public flatulence, soup slurping, arguments about the 'correct' spot on the thermostat dial, being followed around the house, or the constantly reappearing sight of spilt tea, a spent tea bag and a teaspoon by the kettle. One male client cited his wife's 'aggressive tooth-brushing action' as his reason for wanting a divorce. 'It's easy to dismiss these 'petty' problems as insignificant, but to the couples living them, they're anything but minor,' Sheela says, adding that she has seen countless marriages come to an end as a result of everyday irritations and unspoken frustrations. Divorce lawyer Sheela Mackintosh-Stewart says she has seen countless marriages come to an end as a result of everyday irritations and unspoken frustrations The survival of any long-term marriage will depend on the ability and willingness by one or both partners to endure seemingly petty annoyances Family lawyer Sarah Ingram, a partner at London firm Winckworth Sherwood, agrees, explaining that the majority of divorces she deals with are the result of minor issues building up over time rather than the consequence of one big event. Some of the reasons she has been given by warring couples have included buying thoughtless birthday gifts, perpetually falling asleep on the sofa in front of the TV, never going out for meals and an enduring aversion to tidying up. Let's face it, nobody is perfect and we all bring our own little habits and behaviours into a relationship. But the survival of any long-term marriage will depend on the ability and willingness by one or both partners to endure seemingly petty annoyances. So what's going on to make these mini infringements a factor in divorce? 'It's not about how small the irritation is, it's about how big is the feeling attached to that irritation,' says relationship counsellor Natasha Silverman. 'The difference between a tiny act being OK for one person, or on one occasion, and then not OK for someone else is the size of the feeling attached to it. 'For example, it's not about the wet towels abandoned on the bathroom floor, it's the way in which thoughtlessly dropping those towels for you to pick up somehow makes you feel unloved and unsupported this negativity can grow in magnitude to the point when towel-dropping becomes very definitely not OK.' As Natasha explains, at the beginning of a relationship we tend to be more flexible and accepting (so the throat-clearing or unconscious sniffing might even seem endearing) but the more we settle in, the more these quirks can irritate us. 'Your degree of irritation might depend on other pressures too,' she says. 'If you're exhausted by juggling a job and young children then having to perpetually correct your partner's haphazard dish- washer-stacking can feel like another unnecessary task of drudgery.' Other factors can exacerbate the situation, such as the short fuse that so often accompanies perimenopause and menopause. This, says Natasha, can turn a tiny misdemeanour into the trigger for a fight. The same degree of escalation can occur if you're unwell or extremely stressed. 'At certain times in your life, your tolerance for negative emotion or for feeling unseen and unsupported can plummet dramatically,' she explains. As a divorce lawyer, Sheela has witnessed an additional aggravating factor as men get older, they can become less self-aware, increasing their irritating habits. Many of her clients are older women empty nesters whose children have left home and who now resent being expected to clean up continually after a husband who behaves like a child. These actions leave women feeling unseen and unappreciated and frustrations swiftly fester into resentment. 'At their core, these irritations aren't about the toothpaste smears or the soup slurping,' says Sheela. 'They are symptoms of deeper issues such as poor communication and unmet emotional needs.' In her new book, I (Think) I Want Out: What To Do When One Of You Wants To End Your Marriage, family therapist Dr Becky Whetstone describes how long-term relationships can end after a succession of minor offences. 'Too many people think it takes marital 'felonies' like adultery, abuse and addiction to take a marriage down, but it can die over parking and speeding ticket-level misdemeanours, particularly if one of you asks for this to change and the other doesn't respond,' she says. 'I call it death by a thousand paper cuts because the offences on the surface are not major, and yet if they persist, the marriage itself will experience irreparable blood loss, and that is how two good people can end up getting divorced. You can be making your partner miserable with the little things you aren't aware you're doing. It happens all the time.' For one of her clients, the final straw was the money-off voucher her husband used on a 'let's patch things up' romantic dinner. 'It wasn't about the voucher, of course, it was this woman's perception that he didn't value her enough to pay the full price,' says Becky. Another client was driven to distraction by her husband's refusal to put the lavatory seat down after using it. She had repeatedly asked him to do so, but he had responded: 'Why don't you put it UP when you finish so I can be accommodated? I don't complain when you leave it down.' In the majority of divorce cases that Sarah has dealt with, the couples had gritted their teeth for years, staying silent about the 'annoying small things' and hoping that they would get better. Relationship counsellor Natasha Silverman says at the beginning of a relationship we tend to be more flexible and accepting but the more we settle in, the more these quirks can irritate us Writer Matthew Fray trained as a relationship counsellor after his wife left him because she could no longer tolerate the way he habitually left his used drinking glass by the sink This is what happened to writer Matthew Fray, whose wife walked out on him after 12 years because, she confessed to him, she could no longer tolerate the way he habitually left his used drinking glass by the sink. Matthew was so shocked that he trained as a relationship counsellor, eventually writing This Is How Your Marriage Ends: A Hopeful Approach To Saving Relationships. It turns out that it wasn't just about the glass. 'Occasionally there were plates too, deposited on the counter, just inches from the dishwasher. Sometimes I failed to put my clothes away and instead left them draped on furniture or even on the floor,' he admits. His wife had mentioned her irritation a few times, but he says: 'While we were married, I thought she should recognise how petty and meaningless these things were in the grand scheme of life.' It was only years later that Matthew came to understand that the empty glass, unwashed plates and discarded clothes were far, far more irritating than he could ever have imagined because his wife saw them as a symbol that he did not respect or appreciate her. 'I didn't realise my wife was moving incrementally closer to ending our marriage every time she saw that glass, because I stubbornly refused to look at the world from where she stood. 'The ticking timebombs that destroy our marriages are often disguised as harmless, innocent, everyday behaviours. 'I'll never care about a glass by the sink, but my wife did and because I wouldn't or couldn't respect her feelings, it caused her real pain.' How to save your marriage Matthew realised far too late that maybe he could have rescued his marriage one empty glass at a time. But before you start thinking about whether the way you chew, walk, cough or breathe could be unwittingly driving a wedge between you and your partner, take these expert-approved steps to potentially save your marriage. Nip it in the bud Sheela warns against letting things simmer until it boils over. She says: 'The longer you hold on to little annoyances, the bigger they'll feel so bring it up early, with a little kindness (and maybe even humour) to keep things light and productive. For example, 'Hey, can we talk about the shoes everywhere? It's not a huge deal, but it would mean a lot if you could tuck them away. I'll try to do the same.' As a divorce lawyer, she recommends avoiding the dreaded 'You ALWAYS do this!' tone which will immediately put your partner on the defensive. Be responsive If your partner kindly mentions something that is bothering them, don't argue, but be prepared to change. 'You may not understand why you are being asked to take your shoes off at the front door, but if your partner asks you to, and if honouring their request doesn't harm you or anyone else, then it is the loving thing to do,' says Becky. 'It is not the deed itself but a lack of responsiveness to a reasonable request to change which can lead to these tiny grains of sand piling up into a mountain. When your partner doesn't respond to a reasonable request, it sends the message that what you want is more important than what they want and reveals you are a person who thinks in terms of 'me', instead of a person who thinks of 'us'. Love is wanting the best for your partner and involves doing things which help them to feel loved and respected.' The weekly check-in Sheela recommends that all couples get into the habit of a weekly check-in. 'Think of it as a quick, no-frills pit stop to make sure everything is running smoothly, Go for a walk together and talk about things that are going well before asking whether there's anything you might have done recently that could have been bugging them or anything they'd like you to do differently. It's not about pointing fingers, but it gives you both a chance to make tweaks before resentment sets in.' Play a game Sit down with a glass of wine on a relaxed evening and challenge each other to say the three things you do that make me happy, and the three things you do that annoy me. The key, says Sheela, is that both of you do this. 'Make it playful this is a game, not an accusation exercise, and it should prompt a healthy dialogue and, ideally, change.' Use the X, Y, Z technique Natasha urges clarity and kindness about what and why you want any behaviour to change and recommends using this formula: When you do X in situation Y, I feel Z ('When I see your toenail clippings on the bathroom floor, I find it really unappealing and it reduces how attracted I can feel towards you.') 'Lead with the behaviour, not the person, and tell them how it makes you feel unloved or unsupported.' Tackling years of irritation It can be very difficult asking for a habit which you have endured for many years, if not decades, to change. 'Addressing an ingrained behaviour will require courage,' says Becky. 'You'll need to be punching through your anticipatory fear that confrontation might cause problems.' Timing is also important. Sheela suggests adopting a soft, non-threatening strategy and taking a gentle, flirty tone. 'Start by rubbing his back and asking, 'Is this a good time to talk to you?' Then tell them how this thing they do makes you feel, for example, 'Can I mention a couple of things that have been bugging me? Please don't be offended. I know I should have said something sooner, but lately something has been grating on me' Be clear about what you need Before embarking on any conversation, it's always good to be absolutely clear about the outcome you desire. 'Every criticism is an unmet wish,' says Natasha. So be ready with a suggested solution in the hope that they ask, 'How can I change?' The key to success is making sure your partner doesn't shut down and go into an 'emotional foxhole', warns Becky. 'You must leave blame out of it. Instead be prepared to talk about what's wrong for you and what you need.' Boost the positives According to Natasha, research shows that happy couples have five positive interactions to every one negative interaction. So if you know you're on a short fuse or about to lose control, the more positive moments you can throw into the mix (such as bringing a cup of tea to them in bed or letting them watch their favourite TV programme when you're itching to watch yours) should help to keep the small irritants in proportion. But she warns that when something you've lived with and endured for years suddenly feels impossible to bear, it could be a warning sign that it's time to get professional help. Tina Brown has launched an attack on Meghan Markle, accusing her of being 'enormously shallow' and claiming the reason she's launched so many new business ventures is because she's 'desperate for attention'. The former Vanity Fair editor-in-chief, 71, said: 'Her problem is just that she is so ADD. She just never stops making announcements and never really follows through,' in the Mixed Signals for Semafor Media podcast on Friday. 'It's like, I'm gonna do a cooking show! Nah - I'm going to be a podcaster. And hello, hello, I've got a beauty line!' Tina wrote The Diana Chronicles, about the Princess of Wales, in 2007. In 2022, she penned The Palace Papers, the inside story of the British Royal Family. 'It's like, just do one of those things, do it really well, and then do something else. 'She's weirdly panic-stricken in her business model.' In the last couple of months, former Suits actor Meghan, 43, has launched her lifestyle brand, As Ever, her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, and her podcast series, Confessions of a Female Founder.' Tina Brown, a royal author and former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair has criticised Meghan Markle, describing her as 'shallow' (pictured in March 2025 in New York) 'Maybe she's just so devoid of self-confidence that she's always trying to be a sort of instant Beyonce or instant Michelle Obama without the background that has built those people - you know, those very, very strong structures on which they stand. So that's really been her problem,' Tina said. 'If she'd simply succeeded at one thing, and then done another thing, she'd be in a much, much better place. 'But she's enormously shallow in her approach to the work she does.' Tina, who is a longstanding critic of Meghan and her husband Prince Harry, 40, also spoke about the influence the Duchess. The royal expert said: 'The thing about Meghan is she's really not bad at anything that she does. 'She has a huge influencer following. When she puts on a shirt or carries a handbag, it sells out, which means that she clearly has a following of people who really like what she stands for in some ways. 'Obviously, there are Meghan lovers and Meghan haters. The Palace just doesn't really think about Meghan anymore. It's almost like she's gone. And I think the tragic aspect is Harry.' Tina Brown claimed she has been told that Meghan (pictured appearing in episode three of With Love, Meghan) does not take advice from anyone She continued: 'What I hear from everyone is that she's unadvisable, and that is the issue. 'She's had a lot of good people willing to give advice to her, but what has irritated the people who do - and big people who do - is that they sit with her and they give her very good advice, and she kind of appears to be extremely motivated by it. 'And then she doesn't do it, and does something else. She's worn out her advisory circle, who just feel like, well, what's the point? She's not going to do it. 'And, unfortunately, she is the major adviser to Harry. She doesn't take advice, and he only takes hers. That's not a very good combination really for either of them.' After With Love, Meghan was released on Netflix, Tina gave an excoriating review of the programme, declaring it is proof the former Suits actress has an 'unerring instinct for getting it wrong'. Amid poor reviews, Tina claimed the only show that would have worked would have been one where Meghan admitted 'what a flaming flop the last five years have been'. Meghan 'has never figured out a convincing persona' and is 'behind the curve', the journalist and royal expert added. She claimed Meghan is 'too damn impatient,' adding: 'Who announces a new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, and hounds celebrity friends to talk up her strawberry jam on social media, without doing due diligence on the availability of the trademark?' Tina Brown (pictured in New York in 2022) has criticised Meghan a number of times - once saying the Duchess has an 'unerring instinct for getting it wrong' She also criticised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision for choosing Netflix over a future with the Royal Family and probably steering the Commonwealth. Writing in her newsletter Fresh Hell in March she said: 'Meghan has come out with a show about fake perfection just when the zeitgeist has turned raucously against it. 'Trump's America is a foulmouthed and dishevelled cultural place where podcasters in sweaty T-shirts, crotch-rot jeans, and headphones achieve world domination on YouTube.' With Love, Meghan brought in barely a quarter of the viewers hooked by the documentary series Harry & Meghan in 2022, it was revealed today. It came as Netflix's own data showed that With Love, Meghan has been more successful in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia than in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. 'It's not a runaway success', MailOnline's insider at Netflix has admitted. The Duchess of Sussex's eight-part series was watched by 526,000 households in the first five days it was available on Netflix since its release on March 4, according to data gathered by Samba TV. While appearing on the Mixed Signals podcast, Tina Brown also dished out her candid views on Prince Andrew and the recent controversial social media post from his accuser, Virgina Giuffre. Tina Brown also shared her thoughts on Prince Andrew (pictured attending the Easter Sunday service in Windsor on April 20) while speaking on the podcast Last month, Virgina, 41, shared on Instagram a shocking photo of herself in a hospital bed which she claimed was the result of a bus crash on March 24. 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.' Tina said: 'I've always found the Giuffre story interesting... The story might be exactly as she's portrayed it, but it was a strange thing to do - to post pictures of herself black and blue on Instagram saying I have four days to live. And then it turned out that actually there hadn't been a bus crash of any particular severity. 'And she's fine, it seems. So what's that about? Does that just mean that she's currently unwell and has done this thing? Or is there another story there? I just think it deserves a good, full bodied blowout story.' Former magazine supremo Tina added: 'I always wanted to interview the husband. Like, the story was that she left Epstein, she went to Australia, and then she never came back because she met this guy... and you never really learn the full surround. 'I don't think we've got the Epstein story wrong. Epstein was a very sinister, deeply terrible person. I don't think we got Epstein wrong. 'And I don't think we got the Andrew story wrong. I mean, Andrew is... he has the worst judgment in the world. He's an idiot. You know, he's kind of loathsome in a thousand ways. 'It's just possible, though, that he wasn't lying about Virginia Giuffre. I mean, that's one of the things in life. It's like, sometimes Trump tells the truth, you know. But the thing is he's a total liar, so why would you believe him? Sort of the same thing with Andrew.' Bonnie Blue has been branded 'vile' after admitting she's turned on by knowing that 'barely legal girls' will be following her example and taking part in group sex. The Nottinghamshire-born Only Fans star, whose real name is Tia Emma Billinger, found fame last year after claiming to have slept with 1,057 men in 12 hours. Having first aired her intention to sleep with 'barely legal girls' while celebrating Spring Break in Cancun, Mexico, in March, it appears her plan is about to become a reality - but not without a huge backlash. Bonnie, 25, has teamed up with 22-year-old US Only Fans model and TikTok star Julia Filippo, who has 3.3 million followers on the clip-sharing platform. In a recent video featuring Julia and another girl called Alice, Bonnie says: 'This is going to turn me on knowing Ive got two barely legal girls watching, learning, seeing'. She then adds an X-rated comment about how the two younger girls will prepare for a group sex session 'next week, altogether'. And, in a second clip, also featuring Julia, Bonnie is even more explicit, announcing: I cannot wait to teach a virgin girl'. She says that while she was interested in guys before, she's now focused on barely legal bop girls'. Bonnie Blue (left) is pictured with 22-year-old model and TikTok star Julia Filippo Julia appeared in a clip with Bonnie, with the two discussing plans for Julia and another girl to join a group sex session 'It turns me on to another level', she adds. Later, conversation turns to the risks involved in the kind of stunts that Bonnie has become famous for, with Julia asking: 'You ever get, like, infections from these men? Like, UTIs and s***?' To this, Bonnie replies: 'No, I take cranberry vitamins, drink a lot of pineapple juice'. Originally posted on Bonnie's Instagram page, the clip was later shared by another account on X - where it attracted more than 400 comments, the vast majority of which were extremely disapproving. One person highlighted that Bonnie's breezy response regarding sexually transmitted infections put other women at risk. They wrote: 'Can I just point out that cranberry supplements and pineapple juice don't actually prevent you from catching STIs, ladies. Please don't rely on Bonnie's method'. Others, however, were much harsher, with one person commenting: 'She is vile. She needs to be jailed.' Another X user added: 'Grim. Can you imagine the trouble there would be if it was a bloke saying it? Sickening. Bonnie became a household name when she claimed to have slept with 1,057 men in 12 hours, breaking the world record Bonnie's clip attracted a lot of attention on X, with more than 400 people posting disapproving comments A fourth person wrote: 'It's extremely disgusting to think that anyone would see in this woman someone to emulate. Sad really'. A fifth chimed in: 'Bonnie is only 25 and looks 40... That should automatically turn girls off to that lifestyle'. Back in March, Bonnie was called 'absolutely outrageous' and 'vile' after she revealed her latest X-rated challenge. Having found fame with a series of grubby acts - including touring UK Freshers' weeks to sleep with as many 18-year-olds as possible - Bonnie upped the ante by stating her intention to bed as many teenage girls as possible. Bonnie claimed it was a way to educate young men on sexuality while also helping them out financially. When she was not filming content for her raunchy page, Bonnie appeared to be partying with the boys and even holding some competitions with large cash prizes available. But Bonnie - who claims she slept with 1,057 men in 12 hours - said that she's now looking to sleep with young women. 'I'm on the hunt for barely legal boys,' she said in a TikTok. Bonnie - who claims she slept with 1,057 men in 12 hours - said that she's now looking to sleep with young women 'But I've heard barely legal girls taste super sweet, I need to try this for myself,' she added. But the former cam girl received backlash with some people calling her latest goal 'vile'. One wrote: 'People pray, this is what the world has come to. Shame on all of you, no respect. I pray for the world.' Another penned: 'This isn't okay,' while a third said: 'Completely outrageous.' A fourth commented: 'Imagine the uproar if a man said this?!' Bonnie used to work as a cam girl before switching to an OnlyFans career and now reportedly rakes in around 1million a month for uploading racy sexually explicit videos. Speaking about her latest US trip to DailyMail.com, Bonnie said: 'Most men will expect to get laid on Spring Break. 'I think having an older woman in the mix who's up for it and keen to pleasure anyone over the age of 18 is positive for the women who don't want to be pestered. 'The guys are guaranteed to have a positive experience because I know what I'm doing.' She recently told her social media followers she was excited to take 'so many virginities' this year. While the annual celebration doesn't officially kick off until April, images from this year's festivities show Bonnie, along with fellow porn star Annie Knight, taking selfies and rubbing shoulders with throngs of party-goers. Former cam girl - whose real name is Tia Billinger - received backlash with some people calling her latest goal 'vile' At one point, Bonnie allowed an eager Spring Breaker to drink a shot from her belly button while he grabbed her behind. She was also seen pushing her rear end into another man's crotch and another snap showed her kissing a man on the lips at the event. In a post shared to her Instagram account, a bikini-clad Bonnie is pictured on a hotel bed while surrounded by five young men. 'These barely legals made it so I can barely walk,' she captioned it. Last year, Bonnie said she was able to bed 122 men in two weeks during Spring Break. She first did it on Australia's Gold Coast for Schoolies, and then to Mexico for Spring Break and then the UK for Freshers Week. Speaking to DailyMail.com in January, the 25-year-old said that she's now making 'one million a month' on OnlyFans. 'I'm proud of my earnings but I'm prouder of the volume of people I'm able to pleasure,' she said. The annual meet-up took place outside Harrods in London on Saturday Members of the Traveller community dressed to the nines as they took to London's Harrods for a big Easter meet-up yesterday. There were bustling scenes on Saturday when dozens took to Knightsbridge for the traditional event that sees youngsters mingle near the department store. Prior to the meet-up, content creators shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of their preparations for the annual occasion. Dakota, who goes by @dakota.deahna, piled on the designer accessories in her 'get ready with me' clip, which racked up over 50 thousand views. 'Come get ready with me to travel up to London for the traveller day out,' she began before showing her dress from Zara. She added a pair of Valentino heels, a 1,450 Louis Vuitton handbag, a pair of Fendi sunglasses, and a Chanel brooch to her outfit. Elsewhere, content creator Lindy Walls started her preparation for the event on Friday night. She said: 'Get ready with me for London, it's a big meet-up and we're all going. I did my hair the night before and I've just done my makeup, so come get dressed with me.' Traveller women have shared footage of themselves preparing for a meet-up outside Harrods on Saturday, including Lindy Walls (pictured) Lindy added a spritz of perfume over her pink dress and was ready to go after packing a pair of flat shoes to ensure her comfort on the way back. Elsewhere, Rebecca Smith gained over 130 thousand views on a video of herself all glammed up with friends inside the department store. Influencer Mary Bridget Stanley, who boasts over 900 thousand followers, shared a clip of how she completed her makeup for the event. 'Come do my makeup with me for the big traveller meet-up in London outside Harrods,' she said before showing her followers how she achieved the glamorous look. After the event, TikTok was filled with clips of the large gathering, including one by @matrixoflondon showing youngsters hanging around and chatting to each other. The large gathering left some people puzzled, but MailOnline understands the gathering takes place every year. Influencer Mary Bridget Stanley (pictured) showed her followers how she achieved her glamorous makeup look for the occasion Rebecca Smith shared a clip with her friends (pictured) inside the London-based department store Content creator Dakota (pictured) completed her outfit with a Louis Vuitton bag and a pair of Fendi sunglasses One local explained on Reddit 'I have had my doorbell rung quite a few times over the years on weekends by gypsies and even Hyde Park picnickers asking about public toilets'. 'To say I was bewildered the first time I saw them just congregating outside Harrods would be an understatement,' they wrote. 'I'm not British and I had no idea about the gypsy culture here. All I saw one fine Saturday afternoon were dozens upon dozens of young people decked out in designer clothes (almost all the guys were wearing Canada Goose and the women, identical Louboutin heels).' One female who said she had attended explained the reason behind the meet, but felt 'there was no point going any more'. She said on TikTok: 'So basically a group of travellers meet-up outside the front of Harrods for a chat. Come from god knows where. 'Years ago people used to chat, but now people think their own s**t don't stink and will look you up and down. 'There's no point going, no one socialises any more. But yeah, I had a lovely time yesterday because I went with the right company.' It has previously been suggested that the travellers meet up outside of Harrods to find a partner. @marybridgetstanleyx Makeup with me for the big gypsy gal & boys meet up cause its not like Im nearly 100 years of age cheek of me original sound - Marybridget Stanley One traveller, named Suzy, opened up on TikTok last year that the community headed to the store and other meet ups, including at Thorpe Park Fright Night, dressed in their 'skimpiest outfit' when looking for romance. 'How to get yourself a traveller man first you've got to go to a meet,' she said. 'For example, a lot of travellers have little meeting places. 'It'll happen a few times a year Thorpe Park for Fright Night, standing outside Harrods near Christmas, Winter Wonderland. 'Those are just a few that's coming up. 'Go to one of them places and make sure you're dressed up to the nines, and I mean dressed up. 'Your furry sliders out, your fake Louboutins.' According to The Sun, she advised women to make sure their makeup was 'heavy' and when they 'eye up the traveller boy, make sure you give him "the look"'. Travellers descended on Winter Wonderland in December in what is also fast becoming a tradition for the community and has been dubbed their new 'Appleby Horse Fair'. Influencer Mary Kate Jones uploaded a 'get ready with me' video to TikTok where she boasted a full face of makeup and showed off her glamorous outfit sporting items from outlets like Zara and Shein. But she also bemoaned the treatment her community gets from some establishments. Ms Jones claimed: 'They don't like us going to pubs or you can't even go into Harrods - you'll get stopped on the door. They won't let you go into Harrods but they'll let non-Travellers go in. It's just crazy. So literally we're chucked out in the cold like dogs.' MailOnline has contacted Harrods and the Met Police for comment. Princess Madeleine has admitted she's faced 'concerns and critics' after launching her own business. The Swedish royal, 42, who is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia, revealed last month she was launching a natural skincare line called MinLen, in collaboration with the popular brand, Weleda. Her new venture has drawn comparisons with those of other royals - including Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle, who recently launched her lifestyle brand, As Ever. In an exclusive interview with German outlet RTL News, she has now opened up about how she balances being a member of the royal family both with being a mother and her new role as a businesswoman. Presenter Frauke Ludowig pointed out: 'There are some people, I read in the Swedish press, who say, "that doesn't fit".' Addressing the criticism against her, the royal explained that she launched her new venture in agreement with the rest of her family. She said: 'I can understand their concerns and the critics that they have. But a couple of years ago there was a big decision, that they're slimming down and focusing more on my sister, the Crown Princess [Victoria]. 'And I think many monarchies in Europe are doing that, and with that they slimmed it down and said "okay, we're focusing more on the Crown Princess's family". Princess Madeleine has admitted she's faced 'concerns and critics' after launching her own business in a new interview 'So me and my brother [Carl Philip], it kind of gave us the opportunity to do other things. Nowadays, I don't have many official duties anymore, or I should not do that many. 'So then I said "Ok, I'll do it!"' Madeleine said she was first inspired to launch a business as she wanted to be a 'mindful mom' and make sure her children were using products with trusted ingredients. 'As a parent I've always been very mindful of the products that I'm using', she explained, and spoke of the dangers of children being influenced by products they see on TikTok and Instagram. She first started the business with her husband Christopher O'Neill almost two years ago and explained she is focusing on the creative side of things, while he is dealing with any legal concerns. Last year, Madeleine and her family - including children Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas and Princess Adrienne - returned to Sweden after 15 years living in the US. In the announcement last month, the 42-year-old prefaced the collaboration by confirming it was 'private initiative', and and that she would not be using the royal title in the new venture. The Swedish royal said she was in the process of developing the new line with 'both young and growing families in mind', and expected it to hit shelves at the end of summer. In an exclusive interview with German outlet RTL News , she has now opened up about how she balances being a member of the royal family both with being a mother and her new role as a businesswoman The royal explained that European monarchies have been 'slimming down' Writing on her official Instagram account, the daughter of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia revealed the exciting news that she is launching a natural skincare line in collaboration with the popular Swedish brand, Weleda (Weleda CEO Tina Muller, left and Princess Madeleine, right) Sharing the update on her social media account, she said: 'I'm excited to share that I'm launching 'MinLen' a natural skincare line, developed in collaboration with Weleda, a global leader in certified natural skincare. 'MinLen is the first natural, responsible, multi-generational skincare brand in Europe - created with the needs of both young and growing families in mind.' She confirmed she would be using her ordinary name, Madeleine Bernadotte, rather than her royal title, Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrikland. 'Our product range will officially launch at the end of the summer and as this is a private initiative, I will use my name Madeleine Bernadotte in my work with MinLen. I look forward to sharing more with you very soon! @weleda,' she added. Revealing the update online, the budding entrepreneur shared a stunning photo of her donning an angelic white linen ensemble. Pictured with her arms elegantly folded, Madeleine looked ethereal in the snow white button up jacket and matching trousers. Her caramel highlighted tresses were worn in thick waves around her shoulders and she sported a soft makeup look with red flushed cheeks and a dark cat eye. In another photo promoting the upcoming line, Madeleine was also pictured alongside Weleda CEO Tina Muller, who glowed in a white blazer and black jeans. The Swedish royal family officially bear the title The House of Bernadotte. Their origins can be traced back to Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a Marshal of France under Napoleon who was elected Crown Prince of Sweden and later became King Charles XIV John of Sweden. Princess Madeleine and husband Chris O'Neill with Princess Leonore, Princess Adrienne and Prince Nicolas during Crown Princess Victoria's 47th birthday celebrations in July 2024 In the announcement, the 42-year-old prefaced the collaboration by confirming it was 'private initiative', and and that she would not be using the royal title as part the project The Swedish royal said she was in the process of developing the new line with 'both young and growing families in mind', and expected it to hit shelves at the end of summer (pictured with her two daughters) Alongside the announcement, the Swedish palace issued an additional update to confirm their knowledge of the collaboration and to preface that it would not bear any connection to her position as a royal. 'The decision to start the company has been made in dialogue with the Royal Court. The Office of the Marshal of the Realm has assessed that this private business activity can be combined with Princess Madeleine's position as Royal Highness.' The statement continued by explaining that the princess had not received government funding an would be continuing to carry official duties. Continuing in the statement, they wrote: 'Princess Madeleine has not received any of the Riksdag's appropriations for the head of state for a long time and she participates in and carries out official assignments as needed and based on the King's wishes. 'Instead, the Princess has for many years been involved in the World Childhood Foundation and various patronages. The work with these organizations is not affected by the Princess's corporate involvement. 'Since the new business is private and is not connected to the Princess's position in the Royal House, the Princess will use the name Madeleine Bernadotte in business contexts.' The princess received dozens of comments from adoring friends and fans offering their congratulations. Princess Martha Louise of Norway, who is also a business woman, commented on the post writing: 'Congratulations! This is so amazing.' On Monday, Vice President JD Vance and his family arrived to the Indian capital of Delhi - following his meeting with the late Pope Francis - but it was really his wife, Usha, who stole the show in a gorgeous, $850 red gown. The couple and their three young children arrived on Air Force Two to kick off their four-day visit as he is set to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding President Donald Trump's ongoing tariff plans as the country tries to head towards a deal. Per Reuters, the trip will be 'largely' personal, as the couple are expected to attend a wedding in Jaipur and visit the Taj Mahal. The Vice President and Second Lady arrived in style, with Usha stunning in a red, high-neck printed silk dress by designer Saloni. The dress originally retailed for $850, but is on sale at department store Saks Fifth Avenue right now for $424.99. The brand was created by Saloni Lodha, a London-based designer who grew up in India, described as a 'modern fashion label' that is 'infused with her Indian heritage.' Vance was born and raised in the suburbs of San Diego, California, her parents moving to the US from Andhra Pradesh, India, before she was born. The gorgeous piece also featured draping around the neck and a subtle belted waist. On Monday, Vice President JD Vance and his family arrived to the Indian capital of Delhi - but it was really his wife, Usha, who stole the show in a gorgeous, $850 red gown The Vice President and Second Lady arrived in style, with Usha stunning in a red, high-neck printed silk dress by designer Saloni The dress originally retailed for $850, but is on sale at department store Saks Fifth Avenue right now for $424.99 Usha paired the beautiful look with strappy gold heels, a gold charm necklace, and black sunglasses with a round lens. The Vice President's visit to India with his family comes after he departed from Rome, where he held a meeting with the late Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. However, just hours after his meeting, it was announced on Monday by the Vatican that the Pope had died at the age of 88 after a series of health concerns, including a long stay in the hospital with double pneumonia in February. Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance acknowledged Francis' criticism but has said he will continue to defend his views. The Vatican said the meeting Sunday between the Vice President and the Holy Father was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. During the meeting, Vance reportedly thanked the Pope for seeing him, and told him that he 'prays' for him everyday as he departed. Usha paired the beautiful look with strappy gold heels, a gold charm necklace, and black sunglasses with a round lens The Vice President's visit to India with his family comes after he departed from Rome, where he held a meeting with the late Pope Francis on Easter Sunday Per Reuters , the trip will be 'largely' personal, as the couple are expected to attend a wedding in Jaipur and visit the Taj Mahal The pope offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Vance's three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. Both Vance and President Trump shared their condolences online upon hearing about the Pope's death. 'I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,' Vance's message read. 'I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul,' he shared. Trump shared a short message on Truth Social as he and First Lady Melania are set to kick of the White House's annual Easter egg roll on the South Lawn. 'Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!' Trump wrote on Truth Social. The Manatees from Southampton took to TikTok to share their experience A band has revealed the reality of filming for Made in Chelsea - and all is not what it seems on the Channel 4 show. Modern rock band The Manatees took to TikTok to share insight into their time filming for the programme, which follows 20-somethings who live in London's most exclusive boroughs. While the episode made the band's performance appear authentic and natural, the reality is somewhat different. 'Things we didn't tell you about performing live in Made in Chelsea,' the band wrote on TikTok. The Manatees first explained that they didn't play their track list just once, writing, 'We played four tracks three times with the camera crew and cast changing positions each time.' Next, they explained how they avoided a blunder, saying, 'Joe was an absolute melon and forgot his drum stool. 'The only shop open nearby was TK Maxx, so he spent his television debut drumming [while] sat on a stainless-steel plant pot that cost him 70'. The selection of shops open in the area was limited due to the filming time, which was early in the morning, despite the scene appearing to take place late at night. Modern rock band The Manatees (pictured) have revealed what it's like filming for Made in Chelsea 'Call time was very early, it wasn't at normal gig times. We shot [at] 8am until 12pm,' they explained. The band next revealed one of the benefits that came with the job, writing, 'We got some fancy clothes from some awesome up-and-coming London designers.' However, it wasn't all smooth sailing, with them adding, 'The audio from our set got corrupted and we had to get our friend Jules to recover the audio. He did an incredible job and saved the day.' They concluded the post by explaining the positives that came from their television debut. 'Featuring on Made in Chelsea helped us sell out London's Camden Assembly,' they wrote. It comes after a Made In Chelsea star surprised fans by quitting the show after a five-year run. The band from Southampton (pictured) said they received free clothes from up-and-coming designers to wear when filming The Manatees drummer (pictured) forgot his stool and was forced to sit on a plant pot in the episode He was introduced as Sophie Habboo's ex-boyfriend in 2019 and has since had failed romances with fellow cast members Emily Blackwell and Zeyno Taylan. But now after entertaining viewers with his disastrous love life, Harvey Armstrong has revealed he is leaving the E4 show, admitting he finds filming 'very draining.' The entrepreneur, 30, who co-owns low-calorie beer company Prime Time, told MailOnline he decided to walk away from TV to focus on his fast-growing business. Harvey also said that taking part in the show, which saw the breakdown of his long-term relationship with Emily Blackwell after he was unfaithful, can be 'emotional' and he needs to focus his attention elsewhere. The rest of the cast, including his close friends Tristan Phipps and Reza Amiri, remain on the programme ahead of the upcoming season, which was filmed in the Maldives. Harvey said: 'As much as I love Made In Chelsea and have had some amazing years, it has a shelf life, and the time has come for me to leave the show. 'There's a lot of emotional bandwidth that goes with filming your life for TV and it's a distraction and can be very draining. I have to clear my head. 'Being a businessman has always been my goal and building up my company, Prime Time has fully taken off and now needs my full attention. Despite the scenes appearing to take place late at night, the band filmed their performance at eight in the morning 'I can't be a CEO and founder with 12 staff members and have my love life play out on reality TV...' A TV insider added: 'Although Harvey hasn't filmed for the upcoming season, he may return to the show at a later date, especially if his friends remain on the programme. 'The door is always open for stars of the show to comeback and Made In Chelsea hopes to continue their close relationship with Harvey.' His final scenes on Made In Chelsea saw Harvey reject Zeyno, who admitted to falling in love with him but he didn't feel the same way. Model Zeyno said: 'I feel like the last few months have been so emotionally draining for the both of us... Realistically, I have been hiding the fact that I am in love with you and have been in love with you for a while.' He replied: 'We have been hurting each other through this process of not being together and it's been messy from the moment we ended things and the way it ended... I have got that in my head and that's the decision I have made.' Harvey's two-year relationship with Emily ended in 2021 after he finally confessed to cheating on her in scenes captured for the series. Emily, who welcomed her first baby with fiance Jordan Oldershaw last year, was left humiliated when Harvey played away despite the couple living together and having hopes of a long-term future. Harvey's romance with podcaster Sophie ended before he started filming for the E4 series. Sophie has since married her former co-star Jamie Laing with the couple now in the process of renovating their dream home together. Away from his romantic life, Harvey previously quit his job in finance to pursue an entrepreneurial path and became a cast member on Made In Chelsea to promote his brand. Prime Time, which is a low calorie and caffeine infused lager, is stocked across the country and on airlines, with Harvey admitting the success of the company has earned him multimillionaire status. His five-year plan consists of aspiring to change the way people consume beer and for his low-calorie product to be on sale in every pub across the country and eventually on a global scale. So far, he has rivalled the likes of Heineken and Guinness by promoting Prime Time's unique selling point of being healthier than the average lager and freeing the consumer of having a heavy hangover or bloated feeling the day after drinking. The role has already sparked fierce backlash amongst critics The Euphoria star, 27, is set to play lead role Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's film Jacob Elordi has ignited fresh uproar after revealing he was about to take a break from acting when Emerald Fennell offered him the controversial Wuthering Heights role, with many saying he should have 'run' from the job. The 27-year-old Euphoria actor is set to play Heathcliff alongside Margot Robbie in Fennell's upcoming film adaptation. News of his casting in September had already prompted much backlash amongst critics as the brooding central character is described as a 'dark-skinned gypsy' with 'black eyes' in Emily Bronte's classic novel. Heathcliff is also described as 'a little Lascar,' a 19th century term for an Indian sailor, which has also led naysayers to claim that Elordi is not 'racially ambiguous' enough. In a recent interview with IndieWire, Elordi opened up about how he landed the role in the first place - and his answer sparked even more backlash. 'I was really lucky,' he said. 'I was going to take a break for a while, and then Emerald just very simply texted me, and you can't run from that text.' He added to the publication: 'I'm so, so excited for people to see it.' Jacob Elordi has ignited fresh uproar after revealing he was about to take a break from acting when he was offered the role of Heathcliff Heathcliff is described as 'dark-skinned' with 'black eyes' in Emily Bronte's classic novel Social media users were quick to blast Elordi for u-turning on his decision to take a hiatus, with many people saying he should have 'run' from Emerald's text rather than accepting the role. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one said: 'He should've taken that break.' Another wrote: 'Except you can run from that text though. You should've ran' 'You can run from that text, and you almost certainly should have,' a third said. Echoing a similar sentiment, another quipped: 'But you can decline.' Over on Reddit, one user commented: 'Given that he's a terrible choice for the role he totally could have "run from that text."' Some, however, are confused by the backlash and have pointed out that Fennell's version will be a 'different' take on the original novel. 'It's clearly going to be a totally different interpretation of the book but so what?' one commented. In a recent interview, Elordi revealed director Emerald Fennell had texted him offering the role Margot Robbie plays Catherine Earnshaw in the upcoming adaptation 'There's been wildly different interpretations of art since day one. If it's not for you just skip it.' 'I fully trust Emerald to do an awesome job with it,' another agreed. 'She is such a visionary. And the book demands an artistic, unusual view. Even today it scandalizes.' The tortured Heathcliff is one of literature's most complex anti-heroes and while he is perceived to be racially ambiguous in the original text, he has been played by white actors, including Tom Hardy, Ralph Fiennes, and Lawrence Olivier. In Fennell's upcoming film, Margot Robbie plays Catherine Earnshaw, or Cathy. The 34-year-old actress returned to work on the project after giving birth to her first child with her British husband Tom Ackerley last year, and the couple's production company, LuckyChap, is producing the film. Robbie's role has also triggered a response, with some arguing that she is 'too old' to play the character, who is just a teenager in the book. The character of Edgar Linton, a wealthy aristocrat who falls in love with and marries Cathy, is played by 36-year-old British Pakistani actor Shazad Latif, while Oscar-nominated actress Hong Chau, 45, an American born in Thailand, is set to appear as housekeeper Nelly Dean. DailyMail.com revealed the first images of Margot as Cathy after the production began filming in January. Margot and Jacob have also worked together before - on Saltburn - and are set to appear in a new short film, See You At 5, for the new Chanel No 5 campaign. Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, is considered a masterpiece. The original story centers on the upper middle-class Earnshaw family and their turbulent relationship with Heathcliff, an orphaned boy they take in. Owen Cooper, the young British actor who has made waves for his debut performance in Netflix's Adolescence, is to play the teenage Heathcliff. Ivanka Trump was spotted cozying up with the Kushners in Costa Rica before she skipped out on the annual White House Easter Egg Roll with the Trumps. President Donald Trump was joined by his wife Melania Trump and son Don Jr. on Monday as the family celebrated Easter together on the White House's South Lawn. But Donald's daughter, Ivanka, 43, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was thousands of miles away soaking up the sun on a stunning beach in Costa Rica with husband Jared Kushner's family. The couple, along with their three kids Arabella, 13, Joseph, 10, and Theodore, eight, have been enjoying a lavish vacation with the Kushners over the last few days. And on Saturday, photographers caught them sharing a sweet moment with Jared's family on the beach. Ivanka, Jared, 44, and their children posed for photos with the rest of the Kushner family, which included Jared's parents, Charles and Seryl Kushner, his brother, Joshua Kushner, and Joshua's wife, Karlie Kloss, amongst others. The blonde beauty donned a skin-tight white gown with a blue floral pattern, which showcased her toned physique. Mom-of-two Karlie, who announced she was expecting her third child last month, opted for a white mini dress and strappy sandals. Ivanka Trump was spotted cozying up with the Kushners in Costa Rica before she skipped out on the annual White House Easter Egg Roll with the Trumps President Donald Trump was joined by his wife Melania Trump and son Don Jr. on Monday as the family celebrated Easter together on the White House's South Lawn But Ivanka, 43, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was thousands of miles away soaking up the sun on a stunning beach in Costa Rica with her husband, Jared Kushner's family The couple, along with their three kids Arabella, 13, Joseph, 10, and Theodore, eight, have been enjoying a lavish vacation with the Kushners over the last few days On Saturday, photographers caught them sharing a sweet moment with Jared's family on the beach The blonde beauty donned a skin-tight white gown with a blue floral pattern, which showcased her toned physique Later on in the day, Ivanka switched into a black one-piece so she could get into the water and catch some waves. The revealing swimsuit contained a cut-out in the chest area and a slit on the neckline. Ivanka has been vacationing with the Kushners for days now. Last week, she was seen showing off her sun-kissed beach bod while surfing in a vibrant tangerine two-piece. While sisters-in-laws Karlie and Ivanka both married into the Kushner family, the pair aren't often pictured together, and have found themselves on very different sides of the political fence. Their lack of interactions have sparked speculation of a rift between them - most recently, they both attended the same wedding but were not photographed together. But they seemed to squash the feud rumors with their latest vacation. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Donald and Melania celebrated Easter with the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Ivanka, Jared, 44, and their children posed for photos with the rest of the Kushner family Jared's parents, Charles and Seryl Kushner, his brother, Joshua Kushner, and Joshua's wife, Karlie Kloss, were all there While Karlie and Ivanka both married into the Kushner family, the pair aren't often pictured together, and have found themselves on very different sides of the political fence Their lack of interactions have sparked speculation of a rift between them; but they seemed to squash the feud rumors with their latest vacation Dressed in a pale-colored trench coat, the first lady was focused on the children, giving them high fives and encouraging them in the competition. President Trump applauded his wife for planning the affair, which was expected to draw more than 40,000 people to the White House's South Lawn. 'I just want to give a special thank you to our great first lady who organized this entire event,' the president said. 'She worked very, very hard on it. She worked very hard.' He continued: 'I said, "What are you doing?" She said, "I'm working on the egg roll." I said, "That sounds like a lot of fun," And we're going to have a lot of fun in just a couple of minutes.' Trump also paid tribute to Pope Francis, who died earlier Monday, saying he was putting the flags at half-staff to honor the pontiff. 'He was a good man, he worked hard and loved the world,' he said, before he told reporters he didn't know if he was going to the pope's funeral or not. Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson, along with Don Jr.'s children, joined the first couple. Kai Trump - the president's oldest granddaughter - was there along with siblings Donald III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe. First Daughter Ivanka (seen with the Kushners in Costa Rica) has taken a step back from politics for her father's second term Jared, for his part, wore a white button-down shirt and khaki shorts Later on in the day, Ivanka switched into a black one-piece so she could get into the water and catch some waves 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 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. 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. Since leaving politics behind, Ivanka has enjoyed an extremely jet-set and lavish lifestyle, and she is often spotted setting out on glamorous getaways. An Aussie diner has criticised a Melbourne restaurant after claiming workers expected to be tipped. The customer visited a popular restaurant in South Yarra last week and while the food 'was fine' she was taken aback when it came to the bill. The customer, who claimed to work in hospitality for ten years, vented her frustration on Reddit. 'At the end of the meal, the staff straight-up expected a tip by asking "Why no tip?" Not a subtle suggestion, not a "Thanks so much, have a great night". No,' the diner wrote. 'It was also said before an awkward pause, the lingering stare, the "Are you gonna leave something extra?" vibe.' The diner blasted the venue online, stating Australians 'shouldn't be forced to tip' at bars, cafes or restaurants and to leave tipping culture in America. 'Since when did tipping become a thing here? This is Australia, not the US. We pay proper wages here. Tipping isn't part of our culture and it shouldn't be,' the Redditor wrote. 'I'm sick of seeing this tipping b***s*** slowly sneaking into places around Melbourne.' The customer visited a popular restaurant in South Yarra last week and while the food 'was fine' she was taken aback when it came to the bill, claiming the worker expected a tip (stock image of models) 'First it was the iPad prompts asking for 15 to 25 per cent tips for takeaway coffee, now it's fancy restaurants giving you the stink eye if you don't fork over extra cash on top of your already overpriced meal,' the post continued. 'Newsflash: If your business model has your staff depending on tips to survive, maybe fix your prices or pay your staff properly - don't guilt customers into doing it for you.' Disgruntled by the experience, the customer didn't leave a tip and won't in future. 'Let's not turn dining out in Australia into an awkward guilt trip like it is in the States. We've got a good thing going here - let's keep it that way,' the customer continued. The post quickly caught the attention of thousands of others who agreed with the diner, stating Aussies shouldn't have to tip. 'I love it when the bar staff hit 'no' on the checkout before I've had a chance to even see the 'tip' option,' one wrote. 'It should be outright illegal for a business to request a tip,' another added. Someone else said they have 'no money left to tip' after all the surcharges, such as booking fees, credit card and public holiday surcharges. One person who works in hospitality said it's 'wild to expect a tip' from customers. 'Tips are a nice extra but our boss pays us properly so we don't need them,' she wrote. Another wrote: 'I dislike the Americanisation of Australia, just say no. In the past if it was outstanding service I have, but not for normal job activities.' Giving a tip in restaurants in Australia is entirely voluntary and the amount must be passed on by those who run the restaurant to employees. Usually those who tip in a cafe slip in an extra five to 10 per cent on top of their bill. According to the Australian Taxation Office, places of business that receive a tip must keep a record that shows the amount was given to staff and this figure was not added to the business's revenue. Pope Francis, 88, has died, the Vatican announced today. The Pontiff spent his final weeks in hospital with a respiratory infection that developed into pneumonia in both his lungs. Here MailOnline details Francis's health history, from the lung problems in his youth that left him more vulnerable to breathing problems, his mental health struggles while living under a dictatorship, and the health issues that left him using a wheelchair and cane. Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936, was the first Latin American to hold the title. He will be remembered for his comparatively liberal attitudes on some subjects that made him both popular and controversial. Francis expressed tolerance towards divorcees, allowed priests to bless same-sex couples under certain circumstances, and put concern for the environment at the heart of his papacy. And he said in 2023 that transgender people could be baptised as long as it did not cause a scandal or 'confusion'. But he did stand firm on the subject of abortion. In a text signed by Francis that was released by the Vatican last year, terminations were described as 'an extremely dangerous crisis of the moral sense'. Pope Francis has died aged 88, the Vatican announced today. On February 14, the day he went into hospital, Pope Francis held a private audience (above) with Slovak prime minister Robert Fico. It was the last time the Pope was officially photographed The young Pope's lung problems that required major surgery When just 21, Francis, developed a serious lung infection that led to pleurisy. This is a dangerous inflammation of the pleura a thin layer of tissues that separates the lungs from the inside of the chest wall. Pleurisy causes sharp chest pain that worsens when breathing as well as shortness of breath in general. Causes vary, but the condition is most commonly triggered by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. The young Francis needed a life-saving operation that ended up removing part of one of his lungs. While the operation enabled him to enjoy an active lifestyle, his reduced lung capacity would leave him more vulnerable to respiratory infections in his later years. In 2023, Francis suffered multiple bouts of lung related illnesses. He was taken to hospital in March after complaining that he had difficulty breathing. JD Vance (pictured left) tried to mend his rocky relationship with Pope Francis (pictured right) at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the leader of the Catholic church slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants Pope Francis tours St. Peter's Square in his popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass But he recovered swiftly after receiving antibiotics for bronchitis, an inflammation of airways in the lungs that is usually caused by an infection. Then in November that year he was forced to cancel a planned trip to the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai because of the flu and resulting lung inflammation. Mental health battles with anxiety as a young priest In 2021 Pope Francis detailed how he had seen a psychiatrist in his native Argentina as young priest. He said he was struggled with anxiety due to helping people flee the country during the nation's military dictatorship. Francis told Argentinian media: 'During the terrible days of the dictatorship, when I had to take people into hiding to get them out of the country and thus save their lives, I had to deal with situations I didn't know how to handle.' 'Imagine what it was like to have someone hidden in the carcovered only by a blanketand go through three military checkpoints...the stress it caused me was enormous.' Francis said he saw the psychiatrist for about six months adding he had also found listening to music by the classic composer Bach a good coping mechanism. Pope Francis as a young priest in Argentina. He rose to become archbishop of Buenos Aires However, the pope had faced criticism for failing to openly confront Argentina's murderous regime at the time. In October 2012, the bishops of Argentina led by Francis published an apology which acknowledged that the church had not protected its faithful. Surgery on his colon and rumours of cancer In 2021 Francis had 13in (33cm) of his colon, part of the large intestine, removed in a six-hour operation to address a painful bowel condition called diverticulitis. This is where small lumps or bulges develop in the large intestine which can cause issues like abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating and blood in faeces. While most people develop these lumps as they age, they don't always cause problems. But patients can need surgery if these bulges become inflamed or infected, as was the case with Francis. After his initial bout of surgery in July 2021 the Vatican was forced to deny 'gossip' that cancer had been found during the procedure. The surgeon who carried out the operation later confirmed no cancer was detected during the procedure. In 2023, Francis had to spend nine days in hospital to repair an abdominal hernia, where an internal part of the body was bulging out causing a lump, related to diverticulitis. That operation took about three hours. Problems leave the Pontiff wheelchair bound and calling for tequila Francis had suffered from sciatica a chronic nerve condition that triggers back, hip and leg pain for many years. Pope Francis in his wheelchair at the Vatican on the day of the Jubilee of the Armed Forces, February 9, 2025 The new Pope Francis I waves from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica after being elected by fellow cardinals following a two-day conclave, March 13, 2013 It's caused by the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, becoming irritated or compressed. A flare-up caused him to miss New Year's Eve and New Year's Day services in December 2020. This was the first occasion a health problem caused the Pontiff to miss a major religious event. In 2022 he also developed a 'a small fracture' in his knee when he took a misstep while a ligament was inflamed. While surgery to fix the problem was an option, Francis said he didn't want to have it as he had suffered from some long-term negative side effects from anaesthesia following the 2021 operation on his colon. Instead, he had coped with therapeutic injections to the knee and using laser and magnet therapy to help address the problem. Francis, asked how he was coping with the knee, was also reported at one point quipping that what he really needed for the pain was some tequila. In 2022, he was forced to cancel trips to Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan because of his mobility problems. In the years before his death the pontiff was increasingly seen using a cane and even a wheelchair due to these issues. It was at this time that people noted the normally active Pontiff's waistline had started to expand, with this believed to be linked to his more sedentary lifestyle. Francis suffered a series of falls in the months before his death. One, in December last year, saw Francis fall and hit his chin on a nightstand leaving a large noticeable bruise on his face. Falls leave the pope battered and bruised Francis suffered a series of falls in the months before his death. One, in December last year, saw Francis fall and hit his chin on a nightstand leaving a large noticeable bruise on his face. Then in January last year Francis took another tumble, injuring his right arm. He was then pictured wearing a sling though the Vatican stated this was a 'precaution' rather than strictly necessary. The pope's last illness and how pneumonia can kill Francis spent much of his last few weeks in hospital having first been admitted on February 14 with bronchitis and a slight fever. This would later be found to be a polymicrobial meaning multiple types of virus, bacteria or fungi infection. On February 18 he was diagnosed with life-threatening pneumonia in both his lungs. Pope Francis injured his right arm in a fall at his Santa Marta home earlier this year. He is pictured here with his arm bandaged A few days later on February 21 medics state the Pontiff has developed steroid-induced diabetes as a result of his treatment. The next day he is placed on assisted breathing to help keep him alive. Francis's condition then deteriorated further with some early signs of kidney failure, however this is said to resolve on February 26. He suffers a numbery of respiratory attacks over the next week, on occasions medics needs to insert special tools into his airways to remove blockages of mucus. Then, on a March 10, medics say he is no longer in life-threating danger from pneumonia. Then, after spending almost two weeks in a stable condition, they said Francis could continue to recover at the Vatican being discharged on March 23. He spent a total of 38 days at Rome's Gemelli hospital. Francis, while looking frail, continued to attend official events in the run-up to his death. Your browser does not support iframes. Just yesterday he greeted Catholic faithful who had gathered to see him at St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. He delivered his 'Urbi et Orbi' benediction from a balcony overlooking the square following mass to mark the high holiday. Then his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Vatican said the encounter was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. Then, this morning, the Vatican announced Francis had died. 'At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,' Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said. Francis's cause of death has not been announced. Pneumonia is known to be particularly dangerous to the elderly. The most common cause is an initial viral infection which damages this lung tissue. This then allows bacteria to bypass some of the body's defences and cause a secondary more serious infection. From there, the air sacks of the lungs begin to fill with liquid which thickens into phlegm, causing breathing difficulties. This inhibits the flow of oxygen between the lungs and the blood meaning the body can struggle to function. Death can then occur from asphyxiation. A leading doctor has warned of the five key signs of colon cancer, amid the 'alarming rise' of cases among Gen Z and Millennials. Internal medicine specialist Dr Zion Ko Lamm urged young people to look out for the hidden symptoms of the deadly disease and told them not be complacent. 'Colon cancer doesn't just happen to "old people"rates are rising in young adults,' she warned. Over the last 30 years, young diagnoses of the disease have shot up by 80 per cent across the globe, research suggests. In contrast, rates of the disease in older groups, who are statistically more likely to get the disease overall, have either declined or remained stable to the same period. Now, young people need to keep an eye out for five key warning signs of the disease, said Dr Lamm. The fifth symptom, she told her nearly 900,000 Instagram followers, is any change in bowel habits. 'This looks like persistent change over a few weeks where the stool is looser or harder than normal, thinner or narrower,' she explained. Suddenly needing to go to the loo with more urgency and feeling more pressure when defecating can also be a concerning sign. And stools changing calibergoing from normal to pencil thincan indicate a blockage in the colon. The fourth symptom to watch out for is an unexplained iron deficiency. Anemia, or iron deficiency, can be an early warning sign of colon cancer. It's caused when a cancerous tumour in the colon starts to bleed. This in turn reduces the levels of red blood cells in the body, and lowers its hemoglobin levels, which is needed to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues. Symptoms can include fatigue, weakness, dizziness and a rapid heartbeat. Studies suggest that more than a third of people with cancer will develop anemia at some point. The third sign of colon cancer highlighted by Dr Lamm is blood in the stool. Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss a s a result of these symptoms Your browser does not support iframes. 'Blood in stool is never normal. You need to get it checked out,' she urged. Colon cancer can cause blood in the stool when cancerous tumours bleed into the digestive tract. Blood can sometimes be seen in the stool as a bright red, dark red or black colour, and can make the stool itself a darker, tarry shade. In early stages, it can also be present in such small amounts as to be naked to the human eye and only detectable through stool tests. Blood in stool does not always indicate colon cancer, however. Other conditions like haemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and anal fissures can also cause the symptom. The second symptom of colon cancer in young people is unintentional weight loss, Dr Lamm added. Losing weight without trying is not normal, and could be a sign of the disease, she explained. Unintentional weight loss can indicate a range of different cancers. It can be caused when cancer cells and the body's reaction to them alters the metabolism, creating a loss of both fat and muscle. Cancerous growths release what's known as cytokines - chemicals that increase inflammation, leading to a faster metabolism and calorie burn. Cancer cells also consume a significant amount of energy, causing the body to burn more calories at rest to support this increased demand. Finally, the number one sign of colon cancer is persistent abdominal pain, says Dr Lamm. 'Whether it's bloating, getting full fast, or crampy abdominal pain, if it's a new symptom that persists more than four weeks, you want to get it checked out,' she said. Pain or cramping in the same place of the abdomen is particularly concerning. The pain can be constant, or become more pronounced after eating. 'The advice I have for everyone listening is don't be afraid to talk about your poop, or look at your poop. We all should,' added Dr Lamm. MailOnline has repeatedly documented the global rise of colon cancer among young people. Perhaps the most recognisable victim of the trend is Deborah James known as 'bowel babe' who was diagnosed at just 35 and raised millions for charity in her final days in 2022. James spoke of her rigorous exercise routine, and being in the best shape of her life when she developed the illness. Zu Rafalat, 38, of Finsbury Park, whose bloating left her looking 'six months pregnant', was horrified to be diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. She is pictured on holiday Ms Rafalat, pictured riding a horse before her diagnosis, said: 'I've been fit and healthy for my entire life. I never dreamed I could get bowel cancer at my age' Another example of seemingly fit and health women being hit by the disease was Zu Rafalat, of Finsbury Park, London, who died in 2020 aged 39. The super-fit globetrotter initially thought she had caught a stomach bug in Central America where she went on holiday in December 2018. But two weeks later, her stomach had become so swollen she was wearing maternity jeans, and even her GP asked if she was pregnant before prescribing IBS pills. After getting the opinion of a second, private doctor, Ms Rafalat was given CT scans which spotted a mass on her right ovary. It later turned out to be stage four bowel cancer which had spread to other organs. Ms Rafalat, who was managing director of a consultancy agency, said at the time: 'I've been fit and healthy for my entire life. I never dreamed I could get bowel cancer at my age.' Taking vitamin D could help you avoid colon cancer, Hungarian research suggests. The nutrient was linked to both reducing the odds of developing the disease and improving the outcomes among patients that did, the researchers said. Also known as the 'sunshine vitamin' people get vitamin D from exposure to sunlight as well as from foods like oily fish, red meat and egg yolks. However, the authors of the new study warned that Europeans, especially those living in cities, were at increased risk of having a deficiency. As such they highlighted the potential use of vitamin D supplements, available for about 2p per pill at high-street pharmacies. Their findings comes amid a mysterious rise in colon cancer among young adults, with diagnoses having shot up 80 per cent in 30 years. In new study, Hungarian experts conducted an analysis of 50 previous studies, involving more than 1.3million patients. They found that people with an adequate intake of vitamin D were between 25 to 58 per cent less likely to develop colon cancer. Taking vitamin D could help you avoid colon cancer , Hungarian research suggests Researchers also found taking a vitamin D supplement was specifically linked to a 4 per cent reduced risk of colon cancer for ever 2.5micrograms consumed. The NHS recommends every adult and child above the age of one get 10micrograms of vitamin D each day. The Hungarian review also found evidence that colon cancer patients with high levels of the vitamin had better outcomes. Experts cited one trial which found late stage colon cancer patients given a high daily dose of vitamin D lived two months longer, on average. Other past studies have shown patients with bowel cancer, another name for colon cancer, with higher vitamin D levels are 50 per cent less likely to die from the disease. Vitamin D may be providing anti-cancer benefits by combatting the inflammation that can trigger changes that become cancer, as well as helping kill cancer cells and inhibiting tumour growth by boosting the body's immune system, the researchers said. Study author Professor Janos Tamas Varga, from Semmelweis University, told Fox News Digital: 'Vitamin D plays a critical role in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.' He added: 'The results suggest that the effect of vitamin D may depend on factors such as the dosage, the individual condition of the patients and the duration of treatment.' Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss a s a result of these symptoms In the study, published in the journal Nutrients, the experts also highlighted how vulnerable many people are of having a vitamin D deficiency. 'Urban populations, where air pollution and dense infrastructure limit sunlight exposure, are at greater risk,' they They said this was especially a risk among European populations. 'Approximately 40 per cent of Europeans are considered vitamin D deficient, with 13 per cent classified as severely deficient,' they wrote. British data as many as two in five adults may be vitamin D deficient during the winter months when there are fewer daylight hours. The Hungarian experts, while confident in the link between vitamin D and colon cancer prevention and treatment, acknowledged their study did have some limitations. They noted that the studies they used in their analysis used different vitamin D dosages and involved patients at various stages of cancer. As such they said further research was needed to determine the optimal potential dosage of vitamin D and of its effectiveness. Your browser does not support iframes. There is still scientific debate on the links between vitamin D and cancer prevention. Charity Cancer Research UK (CRUK) states that, while research is ongoing, there is no strong evidence that having a vitamin D deficiency increases your risk of cancer. The body adds that there is also no firm evidence that taking a vitamin D supplement specifically helps prevent cancer. Separate data from the charity shows suggests bowel cancer, also called colon cancer, has seen a 52 per cent increase in incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s. Some scientists have suggested increasing pollution might be to blame, while others say the trend is due to growing consumption of ultra-processed food. CRUK while acknowledging the rise, stresses that bowel cancer rates in younger adults are still low, with only around one in 20 diagnosed in people under 50. There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 in Britain every year, and around 44,100 new cases among all ages. Symptoms of the colon cancer include changes in bowel movements such as diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to empty your bowels more or less frequently, blood in the stool, stomach pain, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue. Your browser does not support iframes. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphate, vital nutrients for keeping bones, teeth, nerves muscles healthy. It also helps keep the immune system functioning correctly. A lack of the vitamin can lead to bone problems, including rickets a condition that causes bone pain, bone weakness and can lead to deformities. The NHS states most people will be able to get the vitamin D they need from sunlight between April to the end of September. However, during the darker months all British adults and children over the age of one are advised to take a vitamin D supplement to keep their levels up. Some people are advised to consider taking supplements throughout the year. This includes people with darker skin tones that causes less vitamin D to be absorbed and those who are housebound and don't get as much natural light. But people should be careful not to have too much vitamin D. The NHS warns taking too much vitamin D over a long time can be detrimental to our health. As vitamin D helps absorb calcium too much can cause a condition called hypercalcaemia. This can ironically cause bones to become weaker as well as damage the kidneys and the heart. As such the NHS recommends people don't take more than 100micrograms of vitamin D per day unless specifically advised to by their doctor. The amount of vitamin D in the body can be determined by a blood test and the results are reported in units of nanomoles per litre, written as nmol/l. A level of 25 nmol/l or lower is considered a deficiency this was set about two decades ago, as falling below it was linked to an increased risk of rickets. A woman chose to have her right hand amputated after a simple inch-long dog scratch left her battling the 'suicide disease'. Gill Haddington, 48, had her right leg amputated below the knee on May 11, 2017, after dropping a perfume bottle on her foot. The accident, which most would shrug off, triggered complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), an agonising and debilitating condition which would not go away. Four years later, on May 11, 2021, Gill elected to have her right hand amputatedafter her dog, springer spaniel-pug-beagle crossbreed Bella, seven, gave her a one-inch scratch, triggering another flare-up of CRPS. Despite the traumatic events, Gill says she feels like her 'normal self' again, and is preparing to swim one mile across Lake Windermere, Cumbria. Gill, who is unemployed due to her disabilities, from Morecambe, Lancashire, said: 'The pain of CRPS is excruciating - I've had so many ups and downs. 'I'm incredibly lucky things have turned out the way they did, though. 'Once I was fully awake after my first amputationI'd gone from quiet and in pain to laughing and joking. Gill Haddington, 48, had her right leg amputated below the knee on May 11, 2017, after dropping a perfume bottle on her foot triggered complex regional pain syndrome Four years later, on May 11, 2021, Gill elected to have her right hand amputatedafter a dog scratch triggered another flare-up of CRPS. Gill, pictured above before her amputations 'My partner looked at me, and said: 'We've got the old Gill back.' 'And I feel like I am - as normal as I can be with this condition, anyway.' Gill had her first accident in September 2015in which she dropped a perfume bottle on the top of her right foot. Having suffered from back pain for 16 years prior, Gill had started to walk on crutches for the first time that year - after being in a wheelchair since July. Thinking she'd broken her foot, her partner, salesman Pete, 67, drove her to A&E at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Lancaster. An X-ray confirmed there was no fracture and she was reassured her foot was 'fine' being being sent home. 'Over the next six-to-nine months, my foot began to twist at a 90-degree angle,' Gill recalled. 'It got to the point where you could actually see bone coming through. I was getting a lot of blisters and ulcers which started to spread up to my ankle. Despite the traumatic events, Gill says she feels like her 'normal self' again, and is preparing to swim one mile across Lake Windermere, Cumbria Gill, who is unemployed due to her disabilities, from Morecambe, Lancashire, said: 'The pain of CRPS is excruciating - I've had so many ups and downs. 'I'm incredibly lucky things have turned out the way they did, though 'I was on 30 different pain medications a daybut they didn't even touch the sides.' Gill was eventually diagnosed with CRPS in 2016, after undergoing scans at the Westmorland General Hospital, Morecambe. The poorly understood condition, which causes persistent severe and disabling pain, affects roughly 16,000 people in the UK. Most cases are triggered by an injury, but the resulting pain is much more severe and long-lasting than normal. The pain typically affects one limb, but it can sometimes spread to other parts of the body. The skin of the affected body part can become so sensitive that a slight touch, bump or even a change in temperature can cause intense pain. Affected areas can also become swollen, stiff or undergo fluctuating changes in colour or temperature. CRPS often gradually improves over time but some sufferers experience pain for many years. It is sometimes referred to as the 'suicide disease' due to the psychological distress it can cause, which leads some to consider ending their lives. On May 11, 2017, Gill elected to have her right leg amputated below the knee - at the Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire. She now walks with a prosthetic leg, and occasionally uses a wheelchair. But just three years later, in March 2020, her CRPS flared up again - after her dog, Bella, gave her a mild, 1in scratch on her right hand. 'She just got excited to see me, bless her,' Gill added. 'It was the tiniest scratch, literally an inch long. 'But I knew, as soon as the blisters started, it was going to be the same as my leg.' Despite undergoing physiotherapy for eight months, Gill became unable to open her right hand beyond a fist. She says the pain was so bad, she couldn't focus on anything, and she was in constant agony. CRPS is a poorly understood condition which causes persistent severe and disabling pain, affects roughly 16,000 people in the UK, sometimes dubbed 'the suicide disease' On May 11, 2021, exactly four years after her first amputation, Gill opted to get her right hand amputated as well. She said: 'I felt immediately afterwards like I got my life back. 'I just feel sorry for people having to live through this pain, who haven't had the opportunity to undergo an elective amputation yet.' Throughout her recovery journey, Gill credits her support group, Enable, with 'saving her life.' She's been able to make friends with like-minded people with limb differences and other disabilities, and the group meets five days a week. On June 14, 2025, she's aiming to complete the one mile Great North Swim, in Lake Windermere, in order to raise money for the group. She added: 'I love being in the water, it makes me feel good. It's going to be very challenging, but worth it.' Controversial health official Dr Anthony Fauci saw his net worth double in his first year of retirement from the US government. According to OpenTheBooks, a nonprofit watchdog that obtained his financial records, Dr Fauci and his wife, Dr Christine Grady, saw their combined financial assets climb to more than $3.5 million in 2023, bringing their total net worth to over $15 million. The former White House Chief Medical Advisor signed a lucrative deal for his memoir, On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service, which went on to become a best-seller. He also cashed in on the speaking circuit, appearing at high-profile events since stepping down. Dr Fauci, who played a key role in managing the Covid-19 2020 pandemic in the US, was worth was about $7.6 million in January 2019. The doctor, who previously helmed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, left his post on January 6, 2023. While employed by the government, the 84-year-old had a paycheck for $480,654 during his final year - marking him as the highest paid bureaucrat in the White House. The former White House Chief Medical Advisor and his wife Dr Christine Grady's combined financial assets crossed $3.5 million in 2023 - bringing their total funds to more than $15 million Despite his 2023 financial disclosures not specifying where the money he contributed came from, documents show Dr Fauci received multiple six-figure payments throughout 2023. The former top officials received $100,000 in April, May and in June, $150,000 in September as well as $700,000 in November 2023. While none of those transactions state why they were received, Dr Fauci did conduct speeches to special interest groups including the National Association of Chain Drug Stores in April and the American Health Insurance Plans in June 2023. He also sold his memoir for just under $5 million to Penguin Random Houses Crown imprint after a two-week auction. The autobiography had hit shelves in June 2024. Reports of Dr Fauci's staggering net worth comes days after President Trump launched a new website and stated that the Covid pandemic originated in a Wuhan laboratory. The White House unveiled a new Covid-19 website with a full-length image of President Trump and the banner 'The True Origins Of Covid-19 which pointed the finger at Beijing and previous US administration figures for promoting the false claim that the pandemic started naturally in an animal market. The former top officials received $100,000 in April, May and in June, $150,000 in September as well as $700,000 in November 2023 The website said: 'Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill with Covid-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before Covid-19 was discovered in the animal market. 'The federal government demonized alternative treatments and disavowed narratives, such as the lab leak theory, in a shameful attempt to coerce and control the health decisions of the American people'. Noting the 'virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature', the website concludes: 'By nearly all measures of science, if there were evidence of a natural origin, it would have already surfaced. But it hasn't.' President Trump launched a new website and stated that the Covid pandemic originated in a Wuhan laboratory The White House also describes the response to the pandemic by the World Health Organisation as 'an abject failure' for caving to 'pressure from the Chinese Communist Party and placing China's political interests ahead of its international duties'. The website also accuses Dr Fauci of 'pushing the preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated in nature'. It also heavily criticizes the mask mandate, social distancing and lockdown - all of which had been backed by the former medical advisor. Joe Rogan has issued a dire warning about the future of America if the President continues down his immigration path, making a subtle dig at Trump's policies. The hugely successful podcaster - who is largely credited with helping Trump secure the young male vote he needed to clinch the 2024 election - has been expressing concerns about some of the new administration's policies. During his show on Thursday, Rogan warned about the risks of not offering migrants due process before deporting them. While Rogan did not name the current administration, Trump has been rounding up suspected gang members and conducting mass deportations to a hellish El Salvadorian prison. The move has sparked legal challenges and widespread division amid concerns that some of the people rounded up and deported were mistakenly targeted. At the center of the division is 29-year-old father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who supporters say was wrongly deported. The Trump administration maintains he is a gang member who was rightfully kicked out of the country, and is rallying against a Supreme Court order to bring him back. 'That is dangerous,' Rogan said. 'We got to be careful that we don't become monsters while we're fighting monsters.' The hugely successful podcaster - who is largely credited with helping Trump secure the young male vote he needed to cinch the 2024 election - has been expressing concerns about some of the new administration's policies Trump has been rounding up suspected gang members and conducting mass deportations to a hellish El Salvadorian prison Rogan asked his listeners to remove the politics of today from the equation, and consider 'a new president, a totally new guy in 2028.' 'This is a common practice now of just rounding up gang members with no due process and shipping them to El Salvador,' he said, speaking of a hypothetical future in which the current Trump policy becomes normalized. 'What if you are an enemy?' Imagining a conversation between a government official and a so called 'enemy', Rogan said: 'You're a gang member. No, I'm not. Prove it. What? I got to go to court. No. No due process.' Rogan said that he considered the government's policy to be an 'overcorrection' in response to 'radical' support migrants had received from the left. 'The problem with things that are going in a radical direction, is then there's an over-correction. So the over-correction is lack of due process. The over-correction is like, round them all up, ship them to jail.' Rogan then switched into a silly, deeper voice to convey the conversation that may have taken place, saying: '''Take them all, f**king send them to El Salvador.'' What about due process? ''No, f**k that''.' Rogan also backed the importance of the FBI and CIA amid widespread MAGA distrust of both intelligence agencies. The move has sparked legal challenges and widespread division amid concerns that some of the people rounded up and deported were mistakenly targeted During his show on Thursday, Rogan warned about the risks of not offering migrants due process before deporting them - which has become a policy of the Trump administration MAGA loyalists have been giving newly appointed FBI director Kash Patel a hard time for failing to deliver on his promise to 'clean up' the department from within. 'This is the best argument for intelligence agencies,' Rogan said. 'There's real threats. For someone to say ''f**k all the CIA, f**k the FBI'' - what, are you crazy?' But Rogan doesn't align with the liberals on all their concerns relating to immigration. He voiced concerns about sanctuary cities 'bringing people in from a third world country... financially incentivizing them to be there, giving them free money while you're not helping the poor people in America' - describing it as a recipe for destroying a society. He said: 'You got to find these motherf***ers that are here that have terrorist cells and that are ready to f**king blow up malls in Dallas and and do crazy s**t, which definitely, they've thwarted before. 'They were giving them debit cards, free housing, free food, putting them up in the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. 'If you want to destroy a society, that's how you would do it. That's how you would it.' Rogan's position on immigration has divided fans, with some supporters insisting he has always adopted a 'reasonable position' which would appeal to middle America. El Salvador accepted more than 200 illegal immigrants from the United States which Trump rounded up and deported These suspected gang members are now being held in a notorious prison 'He has always been reasonable. You guys just refuse to listen to him,' one supporter said. But others took vastly different positions. MAGA loyalists criticized him for seemingly turning his back on the cause, while liberals mocked him for 'realizing what he helped bring to power.' 'Perhaps he shouldn't have back the horse that literally said he would do this very thing,' one said. Another added: 'Joe Rogans a hypocrite, pushed Trump, now cries about due process? Hes just mad his guys showing his true colors. MAGA cultists like him cant handle the mess they made. Whine less, own it more.' Rogan first addressed the mass deportation policy last month, expressing horror at the thought that innocent men were being caught up in the chaos. 'It's horrific,' he said at the time. 'You got to get scared that people who are not criminals are getting, like, lassoed up and deported and sent to, like, El Salvador prisons. 'This is kind of crazy that that could be possible. That's horrific. And that's, again, that's bad for the cause. 'The cause is: Let's get the gang members out. Everybody agrees. But let's not, innocent gay hairdressers, get lumped up with the gangs.' A conservative podcaster has caused controversy for criticizing Pope Francis's progressive reforms within hours of the pontiff's death. Joey Mannarino made the remarks on X Monday, where he wrote Francis's passing at the age of 88 was merely a good 'chance to get a conservative into [the] position' - as opposed to a cause for mourning. He further branded the fallen clergyman a 'Communi[st]' - spawning an almost immediate firestorm. Many of those upset were Catholic conservatives who vowed to unfollow Mannarino. 'Shameful lack of Christianity in this post,' one user wrote in reply - after Mannarino openly pined for a pontiff 'who will preach Catholicism rather than Communism.' 'Not less than Pope Francis displayed when he tried to destroy the church,' the host of The Joey Mannarino Show replied - doubling down to his more than 600,000 followers. 'He did no such thing,' someone insisted - paving the way for a flurry of replies from other users likely in mourning. 'I usually agree with your posts, Joey, but this is an L take,' wrote one such user. 'Like him or not, he was still OUR pope. Please dont make light of his death. He was a man of God that did his absolute best. I will pray that you reflect and repent.' 'Bit early for a post like this,' someone else sniped, rushing to the defense of a figure who rattled the Catholic Church's conservatives by preaching acceptance toward gay Christians and championing the rights of immigrants and the poor. Joey Mannarino - seen here with Trump during his first term - made the remarks on X Monday, where he wrote Francis's passing was a good 'chance to get a conservative into [the] position' He further branded the fallen clergyman a 'Communi[st]' - causing an immediate firestorm. Vows to unfollow the vocal Trump supporter ensued, as did other scathing responses 'No matter what you or I thought of him as a pope, a man has just died,' the user went on. 'Allow him to pass into God's hand in peace.' 'Save this talk for another day. Lets all mourn,' said someone else. 'Terrible, disrespectful post,' fumed another. 'Pope Francis was a humanitarian and a genuinely holy man. May he rest in eternal peace.' The steady stream of criticism paved the way for more tweets from Mannarino, a radio host turned 'political commentator' who bills himself as a proud 'Italian-American'. 'I just found out that any male Catholic is eligible to be the pope. You do not have to be a priest or a cardinal. So, if anybody would like to vote for me, I will be officially announcing my candidacy!' he joked - spawning more pushback from more since spectators. 'You are a classless grifter,' wrote one user, after Mannarino used the pope's death to dramatically declare: 'WE WILL MAKE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH GREAT AGAIN!' 'How can you make the Catholic Church great again when you cant even pull off a toupee?' quipped one commenter, leading Mannarino to bring up a more conservative cardinal he sees as better-suited. The steady stream of criticism paved the way for series of tweets from Mannarino, a radio host turned political commentator who bills himself as a proud 'Italian-American' He also questioned whether 'Democrats lit their candle to worship Kilmar Abrego Garcia today yet?' - referring to the alleged MS-13 member who has surfaced as the center of a separate bipartisan battle centered around Trump's immigration policies. 'Cardinal [Robert] Sarah would be an incredible Pope,' he added of 79-year-old priest from Guinea being floated as a possible front-runner for the job - a move that would make him the first black pope in history. 'The best choice for Pope is a sub-Saharan African man from Guinea,' Mannarino asserted, clarifying for his conservative fanbase, 'thats actually the truth... he is not a DEI pick.' 'Hes 80 so Im not sure if thats a viable option, but hes about as conservative as they get,' he continued, before offering some quotes from the cardinal showing his ideological differences from Francis, the first Latin-American pope in history. '"Those who use the Bible to justify mass immigration are bewitched",' Mannarino quoted. '"Gender ideology is a luciferian refusal to receive a sexual nature from God." 'Both quotes from Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea,' he continued. 'Make him the next Pope,' the former R&B disc jockey eventually declared. Other posts from Mannarino show him to be a MAGA-supporting Islamophobe from Philadelphia, who made the jump into podcasting - like so many others - during Trump's first campaign. Mannarino went on to bring up a more conservative cardinal he sees as better-suited for the position - Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea - after taking issue with the previous pope's work to accept gay people and other progressive reforms Mannarino - seen here earlier this year with Vivek Ramaswamy - is a MAGA-supporting Islamophobe from Philadelphia, who made the jump into podcasting, like so many others, during Trump's first campaign. In a pinned post to Instagram featuring him standing alongside the president, the self-purported political strategist described how this career shift occurred. 'In 2015, when this man walked down the golden escalator in Trump Tower, I was a radio personality on an R&B station in Philadelphia,' he recalled. 'It was because of his campaign that I even began to pay attention to politics. 'At the time, I was a registered Democrat who had only voted once before (for Obama). 'Because of the campaign that this man ran, my life changed forever. 'I left the radio industry due to being unable to voice my opinions and went full-time into the political space. 'Ive been doing that for seven years. 'And while its cost me many old friends and family, its given me more opportunities than one could ever imagine. In a pinned post to Instagram, the self-purported political strategist explains how he turned to podcasting during Trump's first term, while thanking the commander-in-chief for a career that's seen him rub shoulders with other figures from the GOP like Rudy Giuliani No such kind words were offered for the man who just died, despite his work to improve the church and calls for world peace. During what ended up being his final public appearance at the Vatican Sunday, the pope asked for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East 'Ive been able to meet and work with some of the most incredible fighters this nation has to offer. 'Simply put, this man changed my life.' No such kind words were offered for the man who just died, despite his work to improve the church and calls for world peace. During what ended up being his final public appearance at the Vatican Sunday, the pope asked for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. Morning Joe star Mika Brzezinski provoked a Dem senator into suggesting the late Pope Francis would want a deported MS-13 suspect brought back to the US. Brzezinski set the tone with a loaded question for Senator Chris Van Hollen Monday morning, asking about Francis's last words the day before - an address delivered to thousands gathered in St. Peter Square for Easter. Francis's speech had cited how contempt is often stirred up at times toward the 'vulnerable,' the 'marginalized' and migrants - paving the way for Brzezinski and Van Hollen's conversation. 'And here we are - you on ,I guess just back now from El Salvador, dealing with the issue of just one of the many people who have been forcibly removed, disappeared. I mean, some might even see it as a kidnapping. It's definitely not a deportation.' 'Where does the plight of Kilmar Abrego Garcia stand now?' She was referring to a migrant deported from Van Hollen's native Maryland on suspicion of being an MS-13 gangster. The Trump administration has admitted Garcia was deported by mistake but has so-far refused to return him despite a Supreme Court ruling. Van Hollen answered: 'Well, you're very right. I read Pope Francis's remarks. He was a beautiful soul. A pope for all of humanity and he focused on the most vulnerable, and on natural rights. 'On the right of everybody to be free under the law. 'And the whole point here that we're making is that the Trump administration needs to respect the Constitution of the United States. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen appeared to use his platform on Monday's Morning Joe to use Pope Francis 's death to further fuel bipartisan debate over the accidental deportation of a suspected MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia - a 29-year-old El Salvadoran who had been living in Hollen's state for several years with a wife and kids - was deported from the US last month. He entered the country illegally almost 15 years ago, and he is a suspect MS-13 member 'When you threaten the rights of one man like Abrego Garcia, take away the rights of one man like Abrego Garcia, you threaten the rights for everybody.' Discourse has since swirled after the White House admitted Abrego Garcia was deported back to his home country in error, after he entered 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 ruled the suspected gangster could be deported elsewhere, however - paving the way for the current, confusing situation. As Democrats and anti-deportation activists continue to claim the man's deportation was unjust, the Supreme Court has demanded Trump facilitate his return to the US. But the White House insists Garcia is an MS-13 gangster and has also revealed how he was previously accused of beating his wife on multiple occasions. Brzezinski indicated she agreed with Van Hollen and helped him warm to his theme. 'In this case, the Trump administration is flouting the law because the Supreme Court on a 9-0 ruling said that they had to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia,' he said, before again talking up his recent trip to El Salvador. 'I was just down there, as you said, I met with him. The [US] embassy [and] the Trump administration [are] doing nothing right now to comply with that court order,' he claimed. The pontiff had cited contempt being 'stirred up' against such figures during his Easter address Sunday - leading Hollen to claim the late 88-year-old had been 'a pope for all of humanity [who] focused on the most vulnerable. 'What they're doing is trying to change the subject - as if you can't comply with the Constitution and fight gang violence. 'I've been fighting MS-13 longer than Donald Trump probably ever uttered the words,' he continued, again relishing in his own self-perceived accomplishments. 'I put together an anti-gang task force in this Washington region -- Maryland, Washington, Virginia,' he said - weeks after that same task force charged two MS-13 members who had been operating in the state of Maryland for years, for murder. The unnamed victim, feds said in a statement, was targeted by suspects, Manuel Erazo Alvarado and Erick Guillen Pleitez, so that they could 'maintain and increase their positions in the' well-known, worldwide gang. 'So, the notion that fighting gangs requires that you shred the Constitution and deny people's rights,' Hollen said, '[that's] just the dangerous spin that Donald Trump is putting on all this. 'The whole point here that we're making is that the Trump administration needs to respect the Constitution of the United States,' he ultimately concluded. 'When you threaten the rights of one man like Abrego Garcia, take away the rights of one man like Abrego Garcia, you threaten the rights for everybody.' 'And on natural rights,' he continued. 'On the right of everybody to be free under the law.' 'In this case, the Trump administration is flouting the law because the Supreme Court on a 9-0 ruling said that they had to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia,' he said The senator proceeded to talk up his recent trip to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia, one he has repeatedly framed as an 'accomplishment' '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, after Nayib Bukele's made light of criticisms of conditions Abrego Garcia has been kept in by sharing a snap of Hollen and Abrego Garcia's subtropical summit. 'But his words are going to be used in court now in this case, as are Donald Trump's,' O'Donnell continued, arguing the illegal immigrant is entitled to due process. '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.' 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. '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. Hollens visit, meanwhile, represented a broader Democratic bid to bring attention to the case surrounding Garcia and his detention, as a means to challenge Trump. Democrats - much to the ridicule of conservatives - continue to use the case to criticize the conservative 'The government asserts that [Garcia] is a terrorist and a member of MS-13,' O'Donnell - once a writer for the West Wing - went on. 'Perhaps, but perhaps not. 'Regardless, he is still entitled to due process,' he continued, before painting Hollen as a political hero who brought attention toward injustice. '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,' 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 use the case to criticize the conservative. The cars that drivers offload in the shortest amount of time after buying them have been revealed, and it's models from the world's most famous EV manufacturer that are ditched quickest. Teslas has the shortest ownership periods of any major brand, according to a study. Vehicle history checking service CarVertical says the average Tesla driver keeps their car for less than two and a half years, based on analysis of hundreds of thousands of background checks conducted on UK motors. But while the until recently fashionable US car maker hasn't managed to translate that into long-term ownership, two old names that have fallen victim to car-making time have instilled long-term loyalty, the study reveals. Rover and Saab are the blasts from the past that keep owners hanging on, with the longest ownership periods, knocking luxury brands down the list. Tesla owners typically keep their cars for the shortest amount of time before replacing them - the second year running Elon Musk's EV company has topped the charts as the fastest-ditched motor brand It's the second consecutive year Tesla has topped the chart of fastest-ditched motor brand, though average ownership spells are up on last year - drivers typically sold them after 21 months in 2024, last year's annual report showed. Short ownership reflects the recent downward spiral suffered by the US brand; Tesla shares have plunged by a third this year as orders for its expensive electric vehicles have plummeted across many major markets, linked primarily to CEO Elon Musk's political exploits as one of Donald Trump's right-hand men on his return to presidency. While Tesla topped the charts, in second place for the shortest ownership is a brand at the opposite end of the price spectrum - and it's one that's loved by Britons... CarVertical said Tesla's high turnover rate - which is double that of cars on average - is likely due to 'rapid advancements in EV technology, frequent model updates, and strong resale value, encouraging owners to upgrade sooner'. However, a number of protests and attacks against Tesla dealerships around the world and a monumental decline in European sales have showcased the unrest felt towards Musk and his involvement in last year's election campaign. The Tesla and X owner played a significant role in the 2024 United States presidential election by establishing a political action committee in support of Donald Trump for his campaign, making him the election's largest donor with over $250 million. He joined the POTUS cabinet in February but reports have already been swirling this month that the Tesla boss will stand down from his position within weeks. His political involvement correlates to a dramatic decline in demand for his cars, particularly in Europe. In the first three months of 2025, sales of the company's EVs plummeted 62 per cent in Germany, 41 per cent in France and 25 per cent in Norway, where nearly nine in ten new car purchases are electric. Yet, Tesla sold 336,681 vehicles during the three-month period - far below the 386,810 recorded in the previous quarter and the 390,000 forecast by analysts. In the UK, registrations were down just 0.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2025. However, the CarVertical report suggests that the 26,144 customers are likely to offload their Model 3 and Model Y EVs before the end of 2027. That's because the average UK Tesla driver reportedly only keeps their electric cars for 29 months. Across all cars, the UK average ownership period is 62 months, meaning Tesla buyers keep their EVs for less than half as long as the average Briton. Musk played a significant role in the 2024 United States presidential election by establishing a political action committee in support of Donald Trump for his campaign Elon Musk was Trump's largest election donor contributing over $250million. In February, he joined Trump's cabinet Car brands ditched quickest and kept longest in Britain DITCHED AFTER SHORTEST OWNERSHIP 1. Tesla: 29.1 months 2. Dacia: 46.3 months 3. Kia: 51.1 months 4. Seat: 52.8 months 5. Hyundai: 55.9 months 6. Skoda: 56.1 months 7. Audi: 57.3 months 8. Mercedes-Benz: 59.7 months 9. Citroen: 59.9 months 10. Vauxhall: 61 months KEPT FOR LONGEST OWNERSHIP PERIOD 1. Rover: 128.5 months 2. Saab: 93.5 months 3. Ferrari: 91 months 4. Porsche: 87.2 months 5. Jeep: 84.2 months 6. Subaru: 83.3 months 7. Honda: 80.3 months 8. Toyota: 80.3 months 9. Bentley: 79.4 months 10. Aston Martin: 76.9 months *UK average ownership period: 62.4 months Source: CarVertical based on analysis of vehicle history reports carried out by carVertical from January 1st to December 31st 2024 Tesla's ownership period is also far shorter than any other manufacturer. Dacia cars are kept for the second shortest amount of time in the UK, being sold by owners on average every 46 months, the report said. While it means Dacias are generally retained for more than three years, it is surprising to see it second in the order given the brand has generated a strong following of motorists who love its budget-friendly appeal. Next in the list is Kia, with average ownership spells of 51 months, while Seats and Hyundais make up the top five with drivers typically selling them on after around 4.5 years. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a couple of defunct car brands have the longest ownership spells. Rover, which hasn't produced a new model since 2005 after going into administration, has an average ownership period of 128 months, likely as a result of older drivers not wanting to part with their beloved motors. Saab. which went bankrupt in 2011 and car production ended in 2014, is second in the list with keepers holding onto them for an average of 93 months. The rest of the list of 10 longest-retained brands included a number of prestige and luxury names, including Ferrari (91 months), Porsche (87 months), Bentley (79.4 months) and Aston Martin (76.9 months). The analysis by carVertical reveals the late-1980s Mercedes-Benz 560SL has the longest ownership of any car on record, changing hands every 16.2 years as collectors generally stash them away to preserve their value. It's a similar case for the Jaguar XJS (16 years) and the original Ford Capri (15.8 years). 'These classic models are especially popular among British car enthusiasts, who often cherish and hold onto them for extended periods, contributing to their long ownership cycles,' the history checking provider says. Vehicle history checking service CarVertical says the average Tesla driver keeps their car for 29 months. The average ownership period in the UK across all brands is 62 months Car models with the highest number of former owners 1. Jeep Cherokee: 6.18 owners 2. Mercedes-Benz S500: 5.96 owners 3. Toyota MR2: 5.88 owners 4. Mini Cooper S: 5.84 owners 5. Volkswagen Lupo: 5.72 owners Source: CarVertical based on analysis of vehicle history reports carried out by carVertical from January 1st to December 31st 2024 The study also reported which models typically have the highest number of previous owners in Britain. Jeep Cherokees have the highest volume of keepers at an average of 6.18, followed by the Mercedes-Benz S500 (5.96) and Toyota MR2 (5.88). Matas Buzelis, car expert at carVertical, says the number of former owners a vehicle has had is an 'important fact to check' for anyone looking to buy a used car. 'While mileage and service history provide insight into a cars condition and value, the number of past owners can reveal additional important details,' he told This is Money. 'A vehicle that has changed hands frequently might be costly to maintain or could have persistent mechanical issues. 'Some niche models offer an exhilarating driving experience but may be impractical for daily use due to limited storage space leading to shorter ownership periods. 'The context clearly matters as some high-end electric vehicles like Teslas are leased as company cars, which naturally results in more frequent ownership changes compared to privately owned vehicles.' Silence is usually sought after. But when it comes to electric cars, the lack of soundtrack is a petrolheads biggest gripe. The void of engine noise, the fact that youll never hear a V8 roar, is for some the worst part owning an electric car. For manufacturers, this is both a challenge and opportunity as electric cars become more popular, with many believing that artificial engine noise will convince people to make the leap and bring emotional driving to those who are already driving under battery power. BMW has become the latest car maker to invest in sound design in order to bring an immersive journey experience to EVs, with the launch of its new 'HypersonX' sound technology. Created by BMW Design Sound Studio, it will come to life in the brand's upcoming electric Vision Neue Klasse models. With this latest addition to the synthetic engine sound game, we look at how manufacturers are employing different tactics to make their EVs feel like combustion engine cars. But will it help accelerate sales? BMW will bring an artificial engine noise to life in its new Neue Klasse EVs with its HypersonX sound technology, joining the ranks of manufacturers offering fake engine noise in EVs BMW HypersonX sound BMWs new Neue Klasse EVs will come with HypersonX sound technology that will make its next generation of EVs sound like petrol and diesel engines. Unveiled this month, the bespoke soundscapes aim to give the Neue Klasse models, scheduled to launch this year, highly distinctive character acoustically. The HypersonX system comprises 43 sound signals, with specially tailored drive sounds for Personal and Sport Mode. BMW says it adapts the sounds precisely to the driving situation at hand, in order to create an emotional interaction between the driver and their vehicle. Personal and Sport Mode apparently focus on the essentials and are inspired by sounds from nature and structures from the worlds of art and science. BMWs integrated the acoustic system with the integration of BMW Operating System X to let the soundscape adapt in real time to the different driving scenarios presented. Renzo Vitale, Creative Director of Sound Design BMW Group commented: The unique sound spectrum of HypersonX plays a major role in giving a Neue Klasse model its own, highly distinctive character acoustically. 'Through our focus on precision, warmth and lightness, we can create a direct emotional connection between the driver and their vehicle. Porsche's Electric Sport Sound was one of the first fake engine noises to arrive in mass market EVs with the arrival of the Taycan Porsche Electric Sport Sound Porsche was a pioneer of electric car engine noise, bringing the Porsche Electric Sport Sound in with its Taycan EV in 2019. Porsche said the engine tone is skillfully composed and tailored to the vehicles personality and vehicle status. The Electric Sport Sound minimises disturbing noises from the drive architecture, instead harmonising emotive sounds that match what the car is doing, and amplifying them. Porsche promises that the emotive noises are composed in such a way that, while its clearly an electrical statement, its still unquestionably the sound of a genuine Porsche. The driver can activate and deactivate the Electric Sport Sound by selecting the Sport Plus driving mode directly in the Drive menu of Porsche Communication Management (PCM) or via the configurable joker keys. Its not just emotive though, the Porsche Electric Sport Sound also has a standard system to meet the legal requirements for pedestrian protection. Perhaps the most advanced synthetic engine sound, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N comes with N Active Sound+ which mimics the noise of gear changes and is a hit with drivers and testers Hyundai N Active Sound This is the fake engine noise that has many of the biggest haters accepting of fake engine noises for EVs. The Ioniq 5 N arrived with innovative N Active Sound+ in 2023. Generated by 10 internal and external speakers to mimic a combustion engine, N Active Sound+ offers a sonic reference point with three available sound styles for the car. In addition to generating a futuristic electric car sound, it goes the extra mile by integrating the familiar engine and exhaust noises typically associated with petrol-fuelled cars. The technology produces varied noises depending on the users preferences and the three sound styles are called Ignition, Evolution, and Supersonic: Ignition, pays homage to Hyundai Ns sound heritage, with a realistic rendition of the high-performance N engine sound, incorporating backfire, bubbling, and gear bang even, while Evolution mimics a high-performance electric soundscape with fast cornering lateral effect, and Supersonic, delivers a jet, sonic-boom inspired gear shift noise. Each sound is adjustable and highly customisable - as well as volume controls the driver can turn engine noise off entirely for silent cruising. Dr Dong Chul Park Hyundais Sound Research Lab in South Korea: 'At the Sound Research Lab, we immerse ourselves in the world of automotive sound design, utilising cutting-edge technologies like driving simulators and virtual reality to develop the latest innovations. 'We are deeply motivated to deliver a satisfying auditory experience for drivers worldwide.' But the Ioniq 5 N also comes with something more than 'engine' sounds: simulated gear shifts so drivers can feel like they're building revs and have to shift up with steering wheel paddles Electric car fake gear shifts - one better than engine noises? Hyundais done one better than just synthetic combustion engine sounds though. The Ioniq 5 N simulates gear shifts: the steering wheel paddles shift the power delivery in to mimic gear changes the building and release is sensationalised even though theres just one gear. Designed for buyers who need to feel at home in an EV, N E-Shift and N Active Sound work together to trick your brain into thinking youre revving and need to upshift or downshift. The sound design business: Why manufacturers are trying to stimulate your senses The use of acoustic elements is becoming big business in the EV world: a 2024 industry report from Fact.MR projected that the global electric vehicle sound generator market reached over 87million ($115.5million) in 2024 and will expand at a CAGR of 18.6 per cent by 2034. Automakers have been investing in sound design to create electric car sound for two reasons: to adhere to safety regulations and to bring to life the driving experience audibly. Many drivers find that the absence of sound-induced emotions contributes to a reduced sense of feedback and engagement when driving an EV compared to a combustion car. Driving is an emotive activity, with performance and power conveyed through the sensory experience of engine mechanics - and the need to translate this to EV will shape the future of mobility. The importance of sound design becomes increasingly evident not only influencing how drivers interact with their cars but also shaping the future of mobility. Electric car noise isn't just about emotive driving and persuading people to go electric, it's about keeping people safe: pedestrians are twice as likely to be hit by an EV or hybrid car than a petrol or diesel one due to EV silence Electric car noise is an important safety aspect A 2024 poll found that 47 per cent of pedestrians are concerned about how quiet electric vehicles are. Venson Automotive Solutions' research also revealed that 27 per cent of pedestrians said they had recently been taken by surprise by the silent approach of an EV car. When polled, 26 per cent of road users indicated they would prefer EV cars to mimic the noises produced by traditional combustion engine cars. An academic study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), which found that EV cars pose a greater risk to pedestrians than ICE cars. The published work stated that electric cars are thought to pose a higher risk to pedestrians as they do not hear them approaching in time to react and avoid a collision, leaving pedestrians twice as likely to be hit by an electric or hybrid car than a petrol or diesel one. EU regulations have required vehicles to use Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) since 2019. But without more robust regulations and a uniform approach to the artificial noises EVs make, Venson warns that vulnerable road users stand to be affected. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents felt that car buyers should be able to pick the noise their vehicle makes in transit from a list of regulated options, with only 13 per feeling manufacturers should use standard, regulated and branded noises instead Ive just been notified that my company pension will be transferred to an insurance firm via bulk annuity. I understand that many companies seem to be taking advantage of the increase in gilt yields to do this. My questions is if the insurance company were to fail would my pension be taken over by the Pension Protection Fund as would be the case if the company failed? Im sure many readers would like your opinion on this. Got a question for Steve Webb? Scroll down to find out how to contact him Steve Webb replies: More and more company pension schemes are transferring their assets to insurance companies which then take on responsibility for paying pensions in a process known as a buyout. Im happy to walk you through the process and how this might affect the security of your pension. Lets start with the situation before a buyout transaction takes place. As things stand, your pension is safe as long as your employer (or former employer) continues in business. This is because your company is required to put in place plans to make sure that the scheme has enough money to pay the pension promises which have been made. If the funding position worsens for some reason, the scheme has to have a recovery plan to put things straight. As you will appreciate, even the strongest companies can sometimes go bust, so this means that there is some risk to your pension if this happened at a time when the scheme was not sufficiently funded to meet all pension promises. I should add that trustees and companies take a lot of measures to manage this risk, including investing in lower risk assets as schemes become more mature. Another example would be where a company gives the pension scheme first call on certain company assets in the event that the company were to go bust. But if the worst happens and your company goes bust when the scheme is not fully funded, you would have the security of the Pension Protection Fund. There are two main scenarios. The first is that your scheme is seriously underfunded, in which case the assets would transfer to the PPF and it would then pay you compensation. In simple terms this is something approaching the pension you would have received, but with certain cut-backs. Your can find more details on the PPF site here. A second scenario is where theres not enough money to secure full pensions, but there is enough to pay more than PPF compensation. In this situation, the assets of your pension scheme would go to an insurance company who would pay a set of benefits that were better than PPF compensation but short of full scheme benefits. The key point of all of this is that even in your current situation there is some risk of your pensions not being paid in full, and the key uncertainties are whether your company goes bust and the level of scheme funding if/when that happens. Turning now to the buyout scenario, here it is an insurance company which takes on responsibility for paying your pension for the rest of your life. The good news is that insurance companies are heavily regulated, notably by the Prudential Regulation Authority. This is to make sure that these major financial institutions are well run and can cope with the ups and downs of the economy. One way that this is done is to require all insurers to have minimum levels of what are called capital reserves. In simple terms, these are a kind of buffer so that the insurance company can absorb shocks such as the recent turmoil in financial markets. The kind of firms who provide buyout deals for pension schemes tend to hold relatively high levels of reserves. My colleagues at LCP have estimated that a typical buyout insurer on average currently holds nearly double the minimum amount of reserves that are required by law. This provides additional peace of mind to policy holders. A second source of reassurance is that because insurance companies are so heavily capitalised, regulated and monitored, it is generally considered to be unlikely that there would be a sudden or unexpected failure which might put your pension at immediate risk. Instead, there is a graduated process of regulation so that steps can be taken if an insurance company starts to get into difficulties. To give a simple example, if an insurance company starts to look less financially secure, the PRA could require them to stop paying dividends to shareholders so that more money is retained in the business. If things were to get more serious, the PRA can use its powers to facilitate a transfer of parts of the business to another insurer in a more robust financial position. In short, although nothing is ever completely guaranteed, and its possible that an insurer could go bust, this is unlikely and there are a series of protections and safeguards in place to avoid getting into that situation. If the worst were to happen, and the insurer were to go bust, then in principle your pension would be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (rather than the PPF). However, in a world where a major insurer has gone bust its quite possible that theres a lot going wrong in the wider economy, that other financial institutions have gone bust, and that there could be much wider claims on the FSCS. We havent been in that scenario to date, and its hard to make definitive predictions about what would happen in that case. But, of course, in that kind of nightmare scenario its quite possible that your own company might be in financial difficulty and your pension might not have been safe if you were still depending on your company to stand behind it. One final piece of reassurance is the role of trustees in all of this. A board of trustees is responsible for making decisions about how best to ensure that your company pension pays out what you are entitled to. When considering whether to transfer to an insurer, a key issue that the trustees will have weighed up (and taken expert advice on) is the relative security of your pension where they continue to rely on your employer as against relying on an insurance company. If they have decided to go for a full buyout, this is likely to mean that they consider the prospect of your pension being paid is at least as good (if not better) if backed by an insurance company. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday aged 88 after dedicating his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, the Vatican announced today. The Pontiff spent his final hours with faithful, emerging to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday and touring the piazza in the Popemobile to wild cheers and applause after being discharged from hospital only last month. Francis had briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance for a 'quick and private' meeting at the Casa Santa Marta residence in Vatican City earlier on Sunday. He was hoped to be making a steady recovery from double pneumonia before Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today. 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune,' he said in a statement. Francis had only left hospital under 'protected discharge' on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year. But he resolutely toured through the crowd of 35,000 believers 'for 50 minutes at 21 degrees' on Sunday after delivering the Urbi et Orbi benediction with help from an aide. The Pontiff concluded the traditional address by wishing Catholics a 'Happy Easter' and calling for an end to conflicts around the world. The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days. Francis's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica during an official mourning period, and then - in contrast to most of his predecessors - he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood. Pope Francis on the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations yesterday Pope Francis gestures from a balcony, on the day the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and to the world) message is delivered at St. Peter's Square yesterday Some 35,000 people turned out to cheer on the ailing Pope at St. Peter's Square yesterday JD Vance (pictured left, yesterday) tried to mend his rocky relationship with Pope Francis (pictured right) at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the leader of the Catholic church slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants The Pope's last blessing: Francis blessed an infant as he was driven through St Peter's Square yesterday, before his death was announced this morning Pope Francis tours St. Peter's Square in his popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Sunday Pope Francis is helped to drink water from the balcony at St Peter's Square on April 20 A seagull flies in front of the central loggia at St Peter's square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 21, 2025 An officer hangs a photo of the Pope Francis as Catholics gather at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray following the death of Pope Francis in Rome, Italy on April 21, 2025 Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the news of Francis' death 'deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd'. 'I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering.' 'The Pope and I had a more active relationship than was apparent,' she told Italian state broadcaster RAI, in a broken voice. 'It went well beyond our respective institutional roles,' she told Italian state broadcaster RAI. 'We've met many times, even just to exchange opinions. He was able to give comfort in very difficult moments, I have many memories of the Pope.' King Charles also shared a statement in tribute, saying Francis would be 'remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others'. 'Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,' the statement continued, adding: 'The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.' Pope Francis appears on a balcony during the Easter benediction, on Sunday Pope Francis seated in a wheelchair at the main balcony of St Peter's basilica on Sunday The Pope shared his benediction with faithful via an aide before touring in the Popemobile Francis said 'Happy Easter' from the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday Pope Francis tours St. Peter's Square in his popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025 Catholics gather at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray following the death of Pope Francis in Rome, Italy on April 21, 2025 Faithful and pilgrims walk in Della Conciliazione street as they arrive to gather at St Peter's square on April 21, 2025 Faithful and pilgrims arrive to gather at St Peter's square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 21, 2025 The White House published a pithy statement on X, saying: 'Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.' Just a day before, JD Vance had met with the Pontiff to exchange Easter greetings. The Pope offered the Vice President three large chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children, who did not attend. The Pontiff had not given Vance an audience on Friday, officially out of caution over his health situation, Corriere reports. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, also shared his condolences in a post on X. 'From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.' The bells at Paris's Notre-Dame cathedral rang out 88 times on Monday in honour of Pope Francis who died aged 88, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The '88 rings for 88 years of life' were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral's bells before a noon mass in Francis's honour, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office. Israel's mostly ceremonial president offered condolences to Christians after the death of Pope Francis, calling him a man of 'deep faith and boundless compassion.' In a post on X, Isaac Herzog said the pope had fostered strong ties with Jews and advanced interfaith dialogue. 'I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered,' he wrote, referring to the pope's repeated calls for an end to the war and the release of captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Francis had repeatedly criticized Israel's wartime conduct and said allegations of genocide, which Israel has adamantly denied, should be investigated. Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas said Francis had been a 'faithful friend' of the Palestinians. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that Francis died early this morning. 'At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,' Farrell said in the announcement. 'He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.' Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. #Easter https://t.co/s8D2o4WCfV Pope Francis ARCHIVE (@Pontifex266Arch) April 20, 2025 Crowds gather in Rome upon news of the Pope's death, on April 21, 2025 A woman reacts, after the death of Pope Francis was announced, by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 21, 2025 Your browser does not support iframes. Francis had emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday - a day before his death - to bless an estimated 35,000 people in St. Peter's Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile tour through the piazza. 'Viva il Papa!' - which means Long live the pope) - and 'Bravo!' the crowd shouted as Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it. He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him. 'Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!' Francis said. His traditional Easter address and blessing was read by an aide as he sat and watched. Francis didn't celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica. But after the Easter service ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin. In all, Francis was outside for around 50 minutes. On his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly in his hotel with Vice President Vance, who tried to mend his rocky relationship the Holy Father after Francis slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants. Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher. The Vatican said the meeting between the vice president and the Holy Father was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. Vance and the Pope have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration's plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy. Clergy members stand in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican after the news broke, on April 21 Worshippers gather by the Stone of Anointing, after the death of Pope Francis was announced, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 21, 2025 People pray at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral following the announcement People sit in Westminster Cathedral in Victoria, London, following news of the Pope's death Francis became the first pope from outside Europe in 1,300 years when he was chosen to replace the retiring Pope Benedict XVI. Despite several previous health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline, Francis had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks. In September 2024, he carried out a 12-day tour across south-east Asia and Oceania that included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, will be remembered for his comparatively liberal attitudes on some subjects that made him both popular and controversial. He expressed tolerance towards divorcees, allowed priests to bless same-sex couples under certain circumstances, and put concern for the environment at the heart of his papacy. And he said in 2023 that transgender people could be baptised as long as it did not cause a scandal or 'confusion'. But he did stand firm on the subject of abortion. In a text signed by Francis that was released by the Vatican last year, terminations were described as 'an extremely dangerous crisis of the moral sense'. Nuns stand in Peter's Square as crowds gather on April 21 Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday Pope Francis stands on the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025 Pope Francis tours St. Peter's Square on the Pope mobile, as faithful react Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City Vance, centre, his wife Usha and their children, Vivek, left, and Maribel, back to camera, arrive at the Basilica of Saint Paul Francis was first hospitalised on February 14. His treatment meant he had to cancel appearances, including his regular weekly prayer to pilgrims in St Peter's Square. His final illness came after he was hospitalised for three days in March 2023 with bronchitis. In June that year he had a three-hour operation to repair an abdominal hernia. He also had to cancel his trip to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November 2023 because of the effects of inluenza and lung inflammation. And he had two recent falls. After the first, in December 2024, he appeared with a large bruise on his chin during a ceremony in St Peter's Basilica to install 21 new Catholic cardinals. In January this year, he fell and hurt his right arm, which had to be put into a sling. Francis's health was considered more fragile because of the fact that he had to have part of one of his lungs removed when he was 21 after developing pleurisy. Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936. He was one of five children of an Italian immigrant railway worker and his wife. Pope Francis meets with his predecessor, the former Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, November 2020. The pair's relationship was depicted in 2019 film Two Popes Jorge Mario Bergoglio pictured front row left dressed as a waiter in a school theatre production Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis, pictured back row, second from left with his mother Regina Maria Sivori, father Mario Jose, brothers Alberto Horacio and Oscar and sisters Marta Regina and Maria Elena Jorge Mario Bergoglio as a teenager in Buenos Aires, and right as a younger child with his brother Oscar (on the right) Pope Francis as a young priest in Argentina. He rose to become archbishop of Buenos Aires Pope Francis in his wheelchair at the Vatican on the day of the Jubilee of the Armed Forces, February 9, 2025 Pope Francis has died aged 88, the Vatican announced today. Above: The Pope using a wheelchair at the Vatican, February 3, 2025 Pope Francis holds a baby as he greets the faithful during his weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall, in Vatican City, January 29, 2025 Pope Francis blesses a child during the weekly general audience, at the Paul VI hall in the Vatican, January 29, 2025 Pope Francis blesses a baby at the Vatican during general audience, January 29, 2025 The new Pope Francis I addresses the crowd from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica as the cardinals who elected him stand around him, March 13, 2013 The new Pope Francis I waves from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica after being elected by fellow cardinals following a two-day conclave, March 13, 2013 Newly elected Pope Francis I appears on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica on March 13, 2013 in Vatican City The new Pope Francis waves as he leaves the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, March 14, 2013 Pope Francis delivers the Angelus prayer, St Peter's Square, Vatican City, March 17, 2013 Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Easter Holy Mass at St Peter's Square, Vatican City, March 31, 2013 Pope Francis's Inauguration Mass in St Peter's Square in Vatican City, March 19, 2013 Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the Popemobile during his Inauguration Mass in St Peter's Square, March 2013 Pope Francis takes part in his first mass, in the Sistine Chapel, on March 14, 2013 Pope Francis presides over a Papal Mass with the celebration of the Lord's Passion inside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican on March 29, 2013 Pope Francis lies down in prayer during the Passion of Christ Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, March 29, 2013 He had an early love interest in the form of a girl named Amalia Damonte. She later recounted that he proposed to her despite their parents disapproving. Pope Francis's history of health problems LUNG AND RESPIRATORY TRACT When he was 21, the then Jorge Bergoglio developed pleurisy and had part of one of his lungs removed in Argentina. He suffered repeated influenza and related problems since the start of 2023. He cancelled his appointments on September 23, 2024, because of what the Vatican described as light flu symptoms. In February last year, he had a check-up in hospital after suffering from flu and returned to the Vatican promptly the same day. In late November 2023, he was forced to cancel a planned trip to the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai because of the effects of influenza and lung inflammation. In March 2023, the Pope was taken to hospital after complaining that he had difficulty breathing. He recovered swiftly after receiving antibiotics for bronchitis. FALLS The Pope suffered two falls recently in his residence, bruising his chin in December 2024 and injuring his arm in January 2025. COLON AND ABDOMEN The Pope spent nine days in hospital in June 2023 when he had surgery to repair an abdominal hernia. His medical team had decided that surgery was required because the condition was causing painful intestinal occlusions. In July 2021, the Pope had 13 inches (33 cm) of his colon removed in a six-hour operation that was aimed at addressing a painful bowel condition called diverticulitis. He said in 2023 that the condition had returned. In an interview with Reuters in 2022, he dismissed as 'court gossip' rumours that cancer had been found during the 2021 surgery. The surgeon who operated on him has since confirmed that there was no cancer. BACK AND KNEE The Pope also suffered from sciatica, a chronic nerve condition that causes back, hip and leg pain. A flare-up of the ailment caused the pope to miss New Year's Eve and New Year's Day services in December 2020, the first time health problems had caused him to miss major religious events. He also developed a separate, painful knee problem, but told Reuters in July 2022 he opted against surgery because he did not want a repeat of long-term negative side effects from anaesthesia that he suffered from the 2021 colon operation. Instead, he has looked to overcome the problem with laser and magnet therapy. In 2022, he was forced to cancel trips to Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan because of his walking problems. He rescheduled the Africa trip and went to both countries in 2023. In his final years, the Pope used a wheelchair or a cane and his waistline noticeably increased due to a more sedentary lifestyle in the Vatican. MENTAL HEALTH Pope Francis said in 2021 he saw a psychiatrist in his native Argentina when he was a young priest who helped him deal with anxiety during the time of the military dictatorship. He said he had learnt to deal with the problem through various mechanisms, including listening to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Advertisement Bergoglio allegedly told her: 'If I can't marry you, I will become a priest'. Damonte added: 'Fortunately for him, I said no.' The future Pope worked as a nightclub bouncer and trained as a chemical technician before joining the elite Society of Jesus after being inspired by a priest. At the age of 32, he became a Jesuit priest in his own right. Within four years, he was leading the local Jesuit community and in 1998 he was appointed archbishop of Buenos Aires. He was created a cardinal three years later by Pope John Paul II. By then, he had garnered the nickname of the 'Slum Bishop' after focusing on poverty relief in the most deprived parts of Buenos Aires. In 2012 - the year before he became the Pope - Bergoglio stood out strongly against the government of Cristina Fernandez in Argentina. He said that his country was suffering from demagoguery, corruption and efforts to establish authoritarian rule. Bergoglio was chosen as Pope Benedict's successor on March 14, 2013. The German pontiff's shock resignation the previous month triggered the first conclave since 2005, following the death of John Paul II. Cardinals took five rounds of voting to settle on the first Latin American pope in history. They appeared to have struggled to choose between maintaining a non-Italian papacy or to return to its traditional roots. Francis then appeared in his papal robes on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to address thousands of jubilant Catholics who were packed into the square below. The photograph of the new Pope surrounded by some of the cardinals who elected him inspired author Robert Harris to write his 2016 bestselling papal thriller Conclave. The film adaptation starring Ralph Fiennes was released late in 2024. It won four Baftas this year, including best film and best British film - the first time since 2019 that a movie has won both awards in the same year. Speaking in Italian in his first address to the crowd in St Peter's Square, Francis said: 'Let's pray for one another, for the whole world, so that there is great fraternity.' He led the crowd in prayer for Benedict - now known as Pope Emeritus - and led the faithful in reciting the Lord's Prayer. Soon after he became the Pope, allegations that Francis had failed to openly confront Argentina's murderous military dictatorship resurfaced. Like most Argentines, Bergoglio did not publicly confront the junta, which ruled from 1976 until 1983. Critics claimed he did little to help those who disappeared during the dictatorship. Thousands of people were never seen again. Human rights lawyer Myriam Bregman accused Francis of allowing his own Jesuit priests to be rounded up and tortured by the junta death squads. When what was known as the 'Dirty War' began in 1972, church leaders were alleged to have known what was happening, but chose to back the regime of Juan Peron and then the military junta. Thousands of babies of mothers murdered as enemies of the regime and then adopted by families approved by the military dictatorship. In October 2012, the bishops of Argentina - led by Francis - published an apology which acknowledged that the church had not protected its faithful. They also appealed for information about where bodies had been buried and for stolen babies to come forward. But the apology did not stop Bergoglio's critics from slamming his refusal to give evidence in court on the events of the 1970s until 2010, when his answers were considered by some to be evasive. He was also accused of failing to prevent the torture of two of his own Jesuit priests. Pope Francis waves from the Popemobile as he arrives to celebrate Mass on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during his first foreign trip since becoming pontiff, July 28, 2013 Hundreds of thousands of people crowd Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on July 28, 2013 as Pope Francis (on screens) celebrates the final mass of his visit to Brazil Pope Francis kisses a child dressed as him in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican, February 25, 2014 Pope Francis and US President Barack Obama laugh as they exchange gifts during a private audience at the Vatican, March 2014 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip meet the Pope at the Vatican, April 2014 Pope Francis pushes an envelope through the cracks of the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, May 26, 2014 Pope Francis prays in front of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City, May 26, 2014 Pope Francis greets fans in Daejeon, South Korea, during his visit to the country, August 2014 Pope Francis kisses a sick child before a canonisation mass for Joseph Vaz in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on January 14, 2015 Pope Francis waves to the crowd in Santiago de Cuba, September 22, 2015 Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, as the then Vice President Joe Biden sits behind him, September 24, 2015 Pope Francis waves to faithful as he arrives for a Papal mass in Kenya's capital Nairobi, November 26, 2015 Pope Francis walks through Auschwitz's notorious gate with the sign 'Arbeit Macht Frei' ('work sets you free') during his visit to the former Nazi death camp, Poland, July 29, 2016 Pope Francis waves to the faithful at Phoenix Park in Dublin during his visit to Ireland, August 26, 2018 Pope Francis visiting Mosul, Iraq, March 7, 2021 Pope Francis bidding farewell to Iraq's President Barham Saleh and his wife Sarbagh before the pontiff boards his plane at the conclusion of his visit to Iraq, March 8, 2021 Pope Francis greets a person dressed as Spiderman at the Vatican, June 23, 2021 Pope Francis meets with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada July 25, 2022 Pope Francis waves to a huge crowd in the velodrome stadium in Marseille, France, on September 23, 2023 Pope Francis poses for the media with French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting at the Palais du Pharo in the southern port city of Marseille, France, September 23, 2023 Pope Francis gestures as he leaves after leading a holy mass at Tasitolu park in Dili, Timor-Leste, September 2024 Pope Francis greets Edwin Tong, minister for culture of Singapore, during his visit to the country, September 13, 2024 Pope Francis waves as he arrives for a meeting with young people at the Catholic Junior College in Singapore, September 13, 2024 However, supporters of the Pope insisted that he did take risks behind the scenes, including visiting the home of dictator Jorge Videla to appeal for mercy. Francis weathered the criticism and proved to be a busy Pope. His first foreign visit was, fittingly, to South America. His seven-day visit to Brazil was followed by a trip to the Middle East the following year. In Israel, he visited the al-Aqsa Mosque and then prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. Other visits included trips to Cuba and the United States in 2015, Dublin in 2018 and to Iraq in 2021. On several occasions, Francis directly addressed the painful subject of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. In 2018, he told abusers to turn themselves in and to 'prepare for divine justice'. The following year, he admitted for the first time that priests and bishops sexually abused nuns in the past. Cases of abused nuns had been reported in India, Africa, Europe and South America. He told reporters: 'Should we do something more? Yes. Is there the will? Yes. But it's a path that we have already begun.' In 2020, Francis vowed to 'uproot the evil of child abuse' after a damning report into the Vatican's handling of allegations against US cardinal Theodore McCarrick were published. Pope Francis greets crowds during his visit to Corsica, December 2024 Pope Francis speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron as they meet at the Ajaccio airport, on the French island of Corsica, on December 15, 2024 Pope Francis leads the holy mass at Place d'Austerlitz (U Casone) in Ajaccio, Corsica, December 15, 2024 Pope Francis welcomes Vietnamese visitors from the United States, December 19, 2024 Pope Francis leads the traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day blessing from the central balcony of Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican City on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024 And in September 2024, during a visit to Belgium at the end of a hugely busy month, Francis told a crowd of 30,000 people in Brussels: 'Evil must not be hidden. Evil must be brought out into the open.' His speech came after he held a meeting with 17 abuse survivors the day before. Francis's 12-day tour across south-east Asia and Oceania earlier in September proved to be his last major overseas visit. In Dili, the capital of tiny Southeast Asian country Timor-Leste, some 600,000 people gathered in a field to see Francis oversee one of the biggest masses of his papacy. The last leg of his tour was in Singapore. There, he criticised both Donald Trump and the then presidential hopeful's political rival Kamala Harris - as both campaigned ahead of the American election. He described them as 'one who discards migrants and one who kills children' in a rare voicing of his political views. The Pope previously warned US voters they would need to cast their ballots 'according to their conscience' and decide who is 'the lesser evil'. In early February this year, just days into Mr Trump's second presidency after his election victory last November, Francis criticised the new administration's mass deportation of migrants. He warned in a letter to US bishops that the program to forcefully deport people purely because of their illegal status deprives them of their dignity and 'will end badly.' Francis's increasing reliance on a wheelchair and his gaining of weight demonstrated that his health was in a particularly fragile state in his final years. His final admission to hospital proved to be the one challenge that he could not overcome. With the world's 1.3 billion Catholics now mourning the death of Pope Francis, here is what will happen in the coming days. News of the 88-year-old's passing was announced earlier today, two months after he was admitted to hospital with an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs and then kidney failure. He spent his final hours blessing thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. There will now be nine days of official mourning, but the historic process of the conclave - where cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose who will be the next pope - will not begin for at least 15 days from today. The Vatican Chamberlain, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will first certify officially that Francis is dead by calling his name three times at his bedside. The Pope's office and private apartments will be sealed and the papal fisherman's ring removed from his finger and broken with a hammer. The body of the Pope will then be dressed in red robes with a white mitre on his head, and he will be taken to St Peter's Basilica, where he will lie in state for three days. His funeral will take place within six days, and then - in contrast to most of his predecessors - Francis be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood, rather than in the grottoes beneath St Peter's. Only cardinals who are aged 80 and under - so 138 of 252 currently - can vote in the conclave. Your browser does not support iframes. Pope Francis has died aged 88. Above: The Pope using a wheelchair at the Vatican, February 3, 2025 Cardinals will be locked inside the Chapel without access to technology or the outside world until a new pope is chosen by two-thirds majority. The previous conclave - when Pope Benedict stepped down in 2013 - took just a day, but technically they can last weeks, months or even years. In modern times, they have tended to only last a few days. If after around two weeks of balloting no new pope has been chosen, cardinals can opt for a majority vote. The conclave's first day begins with the 'Pro eligendo Romano Pontificie' Mass for the election of a pope. Cardinals will gather in the afternoon in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace and then file into the Sistine Chapel. As they do so, they will chant the Litany of Saints and the Latin hymn Veni Creator, which implores the saints and the Holy Spirit to help them in their decision. Standing under Michelangelo's 'Creation' and before his 'Last Judgment,' each cardinal places his hand on the Gospels and pledges 'with the greatest fidelity' never to reveal the details of the conclave. The Conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel. Above: Cardinals on the first day of the Conclave in 2013, after the resignation of Benedict Pope Francis addressing the faithful form the balcony of St Peter's Basilica after being chosen as the new pontiff, March 13, 2013 A meditation on the qualities needed for the next pope and the challenges ahead for the church is delivered by Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech. The master of liturgical celebrations then cries 'Extra omnes', Latin for 'all out.' Everyone except the cardinals then leaves and the voting can begin. Each cardinal writes his choice on a piece of paper inscribed with the words 'Eligo in summen pontificem,' (I elect as Supreme Pontiff). One by one, they approach the altar and say: 'I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.' The folded ballot is placed on a round plate and slid into an oval silver and gold urn. In the past, a single chalice was used to hold the ballots. But conclave changes made by Pope John Paul II in 1996 required three vessels: one for chapel ballots, another for ailing cardinals at the Vatican who can vote from their beds and the third to hold the ballots after counting. In line with tradition, Benedict lay in state inside St Peter's Basilica (above, January 2023) and was then buried in a crypt underneath the building. Pope Francis will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood Outside, in St Peter's Square, tens of thousands of Catholics will be watching - along with millions more on television around the world - to see smoke emerging from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel after each voting round. Black smoke means no decision has reached, white smoke means a new pope has been selected. The smoke arises from the burned ballots, and a dye is added to make sure the smoke is the right colour each time. Once the cardinals have chosen from among their number the master of liturgical ceremonies will enter the Sistine Chapel. The prospective choice will be asked: 'Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?' Assuming they say, 'I accept', the cardinal will then be asked by what name they wish to be known. The new pope will then be given their iconic white cassock, before each cardinal approaches him to swear obedience. The Pope will then emerge onto the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square, to address the jubilant faithful for the first time. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re blesses the coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI during his funeral mass at St. Peter's square in the Vatican, on January 5, 2023 Preceding him will be Dominique Mamberti, the Cardinal Protodeacon. He will announce 'Habemus Papam', the Latin for 'We have a new pope'. Francis was first admitted to hospital on Valentine's Day with breathing difficulties. The Pope's chosen place of burial is one of the four major papal basilicas. Seven popes - from Honorious III in 1216 to Clement IX in 1669 - were buried there. But most, including Francis's immediate predecessor Pope Benedict, are buried beneath St Peter's. Francis revealed his decision to be buried elsewhere in 2023. In a further break with tradition, new rites issued last year said Francis will be laid to rest in a single zinc-lined wooden casket. Pope Francis used to pray at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore before and after trips overseas. He made more than 100 visits to the fifth-century church, where he would pray in front of a sacred image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is relying on the word of a former school principal charged with assaulting multiple children to defend a defamation action launched by an Aboriginal leader. The Opposition spokeswoman for Indigenous Australians and Government Efficiency is engaged in a high-stakes legal showdown with Lesley Turner, chief executive officer of the Central Land Council - an organisation that represents Indigenous people from a large swathe of the Northern Territory. Mr Turner claims Senator Price defamed him in a press release she sent to media outlets in July last year by suggesting he was unfit for his job. The NT News has accepted two stories it published based on similar material were wrong and apologised to Mr Turner but Senator Price has refused to back down. She is set to face off against Mr Turner in the Federal Court where he has launched a defamation action alleging Senator Price badly damaged his reputation. Senator Price has now abandoned two legs of her defence in the case - truth and honest opinion - and is relying only on qualified privilege. Late last month she also incurred a second order to pay Mr Turner's legal costs for amending her defence. Senator Price, a Country Liberal Party representative for the Northern Territory, has had a low profile during the federal election campaign. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (above) is engaged in a high-stakes legal showdown with an Indigenous leader from Alice Springs who the federal politician says is unfit for his office But when the 43-year-old made an appearance with Opposition leader Peter Dutton in Perth last weekend she was mobbed by supporters and allowed to take centre stage. At the same event, Senator Price denied she had been channelling US president Donald Trump by promising a Coalition government would 'make Australia great again'. Mr Turner has engaged BlackBay Lawyers to instruct Sue Chyrsanthou SC, who charges $8,000 a day to appear in trials and is considered one of Australia's top defamation barristers. Legal sources estimated that if Mr Turner's action was successful he could be awarded compensation in the vicinity of $300,000. As part of her defence, Senator Price is still relying on her communications with Gavin Morris, who was principal of the Yipirinya School in Alice Springs when she issued her press release about Mr Turner. In response, Mr Turner says Dr Morris wanted to replace him as CEO at the Central Land Council and was 'desperate' to step down as head of Yipirinya School. Dr Morris was charged in August last year with five counts of physically assaulting children aged between eight and 13 on school grounds in 2023. He has pleaded not guilty, was terminated from his position at the school late last year and resigned from his elected role on Alice Springs Town Council last month. Senator Price is relying on the word of Alice Springs school principal Gavin Morris in her defamation action. Dr Morris (above) was charged last year with assaulting children Senator Price's mother Bess Nungarrayi Price was the assistant principal of Yipirinya School until December last year. Mr Turner is an Arrernte man who has been CEO of the Central Land Council - which covers 777,000 sq km of the continent including most of the Northern Territory - since April 2021. Senator Price, who has Warlpiri and Anglo-Celtic heritage, has spent most of her adult life living in Alice Springs and was a prominent opponent of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. According to Mr Turner's statement of claim, on July 21 last year Senator Price sent a press release headed 'Central Land Council takes matters into their own hands' to 1591 email addresses on her media distribution list. The press release did not name Mr Turner but claimed a motion had been moved the previous week to remove the CEO of the Central Land Council. 'Through last week's vote, a majority of Central Land Council members showed their support for the dismissal of the CEO due to unprofessional conduct,' the press release stated. Senator Price said the motion to dismiss Mr Turner had been unsuccessful but was backed by the council's chair, Matt Palmer. She quoted Mr Palmer as having said, 'the voices of people in community have been ignored for too long and many in this community are being kept in poverty'. Senator Price, who has Warlpiri and Anglo-Celtic heritage, has spent most of her adult life living in Alice Springs. She is pictured above with husband Colin Lillie 'Voices are ignored, people are left behind and the vision of the Central Land Council has been lost,' Mr Palmer was further quoted in the document. 'There is majority support for change of direction and leadership in the Central Land Council, and it is time to get things done that matter for the people in the heartland and homelands of the Council.' Mr Price states in her defence she was contacted by Dr Morris sometime before she issued the press release by Mr Palmer. She had become aware through conversations with Dr Morris and Mr Palmer that Mr Palmer 'had serious concerns' about how Mr Turner was performing as CEO of the Central Land Council. By the same means, she had learnt there was 'broad support' within the council for leadership change, 'in particular with respect to [Mr Turner] as CEO', according to her defence statement. From the senator's personal dealings with Dr Morris, she 'understood him to be honest and driven passionately to the help the most vulnerable children in the Alice Springs and Indigenous communities'. She further 'considered him to be trustworthy and a reliable source of information'. Mr Turner states in his reply to Senator Price's latest defence it was 'unjustifiable and/or lacking in bona fides' for her to rely upon the alleged conduct or statements of Dr Morris. Lesley Turner, CEO of the Central Land Council, claims Senator Price defamed him in a press release she sent to media outlets in July last year. Mr Turner is pictured He alleges Dr Morris was motivated by an ambition to replace Mr Turner as CEO of the council and was 'desperate' to get out of his role as principal of Yipirinya School. According to Mr Turner's statement of claim, Senator Price's press release defamed him by suggesting as CEO of the land council he 'had behaved so unprofessionally that it warranted his dismissal'. Mr Turner also says the press release would be taken to mean he 'no longer had the support of the majority of Central Land Council members because of his unprofessional behaviour in that role'. He further alleges Senator Price implied he 'was unfit to continue to occupy the role of CEO of the Central Land Council'. Mr Turner seeks to prove he has been 'seriously injured in his character and in his personal and professional reputation and has suffered and will continue to suffer hurt and embarrassment and loss and damage'. He claims that hurt has been aggravated by Senator Price not attempting to check whether the allegations in the press release were correct or to give him an opportunity to respond. '[Senator Price] intended that the [press release] be republished in the mass media in order to hurt [Mr Turner] and damage his reputation,' Mr Turner's statement of claim alleges. '[Senator Price] has not retracted, or apologised, despite being told unequivocally on 22 July 2024 by the CLC that her claims were false.' Mr Turner has engaged BlackBay Lawyers to instruct Sue Chyrsanthou SC, who charges $8,000 a day to appear in trials. Ms Chrysanthou (left) is pictured with LIsa Wilkinson Senator Price admits she has not retracted or apologised for the media release, other than having removed in from her website in September last year. She does not accept the NT News retracted its articles, insisting it published only an apology and clarification. In October, Judge Michael Wheelahan ordered Senator Price pay $1,500 in costs after her legal team failed to file a defence within the required time. Senator Price will be represented by Peter Gray SC with Barry Dean as his junior. Ms Chrysanthou will be assisted by barrister Nicholas Olson. The defamation case is listed for hearing on October 20. Dr Morris returns to court on April 17. The curious tale of how a Lamborghini ended up at the home of dole bludger has been exposed in a Sydney court. Mahmoud 'Bargo' Bargshoon had been on Centrelink for five years when he was arrested in his underpants while in possession of the Lamborghini in Sydney's west in July last year. Unflattering footage showed heavily armed police dragging Bargshoon from the Parramatta unit he shared with glamorous gangster's widow Fatima Hage before they seized the luxury car. Detectives had been investigating the unexplained wealth of individuals with alleged links to organised crime networks at the time. It is not suggested Hage was being investigated, or that she was accused of any wrongdoing. Bargshoon was charged with dishonestly possessing a vehicle with a unique modifier which had been interfered with, and having property reasonably suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained. How the Lamborghini came to be in 39-year-old Bargshoon's possession and the vehicle's complicated history can now be revealed after he pleaded guilty to the second offence. On June 3, 2018, a black Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 coupe (Vehicle 1) was involved in a crash and recorded on the written-off register maintained by Transport for NSW. That Lamborghini, in 'Nero Nemesis' matte black with a hint of grey, was sold in late 2018 on a damaged vehicle auction site. Mahmoud 'Bargo' Bargshoon had been on Centrelink for five years when he was arrested in his underpants at his unit in Sydney's west in July last year (above) This rebirthed Laborghini was seized from the home of Mahmoud Bargshoon when police executed a search warrant on the unit he shared with gangster's widow Fatima Hage In June 2021, according to a statement of facts tendered in court, the car was repaired and repainted in a shade of grey. On July 29 the following year a Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-2 EVO coupe painted 'Blu Cepheus' (Vehicle 2) was registered with NSW number plates DGH 78C. About nine months later, on May 2, 2023, that Lamborghini was destroyed by fire at Homebush in Sydney's inner-west when two unknown persons doused the car in an accelerant and ignited it. Eight days later, the burnt-out Lamborghini, which had reportedly been hired by Bargshoon before it was set alight, was collected by its registered owner. Vehicle 1, which had been repaired after being written-off in a crash, was offered for sale on Facebook Marketplace in September 2023 with an asking price of $160,000. The seller described Vehicle 1 as a 'statutory write-off in Australia' and added a further warning: 'THERE WILL BE NO TEST DRIVES AS IT CANNOT LEGALLY BE DRIVEN ON AUSTRALIAN ROADS.' Meanwhile, a 37-year-old man went to the Service NSW office at Gregory Hills in Sydney's south-west and transferred the ownership of Vehicle 2, which had been firebombed, to his name. Vehicle 2 had a declared value of $10,000 and its number plates were changed from DGH 78C to FBZ 18Z. Bargshoon made headlines in September 2023 when Daily Mail Australia reported a disagreement between his ex-girlfriend Rose and wife Fatima Hage (above) over a Rolex watch The 37-year-old had previously inspected Vehicle 1 and on September 29, 2023 went to the seller's home at Vaucluse in Sydney's eastern suburbs and paid $130,000 for that Huracan. He made up the balance of the $160,000 asking price by handing over a silver and gold Rolex watch to the seller. Sometime in the next six months the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the firebombed Vehicle 2 was transferred to the repaired Vehicle 1, creating Vehicle 3. On March 28 last year police saw Vehicle 3 - now with a Blu Cepheus paint job - locked and secured in the basement car space of Bargshoon's newly built apartment in Phillip Street, Parramatta. Police executed a search warrant on Bargshoon's two-bedroom unit at 6.50am on July 11 and found a model of a Lamborghini Huracan EVO coupe in the loungeroom. They also located two sets of keys for Vehicle 3 in a rack next to the front door. In Bargshoon's bedroom police uncovered registration for Vehicle 2 in the name of the 37-year-old man and a document relating to the sale of Vehicle 1. During the search, Bargshoon was asked about the paperwork for Vehicle 2 and said, 'I don't know.' Vehicle 3 was towed to a storage facility and examined. Police also took away a Harley-Davidson V-Rod motorcycle and two Rolex watches. Bargshoon was convicted of having on his premises property reasonably suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained A blue Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-2 EVO coupe was destroyed by fire at at Homebush in Sydney's inner-west in July 2022 (above) The VIN displayed on the windscreen was Vehicle 2's but underneath that was a sticker identifying it as Vehicle 1. The VIN in the driver's side footwell was also from Vehicle 1. Bargshoon faced Parramatta Local Court on March 31 when he pleaded guilty to having on his property the Huracan with Vehicle 2's VIN which was reasonably suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained. He was fined $350 and the charge of dishonestly possessing a vehicle with a unique modifier which had been interfered with was withdrawn. Bargshoon made headlines in September 2023 when Daily Mail Australia reported a disagreement between his ex-girlfriend Rose and wife Fatima Hage over a Rolex watch. The dispute was sparked by a portrait of newly married Bargshoon and Ms Hage in which she was perched on a golden throne on his lap, with a blue Hermes Birkin bag placed beside her. On Ms Hage's left wrist in the photo was a watch which Rose claimed was the same $12,500 two-toned diamond timepiece he had originally given her, but which had mysteriously vanished. Ms Hage firmly denied that allegation on her husband's behalf to Daily Mail Australia and claimed that she wore a different watch for the photograph. Before their three-month relationship ended, a suspicious Rose confronted Bargshoon, who told her he had not taken the Rolex. Fatima Hage had a relationship with Mahmoud Rizk (both above) who was later convicted of shooting a 14-year-old girl outside a Connells Point home in July, 2022 Bargshoon (above) made headlines in September 2023 when Daily Mail Australia reported a disagreement between his ex-girlfriend Rose and wife Fatima Hage over a Rolex watch Rose then accused Bargshoon of stealing the watch and giving it to Ms Hage, who works as a hairdresser. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Bargshoon or Hage stole the watch, simply that it because the subject of a months-long feud between the two women. Prior to marrying Bargshoon, Ms Hage had a tragic romantic history with two different gangsters. Eight years ago, she survived a gangland hit which claimed the life of her lover, Kemel 'Blackie' Barakat. Barakat had longstanding links to the Comanchero and Hells Angels bikie gangs, and was a suspect in the execution of 29-year-old career criminal Hamad Assaad in 2016. Ms Hage and Barakat were in bed at Mortlake, in the city's south, at 2.30am on March 10, 2017 when masked gunmen burst into his unit and executed him in a hail of bullets. She then had a relationship with Mahmoud Rizk, who was later convicted of a shooting a 14-year-old girl outside a Connells Point home in Sydney's south in July 2022. Rizk, who was jailed for 12 years over the shooting, has since pleaded guilty to stalking or intimidating Ms Hage from prison, for which he was sentenced to months behind bars. He is also the subject of a two-year apprehended order made in February 2024 to protect Ms Hage. The following is an edited extract from I'll Never Call Him Dad Again by Caroline Darian, published by Allen and Unwin In November 2020, Caroline Darian received a call from the police. Her father was in police custody. The seizure of his computer equipment revealed the unthinkable: since 2013, he had drugged his wife before handing her over, in a state of unconsciousness, to men, from all ages and stages of life. Here, with exceptional courage, Darian recounts the earth-shattering discovery that a loved one, her own father, was capable of the worst. I drop Tom off at school, just in time. I give him a kiss and rush back home, make myself a coffee and log into work. One meeting, then another. The faces change but there is no escaping the screen. At 11am, my husband comes home. Paul works when the rest of us sleep. He sends a text to my father: 'I've just seen the route for next year's Tour de France. How about this as a new family goal: you and your grandson, on the slopes of Mont Ventoux on 7th July cheering them on? Up for it?' He makes himself a snack and goes off for a snooze. When he wakes up, he's missed two calls, both from landlines in the south of France. Two voicemails are waiting for him. This is the tipping point. The moment when everything changed, like when a hospital calls you because your name is down as next-of-kin. As often as not, a life shattering moment has a voice, a face. You never forget the bearer of bad tidings. Pain engraves their appearance and the way they spoke deep in your memory. 'This is the tipping point. The moment when everything changed, like when a hospital calls you because your name is down as next-of-kin,' Caroline Darian recounts You always remember, down to the slightest detail, where you were and what you were doing just before. For me it came as a ricochet. My husband took the bullet first. A message from my mother: 'It's me. It's urgent. It's about Dominique. Call me. Please call me.' Dominique, my father, weighs nearly 16 stone (101kg) and has difficulty breathing. Since COVID is still raging around us, Paul immediately assumes he's in the intensive care unit, struggling to draw oxygen through a tube. But that doesn't sit with the other message, which is from a police lieutenant in Carpentras, a town not far from my parents' house. Paul calls my mother back. 'What's the matter?' 'Dominique is going to prison. He was caught in a supermarket trying to film up women's skirts. Not once, but three times. The police held him in custody for 48 hours. 'While they had him, they confiscated his phone, a bunch of SIM cards, his video camera and his PC. What they found... it's serious. Really serious.' My mother called Paul. Not me. She couldn't bring herself to tell any of her children. But she knew she could count on Paul. She knew he could take it, no matter how bad the news. 'The abuse of my mother has been going on for at least seven years,' Caroline writes. Her mother, Gisele Pelicot, is pictured They talk it through. Paul convinces her to call her three children, starting with me, knowing he would be by my side. Still not quite able to believe what's going on, Paul calls the number the police lieutenant had left. And our whole world comes tumbling down. 'We've found videos of your mother-in-law asleep, clearly drugged, with men abusing her. Sexually.' He can't believe it. The words open a gulf, an abyss. They drag Paul into another world, one of sordid crimes and lurid media coverage. A world that was foreign to us - unthinkable, even in the context of the lives we led before. The lieutenant goes on, calmly delivering the facts in his possession. They pile up, an alien presence, a crushing weight we will have to carry for the rest of our lives. The abuse of my mother has been going on for at least seven years. The first images the enquiry has dug from my father's digital hoard date from September 2013. The number of men who have abused my mum is impossible to believe: 'The current count is 73. Right now, we've managed to identify 50 or so. The youngest is 22, the oldest is 71. They range across all classes and professions: students, pensioners, even a journalist. 'Your father-in-law organised the whole thing, taking photos and filming everything that took place. I have to tell you, the images are hard to stomach, even for us. And there's a lot we haven't gone through yet.' Caroline's dad Dominique Pelicot was arrested after filming up girls' skirts in a supermarket. But the extent of his crimes were far worse The police have been working the case day and night for six weeks. They feared for my mother's life, being drugged so often and so deeply, given she's just short of 68. The lieutenant signs off with: 'You've got to look after her. She's going to need as much help as you can give.' Paul focuses on a single goal: take what he has been told out of the house. He is determined to give me a few more hours before I, too am wrenched into this awful new world. With all my attention focused on a computer screen, I don't even notice him as he crosses the room and goes outside. In his car, Paul calls his sister Veronique, Tom's godmother. He asks if she can come round to help that very evening. They agree on a plan that will keep me in the dark as long as possible. It's nearly 7pm when I escape the demands of my job and realise that my husband has brought my son back from school. I suggest getting a Japanese takeaway. Just as I'm heading out, the doorbell rings. It's Veronique, who slides in with her usual good-humoured smile. 'I was in the neighbourhood.' Tom rushes to her and she wraps him up in her arms. I set off to the Japanese restaurant. As I'm driving, I call my mother but she brushes me off. I get the nagging feeling something is not quite right. Back with the takeaway, I place the bags of food triumphantly on the dining table. I hear my son laughing with his godmother. Nothing out of the ordinary, provided you don't know that ordinary is running out of time. In the kitchen, Paul has a solemn, serious look. He asks me to sit down. My mobile phone rings. I see it's my mother and assume she has finally found the time to talk to me. Behind Paul, the clock on the cooker is visible. It's 8.25pm. Later on I learn that those who experience sudden trauma can often only recall a single, isolated detail - a smell, a noise, or a particular sensation - something infinitely small, which expands to take up all the available space. For me, it's the clock on the cooker. Twenty-five minutes past eight, etched in stark white. These figures symbolise the threshold I'm about to cross. My name is Caroline Darian, and in a matter of seconds, my banal, contented, normal life will come to an end. I can still hear the hesitation in my mother's voice. She asks me if I'm safely home and if Paul is there with me. She insists that I have to be sitting down in a quiet spot before she can tell me what she has to say. 'Caro, your father was charged by police this morning. They took him away and he won't be coming home. He's going to prison.' I start to tremble. What she is saying makes no sense. 'Your father has been drugging me with sleeping pills and tranquilizers.' 'Hang on, Mum. What are you saying?' 'There's more. Your father invited men to the house while I was unconscious in the bedroom. I've seen photos. I'm lying on the bed on my front and there are men doing things to me. Men I've never seen before. Different ones each time.' I lose control. I start shouting, insulting my father. I want to break something - anything I can; everything if possible. 'Caro, I'm telling you the truth. I had to look at the photos for the police. My heart almost stopped there and then. The lieutenant told me that there are videos too - lots of them - of the abuse. He asked me to look at one but I couldn't. Even a photo was far too much for me. The lieutenant understood. He said: 'I'm so sorry. What your husband has done is monstrous.' She breaks down in tears. Paul hugs me. In my mind, images appear, merging into each other, each more appalling than the next: Mum lying on her bed, her eyes closed, her body paralysed, an unknown man looming over her. I can still see you behind the steering wheel of your black Renault 25, stuffed with bags and cases as we set off on holiday. You told jokes, put on Barry White and sung along, your head swaying along with the beat, just as excited as us, the kids in the back seat. A happy memory that has just shattered, replaced by an image of a man who conducts secret orgies and lives a constant lie. When Mum tells me about your last breakfast together, what lingers is the fact that it was so ordinary. What depths of dishonesty does it take to have maintained, all these years, the tranquil illusion that everything was normal? Mum hangs up. She has other calls to make first David, my elder brother, and then Florian, the youngest of her three children. I collapse. Crushed by what Ive heard, I cling to my husband. I can barely breathe. My father drugged my mother and served her up to strangers to be raped. It should not be possible to string such words together, for the sentence that they form to make any sense. The very idea is so steeped in violence it is almost impossible to contemplate like a knife so sharp that the gleam of the blade blinds you, its edge so keen that you dont immediately realise how deep it cuts. What if Mum had overdosed? What if she had never woken up? Almost eight years have gone by since Mum retired and they moved to the rural backwaters of Provence. Eight years of unending horror. And I was blind to it all. I suspected nothing. Neither did she. There was not even the slightest hint of what was going on. The drugs my father slipped her timed and dosed with precision turned my mum into a blank slate. I think back to the phone calls when she had seemed so distracted, lost in her mind. We her three children, all of us living 700 kilometres away began to worry. What else could it be, but the onset of Alzheimers? My father pooh-poohed us. He would say: You know your mother; she has no idea how to pace herself, shes always on the go. She manages her stress by rushing from one thing to the next. In 2017, we talked Mum into an appointment with a neurologist in Carpentras, the nearest big town. He talked about transient global amnesia a sort of black hole that opens up momentarily, drawing in all memories, only to vanish as mysteriously as it came. A transient state that does no lasting damage. What we didnt realise although if wed thought to ask, any specialist could have confirmed it was that this kind of thing never happens several times in a row. In late 2018, my uncle, a retired GP, suggested some kind of balancing mechanism was at play: He told her: Youre like a vacuum cleaner whose bag is full. It cant suck in any more so it stops working to avoid burning out. When youve had too much, you disconnect and that way you recover your strength, ready to bounce back. We were all convinced he was right. Mum had a brain scan done all the same, but of course it revealed nothing. Needless to say, it never occurred to us to ask for a drug test. But Mum got more and more anxious as time went by, and the episodes of amnesia piled up. She couldnt sleep, began to lose her hair and her weight plummeted ten kilos dropped off her in less than eight years. She was haunted by the thought that she might have a stroke out of the blue, particularly when she took the long train journey to visit me in Paris or found herself in charge of looking after her grandchildren. Worried about the potential risk she might pose, she gradually stopped driving. Little by little, she was losing her autonomy. In 2019, she tried another neurologist, this time in Cavaillon, another sizeable town in the region. He told her she was simply prone to anxiety. He prescribed melatonin to help her sleep more soundly I have to go to her. I cant leave her isolated in a distant corner of the country, all alone in the house that was the scene of such atrocities. Paul steps up. Of course I have to go. Hell take charge, make it happen. I have to get outside. I have to call my brothers. When David picks up, I can tell by the tone of his voice that he still doesnt know. I beat Mum to him, and I instantly regret it, but I cant hold back now. David listens in silence. Afterwards, it takes him ten seconds to digest what he has heard and find his voice. Come on this cant be true. Caro, is this your idea of a joke? He interrogates me, but I dont have all the answers. I wish I was able to lead him to a calmer place, because I can sense him backing away. He hangs up, intent on calling Mum. When I finally reach Florian, the youngest of us, he has already heard from my mother. Hes in shock. How could he do such a thing to Mum? And to us? Did he ever think about us? Like a child, all I can do is cry. An independent candidate being touted as a serious rival to Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen in their south-west Sydney electorate has been accused of a 'desperate grab for attention' after doubts were raised about the poll which put him in front. Matt Camenzuli, an IT millionaire and former Liberal Party executive, is running for the seat of McMahon, which has been held by Mr Bowen since it was created in 2010. A recent poll by Compass claimed Mr Camenzuli had over twice as much support as the Climate Change and Energy Minister in the lead-up to the May 3 election. But now questions have been asked about the legitimacy of the poll sent by text message. The poll said it was 'conducting local research to understand what matters most to McMahon voters' yet people from neighbouring electorates received it too, as did others from as far away as the NSW Central Coast. A video showed that Mr Camenzuli's name appeared to be 'pre-ticked' as a favoured candidate, meaning respondents would actively have to untick his name to choose someone else. Daily Mail Australia approached Compass, the company behind the poll, for comment on the video. A spokesperson for Mr Bowen claimed the poll was a 'desperate grab for attention'. Matt Camenzuli (pictured), an IT millionaire and former Liberal Party executive, is running for the working class seat of McMahon in western Sydney A recent poll by Compass claimed Mr Camenzuli had over double the support of the Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen (pictured: Mr Bowen with the Prime Minister) 'A text message was sent to voters from as far afield as the Central Coast and Sydney's North Shore with pre filled in answers inviting people to express support for this candidate,' the spokesperson said. 'This candidate was until recently a senior member of the Liberal Party and he lives far from the electorate. No wonder he's desperate for attention.' When asked whether he had commissioned the poll himself, Mr Camenzuli remained tight-lipped. 'There are pollsters out there and pollsters do what pollsters do,' he told this publication. 'I have no control over what pollsters do, mate. 'They (Labor) would say those things though, wouldn't they? 'They don't want to listen to the people. Chris Bowen is running around trying to sell everybody surfboards made from windmill parts and Chinese-made utes, the electrics utes that nobody in McMahon wants to drive. 'People in McMahon drive regular utes because they do real work and real work needs real trucks, so you know they (Labor) don't really care what the people of McMahon think.' Individuals reported receiving the poll in the neighbouring electorates of Werriwa and Fowler, the division of Bennelong and as far afield as Sydney's North Shore and the Central Coast. This is despite the push poll saying it was 'conducting local research to understand what matters most to McMahon voters' (pictured) Perhaps most concerning was the fact that Mr Camenzuli's name appeared to be 'pre-ticked', meaning respondents would actively have to untick his name and choose someone else (pictured) Mr Bowen received almost 48 per cent of the primary vote at the 2022 election and 59.5 per cent after preference distribution, but the Compass poll of 1,000 people has him on less than half that. It claimed Mr Bowen was on just 19 per cent, far behind Mr Camenzuli, who was polling at 41 per cent. Even more astonishing was that Mr Bowen did not only trail the wealthy businessman, but he was also behind the Liberal candidate Carmen Lazar who polled at 20 per cent. If that polling plays out on election day, Ms Lazar's preferences - which would likely heavily flow toward the independent - would see Mr Camenzuli win comfortably. Making matters even more complicated for Labor in McMahon is that Ms Lazar is a former Labor councillor who fell out with Mr Bowen when he backed another candidate for the state seat of Fairfield at the 2023 election. However, Mr Bowen is confident he will retain his seat, telling The Australian that Mr Camenzuli is a former a Liberal Party member while Ms Lazar is a former Labor member turned Liberal. 'Im the only one with consistency,' he told the publication. Mr Camenzuli said he was 'very humbled' by the poll's results. When asked whether he had commissioned the poll himself, Mr Camenzuli remained tight-lipped 'We've got a lot of work to do and polls are polls, right. But it does match the sentiment in the seat,' he added. 'Both the major parties would rather I wasn't there. We're just working really, really hard. We're up against a big machine.' Mr Camenzuli's no-nonsense policies, including reducing the cost of groceries and installing a Musk-inspired 'Department of Government Efficiency' to cut government waste has broad appeal, sometimes in surprising quarters. The ex-Liberal Party member has been supported at some campaign events by former One Nation candidate for the NSW Parliament, Steven Tripp. Despite being a Labor stronghold, McMahon is home to a multicultural population where many constituents hold conservative social views. Constituents rejected both the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in 2023 and the same-sex marriage plebiscite in 2017. Labor and Mr Bowen backed both same-sex marriage and the Voice to Parliament. Mr Bowen's portfolio of Climate Change and Energy has also diminished his popularity in a battler electorate where soaring energy prices have hit hard. Mr Bowen is confident he will retain his seat, claiming he is the only one with any 'consistency' Mr Camenzuli, whose website says he is 'sick of politicians' has been hard at work campaigning on cost of living issues. Although he was tight-lipped about how much he has spent on the campaign so far, he did admit 'it hasn't been as much as what I spent on suing ScoMo yet'. Mr Camenzuli unsuccessfully sued former Prime Minister Scott Morrison over factional preselection processes at the last election. After he lost, he was booted out of the party. It was estimated at the time that the court loss could cost him between $500,000 and $1 million. 'I'm just a guy from Western Sydney who wants to see a better Australia,' he told this publication. 'I've been blessed. I've done well. But there's no point having things if the people around you don't, and for me it's about lifting Australia and giving back to the nation that I love in the area that I grew up.' Mr Camenzuli does not live in McMahon itself, but in Oatlands around 25 minutes away. Shawnee Baker fell to her knees and vomited when she saw her daughter, Baylie Grogan, 19, lying in the hospital bed, her body grossly swollen, and her head disfigured. The pre-med student was barely alive after walking into oncoming traffic on a busy highway in the early hours of Sunday August 19, 2018. As a former trauma nurse Shawnee was all too aware of how dire her daughters injuries were and how low her chance of survival. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail she says: Id never seen a patient with anything close to Baylies injuries. She was on a ventilator with drains in her skull to release fluid from her brain. Nine hours later, if the sight of her broken teen wasnt horrifying enough, the police delivered the shocking news that they suspected foul play. Shawnee had last seen Baylie only three days prior after spending a week helping her settle into her new dorm ahead of her sophomore year at the University of Miami. She says the aspiring doctor simply wanted to help people. A straight A student she wasnt put off by the prospect of 15 years of study to become a neurosurgeon. Like any mother, Shawnee had worried about Baylie being so far from their home north of Boston, Massachusetts but she knew she was a sensible girl. Baylie Grogan, pictured at her senior prom in 2017, dreamed of becoming a neurosurgeon, even though it would take 15 years to qualify. Tragically, her life couldn't be saved by teams of top brain surgeons at hospitals in Miami and Boston. Baylie pictured with her mother, Shawnee Baker in 2017. Shawnee has since set up Baylie's Wish, a foundation to promote student safety and advocate for healthcare proxies. She had settled quickly and happily at her sorority, Zeta Tan Alpha, and Shawnee, to whom she was exceptionally close and texting or calling every day, trusted her. Now, as she looked down at her daughters maimed body, all her worst fears had come to pass. To this day the events that led to that hospital bed are unclear a puzzle read backwards with gaps and questions that will never be answered. But detectives were able to piece together an alarming outline through interviews with Baylies friends and texts exchanged between her and them into the small hours of that fateful morning. According to her sisters, Baylie rarely drank alcohol and never took drugs but earlier in the day they had let their hair down at a pool party thrown to celebrate the birthday of a student at the house he rented. The girls headed home around 4pm to shower and have dinner before meeting the birthday group at 7pm inside a handful of bars in downtown Miami. Bartenders confirmed to investigators the insistence of Baylies dormmates that she drank only water beyond 7pm. Around midnight, Baylie told the group she was tired and decided to return to the sorority. She said she was meeting one of the male friends outside the club who was going to escort her home. He didnt show up. Baylie attempted to return to the bar but was turned away after the bouncer spotted her fake ID. She told the girls that shed ordered an Uber Rideshare then, in a move that still haunts those who knew her, she canceled that ride after saying shed been approached by two young men in the street, who claimed they were University of Miami medical students heading in the same direction as her. Little can be shared about the strangers who appeared to be Good Samaritans but turned out to be quite the opposite. It appears that their promise to take Baylie home was insincere as records from the Uber show the car traveled a five-mile loop instead. Meanwhile Baylie sent a series of increasingly troubling texts to her friends describing the men as sketchy, and, alarmingly, saying they wouldnt tell her their real names. Surveillance footage shows them buying water at a convenience store and stopping by an apartment. One of the men went into the apartment and returned with solo cups containing water. Baylie pictured as a sweet, happy-go-lucky child. Her mother said she loved to make other people laugh. Baylie with her mom, Shawnee, and older brothers, Mickenzie and Tristan, on vacation in 2018 the same year that she was killed at the age of just 19. They want me to drink the water, Baylie texted her roommate. In a further text, she wrote: They want me to drink it too much. In his later interview with police the Uber driver who was interviewed said that the teen who was sitting between the two men spilled her water over the back seat. Today her mother wonders if this was a deliberate attempt to get the drivers attention and help. If it was it didnt work. Instead, he told the passengers to give him money to get the car valeted. When they refused, saying it was just water, the driver kicked them out. The drop-off was in a populated area of downtown Miami and, according to her texts, Baylie was able to slip into the crowd and escape the men. She told her friends that she was disorientated and couldnt see properly to operate her phone and order another Uber. The friends who have since been tortured by thoughts they should have called 911 or found a car to pick her up themselves sent her a code from a location app so they could track where she was going. She was three miles from the dorm but, terrified theyd get everyone into trouble from the university for underage drinking, the pair encouraged her to walk home, despite the heavy rain. Baylie was just a block away when she walked onto the road, Shawnee says. The last text sent to her phone was a friends frantic question, Why havent you moved in ten minutes? Then they heard the wail of sirens. Baylie had been struck by a car. Witnesses carried her to the edge of the highway where she was treated by first responders. Baylie, a keen equestrian, adored her horse, Dark Secret, whom she was gifted at the age of 12. They won a number of showjumping competitions and her mom, Shawnee, treasures the trophies. Baylie was a proud member of the Zeta Tan Alpha sorority at the University of Miami where she was an academically-gifted pre-med student with a promising future. It was 3.10am. Five hours later, during a sailboat vacation off the coast of Maine, Shawnee and Baylies stepfather, Scott, received a heart stopping call from Miami-Dade police who said there had been a terrible accident. He told them to contact the hospital where a surgeon advised them to come to Miami immediately because they might have to say goodbye to their daughter. The journey to Baylies hospital bed was as agonizing as it was arduous and there was no consolation or room for hope on their arrival. Shawnee recalls, She was unrecognizable because her entire body was swollen and so bruised and beaten. I was sobbing and throwing up because I knew as a nurse that she wouldn't come back. The medical staff had shaved Baylies head for surgery, and she had a giant horseshoe cut on the side. She had four hemorrhages to her brain and a broken neck and pelvis. The doctors had cut her from sternum to groin to try and stop internal bleeding from injuries including a ruptured bladder. Soon after Shawnee and Scott were able to see her, the surgeons came to drill holes in her skull to allow more fluid to drain. Shawnee kept vigil in Baylies room for a month, holding her hand and praying for a miracle. She played her favorite music such as Coldplay and Taylor Swift, reflecting on their 19 years together. She looked on helplessly at her lighthearted little girl, the easygoing child who made others laugh. Outside of school, she competed in equestrian events with her horse Dark Secret, whom her mother and stepfather had gifted her at 12. She would be at the barn at 5am every day and the same after school, Shawnee says. She had such a connection with her horse and said that they could read each others minds. Initially police said Baylie had been in a pedestrian accident but at 10am on Monday, they said that they were disturbed by surveillance footage that showed Baylie had been walking in a strange manner. They said they had seen the zombie like gait before in victims of the so-called date-rape drug, Rohypnol. They ordered a toxicology report, but 36 hours had already passed since the accident. The test came back negative. If Baylie had ingested any Rohypnol it would have been metabolized and undetectable by the time she was tested. The police traced the men who were in the Uber with Baylie that night. One sent her a tasteless Instagram message while she was in the hospital, which further horrified the family. Both in their thirties, they were taken in for questioning but denied any wrongdoing. There was no evidence that Baylie had been drugged so they were never charged with a crime. The Mail has chosen not to name them as a result. I dont know what I would do if I saw them today, Shawnee says. As for Baylies friends, she does not blame them for their response to her predicament. They were just kids trying to do the best they could in the circumstances, she says. Baylie died on September 27, 2018, after her family made the devastating decision to authorize the withdrawal of medical support. Shawnee has set up a foundation, Baylie's Wish, in her daughter's honor. The organization offers advice to students and encourages colleges to support their safety on and off campus. It also stresses the need for healthcare proxies so families can make legal decisions on behalf of young adults. Two weeks earlier, she had been flown from Miami to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where a new team of neurosurgeons hoped to treat her. However, its state-of-the-art testing found definitive evidence that neurons werent connecting inside Baylies brain, and she had barely a one per cent chance of survival. Shawnee knew her daughter didnt want to live in a vegetative state hauntingly she had told her that very thing just one year earlier in what seemed like a wildly hypothetical mother/daughter chat. Shawnee recalls: She said, Mom, theres something worse than dying, When I asked, What? she said, Being trapped in a body that doesn't work would be so much worse. She said, Promise me you'll never let that happen to me. In the aftermath of her daughters death, Shawnee admits, she struggled to find purpose in her own life. But ultimately, she found it in her family Mickenzie, 28 and Tristan, 27, her two older children from her first marriage to Baylies dad and little ones Savannah, six, and Seraphina, four, whom she had with Scott. Last October, she established a foundation in her late daughters honor called Baylies Wish. The organization promotes campus safety, especially where drugs or alcohol are involved. Many colleges have a one strike and youre out attitude to underage drinking making students scared of being found out. But, Shawnee says, the schools should at the very least provide an amnesty for first-time offenders. The non-profit has also collaborated with the makers of a safety app that sends automatic alerts to appointed friends or family members if someone feels threatened or has been taken to an unfamiliar place. Shawnees other campaign is to warn parents and students about the risks of not having a healthcare proxy. Without one, the mom says, relatives are left unable to make life-or-death decisions about children aged 18 and over who are classed as adults in the eyes of the law. She published a book about the ordeal titled simply, Baylie, in March 2025. Nothing can bring Baylie back not even justice but we will never forget her determination to help people, Shawnee says. If her story can save one life, shell have made that goal. If you have been sexually assaulted or suspect that you may have been subjected to a so-called date rape drug such as Rohypnol, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800 656 4673. A tiny Welsh town which holds the coveted title of the UK's best 'High Street' has revealed that they are slowly being killed off by 'dodgy' businesses setting up shop where they aren't wanted. Britain's High Streets are in crisis with hundreds of businesses closing every week only to be replaced by vape shops, cardless barbers and hated Harry Potter shops. According to statistics from the Local Data Company, 14 per cent of High Street shops across the country are now empty and the numbers keep rising. More than 13,000 shops closed their doors for good in 2024 an increase of 28 per cent on the year before, the highest figure since the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), which compiled the report, began collecting the data in 2015. Overall then it's a bleak picture, but in one small Welsh community nestled in the picturesque Rhondda Fawr Valley there are signs of encouragement to be found. Although separated by a dirty main road which spews noise and air pollution out into the area, both sides of Treorchy's main High Street are a hive of activity with customers spilling out of the assorted independent shops. In the cafes, pensioners chat to one another over their coffees and there's only two vape shops to be found. However, locals claim that in recent years trade on the High Street has fallen off a cliff and new businesses have brought anti-social behaviour and even 'gang warfare'. Both sides of Treorchy's main High Street are a hive of activity with customers spilling out of the assorted independent shops Tracey Powell, 58, operates a Welsh souvenir shop and praised the friendly community spirit. But she warned 'there are already too many vape and barber shops' In the cafes, pensioners chat to one another over their coffees and there's only two vape shops to be found Residents told MailOnline the glory days of 2020 when they received the top crown at the Great British High Street Award feel like a distant memory, with all too familiar problems creeping into their community since the horror of Covid. Graham Baker, 86, has lived in Treorchy all his life and is incredibly proud of the town but fears increased problems with traffic could soon damage its brand. He explained: 'They're reducing the parking at the local co-op which could hurt us. We try and avoid having vape shops, if people shop local you can control it a bit. 'It's very congested, the shops might be busy but the road is a mess.' Kevin Edwards agreed, adding: 'It's mayhem with all the cars here but it shows people are coming to the area. It is a hub really. It's always been a place where the community comes together. 'People take pride in keeping the high street together and shopping local.' When shops have been at risk of closure after falling on hard times, the community reaction has been immediate and respiratory. Bradley Lewes, 30, works in one of the many charity shops littered along the street and recalls one incident that saw a rival pulled back from the brink. He explained: 'Everyone comes together to help each other at all times. Even when shops are in trouble and about to close, people flock to it to help it in their time of need. Some residents told MailOnline the glory days of 2020 feel like a distant memory Suzanne Thomas, 72, works in a thriving independent shop in Treorchy and warned that local discontent was rising The breath-taking town puts an impetus on ensuring the community is at the heart of everything they do The looming spectre of decay hangs over the town and locals fear they will soon be inundated with new speciality vape shops and barbers Card shop owner Ceri Davis believes the writing is already on the wall and admitted he would 'close today if I could shift my stock' 'Multiple shops along this road have been saved like this.' Bradley's neighbour Tracey Powell, 58, operates a Welsh souvenir shop and echoed his 'use it or lose it' mentality. She said: 'It's a friendly community and we have a lot of elderly who like coming out to shop and use the cafes. We like meeting people. High streets need to build a happy community to survive these days.' However, Tracey admits that the looming spectre of decay hangs over the town and fears they will soon be inundated with new speciality vape shops and barbers if more support is not given. She cautioned: 'There are already too many vape and barber shops and some shops are shutting. We worry they will take over, we're not immune and we don't want to be like Porth.' Nearby Porth has been overrun by Turkish-style barber shops with locals now in revolt over plans to open yet another with even the men who work in them saying the number is becoming unsustainable. There are already five catering for the 6,000 residents on top of seven traditional hairdressing salons, all on just two streets and within a six-minute walk. Last week, a Kurdish businessman revealed he wants to open a sixth barber shop in a shuttered-up shop sparking opposition from the local business community who say the town is already saturated with one salon for every 500 residents. Charity shop worker Bradley Lewes, 30, commended villagers for pulling together and helping stores when it appeared they were on the brink of closure In reward for their efforts, the town won top prize at the 2020 Great British High Street Awards Locals fear the congested main road that cuts through the town could damage its charm Pictured: An aerial view of Treorchy and its surrounding villages. The tiny Welsh town holds the coveted title of the UK's best 'High Street' but has warned times are tough There are a further six Kurdish barbers shops in neighbouring towns of Blackwood and Newbridge - barely ten miles from Porth - where cut-throat competition led to mob violence earlier this year. The concerns come after police have warned of criminals infiltrating the industry by setting up barber shops as front companies to launder the proceeds of crimes like drug dealing. More than 750 barbers opened in the UK last year despite a broader High Street downturn - raising suspicions that some are being used by gangs. Suzanne Thomas, 72, works in a thriving independent shop in Treorchy and warned that local discontent was rising. She said: 'Vape shops and barbers are creeping in. We are not happy. We won that award in 2020 but since then so many people have gone. The butchers and the Welsh shop. If everyone leaves we won't be any different. 'We won't be special. We don't have any franchised coffee shops at the moment as people here prefer to drink locally. We'd probably chase them out.' Another business owner, who preferred to stay anonymous, echoed concerns, saying: 'These new, often foreign businesses, have ruined the country. We used to be so much busier and only the locals can tell the difference. 'We want people to come for our products. We'd love a butcher - at one time we had at least ten butchers here. It will never be how it used to.' Despite its glittering reputation, many locals in Treorchy are living from paycheck to paycheck with no certainty of the future of their cherished community. And some business owners like Ceri Davis believe the writing is already on the wall. Your browser does not support iframes. Nearby Porth has been overrun by Turkish-style barber shops with locals now in revolt over plans to open yet another (Pictured: Two Porth barbers) A brawl erupted earlier this year in the South Wales town of Blackwood over a barber that was set to open in the nearby town of Newbridge He said: 'I would close today if I could shift my stock. I was closing down one of my shops today, I used to have three. Our turnover is down 50 per cent in three years. Footfall has gone down. We've even had gang warfare between us and the town up the road. 'Things have changed here, we're definitely not the high street of the year anymore.' The breath-taking town puts an impetus on ensuring the community is at the heart of everything they do and implemented successful high street initiatives including regular cultural events such as a Christmas Parade and the Rhondda Arts Festival. They also created the 'Visit Treorchy' website to give local businesses a greater presence online - as before this, only 32 per cent of businesses had a website - while a strategic partnership provides digital training and support to local entrepreneurs. A 'Hop, Shop and Save' scheme offers businesses advertising space on local buses in return for in store discounts for customers. This helps to promote public transport, reduce air pollution and drive footfall to high street outlets - 80 per cent of which are independently owned. To the uninitiated little seems to have changed in Treorchy since the halcyon days of 2020. New Welsh flags have been added to the buildings on each side of the road perhaps, admittedly making the street look like a parochial version of The Mall. However, locals say that the difference has been seismic and many are now fearing for their livelihoods. It was just a month until what most pollsters had predicted would be one of the closest presidential elections in history. In the heat of the final stages of the campaign, Donald Trump was deciding how to recognize the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. So the then-Republican presidential nominee turned to his Wall Street friend, Howard Lutnick. As they travelled to the Jewish Ohel tombs in Queens, New York, to mark the horrific Hamas assault, the billionaire former Cantor Fitzgerald CEO shared some of his grand plans for the U.S. At the time the margins in the polls were razor-thin and the chances of a second Trump administration hung in the balance. But Lutnick, adept in the art of negotiating after years as a successful and powerful financier, decided to take his chance. His pitch included ambitious ideas of how to balance the federal government budget to a point where any American making less than $150,000 a year could have their income tax waived. He was absolutely certain that 25 percent of the payments going out of the federal entitlements like Social Security and Medicare were fraudulent and had a plan to find them. 'I had an hour and a half, just he and me talking,' Lutnick revealed in an interview on the All-In podcast after the president took office. Trump looked at him and and gave his ambitious master plan a seal of approval. 'Sure,' Lutnick recalled Trump saying, praising the president for empowering him to detail the his bold blueprint during the campaign. Six weeks later, Trump announced that Lutnick would be his pick to lead the Department of Commerce - but the businessman was already putting his vision into place. As time went on he added to his list of proposals aimed at increasing government revenue, including the introduction of a $5million gold card to get a visa. President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Washington, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk, flanked by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller His ultimate goal is 'no debt in America' - an audacious idea that has both bemused and enchanted investors. The plans have raised eyebrows, even in MAGA circles. But a fearless Lutnick hasn't been daunted, and doesn't care about being branded a 'villain'. To set his vision in motion, Lutnick got to work. He moved to recruit Elon Musk during a trip to SpaceX Starbase launch site in Texas to witness his monumental 'rocket catch.' After the successful event, Musk met with Lutnick to discuss leading a massive effort to cut $1 trillion of government spending. Musk was delighted and gave him 'two thumbs up' to endorse the idea, he recalled. Lutnick proposed the name DOGE, after spotting the meme-fueled idea floating around the internet and realizing it was a key inspiration to get Musk on board. Snapping a selfie with Musk, Lutnick posted it on social media. 'We will rip the waste out of our $6.5 Trillion budget. Our goal: Balance the Budget of the USA,' he crowed. Welcome to DOGE. We will rip the waste out of our $6.5 Trillion budget. Our goal: Balance the Budget of the USA. We must elect Donald Trump President. @elonmusk @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/jTKBhr07m5 Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) October 14, 2024 'We gotta win, but, once we do, we can cut the millions of strings that, like Gulliver, hold back the giant that is America!' Musk agreed. Like Trump, Lutnick is thrilled by the idea of fixing government problems that have vexed lawmakers in Washington, DC for decades. He's spent a lot of time reading, he reveals, studying about how government works and finding ways to raise revenue. Someone gave him the book 'The Gatekeepers' by author Chris Whipple, who explored the history of White House chiefs of staff and how they helped define every modern president. As he read the book, Lutnick was horrified by what he learned, and realized the critical errors of the president's closest aides in Trump's first term. Every one of the president's chiefs of staff, Reince Priebus, John Kelly, Mick Mulvaney, and Mark Meadows tried to control Trump. He is a huge fan of Susie Wiles, because he believes she lets the president be who he wants, without too many parameters. Tesla CEO Elon Musk (L) waves as he walks with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick (R) and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (C) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick takes phone calls after the president's announcement on tariffs After Trump won the election, Lutnick turned his eyes to Washington, DC and purchased one of the most expensive homes on the market. 'We bought Bret Baier's house, so I have a nice house, big enough for my ego to expand,' he joked about the $25 million mansion. On most weekends he escapes the Washington swamp and travels with the president to Mar-a-Lago to enjoy ice cream sundaes on the patio, Politico revealed. But when Trump launched his dramatic tariff agenda on 'Liberation day,' Lutnick struggled with executing the delicate dance that followed to soothe markets and reassure business figures. Lutnick was aggressive in the media but stepped on a few press landmines that frustrated supporters of the president's trade agenda. On CBS's Face the Nation, he said 'the army of millions and millions of human beings screwing in little screws to make iPhones' was coming to America. The idea of American workers doing such menial labor kicked off widespread mockery from his critics, but they missed Lutnick's ultimate point. 'It's going to be automated and great Americans - the tradecraft of America, is going to fix them, is going to work on them,' he said. The idea of automation enraged economic nationalists like Steve Bannon, who lambasted Lutnick on his War Room show. 'Let me be blunt ... I think he's close to being an unmitigated disaster. We should see a lot less of Lutnick on TV,' he said. U.S. President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garde US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (2nd R) and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick look on as President Donald Trump signs an executive order Wall Street was furious too. The Wall Street Journal lamented Lutnick's 'supersize role' in Trump's administration. They states that the billionaire 'exasperated' people in the White House and confused and frustrated executives. Lutnick started sharing details of conversations he was having with the president. Trump ultimately relied on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to help land the tariff plane and sooth investors. Behind the scenes, however, Lutnick is still very involved and a key player. 'Secretary Lutnick is an invaluable addition to President Trump's all-star team of trade and economic advisors, each of whom is leveraging unique insights from the private sector, academia, and government to deliver on the President's vision.,' White House spokesman Kush Desai told the Daily Mail. To Trump, Lutnick remains one of the Wall Street 'killers' who can help him negotiate better deals for the president. His ideas keep coming. He suggested that in the long line of people trying to get green card visas, why not give tech companies the option of paying a significant fee for a 'gold card'? Pay $5 million up front, get a welcome into the United States to work and have a path to citizenship in exchange for your investment. If 200,000 Gold Cards are sold at $5 million each, the resulting $1 trillion would help raise more investment The idea enchanted Trump. If the United States sold a million green cards, they could raise $5 trillion in revenue. Trump immediately started promoting the idea in the Oval Office as a smiling Lutnick appeared alongside him. It would be enacted in a 'couple of weeks' he said, but many of the president's allies were horrified by the idea. At a time when Trump was trying to pressure tech companies to 'hire American,' Lutnick was offering to sell them a golden ticket out of their problems. Lutnick drafted Elon Musk's DOGE team to build and develop a website to streamline a system to open the pipeline of foreign workers into the United States. The idea of 'selling citizenship' to foreign workers was anathema to Trump's America First allies who immediately targeted Lutnick for the 'stupid' idea. Lutnick was a 'r*****' who had 'no idea' what he was doing to the president's political movement, an ally of the president told the Daily Mail. As implementation of the idea stalled in the administration, Lutnick had an actual 'gold card' made and gave it to Trump. The laminated card featuring the president's face, the Statue of Liberty and a bald eagle captured the president's imagination once again. Trump was thrilled. It was the perfect distraction from the brutal week of a punishing news cycle sparked by his global tariffs. 'For $5 million dollars this could be yours,' he said, showing it off to reporters on Air Force One. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spoke with the media after the President's announcement of a tariff suspension for 90 days. President Donald Trump holds up the $5 million gold card as he speaks to reporters while in flight on board Air Force One Lutnick is still full of big ideas: The Trump card, tariffs, cuts in fraud and waste, and investigating international tax scams. Remaking the government to raise trillions in revenue, cut spending, cut taxes, create the External Revenue Service is all part of his 'so awesome' plan to fix the litany of underlying issues. It's the ultimate challenge that lawmakers have given up on for decades. Lutnick is delighted and having the 'most fun ever,' he says, noting that he's pitching new ideas to the president every day. They are the dreams big New York business figures like Trump have tried to sell to Washington, DC for years. Some Wall Street rivals have tried to smear him for decades, just as many tried to do the same to Trump. The campaign was fun, winning was awesome, and leading the government transition was the kind of challenge that Lutnick enjoyed. But as Lutnick and allies like Musk have discovered, governing is much more difficult as the shifting currency of politics threatens to exile them from public support. Now matter what happens, however, Lutnick will always have the friendship of the president of the United States - even if their great ideas do not make it off the ground. Maybe someday they'll talk about what could have been over ice cream at Mar-a-Lago. Plans by Welsh council bosses' to reduce the amount of lessons taught in English to 'bolster' the Welsh language have been applauded by residents of Bangor despite being slammed as 'crazy' by one of their local teachers. Gwynedd Council in North Wales wants to make Welsh the main language of instruction in all schools within the county. In order to do this, most English language classes in the county would be scrapped in a move which has been blasted by education unions who claim it will worsen a recruitment crisis. According to the 2021 census, just 17.8% of Wales' population are able to speak and understand Welsh, however in Gwynedd this stands at 76.3%. In Bangor, MailOnline found the policy had divided local opinion with many parents supporting the slashing of English language education in favour of Welsh. But one teacher branded it 'crazy' and others said it could lead to a backlash in a corner of Wales where many have accused locals of being anti-English. More than a million visitors every year flock to Gwynedd which is home to Snowdonia and stunning remote beaches. But there has been anger at English ownership of second homes forcing out locals as well as accusations of animosity towards tourists. Plans by Welsh council bosses' to reduce the amount of lessons taught in English to 'bolster' the Welsh language have been applauded by residents Gwynedd Council in North Wales wants to make Welsh the main language of instruction in all schools within the county Taxi driver John Williams said that he expected there'd be some backlash to the decision Social worker Alaw Williams said the planned policy had nothing to do with 'Welsh zealots' Under the council plan, all secondary pupils would receive 70 per cent of their education in Welsh while younger primary school children would get all their lessons in the native language. Al lessons for pupils aged between four and seven would be in Welsh, dropping to 80 per cent for seven to 11 year-olds, and 70 per cent for those attending secondary schools. Welsh councillors have been accused of being 'zealots' in a county where a minority of people speak Welsh. The issue was a lively talking point on the streets of Bangor, Gwynedd's only city. Taxi driver John Williams, 64, said: 'I'm in favour but I know there will be a backlash. 'There will be people who don't like it and there will be accusations of anti-English. 'But we have to keep the language alive.' Social worker Alaw Williams, 23, agreed, saying: 'I think it's a good idea and I disagree that it is all down to Welsh zealots. 'I had all my lessons in Welsh all through school and it hasn't held me back. 'I then went on Bristol University and I had no problems with lessons in English. 'We are in Wales - you should be able to speak should Welsh and have lessons in Welsh. 'Being bi-lingual is a really important skill to have. 'People are surprised how much Welsh is spoken in Wales.' Father-of-two Aled Jones, 68, whose 11-year-old grandson speaks Welsh, said: 'My daughter was just taught in Welsh at school. 'It worked as she got a job. 'But she had to have extra maths lessons in English. 'There is a lot of English spoken anyway - in fact people speak both.' Mother-of-two Rhian Hughes, 32, said: 'I want my kids to be taught in Welsh. 'We are in Wales so we would be taught in our native language. 'English is everywhere - on the TV, internet and radio so everyone speaks it anyway. 'It's not a backward step to have more Welsh in schools. It didn't harm me learning in Welsh when I was at school.' However, there were many others who criticised the move with some accusing it of being a policy born out of anti-English spite. Mother-of-one Anne Williams, 66, said: 'It seems a backward step. 'It will harm children's education for sure. 'I'm all for preserving the language but it should not be forced on people. 'Lessons should be in English and Welsh.' Whilst Anne Williams (left) blasted the plans, her friend Aled agreed with them One primary school teacher, who did not want to be named, said: 'It's a terrible idea - it makes us look backward. 'It will be very hard to implement. A lot of kids don't speak fluent Welsh in my school where it is due to come in. 'It's a crazy decision.' Megan Owen, 34, added: 'It's madness - a stupid idea dreamt up by Welsh nationalists. 'You shouldn't force kids to learn just in Welsh. It will hold children back. 'Everyone speaks Welsh and English - there's not need to interfere.' While Gwynedd remains a Welsh language heartland, the percentage of Welsh speakers has fallen. In 1981, 76 per cent could speak Welsh, but by 2021 this had fallen to 64 per cent. All but two of the 13 secondaries in Gwynedd are required to ensure 60 per cent of pupils receive at least 70 per cent of their lessons in Welsh. The new proposals would force 100 per cent of pupils to be taught in Welsh 70 per cent of the time. Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, accused those behind the plans of being 'linguistic zealots'. Under the plans, all lessons for pupils aged between four and seven would be in Welsh, dropping to 80 per cent for seven to 11 year-olds and 70 per cent for those attending secondary schools. While Gwynedd remains a Welsh language heartland, the percentage of Welsh speakers has fallen Councillor Dewi Jones, who holds the education portfolio on the council, said: 'The current emphasis is on bilingual learning but we're moving towards a system of Welsh-medium education. 'Of course not all schools are at the same stage of the process and they will be ready to offer these changes at different points.' The proposals will be debated by the council's cabinet and the full council, and a public consultation will also be held. Gwynedd Council is one of many in Wales that have hiked council tax in a clampdown on second homes ownership which have forced out Welsh natives. Certain second homes will be taxed a whopping 150 per cent. The council has also encouraged locals to report their rich second home owner neighbours. Tourists have accused some locals in Gwynedd of being virulent anti-English. Last year, a party of seven English women hikers said they would never return to the village of Llanberis on the slopes of Mount Snowdon after being snubbed in pubs and abused in the street for being English. One local admitted to Mailonline that there was 'among us Welsh speakers towards the English' due to the number of second homes and tourists. Linda Owen, 58, said: 'I wouldn't be surprised if we went back to the days of holiday homes being burned down again.' This is a reference to the notorious Welsh nationalist movement of the 1980s when a group called Meibion Glyndwr or 'Sons of Glendower' - named after a medieval Welsh prince who fought against English invasion - burned down homes belonging to English people. An 80-year-old retiree land his wife - who has Parkinson's Disease - were slapped with parking fines twice in three months, despite using a Blue Badge. Guy Falkenau, 80, from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, spoke of his fury with parking bosses after he and wife Lucille received the penalties when parking at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead. On two separate occasions the music lovers visited the venue and parked using Lucille's disabled badge, only to be ticketed regardless. The pair are keen concert-goers and have been frequent attendees at the Glasshole, with Lucille even having performed there. However this year they have fallen foul of the parking system employed by the venue's car park operator Euro Car Parks, and been fined twice despite using the blue badge Lucille has. The operator has now, according to a Glasshouse representative, discovered a 'technical issue' which has caused the problem. Guy had wondered if the mismatch between the name registered on the blue badge - Lucille's - and the name listed as their vehicle's registered keeper - his - was the issue. However the car park operator is understood to have said this is not the case, but a different issue has been responsible for the problem. Guy Falkenau, 80, from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, spoke of his fury with parking bosses after he and wife Lucille received parking fines - despite using Lucille's Blue Badge The couple have fallen foul of the parking system employed by the venue's car park operator Euro Car Parks at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead (pictured) He told ChronicleLive: 'We have had two occasions over the last three months where we have been to performances. We have gone through the [parking] process as described - my wife has Parkinson's, she is partially sighted - and we've been penalised both times. 'The result is, from my point of view, that there's a concern that we can't access the disabled parking.' Guy said that if a solution wasn't found, he and wife Sylvia - who taught deaf children and is an accomplished musician in her own right - would likely have to give future concerts a miss. He added: 'And my fear is that if this has happened to me, then broadly it will have happened to others - and potentially to others less able to appeal. It's potentially discriminatory.' Guy said that having written to Euro Car Parks, his first penalty was quashed but he was concerned by the wording used in allowing his appeal - as this suggested there was no guarantee future appeals on the same grounds would be accepted. He has written to Euro Car Parks highlighting the issue and appealing the second ticket and he is also seeking to raise the issue with the Glasshouse. In a letter to Euro Car Parks and seen by ChronicleLive he pointed out the concern in general about the new system for validating blue badge parking. He said: 'Logically it requires a disabled person to be ambulant and have to walk a greater distance than an abled bodied person to fulfil the parking regulations, first having to walk to a pay station with the blue badge, then return it to the car and then walk a third third time to the lift to gain access to Glasshouse.' Guy highlighted fears that the system's complexity was potentially discriminatory - especially given the difficulties those with disabilities may have. Mr Falkenau said: 'My fear is that if this has happened to me, then broadly it will have happened to others - and potentially to others less able to appeal. It's potentially discriminatory' A Glasshouse spokesperson said: 'Firstly, we're very sorry to hear that their recent experience of parking at The Glasshouse has caused them stress and frustration. We completely understand how important accessibility is - particularly for those with mobility challenges. 'While The Glasshouse does not operate the car park directly, we take feedback from our visitors seriously. We've been in touch with Euro Car Parks (ECP), who manage the site, and they've confirmed that their system follows DVLA guidance for Blue Badge use. 'The scanner checks for badge validity but does not rely on the badge holder being the registered keeper of the vehicle. Based on this, a mismatch in name should not trigger a penalty. 'However, we've been advised by ECP today that they've identified a technical issue affecting Blue Badge users when paying on entry. We understand that they are currently working on a fix, which they hope to implement shortly. 'In the meantime, ECP has confirmed they are reviewing any affected cases and ensuring that appropriate steps are taken to resolve them, including reviewing appeals where this issue may have been a factor.' Euro Car Parks were contacted for comment but did not respond directly. A Perth family has finally sold their large parcel of land to developers for $4million after refusing offers for 40 years while an entire suburb was built around them. The property - set on a 2.34-hectare block at 466 Wattleup Road in Hammond Park, 27km south of Perth's CBD - has been owned by the same couple since early 1980s. Effective Property Solutions (EPS) said the site has finally found the right buyer after it drew national and international attention when it was put on the market in August. The family received eight offers from developers and settled the sale with construction firm Apex Building on Tuesday. EPS head of property investment Ollie Salimi said the family had listed the land for sale twice before but it was the third attempt that sealed the deal. 'It proved worth the wait with the price exceeding the sellers' expectations by 20 per cent,' Mr Salimi told 7News. The $4million deal is set to see the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home and semi-detached two-bedroom granny flat demolished to make way for residential development. Mr Salimi added the 'very private' homeowners were happy that their land would 'make way for more homes' to help meet the ever-growing demand in the area. The property - set on a 2.34-hectare block at 466 Wattleup Road in Hammond Park, 27km south of Perth's CBD - has been owned by the same couple since early 1980s Construction firm Apex Building purchased the property for $4million after out-bidding eight other offers 'The plan is to use the site for residential development to meet strong demand for homes in this flourishing southern Perth suburb that's a major growth corridor,' Mr Salimi said. The homeowners decided it was time to sell as their five children were now middle-aged and they could capitalise on the area's strong property market. Under the City of Cockburn's town planning scheme, the land is zoned 'development' under multiple residential densities and also has a local centre designation. The land was also zoned as 'urban' under the Metropolitan Region Scheme. The property initially covered over four hectares, but part of it was sold for $2million to allow for the extension of Hammond Road in 2022. A woman alleged to be a Department of Work and Pensions advisor filmed herself livestreaming on a porn site while working from home. In one clip she can even be seen flashing at her online followers as she finishes up a call with a customer about pensions entitlements, The Sun reported. In her profile on the x-rated website XHamster, she is listed as a 40-year-old English woman who performs private shows for 'tips'. Her specialties reportedly include 'dirty talk, flashing, role play, topless and striptease'. While a large number of performers on sites like OnlyFans make content from home, the civil servant, who refers to herself as Katie, appeared to be making adult content alongside her purported regular day job. In a video seen by The Sun, she can be heard giving advice to what she claims is someone calling about their pension - before showing her privates to her porn followers. In other clips she can be seen exchanging sexualised messages with fans about what she is wearing. Asked if she feels bad doing adult work while supposedly working as a civil servant, she told a follower: 'No, I don't. If they paid us more it would be all right.' A woman alleged to be a Department of Work and Pensions advisor filmed herself livestreaming on a porn site while working from home Noting that there are 'people on pensions who can't switch the electric on', she added: 'Unfortunately that's gonna be me when I'm retired.' She said the amount of money she made on the porn site depended on how frequently she streamed on the site, the number of private shows she performed and how many tips she got each show. The DWP reportedly said it was treating the case 'extremely seriously' and has launched an investigation into the woman to see if she is actually an employee. A DWP spokesman told The Sun: 'We're aware of this video and investigating whether the person featured is a member of staff.' A Ofcom report in November 2023 found that a fifth of Britons admit to watching porn during office hours. Of the 13.8million people who watch porn online, more do so between 9am and 5.30pm than at any other time of the day. Experts have warned that the ability to work from home away from the prying eyes of colleagues helped fuel a surge in porn addiction. The number of Britons seeking medical help for the issue almost doubled during the pandemic, as remote working became widespread. Phoeniz police officer Christian Goggans, 30, was investigated for allegedly making pornography on the clock The officer was working from home after being placed on leave in October 2022, officials said Doctors say having temptation just a few clicks away has turned some casual porn watchers into addicts and worsened those who already had a problem. However, 'Katie' is far from the only porn performer who has been tempted to make content alongside her regular 9 to 5. Phoenix police officer Christian Goggans, 30, was investigated by the Phoenix Police Department for making and distributing pornographic photos and videos on his Twitter account under the name 'Rico Blaze.' He allegedly made and uploaded porn while on the clock and working from home. And in December 2024 a 'desperate' sheriff's deputy resigned after her porn career was exposed. Shannon Lofland, a veteran of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office for 21 years in Colorado, decided to step down from her position after the department got word of her second job, leading them to open up an internal investigation. Lofland, 44, a sheriff's office driver training instructor, decided to start performing in 'mainstream' adult videos because she 'was drowning' trying to support her family with just her paycheck. 'I was desperate, I was drowning. I found a legal, lucrative means for providing that support for my family that I needed at that time to save my home for them and feed my family,' Lofland told CBS News. Shannon Lofland, 44, who served as a sheriff's office driver training instructor for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office in Colorado for 21 years, resigned on Tuesday after word of her online porn side hustle got out Lofland, a sheriff's office driver training instructor, decided to started performing in 'mainstream' adult videos because she 'was drowning' trying to support her family with just her paycheck The mother and wife told the outlet she knows that not telling her department about her side gig was wrong, but once her secret was revealed and she had been suspended, she decided it was best to leave so the department didn't have to 'waste resources' on something she fully admits to participating in. 'The mainstream in the adult industry is not something that the sheriff's office would approve of and I understand that. 'It was a violation of policy to not request permission to work secondary employment. I know that and I knew that,' Lofland added. After confessing to participating in sex scenes and leaving her long-time job because of it, Lofland received tons of support from people who were happy that she spoke out - and there was no evidence she was performing when she was meant to be working her police role. A California sheriff deputy has been fired after injuring an elderly woman by shoving her to the ground last year, as caught in shocking surveillance footage. Video shows disgraced deputy Matthew Gurich throwing a 71-year-old woman out of the main door of the Sacramento County Main Jail in October 2024. Gurich can be seen throwing Ourania Thimmhardy violently onto the sidewalk, with her head narrowly missing a metal pillar. She lay sprawled on the ground for several seconds afterwards while the deputies walked back inside the building, leaving her alone on the sidewalk. The horrific clip was released in February, and Gurich was placed on administrative leave in March, according to police spokesman Sergeant Amar Gandhi. Thimmhardy was hospitalized for three weeks following the violent incident, according to her lawyer Mark Merin. An earlier video from inside the jail also shows deputies speaking with Thimmhardy as they processed her release from jail. It's unclear what the forms were for. A California sheriff deputy has been fired after injuring an elderly woman by shoving her to the ground last year, as caught in shocking surveillance footage Video shows disgraced deputy Matthew Gurich throwing a 71-year-old woman out of the main door of the Sacramento County Main Jail in October 2024 An earlier video from inside the jail also shows deputies speaking with Thimmhardy as they processed her release from jail. It's unclear what the forms were for 'Please don't touch me, please watch your contact,' she can be heard telling one of the deputies as he placed his hand on her shoulder while asking her to sign the form. The deputy later roughly escorted her out of the building, forcing her arm behind her back and pushing her out while she asked: 'What are you doing?' Thimmhardy has a long history of mental illness, according to a lawsuit seen by the Sacramento Bee, and she had been held for two days before her release. According to police records, Thimmhardy refused to sign a processing form while at the jail, and deputies physically escorted her out before pushing her out of the exit. Thimmhardy's lawsuit states that she cannot 'climb stairs' and now needs the assistance of care workers because of injuries inflicted by the deputy. While she was in hospital for three weeks recovering from the incident, her husband suffered a heart attack and died, Merin said. The horrific clip was released in February, and Gurich was placed on administrative leave in March, according to police spokesman Sergeant Amar Gandhi He called for criminal charges against Gurich, accountability for the wider police force, and 'major changes' to the way the jail has been run. 'Time has run out for the need to make substantial changes in the way the county deals with jail inmates from the top down,' Merin told the Sacramento Bee. 'There has to be training, there has to be staff accountability and they have to look at people who are in custody as human beings, who need care and help and not mistreatment.' The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office said it had received police reports in this case but did not provide more information, citing a pending investigation. A former antiques dealer who helped steal 12million worth of 'cursed' Anglo-Saxon treasure has told his accomplice to 'hand yourself in' after spending five years in prison. Simon Wicks helped two amateur metal detectorists flog their findings on the black market in 2015 before being sentenced in 2019 for conspiring to conceal the treasure. The coin collector turned criminal told The Sun 'these coins have been a curse from the day they were found. Prison is the last place I thought Id end up in life'. A ninth-century gold ring, a dragon's head bracelet, a silver ingot, a fifth crystal rock pendant and up to 300 coins, some from the reign of King Alfred, were part of the historic collection which led to the downfall of Wicks's life - as well as his conspirators. George Powell, 44, and Layton Davies, 56, found the invaluable stash in Eye, near Leominster, Herefordshire before enlisting Wicks's expertise to sell them illegally instead of declaring the findings. But Powell has been on the run since January after failing to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court to repay 600,000 at his sentencing hearing. He was jailed for six-and-a-half years for the theft while Davies is currently serving an extra five years and three months in jail for failing to pay the value of his share of the missing treasure. Wicks said it was 'crazy' his pal was on the run and admitted 'I wish I could speak to him and talk some sense into him'. Simon Wicks who helped steal 12million worth of 'cursed' Anglo-Saxon treasure has told his accomplice to 'hand yourself in' after spending five years in prison Simon Wicks (centre) helped two amateur metal detectorists - George Powell (left) and Layton Davies (right) flog their findings on the black market in 2015 (pictured here in 2019) Only 31 of the coins - worth between 10,000 and 50,000 - and pieces of jewellery discovered at farmland in Eye, near Leominster, Herefordshire, have ever been recovered, with the majority of the hoard still missing Powell spent some time behind bars but became a fugitive after he failed to fulfil the repayment order - Davies was put behind bars again for failing to pay his half. Still brazenly toying with the law, when Gwent Police posted a picture of Powell on their Facebook appealing to his whereabouts, the treasure-hunter commented that he didn't like the image they used because he was hungover when it was taken. If Wicks could pass anything on to the flagrant runaway it would be to 'do the decent thing and hand the bloody stuff in'. Only three coins have ever been handed over by Powell while another 31 coins and pieces of jewellery - worth between 10,000 and 50,000 - have been recovered. Some 200 items of the hoard are still missing. Powell and Davies were illegally trespassing on farmland - in what is known as nighthawking - when the collection was first discovered. Unaware of the treasure's significance, they posted about their findings online but when experts began to advise them to report their findings as required by law they nonsensically denied they came across it. The British Museum described their efforts to quickly delete the photos as 'stupidly indiscreet'. Historians believe the coins were of Anglo-Saxon origin and had been hidden by a Viking The treasure thieves tried to flog items in small batches to various customers on the black market instead of reporting the discovery A judge said the treasure-hunters had 'cheated the public' by concealing the treasure - like this silver ingot - which 'belonged to the nation' Despite Wicks alleging that he told Powell to hand in the treasure that he estimated was worth hundreds of thousands of pounds he was soon at the Mayfair auction house Noonans with seven coins. He told the auctioneers they were found in his dad's attic and returned with another eight - these were later handed to police. Wicks - who now works as a chef - said he thinks there are still a large number of coins to find but would only be known to Powell. The pair were finally arrested when they tried to declare some of the treasure to a museum, not before shadily trying to pass them around antiques dealers and collectors. Sentencing at the time, Judge Nicholas Cartwright said they had 'cheated the public' by concealing the treasure which 'belonged to the nation.' He said: 'You acted in a way which was greedy and selfish. 'You clumsily dug out everything you could find and put the soil back and left without speaking to the farmer, the farmer's mother or anybody else. 'If you had obtained the permissions and agreements responsible metal detectorists are advised to obtain and had gone on to act within the law, you could have expected to have had a half share or third share of 3 million to share between the two of you. The police issued an arrest warrant for treasure thief George Powell (pictured here in 2019) after he failed to appear in court 'You could not have done worse than 500,000 each, but you wanted more.' Warehousman Powell, from Newport, Wales, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, later reduced to six and a half years on appeal. School caretaker Davies, from of Pontypridd, Wales, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison, later reduced to five years on appeal. He had ironically declared more than a hundred of his finding to the National Museum of Wales before his big break that became a nightmare. Historians believe the coins were of Anglo-Saxon origin and had been hidden by a Viking. One of them was a double-headed coin, showing two rulers of England - Alfred the Great, who ruled Wessex, and Ceolwulf II of Mercia. Experts said this showed there was an alliance previously not thought to exist between the kings, changing what we know about the unification of England. Christine McDonnell, head of collections at York Archaelogy, explained 'we will never know why these precious objects were buried perhaps as a way of keeping them safe as the owner went off to battle but they reveal new information about politics in the south in the late 9th century'. 'Some of the coins demonstrate an alliance between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex at a time when the unification of England was taking shape,' she added. The hoard is on permanent display at Hereford Museum which raised 776,250 to buy it. Millions of university students are at risk of being left without loans and having their personal data exposed to hackers. IT systems at the Student Loans Company (SLC) are said to be at risk of 'critical collapse' due to out-of-date technology, according to government sources. Now, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is understood to be looking to AI technology and computers as part of a major overhaul. The Sunday Times reported the cabinet member believes some of the manually-entered data can be done automatically. It is hoped it would reduce costs which have swelled by 60 percent in four years to 255million in 2023/24. At the moment, 45 percent of SLC's 3,300 workforce manually move the data between eight different IT systems. The newspaper reported that six of these are not compliant with data protection law and are could be at risk of cyber attacks. A government source said: 'The education secretary thinks that nothing is more important than delivering for children and families through our Plan for Change. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson arrives in Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting -- April 8, 2025 Millions of university students are at risk of being left without loans and having their personal data exposed to hackers 'She wants to build nurseries, schools and colleges ready for the 2030s that's why she is taking an axe to bureaucracy from bygone eras with upgraded tech, so money can be put where it's needed.' It comes weeks after Ms Phillipson asked counter-fraud experts to lead an investigation into the university loans system over fears students are claiming millions of pounds with no intent to study. She has directed the Public Sector Fraud Authority to help co-ordinate the response to the allegations and support the investigations already under way. It followed a Sunday Times probe which reports thousands of students with 'no academic intent' are suspected of fraudulently claiming hundreds of millions of pounds from the country's university loans system. The newspaper said most of the students under scrutiny are thought to be at 'franchised' universities, which are colleges paid to provide courses for established universities. There is a concern of potential 'organised recruitment' of Romanian nationals in particular to enrol on courses, the newspaper said. The Sunday Times said the SLC spotted suspicious applications involving fake documents and address duplication, and franchised colleges are enrolling students who cannot speak adequate English. Writing for The Sunday Times, Ms Phillipson said: 'Today's revelations of major misuse of public money and potential fraud by students in franchised universities deal a hammer blow to the integrity of higher education in this country. IT systems at the Student Loans Company (SLC) are said to be at risk of 'critical collapse', according to government sources 'They point to one of the biggest financial scandals in the history of our universities sector. They demand the firmest action.' She added that franchising in some institutions has 'become less about expanding access and more about meeting expanding overheads for hard-up universities', and said the system also 'lacks necessary guardrails against abuse'. Ms Phillipson said the Office for Students 'should have provided these guardrails'. She said she has asked the Public Sector Fraud Authority to 'co-ordinate immediate action across the system to halt this growing threat'. In response to the fraud claims, the Department for Education said: 'We will stop at nothing to protect public money; any misuse of student loans is an insult to hard-working students striving for better opportunities. 'Our plan for change will restore trust in our universities. We have already taken clear action to crack down on rogue franchise operators to tackle fraud and we'll go further. 'We will overhaul regulation so the Office for Students (OfS) better-protects taxpayers' money. In the meantime, we have asked the OfS to clamp down on franchising. 'The Education Secretary has asked the Public Sector Fraud Authority to help co-ordinate the cross-government response to these extremely concerning allegations and support the investigations already under way. 'Where misuse or fraud is found we have powers to claw back payments - and we won't hesitate to use them. We will bring in tough new laws to ensure the OfS can quickly stop bad actors gaming the system once and for all.' All men at high risk of prostate cancer should be offered checks even if it costs the NHS more to deliver it, most Britons believe. An overwhelming 86 per cent of the public want a national screening programme put in place that could identify the disease earlier. Only 5 per cent said the Health Service should not offer the tests even if it means some men are diagnosed late which makes the cancer more difficult to treat. The poll, by Ipsos, found there was a dangerous lack of awareness of the symptoms of prostate cancer and its risk factors. It is the most diagnosed form of the disease in England, with 55,033 cases identified in 2023. Some 10,200 men are killed in England each year, too, but catching it early improves the odds of successful treatment. The Daily Mail is campaigning for a national prostate cancer screening programme, initially targeted at high-risk men such as those who are black or have a family history of the disease. Just 7 per cent surveyed realise there are often no symptoms in the early stages of prostate cancer and more than half (56 per cent) wrongly think frequent or difficult urination is an early indicator when it is in fact often a sign of advanced disease. Both highlight the need for proactive checks. Some 56 per cent also incorrectly expect to see blood in their urine in the early stages and a third (32 per cent) believe erectile dysfunction to be the same. Prostate cancer with organs and tumor or cancerous cells 3D rendering illustration MRI of the prostate gland, revealing an enlarged size - aids in diagnosing tumors, guiding treatment decisions, and monitoring prostate health Three in five of the of 1,088 polled say they or a loved one would be more likely to get their prostate checked if it was part of a routine NHS check-up and 46 per cent said they would be more inclined to be tested if they knew they were at higher risk. It comes just weeks after a separate OnePoll survey of GPs revealed 94 per cent of the public want the Government to roll out the lifesaving checks. They joined prostate cancer charities and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in arguing the move could save money and prevent needless deaths. The NHS already offers national screening programmes for breast, bowel and cervical cancers but not for prostate disease. The UK National Screening Committee, which advises the Government on which programmes to offer, is considering recent developments around prostate cancer diagnosis and is to report its findings later this year. Analysis by the charity Prostate Cancer Research suggests such a scheme would lead to an extra 775 cases being diagnosed early each year among high-risk men aged 45 to 69. It would also spare almost 300 men annually from a stage 4 diagnosis when the tumour has incurably spread around the body. Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: NHS guidelines are dangerously outdated because they rely on men being aware of their risk and knowing that they need to ask their GP for a test. This polling shows that lots of men dont have this level of awareness. Its unfair and its causing hundreds of men to die every year. David James, director of patient projects and influencing at Prostate Cancer Research, said: Its time for the NHS to step up with a targeted screening programme that reaches out to the men most at risk before its too late. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has declared his support for the Mails campaign, telling MPs earlier this month that he would like to see the NHS pro-actively offer tests for the disease. MPs and peers have launched a campaign to block President Trump from addressing parliament, accusing him of being a 'liar' who has disrespected Britain. The US president has suggested the King, who he called his 'friend' and will formally host the state visit, is looking at 'setting a date for September'. In February, Sir Keir Starmer invited Trump to Britain as part of a charm offensive designed to strengthen relations and secure a trade deal with the US. But some parliamentarians are working to stop him giving a speech in Westminster, as Barack Obama did in 2011. Trump was also controversially blocked from speaking during his first state visit by former speaker John Bercow. MPs now claim Trump was not acting in 'good faith' towards Britain due to tariffs levied by the US on all imports - particularly aluminium, steel and cars - with the threat of more to follow on pharmaceutical products. A message sent to Lord McFall of Alcluith, the Lord Speaker, said it would be 'inappropriate' for Trump to speak in the Palace of Westminster. Co-ordinated by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, a minister in Tony Blair's government who later served on parliament's intelligence and security committee, it responded to the suggestion the state visit would be in September. MPs are trying to ban Trump from speaking to Parliament once again despite former President Obama giving a speech to Westminster Hall in 2011 The US president has suggested the King, who he called his 'friend' and will formally host the state visit, is looking at 'setting a date for September' (pictured in 2019) Sir Keir Starmer invited Trump to Britain as part of a charm offensive designed to strengthen relations and secure a trade deal with the US in February The message said: 'If it is suggested that he be invited to address both Houses of Parliament, I hope that you and Lindsay will suggest that would be inappropriate on this occasion because of his attitude towards and comments about the UK, parliamentary democracy, the Nato Alliance and Ukraine.' MPs are also privately lobbying Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker. Kate Osborne, a Labour MP and former member of the women and equalities select committee, asked Hoyle to mirror John Bercow's previous decision to block Trump. In a letter seen by The Times, she wrote: 'I am asking you as the Speaker to agree it would be inappropriate and mirror the previous Speaker's recommendation. 'It is up to our government to decide if they use the state visit to engage with Trump on a wide range of issues as above but that does not translate to giving him the honour of addressing parliament. The risk of low attendance could also have negative or unintended consequences.' Another Labour MP said: 'Parliament has nothing to learn from a serial liar, cheat, womaniser and bankrupt. We don't need Trump to lecture and dictate his unilateral terms to our elected representatives.' This campaign comes days after Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he 'was invited by the King and the great country' who are doing a 'second fest' which will be 'beautiful'. He said: 'It is the second time is has happened to one person. The reason is we have two separate terms and it's an honour to be a friend of King Charles and the family, William.' Mr Trump added: 'I think they are setting a date for September. I don't know how it can be bigger than the last one. The last one was incredible but they say the next one will be even more important.' The Lord Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith was sent a message that it would be 'inappropriate' for Trump to speak in the Palace of Westminster Lord Foulkes of Cumnock co-ordinated the letter to Lord McFall while MPs are also privately lobbying Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker During his first spell in the White House, Mr Trump visited both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth II Labour MPs have sought to avoid criticising the US president openly to avoid making Starmer's job harder as he seeks to keep Trump on side in trade negotiations. Government sources said the UK was pressing to get a deal as soon as possible, and was 'desperate' to do so before May 19. The date has been pencilled in as a big moment in Starmer's 'EU reset', when he will host Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. A government insider said: 'Trump hates the EU, so we're desperate to get a deal with him locked in before what will inevitably be a love-in with Brussels.' Some 75 Labour MPs backed a campaign to block the US president from addressing parliament during his first term. An early day motion in 2019 was signed by several foreign office ministers, as well as those now in the cabinet. They include Wes Streeting, the health secretary; Jo Stevens, the Welsh secretary; Lucy Powell, leader of the Commons; and Ellie Reeves, chairwoman of the Labour party. In 2011, both houses of parliament invited Obama to address an audience of hundreds in Westminster Hall. Standing at a lectern in front of a red carpet, he was watched on by then prime minister David Cameron, and his predecessors Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Sir John Major. Health Secretary Wes Streeting was one of 75 Labour MPs who backed a campaign to block the US president from addressing parliament during his first term In 2023, President Zelensky of Ukraine gave a speech in Westminster Hall about the Russian invasion The three 'keyholders' of Westminster Hall, where foreign leaders usually address Parliament, are the Commons Speaker, the Lord Speaker and the Lord Great Chamberlain, who is represented by Black Rod. All three have to agree for a visit to take place, after a request is made by the Government. Senior sources confirmed to The Mail on Sunday in February that this time both the Lord Speaker and Commons Speaker would welcome a visit. In 2023, President Zelensky of Ukraine gave a speech in Westminster Hall about the Russian invasion. There have been 80 addresses to members of both Houses of Parliament since 1935. Eleven of these were from the monarch but most have been foreign leaders. These include Ronald Reagan in 1982 and Bill Clinton in 1995. The former boss of Waitrose is offering to defend British authors whose works have been plagiarised by Mark Zuckerbergs AI system after his own books were stolen. Lord Mark Price, 64, wrote to the Facebook boss threatening legal action after discovering four of his books may have been used, without permission, to train Meta AI. In a letter sent to Mr Zuckerberg, Lord Price said his actions trample on the principle of intellectual property and chill future innovation. Praising the Daily Mails campaign battling to safeguard Britains creative industries from the threat of AI by protecting their copyright, the Conservative Peer said: What is happening is egregious. I have written to Mr Zuckerberg, and I have asked him what he is doing. I have told him that I am now pursuing legal action. If other British authors get in touch with me, I will take them on. In his complaint, written on official House of Lords headed paper, he told Mr Zuckerberg: The respect and protection of intellectual property rights is a fundamental principle which provides companies and individuals with the confidence to do business and innovate, which in turn benefits everyone in our societies. 'Your actions not only trample on that principle but also chill future innovation and effort. It has been claimed that a shadowy pirate website, based in Russia, gathers the material, which is then used by Meta. Lord Mark Price, 64, (pictured) wrote to the Facebook boss threatening legal action after discovering four of his books may have been used, without permission, to train Meta AI In a letter sent to Mr Zuckerberg (pictured), Lord Price said his actions trample on the principle of intellectual property and chill future innovation The firm takes the books and artworks and inputs them into their information storage system to make their own computer-generated equivalents seem genuine. Last December, the Labour Government proposed to give AI firms a copyright exemption meaning they would not have to pay or accredit the original author or creator, unless creators actively opt out of having their work exploited. Lord Price was managing director of Waitrose for a decade from 2007. In his letter copied to Sir Keir Starmer, the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, and Lord Mandelson, the UKs ambassador to Washington, he demanded an explanation from Mr Zuckerberg. He wrote: I am currently taking legal advice as to further action, including an injunction, and liaising with others who are unfortunately in the same position and may want to join that action. Please explain why you think it is acceptable to ignore intellectual property rights and take my work, and that of thousands of other British authors, for Metas commercial benefit. A Meta spokesman said: We respect third-party intellectual property rights and believe our use of information to train AI models is consistent with existing law. The ex-Democrat staffer who was sensationally fired for filming himself having sex in the Senate hearing room has spoken out about his post-scandal life. Aidan Maese-Czeropski was just 24 when he was let go by Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, less than a day after the lewd video was exposed in 2023. Maese-Czeropski has now moved to Australia and launched an OnlyFans in the 16 months since and was interviewed for the first time since his termination by the Gay Sydney News. 'I got some flackpeople were like, 'OK, he's washed up' But it's also about my mental health. I just needed time to process the scandal.' He would only say he was 'allegedly known for' having sex in the Senate hearing room but discussed his frail mental state since the incident. 'Mentally, I spent a little bit in the psych ward after the fact because it was just it's overwhelming to realize and to know that tens of millions of people literally despise you,' Maese-Czeropski, who infamously became known as the 'Senate twink,' said. He also claimed to have gotten post-traumatic stress disorder and was unable to live in Washington any longer. 'Everyone in DC knew me, and it was kind of gross and horrifying because I'm not someone who likes to be in the public spotlight at all,' he said. Aidan Maese-Czeropski (pictured), the ex-Democrat staffer who became infamously known as the 'Senate twink,' is finally speaking out over a year after they were fired for filming themselves having sex in the Senate hearing room Maese-Czeropski pictured with former president Joe Biden He said that he now makes more and lives a happier life than he ever did walking the corridors of American power. 'I think that one of the reasons why the scandal wasn't as traumatic as it could've been is because I was very depressed working in government,' he said. 'I hated my life, I hated my job, the pay was s***.' The former staffer had initially fled to South Africa following the controversy but met a New Zealander there who convinced him to permanently relocate to Sydney. 'I love it here and I'm glad that I took that jump, took that risk... It is the greatest city in the world,' he said. Ultimately, Maese-Czeropski appears to only have one real regret about the entire incident. 'I got all these death threats, hatred. And the guy who was the top didn't,' he quipped. He says even embraces his status as the 'Senate twink' in public and is even now his Instagram handle: 'Its a good conversation starter.' The aide, who appeared in a 2020 campaign video with Joe Biden, sparked backlash as he released his own statement on LinkedIn in the wake of the video leaking, alleging that he is being 'attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda.' 'While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgement, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace,' he said. 'Any attempts to characterize my actions otherwise are fabricated and I will be exploring what legal options are available to me in these matters.' Maese-Czeropski's mother Magdalena Rivera Maese told DailyMail.com at the time her son had been left distraught by what had happened, saying: 'You don't want to know how he's doing.' Footage of the fling, first exposed by the Daily Caller, shows a young looking male staffer bent over a conference room in the Hart Senate Office Building. Another man stands behind him, filming the sex act they're performing in X-rated detail. The staffer is seen in a separate picture naked on a table where Senators often sit and ask questions during hearings. The footage was allegedly shared in a private group for gay men in the political scene, and reportedly appeared on a since-deleted account on X. Its owner identifies himself s a 'twink' (young, smooth-bodied gay man) engaging in sex acts with his older 'bear' partner. He said that he now makes more on OnlyFans and lives a happier life than he ever did walking the corridors of American power Maese-Czeropski, then just 24, was fired over the emergence of the tapes According to his LinkedIn, Maese-Czeropski had worked in Cardin's office since October 2021, and previously worked as a field organizer for the Democratic Party in Virginia and as a climate researcher for charity Friends of the Earth. Cardin retired following the 2024 election. The aide once appeared in a campaign video for President Biden in a 'thank you' message days after he won the 2020 election, briefly speaking with Biden in the montage clip. A woman claiming to be his mother thanked the newly-elected President on X after seeing her son in the promo, saying her son has 'worked tirelessly with the DNC of Virginia - congratulations to all!' Maese-Czeropski allegedly caused a separate incident just days before the explicit videos surfaced, as Ohio Republican Congressman Max Miller accused him of confronting him over his support for Israel. Miller claimed to the Washington Free Beacon that Maese-Czeropski marched towards him outside a coffee shop in the Cannon House Office Building on Wednesday, as he was mid-interview with NBC News' Ali Vitali. Miller said the aide was 'visibly shaking' as he made a beeline towards him, feeling the staffer was 'very upset in my presence because he's a snowflake.' 'And he just comes right back up to me and was like, Free Palestine'', Miller said. 'And I was like, okay'... I'm not going to give him a reaction because that's what he wants.' Miller claimed that Vitali was stunned at the exchange and branded it 'blatant antisemitism.' Vitali didn't go as far in her own remarks on the incident, saying on X: 'A House staffer just passed by GOP Rep. Max Miller who is Jewish and has been supportive of sending aide to Israel and said free Palestine. 'Pretty rare and stunning to see staff challenge members to their faces this way.' The aide denied the allegations in his statement to LinkedIn, claiming he has 'never seen the congressman and had no opportunity or cause to yell or confront him.' Extraordinary footage has emerged showing busloads of Venezuelan detainees in the process of being deported before a stunning Supreme Court intervention. The buses, loaded with at least 28 migrants, were heading from ICE's Bluebonnet Detention Center to Abilene Airport on Friday, according to NBC. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement buses were closely followed by a motorcade of 18 squad cars from varying law enforcement agencies. The detainees - primarily Venezuelan - were driven back to the detention center after a bombshell Supreme Court ruling. Justice Samuel Alito, one of the nation's top ranking legal authorities, has since issued a fiery dissent to the decision - which forced the Trump administration to temporarily halt the deportation of any Venezuelans held in a northern Texas detention facility under an 18th-century wartime law. In his written ruling, Alito cited a government lawyer who insisted the administration had no intention of deporting anyone on Good Friday or Easter Saturday. Judy Maldonado Rall, whose husband was reportedly on the bus at the time, said her husband was told by a guard he was headed toward the hellhole El Salvadorian prison where Trump has previously sent more than 200 suspected gang members. She said after the buses were turned around, a guard told her husband: 'Well, you were lucky you were sent back because you were going to El Salvador, not Venezuela.' Extraordinary footage has emerged of busloads of Venezuelan detainees in the process of being deported before a stunning Supreme Court intervention The Immigration and Customs Enforcement buses were closely followed by a motorcade of 18 squad cars from varying law enforcement agencies Justice Samuel Alito (bottom row, second from right) issued an extraordinary dissent, joined by fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas (bottom row, second from left), slamming the seven-member majority decision In the footage, the motorcade reaches the airport but passes by the exit and loops back around, returning to Bluebonnet detention facility. That evening, the Supreme Court was weighing an urgent request to block the administration from conducting any deportations. Simultaneously, Trump's nemesis Judge James Boasberg was hearing a case on the same matter. Lee Gelernt, a lawyer representing the American Civil Liberties Union, told the court: 'We hear they are on buses on the way to the airport.' That sprung Boasberg into action, and he asked Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign to ensure no Bluebonnet detainees were being deported under the Alien Enemies Act on Friday night. Boasberg was burned by the administration before, after his ruling to turn planes carrying deportees around to ensure due process went ignored. By early Saturday morning, a 7-2 Supreme Court majority ruled Trump must not deport any Venezuelans held in the northern Texas detention facility. His administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify sending hundreds of suspected gang members and illegal migrants to a hellish El Salvadorian prison last month. Alito's sharp dissent argued the court acted 'literally in the middle of the night' and with 'dubious factual support' to take the extraordinary measure of blocking the government. The act allows the President to forcibly remove citizens of an 'enemy nation' who it deems to be 'dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States' or involved in 'treasonous' acts Some detainees say they've been wrongly targeted ans associated with feared gangs due to their tattoos He said the legal filings, 'while alleging that the applicants were in imminent danger of removal, provided little concrete support for that allegation.' He noted that while the court did not hear directly from the government regarding any planned deportations under the Alien Enemies Act in this case, a government lawyer in a different matter had told a US District Court in a hearing Friday evening that no such deportations were then planned to occur on Good Friday or Easter Saturday. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not comment on why the bus from the facility was turned around near the airport. 'Both the Executive and the Judiciary have an obligation to follow the law,' he said, warning his colleagues to 'follow established procedures' in the decision-making process. 'Literally in the middle of the night, the Court issued unprecedented and legally questionable relief.' He said the Supreme Court acted 'without giving the lower courts a chance to rule, without hearing from the opposing party, within eight hours of receiving the application, with dubious factual support for its order, and without providing any explanation for its order. 'I refused to join the Court's order because we had no good reason to think that, under the circumstances, issuing an order at midnight was necessary or appropriate.' Conservatives hold a majority in the Supreme Court, but high profile Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett signed off on the decision. Trump has repeatedly slammed the many legal challenges to his policy, which was one of his promises on the campaign trail The administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify sending hundreds of suspected gang members and illegal migrants to a hellish El Salvadorian prison last month The majority did not provide a detailed explanation in the order early Saturday, as is typical. A brief order directed the administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center 'until further order of this court.' But the court previously said deportations could proceed only after those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given 'a reasonable time' to contest their pending removals. More than 200 suspected gang members are languishing in an El Salvadorian hellhole prison as the Trump administration makes good on its promise to crack down on illegal migration. The move sparked legal challenges and widespread division amid concerns that some of the people rounded up and deported were mistakenly targeted. Most recently, podcaster Joe Rogan expressed concerns about the policy. At the center of the division is 29-year-old father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who supporters say was wrongly deported. The Trump administration later Saturday filed paperwork urging the high court to reconsider its hold. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X: 'We are confident we will ultimately prevail against the onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists.' The controversial act at the center of the legal back and forth has been invoked just three times in US history - including during both World Wars. Alito said the legal filings, 'while alleging that the applicants were in imminent danger of removal, provided little concrete support for that allegation' It allows the President to forcibly remove citizens of an 'enemy nation' who it deems to be 'dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States' or involved in 'treasonous' acts. Challenges have been making their way through various courts since the act was invoked. But the American Civil Liberties Union lodged an emergency filing on Friday warning that authorities had started to accuse men in the Texas detention facility of being members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang. Such an accusation leaves them vulnerable to deportation under the act. A council-funded sex education PowerPoint shown to teenagers referenced asking for consent before choking a partner. The material, funded by Bridgend county borough council in south Wales, was shown to pupils studying PSHE lessons at a range of secondary schools. Provided by the council's domestic abuse service, Assia, the PowerPoint, which was seen by The Times, taught children that 'consent (when it comes to choking during sex) should happen every time sexual choking is an option'. 'It is never OK to start choking someone without asking them first and giving them space to say no,' it continued. Experts, however, have shared their deep concern at the sex education class which they say is portraying the idea that 'choking can be done safely'. 'This is not sex education, this is just advocacy for the porn industry,' Michael Conroy, the founder of Men at Work, told The Times. 'Imagine you are a 14-year-old girl and you have told your boyfriend you don't want to be choked but then an authority figure comes into school and tells you it is OK. 'Choking cuts off oxygen to the brain and is incredibly harmful, it can even kill. Most schools will take it on trust that something endorsed by the local authority is OK. There is a rampant myth that choking can be done safely and is simply another option for a sexual act.' A council-funded sex education PowerPoint shown to teenagers referenced asking for consent before choking a partner There has been a disturbing rise in teenage boys demanding rough sex, including choking, in recent years Almost two-thirds of women who responded to one survey said they had been choked by a partner during sex There has indeed been a disturbing rise in teenage boys demanding rough sex, including choking, in recent years. A recent survey by Dr. Debby Herbenick, known to be one of the foremost researchers on American sexual behavior, questioned 5,000 women anonymously at a 'major Midwestern university,' the New York Times reported. Almost two-thirds of women who responded said they had been choked by a partner during sex - but an even more worryingly statistic emerged: 40 percent were between the ages 12 and 17 the first time choking happened. During a previous survey, the figure was far fewer at 25 percent (or one in four). Peggy Orenstein, a sexuality researcher and college professor, recalled having two students, 15 and 16, ask her about choking during sex. One 15-year-old boy worryingly said: 'Why do girls all want to be choked?' Some have actually blamed popular culture for the rise in choking during sex. Choking has been depicted in a range of television shows, including the pilot of the HBO's Euphoria - where a high school was choked. Peggy Orenstein, a sexuality researcher and college professor has noted the rise in the choking phenomenon during sex In last year's single, by Jack Harlow, 'Lovin On Me' begins with the lyrics: 'I'm vanilla baby, I'll choke you, but I ain't no killer, baby.' And a hit single last year by American rapper Jack Harlow titled 'Lovin On Me' begins with the lyrics: 'I'm vanilla baby, I'll choke you, but I ain't no killer, baby.' Bridgend county borough council strongly denied that they had funded education which 'taught children to consent to damaging sexual behaviour'. A council spokesman said: 'The suggestion that children are being taught to consent to damaging sexual behaviour is simply not true. 'All pastoral advice used by local schools is carefully designed to be age-appropriate, and to encourage teenagers who are maturing into young adults to develop healthy, respectful relationships where there is no abuse of any kind. 'Bridgend County Borough Council takes its safeguarding responsibilities very seriously, and anyone who approaches the Assia domestic abuse service regarding this issue will be informed that non-fatal strangulation remains an illegal, dangerous criminal act.' In a reply on X to a now-deleted post regarding the sex education class, Bridgend county borough council wrote: 'Your post regarding Bridgend County Borough Councils Assia Domestic Abuse Service is factually incorrect and causing widespread misinformation.' 18th "Chinese Bridge" language competition held in Mongolia Xinhua) 09:51, April 21, 2025 ULAN BATOR, April 19 (Xinhua)-- The Mongolian leg of the 18th "Chinese Bridge" -- Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, was held here Friday. With the theme "Fly high with Chinese," the competition was part of a series of events to celebrate the Chinese Language Day in Mongolia. A total of 25 finalists from seven schools across Mongolia competed in the final round of the "Chinese Bridge" contest in two categories: a theme speech, as well as a question-and-answer session, and a talent show. Azjargal Baildagch, a 10th-grade student from the Khishig secondary school in Ulan Bator emerged as the champion and will proceed to the final round in China. The competition, hosted by the Chinese embassy in Mongolia and organized by the Confucius Institute at the National University of Mongolia, aims to provide Mongolian secondary school students with a dream stage to showcase their Chinese proficiency and Chinese talents, inspiring children's enthusiasm to explore China. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A man has been savagely murdered in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest by a baying mob seeking justice over an alleged shooting. The crowd allegedly lynched the man, who has been identified in local reports as a British national, and burned him alive after storming a police station where he had been taken into custody. The unnamed male, widely reported to be 'English', was held by uniformed officers on suspicion of shooting a local man dead, reports said. But six hours after his arrest a crowd stormed the police station, dragged him onto the street and and set him alight in front of officers who said they were afraid to intervene. Respected Ecuadorian newspaper Ecuavisa said the horror killing happened in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in Ecuador's Amazon region, which is a popular eco-tourism area. It is the second largest reserve of the South American country's 56 national parks and protected areas, and is located in the Putamayo Canton in Sucumbios Province. The British national is said to have been handed over to police by locals around 6am local time on Sunday before being murdered just after midday. Ecuadorian newspaper Extra reported officers who arrested him decided not to intervene when a baying mob forced their way into the police station ahead of his transfer out of the area. Do you know what happened? Email: tips@dailymail.com A picture of the reportedly British man when he was in police custody. His identity has been obscured pending formal identification A British man is alleged to have been lynched in Ecuador after being linked to the shooting of a member of the local community (pictured: crowds gathered at what is thought to be the scene of the shooting) The victim of the shooting is taken from the scene They stood back, the newspaper said, in order to avoid being attacked themselves and to avoid additional damage to state property. It said police reinforcements had taken time to reach the area because of its remoteness and difficult access. A local TV station, reporting on the two deaths, said: 'In the early hours of Sunday, April 20, in the parish of Playas de Cuyabeno, at the closure of an event that took place for the anniversary of the Kichwa community, an incident occurred where as a result two people died. 'Those two people were a community member from the area and another person of British nationality who died due to the severity of his burns.' The Ecuadorian man killed has been named locally as Rodrigo Chavez. A third man was reportedly arrested over the Briton's killing. Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo reported that police were yet to issue a statement, as they were still gathering information on the case. Donald Trump is planning to pull another billion dollars in funding from Harvard, in the latest brutal blow to the Ivy League. The White House froze more than $2.2 billion in funding to the school after it rejected demands from the government to reform its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices in order to help fight antisemitism on campus. Now, Trump has escalated the feud by moving to pull an additional $1 billion of the school's funding for health research, anonymous government sources have told the Wall Street Journal. White House officials believed the long list of demands they sent Harvard on Friday was a private starting point for negotiations, and they were surprised when Harvard released a letter to the public hitting back. The shock move by the Ivy League has prompted the Trump administration to be even more heavy-handed with its response, the officials told the WSJ. Earlier this week, the Department of Education's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced the freeze of $2.2billion in multi-year grants and $60million in multi-year contract value to Harvard after it refused to comply with reform demands. The department said that the school is not taking the problem of campus antisemitism seriously and must 'commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.' US President Donald Trump is planning to pull another billion dollars in funding from Harvard, in the latest brutal blow to the Ivy League The White House froze more than $2.2 billion in funding to the school after it rejected demands from the government to reform its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices in order to help fight antisemitism on campus Current Harvard President Alan Garber, in a letter to the Harvard community Monday, said the demands violated the university's First Amendment rights and 'exceed the statutory limits of the governments authority under Title VI,' which prohibits discrimination against students based on their race, color or national origin. '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,' Garber wrote, adding that the university had taken extensive reforms to address antisemitism. 'These ends will not be achieved by assertions of power, unmoored from the law, to control teaching and learning at Harvard and to dictate how we operate,' he wrote. 'The work of addressing our shortcomings, fulfilling our commitments, and embodying our values is ours to define and undertake as a community.' A spokesperson for the White House told DailyMail.com that Harvard's funding is now at risk. 'President Trump is working to Make Higher Education Great Again by ending unchecked anti-Semitism and ensuring federal taxpayer dollars do not fund Harvard's support of dangerous racial discrimination or racially motivated violence,' Harrison Fields said. 'Harvard or any institution that wishes to violate Title VI is, by law, not eligible for federal funding.' In a letter to Harvard on Friday, the administration called for broad government and leadership reforms, a requirement that Harvard institute what it calls 'merit-based' admissions and hiring policies as well as conduct an audit of the study body, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity. Donald Trump's education department put the hammer down on Harvard, freezing over $2.2billion in funding after they rejected a list of demands from the federal government Harvard announced via a letter to the White House Monday that it won't comply with the requests from the Trump administration as part of its campaign against antisemitism The demands, which are an update from an earlier letter, also call for a ban on face masks - which appeared to target pro-Palestinian protesters. They also pressure the university to stop recognizing or funding 'any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment.' The demands on Harvard are part of a broader push of using taxpayer dollars to pressure major academic institutions to comply with President Donald Trumps political agenda and to influence campus policy. The administration has also argued that universities allowed what it considered to be antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests last year against Israel's war in Gaza; the schools deny it. Harvard is one of several Ivy League schools targeted in a pressure campaign by the administration, which also has paused federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton to force compliance with its agenda. The school came under great scrutiny over campus antisemitism in response to Israel's war against Hamas , forcing then-President Claudine Gay to resign amid mounting pressure from forces outside the university However, Harvard - which holds the largest university endowment in the world - appears to be prepared to stand its ground against the Trump administration. The demand letter is similar to the one that prompted changes at Columbia University under the threat of billions of dollars in cuts. The Trump administration demands prompted a group of alumni to write to university leaders calling for it to 'legally contest and refuse to comply with unlawful demands that threaten academic freedom and university self-governance.' 'Harvard stood up today for the integrity, values, and freedoms that serve as the foundation of higher education,' said Anurima Bhargava, one of the alumni behind the letter. 'Harvard reminded the world that learning, innovation and transformative growth will not yield to bullying and authoritarian whims.' It also sparked a protest over the weekend from members of the Harvard community and from residents of Cambridge and a lawsuit from the American Association of University Professors on Friday challenging the cuts. In their lawsuit, plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration has failed to follow steps required under Title VI before it starts cutting funds, and giving notice of the cuts to both the university and Congress. 'These sweeping yet indeterminate demands are not remedies targeting the causes of any determination of noncompliance with federal law. Instead, they overtly seek to impose on Harvard University political views and policy preferences advanced by the Trump administration and commit the University to punishing disfavored speech,' plaintiffs wrote. The position stands in stark contrast to their Ivy League siblings at Columbia, who caved to Trump weeks ago. The Trump administration pulled the grants and other federal funding, and had threatened to cut more, over the university's handling of rampant protests against Israel. Joe Biden posted a smiley photo of himself and Jill surrounded by their family on Easter Sunday - however many people online were quick to call him out. The former Democratic president shared a heartfelt X post wishing his more than 38 million followers a happy Easter from him and his loved ones. 'We wish everyone celebrating today a peaceful and joyful Easter,' he captioned a photo that features his loved ones - without his son Hunter Biden - sitting on a staircase in Delaware. But swathes of social media users and trolls claimed that Biden had in fact photoshopped himself into the photo. Several people pointed out that the 82-year-old, seated at the top of the outdoor staircase wearing a navy blue suit, looked out of place - because of his formal outfit, his higher position above everyone else, and because of the lighting on his face. 'This looks photoshopped!' New York Times Best-Selling Author Brigitte Gabriel commented underneath Biden's post. Another user, whose account name is ThePoliticalPom, as well as scientist Dr. Simon Goddek zoomed in on the 'creepy' hand on the back of one of his grandchildren's necks. The awkwardly-placed extremity appears to be floating and unattached to Biden, who sat next to him. Joe Biden has been accused of poorly editing himself into an Easter Sunday family photo (pictured: Biden and his family sitting on a staircase) An awkwardly-placed extremity appears to be floating and unattached to Biden, some users pointed out 'Thats creepy AF. Whose hand is this? Surely not yours,' Goddek wrote, with ThePoliticalPom echoing his sentiment, writing 'WHOSE HAND IS THIS?' Another user asserted: 'Its totally photoshopped. Look at his hand, its in a low wave position, the hand is NOT resting on the shoulder of the grandkid, nor are the fingers resting on it. This is fake!' Others pointed out other alleged flaws with the picture, saying that Biden's torso was edited in above the top step, and the way the others are sitting in the picture prove it. 'Fake much like most of his administration. The woman in the yellow shirt you can see her knees,' someone wrote. 'She is sitting on the top step. Same with the guy on the left in the grey sweater with his elbow on his knee. Also top step. No way Joe was in this photo sitting or standing.' Another slightly different picture of the family was shared on Irish-American Democratic content creator Harry Sisson's X account. Sisson captioned his post: 'The Biden family celebrated Easter in Delaware today! No hate, no attacks, no insults. Just a good family spending time together. The Trumps could never.' This picture, despite missing the mysterious hand, still sparked suspicion in the comment section. Several people pointed out that the 82-year-old, seated at the top of the outdoor staircase wearing a navy blue suit, appears to have been photoshopped into the image 'Nice photoshop. We all know Joe cant leave the nursing home,' one woman wrote. Another joked the editing job was so bad that it looked as if a cardboard cut out of Biden stood in his place. 'Haha thats hysterical. They are all casually dressed and Joe is in a suit. Plus everyone is sitting on a staircase and Joe is on the upper landing,' a user said. 'Is he kneeling or did they just chop him in half and place his torso there? I might have been born at night but not last night.' Some people, however, were not concerned with the details of the picture or whether or not it was doctored. 'Even if this were photoshopped for some dumb*ss reason, why in the f**k does that effect your life?' some responded directly to Gabriel's comment. These picture-related allegations come after a report revealed the White House tried to conceal signs of Biden's rapidly deteriorating health. The White House allegedly shielded Biden from the public eye during his presidency because of his deteriorating mental state. Dr. Simon Goddek zoomed in on the 'creepy' hand on the back of one of Biden's grandchildren's necks These picture-related allegations come after a report revealed the White House tried to conceal signs of Biden's rapidly deteriorating health (pictured: Biden sparking at the White House for the Easter Egg Roll last year) 'But a lot of people covered it up because, you know, they didn't care about the country and they didn't care about him,' former White House physician, Rep. Ronny Jackson told DailyMail.com. He said he started noticing signs of Biden's supposed decline in 2019 due to his flustered mannerisms. 'It was the cognitive stuff combined with the physical stuff. The way he shuffled when he walked, the stiff gate. He was confused. He had that blank, thousand-yard stare. He would forget the simplest things, you know, people's names,' Jackson explained. 'I mean, he didn't know exactly where he was at. Sometimes you could tell he was disoriented. All those things together. I mean, everybody's seen it. I said this for the very beginning.' A Sydney cop has been described as 'the most beautiful police officer' as she patrolled the Royal Easter Show over the long weekend. The founder of cosmetics company Ice Glow, Donna Fahandezh, shared a video of the officer as she sipped on a coffee near her stall. 'I just saw the most beautiful police officer opposite my stall so I'm going to go up to her,' the entrepreneur said. After introducing herself, Ms Fahandezh invited the officer the spin a prize wheel she had set up as part of her display. The officer was a good sport and obliged before getting back to her duties. Ms Fahandezh shared a TikTok video of the encounter which has been viewed more than 270,000 times. 'Omg what's her skin care routine, she is stunning,' one commenter said. 'She visited my work and we were full on having a conversation she's so sweet,' another said. Ice Glow founder Donna Fahandezh asked the officer to spin the prize wheel at her stall at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney 'My husband I walked passed her and I told him they're lucky they've got these girls here instead of constable grumpy who has been in the force for 40 years,' a show attendee added. Others joked they wanted to be arrested by her with one saying they would commit the 'lowest summary offence to be arrested by her'. Ms Fahandezh had been hosting the stall herself on the day despite her busy schedule. She founded the company in 2023 at just 24-years-old and now receives floods of orders each week. The company's main product is an innovative facial treatment which is frozen and then applied. Before she launched the business she spent three years researching serums and applicators from Australia and across the globe and tested samples from China, Belgium, Switzerland, Korea. 'I chose to go with Australia. Australia by far is the best country for anything that's got to do with skincare or your health. I have also created my packaging, my applicator and my formula in Australia,' she told Keeping News Local. The product has ingredients like green tea extract, vitamin C, licorice root and aloe vera and helps with rosacea, acne and other skincare issues. Tim Walz's daughter has caused a social media storm by saying that if Jesus were alive today, Donald Trump's administration would have 'claimed he was a member of the MS-13 gang' and deported him. Hope Walz, 24, made the comment in a viral TikTok which had been viewed more than 46,000 times as of Sunday night. 'If Jesus were alive today and in the United States, this administration would already have taken him and removed him from this country without due process,' she said. Walz added that the Trump administration would have 'claimed he was a member of the MS-13 gang as a way to try to justify not giving him due process, as if there's any justifiable reason for not giving anybody due process.' 'But yeah, people don't want to talk about that,' the Minnesota Governor's daughter added. It comes as as the immigration debate centers on El Salvador migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, who was accused of being part of the notorious gang and deported to the notorious mega-jail in his homeland last month. Department of Homeland Security records show that the father-of-three was suspected of human trafficking in 2022. Several courts have ruled that he was deported in error and called for his return to the US - something Trump has denied. Several people who commented on Walz' TikTok video drew parallels between Jesus and Abrego Garcia. Minnesota governor Tim Walz's daughter Hope Walz has caused a social media storm by saying that if Jesus were alive today Donald Trump 's administration would have 'claimed he was a member of the MS-13 gang' and deported him It comes as as the immigration debate centers on El Salvador migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, who was accused of being part of the notorious gang and deported to his homeland last week Abrego Garcia was initially detained in CECOT, but he has since been moved to another facility, according to a government filing. (Pictured: prisoners at the El Salvador jail) 'Yep. We are all Kilmar. No due process is coming for natural citizens,' one person wrote. 'He'd be in CECOT for sure,' another agreed. Abrego Garcia was initially taken to El Salvador's mega-prison Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in March, but he has since been moved to another facility, according to a government filing seen by Fox News. It came as Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador to push for his freedom. The filing states, 'Abrego Garcia told Sen. Van Hollen on April 17 that he had been transferred from CECOT to the detention facility 'Centro Industrial' in Santa Ana about eight days prior. 'Abrego Garcia told Sen. Van Hollen that he had been placed in the administrative building of Centro Industrial, in a room of his own with a bed and furniture, and that he was not in a cell.' It comes after Fox News' Bill Melugin obtained bodycam footage and documents from the DHS which showed that Abrego Garcia was pulled over by Tennessee Highway Patrol and suspected of human trafficking. The detainee 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. 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 Speaking about Jesus, Hope Walz said the Trump administration would have 'claimed he was a member of the MS-13 gang as a way to try to justify not giving him due process, as if there's any justifiable reason for not giving anybody due process' in her viral TikTok video 'Subject attempted pretended to speak less English than he was capable of and attempted to put he encountering officer off by responding to questions by asking questions,' the document states. 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. A Reform surge in looming local elections could hand the Lib Dems crucial seats, according to a polling guru. Professor John Curtice said Nigel Farage's party might not be the 'big winners' from the contests on May 1 despite high levels of support. He cautioned that while the newcomers are taking votes away from Labour, most is still coming from the Tories - who have the 'most to lose'. Although the battlegrounds have been narrowed by delays in some areas due to a devolution overhaul, more than 1,600 councillors are set to be chosen across 23 local authorities in the first big test since the general election. There are also contests for six mayors, and the first by-election of the Parliament in Runcorn & Helsby following the resignation of ex-MP Mike Amesbury. Labour's support has plunged since May, with national polls suggesting Keir Starmer's party is neck and neck with Reform and the Conservatives. Professor John Curtice said Nigel Farage's (pictured) party might not be the 'big winners' from the contests on May 1 despite high levels of support Sir John suggested a Reform surge in looming local elections could hand crucial seats to the Lib Dems (pictured, Ed Davey campaigning last week) Keir Starmer is braced for difficult results in the local elections next week Labour's support has plunged since May, with national polls suggesting the party is neck and neck with Reform and the Conservatives Writing for the Mirror, Sir John highlighted that when the seats were last contested four years ago the Tories were 'riding high' under Boris Johnson. 'Of the 23 councils balloting next month, all but four are currently controlled by the Conservatives,' Sir John said. 'The party will be defending nearly a thousand of the 1,641 council seats at stake. Labour go into the election with fewer than 300 seats and the Liberal Democrats, with only just over 200.' Sir John said that although one in twelve Labour voters appeared to have switched to Reform, most of Mr Farage's support still came from Mr Johnson's backers from four years ago. He said: 'Reform UK will not necessarily end up big winners in terms of seats. In last year's general election the party won more votes than the Liberal Democrats but ended up with many fewer seats. The party's vote was spread too thinly across the country. 'In taking votes from the Conservatives, Reform could simply help the Liberal Democrats, who always do better in local elections than in the national polls, take key seats from Kemi Badenoch's party, such as in Oxfordshire. 'Despite the party's current unpopularity, even Labour might pick up some Tory seats too, with Nottinghamshire a key target.' Sir John said Reform would be eyeing 'big gains' in Lincolnshire, regarded as the most Eurosceptic part of the country. However, stressing the fine margins, he added that if Mr Farage's support is less 'thinly spread' it could do 'much more than that'. The comments came after a poll suggested Reform is on course to win most Commons seats if a general election were held now. A More in Common survey of more than 16,000 people - conducted using the so-called MRP method that maps types of voters on to individual constituencies - concluded Mr Farage's party would win 180 seats on an implied vote share of 23.7 per cent. The Tories and Labour would be tied on 165 seats each at 24.3 per cent and 24.5 per cent respectively Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are among those who face defeat at the hands of Reform. The model also suggests an Independent gain in Health Secretary Wes Streeting's London seat of Ilford North. Experts stress that polls so far from a general election - not due until 2029 - should be treated with caution. Sir John highlighted that when the seats were last contested four years ago the Tories were 'riding high' under Boris Johnson (pictured, current leader Kemi Badenoch) A More in Common survey of more than 16,000 people - conducted using the so-called MRP method that maps types of voters on to individual constituencies - concluded Mr Farage's party would win 180 seats on an implied vote share of 23.7 per cent But More in Common director Luke Tryl said the voter coalition behind Labour's landslide victory last summer looks to have disintegrated. 'We are a long way from a general election and trying to predict the result is a fool's errand, but what we can say for certain is that as of today British politics has fragmented to an unprecedented level,' he said. 'The coalition for change that elected Keir Starmer's Government has splintered right and left. 'Labour having secured a historic victory now find themselves on the wrong side of a disillusioned electorate frustrated at the slow pace of change and some of the Government's early missteps.' Donald Trump has optimistically claimed that Russia and Ukraine could reach a peace deal 'this week', which he suggests would directly impact American businesses and the global economy. Trump, 78, struck a hopeful note on his social media platform Truth Social last night, saying that 'hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week'. 'Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune!' he added. Trump has routinely made his desire for peace clear but Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be dragging his feet, possibly in a bid to win more concessions. Russia launched missiles and drones targeting Ukraine early this morning, waking up Kyiv and the eastern half of the country, hours after the one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Putin came to an end. There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damages from the attacks, regional Ukrainian officials said on social media. The scale of the attack was not immediately clear. Both Kyiv and Moscow had accused each other of thousands of attacks that violated the truce that the Kremlin indicated on Sunday would not be extended. Washington said it would welcome an extension of the truce, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated several times Ukraine's willingness to pause strikes for 30 days in the war. Trump and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the US would walk away from peace efforts unless there are clear signs of progress soon. US President Donald Trump (pictured yesterday) has optimistically claimed that Russia and Ukraine could reach a peace deal 'this week', which he suggests would directly impact American businesses and the global economy A view of the destruction of buildings in the town of Lyman during Easter celebrations in Lyman, Ukraine on April 20, 2025 Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire in a sewing factory following a missile attack in Kharkiv on April 18, 2025 Trump continues to tout the possibility of a peace deal, with his plan reportedly making clear that the US would recognise Kremlin-occupied Crimea as Russian territory. The US would not recognise the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions as Russian, The Wall Street Journal reports. These occupied regions, however, would not be returned to Ukraine, but would instead remain under the control of the Kremlin military. Trump previously revealed that discussions included talks about 'dividing up certain assets' between Russia and Ukraine. It is understood that under his proposal, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant - which is the largest in Europe - would be a neutral zone under US control. Russia is also seeking guarantees that Ukraine would be barred from joining NATO. Trump's proposal does not ban Western military support for Ukraine or the deployment of European forces in the region. Despite Trump's optimism of an imminent peace deal, Putin - who launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and who ordered on Saturday the halt in all military activity along the front line until midnight Moscow time on Sunday - did not give orders to extend the 30-hour Easter ceasefire. Ukrainian service members of the 25th Sicheslav Airborne Brigade fire a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launch system towards Russian troops near the frontline town of Pokrovsk, in Donetsk region, Ukraine April 19, 2025 A view of the destruction of buildings in the town of Lyman during Easter celebrations in Lyman, Ukraine on April 20, 2025 'There were no other commands,' Russia's TASS state news agency cited Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying when asked whether the ceasefire could be prolonged. Ukraine's air force reported this morning that Russia launched 96 drones and three missiles in overnight attacks targeting Ukraine, causing damage in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Cherkasy regions. Air defence units shot down 42 Russian drones, and another 47 drones were redirected by electronic warfare, the Ukrainian air force said in a post on Telegram. It gave no details on the missiles. While eastern Ukraine was placed under air raid alerts starting minutes after midnight on Monday that are yet to be called off, according to data from the Ukrainian air force, Kyiv and the central regions were placed on alert for about an hour. There were no reports of strikes on the Ukrainian capital, but officials in the port city of Mykolaiv said that it had been hit by Russian missiles. There were no immediate reports of damages. Russia's Voronezh region that borders Ukraine was also under air raid alerts for two hours overnight, and the borders regions of Kursk and parts of Belgorod were briefly under missile threat as well, regional officials said. While there were no air raid alerts in Ukraine on Sunday, Ukrainian forces reported nearly 3,000 violations of Russia's own ceasefire with the heaviest attacks and shelling seen along the Pokrovsk part of the frontline, Zelenskiy said earlier on Monday. Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had shot at Russian positions 444 times and said it had counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks, saying also that there were deaths and injuries among the civilian population. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill congratulate each other after an Orthodox Easter service at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, April 20, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses at the Easter celebrations in Kyiv on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a 30-hour Easter truce announced by Putin Just hours after announcing the ceasefire, Putin attended an Easter service late Saturday at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a vocal supporter of Putin and the war in Ukraine. Putin offered no details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or ongoing ground battles that rage around the clock. His announcement came after Trump said Friday that 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 three-year war. The State Department said Sunday that the US is committed to 'a full and comprehensive ceasefire.' It noted encouraging discussions this past week in Paris about peace prospects in Ukraine, which Rubio conveyed in a call to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Zelensky accused Russia on Sunday of creating a false appearance of honouring the Easter ceasefire, saying Moscow continued to launch attacks after Putin announced the unilateral temporary truce. 'The Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places, it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine,' Zelensky said in a post on X early Sunday. Military chaplain conducts Easter service for Ukrainian service members of the 'Khartia' 13th Operational Brigade, near a front line in Kharkiv region, Ukraine on April 20, 2025 In later updates, Zelensky alleged that despite Ukraine declaring a symmetrical approach to Russian actions, 'the trend of increasing the use of heavy weaponry by Russian forces continues.' He noted that some Ukrainian troops were killed in a Russian 'ambush' on Sunday in the Donetsk region, and said the Russian soldiers responsible would be 'eliminated.' Last month, Putin vowed to 'finish off' Ukraine while standing aboard a brand new Russian nuclear submarine during a visit to an Arctic naval base. Speaking to submariners, Putin smugly declared: 'Not long ago I said we'd grind [Ukraine] down - now it looks like we'll finish them off.' Israeli troops have been accused of carrying out 'summary executions' of 15 aid workers in Gaza last month. Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers and a UN staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by troops operating in Tel al-Sultan, a district of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. An internal military investigation suggested a chain of 'professional failures' that led to the incident, with a deputy IDF commander sacked as a result. But Gaza's civil defence agency have rejected the findings of the army's internal probe following the release of a video showing the ambulances fired upon had their lights flashing and visible logos showing they were emergency vehicles. Israel had claimed that the medical vehicles did not have emergency signals on when IDF troops opened fire, but backtracked after video footage recovered from one medic contradicted this account. The 15 paramedics and rescue workers, which included at least one UN employee, were found in a mass grave in southern Gaza a week after the incident. 'The video filmed by one of the paramedics proves that the Israeli occupation's narrative is false and demonstrates that it carried out summary executions,' Mohammed Al-Mughair, a civil defence official, told AFP, a day after an Israeli army probe denied any execution-style killings. He also accused Israel of seeking to 'circumvent' its obligations under international law. Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers and a UN staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by IDF troops Gaza's civil defence agency have rejected the findings of the army's internal probe following the release of a video showing the ambulances fired upon had their lights flashing and visible logos showing they were emergency vehicles The 15 paramedics and rescue workers, which included at least one UN employee, were found in a mass grave in southern Gaza a week after the incident The military investigation found that the deputy battalion commander, 'due to poor night visibility,' assessed that the ambulances belonged to Hamas militants. The probe claimed there was 'no evidence to support claims of execution or that any of the deceased were bound before or after the shooting.' It said the Palestinians were killed due to an 'operational misunderstanding' by Israeli forces, and that a separate incident 15 minutes later, when Israeli soldiers shot at a Palestinian UN vehicle, was a breach of orders. The deputy commander who will be dismissed was the first to open fire and the rest of the soldiers also started shooting, according to the internal findings. No paramedic was armed and no weapons were found in any vehicle, Major Gen Yoav Har-Even, who is in charge of the military's investigative branch, told journalists. The army also said six of the aid workers killed were actually Hamas militants, but did not provide their names or give further evidence. Last night the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Israeli rights organisation Breaking the Silence rejected the findings. PRCS President Younis Al-Khatib said: 'It is incomprehensible why the occupation soldiers buried the bodies of the paramedics in a criminal manner. The military investigation found that the deputy battalion commander, 'due to poor night visibility,' assessed that the ambulances belonged to Hamas militants No paramedic was armed and no weapons were found in any vehicle, Major Gen Yoav Har-Even, who is in charge of the military's investigative branch, told journalists The army also said six of the aid workers killed were actually Hamas militants, but did not provide their names or give further evidence 'An independent and impartial investigation must be conducted by a UN body.' 'It is invalid and unacceptable, as it justifies the killing and shifts responsibility to a personal error in the field command when the truth is quite different,' Nebal Farsakh, a PRCS spokesperson, added. 'Not every lie has a video to expose it, but this report doesn't even attempt to engage with the truth,' a spokesperson from Breaking the Silence said. 'Another day, another cover-up. More innocent lives taken, with no accountability.' Jonathan Whittall, a UN official in Gaza, added: 'A lack of real accountability undermines international law and makes the world a more dangerous place. 'Without accountability, we risk continuing to watch atrocities unfolding, and the norms designed to protect us all, eroding.' Ahmed Dhair, the forensic pathologist in Gaza who carried out autopsies on 14 out of the 15 victims, said they were mostly killed by gunshots to the head and torso, as well as injuries caused by explosives. He told the Guardian that he had found 'lacerations, entry wounds from bullets, and wounds resulting from explosive injuries', adding: 'These were mostly concentrated in the torso area the chest, abdomen, back, and head.' The incident highlighted the dangers facing humanitarian workers operating in Gaza More than 400 aid workers and over 1,300 health workers have reportedly been killed in Gaza since October 2023 Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW), a Palestinian medical NGO, said it had confirmed that 162 medical staff remained in Israeli detention Some far-right voices in the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believe the army is going too far in punishing the soldiers. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's ultranationalist national security minister, said the decision to dismiss the deputy commander was a 'grave mistake' that must be reversed. 'Our combat soldiers, who are sacrificing their lives in Gaza, deserve our full support,' he said. The incident highlighted the dangers facing humanitarian workers operating in Gaza. More than 400 aid workers and over 1,300 health workers have reportedly been killed in Gaza since the latest war broke out in October 2023, despite the requirement under international humanitarian law for humanitarian workers to be protected. Last year, three former British servicemen were among the victims of an Israeli air strike which killed seven aid workers in Gaza. Former Royal Marines James Henderson and John Chapman and an ex-Army soldier James Kirby were killed in a drone strike while providing security for the World Central Kitchen charity. In February Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW), a Palestinian medical NGO, said it had confirmed that 162 medical staff remained in Israeli detention, including some of Gazas most senior physicians, and a further 24 were missing after being taken from hospitals during the conflict. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Gaza was the deadliest place on Earth for humanitarian workers. 'Recent aid worker deaths are a stark reminder. Those responsible must be held accountable,' he said earlier this month. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Gaza was the deadliest place on Earth for humanitarian workers A view shows an explosion during an Israeli strike at a tent camp sheltering displaced people, in Khan Younis A makeshift tent camp for Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip Israel has accused Hamas of moving and hiding its fighters inside ambulances and emergency vehicles, as well as in hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, arguing that justifies strikes on them. Medical personnel largely deny the accusations. The Israeli military is currently investigating 421 incidents in Gaza during the war, with 51 concluded and sent to the Military Advocate General. Israel's offensive has since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. Around 90 per cent of the population is displaced, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings. Aussies will pay millions in surcharges in April alone A cafe owner has hit back after copping customer backlash about public holiday surcharges. Aussies will spend millions in additional surcharges while dining out at cafes, pubs and restaurants over the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends. Ruby Rule claimed her cafes in Brisbane ran at a loss over the Easter, even after a 15 per cent fee added to each transaction. The decision sparked fury from customers, prompting the cafe owner to speak out. 'This Easter long weekend, I've worked every day, paid my staff holiday rates and charged customers a 15 per cent surcharge,' Ms Rule explained in a TikTok video. 'At one of my stores, we still didn't even break even.' 'I'm charging extra because it is a public holiday but I am still making less than [I would] on a normal weekday.' She said one of her cafes was overrun on Good Friday, another just broke even, and the third had made a loss due to operational cost increases over the weekend. A cafe owner defended long weekend surcharges, revealing the costs of operating meant one of her restaurants still made a loss over the period A customer threatened to throw a coffee at Ms Rule in a comment left in response to a previous video regarding the surcharges. 'If you're pressed about paying 60 to 80 cents more on your coffee, then go ahead and throw it at me and make it a double shot,' Ms Rule said in her latest video. 'Imagine running a team, covering wages, working the floor yourself and then going home with less money than you started with, because that is what I'm dealing with.' Ms Rule's comments sparked a divided reaction from viewers. But many commenters supported the business owner and believe disgruntled consumers wouldn't have been happy with the alternative. 'People complained of a surcharge, they should stay home and not complain,' one wrote. 'You didn't ask them to come get a coffee ... keep doing the surcharge, nothing wrong on public holiday.' Another added: 'I went to three different coffee shops over the weekend and was more than happy to pay surcharge!' 'Grateful they were open and I could share quality time meeting friends & family!' Ruby Rule was inundated with support after firing back at backlash from customers Aussie diners slugged with about $24.6million in surcharge fees over the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends A third agreed: '(Customers would) be upset if you were closed but get upset by having to pay 80c because you chose to open to give them the option to buy a coffee.' Aussies will spend an additional $98.4million at cafes, restaurants and takeaway businesses this month, according to research from money.com.au. The Easter and Anzac Day long weekends will see diners slugged with about $24.6million in surcharge fees. The research expected businesses would levy an average surcharge of 15 per cent in order to reclaim the costs of staff over the public holidays. AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said surcharges have a negative impact on consumer spending over the public holidays before the long weekend, but still forecast a spike in trading over April. 'This may make some people a bit reticent and they might think twice about spending, but still I think most people would still spend,' he told NCA NewsWire. 'Theres the reality that, this year, its school holidays, people will be on holidays for longer lengths of period which could complicate things. 'You can sort of think I would normally go out to the cafe or the restaurant on Easter Saturday, but might think, oh Im on holiday Ill eat in this Easter and go out later when its a bit cheaper, say Tuesday, so you could have perverse effects like that.' Consumers are expected to pay a total of about $25million in surcharge fees over April Money.com.aus finance expert Sean Callery urged Aussies to factor in surcharges if opting to dine out on public holidays. Melbourne cafe owner Dan Dick told Yahoo he wouldn't be able to open his businesses on public holidays without adding surcharges. 'The award dictates that on public holidays, staff are entitled to double time,' he said. 'Essentially, the casual award goes from $30s to $60s an hour and any full-timer gets a day in lieu. So it's not feasible for businesses to absorb that.' A circus manager says his defeat in a David and Goliath style battle with a Hollywood film company has robbed him of his heritage. Kenny Darnell Jnr, 37, found himself fighting 20th Century Studios owned by Disney, earlier this year in a dispute over who could say they are the greatest showman on earth. In 2018, he registered a website called greatestshowman.co.uk two months before the movie producers obtained a trademark for the same phrase, a year after the release of their film The Greatest Showman. Lawyers for 20th Century Studios, which made 33 million from the musical starring Hugh Jackman, argued Mr Darnell deliberately used the name to capitalise off the movie. But Mr Darnell, who was a professional aerial acrobat, claimed his familys 200 years of history in the business as Paulos Circus meant the title greatest showman was his birthright. Mr Darnell, speaking to the Telegraph, said: This isnt just a legal dispute, its personal. It feels like my identity, my heritage is being stripped away by those whove made millions off a fantasy version of our world. This isnt about money. Its about history and its about a family whos still fighting to preserve something real, something magical and something earned, not imagined in Hollywood but lived in sawdust rings across generations. Kenny Darnell Jnr, 37, is the manager and circus ringmaster of Paulo's Circus 20th Century Fox has filed legal papers, claiming Mr Darnell used the domain to profit off the success of The Greatest Showman movie starring Hugh Jackman He found himself fighting 20th Century Studios owned by Disney, earlier this year After refusing to handover the name of his website this February, Mr Darnell was dragged before Nominet UK, which regulates website names. The circus manager argued he had no intention of making money off or gaining more customers from using the same title of the film and was unaware of its release date. But the Hollywood lawyers argued it was impossible for Mr Darnell to be unaware of the film and suggested he might have sold the name on to make a profit. In a ruling by a Nominet expert, Mr Darnell was cleared of any suggestion that he would sell the name of the website on. However, he was found to have attempted to unfairly profit from the trademark. The ruling said: On the balance of probabilities, Mr Darnell did attempt to profit unfairly from 20th Century Foxs [trade] mark by registering the disputed domain name at the peak of the movies success ... for the likely purpose of attracting custom from people looking for the movies website. The finding added the name was likely to confuse people or businesses into believing that it is connected to the film. Mr Darnell's circus has been in his family for around 200 years and he follows generations of acrobats He argues it is his 'birthright' to use the title of greatest showman for himself and his business The result of the dispute is that Mr Darnell must now transfer his website name to 20th Century Studios. Mr Darnell pointed out that it is now seven years since he registered the website name, and it has taken that long for the dispute to emerge. He added: Seven years of silence, only to be accused of opportunism, of trying to profit off a name - if that had been my goal, why wouldnt I have sold it at the peak of the films popularity? Disney were approached for comment. US Vice President JD Vance was greeted with a full red carpet welcome as he touched down in New Delhi, but his high-profile visit comes against a tense global backdrop as China issues a chilling warning over America's tariff war. Vance, 40, stepped off the plane on Monday alongside wife Usha the daughter of Indian immigrants and their three children, all dressed in colourful Indian garments. His visit comes two months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Meanwhile India is scrambling to lock down a crucial trade deal with Washington before a looming deadline and to avoid the sting of punishing US tariffs that have rattled global markets and drawn fury from Beijing. Upon his landing in India, the US Vice President - a devout Catholic convert who arrived in New Delhi a day after meeting Pope Francis in the Vatican - was met with a red carpet welcome. He and his family toured the vast Akshardham Hindu temple on one of his first stops. His four-day tour will take him to Rajasthan's medieval Amber Fort in Jaipur on Tuesday, followed by a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Wednesday. But it's Monday's high-stakes meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that carries the real diplomatic weight. The pair are expected to 'review the progress' in US-India relations and 'exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest,' according to Indian officials. Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, along with their children, visited Akshardham Temple Vance and Usha arrive in New Delhi on Monday morning ahead of trade talks He and his family toured the vast Akshardham Hindu temple on one of his first stops Dancers wearing traditional attire stand in front of a poster depicting US Vice President JD Vance upon his arrival in New Delhi on April 21, 2025 New Delhi hopes to secure an early tranche of a trade pact within the 90-day pause on sweeping tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump earlier this month - tariffs that spared India, but which continue to hammer China with rates as high as 145 per cent. Beijing has responded with duties of 125 percent on US goods. India, hit with tariffs of 26 percent before Trump's pause, has reacted cautiously so far. 'We are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties,' India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters last week. China, furious at being singled out, has now issued a dark threat - warning any nation against striking a trade deal with Washington at its expense. 'The United States has abused tariffs on all trading partners under the banner of so-called 'equivalence',' thundered China's Commerce Ministry on Monday. 'We will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner.' Beijing's dramatic warning follows a Bloomberg report that Trump's administration is pressuring other countries seeking exemptions to reduce trade ties with China with possible monetary sanctions in store for those that don't comply. In response, China is convening an informal UN Security Council meeting this week to accuse Washington of global economic bullying. 'The fact is, nobody wants to pick a side,' said Bo Zhengyuan, partner at China-based policy consultancy Plenum. US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, February 13, 2025 'If countries have high reliance on China in terms of investment, industrial infrastructure, technology know-how and consumption, I don't think they'll be buying into US demands. 'Many Southeast Asian countries belong to this category'. Despite the global storm, India remains focused on its own balancing act. A Department of Commerce official said New Delhi was 'carefully examining the implications' of the US tariffs, but also 'studying the opportunities that may arise.' Modi who visited the White House in February and is widely seen as having a close rapport with Trump pledged to work on a 'mutually beneficial trade agreement' between the world's largest and fifth-largest economies. While India's booming IT and services sectors rely heavily on US markets, Washington has in turn made billions from defence deals with New Delhi in recent years. Trump himself hinted he may visit India later this year for a summit of the Quad a powerful bloc including the US, India, Japan and Australia. Steam trains could be facing the end of the line amid plans to abolish traditional railway traffic light-style signals. Network Rail plans to remove the lineside lights most train drivers currently use to guide their journey and expand in-cab digital signalling across the network instead, to cut upkeep costs and maximise capacity. It means steam-powered engines will need to be fitted with these digital screens and software too if they are to continue running on the mainline and survive the network updates. Trials are currently underway to determine if steam engines and historical diesels could be compatible with the so-called European Train Control System (ETCS) technology. The experiments have seen Tornado, a steam locomotive built by train lovers in 2008 based on a 1940s design, fitted out with ETCS kit. But if it does not work even in a more recent engine, older locomotives like the Flying Scotsman - built in 1923 and the oldest steam train still active on Britain's main network - face even less of a chance. This could see the UK's some 500 steam engines - which contribute 600million a year to the economy - relegated to minor routes and preserved railways, the Telegraph reports. Network Rail has said it will aim to make sure historic steam and diesel engines can still run - but a company source said the current trials offer no guarantee. Steam trains could be facing the end of the line amid plans to abolish traditional railway traffic light-style signals. Pictured: File photo The experiments have seen Tornado (pictured, with a digital screen top left), a steam locomotive built by train lovers in 2008 based on a 1940s design, fitted out with ETCS kit Network Rail plans to remove the lineside lights most train drivers currently use to guide their journey and expand in-cab digital signalling (pictured, file photo) across the network instead They explained: 'If we prove the concept with Tornado and it works properly, then we are in a better place to understand costs and feasibility for future deployment. 'But who will pay for that when there is a totally non-standard fleet of steam engines owned by a variety of different people is absolutely not certain.' ETCS is already used on a handful of routes - but Network Rail plans to roll it out nationally, starting at the London end of the East Coast Main Line from King's Cross to Edinburgh. The West Coast line from Euston to Glasgow and the Great Western route from Paddington are likely to be up next. Instead of looking out the window for lineside signals, like traffic lights, ETCS sees train drivers observe a screen in front of them inside the cab. It shows a target speed and gives them the remaining distance they have until they need to slow down or speed up. Drivers can talk to signallers using an internal mobile phone system - and if they go too fast or run a virtual red light, the trains automatically brake, so are safer. The technology also allows trains to be spaced out more efficiently, adding more journeys per hour. Instead of looking out the window for lineside signals (pictured, file photo), like traffic lights, ETCS sees train drivers observe a screen in front of them inside the cab Network Rail has said it will aim to make sure historic steam and diesel engines can still run - but a company source said the current trials offer no guarantee. Pictured: File photo The main challenges with using the kit in steam and diesel engines are how hard it is to use a screen in an open, noisy, dirty and often wet cab and issues with braking, how the engine works and electrical supply. Pictured: File photo The kitted-out Tornado - which was featured in Paddington 2 and Top Gear - was trialled overnight this week on the route from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, to Newtown in mid Wales, which is already ETCS-compatible. The main challenges with using the kit in steam and diesel engines are how hard it is to use a screen in an open, noisy, dirty and often wet cab and issues with braking, how the engine works and electrical supply. West Coast Railways - the network's biggest steam operator, also responsible for the popular 'Hogwarts Express' route - ran the test trains. The firm has already faced challenges in recent years after the rail regulator prohibited its carriages from the 1950s, which train enthusiasts tend to prefer. Rob Morland, an electrical engineer with Tornado's owners, the A1 Steam Trust, said a second steam turbo-generator, new alternator and third battery bank had to be added to the engine to facilitate the ETCS equipment. Network Rail has said it is too early to comment on the results of the experiments. A Deltic train, one of the most iconic diesels on the network, will be tested on the same line later in the year. Amy Clouston, principal human factors specialist at engineering consultancy AtkinsRealis, which designed the fitment of Tornado's systems, has previously told the Observer: 'We had to test whether or not you can even use a touchscreen while you're hurtling along at up to 75mph. The kitted-out Tornado - which was featured in Paddington 2 (pictured) and Top Gear - was trialled overnight this week In an iconic Top Gear episode of 2009 (pictured), the show's former frontman Jeremy Clarkson raced the Tornado train against fellow presenters Richard Hammond and James May from London to Edinburgh 'We've had to think about vibrations, lighting, noise, coal dust, water and steam and grubby fingers.' She argued the project was vital to the future of the main line steam sector: 'Steam is part of the nation's engineering heritage so it would be such a shame if it were to only be contained to private, heritage railways. 'Having steam locomotives out there on the main line is a wonderful thing to see.' In an iconic Top Gear episode of 2009, the show's former frontman Jeremy Clarkson raced the Tornado train against fellow presenters Richard Hammond and James May from London to Edinburgh. The episode saw Mr Clarkson having to feed the boiler with a constant supply of coal, without which the whole train would grind to a halt. JK Rowling praised Kemi Badenoch for 'offering unequivocal solidarity to women' today as Keir Starmer faces pressure to break his silence on the Supreme Court's landmark gender ruling. The Harry Potter author said it was 'astounding' that Ms Badenoch was the only UK political leader offering vocal backing for people 'defending their rights'. The comments came after the Tory chief condemned 'death threats' against women's rights campaigners in the wake of the judges deciding last week that men who change gender are not legally women. The PM has been facing calls to give public support to the ruling, amid signs Labour frontbenchers are gearing up to resist the implications for thousands of firms and public sector bodies. The Government has welcomed last Wednesday's judgment, but the PM - who was on holiday but is understood to have now returned home - is yet to comment directly. Sir Keir - who has long been accused of a muddle stance on gender issues - is facing demands to make a statement to the Commons when it returns from the Easter recess tomorrow. JK Rowling has praised Kemi Badenoch for 'offering unequivocal solidarity to women' Keir Starmer (pictured) has been facing calls to give public support to the ruling, amid signs Labour frontbenchers are gearing up to resist the implications for thousands of firms and public sector bodies Last night Ms Badenoch took to the X social media site to highlight images of protest placards with messages such as 'kill JK Rowling' The Harry Potter author said it was 'astounding' that Ms Badenoch was the only UK political leader offering vocal backing In WhatsApp messages published by The Mail on Sunday, sent on Thursday evening, culture minister Sir Chris Bryant joined an attack on Baroness Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which must draw up guidance for organisations to follow when enforcing the ruling. Earlier that day, Baroness Falkner she said the ruling clearly meant that trans women could not use single-sex female facilities or compete in women's sports. After Steve Race, the Labour MP for Exeter, said Lady Falkner's words were 'pretty appalling', Mr Bryant replied: 'Agreeed [sic].' Another MP on the WhatsApp group wrote that it was 'sad to see some institutions choose to ignore the Supreme Court's very strong line that trans people are protected by the Equality Act too'. Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle replied: 'They won't be feeling that way now and we need to remember that and organise.' Downing Street has refused to punish the ministers, arguing they are not trying to undermine the judgment. Last night Ms Badenoch took to the X social media site to highlight images of protest placards with messages such as 'kill JK Rowling'. 'A mob of trans-activists waving death threats at women isn't protestit's criminal incitement,' she wrote. 'If the law isn't enforced, we don't have equality, we have two-tier justice. It's time for Labour to stop being on the side of these extremists and start defending women.' Re-posting Ms Badenoch's message, Rowling added: 'I knew what I was getting into when I entered this debate and compared to what others have suffered, I've got off lightly. 'Even so, it continues to astound that Kemi Badenoch remains the only UK political leader offering unequivocal solidarity to women defending their rights.' Marion Calder, co-founder of For Women Scotland, which won the historic court victory, said it was 'astonishing' to see ministers discussing ways to 'circumvent' the ruling. She told the Mail: 'To see government ministers discussing how they can circumvent the ruling, rather than how they can ensure their departments are actually following the rule of law, is quite astonishing. Ms Badenoch has made no secret of her support for the campaign spearheaded by prominent figures such as Rowling Rowling posted a picture last week of her celebrating the ruling by the Supreme Court 'And it is disappointing that we haven't heard anything from the Prime Minister yet. I understand it's the holidays, but we had to give up our holidays for this case. We look forward to actually hearing from him. 'There are a lot of people looking to him for direction. This has to come from Sir Keir - it shouldn't be left to women like us or people on the frontlines in the likes of the NHS to interpret this and make sure it's followed.' Helen Joyce, of human rights charity Sex Matters, which submitted evidence in the Supreme Court case, said: 'If neither the Prime Minister nor the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities makes a statement to this effect on the first day back after Parliamentary recess, something is seriously wrong.' The Vatican are preparing for life after Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. Doctors treating the pontiff announced that he 'passed away peacefully' at 7.35am on Monday having suffered a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure. Francis had been lauded during his time as pontiff for his progressive views after taking on church traditionalists and rightwing populism. It is now the task of the College of Cardinals to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church in due course, with a host of speculation arising as to who that could be. Read our recap of the hours since the Pope died below. Pope Francis died Easter Monday, just a day after meeting with JD Vance as the vice president attempted to mend his rocky relationship with the leader of the Catholic church. The 88-year-old pontiff and Vance had an awkward exchange at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after Francis slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants. It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher. The Vatican said the meeting between the vice president and the Holy Father was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. Vance and the Pope tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy. The pope offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Vance's three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. 'I know you have not been feeling great but it's good to see you in better health,' Vance told the Pope. 'Thank you for seeing me.' The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the Domus Santa Marta 'to exchange Easter greetings.' Vance's office said the vice president 'expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for inviting him to meet on Easter Sunday and for the hospitality the Vatican has extended to his family.' 'I pray for you every day,' Vance said as he bid Francis farewell. 'God bless you.' In all, Vances motorcade was on Vatican territory for 17 minutes. Only hours later after the pair's uncomfortable meeting, the pope succumbed to his health issues and passed away. Vance broke his silence on the pope's death after their meeting by posting an emotional tribute calling the pope 'obviously ill.' 'I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,' Vance wrote on X on Monday morning. JD Vance (pictured left) tried to mend his rocky relationship with Pope Francis (pictured right) at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the leader of the Catholic church slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants Vance, center, his wife Usha and their children, Vivek, left, and Maribel, back to camera, arrive at the Basilica of Saint Paul 'I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.' Vance linked to a video of a homily the pope delivered at St. Peter's Basilica in March 2020 where he spoke of how to follow Jesus out of the 'darkness' of the pandemic. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Vance was 'excited and grateful' to have been able to meet with the pope before his passing. 'He touched millions of lives throughout his tenure as the head of the Catholic Church, so it's a solemn day for Catholics around the world and we are praying for all those who loved the pope,' she added. She did not engage on any speculation on the pair's final meeting, which only lasted 17 minutes in total. President Donald Trump issued a short statement on Truth Social following the news of the pope's death. 'Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!' he stated. Vances motorcade entered Vatican City through a side gate while Easter Mass was being celebrated in St. Peters Square. Francis had delegated the celebration of the Mass to another cardinal. The vice president later joined his family for Easter Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four pontifical basilicas in Rome. The Vances visited the tomb of the apostle St. Paul that is said to be located there. Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance acknowledged Francis criticism but has said he will continue to defend his views. Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance didnt address the issue specifically but called himself a 'baby Catholic' and acknowledged there are 'things about the faith that I dont know.' Vance met Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. The vice presidents office said he and Parolin 'discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trumps commitment to restoring world peace.' The Vatican, for its part, said there was an 'exchange of opinions' including over migrants and refugees and current conflicts. The Holy See responded cautiously to the Trump administration while seeking to continue productive relations in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality. It expressed alarm over the administration's crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Vance spent Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peter's Basilica on Friday after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. The vice president, who converted in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement often called 'postliberal', which is viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings. US Vice President JD Vance, his wife second lady Usha Vance and their children attend Mass on Good Friday at St. Peter's Basilica on April 18 Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched 'elites' with their own and acting upon their vision of the 'common good.' Just days before he was hospitalised in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration's deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance had defended the administration's America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as 'ordo amoris.' He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care - to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere. In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance's understanding of the concept. 'Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,' he wrote. Pope Francis leaves after a private visit at the 'Regina Coeli' prison where he met around 70 inmates as part of the Holy Thursday celebrations in Rome JD Vance prays during the Good Friday Passion of the Lord service in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 18 'The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.' Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican's statement issued today which said the talks were cordial and expressed satisfaction with the Trump administration's commitment to protecting freedom of religion and conscience. 'There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners,' the statement said. 'Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.' The reference to 'serene collaboration' appeared to refer to Vance's accusation that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was resettling 'illegal immigrants' in order to get federal funding. Senior US cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim. Raising his left hand towards a crying boy, this is the moment Pope Francis gave his last public blessing as he drove through St Peter's Square for the last time. Footage of the brief exchange yesterday is now deeply poignant following the pontiff's death today at the age of 88. Francis blessed four tiny babies and two older children during the circuit in his popemobile through cheering crowds gathered to celebrate Easter Sunday, with the youngsters passed up to him by members of his security detail. The outing was the longest time he had spent in public since spending five weeks in hospital being treated for double pneumonia. Earlier he had appeared on the Vatican balcony and told crowds, 'Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter', before an aide read the rest of his annual Urbi et Orbi blessing and speech, which called for an end to wars in Ukraine and Gaza. On his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Vatican said the encounter was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. Pope Francis blesses in child yesterday in what would be his last public blessing Francis blessed four tiny babies and two older children during the circuit in his popemobile Catholics traditionally bring the young and sick to the Vatican to receive a blessing Francis became the first pope from outside Europe in 1,300 years when he was chosen to replace the retiring Pope Benedict XVI. Despite several previous health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline, Francis had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks. In September 2024, he carried out a 12-day tour across south-east Asia and Oceania that included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. Among those to meet the pope during his final days were the King and Queen, who saw him just 12 days ago. The couple's historic state visit to the Vatican in early April was cancelled because of the Pope's poor health, but the pair managed to visit the head of the Roman Catholic Church privately during their trip to Italy. Charles and Camilla's meeting with the Pope in what would be his final weeks was arranged at the last minute and took place on their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9, with the pontiff wanting to personally wish them a happy anniversary. Earlier, Francis had briefly wished crowds a happy Easter before a deputy took over to read the rest of his address A young child is blessed by the pope during his circuit around St Peter's Square Francis had been trying to meet as many of the faithful as possible despite his declining health A senior Palace official said afterwards: 'I think outside of the official programme, the most significant and indeed moving thing was that visit to the Pope. 'We didn't know until the last minute that it would be possible. But when the Pope asked if he could see the King and Queen, Their Majesties were clearly very pleased; after all, they have known him over many years and with the rest of the world, have been praying for his recovery. 'The Pope wanted personally to wish them a happy anniversary, not least because it hadn't been possible to do the state visit on this occasion. 'Their Majesties both came away feeling that it had been a very significant and special moment.' Earlier on Easter Sunday, Francis had met US Vice President JD Vance, who arrived in Rome with his family Masses of faithful gathered Sunday under hazy skies in the sprawling plaza Catholics regularly take children who are young or sick to the Vatican to receive a blessing from the pope. A nine-day mourning period will now begin in Francis' honour, with his funeral in around four to six days' time after his body lies in state in St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Italy also usually declares a period of national mourning. Two to three weeks later, the conclave to elect a new pope convenes, with the College of Cardinals locked inside the the Sistine Chapel to vote in secret four times a day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority, with a white smoke signal released through a chimney to announce a pope has been chosen. This is the awkward moment a 'TikTok vicar' was quizzed by GMB's Richard Madeley on whether Prince Andrew should be forgiven following his surprise appearance at the Royal Family's Easter Sunday service. Reverend Pippa White, curate of the Fauls, Whitchurch and Tilstock parish in Shropshire, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Easter Monday to discuss using TikTok to change perceptions of the church. However, at the end of her interview, Madeley took the opportunity to ambush the 29-year-old with a question following Prince Andrew's appearance at the Windsor Easter Service alongside members of the Royal Family including King Charles and Camilla. Taking her by surprise, Madeley asked: 'Last question. One sentence answer please. You are a Christian. Should we be forgiving Prince Andrew?' Visibly taken aback, Ms White raised her eyebrows and replied: 'Wow.' As Madeley interjected to say 'I'll take that as an answer, that's a perfectly good answer', Ms White laughed and added: 'Forgiveness depends on true repentance.' Madeley and his co-host Ranvir Singh both commended Ms White for her 'very wise answer'. Ms White has become a self-professed 'TikTok vicar' - and has racked up around 20,000 followers on her page, describing herself in her bio as 'just a priest girlie'. This is the moment a TikTok vicar was grilled by GMB's Richard Madeley on whether she would forgive Prince Andrew following his surprise appearance at the Royal Family 's Easter Sunday service Visibly taken aback, Ms White raised her eyebrows and replied, 'Wow' when she was asked about Prince Andrew It came after Prince Andrew appeared at the Easter Sunday service alongside other members of the Royal Family She makes lighthearted videos in her dog collar, with one recent video joking about the pains of being single - when often having to conduct weddings. The curate started making videos after her sister suggested she should try carving out a niche as a 'TikTok vicar' - but she has now found it has also helped her connect with parishioners in real life. She was on Good Morning Britain to talk about Gen Z, particularly men, turning to Christianity and returning to church. Ms White has been trying to modernise the ministry with her fun social media videos. However, some viewers were critical of Madeley for randomly asking Ms White at the end of her segment. It came less than 24 hours after the disgraced Duke of York appeared at the Royal Family's annual Easter Sunday service yesterday. Andrew grinned to suprised onlookers as he joined his brother Charles at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. It is the second year in a row that the duke has joined the King and Queen at the 15th century chapel. Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters, Princess EUgenie and Princess Beatrice were also present - as were Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. The Prince and Princess of Wales did not attend the annual service as they were spending time with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, in Norfolk before they return to school. King Charles attends the Easter Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Easter Sunday Prince Andrew is pictured alongside Sir Timothy Laurence, the husband of Princess Anne Andrew was spotted glancing at a member of the crowd who wished him a 'Happy Easter' before he walked off with the Duchess of York. The duke has not been pictured at a formal Royal Family event since last Easter and missed the annual Christmas gathering at Sandringham amid the fallout surrounding his links to an alleged Chinese spy. Andrew stepped down from royal duties in March 2020 following his car crash Newsnight interview about his friendship with the late paedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein. Body language expert Judie James told MailOnline that while Prince Andrew was clearly uncomfortable with being on public display on Easter Sunday, he was quietly bullish too. She said: 'His body language still suddenly oozed a sense of arrogance for this moment in the sun though he certainly looked more furtively low-key, moving off alone to get into the chapel. 'Meanwhile, Fergie seemed to have been appointed to provide a higher profile that was more like her days as a popular royal wife.' The Reverend Pippa White (pictured), curate of the Fauls, Whitchurch and Tilstock parish in Shropshire, previously told MailOnline she is more than happy to be breaking the mould After heading inside the church, Prince Andrew emerged again briefly as his daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, arrived at the chapel with their respective partners, Jack Brookbanks and Edoardo 'Edo' Mapelli Mozzi. Ms James told MailOnline: 'Andrew suddenly re-appeared from inside the chapel, emerging from the gloom of the doorway like a cuckoo popping out of a cuckoo clock on cue. 'It was as though none of the other royals would engage him in conversation and he didnt move towards Fergie or his daughters in a bid to mingle more naturally.' Still, the late Queen Elizabeth's second youngest son also had a definite air of confidence about him. She explained: 'Andrew's pose looked more suited to the prow of a boat than a church service. 'With his jacket unbuttoned he splayed his legs in a pose of confidence, crossing one arm across his stomach and using the free hand to perform downward stabbing gestures with his index finger.' The service, which runs for one hour from 10.45am until 11.45am, has been a key date in the royal family's calendar for centuries. Last year saw the King mark his return to public life following treatment for cancer at the traditional Easter service. A heated argument erupted as two men were filmed erecting signs on roadside power poles for a political candidate. Footage taken by a member of the public shows the pair using a step ladder to put up election posters for Nicolette Boele. The Climate 200-supported independent is running for the Liberal held seat of Bradfield on Sydney's north shore the upcoming May 3 election. 'What your problem?' one of the men asked the person filming the incident. 'I have a problem with the sign being up a pole,' the resident replied. He followed the pair to the next telegraph pole and asked whether they had been paid to post the signs, prompting the men to ask for 'respect' and appearing to try to block the resident's camera. The men then threatened to call the police before walking away. 'Go ahead. Please do. Please call them,' the resident replied. Independent candidate for Bradfield Nicolette Boele has been embroiled in posters scandal after men were filmed putting up her posters on power poles Footage taken by a member of the public shows the pair using a step ladder to put up election posters for Nicolette Boele The footage emerged days after a similar video appeared to show supporters posting signs along the Pacific Highway and telling a resident to 'f*** off'. It comes as Ausgrid issued a warning that election posters on power poles posed 'a serious safety risk and is against the law'. The electricity distribution company has ordered nine candidates and MPs in recent days to take down the promotional material from their electricity infrastructure. Ms Boele was among those to receive a letter after Ausgrid was inundated with complaints, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'You are required to remove the material within the areas specified above,' the letter read. 'If you fail and/or refuse to comply with this notice by the time, Ausgrid will carry out the works itself, and will recover its costs of carrying out the works and repairing any damage done to Ausgrid's electrical assets from you as a debt.' Candidates were also warned they would need to engage an accredited service provider to remove the posters. The largest number of complaints to Ausgrid were in the seats of Bradfield and Wentworth, which is currently held by teal independent Allegra Spender. Ausgrid has ordered nine candidates or MPs, including Ms Boele to take down the promotional material from power poles Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Boele and the Climate-200 organisation for comment. The organisation previously denied involvement in the corflute scandal. The latest election drama comes as the Australian Electoral Commission launched an investigation into an unauthorised campaign pamphlet that claims to 'expose' Ms Spender. More than 47,000 flyers without authorisation have been distributed in the Wentworth electorate in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs. The flyer claims it is 'produced by the people of Wentworth, for the people of Wentworth', but a lack of official authorisation means voters do not know where its information is sourced from, putting the pamphlets in breach of Australia's main election law. The flyer also claimed Ms Spender had 'misled the electorate on her positions'. After receiving complaints about the documents, the AEC has launched an investigation and is working to identify and contact those responsible, who could face thousands of dollars in fines. 'The AEC takes these matters very seriously,' it said in a statement. Wentworth MP Allegra Spender (pictured) hit out at 'offensive' pamphlets spreading in her electorate on Monday Ms Spender hit out at the 'dirty' campaign tricks on Monday, describing the flyers as 'false, misleading and offensive' and urged anyone with information to come forward. 'Australians are asking for people to provide solutions and a vision of the future not to run negative and unlawful smear campaigns,' she said 'This is what turns people off politics. 'We must do better.' She urged local political organisations and residents to help identify those behind the pamphlets. Ms Spender was one of the many 'teal' independents who took the Liberals by surprise and won their electorates in 2022 by campaigning on climate action and integrity in politics. Wentworth was previously held by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for 24 years before Kerryn Phelps and Dave Sharma served terms. Trans activists and drag queens have posted a video inside women's toilets claiming 'where we do our business is none of your business' following the Supreme Court ruling. The landmark hearing on Wednesday ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, meaning transgender women are not considered to be women in the eyes of the law. This week's ruling means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) could potentially be excluded from single-sex spaces if 'proportionate'. Now, a group of trans activists have proudly posted a video from inside some female toilets. In the video, transgender females are stood in cubicles inside the bathrooms, one by one saying 'where I do my business is none of your business'. At the end of a video, one of the activists says: 'Our biological sex does not decide what toilets we use, our brain does. 'Let adults decide what toilets to f****** go in.' They follow a string of fellow activists who have posted pictures or videos of themselves in public toilets. A group of trans activists and drag queens were seen in a video in women's toilets At the end of the video, a drag queen said that biological sex does not decide which toilets they use Trans activists lined up in cubicles of a female bathroom for the video which was posted on social media In the video, each person said 'where we do our business is none of your business' Joss Prior took a selfie in what looks like a women's toilets yesterday, posting it on X alongside the caption: 'Using women's spaces as you do.' Meanwhile, Ashley Johnson threatened to 'p*** on the floor' if she is stopped from using the ladies toilets. 'Back to anxiety I had about using public toilets when I first transitioned. Thinking I'll still use the ladies and if any establishment stops me, I'll p*** on the floor in their public area,' she wrote on Facebook. The ruling has caused much controversy among various groups, with transgender activists left furious. Thousands of outraged campaigners took to the streets of London yesterday to protest - waving flags and chanting throughout the afternoon. Protestors targeted a number of statues in the capital. Notably, a statue of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett was defaced with a banner reading 'F** rights'. The Metropolitan Police said they were investigating the incidents as criminal damage after the statues were daubed with graffiti. Activists demanded 'trans liberation' and 'trans rights now', with some waving flags and holding banners. Joss Prior took a selfie in what looks like a women's toilets yesterday, posting it on X alongside the caption: 'Using women's spaces as you do' Ashley Johnson threatened to 'p*** on the floor' if she is stopped from using the ladies toilets A trans activist posted on social media vowing to keep using female only spaces At least two statues in Parliament Square were vandalized during the rally, with 'trans rights are human rights' spray-painted on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader Jan Christian Smuts. Among the groups supporting the London protest are Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual. Chief Superintendent, Stuart Bell, who led the policing operation for the protest, said: 'Criminal damage and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the area for locals and those visiting. 'While the police support the public's right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this and will take action against those responsible. 'Working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) plans are underway to remove the graffiti but this requires specialist equipment and we are confident this will be done shortly. 'We are keen to speak to those who saw anything on the day and urge anyone with information, pictures or footage to come forward. Please call 101, quoting 01/7396927/25.' Although the role of Pope requires contemplation of the weightiest issues facing humanity, it also carries a duty that has its own unique challenges - dealing with the public. Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88, had his share of amusing moments while serving as the supreme pontiff, in part thanks to his desire to make himself available to the people. During his time leading the Catholic Church, he had a speech interrupted by an unruly boy climbing on stage and had to slap away the hand of a woman in St Peter's Square when she would not release it. On other occasions, he was unafraid to show his light-hearted side - such as when he donned a red nose at the wedding of two charity workers in 2013. Pope Francis chuckled when a child invaded the stage as he prepared to address an audience at the Vatican in 2018 Pope Francis's white skullcap had a history of taking flight in strong winds The Pope had to slap away the hand of an overzealous worshipper in St Peter's Square on New Year's Eve 2019 Boy climbs on stage and interrupts speech Intruders running onto stage and interrupting a speech by a major global figure is usually no laughing matter, but even Pope Francis was left chuckling by a security breach in 2018. A young boy, who was deaf, secured himself a surprise audience with the Pope by climbing onto stage and running up to him, during an address at Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. The youngster had escaped his mother and managed to outwit security before clambering onto stage. When he got to the top he paused, looked at the Pope who then burst out laughing, before the boy walked towards a guardsman. The boy then began pulling the sleeve of a Swiss guard who was standing nearby. 'Leave him, leave him to play here,' the Pope said as the boy, whom he said was speech-impaired, rolled around in front of him on the carpet. Pope Francis then beckoned the boy and his mother over so he could speak to them, before chatting to the boy and his mother as he stroked his head. The boy wandered over and started examining the outfit of a guard standing close to the Pope There was a laughter in the Vatican when the boy ran onto stage and met the Pope The boy's mother rushed onto stage - but was given an audience with the Pope nonetheless Pope slaps woman's hand to free himself Pope Francis will be remembered for the benevolence and humanity he displayed during his public duties, but there were a few occasions when cracks started to show in his composure. On one such occasion, he had been greeting worshippers in St Peter's Square on New Year's Eve 2019 when a woman grabbed hold of his hand. But as he attempted to turn away, the woman refused to let go and a look of visible discomfort shot across his face as she wrenched his arm back towards her. The Pope slapped the woman's hand to free himself from her clutch, before turning away, ashen-faced. He later apologised for the 'bad example' he had set, saying: 'We lose patience many times.' The Pope apologised for slapping the hand of a woman who refused to let go of him The Pope was visibly annoyed at being manhandled by the woman as he greeted worshippers Pope Francis meets 'mini me' In 2014, a 19-month-old boy made a star turn at the Pope's general audience in Vatican City by showing up in full pontiff costume. Toddler Daniele De Sanctis was handed up to a delighted Pope Francis as he passed the boy's family in St Peter's Square and kissed him on the head. Unfortunately, despite his impeccable costume, the child did not appear to enjoy meeting the actual Pope so much - and burst into tears. The 'mini me' did not enjoy meeting the Pope when he was handed up to him in St Peter's Square A hat prone to lift-off Pope Francis had a history of losing his headware - with his white skull cap, known as a zucchetto, regularly blown off in gusty winds, or even snatched by children. It took flight during a speech he was giving in windy conditions on one occasion and as he was disembarking a flight on another. The Pope was all smiles when a cheeky child took off his zucchetto as he held him aloft in the Vatican in 2013, but was able to retrieve it a few moments later. In 2015, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter David O'Reilly swapped hats with the Pope on a plane to Cuba. Mr O'Reilly handed the Pope a white zucchetto he had bought, which the pontiff tried on before replying - 'un poco grande', which means 'a bit big'. He then handed the hat back to the reporter. The skullcap of Pope Francis was known to take flight as he disembarked planes It even blew off during an address he was giving outdoors But Pope Francis was rarely flustered when his skullcap took to the skies Cracking a joke on TV Pope Francis could show levity even when discussing serious matters, as he demonstrated in a TV interview last year. Speaking to CBS 60 Minutes about the migration, he said with a smile to host Norah O'Donnell, who is Irish-American: 'They say that you Irish migrated and brought the whisky, and the Italians migrated and brought the Mafia. 'It's a joke, don't take it badly.' He went on to recognise the suffering experienced by some migrants. Pope Francis quipped 'it's a joke, don't take it badly' as he cracked wise about American immigration during an interview He went on to recognise the suffering experienced by some migrants. Ambushed by nuns Pope Francis proved to be quite a hit with the ladies on a visit to Naples in 2015. During a meeting with prelates in Naples Cathedral, he was swarmed by a group of excited nuns who were desperate to meet him. They had come from a cloistered environment, meaning they rarely left their nunneries, but special permission was granted to a lucky few for the Pope's cathedral visit. Their enthusiasm reached such a pitch that Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples, joked the sisters were going to 'eat him'. The nuns were given special permission to leave their cloistered environment to meet the pope in Naples Another cheeky child steals the show In 2013, a child made himself the star of the show when he went up to the papal throne in front of St Peter's Basilica and insisted on standing next to him as he watched a service. The boy resisted efforts by the pontiff's entourage to shepherd him away as he greeted worshippers - and the Pope even let him sit on his throne. A young boy took centre stage in 2013 by insisting on standing at the Pope's side But Pope Francis was understanding - and even let the boy sit on the papal throne A surprise visit to a record shop Pope Francis left locals surprised in 2022 after making an unexpected visit to a record store in Rome to bless the premises. The pontiff, who is a lover of classical music and opera, was seen stepping out of Stereosound, located near the Pantheon, with an LP record in hand. The head of the Catholic Church had visited Stereosound to bless the record store after a renovation. The shop owners were understood to be longtime friends of Pope Francis, who had previously spoken of the power of music and was said to enjoy tango as well as classical composers. The pontiff, who is a lover of classical music and opera, was seen stepping out of Stereosound, located near the Pantheon, with an LP record in hand in 2022 Pope Francis had previously spoken of the power of music and was said to enjoy tango as well as classical composers Tequila for knee pain Pope Francis made light of his bad knee in 2022 - by joking he needed a shot of tequila for his pain. At the time, he had been required to use a wheelchair and cane to get around, as well as undergoing physical therapy. In viral footage, the Pope was riding in the popemobile in St. Peter's Square when he stopped near a group of Mexican seminarians from the Legion of Christ who asked how his knee was. 'Do you know what I need for my knee?' Francis asked them from the popemobile. 'Some tequila.' The seminarians laughed and promised to deliver a bottle to the Santa Marta hotel where Francis lived. Pope Francis made light of his knee pain when talking to some worshippers from Mexico After telling them he needed some tequila for his bad knee, the Mexican contingent offered to have some sent to the Pope's residence in the Vatican Red nose The Pope showed he had a sense of humour as well as a caring side in 2013, when he donned a red nose at the wedding of members of a charity that uses clowns to cheer up children. Pope Francis appeared at the Vatican to congratulate the newlyweds from the Rainbow Association Marco Iagulli Onlus who were getting married there. As the pair came down the steps, he took the opportunity to show his support for the charity by donning the universal symbol of comedy. Pope Francis appeared at the Vatican to congratulate the newlyweds from the Rainbow Association Marco Iagulli Onlus who were getting married there Taking on the comedians The Pope met more than 100 comedians at the Vatican last year - where he told them 'you can even laugh at God' while pulling a clownish gesture. He was hosting comedians including Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, and Conan O'Brien. 'You unite people, because laughter is contagious,' the pontiff told the assembled group, adding that he has prayed for 40 years for a good sense of humor. 'While communication today often generates conflict, you know how to bring together diverse and sometimes contrary realities. How much we need to learn from you!', he said. The Vatican said the comedians were invited to 'celebrate the beauty of human diversity' and that the Pope 'recognizes the significant impact that the art of comedy has on the world of contemporary culture.' Pope Francis met Jimmy Fallon and dozens of other comedians at The Vatican The days following the death of Pope Francis are packed with centuries-old traditions and rituals - including his funeral and the public exhibition of his body. The ageing 88-year-old had been battling ill-health after being admitted to hospital two months ago with an infection that developed into pneumonia. His death was announced by the Vatican on Monday morning, sending the world's 1.4billion Catholics into mourning. Francis's body is set to be moved into St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican later this week, where he will lie in state for three days before his funeral. The Pope's body could lie in state as early as Wednesday. 'The transfer of the body of the Holy Father to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of all the faithful could take place on Wednesday morning,' Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. Hundreds of thousands of mourners are expected to visit the Francis' embalmed body to pay their respects to the beloved leader of the Catholic church. Ahead of lying in state, Vatican Chamberlain - currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell - will first officially certify that Francis is dead by calling his name three times at his bedside. The Pope's office and private apartments will then be sealed and the papal fisherman's ring removed from his finger before being broken with a hammer. Pope Francis on the main balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations on Sunday In line with tradition, Pope Francis will lay in state inside St Peter's Basilica (pictured is Pope Benedict laying in stat in January 2023) Pope John Paul II was buried beneath St Peter's Basilica. His body was moved up to a chapel on the main floor of the basilica after he was beatified in 2011. Above: A veil is placed over John Paul II's face prior to his coffin being closed, April 8, 2005 The body of the late pontiff will then be dressed in red robes with a white mitre on his head, and he will be taken to St Peter's Basilica, where he will lie in state for three days. His funeral will take place within six days. A date for the ceremony has yet to be announced. Traditionally, papal funerals are an elaborate affair, but before his death Pope Francis sought to simplify the ceremony. Unlike his predecessors, the Pope said he did not want to be buried in the grottoes beneath St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. At the end of 2023, the pontiff revealed he had 'already prepared' his tomb in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood. The church is one of the four major papal basilicas. Seven popes - from Honorious III in 1216 to Clement IX in 1669 - were buried there. Francis will also be the first Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican. The pontiff also scrapped the tradition of placing the Pope's body on a raised platform - known as a catafalque - in St Peter's Basilica for public viewing. Pope Benedict XVI lying in state in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, January 3, 2023 The embalmed body of Pope John XXIII at the Vatican on June 2, 2001. His face was covered with a thin layer of wax. John XXIII died in 1963 Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body remains inside the coffin, with the lid removed. And in a further break with tradition, new rites issued last year said Francis will be laid to rest in a single zinc-lined wooden casket. Three caskets had traditionally been used for burying popes to create an airtight seal around the late pontiff's body. They also allowed for objects, such as coins or papers issued by the pope during his reign, to be buried with the body. Francis's predecessor Pope Benedict XVI was buried in three coffins - including one made from lead - nested inside each other. Benedict lay in state inside St Peter's Basilica and was then buried in a crypt underneath the building. Since St Peter's was completed in 1626, 24 of 31 - more than three quarters - popes have been buried in its grottoes. Pope Francis chose to pray at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore before and after trips overseas. He made more than 100 visits to the fifth-century church, where he prayed in front of a sacred image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Pope Benedict was buried in the same tomb that until 2011 was occupied by his predecessor John Paul II, who died in 2005. Your browser does not support iframes. Pope Francis praying in Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, on March 15, 2020 At the end of 2023, the Pope revealed he had 'already prepared' his tomb in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood Benedict lies in state in St Peter's Basilica, January 3, 2023 The wooden lid on Benedict's outermost coffin was decorated with a simple metal cross, the emblem of his nearly eight-year-long papacy and an inscription in Latin noting that he had lived 95 years, eight months and 15 days when he died on December 31, 2022. The inscription also records the date his papacy ended when he went into retirement, on February 28, 2013, and became Pope Emeritus. He was the first Pope in six centuries to retire. Pope John Paul's remains were moved up to a chapel on the main floor of the basilica after he was beatified in 2011. Some two million mourners were thought to have visited him while he laid in state. John XXIII, who died in 1963, was buried in a sarcophagus of marble beneath St Peter's Basilica. Since 2001, his body been on display in a glass sarcophagus underneath the altar of St Jerome in St Peter's. In the coffin, a written account of his historic papacy known as a rogito was also placed. The coins minted during his pontificate and his pallium stoles, the religious garment worn over the pope's robes, were also laid in the casket. Pope Francis is still set to be lie in state in St Peter's Basilica before his funeral. Last year, the second edition of the 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis' ('Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff') updated the rites originally approved by Pope John Paul. Instead of resting on a catafalque in St Peter's during the lying-in-state period, Francis's body will lie in his coffin, which will remain open until the night before his funeral, Vatican News reported. And Francis's death will be ritually verified in his bedroom, rather than in his private chapel. The rites also state that he will be placed inside his coffin before being carried into St Peter's. JD Vance has paid emotional tribute to the Pope following his death just hours after the Vice President's awkward encounter with the Pontiff. Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic church, died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced Monday. As Catholic faithfuls gather around the globe to mourn the death of the Pope, the US Vice President has taken to X to pay tribute to Francis following the news of his death. 'I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,' he wrote. 'I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. 'It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul'. It comes after Vance met Francis at the Vatican on Easter Sunday as he attempted to mend his rocky relationship with the Pontiff. But the 88-year-old Pontiff and Vance had an awkward exchange after Francis slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants. JD Vance (pictured left) tried to mend his rocky relationship with Pope Francis (pictured right) at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the leader of the Catholic church slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants Vance took to X to pay tribute to the late Pope Francis It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher. The Vatican said the meeting between the vice president and the Holy Father was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. Vance and the Pope tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy. The pope offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Vance's three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. 'I know you have not been feeling great but it's good to see you in better health,' Vance told the Pope. 'Thank you for seeing me.' Vances motorcade entered Vatican City through a side gate while Easter Mass was being celebrated in St. Peters Square. Francis had delegated the celebration of the Mass to another cardinal. The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the Domus Santa Marta 'to exchange Easter greetings.' Vance's office said the vice president 'expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for inviting him to meet on Easter Sunday and for the hospitality the Vatican has extended to his family.' 'I pray for you every day,' Vance said as he bid Francis farewell. 'God bless you.' In all, Vances motorcade was on Vatican territory for 17 minutes. Vance, center, his wife Usha and their children, Vivek, left, and Maribel, back to camera, arrive at the Basilica of Saint Paul The vice president later joined his family for Easter Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four pontifical basilicas in Rome. The Vances visited the tomb of the apostle St. Paul that is said to be located there. Just days before he was hospitalised in February, Francis blasted the deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance acknowledged Francis criticism but has said he will continue to defend his views. During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance didnt address the issue specifically but called himself a 'baby Catholic' and acknowledged there are 'things about the faith that I dont know.' Vance met Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. The vice presidents office said he and Parolin 'discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trumps commitment to restoring world peace.' Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher The Vatican, for its part, said there was an 'exchange of opinions' including over migrants and refugees and current conflicts. The Holy See responded cautiously to the Trump administration while seeking to continue productive relations in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality. It expressed alarm over the administration's crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Vance spent Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peter's Basilica on Friday after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. The vice president, who converted in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement often called 'postliberal', which is viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings. Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. US Vice President JD Vance, his wife second lady Usha Vance and their children attend Mass on Good Friday at St. Peter's Basilica on April 18 They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched 'elites' with their own and acting upon their vision of the 'common good.' Just days before he was hospitalised in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration's deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance had defended the administration's America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as 'ordo amoris.' He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care - to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere. In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance's understanding of the concept. 'Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,' he wrote. Pope Francis leaves after a private visit at the 'Regina Coeli' prison where he met around 70 inmates as part of the Holy Thursday celebrations in Rome JD Vance prays during the Good Friday Passion of the Lord service in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 18 'The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.' Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican's statement issued today which said the talks were cordial and expressed satisfaction with the Trump administration's commitment to protecting freedom of religion and conscience. 'There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners,' the statement said. 'Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.' The reference to 'serene collaboration' appeared to refer to Vance's accusation that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was resettling 'illegal immigrants' in order to get federal funding. Senior US cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton have led the outpouring of emotional tributes from Australia following the death of Pope Francis. The Pope died on Monday, aged 88, after battling a recent serious bout of double pneumonia. More than 5.1 million Aussies, or 20 per cent of the population, identify as Catholic, according to the 2021 Census. The Prime Minister spent Monday campaigning in Melbourne before heading St Patrick's Cathedral to address the nation on would be a 'very difficult evening' for Australian Catholics. A solemn Mr Albanese took a drink of water to compose himself before beginning his emotional tribute to the 266th pontiff, who was the first Pope from the southern hemisphere. 'For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and loving father,' he said. 'He was truly inspirational.' 'The memory and example of his compassion will long endure as we mourn his death. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was emotional as he paid tribute to Pope Francis in Melbourne on Monday night Pope Francis (pictured leaving hospital on March 23) died on Monday aged 88 'We celebrate the gift of his life and presence among us and we hold on to the resonant truth of Pope Francis' final Easter homily: 'The light quietly shines forth even though we are in darkness. The promise of new life and a world finally set free awaits us, and a new beginning, however impossible it might seem, can take us by surprise, for Christ has triumphed over death'. 'May God welcome Pope Francis to eternal life.' Mr Albanese added that all flags at Parliament House will fly at half-mast on Tuesday as a sign of respect. 'My sincere condolences to everyone for tonight. It will be a very difficult evening,' he said. Mr Dutton also addressed the nation on Monday night. 'His Holiness Pope Francis served God with the utmost devotion throughout his life,' he said. 'He lived frugally and simply above all else. He was driven by Christ's values of mercy and forgiveness. 'He emphasised those values in his last Christmas address, saying, and I quote, 'God's mercy can do all things. It unties every knot. It tears down every wall of division. God's mercy dispels hatred and the spirit of revenge with God.' 'May Pope Francis rest in peace.' With God, may Pope Francis rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/6Wa6AmbyRb Peter Dutton (@Hon_PeterDutton) April 21, 2025 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Monsignor Stuart Hall leave St Patrick's Cathedral after paying their respects to Pope Francis following his death Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Reverend Anthony Fisher hailed him as a Pope of many firsts. As priest, bishop and pope, he embodied Christs command to care for all people, especially the most vulnerable,' he said in a statement. He was a Pope of many firsts. He was the first to take the name Francis, the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European pontiff in more than a millennium.' Reverend Fisher also recalled their last conversation just days ago and a heartwarming encounter three years ago that he will never forget. 'My most recent communication with him was only last week when I got a letter from him appointing me to another job in Rome,' he told the ABC. 'I always found him a very easy to talk to, very informal, rather like an Australian in that respect.' 'One particular memory I have was when I went to Rome for a meeting when I had just buried my mother, and I was there the following week for a meeting. 'When I went to shake his hand in the line of people meeting him, he immediately said to me, 'my condolences on the death of your mum.' 'That he knew that she had died and that he cared, was really quite remarkable.' Jorge Mario Bergoglio ascended to become the Supreme Pontiff in 2013, making him the first Pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit Pope, and the first Pope from the southern hemisphere since early Christianity. He was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Mario, an accountant and Regina, a stay-at-home wife. Both were Italian immigrants, with Francis graduating as a chemical technician before choosing the path of the priesthood. Throughout his 12-year tenure, Pope Francis was lauded for his simplicity, humility, warmth and his concern for the poor and those pushed to the edges. His papacy has centred on themes of social justice, including calling attention to people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants, and the need to care for creation, Australian Catholic University lecturer Sandie Cornish said. 'He's been very much a person who values face-to-face, embodied encounter, not talking about these issues in the abstract, but remembering the faces of the people who experience these issues,' she told AAP. Mr Albanese described Pope Francis as a devoted champion and loving father for millions of Australian Catholics Pope Francis has revitalised Catholic teaching and presided over a 'paradigm shift' in his focus on the environment. 'The freshness of the way he speaks about church teachings, even when he is reiterating the same teaching of previous Popes, has attracted people who previously weren't inclined to listen,' Dr Cornish said. In addition to these progressive shifts, the Pope has made structural changes to the Vatican's leadership by appointing women to key positions and changing rules to allow lay people to head up departments. While Pope Francis wasn't considered to have done a perfect job in contending with sexually abusive priests' crimes, Dr Cornish believes he will be remembered as someone who tried to address the issue. 'Each pope is elected for a particular time,' Dr Cornish said. 'Francis has very much been the perfect Pope for this time, as we're facing tipping points in the viability of the planet and his ability to speak in a very simple way to people ... like an Argentinian pastor, has been really helpful.' Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said the sad news did not come as a surprise given the Pope's age and declining health but would be received with great sadness by Catholics and people of good will all over the world. 'The 12 years of the papacy of Pope Francis were not without controversy,' Archbishop Costelloe said. 'His constant call that the Church should be open to everybody caused some to fear that he was putting at risk the integrity of the Church's faith and moral teaching.' Cardinal Mykola Bychok, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul, will be the sole attendee from Australia at the conclave. The stunning Ecuadorian rain forest region where a man was lynched and burnt alive by a mob on Easter Sunday is a notoriously dangerous haven for drug cartels on the Colombian border. A crowd reportedly attacked the man, who has been identified in local reports as a British national, and torched him after storming a police station where he had been taken into custody for an alleged shooting. Ecuadorian newspaper Ecuavisa said the horror killing happened in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in Ecuador's Amazon region, which is a popular eco-tourism area. It is the second largest reserve of the South American country's 56 national parks and protected areas, and is located in the Putamayo Canton in Sucumbios Province. Violence in the Amazonian province where the lynching reportedly happened has dramatically escalated as gangs demonstrate their brutal influence, leaving behind bullet-ridden and tied up bodies, with victims often showing signs of torture. Local authorities declared a state of emergency last year after 159 people were killed in Sucumbios alone, a nearly 70 per cent increase in violent deaths in the region, most of which police say are gang-related as the groups battle for territory. The Foreign Office warns against 'all but essential travel' to scenic areas around the Ecuador-Colombia border like the Sucumbios province 'due to the presence of organised crime linked to the production and trafficking of drugs'. The armed gangs in these areas are known for kidnapping tourists, like a British woman and her friend, who were abducted while canoeing in the Cuyabeno nature reserve in 2012 before being rescued by local military. Do you know what happened to the man who was reportedly lynched? Email: miriam.kuepper@mailonline.co.uk A picture of the reportedly British man when he was in police custody. His identity has been obscured pending formal identification Ecuadorian newspaper Ecuavisa said the horror killing happened in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (pictured) in Ecuador's Amazon region, which is a popular eco-tourism area Violence in the Amazonian province where the lynching reportedly happened has dramatically escalated as gangs demonstrate their brutal influence, leaving behind bullet-ridden and tied up bodies, with victims often showing signs of torture. Pictured above are two victims who were shot dead in the Sucumbios province The Foreign Office warns against 'all but essential travel' to scenic areas around the Ecuador-Colombia border like the Sucumbios province 'due to the presence of organised crime linked to the production and trafficking of drugs' Your browser does not support iframes. Briton Kathryn Cox, 23, and Australian Fiona Wilde, 32, were snatched at gunpoint by a gang of kidnappers in Cuyabeno nature reserve in 2012. The pair were dragged away from the river into the jungle where they were robbed. The women were rescued following an operation involving more than 100 soldiers, police and park rangers after a farmer heard their cries for help and notified authorities. Latin America has for decades been synonymous with the drug trade thanks to ruthless cartels and criminal gangs whose power and brutality cannot by tamed by the government or the armed forces. Some countries like Ecuador had managed to remain relatively peaceful for decades, despite bordering the notorious cocaine hotspots of Colombia and Peru. But the coastal nation has seen murder rates soar in recent years as drug lords and criminal masterminds dug their hooks into fresh territory and exploited its ports for maximum profit. In 2020, Mexico - the world-renowned epicentre of sicario savagery - had a murder rate was 29 per 100,000 people with Colombia trailing close behind at 26.8. Ecuador sat at a comparatively minuscule 7.7. Three years on, Ecuador's murder rate had shot up to a horrifying 44.5 per 100,000 people - far outstripping both Mexico and Colombia to become the murder capital of Latin America. Gangland shootouts now commonly rock the streets - particularly in the bustling port of Guayaquil and Esmeraldas, where the crime rate and incidences of violence have skyrocketed. On the banks of the scenic Napo River in the Amazon, gangs are battling over territory A man who was violently killed in the Sucumbios province is pictured above. His body was found ridden by bullets Ecuador police officers are pictured above at the scene of an assassination in the Sucumbios region A trio of severed heads are found wrapped in black bags after a cartel killing spree A mutilated body hangs from a bridge in Ecuador The bullet-riddled corpse of one victim of a cartel shootout lies sprawled on the deck of a blood-soaked boat in the port town of Porsorja Ecuador's National Police presents individuals detained during a police operation following gang clashes that resulted in multiple victims, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in this handout photo distributed on March 7, 2025 Your browser does not support iframes. In March, 22 people were killed in a bitter gun battle in Guayaquil's northern neighbourhood of Nueva Prosperina as members of the infamous Los Tiguerones syndicate carried out a hit on a rival group. Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, who last weekend won re-election, has vowed to crack down on the criminal gangs tearing the nation apart. But despite a range of drastic steps, including declaring a state of emergency and mobilising the military to fight the cartels in January 2024, the gang violence shows few signs of abating, making the life of law enforcement officers a living hell. Now, unsatisfied with simply shooting their targets dead, Los Tiguerones - and other groups like Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as well as foreign gangs surging into Ecuador - are developing their own signature methods to mark their territory and warn anyone who would dare try to stand in their way. From cutting out the hearts of their rivals to hanging their prey from bridges in medieval-style public executions, Ecuadorian gangs use a variety of tactics to display their dominance. It is not yet known whether gangs played a role in the alleged lynching of the man, widely reported to be 'English', who was said to be held by uniformed officers on suspicion of shooting a local man dead. Six hours after the man's arrest, a crowd stormed the police station, dragged him onto the street and and set him alight in front of officers who said they were afraid to intervene. The British national is said to have been handed over to police by locals around 6am local time on Sunday before being murdered just after midday. A blood-soaked head is found in a bag alongside a hand-written warning message, seemingly from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in the Ecuadorian city of Esmeraldas People look at the body of a woman found in the neighborhood where at least 22 people were killed in Guayaquil in February A bag of human remains was found having fallen from a rope suspending it from a bridge in the city of Quevedo Victims are tortured and killed by the drug gangs before being left to rot in shallow graves. A trio of young women, including one teenager, met the very same fate two years ago this month A man who is said to be British is alleged to have been lynched in Ecuador after being linked to the shooting of a member of the local community (pictured: crowds gathered at what is thought to be the scene of the shooting) The victim of the shooting is taken from the scene Ecuadorian newspaper Extra reported officers who arrested him decided not to intervene when a baying mob forced their way into the police station ahead of his transfer out of the area. They stood back, the newspaper said, in order to avoid being attacked themselves and to avoid additional damage to state property. It said police reinforcements had taken time to reach the area because of its remoteness and difficult access. A local TV station, reporting on the two deaths, said: 'In the early hours of Sunday, April 20, in the parish of Playas de Cuyabeno, at the closure of an event that took place for the anniversary of the Kichwa community, an incident occurred where as a result two people died. 'Those two people were a community member from the area and another person of British nationality who died due to the severity of his burns.' The Ecuadorian man killed has been named locally as Rodrigo Chavez. A third man was reportedly arrested over the Briton's killing. Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo reported that police were yet to issue a statement, as they were still gathering information on the case. The late Pope Francis claimed he was 'living it as best' as he could just days before his death. The pontiff died today aged 88 after spending his final weeks in hospital with an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. A day before his death, the Pope emerged on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St Peter's Square. His appearance had been highly anticipated after he was discharged from hospital following five weeks of treatment last month. It was hoped that, following months of medical issues, the Pope's health had turned a corner. He performed one official engagement in Easter Week, visiting a jail in Rome, delegating other duties to his cardinals. He also made a brief appearance inside the basilica on Saturday, where he prayed and gave candies to some children among the visitors. Asked about how he felt in his current condition, he told a reporter last week: 'I am living it as best I can.' Pope Francis at the main balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations this year Pope Francis is helped to drink water during the Urbi et Orbi Message to the World at the central Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, on April 20, 2025 The pontiff died today aged 88 after spending his final weeks in hospital with an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs A woman reacts after the death of Pope Francis was announced by the Vatican Despite several previous health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline, the pontiff had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks. In September 2024, he carried out a 12-day tour across south-east Asia and Oceania that included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. When he was discharged from hospital, his doctors had said he would need at least two months of rest at his residence. The pontiff had presented 'two very critical episodes' where his 'life was in danger' while in hospital, according to one of the doctors who took care of him. But he appeared keen not to be confined to his rooms at the Casa Santa Maria. The late figure made surprise appearances at the end of Masses and visits to St Peter's Basilica amid hope that his condition was improving. In the last week of his life, he appeared in public twice without the nasal cannula through which he has been receiving oxygen. Yesterday he met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance a Catholic convert who was received into the church in 2019. 'The meeting, which lasted a few minutes, gave the opportunity to exchange greetings on Easter Sunday', the Vatican said. When he was discharged from hospital, his doctors had said he would need at least two months of rest at his residence The late figure made surprise appearances at the end of Masses and visits to St Peter's Basilica amid hope that his condition was improving Pope Francis greets the faithful at the end of the Easter Mass celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Comastri to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus 35,000 people gathered yesterday in front of St Peter's Basilica in the hope of catching a glimpse of Pope Francis His Easter blessing was delivered by a clergy member as the pontiff sat alongside him. Given his delicate health, it had not been certain whether the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics would be presen at all. It said: 'There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others. 'What a great thirst for death, for killing we see in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world.' He also remembered the people of Gaza, particularly its Christian population, as the conflict 'causes death and destruction' and creates a 'deplorable humanitarian situation'. The message added: 'I express my closeness to the sufferings... for all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. 'Call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.' 35,000 people gathered yesterday in front of St Peter's Basilica in the hope of catching a glimpse of Pope Francis. King Charles has joined world leaders in paying tribute to Pope Francis after the head of the Catholic Church died at the age of 88. His Majesty said he was 'deeply saddened' to learn of the Pope's passing earlier this morning in the Vatican City. He said Francis, who was the first Latin American pope, would be 'remembered for his compassion' and had 'profoundly touched the lives of so many'. Pope Francis's death came just weeks after King Charles and Queen Camilla met His Eminence in Rome during a royal visit to Italy, with His Majesty saying the couple were 'greatly moved to have been able to visit him'. The Pontiff had spent the last couple of months battling health problems, including a bout of pneumonia which left him hospitalised. He had recovered enough to hold a private audience with the pair on April 9, and he had been seen at public events over the Easter weekend, while also meeting US Vice President JD Vance in recent days. However, it was announced early on Easter Monday that he had passed away, sending more than a billion Catholics worldwide into mourning. King Charles and Queen Camilla have a private meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican City on April 9 this year Charles met with Pope Francis when he was the Prince of Wales during a trip to the Vatican in April 2017 The Pontiff had been seen sipping on water through a straw on the balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday The Pope looks out on thousands of people who gathered outside St Peter's basilica for Easter Sunday mass yesterday In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Charles said: 'My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. 'Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. 'His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. 'His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. 'Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. 'The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. 'We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.' When they met earlier this month, they did so as the heads of two of the largest denominations of Christianity, and eight years after their previous meeting in Rome in 2017. Pope Francis pictured smiling and waving to crowds in Ajaccio, the capital of the French island of Corsica, during a visit in December In a statement released this morning, King Charles paid tribute to the Pope's 'compassion' and 'devotion' to the church Pope Francis had met with US Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday, just hours before his death The Pope, who was wheelchair-bound for the last months of his life, met Vance at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican City on Easter Sunday Just one day before his death the Pope had met with US Vice President JD Vance, and offered large chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children, who did not attend. The Pontiff had not given Vance an audience on Friday, officially out of caution over his health situation. Upon the news of his passing, Vance said His Eminence had been 'very ill' during their meeting on Easter Sunday. In a statement posted on X, he wrote: 'I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. 'I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. 'May God rest his soul.' The White House published a pithy statement on X, saying: 'Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.' He was joined in remembrance of the late pontiff by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who said Francis was a 'pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten'. He said: 'I join millions around the world in grieving the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. 'His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility. Pope Francis wipes his brow as he appears on the balcony of St Peter's basilica yesterday His Eminence was helped in and out of his robes as he made the public appearance just one day before his passing Georgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, said Francis had been a good friend to her. Here they are pictured together during the G7 summit in June last year Pope Francis and Georgia Meloni wave to the crowd at the G7 summit in Puglia, Italy, in June last year 'Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost hope of a better world. 'That hope was as the heart of his papacy. His determination to visibly live out his faith inspired people across the world to see afresh the church's teachings of mercy and charity. 'With his death, we are reminded once more of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs. 'My thoughts are with Catholics across the world, and the Roman Catholic church. May His Holiness Rest in Peace.' Georgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, said the Pope had been a good friend to her and done his duty to the end. 'The Pope and I had a more active relationship than was apparent. It went well beyond our respective institutional roles,' she told Italian state broadcaster RAI. 'We've met many times, even just to exchange opinions. He was able to give comfort in very difficult moments, I have many memories of the Pope,' she added in a broken voice. The 88-year-old pontiff died on Monday a day after his first prolonged public appearance since being discharged on March 23 from a lengthy hospital stay for pneumonia. A woman is moved to tears in St Peter's Square after the news of the Pontiff's death becomes public knowledge Catholics bow their heads as they gather at St Peter's Square on Easter Monday following the death of Pope Francis Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with Pope Francis during a meeting at the Vatican in May 2023 President Zelensky smiles as he and the Pontiff shake hands during a later meeting at a G7 summit in June last year 'The fact he's leaving on Easter Monday, it's like he wanted to do his duty until the very end,' Meloni added, saying he had appeared fatigued at their most recent meeting. She said the Pope kept in a drawer some artwork her daughter had made for him. She was also proud of convincing him to become the first pontiff to address a Group of Seven summit in 2024. 'We say goodbye to the Holy Father with a heart full of sadness,' she added in an official statement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with the Pope multiple times following the Russian invasion of his country, said he was grateful for his efforts to help his nation. Sharing an image of his meeting with the Pontiff from May 2023, he wrote: 'Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis's passing. 'His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church. He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. 'We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory!' Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the late Pope as a 'defender' of 'humanism and justice', and praised his efforts to promote dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. Pope Francis frees doves at Istanbul's Holy Spirit Cathedral during a trip to Turkey in 2014 Vladimir Putin receives an audience with Pope Francis during a visit to Italy in July 2019 Putin said Francis, who died on Monday, was a 'wise' religious leader, 'statesman' and 'consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice', in a letter to the Vatican published by the Kremlin. 'During all the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See,' Putin added. The Kremlin leader had met the pope three times - in 2013, 2015, and 2019. They held a phone call in December 2021, but had not spoken since then after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine just weeks later. French President Emmanuel Macron said: 'Throughout his pontificate Pope Francis had always sided with the most vulnerable and the most fragile, and that he did this with a lot of humility. In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile.' This was echoed by Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, who said he was a 'man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world'. 'I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages (in Gaza) will soon be answered,' Herzog said on X. Francis had used his final Easter sermon to call for an end to the 'many conflicts raging in different parts of our world' and pray that 'in this Jubilee year, may Easter also be a fitting occasion for the liberation of prisoners of war and political prisoners!' In his Easter blessing he made a direct appeal to 'all those in positions of political responsibility' to use 'weapons of peace' to stop 'sowing seeds of death'. He criticised the 'great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day', violence directed at women and children, and the 'contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalised, and migrants!' 'On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!' the Pope said, adding: 'I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible!' He specifically prayed for those impacted by conflicts around the world, including those in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, several communities in the Middle East and Africa, and more. Javier Milei, President of Argentina, the nation where Pope Francis was born and raised, wrote on X: 'It is with profound sorrow that I learned this sad morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace. 'Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honour for me.' Clergy members stand in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican after the news broke, on April 21 Worshippers gather by the Stone of Anointing, after the death of Pope Francis was announced, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 21, 2025 People pray at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral following the announcement People sit in Westminster Cathedral in Victoria, London, following news of the Pope's death Your browser does not support iframes. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the world had lost an 'advocate for the weak' with his passing this morning. He wrote on X: 'With the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person. 'I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face. My sympathies go out to the religious community worldwide.' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the late Pontiff was a 'beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage' for millions around the world. He said: 'He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace.' At Westminster Cathedral worshippers who gathered for Easter Monday service were left bereft at the loss of the head of their church. Gergio Almeida, Milton Keynes, had travelled down the cathedral this morning where he discovered the news. He told MailOnline: 'It was a big shock. I found out when I got here first thing. Now I am shaking, it is a huge shock as a Catholic and for the whole Catholic community. 'He is a big loss for us. Even though we know his health had not been so good it still feels sudden, and we are devastated. 'Yesterday we saw him speaking on Easter Sunday so we thought he's going to be alright, he will be okay. But just a few hours later we have this devastating news. 'He was one of the greatest leaders we have had. He stuck to his beliefs and tried to bring different religions together, particularly in Africa.' Richard and Janis Schlitt, on their honeymoon from Florida, had not heard of the news when they visited Westminster Cathedral this morning. Mr Schlitt previously worked in security for Pope Francis when he attended world youth day. He said: 'Pope Francis was a special person. The youth loved him and loved to be around him. 'He had been sick but it is so sad. We were just here visiting the church. 'I think he was going to bring us into new hope. He went everywhere - whenever there was a problem he went there. 'He wasn't afraid of danger and thought it was important to be with his people. He was a Pope for everyone, for the normal people too. 'I don't know what is going to happen with the Church but they have a few options. We need a Pope with a lot of energy.' A worshipper pays her respects to Pope Francis at Westminster Cathedral in London after news of his death this morning A woman prays in Westminster Cathedral hours after the death of Pope Francis in Rome A nun kneels and prays at Westminster Cathedral on Easter Monday as she pays her respects to the Pontiff A woman lights a candle ahead of mass at Westminster Cathedral on Easter Monday, as more than a billion Catholics mourn the death of Pope Francis Worshippers pray on front of a picture of Pope Francis at Westminster Cathedral this morning Miriam Wilson, who travelled from Hampton to Westminster Cathedral to pay her respects as soon as she heard the news, said: 'When I heard of the Pope's passing, I immediately decided to come and pay my respects. 'I am extremely sad from the bottom of my heart. He was a wonderful person, and he was an inspiration for me, and to the world. 'He had an amazing life and an amazing influence on hundreds of millions of people. 'Just yesterday we saw the videos of him and the message he gave so it is unbelievable that the next day he has passed. I am really sad. 'He had such a will to live and work until the last moment. Not many people have that stamina to stay. I don't know if he knew the end was approaching but he worked until the last moment.' Jonathan Bradley, a member of the congregation said: 'It is very sad. I am only very recently Catholic, in the last two years, and he was a very inspiring bloke. 'For me it was all the little things he did, for example phoning the church in Gaza every night. 'There was another time recently where art restorers were in the Vatican and they turned around and the Pope was there to thank them.' Sister's of Mercy, Sister Angela Moroney and Sister Margareta Cunningham, both 86, were amongst those mourners gathered for the midday service. Sister Moroney said: 'We are very sad at the suddenness of his death, even though we had expected it for some time. 'His appearance yesterday had given some hope to people so this morning it came as a terrible shock. May he rest in peace. 'He (Jesus) sufferer and died for us and I think Pope Francis has suffered and died for us too. 'It is a shame we didn't see more of him and more of the changes he wanted for the church and the people. 'We need to appreciate what he has done for the world.' Pope Francis had wished a 'Happy Easter to everyone' in his final poignant act of devotion that saw him heavily supported by his aides. Francis, who died today aged 88, delighted the crowd of 35,000 faithful at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peter's Basilica. But the pontiff, appearing weary and fatigued, needed help from his aides while he sat on the balcony and watched as Archbishop Diego Ravelli read his Easter blessing to the large crowd. Pope Francis tours St. Peter's Square in his popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi Pope Francis blessed babies as he was driven through St Peter's Square yesterday Just 20 hours before the Vatican announced his passing, Francis took to social media to commemorate the highest holiday in Catholicism Aides were seen adjusting his papal robes and helping Francis drink water through a straw as the blessing was delivered. He didn't celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza yesterday and instead delegated it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica. Francis left hospital under 'protected discharge' on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year. Just 20 hours before the Vatican announced his passing, Francis took to social media to commemorate the highest holiday in Catholicism. 'Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life,' he tweeted, also sharing his full Urbi et Orbi blessing, which his aide had read aloud at at Saint Peter's Basilica. Francis spent his final hours with faithful, emerging to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday and touring the piazza in the Popemobile to wild cheers and applause after being discharged from hospital only last month. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today. 'Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,' Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican. 'This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church. Some 35,000 people turned out to cheer on the ailing Pope at St. Peter's Square yesterday Thousands of faithful crowded around the Pope mobile to catch a glimpse of the pontiff 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.' Francis's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica during an official mourning period, and then - in contrast to most of his predecessors - he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood. His death sets in motion centuries-old traditions that will culminate in the gathering of a conclave of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor. The Conclave will not happen for at least 15 days. In the meantime, the day-to-day running of the tiny Vatican City state will be handled by the camerlengo, a senior cardinal, currently Dublin-born Kevin Farrell. King Charles and Queen Camilla had a 'very significant and special' secret meeting with Pope Francis, less than a fortnight before he died. The couple's historic state visit to the Vatican earlier this month was cancelled because of the Pope's poor health, but the pair managed to meet the head of the Roman Catholic Church privately during their trip to Italy. The Vatican subsequently released a striking image of Charles and Camilla shaking hands with the ailing pontiff. The King today spoke of his and the Queen's 'deep sadness' over the death of the Pope, but recalled with fondness their most recent meeting. In a personal note, Charles wrote: 'Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. 'His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. 'His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. 'The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.' King Charles and Queen Camilla met Pope Francis at the Vatican this month Charles and Camilla previously spoke with the Pope in April 2017 (pictured) The King and Queen visited the Italian Parliament in Rome earlier this month Signing the letter 'Charles R', the King added: 'We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.' The meeting between the royal pair and the Pope was arranged at the last minute and took place on April 9 - Charles and Camilla's 20th wedding anniversary - with Pope Francis wanting to personally wish them a happy anniversary. Charles and the Pope are understood to have wished each other well following their personal health battles in recent months, including the King's cancer treatment. Buckingham Palace issued a photograph of the meeting on social media, with a post saying: 'Che occasione speciale! 'A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday. 'The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Popes kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their best wishes to him in person.' Ths followed a statement in which the Holy See Press Office stated: 'Pope Francis met privately with Their Majesties, King Charles and Queen Camilla, this afternoon. 'In the course of the meeting, the Pope expressed his best wishes to Their Majesties on the occasion of their wedding anniversary and reciprocated His Majesty's wishes for a speedy recovery of his health.' King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive for the State Banquet at the Palazzo Quirinale in Rome Queen Camilla rewears her wedding outfit to celebrate her 20th anniversary with King Charles A senior Palace official said afterwards: 'I think outside of the official programme, the most significant and indeed moving thing was that visit to the Pope. 'We didn't know until the last minute that it would be possible. But when the Pope asked if he could see the King and Queen, Their Majesties were clearly very pleased; after all, they have known him over many years and with the rest of the world, have been praying for his recovery. 'The Pope wanted personally to wish them a happy anniversary, not least because it hadn't been possible to do the state visit on this occasion. 'Their Majesties both came away feeling that it had been a very significant and special moment.' Twenty years ago, Charles and Camilla's marriage ceremony was postponed with just four days to go following the death of Pope John Paul II. The then-Prince of Wales put duty first and his wedding date was moved from April 8 to April 9 2005 because it clashed with the pope's funeral. Charles represented the late Queen by travelling to Rome to attend the service, alongside more than 100 world leaders and ended up shaking hands with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. The then-archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who was due to conduct the prince's blessing in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after his civil ceremony had made it clear he wished to break with tradition and attend the pope's funeral. King Charles and Queen Camilla during their visit to the Senate of the Republic in Italy Pope Francis waves to faithfuls after delivering the Christmas Day message from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, on December 25 2013 The 24-hour postponement of the royal wedding from the Friday to the Saturday meant the civil wedding had to be slotted in ahead of three other weddings already taking place at the Guildhall in Windsor. The King met Pope Francis twice as the Prince of Wales, but the visit in April was his first as monarch and head of the Church of England. The pair are said to have had huge respect for one another. When Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, the Pope sent his 'heartfelt condolences' to Charles, the new sovereign, in a telegram. He said he joined all in mourning her loss and paid tribute to 'her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith'. The late Queen met Pope Francis in 2014 at the Vatican, when he gave her eight-month-old great-grandson Prince George a lapis lazuli orb decorated with a silver cross of Edward the Confessor, the 11th century English king who was made a saint. The Queen gave the Pope a hamper full of produce from royal estates including honey from Buckingham Palace and Balmoral whiskey. Charles and Pope Francis first met in 2017, when the prince and Camilla were received at a papal audience in the Vatican at the end of a European tour. The Pope urged Charles to work to bring peace in the world, telling him 'Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace', with the prince replying 'I'll do my best'. They exchanged gifts, with the prince giving the pontiff a large hamper of produce from his Highgrove estate for the poor and the homeless and framed photographs of himself and his wife. The Pope presented him with a bronze olive branch, signifying peace, and copies of his writings on climate change bound in red leather and other papal writings. Francis's reputation as a pope with the 'common touch' and a taste for simple living saw him dispense with some of the formality and trappings of his position. In keeping with the relaxed nature of the meeting, Camilla did not wear black or a mantilla, a lace veil, in 2017 as she did when the royal couple met Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, but opted for a gold silk Anna Valentine dress. But both the King and Queen were dressed in black as a traditional mark of respect when they met the Pope in April. In 2019, Charles travelled solo to the Vatican and met Pope Francis ahead of the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman at an open-air mass in St Peter's Square. The King is Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The role dates back to Henry VIII, who named himself Supreme Head of the Church of England after he was excommunicated by the pope, Pope Paul III, and broke from the Catholic Church in the 16th century to marry Anne Boleyn. A nine-day mourning period will begin in honour of Francis, with his funeral in around four to six days' time after his body lies in state in St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Italy also usually declares a period of national mourning. Two to three weeks later, the conclave to elect a new pope convenes, with the College of Cardinals locked inside the Sistine Chapel to vote in secret four times a day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority, with a white smoke signal released through a chimney to announce a pope has been chosen. Pope Francis's death will mark a significant break from traditional papal funerals - including how he will become the first pontiff to be buried outside of the Vatican in more than a century. The pontiff's death at 88 was announced by the Vatican on Easter Monday, two months after he was admitted to hospital with an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs and then kidney failure. His death, which comes after 12 years as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has plunged the world's 1.4billion Catholics into mourning and sets into motion the centuries-old process of electing a new Pope. There will now be nine days of official mourning, but the historic process of the conclave where cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose who will be the next pope - will not begin for at least 15 days from today. Although a papal funeral has traditionally been an elaborate affair, Pope Francis made the decision ahead of his death to approve plans to make it less complex. While previous pontiffs, including the late Pope Benedict, have been buried in the traditional triple coffins made of cypress, lead and oak, Francis instead chose a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc. The tradition of the Pope's body being placed on a catafalque inside St Peter's Basilica for the world to pay its respects has also been scrapped. Francis' body will instead remain inside the coffin, with the lid removed, with mourners invited to pay their respects. Pope Francis on the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations yesterday Some 35,000 people turned out to cheer on the ailing Pope at St. Peter's Square yesterday Your browser does not support iframes. The late pontiff will also become the first Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican. He will instead be laid to rest in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood, rather than in the grottoes beneath St Peter's, which houses the tombs of around 90 popes. Pope Francis dead: What happens next? The rituals mark the end of one papacy and the start of the next: The pope's camerlengo (chamberlain), Cardinal Kevin Farrell, officially confirms the death. He then seals the pope's private apartment and prepares the funeral. The camerlengo and three assistants decide when the pope's coffin will be taken into St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. They also make sure the pope's 'Fisherman's Ring' and his lead seal are broken so they cannot be used by anyone else. No autopsy is performed. Mourning rites last nine days, with the date of the funeral and burial to be decided by the cardinals. The funeral would normally be held four to six days after the death, in St. Peter's Square. Francis had said that unlike many predecessors, he would not be laid to rest in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, but in Rome's St. Mary Major Basilica. He also asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket. The College of Cardinals oversees day-to-day business during the interregnum. They have limited power and much of the central Church administration grinds to a halt. The conclave to elect a new pope starts in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel between 15 and 20 days after the death. The cardinals, who are confined to the Vatican for the duration of the conclave, decide the exact day. All cardinals under the age of 80 can take part in the secret ballot. They need a majority of at least two-thirds plus one to elect the new pope, so the voting can take several rounds spread over numerous days. When the election is concluded, the new pope is asked if he accepts and what name he wishes to take. The world learns a pope has been elected when an official burns the paper ballots with special chemicals to make white smoke pour from the chapel's chimney. They use other chemicals to make black smoke indicating an inconclusive vote. The dean of the College of Cardinals steps onto the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to announce 'Habemus Papam' (We have a pope). The new pope then appears and gives the crowd in the square his blessing. Advertisement The last Pope to be buried outside St Peter's was Leo XIII (1878-1903) who was interred in the Basilica of St John Lateran, which is the church for the Bishop of Rome. As a result, 22 other Popes are also buried here while another four are also resting at the Basilica of St Lawrence Outside the Walls. These include Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878), St Zosimus (417-418), St Sixtus III (432-440), St Hilary (461-468) and Damasus II (1037-1048). Five other Popes are buried at Santa Maria Maggiore and these include Pius V (1566-1572, Sixtus V, (1585-1590), Clement XIII ( 1758-1769), Paul V (1605-1621) and Clement IX (1667-1669). Meanwhile, the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls houses the tombs of St Felix III (483-492) and John XIII (965-972). Clement XIV (1769-1774) is buried in the Basilica of the Holy XII Apostles while Benedict XII (1724-1730) rests in the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. A basilica is a church which has special significance or privileges granted by the Pope - and the Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four major ones in Rome. Francis has made more than hundreds of visits to the fifth-century basilica, where he would pray in front a venerated image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. In his final years, the pontiff appeared to be making plans for his death, consecrating 21 new cardinals - including details for his funeral. When announcing plans to simplify his funeral, Francis told Mexican broadcaster N+ in 2023: 'I'll launch a new ritual.' The stripping back of the papal funeral procedure is intended to 'to emphasise even more that the Roman Pontiff's funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world', according to Monsignor Diego Ravelli, the master of liturgical ceremonies. It will come as no surprise to those who have followed Pope Francis' journey since the start of his papacy in March 2013, when he opted against living in the lavish Apostolic Palace and instead moved into a guest house on the Vatican grounds. He sought to project simplicity into the grand role and never took possession of the ornate papal apartments used by his predecessors, saying he preferred to live in a community setting for his 'psychological health'. Pope Francis previously presided the funeral of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who died in December 2022 after abdicating. Benedict's body lay in state in St Peter's Basilica from January 2 to January 4 2023, with around 195,000 mourners paying their respects. His funeral was attended by around 50,000 people. Benedict was among the previous popes to be buried in the traditional triple coffin made of cypress wood, zinc and oak. It was was unprecedented in modern times for a living pope to bury his predecessor. Announcing Pope Francis's death today, Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement: 'At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. 'His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. 'He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.' The Pope emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St Peter's Square in Vatican City. He had recently resumed some official duties during his recovery from pneumonia. He made his first public appearance since his bout of double pneumonia on April 6, when he appeared in St Peter's Square in a wheelchair during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick following his discharge from hospital two weeks previously. The King and Queen visited the pontiff at the Vatican on April 9, the day Charles and Camilla celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Popes are traditionally buried in the grottoes beneath St Peter's Basilica (pictured) in the Vatican But Pope Francis will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood In line with tradition, Pope Benedict lay in state inside St Peter's Basilica (above, January 2023) and was then buried in a crypt underneath the building Pope Francis blesses the coffin of Pope Benedict during his funeral on January 5 2023. Benedict was buried in the traditional triple coffin (pictured) but Francis will be buried in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell paid tribute to Francis, whom he described as 'witty, lively, good to be with'. He said in a statement: 'Pope Francis was acutely aware of the divisions between our churches and how they stand in the way of seeing Jesus Christ more fully. 'I remember the powerful work the Pope did with the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland in promoting peacebuilding in South Sudan. 'He was a listening Pope whose commitment to the principle and the process of synodality will be a permanent legacy to the Roman Catholic Church and to all of us. 'I remember, in the brief times I spent with him, how this holy man of God was also very human. He was witty, lively, good to be with, and the warmth of his personality and interest in others shone out from him. 'May he rest in peace and rise in glory.' This is the shocking moment an Asda shopper smashed a vegan protester's megaphone during a protest against eating Easter lamb. Protester Ella Wild was taking part in the demonstration inside the supermarket branch in Canterbury, Kent, when 'an angry man' grabbed her hailer, hurled it to the floor and stomped off. She was with a group gathered to warn shoppers of the way animals are killed for meat at Easter - and to protest the use of animal products like dairy and eggs. They were holding up screens showing footage of animal slaughter while Ms Wild spoke through the megaphone, when the man saw red. Astonishing footage uploaded to Ms Wild's Instagram page, called 'Vegan Fairy', shows him wordlessly snatching it from her as she was mid-sentence, talking about how animals are celebrated at Easter - yet also eaten. He uses force to yank it out her hands as she resists, knocking her to the side before throwing the megaphone to the floor, where it smashes into pieces. Her fellow protesters quickly run to her defence, with one shouting at the man as he goes to storm off, 'Hey, what is wrong with you? You're an idiot!'. They went on to continue protesting after the moment of violence. While some in the comments section said the group were in the wrong for being in the store, others described the man as a 'stereotypical meat headed, meat-eating man-atrocity'. Protester Ella Wild (centre) was taking part in the demonstration inside the supermarket branch in Canterbury, Kent, when 'an angry man' grabbed her hailer (pictured), hurled it to the floor and stomped off He uses force to yank it out her hands as she resists, knocking her to the side before throwing the megaphone to the floor (pictured), where it smashes into pieces While some in the comments section said the group were in the wrong for being in the store, others described the man as a 'stereotypical meat headed, meat-eating man-atrocity' In the clip, the man storms off after his moment of fury to the shock and bewilderment of shoppers - and even some Asda workers themselves - nearby. The person filming says, 'A violent person', as they follow the man with the camera as he walks away. Store staff and security then come over to talk to the protesters, while Ms Wild picks up the pieces of the broken megaphone. One protester says, 'We have a right to be here', as the group has a discussion with staff about contacting the police. Many who saw the footage on social media said the man was wrong for being so violent - but the group should not have been in the store protesting in the first place. One said: 'Don't agree with the man breaking the megaphone... but the staff should have kicked the protesters out because a megaphone in a store about what people eat is just ridiculous.' Ms Wild replied: 'It's a protest against animal cruelty.' Another person commented, 'Not needed in a store in my eyes', continuing: 'You should have been kicked out the moment you stepped in the store.' In the clip, the man storms off after his moment of fury (pictured) to the shock and bewilderment of shoppers - and even some Asda workers themselves - nearby Ms Wild responded to their remark too: 'You pay for it, so you should be fine with seeing it... 'The animals have to live it. If you don't want to see it, imagine what it's like for them, and they're just babies.' She added: 'We stayed and continued with our protest to raise awareness for the sentient beings harmed for meat, dairy and eggs.' Someone else said: 'Protesting is fine, but shouting and protesting is causing a ruckus to other customers. Do it outside.' Others were not so kind to the man who grabbed the speaker. One person said: 'Big brave bloke goes for girl with megaphone. The standard of what passes for a man these days is just effing pathetic. 'Whether you agree or disagree with the protest in question, attacking a girl is just the weakest of acts.' She was with a group (pictured) gathered to warn shoppers of the cruel way animals are killed for meat at Easter - and to protest the use of animal products like dairy and eggs Someone else replied, 'I mean that's 100 per cent criminal damage' - while another described him as a 'wimp'. Another said: 'Pretty much sums up a stereotypical meat-headed, meat-eating man-atrocity.' But there were some people in the comments section who felt the man had been provoked to his act of fury. 'You're using a megaphone to cause a loud disturbance in order to "raise awareness about animal cruelty"', one said. 'I'm vegetarian and I am proud to be, that wouldn't cause me to try and turn others away from their decision.' Another person added: 'Causing disruption is not going to help your cause, probably the opposite.' Someone else chimed in: 'I expect it was more about you shouting in his ear with a megaphone, you were less than arm's length away. 'You're silly if you didn't expect some sort of reaction.' Kent Police have been contacted for comment. Mark Carney has vowed to ramp up military spending by 17billion to guard against 'America's threats to our very sovereignty' if he wins next week's Canadian general election. The Prime Minister said his nation needed to 'prepare' for the coming years after US President Donald Trump made a series of threats to annex Canada. Carney, who became Prime Minister last month following the resignation of Justin Trudeau, looks set to win a majority amid a war of words with the US, according to the latest polls. His Liberal Party have enjoyed a significant uptick in support since Trump vowed to make Canada the 51st American state and imposed tariffs. Unlike other leaders of major nations, Carney has pushed back on Trump's thetoric, blaming the 47th President for a breakdown in US-Canada relations. Releasing the Liberal Party manifesto, the Prime Minister's tough stance on defending Canadian autonomy appeared to continue. 'In this crisis we have to prepare for America's threats to our very sovereignty,' he said in a speech in Ontario. 'They want our land, our resources, they want our water, they want our country. Carney, who became Prime Minister last month following the resignation of Justin Trudeau , looks set to win a majority amid a war of words with the US His Liberal Party have enjoyed a significant uptick in support since Trump vowed to make Canada the 51st American state 'President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us, and that will never happen,' Carney said 'President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us, and that will never happen. 'Canada is not America, and it never will be, but we need to do more to just recognise that. 'We need a plan to deal with this new reality.' He said he plans to increase defence spending by $30.9billion Canadian dollars - equivalent to 16.8billion - over the next four years. This will mean Canadian military spending - currently just 1.37 per cent of GDP - will far exceed the NATO target of two per cent. The White House has previously called on its Western allies to spend at least five per cent of GDP on defence, but this appears unrealistic for many countries. To balance the books, Carney said they would decrease spending within the federal public service - the equivalent of the civil service - by reducing the use of consultants. Much of the new spending will be used to bolster Canada's North, to deter the influence of China, which has been attempting to make inroads with Indigenous communities in the Arctic. Carney plans to increase defence spending to $30.9billion Canadian dollars - equivalent to 16.8billion - over the next four years Much of the new spending will be used to bolster Canada's North, to deter the influence of China, which has been attempting to make inroads with Indigenous communities in the Arctic Carney greets supporters during his Liberal Party election campaign tour at the Lusitania Portuguese Club of Ottawa in Nepean, Ontario 'The North faces existential threats as countries try to take advantage of new shipping routes opened by climate change, exploit our critical minerals, and encroach on our borders,' the plan says. 'We will keep Canada strong, free, and sovereign.' Meanwhile, half of the spending will go to new military equipment and weapons for the Canadian Armed Forces. This will include submarines and icrebeakers to protect coastlines against any possible Russian or Chinese aggression, and new drones. Carney has also pledged to diversify where it buys its military equipment. Last week he said: 'The priorities of the United States, once closely aligned with our own, have shifted. 'For too long, our military has been underfunded and overly reliant on the United States.' The party's manifesto also focuses on reducing Canada's reliance on trade with the US by making it easier for its own provinces to do business with each other. Almost two million Canadians voted on Friday in the first day of advanced polls in an election which will likely see the Liberals form a majority government Trump has vowed to make Canada the 51st State, infuriating millions of Canadians It also talks about boosting support for the agricultural sector and growing the auto sector's supply chain in Ontario to save jobs. Almost two million Canadians voted on Friday in the first day of advanced polls in an election which will likely see the Liberals form a majority government. They are on track to win 196 seats - far more than the 172 needed - with the Conservatives set to take 122. At the time of dissolution of the Parliament, the Liberal Party, which has been in power since 2015, held 153 seats. This is the terrifying moment a raging half-tonne bull burst through a barrier into a crowd of children during an Easter festival in Spain. Shocking footage of the incident was caught on camera at the ancient Toro del Aleluya festival in Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz province, on Saturday. During the celebrations, four Hallelujah Bulls are released to run the town's streets before being returned to their farms. The show causes great distress to the animals, though stops short of killing them in the bull ring - a supposed reflection of Christ's mercy. But when the first of them, called Infinito, was released from a transport crate, the furious animal charged at the crowd. Footage showed the bull wheeling around and charging into a flimsy barrier, collapsing it. Children brought down to the front by their parents for a better view are the first to be gored and tossed to the ground. As Infinito rampages through the crowd one woman filming the gruesome spectacle from her balcony screamed: 'The children, the children!' Shocking footage of the incident was caught on camera at the ancient Toro del Aleluya festival in Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz province, on Saturday Horrific scenes show the moment a group of children were attacked by the rampaging bull As more than 20 spectators were battered and trampled on the ground, more were crushed against barriers as hundreds tried to flee. Infinito finally returned to the parade route where one amateur matador with a pink cape led it away. Three people are said to have needed medical treatment for crush injuries and goring including a 60-year-old woman. City mayor Miguel Rodriguez insisted safety measures at the event had not been below standard. He said: 'It's not normal for this to happen, but in any bullring, boards can break or unforeseen events can occur.' Such bull runs are popular attractions across Spain. Residents will sometimes stand in the streets taunting the bull before diving out of the way at the last moment. Last year, a 60-year-old woman was knocked unconscious and later died after being gored by a rampaging bull while she was crossing a square. The woman reportedly suffered an injury to an armpit before she died while being rushed to hospital. As more than 20 spectators were battered and trampled on the ground, more were crushed against barriers as hundreds tried to flee The bull 'Infinito' crashed through the flimsy barrier and tore through the crowd The incident happened during an annual festival in the Spanish town of Enguera, located close to the east coast city of Valencia. The tragedy occurred only five days after a 74-year-old man was killed and three people including a young girl were injured when a bull charged them in Pantoja near Toledo south of Madrid. The animal attacked them after escaping from an enclosed area set up for revellers as part of a Running of the Bulls-style event. At a separate event in La Vall dUixo, north-east of Valencia, last autumn, a man was horrifically gored in the scrotum by one of the running bulls. The bull had just been released from its pen when it charged towards the man, who was identified only by the initials F.M.N. Before he had a chance to react, the bull picked him up with one of its horns from the other side of a metal barrier. During the celebrations, four Hallelujah Bulls are released to run the town's streets before being returned to their farms The bull on the other side of the barrier before the attack, in Cadiz on Saturday The man was then held in the air for several seconds before the bull dumped him on the ground in front of shocked onlookers. An onsite medical team, as well as two doctors who were there as spectators, gave the man first aid. A 20-year-old man was also killed during a bull-running festival in El Casar in the province of Castilla-La Mancha last September. The unnamed victim suffered a punctured lung when the animal ran at him and drove its horn into his chest. The incidents followed the death of a 57-year-old man in hospital in May last year, seven weeks after he was gored twice during a bullfight in Vall d'Uixo. In September 2023, a high-ranking executive for Spanish ceramic wall and floor tiles firm Pamesa was gored to death by a bull at a festival near Valencia. Jose Antonio Subies, 61, died at a hospital in the city after suffering gore injuries which affected his liver and one of his lungs. He was the chief executive officer of Pamesa's South American group. An alleged George Floyd rioter arrested during unrest in Minnesota has now been taken into ICE custody and faces deportation to his native Indonesia. Aditya Harsono learned his student visa had been revoked last month as he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at the hospital where he works. Harsono, a 33 year-old father to a young child, was told a 2022 vandalism conviction for spray-painting a bridge and four trucks meant he'd been deemed a national security risk. That saw his F-1 visa revoked without his knowledge. He was also arrested during a night of unrest in Minneapolis in April 2021 to protest the police killings of George Floyd and another local black man called Daunte Wright. Harsono, who is studying for a graduate degree, was accused of being part of an illegal gathering but never charged over the incident. Harsono's wife Peyton who is a US citizen, said that arrest had also been mentioned by ICE cops while explaining his arrest. A judge has dismissed an initial attempt to get the case thrown out and Harsono is back in court on May 1 to challenge plans to deport him. The year after he was arrested while protesting, Harsono went on a vandalism spree with a can of spray paint and was convicted of causing property damage. But his attorney says that vandalism conviction is not a deportable offense. 'I just wanna kiss my wife on her forehead, and hold my daughter as tight as I can,' Harsono told the Star Tribune from Kandiyohi County jail where he is being held. 'I wanna be there for my daughter.' Indonesian hospital worker Aditya Harson is facing deportation after his US visa was secretly revoked over a vandalism conviction. Pictured: Harsono with his wife and daughter He explained that he joined the George Floyd protest along with 1,000 other people to exercise his right to free speech. 'I was scared to voice my opinion back in Indonesia,' he said of his involvement. 'Now, you know, I'm in America, I could do that now.' The father-of-one has a green card application pending through his marriage. But his hopes of living in American now lie in tatters and he could be deported as early as May 1. 'There seems to be this trend recently where international students who have engaged in some type of activism or expressed, you know, political speech or have expressed, you know, support for Palestine something along those lines their student visas get revoked,' Sarah Gad, Harsono's attorney, told Fox9. Harsono has lost his job as a hospital supply chain manager and his wife and child, who has special needs, are now at risk of losing their home, according to a GoFundMe. 'Aditya is not just a student visa holderhe's a husband, a father, and a vital part of our family,' Peyton said. 'We have an 8-month-old daughter who needs her dad. Every day she looks around for him. This has been deeply traumatic for all of us, especially her. Harsono was arrested in 2021 for participating in a George Floyd protest but the charge of unlawful assembly was dropped Peyton Harsono says she is now at risk of losing her home after her husband was fired from his job while in detention 'As a mother, I am struggling to provide for her while enduring this overwhelming emotional and financial burden on my own. 'We are in danger of losing our apartment, no longer have health insurance, along with other bills and necessities that are needed when caring for a baby. 'The trauma of this separation is unbearable, not just for me and our child but for my husband as well. 'He is experiencing severe emotional distress, and our family unit is suffering beyond measure. I am being torn apart living through this and watching my daughter, husband, and I be in so much emotional pain.' A State Department memo revealed that Harsono's visa revocation was requested over the 2022 property charge for which he served probation. Harsono was initially charged with a felony, but it was down graded to a misdemeanor as part of a plea deal. The Minnesota Nurses Association on Wednesday condemned the arrest. 'The MNA Board of Directors reaffirms their position that nurses should not and will not serve any role in immigration enforcement,' the association said in a statement. Multiple international students have been taken into ICE custody in recent weeks. Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian man, was arrested last month over claims he was a danger to national security for leading pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University in New York. Like Haronso, Khalil was in the process of applying for a green card when he was arrested. And Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University in Boston, was filmed being seized on the street late last month. She signed an op-ed at her student newspaper calling for Tufts bosses to condemn Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip as a genocide. Ozturk also called on Tufts to back out of its investments in Israeli companies. The Trump administration says Ozturk, who is currently in custody in Louisiana, represents a threat to national security but have refused to comment further. They have argued that people in the US on visas or even green cards, which confer permanent residency, do not have the same First Amendment rights to free speech and expression as US citizens. A supermarket chain which became Britain's first to return to fully-staffed checkouts after axing most of its self-service till has revealed what customers really think of their bold decision. Going against the grain, Booths made the decision to ignore what rival supermarkets were doing by favouring staffed tills over self-service checkouts in November 2023. All but two of the chain's 27 upmarket stores have made the change in a bid to improve customers' experience. Nigel Murray, managing director of Booths, has now revealed how customers are responding to their decision. He revealed that the move has helped play a major role in driving customer satisfaction up at Booths, which has previously been dubbed the 'Waitrose of the North'. Mr Murray told The Grocer: 'We're at 74 now, up from 70 (out of 100). Not all of that is due to the fact that we've taken self-service checkouts out of many of the stores. 'But when you look at things like service, into the 'promise of things to come' section, we've scored brilliantly.' The Booths boss also revealed that the supermarket chain, whose headquarters is in Lancashire, has brought a reduction in theft and a faster checkout experience. All but two Booths stores will put staff back on the tills following the decision (file image) Booths made the decision to ignore what rival supermarkets were doing by favouring staffed tills over self-service checkouts in November 2023. Pictured: Booths, Keswick Full list of Booths stores that no longer have self-checkouts LANCASHIRE Barrowford, Nelson Burscough, Ormskirk Carnforth Chorley Clitheroe Fulwood, Preston Garstang Hesketh Bank, Preston Longridge, Preston Longton, Preston Lytham Lytham St Annes Penwortham, Preston Poulton-le-Fylde Scotforth, Lancaster CUMBRIA Kendal Kirkby Lonsdale Milnthorpe Penrith Ulverston YORKSHIRE Ilkley Ripon Settle CHESHIRE Hale Barns, Altrincham Knutsford Two Booths stores that continue to have self-checkouts, both in Cumbria: Keswick Windermere Advertisement He added: 'Because in really simple terms if you've got somebody who is doing a job repetitively for six, seven, eight hours a day, they are going to do it faster and better than if you are just turning up to do it once every three days. 'Over the last year, where we've put more self checkouts in, we're always making sure that the traditional kind of belted checkout is there.' Booths was founded in 1847 by Edwin Henry Booth and has remained a family owned and run business ever since. From a single shop to the present day, the company now has 28 stores across the north, employing around 3,000 people. The decision to return to fully-staffed checkouts came at a time when many supermarket chains are bringing more self-checkouts into their stores. Last month, Tesco continued to rollout further self-checkout measures with their new Scan As You Shop measure. While some were delighted with the technologically-advanced new system, many likened it to airport security, and some thought the move was a step 'too far' from traditional, staffed tills and described it as 'dystopian'. Tesco has rolled out the Scan As You Shop (SAYS) system in a select number of stores across the UK. Shoppers pick up a scanning device when they enter the store, and then they scan each item as they put it in their trolley or basket. When they have finished, they can pay for all their items without having to scan them through the staffed or self-serve checkouts. Upon paying, SAYS customers may be randomly selected for a 'service check' where a staff member makes sure each item has been processed correctly. The new checkouts are said to weigh the trolleys of those using SAYS to ensure the weight is the same as the items scanned. Meanwhile, last year Sainsbury's claimed its shoppers love their self checkout machines and value the 'speedy checkout'. Boss Simon Roberts said that Sainsbury's had invested in more self checkouts in recent years but was committed to having non-automated belt checkouts as well. Discussing the importance of self checkouts last April, Mr Roberts said: 'If you visit one of our supermarkets, what you'll see is definitely more self checkouts than a number of years ago, because actually a lot of customers like the speedy checkout. Booths managing director Nigel Murray said the move has helped play a major role in driving customer satisfaction up A shopper at Booths, which was founded in 1847 and now has 27 stores across the North 'Over the last year, where we've put more self checkouts in, we're always making sure that the traditional kind of belted checkout is there.' Other supermarket chains in the UK, including Amazon Fresh use 'Just Walk OUt' technology which uses cameras, sensors and AI to track what customers have picked up and bought. It allows customers to walk out with their items without using a self-checkout or a fully-staffed till. He was once a little boy who wanted to be a lorry driver and received his calling to the priesthood while watching his beloved Liverpool FC from the Kop at Anfield. But now Britains top Catholic is said to stand an outside chance of succeeding Pope Francis and becoming the first English Pontiff since the 12th century. Liverpool-born Cardinal Vincent Nichols has been Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales since 2009. He was made a Cardinal in 2014. The clergyman, 79, was ordained over 55 years ago and originally served in his home city before becoming Archbishop of Birmingham in 2000, prior to being given the UK's top job. In more recent years, Pope Francis appointed him to wider roles including being president of the Santa Marta group, an alliance of Catholic bishops and police chiefs around the world, launched in 2014. In October 2016, Cardinal Nichols, the son of two teachers, was elected Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops Conferences. Paying tribute after the Pope's death was announced this morning, Cardinal Nichols said: 'A voice proclaiming the innate dignity of every human being, especially those who are poor or marginalised, is now silent.' Asked about the possibility of succeeding Pope Francis as the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics in a 2014 interview, he said it was impossible to assess and judge the unfolding of events. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who is said to stand an outside chance of succeeding Pope Francis Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Nichols, left, with Pope Francis at Vatican City in 2015 Cardinal Nichols told the Liverpool Echo: There are some very able men among the cardinals and this is a big church thats in every continent and most nations and you cant assess and judge the unfolding of events in the Church, except from a broad perspective. And on that broad perspective, I am a little dot!' He added: And we have seen it with having a Pope from the Argentine (Pope Francis) it has expanded everyones horizons. I think whenever the time comes it will be a worldwide debate, not just a European debate. The clergyman has been seen as a liberal figure, once criticised for supporting civil partnerships and gay-friendly masses held in London for six years until 2013 but he publicly opposed gay marriage. He has also spoken out against welfare reforms by the coalition government led by Lord Cameron, warning the changes were leaving people in destitution. And in his most recent political intervention, he called the Labour government deeply irresponsible for allowing the assisted dying legislation to proceed after a single mornings debate compared with hundreds of hours spent debating the fox hunting ban two decades ago. He said: I believe it is deeply irresponsible of any government to allow a change of this magnitude to be carried out without due, proper, government-supported parliamentary process. Cardinal Nichols faced calls to resign in 2020 after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found it had been swept under the carpet by the Catholic Church in Britain. The 162-page report said: The churchs neglect of the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of children and young people in favour of protecting its reputation was in conflict with its mission of love and care for the innocent and vulnerable. Cardinal Nichols greeted by Pope Francis during a papal audience in Rome, watched by his predecessor as Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal, Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. Of Cardinal Nichols, it stated: There was no acknowledgment of any personal responsibility to lead or influence change. Nor did he demonstrate compassion towards victims in the recent cases which we examined. The clergyman offered his resignation but Pope Francis asked him to stay put. At the time, a church spokesperson said the cardinal would not be resigning following the inquirys criticisms because he was determined to put it right. Cardinal Nichols has spoken previously of feeling a calling to the priesthood while standing on the terraces at Anfield. The life-long Liverpool FC supporter told The Times, in 2007: I'd gone to watch Liverpool, (was stood) on the Kop at Anfield and (said) to God, 'Why don't you just leave me alone? Why can't I just be one of a crowd?'. Cardinal Nichols was born in Crosby, Merseyside, in November 1945, where he attended SS Peter and Paul RC Primary and St Marys College. At St Marys, he recalled exploring faith in RE lessons, and that sport and music were also very important at the school. He said: I was a member of the school orchestra I played the French horn and performed in the annual concerts at the Philharmonic Hall. My appreciation of music grew, while being in an orchestra also teaches you about teamwork. He studied for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome from 1963. Cardinal Nichols is viewed as being from the liberal wing of the church and has spoken out on poverty and assisted dying but faced calls to resign over the child sex abuse scandal. Returning to England, he continued his studies at the University of Manchester where he obtained the degree of "Master of Arts" with a thesis on the theology of St. John Fisher. He was ordained in December 1969 for the Archdiocese of Liverpool. His first role was as a parish priest in Wigan, where he was also a chaplain to a sixth-form college, before he then moved to work in Toxteth, Liverpool. In January 1984, he became the general secretary of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, occupying the post for nine years. He worked closely with then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume, and earned a reputation as a dynamic administrator. Following the death of a pope - or in rare cases of a resignation - the Vatican convenes what is known as a papal conclave. This is where the College of Cardinals comes together to elect the next head of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are the Catholic Church's most senior priests, who have travel from all around the world to be at The Vatican in Rome - the home of the church - to take part in the election, or conclave. The most recent rules of the papal conclave say that there are 138 electors amongst the 252 total cardinals. Only those who are under the age of 80 are allowed to take part in what is a secret ballot, held in the Sistine Chapel. There are four rounds of voting, which take place every day until a one candidate receives a two-thirds majority of the vote. The process will typically last between 15 and 20 days before a new Pope is chosen. The only English Pope was Adrian IV, born at Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, as Nicholas Breakspear, who held office between 1154 and 1159. He became a priest in France and was appointed a bishop in Italy in 1150 by Pope Eugene III. President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Monday. He berated the head of the fiercely independent central bank for not cutting interest rates. Trump warned on social media there could be 'a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW.' Meanwhile, the president and First Lady Melania Trump are kicking off the White House's annual Easter egg roll on the South Lawn. The cherished event comes hours after Pope Francis passed away at the Vatican after a long health battle. This DailyMail.com blog is now closed. A disgraced vicar sent vile drunken text messages to his bishop after admitting helping himself to 6,000 from his diocese. In one text, Matthew McMurray told Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North, that he wished he would be 'anally raped by all of Satan's demons'. The 46-year-old sent the sick message to Bishop North after he had pleaded guilty to stealing from funeral funds. McMurray, who is no longer a reverend, escaped jail but was given an order to quit alcohol and ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service. Preston Magistrates' Court heard that the defendant had alcohol and mental health issues which were being addressed. Prosecuting Rafih Khan said the theft amounted to 5,972 from the Blackburn Diocese involving two churches - St James Church and St Paul's Church - and related to money owed for 24 funerals. McMurray pleaded guilty to the thefts when he first appeared in court in February. But while he was awaiting sentence, he breached his bail conditions by contacting the Bishop of Blackburn over a series of drunken text messages. Murray sent the sick message to Bishop North after he had pleaded guilty to stealing from funeral funds McMurray was drinking when he sent sick text messages to Bishop of Blackburn Philip North Matthew McMurray pictured leaving Preston Magistrates Court after the hearing McMurray pleaded guilty to harassment without violence at a further hearing in March. The court heard that McMurray sent numerous messages to the Bishop of Blackburn - who he considered to be part of his problems - in breach of his bail. As well as the message in which he said he hoped the bishop would be 'anally raped by all of Satan's demons', he also sent him a message saying 'Go to hell', the court was told. Another threatening message, sent to the bishop and read out to magistrates, said: 'You and I need to have a face-to-face and it will not be pleasant' and there was a further text about threatening to self-harm. John Lee, defending, said that McMurray accepted he 'sent messages which constitute an offence'. Mr Lee said his client was using alcohol and had mental health issues. The solicitor added: 'The defendant chose to drink alcohol and in a drunken stupor send these messages. 'He accepts that is one of the most silly things he could have done. He felt he had been let down and that the church should help him. 'At the end of his employment it has all gone horribly wrong. He has admitted it at the earliest opportunity. He has lost his career and roof over his head. Bishop of Blackburn Philip North, who received abusive messages from McMurray 'The monies have been paid back by a benefactor. He is not proud of himself. He accepts he was in a position of trust and let a number of people down. 'He co-operated with the Diocese and has no previous convictions. He is still drinking three times a week but says he can be alcohol abstinent. These offences have generally been committed while in drink.' The court heard that McMurray received his last payment from the Church in March and is going on benefits. District judge Richard Thompson sentenced McMurray to three months in prison for the thefts and two months in prison for harassment - but suspended the sentences for five months. McMurray was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and given an alcohol abstinence requirement for 90 days and will have to wear a device to monitor his alcohol use. He must also pay a 154 victim surcharge and 85 costs. JD Vance broke his silence on the passing of Pope Francis posting an emotional tribute just hours after the pair met at the Vatican. Pope Francis died Easter Monday, just a day after an uncomfortable meeting with Vance as he attempted to mend his rocky relationship with the leader of the Catholic church. 'I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,' Vance wrote on X on Monday morning. 'I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.' Though Vance's original statement on X was mysteriously marked that it was 'edited' roughly 20 minutes after it was originally posted. However, the reason appears totally innocuous as the revision was to address a typo in the original statement. Vance linked to a video of a homily the pope delivered at St. Peter's Basilica in March 2020 where he spoke of how to follow Jesus out of the 'darkness' of the pandemic. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Vance was 'excited and grateful' to have been able to meet with the pope before his passing. JD Vance (pictured left) tried to mend his rocky relationship with Pope Francis (pictured right) at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the leader of the Catholic church slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Vance was 'excited and grateful' to have been able to meet with the pope before his passing 'It's a solemn day for Catholics around the world,' she added. 'We are praying for all those who love the Pope and believed in him.' President Donald Trump issued a short statement on Truth Social following the news of the pope's death. 'Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!' he stated. The 88-year-old Pontiff and Vance had an awkward exchange at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after Francis slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants. It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher. The Vatican said the meeting between the vice president and the Holy Father was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. Vance and the Pope tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy. The pope offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Vance's three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. Vance, center, his wife Usha and their children, Vivek, left, and Maribel, back to camera, arrive at the Basilica of Saint Paul 'I know you have not been feeling great but it's good to see you in better health,' Vance told the Pope. 'Thank you for seeing me.' Vances motorcade entered Vatican City through a side gate while Easter Mass was being celebrated in St. Peters Square. Francis had delegated the celebration of the Mass to another cardinal. The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the Domus Santa Marta 'to exchange Easter greetings.' Vance's office said the vice president 'expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for inviting him to meet on Easter Sunday and for the hospitality the Vatican has extended to his family.' 'I pray for you every day,' Vance said as he bid Francis farewell. 'God bless you.' In all, Vances motorcade was on Vatican territory for 17 minutes. The vice president later joined his family for Easter Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four pontifical basilicas in Rome. The Vances visited the tomb of the apostle St. Paul that is said to be located there. Just days before he was hospitalised in February, Francis blasted the deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance acknowledged Francis criticism but has said he will continue to defend his views. Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance didnt address the issue specifically but called himself a 'baby Catholic' and acknowledged there are 'things about the faith that I dont know.' Vance met Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. The vice presidents office said he and Parolin 'discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trumps commitment to restoring world peace.' The Vatican, for its part, said there was an 'exchange of opinions' including over migrants and refugees and current conflicts. The Holy See responded cautiously to the Trump administration while seeking to continue productive relations in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality. It expressed alarm over the administration's crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Vance spent Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peter's Basilica on Friday after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. The vice president, who converted in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement often called 'postliberal', which is viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings. US Vice President JD Vance, his wife second lady Usha Vance and their children attend Mass on Good Friday at St. Peter's Basilica on April 18 Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched 'elites' with their own and acting upon their vision of the 'common good.' Just days before he was hospitalised in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration's deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance had defended the administration's America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as 'ordo amoris.' He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care - to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere. In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance's understanding of the concept. 'Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,' he wrote. Pope Francis leaves after a private visit at the 'Regina Coeli' prison where he met around 70 inmates as part of the Holy Thursday celebrations in Rome JD Vance prays during the Good Friday Passion of the Lord service in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 18 'The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.' Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican's statement issued today which said the talks were cordial and expressed satisfaction with the Trump administration's commitment to protecting freedom of religion and conscience. 'There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners,' the statement said. 'Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.' The reference to 'serene collaboration' appeared to refer to Vance's accusation that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was resettling 'illegal immigrants' in order to get federal funding. Senior US cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim. An Oregon town has introduced draconian new rules after being forced to open its once-private lake to the general public. The affluent enclave of Lake Oswego has established new rules governing public access to Oswego Lake following a court ruling that brought their decades of exclusivity for wealthy lakeside residents to a halt. City officials revealed the restrictive measures during a City Council meeting on Tuesday, as reported by KOIN. City Manager Martha Bennett outlined the regulations but critics say are designed to discourage outsiders from enjoying the beautiful waters. The new rules prohibit the public from launching motorboats, sailboats, sailboards, personal watercraft, kiteboards, and most inflatable vessels at Lower Millennium Plaza Park, which is the main access point ordered open by the court. Only swimmers and those with watercraft under 18 feet in length are allowed to enter the lake, and even then, they must use specific steps at Millennium Plaza Park. The city specified that inflatables must also be approved by the United States Coast Guard. This could effectively deter public swimmers as it's a requirement many lake-goers might struggle to meet. An Oregon town has introduced draconian new rules after being forced to open its once-private lake to the general public City Manager Martha Bennett outlined the regulations but critics say are designed to discourage outsiders from enjoying the beautiful waters The council also decided that entry is permitted only from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. The City Council voted not to appeal the court's decision but instead implemented these new regulations after a heated deliberation. This is just the latest development in a legal saga spanning more than a decade. Last month, a cabal of millionaires who tried to ban the public from their 'private' Oregon lake have been dealt another blow in the form of a seven-figure legal fee. The stubborn group of high-fliers failed to keep a portion of southern Portland's Oswego Lake exclusive following a 12-year court battle, and then they were slapped with a total tab of almost $1.6 million. Their bill covers $1,368,978.30 in attorney fees after a decade of litigation, along with $221,792.85 in other expenses. Lawyers involved in the case have said they spent almost 2,400 hours working on the case, according to court records. Their hourly fees ranged from $500 to $700. The case was brought in 2013 by local people, including open water swimming enthusiast Todd Prager and attorney Mark Kramer, who wanted access to the lake's 12-mile shoreline. The new rules prohibit the public from launching motorboats, sailboats, sailboards, personal watercraft, kiteboards, and most inflatable vessels at Lower Millennium Plaza Park - the main access point ordered open by the court. Southern Portland's Oswego Lake (pictured) has been the center of a fiery court battle between members of the public who wanted to use it and local millionaires who fought to keep it private. After losing the case, the millionaires have now been hit with a hefty legal fee They sued the Lake Oswego Corporation, a housing association representing rich homeowners whose mansions line the lake, and the City of Lake Oswego, for the 'exclusionary policy' which banned them from entering the picturesque waterway. Lake Oswego Corporation hit back, with residents raging that opening the waterfront would bring a down-market vibe to the ritzy area and 'ultimately spoil the lake'. Harvey Liu, a senior portfolio manager at half-trillion-dollar investment fund Columbia Threadneedle told Oregon Live in an email that using the lake should be a 'privilege'. 'I believe it should be a privilege not a right to use the lake; a privilege that comes with conditions such as respect for a lake and adjoining private properties we spend money to maintain,' he wrote. Mark Dunham, a 30-year resident who works as an airline pilot, told the paper that widening access to the lake would 'ultimately spoil' it and 'strain the city's resources'. 'The fountain area below Millennium Park, which is now a serene area to view the lake, will become nothing short of a carnival act on a hot summer day, with paddleboards and inner tubes prepping to go in the water,' Dunham wrote. Lake Oswego Corporation represents more than 4,000 households who used to pay for private access to Oswego Lake. Harvey Liu (pictured), a Lake Oswego resident and senior portfolio manager at half-trillion-dollar investment fund Columbia Threadneedle said that using the lake should be a 'privilege' Mark Kramer (pictured) was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. He said his vehicle was scratched up on March 8 while he was enjoying kayaking on the newly-opened lake This system ended earlier this month when Clackamas County Circuit Court ruled in favor of local swimming and kayaking enthusiasts and opened the lake. Judge Kathie Steele ordered the City of Lake Oswego to immediately remove no trespassing signs and other obstacles blocking the waterside on March 3. An Irish-American Cardinal who officially announced the death of Pope Francis today will lead the Catholic Church in finding the pontiff's successor. Dublin-born Kevin Farrell is now the highest-ranking Catholic in the world after taking over the administration of the Holy See following the pope's death. Farrell, who served as a bishop of the Diocese of Dallas in Texas for nearly a decade, was appointed as Vatican camerlengo, or chamberlain, by Francis in February 2019. The camerlengo takes charge after a pontiff's death and handles daily administration and finances of the tiny Vatican City state during the 'interregnum', the gap period between the leadership of one pope to the next. The camerlego is also responsible for certifying the pope's death, announcing his passing to the world - which he did this morning - and sealing the papal apartments, as well as preparing the pontiff's burial. Farrell, who will remain in charge until a new pope is elected, will preside over the first formal liturgical ritual for Francis tonight at 8pm, with the confirmation of his death and the placement of the body in the coffin. In the next four to six days the Vatican's cardinals will decide on the pope's funeral date, at which point his coffin will be transferred to St Peter's Basilica. Francis's death also sets in motion centuries-old traditions that will culminate in the gathering of a conclave of cardinals to choose a successor. Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell is now the highest-ranking Catholic in the world after taking over the administration of the Holy See following the death of Pope Francis. Farrell is pictured today announcing the pontiff's death Pope Francis, pictured at St Peter's Square during the Urbi et Orbi blessing and Easter Sunday mass yesterday, died today aged 88 Bishop of Dallas Kevin Joseph Farrell (left) kneels before Pope Francis to pledge allegiance and become cardinal, on November 19, 2016 during a consistory at Peter's basilica Francis, who died today aged 88, tasked Farrell with ensuring a smooth transition following his death six years ago when he appointed him as camerlengo. Farrell, 77, was born in Ireland in 1947, but spent much of his religious career in the United States. He attended the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome before being ordained as a priest in 1978. Farrell served as chaplain in Mexico before taking his ministry work to Washington. He was appointed as the auxiliary bishop of Washington by Pope John Paul II in 2001. He held several senior positions over the years, including being named the Bishop of Dallas by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. Francis summoned Farrell to work in the Vatican in August 2016, announcing that Farrell would serve as Prefect of the then-newly established Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. Farrell at a press conference after his appointment said that he was shocked by the appointment and 'humbled' that Francis 'would entrust me with this new department', NBC 5 reports. He recalled how was in disbelief when his administrative assistant told him that the pope was on the phone. 'I felt like saying, "Yeah, yeah",' he told the 2016 press briefing. 'Eventually she did put on the Pope, and he told me that he would like me to go to Rome because Dallas needed a much better Bishop than I am.' Bishop of Dallas Kevin Joseph Farrell walks after kneeling before Pope Francis to pledge allegiance and become cardinal, on November 19, 2016 during a consistory at Peter's basilica Cardinal Kevin Farrell (centre) celebrates the mass for the 10th World Meeting of Families in Saint-Peter square on June 25, 2022 at the Vatican. Following the Pope's passing, the day-to-day running of the tiny Vatican City state will be handled by the camerlengo, currently Dublin-born Kevin Farrell Farrell was elevated to Cardinal that same year and, just three years later, was entrusted with the role of Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Francis also named him president of the Commission for Confidential Matters in 2020. Farrell has officially began his as duties as camerlengo, having this morning announced the pope's death in a video statement. 'At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,' he told the faithful in the statement released by the Vatican. 'His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.' The Vatican has since confirmed that Farrell will tonight lead the ceremony in which Francis's body is placed in its coffin in the chapel at the Saint Martha residence, where the pontiff lived. 'Following the notification of the death of the Roman Pontiff Francis, in accordance with the provisions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, this evening, Monday 21 April, at 20.00, His Reverend Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of the certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin,' the statement said. The Vatican indicated that the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and the late pope's family members of the late Pope Francis, along with Dr. Andrea Arcangeli and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Director and Deputy Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene, will be present this evening. The Holy See Press Office has said Francis's body could be transported to the Vatican Basilica as early as Wednesday morning. Arrangements will determined and communicated tomorrow, following the first Congregation of the Cardinals, officials added. Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell (second from left, flanked by, from left, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Substitute for the Secretariat of State, Cardinal Edgar PeA'a Parra, and Vatican Master of Ceremonies, Archbisop Diego Giovanni Ravelli) announces the death of Pope Francis at the Vatican this morning Francis selected Farrell to lead the Holy See, despite the pair apparently having opposing viewpoints on same-sex marriage. The late pope, known as being an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023. Francis did, however, reaffirm that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Farrell also made headlines in 2018 when he publicly confirmed that he was unaware of the sexual abuse carried out by his former boss Theodore McCarrick (pictured in 2014). McCarrick was defrocked by Francis after being convicted of sexual misconduct in a canonical trial Farrell, on the other hand, has a taken divisive stance against same-sex marriage and abortion that has seen him criticised by those with opposing views, The Times reports. In 2021, he publicly emphasised the importance of the church's teachings about the sanctity of traditional marriage. He claimed the Catholic Church recognises civil unions differently from sacramental marriage and does not support same-sex marriage. Farrell, however, did reiterate that the church is committed to treating everyone with respect and compassion, regardless of their sexual orientation. The camerlengo also faced scrutiny in 2018 when he prohibited former Irish President Mary McAleese from speaking at a Vatican conference on International Womens Day. McAleese issued a formal complaint to Francis, but as of last month, had not received a response, according to The Times. He battled a financial scandal in 2019 after it was revealed that Farrell had received $29,000 from disgraced American bishop Michael J. Bransfield for apartment renovations in Rome. Farrell also made headlines in 2018 when he publicly confirmed that he was unaware of the sexual abuse carried out by his former boss Theodore McCarrick. McCarrick, who was defrocked by Francis after being convicted of sexual misconduct in a canonical trial, and Farrell had lived together in DC in the early 2000s. A pilgrim carries a cross near St Peter's square today after the death of Pope Francis was announced by the Vatican A nun prays at St Peter's square following the death of Pope Francis today Clergy members stand in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican after the news broke, on April 21 Francis died today, just a day after the frail-looking pontiff greeted delighted worshippers after Easter Mass, with a possible cause of death having now been revealed by Italian media. Francis died due to a 'cerebral hemorrhage', possibly a stroke, which is said to be unrelated to the respiratory problems and pneumonia he suffered in February, outlets La Repubblica and La Stampa claimed. His doctors said that he 'passed away peacefully' this morning, according to local reports. Corriere della Serra reported that he woke up when his alarm went off at 6am, fell ill at 7am and died from a stroke around 7.30am. The death of the Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, came less than a month after having been released from hospital following a 38-day battle with double pneumonia. Francis, who had part of his lung removed as a young man, had maintained a busy schedule before his latest hospital admission, even hosting the prime minister of Slovakia shortly beforehand. Even after he was released from hospital and ordered to rest for two months, Francis, known for being stubborn, did not wait long before making public appearances, meeting Britain's King Charles and visiting a prison. But he was barely able to speak and delegated the traditional Easter Sunday 'Urbi et Orbi' - 'To the City and the World' - benediction to an associate, although he later toured Saint Peter's Square in his popemobile, greeting worshippers. Despite a growing number of health problems, he never took a day off and made frequent trips abroad, including a four-nation Asia-Pacific tour only last September. Huge crowds gathered wherever he went, a testament to his popularity and human touch. Pope Francis is given a drink as he appears on a balcony as the 'Urbi et Orbi' message was delivered at Saint Peter's Square yesterday Aides are seen adjusting Pope Francis's cassock, a term that refers to the robes he wears, during the Urbi et Orbi blessing following the Easter Mass in Saint Peter's Square yesterday Pope Francis stands on the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025 Pope Francis delivers his Easter message and blessing Urbi et Orbi - 'To the City and the World' - via an aide as he sits and watches from the balcony of Saint Peter's basilica yesterday Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio, was the first Jesuit to lead the world's almost 1.4 billion Catholics and the first from the Americas. He took over after Benedict XVI became the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to step down - and cut a sharply different figure from the German theologian. Francis sought to forge a more open and compassionate Church, with world leaders praising him for having strongly defended social justice and the rights of migrants. Francis's pontificate was also marked by pushing through governance reforms and tackling the scourge of clerical sex abuse of children. But critics accused him of creating doctrinal confusion and failing to defend traditional Catholic beliefs on key issues such as abortion and divorce. Francis's desire to chart a different path was evident right to the end, with his decision to be buried not in St Peter's Basilica but in Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore basilica. He will become the first pope in more than 100 years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican. He also rejected the tradition of popes having three coffins, instead choosing to be buried in just one. An Idaho man is recovering after spending nearly three weeks in a coma after suffering third-degree burns from a freak accident. Robert Thompson, of Twins Falls, woke up last Thursday the day before he turned 26 his fiance and mother his two children, Kimberly Graybeal, revealed Sunday. 'Today 4/20 he is coherent and knows what happened,' Graybeal wrote on a Go Fund Me. 'He is talking to us and thanks everybody for saying all the prayers and having him in his thoughts. 'He has a funny sense of humor right now and I think that's the best thing for him and everybody around to take in with a grain of salt,' she added. Thompson and his family were in the backyard of their home April 1 when his two daughters asked if they could start a bonfire and cook s'mores. As he attempted to start the fire, the gas fumes got pulled into the gas can and sparked an explosion. Thompson became engulfed in flames and rolled on the ground as he yelled at his future wife to save his life. Graybeal attempted to remove Thompson's jacket and then rushed into the home to grab water, according to the East Idaho News. Robert Thompson suffered third-degree burns to his body and spend almost three weeks in an induced coma before he woke up last Thursday. Thompson, who turned 26 last Friday, was burned while he was trying to set up a bonfire to cook s'mores for his daughters at their home in Twins Falls, Idaho on April 1 Robert Thompson with his fiance Kimberly Graybeal, the mother of his two daughters As the waited for paramedics to arrive, Graybeal decided to rush Thompson on her own to St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center. He was then airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. Thompson suffered burns to the upper half of his body, his face and neck. He underwent two surgeries, including one on April 7 when doctors placed additional new skin on his body. The procedure took place a day before he woke up and attempted to remove the ventilator before he was sedated. Robert Thompson (left) 'has a funny sense of humor right now' after he was severely burned while trying to start a bonfire at home to cook s'mores for his daughters earlier this month, his fiance Kimberly Graybeal (right) said Robert Thompson (right) with his fiance, Kimberly Graybeal (right) Thompson is now breathing on his own and looking forward to going home. 'He stood up today and is drinking water and ice chips,' Graybeal said. 'For his birthday the whole family is here and visiting.' More than $17,000 has been donated to the Go Fund that was created April 2. Several people initially thought it was an April Fool's hoax. 'This is not fake,' Graybeal recently told the East Idaho News. 'As much as I wish it was, I wish I could say, "April Fools, April Fools! It's all a joke!" But it's not a joke.' A pro-Donald Trump, American bishop is among the front runners to replace Pope Francis following his death. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, 76, is being touted as one of the leaders in the race for the papacy. His selection would mark the first time an American has held the papacy in the Catholic Church's 2,000 year history. The Wisconsin-born bishop is diametrically opposed to the late Pope Francis' views on nearly all the contested issues within the faith. Burke is a traditionalist, who is de facto leader of the church's conservatives. He is outspoken against any softening of its policy towards LGBTQ people, divorce, and the role of women and often spoke out to contradict Pope Francis' more progressive stances. Francis became so at odds with Burke that he stripped him of his role as head of the Catholic courts, the panel that chooses judges, and even his free Rome apartment. The Wisconsin bishop has been vocal in his support for Donald Trump and called his election victory in 2016 a win for anti-abortion causes. American Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, 76, is among the top candidates to replace Pope Francis The Wisconsin-born bishop is diametrically opposed to the late pope's views on nearly all the contested issues within the faith In 2019, he urged voters to cast their votes for Trump again, stating that the president has a 'great disposition' towards the Church's moral laws and would 'follow the principles and dictates of our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution'. He stopped short of endorsing Trump in the latest election, but vocalized his condemnation for abortion laws. Burke was born in Richland Center, a rural town in Wisconsin, as the youngest of the six children to Thomas and Marie Burke, both of Irish Catholic heritage. He grew up on a dairy farm until his father was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1955 when he was in second grade. As Thomas Burke lay dying, he was regularly visited by a local priest to receive communion, which had a 'tremendous impression' on his son. Burke joined the Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and served as a parish priest and high school teacher there after he was ordained in 1975. His bishop then sent him to the Gregorian University in Rome to study canon law, which Burke admitted he at first wasn't enthusiastic about. That was until an older priest noticed how glum he was and took him under his wing. Burke became 'hooked' on canon law, and is now considered one of the foremost scholars of it. Burke is the only American cardinal in the race to replace the late Pope Francis and his election would mark the first time an American held the papacy Eventually he became Archbishop of St Louis in 2004 until 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI called him to Rome to become the prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura - the church's highest court. Burke was made a cardinal two years later by Benedict, who was also known for his hardline views. Increasingly prominent as an uncompromising traditionalist, Burke clashed with new reformist pope Francis within a year of his inauguration. In December 2013 Francis declined to renew his membership of the Congregation of Bishops, a panel that helps the pope select new bishops. 'One gets the impression, or it's interpreted this way in the media, that he thinks we're talking too much about abortion, too much about the integrity of marriage as between one man and one woman,' Burke responded. 'But we can never talk enough about that.' He also spoke out in October 2014 when the Vatican Synod on the Family conference proposed relaxing papal approach towards homosexuality. 'Many have expressed their concerns to me. At this very critical moment, there is a strong sense that the church is like a ship without a rudder,' he said. Burke is a traditionalist, who is de facto leader of the church's conservatives 'They are feeling a bit seasick because they feel the church's ship has lost its way.' The pope responded by sacking Burke from the Supreme Tribunal and named him patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a largely ceremonial role, instead. Francis at the time insisted he planned to make the change months earlier and he wasn't punishing Burke, but the events were widely seen as connected. Just three years later, Francis stripped Burke of all but his figurehead role at the Order over his plot to oust a senior official for authorizing a purchase of condoms for the people of Burma. The pope sent a 'special delegate' to exercise the duties of the patron, and it was later confirmed Burke was 'de facto suspended'. Burke was outspoken in his condemnation of pedophile priests as the crisis engulfed the church, but repeatedly blamed it on feminism and homosexuality. He in August 2015 claimed it was the fault of 'radical feminism which has assaulted the Church and society since the 1960s'. A photo of Pope Francis is displayed during the Easter Monday Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna on April 21, 2025 Then in 2019 he and German Cardinal Walter Brandmueller claimed the 'primary fault' for the scandal was 'the plague of the homosexual agenda', not the priests themselves. Burke claimed those priests who perpetrated abuse on children 'were feminized and confused about their own sexual identity'. Pete Hegseth insisted on Monday he is on the 'same page' as President Donald Trump as his job hangs in the balance after a second Signal scandal. The defense secretary shared detailed information about military strikes in Yemen on March 15 in a private group chat on the Signal app that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, the New York Times reported. But Hegseth told reporters at the White House that he has spoken to the president and 'we're on the same page all the way.' He also blasted the New York Times for the article noting it was written by the 'same media that did the Russia hoax' and who received 'Pulitzers for a bunch of lies.' His appearance came as his tenure at the Pentagon is in trouble. Three senior staffers were put on leave as part of a leak investigation and the Department of Defense's former spokesman wrote in an op-ed this weekend that it is in a 'full-blown meltdown.' Trump defended Hegseth, saying he's doing a 'great job.' Its just the same old stuff,' the president told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll. He's doing a great job. It's just fake news. They just bring up stories. I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. He was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people and that's what he's doing so you don't always have friends when you do that.' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporter at the White House he's on the 'same page' as President Donald Trump Hegseth's use of the Signal app to give friends and family details of a March attack on Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis raises more questions about his reliance on an unclassified messaging system to share highly sensitive security details. Unlike a previous Signal scandal - in which National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started a chat that included an editor of The Atlantic - Hegseth started the second one, which contained 13 people and was dubbed 'Defense Team Huddle.' The information shared 'included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen,' the Times reported. Of the people on that chat, Hegseth's wife Jennifer is a former producer at the Fox News, but is not an employee of the Defense Department. His brother Phil and attorney Tim Parlatore do have jobs at the Pentagon but it is not clear if they are on a need-to-know basis regarding attacks. Phil Hegseth is a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. The White House is standing by Hegseth. 'The President absolutely has confidence in Secretary Hegseth. I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands behind him,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House Monday morning. President Donald Trump is standing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Former Pentagon spokemsan Joh Ullyot (pictured) warned the Pentagon is in 'chaos' But Hegseth received another blow when John Ullyot, the former spokesman who announced his resignation from the Pentagon on Wednesday, claimed the Defense Department is in 'chaos.' Writing an op-ed for Politico on Sunday, Ullyot knifed his old boss and exposed the chaos currently unfolding inside the Pentagon - before sharing his belief that Trump should fire Hegseth. He noted he's a 'longtime backer of the secretary,' and 'value[s] his friendship.' But he then let loose on Hegseth, saying the Pentagon is in 'a full-blown meltdown' and that has devolved into 'total chaos.' He added that 'the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president - who deserves better from his senior leadership.' 'It's hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer,' he added. Meanwhile, three senior staffers were escorted out of Pentagon by security as part of leak investigation. Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was suspended a day after Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, were put on administrative leave. The internal Pentagon investigation is looking into allegations of unauthorized disclosures of information. The leak investigation at the Pentagon began on March 21 when Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe 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. He 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. But now Kasper is leaving his chief of staff job and moving to another part of agency. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth uses his cellphone, during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll event And Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll put out a statement criticizing the leak. 'We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended,' the three men wrote. 'Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. All three of us served our country honorably in uniform - for two of us, this included deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, based on our collective service, we understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it.' They noted they haven't been told what the investigation is about. 'At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with. While this experience has been unconscionable, we remain supportive of the Trump-Vance Administrations mission to make the Pentagon great again and achieve peace through strength. We hope in the future to support those efforts in different capacities,' they said. A travel influencer has died after collapsing at a New Year's Eve party in the Philippines and spending weeks 'unable to eat, walk and speak.' Vanessa Konopka, 28, passed away on March 7 after spending months at a hospital on the island of Boracay. The German native ran a travel vlog channel called Happiness Crossing with her boyfriend, Fernando, where the couple documented their life in the Philippines. The couple first met in Australia, and moved in together in Boracay in December 2022. But on December 31, Konopla was hospitalized after 'experiencing severe swelling throughout her body.' She was diagnosed with extreme liver damage and pneumonia and spent months in the hospital battling jaundice among other symptoms. '[She was] diagnosed with a severe liver damage and pneumonia, which have made her extremely weak. She is still in the hospital, unable to eat properly, walk, or even speak easily.' The couple kept their followers updated on Konopka's condition in social media posts from her hospital room. Photos showed Konopka was frequently bed ridden as doctors worked to determine her course of treatment. Vanessa Konopka, 28, passed away on March 7 after spending weeks at a hospital in the Philippines unable to 'eat, walk and talk' Konopka was hospitalized on December 31 after 'experiencing severe swelling throughout her body' She would regularly post TikTok videos of her eating the meals she received from the hospital. Fernando launched a GoFundMe to raise money for her medical bills and to get Konopka a medical transport to Germany. In recent weeks, Konopka's condition appeared to be improving and she was able to go outside. 'After a very scary time, Vanessa has made some progress. She was finally able to leave her room and get some fresh air, which was a big step,' Fernando said on January 17. 'Shes now able to eat, speak normally, and move her hands again. Her lungs are still not in the best condition, but she will be having more tests today to monitor her progress.' On January 28 he said, 'We are so happy to share some good news today: Vanessas condition improved a lot! The pneumonia is almost gone, and the swelling in her hands, tongue, legs, and arms has gotten much better. 'Yesterday, she managed to walk for the first time with the help of a walker. It was such a big step forward and gave us all so much hope. 'Shes now doing daily physiotherapy to regain her strength. However, there is still concern about her liver. We are waiting for news from the specialist this week to understand how advanced the damage is. Were praying it will show signs of improvement too. The German native ran a travel vlog channel called Happiness Crossing with her boyfriend, Fernando (right) In recent weeks, Konopka's condition appeared to be improving and she was able to go outside She was diagnosed with a severe liver damage and pneumonia, which made her extremely weak 'Unfortunately, Vanessa is still not strong enough to fly back to Germany, but were hopeful that it wont be too long before she can finally return home.' On February 20, Fernando said she was 'out of danger' and her mother was able to come to the Philippines and escort her back to Germany. However, two weeks later Fernando announced that Konopka had succumbed to her illness. 'This morning, on March 7th, Vanessa passed away. She always loved connecting with you all, and her love for the Philippines was beyond words,' he said. 'Once again, I can only ask for your prayers so that God may bring comfort to the hearts of her loved ones. I trust in Him, I know He is with Vanessa and I know God is always with us. 'Kushka, if you are perhaps reading this somewhere, thank you so much for teaching me how to love myself doesn't matter what other people think, she showed me how to love myself, and how to follow my dreams! I will forever love you and we may see each other again.' Inquiries are continuing into how a schoolgirl lost control of her e-scooter and was tragically killed during the Easter long weekend. Initial reports suggested Summah Richards, 12, was walking her scooter along a road in Laidley, west of Brisbane before she was struck by a car about 3pm on Saturday. Investigations have since indicated she was riding the scooter when she fell into the path of a Holden Barina travelling in the same direction. Summah died at the scene, despite the efforts of emergency responders to revive her. The driver and passenger in the hatchback were uninjured. An investigation into the tragedy is still in its early stages. No charges have been laid. 'To lose a young person like that to a fatal traffic crash is really tragic and my heart goes out to the family and the friends of that young person who has been taken away from the family much too early,' Road Policing and Regional Support Command Acting Chief Superintendent Garrath Channells told the ABC. 'It would appear that the child has lost control of the e-scooter [resulting] in the individual falling off the scooter and coming to the ground in front of a moving vehicle, which has collided with the child. Summah Richards was riding a e-scooter when she fell into the path of a car and was killed on Saturday 'Our specialist investigative unit from the forensic crash unit will work through the full investigation, but at this early date that is what appears to have occurred.' Summah's death has rocked the local community who have rallied behind her devastated parents and brothers whose lives have been ripped apart. It's understood the family moved to Laidley from the Moreton Bay region last year. Summah, who had just started high school, has been remembered as a remarkable young girl with a vibrant spirit and wild sense of humour. 'Summah was out in the world living her best life doing what children do,' her mum's best friend Stacey Ardrey wrote on a on GoFundMe. 'Summah was the kind of soul who could light up any room simply by being in it. Her playful nature was contagious, always ready to laugh, and bring joy to those around her. 'Whether she was popping up from behind a corner which she did often and with a mischievous grin or throwing herself into an adventure with pure excitement, Summahs bright energy was boundless. 'Her love wasnt just seen, it was felt. With her big brown eyes, full of wonder and kindness, she made everyone feel special.' Summah has been remembered as a loving friend and sister. 'She made everyone feel special' Summah always looked out for others and had a tenderness beyond her years. She had dreams of becoming a nurse practitioner when she grew up. 'Summahs ability to show love so freely and authentically left a lasting impact on all who were lucky enough to know her,' Ms Ardrey continued. 'Her infectious smile and the warmth of her spirit will forever be remembered.' The community has raised nearly $15,000 towards Summah's funeral. A growing memorial of flowers, toys and tributes remains near the crash scene. One note, left by a friend, accompanied flowers and a packet of Summah's favourite chewing gum read: 'in memory of you, missed 4ever by all your friends and family'. Investigations into the fatal collision continue. Anyone with information, CCTV or dash cam or urged to call Crime Stoppers. A Democrat senator who flew to El Salvador last week to visit a deported Salvadoran migrant elicited fury online after revealing that U.S. taxpayers funded his visit to see the detained non-citizen. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., traveled to Central America last week to check on the well-being of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, a migrant who crossed into the U.S. illegally before settling down in Maryland and marrying an American woman. The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia in March because of his alleged ties to the violent gang MS-13, though the White House admits his removal came as a result of an 'administrative error,' and courts have ordered he be returned to the U.S. Amid the controversy over whether Abrego Garcia's deportation was lawful, documents revealing he beat his American wife and was suspected by Maryland authorities to be an active MS-13 member surfaced. Despite the fresh allegations against Abrego Garcia, Van Hollen pressed on with his trip and has been advocating for the Salvadorans' return to the U.S. Explaining his rationale for the visit on Fox News Sunday, the Democrat was asked about whether U.S. taxpayers footed the bill for the multi-day trip to El Salvador. 'Who did pay for this trip?' host Shannon Bream asked. 'This was an officially cleared congressional trip,' Van Hollen replied, initially dodging the question. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said on Fox News Sunday that his trip to El Salvador to see Salvadoran Kilmar Abrego Garcia was funded by U.S. taxpayers Van Hollen and Abrego Garcia meeting at a hotel in El Salvador last week 'So taxpayer dollars?' Bream pressed. 'Yes, like every other trip,' the Democrat admitted. Shortly after the show aired conservatives began tearing into the lawmaker for using American tax dollars to travel to El Salvador and check on the well-being of a Salvadoran man. 'Van Hollen hates America,' Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., posted on X in response to a clip of the Democrat's admission. 'He should return the money and resign,' Mace's post continued. 'Disgusting misappropriation of your tax dollars.' President Trump's 'Border Czar' Tom Homan also ripped into Van Hollen on Sunday. 'What bothers me more than that is a U.S. Senator travels on our taxpayer dime to meet with a MS13 gang member,' Homan told ABC News. 'What concerns me is Van Hollen never went to the border last four years, when Joe Biden had a 600 percent increase in sex trafficking of women and children,' he continued. 'What shocks me is he's remained silent about the travesty that happened our southern border - many people died.' President Donald Trump holds up a picture of Abrego Garcia's tattoos which he says proves the Salvadoran's MS-13 membership Van Hollen shakes hands with Abrego Garcia Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also slammed the senator, telling Fox News on Monday that the Democrat's trip was shameful. 'Shame on Senator Chris Van Hollen and the entire Democrat Party who wasted Easter Sunday going on every television show in the country to advocate for the return of an illegal criminal gang member,' she said. 'There is a litany of evidence proving this individual's ties to MS-13 that has been confirmed in two different courts.' Melania Trump made a rare appearance in Washington, taking in the games and cheering on the children alongside President Donald Trump at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Dressed in a pale-colored trench coat, the first lady was focused on the children, giving them high fives and encouraging them in the competition. President Trump applauded his wife for planning the affair, which was expected to draw more than 40,000 people to the White House's South Lawn. 'And I just want to give a special thank you to our great first lady who organized this entire event,' the president said. 'She worked very, very hard on it. She worked very hard.' He continued: 'I said, 'What are you doing?' She said, 'I'm working on the egg roll.' I said, 'That sounds like a lot of fun,' And we're going to have a lot of fun in just a couple of minutes.' Trump also thanked the National Park Service for 'the job they do and making everything so beautiful and spiffy.' And he paid tribute to Pope Francis, who died earlier Monday, saying he was putting the flags at half-staff to honor the pontiff. 'He was a good man, he worked hard and loved the world,' Trump said. He told reporters he didn't know if he was going to the pope's funeral or not. First lady Melania Trump (left) made a rare appearance in Washington, D.C., to appear alongside President Donald Trump (center) and the Easter Bunny at the White House Easter Egg Roll President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump (right) participate in the egg roll game alongside Donald Trump Jr. and girlfriend Bettina Anderson (left) President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk to the South Lawn at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll Kai Trump watches her grandfather start the egg roll race Trump also boasted that religion was back in the United States. 'And we're going to honor Jesus Christ very powerfully,' he told the crowd. 'Happy Easter and enjoy your lives!' the president concluded from the balcony. From there, it was off to the games. Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson, who was wearing a smart Safiyaa coat, along with Don's children, joined the first couple. Kai Trump - the president's oldest granddaughter - was there along with siblings Donald III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe. The president was in fine form, blowing a golden whistle with the seal of the presidency, and, in-between starting the egg roll race, he took questions from the media. Asked if he'd like to go to the Pope's funeral, Trump responded: 'I don't know, I just have to look at the timing. We just lowered the flags throughout the country.' A reporter pointed out to the president that Pope Francis had preached tolerance for migrants and was asked if he agreed. 'Yeah, I do, I do,' Trump answered. Trump also expressed confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid another Signal scandal. 'Here we go again. Just a waste of time. He is doing a great job,' Trump said. When asked why he had confidence in Hegseth, Trump answered, 'Because he's doing a great job.' 'Ask the Houthis how he's doing,' Trump said. Melania Trump, for her part, focused on the children. She called the Easter Bunny over to meet a group, putting her arm around the bunny as she spoke to the kids. First lady Melania Trump waves during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday First lady Melania Trump reads Bunny with a Big Heart during Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump are joined by a person dressed as the Easter Bunny White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt (right) attended Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll Don Jr - standing in the upper left with girlfriend Bettina (in the bright yellow Safiyaa coat) brought his children to the Easter Egg Roll: Kai Trump, Donald III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe She and the president took turns blowing the egg roll race to its start. The children waved at them, trying to get their attention by calling 'Trump, Trump, Trump.' After a few rounds of egg rolling, the first couple went to a set of picnic tables to color cards for American troops stationed abroad. The president was swarmed with children crawling all over him. The first lady kept her table a little more orderly. After the card making, Trump gave his wife a kiss and she continued on to her Be Best hopscotch while he returned to the West Wing. Melania Trump called out the start, cheered the children in their jumping and high-fived them when they were done. The hopscotch path was made of eggs, with each reading 'brave,' or 'caring,' 'smart' or 'kind.' She concluded her morning by reading 'The Bunny with a Big Heart' to families in the first lady's garden. 'Happy Easter,' she told them. President Donald Trump (left) gives a kiss to first lady Melania Trump (right) during the White House's Easter Egg Roll on Monday President Donald Trump smooched his wife, first lady Melania Trump, on the South Lawn during Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll President Donald Trump blows a whistle during Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn President Donald Trump talks with a group of children during a card making session Melania Trump talks to children at the coloring tables Elon Musk was spotted briefly at the White House Easter Egg Roll White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller arrives on the South Lawn for the annual Easter Egg Roll President Donald Trump, followed by Donald Trump Jr., and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson, and two great grandsons walks to the Oval Office Several members of the administration and other MAGA favorites milled about the event, which took place on the South Lawn of the White House. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz was spotted, as was FBI Director Kash Patel, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Stephen Miller with his wife Katie, who is a spokesperson for DOGE, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, with her husband and young son. Elon Musk was spotted talking to visitors on the South Lawn. The American Egg Board donated the 30,000 eggs to be used in the roll. Emily Metz, the board president and CEO, said in an interview with the Associated Press that the eggs given to the White House were small and medium sizes not typically sold in stores - so will not put futher strain on the egg supply or contribute to even higher egg prices. 'We feel like we need to take a moment to celebrate where we can, and you cannot have Easter without eggs and you cannot have the White House Easter Egg Roll without real eggs,' Metz said. The White House got corporate sponsors for portions of the Egg Roll this year, which included tech giants including Amazon and Meta. Jewish groups have condemned a pro-Palestinian march during Passover that saw families returning from synagogue facing chants over the conflict in Gaza. Community campaigners have spoken out about the demonstration - with protesters calling, 'Stop killing babies' - in Westcliff-on-Sea in Southend, Essex. The area has a significant Jewish population and Saturday's protest coincided with events marking the faith's annual Passover commemorations. It has been alleged that pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated past various synagogues during a time when Jewish community members were marking Shabbat at the end of Passover. Jewish charity Campaign Against Antisemitism accused marchers of carrying out the demo without giving Essex Police the required legal notice of their intentions - and also said the force failed to intervene sufficiently to stop or move the protest. CAA said there were chants of 'Stop killing children' and expressions of support for banned terrorist organisations but officers allegedly 'failed to act'. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'Even by the standards of the past 18 months, the march in Southend was despicable. 'Essex Police should never have permitted this hateful procession through the heart of a small Jewish community, as families walked home from synagogue after Sabbath prayers during Passover. Pro-Palestine demonstrators held a march in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex on Saturday Jewish campaign groups have criticised the timing of the protest near Southend It has been alleged that pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated past various synagogues during a time when Jewish community members were marking Shabbat at the end of Passover The demonstration took place in protest against Israel's offensive in Gaza 'Not only did police allow this march, despite it apparently being organised without the required legal notice, they took minimal action as marchers shouted "Stop killing children" - a chilling echo of medieval blood libels - and openly displayed support for terrorist organisations banned in the UK. 'Protesting a conflict thousands of miles away had no place in a quiet residential neighbourhood - this was, in reality, a demonstration targeting Jews.' The group also said one of its own volunteers was 'assaulted for filming the march yet police failed to intervene'. The CAA spokesperson added: 'The few arrests made were far too little, too late, as another Jewish community in the UK was intimidated into staying indoors while police stood by inertly. 'The Government has not acted to compel police to enforce the law robustly. British Jews were abandoned by authorities who appear increasingly unwilling to protect their Jewish citizens, allowing extremist mobs to act with impunity.' Meanwhile, the Community Security Trust, which works to protect Jewish neighbourhoods, branded the demonstration a 'deliberately antagonistic act'. A CST spokesman said: 'People have the choice about when and where to protest, and organising a pro-Palestinian march of this nature near to synagogues on the Sabbath is a deliberately antagonistic act that we utterly condemn. 'It causes fear and alarm in the local Jewish community and damages wider relations. The pro-Palestine action told how Israeli strikes were taking place 'in the birthplace of Jesus' Banners held by demonstrators offered messages such as 'Hands off Gaza' 'The new police powers announced by the Home Secretary to prevent this kind of intimidation cannot come into force a moment too soon.' There were referring to proposed measures announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month - telling the CST in a speech she would introduce 'an explicit new power to prevent intimidating protests outside places of worship'. The National Jewish Assembly said: 'Jewish people should be able to practise their faith without feeling threatened.' And another campaign group Stop The Hate UK said: 'The Jewish community in Essex and across the UK is shocked and distressed. 'The trust that once existed between our community and the police has been severely undermined.' The Telegraph has reported that one of the march's speakers Amy Abdelnoor, 46, from Essex, confirmed there were chants of 'Stop killing babies'. She backed the choice of words being used, saying that United Nations children's charity had described the Gaza offensive as a 'war on children'. She added: 'We were calling on the Government to stop arming Israel, we were calling on the Israeli government to end the occupation. The demonstration took place in Westcliff-on-Sea near its rail station on Saturday Marchers were showing their opposition to Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza Palestinian flags were flown as activists marched down the streets in Essex 'We were calling on the Israeli government to stop bombing Gaza and we were calling on the Israeli government to stop killing children.' She added: 'There was no provocation whatsoever, and it was made very clear that this was presented as religious, but it's not, it's political. 'There were two speakers at the rally today who were Jewish, and one of them made very clear that he felt safe. 'The marches normally are at the end of the Sabbath, so its utterly disingenuous, cynical manipulation of the Jewish faith and utterly untrue. 'This has nothing to do with religion it's all to do with ideology. Its absolutely cynical manipulation of Judaism.' Essex Police said: 'Earlier this month, we were made aware of a planned event due to take place in Westcliff on Saturday 19 April. 'As a result, a proportionate, appropriate, and visible policing plan was put in place which covered key areas of the event route. 'Having engaged with local communities, to ensure everyones safety and wellbeing, a condition was placed upon the event, moving its start time to 2.30pm. That event then took place. 'However, should any reports come to our attention, we will of course investigate them as we would any other criminal allegations made to us. 'We always follow up with all communities affected after events such as this and this will be no different. 'As we have consistently said, we police our county without fear or favour. 'Among the numerous engagements carried out during the event, we escorted a group of people across the road, while the event was going on. It would be inaccurate to suggest this was anything other than officers trying to help a group of people.' Dash cam has captured the incredible moment a meteor shower lit up the skies before crashing to the ground. Millions of Aussies were treated to a spectacular light show on Monday night that could be seen from as far as Bundaberg in central Queensland right down to Grafton in the NSW northern rivers region and inland as far as Inverell and Moree. It was part of the Lyrid meteor shower, an annual celestial event that usually occurs every April. It's also one of Earth's oldest known meteor showers. Dash cam from southern Queensland showed a blue-green meteor shower streaking across the dark sky before plummeting below suburban homes seconds later. Stanthorpe residents in the Southern Downs region reported that their homes shook from the impact and claimed it sounded like an explosion. 'It shook the whole house and set the dogs off,' one local wrote online. Another added: 'It scared the crap out of the majority of us.' A third wrote: 'It was definitely a bright flash of light to the south/south-east of Warwick.' Dash cam showed a meteor shower streaking across the dark sky before plummeting below suburban homes seconds later Closer to the coast, the stunning meteor shower was captured on a Brisbane weather live cam shortly before 7.30pm. Many stargazers took to the social media to describe the meteor as a 'green and blue flash'. 'It was so bright up here in Bundaberg. I was quite shocked. It was so fast and the colour was amazing!' one wrote. Another added ' A mate just turned up saying it was the fastest, brightest, and greenest thing he had ever seen . he was heading northwest from Lismore.' Up to 10 to 18 meteors each hour light up the sky during the shower's peak, according to NASA. Although best seen in the northern nemisphere, the Lyrid meteor shower can be viewed with a naked eye particularly in Australia's northern states if the night sky is clear with no light pollution. The Lyrids have been observed and reported since 687 BC and no other modern shower has been recorded as far back in time. Stargazers who missed Monday night's cosmic phenomenon should get another chance on Tuesday night. MAGA couples are embracing Donald Trump's 'baby boom' and announcing their pregnancies as the White House works to encourage more Americans to have children. The Trump Administration has been weighing ideas to motivate Americans to have more babies as the country faces a plummeting fertility rate. His supporters have embraced his efforts and dubbed his presidency the 'Trump baby boom,' as they announce their pregnancies. Thomas and Natalie Sauer recently revealed on X that they are expecting their first child with the mother-to-be excited to be a part of the 'Trump baby boom.' 'This October, Natalie and I will celebrate a new addition to the Sauer family! Glory to God and his countless blessings,' Thomas said. Re-sharing her husband's post of the couple and their sonogram, Natalie said, 'Glad to get this off my chest, now I can finally tweet about being pregnant like every other girl on here during the Trump baby boom.' Thomas, 44, is an 18-year Navy and Marine Corps Veteran and the founder of Miramar Health, which provides mental health services for veterans. Natalie, 27, is a graduate student at Concordia University Irvine. The couple are proud MAGA supporters, and posted a picture with JD Vance and RFK Jr. after Trump's landslide 2024 election victory. MAGA couples have embraced Donald Trump's efforts to encourage more Americans to have children and dubbed his presidency the 'Trump baby boom' MAGA couple Thomas and Natalie Sauer recently revealed on X that they are expecting their first child 'US patriots in control and dudes rock,' Natalie captioned the post. The couple was flooded with replies of people congratulating them and supporting their decision to have a baby while Trump is in office. 'Trump baby boom! Love it. Congrats,' one person said. 'Congratulations! There is nothing better. Best job in the world,' said another. 'Congrats you two. Nothing greater than the role of mother and father,' a third person said. 'Eep! congratulations - we love to see a growing family,' said a fourth. The White House has been hearing a plethora of proposals on measures to reverse declining birthrates, reported the New York Times. One proposal would reserve 30 percent of scholarships for the prestigious Fulbright fellowship for applicants who are married or have children. Another would give a $5,000 cash 'baby bonus' to every American mother after delivery, the outlet reported. A third calls for government funded programs to educate women on their menstrual cycles so they can better understand when they are ovulating and able to conceive. The couple are proud MAGA supporters, and posted a picture with JD Vance and RFK Jr. after Trump's landslide 2024 election victory Trump, who referred to himself as the 'father of fertilization' on the campaign trial, signed an executive order that seeks to make in-vitro fertilization more accessible in February. The EO tasks the assistant to the President for Domestic Policy with looking into recommendations on how to make IVF 'drastically more affordable.' His press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the order will 'aggressively' reduce out-of-pocket costs for the procedure that costs generally costs between $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle, according to the text of the order. The fertility rate in the US has plunged to another new low, with fewer women than at any point in history having children. The rate was 54.5 births per 1,000 women of childbearing age (15 to 44 years old) last year, a three percent fall compared to 56 in 2022. The number of babies born in the US also declined year-over-year, with just under 3.6million live births in 2023. Experts say the US is headed for a so-called 'underpopulation crisis' by 2050, when too few people are born to support its current economic system. The most recent CDC data showed in 2023, the total fertility rate fell to 1.62 births per woman, the lowest since the government began tracking the metric in the 1930s. However, for a population to stay the same size, it must achieve a 'replacement' level fertility rate of 2.1 - a number the US hasn't recorded since 2007, before the 2008 financial crash. If unaddressed over time, it can lead to an increasing aging population, with a significant proportion needing care and unable to work. The Papal ring, which often features an image of the first Pope, Saint Peter, is presented to the leader of the Catholic church at his papal inauguration. Also known as the Fisherman's ring, it represents the Pope's authority and role within the Catholic church and is typically worn on the right hand's ring finger. Pope Francis's signet ring was bestowed to him in 2013 when he was elected Pope, but will now be destroyed as per tradition following his death on Easter Monday. The standard design of the papal ring shows an image of Saint Peter, one of Jesus Christ's apostles, and has the reigning Pope's name inscribed above it. Although the signet rings of some Popes have featured Peter, who was a fisherman, casting his nets from a boat, others have depicted the saint holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven - believed to have been given by Christ to Peter as the first bishop of Rome. Therefore, when a new Pope is inaugurated, the bestowal of the ring symbolises the duty being handed down to him as one of Peter's successors and leader of the church. The ring was formerly used as a seal for the Pope's private letters and papal briefs, but although it is no longer used in this way, the newly elected Pope receives his own ring as a symbol of his priestly authority. The Fisherman's Ring is typically made of gold, but the ring that was presented to Pope Francis in 2013 was made of gold-plated silver. Italian cardinal Angelo Sodano (R) puts the Fisherman's Ring, made of gold-plated silver, on a finger of Pope Francis during his grandiose inauguration mass on March 19, 2013 at the Vatican When a new Pope is inaugurated, the bestowal of the ring symbolises the duty being handed down to him as one of Peter's successors and leader of the church The Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis on Monday. Pictured: Pope Francis delivers his Urbi Et Orbi blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican What happens to the Papal ring when the Pope dies? Upon the death of the Pope, his ring is destroyed with a special hammer by the cardinal camerlengo - a senior Vatican official responsible for key rituals like sealing the papal apartments, destroying the Pope's Fisherman's Ring, and announcing the death. The practice not only symbolises the end of the Pope's authority, but also safeguards against its misuse such as as the ring being used to forge documents. The ceremony of destroying the Papal ring takes place after official confirmation of the Pope's death. The cardinal camerlengo announces the death before taking possession of the ring and destroys it in the presence of the College of Cardinals. This event occurs before the cardinals formally begin the papal conclave to elect the next Pope. The custom of destroying a Pope's ring was altered, however, when Pope Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy in 2013, having served as Pope since 2005. Rather than smashing the ring, the cardinal camerlengo marked a deep cross on the upper part of the ring using a chisel. The standard design of the papal ring shows an image of Saint Peter, one of Jesus Christ's apostles, and has the reigning Pope's name inscribed above it In March 2019 a video clip that appeared to show Pope Francis pulling his hand away from pilgrims who had been waiting to meet him after celebrating a mass in Lorento, Italy Why do people kiss the Papal ring? Kissing the Papal ring is an ancient show of respect and admiration for the Pope, who is considered the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The practice has become less common in recent years common in recent years, with late Pope Francis encouraging faithfuls not to kiss his signet ring. According to the journalist Peter Seewald in his book-length interview The Light of the World, Pope Benedict XVI actually abolished the tradition of kissing the pope's hand, 'though no one followed the new protocol.' America Magazine's Vatican correspondent, Gerard O'Connell, explained that when cardinals came forward at the conclave that elected Pope Francis to express their obedience to him, he tried to stop them from kissing his ring. In March 2019 a video clip that appeared to show Pope Francis pulling his hand away from pilgrims who had been waiting to meet him after celebrating a mass in Lorento, Italy, caused some confusion and controversy. However, the Vatican released a statement that Francis was simply concerned for hygienic reasons and did not want to risk spreading germs between people. An easyJet flight was forced to divert after a passenger claimed to see snakes on the plane. The man was wearing a t-shirt with a snake print on and appeared to hallucinate that the reptiles were slithering around in the cabin as he repeatedly screamed: 'Snakes on a plane! We need to land!,' the Sun reports. 'It sounds funny to hear a passenger screaming "Snakes on the Plane!" but it was incredibly scary for the families on the easyJet flight,' a source told the newspaper. 'No-one quite knew what was going on, or initially if the flyer had actually seen a snake loose among the cabin at 30,000ft,' they said, adding that it was soon clear that the passenger was allegedly under the influence and 'imagining things'. The man reportedly become threatening and the pilots on the flight from Gatwick airport to Marrakech in Morocco on Saturday decided to make an emergency landing in Faro due to the commotion caused by the unruly passenger. Local police were alerted and waited on the runway to lead the man off the Airbus A320. Flight EZY8705 with 180 passengers and crew on board continued its flight to Marrakech, where it landed around 11pm after setting off in London eight hours prior. The diversion caused knock-on delays of up to four hours on the easyJet network on Saturday in the midst of Easter Bank Holiday weekend travels. An easyJet flight was forced to divert after a passenger claimed to see snakes on the plane (stock) The man was not the first passenger whose hallucinations on a plane resulted in consequences for other passengers. In May 2017, a Turkish man who claimed to have 'butterfly hallucinations' had a violent outburst on a flight from Los Angeles to Hawaii that resulted in fighter jets being called to escort the plane down. Anil Uskanli later claimed in a Honolulu federal court as he pleaded guilty to interfering with a flight crew that a butterfly suddenly came out of the front pocket of the seat in front of him. 'The butterfly went crazy... flew into the toilet,' he said. 'I followed it. I tried to kill it by punching it.' The 25-year-old added that he now realizes that he was ill and hallucinating. Authorities said Uskanli inspired so much fear among flight attendants that military fighter jets were scrambled to escort the plane to Hawaii. A progressive Florida pastor has likened deported El Salvador migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Jesus during an impassioned Easter sermon. Rev. Andy Oliver of Allendale United Methodist Church in St Petersburg made the comparison during his speech on Sunday. The pastor explained that he and 50 other congregations have been lighting a candle of 'peace, hope and justice' which is wrapped in barbed wire to symbolize 'Christ's light shining even in the midst of barbed wire policies'. He then dedicated the candle to Abrego Garcia and other migrants who have been detained and deported. Abrego Garcia, 33, was deported to his homeland last month after prosecutors alleged he is an MS-13 gang member. He has been painted as a wronged hero by some in the liberal media, but has been accused of beating his wife multiple times in recent years. The Trump administration continues to insist that Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gangster and says he has previously appeared on law enforcement radar over drugs, associating with other MS-13 gang members and suspected human trafficking. The father-of-three has denied all allegations against him and has no criminal convictions in the US or El Salvador. He was sent back to his homeland against the orders of an immigration judge. The Supreme Court recently ruled that the Trump administration must work to get Abego Garcia back, but the White House is digging its heels in. Florida pastor Rev. Andy Oliver has likened deported El Salvador migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Jesus during an impassioned Easter sermon The pastor explained that he and 50 other congregations have been lighting a candle of 'peace, hope and justice' which is wrapped in barbed wire to symbolize 'Christ's light shining even in the midst of barbed wire policies' He then dedicated the candle to Abrego Garcia and other migrants who have been detained and deported 'This morning we light the candle of peace, hope and justice for all those who are being labelled alien enemies and deported. Shackled by fear they will be next or waiting for news that their loved one is okay,' Oliver said. 'We continue to pray for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the Supreme Court has ordered must be returned home after our government unlawfully kidnapped him.' He also mentioned Arturo Suarez Trejo, a Venezuelan musician also swept up in Trump's mass deportations. Oliver went on to urge officials to demonstrate the mercy associated with Jesus, instead of 'Pontius Pilate's fear and contemptment [sic]'. In the Bible, Pilate sentenced Jesus to die by crucifixion following a sham public trial. Abrego Garcia has been languishing in El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison since his removal. Oliver likened the situation to a 'concentration camp' as he pointed out that Abrego Garcia has been denied 'due process'. 'These detention centers have more in common with concentration camps than with prisons, because a prison by definition operate within a judicial system,' Oliver continued. Rev. Andy Oliver (he/him/his), pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church in St Petersburg, Florida, lights a candle wrapped in barbed wire in honor of alleged wife beater Kilmar Abrego Garciaduring his EASTER church service. "We continue to pray for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who pic.twitter.com/LZvHbQBCoc Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) April 21, 2025 Prosecutors allege he is a member of the notorious MS-13 gang, which he staunchly denies 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 'A person is arrested, charged and tried and if found guilty sentenced. A concentration camp on the other hand functions outside the law. 'People are held without a trial without condition indefinitely, not for what they have done but for who they are.' In its justification for deporting Kilmar Abrego, the Department of Homeland Security has released details about an incident when the migrant was stopped by Tennessee Highway Patrol officer who suspected he may have been trafficking people. The officer did not pursue any charges and Kilmar Abrego was released without arrest. Kilmar Abrego was also previously accused of domestic abuse by his wife Jennifer Vasquez, who filed for a temporary protection order in 2021. However, she later withdrew the allegations and the incident did not result in any convictions. Vasquez has been standing by her husband throughout his detainment. brego Garcia was suspected of human trafficking in 2022, according to Department of Homeland Security records including bodycam footage White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt has continued to insist that Abrego Garcia is a gang member, although the credibility of the evidence has been questioned by the Supreme Court. Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador aged 16 and entered the US by illegal means. However, he was granted residency after he successfully argued that he would face persecution from gangs in his homeland. A Texas GOP politician is in the hospital fighting for her life after a knife attack at her home that left her husband dead. Denton County Commissioner, Republican Bobbie Mitchell was stabbed in her Lewisville home during the early morning hours on Monday. Her husband Fred was killed in the same attack. The couple's 23-year-old grandson, Mitchell Blake Reinacher, was shockingly arrested for the crime. He now faces murder and aggravated assault charges. Officers rushed to the scene at the 1000 block of Springwood Drive just before 4am after receiving reports of an assault. When they arrived, they discovered both victims suffering from stab wounds, as reported by Fox4 News. The suspect was still at the property and was immediately taken into custody by Lewisville Police. Commissioner Mitchell is currently listed as stable at a local hospital, though the exact details of her condition are unknown at this time. Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell was stabbed in her Lewisville home during the early morning hours on Monday Her husband Fred (left) was killed in the same attack The couple's 23-year-old grandson, Mitchell Blake Reinacher, was shockingly arrested for the crime. He now faces murder and aggravated assault charges Her husband Fred was rushed to hospital but tragically died just after 5am. Their grandson Reinacher was booked into Lewisville jail as investigators continue the investigation. Mitchell, who is a great-grandmother and former Lewisville City Council member, made history as the city's first Black mayor when elected in 1993. She's held that position until January 2000 when she stepped down to pursue her current county role. Denton County Judge Andy Eads shared a tribute on social media stating: 'My dear friend, colleague and mentor Precinct 3 Commissioner Bobbie J. Mitchell has suffered a huge tragedy this morning. I ask that you keep her and her family in your prayers as she recovers. Officers rushed to the scene at the 1000 block of Springwood Drive just before 4am after receiving reports of an assault Officers rushed to the scene at the 1000 block of Springwood Drive just before 4am after receiving reports of an assault. When they arrived, they discovered both victims suffering from stab wounds 'Her beloved husband, Fred Mitchell, a longtime friend, will be greatly missed. Please honor their privacy as the family navigates this horrible tragedy.' Representative Jared Patterson also shared a message of prayer online, saying: 'Please join Leslie and me in prayer for Denton County's most beloved public servant, Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell, as she attempts to recover from this attack while mourning the death of her husband, Fred.' A diver is missing and feared dead after being mauled by a shark in Israel. Footage posted on social media shows a diver flailing in the water off the coast of Hadera on Monday. Other footage showed beach-goers, including children, standing in the water and marvelling at sharks as they swam around their legs just moments before the diver was attacked. Horror video of the incident then showed the diver further out at sea thrashing around during the bloody attack as the water quickly turned red. An eyewitness told Channel 12 News: 'I saw the diver in the depths of the water, he shouted, 'I'm bitten, I'm bitten' and waved his hands in the air. After a few minutes, sharks bit him - and suddenly he disappeared.' Shark attacks in the Mediterranean are extremely rare, with 50 recorded since 1900, and only 11 fatal. The Hadera Municipality Coastal Department said it was 'conducting searches by jet ski to locate the diver and will continue to update as developments occur. 'We urge the public traveling in the area to avoid entering the water and contact with the sharks,' it added. A shark was seen swimming close to the shore at Olga Beach, Israel, before a diver was mauled Footage captured the diver thrashing around in the water as the shark attacked them Children were seen standing in the water as sharks swam around their legs A call was received by Magen David Adom's 101 dispatch center in the Sharon region at around 3:02pm to an incident at Olga Beach. Police and rescue workers have been deployed to the scene, with the police saying in a statement that no casualties had yet been located. Israel Police said: 'A short time ago, officers from the Hadera Police Station and the Maritime Police were dispatched to the Hadera stream following reports from citizens who claimed they saw a shark attacking a diver in the water. 'Forces are en route, but no casualties have been located so far.' Footage uploaded to social media has also shown helicopters scanning the waters for the missing diver. Following the incident, the police have closed the beach to swimmers until further notice. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel has reacted to the shark attack by saying it called on the state four years ago to regulate behaviour in waters sharks visit. It said: 'Every winter, a unique phenomenon occurs in Israel in which sharks and rays gather at the outlet of the warm waters of the power stations. 'In the case of such a fascinating and public-attracting phenomenon, it would be appropriate to take conservation and safety measures for the public, but over the years, chaos has developed in the area.' 'I started recording and saw they were sharks. They got within 164 to 328ft of the shoreline, which caused panic among swimmers. 'Still, some tried to approach them despite the lifeguards clear orders to get out of the water. The sharks moved from south to north, did a sort of "dance", and eventually disappeared.' Footage uploaded to social media has also shown helicopters scanning the waters for the missing diver The Hadera Municipality Coastal Department said it was 'conducting searches by jet ski to locate the diver and will continue to update as developments occur It comes after a tourist was killed in a shark attack at a popular Red Sea holiday resort in Egypt in December. The injured man was taken to hospital in Port Ghalib, around 30 miles north of Marsa Alam, the Egyptian ministry said at the time. The ministry said the attack occurred in deep water outside the designated swimming zone near the jetties in northern Marsa Alam, adding that swimming out from the jetties was prohibited and the jetties would be closed for two days. An EU official was also mauled to death by a shark at a luxury Egyptian resort last year. Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, from Rome, had been snorkeling at a beach located in front of the glamorous Red Sea Sataya Resort on the coast of Marsa Alam, before the attack. The tourist, who worked at the European External Action Service, the diplomatic service of the European Union, was in the sea alongside his friend Giuseppe Fappani, 69, as they celebrated Di Gioia's birthday. But the trip took a horrific turn when the pair were approached by a tiger shark in the Egyptian waters, while they swam just 50metres from the beach in an area where the resort's jetty allows tourists to access beyond the coral reef. In 2023, a Russian man was heard screaming 'papa' as he was mauled to death by a shark in the Egyptian resort of Hurghada. Tourists watched in horror from the shore as the beast wounded the man before dragging him under the water. His distraught girlfriend managed to escape. The tourist - believed to be 23 - was on a long stay in Egypt. He was named in Russia by Baza news outlet as Vladimir Popov, and had moved to the resort with his father. His father watched the fatal attack in horror, which was also filmed from the shore. Spain's prime minister has launched a fresh crusade against British tourists seeking to visit his country by announcing a crackdown on holiday rentals in 'high tension' areas. In the latest onslaught against holidaying Britons, Pedro Sanchez's new measures will now allow residential communities to ban individual property owners from using their apartments as vacation lets. It means families hoping to find a place to stay in popular tourism hotspots like Barcelona, Costa Blanca and Malaga could now have their summer plans dashed as providers are turfed out. The Spanish government has also threatened hefty fines against holiday platforms, including Airbnb, for hosting properties that fail to comply with licensing rules. Airbnb, however, claims it has been made a 'scapegoat' in the country's wider housing crisis, with the property rental giant now accusing Spain's left-wing government of putting 30billion (25.7billion) of annual tourism activity at risk. It comes as Spanish locals continue to wage war on holidaying Brits, as communities increasingly seek to outlaw visiting families from the UK from their towns and cities. Prime minister Sanchez is now piling further on pressure on local authorities in 'high-tension areas', like Malaga and Barcelona, to enforce limits on the number of legitimate tourism rentals they allow in their cities, in fresh blow for holidaymakers. Under the new legislation introduced earlier this month, holiday rentals can now be banned from an apartment complex if 60 per cent of property owners vote against them, citing noise concerns or other disruptions. Tenerife locals hold placards raising concerns about the impact of mass tourism, October 2024 A sign at an Alicante protest reads 'F*** Airbnb', expressing frustration with the holiday home rental company An aerial view of people gathering to protest soaring housing prices as part of a nationwide demonstration organized by tenant unions under the slogan 'End the Housing Business' in Madrid, Spain on April 5, 2025 The clamp down follows a boom in house prices and rents, which have doubled in less than a decade in some tourism hotspots. Skyrocketing rents are particularly acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for young people. The lack of affordable housing has prompted fierce protests across Spain in recent months, with communities nationwide railing against them. The most recent rally on April 5 saw thousands of people taking to the streets across 40 cities as they demanded lower rents and a tougher stance on foreign visitors as Spain continues to take a more insular approach to British tourists. Mr Sanchez has already vowed to increase affordable housing for Spain's younger generations after forming a coalition government following the 2023 election. 'There are too many Airbnbs and not enough housing,' he declared earlier this year. After years of inaction by the Spanish government, a series of measures have been launched by some local authorities, threatening to ruin holidays for tourists who could unknowingly stay in unlicensed accommodation. Seville's city hall ruled that water can be cut off to unlicensed properties after rent prices surged in the Andalusian capital. Spain's prime minster Pedro Sanchez's new measures will allow residential communities to ban individual property owners from using their apartments as vacation lets According to Spain's central bank, almost 40 per cent of Spanish families who rent spend nearly half of their income on housing. Pictured: Mallorca is not for sale' reads a protest banner held by a girl in a march against housing prices and the impact of tourism on the residents of the Balearic Islands, in Palma, Mallorca The demonstrations took place in major Spanish towns and cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca Last year, Spain saw a record-breaking number of tourists, with over 15 million visitors flocking to the island of Mallorca alone While Malaga's city council announced a three-year moratorium on new tourism rental licences beyond the existing 12,660. And in Barcelona, the mayor declared last year that all existing licences for tourism rentals, around 10,000, would expire in 2028. However, Spanish authorities are still facing difficulties when it comes to shutting down illegal rentals. In Barcelona, the local city council has closed some 6,000 illegal holiday rentals over the last decade - but inspectors say they find 300 new sites each month. While Madrid is swamped by some 15,300 illegal rental sites compared to just 1,130 legitimately registered properties. The difference has sparked a bitter feud between the city's leadership and the Spanish government, with Spain's Consumer Affairs Ministry - run by Pablo Bustinduy - accusing Madrid's mayor of 'looking the other way' and 'favouring powerful interests over the rights of local residents'. Earlier this month, some 15,000 people marched through Madrid protesting the property crisis, with campaigners shouting slogans like: 'Landlords are thieves' and 'Madrid will be the tomb of rentals'. Angry renters have pointed to instances of international hedge funds buying up properties, often with the aim of renting them to foreign tourists. Marchers in Madrid chanted 'Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods' and held up signs against short-term rentals. 'No more leaving our neighborhoods, our homes, or even our cities every five or seven years,' said Valeria Racu, spokesperson for the Madrid tenants' union, in a statement at the start of the demonstration. Your browser does not support iframes. The average rent in Spain has almost doubled in the last 10 years Police officers intervene during a protest to demand lower housing rental prices and better living conditions, in Madrid 'We're calling on the half-million households whose contracts expire in 2025 to stay home and resist,' she added. Irate activists aired their grievances as angry mobs filled the streets, before taking aim at the 'touristification' of resorts along Spain's coasts. In the southern city of Murcia, 500 people chanted: 'We will not tolerate one more eviction'. Up north in Santander, a city on Spain's Atlantic coast, residents demanded public houses. 'No houses without people, no people without houses,' 'everyone under a roof, housing is a right', those in attendance chanted. A generation of young people say they have to stay with their parents or spend big just to share an apartment, with little chance of saving enough to one day purchase a home. High housing costs mean even those with traditionally well-paying jobs are struggling to make ends meet. According to Spain's central bank, almost 40 per cent of Spanish families who rent spend nearly half of their income on housing. Spain is one of the worst hit by demand for vacation properties, welcoming more than 88.5 million visitors in 2024 alone. 'Overtourism' is felt by locals desperate to afford their own homes, increasingly taking to the streets to demand action. But Spaniards are not alone in their battle for affordable housing and sustainable tourism practices. A man walks past a graffiti in central Athens hitting out at overtourism A local resident who was forced out of her home in Metaxourgio, Athens, said the situation in the bustling city was becoming 'very depressing' In Portugal, similar problems with short-term holiday rentals and a shortage of affordable housing has seen residents mobilise in cities across the country with banners decrying: 'I have to choose between paying for a house or eating.' France took steps late last year to temper growing frustration over the availability of housing, passing a long-awaited bill to tighten regulations on the short-term tourist rental market. The number of such rentals grew from 300,000 to 1.2 million between 2016 and 2024. Tourists are also flocking further east in search of less expensive accommodation and properties to buy as summer homes or medium-term investments. The Greek government was pressed to act last year, announcing a sweeping ban on short-term rental licences in three central districts in Athens due to 'a lot of pressure on society'. MPs and peers have launched a bid to block Donald Trump from addressing both Houses of Parliament - after Labour frontbenchers executed a dramatic U-turn on the prospect. Keir Starmer invited the US President for a State Visit as part of his charm offensive during a trip to the White House in February. However, concerns have been voiced about the idea after Mr Trump's bruising clash with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. The administration has also suggested annexing Canada and Greenland, criticised free speech in Europe and caused global chaos by slapping punitive tariffs on imports. Mr Trump revealed over the weekend that his 'friend' King Charles is looking at setting a date in September for his State Visit. However, some MPs and peers have broken cover in an effort to stop him being granted the honour of addressing Parliament. Barack Obama did so in 2011, although Joe Biden did not more recently. Labour's Rachael Maskell became the latest to register a public objection today, telling MailOnline: 'It would be completely inappropriate for the US President to address the Houses of Parliament.' Mr Trump was previously controversially barred from making a speech at Westminster by former Speaker John Bercow. Mr Bercow said in 2017 that it was 'an earned honour', not an 'automatic right'. The Commons Speaker, the Lord Speaker and the Lord Great Chamberlain - represented by Black Rod - are the three 'gatekeepers' who have to agree to such an address. Keir Starmer invited Donald Trump for a second State Visit as part of his charm offensive during a trip to the White House in February (pictured) Since coming to power David Lammy has been at great pains to avoid criticising Mr Trump, amid frantic efforts to maintain the 'Special Relationship' A 2017 Parliamentary motion signed by 206 MPs, including Mr Lammy, 'deplored' the US president's behaviour The US president has suggested the King, who he called his 'friend' and will formally host the state visit, is looking at 'setting a date for September' (pictured in 2019) That effective ban followed a Parliamentary motion being signed by 206 MPs, including Mr Lammy, 'deploring' the US president's behaviour. Other now-Cabinet ministers putting their names to the motion were Wes Streeting, Peter Kyle, Hilary Benn and Shabana Mahmood. The text noted 'the historical significance and honour that comes with an invitation to address both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall or elsewhere in the Palace of Westminster'. It called on the 'Speaker, Lord Speaker, Black Rod and Serjeant at Arms to withhold permission from the Government for an address to be made in Westminster Hall, or elsewhere in the Palace of Westminster, by President Trump'. Another Early Day motion in 2019, the year Mr Trump made his first state visit, was signed by Mr Lammy, Mr Streeting and now Leader of the House Lucy Powell among others. It again 'noted the historical significance and honour that comes with the choice to offer a full state visit to an individual' and urged 'the Prime Minister and the Government to rescind the advice to offer a full state visit to President Trump'. Since coming to power Labour ministers have been at great pains to avoid criticising Mr Trump, amid frantic efforts to maintain the 'Special Relationship'. A message sent to Lord McFall, the Lord Speaker, over the weekend said it would be 'inappropriate' for Mr Trump to give an address in the Palace of Westminster. Co-ordinated by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, a minister in Tony Blair's government, it responded to the suggestion the state visit would be in September. The message said: 'If it is suggested that he be invited to address both Houses of Parliament, I hope that you and Lindsay will suggest that would be inappropriate on this occasion because of his attitude towards and comments about the UK, parliamentary democracy, the Nato Alliance and Ukraine.' MPs are also privately lobbying Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. Kate Osborne, a Labour MP, asked Sir Lindsay to mirror Mr Bercow's previous decision. In a letter seen by The Times, she wrote: 'I am asking you as the Speaker to agree it would be inappropriate and mirror the previous Speaker's recommendation. 'It is up to our government to decide if they use the state visit to engage with Trump on a wide range of issues as above but that does not translate to giving him the honour of addressing parliament. The risk of low attendance could also have negative or unintended consequences.' Another Labour MP said: 'We don't need Trump to lecture and dictate his unilateral terms to our elected representatives.' However, Tory MP Julian Smith branded the attempt to block the address 'crackers'. 'Almost always better to engage & meet than to boycott - speaking to someone & meeting them doesn't equal agreement,' he posted on X. Both the Lords and Commons insisted they did not comment on 'private correspondence'. 'Should a request be made to address the Houses of Parliament, it will be considered in the usual way. Any decision would be made by Speakers of both Houses,' a spokesman said. Senior sources suggested the names that had so far emerged to voice opposition were 'not surprising'. Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office recently that he 'was invited by the King and the great country' and the State Visit will be 'beautiful'. He said: 'It is the second time is has happened to one person. The reason is we have two separate terms and it's an honour to be a friend of King Charles and the family, William.' Mr Trump added: 'I think they are setting a date for September. I don't know how it can be bigger than the last one. The last one was incredible but they say the next one will be even more important.' The US President is expected to be preceded by Emmanuel Macron, who has received an invitation from the King for his first State Visit at the end of May - eight years after taking office. Tory MP Julian Smith branded the attempt to block the address 'crackers' The Lord Speaker Lord McFall was sent a message that it would be 'inappropriate' for Trump to speak in the Palace of Westminster Lord Foulkes of Cumnock co-ordinated the letter to Lord McFall while MPs are also privately lobbying Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker During his first spell in the White House, Mr Trump visited both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth II Labour MPs have sought to avoid criticising the US president openly to avoid making Starmer's job harder as he seeks to seal a trade deal to minimise tariff pain. Government sources said the UK was pressing to get a deal as soon as possible, and was 'desperate' to do so before May 19. The date has been pencilled in as a big moment in Starmer's 'EU reset', when he will host Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. A government insider said: 'Trump hates the EU, so we're desperate to get a deal with him locked in before what will inevitably be a love-in with Brussels.' In 2011, Mr Obama address an audience of hundreds in Westminster Hall. Standing at a lectern in front of a red carpet, he was watched by then prime minister David Cameron, and predecessors Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Sir John Major. All three have to agree for a visit to take place, after a request is made by the Government. Senior sources confirmed to The Mail on Sunday in February that this time both the Lord Speaker and Commons Speaker would welcome a visit. In 2023, President Zelensky of Ukraine gave a speech in Westminster Hall about the Russian invasion. There have been 80 addresses to members of both Houses of Parliament since 1935. Eleven of these were from the monarch but most have been foreign leaders. These include Ronald Reagan in 1982 and Bill Clinton in 1995. A major supermarket chain has launched Britain's first 'in-prison' branch to help inmates adjust to the outside world upon their release. Food retailer Iceland last month opened a store at HMP Oakwood in Featherstone, Staffordshire - the largest prison in England. The branch gives prisoners the chance to use Monopoly-style money to stock up on groceries, including branded products like Chicago Town pizzas and Ben & Jerry's ice cream that are unavailable on the prison wings, The Times reported The supermarket is the first of its kind in the UK and is part of a new 'marketplace' constructed within a huge warehouse inside the jail, fashioned to look like a shopping centre. Alongside Iceland, the marketplace also features a coffee shop called Hopeful Grounds with inmate baristas, a fruit and veg stand and a leisure store called 'JP sports'. Inmates can earn currency to spend at the store up to a maximum of 25 per week as a reward for good behaviour at the Category C prison - though prices are cheaper than in Iceland's high street stores. The store also offers employment to some prisoners as they near the end of their sentences, to help ease their route back into the world of work following their release. HMP Oakwood, one of 15 privately run jails in England and Wales, is run by security firm G4S. Food retailer Iceland last month opened a store at HMP Oakwood in Featherstone, Staffordshire - the largest prison in England The store also offers employment to some prisoners as they near the end of their sentences, to help ease their route back into the world of work following their release. Pictured: shoppers inside an Iceland in Ipswich UK (not the in-prison store) Inmates can earn Monopoly-style money for good behaviour, which they can use to buy goods including Ben & Jerry's ice cream Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, rated the scheme as 'unusually effective' - and last year named HMP Oakwood the number one prison in England. Mr Taylor commended the prison for its strong leadership, high expectations placed on inmates, and 'a culture of prisoner-led initiatives' and calling it 'the best prison I have seen in my time as Chief Inspector'. That represents a major turnaround for HMP Oakwood, which a decade ago was dubbed 'Jokewood' by prisoners. The penitentiary was harshly criticised by prison inspectors in 2013 due to soaring levels of violence and the ease with which inmates were able to obtain drugs. Ellen Herickx, Iceland's employment lead manager, who previously worked at HMP Stocken in Rutland, told The Times: 'A lot of prisoners, when they come into prison, think, "Who's going to employ me? I'm in prison." '"That's it, that's the end of my life because nobody will take me on." So when they get that opportunity, that second chance, they grasp it with both hands,' she said. 'They're less likely to reoffend, they're less likely to mess up because they've got structure, routine, stability, so straight away they're on the right path. And they're grateful because they didn't expect another chance.' The marketplace was the brainchild of HMP Oakwood's head of employability Carly Balis, who helps identify inmates suitable for a role at the in-prison Iceland branch. Other brand available for inmates to buy in Iceland including items like Chicago Town pizzas which are unavailable in the prison wings She passes on their details to Paul Cowley MBE, Iceland's director of rehabilitation since 2022, who has spearheaded the supermarket giant's Second Chance scheme. According to The Times, Mr Cowley served a short prison sentence as a teenager for petty crime, before serving in the Armed Forces and then joining the priesthood. Under his leadership, Iceland has been helping ex-offenders across the UK get back into the workforce. In total Iceland employs approximately 350 former inmates, while an additional 300 have job offers ahead of their release. Mr Cowley carries out interviews with all potential inmates employees before allocating successful candidates a role either in-store or as a delivery driver. Sean Oliver, HMP Oakwood's governor, said the scheme helped some inmates on lengthy sentences reacquaint themselves with using money and let them 'feel and see what normality is like'. Workers at the store regularly school prisoners on the basics of a supermarket shop, including things like where to place their baskets and how to go about paying. Prison reformers also say that giving inmates jobs helps them invest in their future and stops them reoffending. An NHS Trust has issued staff with a wheel of privilege which could help them work out how lucky or marginalised they are. The multi-coloured chart forms part of an allyship training module and shows thin, white and comfortably well-off straight people classified as being closest to a central power hub. Large, dark-skinned people, those in poverty and lesbian or bisexual people are ranked in an outer marginalised zone while gay men feature alongside those of average body size, the lighter skinned and those struggling financially in a middle section of the colour wheel. The graph is handed to staff at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (SFHT) as part of the voluntary allyship training package which they can sign up for on top of mandatory diversity training. But the Nottinghamshire trust was accused of peddling a half-baked, intellectually vacuous notion of white privilege by Tory MP Sir John Hayes. Sir John, who represents South Holland and The Deepings in the neighbouring county of Lincolnshire, said: This kind of nonsense can have a vicious effect in that if you happen to be a white person who might be facing challenges these could be health issues, or being widowed, or caring for elderly parents that person could still be deemed to be privileged. 'Yet if you are rich, black and portly you are still considered to be somewhat under-privileged (according to the wheel). Sir John said the wheel displayed a lack of wit and wisdom, adding: On any such wheel that gauged wit and wisdom, whoever devised this chart would be on the outer edge of it. The wheel of privilege shared by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The Trust said it spent no money developing the resource, which was already widely available online. It said the wheel was handed out to help allyship training participants to better understand privilege. In its Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) glossary of terms, SFHT describes an ally as someone who uses their privilege from being part of a dominant group to take action to challenge oppression by supporting and advocating with the oppressed/discriminated against group. The wheel was adapted from a similar web of oppression chart from a 2016 article by James R Vanderwoerd, Professor of Social Work at Redeemer University college in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and a Wheel of Power and Privilege devised by teacher Sylvia Duckworth from nearby Toronto. The wheel ranks groups such as trans, non-binary and those with significant neurodivergence in the marginalised outer ring, while cisgender men people born male who identify as men and the neurotypical are on the inner ring of the wheel. It features a total of 12 categories with titles including Gender, Skin Colour, Sexuality and Wealth. In the latter segment, those in poverty are in the marginalised zone, those struggling are in the middle section while comfortable people are in the inner section closest to power. Silver Voices, a membership organisation for senior citizens which campaigns for an improved NHS, accused SFHT of gimmickry. Spokesman Dennis Reed added: Staff should be aware that some people are marginalised in society but this seems over the top in terms of the number of categories and the importance of different categories. He stressed that the group appreciated the importance of equal opportunities but said some initiatives had now got out of hand. The Trust runs Kings Mill Hospital (above) in Sutton-in-Ashfield The existence of the wheel emerged in a response to a Freedom of Information request to the NHS trust. It came to light days after a landmark Supreme Court ruling that biology defines whether or not a person is a woman, and that the term does not include biological men who identify as women. Judges said a woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex. Wednesdays ruling was hailed as a victory for common sense, by Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. In their ruling, the Supreme Court judges stressed that the law still protects transgender people. SFHT provides mandatory online EDI training for all staff which has to be completed when joining the trust and every three years thereafter. In 2021, the trust introduced a People EDI Lead a Band 7 position earning between 43,742 and 50,056 in 2023/24. In 2023 a People EDI Officer position was also created on a salary of between 28,407 and 34,581. A spokesperson for SFHT said: Our hardworking NHS colleagues are at the heart of everything we do to save and improve patients lives across all of the diverse communities we are proud to serve here at Sherwood Forest Hospitals. Training and education opportunities that are proportionate and offer good value-for-money are a vital part of the support we offer our colleagues to help them to keep doing what they do best providing outstanding care to the patients we care for. He is just days away from his first scheduled court appearance after being charged with a series of sex crimes, including rape. But comedian Russell Brand is continuing to live his life while embracing his newfound Christian faith as he enjoyed Easter celebrations over the weekend with members of a congregation near his US home in Florida. The actor-turned-activist said he was having a beautiful Resurrection Day with so many joyful souls on Sunday as he posed for photos on what is believed to be Pensacola Beach in Florida, including one alongside John Spencer, the founding pastor of the nearby Coastline Calvary Chapel. Brand, 49, was earlier this month charged with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault, allegedly committed between 1999 and 2005 against four separate women. The alleged offences are said to have taken place in Bournemouth and the Westminster area of London. The Metropolitan Police began investigating Brand in September 2023 after a number of allegations were first reported by Channel 4s Dispatches and The Sunday Times. He moved to the US last year with his wife, Laura Gallacher sister of TV presenter Kirsty and their three young children, claiming it was because he had become an inconvenience to the media, government and judiciary in Britain. The former Left-wing media darling has since been feted by the pro-Donald Trump Make America Great Again movement and made a series of anti-vax and other conspiracy theory claims. On Sunday the actor-turned-activist Brand posted several images on Instagram with the caption 'A beautiful Resurrection Day with so many joyful souls The Metropolitan Police began investigating Brand in September 2023 after a number of allegations were first reported by Channel 4 s Dispatches and The Sunday Times Last year, he was baptised in the River Thames by his friend, the TV adventurer Bear Grylls, and he now regularly discusses his religion on social media and the streaming platform Rumble. In a video posted to X after the charges were announced against him, Brand denied the allegations. He said: I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was, was a rapist. I've never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.' He added: Of course I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and Im incredibly grateful for that. Brand is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on May 2. Pope Francis died some 90 minutes after he was awoken by his alarm clock this morning. The Pontiff, who died today aged 88 at the Saint Martha residence in the Vatican, 'passed away peacefully', according to his doctors. He reportedly woke up when his alarm went off at 6am, fell ill at 7am and died from a stroke at 7.35am, according to Corriere della Serra. The Vatican has today confirmed that Pope Francis died a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure. The cerebral stroke led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, a death certificate released by the Vatican says. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, issued the official certification, said that the Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes. His death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography. The report comes around 12 hours after the pontiff's death was first announced. The death of the Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, came less than a month after having been released from hospital following a 38-day battle with double pneumonia. Pope Francis (pictured) died some 90 minutes after he was awoken by his alarm clock this morning, Italian media reports A parishioner weeps in front of a picture of Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Monday, April 21, 2025, in New York Pope Francis greets the faithful at the end of the Easter Mass celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Comastri to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, at the Vatican, on April 20, 2025 A parishioner touches a painting of the late Pope Francis at the Basilica de San Jose de Flores, where he worshipped as a youth, following the Vatican's announcement of his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, April 21, 2025 In a final act of devotion, Pope Francis had greeted worshippers in St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday in what turned out to be his last public appearance before his death. Surprisingly, the Pope was not wearing a nasal cannula hooked up to oxygen when he was driven through the crowd of 35,000 faithful yesterday, having worn it for many of his appearances since he was discharged. For about 50 minutes, the pontiff's vehicle slowly moved through the masses in 21C heat, in spite of doctors' orders that the pope rest and cut buck his schedule at the very least. But the pontiff was determined to continue doing God's work. Earlier, he had appeared on the Vatican balcony and told crowds, 'Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter', before an aide read the rest of his annual Urbi et Orbi blessing and speech, which called for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The Holy See's press service announced only the Pontiff's death shortly after he passed away, writing in tribute that he had dedicated his 'entire life' to serving God and the church. His body will now lie in state in St Peter's Basilica for three days, and then he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. His body could lie in state as soon as Wednesday, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office. As the world mourns the loss of the Catholic leader, the battle to succeed Pope Francis, one for the very soul of the Catholic Church and its over a billion followers around the world, has likely begun behind closed doors. Whoever becomes the 267th Pope will dictate the direction of the Church for the next decade or more on the most pressing, and contentious, issues facing society. Francis (pictured on Easter Sunday) died from a cerebral haemorrhage and a stroke, the Vatican said today For about 50 minutes, the pontiff's vehicle slowly moved through the masses, but Italian media now speculate that doctors would have advised against him bathing in the crowd as he was likely immunocompromised following his pneumonia battle Pope Francis broke with the conservative stance of his two predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and his papacy will be remembered for his liberalism on LGBTQ+ rights, his support for refugees, and his focus on climate change. In recent years Francis has done a great deal to shape the makeup of the ancient and secretive group that will appoint his successor, with about 80 per cent of the 138 Cardinals eligible to vote having been appointed by him, meaning there is a good chance the next Pope will be somebody loyal to Francis who takes a liberal approach to the Papacy. However this is far from certain as once the College of Cardinals convenes for the 'highly political' process known as the conclave, all bets could be off. While it may come down to a battle between conservative and liberal factions, there is certainly no unified block and many of the Cardinals appointed by Francis come from a wide range of countries that have starkly different views on issues such as the role of women in the Church and attitudes towards gay Catholics. Relationships and personalities will also be at play. Top contenders for the highly-sought after role include Peter Turkson, the former Bishop of the Cape Coast. If elected, he would be the first black Pope and would have the appeal of reaching out to Africa. Another top contender is Luis Antonio Tagle, the former Archbishop of Manila, who has emerged as the frontrunner in the betting markets. He would have the appeal of being the first Asian Pope, the region with the fastest-growing Catholic population. He has opposed abortion rights in the Philippines but would be considered one of the more liberal candidates. A worshipper cries during Mass at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' death on Easter Monday The Pope was sitting in a wheelchair as he waved to the crowd from the main balcony of St Peter's basilica while an aid delivered his Urbi et Orbi message He has complained that the Catholic church has been too harsh towards gay and divorced couples, and that this has hampered its evangelical work. Just days before the Pontiff's death, the ailing pope told reporters he was 'living it as best I can' after he was plagued with health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline. The pontiff had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks. In September 2024, he carried out a 12-day tour across south-east Asia and Oceania that included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. When he was discharged from hospital last month, his doctors had said he would need at least two months of rest at his residence. The pontiff had presented 'two very critical episodes' where his 'life was in danger' while in hospital, according to one of the doctors who took care of him. But he appeared keen not to be confined to his rooms at the Casa Santa Maria. The late figure made surprise appearances at the end of Masses and visits to St Peter's Basilica, which gave faithful hope that his condition was improving. In the last week of his life, he appeared in public twice without the nasal cannula through which he has been receiving oxygen. Yesterday he met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance a Catholic convert who was received into the church in 2019. The 88-year-old pontiff delivered his 'Urbi et Orbi' benediction from a balcony overlooking the square following mass to mark the holiday The pontiff appeared tired as he sat on the balcony overlooking the masses of faithful gathered on St Peter's Square 'The meeting, which lasted a few minutes, gave the opportunity to exchange greetings on Easter Sunday', the Vatican said. The Vatican said the meeting between the vice president and the Holy Father was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. The Pope offered the Vice President three large chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children, who did not attend. The pair had tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration's plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy. The meeting raised hopes that Francis could be making a recovery, after he turned away from giving Vance an audience on Friday, officially out of caution over his health situation, Corriere reports. The Pope was hoped to be making a steady recovery from double pneumonia after his release from hospital last month before Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today. 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune,' he said in a statement. Francis had only left hospital under 'protected discharge' on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year. Thousands of faithful gathered under hazy skies in the sprawling plaza decorated with brightly-coloured tulips yesterday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pontiff on what turned out to be his last appearance before his death was announced today Pope Francis is helped to drink water during the Urbi et Orbi Message to the World at the central Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, on April 20, 2025 Pope Francis spent his final day celebrating Easter Sunday with Catholic faithful in St Peter's Square Pope Francis greets a little girl during the Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square a day before his death was announced by the Vatican Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City But he resolutely toured through the crowd of 35,000 believers 'for 50 minutes at 21 degrees' on Sunday after delivering the Urbi et Orbi benediction with help from an aide. The Pontiff concluded the traditional address by wishing Catholics a 'Happy Easter' and calling for an end to conflicts around the world. The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days. The College of Cardinals will soon meet in Rome to choose a successor. The conclave follows precise rules - only cardinals aged under 80 are allowed to vote. Of the 252 living cardinals, 138 are under 80 and are therefore eligible to vote in the conclave. The ballot will not take place for at least 15 days, after nine days of official mourning. In the interim, a cardinal known as the camerlengo, or chamberlain, becomes interim chief with limited powers. JD Vance (pictured left, yesterday) tried to mend his rocky relationship with Pope Francis (pictured right) at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the leader of the Catholic church slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants Pope Francis is helped to drink water from the balcony at St Peter's Square on April 20 Pope Francis tours St. Peter's Square in his popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Sunday The Pope's last blessing: Francis blessed an infant as he was driven through St Peter's Square yesterday, before his death was announced this morning A seagull flies in front of the central loggia at St Peter's square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 21, 2025 Sunday's scheduled canonisation of the Church's first millennial saint has also since been postponed to a later date, the Vatican said on Monday. Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006 aged 15, was meant to have his sainthood rubber-stamped in a mass at the Holy See on April 27. 'Following the death of the Sovereign Pontiff Francis, we inform you that the Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis... has been postponed,' the Vatican said in a brief statement. Dubbed 'God's Influencer' or the 'Cyber Apostle', Acutis spent much of his short life spreading the Catholic faith online. Carlo was born in London to Italian parents on May 3, 1991, but mostly grew up in Milan. He spent holidays in the family's second home in Assisi, and eventually died in Monza, northern Italy. His family was wealthy and not religiously observant, but Carlo was imbued with ardent faith from a young age, attending mass every day. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the news of Francis' death 'deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd'. 'I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering.' 'The Pope and I had a more active relationship than was apparent,' she told Italian state broadcaster RAI, in a broken voice. 'It went well beyond our respective institutional roles,' she told Italian state broadcaster RAI. 'We've met many times, even just to exchange opinions. He was able to give comfort in very difficult moments, I have many memories of the Pope.' King Charles also shared a statement in tribute, saying Francis would be 'remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others'. 'Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,' the statement continued, adding: 'The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.' A woman reacts, after the death of Pope Francis was announced, by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 21, 2025 Worshippers gather by the Stone of Anointing, after the death of Pope Francis was announced, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 21, 2025 People sit in Westminster Cathedral in Victoria, London, following news of the Pope's death Your browser does not support iframes. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, also shared his condolences in a post on X. 'From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.' The bells at Paris's Notre-Dame cathedral rang out 88 times on Monday in honour of Pope Francis who died aged 88, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The '88 rings for 88 years of life' were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral's bells before a noon mass in Francis's honour, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office. The former sorority girl who attacked a Muslim Uber driver with pepper spray in New York City received a shockingly light punishment after taking a plea deal. Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, was filmed spraying mace on 45-year-old Shohel Mahmud during a hate-fueled late-night ride in Midtown Manhattan on July 31. Disturbing footage captured Guilbeault stepping toward the driver's seat and unleashing the pepper spray on Mahmud. She was charged with a hate crime for the assault but vehemently denied her actions were motivated by race. Guilbeault appeared subdued in court on Monday. She wore a buttoned-up cream sweater and black pants, and her long hair was tucked behind her ears. She entered a plea deal to a lesser charge of second-degree aggravated harassment at the hearing and was granted minor consequences for the attack. As part of the deal, she is required to do 100 hours of community service, complete an alcohol abuse program, attend an anti-bias program and have no new arrest for a year. Once she has completed the programs, she can re-plead to a lesser charge, which would be a violation rather than a crime, and she would have no criminal record. Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, was charged with a hate crime for attacking a Muslim Uber driver with pepper spray Disturbing footage captured Guilbeault stepping toward the driver's seat and unleashing the pepper spray on 45-year-old Shohel Mahmud She entered a plea deal to a lesser charge of second-degree aggravated harassment at the hearing and was granted minor consequences for the attack Guilbeault was indicted in New York State Supreme Court on one count each of second-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault as a hate crime, and second-degree aggravated harassment in October. Her lawyer, Michael J. Alber, told DailyMail.com his client 'should not be charged with a hate crime' after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced her indictment. 'This matter should not be charged as a hate crime. Ms. Guilbeault was not motivated by race, religion, national origin, or any other discriminatory factor,' Alber said. Dramatic dashcam footage captured the entire incident as Guilbeault allegedly lunged toward Mahmud and sprayed him in the face before pulling his arm back as he tried to push her off, while her friend sat in the backseat stunned by her actions. Guilbeault and her friend sat in the backseat of the car as Mahmud spoke Arabic while stopped at a red light. Guilbeault allegedly then snuck up from behind him and shoved the pepper spray in his face, as he tried to fight her off, repeatedly saying: 'What? what?' She then attempted to hold his arm down inside the car as Mahmud managed to unbuckle himself and hopped out the driver's door. As he did so, Guilbeault continued to point the mace at him while her confused friend said: 'Jen, Jen, what the f***?!' Guilbeault appeared subdued in court on Monday wearing a buttoned-up cream sweater and black pants with her long hair tucked behind her ears Guilbeault (second left) insisted she was not racist Guilbeault, originally from Northbridge, Massachusetts, attended Manhattan College, where she served as the VP Social Chair of her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau Guilbeault then climbed in the front seat as the driver tried to sit back down, but soon ran out. Mahmud held the door open as he stood outside of the vehicle, while Guilbeault repeatedly said 'get him out' as her friend held her back. The panicked driver then asked her why she attacked him, as Guilbeault opened the backseat door and exited the car. Afterward, her friend was heard yelling 'Jen, Jen, Jen! Why did you do that?' before the two women grabbed their bags and left. Mahmud suffered injuries to his neck, back and shoulder, along with impaired vision in his right eye, according to The New York Times. Guilbeault is originally from Northbridge, Massachusetts, and attended Manhattan College, where she earned her bachelor's degree in public relations, advertising and applied communication. She served as the VP Social Chair of her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, and during her college years, she was pictured dressing up for formals with her glamorous pals, spending a semester abroad, and receiving scholastic honors. After graduating, she worked for D Pagan Communications - a public relations firm based out of Melville, New York - who confirmed her employment was terminated. The company took to LinkedIn to condemn the incident, saying: 'We are aware of the actions of this former employee and we dont condone this behavior.' DailyMail.com contacted Guilbeault's attorney and the District Attorney's office for comment. The leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales this afternoon ruled out any chance of him succeeding Pope Francis following the pontiff's death today at age 88. Merseyside-born Cardinal Vincent Nichols, 79, who is one of the most powerful figures in the church, claimed that he was too old and not capable to be considered for the position. Cardinal Timothy Ratcliffe, who joined Cardinal Nichols at the press conference, also seemingly pulled out of the race to become the new Pope. He added: I believe the Holy Spirit is far too wise to even think of me for the shortest moment. The pair are one of the three British cardinals who are technically eligible to succeed Pope Francis as head of the Catholic Church. Liverpool-born Cardinal Vincent Nichols has been Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales since 2009. He was made a Cardinal in 2014. The clergyman, 79, was ordained over 55 years ago and originally served in his home city before becoming Archbishop of Birmingham in 2000, prior to being given the UK's top job. In more recent years, Pope Francis appointed him to wider roles including being president of the Santa Marta group, an alliance of Catholic bishops and police chiefs around the world, launched in 2014. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who is said to stand an outside chance of succeeding Pope Francis Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Nichols, left, with Pope Francis at Vatican City in 2015 In October 2016, Cardinal Nichols, the son of two teachers, was elected Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops Conferences. Paying tribute after the Pope's death was announced this morning, Cardinal Nichols said: 'A voice proclaiming the innate dignity of every human being, especially those who are poor or marginalised, is now silent.' Asked about the possibility of succeeding Pope Francis as the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics in a 2014 interview, Cardinal Nichols had said he said it was impossible to assess and judge the unfolding of events. He told the Liverpool Echo: There are some very able men among the cardinals and this is a big church thats in every continent and most nations and you cant assess and judge the unfolding of events in the Church, except from a broad perspective. And on that broad perspective, I am a little dot!' He added: And we have seen it with having a Pope from the Argentine (Pope Francis) it has expanded everyones horizons. I think whenever the time comes it will be a worldwide debate, not just a European debate. The clergyman has been seen as a liberal figure, once criticised for supporting civil partnerships and gay-friendly masses held in London for six years until 2013 but he publicly opposed gay marriage. He has also spoken out against welfare reforms by the coalition government led by Lord Cameron, warning the changes were leaving people in destitution. And in his most recent political intervention, he called the Labour government deeply irresponsible for allowing the assisted dying legislation to proceed after a single mornings debate compared with hundreds of hours spent debating the fox hunting ban two decades ago. Cardinal Nichols greeted by Pope Francis during a papal audience in Rome, watched by his predecessor as Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal, Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. He said: I believe it is deeply irresponsible of any government to allow a change of this magnitude to be carried out without due, proper, government-supported parliamentary process. Cardinal Nichols faced calls to resign in 2020 after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found it had been swept under the carpet by the Catholic Church in Britain. The 162-page report said: The churchs neglect of the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of children and young people in favour of protecting its reputation was in conflict with its mission of love and care for the innocent and vulnerable. Of Cardinal Nichols, it stated: There was no acknowledgment of any personal responsibility to lead or influence change. Nor did he demonstrate compassion towards victims in the recent cases which we examined. The clergyman offered his resignation but Pope Francis asked him to stay put. At the time, a church spokesperson said the cardinal would not be resigning following the inquirys criticisms because he was determined to put it right. Cardinal Nichols has spoken previously of feeling a calling to the priesthood while standing on the terraces at Anfield. The life-long Liverpool FC supporter told The Times, in 2007: I'd gone to watch Liverpool, (was stood) on the Kop at Anfield and (said) to God, "Why don't you just leave me alone? Why can't I just be one of a crowd?".' Cardinal Nichols was born in Crosby, Merseyside, in November 1945, where he attended SS Peter and Paul RC Primary and St Marys College. Cardinal Nichols is viewed as being from the liberal wing of the church and has spoken out on poverty and assisted dying but faced calls to resign over the child sex abuse scandal. At St Marys, he recalled exploring faith in RE lessons, and that sport and music were also very important at the school. He said: I was a member of the school orchestra I played the French horn and performed in the annual concerts at the Philharmonic Hall. My appreciation of music grew, while being in an orchestra also teaches you about teamwork. He studied for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome from 1963. Returning to England, he continued his studies at the University of Manchester where he obtained the degree of "Master of Arts" with a thesis on the theology of St. John Fisher. He was ordained in December 1969 for the Archdiocese of Liverpool. His first role was as a parish priest in Wigan, where he was also a chaplain to a sixth-form college, before he then moved to work in Toxteth, Liverpool. In January 1984, he became the general secretary of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, occupying the post for nine years. He worked closely with then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume, and earned a reputation as a dynamic administrator. Following the death of a pope - or in rare cases of a resignation - the Vatican convenes what is known as a papal conclave. This is where the College of Cardinals comes together to elect the next head of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are the Catholic Church's most senior priests, who have travel from all around the world to be at The Vatican in Rome - the home of the church - to take part in the election, or conclave. The most recent rules of the papal conclave say that there are 138 electors amongst the 252 total cardinals. Only those who are under the age of 80 are allowed to take part in what is a secret ballot, held in the Sistine Chapel. There are four rounds of voting, which take place every day until a one candidate receives a two-thirds majority of the vote. The process will typically last between 15 and 20 days before a new Pope is chosen. The only English Pope was Adrian IV, born at Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, as Nicholas Breakspear, who held office between 1154 and 1159. He became a priest in France and was appointed a bishop in Italy in 1150 by Pope Eugene III. A Nevada veterinarian has been found dead in a reservoir thirteen days after he vanished when a video of him abusing a horse was posted online. The body of Shawn Frehner, 56, was recovered from Lake Mead on Friday, with his identity confirmed Monday, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported. Frehner vanished April 6 after he was filmed abusing a horse he had been called out to help. No cause of death has been shared and investigators have yet to say whether they believe Frehner took his own life, met with an accident or suffered foul play. Before disappearing, the distressed veterinarian posted a Facebook message defending his actions while also apologizing for hurting the animal. The horse's owner Shawna Gonzalez filmed Frehner kicking her horse Big Red on the jaw after being called out to treat the animal. Frehner was facing felony animal abuse charges at the time of his disappearance. Investigators honed in on Lake Mead days after Frehner's disappearance and were seen conducting searches on the body of water. And last week they discovered his truck and personal belongings close to the edge of the enormous reservoir. Speaking before the discovery of Frehner's body, Gonzalez says she was distraught by news of his disappearance. 'It's horrible, I never, ever wished this upon him, I never wished this upon anybody' Gonzalez said. 'This is not what I wanted in the end at all.' Dr Shawn Frehner has been found dead over two weeks after he vanished when a video of him abusing a customer's horse was shared online Frehner's body was found dead in Lake Mead reservoir on Friday and the identity of the remains was confirmed Monday She explained that her daughter began recording Frehner after being concerned by how tightly he appeared to have wound a rope around her colt's neck. 'I heard [my mother] yell, 'Oh my God. He just kicked him',' Gonzalez said. 'He wrapped the horse around his neck three times, and he kicked him in the head. 'I had started having a severe anxiety attack and couldn't breathe myself. 'I was already on the ground, and my daughter picked up the phone and hit record, and that's when she got him on videotape, kicking him.' The animal was left with abrasions to the skull and taken to Desert Pines Equine Center. '[Frehner] left my property before my horse was even up,' Gonzalez added. 'My horse was still down for a good 45 minutes after he left and before he left, there's several people that were there, and even they can state that he was kind of in a rush off my property.' In his apology, Frehner reportedly stated that the video did not provide the full context. Frehner apologized but admitted that he kicked the horse in the chin. Officials have yet to comment further on how he died 'I did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video. That was not my intention at all,' Frehner wrote, News8 Now reports. 'It was done simply to get the horse in a better position so that he could breathe and get up and move so I could again try to anesthetize.' 'But yes I did kick him right in the chin and I very much do apologize and wish this never happened,' he wrote. Gonzalez said that she had been using Frehner's services since last August. She revealed that the vet bills for Red are likely to run into the thousands and requested donations to Desert Pine Rescue Center. Red was left with abrasions to his skull and sent for treatment at Desert Pines Equine Center Authorities have been searching Lake Mead since early April. Frehner's car and belongings were found along the reservoir shore last week, a few days before his body was discovered 'The abuse and cruelty my horse suffered on 4/3/2025 was inhumane, disgusting, appalling, and the most hurtful thing and from the hands of vet that I trusted and Red trusted,' she wrote shortly after the incident. Frehner's website states he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine-DVM degree from Ohio State University in 1997 and began his equine business the year after. He claims he, 'provides state-of-the-art medical care for your four-legged companions'. 'He believes in nurturing the human-animal bond and creating a harmonious relationship between people and animals,' according to the site. As President Donald Trump and first lady Melania emerged onto the Truman Balcony on Easter Monday, there was an interaction that could have seemed troubling to the naked eye. The first couple were welcoming families to the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll when Trump appeared to gently reach for Melania's hand. But she didn't take it as the first notes of the Star-Spangled Banner rang out. While some eagle-eyed members of the audience may have concluded that all was not well, a body language expert told Daily Mail that the first lady was being respectful during the playing of the national anthem. The gesture may have had echoes of the time Melania swatted away her husband's hand during a 2017 trip to Israel. After a media frenzy, the first lady explained in her memoir that she had not wanted to crowd out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife. Now, body language expert Judi James has said the gesture on the Truman Balcony had a similarly innocuous explanation: that the first lady was probably simply adhering to protocol for the anthem. James also said it was their only 'miss' during the day - and summarized that Trump and Melania have managed to perfect their non-verbal communication. First lady Melania Trump (left) dropped President Donald Trump's (center left) hand as the National Anthem was about to be played at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll Body language expert Judi James explained the first lady did so as a subtle way to remind her husband to either put his hand on his heart or salute during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner She added that the pair seemed 'tactile' and Melania's 'appreciation signals' were 'industrial strength' during her rare appearance at the White House. 'The Trumps finally seem to have mastered the art of the non-verbal, synchronized tie-sign: those small touches and pats that couples use to subtly direct each other in terms of emotional need or social choreography,' she said. 'Donald and Melania emerged onto the balcony... with hands already clasped in an Easter-inspired PDA and each time they needed to break the clasp and their hands ended up dangling together, it was Donald putting in the silent "request" to re-clasp by nudging Melania's hand gently and slightly needily. 'Each time he got a speedy response as she obliged by putting her hand into his,' James added. 'Their only moment of any "miss" came when the anthem was being sung and Melania, who has always tended to be the body language protocol-prefect at public events - nudging her husband when necessary - pulled her own hand out of their clasp, apparently in a bid to remind him that his hand should be placed onto his chest,' she explained. The president ended up making a salute during the singing of the anthem, while Melania put her right hand over her heart. Overall, James called it a 'relatively tactile appearance' between the Trumps, where they had one very deliberate 'display' of hand-clasping - walking out on the Truman Balcony hand-in-hand. She also took notice of the first couple's 'glances, chats and grins of good humor' during the egg-rolling game. 'Their ability to blow their whistles in unison seemed to impress them... Every time they started a race with coordinated whistle-blows they turned to each other with a "reward" smile and even some playful laughter,' she noticed. While he was out walking on the South Lawn, Trump started recalling how a White House aide, dressed as the Easter Bunny, had led President Joe Biden away from a group of reporters during the 2022 Easter Egg Roll. 'That was a beautiful moment when the bunny saved Joe Biden,' Trump said. 'What a good-looking crowd. 'You remember when the bunny saved Joe Biden?' he asked moments later. 'The bunny's not going to save me, right? I've got a better bunny.' During this moment, James points out that 'Melania forms a supportive double-act with her husband here as he showboats to the crowds, telling his pre-planned-sounding gag.' President Trump and first lady Melania Trump share a tender moment during the annual Whit e House Easter Egg Roll First lady Melania Trump laughs at her husband's joke about former President Joe Biden being led around by an aide dressed as the Easter Bunny The Trumps 'power-swap' in their hand-holding, body language expert Judi James pointed out. With Melania's hand sometimes on top in the clasp 'Her appreciation signals are industrial strength as his hands splay to create a comedy pose. 'Melania hears the gag forming and turns to face Trump with her cheeks getting round in a signal of anticipation,' James continued. 'She even bends at the waist to join in visually, complimenting his "joke" and ramping up the comedy by leaning in, first with a playful grin and then a mouth that is open in laughter,' James said. 'This creates a flattering and very loyal reaction role-model for his audience.' Melania wasn't nearly as impressed when Trump repeated the joke. 'When Trump double-dips though, immediately repeating the gag, Melania's reaction is more tempered,' James said. 'She wrinkles her nose obligingly but this time her smile is a "lightning" smile that drops away quickly.' James also noticed an interesting dynamic in the first couple's hand-holding. 'Their clasps showed a tendency to power-swap,' she said. 'As a rule, it's the one with their hand on top in the clasp that is seen as the more dominant partner but it was telling about Melania's power renaissance during this stint in the White House that it was her hand on top in the clasp on more than one occasion as she led her husband along rather than the other way round.' The Argentine family of Pope Francis mourned his passing with a moving tribute Monday morning. Pope Francis, 88, died from a stroke and heart failure, according to death certificate published by the Vatican. 'The death of Pope Francis marks a profoundly symbolic moment in the history of humanity,' his grandniece, Dr. Carolina Bergoglio wrote in a Facebook post. 'He was a spiritual leader who knew how to speak to the heart of the world with humility, closeness, and a profoundly human perspective.' 'He was a Pope who stepped down from his pedestal, who embraced the discarded, who spoke of ecology, migration, inclusion, and also of pain.' 'His passing leaves us with a clear message: love more, judge less, and never forget that we are all brothers and sisters,' Bergoglio, the daughter of Pope Francis' third cousin, Jorge Bergoglio, added. 'May his life inspire us to look beyond ourselves and continue walking with hope, even in the face of uncertainty. May his death not be a final point, but a new chapter of collective and universal consciousness. RIP.' Pope Francis the first Latin American pontiff had been battling a respiratory illness that developed into double pneumonia and required a 38-day hospital stay at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. Born Jose Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969 and served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. In 1998, he became the archbishop of his hometown Buenos Aires before Pope John Paul II made a him a cardinal in 2001. He was elected the head of the Catholic church on March 13, 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI resigned two weeks earlier because of his advanced age. Pope Francis chose his papal name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis with his grandniece, Dr. Carolina Bergoglio (right), and her father and the late pontiff's third cousin, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (left) Pope Francis greets faithfuls from the popemobile after the Easter mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who is a lawyer and director of an Italian company in Arguello, a city in the central Argentina province of Cordoba, recalled Pope Francis time as the Catholic church's senior member. 'When he was a cardinal, he used to send me his homilies,' he told Argentine news outlet TN in March. 'It was a shame he didn't come to Argentina as Supreme Pontiff. Now he's very ill, and we don't know if he'll make it.' Jorge Mario Bergoglio and his children, including Dr. Carolina Bergoglio, were received by Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2014. The were blown away with the respect strangers held for the pontiff after a family meal in Perugia. 'We were having dinner at a trattoria, a magical place,' he recalled. 'When my son went to pay, the owner saw our last name on the credit card and asked if we were related to the Pope. My son told him yes, that his father was his cousin. The owner came out shouting, calling for all the diners,' he said. 'Limoncello for everyone!' In 2021, Jorge Ernesto Bergoglio published the book, 'Stories of immigration and the life of Piedmontese in a small town,' that detailed the migration history of Alicia, a town in Cordoba. One of the chapters, 'A shipwreck that could have changed the history of the Church,' revealed how Pope Francis' grandfather, Juan Angel Bergoglio, escaped death in 1927. Pope Francis and his third cousin Juan Angel Bergoglio during a family visit at the Vatican in 2014 Dr. Carolina Bergoglio shared a touching tribute for her uncle, Pope Francis, hours after his death on Monday Pope Francis' grandniece Dr. Carolina Bergoglio revealed an emotional tribute on Monday Juan Angel Bergoglio had purchased a ticket for the Principessa Mafalda ocean liner that sank October 25, 1927 and killed 314 people off the coast of Brazil. At the time, he was in the process of selling his properties but ran into several delays that caused him to cancel and book a trip on another boat for January 1929. The near-family tragedy crossed the future pontiff's mind in 2011, two years before he was elected pope. 'If the original plan had been followed, they would have drowned,' Pope Francis wrote in an email to Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Conservatives on social media made shocking remarks about the Pope's passing Vice President JD Vance is getting trolled online after being the last major figure to meet with Pope Francis before his passing on Monday. The vice president was in Rome for several days over the Easter weekend on official business. During the trip, he visited the Vatican and had a private meeting with the Pope, where the two exchanged pleasantries. Vance greeted the 88-year-old pontiff and told him how often he had been praying for him. Pope Francis, in turn, offered Vance a number of gifts, including a Vatican tie and candy for the vice president's children - who were with him on the visit. It was one of the last official meetings that Pope Francis had, and after the news broke on Monday that the head of the Catholic church had passed, some began posting trolling the vice president. 'Good work, JD,' conservative commentator Ann Coulter wrote on X. Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., also raised eyebrows with a cryptic message she has yet to clarify. Pope Francis meets with Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City, Vatican, on Sunday, April 20, 2025 Within 24 hours of the pair meeting the pope passed away, leading to some wild hot takes on social media 'Today there were major shifts in global leaderships,' Greene wrote on X Monday morning. 'Evil is being defeated by the hand of God.' Conservative influencer Harrison Krank wrote on X: 'If I was next on JD Vances schedule, I would be shaking in my boots.' MAGA personality Vince Langman went as far as to post a joke suggesting who the vice president should meet with next. 'JD Vance has just scheduled an emergency meeting with Mitch McConnell,' he jibed. Other users also proposed meetings that Vance should add to his calendar. I call on JD Vance to immediately meet Vladimir Putin for peace talks,' liberal writer Drew Pavlou wrote on X. Comedian Dan Carney posted: 'JD Vance do you want to meet my mother in law.' Vance, for his part, posted a a tribute to the Pope, who he noted was seemingly quite ill. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wrote a cryptic message on X following the pope's death that 'Evil is being defeated by the hand of God' Conservative commentator Ann Coulter posted on Monday: 'Good work, JD,' after the pope died 'I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,' Vance wrote on X on Monday morning. 'I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,' the vice president wrote. 'But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of Covid. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.' President Donald Trump also issued a short statement on Truth Social following the news of the Pope's death. 'Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!' he stated. The Pope died as a result of a cerebral stroke, the Vatican announced Monday. John Swinney has defied the well-established political dictum that when youre in a hole, you should stop digging. After last weeks landmark Supreme Court gender judgment, hes still in that hole, shovel in hand busily turning it into a chasm. Far from providing a degree of clarity for the First Minister, that seismic ruling seems to have muddied the waters. Asked twice at the weekend whether he accepted a trans woman is not a woman, Mr Swinney would not explicitly say so - and instead repeatedly said that he accepted the courts ruling. It said the definition of woman in UK equality law was based on biological sex, not preference or having a gender recognition certificate (GRC). SNP ministers had argued the term women should include biological males who have legally changed gender - which the Supreme Court said would create incoherence in practice. The ruling means that men who change gender and have a GRC are not legally women and that women-only spaces such as toilets, changing rooms and rape crisis centres can exclude trans women if it is proportionate. Adding insult to injury, Mr Swinney refused to apologise to those brave women who stood up to his governments transgender stance, and he even appeared to open the door to a revival of Nicola Sturgeons abortive self-ID legislation. SNP ministers, including John Swinney, argued the term women should include biological males who have legally changed gender It would have allowed 16-year-olds to secure a GRC down from the current minimum age of 18 but was blocked by the UK Government and later dropped by the SNP or so we thought. Mr Swinney is doubling down when he should be rowing back because he cant bring himself to concede that for years his government backed an agenda whose fundamental pillars were built on sand - and now face being swept away. Radical trans policies have been hard-wired into the public sector and will now have to be unpicked, doubtless over a long period of time and at great cost to the taxpayer adding to the 1million the SNP has already wasted on defending its position in court. As an unrepentant cheerleader of the transgender lunacy which we now know was founded on a false proposition, Mr Swinney should be pleading for our forgiveness. Instead were told that a statement at Holyrood on Tuesday by Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville will set out the governments response to the Supreme Court judgment. Anyone expecting clarity would be well-advised not to hold their breath, given that Mr Swinney has set the tone for what shes likely to say. The chances are that it wont be an admission of error, an apology, or an announcement of a determination to change direction. Mr Swinney and his ministers are content to pay lip service to respecting the courts opinion but thats as far as it goes otherwise, it seems, its business as usual for the SNP. Nicola Sturgeon and her colleagues demonised critics of their doomed self-ID law and ploughed ahead with the divisive policy That shouldnt surprise us, as the party hasnt always seen eye to eye with the justices of the UKs highest court. Kenny MacAskill, as Justice Secretary, criticised Supreme Court judges for their ignorance about Scotland, claiming their knowledge of it was limited to their trips to the Edinburgh Festival. He did pay a high price for that intervention the late Lord McCluskey, writing in the Mail, launched a broadside against Mr MacAskill over this slight and a series of other issues and he was later sacked by Nicola Sturgeon. She has also kept a low profile since the Supreme Court bombshell, though her ex-chief of staff Liz Lloyd said she didnt think either side of this debate could really walk around with a halo over their head saying, you know, we got this absolutely right. You might think thats a significant concession from the Sturgeon camp, but this goes far beyond halo slippage. Ms Sturgeon and her colleagues demonised critics of their doomed self-ID law and ploughed ahead with some of the most divisive legislation MSPs had ever considered. The resulting row was a contributory factor to Ms Sturgeons downfall, and it robbed her of a longed-for legacy. Trans rights became the defining theme of her administration, and the failure of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill meant she had little to show from her eight years in office - bar baby boxes. Mr Swinneys evasion and bluster are driven by the same instinct for political damage limitation but its too late for that. The scale of this defeat is so great that in any sane universe, heads would roll including Mr Swinneys. Meanwhile, like Ms Sturgeon, Sir Keir Starmer has maintained a monastic silence on the ruling, and the Mail on Sunday revealed that some of his frontbenchers are plotting to defy it. In WhatsApp messages sent on Thursday evening, culture minister Sir Chris Bryant joined an attack on Baroness Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which must draw up guidance for organisations to follow when enforcing the ruling. Earlier that day, Baroness Falkner had said that the ruling clearly meant that trans women could not use single-sex female facilities or compete in womens sports. After Labour MP Steve Race said Lady Falkners words were pretty appalling, Mr Bryant replied: Agreeed [sic]. Another MP on the WhatsApp group wrote it was sad to see some institutions choose to ignore the Supreme Courts very strong line that trans people are protected by the Equality Act too. Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle replied: They wont be feeling that way now and we need to remember that and organise. Its yet another display of brazen contempt and its all the more sickening when you consider that the campaigners who took the SNP government to court have been subjected to an outpouring of hate since the judgment was handed down last Wednesday. Messages sent to For Women Scotlands email address included one hours after the ruling which said: Youre a group of disgusting murderers and deserve death. God will rip you from your family one day and nobody will mourn you. Another read: Your inhumanity makes me vomit. You stupid women should feel deeply ashamed for being so stupid. Wearied campaigners say they havent reported this barrage of abuse to police, while officers have defended the right to protest while condemning threats as senseless and unacceptable. The same description could be applied to the SNPs failure to accept that its game over for the trans radicalism which became its raison detre - once it was clear that its crusade for independence was in the deep freeze. If shameless Mr Swinney wants to keep pursuing this madness, Scots will pass judgment on his actions and those of his ministers at the ballot box next year. Mr Swinney may struggle to define a woman but voters, male and female, will have no such trouble defining a leader - and its clear that he falls woefully short of the necessary criteria. Thousands of mourners have gathered for a Rosary prayer vigil in front of St Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, to commemorate the life of Pope Francis, who on Monday died at the age of 88. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti led the event as part of the ceremonies and prayers following the 'peaceful' death of the Pope at the Saint Martha residence in the Vatican. The cardinal opened the service by saying: 'We all have in our hearts the words Pope Francis addressed to us, "Do not forget to pray for me". 'We know that death is not a door that closes, but rather a gateway to the heavenly Jerusalem.' The Rosary is a prayer ritual that will precede the Pope's transfer to St. Peter's Basilica so that the faithful can bid farewell before his burial and is expected to continue each evening until his funeral. The atmosphere was solemn and several people were in tears as the prayers were recited and as the event ended after 34 minutes a ripple applause broke out. Over in London's Westminster Cathedral, more than a thousand mourners gathered this evening to mourn Pope Francis, after he died on Monday at age 88. The pews inside the Cathedral, which is the largest Catholic Church in the UK, were packed with many people, both young and old, as the first of three masses to honour the pontiff began. People pray as they attend a solemn requiem at Westminster Cathedral in central London on April 21, 2025 A worshipper prays as he attends a solemn requiem at Westminster Cathedral in central London on April 21, 2025 The Vatican on Monday night revealed that the Pope suffered a cerebral stroke, which led to a coma and irreversible heart failure Throughout the day there had been a steady stream of grievers from all different denominations of the Christian church and religions arriving to light candles or participate in silent prayer. White and yellow flowers have been placed at the entrance to the building alongside a huge picture of the leader of the church, who according to Italian media, died from a cerebral haemorrhage. Leading the service, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who earlier praised Pope Francis as a voice proclaiming the innate dignity of every human being, said during his Homily: This is a day of sadness as people everywhere learn of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. Today a voice has fallen silent, a voice heard in every corner of the world: a voice of warm encouragement and sharp challenge, expressing both love of God and a love of our shared humanity. Pope Francis had a single focus in life: to strive to do the will of God, as it was given to him in the Catholic Church, recognising the summons to holiness that touches every human heart, Cardinal Nichols, who was accompanied by dozens of other clergy members, added. The Cardinal acknowledged the thousands of tributes that had been paid to the Pope including from King Charles and Queen Camilla who with heavy hearts and paid tribute to his compassion and tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith. In his last testament, Pope Francis asked that the 'suffering that has marked the final part of my life [leads to] peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples'. He also asked to be buried in a 'niche of the side nave between the Cappella Paolina (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Cappella Sforza of the aforementioned Papal Basilica.' 'The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus,' the testament also read. The leader of the Catholic Church for England and Wales earlier reflected on his own shock upon hearing of the death of the Pope while driving down the M1 this morning. He told a press conference: I was utterly surprised. I was driving up the M1, and one of you or one of your agencies rang me and said, The Pope had died and I said youre joking because I really did not expect, after yesterday, his death today. Nuns and the Faithful attend a Rosary Prayer for the late Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, on April 21, 2025 in Vatican City Pope Francis on Monday died at the age of 88. Pictured on Sunday A believer prays as she attends a vigil in Notre-Dame Cathedral to honour Pope Francis following his death, in Paris on April 21, 2025 A devotee puts a candle beside the portrait of late Pope Francis during a vigil at the Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Cathedral Church in Multan on April 21, 2025 The Vatican announced that Pope Francis, 88, died on Monday at 07:35 local time His death comes after he appeared in St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, greeting thousands of worshippers The pews inside the Cathedral, which is the largest Catholic Church in the UK, were packed with many people, both young and old Christians hold candles beside the portrait of late Pope Francis during a vigil at the Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Cathedral Church in Multan on April 21, 2025 Your browser does not support iframes. Similarly, many members of the congregation were left shocked by the passing of the Pope after seeing him just yesterday delivering his Easter Sunday address from the Vatican. The Vatican on Monday night revealed that the Pope suffered a cerebral stroke, which led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, issued the official certification, said that the Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes. His death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography. He reportedly woke up when his alarm went off at 6am, fell ill at 7am and died from a stroke at 7.35am, according to Corriere della Serra. The death of the Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, came less than a month after having been released from hospital following a 38-day battle with double pneumonia. In a final act of devotion, Pope Francis had greeted worshippers in St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday in what turned out to be his last public appearance before his death. Surprisingly, the Pope was not wearing a nasal cannula hooked up to oxygen when he was driven through the crowd of 35,000 faithful yesterday, having worn it for many of his appearances since he was discharged. For about 50 minutes, the pontiff's vehicle slowly moved through the masses in 21C heat, in spite of doctors' orders that the pope rest and cut buck his schedule at the very least. But the pontiff was determined to continue doing God's work. Christian faithful of the Legio Maria African Mission, attend the Easter vigil Mass in the informal settlement of Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya, Saturday, April 19, 2025 Throughout the day there had been a steady stream of grievers from all different denominations of the Christian church and religions arriving to light candles or participate in silent prayer Faithful attend a Rosary in homage to Pope Francis following his death in Saint Peter's Square, on April 21, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican A woman prays during a vigil for the late Pope Francis in Dili, East Timor, Monday, April 21, 2025 Earlier, he had appeared on the Vatican balcony and told crowds, 'Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter', before an aide read the rest of his annual Urbi et Orbi blessing and speech, which called for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The Holy See's press service announced only the Pontiff's death shortly after he passed away, writing in tribute that he had dedicated his 'entire life' to serving God and the church. His body will now lie in state in St Peter's Basilica for three days, and then he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. His body could lie in state as soon as Wednesday, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office. Pope Francis's final testament has tonight been revealed just hours after his death by a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88. The pontiff 'passed away peacefully' at the Saint Martha residence in the Vatican, according to his doctors. He reportedly woke up when his alarm went off at 6am, fell ill at 7am and died from a stroke at 7.35am. The Vatican said Pope Francis died of a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure. The stroke led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, a death certificate confirmed. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, issued the official certification, said that the Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes. His death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography. In his last testament, he asked that the 'suffering that has marked the final part of my life [leads to] peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples'. He also asked to be buried in a 'niche of the side nave between the Cappella Paolina (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Cappella Sforza of the aforementioned Papal Basilica.' 'The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus,' the testament also read. Pope Francis (pictured) died some 90 minutes after he was awoken by his alarm clock this morning, Italian media reports The chapel Paolina of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (St Mary Major) in Rome, Italy on February 2025 where Pope Francis wants to be buried Thousands of mourners tonight gathered for a Rosary prayer vigil in front of St Peter's Basilica People reach for a copy of 'L'Osservatore Romano' newspaper reporting about Pope Francis' death, in St. Peter's Square, in the Vatican, April 21, 2025 Faithful attend a Rosary in homage to Pope Francis following his death in Saint Peter's Square, on April 21, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (St Mary Major) in Rome, Italy on February 2025 where Pope Francis wants to be buried The Vatican's report comes around 12 hours after the pontiff's death was first announced. Since then, thousands of mourners tonight gathered for a Rosary prayer vigil in front of St Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, to commemorate the life of Pope Francis. Pope Francis's final testament, in full "As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial. "Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest - awaiting the day of the Resurrection - in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. "I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care. "I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan. "The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus. "The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica. "May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples." Advertisement Cardinal Mauro Gambetti led the event as part of the ceremonies and prayers following the 'peaceful' death of the Pope at the Saint Martha residence in the Vatican today. The cardinal opened the service by saying: 'We all have in our hearts the words Pope Francis addressed to us, "Do not forget to pray for me". 'We know that death is not a door that closes, but rather a gateway to the heavenly Jerusalem.' The Rosary is a prayer ritual that will precede the Pope's transfer to St. Peter's Basilica so that the faithful can bid farewell before his burial and is expected to continue each evening until his funeral. The atmosphere was solemn and several people were in tears as the prayers were recited and as the event ended after 34 minutes a ripple applause broke out. In London's Westminster Cathedral, more than a thousand mourners gathered this evening in to mourn Pope Francis. The pews inside the Cathedral, which is the largest Catholic Church in the UK, were packed with many people, both young and old, as the first of three masses to honour the pontiff began. Meanwhile officials in the Italian government were said to be considering three days of mourning following the funeral. It would mean a minute's silence being observed and all flags at half mast on public buildings while scheduled events for ministers would be cancelled. The last time there was such a period of national mourning in Italy was for the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005. The death of the Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, came less than a month after having been released from hospital following a 38-day battle with double pneumonia. In a final act of devotion, Pope Francis had greeted worshippers in St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday in what turned out to be his last public appearance before his death. Surprisingly, the Pope was not wearing a nasal cannula hooked up to oxygen when he was driven through the crowd of 35,000 faithful yesterday, having worn it for many of his appearances since he was discharged. For about 50 minutes, the pontiff's vehicle slowly moved through the masses in 21C heat, in spite of doctors' orders that the pope rest and cut buck his schedule at the very least. But the pontiff was determined to continue doing God's work. Earlier, he had appeared on the Vatican balcony and told crowds, 'Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter', before an aide read the rest of his annual Urbi et Orbi blessing and speech, which called for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. A parishioner touches a painting of the late Pope Francis at the Basilica de San Jose de Flores, where he worshipped as a youth, following the Vatican's announcement of his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, April 21, 2025 Francis (pictured on Easter Sunday) died from a cerebral haemorrhage and a stroke, the Vatican said today For about 50 minutes, the pontiff's vehicle slowly moved through the masses, but Italian media now speculate that doctors would have advised against him bathing in the crowd as he was likely immunocompromised following his pneumonia battle The Holy See's press service announced only the Pontiff's death shortly after he passed away, writing in tribute that he had dedicated his 'entire life' to serving God and the church. His body will now lie in state in St Peter's Basilica for three days, and then he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. His body could lie in state as soon as Wednesday, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office. As the world mourns the loss of the Catholic leader, the battle to succeed Pope Francis, one for the very soul of the Catholic Church and its over a billion followers around the world, has likely begun behind closed doors. Whoever becomes the 267th Pope will dictate the direction of the Church for the next decade or more on the most pressing, and contentious, issues facing society. Pope Francis broke with the conservative stance of his two predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and his papacy will be remembered for his liberalism on LGBTQ+ rights, his support for refugees, and his focus on climate change. In recent years Francis has done a great deal to shape the makeup of the ancient and secretive group that will appoint his successor, with about 80 per cent of the 138 Cardinals eligible to vote having been appointed by him, meaning there is a good chance the next Pope will be somebody loyal to Francis who takes a liberal approach to the Papacy. However this is far from certain as once the College of Cardinals convenes for the 'highly political' process known as the conclave, all bets could be off. While it may come down to a battle between conservative and liberal factions, there is certainly no unified block and many of the Cardinals appointed by Francis come from a wide range of countries that have starkly different views on issues such as the role of women in the Church and attitudes towards gay Catholics. Relationships and personalities will also be at play. A worshipper cries during Mass at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' death on Easter Monday The Pope was sitting in a wheelchair as he waved to the crowd from the main balcony of St Peter's basilica while an aid delivered his Urbi et Orbi message Top contenders for the highly-sought after role include Peter Turkson, the former Bishop of the Cape Coast. If elected, he would be the first black Pope and would have the appeal of reaching out to Africa. Another top contender is Luis Antonio Tagle, the former Archbishop of Manila, who has emerged as the frontrunner in the betting markets. He would have the appeal of being the first Asian Pope, the region with the fastest-growing Catholic population. He has opposed abortion rights in the Philippines but would be considered one of the more liberal candidates. He has complained that the Catholic church has been too harsh towards gay and divorced couples, and that this has hampered its evangelical work. Just days before the Pontiff's death, the ailing pope told reporters he was 'living it as best I can' after he was plagued with health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline. The pontiff had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks. In September 2024, he carried out a 12-day tour across south-east Asia and Oceania that included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. When he was discharged from hospital last month, his doctors had said he would need at least two months of rest at his residence. The 88-year-old pontiff delivered his 'Urbi et Orbi' benediction from a balcony overlooking the square following mass to mark the holiday Pope Francis greets the faithful at the end of the Easter Mass celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Comastri to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, at the Vatican, on April 20, 2025 The pontiff appeared tired as he sat on the balcony overlooking the masses of faithful gathered on St Peter's Square A parishioner weeps in front of a picture of Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Monday, April 21, 2025, in New York The pontiff had presented 'two very critical episodes' where his 'life was in danger' while in hospital, according to one of the doctors who took care of him. But he appeared keen not to be confined to his rooms at the Casa Santa Maria. The late figure made surprise appearances at the end of Masses and visits to St Peter's Basilica, which gave faithful hope that his condition was improving. In the last week of his life, he appeared in public twice without the nasal cannula through which he has been receiving oxygen. Yesterday he met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance a Catholic convert who was received into the church in 2019. 'The meeting, which lasted a few minutes, gave the opportunity to exchange greetings on Easter Sunday', the Vatican said. The Vatican said the meeting between the vice president and the Holy Father was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. The Pope offered the Vice President three large chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children, who did not attend. Thousands of faithful gathered under hazy skies in the sprawling plaza decorated with brightly-coloured tulips yesterday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pontiff on what turned out to be his last appearance before his death was announced today Pope Francis is helped to drink water during the Urbi et Orbi Message to the World at the central Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, on April 20, 2025 Pope Francis spent his final day celebrating Easter Sunday with Catholic faithful in St Peter's Square The pair had tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration's plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy. The meeting raised hopes that Francis could be making a recovery, after he turned away from giving Vance an audience on Friday, officially out of caution over his health situation, Corriere reports. The Pope was hoped to be making a steady recovery from double pneumonia after his release from hospital last month before Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today. 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune,' he said in a statement. Francis had only left hospital under 'protected discharge' on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year. But he resolutely toured through the crowd of 35,000 believers 'for 50 minutes at 21 degrees' on Sunday after delivering the Urbi et Orbi benediction with help from an aide. The Pontiff concluded the traditional address by wishing Catholics a 'Happy Easter' and calling for an end to conflicts around the world. The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days. The College of Cardinals will soon meet in Rome to choose a successor. The conclave follows precise rules - only cardinals aged under 80 are allowed to vote. Pope Francis greets a little girl during the Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square a day before his death was announced by the Vatican Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City Of the 252 living cardinals, 138 are under 80 and are therefore eligible to vote in the conclave. The ballot will not take place for at least 15 days, after nine days of official mourning. In the interim, a cardinal known as the camerlengo, or chamberlain, becomes interim chief with limited powers. Sunday's scheduled canonisation of the Church's first millennial saint has also since been postponed to a later date, the Vatican said on Monday. Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006 aged 15, was meant to have his sainthood rubber-stamped in a mass at the Holy See on April 27. 'Following the death of the Sovereign Pontiff Francis, we inform you that the Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis... has been postponed,' the Vatican said in a brief statement. Dubbed 'God's Influencer' or the 'Cyber Apostle', Acutis spent much of his short life spreading the Catholic faith online. Carlo was born in London to Italian parents on May 3, 1991, but mostly grew up in Milan. He spent holidays in the family's second home in Assisi, and eventually died in Monza, northern Italy. His family was wealthy and not religiously observant, but Carlo was imbued with ardent faith from a young age, attending mass every day. JD Vance (pictured left, yesterday) tried to mend his rocky relationship with Pope Francis (pictured right) at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the leader of the Catholic church slammed the Trump administration's treatment of illegal migrants Pope Francis is helped to drink water from the balcony at St Peter's Square on April 20 Pope Francis tours St. Peter's Square in his popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Sunday The Pope's last blessing: Francis blessed an infant as he was driven through St Peter's Square yesterday, before his death was announced this morning A seagull flies in front of the central loggia at St Peter's square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 21, 2025 Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the news of Francis' death 'deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd'. 'I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering.' 'The Pope and I had a more active relationship than was apparent,' she told Italian state broadcaster RAI, in a broken voice. 'It went well beyond our respective institutional roles,' she told Italian state broadcaster RAI. 'We've met many times, even just to exchange opinions. He was able to give comfort in very difficult moments, I have many memories of the Pope.' King Charles also shared a statement in tribute, saying Francis would be 'remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others'. 'Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,' the statement continued, adding: 'The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.' A woman reacts, after the death of Pope Francis was announced, by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 21, 2025 Worshippers gather by the Stone of Anointing, after the death of Pope Francis was announced, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 21, 2025 People sit in Westminster Cathedral in Victoria, London, following news of the Pope's death Your browser does not support iframes. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, also shared his condolences in a post on X. 'From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.' The bells at Paris's Notre-Dame cathedral rang out 88 times on Monday in honour of Pope Francis who died aged 88, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The '88 rings for 88 years of life' were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral's bells before a noon mass in Francis's honour, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office. Karoline Leavitt slammed an NPR report that the White House was looking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary as 'fake news.' 'This @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about,' the White House press secretary wrote on X. 'As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef.' NPR cited 'a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly' as telling the outlet the White House was looking for a new head of the military. Hegseth is trying to hold onto his job after a report from the New York Times that he shared detailed information about military strikes in Yemen in a private group chat on the Signal app that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer. Trump defended Hegseth, saying he's doing a 'great job.' 'It's just the same old stuff,' the president told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday. 'He's doing a great job. It's just fake news. They just bring up stories. I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. He was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people and that's what he's doing so you don't always have friends when you do that.' The president also suggested: 'Ask the Houthis how much disfunction there is. There's none. Pete's doing a great job. Everybody's happy with him.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Hegseth also attended the Easter Egg Roll and said he has spoken to the president and 'we're on the same page all the way.' He also blasted the New York Times for the article noting it was written by the 'same media that did the Russia hoax' and who received 'Pulitzers for a bunch of lies.' 'What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax, won't give back their Pulitzers, they got Pulitzers for a bunch of lies ... This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations,' he said. But Hegseth's tenure at the Pentagon is under fire. Three senior staffers were put on leave as part of a leak investigation and the Department of Defense's former spokesman wrote in an op-ed this weekend that it is in a 'full-blown meltdown.' And the first Republican has called for Hegseth's resignation. 'I'm not going to tell the White House how to manage this but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn't tolerate it if I was in charge,' Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told Politico. 'There's a lot a lot of smoke come out of the Pentagon, and I got to believe there's some fire there somewhere,' he noted. President Donald Trump defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: 'Pete's doing a great job. Everybody's happy with him' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporter at the White House he's on the 'same page' as President Donald Trump Hegseth's use of the Signal app to give friends and family details of a March attack on Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis raises more questions about his reliance on an unclassified messaging system to share highly sensitive security details. Unlike a previous Signal scandal - in which National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started a chat that included an editor of The Atlantic - Hegseth started the second one, which contained 13 people and was dubbed 'Defense Team Huddle.' The information shared 'included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen,' the Times reported. Of the people on that chat, Hegseth's wife Jennifer is a former producer at the Fox News, but is not an employee of the Defense Department. His brother Phil and attorney Tim Parlatore do have jobs at the Pentagon but it is not clear if they are on a need-to-know basis regarding attacks. Phil Hegseth is a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. The White House is standing by Hegseth. 'The President absolutely has confidence in Secretary Hegseth. I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands behind him,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House Monday morning. Former Pentagon spokemsan Joh Ullyot (pictured) warned the Pentagon is in 'chaos' But Hegseth received another blow when John Ullyot, the former spokesman who announced his resignation from the Pentagon on Wednesday, claimed the Defense Department is in 'chaos.' Writing an op-ed for Politico on Sunday, Ullyot knifed his old boss and exposed the chaos currently unfolding inside the Pentagon - before sharing his belief that Trump should fire Hegseth. He noted he's a 'longtime backer of the secretary,' and 'value[s] his friendship.' But he then let loose on Hegseth, saying the Pentagon is in 'a full-blown meltdown' and that has devolved into 'total chaos.' He added that 'the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president - who deserves better from his senior leadership.' 'It's hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer,' he added. Meanwhile, three senior staffers were escorted out of Pentagon by security as part of leak investigation. Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was suspended a day after Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, were put on administrative leave. The internal Pentagon investigation is looking into allegations of unauthorized disclosures of information. The leak investigation at the Pentagon began on March 21 when Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe 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. He 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. But now Kasper is leaving his chief of staff job and moving to another part of agency. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth uses his cellphone, during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll event And Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll put out a statement criticizing the leak. 'We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended,' the three men wrote. 'Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. All three of us served our country honorably in uniform - for two of us, this included deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, based on our collective service, we understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it.' They noted they haven't been told what the investigation is about. 'At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of 'leaks' to begin with. While this experience has been unconscionable, we remain supportive of the Trump-Vance Administration's mission to make the Pentagon great again and achieve peace through strength. We hope in the future to support those efforts in different capacities,' they said. A far left MSP who stood by as a protester went on an expletive laden rant about JK Rowling is now facing calls to quit after attacking the legal system. Scottish Green Maggie Chapman claimed there was bigotry, prejudice and hatred from the Supreme Court which made the landmark ruling that biological sex, not gender choices, was decisive in defining a woman. Pressure had already been growing on the politician after she failed to step in as trans protester Sophie Molly yelled through a megaphone about the Harry Potter author. But yesterday it reached boiling point with demands for Ms Chapman, the deputy convener of the Scottish Parliaments Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, to go in wake of her comments on Sunday. Susan Smith, of the For Women Scotland group which successfully defeated SNP Ministers in court last week, backed calls for Ms Chapman to quit the committee. And she said: Moreover, if she cannot respect the rule of law or the independence of the judiciary, she should resign from Parliament too. Running around Scotland whipping up mobs with histrionic lies about the Supreme Court or clapping men who call women b****** and say they want to defecate on a womans head is not behaviour we should tolerate from MSPs. We imagine many will be hesitant to appear before that committee in the future, knowing she holds and endorses vile views. Maggie Chapman accuses the Supreme Court of 'bigotry, prejudice and hatred' during a speech at a rally in Aberdeen And Trina Budge, also of the group, branded Ms Chapmans comments inflammatory which are incredibly damaging to the reputation of Holyrood and to the committee in particular. She said: MSPs have a duty to uphold the independence of the judiciary and any parliamentarian who cannot do so has no business overseeing the development of equality and human rights legislation. If MSPs cant respect the law and the courts they have no credibility in expecting the public to do so with laws passed by Holyrood. Yesterday, footage emerged of Ms Chapman speaking at a rally in Aberdeen on Sunday, and she told the crowd of trans-flag holding protesters: We say not in our name to the bigotry, prejudice and hatred that we see coming from the Supreme Court and from so many other institutions in our society. Akua Reindorf KC and a commissioner in the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, tweeted: As a lawyer I am deeply concerned to see an elected politician publicly undermining the separation of powers in our democracy with irresponsible and entirely false allegations of bigotry and hatred against the judiciary. Disgraceful. Since then, politicians have joined campaigners in demanding Ms Chapman, who is also rector of Dundee University, quit the committee role. Tess White, equalities spokeswoman at the Scottish Conservatives, said: It is appalling that any elected MSP would smear the UKs highest court in this way and she should apologise urgently for her disrespectful comments. The Supreme Courts ruling, which most Scots see as common sense, was thoughtful and considered but the Greens are still wedded to their extremist ideology that seeks to destroy womens rights. Protesters at the rally hurled abuse about the author JK Rowling, a vocal critic of gender ideology There can be no justification for this insulting speech from Maggie Chapman. She should do the right thing and resign from her position on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice committee. And former SNP MP Joanna Cherry added: It is wholly inappropriate for any parliamentarian to speak about the judiciary in this way and to so misrepresent their judgment. This person is not fit to convene a parliamentary committee on equalities, human rights and justice. She should resign her position. Over the weekend, Ms Chapman was in the crowd at a protest in Dundee as protester Sophie Molly raged about the Supreme Court ruling. On Saturday, Molly, who was born male, yelled: I am going to use a womens toilet. F*** you JK Rowling, you will never stop me from peeing. The only person who is s**** is you, so we should all take a s**** on you. You heinous creepy old b****. It led to JK Rowling criticising Ms Chapman, who was seen chatting as the rant went on, as one of our most enthusiastic anti-women legislators. Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters, said: Most people would find Sophie Mollys rant unsettling, and frankly unhinged. But its just one of many trans protests in recent days that show very clearly that they are on the side that is trying to destroy human rights, and which all right-thinking people will recognise as arguments against their position. It will no doubt be embarrassing for politicians who have backed the extreme trans lobby to admit they were wrong. Even so, its extraordinary that politicians like Chapman are so determined to keep going, no matter how the evidence mounts up that they backed the wrong side. Gabby Petito's mother revealed that Brian Laundrie's parents had already cleared out his room during the time he was allegedly missing while they searched for their daughter. Gabby, 22, was strangled to death on August 27, 2021, by her fiance Brian, 23, in Wyoming during a cross-country road trip. He then drove back to his parents' home in North Port, Florida on September 1 in her 2012 white Ford Transit van - leaving Gabby behind. Brian then vanished when police started investigating his partner's death. Gabby's remains were found on September 19 and investigators determined she died by manual strangulation and had been dead for three to four weeks. About a month later, Brian's remains were discovered after he killed himself with a gunshot to the head. A notebook was found near him, in which he confessed to murdering Gabby. During a recent appearance on The Squeeze podcast - hosted by Taylor Lautner and his wife Tay - Gabby's mother, Nichole Schmidt, revealed during that time Brian was missing, his parents had already cleared out his room. 'I actually just found out some new information a few days ago,' she said. 'There was [someone] that was at the house when Brian was missing and I would say he was hiding, he wasn't missing, but he was actually dead but his room was completely gutted and renovated. None of his things were there anymore. It was gone. 'So that very same week, Gabby was missing and cops were going to their house to try to get, I guess, a scent from their dogs to look for Brian, all his things were gone. The room was completely empty, just gone.' Gabby Petito, 22, was strangled to death on August 27, 2021, by her fiance Brian Laundrie, 23, in Wyoming during a cross-country road trip Her mother revealed that Laundrie's parents had already cleared out his room during the time he was allegedly missing while they searched for their daughter Schmidt has previously said she has to forgive Brian for what he did to her daughter, but the family is still upset with his parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie. His parents have been accused of trying to help him cover up the murder before he went into the Florida wilderness and shot himself dead. Christopher and Roberta repeatedly refused to speak to authorities as Gabby's family desperately searched for her. The Netflix documentary notes that Roberta wrote her son a chilling 'burn after reading' letter in which she said she would help him bury a body because she loved him so much. While she claims the note was written before the young couple went on their trip, the undated note left Petito's family 'sick to their stomach.' The Petito and Laundrie families reached a $3 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit in 2022. 'They said that there's something wrong with that mother, she's clearly not mentally well. And I'm like, 'just add it to the list', because I didn't even know about that. That was crazy to hear,' Schmidt said. 'It drives me absolutely insane that's the one thing I can't let go of, because I'm trying to figure out what can I do to make them pay for what they did, but there is really nothing I can do.' Christopher and Roberta (pictured) repeatedly refused to speak to authorities as Gabby's family desperately searched for her Brian's remains were discovered after he killed himself with a gunshot to the head. A notebook was found near him, in which he confessed to murdering Gabby Lautner questioned why things had been allowed to be 'stripped and cleaned and thrown away.' Schmidt replied, 'The van was cleaned out, the mattress was never recovered, and then all the things were packed away in a closet Gabby's stuff was packed away in a closet. 'I mean, I don't understand, I don't get it. Just strange behavior.' Kamala Harris' latest outing with scandal-ridden husband Doug Emhoff has fueled yet more divorce rumors. The former Vice President appeared to be all smiles for everyone but her husband as they traipsed around a farmer's market in Los Angeles with their nieces on Easter Sunday. Harris beamed for strangers, shaking hands and laughing as she greeted passers-by. But when it seemed like no one was watching, she couldn't hide a terse expression walking side by side with Doug. Emhoff, in the meantime, was stuck carrying the bags. Harris's presidential campaign was rocked when DailyMail.com exposed how her husband - heralded as the ultimate modern man - cheated on first wife with nanny and smacked a former girlfriend. At the time, it was revealed that he had cheated on his first wife with his daughter's nanny. In addition, a source accused him of once striking an ex-girlfriend in the face to DailyMail.com, and former co-workers claimed he was 'inappropriate' and 'misogynistic' at work. Kamala Harris looked terse when alone with her scandal-ridden husband Doug Emhoff amid divorce rumors She looked festive in a pink button-up and pearl necklace as she browsed local goods and posed for photos He later confessed to the explosive affair, but denied he 'ever hit a woman,' and when he was given a chance to slap the rumors of his past behavior in the workplace down on national television, he instead brushed them off. While they put on a united front in the months that followed, rumors have now erupted that they are having problems in their marriage because she partly 'blames' his scandals for costing her the election. One source exclusively told DailyMail.com: 'There's plenty of blame to go around as far as Kamala is concerned and Doug has his share. 'Doug did Kamala no favors during the election frankly, he looked like a hypocritical a** after the bombshells that he had got his child's nanny pregnant while married to his first wife and assaulted his ex-girlfriend on the heels of his 'I am woman' crusade.' Emhoff famously stepped away from his own prominent career as an attorney in California to fully support Harris' political ambitions in 2020 becoming hell-bent on perfecting his image as a 'wife guy'. However, he also faced reports from his former colleagues at the Los Angeles law firm Venable, where he worked from 2006 to 2017. They described a work culture marked by misogyny, claiming that Emhoff allegedly yelled expletives, held a man-only cocktail hour in the office, revoked work perks from women who didn't flirt with him and preferred only young, attractive associates to accompany him in limousines to professional events. Harris has never publicly commented on any of the allegations, instead choosing to shy away from the controversy. She, 60, beamed with others while shopping at the Farmers Market on Easter Sunday with her family Kamala was all smiles for her family and for the well wishers The former VP was only too happy o to shake hands with strangers as she made her way through the market Kamala posing for a photo with two other farmer's market shoppers In October, the couple's picture perfect image was shattered after DailyMail.com exclusively laid bare shocking details from Emhoff's past Emhoff cheated on his first wife with Najen Naylor, who also taught at their children's pricey private school Emhoff is accused of violently striking his former girlfriend - for allegedly flirting with another man during a booze-fueled altercation in 2012. But the Democrat's golden girl known for her relentless drive is now tarnished and has now has to face the reality of her marriage potentially crumbling following her loss to Trump. At the presidential inauguration, the couple's expressions remained grim as they sat through Trump's speech, their faces mirroring the tension. Harris, wearing a black pantsuit with exposed zippers, sat stoically throughout the ceremony holding an inaugural program in her lap. She was seen crossing her wrists and pinching the program in her fingers as Trump delivered his address. Emhoff similarly matched the disdain on his wife's face but took it a step further grimacing and shaking his head lightly when Trump promised to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. The couple left the Capitol building together briefly shaking hands with Trump and bidding Joe and Jill Biden farewell with plans to return to California. The wife of disgraced ex-senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty of helping orchestrate a bribery scheme that brought the couple gold bars, cash, and a luxury car in return for political favors. Nadine Menendez, 58, was pictured hiding her face under a pink mask and sunglasses as she arrived to a federal courthouse in New York on a cloudy Monday. Nadine, who was previously diagnosed with breast cancer, was also seen wearing a pink ribbon pin in support of breast cancer awareness. A Manhattan jury convicted Nadine after a three-week trial that revealed the couple's alleged corruption. She was described as a key go-between who helped broker deals with shady businessmen and Egyptian officials. The evidence shown to jurors over a three-week trial followed the timeline of the whirlwind romance between the couple that began in early 2018 and continued after criminal charges were brought against them in September 2023. Repeatedly during the trial, prosecutors said they were 'partners in crime.' During a 2022 raid on the couples Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home, FBI agents found nearly $150,000 worth of gold bars and $480,000 in cash stuffed in boots, shoeboxes and jackets. In the garage was a Mercedes-Benz convertible, also an alleged bribe. Both Nadine and Bob Menendez said they are innocent and never took any bribes. Initially, they were to be tried together, along with the three businessmen, but Nadine Menendezs trial was postponed a year ago after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery. Bob Menendez, 71, resigned from the Senate last August following his conviction. Before the charges were brought he had been chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Nadine Menendez, 58, was pictured hiding her face under a pink mask and sunglasses as she arrived to a federal courthouse in New York on a cloudy Monday Nadine, who was previously diagnosed with breast cancer, was also seen wearing a pink ribbon pin in support of breast cancer awareness Prosecutors accused Nadine Menendez of starting to facilitating bribes to the senator around the time that they began dating, before they married in the fall of 2020. At the time, she was in danger of losing her home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, after missing nearly $20,000 in mortgage payments, trial testimony showed. A longtime friend, Wael Hana, provided cash to save the home - and prosecutors said that in return, the senator began helping Hana preserve a business monopoly he had arranged with the Egyptian government to certify that imported meat met religious requirements. Nadine Menendez also needed a new car after her old one was destroyed when she struck and killed a man crossing a street. (She did not face charges in the crash). Prosecutors said a businessman, Jose Uribe, gave her a Mercedes-Benz, and in return Bob Menendez used his clout to pressure the New Jersey attorney generals office to stop investigating some of Uribes associates. More cash and gold bribes were allegedly paid to the couple by Fred Daibes, a prominent real estate developer who prosecutors said wanted the senator to protect him from a criminal case he was facing in New Jersey. They also said Bob Menendez also helped Daibes secure a $95 million investment from a Qatari investment fund. Nadine Menendez, 58, was described by prosecutors at her trial as crucial to the scheme, enabling the senator to communicate with the businessmen and Egyptian government officials. Besides his conviction on bribery charges, Bob Menendez also was convicted of acting as an agent for the Egyptian government. Nadine Menendez, wife of former Senator Bob Menendez, is found guilty in the fraud case against her. April 21, 2025 in New York A Manhattan jury convicted Nadine after a three-week trial that revealed the couple's alleged corruption Prosecutors said that in return for some of the bribes, he ghostwrote a letter for Egyptian officials to give to his fellow senators to calm their concerns about human rights abuses and encourage them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid. Nadine Menendezs lawyer, Barry Coburn, had argued during his closing arguments to the jury that the evidence was insufficient for a conviction. 'These things were talking about here are unproven,' he said. He said the dealings the senator had with the businessmen were just what a politician is supposed to do for his constituents. In a rebuttal argument , Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal urged the jury to convict Nadine Menendez, calling the evidence against her 'consistent and overwhelming.' Uribe pleaded guilty and testified against the others. Hana and Dabies were convicted along with the senator. Hana has been sentenced to eight years in prison while Daibes got seven years behind bars. President Donald Trump announced he and first lady Melania Trump will travel to Rome for Pope Francis' funeral. 'Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!,' he wrote on social media. The Vatican said Francis, the first pope from Latin America, died after a stroke and requested a simple tomb in Rome. His tomb may be simple but his funeral will be a state occasion with multiple world leaders likely to attend. The Vatican has not announced a funeral date or formal plans but a pontiff's funeral and interment must take place four to six days after his death. The service traditionally takes place in St. Peter's Square. That likely puts the funeral at the weekend, which could run into Melania's 55th birthday on Saturday, April 26. The funeral would be Trump's first international trip of his second term. He paid tribute to Pope Francis at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, saying he was putting the flags at half-staff to honor the pontiff. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in May 2017 'He was a good man, he worked hard and loved the world,' Trump said. Trump met the Pope at the Vatican in his first term in May 2017. Pope Francis died a day after he appeared in his wheelchair on the balcony in St. Peters Square on Easter Sunday to bless the faithful below. Trump's Vice President J.D. Vance was one of the last people to have an official meeting with Francis. Vance is a Catholic convert who was received into the church in 2019. 'The meeting, which lasted a few minutes, gave the opportunity to exchange greetings on Easter Sunday', the Vatican said. The two men met Easter Sunday, one of the pope's final engagements before his death. The Pope offered the Vice President three large chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children, who did not attend. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (St Mary Major) in Rome, Italy on February 2025 where Pope Francis wants to be buried Francis asked to be buried in a 'niche of the side nave between the Cappella Paolina (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Cappella Sforza of the aforementioned Papal Basilica.' 'The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus,' his request read. The popes body will be placed in three caskets: one made from cypress, the second from metal and the third from elm or oak. Traditionally, popes are buried holding a rosary, a death certificate and the broken fishermans ring. Francis was pontiff during Barack Obama's, Joe Biden's and Trump's presidencies. During Obama's presidency, Francis made a major visit to Washington D.C. He visited the White House and addressed a joint session of Congress in September 2015. It's unclear if the two former presidents will attend. When then-President George W. Bush attended Pope John Paul II's funeral in April 2005 he brought his father, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton on Air Force One with him. President Donald Trump shared some marriage advice while speaking at the White House on Monday. Walking around the historic White House Easter Egg Roll event on the south lawn of the presidential residence, the commander in chief was filmed shaking hands and speaking with attendees. During one of the interactions, the president was asked to share his marriage advice. The question seemingly came from Real America's Voice White House correspondent Brian Glenn, who is currently dating Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. It came just after One America News journalist Daniel Baldwin greeted Trump and introduced his fiance, Monica Luisi, a White House reporter for Turning Point USA. 'Nice to see you, sir, how are you?' Baldwin could be heard saying to the president. 'This is my beautiful fiance.' Glenn, standing right next to the couple, asked if Trump had any advice for their upcoming matrimony. 'Make sure you like each other,' Trump said looking serious. President Donald Trump stopped to give marriage advice during the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday Trump gave the advice to Monica Luisi (R) and her fiance Daniel Baldwin (L) 'If you don't, don't get married,' the president said while flashing a big smile before walking off to greet the next group of attendees. The clip, posted by Luisi on X, was captioned with: 'Its not everyday you get marriage advice from the President!' The two journalists got engaged in Washington, D.C., late in 2024, according to pictures posted on Luisi's Instagram account. The announcement caught the eye of many major MAGA voices. 'Oh my gosh! Congratulations you two!' Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on Luisi's December 2024 post celebrating the engagement. Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate and senior advisor for the U.S. Agency for Global Media Kari Lake also commented on the engagement photos. 'Congratulations Daniel!' Lake wrote. 'You are definitely an ultra MAGA catch!' The president and First Lady Melania Trump both attended the event The president gave his wife a peck on the cheek during the family-friendly Easter celebration The White House Easter Egg Roll has been a tradition since 1878 Reacting to the marriage advice Trump gave Monday some X users noted that the president himself has been wed three times. First Lady Melania Trump, who played a central role at the celebration, put on a loving display with her husband. She walked around with him hand-in-hand and Trump gave his wife a peck on the cheek as the cameras flashed at the family-friendly event. Six years after meeting on an adventurous horseback safari in Kenya, Vere Harmsworth, elder son of Viscount and Viscountess Rothermere, and Alexandra Wood are engaged. Vere, 30, and Zimbabwe-born Alexandra, 27, who is known as Mwana, or 'little one' in the Shona language, plan to marry next year. The news was being celebrated last night. 'We are over the moon and delighted Mwana is joining our family,' said Lady Rothermere. 'It is like having another daughter. She is a lovely, gorgeous girl.' Vere, whose father Jonathan is chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc, publishers of the Daily Mail, MailOnline and The Mail on Sunday, was educated at Eton and St Peter's College, Oxford, where he read history. After working for BCG, the global management consulting group, he joined the family firm, learning all aspects of the publishing business. He has held a string of senior roles and is currently chief commercial officer for DMG Media. Mwana, the daughter of tobacco farmers, was educated at Peterhouse Girls, one of the top independent schools in southern Africa. She is a project manager in the construction industry and currently completing a master's in construction economics at University College London. A country proposal: Vere Harmsworth with his fiancee Alexandra Wood Vere Harmsworth with his fiancee Alexandra Wood But it was their shared love of horses and riding that was to lead to romance. Alexandra was hired as one of the guides for a Rothermere family holiday in Kenya's wild and beautiful Masai Mara region and the couple have been inseparable ever since. Alexandra rides and plays polo as does Vere, who, in 2013, led Eton to a thumping victory over rivals Harrow. He was part of another memorable winning team when Oxford beat Cambridge in the 2015 Varsity Polo Match. The daughter of Duncan Wood and Hilary Campbell, Alexandra is the youngest of four hence her nickname. She has three older brothers: Tommy who's based in Marondera, south of Harare; Hugo who lives in Zambia, and James, a farmer in Herefordshire. She also has two half-siblings, Emily and Victoria. This weekend, Alexandra was sporting an exquisite marquise cut diamond ring chosen by Vere. Alexandra Wood The proposal was conducted in time-honoured tradition, after some meticulous planning. On Saturday, despite indifferent weather, he asked her on a walk to Win Green, a beauty spot close to the Rothermere family country home, with views over the Wiltshire countryside. It was there that Vere dropped to one knee. 'I am thrilled that she said "yes", and so excited and happy about this next chapter in our lives,' Vere said last night. 'I'm so very lucky that she is taking me on.' The couple share a home in Notting Hill, west London with their one-year-old Cairn terrier, Toto. It's thought life won't change too much at least to start with. Queen Elizabeth is now remembered as one of the most beloved monarchs in history - but it wasn't always that way. In the 1950s, she was reportedly still finding her footing. According to writer James Pope-Hennessy, who interviewed the Queen in 1957 while researching a biography of her grandmother Queen Mary, Elizabeth came across as somewhat uneasy. In her book Elizabeth & Philip, historian Tessa Dunlop sheds light on Pope-Hennessy's impressions. 'He found a self-possessed young woman, but not someone entirely comfortable in her own skin,' she writes. Pope-Hennessy, eager to make a good impression, was himself nervous - and his own tension may have amplified the Queen's. 'One feels that the spring is wound up very tight. She is brisk, jerky and a little ungraceful,' he observed. Dunlop notes that, in hindsight, these remarks feel almost unfair. They paint a picture of a young woman still growing into the role we would later see her embody with such grace and strength - a queen the world would come to deeply admire and respect. However, at the time 'people wanted more from their young Queen and had started to say so'. Queen Elizabeth is now remembered as one of the most beloved monarchs in history - but it wasn't always that way According to writer James Pope-Hennessy, who interviewed the Queen in 1957 while researching a biography of her grandmother Queen Mary, Elizabeth came across as uneasy Lord Altrincham launched a scathing critique of Queen Elizabeth, accusing her of being out of touch in an article published in The National and English Review Not long after, Lord Altrincham launched a scathing critique of Queen Elizabeth, accusing her of being out of touch in an article published in The National and English Review. As Dunlop explains, his criticisms were numerous: 'Elizabeth's entourage were 'people of the "tweedy" sort', she and her sister still bore the 'debutante stamp', her voice was a 'pain in the neck' and her speeches lacked 'spontaneity', parts of which 'sound very hollow'. The controversy was later dramatised in an episode of Netflix's The Crown, and in Sarah Bradford's biography, she suggests the criticism may have been more directed at the Queen's advisers than at the monarch herself. Dunlop sees it differently. 'He clearly thought the Queen was a bit of a frump and said so,' she writes. Dunlop notes the irony that Elizabeth remained true to that very image - headscarves tied neatly beneath her chin, her distinctive high-pitched voice unchanged and her speeches always delivered word for word. What is often overlooked in Lord Altrincham's widely discussed article, however, is his admiration for Prince Philip. Dunlop highlights that Altrincham offered a flattering assessment of the Duke of Edinburgh, describing him as a man of 'merit' and framing his lack of Britishness as an asset in a rapidly modernising era. 'He gives the impression of being a citizen of the Commonwealth, at home wherever he goes,' she writes. James Pope-Hennessy's comments paint a picture of a young woman still growing into the role we would later see her embody with such grace and strength Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Olympic Horse Trials in 1952 Elizabeth was criticised for delivering speeches word for word Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on the bridge of the liner Gothic as it arrives at the Miraflores Locks during the Royal Tour of the Commonwealth in 1953 Lord Altrincham praised Philip's public speaking skills, noting, 'he is a first-rate speaker' who had 'recently moved, not without success, into the domain of television' Altrincham even praised Philip's public speaking skills, noting, 'he is a first-rate speaker' who had 'recently moved, not without success, into the domain of television'. Though Altrincham's critique came from a respected journalist and peer - one who later renounced his title - it was considered a bold attack at the time. Yet by the final years of her reign, Queen Elizabeth was cherished not despite her constancy, but because of it. Her unwavering presence became a source of national comfort and nostalgia. Today would have been Lady Anne Glenconner and Lord Colin Glenconner's 69th wedding anniversary, a matrimony that was truly a royal affair. The bride was a close friend and confidante of Princess Margaret, the young princess and the Queen Mother were among the guests at St Withburgas Church in Holkham, Norfolk, on April 21 1956. Margaret's future husband Anthony Armstrong-Jones was the wedding photographer. But despite the glitz and glamour of their wedding day, the 54 year marriage - which ended when Lord Colin died in 2010 - was far from a fairytale. Meanwhile, the groom was the charismatic Hon. Colin, the heir to Baron Glenconner and the familys 3,500-acre estate at The Glen, near Traquair in the Scottish Borders. As part of Princess Margaret's rather raffish set, he knew many glamorous people from the world of literature, art and show business. Their relationship had been a whirlwind romance having met at met at a debutantes ball at The Ritz the previous summer. Lady Anne - now 92 - gushed over her soon-to-be hubby, describing him as 'very good-looking, charming, a marvellous dancer', adding that 'best of all, he talked about more than shooting and fishing. Lady Anne Glenconner and Lord Colin Glenconner on their wedding day which was 59 years ago today The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were at the wedding while Margaret's future husband Anthony Armstrong-Jones was the wedding photographer making the matrimony a truly royal affair Lady Anne on her wedding day. Despite the glitz and glamour of the day the 54 year marriage - which ended when Lord Colin died in 2010 - was far from a fairytale Their marriage would be turbulent with Lord Colin subjecting is wife to physical and emotional abuse over the slightest provocation. On top of this, he was constantly unfaithful to Lady Anne from the very start of their marriage and may have been bisexual. In fact from their very first wedding night the naive 23-year-old Lady Anne, who in her own words was 'totally ignorant to sex', had hoped her vastly more worldly 29-year-old new husband would help her learn with gentleness and kindness. Instead, Lord Colin wrecked their first night as husband and wife when he had a huge tantrum that left Lady Anne exhausted. When they did consummate the marriage on their honeymoon, it was 'awkward, painful and not particularly enjoyable or romantic, a theme that would permeate their sex life for the rest of their marriage. Lord Colin blamed her and a few days later tried to educate her in the ways of sex by taking her to a private show at a Parisian bordello. Despite Lady Anne's claim she'd 'dread going to bed with him' the couple still had five children together who the Lord loved greatly. But over the course of their 54 years of marriage, Lord Colin did not show the same level of compassion for his wife who he constantly bullied and mistreated. Their marriage would be turbulent with Lord Colin subjecting is wife to physical and emotional abuse over the slightest provocation Lord and Lady Glenconner with Princess Margaret in Mustique. The ugliest side of his character came to the fore after Lord Colin bought the Caribbean island of Mustique in 1958, an impulse buy she described as 'a great leap into the unknown' This manifested itself in both physically and emotionally, such as when Lady Anne said he beat her so hard with his shark-bone walking stick that it left her dead in one ear. And when he wasn't sexually satisfied by his wife, Lord Colin's solution was to spike her drink with with what she suspects was LSD when they were on holiday in the Grenadines. Under the influence of the mind-bending drug, they finally ended up making passionate, energetic and uninhibited love. The following day, Lord Colin told his wife that was how he 'wanted [her] to behave all the time. But she had been terrified by the visions and hallucinations she had experienced. The ugliest side of his character came to the fore after Lord Colin bought the Caribbean island of Mustique in 1958, an impulse buy she described as 'a great leap into the unknown'. After spending much of his fortune buying the island, building a new village, installing electricity and creating a lot of well-paying jobs for local people servicing the tourist industry, he came, according to Lady Anne, to regard himself as the king of Mustique and behaved accordingly. His hubris meant he felt entitled to attack people physically, which Lady Anne says was 'simply accepted...as what white men did' by the islanders. Then one November night in the late 70s, as they were celebrating the birthday of their twin girls, his wife found herself the focus of his ire. Lady Anne was a naive 23-year-old Lady Anne, who in her own words was 'totally ignorant to sex', had hoped her vastly more worldly 29-year-old new husband would help her learn with gentleness and kindness Despite Lady Anne's claim she'd 'dread going to bed with him' the couple still had five children together who the Lord loved greatly After visiting a bar to speak with clients at Lord Colin's request, Lady Anne excused herself to return to the twins a decision that infuriated Lord Colin, who grabbed her roughly, bundled her into his car and shook with rage during the 10-minute drive to their house. Lady Anne said: 'Drawing up at the house, I got out of the car and before I knew what was happening, he hit me across the head from behind with his shark-bone walking stick. It knocked me straight to the ground. And then he launched in on me. 'I lay there, trying to protect my head and begging him to stop. He didn't: he was in a frenzy, quite out of his mind. I was utterly terrified, convinced he might actually kill me. 'I have no idea how long it lasted, but eventually he tired himself out. I lay there until I heard his car drive off, then crawled into the main house and locked myself into the bedroom. She was terrified he would return to 'finish [her] off', but later learnt he had returned to the bar where he told a mutual friend he had 'just given Anne a thrashing'. That thrashing left her in serious pain from a burst eardrum that leaves her deaf in that ear to this day. That beating was, she recalled, the first time Colin knew he'd gone too far. He apologised, promising not to do it again in the only show of remorse she'd ever seen from him. While she described being married to Lord Colin as 'frightful at times and very, very difficult', she still insists there was happiness, too: As time went on, there would be moments of vivid happiness. Dancing was one of them; we loved jive and rock and roll and would let rip in various clubs. To me, those were really magical times when I could forget myself and all the tensions between us. Lord Colin and Princess Margaret on Mustique in 1976. The Lord spent much of his fortune buying the island which was Margaret's favourite sunshine getaway spot The couple lived increasingly separate lives, with Lord Colin choosing to stay in the Caribbean while his wife remained in England raising the children 'I also learned to treasure the many moments of joy and laughter we shared with our family and friends, and appreciate the times Colin was at his best, charming the people around us.' But sometimes, society social occasions meant coming face-to-face with Lord Colins latest mistress. She added: The husbands of my generation, who usually held all the financial cards, were often flagrantly unfaithful. Colin was, from the earliest days of our marriage. 'For the most part, wives simply put up with it and didn't make a fuss. Many made arrangements of their own. I am so glad I had that opportunity. Ten years into my marriage, I took a lover, which did me an enormous amount of good.' Indeed, the couple lived increasingly separate lives, with Lord Colin choosing to stay in the Caribbean while his wife remained in England raising the children. He moved from Mustique to St Lucia in 1987 after investing in a 480-acre estate he wanted to develop into somewhere as spectacular as Mustique. However, the venture eventually failed, and he found himself living alone in failing health. When Lord Colin refused to return to England for treatment when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, Lady Anne travelled to his bedside to nurse him. She described seeing him so frail as 'desperately upsetting. Colin, after hearing her weep quietly to herself in her bedroom, came in, hugged her and said, 'It wasn't all bad, was it, Anne?' She replied: 'No, Colin,' I said. 'Of course not. But she returned to England soon afterwards, and would never see him again. Lady and Lord Glenconner at the christening of their son Charles But he had one final insult for his long-suffering wife and children from beyond the grave. Lord Colin changed his will shortly before he died and left everything he owned to his valet, Kent Adonai. Following a legal battle the estate was divided between the valet and Cody Charles Edward Tennant, the fourth Lord Glenconner Lady Anne said the move was one last flourish of his sadistic side, the side that revelled in the distress of others and which at times had made any sort of marriage to him seem an impossible burden'. 'I could not and would not be broken by him from beyond the grave, any more than I would allow it when he was alive I made a conscious decision not to dwell on that final act of cruelty. People have often asked me if Colin was gay or bisexual, particularly so after his will was read. The innuendo was continual and inescapable. The truth is, I still don't know. When Lord Colin refused to return to England for treatment when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, Lady Anne travelled to his bedside to nurse him. She described seeing him so frail as 'desperately upsetting' Colin always had male friends whom he mentored and encouraged, but he never gave me any indication that he was sleeping with them. On the other hand, I was painfully aware of the multiple affairs he had with women. But Anne added that: Sex before marriage was unthinkable for a girl from my background, and divorce a shameful admission of failure. 'Our marriage had lasted for 54 years. I can now look back and feel proud that I managed to find a way to stay married to Colin and even to agree with him that it wasn't all bad, she wrote in her book. Perhaps that will be the positive thought at the forefront of Lady Annes mind as she quietly marks the anniversary of an extraordinary and often painful marriage. Boston is facing a 'wealth spiral' thanks to President Donald Trump's war with the beating heart of its economy - Harvard University. The White House has frozen more than $2.2 billion in funding to the Ivy League after it rejected demands from the government to reform its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices in order to help fight antisemitism on campus. Last year, Harvard came under the microscope over campus antisemitism in response to Israel's war against Hamas, forcing then-President Claudine Gay to resign amid mounting pressure from forces outside the university. Now, the tensions are having a major ripple effect in Boston, as well as the neighboring city of Cambridge, where parts of Harvard's campus also spills over. Harvard employs more than 20,000 people and harbors connections to almost every major economic sector in the local economy, including biotechnology, real estate and hospitality. Experts have warned that these sectors are now under threat. Evan Horowitz, executive director for Tufts University's Center for State Policy Analysis, dubbed it the 'wealth spiral effect' caused by people tied to Harvard pulling back on spending. 'These aren't distributed jobsthey're concentrated, so we could see strong local effects,' he told the Wall Street Journal. Boston is facing a 'wealth spiral' thanks to President Donald Trump 's war with the beating heart of its economy - Harvard University Donald Trump's administration has frozen more than $2.2 billion in funding to the Ivy League after it rejected demands from the government to reform its hiring, admissions and teaching practices in order to help fight antisemitism on campus Even Cambridge's ritzy real estate market won't be immune to the turmoil, experts have said. Lauren Holleran, a vice president at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty in Cambridge, said that wealthy buyers are pulling out of deals, and some are holding off on listing their properties. 'They're saying, let's see how things shake out,' she told the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, vacancy rates for life-sciences buildings in the Boston region reached 30 percent at the end of 2024 as demand for lab spaces plummets, according to brokerage firm Cushman & Wakefield. Earlier this week, the Department of Education's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced the freeze of $2.2billion in multi-year grants and $60million in multi-year contract value to Harvard after it refused to comply with reform demands. The department said that the school is not taking the problem of campus antisemitism seriously and must 'commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.' Current Harvard President Alan Garber, in a letter to the Harvard community Monday, said the demands violated the university's First Amendment rights and 'exceed the statutory limits of the governments authority under Title VI,' which prohibits discrimination against students based on their race, color or national origin. '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,' Garber wrote, adding that the university had taken extensive reforms to address antisemitism. 'These ends will not be achieved by assertions of power, unmoored from the law, to control teaching and learning at Harvard and to dictate how we operate,' he wrote. 'The work of addressing our shortcomings, fulfilling our commitments, and embodying our values is ours to define and undertake as a community.' Donald Trump's education department put the hammer down on Harvard, freezing over $2.2billion in funding after they rejected a list of demands from the federal government Harvard announced via a letter to the White House Monday that it won't comply with the requests from the Trump administration as part of its campaign against antisemitism The school came under great scrutiny over campus antisemitism in response to Israel's war against Hamas , forcing then-President Claudine Gay to resign amid mounting pressure from forces outside the university A spokesperson for the White House told DailyMail.com that Harvard's funding is now at risk. 'President Trump is working to Make Higher Education Great Again by ending unchecked anti-Semitism and ensuring federal taxpayer dollars do not fund Harvard's support of dangerous racial discrimination or racially motivated violence,' Harrison Fields said. 'Harvard or any institution that wishes to violate Title VI is, by law, not eligible for federal funding.' In a letter to Harvard Friday, the administration called for broad government and leadership reforms, a requirement that Harvard institute what it calls 'merit-based' admissions and hiring policies as well as conduct an audit of the study body, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity. The demands, which are an update from an earlier letter, also call for a ban on face masks - which appeared to target pro-Palestinian protesters. They also pressure the university to stop recognizing or funding 'any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment.' The demands on Harvard are part of a broader push of using taxpayer dollars to pressure major academic institutions to comply with President Donald Trumps political agenda and to influence campus policy. The administration has also argued that universities allowed what it considered to be antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests last year against Israel's war in Gaza; the schools deny it. Harvard is one of several Ivy League schools targeted in a pressure campaign by the administration, which also has paused federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton to force compliance with its agenda. However, Harvard - which holds the largest university endowment in the world - appears to be prepared to stand its ground against the Trump administration. The demand letter is similar to the one that prompted changes at Columbia University under the threat of billions of dollars in cuts. Harvard announced Monday that it won't comply with the demands from the Trump administration as part of its campaign against antisemitism, which could put almost $9 billion in funding at risk The Trump administration demands prompted a group of alumni to write to university leaders calling for it to 'legally contest and refuse to comply with unlawful demands that threaten academic freedom and university self-governance.' 'Harvard stood up today for the integrity, values, and freedoms that serve as the foundation of higher education,' said Anurima Bhargava, one of the alumni behind the letter. 'Harvard reminded the world that learning, innovation and transformative growth will not yield to bullying and authoritarian whims.' It also sparked a protest over the weekend from members of the Harvard community and from residents of Cambridge and a lawsuit from the American Association of University Professors on Friday challenging the cuts. In their lawsuit, plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration has failed to follow steps required under Title VI before it starts cutting funds, and giving notice of the cuts to both the university and Congress. 'These sweeping yet indeterminate demands are not remedies targeting the causes of any determination of noncompliance with federal law. Instead, they overtly seek to impose on Harvard University political views and policy preferences advanced by the Trump administration and commit the University to punishing disfavored speech,' plaintiffs wrote. The position stands in stark contrast to their Ivy League siblings at Columbia, who caved to Trump weeks ago. The Trump administration pulled the grants and other federal funding, and had threatened to cut more, over the university's handling of rampant protests against Israel. An often overlooked ancient pyramid in Mexico was filled with pools of a rare element in its underground chambers, leading to new theories that the structure may have had a shocking hidden purpose. Mexico's Temple of Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, in the ancient city of Teotihuacan is believed to have been built between 1,800 and 1,900 years ago. The mysterious structure is shrouded in conspiracies ranging from being an ancient power plant to the engine for an extraterrestrial craft. A discovery in 2015 suggested the ancient civilization at Teotihuacan used the temple to 'look into the supernatural world.' Researcher found 'large quantities' of the rare and toxic liquid mercury in hidden chambers at the end of a 338-foot-long tunnel. Liquid mercury shimmers and has reflective properties like water or a mirror. Water was seen as a portal to the divine or underworld, connecting the living to supernatural realms. Mexican researcher Sergio Gomez believed the Teotihuacan civilization filled the chamber with pools of mercury to act like a gateway to the underworld for an unknown Mesoamerican ruler. While the discovery took place a decade ago, it recently went viral online as social media users have again been captivated by the mystery. Mexican archaeologist Sergio Gomez announced in 2015 that he found large amounts of liquid mercury in a chamber at the end of a tunnel (pictured) that had been sealed off for more than 1,800 years Gomez led the excavation project, known as the Tlalocan Project, starting in 2003 after a sinkhole revealed the tunnel's entrance at the Feathered Serpent Pyramid (pictured) There is another theory about this remarkable discovery at Teotihuacan, connecting the liquid mercury and another substance found at the site to advanced technology that was centuries ahead of its time. Along with the pools of liquid mercury, researchers at the site also unearthed large sheets of mica, a shiny silicate mineral with insulating properties. Although Gomez's team suggested at the time that these two materials were likely part of an elaborate ritual, more recent speculation has suggested that the liquid mercury and mica were actually key pieces of an energy-generating device inside the structure. To date, archeologists have only found 'rivers' of liquid mercury in one other pyramid-like structure in the world - the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in China - making its use in ancient structures baffling. Meanwhile, scientists have been working to confirm whether Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza was actually an ancient power plant after finding signs that the structure was capable of amplifying energy waves from space. Those theories have only gained more momentum after researchers found evidence that a vast city could be sitting underneath the Giza pyramid. To this point, expeditions throughout Mesoamerica had only found much smaller traces of liquid mercury at one Olmec and two Mayan sites. Gomez and his team suggested at the time that this was likely all part of an elaborate ritual, marking the journey of an unknown Mesoamerican king into the underworld Excavations in the early 1900s uncovered mica all around the city of Teotihuacan, with Gomez's team discovering even more lining the chambers of the nearby Pyramid of the Sun and within the tunnel under the Feathered Serpent Pyramid. Annabeth Headrick, an art history professor at the University of Denver specializing in Mesoamerican cultures, said after the discovery: 'Mirrors were considered a way to look into the supernatural world, they were a way to divine what might happen in the future.' 'A lot of ritual objects were made reflective with mica,' Headrick told The Guardian in 2015. What makes this discovery strange is the fact that one of the major sources of mica anywhere near Teotihuacan sits in Brazil, roughly 4,600 miles away. Additionally, mercury doesn't exist in nature in its liquid form, meaning the ancient Mesoamericans had to use an extremely difficult and hazardous process to extract it from a rock called cinnabar - a light red stone made up of solid mercury sulfide. Specifically, they would have needed to heat this stone until the mercury would begin to melt out and then somehow safely transport the highly toxic element to the pyramid tunnel without dying from exposure. Gomez's team argued that the mercury and mica were part of a ritual marking the journey of an unknown Mesoamerican king into the underworld. However, those who believe in the power-plant theory surrounding the Temple of Quetzalcoatl argue that archeologists have never identified who this ruler of Teotihuacan was and have not found a burial chamber anywhere in the ancient city. The lack of a royal chamber has only fueled speculation that the mica and mercury were components of a mechanical energy device - built over 1,700 years before the first electrical power plant was invented. Mexico's Temple of Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, in the ancient city of Teotihuacan is believed to have been built between 1,800 and 1,900 years ago Ancient astronaut theorists have gained a pop-culture following due to their unsupported theories suggesting that many ancient mysteries are evidence of early human contact with extraterrestrials. Some fringe theories, including those made by ancient astronaut proponents, have suggested that liquid mercury's conductive properties may have helped power either an electromagnetic or propulsion device. Other theories claimed the mercury pools in the tunnel may have been part of a closed-circuit system, generating electricity or electromagnetic fields when combined with other materials or structures. Since mica is such a good insulator of heat and electricity, those fringe theories have suggested that the mineral was used to channel or contain energy within the pyramid and tunnel. The sheets lining the tunnels and chambers under the pyramid would have created a 'capacitor-like' system, storing or directing energy. However, researchers have not found any evidence to support these theories, other than the unusual presence of both materials inside the ancient structure. Pope Francis, the first Pope from Latin America, has died today at the age of 88. While the Catholic Church's highest authorities will soon gather to elect his successor, the Vatican currently has a more pressing priority. With the weather in Rome remaining warm and humid, the Pope's body will need to be embalmed to prevent the rapid onset of decay. Although the details of this process have historically varied from Pope to Pope, Pope Francis' body will likely be drained of blood and flooded with preservative chemicals. Veins will be opened in the Pope's neck and a mixture likely containing dyes, alcohol, water, and formaldehyde will be pumped in. Just like a blood transfusion, this preservative mixture will wash through the circulatory system and push out the congealed blood which would lead to decay. The formaldehyde mixture will then kill any remaining bacteria and 'bind' the proteins in the Pope's cells to prevent the body's own enzymes from breaking them down. This process will allow the Pope's body to lie in state for three days and be visited by hundreds of thousands of worshippers without showing obvious signs of decomposition. Pope Francis (pictured), the first Pope to be born in Latin America, died today at the age of 88. The Vatican now faces the pressing challenge of preparing his body to lie in state In an embalming process, veins are opened on the neck and a mixture of formaldehyde and dyes is injected into the circulatory system. This process pushes out fluids which could cause decay and kills any harmful microorganisms Since the 20th century, most Popes have received a modern embalming process. This involves replacing their bodily fluids with embalming liquids to slow down the process of decay (stock image) In the past, the bodies of deceased Pontiffs were prepared with traditional methods, which included removing the organs and rubbing the skin with herbs and oil. The body might have also been washed with lye to help it dry while the orifices would have been stuffed with herbs, cotton, and wax to prevent putrid fluids flowing out during the viewing. However, since the 20th century, the Vatican's funeral practices have shifted to be more in line with conventional embalming methods. Dr Nikola Tomov, an anatomist from the University of Bern, explains in a research paper that the first pope to receive a 'modern' embalming was Pope Pius, who died in 1914. When Pope Pius' body was exhumed it was found that he had been treated with a chemical mixture that turned the body brown - despite his specific wishes to not be embalmed. But the shift to modern methods was cemented by the disastrously botched embalming of Pope Pius XII, who died in 1958. Papal physician Riccardo Galleazi-Lisi, who was in charge of the process, believed he had discovered the method used to preserve Jesus' body. Instead of keeping the body cool or draining the fluids, Galleazi-Lisi placed Pius XII inside a plastic bag to which he added herbs, spices, oils, and resins. The embalmed body of Pope John XXIII at the Vatican on June 2, 2001. When he died in 1963, John XXIII's body was infused with around 10 litres of embalming liquid before his face was covered with a thin layer of wax How will Pope Francis be embalmed? The body is thoroughly washed and disinfected. A mortician wires the jaw shut and seals the eyes closed. The jugular and carotid artery and pulled out and connected to an embalming machine. A formaldehyde-based mixture is pumped into the carotid, pushing congealed blood out of the jugular. The abdomen is pierced with a needle-like vacuum to extract the remaining bodily fluids. The cavity is then flooded with more embalming fluid. The incisions are sealed and the body is washed again. The mortician dresses the body and prepares it for presentation. Advertisement This dramatically accelerated the putrefaction process, and the body decayed to such an extent that the Swiss Guard standing guard had to be rotated every 15 minutes due to the smell. Since that disaster, the preparation of Papal bodies has largely followed the standard processes of modern morticians. In a typical embalming process, the body is first thoroughly washed to remove any bacteria which may be on the surface. As rigor mortis sets in, the stiffening of the muscles after death, the body will become rigid, and the jaw forces the mouth open. The mortician will perform a number of cosmetic processes to make the deceased appear as natural as possible. This typically includes sealing the eyes shut with plastic eye caps and wiring the jaw shut. Pieces of cotton might also be tucked into the jaw and around the mouth to build up a relaxed expression rather than the 'scowl' which can be created by the wiring process. In some cases, the body might need to be massaged to loosen the muscles in order to arrange the deceased into a reclining position. The process of embalming for the Pope has varied historically, so it is not yet entirely certain how Pope Francis' body will be treated The Pope needs to lie in state for three days after his death and will be visited by hundreds of thousands. It is therefore essential that the body does not start to smell or obviously decay. Pictured: Pope Benedict XVI lying in state in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, January 3, 2023 Pope John Paul II was only 'prepared' for lying in state rather than being embalmed according to the Vatican Once the body has been arranged the mortician will then make a small incision just above the collarbone and pull out the carotid artery and jugular. The blood vessels are then cut open and connected to an embalming machine, pumping an embalming fluid in through the carotid artery and pushing blood out of the jugular. This liquid is typically a mixture of preserving agents such as formaldehyde and alcohol as well as dyes which give the body a more life-like colour. Next, a large needle-like vacuum is inserted into the abdomen and used to extract all of the fluid and intestinal contents before more embalming liquid is pumped inside. It is important that all the bodily fluids are removed both to make room for the embalming fluid and to remove any harmful microbes that would start breaking down the body. Historically, the organs of the dead pope would be removed to help preserve the body and were sometimes embalmed separately to create religious relics. The Church of Saints Anastasio and Vincent, near the Trevi Fountain in Rome, holds the preserved liver, spleens, and pancreas of 22 different popes. However, unlike an Egyptian mummy, no Pope has had their organs removed since Pope Leo XIII when he died in 1903 after it was ruled that the Pope's body must stay intact. In line with tradition, Pope Francis will lay in state inside St Peter's Basilica (pictured is Pope Benedict laying in state in January 2023). However, Pope Francis will lie in his coffin rather than on a raised platform It is now even forbidden for the Pope to donate organs to the sick and dying after their death on the grounds that their body belongs to the Church. Once all of the incisions have been sealed, the body is then washed, dressed, and prepared for presentation. According to Massimo Signoracci, whose family has embalmed Popes dating back to Pope John XIII, this has been the process for most modern Popes. For example, Mr Signoracci infused the body of Pope John XXIII with 10 litres of a mixture containing ethyl alcohol, formalin, sodium sulphate and potassium nitrate - a chemical typically used to cure bacon. Speaking to Der Spiegel in 2005, he said: 'After 37 years, (Pope) John XXIII looked just as good as he did on the day after his death.' However, according to the Vatican, some more recent Popes have not been embalmed at all. According to the Vatican, Pope John Paul II was not embalmed at all but merely 'prepared' for lying in state when he died in 2005. Pope John Paul II was buried beneath St Peter's Basilica inside three coffins including one made from lead - nested inside each other Breaking with tradition, Pope Francis (pictured) will be buried in a single wooden coffin lined with zinc rather than the traditional lead-lined coffin After preparation, the body of the Pope will then be dressed in red robes with a white mitre on his head, and he will be taken to St Peter's Basilica, where he will lie in state for three days. Three caskets had traditionally been used for burying popes to create an airtight seal around the late pontiff's body. They also allowed for objects, such as coins or papers issued by the pope during his reign, to be buried with the body. This is important because the Pope's body does not always stay buried in one place permanently. On some occasions, a Pope's body will be brought out and displayed for veneration or moved to a new tomb. This can occur if the deceased Pope is on the track towards becoming a saint as was the case for Pope John XXIII whose body was exhumed and displayed in 2001 and became a saint in 2014. In the Catholic church, a lack of decay is sometimes taken as a sign of divine intervention, which can strengthen the case for canonising a former Pope. Francis's predecessor Pope Benedict XVI was buried in three coffins including one made from lead - nested inside each other. Benedict lay in state inside St Peter's Basilica and was then buried in a crypt underneath the building. Your browser does not support iframes. However, in a break from tradition, new rites issued last year said Francis would be laid to rest in a single zinc-lined wooden casket. The pontiff also scrapped the tradition of placing the Pope's body on a raised platform - known as a catafalque - in St Peter's Basilica for public viewing. Instead of resting on a catafalque in St Peter's during the lying-in-state period, Francis's body will lie in his coffin, which will remain open until the night before his funeral, Vatican News reported. Francis will also be the first Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican. Unlike his predecessors, the Pope said he did not want to be buried in the grottoes beneath St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Pope Francis used to pray at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore before and after trips overseas and made more than than 100 visits to the fifth-century church, where he would pray in front of a sacred image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. At the end of 2023, the pontiff revealed he had 'already prepared' his tomb in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood. The church is one of the four major papal basilicas and seven popes - from Honorius III in 1216 to Clement IX in 1669 - were buried there. Pope Francis on the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations yesterday The last Pope to be buried outside St Peter's was Leo XIII (1878-1903) who was interred in the Basilica of St John Lateran, which is the church for the Bishop of Rome. As a result, 22 other Popes are also buried here while another four are also resting at the Basilica of St Lawrence Outside the Walls. These include Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878), St Zosimus (417-418), St Sixtus III (432-440), St Hilary (461-468) and Damasus II (1037-1048). Almost all previous Popes, including Francis's immediate predecessor Pope Benedict, are buried beneath St Peter's. Benedict's body lay in state in St Peter's Basilica from January 2 to January 4 2023, with around 195,000 mourners paying their respects. His funeral was attended by around 50,000 people. Benedict was among the previous popes to be buried in the traditional triple coffin made of cypress wood, zinc and oak. It was unprecedented in modern times for a living pope to bury his predecessor - a situation only made possible by Pope Benedict's resignation in 2013. The stripping back of the papal funeral procedure is intended to 'to emphasise even more that the Roman Pontiff's funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world', according to Monsignor Diego Ravelli, the master of liturgical ceremonies. Pope Francis' sudden death has thrown the spotlight back on a 900-year-old prophetic manuscript. The 12th-century Prophecy of the Popes reportedly uncovered in the Vaticans secret archives claims to predict the identity of Francis successor and even foretells the return of Christ. The document contains a series of cryptic Latin phrases, each believed to describe a pope, starting with Celestine II in 1143 and ending with Peter the Roman in 2027. Fanning the flames is the eerie fact that there are currently nine frontrunners to succeed Pope Francis and three of them are named Peter. The renewed interest has also reignited fears about one of the prophecys more chilling predictions: that Judgment Day is near. Many Christians believe the year 2027 could mark the Second Coming of Christ, when Jesus is said to return to Earth to judge the living and the dead. According to the prophecy, that fateful day is now less than two years away. Francis, who had been battling respiratory issues for months, died Monday at age 88 of a suspected cerebral hemorrhage a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain. After a traditional nine-day mourning period, the Catholic Church will begin the process of choosing his successor, calling all cardinals from around the globe to Rome for the next conclave. Francis (pictured on Easter Sunday) died due to a 'cerebral hemorrhage', possibly a stroke, which is said to be unrelated to the respiratory problems and pneumonia he suffered in February, outlets La Repubblica and La Stampa claim Prophecy of the Popes includes 112 cryptic phrases which are said to describe each of the future popes, starting in 1143 The selection process known as the papal conclave must start between 15 and 20 days after Francis' death. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, and a two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope. Saint Malachy is credited with creating the Prophecy of the Popes, which features 112 short, cryptic phrases that allegedly describe each future pope until Judgment Day. According to the final entry surrounding Peter the Roman, the 'last pope' will preside over the Church during a time of great turmoil, culminating in the destruction of Rome and the end of the papacy. 'In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End,' the last passage of the book reads. While some incorrectly interpreted the prophecy as 'Peter the Roman' taking over for Pope Francis during his recent hospitalizations, others believed Malachy was suggesting Francis himself would be the last pontiff. Over the years, biblical scholars have focused on the timeline surrounding these future popes and when they would lead the Catholic Church. Some believe the text proclaimed that it had reached its halfway point in 1585, after the first 442 years of predictions. This would make the final year of Malachy's prophecy 2027. Pope Francis greeted a little girl during the Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square Sunday, a day before his death was announced by the Vatican Although some scholars have claimed the text is a 16th century forgery, Malachy allegedly wrote Prophecy of the Popes in 1139 after receiving a vision during a visit to Rome. The claims that someone else wrote the 112 phrases about each future pope stem from the specific and highly accurate way each of the popes are described up until 1590. After that point, the phrasing becomes much more vague and leave a lot open to interpretation. However, there are still some shockingly accurate phrases that can be found in modern times. One of the prophecies names the 111th pope as being 'the glory of the Olive,' once translated into English. Some historians believes this shows Malachy accurately predicted Pope Benedict would lead the Catholic Church since came from a religious order known as the Olivetans. He was pope from 2005 to 2013. Another line of text reads, 'of the eclipse of the sun,' which has been speculated to signal the coming of Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) who was born during a solar eclipse. He was pope from 1978 until 2005. The ancient text only mentions one other pope after 'Gloria Olivae,' whom scholars claim was referring to Pope Benedict XVI A worshipper cries during Mass at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' death on Easter Monday Among the many frontrunners to replace Francis are three cardinals who each have the name Peter, including Peter Erdo of Hungary, the leading conservative candidate; Peter Turkson of Ghana, a prominent figure in the church's social justice circles; and Pietro Parolin of Italy, one of the most experienced Vatican officials. Before his death, some tried to connect Francis to the prophecy of Peter the Roman, noting his Italian heritage and the fact that his birth name was Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone. The saint's predictions were taken seriously in the last few decades. As one report states: 'In 1958, before the Conclave that would elect Pope John XXIII, Cardinal Spellman of New York hired a boat, filled it with sheep and sailed up and down the Tiber River, to show that he was 'pastor et nautor,' the motto attributed to the next Pope in the prophecies.' While the book was found more than 400 years ago, its prophecy recently resurfaced when Francis suffered two episodes of respiratory crisis in February. As for Judgment Day, speculation regarding its impending arrival has intensified over the last year as Francis' health faded. A documentary released in 2024 focused on a passage attributed to Pope Sixtus V from 1585 that reads: 'Axle in the midst of a sign' - supposedly marking the halfway point of Malachy's prophecy. Pope Sixtus V led the church 442 years after the first leader mentioned by Malachy and with the text suggesting he is the middle of the prophecy. The end of the world would therefore come 442 years later in 2027, just 20 months after Francis' death. A massive volcano in Alaska is now steaming from its summit crater, signaling more signs of unrest. Scientists have been keeping a close eye on Mount Spurr, a 11,000-foot-tall volcano that sits just 81 miles from the city of Anchorage, over the past few months due to growing signs it is ready to blow. In the Alaska Volcano Observatory's (AVO) latest update, scientists said webcam images captured over the weekend showed 'continued steaming from the summit crater.' 'This type of steaming is typical for Mount Spurr during this current period of unrest,' their statement reads. AVO also noted that 'seismicity remains elevated' as earthquake swarms have been detected beneath Mount Spurr over the past day. The seismic activity is due to magma rising to the surface, causing stress and cracking in the surrounding rock. If Mount Spurr does blow, the event 'would be explosive,' Matt Haney, scientist-in-charge at the AVO, previously told DailyMail.com. He explained that it would spew multiple plumes of ash rising as high as 50,000 feet into the air that may blanket Anchorage home to nearly 300,000 people in a layer of dust. Mount Spurr is now steaming from its summit crater as scientists warn it is 'moving closer to an eruption' An eruption could result in widespread ashfall across Anchorage, which is home to nearly 300,000 people (pictured) The AVO's Friday updated noted that the likelihood of an eruption had decreased due to data monitoring changes, but Sunday's announcement did not give context about the threat of an eruption. Despite the decline in surface activity, AVO emphasized that an eruption remains a possibility due to continued deep magma movement. Although scientists said that this year-long period of unrest could mean that an eruption is coming, they noted that the steaming detected this week does not mean one is imminent. The AVO said that while Mount Spurr is still showing signs of unrest, it does not mean the volcano is moving closer to an eruption. The other signs, such as ground deformation, earthquakes and melting snow at the top, are indicators of an eruption, but are expected during times of unrest and are not indicators that Mount Spurr is set to blow in a matter of days. The volcano's heightened activity kicked off in April 2024, and in October, the rate of earthquakes near Mount Spurr increased from an average of 30 per week to 125 per week. Scientists have been monitoring it using local seismic, infrasound, webcam and GNSS stations along with regional infrasound, lightning networks and satellite data, according to the AVO's Sunday statement. If Mount Spurr's activity continues to ramp up, the next sign of an eruption will be a volcanic tremor, Haney said. Your browser does not support iframes. This would be different from the brief, shallow earthquakes this volcano has already been experiencing. A volcanic tremor is a longer stretch of ongoing shaking that can persist for minutes to days. It occurs when magma beneath the volcano begins rising toward the surface as the eruption grows imminent. Back in June 1992 the last time Mount Spurr erupted volcanic tremors began about three weeks before it finally blew. Haney said an impending eruption from this volcano would likely look similar to the 1992 event, which occurred at Mount Spurr's side vent: Crater Peak. The resulting ash cloud darkened skies in the middle of the day, forced all of Anchorage's airports to shut down and blanketed the city in an eighth of an inch of ash. Crater Peak then erupted two more times, once in August and again in September. The Municipality of Anchorage reported nearly $2million in damages, office closures and cleanup costs from the August eruption, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. No one was killed by these events directly. But two heart attacks, one fatal, from shoveling ashfall were reported in Anchorage. Breathing in ash also poses a health hazards. The tiny particles can work their way deep into the lungs, worsening symptoms for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. A Mount Spurr eruption could also produce destructive mudslides and avalanches of volcanic debris that race down the volcano's sides at over 200 miles per hour, 'but fortunately, there are not any communities in that radius that would be affected,' Haney said. Haney said an impending eruption from this volcano would likely look similar to the 1992 event (pictured), which occurred at Mount Spurr's side vent: Crater Peak Anchorage locals have shared photos of their pups' protective gear on the Facebook page for a local pet shop, AK Bark, that is selling goggles and dog respirators In response to the volcano's heightened activity, Anchorage officials raised the emergency planning level to Level 2 on March 20. This means that they will ramp up communication with the public about the threat and public safety agencies will prepare to launch into eruption response protocols. Residents are already disaster-prepping, stocking up on N9-5 masks, latex gloves and jugs of water, along with protective goggles, gas masks and booties for their dogs. 'We're getting ready for the volcanic eruption,' said TikTok user Angela ot'oydaatlno Gonzalez in a recent video, 'Check out the dogs.' Wearing a pair of goggles, she sits with her two dogs who are also sporting protective eyewear. 'They're not happy with the goggles,' Gonzalez says. 'We have to get them ear protection next, and something to cover their bodies.' Gonzales is far from the only one making sure she and her pets will be safe. Anchorage residents Alliana Salanguit and Jesslin Wooliver told NPR that they bought protective gear for their dog, Iroh, as soon as scientists announced that Mount Spurr may erupt. 'I searched 'pink, dog goggles, small,' and it was the top result,' Salanguit said of Iroh's heart-shaped goggles. 'Aren't they darling?' The city has also issued safety recommendations for pet owners ahead of the possible eruption. Officials advised people to keep their animals inside as much as possible, have enough food and medication on hand to last two weeks, and be sure to brush or wash ash out of their fur if they do have to go outside. A new UK airline, promising to revive the golden age of flying, will soon have its first long-haul flight. Global Airlines, founded by entrepreneur and travel enthusiast James Asquith, will give passengers a luxury experience, with free-flowing Laurent-Perrier champagne on offer to all, even those in economy. Plane tickets will also include checked baggage a rarity for airlines these days. Globals inaugural flight from Glasgow to New York is scheduled for May 15, and tickets are now on sale. The airline, which is operating its initial flights in partnership with Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly, will deploy an Airbus A380 for its debut journey, departing Glasgow at 11am and arriving at JFK Airport in New York roughly seven hours later. A second flight will depart from Manchester on May 21. At 778, return tickets for an economy seat on Globals inaugural flights are significantly higher than many other airlines. Global Airlines founder and chief executive James Asquith will launch flights next month Global Airlines will give passengers a luxury experience, with free-flowing Laurent-Perrier champagne on offer to all, even those in economy (stock image) James Asquith with his fiancee, influencer and former flight attendant Robyn Ferguson First-class tickets are even more at 7,127, and business class at 3,700. But founder and chief executive James Asquith, who also created travel company Holiday Swap, previously argued why the price tag is worth it. In an interview with the PA news agency, James said: 'People are sick and tired of the service they get on current airlines. We will be better. People have had enough with how they are treated. Consistently there are devaluations in loyalty platforms. 'There are people in management and shareholders that will over-reward themselves. I want to primarily build a legacy. 'I'd rather walk away with zero (money) and have something that people genuinely love.' The 34-year-old said the quality of food and drinks on Global Airlines aircraft will be 'the best' across all transatlantic services. The airline, which will be based at Gatwick, will serve Laurent-Perrier champagne on its flights, and hopes to even offer passengers in economy cabins a free glass, depending on costs. First class ticket holders will benefit from being chauffeur driven to airports and having a 'proper social space' onboard planes, Mr Asquith revealed. James Asquith and Robyn Ferguson, pictured at the luxurious Athens hotel King George 'Having a strong product in first class should filter down to economy, and make people in economy feel like a million dollars,' he claimed. Mr Asquith said Global Airlines will be able to offer fares which are 'in line with, if not cheaper' than those set by other carriers because of how it is obtaining its aircraft. Agreeing to acquire four previously-used Airbus A380s at reduced prices means the company does not have lease agreements and bonds 'hanging over our heads', he said. Mr Asquith, who previously spent more than eight years working in investment banking, said too many new airlines quickly take on large debts which are often their 'first nail in the coffin'. Carriers which have failed to make a success of transatlantic flights include Norwegian, Wow Air and Primera Air. Mr Asquith said Global Airlines is being funded by a combination of Holiday Swap Group and external investors, who he did not name. The airline plans to have 15 to 20 planes over the next two years and 'expand pretty aggressively from there', he explained. 'There are a lot more destinations and routes that we want to serve.' James Asquith became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, in 2013 James Asquith is a prominent social media personality who is behind the new Global Airlines Mr Asquith insisted he is not concerned by having to compete with a number of other airlines operating flights between London and New York, such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and several US-based carriers. 'I don't think more flights and more carriers equals more competition,' he said. 'I actually just see that as more demand and supply on the route, which makes it easier to stand out if you have a better product.' Mr Asquith is a prominent social media personality and in 2013 became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, aged 24. Launching an airline has been his 'ultimate dream' since he was eight years old, he said. 'If it takes me until the last day of my life, we'll get there. 'I got told by everyone, including my parents, that going to every country in the world was madness, it would never happen. 'I've been told that throughout my entire life, for everything I've done. There is not a single part of me that thinks Global Airlines won't get off the ground. 'It would be letting down the tens of thousands of people that have reached out and are desperate to fly with us.' Aviation consultant John Strickland warned that Global Airlines faces significant challenges. He said: 'I wish the team luck but I'd counsel caution. Global Airlines founder James Asquith wants to begin operating between Gatwick and JFK Global Airlines has four jumbo jets and hopes to take on airlines on the transatlantic route 'In my 40 years in the industry I've worked on planning North Atlantic routes for a number of airlines, and the reality is that the market has the potential to be a goldmine or a graveyard. 'Relying primarily on price sensitive traffic inevitably means high risk. Not only will people move for a better price but the market is structurally seasonal, making winter months particularly challenging.' He said that the decision to use A380s - which is the world's largest airliner - raises 'a number of questions'. The planes have 'a lot of capacity to fill' and high operating costs, and there is 'uncertainty' over the availability of spare parts and maintenance support due to the model being out of production, Mr Strickland added. Kim Antrobus and her friend Louise Edlin, were so excited for a girls' getaway to Costa Da Caparica, Costa Azul, Portugal, last month. But their holiday was 'ruined' when they checked in to their hotel, only to discover the 'sea view' room they'd paid more than 400 each for didn't have the picturesque view they'd expected. In fact, they were shocked to discover their room was actually positioned in front of two urban buildings. Kim, from Southport, Merseyside, said: 'There were buildings - it was like Beirut or inner city London in front of us. It just didn't look like we were on holiday by the sea. 'It wasn't the view I was expecting.' Kim learned she and her friend had actually booked a 'side sea view room'. Kim, who works in marketing, continued: 'I didn't even realise there was a "side" sea view - we thought we were booking a sea view. 'To me that wasn't a sea view room. You have to lean over a balcony to see it. Kim Antrobus (left) and her friend Louise Edlin (right), were so excited for a girls' getaway to Costa Da Caparica, Costa Azul, Portugal, last month They thought they'd paid more than 400 each for the above 'sea view' room They were shocked to discover their room was actually positioned in front of two urban buildings (above) 'I can't remember seeing a side sea view when I booked it because I would've questioned it. After contacting Loveholidays, Kim claims the company argued that you can see the sea 'with a stretch' - and would not escalate the matter further. Kim said: 'She said you can "see [the sea] with a stretch". It doesn't say on the website a "side sea view with a stretch over the balcony". 'My friend had to climb onto the balcony bit, leaned right over and said "you can just about see [the sea]". 'I couldn't see it myself. I've got a slipped disc and there's no way I can lean that far over to see it. 'There was absolutely no way you could see the sea without leaning right over the balcony.' Kim and Louise were forced to upgrade their rooms for a further fee but believe advertising their original room as a 'side sea view' was 'misleading', and say you shouldn't have to pay extra for their disappointing view. Kim said: 'It's just a nightmare to get in touch with Loveholidays. It ruined my holiday. Every single day I spent trying to argue a point with Loveholidays. Kim learned she and her friend had actually booked a 'side sea view room' (pictured) After contacting Loveholidays, Kim claims the company argued that you can see the sea 'with a stretch' - and would not escalate the matter further 'It was a beautiful hotel, just a shocking side sea view. We changed rooms straight away, I wasn't staying in that room. 'I feel like it's misleading on the website. You shouldn't upgrade people for a "partial side sea view". We paid extra for that view. 'If we'd just paid for a bog standard view, it wouldn't have bothered me. I won't book with them again now. I'd tell other people to steer clear.' When approached, a Loveholidays spokesperson said: 'While every hotel classifies their room types differently, we understand Ms Antrobus' disappointment and, as a gesture of goodwill, have offered a refund of the additional Euro 30 she paid to upgrade to a full sea view room.' Advertisement Thanks to its glorious beaches, the Canary Islands is one of the most popular parts of Spain for Brits. But holidaymakers may want to avoid the archipelago over the next few days, as a number of alerts about hazardous weather conditions have been issued by AEMET, the Spanish equivalent of the Met Office. And the popular resorts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria are just two of the destinations that will be most affected by furious 40mph winds and 6ft waves. In two separate yellow advisories issued today, the service said force seven winds on the coast of Tenerife would last from 6pm this evening to 11.59pm. The alert states: Northeast winds of 50 to 61 km/h (force seven) on the southeast coast of Tenerife, southeast and west of Gran Canaria. The warning affects El Hierro, La Gomera, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, El Paso, coast of Garafia, Fuencaliente and Mazo, Tenerife, Coast of Buenavista del Norte, San Miguel, Granadilla, Arico, de Fasnia, and Guimar, Gran Canaria, Cumbres, and coast of Galdar, Agaete, Artenara, La Aldea, San Bartolome de Tirajana, Santa Lucia de Tirajana, Aguimes, Ingenio and Telde. AEMET also issued a pre-alert warning about the strong winds for Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Gomera on Saturday. It stated: The Government of the Canary Islands, through the Directorate General for Emergencies, updates the situation and declares a pre-alert for winds on all the islands, as of 16:00 hours today, Saturday 19 April. A number of alerts about hazardous weather conditions in the Canary Islands have been issued by AEMET, the Spanish equivalent of the Met Office. Pictured is El Duque beach at Costa Adeje, Tenerife In two separate yellow advisories issued today, the service said force seven winds on the coast of Tenerife would last from 6pm this evening to 11.59pm. Pictured is Puerto Rico village and beach on Gran Canaria This decision is taken taking into account the information provided by the State Meteorological Agency and other available sources, and in application of the Specific Emergency Plan for the Canary Islands due to the Risk of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA). The Canary Islands has had an unusually stormy weather recently. Earlier this month, the archipelago declared a red weather alert for the holiday hotspots of Tenerife and La Palma as a massive storm approached the region. Schools across Tenerife and La Palma were closed to protect children from the 'extraordinary danger' the storm posed. Tourists, meanwhile, were warned to close their doors and windows to avoid property damage. Coronation Street fans have been given their first look at Daisy Midgeley's explosive and highly emotional exit from the soap in a brand new trailer. Charlotte Jordan originated the role of Rovers Return barmaid Daisy on the ITV soap in November 2020, going on to be a part of a number of hard-hitting storylines. The actress, 29, won praise for Daisy's horrific stalker ordeal and subsequent acid attack plot, winning the British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance in 2023. But in January, she announced that she was bidding goodbye to the cobbles to 'explore other opportunities'. Her final scenes as Daisy are set to air next month in a gripping and emotionally charged storyline, with the latest trailer giving viewers their first glimpse at the dramatic farewell. After a recent whirlwind of drama involving a secret pregnancy, catfishing, and tangled romances, Daisy is ready to embark on a new chapter at the other side of the world, leaving a void in the heart of Weatherfield and devastation in her wake. Coronation Street fans have been given their first look at Daisy Midgeley's explosive and highly emotional exit from the soap in a brand new trailer (pictured) Charlotte Jordan originated the role of Rovers Return barmaid Daisy on the ITV soap in November 2020, going on to be a part of a number of hard-hitting storylines (seen in February) The actress, 29, won praise for Daisy's horrific stalker ordeal and subsequent acid attack plot, winning the British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance in 2023 (pictured) Emotions will be running high as step-mum Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews) desperately pleads with her to reconsider her decision. While a heartfelt conversation with Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) will play a crucial role in her final moments on the street. Discussing her thoughts on Daisy's departure, Charlotte said: 'I think it's very bittersweet for Daisy to be leaving. 'Weatherfield has been her home for a while now and, early on, was giving her all the things she wanted family, community, stability, people to love more than she perhaps loves herself but it's also been the source of so much trauma for her. 'I think we've watched her slowly try to pick up the pieces since her stalking storyline, but she's ultimately realised she doesn't need to stay in a place that's caused her so much heartbreak. 'And it's just as well she's running far away to the other side of the planet, as she's left a mountain of destruction and angry people in her wake!' While reflecting on her own feelings about leaving, she said: 'As for me, I'm feeling really grateful for my years on the show and the people I've gotten to work with. 'Producer Kate has been so supportive about me wanting to go back out into the audition circuit and very generous with Daisy's exit story, as she really wanted to do the character justice. Emotions will be running high as step-mum Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews) desperately pleads with her to reconsider her decision (pictured last month) While a heartfelt conversation with Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) will play a crucial role in her final moments on the street (pictured) 'And I can't tell you how much fun the other cast members and I had playing out this last hurrah.' Recalling filming her final scenes, Charlotte joked that she cried so much on her last day she was 'medically dehydrated' and gushed that the crew of Corrie 'made it so special for me'. She confessed: 'I'm not a big crier. But let me tell you, I cried on and off for about four hours straight. 'My last scene was with the beautiful Rob Mallard, and we were meant to cry in the scene but we were both dry as a bone. As soon as they yelled our final "cut," we both burst into tears. Typical. 'The Corrie gang made it so special for me. The canteen made me my favourite lunch which made me cry. The art department drew me a beautiful card which made me cry. 'I would look over to Channique or Julia or Sal during our last lunch break and see them crying which made me cry. I think I was medically dehydrated by the end of the day.' She went on: 'It's a very special building, and I have loved it. And it's just goodbye for now, not goodbye forever.' Charlotte is set to cash in on her time on the cobbles with a money-spinning job overseas, joining co-star Sally Ann Matthews for the Jenny & Daisy Rovers Return live gigs in Canada. Recalling filming her final scenes, Charlotte joked that she cried so much on her last day she was 'medically dehydrated' and gushed that the crew of Corrie 'made it so special for me'. (pictured in 2022) Charlotte is set to cash in on her time on the cobbles with a money-spinning job overseas, joining co-star Sally Ann Matthews (pictured) for the Jenny & Daisy Rovers Return live gigs in Canada The pair promise to give audiences tell-all interviews about their time on Corrie and behind-the-scenes secrets. The gigs cost 40 a head to attend, while fans can also shell out another 60 to pose for photos with the actresses. She is not the only star to recently leave the show, with fellow stars Sue Cleaver, Sue Devaney, Colson Smith, and Luca Toolan all announcing their departures in the past few months. It has been reported that up to 75 other members of cast and crew are getting axed in a bid to cut costs amid the soap's alleged cash crisis. Corrie's financial troubles are said to be the result of a fall in advertising revenue and increased production costs. While there's been a number of reports about different drastic measures producers have been taking to try and save money, including cutting actors' scenes in the Rovers Return. Both Corrie and fellow ITV soap Emmerdale run regular set tours in a bid to earn more cash while Weatherfield now has it's own EE shop in a 'product placement' deal. By contrast, BBC rival EastEnders is still in a healthy financial position thanks to the licence fee and overseas deals. Corrie's financial troubles are said to be the result of a fall in advertising revenue and increased production costs, with bosses reported to be taking drastic measures to save money But sources claim there are concerns over whether Corrie - which turns 65 this year - will make it to 70 years in its current format, following reports of a revolt from the cast over poor working conditions and low salaries. And as more well-established stars are paid more per episode, the show is said to be relying more on its newer characters as those actors are paid less. Salaries on the cobbles vary significantly with established stars like Bill Roache said to earn 2,000 per episode while newbies usually get 400 per appearance Some of the show's mid-ranking and younger actors are also said to be worried they'll be written off the show in order to keep the more established stars. The Diamond Heist viewers have raved over the new Guy Ritchie documentary as it knocks Black Mirror off Netflix's top spot. After only being released earlier this month, the three-part series dives into the real-life tale behind the attempted Millennium Dome raid. Produced by legendary crime film director Guy Ritchie, it features first-hand accounts from former gang member Lee Wenham and the Met's ex-Flying Squad task for catching the criminals. 'This stranger-than-fiction crime caper follows the attempted robbery of a precious gem, told by the gangsters who did it and the police on their tail,' the synopsis reads. Just days after its release, viewers have raved about the series and reportedly shot up to number one on Netflix, taking the top spot from chart-topping Black Mirror. Some have taken to social media to share their verdicts and one exclaimed: 'If you're a Guy Ritchie fan you need to watch #TheDiamondHeist on Netflix immediately.' After only being released earlier this month, the three-part series dives into the real-life tale behind the attempted Millennium Dome raid Produced by legendary crime film director Guy Ritchie , it features first-hand accounts from former gang member Lee Wenham (pictured) and the Met's ex-Flying Squad task for catching the criminals '#TheDiamondHeist on #Netflix was one of the best true crime doco's I've seen in a while. Loved it. 'Guessing till the end how it all came together. Loved how British it felt too, the flashbacks and nostalgia. Brilliant!' '#TheDiamondHeist what a story!! Brilliant documentary with classic @GuyRitchie1968 touches. 'Binged all 3eps and loved every minute! Hugely entertaining & very interesting. Highly recommend!' 'Great watch on Netflix #TheDiamondHeist.' 'Just watched #Diamondheist on #Netflix. Fantastic. Remember it so clearly. The last sentence of the 3 episodes is so funny. Defo a must watch documentary.' Armed with ammonia and smoke grenades, the gang bulldozed their way into the Greenwich attraction in November 2000. They intended to seize the fabulous Millennium Star - which was owned by specialists De Beers - along with 11 other blue diamonds rated among the finest in the world, before escaping by speedboat, James Bond-style. Just days after its release, viewers have raved about the series and reportedly shot up to number one on Netflix, taking the top spot from chart-topping Black Mirror Unfortunately for them, however, their every move had been anticipated thanks to a meticulous and detailed police sting. The gems had been replaced with fakes. And as the gang smashed their way into the display cases, an army of cops - some armed - were waiting to swoop, with surveillance cameras capturing every stage of the drama. As one member of the gang ruefully put it at the time: 'We would have got away with it but for the fact there were 140 police waiting for us.' The Millennium Dome - which is now known at the London O2 - was opened to huge fanfare in 2000, with VIPs including the late Queen Elizabeth and former Prime Minister Tonty Blair, among those at its launch. But the attraction was met with a lacklustre reception from the British public, with only half the number of visitors expected to attend actually doing so. Inside its remarkable curved roof, the dome featured some of the rarest gemstones in the world - including the De Beers Millennium Jewels exhibit, which showcased priceless blue diamonds and the 203.04 carat Millennium Star diamond. And it was this glittering array of gems, which would be worth some 700m in today's money, that caught the eye of the criminal underworld. By the summer of 2000, south-east London gangsters were already plotting an assault of the dome to snatch the gems. Pictured is the Millennium Dome where the audacious raid was staged in November 2000 Mugshot of Dome gang member (top left), Lee Wenham (top right), Terence Millman (bottom left) Ray Betson (bottom right) William Cockram A JCB was used as a battering ram to smash through the dome's defences Pictured is one of the gang members as they tried to smash their way through the container holding the diamond This was the damage done to the container which was used to keep the diamonds safe Gathering experts from the criminal underworld, crooks spent months studying the building's layout and day-to-day routine of workers, before then seeking to get a JCB and speedboat for the raid. Much of the planning took place on the grounds of a rural farm, near Maidstone in Kent, with the gang believed to be stealing to order for the Russian mafia. Despite the farcical outcome of the heist, there was nothing comical about the gang's background. Detectives described them as 'extremely ruthless'. The Diamond Heist is available to stream on Netflix. Stunned EastEnders fans have only just realised how many people live in Sonia Fowler's house. Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) originally lived in her modest abode on Albert Square with only her ex-partner Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman). Since giving birth to their daughter Julia and Reiss's death, she has welcomed multiple people into her three-bedroom home. Currently, it is thought that a total of 12 people live in Sonia's house, as well as a dog and a parrot. The long list of inhabitants include Sonia herself, before she left during an episode last week, her daughters Bex (Jasmine Armfield) and Julia, her sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). She also offered Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) a roof over her head and three of her children, Johnny, Annie and Ollie. Stunned EastEnders fans have only just realised how many people live in Sonia Fowler's (pictured) house Since giving birth to their daughter Julia and Reiss's death, she has welcomed multiple people into her three-bedroom home The long list of inhabitants include Sonia herself, before she left during an episode last week, her daughters Bex and Julia, her sister Bianca Jackson (right) While Linda's own mother, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) and her husband George Knight (Colin Salmon) live there too, as well as George's brother Kojo Asare and daughter Anna. One fan pointed out on Reddit how many inhabitants there appeared to be and commented: 'How is this explained in the canon when it looks like a 2-up-2-down, not even a third story?' Others replied: 'I still don't understand how they all fit into the flat above the Vic but now in Sonia's house with 3 other women and a baby too it's even more ridiculous.' 'I mean, the Carter/Knights should have split up into various houses around the square.' 'That's an awful lot of toilet roll to buy each month. Come on let's do the maths...' 'I think way too much about where people sleep in these houses.' 'The Slaters beat that a few years ago. I think they hit 17 at one point. Even Whitney was living there.' It comes as Natalie officially left her role as Sonia after over 30 years on the BBC soap. It comes as Natalie officially left her role as Sonia (pictured, right) after over 30 years on the BBC soap And while nurse Sonia bid a fond farewell to Walford, so did her sister Bianca Jackson and daughters Bex and baby Julia, who accompanied her for a grand adventure in Bali 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. 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. However, some fans didn't notice Sonia's baby, Julia, be carried into the car by Bex and took to social media to express their confusion. However, some fans didn't notice Sonia's baby, Julia, be carried into the car by Bex and took to social media to express their confusion One posted to X: 'Not being funny and love Sonia & Bianca but where was baby Julia at the end.' 'Has Sonia forgotten shes got a month old child ? #eastenders.' 'You forget someone, Sonia? Where was the baby?' 'Looks like Sonia left without baby Julia!' EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer. Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh was forced into a very hasty outfit change as a mark of respect to Pope Francis after his death on Monday. Lorraine, hosted by Christine Lampard, was cut short for ITV to report on the breaking news that Pope Francis had passed away aged 88. Speaking to Traitors star Harry Clark, Christine said: 'Harry, I'm sorry, we're just going to interrupt you just for a moment, interestingly we're talking about pilgrimage as well and faith and belief. 'We've just been told there is breaking news in the last few minutes from the Vatican. We are going to head back to Richard and Ranvir at Good Morning Britain.' The programme switched back over to Good Morning Britain where hosts Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh delivered the news. 'Christine, thank you so much. As you say, we do have some breaking news from Rome,' Ranvir said. Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh was forced into a very hasty outfit change as a mark of respect to Pope Francis after his death on Monday Lorraine, hosted by Christine Lampard , was cut short for ITV to report on the breaking news that Pope Francis had passed away aged 88 - Ranvir pictured before the announcement 'The Vatican has just announced the death of Pope Francis.' Ranvir had originally worn a white dress with bright fruit patterns on it. During the breaking news report, the presenter changed into a dark suit jacket over her original outfit. Many viewers noticed the outfit change and some cruelly called it 'unprofessional'. One posted to X: 'Very unprofessional. Would've been better if you'd just gone to the ITV newsroom rather than GMB, and see Ranvir in a clearly ill fitting jacket loaned to her by Richard. Especially with such breaking news.' 'They put ranvir in one of Richards suit jackets to read the pope has died bit on @gmb.' 'Bit OTT making Ranvir wear a black jacket #gmb.' 'Who's blazer is Ranvir Singh wearing while announcing the death of The Pope on @GMB looks a bit big for her. #ThePope.' 'Has ranvir borrowed one of richards jackets to report this?' Many viewers noticed the outfit change and some called it 'unprofessional', sharing their views on social media 'Bigger news is where did Ranvir find that jacket.' After the coverage, Ranvir said, 'Well that's our breaking news and that's it from us for now, we will hand you back to Christine.' Christine then continued her conversation with Traitors winner Harry Clark who had been discussing his role on the BBC's Pilgrimage before the show was paused. The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis had died aged 88. The Pontiff spent his final weeks in hospital with an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days. Francis's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica during an official mourning period, and then - in contrast to most of his predecessors - he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood. Francis just yesterday greeted Catholic faithful who had gathered to see him at St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. He delivered his 'Urbi et Orbi' benediction from a balcony overlooking the square following mass to mark the high holiday. The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis had died aged 88 On his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Vatican said the encounter was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes. Francis became the first pope from outside Europe in 1,300 years when he was chosen to replace the retiring Pope Benedict XVI. Despite several previous health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline, Francis had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks. Lorraine and Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and are available to stream on ITVX. Few people know Ben Affleck better than Matt Damon. The Massachusetts mates have been friends since they were in single digits, so stepping in to wingman your buddy after a divorce is par for the course. But the task has seemingly been taken on by Damons wife Luciana Barroso, who is said to have her antennas up for potential suitors for her close friend, 52, following his highly publicized split from Jennifer Lopez, 55. Bens been on a couple of under the radar dates, but so far theres been no magic for him, a source told us. Ben told both Luciana and Matt he needs more time, but Luciana has two potential friends lined up and is keen to see if Ben would hit it off with them. Once hailed Peoples Sexiest Man Alive, it is doubtful that Affleck will have issues finding a new love interest. After all, as one of Hollywoods heartthrobs, his previous exes include a bevy of stunning women, from Bond star Ana de Armas to Playboy model Shauna Sexton who was 23 years his junior and Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus. Last week sources even claimed he has his eye on Angelina Jolie. Ben Affleck is said to be tentatively dating in the wake of his split from Jennifer Lopez, with his best friend Matt Damon's wife Luciana Barroso on the look out for a potential suitor Ben told both Luciana and Matt he needs more time, but Luciana has two potential friends lined up and is keen to see if Ben would hit it off with them, sources told Daily Mail But he is a man with baggage, and a penchant for being - well - grumpy, which perhaps doesnt make him the easiest candidate to matchmake. He has one ex-wife in Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three children, and is fresh out of a tempestuous marriage to Lopez, having tried and failed at a second shot at forever. Fans of Bennifer relished in the nostalgia of Affleck and Lopez when rumblings of a shock reunion first trickled out in early 2021, before they went Instagram official that July. The couple first got engaged at the end of 2002 but broke it off a year later, before calling quits on their relationship for good in 2004. Round two saw them finally say I do not once, but twice first in Las Vegas and again a month later in August 2022 at Afflecks $8.9 million estate near Savannah, Georgia. Swerving the traditional cotton to mark their two-year anniversary, Lopez instead chose to file for divorce. Their split was finalized in February this year. Just weeks later, Affleck was spotted back in the arms of Garner while paintballing, in a video obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, sparking rumors the pair might be rekindling their romance. Indeed, the pair have remained close since. Lopez described the breakup as the 'hardest time in her life' and said her 'whole f***ing world exploded'. Affleck later broke his silence on their failed reunion, insisting that there was no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue behind their breakup, before confessing that talking about the split felt 'embarrassing' and 'vulnerable.' The truth is much more quotidian than probably people would believe or would be interesting, he told GQ last month. Affleck with his ex-wife Lopez and his best friend Damon and his wife Barroso at the Golden Globes in January 2024, just weeks before his break-up Video obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, shows Ben Affleck tenderly embracing his ex-wife, and the mother of his three children, Jennifer Garner 'Its just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do.' He accepted that his years-long battle with how to handle fame was a point of contention for the former couple as his temperament is to be a little bit more reserved and private than hers, adding: As happens in relationships, you dont always have the same attitude towards these things.' The Golden Globe-winning producer was comforted by Damon, 54, and the relatively private Barroso, 48, as he navigated his divorce, with Affleck seen affectionately kissing Barroso on the head as they went into a meeting in Los Angeles in September. In December they were snapped enjoying lunch together. Barroso, whose best friend is the actress Elsa Pataky, has more than enough experience when it comes to maintaining a healthy relationship. The Argentinian former bartender has been with Damon since 2003 and married for 20 years. The couple, who have matching tattoos and never spend more than two weeks apart, share daughters Isabella, 18, Gia, 16, and Stella, 14. Barroso is also mother to 26-year-old Alexia from her first marriage. As Damons wife, Barroso is no doubt attuned to Afflecks tastes and needs when it comes to finding the next Mrs. Affleck. The actor may even benefit from her help in other areas, having recently hinted that hes not the smoothest when it comes to flirting. Speaking about his latest character Christian Wolffs inability to charm women in The Accountant 2, he said: Hes not comfortable extending himself. He doesnt really know how to flirt exactly. Hes not comfortable like so many of us. Lucy loves Ben, theyve known each other years, a second insider told us. She has her antennas up looking to see if she could set Ben up with one of her friends. Bens been on a couple of under the radar dates, but so far theres been no magic for him, said our source (Affleck pictured with Lopez in June 2023) As Damons wife, Barroso is no doubt attuned to Afflecks tastes and needs when it comes to finding the next Mrs. Affleck. The actors have been pals since they were children (pictured winning an Oscar in 1998) It hasn't happened a lot, but if Lucy thinks someone she knows would be a great match, then shell play matchmaker. But after such a public and intrusive break-up, it is perhaps no surprise that Affleck is in no rush to date and is instead keen to focus on work and his children Violet, 18, Finn, 16, and Samuel, 13. What he does know is that, as a recovering alcoholic, any new love interests will need to be sober. Having first sought help for his alcoholism in 2001, Affleck has since been in rehab multiple times. His drinking led to the breakdown of his marriage to Garner. Right now, he is putting all of his time into work, but when he is ready he is looking to date a woman who is sober, said another insider. His recovery family is urging him to date a woman in the recovery community. Ben being with a woman who drinks is not conducive to his sobriety. Jackie Siegel has opened up about the pain of losing her husband David Siegel and sister Jessica Mallery within the span of just three days. The Queen Of Versailles star, 59, lost her husband of 25 years on April 5 after he passed away at the age of 89 following a battle with cancer. And on April 7, the socialite heartbrokenly announced that her younger sister died at the age of 43 due to an accidental overdose after taking cocaine that had been laced with fentanyl. Siegel talked to Us Weekly on Wednesday about how she's holding up while mourning the tragic loss of her husband and sister only days apart. 'It comforts me to know that she was there to greet him,' the star said of Jessica and David who was the owner of Westgate Resorts. 'Now I know I have extra guardian angels and guidance,' Jackie expressed before adding that she still feels both of their presences in her life. Jackie Siegel, 59, has opened up about the pain of losing her husband David Siegel and her sister Jessica Mallery within the span of just three days; seen in 2023 in NYC The Queen Of Versailles star lost her husband of 25 years on April 5 after he passed away at the age of 89 following a battle with cancer 'Sometimes I feel them, because when you get gut feelings, like, "Should I do this?" or, "Should I turn left or should I turn right?"' She continued, 'It's like, "I think I'll turn right" and then you get goosebumps. So I have that special touch right now.' Jessica's organs were donated to those in need, and the kind gesture gave the family some 'comfort' in a difficult time. 'Within two days they donated seven of the critical organs that saved lives,' Siegel added. 'That's why I'm saying my life is expanding it's not just lives from education of fentanyl, but also to have people be aware about how important donating organs is.' Jackie further stated, 'She's going to give someone eyesight with her eyes. We donated her skin for burn patients and skin cancer victims.' The actress explained that her late sister is 'going to be able to help 60 people. She's touching so many people's lives. She's still saving lives even after death. So was my husband, still, just both in different ways.' The star gushed that her sister Jessica was a 'free spirit' and 'had the heart that made a difference in people's lives. She gave me inspiration.' On April 7, the socialite heartbrokenly announced that her younger sister died at the age of 43 due to an accidental overdose after taking cocaine that had been laced with fentanyl 'Now I know I have extra guardian angels and guidance,' Jackie expressed before adding that she still feels both of their presences in her life A few weeks earlier, Siegel shared a statement to reveal the death of her sibling and said her sudden passing, 'is another stark reminder of the drug epidemic and fentanyl crisis plaguing our country and the urgent need to address substance abuse in order to save lives.' She added her 'world was shattered again' by a 'a scourge we as a family know all too well.' Jackie's daughter Victoria died from a drug overdose in 2015 aged only 18. 'Our family appreciates everyone's love, support and prayers, and we ask for privacy during this extremely difficult time. Jessica's death came only days after Siegel's husband David died on Saturday, April 5. The reality star shared the sad news in a loving post Saturday on Instagram. 'I wanted to personally reach out and let you know that my husband, David Alan Siegel, passed away this morning,' she wrote. 'I was lucky enough to share twenty-five wonderful years with David, and together we raised eight incredible children. His life and legacy live on through them all.' Jackie married the Westgate Resorts owner in 2000, and they shared their children Daniel, Debbie, Drew, David, Jordan, Jacqueline, Jonquil and Victoria. Sadly, Victoria died of a drug overdose in 2015, and the couple went on to start a non-profit in her name. 'To say we are devastated is an understatement, the grieving widow wrote adding, 'But I find comfort in knowing that Victoria was there to greet him the first thing he heard was "Dad," followed by a big hug.' 'I was lucky enough to share twenty-five wonderful years with David, and together we raised eight incredible children. His life and legacy live on through them all,' she said She concluded writing, 'Life is a precious gift from God and my husband has found his peace with Him. Embrace and cherish every moment and thank God' 'And of course, Steven [David's son from his first marriage] is there too. That thought brings me so much peace. 'I know you all loved him too, which is why I wanted to share this with you,' she told her many followers and fans. 'Thank you for your love and support during this difficult time. It means the world to us.' She concluded by writing, 'Life is a precious gift from God and my husband has found his peace with Him. Embrace and cherish every moment and thank God.' On Saturday, Jackie took to her Instagram account to show moments of the memorial service in honor of her late husband. In one image, the star could be seen addressing the guests while standing on a stage with her children behind her. Another picture showed bouquets of flowers placed in front of a sign that read: 'Cheers to a wonderful 25 years of marriage. David and Jackie Siegel 1/02/2000.' In the caption she wrote to her followers, 'Thank you to everyone for your kind words and support. Our family is so grateful to you all. 'Losing David and Jess in the same week is something I never could have imagined, but we're a strong family and we're supporting each other right now.' On Saturday, Jackie took to her Instagram account to show moments of the memorial service in honor of her late husband Another picture showed bouquets of flowers placed in front of a sign that read: 'Cheers to a wonderful 25 years of marriage. David and Jackie Siegel 1/02/2000' Jackie and her family rose to stardom the 2012 documentary Queen of Versailles, which focused on her efforts to build a lavish mansion inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France Siegel explained she, 'may be offline for a few weeks, but I'll be sharing some of my favorite memories of David. (He loved that his posts always did the best!) I mean, he was right how could you not love him? The kids and I miss him so much...' Jackie and her family rose to stardom the 2012 documentary Queen of Versailles, which focused on her efforts to build a lavish mansion inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France. Camera crews caught up with their efforts a decade later in Queen of Versailles Reigns Again. A Broadway musical based on their story debuted in 2024. David Siegel established Westgate resorts in 1982 in the Orlando, Florida area, and the company has since become the largest privately-held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States, boasting more than 13,500 rooms at 22 resorts across the country. As an army veteran, he donated more than 28,000 complimentary vacations to members of the armed services. The Victoria's Voice Foundation, the charity named for their late daughter, has advocated for coverage of drug rehab treatment to be extended from the standard 30 days to 90 days to improve outcomes. The organization also lobbied Congress to implement for the widespread availability of Naloxone, a lifesaving medicine that can save the lives by blocking the effects of opioids. Advertisement He's no stranger to keeping things lighthearted but Karl Stefanovic took it to the next level over the Easter weekend by donning a giant blow-up bunny suit and spreading cheer at a tropical resort. The Today host, 50, was spotted strutting down a palm-lined beach walkway in the comical inflatable costume. In footage shared to Instagram on Monday, the beloved Aussie TV star danced and waved to onlookers while dressed as a pastel blue-and-pink Easter bunny suit complete with floppy ears, rosy cheeks, and a huge blue bow tie. He later posed for a cheeky photo inside a hotel room still wearing the outfit, with an empty bed and drinks seen in the background hinting at a festive family celebration. Karl's wife, Jasmine Yarbrough, also appeared in photos from the trip, looking sun-kissed and glowing in a white sequin dress as she posed for a sweet sunset selfie with her husband, with palm trees and sandy tables behind them. The Nine presenter captioned his post: 'I just love my family, banana hammocks and blow up things. Happy Easter here's to new [hatching chick emoji]'. He's no stranger to keeping things lighthearted but he took it to the next level over the Easter weekend by donning a giant blow-up bunny suit and spreading cheer at a tropical resort The Today host, 50, was spotted strutting down a palm-lined beach walkway in the comical inflatable costume. (Karl pictured on holiday with his wife Jasmine) Fans and famous friends alike flooded the comments, with fellow media personality Belinda Russell writing: 'Happy Easter beautiful family ', while former NRL star Braith Anasta left a string of heart emojis. One fan cheekily asked, 'New chick's? Is there a possible baby on the way?' prompting a flurry of replies pointing out Jasmine was drinking a local beer so unlikely pregnant. The family appeared to be enjoying the Easter break in Fiji, with one commenter noting, 'Fiji Gold is the best! Happy Easter and BULA BULA!' His getaway comes amid reports Nine are looking to slash his $3million salary by half. Insiders have revealed that Karl is under a cloud at Nine as a 'jaded' brand. 'He doesn't attract audience numbers, he doesn't pull in big interviews,' a source revealed to News.com.au on Thursday. The insider continued, 'He might put in some hours but he has become a cliched slick-talking salesman and the view of news bosses is his is a jaded brand that has eclipsed Today's.' The family are understood to be staying at the Kokomo Island Resort, where prices per night for the top tier residences on sit can cost up to $4000-per-night. In footage shared to Instagram on Monday, the beloved Aussie TV star danced and waved to onlookers while dressed as a pastel blue-and-pink Easter bunny complete with floppy ears, rosy cheeks, and a huge blue bowtie The family are understood to be staying at the Kokomo Island Resort (pictured), where prices per night for top tier residences on sit can cost up to $4000-per-night A minimum three night stay is required, and a five day package, including flights, can run up to $18,900 per person. Stefanovic shares daughter Harper, who turns five in May with his current wife Jasmine Yarbrough, and three other children - Willow, 20, Jackson, 25, and River, 18 - with ex-wife, journalist Cassandra Thorburn. The TV star and Yarbrough began dating in September 2016, just months after he separated from Thorburn following 21 years of marriage. His divorce from Thorburn was finalised in October 2017, with the media personality proposing to Yarbrough just four months later in February 2018. They married that same year in December in Mexico. Margot Robbie let her natural beauty shine through on Sunday when she celebrated Easter with husband Tom Ackerley and family on the Gold Coast. The 34-year-old Hollywood star looked every inch the laid-back Aussie girl in a chic baby doll dress with white fringe detailing and a checked design as she sat down with loved ones. She wore her famous blonde locks relaxed on the day, and opted to go makeup free for the intimate get together. Meanwhile, husband Tom cut a casual figure in a striped shirt and shades. Margot's brother Cameron also joined the family lunch, looking relaxed in an white T-shirt and pants. He added to his look with a red-checked shirt worn undone, and a pair of sunglasses. Margot Robbie let her natural beauty shine through on Sunday when she celebrated Easter with husband Tom Ackerley and family on the Gold Coast The 34-year-old Hollywood star looked every inch the laid-back Aussie girl in a chic baby doll dress with white fringe detailing and a checked design as she sat down with loved ones At one point during the festive lunch, Margot was seen passing out bunny ears to her father Doug as they chatted on a long table adorned with flowers. Margot and Tom welcome their first child, a baby boy, in October, 2024. 'They waited a long time to get pregnant, so it was almost unbelievable when the baby actually arrived,' an insider told People earlier this month. 'They've both been settling into being parents. They're homebodies so it's been lovely to spend the time just them, at home with him,' the insider added. 'They're so happy.' Margot's pregnancy was made public in July and the couple enjoyed a romantic 'babymoon' to Sardinia, Italy, at the end of August. The are yet to reveal their child's name. Tom and Margot first met in 2013 while working on Suite Francaise, where he was an assistant director, and she was in front of the camera. At one point during the festive lunch, Margot was seen passing out bunny ears to her father Doug as they chatted on a long table adorned with flowers Margot and her father were later seen chatting They were also joined by Margot's younger brother Cameron, who opted for a unbuttoned plaid shirt teamed with a white T-shirt They cemented their relationship after moving in together with other friends in a four bed house in Clapham, South London, which according to Margot was the 'best days of my life'. 'I was the ultimate single gal. The idea of relationships made me want to vomit,' Margot told Vogue in 2016. 'And then this crept up on me. We were friends for so long. I was always in love with him, but I thought, Oh, he would never love me back. Don't make it weird, Margot. 'Don't be stupid and tell him that you like him. And then it happened, and I was like, of course we're together. This makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before.' The couple got married in 2016. Salma Hayek made rare comments about her teenage daughter Valentina recently. While chatting up her partnership with Merz Aesthetics, the 58-year-old actress mentioned the 17-year-old child she shares with longtime husband Francois-Henri Pinault, 62. When it comes to beauty and skincare, the House of Gucci star said about Valentina, 'That one knows everything.' 'She knows products that you cannot even imagine that it exists. I'm like, "What is that?" And she's like, "Oh, it's a this for the...whatever." So I can't teach her anything. She's the expert,' Hayek told People. Giving an example, the Mexican-bred beauty added, 'Sometimes she says, "Im going to go to Koreatown to get some beauty products." 'And Im like, "Get me some." But then I say, "Get me some again," and she brings something different. She goes, "No, this is the latest now. Try this." I don't even know the names of the brands. But she's obsessed.' Salma Hayek made rare comments about her teenage daughter Valentina recently; pictured April 5 When it comes to beauty and skincare, the House of Gucci star said about Valentina, 'That one knows everything'; pictured March 2023 Last September the proud mother marked her daughter's 17th birthday with a social media tribute, sharing a series of throwback photos of her mini-me. She used the opportunity to reflect on Valentinas 'last birthday at home' in an emotional Instagram post. It featured a collection of videos and photos showing Valentina throughout her adolescence. 'My [baby's] last birthday at home (for now) I'm already having separation anxiety. She makes me laugh all day, teaches me so many things, keeps me motivated, inspires in so many ways, makes me want to dance sing and cook and makes life so exciting,' she gushed in a heartfelt caption. 'I love you sooooooooo much mi Vale,' the silver screen siren added. Valentina has expressed a desire to follow in her Oscar-nominated mothers footsteps. 'I would like to be an actress and then a director because that is what makes sense in my head,' she told Vogue Mexico in a joint interview with her mom in 2022. She astutely noted: 'I think it must be more difficult to be a director if you don't have experience on the other side of the screen.' 'She knows products that you cannot even imagine that it exists. I'm like, "What is that?" And she's like, "Oh, it's a this for the...whatever." So I can't teach her anything. She's the expert,' Hayek told People; pictured in 2023 Hayek was active on Instagram Sunday, sharing a collection of photos she captioned 'spring break' The busty bombshell posed up in swimsuits while soaking up the sun makeup-free Hayek was active on Instagram Sunday, sharing a collection of photos she captioned 'spring break' with her nearly 30 million followers. In several snapshots, the busty bombshell posed up in swimsuits while soaking up the sun makeup-free. She and husband Francois-Henri tied the knot in 2009. Salma is stepmom to his three children Francois, 27, and Mathilde, 24, whom he shares with ex-wife Dorothee Lepere, plus son son, Augustin, 18, his child with ex-girlfriend Linda Evangelista. Earlier in April Salma plugged anti-aging device Ultherapy PRIME. Along with an advert, she wrote in a social media caption, 'Self-care is essential. Years on screen have taught me to embrace my journey and seek treatments that enhance my natural beauty. 'Ultherapy PRIME boosts my production of collagen and elastin exactly where I need it, giving me a long-lasting, natural-looking lift that can last up to a year or more. Its noninvasive, takes only one session, and has zero downtime. 1-4 'It is the future of beauty, and thats why I cant stop talking about it. 'Ultherapy PRIME is the only FDA-cleared micro-focused ultrasound with real-time visualization technology to lift the skin on the neck, under the chin, and the eyebrows, as well as to smooth lines and wrinkles on the decollete.' Australian ravers have been left in a rage after a sold out show at Sydney's Qudos Arena on Saturday left ticket holders unable to access the main stage area. Ravers posted to TikTok on Saturday to vent their frustration after lining up for two hours to re-enter the Gearbox Australia show, which featuring a line-up of popular DJs, after leaving the floor for a toilet break. Videos loaded to the platform show large numbers of patrons crowded outside the general admission area (GA) on the lower ground floor of the arena. 'Gearbox Australia biggest let down,' posted Tik Tokker William, who attended the event, adding, 'waited two hours to get back on the floor. Disappointing.' Elsewhere on the thread, 'William' claimed that the general admission area was crammed with VIPs. 'Some people bought $400 VIP tickets,' they said. Australian ravers have been left in a rage after a sold out show at Sydney's Qudos Arena on Saturday left ticket holders unable to access the main stage area of the event. Ravers posted to TikTok on Saturday to vent their frustration after lining up for two hours to re-enter the Gearbox Australia show, which featuring a line-up of popular DJs, after leaving the floor for a toilet break. Pictured: A scene from a TikTok video taken by a patron They included a video of what appeared to be hundreds of patrons yelling and protesting in the foyer outside the entrance doors to the general admission floor. A TEG Spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'We're aware of social media posts regarding access and movement at the event and want to provide clarification. 'There were two types of General Admission tickets. GA Free Flow tickets allowed access to the floor and lower bowl, while the other type provided access to Level 1 only. This information was clearly advised on Ticketek at the time of purchase. 'Floor access for GA Free Flow ticket holders was on a first-come, first-served basis. Once capacity was reached, entry was paused for safety. Patrons who left the floor - including to use the bathroom - were temporarily unable to re-enter and were directed to lower bowl seating until space became available. 'In preparation for the event, extensive pre-planning was undertaken including extra patron communications and temporary signage and staffing to enable patrons have a good event experience. We note that some patrons reported experiencing confusion around entrances and will include this in our feedback for future events. 'Free water was available on the floor and handed out near the front of the stage to keep patrons hydrated. 'Claims that the event was 'oversold' are incorrect. Ticketing followed venue capacity and safety regulations. 'We appreciate all feedback and are committed to creating a safe and enjoyable experience for every attendee.' A TEG Spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that they are 'committed to creating a safe and enjoyable experience for every attendee' Some patrons who posted of their experience of the show blamed other patrons for the confusion. 'You should all redirect your anger to the people with level 1 tickets that hopped down to unreserved seating and the floor,' one event goer posted. A third event goer pointed a finger at the promoters for the apparent confusion over access. 'Disgusting organisation. Staff were horrible and rude we were yelled at and pushed around all night by staff and security,' they said. Meanwhile, another Gearbox Australia patron Olivia posted a video to TikTok showing an enormous crowd lined up to enter the GA. Adding the caption 'let us in', the raver made the comment, 'You leave to go to the bathroom only to never go back to the floor.' The TikTokker later explained that patrons were confused about which door to use to re-enter. 'I have a feeling that some people who had seated tickets ended up with GA wristbands,' they posted. 'Yes,' agreed another eye witness to the event, 'we were level 1 and lined up two hours in the wrong line.' Some patrons on the thread threw their support behind Gearbox Australia. 'Absolutely gutted for Gearbox they were let down so hard by the venue and management,' they said. Meanwhile, other patrons shared that event goers were prevented from re-entering the GA because security had determined that it was 'full'. According to the Gearbox Australia website doors opened at 3pm and no ticket holders would be allowed into the show after 9.30 pm. It also said that there was a 'no re-entry' policy to the show. Ticket holders were also advised,'GA Standing & Unreserved Seating tickets have access to the standing floor section and ground level unreserved seating section only, no access to level 1 of the Arena. 'Level 1 GA Unreserved Seating tickets are restricted to Level 1 of the Arena and will have no access to the standing floor section and ground level unreserved seating.' Artists performing at the event include rave acts Adjuzt, Mutilator, and Fraw. 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. Millie Mackintosh has shared a series of idyllic snaps from her getaway to the Maldives with her family over the Easter break. The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, posted a glimpse into their holiday including several sizzling bikini-clad snaps taken on the beach. The family are staying in a luxury beach villa with a swimming pool at the Six Senses Kanuhura resort, where prices start from 3,588-a-night. Millie showcased her gym-honed figure in a khaki green bikini, which she accessorised with a wide-brimmed hat and a straw bag and shades. Another photo taken in the same outfit showed her strolling down the beach in a stunning shot, highlighted her peachy behind. The mother of two is on the holiday with her husband Hugo Taylor and their two daughters Sienna, four, and Aurelia, two. Millie Mackintosh has shared a series of idyllic snaps from her getaway to the Maldives with her family over the Easter break One sweet family photo showed them gathered together on the front of a boat, with Hugo, 38, showing off his freshly-dyed blonde hair Another photo taken in the same outfit showed her strolling down the beach in a stunning shot, highlighted her peachy behind One sweet family photo showed them gathered together on the front of a boat, with Hugo, 38, showing off his freshly-dyed blonde hair. Millie looked lovely in a pale yellow sun dress and a pair of white sunglasses, while her two little girls were each wearing pink dresses. The selection of snaps showed what the family got up to on Easter Sunday as Millie and Hugo's eldest daughters sported a set of bunny ears on her head. She captioned the selection of snaps: 'Happy Easter from me and my Easter bunnies.' A photo from another evening on the luxury getaway saw Millie in a chic white satin dress, which was backless and styled with a net bag. She was holding hands with Aurelia as they walked along the beach together, with the youngster carrying an Easter basket in her hand. This isn't the first selection of snaps she has posted from the trip, as last week she flaunted her incredibly toned abs and bronzed physique in a tiny bikini which she teamed with a matching oversized linen shirt. The beach babe toted her essentials in a straw bag and headed out to the sun beneath a huge wide brimmed hat. Millie looked lovely in a pale yellow sun dress and a pair of white sunglasses Her two little girls were each wearing pink dresses The selection of snaps showed what the family got up to on Easter Sunday as Millie and Hugo's eldest daughters sported a set of bunny ears on her head. A photo from another evening on the luxury getaway saw Millie in a chic white satin dress, which was backless and styled with a net bag Millie later slipped into a chic summer dress as she and the family enjoyed a lavish dinner and strolled along the sand. She captioned the post: 'Back in our happy place. The Maldives feels even more special with the girls another year older. Grateful for these precious family moments, and the memories were making together. Our little slice of heaven'. On the trip, Hugo has been showing off his shock new look which he shared to Instagram as he ditched his long dark locks. He is well-recognised for his brunette tresses but abandoned his signature look in favour of a more dramatic hairstyle. He shared a video of himself at the hairdressers as he had his long do cut in a short spiked up fashion. Hugo also dyed his dark locks completely bleached blonde in a very striking change. The influencer appeared happy with the results as he filmed his barber dabbing on the bleach before he used purple toner and washed it out. The TV personality said he 'really likes' his new look, which he sported with a dark bushy beard and moustache. He penned: 'Felt like a BIG change went for it. Big thanks to @jasoncrozier and @nevillehairandbeautyofficial . #haircut too much? I really like it.' This isn't the first selection of snaps she has posted from the trip, as last week she flaunted her incredibly toned abs and bronzed physique in a tiny bikini which she teamed with a matching oversized linen shirt The stunner shared a slew of snaps from the trip to her Instagram She shared a slew of snaps with hunky husband Hugo and their daughters Hugo showed off his shock new look on Instagram on Wednesday One of the thieves involved the 2016 robbery of Kim Kardashian's luxury Paris penthouse has shared his story of the terrifying $6mn raid as he and his alleged accomplices prepare for trial. Yunice Abbas, key lieutenant in the veteran underground outfit dubbed 'Grandpa Robbers', told French outlet TF1 that he did not know who he was robbing when he was approached with plans to join 11 others in a jewel heist. Struggling 'to make ends meet', the now 72-year-old hoped to 'improve' his situation 'by pulling off a big heist that would be his last'. Abbas said that he believed it was still 'doable' as they approached the Hotel de Pourtales residence in the early hours of October 3, 2016. They made their way to the hotel on push bikes before changing into their outfits. Two gained entry to the apartment building dressed as police officers while Yunice said he stayed downstairs 'to cover any potential arrivals of customers', he said. Others returned later with a haul including a box containing millions of dollars worth of jewellery. Revealing behind-the-scenes details of the heist, Abbas said he came face-to-face with a police car as they prepared to leave. He stayed calm as they waved him on, not yet aware of what had just happened. He just 'kept pedaling' until the unclosed bag of loot slipped and became caught in the front wheel. Jewels scattered everywhere, Abbas said, and he scrambled to collect what he could from the ground. He pushed the bike the rest of the way home, where he turned on the news to see emerging details of the robbery - denying involvement to his wife. In the end, he revealed, he earned just 70,000 euros (60,000 today) from the job - much less than he had been promised. He knows there is a 'good chance' he will end up in prison, but is 'trying not to think about it'. Kim Kardashian West and chauffeur Michael Madar (R) arrive at 'L'Avenue' restaurant on October 2, 2016 in Paris, France Yunice Abbas poses with his book in Paris, France on February 8, 2021 Inside the Kim Kardashian Paris heist crime scene Abbas is today among 12 defendants who will face trial from April 28 at the Paris Assize Court for their alleged involvement in the heist. He has been unusually candid in his account, going so far as to write a book about the experience entitled 'I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian'. 'We're all robbers. We all have a record,' he told TF1 in an interview published on Sunday. The leader of the group, Aomar Ait Khedache, likewise admits freely that he was the leader of the gang - and has been affectionately dubbed 'Old Omar' in French media. The outlet refers to some of the veteran 'Grandpa Robbers' as 'The Old Man', 'The Fat Man', 'Blue Eyes' and 'Grated Nose' - monikers 'testifying to their seniority in the criminal underworld'. Abbas said he was a 'young retiree' at the time of the robbery. He was '[struggling] to make ends meet' when presented with a 'proposal' that 'allows me to look to the future in a better light'. A 20-carat diamond 'without protection' was the objective, he said, but it was expected they would find more valuables throughout the heist. Plans began to be drawn up in the summer of 2016, when Old Omar got a tip that a 'big American star was coming to town' and that she was showing off her fabulous wealth on Instagram Pictures of gaffer tape used to gag Kim and Serflex cable ties used to bind her The thieves said they arrived and left on push bikes 'None of them had much idea who Kim was, but they liked her very expensive bling,' a police investigator said. All were particularly interested in Ms Kardashian's 18.88-carat engagement ring, especially after she proudly announced that she 'did not wear fake jewellery'. Plans began to be drawn up in the summer of 2016, when Old Omar got a tip that a 'big American star was coming to town' and that she was showing off her fabulous wealth on Instagram. The robbers are alleged to have made off with a lavish jewellery collection, including a $4mn engagement ring from Kanye West. As they fled, one accidently dropped a platinum cross adorned with diamonds that was found the next morning. 'We had nothing against [Kardashian] personally, Abbas said. 'As De Niro would say, it's business.' Abbas does have some regret that 'we scared her'. Kardashian, who was wearing just a bathrobe when the thieves broke in, was bound, gagged and locked in a bathroom when thieves broke into her 15,000 euro a night residence. A spokesperson for the reality TV star said at the time she had been left 'badly shaken but physically unharmed'. Abbas revealed he dropped a bag on the return journey, spilling jewels into the street Police officers are seen entering the BRB building, Brigade de Repression du Banditisme (suppression of banditry brigade) on January 9, 2017 in Paris The thieves are believed to have gained entry to the discreet luxury apartment after confronting the property's only concierge, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, a father-of-one and Paris University PhD student then aged 39. Pointing an antique Mauser 7.65mm at his head, the gang led Mr Ouatiki upstairs to the penthouse, where Kardashian was lying on her bed in her bathrobe. The mother-of-two was alone after her German bodyguard, Pascal Duvier whom she later sacked went out dancing at L'Arc, a nightclub by the Arc de Triomphe. Kardashian recalled hearing noises outside the door, later telling officers: 'I said 'Hello!', but since no one answered, I knew something was wrong.' Two 'aggressive men' in black police uniforms then burst in with the handcuffed Ouatiki. Kardashian initially tried to call 911 the American police emergency number on her phone, but it did not work in France. 'He puts a gun directly to her head,' Mr Ouatiki recalled. 'She's crying, she's screaming. She's saying, "Don't kill me, I have babies, please, I have babies! I'm a mom! Take what you want!" She's wearing just a robe and her hair is tied back.' Kim Kardashian and her bodyguard Pascal Duvier seen out and about in Paris before the robbery on October 2, 2016 A french police car is seen outside Kim Kardashian's Luxury Apartment after being robbed at gunpoint by masked men during Paris Fashion Week A general view of Kim Kardashian's luxury apartment Hotel de Pourtales on Rue Tronchet in the 8th arrondissement, where she was robbed at gunpoint by masked men To prevent Kardashian from screaming too loudly, the robbers taped her mouth shut before locking her in her bathroom. They spent a full 49 minutes in the penthouse, before leaving with a haul of jewellery. Kardashian was in Paris for the city's fashion week with her mother Kris Jenner and her sister Kendall Jenner. Her then-husband Kanye West was performing in New York at the time, before abruptly halting his show due to a 'family emergency'. China boosts vaccination accessibility at grassroots Xinhua) 10:18, April 21, 2025 WUHAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Every township and subdistrict across China now has at least one vaccination unit, bringing immunization services closer to people's doorsteps, according to the 2025 National Vaccines and Health Conference held Saturday in Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei Province. Over 10 million people have already applied for and are using digital vaccination certificates, which provide lifelong coverage for individuals, according to the conference. China has established a comprehensive four-tier immunization program management system at the national, provincial, municipal, and county levels, as well as a service network extending to the county, township, and village levels, Shen Hongbing, deputy head of the National Health Commission and head of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, said at the conference. This ensures timely and convenient access to vaccination for the public, he added. By the end of 2024, China had more than 456,000 professionals engaged in vaccination services, Shen noted. Official data presented at the conference showed that the coverage rate for vaccines under the national immunization program has remained above 90 percent. Incidence rates of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, hepatitis A, and Japanese encephalitis have dropped to historic lows. In recent years, China has allocated over 3 billion yuan (about 416 million U.S. dollars) annually to support the expansion of the immunization program, ensuring vaccine supply and safety, according to the conference. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A nepo baby, who is the child of two famous Hollywood A-lister parents, celebrated her 22nd birthday on Monday. The novice model looked the double of her actress mother as her parents shared some sweet pictures to mark the big day. Her father, 80, is a multi-award-winning American actor and film producer who has bagged multiple Golden Globes and a BAFTA for his legendary films. Meanwhile her mother, 55, is a famed Welsh actress, who has starred in many cult classics such as Zorro, and a luxury brand model. Her parents welcomed the nepo baby and her elder brother, Dylan, and have been happily married for 25 years. But can you guess who it is? A nepo baby, the child of two famous Hollywood A-lister parents, celebrated her 22nd birthday on Monday as her film producer father and actress mother paid tribute to the novice model That is right, it's Carys Zeta Douglas - the daughter of Michael Kirk Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones That is right, it's Carys Zeta Douglas! Carys is the daughter of Michael Kirk Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. And Carys proved that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with her good looks as she looked the double of Catherine in a snap uploaded to Michael's Instagram on Sunday. Sharing a snap of the influencer, Michael uploaded a picture of his daughter to celebrate her birthday. Sharing a picture of his daughter, he penned: 'Happy Birthday my darling daughter Carys! Congratulations on graduation! I am proud of you @carys.douglas! Dad' To which she responded, 'Thank you Dadda I love you so much' And her mother also took to social media to celebrate their youngest child as she shared a black and white throwback snap of herself and Carys as a toddle. Alongside the Story, she wrote: '22 years ago my Easter Bunny arrived. Happy Birthday Carys'. Her parents welcomed the nepo baby and her elder brother, Dylan (left), and have been happily married for 25 years Carys was born April 2003 and followed in her brother Dylan's footsteps as she is studying at Brown University in Rhode Island (Pictured May 2024) And the star has appeared to show interest in following her parent's footsteps, too, as she starred in the short film F**k That Guy featuring Victoria Pedretti (pictured April 2024) Carys was born April 2003 and followed in her brother Dylan's footsteps as she is studying at Brown University in Rhode Island. The brunette beauty has spent many months studying abroad in Europe as part of her International and Public Affairs degree. And the star has appeared to show interest in following her parent's footsteps, too, as she starred in the short film F**k That Guy featuring Victoria Pedretti. Carys has also featured in a few modelling gigs alongside her famed mother, as she has previously been seen in a Fendi campaign in 2019. The student also appears to have a very strong relationship with her brother, as she recently shared pictures of them hiking through the mountains. Michael has been married twice. His first marriage was to Diandra Luker in 1977, with whom he has one son, Cameron Douglas, 45. Michael and Diandra divorced in 2000. In 2000, he married Welsh actress Catherine, 55 and acting is a prominent part of Michael's family background; he is the son of legendary actor Kirk Douglas and actress Diana Dill. While Dylan has a short resume on IMDb, he still remains in the spotlight - he hosts Young American with Dylan Douglas, a 'Gen Z powered political talk show.' Cary's IMDb only has four credits thus far but her work includes the short film Shell and working as a second assistant director on the short August. In 2021, Catherine revealed both Carys and Dylan are determined to get into acting. The brunette beauty has spent many months studying abroad in Europe as part of her International and Public Affairs degree (pictured July 2023) Catherine said on The Drew Barrymore Show: 'Their love of the craft of acting is so strong that even when their brains are doing politics and history in school, their passion is acting. 'And they've never done anything professional, but they would like to go into acting.' Carys has even been warned by her father that if she pursues a career in Hollywood she will always be referred to as 'the daughter of.' The mother-of-two said: 'In fact one has to prove oneself more, so even with that deterrent my kids are like, 'No, sorry we still want to do it.'' Purple Wiggle John Adamo-Pearce has celebrated his first Easter with his new baby boy Henry. The former Justice Crew member, known as the 'Hot Wiggle', welcomed his son with his wife Jessie just two weeks before Christmas. And now the happy couple have taken to social media to share some holidays snaps featuring their four-month-old bundle of joy. In one snap a beaming John can be seen flaunting his physique in a white single while holding son while his wife poses beside him. Another photo shared to John's Instagram showed little Henry in a 'bunny' jumpsuit being held by his father, while Jessie attempts to be a pair of tiny sandals on his feet. Another picture features John and Jessie with their baby enjoying a lavish meal with several loved ones. Purple Wiggle John Adamo-Pearce has celebrated his first Easter with his new baby boy Henry. The former Justice Crew member, known as the 'Hot Wiggle', welcomed his son with his wife Jessie just two weeks before Christmas (all pictured) The happy couple have taken to social media to share some holidays snaps featuring their four-month-old bundle of joy It comes after John Pearce and Jessie Adamo welcomed their first child into the world in December. John shared pictures of their newborn to Instagram and confirmed their son's adorable name, revealing they have called him Henry Nicholas. He penned: 'Henry Nicholas Adamo Pearce 16.12.24. Welcome to the world our beautiful angel. We have never felt a love like this.' John and Jessie announced they were expecting their first child back in June and have been keeping fans up to date with their pregnancy journey since. Just weeks before welcoming their first child, the couple jetted off to Fiji for a luxury babymoon as they celebrated Jessie's final few weeks of pregnancy. In September, John took to Instagram to share an array of stunning snaps from their pre-baby holiday as they made the most of their quality time together. The couple spared no expense on the trip as they stayed in the luxurious Fiji Marriott Resort in Momi Bay. The hotel boasts the Fijian mainland's only sole over-water bungalows, allowing you to plunge into pristine lagoon waters directly from private stairs. It comes after John and Jessie welcomed their first child into the world in December John and Jessie started dating in 2012, just two years after his dance-pop group Justice Crew shot to fame with their Australia's Got Talent win John and Jessie started dating in 2012, just two years after his dance-pop group Justice Crew shot to fame with their Australia's Got Talent win. They tied the knot in a private ceremony in October 2019 and they recently marked their fifth wedding anniversary. Meanwhile, says he has learned to embrace his sex symbol status as the 'Hot Wiggle'. 'It's positive thing and I'm super flattered by it. You've just got to embrace it,' the new dad said in an interview with TMZ's Big Down Under podcast. 'My wife thinks so, so that's the main thing,' he laughed when asked if he approves of the nickname. John, whose nicknames include 'Big Strong John', 'Hot Wiggle' and 'Daddy Wiggle' has had various roles over the years - hip hop dancer, a Ninja Warrior and since 2021 the 'Purple Wiggle'. John had applied to be a firefighter and was also a budding Instagram influencer when he was shoulder tapped by The Wiggles. When it was first announced John was joining the quintessentially Australian group, an ABC News host labelled him 'offensively hot' and a 'thirst trap for mums'. He said back in the day Anthony Field, 61, who has tattoos and abs underneath his Blue Wiggle skivvy, would be more worthy of the title. 'I believe that if TikTok was around in the 90s, Anthony would have been the original Hot Wiggle,' he laughed. 'I'm just trying to be myself. I don't mind the labels. I've been accepted into the role of Purple Wiggle so thank you to all the mums, dads, aunties and uncles.' Bella Ramsey has opened up about the reaction to coming out as non-binary, admitting part of them 'regrets' making the news public. The Last Of Us star, 21, revealed in 2023 that they are genderfluid and use they/them pronouns, admitting 'being gendered isnt something that I particularly like'. Two years on from the announcement, Bella confessed they are in two minds about coming out, admitting the reaction has been a 'mixed bag'. Speaking to The Observer, Bella confessed: 'Part of me looks back and I wish that I didn't, because I didn't want it to become a headline and a big thing. 'And obviously it was going to, and I didn't really understand that at the time. And I wasn't really prepared for that. But on the other hand, people have said to me that it's been very helpful for them seeing some representation. 'So it's been a mixed bag, but overall, I think it was a good thing, just for me living more freely, without feeling like I'm keeping a secret'. Bella Ramsey has opened up about the reaction to coming out as non-binary, admitting part of them 'regrets' making the news public (pictured earlier this month) Bella went on to note that while they are happy to talk about their gender identity they don't want it to 'be the focus', and they just want everyone to be 'chill' about it. The British actor, who shot to fame on Game Of Thrones as Lyanna Mormont, told the New York Times that she found it 'exciting' when she was referred to as 'he.' She said: 'I guess my gender has always been very fluid. Someone would call me she or her and I wouldnt think about it, but I knew that if someone called me he it was a bit exciting.' The star said she ticks 'non-binary' if it is an option on a form, before adding: 'Im very much just a person. 'Being gendered isnt something that I particularly like, but in terms of pronouns, I really couldnt care less.' Last month, Bella admitted it's been tough to 'still figure things out' when it comes to their gender identity when they don't have the 'privilege' of exploring their identity in private. They told Vogue: 'Part of the job of being an actor is that youre supposed to have an answer to every question that people ask you. But actually the answer can be: "I dont know and Im not ready to talk about that"'. Bella continued: 'If I did want to explore other things, like facets of my gender identity, that would be done publicly'. 'As much as I would try and keep it private, if someone recognises me on the street, say if Im presenting differently, [and] takes a photo, then that is just talked about'. Last month, Bella revealed they were diagnosed with autism during the first season of the HBO series The Last Of Us, which filmed from June 2021 until July 2022 Bella wore a chest binder '90 per cent' of the time filming The Last Of Us, which takes place during a global pandemic that has transformed the infected into zombie-like creatures. Elsewhere in the chat, Bella revealed they were diagnosed with autism during the first season of the HBO series, which filmed from June 2021 until July 2022. While they'd previously spoken about their neurodivergence, but for 'some reason didn't want to' share their official diagnosis before now. Bella, who plays Ellie in the post apocalyptic drama, said: 'I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one of The Last of Us'. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. They told the publication: '[The diagnosis was] Freeing, it enables me to walk through the world with more grace towards myself about not being able to do the easy everyday tasks that everyone else seems to be able to do.' 'The label of being autistic has been so helpful to me because thats helped me to understand myself, but gender and sexuality-wise, labels do not feel comfy for me in any capacity, because I feel like Im putting myself into a box. I feel trapped'. Bella also spoke about their gender identity with her co-star Pedro Pascal, whose sibling Lux is a trans woman. They said: 'They weren't always deep [conversations] they could be funny and humorous, the whole spectrum. We were just very honest and open with each other.' Celebrities have publicly paid tribute to Pope Francis after the Vatican announced his death on Easter Monday aged 88. The pontiff, who dedicated his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, was remembered on social media by celebrities of all ages and religions. Among them was Whoopi Goldberg, 69, who recalled a past meeting Pope Francis. Alongside an image of the pair, the Sister Act star wrote: 'He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christs love enveloped believer and none believer. 'He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity & Laughter.' Antonio Banderas, who previously described himself as an agnostic in 2006 but said he has a close affinity with Catholic spirituality, also reflected on his time with the Pope. Sister Act star Whoopi Goldberg led celebrity tributes to Pope Francis after the Vatican announced he had died aged 88 on Easter Monday Antonio Banderas, who previously described himself as an agnostic in 2006 but said he has a close affinity with Catholic spirituality, recalled a meeting with the pontiff Eva Longoria - who met the pope in 2016 - also paid tribute, writing:' Thank you for being an ally to many of us and speaking up for the marginalized' The Spanish actor, 64, shared a picture from his meeting with the pontiff in 2016 and wrote: 'Pope Francisco has died a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people. @franciscus #RIP #DEP'. Eva Longoria - who met the pope in 2016 - also paid tribute, writing:' Rest in Peace, Your Holiness Pope Francis. Thank you for being an ally to many of us and speaking up for the marginalized. 'Your compassion, kindness and humility will always be remembered.' Meanwhile singer Susan Boyle, 64, who performed for the Pope in 2019, took to Instagram with a heartfelt tribute. She said it performing for him was the 'honour and privilege of her life' as she described him as a 'man for all seasons'. Church of England priest, Revered Richard Coles, was quick to pay tribute to the head of the Catholic Church, sharing a throwback snap of the pontiff. The British reverend tweeted: 'Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant Jorge, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. 'Receive him into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen. #PopeFrancis.' Livia Firth penned: 'No matter the religion, he was a giant of a man - for love, for justice, for peace. No matter his position and the constraints that came with it, he tried. 'I loved his humanity and some of his work (the Laudato Si, on care for our common home is so beautiful) 'Your voice will be missed in the world Jorge Mario Bergoglio.' Donatella Versace (left) and Zoe Saldana shared the news on their Instagram Stories Church of England priest, Revered Richard Coles, was quick to pay tribute to the head of the Catholic Church, sharing a throwback snap of the pontiff Livia Firth penned: 'No matter the religion, he was a giant of a man - for love, for justice, for peace. No matter his position and the constraints that came with it, he tried' Boxer Frank Bruno paid his respects despite 'not being very religious' King Charles and Queen Camilla paid tribute following their private meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican City on April 9 this year (pictured) King Charles paid tribute to the Pope's 'compassion' and 'devotion' to the church Sarah Ferguson wrote: 'No better example of total humility in kindness and compassion. Thank you for leading us not just with words, but with your unwavering service to humanity' Susan Boyle, who sang for the Pope in 2019, took to Instagram with an emotional tribute Boxer Frank Bruno paid his respects, writing: 'Morning for those not heard His Holiness the Pope has passed away. 'I am not very religious but was married in a Catholic church. May he rest in peace #rip #morning #monday.' King Charles also paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying he was 'deeply saddened' to learn of the Pope's passing. He said Francis, who was the first Latin American pope, would be 'remembered for his compassion' and had 'profoundly touched the lives of so many'. Pope Francis's death came just weeks after King Charles and Queen Camilla met His Eminence in Rome during a royal visit to Italy, with His Majesty saying the couple were 'greatly moved to have been able to visit him'. The Pontiff had spent the last couple of months battling health problems, including a bout of pneumonia which left him hospitalised. He had recovered enough to hold a private audience with the pair on April 9, and he had been seen at public events over the Easter weekend, while also meeting US Vice President JD Vance in recent days. However, it was announced early on Easter Monday that he had passed away, sending more than a billion Catholics worldwide into mourning. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Charles said: 'My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. 'Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. 'His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. 'His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world.' Carol Vorderman described Pope Francis as a 'humble man' in her tribute Lizzie Cundy and Georgina Rodriguez paid their respects to the pontiff on Instagram Italian fashion journalist and editor-at-large for Vogue Japan, Anna Dello Russo, wrote: 'The departure of Pope Francis has left an immeasurable void' Strictly's Graziano Di Prima and Psychic Sally Morgan were among those paying tribute EastEnders star Michelle Ryan penned: 'Visiting the Vatican in Rome quite a few years ago was a truly remarkable experience. Something otherworldly almost' It continued: 'Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. 'The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. 'We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.' The Pontiff spent his final hours with faithful, emerging to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday and touring the piazza in the Popemobile to wild cheers and applause after being discharged from hospital only last month. Francis had briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance for a 'quick and private' meeting at the Casa Santa Marta residence in Vatican City earlier on Sunday. He was hoped to be making a steady recovery from double pneumonia before Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today. 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune,' he said in a statement. Francis had only left hospital under 'protected discharge' on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year. But he resolutely toured through the crowd of 35,000 believers 'for 50 minutes at 21 degrees' on Sunday after giving the traditional Urbi et Orbi benediction and wishing Catholics a 'Happy Easter' and calling for an end to conflicts around the world. The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days. Francis's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica during an official mourning period, and then - in contrast to most of his predecessors - he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood. Neighbours of Nine's Karl Stefanovic have weighed in on the Today star's latest real estate win. The breakfast host, 50, and his shoe designer wife, Jasmine, 40, have had new plans approved in for their $4.5million luxury mansion on Sydney's north shore. And nearby residents have had their say about the ruling in the Land and Environment court on Wednesday, which approved a modified design for the home which will now feature two levels, as opposed to the plan that included four storeys. 'We are worried about foundational cracks to our homes from all the vibrations from the drilling,' a female neighbour to the building site told news.com.au on Monday. The spoke of further concerns, saying, 'there is also a deep drop to the site and only a short fence so if there are young kids around I think it could be dangerous.' The couple had set out to knock down the original 1960s home on the block in upscale Castlecrag, 9km from the CBD, to build a four level sprawl with five bedrooms. Neighbours of Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine have weighed in on the Today star's latest real estate win. The breakfast host, 50, and his shoe designer wife, Jasmine, 40, have had new plans approved in for their $4.5million luxury mansion on Sydney's north shore. Both pictured Nearby residents have had their say about the ruling in the Land and Environment court on Wednesday which approved a modified design for the home which will now feature two levels as opposed to the plan which featured four storeys. Pictured: A design image Still, according to the report, other residents close by the Stefanvoics' new build appeared to be supportive but did not want to make any specific comments. Stefanovic and his wife purchased the property for $3.2million in 2021. In March, 2024, the couple finally got the approval from Willoughby Council to move forward with their renovation after a lengthy wrangle of their original development application (DA) that lasted a year. The celebrity couple's legal team stated that the renovation 'generally complied' with the planning laws set out by Willoughby Council. However, it did not comply with floor plan space ratio controls consistent with local planning regulations. The original application revealed that the couple's plans included creating 102 square metres of living space below ground level. Originally built in the 1960s, the old home, which has now been knocked down completely, had views over Castlecrag's north escarpment. A designer image shows the finished property will feature a stunning contemporary design, spacious surroundings, French windows and an indoor circular staircase. The couple had set out to knock down the original 1960s home on the block in upscale Castlecrag, 9km from the CBD, to build a four level sprawl with five bedrooms. Pictured: Demolition work underway on the site in December It will also boast a stylish outdoor dining terrace with adjacent stairs and a host of gorgeous architectural touches, including high ceilings and slanted windows. In December Karl informed his Instagram followers that demolition work had started on the site. Karl and Jasmine, along with their children, divide their time between Sydney and Queensland. As well as Harper, Karl also has three older children - Jackson, 24, Willow, 19, and River, 17 - from his marriage to Cassandra Thorburn. Jasmine's family are based in the Sunshine State where Karl began his journalism career. The couple married in December 2018 in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Karl is currently is taking his second break from Today in less than a month amid speculation he is facing a whopping pay cut. The Nine star joined his wife and their four-year-old daughter Harper for Easter holidays this weekend in Fiji as the network are reportedly looking to slash his $3million salary by half. The family are understood to be staying at the Kokomo Island Resort, where prices per night for the top tier residences on sit can cost up to $4000-per-night. A minimum three night stay is required, and a five day package, including flights, can run up to $18,900 per person. Abbie Chatfield has weighed in on the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on Sunday, in an explosive rant posted to social media. The podcaster and reality star said in an Instagram Stories post, made shortly after the news broke, that MAGA Trump Supporters would 'love' the sad news. 'The Pope has died and I am now fearful, not because I really rely on the Pope, although rest in peace, the Pope' she began. 'I'm fearful because MAGA are gonna take this as a sign that god is on their side, because the Pope recently called out the Trump administration and refused to meet with JD Vance.' She continued: 'He ended up meeting with JD Vance, unfortunately, but he was very public in criticising the Trump administration. 'So Maga and Qanon are now gonna think that god is on their side. That god has struck down the evil Pope Francis. Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has weighed in on the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on Sunday, in an explosive rant posted to social media Pope Francis (pictured) died on Easter Monday aged 88 after dedicating his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, the Vatican announced today 'Like, awful timing, awful timing. They're actually gonna take this as a sign from god'. Abbie went on: 'Oh my god, it's so scary, the cult is so scary. But mark my words, mark my words. That's what they're gonna be saying.' Pope Francis died on Easter Monday aged 88 after dedicating his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, the Vatican announced today. The Pontiff spent his final hours with faithful, emerging to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday and touring the piazza in the Popemobile to wild cheers and applause after being discharged from hospital only last month. Francis had briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance for a 'quick and private' meeting at the Casa Santa Marta residence in Vatican City earlier on Sunday. He was hoped to be making a steady recovery from double pneumonia before Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today. 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune,' he said in a statement. Francis had only left hospital under 'protected discharge' on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year. The podcaster and reality star said in an Instagram Stories post, made shortly after the news broke, that MAGA Trump Supporters would 'love' the sad news 'I'm fearful because MAGA are gonna take this as a sign that god is on their side, because the Pope recently called out the Trump administration and refused to meet with JD Vance' Abbie said. Vance is pictured with Pope Francis But he resolutely toured through the crowd of 35,000 believers 'for 50 minutes at 21 degrees' on Sunday after giving the traditional Urbi et Orbi benediction and wishing Catholics a 'Happy Easter' and calling for an end to conflicts around the world. The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days. Francis's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica during an official mourning period, and then - in contrast to most of his predecessors - he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the news of Francis' death 'deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd. I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering.' The White House published a pithy statement on X, saying: 'Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.' French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, also shared his condolences in a post on X. 'From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.' The bells at Paris's Notre-Dame cathedral rang out 88 times on Monday in honour of Pope Francis who died aged 88, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The '88 rings for 88 years of life' were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral's bells before a noon mass in Francis's honour, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office. The stars of The Project were shaken to hear the news of the death of Pope Francis as they went live to air on Monday evening. The Australian current affairs team shared their 'shock' over finding out that the beloved religious leader had died at the age of 88 at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) on Sunday. 'It's one of those weird sort of news stories where you have an expectation that something like this is about to arrive, and then when it actually does, you're suddenly caught by surprise' host Waleed Aly said. His rattled co-host Georgie Tunny chimed in: 'There's still a shock.' 'Such a shock' Sam Taunton agreed. 'We got ready to do the show, we had gathered at this desk, and then we got the news. And everyone, all the crew, was like, "Oh my god!" The stars of The Project were shaken to hear the news of the death of Pope Francis as they went live to air on Monday evening. Pictured: Waleed Aly and Georgie Tunny reacting Pope Francis (pictured) died on Easter Monday aged 88 after dedicating his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, the Vatican announced today 'There's very few things that hit quite like this' Sam added. Guest host Jessie Stephens shared her own shock as she said: 'I think, because he was seen yesterday, on Easter Sunday, in Rome, and also met with JD Vance at the end of last week. In his position, he was still working up until his very last days.' Aly added: 'The JD Vance thing is really interesting too. For him to be meeting a figure like that. 'Let's just say - there's a lot of about JD Vance's view of the world that isn't in alignment with Pope Francis's view of the world, his statements of support for minority groups, poor people, that's just extraordinary. 'That would be an energetic meeting.' Stephens agreed: 'He was openly critical of some of those policies.' Pope Francis died on Easter Monday aged 88 after dedicating his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, the Vatican announced today. The Pontiff spent his final hours with faithful, emerging to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday and touring the piazza in the Popemobile to wild cheers and applause after being discharged from hospital only last month. Francis had briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance for a 'quick and private' meeting at the Casa Santa Marta residence in Vatican City earlier on Sunday. 'Such a shock' Sam Taunton (pictured) said of his response to the news Guest host Jessie Stephens (pictured) looked rattled as she shared her thoughts He was hoped to be making a steady recovery from double pneumonia before Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today. 'With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune,' he said in a statement. Francis had only left hospital under 'protected discharge' on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year. But he resolutely toured through the crowd of 35,000 believers 'for 50 minutes at 21 degrees' on Sunday after giving the traditional Urbi et Orbi benediction and wishing Catholics a 'Happy Easter' and calling for an end to conflicts around the world. The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days. Francis's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica during an official mourning period, and then - in contrast to most of his predecessors - he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the news of Francis' death 'deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd. I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering.' The White House published a pithy statement on X, saying: 'Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.' Stephens said of her own shock: 'I think, because he was seen yesterday, on Easter Sunday, in Rome, and also met with JD Vance at the end of last week. In his position, he was still working up until his very last days.' Pope Francis is pictured with Vance French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, also shared his condolences in a post on X. 'From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.' The bells at Paris's Notre-Dame cathedral rang out 88 times on Monday in honour of Pope Francis who died aged 88, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The '88 rings for 88 years of life' were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral's bells before a noon mass in Francis's honour, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office. Amanda Holden has been living it up in Glasgow while filming a new Scots quiz show and the latest series of Britain's Got Talent. The TV host, 54, was spotted out and about in the city as she wined and dined with her production team. And the glamorous presenter was in party mode as she downed shots at Glasgow underground bar and restaurant Sebb's on Miller Street, in between enjoying dishes including pita bread and grilled cauliflower and hummus. After downing one particularly strong shot, Amanda flapped her arms around in despair while her drinking partner, TV producer David Marshall, giggled. Her new BBC One quiz show, The Inner Circle, is being filmed at BBC Studiowork's Kelvin Hall facility in the Scottish city. It involves a series of rounds testing contestants' knowledge and strategic thinking, with 25 episodes featuring members of the public and six celebrity specials. Amanda Holden has been living it up in Glasgow while filming a new Scots quiz show and the latest series of Britain's Got Talent The glamorous presenter was in party mode as she downed shots at Glasgow underground bar and restaurant Sebb's on Miller Street Amanda gave an insight into the secrets behind her youthful looks as she gave an insight into her quirky pampering routine last week. Wearing a large grey fluffy robe, Amanda soaked her feet in a warm foot spa, before transferring them into a bucket of iced water while eating a banana at Glasgow's Blythswood spa. As the hostess with the mostess, shes been required to wear some killer heels alongside her selection of different dresses on the show, and admitted that her feet were suffering as she was given a foot spa in her dressing room following filming. As well as the bubbling tub of hot water she also gave her poor feet an ice bath before putting on her fluffy towelling slippers. She admitted that her feet were suffering as she was given a foot spa in her dressing room following filming. Amanda was seen laughing away while sat on a plush brown leather couch as she claimed that 'she had made it'. The Britain's Got Talent judge was engaging in hot and cold therapy which is can soothe stiff joints and relieve achy muscles if you have a foot or ankle condition like arthritis, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, or bunions. Alongside her post, she penned: 'This is what my #innercircle currently looks like.' After downing one particularly strong shot, Amanda flapped her arms around in despair while her drinking partner, TV producer David Marshall, giggled Amanda gave an insight into the secrets behind her youthful looks as she gave an insight into her quirky pampering routine last week Wearing a large grey fluffy robe, Amanda soaked her feet in a warm foot spa, before transferring them into a bucket of iced water while eating a banana at Glasgow's Blythswood spa The post is a tease to a glamourous project that she is currently working on. Last week, Amanda started teased her latest move as she shared pictures of herself in full, old Hollywood glam, writing that her 'inner circle' is coming soon. In the first montage image, she could be seen applying lipstick and showing off a dark, smoky eye look. Above was a picture of an eyeshadow palette, teasing a new make-up collection. This was followed by a shot of a beaming Amanda and then another of her putting in a pair of glitzy earrings. The final image was simply of the presenter's neck and showed off a trio of gold necklaces, which are also presumably part of the new project's collection. Amanda wrote: 'Filming under way... Can't wait for you all to be part of my #inner circle. Coming soon.' Last week, Amanda started teased her latest move as she shared pictures of herself in full, old Hollywood glam, writing that her 'inner circle' is coming soon Fans were quick to take to the comments section to express their excitement, writing comments such as: 'Looking forward to this.'. 'Your eye shadow looks beautiful.'. 'Oooh that eye shadow palette looks amazing! Please share where I can get one, thanks x'. Amanda's Instagram feed has been incredibly glamorous in recent weeks and she showed off her enviable body in a further series of bikini snaps. Former Big Brother star Tashie Jackson looks barely recognisable a whopping 14-years after she first star evicted from the house during the show's 12th series. The stunner, 35, now known as Natasha Graziano, has jumped the pond and built her own multi-million pound career in the US as a motivational speaker and podcasters, counting the the likes of Nick Cannon, 44, as friends. Natasha only lasted four days in Big Brother back in 2011, in the first series after being rebooted by Channel 5, and after receiving the most nominations from fellow housemates and facing the public vote was met with boos upon her exit. The mother-of-two is also a best selling author and according to Forbes Magazine is the '#1 Female Motivational Speaker under 40' and has also featured in Vogue and The New York Times and a whopping 14M followers on Instagram. As well as presenting her podcast Laws Of Attraction Secrets, Natasha is also creator of the MBS Method (Meditational Behavioural Synchronicity) which claims to help transformation lives through ancient breathing techniques and meditation. However her rise to the top has not been an easy one and told Fabulous Magazine in 2022 how she and her eldest son Rio, now seven, were left homeless amid her spiralling debts. Former Big Brother star Tashie Jackson looks barely recognisable a whopping 14-years after she was evicted from the iconic house (pictured on Big Brother in 2011) The stunner, 35, now known as Natasha Graziano, has jumped the pond and built her own multi-million pound career in the US as a motivational speaker and podcasters Her star-studded pals include the likes of Nick Cannon (pictured together) She told the publication: 'It was very hard to admit that I needed any help, but when you are in debt that much, you have so much shame and guilt and you feel like the world is just shunning you'. 'When I was forced to leave my home because of my spiralling debts I was forced to sell everything so I just had two suitcases and black bin liners on the back of his buggy.' Before adding: 'I just went on the street and just prayed. I thought people would never take me seriously, I was really quite suicidal to be honest.' Last week Celebrity Big Brother contestant Tila Tequila also looked worlds away from her extremely controversial time on the reality show. The former glamour model and reality star, 43, was kicked off the 16th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2015 after it emerged she previously posed in front of Auschwitz wearing Nazi gear and claimed to be 'Hitila' or 'Hitler reborn'. She reportedly begged Channel 5 bosses to let her back into the CBB house by claiming she was high on drugs and severely depressed when she made the shocking comments. In 2021, Perez Hilton shared a bizarre clip of Tequila ranting about resurrection which he captioned: 'This is what she's up to now.' Tequila looked a far cry from her modelling days in the clip, with fans speculating that she could be on drugs as she reeled off bible passages about rising from the dead. Natasha only lasted four days in Big Brother back in 2011, in the first series after being rebooted by Channel 5, before being met by boos upon her eviction The mother-of-two is also a best selling author and according to Forbes Magazine is the '#1 Female Motivational Speaker under 40' She has also featured in Vogue and The New York Times with a whopping 14M followers on Instagram As well as presenting her podcast Laws Of Attraction Secrets, Natasha is also creator of the MBS Method (Meditational Behavioural Synchronicity) which claims to help transformation lives through ancient breathing techniques and meditation Long gone were her fair wavy locks and glitzy ensembles as she sported straight dark tresses and a conservative white blouse. Another snap shared by fans showed Tequila with thin dark hair and sporting a very modest high-neck white blouse. In 2018, Tequila called out social media users who had been scrutinising her physical appearance. She wrote: 'Meanwhile, I find it hilarious how all the haters have been calling me "fat" and telling me that God is going to punish me for the things I have been saying and always trying to send curses my way. But God took all your wretched curses and turned them into huge blessings for me instead!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAY!!!' Tequila's axing from the 2015 series of CBB, which was also known as Celebrity Big Brother: UK vs USA, came after her shockingly offensive posts, made in 2013, were unearthed. The posts prompted complaints from hundreds of viewers as well as the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, and she was removed from the house one day after entering. A spokesman for Channel 5, that airs the programme, said at the time: 'Unfortunately, Channel 5 and Endemol did not know about the views and attitudes Tila had expressed in social media postings prior to her involvement in Celebrity Big Brother. Last week Celebrity Big Brother contestant Tila Tequila also looked worlds away from her extremely controversial time on the reality show (Seen in 2015 on CBB) Tequila looked a far cry from her modelling days in the clip, with fans speculating that she could be on drugs as she reeled off bible passages about rising from the dead The former glamour model and reality star, 43, was kicked off the 16th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2015 after it emerged she previously posed in front of Auschwitz wearing Nazi gear 'The views Tila had expressed, and permitted to remain uncorrected, are totally unacceptable and, accordingly, her continued involvement in the program was untenable.' Speaking to The Sun on Sunday after her axing, she said: 'I was doing a lot of drugs and suffering from severe depression. I wasnt well in the head.' Tequila strongly denied that she is anti-Semitic at the time - but in a series of online postings, including a blog entitled 'Why I sympathize with Hitler Part 1', she described the Nazi leader as a 'good man' who deserved forgiveness. She has since referred to the killing of six million Jews by the Nazi regime as the 'Holohoax.' Tequila was then banned from X, then-Twitter, the following year after a 24-hour Twitter tirade that began with wishing Adolf Hitler a happy birthday. In a truly shocking rant, Tequila called the Nazi leader her 'boo,' claimed to be the reincarnation of the dictator and posted a photo of herself wearing a Nazi cap, Hitler mustache and Swastika armband. 'On this great day of 420 I will HONOR our TRUE KING! They tried to destroy your legacy, but I will fight for you!' she tweeted along with a black and white photo of Hitler. In another tweet, she wrote: 'And happy birthday to my past life historical figure, most epic legend of all time, Mein Furhor (sic), Adolf Hitila! The MOST HIGH!' 'We all knew this day was coming! The 2nd coming of Christ in the end times prophecy has been fulfilled! #HeilHitila.' Farmer Wants A Wife is back for 2025 and Monday night's episode saw no less than six women lose their chance at finding love in the country. It was a brutal round of Speed Dates that left Farmer Thomas dumping Sophie, Edwina, and Ashleen before they even really got started. Thomas failed to bond with the three beauties, who were sent home at the end of the episode. Sophie, 32, is a teacher who's done with being the 'fifth wheel' in her friendship group she wanted her forever person. Edwina, 29, a radiographer from NSW, was drawn to Thomas' serious commitment to love and family. And then there was Ashleen, 35, a senior event manager who says it's the little things like sharing life's special moments that matter most. Farmer Wants A Wife is back for 2025 and Monday night's episode saw no less than six women lose their chance at finding love in the country. Farmer Corey has chosen his love interests and was left standing with Jadee, Keeley, Hunter, Rosie and Chelsea (all pictured) Farmer Thomas will be looking for love with surviving beauties Clarette, Claire, Rachel, Nat and Ellen. All pictured All three have been sent packing however, along with three more women rejected by Farmer Corey - Millie, Jamie, and Ellie. Aged care support worker Millie, 22, says she was instantly drawn to Corey's 'genuine soul' - but it did her no good. Likewise, 23-year-old Jamie from Victoria, a speech pathologist with a love of family and a strong work ethic, was sent packing. Ellie, 26, a Queensland educator known for her empathy and resilience, was also ditched. Farmer Corey has chosen his love interests and was left standing with Jadee, Keeley, Hunter, Rosie and Chelsea. Farmer Thomas will be looking for love with surviving beauties Clarette, Claire, Rachel, Nat and Ellen. South Australian farmer Thomas was smitten after meeting 35-year-old English teacher Clarette. 'She took my breath away,' said the 35-year-old farmer, adding: 'She's beautiful.' Sophie, 32, a teacher from Victoria, was dumped Edwina, 29, a radiographer from NSW, is out Ashleen, 35, is an event manager from Western Australia, also was sent home The shy farmer was also impressed by 32-year-old public servant Ellen. He also liked 31-year-old FIFO mine site administrator Claire and 34-year-old construction co-ordinator Rachel. Likewise 33-year-old blasting specialist Nat caught his eye. Queensland farmer Corey declared he was looking for his 'soulmate' before sitting down to his first speed date with 26-year-old primary school teacher Jadee. The 24-year-old farmer admitted the speed date made him feel like a lovesick teenager: 'I couldn't stop blushing. I couldn't stop smiling.' After promising speed dates with 23-year-old administration officer Hunter, 26-year-old registered nurse Chelsea. He also had a moment with 22-year-old dental assistant Rosie, then Corey met Keeley, a 22-year-old optometrist. The pair bonded instantly over family, and Corey became emotional when talking about his grandfather who passed away last year. Aged care support worker Millie, 22, says she was instantly drawn to Corey's 'genuine soul' - but it was not enough to save her For 23-year-old Jamie from Victoria, a speech pathologist with a love of family and a strong work ethic, it was home time Ellie, 26, a Queensland educator known for her empathy and resilience, is out Wiping away his tears, Corey shared a joke with Keeley to lighten the mood. The men then picked their final five ladies, who will now battle it out to win these country boy's hearts. The series returned to screens on Monday and is hosted by longtime presenter Natalie Gruzlewski. Natalie returned this year after being dumped by the network and replaced by former Sunrise presenter Samantha Armytage for the 2023 season. Kanye West has made a shock claim that he took part in incestuous acts with his cousin as a child. A tweet posted from the rapper's X account on Easter Monday, claimed the 47-year-old rapper was releasing a song called Cousin, inspired by a relative that was jailed for life for 'killing a pregnant lady'. Kanye has previously spoken about an incarcerated cousin but has never referred to him by name, only stating that he was jailed aged 17. Sharing a music video for the song, the tweet claimed that he gave his cousin oral sex when he was a child and he now blames himself for the violent act that followed. Kanye's post read: 'This song is called COUSIN about my cousin thats locked in jail for life for killing a pregnant lady a few years after I told him we wouldnt look at dirty magazines together anymore. 'Perhaps in my self centered mess I felt it was my fault that I showed him those dirty magazines when he was 6 and then we acted out what we saw. My dad had playboy magazines but the magazines I found in the top of my moms closet were different. Kanye West made a shock claim he took part in childhood sexual acts with his cousin - and subsequently blames himself because they went onto 'murder a pregnant woman' Sharing a music video for the song, the tweet claimed he gave his cousin oral sex when he was a child and he now blames himself for the violent act that followed (Kanye pictured as a child) A tweet posted from the rapper's X account on Easter Monday, claimed the 47-year-old rapper was releasing a song called Cousin, inspired by a relative that was jailed for life 'My name is Ye and I sucked my cousins d**k till I was 14. Tweet sent.' In the music video, which features a bizarre string of nonsensical clips and gifs, including a topless woman with Nazi swastikas for nipples, Kanye sings repeatedly: 'I gave my cousin he*d', adding 'I told my cousin not to tell nobody.' He added: 'The truth will set you free someday, I don't think they understand that I'm not attracted to a man'. In an apparent reference to his recent brief split from wife Bianca Censori, he continued: 'I told you, don't leave me, I need you by my side. 'That one time you left me, I didn't get no sleep that night... If you don't leave me, I'll probably be alright.' Little is known about Kanye's cousin - who his ex-wife Kim Kardashian previously brought up in a documentary. Speaking to Marc Howard, president of the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice and director of Georgetown Universitys Prisons and Justice Initiative, Kim said: [Kanyes] cousin has a double life sentence for a murder that he committed when he was 17. Kim added that Kanyes aunt has accepted her sons fate, stating: 'Shes like, Im not even that distraught anymore. Like, thats just what happens to the kids in our neighbourhood. Theres just no other choice.' The only other time anyone publicly mentioned the cousin was when Kanye brought him up in an interview in 2018. Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel, during a rant about approaching Donald Trump with love, he mentioned: My cousin is locked up for murder and I love him. So he did a bad thing, but I still love him. MailOnline has contacted Kanye and Bianca's representatives for comment. In the music video, which features a bizarre string of nonsensical clips and gifs, Kanye sings repeatedly: 'I gave my cousin he*d', adding 'I told my cousin not to tell nobody.' The music video also features an image of a topless woman with Nazi swastikas for nipples In recent months, fans have expressed concern for Kanye following a string of erratic social media posts. In February, his account was deactivated following an array of vile sexist, homophobic and anti-Semitic rants. However, his profile suddenly reappeared on the platform three days later. His posts have continued to shock and offend, with the rapper typically deleting his tweets after a few days before going on another rant. Kanye was first accused of antisemitism in 2022 after making a series of racist and anti-Semitic remarks. However, he later apologized, insisting it was not his 'intention to hurt or demean' the Jewish community. Yet in a rambling U-turn, he penned a series of posts on X, claiming that he will never 'trust or work with Jewish people' again and insisting he 'will not apologise' for his views. Kanye previously rapped about being 'dumped' by Censori. The lyrics seemed to indicate that Bianca had ended the marriage, and he rapped that she allegedly 'tried to get [him] committed' while they were together. The track is expected to be featured on his upcoming album, reportedly titled WW3. Kanye previously addressed concerns that his wife Bianca is a victim of coercive control after her naked outing at the Grammys, claiming he has 'dominion' over her. Bianca was said to believe starting a family could help her rapper husband to stay out of the endless controversy he is courting, and in turn strengthen their marriage after his recent offensive behavior reportedly forced her to contemplate divorce. In an apparent reference to his recent brief split from wife Bianca Censori, he continued: 'I told you, don't leave me, I need you by my side' 'Bianca is encouraging Kanye to have a baby, believing it will save their marriage and heal their relationship,' sources previously told DailyMail.com. The Chicago rapper, who now goes by Ye, recently fled the country and travelled to Tokyo after posting a series of increasingly erratic posts in which he clashed with his ex-wife about co-parenting their 11-year-old daughter, North. Kanye previously revealed he has bipolar disorder but recently claimed it was a misdiagnosis and he has since been diagnosed with autism. For confidential support in the UK call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org In the US call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741 A legendary and ground-breaking comedienne, 91, was seen holding a younger man's hand in Studio City, California over the weekend. She is one of the first women to host her own comedy-variety show, and is well known for her quips and quotes. 'When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go,' is one of her famous sayings. 'Comedy = tragedy + time,' is another quip she's known for. She has multiple awards for her work including the Golden Globe, Emmy, Tony, Grammy and Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among her movie roles was the film adaptation of Annie and she's currently starring in an AppleTV+ hit show. Can you guess who it is? A legendary and ground breaking comedienne, 91, was spotted out with a friend in Studio City, California over the weekend She is one of the first women to host her own comedy-variety show and is well known for her quips and quotes It is Carol Burnett, star of The Carol Burnett Show, Annie and currently, Palm Royale. She was born in San Antonio, Texas and moved to Los Angeles with her family where she attended Hollywood High School and UCLA. Carol started her career in 1959 when she had a breakout success in Once Upon a Mattress on Broadway. She won her first Emmy Award for her appearance on The Garry Moore Show in 1962. Carol moved back to Los Angeles and started her 11-year run as the star of The Carol Burnett Show on CBS from 1967 to 1978. Her show included comedy sketches and built on the vaudeville style of comedy. Burnett created many memorable characters during the show's run, and both she and the show won 25 Emmy Awards. She went on to appear in a number of film and television series including Annie, Better Call Saul and Palm Royale. 'When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go,' is one of her famous sayings. 'Comedy = tragedy + time,' is another quip she's known fo She has multiple awards for her work including the Golden Globe, Emmy, Tony, Grammy and Presidential Medal of Freedom. Seen here in 1971 Among her movie roles was the film adaptation of Annie and she's currently starring in an AppleTV+ hit show. Seen here in 1969 Can you guess who it is? Seen here in 1969 Carol became the oldest Emmy nominee in history when she was nominated for her role in Palm Royale. At 91, Carol has done almost everything there is to do in showbiz and she recently mused about who would play her in a biopic. The iconic star envisions a film about her illustrious life starring the one and only Oscar-winning beauty, Angelina Jolie. During an interview with E! News, Burnett enthusiastically affirmed her choice of the 49-year-old actress, exclaiming, 'I think shes perfect.' Her Palm Royale costar Kristen Wiig chimed in with a resounding, 'Yes.' Burnett also revealed that she agreed to her part in the AppleTV+ series Palm Royale without reviewing the script, basing her decision solely on the esteemed cast involved. Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, and Leslie Bibb join Burnett and Wiig in the period comedy about an 'ambitious woman scheming to secure her seat at America's most exclusive table: Palm Beach high society circa 1969,' per the show's website. Burnett remarked, 'When they called me about doing it, I didn't even have to read a script. I said, "I'm in,"because of who I would be working with, and that was it. 'And then I read the script and that was the icing on the cake.' It is Carol Burnett, star of The Carol Burnett Show, Annie and currently, Palm Royale. Seen here in the 1970s Carol started her career in 1959 when she had a breakout success in Once Upon a Mattress on Broadway. Seen here in 1972 And last year all she wanted for her 91st birthday was a second season of Palm Royale which she got, though a premiere date hasn't been set yet. She stated, 'Well, I hope there's a second season, you know, then that'll keep me working, which I like. Yes, as long as I have fun, and that's what I want. 'I always approach it as something new that I've never done before, so I'm just happy to be working and that I've got all my parts. I 'I have my hips and my knees and I think my brain so as long as I can keep that up and work, then I want to work.' Denise Welch has transformed herself into an AI version of the pontiff after the death of Pope Francis. On Easter Monday, the Vatican announced the death of the Argentine-born Pope, who had spent the last few weeks in hospital battling an illness that had developed into pneumonia. And Coronation Street star Denise was among the stars to acknowledge his death on social media. But rather than a heartfelt tribute to Francis, as was shared by the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and Antonio Banderas, Welch opted for a different approach. The Loose Women panellist took to Instagram on Monday to share a bizarre picture of herself dressed as the pope, after she seemingly used an AI generator to transform herself into the pontiff. The picture came amid a string of AI snaps Welch as she joked she had had a 'busy year' just four months into 2025. Denise Welch has transformed herself into an AI version of the pontiff after the death of Pope Francis On Easter Monday, the Vatican announced the death of the Argentine-born Pope, who had spent the last few weeks in hospital battling an illness that had developed into pneumonia (Seen earlier this month) The first snap appeared to show Welch in mid-air beside a hot air balloon, and the second was in reference to the Blue Origin mission - where herself, Alison Hammond, Natalie Cassidy, Gemma Collins and Carol Vorderman were turned into astronauts. The other snaps showed her sky diving, dressed as superman and finally as the pope. Many celebrities have publicly paid tribute to Pope Francis after the Vatican announced his death. The pontiff, who dedicated his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, was remembered on social media by celebrities of all ages and religions. Among them was Whoopi Goldberg, 69, who recalled a past meeting Pope Francis. Alongside an image of the pair, the Sister Act star wrote: 'He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christs love enveloped believer and none believer. 'He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity & Laughter.' Antonio Banderas, who previously described himself as an agnostic in 2006 but said he has a close affinity with Catholic spirituality, also reflected on his time with the Pope. The picture came amid a string of AI snaps Welch as she joked she had had a 'busy year' just four months into 2025 One snap was in reference to the Blue Origin mission - where herself, Alison Hammond, Natalie Cassidy, Gemma Collins and Carol Vorderman were turned into astronauts The other snaps showed her sky diving, dressed as superman and finally as the pope The Spanish actor, 64, shared a picture from his meeting with the pontiff in 2016 and wrote: 'Pope Francisco has died a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people. @franciscus #RIP #DEP'. Eva Longoria - who met the pope in 2016 - also paid tribute, writing:' Rest in Peace, Your Holiness Pope Francis. Thank you for being an ally to many of us and speaking up for the marginalized. 'Your compassion, kindness and humility will always be remembered.' Church of England priest, Revered Richard Coles, was quick to pay tribute to the head of the Catholic Church, sharing a throwback snap of the pontiff. The British reverend tweeted: 'Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant Jorge, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. 'Receive him into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen. #PopeFrancis.' Livia Firth penned: 'No matter the religion, he was a giant of a man - for love, for justice, for peace. No matter his position and the constraints that came with it, he tried. 'I loved his humanity and some of his work (the Laudato Si, on care for our common home is so beautiful) Sister Act star Whoopi Goldberg led celebrity tributes to Pope Francis after the Vatican announced he had died aged 88 on Easter Monday Antonio Banderas, who previously described himself as an agnostic in 2006 but said he has a close affinity with Catholic spirituality, recalled a meeting with the pontiff 'Your voice will be missed in the world Jorge Mario Bergoglio.' Boxer Frank Bruno paid his respects, writing: 'Morning for those not heard His Holiness the Pope has passed away. 'I am not very religious but was married in a Catholic church. May he rest in peace #rip #morning #monday.' King Charles also paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying he was 'deeply saddened' to learn of the Pope's passing. He said Francis, who was the first Latin American pope, would be 'remembered for his compassion' and had 'profoundly touched the lives of so many'. The Pontiff had spent the last couple of months battling health problems, including a bout of pneumonia which left him hospitalised. He had recovered enough to hold a private audience with the pair on April 9, and he had been seen at public events over the Easter weekend, while also meeting US Vice President JD Vance in recent days. However, it was announced early on Easter Monday that he had passed away, sending more than a billion Catholics worldwide into mourning. Fans of the top rated HBO/MAX show The Pitt are only just learning that one of the young stars of the medical drama has an A-list Hollywood connection. Taylor Dearden, 32, stars Dr. Melissa King in the hit series led by ER alum Noah Wyle, 53. And if something seemed familiar about the actress, it's because she is the daughter of Emmy winner Bryan Cranston, 69, and his wife, Robin Dearden, 71. The USC graduate chose to use her mother's name professionally, so as not to use the family name to an unfair advantage. 'Shes very independent,' Cranston told GQ in 2023, 'And very conscientious of not having any association or hint thereof of nepotism,' although Dearden did have a small role as a child in her dad's show Breaking Bad as as Sad Faced Girl. 'If Taylor Dearden from The Pitt keeps this up, Bryan Cranston is going to be the second-best actor in his own family,' wrote a fan on Facebook. Fans of the top rated HBO/MAX show The Pitt are only just learning that one of the young stars of the of the medical drama has an A-list Hollywood connection 'I was today years old when I found out this is Bryan Cranstons daughter and she has immediately supplanted Jack Quaid atop my nepo baby power ranking,' admitted another on X. 'Never would have guessed Taylor Dearden was Bryan Cranstons daughter. But she is SO good in that role,' stated a viewer. The Pitt focuses on the lives and patients of doctors in a busy Emergency Department at a hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Each episode focuses on one hour in the day, similar to the way 24 was presented. The show which debuted January 9, has already been renewed for season two. 'I've never played a character like Mel ever,' she said in an interview with Pop Culture Plugged In. 'Usually I am cast as Santos, the sarcastic, kind of punky person,' she explained, referring to Isa Briones' sometimes over enthusiastic character. 'So, it was fun to play something completely different for me,' adding that the medical aspect of the show was 'daunting.' Fans of the show have connected with Dearden's portrayal of the second year resident with a neurodivergent sister. Taylor Dearden, 32, is the daughter of daughter of Emmy winner Bryan Cranston, 69, and his wife, Robin Dearden, 71. She stars as stars Dr. Melissa King in the hit series lead by ER alum Noah Wyle , 53 The actress uses her mother's last name professionally to avoid any unfair advantage her family name might bring. She is 'very conscientious of not having any association or hint thereof of nepotism,' Cranston told GQ Fans have been drawn to Dearden's character, Mel. 'Taylor Dearden is the perfect for playing Dr. Mel King! You can feel her emotions through the screen! I cry whenever she does,' wrote a fan on Dearden's Instagram page Some fans think Mel may also also be neurodivergent, like her character's sister, but the actress told NPR 'I don't know what Mel's diagnosis is. I have ADHD,' adding ,'ADHD has finally been put on the same spectrum as autism' 'Taylor Dearden is the perfect for playing Dr. Mel King! You can feel her emotions through the screen! I cry whenever she does,' wrote a fan on Dearden's Instagram page. 'The urge to jump through the screen and hug her, she really is the best,' stated another. Some fans think Mel may also also be neurodivergent, but the actress told NPR 'I don't know what Mel's diagnosis is. I have ADHD,' adding ,'ADHD has finally been put on the same spectrum as autism.' Dearden said she tells everyone she meets about her neurodivergence, 'because there are certain social behaviors that might seem odd. And so I usually have to tell everyone I meet, like, in case I do this, just so you know, it's not on purpose.' Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori put on a united front on Monday, following his shock claim that he took part in incestuous acts with his male cousin as a child. The rapper, 47, and the Australian architect's, 30, tumultuous marriage appears to be on the mend, despite him recently rapping about being 'dumped' by her. After startling fans on Easter Monday with his incest claim, the father-of-four shared a photo of him and Bianca to his X with the caption 'fit pic.' Bianca showed off her edgy style in a silk baby blue corset-style bodysuit as she posed next to the controversial musician in the snap. Over-the-thigh black leather boots completed her look, while her raven tresses were styled in a chicly undone updo. Meanwhile Kanye stood slightly behind her in a black jacket with a hood and matching black pants. Kanye West, 47, and wife Bianca Censori, 30, put on a united front on Monday, following his shock claim that he took part in incestuous acts with his male cousin as a child Earlier in the day Kanye took to X claiming he took part in incestuous acts with his cousin. A tweet posted from the rapper's account claimed the musician was releasing a song called Cousin, inspired by a relative that was jailed for life for 'killing a pregnant lady'. Kanye has previously spoken about an incarcerated cousin but has never referred to him by name, only stating that he was jailed aged 17. Sharing a music video for the song, the tweet claimed that he gave his cousin oral sex when he was a child and he now blames himself for the violent act that followed. Kanye's post read: 'This song is called COUSIN about my cousin thats locked in jail for life for killing a pregnant lady a few years after I told him we wouldnt look at dirty magazines together anymore.' 'Perhaps in my self centered mess I felt it was my fault that I showed him those dirty magazines when he was 6 and then we acted out what we saw. My dad had playboy magazines but the magazines I found in the top of my moms closet were different.' 'My name is Ye and I sucked my cousins d**k till I was 14. Tweet sent.' In the music video, which features a bizarre string of nonsensical clips and gifs, including a topless woman with Nazi swastikas for nipples, Kanye sings repeatedly: 'I gave my cousin he*d', adding 'I told my cousin not to tell nobody.' He added: 'The truth will set you free someday, I don't think they understand that I'm not attracted to a man'. After startling fans on Easter Monday with his incest claim, the father-of-four shared a photo of him and Bianca to his X with the caption 'fit pic' Their tumultuous marriage appears to be on the mend, despite him recently rapping about being 'dumped' by her. They were spotted reuniting during a trip to Spain earlier this month; seen in February The latest post comes after Kanye's incest revelation. He shared that he took part in childhood sexual acts with his cousin - and subsequently blames himself because he went onto 'murder a pregnant woman' Sharing a music video for the song, the tweet claimed he gave his cousin oral sex when he was a child and he now blames himself for the violent act that followed (Kanye pictured as a child) In an apparent reference to his recent brief split from wife Bianca, he continued: 'I told you, don't leave me, I need you by my side.' 'That one time you left me, I didn't get no sleep that night... If you don't leave me, I'll probably be alright.' Little is known about Kanye's cousin - who his ex-wife Kim Kardashian previously brought up in a documentary. Speaking to Marc Howard, president of the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice and director of Georgetown Universitys Prisons and Justice Initiative, Kim said: [Kanyes] cousin has a double life sentence for a murder that he committed when he was 17.' Kim added that Kanyes aunt has accepted her sons fate, stating: 'Shes like, Im not even that distraught anymore. Like, thats just what happens to the kids in our neighbourhood. Theres just no other choice.' The only other time anyone publicly mentioned the cousin was when Kanye brought him up in an interview in 2018. Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel, during a rant about approaching Donald Trump with love, he mentioned: My cousin is locked up for murder and I love him. So he did a bad thing, but I still love him. MailOnline has contacted Kanye and Bianca's representatives for comment. A tweet posted from the rapper's X account claimed he was releasing a song called Cousin, inspired by a relative that was jailed for life In the music video, which features a bizarre string of nonsensical clips and gifs, Kanye sings repeatedly: 'I gave my cousin he*d', adding 'I told my cousin not to tell nobody' The music video also features an image of a topless woman with Nazi swastikas for nipples Kanye and Bianca seem to have patched up their differences after they were spotted reuniting during a trip to Spain earlier this month. The two were seen dining together at an Indian restaurant in the Balearic Islands on Friday in video obtained by DailyMail.com. In recent months, fans have expressed concern for Kanye following a string of erratic social media posts. In February, his account was deactivated following an array of vile sexist, homophobic and anti-Semitic rants. However, his profile suddenly reappeared on the platform three days later. His posts have continued to shock and offend, with the rapper typically deleting his tweets after a few days before going on another rant. Kanye was first accused of antisemitism in 2022 after making a series of racist and anti-Semitic remarks. However, he later apologized, insisting it was not his 'intention to hurt or demean' the Jewish community. Yet in a rambling U-turn, he penned a series of posts on X, claiming that he will never 'trust or work with Jewish people' again and insisting he 'will not apologise' for his views. Kanye previously rapped about being 'dumped' by Censori. The lyrics seemed to indicate that Bianca had ended the marriage, and he rapped that she allegedly 'tried to get [him] committed' while they were together. The track is expected to be featured on his upcoming album, reportedly titled WW3. In an apparent reference to his recent brief split from wife Bianca, he continued: 'I told you, don't leave me, I need you by my side' Kanye shares four kids with reality TV star Kim Kardashian, 44, to whom he was married from 2014 until 2022; the former pair seen in 2019 Kanye previously addressed concerns that his wife Bianca is a victim of coercive control after her naked outing at the Grammys, claiming he has 'dominion' over her. Bianca was said to believe starting a family could help her rapper husband to stay out of the endless controversy he is courting, and in turn strengthen their marriage after his recent offensive behavior reportedly forced her to contemplate divorce. 'Bianca is encouraging Kanye to have a baby, believing it will save their marriage and heal their relationship,' sources previously told DailyMail.com. The Chicago rapper, who now goes by Ye, recently fled the country and travelled to Tokyo after posting a series of increasingly erratic posts in which he clashed with his ex-wife about co-parenting their 11-year-old daughter, North. Kanye previously revealed he has bipolar disorder but recently claimed it was a misdiagnosis and he has since been diagnosed with autism. Leonardo DiCaprio has paid emotional tribute to Pope Francis after the Vatican announced his death on Easter Monday aged 88. The pontiff, who dedicated his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, was fondly remembered by the Oscar winner, 50, nine years on from their meeting in Rome. Posting photos of the pair, DiCaprio wrote: 'Pope Francis was a transformational leader not only for the Catholic Church, but also for environmental reform and activism. 'He demonstrated a deep and unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, most notably through his groundbreaking 2015 encyclical Laudato Si. 'This powerful document served as a clarion call for a fundamental shift in how we relate to the planet. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life, Pope Francis urged individuals, communities, institutions, and world leaders to unite in caring for our common home. 'His words helped catalyze momentum ahead of the global 2015 COP21 conference, ultimately contributing to the formation of the Paris Agreement. Leonardo DiCaprio has paid emotional tribute to Pope Francis after the Vatican announced his death on Easter Monday aged 88 - pictured together in January 2016 'During the filming of my documentary Before the Flood in 2016, I had the honor of sitting down with Pope Francis for a conversation on the urgent need to address climate change. That experience was enlightening, deeply moving and thought provoking. 'In 2023, Pope Francis expanded upon Laudato Si with the publication of Laudate Deum: Apostolic Exhortation on the Climate Crisis. In it, he renewed his call for immediate and decisive climate action, reminding us that we are part of Nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it, and that we must not view the world from the outside, but from within. 'Pope Francis was one of the most extraordinary spiritual leaders of our time. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of environmentalists around the world. May he rest in peace.' DiCaprio has long been an outspoken advocate for environmental issues and established The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 aged 24 with the mission of bringing attention and funding to the protection of biodiversity, ocean and forest conservation, and climate change. Legendary director and DiCaprio's longtime collaborator Martin Scorsese also lauded the Pope as a 'remarkable human being' in a statement to Variety. He said: 'There is so much that can be said about the significance of Pope Francis and everything he meant to the world, to the church, to the papacy. I will leave that to others. He was, in every way, a remarkable human being. He acknowledged his own failings. He radiated wisdom. 'He radiated goodness. He had an ironclad commitment to the good. He knew in his soul that ignorance was a terrible plague on humanity. So he never stopped learning. And he never stopped enlightening. And, he embraced, preached and practiced forgiveness. Universal and constant forgiveness. 'The loss for me runs deep I was lucky enough to know him, and I will miss his presence and his warmth. The loss for the world is immense. But he left a light behind, and it can never be extinguished.' Posting photos of the pair, DiCaprio wrote: 'Pope Francis was a transformational leader not only for the Catholic Church, but also for environmental reform and activism' Francis (pictured on Easter Sunday) died due to a 'cerebral hemorrhage', possibly a stroke, which is said to be unrelated to the respiratory problems and pneumonia he suffered in February, outlets La Repubblica and La Stampa claim Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City Legendary director and DiCaprio's longtime collaborator Martin Scorsese also lauded the Pope as a 'remarkable human being' in a statement to Variety - pictured together in January 2024 Scorsese met with the Pope in 2024 after attending his weekly 'general audience', which allows the public an opportunity to see and pray with the Pope. The Oscar winner who has been a Catholic his whole life despite describing himself as not a 'regular church-goer' said in December 2023: 'After many years of thinking about other things, dabbling here and there, I am most comfortable as a Catholic. I believe in the tenets of Catholicism.' His upcoming film will be an adaption of the book 'A Life of Jesus' by Shusaku Endo written in 1966 and will be much shorter than his other films, with a running time of around 80 minutes. It will be set in the present day, to make it 'timeless' and will examine 'Jesus' core teachings in a way that explores the principles but doesn't proselytize'. 'I'm trying to find a new way to make it more accessible and take away the negative onus of what has been associated with organized religion,' he said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Scorsese first spoke of his new project last May when he attended the 'The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination' at the Vatican, which gathered around 40 filmmakers, writers and poets who have seen Catholicism as integral to their work. At the event Scorsese said: 'I have responded to the Pope's appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus.' Pope Francis's death came just weeks after King Charles and Queen Camilla met His Eminence in Rome during a royal visit to Italy, with His Majesty saying the couple were 'greatly moved to have been able to visit him'. The Pontiff had spent the last couple of months battling health problems, including a bout of pneumonia which left him hospitalised. He had recovered enough to hold a private audience with the pair on April 9, and he had been seen at public events over the Easter weekend, while also meeting US Vice President JD Vance in recent days. However, it was announced early on Easter Monday that he had passed away, sending more than a billion Catholics worldwide into mourning. The 88-year-old pontiff delivered his 'Urbi et Orbi' benediction from a balcony overlooking the square following mass to mark the holiday The Vatican confirmed Monday the pontiff died from a stroke and heart failure. The statement noted the pope also suffered from multiple bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The Holy See's press service announced only the Pontiff's death shortly after he passed away, writing in tribute that he had dedicated his 'entire life' to serving God and the church. His body will now lie in state in St Peter's Basilica for three days, and then he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. His body could lie in state as soon as Wednesday, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office. It looks like a genius travel hack. Take care of someone's home and pets while they are away in exchange for the chance to travel the world. But for some Americans, this hack turned into a nightmare, seeing them interrogated by border force and blacklisted from entering certain countries. UK-based TrustedHousesitters advertises that users can 'stay for free with adorable animals in unique homes around the world.' 'Sit as often as you like, wherever you like,' the company's website reads. Americans use the site to travel to the UK, Canada, Australia, and countries all over Europe. Sitters are not paid, but they have to be verified, and the site has been running for over a decade and says it has over 230,000 members across the world. A yearly membership costs between $149 and $299 a year. But users are claiming that TrustedHousesitters is leaving customers at risk of being detained and denied entry to countries. They claim that the site does not adequately explain that house sitting, even if unpaid, is considered work in many parts of the world - and therefore needs a work visa. And as President Donald Trump ramps up his immigration crackdown, experts are warning that travelers are likely to face increased scrutiny at US borders, which could put sitters who are unaware of the rules at greater risk. UK-based TrustedHousesitters advertises that users can 'stay for free with adorable animals in unique homes around the world' TrustedHousesitters tells members house and pet sitting is not work, and encourages sitters to print 'explanatory letters for border control' which can be found on its website. 'Our traveller members, in subscribing to our site, are purposefully seeking a more cost-efficient manner of vacationing, and NOT to seek a "job", to take away an employment opportunity from an American/Permanent Resident, or to otherwise provide a service for payment in the United States,' one letter reads. But the Daily Mail spoke to users who claim that these letters 'all but sealed the deal for members being refused entry to the USA and the UK' because they did not have the correct work visa. 'If they are not being paid, living in the home is a form of remuneration, and therefore it is considered to be a clear breach of US immigration law,' immigration attorney Michael Wildes told the Daily Mail. On the TrustedHousesitters online forum, some users openly encourage others to lie to immigration about the real reason for entering a country. TrustedHousesitters says it does not provide opportunities for work and has been consistently advised by international immigration lawyers, including in the US, that their members are travelling for leisure purposes, not work. The company also told the Daily Mail it has not seen an increase of members being detained at US borders this year. Don Nelson and his wife Marlene, who live in Prescott, Arizona, were detained in the middle of the night when trying to enter the UK for a five-week stay organized through TrustedHousesitters. The animal lovers had their passports taken and blackmarked, and were forced to fork out over $3,000 for a one-way ticket back to the US. The couple were travelling to Belfast, Northern Ireland, directly from another house sit in Spain in January 2018 when the incident occurred, Don told the Daily Mail. 'That's where we hit a Border Force officer who was anything but pleasant. And it turned out we were the last flight in at around a quarter to midnight,' he said. The couple had previously done a house sit in England and had no issues at the border, so they explained they were there for another house sit. 'Because we were in the UK again we didn't think anything of it. But he told us we were going to be detained and we were going to be refused entry to the country. We were there for three hours,' Don explained. Despite speaking to a representative from TrustedHousesitters, who said the couple were tourists because they would spend money on the local economy, the Border Force officer was unconvinced. 'He said we were taking employment away from the citizens of Northern Ireland,' said Don. 'He wrote us up. It was humiliating.' And, Don claims, that was the extent of the help that TrustedHousesitters gave them. He says the company refused to help them with legal advice, and said they should know the immigration and visa rules for the country they are trying to enter. 'We said to them: "This is your country. You should know the rules of your own country." And they did nothing.' Their passports were taken from them and they had to book flights that same day out of Belfast, through London, and back to the US, which cost over $3,000. 'We were escorted by a Border Force officer who, only when we boarded the plane, would give our passports back. 'And we had this black mark against travel into the UK. So as soon as we got back to the US, we started to pursue legal avenues to have this black mark removed from our passports.' TrustedHousesitters has been running for over a decade and says it has over 230,000 members across the world Don Nelson and his wife Marlene were detained in the middle of the night when trying to enter the UK for a five-week stay organized through TrustedHousesitters Don tried to get the black mark removed by contacting immigration organizations in the UK, but his and Marlene's applications were denied. Eventually, he decided it was not worth the effort or cost to pursue legal action. The couple found that they were able to enter the UK if they applied for visas - which cost hundreds of dollars each - and even then they would face questioning from the border officials. 'Any time we travel to the UK, or even just transit through, we run the danger of being denied entry at that point,' he told the Daily Mail. In the years since the incident, the couple have renewed their passports. There is no longer a physical mark, but the digital footprint remains. Don eventually also gave up trying to contact TrustedHousesitters for help. 'They never backed us in anything that we did,' he said. He believes it would not be in the company's best interests to warn people about the risks. 'They would lose a significant number of members if people found out you can't enter the US or couldn't go to the UK for house sitting.' One such former member is Madolline Gourley, from Brisbane, Australia, who was refused entry to the US in 2022 on her way to a cat sitting job in Canada. 'The border officer at LAX started asking questions, and I didn't want to lie as that would make the situation infinitely worse,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I was interrogated for two or three hours, and refused entry as they said I didn't have a work permit to engage in house and cat sitting.' She now cannot enter or transit through the US. Madolline Gourley, from Brisbane, Australia, was refused entry to the US in 2022 on her way to a cat sitting job in Canada Madolline has found scores of other people online from across the world who have had similar experiences and accuse the company of misleading them. Many have posted about their experiences on an online forum. In one post viewed by the Daily Mail, a user said their passport was flagged when they tried to enter the UK. 'I was even asked if I was entering the country to do animal care,' it read. Another post from a traveler dated December 2024 said they were not allowed to enter Seattle from Canada. 'The border services agents turned me away after fingerprinting me and photographing me like a criminal. Along with my children,' it read. On TrustedHousesitters' website, it provides letters for members to show immigration officials in the US, Canada, UK and Australia, which suggest that since the stays are not paid, travelers do not need a work visa. 'These letters have all but sealed the deal for members being refused entry to the US and UK because they didn't have a work visa to house and pet sit in either location,' said Madolline. 'It advertises that it's the perfect way to travel the world, and you can look after pets and stay in cool apartments, but it needs a disclaimer saying you need a work visa to do this in the US or the UK.' The fault lies with TrustedHousesitters for giving the wrong advice, she added. In the UK, the company is currently being investigated by Trading Standards, a national consumer advocate group, for potential breaches of protection regulations and misleading users. In the US, Trump is continuing to ramp up border controls amid an aggressive immigration crackdown. British tourists planning trips to the US are being warned of increasingly tough questioning at border control. The UK foreign office updated its guidance to travelers last month to include a warning that anyone found breaking its rules 'may be liable to arrest or detention.' Wildes, managing partner at New York-based immigration law firm Wildes & Weinberg, believes house sitting is a 'clear breach' of US law. 'If the person tells the truth they are going to be stopped when they come in,' he told the Daily Mail. 'If the person lies and the government sees that they are living in somebody's home, and the method of payment is that they are living rent-free, that is a clear breach. You are in trouble either way. 'You need a visa to cover yourself.' Wildes, who is also a professor at Cardozo law School in Manhattan and a former federal prosecutor, warned that there will be greater scrutiny at US borders under the current Trump administration. 'There's greater scrutiny and more people being referred to what's considered to be secondary inspections than ever before.' Wildes, managing partner at New York-based immigration law firm Wildes & Weinberg, said house sitting is a 'clear breach' of US law A US Customs and Border police officer stands guard at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in 2020 A TrustedHousesitters spokesperson said: 'We regret the challenges that a tiny handful of our members have faced and we give support when such rare instances occur. 'There has been no increase in the rate of these incidents for our members at US borders this year. 'We provide pet lovers with the opportunity to travel affordably, enjoying unique holidays. TrustedHousesitters does not provide opportunities for work and has been consistently advised by international immigration lawyers, including in the US, that our members are travelling for leisure purposes, not work. 'Our website includes prominent details and guidance on immigration for our members and we share specific advice when members are confirming their international sits, to ensure they can verify all personal requirements before travelling to countries including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA.' Regarding UK sits, the THS spokesperson added: 'TrustedHousesitters instructed Tom Hickman KC. His legal opinion confirms that, under the current UK Immigration Rules, border officials can lawfully conclude that individuals entering the UK as TrustedHousesitters sitters are "genuine visitors". 'The opinion notes that THS sitters are not engaged in "work" as defined under the UK IRs, as their activities (i) are not remunerated, (ii) are domestic in nature rather than of a business character, (iii) are inherently linked to accommodation in a private home for tourism or visiting friends and family, and (iv) are of short duration.' Self-checkout kiosks are no longer just a grocery and big-box store staple. They are starting to pop up in new retail settings throughout the country but not everyone is convinced they're a great solution. Convenience stores are starting to roll out the tech too. For consumers, that means a gas station stop to buy chips, pretzels, and soda during a family trip will require an interaction with a machine rather than a cashier. In February, two convenience chains Wesco and Parkers Kitchen both announced plans to launch self-checkouts. So far, over 3,000 convenience stores in the US use them. Executives from the chains said they offer customers faster shopping experiences. The tech remains under staff supervision, meaning that the shift hasn't led to any job losses for either brand. But as self-checkouts continue to roll out in the C-store industry, concerns about long-term job cuts, theft, and consumer frustrations still linger. Self-checkouts are seeping into new industries - but questions remain about customer appetites outside of grocery stores 'Operating with one employee often means they cant both serve customers and monitor self-checkout,' Fidaa Mohrez, the senior director of operational systems at H&S Energy Group, a giant operator of West-coast convenience stores, told C-Store Decisions. 'We've decided not to invest further in this project for now.' Americans are growing increasingly accustomed to self-checkout machines. In a recent Capital One Shopping survey, 95.9 percent of shoppers said they've scanned some of their own recent purchases. Around 73 percent of respondents said they prefer using the tech in grocery stores over waiting in line for employee-operated machines. The growing popularity in the grocery store is infiltrated other markets, and tech companies are hoping to capitalize on that blitz. Corporations spent $23.9 billion on physical and tech upgrades to their self-checkout systems in 2023. That number is expected to explode to over $48 billion by 2033. Industry experts said its important for stores to weigh customer hesitations around the tech as it is introduced in new retail environments. C-stores are part of the next launch of self-checkout machines - it could impact how you buy a travel soda Some big box stores, like Target, have launched thousands of self-checkout locations 'If it's more difficult than standing in line and waiting to be rung up, it'll be more headache than it's worth,' Mike Templeton, a partner with C-store logistics firm NexChapter, said to C-Store Decisions. Big box stores have reported a series of massive headaches after swapping out long lines for rows of self-checkouts. Walmart and Target had to walk back their expansive launch of self-checkout kiosks last year, bringing back thousands of traditional registers. The companies said they've fought back against checkout theft and customer complaints since using the tech in their stores. Meanwhile, regulators are starting to fight back against the computer-based registers in several states. California, Washington, and Connecticut lawmakers have introduced bills to slow down or curb the use of self-checkouts in stores, citing job losses, danger to law enforcement, and customer frustrations. As India reimagines its role in the IndoaPacific, this quiet yet profound pivot signals not only a strategic response to Chinaas growing presence, but also a deeper civilisational reawakening rooted in partnership, not patronage When Prime Minister Narendra Modi first outlined Indiaas SAGAR vision a Security and Growth for All in the Region a in 2015 during a visit to Mauritius, few could have predicted how it would evolve into a sweeping geopolitical doctrine encompassing not only the Indian Ocean but the western coasts of Africa and beyond. Nearly a decade later, Indiaas maritime strategy is undergoing a quiet yet profound transformation. From SAGAR, the nation is now navigating toward Mahasagar a literally, the aGreat Oceana a signalling a decisive pivot in Indiaas foreign and security policy with Africa in clear sight. The SAGAR initiative, initially conceived to promote maritime security and economic cooperation among Indian Ocean nations, has served as a foundation for Indiaas role as a anet security providera in the region. But todayas reality demands more than regional stewardship. The increasing footprint of China in the Indian Ocean, from Gwadar to Djibouti, and the growing strategic relevance of the western Indian Ocean island states, have prompted India to recalibrate. The shift to Mahasagar (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions) represents not just a change in terminology but a fundamental reimagining of Indiaas role in the IndoaPacific. At the heart of this transformation lies Mauritius, a small island nation with outsized significance. More than a maritime partner, Mauritius shares a cultural and civilisational bond with India that predates diplomatic relations. Home to a large Indian-origin population, Mauritius has become a trusted partner in Indiaas security calculus. Over the years, India has extended grants, built infrastructure, supplied patrol vessels and aircraft, and helped set up coastal surveillance radar systems across the Mauritian archipelago. But it is the development of the Agalega Islands a with an airstrip and jetty capable of supporting military-grade assets a that best symbolises the quiet assertiveness of the Mahasagar vision. Critics argue that Indiaas investment in Agalega mimics the Chinese playbook of dual-use port development seen in Hambantota and Gwadar. However, the crucial difference lies in the nature of Indiaas partnerships. Unlike Chinaas debt-driven port diplomacy, Indiaas maritime engagement rests on mutual respect, development cooperation, and the principle of shared security. The IndoaMauritian relationship is one of kinship diplomacy a one that grows not just from strategic needs but from shared history and people-to-people ties. But the Mahasagar doctrine does not stop at Mauritius. It casts a wider net a one that spans from Seychelles and Madagascar to Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania. India is increasing its naval engagements, signing logistics and defence agreements, and offering capacity-building assistance across the African coast. The logic is strategic: the western Indian Ocean is not just a transit zone but a critical maritime highway for global trade, energy routes, and naval mobility. With China making aggressive inroads through the Belt and Road Initiative and military bases like the one in Djibouti, India is asserting its own footprint a not by coercion, but through collaboration. The pivot to Mahasagar also highlights Indiaas ambition to become a blue-water navy with global reach. Indian naval ships are now a common sight in African ports. Naval exercises, hydrographic surveys, humanitarian missions, and training programmes have become regular features of IndiaaAfrica maritime relations. The Indian Navy is no longer a regional patrol force; it is fast becoming a symbol of Indiaas strategic confidence, capable of shaping the security architecture of the entire IndoaPacific. Importantly, this transformation is not purely militaristic. The Mahasagar vision also embraces the idea of the blue economy a a sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem health. Indiaas support for maritime infrastructure, fisheries development, and coastal tourism in partner countries underscores its commitment to holistic maritime growth. It is a model that seeks not just security but shared prosperity. The messaging is also clear. As China intensifies its presence through military bases and commercial ports, India is building friendships. Where Beijing offers loans, India offers trust. Where China sets up surveillance posts, India establishes radar stations with shared access. Where China builds harbours that could dock submarines, India helps build coast guard stations to fight piracy, smuggling, and maritime crime. This contrast is not lost on African nations seeking partners who respect sovereignty and sustainability. Domestically, the Mahasagar strategy aligns with Indiaas broader geopolitical identity. As a civilisational power with ancient maritime traditions a from Chola expeditions to trade with East Africa and the Gulf a India is reclaiming its historical place in the oceanic realm. The Indian Ocean is not a frontier a it is Indiaas historical highway, linking cultures, religions, and commerce. By integrating Africa into this vision, India is not expanding its reach; it is reawakening a dormant maritime consciousness.In geopolitical terms, this shift could not come at a more crucial time. As the global order becomes increasingly multipolar and the IndoaPacific emerges as the new theatre of strategic competition, Indiaas Mahasagar doctrine provides a distinct alternative. It blends hard power with soft diplomacy, regional ambition with global responsibility, and tradition with modern strategy. It positions India not just as a counterweight to China, but as a civilisational ally to Africa a one whose rise is guided by partnership, not patronage. What began in 2015 as a regional security initiative has now matured into a grand ocean dream. The journey from SAGAR to Mahasagar is more than a maritime shift a it is a statement of intent. It tells the world that India is ready to lead not by dominance, but by example. And in doing so, it has found a natural partner in Africa and a reliable anchor in Mauritius. aAn ocean for all, free and open, where every nation may sail in peace and security,a aptly said Woodrow Wilson. (The author is Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies and Social Sciences, Pondicherry Central University, India. Views are personal) Germans are not only known for their technical prowess in engineering, but also their policing utilises the utmost efficiency and technique. The German police do not fuck around. The woke and mostly ineffectual British police need to take some notes here. German police launched around 100 criminal investigations after an occupation of part of Berlins Humboldt University in protest over the threatened deportation of pro-Hamas protesters. The protesters consisted of some students, ANTIFA agitators, and paid organised activists from various NGOs from multiple countries shipped in specifically to cause civil unrest on German soil. German police in Berlin are not afraid of Islamic crowds and are restoring order and discipline pic.twitter.com/g63MFlOUnz Olivia Lily (@robert81807) April 20, 2025 Bottles of urine, and other substances were thrown at the police, along with fireworks and Molotov cocktails. Numerous people were detained, and now face deportation from Germany. German Police know how to deal with Islamist thugs on university campus in Berlin. Good job. pic.twitter.com/hgL85SzieM Jahir (@JahirValencia_) April 19, 2025 German capital Berlin has been a central point of riots and civil unrest as well as a magnet for organised activists who enter the country specifically to cause chaos and mayhem. These organised activists, and agitators are well-paid individuals who are trained Marxist militants moving from various causes that suit their agenda of destabilisation. There is a possibility that Russias FSB and Chinas CCP are also involved. It seems the German government has finally woken up to the threat to civil order imported after decades of open borders under the Merkel regime of destruction. The practical use of the German police amid their efficient technique to quash the mobs can only be commended. The North West region is set for a significant surge in cruise tourism this year, with cruise calls increasing by 21% compared to 2019, reinforcing its growing appeal as a key destination for international visitors. A total of 17 cruise calls are scheduled between May and September, including maiden visits from five vessels. Renowned cruise lines returning to the region include Silversea, Azamara, Mystic Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Noble Caledonia, AE Expeditions, and German-based operators Phoenix Reisen and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Foyle Port estimates combined visiting passenger and crew spend will generate over 0.5 million for the local economy in 2025. As members of Cruise Ireland, a strategic network of Irish port authorities and stakeholders, the Port is committed to growing cruise tourism to the region. READ NEXT: Economic and well-being gaps between Ireland and Northern Ireland widening The cruise team recently returned from the worlds largest cruise trade show, Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, Florida. Since 1996, representatives from the Port have attended this annual event, continuously promoting Foyle Port as the gateway to Derry and the wider North West region for cruise tourism. Captain Bill McCann, Harbour Master & Operations Director, Foyle Port said: The consistent return of cruise lines year after year speaks volumes about the reputation of our destination. Bill McCann, Harbour Master & Operations Director & Louise Denvir, Cruise Marketing Executive representing Foyle Port at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami. The feedback we received from cruise lines in Miami was overwhelmingly positive, with particular interest in the ports strategic location, allowing visitors to experience both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in one day. He added: We look forward to working with our strategic partners to collectively welcome over 5,000 passengers and 3,700 crew from all over the world this season. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), over 60% of cruise passengers revisit a destination they first discovered via a cruise. At Foyle Port, visitor surveys reinforce this trend, with 100% of guests indicating they would return to the region for a longer stay. The first cruise ship, World Explorer, is set to dock on May 11. To view the full cruise schedule, visit: www.foyleport.com/cruise-and-leisure Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr has extended her condolences on the death of Pope Francis today in Rome. Ms Seenoi Barr said: " It is with profound sorrow that I heard of the passing of Pope Frances. As Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Catholic community across our district, Ireland, and the world on the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. Pope Francis papacy was marked by a profound commitment to humility, social justice, and inclusivity. Throughout his tenure, Pope Francis championed the causes of the marginalised, advocated for environmental stewardship, and called for compassion and understanding across all communities. His focus on dialogue and reconciliation resonated deeply, especially in regions like ours that have experienced division. He was a man of huge compassion and courage with a commitment to justice and the dignity of every human being. He challenged us to care for the poor, the disadvantaged and to live a life of love for everyone. On behalf of the people of Derry and Strabane, I offer our deepest sympathies to Archbishop Eamon Martin, the clergy, and all members of the Catholic Church. May Pope Francis rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy continue to guide us toward compassion and unity. Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan has helped raise more than 100,000 for a trans rights charity following the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman. The judgment by the UKs highest court said that the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex. Following the news on Wednesday, the Irish star said she was completely horrified and disgusted by the ruling and said she would match donations up to 10,000 to transgender charity Not A Phase. The fundraiser has since raised 103,018, with a revised target of 110,000. On Friday, the Derry Girls and Barbie actress, 38, who has long supported the LGBT+ community, shared the donation page on her Instagram story, saying: Nearly 100k thanks to you kind and brilliant people so delighted for Not A Phase. The fundraiser description reads: Allies of the Trans and Non Binary Community time to come together. The Supreme Court ruling means that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if proportionate. In response to the ruling, thousands of trans rights protesters gathered in central London on Saturday including groups such as Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual. A rally and march organised by Resisting Transphobia is also taking place in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon. Just 303 DeLorean cars immortalised by Back To The Future remain on UK roads 40 years on from the films release, figures show. The cars known for their gullwing doors and unpainted stainless steel bodywork have become a collectors item. Around 9,000 DeLorean DMC-12s rolled off the DeLorean Motor Company assembly line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, in 1981. The company collapsed into insolvency the following year. Some 303 DeLoreans are taxed for use on public roads in the UK, according to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures obtained by online auction platform Collecting Cars. A further 114 have a statutory off road notification, meaning they are likely to be gathering dust in garages. Collecting Cars estimates a fully restored version could fetch more than 80,000 at auction. It has sold just two DeLoreans since it began trading in 2019. The most recent sold for 56,000 in 2022. Collecting Cars chief executive Edward Lovett said: The DeLorean is an icon of pop culture which is still turning heads after all these years. A combination of their scarcity and the Back To The Future phenomenon has pushed prices higher than people might imagine. Back in 1981, the sticker price was around 18,000, making it more expensive than a Porsche 911. Today, a fully restored model treated to a film car replica conversion could attract bids in excess of 80,000. Back To The Future which opened in cinemas in the summer of 1985 catapulted DeLoreans into the public consciousness. In the film, eccentric scientist Dr Emmett Doc Brown creates a time machine from a modified DeLorean, using plutonium to power a fictional gadget called a flux capacitor which allows time travel once the car reaches 88mph. His comment, Where were going, we dont need roads, is a popular quote from the film. 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. Weekly news roundup: Huawei accelerates, Nvidia reels, and TSMC anchors next wave of US chip reshoring These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of April 14 April 20. Huawei unveils new AI chip just one day after US bans Nvidia's H20 exports Just one day after the US banned exports of Nvidia's H20 AI chip to China, Huawei launched its Ascend 920 on April 10. Slated for mass production in late 2025, the chip delivers over 900 TFLOPS, 4,000 GB/s bandwidth, and supports HBM3offering a domestic alternative as China accelerates efforts to localize its AI compute infrastructure. Tariff maze deepens: US duties on Chinese goods up to 245% amid policy whiplash The Trump administration has issued nine tariff updates since January 2025nearly equaling the previous two years combinedcreating chaos for Chinese exporters. While devices like smartphones and laptops received temporary relief at 20%, tariffs on key tech exports now reach 245% for EVs, 195% for silicon wafers, and 70% for semiconductors. The layered tariffs, drawn from both Biden-era and Trump's ongoing retaliatory measures, create a convoluted regime with rates ranging from 20% to 245%, not including extra global duties on EVs, steel, and aluminum. TSMC hikes 4nm pricing; US clients scramble under tariff pressure Trump's tariff push has driven Apple, Nvidia, and AMD to increase orders at TSMC's Arizona fab, despite a 30% price hike tied to limited 4nm capacity. TSMC is now producing Nvidia's Blackwell chips and AMD's fifth-generation EPYC processors, with a 2nm "Venice" chip also taped out. Output is capped at 20,00030,000 wafers per month, intensifying competition. Nvidia's US-based production, backed by Foxconn, Wistron, and Amkor, could total US$500 billion over four years. Analysts expect second-quarter revenue at TSMC to climb nearly 10%. Nvidia's China strategy set back by new US ban on H20 chip The US has imposed an indefinite export ban on Nvidia's H20 AI chip, citing risks of its use in Chinese supercomputers. Nvidia responded with a US$5.5 billion charge tied to inventory and commitments, sending its stock down 5% in after-hours trading. The restrictions also apply to AMD's MI308 chip and threaten key Chinese deals, including orders from Alibaba, delivering a major blow to Nvidia's China strategy. TSMC, Foxconn, and Wistron join Nvidia's US$500B push to manufacture AI chips and servers in the US Nvidia plans to produce up to US$500 billion in AI infrastructure in the US over four years, aligning with Trump's push for domestic manufacturing. Production of Blackwell chips has begun at TSMC's 4nm fab in Arizona, while Foxconn and Wistron prepare to build AI servers in Texas. Amkor and SPIL will manage packaging, establishing the first end-to-end US-based AI chip supply chain. Nvidia is targeting cloud providers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, set to spend US$371 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025, with its US-based gigawatt-scale chip buildout. Trump hailed the initiative as a flagship success of his "America First" industrial policy. AMD advances US chip strategy with TSMC, joining Nvidia in massive domestic shift During her April 15 visit to Taiwan, AMD CEO Lisa Su confirmed that wafer production has started at TSMC's Arizona fab, with mass production of fifth-generation EPYC chips underway. AMD also unveiled its MI350 AI chip, built on TSMC's 3nm node with CDNA 4 and HBM3E, claiming 1.2x efficiency over Nvidia's B200. As tariffs reshape the tech supply chain, AMD joins Nvidia and Apple in expanding US-based production. TSMC projects second-quarter revenue growth of 59%, though demand may soften later due to frontloaded orders. Micron reportedly secures Nvidia certification for fifth-gen 12-layer HBM3E supply Micron has reportedly secured Nvidia's certification for its fifth-generation 12-layer HBM3E and will supply it for the Blackwell Ultra (GB300) AI chip. With mass production underway, Micron aims to lead HBM3E shipments by late 2025. Currently holding 5% of the HBM marketcompared to SK Hynix's 53% and Samsung's 42%Micron's entry into Nvidia's supply chain could reshape the competitive landscape. 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Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Hollywood actors Whoopi Goldberg and Antonio Banderas are among the celebrities who have praised Pope Franciss kindness and compassion following his death on Easter Monday. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church died at the age of 88, a day after he blessed thousands of people in St Peters Square in Vatican City on Easter Sunday. Oscar-winning actress Goldberg, known for her role in 1992 comedy musical Sister Act, which sees her character Deloris Van Cartier disguise herself as a nun, shared a photo of her meeting the religious leader to her social media account. The 69-year-old said: He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christs love enveloped believer and non-believer. He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Francis with your love of humanity and laughter. Goldberg met the Pope twice in 12 months, first in 2023 and then as one of a group of 100 of the worlds most famous comedians who congregated at an event organised by the Vatican in Rome in 2024. Spanish actor Banderas, 64, also shared a photo of himself with the Pope and wrote: Pope Francisco has died a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people. Sarah, Duchess of York, who attended the traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle, thanked the Pope in a post to her Instagram story. Alongside a photo of the religious leader, she wrote: No better example of total humility in kindness and compassion. Thank you for leading us not just with words, but with your unwavering service to humanity. Gladiator actor Russell Crowe said it was a beautiful day in Rome, but, a sad day for the faithful in another post. Crowe, 61, and the makers of his film Noah, based on the biblical story of Noahs Ark, attended Pope Franciss general audience at St Peters Square in 2014. A beautiful day in Rome, but, a sad day for the faithful. RIP Francis. pic.twitter.com/ckewTrYyFW Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) April 21, 2025 BBC journalist and host of University Challenge, Amol Rajan, said the Pope would be remembered as a radical and a humanitarian, focusing from the outset on the poor, the weak, and the downtrodden. In a social media post, he said: His was truly a life of service: he devoted his adulthood to his faith and his flock. What a life, and what a legacy whether you share his faith or not. Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh said Pope Francis had been manifestly compassionate within the constraints of his tradition. Also paying tribute was The Help actress Octavia Spencer and Mickey 17 star Toni Collette who shared a photo to her Instagram story alongside the caption: He was a good one. The Pope had resumed some official duties earlier this month during his recovery from pneumonia. The King said in a statement that he and the Queen were most deeply saddened to learn of the Popes death and were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. Charles and Camilla visited the pontiff at the Vatican on April 9, the day the royal couple celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Father Patrick van der Vorst, who led the Easter Monday service at Westminster Cathedral in central London, said it was symbolic that he (the Pope) died on Easter Monday. 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 Cork TD has said that a Government grant funding allocation to Cork City Council to support local commemorative events in 2025 will help honour our local history. Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central and minister of state at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Transport, said the allocation of 15,000 to the city council would be used to help fund commemorative events over the year. We are an open-minded and forward-focused community, but now more than ever its important to reflect on our history, things that happened locally that impacted on people, and are important to commemorate, he said. If we dont keep these memories of our shared history alive, they risk being lost forever. We must commemorate them, we owe it to our ancestors, and to future generations too. Mr Buttimer added that local authorities had always been key stakeholders in the delivery of commemorative events. The allocation of 15,000 will ensure the city council can develop and support community-led commemorative initiatives to mark the centenaries of locally significant historical events that took place here in 1925, Mr Buttimer said. The funding may also be used to mark other significant anniversaries and associated themes. This year, 5,000 from this overall allocation is provided to support artistic and creative initiatives. I look forward to seeing what Cork City Council plans, in light of local history, experience, and expertise. Arts minister Patrick ODonovan said it was his hope that the commemorative funding for 2025 would continue to facilitate the creation of opportunities for communities to consider the formative events of our past. I look forward to continuing the partnership approach with Jerry Buttimer and local authorities and local communities, and I wish you well in your commemorative plans for 2025. Last year was a transitional year for commemorations following the completion of the decade of centenaries programme in December 2023, he said. We continued to mark historical events and themes using the structure and ethos established by the decade of centenaries programme. He has been a county councillor for Passage West Town Council, a Cork South Central TD, and a minister for finance during a quarter of a century as an elected representative in Ireland, but Michael McGrath, since his appointment as European commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law, and consumer protection, has exchanged the comforts and perils of Irish politics for the heady heights of European Union (EU) diplomacy in Brussels. When Mr McGrath was nominated by the Government, there was controversy about whether, as sought by EU Commission president, Ursula Von der Leyen, a female candidate should have also been nominated, because this would have increased the chances that Irelands nominee would have received an economic portfolio. Now that Mr McGrath is in the job, he is finding it challenging and rewarding. Ive found it incredibly fulfilling to engage with a wide range of people and work on initiatives that truly matter for citizens across Europe, he said, describing his portfolio as broad, exciting, and deeply impactful. Im responsible for ensuring that our justice systems across the EU are effective, fair, and resilient, while also protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens. This includes overseeing issues related to judicial co-operation, fundamental freedoms, and safeguarding democracy. A vital part of my work is also tackling disinformation, strengthening media freedom, and promoting an enabling environment for civil society, as well as ensuring that consumers are protected in an increasingly digital world. These areas are crucial for fostering trust in our institutions and ensuring that all citizens have access to fair and equal treatment. My portfolio gives me the opportunity to shape the future of the EU in ways that protect our values, empower individuals, and strengthen the rule of law, which are foundational to Europes prosperity. Trade war As a global trade war is being threatened between the EU and the United States (US), following Donald Trumps declaration and subsequent partial reversal of 20% tariffs on goods being imported from the EU, Mr McGrath says he is involved as one of the College of Commissioners in all decisions and proposals put forward by the commission. Taoiseach Micheal Martin (left) and Michael McGrath (right), EU commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law, and consumer protection This means I also contribute to strategic initiatives, like the Competitiveness Compass, which is designed to foster Europes global competitiveness and simplify processes across the EU. Furthermore, I play an active role in decisions on global trade, ensuring that the EU remains a strong global player, promoting fair trade, and securing beneficial agreements for our economy. The role of the commission has come in to focus as tension surrounds trade between Europe and the US in the wake of the uncertainty caused by Mr Trumps on-off tariffs. Particular concern has been expressed that the EU should not retaliate by targeting American bourbon whiskey, lest this provoke a higher tariff against Irish whiskey and other EU beverages, such as French, Italian, and Spanish wines. Threat The threats remain in abeyance, as does the US presidents desire to bring pharma jobs, now in Ireland, back to the US. Mr McGrath said the EU has been preparing for this scenario for many months. We will ensure our response is carefully calibrated and has regard to the strategic interests of member state economies, including Ireland, he said. Ireland is part of Team Europe and we should not underestimate the strength of our position. We benefit from the EU Commissions exclusive control over trade and tariffs. This prevents the US from gaining concessions from individual states and strengthens Irelands position as part of a bloc of 27 countries representing a single market of 450m. The other controversy that is front and centre of the commissioners radar is disinformation, fake news, and media freedom. According to Mr McGrath, the EU has faced increased interference in the information space to influence elections and erode public trust. To address this, the commission is preparing the European Democracy Shield, a key initiative to safeguard and strengthen democracy, he said. The shield will build public trust in democratic institutions, empower citizens to critically engage with media and digital platforms, and support free, independent journalism and civil society organisations. Media The commissioner is also involved in implementing the European Media Freedom Act, a new set of rules with EU-wide effect designed to protect media pluralism and independence throughout the market. The European Media Freedom Act protects editorial independence, ensures public media services operate independently, and guarantees transparency of media ownership, Mr McGrath said. It also provides safeguards against the unwarranted removal by Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) designated as such under the Digital Services Act of media content produced according to professional standards and deemed incompatible with such platforms terms and conditions. It also ensures VLOPs act as neutral intermediaries and dont interfere with editorial choices. Online platforms remain free to set the terms and conditions of their services. Yet, when content is legal and not harmful to society, Very Large Online Platforms are required to pay specific attention when applying their terms and conditions to content shared by media, which is in line with editorial standards, in order to respect media freedom and pluralism and to protect the space for professional journalistic information. In response to a question asking whether anything could be done under this legislation to regulate the wild west in to which social media platforms, such as X, have been transformed under the ownership of Elon Musk, Mr McGrath said, To exercise their democratic rights, citizens need access to reliable information. Several EU regulations, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), Political Ads Regulation, support this. Hate speech Hate speech is a threat to democracy and fundamental rights. In January, the Code of Conduct on Countering Illegal Hate Speech Online+ was integrated in to the DSA, strengthening how platforms address hate speech under member state laws. Platforms must comply with the DSA and undergo independent audits. Signatories include major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The DSA is supported by a voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation, aiming to reduce disinformation through transparency, user empowerment, and collaboration with fact-checkers. Finally, the 2023 commission recommendation on elections asks member states to take measures to protect the information environment around elections and ensure voters receive correct information. It also encourages political parties and campaign organisations to refrain from manipulative behaviour that threatens, or has the potential to negatively impact, values, procedures, and political processes. A constant issue about the EU is the level of engagement it has with people in the various member states or, more precisely, the level of engagement people in countries like Ireland have with it. The most recent measure of this is the turnout for EU Parliament elections last June, when 50.65% of voters cast a ballot for a candidate of their choice to represent them in the legislative body. While EU-wide turnout remained stable, at 50.74%, in 2024, with increases in 15 member states, Irelands turnout rose slightly compared to 2019, aligning closely with the EU average. The upcoming commission report on the 2024 elections will assess turnout and participation closely. Supporting effective information campaigns and civil society initiatives is crucial. The commissions December 2023 recommendation on inclusive elections suggests measures to improve turnout. All stakeholders, including EU institutions, national authorities, political parties, and civil society, have a role to play. Return to Irish politics? And what of Mr McGraths own engagement with the European Union? Is he planning a return to Irish politics at some point in the future? While Micheal Martin is giving no indication that he will step down as Taoiseach, there has been speculation that once his three-year term is finished, he will step aside as Fianna Fail leader to allow one of his colleagues, either in the Cabinet or outside, to lead the party in to the next general election. Mr McGraths response is non-committal, but it doesnt rule out a return to domestic politics. None of us know what the future holds. I was an elected representative in Ireland for 25 years, including over 17 years in the Dail, he said. I greatly enjoyed my time in Irish politics and this experience is proving invaluable now in my new role. I am committed to fulfilling my mandate in the European Commission for the next five years and we will see what happens then. Munster Technological University (MTU) fostered more than just a love of learning for this Cork couple, who met on campus nine years ago. Now clerical officers at the university, Kelley Pierse, 27, and Adrian Coleman, 30, attribute their love story to MTUs Anime and Manga Society. Kelley, who is from Tralee but now lives in Bishopstown, told The Echo that she met Adrian, who is from Bandon, when she joined the college society in September of 2016. We met for the first time [when] I was in my first year of the BA in creative digital media at MTU, which was then CIT, and he was a third-year in the BA in software development, said Kelley. He was already in the Anime and Manga Society for two years at this point, and I had just signed up. We both joined the committee. He was the chairman and I was the public relations officer. We worked together then on that committee for three years; we were friends for a long time, at first. I for sure had a schoolgirl crush on him at the beginning, but after we started becoming friends, he got a girlfriend, so I said, Cool, feelings aside, hes a taken man, she added. I also started dating someone else then, so at the start of our friendship we were with other people, but we developed a strong friendship throughout and we worked great as a team together in the society. Romantic relationship A few years later, both Kelley and Adrian found themselves single again, and decided to give a romantic relationship a go. Adrian Coleman and Kelley Pierse in Athlone, April 2017. During my third year of college [in 2019], we dated very briefly for about three months but it just didnt work out at the time, so we decided to stay friends, said Kelley. During covid lockdown then, in 2021, we still hung out as friends online and we reconnected romantically once I was finished my masters [in PR and new media]. The first time we got together, how it happened was there was a lot of flirting and I kind of maneuvered him to ask me out on Valentines Day, but the second time, I think he realised that he still had feelings for me, so he came over one night before I went back to Kerry and we had a chat about it and weve been together ever since. Speaking about the couples plans, Kelley said that she and Adrian are preparing to head off on their dream holiday next month, and once they return they will begin saving for a house. Weve spoken about the future and its looking good, said Kelley. Committed Were both committed to continuing this relationship down the line, getting married, having kids, and were saving for a house. Were constantly checking in with each other to make sure were on the same page. Were going to Japan next month with a few friends. Were really looking forward to that. This has been in the making for a long time; its our dream holiday since for ever, she added. Once were back from Japan, well put more savings away over the next two to three years to get a house, and, ideally, wed get something around the Bishopstown area. Kelley reflected on why she fell in love with Adrian. I feel very safe with him. He makes me laugh so much, hes just genuinely kind. I can trust him with anything, said Kelley. I just love him so much, hes my rock. If it wasnt for me joining the anime and manga society, we wouldnt have met, which is crazy to think about. The incoming president of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), Cork teacher Anne Horan, has said the need for better funding of education will be top of the agenda at the unions annual congress. Nearly 1,000 primary and special education teachers, along with school leaders, will gather in Galway from today until Wednesday for the INTO annual congress, which will be addressed by the minister for education and youth, Helen McEntee, on Tuesday. Ms Horan, who hails from Ballineen and will become INTO president during the conference, told The Echo: The main topics up for discussion are underinvestment in primary education, workload for teachers and principals, the teacher supply crisis, and special education. Frustrated People are getting very frustrated with these issues. Its very hard for teachers and principals to go into school not knowing whats going to happen that day. Principals get calls at 8am saying someone is sick; theres no sub available. That leaves you with two options. You can split the classes, meaning the third class teacher would get some fourth class students too, and in a smaller school you could end up with a lot of classes in together. The second option is taking special education teachers away from their normal work and putting them into a classroom. Every child is still being taught by a qualified teacher, but the problem is children with special educational needs are not getting the focused support they need. Special education In terms of special education, Ms Horan there is a need for therapists, including counsellors as well as speech and language therapists in schools. There often isnt anyone in the locality, so you have children leaving school at 11, travelling an hour, having their session, then back to school these services need to be in our schools, she said. Were looking for the Government to step up and fund special education properly. Theres a lot of new classes opening, but they need to be properly resourced; its not enough to just give children a classroom and a teacher. Workload She said workload is a huge issue. INTO surveys identify teachers are stressed by class sizes, and the huge amount of new initiatives all come with a lot of administrative work, she said, adding that there is a lot of work to take home at the end of the day. An INTO workload survey, completed by more than 4,000 teachers and 1,100 school leaders, shows that nine out of 10 primary teachers report struggling with excessive workload, with the teaching role described as increasingly stressful, demanding, and inflexible. In the survey, teachers cited a bureaucratic burden of paperwork which delivers no tangible benefit to teaching and learning, and school leaders said they were facing serious consequences for their health and wellbeing. Cork City Fire Brigade has paid tribute to crew members for their professionalism and compassion on every rescue - whether its two legs or four after personnel successfully rescued a dog from the River Lee. Yesterday evening, crews were called to the River Lee following reports of a dog in distress. Once on scene, Cork City Fire Brigade personnel launched a water rescue, successfully lifting the dog back to shore. Ruff Evening on the River Lee This evening, our crews were called to the River Lee after reports of a dog in distress. With quick action and teamwork, our firefighters launched a water rescue and were delighted to say the four-legged swimmer Ban is now safe and sound! 1/2 pic.twitter.com/rPcVHaJFIC Cork City Fire Brigade (@CorkCityFire) April 20, 2025 Following the successful rescue mission, Cork City Fire Brigade paid tribute to all involved in a post on social media, reporting that the dog is fortunately safe and sound. With quick action and teamwork, our firefighters launched a water rescue and were delighted to say the four-legged swimmer Ban is now safe and sound! Huge thanks to the alert bystanders who raised the alarm, and hats off to our crew for their professionalism and compassion on every rescue whether its two legs or four, the brigade said. Pope Francis has died, a senior Vatican official has announced. Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell said today: At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful llove of the One and Triune God. In Ireland, President Michael D Higgins expressed his profound sadness on learning of the death of Pope Francis. Pope Francis pictured with President Michael D Higgins during a visit to Ireland. Picture: Danny Lawson "Pope Francis, in his important messages and in the presentation of his Papacy with a unique humility, sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways the extraordinary importance of the spiritual as a powerful source of global ethics in the challenges of contemporary life," he said. "On the vital issues of our time - such as global hunger and poverty, of climate change and justice, of the plight of migrants and indigenous peoples, of the dispossessed, of the fundamental necessity of global peace and diplomacy - Pope Francis' voice constituted a consistent invocation of a shared humanity that is represented by acknowledgement of the essential dignity of each human person." Taoiseach Micheal Martin also moved to pay tribute to the late Pope, saying the Catholic community worldwide has lost an "exceptional leader". "Pope Francis long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace, and human dignity. He spoke out for the poor, the marginalised, and the oppressed," Mr Martin said. "His solidarity with refugees, his calls for climate action, and his insistence on global peace and equality set him apart as a champion of justice in the modern world." Mr Martin said he had the honour of meeting Pope Francis in Dublin Castle during his visit to Ireland in 2018 and was "impressed by his vision of a Catholic Church that is open, compassionate, and focused on the needs of the most vulnerable". "He shared with us his deep concern with the issues of social justice and human rights, and his profound commitment to alleviating suffering. "Pope Franciss legacy is his message of peace, reconciliation, and solidarity that lives in the hearts of those he inspired. "May he rest in peace, and may his memory continue to guide us as we strive to build a world that reflects his vision of love and compassion for all," he added. Volunteers from Douglas Tidy Towns attended Cork City Hall last week for an official reception with the Lord Mayor to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The voluntary group, which earned its second bronze medal at the most recent National Tidy Towns Awards, were joined by several voluntary groups which have contributed to various heritage and biodiversity projects in recent times. Among the groups invited by Douglas Tidy Towns were other Tidy Towns groups from Ballincollig, Togher, Ballyphehane, Ballincollig, and Mahon, as well as representatives from local schools, businesses, and environmental groups. Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, Lord Mayor of Cork, welcomed volunteers into the council chamber and said a few words to mark the occasion. City Hall is a place where we use the opportunity to welcome people of the city for their ongoing contributions to the life of the city and the betterment of the city, and today is a very good example of that, he said. Id like to acknowledge, in particular, the work of Douglas Tidy Towns and its ongoing work over many years. I should also acknowledge my council colleagues, Peter Horgan and Shane OCallaghan. I know that the element that is special about Tidy Towns in Douglas is the fact that they engage, not only with the public representatives, not only with other community groups within the Douglas area, but also with other Tidy Town groups and environmental groups throughout the city; and in a year where Ballincollig are the proud and justified national champions weve Tom Butler here the fact is that all involved in Tidy Town groups gain from each other, they gain from their experience. They may often gain from a competitive edge, but they certainly have the benefit of learning from each others experience, and what I find especially valuable is the experience of Douglas Tidy Towns is the fact that they may have been the first among the Tidy Towns movement to break the template a bit, that the traditional element of Tidy Towns of making sure that litter wasnt in any of the places it appeared, as much as possible, wasnt the only element of what Tidy Towns stood for in Douglas. In particular I can think of a major biodiversity plan that the group put together a number of years ago which identified what was important about the nature of Douglas itself what needed to be identified, what needed to be recognised, what needed to be cherished and protected, and enhanced into the future. Carmel Reidy, Reidin Kelleher and Olwen Anderson at a reception to mark the 25th anniversary of Douglas Tidy Towns. Picture: David Creedon I think that type of experience is invaluable, and I see it as well in the type of co-operation that Douglas Tidy Towns has fostered in working with other groups. Not only with other Tidy Town groups, not only with other Douglas community groups, the Tramore River Communities Group is an example of people identifying a common cause a stretch of waterway that goes through several communities, from Togher, Ballyphehane, Turners Cross, into Douglas, and the fact that people in each of those communities saw the need to say that this is an important waterway, this is an important part of who we are. It hasnt always been cherished in the way that it should, and it needs people who are prepared to say: This is not how it should be, this is how it can be, this is how, collectively, we are prepared to work together to bring it to a better place. Im certainly grateful for that experience, for the drive given by people in Douglas Tidy Towns, and for the common commitment of all the groups who are involved in that particular group. So, on behalf of Cork City Council, I want to thank all involved in the Tidy Towns movement, and everyone involved in Douglas Tidy Towns itself, and while I know its all about the group effort, and the common cause, I want to express a particular note of gratitude to Tara [de Montfort, Douglas Tidy Towns treasurer] for her role within Douglas Tidy Towns, and indeed the role she plays in helping to foster relations with community groups across the city. I can only thank you for the work you have done, and urge you to keep doing it, and keep pushing the standards higher and higher every year as you have been doing. I think we have a lot to be proud of because of that commitment, and we certainly have good cause to know about the things that we have got wrong in terms of nature and biodiversity can be got right, and that there are people on the ground who are making sure that the mistakes of the past shouldnt be repeated, and that those of us who should be taking care of it should be forced to make sure that the proper support and encouragement is given to make sure that the city is the city that we want our grandchildren and future generations to cherish in an equal and better way. Thank you for coming this evening, and thank you for your total commitment towards a better environment and biodiversity for Douglas, for Cork, and for the planet. Go raibh maith agat. His comments were followed by a tribute from Douglas Tidy Towns chairman Sean Leddy. First of all, Id like to thank our Lord Mayor, Councillor Dan Boyle, for hosting this event for our 25th anniversary, he said. Id like to thank the various different organisations and groups who are here tonight. I did a count, and I came up with 38 different groups and individuals who are represented here tonight, so I think that just demonstrates that working in a group like Tidy Towns isnt just tidy towns, there are so many individuals and organisations, business groups, etc, that work in collaboration with us, and without them it wouldnt be possible. Just to mention a few, we have representatives from An Garda Siochana here tonight, we have representatives from five other Tidy Towns groups here, other volunteer organisations, businesses, and State agencies, and individuals we work with. And to the caterers who are providing us with refreshements here tonight, I want to thank them as well. So I just want to say, as a final word, Im a firm believer in Tidy Towns, and the collaboration and the work that we do with all the other organisations. Im a firm believer also that we cant expect the city council to do everything for us, and therefore volunteering in any community organisation is so worthwhile, so rewarding. And its great to build up a network of relations with people, and just to make our city, and Douglas, and all the other areas of our city a pleasant place for everyone to live in. So finally I want to say a special thanks to the Douglas Tidy Towns committee; and the city councillors, who have been very good to us; and last but not least our volunteers, who turn out on a weekly basis and do a lot of very hard work for us. Without them, this would not be possible. McCarthy: Douglas and Rochestown deserve better Councillor Kieran McCarthy has called for Douglas and Rochestown to be included in the Luas Cork proposals. Luas Cork is a proposed light rail line running from Ballincollig to Mahon Point, connecting key destinations such as MTU, Cork University Hospital, UCC, Cork city centre, Kent Station, Cork Docklands, Blackrock and Mahon. Cllr McCarthy noted: At first read, it is very welcome to hear that a further 1bn is to be invested in public transport in Cork. That is great news. But at first glance I am really disappointed by the emerging preference route and will be calling on the NTA for a complete revamp of the eastern section and for it to go back to the design board. The Douglas and Rochestown area have a combined population of 20,000. Why stop the tram at Mahon Point Shopping Centre area? Councillor Kieran McCarthy: It is essential that the Luas takes in Douglas and Rochestown. The ambition is really lacking in the eastern section. The city was expanded for good reason in 2019 to make the city one of scale where scale can support the release of funding and investment into public infrastructure. I cannot in good faith go back as a public rep to those 20,000 people I represent in Douglas and Rochestown and say that your area may be serviced by the second tranche of planning for a Luas line that may or may not come in decades to come in your lifetime or not. It is essential that the Luas takes in Douglas and Rochestown and not only that there should be mapping as well as far as Carrigaline. There is an enormous opportunity here that should not be missed. Douglas and Rochestown deserve better, concluded Cllr McCarthy. Have Douglas news to share? Contact rory.noonan@theecho.ie Advocate for the elderly in Cork, Paddy OBrien, is calling for people to be more vigilant in relation to the care of the elderly after a local waitress raised an alarm with emergency services following the sudden disappearance of a regular customer. Mr OBrien told The Echo that he was contacted by Sergeant Brendan Moroney of the Bridewell Garda Station last week, regarding the disappearance of the woman. I was contacted last week by Sergeant Moroney because a lady contacted him to tell him she was a waitress [in Cork] and that one particular elderly person, who came every day for lunch, had been missing for some time, said Mr OBrien. The sergeant gave me the name of the waitress, Kathy Barry, and said that she was working at Kellys Restaurant on Oliver Plunkett St. I made contact with Kathy and she explained to me that the lady had been coming to lunch for years, and she was friendly with her, but all she knew was that she was 80 years of age and lived in Maddens Buildings [in Blackpool]. I personally went to Maddens Buildings and knocked on quite a few of the doors but regrettably, nobody knew her, he added. Mr OBrien then contacted the Blackpool Community Association and discussed the issue with them. Thankfully they came back to me and were able to locate the lady, so I went to visit her, said Mr OBrien. I told her that people were worried about her, especially Kathy. She explained that she hasnt been feeling well, but is looking forward to going back [to Kellys Restaurant]. I contacted Kathy to tell her the good news, and I told her that it was a great and wonderful thing to do. This sends out a strong message. We must all be more vigilant in relation to the care of the elderly. In Maddens Buildings, some years back, a man was found, having been dead for several weeks, and we dont want a repetition of that tragedy. Cork needs more people like Kathy Barry. Ms Barry told The Echo that she raised the alarm as she was concerned for the wellbeing of the woman, whom she had not seen in some time. Shes a lovely woman, Ive known her for a while, said Ms Barry. Out in Mallow, where I live, I think it was last year or the year before, there was a man who all the neighbours had thought had gone away to England, and hadnt been seen for years, so the council came in and boarded up the house, but when they opened it up again, they found his body. I wouldnt want that to happen [again], and [I wanted] to see if she was all right, or if she had gone into a home. I went into the gardai, and told them that one of our regular customers hadnt been around for a while and I wanted to see if they could find out if she was alive. They asked me how I thought they could go about that, so I gave them Paddy OBriens name. Im delighted shes been found. Paddy did all the footwork I just saw her as a person who I hadnt seen in a while and I wanted to find a way to see if she was alright. When you see a person around a lot, and then you dont see them, you sort of ask yourself what happened here and you go find out just to see if they need any help or any craic like that, because thats what we can try and do anyways at least. The Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr Fintan Gavin, has invited the people of the diocese to unite in prayer following the death of Pope Francis which was announced this morning. In a statement issued this afternoon, Bishop Gavin said thanks should be given to Almighty God for the gift of Pope Francis as shepherd of the people of God and we thank God for his selfless service and dedication to the end of his earthly life. We remember Pope Francis as one who challenged us to reach out to those on the margins and to bring Gods mercy to all those we encounter. We pray together that Pope Francis call to all of us to make this Jubilee Year a Year of Hope may be fulfilled. In what was to be his last pastoral message to the faithful on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis said: All those who put their hope in God place their feeble hands in his strong and mighty hand; they let themselves be raised up and set out on a journey, said Bishop Gavin. Together with the risen Jesus, they become pilgrims of hope, witnesses of the victory of love and of the disarmed power of Life. We pray together now that Pope Francis prayer will be answered and that his soul may be in eternal peace with God. The late Pope Francis was described as an "exceptional leader" by Taoiseach Micheal Martin who was among many leaders across the world to pay tribute to the late pontiff following the announcement of his death. Pope Francis pictured during his 2018 visit to Ireland. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie According to the announcement this morning by the Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who takes over the daily running of the Catholic Church until a new Pope is elected, the late Pope died at 7.35am (Roman time) this morning, just a day after wishing gathered pilgrims in St Peters Square a Buona Pasqua/Happy Easter and going on an extended tour of the crowd in the Popemobile. He had recently been discharged from hospital after being seriously ill with pneumonia. Taoiseach pays tribute An Taoiseach, Mr Martin, said he had learned of the death of the Holy Father with extreme sadness and extended the deepest condolences of the Irish Government and people to all who mourned him, to His Eminence Cardinal Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, to his family and friends and to the Catholic community worldwide that has lost an exceptional leader. Pope Francis long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace, and human dignity, said Mr Martin in a statement. He spoke out for the poor, the marginalised, and the oppressed. His solidarity with refugees, his calls for climate action, and his insistence on global peace and equality set him apart as a champion of justice in the modern world. During his visit to Ireland, many will also remember Pope Francis expression of pain and shame about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church and his outrage about the failure of Church authorities to adequately address these appalling crimes. A leader who helped 'redirect and repurpose the Catholic Church' Corks Lord Mayor, Dan Boyle of the Green Party, said he had heard with sadness the news of the Popes death and described him as a leader who helped redirect and repurpose the Catholic Church towards more Christian values of helping the disabled and dispossessed while Fine Gael Cork South Central TD, Jerry Buttimer said the world had lost a true pastor and a great man. His constituency colleague, Donnchadh O Laoghaire of Sinn Fein, said Pope Francis had used his voice for compassion, for dignity, for solidarity with the poor and did so with humility. He felt deep sympathy with the oppressed and those suffering in conflict, including in Gaza, the Middle East and the Ukraine, said the TD. He also understood that climate justice was a moral imperative. Labour Party Cork North Central TD Eoghan Kenny described as a remarkable legacy the late Popes leadership and courage on work, climate, migration, peace, on Gaza and always speaking out for the marginalised and disenfranchised in a deeply divided world. Pope Francis with a copy of Dennis Horgan's book of aerial shots of Cork when it was presented to him by the then Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Tony Fitzgerald who was on a family visit to Rome in 2018. Former Lord Mayor of Cork, Tony Fitzgerald, had an audience with Pope Francis during a visit to Rome during his mayoralty in May 2018. We had a Papal audience with him and I gave him some gifts from Cork, which he really enjoyed, a book of photographs of Cork and I gave him a lovely candleholder which was handcrafted in Carrignavar and he was delighted with them, said the Fianna Fail councillor. We had a nice engagement with him. Mr Fitzgerald met with the late Pope during a visit to the Irish College in Rome where aspiring priests and ordained clergy from Ireland go for courses in priestly formation. President's tribute The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, said he wished to join with all those across the world, from their stations in life, who have expressed such profound sadness on learning of the death of Pope Francis. Pope Francis, in his important messages and in the presentation of his Papacy with a unique humility, sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways the extraordinary importance of the spiritual as a powerful source of global ethics in the challenges of contemporary life, said President Higgins. On the vital issues of our time - such as global hunger and poverty, of climate change and justice, of the plight of migrants and indigenous peoples, of the dispossessed, of the fundamental necessity of global peace and diplomacy - Pope Francis' voice constituted a consistent invocation of a shared humanity that is represented by acknowledgement of the essential dignity of each human person. Cork composer Peadar O Riada, whose composition of the Irish language hymn Go mBeannaithear Duit/Hail Mary was performed for Pope Francis during the Papal Mass celebrated in the Phoenix Park in 2018, described the late Pope as a "fear uasal/noble man". I felt pride when a piece of my music was performed for him during his mass in Dublin, and my fathers music also, said Mr O Riada, referring to hymns such as Ag Criost An Siol for which his father, Sean O Riada, had composed the music. Spirituality is a unique realm and we all have a foot in it, he added. Pope Francis has been remembered as someone full of compassion, mercy and irrepressible hope as Catholics came together to mourn the death of a pontiff hailed by world leaders. Francis, who died following a stroke aged 88 on Easter Monday just a day after greeting crowds in Vatican City, drew tributes for his strong advocacy for the poor and marginalised. Francis died after a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican has confirmed. He had resumed some official duties earlier this month during his recovery from double pneumonia. The Pope made his first public appearance on April 6 since becoming ill, when he appeared in St Peters Square in a wheelchair during a special jubilee mass for the sick following his discharge from hospital two weeks previously. The Vatican said Francis has decreed in his will that he will be buried in St Mary Major Basilica in a simple underground tomb with only Franciscus written on it. There are currently five cardinals across the UK and Ireland, although only three Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe and Rome-based Cardinal Arthur Roche who are younger than 80 and therefore of voting age. In 1979, there was a movie called Meteor, about a nearly five-mile-wide piece of the asteroid Orpheus that was heading toward Earth. If it hit, it would cause an incredible catastrophe which would probably extinguish mankind. To stop the meteor, NASA wanted to use the illegal nuclear weapon satellite Hercules, but soon discovered that it didnt have enough firepower. Their only chance to save the world was to join forces with the USSR, which had also launched its own illegal satellite. But would both governments agree? They did, of course, agree in the end and the asteroid was blown to pieces in a joint operation and the world was saved. Phew! That was science fiction, but if we were to face a real challenge like that today, youd have to wonder how wed fare out. If Europe was in the firing line, how much support would we get from Russia? Or the USA for that matter, given the current state of uncertainty which Donald Trump has created. Thankfully, that scenario is very unlikely to play out in real life. Or is it? Scientists who watch out for this kind of stuff are closely monitoring 2024 YR4, which is the name of an asteroid with an estimated diameter of somewhere between 130 to 300ft. Scientists reckon this piece of rock will pass Earth around December, 2032, and they estimate that the probability of it hitting us is about 3.1%. Now, some people might relax with those odds, but not me. Back in 2018 I had a biopsy on my prostate. Not the most pleasant experience I ever had, and I was told at the time there shouldnt be any complications. Only 3% of patients get an infection, they told me, so I shouldnt worry. Well, guess what? I was part of the 3%. So, Im beginning my search for a suitable site to build my bunker because, with my luck, 2024 YR4 is heading straight for my kitchen. And even if it misses me, theres plenty of other stuff that could come through my roof. Its not only asteroids or meteorites we have to worry about. Apparently, theres a huge amount of junk floating about in space. NASA estimates theres more than 6,000 tonnes of the stuff in orbit at the moment, and some of that occasionally comes crashing down to Earth. Villagers in Kenya got a surprise visit a few months ago when a piece of it fell from the sky and landed with a thump on farmland near a dry riverbed. Locals told the BBC that it sounded like a gunshot while others thought it sounded like a car crash. It was in fact a giant metal ring and it was piping hot. The villagers had to wait for it to cool down before they could even approach it. The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) soon got involved and made arrangements to investigate the following day. They determined that it weighed more than 500kg (1,102lb), around the same as an adult horse, and was around 2.5m (8ft) in diameter, roughly the size of a childs four-seater merry-go-round. The KSA said its preliminary assessments indicated the object was a separation ring from a space launch rocket. These things are usually designed to either burn up as they re-enter the Earths atmosphere or fall onto unoccupied areas, such as the oceans. This one didnt and, as the space industry grows, it is predicted that such incidents will become more frequent. Experts tell us that the chances of being struck by space junk are about one in 10,000, but try telling that to the unlucky homeowner in Naples, Florida, who was surprised when an object crashed through the roof and two floors of his home. NASA stated that the object was space debris, a 1.6-pound piece of a bigger 5,800-pound pallet containing old batteries that the agency released from the International Space Station three years previously. The pallet was supposed to burn up as it entered Earths atmosphere, but a small piece survived and impacted the Florida home. But, according to National Geographic, other pieces, like old rocket segments jettisoned in orbit and abandoned spacecraft, regularly fall toward Earth unguided too. A hiker in northern Colorado came across a spherical object, still warm to the touch, sitting in a crater. NASA officials later told him it was a fuel tank from a Russian Zenit-3 rocket launched previously and is one of the few foreign space objects to be recovered in the United States. A woman taking a late-night walk in Oklahoma in January, 1997, saw a streak of light in the sky, then felt something brush her shoulder. It turned out to be part of a U.S. Delta II rocket launched in 1996, the only space debris known to have hit someone, according to the Aerospace Corporation. The woman was unhurt and lucky. A 580-pound (260-kilogram) fuel tank from the same rocket slammed to the ground in Texas around the same time, narrowly missing an occupied farmhouse. In January, 1978, the Soviet surveillance satellite Kosmos 954 crashed in northern Canada, scattering radioactive material from the spacecrafts nuclear power generator over thousands of square miles. A frantic campaign dubbed Operation Morning Light was mounted to find the radioactive material, but only 0.1 percent of the dangerous debris was ever recovered. When the Salyut-7 space station went out of control, Soviet engineers tried to send it into a controlled tumble into the Atlantic Ocean. But their efforts failed, and the 88,000-pound (39,916-kilogram) station, one of the largest man-made objects to re-enter the atmosphere, showered metal fragments on a city in Argentina. No-one was hurt. Seems to me theres a greater chance of being hit by a piece of space junk than our 2024 YR4 asteroid, but Im still going to forge ahead with plans for my bunker. In 1910, Hannah OKeeffe bade farewell to her family in the North Cork village of Cullen, and headed away for a new life in America. The young woman sailed from Queenstown (now Cobh) and settled in the midwestern U.S. state of Wisconsin. Here, Hannah met John Burke, a man with Tipperary roots, and they raised a family. Hannah was a devout Catholic, and I wonder what she would have said if you had told her that, one day far in the future, her grandson would be a contender to be Pope. Begosh, indeed. Hannah and John had a son, Thomas, and he and his wife Marie had six children - the youngest, Raymond Leo Burke, is now a high-ranking Cardinal of the Church, and has been tipped by many as a potential successor to Pope Francis, whose death was announced on Easter Monday. So, how likely is it that 76-year-old American Cardinal Burke, the grandson of a Cork woman, will become the 267th pontiff when the white smoke is one day released from the Vatican chimney and the successor to Francis is revealed? Likely enough to recently have him sixth in the betting among bookmakers., Likely enough that a New York Times podcast earlier this year named Cardinal Burke among its eight top contenders to replace the ailing Pope. Eminently qualified, he is a canon lawyer and intimately familiar with the current pontiff and with the workings of the Vatican, as Cardinal Priest of SantAgata de Goti in Rome, as well as being a former Archbishop of St Louis in Missouri. He is prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, which ensures justice in the Church is correctly administered. If Cardinal Burke does get the top job at the Vatican, we can expect a visit to Cork to be high on his papal itinerary - he is intensely proud of his Rebel roots, and has been a regular visitor over the years. In 2010, he visited the village of Cullen, the place his granny had left exactly a century earlier, which lies a few miles east of the Kerry border, and is home to a holy well named after a female saint, Latiaran. Burke celebrated mass in the villages parish church along with nine other members of the clergy, and declared in his homily: I thank God for the gift of my life and faith, which is so connected to this place. I always think of Ireland with gratitude, because my grandparents brought the Catholic faith to the USA, and they and my parents nurtured it in a very steadfast way in the home and the wider community. The older I became, the more grateful I became for the way the faith was handed down from grandparents and parents to the next generation. While in Cullen that year, Burke also met relatives from the Duhallow area - he has cousins in Millstreet, Rathmore, and Cullen itself. The Cardinal has since returned to Cork for the International Liturgy Conference here, and in 2011, he said Mass in SS Peter and Pauls Church in the city, and also met then Lord Mayor Terry Shannon. So, what are the chances of Cork staking a claim to the next pontiff? Francis was viewed both inside and outside Rome as a reformer and a liberal, and the two men best placed to continue this direction would be Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines - a first Asian Pope - and Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson - a first black pontiff in 1,500 years. If the Vatican leans towards a more moderate choice, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans highest-ranking diplomat, could become the first Italian Pope since John Paul I almost half a century ago. Our man Cardinal Burke is very much seen as an arch conservative who would seek to double down on some of the Churchs more controversial stances, and undo some of Franciss reforming work. He has publicly clashed with the Popes more liberal philosophies, particularly regarding his willingness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist. Burke has also called the Churchs new language around contraception, civil marriages and gay people objectionable, and has railed against mooted discussions about allowing married men to become priests. He previously said that Catholic politicians who support legalised abortion, such as Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist. In 2013, the Cardinal criticised then Taoiseach Enda Kenny when he described himself as a taoiseach who happens to be a Catholic, but not a Catholic taoiseach. It does not make any sense, Burke observed. There is little doubt where he would have stood on the recent Irish liberalising referenda in the homeland of his grandmother. Indeed, Burke is such a staunch conservative that he remains an ardent fan of the Latin Mass, and sang a hymn in Latin during his service in Cullen in 2010. I can already see many Irish eyes raising to the heavens at the prospect of a man with Cork roots offering such opinions to the world from the throne of St Peter; on the other hand, you could argue he is merely in lockstep with views that have dominated the Catholic Church for centuries. In recent years, Cardinal Burke has shown he is unafraid to confront what he sees as societal issues that hinder the work of his Church. During the pandemic, he criticised the first lockdown, claiming it was not how God had called us to live. Nor was he a fan of social distancing, insisting clergy should be on hand to tend to their flock at that time of crisis. Burke also opposed mandatory vaccination, and in 2021, had to be placed on a ventilator after testing positive for the covid virus. He once said: I was raised in an Irish Catholic family which had a keen sense of the moral law. I go back to Ireland regularly and there are many wonderful people in Ireland hungering for leadership. When the time comes to find a successor to Pope Francis, just 138 cardinals will be eligible to participate in the conclave. Will a proud grandson of Cork win the day? Whoever becomes the next pope, bookmakers believe there is a strong chance he will choose the name Francis II. If Cardinal Burke succeeds Francis as the first American pontiff, I doubt he would become the first ever Pope Raymond, but perhaps he would adopt his own middle name, and become Pope Leo XIIII. This article previously appeared in The Echo and on Echolive.ie. A change that will see new teachers offered contracts after one year is the main story in Monday's front pages. The new policy for teachers, announced by Minister for Education Helen McEntee, is the lead story in The Irish Times and Irish Examiner. The Irish Independent leads with a story on single earners struggling to get on the property ladder. The Echo leads with a story on criticism of ambulance staffing policy in Co Cork. Health warnings will be taken off alcohol being exported to the US due to Donald Trump's tariffs, the Irish Daily Mail reports. Don't forget to pick up a copy of your cracking Irish Daily Mail this Easter Monday. pic.twitter.com/5R58kzsQvr The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) April 21, 2025 The Irish Sun leads with a story on a row over a Johnny Logan tribute gig. Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/7a4s0WR62n The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) April 21, 2025 The Herald leads with a story on a probe into an arson attack on a home in Finglas. In the North, the Belfast Telegraph reports opinion polls will be used to decide on the timing of a border poll. The Irish News leads with a story on threats from the New IRA. The front page of todays Irish News. pic.twitter.com/2gLLdkb12U The Irish News (@irish_news) April 21, 2025 Monday's British papers are dominated by the recent UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of woman being determined by "biological sex". Protests from transgender rights activisits are the subject of the lead stories in the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Daily Express. Daily Mail: Starmer must break his silence on trans judgement #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/gYMkXwDlZf Jamie Whitehead (@jamiewh_) April 20, 2025 The Financial Times leads with a story on key IMF meetings being overshadowed by trade uncertainty. Financial Times: World's confidence battered as trade uncertainty haunts key IMF meetings #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/jF69H29MGY Jamie Whitehead (@jamiewh_) April 20, 2025 Daily Express: Court heroes targets for vile abuse #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/cOx0RXniZz Jamie Whitehead (@jamiewh_) April 20, 2025 The i Paper leads with a story on plans for new nuclear plants in the UK prompting security fears. i: Mini nuclear plants network for UK raises security fears #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/LAhLIzGzQ3 Jamie Whitehead (@jamiewh_) April 20, 2025 The UK will boost munitions production to end dependence on the US, The Times reports. The Times: UK boosts munitions to end dependence on US #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Rg1Zh6xMMF Jamie Whitehead (@jamiewh_) April 20, 2025 UK cancer patients are missing out on life-saving drugs due to Brexit, The Guardian reports. The Guardian: UK cancer patients losing out on life-saving drugs 'due to Brexit' #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/14u3mKyv9e Jamie Whitehead (@jamiewh_) April 20, 2025 The Daily Mirror leads with a story on 'sickening' trophy hunting holidays. Chinese spys are bugging park benches in the UK, according to the Daily Star. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth shared plans for military strikes on Yemen in a Signal group that included his wife and brother, The New York Times reports. It comes after Mr Hegseth shared similar plans in a group that included the editor of The Atlantic. At China's consumer expo, foreign investors signal enduring confidence 10:34, April 21, 2025 By He Yin ( People's Daily A robot developed by Unitree Robotics shakes hands with an exhibitor representative at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) held in south China's Hainan province, April 14, 2025. (Photo by Su Bikun/People's Daily Online) Over 1,700 companies and 4,100 brands from more than 70 countries and regions have convened in south China's island province of Hainan for the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) - an expanded event that reflects the international community's growing confidence in China's development. Running from April 13 to 18, the expo comes at a time of mounting global economic uncertainty. Yet for many multinationals, China's stable, transparent, and predictable policy environment, coupled with its vast consumer market, offers both stability and opportunity to sharpen their competitiveness in global competition. China's continuous efforts to deepen its opening up and share development opportunities with the world remain a key reason behind the strong turnout at this year's expo. Opening to the outside world is a fundamental national policy for China. The country is advancing high-level opening up, steadily expanding institutional opening up by proactively adopting relevant rules, regulations, management, and standards, and continues to stabilize foreign investment to boost foreign investors' confidence in Chinese market. As the host of the CICPE, Hainan is intensifying efforts to build itself into a free trade port, standing as a testament to China's unwavering openness. Now in its fifth year, the expo has evolved into a vital platform for global companies to tap into the Chinese market and for Chinese brands looking to expand abroad. A woman buys Malaysian products at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), April 13, 2025. (Photo by Zhang Mao/People's Daily Online) As Xie Yi, senior vice chairman of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, noted, despite global uncertainties, China continues to embrace the world with open cooperation. According to him, the group plans to expand the reach of high-quality Chinese products across Southeast Asia and the world, while introducing more global products into China's vast market to capitalize on the opportunities created by China's ongoing opening up. In tandem with the expo, the "Shopping in China" campaign was launched to stimulate Chinese domestic consumption, which highlighted the advantages of China's huge market. In recent years, China has stepped up efforts to expand domestic demand - encouraging consumer goods trade-ins, promoting high-quality development of consumption of the services sector, and launching a range of activities to boost consumption. It has also accelerated efforts to build international consumption center cities. These endeavors have helped improve living standards for Chinese citizens while opening up new business opportunities for global companies. In 2024, China's total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 48 trillion yuan ($6.58 trillion), a 3.5 percent year-on-year increase. Between 2021 and 2024, the country imported 7.4 trillion yuan worth of consumer goods. Leveraging this vast market, the CICPE has become a key venue for showcasing premium global consumer products and spotlighting evolving consumption trends. With its growing international profile, the expo supports China's push for the new development paradigm - driving high-quality development at home while contributing to global economic recovery. On the sidelines of the expo, the 2025 Global Industrial Investment Promotion Conference for the Hainan Free Trade Port highlighted Hainan's progress in building a world-class free trade port, drawing attention to its improving business environment and rising investment potential. Photo taken on April 14, 2025 shows the Hainan pavilion of the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE). (Photo by Su Bikun/People's Daily Online) The event underscores China's resolve to create a world-class business environment and deliver high-quality services to global enterprises. Recognizing that a sound business environment is essential for growth, China is fostering a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, which has become a powerful magnet for global investors. The country has strengthened intellectual property protection and improved its global business environment ranking from 96th to 31st. It safeguards the lawful rights and interests of foreign enterprises in China, and ensures equal national treatment for foreign businesses. Meanwhile, its negative list for foreign investment has experienced eight rounds of reduction, from 190 items initially to 29 on the national negative list and 27 on the pilot free trade zone list. By shifting the focus from simply "doing business" to "thriving in business," China is working to create a more fertile environment for investment and long-term growth. For foreign companies, embracing China is embracing opportunities, believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future. China will continue to support foreign-invested enterprises and remain a stable, opportunity-rich destination for global capital. As China deepens its economic engagement with the world, it is seeking to chart a path of shared growth and mutual benefit for the years ahead. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Sarah Slater The search for a man in his 50s reported to have fallen overboard from a yacht off the Co Waterford coast on Saturday night continues this afternoon. The rescue began when an alert was raised by another man, believed to be related to the missing man, who was still on board the UK registered vessel. Both men are understood to be from Wales. The operation was launched after the Coast Guard received an emergency call from the man on board the vessel who reported the incident at around 10:40pm. The UK Coast Guard was also contacted after the man said they believed the vessel was off the coast of Swansea in Wales. However, the Irish Coast Guard situated the vessel off the coast of Ceann Heilbhic in Co Waterford. The yacht was located 16 nautical miles off the South of Dunmore East in the Irish Sea. The yacht was travelling from Brighton to Swansea via Falmouth. Waterford based Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 117 carried out searches on Saturday night, assisted by a fixed wing aircraft from the UK, and the RNLI lifeboats from Dunmore East in Waterford and Ballycotton, Co Cork. Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 based out of Dublin joined the search operation on Sunday. The man aboard the yacht was taken safely to shore by search and rescue teams. A spokesperson for the The Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) confirmed that the Coast Guard are continuing to coordinate the search for the missing man. The Coast Guard Coordination centre in Dublin resumed the search this morning for a missing Male having gone overboard from a UK registered yacht late on Saturday night, the spokesperson continued. The Coast Guard helicopter R117 and Kilmore Quay lifeboat are conducting the search this morning into the afternoon and the Coast Guard will continue to liaise with An Garda Siochana for the remaining phase of the search. (Photo: Vatican News) Pope Francis, a voice for the poor, died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, Vatican News posted on X. The death of the first Latin American pontiff was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo and bells tolled in church towers across Rome after his news. "Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," a statement from the camerlengo said. "Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," a statement from the camerlengo said. "At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church." Farrell said, "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized." "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God," the statement concluded. Francis became the first Latin American pontiff in 2013 and was one of the oldest popes in the church's history, and his death came just weeks after he was discharged from a hopital in Rome hospital treated for a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs. His medical team said his condition had stabilized, allowing for him to continue his convalescence at his Casa Santa Marta residence at the Vatican. Rev. Jerry Pillay, the South African general secretary of the World Council of Churches said, "Pope Francis's passing will be mourned around the world, not least among his many allies and admirers in the ecumenical movement and in the worldwide fellowship of the WCC. "His papacy has been a great gift to the ecumenical movement, and he has been a dedicated collaborator in our efforts toward Christian unity and reconciliation and a prophetic voice for peace, the environment, and justice everywhere." The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols - considered as the de facto head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales - said: "A voice proclaiming the innate dignity of every human being, especially those who are poor or marginalised, is now silent." Two weeks after leaving hospital, he made a surprise appearance on Easter Sunday from the balcony at St. Peter's Square. Cardinals from across the world are expected to gather in Rome in the coming days to mourn the pontiff and then elect his successor directing the future of the Catholic Church. Following the death of a pope, or in the rare case of resignation such as with Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican convenes a papal conclave, in which the College of Cardinals assembles to elect the church's next head. The rules of the conclave, state there are 138 electors of the 252 cardinals. Only those under the age of 80 may take part in the secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel. Four rounds of voting can take place every day until a candidate receives a major two-thirds of the vote, in a process that typically lasts 15 to 20 days, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. - Tributes pour in for Pope Francis Tributes poured in quickly for Francis from world leaders. South African Anglican leader, Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town described Pope Francis as "the last globally-recognised moral voice in our confused times," and as a leader who gave "clear guidance in a complex and polarised political world." In a statement Makgoba said that "the poor of the world will be those who will miss him the most as a champion and custodian of their hopes and dreams. He was an incredible, prophetic pastor whose vision was a 'church of the poor for the poor', to quote one of his favourite sayings." The archbishop noted: "We are deeply grateful to him for holding before us the image of the church as a field hospital, and for the incredible ways in which he embraced the marginalised, begging priests to identify with them as 'shepherds living with the smell of the sheep'...." The New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, posted on X: "I am saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. "A man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue. "My thoughts are with Catholics and all those in New Zealand and around the world who mourn his death." Polish President Andrzej Duda said the Pope was a great apostle of Mercy, in whom he saw the answer to the challenges of the modern world. "In his pastoral ministry, he was guided by humility and simplicity," Duda posted on X. Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof wrote on X: "The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them. "With his sober way of life, acts of service and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many - Catholics and non-Catholics alike. We remember him with great respect." The U.S. White House issued a five-word statement. In a short tweet accompanied by two photographs of U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, the White House wrote, "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis." - Born in Argentina The Pope was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936. He broke barriers in the Catholic Church not only when he became its first leader from the Americas, and the first to represent the Jesuit order, an intellectual wing of the church that prioritizes philanthropy. He was also the first pope ever to address the U.S. Congress, and when he visited Capitol Hill in 2015, he urged lawmakers of all stripes to set aside their differences for the sake of helping the world's poor and disadvantaged, The Hill reported. 'Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops' lives are endangered by his singular stupidity,' a Democratic senator said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly held a second private Signal chat on upcoming Yemen strikes with members including his wife, brother and personal lawyer, according to The New York Times. Sources said that Hegseth shared flight schedules for F-18 Hornets targeting Houthis in Yemen, much as he did on a separate Signal chat the same day that accidentally included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief. It's not clear that any of the people in the group chat would need to know about the attacks, though Hegseth's brother and lawyer both have jobs at the Pentagon. Jennifer Hegseth, the Defense Secretary's wife, is not employed at the defense department, the report states. The second chat, called "Defense | Team Huddle" was created by Hegseth prior to his confirmation and included a dozen or so people from his professional and personal circle, (including two senior advisers who were recently fired over leak accusations). It was initially created to allow discussions around routine schedule and administrative information on Hegseth's personal device. A US official told the NYT that there was no national security breach, but wouldn't comment on whether Hegseth shared detailed targeting information. "The truth is that there is an informal group chat that started before confirmation of his closest advisers. Nothing classified was ever discussed on that chat." Trump administration officials previously defended Hegseth over the first breach, asserting that no classified information was ever shared. However, Democrats in Congress expressed alarm. "If true, this incident is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseths reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military service member is required to follow," said Senator Jack Reed, senior Democrat on the Armed Services Committee. "Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops' lives are endangered by his singular stupidity," added Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth. Nintendo is going after the leaker behind last years massive Pokemon data breach , according to a report by Polygon . The company has asked a California court to force Discord to give up the identity of the person behind the leak, who goes by the name "GameFreakOUT" on the platform. Nintendo wants Discord to release the name, address, phone number and email address of the leaker. It said in a subpoena that the person uploaded "confidential materials not released to the public" to a Discord server called FreakLeak. After that, the leaked materials reached every nook-and-cranny of the Internet. These materials included source codes, early character designs, references to an upcoming MMO and transcripts of design meetings. There was even information about an unreleased Detective Pikachu sequel and other planned Pokemon movies. The data breach included so much data that its become known as the Teraleak on the internet, referring to the sheer breadth and scope of the leaked materials. Babe wake up, a new Pokemon beta video from the Teraleak just dropped! A Deep Dive Into Pokemon Sword & Shields Scrapped Content [ Full video link in the first reply ] pic.twitter.com/G8pEzWDCHQ Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) April 17, 2025 As of this writing, Discord hasnt publicly addressed the request. Weve reached out to the company and will update this post when we hear back. If the platform complies with Nintendos request, its likely that "GameFreakOUT" will face a lawsuit. Prince Andrew, long absent from the royal spotlight due to controversy, made a notable appearance at the annual Easter Sunday church service alongside King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle. The event, held at the historic St George's Chapel, marked a rare public outing for the Duke of York, who has largely retreated from royal duties in recent years. Other royals who attended the event were Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Andrew's former wife, Sarah Ferguson. Prince William and Princess Kate were not present, choosing instead to spend the holiday privately with their children in Norfolk. The Duke has not been seen at a formal royal family event since last Easter, and his attendance is seen by some as a sign of slightly improved relations with his brother, the King. Read more: Prince Andrew Accuser Virginia Giuffre Battles Restraining Order Allegations Before Accident The Duke of York's friendship with Epstein first drew widespread criticism in 2011, after photos surfaced of the pair in New York following Epstein's release from prison. Andrew was also criticized when it emerged that his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, received a payment from Epstein, reportedly arranged by Andrew himself. These revelations led to growing calls for him to step down from his role as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, a position he lost in 2011. The most serious accusations against Prince Andrew came from Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was 17. Giuffre's claims led to a civil lawsuit in the United States, which Andrew's legal team failed to have dismissed. In January 2022, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The following month, he reached a financial settlement with Giuffre, reportedly worth millions of pounds, without admitting any liability. In addition to the Epstein scandal, Andrew has faced scrutiny over alleged connections to a suspected Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo. British authorities barred Yang from entering the UK, citing national security concerns and describing him as a "close confidante" of Andrew. Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan has recently slammed J.K.Rowling and the new "Harry Potter" television series following the author's public celebration of a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that restricts legal recognition of trans women. The court's decision, handed down last week, determined that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer solely to biological sex, thereby excluding transgender women from certain legal protections. Rowling later celebrated the decision with a post on X (formerly Twitter) of her holding a cigar and drink. "I love it when a plan comes together," she wrote in the caption. Coughlan, known for her outspoken support of the LGBTQ+ community, responded swiftly to Rowling's "victory lap." On her Instagram Stories, she posted a headline from The Cut with the headline "This Is a New Low for J.K. Rowling." "Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole," Coughlan said. It is not the first time Rowling's public views on transgender issues have been a source of major controversy. In 2019, she expressed support for Maya Forstater, a British researcher who lost her job for expressing gender-critical views. In June 2020, the "Harry Potter" author retweeted a lengthly essay that discussed "people who menstruate," but took issue with the fact that the op-ed did not use the term "women." She later published her own post about "TERF Wars," which refers to trans-exclusionary radical feminist. The original stars of the Harry Potter filmsDaniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grinthave all publicly distanced themselves from Rowling's views and voiced strong support for the transgender community. The film's star, Daniel Radcliffe, was the first from the franchise to speak out, noting that "transgender women are women." Emma Watsons, who played Hermione Granger, also spoke out in support of the trans community. Lisa Rinna, former star of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," has revealed that severe postpartum depression after the birth of her daughters led her to threaten the life of her husband, actor Harry Hamlin. On a recent episode of their podcast, "Let's Not Talk About the Husband," Rinna, 61, and Hamlin, 73, spoke about her struggles and her "horrible" thoughts after giving birth to daughter Dinna, now 26, and Amelia, now 23. "I'll never forget after Amelia was born, we were at the cabin in Canada, we went to a movie one day in Bracebridge, and you said, 'I'm gonna kill you,'" Hamlin said in the podcast. "We were sitting outside the theater. You said, 'You better watch out. I feel like killing you.' You said, 'Keep the knives in the drawer.'" Rinna later confirmed this, adding that, at the time, she was having "horrible hallucinations" of killing other people and said she also had visions of harming herself by driving her car "into a brick wall." That said, the reality star emphasized that she never had visions of hurting her daughters. After seeking help, the actress was prescribed antidepressants, which she said helped her almost immediately and allowed her to reset and recalibrate. Postpartum depression is a serious mental health condition that affects about 1 in 7 new mothers after childbirth. It goes beyond the typical "baby blues," which usually resolves within two weeks. It can cause intense feelings of sadness, hopelessness, irritability, and fatigue that may last for months if left untreated. Symptoms can appear within a week of delivery or develop gradually over the first year. Women with postpartum depression may struggle to care for themselves or their babies, and may experience frequent crying, anxiety, guilt, and difficulty bonding with their newborns. Treatment for postpartum depression is effective and usually involves a combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication, and support from family or support groups. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed, and many are considered safe to use while breastfeeding. Colin Farrell has recently shared that he made the hard decision to put his 21-year-old son, James, in a long-term care facility. In a new interview with Candis Magazine, Farrell said he and his former partner, Kim Bordenave, have come to the heartbreaking decision of putting their son, who was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, into a facility over fears that he may be left alone should anything happen to them. Farrell added that, without a plan, his son would become "a ward of the state," which means they would not have any say over where he goes. "My horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James' mother, Kim, has a car crash and she's taken too and then James is on his own?" he said, per The Independent. The actor noted that he and his wife are looking for a long-term care facility where James can live a fulfilling life, feel connected, and be allowed to enjoy activities he loves, including going out to the supermarket and the beach. Read more: Tristan Thompson Under Fire for Excluding Theo in Birthday Tribute to Daughter True James was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome when he was two years old. Angelman syndrome is a rare neurogenetic disorder caused by a change in the UBE3A gene on the 15th chromosome, typically inherited from the mother. The condition affects about 1 in 12,000 to 20,000 people and is often misdiagnosed as autism, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disorders because of overlapping symptoms. Children with Angelman syndrome usually begin to show signs between 6 and 12 months of age, such as delayed development, difficulty sitting up, and limited or absent babbling. As they grow, they may have severe speech impairment, intellectual disability, problems with movement and balance, and frequent seizures. Other features can include a small head size, sleep disturbances, fascination with water, and distinctive facial characteristics. While there is no cure, people with Angelman syndrome generally have a normal life expectancy and require lifelong support and care. Joe Rogan is raising eyebrows again, this time aiming at Katy Perry and the recent all-women Blue Origin space flight. During a recent episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" on April 19, Rogan sarcastically critiqued Perry's post-flight comments, highlighting what he called a "tone-deaf" and exaggerated tone following her brief trip to space. "It was very profound. I don't know if you've seen Katy Perry talk about it, but she's basically a guru now," Rogan, 57, said with a smirk. According to HuffPost, his words came after comedian Tim Dillon humorously noted that the flight, which lasted just 10 minutes, seemed less like an extraordinary journey and more like a brief floating experience. Rogan wasn't the only one to voice concerns about the mission. The all-women flight took off on April 14, as part of Blue Origin's NS-31 mission. Alongside Perry, the flight included former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, activist Amanda Nguyen, filmmaker Kerianne Flynn, and broadcast journalist Gayle King. The crew flew 65 miles above Earth, briefly experiencing weightlessness, before returning to Earth. However, critics, including Rogan, have pointed out that while the flight was historic in terms of an all-female crew, it did not technically meet the criteria for "space travel" as defined by some experts. While Perry described feeling "super connected to love" and even sang "What a Wonderful World" to her fellow passengers during the flight, Rogan sarcastically commented, "Let's not minimize this," before adding that the women should not be celebrated as "astronauts." Joe Rogan and Tim Dillon roast celeb-filled, all female Blue Origin space flight. "I don't know if you've seen Katy Perry talk about it, but she's basically a guru now." https://t.co/YFDPdqzG1s pic.twitter.com/EZDDhYzUkj Zachary Leeman (@WritingLeeman) April 19, 2025 Rogan Critiques Katy Perry's Space Speech, Questions "What Did She Learn?" Dillon also questioned the role Perry had taken on, joking about her claims of being "interested in astrophysics and astronomy." He asked, "What were her findings? That's my question. What did she learn?" Rogan, ever the skeptic, responded with a tongue-in-cheek remark about the flower Perry brought on the flight to represent her daughter Daisy, US Magazine said. "It shows you how quick the flight was," he said, mocking the symbolism of the "dead daisy" that was still alive after the brief mission. Rogan's critique doesn't end with Perry. He also pointed out the stark difference between this quick mission and the challenges faced by NASA astronauts. "A lot of male astronauts have to go to school, become pilots, serve in the Air Force, and then get appointed by NASA to go to space," Rogan said, emphasizing that the qualifications for actual astronauts require much more extensive preparation. The reaction to the Blue Origin flight has sparked widespread debate, with other celebrities like Olivia Ratajkowski questioning the environmental impact of such missions. "You say that you care about Mother Earth, and you go up in a spaceship built and paid for by a company that is destroying the planet," she argued, referencing the environmental costs associated with the space program. Christina Ricci has always been in the public eye, but recently, the actress shared how her perspective on beauty and self-worth has evolved, largely thanks to her daughter, Cleo. At the "Yellowjackets" season 3 For Your Consideration (FYC) event in North Hollywood, Ricci opened up about how motherhood has reshaped her understanding of herself and beauty standards. Ricci, 45, shared that her view on beauty no longer relies on others' opinions. "I think what I learned was that it doesn't matter if I'm beautiful or not by anyone's standards," Ricci explained. "I am myself. I view myself as a face and a brain. I don't think about my body. I don't think about what other people think of me." According to TheNews, her daughter Cleo, 3, has played a big role in this transformation. Ricci recalled a touching moment where Cleo, when called "cute," confidently responded, "I'm not cute. I'm Cleo." Ricci believes this response highlights an important lesson: "We are who we are and we don't need to be defined in these other ways." As a mother, Ricci strives to instill this same sense of self-worth in Cleo. "I talk about how strong she is, how hard she tried, how smart she is, how funny she is all the things that have to do with personality and identity," Ricci said. She pointed out that the pressure on women to focus on their appearance can distract from what truly matters in life. Christina Ricci Opens Up About Learning to Love Herself More: 'It Doesn't Matter If I'm Beautiful or Not' (Exclusive) https://t.co/TCizbGGctD People (@people) April 20, 2025 Ricci Reflects on Body Image Struggles Growing Up in the Spotlight Ricci has long been open about the struggles she faced growing up in the spotlight. In a 2022 interview with Today, she discussed how the constant scrutiny of her body during her early years in Hollywood affected her. "People would basically all get together and look at you and decide how to fix everything that was wrong with you," she recalled. "I did not enjoy those days of everybody talking about my flaws." Her discomfort with body scrutiny began when she was just a young teen, with older men on set commenting on how to make her appear "less womanly." Ricci reflected that being a child in the public eye, she often felt like her feelings were overlooked, with the production taking precedence over her personal comfort, People said. Growing up in an industry obsessed with appearance, Ricci also struggled with an eating disorder during her teenage years. As a mother of two10-year-old Freddie and 3-year-old CleoChristina Ricci is committed to fostering a positive relationship with food and body image in her household. She has shared her goal of creating a balanced environment where her children understand the importance of eating for health, growth, and nutrition, while avoiding any negative or confusing messages surrounding food. Through her journey, Ricci has learned to separate her identity from society's beauty standards. She hopes to raise her children with the same strong sense of self that she is only now starting to embrace. "The biggest trick that's ever been played on the female race is keeping us so preoccupied with our appearance that we can't focus on what's really important," she added. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and the most significant change-maker in the history of the Catholic Church, has died at 88. Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced his death. Per Reuters, "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father," Farrell said. "His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church." A lengthy hospitalization for double pneumonia ended after complications caused the pope to succumb to death, the Vatican reiterated. He had long suffered from persistent lung problems after part of a lung was removed when he was a child. Pope's Health Issues In later years, illness adversely affected his movement. In 2021, Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, underwent colon surgery, and in 2023, abdominal surgery. He was often seen in a wheelchair in his later years and suffered from chronic bronchitis. Francis kept up a schedule leading the Church and writing about global cooperation despite his failing health, including through the COVID-19 pandemic. In an empty St. Peter's Square in 2020, he said, "We are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented." Francis once spoke of the Church as a "field hospital after battle"one that heals, engages, and welcomes. His style was at times controversial, but his dedication to mercy and renewal will have an impact on one of the world's oldest institutions, the Roman Catholic Church. The 88-year-old pontiff passed away just one day after his first extended public appearance for over a month following his March 23 discharge from a 38-day hospital stay to treat pneumonia. Around midday Easter day Sunday, Francis made an appearance at St. Peter's Square in a popemobile and waved to the crowds, who cheered in delight. He also gave a special blessing for the first time since Christmas. "Viva il Papa!" (Long live the pope), "Bravo!" the crowd shouted. Kanye West and Bianca Censori were spotted together in Spain on Friday, seemingly putting the turmoil surrounding their marriage behind them. The couple, who have been through a rollercoaster of ups and downs, were seen sharing a dinner date at an Indian restaurant in the Balearic Islands, according to video obtained by Page Six. Despite earlier claims of a breakup, the pair appeared comfortable and relaxed together, with West, who now goes by Ye, wearing a casual oversized hoodie. Censori, 30, sported one of her signature skintight outfits, a black bodysuit, as they exited the restaurant. The sighting was in stark contrast to the tense moments that had surrounded their relationship in recent months. The 47-year-old rapper had previously confirmed that Censori had "dumped" him earlier this year. In his new track "BIANCA," featured on his upcoming album WW3, West rapped about the breakdown of their marriage, revealing that Censori had tried to "get him committed" and expressing confusion over their relationship. The song references a time when Censori allegedly "ran away" from him, leaving him distraught and in search of answers. "She's having a panic attack and she is not liking the way that I tweeted... Until Bianca's back I stay up all night I'm not going to sleep," West raps in the song. New pics of Kanye and Bianca together in Spain. pic.twitter.com/BIzq4KCfEF kikiboyyyyyyy (@kikiboyyyy1) April 20, 2025 Reconciliation or Not? Kanye and Bianca Censori's Relationship in the Spotlight Before their reunion in Spain, West had been spotted on a solo trip to Japan, where he went to "decompress" after facing backlash from his divisive comments on social media, DailyMail said. Meanwhile, rumors of a split between him and Censori grew after she was not seen with him during this trip. The couple, who married in December 2022, had reportedly separated in February after Censori became upset with West's controversial actions, including selling Swastika-branded shirts. A source at the time revealed that Censori felt the need to distance herself from the rapper due to his antisemitic behavior. However, not long after the breakup reports, West and Censori were seen together again, sparking rumors that they had reconciled. Insiders claimed that the couple had been working through their issues, with many suggesting they were trying to save their marriage. Some reports even speculated that Censori was considering having a child with West in an effort to strengthen their bond. Despite the public drama, the sighting in Spain seems to indicate that West and Censori are giving their relationship another chance. While the couple's exact status remains unclear, the fact that they are spending time together again suggests they may be moving past their recent struggles. For now, it remains to be seen whether Kanye West and Bianca Censori's relationship will continue to withstand the pressures of public scrutiny and personal turmoil. But for now, they appear to be committed to each other once again. Originally published on Music Times Overview Book Trailer for 'History Leading to 50th Anniversary of D-Day, Book 2' by Michael Butler, 2:09 Nearly every aspect of European World War II, and centuries prior, is touched on in Michael B. Butler's new book, History Leading to 50th Anniversary of Day, Book 2: My Journey Thru World & Family History Landed at Omaha Beach, 6/6/94. This is the first in a two-set of history books created because of his excursions to the 50th Anniversaries of Pearl Harbor and D-Day. Over 100 of the best historians are cited within a book that hits all the basesfrom the Atlantic Sea War to the Russian Land War, from the invasion of Normandy to the long North African Campaign. Dedicated to 15 military/combat veterans in his family, from the Civil to Korean War, Book 2 centers on the European War and centuries before while Book 1 deals with the Pacific War and the fascinating history of that vast region. Each book ends with stories of his last minute excursions to each of the 50th Anniversaries and what he experienced during those major commemorations. Pearl Harbor and D-Day, for the United States, represents the beginning and the beginning of the end of World War II, and thus these bookend 50th Anniversaries allowed Michael B. Butler to explore far and wide in his quest to encase them, as the book titles suggest, in relevant World & Family History. Each yielded a wealth of interesting experiences and set the foundation for this book series, which was originally going to be a single volume but was split up and expanded decades later. B-17 Pilot Uncle Roy Larson & Book Trailer for 'History Leading to 50th Anniversary of D-Day, Book 2' by Michael B. Butler, 2:44 1941 German Invasion of Russia & Book Trailer to Highlight New Book Around 50th D-Day Anniversary, 2:49 Wanting to showcase the great historians who populate his own library, Butler sought to include history going back 500 years while remaining largely focused on World War II and those who participated in that world changing conflagration. His family includes combat Veterans that span nearly every aspect of the World War II; from bomber pilots to infantrymen, from Pearl Harbor Survivors to U.S. Navy sailors to armored and infantry soldiers to a communication specialist and a railroad technician. Direct testimony from Combat Veterans is deployed to try and explain what is totally unexplainable, for unless one has been there it is impossible to understand. Five chapters were created to highlight the outfits and experiences of family members and one person who helped Michael Butler attend the 50th Anniversary of D-DayWWII 8th Air Force Veteran P-47 fighter-bomber pilot Pat Murphy. Obscure materials, some published right after the conflicts, were mined for use in creating these multi-faceted chapters. Germany Invades Russia from Poland & Book Trailer on WWII Centered on 50th D-Day by Michael Butler, 2:52 300 images all of kinds populate the text; from maps to drawings to diagrams, from historical photographs to book covers, from combat photos to thumbnail portraits of those lost during various points in divisional and regimental histories. This gives the book wider scope by paying tribute those whose service and sacrifice should be recognized again and again. History Leading to 50th Anniversary of D-Day, Book 2 available at Amazon in pre-order in Kindle (B0F4GH8679) North African Campaign, 50th D-Day Book Trailer with Additional 1940 German West Campaign Photos, 2:57 D-Day Hero Joseph Dawson 50th D-Day Speech & Book Trailer-History Book Around 50th Anni. of D-Day, 2:47 www.50thDDay.com Michael B. Butler's second book, released in 2022, is Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Who Escaped Justice. In 2024-26 three books are slated for release: Round the World & Across Russia in 21 Days, 30 Years Later and the two-book history set dedicated to 15 wartime military veterans, many who saw combat, from his familyHistory Leading to 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Book 1 and History Leading to 50th Anniversary of D-Day, Book 2. By Stephen Beech Parental pride is good for the health of moms and dads, according to new research. Experiencing feelings of pride and awe toward one's children can "significantly enhance" the well-being of parents, American researchers say. Their findings, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, showed that those positive emotions contribute to greater life satisfaction and stronger parent-child bonds. The research team from the University of Rochester in New York conducted a series of studies involving more than 850 moms and dads to examine how parental pride and awe affect various aspects of well-being. Study leader Princeton Chee said: "Parental pride and awe are common and beneficial feelings parents can have with their children. "Parents may feel proud when their child does something they worked hard to succeed in and accomplish. "They may feel awe when their child does something amazing or completely unexpected that make them feel like saying 'woah' or 'wow.'" While both emotions proved beneficial, the research showed that awe had more profound effects on overall well-being. Graduate psychology student Chee said: "We find that awe can actually strengthen parental well-being more broadly and holistically, compared to pride, making parents lives feel happier, more meaningful, and richer in experiences." The study found that awe connects parents to something larger than themselves, such as the parent-child relationship or the concept of parenthood itself, while pride tends to focus more on personal ego and accomplishments. The researchers say that distinction helps explain why awe showed stronger associations with purpose, meaning, and psychological richness in parents' lives. They said the finding that awe can alter parents' perception of time was "particularly noteworthy." Chee said: "Awe in particular can help parents fully immerse themselves by making time feel like it's slowing down during extraordinary moments." He says the research appears especially relevant amid growing concerns about parental mental health. Chee said: "Parents everywhere are struggling with mental health and well-being, with even the US surgeon general calling for an urgent need to better support parents. "Our research finds that one way in which parenthood can be rewarding, rather than detrimental, is through feeling pride and especially awe with one's child." He said that, contrary to popular belief, experiencing parental awe doesn't require rare or exceptional circumstances. Chee added: "Awe may be easier to find and cultivate than you might think. "It doesn't have to be only once in a lifetime, extraordinary experiences in which parents feel awe. "These certainly are rewarding moments that elicit awe, but awe, along with its many rewards, can also be cultivated through things as simple as weekend outings and quality time spent with one's child." He said the findings suggest that "cultivating and savoring" moments of pride and awe can help moms and dads find greater joy, meaning, and richness in the parenting experience. Conservative hopes of returning to power in Canada appear to be fading a week before its election, with polls showing voters view the Liberals as a stronger counter to Donald Trump. The American president's trade war, which threatens tens of thousands of Canadian jobs, and his talk of making the US' northern neighbor the 51st state have upended a race the Tories once appeared likely to win. Liberal leader and Prime Minister Mark Carney, who replaced the unpopular Justin Trudeau last month, has argued his experience leading the central banks of two G7 economies -- Canada and Britain -- makes him the ideal candidate to steer the country through a Trump-induced economic storm. There are also signs the campaign ahead of the April 28 vote has galvanized voter interest. Televised debates last week scored higher ratings than in previous votes, while nearly two million people cast ballots on the first day of early voting Friday -- a record number according to Elections Canada. After voting in Montreal, Christine Bonenfant told AFP she had backed the party that, in her view, "will do the best against Donald Trump," and restore "calm." The retiree voiced hope turnout would be high in the "important" election. Voter Josee Fournier said "Canada has a Sword of Damocles hanging over its head because of the situation with our southern neighbor." - Transformed race - Five parties hold seats in Canada's outgoing parliament but polls indicate this election is being disproportionately dominated by the Liberals and Conservatives. The left-wing New Democrats (NDP), the Quebec separatist Bloc Quebecois and particularly the Green Party have struggled to gain traction in a race dominated by the challenge of dealing with Canada's newly hostile superpower neighbor. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre had built broad support as a withering Trudeau critic. But Trudeau's departure combined with Trump's threats and Carney's resume have left the Tory leader vulnerable. Polls consistently show voters believe 60-year-old Carney is best suited to steer Canada through a trade war with the United States. On January 6, the day Trudeau said he would resign, the Liberals trailed the Conservatives by 24 points, according to the public broadcaster CBC's poll aggregator. By Sunday, the CBC data put Liberal support at 43.3 percent with Tories at 38.4 -- a sign of how the Carney-for-Trudeau swap had transformed the race. But the margins remain close and the race could still tilt towards the Conservatives. - 'Tragedy, reality' - Carney has argued his international experience as a central banker and in the private sector can help him realign Canada's trading relationships to curb reliance on the United States. Campaigning this week at Niagara Falls on the US border, Carney said Trump had brought "chaos...into our lives." "It's a tragedy, but also a reality. The key question in this election is who is best placed to oppose President Trump," he said. University of Winnipeg political scientist Felix Mathieu told AFP Carney appears to have succeeded in shifting voter focus away from the animosity felt for the Liberal Party in Trudeau's later years. Carney has won over some voters, "who were ready to vote Conservative," he said. Carney delivered a less polished performance at the debates compared to Poilievre, a seasoned politician. But the prime minister gave the impression of "being above the fray," said Mathieu. - Change? - Poilievre, 45, has served in parliament for two decades and has established a reputation as effective partisan combatant. But surveys indicate some voters view his style as too reminiscent of Trump, a significant liability in a campaign where the need for national unity to counter US hostility has become a dominant theme. Poilievre has pivoted in response to a changed race, forcefully criticizing Trump while arguing that weak economic performance through Trudeau's decade in power had left Canada vulnerable to US protectionism. "This election is about change. After the lost Liberal decade of rising costs and crime and a falling economy, the Liberals do not deserve a fourth term in power," Poilievre said Friday. "We need a change with a new Conservative government." bur-tib/bs/tgb In the selfie, Aaradhya can be seen standing between her parents and hugging Aishwarya, while Abhishek holds both of them close. The trio looked at the camera and flashed their beautiful smiles. The actress dropped a white-coloured heart emoji along with the photo. Actor couple Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary recently. They got married on April 20, 2007, in an intimate ceremony. On their anniversary, Aishwarya took to social media to share a heartfelt family photo featuring her with Abhishek and their daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan. The trio stepped out for dinner together at a plush restaurant to celebrate the big day in style. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AishwaryaRaiBachchan (@aishwaryaraibachchan_arb) See Also: Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai React To AbRam & Aaradhyas Performance Last month, the couple was seen attending Asutosh Gowariker's son Konark Gowariker's wedding function. They also reunited to celebrate Aaradhya's birthday and supported her during her school function. This photo comes amid divorce rumours of the couple. Reports have been doing the rounds for some time now that the Bollywood couple are on the verge of separation. However, this cute family photo seems to have squashed those rumours. One netizen remarked, "Nothing is more important than family" while another said, "This post slaps all the rumors" Not long ago, the internet was going crazy over romance rumours between Badshah and Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. During a recent reality show, Shilpa Shetty's comment about Badshah made netizens speculate day in and out. Many have come to the conclusion that Badshah is dating Tara Sutaria, but the people in question haven't shared their confirmation yet. See Also: Hania Aamirs favourite Indian city has a Badshah connect Netizens picked on the fact that Badshah blushed on the comment. Many have also noted that Shilpa may have just said what is written on the script. Some have quipped that she may not have known the meaning. In other news, Badshah and Hania Aamir were linked time and again. They were clicked shopping and on a coffee outing. The actress also attended rapper Badshah's concert in Dubai. They shared a warm hug with him. The rapper denied romance rumours with her. While reacting to the same, he said, "Hania is a very good friend of mine, and we share a great connection. We have a lot of fun whenever we meet, and that's all there is to it. She is happy in her life and I am in mine. Our equation is wonderful, but people often misinterpret it and see what they want to believe." That isn't stopping netizens from gushing over the rumoured couple. A video from a reality television show has been circulating online, where Shilpa is seen saying, "Badshah maine suna hai ki din main bhi taare dekh rahe hain aap. Tara dekh rahe hain aap. Arre, 90s ka daur hum log celebrate kar rahe hain, ek gaana yaad aaya mujhe khas taur se sirf aap ke liye. Tan tana tan tan tan Tara. Chalti hai kya 9 se 12? Yahi gaana ga rahe hain na aap Tum lal kyu ho gaye ho?"Netizens picked on the fact that Badshah blushed on the comment. Many have also noted that Shilpa may have just said what is written on the script. Some have quipped that she may not have known the meaning.In other news, Badshah and Hania Aamir were linked time and again. They were clicked shopping and on a coffee outing. The actress also attended rapper Badshah's concert in Dubai. They shared a warm hug with him. The rapper denied romance rumours with her. While reacting to the same, he said, "Hania is a very good friend of mine, and we share a great connection. We have a lot of fun whenever we meet, and that's all there is to it. She is happy in her life and I am in mine. Our equation is wonderful, but people often misinterpret it and see what they want to believe." Neither Tara, nor Badshah have opened up about the speculations. A major collaboration is on its way! Saif Ali Khan and Priyadarshan are slated to collaborate on the Hindi remake of Mohanlal starrer Oppam. Saif opened up about the movie, his role and what fans can expect from the collaboration. While speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Saif said, "Yes, I am doing a film with Priyadarshan next. I play a blind guy." Calling the collaboration "very exciting," Saif made sure to keep further details under the wraps. Fans took to social media to share their excitement about the collaboration. Oppam explores around a retired judge, who faces difficulty keeping his daughter safe from a convict he imprisoned. When he gets murdered, a man with visual impairment who was loyal to him tries to defend his daughter. Neither Saif, nor Priyadarshan has opened up about the collaboration yet. See Also: Kunal Kapoor Reveals Saif Ali Khan Didnt Remember His Lines On The Sets Of Jewel Thief? The upcoming collaboration will be the first time Saif and Priyadarshan come together for a project. While the cast hasn't been confirmed, Bobby Deol is rumoured to play the role of the lead antagonist. In other news, Saif Ali Khan is preparing to release Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins. It is slated to release on April 25, 2025. The actor was also seen in Devara: Part 1 alongside Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor. Saif once opened up on his career. He said, "I think there came a point where I said, Listen, things arent really working, so let me just enjoy it, rather than chasing money and stardom by doing Love Aaj Kal 2 or whatever. Let me do Kaalakaandi and some fun things, and reinvent." Fans took to social media to share their excitement about the collaboration. Oppam explores around a retired judge, who faces difficulty keeping his daughter safe from a convict he imprisoned. When he gets murdered, a man with visual impairment who was loyal to him tries to defend his daughter. Neither Saif, nor Priyadarshan has opened up about the collaboration yet.The upcoming collaboration will be the first time Saif and Priyadarshan come together for a project. While the cast hasn't been confirmed, Bobby Deol is rumoured to play the role of the lead antagonist.In other news, Saif Ali Khan is preparing to release Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins. It is slated to release on April 25, 2025. The actor was also seen in Devara: Part 1 alongside Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor.Saif once opened up on his career. He said, "I think there came a point where I said, Listen, things arent really working, so let me just enjoy it, rather than chasing money and stardom by doing Love Aaj Kal 2 or whatever. Let me do Kaalakaandi and some fun things, and reinvent." He also added, "You have to not be scared and you have to not be vain. You have to be really connected. Either that can come from a state of complete security or just that you have nothing to lose." Kristen Stewart and Dylan Meyer are married Kristen Stewart is now married! The actress and her fiancee, Dylan Meyer, exchanged vows in a private ceremony at Stewarts Los Angeles home on April 20, 2025. They obtained their marriage license the previous week. Congratulations to the couple! pic.twitter.com/CgTdYPS7lB Nyra Kraal (@NyraKraal) April 21, 2025 Kristen and Dylans relationship Kristen Stewarts latest and upcoming projects Actress Kristen Stewart, best known for her role in Twilight, is officially married. She exchanged vows with her long-term girlfriend, Dylan Meyer. They were together for six years and have been engaged for three years. The two had an intimate wedding ceremony in Los Angeles over Easter weekend.As per reports on TMZ, Kristen Stewart and Dylan Meyers wedding took place in their Los Angeles home with close friends and loved ones in attendance. The news portal also shared snaps from the wedding ceremony. Kristen opted for a stunning two-piece ensemble while Dylan wore a white sheer top paired with a white skirt. Kristen can be seen putting a ring on Dylans finger.Ahead of their wedding, the couple got their marriage license last week. Their wedding guest list included actress Ashley Benson and husband Brandon Davis.For the unversed, Dylan is the daughter of the Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nicholas Meyer. She met Kristen on the sets of a movie. However, they did not develop a close bond till they met again at a mutual friends birthday party. In 2019, they sparked relationship rumours with their joint appearances. They made their relationship Instagram official in October of the same year. The two were engaged in 2021.On the work front, Kristen was last seen in Sacramento. The actress joined Michael Angarano, Michael Cera and Maya Erskine in the road trip comedy. She is currently working on The Wrong Girls, a stoner comedy that also features Seth Rogen, Alia Shawkat and LaKeith Stanfield. Kristen co-wrote the film with Dylan Meyer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by iAAAAAiAAAAAe (@win._.min_223) Kim Taehyung is currently serving at the South Korean military. Recently, a fellow soldier in the army took to social media to share a heartfelt note about Taehyung. The soldier noted that Taehyung's guidance inspired him to work towards his dream career. While praising Taehyung, the soldier noted that he is now focusing on becoming a rehabilitation trainer in physical therapy.Gushing over Taehyung's abilities, the soldier noted that he ranked first in target shooting, first in winter urban warfare training, and received the Military Police Exemplary Award, despite his shoulder and thigh injuries. The soldier noted, "To. Taehyung hyung. Taehyung hyung, there were so many things I was thankful for during my military service, but I couldn't express them in words, so I'm here to convey my sincerity like this. Even though his shoulders, thighs, and overall body were not in good shape, he won first place in shooting as a full-shot marksman, first place in winter urban training and shooting, and even received the Military Police Model Award for his fighting spirit after being injured. I was really inspired by that."Opening up further, the soldier noted that Taehyung gave him "a lot of delicious food." He further added, "And in the last physical test that I took with my brother, when we ran 3km together, we tried to make it to the special class somehow, pulling each other and cheering each other on, and when we came in much earlier than the special class standard, it was really romantic, and I think it will be very memorable."Taehyung reacted to the soldier's post. He commented, "Haha, dont give up on becoming a rehab trainer, player. Make your dream come true, and be sure to come find me. Ill be waiting." Fans took to the comment section to hype Taehyung up, while praising him for his gesture. Jr NTR joined hands with director Prasanth Neel for an action entertainer. The film, tentatively titled NTRNeel, was launched last year in August, and has been highly anticipated by fans. The filming of the project began in a grand manner at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad in February where the unit shot with 2,000 junior artistes as part of a massive action sequence more like a protest scene. The director shot an action sequence sans the lead actor. Prashanth Neel, renowned for his blockbuster hits like the KGF series and Salaar, is expected to bring his unique vision to the film, elevating NTR's on-screen persona to a different level. The dynamic collaboration of NTR and Neel is sure to set new benchmarks in Indian cinema. The film is being bankrolled by Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili under Mythri Movie Makers, promising a cinematic spectacle. Bhuvan Gowda will handle the cinematography and Ravi Basrur will score the music. While fans have been eagerly awaiting Jr NTR's entry onto the sets of this ambitious film, the long wait will finally come to an end on April 22. Jr NTR has already left for Karnataka to commence shooting for his part in the action thriller he will join the sets officially on Tuesday. The photos of the actor leaving from Hyderabad airport along with his producers did the rounds on social media recently. And the excitement surrounding this collaboration has been unprecedented as everyone looks forward to NTRs arrival.Jr NTR, after the blockbuster success of Devara, is returning to the film sets. Prashanth, after the runaway hit of Prabhas-starrer Salaar, is helming the megaphone. And fans describe them as a deadly duo. All eyes are on this film, eagerly anticipating the magic that NTR and Prashanth Neel are set to create. NTRNeel will release in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam and other languages. Zhoushan, China--(Newsfile Corp. - April 20, 2025) - On the evening of April 20, 2025, the Fifth Sanmao Prose Prize Awards were presented in Dinghai, the hometown of the renowned Chinese writer Sanmao. The event was organized by the Dinghai District Committee, the district government, and the Zhoushan Federation of Literary and Art Circles, with support from the Dinghai District Committee Publicity Department. The Fifth Sanmao Prose Prize Awards Ceremony Held in Sanmao's Hometown, Dinghai To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/249127_4afda6f03432eb96_001full.jpg The "Sanmao Prose Prize Awards", named after the Dinghai-born writer Sanmao, is a literary award for essays aimed at Chinese writers worldwide. Over ten years, this award has become one of the most significant literary prizes in China, with influence extending across Asia, Europe, America, Australia, and Africa. Since launching the call for submissions in April last year, the fifth Sanmao Prose Prize Awards received 716 entries, the highest number in its history. After two rounds of evaluation, 13 winning essay collections and 13 individual essays were selected. This year, participating authors ranged in age from 90-year-olds to those born in the 1990s, with a rich variety of themes primarily focusing on maritime culture, traditional culture, and rural life. Centered around the theme of "nostalgia", Dinghai also hosted a series of Sanmao Literary Week activities this year, including a special exhibition of Sanmao's manuscripts at the Zhejiang Literature Museum and lectures by renowned authors in Dinghai. These initiatives aim to narrate new stories of the integration of literature and urban development from a cultural and economic perspective, enhancing Dinghai's cultural identity. Special attention is given to promoting Sanmao's cultural stories in Spain, collaborating with Chinese communities in Spain, Sanmao fans, and local governments to conduct commemorative activities and promote the Sanmao Prose Prize Awards, thereby advancing cultural exchange projects and showcasing international achievements through social media. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249127 SOURCE: Global News 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! When stakes are high in divorce, spouses need a team of legal experts, and GEM Family Law is the right firm for clients to untangle sizeable holdings, protect their children, and prepare to move forward. Navigating a complex divorce, whether contentious or not, can be an overwhelming journey. The amount of time and emotional energy spent quantifying marital assets is time taken away from focusing on what's best for yourself, your family, and your career. Attorneys of GEM Family Law "Most new clients tell me they are looking for someone who will have their back, someone they can trust who won't allow anything to fall through the cracks. Most importantly, they want to know they are being heard," says Elizabeth Bonanno, founding partner of GEM Family Law and one of 10 Top Divorce Lawyers of Colorado as named by Forbes Advisor for 2024 and 2025. Bonanno and the rest of the team at GEM Family Law work hard to gain the best possible outcomes for each of their clients while providing a supporting shoulder during a difficult time. At the firm, Bonanno is joined by fellow founding partners Erika Gebhardt, Ashley Emerson, Meagan Moodie, and partner Heather Landauer, all of whom have been named, among other accolades, The Best Lawyers in America for four consecutive years. THE ART OF ENDING THE DEAL GEM Family Law brings together the collective experience of its knowledgeable team of attorneys, plus a network of experts in fields such as asset and business valuation, income valuation, real estate valuation, executive compensation, tax issues, forensic accounting, child advocacy, and others. These experts build upon the knowledge from the firm's own experienced staff to provide clients with the most well-rounded representation. "Often, a favorable outcome depends on how well an attorney can understand the assets or complex issue, use experts, and present their testimonies persuasively," says Bonanno. On top of a true understanding of the underlying issue, another vital tool in the firm's arsenal is a listening ear. Whether hearing sensitive stories of abuse, fraud, or abandonment or discovering their client's dreams for the future, the team leans in and cares genuinely. Sometimes, what the client immediately wants would create adverse problems in the long term. Have they thought about the tax implications, for example, and will they be able to thrive and pursue their future plans? GEM Family Law attorneys explain the options their clients have and help them weigh the risks and benefits before deciding on a way forward. FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE GEM Family Law's reputation as a team of premier litigators gives clients a tremendous advantage, whether in or out of court. Judges and opposing attorneys know the team is creative and looks at the long-term cost and benefit analysis. "We are skilled in going to court if needed," says Bonanno. "We won't fold under pressure, and we're willing to try novel arguments." Recently, a woman asked Bonanno to challenge a long-accepted judicial practice. A housewife and her husband had invested in a promising new business venture during their marriage. Typically, the woman would be awarded her share of the equity based on its current value. Unfortunately, at the time of the divorce, the business had yet to show a profit. Could she convince a judge to delay her payout until the company grew? When mediation proved unsuccessful, Bonanno felt compelled to try to convince a judge of the reasonableness of the request, even though it was a unique position. The judge's favorable decision was groundbreaking and will have long-lasting effects in the future. "Emotionally charged and legally intricate, complex family law should never be an attorney's side gig," concludes Bonanno. "It's all we do." SOURCE: Gebhardt Emerson Moodie Bonanno, LLC Habitat for Humanity South Carolina possesses a collaborative, flexible, and innovative approach to a decades-long mission of addressing housing challenges throughout the state. With the rising costs of rent, prebuilt homes, and land and materials, homeownership is inaccessible for many throughout South Carolina. As the only nonprofit homeownership program with a presence across the state, Habitat for Humanity South Carolina and its network of 24 community affiliates serve residents earning 30% to 80% of the area median income. Nancy Lee The team's traditional service model is twofold: helping families achieve an "affordable" mortgage, meaning no more than 30% of the household income is used on housing, and assisting with home repair and critical maintenance matters. Habitat accomplishes these goals by increasing the amount of affordable homes, improving access to credit, optimizing land use, employing education initiatives, and more. "Affordable homeownership is a challenge that affects everyone in a community," says Nancy Lee, executive director. "What we do is bigger than any one single person." When Habitat was working with a health care system, an employee reached out and shared she had purchased her first home through the organization decades ago. Because of this accomplishment, she was able to receive an education, start a career in health care, and raise her children in the home. Eventually, she purchased a new home that fit her changing needs and passed down her paid-off home to her child's family. She still volunteers with Habitat to support the same community that gave her a helping hand when she needed it most. "Habitat is more than what meets the eye. We're not just building houses; we're building lives," says Lee. "We're building generational wealth, healthy families, stronger communities, and a stable future." A Refuge in the Storm While Habitat has remained consistent for several decades in its goal to combat housing challenges in South Carolina, the team's innovative approach is ever evolving. One example of that flexibility can be found in its Hurricane Helene recovery campaign. When Hurricane Helene hit South Carolina in 2024, Habitat took the initiative on disaster relief efforts, an uncharted territory for the team. By collaborating with state agencies, nonprofits, and funders in a single location, Habitat streamlined tasks like identifying households in need, meaning more time, energy, and funds could be devoted to repair work. Habitat partnered with the South Carolina Office of Resilience's Disaster Case Management Department, which covers intake and eligibility screening to respond quickly to unmet housing needs, ensuring that a single phone number throughout the state directs South Carolinians to a disaster case manager. Other partners in this initiative include the American Red Cross and Central Carolina Community Foundation's One SC Fund. To date, $1.6 million has been raised to support Habitat for Humanity South Carolina's disaster recovery model. The team at Habitat expects this innovative approach will become a best practice for disaster recovery in the future, and it plans to further embrace more groundbreaking efforts to serve the needs of the community. "What we do doesn't fit neatly into a box," says Lee. "We can adapt to the needs of South Carolina communities, whether it's disaster response or anywhere else we can fill a gap." Contact Information Nancy Lee Executive Director 803-291-4258 SOURCE: Habitat For Humanity South Carolina For 156 years and counting, volunteer powerhouse St. Vincent de Paul has supplied help and hope to the people of Greater Cincinnati. As the cost of living skyrockets, increasing numbers of Cincinnatians are suffering. For many families, spending an extra $50 each month on groceries can make a precarious financial situation dire. Enter St. Vincent de Paul, a vital, global nonprofit with a strong presence in Cincinnati since 1869 and more than 5,000 active local volunteers today. Don and Phyllis Neyer Ourtreach Center "Often, the families we serve have to choose between food, rent, utilities, medication, and clothing," says Brad McMonigle, CEO. Many people think of thrift stores when they hear "St. Vincent de Paul," but, in actuality, most of the organization's work in Cincinnati falls under the category of homelessness prevention. Last year alone, the organization provided just under $5.5 million in local rent and utility assistance and served over 100,000 neighbors at food pantries. It also provided over 94,000 free prescriptions through three charitable pharmacies and referred a significant number of neighbors for bed and furniture vouchers. "Some of our neighbors are so used to sleeping on the floor that it's all they know," says McMonigle. "A warm, comfortable bed is life-changing for them." In the last quarter of 2024, he notes, St. Vincent de Paul's Cincinnati council gave away 200 beds to community members each month, a dramatic increase from the usual 175. Given this sharp increase in need, St. Vincent de Paul is seeking new and deeper relationships with volunteers and corporate partners. "Financial donations are critical to our operations, but so are relationships," says McMonigle. " The more we can develop and grow, the more neighbors we can serve." In addition to donating to St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores, where over 92% of net proceeds go directly back to services, individuals looking to support St. Vincent de Paul can also sign up through an online volunteer portal to work at food pantries or St. Vincent de Paul hosted events. "Our volunteers walk alongside our neighbors and encourage or pray with them," says McMonigle. "It's a wonderful experience beyond just stacking shelves." Partnership Beyond Sponsorship St. Vincent de Paul furthers its mission by partnering with companies, aligning its corporate values with meaningful community impact. Partnerships are tailored to meet the philanthropic passions and strategies of each organization. "We invite companies to foster empathy and teamwork through immersive learning experiences like our poverty simulations at the Ozanam Center for Service Learning," says McMonigle. These sessions allow employees to "walk a mile" in the shoes of those navigating food stamps, housing systems, or family services, providing valuable insights into neighbors' challenges. Group volunteer opportunities further enhance this connection, doubling as impactful team-building exercises. Whether working in food pantries, thrift stores, or home visits, corporate teams engage with the mission of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" while strengthening bonds within their organizations. "Hosting drives for food, clothing, or personal care items is a powerful way to mobilize employees while addressing critical local needs," McMonigle says. Employee giving programs also inspire year-round generosity through payroll deductions or annual campaigns. "Our work is made possible by meaningful community partnerships, and we invite others to be part of this life-changing impact," McMonigle concludes. Contact Information Kaytlynd Lainhart VP of External Relations 513-562-8841 SOURCE: St. Vincent DePaul Cincinnati Citrea's Clementine Bridge marks the first time that a fully programmable layer is tested for settling on Bitcoin. GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Citrea , the first ZK rollup to enhance capabilities of Bitcoin blockspace and enable Bitcoin applications (?apps), has successfully deployed its Clementine Bridge , the first complete BitVM bridge design on Bitcoin Testnet. Citrea has also recently revealed Clementine's whitepaper , marking the first real-world implementation of a BitVM-based bridge which extends BTC's utility to decentralized finance in the most Bitcoin-secured and native way possible. With Clementine's testnet deployment, Bitcoin is for the first time tested for optimistically verifying a fully programmable layer. The Clementine whitepaper is currently the only documentation of how to use BitVM in a bridge design with clear solutions toward a secure and efficient bridge implementation. Despite being the world's largest digital asset, BTC has struggled to build relevance in decentralized finance. A secure bridge between Bitcoin and a secondary layer has always been a bottleneck for using BTC in a programmable environment. This problem has forced users to either keep Bitcoin as a passive store of value or rely on custodians for using BTC in financial activities. Citrea's BitVM-based Bitcoin bridge Clementine solves this by enabling the safest and most trust-minimized way to bridge BTC and extend its utility to decentralized finance. Citrea's Clementine bridge marks a historic moment for Bitcoin and a new beginning for BTC's utility. "It felt like magic when we saw all the bridge components work smoothly in our internal tests and that any malicious act is stopped by a single honest actor," said Ekrem Bal , Co-Creator of Citrea. "We're now ready to test Clementine in a real Bitcoin Testnet environment and make it more battle-tested for Citrea mainnet." With the introduction of BitVM by a Bitcoin developer Robin Linus, verifying computations on Bitcoin and building Bitcoin-secured bridges became a possibility. Very soon after its introduction, Citrea team became a core contributor of BitVM and later a founding member of BitVM alliance , where BitVM's fundamental technology of executing a fraud proof of a zero-knowledge (ZK) proof on Bitcoin was developed collaboratively. Although accomplishing a ZK proof verification on Bitcoin was a prerequisite, there were still critical problems to address to implement this fundamental technology securely and efficiently into a Bitcoin bridge design. A detailed breakdown of this can be found in Clementine's whitepaper . Clementine's design and whitepaper introduce novel solutions to two main research topics in BitVM-based bridge implementation, namely Bitcoin chain fork selection and capital efficiency of operators. These topics have been critical to solve as they ensure both the bridge's security and efficiency. Citrea's Clementine bridge offers clear solutions to both of these problems: Bitcoin Chain Fork Selection: This is related to ensuring that the bridge follows the longest Bitcoin chain. It has been an open research topic where the BitVM creator introduced superblocks approach but its security was later found to be broken. Citrea introduces a new Bitcoin Light Client design that uses succinct Header Chain Proofs of Bitcoin. These proofs are aggregated by operators into a single BitVM proof. Capital Efficiency of Operators: This has been another limitation of implementing BitVM efficiently into a bridge design. With Citrea's approach to non-standard Bitcoin transactions, operators can now process hundreds of withdrawals in parallel with a single collateral. Disproving only one withdrawal is enough to stop other malicious withdrawal processes. Clementine's design relies on zero-knowledge proofs, Bitcoin data availability, a novel Bitcoin Light Client design and BitVM. In the case of a malicious act, an honest watchtower provides a proof of the longest Bitcoin chain. Then the operator generates a proof verifying Citrea's state, watchtowers' challenges and payout for the withdrawal. If the operator is malicious, it won't be able to generate such proof, resulting in slashing the operator. Clementine has three main bridge actors to ensure the system's integrity: Signers enforce BitVM spendings by managing peg-ins through presign transactions enforce BitVM spendings by managing peg-ins through presign transactions Watchtowers are tasked with monitoring operators and challenging any malicious behavior by sending a proof of longest Bitcoin chain are tasked with monitoring operators and challenging any malicious behavior by sending a proof of longest Bitcoin chain Operators, a group of profit-seeking entities, temporarily cover users' withdrawals and are later reimbursed with presigned transactions. Citrea: Bitcoin's Application (?app) Layer Citrea extends Bitcoin's utility without sacrificing its security. With zero-knowledge technology, Citrea enables Bitcoin to function as a fully programmable layer. With its Bitcoin bridge Clementine, Citrea offers the safest and most trust-minimized way to bridge BTC to a fully programmable secondary layer. For the first time in its history, Bitcoin Network will be able to support diverse on-chain applications and its utility will be extended to decentralized finance. Apply to Citrea's unique incubation program ' Citrea Origins ' to build ?apps. For more information, please visit: Citrea website | Citrea X Account View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/introducing-clementine-bridge-citrea-deploys-first-complete-bitvm-bridge-design-on-testnet-302432655.html Cummins Adun Fashogbon, a Technical Controls Specialist at Cummins' Power Integration Center in Minnesota, shares her excitement for the future and the importance of gratitude: Q: If you had a twin, what important advice could you give them? Adun Fashogbon: First, try everything once, right? You never know what's out there, and you won't know whether you like something or not until you explore it. Keep an open mind. I'd also tell them to make sure they do something every day that sparks joy - because that's what life is about. It's about living joyfully and finding those moments that light you up. And finally, practice gratitude. It might seem like the smallest virtue, but it's one of the most powerful. It's simple, but it can make all the difference. Q: How is your team shaping the future of our industry? Adun Fashogbon: I work for the Power Integration Center, a microgrid testing facility located in Fridley, Minnesota. Cummins has built a strong reputation over the past hundred years manufacturing engines and power-generating systems. With the industry move towards cleaner sources of power and energy, it becomes imperative for us to best understand how all of these new assets and technologies work together. It's not just something that we, as a company, want to understand - it's something the entire industry is looking to better comprehend. That's where the Power Integration Center comes in. It's a place where you can easily test the mix of all these new assets - solar panels, hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers and battery energy storage systems - and see how they seamlessly work together as one system, because that's the future. Q: What sets a great team apart? Adun Fashogbon: I'm fortunate to be part of a great team, and the first thing that comes to mind is strong leadership. A team is only as good as the captain steering the ship, right? The clarity and vision that leadership provides give the team the strength and motivation to keep moving forward. Another key factor is collaboration. Q: What makes you most excited about the future? Adun Fashogbon: What excites me most about the future is the unknown - the possibilities we haven't even imagined yet. When I think back a few generations, I'm sure my great-grandmother would have been amazed by the technological advances of her time. But just imagine how blown away she would be by the world we live in today. I know the future will be even better than it is now. That's what excites me. I hope I'm here 50 years from now to see how the world has evolved. Working at Cummins and contributing to the work we do here makes me proud to be part of shaping that future. Opened in 2022, the Cummins Power Integration Center (PIC) is a 20,000 sq ft microgrid lab in Minnesota, where technicians and engineers collaborate to design, configure, test and validate advanced microgrid power systems. Click here for a virtual tour or find out more about the four main components of the PIC. 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 Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (TSXV:PGE)(OTCQB:PGEZF)(FSE:J0G) (the "Company" or "Stillwater") is pleased to announce that, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), it has granted 2,940,000 stock options (each, an "Option") and restricted share units (each, an "RSU") to certain directors and officers of the Company in accordance with the Company's Long-Term Performance Incentive Plan ("LTIP"). Each Option and RSU is exercisable into one common share in the capital of the Company ("Share") at a price of $0.16 per share, based on the five-day moving average volume weighted price of the Shares on the TSXV on April 17, 2025. The Options will vest over a period of five years from the date of grant and the RSUs will vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant. All vesting is in accordance with the shareholder approved LTIP. Upcoming Events Stillwater's President and CEO, Michael Rowley, will be available at the following events in 2025, in addition to other events to be added as the Company rolls out its marketing plans over the coming year: Global Commodity Expo Florida - Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 11-13, 2025. For information, click here. Global Commodity Expo Atlanta - Atlanta, Georgia, USA, May 14-16, 2025. For information, click here. The Mining Investment Event of the North - Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, June 3-5, 2025. For information, click here. Precious Metals Summit - Beaver Creek, Colorado, September 9-12, 2025. For information, click here. Precious Metals Summit - Zurich, Switzerland, November 10-11, 2025. For information, click here. About Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. Stillwater Critical Minerals (TSX.V: PGE | OTCQB: PGEZF | FSE: J0G) is a mineral exploration company focused on its flagship Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in the iconic and famously productive Stillwater mining district in Montana, USA. With the addition of two renowned Bushveld and Platreef geologists to the team and strategic investments by Glencore plc, the Company is well positioned to advance the next phase of large-scale critical mineral supply from this world-class American district, building on past production of nickel, copper, and chromium, and the on-going production of platinum group, nickel, and other metals by neighboring Sibanye-Stillwater. An expanded NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, released January 2023, positions Stillwater West with the largest nickel resource in an active U.S. mining district as part of a compelling suite of nine minerals now listed as critical in the USA. Stillwater also holds a 49% interest in the high-grade Drayton-Black Lake- gold project adjacent to Nexgold Mining's development-stage Goliath Gold Complex in northwest Ontario, currently under an earn-in agreement with Heritage Mining, and the Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu-Co critical minerals project on trend with Nickel Creek Platinum's Wellgreen deposit in Canada's Yukon Territory. The Company also holds the Duke Island Cu-Ni-PGE property in Alaska and maintains a back-in right on the high-grade past-producing Yankee-Dundee in BC, following its sale in 2013. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director - Stillwater Critical Minerals Email: info@criticalminerals.com Phone: (604) 357 4790 Web: http://criticalminerals.com Toll Free: (888) 432 0075. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Stillwater Critical Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Stillwater Critical Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. X-FLEXI, a trailblazing FinTech company, announced today the successful completion of a $91 million strategic restructuring financing round with participation from multiple international investment institutions. This funding will accelerate the upgrade of its global intelligent investment platform, deepen the application of AI and blockchain technologies in wealth management, and further solidify its leadership in the "secure, innovative, and efficient" FinTech sector. Empowering the Future: Funding Focused on Technological Innovation and Risk Control The capital will be strategically allocated across three key areas: AI-Driven Investment Engine Development: Building more precise global market prediction models and enhancing real-time asset allocation capabilities. Compliance & Security System Upgrades: Establishing a dual-core "multi-layer encryption-dynamic risk control" fund protection mechanism. Ecosystem Expansion: Setting up regional hubs in emerging markets, including Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, connecting over 1 million investor communities. Leadership Perspective: Redefining FinTech Value Standards Sarah Lee, CEO of X-FLEXI, stated: "This restructuring marks not just a breakthrough in capital but a pivotal step in X-FLEXI's evolution from a 'tool provider' to an 'ecosystem builder.' Our synergy with strategic partners will redefine the symbiotic boundaries between technology and finance." A representative from a key strategic investor commented: "X-FLEXI's underlying technological architecture and global vision perfectly align with the investment logic of 'smart finance' for the next decade. We anticipate it will set a new industry benchmark balancing security and returns." About X-FLEXI X-FLEXI is a world-leading intelligent FinTech platform headquartered in New York, USA, serving 79 countries. It is dedicated to democratizing and professionalizing wealth management through AI-powered quantitative strategies, decentralized asset custody, and immersive investor education. Media Contact X-FLEXI Global Branding Department Email: admin@xflexi.com Website: www.flexiible.com Person Name: Nathaniel Sterling SOURCE: X-FLEXI Nestled in the eastern Himalayas, between China and India the Kingdom of Bhutan is a destination that transcends ordinary travel. With its pristine landscapes, ancient Buddhist culture, and commitment to sustainability, Bhutan offers a rare blend of adventure, serenity, and authenticity. Whether you're a trekker chasing Himalayan vistas, a birder seeking rare species, a holidaymaker craving cultural immersion, or a traveller yearning to unwind, Bhutan stands apart as a sanctuary for the soul. Here's why. Spanning just 39,500 sq. km and home to around 700,000 people, Bhutan packs a profound punch-where untouched Himalayan wilderness coexists with the world's happiest philosophy, Gross National Happiness. Ancient Buddhist culture Trekking: Where Wilderness Meets Spirituality Bhutan's trekking trails are not just pathways through mountains-they're journeys into a mythic realm. Unlike crowded routes in neighboring countries, Bhutan's treks remain blissfully untouched, blending raw natural beauty with spiritual encounters. The Snowman Trek, one of the world's most challenging routes, travers's remote valleys and high passes (over 5,000 meters) beneath the gaze of Jomolhari and Gangkar Puensum, the world's highest unclimbed peak. For moderate hikers, the Druk Path Trek offers five days of alpine lakes, rhododendron forests, and campsites beside ancient monasteries. Every trail is imbued with cultural significance: prayer flags flutter over passes, and trekkers often receive blessings from monks in hilltop dzongs (fortresses). Bhutan's commitment to low-impact tourism means trails are uncrowded, and routes like the Trans Bhutan Trail-a newly restored 403-kilometer historic path-connect villages where time seems suspended. Here, trekking becomes a pilgrimage, where nature and spirituality intertwine. Mountain and trekking in snow-capped route Cultural Holidays: A Living Heritage Bhutan's culture is not a relic-it's a living, breathing ethos. The kingdom's philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) prioritizes well-being over materialism, creating a society deeply rooted in tradition. Visitors are welcomed into festivals (tsechus) where masked dances recount Buddhist legends, and into farmhouses where families share suja (butter tea) and stories. Architectural marvels like the cliffside Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) and the majestic Punakha Dzong showcase Bhutan's artistry. Each dzong, with its whitewashed walls and golden roofs, doubles as a monastic and administrative hub, reflecting the seamless blend of governance and spirituality. The capital, Thimphu, offers quirky contrasts: traffic policemen directing cars without traffic lights, and bustling markets selling fiery ema datshi (chilli cheese stew). Yet, modernity never overshadows tradition-a testament to Bhutan's balancing act between preservation and progress. Visiting the secret Tiger's Nest Temple Where to Go in Bhutan? Find Top 7 Places to Visit in Bhutan: Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest Monastery): Iconic cliffside pilgrimage site. Punakha Dzong: 17th-century fortress at Pho Chhu River confluence. Thimphu: Quirky capital with Buddha Dordenma statue and vibrant markets. Phobjikha Valley: Pristine glacial valley, winter home of endangered black-necked cranes. Haa Valley: Serene alpine meadows, traditional villages, and sacred temples. Bumthang Valley: Spiritual heartland with ancient monasteries like Jambay Lhakhang. Gangtey Monastery: Scenic 17th-century monastery overlooking Phobjikha's wetlands. Discover magic! You want to find more places to visit in Bhutan. Be ready to explore the hidden Kingdom of Bhutan when you book the trip. Mountain and trekking in snowcapped route Birding: A Paradise for Avian Enthusiasts With over 700 bird species, including 16 endangered varieties, Bhutan is a birder's Eden. Its forests, wetlands, and alpine meadows-protected by a constitutional mandate to maintain 60% forest cover-are sanctuaries for rare and vibrant species. The Phobjikha Valley, a glacial wetland, hosts the endangered black-necked crane each winter. In the subtropical lowlands of Royal Manas National Park, enthusiasts spot the rufous-necked hornbill and the elusive chestnut-breasted partridge. The Thrumshingla National Park shelters the beautiful ward's trogon and satyr tragopan. Local guides, often trained in community-based tourism projects, share intimate knowledge of habitats. Birding here isn't just a hobby-it's participation in Bhutan's conservation success story, where protecting biodiversity is a national pride. Witnessing the grace of the rare and revered Black-necked Crane Relaxation: Mindfulness in the Mountains Bhutan's pace is a balm for modern stress. The nation's focus on holistic well-being permeates its tourism ethos. Luxurious experience and yet eco-conscious lodges, like Zhiwaling or Amankora, offer hot stone baths, meditation sessions, and private hikes. Evenings are spent savouring organic, farm-to-table meals by firelight. For deeper rejuvenation, meditation retreats led by monks in monasteries like Cheri or Tango provide spiritual grounding. The Gasa Hot Springs, nestled in a forested valley, are believed to have healing properties. Meanwhile, the serene Haa Valley invites leisurely walks through barley fields, with only the sound of prayer wheels spinning in the wind. Bhutan's mandatory daily tariff (starting at $100) avoids overcrowding and maintains the serene beauty. The SDF collected from tourists is used in developing nations' infrastructure, Free health and education and overall development of the Country and its people. This policy isn't a barrier; it's a gateway to curated, unhurried experiences prioritising quality over quantity. Train your mind to be still. In stillness, you find your power (Meditation moment) Sustainability: Travel with Purpose Bhutan's allure isn't just in its landscapes-it's in its values. As the world's only carbon-negative country, Bhutan absorbs more CO2 than it emits. Its constitution mandates environmental protection, and its people view nature as sacred. Travelers here don't just sightsee; they contribute to a system that values ecological and cultural preservation. Gross National Happiness. Nomadic lady from northern Bhutan posing for picture. Bhutan is A Journey Beyond the Guidebooks Bhutan is not a checklist destination. It's a place where every mountain pass whispers a mantra, every forest trail reveals a hidden wonder, and every interaction leaves a lasting imprint. Whether you're tracing the footsteps of monks on a trek, spotting a rainbow-feathered bird, or simply breathing in the crisp Himalayan air, Bhutan offers something rare: the chance to travel deeply, mindfully, and transformatively. In a world racing toward excess, Bhutan stands still-a reminder that true wealth lies in harmony. Come for the trekking , stay for the tranquility, and leave with a renewed sense of what it means to truly explore. Media Contact: Mindu Dorji excursiontohimalayas@gmail.com Bhutan Tours https://tourbhutan.travel/ SOURCE: Bhutan Tours Electronic Caregiver (ECG) today announced that it has surpassed $1.4 million annually in cloud and managed services spending across Amazon Web Services (AWS) , Google Cloud Platform (GCP) , Microsoft (primarily Microsoft 365, with additional Azure services via partners), and other essential SaaS and cloud-based platforms including Sage Intacct, Five9, RingCentral, Unity Technologies, Datadog, Adobe Creative Cloud, and specialized telecommunications, accounting, security, and infrastructure service providers. This milestone firmly positions Electronic Caregiver among the top echelon of technology platforms globally in operational scale, technical maturity, and infrastructure sophistication for healthcare innovation. This milestone firmly positions Electronic Caregiver among the top echelon of technology platforms globally in operational scale, technical maturity, and infrastructure sophistication for healthcare innovation. Electronic Caregiver's significant cloud investment supports its flagship platform, Addison Care -the world's most advanced AI-powered virtual caregiver. It delivers 24/7 chronic care management, telehealth engagement, vitals monitoring, emergency response, and proactive activity monitoring for aging and chronically ill populations. "Surpassing $1.4 million in annual cloud investment is a major validation of our scale and technical commitment to mission-critical virtual health delivery," said Anthony Dohrmann, Founder and CEO of Electronic Caregiver. "It reflects our long-term vision to build a global infrastructure capable of delivering intelligent, personalized care anywhere, anytime, with the reliability and security that modern healthcare demands." Built on a multi-cloud foundation, Electronic Caregiver's infrastructure enables: Real-time ingestion of hundreds of millions of health data events annually AI-powered, conversational virtual caregiving via proprietary 3D avatars Predictive fall risk and chronic health anomaly detection HIPAA-compliant, highly resilient cloud architecture Global scalability for future expansion across North America, Europe, and Asia Electronic Caregiver's investments with AWS, GCP, and Azure ensure best-in-class performance, availability, and regulatory compliance to meet the rising demand for virtualized health support. The platform currently supports hundreds of thousands of annual patient interactions and partnerships with more than 100 healthcare and aging services providers. As the healthcare industry confronts rising chronic disease rates, labor shortages, and the demand for remote care delivery, Electronic Caregiver's scalable cloud-native ecosystem positions the company to lead the transformation of global care engagement for the aging and chronically ill. Fewer than 5% of all funded startups ever reach $1 million in annual cloud and managed services spending, according to industry benchmarks including Silicon Valley Bank and Bessemer Venture Partners. Among companies at the Seed to Series B stage, fewer than 2% achieve this threshold globally, and these infrastructure investments and performance milestones have positioned Electronic Caregiver at an advanced stage of operational maturity and scalability. " This achievement signals the company's readiness to operate as a mission-critical health infrastructure provider and supports its continued expansion into clinical partnerships, payer networks, and international markets," said Anup Marwadi, CEO of Hypertrends Global Inc., a custom software engineering company based in San Diego. About Electronic Caregiver, Inc. Founded in 2009, Electronic Caregiver is the leading provider of AI-powered virtual caregiving solutions, revolutionizing chronic care management, elder support, and telehealth engagement. With an NIH-funded study, Inc. 5000 recognized, and trusted by healthcare providers nationwide, ECG empowers aging and vulnerable populations to live longer, healthier, more independent lives through intelligent, continuous virtual care. Learn more at www.electroniccaregiver.com. For press inquiries, partnership opportunities, or to schedule a live demo of Addison Care, please contact: Travis Luevano 575-649-7808 media@ecg-hq.com https://electroniccaregiver.com/ SOURCE: Electronic Caregiver, inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 21, 2025) - SuperBuzz Inc. (TSXV: SPZ) ("SuperBuzz" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that, further to its press releases dated December 24, 2024, January 10, 2025 and February 4, 2025, the Company completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing of special warrants (each, a "Special Warrant") of the Company at a price of C$0.16 per Special Warrant for gross proceeds of C$706,554.06 (the "Offering") on April 14, 2025. Each Special Warrant of the Company was automatically exchanged for units of the Company (each, a "Unit") upon satisfaction of the applicable exercise conditions: (i) receipt of shareholder approval with respect to the Consolidation (as defined in the February 18, 2025 news release); (ii) completion of the Consolidation; and (iii) receipt of all corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), for the Offering and the Consolidation. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share for a period of 24 months from the applicable issuance date of the Special Warrants at the following exercise prices: (i) C$0.22 per Common Share if exercised within the first 12 months from the closing date of the applicable tranche of the Offering; and (ii) C$0.28 per Common Share if exercised during the subsequent 12-month period prior following the closing date of the applicable tranche of the Offering. Debt Settlement, Loan Extension and Early Warning Disclosure Effective April 14, 2025, the Company also announces that it has settled C$150,000 of debt (the "Debt Settlement") through the issuance of 937,500 Common Shares at a price of C$0.16 per Common Share to Yoel Yogev, the Chairman and a director of the Company (the "Lender"). The Company also announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Message Notify Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the State of Israel (the "Borrower"), which entered into a loan agreement effective August 5, 2024 (the "Agreement") to borrow US$755,742 (the "Principal Amount") from the Lender, has agreed with the Lender to extend the maturity date of the Loan (as defined below) to December 31, 2026 (the "Loan Extension"). As previously disclosed, the Loan bears interest at a rate of 13% per annum (the "Interest"), commencing as of the date that the Principal Amount was advanced to the Borrower, calculated on the basis of 365 days a year (the Principal Amount together with the accrued Interest, the "Loan"). The Loan or any portion thereof, shall be repaid by the Borrower to the Lender upon the earlier of the following: (i) December 31, 2026; (ii) the Company generating gross revenues of US$1,000,000 or more in a financial year, in which case 20% of the gross revenue above US$1,000,000 is to be paid to the Lender as an interim payment towards the Loan, (iii) the voluntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Borrower; or (iv) upon a default event under the Agreement. The issuance of Common Shares to Mr. Yogev (the "Related Party Transaction") in connection with the Debt Settlement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of TSXV Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemption from the formal valuation requirement under Section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, as the Common Shares are not listed on a specified market, and is also relying on the exemption from the minority approval requirement under Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the transaction does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Loan Extension also constitutes a Related Party Transaction. The fair market value of the Loan does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization, enabling the Company to rely upon Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 as an exemption from a formal valuation and Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as an exemption from minority shareholder approval. The Board approved both transactions, with Mr. Yogev abstaining. No materially contrary views were expressed. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the closing, which it considers reasonable in the circumstances, as the Company wanted to complete the Loan Extension and Debt Settlement on an expedited basis for business reasons. The Company and the Lender have agreed to complete the Debt Settlement to preserve the Company's cash for working capital purposes. All securities issued in connection with the Debt Settlement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation in Canada. Prior to the Debt Settlement, Mr. Yogev beneficially owned, or exercised control or direction over, 5,083,342 Common Shares and 5,083,342 warrants to acquire Common Shares, representing approximately 25.23% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and approximately 40.30% on a partially diluted basis. In connection with the Debt Settlement, Mr. Yogev acquired 937,500 Common Shares and now beneficially owns, or exercises control or direction over, 6,020,842 Common Shares and 5,083,342 warrants to purchase Common Shares, representing approximately 23.61% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and approximately 36.31% on a partially diluted basis. Mr. Yogev holds the Common Shares and warrants to purchase Common Shares for investment purposes and may evaluate such investment on an ongoing basis and subject to various factors including, without limitation, the Company's nancial position, the price levels of the Common Shares, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the Company's business or nancial condition, and other factors and conditions that Mr. Yogev may deem appropriate. Mr. Yogev may increase, decrease or change his ownership over the Common Shares or other securities of the Company. A copy of the early warning report will be electronically filed with the applicable securities commission in each jurisdiction where SuperBuzz is a reporting issuer and will be available on SuperBuzz's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. For further information or to obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact Liran Brenner, Chief Executive Officer at liran@superbuzz.io. SuperBuzz's head office is located at 1 Adelaide St. East, Unit 801, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2V9, Canada. None of the securities issued in the Offering and the Debt Settlement will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. About SuperBuzz Inc. SuperBuzz is revolutionizing how people interact with technology. Its AI platform leverages OpenAI's GPT-3 model to automate many processes, including push notifications and content creation. The platform simplifies the user experience, allowing for advanced digital interaction that cuts back on manual tasks. Moreover, SuperBuzz's AI platform intelligently responds to small and medium-sized businesses' unique needs, making it an incredibly reliable and powerful tool for various applications. Additional information in respect of the Company's business is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: the Company's business objectives and milestones and the anticipated timing of, and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the Company's future growth prospects; the development of the Company's business and future activities following the date hereof; expectations relating to market size and anticipated growth in the jurisdictions within which the Company may from time to time operate or contemplate future operations; expectations with respect to economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to the Company or the industry generally; the competitive landscape within which the Company operates; the performance of the Company's business and the operations and activities of the Company; the Company's ability to obtain, maintain, and renew or extend, applicable authorizations, including the timing and impact of the receipt thereof; the Company's continued work on its product offerings, including the use of OpenAI's GPT-3 model. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events; there will continue to be a demand, and market opportunity, for the Company's product offerings; current and future economic conditions will neither affect the business and operations of the Company nor the Company's ability to capitalize on anticipated business opportunities; current and future members of management will abide by the Company's business objectives and strategies from time to time established by the Company; the Company will retain and supplement its board of directors and management, or otherwise engage consultants and advisors having knowledge of the industries (or segments thereof) within which the Company may from time to time participate; the Company will have sufficient working capital and the ability to obtain the financing required in order to develop and continue its business and operations; the Company will continue to attract, develop, motivate and retain highly qualified and skilled consultants and/or employees, as the case may be; taxes and all other applicable matters in the jurisdictions in which the Company conducts business and any other jurisdiction in which the Company may conduct business in the future; the Company will be able to generate cash flow from operations, including, where applicable, distribution and sale of its products; the Company will be able to execute on its business strategy as anticipated; the Company will be able to meet the requirements necessary to obtain and/or maintain authorizations required to conduct the business; the Company's continuing ability to meet the requirements necessary to remain listed on the TSXV; general economic, financial, market, regulatory, and political conditions will not negatively affect the Company or its business; the Company will be able to successfully compete in the industry; prices offered by competitors will not decline materially; the Company will be able to effectively manage anticipated and unanticipated costs; the Company will be able to conduct its operations in a safe, efficient and effective manner; the Company's ability to continue to work on its product offerings, including the use of OpenAI's GPT-3 model. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the risks associated with the industry in general; the inability of the Company to obtain requisite approvals; the Company's inability to attract and retain qualified members of management to grow the Company's business and its operations; the Company's inability to effectively manage unanticipated costs and expenses, including costs and expenses; the risk's associated with the Company's in meeting its business objectives and milestones and the anticipated timing of, and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the inability of the Company to identify and secure future growth prospects; the Company's inability to develop its business and future activities following the date hereof; the Company's inability to meet or exceed expectations relating to market size and anticipated growth in the jurisdictions within which the Company may from time to time operate or contemplate future operations; the Company's inability to meet or exceed expectations with respect to economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to the Company or the industry generally; the risks associated with the market for the Company's current and proposed product offerings; the risks associated with the distribution methods expected to be used by the Company to deliver its product offerings; the effect of the Consolidation on the Company's securities; the Company's inability to obtain, maintain, and renew or extend, applicable authorizations, including the timing and impact of the receipt thereof; the Company's inability to continue to work on its product offerings, including the use of OpenAI's GPT-3 model. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249165 SOURCE: SuperBuzz Inc. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 21, 2025) - Sprock-it Acquisitions Ltd. (the "Corporation") a capital pool company ("CPC") as defined under Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies (the "CPC Policy") of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), is pleased to announce that, on April 21, 2025, it obtained a receipt for its amended and restated final prospectus dated April 17, 2025 (the "Amended and Restated Prospectus") from the securities regulatory authorities in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario in connection with its initial public offering (the "IPO"). The Amended and Restated Prospectus amends and restates the Corporation's final prospectus dated January 17, 2025. Under the IPO, the Corporation intends to raise a minimum of $750,000 (the "Minimum Offering") through the issuance of 7,500,000 common shares (each a "Common Share") and up to a maximum of $1,500,000 through the issuance of 15,000,000 Common Shares, at a price of $0.10 per Common Share (the "Offering Price"). The IPO is being led by iA Private Wealth Inc. (the "Agent") on a "best-efforts" basis pursuant to an agency agreement dated January 17, 2025 (the "Agency Agreement"). In accordance with the terms of the Agency Agreement, the Agent will be paid a cash commission equal to 10.0% of the gross proceeds raised in the IPO (the "Agent's Commission"), subject to a reduced Agent's Commission of 8% of the gross proceeds of the Offering from the sale of Common Shares to certain purchasers designated by the Corporation on a president's list (the "President's List") up to a maximum of $750,000. The Agent will also be granted a non-transferable option (the "Agent's Option") to purchase such number of Common Shares as is equal to 10% of the aggregate number of Common Shares sold pursuant to the Offering to purchasers, subject to a reduced rate of 8% of the aggregate number of Common Shares sold under the Offering to purchasers on the President's List up to a maximum of $750,000. Each Agent's Option shall entitle the Agent to acquire one Common Share at the Offering Price and will expire on the day that is five years from the listing date of the Common Shares on the Exchange. The IPO is subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of gross proceeds to satisfy the Minimum Offering. The Exchange has conditionally approved the listing of the Common Shares under the symbol "SPRO". Listing is subject to the Corporation fulfilling all of the listing requirements of the Exchange. The Amended and Restated Prospectus contains important information about the IPO, the Corporation and the securities being offered. Potential investors should read the Amended and Restated Prospectus prior to making an investment decision. The Amended and Restated Prospectus is accessible on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Access to the Amended and Restated Prospectus is provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to procedures for providing access to a prospectus and any amendment. An electronic or paper copy of the Amended and Restated Prospectus may be obtained, without charge, from iA Private Wealth Inc. at 26 Wellington Street, East, Unit #700, Toronto, ON M5E 1S2, Attention: Greg Jackson, or by telephone at (613) 627-1004, by providing the contact with an e-mail address or address, as applicable. ABOUT THE CORPORATION The Corporation is a CPC that has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash. Except as specifically contemplated in the Exchange's CPC Policy, until the completion of its Qualifying Transaction, the Corporation will not carry on business, other than the identification and evaluation of businesses or assets with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW. ANY SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "1933 ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1933 ACT. Completion of the IPO is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to the receipt of requisite regulatory approvals, including the final approval of the Exchange. There can be no assurance that the IPO will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Amended and Restated Prospectus, any information released or received with respect to the IPO may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Investment in the securities of a CPC should be considered highly speculative. Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement This release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Corporation, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the IPO, the terms and timing on which the IPO is intended to be completed, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals and other factors. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "is expected", "expects", "scheduled", "intends", "contemplates", "anticipates", "believes", "proposes", "estimates" or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the Corporation's management. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release, including completion of the IPO, may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Corporation, including the risk that the Corporation may not obtain all requisite approvals for the IPO, including the approval of the Exchange, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, economic factors, timing of the IPO, the equity markets generally and risks associated with CPCs. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249288 SOURCE: Sprock-it Acquisitions Ltd. Singapore, Singapore, April 21st, 2025, FinanceWire (From L to R) Sharan Makhija, Senior Investments Director, Singtel Innov8; Diana Kam, CEO, APAC, Venturebeam; and Edgar Hardless, CEO, Singtel Innov8 Venturebeam, a global network of professional investors, venture capital firms, and family offices, has successfully facilitated a US$7.3 million funding round for viAct, a Hong Kong-based sustainability-focused AI company. The funding round, which exceeded viActs initial target of US$6 million, was led by VentureWave Capital, with participation from Singtel Innov8, Korea Investment Partners, and PolyU Entrepreneurship Investment Fund. This milestone marks Venturebeams inaugural investment deal in Asia following its launch in Singapore in March 2024. (From L to R) Gary Ng, Co-Founder, viAct; Linda Liu, Vice President, VentureWave Capital; and Hugo Cheuk, Co-Founder, viAct Founded in 2016, viAct has built a holistic ecosystem of AI-powered technologies, with their pioneering Scenario-based Vision Intelligence, AIoT, and edge-generative AI solutions to enhance jobsite safety and productivity for heavy industries. Recognised by the World Economic Forum as Technology Pioneers in 2023, viAct, as a responsible AI startup, catalyse transformative impact by redefining paradigms of safety, operational excellence, and sustainable innovation across risk-prone workplaces such as construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, facility management, and mining industries. The latest funding round will fuel its growth into regions like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) & Europe, further accelerating its efforts to reshape industries with technology that fosters safer, more adaptive, and eco-conscious workplaces. Companies such as viAct are at the forefront of transforming traditional industries towards delivering meaningful impact. This successful fundraising validates our rigorous approach to curating financially robust, high-growth companies that deliver both scale and measurable impact across multiple regions, said Diana Kam, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, Venturebeam. Securing VentureWave Capital as our lead investor and facilitating participation from partners such as SingTel Innov8 and Korea Investment Partners underscores our ability to mobilise our global network of professional investors and accelerate momentum for this transformative movement. Together, we are redefining the global venture landscapewhere impact and investment returns go hand in hand, Diana added. Raising capital is more than just numbers; its about aligning with partners who believe in your vision. Thanks to Venturebeam, viAct connected with forward-thinking investors but also gained credibility through using their digitalised platform, which is a legit systematic deal diligence process. The A+ Impact Scoring awarded to viAct by Venturebeam further reinforced our reputation, giving global investors greater confidence to join our mission in transforming workplace safety, believing in our AI for Good motto, said Gary Ng, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, viAct. ViAct is a prime example of how high-impact, scalable companies are emerging from the global startup ecosystem. At VentureWave Capital, we back visionary founders who are leveraging technology to transform industries, and ViAct is doing exactly that in AI-powered sustainability and workplace safety. This investment, alongside global investors, highlights the increasing international collaboration in Series A and B roundsshowcasing how strategic partnerships, facilitated by Venturebeam, are enabling startups like ViAct to accelerate growth across key markets. We look forward to supporting ViAct as they expand their impact across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, said Linda Liu, Vice President, VentureWave Capital. It was a pleasure working with Venturebeam on the ViAct transaction. We look forward to engaging with them on ViAct and other potential opportunities in the future, said Edgar Hardless, Chief Executive Officer, Singtel Innov8. At Korea Investment Partners, we are committed to supporting visionary companies that leverage cutting-edge technology to drive meaningful impact. viActs AI-driven solutions are transforming workplace safety and operational efficiency across high-risk industries, and with increasing government mandates for video analytics in construction safety, the company is well-positioned for significant growth. We are excited to be part of viActs journey and look forward to seeing it scale its innovation globally to create safer, smarter, and more sustainable work environments, said Synclare Kim, Head of Korea Investment Partners Southeast Asia. This milestone deal, coinciding with Venturebeams first anniversary in Asia, reaffirms its commitment to driving global impact through capital, technology, and innovation. Headquartered in London, Venturebeam launched in Asia with an exclusive event attended by over 100 venture capital firms, family offices, and ecosystem players last March at Singapores Four Seasons Hotel, featuring renowned serial entrepreneur and investor Taizo Son, who is also one of the key investors and supporters of Venturebeam. During his keynote speech, Taizo Son reiterated his support for Venturebeam as a like-minded partner aligned with his vision of creating a Silicon Valley ecosystem in Asia to connect investors with great entrepreneurs. As the worlds largest impact investor platform, Venturebeam is transforming the venture investment ecosystem by revolutionising how companies access capital. By being a central hub for investors with over US$10 billion AUM to connect, share, and analyse deal flow, and manage secondary transactions, Venturebeam backs impact-driven entrepreneurs pioneering innovations for a sustainable future. In Southeast Asia, this commitment translates into a dedicated focus on nurturing the regions emerging ecosystems, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, to unlock their full potential as part of Venturebeams broader mission to advance impact investing as a leading sector for asset allocation globally and across Asia-Pacific. In June 2024, Venturebeam facilitated a 30 million Series B funding round for XOCEAN, alongside VentureWave Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, and Enterprise Ireland. The leading provider of carbon-neutral ocean data has since used this funding to expand operations into Australia with the opening of a new technical centre in Melbourne. Another milestone for Venturebeam is the launch of its free-to-use proprietary Venture Impact Score, a tool designed to help venture-backed companies measure and share their global impact. In line with this, the firm has recently announced a partnership with Google Startups for Sustainable Development (SFSD), which will provide a holistic ecosystem for startups driving meaningful change towards global sustainable development. This partnership will enable companies in the Google SFSD program to access Venturebeams capital raise support and investor network, while the Venture Impact Score will assist them in assessing and improving their impact. Since launching in Asia, Venturebeam has been at the forefront of impact investing, continuously expanding its reach and influence among its network of over 200 venture capital firms, family offices, and professional investors. During the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) 2024, Venturebeam hosted an exclusive invitation-only roundtable dinner focused on the transformative potential of AI technology and its implications for Asia-Pacific and the world. The event brought together thought-leaders, founders, and leading investors in AI, allowing participants to delve into the near-term prospects, challenges, and notable trends within this rapidly evolving field. Demonstrating its leadership in Impact and sustainability, Venturebeam was recognised at the European Chamber of Commerce Singapore (EuroCham) Sustainability Awards 2024, receiving the inaugural SME Rising Star in Sustainability award presented by Singapores Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. About Venturebeam Venturebeam is a global investment platform with a global investor network of over US$10 billion AUM backing the impact-driven entrepreneurs shaping the future of our planet. For more information, users can visit https://www.venturebeam.com/ Contact Senior Account Manager Joseph Ng Redhill [email protected] Disclaimer: This is a paid press release and is distributed for general information only and is not intended to constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. R Madhavan plays the character of Adv. Neville McKinley in Kesari Chapter 2. Adv. Neville McKinley represented the British Crown against C Sankaran Nair. Adv. Neville McKinley was an Anglo Indian Barrister as shown in the movie. Here is what we know. read more Not just Akshay Kumars character as Sankaran Nair, but Anglo-Indian Adv. Neville McKinleys role played by R. Madhavan is receiving huge appreciation by cinema lovers. According to a social media post, Dharma Production says that ten characters were combined together to make the role of Adv. Neville McKinley in Kesari Chapter 2, played by R Madhavan, one of the most powerful antagonists of recent times. There was a battery of lawyers to fight against Sankaran Nair. Advertisement Meet Neville McKinley Karan Johar said, When the character of Neville McKinley was written, we needed a solid actor. A solid antagonist to combat the protagonist. And we all know Maddy aka Madhavan is an absolutely outstanding actor. No wonder there isnt much information about Neville McKinley on the net or in our history books. Talking about R Madhavan, He walked around like a tiger, director Karan Singh Tyagi recalls, speaking about his presence on his very first day on set. The BTS video, shared on social media, is captioned: Every stare, every silence, every decision crafted to leave a mark. Heres a glimpse into how Neville McKinley, the face of fear, was created." Story of 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. 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. Advertisement 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. WATCH the trailer of Kesari: Chapter 2 here: More trouble awaits Sheikh Hasina. The Bangladesh Police has requested Interpol for a red corner notice against the former Bangladeshi prime minister. Will this impact her stay in India? read more Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been living in India since August 5 last year. File image/AP On August 5, 2024, Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, fled the country following a massive student-led protest that toppled her Awami Leagues (AL) 16-year regime and sought refuge in India. Now, almost eight months later, the Bangladesh Police has submitted a request to Interpol, seeking a red notice against her and 11 other individuals, which could mean more trouble for the deposed Bangladeshi leader. What does this mean for Hasina? What does it mean for her extradition? We get you the answers. Advertisement Red corner notice against Hasina On Sunday, news reports emerged that the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police has submitted a request to Interpol seeking a red notice against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with 11 other individuals. Later, Enamul Haque Sagor, assistant inspector general (media), confirmed the same, telling The Daily Star, These applications are filed in connection with allegations that emerge during investigations or through ongoing case proceedings. If approved, the red notice would enable provisional arrest and location tracking of the accused. Interpol plays a key role in identifying the locations of fugitives residing abroad. Once the whereabouts of any absconding individual are confirmed, that information is relayed to Interpol, said Sagor. The notice comes after Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for crimes against humanity and genocide. Following this, last November, the Chief Prosecutors Office of the International Crimes Tribunal officially asked the police headquarters to get Interpols help in arresting Sheikh Hasina and others considered fugitives. The Bangladesh government, headed by interim advisor, Muhammad Yunus, has been seeking Hasinas extradition from India since she fled the country last August. And to this end, in January, the government said it would continue its efforts in bringing Hasina from India and would even seek international intervention if needed. Protesters stand against a vandalised mural of Sheikh Hasina at Teacher Student Center (TSC) area of University of Dhaka in Dhaka, Bangladesh. File image/Reuters Red corner notice, explained But what exactly is an Interpols red corner notice? The Interpol, which is an inter-governmental law enforcement organisation that assists and facilitates cooperation between national law forces in 196 member countries to combat transnational crimes, uses a colour-coded system to alert and share requests for crime-related information among member countries and global organisations such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Tribunals and the International Criminal Court (related to sanctions, genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity). As of today, the Interpol has eight types of notices. The most common is the red notice to seek the location/arrest of a person wanted by a judicial jurisdiction or an international tribunal with a view to his/her extradition. Advertisement Then theres the green notice to warn about a persons criminal activities if that person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety. The Interpol also has a blue notice, which is to locate, identify or obtain information on a person of interest in a criminal investigation. The Interpols yellow notice is to locate a mission person whereas the black notice is to seek information on unidentified bodies. The Interpol also has a purple notice as well as an Interpol UNSC Special Notice. Legal experts note that an Interpols red notice is an international alert for a wanted person, but it is not an arrest warrant. It contains information that helps identify wanted persons, such as their names, date of birth, nationality, and physical attributes such as the colour of their hair and eyes, as well as pictures and biometric data such as fingerprints if they are available. Red notices also mention the crime(s) they are wanted for. Advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Sheikh Hasina. Since her ouster from Bangladesh, Hasina has been in India. File image/PTI Bangladesh seeks Sheikh Hasinas extradition Since her exit from Bangladesh last August, over 100 cases, including mass murder and graft, have been levelled against Hasina with the Bangladeshi administration seeking her presence in the country to stand trial for them. However, Hasina, who is in hiding in India, refuses to return to New Delhi also showing no signs of extraditing her. Late last December, Dhaka sent all necessary documents to India to request the extradition of Sheikh Hasina. But the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi has maintained a reserved stance and, despite repeated inquiries, has refrained from making any further comments beyond an initial acknowledgment of receipt. Its important to note that India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty in place, which was amended in 2016 to expedite the process. According to the treaty, the offence must be punishable in both countries. The accusations against Hasina are prosecutable in India, and the punishments for her alleged crimes are also substantial, so she can be extradited on these grounds. But, New Delhi, according to Karan Thukral, an Indian Supreme Court lawyer specialising in extradition matters, can refuse the extradition request if there are credible concerns about charges being politically motivated and potential judicial proceedings in Bangladesh being unfair. Advertisement Even other geopolitical experts note that India is unlikely to extradite Hasina. As The Diplomat noted agreeing to Dhakas demand could strain Indias diplomatic relations with other nations wary of perceived political retribution, making Hasinas extradition seem like a non-starter. Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Rashna Imam also told South China Morning Post that India may not be keen to extradite Hasina because it is competing with China to become a superpower and becoming a regional hegemon would pave the way for that. Hasina compromised the interests of Bangladesh in many ways in exchange for Indias backing to retain power. India is worried that if it does extradite Hasina, it might send out a message to its existing and future allies that India does not fulfil its end of the bargain when the time comes, she was quoted as telling This Week in Asia. However, an outright refusal to extradite Hasina will also have consequences for New Delhi. Hence, maintaining a wait-and-watch option is Indias best choice, for now. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Donald Trumps big fight against Harvard continues. His administration is now planning to cut more funds $1 billion to health research. With billions in grants paused, a threat against its tax-exempt status and a possible ban on foreign students, how long will Americas oldest university be able to defy the US president? read more Students and faculty members of Harvard University at a community rally in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 17. The US administration is cracking down on Harvard after it has refused to follow some of the new government policies. AP The Harvard vs Trump battle enters Week 2. After freezing $2.2 million in grants and threatening to strip the prestigious university of its tax-exempt status, the US administration is planning to pull an additional $1 billion in funding for health research, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). It all started last Monday (April 14), when the Trump administration announced that it would pause $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and $60 million in multiyear contract value to Harvard University. The crackdown against the school is because it has refused to follow policy demands from the government. Advertisement Why is Trump going after Havard University? Last Friday (April 11), US officials sent a confidential letter with a long list of demands to Harvard, which they thought was confidential. However, on Monday last, the university made the letter public. The administration was planning to treat Harvard, the countrys oldest institute of higher education, more leniently than Columbia University, which was the centre of anti-Israel protests. However, they now want to pressure Harvard more, people familiar with the matter told WSJ. The letter, which was sent by a new panel called Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, and addressed to Harvard President Alan M Garber, demanded that the university must make meaningful governance and leadership reforms; adhere to merit-based hiring and admissions by ceasing all preference, based on race, colour, religion, sex and nationality; and allow the federal government oversight of the ideology of students and staff. However, there was no agreement to keep the letter private, the report says. Garber said, in a statement, that the university had informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement. Harvard will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. According to people close to the university, the task force is escalating the fight to protect its reputation, reports WSJ. Demonstrators rally on Cambridge Common in a protest organised by the City of Cambridge, calling on Harvard leadership to resist federal government interference at the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reuters Interestingly, a report in The New York Times (NYT) said that the letter should not have been sent and was unauthorised. Officials in the Trump administration were divided over the letter, with some believing it was sent prematurely and others saying it was not meant to be sent at all. However, a White House spokesperson said the administration stands behind the letter and its demands. Advertisement The task force expected Harvard to concede to its demands, like Columbia. The latter agreed to several demands by the Trump administration, including a ban on face masks, after it paused $400 million in federal funding over accusations that the university failed to fight antisemitism on campus. Harvards decision to release the letter was seen as resistance. What action has the Trump administration taken against Harvard? The decision to stop health research funding is the latest blow to Harvard. Last week, the Trump administration paused $2.2 billion in funding. It has also threatened to strip the university of its tax-exempt status. Last Tuesday, Trump wrote in a post on his social media site, Truth Social, questioning whether it should remain tax-exempt if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness? Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST! Tax-exempt status, which is decided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), is enjoyed by a majority of schools and universities in the US. It means that institutions do not pay certain kinds of taxes and that their donors receive a tax deduction when they make gifts. The federal law prohibits the president from directing the IRS to conduct an investigation. However, the revenue body is now reportedly making plans to rescind Harvards tax-exempt status. A final decision is expected soon. Advertisement A decision against Harvard would mark an escalation in Trumps weaponisation of federal government agencies against institutions that stand up to him. Thats not all. The Department of Homeland Security has threatened to ban Harvards ability to enrol foreign students. File photo/Reuters The Department of Homeland Security has also threatened to block Harvard from enrolling foreign students. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent Harvard a scathing letter demanding detailed records on Harvards foreign student visa holders illegal and violent activities by April 30, 2025, or face immediate loss of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, her agency said last Wednesday in a news release that referred to antisemitism but did not divulge details of specific incidents. Harvard has 9,970 people in its international academic population, with 6,793 international students comprising 27.2 per cent of its enrollment in the 2024-25 academic year, according to the university data. The university relies heavily on global enrollment, with many paying full tuition. This is an important source of revenue, especially since Harvard has announced that it would do away with fees for students from families earning less than $200,000. Advertisement On Thursday, the US administration demanded records on money it has received from foreign sources, reports WSJ. In the letter to Garber, the US Department of Education wrote that Harvard 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, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement, according to the report. However, no evidence was presented of this. The US federal law requires universities to report donations from foreign sources above $250,000, and Harvard has claimed it has been filing such reports. Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the US. It is also one of the wealthiest. AP Can Harvard withstand the fight with Trump? Harvard is not only the oldest but also one of the richest institutions in the US. It boasts an endowment of $53 billion, which is bigger than the GDP of close to 100 countries. While the sum is huge, the university has to spend the money as directed by donors, or it faces the risk of legal liability. The expenses of the university are massive as well; its operating budget was $6.4 billion. About a third of that was funded by endowment, with 16 per cent from the federal government, reports the BBC. Most policymakers think of endowments as a chequing account, a debit card where you can withdraw money and use it for any purpose, Steven Bloom, the spokesperson for the American Council on Education, told the BBC. But its not. Advertisement According to him, 70 per cent of the money is earmarked for specific projects. People leave a protest against U.S. President Donald Trumps administration and against student visas being revoked, at Harvard University. Reuters Bloom also said that more than five per cent of endowment cash should not be spent every year. To make up for the loss of $2.2 billion paused by Trump, the university will need to boost its endowment by $40 billion, the BBC report says. It will only hurt the university further if the IRS withdraws the tax-exempt status. The school, which has campuses across Greater Boston, is estimated to have saved $158 million on its property tax bills in 2023, according to Bloomberg. The fight with Trump, then, is expected to hurt Harvard. What is next for Harvard? Trump administration officials believe that Harvard did not want to negotiate and aimed to fight the whole time, WSJ reports. However, it is open to dialogue. Instead of grandstanding, Harvard should focus on rebuilding confidence among all students, particularly Jewish students. The White House remains open to dialogue, but serious changes are needed at Harvard, the spokesperson said. Harvard President Garber has hinted at possible legal action, challenging Trump for violating the universitys First Amendment right to free speech. He has accused the US administration of exceeding its powers under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits race discrimination in programmes supported by federal funding, reports the Guardian. Advertisement Harvard cannot lose track of its own values. They must not do the Trump administrations work for it, even when the pressure is intense, said Ryan Enos, a political scientist and professor of government at Harvard. Trump is not the one to back down. The fight is set to get uglier. With inputs from agencies Former Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash was found lying in a pool of blood at his residence in Bengaluru on Sunday. Police have identified his wife as the prime suspect and are questioning her in connection with the murder. The deceaseds son has alleged that his mother killed the former top police officer, who has been suffering from serious mental health problems. A property dispute is being investigated read more His body, which had injuries, was found inside his house. Image: News18 Former Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash was found dead at his home in Bengaluru on Sunday. His body was found in a pool of blood on the ground floor of his three-storey residence located in the posh HSR Layout area. Initial police findings suggest that he may have been killed, likely with a sharp weapon. ALSO READ | Bihar man accused of killing 5-year-old shot dead in encounter in Karnataka: What we know STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While no one has been arrested yet, the police had detained Om Prakashs wife, Pallavi, for questioning in the evening. In this report, we take a look at how Om Prakash died, his background, what is known about possible suspects, and the progress of the investigation so far. What happened? Prakash was found dead in the living room of his home in Bengalurus HSR Layout. The 68-year-old was a 1981 batch IPS officer who took charge as Karnatakas Director General of Police in February 2015. His body, which had injuries, was found inside his house, leading police to suspect foul play. It was Om Prakashs wife, Pallavi, who informed police about the incident, officials said. Senior officers arrived at the residence shortly after the call. Om Prakash was a native of Champaran in Bihar. X/ANI Recounting the events, Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash told reporters that police received a message around 4.30 PM, following which a patrol team was sent to the scene. Vikash added that Prakashs son had filed a complaint, based on which an FIR process was being initiated. Reports suggest that the retired officer had recently shared fears about threats to his life with a few close contacts. Police suspect a close family member may be involved in the incident. Who are the suspects? The former DGPs wife is currently the main suspect and is being questioned by police in connection with the murder. Sources told News18 that Pallavi may have killed him using a kitchen knife. Their daughter was reportedly at home, in a different part of the house, when the incident took place. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pallavi allegedly called the wife of another retired DGP and admitted to the killing. That woman then contacted the police by dialling 112, according to the report. Pallavi was taken into custody soon after. #WATCH | Karnataka: Visuals from outside the residence of former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash, who was found dead yesterday at his residence in Bengaluru's HSR Layout. pic.twitter.com/wFQpU29dGJ ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025 According to a report by India Today, the deceaseds son, Kartik, has alleged that his mother was responsible for the killing of the former top police officer, citing her severe mental health condition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Based on Kartiks complaint, the police have filed charges against Pallavi and her daughter, Kruti. In his complaint, Kartik stated that Pallavi, who is now the main accused, had been living with schizophrenia for the past 12 years and was receiving medical treatment. ALSO READ | 50 body pieces, foul smell: How shocking murder of Bengaluru woman found inside refrigerator unravels What was the reason for the murder? Om Prakash and his wife are believed to have argued over financial matters and property after he transferred one of his properties to his relatives, NDTV reported. According to the report, the disagreement escalated on the evening of the incident, during which Pallavi allegedly overpowered him and stabbed him several times. During the dispute, she reportedly threw chilli powder at him, tied him up, and then stabbed him, the media outlet reported. He was attacked with two knives, and a glass bottle was also reportedly used during the assault. As he collapsed and remained in pain for around 10 minutes, Pallavi reportedly sat still on a chair without reacting, police sources told Deccan Herald. Sources close to the family told News18 that tensions had been stewing between the couple for a long time and had worsened recently. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although Prakash had been living separately for some time due to marital differences, he had returned to the family home not long ago, they added. #WATCH | Karnataka: Security deployed in Bengaluru's HSR Layout after former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash was killed at his residence. (Visuals from outside the former DGP's residence) pic.twitter.com/56zSBuw3uR ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025 These sources also said Pallavi was being treated for health-related issues and had posted cryptic messages in private WhatsApp groups, suggesting she feared she was being poisoned. Police, however, said these claims were unverified and lacked evidence. A senior officer told The Times of India that Pallavi had sent a message via WhatsApp claiming her husband was roaming the house armed and intended to kill her. While there is suspicion of mental illness, police have yet to confirm her medical condition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who was Om Prakash? Om Prakash, a 1981 batch IPS officer, was a native of Champaran in Bihar. He held a masters degree in Geology and began his police career as an additional superintendent of police in Harapanahalli. He went on to serve as ASP in Ballari and SP in Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, and Chikkamagaluru districts. His career included roles in the state Lokayukta, Fire and Emergency Services, and the Crime Investigation Department (CID). From 2015 until his retirement in 2017, he served as the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) in Karnataka. According to TOI, his long career featured notable contributions during the 1993 communal riots in Bhatkal and extensive service in the CID, Vigilance Cell, and Lokayukta. With inputs from agencies According to several media reports, India is now sending a second batch of the BrahMos cruise missiles to the Philippines. India is also in talks with a number of other countries, including Vietnam, for a possible sale. How did BrahMos become an Indian defence export success story? read more India is also talks with a number of other countries including Vietnam for a possible sale of the BrahMos missiles. Reuters Its no secret that India has been aiming to grow its defence exports over the past decade. A crucial piece of that has been the BrahMos missile system. According to several media reports, India is now sending a second batch of the BrahMos missiles to the Philippines. India is also talks with a number of other countries including Vietnam for a possible sale. But what do we know? How did BrahMos become an Indian defence exports success story? And what do we know about Indias defence exports? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look: The BrahMos success story As per New Indian Express, India has sent a second battery of the BrahMos cruise missiles to the Philippines. It was Indias first major defence export order. The second battery of the missile has been sent in a ship this time, a defence source told the outlet. The first battery was sent in April 2024 in an IAF aircraft, with support coming from civil aircraft agencies. The long-haul flight carrying the heavy load was a non-stop six-hour journey before the equipment reached the western parts of the Philippines, the source said. New Delhi and Manila announced the deal for the BrahMos missile in January 2022. The Philippines Department of National Defence had approved the $374.96 million ( Rs 2,700 crore) contract from Indias BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited a joint Indo-Russian venture. Under the deal, the Philippines would receive three batteries for the missile system as well as training for operators and the necessary integrated logistics support package. India in April sent the first battery of the BrahMos cruise missiles. A C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) transported the missile and the launchers to the Philippines for the countrys marine forces, official sources said. The supersonic cruise missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. The BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. As per Economic Times, 83 per cent of the missiles components now come from India. As per India Today, the Indian Air Force recently successfully tested an extended-range version of the BrahMos from a Sukhoi fighter jet. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The missile hit a target from a distance of over 400 kilometres. In March, the Chief of Staff of the armed forces of the Philippines, said his country is looking at the possibility of procuring more missile systems and other military platforms from India. General Romeo Saturnino Brawner Jr, Chief of Staff of the armed forces of the Philippines, emphasised his countrys commitment to deepening its defence partnership with New Delhi amid growing competition from China in the Indo-Pacific region. An aerial view shows the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands, South China Sea. File image/ Reuters Were looking at the possibility of procuring more missile systems and other platforms from India, he said. We already have the BrahMos systems. Were happy with them. Were still waiting for the delivery of more components, but so far, theyre creating a very good deterrent effect in the South China Sea. The Philippines isnt the only buyer. As per India Today, India is slated to conclude a deal for BrahMos missiles with Vietnam. The estimated $700 million deal is in the final stages of talks and is likely to be concluded in the months ahead. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vietnam is eyeing the BrahMosmissile with an eye on Chinas growing military assertiveness in the South China Sea. There have been growing global concerns over Chinas sweeping claims of sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons. Several countries in the region including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, have counterclaims. The UNs Permanent Court of Arbitration, adjudicating the Philippines case against Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea, ruled in favour of Manila. However, China refused to accept the verdict. India has also been in talks with Thailand, Argentina, Indonesia and a few other nations that have shown interest in the system. In January, Indonesias defence ministry sent a letter showing interest in a $450 million BrahMos deal to the Indian embassy in Jakarta. In June 2023, Atul Dinkar Rane, at the time the CEO and MD, BrahMos Aerospace, said in an interview that many countries and organisations are interested in the weapon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD People have showed a lot of curiosity. Be it NATO countries, many of the western countries, all across the world. They all want to have the BrahMos. One foreign naval chief said, I do not want to be on the wrong side of this missile. I want it on my side, Rane was quoted as saying by The Week. Quite a few nations are talking to us. The Middle East is also interested. There are a couple of Latin American countries looking at it closely and we are in talks with them. There are a few African countries, too. So we are in talks with about a dozen countries. This development comes as BrahMos missile production is set to begin in Lucknow. As per Hindustan Times, Singh is set to inaugurate the facility in the Sarojini Nagar area on 11 May. The project, a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and BrahMos Aerospace, is part of the Lucknow node of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At first, 100 missiles will be manufactured at the BrahMos Missile manufacturing centre. In five to seven years, missiles worth Rs 900 crore will be made here. The BrahMos missile, manufactured in Lucknow, will not only be used in India but also exported to other countries, Singh said. As per ETV Bharat, The foundation stone of the centre was laid in Lucknow on December 26, 2021, in presence of Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The DRDO is set to invest Rs 10,000 crore in the project over the next half decade. The centre is estimated to create 10,000 to 12,000 jobs for locals and opportunities for technical skill development. Indias defence exports by the numbers In the 2023-2024 Financial Year, Indias defence production touched Rs 1.27 lakh crore. That number was at Rs 46,429 crore in 2014-15 which makes it a massive increase of 17 per cent. Defence exports surged from Rs 686 crore in FY 2013-14 to Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24 a 30-fold increase over the past decade. Defence exports grew from Rs 4,312 crore in the 2004-14 decade to Rs 88,319 crore in the 2014-24 decade a 21-fold increase. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Defence exports also increased from Rs 15,920 crore in FY 2022-23 to Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24 a 32.5 per cent rise. India now exports defence equipment to over 100 countries. The USA, France, and Armenia have emerged as the top buyers in 2023-24. Indias top exports include bulletproof jackets, Dornier (Do-228) aircraft, Chetak helicopters, fast interceptor boats, and lightweight torpedoes. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in April said the value of Indias defence production this year is expected to cross Rs 1.60 lakh crore and the target is to manufacture military hardware worth Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029. Firstpost Indias defence budget has increased from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 6.81 lakh crore in 2025-26. India has allocated Rs 449.64 crore to Innovation for Defense Excellence (iDEX) for the 2025-2026 Financial Year. Singh in April said the value of Indias defence production this year is expected to cross Rs 1.60 lakh crore and the target is to manufacture military hardware worth Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029. Singh added that the countrys defence exports should reach Rs 30,000 crore this year and Rs 50,000 crore by 2029. Singh made the remarks at the Defence Conclave 2025 Force of the Future hosted by The Week magazine. 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 asserted. This year, defence production should cross Rs 1.60 lakh crore, while our target is to produce defence equipment worth Rs three lakh crore by the year 2029, he said. The defence minister said that while Indias defence manufacturing capabilities are aimed at national security and strategic autonomy, they are also insulating manufacturing from global supply shocks. Singh underlined that Indias 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. In his address, Singh laid out a compelling vision for a self-reliant and future-ready India in the defence sector with a focus on indigenisation, innovation, and global leadership. The defence minister said India is not only securing its borders but also positioning itself as a key player in the international defence ecosystem. Singh said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the revival and strengthening of the defence sector is one of the biggest priorities for the government. Singh also pointed out that defence production in India has risen from Rs 40,000 crore in 2014 to over Rs 1.27 lakh crore today. On defence exports, Singh underscored that the figures had surged from Rs 686 crore in 2013-2014 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 said. With inputs from agencies US Vice President JD Vance will begin his India visit today, accompanied by his family. He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. This will be Vances first official visit to India and any country in Asia since taking office. Meanwhile, a hearing will take place regarding the criminal trial of ousted South Korean president Yoon Seok Yeol, who is charged with leading an insurrection read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi and JD Vance during a bilateral meeting in Paris, France. Reuters/File Photo Today, April 21, is set to be a busy day. US Vice President JD Vance will begin his visit to India and is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. This will be Vances first visit to the country since assuming office. The Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund for 2025 will get underway. In South Korea, a hearing will be held in the criminal case against ousted leader Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces charges of leading an insurrection. Advertisement The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, will begin his visit to Japan today, which will continue until April 23. The Karnataka High Court will hear the bail application filed by Ranya Rao, who was arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case. JD Vance in India US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by his wife Usha and children, is set to visit India today. He will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. This will be Vances first official trip to India and any Asian country, since taking office. 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, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly press briefing last week. This will be Vances first official trip to India since taking office. Reuters/File Photo Discussions between the two leaders are expected to include matters relating to bilateral ties, trade tariffs, and talks on a potential trade agreement. During his France visit in February for the AI Action Summit, PM Modi had gifted an eco-friendly wooden alphabet set to Vances daughter, Mirabel Rose Vance. Spring Meetings of IMF and World Bank Today also marks the beginning of the 2025 Spring Meetings hosted by the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, which will run through to April 26. Among the major scheduled events are the Development Committee Meeting, the International Monetary and Financial Committee gathering, and various sessions focusing on development issues, financial stability, and the global economy. Notably, these meetings bring together a range of participants, including central bank heads, finance and development ministers, lawmakers, business leaders, civil society groups and academics. Advertisement Conversations will focus on global economic challenges, poverty, development efforts, and aid strategies. The sessions will take place at the World Banks MC, J, and F buildings and the IMFs HQ1 and HQ2 offices between April 21 and 26. Yoon Seok Yeols criminal trial A court hearing is scheduled today in the criminal trial of South Koreas former president Yoon Seok Yeol, who faces charges of leading an insurrection. The case is linked to Yoons declaration of martial law, which remained in effect for nearly six hours before he withdrew it following pushback from lawmakers and protests by the public. The move led to political unrest and culminated in the Constitutional Courts decision earlier this month to remove him from office for overreaching constitutional authority. Yoon Seok Yeol is facing charges of leading an insurrection. Reuters/File Photo At the last hearing, Yoon, who served as chief prosecutor prior to his presidency, defended himself directly before the court and countered the claims brought by prosecutors. Martial law is not a coup detat, Yoon told the court. His decision on December 3 to impose martial law stunned the nation and disrupted South Koreas political, economic and diplomatic landscape, the Constitutional Courts judgement said while removing him from power. Advertisement If convicted, Yoon would become the third South Korean head of state found guilty of insurrection, joining two former military rulers held accountable for the 1979 coup. The charge of insurrection carries severe penalties, either life imprisonment or, at most, a death sentence. Netherlands Prime Minister in Japan Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof begins his visit to Japan today, which will continue through to April 23. During the trip, he will hold discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.. Schoof is also expected to take part in the inauguration of the Netherlands Pavilion at Expo 2025, to be held in Osaka, Kansai. Prime Minister Schoofs visit is likely to further deepen the amicable ties between Japan and the Netherlands, which uphold shared values and principles, said an official release from Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ranya Raos bail plea hearing The Karnataka High Court will today hear the bail petitions filed by Ranya Rao and Tarun Konduru Raju, both arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case registered by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Rao has approached the high court after being denied bail twice, first by the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru on March 14, 2025, and again by the Sessions Court on March 27, 2025. Rao attempted to pass through the Green Channel at Kempegowda International Airport. X/@RanyaRao She, along with businessman Tarun Raju and jewellery trader Sahil Jain, stands accused of arranging the illegal import of gold valued at over Rs 12.56 crore from Dubai into India. Advertisement The case surfaced on March 3, 2025, when Rao was caught at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport with 14.8 kilograms of gold allegedly smuggled in from Dubai. With inputs from agencies Pope Francis has passed away after struggling with poor health, including pneumonia in both lungs. Now, eyes turn towards his successor and the process of how the Roman Catholic Church elects its leader in a gathering called the conclave. This meeting at the Sistine Chapel is shrouded in mystery read more Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, a day after Easter. On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis surprised all by making an appearance at the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica for the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world. AFP The Christian world plunged into mourning as news emerged that Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell breaking the news said, At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2 Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025 The passing away of Pope Francis comes just a day after Easter when he made a surprise public appearance, greeting a crowd of more than 35,000 in St Peters Square from his popemobile in Vatican City. This came just a month after the pontiff was discharged from a Rome hospital after having battled a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs. Pope Francis passing away also leads to questions about his successor and the future of the Church. How exactly is a new pope chosen? What is the conclave, the highly choreographed process to elect a new pontiff? We explain it all. How did we arrive at todays papal succession? Before we deep dive into the process of selecting Pope Francis successor, lets understand how this process came about. Until the 11th Century, popular opinion of both clergy and worshippers was used to elect popes. Unsurprisingly, this led to conflicting claims, disputes and even antipopes individuals with substantive, albeit false, claims to the papal seat. However, in 1059, Pope Nicholas II issued a decree putting in place a process by which popes would be elected, with cardinal bishops being appointed as electors. What this did was reduce the influence of Roman aristocracy and lower clergy, and, in turn, laid the foundation for the College of Cardinals, formally established in 1150. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Today, there are a total of 222 cardinals with 120 eligible to vote. This is because in 1975, rules were changed to exclude all cardinals over the age of 80 from voting. When a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals is then summoned for an election, which is called a conclave, and all are expected to attend irrespective of age or ill health. This conclave is usually called for 15 to 20 days after the last popes departure this time limit was set in 1922, giving cardinals from across the world sufficient time to make the journey. Tables and chairs line the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in preparation for the conclave. File image/AP How is the conclave held? Following the 15-20 days after a popes demise or resignation, the College of Cardinals meets at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City for the highly secretive and choreographed conclave the process of electing a new pope. Cardinals following a grand mass at the St. Peters basilica before the start of a papal election conclave at the Vatican. Cardinals are moved into the Vatican for the period of the conclave and are barred from any outside contact. File image/AFP The first day of the conclave begins with a special morning mass, following which the cardinals are sequestered into the Sistine Chapel chanting prayers and hymns, imploring saints and the Holy Spirit to help them pick a pope. They are also made to take an oath on the book of the Gospels that they wont reveal the details of the conclave. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Once the oath is taken by all cardinals, the master of the papal liturgical celebrations cries out extra omnes which is Latin for All out. Everyone except the cardinals leaves and the voting begins. Interestingly, once the conclave begins, the cardinals eat, vote and sleep within closed-off areas. According to the Archdiocese of Toronto, cardinals can be excommunicated if they leak information and the chapel is swept for listening devices before and after the conclave. The cardinals are barred from external communication televisions are removed and mobile phones are banned. Two doctors are allowed into the conclave, as well as priests who are able to hear confessions in various languages and housekeeping staff. The doors of the Sistine Chapel being closed at the start of a papal election. File image/AFP How do the cardinals vote at the conclave? The first round of voting takes place on day one of the conclave. If no one is elected, then a second voting takes place. According to the norms laid down, four votes two in the morning and two in the afternoon are held each day of the conclave until a new pope is elected. If after three days of voting, no clear winner is established, then the cardinals take a full day off for prayer and contemplation. If this four-day cycle repeats seven more times, a run-off between the two candidates who received the most support is held. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When cardinals vote for their choice of pope, they do so on the ballot paper which is provided to them. The ballot has the words Eligio in Summum Pontificem (I elect as Supreme Pontiff) printed on the upper half while there is space for the name on the bottom half. Urns where votes are placed by Roman Catholic cardinals jn a conclave entrusted with the task of choosing a successor to pope at the Sistine Chapel. File image/Reuters As all the votes are counted, the scrutineers call out the names of those cardinals who have received votes. He pierces each paper with a needle through the word Eligio placing all the ballots on a single thread. The ballot papers are then burned - giving off the smoke visible to onlookers outside which traditionally turns from black to white once a new pope has been chosen. For a pope to be elected, he needs two-thirds of all the votes cast. Interestingly, the longest such conclave was in the 13th Century, which continued from November 1268 until September 1271 due to infighting and outside meddling. In Pope Francis case, he was on the second day, after five ballots. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What happens after a pope is elected? Immediately after a candidate receives two-thirds of the votes, the master of the papal liturgical celebrations asks the winner: Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff? If he agrees, then he is again asked: By what name do you wish to be called? Once a name is provided, the details are filled into a formal document. Meanwhile, the other cardinals approach the new pope to pay their homage and obedience. Three sets of papal outfits of different sizes are pictured at the Vatican. The outfits wait in a room at the right of the Sistine Chapel where the newly elected pope will be dressed before appearing at the balcony of St. Peters Basilica for his first Urbi et Orbi blessing. File image/Reuters The new pope is then fitted into his new robes the white cassock which is altered to his measurements by the papal tailor. Then a traditional announcement is made from the balcony of the St. Peters Basilica: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum habemus papam! (I announce to you a great joy we have a pope!) His name is then revealed, and he makes his first public appearance following which he delivers his first address to the world. With inputs from agencies Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, has passed away after struggling with poor health. Over the next few days, one shall witness a series of choreographed events, including nine days of official mourning and the destruction of a ring. Heres what to expect in the aftermath of the pontiffs death read more A portrait of Pope Francis (C) is seen as church officials make preparations at the Jakarta Cathedral in Jakarta, following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21, aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. AFP An era has come to an end. Pope Francis, aged 88, has passed away after being the head of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 long years. His demise comes after spending 38 days being treated for double pneumonia at Romes Gemelli hospital before seeming to recover and leaving the facility on March 23. Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis, said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel. This morning at 7:35 am, local time, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church. The Argentine pontiffs demise has resulted in leaders from every corner of the world paying their respects and mourning the loss of the Roman Catholic Churchs head. It has also kicked off a tightly choreographed series of events, refined over centuries and hundreds of dead popes. It will culminate with the selection of a new Catholic church leader, who will be elected in a conclave. Pope Francis death and destruction of ring Traditionally, the news of a Popes dying is announced by a camerlengo (a senior Vatican official). In Pope Francis case, the death was announced by Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell. He also now assumes the role of the Vaticans de facto administrator. Theres a myth that states the camerlengo announces the popes demise after gently tapping his head with a silver hammer. The Church, however, has denied this practice completely. Tradition states that the camerlengo only announces the popes demise after he calls out the pontiffs name to rouse him. When the pontiff does not respond, he is declared dead this process is now ceremonial as doctors will have confirmed the pontiffs death through more standard medical means. A man holding a white rose stands at St Peters square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican. AFP Once formally declared dead, the camerlengo arranges for the destruction of the Ring of the Fisherman, which is used by the pope to seal official documents. Exactly how it gets destroyed today is caught up in mythology, but the outcome is its defaced, so it cant be used. It used to be done with a chisel and a hammer. In some movies, they show you, they crack it totally; in others, they just put a line through it, Darius von Guttner, a historian at Australian Catholic University, was quoted as telling Sydney Morning Herald. The moment it is destroyed and cannot be used again, that means the authority of the pope is finished. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mourning period is triggered Once Pope Francis demise is confirmed, the Vatican also announces a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale. In this period, the Vatican moves his body to his private chapel where his the body will be dressed in a white cassock and laid in a zinc-lined wooden coffin. This marks a break from tradition previous pontiffs were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. However, Pope Francis had in 2024, made changes to the funeral procedures, demanding for more austere rituals. Also, Pope Francis body will not be placed on a raised platform known as a catafalque in St Peters Basilica for public viewing. Mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body remains inside the coffin, with the lid removed. A report by Politico states that historically, popes were embalmed and some of them had their organs removed prior to burial. A church near the Trevi Fountain in Rome holds the hearts of more than 20 popes in marble urns, preserved as holy relics but these practices have fallen out of favour. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A nun prays at St Peters square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 aged 88. AFP The popes burial The funeral for Pope Francis will take place four to six days after his death with different funeral rites being held in various churches across Rome spanning nine days. The funeral Mass is still expected to be held in St Peters Square, but unlike many predecessors, Francis asked to be buried in Romes St Mary Major Basilica to be near his favourite icon of the Madonna. Its a church thats very close to him. He used to go there and pray during his visits to Rome before he became Pope, said Christopher White, a Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Reporter. Its quite fitting, in my estimation, that this man who was elected in 2013 as an outsider has chosen to be buried outside the Vatican. He didnt like to be shackled by the Vatican. He often said when he travelled it was when he was at his freest because he viewed the Vatican as a prison. So it makes all the sense in the world that he wants to go to his eternal rest somewhere outside the Vatican walls. It is reported that the coffin carrying the pope is closed the night before the funeral. The popes face is covered by a white silk veil, and he is buried with a bag containing coins minted during his papacy and a canister with a rogito, or deed, briefly listing details of his life and papacy. The rogito is read aloud before the coffin is closed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Catholic nun prays in front of a cutout of Pope Francis in Yogyakarta, Indonesia as news of his demise broke across the world. AP The conclave In the aftermath of Pope Francis demise, the cardinals from around the world will congregate in the Sistine Chapel to hold a conclave, the highly secretive process of electing a new pope. This will occur within 15 to 20 days of the popes death. At the conclave, the cardinal electors will take an oath of secrecy and then vote for the next pontiff. This process is highly political with likely successors vying for the top position. Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope. If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, another round of voting takes place. There can be up to four rounds per day. The conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013 took about 24 hours and five ballots, but the process can run longer; a conclave in the 13th century took about three years, while another in the 18th century took four months. Once a new pope is elected, white smoke is released from a chimney that can be seen from St. Peters Square. Announcement of a new pope After the election of a new pope, he is formally asked if he accepts his role. If he agrees, he must select a papal name, which is often inspired by past saints. Following this, a representative from the College of Cardinals reads out the Latin announcement Habemus papam, meaning We have a pope, from the main balcony of St Peters Basilica. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After this, the newly chosen pope dressed in a white cassock, steps out onto the balcony to give his first address to the public. And with that, the Catholic world has a new leader. With inputs from agencies Pope Francis funeral is going to be starkly different from his predecessors. This comes as the Latin American pontiff revised the rules for a papal funeral, choosing to use a basic wooden coffin and moving his burial site out of the Vatican. But why? read more Pope Francis death has sparked tributes from across the world. The Latin American pontiff breathed his last on Monday (April 21) morning, a day after his final public appearance on Easter. Francis was known for his humility and concern for the poor. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church marked his 12-year papacy with a shift from tradition. His funeral will reflect the popes last wish to diverge from the norms and have a simple ceremony. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. Why Pope Francis funeral will be different A popes funeral is generally an elaborate affair, spanning several days. It must take place between four to six days after his demise at St Peters Square, the huge plaza outside St. Peters Basilica, as per The Sydney Morning Herald. After the popes camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, officially confirms the death, he then seals the residence of the pontiff and begins the funeral preparations, as per a Daily Mail article. The camerlengo then ensures the destruction of the pontiffs Ring of the Fisherman, which depicts St. Peter fishing from a boat, to prevent any unauthorised use. A new ring is forged when the next pope is elected. Farrell and three appointed assistants will decide when the popes embalmed body, kept in a coffin, will be taken into St. Peters Basilica for public viewing. People from around the world, including international leaders, are expected to descend upon Rome to pay their last respects to Francis. Of the nine days of mourning declared by the Vatican, several days are usually to allow mourners to honour the pope lying in state at St Peters Basilica. Last year, Pope Francis simplified the papal funeral rites, including scrapping the pontiff on an elevated bier in St. Peters Basilica. Instead, he will be kept in a simple coffin for public viewing. This simplification is meant to emphasise even more that the Roman Pontiffs funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world, Vaticans master of liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, was quoted as saying by Associated Press (AP) last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Where will Pope Francis be buried? Pope Francis has done away with three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak that the previous pontiffs were buried in. Francis will be placed in a basic wooden coffin, and mourners can pay him respect while his body remains inside the uncovered coffin, reported BBC. Cardinals set the date of the burial of the pope. Instead of the Vatican Grottoes, vaults beneath St Peters, where popes are usually buried, Francis final resting place is in the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome. This is the first time a pope will be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century. His wish to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore showcased his reverence for an icon of the Virgin Mary located there, the Salus populi Romani (Salvation of the people of Rome), noted AP. Vatican analyst Katie McGrady told CNN, It is where the Salus Populi Romani, his favourite Marian image is kept and that image of Our Lady, Pope Francis would go and visit before every trip and he would visit it on his return. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Francis had first revealed his desire to be buried at the basilica in December 2023, saying he felt a very strong connection with it. I want to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore. Because it is my great devotion, he said. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peters Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peters Square at the Vatican April 20, 2025. AP Noting the significance of the place, Christopher White, a Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Reporter, told _The Sydney Morning Herald, _Its a church thats very close to him. He used to go there and pray during his visits to Rome before he became Pope. Its quite fitting, in my estimation, that this man who was elected in 2013 as an outsider has chosen to be buried outside the Vatican. He didnt like to be shackled by the Vatican. He often said when he travelled it was when he was at his freest because he viewed the Vatican as a prison. So it makes all the sense in the world that he wants to go to his eternal rest somewhere outside the Vatican walls. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What happens next? After Francis is laid to rest, the College of Cardinals will meet to vote for the popes successor in an election, known as a conclave. Held in secret inside the Sistine Chapel, 138 cardinals of the total 252 members who are under the age of 80 are allowed to cast their vote. A majority of at least two-thirds plus one is needed to elect the new pope, who is asked at the end of the election if he accepts the papacy and the name he wants to take. An official then burns the paper ballots with special chemicals to make the smoke emanating from the chapels chimney white. This indicates to the world that the new pope will be announced soon. The newly elected pope then appears on St. Peters Basilicas central balcony to give his first blessing to the world. With inputs from agencies Now, all eyes are on the papal conclave that will be assembled to choose the next Bishop of Rome. There are 138 cardinals under the age of 80 eligible to vote, including four from India. Lets meet the Indian cardinals who will vote for the next pontiff read more From left - Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Cardinal Cleemis Baselios, Cardinal Anthony Poola, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad. Image Courtesy: Diocesan Family Service Centre Goa/Malankaratvm/Archdiocese of Hyderabad/National Catholic Register Pope Francis has passed away. The Pope, who was 88 years old, died after years of struggling with his health. Pope Francis was last seen in St Peters Square on Easter Sunday, where he blessed thousands of the faithful. Now, all eyes are on the papal conclave that will be assembled to choose the next Bishop of Rome. When the conclave is convened, 138 cardinals under the age of 80 will be eligible to vote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This includes four from India. Lets take a closer look. The Papal Conclave Papal power changes hands when the pope dies or resigns. The camerlengo or chamberlain will organise the papal conclave in the Sistine Chapel, following centuries-old traditions. The position is currently held by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the head of the Vaticans laity office. All voting cardinals must first take an oath of secrecy before being cut off from the outside world. According to Catholic Church laws, cardinals under the age of 80 are the only ones who can vote in the papal conclave. Of the 252 cardinals, 138 are under 80 and eligible to participate in the upcoming conclave, according to the College of Cardinals Report website. In rounds of deliberation and voting, each cardinal writes the name of their preferred candidate on a ballot. The ballots are folded and put in a chalice with Michelangelos Last Judgement fresco underneath. In this image released by Vatican media on April 21, Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell, second from left, flanked by, from left, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Substitute for the Secretariat of State, Cardinal Edgar PeOa Parra, and Vatican Master of Ceremonies, Archbisop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, announces the death of Pope Francis at the Vatican. Vatican Media via AP Three cardinals are chosen to record and count the votes. Four rounds of voting take place each day until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The ballots are burnt with chemicals on a special stove within the chapel if no candidate earned the necessary number of votes. Black smoke rises from the chimney, indicating that voting will continue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD White smoke is released upon the election of a pope, and the famous Latin phrase Habemus Papam, which translates to We have a Pope, is used to proclaim the new pope. Also read: Pope Francis survived two assassination attempts in 2021. Heres what we know Who are Indian cardinals that will vote? There are six cardinals in India, but Cardinals George Alencherry, 79, and Oswald Gracias, 80, are now too old to cast ballots. Alencherry turned 80 just two days ago on April 19, 2025, while Cardinal Gracias turned 80 last Christmas Eve. The four cardinals who will cast their votes in the next papal conclave are all from different backgrounds and play important roles in the Catholic Church. According to News18, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, 72, is the seventh patriarch of the East Indies and the archbishop of Goa and Daman. He has prioritised social justice, especially concerning migration and climate change, family ministry, and interreligious dialogue. As per The Week, Ferrao was born on 20 January 1953 in Goas Mapusa. On October 28, 1979, he received his priesthood ordination. Ferrao received his his episcopal ordination on April 10, 1994. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He was promoted to the College of Cardinals on August 27, 2022 by Pope Francis. Ferrao has been Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman since 2004. He is the sixth Goan to be appointed Cardinal. Cardinal Ferrao took over as president of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) earlier this year. Cardinal Cleemis Baselios, 64, who was born Isaac Thottumkal, is the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum and Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Baselios was the first cardinal of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, as per The Week. He was promoted to the College of Cardinals on November 24, 2012 by Pope Benedict. He was also the youngest to be given the title of Cardinal at age 53. Baselios was called to the priesthood on June 11, 1986, and the Episcopate on August 15, 2001. Speaking to ANI, Cardinal Cleemis said, Let me express our heartfelt condolences and prayer for solidarity as Pope Francis has passed away. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Describing the pontiff as a global spiritual figure, he said, As the leader of the Church and entire humanity, especially a champion of the people who are at the periphery, he stood firm in re-reading the gospel, trying to find our Jesus and his approaches towards human beings, focusing on those marginalised. I personally recall with gratitude that after his meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Pope Francis told me that your country is a great country. Such an affection he had in his mind for India, he said. Reflecting on the Popes leadership, Cardinal Cleemis noted, Pope Francis became a leader for those outside the mainstream an embodiment of exemplary dedication. I have had the opportunity to know him personally since 2013. He held deep respect for Indian culture and led with a unique and inspiring approach. He worked as a symbol of unity in society. Conversations with him were always heartfelt. His spirituality cannot be measured by any ordinary standard. He was a spiritual soul of differences someone who embraced diversity with compassion and wisdom, the Cardinal added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He further noted, He is a man who is with the people. The last ceremony he participated in was a celebration of faith with the people on Easter. Recently he had started using a wheelchair but before that he always insisted on personally seeing people out after they finished their meetings with him, he added. Cardinal Anthony Poola, 63, is Indias first Dalit Cardinal. He is committed to assisting underprivileged children. As per The Week, Poola was born in , Andhra Pradeshs Poluru on November 15, 1961. Poola was supported by the missionaries when he could not afford secondary education. Poola entered the college of cardinals alongside Ferrao in 2022. His promotion to the College of Cardinals has been seen as a step towards resolving caste-based injustices. He is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad. Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, 51, is a skilled Vatican diplomat and a Syro-Malabar archbishop from Kerala. As per The Week, Koovakad was born on August 11, 1973, in Keralas Chethipuzha. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He is one of the youngest cardinals in the world. He had organised Pope Franciss foreign trips before being appointed as prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue in January 2025. He received his priesthood ordination on July 24, 2004; his episcopal ordination on November 24, 2024; and on December 7, 2024, he was promoted to the College of Cardinals. Koovakad is also prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. The group was founded in 1964 by Pope Paul XVI to promote interreligious dialogue. In the 2013 papal election, Indian cardinals Telesphore Toppo (Archbishop of Patna), Oswald Gracias (Archbishop of Mumbai), Mar George Alencherry and Mar Baselios Cheemis, the leaders of the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches, and Ivan Dias (Roman Curia), the former Archbishop of Mumbai all voted for Pope Francis. Speaking to ANI, Cardinal Oswald Gracias remarked, Pope Francis was a person who spent his life for the sake of the people. His messages were continuously for the world were for peace, compassion for the poor and this same orientation he wanted in the Chruch. He spoke so strongly on migration and the rights of migrants. Even in his personal dealings with world leaders, he insisted on thisHe was a man of prayer, dedication and a man of the people Tomorrow, the cardinals in Rome will meet. I will also leave for Rome in two days. The first thing that they will decide on is when to hold the funeral rites, he added. With inputs from agencies Russian police have been raiding gyms and detaining men as part of an aggressive conscription drive to strengthen troop numbers for the war in Ukraine. Such incidents have been reported from gyms across multiple cities over the past few weeks. This comes after an order from Russian President Vladimir Putin to conscript 160,000 men aged 18 to 30, the largest draft since 2011 read more Similar incidents have been taking place in gyms across several cities in Russia. X/@Mollyploofkins In the middle of treadmill runs and squat sets, gym-goers in Moscow were suddenly told to get on the floor. But this was not part of their workout routine. It was a command from the Russian police conducting a search. Similar incidents have been taking place in gyms across several cities in Russia over the past few weeks. ALSO READ | Why Ukraine paraded Chinese nationals fighting for Russia This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin recently ordered the conscription of 160,000 men between the ages of 18 and 30, the highest draft figure since 2011, as the country looks to strengthen its armed forces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In this report, we take a look at what is happening inside gyms across Russian cities, how the Kremlin is bringing in fresh recruits, and what Putins latest order says. Is Russia rounding up men from gyms for military duty? Russian police have been raiding gyms and detaining men as part of an aggressive conscription push aimed at increasing troop numbers in Ukraine. Footage from Spirit Fitness in south-east Moscow shows officers entering the premises and instructing gym-goers to lie face-down on the floor. Russia: Putin's gestapo raided a Spirit Fitness club in Moscow to collect cannon fodder for the invasion of Ukraine. The gym chain has 20 locations across the city. pic.twitter.com/H8K0SEDMk5 Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) March 30, 2025 According to The Telegraph UK, police claimed they were targeting undocumented migrants and individuals evading the draft. Human rights groups say such operations have been happening in cities across Russia for weeks, even before Putin signed an order to conscript 160,000 men, the highest figure since 2011. Once the individuals were on the ground, officers reportedly separated them into citizens and non-citizens, witnesses said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Non-citizens were accused of immigration violations and, according to independent Russian outlet Current Time, given a choice: face deportation or agree to enlist. Russian citizens were taken to military enlistment offices where their service records were reviewed. Some were released after the check. Others received call-up papers on the spot and were held for further processing. Witnesses told Current Time that women were allowed to leave, while men were separated based on ethnicity or nationality and asked to show identification. I was on the treadmill, watching [a show], minding my own business, one man told the Telegram channel msk1_news. Suddenly someone taps my shoulder. I get off the treadmill and see everyone lying face-down on the floor. Another man told the independent Russian outlet that police inspected every passport, specifically checking the section showing military obligations. Russia snatches men from gyms in Putins new conscription drive to enlist more recruits for the war in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/Z1udH6zPXs Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) April 19, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Theyd check the passport, flip to the military service page. If it said you were obligated to serve, off you went to the enlistment office no matter what, just for verification. ALSO READ | How Ukraines conscription squads are forcing men to fight in the war Lawyers said such raids are now taking place about twice a month in cities including Moscow, St Petersburg, Irkutsk, and Yekaterinburg. Anastasia, who lives just outside Moscow, shared her experience with The Telegraph UK. My husband is in court now, Anastasia, who lives in a city just outside Moscow, said. She told the British newspaper, They tried to issue him a summons illegally more than two years ago even though he has an exemption. Now theyve dragged him into the enlistment office again. I rushed over with documents, but they wouldnt let him go until the lawyer arrived. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Russia is luring new recruits Rights activists say migrants accused of minor violations are being offered a way out: sign a contract to fight in Ukraine. One campaigner told The Telegraph UK that the police raids appear to be intentionally targeting ethnic gyms, fitness centres frequently visited by migrant communities. The Kremlin is reportedly using both pressure and incentives to increase recruitment numbers. Alongside intimidation, authorities are offering generous cash rewards to attract volunteers. Research by Janis Kluge, a fellow at the German Institute for International Security Studies, found a noticeable rise in enlistments in March. Emily Ferris, a Russia analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, told the British newspaper that authorities have adopted increasingly forceful tactics. Theyve tended to more coercive methods, like suggesting to factory workers, for example, that if they dont present themselves for enlistment, theyll be fired, she said. Last year, every region in Russia increased its enlistment bonus at least once, with many doing so again in January. Currently, between 1,000 and 1,500 volunteers are reportedly signing up each day, a huge rise from around 600 daily this time last year, the report said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | When Russia went to war against Ukraine and changed the world Putins order to conscript 160,000 men for Ukraine war On March 31, the Russian President signed a decree initiating the spring conscription of 160,000 men for mandatory military service, according to state-run agency TASS. The draft, which runs from April through June, applies to men aged 18 to 30. It is the largest conscription drive in Russia since 2011. Putin has instructed federal and regional authorities, along with conscription commissions, to carry out the recruitment campaign. Russia conducts two such drafts annually, in spring and autumn, with each conscript required to serve for one year. In recent months, the government has introduced new rules to simplify the drafting process, making it easier to enlist young men, including those who had previously avoided military service. Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT, has revealed that polite expressions like please and thank you are costing the firm tens of millions of dollars. While it may sound amusing, there is a technical reason behind the hefty expense. Each polite message initiates a new response from the AI, and generating these replies in real time relies on high-powered computing systems that use massive amounts of electricity read more Although the idea may come across as amusing, there is a technical reason behind the high price tag. Reuters/File Photo Do you tend to be courteous with AI tools, throwing in a please or thank you while chatting with ChatGPT? If so, youre not alone, but your politeness might be adding to OpenAIs bill. Sam Altman, the chief executive of ChatGPTs owner OpenAI, has revealed that expressions of politeness such as please and thank you are costing the company tens of millions of dollars. Although the idea may come across as amusing, there is a technical reason behind the high price tag. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In this explainer, we break down why polite language is proving expensive for the company, what exactly Sam Altman had to say, and whether it is time to change how you talk to AI. How please and thank you to ChatGPT are costing OpenAI millions It started with a question on X by user @tomieinlove: I wonder how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying please and thank you to their models. OpenAI boss Sam Altman responded by saying that such polite phrases were costing the company tens of millions of dollars. tens of millions of dollars well spent--you never know Sam Altman (@sama) April 16, 2025 Still, he called the cost well spent, and even hinted that the actual figure could be higher, adding, You never know. So, why is simple courtesy proving so costly? Each polite message requires a fresh reply from the AI. Generating these responses in real time uses powerful computing systems, which consume large amounts of electricity. That electricity powers not only the data processing but also the cooling systems that keep the servers from overheating. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Goldman Sachs Research, energy use is climbing due to the heavy demands of generative AI models like ChatGPT. Each polite message requires a fresh reply from the AI. AFP/File Photo The primary driver of this increased power demand is the growing computational intensity of AI workloads, particularly those related to generative AI and large language models, their study said. With huge volumes of data being processed and stored, energy consumption is rising fast. By 2028, AI is expected to account for roughly 19 per cent of all data centre electricity use. Goldman Sachs estimates that each query to ChatGPT-4 uses around 2.9 watt-hours of electricity, nearly ten times the energy of a typical Google search. With over a billion requests made every day, that is about 2.9 million kilowatt-hours daily. For premium users, who pay based on tokens, essentially the number of words, those extra thank yous may be making a noticeable dent in their monthly bill. Should you stop using polite words with ChatGPT? While OpenAI may be footing a large bill for small courtesies, Sam Altman never suggested users should stop being polite. He said, Tens of millions of dollars well spent STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A survey from 2024 found that 67 per cent of Americans say they use good manners with AI because it still matters, even with machines. More than half said it is simply the right thing to do, while 12 per cent admitted they are just playing it safe in case of an AI uprising. Goldman Sachs estimates that each query to ChatGPT-4 uses around 2.9 watt-hours of electricity. Reuters/File Photo Though saying please to a chatbot might feel pointless, experts say such habits help set the tone for smoother, more useful interactions. Microsofts WorkLab memo notes that it is not about AI appreciating the gesture. Instead, polite prompts encourage collaborative responses from the system. Kurtis Beavers, a design director for Microsoft Copilot, explained in the memo: Using polite language sets a tone for the response. Doing so not only ensures you get the same graciousness in return, but it also improves the AIs responsiveness and performance, he added. How social media reacted to Altmans disclosure Sam Altmans revelation that polite exchanges with ChatGPT are racking up tens of millions in electricity costs set off a mix of jokes and genuine concern on the social media platform X. Thats a small price to pay to feel safe, when the apocalypse comes, one user wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Another questioned, Is being polite to the AI keeping the coming apocalypse at bay? A more practical suggestion came from a third user: Can we put a thanks button like thumbs up in chat? With no response from ChatGPTIt helps user continue to be polite and additional response generation may also be avoided in process. Is trained on user input, the thank you is positive feedback that helps it know when it was doing a good job and could affect the weightings of the new model. Not wasted, a fourth user wrote. After over a decade, India will welcome a US vice president, as JD Vance begins his four-day visit. Vance has a packed schedule following a visit to the Akshardham temple, he will meet with PM Narendra Modi to discuss the bilateral trade agreement between Washington and New Delhi. The US vice president, his wife, Usha, and three children will also travel to Jaipur and Agra to visit the Amer Fort and the Taj Mahal read more US Vice President JD Vance departs Giovan Battista Pastine International Airport, Italy en route to New Delhi, India. The US VP is expected to be in India for four days during which he will meet PM Modi and travel to Jaipur and Agra. AP India is about to host a special guest starting today (April 21). After completing his visit to Italy, United States Vice President JD Vance is making his way to India, along with his wife, Usha, and their three children Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel. The US Second Family will be in India until April 24 during which they will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even travel to Jaipur and Agra. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The timing of Vances visit to India is significant it comes at a time when the US is in the midst of a trade war with China and Washingtons global economic alliances are shaky. #WATCH | Delhi: Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, along with their children welcomed at Palam airport. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw received the Vice President. pic.twitter.com/ocXCXOdmgQ ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025 Notably, India is rolling out the red carpet for the Vances, as the nation receives an American vice president for the first time in more than a decade. So, whats on the agenda for the Vances? What does their itinerary look like? What has India planned for the US vice president? Grand welcome awaits JD Vance and family After his Italy visit, Vance and family boarded the Air Force Two aircraft at Rome Ciampino Airport on Sunday and is expected to land at Air Force Station, Palam at 10 am on Monday (April 21). Besides his family wife, Usha, and children, Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel Vance is expected to be accompanied by at least five senior officials, including from the Pentagon and the State Department. Vance will be given an official guard of honour at the airport. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Delhi: Hoardings of US Vice President JD Vance, put up near Palam airport and Chanakyapuri area, ahead of his arrival on 21st April US Vice President JD Vance will be on his first official visit to India from 21 to 24 April. He will be accompanied by Second Lady Usha pic.twitter.com/9G9fmsEYbr ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2025 Hours after arriving in Delhi, where they will be put up at the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel, Vance and his family are expected to visit the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in the Capital, and may visit a shopping complex selling traditional hand-crafted goods. Security has been stepped up across the national capital in view of JD Vance and Indian-origin Second Lady Ushas visit to the country. According to a senior police official, We have already conducted mock drills according to the security protocol for the high level visit of the US vice president. Security has been tightened across different areas of Delhi to ensure that everything goes smoothly and no untoward incident happens during the visit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, several traffic diversions have been ordered in and around the Capital to ensure the smooth movement of the Vances. A woman and a child walk past a banner welcoming US Vice President JD Vance on a street in New Delhi. AP Getting down to business with PM Modi US Vice President JD Vance is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening at the PMs residence 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. It has been reported that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar may meet Vance earlier in the day, but the Ministry of External Affairs has not provided any details so far. There is no scheduled call-on by Vance on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar either, sources told The Hindu. In his talks with PM Modi scheduled to begin at 6.30 pm US Vice President JD Vance is expected to discuss the finalisation of the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement as well as ways to boost the overall trajectory of the ties between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra are expected to be part of the Indian team to be led by Modi, sources said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Vice President JD Vance will meet with PM Modi this evening at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The two will discuss the bilateral trade agreement. File image/Reuters The bilateral trade deal is of significance to both countries. The US is Indias top trading partner, with two-way trade surpassing $190 billion. However, theres been a blip in trading ties as Trump announced a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods as part of his April 2 Liberation Day tariff announcement. The trade agreement is seen as a win-win for both sides: New Delhi is seeking favourable terms for its exports, while Washington is seeking greater market access for its agricultural and dairy products. Alluding to the importance of the deal, the White House had said earlier, The VP will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country. However, apart from the trade deal, it has been reported that PM Modi will also raise the issue of revocation of student and H-1B visas to Indian nationals. In recent times, US immigration officials have been aggressively targeting international students, including those from India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had previously said the government was very positive that Vances visit would further boost ties and promised all relevant issues would be discussed. Following the talks, PM Modi will host JD Vance and his family for dinner. Vances to be dazzled by culture in Jaipur and Agra People in the know have said that once his engagements in Delhi are completed, the US vice president, his wife and children will travel to Jaipur where they will be put up at Rambagh Palace, a luxury hotel that once served as a royal guesthouse. On April 22, the Vances will begin their second leg of the India visit with a visit to Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort, a Unesco World Heritage Site. According to a Moneycontrol report, the US Second Family will be welcomed Suraj Pol Gate by two decorated elephants, Chanda and Pushpa. Second Lady Usha Vance with US Vice President JD Vance, carrying their daughter Mirabel. The Vance family will be in India starting today until April 24. File image/Reuters The US vice president will then be adorned with Jodhpuri safas and will be treated to folk performances, puppet shows, traditional attire, and regional cuisine during the two-and-a-half-hour tour. Later in the day, US Vice President Vance will deliver the keynote address at the US-India Business Summit at the Rajasthan International Centre. Once the Jaipur leg of his visit is complete, the Vances will move to Agra on April 23 where they will visit the Taj Mahal one of the seven wonders of the world. The US vice president and family are likely to spend nearly three hours at the monument followed up by a trip to Shilpgram, an open-air emporium where they will experience and purchase traditional Indian artefacts, further enriching their understanding of Indias artistic heritage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Vances visit will conclude on April 24 at 6.40 am, after which they will return to the US. Significance of Vances India visit JD Vances visit to India is a first by a US vice president since 2013 when Joe Biden, who served as VP, visited the nation. His trip to the country assumes even greater significance as it takes place against the backdrop of a global trade war that President Donald Trump has sparked. Moreover, it comes at a time when Chinese President Xi Jinping has been on a Southeast Asian tour to promote Beijing as a steadier and more dependable ally than Washington. US Vice President JD Vances visit to India is also the Trump administrations effort of exerting its soft diplomacy. File image/Reuters But this visit is also an attempt by the Trump administration to exert its soft diplomacy owing to Vances connection to India, courtesy of his wife, Usha. The Vance family visit is likely to showcase the importance of India-US ties at a time when the US is embracing a more assertive stance on the world stage, Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Bloomberg. There is a feeling of pride in India of the Indian-American diaspora, Vaishnav said. There will be a feeling of homecoming. With inputs from agencies Pope Francis, known to transform the Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday. While the nine-day period of mourning has begun, there is interest and speculation on who could succeed him. Several names have been doing the rounds. After the first Latin American Pope, will we get the first Black or Asian pontiff? read more Faithful, pilgrims and media persons gather at St Peter's square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 21. Pope Francis died a aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. After nine days of mourning, the process the elect the next Pope will begin. AFP Pope Francis died on Easter Monday (April 21). He was 88. The pontiffs death comes a day after he appeared at St Peters Square to wish Happy Easter to thousands of worshippers. The Pope was discharged from a hospital in Rome last month after five weeks of treatment for double pneumonia. The death of the pontiff triggers nine days of mourning, following which the new pope is elected in a process steeped in centuries-old tradition. It might be weeks before we know who the new leader of the Roman Catholic Chuch is. However, several names have been doing the rounds since the Pope was hospitalised on 14 February. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, who could succeed Francis to become the next pope? How is the new pope elected? The pope is chosen at the Vatican in gatherings known as the conclave. This private gathering is convened after the death of a pope or in case of a rare resignation like that of Pope Benedict XVI. The papal conclave starts two or three weeks after the death or resignation of the pontiff. The 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis began 12 days after the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI. People look at St. Peters Basilica in Rome after the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis. AP Since 1379, the Pope has been selected from a College of Cardinals, who cast the vote at the conclave. There are 138 electors of the 252 cardinals, and only those below 80 can take part in the secret ballot at the Sistine Chapel. The process is a closely guarded secret, and the outside world knows if a Pope is picked by watching smoke from the Vatican rooftop. Black smoke indicates that no consensus has been reached. If the smoke is white, then a new Pope has been picked. Who could succeed Pope Francis? Several names have been doing the rounds as the successor to Pope Francis for months. One of the favourites is Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Cardinal Pietro Parolin: The 70-year-old Italian has been the Vaticans secretary of state since 2013 and is the highest-ranking cardinal in the conclave. Francis made then-Bishop Parolin the youngest Vatican secretary of state in 84 years. Parolin is said to be moderate, not leaning to the left or right. In 2018, the cardinal faced criticism after a secret provisional agreement was made between the Holy See and China on the appointment of bishops in the country. He also faced criticism for handling certain finances and for his failure to promote financial reforms, reports The Irish News. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In this image released by Vatican media on April 21, Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell, second from left, flanked by, from left, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Substitute for the Secretariat of State, Cardinal Edgar PeOa Parra, and Vatican Master of Ceremonies, Archbisop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, announces the death of Pope Francis at the Vatican. Parolin is one of the frontrunners to succeed Francis. Vatican Media via AP Cardinal Matteo Zuppi: He is said to have been close to Pope Francis. The 69-year-old Italian is seen as a spiritual successor to Francis, according to Edward Pentin, senior contributor for the National Catholic Register and author of The Next Pope. He was made a cardinal in 2019 and went on a peace mission to Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also went to the US and met then-President Joe Biden. Like Francis, the Zuppi has spoken in favour of the LGBTQ+ community. But this was before he was picked as a cardinal. Cardinal Peter Turkson: From Ghana, Cardinal Peter Turkson is also in the race. If elected, he could make history as the first Black Pope. Turkson was also among the favourites during the 2013 conclave when Francis was picked. He was sent by Francis as a peace envoy to South Sudan, which shows that he has diplomatic capabilities. Turksons views on LGBTQ+ rights are seen as many as an attempt to woo liberals. Homosexuality should not be a criminal offence and people should be helped to understand the issue better, he said in 2023. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pope Francis is seen with Cardinal Peter Turkson during his weekly general audience, in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, on January 15, 2020. If Turkson is picked, he will become the first Black Pope. File photo/AP Cardinal Robert Sarah: According to The College of Cardinals Report, 79-year-old Robert Sarah, a Guinean, is a favourite among the traditionalist faction of the Church, reports The Times. If selected, he presents the possibility of the first Black Pope. Cardinal Peter Erdo: The 72-year-old Hungarian cardinal is conservative. He was against divorced or remarried Catholics receiving the Holy Communion. He was made a cardinal in 2003 by Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle: The 67-year-old is the seventh Filipino to become a cardinal. If made Pope, he will become the worlds first Asian pontiff. He was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. Tagle, like Pope Francis, is left-leaning and has criticised the Church over its attitude towards homosexuals, divorced or unmarried people and unwed mothers in the past. Luis Antonio Tagle is only the seventh Filipino to become a cardinal. Image courtesy: Vatican News Angelo Scola: He is a long-standing contender for the papal position and was in the race in 2013. The 82-year-old from Italy was the former Archbishop of Milan. He is a traditionalist, and those looking to move away from Francis progressive views might vote for Scola. However, age is not a favourable factor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Pope Francis wields influence over the conclave Pope Francis exerts a lot of influence over the conclave even after his death. Among the 138 voting cardinals, 110 were created by him. Francis was the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church. He introduced many a reform, including the decentralisation of the Vaticans powers and the appointment of more non-European cardinals than his predecessors. A parishioner touches a painting of the late Pope Francis at the Basilica de San Jose de Flores, where he worshipped as a youth, following the Vaticans announcement of his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AP He [Francis] selected the majority of the cardinals who possess the right to vote, Ulrich Lehner, professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, was quoted as saying by Newsweek. However, his approach to governance, characterised by unilateral decisions made without consultation with the College of Cardinals, has made it impossible to form interpersonal relationships among them. It will be interesting to see if Francis successor is a liberal or a conservative. And if the Vatican makes history again by selecting a Black or Asian Pope. With inputs from agencies Pope Francis, formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, was the first Latin-American pontiff in the history of the Church. He was known for his compassion, humility and fierce advocacy for the poor and marginalised. Lets take a look at all the ways he was considered a trailblazer in the Church read more Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. AP Pope Francis died on Monday. The Pope, formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first Latin-American pontiff in the history of the Church. He passed away at age 88 after a long struggle with his health. Pope Francis was known for his compassion and his humility. He has been widely considered a trailblazer in the Church. But why is this? Lets take a closer look: A man of humility and humour Francis became Pope after the resignation of Benedict the first Pontiff to resign in over 600 years. As per The New Yorker, Francis was a man of many firsts. Not only was he the first Jesuit Pope and the first Pope from the Americas, he was also the first Pope to be called Francis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He did so in tribute to Saint Francis of Assisi the patron saint of animals and the poor. The most popular names among popes are John, Benedict and Gregory. Francis, who had been a long shot candidate, set the tone for the type of Pope he wanted to be from the outset. According to The New York Post, when aides presented a throne-like chair on a platform for Francis to sit on and accept the allegiances from the cardinals, he instead chose to stand at their level and receive them. When the papal sedan arrived to take him to dinner at a Vatican residence, Francis instead to travel in a mini-bus with the cardinals. Francis also flashed what would become known as his trademark sense of humour, telling the Cardinals who elected him in 2013, May God forgive you for what youve done. Pope Francis consoles Serena Subania , who lost her daughter Angelica, 5 years old, the day before. AP As Pope, Francis would display this time and time again once joking to some Mexican priests that all he needed to sort out his knee trouble was some tequila. According to France24, Francis gave his first address as Pope in white robes and wearing a metal pectoral cross. Gone were the traditional papal ornaments of a tiara, gold cross and a sceptre. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rather than blessing the crowd as is tradition, Francis instead asked for their blessings. Brothers and sister, I am leaving you, Thank you so much for your welcome. Pray for me, and see you soon, Francis said. As per The New Yorker, Francis chose not take up residence in the Papal Palace the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. Instead, he moved into the Vatican guesthouse. He also often went to papal events in a simple Fiat instead of a Mercedes-Benz. As per RTE, it is said that Francis began turning lights off in the Vatican as he walked the corridors after being elected Pope. He said that the electricity being used was enough to power a small village back home in Argentina. This came as little surprise to those who had followed his tenure as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Francis forsook the Archbishops palace for a simple apartment downtown. He also travelled around the city by bus rather use the private limousine set aside for his use. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Advocate for the poor, compassionate reformer As per France24, Francis was also a fierce critic of the unrestrained free markets and globalisation. Many of you have been stripped by this savage world, Francis in 2013 told a crowd during a lunch for the poor. The world does not give employment and does not care if there are children dying of hunger, Francis added. My people are poor and I am one of them, the man known as the Peoples Pope would frequently remark. In his first major teaching document, The Joy of the Gospel, Francis denounced trickle-down economic theories as unproven and naive, based on a mentality where the powerful feed upon the powerless with no regard for ethics, the environment or even God. Money must serve, not rule! he said in urging political reforms. We have created new idols, Francis wrote in a proclamation. The worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Francis begged the world to use COVID-19 as an opportunity to rethink the economic and political framework that he said had turned rich against poor. We have realised that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, Francis told an empty St Peters Square in March 2020. But he also stressed the pandemic showed the need for all of us to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. Francis also sought to highlight the issue of climate change. As per RTE, Francis in 2015 published a landmark Laudato Si encyclical on climate change. Pope Francis in 2015 published a landmark Laudato Si encyclical on climate change. The 184-page document came six months ahead of the UN climate conference in Paris. We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis which is both social and environmental, Francis wrote. Pope Francis attempted to reform the Catholic Church. As per The New Yorker, Francis established a council of advisory cardinals, ordered a probe of the Vatican Bank, sought to reform the Curia and appointed Sister Nathalie Becquart of France, a woman, to one of its most influential posts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was about shifting a pattern of domination from human being to the creation, from men to women to a pattern of cooperation, said Becquart, the first woman to hold a voting position in a Vatican synod. He also women to important decision-making roles and allowed them to serve as lectors and acolytes in parishes. He let women vote alongside bishops in periodic Vatican meetings, following long-standing complaints that women do much of the churchs work but are barred from power. Francis set up the Council for the Economy and a Secretariat for the Economy to oversee the Churchs vast and often murky finances. Francis also cautioned the Curia the most powerful body in the church against 15 spiritual diseases including rivalry, vainglory, gossiping, grumbling and back-biting. In 2014, Francis at St Peters Basilica, in a stunning departure from other recent popes, made confession. Francis made it easier for married Catholics to get an annulment, allowed priests to absolve women who had had abortions and decreed that priests could bless same-sex couples. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He opened debate on issues like homosexuality and divorce, giving pastors wiggle room to discern how to accompany their flocks, rather than handing them strict rules to apply. Outreach to LGBTQ, Muslims Asked about the presence of a gay lobby within the Vatican on his first papal flight Francis set tongues wagging with his response. If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge? Francis asked reporters. The comment sent a message of welcome to the LGBTQ+ community and those who felt shunned by a church that had stressed sexual propriety over unconditional love. Being homosexual is not a crime, Francis said in 2023, urging an end to civil laws that criminalise it. Francis went to societys fringes to minister with mercy: caressing the deformed head of a man in St. Peters Square, kissing the tattoo of a Holocaust survivor, or inviting Argentinas garbage scavengers to join him onstage in Rio de Janeiro. He formally apologised to Indigenous peoples for the crimes of the church from colonial times onward. We have always been marginalized, but Pope Francis always helped us, said Coqui Vargas, a transgender woman whose Roman community forged a unique relationship with Francis during the pandemic. Francis also sought to create harmony between faiths. Francis during his papacy made landmark trips to the UAE and Iraq respectively. During his 2019 trip to the UAE, he met Egypts Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb. Both leaders signed the Document of Human Fraternity. In March 2021, Francis made a historic trip to Iraq becoming the first Pontiff to set foot in the country. Pope Francis, surrounded by shells of destroyed churches, leads a prayer for the victims of war at Hosh al-Bieaa Church Square, in Mosul, Iraq, once the de-facto capital of IS, Sunday, March 7, 2021. AP The trip, made in the backdrop of concerns about his safety and worries about ISIS, saw Francis meet Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani. Francis, after meeting Christian victims of ISIS, urged Iraqis to forgive those who transgressed against them and called for peace in the region. Francis wasnt perfect by any means. His response to a 2018 sexual abuse scandal in Chile arguably the biggest crisis of his papacy upto that point was bungled at best and horrific at the worst. Francis accused survivors of slandering Reverend Fernando Karadima Chiles most notorious pedophile. The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, Ill speak, Francis said. There is not one shred of proof against him. Its all calumny. Is that clear? Francis remarks outraged survivors and gave fresh fodder to critics of the Catholic Church. The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, Ill speak, Francis said. There is not one shred of proof against him. Its all calumny. Is that clear? Realizing his error, Francis invited the victims to the Vatican for a personal mea culpa and summoned the leadership of the Chilean church to resign en masse. As per France24, Francis in 2021, Francis faced a fresh challenge when an independent French commission into church sex abuse released its findings after an investigation that spanned over two years. The commission determined that French clergy, since 1950, had abused 216,000 children. Until the early 2000s, the Catholic Church showed a profound and even cruel indifference towards the victims, commission chief Jean-Marc Sauve said was quoted as saying. By then, Francis had learned his lesson. I wish to express to the victims my sadness and pain for the trauma they have suffered, Francis was quoted as saying by France24. And also my shame, our shame, my shame, for the inability of the Church, for too long, to put them at the centre of its concerns. With inputs from agencies The Sri Lankan police have launched an investigation into a widely circulated image of Buddhas tooth relic, which went public after 16 years. The tooth relic was on a rare public display at the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lankas Kandy. But, why has the image caused a stir? read more Buddhist devotees stand in queue as they wait to enter the Temple of the Tooth for a public exposition of the sacred Tooth relic of the Buddha in Kandy. AFP An image of Buddhas tooth relic taken during a rare public display has led the Sri Lankan police to launch investigation. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has undertaken an investigation to verify the authenticity of the widely circulated image. The inquiry aims to determine whether the photograph originated from the currently ongoing, infrequent public exhibition of the relic or if it is a product of digital alteration. Here is what you need to know. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why is the image causing a stir? According to NewsX, the image in question allegedly shows Buddhas tooth relic, which was recently displayed publicly at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. The report further stated that these exhibitions are rare and are conducted under tight security. The exposition was taking place after 16 years at the request of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. To ensure the sanctity and security of the highly venerated relic during its public viewing, strict prohibitions are in place. Photography is forbidden, devotees are frisked before entering the sacred area of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, and neither bags nor parcels are permitted. Moreover, the use of mobile phones within the temple is also banned. If someone took a photo inside the temple, it is a serious security lapse, a police official told AFP. We are here to use this rare chance to venerate the tooth relic - never mind the long time we spent in the queue, Geethani Mendis, a 65-year-old mother of two, said as she was near the temple entrance. How is the police investigating the matter? As per AFP, law enforcement officials have indicated that the Criminal Investigation Department has received an order to determine the authenticity of the widely disseminated image, specifically to establish if it was captured during the infrequent public exhibition of the relic. A military official tries to help devotees avoid chaos during a gathering for a public exposition of the sacred. AFP There is a significant presence of plain-clothed officers inside the temple, he said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. A police statement said detectives would investigate whether the photo had been taken by a worshipper during the current exhibition, or whether it was a doctored image. What is the importance of the tooth relic? The sacred tooth relic is not only a religious artefact but also a symbol of state sovereignty in Sri Lanka. Historical accounts reveal that the tooth relic, arriving in Kandy in 1590, evolved into a potent symbol of Buddhist holiness, Sri Lankas most cherished possession and a representation of sovereign power. According to news agency Press Trust of India, tradition holds that the actual tooth relic was never accessible to public viewing. Instead, what was presented behind a gilded railing and upon a silver table within the Temple of the Tooth was a gold-plated reliquary, identified as the outermost of a series of seven caskets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Access to the inner sanctum containing the caskets was historically limited to the King and certain powerful Buddhist monks. In the modern era, however, the policy has evolved to allow visitors to view the reliquary, albeit from a distance. Buddhist devotees stand in queues as they wait to enter the Temple of the Tooth for a public exposition of Buddhas sacred Tooth relic. AFP The public display attracts vast numbers of devotees. Approximately 1,25,000 people visited the temple on the first day of the current exhibition, reported AFP. On subsequent days, the exhibition is open for five and a half hours. The 10-day exhibition ends on April 27. The huge crowds visiting the Temple of the Tooth have led to traffic chaos in Kandy, while tens of thousands of devotees have also been camping overnight to worship the relic. With inputs from agencies In an apparent jibe at Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) respects sovereignty and is not a political tool trying to dominate others read more In an apparent jibe at Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) respects sovereignty and is not a political tool trying to dominate others. Addressing the IMEC conclave 2025 in the national capital on April 16, he said, Good part of the IMEC is that it respects sovereignty and is not trying to foist one idea on other. Its not trying to create an economic union. Its not trying to dominate any of the region, something which the Belt and Road Initiative is now being recognised as becoming a political tool to try and dominate certain regions and their economic future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said IMEC is supposed to be a partnership amongst all the nations, respecting each others sovereignty, our territorial integrity and also focusing largely promoting inclusive growth, sustainable growth. The IMEC would help promote trade, seamless movement of goods and people and cut down logistics costs, he added. IMEC is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe through a network of roads, railways, and shipping routes. The corridor is expected to benefit India, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Europe. IMEC is divided into two sections: the East Corridor, linking India with the Arabian Gulf, and the Northern Corridor, connecting the Gulf to Europe. The project was launched on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, with an agreement signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, the US, and other G20 partners. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a large-scale connectivity project linking China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe. India has consistently opposed the BRI, criticising it as a debt-trap strategy and expressing concerns over sovereignty violations. A key point of contention is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a BRI project that passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a region claimed by India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD New Delhi has emphasised that connectivity initiatives should respect national sovereignty, adhere to international norms, and follow principles of transparency, good governance, and financial sustainability. With inputs from agencies Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met US Vice President JD Vance and hailed the significant progress in ongoing negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, aimed at promoting the welfare of citizens in both countries read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met US Vice President JD Vance and hailed the significant progress in ongoing negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, aimed at promoting the welfare of citizens in both countries. The leaders also acknowledged sustained efforts to deepen collaboration in key sectors such as energy, defence, strategic technologies, and more. During their meeting, they exchanged views on a range of regional and global developments, emphasising the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing shared challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vice President Vance was accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance, their children, and senior officials from the US administration. Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Washington DC in January and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047, PMO said in a statement. Pleased to welcome US @VP @JDVance and his family in New Delhi. We reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump. We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and pic.twitter.com/LRNmodIZLB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2025 PM Modi and Vice President Vance reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation. They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward, the statement added. The Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Vice President, the Second Lady, and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India. He also conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year. The US Vice President, who is on a four-day official visit to India, arrived in the national capital on Monday. This is Vice President Vances first visit to India. He will also visit Jaipur and Agra before departing for Washington DC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The high-level visit comes amid trade negotiations between the two countries following the US decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including India. The US has reduced new tariff rates on most of its trade partners to 10 per cent for 90 days to allow trade negotiations. With inputs from agencies In his recent address to the expatriates, the Pakistani army chief ticked off a number of topics: a dismissive mention of the little bit of terrorism in Balochistan, reminders about Pakistans history, Kashmir, and the supposed civilisational divide between Hindus and Muslims read more Pakistani army chief General Asim Munirs animated, chest-thumping speech to a group of overseas Pakistanis has left analysts wondering what he was trying to conveyand why he chose to speak at all. Until now, the one arguably positive trait about the general was that, while he was omnipresent in pictures and television frames, he rarely spoke. With his latest statementsthreatening action on Kashmir, invoking the Two Nation theory, and moreit seems Pakistan is reverting to its old script: terror, instability, and ideological grandstanding. And that spells trouble. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why did Munir speak at all? In what Geo News called a historic address, Munir ticked off a number of topics: a dismissive mention of the little bit of terrorism in Balochistan, reminders about Pakistans history, Kashmir, and the supposed civilisational divide between Hindus and Muslims. First, its surprising that the army chief chose to speak at all. In most countries, such gatherings of expatriates are addressed by a prime minister or finance minister. These are usually opportunities to present economic data, outline investment opportunities, and build confidence. Instead, this audience got an emotional tiradeagainst the Baloch, against Hindus, and against just about everyone else. It was a clear signal: neither expats nor anyone else needs to believe that a democratic system exists in Pakistan. Its now officialthe military is in charge. The prime minister might as well go on permanent leave. Just a little terrorism? One of the most alarming moments was Munirs offhand reference to a little terrorism. Pakistan ranks second-worst globally on the Global Terrorism Index. Its own official reports admit to a nine-year high in terrorist incidents, with a 66 per cent increase in 2024 alone. On average, nearly seven lives are lost every day due to terrorism. Prominent Pakistani politicians have acknowledged that large parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are effectively outside government control. Operations in KP date back to 2001, with campaigns like Operation Rah-e-Nijat involving tanks, airstrikes, and full-scale military deployment. In Balochistan, the air force has been used against domestic insurgentsa reality that has persisted since 1947. And yet, the insurgency has only grown stronger, as seen in incidents like the Jaffar Express hijacking. So, when Munir rattles sabres to loud cheers from the audience, it rings hollow. Worse, it may endanger even him, especially considering his audience likely included military colleagues. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A skewed history lesson At one point, Munir urged the audience to teach their children about the birth of Pakistan. Frankly, it might be better if they didnt. Independence was not a uniformly desired outcome. Balochistan resisted it; tribal regions, including those with the Khudai Khidmatgar movement, were actively pushing for a different future. Even in Punjabdespite its 57 per cent Muslim majoritysupport for Jinnah was far from unanimous. The Muslim League secured just 73 of 175 seats, barely edging out Congress. In Sindh, the League won only 27 of 60 seats. Its only major victory was in Bengal, which ultimately left Pakistan in 1971 after a brutal military crackdown. In essence, Pakistans creation was contested at every level. Whats even more troubling is Munirs revival of the Hindu-Muslim dividerhetoric clearly aimed at Indias Muslims, and that suggests sinister intent. Gaza gets a weak hand Munirs vibrant support for Gaza also rang hollow. While Pakistan does send occasional aid, its not even among the top 20 donor countries. Moreover, much of that aid is reportedly channelled through Al Khidmat Foundation, the charitable wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), which has long supported terrorist organisations. In 2006, JeI openly handed a cheque to Hamasthen already a designated terrorist groupand maintains contact with its leaders. Hamas figures were recently seen at a Kashmir Solidarity Day rally in Pakistan, and JeIs Sirajul Haq has met Hamas leadership in Iran. Reports allege the group raises funds in the US and Europe, often using orphanages as a front. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This isnt the support Munir spoke ofbut he certainly knows it exists. JeIs calls for jihad in Kashmir are public knowledge. Munirs emotional cry about Kashmir being Pakistans jugular vein reveals a bitter truth: with Article 370 gone, it appears Pakistan sees itself as metaphorically throttled. Yet ironically, Pakistan, in 1949, separated Gilgit-Baltistan from so-called Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir) through an agreement that remains secret and legally dubious. Unfounded claims of rise Munir also made vague references to Pakistans supposed rise, though its unclear by what metrics. Consider his audience: the largest overseas Pakistani populations are in the UK, US, and Saudi Arabia. In the UK, Pakistanis are among the poorest communities, living in some of the most income-deprived neighbourhoods. Indians, by contrast, are among the most affluent. Thats why Indian diaspora events tend to focus on investment and soft powernot ideological lectures. Still, overseas Pakistanis contribute significantly to the homeland, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of GDP with remittances touching $33 billion. India, in comparison, receives $129 billion, but that constitutes just 3 per cent of its GDP. Pakistani-Americans are better off, but in the UK, they form what is now widely seen as one of the most radicalised segments. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Munirs speech wasnt targeted at affluent, educated professionals who tend to avoid public identification with Pakistan. Instead, it was aimed at nationalist elements among the diaspora. Rather than showcasing reform, he offered threats. Despite the applause, Munir had nothing to sell except intimidationand that, ultimately, was the real message. The writer is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. She tweets @kartha_tara. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Authored by Samir Saran and Anirban Sarma, GeoTechnoGraphy is a pertinent and thought-provoking book that explores how digital technology has become both a catalyst for progress and a cause of intense societal disruptions read more Change is the only constant. We are often reminded about this age-old adage. But with each passing decade, year, month, day and even moment, one is facing an accelerated rate of change. Alvin Toffler wrote more than five decades ago in his milestone book, Future Shock, If the last 50,000 years of mans existence were divided into lifetimes of approximately sixty-two years each, there have been about 800 such lifetimes. Of these 800, fully 650 were spent in caves. He decoded this accelerated rate of transformation further when he wrote how only during the last six lifetimes did masses of men ever see a printed word. Only during the last four has it been possible to measure time with any precision. Only in the last two has anyone anywhere used an electric motor. And the overwhelming majority of all the material goods we use in daily life today have been developed within the present, the 800th, lifetime. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When Toffler wrote his seminal book, the digital revolution, as we see it today, was still a few decades away. And if the changes in the 1950s and 60s made him believe that most people are grotesquely unprepared to cope with it, one wonders what he would have said today when a seismic technological change, led by the digital revolution, is underway. The digital revolution has created new cloud-based communities that transcend national and geographical barriers, providing new opportunities as well as opening up new challenges. So, while the Internet is seen to be blurring, and often challenging too, geographical distances and national boundaries, one equally witnesses intense battles being fought for land, territories and so-called homelands. What makes the era both interesting and enigmatic is the two tendencies getting stronger at the one and the same time. To map these new changes, a new book, GeoTechnoGraphy, written by Samir Saran and Anirban Sarma, has come out, exploring how digital technology has as much become the catalyst for progress as much as a cause of intense societal disruptions. Geotechnography: Mapping Power and Identity in the Digital Age (Hardcover) 31 March 2025. Image: Amazon.com The authors write, Our rootedness in land is now contending and conflicting with a new sense of self built by engaging with social media and other global digital platforms. The agendas and aspirations of citizens, governments and tech businesses arent necessarily congruent though. The friction between them is the greatest defining phenomenon of our time. The death of geography has led to the mushrooming of new sites for agreement and discord. Saran and Sarma write, Throughout our book, we use the terms clouds or cloud societies to refer to virtual communities that are anchored in particular geographies but use the Internet and social media to share views, exchange opinions, band together with like-minded peers or interest groups or engage in online political action. Cloud societies influence land-based debates and often assault offline consensuses. On the other hand, they amplify real-world movements, and the momentum they generate online could cross back into the offline realm in the form of new campaigns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Interestingly, the death of geography, led primarily by the massive spread of cyberspace, has resulted in a borderless world, but at the same time one is witnessing the rise of new tribalism, wherein walls could spring up between those who fall foul of code or community guidelines and suffer a form of digital excommunication and those who dont. The authors also highlight how a wedge is also driven between inhabitants of the worlds various splinternets. Giving the example of Chinese citizens being exposed only to online news and views curated by the Chinese Communist Party will form a vastly different worldview from Indians who experience an open, broad-based Internet. This way alternate ideas become invisible (to Chinese), and one-sided perspectives become our universe. Thus emerges what the authors call a new tribalism. What further makes the situation dicey, difficult and also dangerous is the mushrooming of fake news outlets in the digital space. This phenomenon is worrying because for most people across the globe, social media has become the primary source of newswhat makes this even deadlier is the fact that fake news travels faster than the truth! STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The book also looks at the growing malaise of cyber-attacks and cybercrime. The global cost of financial cybercrime is expected to skyrocket from $9.22 trillion in 2024 to $13.83 trillion in 2028. And by the end of 2024, cyber-attacks may cost the global economy more than $10.5 trillion. The number is only going to spread. Today, 65 per cent of the worlds population use the internet, which was first introduced among the masses just three decades agoand as the number of internet users further increases, especially in the Global South, the cases of cyber-attacks and cybercrime would go up too. Then there is the big issue of artificial intelligence, whose development and usage have divided humanity, with many projecting and predicting a doomsday-kind of scenario for human beings. The authors find four fundamental design flaws underlying todays geotechnographical landscape. One, the ideologies of Silicon Valleythe production centres of these technologiesare being made to force-fit local markets with a wholly different provenance. Two, the contract between citizens and the state is increasingly mediated by private players such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Often these companies care little about local laws, as was witnessed in 2023 when the Government of India called out Twitter for repeatedly violating national laws. The third flaw is the dichotomy between sites of innovation and those of regulation. The fourth flaw is the capabilities asymmetry between geographies that impacts their response to technology and shapes trajectories of tech adoption. The last chapter, Rebooting History: A Rules-Based Order for the Digital Age, is the high point of the book, as it seeks to find a way out of the digital morass the world finds itself in. In the end, the authors come up with their verdict: Technology has been left for too long now to market forces. The speed at which technological breakthroughs are occurring has no historical precedent. They have disrupted almost every industry in every country, and the changes they introduce are already transforming existing systems of management and governance. The tail is wagging the dog. We elect governments, and digital tribes then try to dictate what the elected government should do. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is, therefore, not surprising that trust in technology is declining and techlash is becoming obvious. The digital age, with its dizzying ascent and all-encompassing impact on societies, may be on thinner ice than it knows. The disruption of truth and reality, the interference with borders both political and cultural, the weaponisation of technology, and the greed for global supremacy could make the fourth industrial revolution the shortest of all tech revolutions, write the two authors as they ask governments and tech giants to pause and look for answers: How do we reboot the present to ensure that the future doesnt repeat the errors of the past? And if we dont, will the history of our digital societies be all too brief? GeoTechnoGraphy is a pertinent, thought-provoking book. Given the time we live in, the book remains essential reading for all Indians. 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 Criminal networks that emerged in Southeast Asia in recent years, opening sprawling compounds housing tens of thousands of workers, many trafficked and forced to scam victims around the world, have evolved into a sophisticated global industry, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said read more Victims of scam centers who were tricked or trafficked into working in Myanmar, stuck in limbo at a compound inside the KK Park, a fraud factory, and a human trafficking hub on the border with Thailand-Myanmar after a multinational crackdown on the compounds run by criminal gangs, operated by the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) in Myawaddy, Myanmar. File image/ Reuters Asian crime syndicates behind the multibillion-dollar cyberscam industry are expanding globally including to South America and Africa, as raids in Southeast Asia fail to contain their activities, the United Nations said in a report on Monday. Criminal networks that emerged in Southeast Asia in recent years, opening sprawling compounds housing tens of thousands of workers, many trafficked and forced to scam victims around the world, have evolved into a sophisticated global industry, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even as Southeast Asian governments have intensified a crackdown, syndicates have moved within and beyond the region, the agency said, adding that a potentially irreversible spillover has taken place leaving criminal groups free to pick, choose, and move as needed. It spreads like a cancer, said John Wojcik, a regional analyst for UNODC. Authorities treat it in one area, but the roots never disappear; they simply migrate. Conservative estimates indicate there are hundreds of large-scale scam farms around the world generating tens of billions of dollars in annual profits, the UNODC said. The agency called on countries to work together and intensify efforts to disrupt the gangs financing. The regional cyberfraud industry has outpaced other transnational crimes, given that it is easily scalable and able to reach millions of potential victims online, with no need to move or traffic illicit goods across borders, said Wojcik. The United States alone reported more than $5.6 billion in losses to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, including more than $4 million in so-called pig-butchering scams or romance scams designed to extort money from often elderly and vulnerable people. Inflection point In recent months, authorities from China, where many of the gangs originate, Thailand and Myanmar have led a crackdown on scam operations in lawless areas of the Thai-Myanmar border, with Thailand cutting power, fuel and internet supply to areas housing scam compounds. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But syndicates have adapted, shifting operations between the most remote, vulnerable, and underprepared parts of Southeast Asia, especially in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, and beyond, exploiting jurisdictions with weak governance and high rates of corruption, the UNODC said. Raids in parts of Cambodia where the industry is most visible led to significant expansion in more remote locations, including the countrys western Koh Kong province, as well as areas bordering Thailand and Vietnam, the U.N. agency said. New sites also continue to be developed in Myanmar, it added, a country in the throes of an expanding conflict since the military seized power four years ago. Spokespeople for the Cambodian government and Myanmar junta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Syndicates have expanded into South America, the U.N. agency said, seeking to enhance money laundering and underground banking partnerships with South American drug cartels. They are increasingly establishing operations in Africa, including in Zambia, Angola, and Namibia, and in Eastern Europe including Georgia, the agency said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gangs have also rapidly diversified their workforce, recruiting people from dozens of nationalities, according to the agency, reflecting how the industry scams targets across the globe and has sought to evade anti-trafficking efforts. Citizens of more than 50 countries from Brazil to Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan - were rescued during recent crackdowns on the Thai-Myanmar border. The international community is at a critical inflection point, the UNODC said, urging that failure to address the problem would have unprecedented consequences for Southeast Asia that reverberate globally. Pope Francis passed away before he could make his long-anticipated visit to India, despite having warmly accepted Prime Minister Modis invitation read more When Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St Peters Basilica on Easter Sunday 2025, few knew it would be his final public act. The 88-year-old pontiff, frail yet determined, offered a blessing to thousands in the square below, his voice gentle, his presence commanding. It was from the same loggia where he had first been introduced to the world in 2013 as the 266th pope. Just one day later, the Vatican announced that Francis had passed away at 7.35 am, April 21, 2025 at his residence in the Domus Santa Marta, following complications from double pneumonia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vaticans camerlengo, delivered the sombre message: the Bishop of Rome had returned to the home of the Father. Church bells tolled across Rome as the faithful mourned the passing of a pope who had reshaped the global Church with his humility, progressive views and outspoken stance on social justice. A journey that never happened His death also marked the quiet end of a long-anticipated journey a papal visit to India that had been talked about for nearly a decade, hoped for by millions, and, in the end, postponed indefinitely. It was a visit that would never happen. Back in 2016, Pope Francis had voiced near certainty that he would visit India alongside Bangladesh the following year. However, Church officials cited scheduling problems for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pope Francis travelled instead to Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017. The invitation that revived hope It wasnt until October 2021, during the G20 summit in Rome, that things finally began to shift. Prime Minister Modi and Pope Francis met face-to-face the first such meeting between an Indian prime minister and a pope in over 20 years. Modi described the encounter as very warm, noting that he had discussed a wide range of issues with the pontiff and formally invited him to visit India. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the invitation adding that the Pope had accepted with pleasure. The Vatican offered no detailed statement but acknowledged the meeting. At that time, it seemed the Churchs long wait might finally end. Hopes rise and stall again By late 2024, momentum appeared to be building. Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian, speaking from the Vatican while attending the elevation of Keralas Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad to cardinal reiterated that India had officially invited Pope Francis, the PTI reported. He added that the visit would take place as per the convenience of the Pope, and that both Prime Minister Modi and the Christian community were eagerly awaiting it. Yet, the Vatican had other priorities. The year 2025 was declared the Jubilee Year a major event in the Catholic calendar marking the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Kurian, the Holy See made it clear that the Pope would be deeply engaged with internal Church events during this period. The visit to India, therefore, would have to wait until sometime after the Jubilee celebrations. According to a PTI report, Goa minister Mauvin Godinho echoed this hope stating that the Pope was likely to visit India sooner than expected, after another warm encounter between Modi and Francis at the G7 Outreach session in Apulia, Italy, in June 2024. Yet with the Popes health quietly deteriorating, those words would soon take on a different shade. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A legacy without a pilgrimage Franciss passing now leaves Indian Catholics reflecting on a missed encounter with a spiritual leader they admired deeply. His potential presence in places like Kochi, Goa, or even New Delhi would have been historic a continuation of the legacy begun by John Paul II during his visit to India in 1999. That earlier papal trip had culminated in the publication of a key Church document on Christianity in Asia and it had left a lasting impression on Indias Christian minority. Francis, too, had the vision to leave a similar legacy. Known for his critiques of unbridled capitalism, his passion for climate justice and his compassion for the marginalised, the Pope had extended his arms to the Global South more than most of his predecessors. That he never set foot in India home to more than 20 million Roman Catholics now reads as a striking absence in an otherwise expansive papacy. The visit that might still come With Pope Franciss death, the possibility of that long-awaited visit has now passed. But the door may not be closed forever. As the Catholic Church prepares to elect his successor, the question of India may return to the forefront. Will the next pope make the journey that Francis could not? We wait for the time to answer this question. US President Donald Trump shares list of 8 non-tariff ways countries are cheating the United States as he doubles down on his reciprocal trade tariff policy read more US President Donald Trump shared a list of nine non-tariff ways, he claims, countries are cheating the United States. The post came on Sunday, soon after Trump unleashed vitriol against the Biden administration while extending an Easter message. The American leader stirred a storm earlier this year when he announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs against several nations. While Trump announced a 90-day pause on his sweeping tariffs on all countries, barring China, countries are rushing to Washington to navigate the brunt. Interestingly, Trumps angry rant over the matter came days after the 78-year-old said that his officials are in talks with China on tariffs, and he is confident that a deal will be reached. Advertisement Yeah, were talking to China. I would say they have reached out a number of times, he told reporters at the Oval Office. While the US gave a 90-day relief to other nations, the same mercy was not given to China. The Trump administration imposed 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods; in return, Beijing announced retaliatory tariffs of 125 per cent on American goods. This will cause a 0.2% loss of global merchandise trade. Trump shares non-tariff cheating list' In the eight-point list, Trump said methods such as currency manipulation and dumping below cost are being used by nations to allegedly cheat the US. Following is the list shared by Trump on his TruthSocial platform: Currency Manipulation VATs, which act as tariffs and export subsidies Dumping Below Cost Export Subsidies and Other Govt. Subsidies Protective Agricultural Standards (e.g., no genetically engineered corn in the EU) Protective Technical Standards (Japans bowling ball test) Counterfeiting, Piracy, and IP Theft (Over $1 trillion a year) Transshipping to EVADE Tariffs!!! Apart from the European Union and Japan, Trump specifically did not name any other country or regional body. Interestingly, Trump raised concerns about Japans bowling ball test back in 2018. He claimed that the Asian nation is using the test to cheat US auto companies out of selling cars to Japanese consumers. They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car. If the hood dents, the car doesnt qualify. Its horrible, he had said. While countries around the world are yet to react to Trumps latest allegations, nations like India and the United Kingdom are eying for bilateral trade deals with Washington to prevent their manufacturing sectors getting tampered by the Trump tariffs. Trump, who took office in January, has put large tariffs on a variety of items and nations, including those on China, which began to increase in February read more Shipping containers are seen at Pyeongtaek port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Reuters South Koreas customs office said on Monday that there has been a rise in attempts to disguise foreign items as Korean exports, particularly from China, in order to escape US President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs. Following a special investigation last month, the Korea Customs Service reported 29.5 billion won ($20.81 million) in country of origin breaches from the first quarter, with 97% of the total attributed to shipments intended for the United States. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This compares to a total of 34.8 billion won in breaches in 2024, with 62% of them involving exports heading for the United States. Trump, who took office in January, has put large tariffs on a variety of items and nations, including those on China, which began to increase in February. There was a rise in disguised export attempts during Trumps first presidency and we expect there to be a similar trend, said Lee Kwang-woo, investigation planning director at the KCS. Anticipating increased risks, authorities conducted the latest investigation preemptively to prevent illegal exports. They have already found signs of such attempts to avoid Trumps tariffs from the first quarter, Lee said during a media briefing. On Monday, South Korean customs officials held a meeting with U.S. officials to discuss joint investigation efforts. South Korean officials have said there could be a rise in attempts by foreign companies, such as those in neighbouring China, to use South Korea, which is a major U.S. ally and has a free-trade pact, as a bypass to avoid tariffs and regulations. Trump slapped 25% tariffs on South Korea this month, among a new set of sweeping levies, which were later suspended for three months. The U.S. now imposes 145% tariffs on China after back-and-forth retaliatory actions, which economists say have severed trade between the worlds two biggest economies. Mondays findings include 3.3 billion won worth of cathode materials used for batteries, imported from China and shipped to the U.S. with South Korea falsely marked as the country of origin, to avoid already high tariffs in January even before Trumps tariffs took effect. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In March, 19.3 billion won worth of surveillance cameras were imported from China in parts and reassembled in South Korea to bypass U.S. restrictions on Chinese communication devices. Some of the goods have been shipped abroad while others are still at the port. The Korea Customs Service has launched a special task force to prevent attempts to illegally export such goods and plans to come up with more specific response measures to protect domestic companies. Meanwhile, the violations discovered will be referred to prosecutors. Last month, the administration of President Donald Trump deported at least 200 Venezuelans from the United States to El Salvador, accusing them of being members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang read more El Salvador President Nayib Bukele gives a thumbs up as he departs the White House following his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., U.S. File image/ Reuters President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador on Sunday suggested exchanging 252 Venezuelans who had been deported from the United States and imprisoned in his nation for political prisoners that Venezuela held. Bukele requested that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro release 252 of the political prisoners you are holding, as part of his proposed agreement, in a post on X. The Salvadoran leader did not specify if a swap would result in the inmates being imprisoned once more. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A request for comment from Venezuelas Ministry of Communication was not answered. Journalist Roland Carreno, human rights attorney Rocio San Miguel, and Corina Parisca de Machadomother of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who he claimed receives threats at her house on a regular basiswere among individuals Bukele suggested be released from Venezuela. As part of the proposed swap, he also identified roughly 50 captives of different nations, including nationals of the US, Germany, and France. Ten Americans were among the 50 inmates suggested for the swap, according to a post on X by Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage response, who applauded the action. According to Bukele, the idea would be formally presented to the Venezuelan government via diplomatic channels by his Foreign Ministry. Last month, the administration of President Donald Trump deported at least 200 Venezuelans from the United States to El Salvador, accusing them of being members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. The US is paying El Salvador $6 million to detain the migrants in its high-security Terrorism Confinement Center. The Venezuelan government has said it has no political prisoners and that imprisoned people have been convicted of crimes. However, non-governmental organizations claim that more than 800 people are detained for political reasons. The Venezuelan government has denied that the Venezuelans deported by the US have gang affiliations. Lawyers and family members of the detainees have also asserted that the migrants have no ties to criminal groups. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Saturday, the US Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting another group of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang ties under a rarely used wartime law, issuing a stay after the American Civil Liberties Union asked the court to intervene on an emergency basis. The Trump administration pressed the Supreme Court to reject the ACLUs request on the migrants behalf, once they review the matter further. White House officials said the president remains committed to his immigration crackdown, but gave no indication the administration would defy the courts decision. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive Yemen strike details in a Signal chat with his wife, brother, and lawyer, raising concerns about unclassified messaging use. read more U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth communicated specifics of a March strike on Yemens Iran-aligned Houthis in a chat group with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer, according to a source familiar with the situation. The revelations of a second Signal chat raise more questions about Hegseths use of an unclassified messaging system to share highly sensitive security details, and they come at a particularly sensitive time for him, with senior officials removed from the Pentagon last week as part of an internal leak probe. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the second chat, Hegseth shared details of the attack, which were similar to those revealed last month by The Atlantic magazine after its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally included in a separate chat on the Signal app, in an embarrassing incident involving all of President Donald Trumps most senior national security officials. The individual familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the second conversation, which comprised around a dozen people, was set up during his confirmation process to discuss administrative concerns rather than actual military preparation. According to the insider, the communication contained specifics about the air attack timeline. Hegseths wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, has attended sensitive meetings with foreign military counterparts, according to images the Pentagon has publicly posted. During a meeting Hegseth had with his British counterpart at the Pentagon in March, his wife could be seen sitting behind him. Hegseths brother is a Department of Homeland Security liaison to the Pentagon. The Trump administration has aggressively pursued leaks, an effort that has been enthusiastically embraced by Hegseth at the Pentagon. The Pentagon did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The White House did not immediately return a message. Tumultuous moment for Hegseth STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Democratic lawmakers said Hegseth could no longer stay in his job. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a post to X. But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired. Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who suffered grave injuries in combat in 2004, said that Hegseth must resign in disgrace. A U.S. official at the Pentagon questioned how Hegseth could keep his job after the latest news. The latest revelation comes days after Dan Caldwell, one of Hegseths leading advisers, was escorted from the Pentagon after being identified during an investigation into leaks at the Department of Defense. Although Caldwell is not as well known as other senior Pentagon officials, he has played a critical role for Hegseth and was named as the Pentagons point person by the Secretary in the first Signal chat. We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended, Caldwell posted on X on Saturday. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following Caldwells departure, less-senior officials Darin Selnick, who recently became Hegseths deputy chief of staff, and Colin Carroll, who was chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, were put on administrative leave and fired on Friday. When Vance landed in India, he and his family were received by Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw. This marked a significant difference from the welcome former US President Joe Biden received in India. Heres how read more US Vice President JD Vance was received at the Delhi airport by Union Cabinet minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on April 21, 2025. (Photo: X/Ministry of External Affairs) India broke its protocols to welcome US Vice President JD Vance, who landed in India with his family. There was a difference in how in the country in comparison to the one received by former US President Joe Biden, who came to India during the G20 Summit. On Monday morning, Vance landed in Delhi along with his wife, Usha Vance and their three children and a delegation of US government officials, including US National Security Council (NSC) Senior Director for South and Central Asia, Ricky Gill. At the airport, Vance was welcomed by the Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Vice President was also given an official guard of honour upon his arrival. Advertisement VIDEO | US Vice President JD Vance (@VP) receives ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival in Delhi. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/wG1KaIxhHI Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2025 The welcome ceremony reflected a change in the Indian protocol regarding how they received American leadership. When US President Joe Biden arrived in Delhi for the G20 Summit in September 2023, he was received by then-Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh and then-US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti. As a vice president, when Biden visited India in 2013, he and his wife, Dr Jill Biden, were received by then-Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and former US Ambassador to India Nancy J. Powell. Since the US has yet to appoint a new envoy to India, there was no American ambassador present when Vance arrived in Delhi. Advertisement Are Trump tariffs the reason for the change? During his visit to India in 2020, even Trump was not received by a cabinet minister. In February 2020, Trump and his family were received by MoS Hardeep Singh Puri at the airport. The recent change in the welcome ceremony of the Vice President begs the question of whether India is trying to make a good impression with the US amid the Trump tariff threats. Despite Trumps 26 per cent tariffs, India and the US have enjoyed warm ties under the Trump administration. Before the POTUS announced the reciprocal duties, India moved quickly to slash its levies on American products, including Kentucky bourbon and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Not only this, following talks between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India also agreed to buy more American goods, including crude oil, liquefied natural gas and high-tech weapons platforms, to chip away at its $47.7 billion trade surplus with the US. The race to sign a bilateral trade deal While speaking about the Trump tariff at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar stated that India is trying to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with the United States by the fall of this year. It is not possible to speak about the impact of tariffs as we do not know. We have been engaging with the Trump administration early on. India is the only nation that has reached an understanding with the US to have a bilateral trade deal, Jaishankar said at the Summit. However, things have changed since then. UKs Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will be heading to Washington soon to pitch for a bilateral trade deal between the United Kingdom and the United States. The matter was discussed during talks between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Advertisement Hence, a race to bag a hefty deal with the US is currently ongoing for both India and the UK. On Monday, as she started her trip to Washington, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that New Delhi is hoping to positively conclude the first part of a trade pact with the United States by this autumn. The long and short of engaging with the US is not just for this reciprocal tariff-related matter, but in the interest of our largest trading partner with whom we need to have an agreement, Sitharaman said while addressing the Indian diaspora in San Francisco. Overall, India seems to be putting its best foot forward when it comes to warming ties with the Trump administration. With input from agencies. An Israeli inquiry into the killing of 15 Palestinian medics in Gaza found professional failures, leading to a deputy commanders sacking. The Red Cross called it the bloodiest attack on its staff in eight years. read more Mourners gather around the bodies of 8 Red Crescent emergency responders, recovered in Rafah a week after an Israeli attack, as they are transported for burial from a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. File image/ AP An Israeli inquiry into the killings of 15 Palestinian medics in Gaza by Israeli troops revealed a sequence of professional failures on Sunday, and a deputy commander was sacked. Many in the world community were appalled by the shootings, which some described as a war crime. Medical personnel are given particular protection under international humanitarian law. The International Red Cross/Red Crescent declared it the bloodiest attack on its staff in eight years. Advertisement Israel first claimed that the doctors cars did not have emergency lights turned on when forces opened fire, but then backtracked. The mobile footage seized from one medic contradicted Israels first claim. The ambulances were seen flashing their lights and displaying insignia as they arrived to assist another ambulance that had already been attacked. The military inquiry discovered that the deputy battalion commander made the false assumption that all ambulances belonged to Hamas fighters. It stated the deputy commander, working under poor night visibility, believed his men were in danger as ambulances drove towards their position and doctors came out to check on the wounded. The military stated that the flashing lights were less visible on night-vision drones and eyewear. The ambulances immediately came under a barrage of gunfire that went on for more than five minutes with brief pauses. Minutes later, soldiers opened fire at a U.N. car that stopped at the scene. Bodies were buried in a mass grave Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers and a U.N. staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by troops conducting operations in Tel al-Sultan, a district of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Troops bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. U.N. and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later. Advertisement The Israeli military said soldiers buried the bodies to prevent them from being mangled by stray dogs and coyotes until they could be collected, and that the ambulances were moved to allow the route to be used for civilian evacuations later that day. The investigation found that the decision to crush the ambulances was wrong but said there was no attempt to conceal the shootings. Mar. Gen. Yoav Har-Even, who oversees the militarys investigations, said the military notified international organizations later that day and helped rescue workers locate the bodies. The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has said the men were targeted at close range. Night-vision drone footage provided by the military shows soldiers were 20 to 30 meters away from the ambulances. The deputy commander was the first to open fire, leading the rest of the soldiers to start shooting, Har-Even said. The investigation found the paramedics were killed due to an operational misunderstanding by Israeli forces, and that shooting at the U.N. car was a breach of orders. Advertisement The findings asserted that six of those killed were Hamas militants it did not give their names and said three other paramedics were originally misidentified as Hamas. The Civil Defense is part of the Hamas-run government. No paramedic was armed and no weapons were found in any vehicle, Har-Even said. One survivor was detained for investigation and remains in custody for further questioning. According to the military, soldiers who questioned the survivor thought he identified himself as a Hamas member, which was later refuted. UN calls for accountability Har-Even said the deputy commander was fired for giving a not completely accurate report to investigators about the firing on a U.N. vehicle. The statement on the findings concluded by saying that Israels military regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians. Without accountability, we risk continuing to watch atrocities unfolding, and the norms designed to protect us all, eroding. Too many civilians, including aid workers, have been killed in Gaza. Their stories have not all made the headlines, Jonathan Whittall, interim head in Gaza of the U.N. humanitarian office OCHA, said in a statement responding to the findings. Advertisement There was no immediate public reaction from the Red Crescent or Civil Defense. The findings have been turned over the Military Advocate General, which can decide whether to file civil charges. It is meant to be an independent body, with oversight by Israels attorney general and Supreme Court. There are no outside investigations of the killings underway. Israeli strikes have killed more than 150 emergency responders from the Red Crescent and Civil Defense, most of them while on duty, as well as over 1,000 health workers during the war, according to the U.N. The Israeli military rarely investigates such incidents. Israel has accused Hamas of moving and hiding its fighters inside ambulances and emergency vehicles, as well as in hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, arguing that justifies strikes on them. Medical personnel largely deny the accusations. Israel disputes ICC accusations of war crimes Palestinians and international human rights groups have repeatedly accused Israels military of failing to properly investigate or whitewashing misconduct by its troops. Advertisement Har-Even said the Israeli military is currently investigating 421 incidents in Gaza during the war, with 51 concluded and sent to the Military Advocate General. There was no immediate information on the number of investigations involving potential wrongful deaths or how many times the MAG has pursued criminal charges. The International Criminal Court, established by the international community as a court of last resort, has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes. Israel, which is not a member of the court, has long asserted that its legal system is capable of investigating the army, and Netanyahu has accused the ICC of antisemitism. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of them believed to be alive. Advertisement 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. Frustration has been growing on both sides, with rare public protests against Hamas in Gaza and continued weekly rallies in Israel pressing the government to reach a deal to bring all hostages home. Ronen Bar, the first Shin Bet director to be dismissed, alleged that his firing was motivated by Netanyahus personal interests, according to a report read more Israeli Security Agency director Ronen Bar attends a memorial ceremony of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on October 27, 2024. Reuters File Ronen Bar, head of the countrys internal security agency Shin Bet, has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of firing him for refusing to prioritise loyalty to the prime minister over the judiciary and for resisting pressure to use the agency against anti-government protesters. According to The Guardian report, Bar, the first Shin Bet director to be dismissed, alleged that his firing was motivated by Netanyahus personal interests. The Supreme Court blocked the cabinets decision to remove Bar and is currently reviewing the case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a 31-page affidavit submitted to the court on Monday, Bar outlined his account of the escalating tensions with Netanyahu. Some sections of the document were classified due to national security concerns. Among the most serious claims, Bar alleged that Netanyahu had repeatedly urged Shin Bet to conduct surveillance on citizens participating in protests against his government. He said the prime minister had ordered the agency to identify protest leaders and financial backersrequests Bar refused to carry out, reported The Guardian. Bar also claimed Netanyahu pressured him to pledge loyalty to the prime minister over the High Court of Justice in the event of a constitutional crisis. He also alleged that attempts were made to coerce him into signing a document that would have helped Netanyahu avoid testifying in an ongoing corruption trial an effort Bar said he resisted, added the report. Bar alleged that Netanyahu would voice these demands at the ends of meetings, away from any official documentation. It was clearly intended to prevent any record of the conversation, The Guardian quoted Bar as saying in the affidavit. To this day, the reason for my firing is not clear to me, he said. But, the developments that took place over the last few months indicate one thing: at some point late last year, the decision to fire me was consolidated. It was not rooted in any professional metric, but out of an expectation by Netanyahu that I would be personally loyal to him, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ahead of Mondays court filing, reports emerged that Bar faced heavy pressure from Netanyahus government to drop his affidavit. He had initially been due to submit it on Sunday, but requested an extra day. It was also leaked to Israeli media that Bar intended to resign in mid-May, which was immediately denied by Shin Bet. Netanyahus office dismissed Bars claims as a complete lie, vowing to refute the false affidavit in court by Thursday. Netanyahu accused Bar of politicising Shin Bet and claimed he had lost all trust in his leadership. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called Bars revelations proof that Netanyahu is a threat to national security and unfit to remain in office. The fallout follows mounting tensions after Shin Bet admitted failures in preventing the October 7 Hamas attacks, while also blaming Netanyahus policies for enabling Hamass buildup. Netanyahu has refused to take responsibility for the attack, which left 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies As Pope Francis, the 226th leader of the worlds Catholic Christians, died on Monday, messages of mourning and remembrance poured in from across the world, with world leaders remembering their meetings with the Vicar of Christ and hoping that his legacy would live on read more A giant portrait of Pope Francis is seen outside the APEC Haus in Port Moresby on September 6, 2024, ahead of Pope Francis' arrival. (Photo: AFP) Pope Francis, the leader of the worlds Catholic Christians, died on Monday (April 21) after months of poor health. He was 88. Francis died at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta at 7:35 am, according to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber. Francis was the 266th Pope and the first from Latin America. He became the Pope in 2013 after the abdication of Benedict XVI. His time as the Vicar of Christ was marked by a focus on human rights, liberalisation of the Church, and addressing the issues of clerical abuse. With his take on homosexuality and human rights, he often garnered the ire of the conservatives across the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Francis died shortly after Easter Sunday, the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Soon after his death was announced, reactions from across the world started pouring in. Among world leaders, European officials led the messages of mourning and messages. Frances Emmanuel Macron In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France sought to bring hope and joy to the worlds poorest and hoped that may this hope continually resurrect beyond him. From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. That it unites people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually resurrect beyond him. To all Catholics, to the grieving world, we send, with my spouse, our thoughts, said Macron in French. De Buenos Aires a Rome, le Pape Francois voulait que lEglise apporte la joie et lespoir aux plus pauvres. Quelle unisse les Hommes entre eux et avec la nature. Puisse cette esperance ressusciter sans cesse au-dela de lui. A tous les Catholiques, pic.twitter.com/oFKBJwaweH Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 21, 2025 Italys Giorgia Meloni In a post on X, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that the Francis teachings and legacy will not be lost. Calling him a great man a great shepherd, she said that he reminded the world of the power of gift and how it is capable of reconciling what seems irreconcilable to humans. And he asked the world, once again, for the courage to change course, to follow a path that does not destroy, but cultivates, repairs, and protects. We will walk in this direction, to seek the path of peace, pursue the common good, and build a more just and equitable society. His teachings and legacy will not be lost. We bid farewell to the Holy Father with hearts full of sadness, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord, said Meloni. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Papa Francesco e tornato alla casa del Padre. Una notizia che ci addolora profondamente, perche ci lascia un grande uomo e un grande pastore. Ho avuto il privilegio di godere della sua amicizia, dei suoi consigli e dei suoi insegnamenti, che non sono mai venuti meno neanche nei pic.twitter.com/pkRco1tgD3 Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) April 21, 2025 Indias Narendra Modi In a post on X, PM Narendra Modi said that he was deeply pained by Francis death. Modi called Francis the beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hopeHis affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in Gods embrace, said Modi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the pic.twitter.com/QKod5yTXrB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2025 European Unions leaders European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said that Francis legacy will continue to guide us toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world. Von der Leyen further said, Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis pic.twitter.com/FiI6SASNl8 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 21, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD European Council President Antonio Costa said, May his ideas continue to guide us towards a future of hope. Requiescat in pace. I join the many millions across the globe who mourn the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was deeply compassionate. He cared about the great global challenges of our time migration, climate change, inequalities, peace as well as the everyday struggles of the one and all. Antonio Costa (@eucopresident) April 21, 2025 European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, The Peoples Pope will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His contagious smile captured millions of peoples hearts across the globe. The Peoples Pope will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace pic.twitter.com/LsqYREynVP Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) April 21, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Vice President JD Vance Vance, who met Francis the previous day before arriving in India, said, I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. Germanys Olaf Scholz German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the world lost an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person with the death of Francis. With the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person. I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face. My sympathies go out to the religious community worldwide, said Scholz in a post on X. UKs King Charles & PM Sir Keir Starmer In a message, King Charles of the United Kingdom said that Francis will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others, said Charles. The Kings message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD UK PM Sir Keir Starmer said that Francis leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was often courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility. Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden, and the forgotten and he was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty and yet he never lost the faith-fuelled hope of a better world, said Starmer. With his death, we are reminded once more of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs. My thoughts are with Catholics across the world, and the Roman Catholic church. May His Holiness Rest in Peace, Starmer further said. Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church. pic.twitter.com/rrmadD29Dr Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 21, 2025 Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican confirmed the news in a video statement read more Pope Francis stands on the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. Photo- AFP Pope Francis, the first Latin American head of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Monday at age 88. The Vatican confirmed the news in a video statement,. This marked the end of an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution. The pope had suffered various ailments in his 12-year papacy. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican church said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2 Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025 At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in an announcement. Francis, who suffered from a chronic lung disease, had part of one lung removed as a young man. In February this year, he was admitted to Gemelli Hospital for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy. The man did his duties till his final days After Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital, his medical team said that his condition had stabilised, allowing him to continue his convalescence at his Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. Two weeks after leaving the hospital, he made a surprise appearance on Sunday. Hours before the news of his passing came, the Pope emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St. Peters Square. Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter! Francis said, while addressing a massive gathering that had come to see the Vatican sovereign. Francis didnt celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peters Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On his way to the basilica, Francis briefly met US Vice President JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Vatican said the encounter lasted just a few minutes and was designed to allow for an exchange of Easter greetings. During the exchange, Pope Francis gave Vance three big chocolate Easter eggs to give to his three young children. I know you have not been feeling great, but its good to see you in better health, Vance told the pope. Thank you for seeing me. What happens next Traditionally, a funeral of the Pope has been an elaborate affair. However, Francis recently approved plans to make the procedure less extravagant. Past pontiffs were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. Meanwhile, Francis has opted for a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc. The current Pope also scrapped the tradition of placing the Popes body on a raised platform - known as a catafalque - in St Peters Basilica for public viewing. Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body remains inside the coffin, with the lid removed. Interestingly, Francis will be the first Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican. He will be laid to rest in the Basilica of St Mary Major, one of four major papal basilicas in Rome. The new Pope will then be chosen by the Catholic Churchs most senior officials, known as the College of Cardinals. There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, 138 of whom are eligible to vote for the new Pope. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is a developing story. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said that fighting in Ukraine has resumed following the Easter ceasefire, reiterating that Moscow remains open to peace initiatives and called on Kyiv to show a similar willingness to engage in dialogue read more Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia on Sunday. Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said that fighting in Ukraine has resumed following the Easter ceasefire, reiterating that Moscow remains open to peace initiatives and called on Kyiv to show a similar willingness to engage in dialogue. Both Ukraine and Russia accused each other of thousands of strikes and violating the Kremlins unilateral ceasefire during the Easter celebrations. We always have a positive attitude towards a truce, which is why we came up with such an initiative, especially since we are talking about the bright Easter days, Reuters quoted Putin as saying to state TV. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way, he added. Washington had said it would welcome an extension of the truce, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated several times Ukraines willingness to agree a pause strikes on civilian infrastructure for 30 days in the war. Meanwhile, at least three people were killing in the southern Kherson region after Russia resumed its attacks on Ukraine following a 30-hour Easter ceasefire. In a statement on Monday, Russias military said it was continuing the special military operation. Over the weekend Russian troops strictly observed the pause in fighting, it claimed. The ceasefire expired at midnight on Monday. The announcement means the Kremlin has rejected an offer made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy and endorsed on Sunday by the US state department to extend the truce by 30 days. Zelenskyy said he had proposed a complete, full and honest ceasefire. He suggested both sides refrain from carrying out strikes with missiles and drones against civilian infrastructure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirrored: we will respond to silence with silence, our strikes will be to protect against Russian strikes. Actions always speak louder than words, he posted on X. Putin said Moscow would consider the Ukrainian ceasefire proposal, but accused Kyiv of using civilian sites for military purposes. With inputs from agencies Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law ratifying a strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Tehran, initially signed between the two countries earlier this year, according to Russian state news agency RIA read more Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law ratifying a strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Tehran, initially signed between the two countries earlier this year, according to Russian state news agency RIA. This comes after the Federation Council, Russias upper house of parliament, approved the deal during its April 16 session. The State Duma, the lower house, had ratified it earlier on April 8. According to the statement issued after being approved by the upper house, the 20-year deal, which was concluded with the possibility of automatic extension for subsequent five-year periods, aims to deepen and expand cooperation between Russia and Iran in a wide range of areas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In accordance with it, Russia and Iran seek to deepen and expand relations in all areas of mutual interest, strengthen cooperation in the field of security and defence, and closely coordinate activities at the regional and global levels, the statement added. The statement also said that the deal covers areas including arms control, the fight against international terrorism, as well as further cooperation in sectors such as trade, banking, transport, energy, and peaceful nuclear energy. On January 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in Moscow. At a press conference following the signing, Putin said the agreement serves as a roadmap for strengthening long-term cooperation between Moscow and Tehran across multiple sectors, including trade and investment. And this truly breakthrough document is aimed at creating the necessary conditions for the stable and sustainable development of Russia and Iran, and our entire common Eurasian region, he added. With inputs from agencies Russian President Vladimir Putin, under pressure from Washington to show willingness to make peace in Ukraine, proposed on Monday bilateral talks with Kyiv for the first time in years, and said he was open to more ceasefires after a one-day Easter truce. read more Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing mounting pressure from Washington to show a willingness to pursue peace in Ukraine, proposed bilateral talks with Kyiv on Monday, his first such offer in years and signaled readiness for additional ceasefires following a one-day Easter truce. Putin confirmed that fighting had resumed after his surprise 30-hour ceasefire, announced unilaterally on Saturday. Both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of violating the truce, which Ukraine had dismissed as a political maneuver. Advertisement The United States welcomed the possibility of extending the pause in hostilities, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged that the ceasefire be expanded into a 30-day truce to safeguard civilian areas. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to end the three-year-old war swiftly, has reoriented U.S. policy away from its staunch support of Ukraine towards accepting Russias account of the war, but has so far won few concessions from Moscow. Russia rejected a Trump proposal last month for a full 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine had accepted. U.S. officials held parallel talks with both sides in Saudi Arabia, but they agreed only to limited pauses on attacks on energy targets, which they accuse each other of violating. Speaking to a Russian state TV reporter, Putin said Moscow was open to any peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv. We always have a positive attitude towards a truce, which is why we came up with such an initiative, especially since we are talking about the bright Easter days, Putin said. Asked about Zelenskiys proposed 30-day truce on civilian targets, he said: This is all a subject for careful study, perhaps even bilaterally. We do not rule this out. His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, later confirmed that Putin was referring to the possibility of direct talks with Ukraine. The two sides are not known to have held any such talks since a failed peace effort in the early months of the war three years ago. Advertisement When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side, Peskov said, according to Interfax news agency. With inputs from agencies In the cover of the so-called Easter ceasefire, Russian military moved heavy equipment to beef up its presence on the frontlines in at least two theatres, according to Ukrainian military read more Russia's soldiers members board a BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle during tactical combat exercises held by a motorised rifle division at the Kadamovsky range in the Rostov region, Russia December 10, 2021. (Photo: Reuters) Russia used the so-called Easter ceasefire to boost its militarys positions along the frontlines in the war with Russia, according to the Ukrainian military. Last week, Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered a unilateral ceasefire from 6 pm Moscow time (3:00 pm GMT) on April 19 to midnight (9 pm GMT) on April 21. Once the ceasefire expired, the Kremlin said that it has not been renewed. During the ceasefire, Ukraine accused Russia of continuing attacks along the frontlines and said that no ceasefire was observed at all in Kursk. On its part, Russia also accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire. Advertisement Russia moved heavy equipment during truce, says Ukraine Russia used the cover of truce to move more soldiers to the frontlines in the Kharkiv theatre in eastern Ukraine, Ukraines Khartiia Brigade told The Daily Telegraph. Separately, the newspaper reported a different unit as saying that Russia was preparing routes for the passage of heavy equipment across the Black Stallion River in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Sunday. Moreover, the 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade said that Russia launched drone strikes against its positions and that aerial reconnaissance spotted machine guns being moved towards the front line by Russian personnel. Such accounts by Ukrainian military is in line with the well-known Russian practice of using negotiations and brief ceasefires to buy time to bolster the positions on the battlefield. Amid reports from Ukranine of Russia never ceasing attacks during the so-called ceasefire, The Telegraph reported analysts as saying that such an announcement by Putin was an attempt to score an easy diplomatic victory with the Donald Trump administration of the United States. Putins declaration of the ceasefire came shortly after the Trump administration announced it could soon end efforts to bring the war to an end. So far, three US-endorsed ceasefire proposals have been floated and Russia has rejected all of them. Ukraine has accepted all of them. Yet the Trump administration continues to bash Ukraine, falsely blaming President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war, and put no pressure on Russia. Advertisement Russia launched 2,935 attacks on Easter, says Zelenskyy Russia conducted a total of 2,935 attacks on Easter on Sunday, according to Zelenskyy. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said that there were 96 Russian assaults, 1,882 instances of shelling on our positions, including 812 involving heavy weaponry, and over 950 instances of drones. Most of the attacks were carried out in the area around Pokrovsk and no ceasefire was in effect in the Kursk region, according to Zelenskyy. Previously, Zelenskyy had said that the Easter ceasefire should be extended to 30 days. However, Putin refused to extend the ceasefire. Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine would work on the basis of symetry where Russian attacks would be met with attacks and ceasefire would be met with ceasefire. The Ukrainian army is acting and will continue to act in a fully symmetrical manner. This Easter has clearly demonstrated that the only source of this war, and the reason it drags on, is Russia. We are ready to move toward peace and a full, unconditional, and honest ceasefire that could last for at least 30 days but there has been no response from Russia on that so far. The situation on the frontline shows that pressure on Moscow and real oversight of the actions of the occupying forces are needed for the ceasefire to be established," said Zelenskyy. Advertisement We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraines membership in Nato is excluded. Of course, this is something that causes our satisfaction and coincides with our position, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov read more A view shows the Kremlin in central Moscow, Russia, on February 13, 2025. Reuters File The Kremlin on Monday said it was pleased with the Trump administrations stance on blocking Ukraine from joining Nato but declined to comment on Trumps hopes for a deal this week. On Sunday, US envoy General Keith Kellogg said that Nato membership for Ukraine is off the table. Trump has repeatedly argued that past US support for Ukraines Nato ambitions contributed to the outbreak of the war. We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraines membership in Nato is excluded, Reuters quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. Of course, this is something that causes our satisfaction and coincides with our position, he added. Advertisement Peskov said that Ukraine joining the US-led Nato alliance would threaten the national interests of the Russian Federation, calling it one of the fundamental causes of the ongoing conflict. President Putin has consistently said that Russia would be open to ending the war if Ukraine formally abandoned its Nato aspirations and pulled its forces from all areas of the four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims and largely controls. According to Reuters, Putin was ready to negotiate a deal with Trump in November, but would refuse to make major territorial concessions and would insist Kyiv abandon ambitions to join Nato. Trump said on Sunday he hopes Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week to end the conflict in Ukraine. Asked about those remarks, Peskov said, I dont want to make any comments right now, especially about the time frame. President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results, he added. He refused to comment directly on a Bloomberg report that the United States is prepared to recognise Russian control of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement. Work on finding a peaceful settlement cannot take place, and should not take place, in public, Peskov said. It should take place in an absolutely discrete mode. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The Korea Discount refers to the lower valuations that South Korean companies typically trade on relative to their global peers partly due to the dominance of family-owned conglomerates, which have been criticised for putting their interests ahead of other shareholders read more South Koreas leading presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, on Monday pledged to revive legislation to curb abuses by controlling shareholders, as part of a plan to boost the stock market and eliminate the so-called Korea Discount. The liberal candidate announced his pledge to double the value of the countrys main stock index, in an effort to woo the countrys 14 million retail investors, widely known as ants. I will end the Korea Discount era and open the Korea Premium era, Lee, who is leading opinion polls for the presidential election in June. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Korea Discount refers to the lower valuations that South Korean companies typically trade on relative to their global peers partly due to the dominance of family-owned conglomerates, which have been criticised for putting their interests ahead of other shareholders. South Koreas parliament, controlled by the liberal Democratic Party formerly led by Lee, passed a revision of the Commercial Act in March that expanded the fiduciary duty of board members to include protecting the interests of minority shareholders. But South Koreas acting President Han Duck-soo vetoed the legislation, which he said could impede managements decision-making and create unnecessary confusion. The countrys business lobby groups also raised objections. South Korea last year proposed a programme to boost the value of listed companies through voluntary measures, such as setting out their own plans to improve shareholder value. The initiative has been criticised for being too weak, with analysts and investors say amending the Commercial Act would be a more effective way of improving corporate governance and tackling the Korea Discount. Lee also promised to set out a roadmap for South Koreas domestic stock market to secure developed market status from global index provider Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD South Korea last month lifted a five year ban on short-selling, which MSCI had cited as a factor hindering foreign access. The benchmark KOSPI was up 0.2% at 2,487.73 in morning trade on Monday. The index has been pressured by political instability stemming from the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, as well as U.S. President Donald Trumps tariffs. Haitis government stated in a post on the social networking site X that the troops died on the front line weapons in hand read more A soldier carries out an anti-gang operation in the Kenscoff neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. File image/ AP At least three Haitian soldiers were slain in an apparent gang ambush Sunday in a village on the outskirts of the countrys capital, Port-au-Prince, according to Haitian officials. Kenscoff has come under severe fire in recent days as Haitian police enforcement clashed with the Viv Ansanm gang alliance. Its just the latest outbreak of bloodshed as Haitian authorities and international forces work to control gang warring in the Caribbean nation. Haitis government stated in a post on the social networking site X that the troops died on the front line weapons in hand. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These soldiers are not just members of our armed forces. They are worthy sons of the Nation, defenders of our sovereignty, whose ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their commitment is a powerful reminder that freedom and security come at a price, and that this price is sometimes paid in the blood of our bravest, wrote the Haitian government in a statement. Local media reported earlier in the day that a military reinforcement mission, traveling in an unarmored car, was transporting soldiers to a conflictive area in Kenscoff, when the soldiers were violently targeted by heavily armed men. Videos circulating on social media showed soldiers in camouflage pulling bodies out of the truck. In the latest instance of US President Donald Trump ramping up pressure on Ukraine, he has sought response before the end of the week on multiple proposals, including the recognition of Ukraines territory captured by Russia, for the end of the war, according to a report 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 President Donald Trump wants Ukraines response to multiple US proposals to end the ongoing war with Russia this week, according to a report. Trumps ultimatum is the latest instance of increasing US pressure on Ukraine. Even though Russia has rejected all three US-endorsed ceasefire proposals so far and violated the ceasefire it declared unilaterally, the Trump administration has not put any pressure on Russia so far. Instead, Trump has continued to put pressure on Ukraine that has ranged from personal attacks on the nations leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to backing proposals that essentially fulfil Russias wish list. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump wants Ukraines response to proposals in a meeting of US, European, and Ukrainian officials in London later this week. The US proposals, if they are implemented, would serve Russia a victory on a platter and would fulfil many of Russias maximalist objectives, according to the report. Trump considering recognising Russians occupation of Ukraines land: Report Among the proposals that Trump wants Ukraine to respond to is the US recognition of Crimea and other Ukrainian territories captured and annexed by Russia, according to The Journal. So far, Ukraine has said that the recognition and formal surrender of Crimea and other territories captured by Russia is a red line that it would not cross. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and captured and then annexed the region of Crimea. Then, following the second invasion in 2014, Russia annexed four regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk. Even though Russia controls a substantial chunk of these four regions, war is raging in these regions and Russia does not control these four regions in entirety. So far, under the terms of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and even the first term of Trump, the United States has had a clear stand that Crimeas occupation and annexation by Russia is illegal. However, it appears that Trump is about to change the stand now. ALSO READ: Russia used Easter truce to improve frontline positions, says Ukraine STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other components of Trumps proposals include formally banning Ukraines entry into Nato and the United States controlling critical infrastructure inside Ukraine, according to The Journal. Among the critical infrastructure of Ukraine, Trump wants the United States to take over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is the largest in Europe. Once under US control, the plant would supply electricity to both Ukrainian- and Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories, as per the newspaper. Even though Trump is open to recognising Russias occupation of Crimea, the newspaper reported that the US proposal falls short of recognising the four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia in 2022, but the proposal also does not call for Russia to vacate those regions. This means that Trump has de facto blessed the Russian occupation and annexation of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk in the proposal on the table. In a minor concession that essentially means nothing, Trump has agreed to not put any cap on the size of post-war military of Ukraine or the deployment of European soldiers on Ukrainian soil, as per the newspaper. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Victory for Russia, no security guarantee for Ukraine If Trump manages to force Ukraine to accept his proposals, it would essentially mean victory for Russia as it would accomplish most of Russias goals. If Trumps proposals are accepted, Russia would get Crimeas annexation recognised; de facto recognition of the annexation of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk; weakening of Ukraine as it would lose control of the Zaporizhzhia power plant; and a freeze of war along the frontlines as they exist today. ALSO READ: From nothing without Ukraine to everything for Putin: How Trumps peace deal puts Kyiv in a bind To be sure, Russias objective to replace Zelenskyy with a puppet regime and erode Ukraines national identity would not succeed. But then analysts have long maintained that any ceasefire reached in this war would be used by Russian leader Vladimir Putin to rearm for another invasion a few years down the line just like the invasion in 2022 came after the first invasion in 2014 and the yearslong Russia-backed insurgency in eastern Ukraine. For Ukraine, there is little to nothing in the deal. There are no security guarantees. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The closest positive in the deal for Ukraine is Trumps approval for any European military presence inside Ukraine to enforce any ceasefire reached between Ukraine and Russia. US Border Patrol Police wrongfully detained a 19-year-old boy in Arizona for nearly 10 days. The boy was eventually freed after his family presented his birth certificate read more US immigration officials detained a 19-year-old American citizen in Arizona for nearly 10 days. The NPR affiliate Arizona Public Media reported that Jose Hermosillo, a New Mexico resident visiting Arizona, was detained by the states border patrol agents in Nogales. The city is located along the Mexican border and is known for illegal infiltration in the region. According to a border patrol criminal complaint dated April 8, the immigration official found Hermosillo without the proper immigration documents and claimed that the young American had admitted to entering the US illegally from Mexico. Two days later, the federal court documents noted that Hermosillo continued to claim he was a US citizen. The case was eventually dismissed on April 17 by the federal court, and Hermosillo was freed from detention. Advertisement The 19-year-old boys wrongful arrest and prolonged detention came at a time when the US President Donald Trumps administration is pushing sweeping crackdowns on immigration. The measures of the White House have emboldened immigration officers to arrest and deport undocumented people, including foreign students whose visas have been revoked, leading to a series of errors. The family was shocked by the arrest As per the report, Hermosillo was visiting the Tucson area from Albuquerque and got lost without identification. His girlfriends family made numerous calls looking for him before they discovered that he was arrested and was being held at the Florence Correctional Centre, a privately run Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. According to the court docket, after his arrest, Hermosillo was detained in the custody of US marshals. His family eventually tracked him down and provided officials with his birth certificate and social security card. He did say he was a US citizen, but they didnt believe him, Hermosillos girlfriends aunt told AZPM. I think they would have kept him. I think they would have if they had not got that information yesterday in the court, and given that to ICE and the border patrol. He probably would have been deported already to Mexico," he added. Ever since Trump returned to the White House, there have been rising instances of US citizens getting arrested by immigration officials. However, immigration officials detention of citizens is not new, and it has taken place across presidential administrations. In 2021, the Government Accountability Office found that from 2015 through 2020, ICE arrested 674 US citizens and deported 70 of them. From 2007 through 2015, 818 US citizens were held in immigration detention, according to a 2016 analysis from NPR. With inputs from agencies. Vice President JD Vance of the United States has left Rome for his first official trip to India from April 21 to April 24. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visit Jaipur and Agra. read more US Vice President JD Vance has left Rome Ciampino Airport for his first official trip to India, which is set to take place from April 21 to April 24. Vance, who was travelling to Italy with his family, reportedly boarded Air Force Two (AF2) on Sunday night, according to the White House Press Pool. At around 9.30 am IST on Monday, the plane is scheduled to touch down at Air Force Station, Palam in New Delhi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He will be formally received at 10:00 a.m. Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet formally on Monday at 6.30 p.m. at the Prime Ministers official house, located at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. In a brief yet endearing moment before boarding AF2, Vance was seen gently lifting his sleeping daughter, Mirabel, from their car, while his sons, Ewan and Vivek, waved toy swords as they boarded with Second Lady Usha Vance. Vice President Vance will visit Jaipur on Tuesday after meeting with Prime Minister Modi in Delhi. He will travel to Agra on April 23 and will leave India at 6.40 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, marking the end of his stay. Hoardings welcoming JD Vance have been erected in the New Delhi diplomatic community of Chanakyapuri and close to Palam Airport in anticipation of his arrival in India. Randhir Jaiswal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesman, had previously said that India and the US have a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership and that all significant topics are handled during such a high-level visit. 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, Jaiswal said during a media briefing last Thursday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added that India was confident that the visit would provide a further boost to India-US bilateral ties. And with America, with the United States, of course, our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of human endeavour 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, he said. In the latest high-level exchange between India and the United States, US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in India on his first visit to the country read more US Vice President JD Vance receiving the ceremonial guard of honour upon his arrival in New Delhi, India, on April 21, 2025. (Photo: PTI) US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in India on his first official visit. Upon his arrival in Delhi around 9:30 am, Vance received a ceremonial guard of honour. Vance is the highest-ranking US official to visit in President Donald Trumps second term. Last month, intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard visited India. VIDEO | US Vice President JD Vance (@VP) receives ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival in Delhi. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/wG1KaIxhHI Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India and the United States are currently engaged in talks to reach a bilateral trade agreement. Vances meetings in India, including with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be focussed on discussions around the trade deal. The delegation-level talks are also expected to include External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and Indian US envoy Vinay Mohan Kwatra. Vance will be in India for four days and will visit Jaipur in Rajasthan and Agra in Uttar Pradesh. The ongoing India-US trade talks have been prompted by Trumps tariff policy. At 26 per cent, he has slapped some of the highest reciprocal tariffs on India. Shortly after those tariffs came into effect earlier this month, he paused them for 90 days in what appears to be an attempt to give nations time to reach deals with the United States. Stuffcool has launched the Maverick Mini, a compact 20000mAh powerbank designed with portability in mind. It measures 10.3 x 7.5 x 3.0 cm and weighs 322 grams, roughly the size of a wallet, making it suitable for daily use while commuting, travelling, or on the go. The Maverick Mini features two built-in cables a 20W Lightning and a 20W Type-C removing the need to carry separate charging wires. Stuffcool said the Lightning cable can charge an iPhone up to 50% in just 30 minutes. The Type-C cable also supports 18W input, allowing the powerbank to recharge itself more quickly. Along with the built-in cables, a 22.5W USB-A port is included to support fast charging for a wide range of devices, including models from Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, Pixel, and others. The company noted that this makes the Maverick Mini a versatile option for users with multiple devices. The powerbank includes a digital battery display that shows the remaining charge at a glance. Stuffcool added that the Maverick Mini is Made in India and BIS-certified, which reflects its focus on quality, safety, and product standards. Quick Specifications: Stuffcool Maverick Mini Battery: 20000mAh Size: 10.3 x 7.5 x 3.0 cm Weight: 322g Built-in Cable Type-C: 20W output (5V/3A, 9V/2.22A, 12V/1.67A) Built-in Lightning: 20W output (5V/3A, 9V/2.22A, 12V/1.67A) Input (Type-C / Cable): 18W max (5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A) USB-A Output: 22.5W max (5V/3A, 9V/2A, 10V/2.25A, 12V/1.5A) PPS: 5.05.9V/3A, 5.011V/2A Total Output: 15W max (5V/3A shared) Display: Digital battery level indicator Build: Made in India, BIS certified Color: Black Warranty: 6 months Pricing and Availability The Stuffcool Maverick Mini is priced at Rs. 2,299 and is available in Black. A limited-time price of Rs. 1,928 is offered on Amazon.in. It is also available through Stuffcools official website. The product comes with a 6-month warranty. The Future of Legal Tech in Houston: Innovations That Could Change the Industry U.S. business insiders criticize tariff policy, warn of economic risks 10:58, April 21, 2025 By Zhang Kaiwei ( People's Daily Online This photo taken on April 20, 2022 shows the U.S. Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The U.S. business community is sounding alarms over the Trump administration's latest tariff policies, warning the measures could backfire by raising consumer costs, provoking retaliation from trading partners, disrupting supply chains and causing long-term economic harm. Rising costs and concerns Many businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, are struggling to cope with the extra costs. Companies selling everything from daily necessities to automobiles are adapting by seeking alternative suppliers or paying more for ingredients and parts once available at lower prices. "When you think about your trade policy, you want to be very careful not to exercise an extreme degree of pressure via higher prices on these sectors, and that's why so far there have been the exemptions and exclusions that we've seen," Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, told CNN in an interview. "It's because there's a gradual realization that imposing a tax on imports of those critical products eventually hurts U.S. businesses and hurts U.S. consumers and therefore leads to lower economic activity." The tariffs have increased investors' perception of risk in the U.S. and caused widespread concern. "The administration's approach to policy and its lack of transparency in terms of motivations have all led to a distinct sense of unease in financial markets," said David Page, head of macro research for Axa Investment Managers in London, "It doesn't look like what we have been used to in terms of well-thought-out policy." Calls for changes in trade policies There is no winner in a trade war. The current tariff policies are creating significant challenges to the global economy, and it is crucial to engage in dialogue and pursue international agreements that benefit all parties. "If you take tariffs, if you take debt, if you take the rising power challenging existing power, if you take those factors and look at the factors, those changes in the orders, the systems, are very, very disruptive. How that's handled could produce something that is much worse than a recession. Or it could be handled well," billionaire Ray Dalio said in an interview with NBC. He added that whether tariffs are implemented in a "stable" way or a "chaotic and disruptive way" makes "all the difference in the world." In an interview with the Financial Times, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon urged U.S. President Donald Trump to immediately "engage" with China over dueling tariffs before a global trade war erodes U.S. credibility. "I don't think there's any engagement right now... it doesn't have to wait a year. It could start tomorrow," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chengliang) Fri Friday 90 /65 More sun than clouds. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 60s. Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with two sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have two dogs: Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel Statement by PM Netanyahu Israel - Prime Minister's Office Media Statements The 37th Government 19.04.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening: "Dear citizens of Israel, At the beginning of my remarks, I would like to send - for my wife and I, and I am certain, for all of us - heartfelt condolences to the family of Warrant Officer G'haleb Nasser, of blessed memory, who fell today in the Gaza Strip. The entire people of Israel are mourning together with the dear family. The entire people of Israel salute him for his heroism. I send my best wishes for a complete and swift recovery to the fighting men and women who were wounded in the same battle. I stand by the fighters and commanders. I have directed the IDF to respond vigorously and to further increase the pressure on Hamas. We are in the redemption war, a war on seven fronts. This war has had very heavy costs because every such loss is a world unto itself. But, as a people that treasures life, we have no choice but to continue and to fight for our very existence - until victory. Citizens of Israel, as your Prime Minister, I will not surrender. I will not surrender to the murderers who perpetrated the most terrible massacre of the Jewish People since the Holocaust because such a surrender would endanger the security of the state and would endanger you. We are in a decisive stage of the campaign, and this stage calls for patience and determination in order to win. If we surrender to the diktat of Hamas now, all of the great achievements that we have made thanks to our fighters, our fallen and our wounded heroes, all of these achievements will simply have been for naught. Since the start of the war, we have heard calls for its conclusion - for its conclusion by surrender. These calls have increased of late. Were I to have given in to these calls: We would not have entered Rafah. We would not have seized the Philadelphi corridor. We would not have carried out the pagers operation. We would not have eliminated Sinwar, Deif, Haniyeh or Nasrallah. We would not have created the conditions for the fall of the Assad regime and a harsh blow to the Iranian axis. We would not have changed the face of the Middle East. We would have simply continued to live under an existential danger. Therefore, I would like say a few words to you about Iran: I am committed to preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons. I will not give in on this; neither will I slacken or retreat on this, not even a millimeter. But the amusing thing is to listen to the criticism being voiced by those who opposed the many actions I have led over the years in order to strike the Iranian nuclear program and delay it. Without these actions, Iran would have already had nuclear weapons 10 years ago. But many in this group who are talking today have systematically opposed every activity that I have done and the aggressive policy that I have led. Hypocrisy apparently knows no bounds. Regarding Iran's proxy in Gaza, if we do not complete the destruction of Hamas's military and governing capabilities, the next October 7 and the next abductions are only a question of time. Hamas says that they will do it. They intend to do it and they are working on it. Leaving the Hamas regime in place in Gaza would be a huge defeat for Israel and a huge victory for Iran. This weekend, Hamas again rejected a proposal that could have led to the release of half of the remaining living hostages who are still in Gaza and the return of many of the deceased. Hamas is demanding an end to the war and that its regime be left in place. It is also demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the rehabilitation of Gaza with the influx of vast capital that will allow it to rearm and prepare attacks on us again. An end to the war on these conditions of surrender would send a message to all enemies of Israel that by taking Israelis hostage it is possible to bring the State of Israel to its knees and defeat it. It would also be the lethal message that terrorism pays, which would harm the security of the entire free world. Of course, under these conditions, the important vision of President Trump would be unable to be realized - the vision that will change the face of Gaza once and for all, and enable our country to live in security. Thus, I reiterate: We will not conclude the war of redemption before we destroy Hamas in Gaza, return all of our hostages and ensure that the Gaza Strip will never again constitute a threat to Israel. Those elements in Israel who are calling so irresponsibly for the end to the war under Hamas's terms of surrender - what are they doing? They are echoing Hamas propaganda word for word. They are fueling the brutal psychological warfare that it is waging against us and against the families, and they are pushing off the release of our hostages, not making it closer. They are leaving them with Hamas for longer. Hamas's surrender terms that it has proposed are not new. It demands them time and again in every release deal. But what responsible Israeli leader could accept them after October 7? Certainly not me. I am certain that you wouldn't either. Those among us who are calling on us to surrender to Hamas diktat are telling us: 'You will capitulate now. You will leave Gaza and the Philadelphi corridor. You will lift up Hamas and ensure that you will not go back to fighting, and after Hamas will return all of the hostages - you will go back to fighting.' The biggest absurdity - the biggest - is that they are openly saying this in the studios while Hamas is watching them. Do you understand? They are, in effect, telling us - 'Tell Hamas: We are announcing to you that we are lying to you - and you will agree to this.' Hamas may be a bunch of abhorrent murderers but they are not stupid. They are demanding restrictive international guarantees that do not enable the illusion of 'the deception' that all of the 'experts' are offering us themselves in the studios. They have no idea how the international system works. Nobody, certainly not the US, or China, or Russia, or other members of the Security Council - nobody would cooperate with such a deception, which would make returning to the war impossible. We would have no legitimacy for doing so. Remember how quickly Israel lost the international legitimacy for the most just war in our history, and this after the Hamas monsters murdered over 1,200 of our citizens in a single day and abducted over 250 of them. The wheel rolled back on us very quickly. The diplomatic pressure was directed at us. We were subjected to an arms embargo from our good friends as well, and we are also currently dealing with accusations of genocide in the international arena. Then I would like to make it clear: There is no fake commitment. If we promise not to fight, we will be unable to return to fighting in Gaza. As a condition for ending the war, Hamas is demanding a complete IDF withdrawal from the Strip, including from the Philadelphi corridor and the security zone that protects the residents of Israel from Hamas terrorism. I would like to ask you: Have our fighters fought in vain? Have our heroes fallen and been wounded in vain? In both Lebanon and Syria as well, we established security zones to protect the residents of the north. The significance of a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is that within a short time, Hamas would rehabilitate its terrorist army and it would be able to again perpetrate mass abductions and an additional massacre of Israeli citizens. My obligation as Prime Minister is to prevent this - and I will prevent this. I believe that it is possible to return our hostages without surrendering to Hamas's diktat. This is how I have acted until now. You know that at one of the first Security Cabinet meetings of the war, perhaps the first, a very senior security establishment official said that we would have to get used to the fact that perhaps we would not succeed in returning even one hostage. I believed otherwise. I believed that the combination of military pressure and diplomatic pressure could lead to the release of hostages. Many did not believe this but as of today we have returned 196 hostages, 147 alive. Twenty-four living hostages and 35 deceased hostages are still being held in Gaza. The mission has yet to be completed and I intend to complete it without surrendering to Hamas. Since the outbreak of the war, including in recent days, my wife and I have met and talked with many of the families of the hostages. We will continue to meet them all, just as we have been doing since the start of the war. I meet the people. I understand the torment of the dear families, of the mothers and fathers, and brothers and sisters, and the wives. I feel their immense pain. I hear the cry of their hearts. We will increase the pressure on Hamas until we achieve all of the objectives of the war. I again reiterate: We will not give up on even one hostage, living or deceased. We are determined to return them all home. Citizens of Israel, we are in the midst of an unprecedented multi-front war. Thanks to the heroism of our brave fighters, the great spirit of our people and the vigorous policy of the government that I have led, we have made great achievements. But the missions have yet to be completed, and we are determined to complete them. Upon the conclusion of the festival of freedom and the transition to Maimouna, and at the start of the days of remembrance and independence that unite our people, I say: Great challenges are yet before us - and we will be equal to them because we will do so together. We will do so with determination, strength, faith and the great spirit that beats in the heart of our people. Together we will stand. Together we will fight and with G-d's help, together we will win." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 90,000 displaced Palestinians are seeking refuge in U.N. facilities in Gaza, says UNRWA IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported on Sunday that more than 90,000 displaced Palestinians are currently sheltering in 115 U.N.-operated facilities throughout the Gaza Strip amid a deepening humanitarian crisis. "An already dire situation is deteriorating due to bombardment and the siege blocking the entry of humanitarian and commercial supplies," the UNRWA said in a statement. In violation of a January 19 ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the Israeli regime has blocked the entry of medical supplies and other essential goods into Gaza since March 2. The resumption of the war on March 18 was meant to force Hamas to extend the first phase of the ceasefire deal, while Hamas insisted that the agreement should progress to its second phase, which would end Israeli hostilities. Since then, more than 1,800 people have been killed in the enclave. 9341**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli airstrikes kill at least two people in southern Lebanon IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 The Israeli military has carried out multiple airstrikes in southern Lebanon, resulting in civilian casualties and material damage. Lebanon's Health Ministry said on Sunday that one person was killed and two others wounded in a drone strike targeting a car in the town of Kfaryachit. In a separate attack, Israeli forces launched an airstrike on a residential house in Houla, near the border, killing one person. Local reports said that Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at a house in the Al-Deir neighborhood of Houla. Israel continues to violate a fragile ceasefire that has been in place in Lebanon since November. 2050**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dozens killed in Gaza as Netanyahu vows to continue war IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the Gaza war despite growing opposition at home and a rising death toll in the Palestinian territory where dozens of people have been killed in the latest Israeli attacks. Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel has "no choice" but to continue fighting in Gaza and will not end the war before destroying Hamas and freeing the prisoners held by the Islamic resistance group in Gaza, according to the Associated Press. The prime minister's insistence on the continuation of the war comes despite growing discontent in Israel over the conflict that has dragged on for more than 18 months now. Families of the prisoners, their supporters, as well as reservist and retired Israeli soldiers have called for an end to the war, either in the form of weekly protests or open letters accusing Netanyahu's cabinet of perpetuating the war for political purposes. The prime minister's opponents say the only way to return the prisoners held in Gaza is to reach a deal with Hamas. Netanyahu last month shattered a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that had come into force on January 19, resuming intense airstrikes and ground operations across Gaza on March 18. At least 44 Palestinians lost their lives in attacks over the past 24 hours, Gaza's Health Ministry said at noon on Sunday. That pushed the number of fatalities to over 130 since Friday, and to 51, 201 since the war broke out in early October 2023. In addition to daily attacks, Israel has also blocked the entry of food and other basic supplies to Gaza for the past six weeks to pressure Hamas to release the prisoners. Hamas says it is ready to release them but within the framework of an agreement that ends Israel's hostilities and military presence in Gaza. On Saturday, Hamas' armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said it had ambushed Israeli forces operating east of Gaza City's al-Tuffah neighborhood. The Israeli military later said one soldier was killed. 7129**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestine Red Crescent rejects Israeli military report on killing of Gaza medics Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 11:09 PM The Palestine Red Crescent has firmly rejected an Israeli military report on the killing of over a dozen Gaza emergency workers last month, which the regime claimed were killed mistakenly. The Red Crescent on Sunday dismissed Israel's report as invalid and unacceptable, stressing that it was full of lies. It added that the report is aimed at justifying the killings and shifting blame to a field command error, while ignoring the real facts. The Israeli military claimed on Sunday that there were "several professional failures" in the killing of emergency responders in Gaza, saying an army commander would be dismissed. The Palestine Red Crescent rejected the findings and denounced the report as "full of lies". "The report is full of lies. It is invalid and unacceptable, as it justifies the killing and shifts responsibility to a personal error in the field command when the truth is quite different," Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Red Crescent, told AFP. On March 23, fifteen Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers were shot dead near Rafah in southern Gaza. The deadly shooting of the paramedics and rescue workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Gaza's Civil Defense and a UN staff member by Israeli forces during a rescue mission in southern Gaza on March 23 sparked international outrage and demands for a war crimes investigation. Their bodies were discovered a week later in a shallow grave by UN officials and the Red Crescent. A video recovered from a victim's phone showed uniformed medics and marked ambulances with flashing lights being fired upon by Israeli forces. On Sunday, the regime's military said an internal investigation into the incident has "found no evidence to support claims of execution or that any of the deceased were bound before or after the shooting." "Such claims are blood libels and false accusations against IDF soldiers," the military said in a statement, using an acronym for Israel's Military Forces. The military's report labeled the deadly shooting an "operational misunderstanding." It said the investigation has "identified several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident." As a result, it said, the deputy commander of the military's Golani Brigade "will be dismissed from his position due to his responsibilities as the field commander ... and for providing an incomplete and inaccurate report during the debrief." The military's report claimed that "poor night visibility" was to blame for the military commander's conclusion that the ambulances belonged to Hamas and began firing on them. Medics and forensic experts, who had seen some of the bodies after they were recovered, said there was evidence the men had been shot execution style in the head, and their hands and feet had been tied. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen sanctions 15 US weapons manufacturing companies Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 10:16 PM The Yemeni government has announced sanctions on 15 weapons manufacturing companies in the United States for supporting the Israeli regime, which is committing genocide in Gaza. Yemen's News Agency SABA reported that Yemen's Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) announced the sanctions on Sunday. These companies have been added to the Sanctions List of Supporters of the Usurping Zionist Entity (SUZE), HOCC announced. "These companies remain complicit in supplying arms to the usurping Zionist entity, providing its forces with advanced weapons systems, missiles, munitions, military equipment, and other items directly linked to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide perpetrated by the usurping Zionist entity in Gaza since October 7, 2023, which continue to claim the lives of innocent Palestinian civilians," said the Executive Director of the HOCC. The Executive Director stated that these actions fall within the scope of prohibited activities criminalized by the Republic of Yemen under Law No. (5) of the year 1445 AH regarding the designation of states, entities and persons hostile to the Republic of Yemen, and Sanctions Regulation on Supporters of the Usurping Zionist Entity. The Yemeni government said the sanctions are part of the country's efforts to undermine the capabilities of the usurping Zionist entity to continue its daily massacres against children and women in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The order said the sanctions could be extended to include entities in which those companies hold a stake or contribute, senior executives or beneficial owners of the listed entities, spouses, and first-degree relatives of the listed natural persons. Yemenis have been hitting Israeli and American targets in support of Palestinians in Gaza since the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, and in response to the American-British aggression on their homeland. The operations have effectively shut down the Eilat port south of the occupied territories, causing significant economic setbacks for the Israelis. The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end, and the crippling siege against the Palestinian coastal territory is completely lifted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli military claims Gaza medics were killed mistakenly Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 7:12 PM The Israeli military has claimed that there were "several professional failures" in the killing of over a dozen Gaza paramedics and rescue workers last month, saying an army commander would be dismissed. The deadly shooting of the paramedics and rescue workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Gaza's Civil Defense and a UN staff member by Israeli forces during a rescue mission in southern Gaza on March 23 sparked international outrage and demands for a war crimes investigation. The bodies of the victims and the ambulances on which they had traveled were later found buried in a sandy mass grave near Rafah. After digging up the bodies days later, the UN said they had been executed "one by one." On Sunday, the regime's military said an internal investigation into the incident has "found no evidence to support claims of execution or that any of the deceased were bound before or after the shooting." "Such claims are blood libels and false accusations against IDF soldiers," the military said in a statement, using an acronym for Israel's Military Forces. The military's report, which labeled the deadly shooting an "operational misunderstanding," said the investigation has "identified several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident." As a result, it said, the deputy commander of the military's Golani Brigade "will be dismissed from his position due to his responsibilities as the field commander ... and for providing an incomplete and inaccurate report during the debrief." The military's report claimed that "poor night visibility" was to blame for the military commander's conclusion that the ambulances belonged to Hamas and began firing on them. Video footage that emerged from the scene, however, showed that the ambulances were moving with flashing emergency lights. Israel also claimed that its forces made "no attempt to conceal the event." "The examination concluded that removing the bodies was reasonable under the circumstances, but the decision to crush the vehicles was wrong." Medics and forensic experts, who had seen some of the bodies after they were recovered, said there was evidence the men had been shot execution style in the head, and their hands and feet had been tied. After uncovering the bodies, a UN official said the workers had been killed "one by one." The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society also said at the time that the men were "targeted at close range". A Red Crescent spokesperson said the group would publish a statement in response to the military's report by Monday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More than 90,000 displaced Palestinians sheltering in 115 UN-run facilities across Gaza: UNRWA Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 6:37 PM UN-run facilities across the Gaza Strip are sheltering more than 90,000 displaced Palestinians in 115 locations, UNRWA reported. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Sunday that approximately 420,000 Palestinians have been displaced again since the collapse of the recent ceasefire on March 18. At least 1.9 million people, or about 90 percent of Gaza's population, have been displaced during the Israeli regime's genocidal war on the territory. UNRWA said the situation was exacerbating rapidly due to frequent Israeli bombardments and the blockade of international aid from reaching Gaza. "An already dire situation is deteriorating due to bombardment and the siege blocking the entry of humanitarian and commercial supplies." Israeli airstrikes killed at least 70 people in Gaza in the past 48 hours, with the number of casualties increasing as the attacks intensify across the besieged territory. Palestinian civilians were targeted in multiple locations, with Gaza City and northern Gaza accounting for over half of the fatalities. However, the bombardment extended throughout the territory, with lethal attacks also reported in the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah. Multiple sources from international organizations and rights groups monitoring the conditions in Gaza said the Israeli forces have closed all Gaza border crossings, blocking the entry of essential food, medicine, and other relief supplies, further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation. At least 51,065 Palestinians have been confirmed dead and 116,505 wounded in Israel's war on Gaza since it began in October 2023. Doctors Without Borders decried the Israelis for massacring the Palestinians as well as the humanitarian workers trying to alleviate their suffering. "Gaza has been turned into a mass grave of Palestinians and those coming to their assistance," Amande Bazerolle, MSF's emergency coordinator in Gaza, said in a statement on Wednesday. The Health Ministry in Gaza on Tuesday said 1,400 health workers have been in Gaza since the war began. "We are witnessing in real time the destruction and forced displacement of the entire population in Gaza," Bazerolle said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli airstrikes kill at least two in southern Lebanon: Health officials Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 2:56 PM Israeli airstrikes have killed at least two people in southern Lebanon, health officials say. According to the country's health ministry, Israeli forces attacked "a vehicle in Kaouthariyet al-Saiyad," located between the southern cities of Sidon and Tyre on Sunday, killing one person and injuring another. The ministry said that another person was killed in a strike on a house in the town of Houla. Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes in the country despite a ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah that sought to halt more than a year of attacks on Lebanon. The UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said last week that at least 71 civilians, including 14 women and nine children, have been killed in the regime's airstrikes since the ceasefire took effect last November. Spokesperson for the UN office, Thameen al-Kheetan, called for investigations into "each and every military action where civilians are killed." Under the ceasefire, Israel was to withdraw all of its forces from south Lebanon, but despite the deal, the regime's forces have remained at five south Lebanon positions that they deem "strategic." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US arms convoys enter Iraqi Ain al-Asad base from Syria: Report Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 11:24 AM The US military has reportedly sent multiple convoys of trucks carrying troops, military and logistical equipment from deep inside Syria to a major airbase in Iraq's Anbar province, where American military forces and trainers are based. An Iraqi security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Iraq's Arabic-language al-Maalomah news agency that the convoys entered the Iraqi territory on Saturday, and headed towards al-Asad airbase, located about 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of the capital Baghdad. The source did not provide any further details about the reasons behind the withdrawal of the US troops from Syria, and their deployment in Ain al-Asad base. He noted that the US military convoys included armored vehicles, logistical equipment, troops, small arms and light weapons (SALW) as well as heavy munitions. The source emphasized that US military aircraft flew overhead and protected the military convoys as they came into Iraq. Additionally, unprecedented security measures were implemented on the main and secondary roads leading to Ain al-Asad base. Pentagon officials confirmed on Friday that the US military was reducing the number of troops it has deployed in Syria by about half over the coming weeks and months. The Pentagon did not specify in the release how many troops will be pulled out, but The New York Times reported on Thursday that the number is 600. The release also did not provide a specific timeline for the withdrawal. The US military has about 2,000 US troops in Syria across a number of bases, mostly in the energy-rich northeastern flank of the country. The US military has since 2014 deployed its forces and equipment in northeastern Syria with no authorization from the Arab country's government, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists. Damascus, however, maintained the deployment was meant to plunder the country's natural resources. Over the past years, multiple footage has emerged revealing that the US occupation forces have used tankers to smuggle Syrian crude oil from the country's northern provinces to their bases in northern Iraq, as part of Washington's systematic plundering of Syria's basic commodities. US President Donald Trump has also admitted on several occasions that American forces were in the Arab country for its oil wealth. Moreover, there have been several reports showing Washington's direct or indirect support through its regional allies for the Daesh terrorist group over the past years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli-American captive's fate still uncertain as Israeli bombing kills guard: Hamas Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 9:47 AM Hamas says the fate of American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who was held as a captive by the Palestinian resistance group, remains unknown after an aerial assault by the Tel Aviv regime killed one of the captive's guards. Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas' military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said on Saturday that the group had recovered the body of a resistance fighter tasked with guarding Alexander while it has no information about other members of his guard unit. He also expressed Hamas' commitment to safeguarding all Israeli captives and preserving their lives despite the occupying regime's brutal aggression. However, he added, Israeli captives' "safety is now imperiled by the relentless airstrikes conducted by the Zionist enemy army." The criminal regime lies about the alleged mistreatment of its captives in an attempt to incite criticism against the resistance, "cover up the scandal of killing a number of its own prisoners" and prolong the suffering of those who are still held in the Gaza Strip, Abu Obeida said. Alexander, of the 51st Battalion of the Israeli military's Golani Brigade, was taken captive during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm led by Hamas on October 7, 2023. On Tuesday, Hamas said it had lost contact with the team that was guarding the American-Israeli soldier after an Israeli bombardment targeted their location. The announcement came a day after the group released a video, in which Alexander criticized Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet for failing to secure his release. Last month, Hamas expressed its readiness to release Alexander along with the bodies of the four other American-Israeli captives, an offer which Israel rejected as "manipulation and psychological warfare." Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out its historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. In its operation, Hamas took 251 Israelis captive, 58 of whom now remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the occupation's military. Several of the captives have been killed in the regime's strikes on the besieged territory. After one year and a half of war, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its declared objectives in Gaza, despite killing at least 51,157 Palestinians, mostly women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel kills 54 in 24 hrs in Gaza as Netanyahu vows to continue genocidal war Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 8:48 AM As the Israeli military killed at least 54 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with his genocidal war in the besieged territory. Mahmoud Basal, the spokesman of the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, said the fatalities took place after Israeli bombardments targeted several areas across the devastated territory, including Gaza City, Khan Younis, Beit Lahia and al-Bureij refugee camp. "Fifty-four people have been killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip since dawn... and the number is likely to rise as the bombing continues until this moment," Basal said. The Israeli military ramped up airstrikes and expanded its ground offensives in Gaza after shattering a nearly two-month ceasefire with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in mid-March. Meanwhile, Netanyahu, in a televised speech on Saturday, said that the regime would continue the genocide in Gaza until "Hamas is defeated." He claimed that that military pressure was the only way to force the resistance movement to agree to the exchange of captives and abductees from both sides. Hamas has repeatedly stated that any exchange of captives and abductees is dependent on Israel ending its brutal war and withdrawing its occupying forces from Palestinian territory. The Israeli prime minister also vowed to bring home remaining captives from Gaza without yielding to Hamas' demands, insisting that the military campaign in the Palestinian territory had reached a "critical stage." Netanyahu's speech came as large protests erupted in Tel Aviv, pressing for a deal with Hamas to hand over Israeli captives in exchange for ending the genocide in Gaza. An Israeli campaign group called on the regime's premier on Saturday to secure a deal to bring the captives from Gaza, even if it meant ending the war. "Netanyahu has no plan. Tonight, we heard endless talk about what not to do... There is one clear, feasible, and urgent solution that can be achieved now: reach a deal that will bring everyone home - even if it means stopping the fighting," the group said. Israel launched its deadly bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led resistance groups carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. In its operation, Hamas took 251 Israelis captive, 58 of whom now remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the occupation's military. Several of the captives have been killed in the Israeli military's strikes on the blockaded territory. After one and a half years of war, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its declared objectives of "eliminating Hamas" and freeing captives, despite killing over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former war minister, Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity on November 21, 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US strikes kill three, injure several in Sana'a, other Yemeni regions Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 7:39 AM Multiple US air attacks have been conducted in Yemen, including strikes on Sana'a, killing at least three, following reports of Yemeni Armed Forces downing the second American MQ-9 Reaper drone in northwestern Sa'ada province in the past 24 hours. Yemen's al-Masirah television channel, citing a statement by the Ministry of Public Health and Population, announced that the US military launched 21 airstrikes on Sana'a as well as its western, eastern, and southern outskirts on Saturday night. Two people were killed and as many wounded when US air raids struck the al-Nahda neighborhood of the al-Thawra district. American fighter jets also targeted the September 21 Park in the same district with five airstrikes. An individual was wounded when air raids hit a cemetery at the Assafi'yah neighborhood in southern Sana'a. In the Bani Matar district of western Sana'a outskirts, the airstrikes killed one person and wounded another one. Moreover, US warplanes carried out three raids in the Bani Hushaysh district, while two attacks were reported in the al-Husn district. US strikes also targeted the southern side of al-Haffa area, southeast of Sana'a, with four airstrikes. No immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of the destruction have been released. Additionally, Hamdan and al-Haymah al-Kharijiyah districts were hit by two airstrikes each. Elsewhere, in the central province of Ma'rib, an air raid struck the Sirwah district, while the Harf Sufyan district in the northwestern province of 'Amran was targeted with four attacks. The United States also launched 13 airstrikes on the port and international airport of Hudaydah, besides a series of attacks on the coastal city in western Yemen. No casualties were reported. Three US airstrikes targeted the Kamaran Island in Hudaydah province as well, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage. In response to Israeli atrocities in Gaza and US-UK aggression against Yemen, the Yemeni Armed Forces have launched a series of attacks targeting Israeli, American, and British interests in the Red Sea and surrounding areas in late 2023. As the genocidal war against Gaza intensified, the Yemenis implemented a strategic blockade of key maritime routes, aiming to disrupt the flow of military supplies to their adversaries and exert pressure on the international community to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The US and its allies have begun a targeted bombardment of Yemen, destroying civil buildings and killing civilians in an attempt to deter Yemeni resistance from conducting further solidarity operations in support of Gaza and Palestinian people. However, the Yemeni Armed Forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Will Not End Gaza War Until Hostages Returned, Hamas Destroyed - Netanyahu Sputnik News 20250420 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the Palestinian movement Hamas has again rejected a deal to free some hostages, and stressed in this regard that Israel will not end the war in the Gaza Strip until it achieves the return of all those kidnapped and completely eliminates Hamas' potential. "We will not end the war of revival until we destroy Hamas in Gaza, until we return all our hostages, and until we ensure that the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said in an address to the nation. At the end of the week, Palestinian radicals again rejected a proposal that would have led to the release of half of the living hostages still in Gaza and the return of the bodies of a number of dead hostages, the prime minister said. "The Hamas movement demands an end to the war and the preservation of its power. It also demands a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the restoration of Gaza with the attraction of capital that will allow it to rearm and prepare new attacks on us. Ending the war on these terms of capitulation will make it clear to all of Israel's enemies that by kidnapping Israelis, the State of Israel can be brought to its knees," the prime minister noted. On March 18, Israel resumed strikes on the Gaza Strip, citing Hamas' refusal to accept the US plan to extend the ceasefire, which expired on March 1. Israel cut off electricity supply to a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip and closed off entry to trucks carrying humanitarian aid. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese expert slams US anti-ship missile deployment in the Philippines amid drills Global Times By Guo Yuandan Published: Apr 21, 2025 12:34 AM On Sunday, the Philippine Corvette 36, without approval from the Chinese government, illegally intruded into the territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao. The navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command organized forces to track, monitor, warn, and expel it in accordance with the law, Senior Captain Zhao Zhiwei, a spokesperson for the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command, said on Sunday evening. According to Philippine media, the annual US-Philippines "Balikatan" joint exercise in the Philippines is set to kick off on Monday, and the US military will deploy its anti-ship missile system, Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), in the Luzon Strait of northern Philippines as part of the drills - marking its first-ever deployment in the country. A Chinese military affairs expert told the Global Times on Sunday that the Philippines seeks to leverage external forces to advance its illegal territorial expansion in the South China Sea. Such maneuvers, the expert warned, will not only fail to achieve their objectives but also incur significant consequences. The annual US-Philippine war games will be held from April 21 to May 9 in strategic locations in the Philippines, including in areas and provinces facing the South China Sea, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. This year's Balikatan, which is described as a full-battle test by Philippine and US military officials, will involve 5,000 Filipino troops and 9,000 American personnel, the report claimed. Meanwhile, Australia and Japan will be active observers during the drills, while Czech Republic, Poland, and Colombia will also send observers, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported, citing Brigadier General Michael Logico, exercise director of Balikatan exercises. Last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed the arrival of the NMESIS missile system in the country, though the exact location remains undisclosed, Philippine media the Daily Tribune reported. The US' 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment's Medium-Range Missile Battery will send NMESIS to the Luzon Strait during Balikatan 2025. With the NMESIS' 185-kilometer range, its basing across islands in Batanes could threaten vessels entering the 250-kilometer-wide Luzon Strait, according to a report by foreign news outlet Naval News. While no missiles will be fired, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment's Fire Support Coordination Center "will use the opportunity presented by placing the NMESIS on islands in the Luzon Strait to conduct simulated fire missions," the US Marines said, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The missiles are being deployed to "a strategic first island chain chokepoint" in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, Taipei Times reported, citing a Naval News report. The deployment of NMESIS by US forces in northern Philippines carries clear objectives, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday. He said that it poses a threat to vessels passing through the Bashi Channel, and during potential Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) operations targeting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, the NMESIS could threaten naval assets in the southwestern region of the island. Zhang noted that this marks another deployment of a new missile system in the Philippines following the earlier deployment of the US Typhon Mid-Range Missile System. In April 2024, the US took advantage of the joint military drills to ship the Typhon system to the Philippines and continued to keep the system there long after the drills ended. "By deploying two types of missile systems, the US has established a comprehensive long-, medium-, and short-range strike network, with a maximum range of 1,800 kilometers, covering China's southeastern coastal areas, the Taiwan Straits, the Bashi Channel, and the northern South China Sea," said Zhang. China, according to Zhang, like other ASEAN member states, firmly opposes the US deployment of medium-range and land-based anti-ship missile systems in the Philippines as it will undoubtedly undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea region. "In the event of a conflict, these locations where missiles are deployed will inevitably become targets for counterstrikes," said Zhang. "The Philippines' approach essentially amounts to opening the door to a predator and will only backfire." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 20 April 2025 - Day 1152 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 since the beginning of the day, there have been 86 combat clashes, the Russian enemy has used 704 kamikaze drones and carried out 1519 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. One Russian attack was repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansky direction, in the Golubivka area. Eleven assault actions were stopped by Ukrainian soldiers near the settlements of Nadia, Mirne, Grekivka, Katerynivka, Nove and Yampolivka in the Lyman direction. One confrontation is ongoing so far. In the Sivers komu direction, the opponent committed two offensive actions in the area of Bilogorivka and Ivano-Daryivka. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian attempts to advance in the area of Time Jar and towards Stupochok and White Mountain. In the Toretsky direction, Russian today eight times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Friendship, Toretsk and Leonidivka. Defense forces are steadily holding back the pressure and repelled seven assaults, two clashes are still ongoing. Intensely attacks the opponent of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. During the day, Russian committed 36 offensive actions. The activity of Russian occupiers was fixed in the areas of the settlements of Suha Balka, Mirolyubivka, Elizabethtivka, Lisivka, Kotline, Udaachne, Novooleksandrivka, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Andriyivka and Rozliv. Four clashes are still ongoing. According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction Ukrainian warriors eliminated 131 occupiers and wounded 121. Destroyed the cannon, four BPLAs, five BPLA control points and 10 cars. A tank and three occupant cars were also significantly damaged. Ukrainian units repelled five attacks in the area of Konstantinopol, Skudnogo and towards Odradnogo. In the Orihiv direction Russian zagarbniki four times advanced in the position of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Mala Tokmachka, Malih Scherbakiv and Stepovoye. The enemy did not carry out any active offensive actions in Kharkiv, Gulyaipil and Pridniprovsky directions. In the Kurs komu direction Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 attacks of zagarbnikiv. Russian launched 163 artillery shells on settlements and positions of the Defense Forces, including 16 from the reactive systems of assault fire. In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No: 86, 19 April 2025, Regarding the Ongoing Legal Proceedings in the USA Concerning Turkish Citizen Rumeysa Ozturk Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs The developments concerning Turkish citizen Rumeysa Ozturk have been closely monitored from the outset. Our citizen has become one of the symbolic figures of a legal process that has emerged as a result of developments within the domestic politics of the USA and affects thousands of foreign students. The process is being conducted in accordance with the preferences of our citizen and her family, and with full respect for personal rights. The consular support extended to all Turkish citizens facing hardship abroad has also been provided to Ms. Ozturk from the very beginning. The Turkish Consul General in Houston has visited our citizen on several occasions in the state of Louisiana, and the Turkish Consul General in Boston has held an online meeting with Ms. Ozturk. Contrary to the claims made in certain statements intended to deliberately mislead the public and politicize our citizen's situation, there are two separate judicial proceedings concerning Ms. Ozturk. The first proceeding pertains to an immigration case currently ongoing in the state of Louisiana. At the hearing held on 16 April, which was followed by our Consulate General in Houston, the lawfulness of the revocation of our citizen's visa by the U.S. authorities is being examined. A decision on this matter is expected to be announced on 1 May. The court has denied the request for Ms. Ozturk's release on bail until that date. The second proceeding pertains to an objection to Ms. Ozturk's detention. In the hearing held on 14 April before the court in the state of Vermont, which was followed by our Consulate General in Boston, the decision was announced on 18 April. The court ruled that jurisdiction to examine the objection lies with the state of Vermont and ordered the transfer of Ms. Ozturk to Vermont no later than 1 May. The request for her release on bail is scheduled to be considered by this court on 9 May. Both legal proceedings will continue to be followed closely by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye through all available means, and the necessary support will be provided. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Amid US tariff blow, delivery of AUKUS submarines is in serious doubt: analyst Global Times By Xu Keyue Published: Apr 20, 2025 10:17 PM Skepticism over AUKUS - a trilateral defense deal between the US, UK and Australia - has further deepened after the nuclear submarine delivery goals reportedly face challenges due to the new US tariffs on steel and aluminum and a severe shortfall in US shipbuilding capacity. New US tariffs on steel and aluminum could delay delivery and increase the cost of the nuclear submarines promised to Australia under the AUKUS pact, the South China Morning Post reported on Sunday, citing senior US Senator Tim Kaine, who reportedly told an AUKUS gathering last week in Washington that submarine construction was facing budget and schedule setbacks. Kaine, the top Democrat on the Senate's sea-power subcommittee, said that about one-third of the steel and aluminum used in US naval vessels comes from allies including Canada and the UK - both now hit with the new tariffs, according to report. The UK faces a 10 percent levy while Canadian metals are subject to a blanket 25 percent tariff, the SCMP reported. Earlier this month, Reuters also reported that the sale of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the AUKUS treaty faces new doubts as US President Donald Trump's tariffs take hold, and amid concern in Washington that providing the vessels to Canberra may reduce deterrence to China. "From as early as the 2030s, the delivery of three US Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia - ensuring there is no capacity gap," is listed on the Australian government website explaining the AUKUS pact. Under the AUKUS pact, the UK will deliver its own first SSN-AUKUS in the late 2030s, with the first SSN-AUKUS built in Australia delivered in the early 2040s. However, severe shortfalls in US manufacturing capacity - particularly in shipbuilding, sparked skepticism over delays even before the US blanket tariff was in place, Chen Hong, professor and director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday. The increased tariffs on aluminum and steel products, which came into effect on March 12, have also hit the US' allies, and further strained US manufacturing, including shipbuilding, Chen said. Under these circumstances, the delivery of AUKUS submarines in the foreseeable future is now in serious doubt, Chen added. But some Australians still cling to unrealistic expectations, believing that the US will prioritize its staunch allies. "This is a clear disconnect from reality, a significant gap," Chen said. Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), claimed that if Australia were to receive its first Virginia-class submarine in 2033, followed by the remaining two by the end of the next decade, the impact of tariffs could be negligible, the SCMP report said. There will likely be an aftershock because of the US tariffs, and also because the US is striving to bring manufacturing back to the US, which will absorb up a lot of labor and resources. On top of that, we should question whether the US will have the extra capability to continue constructing the submarines for Australia, Chen said. "The ASPI is still weighing the current US with an obsolete perspective, which is very wishful thinking." Australia needs to view its relationships with other countries through a clear, rational, and realistic perspective, the expert added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Regular Press Briefing of the Ministry of National Defense on April 16, 2025 Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Ministry of National Defense EditorChen Zhuo 2025-04-19 23:54:46 (The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.) On the afternoon of April 16, 2025, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND), answered recent media queries concerning the military. Journalist: President Xi Jinping recently paid a visit to Viet Nam and put forward six measures to deepen the building of China-Viet Nam community with a shared future. Among the measures, President Xi emphasized the need to build more robust security safeguards. Could you please share how will the Chinese side promote China-Viet Nam military-to-military relationship? Zhang Xiaogang: This year marks the 75th year of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Viet Nam. President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, paid a state visit to Viet Nam from April 14 to 15. President Xi and To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, jointly charted the course for China-Viet Nam state-to-state and military-to-military relations. President Xi said that standing at a new historical starting point, the two sides need to build on past achievements and forge ahead together. It's important for the two countries to bear in mind the overarching goals of achieving stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, greater public support, closer coordination on multilateral affairs and better management and resolution of differences. China and Viet Nam should advance comprehensive strategic cooperation with high-quality efforts, ensure steady and sustained progress in building a China-Viet Nam community with a shared future, and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind. In recent years, the two militaries have enhanced their long-standing friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood". The two sides have maintained frequent high-level engagements, established a "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security, conducted joint counter-terrorism exercises, organized activities such as border defense friendship exchanges, joint patrols in the Beibu Gulf, and young military officer exchanges. The military-to-military relations have achieved high-level and steady development. Building on past achievements, China is ready to work with Viet Nam to make new advances in pursuit of shared goals. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two parties and two countries, we are willing to join hands with the Vietnamese side to strengthen strategic mutual trust and coordination, enhance cooperation in areas such as political work, maritime security, joint exercises and personnel training, and elevate the military-to-military relations to a new level. Journalist: The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment released by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence claims that China is the biggest military and cyber threat for the US, and that the PLA likely will use large language models for information operations to generate deceptive content. What's your comment on this? Zhang Xiaogang: The US often accuses others of what it did or is doing itself. The US is not only the main source of cyber attacks against China but also a well-known cyber threat to the world. From WikiLeaks to Snowden, Stellar Wind, and Telescreen, the US side has a poor record on cyber issues. It would stop at nothing to conduct surveillance, steal secrets and attack others. Smearing China can not help remove the US label as the empire of hacking. We require the US side to stop acting like a thief crying "stop thief", refrain from launching cyber attacks against other countries including China, and restore a clean and secure cyberspace with responsible words and actions. Journalist: Japanese media outlets recently disclosed that the Japan-US joint exercise Keen Edge 24 featured a "Taiwan contingency" scenario for the first time by simulating fighter jets launching anti-ship missile strikes against a PLA landing fleet. What's your comment? Zhang Xiaogang: It is our consistent position that military cooperation between the US and Japan should not target any third party or jeopardize regional peace and development. The Taiwan question is an internal affair of China, and resolving it is a matter for the Chinese. The hype over a so-called "Taiwan contingency" by certain parties is nothing but an attempt to fan the flames and stir up troubles. No one should underestimate the strong will and ability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Those who insist on using the "Taiwan card" to interfere in China's internal affairs or even overreach themselves with military provocations, will inevitably pay an unbearable price. Journalist: It's reported that the US defense budget for fiscal year 2026 might reach $1 trillion for the first time and it would be used to enhance lethality and readiness. May I have your comments on this? Zhang Xiaogang: We have noted relevant reports. The sky-high defense budget exposed once again the bellicose nature of the US side and its belief in "might makes right". The US government is in heavy debt, yet it keeps pouring ill-gotten wealth exploited from other countries into manufacturing weapons. We hope the US side will break away from the obsession with hegemony at an early date and recognize that wanton use of force will not make America great again but only inflict painful disasters upon the people of the US and the rest of the world. Journalist: According to reports, Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan would refrain from imposing retaliatory tariffs against the US. Instead, he asserted that "enduring hardship is a means of self-improvement" and pledged to make large-scale purchases of US agricultural, industrial, and energy products, as well as weapons. Please comment on that. Zhang Xiaogang: The Lai Ching-te authorities disregard the interests of local industries and residents, and curry favor with its "foreign master" for support. In essence, it is "offering up Taiwan's resources to win the favor of the US." Such unconditional concessions will only deplete Taiwan's future and undermine the well-being of the people. The attempts of the DPP authorities to solicit US support for "Taiwan independence" and resist reunification by force will prove a dead end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing ready to fight trade war if necessary: China's US envoy Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 11:11 AM China's ambassador to the US Xie Feng, has urged the US that rather than igniting a trade war, seek common ground with China, and warned the US that his country is ready to retaliate if necessary. Speaking at a public event in Washington on Saturday, Xie emphasized that a trade war would destroy the global economy He compared the US administration's current behavior with regards to tariffs with the protectionist policies of the US during the Great Depression in 1930s. Xie referred to the ancient Chinese medicine practices that combined opposing elements which complemented each other, commonly known as yin and yang, and said that similar to yin and yang, the two largest economies in the world must have a harmonious relationship. "A good traditional Chinese medicine recipe usually combines many different ingredients which reinforce one another and creates the best medical effect," said Xie. "the earth is big enough to accommodate both China and the US ... We should pursue peaceful coexistence rather than collide head-on, and help each other succeed rather than get caught in a lose-lose scenario," he added. The trade war has brought a halt to the massive trade between the world's two largest economies, with both countries imposing tariffs of over 100%, as well as a range of trade, investment and cultural restrictions. China's top shipbuilding association on Saturday denounced a US plan to apply port fees to China-linked ships. Trump said on Friday that the US has had good conversations privately with China amid the two countries' trade war. "By the way, we have nice conversations going with China," he told reporters at the White House. "It's, like, really very good." He did not offer additional details. China has said the US must show respect before any talks take place. Xie said that while China opposed the trade war, it would respond in kind to any country imposing tariffs on China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INDIAN AIR FORCE PARTICIPATES IN MULTINATIONAL EXERCISE DESERT FLAG-10 IN UAE India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 20 APR 2025 4:23PM by PIB Delhi A contingent of the Indian Air Force reached Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates to participate in Exercise Desert Flag-10, a premier multinational air combat exercise. The IAF is fielding MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft in the exercise. Exercise Desert Flag is a multinational exercise being hosted by the UAE Air Force, with participating contingents from the Air Forces of Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, and the United States in addition to the Indian Air Force. The exercise is scheduled to take place between 21 April to 08 May 2025. The aim of the exercise is to undertake complex and diverse fighter engagements, with exchange of operational knowledge and best practices with some of the most capable Air Forces in the world. Participation in such exercises enhances mutual understanding interoperability, and strengthens military cooperation among the participating nations. The IAF's participation underscores India's commitment to strengthening defence ties and interoperability with friendly nations in the region and beyond. *** VK/JS/SM (Release ID: 2123037) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Enriching uranium is a 'red line' for Iran, says deputy foreign minister IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi says Tehran firmly refuses to negotiate over its fundamental right to enrich uranium, declaring it a non-negotiable "red line." Speaking at a meeting of the Parliament's National Security Commission on Sunday, Gharibabadi provided updates on the ongoing talks with the United States on the nuclear issue and the removal of sanctions. The commission's spokesperson, Ebrahim Rezaei, conveyed Gharibabadi's remarks, saying that during the talks in Rome, the two sides had reached a mutual understanding on the broad framework of the negotiations. Gharibabadi assured lawmakers that Iran's uranium enrichment is intended solely for peaceful purposes, emphasizing that the country has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons, he said. The deputy minister stressed that Iran remains committed to the negotiation process and expects the other side to demonstrate genuine willingness and resist pressure from the Israeli regime, which he claimed is attempting to derail the talks, Rezaei added. The second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States concluded on Saturday in Rome, with both sides agreeing to reconvene next week. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while the U.S. team was headed by President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi once again acted as mediator, shuttling between the two delegations to relay messages. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kuwait welcomes progress in Tehran-Washington talks IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 Kuwait's Foreign Ministry has welcomed the progress made in the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States. The ministry issued a statement on Sunday, a day after Iranian and U.S. negotiators concluded a second round of talks in Italy's capital, Rome, and agreed to meet again in the coming days. The talks took place indirectly through Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. In its statement, Kuwait's Foreign Ministry said it welcomed the agreement between Iran and the U.S. to move the talks to the next stage in order to reach a deal. The step reflects both sides' commitment to continue dialog and build on the recent progress, Kuwait News Agency reported. Kuwait expressed its support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving disputes and achieving positive outcomes for regional and global stability. The statement also expressed appreciation for Oman's role in facilitating the negotiations and praised Italy for hosting the latest round of the discussions. The indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington focus on Iran's nuclear program and the removal of sanctions against Iran. A first round was held in Oman's capital, Muscat, on April 12. 9417**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chamber of Commerce says Iran-U.S. talks are a tool to serve national interests IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) has expressed support for the Iran-U.S. nuclear negotiations, describing them as a sovereign tool to serve national interests and revitalize the economy. In a statement released on Sunday, ICCIMA said the ongoing talks demonstrate Iran's prudence within the framework of "dignity, wisdom, and expediency." The Chamber stressed the importance of continuing negotiations grounded in independence and national interests, saying these diplomatic efforts could lead to the lifting of sanctions, reducing economic burdens, and establishing deeper engagement with the global economy. It said that a successful outcome could attract investment, encourage technology transfer, and enhance Iran's role in the international economy. Samad Hassanzadeh, head of ICCIMA, said that the indirect talks between Iran and the United States have already bolstered public and business confidence. He suggested involving economic experts in tandem with political negotiators to better integrate diplomacy with economic objectives. "While we hope for favorable outcomes in the negotiations, the domestic economy must not remain stagnant in anticipation. We urge the administration to carry out economic reforms concurrently with the talks," he said. The second round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States concluded on Saturday in Rome, with both sides agreeing to reconvene next week. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, headed the U.S. team. Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi once again served as mediator, shuttling between the two delegations to convey messages between the two sides. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says it welcomes any practical initiative that terminate sanctions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Administration spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani says Iran, in the path of negotiations with the United States, welcomes any practical initiative that terminates sanctions and ensures the rights of the Iranian people. Mohajerani made the remark on Sunday, a day after Iranian and U.S. negotiators concluded a second round of talks over Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of the sanctions against the country. She told IRNA that the process of the talks has been positive so far. "In the continuation of the talks, we welcome any practical initiative to lift the sanctions and ensure the rights of the Iranian people," said Mohajerani. The second round of the talks between Tehran and Washington were held in Rome, Italy. The two sides agreed to hold more discussions in the coming days. The Rome discussions were a follow-up of negotiations held last Saturday in Muscat, Oman. During both rounds, the Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the U.S. team was headed by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy. Mohajerani said the talks will be pursued within the framework of the duties and missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the administration will not divert its focus from the main path of running the country. "The goal of these talks is to examine practical steps to reduce tensions and provide a platform for technical talks in the future," she added. Back in 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 Iran deal, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and initiated a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran despite the fact that the Islamic Republic had fully honored its commitments to the accord. 4354**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araqchi after Rome talks: Optimism may be warranted but with a great deal of caution IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has hailed the "relatively positive atmosphere" during the Rome negotiations between Iran and the United States, saying he is cautiously optimistic on the prospects of the talks. "Relatively positive atmosphere in Rome has enabled progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal," Araqchi wrote in a post on his X page on Saturday night. It came after the second round of talks between Tehran and Washington came to an end as the two sides agreed to hold more discussions on Iran's nuclear program and termination of U.S. sanctions. According to Araqchi, the Iranian side made clear during the talks that many Iranians believe that the 2015 Iran deal, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is "no longer good enough for us." "To them, what is left from that deal are 'lessons learned,'" he said, adding that he tends to agree with that view. He was referring to the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and imposition of "maximum pressure" sanctions on Iran despite the fact that the Islamic Republic had fully honored its commitments to the accord. The foreign minister also said that expert level talks will begin in the coming days, after which "we will be in a better position to judge." "For now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution," he added. Iran thanks Italy and Oman for co-hosting the talks Esmaeil Baqaei, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, also said in an X post on Saturday night that the Iranian team was leaving Rome with a "sense of deep appreciation to Italy and Oman for co-hosting this important round of Iran-United States indirect talks." "We remain committed to the cause of dialogue & diplomacy as our world continues to face unprecedented challenges and threats to the rule of law and common human values," he added. The Rome talks were a follow-up of negotiations held last Saturday in Muscat, Oman. During both rounds, the Iranian delegation was led by Araqchi and the U.S. team was headed by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran expects major drop in domestic wheat yields Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 6:09 PM Iran expects a major drop in its annual wheat harvest because of unfavorable weather conditions. Officials from the Iranian ministry of agriculture said on Sunday that the country's wheat harvest could amount to 9-11 million metric tons (mt) this year, down from the 16 million mt reported last year. Mohammad Reza Talayi, a deputy agriculture minister, said that lower precipitation had caused a major decline in the yields of dry-land farms across Iran. He said, however, that the western and northwestern provinces in Iran, where wheat is harvested in late summer, could experience better yields because of recent increases in rainfall. The comments came after Gholamreza Golmohammadi, another deputy agriculture minister, said on Saturday that this year's wheat crops in Iran could fall to as low as 8 million mt. That means that Iran should import up to 6 million mt of the grain to respond to a rising domestic demand which has been exacerbated by cheap prices. Iran spent more than $3 billion last year to buy nearly 12 million mt of wheat from its farmers. The bumper crop enabled the government to declare self-sufficiency in wheat production and stop placing orders for sizable shipments of the crop from countries like Russia. That comes as Iran had cut its annual wheat imports by 7 million mt to 1.8 million mt in the calendar year to late March 2024. Iran has already started this year's wheat purchase program in five provinces in its south. The Government Trading Corporation said on Sunday that the government expects to buy wheat from more than 814,000 farmers until September, when the harvesting season ends in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Uranium enrichment is Iran's 'red line' in talks with US, says deputy foreign minister Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 5:31 PM Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi has reiterated the Islamic Republic's right to enrich uranium, stressing that the issue is a red line in the indirect negotiations with the United States. Gharibabadi made the remarks at a meeting of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy commission on Sunday, where he briefed the lawmakers on the second round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, held in Rome, Italy, the day before. Ebrahim Rezaei, the committee's spokesman, said Gharibabadi attended the session to elaborate on the content of the negotiations. During the meeting, Gharibabadi noted that the Iranian side has once again emphasized that the Islamic Republic is not seeking to build nuclear weapons and that the country's nuclear activities are entirely peaceful. He also said one of the main issues of the talks had been the complete lifting of sanctions, including those issued by the US Congress and the executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump. Gharibabadi also emphasized that the removal of sanctions must be thorough and effective, ensuring tangible economic benefits for the Iranian nation rather than serving as merely a symbolic gesture. Rezaei quoted the deputy foreign minister as saying that the parties have discussed the general framework, agenda, and technical issues and have reached an understanding in the Rome negotiations. He said that technical negotiations at the expert level will be held in Muscat on Wednesday, adding that the parties are currently extracting and formulating the general principles of the talks. Rezaei further stated that Iran is completely serious about the talks and does not accept any delay in the negotiation process. He added that the other side should also enter the talks seriously and avoid being influenced by the pressures of the Israeli regime that seeks to destroy the negotiation process. A second round of talks between Tehran and Washington, centered on Iran's nuclear program and the termination of American sanctions against the country, was held at the Omani Embassy in Rome on Saturday. The negotiations were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and were again mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi. The two sides have arranged to hold technical negotiations at the level of experts in Muscat on April 23 to go into details and design a framework for a deal. Top negotiators from the two countries will meet again on April 26 to evaluate the results of the expert meetings and see how close they will be to an agreement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran insists on sanctions removal, nation's rights in talks with US: Government spokeswoman Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 4:05 PM Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani says Tehran welcomes any initiative that will lead to the lifting of sanctions and guarantee the nation's rights during the talks with the United States. Speaking to IRNA on Sunday, Mohajerani said the trend of talks between Iran and the US has been positive so far. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy for West Asia affairs, led two rounds of indirect talks about Iran's nuclear issue in the Omani capital of Muscat and the Italian capital, Rome, on April 12 and 19, respectively. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always acted based on national interests and maintenance of the Iranian people's dignity, and it also follows the principles of wisdom and expediency," Mohajerani said. She noted that the Foreign Ministry is pursuing the talks within the framework of its duties and missions, emphasizing that the administration would not divert its focus from the main path of running the country. She added that the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman, are being held in a constructive atmosphere. "The goal of these talks is to examine practical steps to reduce tensions and prepare the ground for technical talks in the future," the government spokeswoman emphasized. Speaking at the end of the second round of talks on Saturday, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran and Washington had reached a "better understanding" on certain principles and goals. Iran and the US agreed to open expert-level technical discussions in Oman on April 23. A third round of high-level indirect negotiations between Araghchi and Witkoff would kick off in Oman on April 26. The Iranian foreign minister later said in a post on his X account that the latest round of indirect talks with the United States in Rome yielded progress on principles of a potential agreement, warning, though, that any sense of optimism has to be accompanied by great caution. "We made clear how many in Iran believe that the JCPOA is no longer good enough for us. To them, what is left from that deal are 'lessons learned.' Personally, I tend to agree," Araghchi said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). During his first term in office, US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States in 2018 from a previous agreement on Iran's nuclear program and launched a maximum pressure campaign against the country. Trump restored that policy after returning to the White House for a second term in January, but he has since signaled a willingness to make a new deal to replace the JCPOA. On March 12, Trump sent a letter to Iran's leadership, asking for negotiations to reach a new deal. Iran has ruled out direct negotiations with the US under pressure and threats, but said indirect talks remain an option. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's new milestone in production of rare earth elements Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 10:55 AM Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Atabak on Saturday inaugurated Iran's first monazite production plant, marking a milestone in the country's rare earth industry. The pilot plant at the Abbas Abad Industrial Town has been indigenously designed and built by young Iranian experts, he said, hailing it a "great achievement" which will enable the country's access to high-tech industries to continue at a faster pace. Iranian companies were able to design, manufacture, install, and commission 100% of the equipment, some of which was manufactured and operated for the first time in the country. Before manufacturers can use the rare earth material extracted from the ground, it must go through a complex and expensive process. The first step is to mine the ore, usually a cabonatite or monazite, that contains the rare earths. Depending on the grade, it could take anywhere from 6 to 86 tonnes of ore to produce a single tonne of rare earth mineral. Monazite is a phosphate mineral which contains some rare earth elements. It is considered a group of minerals due to its varying composition. There are five different most common species of monazite, depending on the relative amounts of the rare earth elements in the mineral. Mostly it contains thorium, lanthanum, and cerium. Investment in high-tech industries has a higher economic added value compared to conventional industries. Critical minerals and magnets are the new staple of the international economy, and governments are fast realizing that they risk economic and strategic vulnerability without them. The digitalization of the world economy, transition to renewable energy and pressure to keep apace with developments in cutting-edge technology all hinge on a select few minerals namely lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite, nickel and rare earths that are commonly understood as the "big six". Rare earth elements include 17 key mineral components that are used in advanced industries such as semiconductor production, advanced batteries, wind turbines, and military equipment. They have lately emerged as one of the fronts in an escalating trade war between China and the United States. Earlier this month, Beijing ordered restrictions on the export of six heavy rare earth metals, which are refined entirely in the country, as well as rare earth magnets, 90 percent of which are produced in China. The official ban is part of China's retaliation for US President Donald Trump's sharp increase in tariffs that started on April 2. The heavy rare earth metals covered by the ban are used in magnets essential for many kinds of electric motors that power electric and gasoline-powered cars, drones, robots, missiles and spacecraft. The metals, also vital ingredients in capacitors which are electrical components of the computer chips, power artificial intelligence servers and smartphones. According to mining experts, Iran is rich in rare earth elements with a capacity to be a major player in the industry globally, but it is essential that critical mineral strategies are implemented in order to find their sources and extract them. For now, prospecting for rare earth elements is focused on 24,000 square kilometers in central Iran, while further exploration is carried in the country's northeast and northwest, where rocks containing augite, zircon, apatite and pyrite have been identified in the Kejal kaolin deposit in Hashtjin in Ardabil province. In central Iran, 10 rare element anomalies have been recorded over an area of about 7,000 square kilometers, where additional exploration is to be carried out. By utilizing domestic capacity and modern technologies, Iran can become one of the major suppliers of rare earth elements internationally and pave the way for investment and development of high-tech industries in the country. In August 2013, a news agency reported that Iranian researchers had produced gallium with 99 percent purity for the first time. Gallium, used in radar and radio communication devices, satellites and LEDs, is found in trace amounts in zinc ores and in bauxite, and gallium metal is produced when processing bauxite to make aluminium. Iran is among the countries with zinc, bauxite, aluminum and coal production and processing plants in abundance in all parts of the country. The country has "fortunately good reserves of rare earth elements," according to CEO of Mines and Metals Development Investment Company Ardeshir Saad-Mohammadi. For example, about 125 million tonnes of reserves have been identified in two mines being operated in Yazd where 60 tonnes of soil is processed daily. "We have achieved the necessary technical knowledge in the pilot phase and are now planning for investment and industrial production," he said. In a recent project, he said, Iranian experts were able to economically isolate 17 rare earth elements with high purity using new methods, which is an important milestone in the country's high-tech industries. These developments have put Iran on the path of joining the elite league of rare element producers, says Morteza Ali-Akbari, managing director of the Tajali Mines and Metals Development Company, which carried out Iran's first monazite production plant. Once a mass production plant is set up, Iran's surplus products will head to international markets, creating a bright future for the country's mining industry, he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araghchi scoffs at Israel's threats, says Tel Aviv will never be able to attack Iran Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 8:01 AM Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Israel has never been able to wage an attack on the nation in the past and it will not be able to do so in the future. In an interview with Russia's RT television network published on Saturday, Araghchi noted that even with the support and help of the US, the occupying regime will not be capable of carrying out military actions against the Islamic Republic. "As I said, we can defend ourselves even against the US, and the United States knows how capable we are," he added. "The Israeli regime also knows what our defense capabilities are and what our response to any attack is." 'Iran, Russia, China working towards global peace' The top diplomat also emphasized that Iran has been strengthening its ties with Russia and China in recent years. He further said that the three countries are "serious" about taking "effective steps towards international peace." 'Tehran-Moscow ties stronger than ever' Meanwhile, Araghchi hailed bilateral ties between Iran and Russia, which are both subject to illegal Western sanctions. Tehran-Moscow relations "have never been so close and so strong" than at the current moment, he said. In January, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement for long-term cooperation in the fields of politics, defense, economy, security, trade, investment, energy, infrastructure and other areas. Araghchi said the deal "raises the level of our relations to a strategic level. Major economic projects are underway between us. The volume of trade between us has increased tremendously." Despite harsh Western restrictions, Iran and Russia are expanding their relations while "not waiting for the sanctions to be lifted," the Iranian foreign minister added. Tehran and Moscow "have the same and close positions on many international issues," he stressed. "I do not want to say that there are no disagreements between us. Sometimes there are also differences of opinion, but in most cases we have close positions with each other and, most importantly, we are in constant exchange of views." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Army possesses 'ultra-secret, AI-powered' weapons; enemy has no chance to survive: Cmdr. Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 2:16 AM The commander of the Ground Force of the Iranian Army has revealed the existence of domestically-developed, ultra-secret weapons powered by artificial intelligence in the force's arsenal, while reasserting that the Islamic Republic was fully prepared to decisively confront any threat. "We possess highly advanced weapons, some of which are secret or even ultra-secret. These are extremely sophisticated systems that utilize artificial intelligence. Although still classified as conventional weapons, their capabilities are exceptional," Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari said on Saturday. The commander, who was speaking during an interview with Iran's al-Alam news network, emphasized that these systems had not been publicly disclosed over strategic concerns, but were fully operational. Transformation, readiness of Ground Force Heidari highlighted a significant transformation within the Ground Force since Iraq's 1980-88 imposed war on Iran that had seen it shift from a traditional structure to a modern, dynamic, and highly mobile force. "Today, our ground units are capable of fast movement, high maneuverability, full offensive capabilities, and rapid intervention," he said. The senior military official further noted that the Ground Force had employed weapons and systems, which were among the most advanced globally, enabling comprehensive situational awareness and security coverage across the country's borders. The commander detailed that the force had deployed 10 divisions along various border areas, strategically positioning them to ensure comprehensive intelligence and security coverage. He, however, warned that the deployment did not mean that all threats had been eliminated. "Rather, it is intended to establish lasting security and a preventive presence on the borders." Heidari also mentioned that in the final three months of the previous Persian calendar year -- which starts in March every year, the Ground Force had conducted three large-scale military exercises in the eastern, western, and coastal areas of the country. The official went on to say that in light of existing threats and the force's forward-looking assessment of future dangers, it had managed to maintain its technical and operational readiness. "Our eyes are wide open, and our hands are on the trigger. If any threat materializes, we will not grant the enemy the chance to survive.'" Cyber defense, coordination with IRGC Addressing modern warfare threats, Heidari stated that the Ground Force had established specialized divisions to counter cyber threats and had significantly enhanced its cyber defense capabilities. "Our cyber units are now operating with the highest level of technological sophistication and capabilities," he said. The commander reaffirmed strong cohesion and mutual reinforcement between the Army and Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) across all domains, namely land, sea, and air. Recently, President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed Iran's Armed Forces for their strength and preparedness, stating that the Army served as a model for other nations and had never deviated from its authoritative structural composition. The president reaffirmed that Iran had become an "undisputed power in the [West Asia] region" thanks to the country's Army troops and security forces." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Outrage In Russian Media Over 'Black Widows' Seducing Soldiers For Death Benefits By Current Time, Andrey Cherkasov and Stuart Greer April 21, 2025 Outraged patriotic bloggers and the tabloid press in Russia are warning the country's soldiers about scams from so-called "black widows" -- women who seduce and lure the fighters into marriage so they can collect their death benefits if they are killed fighting in Ukraine. In one post, blogger Anastasia Kashevarova claimed that gangs of opportunistic women were operating in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine where they allegedly seduced Russian soldiers for their money and benefits. "Gangs of honey traps were captured in Luhansk," she wrote. "They can pull that scam off repeatedly." If a Russian soldier dies in combat, governmental compensation for the widow and family can be up to $60,000 plus a survivor's pension. If the soldier is seriously wounded, there is a disability payment of up to $36,000. Current Time's Andrey Cherkasov surveys Russia's media and says the issue has frequently appeared in the tabloid press. One headline in a Siberian publication claimed the wife of a Tyumen resident killed in action was accused by the fighter's mother of orchestrating a scam marriage. A suggestion from a Tomsk real estate agent sparked outrage when she advised clients on how to raise cash to buy property. "You find a fighting man in the special military operation. He dies, and you get $100,000," said Marina Orlova Tomsk, laughing out loud. That triggered an angry backlash on Russia social media. "The question is whether this Tomsk realtor wants to take responsibility for a scheme to buy an apartment for these women in their thirties," posted blogger Gasparyan. "This is a criminal offense that deserves a prison term," wrote another blogger who goes by the name Shakespeare. And Paratrooper Diary posted: "There are many women who even have kids to get higher compensation." These accusations tarnish the Russian image of the "hero's wife," which is promoted by Kremlin propaganda. Officials, members of the ruling United Russia Party, and even Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly meet with the wives and mothers of soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Pro-Kremlin media cover these events. Some Russian bloggers have also suggested that scams targeting Russian soldiers can pose an intelligence risk for the country's military. "Black widows" who allegedly seduce Russian soldiers aren't only after cash but are also looking for military secrets, according to blogger Anastasia Kashevarova. "A sex agent will find out lots of things about her groom's unit and report it to the enemy," she writes. With a shortage of soldiers on the front line, Russian authorities keep raising payments and benefits for those willing to sign a military contract to go and fight in Ukraine. Such incentives, however, may also be encouraging fraudulent schemes and exploitation, as some individuals seek to profit from the system -- and from the deaths of others. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-black-widows-scam- soldiers-death-benefits/33390012.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 Syria's self-proclaimed president can be arrested if he visits Baghdad: Iraqi figure Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 11:21 AM The leader of Iraq's Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq anti-terror resistance group has warned that Syria's self-proclaimed president Abu Mohammed al-Jolani can be arrested upon his arrival in Baghdad due to an active arrest warrant against him. Qais al-Khazali raised the alarm in a post on his official X account on Saturday as he termed Jolani's potential visit to Baghdad as "premature" and legally problematic. While maintaining that strong relations between Iraq and Syria is essential and serves the two countries' mutual interests, Khazali said the current timing for hosting the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group commander is inappropriate. "The presence of the current Syrian regime's president in Iraq is premature, as it may lead to legal repercussions if the law is enforced and he is arrested by security forces, given the existence of an active arrest warrant against him," the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq chief wrote. "In accordance with the principle of separation of powers, the decisions of the Iraqi judiciary must be adhered to and respected by all," the Iraqi official added. Khazali's warning came days after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met with Syria's self-proclaimed president in Qatar in the presence of Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Iraqi state media described the move as a "quick visit" to address regional instability, particularly in Syria, which was the first direct meeting between Iraqi and Syrian heads of state since the collapse of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad following a sweeping invasion of the country by the foreign-backed HTS militants. Jolani and Sudani pledged in their Doha meeting on April 18 to safeguard their nations' sovereign rights and autonomous governance while categorically opposing all manifestations of foreign intervention or influence. Through a joint declaration, the two also agreed to enhance security and intelligence cooperation to address common challenges such as terrorism and transnational threats, while also turning their attention to economic priorities by focusing on revitalizing bilateral trade, facilitating the movement of people and goods across shared borders, and promoting reciprocal investments. The HTS leader had on April 1 stressed the significance of opening a new chapter in Damascus-Baghdad relations during a telephone conversation with Sudani. The HTS administration's foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, visited Baghdad in mid-March and held talks with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, expressing Syria's readiness to "reinforce cooperation" with Iraq in combating terrorism. Jolani's potential trip to Baghdad will be his first public visit to Iraq, the country where he was once imprisoned for years on charges of belonging to the al-Qaeda terrorist outfit after the 2003 US-led invasion of the Arab country. The HTS militant group seized control of Damascus on December 8 last year, culminating a swift offensive that had begun in northwestern province of Aleppo just two weeks earlier and ultimately brought an end to Assad's 24-year rule. The HTS administration has since been involved in flagrant violations of human rights in Syria, particularly against minorities, namely Syria's Alawite minority, drawing widespread condemnations form the international community. Over the past two weeks, at least 42 Alawites have been killed, following the massacre of approximately 1,700 members of the community in coastal areas last month. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that these killings, which began escalating on March 7, have shifted from mass executions to individual acts of violence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/04/20 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Apr. 19 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 20 (Sun.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 1 sortie of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 sortie crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140420_PLA activities 1140420_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft near NATO's eastern flank UK fighter jets have intercepted two Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace From: Ministry of Defence and Luke Pollard MP 20 April 2025 UK fighter jets have intercepted two Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace as part of the UK's contribution to NATO's enhanced Air Policing in the region. Two RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Malbork Air Base in Poland on Tuesday (April 15) to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M "Coot-A" intelligence aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Whilst on Thursday (17 April) another two Typhoons scrambled from the base, to intercept an unknown aircraft leaving Kaliningrad air space and close to NATO airspace. The intercepts mark the RAF's first scramble as part of Operation CHESSMAN and come just weeks after the aircraft arrived in eastern Poland to begin their deployment alongside Sweden in defence of NATO's Eastern Flank. It follows the Prime Minister's historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty. Keeping the country safe is the Government's first priority and foundation of its Plan for Change. The work of the Royal Air Force is critical to the security and stability of the UK, supporting the delivery of the Government's five missions. Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said: The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO. With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our Allies, deter adversaries and protect our national security through our Plan for Change. This mission shows our ability to operate side by side with NATO's newest member Sweden and to defend the Alliance's airspace wherever and whenever needed, keeping us safe at home and strong abroad. The UK's deployment of six Typhoon jets and nearly 200 personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing is the UK's latest contribution to NATO's air policing efforts, following successful operations in Romania and Iceland last year. It also represents a landmark in NATO integration with RAF jets from RAF Lossiemouth operating alongside Swedish Gripens - the first time Sweden has contributed fighter aircraft to another Ally's air policing since joining NATO in 2024. The intercepts come after the Defence Secretary's visit to NATO last week where he reaffirmed the UK's unshakeable commitment to the alliance and co-led a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in which more than 50 nations pledged a total of 21 billion of support to Ukraine. The Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across all regions of the UK every year, which is defending our security whilst creating jobs back home. The RAF's Quick Reaction Alert forces, based at RAF Coningsby, Lossiemouth, and Brize Norton, remain ready to protect UK airspace around the clock, while deployed operations like Op CHESSMAN ensure that British airpower is defending the Alliance wherever it is most needed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia reports over 1,300 violations of 'Easter truce' by Ukraine IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 20, 2025 The Russian Defense Ministry says Ukrainian forces violated the Easter truce more than 1,300 times within less than 24 hours after both sides agreed to halt military operations. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an "Easter truce," instructing Russian forces to suspend combat activities from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday until midnight Sunday. "Based on humanitarian considerations... the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period," Putin informed his chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov. However, the Russian Ministry said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian positions in Sukhaya Balka and Bogatyr in Donetsk overnight, which were repelled. Additionally, Ukrainian forces deployed 48 plane-type UAVs, including one targeting Crimea. "The Ukrainian units fired 444 times from cannons and mortars at the positions of our troops [and] carried out 900 strikes with quadcopter drones," the ministry added. 9341**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says Ukraine violated Easter ceasefire over 1000 times Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 April 2025 1:59 PM Russia has accused Ukraine of committing over a thousand violations during the Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that Ukrainian forces committed more than a thousand ceasefire violations, causing damage to infrastructure and civilian casualties. "In accordance with the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces [President Vladimir Putin], all [Russian military] groupings in the area of the special military operation strictly observed the ceasefire regime... and remained at previously occupied lines and positions," the ministry said. However, Ukrainian forces breached the ceasefire, firing on Russian positions 444 times and launching over 900 drone attacks in border regions, including Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, and Crimea, the ministry reported. "The Ukrainian units fired 444 times from cannons and mortars at the positions of our troops [and] carried out 900 strikes with quadcopter drones," it added. "As a result, there were civilian deaths and injuries, as well as damage to civilian infrastructure," the ministry noted in a statement on Telegram. Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large overseeing investigations into alleged war crimes by Kyiv, stated earlier that Ukraine had used artillery and drones to attack residential areas in multiple cities and towns, including Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson region. He also mentioned that additional reports of ceasefire violations by Ukraine were emerging. The defense ministry said that the Russian military had gained control of Novomikhailivka in eastern Ukraine before the ceasefire was declared. Later on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported explosions in Russian-controlled Donetsk despite the Easter ceasefire declared by the Kremlin. The TASS state news agency, citing local "operative services," reported that at least three blasts occurred in the city, which has been under Russian control since 2014. The RIA news agency also confirmed that three explosions were heard in the city after 9:00 am (0600 GMT), according to its reporter on the ground. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who had pledged to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict within 24 hours of taking office, said last week that US negotiators mediating the truce with Moscow would withdraw from peace talks if both parties failed to make sincere efforts to resolve the conflict. On Thursday, Trump said Washington would "take a pass" on brokering the peace deal if both sides do not reach an agreement "quickly." "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 told reporters in Washington. "But hopefully we won't have to do that ... but quickly. We want to get it done." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vaunted Easter Truce Appears To Bring No Relief In Ukraine By Ray Furlong April 20, 2025 After more than three years of war, the talk of an Easter truce in fighting between Russia and Ukraine was met with some skepticism, and it does indeed seem to have failed to materialize. A unilateral truce was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 19, running from 6 p.m. that day until midnight on April 20. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agency TASS that the cease-fire would not extend beyond midnight. Ukrainian officials have said it has not been observed anyway. "Either Putin does not have full control over his army or the situation proves that in Russia they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X on April 20. Zelenskyy had said his country would observe the truce and suggested extending it to 30 days. Both sides, however, have reported that attacks by the other continued on Easter Sunday, though it was not possible to independently confirm battlefield claims. Video sent to RFE/RL by a Ukrainian humanitarian organization appeared to show a drone attack on vehicles evacuating civilians near Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Yevhen Tkachev from the Proliska organization and a civilian woman were injured. She and her husband, who was suffering from shock, were taken to a hospital. Zelenskyy posted on social media on April 20 that "the highest level of Russian combat activity this Easter is in the Pokrovsk direction," which is located some 50 kilometers southwest of Kostyantynivka. "Putin's words about a 'cease-fire' have also proven empty in the Kursk region, the Siversk direction, and other directions in the Donetsk region," Zelenskyy added. The Ukrainian general staff reported shelling, assaults, and drone attacks. Russian authorities reported at least three explosions in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine early on April 20. The Defense Ministry claimed Kyiv launched 48 drone attacks on targets in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine overnight. Zelenskyy said Ukraine's forces were acting "in a fully symmetrical manner" to Moscow's. Meanwhile, in a further sign of heightened international tensions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Britain's Defense Ministry reported recently intercepting Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea. It cited two incidents, on April 15 and 17, in which British jets were scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said on April 20 that "Russian aggression" was growing and that British jets were working with the Swedish Air Force to defend NATO airspace. What Do Ukrainians Think Of Easter Cease-Fire? In Kyiv, as priests sprinkled worshippers with holy water, there was deep skepticism about the Easter truce. "I really hope for it but I do not believe in it. They (the Russians) say one thing but do the opposite," said Dmytro, a 37-year-old IT worker. "Nobody believes in it," said 40-year-old Olha Malashuk, who works in sales. "[Putin] probably wants to rearm the troops, that is why no one believes him anymore." There was also doubt reported among civilians in Moscow, where RFE/RL is effectively banned and unable to operate. Evgeny Pavlov, 58, told the AFP news agency that "it's pointless because I don't trust Ukraine." "We shouldn't give them a break. If we're pressing them, we should finish the job," he added. Maria Goranina, 85, said, "We need to end this -- either yes or no. Either make peace permanently or not at all." This was a sentiment also voiced by EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Anitta Hipper. "Russia could stop this war at any moment if it really wanted to.... We continue to support Ukraine for a long, just, and comprehensive peace," she said after the truce was announced on April 19. Trump's Threat To Walk Away Putin's truce announcement followed signals from US President Donald Trump and other US officials complaining about the slow progress in talks to resolve the Ukraine war, now in its fourth year. Trump on April 18 said the Ukraine and Russia talks are "coming to a head" and he insisted that neither side is "playing" him in his push to end the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, warned that the United States may "move on" from trying to secure a peace deal if there is no progress in coming days. Putin has made holiday cease-fire proposals in the past. In January 2023, Putin ordered a 36-hour cease-fire for Orthodox Christmas. At the time, Zelenskyy dismissed the Russian call as playing for time to regroup its forces. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-easter-truce- fighting/33390652.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Attempts to Attack Russian Positions Regardless of Easter Truce Sputnik News 20250420 Russian troops in the special military op zone strictly OBSERVED THE CEASEFIRE regime from 18.00 on April 19 and remained at controlled borders and positions, Russia's Defense Ministry said. At night, the Ukrainian forces ATTEMPTED ATTACKS on Russian positions in the areas of the settlements of Sukhaya Balka and Bogatyr in the Donetsk People's Republic. They were repelled. Russia's Defense Ministry added that Ukrainian troops: launched 48 aircraft-type UAVs, fired 444 artillery and mortar rounds carried out 900 drone strikes using quadcopters, carried out 12 strikes on the border areas of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions, with 33 UAV attacks and seven bomb drops. As a result, there are casualties and injuries among the civilian population, and damage to civilian infrastructure. BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EASTER TRUCE, Russian troops liberated the settlement of Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People's Republic Key statements from the Russian MoD daily briefing on the special military operation BEFORE THE CEASEFIRE: Ukrainian losses in the area of responsibility of the Russian Tsentr Battlegroup amounted to 420 militants; Ukrainian losses in the area of responsibility of the Russian Yug combat group amounted to 310 fighters; Russian Vostok Battlegroup destroyed over 160 soldiers and 3 armored personnel carriers; Ukrainian losses in the area of responsibility of Russia's Dnepr group amounted to 100 militants; Russian forces destroyed three JDAM-guided aerial bombs, one HIMARS multiple rocket launcher, and 88 drones Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Easter Greeting by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 20 April 2025 - 09:01 Dear Ukrainians! Today is a truly special day that we always look forward to, celebrated by millions of people. Easter. A day that is a ray of light - particularly radiant and powerful in times when dark clouds seek to cover our skies. A day that gives hope and reminds us all: Evil may have its hour, but God will have His day. This is one of the meanings enshrined in the story of Christ. Of His earthly suffering and death - and of His resurrection, and the truth that sooner or later, yet inevitably, evil will retreat, and life will triumph. Today, these words resonate in every Ukrainian heart. And they strengthen our faith, which, in spite of everything, has not faded for 1,152 days of full-scale war. Each of us has lived through moments like this. When it hurts deeply, when it is unbearably hard, and when you ask: "God, why is this happening to us? The strikes, the explosions, the gunfire - all this evil, all this grief. How can dozens be killed in Sumy on Palm Sunday? Don't you see this, God? How they struck a children's playground in Kryvyi Rih. How Kharkiv, Dnipro, our Odesa - dozens of our other cities - burn every day. When will it all end? And our land, our people, our children will hear the silence. How can we not lose faith after everything we are going through?" And when your mind can't find answers to these questions, you begin to listen to your heart. And something unseen, yet so strong, inside you, keeps you from giving up. It shows you where to find the light, so you don't lose your way. And then you see the people around you. You look into the eyes of your family, the faces of your loved ones, feel their embrace, feel the support of both those you know and those you don't. Support of Ukrainians. And you realize that you share the same values with them. And it is those very values that united us all, most certainly not by coincidence, that brought us together on the first day of this war and continue to unite us still. They are will and endurance. Compassion and humanity. That is what God is. That is His presence. He is in our people. And that is why - there is light in people. That is why there is strength in people. In every action, in every little step along a hard road, and in every word of support, in every word: "How are you?" "What can I do to help?" "Take care of yourself." We know what we're defending. We know what we are fighting for. For whom - and for whose sake. And that is why, every time, no matter how hard it gets - we still do not lose faith. Because this faith is the faith in each other. In those who stand beside you. In Ukrainians. Faith that evil may have its hour, but God will have His day. Dear people! May that day come. May evil's hour end. May the day of life arrive. The day of peace. The day of Ukraine. The day that lasts for centuries. And we will be able to come together again. At one table. On a peaceful Easter. When all of us will feel warmth, will feel serenity, and comfort in our souls, and of course, enjoy delicious food. When things will be as they are meant to be. That is what we have wanted for all 1,152 days. We are united in this. Every day - and especially today, when Ukrainians of all Christian denominations celebrate Easter on the same date. Together. We fight for Ukraine together. And we pray for Ukraine together. For those who cannot be with their families this Easter. For those on the front lines, with their brothers-in-arms. For our fighters - the warriors of light. We ask God to defend those who defend us. To strengthen the will of those held captive. For our prisoners, for all who must come back home. We ask God to help all those who dedicate their lives to helping their neighbors. To protect, through His intercession, those who protect Ukraine through their daily work. May God watch over all those who save, heal, and teach. Today, we pray for everyone, for our children. For all boys and girls who deserve a happy childhood. For our fathers and mothers, who deserve a peaceful old age. For all our people, who deserve long-awaited peace. Dear Ukrainians! Our nation is overcoming a very difficult path. But I am certain: the key word here is "overcoming." And despite everything, every morning, we still find the strength within ourselves to wake up, to move forward, to do our part. What you can. Where it is needed. For those who are waiting for it. And the wellspring of energy for us can be many things around us. The smile of a son or daughter, the voice of a mother, thoughts of those who are now on the frontline, or the memory of someone who shielded you with their own body. We can find the impetus to act in the news about the victories of our people, in our culture, in books, poems, music. And of course, we are inspired by the symbol of Easter and the story of the Resurrection of Christ. That is why we know for sure: all the stones being thrown at us will not remain ruins on our land. All the stones that come our way - we will turn them into a strong foundation for our future: our future freedom, our future peace, our future memory of what we went through and what we achieved. When in hard times, what proves decisive is not only the victory of arms, but above all - the victory of spirit. Our victory. Of our spirit. May all this come true. May God help us in this. May there be peace. May there be Ukraine. Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Expresses Hope For Ukraine-Russia Deal 'This Week' Even As Easter Truce Expires By RFE/RL April 21, 2025 An Easter truce in fighting between Russia and Ukraine appeared to reduce some air strikes on Ukrainian cities, but Kyiv angrily claimed nearly 3,000 violations by Moscow's forces while calls for an extension went unheeded by the Kremlin. Nevertheless, US President Donald Trump said late on April 20 that "hopefully, Ukraine and Russia will make a deal this week." "Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform without elaboration. A unilateral truce was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 19, running from 6 p.m. that day until midnight on April 20. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agency TASS that Putin had given no orders for the cease-fire to extend beyond midnight. Ukrainian officials have said it was not observed anyway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed that -- in view of Russia's apparent refusal to accept a longer, full-scale cease-fire -- both sides agree to pause air attacks on civilian infrastructure for at least 30 days. "Ukraine proposes to cease any strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a period of at least 30 days, with the possibility of extension. "If Russia does not agree to such a step, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things which destroy human lives and prolong the war," Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Moscow's actions following the midnight end to the truce will indicate the Kremlin's real attitude toward any initiatives to end the war. "Regarding the so-called 'Easter Cease-fire,' we have still not heard Moscow's response to our proposal to extend it to 30 days," he wrote on X. "Russia's actions after midnight, tomorrow, and throughout the week will reveal Russia's true attitude toward US peace efforts and the 30-day full cease-fire proposal. They will show whether Russia is serious about peace or Putin's statements from yesterday were simply manipulations," Sybiha added. The US State Department earlier said it would welcome an extension to the Easter cease-fire that was set to expire a few hours later. "We have seen President Putin's announcement of a temporary cease-fire due to Easter. We remain committed to achieving a full and comprehensive cease-fire," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement e-mailed to news media. "As we assess their seriousness in this instance, we would welcome it extending beyond Sunday," the statement added. In the early morning hours of April 21, Zelenskyy accused Russia of 2,935 violations following Putin's call for the Easter truce, although he added that there had been "no air raid alerts" during the period. "Either Putin does not have full control over his army or the situation proves that in Russia they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war," Zelenskyy wrote on X on April 20. It was not possible to independently confirm battlefield claims. Video sent to RFE/RL by a Ukrainian humanitarian organization appeared to show a drone attack on vehicles evacuating civilians near Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Yevhen Tkachev from the Proliska organization and a civilian woman were injured. She and her husband, who was suffering from shock, were taken to a hospital. Zelenskyy posted on social media on April 20 that "the highest level of Russian combat activity this Easter is in the Pokrovsk direction," which is located some 50 kilometers southwest of Kostyantynivka. "Putin's words about a 'cease-fire' have also proven empty in the Kursk region, the Siversk direction, and other directions in the Donetsk region," Zelenskyy added. infrastructure and causing civilian deaths. Russian authorities reported at least three explosions in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine early on April 20. The Defense Ministry claimed Kyiv launched 48 drone attacks on targets in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine overnight. Zelenskyy said Ukraine's forces were acting "in a fully symmetrical manner" to Moscow's. Meanwhile, in a further sign of heightened international tensions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Britain's Defense Ministry reported recently intercepting Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea. It cited two incidents, on April 15 and 17, in which British jets were scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said on April 20 that "Russian aggression" was growing and that British jets were working with the Swedish Air Force to defend NATO airspace. What Do Ukrainians Think Of Easter Cease-Fire? In Kyiv, as priests sprinkled worshippers with holy water, there was deep skepticism about the Easter truce. "I really hope for it but I do not believe in it. They (the Russians) say one thing but do the opposite," said Dmytro, a 37-year-old IT worker. "Nobody believes in it," said 40-year-old Olha Malashuk, who works in sales. "[Putin] probably wants to rearm the troops, that is why no one believes him anymore." There was also doubt reported among civilians in Moscow, where RFE/RL is effectively banned and unable to operate. Evgeny Pavlov, 58, told the AFP news agency that "it's pointless because I don't trust Ukraine." "We shouldn't give them a break. If we're pressing them, we should finish the job," he added. Maria Goranina, 85, said, "We need to end this -- either yes or no. Either make peace permanently or not at all." Trump's Threat To Walk Away Putin's truce announcement followed signals from Trump and other US officials complaining about the slow progress in talks to resolve the Ukraine war, now in its fourth year. Trump on April 18 said the Ukraine and Russia talks are "coming to a head" and he insisted that neither side is "playing" him in his push to end the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, warned that the United States may "move on" from trying to secure a peace deal if there is no progress in coming days. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ray Furlong, RFE/Rl's Ukrainian Service, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-easter-truce- fighting-trump-putin/33390810.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 For Ukraine's 'Coalition Of The Willing,' The Difficult Task Of Making Plans Without Plans For Peace By Rikard Jozwiak April 21, 2025 Assembling A 'Reassurance Force' Among diplomats, Ukraine's "coalition of the willing" is jokingly referred to as "the coalition of the waiting." Formed in early March to establish a military mission to Ukraine to support a peace plan ending Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor, now in its fourth year, there have been few details of what the coalition -- a loose grouping of largely European NATO nations as well as countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand -- exactly has in mind. Earlier this month, a joint French-British technical team traveled to Ukraine to assess the needs of Kyiv for a "reassurance force." And on April 10 the defense ministers of the coalition met at NATO headquarters in Brussels for the first time. The same coalition is expected to meet at the leaders' level on May 9 in Kyiv. Despite all the gatherings and fanfare, very little, if anything, has in fact been decided, largely because there are too many unknowns at this stage. What will a potential cease-fire look like? What role, if any, would the United States play? And even if few Western officials want to admit this: What are the rules of engagement? The European diplomats RFE/RL has spoken to under the condition of anonymity described the initial weeks of the group as "prudent planning," "getting our ducks in a row," or coming up with "what-if scenarios." "Or, what-when [scenarios], if you want me to be more optimistic," added one diplomat. Questionnaires And Answers Paris and London -- which is very much taking the wheel in this process -- sent out a questionnaire on April 11 to all members, asking them which capabilities their country would be willing to deploy to Ukraine: How many airplanes, ships, drones, or even boots on the ground could be available at short notice? The answers were due on April 18, and, once tallied, some sort of concrete timelines and scenarios could theoretically emerge. To be fair, there are a few contours already. Diplomats tell me the working assumption is that deployment would be for five years. It's ambitious, but the plan is for the first troops to be in Ukraine 72 hours after a full cease-fire is announced. They wouldn't, however, go anywhere near the conflict zone. One diplomat told me there would likely be a buffer zone around a frozen contact line -- perhaps observed by the United Nations -- followed by a line of Ukrainian soldiers and then, far from any front, a contingency of the coalition of the willing. Securing The Skies There are varying ideas floating around what such a contingency can do. One option on the table is that it would guard critical infrastructure in Western Ukraine. More specifically, it would create a "safe zone" around Lviv for airplanes to land. For this potential air component, both France and the United Kingdom have strong enough air forces, but also a country like the Netherlands could potentially contribute. "If we talk about safe skies, of course we know that with the current capacity of Ukraine they are not able to do that alone, so they need support in this," Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans told RFE/RL on the sidelines of the recent coalition meeting in Brussels. "It's relatively easy to say how much countries can commit," he added. "In the Netherlands we have F-35s, for example, and we know of course how much capacity our F- 35s have and how many we can deploy. So that's not the difficult part; the difficult part is setting up the whole mission and making clear what the air element is going to do." An even more ambitious idea being floated is for the coalition to be present at what one European official referred to as the "flanks" -- meaning near the Belarusian border or around Odesa. The former would make sense with a view of the expected big "Zapad" exercises this autumn with a large number of Russian troops expected in Belarus. A placement in Odesa, however, could be connected to the maritime component that so far seems the most developed aspect of the plans so far. At the meeting in Brussels on April 10, Turkey declared it was ready to assume responsibility in this area. Essentially Ankara would continue to keep grain routes open for Ukrainian and international ships, potentially clear mines in the Black Sea, and take charge of being the framework nation for a future multinational maritime force in the region. How Many Foreign Troops Would Be In Ukraine? The diplomats RFE/RL spoke to mentioned a figure of around 30,000 boots on the ground, although it was footnoted as "an ideal number that might be hard to reach." Such a number is essentially two full military divisions, but ideally another 90,000 would be needed to provide a rotational reserve. Can the coalition really assemble anything close to that? The problem is that most countries are remaining noncommittal due to all the uncertainty surrounding prospects of any cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine. France and the United Kingdom are leading the push, and the Baltic trio of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are onboard, as well. Then there are nations like Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands, which are described as "forward-leaning." Germany is tied up at the moment with building its own government coalition, but there is hope that if Berlin eventually commits, others will fall in line. "Russia hawks" like the Czech Republic and Poland are looking to their upcoming respective elections later this year, and some frontline states are saying they'd rather keep their military leaders closer to home than sending them east. One diplomat confided to RFE/RL after the Brussels summit that most countries are not really "revealing their cards." "They're attending the meetings, but they're rather in listening mode and perhaps add that they are supporting the endeavor in very general terms," they told me. Russia And The United States The two elephants in the room are the United States and Russia. While France, according to diplomats, is adamant no so-called American backstop is needed for a potential mission, others are more hesitant. They say US enablers are needed in at least two areas: logistics and intelligence. In short, the Europeans can't carry out larger-scale missions without American help -- think of the moving of troops and the air cargo needed to transport military equipment quickly. And while both Britain and France have good intelligence, Washington is the one who can share advanced satellite images. US President Donald Trump has so far refused to provide any assurances that the United States will back up European efforts. At the same time, though, European diplomats note that it's hard for America to commit to anything when the Europeans don't even have a proper plan in the first place. What About Article 5? But Washington's potential involvement goes far beyond satellite images and air lifts, at least according to Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's defense minister, who spoke to RFE/RL on April 10. "When we talk about the backstop, when we talk the enablers, then it's the question about how to secure the forces and what will be the response if something happens," he said. "This is why we have to be very clear that no soldier will go to any battle -- whether it is a Ukrainian soldier or a European soldier from some other countries -- when they don't know what they can do. And when they do something, do they have the cavalry behind their back, helping them if there is a necessity?" Most of this comes down , ultimately, to Russia and the rules of engagement. If Moscow fires at a Western mission, will they return fire or run? Even though it isn't a NATO mission, there is talk that a reassurance force of NATO countries could be covered by the military alliance's mutual defense clause, Article 5. Does this mean a full-scale NATO-Russia war would break out if they were targeted? One ambassador told RFE/RL that Article 5 doesn't necessarily mean a full-scale response, but rather could be a targeted one such as hitting Russian positions in the occupied part of Ukraine. The Porcupine Option For many, this is playing with fire. And again, it's far from certain whether the United States would be onboard with any of these options. Instead, officials are betting on an alternative plan for Ukraine -- for the moment, at least: the porcupine option. This means arming Ukraine to the teeth so it can withstand future Russian attacks or even deter the Kremlin completely from ever attacking again. "The only question now is not how many European forces will be in Ukraine but what weapons and finances will be delivered to the Ukrainian military that currently consists of hundreds of thousands of troops that will be defending Ukraine from a future aggression," one European military planner put it to RFE/RL. Another diplomat with insight into the talks noted something similar when it comes to supporting Kyiv: "Many countries are increasingly seeing this as the best option, instead of potentially risking their own soldiers to die in Ukraine." Looking Ahead This week the exhumation of the remains of Poles massacred by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II will resume in western Ukraine after a standstill in the process that has lasted since 2017. The Volhynia massacres took place between 1943 and 1945, resulting in an estimated 100,000 dead. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/europe-peace-plan- reassurance-force-britain-france-ukraine/33387533.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 Dublin, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Convenience Retailers in the United Arab Emirates" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Convenience retailers in the United Arab Emirates continued to record steady value growth in 2024, driven by favourable socioeconomic conditions, including a consistent rise in population and expansion of neighbourhoods, steady economic growth and a rise in urbanisation. The Convenience Retailers in United Arab Emirates report offers insight into key trends and developments driving the industry. The report examines all retail channels to provide sector insight. Channels include hypermarkets, supermarkets, discounters, convenience stores, mixed retailers, health and beauty retailers, clothing and footwear retailers, furniture and furnishing stores, DIY and hardware stores, durable goods retailers, leisure and personal goods retailers. There are profiles of leading retailers, with analysis of their performance and the challenges they face. There is also analysis of non-store retailing: vending; homeshopping; internet retailing; direct selling, as available. Product coverage: Convenience Stores, Forecourt Retailers. Data coverage: Market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data. Why buy this report? Get a detailed picture of the Convenience Retailers market; Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change; Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands; Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop. Key Topics Covered: KEY DATA FINDINGS 2024 DEVELOPMENTS Convenience stores benefits from stable socioeconomic conditions ADNOC Oasis remains largest chain of forecourt retailers Convenience stores face intensified competition from on-demand delivery PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES Convenience retailers set to benefit from further expansion ADNOC Oasis will likely set a new pace in forecourt retailers Convenience store offerings will continue evolving to meet consumer needs RETAIL IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Retail in 2024: The big picture Higher polarisation with premiumisation rising while consumers remain under pressure More strategic partnerships form as competition intensifies What next for retail? OPERATING ENVIRONMENT Informal retail Opening hours for physical retail Summary 1 Standard Opening Hours by Channel Type 2024 Seasonality Dubai Shopping Festival ("DSF") Dubai Summer Surprises ("DSS") Back to School Super Sales White Friday For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/70zkx8 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 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Top Five Trends in Personal Accessories" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Personal Accessories industry continues to feel pressure on discretionary spending while grappling with geopolitical risks. In this context, affordability and prices will be key driver of consumer purchase decisions. But this report explores how AI and new technologies, rising demand from emerging markets, intergenerational shifts and consumers' growing preferences for experiences and lifestyles still provide growth opportunities for businesses able to adapt and evolve in a fast-paced world. The Top Five Trends in Personal Accessories global briefing offers detailed strategic analysis of the global Personal Accessories market by pinpointing growth sectors and identify factors driving change. The report identifies leading companies and brands within the keenly contested, fashion-driven competitive landscape, trend developments, economic/lifestyle influences, seasonal patterns, market and distribution strategies. Forecasts illustrate how the market is predicted to develop between mature and emerging countries, threats facing the business as well as opportunities to be seized for further growth. Product coverage: Bags and Luggage, Jewellery, Traditional and Connected Watches, Writing Instruments. Data coverage: Market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data. Why buy this report? Get a detailed picture of the Personal Accessories market; Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change; Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands; Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop. Key Topics Covered: Top five trends in personal accessories Price pressure deepens Value beyond price New market frontiers Shifting demographics AI and disruptive technologies For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pkxsd3 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. ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) ("the Company" or "Kraig Labs"), a world leader in spider silk technology*, is pleased to provide an update on recombinant spider silk production. The Company continues to increase its production output and is now in the middle of its largest-ever batch of recombinant spider silk production. Kraig Labs can now report that it has successfully completed the first half of its current production batch and those spider silk cocoons are being prepared for reeling into finished silk. This second half of this production cycle is expected to be complete in the next 14 days. This current production run marks a significant milestone, as the first simultaneous batches of BAM-1 produced in the Company's newest facilities. The initial results have been highly encouraging, demonstrating the robustness of the BAM-1 hybrids and the efficiency of the expanded production infrastructure. The concurrent operation of multiple batches has proceeded smoothly, underscoring the scalability and reliability of the Companys production model. In addition to the progress in silk production, Kraig Labs has completed the production of all BAM-1 hybrid eggs designated for release over the next month. This achievement ensures a steady supply of high-quality hybrids for upcoming production cycles, aligning with the Company's strategic objectives and production goals for 2025. "The successful execution of simultaneous production batches in our new facilities demonstrates the scalability of our technology from batch processing to continuous flow manufacturing," said Kim Thompson, Founder and CEO of Kraig Labs. "With this cycle nearing completion and the next generation of BAM-1 hybrids already prepared, we are in a strong position to rapidly accelerate the growth and commercialization of our spider silk." Kraig Labs remains committed to advancing the commercialization of its eco-friendly and high-performance spider silk fibers. The Company will continue to provide updates as it progresses toward its production and commercialization goals. For the latest updates on Kraig Labs and its pioneering spider silk technologies, visit www.kraiglabs.com. For details about other recent Kraig Labs advancements, please watch the Company's investor conference at www.kraiglabs.com/videos or on the Company's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@kraigbiocraftlaboratories2270. To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news * For a description of our historical leadership in this technology, please follow this link https://www.kraiglabs.com/world-leader/ About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. ( www.KraigLabs.com ), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk-based fiber technologies. The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information Statements in this press release about the Company's future and expectations other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These statements are made on the basis of management's current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management's expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "estimated," "hopes," "if," "develops," "researching," "research," "pilot," "potential," "could" or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- James River Worship, the worship collective of James River Church , has released their highly anticipated new single, Abba Father (Amazing God),a passionate live-recorded anthem that invites listeners into a deeper connection with the love of God. Written by Brandon Lindell, Don Hamilton, and Brenton Miles, and recorded live at James River Church in Springfield, Missouri, Abba Father (Amazing God) features moving vocals by Don Hamilton and lyrics that reflect themes of redemption, healing, and the unstoppable pursuit of Gods love. With declarations like I was running then You found me and You are amazing God, the song offers a personal, revival-centered worship experience. A live music video accompanies the release, inviting listeners into the electric, spirit-filled atmosphere of the night it was recorded. Brandon Lindell, Executive Ministries Pastor at James River Church, shared, We believe this single is going to touch the lives of people, connecting people to the loving heart of the Father all over the world. We really want peopleno matter where they are or how far they think they have goneto connect with the heart of a Father who absolutely LOVES them and will continue to pursue them. This is really special, said Don Hamilton in a message shared to fans on Instagram. The release of Abba Father (Amazing God) is already gaining attention, with features on the Gospel Music Associations New Music Friday Playlist and the official GMA Dove Awards Instagram. Following the recent release of James River Worships song Stronghold Walls, this single is part of an ongoing rollout of five worship songs leading up to their full-length live worship album, expected in Summer 2025. Rooted in the heart of James River Churchs vibrant local and global ministry, this album seeks to lead people into revival through worship. James River Worship continues to shape contemporary Christian music with songs born from the heart of their local church. Their mission is to glorify Jesus and lead people into authentic encounters with His presence through powerful, scripture-filled worship. Watch the official live video: Abba Father (Amazing God) - James River Church Worship Collective About James River Church James River Church , serving over 16,000 attendees weekly, is a Pentecostal church with four locations in southwest Missouri and a growing online community. Known for its passionate worship and engaging children's and youth programs, JRC is dedicated to reaching people with the Gospel, global missions, and community outreach through initiatives like Cherish Kids and James River Charities. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hapbee Technologies, Inc. (TSXV: HAPB | OTCQB: HAPBF | FSE: HA1), a digital wellness technology company, today announced the upcoming rollout of a significant new featureBoosted Signalsas part of the companys redesigned mobile app experience, scheduled to begin gradual release to consumers on April 28, 2025. This release also represents an important milestone for Hapbee and the perfect way to kick off Q2, said Yona Shtern, CEO of Hapbee. It comes on the heels of a very promising Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, which included: The expansion of our retail and online presence at Target and Target.com A strategic partnership with the Gharieni Group, enabling expansion into spas and hotels across Europe and the Middle East Hapbees appearance on Gary Breckas The Ultimate Human podcast, where Gary has begun chronicling his personal use of Hapbee as part of his daily wellness protocol. The Company is actively scaling its manufacturing, fulfillment, and customer support capacity to meet the growing demand driven by these developments. Boosted Signals introduces the ability for Hapbee users to amplify the effects of Hapbees bio-streaming signals for sleep, mood, and performanceon demand. This feature has been the most requested functionality among Hapbees growing user base and offers an enhanced level of control and personalization over their wellness experience. The feature will be launched alongside a newly redesigned Hapbee app, which includes intuitive navigation, improved onboarding for new users, enhanced performance, and integrated signal guidance. The rollout will take place gradually over a two-week period, beginning April 28, with full availability on both iOS and Android platforms expected by early May. Shtern added, This was by far the most requested feature from our community. With Boosted Signals, were giving our users more control over how and when they feel the benefits of Hapbee. Whether its falling asleep faster, staying focused longer, or lifting mood during a tough momentthis feature puts the experience more firmly in the hands of the user when they need it most. HAPBEE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. RETAINS RENMARK FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS INC. Hapbee is pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Renmark Financial Communications Inc. to handle its investor relations activities. In consideration of the services to be provided, the monthly fees incurred by Hapbee Technologies Inc. will be a cash consideration of up to $9,000 CAD, starting April 15th, 2025 for a period of seven months ending on November 15, 2025 an monthly thereafter. Renmark Financial Communications does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in Hapbee Technologies, Inc. its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest. About Hapbee Technologies, Inc. Hapbee (TSXV: HAPB) (OTCQB: HAPBF) is a leading provider of bio-streaming wellness technology. Designed to help users improve focus, relaxation, and sleep without ingesting substances, Hapbee's technology is used in hospitality, fitness, and personal wellness applications globally. Hapbee is available for consumer purchase at www.hapbee.com and Target.com. About Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Founded in 1999, Renmark is a leading privately held full-service investor relations firm, located in Atlanta, New York, Toronto and Montreal. For the past 25 years, Renmark has provided services in investor relations, media relations and web development representing small, medium and large cap public companies listed on all major North American exchanges. On a daily basis our team of professionals enhance our clients visibility within the retail market space as corporate communicators. With the largest roadshow footprint in North America, and a state-of-the-art media studio, we host a multitude of live streaming Virtual Non-Deal Roadshows across North America and Europe. Forward-Looking Information 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. Investor Contact: Andrea Hamilton Andrea@TheoryComm.com 1-888-841-7086 www.hapbee.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia and AUSTIN, Texas , April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspire Semiconductor Holdings Inc. (InspireSemi or the Company), a chip design company that provides revolutionary high-performance, energy-efficient accelerated computing solutions for High Performance Computing (HPC), AI, graph analytics, and other compute-intensive workloads, is pleased to announce that today it is providing a general business update by live webinar at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Key topics the business update covers include: Announcement that the Companys improved flagship Thunderbird 1 product has been sent for production with first wafers expected to be in hand in July, 2025 Operations between now and return of first wafers and plan for production readiness Impact of tariffs on the Company Update on Market, Customer and sales outlook A further financing commitment for US$3M expected to close in May, 2025 as further discussed below To join the Business Update please use the following Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86002651511?pwd=WhCXFooqXIizSQhNUZkFIsTdu7ABKs.1 Webinar ID: 860 0265 1511 Passcode: 858696 Telephone dial in numbers are available at https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kcUeWRY0rn A recording of the business update will be made available in the Investors section of the Companys website at https://inspiresemi.com/investors/. Details of Additional Funding The Company has received a funding commitment for a private placement comprised of proportionate voting share units (PV Units) for total proceeds of US$3,000,000.10 (the Financing). The Financing will be wholly subscribed for by the investor (the Investor) who previously subscribed under the convertible loan agreement dated September 23, 2024 (as described in the Companys press release dated September 23, 2024) pursuant to the Investors right of first refusal thereunder. On closing the Investor will be issued PV Units at a price per PV Unit of US$9.50. Each PV Unit consists of one proportionate voting share in the capital of the Company (each a PV Share) and one half of one PV Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant a PV Warrant). Each whole PV Warrant will be exercisable for one PV Share at a price per share of US$9.50. The Company expects the Financing to close in May 2025, and will provide further updates on the same by further press release. About InspireSemi InspireSemi provides revolutionary high-performance, energy-efficient accelerated computing solutions for High-Performance Computing (HPC), AI, graph analytics, and other compute-intensive workloads. The Thunderbird I supercomputer-cluster-on-a-chip is a disruptive, next-generation datacenter accelerator designed to address multiple underserved and diversified industries, including financial services, computer-aided engineering, energy, climate modeling, cybersecurity, and life sciences & drug discovery. Based on the open standard RISC-V instruction set architecture, InspireSemis solutions set new standards of performance, energy efficiency, and ease of programming. InspireSemi is headquartered in Austin, TX. For more information visit https://inspiresemi.com Follow InspireSemi on LinkedIn Company Contact Ron Van Dell, CEO (737) 471-3230 rvandell@inspiresemi.com Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (forward-looking statements). Statements concerning InspireSemis objectives, goals, strategies, priorities, intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and the business, operations, financial performance and condition of InspireSemi are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will (or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information regarding: (i) the business plans and expectations of the Company including expectations with respect to production of Thunderbird I and development of future projects and; (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (iii) expectations regarding the Financing. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans, strategies or beliefs as of the date of this presentation, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of InspireSemi, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources and are based on managements current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect managements expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information reflects managements current beliefs and is based on information currently available to them and on assumptions they believe to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: (i) statements relating to the expected performance and production timeline of Thunderbird I (ii) business and future activities of, and developments related to, the Company after the date of this press release; (iii) the closing of the Financing (iv) expectations for other economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to the Company or the technology industry generally; (v) the risk factors referenced in this news release and as described from time to time in documents filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca; and (vi) other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Dallas, TX, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Khams House announces its 3-year anniversary celebration, unveiling an expanded slate of services for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) facing cancer and life-altering illnesses. Founded by Kischa Dawson-Howard in honor of her late son Khamron, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at 18, the nonprofit has become a vital refuge for families navigating serious illness. On April 27, 2025, Khams House will mark this milestone with a renewed mission to serve even more families through healing, connection, and care. Resilient and Radiant: Kischa Dawson-Howard, MSW, stands proudly as the founder of Khams Houseturning heartbreak into healing for hundreds of families facing adolescent cancer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Khams House was born from the most painful season of my life, said Kischa Dawson-Howard, MSW. But it also revealed how powerful love, compassion, and community can be when people rally behind you. I built Khams House so no other family would have to fight this battle alone. Bridging a Critical Gap in Cancer Care for Young Adults AYA cancer patientstypically ages 15 to 39often fall into a care gap, aging out of pediatric services but not yet served by adult systems. Khams House uniquely fills this void by offering: Reduced-cost or free lodging for families traveling for treatment for families traveling for treatment Fertility preservation support (often not covered by insurance) (often not covered by insurance) Compassion kits and healing journals for emotional wellness for emotional wellness Future programs: caregiver support, grief counseling, expressive therapy (art, music, cooking) Each service is grounded in the nonprofits core values: Courage, Care, Compassion, and Comfort. A Home-Like Haven Amid Crisis Though Khams House is working toward a permanent facility near Parkland Hospital, the organization has already created a deeply nurturing experience: When you walk in, you hear gentle music, open a stocked fridge, light a candle, and breathe, said Dawson-Howard. Weve designed every detail to soothe the chaos families face. Khams House also operates Khams Legacy Candles and custom journals, two social ventures that fund services while celebrating Khams passion for creativity, cooking, and calm. Built by Community, Sustained by Love Khams House recently completed its third cohort in the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Social Innovation Incubator and is seeking: Board Members Corporate & community partners, Volunteers for care kit assembly and special events Every $10, every journal packed, every candle litit all matters, Dawson-Howard said. This is how we say to families: Youre not alone. A Call to Action: Help Us Serve 20% More Families by the End of 2025 Over 500 AYA patients are diagnosed with cancer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area every year. Many travel hundreds of miles to receive specialized care. Khams House aims to increase its capacity to meet that need and invites the public to help light the way. A Legacy of Love: Kischa Dawson-Howard channels her sons light through service. Her missionensure no young cancer patient or parent ever feels alone in their journey. About Khams House Khams House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID: 88-1412565) offering lodging, emotional care, and practical support to adolescents and young adults facing cancer and serious diseases. Inspired by the life of Khamron Kham Dawson, the organization honors his legacy through healing, dignity, and unwavering compassion. 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These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0ea1fb8-aaf4-4719-96df-11532866da09 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b7e808c5-051d-4c91-9aee-39e8c6c92556 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af5b3a6b-5188-40d6-b6f4-7d1d7d2ea569 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1125a260-2359-4e48-a24f-645182f4b976 NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BigBear or the Company) (NYSE: BBAI). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether BigBear and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On March 18, 2025, BigBear disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that certain of BigBears financial statements since fiscal year 2021 should no longer be relied upon and would be restated, for reasons related to the accounting treatment of the Companys convertible notes due in 2026. On this news, BigBears stock price fell $0.52 per share, or 14.9%, to close at $2.97 per share on March 18, 2025. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP dpeyton@pomlaw.com 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With Earth Day on the horizon, eco-conscious travel is gaining serious momentum. According to Squaremouth, the nation's top travel insurance comparison service , sustainable travel is seeing a notable surge this spring. In a recent survey of more than 8,000 travelers, over 60% said they are prioritizing sustainability in their travel plans a significant jump from 42% in 2024. The findings point to a growing shift in travel behavior, especially among adventure seekers looking to explore the world more responsibly. Sustainable Adventures on the Rise Sales of adventure travel insurance policies have increased by 18% year-over-year, driven by demand for warm-weather activities that align with environmental stewardship. Top eco-friendly adventures include: Hiking and trekking in protected natural areas Wildlife safaris with responsible operators Snorkeling and scuba diving with eco-certified guides Horseback riding with sustainable ranches Notably, safari bookings in destinations like South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, and Kenya have jumped 28%, as travelers look to support conservation efforts and local communities while exploring the natural world. Travel Insurance Is for Every Trip Not Just Luxury Ones While adventure trips are often seen as costly, the need for travel insurance goes beyond luxury vacations. More travelers are insuring trips that include outdoor and nature-based activities. Whether it's hiking through a rainforest or diving with marine biologists, these experiences often involve non-refundable deposits and variable weather conditions, making insurance a practical safeguard. Travelers are increasingly seeking more control over their plans, especially when venturing to popular or remote destinations, said Ned Tadic, Manager of Public Relations at Squaremouth. Peace of mind is just as important as the destination itself whether it's avoiding overcrowded hotspots or adjusting plans due to unforeseen disruptions. Squaremouth reports that the number of travelers searching for Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage more than doubled in 2025 rising from 5.07% to 11.57%. CFAR policies can offer partial reimbursement for cancellations due to reasons not typically covered, such as overcrowding or park disruptions. Dublin, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Taiwan Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Taiwan Data Center Market was valued at USD 1.85 Billion in 2024, and is projected to reach USD 2.94 Billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 8.03%. In terms of support infrastructure providers, the Taiwanese data center market is dominated by the presence of global vendors such as Siemens, STULZ, Vertiv, Legrand, Eaton, Caterpillar, and others. In the construction contractor segment, Taiwan's data center market has the presence of both local and global contractors such as CTCI, AECOM, Data Knit, and others. CTCI was involved in the development of Vantage Data Centers' TPE 1 data center facility located in Taipei. Some of the key colocation investors in Taiwan's data center market are Chunghwa Telecom, Chief Telecom, Vantage Data Centers, Acer eDC, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone Telecommunications, NTT DATA, and AnsonNet. KEY HIGHLIGHTS The ongoing expansion of submarine cable infrastructure plays a transformative role in the Taiwan data center market. These cables are critical for boosting international bandwidth and reducing latency, making Taiwan a strategic hub for global data flow and digital services in Latin America. As of December 2024, Taiwan has 22 existing data centers in the country and has the presence of leading providers such as Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Vantage Data Centers, NTT DATA, Chief Telecom, and others. Taipei is the top data center destination in the Taiwan data center market. It continues to be Taiwan's growing hub for data center expansion, marked by a concentrated growth in advanced facilities, hyperscale data centers, and dedicated cloud regions. There are 13 existing and 5 upcoming data centers in the city. The Taiwanese government is making efforts to push artificial intelligence (AI) within the country. In November 2024, it announced its plan to invest USD 3 billion in AI data centers over the next three years and USD 1 billion a year in AI to shift the country's focus from semiconductors. Companies including Vantage Data Centers, Zettabyte, Giga Computing, Empyrion Digital, and Keppel Data Centres are actively looking forward to opening AI-ready data center facilities in Taiwan. In August 2024, Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs, along with Microsoft, secured around USD 308 million from the National Development Fund to invest in AI startups for the integration of AI across various industries. Taiwan's 5G network stood out in the Asia-Pacific region in performance. According to Ookla, in the third quarter of 2023, the country's 5G network achieved a median download speed of 263.35 Mbps, surpassing regional counterparts like Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Japan. The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) is responsible for driving Taiwan's digital development. It does so by connecting citizens and technology, improving industry and security, fulfilling the goal of a smart country, and leading the world via the Taiwan model. WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH? Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and colocation market revenue. An assessment of the data center investment in Taiwan by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. Data center investments in the area (thousand square feet) and power capacity (MW) across cities in the country. A detailed study of the existing Taiwan data center market landscape, an in-depth market analysis, and insightful predictions about the Taiwan data center market size during the forecast period. Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Taiwan Facilities Covered (Existing): 22 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 09 Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in Taiwan Colocation Market Revenue & Forecast (2021-2030) Wholesale vs. Retail Colocation Revenue (2021-2030) Retail Colocation Pricing Wholesale Colocation Pricing The Taiwan data center landscape market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the market. Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the market. A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the market. TAIWAN DATA CENTER MARKET VENDOR INSIGHTS IT Infrastructure Providers Atos Broadcom Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Extreme Networks Fujitsu Hewlett Packard Enterprise Hitachi Vantara IBM Lenovo MiTAC Holdings NetApp Pure Storage Quanta Cloud Technology Super Micro Computer Wiwynn Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors AECOM CTCI Data Knit DLB Associates Exyte (M+W Group) MAA Group Pacific Engineers and Constructors Keihanshin Building Co., Ltd. Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Airedale Alfa Laval Aten Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics EAE Group Eaton Green Revolution Cooling HITEC Power Protection Johnson Controls Legrand Mitsubishi Electric Rittal Schneider Electric Socomec Siemens STULZ TECO Electric & Machinery Trane Vertiv Data Center Investors Acer e-Enabling Data Center Chief Telecom Chunghwa Telecom Far EasTone Telecommunications NTT DATA Taiwan Mobile Vantage Data Centers New Entrants Empyrion Digital Epoch Digital Keppel Data Centres Microsoft EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS Existing Facilities in Taiwan (Area and Power Capacity) Taipei Other Cities List of Upcoming Facilities in Taiwan (Area and Power Capacity) Taipei Other Cities Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 109 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.85 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $2.94 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.0% Regions Covered Taiwan TAIWAN DATA CENTER MARKET REPORT COVERAGE This report analyses the Taiwan data center market share. It elaborately analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments. The segmentation includes: IT Infrastructure Server Infrastructure Storage Infrastructure Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Other Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems CRAC and CRAH Units Chillers Units Cooling Towers, Condensers and Dry Coolers Other Cooling Units General Construction Core & Shell Development Installation & Commissioning Services Building & Engineering Design Fire Detection & Suppression Systems Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/db68is About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Burlingame, CA, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coherent Market Insights published a report, titled, the global Meperidine (Demerol) Market size is estimated to grow from US$ 507.9 Million in 2025 and is forecast to reach a value of US$ 563.7 Million by 2032 at a CAGR of 1.5% between 2025 and 2032. Request a Sample of the US Tariff Impact Analysis Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/3816 Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market Key Takeaways The global meperidine (demerol) market size is anticipated to expand from USD 507.9 Mn in 2025 to USD 563.7 Mn by 2032. Global sales of meperidine (Demerol) will likely increase at a CAGR of 1.5% throughout the forecast period. By form, tablets segment is projected to account for around USD 284.42 million in 2025. This can be attributed to patients preference for meperidine (Demerol) tablets, owing to their convenience, longer shelf life, and ease of storage. Based on application, anesthesia segment is set to dominate the industry, accounting for a prominent meperidine (Demerol) market share in 2025. In terms of distribution channel, retail pharmacies segment will likely generate higher market revenues during the forecast period. North America is expected to remain the undisputed leader in the global meperidine (Demerol) market during the forecast period, owing to high number of surgeries performed and increasing consumption of opioids for pain management. As per Coherent Market Insights latest meperidine (Demerol) market analysis, North America is poised to account for around 1/2 of the global market share in 2025. Asia Pacific remains the second-largest market for meperidine (Demerol), and the trend will likely persist through 2032. This is attributed to increasing prevalence of acute and chronic pain conditions and expanding access to pain management medications, especially across nations like India, China, and Japan. Get Up to 25% Discount on the US Tariff Impact Analysis Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/3816 Increasing Chronic Pain Prevalence Spurring Sales Growth A new report by Coherent Market Insights outlines significant meperidine (Demerol) market growth factors. One major factor expected to fuel growth of meperidine (Demerol) industry is the increasing prevalence of chronic pain globally. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, around 20% of the adult population globally suffers from chronic pain, making it a significant global health issue. To counter this, people use opioid pain management medications like meperidine. Meperidine is commonly used for its potent analgesic effects in treating moderate to severe pain, especially in cases where other pain management strategies have proven insufficient. Thus, as the prevalence of chronic pain rises, so does the demand for meperidine (Demerol). Side Effects and Use of Alternatives Limiting Market Growth Meperidine (Demerol) usage is gradually declining in many countries due to its potential drug interactions, risk of neurotoxicity, and other safety concerns. Its usage can cause side effects like dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and breathing issues. These safety concerns are reducing overall meperidine (Demerol) market demand. Many healthcare professionals and patients are shifting their preference towards safer and more effective alternatives like fentanyl or non-opioid analgesics. This shift is expected to restrain growth of the global meperidine (Demerol) market during the forecast period. Rise in Surgical Procedures Population Creating Growth Prospects Meperidine is commonly used for pain relief in surgical procedures. Thus, an increase in the number of surgeries, including minimally invasive ones, will likely fuel demand for analgesics like meperidine (Demerol). Rising geriatric population is also expected to create growth opportunities for meperidine (Demerol) manufacturers. This is because older people are more susceptible to chronic pain conditions and often require pain management medications, including opioids like meperidine. According to an article published in the National Library of Medicine, chronic pain affects a significant portion of the elderly population, with some studies indicating that up to 76% of older adults living in the community experience pain. Opioids like meperidine are often used by elderly to manage discomfort and improve quality of life. Therefore, an increase in the elderly population with pain conditions is expected to boost meperidine (Demerol) sales during the forecast period. Ask for Customization Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/3816 Emerging Meperidine (Demerol) Market Trends Availability of cost-effective generic versions of meperidine is making it more accessible and affordable. This can drive its usage in regions and healthcare settings where cost is a significant factor. Technological advancements in drug delivery systems are paving way for more efficient injectable formulations and administration methods. This can make meperidine a more convenient option for healthcare providers as well as patients. Usage of meperidine (Demerol) for applications like cough relief and diarrhea treatment is also playing a key role in boosting the overall meperidine (demerol) market growth. Leading companies are focusing on developing abuse-deterrent formulations of meperidine to address concerns regarding opioid abuse. Analysts View The global meperidine (Demerol) market is set to witness sluggish growth, driven primarily by rising prevalence of acute and chronic pain conditions, increasing number of surgeries performed globally, and growing geriatric population, said senior analyst Vipul Patil. On the other hand, side effects associated with meperidine and transition towards safer alternatives are limited meperidine (Demerol) market growth. Competitor Insights Key companies listed in meperidine (Demerol) market report: Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. Pfizer, Inc. Vintage Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Epic Pharma, Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim Sanofi Egalet Corporation Janssen Pharmaceuticals Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. Sun Pharmaceutical Key Developments In January 2023, Pfizer Inc. entered into an agreement with Abzena under which it will acquire Abzenas manufacturing facility in Sanford, North Carolina. The new facility will improve Pfizers innovative pipeline products. In April 2022, Hikma Pharmaceuticals completed acquisition of Custopharm Inc., enhancing its portfolio of drugs, including meperidine, and expanding its market reach. Make Smarter Decisions Buy the US Tariff Impact Analysis Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/3816 Detailed Segmentation: By Form : Tablet Injection Syrup By Application : Anesthesia Cough Treatment Diarrhea Treatment By Distribution Channel : Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies By Region: North America U.S. Canada Latin America Brazil Argentina Mexico Rest of Latin America Europe Germany U,K. Spain France Italy Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia South Korea ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East GCC Countries Israel Rest of Middle East Africa South Africa North Africa Central Africa Transform your Strategy with Exclusive Trending Reports: Inhalation Anesthesia Market is estimated to be valued at USD 1,483.6 Mn in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 2,129.7 Mn in 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% from 2025 to 2032. Global anesthesia endotracheal tube market is estimated to be valued at US$ 178.7 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period (2022-2030). The global cold, cough, and sore throat remedies market is estimated to account for US$ 36,325.0 Mn in terms of value in 2019 and is expected to reach US$ 46,869.6 Mn by the end of 2027. Cough Suppressant Drugs Market Analysis & Forecast 2032 Carcinoid Syndrome Diarrhea Treatment Market Analysis & Forecast: 2025-2032 About Us: Coherent Market Insights leads into data and analytics, audience measurement, consumer behaviors, and market trend analysis. From shorter dispatch to in-depth insights, CMI has exceled in offering research, analytics, and consumer-focused shifts for nearly a decade. With cutting-edge syndicated tools and custom-made research services, we empower businesses to move in the direction of growth. We are multifunctional in our work scope and have 450+ seasoned consultants, analysts, and researchers across 26+ industries spread out in 32+ countries. NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Edison International (NYSE: EIX) between February 25, 2021 and February 6, 2025, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important April 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm. SO WHAT: If you purchased Edison securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Edisons claim that Southern California Edison Company (SCE) used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) program to proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events, was false; (2) this resulted in heightened fire risk in California and heightened legal exposure to Edison; and (3) as a result, defendants statements about Edisons business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Toronto, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceylon Graphite Corp. (TSXV: CYL) (Ceylon or the Company) announces that it has entered into an agreement with its former auditor to settle amounts owing to it via a share for debt transaction to allow it to bring its continuous disclosure obligations up to date. On October 16, 2024, the British Columbia Securities Commission (Principal Regulator) issued a cease trade order in respect of the Company (the CTO), due to the Companys failure to file certain periodic disclosure required by applicable securities laws (the Outstanding Filings). The Company is indebted to its former auditor (Former Auditor) in the amount of $53,776.00 (the Debt Owing) in respect of past audit work done. The Former Auditor has agreed to allow the Company to settle the Debt Owning in exchange for the Company issuing 1,792,534 common shares in the capital of the Company (Common Shares) to the Former Auditor at a deemed price of $0.03 per share, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, in a share for debt transaction (the Share For Debt Transaction). The Company filed for and was issued a partial revocation order from the Principal Regulator dated April 8, 2025, to permit the Share For Debt Transaction. Upon completion of the Share For Debt Transaction, the Company reasonably anticipates having sufficient resources and all necessary documentation and information from its Former Auditor to bring its continuous disclosure obligations up to date and to file all Outstanding Filings, following which it will apply for a full revocation order with the Principal Regulator. The Share for Debt Transaction is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Ceylon Graphite Ceylon is a public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, that is in the business of mining for graphite, and developing and commercializing innovative graphene and graphite applications and products. Graphite mined in Sri Lanka is known to be some of the highest grade in the world and has been confirmed to be suitable to be easily upgradable for a range of applications including the high-growth electric vehicle and battery storage markets as well as construction, healthcare and paints and coatings sectors. Further information regarding Ceylon is available at www.ceylongraphite.com Sasha Jacob, Chief Executive Officer info@ceylongraphite.com +1(604) 924-8695 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: This news release may contain forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, Ceylons objectives, goals or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; the ability of Ceylon to raise funds; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; and those risks set out in Ceylons public documents filed on SEDAR. Although Ceylon believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Ceylon disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither the 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. St. Paul, MN, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a time of deep racial division and ongoing calls for justice, a nationwide movement is gathering in St. Paul, MN this June to confront the legacy of slavery and heal historic and generational wounds. Coming to the Table, a program of nationally recognized RJOY, invites people of all backgrounds to take part in its National Gathering, an event designed to turn reflection into action. Coming to the Table works with people throughout the U.S. to promote justice, equity, reparation, truth-telling, inclusion, and support for all marginalized people and communities who are under attack due to racism, sexism, religious intolerance and more. The table portion of the name - is an acronym Taking America Beyond the Legacy of Enslavement. At Coming to the Table, we hold space for what so many have been told to forgetthe grief, the truth, the resilience, and the possibility, said Dr. Giavanni Washington, Incoming Program Manager of Coming to the Table. In this moment of deep division and generational pain, our work is an offering of connection, courage, and collective healing. The time to face the legacy of enslavementand transform itis now. Coming to the Tables annual gathering, which is open to everyone, will be held at St. Paul College in St. Paul, MN. The cost is $350. Reserve your seat at the TABLE. Sign up at: Register The event will provide sessions on truth-telling, reparations, genealogy and healing as participants honor their ancestors, confront present realities and shape a just future. The Twin Cities was selected as this years location because it has become a powerful symbol in the movement for racial justice, remembrance and repair. The egregious murder of George Floyd in 2020 ignited a global uprising, making Minneapolis a focal point for calls to dismantle systemic racism, reimagine public safety, and demand accountability, Dr. Washington added. Long before that, the region carried the scars of Indigenous displacement, the destruction of Black communities like Rondo, and ongoing struggles for equity. Yet it is also home to resilient communities, a place where history is being written in real-timewhere the past and present intersect, and where our work at the Table has never been more relevant. At the national gathering people will have the opportunity to: Uncover History: research, acknowledge and share personal, family, community, state, and national histories of race with openness and honesty Make Connections: connect to others within and across racial lines in order to develop and deepen relationships Working Toward Healing: explore how we can heal together through dialogue, reunion, ritual, meditation, prayer, ceremony, the arts, apology and other methods Be a Catalyst for Change: Leave with tools, strategies, and connections to dismantle systemic racism and create a more just world. In addition to the National Gathering, people can join one of 45 local groups or participate in an online group. More information is at: https://comingtothetable.org/ ABOUT COMING TO THE TABLES HISTORY The organization was founded by Will Hairston, a descendant of one of the largest enslaving enterprises in the South and Susan Hutchison, a descendant of President Thomas Jefferson and his wife Martha. When Hairston was 18, he attended a Hairston Clan reunion, an 800-person gathering of an African American family with roots in the South and a direct connection to Will. Similarly, Susan attended an unlikely family reunion, hers with the descendants of President Jefferson and Sally Hemings, the woman he enslaved on his Monticello plantation and who bore several of his children. When Susan and Will met they came up with the idea of a family reunion that was vastly different from what most people are accustomed to. It would not be a meeting of just one family. It would be a reunion that involved multiple families from both sides of the racial construct; a reunion of black and whitethe descendants of people who were slaveholders with the descendants of those whom they had enslaved. Their idea was based on one key acknowledgment: Be they black, white or mixed, families are families. Americas legacy of slavery ripped apart untold numbers of family bonds. Coming to the Table is an opportunity to heal those wounds and create a just future. London, UK , April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a powerful affirmation of trust, speed, and performance, top Australian analysts have officially endorsed GoldmanPeak as the most reliable cryptocurrency trading platform for investors in the region. As market volatility rises and traders demand safer and faster tools, GoldmanPeak is gaining attention for its real-time AI tools, zero downtime infrastructure, and transparent client-focused model. Independent analysis conducted by Global Finance Insights Australia revealed that GoldmanPeaks core systems outperformed nearly all major platforms in uptime, trade execution, and client satisfaction. This report triggered a spike in trader interest and helped fuel the growing wave of positive GoldmanPeak reviews being shared across digital finance forums and review sites. Analysts Highlight Technical Edge and Transparency According to Matthew OConnell, senior fintech analyst at Sydney-based EquiLens, GoldmanPeak stands apart in a saturated and often unreliable market. GoldmanPeak delivers both institutional-grade architecture and a user experience tailored to Australian traders, he said. They are one of the few platforms meeting the increasing expectations of speed, compliance, and technical clarity. Its no surprise that GoldmanPeak reviews are consistently outperforming industry norms. Unlike many legacy brokers, GoldmanPeak offers 100% visibility into fees, trade histories, and portfolio riskall backed by automated AI surveillance. The platform has become particularly popular among both seasoned day traders and SMSF investors looking to expand into crypto assets without compromising on speed or oversight. Designed for Australian Traders GoldmanPeak has doubled down on its Australian presence in 2025, expanding customer support and onboarding tools tailored specifically to local regulations. A new instant verification system for Australian clients, along with dedicated account managers based in the Asia-Pacific region, has helped it earn the trust of thousands of users nationwide. From Melbourne to Perth, traders want fast withdrawals, real compliance, and zero interference. Thats exactly what GoldmanPeak delivers, said a company representative. Weve removed the usual barriersno hidden limits, no blackout periods, and no scripted bots. Its direct, high-performance trading. This client-first model has driven a surge in GoldmanPeak reviews highlighting real results and consistent withdrawalsa sticking point for many other platforms that have struggled to maintain user trust during peak volatility periods. Game-Changing Technology That Works in Real Time GoldmanPeaks proprietary AI Command Layer has become a central feature for serious investors. The platform uses machine learning to scan global markets, generate high-conviction signals, and automate trade entries and exitsgiving users a real-time edge. For many traders, this automation has been a game-changer. Instead of reacting emotionally or missing critical windows, users rely on the platforms analytics and signals to build smarter strategies. Real Clients, Real Results In addition to analyst endorsements, GoldmanPeaks reputation is being cemented by real client stories across Australia. Below are four recent testimonials: Jason B. Perth, WA I moved over to GoldmanPeak after my last platform froze my withdrawals. Since switching, Ive been withdrawing every single week without delays. Its the first time I feel in control of my trading again. Sarah T. Sydney, NSW The AI tools actually work. I started small, but now Im managing multiple positions with help from my account manager. Ive doubled my portfolio in under three months, and I leave honest GoldmanPeak reviews because theyve earned it. Nathan R. Gold Coast, QLD Too many platforms promise but dont deliver. GoldmanPeak is different. I started with $2,500 and scaled gradually. Every trade is visible, withdrawals are processed within hours, and the support team answers fast. Emily M. Melbourne, VIC I usually avoid leaving reviews, but this company deserves it. No BS, no delays, just accurate signals and complete transparency. Ive told my friends to check out my GoldmanPeak reviews if they dont believe it. The Road Ahead for GoldmanPeak Looking forward, GoldmanPeak is preparing to roll out several new features specifically for Australian users. These include: A tax reporting tool that exports data in ATO-compliant formats Expanded asset classes including tokenised real estate and commodities New ultra-low latency routing for faster trade execution across APAC exchanges These upcoming developments are further boosting GoldmanPeak reviews from both retail investors and financial professionals. Analysts suggest the firm is on track to become the dominant crypto trading hub for Australias growing blockchain investment community. Final Word from Analysts In an industry known for technical failures and broken promises, GoldmanPeak is breaking through with results that speak louder than marketing. Trust is not givenits built, said OConnell. With their infrastructure, transparency, and real client outcomes, its clear why so many traders now rely on GoldmanPeak. To read more about client experiences, expert commentary, and real-time platform updates, visit http://goldman-bot.com and explore the full collection of verified GoldmanPeak reviews. Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. LUXEMBOURG, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In response to a number of media speculations in the course of the last few weeks, including publications about a Mr James Cameron's proposal to buy Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Mr Shukhrat Ibragimov, Chairman of the ERG Board of Directors and its Chief Executive Officer, stated there are no negotiations on the sale of ERG. He said the companys management is fully committed to further consistent, sustainable development of the Group. There are no changes to business as usual. At the end of 2024, the Board of Directors adopted a new Strategy aimed at further development and investment in ERGs enterprises and the Company has been implementing it. ERG's focus on long-term growth and creating value for all stakeholders of the Group remains unchanged. About Eurasian Resources Group Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) is a global metals and mining company headquartered in Luxembourg. ERG has around 67,000 employees and is one of the largest employers in the industry. It sells products in more than 40 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The Groups main shareholder (40% stake) is the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. ERGs CEO and Chairman of the Board is Shukhrat Ibragimov, who was appointed in 2024 and brings with him many years of industry experience. With integrated mining, processing, energy, logistics, and marketing operations, ERG is one of the worlds largest producers of ferrochrome and cobalt and a leading international supplier of copper and iron ore. It is also a large supplier of alumina and aluminium in Eurasia. In Kazakhstan, the Group operates multiple production entities, including Kazchrome, Sokolov-Sarbai Iron Ore Mining Production Association (SSGPO), Kazakhstan Aluminium Smelter, Aluminium of Kazakhstan, and Eurasian Energy Corporation. ERG is a key power supplier and a large railway operator in Central Asia. In Africa, Frontier is the cornerstone of the Group's copper business in the DRC, while Metalkol represents a major tailings reprocessing operation. Metalkol has become one of the world's largest producers of cobalt and a major producer of copper. The Group manages its own supply chain through its logistics company, SABOT. For further information: press@erg.net www.eurasianresources.lu A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1522eb57-7586-436d-a390-5eb5b68255ac COLUMBIA, S.C., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harsco Rail, a division of Enviri Corporation (NYSE: NVRI), today announced Gary Lada as its new president of Harsco Rail, effective May 5, 2025. Lada will replace Claus Heuschmid, who will leave the organization effective June 1, 2025. Gary's extensive experience in the Rail industry and his proven track record of operational excellence make him the ideal leader to drive our division forward, said Enviri CEO Nick Grasberger. His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to focus on delivering exceptional value to our customers." Lada will be an Enviri Executive Leadership team member and report directly to Grasberger. Lada brings extensive rail industry experience from his tenure at GE Transportation (now Wabtec), where he held key roles focused on operational excellence. Most recently, Gary led both the global Milton Roy and Air & Gas Solutions businesses at Ingersoll Rand over the last 8 years. Lada holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University and will be based in Columbia, South Carolina, with the other members of the Harsco Rail leadership team. Regarding the departure of Heuschmid, Grasberger added, Claus has been a valued member of the Enviri leadership team and has made significant contributions to Harsco Rail. The company thanks Claus for his dedicated service and leadership and wishes him the best in his future endeavors. Additionally, Harsco Rail has recently strengthened its leadership team by hiring an accomplished chief financial officer, Barry Learner, and vice president of operations, Mike Lafferty. These leadership changes are a key part of the company's strategy to position Harsco Rail to capture profitable growth opportunities and generate returns above its cost of capital. About Enviri Enviri is transforming the world to green, as a trusted global leader in providing a broad range of environmental services and related innovative solutions. The company serves a diverse customer base by offering critical recycle and reuse solutions for their waste streams, enabling customers to address their most complex environmental challenges and to achieve their sustainability goals. Enviri is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and operates in more than 150 locations in over 30 countries. Additional information can be found at www.enviri.com. About Harsco Rail Harsco Rail, a worldwide division of Enviri Corporation, is a technological and innovative global supplier of railway track Maintenance of Way and services with over 100 years of operations. Harsco Rail provides expert engineering, vehicles and equipment, innovative technology, safety technology, dedicated parts and services, contracting services, and quality maintenance from nine main locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Brazil, China, and Australia. Additional information can be found at www.harscorail.com. Investor Contact David Martin +1.267.946.1407 dmartin@enviri.com Media Contact Karen Tognarelli +1.717.480.6145 ktognarelli@enviri.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64eb2ac0-2af8-4a8d-9b0b-8577e044df48 NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Endeavour Silver Corp. (Endeavour or the Company) (NYSE: EXK). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Endeavour and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On April 1, 2025, Endeavour issued a press release announcing its deci[sion] to upsize its previously announced bought deal of common shares. Pursuant to the deal, a syndicate of underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a bought-deal basis, 11,600,000 Shares, at a price of US$3.88 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately US$45 million[.] Following news of the upsizing, Endeavours stock price fell $0.49 per share, or 11.48% to close at $3.78 per share on April 1, 2025. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP dpeyton@pomlaw.com 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 LOS ANGELES, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pepper Lunch, a one-of-a-kind Japanese fast-casual concept with more than 540 locations across 17 countries, is continuing momentum generated from a banner 2024 year, thanks to increases across all sales and guest satisfaction metrics. In Q1 this year, the brand opened three new locations in Tampa Bay, Florida, Salt Lake City, and in Orange County, California, at the flagship Irvine Spectrum Center. These three restaurants represent just a few of the 15 locations Pepper Lunch plans to open in 2025. 2024 results include: Average Unit Volumes increased nearly $83,000 per restaurant, or 5.4% bringing the brands AUV to $1.617M up from $1.3M in 2022. 100% of its North American restaurants saw same store sales growth up to 11.9%. The brands test store where Pepper Lunch is implementing various guest-facing initiatives including an all-new tech stack to elevate the diner and team member experience, saw the largest percentage of growth. Five (5) more experienced franchisees committed to opening a combined 40 more restaurants throughout California, Nevada, and Oregon in the next three to five years. This brings the total units under active development to 75 stores across six (6) states (+Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida) and the territory of Guam in just 20 months of franchising in the U.S. New franchise partners which offer a mix of franchising and corporate executive experience with brands such as Popeyes, Subway, Carls Jr, Daves Hot Chicken, Jamba Juice, and Halal Guys joined Pepper Lunch in 2024. New franchise partners headlined by The Carl L. Karcher Group, led by the son of the founder of Carls Jr., which has committed to 20 Pepper Lunch units across four territories. Current franchisees of Carls Jr., Jamba Juice and Daves Hot Chicken Restaurants, with 120 in all, the Group will bring Pepper Lunch to Southern California areas including San Diego County with five stores, Inland Empire with six stores, and the High and Low Desert areas with four stores. The Group will also open five Pepper Lunch locations in Las Vegas Paul Tran, Director of Franchise Development at Pepper Lunch, has bought in for six stores, the first of which will open in February, just five months from his initial agreement signing. The groups first location is in the illustrious Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine, California, making the second Pepper Lunch restaurant in one of Orange Countys largest and most populated cities. Previously, Tran led the restaurant group which owned and operated nine Halal Guys in Southern California, which was recently acquired by a hospitality company. The simplicity of the operation, the labor model, and the rise of Asian culture and food concepts in America are attractive and differentiated from other brands we could operate, said Carl L Karcher regarding why his group selected Pepper Lunch to be the fourth brand within their restaurant portfolio. 2024 was a transformative year for this brand, said Troy Hooper, CEO of Pepper Lunch. Not only did we begin to see the green shoots from the strategic pieces we put in place beginning in 2023, but now were firing on all cylinders, and look forward to an even better year with continued sales growth. Established in 1994, Pepper Lunch is one of Japans largest homegrown franchise restaurant brands with over 540 locations in 17 countries. Renowned for quality food served in a unique and innovative way for dining in or delivery, and with guests being able to get in, dine, and be on their way in 20 minutes for under $20, the beloved Japanese-based brand seeks experienced franchise partners to expand its proven business model and cutting-edge customer offerings across the United States. About Pepper Lunch The original fast casual Japanese D-I-Y teppan restaurant, Pepper Lunch was founded in 1994 by one of Japans most famous chefs and entrepreneurs who wanted to introduce affordable premium steaks with quality ingredients served on a sizzling iron plate. Deliciously irresistible, Pepper Lunch proudly offers quality, tasty, and affordable meals sourced from the finest ingredients paired with an unforgettable experience. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99f007b1-e767-40e6-a488-6c6484e9c214 London, UK, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, RICH MINER announced its latest development plan in the field of mineral resources, aiming to push the mining industry to new heights through technological innovation and sustainable development strategies. Users can achieve a potential income on RICH MINER platform. As a leading company dedicated to the development of global mineral resources, RICH MINER has always been known for its efficient, safe and environmentally friendly operating model. Advantages of the RICH MINER platform Zero threshold for entry: No professional knowledge and expensive mining machines are required, just purchase a cloud mining contract package with one click and start mining immediately! High-yield returns: Relying on high-quality mining farms around the world, a professional team optimizes the allocation of computing power, and the income is fixed and can be checked. Safe and reliable: Using bank-level encryption technology, funds are fully protected, and mining income is settled daily. Flexible and convenient: Supports a variety of mainstream currencies (BTC, ETH, USDC, DOGE, etc.), and you can choose a variety of cryptocurrencies to deposit and withdraw freely at any time. How to start free cloud mining with RICH MINER Step 1: Register an account You can register an account by entering an email address and setting a platform login password. You will receive a $15 reward for registration, which can be used to purchase a $15 contract to earn $0.6 passive income every day. This plan allows users to generate cloud mining for free without taking any financial risks Step 2: Select a cloud mining contract In addition to the $15 contract, there are multiple contracts that can be selected and purchased at the same time. The income of each contract is fixed, and you can get more income by purchasing Contract Price Contract Term Potential Daily Income Potential Fixed Income $15 1 Days $0.6 $15 + $0.6 $100 2 Days $3 $100 + $6 $500 6 Days $6 $500 + $36 $1200 12 Days $15.6 $1200+$187.2 $2600 18 Days $36.4 $2600 + $655.2 $5000 23 Days $75 $5000 + $1725 Different contracts have different fixed returns and terms. Users can choose to purchase multiple contracts at the same time. How to potentially make more money with RICH MINER RICH MINER platform has the (affiliates) function. Users can make money on RICH MINER by inviting your friends. You can get a 3% reward of their investment amount by recommending friends to register and invest in contracts. If your friends invite their friends to invest again, you can also get a promotion reward of 1% of their investment amount. For example, if you recommend a friend to register an account on the RICH MINER platform and invest in a $60,000 contract, you can get a $1,800 promotion reward. Every time the user you recommend purchases a contract, you can get the corresponding promotion reward. There are also monthly salary benefits. If you invite 10 new users to register and invest to upgrade to VIP1 level and above, you can receive a reward of US$300 per month. If you invite 30 new users to register and invest to upgrade to VIP1 level and above, you can receive US$1,000 per month. For more details, please check the platform for more information Summary of Rich Miner: Rich Miner is a leading platform focused on Bitcoin cloud mining, known for its superior AI technology, global mining pool network and user-friendly mobile applications. The platform is committed to providing users with high-yield, low-risk investment opportunities while ensuring financial security and quality services. RICH MINER is your trusted cryptocurrency cloud mining partner! Join now to seize the opportunity and earn passive income! For more details, please visit: Company website: https://www.richminer.com Company email: info@richminer.com Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. DALLAS, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- P10, Inc. (NYSE: PX), (P10 or the Company), a leading private markets solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Jennifer Glassman and Stephen Blewitt to its Board of Directors (the Board). Ms. Glassman will join the Board as an independent Class I director, effective April 21, 2025, and will serve on the Companys Audit Committee. Mr. Blewitt will join the Board as an independent Class III director, effective April 21, 2025, and will serve on the Companys Compensation Committee. We are thrilled to welcome these two investment industry veterans to the P10 Board, said Luke Sarsfield, P10 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Jennifer and Stephen have proven track records within the alternative asset management sector that will immediately strengthen our board. This board refreshment further enhances our governance profile as we seek to create long-term value for our investment strategies and shareholders. Ms. Glassman is a seasoned financial services leader and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Towerbrook Capital Partners. Ms. Glassman was previously a partner and CFO at Soros Private Equity, and she also served in a variety of financial control and reporting roles for Soros Fund Management LLC. Prior to joining Soros, Ms. Glassman was a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, where she worked in the Financial Services Business Assurance practice for over seven years. Ms. Glassman is a certified public accountant and earned her B.S. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. Mr. Blewitt is the co-founder of Youth.Work.Connect, a mission-based organization, founded in 2024. It was created to help high school youth from underserved communities build social capital to promote economic mobility. Previously, Mr. Blewitt served as the Chief Investment Officer (Private Markets) and Head of Private Markets at Manulife Investment Management from October 2018 to June 2023, where he was responsible for leading global investment teams across a wide range of asset classes, including private equity and credit, real estate, infrastructure, timber, and agriculture. Prior to that, Mr. Blewitt led Manulifes private equity and credit business in the U.S. for almost 20 years. Mr. Blewitt earned his B.A. from the University of Chicago and received his M.B.A. from Boston University. About P10 P10 is a leading multi-asset class private markets solutions provider in the alternative asset management industry. P10s mission is to provide its investors differentiated access to a broad set of investment solutions that address their diverse investment needs within private markets. As of December 31, 2024, P10s products have a global investor base of more than 3,800 investors across 50 states, 60 countries, and six continents, which includes some of the worlds largest pension funds, endowments, foundations, corporate pensions, and financial institutions. Visit www.p10alts.com. P10 Investor Contact: info@p10alts.com P10 Media Contact: Josh Clarkson Taylor Donahue pro-p10@prosek.com NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (Kyndryl or the Company) (NYSE: KD). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Kyndryl and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On March 27, 2025, during market hours, Reuters published an article entitled Kyndryl shares slump after Gotham City alleges it manipulated metrics. This article stated that Kyndryl shares had fallen after a research report from short-seller Gotham City alleged the IT services provider has manipulated certain financial metrics. Gotham City said Kyndryl manipulated its reported adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow to give the appearance of profits and cash flow while in reality it generated losses and burned cash. On this news, Kyndryls stock price fell $1.74 per share, or 5.11%, to close at $32.32 per share on March 27, 2025. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP dpeyton@pomlaw.com 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 PHILADELPHIA, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Holley Inc. (NYSE: HLLY) on behalf of the companys long-term shareholders. Click here to receive additional information about your legal rights and options: https://kaskelalaw.com/case/holley/ Recently a securities fraud complaint was filed against Holley on behalf of certain investors who purchased shares of the companys stock between July 21, 2021 and February 6, 2023 (the Class Period). According to the complaint, during the Class Period Holley and certain of the companys senior executive officers made a series of materially false and/or misleading statements to investors regarding Holleys business, operations, and growth prospects. The complaint further details how, despite prior representations and through a series of partial disclosures made between July 2022 and February 2023 including disappointing quarterly financial and operational results, reduced financial guidance, and the resignation of the Companys CFO and CEO investors gradually learned that during the Class Period Holley had: (i) excluded its resellers and distribution partners from promotions that were offered in other channels, which resulted in them not promoting [Holley] products and in some cases, even promoting [Holley's] competitors' products to preserve their margins; and (ii) failed to enforce minimum advertised pricing on the vast majority of the products Holley sold. In response to Defendants disclosures, shares of Holleys common stock declined from a trading price of over $12.50 per share in July 2022 to a trading price of below $3.00 per share by Feb 2023. The investigation seeks to determine whether the members of Holleys board of directors violated the securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the above alleged misconduct. Holley shareholders who purchased or acquired their HLLY shares prior to May 12, 2022 are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 0750 for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options. Alternatively, investors may submit their information to the firm by clicking on the following link (or by copying and pasting the link into your browser): https://kaskelalaw.com/case/holley/ Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis, and has helped to recover hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved investors. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com. CONTACT: KASKELA LAW LLC D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. (skaskela@kaskelalaw.com) Adrienne Bell, Esq. (abell@kaskelalaw.com) 18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 (888) 715 1740 (484) 229 0750 www.kaskelalaw.com This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, April 21, 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 Carney's promise to support hydrocarbon fuel development not credible By Robert Lyman and Tom Harris web posted April 21, 2025 In a recent public meeting in Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney was asked by a CTV reporter whether he would really support the construction of new oil and gas pipelines, the repealing of Bill C-69 (the "no-more-pipelines" Act) and the removal of the moratorium on oil tanker movements off the coast of northern British Columbia. Carney replied stating that his goal is to "get things done" including: "getting pipelines built so we can displace imports of foreign oil" "building the energy infrastructure more broadly here in Alberta, including the Pathways project" "building energy and trade corridors including potentially up to Nunavut so we can have additional deep-water ports and opportunities there. " He concluded that "the commitment is to deliver projects that we agree are national priorities and the federal government using all of its powers, including new legislative powers, in order to accelerate the delivery of those projects". Are these "commitments" credible? Let us examine the facts. The Liberal Party's Record in Office Since 2015, when the Liberal Party was elected, its single most important policy objective has been to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ultimately eliminate them (i.e., "Net-Zero emissions by 2050") in the belief that this will somehow influence global emissions, temperatures and weather. The federal government acknowledges that it has implemented 140 measures to accomplish this objective so far and plans more for the future. Of the 140 measures, the ones that most affect the production, transportation and consumption of oil and natural gas are these: The imposition of carbon dioxide "pricing" measures on all producers and consumers of hydrocarbons, now set at $80 per tonne but scheduled to rise to at least $170 per tonne by 2030, and projected to rise to $300 or more by 2050 (Carney has not "cancelled" the "carbon tax" on consumers; he has merely temporarily reduced its rate to zero); The implementation of the so-called Clean Fuel Regulations that add up to $1,000 per year to the costs of oil and gas for consumers; Regulations intended to reduce up to 75% of oil and gas methane emissions; Placing an emissions cap on the oil and gas sector; The "modernization" and politicization of the former National Energy Board so that all new energy projects must undergo long and difficult review processes lasting many years; The passage of the Impact Assessment Act, which among other things requires that any new pipeline or hydrocarbons production project must report its projected effects on direct, upstream and downstream GHG emissions and demonstrate that it would not run counter to the "net-zero" objective.; and The imposition of bans on all exploration and development activities in Canada's North and on the movement of oil tankers off the northern British Columbia coast. Together these measures have resulted in the cancellation or abandonment of an estimated $670 billion in projects, including the Northern Gateway Pipeline, the Energy East Pipeline, the Pacific Coast LNG project. the Aurora LNG project, the Prince Rupert LNG Project, the Saguenay LNG Project and the WCC LNG Project. The introduction of an emissions cap on the oil and gas sector, with regulations to be finalized before the end of 2025, is intended to reduce emissions from the industry by 42 per cent by 2030 and by 100 million tonnes (Mt) per year by 2050 (from 170 Mt today). The Conference Board of Canada studied the likely effects of this and concluded that meeting the 2050 goal would reduce real GDP by $120 billion to $130 billion per year. In March 2025, the Board concluded that the impact of the cap would be to reduce oil and gas production by 13 percent by 2030 and 37 percent by 2050. The statements made by Mark Carney to CTV thus stand in stark contrast to the policies that have been followed and promoted by the Liberal government since 2015, a government which he directly advised. Many of the Trudeau government' ministers have been reappointed into Carney's cabinet, indicating little change in direction overall. Yet, to honour his CTV statements, a government he leads would have to eliminate or sharply curtail the carbon dioxide pricing system, abandon the cap on oil and gas production, significantly amend the Impact Assessment Act, drop the requirement that all new projects not impede the "net-zero" objective, and eliminate the ban on oil and gas shipping off the B.C. coast. Mark Carney's Past Statements and Positions Contradict His Promise to "Get Things Done" To Support Hydrocarbon Fuel Development For over two decades, Marc Carney has been a prominent figure in the global movement to implement strong anti-hydrocarbons policies. In his book Value(s): Building a Better World for All, he claims that it is a matter of existential urgency for Canada to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions as quickly as possible. In this regard, he states that in pursuing net-zero we must inspire ourselves with the country's and the world's response to the COVID pandemic, including embracing its economic hardships. He is proud of his role in leading an international group, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-zero (GFANZ), which seeks to reduce the funding of hydrocarbons projects and increase the funding of renewable energy projects, even though this group is rapidly losing its members. Carney can take credit for aggressively pressuring the global financial sector to promote leftist political causes in his post-central banking career. He was made the United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance in 2019, joined the private sector world as vice-chair and head of environmental, social and governance investing at the firm now known as Brookfield Corporation in 2020, led a net-zero banking alliance that advocated for weaponizing the financial system to promote climate compliance in 2021, and in 2022 became the chair of spin-off company, Brookfield Asset Management, where he took the lead on a multi-billion dollar net-zero fund. One of Mark Carney's longest associations has been with the World Economic Forum (WEF) where he was on the WEF's Board of Trustees and currently holds the title of Agenda Contributor. On March 27, 2025, the WEF uploaded The Future of Sustainable Finance: The Required Business Transformation, a video of Carney, still identified as the UN climate envoy, in which he says: "We need to transition the energy system on the scale of the Industrial Revolution, at the speed of the digital transformation. In order to do that we're going to need a fundamental transformation, really a revolution, in the financial system." The WEF is famous for promoting a "great reset" of the capitalist system and its replacement by a system of state and "stakeholder" leaders (all of whom are immensely wealthy) to centrally plan the global economy. Carney has called for a $100 billion per year global carbon offset market to fund investments in non-hydrocarbon energy sources and uses. Carney has always been careful in his public statements to avoid directly attacking the oil and gas industry. Instead, he has focused on working to starve the industry of funds while promoting massive expenditures of public money to subsidize all non-hydrocarbon energy sources. Conclusion Everything in Mark Carney's past suggests that he is ideologically committed to the goal of reducing GHG emissions as fast and as far as possible and specifically to the promotion of the net-zero goal. Building more oil and gas pipelines to facilitate market access for Canadian oil and gas production runs directly counter to those goals. No one should believe Carney's statements to CTV news that he would boost Alberta's hydrocarbon development. Robert Lyman is a retired energy economist, former Director General, Environmental Affairs, in Transport Canada and a director of International Climate Science Coalition Canada (ICSC-Canada). Tom Harris is ICSC-Canada Executive Director. Home Vancouver, April 21, 2025 - Sage Potash Corp. (TSXV: SAGE) (OTCQB: SGPTF) ("Sage Potash" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Mizuno as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). With extensive experience in the global agricultural and fertilizer industries, Mr. Mizuno will play a pivotal role in transitioning Sage Potash from project development to a production-oriented business. "Mr. Mizuno's leadership experience in the potash industry makes him an exceptional fit for the Company as we progress towards potash production in the United States. Sage Potash is committed to becoming a leader in sustainable production of this critical mineral, and we are excited to have Mr. Mizuno on board as we work towards this goal," said Peter Hogendoorn, CEO of Sage Potash. As President and COO, Mr. Mizuno will oversee the Company's operational and commercial strategies working directly with suppliers, customers, investors and other stakeholders. Mr. Mizuno comes to Sage Potash with industry-leading experience and a winning track record in several leadership roles at Nutrien, the world's largest potash producer. Specifically, his experience leading strategic teams in the potash industry will amplify Sage Potash's competitive advantages as an 'in-market' potash producer with scalable production enabled by low-emission solution mining. Mr. Mizuno said, "Sage Potash has a unique opportunity to be an industry leader, using proven technologies to sustainably produce potash to support global food security, and I am excited to be a part of that." As President and COO, the Company has agreed that Mr. Mizuno's compensation includes a signing bonus grant of two (2) million stock options, with each such option exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.25 for a period of five (5) years from the date of issue. The grant of options is made pursuant to the Company's stock option plan and is subject to the vesting provisions contained therein and to the approval by the shareholders of the Company at its next AGM. Sage Potash also announces that it has entered into a loan facility agreement (the "Loan Agreement") with Inter World Investments (Canada) Ltd. (the "Lender") dated April 17, 2025 for an unsecured loan facility of US$1,050,000 (the "Loan"). The Loan will have a term of two (2) years, subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of certain events, and will bear interest at a rate of 7% per annum. The Lender is an arm's length party to the Company. The purpose of the Loan is to support the Company's general working capital and operational needs. As bonus compensation for advancing the Loan on the terms and conditions provided in the Loan Agreement, including the unsecured nature of the Loan, subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), the Company will issue to the Lender 5,819,940 non-transferable warrants ("Bonus Warrants"), with each Bonus Warrant exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.25 for a period of two (2) years from the date of issue. The Bonus Warrants will be issued pursuant to TSXV Policy 5.1 - Loans, Loan Bonuses, Finder's Fees and Commissions and are subject to the approval of the TSXV. Any securities issued in connection with the Loan Agreement will be subject to a statutory four month hold period. In connection with the Loan Agreement, Sage Potash will also pay a loan facility fee of US$50,000 (the "Loan Facility Fee") to RCI Capital Group Inc. ("RCI") in consideration and recognition of RCI introducing Sage Potash to the Lender and otherwise facilitating the Loan. The Company further intends to carry out a convertible debenture financing (the "CD Financing") with the assistance of RCI. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the Loan can be rolled into the CD Financing and, in such case, all amounts accrued or otherwise outstanding under the Loan, including the principal and interest accrued thereon, will be converted into the convertible debentures on the same terms as under, and concurrently with the closing of, such CD financing. About Sage Potash Corp. Sage Potash is a Canadian company vested solely in the Sage Plain Property and intends through sustainable solution mining techniques to become a prominent domestic potash producer within the Paradox Basin situated in Utah. For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or contact the Company by email at info@sagepotash.com. Website: www.sagepotash.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this news release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance of Sage Potash and with respect to the Loan, including the use of proceeds thereof and the proposed issuance of the Bonus Warrants. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" in the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis available for review under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgement based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. For media inquiries, please contact: Marcus van der Made, Investor Relations. Sage Potash Corp - marcus@sagepotash.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249141 Vancouver, April 21, 2025 - Gold Hunter Resources Inc. (CSE: HUNT) (OTCQB: HNTRF) (FSE: 6RH) ("Gold Hunter" or the "Company" or "HUNT 2.0"), is pleased to invite investors and other interested parties to attend an upcoming interview with Market Radius Research. Martin Gagel of Market Radius Research and CEO Sean Kingsley will discuss Gold Hunter's flagship Great Northern Project in Newfoundland and the company's upcoming exploration plan. The webinar will be a live, interactive online event where attendees are invited to ask the Company questions in real-time following the interview. An archived webcast will be made available for those who cannot join the event live on the day of the webinar. Event: Radius Research Pitch, Deep Dive, and Q&A with Gold Hunter Resources Inc. (CSE: HUNT) (OTCQB: HNTRF) (FSE: 6RH) Presentation Date & Time: Wednesday, April 23rd @ 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT Webcast Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8017448366724/WN_xIDDLIaQSpSpnCpN4WnBSg Market Radius Research gives individual investors access to in-depth CEO interviews with deep-dive institutional level discussion and Q&A. Market Radius is hosted by Martin Gagel, former top-ranked technology analyst. By registering for this webinar, you agree to receive email communications from Market Radius Capital, Inc. and from the presenting company (with unsubscribe). Your email will not be further shared. Martin Gagel and Market Radius Capital, Inc. are not registered or licensed to provide investment advice and may own shares in mentioned companies and may be compensated for these services. Content is for information purposes only and is not advice or recommendations and may include incomplete or incorrect information. Investing entails a high degree of risk. This is a production of Market Radius Capital, Inc. About Gold Hunter Resources Inc.: Gold Hunter Resources Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on acquiring and advancing high-potential precious and base metal projects. The Company employs data-driven exploration strategies to unlock value in Newfoundland's emerging mining districts. Following the successful divestiture of its first consolidated district to FireFly Metals, Gold Hunter assembled the Great Northern Project, expanding its strike length by 64% to 40 kilometers. Positioned in one of Newfoundland's most prospective gold regions, the Company is committed to responsible exploration and maximizing shareholder value. Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance and reflect management's current expectations and beliefs based on information currently available. Forward-Looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "intends," "potential," "estimates," "could," "may," and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will," "may," or "could" occur or be achieved. Forward-Looking statements in this release may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's exploration plans at the Great Northern Project, its ability to unlock value through data-driven and systematic exploration, the expansion and advancement of known mineralized zones, the completion and results of the planned VTEM airborne survey, the impact and reach of newly launched marketing and investor relations campaigns, and expectations regarding market awareness, investor engagement, and shareholder value creation. These statements also include any references to comparable projects, peer company activity, and potential strategic transactions in Newfoundland's mining sector. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic, operational, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. They involve known and unknown risks, assumptions, and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, risks related to fluctuations in gold and other commodity prices; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; uncertainties related to interpretation of historical exploration results and resource estimates; operational and technical risks; changes in general economic, financial, market, and political conditions; delays in regulatory approvals and permitting; challenges associated with financing activities; and risks related to the performance of third-party contractors, consultants, and service providers, including those retained for investor relations and marketing initiatives. The Company has engaged multiple third-party marketing and investor relations firms, and while these initiatives are intended to increase awareness and engagement, there can be no assurance they will lead to increased market visibility, trading liquidity, or appreciation in the Company's share price. Additionally, any references to mergers, acquisitions, or corporate activity involving peer companies are based on publicly available information and are not indicative of future outcomes or intentions by Gold Hunter. Forward-Looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update them to reflect new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to consult the Company's public filings available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca for further information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249150 2025 Winter Exploration Program Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (the "Company" or "Spanish Mountain Gold") (TSX-V: SPA) (FSE: S3Y) (OTCQB: SPAUF) is pleased to provide the first set of near surface and high-grade results from the 2025 winter exploration diamond drill program ("2025 Winter Drill Program") for the Spanish Mountain Gold project located in the Cariboo Gold Corridor, British Columbia, Canada. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250421156557/en/ Figure 1 - Plan View, 2025 Winter Drill Program Highlights: Main Zone - drilling demonstrated potential for higher grades over long intervals within the historical 2021 pit constrained resource: Hole 25-DH-1281 intersected 123.00 metres (m) grading 1.08 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) from 102.00 m including an interval of 47.28 m grading 2.29 g/t Au containing 4.00 m grading 6.45 g/t Au, 2.00 m grading 24.56 g/t Au and 2.00 m grading 10.41 g/t Au. Visible gold (VG) was encountered at a hole depth of 218.00 m in quartz veins. Outcropping Tuff - a step-out drill hole on a new near surface target with several high-grade intercepts reinforces gold mineralization growth potential: Hole 25-DH-1275 intersected 62.20 m grading 0.60 g/t Au, including 5.04 m grading 4.69 g/t Au containing 1.95 m grading 9.72 g/t Au and 0.44 m grading 10.49 g/t Au from 21.00 m. Phoenix - a large, mineralized target near surface with high grade sections: Hole 25-CCR-049 intersected 105.90 m grading 0.41 g/t Au, including 4.00 m grading 4.71 g/t Au from 74.95 m, Hole 25-CCR-050 yielded 246.50 m grading 0.38 g/t Au from 45.00 m, including 3.00 m grading 3.35 g/t Au and 9.30 m grading 1.76 g/t Au, Hole 25-CCR-051 intersected 164.67 m grading 0.27 g/t Au from 80.50 m, including 35.35 m grading 0.59 g/t Au, 10.00 m grading 1.36 g/t Au and 2.00 m grading 5.27 g/t Au. VG was encountered at 126.86 m hole depth in a 0.02 m wide quartz vein. Drill Objectives and Results Summary: Main zone: Drill holes 25-DH-1281 and 25-DH-1282 investigated the top third argillite while testing stratigraphical controls within the 2021 pit constrained resource. These findings support the more optimal drill hole orientation (refer to Table 2 below), which has a higher likelihood of intersecting various mineralization controls within the stratigraphic sequence of the Main Zone including lithology contacts, faults, and steeper high-grade structures. These controls were identified during our 2024 re-logging program, which yielded a new three-dimensional geological and structural model: Hole 25-DH-1281 encountered 197.00 m grading 0.72 g/t Au containing 123.00 m grading 1.08 g/t Au. Hole 25-DH-1282 yielded 211.90 m at 0.36 g/t Au including 100.30 m grading 0.52 g/t Au, containing 16.00 m grading 1.43 g/t Au and within the 16.00 m, 4.00 m grading 2.76 g/t Au. Additionally, starting at 360.30 m depth, the hole intersected 5.70 m grading 2.52 g/t Au. Outcropping Tuff Target a step-out drill hole was completed 1,350 m northwest of the 2021 PFS pit constrained resource to test for broad near surface gold mineralization and high-grade: Hole 25-DH-1275 successfully encountered near-surface and high-grade mineralization in a mafic tuff which is a newly emerging gold host rock type at the project and is interpreted to be like the tuff identified in the upper part of the main deposit and at Phoenix. This hole encountered 62.20 m grading 0.60 g/t Au, including 5.04 m grading 4.69 g/t Au, 1.95 m grading 9.72 g/t Au, and 0.44 m grading 10.49 g/t Au from 21.00 m. This hole confirms the potential for more property-wide near surface open pit type gold mineralization that could offer an attractive alternative to deeper mineralization. Phoenix Target: Drill holes 25-CCR-049, 25-CCR-050, and 25-CCR-051 were drilled to follow up a large target discovered in 2011 (refer to press release dated December 7, 2011, "Spanish Mountain Gold Announces Discovery of New Gold Zone") and successfully intersected extensive gold mineralization with large intercepts including high grade sections: Hole 25-CCR-049 encountered 105.90 m grading 0.41 g/t Au, including 4.00 m grading 4.71 g/t Au from 74.95 m. Hole 25-CCR-050 yielded 246.50 m grading 0.38 g/t Au, including 3.00 m grading 3.35 g/t Au and 9.30 m grading 1.76 g/t Au from 45.00 m. Hole 25-CCR-051 intersected 164.67 m grading 0.27 g/t Au from 80.50 m, including 35.35 m grading 0.59 g/t Au, 10.00 m grading 1.36 g/t Au and 2.00 m grading 5.27 g/t Au. Slipper Zone: Drill holes 25-DH-1278, 25-DH-1279, 25-DH-1280 and 25-DH-1283 followed up on the Slipper Zone extending gold mineralization 320 m towards the northwest of the 2021 resource pit outline and included higher-grade mineralization intervals: Hole 25-DH-1279 intersected 78.00 m grading 0.31 g/t Au from 87.00 m including 5.00 m grading 1.51 g/t Au. 25-DH-1283 intersected 5.80 m grading 1.00 g/t Au and 3.20 m grading 1.13 g/t Au from 127.20 m and 173.00 m respectively, along a cataclastic argillite control. Peter Mah, Spanish Mountain Gold's President & CEO commented, "In addition to accelerating the Project towards a build decision by 2027, we are extremely encouraged by the initial 2025 drill results that continue to demonstrate the significant, low cost to drill, growth potential for increasing near surface and high-grade gold mineralization beyond the 2021 pit constrained resource." Detailed Target Descriptions and Results: Main Zone Drill holes 25-DH-1281 and 25-DH-1282 (Figure 2 top right inset) were collared in the main zone and targeted the continuity of the near-pit bottom mineralization. The gold mineralization in drillholes 25-DH-1281 and 25-DH-1282 is hosted primarily in argillite in contact with greywacke in proximity to a faulted zone and exhibits a direct association with quartz plus galena veining. Hole 25-DH-1281 encountered 197.00 m grading 0.72 g/t Au including 123.00 m grading 1.08 g/t Au, while 25-DH-1282 yielded 211.90 m at 0.36 g/t Au including 100.30 m grading 0.52 g/t Au containing 16.00 m grading 1.43 g/t Au and 4.00 m grading 2.76 g/t Au. In both 25-DH-1281 and 25-DH-1282, the grades are linked to quartz veins occurring in proximity to lithological boundaries. Outcropping Tuff Target Drill hole 25-DH-1275 (Figure 2 top left inset and Figure 3) was collared approximately 1,350m northwest of the 2021 pit constrained resource (refer to the Spanish Mountain Gold Project - Prefeasibility Study (PFS) and Mineral Resource Estimate, and associated NI 43-101 Technical Report, effective date May 10, 2023, available on the Company's website or under the Company's profile on Sedarplus.ca). Mineralization intercepted by 25-DH-1275 in the Outcropping Tuff Target occurs in Quartz, Galena, and Sphalerite veins hosted within volcanic rocks, specifically within a Mafic Tuff unit displaying intense sericite-chlorite alteration accompanied by quartz and fuchsite. The hole encountered 62.20 m grading 0.60 g/t Au, including 5.04 m grading 4.69 g/t Au containing 1.95 m grading 9.72 g/t Au and 0.44 m grading 10.49 g/t from 21.00 m. Oriented core data indicates the presence of two distinct sets of veining: high-angle and lower-angle veins. Further exploration of this promising zone is anticipated. The Phoenix Target Figure 3 illustrates drill hole 25-CCR-049 intercepted multiple quartz + galena and pyrite veins hosted in a mafic Tuff unit, yielding 105.90 m grading 0.41 g/t Au, including 4.00 m grading 4.71 g/t Au starting at 74.95 m depth. Similarly, a 200.00 m step-out to the northwest in hole 25-CCR-050 yielded 246.50 m grading 0.38 g/t Au, including 3.00 m grading 3.35 g/t Au and 9.30 m grading 1.76 g/t Au starting at 45.00 m depth. Finally, Drill hole 25-CCR-051 a 140.00 m step out to the southeast of 25-CCR-050 intersected 164.67 m grading 0.27 g/t Au including 35.35 m grading 0.59 g/t Au containing 10.00 m grading 1.36 g/t Au, and 2.00 m grading 5.27 g/t Au. At the time of this press release, exploration continues with two drills active in this target area. The 2025 Winter Drill Program on the Phoenix Target revealed the presence of mineralized argillite including cataclastic horizons that were not previously identified in this area. Slipper Zone Refer to the bottom inset in Figure 2. Drill hole 25-DH-1279 was collared 97.00 m northwest of drill hole 24-DH-1267 from 2024, to follow up on high-grade intercepts which demonstrated potential to extend near-pit mineralization of the Slipper Zone to the northwest. 25-DH-1279 intersected 78.00 m grading 0.31 g/t Au including 5.00m grading 1.51 g/t Au from 87.00 m and 25-DH-1283 intersected 5.80 m grading 1.00 g/t Au and 3.20 m grading 1.13 g/t Au from 127.20 m and 173.00 m, respectively. The gold mineralization style encountered in drill holes 25-DH-1277, 25-DH-1278, 25-DH-1279, and 25-DH-1280 mostly occurs within the Upper Argillite and the newly defined cataclastic argillite structure (upper cataclastic argillite). The continuity of the cataclastic argillite structure has been confirmed for 300.00 m along a northwest strike and remains open in that direction, as well as down-dip toward the northeast. Exploration continues along this structure. Table 1: 2025 Winter Drill Program - Summarized Gold Assay Results Drillhole ID From To Width(m) Gold Grade (g/t Au) 25-DH-1279 87.00 165.00 78.00 0.31 including 160.00 165.00 5.00 1.51 25-DH-1279 337.00 348.00 11.00 0.45 25-DH-1279 356.00 359.00 3.00 0.18 25-DH-1279 376.00 391.00 15.00 0.24 25-DH-1280 97.00 103.24 6.24 0.40 25-DH-1280 124.00 142.50 18.50 0.29 25-DH-1281 28.00 225.00 197.00 0.72 including 28.00 39.00 11.00 0.18 25-DH-1281 49.00 53.50 4.50 0.20 25-DH-1281 73.00 79.50 6.50 0.28 25-DH-1281 102.00 225.00 123.00 1.08 including 106.00 121.00 15.00 0.65 including 141.00 188.28 47.28 2.29 including 141.00 145.00 4.00 6.45 including 141.00 143.00 2.00 24.56 including 171.00 173.00 2.00 10.41 25-DH-1281 321.00 325.00 4.00 0.36 25-DH-1281 451.00 454.00 3.00 0.16 25-DH-1282 33.10 245.00 211.90 0.36 including 33.10 133.40 100.30 0.52 including 105.00 121.00 16.00 1.43 including 114.00 118.00 4.00 2.76 25-DH-1282 274.00 280.30 6.30 0.31 25-DH-1282 324.00 343.00 19.00 0.24 25-DH-1282 360.30 366.00 5.70 2.52 25-DH-1282 433.00 438.00 5.00 0.28 25-DH-1283 127.20 133.00 5.80 1.00 25-DH-1283 173.00 176.20 3.20 1.13 25-DH-1283 291.00 295.72 4.72 0.20 25-CCR-049 74.95 180.85 105.90 0.41 including 74.95 92.15 17.20 0.64 including 176.85 180.85 4.00 4.71 25-CCR-049 321.00 325.00 4.00 0.26 25-CCR-049 553.00 559.00 6.00 0.42 25-CCR-050 45.00 291.50 246.50 0.38 including 45.00 50.00 5.00 2.13 including 125.50 128.50 3.00 3.35 including 275.60 284.90 9.30 1.76 25-CCR-050 339.00 347.00 8.00 0.33 25-CCR-051 66.95 70.50 3.55 0.28 25-CCR-051 80.50 245.17 164.67 0.27 including 124.00 128.00 4.00 0.90 including 125.00 160.35 35.35 0.59 including 140.00 150.00 10.00 1.36 including 148.00 150.00 2.00 5.27 including 211.00 216.00 5.00 1.07 25-CCR-051 262.50 266.00 3.50 0.17 25-CCR-051 309.21 312.14 2.93 0.45 25-DH-1275 21.00 83.20 62.20 0.60 including 78.16 83.20 5.04 4.69 including 78.16 78.60 0.44 10.49 including 81.25 83.20 1.95 9.72 25-DH-1275 362.15 371.50 9.35 0.19 25-DH-1276 113.45 237.80 124.35 0.18 including 233.90 237.80 3.90 0.82 25-DH-1276 351.50 355.00 3.50 0.38 25-DH-1276 406.00 501.25 95.25 0.33 including 489.75 496.25 6.50 1.09 25-DH-1276 672.70 693.20 20.50 0.20 25-DH-1276 716.85 728.60 11.75 0.30 25-DH-1277 46.00 50.00 4.00 0.18 25-DH-1278 65.00 70.50 5.50 0.18 25-DH-1278 73.30 77.00 3.70 0.18 25-DH-1278 110.00 115.21 5.21 0.16 25-DH-1278 127.70 131.00 3.30 0.25 25-DH-1278 137.06 142.00 4.94 0.42 Notes: Reported intersections are calculated using a 0.15 g/t Au cut-off grade. The complete assay table is available on the Company's website Table 2: Drill Hole Collar Location and hole lengths HOLE-ID LOCATION 'X' LOCATION 'Y' LOCATION 'Z' LENGTH Azimuth Dip Easting Northing Elevation 25-DH-1283 603457 5828457 1050 295.72 120 -65 25-DH-1282 604315 5828137 1075 513 120 55 25-DH-1281 604250 5828176 1071 567 117 62 25-DH-1280 603556 5828409 1050 144 120 65 25-DH-1279 603640 5828346 1060 392 120 65 25-DH-1278 603715 5828307 1060 279 120 65 25-DH-1277 603675 5828216 1077 245 120 65 25-DH-1276 603800 5828506 1014 824 150 65 25-DH-1275 602354 5829001 1024 408 77 65 25-CCR-050 602261 5827616 1022 347 120 65 25-CCR-049 602338 5827447 1056 617 120 65 25-CCR-051 602397 5827568 1035 363 120 65 Drill Core Processing, Data Verification and Quality Assurance - Quality Control Program (QAQC) Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples were sawn in half, labeled, and bagged. The remaining half of the drill core was securely stored on-site. Numbered security tags were applied to sample shipments to ensure chain of custody compliance. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals, including blanks and reference materials, for all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. Standards and blanks account for a minimum of 15% of the samples in addition to the laboratory's internal quality assurance programs. The QAQC program was overseen by the Company's Qualified Person, Julian Manco, P.Geo, Director of Exploration (as described below). Drill core samples were submitted to MSALABS' analytical facility in Prince George, British Columbia, for sample preparation and PhotonAssayTM analysis. The MSALABS facilities are accredited to the International Standards ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 9001 standard for gold and multi-element assays, with all analytical methods incorporating quality control materials at defined frequencies and established data acceptance criteria. MSALABS Inc. is independent of the Company. PhotonAssayTM The PhotonAssayTM CPA-Au1 method utilizes gamma ray analysis for gold detection using the Chrysos PhotonAssayTM instrument (PA1408X). This non-destructive, fully automated technique offers high accuracy for analyzing ores and pulps. Sample preparation begins with drying and crushing up to 1 kg of material to achieve at least 70% passing through a 2-millimetre (mm) sieve. The sample is then riffle split to obtain a suitable aliquot for analysis. The PhotonAssayTM instrument bombards 400 - 600 gram samples contained in sealed containers with gamma rays. These containers remain sealed throughout the process, preserving the sample for potential further testing. The analysis is performed robotically, with results that integrate into existing laboratory management systems. Each sample is accompanied by a reference disc traceable to a Certified Reference Material (CRM). Both the sample and reference disc undergo gamma ray exposure, with signals detected and analyzed to ensure accurate and reliable results. The method offers a gold detection range from 0.015 parts per million (ppm - lower limit) to 10,000 ppm (upper limit). Quality control includes the use of reference materials and blanks, with all results reviewed by a competent person before reporting. Spanish Mountain Gold implemented two QAQC methodologies to validate the accuracy of PhotonAssayTM results, both demonstrating good comparability: 1) comparative analysis of diverse mineralization styles using Total Au screen metallic methods with both FAS-415 (gravimetric finish) and FAS-211 (AAS finish), and 2) comprehensive testing of both sample aliquots and rejects using FAS-211 (AAS finish). QAQC Testing typically can include the following spot checks: 1) Pulverizing tests to evaluate variability in sample preparation, 2) Cross-analysis at external laboratories using screen metallic method, and 3) Four-cycle radiation testing to identify and calibrate potential variability in gold results with variable radiation intensity. Upon final QAQC checks on the preliminary initial results for hole 24-DH-1268 have been corrected to 29.00 m grading 0.60 g/t Au from 520.00 to 549.00 m including 1.27 g/t Au over 6.00 m and 0.99 g/t Au over 9.00 m. Results are available on the Company's website. Multi-Elemental Analysis For the 2025 drilling campaign Spanish Mountain Gold used IMS-230 method to provide multi-element determination using a four-acid digestion followed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis. Key Process Steps: Sample Preparation: Samples are dried and ground to specific criteria (85% passing 75 microns (?m) for rocks and drill core; 180?m for soils and sediments). A homogeneous 10-gram sample is required. Digestion: Samples undergo sequential digestion with nitric, perchloric, hydrofluoric, and hydrochloric acids, followed by dilution with deionized water. Analysis: The solution is analyzed via ICP-OES and ICP-MS for multi-element quantification. Quality Control: The process includes reference materials, blanks, and duplicates, with corrections for spectral interferences and thorough review before final reporting. Julian Manco, M.Sc., P.Geo., has verified the data disclosed in this news release. The data verification process involved a multi-step approach to ensure accuracy and integrity. This included a detailed quality control (QC) analysis of the data, which was performed using both internal and external platforms, such as the MxDeposit software. These QC checks involved the analysis of certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks, and duplicates to confirm the reliability of the assay results. In addition, Mr. Manco, conducted a field inspection of the specific drill intervals mentioned in this release to directly observe the geological features and verified the nature of the results presented. Qualified Person Julian Manco, M.Sc., P.Geo., Director of Exploration with Spanish Mountain Gold, is the Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and has approved the contents of this news release. About Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. is focused on advancing its 100%-owned Spanish Mountain Gold Project towards construction of the next gold mine in the Cariboo Gold Corridor, British Columbia. We are conducting an integrated Whittle Enterprise Optimization to identify the highest potential value-add improvements while increasing the understanding of the high-grade geologic controls and associated drill targets that could upgrade and expand the gold resource. We are striving to be a leader in community and Indigenous relations by leveraging technology and innovation to build the 'greenest' gold mine in Canada. The Relentless Pursuit for Better Gold means seeking new ways to achieve optimal financial outcomes that are safer, minimize environmental impact and create meaningful sustainability for communities. Details on the Company are available on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website: www.spanishmountaingold.com. On Behalf of the Board, "Peter Mah" President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute "forward-looking information". Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be considered forward-looking information. The Company's forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release and include but are not limited to information with respect to, the potential to extend mineralization within the near-surface environment; the potential to expand resources and to find higher-grade mineralization at depth; the timing, size and budget of a winter drill program, and the results thereof; and the delivery of a maiden resource for the Phoenix Target, and the timing and results thereof. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250421156557/en/ Contact For more information, contact: Peter Mah (604) 601-3651 info@spanishmountaingold.com Canary Gold Corp. (CSE: BRAZ | Frankfurt: K5D) ("Canary Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of the first three (3) reconnaissance air core drill holes from the ongoing 1,000-metre program at the Company's flagship Madeira River Gold Project, located in Rondonia, Brazil. This drilling represents the first systematic subsurface test of the targeted paleochannel and "Mocururu" stratigraphic horizons interpreted to be preserved beneath shallow cover. (See the Company's previous news release dated April 4, 2025.) Exploration Highlights Visible gold grains were recovered through manual panning of drill cuttings derived from split air core samples from Hole 3, which targets the Mocururu horizon. This positive visual confirmation of gold from pan concentrates validates the exploration model and supports the broader potential for gold concentration within preserved paleochannel systems across the Company's 68,445-hectare tenement package Panned material and split samples are being processed and will be submitted to SGS Geosol laboratories in Vespasiano, Belo Horizonte for assay. Panning protocols and oversight procedures for sample processing were established and monitored by Rodrigo Mello, FAusIMM, (Qualified Person under 43-101) in accordance with CIM Best Practice Guidelines (2018). Figure 1. Visible gold grains from pan concentrate, Hole 3. Technical Summary Holes 1 and 2, drilled 500m apart on an east-west drill fence, encountered ~2 m of soil cover overlying up to 10 m of oxidized clay-rich silts, followed by a thick sequence of black, water saturated, fine-grained, organic-rich clay with occasional sandy horizons and sporadic quartz/chert pebbles. These are interpreted as paleochannel or oxbow lake deposits formed under stagnant water conditions. Drilling was terminated above the basement interface due to depth limitations of the air core rig (Hole 1: 60 m; Hole 2: 38 m). Hole 3, drilled a further 500m east of hole 2 on the same initial east-west fence, reached a total depth of 36 m. Below 1-2 m of surface soil, the hole intersected ~32 m of oxidized, pale orange to red-brown, unconsolidated to semi-consolidated fluvial sands and silts, underlain by a 1-2 m interval of indurated, ferruginized, conglomeratic sandstone at ~22 m depth-interpreted as the Mocururu duricrust. The hole ended in weathered basement granite from 34 to 36 m. The Company intends to re-enter these targets with deeper capacity drilling to test the paleochannel-basement interface, which is considered a high-priority target for gold concentration. Sampling Protocol: Air core samples are logged, dried, split, and batched at the Company's Porto Velho facility. One quarter of each sample is retained for fire assay; another quarter is used for panning. The remaining material is stored for reference or future analysis. Samples for fire assay will be shipped to SGS Geosol Laboratories, Vespasiano, Belo Horizonte. Gold-bearing samples from hole 3 were visually confirmed through panning of concentrates prepared under controlled conditions at a secure warehouse. These samples will be further analyzed by metallic screen fire assay and heavy mineral separation methods. This work comprises the Phase I exploration program, which includes planned follow-up sonic drilling (2,000 m) and drone-supported magnetic and tomographic surveys scheduled for late Q2 2025. Qualified Person Statement and Cautionary Notes The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Smith has verified the information disclosed through a review of all pertinent data. Mr. Smith is a director and the Executive Chairman of the Company. Manual panning of air core samples was conducted under the direct supervision of Rodrigo Mello, FAusIMM, also a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. While the presence of visible gold grains is a positive exploration indicator, it is qualitative in nature and not a substitute for quantitative certified assay results. No mineral resources or reserves have been delineated to date. The Company cautions investors that the presence of visible gold does not ensure future economic extraction or a mineral resource estimate. About the Madeira River Project The Madeira River Project covers an extensive area of interpreted preserved paleochannel systems and gold-bearing duricrust known locally as Mocururu, within the Amazon Basin. Historical estimates suggest significant gold production from the Madeira River region during the 1980s, primarily through artisanal dredging operations. The current exploration program is designed to test concealed mineralized horizons beneath 10-20 metres of overburden using modern geophysical and drilling techniques. About Canary Gold Corp. Canary Gold Corp. is a Canadian public exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold projects in Brazil. The Company holds an option to earn up to a 70% undivided interest in the Rio Madeira Project through staged exploration expenditures and milestone payments. For Further Information, Please Contact: Canary Gold Corp. Mark Tommasi, President Tel: 604-318-1448 www.canarygold.ca Field observations, including the presence of visible gold grains recovered by panning from split air core drill samples, were made under the direct supervision of the Qualified Person. Panning was conducted in accordance with CIM Exploration Best Practice Guidelines (2018) and is considered a valid field technique for qualitative geological interpretation. However, the recovery of gold grains through panning is not a quantitative measure of gold content and should not be interpreted as a proxy for gold grade or used to estimate mineral resources or reserves. No chemical or certified analytical assays have been received for the samples referenced in this release at the time of writing. Until such assay data is available and reviewed, the observations disclosed herein should be considered preliminary and exploratory in nature. The Company cautions readers that the presence of visible gold or panned gold grains, while supportive of the exploration model, does not confirm economic mineralization. Further analytical work, including certified fire assay and/or metallic screen analysis, is required to determine the presence, continuity, and concentration of gold. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipates", "expects", "believes", and similar expressions or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and drill programs and potential significance of results, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include but are not limited to the risks detailed in the Company's Prospectus and in the continuous disclosure filings made by the Company with securities regulations from time to time. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by applicable law. No securities exchange or commission has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Toronto - King Global Ventures Inc. (CSE:KING) (OTC: KGLDF) (FSE: 5LM1) (the "Company" or "King Global") announces that it is undertaking a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to $5,250,000. The Company will issue up to 11,666,666 units at a price of $0.45 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to subscribe for one additional common share for $0.65 for a period of two years from the date of closing. The common shares and warrants comprising the units will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable securities legislation. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement to continue exploration and drilling on its Black Canyon Project. The Company will pay a finder's fee in cash to qualified finders who assist in selling the Units, as permitted by Canadian Securities Exchange policy an applicable securities law. The Private Placement is subject to certain conditions, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including approval from the Canadian Securities Exchange. About King Global Ventures: Black Canyon Property in Arizona King Global Ventures is focused on the exploration of precious and base metals in North America. The Black Canyon Project in Yavapai County Arizona is comprised of 213 contiguous concessions covering a total area of 3,800 ac, including 15 former operating mines including the past producing Howard Copper Mine. And is situated 100 km (64 miles) north of Phoenix Arizona. The Black Canyon Project represents an early-stage exploration opportunity targeting copper-gold-silver-zinc, Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") mineralization. The geology of Yavapai County, Arizona is notable due to the presence of a variety of base and precious metal deposit types. The region has a significant history of exploration, discovery and mining operations, including base metals from mining operations like Bagdad, Jerome and Cleopatra. The property is on trend and is approximately 8 km (12 miles) N.W. of Arizona Metals and 100 km (60 miles) south of the historic Jerome Copper mine. The Howard Copper Mine Property is located on 78 acres of patented land approximately 100 km (64 miles) north of Phoenix AZ. Discovered in the early 1920's, small scale production and development focused on high-grade copper. An estimated 100,000 tonnes of copper grading between 3-5% copper was mined from the property until it was closed in 1942 due to the inability to secure fuel rations during WW2. Historical reports state that the main shaft was sunk to the 900-foot level, but that no ore was mined below the 500-foot level. York Property in Quebec The York Property is comprised of 77 claims exceeding 40 sq. km. The Property is on trend between Azimut's Elmer Property and the Eleonor Gold Mine. The Eleonor Mine is hosted by rocks similar to the clastic sediments known to host the Ukaw gold showings. Additional information about King Global Ventures can be viewed at the Company's website at www.kingglobal.gold or at www.sedarplus.ca. On behalf of King Global Ventures Robert Dzisiak Chief Executive Officer 204-955-4803 ir@kingcse.com The technical contents of this news release were approved by Andrew Lee Smith, Bsc., P.Geo, ICD.D, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Neither the CSE Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, the uncertainty of the financing, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in preparing such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove imprecise and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. OR DISSEMINATION THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Rumours of wind tunnel problems at Aston Martin Despite huge factory investments, Adrian Newey's presence and rumours mentioning Max Verstappen, Aston Martin is arguably "the last team" on the grid. Lance Stroll, Saudi Arabian GP 2025 Aston Martin Racing That quote emerged from two-time champion Fernando Alonso's mouth during the Saudi Arabia GP weekend, where after the chequered flag he admitted to exhaustion - with still not a single point to his name in 2025. Doing 50 laps of qualifying consumes you inside, the visibly drained 43-year-old told Spanish media. However, although Newey has been at the drawing board for approaching two months, the Silverstone based team will hardly develop the woeful green car at all. The car has basically no strengths, Lance Stroll, who on Saturday broke the record for the most failures in a single career to even break out of the Q1 qualifying segment, said. Put the McLaren drivers in Sauber for ten years and they will have the record too, the son of billionaire team owner Lawrence Stroll added. As for Alonso, he thinks it's possible 2025 will be marked alongside his debut season with Minardi in 2001 as only the second time he has failed to score a single point in an entire year. But there's nothing we can do because the rules change next year, and we have very good people in the team working on the 2026 car. The team is preparing for that, he said. If the rules were stable next year, it would be harder to swallow. However, rumours are starting to swirl that Aston Martin's brand new wind tunnel is actually producing results that do not align with the data from the old tunnel. When asked in Saudi Arabia why the 2025 car is arguably even slower than the very similar 2024 Aston Martin, new team boss Andy Cowell pointed to correlation problems. We struggled last year differentiating between what the wind tunnel and the tools told us would make the car faster and what actually made the car faster, he told the Spanish newspaper AS. When you have these problems and your rivals are bringing performance to their cars, you fall behind. We have a new factory and great tools, but we need to optimise how we use them to be more precise. As for why the team has basically given up on 2025, he explained: "There are 20 races left this year and five years until the next regulation change (after 2026). That's why we're investing in the new rules and the priority of our aerodynamic development is focused on 2026. "We could go all in on '25, we'd make progress, but we'd be in a bad starting position in 2026, which would carry over into 2027, 2028, 2029. We've had these conversations internally with Lawrence and Adrian about where we are and what we need to do. CFD and wind tunnel testing are limited, and decisions need to be made based on the data. We can't just panic now and change what we believe in, Cowell added. Alonso lamented recently that Newey is yet to have any big ideas about how the 2025 car could be quickly improved. Cowell explained: "90 percent of a car's creation is in the factory, and that's where we want Adrian. Everyone who walks past his office says that whenever they see him, he's drawing on his board. He doesn't go to meetings, he doesn't answer emails, he's just preparing a fast car. And we all support that process. As for any problems setting up the new facilities, Cowell also told the Spanish broadcaster DAZN: "Adrian is very complimentary about the campus and is very positive about the tunnel we have and the way it's all set up. He's also pushing us to improve the way we operate in the tunnel, the way we operate CFD, the way we operate simulations. For pretty much everything, Adrian has ideas on how to improve. (GMM) Booming durian trade mirrors mutually beneficial China-Malaysia trade cooperation 11:08, April 21, 2025 By Guan Kejiang, Tian Hong, Huan Xiang ( People's Daily A worker of Top Fruits Sdn. Bhd., a durian supplier in Malaysia, harvests durians. (Photo by Huan Xiang/People's Daily) In Raub, Pahang, two hours northeast of Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, the pungent scent of promise hangs in the air. Durian trees, now flowering in the early heat of April, are being carefully pruned and pollinated by farmers. In about 90 days, the ripened fruits will be packed and shipped across the ocean, making their way to shopping carts in China. Since China opened its doors to frozen Malaysian durians in 2019, the fruit has soared past cherries to become the country's top-selling imported fruit. The surge in appetite has sparked a wave of innovation and closer partnerships between the two countries. Among the new players is Muhua Sdn. Bhd. Malaysia, a trading company founded in 2021 to ride the durian wave. However, after diving deeper into the business, the company's general manager Jiaqiang Wang discovered a challenge: grading a durian's quality was less science than guesswork. With its thick skin and unpredictable flesh, determining which fruit would meet customer expectations depended entirely on the intuition of experienced hands - resulting in high spoilage, logistical headaches, and a growing list of dissatisfied buyers. The turning point came at the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. At a side forum hosted by Nuctech, a Chinese security and inspection solution supplier, an innovative idea began to take shape: what if the same technology used to scan luggage could be used to scan durians? Over the following year, the two companies co-developed "Durian Detective," a non-destructive 3D detection system that merges CT scanning with AI image recognition. The system assesses 20 indicators - from core size and hollowness to signs of pests or rot - and assigns each fruit a unique "quality ID card." With an accuracy rate of over 98 percent, it is 40 times more precise than traditional manual inspection. In Raub, Pahang, Malaysia, a farmer ties durians to the tree branches to prevent them from falling prematurely. (Photo provided by the interviewee) Malaysia's durian industry is embracing digital transformation on multiple fronts. Top Fruits Sdn. Bhd., a durian supplier in Malaysia, is now using AI-driven tools in collaboration with the Malaysian branch of Xiamen University to monitor durian growth. In the company's office, a dashboard displays real-time photos of every durian tree on the farm. Clicking on the images, one could clearly see the number of blossoms and budding fruits. "We regularly upload photos of the growing progress, and the system analyzes them intelligently to make predictions," explained Tan Xue Yi, the company's plantation R&D lead. "This allows us to plan ahead and improve efficiency." According to Tan Sue Yee, head of the company, the payoff has been swift. "Since August last year, Malaysian fresh durians have been reaching Chinese consumers as quickly as the day after they're picked, and our orders have soared." In 2023, Malaysia exported 1.92 billion yuan ($262.73 million) worth of frozen durians to China - seven times the amount in 2018. As Chinese demand continues to surge, Malaysian farmers are planting more trees, while rural youth are returning to hometowns to start businesses, spurred by tech-driven agriculture and booming e-commerce channels. Meanwhile, Malaysian exporters are increasingly open to settling durian deals in Chinese yuan, supported by local banks offering RMB-denominated letters of credit. Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows visitors selecting products at the booth of Malaysia during the 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. (Photo by Yu Xiangquan/People's Daily Online) The booming durian trade is a vivid example of deepening China-Malaysia economic ties. In 2024, bilateral trade reached a record high of $212.04 billion, marking an 11.4 percent year-on-year increase. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years and remains one of Malaysia's top investors, while Malaysia remains China's second-largest trading partner and the largest source of imports within ASEAN. The implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has further expanded market access between China and Malaysia. China's massive market and ongoing upgrades in consumption are unlocking more opportunities for trading partners like Malaysia. Malaysian companies have been actively participating in major Chinese expos such as the CIIE and the China-ASEAN Expo, bringing signature products like white coffee, mangosteen, bird's nest, and palm oil into millions of Chinese households. In turn, Malaysian consumers are now enjoying Chinese fruits such as apples, fragrant pears, and plums - demonstrating a robust two-way exchange. "Malaysia and China have created a truly win-win partnership," said Malaysia's Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. In recent years, Chinese companies have steadily ramped up investment, expanded their footprint, and delivered solid returns in Malaysia, contributing significantly to the local economy. "Today, both countries are well-positioned to deepen cooperation and drive development together," he added. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The dilemma of hypermodernity (Part Nine) By Mark Wegierski web posted April 21, 2025 An earlier, academic version of this essay has appeared in This World: Religion and Public Life (Culture and Consumption) no. 31 (2000) (New Brunswick, USA and London, UK: Transaction Publishers), pp. 29-45. This is the 25th anniversary of the appearance of the academic version of the essay which had also appeared in various, different, non-academic iterations in the 1990s, including in Polish translation. The essay had also appeared in three parts on its 15th anniversary, in Quarterly Review (UK). It can be seen that the nations of the former Eastern bloc; the peoples of the numerous, diverse cultural regions of the planet's South; as well as China, Japan, and the so-called Newly-Industrialized Countries (NIC's) of the Pacific Rim, are evolving in certain unpredictable directions. Even Europe is arguably showing some signs of an independent "Eurostyle", something barely tangible but perceivable in the greater elegance and diversity of contemporary European thought, culture, fashion, and lifestyle (to cite one example, the affection for the countryside, or at least the preference for fine food and drink that can only be produced by unhurried, natural methods in the countryside); as well as in the view of technology as craftwork -- sophisticated European technological artefacts can be described as being carefully "crafted", rather than mass-produced. This distinctive European style -- which also certainly has its negative aspects -- is selectively interpreted as "decadence" or nihilism by some North American observers. But the West, as a whole, is defined by its American-centred corporate/media bureaucratic-oligarchic configuration, which stage-manages all "social change", and denies the hope for real change. It might be added here that the British state is in a curious, unfortunate, "mid-Atlantic" position. There was a point in the Eighties when the standard of living in the United Kingdom apparently fell below that of East Germany -- Britain has little of the Continental "style"; but at the same time it lacks the luxurious wealth of North America. Greater London is largely a concrete blight; the old industrial centres of the midlands and the north are hardly better. More development under the "project" of Thatcherite individualism will presumably destroy what little remains of the countryside; lack of development will presumably deepen the misery of the division into "two nations". Britain has the curious residue of what are probably the worst aspects -- as opposed to some more positive, truly aristocratic elements -- of a class-system: which excuses almost any behaviour by the elite (such as that carried out by the Cambridge spies, virtually all of whom emerged unscathed); which severely punishes to the point of enpenurement a Slavic Count (Nikolai Tolstoy), who makes certain accusations against one of its members; and which virtually slots many working-class people into a perpetual underclass. One of the reasons for the proliferation of youth subcultures in Britain, and of the unquestionably trend-setting and manifestly more independent and less brazenly commercial nature of British rock (and its various subgenres), relative to its North American counterparts, is simply that white alienation in Britain is arguably more genuine, and can more genuinely be felt. (There are more real working-class youth there, as opposed to the well-off "bohos" pretentiously "slumming it" in North America.) The "Little Englanders" of the early twentieth century -- as well as J. R. R. Tolkien -- have been proven essentially correct that the gaudy edifice of British imperialism and colonialism would quickly collapse and implode upon England, leaving the nation a wreck. Ireland, for so long a despised province of the British Empire, seems now to be in better national, spiritual, and environmental shape than her long-time occupier. The cultural identifications in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (or Ulster), however much they contribute to intercommunal strife, seem so much more vivid and alive than in England, especially in its "Southern Third", the most prosperous part of the country, which is particularly supportive of Thatcherism. (A curious comment on the situation in Northern Ireland is that the cumulative murder rate there, even with all "the Troubles", is apparently much less per capita than that of Washington, D.C.) While the British (or what should really be called the English, or London-ruled) state seems moribund, the so-called Celtic fringe of Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall appears to be reviving, culturally if not economically. So the possibilities and configurations of resistance to globalization vary from country to country and from region to region. Regarding the problems of the Third World (or South), there is a constellation of trends at work, not only the Western mass-media images which undermine traditional cultures, but also the extreme poverty, caused largely by massively burgeoning overpopulation, which drastically cheapens human life in those countries. It seems impossible for the author to imagine that any country would consciously want to be overpopulated. While on the one hand it would seem entirely just that the West take strong steps to limit its own profligate consumption, as well as to funnel extensive, meaningful aid to the South, it also behooves the South to take extremely strong population-control measures and to understand that any large-scale aid would be contingent on the enactment of at least some significant efforts in that direction; as well as to realize that the West in general, and Europe in particular, could no longer serve as destination-points for large-scale immigration. Stabilization of population growth must be seen as one of the primary means of stabilizing the over-all situation in the South. Then, presumably, the over-all value put on human life in those countries will increase, the traditional cultures will be under less severe stress, and there will be some hope for the ultimate survival and recovery of the ravaged ecosystems and dwindling wilderness areas of the South, which include such priceless ecological treasures as the Amazon rainforest (critical to the oxygen supply and stability of weather patterns across the entire planet); the African savannah; and the forests of Northern India. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Next article: Ghanaian culture to shine in Melbourne as Gilgal Community Care launches Ghana Day in Australia Finance Minister leads Ghana's delegation to IMF, World Bank Spring meetings Kester Aburam Korankye Business News Apr - 21 - 2025 , 11:22 The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is leading the Ghanaian delegation to the 2025 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings, marking the first major international economic engagement under President John Mahamas new administration. The meetings come a week after Ghana reached a critical staff-level agreement with the IMF on the fourth review of its $3 billion Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme, paving the way for the disbursement of $370 million to support Ghanas economic recovery efforts. Read also: Govt, IMF agreement brings in $370m During the Spring Meetings, Dr. Cassiel Forson is scheduled to hold discussions with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, the Paris Club, credit rating agencies, and U.S. Treasury officials to reinforce Ghanas reform commitments and attract further investment. Key focus areas for the delegation include job creation and inclusive growth, energy access and food security, and climate resilience and green financing. These engagements aim to secure additional support for Ghanas economic recovery and long-term stability. In his engagements, Dr. Forson is expected to articulate what he calls Ghanas Reset Story, a strategy centred on macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability, and structural reforms to drive long-term growth. Our goal is not just stabilization but building a resilient economy that protects the vulnerable and lays the foundation for The Ghana We Want he stated ahead of the meetings. With the IMF deal in sight and aggressive reforms underway, Ghana aims to reinforce investor confidence and secure additional support for its economic turnaround agenda. Previous article: Pope Francis died of stroke and heart failure - Vatican says and releases final testament outlining burial wishes 10 things to know about the revocation of the Akonta Mining Company Limited licence Kweku Zurek Apr - 21 - 2025 , 18:44 3 minutes read The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on Monday, April 21, announced the immediate revocation of all mining licences held by Akonta Mining Company Limited. The announcement follows revelations of the companys alleged involvement in illegal mining and organised environmental degradation. Here are 10 key takeaways from the Ministers address: 1. Licence revoked over illegal mining allegations The Lands Minister directed the Minerals Commission to revoke Akonta Minings lease with immediate effect, citing overwhelming evidence of illegal mining activities, particularly in protected forest reserves. 2. Accusations of running a criminal syndicate Mr Buah described the company as having become a criminal syndicate, accusing it of selling illegal mining access in the Aboi Forest Reserve for as much as GH300,000 per concession. Some of these deals were allegedly sealed in exchange for weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold. 3. No permit for forest entry Despite holding a lease to mine off-reserve, Akonta Mining reportedly operated within the Samreboi enclave of the Western North Region without a valid forest entry permitrendering its activities illegal. 4. Protected areas under threat According to the Minister, the companys operations had devastated compartments 49 and 121 of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, as well as polluted the River Tanoposing grave threats to Ghanas ecosystem. 5. Undercover investigations reveal organised network Investigations, including an undercover operation, unveiled a well-coordinated network of individualsallegedly led by a company representative identified as Mr Ayisiwho brokered illegal access to forest lands. 6. Security and forestry officials implicated The Minister revealed that some forestry officers and security personnel were complicit in the scheme. These officers take a cut as a service charge in exchange for protection and tip-offs in the event of an impending raid, Mr Buah noted. 7. Arrests and equipment seizures A Good Friday intelligence-led operation resulted in 51 arrestscomprising eight Chinese nationals and 43 Ghanaiansand the seizure of 30 excavators, pump-action guns, vehicles, motorbikes, and other mining equipment. All suspects are currently in custody. 8. Government committed to prosecution The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has taken over the investigation for further legal action. The Minister also ordered the interdiction of implicated forestry officers pending prosecution. 9. Warning to mining companies In a stern caution, the Minister said: This is a warning to all large-scale mining concession holders hiding behind legal leases to fund the destruction of our forests and river bodies. We know some of your schemes we are coming after you! 10. Galamsey fight unrelenting Reaffirming the governments commitment to ending illegal mining, Mr Buah declared: We will not stop until galamsey is completely uprooted until our waters run blue and our forests are turned green. The Minister concluded by calling on the Ghanaian public, especially the media, to remain vigilant and report any illegal mining activities to the authorities. Previous article: 10 things to know about the revocation of the Akonta Mining Company Limited licence Akonta Mining licence revoked over alleged galamsey syndicate in forest reserve Kweku Zurek Apr - 21 - 2025 , 18:27 3 minutes read The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced the immediate revocation of all mining licences held by Akonta Mining Company Limited following what he described as "overwhelming evidence" of illegal mining and criminal syndication. Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, April 21, 2025, the Minister disclosed that Akonta Mining, though legally registered and granted a lease to mine off-reserve, has been involved in egregious breaches of mining regulations, including operating illegally in protected forest reserves. This company has not only trespassed into protected reserves but has become a criminal syndicate, selling access to the Aboi Forest Reserve to illegal miners for a staggering GH300,000 per concession, Mr Buah revealed. Worse, these illegal miners operate under Akontas protection, devastating the River Tano and surrounding forests with impunity. According to the Minister, an undercover investigation uncovered a systematic illegal operation led by Akonta Mining, with company representatives allegedly negotiating illegal sub-leases. In exchange, weekly royalties of up to 250 grams of gold were reportedly paid back to Akonta by the illegal miners. The findings also implicated forestry officers and security personnel in a widespread scheme that enabled the mining activities to continue unhindered. Part of the GH300,000 fee goes to Akonta Mining, a portion goes to individuals identified as Mr Henry and Shark, and another portion to some forestry and security officials who provide protection and tip-offs, Mr Buah added. He sad the investigation further revealed that Akonta Mining had encroached compartments 49 and 121 of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, despite having no legal lease or entry permit to operate there. An intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission on the eve of Good Friday (April 17) led to the raid of six illegal sites linked to the company. The 12-hour operation in Compartment 49 resulted in the arrest of 51 individuals including eight Chinese nationals and the seizure of heavy equipment and vehicles. Recovered items included 30 excavators (five impounded), two pump-action guns, one single-barrel gun, two Toyota Hilux pickups, a Toyota RAV4, four motorbikes, and assorted mining equipment. All suspects have been transported to Accra and are currently in custody pending prosecution. The Minister announced that he has authorised the Minerals Commission to revoke Akonta Minings lease immediately and directed that all implicated forestry officials be interdicted while further investigations proceed. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine, has since been briefed and has taken over the investigations. This is a warning to all large-scale mining concession holders hiding behind legal leases to fund the destruction of our forests and river bodies. We know some of your schemes we are coming after you, Mr Buah cautioned. He added that the government remains committed to eradicating galamsey, describing it as an environmental sin against humanity and against God. To the youth engaged in illegal mining: there is a better way. We stand ready to support you with alternatives. But to those who persist in defiance, the state will act without mercy, he warned. The Minister concluded with a call for public vigilance and support: Let me be clear: We will not stop until galamsey is completely uprooted. We will not stop until our waters run blue. We will not stop until our forests are turned green. We will not stop until every financier, every enabler the real architects of this destruction faces the full rigours of the law. Ghanaians have capacity to manage mineral resources - Minerals Commission deputy boss Mohammed Ali Apr - 21 - 2025 , 08:38 3 minutes read The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, has said that Ghana has built the capacity to manage mineral resources without being indefinitely dependent on foreign mining companies. In a television interview with Joy News last Friday, Mr Tandoh dismissed suggestions that Ghanaian professionals and companies lack the technical and financial muscle to run large-scale mining operations. His remarks was a reaction to the government's decision not to renew the mining lease for the Damang gold mine, operated by Gold Fields, after determining that the company failed to declare mineral reserves or submit a mining plan in line with legal requirements. The government has assumed operational oversight of the site after the 15-year lease expired on April 18, 2025. Mr Tandoh said the application for a 30-year lease extension, submitted by Gold Fields subsidiary, Abosso Goldfields, was evaluated but found to lack critical elements required for renewal. According to the Minerals Commission, the company had stopped active mining at Damang as far back as 2023 and had been processing stockpiled ore instead. Look around the world, Burkina Faso, Mali, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghanaians are running mines, Mr Tandoh said. And even in Ghana, the biggest mine in the Gold Fields portfolio is being run by my sister, Catherine Kuupol, at Tarkwa. He argued that the countrys mining workforce has evolved significantly over the decades, with local expertise now available across a range of specialised areas. According to him, past challenges such as limited access to capital and technical know-how are no longer barriers to Ghanaian participation at the highest levels of the extractive sector. Mr Tandoh explained that while Ghana continues to welcome foreign investment, existing lease agreements must reflect current realities. We are not saying were going to chase all mining companies away, he stated. But once that lease runs out, you would have to table something different from what you currently have. He expressed concern over the lack of forward mining plans at Damang, noting that Gold Fields had not declared any mineral reserves in its 2023 and 2024 reports. You need to have reserves for us to give you a lease. You dont have reserves. You dont have a mining operating plan, Mr Tandoh said. You are just treating the stockpile, and the stockpile is like some cash cow because youve already paid for the mining activity years ago. He added that continuing to renew long-term leases without demonstrable benefit to Ghanaians would be misguided. Weve groomed people, weve groomed local companies. We have a lot of people who can access capital now from Ghana. So the question is: do we continue? Mr Tandoh insisted that the Minerals Commission is not against investment but expects proposals that serve Ghanas long-term interest. We are open to listen to whatever they have. However, it should be something that benefits Ghana, he said. Mr Tandoh maintained that extractive agreements must align with the countrys present capabilities and future needs. Next article: Pope Francis' 'compassion, humility, commitment to social justice will continue to inspire generations' - Mahama Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference asks for prayers as church prepares to elect successor to Pope Francis Enoch Darfah Frimpong Apr - 21 - 2025 , 14:25 8 minutes read The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) following the death of Pope Francis has urged the church in Ghana to pray and prepare hearts for the election of his successor. In a statement, the Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, asked for prayers as the church mourns "our beloved Holy Father and as we prepare our hearts for the election of his successor." He indicated that a National Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date to be determined. "All bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful who are able to attend will be warmly invited to participate in this solemn liturgy. "All archdioceses, dioceses, and parishes are encouraged to organise local Requiem Masses and special Holy Hours in honour of Pope Francis. These should be moments of prayerful reflection on his teachings and witness," the statement added. "Schools, seminaries, and other Catholic institutions may wish to host prayer services, talks, or discussions to help the faithful, especially the young, to appreciate the life and legacy of Pope Francis." "Let us also remember to pray for the Church throughout the world as we mourn our beloved Holy Father and as we prepare our hearts for the election of his successor," the statement added. The process for choosing a new pope - conclave - generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff. The Vatican on Monday morning announced the death of Pope Francis in a video statement. Francis became pope in 2013. In recent years, the 88-year-old was forced to cancel some events, sometimes at the last minute, because of his health. Bishop of Rome The pontiff, who was Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 after his predecessor Benedict XVI resigned. Francis had experienced a string of health worries in recent years and spent 38 days in hospital in February and March this year. But he recovered enough to leave hospital and just yesterday was greeting crowds on Easter Sunday in St Peter's Square. The process for choosing a new pope - conclave - generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff. Recent hospital visits In recent years, his papacy had been marked by several hospital visits and concerns about his health. On 14 February, the Pope was admitted to hospital for bronchitis treatment. In the days that followed, the Vatican said he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and that he had blood transfusions after tests revealed he had low levels of platelets in his blood, which is associated with anaemia. On 22 February, it said the Pope was in a critical condition after a "prolonged respiratory crisis" that required a high flow of oxygen, and the next day the Vatican said Francis was showing an "initial, mild" kidney failure. In the following days, thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter's Square to pray for his recovery, as others went to the Rome hospital where he was staying to leave flowers and cards. He remained in hospital for the rest of the month, with doctors saying that his condition remained "complex". On 6 March, his voice was heard for the first time since being admitted to hospital in an audio message, in which he thanked well-wishers, before adding: "I am with you from here." On Sunday, he greeted crowds at the Easter Sunday Service, a day after meeting US vice president JD Vance. His 38-day hospital stay ended on 23 March when he made his first public appearance in five weeks on a balcony at Gemelli where he smiled and gave a thumbs up to the crowds gathered outside. He returned to the Vatican, making a surprise stop at his favourite basilica on the way home, before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery. Doctors said Francis would have access to supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed - adding that while the pneumonia infection had been successfully treated, the pontiff would continue to take oral medication for quite some time to treat the fungal infection in his lungs and continue his respiratory and physical physiotherapy. Related: Pope Francis dead at 88 Vatican reports Pope Francis stands at the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica for the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. 'People's Pope' Born in 1936, Francis was the first pope from South America. His papacy was marked by his championing of those escaping war and hunger, as well as those in poverty, earning him the moniker the "People's Pope". In 2016, he washed the feet of refugees from different religions at an asylum centre outside Rome in a "gesture of humility and service". He also made his views known on a wide range of issues, from climate change to wealth inequality and the role of women in the Catholic Church. His acceptance of the LGBTQ community was unprecedented - beginning with an unexpected remark to reporters on a flight back from Brazil about gay clergy. He said: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?" However, in April 2024 he appeared to reiterate the Vatican's staunch opposition to gender reassignment, surrogacy, abortion and euthanasia, by signing the text "Dignitas Infinita" (Infinite Dignity). In the same year, his own liberal credentials were questioned after reports he used a homophobic slur behind closed doors. Pope's health in recent years As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of one lung removed. In the last few years of his life, Francis needed a wheelchair or a cane to get around and limited his public speaking while struggling with bronchitis and flu. Francis first spent time in hospital as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon. In June 2023 he was admitted to hospital for an operation on his intestine. At the time, the Vatican said he had been suffering "recurrent, painful and worsening" symptoms caused by an abdominal hernia. His recent health issues meant he was forced to miss significant events in the Roman Catholic calendar, including the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum last year. In 2022, he hinted he might step down if his health deteriorated after he was pictured using a wheelchair due to mobility issues caused by a flare-up of sciatica - a nerve condition that causes leg pain. His predecessor, the late Benedict XVI, became the first pope to resign in more than 600 years in 2013 instead of serving for life, and died in 2022. The Pope's original name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio and he previously served as a bishop in Buenos Aires. An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics across the world will mourn Francis' passing. Attached below is a copy of the statement from the GCBC STATEMENT FROM THE GHANA CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE (GCBC) ON THE DEATH OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS To: The Clergy, Consecrated Men and Women, and All Christs Faithful in Ghana Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With deep sorrow and yet with great faith in the victory of Christ over death, I write to inform you of the passing into eternal life of His Holiness, Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff and Servant of the Servants of God. The Holy Father died peacefully in the Lord earlier today, 21st April 2025. As the Successor of St. Peter, Pope Francis served the Church with profound humility, unwavering faith, and a tireless commitment to the poor, to peace, and to the care of the environment, our common home. His life and ministry were a powerful witness to the Gospel values of love, mercy, and compassion. In this moment of great loss for the Universal Church, I ask that all bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful across the Local Church in Ghana offer prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. May the Lord, whom he served so faithfully and joyfully, welcome him into the eternal joy of His heavenly kingdom. To honour the memory and legacy of our beloved Holy Father: Next article: Pope Francis died of stroke and heart failure - Vatican says and releases final testament outlining burial wishes How the next Pope will be chosen and why Palmer-Buckle says Cardinal Turkson's election would be a great honour for Ghana Graphic Online Apr - 21 - 2025 , 20:56 7 minutes read Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that at 07:35 local time on Easter Monday the head of the Roman Catholic Church "returned to the house of the Father" at his residence, Casa Santa Marta. He was the first Latin American pope in the Churchs history. Following tradition, the pontiffs death was confirmed by the head of the Vaticans health department and the cardinal chamberlain (camerlengo, in Italian) Kevin Joseph Farrell. The Popes body will now be taken to his chapel for a private ceremony, in which it will be placed in a single coffin - a departure from the three nested coffins common in previous pontiffs' funerals. Pope Francis died of stroke and heart failure - Vatican says and releases final testament outlining burial wishes There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, but only 135 are eligible to cast ballots in selecting the next Pope as those over the age of 80 can take part in debate but cannot vote. 135 cardinals are under the age of 80, which makes them eligible to select Pope Francis's successor. Once Francis is buried, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, has 15 to 20 days to summon the cardinals to Rome. Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC) following the death of Pope Francis has urged the church in Ghana to pray and prepare hearts for the election of his successor. In a statement, the Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, asked for prayers as the church mourns "our beloved Holy Father and as we prepare our hearts for the election of his successor." In a television interview with Accra-based TV3 and in his tribute to Pope Francis, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle described Pope Francis as a towering moral voice whose legacy transcended religious boundaries, reports Gertrude Ankah. He indicated Pope Francis was not only a preacher but someone who fully lived out his convictions. Pope Francis did not only preach; he lived what he believed, he remarked, praising the late pontiffs efforts to promote environmental responsibility, interfaith harmony, and human dignity. Cardinal Turkson: Ghanas hopeful And as the Cardinals prepare to go into conclave to select the next Pope, Most Rev Palmer-Buckle suggested that Ghanas Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson could be a strong candidate. He is of the right age, with immense experience, having served in key roles at the Vatican... If the Cardinals see him fit, we will support him with our prayers. His election would be a great honour for Ghana. Still, he noted, the final decision rests with the College of Cardinals and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Lets leave it to the Lord to show us who the next Pope should be, he said, calling on Catholics worldwide to join in prayerful reflection. How next Pope will be chosen Inside the conclave Europe - 53 Asia - 23 Latin America - 21 Africa - 18 North America - 16 Oceania - 4 During the conclave, the cardinals live in the House of St Martha, a five-story guesthouse with 106 suites, 22 single rooms and a state apartment. Pope Francis lived in suite 201 during his papacy. The cardinals will walk along the Via delle Fondamenta every day to the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave happens. All conversations with outsiders are forbidden during this period. The faithful gather in St Peters Square during the conclave, waiting for the moment when the smoke comes out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Choosing the pontiff Papal conclaves are notoriously difficult to predict because the election process is shrouded in so much secrecy. Once they enter the Sistine Chapel, they must have no communication with the outside world until a new Pope is elected. The only people admitted in the chapel and in the guesthouse are doctors, confessors, masters of ceremonies, cooks, and cleaning staff. But they are also bound to secrecy about anything concerning the conclave. Unlike other world governments, these men are not aligned with any particular political parties so one never knows exactly what their priorities are, where they stand on controversial issues and what they will have top of mind when they cast their ballot. All of it adds up to a lot of intrigue and very little certainty, says the BBC's Davide Ghiglione in Rome. The cardinals may take some inspiration from the frescos and artwork of Michelangelo inside the Sistine Chapel. Above the altar is the imposing Last Judgement with trumpeting angels on clouds rousing the dead. Cardinals take turns casting their votes on a simple card that says, in Latin: "I elect as Supreme Pontiff." They walk in line, in order of seniority, and place their cards inside the large silver and guilded urn. Three assistants to the camerlengo, the scrutineers, will then count the votes as they are read out loud. All the paper cards are then threaded together and burnt. Two furnaces are installed at the back of the Sistine Chapel for the conclave. The one on the right is used for the burning of the ballot papers and the one on the left is used to generate additional smoke to signal which way the vote has gone. Chemical compounds are mixed to make black smoke for an unsuccessful vote or white smoke to declare that a new Pope has been chosen. The smoke is released via a chimney visible to people waiting in St Peters Square. The release of white smoke is accompanied by pealing of bells to avoid confusion. A new Pope is elected only when a two-thirds majority of votes is reached - and that can take time. If it doesnt happen in the first afternoon, the cardinals will vote up to four times every day. They can take a prayer break after a third day without reaching a decision. From then on, they can take another break every seven votes. If, after 33 rounds, no decision is still made, a run-off will happen between the two most voted candidates. Its not uncommon for conclaves to last a few days - the longest in history lasted two years and nine months, starting in 1268. But after several rule changes to speed up the process over time, the average length of a conclave since the beginning of the 20th century has been three days. The longest, in 1922, lasted five. Both Pope Francis and his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, were elected after two days. Whats in a name? Once a Pope is elected, he has to formally accept the job in front of the College of Cardinals, and state his papal name. In a press conference after his election, Pope Francis said his name honoured St Francis of Assisi, and that he was inspired by his Brazilian friend Cardinal Claudio Hummes. The pontiff told reporters that when he was proclaimed, Hummes hugged and kissed him, saying: "Do not forget the poor." For more than 500 years, popes used their own names. This changed to symbolic names in order to simplify their given names or to refer to previous pontiffs. That is the main reason most popes in history have chosen the name John. After stating his new name, the new Pope is taken to the so-called "Room of Tears", an antechamber in the Sistine Chapel, where he first receives his papal robes and accessories like the white cassock, a cape called the mozzetta and a white skullcap called the zucchetto. The room earns its nickname from accounts of previous popes who, overwhelmed by the weight of the moment, were moved to tears after their election. What he chooses to wear from that selection in those first minutes is a personal decision - one that can signal how he sees the role hes just accepted. Pope Francis notably declined to wear the elaborate red cope (a ceremonial cloak worn by clergy) with ermine, opting instead for a simple white cassock. On a balcony in St Peters Basilica overlooking the square, the new Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church will introduce himself to hundreds of faithful from all around the world. The traditional announcement will echo around the square: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum... habemus papam!" - "I announce to you a great joy... we have a Pope!" With additional files from the BBC Next article: GAEC-BNARI signs MoU with Hungarys Ministry of Agriculture to train agric extension officers Police intercept cross-border ammunition smuggle in Volta Region Gertrude Ankah Apr - 21 - 2025 , 06:45 1 minute read The police on Friday intercepted a large cache of ammunition, which had been concealed on a commercial bus, which was heading towards neighbouring Benin. The seizure was made at dawn on Friday, April 18, 2025, during a routine security check at the Tadzewu-Mitsrikasa Police barrier in the Volta Region. A police statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit said officers stopped a Hyundai bus with registration number GR 8246-Q, which was travelling from Accra towards Benin, and conducted a search. It said 60 cartons of AAA cartridges containing 15,000 rounds, along with 72 cartons of BB cartridges amounting to 18,000 rounds were found. The ammunition was hidden in sacks and buried beneath passengers luggage, the police said. The driver, a 45-year-old Abasou Fousseni, and his co-driver, 38-year-old Salisu Jalilu, were arrested on the spot. According to the police, both men denied knowledge of the consignment, which the police said were being smuggled. The police said their preliminary investigations identified the co-driver as the individual who loaded the ammunition in the vehicle. The driver has since been released on bail to ensure that the passengers arrive at their final destination, while the co-driver has been detained assisting with investigations. He is expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The police stated investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended destination of the ammunition. Read the full statement below: Previous article: Conclave to select next Pope after Francis' death to take 15 to 20 days Pope dies: Leaders pay tribute to a life 'dedicated to service' Graphic Online Apr - 21 - 2025 , 09:09 9 minutes read King Charles III has paid tribute to Pope Francis for serving with 'such devotion throughout his life' The Buckingham Palace issued a statement from the King, paying tribute to the Pope. Tributes have been coming in from around the world since The Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, aged 88, on Monday morning, Born in December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the son of Italian immigrants. The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on 14 February after battling a bout of bronchitis. Francis took over from Benedict XVI, who became the first pontiff to resign from his post due to ill health in 2013. Eiffel Tower to go dark after Pope Francis's death Britain's King Charles 'deeply saddened' about the death of Pope Francis Putin hails Pope Francis as 'defender' of 'humanism and justice' Taiwan says its will send envoys to Pope's funeral Here is the statement from King Charles III in full: My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Conclave to select next Pope after Francis' death to take 15 to 20 days The process for choosing a new pope - conclave - generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff. The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at the age of 88 on Monday. He had suffered various ailments in his 12-year papacy, with severe complications in recent weeks. Francis became pope in 2013. In recent years, the 88-year-old was forced to cancel some events, sometimes at the last minute, because of his health. In the statement, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. At 9:45 AM [Vatican time +2hrs GMT]], Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35am [Vatican time +2hrs GMT] this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. Pope Francis clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18. After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery. In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection. As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation. In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced. The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Popes mortal remains are to be handled after death. The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ. The renewed rite, said Archbishop Ravelli, seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world. Bishop of Rome The pontiff, who was Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 after his predecessor Benedict XVI resigned. Francis had experienced a string of health worries in recent years and spent 38 days in hospital in February and March this year. But he recovered enough to leave hospital and just yesterday was greeting crowds on Easter Sunday in St Peter's Square. The process for choosing a new pope - conclave - generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff. Recent hospital visits In recent years, his papacy had been marked by several hospital visits and concerns about his health. On 14 February, the Pope was admitted to hospital for bronchitis treatment. In the days that followed, the Vatican said he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and that he had blood transfusions after tests revealed he had low levels of platelets in his blood, which is associated with anaemia. On 22 February, it said the Pope was in a critical condition after a "prolonged respiratory crisis" that required a high flow of oxygen, and the next day the Vatican said Francis was showing an "initial, mild" kidney failure. In the following days, thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter's Square to pray for his recovery, as others went to the Rome hospital where he was staying to leave flowers and cards. He remained in hospital for the rest of the month, with doctors saying that his condition remained "complex". On 6 March, his voice was heard for the first time since being admitted to hospital in an audio message, in which he thanked well-wishers, before adding: "I am with you from here." On Sunday, he greeted crowds at the Easter Sunday Service, a day after meeting US vice president JD Vance. His 38-day hospital stay ended on 23 March when he made his first public appearance in five weeks on a balcony at Gemelli where he smiled and gave a thumbs up to the crowds gathered outside. He returned to the Vatican, making a surprise stop at his favourite basilica on the way home, before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery. Doctors said Francis would have access to supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed - adding that while the pneumonia infection had been successfully treated, the pontiff would continue to take oral medication for quite some time to treat the fungal infection in his lungs and continue his respiratory and physical physiotherapy. 'People's Pope' Born in 1936, Francis was the first pope from South America. His papacy was marked by his championing of those escaping war and hunger, as well as those in poverty, earning him the moniker the "People's Pope". In 2016, he washed the feet of refugees from different religions at an asylum centre outside Rome in a "gesture of humility and service". He also made his views known on a wide range of issues, from climate change to wealth inequality and the role of women in the Catholic Church. His acceptance of the LGBTQ community was unprecedented - beginning with an unexpected remark to reporters on a flight back from Brazil about gay clergy. He said: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?" However, in April 2024 he appeared to reiterate the Vatican's staunch opposition to gender reassignment, surrogacy, abortion and euthanasia, by signing the text "Dignitas Infinita" (Infinite Dignity). In the same year, his own liberal credentials were questioned after reports he used a homophobic slur behind closed doors. Pope's health in recent years As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of one lung removed. In the last few years of his life, Francis needed a wheelchair or a cane to get around and limited his public speaking while struggling with bronchitis and flu. Francis first spent time in hospital as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon. In June 2023 he was admitted to hospital for an operation on his intestine. At the time, the Vatican said he had been suffering "recurrent, painful and worsening" symptoms caused by an abdominal hernia. His recent health issues meant he was forced to miss significant events in the Roman Catholic calendar, including the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum last year. In 2022, he hinted he might step down if his health deteriorated after he was pictured using a wheelchair due to mobility issues caused by a flare-up of sciatica - a nerve condition that causes leg pain. His predecessor, the late Benedict XVI, became the first pope to resign in more than 600 years in 2013 instead of serving for life, and died in 2022. The Pope's original name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio and he previously served as a bishop in Buenos Aires. An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics across the world will mourn Francis' passing. Let's (not) celebrate Psychology Week By Todd Gregory and Erik Gregory web posted April 21, 2025 According to the American Psychological Association's (APA's) website, psychologists will be celebrating something called " Psychology Week " from April 20-26, during which so-called mental health professionals will "honor the ways psychologists create meaningful change among individuals, communities, and society." Self-congratulatory and evidence-free psychobabble aside, how have psychologists created "meaningful change" (positive or negative) in society? Woke institutional capture has not spared the profession of psychiatry. While real doctors (surgeons, oncologists) tend to be conservative, fake doctors with paper PhDs who memorized the pseudo-science contained in the engorged Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) tend to skew hard left in their sociopolitical beliefs. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar if it's being smoked by a leftist icon like Fidel Castro . But if a conservative like the late Rush Limbaugh enjoys a cigar, ah, then it represents something dark and sinister maybe a repressed oral fixation, an Oedipal complex, or white supremacy coupled with heteronormative patriarchal violence. Or whatever the cringingly woke psychiatrist or social worker proclaims. Echoing Friedrich Nietzsche ("God is dead"), Sigmund Freud is said to be the father of modern psychoanalysis. It is apropos that Freud came from the same country (Austria) as Adolf Hitler, the progressive socialist/megalomaniac and mass murderer. Freud died in September 1939, the same month Hitler's Germany invaded Poland, launching World War 2. Freud's new, secular priesthood survived both him and the war. Since Freud's time, psychiatrists and social workers have largely replaced pastors and priests taking confession from troubled souls. Moreover, these anointed "experts" are enlightened not by religion (which they view as dangerous superstition, unless the religion is Islam) but by science just look at the size of the DSM-5, it's far thicker than the New Testament. Without ever examining Donald Trump, tens of thousands of mental health practitioners publicly diagnosed Trump as suffering from, among other things: Gross paranoid psychosis; Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia; severe cognitive impairment; severe memory loss; severe Alzheimer's; malignant narcissism; Phonemic Paraphasia; Hitlerian delusions of grandeur; etc. while also proclaiming there was no need for the obviously senile Joe Biden to take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) because Scranton Joe was exhibiting no cognitive decline whatsoever , no memory or speech issues, and suffered from, at most, a stutter. To name but a few of these high profile mental health quacks who went public with their faux diagnoses: Dr. Justin Frank (Professor of Psychiatry, George Washington Medical School); Dr. Jonathan Reiner (CNN); Dr. Harry Segal (Cornell University); Dr. Geraldine Williams; Dr. Kevin O'Connor; Dr. John Gartner (psychologist and former professor at Johns Hopkins); Dr. Leo Gugerty (Professor Emeritus in Psychology, Clemson University); Dr. Lance Dodes (Harvard Medical School); Dr. Elisabeth Zoffman ; Dr. Suzanne Lachmann; and of course Mary Trump (Trump's neurotic niece). The above list of credentialed crackpots is far from exhaustive. Indeed, a comically named Duty to Warn coalition of licensed mental health experts collected tens of thousands of signatures, jointly declaring: "From our years of training and experience, we are convinced that Donald Trump is showing unmistakable signs strongly suggesting dementia" Further, the online edition of Psychology Today magazine reported that by the year 2021, over 70,000 mental health exponents had signed the petition, declaring that Trump "manifests a serious mental illness" While incapable of shame or honest introspection, every single signatory soiled him/her/zirself as an obsessed, attention-seeking BlueAnon-style conspiracy theorist and paranoiac. Hardly a week goes by without a major news story about how all legacy western countries, including Canada and the United States, are in the throes of a mental health crisis. Fatherlessness and broken families. Atomized lives leading to substance abuse, deaths from despair, and homelessness. A cratering birth rate, a loss of community, and a culture in thrall to self-indulgent narcissism (if it feels good, do it), nihilism , and immediate gratification. In contemplating this wrecked landscape of broken human souls, what are these mental health professionals celebrating during "Psychology (Awareness) Week?" As a collective, and by every metric conceivable, psychotherapists and their brethren have failed miserably at improving mental health or the human condition. The vast majority of them are frauds, contributing to and profiting from the carrion of mental despair, and lowering their profession into deserved disrepute. A great many of them could accurately be described as clinically psychotic . Yet, when people feel depressed or overwhelmed by internal demons, many still choose to put their faith in these expensive charlatans with their cardboard diplomas prominently displayed, their obligatory couches, their eyes flitting to check the clock every few minutes, and their threadbare jargon used to bedazzle the trusting, vulnerable patient. In the vast majority of cases, psychiatrists are like Dr. Jill Biden, and don't truly warrant the term Physician (Doctor of Medicine). But they do make lots of money by prescribing large quantities of addictive and psychoactive drugs (Ritalin, et al.) that some individual cases aside arguably do far more harm than good (a clearcut violation of the Hippocratic oath). Always eager to embrace new social fads or jump on the bandwagon of any mass formation psychosis, most psychiatrists have of course eagerly embraced transgenderism, and use their "professional, accredited" standing to champion the mutilation of children's reproductive organs in a futile attempt to switch genders, even over the objections of the confused minor's parents. Most psychologists not only want to mainstream gender dysphoria and indulge fantasies like men giving birth or women having prostates, they also believe children rightly "belong" to the state, and parents/guardians have no say in the matter. Many psychologists also seek to normalize and destigmatize adults especially K-12 teachers and fellow academics who engage in grooming and pedophilia, bestiality , rape , incest, and other antisocial behaviors by, for example, referring to pedophiles as Minor Attracted Persons ( MAPs ) or using other euphemistic circumlocution designed to conceal progressive depravity. All with the phony imprimatur of science. You don't dare question the credentialed " experts ." Consider all the gibberish vis a vis race relations force-fed to the public over the years (linear thinking, objectivity, goal-setting, punctuality, and a thousand other microaggressions are all said to be examples of white supremacy). All of it was dreamt up by psychologists and faculty in the humanities and sociology departments of America's campuses. Psychiatrists and other mental health practitioners overwhelmingly endorsed the 2020 BLM riots that shook America for months during the COVID lockdowns, taking dozens of lives, and costing billions in property damage. Blithering racists whose polemics reveal a genocidal desire to see dead white bodies stacked up like cordwood (Elie Mystal, Ibram X. Kendi, Robin DeAngelo, Jasmine Crockett, et al.) are wildly celebrated and platformed by the "mental health community." And yet the vaunted DSM-5 famously links conservatives with mental illness, racism, and the embodiment of the totalitarian personality. (Progressive projection, anyone?). Speaking of the totalitarian personality. Most psychologists broadly oppose free speech and favor government and social media censorship of conservatives; loudly advocate for forced vaccinations, euthanasia, and late-term even postpartum abortion/infanticide; and presume to understand and lecture others about the glories of Hamas or the murderous Palestinian cause. Your typical shrink also makes evidence-free claims that conservatives are responsible for most violent crime because most conservatives are in favor of the 2nd amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Others go even further, demanding that conservatives be interned in concentration camps for reprogramming or concur with the estimated 55% of (D) voters who say they would like to see Donald Trump and/or Elon Musk assassinated. Lacking any sense of irony or self-awareness, these same discredited shrinks insist they are models of moral rectitude and conservatives are the totalitarians. Conservatives experiencing depression or having a mental health crisis are better off consulting a village shaman, or an affordable palmist or tarot card reader, where at least there's an element of fun. There is nothing whatsoever to celebrate about modern psychiatry. Todd Gregory and Erik Gregory are previous contributors to Enter Stage Right. A version of this article previously appeared in American Thinker. Home Previous article: Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference asks for prayers as church prepares to elect successor to Pope Francis Pope Francis' 'compassion, humility, commitment to social justice will continue to inspire generations' - Mahama Graphic Online Apr - 21 - 2025 , 12:28 10 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying "his legacy of compassion, humility, and commitment to social justice will continue to inspire generations." President Mahama issued the statement in a social media post. The world woke up to the sad news of Pope Francis passing. On behalf of my family and the people of Ghana, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Roman Catholic Church and all Catholic faithful in Ghana during this time of profound grief. I fondly remember visiting the Vatican with my wife, Lordina, where we had the distinct honour of meeting Pope Francis. His legacy of compassion, humility, and commitment to social justice will continue to inspire generations. His leadership and advocacy for the poor and marginalised resonate deeply. May his soul rest in perfect peace. The world woke up to the sad news of Pope Francis passing. On behalf of my family and the people of Ghana, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Roman Catholic Church and all Catholic faithful in Ghana during this time of profound grief. I fondly remember visiting the Vatican pic.twitter.com/O2YfSmkIx9 John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) April 21, 2025 Tributes have been coming in from around the world since The Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, aged 88, on Monday morning, Born in December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the son of Italian immigrants. The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on 14 February after battling a bout of bronchitis. Francis took over from Benedict XVI, who became the first pontiff to resign from his post due to ill health in 2013. Eiffel Tower to go dark after Pope Francis's death Britain's King Charles 'deeply saddened' about the death of Pope Francis Putin hails Pope Francis as 'defender' of 'humanism and justice' Taiwan says its will send envoys to Pope's funeral Here is the statement from King Charles III in full: My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Conclave to select next Pope after Francis' death to take 15 to 20 days The process for choosing a new pope - conclave - generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff. The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at the age of 88 on Monday. He had suffered various ailments in his 12-year papacy, with severe complications in recent weeks. Francis became pope in 2013. In recent years, the 88-year-old was forced to cancel some events, sometimes at the last minute, because of his health. In the statement, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. At 9:45 AM [Vatican time +2hrs GMT]], Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35am [Vatican time +2hrs GMT] this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. Pope Francis clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18. After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery. In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection. As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation. In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced. The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Popes mortal remains are to be handled after death. The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ. The renewed rite, said Archbishop Ravelli, seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world. Bishop of Rome The pontiff, who was Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 after his predecessor Benedict XVI resigned. Francis had experienced a string of health worries in recent years and spent 38 days in hospital in February and March this year. But he recovered enough to leave hospital and just yesterday was greeting crowds on Easter Sunday in St Peter's Square. The process for choosing a new pope - conclave - generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff. Recent hospital visits In recent years, his papacy had been marked by several hospital visits and concerns about his health. On 14 February, the Pope was admitted to hospital for bronchitis treatment. In the days that followed, the Vatican said he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and that he had blood transfusions after tests revealed he had low levels of platelets in his blood, which is associated with anaemia. On 22 February, it said the Pope was in a critical condition after a "prolonged respiratory crisis" that required a high flow of oxygen, and the next day the Vatican said Francis was showing an "initial, mild" kidney failure. In the following days, thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter's Square to pray for his recovery, as others went to the Rome hospital where he was staying to leave flowers and cards. He remained in hospital for the rest of the month, with doctors saying that his condition remained "complex". On 6 March, his voice was heard for the first time since being admitted to hospital in an audio message, in which he thanked well-wishers, before adding: "I am with you from here." On Sunday, he greeted crowds at the Easter Sunday Service, a day after meeting US vice president JD Vance. His 38-day hospital stay ended on 23 March when he made his first public appearance in five weeks on a balcony at Gemelli where he smiled and gave a thumbs up to the crowds gathered outside. He returned to the Vatican, making a surprise stop at his favourite basilica on the way home, before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery. Doctors said Francis would have access to supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed - adding that while the pneumonia infection had been successfully treated, the pontiff would continue to take oral medication for quite some time to treat the fungal infection in his lungs and continue his respiratory and physical physiotherapy. 'People's Pope' Born in 1936, Francis was the first pope from South America. His papacy was marked by his championing of those escaping war and hunger, as well as those in poverty, earning him the moniker the "People's Pope". In 2016, he washed the feet of refugees from different religions at an asylum centre outside Rome in a "gesture of humility and service". He also made his views known on a wide range of issues, from climate change to wealth inequality and the role of women in the Catholic Church. His acceptance of the LGBTQ community was unprecedented - beginning with an unexpected remark to reporters on a flight back from Brazil about gay clergy. He said: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?" However, in April 2024 he appeared to reiterate the Vatican's staunch opposition to gender reassignment, surrogacy, abortion and euthanasia, by signing the text "Dignitas Infinita" (Infinite Dignity). In the same year, his own liberal credentials were questioned after reports he used a homophobic slur behind closed doors. Pope's health in recent years As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of one lung removed. In the last few years of his life, Francis needed a wheelchair or a cane to get around and limited his public speaking while struggling with bronchitis and flu. Francis first spent time in hospital as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon. In June 2023 he was admitted to hospital for an operation on his intestine. At the time, the Vatican said he had been suffering "recurrent, painful and worsening" symptoms caused by an abdominal hernia. His recent health issues meant he was forced to miss significant events in the Roman Catholic calendar, including the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum last year. In 2022, he hinted he might step down if his health deteriorated after he was pictured using a wheelchair due to mobility issues caused by a flare-up of sciatica - a nerve condition that causes leg pain. His predecessor, the late Benedict XVI, became the first pope to resign in more than 600 years in 2013 instead of serving for life, and died in 2022. The Pope's original name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio and he previously served as a bishop in Buenos Aires. An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics across the world will mourn Francis' passing. Pope Francis dead at 88 Vatican reports Enoch Darfah Frimpong Apr - 21 - 2025 , 08:10 7 minutes read Pope Francis has died, the Vatican has announced in a video statement. The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at the age of 88 on Monday. He had suffered various ailments in his 12-year papacy, with severe complications in recent weeks. Francis became pope in 2013. In recent years, the 88-year-old was forced to cancel some events, sometimes at the last minute, because of his health. In the statement, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. At 9:45 AM [Vatican time +2hrs GMT]], Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35am [Vatican time +2hrs GMT] this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. Pope Francis clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18. After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery. In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection. As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation. In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced. The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Popes mortal remains are to be handled after death. The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ. The renewed rite, said Archbishop Ravelli, seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world. Bishop of Rome The pontiff, who was Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 after his predecessor Benedict XVI resigned. Francis had experienced a string of health worries in recent years and spent 38 days in hospital in February and March this year. But he recovered enough to leave hospital and just yesterday was greeting crowds on Easter Sunday in St Peter's Square. The process for choosing a new pope - conclave - generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff. Recent hospital visits In recent years, his papacy had been marked by several hospital visits and concerns about his health. On 14 February, the Pope was admitted to hospital for bronchitis treatment. In the days that followed, the Vatican said he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and that he had blood transfusions after tests revealed he had low levels of platelets in his blood, which is associated with anaemia. On 22 February, it said the Pope was in a critical condition after a "prolonged respiratory crisis" that required a high flow of oxygen, and the next day the Vatican said Francis was showing an "initial, mild" kidney failure. In the following days, thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter's Square to pray for his recovery, as others went to the Rome hospital where he was staying to leave flowers and cards. He remained in hospital for the rest of the month, with doctors saying that his condition remained "complex". On 6 March, his voice was heard for the first time since being admitted to hospital in an audio message, in which he thanked well-wishers, before adding: "I am with you from here." On Sunday, he greeted crowds at the Easter Sunday Service, a day after meeting US vice president JD Vance. His 38-day hospital stay ended on 23 March when he made his first public appearance in five weeks on a balcony at Gemelli where he smiled and gave a thumbs up to the crowds gathered outside. He returned to the Vatican, making a surprise stop at his favourite basilica on the way home, before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery. Doctors said Francis would have access to supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed - adding that while the pneumonia infection had been successfully treated, the pontiff would continue to take oral medication for quite some time to treat the fungal infection in his lungs and continue his respiratory and physical physiotherapy. 'People's Pope' Born in 1936, Francis was the first pope from South America. His papacy was marked by his championing of those escaping war and hunger, as well as those in poverty, earning him the moniker the "People's Pope". In 2016, he washed the feet of refugees from different religions at an asylum centre outside Rome in a "gesture of humility and service". He also made his views known on a wide range of issues, from climate change to wealth inequality and the role of women in the Catholic Church. His acceptance of the LGBTQ community was unprecedented - beginning with an unexpected remark to reporters on a flight back from Brazil about gay clergy. He said: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?" However, in April 2024 he appeared to reiterate the Vatican's staunch opposition to gender reassignment, surrogacy, abortion and euthanasia, by signing the text "Dignitas Infinita" (Infinite Dignity). In the same year, his own liberal credentials were questioned after reports he used a homophobic slur behind closed doors. Pope's health in recent years As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of one lung removed. In the last few years of his life, Francis needed a wheelchair or a cane to get around and limited his public speaking while struggling with bronchitis and flu. Francis first spent time in hospital as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon. In June 2023 he was admitted to hospital for an operation on his intestine. At the time, the Vatican said he had been suffering "recurrent, painful and worsening" symptoms caused by an abdominal hernia. His recent health issues meant he was forced to miss significant events in the Roman Catholic calendar, including the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum last year. In 2022, he hinted he might step down if his health deteriorated after he was pictured using a wheelchair due to mobility issues caused by a flare-up of sciatica - a nerve condition that causes leg pain. His predecessor, the late Benedict XVI, became the first pope to resign in more than 600 years in 2013 instead of serving for life, and died in 2022. The Pope's original name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio and he previously served as a bishop in Buenos Aires. An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics across the world will mourn Francis' passing. Next article: 10 things to know about the revocation of the Akonta Mining Company Limited licence Previous article: How the next Pope will be chosen and why Palmer-Buckle says Cardinal Turkson's election would be a great honour for Ghana Pope Francis died of stroke and heart failure - Vatican says and releases final testament outlining burial wishes Graphic Online Apr - 21 - 2025 , 19:44 2 minutes read Pope Francis died from a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican has said and also revealed his burial wishes. A death certificate released for the 88-year-old pontiff said he had fallen into a coma before his death, which was announced on Monday. The Vatican released the Pope's final testament, in which he outlined his request to be buried "in the ground, without particular ornamentation" but with the inscription "Franciscus". Francis said he wished to be buried in Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major, rather than at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where many previous pontiffs have been laid to rest. His coffin might be moved to St Peter's Basilica as early as Wednesday morning to allow the faithful to pay their respects, a Vatican spokesman said. The Pope had suffered from a chronic lung disease and had part of a lung removed as a young man. Health issues plagued him throughout his later life, and he was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on 14 February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. This led to a 38-day stay in hospital, the longest of his 12-year papacy. But the leader of the world's Roman Catholics emerged on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands in St Peter's Square. Before the public appearance, the Pope "exchanged good wishes" with US vice president JD Vance during a private audience at the Vatican. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement of his death. Tributes pour in from around the world following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died aged 88 He died of stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure, the Vatican says in a statement Calm descended on St Peter's Square as hundreds gathered in prayer for the late Pope, our reporter at the Vatican writes The pontiff's death has prompted an outpouring of grief from Catholics across the globe. From South Sudan to Argentina, Poland to the Philippines. The Vatican confirmed the pontiff died at 07:35 local time on Monday; he was recently discharged from hospital after weeks of treatment for an infection What happens next? We look at the papal funeral and the election of a new pope Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference asks for prayers as church prepares to elect successor to Pope Francis Conclave to select next Pope after Francis' death to take 15 to 20 days Pope dies: Leaders pay tribute to a life 'dedicated to service' Next article: Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference asks for prayers as church prepares to elect successor to Pope Francis Pope Francis was 'a blessing to humanity' - Speaker Bagbin Mohammed Ali Apr - 21 - 2025 , 15:00 1 minute read The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has paid tribute to Pope Francis. In a Facebook post, Mr Bagbin expressed sorrow at the news, describing it as a heavy blow to many Catholic faithful. He recalled that the Pope had only recently led the Church through the sacred triduum before his passing. Oh? Pope Francis just celebrated the sacred triduum with us, the flock and departed so soon after. This is a blow to many faithful, but God knows best. It shall be well with our souls, Mr Bagbin wrote. He described the late pontiff as a blessing to humanity and encouraged believers to celebrate his life with joy. Mr Bagbin also reflected on the spiritual lessons to be drawn from the Popes passing. His passing reminds us to always be prepared to go to Zion, anytime, any day, anywhere, the beautiful city of God, he added. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis became the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church in March 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. Throughout his tenure, he was widely recognised for his advocacy for humility, social justice, and reforms within the Church. Next article: Akufo-Addo - 'Mr President', Mahama - 'Mr President after shifting the burden on me, good to see you. Previous article: Bawumia to lead NPP on 6-week national 'In all things, give thanks to God' thank you tour 'Thank you for your support over the years' Vice President to Volta Region Diana Mensah Politics Apr - 21 - 2025 , 11:35 2 minutes read The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang through a message delivered by her Chief of Staff, Alex Segbefia has expressed appreciation to the people of the Volta Region for their support and loyalty over the years, especially during the 2024 elections. Mr Alex Segbefia delivered the appreciation message on behalf of the Vice President during a visit to some communities in the Volta Region last Saturday (April 19, 2025). The communities included Anloga, Dzita, Alakple, and Kedzie. There were various Easter homecoming events and durbars organised by the communities to raise funds in support of ongoing projects. The events brought together chiefs, community members, youth groups, and dignitaries from all walks of life in colorful displays of culture in unity. She wants me to tell you that, first and foremost, she thanks you all for the support that, over the years, you have given to all of us and which has also contributed greatly to the fact that we, as a political party and government, but more importantly, she is now the first female Vice-President of Ghana, Mr Segbefia said. He added, She also wants to let you know that we have not and do not take your support for granted. She says your sacrifices and loyalty will not be forgotten. Addressing concerns about the Vice-Presidents absence, Mr Segbefia assured the public that all is well and that Professor Opoku-Agyemang would soon return to office. She wants to let you understand that her love goes out to you all. No doubt, when she gets back into town, she will make a special effort to pass by and at least see the elders and traditional rulers of this town, he added. Gov't committed to sea defense for Volta Region Alex Segbefia Samsung One UI 7.0 is around the corner, Galaxy M56 arrives, new Moto tablet and laptop, Week 16 in review Samsung has been so slow in unraveling its One UI 7.0 that, for a second week in a row, the most intriguing piece of news was what will be in the update, not which devices will get it. Samsung Galaxy A56 vs. Galaxy A55 One of the most popular midrangers from Samsung go head to head. Samsung Galaxy M56 is 30% thinner, still has a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging This year Samsung also upgraded the glass (GG Victus+) and the chipset (Exynos 1480). The M56 will receive software support until the end of 2030. Samsung Members officially details One UI 7.0 rollout The update is scheduled to begin later this month and end by July. Motorola and Infinix introduced new devices Moto expanded its portfolio with a Pad 60 Pro tablet and Book 60 laptop, while the Hong Kong-based company brought a Note 50s 5G with a back panel that emits a pleasant smell. Samsung Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36 Some of Samsung's most affordable phones go head to head. We are looking forward to the upcoming week, because vivo will release the X200 Ultra and X200s, which are highly unlikely ever to make it outside China. Smartphones and tablets to get a new EU energy efficiency labels in June, here's what they mean The European Union has been pushing tech companies to be more transparent with consumers - and the latest requirement is a welcome step in that direction. Starting June 20, 2025, all smartphones and tablets sold in the EU will feature a new label inside the box, indicating battery life and efficiency. This is an update to the energy sticker Europeans are already familiar with on household appliances, tailored to align with the type of information consumers now expect from their electronic devices. Which products fall under the new requirements? The regulation applies to cordless phones (used for landlines), smartphones for cellular or satellite networks, feature phones without internet or third-party apps, and tablets with screens between 7 and 17.4 inches. Only devices in these categories that are placed on the market from June 20, 2025, onward. Devices with flexible main displays that can be unrolled, either partially or fully, are exempt from this requirement. Phones and tablets that are already on the EU market before June 20 are also excluded. What are the exact requirements? All devices mentioned above must meet five key ecodesign criteria: Durability : Devices should be resistant to accidental drops and protected against dust and water. : Devices should be resistant to accidental drops and protected against dust and water. Battery longevity : Batteries must endure at least 800 full charge and discharge cycles while retaining at least 80% of their original capacity. : Batteries must endure at least 800 full charge and discharge cycles while retaining at least 80% of their original capacity. Repairability : Manufacturers must make critical spare parts available within 5 to 10 working days, and continue offering them for 7 years after the product is no longer sold in the EU. : Manufacturers must make critical spare parts available within 5 to 10 working days, and continue offering them for 7 years after the product is no longer sold in the EU. Software support : Devices must receive operating system upgrades for at least 5 years from the end-of-sale date. : Devices must receive operating system upgrades for at least 5 years from the end-of-sale date. Repair access: Professional repairers must have non-discriminatory access to any required software or firmware. What does the sticker look like? The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) sticker, commonly known as the ENERGY label, will display seven key pieces of information. Weve already seen a sample sticker on a phone intended for the European market, confirming that the system is indeed rolling out. Who ensures this data is accurate? All suppliers - manufacturers, importers, or authorized representatives - operating in the EU/EEA market must register their product models through a dedicated EPREL platform managed by the European Commission. While manufacturers are responsible for providing accurate data, the Commission will verify information related to ingress protection, repairability, and battery performance. A real-life sticker; the device info is hidden by us We spoke with representatives from the European Commission, who shared that their vision for device testing aligns closely with the work we've been doing at GSMArena.com for over 15 years. In late 2023, we introduced an updated set of tests and began collaborating with the French automation company SmartViser. That same company now offers testing solutions to manufacturers, which strongly indicates that the methodology we helped develop will empower millions of consumers across Europe to make better-informed purchasing decisions. What does this mean for the end consumer? The Ecodesign label is part of a wider EU campaign aimed at improving energy efficiency by 2030. The initiative is expected to reduce CO emissions by 46 million tonnes and save each household an average of 150, on top of the savings already achieved through existing ecodesign measures. While these rules officially apply only within the EU, their impact could stretch far beyond the 27 member states. We're already seeing smartphone manufacturers extend software update support globally, while devices are becoming more durable and easier to repair, benefiting consumers everywhere. In the future, we may see manufacturers streamline production and choose to meet EU requirements globally, rather than develop separate versions for different markets. The Office of the Attorney General is challenging an order to reinstate longtime investigator Bryan J. Cruz at the office with back pay and benefits. Cruz was fired last September. An appeal filed on April 16 asks the Superior Court of Guam to reverse a March order from the Civil Service Commission, which mandated that Cruz get his job back. A day after the appeal was filed, Cruz filed his own complaint with the courts, alleging management retaliated against him by reassigning Cruz to an administrative role and withholding his pay after getting back on the job on April 1. Cruz was handed a termination notice on Sept. 25 for forwarding internal AGs office emails related to attorney Peter Santos, the Pacific Daily News has reported. Santos is a vocal critic of Attorney General Douglas Moylan and is also running for the AGs office in 2026. Email transcripts filed with the Civil Service Commission show Cruz forwarded emails from AG Moylan about Santos to Santos himself last July. Cruz appealed the firing to the CSC, asserting it was political and discriminatory, that no confidential information was disclosed in his emails, and that management punished him for whistleblowing when it put him on extended leave following the incident. The former employee ultimately won his job back on a technicality. Commissioners with the CSC in March concluded that the AGs office was not complying with an order to allow Cruz discovery to gather evidence in support of his firing appeal, which included requests to interview AGs office staff. That action was beyond the commissions authority, asserts the April 16 appeal signed by Moylan. According to the appeal, the CSC cant dismiss a case based solely on alleged discovery violations. Or, if it can, that dismissal can only come after a court rules on the alleged violation, the appeal asserts. Further, the appeal asserts the AGs office substantially complied with its obligation to provide Cruz with discovery and gather evidence for his case. Some 500 pages of documents were provided, there were no rules about the limits of discovery, and the CSC was wrong in determining discovery violations occurred, according to the appeal. Additionally, the appeal asserts that Cruzs attorney, Jacqueline Terlaje, should be disqualified because her office employs attorney Kristine Borja. Borja was employed at the AGs office when the incident involving Cruz took place, the appeal notes. The AGs office wants Cruzs firing appeal sent back to the CSC, and for the commission to decide the case based on the facts of it. It also asks the court to disqualify Terlaje from representing Cruz, and to rule that the CSC was wrong to dismiss the case based on alleged discovery violations. In a separate complaint filed last week, Cruzs attorneys allege that he had not been paid for at least his first four days of re-employment starting on April 1. It also asserts that Cruz was shifted from his role as an investigator III at the AGs office to an administrative role at the Child Support Enforcement Division. Cruzs authorization to carry a firearm on AGs office premises was also revoked, the complaint states. Moylan on Monday said the factual allegations were untrue, and that Cruzs lawsuit was legally deficient. A response to the lawsuit was forthcoming, Moylan added. The AG said his office was understaffed, and ensuring kids from broken homes got their child support required assistance from AGs office investigators. His office recently had millions of dollars freed up to locate and dispose of undistributed child support funds, which required help from AG investigators. Staffing records show Cruz was employed by the AGs office starting in 1995, and was earning $128,817 annually in salary and benefits before his firing last September. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday, the Vatican announced. He was 88. The Catholic Church on Guam joins the rest of the Church and many others worldwide in mourning the passing of our Shepherd on Earth, Holy Father Pope Francis today, Archbishop Ryan Jimenez said in an April 21 statement from the Archdiocese of Agana. His absence already leaves a big hole in our hearts. The pope died Easter Monday at 7:35 a.m. in Rome, or past 3 p.m. Monday, Guam time. His passing during the Easter season, a time that reminds us of renewal and reflection, feels especially poignant, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said in a statement. It invites us to pause and consider how we can carry forward the values he championed: kindness, dignity, and care for one another. The governor of the predominantly Catholic island said Pope Francis leaves behind a powerful legacy that will continue to shape the way we lead, live, and connect with each other. On behalf of the people of Guam, we extend our heartfelt condolences to all who mourn his loss, the governor added. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, made the announcement about two hours after the pontiffs death. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God, the announcement added. The Argentinean-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis in 2013. Hes the 266th pope of the Catholic Church. The next pope is still to be decided. Based on centuries-old ritual, eligible cardinals vote for the next pope in the Sistine Chapel. Guams clergy sex abuse When the Guam clergy sex abuse was exposed wide open starting in 2016, Pope Francis replaced then Archbishop Anthony Apuron, who in 2018 was convicted by a Vatican tribunal related to the sexual abuse of multiple minors. Nearly 300 Guam clergy sex abuse claims have been filed and settled. The pope appointed Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes to replace Apuron, but Byrnes had to step down in 2023 due to a life-changing illness. Pope Francis appointed Jimenez in 2024 to replace Byrnes as head of Guams Catholic Church. Even as we hang our heads in sorrow however, we do so with fervent prayer and deep gratitude to our loving God for the gift of this holy man, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Jimenez said on Monday. Jimenez recalled that 12 years ago in March 2013, Pope Francis humbly accepted the Holy Spirits call to lead our Church as the Vicar of Christ on earth. Many of us recall the look of silent shock the unknown clergyman seemed to have on his face as he first appeared on the balcony amid the cheers of multitudes on March 13, 2013 at Saint Peters Square, Jimenez said. Our merciful God granted the pope and all of us a period of preparation, prayer and contemplation regarding the possibility of his death which has come true due to prolonged illness. We thank the Lord for that blessing in the midst of our tears. The Guam archbishop said the Vatican will provide an update and the archdiocese in turn will communicate to the faithful of Guam. Have faith in the Holy Spirit and please remember our beloved Holy Father in your prayers, Jimenez added. Battling with illness Pope Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy, the Associated Press reported. The pontiff died at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta. Voice of compassion, humility, courage Pope Francis used his platform to bring attention to the most pressing challenges of our timefrom poverty and inequality to climate change and human dignity, Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio said in a statement. He was a champion for those on the margins and a powerful voice for unity in a divided world. We honor his legacy and the example he set for leadership grounded in empathy, action, and hope. Sen. William Parkinson said the world has lost a truly extraordinary leader. Pope Francis was a voice of compassion, humility, and courage in a time that desperately needed it, Parkinson said. His commitment to justice, to the poor, to our planet, and to the dignity of every person made him a moral leader for people of all faiths. Here on Guam, where our faith plays such an important role in daily life, many of us felt a deep connection to his message and his mission. Guams delegate to Congress, James Moylan, said Pope Franciss passing represents a great loss for humanity, as his legacy of love and empathy will continue to impact generations to come. May his spirit of compassion continue to guide us during this time of mourning and in the future, he added. Sen. Tina Muna Barnes said as the first non-European to lead the Catholic Church in more than a thousand years, Pope Francis proved that any child of God can shepherd His flock. Pope Francis also showed how faith can be present and thriving in a modern world, while still being respectful and reverent to a rich and sacred past. His compassion for all Gods children, especially those in our neighborhoods most vulnerable, is an example all should follow, and his commitment to truly love his neighbor was certainly divine, she added. CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios said in the predominantly Catholic islands, the popes teachings have guided our families, helped shape our culture, and inspired hope in times of hardship. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and let us, as an island community with strong religious convictions, honor his memory by living out the values he championed: love, humility, and service to one another, Palacios said. Compassion or coercion? What is the role of government in a free society? By Craig DeLuz web posted April 21, 2025 In the ongoing debate about the role of government in addressing societal issues, a crucial misconception often surfaces on one side: The desire to help others equates to a mandate for state intervention. Advocates for increased government action frequently ignore the vital distinction between voluntary assistance and coercive mandates. The belief that government canor shouldserve as the ultimate arbiter of compassion neglects the fundamental principle that true generosity arises from individual choice rather than compulsion. Those advocating for increased government intervention often exhibit a profound misunderstanding about the nature of help. They seem to believe that the mere desire to assist equates to a moral imperative for the state to actoften through coercive means. This reliance on government as the ultimate solution tends to obscure an essential principle: the freedom of individuals to choose how, or whether, to help. Consider the uproar over the Trump administration's proposal to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development. We must recognize that the advocates for the agency's continuationdespite clear instances of squandered taxpayer dollarsare often motivated by a sincere, albeit misguided, impulse to alleviate the suffering of others. This situation starkly highlights a key principle of a civil society: that support for one another ought to stem from a voluntary commitment born of mutual obligation. Charity and assistance should arise from an individual's choice rather than compulsion, because when government steps in, demanding compliance through taxation and regulationas it does for funding agencies like USAIDit inevitably replaces genuine altruism with coercion. Encounters with advocates of coercive measures in the name of social justice reveal an important truth: Those who endorse such measures often overlook the implications of their rhetoric. If one is convinced that genuine change must originate from government action, they must grapple with the uncomfortable fact that these actions require a readiness to impose force on others. Consequently, the supposed benevolence of these proposed solutions becomes problematic when it endangers the very liberties one claims to uphold. The essence of this dialogue invites us to rethink our approach. Discussions should not arise from a place of animosity or suspicion; rather, they should acknowledge the good intentions that may underlie differing views, regardless of how naive they may appear. While people may be convinced of the altruism of their motives, it is crucial to expose the coercive mechanisms that such beliefs often entail. This leads us to the crux of the matter: Liberty without responsibility fosters chaos. The idea that individuals should have the freedom to make their own choices is inseparable from the principle that they must also bear the consequences of those choices. Allowing compassion to devolve into coercion threatens the very fabric of a free society. Ultimately, this discourse offers an invitation for greater introspection, not just for those who advocate state-led solutions but also for champions of individual liberty. Continuous assessment of whether our methods align with our ideals is essential. True compassion does not impose; it empowers. As we engage in these critical conversations, let us strive for a shared goal: fostering true freedomfreedom that honors individual rights while cultivating a civil society grounded in responsibility. Project 21 Ambassador Craig J. DeLuz has almost 30 years of experience in public policy and advocacy. He currently hosts a daily news and commentary show called "The RUNDOWN." You can follow him on X at @CraigDeLuz. This was first published at The Daily Signal and was inspired by a speech given by Virginia state Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper. For better context, watch the video here. Home BP Carbullido Elementary School in Barrigada is releasing its students early due to "poor air quality" resulting from a nearby grassfire and smoke Monday morning, the Guam Department of Education and Guam Fire Department said. "Students are safe and in their evacuation site. Pick up will be in front gate. Thank you for your patience and understanding," GDOE said, noting that the early release is at 10:45 a.m. April 21. At 9:40 a.m., GFD units responded to the area Behind BP Carbullido Elementary School for reported smoke sighted, according to GFD spokesperson Lt. Nick Garrido. "Upon arrival, units confirmed the fire to be of grass/trash. Our 911 call center did inform school admin to evacuate as needed," Garrido said. Bills addressing benefits for retired teachers who are rehired will be discussed during a hearing held by the Legislatures education committee at 2 p.m. Monday. Currently, retired teachers who are hired on a contract basic to fill teaching vacancies are not eligible for leave benefits. Bill 48-38 would change the law to provide four hours of annual leave and four hours of sick leave per pay period. The leave benefits are fixed and dont increase based on years of service, and no payment would be made for unused leave at the end of the service period. The bill notes that the government has historically relied on contracts with retired teachers to fill critical vacancies during teacher shortages, and basic leave benefits would help retain these experienced educators. Bill 43-38 would amend a law dealing with retired teachers who are rehired to fill in for teachers called away on military service or who are out because of a long-term disability. Currently, retirees hired in these circumstances are not eligible for sick or annual leave, but the amended law would allow them to be eligible for sick leave at the discretion of the Department of Education. Another bill being discussed by the education committee, Bill 68-38, addresses an omission in the legislation that established charter schools. According to the bill, the establishing legislation states that if the charter is ever terminated, all assets money or real property revert to the Guam Department of Education. But the law, which allows the school to make contracts and incur debt without the approval of the attorney general or the governor, doesnt specify what happens to the liabilities. The new section of law would read: All liabilities are the personal responsibility of the Charter School Board of Trustees who approved the contract or acquisition that incurred the liability and that the contract or acquisition was performed without a review by the Attorney General of Guam and the approval and signature of the Governor of Guam. Editor's note: The story has been updated with a statement from Otis Elevator Company. Elevators at the GCIC Building in Hagatna remain out of service more than six months after the Department of Public Works ordered them shut down over safety concerns. Building management said the elevators were operational at the time of the shutdown in October 2024 but were immediately powered down to comply with DPWs directive. GCIC President Steffen Niu said the building has spent the past year pursuing replacement or refurbishment options, but progress has stalled due to a lack of complete proposals from elevator companies on the island. Guam is a challenging place for businesses, and the lack of available qualified responsible elevator companies has been the greatest challenge we have yet encountered, Niu said. Tenants and visitors have continued to rely on stair access to reach offices in the nine-story tower, which houses numerous federal and local government agencies. Among those affected was an 83-year-old amputee who had to climb stairs to complete a TSA PreCheck appointment. As the Pacific Daily News reported, the incident prompted a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Rights Division. Local broker Debbie Sharp, speaking on behalf of the elderly womans family, said the building is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Sharp criticized the lack of timely action and also faulted Niu personally. Sharp also criticized Niu, accusing him of failing to uphold basic accessibility standards. In response, Niu said GCIC is doing everything possible to restore safe service while navigating complex logistical, technical and legal hurdles. This has the ability to meet most of the needs of accessibility, but there will be some that cannot be met, and it does not meet the expected convenience of an elevator in a 9-story building, Niu said, referencing a temporary solution created by GCIC. The company converted a ground-floor unit, Arcade A-9, into a shared workspace with phones, internet, cubicles, and a conference room, made available free of charge to tenants. The Department of Labor has a designated area there. GCIC said it reached out to all major elevator companies on GuamFujitec, Island Elevator, Otis, and Oceaniabut none submitted a complete, actionable plan. Oceania submitted a partial quotation that lacked installation details. Island Elevator responded verbally, saying it may be able to assist in 2027. DPW has issued a limited permit to allow freight use of the elevators, but passenger travel remains unauthorized. GCIC said it limits freight elevator use to after-hours to avoid confusion among tenants and guests. Yes, tenants and clients are still using stairs at this time, Niu said. Elevators are only a fraction of the systems that serve a modern office building but they are at the forefront of peoples concerns when they are down. Niu, who works out of an office on the sixth floor, acknowledged the toll the outage has taken on accessibility. As a 60+ year old and asthmatic, it has been an inconvenience for me, but not as great as for those who cannot utilize the stairs at all, he said. And to those I apologize for this confluence of events that has led to this prolonged down time. Dispute GCIC attributes the shutdown in part to an unresolved dispute with Otis Elevator Company, which held an exclusive maintenance contract for decades. According to Niu, Otis failed to correct deficiencies cited as early as 2021, including overdue elevator rope replacements and missing safety tests. Otis was largely non-responsive, but in December 2023 GCIC held firm with Otis specifically that deficiencies noted in a 2021 inspection had not been addressed, Niu said. We demanded those items be performed. They were not, and the result was Otis unilaterally terminating the contract. They said we didnt pay for those services. They didnt perform. The truth is we did pay and they didnt not perform. Niu said GCIC withheld partial payments out of fiduciary responsibility to tenants and the public and that the matter is now the subject of a pending lawsuit. If GCIC had allowed this to be swept under the rug again, likely we would not be in the position we are now, he said. But GCIC has a professional ethic to our tenants and to the safety of the public and these were critical safety issues. Niu said GCIC initially had an agreement with DPW to keep elevators running at reduced speed while pursuing new units. That plan shifted in September 2024 after DPW reversed course and gave the building 10 days to bring the system into full compliance or face mandatory shutdown. This came as a complete surprise since we had been following the path we had discussed, Niu said. Otis in a statement said its contract with the GCIC Building ended in March 2024. "Otis takes pride in serving our customers and maintaining their equipment. Our contract with GCIC Building ended in March 2024, and we have not been their elevator maintenance provider since that time," it said. The company said it's their understanding that the elevators at GCIC Building were shut down by order of the Department of Public Works after the termination of the company's maintenance contract. "Otis had previously informed GCIC Building of the issues cited by the Department of Public Works and provided a proposal to modernize the equipment to enhance their safety and address the issues. That proposal was not accepted by GCIC Building. We understand how frustrating the elevator situation at GCIC Building must be for those working there, but Otis has not been the service provider for more than 13 months," the company said. Deficiencies By that time, Rey Devera, the consultant and vendor who was working with both DPW and GCIC to supply new elevators, had died unexpectedly. No successor stepped in to fulfill the role. Niu said the issue reflects broader problems in elevator oversight and industry capacity on the island. He said a quick visual survey of surrounding buildings showed that 80% lacked valid elevator operation permits. He also observed similar deficiencies at hotels, malls, and even government buildings. I do not believe GCIC should run an elevator that is unsafe, but I also do not believe others should run by different standards, Niu said. Many other buildings, probably the majority of the buildings on Guam with elevators, are operating without certificates to operate, without safety tests. GCIC is calling on the Legislature to create a bonding requirement for elevator contractors and to provide limited building code waivers for upgrades, which Niu said are often discouraged by additional compliance burdens. I believe a partial solution here would be for the legislature to pass a bill requiring elevator companies to have a bond in place for every elevator which they service which shall act as a fund to guarantee the completion of work that the maintenance company promises, he said. Niu also said his attempts to raise issues with Otis through the Contractors Licensing Board were unsuccessful. He said the board provided outdated or conflicting information on who was responsible for Otis operations on Guam and failed to act on his complaint. In a similar case involving another building GCIC manages, which has also contracted with Otis, Niu said required safety tests were never performed. Nonetheless, the elevator there recently passed inspection. This unit was approved and recommended for certificate to operate, Niu said. Just like GCIC they have not delivered records of any such tests as having been performed and as a result, to the best of my knowledge, there have never been any such safety tests performed on that elevator. Despite these setbacks, Niu said GCICs board has committed significant funding toward restoring elevator access. We are fully intent on bringing service to the public that truly meets the safety standards and requirements of the public, he said. GCIC will do everything legally and ethically possible to bring back service at the soonest date, if even partial one elevator service. This should not have happened and I apologize to our tenants and to all visitors such that it happened during my tenure at the building. Water customers who use less could see their bills drop by as much as $10 by this October, but more customers will see their bills increase by closer to $20, if rate changes proposed by the Guam Waterworks Authority take effect. There are also a number of updated fees and fines that GWA wants to implement for customers, according to information shared at a work session with the Consolidated Commission on Utilities last week. The waterworks authority wants to go after the rate changes for fiscal year 2026, which starts on Oct.1, GWA Chief Financial Officer Taling Taitano told the CCU at the April 15 meeting. GWA already has permission to hike water rates by around 10.75% starting Oct. 1. But theres also a more complicated rate restructuring the waterworks authority wants to implement, which could see customers with smaller bills paying less. Both changes were approved by the Public Utilities Commission, Guams rate setting authority, last year. But the changes are still subject to review by the PUC before they take effect. Waterworks CFO Taitano last week said that GWA wants to petition the PUC for the new changes by May 1. Water rate hikes will be slightly smaller than the 10.75% hike thats been approved, Taitano added. Put simply, the rate changes will see every customer paying more for drinking water that they use. But changes to wastewater charges will result in savings for some of the smallest residential customers. Thats because ratepayers will be billed based on how much wastewater they put into the sewer, instead of just the current, flat $35.84 sewer charge, if changes get final approval from the PUC. Those that use less water and produce less wastewater, will see savings under the new rate scheme. Heres how bills for residential customers with 3/4 inch waterlines could change starting Oct. 1, based on GWA data: Customers using 1,000 gallons per month will go from $75.08 to $64.93, a $10.15 reduction 2,000 gallons per month, from $78.99 to $74.43, a $4.56 reduction 3,000 gallons per month, from $82.90 to $83.93, a $1.03 increase 4,000 gallons per month, from $86.81 to $98.62, a $11.81 increase 5,000 gallons per month, from $90.72 to $113.32, a $22.60 increase 6,000 gallons per month, from $107.55 to $128.01, a $20.46 increase 7,000 gallons per month, from $124.38 to $142.70, a $18.32 increase Most of GWAs residential customers use between 3,000 and 7,000 gallons per month, and will see some increase. Final rate changes are subject to review by the PUC. CCU Commissioner Mike Limtiaco at last weeks GWA work session asked for a breakdown of how many customers will fall into each category. Limtiaco wanted the breakdown presented at the next CCU meeting, scheduled for this Thursday. Increases to GWA rates will pay for some $898 million worth of sewer and water upgrades that the waterworks authority plans to start between now and fiscal year 2029. Among changes are efforts to treat and mitigate contaminants like PFAS in the Guam water supply, fix leaks, and improve the islands sewer system. New fees, fines Taitano told the CCU that GWA also wants to update a number of service charges and fines, which have not been updated since 1996. Here are some of the notable changes proposed: Job seekers will have a chance to connect with some of Guams top employers looking to hire this Friday. The University of Guam invites current students, recent graduates, alumni, and job seekers from the public to join the 2025 UOG Employment and Professional Workforce Recruitment, EMPWR, Expo. It will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 25 at the UOG Calvo Field House. This free networking and recruitment event will connect attendees with top employers in Guam, offering a wide array of career and internship opportunities across various industries, UOG said in a release. In spring 2024, UOG hosted a job fair that drew more than 1,000 attendees seeking positions in industries such as hospitality, engineering, construction, utilities, energy management, local government, and the federal sector. Following that event, the Triton Advising Center maintained momentum by engaging with the professional community throughout the Academic Year 20242025. The center hosted two smaller networking events under the Career Voyage Internship Fair banner. The goal then was to provide a student-focused experience, career advising specialist Ron VanDon said. It gave students a chance to connect with UOG employer partners, explore career pathways, and learn about internship opportunities. Looking ahead to the EMPWR Expo, VanDon emphasized the value of preparation and opportunity. For the EMPWR Expo, were encouraging job seekers to take the next stepwhether thats landing their first job or pursuing a new opportunity, he said. We always recommend bringing a resume and dressing professionally to make a strong impression on potential employers. UOG students can pre-register through Handshake, a job-search and networking platform for college students. Students can log in with their UOG email addresses at https://uog.joinhandshake.com/login. Pre-registration isnt required, VanDon added, but it can speed up your check-in process at the venue. No pre-registration is necessary for members of the public. Attendees can sign in at the entrance on the day of the event. To learn more, visit bit.ly/2025-uog-empwr or follow the Triton Advising Center on Instagram at @uogtac. For questions or inquiries, contact Ron VanDon or Merrick Orot at (671) 588-1478. A man accused last month of breaking into a mail sorting room at the Tamuning Post Office now faces multiple federal charges for mail theft. Matthew John Birola Sablan was charged with five counts of mail theft connected to a string of mailbox break-ins at the Tamuning Post Office, and one count of burglary of a post office, according to a complaint unsealed in the District Court of Guam. Six mailboxes at the Tamuning Post Office were broken into and stolen from between Feb. 20 and Feb. 27, according to the complaint. One mailbox was broken into more than once. Security videos showed an individual with a mark or tattoo on his left leg departing with handfuls of mail on each occasion, the complaint states. The individual was wearing the same clothes on Feb. 25 and Feb. 27. Sablan was arrested on the evening of March 4 and charged in the Superior Court of Guam in connection with the post office mail sorting room break-in, which happened that same day. At the time of the arrest, Sablan was on felony pre-trial release in connection with burglary charges filed in February. Fingerprints linked him to two burglaries reported in 2024, according to court documents. After the March 4 break-in, a customs officer assigned to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service noticed that the individual caught on camera using a pry bar to open the mail sorting room had the same mark or tattoo on his leg as the individual recorded breaking into mailboxes, the District Court complaint states. Surveillance footage identified the individual, Sablan, leaving the mail sorting room with three tubs full of mail, the complaint states. Sablan was arrested by police that evening for using a suspected fraudulently obtained credit card at Home Depot. He was wearing the same shorts, slippers and black hoodie as the person recorded breaking into the Tamuning Post Office. Questioned about the break in, Sablan denied stealing mail even though he was not told about any mail theft, the federal complaint states. He claimed he found the credit card used at Home Depot near the ITC Building, it states. Upon further questioning, Sablan stated that he had smoked ice and may have stolen mail from the post office, the complaint states. However, he did not recall which post office he had hit or when, it states. A federal arrest warrant issued for Sablan was executed on April 4, court documents state. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo on April 7 ordered Sablan detained pending proceedings in his case, court documents show. He could face up to five years imprisonment for each of his five federal mail theft charges and the charge of breaking into a post office. According to a Superior Court magistrates complaint, Sablan was on pretrial release in three felony cases, two of which were filed this year and the third filed in 2023, when he allegedly broke into the post office mail sorting room. Documents from the local Office of the Attorney General state he could face up to 55 years in prison, if convicted on local charges. (Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the AGs advice to government certifying officers in paragraphs eight and nine.) With construction of the Mangilao hospital project moving forward, Attorney General Douglas Moylan says any government official who gets involved in the illegal project, especially those authorizing the use of funds for the project, should contact his office for legal guidance. Both the governor and the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority have asserted all laws were followed in securing land for the project, and are now moving to have a lawsuit brought by the AG over the hospital land acquisitions thrown out of federal court. The Office of the Governor last week announced a formal notice to rezone was posted on the 48 acres of Mangilao land meant for the new hospital. Adelup called the rezoning a significant step towards starting water and power infrastructure installations at the planned hospital site. The governor can continue spending taxpayer money, Moylan said Friday, but added that it will be clawed back from the hospital project, if deemed illegal by a District Court of Guam judge or appellate court. Moylan said certifying officers of the government have been put on notice that authorizing the use of funds for the Mangilao hospital project could open them up to civil or criminal liability. Asked for comment about what, if any, liability the Guam Land Use Commission might face in addressing the rezoning application for the hospital, Moylan said that all GovGuam employees who may get involved should contact the Office of the Attorney General. If certifying officers are in doubt as to the legality of their intended payment of funds, they should contact the AGs office for written guidance, Moylan said. There were already two formal legal opinions that found the governors use of ARP funds for the Mangilao medical project were illegal, he stressed. Any payments authorized by any certifying officer could expose them to civil or criminal prosecution, he added. The AG said opinions on the legality of the project from the governors legal counsel and other attorneys hired on by GovGuam do not trump the AGs legal opinion. Moylan has opined on multiple alleged violations in the use of federal funds and in the condemnation process for land eyed for the hospital. Only a judges order would trump those opinions, Moylan asserted Friday. Movement on the Mangilao hospital project was now wrongly using up both government funds and administrative resources, as in the case of a rezoning brought to the GLUC, the AG added. The Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority have both been notified that they will be held criminally liable if they move to start infrastructure work at the hospital, Moylan said. GPA has agreed to take $35 million in federal American Rescue Plan money from the administration to install power infrastructure at the new hospital site, while GWA will take $62.9 million ARP sum for water and sewer installs. Any action taken by the AGs office against the utilities will depend on what steps GPA and GWA take, Moylan said Friday. Guam law will require Moylan to review and sign off on any contract for water or power installs at the new hospital site worth over $500,000. Moylan told the Pacific Daily News that GPAs legal counsel has already sent a letter to his office threatening to disqualify the AG from the project. What Trump 2.0's grand strategy for the Middle East could look like By Irina Tsukerman web posted April 21, 2025 Now more than two months into his second term, President Donald Trump is navigating a complex web of international crises while pushing forward an ambitious vision for the Middle East. His strategy is built on three key pillars: expanding the Abraham Accords to integrate more nations into a regional peace framework, strengthening economic and security connectivity through projects like IMEC+, and countering adversarial influences from Iran, Turkey, and other destabilizing actors. Balancing urgent security threats, diplomatic negotiations, and economic initiatives, his administration is actively working to implement these pillars while facing resistance from adversaries and the challenge of sustaining regional partnerships in an increasingly volatile environment. Diplomatic Normalization and Economic Connectivity One of Trump's main foreign policy priorities will be to further expand the Abraham Accords, the historic normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states. The first term's diplomatic successes saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan formally recognizing Israel. A second Trump administration will push aggressively to bring Saudi Arabia into the fold, recognizing that Riyadh's participation would mark a transformative shift in regional geopolitics. Trump is engaging in high-level diplomatic discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to persuade Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, offering U.S. security guarantees and economic incentives in return. So far, these talks have been in the background of Saudi Arabia's mediation role between US and Russia and US and Ukraine. However, with Trump expected to visit Saudi Arabia within a month or two, he is very likely to renew these discussions far more assertively in person. In the meantime, Trump's administration is leveraging trade agreements and major investment initiatives, including cooperation with Saudi Vision 2030, to create economic dependencies that encourage diplomatic normalization. The inclusion of Italy in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor ensures broader European investment and participation, making the initiative more attractive to Gulf states considering normalization. However, the administration is yet to formulate a strategic response to a series of hurdles that have come up since Trump's first term. Riyadh remains cautious due to domestic political considerations and its role as the custodian of Islam's holiest sites, making normalization with Israel a sensitive issue. Furthermore, the post-October 7 world, the war in Gaza, the spread of Hamas propaganda all over the region, and Riyadh's China-backed normalization with Iran have added layers of diplomatic, political, security, and economic complexities to any talks of advancing normalization. The Saudi foreign policy has not shifted since 2002: Riyadh will not normalize with Israel without steps towards building a Palestinian state, which is more unlikely at the moment than ever in recent years. Certainly, no state-building is likely to occur until Hamas is definitively ousted from power. A post-war governance plan for Gaza is also up in the air. Would the Netanyahu government formalize a temporary or long-term occupation of Gaza? Would a symbolic gesture to the PA resolve the issue in the view of Riyadh? Until these questions are properly considered and addressed, the entire framework for Trump's Grand Strategy rests on a shaky foundation. The Saudis are not the only hesitant actors in the region. The unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a sticking point, with Arab states wary of backlash from their own populations if they normalize or continue to highlight and expand relations without concessions for the Palestinians. In other words, before discussing the expansion of Abraham Accords and broader regional defense cooperation, the original Abraham Accords relationships should be salvaged, preserved, and strengthened to account for the previous gaping holes that have allowed them to deteriorate quickly at the first sign of trouble. Additionally, China and Russia are actively working to counterbalance U.S. influence in the region, offering alternative economic and security partnerships that make it harder for Trump to solidify long-term agreements. Qatar, too, while happy to play a high-profile mediation role in the Gaza conflict, is not thrilled about the prospects of Israel fully integrating with GCC states and is likely to work behind the scenes as a spoiler. Counterterrorism and Regional Stability Trump's administration is now fully engaged in an aggressive strategy to confront threats posed by Iran and Turkey. His return to office has seen an immediate escalation of measures aimed at crippling Tehran's influence while limiting Turkey's expansionist ambitions in Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean. The administration has re-imposed and expanded economic sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports, banking networks, and military-linked enterprises to further pressure Tehran's economy. U.S. forces have been repositioned in the region, particularly in Iraq and the Persian Gulf, to deter Iranian aggression against American allies, including Israel and Saudi Arabia. Trump has authorized multiple targeted military strikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, disrupting Tehran's ability to project power through its regional proxies. His administration has escalated offensive cyber operations against Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, disrupting command-and-control networks. Trump in the past has signaled strong opposition to Turkey's efforts to seize military bases in Syria, including the T4 airbase, warning Ankara against encroaching on territory controlled by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. With a pivot towards Russia and concerns reported by Israel, this opposition could continue despite aggressive lobbying from Ankara. The question remains whether Trump will put additional pressure on Erdogan over an apparently imminent plan to seize the bases, or whether trusted liaisons like Tom Barrack, will help achieve a compromise policy. Trump's administration has imposed targeted sanctions on Turkish companies involved in military production, particularly those linked to UAV and missile development, to limit Ankara's regional ambitions. Trump is leveraging alliances within NATO to limit Turkey's disruptive actions, pushing for military de-escalation agreements and seeking ways to curb Turkish arms deals with Russia. The U.S. is strengthening its support for Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq, ensuring they remain a counterbalance to both Iranian and Turkish interference in the region. However, the talks of US withdrawal from Syria are ongoing. Trump has already asked for a several drawdown option; with a new Syrian Interim Government finalized for the time being and with the US reportedly expressing support for the integration of the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) into the unified military, US could be seeking to minimize its own role as well as expenditures associated with additional support for its allies for the long term. Tehran has developed sophisticated methods to bypass U.S. economic sanctions, including illicit trade and leveraging support from China and Russia. Ankara continues to maneuver between the West and its alliances with Russia and Qatar, making it difficult for Washington to isolate it completely. Increased U.S. military action in the region carries the risk of triggering a broader conflict, which could draw in global powers and destabilize oil markets. Security and Infrastructure Development IMEC+ and Economic Connectivity: A New Silk Road for the Middle East The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC+) has been heralded as a transformational connectivity initiative designed to rival China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) while bolstering trade and infrastructure across key regions. Trump's second term will see an expansion of IMEC+ to include Italy, further strengthening its European foothold and ensuring robust transcontinental trade flows. IMEC+ aims to link India, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe through a combination of rail and maritime routes. This corridor will reduce dependence on Chinese trade networks, enhance regional economic integration, and solidify U.S. influence in global supply chains. With Italy's participation, IMEC+ gains greater access to European markets, reducing dependency on Turkey's increasingly erratic policies and ensuring alternative transit routes for energy and goods. Trump's second term is now seeing an expansion of IMEC+ to include Italy, further strengthening its European foothold and ensuring robust transcontinental trade flows. The administration is working to establish transportation and energy corridors that bypass Iran and Turkey, reducing reliance on unstable regions. Trump is prioritizing digital security within IMEC+ to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats posed by hostile actors. American companies are being encouraged to participate in infrastructure projects, ensuring long-term economic integration between the U.S. and key regional players. Still, this initiative is fraught with logistical and political hurdles. Coordinating the infrastructure investments across multiple nationseach with distinct regulatory, financial, and strategic interestswill require careful diplomacy. Additionally, regional instability, particularly in areas like the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula, poses a security risk to the smooth functioning of the corridor. Infrastructure projects in conflict-prone areas such as Yemen and Iraq face potential sabotage from hostile groups, delaying implementation and increasing costs. Key transit nations like Iraq and Egypt face internal political upheavals that could disrupt long-term trade agreements. Ankara views IMEC+ as a direct competitor to its own economic ambitions, increasing the likelihood of Turkish interference in regional projects. Challenges to Connectivity and Security Projects Despite the ambitious nature of Trump's Middle East strategy, several obstacles could impede its implementation. The most immediate challenge is internal political opposition in the U.S., particularly from factions skeptical of deeper engagement in the region. Congressional opposition to military aid or economic incentives could slow down progress on key agreements. On the international front, China and Russia will actively seek to counterbalance Trump's initiatives. China, which has deepened its economic ties with Gulf nations through BRI, will attempt to disrupt IMEC+ by offering more attractive investment packages. Meanwhile, Russia's push for a return to military presence in Syria and its strategic relationship with Iran complicate U.S. efforts to curb regional adversaries. Despite its military being forced to leave Syria after the fall of the Assad regime, Russia still retains political influence within the Alawite areas and other parts of the country. Moscow views Syria as a strategic asset and will not give up its efforts to make a full comeback, whether by exploiting the potential US withdrawal or by engaging in temporary defense pacts with US to regain a foothold until a better opportunity arises. In addition, the recent normalization of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabiabrokered by Chinademonstrates that regional actors are diversifying their diplomatic engagements. Trump's administration will need to convince Gulf nations that aligning closely with the U.S. is a more beneficial long-term strategy than hedging their bets with multiple global powers. Managing Alliances and Regional Relationships A second Trump administration will need to carefully navigate alliances, ensuring that the U.S. maintains credibility as a reliable partner. A rapid pro-Russia shift, controversial Gaza reconstruction proposals, and a general transactional approach to foreing policy are already challenging and straining these relationships. One key issue will be balancing the interests of Israel and Saudi Arabia. While both are U.S. allies, they have diverging priorities; Israel is primarily focused on countering Iranian threats, while Saudi Arabia seeks economic growth and security guarantees. Another complex relationship is that with Egypt, which plays a critical role in regional stability. Trump will likely reinforce economic and military ties with Cairo while pressuring it to align more closely with U.S. regional objectives. Moreover, Trump's handling of Iraq will be crucial. With Iranian-backed militias exerting influence over Baghdad, the U.S. must ensure that Iraq does not fully tilt toward Tehran. Strengthening Iraq's sovereignty through economic incentives and security assistance could serve as a counterweight to Iranian encroachment. However, this initiative is fraught with logistical and political hurdles. Coordinating the infrastructure investments across multiple nationseach with distinct regulatory, financial, and strategic interestswill require careful diplomacy. Additionally, regional instability, particularly in areas like the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula, poses a security risk to the smooth functioning of the corridor. The Impact of Trump's Pro-Russia Shift on Middle East Strategy Trump's pivot toward a more cooperative relationship with Russia has the potential to reshape the Middle East geopolitical landscape. If Moscow and Washington find common ground in stabilizing Syria, countering Iranian influence, or negotiating a more structured regional security arrangement, it could reinforce Trump's three pillars by leveraging Russia's ties to key regional players. However, this alignment also poses challenges, as U.S. alliesparticularly Israel and Gulf nationsmay remain wary of Russian involvement in strategic decisions. Some of the Israelis are reportedly engaged in high-level talks with Russia and even lobbied for US to allow a Russian return to the military bases to counterbalance Turkey's growing influence. Others, however, remain wary of Russia's past role and political entanglement with Iran, as well as its support for Hamas and Hizbullah. Additionally, any perceived concessions to Moscow could embolden Iran or complicate efforts to maintain a united front against adversarial influences in the region. The Potential for a New Nuclear Deal with Iran As Trump explores a possible new nuclear agreement with Iran, potentially mediated by Russia, the stakes for regional security and diplomacy are immense. A revised deal could alleviate some economic pressures on Tehran, reducing its incentive to fund proxy militias and escalate tensions with U.S. allies. However, skepticism remains over whether Iran would comply with stricter terms or simply use negotiations as a stalling tactic. Furthermore, if Russia plays a mediating role, it could use its influence to extract concessions that might not align with Trump's broader strategic goals. The success or failure of such a deal will have far-reaching consequences for Trump's Middle East vision, impacting the Abraham Accords, the strength of IMEC+, and the ability to contain Iran's regional ambitions. The Path Ahead Trump's second-term Middle East grand strategy is a multi-layered approach that seeks to expand economic and security partnerships while containing adversarial influences. The expansion of the Abraham Accords and IMEC+ underscores a vision of regional connectivity and cooperation, while his hardline stance on Iran and Turkey signals an uncompromising approach to security threats. However, the success of this strategy depends on overcoming significant challenges, including geopolitical rivalries, logistical barriers, and internal resistance from both regional partners and domestic critics. By carefully managing alliances, ensuring diplomatic flexibility, and maintaining a strong deterrence posture, Trump's administration has the potential to reshape the Middle East's strategic landscape for years to come. Irina Tsukerman, a national security and human rights lawyer, journalist, and geopolitical analyst, is a Fellow at the Arabian Peninsula Institute and a Fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. Home After nearly 10 days since boater Jeffery Hattori went missing, the search has come to an end, as the U.S. Coast Guardwhich spearheaded the operationannounced that it officially suspended active search efforts Saturday evening. Hattori departed the Hagatna Boat Basin at 5:30 a.m. on April 12 aboard a 14-foot skiff named Lady G. He was expected to return by 4 p.m. When he did not, the Guam Fire Departments Rescue alerted the Coast Guards Joint Rescue Sub-Center, initiating a large-scale, multi-agency response. Crews executed 48 search patterns covering more than 90,800 square nautical miles, the Coast Guard said. Despite the expansive operation, no trace of Hattori or the Lady G was found. Suspending this search is heartbreaking, as weve poured every available resource and ounce of resolve into finding Mr. Hattori for his family and community, Lt. Chelsea Garcia, the search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a news release. The immense ocean and the absence of any sign have tested us. Our partnersGuam Fire Rescue, the U.S. Navy, and local supportersremain ready to act on any new lead and are deeply grateful for the communitys vigilance and support. The response included a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Commander Task Force 72, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 Knighthawks, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point, the USCGC Oliver Henry, WPC 1140, Station Apra Harbors 45-foot Response Boat-Mediums, and Guam Fire Rescues coastal and offshore teams. Four self-locating datum marker buoys, SLDMBs, were also deployed to support the Coast Guards Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System, refining drift predictions in changing sea conditions. Shoreside teams also investigated community reports, including sightings on April 12 near Guams northwest coast, but none yielded conclusive results. Search teams faced east winds of up to 15 knots, seas ranging from 5 to 7 feet, and midweek swells building to 8 feet. No watches or warnings were issued during the search period. The Coast Guard has suspended the search unless new information comes to light. For more information, the public is encouraged to contact Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir, Coast Guard public affairs officer, at sara.g.muir@uscg.mil or uscgforcesmicronesia@gmail.com. As Lent drew to a close, Catholics around the world turned their focus to Easter Sunday, the celebration of Christs resurrection. But what is the significance of Lent, and why does it matter? Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, penance, and spiritual growth, mirroring the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert. Its a time for reflection, a moment to reconnect with faith, and an opportunity to prepare ourselves for Easter in a meaningful way. The origins of Lent trace back to the early Christian church, where it initially served as a period of preparation for those preparing for baptism. Over time, the focus shifted to encompass a wider invitation for all believers to reflect on their lives, repent for their sins, and renew their commitment to faith. Today, the Catholic Church marks the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday and concludes it on Holy Saturday, leading into the joy of Easter Sunday. During Lent, Catholics engage in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as part of their preparation for Easter. These practices serve as tools for spiritual growth and an opportunity to deepen ones relationship with God. By embracing sacrifices and acts of generosity, believers are reminded of Jesus compassion and his call for us to serve others. The Lenten season is not about simply giving up indulgences; it is about embracing a more meaningful, purposeful life. Lent invites us to reflect deeply on our lives and make genuine changes. Its time to ask ourselves: Are we living in alignment with our values? Are we truly serving and caring for those around us? The essence of Lent is not merely about self-denial, but about spiritual renewal, and the transformation that comes from re-evaluating how we live our lives in the light of Christs teachings. In many island communities, Lenten traditions hold a special place. From communal fish fries to prayer services, these customs create bonds of solidarity. However, its worth considering whether these practices are done out of sincere faith or simply out of tradition. While some may participate out of habit, many others find deep meaning in these shared rituals. Still, its essential to approach these traditions with intention and authenticity, ensuring they reflect genuine spiritual growth. As Easter Sunday arrived, the Catholic community celebrated the resurrection with joy and reverence. But what happens after that? Will the spirit of Lent fade away, or will we carry its lessons into our daily lives? The real challenge is not simply to observe Lent as a season but to let its lessons inspire lasting change. How can we integrate the values of Lentcompassion, reflection, and communityinto our lives throughout the year? Lent is more than just a period on the calendar; its a call to become better versions of ourselves. As we move beyond this season, lets commit to nurturing our faith, embracing generosity, and building stronger, more authentic communities. Instead of waiting for next years Lent, lets make every day an opportunity to live out its principles. Through reflection and intentional living, we can create a world filled with greater compassion and loveone that honors the spirit of Lent all year long. Two weeks ago, I invited students in one class to critique my column on tariffs. The assignment was optional, but one instruction was not: they had to disagree with me. Several students took the challenge and posted interesting comments. One criticized me for being too focused on the political implications of tariffs instead of possible economic benefits. Another thought I was too pessimistic about the effects on small island nations. A third argued that the trading rules had been breaking down before Trumps tariffs. And a fourth criticized me for giving the trading institutions too much credit for preventing war. All the criticisms made good points but today, my focus is on why I gave this assignment. Simply, I wanted to encourage students to question my authority, to learn that it was OK to speak truth to power. Teaching students that is the core mission of the modern university. These days, that mission is under attack everywhere. The threats come in many forms. In the U.S., the Trump administration is trying to control how leading universities teach controversial issues. Across the U.S. and in many parts of the world, universities facing funding cuts eliminate programs that foster critical thinking and awareness of the world. Across the West, citizens are more cynical and contemptuous of higher learning than any time since World War II. These challenges are not new. Centers of higher learning have existed for millennia, in many cultures and faced similar challenges. Since the pursuit of learning does not generate revenue, rulers gave them endowments, usually land, and autonomy to study religious texts and the basic arts and sciences of their times. These centers were usually associated with religious institutions Buddhist, Christian, Confucian, Hindu or Islamic but dissent and debate could still occur and lead to competing schools of thought. Changing political and religious winds spelt the end of many centers of learning. Rulers might feel threatened and shut them down. A change in dynasty could mean one sect or school of thought was sidelined for another. Conquerors sometimes destroyed them. Buddhist monasteries, for example, were suppressed by rulers in many countries where they had been encouraged before. And the rest of society often resented the privileged existence of scholars and monks who lived off the work of everyone else. The modern university made higher learning seem more accessible and relevant than these earlier institutions. Arising in medieval Europe, this university was thought of as an autonomous community of scholars. They often received a charter granting them autonomy privileges to teach and search for truth without interference. But they still needed funding. Some were private, often run and paid for by students, but others were paid for by the church or the king. The subjects studied mathematics, grammar, astronomy, logic, rhetoric were scholarly and prepared students for the professions like law, medicine or the clergy. Practical skills were taught through apprenticeships, not by universities. This changed with the industrial revolution and the birth of modern science. New techniques and skills needed to be taught. At first, these were taught in polytechnics, institutions focused on applied sciences, like engineering. Eventually, the two merged. Modern universities teach both applied and theoretical subjects, sciences, humanities, and arts. The theoretical and the practical no longer existed on different planes. Modern science, with its search for new knowledge, had clear applications to the development of new technology. New social sciences set out to study human existence using the same techniques of inquiry, debate and evidence that produced advances in the natural sciences. In this kind of university dissent, debate and disagreement are vital. Truth is sought but never quite found. Knowledge improves but is never complete. The university became a place not just for preserving the knowledge of the past but an incubator for new ideas, some good some bad; a place where criticizing the powers that be provides a check on the abuse or misuse of power, and where new ideas take shape that transform the workplace. And, after WWII, around the world, the university became an avenue for upward mobility, where working class kids learn their way out of manual work into the middle class and professions. At least, that is the ideal. The reality, of course, is messier. University administrators worry about biting the hand that feeds them. Professors are human. They fear for their jobs. Different schools of academic thought are not always as tolerant of each other as they might be. Powerful economic and political and economic actors in society are not always pleased when their views or interests are questioned. Meritocracy can hide a new class system. And voters, taxpayers, and parents question the value of subjects that do not lead immediately to employment. Despite all that, I believe the modern university has played a crucial role in making the world a more prosperous, just and democratic place. Today, the university is at a crossroads, in the United States, and on Guam. In the coming weeks, I hope to explore some of these challenges in greater depth. Haiti - FLASH : 83rd day of the Battle of Kenscoff, 3 Fad'H soldiers killed in combat On Sunday, April 20, 2025, three soldiers of the Haitian Armed Forces were killed in combat in Kenscoff, weapons in hand. The Government issued a statement : "[...] It is with deep sadness and deep emotion that the Government announces the loss of three of our valiant soldiers, who fell this Sunday in Kenscoff in the exercise of their sacred duty. On the front lines, they faced danger with courage, determination, and honor. They fell as heroes, weapons in hand, defending the Homeland they swore to protect. These soldiers are not just members of our armed forces. They are worthy sons of the Nation, defenders of our sovereignty, whose ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their commitment is a powerful reminder that freedom and security come at a price, and that this price is sometimes paid in the blood of our bravest. The Government salutes the memory of these martyrs of the Republic and extends its deepest condolences to their families, their brothers in arms, and the entire Haitian people. Their sacrifice strengthens our shared determination to regain control of our territory and restore peace. [...] Because we refuse to cede a single inch of our land to fear. We refuse to let violence dictate our future. This battle is the battle of the entire Haitian people, and we will win it." Kenscoff remains tense and on high alert. On Saturday, April 19, 2025, residents reported hearing between 10 and 15 explosions resembling kamikaze drone strikes in less than 30 minutes. The shooting stopped after these explosions and an uneasy calm has returned. A unit of the FAd'H and members of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) are also working alongside the Haitian National Police (PNH). The city center of Kenscoff, which had been relatively unaffected until now, now appears to be the primary target of the bandits who launched a new attack on the night of April 17-18, 2025, near the Maroca intersection, very close to the city center, before being repelled. Residents of the city center, Platon Cafe, and Maroca fled, according to Jean Massillon, the city's mayor. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has compiled a timeline of attacks by armed gangs in Kenscoff. The Battle of Kenscoff is currently in Phase 7, with the objective of capturing the town center and controlling the area... PHASE 1 : Social Media Alerts, January 24 : Gangs prepare an attack on Kenscoff. Kenscoff authorities impose a curfew and set up three checkpoints on the main roads. On January 18 and 25, a woman and a girl are raped in Bongard by heavily armed individuals during the preparation of the attacks. PHASE 2 : Gang Attacks, January 27 : At 3:00 a.m., approximately 100 members of the Gran Ravine, Ti Bois, and Village de Dieu gangs attack several locations in Kenscoff (Belot, Bois Major, Bongard, Carrefour Bete, and Furcy). https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44154-haiti-flash-kenscoff-attacked-attackers-repelled.html 31 members of the population were killed and 27 others injured, and approximately 70 houses were burned. At 8 a.m., security forces were deployed to respond; at least 23 gang members were killed and seven others injured. A woman was gang-raped by gang members in Pannye. * While retreating to their bases, the gangs killed at least 30 people and injured 13 others in Carrefour. * Security forces remained stationed in several locations in Kenscoff. PHASE 3 : Resumption of police operations and continued gang reprisals, January 28 to February 4: On January 28, a new clash took place between security forces and gangs in Belot. The gangs were pushed back from Belot. In retaliation, they attacked Bois Major, where they killed six people. On February 3, approximately 100 individuals belonging to the 400 Mawozo gang were sent as reinforcements to Kenscoff. On February 4, during a new clash with security forces, 50 gang members were killed. The remainder mostly retreated to their strongholds. PHASE 4 : The gangs suspended their attacks in Kenscoff, while opening another front, February 5 to 15 Security forces remained deployed in Kenscoff. No major gang attacks were recorded. However, gangs continued their abuses against residents, killing at least 14 people, including a one-month-old infant, in the towns of Belot, Bete, Bongard, Godet, Furcy, and Viard. On February 8, a woman was raped in her residence by several gang members. Between February 7 and 13, the "Kraze Barye" gang opened another front by launching several assaults in Corlette, Meyotte, Metivier, and Pernier (Petion-Ville). Five members of the population were injured and seven others were kidnapped. Security forces and self-defense groups repelled the "Kraze Barye" gang, killing 54 of its members. PHASE 5 : Resumption of gang attacks in Kenscoff, February 16-26: On February 16, a new gang attack was launched in the towns of Furcy and Obleon (Kenscoff). Four members of the security forces were killed and two others injured, while at least 18 gang members were killed. During their retreat, the gangs killed a woman and her child in Godet (commune of Kenscoff). On February 26, gangs once again invaded the towns of Belot, Bois dAvril, Godet, and Morne Boucan. PHASE 6 : The gangs continued their attacks to consolidate their control over Kenscoff in March The gangs continued their attacks, forcing law enforcement to disperse across several fronts. 28 members of the population were killed and 4 were kidnapped. At least 80 homes were burned, and several hundred people fled. According to a report published by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), attacks carried out over the past two months in Kenscoff have left at least 262 dead and 66 injured. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44647-haiti-flash-first-official-report-from-the-battle-of-kenscoff-at-least-262-dead-and-66-wounded-report.html Download the full report (16-page English PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/flash_report_20250222_kenscoff-en.pdf . More than 3,000 people have fled their homes... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44647-haiti-flash-first-official-report-from-the-battle-of-kenscoff-at-least-262-dead-and-66-wounded-report.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44366-haiti-flash-two-fad-h-soldiers-killed-in-combat.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44209-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44196-haiti-flash-kenscoff-added-to-the-list-of-massacres.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44154-haiti-flash-kenscoff-attacked-attackers-repelled.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-44142-icihaiti-security-curfew-in-effect-in-kenscoff.html SL/ S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : National Diaspora Day, message from the Minister This Monday, April 20, 2025, National Diaspora Day, J.E. Kathia Verdier, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), extends her warmest greetings to all Haitians in the diaspora... National Diaspora Day is much more than a symbol. It represents official recognition of the fundamental role the Haitian diaspora plays in building our country through its commitment, expertise, investments, and unwavering solidarity. The diaspora is a strategic pillar of national development, a living bridge between Haiti and the world. This year, under the theme "Diaspora and Governance : Effective and Inclusive Participation" the MHAVE reaffirms its commitment to redefining the ties between the Haitian state and its diaspora. Our goal is clear : to guarantee every Haitian, wherever they are, a full and equal place in Haiti's transformation process. Minister Verdier, on this day of celebration, reiterates her commitment to working towards : Justice and legality for Haitians living abroad; Active political participation of the diaspora; Support for economic and social projects led by our compatriots overseas; Protection of the rights and property of our compatriots. On this April 20th, Haiti pays tribute to its sons and daughters scattered throughout the world, who, every day, proudly carry the colors of our culture, our courage, and our hope. May this day be a moment of pride, reflection, and collective mobilization for a more just, more inclusive Haiti, resolutely focused on the future. HL/ HaitiLibre SCOTUS Justice Samuel Alito issues brilliant dissent in response to court's order temporarily halting gang deportations By Rachel Alexander web posted April 21, 2025 The Supreme Court issued an order on Saturday temporarily blocking the Trump administration from deporting 50 illegal immigrants from the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. Only justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented , with Alito writing a scathing, brilliant dissent that Thomas joined. Two lower courts had already refused to jump in and pause the deportations. The order seemed strange, since earlier this month SCOTUS ruled that Trump has authority under the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan gang members. But it left the door open for litigation by stating that gang members could appeal their deportations on a case by case basis. The Alien Enemies Act gives the President unilateral authority to deport noncitizens who are subjects of foreign enemies, although the MSM has been spinning its description to pretend that it can only be invoked during war, since one of the triggers for deportations CAN be wartime. But the statute doesn't state that it's required. It clearly gives the President the power to deport dangerous violent individuals sent by a rogue nation. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was deliberately releasing violent criminals from prisons in order to let them flee to the U.S., according to letters sent to DHS by several members of Congress. The relevant part of the law provides , "Whenever any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government, and the President makes public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being of the age of fourteen years and upward, who shall be within the United States and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as alien enemies." Note that the MSM articles on this topic never include this language from the statute because it is so crystal clear that the President has the authority. In fact, the MSM deliberately doesn't even link to the law in their articles even though almost all news is online now so there's no reason not to. This has become a troubling pattern in MSM articles, deliberately avoiding linking to the law in order to make it more difficult for people to discover the truth. Alito summarized, "[L]iterally in the middle of the night, the Court issued unprecedented and legally questionable relief without giving the lower courts a chance to rule, without hearing from the opposing party, within eight hours of receiving the application, with dubious factual support for its order, and without providing any explanation for its order." First of all, Alito said it wasn't even clear that the court had the jurisdiction to stop Trump. Since the district court judge failed to rule on the ACLU's request for a temporary restraining order by the deadline, it was likely premature for the plaintiffs to appeal, he said. The Fifth Circuit denied jurisdiction for the appeal due to that. The ACLU demanded a ruling within 45 minutes on Good Friday from the district court judge, Alito said, and when the judge didn't jump immediately, they went to the appeals court prematurely. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, said he declined to issue a rushed restraining order since ICE filed sworn declarations stating that the gang members would not be immediately deported. The ACLU attempted to go around Hendrix by asking radical leftist U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg to issue a restraining order instead, but Boasberg could not since he had no jurisdiction due to a lack of gang members in his D.C. jurisdiction. Boasberg is the judge who ruled that Trump committed criminal contempt by refusing his order to turn a plane around that was headed to El Salvador, in order to return MS-13 gang member Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said he will not return the gang member, stating that it was "preposterous" to "smuggle a terrorist into the United States." The Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction before the appeals court had even made its determination that it had no jurisdiction, not bothering to wait for the lower court. The Supreme Court likely violated its own rule, Alito said. Supreme Court Rule 23.3 states that "[e]xcept in the most extraordinary circumstances, an application for a stay will not be entertained unless the relief requested was first sought in the appropriate court or courts below or from a judge or judges thereof." Nor did the Supreme Court wait to hear the Trump administration's response to the appeal. Alito expressed skepticism as to the validity of the request for the emergency appeal. "The papers before us, while alleging that the applicants were in imminent danger of removal, provided little concrete support for that allegation." He pointed out that one of Trump's attorneys had revealed that no deportations were to occur on April 18 or 19, so there was no urgency. Additionally, he said class relief was inappropriate since the district court never certified a class action, "and this Court has never held that class relief may be sought in a habeas proceeding." He concluded, "I refused to join the Court's order because we had no good reason to think that, under the circumstances, issuing an order at midnight was necessary or appropriate." He accused his fellow justices of not following the law. Unfortunately, this has become a pattern from the three judges Trump appointed to the court, siding with the leftist justices leaving Alito and Thomas as the only reliable conservatives. Along with rogue judges in the lower courts, the seven justices are destroying the rule of law and overstepping their authority by trampling on the powers delegated by the Constitution to the executive branch. Fortunately, there are some solutions on the way, especially in regards to district court judges issuing nationwide injunctions. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home The measure aims to stimulate Finlands long-stagnant economic growth by improving conditions for domestic and foreign investment. The Finnish government is set to reduce the corporate tax rate from the current 20 percent to between 17 and 18 percent, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decision will be finalised during the cabinets midterm budget session scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Sources told Helsingin Sanomat that a reduction to 18 percent is the most likely outcome, although a steeper cut to 17 percent remains under consideration. The Ministry of Finance has previously estimated that a one-percentage-point reduction in corporate tax would cost the state around 450 million annually in lost revenue under static assumptions. The government expects the actual fiscal impact to be smaller due to anticipated economic growth and increased corporate activity. To balance the budget, the government intends to introduce offsetting spending cuts and targeted tax increases. These are intended to ensure that the tax reform does not raise the overall level of public borrowing. Corporate tax in Finland is paid by limited companies, cooperatives, and under certain conditions, by state enterprises, associations, foundations, and housing companies. Finlands current 20 percent rate is already lower than many European peers, but government officials argue that further cuts could help attract capital and reduce investment barriers. Finance Minister Riikka Purra said last week that Finland suffers from low growth and a lack of economic dynamism. While noting that the existing corporate tax rate is relatively competitive, she indicated that the government sees potential in further reductions. The last corporate tax cut in Finland took place in 2014 under the government of Jyrki Katainen, when the rate was lowered from 24.5 percent to 20 percent. The proposed reduction has drawn support from business groups. The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) has called for a cut of five percentage points, arguing that the resulting economic activity would offset the decline in tax revenue. However, independent tax research suggests that while lower corporate taxes can increase investment, the claim that they pay for themselves remains unlikely. A government-commissioned review found that corporate tax cuts would probably lead to some growth, but not enough to fully recover the lost revenue. In addition to corporate tax changes, the government is expected to approve modest cuts to income taxation. Purra has said these will also be funded through spending adjustments and tax increases elsewhere. No final decisions have been announced regarding where the offsetting measures will fall. However, according to Helsingin Sanomat, one of the proposed steps is the removal of tax deductibility for trade union membership fees. That change could generate an additional 190 million annually. The corporate tax reform is likely to become a central pillar of the governments broader economic agenda, which includes deregulation, reduced public spending, and increased labour market flexibility. HT Easter holiday return traffic in Finland is expected to reach its peak on Monday, with congestion likely on major roads across the south of the country, according to traffic management company Fintraffic. The busiest hours are projected between 12:00 and 20:00, particularly on highways connecting southern population centres. Fintraffic has urged drivers to prepare for delays and to plan journeys with additional time in mind. Cardinal Kevin Farrell , Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death early Monday morning. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father, he said. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. Pope Francis , the first pontiff from Latin America and the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church, has died in Rome aged 88. The Vatican confirmed his death on Easter Monday, concluding a 12-year papacy shaped by illness, reform, and a commitment to the margins of society. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis became the 266th pope in 2013 following the resignation of Benedict XVI. He was the first pope from the southern hemisphere and the first non-European in over 1,300 years. His early life included work as a nightclub bouncer, a chemistry graduate, and eventually a Jesuit priest. Francis died shortly after appearing in frail condition during Easter Sunday blessings. Confined to a wheelchair and with a clergy member delivering his address, he used his final public message to call for peace and religious freedom. There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, the statement read. Throughout his pontificate, Francis was often seen as a progressive voice in a historically conservative institution. He criticised populist leaders, called for climate action, and softened the Churchs tone on issues such as homosexuality, though without altering doctrine. He approved blessings for same-sex couples and called being gay not a crime, while still describing it as a sin under Church teachings. Francis consistently drew international attention for his public disputes with world leaders. He rebuked then-US President Donald Trump for his stance on immigration and recently criticised Vice President JD Vance, who had a brief meeting with him on Easter Sunday, for invoking Catholic theology to justify policy on migration. Vance expressed his condolences on Monday, saying, My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. The pontiff was a vocal critic of global conflict. He condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine and called on both sides to work towards peace, though his suggestion that Kyiv raise a white flag caused controversy. In one of his final appeals, he urged a ceasefire in Gaza and highlighted the suffering of civilians on both sides. He also maintained strong engagement with the global South, visiting dozens of countries including Peru, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Philippines. His first overseas trip in 2013 was to the island of Lampedusa to draw attention to the plight of migrants. He later criticised the EUs handling of migration as inadequate. Despite his progressive rhetoric, Francis resisted doctrinal changes on several key issues. He ruled out the ordination of women as priests or deacons but appointed several women to senior Vatican roles. He opposed abortion while expressing compassion for those who have had one, saying they should be forgiven. His papacy was also shaped by ongoing efforts to address the Catholic Churchs sexual abuse scandals. He encouraged transparency and accountability but faced criticism for the slow pace of reform and lack of structural change. The Pope's final months were dominated by worsening health. In February, he was hospitalised with pneumonia in both lungs and was released in March after more than five weeks. Doctors had advised two months of rest, and he delegated most of his Holy Week duties to aides. Despite that, he made a brief appearance to deliver Easter greetings, pausing to bless infants as his vehicle passed through the crowd. World leaders have paid tribute. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called him a model of courage and conviction. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Egypts President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi also expressed condolences. The Vatican confirmed that Francis will not be buried using the traditional three nested coffins. Instead, in line with his wishes, he will rest in a single wooden casket lined with zinc. His body will not be displayed on a platform for public viewing. Instead, mourners will pay respects as his remains lie in an open coffin inside the Basilica of St Mary Major, making him the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. Cardinal Farrell described Francis as a man who taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love. HT His passing has triggered the Vaticans centuries-old succession protocol. Up to 138 eligible cardinals under the age of 80 will assemble in strict seclusion to vote in secret ballots until a new pope is selected. A two-thirds majority is required. As the Catholic Church enters a period of mourning, the worlds attention now shifts to the Sistine Chapel, where a conclave of cardinals will soon gather to elect the next pope. The decision follows the death of Pope Francis , who passed away at the age of 88 after twelve years as the Churchs spiritual leader. White smoke from the chapel chimney will signal a successful vote. The conclaves outcome will shape the Churchs direction. Franciss papacy brought reform and controversy. As the first Latin American pope, he decentralised Vatican power, promoted social justice, and advocated environmental protection. He expanded the College of Cardinals beyond Europe, shifting the balance of influence to Asia, Africa and Latin America. Now, cardinals face a pivotal choice: continue Franciss path of inclusivity and global engagement, or return to doctrinal conservatism. Leading candidates reflect this divide. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, from the Philippines, is seen as a frontrunner. Known for his progressive views and close ties to Francis, he has been dubbed Asias Francis. He has advocated for inclusion of divorced Catholics and LGBTQ individuals and currently leads the Vaticans Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, from Italy, is also a strong contender. As Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, he is known for diplomatic experience and institutional continuity. Though moderate, he may appeal to cardinals seeking stability after Franciss decentralised style. Other figures represent a more conservative stance. Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, of Hungary, is a canon law scholar who has opposed communion for divorced Catholics and criticised refugee resettlement in Europe. His election would signal a doctrinal realignment. Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, of the United States, has publicly criticised Franciss reforms and has opposed the blessing of same-sex couples. His views reflect a hardline stance on family and bioethics issues. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, rejected Franciss policy on same-sex blessings. He leads bishops across Africa and Madagascar and was granted exemption from that policy for the continent. Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, 71, a former physician from the Netherlands, is another conservative candidate. He holds strong views on marriage and bioethics and would represent a return to traditional doctrine. More moderate possibilities include Cardinal Mario Grech, 67, of Malta, who supports outreach to Catholics excluded due to sexuality or marital status, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, of Italy, a close ally of Francis who has undertaken diplomatic missions for the Vatican. The timing of the conclave will follow the nine-day mourning period known as novemdiales. Cardinals will then enter seclusion in the Sistine Chapel. Voting will occur four times daily until a new pope is chosen. Once the result is confirmed, white smoke will rise from the chapel chimney. The announcement will be delivered with the traditional Habemus Papam (We have a pope), followed by the new pontiffs appearance on the balcony of St Peters Basilica. This election comes at a turning point. The Church faces falling membership in Europe and North America, rapid growth in Africa and Asia, and ongoing scrutiny over its handling of abuse cases and internal governance. Franciss legacy will influence the outcome. Though his reforms were far-reaching, his unilateral leadership style left cardinals without strong internal alliances. With more than 100 voting cardinals appointed by him, his influence may endure, but not unchallenged. The cardinals must now weigh the Churchs future: global expansion, moral authority, and unity across a vast and divided flock. HT A FUNDING pot of 500,000 has been identified by the Environment Agency to start developing plans for the replacement of Marsh Lock footbridge. Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo and Mayor Rory Hunt went on a boat trip on the River Thames with agents on Thursday last week to assess the state of the bridge from the water. Councillor Hunt said they focused on some of the problems with the bridge and discussed some potential ways to move forward. The rotting bridge was closed by the Environment Agency in May 2022 following complaints about its condition. More than 100 defects were found in the deteriorating hardwood, which would need to be replaced in its entirety. Repairs were expected to take two months but were delayed due to the agency denying responsibility for maintaining it. Mr van Mierlo wrote to four government ministers at the start of the year, asking for help in accelerating the work, including Baroness Sue Hayman, the Minister of Access at the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs. She said the Environment Agency plans to carry out surveys in the new financial year to assess the available options for the bridge, including repairs or a full replacement. The funding is expected to be used to fund the planning of the bridge repair, which as an estimated cost of about 1.3m, which was revealed by the Henley Standard in October. Mr van Mierlo said: It was great to get out on to the river with the Environment Agency to view the state of the bridge from the water. Following the campaign of the local residents that Ive been supporting, the agency has confirmed to me that a 500,000 funding pot has been identified to make progress. The funding is not enough to fully renovate the bridge but it will allow the first step to be taken, which is bringing forward a detailed design. This will take six to 12 months to complete. This is really welcoming news and Im pleased that the area director and her team have recognised the importance of this bridge to the community here and more widely. I will, of course, continue to hold the agencys feet to the fire on this and work constructively with all relevant stakeholders and interested parties. He thanked Claudia Fennell, nine, a member of 1st Henley Brownies, who started a petition campaigning for repairs. He said: I want to thank people like nine-year-old Claudia, of Wargrave Road, everyone who supported her petition, and all the residents whove written to me about this. Your voices have made a real difference, and this shows that together, we can campaign for meaningful change. Claudia, who will be presenting her petition with more than 5,000 signatures to Downing Street and the House of Commons next week, said: Im so happy to hear that there is some progress being made on fixing the bridge. I hope my campaign might have helped a bit with getting the money from the Environment Agency. Freddie has been great at getting lots of meetings with the right people too and Im looking forward to presenting my petition with him in 10 Downing Street next week. Cllr Hunt said he left the interaction feeling more positive and is pleased plans are being drawn up. He said: We went out on the boat and were able to see and focus on some of the problems with the bridge and discuss some ways forward. It was also helpful to have general discussions about safety and pollution. Im really pleased that the Environment Agency is starting to engage with us, and its really pleasing that the MP is working with them too. Its frustrating that the work is taking so long, but Im pleased that plans are being drawn up to repair the bridge, and I look forward to working with relevant stakeholders and people to repair it. I left it feeling much more positive than I did going into it. Its also good to establish a working relationship and Im confident that we can find a way to find a solution. After the bridge was closed, a short diversion through the Culden Faw estate was established. But, due to a lack of action, the estate rescinded access to its land in March last year in the hope that this would spur the Environment Agency into action. A 2.7-mile diversion was then put in between Lower Shiplake to Mill Lane in Henley, which takes walkers one hour and 15 minutes and involves crossing the A4155 twice. In February, the town council decided to take legal action in a bid to accelerate the repair and reopening of the bridge. It agreed to serve a notice on Oxfordshire County Council which would require the highways authority to state within one month whether the bridge is considered a public highway and who is liable to maintain it. Similarly worded letters were also sent to Philip Duffy, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, and Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Cllr Hunt said that the town was united on getting the bridge reopened as soon as possible. PLANS to extend the opening hours of a private members club in Henley have been criticised by a parish council. Remenham Club in Remenham Lane has applied to change its licence so it can stay open until 1am during Henley Royal Regatta. It also wants to extend its alcohol licence to sell until midnight. The club hosts up to 2,000 people during the six-day event. However, Remenham Parish Council has raised concerns about the plans. Paul Sermon, clerk to the council, said that the neighbouring Upper Thames Rowing Club is only allowed to sell alcohol until 11pm. He said that it would not be appropriate for the club to sell alcohol until midnight. Mr Sermon said: Its licence in this respect should be kept at 11pm. Allowing a later cut-off would be likely to lead to others requesting a similar extension and for a public nuisance to arise. A local phone number, as well as a club email, should be provided if a nuisance late at night should arise at 10.55pm. British banker Ron Emerson has also objected to the plans. He said that the proposal was inconsistent with other licences. Mr Emerson, who was the founding chairman of the British Business Bank from 2013 to 2016, said: I would like to object to the current application for an extension to Remenham Clubs licensing hours for both alcohol sales and opening time. This would be inconsistent with other adjacent licences in the parish and in conflict with current attempts by the parish, together with Wokingham Borough council, to look at the possibilities of implementing cumulative impact policy, where a cumulative impact assessment is being carried out in 2025 by Wokingham Borough Council, to limit any further expansion of events in this parish from current excessive levels. Paul Francis, the current licence holder, said that the club has strict policies on age verification, safety and security. Only those over the age of 18 are members of the club, which discourages children from attending other than on a Sunday. Mr Francis said the club is not near any residential properties, so no neighbours would be impacted. Staff members would also actively discourage and disperse people congregating outside, with any incidents recorded and reported. CCTV is installed across the premises as well as the outside areas to monitor any nuisance or crime. Bodies including Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards were also consulted on the plans but have made no objections. Thames Valley Police had raised concerns about the plans but withdrew a formal representation after Mr Francis set out plans for the rules. A final decision will be made by Wokingham Borough Councils licensing and appeals sub-committee on Wednesday. Meanwhile, an application for a certificate of existing lawful development for an open-fronted shed, at the Malmesbury Estate in Remenham Hill has been approved. The open-fronted storage building is next to an existing hay barn and near another agricultural building, the turkey shed, on the eastern edge of the estate. Constructed in the autumn of 2019, the timber structure has a felt roof and measures 4.1m long, 3.25m wide, and 2.5m high. Paul Sermon, clerk to Remenham Parish Council, raised concerns about the shed, saying the council thought that the facility may not be for private use. He said that the council felt that applications like this should be considered under the 10-year rule, not four years, and applications like this suggest a total disregard for Grade II listed open parkland status. The borough council said planning permission was required but that it approved the application as the building has been substantially completed for at least four years. A NEW River Thames sub-committee of the town council has been approved, despite criticism that its membership is elitist. It comprises five town councillors, Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo, and named representatives from 29 organisations and river user groups. It was suggested by Henley Mayor Rory Hunt who wanted to create a forum to discuss matters relating to the Thames. He told a committee meeting: Its certainly becoming more important, particularly in ecological terms, and several businesses and clubs have come forward and said they are very keen on this. Councillor Kellie Hinton said she was in support of the proposal but wanted the make-up of the sub-committee to be more balanced. She said: I thought Wow, this is really regatta and rowing heavy, like half of it is rowing. I just think there needs to be more balance. There are no canoers, no fishermen, no swimmers. Sometimes, you really do need those numbers but I do think that theres some glaring omissions of different community groups along the river that we need to include. She added: It screams elitist. That is how it feels. Cllr Hinton said she didnt think half of the groups should be on the list but that she didnt want to be critical of the groups. She said: I have no idea why British Rowing is in there and why we havent got any open water swimming clubs but I dont want to go through every single one because I didnt want to criticise organisation in our group. Cllr Gill Dodds said: When I look at this list, it reminds me very much really of Townlands when you asked all the parishes to come and that was a huge list and obviously that proved to be very successful but it was heading for the unwieldy and I think I just cannot imagine how this is going to work myself. Cllr Ian Reissmann said the list was already very long and that is a sign of how important the river is to the town. But he said: I do agree with Councillor Hinton that the sporting recreational side is well and truly represented here and I would like to see a bit more representation from the environmental and ecological side. Cllr Hunt said: British Rowing have been very actively working with us on water testing and other measures that can be taken to assist, which isnt just beneficial to residents, its beneficial to all uses of the river. Cllr Hinton then asked Mayor Rory Hunt to not bore me with fluff. She said: We have had one of the most prestigious and longest running rowing events in the history of our country and British Rowing has started water testing in the last year. All I was asking for was a little bit less of this is our in club and youre out club, and a little bit more flexibility, inclusivity, just to not close the doors. It was agreed that Cllrs Hunt, Reissmann and Laurence Plant will join the sub-committee with two more to follow. In parts II, III and IV, four prime ministers David Ben Gurion, Yitzak Rabin, Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon will be discussed. David Ben Gurion 1948-54; 1955-63 Israels first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, was faced with the decision: Accepting a Jewish State on a portion of historical Palestine, relinquishing the balance to the Palestinian Arabs; or losing U.S. support for the UNs declaration for creation of the new Jewish State. In lieu of that declaration, the UN would probably have established a Trusteeship over the entire Palestinian territory, therein denying Jewish exclusivit... Given that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, its crucial to understand the basics of skin cancer so you can monitor your own skin for changes. Lets review the essentials of four types of skin cancer: melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. The positive news is that early detection and treatment by a dermatologist can often eradicate skin cancer with minimal scarring. In essence, skin cancer occurs when cells in the epidermis, the outer skin layer, grow uncontrollably due to DNA damage, leading to mutations. These cells then... (JTA) - TEL AVIV - As an American immigrant to Israel, Lital Friedman knows a thing or two about pancakes - including that Israel's crepe-style versions don't often stack up favorably against the fluffy style popular in the United States. But she didn't make the trip from Jerusalem to the American-style pancake pop-up in Tel Aviv's Sarona Market for culinary reasons. She came because Keith Siegel's Pancake House honors the former hostage long known for his Shabbat-morning tradition of making pancakes for his family. Keith Siegel was released from Gaza last month after 484 days in captivity. "L... This is the conclusion of Simonds' journal of the Orlando delegation of the JLI-Land and Spirit trip to Israel. Day 5 (Friday, March 21) City of David A walking tour of the area that was the palace for King David, and then the Administration for King Solomon when he built the Temple. Amazing history that included a tour of the tunnel that was used to draw water from the river whenever the city was under siege. In fact, it was through this tunnel that David was able to capture Jerusalem. The story of David and the ongoing archeological digs that were covered was extensive in just a few hours'... Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando is proud to announce that the 2025 Kobrin Family Scholarship application is now available. Established in 1990, this college scholarship is awarded to a qualified, full-time, graduating high school student in the Jewish communities of Orange, Osceola or Seminole County who will be attending the University of Central Florida. The scholarship is available in the amount of $2,500 per year for a maximum of four (4) years. Scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.1 GPA each year while at UCF in order to remain qualified for the scholarship. The deadline to... On Wednesday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m., Chabad of North Orlando is honored to host Irving Locker at Nate's Shul ,1701 Markham Woods Road in Longwood, for a special presentation of his remarkable journey. This event is an opportunity to hear firsthand from a true hero who has spent his life ensuring that the sacrifices of the greatest generation are never forgotten. Irving Locker, a name synonymous with courage and resilience, was one of the 156,000 soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, landing at Utah Beach. Just six months later, Locker, at the age of 19, had already ris... (JTA) Nearly 1,000 active and retired reservists in Israels Air Force have called for their government to strike a deal to release Israeli hostages in exchange for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, arguing that the fighting endangers the captives lives as well as innocent civilians. In response, the Air Force said it would dismiss any active-duty reservists who signed the letter, accusing them of using the forces brand to voice their opinion. Refusal to serve is refusal to serve even if it implied and in polite language, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. Exp... (JNS) Yarden Bibas, whose wife and children were murdered by Hamas terrorists, discussed for the first time the horrors of captivity in Gaza, speaking to CBSs 60 Minutes along with former hostages Keith Siegel and Tal Shoham. Bibas said he chose an American news outlet for his first interview because he wanted the White House and U.S. President Donald Trump to hear his plea to bring a stop to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. Israel resumed airstrikes on March 18 after a two-month ceasefire. Please stop this war and help bring all the hostages back, Bibas said. He described being held in... (JTA) A Pennsylvania man will be charged with terrorism and attempted murder after allegedly firebombing the official residence of Gov. Josh Shapiro, hours after Shapiro and his family hosted a Passover seder there. On Saturday, Shapiro posted a picture of a table set for the seder on social media, with the message, From the Shapiro familys Seder table to yours, happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach! On Sunday, he shared that Pennsylvania State Police officers had awoken him and his family at 2 a.m. to alert them that an arsonist had set fire to the building and they needed to evacuate.... (JNS) - The U.S. Senate voted 53-46 on April 9 to confirm Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, to be U.S. ambassador to Israel. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was the lone Democrat to back Huckabee, who has mounted two presidential campaigns since leaving office, and has been a TV and radio host since 2008. Every Republican voted to confirm Huckabee except Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who did not vote. Ahead of the vote, Republicans said that Huckabee would be a more pro-Israel diplomat than his predecessors in the Biden administration. "For years, the previous administration wrung... (JTA) - Picture a Jew in Miami. Is the person you're thinking of older? Perhaps a retiree from New York - complete with the accent - who lives in a condo on the beach? According to a recent Jewish population study of Miami-Dade County, at least part of that snapshot is becoming outdated. The southeast corner of the Sunshine State is growing - and getting younger. The new document, released Monday and titled "Jewish Miami: A 2024 Community Study," found that the Jewish population of Miami-Dade County had grown by 7 percent in the past decade, adding nearly 8,000 people for a total figure of 130... It all started when Russell Kropp, a student at Trinity Prep, decided that his bar mitzvah project would be to bring joy to seniors by having them see a musical performed by the students at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Florida. The first event happened in the fall, when Russell and his mom, Rachel, contacted Cantor Nina Fine to help connect them with seniors to bring to the show, Something Rotten, which Russell and Cantor Fines son, Dylan, were performing in. Cantor Fine reached out to Susan Godorov at Kinneret Apartments where Cantor Fine is a program director with The Jewish... (JNS) U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that he couldnt understand why Israel ever gave up the Gaza Strip. During a press conference in the Oval Office on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president said, They took oceanfront property and they gave it to people for peace. How did that work out? Not good. Netanyahu traveled from Hungary to Washington, D.C., on Sunday for an unplanned visit to resolve a tariff dispute. Referring to Netanyahu, Trump said he knew that this man would never have done it. He wouldnt give it up. I know it very well. Theres n... (JNS) Its been 18 months since Hamass invasion of Israel and the barbaric pogrom that followed. Hamas is still holding and torturing hostages. The Israel Defense Forces is still fighting not just Hamas but also Hamass allies, all of them guided and supported by the jihadi regime in Tehran. Thats the bad news. The good news: Painfully but steadily, Israelis have been making progress against enemies who intend not to subjugate but to exterminate them. Israels first War of Independence, 1948-49, lasted 20 months. This one will take longer. On a brief but intensive tour of Israel last week... (JNS) Jews have long been champions of freedom of speech in the United States, yet they often have not hesitated to advocate canceling speakers who are antisemitic or virulently anti-Israel. Many Jews feel that those who spread hatred against them or Israel should face consequences, but they are frequently uneasy about the mechanisms used to deliver those consequences. This ambivalence was true before Donald Trump returned to the White House but has become more prevalent since his administration began taking aggressive steps against antisemites and their institutional enablers. Free-speech a... (JNS) The name West Bank conjures up visions of a complex and contentious region of the Middle East. As Mike Huckabees nomination to be ambassador to Israel nears confirmation and his unapologetically Christian point of view comes to the fore, theres increasing discussion of the label itself. The time has come to return to the true, historical, biblical names of Judea and Samaria names that reflect the deep, millennia-old connection between the Jewish people and their ancestral homeland. Last month, House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Brian Mast instructed committee staff to refer... China's new cargo spacecraft to make public debut Xinhua) 11:13, April 21, 2025 This simulated image shows China's next-generation cargo craft Qingzhou docking with China's space station in orbit. (Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Handout via Xinhua) SHANGHAI, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Space enthusiasts in Shanghai will have the chance to see a life-size model of China's next-generation cargo craft Qingzhou, designed for future in-orbit supply delivery, during the upcoming Space Day celebrations. Qingzhou, which means "Light Ship" in Chinese, has been designed to be smaller in size and lighter in weight, compared to the existing Tianzhou (Sky Ship) cargo craft. Developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the new launch vehicle weighs about 5 tonnes and is capable of sending at least 1.8 tonnes of supplies into space. It features an internal volume of 27 cubic meters. It can accommodate up to 300 liters for cold-chain transportation, enabling taikonauts to enjoy more and fresher fruits and vegetables during their space journeys. According to Shu Rong, commander of the Qingzhou project, the spacecraft has been developed at a lower cost, thanks to numerous technological innovations and a more efficient launch process. Apart from delivering supplies to China's space station, Qingzhou will also provide commercial cargo services in the future, aiming to bring economic and social benefits, Shu said. China designated April 24 as Space Day to mark the successful launch of its first satellite on April 24, 1970. This year's Space Day celebrations include space science exhibitions and cultural forums. Lunar samples collected on the moon's near and far sides will also be on display at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from April 24 to May 5. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Jameela Jamil "knocked over" Al Pacino as she was smuggling food out out of a Hollywood party. Jameela Jamil knocked Al Pacino to the floor 'The Good Place' star has revealed she accidentally floored the veteran actor during a bash thrown by the head of the United Talent Agency - admitting she was attempting to leave the party with 10 wagyu steaks hidden under her skirt when she bumped into Pacino and she fled without helping him up. She told the Guardian newspaper: "I knocked over Al Pacino at a party. It was at the head of UTAs house back in maybe 2015. Id stolen a bunch of food they had really good wagyu steaks, so I took 10 wrapped in a cloth napkin, they were kind of bleeding. "I bundled them in between my legs, underneath my miniskirt, and was shuffling as fast as I could out of the party when I knocked over Al Pacino. "And then I left him on the ground, because the steaks flew out from under my skirt, leaving this bloody streak across the white floor. I grabbed the steaks and ran out of the party ... " Jameela then sent a text message to director Judd Apatow in a bid to cover her tracks. She added: "[I] texted Judd Apatow: 'Sorry, I had to leave. I hope they catch that guy that knocked over Al Pacino'." It comes after Jameela admitted had just $17 left in her bank account when she was cast in 'The Good Place'. The 39-year-old star - who played Tahani Al-Jamil in Mike Schur's beloved sitcom about the afterlife - revealed she "ran out of money" after leaving the BBC Radio 1 Cart Show in 2016, and decided she "wanted to be a writer and a DJ". She joined her then-musician-partner on tour, but soon found herself struggling. Appearing on 'David Tennant Does a Podcast With...', she said: " I ran out of money and so I said, Please can I have a job, any job, I will do anything.' "I was so desperate for money at that point. I had $17 left in my bank account. I was real keen. "But instead I was handed a bunch of auditions." Among those opportunities was a Las Vegas magic show, and what became her role in 'The Good Place'. However, she had "never acted before", and was still focused on being a writer, with one of her pitches persuading executives to ask her to audition for the show. She added: "They were the ones who said, We want you to go to this audition for Mike Schur. You'll have more power as a writer if you have a name for yourself, or you can just meet him and maybe he'll put you in the writer's room'... "So I went to the audition, just very much so not thinking anything was going to come of it. I got both the magic show and Mike Schur and I had to make a choice. You weren't allowed to do both." Paris Hilton has credited her parents with keeping her grounded after she shot to fame. Paris Hilton's parents helped her deal with fame The 44-year-old hotel heiress has opened up about her life in the spotlight - revealing her mother Kathy Hilton gave her some sage advice on the night before her reality show 'The Simple Life' first aired back in 2003 and it helped Paris navigate the tricky world of showbusiness. Speaking at Los Angeles magazines LA Woman Luncheon, Paris explained: "My mom always taught me the importance of giving back. "I will never forget the night before The Simple Life aired my mom told me: Paris, when the show airs on Fox tomorrow, your life is going to change forever and I always want you to remain the same sweet and down-to-earth girl you are and never forget that' ... "[I keep those words] close to [my] heart ... Ive been in this town a long time. Ive seen a lot and Ive seen a lot of fame and things get to peoples heads and thats something I never want to be like. "Im really grateful that I have these amazing parents that raised me to be the woman that I am today." Paris also credited her grandmother with helping shape her outlook on life, adding: "[They] both just have the biggest hearts and always make me laugh and have the best time. They are both incredible mothers and my role models." Paris was honoured with the Woman of The Year prize during the glitzy event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday (18.04.25) for her efforts helping those affected by the California wildfires earlier this year. The socialite lost her home in Malibu in the disaster, but she's been raising money to rebuild other communities shattered by the fires. Paris recently admitted her two children - Phoenix, two, and 15-month-old London - have struggled with the loss of their home because they don't understand what has happened. She told Britain's Grazia magazine: "Uprooting them from their home is hard for them. Just the act of rushing out of the house. We had to evacuate twice." Paris has been too concerned about the poor air quality in the wake of the blazes to let the children spend as much time outdoors as usual. She said: "Usually, every day we get a walk in the park and Phoenix keeps asking, 'Why cant we go outside?' "We have lots of air purifiers and masks for when we go out and we take precautions to keep them safe." King Charles has led tributes to Pope Francis following his death on Easter Monday (21.04.25). King Charles has paid tribute to Pope Francis The Catholic world was plunged into mourning after the Pontiff passed away on Monday morning aged 88 following weeks of health issues which included a battle with double pneumonia and bronchitis - and now leaders from across the globe have mourned the loss of the Pope and applauded his contribution during his 12-year papacy. The King said in a statement: "My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. "His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. "His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. "Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. "The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. "We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Charles R." King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla met Pope Francis on a trip to Italy 12 days ago in a private meeting after their state visit to the Vatican was cancelled due to the religious leader's health issues. The meeting took place on the date of the couple's 20th wedding anniversary on April 9. The pair's 2005 wedding was previously postponed at the last minute back because the date of the ceremony clashed with the funeral of Pope John Paul II. US Vice President JD Vance was the last foreign civic dignitary to meet with Pope Francis during an audience with him on Easter Sunday (20.04.25) and he offered his condolences on X, writing: "I just leaned [sic] of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. "I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul." The White House also shared a joint statement on behalf of Vance and US President Donald Trump, who met Francis at the Vatican in 2017. The message read: "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis." French President Emmanuel Macron said: "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite people with one another and with nature. May this hope be resurrected unceasingly beyond him." Friedrich Merz - who is expected to be sworn in as Germany's next chancellor in the coming weeks - posted on X: "Francis will be remembered for his tireless engagement for the weakest in society, for justice and reconciliation. "Humility and the belief in Gods mercy guided him." Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement: "I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice, his teachings, which never ceased not even during times of trial and suffering. "We say goodbye to the Holy Father with a heart full of sadness." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed flags would be flying at half-mast across all government buildings in the country on Tuesday (22.04.25) as a mark of respect for the late Pope. During a televised address, he said: "For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and loving father. Pope Francis lived out his faith and vocation in word and deed. He was truly inspirational. New Zealand's prime minister, Christopher Luxon, posted on X: "I am saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. A man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue. "My thoughts are with Catholics and all those in New Zealand and around the world who mourn his death." The Pope was last seen in public on Easter Sunday (20.04.25) when he appeared on the balcony of St Peters Basilica in a wheelchair, telling the crowds: Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter," before being driven around the square in his popemobile. However, his annual Easter address was delivered by a member of the clergy. A 14-year-old girl was killed by a lion on Saturday night after the animal entered a residential compound on the outskirts of Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The girl was with a friend at the time of the attack, which authorities believe took place near Nairobi National Park. According to the New York Post, the lion is suspected to have escaped from Nairobi National Park and entered a ranch that borders the southern edge of the park. The lion reportedly entered a house and attacked the girl, who has not yet been publicly identified. The girl's friend, who was also in the house, raised the alarm and alerted the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). "There is no evidence of provocation from the victims," KWS Senior Corporate Communications Manager Paul Udoto told CNN. KWS rangers quickly responded and followed a trail of bloodstains leading from the home through the park to Mbagathi River, where the girl's body was recovered. "KWS rangers and response teams were swiftly mobilized and traced bloodstains leading to the Mbagathi River, where the girl's body was recovered with injuries on the lower back," KWS said in a statement. Nairobi National Park, home to a variety of wildlife including lions, leopards, giraffes, and crocodiles, is fenced on three sides. The park's southern boundary remains open to allow for animal migration, which officials say can pose challenges for nearby communities. Authorities believe the lion entered the compound by jumping over a makeshift fence. KWS has since pledged to bolster security in the area, including efforts to install electric fencing and deploy artificial intelligence systems to warn residents of approaching wildlife. The lion involved in the attack remains at large. Park rangers have set up a trap and are actively working to locate and capture the animal. In a separate incident on Friday, a 54-year-old man was fatally attacked by an elephant while grazing livestock in a forested area of Nyeri County. The man suffered chest injuries, fractured ribs, and internal trauma and was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital, according to KWS. The agency said both incidents highlight the pressing need for enhanced human-wildlife conflict mitigation. "These attacks underscore a need for continued investment in human-wildlife conflict mitigation through strategic interventions, early warning systems, and strengthened collaboration with affected communities," KWS noted. Though lion attacks are rare, they do occur in areas close to national parks and game reserves. Udoto noted that lion attacks make up less than 2% of all reported human-wildlife encounters. In contrast, he explained, elephant-related incidents occur more frequently, especially during dry seasons when elephants migrate in search of water and food and often come into contact with farmland or human settlements. "Flying taxis" poised to revolutionize urban commuting Xinhua) 13:04, April 21, 2025 This photo shows a passenger-carrying drone at the booth of EHang at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) HAIKOU, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The futuristic vision of gliding above traffic in an autonomous "flying taxi" is fast becoming a reality, thanks to the rise of low-altitude economy in China. At the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo, a dedicated exhibition zone for the low-altitude economy made its debut, featuring companies like EHang Holdings. Ehang, a global leader in urban air mobility (UAM), showed up at the event alongside three unmanned aircraft. These innovations highlight transformative solutions to urban congestion and offer a glimpse into the future of aerial consumption. Starring at the event was EHang's flagship EH216-S, the world's first and only electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to secure all four certifications required for commercial operation: Type Certificate (TC), Production Certificate (PC), Standard Airworthiness Certificate (AC), and Operational Permit. Having completed over 66,000 safe flights across 19 countries, including the United States, Japan, UAE and countries in Europe, the pilotless eVTOL is already driving real-world applications in passenger transport, aerial tourism, logistics, and emergency medical services. The EH216-S achieved a historic breakthrough in March when its affiliated operator received China's first airworthiness certification for crewed UAM services, accelerating global commercialization. He Tianxing, vice president of EHang, emphasized plans to expand into urban commuting and ultimately achieve fully autonomous low-altitude commercial operations. The company aims to launch air taxi services as early as this year. Operating from rooftops or designated vertiports, these eVTOLs promise to bypass ground traffic efficiently, doubling as air ambulances or emergency responders. EHang has already established more than 20 demonstration sites across 16 Chinese cities, including Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and is now eyeing Hainan's unique geography to pioneer low-altitude tourism, island-hopping routes, and intra-city aerial networks. As low-altitude economy takes flight, EHang's innovations signal a sci-fi-turned-reality era where the skies offer not just escape from gridlock, but a new dimension of smart, sustainable living, He said. Also at the exhibition, United Aircraft brought the TD550, which obtained the first type certificate for unmanned helicopters in China. "China is entering an era of rapid development of the low-altitude economy," said Zhou Xiaoyue, director of the firm's public relations. The exhibition aligned with China's broader strategy to advance the low-altitude economy, encompassing UAV, UAM, and other emerging sectors. The government work report released this March said China will carry out demonstration initiatives on the large-scale application of new technologies, products and scenarios, and promote safe and sound development of emerging industries, including the low-altitude economy. Many Chinese cities have been moving quickly to establish a foothold in the sector, considering it a new track of industrial development. Mianyang, a city known for its strong scientific and technological foundation in the country's vast western region, has just established a new low-altitude economy research institute. As China's low-altitude economy takes flight with impressive momentum, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has forecast a significant surge in market value, projecting that the sector would soar from 500 billion yuan (about 69.4 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025, and that it could reach an astounding 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) US Vice President JD Vance began a four-day visit to India on Monday as New Delhi looks to seal an early trade deal and stave off punishing US tariffs. Vance's visit comes two months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House. A red carpet welcome with an honour guard and troupes of folk dancers greeted Vance after he stepped out into the sweltering sunshine of New Delhi, where he is set to meet with Modi. Vance, 40, a devout Catholic convert who arrived in New Delhi a day after meeting Pope Francis in the Vatican, toured a vast Hindu temple with his family on one of his first stops. The US vice president is accompanied by his wife Usha, the daughter of Indian immigrants, and his three children, who visited the Akshardham Temple dressed in traditional flowing Indian attire. Vance's tour will include a trip on Tuesday to Jaipur in Rajasthan -- site of the medieval Amber fort -- and to Agra a day after, for a visit to the white marble mausoleum of the Taj Mahal. More important will be the meeting later on Monday between Modi and Vance. They are expected to "review the progress" in relations" and "exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest", according to India's foreign ministry. India and the United States are negotiating the first tranche of a trade deal, which New Delhi hopes to secure within the 90-day pause on tariffs announced by Trump this month. "We are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties," India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters last week. Vance's visit comes during an escalating trade war between the United States and China. India's neighbour and rival faces US levies of up to 145 percent on many products. Beijing has responded with duties of 125 percent on US goods. India, hit with tariffs of 26 percent before Trump's pause, has reacted cautiously so far. India's Department of Commerce said after the tariffs were announced it was "carefully examining the implications", adding it was "also studying the opportunities that may arise". Modi, who visited the White House in February, has an acknowledged rapport with Trump, who said he shares a "special bond" with the Indian leader. Trump, speaking while unveiling the tariffs, said Modi was a "great friend" but that he had not been "treating us right". Modi said during his visit to Washington that the world's largest and fifth-largest economies would work on a "mutually beneficial trade agreement". The United States is a crucial market for India's information technology and services sectors but Washington in turn has made billions of dollars in new military hardware sales to New Delhi in recent years. Trump could visit India later this year for a summit of heads of state from the "Quad" -- a four-way grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States. 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. Clark Art Poetry Readings WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. On Friday, April 25 at 6 pm, the Clark Art Institute presents a dual poetry reading by Christine Kelly and Tan Lin in celebration of Kelly's debut collection of poems, "Allow Me to Slip on Something a Little More Hypocycloid" (PRROBLEM, 2025). This free event takes place in the Clarks Manton Research Center auditorium. Poet and artist Christine Kelly is the author of "Allow Me to Slip on Something a Little More Hypocycloid" (PRROBLEM, 2025) and the chapbooks "Food Gas Lodging Liquid Solid" (Creative Writing Department, 2023), "Dopamine Agonist Destiny Forest" (Theme Can Print Editions, 2018), and "Pudding Time" (DoubleCross Press, 2015). She holds an MFA from the Milton Avery Graduate College of Arts at Bard College and a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art. She is the graduate program coordinator in the Williams College/Clark Graduate Program in the History of Art. Tan Lin is the author of fourteen books, including "Heath Course Pak" (2012), "Bib. Rev. Ed., Insomnia and the Aunt" (2011), "7 Controlled Vocabularies and Obituary 2004. The Joy of Cooking" (2010), "Plagiarism/Outsource" (2009), "Ambience is a Novel with a Logo" (2007), "BlipSoak01" (2003), and "Lotion Bullwhip Giraffe" (2000). His work has appeared in numerous journals, including Conjunctions, Artforum, Criticism, boundary2, Cabinet, the New York Times Book Review, Art in America, and Purple. His video, theatrical, and LCD work have been shown at Artists Space, the Marianne Boesky Gallery, the Yale University Art Gallery, Sophienholm Museum (Copenhagen), Ontological Hysterical Theatre, and the Treize Gallery in Paris. Lin earned a PhD from Columbia University and teaches creative writing at New Jersey City University and Columbia University. His novel, "Our Feelings Were Made by Hand," is forthcoming from Coffee House Press. Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524. Massachusetts RMV Offers Walk-In REAL ID Service as Deadline Approaches BOSTON With the federal REAL ID enforcement date of May 7 approaching, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is offering walk-in service for residents seeking to obtain a REAL ID credential at all RMV service center locations. The RMV is reminding Massachusetts residents that beginning May 7, a REAL ID-compliant drivers license or identification card, or a valid passport, will be required for domestic air travel and entry into certain federal facilities. While walk-ins are being accepted for REAL ID transactions for those with near-term travel plans, the RMV assures residents that REAL IDs can still be obtained after the May 7 deadline. If immediate service is not available for walk-in customers, service center staff will explore options for same-day or next-day appointments. The RMV encourages individuals seeking a REAL ID to visit Mass.Gov/REALID to understand the necessary documentation for the required in-person appointment. Applicants should also be aware that it may take 10 to 14 business days to receive their RMV credential by mail following their appointment. As of this month, over 3 million credentials in Massachusetts are REAL ID compliant. Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie stated that the RMV is seeing an increasing number of residents applying for REAL ID credentials as the deadline nears. She emphasized that the RMV will continue to process REAL ID transactions beyond May 7 and that the agency is increasing capacity at service centers and accommodating walk-ins for individuals with imminent travel needs. Ogilvie also urged residents to familiarize themselves with the required documentation prior to applying. The fees for obtaining or renewing a REAL ID-compliant credential are the same as those for equivalent non-compliant credentials. The renewal fee for a non-commercial standard or REAL ID drivers license is $50, and the renewal fee for a Mass ID is $25. An amendment fee of $25 applies for upgrading to a REAL ID credential before the existing credential's expiration. Customers with a stay of less than five years in the U.S. will pay a pro-rated fee. For individuals without immediate travel plans, appointments can be scheduled through the RMVs Online Service Center at Mass.Gov/myRMV or, for AAA members, at https://northeast.aaa.com/automotive/registry-services/massachusetts.html . The RMV has provided document checklists and other information regarding REAL ID requirements at Mass.Gov/REALID to assist customers in preparing for their in-person visits. Required documents include proof of lawful presence, two proofs of Massachusetts residency, and proof of a full Social Security Number (SSN). Customers with name changes will need to provide documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document. All required documents must be original or certified copies. Massachusetts residents are eligible to renew their licenses or IDs up to one year before the expiration date. Those with existing compliant credentials and no legal name changes may be able to renew online. A REAL ID-compliant credential issued by the Massachusetts RMV is identified by a star surrounded by a yellow or gold circle in the top right corner. The Massachusetts RMV has been issuing REAL IDs since March 2018. Additional information about REAL ID requirements and other RMV services is available at Mass.Gov/RMV. Information on acceptable identification at airport security checkpoints can be found at tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification. Veteran Spotlight: Army Maj. Bonita Oteri BOSTON Bonita Oteri served her country for 17 years in the Army, retiring with the rank of major. In a military career that was built on the foundation of character, integrity, respect and humility, she served from 1979 to 1996. As a cadet at Northeastern University, her ROTC basic training was done at Fort Bragg, N.C. "It was a big culture shock as a Yankee going to the South ... truly made me appreciate my home in Massachusetts," she recalled. Her first assignment took her to Ansbach, Germany, with the 1st Armored Division, where one of her assignments was platoon leader on the Army Intelligence Division Staff. "It was the Cold War Era and we were protecting against Eastern Block incursion," she said. She was also on the Division G-2 Staff. When asked about what makes a strong leader, Oteri offered this: "It takes empathy and compassion as well as an understanding of cultures (she speaks a variety of languages). ... I told my mom at a young age that I'd never sell my soul, and I never did." I asked Oteri about mentors during her service. "I was company commander at Fort Devens, Lt. Col. Matt Harrison ... he was a West Pointer that went through Vietnam. I had a 40th birthday party for him and he said, 'I'm happy to be able to make it to my 40th.' I read years later that some of his West Point friends, died in his ams in Vietnam. "Also, Lt. Col. Brian Raymond a Massachusetts guy always did the right thing when it came to leadership. He did the right thing even when the above leadership didn't. He was a hot ticket." How were the holidays? "During my 17 years of service, I was able to come home all but twice, I was in Korea once and Romania the other," she recalled. I asked Oteri about her service: "I'm very Sicilian. I can be hard when I have to. I believe God put me there to have an ear to listen and help soldiers in very small ways. It was the way my mom and dad brought me up." She shared this powerful story on the loss of a friend. "I had a good friend, Capt. Keith Lucas. He wanted to be a helicopter pilot in the worst way, wanted to fly more than anything," Oteri said. "He was on a mission during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in October of '83. His helicopter was shot down and he was mortally wounded but landed the Black Hawk safely, saving the lives of his fellow soldiers onboard. "He died later, becoming the unit's first combat casualty. I can still see him smiling. He was so squared away," she remembered. Her thoughts on service? "Felt it was an opportunity and a blessing. My grandparents were immigrants and sacrificed, my mom and dad worked extremely hard their whole to make a better one for me," she said. In a bit of a different twist, after she retired from the Army, Oteri took up the art of belly dancing, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a professional belly dancer. "I worked at a Moroccan restaurant for 16 years, I did multi-ethnic events and international festivals. I also taught Middle Eastern dance in schools," she said. Maj. Bonita Oteri, thank you for your service to our great country. The imposition of tariffs is raising the cost of Habitat's most recent project in Pittsfield. Tariffs Reduce Scope of Habitat for Humanity Housing Project PITTSFIELD, Mass. Tariffs have caused Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity to cut one unit of below-market housing from its ARPA-funded project. Last week, the Affordable Housing Trust voted to amend the scope of its funding contract with the nonprofit to exclude an accessory dwelling unit. Last year, Habitat was awarded $240,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to build six different-sized housing units on Robbins Avenue, Murphy Place, and Curtis Terrace. The goal is to sell homes to people between 50 percent and 65 percent of the area's median income. Because of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, the funding gap nearly tripled. To make the project happen, Habitat had to save nearly $200,000 by cutting the ADU, which is now allowed by right in Massachusetts. "Originally, our hope was to have five homeownership opportunities and then to be able to test out having an ADU building on one of the lots, probably was going to be Robbins, and what our hope was is that we could test the ADU model," CEO Carolyn Valli said. "But the biggest challenges that are coming up right now are the new tariffs that went into effect." For the five units and ADU, Habitat originally expected it to cost a total of nearly $2.2 million with a $116,531 funding gap, but now, that cost has risen by $194,700 and would result in a $311,231 funding gap. "So now we would have to subsidize that project by $311,231, which is why we're requesting to not have to do the ADU, and the ADU is in the ARPA agreement, so that's what we're looking for, is to be able to remove the ADU," Valli explained. "I still want to test that theory sometime, but I can't do it when the tariffs are in effect." Town Meetings That Rejected CBRSD Agreement to Vote Again DALTON, Mass. The three towns that failed Central Berkshire Regional School District's proposed regional agreement last year will likely see it again on this year's annual town meeting warrant. The item failed during l ast year's town meetings in Hinsdale and Peru, as well as Cummington's special town meeting the regional agreement needed six out of the seven towns to vote in favor of passing. Until an updated agreement is approved, the school district will continue to operate under its current agreement and follow state law. The original agreement, created in 1958, has been amended several times and approved locally but never by the state Department of Education, which is required. Over the past year, David Stuart, the vice chair of the School Committee and chair of the ad hoc regional agreement committee, and other School Committee members have visited the towns to find a solution and inform residents about what the state allows to be included in the regional agreement. Despite this, they were unsuccessful in getting the Hinsdale, Cummington, and Peru's select boards to support it. "It's been hard. There's a lot of good things in here," Stuart said. The apprehension stems from the School Committee's 2019 decision to use popular vote for the approximately $72 million Wahconah Regional High School building project, and two years earlier using the popular vote for the feasibility study. "This has been, and still is, the main point of contention for several of the towns," Stuart informed iBerkshires in a follow-up to clarify what was said at the meeting. "An agreement was made in July 2019 between Hinsdale and the School Committee in this regard, but it was not understood at the time that excluding the popular vote is not allowed under MGL CH 71 S.14D." The towns wanted to require a unanimous vote, not a two-thirds vote, for all decisions regarding debt incurrence; however, state law requires a two-thirds vote. Over the last year, the ad hoc committee has discussed a few potential solutions, such as creating a policy rather than including it in the regional agreement, and exploring legislative changes. The regional agreement will likely go back to the towns unchanged, this time with more education on the topic to inform residents on what the document is, its benefits, and what the district can include in it. The revised document incorporates updated language to represent the district's procedures and fiscal responsibility accurately, and includes information to meet the requirements of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. "One of the things I think people don't understand is that all the stuff that happened before can still happen again, because the old regional agreement is in effect without any good things that you guys put into it," said Steven Marantz said. The committee is committed to having ongoing and comprehensive communications regarding any future capital projects, Blake-Davis said. The regional agreement might pass without the select boards' endorsement because of all the work Stuart and other committee members have done to provide residents with more information on the document, said School Committee member Elizabeth Lounsbury. "Before I joined the School Committee, I'd never heard of the regional agreement. I had to study and figure out what it is. The average person, like my peers, do not know," added Sara Tucker. "So, [having] something to break it down so the voters understand what you're saying, and not just relying on the select board to give out the information. Like, people have to understand." The district is also working hard to encourage its families to go to town meetings so they have a voice in this, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said in a follow-up. Throughout the meeting, Stuart emphasized the need to improve the relationships between the town and the district by rebuilding trust through transparency and ongoing communication. School Committee member Charlotte Crane suggested that the committee issue a formal apology to the towns, even though the current members were not the same ones who made the decision in 2019. "I don't think anyone's intentions were bad, but I still think it is the responsible thing to do, to apologize and say we hear you and we see you that we have hurt you, and we do apologize for that, and we're trying to move forward in a responsible fashion that protects you from future hurt,'" Crane said. Stuart said this does model the restorative practice that has been discussed in the district. History In 2017, the district voted by popular vote to move forward with a feasibility study. In 2019, the Wahconah Regional High School building project was approved with just more than 51 percent of the vote 1,785 of the 3,483 voters districtwide (51.2 percent.) Of that, 1,748 voters turned out in Dalton alone. Voters in Becket and Washington voted in favor of the project by sizable margins. In Becket, 176 of 253 voters (69.6 percent) voted yes. In Washington, the margin was 112-54 (67.5 percent yes). The project failed in Cummington, Hinsdale, Peru, and Windsor. Only 8.8 percent voted in favor in Cummington (194-450). In Hinsdale, the district's second-largest town, only 42.3 percent voted in favor (334-246). In Peru, only 38.6 percent voted in favor (162-102), and in Windsor, only 40.1 percent voted in favor (139-93). More on the votes here Current School Committee members Todd Emerson, Ellen Lattizzori, Richard Peters, and Barbara Craft-Reiss were present for the WRHS vote. Only Peters and Craft-Reiss were on the committee for the vote on the feasibility study. Both votes passed unanimously. (iBerkshires had incorrectly stated that no current members were on the committee at the time.) lunedi 21 aprile 2025, 21:28 - Last updated: 23:06 Towards the national mourning for the death of Pope Francis. The council of ministers, which will be held tomorrow morning at 11, is expected to declare national mourning. It is likely to be three days of mourning, as was the case for the passing of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from June 12 to 14, 2023. Pope Francis, his will (2022): 'Bury me at Santa Maria Maggiore, only Franciscus.' And he mentions a benefactor covering the expenses. For Giorgia Meloni, the postponement of the question time scheduled for Wednesday at 4 PM in the Senate is expected, although the official confirmation will come tomorrow with the group leaders of Palazzo Madama. In view of the Pope's funeral, which is expected to take place between Saturday and Sunday, the Prime Minister's trip to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan scheduled from April 25 to 27 would also be postponed. lunedi 21 aprile 2025, 20:21 - Last updated: 22 aprile, 20:02 Pope Francis' will was ready since June 29, 2022, "feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with a lively hope in Eternal Life," the Holy Father wrote back then. "I ask that my mortal remains rest awaiting the day of resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore," the Pope writes in the will. "I ask that my tomb be prepared in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica." "The tomb must be in the ground; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus." "May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that has been present in the last part of my life I have offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples." "Do not lose your sense of humor and live in joy. Pray for me, as I will pray for you": with these words, recorded with a tired voice, Pope Francis wanted to send his last personal message to the Franciscan Poor Clares of the Monastery of Vallegloria, in Spello. A short audio from a few days ago that the sisters now keep as a spiritual testament, a sign of a deep and intimate bond that has united the community to the Pontiff for years. "He had just returned from Gemelli," Mother Maria Chiara, abbess of the monastery, tells Ansa, "and he could not speak much. Yet he wanted us to hear his voice."This is the text of Pope Francis' will released by the Vatican press office. The document bears the date of June 29, 2022. "In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only concerning the place of my burial. I have always entrusted my life and priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Most Holy Mary. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest awaiting the day of resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. I wish that my last earthly journey concludes precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic Journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for her gentle and maternal care. I ask that my tomb be prepared in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as indicated in the attached annex. The tomb must be in the ground; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus. The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered with the sum of the benefactor I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and for which I have provided appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Chapter. May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that has been present in the last part of my life I have offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples." Santa Marta, June 29, 2022 FRANCIS lunedi 21 aprile 2025, 18:07 - Last updated: 18:43 Pope Francis has died, and his passing has led to heightened security around the area surrounding St. Peter's Basilica. For days, Rome will be the center of the world, and in anticipation of the days leading up to the funeral, a security management center for the event has been activated at the operational headquarters of the Rome Police Headquarters. After an initial consultation between the Prefect and the Chief of Police of Rome, which took place on Easter Monday afternoon, the latter ordered an intensification of territorial control devices throughout the area orbiting St. Peter's Square. Following this decision, a task force has been activated involving the State Police, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, firefighters, and local police of Rome. From the very first minutes following the announcement of the Holy Father's passing, an intense flow of faithful has been affecting the urban areas near the Vatican. The plan, already strengthened for the Jubilee, includes the increased deployment of public force contingents, multiplying the eyes on the flow of faithful in transit with a view to preventing predatory crimes. Among the forces deployed, there is also the river police for patrolling the Tiber and the banks. The enhanced plan will continue in the coming hours until the date of the funeral rite is scheduled, when a dedicated security plan (presumably even more strengthened) will be triggered, on which the Rome Police Headquarters is already working. Coordination initiatives with the Department of Public Security are underway for the coming days. 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 To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, director Joe Wright has shed some light on Mr Darcys iconic hand flex scene. Wrights romantic-drama, which returns to cinemas to mark the milestone anniversary, stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett and Matthew Mafadyen as Mr Darcy. The famous moment occurs in the early stages of their budding romance, with Elizabeth preparing to leave Netherfield after spending weeks nursing her sister Jane (Rosamund Pike) back to health. When the carriage arrives to take her home, Mr Darcy gives her his hand to help her into it. The camera lingers on their hands and as he walks away, the camera zooms in on his hand, which he flexes as if to shake off the intense moment. The so-called hand flex has caused a stir on social media where fans of the film praised the moment as a perfect encapsulation of Mr Darcys repressed feelings at the time. Focus Features, the production company behind the film, is now selling merchandise of the hand flex, including T-shirts and badges, to commemorate the milestone anniversary. In a new interview with People, Wright who also directed films including Darkest Hour (2017) and The Woman in the Window (2021) confirmed that the moment would not have happened without Macfadyens improvisation. It wasnt in the script, but that was an important moment in the book, Wright said. This sudden realisation, as they were parting, of what they meant to each other or the kind of disturbance they caused in each other. the fact that pride and prejudice was released 18 years ago and they still ask matthew macfadyen about mr darcy and the hand flex https://t.co/LRDQPfTnxE pic.twitter.com/kTU4eeKrxn sandra (@folkausten) July 24, 2024 Wright went on to explain that the moment shows that while Mr Darcy physically recognises his feelings for Elizabeth, his mind has not caught up yet. 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. Our bodies are so much smarter than our minds often. Although their conscious minds are fighting against each other, their bodies are two magnets drawn to each other, Wright said. As they touch, even that little hand lifting helping her, which is pure etiquette of the period, somehow creates this kind of electronic shock wave through them both, and he has to shake it away. In another interview with The New York Times for a piece solely focused on the hand flex, Wright said he has been humbled by the reception because it feels like its taken on a life of its own. Emma Thompson improvised an iconic line from the film ( Getty Images / Focus Features ) Elsewhere, Wright revealed to Mashable the origins of another beloved moment the line spoken by Charlottes character, in which she says: Im 27 years old. Ive no money and no prospects. Im already a burden to my parents, and Im frightened. Wright revealed that he and screenwriter Deborah Moggach approached Emma Thompson, who had previously won an Oscar for her adaptation of Austens Sense and Sensibility, for some assistance with a little bit of the dialogue, which gave birth to the now iconic line. Pride and Prejudice will return to UK cinemas next week. 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 Nicola Coughlan has hit out at the forthcoming HBO adaptation of Harry Potter, saying she wouldnt touch it with a 10 ft pole. The high-profile show announced the first of its cast last week, including the actors playing iconic characters such as Dumbledore, Hagrid, and Professor McGonagall. Confirmed to star in the series so far are John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Nick Frost, and Paapa Esseidu. One actor who will certainly not be joining the line-up is Coughlan, 38, who has been vocal in her criticism of JK Rowling who wrote the books that the franchise is based on. Rowling, who has been criticised for her views regarding the transgender community, has been especially outspoken following the UK Supreme Courts ruling on the rights of trans women, which determined that transgender women could be excluded from definitions of woman under the Equality Act 2010. Meanwhile, the Bridgerton star raised over 100,000 for trans charity Not A Phase in response to the judgment, saying she was disgusted and completely horrified by the decision. Rowling has celebrated in the days following the ruling, prompting Coughlan to reshare an article headlined: This is a new low for JK Rowling. The Irish actor captioned the post: Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole. In an Instagram video posted after the ruling, Coughlan said: To see an already marginalised community being further attacked, and attacked in law, is stomach-churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting. 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. Keep your new Harry Potter lads said the actor ( Getty ) Nows the time to speak up and make your voice heard, she said. Let your trans, non-binary friends and the community at large know that youre there for them and will keep fighting for them. HBO has sternly addressed criticism of the adaptation after backlash for Rowlings involvement in the show. In a statement given to Variety in November last year, a spokesperson for HBO said: We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance. JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement. In recent years, Rowling has faced a backlash from several key cast members of the original franchise after her controversial remarks about the trans community in 2020. Her relationship with these stars, as well as Harry Potter fans, have deteriorated amid the increasingly toxic debate. Last month, Rowling appeared to take a swipe at original Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint on social media. The writer, who once stated she would rather go to jail than refer to a trans person by their preferred pronouns, previously said she would not forgive the actors for criticising her opinions, telling them to save their apologies and she has renewed hostilities with the trio once again on social media. On Tuesday (18 March), when Rowling was asked: What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you? she responded: Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible. While the author added laughing-face emojis to indicate humour, the post has been widely interpreted as being aimed at Radcliffe, Watson and Grint. 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 Travel influencer Vanessa Konopka has died at 28, months after she was diagnosed with severe liver damage and pneumonia. Her boyfriend Fernando with whom she ran the travel account Happiness Crossing shared a post to his and his girlfriends Facebook page to announce her death. This morning, on March 7th, Vanessa passed away. She always loved connecting with you all, and her love for the Philippines was beyond words, he wrote in the caption. Once again, I can only ask for your prayers so that God may bring comfort to the hearts of her loved ones. I trust in Him, I know He is with Vanessa and I know God is always with us. Fernando concluded the post, which included photos of Konopka, by sending an emotional message to her. Kushka, if you are perhaps reading this somewhere, thank you so much for teaching me how to love myself doesn't matter what other people think, she showed me how to love myself, and how to follow my dreams! he wrote. I will forever love you and we may see each other again. The German content creator was hospitalized in the Philippines on December 31, according to a GoFundMe page created by Fernando. Her illnesses made her extremely weak, and she was unable to eat properly, walk, or even speak easily, he shared in his plea for financial assistance. open image in gallery Vanessa Konopka was unable to eat properly, walk, or even speak easily due to illnesses ( GoFundMe ) On the fundraiser page, created on January 14, he also noted that he was raising money to get Konopka on a medical air ambulance flight to Germany, since it would have been the safest option amid her health condition. He was hoping to raise nearly $227,500 to cover the flight, along with funds to cover her medical bills and any other care she might have. The page has raised $6,729 at the time of writing. Fernando and Konopka ran their travel account, Happiness Crossing, on Instagram, which has 39,400 followers, and Facebook, which has 251,00 followers. They frequently posted about some of the best spots to visit in Boracay, Philippines. During her stay in the hospital this year, Konopka occasionally posted on social media. In one video shared on Instagram in January, she filmed herself sitting in her hospital bed and documented her morning routine. The clip included one moment of her reminiscing on memories in the Philippines, and another of her sitting outside the hospital in her wheelchair. She also documented the series of medical tests she got done amid her liver damage and pneumonia diagnosis. Experiencing the hardest journey of my life right now in the Philippines, she wrote. open image in gallery Vanessa Konopka's boyfriend made a GoFundMe page for her after she was diagnosed with severe liver damage and pneumonia ( Vanessa and Fernando/Facebook ) Fernando also shared a few updates about his girlfriends health on Facebook, noting that shed reunited with her family in late February. Vanessa is out of danger now, she reunited with her Mother and they are both now in Boracay, he wrote in the post, shared on February 20. They will wait a few more days till Vanessa gets strong enough so she can go back to Germany for treatment. We thank you for all your prayers, all donations, all words of support. God will bless you all. In the comments of Fernandos post, where he announced his girlfriends death, many fans paid tribute. Oh my God... this is so heartbreaking and shocking. Vanessa... you are so loved by Filipinos and such a beautiful soul to be gone so early. My deepest condolences to the whole family, one wrote. My sincere condolences to Fernando and to Vanessa's family. Im a huge fan, and this is sad. My prayers for her soul that it may rest in peace, another added. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Boeing 737 MAX sent for delivery to Chinas Xiamen Airlines returned to the US on Sunday, underscoring the deepening rift in trade relations between the worlds two largest economies. The aircraft, which had been awaiting final delivery at Boeings facility in Zhoushan, landed at the Boeing Field in Seattle at 6.11pm, according to a Reuters witness. It still bore the livery of Xiamen Airlines. The jets transpacific journey included refuelling stops in Guam and Hawaii. While the specific reasons for its return remained unclear, the incident reflected the increasing trade disruption caused by US president Donald Trumps imposition of steep tariffs on China earlier this month. The Independent has contacted Boeing and Xiamen Airlines for comment. Mr Trump escalated a trade war with Beijing this month by raising tariffs on Chinese imports to a baseline of 145 per cent. In retaliation, Beijing imposed a 125 per cent tariff on American goods. Trade analysts suggested that such steep levies could make it financially unfeasible for Chinese airlines to take delivery of American aircraft. Aviation consultancy IBA put the market value of a Boeing 737 MAX at around $55m. China, meanwhile, cautioned third countries against making trade concessions to the US at its expense, accusing Washington of using tariffs as leverage to isolate Beijing and distort global trade. Appeasement cannot bring peace and compromise cannot earn one respect, a spokesperson for the commerce ministry said, criticising what it described as US attempts to coerce other countries into tradeoffs that would undermine Beijings interests. "China believes that all parties should stand on the side of fairness... and should defend international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system, the spokesperson was reported as saying by the BBC. Cars made in China are seen at the port in Nanjing in eastern Jiangsu province on 16 April 2025 ( AFP via Getty ) The warning followed a report by Bloomberg that the US administration was pressuring countries seeking relief from steep American tariffs to curb their trade with China. Citing unnamed US officials, the report claimed that financial penalties could be imposed on countries that failed to comply with the proposed terms. The Chinese commerce ministry said it respected all parties seeking to resolve economic and trade differences with the US through consultation on an equal footing but that Beijing would firmly oppose any party striking a deal at its expense. If any country sought such arrangements, the ministry added, China will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner. Several countries like Japan and Indonesia were reportedly talking to the US to avoid heavy import tariffs. While Japan was considering raising imports of American rice and soybean, Indonesia could increase the purchases of food and commodities, potentially reducing orders from other suppliers. US trade representative Jamieson Greer claimed earlier this month that some 50 countries had approached Washington seeking exemptions from Mr Trumps new tariff regime. Beijing condemned Washingtons approach. The United States has abused tariffs on all trading partners under the banner of so-called equivalence, while also forcing all parties to start so-called reciprocal tariffs negotiations with them, the ministry of commerce said. President Xi Jinping, during a visit to three Southeast Asian countries last week, called for unity against unilateral economic pressure. There are no winners in trade wars and tariff wars, he said in an article published by Vietnamese media in a clear nod to ongoing tensions without directly naming the US. Jesper Koll, an analyst at Japanese trading firm Monex Group, noted the difficult position for countries caught between the two powers. Certainly, Japan doesnt want to choose between America and the Peoples Republic of China, he said. Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An Easter prayer service in the Indian city of Ahmedabad was disrupted on Sunday by members of two far-right Hindu groups who accused attendees of engaging in religious conversions. Eyewitness footage shared on social media showed activists from the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) entering a private prayer meeting in the Odhav area of the city, wielding sticks and shouting slogans such as Jai Shree Ram (Glory to Lord Ram) and Har Har Mahadev (Hail Lord Shiva). The groups are known for their links to Hindutva, a hardline nationalist ideology that promotes Hindu supremacy. They are also loosely affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of prime minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and have long campaigned against Christian and Muslim religious conversions. While there were no reports of injuries, the incident has added to growing concerns over the increasing frequency of religiously motivated intimidation and violence in India. Inspector Pratik Zinzuvadia of the Odhav police confirmed that the incident occurred during a Christian congregation at a residential hall in Vimal Park Society, attended by around 100 people, marking Easter Sunday. According to police, the intruders confronted attendees, many of whom were women, and demanded to know their religion, accusing organisers of conducting illegal conversions of Hindus to Christianity. The situation was brought under control after police were called to the scene. Both parties were taken to the local police station, where they submitted written complaints. Darshan Joshi, a local representative of Bajrang Dal, filed a statement requesting an investigation into religious conversion, reported The Indian Express. However, Inspector Zinzuvadia confirmed that officers found no indication of conversion activity during their preliminary assessment. Emanuel Amaydas, a member of the Christian community present at the gathering, filed a counter-complaint accusing 10 to 15 unidentified individuals of storming the venue and causing disruption. Police said they were examining the complaints and that no formal charges had been filed as of Sunday evening. We have taken complaints from both sides and begun an inquiry into the case, Inspector Zinzuvadia said. Jwalit Mehta, a regional coordinator of Bajrang Dal, later told the Times of India the activists had entered Christian gatherings in both Odhav and Nikol neighbourhoods based on what he described as information that conversion activities were going on. Under Indian law, forced religious conversion is illegal in several states, though laws are often vaguely defined and critics say they are frequently misused to target minority communities. In 2024, attacks on Christians rose to 834 incidents, up from 734 the previous year, according to data from the United Christian Forum. 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 Mohammad Bilal was on his way to his clothing shop in Sambhal, a small city in Uttar Pradesh, when violence erupted near the citys centuries-old Shahi Jama Masjid. He called his brother to tell him he had been shot. That day 24 November last year was the last time his older brother, Mohammad Salman, 24, heard from him. My brother told me, I was coming home when people started pelting stones. The police were firing blindly at the crowd. They shot me, too, Salman tells The Independent in an interview in Sambhal. Hours later, Bilal was dead at a hospital in Moradabad one of five men killed in clashes that left at least 20 police officers injured and several vehicles torched in some of the worst violence the area has seen in recent times last year. In Sambhal, the violence marked an alarming shift. At the centre of the unrest was a court-ordered archaeological survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid a 16th-century mosque now claimed by Hindu petitioners to have been built on the ruins of a temple. The dispute in Sambhal isnt isolated. It is part of a broader wave of legal challenges to Muslim places of worship across India a movement some see as a deliberate attempt to rewrite history and alter the religious character of public spaces in favour of the Hindu majority. A growing number of Hindu groups are filing petitions alleging that historic mosques stand on top of desecrated Hindu temples. These claims often hinge on vague local lore or unverified archaeology, but theyre finding more traction in courts than ever before. Many of these legal cases cite an exception within the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991, which was meant to freeze the religious status of all places of worship as they existed at the time of Indias independence with one notable exception: Ayodhya. On 19 November, a civil court in Sambhal ordered a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, following a petition that alleged the mosque was built in the year 1526 on a destroyed Hindu temple. open image in gallery Mohammad Salman, brother of Bilal, sitting with his father at their home in Sambhal ( Namita Singh/ The Independent ) This is something the whole of Sambhal knows that there was a Hari Har temple beneath the mosque, says Mahant Rishi Raj Giri, the main petitioner seeking an Archaeological Survey of India probe. Giri, who heads the right-wing International Hari Har Sena, claims: Both Hindus and Muslims here are aware of it. Members of Muslim groups in the area have expressed anger, claiming they were not notified about the survey and questioning the urgency with which it was carried out, while many contest the claim of a temple under the mosque. We are only hearing about this Hari-Har temple now, says Sanjay, a cloth merchant who works near the mosque. The murmur started only after the BJP came to power. That was in 2014, when Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a historic mandate. open image in gallery Worshippers leaving Shahi Jama Masjid after offering namaz ( Namita Singh/The Independent ) For many Indian Muslims, the Sambhal mosque dispute echoes a dark moment in the countrys recent history the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. The 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya was razed to the ground by Hindu mobs, spurred by decades of political and religious mobilisation. The violence that followed killed over 2,000 people. It was a blood-soaked turning point in Indias secular fabric. In 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered a final judgment on the Ayodhya case. The court acknowledged the illegal demolition of the mosque but still handed over the land to Hindu petitioners to build a grand temple to Lord Ram, inaugurated by Mr Modi in January 2024. The verdict created shockwaves. The Ayodhya judgment was a very low point in the history of the Supreme Court, says Colin Gonsalves, a senior advocate and founder of the Human Rights Law Network. It betrayed the minority community and allowed hooliganism to prevail. Yet the court also tried to draw a line, he explains: The judges tried to control the damage by saying thus far and no further. They said the Places of Worship Act remains in place and no other mosque can be targeted. And that any attempt after that to identify any other mosque, to say that this has a Hindu origin, and to seek relief from court to break to tear down that mosque and so on those would be illegal and unconstitutional. They upheld the Act. Everything else got frozen. The violence in Sambhal is just the latest in a series of incidents showing that line is being crossed. In May 2022, a Supreme Court bench led by then-Chief Justice DY Chandrachud allowed an archaeological survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, despite concerns it violated the Places of Worship Act. The judge clarified that the 1991 law didnt bar investigations into a site's status as of 15 August 1947, so long as they didnt seek to change its character. This emboldened Hindu nationalist groups, who claim the mosque was built over a temple in 1678. A later survey reportedly uncovered a shivaling a symbolic representation of the Hindu deity Shiva inside the mosque, though mosque officials insist its part of a fountain. Then on 19 November 2024, a civil court ordered a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid based on Mahant Rishi Raj Giris petition. He claimed the mosque, built in 1526, stood atop a demolished Hari Har temple. On 24 November, during the second court ordered survey, clashes broke out. Advocate Gonsalves blames the complacency of the Indian judiciary for the spiralling situation as he questions its independence. The judiciary was itself responsible for this kind of introduction of the loophole, which far-right wing groups in the country promptly took as an invitation to create trouble again in respect of other [religious] structures. Muslims in the Sambhal say they werent even notified of the survey. "It felt like a sudden ambush on our identity," says a local youth leader, who asked not to be named. open image in gallery Nafeesa Begum, Mohammad Ayan's mother, looks on as her relatives speak to her ( Namita Singh/ The Independent ) The clashes in Sambhal have reignited fears of further violence, raising questions about the judiciarys role in exacerbating communal tensions, now supported by the state government. Bilals brother, Salman, alleges police harassment after they accused officers of shooting his brother in their First Information Report (FIR). They pressured us to remove the polices names, threatening arrest, Salman says. They warned us it would cost us heavily if we didnt retract. The fear was unbearablewe couldnt sit, eat, or sleep. The police barged into our home, harassing us, he adds. His mother, Shahana Begum, 45, recalls, One day, they came inside, threatening to call the womens police. This went on for days. I was terrified, worrying that my son had already been killed and now they were harassing us. She breaks down, When we removed the police names from the FIR, the harassment stopped. Nafeesa Begum, 65, claims her 18-year-old son Mohammad Ayan died from police gunfire. Describing the day, she says, Ayans hotel was near the mosque. I dont know what happened, but at 9am, people came shouting that Ayan had been shot. I ran outside and saw him on a charpoy, blood pouring from his body. I could barely stand. I asked, What happened? He said, Ammi, I was running with the crowd, fell, and realized I was shot. The police were firing. Ayan later died from his injuries, reportedly a bullet wound in his abdomen. Nafeesa says, Since then, people, including the police, pressured me not to mention the bullet injury. They told me to say we didnt know what happened in the crowd, but I couldnt. My son told me he was shot by the police, and he was a Quran reader. What should I tell him in the afterlife? Autopsy reports suggest the victims died from bullets fired from country-made pistols, according to national media. Sambhals divisional commissioner, Aunjaneya Singh, stated, Most deaths were caused by firearm injuries, likely from 315 bore bulletsfired from country-made pistols. Police mainly used pellet guns to disperse the crowd. Whether other protesters bullets caused the deaths is under investigation. Across India, several high-profile mosques and Islamic shrines are now under scrutiny. Among them: Gyanvapi Mosque (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh): Claimed to be built over a demolished temple to Lord Shiva. Ongoing litigation since 2021. Shahi Idgah Mosque (Mathura, Uttar Pradesh): Built in the 17th century, now contested by groups who say it encroaches on Lord Krishnas birthplace. Ajmer Sharif Dargah (Rajasthan): A 16th-century Sufi shrine that recently faced demands for a survey by right-wing groups. On 27 November, a court in Ajmer admitted a petition by Vishnu Gupta, national president of the Hindu Sena, seeking a survey of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, claiming evidence of an ancient Hindu temple to Lord Shiva at the site. The court issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Dargah Committee. Guptas counsel cited a 1911 book, Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive, claiming debris from a Hindu temple was used in the dargahs construction, including a shivalinga previously worshiped by a Brahmin family. Gupta tells The Independent, A tomb cannot be a place of worship in Islam. We demand no one should offer namaz there. The Hindu Sena, a far-right group with a history of criminal cases, claims to oppose Islamisation and fight for Sanatana Dharma. Gupta denies accusations of fueling division, asserting, How has seeking justice become a source of social disharmony? He adds, Hindus have been exploited for 300 years. We want our land back. open image in gallery People walk past the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi ( AFP via Getty Images ) The escalation of such disputes has also drawn criticism from historians and legal experts who argue that these cases distort Indias complex historical legacy. Desecration of such temples [royal] was the normal means of detaching a defeated enemy from the most prominent manifestation of his former sovereign authority, thereby rendering him politically impotent, Richard M Eaton, professor of history at the University of Arizona and author of India in the Persianate Age: 1000-1765 told The Diplomat. Referring to the quote, historian Rana Safvi tells The Independent : One cannot right 'perceived' or real historical wrongs on the basis of oral stories, popular narratives or even historical sources. Today as the world's largest democracy our challenges are different and our responses should be in accordance with that. It is up to the courts to uphold the constitution and the rights of minorities. The Allahabad High Court, while ordering ASI survey of Gyanvapi mosque, ruled: Scientific survey is necessary in the interest of justice. Yet critics contend that these surveys serve less to uncover historical truths and more to stoke communal divisions. In Sambhal, the aftermath of the violence has left a community grappling with grief and uncertainty. Mohammad Salman mourns his brothers death and questions the motives behind the survey that triggered the clashes. Why was it necessary to conduct this survey in secret, without informing us? he asks. My brother died for nothing simply because of politics. 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 US vice president JD Vance arrived in India on Monday for a four-day visit as New Delhi looks to avoid US tariffs and negotiate a bilateral trade deal with Washington. Mr Vance is accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, whose parents are from India, along with their children and officials from the US administration. The couple will visit historical sites in the cities of Jaipur and Agra, including the Taj Mahal. Mr Vance will meet prime minister Narendra Modi on the first day of his largely personal visit. The two leaders are expected to hold discussions on bilateral ties outlined in February when Mr Modi met president Donald Trump in Washington. Mr Vance landed at New Delhi's Palam airport following a visit to Rome, where he held a private meeting with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. A banner welcoming US vicepresident JD Vance is tied to an electric pole on a street in New Delhi, India, Monday, 21 April 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The US is Indias largest trading partner and the two countries are now holding negotiations aiming to seal a bilateral trade agreement this year. They have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500bn by 2030. If achieved, the trade deal could significantly enhance economic ties between the two countries and potentially strengthen diplomatic ties as well. Mr Vances first visit to New Delhi comes amid the backdrop of Mr Trump's now-paused tariff programme against most countries, including India. It also coincides with a rapidly intensifying trade war between Washington and Beijing, which is New Delhis main rival in the region. Heres what to know more about Vances visit: Mr Vances arrival in India comes weeks after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was in India for a geopolitical conference and two months after Mr Modi met Mr Trump in Washington. Mr Modi was among the first leaders to visit the US and hold talks with Mr Trump after he returned to the White House. During his visit, Mr Modi kickstarted a negotiation process to minimise the possible fallout of Mr Trumps tariffs. Regardless, Mr Trump targeted India with a 26 per cent levy as part of his now-paused tariff programme, which has provided temporary relief for Indian exporters. During his visit, Mr Modi sought to soften impending trade barriers by saying he was open to reducing more tariffs on US goods, repatriating undocumented Indian nationals and buying military gear. The two countries also agreed to start talks towards clinching the bilateral trade agreement. India's deep ties to US business India is a close partner of the US for bilateral trade, foreign direct investments, defence cooperation, and an important strategic ally in combating the rising influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also part of the Quad, which is made up of the United States plus India, Japan and Australia and seen as a counter-balance to Chinas expansion in the region. Leading US companies such as Apple Inc and Google have expanded operations in India in recent years. Last month, Mr Musk's Starlink entered into agreements with two of Indias top telecom operators to provide satellite-based internet services. Modi and Trump already share rapport Mr Modi established a good working relationship with Trump during his first term in office. It now appears that the two leaders are likely to further boost cooperation between their countries, particularly in trade as Chinese president Xi Jinping is aiming to position Beijing as a reliable trade partner in the Asia-Pacific region amid rising tensions with Washington. India has also already taken a number of steps to win over Mr Trump. It will purchase more oil, energy and defence equipment, including the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, from the US. The US, however, wants greater market access for its agricultural and dairy products in India, but New Delhi has been reluctant so far as the farm sector employs bulk of the countrys workforce. Family trip for Vance Mr Vances visit to India marks his first official trip to the country, which has added significance for the second family. His wife Usha Vance a practising Hindu is the daughter of immigrants from South India. In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Mr Vance described his wife a supersmart daughter of Indian immigrants whom he met at Yale Law School. Usha Vances parents moved to the US in the late 1970s. 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 Philippines and the US have launched the largest iteration of their annual Balikatan military drills, deploying thousands of soldiers in what has been called the Super Bowl of exercises for its unparalleled scale. The 40th edition of Balikatan, which means shoulder-to-shoulder in Tagalog, is scheduled to take place from 21 April to 9 May. The drills are expected to involve some 14,000 troops, with contingents from the UK, France, Canada, Australia and Japan also participating. In addition, as many as 19 countries are set to join as observers for the exercises this year, which the Philippine military notes highlights their shared commitment to peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The full battle tests will also underscore the intent of the US, the security partner of the Philippines, to continue its military support for the southeast Asian nation at a time when it faces intensifying pressure from China. open image in gallery A US military helicopter flies over Ilocos Norte province during a joint military exercise in the northern Philippines ( AP ) Nearly 9,000 troops from the US and 5,000 from the Philippines are taking part in the 18-day war games across western and northern Philippines, facing the regional flashpoints of the South China Sea and Taiwan. Brigadier General Michael Logico, of the Philippine army, said the drills would simulate realistic defence scenarios, marking a significant evolution in scope and complexity. This is the Super Bowl of all exercises in this part of the region, the general added. The full battle tests are intended to take into consideration all of the regional security challenges that we face today, beginning in the South China Sea. Major General Francisco Lorenzo, director of this years exercises for the Philippines, tried to downplay the perception that the military drills were aimed specifically at China. open image in gallery Major General Francisco Lorenzo and Lieutenant General James Glynn shake hands after launching the Balikatan exercises ( EPA ) Balikatan is not against any nation but its a joint training with US forces to increase our capability in securing our territory, he said. The Balikatan exercise may probably help deter the conflict in Taiwan. But for our concern, it is only for deterrence of any possible coercion or invasion of our country. To test the defences of the archipelago, the exercises will involve fighter jets, warships, and an array of weaponry deployed to simulate repelling an island attack. The US is deploying advanced weaponry for the drills such as the Typhon missile system, capable of launching Tomahawks that could reach China and Russia, and the NMESIS anti-ship missile system. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said in Manila last month that Washington would be deploying the NMESIS system for the first time in the war games, covering air and missile defence in northern Luzon and the Batanes Islands. open image in gallery Filipino activists protest near the US embassy in Manila against the annual Balikatan exercises ( Reuters ) We are ready, US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn told a press briefing when asked if Washington and Manila had the capability to address any major acts of aggression in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea after years of joint combat exercises. Our combined strength, Gen Glynn said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the drills, possesses a degree of lethality for a force that possesses an indomitable warrior ethos and spirit. Its all dedicated to one purpose, to ensure the defence of the Philippines and to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. The opening ceremony of the exercises was marked by a protest in Quezon City demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops from the Philippines. The protesters burnt mock flags of the US and raised banners reading Stop US-led wars and Stop Militarisation. Many said they feared the presence of foreign soldiers could fuel tensions with China. Some described the US as an imperialist nation. open image in gallery A protester holds a sign during a rally in Manila ( EPA ) China expressed its strong opposition to the exercises saying previous editions had seen war games conducted beyond the territorial waters of the Philippines and into its exclusive economic zone. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Beijing firmly opposed any country using Taiwan as an excuse to strengthen regional military deployment and provoke tension and confrontation. The parties concerned are advised not to provoke on the Taiwan issue, and those who play with fire will burn themselves, Mr Guo said at a regular press briefing. open image in gallery Filipino marines alight from a helicopter during the Balikatan exercises in Cagayan province in 2022 ( AP ) Tensions between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, especially over disputed areas like the Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, have been going on for several years but have escalated significantly since 2022. There have even been violent clashes in recent years involving their coastguard personnel and maritime militias. Chinas navy said on Sunday that a Philippine frigate had illegally intruded into the waters of Scarborough Shoal, seriously violating Chinese sovereignty and laws. The navy monitored and drove the vessel away, it said. A navy spokesperson urged the Philippine side to immediately stop the infringement and provocation. 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 U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Rome on Friday for meetings with the Vatican No. 2 and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, fresh off the Italian leaders visit to the White House a day earlier. Meloni, who has positioned herself as a bridge between the U.S. and Europe, received praise from President Donald Trump for her crackdown on migration during a meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday. Vance, who attended the meetings, was scheduled to meet with the Italian leader 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 sharply cut back his work schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia. Francis and Vance, a Catholic convert, have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Just days before he was hospitalized, Francis blasted the administrations deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also apparently responded to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance has acknowledged Francis criticism but has said he would continue to defend his views. ___ 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. 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 Pope Francis has decreed in his will that he be buried in a simple underground tomb in St Mary Major Basilica. The will specified the late pontiff wanted to be buried "in the ground, without particular decoration" but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus. In his final testament, the pope expressed his wish to be buried in Rome, and not at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican like many previous pontiffs. Alongside the will, the Vatican announced the pope died following a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. The Vatican added that the pontiff had arranged for an unnamed benefactor to cover the costs of his burial. open image in gallery The pope will be buried in a simple underground tomb in St Mary Major Basilica ( AP ) Published on the Holy Sees website, here is the Popes will in full. It reads: In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my burial. I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest awaiting the day of resurrection in the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major. I wish that my last earthly journey conclude precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for her docile and maternal care. open image in gallery The pontiff pictured at his final Easter Sunday message ( AP ) I ask that my tomb be prepared in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel, Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani, and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as indicated in the enclosed attachment. The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus. The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered by the sum of the benefactor that I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided appropriate instructions to Rolandas Makrickas (a Catholic cardinal) Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Chapter. May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that has become present in the last part of my life I have offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples. Franciss coffin was moved from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel, where he lived, to St Peters Basilica to allow the faithful to pay their respects. His funeral will take place on Saturday, 26 April. Following his death, the Catholic Church has now entered a period called sede vacante, or empty seat, during which there is no pope sitting on the throne of St Peter. Pope Francis, originally from Argentina and the first pope from Latin America, had led the 1.4 billion-member church since 2013. 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 RAF fighter jets have intercepted two Russian aircraft flying close to Nato airspace over the Baltic Sea, marking the first such intervention under Operation Chessman. Two RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Malbork airbase in Poland on Tuesday to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M Coot-A intelligence aircraft, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. A second incident occurred on Thursday when another two Typhoons were launched from the base to intercept an unknown aircraft departing Kaliningrad airspace close to Nato airspace. The MoD said on Sunday that the intercepts mark the RAFs first scramble as part of Operation Chessman, and come weeks after the aircraft arrived in eastern Poland to begin deployment alongside Sweden in defence of Natos eastern flank. An intercept, in aviation terms, refers to when one aircraft, typically a military one, approaches another for the purpose of identification or intervention. open image in gallery Typhoons at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire ( PA ) Minister for the armed forces Luke Pollard said the UK is unshakeable in its commitment to Nato. With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our allies, deter adversaries, and protect our national security through our plan for change. This mission shows our ability to operate side by side with Natos newest member Sweden, and to defend the alliances airspace wherever and whenever needed, keeping us safe at home and strong abroad. The UKs deployment of six Typhoon jets and nearly 200 personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing is the UKs latest contribution to Natos air-policing efforts, following operations in Romania and Iceland last year. The MoD said it represents a landmark in Nato integration with jets from RAF Lossiemouth operating alongside Swedish Gripens, the first time Sweden has contributed fighter aircraft to another allys air policing since joining Nato in 2024. The intercepts come after Britains defence secretary John Healeys visit to Nato last week, where he co-led a meeting in which more than 50 nations pledged 21bn of support to Ukraine, the department said. In April 2024, six Typhoon fighter jets with more than 200 personnel were stationed in Romania to defend Natos eastern border. This was followed in August 2024 by the deployment of four F-35B jets to Iceland, defending Nato airspace in the north. The RAFs quick reaction alert forces are based at RAF Coningsby, Lossiemouth, and Brize Norton. 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 Descendants of slave owners and those of enslaved people in former British colonies in the Caribbean sat around the same table at the United Nations headquarters in New York last week to discuss the contentious issue of reparations. This was a historic event, said former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan, one of whose ancestors owned sugar cane plantations in Grenada. Trevelyan moderated the meeting on the sidelines of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descents week-long session. From around the year 1500, millions of west Africans were sent to work mainly on plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas, including the southern United States. U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk told the forum that an estimated 25 million to 30 million Africans were uprooted for the purpose of slavery. Few nations have apologized for their role in slavery, and reparations have been the subject of much debate. The Geneva-based Human Rights Council has for years called for global action, including reparations, apologies and educational reforms, to make amends for racism against people of African descent. The 15-nation Caribbean Community, known as Caricom, has a 10-point plan for reparatory justice, starting with demands for European countries where enslaved people were kept and traded to issue formal apologies. open image in gallery This undated photo shows moderator Laura Trevelyan, center, with Antiguas U.N. Ambassador Walton Webson, left, and Jamaicas U.N. Ambassador Brian Wallace, right, during a meeting of descendants of slave owners and slaves in former British colonies in the Caribbean at U.N. headquarters ( AP ) Turk noted a European Union statement in 2023 that expressed profound regret for the untold suffering caused by the transatlantic slave trade, and the African Unions designation of 2025 as the Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations. At the meeting of descendants of enslaved people and slave owners on Tuesday, Trevelyan spoke of her familys decision to apologize to Grenada and to make a contribution of 100,000 (about $133,000) toward education in the Caribbean island nation. Going to Grenada with her family and apologizing wasnt exactly smooth sailing, said Trevelyan, who has now left the BBC and become a campaigner for reparations. There were protests by one group that thought the apology was inadequate and the money not enough. Also at the meeting was Aidee Walker, who said she was shocked when she found out via a DNA test that she was not only predominantly Scots-Irish but also part Nigerian, then discovered that her great-great-great-grandfather, who had moved to New Zealand, was the son of a slave owner in Jamaica named John Malcolm and an African housekeeper. Walker and her sister, Kate Thomas, said that when they found out, they felt they had to do something. Thomas said she discovered what Trevelyan was doing and got in touch with Verene Shepherd, a professor emeritus and vice-chair of the Caricom reparations commission, who encouraged the sisters to start with the apology. Charles Gladstone, the great-great-grandson of William Gladstone, said he felt a profound sense of guilt after learning that the 19th-century prime ministers father had owned estates with enslaved people and that a great deal of his privileged life was essentially connected to this criminal past. He said he apologized to Guyana and Jamaica and would try to do something to make the world a better place. While Britains role in abolishing slavery in 1833 is widely taught, Gladstone said, its involvement in the trade has been completely buried. The history must be told, he said, because the evils of this crime against humanity are not historical: theyre felt very, very profoundly today. Britains deputy U.N. ambassador, James Kariuki, attended the meeting but did not speak. The British Mission, when asked for a comment, sent a statement given by development minister Anneliese Dodds to parliament on Feb 25, in which she said that she and prime minister Keir Starmer were absolutely clear that we will not be making cash transfers and payments to the Caribbean. Gladstone said supporters of reparations must keep working together. He said that if thousands of families like his stand up and say We would like to do something about this then there is a chance that the government in Britain could do something more substantial. Thomas agreed. If we can get the numbers, then that could influence institutions and governments to act, she said. Its a really great start to what I think will be a lifelong journey. Shepherd, who taught at the University of the West Indies, said there have not been many apologies and, while some Europeans express remorse or regret for slavery, No one is talking about reparations. However, Arley Gill, the chair of Grenadas National Reparations Commission, said that he sees positive movement toward reparative justice globally, and believes we are on a good path to ensure these crimes against humanity are being recognized by the colonial powers. Antiguas U.N. ambassador, Walton Webson, who is chair of the Caribbean ambassadors caucus, ended the meeting by saying, We have reached the point where speaking of reparations is no longer taboo. Now, he said, its time to put reparations on the lips of every child, every person and to start to take action. 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 For Matthew Tavender, head of schools at Cunningham Hill primary schools, the problem wasnt children using their phones during school hours, it was the pervasive influence of social media when his pupils left the classroom. We were dealing with the fallout on Monday morning, he explains. In the past 10 years that smartphones have been around, Ive not heard one in school. But what we were seeing was the damage smartphones were having outside of school, and the impact of that inside. Last May, his primary school along with 32 others in St Albans, Hertfordshire decided to address the problem themselves. They sent out a joint letter to families, declaring their schools smartphone-free and urging parents not to give their children the devices until at least the age of 14. The benefits, Mr Tavender says, have been clear to see. open image in gallery Mobile phones in schools ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) A check-in before Christmas to assess smartphone use among his pupils revealed that just seven per cent of year 6 pupils have a smartphone, down from 68 per cent the year before. Our older children, who would have had a smartphone but now dont their attention is much better, Mr Tavender says. There is a definite improvement in their relationships. They talk more, play more, whereas a lot of our year 6s (aged 10 or 11) were quite sedentary before. Research from regulator Ofcom last year found that children aged eight to 11 are more likely to own a smartphone than not, with 59 per cent having them. Once children go to secondary school, this is almost universal. At Cunningham Hill Schools, they had some children in year 3 (aged seven or eight) with their own smartphones, and this was not uncommon. open image in gallery Primary schools in St Albans, Hertfordshire told parents that they should delay giving their smartphones until the age of 14 ( Getty Images ) Ofcom found that around a quarter of five-to-seven-year-olds have a smartphone. Usage of social media apps and messaging tools is also increasing year-on-year for primary school-age children, and a recent YouGov poll found 23 per cent of children aged eight to 15 spend more than four hours a day using screens. Before Cunningham Hill took action, staff were seeing a lot of problems coming from WhatsApp use, Mr Tavender says. That was the biggest cause of bullying and issues with friendship in the school, he explains. WhatsApp groups were getting bigger and bigger, some had about 90 people in, and half of them werent in our school. The interactions between our children were very negative on there lots of inappropriate language, inappropriate pictures being shared. Nothing sexual, but there were comments on violence and race and things like that. We were having a number of our year 6s talking about Andrew Tate, and certainly some of the boys revering who he was. Twenty years ago, if children fell out in the playground, they could remove themselves from the fight at the end of the school day. Now grievances follow them home through instant messaging apps, Mr Tavender explains. While issues generated from childrens social media use have reduced significantly in the first year of the experiment, they havent disappeared completely, he adds. In October last year, problems cropped up among the small group of children who still had smartphones, with parents having to be warned about inappropriate messages being shared. open image in gallery Nearly a quarter of children aged five-to-seven-years-old have a smartphone ( Pexels/@tima-miroshnichenko ) By the time Graham Dills 10-year-old son moves into year 6 next year, hes hopeful that almost none of the class will have smartphones. Taking something away is a lot harder than not letting people have it in the first place, he says. As a parent at Cunningham Hill who also works as a private tutor, Mr Dill has two different perspectives on the impact of smartphones and social media on children. He tutors children who dont go to school; some with behavioural issues, others who are too anxious to attend. Maintaining his pupils attention can be tough in a post-smartphone age, he explains: Im working with kids from around 13-to-16-years-old and they are extremely distracted. It affects their concentration and their ability to take some deep breaths and be present on a task. They need that task to go right immediately, or want other stimulation if it is too boring. With one boy, its a constant default to take his phone out of his pocket and it is a constant reminder. No, put the phone away. When Cunningham Hill announced to parents that they would go smartphone-free, Mr Dill was delighted. Each year group in the school has a smartphone-free ambassador to relay information to other parents and keep them sticking to the pact. Mr Dills children, George and Thomas, are aged 10 and eight and he believes that if parents get on board when their children are younger it is easier to maintain the pledge to keep them smartphone-free. If most people are not doing it [giving their children phones], then it becomes a lot easier, he explains. Were having this battle at the moment with Fortnite. They all want Fortnite and we [Mr Dill and his wife, Rachel] dont really want them to play that. Its because their friends are playing Fortnite that they want to do it, and I think thats the same with phones down the line. His boys are also starting to recognise the low mood that can be generated from too long spent online. The comedown is such that they can recognise that they are dysregulated at that point, he explains. Were trying to get them to understand when they need to come off a device. Parent ambassadors at the St Albans primary schools have now set their sights on local secondary schools, and are hoping to lobby headteachers to push them to take more action. open image in gallery TV series Adolescence has sparked a national conversation about the impact of social media on children ( Netflix ) Deputy head of Queens Park Community School in London, Paul Drummond, has three children at a secondary school in St Albans. Their school, Samuel Ryder Academy, allows students to bring phones to school, but they shouldnt be seen in lessons, and shouldnt be for personal use on site. At Queens Park, the policy is stricter. Children are not allowed smartphones in years 7, 8 or 9. At key stage 4, pupils are allowed them but they cant be seen on the school site. At key stage 5 or A levels, students are allowed their phones, but they shouldnt be seen and can be used in lessons only when the teacher allows it. He explains: Since weve banned phones from being on site at key stage 3, the expectation is that if students need a phone so parents can track them, they should use an old Nokia. One of the problems with that is that there can be racial stereotyping of children with old Nokias, with members of the public thinking they are burner phones. Some of the parents are very worried about that. But since weve banned phones at key stage 3, the safeguarding issues, bullying, and other problems have been reduced quite significantly, Mr Drummond says. We agonised over banning them. Weve got quite a large site and at break time its a much happier place now theres no phones. A recent survey of more than 15,000 schools found that 99.8 per cent of primary schools and 90 per cent of secondary schools have some form of phone ban. Academics at the University of Birmingham also concluded in a study published in February that just banning smartphones in schools doesnt improve childrens grades or wellbeing, or reduce their overall phone use. Instead, they argued that any bans need to be part of a wider strategy to lower phone use among students. As a parent, Mr Drummond has experienced the difficulties of trying to reduce the familys social media use. A plan to have no screen time together during the evening, and a ban on phones going upstairs, went out of the window when Covid hit, he says. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer has said he doesnt think a government dictated school phone ban is necessary ( UK Parliament ) In his view, restricting phone access should be coupled with education about usage for both his children and pupils. His school has introduced a tutorial every week for the whole school on the big news stories of the week, which is teaching children discernment, Mr Drummond says. We spent 20 minutes discussing the news story, where it came from. We talk about misinformation, reliability and the importance of developing an opinion and political engagement. The bottom line is that if someone has access to the internet, they can look at anything they want to really. So were trying to get people to understand the perils but also to understand why it is great to look things up and find things out. Ofcom research has found that childrens engagement with news and current affairs is low and comes almost exclusively via social media. Netflix Adolescence has recently sparked national debate over the dangers of childrens access to digital spaces. The series follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller, whose exposure to misogynistic online communities may have contributed to his killing a female classmate. While prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has supported the screening of Adolescence in schools, he has said that a government-led phone ban is completely unnecessary. For Mr Tavender, stricter measures from government would be very helpful. If the government were to say we are banning phones, then it would make it very easy to get that message across, because that is just the way it is, he says. Hes against a postcode lottery where some schools have stricter measures than others: It should be a national decision like in other countries, to ban phones and social media for children. From an education point of view, we are crying out for that support. In the meantime, hes keen to keep the grassroots movement going and persuade local secondary schools to also ask parents to delay giving their children smartphones. The school is also trying to go beyond phone use and convince more of their students to get outside, and encourage outdoor play. Mr Dill feels the same. While hes been encouraged by the changes that St Albans primary schools have made, he wants politicians to get on board. I think rather than bottom up it, needs to come from top down, but I guess we wont see that until we have enough people from the bottom raising their hands and saying they want things done, he says. China embraces next-gen solid-state battery revolution with tech breakthroughs Xinhua) 13:06, April 21, 2025 SHANGHAI, April 20 (Xinhua) -- In a significant advancement that could reshape the future of electric vehicles, Chinese researchers have identified a mechanism behind solid-state lithium battery failures. It came as China has risen to become a global leader in the lithium battery industry. The country is now racing with its international rivals, particularly those from Japan and the Republic of Korea, to embrace the next-generation battery technologies. Solid-state batteries, widely regarded as one of the most promising solutions in the coming decade, could revolutionize energy storage. However, overcoming their technical hurdles remains the greatest current challenge. FINDING ROOT CAUSE Unlike liquid electrolytes used in conventional batteries, solid electrolytes struggle to absorb the stresses caused by lithium expansion and contraction during charging cycles. These stresses can cause cracking or the formation of dendrites -- tiny, needle-like structures that can trigger short circuits -- thus posing major challenges to the industrialization of the technology. In their new study, the researchers from Tongji University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology found that solid-state battery failures are closely linked to cycle fatigue of the lithium metal anode. They also observed that this fatigue adheres to well-defined mechanical principles, like repeatedly bending a paperclip weakens it until it finally breaks. This discovery, published on Friday in the journal Science, provides a quantitative framework for predicting battery life cycles and opens new pathways for designing longer-lasting energy storage systems. "The work recognizes the importance of fatigue in the performance of lithium metal anodes in solid-state batteries," noted Jagjit Nanda and Sergiy Kalnaus, two U.S. battery scientists, in a perspective on the research. BATTERY REVOLUTION This research underscores China's sustained R&D investments in electrochemistry in recent years. These breakthroughs are now fueling China's industrial edge and setting the stage for the country to repeat its success in the upcoming revolution in battery technology. Solid-state batteries, using solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones, achieve much higher energy density (up to 500 Wh/kg) than traditional liquid lithium-ion batteries (200-300 Wh/kg). This provides more energy in the same volume and reduces battery size. They also feature better thermal stability, non-flammability, and no risk of liquid leakage, significantly lowering the risk of self-ignition and explosion. Ouyang Minggao, an expert on new energy power systems and a professor at Tsinghua University, predicted that reaching an energy density of 500 Wh/kg will depend on critical advancements in materials science, with 2027 poised to be a pivotal year for breakthrough innovations. Chinese battery giants CATL and BYD have set 2027 as their target for small-scale production of solid-state batteries. Scientific teams are intensifying their collaboration with frontline battery companies to accelerate the commercialization of technologies. The Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has signed a cooperation agreement with BYD, focusing on cutting-edge areas such as solid-state batteries. Sun Huajun, CTO of BYD's battery division, predicted that solid-state batteries would achieve a large-scale application around 2030. China's edge in mass-producing all-solid-state batteries lies in its vast industry and market scales. "With the most complete industrial chain, the largest market, and the most researchers, we are highly confident in China's approach and roadmap for this technology," said Zu Sijie, vice president of SAIC Motor. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 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 Brexit costs and red tape are denying British cancer patients life-saving drugs and trials of revolutionary treatments, a damning new report has warned. Soaring numbers are being diagnosed with cancer as the population grows alongside improvements in diagnosis and public awareness, heightening the importance of global cooperation on new treatments. But, five years after Britain left the European Union, an in-depth analysis has concluded that Britons with cancer have lost out due to rising costs and post-Brexit red tape. By contrast, patients across Europe are enjoying a golden age of pioneering research and new treatments, it found. open image in gallery Brexit red tape is denying British cancer patients life-saving drugs ( Julien Behal/PA Wire ) The leaked report, revealed by The Guardian, warned Brexit has damaged the practical ability of doctors to offer NHS patients life-saving new drugs via international clinical trials. It found instances where the cost of importing new cancer drugs had nearly quadrupled due to post-Brexit red tape, while some trials have seen shipping costs jump 10 times since Britain pulled out of the EU. Extra rules and costs are having a significant negative impact on cancer research in the UK and creating new barriers that are holding back life-saving research for Britons, the report found. The Independent has previously revealed how post-Brexit red tape has led to severe delays in drug supplies, increasing the risk facing NHS patients. Vital antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs are among those that have seen their supplies hit, with the NHS forced to pay over the odds to get them into Britain. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer is seeking a reset of relations with the EU ( PA Wire ) The new report was compiled by experts from organisations including Cancer Research UK, the University of Southampton, and Hatch, a research consultancy and cites evidence from leading scientists, researchers and clinicians. It cites three areas of UK cancer research that have been hardest hit by Brexit; the regulatory environment for clinical trials, workforce mobility and access to funding. Dr Martin McKee, a professor of European Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told The Guardian: Those of us who understood the EU warned repeatedly about precisely these concerns. These findings are not just predictable, they were predicted. It was always inevitable that Brexit would lead to costly duplication and barriers to collaboration. The report comes amid Sir Keir Starmers post-Brexit with Brussels, after years of tense negotiations under the Conservatives. Ministers have promised to strengthen the UKs relationship with the EU on research as part of the prime ministers bid to rebuild ties with the bloc. A government spokesman said: We are strengthening our relationship with the EU on research and have been providing extensive support for researchers to help them secure funding from the 80bn Horizon Europe programme and get more vital treatments from the lab to patients. Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice By-elections are always tough for a sitting government. Voters use them to take out their frustrations on politicians who havent delivered what they promised, without the risk of their vote having national consequences. Opposition parties can promise the world, knowing that later down the line if they dont deliver, they can blame it on a lack of funding from the party in power. While many see the upcoming Runcorn by-election as Sir Keir Starmers first major test in government, hes not the only politician with a point to prove. Nigel Farage is attempting to persuade voters that Reform UK is a credible electoral force. The party has grown in popularity in the past year but it has also lurched from scandal to scandal. From last months explosive row with MP Rupert Lowe that saw him ousted over allegations he harassed female staff, to the partys failure to properly vet its candidates at last years general election, it has been far from plain sailing. But in selecting Sarah Pochin, Reforms candidate for Runcorn and Helsby, Mr Farage is attempting to draw a line under the past. Nigel Farage with Sarah Pochin, Reform UKs candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election (PA) ( PA Wire ) Unlike Labours candidate, Karen Shore, who appears to be a safe-bet Starmer loyalist, Reform have taken more of a risk with Ms Pochin. A self-professed clean candidate, she represents Mr Farages attempt to rebrand and sanitise the party. Seeming to be the antithesis of the outspoken Lee Anderson dubbed 30p Lee for claiming low-income families they could cook meals for 30p when he was a Tory MP or James McMurdock, who was locked up as a teenager for repeatedly kicking his ex-girlfriend, Ms Pochin is warm, likeable and, in what makes a change for Reforms current MP lineup, female. With freshly blow-dried hair, she tells The Independent about how, when time permits, she likes to take an hour out in the morning to do pilates to unwind. On most topics, she is slick and selective with her language, careful not to say anything that could cause controversy. A far cry from many of the candidates Reform put up at the general election. But when pressed on the issues that are fundamental to Reform UK, there is little separating Ms Pochin from the partys other MPs. While she was previously pictured at a Refugees Welcome event, she is quick to clarify that this courtesy only extends to certain asylum seekers. Those who have crossed the channel, she suggests, are all illegal economic migrants. There is no acknowledgment that many of those people have been forced into impossible choices by circumstances beyond their control. When were on this topic, she is less cautious, using dog whistle language to warn that illegal migrants are flooding our country. Asked by The Independent if she sees there to be a difference between someone coming to the UK on the Ukraine refugee scheme, and someone crossing the channel who has fled war in the Middle East, she doesnt hesitate. For a start, they could stop in France, or they could have stopped in any other country in Europe before that, she says. Why should we have someone whos come in illegally? Being a refugee is one thing, but these people are purposely coming to Britain. Why are they coming into Britain? Because of our welfare state. They know that when they arrive here, they get a house, they get money, you know, they get food. And then, a lot of them, are probably disappearing, Ms Pochin continues. These people, she claims, represent an entirely different scenario to those fleeing the Ukraine war. Strikingly, though, Ms Pochin only addressed the issue of migration when asked. Had I not brought it up, Im unsure if we would have discussed it at all. Instead, she is laser-focused on local issues. A new leisure centre. A new cinema. She also drops in the price of the toll road that takes constituents from Runcorn town centre to Widnes, an intentional indication that she is aware of the day-to-day issues facing her prospective constituents. Mr Farages attempt to persuade people that Reform is more than a one-issue party has begun. But in order for him to truly persuade voters that he has cleaned up his party, he and his candidates must walk the walk. The publics ability to take them seriously as an electoral proposition hinges upon their ability to be a respectable option rather than just saying they are. So far in the local election campaign, one candidate was found to have called for the hanging of Sir Chris Whitty and defended a golli*** toy she owned as very cute, while another was accused of racism after taking to social media to accuse black drivers of tailgating on the M1. While Sarah Pochin is yet to have found herself in hot water of that magnitude, she hasnt avoided controversy entirely. Last week, it was revealed that she was previously reprimanded for using her status as a magistrate to influence colleagues. She also historically expressed support for means-testing the winter fuel payment, a position which is at odds with Mr Farage and Reforms fervent opposition to Labours decision to withdraw it from millions of pensioners. While neither of these difficulties have been enough to significantly damage her campaign, it speaks volumes that even Reforms cleanest candidate has failed to avoid controversy entirely. When it comes to the local elections, it is clear Mr Farages attempt to rebrand the party has failed. Whether Sarah Pochin will be able to persuade voters what she offers is truly different, remains to be seen. 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 MPs and peers are campaigning to block Donald Trump from addressing parliament during his state visit to the UK, warning the US president does not respect democracy. The US president has suggested Buckingham Palace is setting a date for September for him to stay in Britain. However, some parliamentarians have voiced concerns that it would be inappropriate for him to speak in the Palace of Westminster as his predecessors Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton did. open image in gallery Some parliamentarians are reportedly lobbying to prevent the US president addressing parliament (Niall Carson/PA) ( PA Wire ) First reported in The Times, Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, who was a minister in Sir Tony Blairs government, wrote to Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, warning it would be inappropriate for the US president to address both houses of Parliament because of his attitude towards and comments about the UK, parliamentary democracy, the NATO Alliance and Ukraine. I have written to the Lord Speaker urging him not to agree that Trump should address parliament as previous presidents have done, because he does not respect democracy, the courts or the rule of law and he does not condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as all parties at Westminster do, Lord Foulkes told The Independent. Meanwhile, Labour MP Kate Osborne asked Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to follow his predecessor John Bercow in blocking an address from Mr Trump. In a letter to Sir Lindsay, she said: I am asking you as the Speaker to agree it would be inappropriate and mirror the previous Speakers recommendation. It is of course up to our government to decide if they use the state visit to engage with Trump on a wide range of issues as above but that does not translate to giving him the honour of addressing the UK parliament, the decision of which I believe should reside with you. The risk of low attendance could also have negative or unintended consequences, she wrote. Labour MPs and ministers have generally avoided openly criticising Mr Trump as the UK government attempts to secure a trade deal with the US to dodge sweeping tariffs imposed on countries across the world. However, according to The Times, several MPs are now making representations to Sir Lindsay to block the US president from speaking in the Commons. One Labour MP reportedly said: Parliament has nothing to learn from a serial liar, cheat, womaniser and bankrupt. We dont need Trump to lecture and dictate his unilateral terms to our elected representatives. open image in gallery Labour MP Kate Osborne (Jessica Taylor/PA) ( PA Media ) If Trumps serious about engaging with the UK in good faith, he should start by removing his foolish tariffs, which will only punish both US and UK consumers. More than 70 Labour MPs backed efforts to block Mr Trump from addressing parliament during his first term in office, with an early day motion being signed by parliamentarians who are now in Sir Keir Starmers cabinet - including health secretary Wes Streeting, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds. When Sir Keir met with Mr Trump in February, the prime minister handed the president what he described at the time as a truly historic personal invitation from the King for a second state visit. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office last week, Mr Trump said: Theyre going to do a second, as you know, a second fest thats what it is: a fest, and its beautiful, and its the first time its ever happened to one person. And the reason is we have two separate terms, and its an honour Im 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. A spokesperson for the Lord Speaker said: Should a request be made to address the Houses of Parliament, it will be considered in the usual way. Downing Street and Sir Lindsay have been contacted 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 Several universities have agreed to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on undocumented immigrants, sparking fear among students who rely on visas. Under the agreement, local law enforcement, including campus officers, can interrogate students about their immigration status, arrest or detain them and share immigration status information with ICE. At least a dozen Florida colleges and universities alone have signed agreements with ICE under the 287(g) program, which allows local and state law enforcement agencies to enforce some aspects of federal immigration law. Its scary and nerve-racking, an undergraduate student at Florida International University in Miami told NBC News. Several universities have agreed to corporate with ICE to quiz students about their immigration status. ( REUTERS ) Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida are just some of the schools that have signed 287(g) agreements with the administration That comes after Governor Ron DeSantis issued an additional memorandum directing Florida law enforcement agencies to enter into the agreement with ICE. Other schools could enter into the 287(g) agreements with ICE, especially under threats of having federal funding revoked. The new partnerships arrive as immigration law enforcement officers have targeted students with temporary visas who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests or have minor infractions on their records. I could be next, a Georgetown University student with a visa, who has written articles about Israel and Gaza, told the BBC. The strict and quick implementation of the policy has rattled students who rely on their visa to stay in the U.S. for school. At least 600 students have had their visas revoked thus far, the Associated Press estimates. One University of Alabama doctoral student, who is also an Iranian citizen, was detained by ICE in March. When questioned about the reason for it, the Department of Homeland Security said he posed significant national security concerns. A graduate student at the University of Michigan had his visa revoked in March because he had a 2023 drunk driving infraction on his record. One student in Texas told the BBC he was afraid to leave his apartment, even to buy law groceries. 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 city is considering arresting unhoused people who refuse their offer of shelter. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan made the admission last month. Just 48 miles south of San Francisco, where officials are also struggling with how to solve homelessness, Mahan is aiming to fit the proposal into a pending budget plan that would allocate funding for shelter and temporary housing, per KQED. If enacted, unhoused residents would first be issued a citation or warning. Theyd only be subject to arrest if they decline shelter three times. The city of nearly a million operates tiny homes, converted motels and parking lots as part of its 1,000 shelter spaces. Constructing temporary housing has been a hallmark of the mayors agenda. City staff have faced challenges when trying to encourage unhoused people to take beds in a new 204-unit interim housing site that opened in February. People currently living outside near a housing site can accept spots before the building opens. open image in gallery Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors workers, assisted by police, conduct a cleanup operation to remove homeless encampments at the Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles, in 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) If someone is refusing a brand new apartment with an en-suite bathroom and a kitchenette, as is the case at Branham and Monterey where we just saw roughly one-third of people encamped in the area say no we are probably beyond the point where the city has the tools to help that person, Mahan opined, according to the radio station. Roughly 5,477 people are living in San Jose without shelter. Out of those, about 541 people have resisted help. The majority of the people rejecting help might be dealing with chronic homelessness or behavioral health issues and addiction, Mahan wrote in a Medium article. He noted the city would only consider imposing trespassing laws as a last resort to get someone off the streets. Trespassing violations are subject to behavioral health court. Once in court, a judge will listen to health care professionals and decide whether mandated treatment is warranted, wrote Mahan. Individuals charged with trespassing will not spend time in jail. Our best case scenario is diversion to mental health or drug court and the worst case scenario is that the person is simply released back onto the street where we can only hope that this brief interaction with law enforcement might increase their willingness to seek a change in their lives by accepting shelter, the mayor continued. He said the city has listened to the homeless community about ongoing issues with shelters and emphasized most of the housing on offer looks like market-rate housing or college dorms. He expects hundreds more of the units will be built this year. open image in gallery Photos of temporary housing being offered by San Jose ( Medium/Matt Mahan ) People are allowed to bring their partner, pets and belongings with them to the sites. Individuals will not be kicked out on a predetermined timeline. Some might spend a couple of months in transitional housing before moving to something permanent, while others might take years. In no way do I judge people who are suffering from addiction or other forms of mental illness, he wrote. But I do believe we have a collective responsibility to bring them indoors and give them a chance to detox, medicate, reconnect with loved ones or otherwise accept the help they need to achieve greater health and independence and have less impact on the broader community. Otherwise, we are leaving our most vulnerable to continue deteriorating on our streets with no plan in place to help them. The only expectation, Mahan says, is coming indoors to stop the continuous fires, trash and other impacts of long-term encampments that harm our collective safety and quality of life. He added: If someone doesnt agree with these expectations, they are free to find another city that refuses to intervene and help people when their behavior is harming their own health and the safety of the community. Because in San Jose, our community is unwilling to allow indefinite public camping when housing is available. 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 Two globetrotting German teenagers had their travel plans upended when they were denied entry to the U.S. and detained by border officers who called their trip suspicious, according to a report. Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepere, 18, from Rostockabout 140 miles north of Berlinhad already visited New Zealand and Thailand as part of their around-the-world trip after graduating from high school. Upon arriving in Honolulu on March 18 with hopes of island-hopping Hawaiis islands, the teens were allegedly denied entry into the U.S. despite holding the required Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), according to German newspaper Ostsee Zeitung. Pohl and Lepere were interrogated in Honolulu International Airport for hours and allegedly subjected to body scans and strip searches before, finally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents denied them entry to the country and said they would be deported, according to the outlet. It was all like a fever dream, Lepere said. We had already noticed a little bit of what was going on in the U.S. But at the time, we didn't think it was happening to Germans. That was perhaps very naive. We felt so small and powerless. Officials became suspicious of potential illegal work intentions after learning the teens had not booked accommodation for their entire five-week stay in Hawaii, according to Beat of Hawaii. They found it suspicious that we hadn't fully booked our accommodations for the entire five weeks in Hawaii, Pohl said. We wanted to travel spontaneously. Just like we had done in Thailand and New Zealand. Pohl and Lepere say they were handcuffed and given green prison uniforms. An aerial view of the Maui coast, the two German tourists say they were handcuffed and forced to wear prison uniforms ( Getty Images ) The women said they were placed in a holding cell beside some other detainees who were accused of serious crimes. The teens alleged they spent the night on moldy mattresses in a freezing double cell. On March 19, the young travelers were allegedly taken back to Honolulu International Airport in handcuffs, where they requested to be sent to Tokyo, Japan. Three days after their arrest, they returned to Rostock via Tokyo, Qatar, and Frankfurt am Main, according to Ostsee Zeitung. The German Foreign Office told the outlet it was involved in Pohl and Leperes case and provided consular support following their experience. The office reminded travelers that ESTA approval does not guarantee entry to the U.S. a decision left to border officials at the point of arrival. Germany updated its travel advisory to the U.S. last month, following some visitors turbulent experiences in the country amid Donald Trumps border crackdown. It emphasized that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry to the country after several German nationals had recently been detained at the border. In total, Western European visitors experienced a 12 percent drop-off in March, one of the largest on record outside of the pandemic, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. There was a significant decline in German visitors to the U.S. last month, with a decrease of more than 28 percent compared to the same period last year. The Independent has contacted the CBP and German Foreign Office for more information. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration is reportedly planning to revoke an additional $1 billion in federal funding from Harvard University, putting more pressure on the school to comply with the White Houses demands. Officials, including President Donald Trump, have grown frustrated with the Ivy League school for publicly pushing back on the administrations requests, already freezing $2 billion in federal funding and threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status. But they could further escalate tensions by freezing or revoking an additional $1 billion that the government provides through health research contracts, the Wall Street Journal reported. Its a response from officials who have become furious with the school for publishing the letter of demands, which they believed were a confidential starting point for negotiations, according to the report. open image in gallery In the latest battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration, White House officials are reportedly planning to claw back another $1 billion in federal funding ( Getty Images ) Although Harvard has the largest endowment of any U.S. college, it receives most of its research funding from the government. The Independent has asked the White House for comment. The battle between the administration and the school is the latest in Trumps efforts to force higher education institutions to align with his policies, which include combating antisemitism on campuses and cooperating with federal immigration law enforcement officials. In a letter that administration officials sent to the university, the White House requested the school claw back the authority of students and faculty, cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security, get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion policies and more. It was a dramatic escalation after the administration simply said it was reviewing the approximately $9 billion in funding the government provides. open image in gallery Protesters have pushed back against the administrations attempts to exert more control over some of the top universities in the United States ( EPA ) Harvard responded by publishing the letter and said the Trump teams demands went beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration. It further ignited a heated public debate in which the Trump administration received blowback for trying to exert control over the school. But it also ended what were thought to be the beginning stages of talks between the school and the government. Some administration officials told the New York Times that the letter was sent without authorization. Now, its unclear if Harvard and the government can return back to talks and reach a an agreement to secure crucial federal funding while adopting some of the Trump administrations policies. 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 Joe Rogan and his guest Tim Dillon mocked The Spectators associate editor Douglas Murray for war tourism on a recent episode of his podcast. Hopefully they do this, this peace in the Middle East, hopefully, comedian Tim Dillon segued for a discussion on the Israel-Gaza war. Hopefully, they figure it out because it is unfortunate, he continues. Yeah, its f***ing crazy, Rogan says. The human toll is unreal, you know its crazy, Dillon says while maintaining a serious tone. The American comedian then digresses to refer to a spat that unfolded between Rogan, his close friend Dave Smith, and Murray. There is an argument to be made that that level of devastation and death is worse than you talking to someone on your podcast, Dillon says deadpan. Allegedly, Rogan chimes back. There is an argument to be made. Its probably not a good one, the comedian says. The amount of damage you can do with just talking, Rogan admits while speaking over Dillon. open image in gallery American comedian Tim Dillon appeared on Rogan's podcast show over the weekend, engaging with the right-wing podcaster to mock Douglas Murray over his comments a week before ( The Joe Rogan Experience/Spotify ) There is an argument to be made that starvation and stuff like that, people dying, is worse than a podcast. I wouldnt make it, Dillon goes on to state, before erupting into laughter. Rogan then fires a quick jibe at British pundit Murray. Have you BEEN there? Rogan mocks, Have you even, you havent even BEEN? he stabs at his previous guest, Murray. open image in gallery Douglas Murray, a conservative British pundit, slated Joe Rogan and Dave Smith for not having been to the Israel-Gaza conflict, despite talking about it for over a year and a half ( PowerfulJRE / YouTube ) Dillon then proceeds to mock the British journalist for war tourism by asking, Can you just go to wars? Its very interesting, this war tourism. How do I get on this war tourism? Dillon goads. Murrays position, when he appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, was that in order to have an opinion about a country you should visit it. Have you been to the crossing points? Murray was heard asking Smith while discussing the Middle Eastern conflict on an episode aired on April 10. No. I have never been, Smith says. Murray, a neoconservative commentator who has recently published a book on the ramifications of the Israeli-Palestinian war, went on to berate Smith. open image in gallery Have you BEEN there? Rogan says mockingly in response to the Murray-Smith spat ( The Joe Rogan Experience/Spotify ) Youve never been! Murray said. Smith fired back: Am I not allowed to talk about it now? Have you ever been to Nazi Germany? Are you allowed to have feelings about them? If youre going to spend a year and a half talking about a place, then you should at least do the courtesy of visiting it. Murray chastised the pair by stating that it was a good idea to see stuff, particularly if you spend an entire career talking about something. He then concludes by saying that he will not talk about a country even impartially unless hes visited it himself. Murray has since written a scathing op-ed in The New York Post, fuming over Rogans guests being almost entirely anti-Ukraine and anti-Israel," and attacked the hosts for spreading misinformation about the two conflicts. Many [guests on the show] are also people who are simply in no way experts at what they are talking about, Murray wrote Thursday. The Independent contacted Murray, Rogan, and Dillon for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A group of House Democrats were denied a visit Monday with Kilmar Abrego Garcia during their trip to El Salvador to advocate for his release. The wrongfully deported Maryland father and Salvadoran immigrant remains imprisoned in his home country after he was moved out of the brutal Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, earlier this month. The trip to El Salvador by four House Democrats including Yassamin Ansari, Maxine Dexter, Maxwell Frost and Robert Garcia follows Senator Chris Van Hollens trip last week, when he met with Abrego Garcia for roughly one hour at a hotel before returning to the United States. open image in gallery Democratic Representatives Maxine Dexter and Robert Garcia speak at a press conference about their attempts to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Monday ( REUTERS ) Van Hollens brief meeting followed several unsuccessful attempts to speak with Abrego Garcia last week. Frost told reporters Monday that the group of Democrats Monday were denied a similar meeting, and have absolutely zero indication that Donald Trumps administration is going to facilitate or wants to facilitate Abrego Garcias release, despite orders from the Supreme Court and federal appellate and district judges to do just that. This isnt just about him, Frost said. The Constitution applies to all people in our country. Due process applies to all people in our country. Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador as a teenager in 2011 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. Images and descriptions of Van Hollens meeting with Abrego Garcia were the first accounts of his wellbeing since he was removed from the United States on March 15. He has spent more than a month inside El Salvador jails despite a court order from an immigration judge in 2019 that prevents his removal from the country for humanitarian reasons. Administration officials have sought to justify his detention following his removal they admitted was due to an administrative error by publicly raising allegations of criminality, including membership in MS-13 and involvement in human trafficking. Critics have argued that the administration should return him to the United States and raise those claims in court to support his removal rather than deny him due process by summarily deporting him. Frost said Democrats who traveled to El Salvador are receiving hundreds and hundreds of calls from their constituents, which include large immigrant communities, to do something. After Van Hollen learned during his visit that Abrego Garcia was moved out of CECOT, the Trump administration wrote in court filings that he is now jailed in Centro Industrial in Santa Ana, where he has a room of his own with a bed and furniture and is not in a cell. We want to know where is he at now, what is his condition now, his family wants to know, the people want to know, Frost said. People should know were not the first here and were not the last members of Congress to be here in El Salvador Were going to fight like hell. open image in gallery Senator Chris Van Hollen briefly met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia during a trip to El Salvador last week after Salvadoran officials repeatedly denied a chance to speak with him ( Senator Chris Van Hollen ) Republican-led House committee chairs denied requests from Democrats to use official committee funds to send a congressional delegation to El Salvador. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer called the request absurd, and Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green said it would waste taxpayer dollars. If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money. But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested, Comer wrote. Democrats on the trip subsequently paid for travel using their own funds, they said. Several House Republicans, however, have recently visited El Salvador, including inside CECOT, condemned by human rights groups as a tropical gulag and concentration camp. A statement from Abrego Garcias family on Monday said they remain particularly concerned about Kilmar's health and hope to receive news about that from the visit. Their presence sends a powerful message: the fight to bring Kilmar home isnt over, they wrote. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court unanimously ordered the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador, noting that officials agreed sending him there was illegal. Last week, a three-judge federal appeals court panel in Washington, D.C., 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. Facilitate is an active verb, Ronald Reagan-appointed appellate judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote. 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 Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported that her handbag was stolen over the weekend, including her personal security badge for DHS facilities. Noem, in charge of a federal agency that oversees Americas border security as well as other sensitive matters including counterterrorism efforts, also lost her apartment keys, more than $3,000 in cash, and a number of blank checks to the thief, according to CNN. A number of less-expensive other personal items were also in the bag at at the time, the network reported Monday. Her drivers license and passport were stolen as well. According to CNN, an unknown white male was seen taking the bag. Secret Service agents are investigating the incident by reviewing security footage from the downtown Washington D.C. restaurant where Noem dined Sunday evening. It wasnt immediately clear if Noem was at the table at the time the bag was snatched. Noem joined the Department of Homeland Security this year after once being considered as a potential running mate for the president in 2024. She formerly served as the governor of South Dakota. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported her handbag stolen over the weekend ( EPA ) The secretary confirmed the investigation was ongoing on Monday, speaking to CNN on the sidelines of the White House Easter Egg Roll. "We can confirm this [the handbag] was stolen. Her entire family was in town including her children and grandchildren she was using the cash withdrawal to treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts, a DHS official told The Independent on Monday afternoon. She was most recently in the headlines in March after a controversial visit to El Salvadors notorious CECOT mega-prison facility, where the US has sent more than 200 Venezuelan migrants since the beginning of the second Trump administration. At the facility, Noem filmed a video message with dozens of shirtless, bald male prisoners providing a bizarre backdrop. Noem also ruffled feathers among more senior employees at the agency shortly after coming to the job in January when she posted on social media about an ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in a manner that some officials thought could jeopardize its effectiveness, the Wall Street Journal reported. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted during a Fox News appearance Monday morning that the Trump administration didnt make a mistake when they deported Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Both the Department of Justice and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador due to an administrative error. However, Leavitt pushed back on that notion on Monday, saying, We did not make a mistake. We have always maintained this was an individual who needed to be deported from our country. The president swore to the American public he was going to deport illegal criminals, and especially those who have been involved in violent gangs like MS-13 that have terrorized American communities, she added. Abrego Garcia, who was born in El Salvador, was deported and imprisoned at a megaprison last month. Administration officials said in a court filing that the deportation was due to an administrative error. Abrego Garcia had been granted protected status in the U.S. This meant that a judge could order that he be deported, but the U.S. could not send him to El Salvador because of safety concerns. open image in gallery White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the White House did not make a mistake in deporting a man living in Maryland ( EPA ) The attorney at the Department of Justice who acknowledged the error was subsequently let go. Last week, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller said, The only mistake that was made is a lawyer put an incorrect line in a legal filing that since has been relieved of duty. However, ICE has also stated that the deportation was an error. The case gained new attention following the visit to El Salvador by Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who met with Abrego Garcia, who said he had been moved out of the megaprison to a different facility. Leavitt has said on numerous occasions that Abrego Garcia will not be coming back to the U.S., even as Democratic lawmakers have called for his return and court orders have stated that he must be brought back, including by the Supreme Court which orderd the White House to facilitate his return. Leavitt has claimed that Abrego Garcia was part of MS-13 despite little evidence to back it up. To the Democrat Party who thinks they are going to bring this foreign terrorist back to the United States of America to live a peaceful and happy life, that is never going to happen, she told Fox News. open image in gallery Sen. Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. Leavitt has said on multiple occasions that the Maryland resident wont be coming back to the U.S. ( Chris Van Hollen ) Leavitt called Abrego Garcia an illegal alien and a foreign terrorist, adding that hes a criminal MS-13 gang member who violated our countrys laws by coming here in the first place. She also called out Van Hollen and entire Democrat party who wasted Easter Sunday going on every television show in the country to advocate for the return of an illegal criminal gang member. There is a litany of evidence proving this individuals ties to MS-13, that has been confirmed in two different courts, she claimed. There have been multiple law enforcement officers who have affirmed his MS-13 affiliation and that is who the Democratic Party is advocating for. It is ridiculous. Four House Democrats, Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida, and Robert Garcia of California traveled to El Salvador on Sunday to advocate for Abrego Garcia. To see the Trump administration so blatantly and egregiously defy the Supreme Court and have no regard for due process is extremely alarming to me, Ansari told the Associated Press. Even with all of the illegal actions weve seen over the last couple of months, I think this is the one that terrifies me the most when it comes to the future of our democracy. 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 prince lassos a dragon, saving a knight in shining armor from certain death. But the prince slips and as he falls, the knight and his steed race to return the favor. Then the two men fall in love. That story, Prince and Knight, is one of five children's books featuring LGBTQ characters and aimed at kindergarten through the fifth grade that have roiled a diverse suburban Maryland school district and led to a Supreme Court case that the justices will hear on Tuesday. Parents in Montgomery County who object for religious reasons want to pull their children from elementary school classes that use the books. The county school system has refused and lower courts have so far agreed. But the outcome could be different at a high court dominated by conservative justices who have repeatedly endorsed claims of religious discrimination in recent years. open image in gallery The Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The parents argue that public schools cannot force kids to participate in instruction that violates their faith. They point to opt-out provisions in sex education and note that the district originally allowed parents to pull their children when the storybooks were being taught before abruptly reversing course. Its labeled as a language arts, you know, reading and writing program, but the content of the material is very sexual, said Billy Moges, a board member of the parents group Kids First that formed in response to the addition of the books to the curriculum. It is teaching human sexuality and is confusing kids, and parents are not comfortable having their children exposed to these things at such an early age. Dozens of parents testified at school board hearings about their religious obligations to keep their impressionable young children from lessons on gender and sexuality that conflicted with their beliefs. Moges said she pulled her three daughters, now 10, 8 and 6, from their public schools as a result. They were initially homeschooled and now attend a private Christian school, she said. The school system declined to comment, citing the ongoing lawsuit. But in court papers, lawyers for the schools wrote that the handful of storybooks are not sex-education materials but "rather tell everyday tales of characters who experience adventure, confront new emotions, and struggle to make themselves heard. The books touch on the same themes found in classic stories that include Snow White, Cinderella and Peter Pan, the lawyers wrote. In Uncle Bobbys Wedding, a niece worries that her uncle will not have as much time for her after he gets married. His partner is a man. Love, Violet deals with a girl's anxiety about giving a valentine to another girl. Born Ready is the story of a transgender boys decision to share his gender identity with his family and the world. Intersection Allies describes nine characters of varying backgrounds, including one who is gender-fluid. The books were chosen in order to better represent all Montgomery County families" and teachers may not use them "to pressure students to change or to change or disavow religious views, the schools' lawyers said. The school system abandoned the option of letting parents take their kids out of the lessons because doing so became unworkably disruptive, the lawyers told the court. The writers' group Pen America, which reported more than 10,000 books banned in the last school year, said in a court filing what the parents want is "a constitutionally suspect book ban by another name. The difficulty of providing alternative lessons for some children anytime the books are used probably would force the county to pull the books from the curriculum, said Tasslyn Magnusson, senior adviser with the Freedom to Read program at PEN America. I really hope people read these books. Theyre just lovely examples of experiences that kids have in school and they're perfectly fine storybooks to have as part of an educational curriculum, Magnusson said. One book that was originally part of the curriculum and then pulled for unexplained reasons is My Rainbow, co-written by Delaware state Rep. DeShanna Neal and daughter Trinity. The story tells of Trinity's desire for long hair as a transgender girl and her mother's solution, knitting a rainbow wig. Neal has grown used to having the book taken out of circulation at libraries, including in Florida, Ohio and Texas. School is a place to learn about why the world is different and how its different, Neal said. "What I had hoped would come out of this book was, listen to your children. They know their own bodies." 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 JD Vance issued a touching tribute following Pope Francis death, a day after they met to exchange Easter greetings as part of the vice presidents international diplomatic mission on behalf of the Trump administration. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance wrote in a statement on X early Monday. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul, he concluded. Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the popes death on Monday at the age of 88. open image in gallery JD Vance has spoken out just hours after reports emerged of Pope Francis' death ( VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Imag ) Francis had been hospitalized for weeks battling a complex lung infection, which led to early stages of kidney insufficiency. He spent 38 days at Gemelli hospital for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Farrell said. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. open image in gallery Pope Francis meeting with US Vice President JD Vance in the Vatican on Easter Sunday ( VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Imag ) Vance, a Catholic who has clashed with the pontiff over the Trump administration's immigration policies, met with Francis at the Domus Santa Marta for a few minutes to exchange Easter greetings on Sunday, the Vatican said. The pope offered the vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. I know you have not been feeling great but its good to see you in better health, Vance said to the pontiff in his wheelchair. Thank you for seeing me. Grasping the popes right hand, Vance said: Pray for you every day. God bless you. After the encounter, Francis was wheeled out to the Loggia of Blessings overlooking St. Peters Square to bless thousands of people and treat them to a surprise Popemobile tour of the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause. open image in gallery Pope Francis (left) and Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli photographed in St. Peter's Basilica in December ( AP ) Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of apostolic ceremonies, read aloud Francis Easter Speech, in stark contrast with the Trump administrations worldview. How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants, Ravelli said without explicitly mentioning a country or person. He urged political leaders to not to yield to the logic of fear but to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development. The White House also shared its condolences, posting a photograph of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump beside Francis in 2017 and a photograph of Vance and the pontiff shaking hands at their meeting Sunday. Rest in Peace, Pope Francis, it wrote on X Monday. Rest in Peace Pope Francis!, Trump reiterated on his Truth Social platform. May God Bless him and all who loved him! Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his condolences on X, writing: We unite in prayer with Catholics worldwide for the repose of the pontiff's soul and for this period of transition for the Catholic Church. May He rest in peace. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared her deepest condolences and prayers to Catholics around the world. Former President Joe Biden tweeted that Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump paid tribute to Pope Francis in a post on Truth Social as news of the pontiffs death emerged. The late pope, who was born in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, previously condemned the U.S. Presidents stance on immigration during his first term in office in 2016. Trump released a statement on the pope's death, hours after the Vatican declared the news. Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! he wrote on his social media platform. Later, Trump confirmed in a separate post that flags would be flown at half-mast in honor. I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment, the president wrote in part. He added that his order extended to U.S. embassies worldwide. open image in gallery Trump made an official visit to the Vatican in May 2017, a year after he attacked Pope Francis for condemning his immigration policies ( Reuters ) Vice President JD Vance, who had briefly met with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, was the first to issue a statement. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance wrote on X early Monday from India, where hes on a diplomatic mission alongside his wife, Usha. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul, he added. The vice president had been in Europe visiting the pope just hours before at the Domus Santa Marta "to exchange Easter greetings," the Vatican said. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, previously engaged in an "exchange of opinions" with Vatican officials over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Trump, however, had previously been a vocal critic of Pope Francis after the pontiff criticized his decision to build a border wall with Mexico in 2016. At the time, Pope Francis declared that "a person who thinks only about building walls [...] and not of building bridges, is not Christian. Trump had declared his desire to deport nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants from the U.S., and despite identifying as a "proud Christian", he blamed Mexico for the pope's remarks, calling the then-79-year-olds words "disgraceful, according to a Facebook post in February 2016. open image in gallery Pope Francis visited Mexico in 2016, as Trump pledged his commitment to deporting millions of undocumented migrants from the U.S. ( AP ) For a religious leader to question a persons faith is disgraceful. I am proud to be a Christian and as President, I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now, with our current President. No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another mans religion or faith. They are using the Pope as a pawn and they should be ashamed of themselves for doing so, especially when so many lives are involved and when illegal immigration is so rampant, said Trump. Equally, just days after Pope Francis succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, Trump lambasted papal etiquette, writing in March 2013: I dont like seeing the Pope standing at the checkout counter (front desk) of a hotel in order to pay his bill. Its not Pope-like! open image in gallery JD Vance briefly met with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday ( Vatican Media/AFP via Getty ) Francis predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, resigned from the papacy on February 28, 2013, citing age and ill health. He died in December 2022 at the age of 95. However, Trump argued at the time that his resignation was unnecessary, writing: The Pope should not have resigned he should have lived it out. It hurts him, it hurts the church Upon being selected to take the reins, Trump spoke on Pope Francis appointment, writing: Congratulations to my Catholic friends on the selection of Pope Francis I to lead the Catholic Church. People that know him love him! Trump visited the Vatican in March 2017 and said Pope Francis was a humble man, very much like me, which probably explains why I like him so much! The White House posted a short commemorative message on X following the news, captioned Rest in Peace, Pope Francis, moments after JD Vance issued a statement, posting pictures of Trump's 2017 visit along with Vances Sunday. 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 leaked draft of an executive order to reorganize the U.S. Department of State reveals plans to slash entire departments and bureaus dealing with Africa, human rights, womens rights, international religious freedom and climate change while tightening political control over the foreign service and handing more authority to the White House and political appointees. The State Department has denied the documents authenticity, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissing it as a hoax in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The specifics of the draft document, which was obtained and reviewed by The Independent, track closely with Trump administration efforts to undercut the institutional knowledge and authority of nonpartisan civil servants in other parts of the executive branch as well as the administrations push to change the conduct of American foreign relations to a more transactional model that prioritizes self-interest over traditional values-based diplomacy that works through multilateral alliances. It lays out what it calls a disciplined reorganization of the department, which would eliminate a dedicated Bureau of African Affairs in favor of a White House-run Special Envoy Office for African Affairs that would focus on counterterrorism and obtaining access to critical natural resources and would conduct only select bilateral diplomacy on particular temporary matters, while shuttering most of the departments embassies on the African continent. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters amid talks with Russia and Ukraine about a ceasefire agreement. A new report details sweeping changes he has planned at the State Department ( AP ) It would also eliminate the departments Office of Global Womens Issues, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and the Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights, as well as closing down the departments offices and bureaus responsible for public diplomacy and public affairs. It would replace the Office of Foreign Assistance with a new humanitarian affairs bureau to carry out limited functions under the supervision of a Government Efficiency Department, requiring explicit written approval from the president for all positions and duties related to foreign aid. If enacted, the plan would represent the most significant reorganization of the department since it was founded in 1789. It would cement a seismic realignment of Americas foreign policy apparatus from a professionalized foreign service dedicated to advancing democracy, human rights and other traditional American values to a more politically insular and tightly controlled diplomatic cadre, operating with less autonomy and more ideological scrutiny, under tighter control from the White House. The move would also be a significant step towards the reimagining of the foreign aid ecosystem that State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce and others have been promising for months. The agencys press secretary, in repeated instances at daily news briefings, has assured journalists that the U.S.s commitment to foreign aid has not wavered, and is instead being transformed into a more efficient process. By requiring the president to personally sign off on all positions and duties related to Americas foreign aid strategy, the reorganization will implicitly add at least one new layer of red tape to that process a layer controlled by a commander-in-chief who has been publicly dismissive of the utility of soft power. The drastic nature of the proposed reorganization of the State Department comes on the heels of reports that the Trump administration is considering slashing the departments budget by half while shuttering nearly 30 diplomatic missions in places not considered a priority by the White House. The department says it currently employs 11,000 civil servants and boasts a 13,000-member foreign service as well as 45,000 local employees who work at American diplomatic facilities around the world. Pregnant mother with Aids in Uganda fears for the future after USAID cuts According to the draft reorganization plan, those 13,000 foreign service officers and 11,000 civil servants would be offered voluntary buyouts, while new prospective foreign service members would no longer be able to count on an objective examination for entry into the foreign service. Instead, the department will begin using subjective criteria, including evaluations of demonstrated charisma and regional knowledge as well as verbal authenticity and public speaking ability and other criteria such as alignment with the Presidents foreign policy vision, to determine who can become a career U.S. diplomat. News of the draft memo comes as the shuttering of USAID programs is already having a drastic effect across the continent, including in the fight against HIV/Aids. The Trump executive order halting foreign aid programs earlier this year also froze funding for the Emergency Plan for Aids Relief program that is responsible for dispensing lifesaving medication to treat those suffering with the disease. State Department officials would not confirm whether the program funding would be completely reinstated at any point. The Independents own calculations from data show that, if funding is not reinstated and nothing changes, Aids-related deaths will jump by 4 million by the end of the decade reaching the devastating levels of the 1990s and early 2000s. Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew contributed to this report Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice China has warned countries against striking trade deals with the U.S. at its expense to secure relief from President Donald Trumps tariffs, threatening retaliation against those that do. As the trade war between the worlds two largest economies escalates, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce promised to retaliate against any country that reaches an agreement with the U.S. that limits its trade with China. The U.S. tariffs against other countries are economic bullying, the ministry said in a statement attributed to an unnamed spokesperson, translated by the Associated Press. China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of Chinas interests, the Chinese government said Monday. If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner. China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests. The statement came in response to media reports that the Trump administration planned to pressure nations seeking tariff reductions as a negotiating tactic to encourage them to curb trade with China. open image in gallery The Chinese Ministry of Commerce promised to retaliate against any country that reaches an agreement with the U.S. that limits its trade with China ( AFP via Getty Images ) Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot win respect, China warned. For ones own temporary selfish interests, sacrificing the interests of others in exchange for so-called exemptions is like seeking the skin from a tiger. It will ultimately only fail on both ends and harm others without benefiting themselves. The move by China comes after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 percent, prompting Beijing to slap retaliatory duties of 125 percent on American-made goods. The United States has abused tariffs on all trading partners under the banner of so-called equivalence, while also forcing all parties to start so-called reciprocal tariffs negotiations with them, the Chinese ministry statement continued. China has said its open to talks with Washington, but no meetings have been announced. The warning from China comes as Vice President JD Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with both welcoming significant progress in the negotiations for a U.S.-India Bilateral Trade Agreement. They formally announced the finalization of the terms of reference for the negotiations, laying down a roadmap for further discussions about shared economic priorities, according to Vances office. open image in gallery India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets U.S. Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance and their children at his residence in New Delhi ( via REUTERS ) Also on Monday, major retailers met with the president to discuss the impact of broad-based tariffs on their businesses, a White House official told Reuters. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed an earlier Bloomberg report stating that the meeting at the White House will include representatives from Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's and Target. Large U.S. retailers, particularly Walmart and Target, import a significant percentage of their goods from overseas, and the tariffs are expected to increase the cost of consumer goods for Americans in the coming months. Trumps chaotic rollout and pause in the implementation of tariffs on U.S. trading partners have spooked exporters, panicked importers, and stalled shipments, while threatening to drag down the global economy. With reporting from wire services 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 took a break from the high pressure of presidential life to spend some time with the Easter egg crowd on the South Lawn Monday - by coloring with kids and blowing whistles to start races. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, with almost 30,000 eggs on the South Lawn, even as egg prices remain sky-high. This years egg roll included corporate sponsorships, a departure from the previous sponsorship by the American Egg Board. The event has previously been sponsored by the board in part to avoid having corporate sponsors on the White House grounds. Sponsors who paid $200,000 received a custom 30'x30' branded activation as well as four tickets to the WHEER brunch with Melania Trump and a choice of a meet and greet or a tour of the White House, CBS News noted. Sponsorship packages were also made available for $125,000 and $75,000. Several companies, such as Amazon, YouTube and Meta, sponsored a myriad of event stations. Harbinger, an events company, put together a nine-page pamphlet for possible sponsors, offering media and PR exposure. The theme of this years egg roll recognized the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S., with children signing mini versions of the Declaration of Independence and dressing up as the Founding Fathers. open image in gallery President Donald Trump arrived on the Blue Room Balcony alongside the Easter Bunny for the White House Egg Roll, saluting to the national anthem ( AP ) open image in gallery In a rare appearance, First Lady Melania Trump took part in the event, which included corporate sponsorships by YouTube, Amazon and Meta ( AFP via Getty Images ) open image in gallery Trump colored with children during the egg roll, which in years past has been sponsored by the American Egg Board ( Getty Images ) Children with political connections attended the event, as well as the winners of a lottery in all 56 states and territories. Trump said during his initial remarks that as many as 42,000 people were expected at the White House throughout the day. The president noted that he has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor Pope Francis following his passing, saying, He was a good man, he worked hard, and loved the world. Easter is special, and it's one of our favorite days. It's one of our favorite periods of time. We're honoring Jesus Christ, and we're going to honor Jesus Christ very powerfully throughout our lives, said Trump. We're bringing religion back in America. We're bringing a lot of things back, but religion is coming back to America. Trump and the first lady appeared on the South Portico of the White House around 11 a.m. accompanied by the Easter Bunny. The president spoke to reporters and staff before approaching a line of children getting ready to race. Are you ready? One two three! said Trump before blowing a whistle along with the first lady. The president then joined the children at a table to do some coloring. Also in attendance were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy White House Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. open image in gallery The president spoke for a few minutes before joining the easter egg crowd on the South Lawn for the annual tradition, which officially began in 1878 ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery Trump and the first lady blew whistles to start an egg roll race after the presidents speech, during which he said Religion is coming back to America ( AFP via Getty Images ) open image in gallery Children played with soap bubbles on the South Lawn during the event, which was initially held on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in the 1870s ( Getty Images ) open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth watched as children participated in the Easter Egg Roll, which, according to some accounts, dates back to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln ahead of its official start in 1878 ( Getty Images ) open image in gallery Children participated in the egg hunt ahead of Trumps arrival. The planning of the event has traditionally been the task of first ladies, with the egg roll races being introduced by Pat Nixon ( Getty Images ) The White House Easter Egg Roll officially began in 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes opened the South Lawn to children who usually rolled eggs on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. However, some accounts of informal egg-rolling events date back to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, the White House website states. Celebrations on Easter Monday at the U.S. Capitol grew so popular in the 1870s that President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill banning egg-rolling events on the grounds due to landscape concerns. However, in 1878, a group of children approached the gates of the White House in the hope that they would be allowed to play egg-rolling games on the grounds. Hayes let the children in, and the White House event soon became an annual tradition, according to the site. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison added the U.S. Marine Band to the event. open image in gallery Members of the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps performed during the Easter event. The Marine Band was first included during the presidency of Benjamin Harrison in 1889 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Taking part in the event grew so popular that the number of guests had to be restricted, with the Secret Service shutting down a racket in 1939 that involved children attempting to sneak adults into the grounds for a fee. The planning of the event has traditionally been the task of first ladies, with Lou Hoover adding folk dancing while Pat Nixon included the now-traditional egg roll races. Due to the world wars, there were no egg roll events between 1917 and 1920 and between 1943 and 1945. Similarly, food conservation and construction led to the cancellation of the event between 1946 and 1952 before President Dwight Eisenhower brought the event back in 1953. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A nine-year-old boy died after getting trapped between rocks in New South Wales as dangerous surf conditions battered Australias eastern shoreline over the Easter weekend, leading to at least seven deaths. Emergency services were called to South West Rocks on Sunday afternoon but despite efforts by police and Surf Life Saving crews, the boy could not be saved and died at the scene. Its extremely tragic, its the worst drownings weve seen on the Easter long weekend, said Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce, adding that volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards had carried out more than 150 rescues since Good Friday. The series of drownings has coincided with powerful surf generated by Cyclone Tam, which triggered hazardous conditions along the coasts of New South Wales and Victoria. The Australian weather bureau had warned of large waves and strong winds from Thursday through the weekend, with dangerous conditions expected to continue into Monday in some areas. Among the incidents still under investigation are the cases of two missing men, one a 24-year-old swept off rocks by a wave at Little Bay in Sydneys eastern suburbs on Friday, and another, a 41-year-old man who disappeared near San Remo in Victoria. The latter was part of a group of Chinese nationals from Pakenham as three members of the group were knocked into the sea by a wave. One woman was rescued, but the man's wife drowned at the scene. In another incident on Friday morning, a 58-year-old fisherman died after being swept into the water at Wollongong Harbour. On the same day, a man drowned at Mosman, on Sydneys north shore, while another fisher was reported dead near Green Cape, on the NSW south coast. On Sunday, rescue crews were called to Wattamolla in Sydneys Royal National Park, where two men were swept off rocks while fishing. They were winched from the water, but one could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene. Authorities have urged caution during the remainder of the long weekend, with police and safety organisations warning that rock fishing, swimming, and coastal sightseeing remain extremely hazardous. Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as crossing bars by boat and rock fishing, NSW Police said on X. If in doubt, dont go. open image in gallery Visitors watch large waves crash against a rock on Bronte Beach in Sydney ( AFP via Getty Images ) Prime minister Anthony Albanese, speaking from Batemans Bay on Monday, offered condolences to the families affected. Australians love the water, we love the surf. Please, everyone, be careful. Families in particular, be careful of your kids. Royal Life Saving Australia CEO Justin Carr said the tragic toll had occurred during extreme weather when many people were engaging in risky activities, such as venturing onto rocky shelves or standing too close to the edge to photograph large swells. On average, six people drown over the Easter long weekend each year, according to Royal Life Saving data. 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 Australia has rejected as propaganda Moscows assertions that it had no cards to play in a regional military cooperation between Russia and Indonesia. In a pointed letter published by The Jakarta Post, Russias ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, dismissed Australias concerns over reports that Moscow had requested access to a military airbase in Indonesias Papua province. Canberra's national interests cannot extend to the territory of neighbouring sovereign states that pursue active and independent policies, Mr Tolchenov wrote, before concluding with a barbed reference to former US president Donald Trumps remarks to Ukraines leader Volodymyr Zelensky: You have no cards. Mr Tolchenov accused Australian leaders of exploiting the issue for political gain during the countrys federal election campaign, claiming both major parties were heating up the situation and playing the so-called Russian card. He also questioned why Australians would be concerned about military activity more than 1,300km away, and said Australias own alliance with the US including the Aukus security pact and the presence of US submarines and missiles posed a more pressing regional threat. File: Former US defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Australia's Richard Marles and Britain's defence secretary John Healey leave following a joint press conference during the Aukus Defense Ministerial Meeting in London on 26 September 2024 ( AFP via Getty Images ) The controversy follows a report by defence publication Janes last week that Russia had formally requested permission to base military aircraft at Biak, an Indonesian island north of Darwin. While Indonesian officials have rejected the idea of any foreign military base, they have not publicly confirmed whether such a request was made. Russia has also declined to clarify whether it submitted an official proposal. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the Russian letter as authoritarian propaganda and reiterated his strong stance against Moscow. Im anti-Russia, Mr Albanese said during a press conference on Monday. Russia wants propaganda to be promoted by Australians. Of course, they want propaganda, and Russia engages in that. Mr Albanese also avoided directly answering whether his government had received intelligence on a Russian approach to Indonesia, instead insisting he would not assist the spread of Russian messaging. I have no wish to help promote Russias propaganda messages and I would suggest that that is not in Australias national interest either, he said. The governments handling of the issue has been criticised by opposition leader Peter Dutton, who accused Mr Albanese of avoiding scrutiny. The prime minister again has ducked and weaved on this issue today, said Mr Dutton. I just wish this prime minister could be open and honest with the Australian people. The opposition has called for a national security briefing on the matter, claiming ministers have been inconsistent and evasive. Coalition frontbencher David Coleman said Labor was trying to avoid scrutiny and doesnt want to come clean on what it knows. Labor senator Murray Watt added to the confusion on Sunday by saying there was no proposal from Russia to have a base anywhere in Indonesia, comparing opposition concerns to asking for a briefing on the Loch Ness monster. But when pressed to confirm that claim on Monday, he declined to repeat it. Indonesian officials have reiterated there is no basis for the rumour. Defence minister Prabowo Subianto told Australian defence minister Richard Marles that reports of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia were simply not true, reported 9 News. Indonesian defence ministry spokesperson Frega Wenas similarly told Reuters the reports were incorrect. Mr Marles said Australia remains confident in its close security relationship with Indonesia, which is formalised through the Lombok Treaty and the Defence Cooperation Agreement. Australia conducts around 20 joint military exercises with Indonesia each year, and Mr Albanese described the relationship as having never been stronger. Indonesia is a sovereign nation, the prime minister said. So we continue to put our argument about our own case and our own relationship with Indonesia. Indonesia and Russia have historically had relations that are different from Australias. 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 State authorities are facing a backlash over the aerial culling of hundreds of koalas in Victoria, Australia, as animal welfare groups raise concerns about the fate of their orphaned joeys. The cull in Budj Bim National Park of around 700 koalas so far has left many joeys without mothers, animal rights groups say. Activists are now demanding an independent review of the governments handling of the operation. The cull began in early April after bushfires destroyed over 2,000 hectares of habitat, leaving koalas starving, dehydrated and injured. Authorities said euthanasia was necessary to prevent suffering, but their method using marksmen shooting the koalas from helicopters prompted an immediate backlash. Wildlife advocacy groups argued that assessing koala health from the air was unreliable. They were concerned that veterinarians and shooters were making decisions from up to 30 metres away, increasing the risk of healthy koalas, including mothers with joeys, being killed in error. The use of aerial shooting should be treated as a last resort, said Friends of the Earth Melbourne, demanding the cull be paused and independent observers be allowed access to the site. This is the first time that koalas have been killed by shooting from a helicopter in Australia, the organisation said. Aerial culling of koalas is an Australian first and sets a nasty ethical precedent. National parks in Australia routinely shoot large brumbies and deer to manage their populations. This is not common with koalas, however. Friends of Earth Melbourne said the area where the cull was being carried out had been cordoned off as fire-affected, with roads blocked and surveillance systems put in place. No koala rescuers have been allowed into the area, and theres a concern about the fate of joeys whose mothers may have been shot, the advocacy group said. A koala at a zoo in Sydney, Australia, on 6 April 2023 ( Getty ) Animal protection group Koala Alliance echoed concerns about orphaned young joeys that could be left to starve or die of exposure. "If koalas were shot out of trees, this means many joeys would be left to suffer and die. Its despicable. Its cruel," the group said in a statement on Facebook. It said the koalas in the crosshairs likely came from a recently harvested blue gum plantation near the national park. Budj Bim regularly cull and sterilise koalas and they would never let the population get this big. Wildlife campaigners are also urging the Victorian government to immediately pause the harvesting of healthy eucalyptus trees on nearby private plantations, arguing that the remaining koalas need access to food and shelter to survive. The Victorian government has defended the operation. Premier Jacinta Allan has said the environment department carried out wildlife assessments and acted on expert veterinary advice. After an examination of the circumstances, this approach was deemed the way to really recognise the koalas were in a lot of distress, she said. However, calls for an independent review are growing louder. Advocates say third-party observers, including wildlife veterinarians and scientists, should be given access to assess both the conduct and necessity of the cull. The controversy draws attention to the pressures facing koala populations more broadly. Koalas are listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and habitat loss from logging, plantation expansion and increasingly frequent bushfires has pushed populations to the brink. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a transformative figure in the Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. His death, announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, occurred at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT). Francis, whose last appearance was just a day ago when he arrived at St Peters Square to wish "Happy Easter" to thousands of worshippers, was recently discharged from the hospital after five weeks of treatment for an infection. open image in gallery Francis vowed to pursue justice for victims of abuse in the Catholic Church (WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA) ( PA Media ) World leaders around the world have mourned the news of his passing, which now sets in motion the centuries-old process of electing a new Pope. Francis, who served as the Pope for over a decade, was a transformative figure in the Catholic Church, known as much for his progressive reforms as for the controversies they stirred within its ranks. Elected in 2013 as the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit to hold the role, Francis set about reshaping the tone and direction of the Church, often rankling the traditionalist establishment in the process. LGBT+ Inclusion Among the most contentious issues during his tenure was his outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. In 2013, just months into his papacy, he famously responded to a question about gay priests by saying, Who am I to judge? The remark made headlines around the world and signalled a shift in the Churchs tone, even if it did not alter core doctrine. More recently, he approved a landmark policy allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, a move that angered many conservative bishops. His stance received pushback from some Catholic bishops in Africa, Poland and elsewhere who said they will not implement the new Vatican policy, while others downplayed it. The reactions showed how polarising the issue remains and how Francis's decade-long effort to make the church a more welcoming place for the LGBT+ community was still able to spark resistance among traditionalist and conservative Catholic leaders. Climate Advocacy Francis was also outspoken about the climate crisis, dedicating his Laudato Si, published in 2015, to the issue, in which he urged action to care for Gods creation in the face of climate change and environmental degradation. In 2017, he urged political leaders to support the consensus of the world that climate change and other environmental ills have created an ecological crisis that is harming the world's poorest the most. Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the top figure in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, called for urgent action to heal our wounded creation. open image in gallery Pope Francis poses for a picture with a child during the meeting with thousands of altar boys in St Peter's Square, Vatican City ( EPA ) In 2020, he said the Covid-19 pandemic has shown how the Earth can recover if we allow it to rest and must spur people to adopt simpler lifestyles to help a planet groaning under the constant demand for economic growth. His activism on the climate crisis won praise from environmentalists and world leaders, but drew criticism from Church figures who believed he was venturing too far into secular politics. Divorced and Remarried Catholics His approach to divorced and remarried Catholics, who had long been barred from receiving communion, also proved divisive. In the 2016 document Amoris Laetitia, he encouraged a more compassionate and case-by-case approach to such individuals. Francis sent a letter to bishops in Argentina on 5 September 2016 in which he praised a document they had written that said priests could in some cases offer the help of sacraments to Catholics living in irregular family situations as part of a broader effort to support and integrate divorced and remarried Catholics into the life of the church. There are no other interpretations, Francis wrote. His endorsement was seen as a remarkable move but prompted a backlash from traditionalists who accused him of diluting doctrine. open image in gallery In this Monday, 5 Oct 2015 file photo, Pope Francis is greeted by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, right, upon his arrival at the opening session of a two-week bishops' meeting on family issues, at the Vatican (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File) ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Symbolic gestures and modesty Even Franciss more symbolic gestures like choosing to live in a modest Vatican guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace, or washing the feet of prisoners and migrants on Holy Thursday were sometimes seen by critics as performative or unsettling to tradition. Handling of sexual abuse Perhaps the most persistent controversy of his papacy was his handling of the Churchs long-standing sexual abuse crisis. While Francis took steps to hold bishops accountable and created new commissions to investigate abuse, many survivors and advocates said the response remained inadequate. In 2018, his initial defence of a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse caused international uproar; he later apologised and admitted he had made serious errors in judgment. Despite the backlash, Francis remained committed to his vision of a more inclusive, humble and globally engaged Church. His critics within the Vatican often accused him of sowing confusion, while supporters argued he was bringing the Church closer to the realities of modern life. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church and a pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, died on Monday aged 88. He had suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia in recent weeks but his death came as a shock, hours after he greeted crowds while being driven around St Peters Square on Easter Sunday and after a private meeting with the US vice-president, JD Vance. The Vatican said he had died from a stroke and subsequent heart failure. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a trusted aide, said: His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. open image in gallery Pope Francis reads his speech during an audience at the Vatican on 12 February 2025 ( AP ) As the sun set over St Peters Square on Monday, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti led a prayer in commemoration. Franciss coffin will be moved from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived to St Peters Basilica as early as Wednesday morning to allow the faithful to pay their respects. In a change ordered by Francis, the body will no longer be placed on an elevated bier in the basilica. Rather, the wooden coffin will be placed facing the pews. No date has yet been set for the funeral. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease, was admitted to Romes Gemelli hospital on 14 February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his papacy. Tributes for him poured in from around the world, with many leaders praising his humility, dedication and teachings. His native Argentina ordered seven days of mourning, as did neighbouring Brazil. King Charles and Queen Camilla, who had visited the Pope on an official trip to Italy earlier this month, said they were deeply saddened. open image in gallery The King and Queen met the Pope earlier this month ( Vatican ) But our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry, the King said. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. Sir Keir Starmer described Francis as a courageous leader who reached out to people of all beliefs during a complex and challenging time. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost hope of a better world, the prime minister said. Donald Trump paid tribute to the pontiff in a post on Truth Social as news of the death emerged. Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! he wrote on his social media platform. open image in gallery Nuns pray before the statue of late Pope John Paul II outside the Agostino Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis was hospitalised in Rome ( EPA ) Italys prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said: I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering. French president Emmanuel Macron said the Pope had wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest and unite the world. Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people, former US president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. He shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another. Gianni Infantino, president of football world governing body Fifa, noted the popes love for the game and said that all the prayers of the whole football world are with him. Italian president Sergio Mattarella said Franciss final public act, an Easter Sunday blessing and Popemobile tour through a crowd of thousands in St Peters Square, in retrospect seems like his final goodbye to the Church. At the Vatican, locals, tourists and pilgrims visiting for Easter expressed their shock and grief. Shortly after noon, the bells of St. Peters Basilica began tolling to mark Franciss death. open image in gallery Pope Francis presides over vespers at Saint Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome on 25 January 2025 ( AFP via Getty ) This is something that really hits you hard, said Emanuela Tinari, from Rome. He was a pope who brought so many people closer to the Church. He was not appreciated by everyone. But he definitely was by ordinary people. Francis, who was born in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, became the first person from the Americas to take the role after succeeding Benedict XVI in 2013. Gaining a chemical technicians diploma, he had spent several years as a food technician and also worked as a bouncer and janitor. In 1958, he joined the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits. He climbed the ranks within the Argentine Church before being made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. After the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis was elected in the fifth round of voting in a papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected. open image in gallery Faithful wait under the closed window of the Apostolic Palace at The Vatican, where the Pope blesses the faithful every Sunday ( AP ) He was credited for adopting a less formal approach to the papacy. After his election, he took a bus back to his hotel rather than being driven in the papal car, before he visited a cardinal in hospital the next day, where he chatted with patients and staff. Pope Francis was willing to engage more women in senior roles within the Catholic Church and had long argued that the Church should be sympathetic to the LGBT+ community while calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality around the world. The pontiff had also been a critic of unshackled capitalism and put climate change action front and centre of much of his papacy. He inherited a Church torn by infighting in the Vatican bureaucracy, and having been elected with a clear mandate to restore order he struggled to get a grip on the crisis over sexual abuse by clerics. The Womens Ordination Conference a feminist voice within the Church said Franciss death is a profound loss for the church and the world but noted it had been frustrated by Franciss unwillingness to push for the ordination of women, calling it painfully incongruous with his otherwise pastoral nature. It added that this made him a complicated, frustrating, and sometimes heartbreaking figure for many women. It had long prayed that Francis would be transformed by the testimonies of women sharing their sincere calls from God to ordained ministry, but when it came to the topic of women in ministry, he seemed stuck in bad theology and outdated tropes. On the international stage, Francis played a crucial diplomatic role in a tumultuous decade, weighing in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russia-Ukraine war, the plight of refugees worldwide, and notably in the restoration of US-Cuban relations in 2014. He also called on countries in the West to significantly increase the number of refugees they took in. Responding to Donald Trumps plan to build a wall with Mexico in 2016, the Pope said: A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. The Vatican said a ceremony planned for Sunday, 27 April, when Carlo Acutis was to become the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation, has been postponed. 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 Members of Gazas small Christian community have said they are heartbroken over the death of Pope Francis, who had called them every evening during the war. The pope was an outspoken critic of Israels war in Gaza and used his final appearance to call for an immediate ceasefire to the deplorable conflict. Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, aged 88, following a serious bout of double pneumonia earlier this year. open image in gallery Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 ( AFP via Getty ) George Antone, 44, head of the emergency committee at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, said: We lost a saint who taught us every day how to be brave, how to keep patient and stay strong. We lost a man who fought every day in every direction to protect this small herd of his. Francis called the only Catholic church in the strip, hours after the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Mr Antone said. It marked the start of what the Vatican News Service would describe as a nightly routine throughout the war. He added the pope would make sure to speak not only to the priest but to everyone else in the room. We are heartbroken because of the death of Pope Francis, but we know that he is leaving behind a church that cares for us and that knows us by name, every single one of us, Mr Antone added. He used to tell each one: I am with you, dont be afraid. open image in gallery The pope spoke to the Holy Family Church in Gaza on a nightly basis ( AFP/Getty ) The pastor of the Holy Family parish, Reverend Gabriel Romanelli, told the Vatican News Service that Francis phoned a final time on Saturday night. Palestinian writer and poet Mosab Abu Toha mourned the popes death, adding he was a real man of peace. The Popes final Easter message The pope did not preside over the Vaticans Easter Mass but appeared at the end of the event for a twice-yearly blessing and message known as the Urbi et Orbi, to the city and the world. In the final message before his death, the pontiff reiterated his call for a ceasefire in Gaza during a brief appearance on the main balcony of St Peters Basilica, adding the situation in Gaza was dramatic and deplorable. open image in gallery In the Easter Sunday message, the pontiff said the situation in Gaza was dramatic and deplorable ( AP ) The pope also called on Palestinian militant group Hamas to release its remaining hostages and condemned what he said was a worrisome trend of antisemitism in the world. I express my closeness to the sufferings ... of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, said the message read aloud by an aide. I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace, it read. The pontiffs previous criticism of the war Pope Francis was usually careful about taking sides in conflicts during his 12 years at the head of the Catholic Church. However, he campaigned for peace for the devastated enclave since the war began in October 2023. Before a five-week hospital stay for pneumonia earlier this year, Francis had been ramping up criticism of Israels military campaign in the Gaza Strip. In a speech to diplomats in January, the pontiff called the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave very serious and shameful. open image in gallery Mass held for Pope Francis in Jerusalem on Monday ( Getty Images ) We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians, he said. We cannot accept that children are freezing to death because hospitals have been destroyed or a countrys energy network has been hit. In December, Francis suggested the global community should study whether Israels offensive constitutes genocide of the Palestinian people. An Israeli government minister publicly denounced the pontiff for that suggestion. How leaders in the region reacted to his death Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas mourned the pope as a loyal friend of the Palestinian people and a global advocate for peace and justice. Mr Abbas highlighted in his mourning the Popes recognition of Palestine, his visit to Bethlehem, his prayers for peace at the separation wall, and his calls to end the war in Gaza. Today, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, he said. open image in gallery Pope Francis prays at the Western Wall, Judaisms holiest site, in 2014 ( POOL/AFP via Getty ) Israels president, Isaac Herzog, said that Francis was a man of deep faith, peace and compassion who fostered ties with the Jewish world. I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages (in Gaza) will soon be answered, President Herzog said on X, formerly Twitter. At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected, the superior of the Latin community, Father Stephane Milovitch, said Francis had stood for peace. We wish that peace will finally come very soon in this land and we wish the next pope will be able to help to have peace in Jerusalem and in all the world, he said. The war was triggered by the Hamas-led 7 October attack on southern Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities. 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 For the first time in history, an American has been elected as Pope. The idea of an American pope has often been dismissed, even by theologians in the United States in the run-up to this weeks conclave. So few expected Robert Prevost to walk out onto the balcony at the Vatican as the new head of the Catholic Church. And yet, on Thursday the Chicago-born cardinal-bishop, known by friends as Bob, made history after becoming the 267th pope the first time in the Churchs 2,000-year history that an American has been appointed to lead it. Prevost who has joint Peruvian citizenship and spent years living and working in the South American country has chosen to be known as Leo XIV. As Bishop of Chicago, the 69-year-old pontiff once oversaw the largest Archdiocese in North America. open image in gallery Robert Prevost, from Chicago, Illinois, has become the 267th pope, the first time in 2,000 years that an American has been appointed to lead the Catholic Church ( Reuters ) Prior to his election, many observers had questioned him as a candidate, due to his relatively young age and inexperience. Some speculated that cardinals would also wish to select a European, following 12 years of tenure by Pope Francis an Argentinian and considered it unlikely a pontiff would emerge from the U.S. The Reverend James Bretzke, a theology professor at John Carroll University in Ohio, told USA Today this week that a diplomat was required to replace Pope Francis, adding: Americas image in the world simply is too powerful and to be blunt, ugly. Vatican insiders had described Prevost as a dark horse candidate who quietly rose to prominence in the days just before the conclave, having been made a cardinal-bishop in February this year. In terms of leading the Catholic Church, he has been described as a dignified middle of the road leader, compared with Francis, who was considered a progressive pontiff, and more conservative alternatives. Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. open image in gallery Prior to his election, many observers had questioned him as a candidate, due to his relatively young age and inexperience. Some speculated that cardinals would also wish to select a European, following 12 years of tenure by Pope Francis an Argentinian ( AP ) In early 2025, Francis again demonstrated his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals. He has championed the importance of on-the-ground work. In a 2023 interview with Vatican News, he said: One must not give in to the temptation to live isolated, separated in a palace, satisfied with a certain social level or a certain level within the church. He added: The authority we have is to serve, to accompany priests, to be pastors and teachers. However, Prevost has also expressed less progressive stances, including more negative views of the LGBT community. According to The New York Times, in an address to bishops in 2012, Prevost bemoaned the fact that western media fostered sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel, pointing to the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children. While in South America, he told local media that the promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that dont exist. He has also been criticized by survivors of child abuse. open image in gallery Prevost, who holds both American and Peruvian citizenship, previously served as prefect of the Vaticans Dicastery for Bishops, which handles various administrative and pastoral responsibilities of the Holy See, including the vetting nominations for bishops around the world ( AP ) In 1999, Prevost was elected provincial prior of the Midwest Augustinians. A year into the role, he allowed Father James Ray, a priest then accused of abusing minors whose ministry had been restricted since 1991, to reside at the Augustinians' St. John Stone Friary in Chicago in 2000, despite its proximity to a Catholic elementary school. When Prevost was Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, three victims reported to civil authorities in 2022 after there was no movement on their canonical case filed through the diocese, according to the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). Victims have since claimed Prevost failed to open an investigation, sent inadequate information to Rome, and that the diocese allowed the priest to continue saying mass, attaching photos of the priest saying mass after their complaint to their letter. SNAP filed a complaint against Prevost on March 25, 2025. Prior to his ascension to Holy Father, Prevost served as prefect of the Vaticans Dicastery for Bishops, which handles various administrative and pastoral responsibilities of the Holy See, including vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Prevost was initially appointed a member of the Dicastery in 2020 before later becoming its head. He also served as the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, where nearly 40 percent of the world's Catholics reside. Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, Prevost grew up in the citys south suburbs, where he lived in Dolton with his parents and two brothers. Reports claimed he was a fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. The record, however, was set straight on Thursday at least by his brother, who confirmed he had always been a White Sox fan. open image in gallery Onlookers wave American flags following the announcement that Chicago-born Prevost had been elected as the new pope ( REUTERS ) Growing up, a steady stream of priests passed through his family home, and the youngster reportedly had a positive experience of parish life, serving as an altar boy and attending school in the St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the far South Side. Former classmates shared how, even as a boy, he was destined to become pope. It was pretty apparent back then that was going to be his route, former classmate John Doughney told the Chicago Sun-Times, speaking before Prevost was elected. For him, I think it was a true calling, Doughney said. And, even as a young teenager, he knew what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go. Others recalled a sense of humor in class. He was kind of a little trickster, too, Joseph Merigold, who used to sit near Prevost in class, said. Used to poke me in the back of the head with a pencil all the time because I was a kidder. So he definitely had a sense of humor that a lot of people wouldnt know because he wasnt really that outgoing. Merigold added that Prevost was the smartest person in the class and was in the No.1 seat, indicating his classroom performance. Prevost was remembered as a good singer from the choir who cared about people and looked for the good in things, according to Marianne Angarola, who also grew up in Dolton and went to school with him. He was the pride and joy of every priest and nun in that school, Angarola told The Chicago Tribune. Everybody knew he was special. open image in gallery Prevost leads the recitation of the Holy Rosary for Pope Francis' health in St Peter's Square prior to the last Popes death ( AP ) Prevost was sent to study canon law at the Angelicum in Rome and was ordained as a priest in the city in 1982. After completing his studies, he was invited to work in the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas, in northwestern Peru, which held strong connections with the U.S. Augustinians. In 1999, he was elected provincial prior of the Midwest Augustinians, and two years later, in 2001, he was elected prior general of the worldwide Augustinian order, a post he held for two six-year terms. In 2014, he returned to northwestern Peru, after Francis named him apostolic administrator of the Chiclayo diocese. The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for the diocese in Chiclayo, recalled how the Prevost used to rise each day and have breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers. No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy, Purisaca said in an email to The Associated Press, following Prevosts appointment. After arriving in Rome, Prevost kept a low public profile, but was well known to the men who count. Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals. open image in gallery In 2014, Provost returned to northwestern Peru, after Francis named him apostolic administrator of the Chiclayo diocese. He was appointed a member of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2020, and later became its head ( AP ) Prevost is an expert in canon law, a system that functions like a constitution and legal system specifically for the Catholic Church, affording him appeal to the more traditional wings of the Vatican. However, it remains to be seen how he will respond to the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump, who posted his congratulations on his social media platform Truth Social after the announcement that Prevost was Pope. Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country, Trump wrote. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment! open image in gallery It remains to be seen how he will respond to the actions of President Donald Trump, who posted his congratulations on his social media platform Truth Social after the announcement that Prevost was Pope ( AFP/Getty ) Earlier this year, Prevost publicly voiced opposition to remarks by Vice President JD Vance on the theological concept of ordo amoris. JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others, Prevost wrote on X. Prevosts latest post on X was a repost of an account criticizing the Trump administrations policy on immigrant deportations. Additional reporting by Rhian Lubin 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 text of the announcement of the death of Pope Francis, which was read Monday by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement. Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Fathers house. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of God, One and Triune. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy. However, he emerged on Easter Sunday - a day before his death - to bless thousands of people in St Peter's Square and treat them to a surprise Popemobile tour of the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause. The King and Queen had a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on their 20th wedding anniversary (The Vatican/PA) ( PA Wire ) Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof paid tribute to Francis, saying the Pope "was in every way a man of the people". He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them. With his sober way of life, acts of service and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many - Catholics and non-Catholics alike. We remember him with great respect." Israel's mostly ceremonial president offered condolences to Christians after the Pope's death, calling him a man of "deep faith and boundless compassion". In a post on X, Isaac Herzog said the Pope had fostered strong ties with Jews and advanced interfaith dialogue. "I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered," he wrote, referring to the Pope's repeated calls for an end to the war and the release of captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Francis had repeatedly criticised Israel's wartime conduct and said allegations of genocide, which Israel has adamantly denied, should be investigated. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen remembered Francis as an inspiration for the entire world, not just Christians. "Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis," she wrote on X. "He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. "My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis' legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world." 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 From the moment a pope passes, a meticulously choreographed sequence of rites and rituals unfolds, preceding the conclave that will ultimately choose his successor. These ceremonies, steeped in tradition, encompass the formal confirmation of death, the public viewing of the papal remains, the funeral mass, and finally, burial. Pope Francis, who died on Monday, had already reshaped some of these customs last year. His revisions streamlined the funeral rituals, emphasising his role as a bishop, a shepherd among his flock. He also paved the way for burial outside the Vatican walls, reflecting his personal preferences. Despite these modifications, the fundamental elements of the transition remain, including three key moments observed between a popes death and his interment. The reforms are incorporated into the slim red volume, Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis,Latin for Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs. While popes often tinker with the rules regulating the conclave that elects their successor, a revision of the papal funeral rites hadnt been undertaken since 2000. The changes became necessary after Francis expressed his own wishes, and after Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI died on 31 December 2022. For Benedict, the Vatican had to work out the novelty of a funeral for the first retired pope in 600 years. A few months later, Francis revealed he was working with the Vaticans master of liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, to overhaul the entire book of rites to simplify them. open image in gallery Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St Peters Basilica to bestow a blessing on Easter Sunday (Gregorio Borgia/AP) ( AP ) In explaining the reforms, Ravelli said the changes aimed to emphasise even more that the Roman Pontiffs funeral is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world. The declaration of death The three main stations, or moments, occur first in his home, then in St Peters Basilica, and then in the place of burial. The reform allows for the formal confirmation of death to occur in Francis personal chapel rather than his bedroom. It is unclear why the change may be more practical than anything since Francis chose to live in a small suite in the Vaticans Santa Marta hotel rather than the Apostolic Palace. He had a personal chapel at Santa Marta. Upon the popes death, the head of the Vatican health service examines the body, ascertains the cause of death and writes a report. The body is dressed in white. The body rests in the popes personal chapel for the ritual pronouncement of death, presided over by the camerlengo, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See administration between the death or resignation of one pope and the election of another. The camerlengo is American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, one of Francis most trusted aides. In a change from the past, the rite no longer requires the body to be placed in the traditional three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. Now, the popes body is placed in a wooden coffin, with a zinc coffin inside. The pope is dressed in red liturgical vestments, his mitre the traditional headdress of bishops and the pallium woolen stole, a kind of scarf. The Pasqual candle, a large, decorated candle used at Easter, is placed nearby. The camerlengo drafts the formal declaration of death, attaching the certificate that has been prepared by the health service chief. The master of liturgical celebrations, Ravelli, then decides when other faithful can pay their respects before the coffin is moved to St Peters Basilica for public viewing. When the body is brought into the basilica, the Litany of Saints chant is sung. The camerlengo leads the procession. In another change, the popes body is no longer placed on an elevated bier. Rather, the simplified wooden coffin is placed facing the pews, with the Pasqual candle nearby. The sealing of the coffin The night before the funeral, the camerlengo presides over the closing and sealing of the coffin, in the presence of other senior cardinals. A white cloth is placed over the popes face. A bag containing coins minted during his papacy is placed in the coffin along with a one-page written account of his papacy, known in Italian as a rogito, a word indicating an official deed. It is read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies and then rolled up and slipped inside a cylindrical tube that is placed inside the coffin. Another copy is kept in the Vatican archives. The covers of both the zinc coffin and the wooden one bear a cross and the papal coat of arms. open image in gallery Pope Francis sits by the coffin of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in St Peters Square during a funeral mass at the Vatican, on 5 January 2023 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) ( AP ) Francis coat of arms, which he kept from when he was bishop, features a shield and the monogram of his Jesuit order, with the words Miserando atque eligendo, Latin for Having had mercy, he called him. It comes from an episode in the Bible when Christ picks a seemingly unworthy person to follow him. The Popes funeral The funeral is presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals or, if that is not possible, by the vice-dean or another senior cardinal. The current dean is Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91. The vice-dean is Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81. Francis earlier this year extended both of their five-year terms rather than appoint new ones. Francis reform allows for burial outside the Vatican, with the camerlengo presiding. Various seals are impressed on the coffin, and it is placed inside the tomb. Francis has said he wants to be buried not in St Peters Basilica or its grottoes, where most popes are buried, but in the St Mary Major Basilica across town. His choice reflects his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the people of Rome). After every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary, draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus who in turn holds a jewelled golden book. Its my great devotion, Francis told Mexicos N+ in revealing his future burial plans. The place is already prepared. With the burial, the Catholic Church begins nine days of official mourning, known as the novemdiales and the conclave begins. 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 is sending a delegation to London on Wednesday for talks with Western allies on finding a resolution to the war with Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday as Vladimir Putin separately raised the possibility of bilateral talks with Kyiv for the first time in years. The Ukrainian president said he had had a good and detailed conversation with Sir Keir Starmer, who supports calls for a full ceasefire. We are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, Mr Zelensky said, adding that a 30-hour Easter truce proclaimed by Moscow, which each side accused the other of violating, showed that it was Russias actions that are prolonging the war. Putin, under pressure from Washington to show willingness to make peace in Ukraine, told a TV reporter in Russia that Moscow was open to any peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv. We always have a positive attitude towards a truce, which is why we came up with such an initiative, Putin said. The Kremlin has so far resisted calls for a full ceasefire, while never fully ruling it out, and has delayed implementing more limited agreements covering the Black Sea, insisting that sanctions on Russia are eased first. A Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister had spoken to Mr Zelensky to emphasise his iron-clad commitment to Ukraine and discuss plans for the coalition of the willing led by Britain and France. The spokesperson added: [Sir Keir] said that the UK supports Ukraines calls for Russia to commit to a full ceasefire, and that now is the time for Putin to show he is serious about ending his brutal war. Mr Zelensky said: Already this Wednesday, our representatives will be working in London. Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States we are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace. It comes after the end of a 30-hour Easter truce unilaterally declared by Putin on Saturday. The Russian president claimed he was declaring a truce due to humanitarian considerations, shortly after US officials suggested Washington could end its efforts to mediate an end to the conflict if there were no signs of progress soon. Mr Zelensky welcomed talk of a truce, challenging Putin to extend it to 30 days as a previous US-Ukrainian proposal had suggested. But each side has accused the other of violating the temporary ceasefire, with Mr Zelensky saying Russia had breached its terms more than 2,900 times, shelling Ukrainian positions and carrying out drone attacks. Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of Ukraines Kherson oblast, said Russian attacks during the ceasefire had killed three people in his region. Mr Zelensky said: An unconditional ceasefire must be the first step toward peace, and this Easter made it clear that it is Russias actions that are prolonging the war. Russias defence ministry denied that its forces had breached the truce, and accused Ukraine of committing 4,900 violations. Overnight into Monday, Russian forces fired three missiles at Ukraines southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv, as well as sending 96 Shahed drones to target other parts of the country, Ukraines air force reported. It said it had downed 42 drones, while 47 others were jammed mid-flight. Four civilians also sustained injuries in the partially occupied Donetsk region, according to regional head Vadym Filashkin, who said the Russian forces had shelled settlements in the region five times over the past 24 hours. 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 Ukrainians gathered together to mark Easter, with little faith in the possibility of a ceasefire with Russia as both sides accused the other of breaking a temporary truce. Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral 30-hour ceasefire from Saturday evening to midnight on Easter Sunday, citing humanitarian reasons. But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Mr Putin of pretending to observe the truce while carrying out hundreds of artillery attacks on Saturday night, followed by more on Sunday. Late on Sunday, Mr Zelensky said there had been 1,882 cases of Russian shelling, 812 of which involved heavy weaponry, according to his commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi. "Either Putin does not have full control over his army, or the situation proves that in Russia, they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war, and are only interested in favourable PR coverage," Mr Zelensky posted on social media. open image in gallery An elderly woman prepares her Easter baskets to be blessed during celebration of the Orthodox Easter in Krasne village, Ukraine, on Sunday ( AP ) "However, there were no air raid alerts today. Hence, this is a format of ceasefire that has been achieved and that is the easiest to extend," he said, proposing that Russia abandon drone and missile strikes on civilian targets for at least 30 days. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, said there was no order from Mr Putin to extend the ceasefire. Also on Sunday, Russia's defence ministry claimed Ukraine had broken the Easter ceasefire more than a thousand times, inflicting damages to infrastructure and causing civilian deaths. The ministry said Ukrainian forces had shot at Russian positions 444 times while it had counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks, including on Crimea and the Russian border areas of the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions. Meanwhile, Mr Trump, posting on social media just before the truce ended, said "hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week". The US president has been pushing for a deal for several weeks and on Friday threatened to walk away due to a lack of progress. In northern Ukraine on Sunday, dozens of Ukrainian civilians gathered outside the ruins of a damaged church to mark Easter, casting doubt on a stop to the fighting with Russia. In the village of Lukashivka in the Chernihiv region, briefly occupied by Russian forces in 2022, parishioners of the damaged Ascension Church arrived early at a small makeshift wooden church built last year to cater to the needs of the faithful, holding traditional Easter baskets and cakes to have them blessed. open image in gallery Priest Serhii Zezul blesses Easter baskets in front of a church destroyed in fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces during celebration of the Orthodox Easter in Lukashivka village, Ukraine, on Sunday ( AP ) As the sun rose, they stood quietly in the spring chill, the roofless silhouette of the wrecked church behind them, its pale walls scarred by shell fragments. The church's priest Serhii Zezul walked among them, shouting Christ is risen! as he sprinkled holy water over the baskets his voice nearly drowned out by the hum of a nearby generator. More people than usual gathered in the damaged churchs courtyard on Sunday. Some said they drove from cities to Lukashivka to mark Easter, fearing Russian forces might target large gatherings, especially after a recent string of missile strikes killed dozens of civilians. For 26 years, 44-year-old Olha Rudeno attended church in the nearby city of Chernihiv, where she got married. But given the war, it's psychologically difficult for me to go where there are large gatherings in cities, she said. open image in gallery Believers attend a ceremony of blessing Easter cakes and traditional food baskets after the Easter service in front of the St Andrews Church in the town of Bucha, in the Kyiv region, on Sunday ( REUTERS ) Mr Rudeno does not think a ceasefire with Russia will happen. Believing in a ceasefire is deceiving yourself. I don't know how much time has to pass for me to truly believe one is possible, she said. Elsewhere in Ukraine, believers attended a ceremony of blessing Easter cakes and traditional food baskets in the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region on Sunday. It followed an Easter service at the St Andrew's Church. Ukrainians also prepared Easter baskets to be blessed during celebrations of the Orthodox Easter in Krasne village. Others were seen being sprayed with holy water by an Orthodox priest during an Easter service in Chernihiv early in the morning. open image in gallery Priests bless Easter baskets during celebration of the Orthodox Easter in Lviv, Ukraine, on Saturday ( AP ) On Saturday evening, priests were blessing Easter baskets and reading prayers during a celebration of the Orthodox Easter in Lviv, Ukraine. Doubt of a truce between Russia and Ukraine has deepened as US-led efforts have so far yielded no breakthrough. Moscow has effectively rejected a separate, comprehensive ceasefire proposal, backed by Mr Trump and endorsed by Ukraine, tying any agreement to a halt in Kyiv's troop mobilisation and Western arms supplies conditions Ukraine has refused, fearing they would allow Russia to regroup and escalate. My personal opinion is that there will be no ceasefire, said Mr Zezul. And even if there is one, there are no details on where it would apply. On the frontline, our soldiers are still fighting. Still, Mr Zezul said that celebrating Easter among ruins reflects the resilience of faith during war. Despite everything, people still gather. They believe in something better. We are being reborn, we are standing back up. Truth always triumphs over evil. People believe that, they hope for that. open image in gallery Priests read a prayer during celebration of the Orthodox Easter in Lviv, Ukraine, on Saturday ( AP ) The restoration of the original Ascension Church in Lukashivka, a 20th-century architectural landmark, would require at least hundreds of thousands of dollars, money the community does not have as the war rages on. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, about 530 churches across Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed, and at least 25 clergy members have been killed, according to Ruslan Khalikov, head of the Religion on Fire project, which monitors Russian war crimes against religious communities. A destroyed church is a shattered soul of the community, Mr Zezul said. When churches fall, the heart and core that unite people begin to collapse. open image in gallery A church destroyed in fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Lukashivka village, Ukraine ( AP ) In his Easter message, Mr Zelensky reflected on suffering and the struggle to hold on to faith. Each of us has lived through such moments ... and you ask: God, why is this happening to us? He also mentioned the deadly missile strike on Sumy during Palm Sunday, and the bombardments of Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and other cities, saying people tend to turn inward when they cannot make sense of things. Something invisible yet powerful within us doesn't let us give up. It shows us where to find the light, so we don't lose our way. A Delta Air Lines flight caught fire shortly before takeoff on Monday (April 21) forcing passengers to use emergency slides to reach safety. Flight 1213 was scheduled to depart Orlando International Airport for Atlanta at 11am when the fire started in the tailpipe of one of the Airbus A330s two engines. Video posted on X by Dylan Wallace shows flames and smoke rising from the aircraft before some of those on board can be seen using the inflatable slides to exit the plane. We appreciate our customers cooperation and apologize for the experience. Nothing is more important than safety and Delta teams will work to get our customers to their final destinations as soon as possible, Delta said in a statement. There are no reports of injuries. President Donald Trump appeared to be unaware of the latest Signalgate scandal engulfing his Defense Secretary when he threw his support behind Pete Hegseth. A New York Times report over the weekend revealed Hegseth had shared sensitive airstrike details in a group chat with his wife, brother and personal lawyer. Despite the widespread publicity, when asked if he retained confidence in Hegseth at the White House Easter egg hunt on Monday (April 21), Trump appeared to think he was being asked about the previous Signalgate affair, when the editor of The Atlantic was added to a group chat detailing the bombing of Houthi rebels in Yemen. "Are you bringing up Signal again? I thought they gave that up two weeks ago It's all just the same old stuff from the media. That's an old one. Try finding something new, the President said. The Archbishop of York has paid tribute to Pope Francis after his death was announced by the Vatican. Archbishop Stephen Cotterell remembered the pope as witty, lively and good to be with in a video message posted by the Church of England. The archbishop also paid tribute to Pope Francis service of the poor, his love of neighbour - especially the displaced, migrants, the asylum seeker - his deep compassion for the well-being of the earth, and his desire to lead and build the church in new ways. Pope Francis, who has died aged 88 after 12 years at the head of the Catholic Church, was probably the most famous Argentinian who ever lived. Born in 1936 as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis always understood the power of connecting with the public. Ordinary people like a touch of Evita [the actress cum presidents wife Eva Peron], he once said in his early days as a priest. It was a perception that stood him in good stead throughout his tenure as Pope, and was apparent from the moment he stood on the balcony of St Peters Basilica in Rome after his election as pontiff in March 2013. The cardinals went to the ends of the Earth to find a pope, he joked, and after asking the crowds to pray for him, he wished them a good night and a good sleep. Follow updates from Pope Francis funeral here Enjoy your lunch! he used to say to people who gathered every week outside the basilica for the traditional Roman Catholic prayer, the Angelus. After the formality of Benedict XVI, whom he succeeded, Francis seemed like a breath of fresh air. He lived in a simple residence rather than the apostolic palace, and got rid of the usual fancy furry cape and red shoes. But his papacy was about much more than style; there was substance, too. open image in gallery Pope Francis presiding over vespers at Saint Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome, in January 2025 ( AFP via Getty ) Francis took on a Church that needed a leader to sort out its crises: a Vatican accused of financial corruption, a worldwide child sexual abuse scandal, ordinary Catholics fed up with sensing they had no voice in their Church and feeling that it was out of touch with peoples lives. And there were wider issues on which the world needed to hear a voice with moral authority, whether on climate change, or dire poverty in the developing world, or the plight of migrants and refugees. The vast majority of Catholics warmed to their Pope, who articulated a compassionate form of their faith. Who am I to judge? he said when asked about gay people, who had often been vilified by other prelates. Later, he recommended that priests should offer gay couples a simple same-sex blessing. He stood by the Churchs traditional teaching on marriage, but urged priests to allow divorced and remarried people to receive Holy Communion. The Church, he said, should be like a field hospital. open image in gallery The then Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meet Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017 ( PA Archive ) But it was not just people who were in need of care. One of Pope Franciss most famous interventions was on the way we look after our planet what he called our common home in his encyclical, or teaching document, Laudato Si, published in 2015, in which he urged people to take action to care for Gods creation in the face of climate change and environmental degradation. He gave copies to official visitors: no doubt the then Prince Charles would have appreciated the sentiment, but one wonders if Donald Trump, in his first presidential term, put it in the Air Force One bin en route back to Washington. Nor was there any love lost between the US president and the Pope on the issue of migration. Francis, the child of immigrants to Argentina, showed a particular concern for migrants throughout his pontificate, urging governments to show them compassion. He took particular aim at Trumps plans for a border wall between the US and Mexico, saying that it was not Christian. He also spoke frequently of the need for peace, visiting war-torn hotspots in Africa and phoning the Catholic parish priest in Gaza every night after the recent conflict with Israel began, even while he was in hospital receiving treatment for pneumonia. open image in gallery Pope Francis meets a group of nuns during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, in August 2023 ( The Associated Press ) But his efforts at peacemaking in the Church were not always successful. His banning of the old Latin mass was seen as vindictive by traditionalist Catholics, while his efforts to sort out the abuse scandal faltered: some of the experts brought in to help, including survivors of abuse, resigned from his commission, saying it was doing too little, too late. Women who were frustrated by their lack of power and representation in the Church welcomed his appointment of women, usually nuns, to official positions in the Vatican, but felt let down that he let an inquiry into the ordination of female deacons drift. And Francis was as staunchly opposed to women being priests as were his papal predecessors. What of his legacy? Pope Francis was a great communicator, a religious leader who connected powerfully with so many people. He was a moral giant on the world stage, and while he brought reform to the Church, giving lay people more of a voice in decision-making in their parishes and dioceses, he could not heal the divisions between liberal and conservative Catholics. As the cardinals enter the conclave for the election of the next pope, they will have to ask themselves: is there anyone among us who can take on that nigh-impossible task? Catherine Pepinster is a religious commentator and a former editor of the Catholic weekly, The Tablet Former Cork East TD Ned O'Keeffe, then Mayor of County Cork Cllr Danny Collins (Ind) and chair of the commemoration committee Cllr Deirdre O'Brien at the Kilcrumper commemoration in 2023 A united Ireland is still a distant dream, with Brexit and the tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump creating huge complications for the national aspiration, a former Fianna Fail minister has warned. Veteran Cork TD and former food minister Ned OKeeffe (82) made the claim as he delivered the oration at Fianna Fails Easter Rising commemoration at Kilcrumper in north Cork. Kilcrumper has been hailed as the Glasnevin of the South and is the resting place of such War of Independence heroes as Mick Fitzgerald, Liam Lynch, Michael Rouse, Daniel Shinnick and Denis OBrien. Mr OKeeffe said that 109 years on from the Easter Rising, achieving a united Ireland remained a distant dream. This is despite increased debate about holding a border poll. Fianna Fail's Ned O'Keeffe leaving the Dail in 2011. Photo: Tom Burke Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 21st A Belfast Telegraph poll earlier this year found 48pc of respondents in Northern Ireland were not in favour of a united Ireland, while 41pc indicated they would vote for it. Only once in the last decade has a poll shown a majority in favour of Irish unity. Mr OKeeffe said Irish unity remains elusive. We have had many initiatives in modern times, he said. The Good Friday Agreement brought about a major breakthrough in a shared island, but we are still far away from the goal of a united Ireland. We stand here today at this very historic plot where many patriots are buried. Fianna Fail was founded in 1926, 10 years after the Easter Rising, and it stands for three things a united Ireland by peaceful means, restoration of the Irish language, and to give [as much as possible] to as many people living in the farms of rural Ireland as would be economical. Mr OKeeffe said the sacrifice of the Easter Rising patriots must never be forgotten. This Easter Sunday, 109 years on from when Padraig Pearse and his comrades fought and commandeered the GPO in Dublin, and within a few days of flying the Tricolour over the GPO, they had to surrender, he said. These great men gave up their lives so that Ireland could be free from the centre to the sea. Never was it more relevant today that we should be a united Ireland. The veteran former TD said the issue has been complicated over recent times. Brexit has been the first problem for Irish people north and south in modern times, he said. The Trump tariffs are causing further disruption and inconvenience to trading north and south of the Border. One side of the Border is sterling and other side is euro. It is creating inefficiency and difficulties for the Irish people on their own land. Mr OKeeffe said Ireland had to recognise the importance of the US to Irish issues over the centuries. [In the past] that country was always our closest friend and came to the aid of the Irish people for centuries, he said. The States were seen by Ireland as the land of the free and of opportunity, and thus large numbers of Irish people emigrated there to make their fortunes and success in life. The tariffs may be unjust but we have to recognise President Trump is only concerned about the USA. Mr OKeeffe also noted that 2025 marks another important anniversary. This year marks the centenary of the Boundary Commission, which operated from 1924 to 1925, he said. Not only were the UK and the island of Ireland partitioned but so was the historic nine-county province of Ulster, for counties Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan were excluded from Northern Ireland. A new line on the map divided this small island. At that time, the constitutional prospects of these jurisdictions were uncertain and the [desire] for reunification hung in the air. A century later, such questions and possibilities have returned to the forefront of Irish political debate. Addressing Dail Eireann in 1935, Eamon de Valera, our great Fianna Fail leader and founder, professed, and I quote: Partition is a disaster and shame. Due to its vexed history, the memory of partition became shrouded in shame, bitterness and unease in Irish society, along with scholarship. Mr OKeeffe added that historian Guy Beiner had discerned a conspicuous lack of historiography on the uncomfortable topic of partition following its implementation. Patrick Collins (23) said he was taking the fuel so he could go shopping for his family, give people lifts and drop children to school. Judge John Hughes said he did not believe his reason for helping himself to free petrol, ordered him to pay compensation and adjourned the case. 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 Latest | Priest speaks of shame at Easter mass as curate is accused of child sex offence Fr Edward Gallagher has been suspended after he was arrested and charged Fr Edward Gallagher is curate in Clonleigh, Camus and Leckpatrick parishes James McNaney Sun 20 Apr 2025 at 14:10 A priest has spoken of his alarm after the unnerving arrest of a clerical colleague over an alleged child sex offence. ALMOST 80pc of veteran teachers believe they could not afford to enter the profession today because of income, contract, cost of living and workload issues. The stark finding came in a survey of over 1,000 education professionals by the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) in advance of their annual conference which opens in Wexford on Tuesday. TUI president David Waters warned that the findings of the study are "alarming" for the sector which has been in crisis over teacher recruitment and retention, burn-out amongst staff due to stress and workload issues and mounting concern over the impact of senior cycle changes and the advent of Artificial Intelligence. Stock image. Photo: PA Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 21st The study found that just 26pc of young teachers employed since 2015 received a full hours contract upon initial appointment. Some 78pc of teachers who entered the profession before 2015 admitted they could not afford to enter the profession today due to income and cost of living challenges. A total of 1,038 TUI members were surveyed for the study between March 21 and April 11. Mr Waters warned that the crisis facing the Irish education sector is escalating and needs urgent Government action. "Students lose out the most as a result of teacher shortages with larger class sizes and less access to the full breadth of subjects, but the Government still refuses to grasp the nettle and the crisis is worsening," he said. "Our survey results show that of those employed since 2015, just 26pc received a contract of full hours upon initial appointment, while just 11pc were offered a permanent position upon initial appointment." "This is completely unacceptable at a time when the sector is experiencing a recruitment and retention crisis. Improved teaching allocations are required at second level to ensure that more than fragments of jobs can be offered." The TUI president said the high rate of older teachers admitting they could no longer afford such a career for themselves was a major red-flag for everyone in the education sector. "It is alarming in the extreme that 78pc of those who entered the profession before 2015 said that they could not afford to become a teacher today given impediments such as the accommodation crisis and having to survive on contracts of low hours, he said. "The extension of the Professional Master in Education (PME) to a two-year programme since 2014 has severely limited access to the profession for many in our society, who cannot afford to get into significant debt to pursue their ambition of teaching. "It is also a worry that one in three recent appointments would consider leaving Ireland to teach in another country." TUI officials are also worried that the study underlined major concerns over the new senior cycle changes - and the lack of resources allocated to ensuring the changes are a success. "The effects of a generation of underinvestment in our education system on school facilities is laid bare in the findings," Mr Waters said. "A majority (56pc) do not believe that their school has the required facilities for student project work as part of the redeveloped senior cycle, while half believe that their school does not have the required laboratory facilities for the revised Biology, Physics and Chemistry specifications which will be introduced from September." "It is also utterly unacceptable that 67pc do not believe that their school has the required support to assist all students in the school with special educational needs." Last week a major ASTI study highlighted alarming levels of burn-out amongst school leaders because of excessive workload. The TUI survey echoed the same findings. "Some 89pc believe that bureaucratic or administrative workload deflect from their core role of teaching, while 91pc believe that this burden has increased since they began their career, Mr Waters said. "A majority believe that such duties are not of benefit to teaching and learning in their schools. "Three out of every four respondents believe that the so-called Croke Park hours are not of value to school communities. At a time when teachers are leaving the profession for other employments, we need to ensure that they are given the freedom to teach and not demoralised by form-filling and box-ticking." The TUI study also found major concerns over the advent of AI. "There is growing concern at a lack of adequate guidelines and training on AI particularly in the context of senior cycle redevelopment," he said. "Some 85pc believe that AI poses a threat to fairness, particularly in relation to assessments, while 86pc believe it would be difficult to differentiate between what is a students own work and what has been generated by AI. "Around 93pc believe that the Department of Education/DFHERIS need to provide training to teachers (about) the area, while 95pc believe that more information and guidelines are required." The study also found that 64pc of teachers do not believe there are enough posts of responsibility within schools to match educational needs. Further, 69pc of teachers believed the CAO system needed to be overhauled for the benefit of students. Former president of Ireland, Mary McAleese, has paid tribute to Pope Francis who, despite being a very sick man, expended his last breaths in last smiles of encouragement and pastoral care on Easter Sunday in St Peters Square. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Dr McAleese said she had fully expected Easter 2025 to be Pope Franciss last as head of the Catholic Church. When the balcony curtains opened at the end of the Easter Sunday Mass, we saw a very sick and very determined man. His face very bloated, his voice a hoarse whisper, his arm barely able to be raised in blessing, she highlighted. He knew death was imminent. He was unafraid However, she added that the blessing was in his being there on the day of the resurrection, and that the blessing was also in his touring endlessly around the crowd, expending his last breaths in last smiles of encouragement and pastoral care. The former head of state said the Argentinian pontiff knew he was supposed to rest but he didnt. He knew death was imminent. He was unafraid. He believed in life after death. He wanted us to believe in it too and to be unafraid. Discussing Pope Franciss legacy after 12 years at the helm of the global Catholic Church, she said he leaves more leaven than legacy, more things undone than done, and an internal existential mess still to be addressed by his successor, perhaps with the help of synodality or perhaps not. Time will tell. Pope Francis tours St Peter's Square on the popemobile in Easter Sunday. Photo: Guglielmo Mangiapane Pope Francis Dies at 88, Vatican Announces But she added that the world had heard his voice in defence of immigrants, the poor, the abused, the marginalised, the forgotten, the oppressed, the victims of war, the care for the earth, and above all hope. A good man who did what he did. It was less than he could, but more than his predecessors back to John XXIII, she said. Noting that Pope Francis died in the job and on the job, she said his legacy would be vigorously debated even as his coffin was being prepared and speculation about his successor mounted. She paid tribute to Franciss exercise of moral power in his insistence on the sacredness of human life, the sacredness of the earth and his promotion of interfaith dialogue, notably his joint promulgation with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad el-Tayeb of the 2019 Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity. Evaluating Franciss papacy, and his contribution to internal reform to avert the collapse of the Church in the Western world, she highlighted his promotion of synodality, and how many felt he had opened up Church governance to women, and that he was a pope who did not judge homosexuals and had made efforts to promote greater protection of children within the Church. However, she felt he had not substantially changed the Churchs magisterial teaching and therefore his legacy was ultimately a flip-flop, perplexing legacy. She also lamented the glacial pace of reform in outdated teachings on priestly celibacy, human sexuality, human reproduction, access to the sacraments and the systemic exclusion of women from ordination. A YOUNG man who died after a stabbing in a popular Cork seaside resort has been hailed as "one of a kind". The tribute came as the Requiem Mass of Daniel 'Dano' O'Sullivan (32) took place in his native Mallow. Mr O'Sullivan died after suffering a stab injury in an incident on North Main Street in Youghal on the evening of April 14. He was pronounced dead in the early hours of April 15 after being rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH). Mr O'Sullivan of Carhookeal, Mallow is survived by his mother, Aileen, his sisters Jessica and Samantha, partner Ciara and extended family. His Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Resurrection in Mallow with his funeral following to St Gobnait's Cemetery. Mr O'Sullivan's family issued a special message to the emergency services who tried so hard to help him that night. "The family would like to thank the paramedics, members of An Garda Siochana and the staff of Cork University Hospital for their care and attention at such a difficult time," a family spokesperson said. Mr O'Sullivan's sister, Samantha, admitted the entire family were devastated by the tragedy. "He was one-in-a million...he had the biggest heart. He was a great big bro and looked out for everyone," she said. "Rest in peace big bro - my heart is broken. You were one of a kind Dan. (We) love you forever." Mr O'Sullivan had lived a very dysfunctional life and battled serious drug and alcohol addiction issues. He was originally from Mallow in north Cork but had lived in Cork city, Waterford and Youghal over recent years. He had been living in an apartment in Brown's Court in Youghal over recent months. In 2016, Mr O'Sullivan was sentenced to eight years in prison for the alcohol-fuelled manslaughter of a homeless Frenchman in Cork city centre. Mr O'Sullivan punched Vincent Morgain (34) on Oliver Plunkett Street on September 10, 2015 after he had consumed a bottle of vodka. The Frenchman was punched as Mr O'Sullivan and two other men grabbed a bottle which Mr Morgain's female companion had been drinking. Mr Morgain struck his head as he fell and, as he attempted to get up, Mr O'Sullivan kicked him in the face. The Frenchman was taken to hospital where he lapsed into a coma and died five days later from a traumatic brain injury. His sister, Marie Thomas, said in 2016 she hoped Mr O'Sullivan would use the suspended portion of his prison sentence to get rehabilitation "and make good of his life." Three years of the eight year sentence were suspended - but he was sent back to prison in 2021 after failing to comply with the directions of the Probation and Welfare Service (PWS). Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard four years ago that Mr O'Sullivan - who had been begging on the streets of Waterford - was struggling with heroin addiction and homelessness. Despite repeated efforts by the PWS to get him into a drug treatment programme, he failed to comply with their directions. His defence counsel advised that: "He wants to get on with his life, free from the chains on him at the moment - his addiction to heroin, begging on the street and homelessness." The court was told the PWS considered Mr O'Sullivan a young man of great potential but who needed to address his drug and alcohol problems. Mr O'Sullivan died after suffering a fatal stab wound just off North Main Street in Youghal shortly before 10pm on Monday (April 14). A 29 year old man was charged with Mr O'Sullivan's murder before Midleton District Court last week. The plan will also combat burglary and theft, community safety issues, roads policing, animal crime and hate crime under heritage crime An example of racist graffiti in north Belfast. This example was at public football pitches in the Rathcoole estate. Photo: Photopress Belfast A new Rural Safety Plan will promote hate-crime reporting when property is attacked, including places of worship. The plan will see the enforcement of relevant legislation, such as the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 and the Criminal Damage Act 1991, to bolster hate-crime reporting where property is targeted for hate-motivated graffiti, criminal damage, eg attacks on places of worship. Divisional crime prevention officers will be utilised to conduct site security surveys at sites that are high risk, or have been targeted. Housing Minister James Browne who had been junior justice minister with responsibility for law reform at the time the plan was devised said the measures would be introduced in line with our vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland. Roads policing will also be a central focus, with a review of speed enforcement zones and intelligence-led operations by specialist garda units, co-ordinated via regional intelligence hubs nationwide and multi-agency partnership checkpoints. Driver fatigue, as well as other road-safety issues, will form part of public awareness campaigns. Burglary and theft will be another priority, with the plan encouraging the promotion and use of crime-prevention products and technologies. The scheme notes that burglary and theft will be reduced, with community-based alert and property-marking schemes in partnership with rural stakeholders, and with intelligence-led operations by garda units co-ordinated through regional intelligence hubs nationwide reacting to crime trends. A Community Policing Framework will be rolled out with the garda Older People Strategy. The public will be encouraged to report suspicious activity, including by text alerts and neighbourhood watch schemes. The Garda Property Register app will be promoted, where householders can register their valuables as a record should a burglary or theft later take place. And the Department of Justice is welcoming applications from youth diversion projects to introduce community initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour, such as teenagers riding scrambler bikes. Junior justice minister Niall Collins said safety for rural communities requires a multi-agency, multi-sectoral and government-wide approach. Gardai, local and central government, the public, and crime-prevention officers, among others, will work to make communities safer, according to the proposals. Burglaries, as violations of peoples homes or businesses, have a deeply traumatic impact on victims in both urban and rural areas. In more dispersed rural areas, that traumatic impact can be felt across a very broad community, Mr Collins said. In addition to burglaries, work in areas such as roads policing and animal crime is hugely important for people and communities in rural Ireland to feel safe and be safe in their homes, places of work, and their local environments. Im working with all stakeholders, including An Garda Siochana, to expand successful approaches to tackling crime in these areas in the new plan. Gardai recently reported that residential burglaries have fallen 75pc in a decade due to a garda operation targeting home thefts. Codenamed Operation Thor, the targeted garda initiative identifies organised crime gangs and repeat offenders to cut burglaries. The Government has made cutbacks on the housing scheme that kept hundreds of families out of homelessness. At a North Central Area Committee briefing this week a Dublin City Council housing official revealed that due to Government cutbacks the council cannot operate its Financial Contribution Scheme. Under this scheme the council purchased homes from older people and then provided them with DCC older persons accommodation. The scheme allowed older people to downsize and it increased the Council housing stock. Stock image: PA Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 21st "The Government cuts to housing funding for Dublin City Council continue to cause damage, Sinn Fein councillor Micheal Mac Donncha said. We learned this week that due to the cuts, the council cannot operate its scheme whereby it purchases homes from qualifying older people and houses them in council accommodation. The scheme was important in increasing the Council's supply of scarce two and three bedroom homes. "These are the same cuts to funding for housing acquisitions that have hit the very successful tenant-in-situ scheme. That scheme kept hundreds of families out of homelessness. It has now been totally undermined by this Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Lowry government, despite Dublin City Council twice voting unanimously in the past month for the scheme to be left in place and properly funded. People in homelessness, the citizens of Dublin and city councillors, including members of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, have been treated with contempt by the Government. "The new Government is presiding over the scandal of 10,948 homeless people in Dublin, including 3,434 children. Of course that is the tip of the iceberg of the housing crisis as many, many thousands more are denied the right to decent housing, paying sky-high rents and unable to access either social or affordable homes." DCC and the Department of Housing have been contacted for further comment. The Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder cold-case review is going well, according to the senior officer in charge. Detective Inspector Des McTiernan told a new garda podcast: I would say we are being extremely comprehensive. A report is expected by the three-year anniversary of its beginning in June. However, gardai declined to say how much the cold-case review has cost to date, or to list the countries visited by officers thought to run to double figures. Det Insp McTiernan stressed the close liaison between An Garda Siochana and the FBI, to whom clothes and exhibits were sent for further analysis. From a forensic perspective, were trying to develop it more, because there are now advancements out there on the worldwide scale, he said on the podcast available on the garda website. We dont just confine ourselves to Ireland and our ability and capacity here. We have gone abroad, and weve done that before. We have close links to the FBI, and thats working quite well. Forensics is advancing all the time. Phone analysis is advancing all the time. Phone extractions going back two, three years could be totally different to what you get now, and you have to be very aware of that. So the technical sides of investigations and cold cases are also an opportunity for us. Det Insp McTiernan describes the 1996 killing of the French film-maker and mother of one at her holiday cottage at Toormore, west Cork, as a very sad case, and its obviously a high-profile case. The investigation into that is still very much alive and well, and thats thanks to Eamon Brady, detective inspector in west Cork, who is continuing the ongoing investigation, running parallel to our [cold case] review . Were trying to develop new leads. I would say its going well. I would say we are being extremely comprehensive. Our witnesses are extremely helpful and very supportive in the course of the investigation, because people want to help. They want to get to the bottom of what actually happened to Sophie. The force has refused to say how many new interviews or re-interviews it has carried out, telling the Irish Independent: An Garda Siochana makes operational decisions on the release of information in respect of any investigation on a case-by-case basis. An Garda Siochana is not providing any further information on the investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier at this time. Det Insp McTiernan praised the work of French investigators that led to the murder conviction of English poet Ian Bailey in absentia in 2019. But investigators here still had an open mind, he said. He tells journalist Patrice Harrington on the podcast: If I was to focus on a particular individual, because everybody says that he has done it, I wouldnt be doing the family, the suspect, or potentially other suspects, or the public in general, any favours. In a serious crime review, by its nature, we have to have an open mind, and we have to be independent and impartial. Thats the key to it. The Garda Serious Crime Review Team review into the murder began in June 2022. Gardai continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact the investigation team at Bantry garda station or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. A priest who helped organise Pope Franciss visit to Ireland in 2018 has recalled watching the pontiff compose his personal apology to victims of abuse in the Catholic Church. Father Tim Bartlett said he did not know what the Pope was writing after he asked for some paper while onboard a flight to the Knock shrine in the west of Ireland. The Belfast-based cleric said hours later the pontiff would produce the same piece of paper as he addressed tens of thousands of people at an open-air mass in Dublins Phoenix Park and read out his plea for forgiveness. During the mass, Francis vowed to pursue justice for victims of Church abuse in Ireland as he sought forgiveness for the countrys dark litany of clerical crimes. The Pope laid bare the many forms of abuse and mistreatment meted out to children and vulnerable adults in past decades and also acknowledged that members of the Churchs hierarchy had sought to cover up the sins of colleagues and failed to show compassion for the victims. Father Bartlett, who played a central role in co-ordinating the pontiffs visit to the island in 2018, to attend the World Meeting of Families, said observing Francis pen the apology was his most vivid memory of the trip. The night before Pope Francis had had a long meeting with survivors of abuse, of clergy abuse and institutions run by the Church, he said. Father Tim Bartlett played a central role in co-ordinating the pontiffs visit to Ireland in 2018 (Niall Carson/PA) He had many things after that meeting that he had to do, but on the Sunday morning on the airplane, once we were in the air, he turned around and he beckoned, and he asked for a piece of paper and I sent him up a piece of paper, and we noticed him writing on the paper at the front of the plane, and he folded up the piece of paper and put it into his pocket. We had no idea what it was about until later that afternoon when we were back in Dublin and were starting the mass, this huge mass in Phoenix Park, and he takes that piece of paper out of his pocket at the beginning of the mass and he reads it, and it was an apology in his own words and straight from his heart, having met the survivors the night before, for all of the abuse that had taken place in the Church and to all survivors. I think that apology will go down in history as one of the most profound, eloquent and personal apologies issued by any Church leader, and certainly a pope, to survivors of Church abuse. And he wrote that the morning after he had met the survivors. Even though he had many other meetings that night, even though he was going to Knock and had many other things to do, it showed me that he stayed with the most vulnerable people in his heart that he had met and that that had moved him very, very deeply. And thats a mark of that man. The legacy of Church abuse cast a long shadow over the first papal visit to Ireland since 1979, as the pontiff repeatedly moved to address the scandals. His words drew praise in some quarters but others accused the Pope of not going far enough. As the pontiffs plea for forgiveness rang out around the park that Sunday afternoon, elsewhere in Dublin, abuse survivors and campaigners protested against his visit. A vigil was also held at the site of the mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway, where a mass grave containing around 800 babies not given proper burials was uncovered. Reflecting on Franciss papacy, Father Bartlett said his legacy would be one of a great pastor. I think Pope Francis was a megaphone for the voice of the poor, the vulnerable, the excluded and the marginalised, he said. Pope Francis attended the closing mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin (Danny Lawson/PA) He stood up for them. And it wasnt just show. From his very beginning as a priest, right through his work in South America, this was a constant theme. A total of 500,000 tickets were taken up for the Phoenix Park mass that ended the Popes visit to Ireland but the actual crowd at the event appeared significantly smaller. Bad weather, widespread travel restrictions and a long walk to the venue were all likely factors, but some who compared it with the massive crowds who greeted John Paul II four decades previously suggested it was also a sign of the Churchs waning influence in Ireland. Father Bartlett said he was not surprised by the numbers who attended. He said that while the trip confirmed that Irish society had changed dramatically since the visit of John Paul II, he insisted that Franciss journey to Ireland also revealed little seeds of hope for the Churchs future. I think on the one hand, the visit confirmed what we all know, and the Pope himself knew, and the bishops organising it knew, that the Church in Ireland and Irish society has changed dramatically since the historic visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979, so there was no surprise on that, he said. On the other hand, there were interesting little seeds of hope and of new life that were present, maybe what we as priests would know, and that is that the faith is actually still very alive in peoples hearts. Public practice, regular practice, as we understood it in the past, has changed, but the faith is still very strong in peoples hearts. And so at all of the key events, we were oversubscribed. Even the gardai expressed surprise to us when the Pope drove through the city centre of Dublin that the crowds were much bigger than they had expected. A lot of the focus was on the mass in Phoenix Park and the dramatic difference in the numbers there. But there were three things that impacted that. We were not surprised by the numbers. A total of 500,000 tickets were taken up for the Phoenix Park mass that ended the Popes visit to Ireland but the actual crowd at the event appeared smaller (Liam McBurney/PA) Number one, the weather was terrible. People nowadays dont go to events in bad weather even if it was originally their intention when they know they could watch it very comfortably at home and enjoy it there. I think also the advent and development of media and people watching things more comfortably on media was another phenomenon. And, finally, we expected, the numbers are restricted for health and safety reasons in Phoenix Park in a way that they werent even back in 1979 when we had over a million people there. You had a maximum capacity of 500,000 and more than 500,000 tickets were requested. Every other event that he participated in was oversubscribed. So I think the faith is very alive, people responded to the Pope very energetically and enthusiastically. The Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising is marked in Dublin The Proclamation of the Republic can still inspire the nation with its generous social and political vision, President Michael D Higgins said as he laid a wreath in front of the GPO to commemorate the Easter Rising of 1916 yesterday. He was joined by Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris for the event, attended also by former President Mary Robinson, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill, Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain, and hundreds of members of the public. After laying the wreath outside the GPO to commemorate those who died in the Rising, a minutes silence was observed. The Proclamation of Independence, which was first read by Patrick Pearse 109 years ago, was read aloud by Captain Conor Gibbons while the Irish flag was flown at half-mast. Commenting ahead of the ceremony, President Higgins said the men and women who participated in the 1916 Rising were inspired by the declaration of a Republic, and the dream of a better, fairer future. The Proclamation of the Republic, which Patrick Pearse read out from under the portico of the GPO, offers elements of a generous social and political vision that can still inspire us, he said. It called forth a Republic that would guarantee, religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens and be resolved to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, he said. As we commemorate the Easter Rising, this ideal should continue to inspire us. The message was addressed to a world community that they might achieve not only independence, but its best exercise. We are challenged by their message to address the issues of global poverty, the consequences of climate change, the conflict in so many places of the world that threaten the lives of civilians, and the erosion of basic rights. I am sure that those who participated would have been proud of all of the Irish families who have offered our men and women to peacekeeping internationally, he added. After the tricolour was raised to full mast again, the national anthem was played and the commemoration was ended with a fly-past by members of the Air Corps. More than 160 members of the Defence Forces took part in the event, including bands who played during the commemoration. For former Lord Mayor Nial Ring, the event was also important for family reasons because he had relatives who fought in the GPO. My grandfather Joseph and his four brothers were part of the GPO garrison, so I feel it is important to attend. One of the brothers, Liam O Rinn, later translated the national anthem into Irish in late 1916, he said. I always attend because it is so important to commemorate what the men and women of the Rising did. There was a great crowd and President Higgins brought gravitas and dignity to the event as always, he added. Yesterdays event was the last Easter Rising GPO commemoration that will be led by Michael D Higgins as President whose second term ends later this year. Policy initiatives to apply in both primary and secondary schools Education Minister Helen McEntee announced the package as the three teacher union conferences were due to get under way around the country. Photo: PA Teachers will be offered permanent contracts after one year as part of new government measures aimed at tackling Irelands growing crisis around recruitment and retention. The range of policy initiatives will apply to both primary and secondary schools. Education Minister Helen McEntee announced the package of measures before the three teacher union conferences opening in Galway, Wexford and Kerry. The recruitment crisis will dominate agendas at all three. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) are all staging three-day conferences. Central to the new measures is the Governments commitment to offer young teachers permanent contracts after one year. Ms McEntee said the Government was determined to take firm steps to boost recruitment. Education Minister Helen McEntee announced the package as the three teacher union conferences were due to get under way around the country. Photo: PA Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 21st Ahead of the conferences, the INTO warned that three counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow reported 50pc unfilled teacher posts in the current academic year. Almost 60pc of schools had to reallocate special education teachers to mainstream classes because of staff shortage issues. Overall, the primary school system is short by about 950 teachers. The TUI warned that one in five secondary schools have been forced to drop subjects because of an inability to recruit staff. John Boyle, general secretary of the INTO, said there is deep alarm over the escalating crisis. It paints a deeply concerning picture of an enormous crisis in our primary and special schools, he said. The shortage of teachers, particularly in urban schools, continues to grow and the heavy reliance on unqualified staff is an alarming development. Three-quarters of Irish principals and deputy principals revealed they had advertised positions within their schools that nobody had applied for. Only 3pc of school leaders now believe the Government is doing enough to tackle the recruitment crisis. ASTI president Donal Cremin said the crisis must be addressed urgently. He said: Why are teachers voting with their feet and choosing to work elsewhere? The reality is, how can you be a teacher in Dublin at the moment with the housing and accommodation crisis? It is about time they sat down constructively with us and discussed ways to address these issues. It is time they faced up to reality. The Government hopes new measures will persuade teachers who trained in Ireland but who are currently working abroad to consider returning home while also attracting eligible teachers who trained outside Ireland to make their careers here. There are currently over 78,000 qualified teachers employed in Ireland, more than ever before, Ms McEntee said. For their sake, I am determined to address job security and make teaching a more attractive, sustainable career. Allowing newly qualified teachers who are starting in September to gain a permanent contract a year earlier will help teachers to place their careers on a more stable footing much sooner than before. This will provide teachers with the certainty they need, particularly when applying for mortgages. Until now, teachers had to complete two consecutive contracts before they could qualify for a permanent position during the third contract. Under the new regulation, teachers who are reappointed to the same post after one year will be awarded a permanent contract provided the post involved remains viable. Staff burnout and senior cycle changes will also be high on the agenda at all three union conferences. An ASTI study found that burnout among teachers is at alarming levels due to the recruitment crisis. A total of 64pc of Irish teachers in leadership roles said they feel burned out and exhausted as a result of the daily workload they face. The Red C poll also found that 78pc of teachers in leadership roles feel under pressure all the time in Irish schools. Mr Cremin said teachers were being stretched to the limit with workload demands and lack of resources. The reality is that teachers simply do not have the time and resources to cope with this workload, he said. It is causing major problems and major headaches for all concerned. Resources for proposed senior cycle changes are a key issue, with both the ASTI and TUI warning that insufficient training and resources have been put in place for changes the Government insisted must be ready from September. Unions urged the Department of Education to grant a one-year pause on the commencement of the senior cycle changes. This has been ruled out and the changes are scheduled to come into operation later this year. Conor McGregor is already lining up his excuses. The MMA fighter is predictably pitching the martyrs tale that he wants to run for president but is being blocked by the powers-that-be. Theres stipulations. You have to get four county councils, which are controlled by the government parties or you have to get 20 nominations of the Oireachtas, which are all mostly partly affiliates. You cant just run for president, he told his new pal, American conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson. Michael Kelly: Pope Francis was never afraid to prick the conscience of both liberals and conservatives The late pontiff saw the empowerment of the poor as the great antidote to the might is right law of the jungle of unregulated capitalism Pope Francis in profile Michael Kelly Mon 21 Apr 2025 at 10:12 Its impossible to discern what lasting impression Ireland made on the future Pope Francis when the then Fr Jorge Bergoglio lived in Dublin in the chilly winter months of 1980. Ruth Medjber: Social media is forcing artists to be attention-seekers more concerned with clicks than creativity I dont want to create work that people will hold in their hand for 1.5 seconds and casually scroll past MayKay and Ruth Medjber discussing their project "Her. Allure" in Photo Museum Ireland. Photo: Ronan Lally Ruth Medjber Mon 21 Apr 2025 at 03:30 Social media is the bane of my existence. It causes me anxiety and stress but I understand its value to my business. Though I feel that could be changing. Ive noticed a huge shift in the type of media being shown on social platforms. By any measure, the latest trends in the housing market are depressing for prospective homebuyers. Take the report for the first quarter of the year from MyHome, the property website. To start with, fewer than 11,000 homes were available for sale on the website in March a fresh record low. The issue has come to a head following a series of reported incidents where patients have been left awaiting care for several hours Local politicians have issued demands to end the controversial practice of unfunded ambulance shifts in rural areas of Co Clare. It is understood that roster changes have left Ennistymon without local ambulance cover on Wednesdays, Scariff without cover on Thursdays and Kilrush without service on Fridays, with cover provided by relief or overtime staff. Recent high-profile incidents have highlighted the issue once again, with reports of a road traffic accident victim awaiting care for nearly four hours and a sixteen-year-old student left unaided for an hour following a seizure. In response, several Clare councillors have tabled demands for funding to provide for a fully operational ambulance service across the county, saying that such issues underscore the need for urgent improvements. Sinn Fein councillor for Ennis Tommy Guilfoyle issued the motion at the April meeting of Clare County Council, while formally requesting increased funding for the National Ambulance Service in Clare from the Minister for Health. He says that recent explanation of insufficient ambulance coverage in the county due to unfunded shifts is inadequate and that Clare is suffering as a result. Independent councillor for Kilrush Ian Lynch seconded the motion, saying the issue has been raised for ten years and has now gone beyond a joke, emphasising the need for Clare to have its own fully manned service. Sinn Fein TD for Clare Donna McGettigan has been a vocal advocate for dedicated ambulance cover to be allocated to the area. Speaking to the Irish Independent, she says that, while the HSE has rejected claims that the areas lack ambulance cover, those on the ground remain extremely stretched through no fault of their own. In Shannon weve had our own fire crew having to go out to administer CPR because theres no ambulance available its ridiculous. When you even look at the overcrowding crisis in University Hospital Limerick, that also impacts on ambulances because a paramedic cant discharge their patient from the ambulance until a member of staff signs them off. That means theres a much-needed ambulance waiting to discharge a patient, theres not enough of them as it is in Clare. Its just very scary whats going on and I think the government need to fund these unfunded shifts, she said The National Ambulance Service says that it is attempting to expand and develop to address capacity and demand. Acknowledging the difficulty of doing so in rural areas, the service says that it is developing a Community Paramedicine programme nationally to meet some of those challenges. However, Deputy McGettigan emphasised the human impact of the lack of dedicated service on those in need and urged those responsible to deliver the necessary funding to assist National Ambulance Service staff, describing their morale as at an all-time low. It has come to a head now, whenever we have people that are dying because of a lack of ambulances, thats incredibly heartbreaking for those families. When I speak to paramedics and staff, in some cases they turn up knowing that theyre late, through no fault of their own, and that theres nothing they can do. That has to be hard on the staff as well - can you imagine going into your job every day knowing thats what you could be facing? These cases are proven cases, theyre not just numbers, theyre actual human beings and the whole story behind it, families left grieving for something that may not have happened had there been the proper amount of ambulance staff there. Those three areas, Ennistymon, Scariff and Kilrush, they need to have funded shifts there. When someone calls in during a crisis, they dont have time to wait for an ambulance. These are the areas that are furthest from UHL, they need proper ambulance services out there its just that simple. 39 new households have been placed in emergency accommodation because of evictions and 33 more for which evictions are imminent What we have is a government more concerned with maintaining Dail speaking time for Michael Lowry than maintaining roofs over peoples heads, said Cllr Oliver Moran who has called for the Dail to reconvene to discuss the growing number of evictions in Cork. The Green Party councillor said the Dail must reconvene so that Minister for Housing, James Browne, can make an urgent statement in relation to the continued government commitment to the purchase of houses for people facing eviction, people with disabilities and to tackle vacancy. The call has come after officials in Cork City Council and other local authorities made clear that national budget allocations for 2025 meant the funding received will be insufficient to adequately cover current commitments from 2024 into 2025. At the meeting of Cork City Council on April 14, Director of Housing, Alison ORourke, confirmed: "After reviewing the current programme and financial commitments carried over from 2024, we have determined that the allocated funding has been exhausted. The refurbishment programme for tenant-in-situ properties to bring them up to lettable standards will be required to be reduced or terminated. Ms ORourke continued: The Councils private rightsizing initiative will not progress any further in 2025. Any new acquisition of second-hand properties for special needs, such as Housing First, homeless prevention, or accommodation for persons with a disability, will not therefore proceed within the acquisitions programme in 2025." Green Party councillor for Cork City North East and spokesperson on housing, Cllr Oliver Moran said: The tenant-in-situ scheme was a demand of the Green Party before we would agree to the lifting of the eviction band. That the money has already run out for 2025 tells you everything you need to know about this new government and their approach to housing. "Last year, the scheme accounted for more than a third of people taken out of homelessness in Cork, said Cllr Moran. Eighty-seven adults and 100 children that would otherwise have nowhere to go were able to stay in their homes because of the scheme. Eviction notices have already increased by 47% in the first quarter of 2025. Already, we have 39 new households placed in emergency accommodation because of evictions and 33 more for which evictions are imminent. Cllr Moran said the government is more concerned with maintaining Dail speaking time for Michael Lowry than maintaining roofs over peoples heads. I don't think there has ever been a change in commitment by a government so quickly and so disastrously ever before." Cork TD Ken OFlynn has hailed Pope Francis for being a transformative leader in every sense of the word. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday, April 21. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to hospital on February 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Pope Francis who was 88 years-old was the first Latin American pontiff and the first Jesuit to lead the worlds 1.3 billion Catholics. Independent Ireland TD for Cork North Central Ken OFlynn paid tribute to Pope Francis. It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Pope Francis, a figure whose presence on the world stage transcended the bounds of faith and tradition. As the first Pope from Latin America, his election marked a turning point in the history of the modern Church, but it was not simply where he came from that made him remarkable, it was what he stood for. Pope Francis was a transformative leader in every section of the word, said Deputy OFlynn. He represented a quiet revolution, one rooted in humility, service and an unshakeable commitment to the dignity of every person. In a world often gripped by division and inequality he chose a different path, one of simplicity, solidarity and compassion. He reminded us again and again, that leadership does not have to shout to be strong. That faith, when lived with sincerity, can speak across borders, across beliefs and into the very heart of humanity, he added. Deputy OFlynn said Pope Francis carried a message the world needed to hear and he did so with grace and courage. Whether comforting the marginalised, urging action on climate change or calling on global leaders to remember their moral responsibilities Pope Francis carried a message with grace and courage. I extend my sincere condolences to the Catholic community in Ireland and around the world, and to all those who found inspiration and hope in his words and actions. His passing will be left deeply, but his legacy will endure not just in doctrine or institution but in the call to live with kindness, conscience and to care for one another, he added. Ship ship hooray! Workers celebrate the successful loading of the Jeanie Johnston onto the transport barge at Blennerville this Wednesday afternoon. The barge is to take the replica emigrant ship to Fenit where work will be completed. Yes, 2000 was now 25 years ago and yes, we all feel very old realising that and so what we here in The Kerryman have decided to do is to go back and see what kind of news was making the headlines 25 years ago this week and how different more simple perhaps? everything was back then. So, sit back and take a trip back to week of April 21, 2000 and see what was happening in Kerry a quarter of a century ago! Minister's decision on new hospital imminent HEALTH Minister Micheal Martin is due to make an announcement within the next fortnight as to whether or not a Community Hospital is likely to be built in Tralee in the foreseeable future. Minister Martin met with a deputation from the Tralee Senior Citizens Campaign in Dublin on Monday and gave a commitment that he would contact them within two weeks with a progress update. The committee behind the campaign has been looking for a Community Hospital for the elderly people of Tralee for the past two years. They estimate that 5m is needed to build the hospital. Their campaign received a major boost last year, when the Southern Health Board designated a site at the back of Tralee General Hospital for a Community Hospital. However, the required funding for the building of the hospital has yet to be allocated by the Health Board. At the moment, elderly people from Tralee needing full time hospital care have to go to the St Columbanus Home in Killarney and the committee members feel this is an unacceptable situation. "There is a lot of pain and suffering involved for the old person and for their family and friends when they are told that they cannot be accommodated in Tralee and have to be sent to Killarney," said campaign chairwoman Ellen Rowan. "This is not a new problem for Tralee. In fact, the neglect of the elderly has been taking place for close on 20 years." Mrs Rowan said she could not understand why 5m could not be found to fund such a worthy project, particularly when the economy is so buoyant at present. "We don't seem to have anyone in authority fighting for us," she said, but added that the committee members felt more optimistic since they met with Minister Martin this week. I will not sell my island Haughey FORMER Taoiseach Charles Haughey this week rubbished claims that his Kerry island retreat was to go under the auctioneer's hammer to help settle his tax debts. "That's rubbish," Mr Haughey remarked testily on Tuesday morning when asked to comment on speculation that Inisvickillane was up for sale. National attention had turned westwards to the island off Slea Head after it was learned that another property owned by the Haughey family in Mayo was to be sold off to help meet Mr Haughey's recent 1m tax settlement. The island, which Mr Haughey bought in the early 1970s, has been estimated as worth anywhere between 3 million and 5 million. On Tuesday, Mr Haughey was speaking to The Kerryman from his home in Kinsealy. After his immediate reaction that speculation about the sale of Inisvickillane was rubbish, he was asked again if he was dismissing the suggestion out of hand and he answered, 'Yes'. Mr Haughey lacked any of his characteristic ebullience and was not keen to stay on the line. He said he had been asked one question and he had answered it. Asked if he would speak on his long association with Kerry and his attachment to the island, he said, 'not at the moment'. Earlier in the conversation, he showed a flash of humour when, reacting to a side comment that the denial of the sale was coming from the 'horse's mouth', he quipped, 'I'm neither a horse nor a donkey'. Also, the old spirit asserted itself when he declined to take a telephone number in case he wanted to comment further at a later stage. "I'll know where to find you," he said. The former Taoiseach was understood to have been stung by reports that the island was up for sale given his long association with Kerry. Fianna Fail Senator Tom Fitzgerald of West Kerry said Mr Haughey's affection for the area had nothing to do with his support from TDs locally. "For all my political life and long before it, for some unknown reason Charlie found peace and quietness in the Dingle Peninsula," Senator Fitzgerald said. "I see photos around Dingle from the late 1950s of Charlie going out fishing in local boats." A frequent visitor to Inisvickillane, the Senator claimed that there wasn't a 'luxury in the world' on Mr Haughey's island home. He said the single-storey house was built with stone and there was no plastering inside or out. He said there was no ceiling of any description in the house and that the corrugated asbestos roof was visible inside. The kitchen is separate and the living room and dining room are combined into an area of open space. One large window overlooks the island and, beyond it, the Iveragh Peninsula and the Skellig Rock. As to the rock pool in which Mr Haughey was famously pictured bare-chested in Hello magazine, it was apparently a natural pool which was enlarged through excavation. The original stone homes of the Daly family from'whom Mr Haughey purchased the island have been restored. The deed for the property is believed to be an unusual court title which was granted to the Dalys as a result of a dispute over their ownership. Shipyard working on deal for more work Ship ship hooray! Workers celebrate the successful loading of the Jeanie Johnston onto the transport barge at Blennerville this Wednesday afternoon. The barge is to take the replica emigrant ship to Fenit where work will be completed. THE Jeanie Johnston took the first step of her 'Millennium 'Voyage' on Wednesday when she glided on to the back of an enormous barge on the shores of Tralee Bay. At the same time Managing Director John Griffin announced the project was negotiating a contract to restore another ship in Blennerville, meaning the centre could well continue as an active shipyard. The Jeanie Johnston was manoeuvred into position on the barge on Wednesday afternoon, but a gale forecast meant she would not be floated on the same today. Dutch company Van Seumeren oversaw a nerve-wracking operation on Wednesday to move the ship 20 metres out from the construction shed and onto the barge, which was moored alongside the shipyard. It was the culmination of two nail biting days during which welders worked frantically to get the ship ready for the move. The welders were called in from across the county, some out of retirement, to fit a manoeuvering harness onto the replica famine ship. "It's a historic day, we have just made the first step in the first leg of the Millennium Voyage," Mr Griffin told The Kerryman. "The support we have been getting from people manifested itself over the last few days with people watching and cheering us on. That was inspirational and a tribute to the great work that's been done on site and by the back room team," he said. The operation took slightly longer than planned, with the original manoeuvre date of Tuesday evening postponed to Wednesday. Workers were still finishing the harness on Wednesday morning, but the ship was moved into position on the barge that afternoon. It was a thrill for the spectators as much as the workers. A number of people had been waiting hopefully since Tuesday evening to see the ship move, but the cheer that went up when the ship moved from the shed proved it was worthwhile. "If I could have foreseen the struggle we have had I would have never taken it on, but I think today will more than justify the expense that has gone on the ship," John Griffin said. "This is going to be a floating visitor attraction. No other Irish project will get the same interest in North America and you can already see the interest it is attracting in Kerry," he added. Meanwhile, the Jeanie Johnston Visitor Shipyard has been approached about restoring a historic ship dating back to the early 20th century. "It's something we are evaluating a present. The ship is about half the size of the Jeanie Johnston and has a connection with the republican Erskin Childers. It's too early to make a definite statement about that but we are hopeful and Dr Henry Lyons has been working on that," Mr Griffin said. The ship will be floated, probably onThursday, by submerging the barge a high tide. The plan is to float the ship on Thursday's evening spring tide a 7.30pm, depending on weather conditions. After almost three weeks in Fenit Harbour, where the Jeanie Johnston will be fitted with masts and rigging, she will undergo sea trials before setting off for North America, probably in May. Pictured at the Republican Plot on Easter Sunday are Sligo Sinn Fein Chairperson Chris MacManus, Jemma Dolan MLA and Mary Rooney Benson, a cousin of the Noble Sixs Captain Harry Benson. Over 150 republicans braved inclement weather at Sligo City Cemetery on Easter Sunday for Sinn Feins County Sligo Easter Commemoration. Chairing the Commemoration Sinn Feins Chris MacManus said: Irelands long valued tradition of neutrality is currently under attack by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, yet they havent the guts to put it to the people in referendum. Former MEP MacManus said: We see this governments recent efforts to dismantle the Triple Lock protection. It is a precursor to sending young Irish men and women off to die in military misadventures and imperialist conflicts that have nothing to do with the interests of Ireland. The parallels with a century ago are stark - when Irish people were implored by the British Empire to fight under the Union Jack for the Freedom of Small Nations while our own country remained under the heel of colonialism. We have learned the lessons of history well. The values of the Irish people are steeped in opposition to war, anti-imperialism, the values of diplomacy and peace. Sinn Fein will fight back against these attempts to dismantle our neutrality with everything we have got. We will campaign on the streets, in communities, right across Ireland. The security priority for Ireland should be to rebuild our Defence Forces to ensure they can defend Irish seas and skies and participate in UN peacekeeping missions. If Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are so confident that their plan to dismantle Irelands neutrality commands the support of the people, then they should put it to the people in a referendum. They will get their answer loudly and clearly. The commemorations guest speaker was Fermanagh MLA Jemma Dolan. We are living in a time of change in Ireland. We are in the end days of Partition. The opportunities for our people are immense. 100 years after the Boundary Commission report which copper fastened Partition and division, it is time to let the Irish people have their say in a referendum on Irish unity. This is a moment of great optimism and excitement. But now we must prepare - prepare for the holding of referendums in this decade - prepare for the winning of referendums and prepare for the re-unification of Ireland. Uniting Ireland, ending Partition and realising the republic of 1916 is what we are about, and we will leave here today hopeful and confident that we will see that certain day. But its not inevitable. We must work for it. We must champion unity everywhere and at every time. The ceremony was concluded by the playing of Amhran Na bFhiann. A unique day set to give a new understanding and appreciation of Garavogue River and Lough Gill A unique paddle on the Lough Gill and the Garavogue River and several associated events will take place on Saturday, May 3rd as Sligo embraces a new understanding of the waters its so close to. Medbs Dragon Warriors, with the support of Power to Change, will host Uisce Alainn on the Garavogue River and Lough Gill from 12pm. Power to Change is a unique local partnership between Sligo Public Participation Network and Sligo ATU aimed at supporting communities to engage with positive climate action. Dragon boat paddlers, kayakers and rowers from Sligo and beyond will gather to participate in a paddle on the river and lake. The event will open with the Awakening of the Dragon and Dotting of the Eye Ceremony followed by a commemorative Flower Ceremony. The Awakening of the Dragon Ceremony, an ancient Chinese custom, will open the dragons eyes, ward off evil spirits and prepare the river for voyage. The ceremony not only blesses and cleanses the area for the event, but also the water participants and spectators. The Flower Ceremony is a beautiful commemorative ceremony that involves both water participants and spectators in a moment of reflection for lives lost to cancer, with those lives being represented by a flower or a flower petal. Spectators will be invited to take a rose petal to place in the river which gently absorbs them into its environment. As water participants head off on their watery voyage, spectators will be invited to The Gate Lodge for light refreshments and to view information stands and displays on the importance of our waterways. There will be interactive stands by Clean Coasts, Sligo Rowing Club and ATU, and Medbs Dragon Warriors. Information from the Marine Institute, Water Safety Ireland, and Inland Fisheries will also be available. Workshops and activities for children and adults will take place throughout the day including a kids colouring competition and hands-on science experiments. A series of guided walks and talks on themes including birdlife, mental health, trees and water, and citizen science will also be running throughout the celebration. The entire festival is free and people are encouraged to drop by any time. However, registration for the walks and workshops is essential to enable organisers to manage numbers and ensure that everyone has the chance to fully participate Register or find out more by emailing yvonne.lang@atu.ie by 25th April 2025. Please let organisers know which walks/workshops you are interested in and how many will be attending. Event schedule 10.30 Workshops begin until 3pm 12.00 Awakening the Dragon Ceremony followed by the Flower Ceremony Spectators can view the ceremonies along the banks of the river opposite The Gate Lodge 12.20 Dragon Boats, Kayakers and Rowers begin water journey 12.30 Information stands open to spectators at The Gate Lodge (with tea and nibbles provided) 1.30 Walks and talks along the banks of the Garavogue Walks and talks (all walks start at the Gate Lodge) Walks will last between 45min-1hr 1.30 pm Dr Blaithin Sweeney, The Wellness Warrior Join Blaithin for a walk and talk along the banks of the Garavogue exploring the importance of waterways and waterbodies for our mental health and well-being. 1.45 pm Michael Bell, Birdwatch Ireland Sligo Branch Join Michael for a walk and talk along the banks of the Garavogue exploring birdlife and the ecological importance of the river. 2.00 pm Piroska Kocsis, Ecologist and ATU Researcher Join Piroska for a walk and talk along the banks of the Garavogue exploring the important relationship between trees and waterways. 2.15 pm Dr Adam F. Smith, Ecologist Join Adam for a walk and talk along the banks of the Garavogue exploring how anyone can become an important contributor to biodiversity conservation and knowledge as citizen scientists. Workshops Dragonflies and Damselflies with Geoff Hunt (10.30-3.00 pm) This is a full day workshop aimed at adults. There will be a break to join the others for lunch and to watch the Dragon Ceremony. Join Geoff for an introduction to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland. During this workshop you will explore the features used to identify Irelands Dragonfly and Damselfly species, how to survey for them, where to find them, and helpful suggestions on identification resources. In the afternoon you will explore the local freshwater habitats to practice our field skills and hopefully spot some of the many species to be found in this area. This workshop is suitable for beginners and those wishing to refresh their identification skills. Dragonflies with Robin Barry (workshops at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm) Approx 45min kids & adults welcome Explore the importance of our water environments and how we can use dragonflies and damselflies to monitor the quality of our water. This workshop is suitable for children aged 8-12 years and is delivered in a fun and interactive way. Aquatic Biodiversity with Dara Timpson (12.45pm and 1.45pm) Approx 45min kids & adults welcome Explore the abundant biodiversity that exists in local streams, rivers and lakes. Dara will give a short interactive presentation, followed by a hands-on session to explore samples of macroinvertebrates and tanks of various freshwater fish. Medbs Dragon Warriors and Power to Change have thanked the Blue Lagoon, Rose Petals, and The Gate Lodge for their support. They have also thanked Damien J Kennedy who will capture the event in a short film. The Parks Department and the Festivals Department at Sligo County Council have also been thanked for their support. Brian McGarry cutting the cake with his family at his Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Celebration cake for Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry with his wife Kay at Brians Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry with his wife Kay at Brians Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Patrick Kickham Lennon giving a speech alongside Brian McGarry with his wife Kay at Brians Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Patrick Kickham Lennon presenting a gift to Brian McGarry at his Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Don Mahes Push Pukamara with Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Colleagues and Friends with Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Mohit Nahir, Fiona Ahearne, Micheal Burns, Raman, Patrick Kickham Lennon, Micheal Cunningham, Patrick Kennedy, Kerry Killkenny, Kate Kavanagh and John Cooney with Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench A friendly face who has greeted many guests, has decided to take his well-earned retirement after 17 years of dedicated service at Seafield Hotel & Spa Resort in north Wexford. Colleagues and friends gathered to bid farewell to beloved Senior Duty Manager Brian McGarry and mark the end of an era at Seafield Hotel & Spa Resort. Brian who is a proud native of Courtown Harbour, not only brought his extensive experience to Seafield but also warm, genuine hospitality that runs deep in his roots. Born into one of the areas most well-known hospitality families, Brian was practically raised at the Bayview Hotel, which was a cornerstone of Courtowns social life for nearly eight decades. His parents, John and Josie McGarry, built up the Bayview with care and commitment, establishing it as a welcoming haven and the setting for countless happy memories since its founding in 1926. From christenings to weddings, family reunions to farewells, the McGarrys opened their doors and their hearts to the local community. Brian carried that same ethos with him when he joined Seafield Hotel 17 years ago, where his calm presence, attention to detail, and sincere kindness set the tone for guests and staff alike. Patrick Kickham Lennon presenting a gift to Brian McGarry at his Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Hotel Manager Patrick Kickham-Lennon spoke fondly of Brians influence at the hotel saying: Brian has been the heart of our front of house team for almost two decades. His professionalism and dedication were matched only by his generosity of spirit. He has left a lasting legacy, not just in the way he led, but in the way he treated every guest and colleague, with kindness, patience and genuine care. During his 17-year tenure at Seafield, Brian became a familiar and reassuring face to many, always ready with a smile, a story, or a helping hand. His wealth of knowledge, unwavering professionalism, as well as his deep ties to the community helped shape the hotels identity as a place of warmth and excellence. Resort General Manager Micheal Cunningham echoed those sentiments saying: Brians presence at Seafield was like an anchor. His deep knowledge of hospitality, combined with his instinctive understanding of people, made him a mentor to so many of us. He represents the very best of what hospitality should be. Brian leaves behind a legacy of integrity, grace, and service that mirrors the values his family instilled and upheld through generations. The Cullen Family, proprietors of Seafield Hotel & Spa Resort, added: Brians connection to Seafield and to the wider community of Courtown has been invaluable. We were privileged to have him as part of our team for so many years. His dedication, grace, and consistency elevated the experience of everyone who passed through our doors. We wish him all the happiness in this next chapter, his presence will be greatly missed. Patrick Kickham Lennon giving a speech alongside Brian McGarry with his wife Kay at Brians Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry with his wife Kay at Brians Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Mohit Nahir, Fiona Ahearne, Micheal Burns, Raman, Patrick Kickham Lennon, Micheal Cunningham, Patrick Kennedy, Kerry Killkenny, Kate Kavanagh and John Cooney with Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Celebration cake for Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry with his wife Kay at Brians Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry cutting the cake with his family at his Retirement party from Seafield Hotel PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Don Mahes Push Pukamara with Brian McGarry who is Retiring after 17 years from Seafield Hotel reacting to the surprise party PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench A Brazilian woman is being accused of sending poisoned Easter eggs to her ex-partner's new family, resulting in the death of a child and two others being in critical condition. The woman in question was identified as Jordelia Pereira Barbosa, who allegedly bought the poisoned holiday treats. She apparently put poison in them and then had them delivered via courier to her former partner's new girlfriend, Mirian Lira, and her family. Poisoned Easter Eggs The delivery was also accompanied by a note that directly addressed Lira, who later shared the chocolates with her kids. The latter's son, Luis Silva, suddenly fell ill after eating the treats and was quickly rushed to the hospital for treatment. On Thursday, medical professionals pronounced the young boy dead but his cause of death has not yet been confirmed. On the other hand, Lira and her 13-year-old daughter, Evelyn Fernanda, were still in the hospital as of Saturday and are in critical condition, as per the New York Daily News. Law enforcement authorities said that they now have CCTV footage of Barbosa buying the chocolate eggs, which will be brought into forensic testing to confirm the presence of poison. The woman was seen wearing a dark wig while at the store and told staff she wanted to host a chocolate tasting for staff. When questioned, Barbosa struggled to answer basic questions, such as the company that she works for, which caused the manager of the store to turn her away. Police said that she then tried to give out chocolates to people in the parking lot. Arrest of the Suspect The suspect was believed to be living around 200 miles away in Santa Ines and was said to be staying in a hotel in Imperatriz at the time of the incident. Police later arrested the woman on an intercity bus as she was on her way back to Santa Ines, The Standard reported. Barbosa's former partner informed investigators that he believes the woman could have been involved in the incident with his new partner and her family. Since then, officials have found receipts for the chocolate eggs, two wigs, scissors, cards, a saw knife, and suspected drugs in her possession. During the suspect's arrest, she was seen with blonde hair and was found with various instruments, such as a funnel and spoons. These were items that were believed to have been used in the suspected poisoning of the chocolate treats, as per People. The tragic death of jockey Michael OSullivan in February has brought the welfare of those in this most dangerous of sports into the spotlight. In an effort to safeguard the future of those who suffer injuries in horse racing, a fundraiser for The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund is being held in the Rathangan Bar on Friday, April 25. Featuring a charity auction with items donated by local businesses and those involved in horse racing, there will be appearances by Cheltenham-winning trainer and jockey Paul Nolan as well as Barry Stone, Tony Mullins and Davy Russell. Bringing a competitive, yet fun, edge to the evening, there will be a Battle of the Yards simulator featuring local riders going head to head in a ride to the finish. There will be live music and a barbecue during the night with doors opening at 8 p.m. Among the prizes on offer in the raffle are a stable tour with Gordon Elliot, six tickets to the Punchestown Festival, a night stay at the Dunboyne Castle, a framed photo of the 2025 Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin signed by Gavin Cromwell, and a 300 voucher for The Farmers Kitchen. All funds raised, including all profit from alcohol sales, will go to The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. Michael OSullivan, who was approaching his 25th birthday, died from injuries incurred from a fall at Thurles in February, a loss that stunned the racing industry in Ireland and beyond. The finest moment of his career came aboard Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023, with this year's renewal of the same race named in his honour. Grainne Reynolds, consultant for Slimming World in Wicklow town, with the 189 bags of clothing donated by her members. Members of Slimming World in Wicklow town found a meaningful way to mark their weight loss journeys by donating the clothes they no longer needed and raising 6,615 for the Irish Cancer Society in the process. Their transformation became more than personal, helping to fund cancer services and offering hope to others in need. Between them the group collected a remarkable 189 bags containing clothing, which were dropped off to the Irish Cancer Society, who used them to raise vital funds. Slimming World consultant Grainne Reynolds, who leads the local group, shared her pride in the members efforts. Its always a pleasure to see the excitement in group when the big Slimming World clothes throw comes around. When youre losing weight, it can be easy to focus on the number on the scales without realising how many non-scale victories are happening in the background, like our changing dress sizes and body shapes. This event celebrates those victories as it is all about members donating their old wardrobe while raising money for an important cause. It makes me so happy to see my members confidence soar as they commit to donating their larger clothes knowing they will never need them again, because they have made healthy changes they can maintain for life. Last year, Slimming World groups across Ireland, including consultants and head office staff, raised 204,725 through this campaign. This year, they are determined to go even further. Beyond raising vital funds, the initiative also highlights the link between maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of certain cancers. Grainne added: Being overweight doesnt necessarily mean that a person will develop cancer, but we know that losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent a number of health conditions, including some types of cancer. "Im so proud of my members and proud to host the big Slimming World clothes throw at my Slimming World group to help the Irish Cancer Society continue its vital work. Grainnes Slimming World group runs every Wednesday evening and Thursday morning at The High Court Bar, formerly Ernies Bar, in Wicklow town. For more information or to join, you can pop in or call Grainne on 087 147 0704. Hollywood actors Whoopi Goldberg and Antonio Banderas are among the celebrities who have praised Pope Franciss kindness and compassion following his death on Easter Monday. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church died at the age of 88, a day after he blessed thousands of people in St Peters Square in Vatican City on Easter Sunday. Oscar-winning actress Goldberg, known for her role in 1992 comedy musical Sister Act, which sees her character Deloris Van Cartier disguise herself as a nun, shared a photo of her meeting the religious leader to her social media account. The 69-year-old said: He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christs love enveloped believer and non-believer. He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Francis with your love of humanity and laughter. Goldberg met the Pope twice in 12 months, first in 2023 and then as one of a group of 100 of the worlds most famous comedians who congregated at an event organised by the Vatican in Rome in 2024. Spanish actor Banderas, 64, also shared a photo of himself with the Pope and wrote: Pope Francisco has died a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people. Sarah, Duchess of York, who attended the traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle, thanked the Pope in a post to her Instagram story. Alongside a photo of the religious leader, she wrote: No better example of total humility in kindness and compassion. Thank you for leading us not just with words, but with your unwavering service to humanity. Gladiator actor Russell Crowe said it was a beautiful day in Rome, but, a sad day for the faithful in another post. Crowe, 61, and the makers of his film Noah, based on the biblical story of Noahs Ark, attended Pope Franciss general audience at St Peters Square in 2014. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content BBC journalist and host of University Challenge, Amol Rajan, said the Pope would be remembered as a radical and a humanitarian, focusing from the outset on the poor, the weak, and the downtrodden. In a social media post, he said: His was truly a life of service: he devoted his adulthood to his faith and his flock. What a life, and what a legacy whether you share his faith or not. Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh said Pope Francis had been manifestly compassionate within the constraints of his tradition. Also paying tribute was The Help actress Octavia Spencer and Mickey 17 star Toni Collette who shared a photo to her Instagram story alongside the caption: He was a good one. The Pope had resumed some official duties earlier this month during his recovery from pneumonia. The King said in a statement that he and the Queen were most deeply saddened to learn of the Popes death and were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. Charles and Camilla visited the pontiff at the Vatican on April 9, the day the royal couple celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Father Patrick van der Vorst, who led the Easter Monday service at Westminster Cathedral in central London, said it was symbolic that he (the Pope) died on Easter Monday. Russia launched missiles and drones targeting Ukraine early on Monday, waking up Kyiv and the eastern half of the country, hours after the one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian president Vladimir Putin came to an end. There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damages from the attacks, regional Ukrainian officials said on social media. The scale of the attack was not immediately clear. How Pope Francis stood up to the Italian mafia and their blood-stained power Catholicism is deeply ingrained in Italy, where organised crime groups hold significant influence Pope Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday Clodagh Meaney Mon 21 Apr 2025 at 14:10 Pope Francis excommunicated the mafia as he clamped down on organised crime groups in Italy from associating themselves with the Catholic church. JD Vance has brief meeting with Pope despite tensions over Trumps migrant policies Pontiffs address interpreted as a rebuke of the US Pope Francis during his meeting with US vice-president JD Vance (second from right) in the Vatican yesterday. Photo: Reuters Nick Squires Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Mon 21 Apr 2025 at 03:30 JD Vance was granted an audience with Pope Francis but it lasted just a few minutes, amid sharp tensions between the Holy See and the Trump administration over migrants and welfare budget cuts. Probe finds professional failures by Israel Defence Forces over killing of 15 medics Israeli army gunned down Palestinians in Gaza due to what is called a misunderstanding Hundreds protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday. Photo: Getty Jacob Phillips Evening Standard Mon 21 Apr 2025 at 03:30 An Israeli investigation has found a chain of professional failures after 15 Palestinian medics were killed in Gaza. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother, where he shared similar details of a March military airstrike against Yemen's Houthi militants sent in another chain with Trump administration leaders, The New York Times reported. Irish Red Nuns gather for funeral of Pope Francis In a quiet recess carved out of the otherwise bustling northside of Dublin City, a group of Red Nuns gathered to solemnly watch the funeral of Pope Francis. The late pontiffs funeral was broadcast around the world and into homes and places of worship across Ireland on Saturday including Saint Alphonsus Monastery in Drumcondra. There, the Redemptoristine Nuns known as Red Nuns due to the colour of their habits gathered in a small, understated room of the monastery to watch a livestream of the funeral mass and procession. Thirteen of the orders 16 nuns were present, gathered on chairs around a projector and a small set of speakers.A contemplative order, the nuns say their life is enclosed which means they remain within the grounds of monastery while holding the outer world in their hearts through prayer. Speaking to the PA news agency, Sister Gabrielle said Pope Francis brought alive the Gospel. We have great admiration for him because he brought alive the gospel in so many ways, the simplicity of the gospel, the authenticity of the gospel for the poor and the marginalised. And we are all sinners, were on the journey together and that great vision of oneness has touched me profoundly anyway. She added: He certainly has challenged the entire world and we saw there today so many leaders that hes tried to bring peace and respect for each person and the dignity of each person to be respected and upheld. She said the inclusion of poor and marginalised people in the proceedings illustrates his key message: To embrace us all in the one embrace of love of God. Speaking about the Redemptoriste Nuns, Sr Gabrielle said the order was made up of various nationalities. She said: Were situated here in Drumcondra and were actually celebrating 25 years in this present monastery and we had been in the previous monastery since 1859, when we came to Ireland from Bruge. Were celebrating 300 years of revelation of our order so its a very momentous time at this particular time here in our community. The sisters of the Red Nuns come from around Ireland, England, Scotland, Europe, Germany, the US and Asia. Sr Gabrielle said: Were 16 sisters in community from various nationalities which is a wonderful privilege really to have the richness of all the nations gathered here in this very small space, living in harmony and respecting each other as Pope Francis has called us to do so many times in his outreach to the world. Cillian Sherlock, PA Students of Brown University rallied on Main Green on Friday afternoon and called on the school to stand against President Donald Trump's recent federal actions. The nearly 200 students argue that the Republican leader's latest efforts have targeted Brown University and other institutions of higher education. The White House confirmed earlier this month that the administration is planning to freeze $510 million of Brown University's federal funding. Brown University Protests The decision was made over alleged antisemitism and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the school. Additionally, the federal government revoked the visas of at least one current student and several recent graduates while instructing staff to freeze funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Brown University. The Trump administration has not yet publicly announced the freeze nor has it given Brown University a list of demands that it must agree to to prevent it. However, both current and prospective students are expressing their concern about the federal cuts and the school's inability to continue supporting its students and research on campus, according to the Brown Daily Herald. The rally on Friday was organized by Sunrise Brown in support of the "Do Not Comply" campaign. This demands the university to "make definitive commitments to protect free speech and academic freedom, stop student deportations, fight fascism, and reject the weaponization of antisemitism." Read more: Canceled School Grants Force Attorneys General to File Lawsuit Against Trump Administration The campaign has circulated a petition in recent weeks demanding Brown University resist the federal government's threats. Supporters argue that the school must hold the line against the so-called all-out assault on free speech and diversity at America's colleges. Students of Brown University say that a culture of fear has been growing ever since the school decided to punish demonstrators and banned its chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. They add that fear grows even more with every action by the Trump administration, NPR reported. Trump Administration Crackdowns Lifta, a Palestinian Canadian doctoral student, said that international community members at Brown University are among the hardest hit by the latest crackdowns, She notes that the overwhelming atmosphere on campus seems to be a climate of fear, intimidation, and censorship. Simon Aron, a Jewish freshman protester organizer, said that the Trump administration is cracking down on universities where students held large pro-Palestinian protests last year. He argued that the government is doing this under the guise of eliminating antisemitism. Aron said that watching his people be used as shields to attack other vulnerable individuals is something that felt terrible. Alicia Joo, a junior, said that she thinks the drop in protests this academic year is partly due to decreased media attention on Israel's war on Gaza, as per The Publics Radio. In the annals of papal history, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who has died at the age of 88, will be remembered principally as the self-proclaimed pope from the ends of the Earth. Pope Francis was the first Latin American pontiff and the first Jesuit to lead the worlds 1.3 billion Catholics. For 12 years, and through four encyclicals, as well as letters, books and writings, he emphasised a strongly social and pastoral vision, which prioritised the poor, the marginalised and the environment. From the moment he appeared on the balcony of St Peters Basilica on March 13, 2013, asking people to pray for him, Francis was a breath of fresh air. Many reported a sense of uplift on hearing his gentle and humble, Buona sera that wet evening. Eschewing the pomp and spectacle of his predecessor Benedict XVI, he chose simple black shoes and a white cassock over the Germans retro flourishes. In keeping with his namesake, Francis chose to live in a small, simple room in the Vaticans Santa Marta hostel rather than the splendid papal apartments. He took time to visit the sick and elderly of his own diocese of Rome, often in person. He made unexpected telephone calls to victims of abuse and those who had written to him. He blessed children, embraced prisoners and promoted mercy. Franciss church was a field hospital. The Argentinian, who before his papal election was considered by some to be austere, used his stubborn streak to stand up to the Roman curia, which defeated Benedict. He was not averse to giving the curia a public dressing down for its spiritual failings. He reformed and streamlined its structures through the apostolic constitution, Praedicate evangelium, of March 2022. A young Pope Francis, then Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio . Photo: Reuters/Clarin/Handout Franciss signature project was synodality, through which he sought to promote a greater sense of the shared responsibility of all baptised Catholics in the life and mission of the church, spearheading a shift away from a pyramidal Eurocentric church. His aim was to see through the reforms of Vatican II, which had been put on ice under the papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Amid the looming climate crisis, Francis provided bold leadership on care for the planet and biodiversity loss in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si and its follow-on, Laudate Deum (2023). These writings garnered support from other religions, as well as the political and scientific communities. It did not, however, endear Francis to those in favour of Donald Trumps agenda of drill, baby, drill. Nor did Franciss solidarity and courageous stance on refugees and migrants endear him to the far right, who hoped that their traditionalist social values would align with those of the church. Francis, as the son and grandson of Italian immigrants forced to leave Piedmont in the north-west of Italy in search of work and in the shadow of Mussolini, was empathetic towards those forced to flee and build a new life in a new country due to war, tyranny or poverty. His time at the helm was certainly not all plain sailing. Conservatives and traditionalists were appalled by his vision for the church, at times threatening schism. The fallout of clerical abuse scandals dogged this papacy, notably in Chile. One of the low points was undoubtedly his two-day visit to Ireland in August 2018, which took place against the backdrop of church abuse in Ireland. Outraged protesters took part in the Stand for Truth rally in Dublin as the papal gathering in the rain-soaked Phoenix Park attracted just over 100,000 people. Compounding the fraught atmosphere, the former Vatican ambassador to the US, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, linked to conservative factions, lobbed a metaphorical grenade at Francis in the final hours of his Irish visit, calling for his resignation and accusing him of covering up sexual abuse by disgraced US prelate Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Pope Francis Photo: Vatican Pool/Getty Images. Other major challenges for Francis were the issues of women and treatment of LGBTQ+ people. For former president Mary McAleese, his approach was to flip-flop specifically on the issues of female deacons and female priests. Francis was a reformer, not a radical. He had no intention of changing this teaching. Rather, he gave space for the issue to be at least discussed, something forbidden on pain of excommunication thanks to John Paul II. Born in the working-class barrio of Flores in the Argentinian capital on December 17, 1936, Francis was the eldest of five children. After qualifying as a chemical technician, he set aside his love of tango for a vocation. The decision followed a severe case of pneumonia which led to part of his lung being removed. He joined the Jesuits on March 11, 1958, and studied in Chile and Argentina, graduating in 1963 with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San Jose in San Miguel. From 1964 to 1966, he taught literature and psychology, and from 1967-70 he studied theology, before he was ordained a Jesuit priest on December 13, 1969. He was appointed provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina in 1973, an office he held for six years. We mustnt be a Church that is fixed and frozen His time as provincial was controversial as it coincided with Argentinas Dirty War. According to Fr Thomas Reese, writing in the National Catholic Reporter, there were disagreements among the Jesuits about how to respond to the military junta. As provincial, Fr Bergoglio was responsible for the safety of his men. His concern for two of his confreres, Fr Orlando Yorio and Fr Franz Jalics, who were threatened by the military, prompted him to try to pull them out of their ministry. Contrary to rumour, he did not throw them out of the [Jesuits] and therefore remove them from the protection of the Society of Jesus, Fr Reese said. However, there were disagreements later over whether he did as much as he should have for them. Pope Francis in profile Appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and cardinal in 2001, he arranged for the Argentine bishops to ask forgiveness for not having done enough during the Dirty War. His autocratic style led to a period of reflection and isolation within the order, but in time he became an even stronger champion of the poor. My people are poor, and I am one of them, he said repeatedly as he encouraged a culture of encounter and solidarity, opposing the throwaway culture and critiquing capitalism and rampant consumerism. His encyclical Fratelli Tutti encouraged people to hear not just the cry of the earth, but also the cry of the poor, and to challenge not just individual vice, but structural sin. Through his travels to many unexpected places, including South Sudan, Indonesia and Timor Leste, Iraq, South-East Asia and Morocco, he fostered interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance. He himself described his visit to Mongolia as his most eccentric apostolic journey, where a tiny Catholic community inhabits a vast territory. His aim was to show his closeness to his people, especially those small, forgotten minorities on the margins. Franciss health declined in recent years, forcing him to use a wheelchair. He had a colon operation in 2021 and was hospitalised twice with bronchitis, notably forcing him to cancel his attendance at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai. The Church will go on. I am just one step in its history Having had part of his lung removed as a young man, he was susceptible to lung and bronchial infections. However, unlike Benedict XVI, he ruled out resigning a number of times. At the start of this year, Francis made history by becoming the first pontiff to publish his life story while still in office. Hope was originally intended for publication after his death, but he changed his mind so it could coincide with the beginning of a papal jubilee which is themed Pilgrims of Hope. Carlo Musso, co-author of Pope Franciss autobiography, said the word that embodies his outlook, apart from humility, was onward. We mustnt be a church that is fixed and frozen, Francis warned and stressed that rigidity is not Christian, because it denies the movement of the spirit. Rigidity is sectarian. Rigidity is self-referential. Rigidity is a daily heresy. Pope Francis will be laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the church he returned to after every papal visit overseas to pray. The location is a break with Vatican tradition, as popes are usually buried in the crypt beneath St Peters Basilica. As he underlined in the last chapter of Hope: The Church will go on. I am just one step in its history. *This article was updated on April 21 to correct the spelling of writer Fr Thomas Reeses name Genie, Make a Wish OTT Release Date: If you've ever wished for a K-drama filled with romance, magic, comedy, and a beloved on-screen couple, your wish is about to come true. Starring Kim Woo Bin and Bae Suzy, Genie, Make a Wish is all set to premiere on Netflix on October 3, 2025, according to Whats on Netflix. This series marks the much-awaited reunion of the Uncontrollably Fond stars. A fantasy love story with a twist At the heart of Genie, Make a Wish is a whimsical and emotional story. Kim Woo Bin plays Genie, a magical being who lives inside a lamp. But unlike the usual genie we all know, this one is a rollercoaster of emotions, going from dramatic to humorous in seconds. One day, a woman named Ga Young (played by Bae Suzy) accidentally releases him. Young is emotionally distant and reserved. She's the complete opposite of Genie. What happens when a man full of feelings meets a woman whos almost numb to them? Ga Young is granted three wishes, but in the process, she and Genie begin to heal each others emotional wounds, forming a connection neither of them expected. Bae Suzy (left), Kim Woo Bin (right) in Genie, Make a Wish | Credits: Netflix Reuniting Kim Woo Bin and Bae Suzy After 9 Years Fans of K-dramas still remember the emotional impact of Uncontrollably Fond from 2016. The chemistry between Kim Woo Bin and Bae Suzy made that show unforgettable, and their reunion has created a huge buzz among viewers. With both stars having grown in their careers and fan base, their return together in a romantic comedy is something to look forward to. Kim Woo Bin was last seen on Netflix in Black Knight and Our Blues, whereas Bae Suzy made waves with Start-Up, Vagabond, and her solo lead role in Doona! This time, instead of a heavy melodrama, well see them in a lighter, more magical setting. The team behind the scenes Genie, Make a Wish is penned by none other than Kim Eun Sook, the celebrated writer behind The Glory, Goblin, and The King: Eternal Monarch. Lee Byung Hun has directed it under the production of Studio Dragon and Hwa&Dam Pictures. The lead pair is supported by Ahn Eun Jin as Mi Ju, Steve Noh as Su Hyeon, Go Gyu Pil as Sayyid and Lee Joo Young as Min Ji, among others. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, as well as celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Real Men OTT Release Date: Life, love, and masculinity - what happens when four old friends try to figure it all out in their forties? Thats exactly what the upcoming Italian comedy series Real Men (Maschi Veri) dives into, with plenty of laughs, awkward truths, and heartfelt moments along the way. The series is set to release globally on Netflix starting May 21, 2025. What is Real Men all about? Real Men follows the lives of Mattia, Massimo, Riccardo, and Luigi - four long-time friends exploring relationships, careers, and what it means to be a man in todays world. As they enter middle age, the rules they once lived by no longer seem to apply. From gender equality to modern dating and fatherhood, they must face their own biases and insecurities, learning how to be better partners, friends, and human beings. The journey is often hilarious. Whether theyre fumbling through parenting, trying to impress their kids, or keeping up with younger colleagues at work, these four men show that its never too late to grow upor at least try to. Meet the cast and crew of Real Men The series stars Maurizio Lastrico as Massimo, Matteo Martari as Mattia, Francesco Montanari as Riccardo and Pietro Sermonti as Luigi. Directed by Letizia Lamartirea and Matteo Oleotto, Real Men was filmed in some of Europes most beautiful locations, with most of the scenes shot in Rome, Italy, and even Vatican City. While the feel-good comedy is light-hearted, the themes hit home. The eight-episode show reflects on how men are redefining themselves in todays world - learning to listen, be vulnerable, and understand fairness in relationships. Its not preachy. Its just honest, often silly, and refreshingly human. Sounds exciting? For more news and updates from the world of OTT, as well as celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Samara OTT Release Update: Charles Joseph made his directorial debut with this Malayalam film, released in theatres on 11th August 2023. Though the film already made its digital debut on Prime Video, it has only been available for overseas audiences. For the ones wanting to watch it in India, heres an update on the same. Samara is all set to make its Indian OTT debut on ManoramaMAX. Samaras cast and crew The film stars Rahman, Bharath, Binoj Villya, Sanjana Dipu, Rahul Madhav, Vivia Santh, Govind Krishna, Mir Sarwar, Dinesh Lamba, Tinij Villya, Veer Aryan, Neetu Chaudhary and Sonali Sudan among others. Samara is produced by M. K. Subhakaran and Anuj Varghese Villyadath under the banner of Peacock Art House. This Gopi Sundar musical is cinematographed by Sinu Sidharth and edited by R. J. Pappan. Samaras plot overview Samara is about a former army doctor named Dr. Alan who lives alone in the mountains. His daughter, Jani, comes to visit him, but something strange and dangerous happens to her. Around the same time, a police officer named Antony comes to the area to look into some creepy murders. They soon find out that a deadly virus is behind everything, a virus that can turn people into wild, violent creatures. This virus was created long ago during World War II and has now somehow come back. The only cure is with an old lady in Germany. As Alan and Antony dig deeper, they discover theres a big terrorist plot going on, and Alans past is more connected to it than he thought. Now, they have to stop the virus from spreading before its too late. Samaras review The Times of India rated the film 2.5 out of 5, and a part of their review read, The plot itself is a bit convoluted. Poor writing and a mishmash of elements tied up together to make a thriller- that's Samara. While the subject of bio-war is not something often explored in Malayalam, it's disappointing when done with little to no conviction. This supposed super-cop's heroics and brilliance, whatever it is, happen off-screen. With so much focus on the aesthetics, the characters never grow on viewers. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, as well as celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Uttar Pradesh has been honoured with the Prime Ministers Award for Excellence in Public Administration for pioneering the use of solar power in Jal Jeevan Mission projects. The award was presented to Anurag Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary, Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 17th Civil Services Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Srivastava, a 1992 batch IAS officer, received the award in the 'Innovation State Category' for his leadership in integrating solar energy into water supply schemes. Under his guidance, over 80% of the states 41,539 Jal Jeevan Mission projects are now solar-powered, collectively generating 900 MW of electricity daily. This shift has led to more than 50% cost savings in rural water supply and is projected to save the state nearly 1 lakh crore over 30 years, while also cutting carbon emissions by 13 lakh metric tonnes annually. The program has also trained 12.5 lakh people across rural UP to manage and maintain these solar-based systems, ensuring long-term sustainability and local employment. In addition to Srivastava, Moradabad DM Anuj Singh was awarded for setting up a library for the differently abled, while Bahraich DM Monika Rani was recognized for her effective administrative contributions. Speaking after the award, Srivastava credited the visionary leadership of PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath for enabling such impactful innovations at the grassroots level. It's an exciting time for K-drama fans, with many promising dramas with fresh casts lined up for release. Among the sea of K-dramas headed our way, Wife of a 21st Century Prince (working title) is already making waves as one of the most eagerly awaited titles. This royal-meets-modern romance pairs up two of Koreas hottest names right now: IU, still basking in the glow of When Life Gives You Tangerines, teams up with Byeon Woo Seok, fresh off stealing hearts in Lovely Runner. On April 21, it was officially announced that Wife of a 21st Century Prince will air on MBC as a Friday-Saturday drama. The drama also revealed its main cast, alongside IU and Byeon Woo Seok. Scroll ahead to know everything we know so far about this upcoming royal romance drama. Confirmed cast of Wife of a 21st Century Prince The cast of Wife of a 21st Century Prince features some amazing talent. IU plays Sung Hee Joo, a smart and competitive chaebol heiress who enters a contract marriage to gain noble status. Byeon Woo Seok stars as Prince Lee Wan, a prince with royal status but no real power, who changes after meeting Hee Joo. Non Sang Hyun and Gong Seun Yeon are the new additions to the cast. Noh portrays Prime Minister Min Jung Woo, an intelligent and eligible bachelor who is friends with the prince and has ties to Hee Joo. Gong plays Yoon Yi Rang, a woman born to be queen who will do anything to protect her royal future. Wife of a 21st Century Prince: Release window The drama is slated to premiere in 2026 as an MBC Friday-Saturday series, bringing its unique love story to prime-time weekend television. Wife of a 21st Century Prince synopsis Wife of a 21st Century Prince is set in an alternate version of modern Korea, where the country is still governed by a constitutional monarchy. The story follows Sung Hee Joo (IU), a smart and confident chaebol heiress who has everything except noble blood. When her commoner status becomes a problem, she enters a contract marriage with Lee Wan (Byeon Woo Seok), a quiet and reluctant prince who holds the title but none of the power. Hee Joo wants nobility, and Lee Wan is searching for an identity beyond being a prince. What starts as a strategic alliance soon becomes more complicated as they navigate palace politics while dealing with emotions they didn't sign up for. Is there a trailer for IU and Byeon Woo Seok's drama? No, details related to the drama, including a trailer, have not yet been shared. The first look of characters has also been awaited, as fans eagerly anticipate what IU and Byeon Woo Seok have in store. IU and Byeon Woo Seok set the record straight about their drama Last month, some reports suggested the drama was cancelled and that Byeon Woo Seok and IU had backed out of the project. However, both actors' teams have denied these claims, confirming that the stars are fully committed and actively preparing for their roles. Fans can rest easy knowing the highly anticipated drama is still on track! For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, passed away at the age of 88 on Monday after suffering from double pneumonia. The news was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, one of the most prominent figures in the Catholic Church, on the Vatican's TV channel. On Sunday morning, Pope Francis had his final meeting with the US vice president, JD Vance, who is currently on a tour of India and arrived here on Monday. The duo exchanged Easter greetings during their brief meeting on Sunday. Francis did not attend the annual Good Friday procession for the third consecutive year in a row due to his long illness. JD Vance and Pope Francis meet US Vice President JD Vance met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, just before the pontiff delivered a sermon calling on political leaders to support vulnerable individuals. Vatican in a statement mentioned that Pope Francis had a brief private encounter that lasted for a few minutes in order to exchange good wishes on Easter Day. Credit: X JD Vance shares an emotional note for Pope Francis As soon as the news broke, JD Vance, who is currently in India and met the Pope briefly on Sunday, shared a post on X (formerly called Twitter), and he remembered his last visit with the Pope. The post read, "I just learnt of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him." "I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul," he added. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025 Europe mourns Pope Francis's demise Apart from Vance, Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, expressed deep sorrow at Pope Francis's demise and said, His contagious smile captured millions of peoples hearts across the globe." Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. The Peoples Pope will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, and compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace." Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His contagious smile captured millions of peoples hearts across the globe. The Peoples Pope will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace pic.twitter.com/LsqYREynVP Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) April 21, 2025 Is it really over for Taylor Swift? Has the music queen lost her status as the youngest self-made billionaire woman? Well, as per Forbes, this is true, as recently a 30-year-old serial entrepreneur, Lucy Guo, has crossed the pop icon Taylor Swift's youngest billionaire rank. This milestone aligns with a significant financial advancement for her former startup, Scale AI, which is approaching a tender offer scheduled for June 1. The deal, valuing the AI data annotation firm at $25 billion, is an 80 per cent jump from its $13.8 billion valuation last May. Credit: X But who is Lucy Guo? Lucy Guo is a 30-year-old co-founder of Scale AI. A company pivotal to the AI industry, she co-founded it in 2016. The firm focused on offering important data organisation for machine learning models. The clients of Scale AI include the US government and OpenAI. Guo is a first-generation Chinese-American from the Bay Area who taught herself to code in middle school. She also briefly attended Carnegie Mellon University and then left to join the Thiel Fellowship, a $100,000 grant programme for young entrepreneurs founded by Peter Thiel, famously known as Donald Trump's man in Silicon Valley. Despite leaving years ago, Scale AI's 30-year-old cofounder has become the youngest self-made woman billionaire in the world by holding onto her stake in the company. Read more: https://t.co/MEXRUggrmF pic.twitter.com/scXNsn2ddP Forbes (@Forbes) April 18, 2025 Not only that, but it was PayPal co-founder and venture capitalist Peter Thiel who introduced his mentee, JD Vance, to US President Donald Trump in 2021. Lucy Guo's link with Elon Musk On the other hand, before Scale AI was launched, Guo worked at Quora, where she met Alexandr Wang, the co-founder, and following this, she worked at Snapchat. After this, when she left Scale, she launched Backend Capital, a venture capital company, and invested in some startups like Ramp, which is now valued in the billions. Guo, as mentioned, also joined the Thiel Fellowship that provides $100,000 and mentorship to young innovators. Interestingly, Thiel's venture fund, Founders Fund, was also an early investor in various companies of Elon Musk, including space cargo and brain-chip startup Neuralink. Pope Francis died at 88: Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, has sadly died at the age of 88. The Vatican officially confirmed the news on Monday, April 21, 2025. His death followed a long struggle with health problems, including a serious case of double pneumonia in recent times. Lets take a closer look at Pope Franciss early life, education, career, and the legacy he leaves behind as one of the most influential religious leaders in modern history. Pope Francis Died at 88: Vatican Announces with Deep Sadness On the morning of April 21, 2025, Cardinal Kevin Farrell shared the heartbreaking news with the world via the Vatican's official TV channel. Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis, he said. He added, At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. With Pope Francis died, the Church has now entered a period of mourning. As per tradition, the conclavethe meeting of cardinals to select the next popewill begin in 15 to 20 days. Pope Francis' Early Life: Humble Beginnings in Argentina Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the pic.twitter.com/QKod5yTXrB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2025 Pope Francis' early life began in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936. He came from a working-class Italian immigrant family. Before discovering his calling in religion, young Jorge studied to become a chemical technician and even worked in the food industry. At the age of 21, he faced a serious health issuea severe case of pneumoniawhich led to the removal of part of his lung. But this did not stop him from following his spiritual path. Pope Francis Education: Strong Academic and Spiritual Foundation Pope Francis' education began in 1958 when he joined the Jesuit novitiate, beginning his formal religious training. He studied humanities in Chile and earned a degree in philosophy from a university in Buenos Aires. After completing his studies, he taught literature and psychology at high schools while continuing his theological training. In 1969, Bergoglio was ordained as a priest and took his final vows as a Jesuit in 1973. Pope Francis' Career: From Jesuit Leader to the Head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis career in the Church was marked by steady progress and commitment. He served as the leader of the Jesuits in Argentina between 1973 and 1979a time when Argentina was facing political turmoil under military rule. Though his actions during this period were debated, he later revealed that he had secretly helped several people flee the oppressive regime. In the 1980s, he worked as a seminary rector, theology teacher, and also studied in Germany. He was appointed as an auxiliary bishop in 1992, became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. Becoming Pope: A Historic Moment in 2013 The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 created an opening that led to a historic moment. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th pope, taking the name Pope Francis in honour of St. Francis of Assisiknown for his humility and service to the poor. This marked a series of firsts: the first American pope, the first from South America, and the first Jesuit pope. Legacy of Pope Francis: Humility, Reforms, and Global Impact During his 12-year leadership, Pope Francis brought a new voice to the Catholic Church. He focused on helping the poor, reforming outdated systems, and promoting global peace. He formed a special council of eight cardinals to advise him on Church matters, something never done before. One of his most important works was the 2015 encyclical Laudato si, where he addressed the climate crisis and called for stronger environmental protection. Pope Francis also made headlines for reaching out to people of other faiths and even non-believers. His words, Christ has redeemed all of us, reflected a message of unity and compassion. How much was Pope Franciss salary? Unlike many other religious leaders, Pope Francis chose not to accept a salary, even though he had the right to one. Traditionally, popes are paid a monthly wage, estimated to be around $32,000. But since becoming pope in 2013, he has refused to take this pay. Instead, he donates the money to charity, gives it to the church, or sets it aside in a trust. What was Pope Franciss net worth? Although Pope Francis didnt take a salary, his net worth was estimated to be around $16 million, according to a report in ET. Most of this wealth comes from the assets given to him as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. These include: Five cars for his use Various church-owned properties Other perks related to his role Even with access to these resources, Pope Francis has continued to live simply, staying true to his values as a Jesuit priest. A Lasting Influence on the Church and the World Now that Pope Francis has died, the world mourns a leader who stood for simplicity, kindness, and inclusion. His influence went far beyond the Vatican, touching the lives of millions globally. Even though he is no longer with us, his teachings and reforms will continue to inspire future generations. Pope Francis' early life, Pope Francis education, and Pope Francis career show us how a humble boy from Argentina became a spiritual guide for millions. May he rest in peace. FAQs: Did Pope Francis have a wife or children? No, Pope Francis did not have a wife or children. As a priest, he took a vow of celibacy, meaning he promised not to marry or have children so he could fully dedicate his life to the Church and its followers. Pope Francis has often spoken about his commitment to serving the Church and its people. How old was Pope Francis when he died? Pope Francis died at the age of 88. Why was Pope Francis so famous? Pope Francis was known for being friendly, humble, and easy to relate to. He is also the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope. Who was the oldest pope to live? Pope Leo XIII was the oldest pope, passing away at 93 in 1903. Who was the youngest pope? Pope Benedict IX was the youngest pope ever elected. He became pope at just 12 years oldan age when most children are still in school. Is there an age limit to becoming a pope? No, there is no age limit to becoming pope. However, since the early 15th century, no pope has been younger than 44. John XII is believed to be the youngest pope in history. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday embarked on a visit to Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum where he is scheduled to prese ... An AI-generated video featuring pop star Katy Perry has taken the internet by storm. The surreal clip, which blends satire with sci-fi absurdity, has gone viral within hours and appears to poke fun at Katys much-talked-about space trip last week which already had people talking, though mostly for the wrong reasons. Katy Perry's AI-generated video goes viral The now-viral clip, originally posted by @kaxishk, opens with an AI-generated version of Katy Perry arriving on a strange alien planet in her blue space suit. Things escalate quickly in the most bizarre way possible. Set to the background music of Perry's song All The Love, the animated version of her is seen taking selfies with aliens, striking dramatic poses, and blending into extraterrestrial society. But it just doesn't end there. She falls in love with a tall, blue alien, gets proposed to under a glowing nebula, marries in a zero-gravity ceremony, and ends up with a quirky half-human, half-alien family. Its absurd, strangely compelling, and clearly satirical, which is meant to mock the spectacle of her real-life space antics. Netizens react to the video Social media users havent missed a beat in turning the AI clip into a memefest. "This video is wild but this should have been the lead single for this album & I will die on that hill," one user wrote. "She found her people," wrote another user. This video is wild but this should have been the lead single for this album & I will die on that hill https://t.co/vmGtiPJLDF reed (@high_off_reed) April 20, 2025 Another joked, "Its Not The End of the World part 2 the aliens got her this time." Its Not The End of the World part 2 the aliens got her this time https://t.co/LZo2MP4gqN rat (@caspa_theghostt) April 20, 2025 A third user took a dig at short space trip, writing, "she shoulda made a new ET music video while she was up there but alas, she was in orbit for less than the songs runtime." she shoulda made a new ET music video while she was up there but alas, she was in orbit for less than the songs runtime https://t.co/ePY4RhieoB jenna (@jennaplt) April 20, 2025 "Why do they look disappointed in her?" one user asked. Why do they look disappointed in her? https://t.co/MK1VTByNfS yapper (@yapperbutfruty) April 19, 2025 About Katy Perry's space trip On April 14, 2025, Katy Perry joined Blue Origins NS-31 mission a suborbital spaceflight that made headlines for featuring the first all-female crew since 1963. The 10-minute flight launched from West Texas and reached the edge of space before safely returning to Earth. Alongside Perry were Jeff Bezos's fiancee Lauren Sanchez, CBS host Gayle King, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, activist Amanda Nguyen, and producer Kerianne Flynn. The mission aimed to inspire young women in STEM fields, but it sparked mixed reactions. While some praised its symbolism, others criticised it as a tone-deaf publicity stunt with environmental consequences. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended two suspected kidnappers, including a woman, in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state. The police identified the suspects as Celestine Onuyia, described as a native doctor who reportedly prepares charms and hides the gangs weapons, and Jacinta Okolo, said to be part of the kidnapping group. SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police spokesman, confirmed this in a press statement on Sunday. Advertisement During the operation, security operatives reportedly seized various weapons, such as two AK-47 rifles, a pair of empty AK-47 magazines, seven single-barrel Dane guns, and 28 live cartridges. READ MORE: Anambra Police Rescue Two Kidnap Victims, Arrest Suspects Ikenga stated that details obtained from the suspects during interrogation helped the police recover an additional two AK-47 rifles along with two empty magazines. He said, Police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad/Anti-kidnapping Unit on April 13, 2025 arrested one Celestine Onuyia M aged 52 years and Jacinta Okolo Udenka F aged 45 years all residents of Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area and during a search in their house, recovered one pump action gun, seven single barrel dane guns and twenty-eight live cartridges. Information also revealed that Mr Celestine is allegedly a native doctor who provides criminal charms and keeps the weapons for the gang. At the same time, Mrs Jacinta gets information about their victims before they execute their evil plans. Similarly, the operatives acting on information earlier extracted from the suspects during their interrogation today April 20, 2025, recovered two more AK47 rifles and two empty magazines in their criminal hideout at Omasi, Ayamelum LGA. The operatives have since been investigating a kidnap incident that occurred at Nnewi in July 2024, where a ransom of N17,500 was collected before the victim was released from their captivity. He relayed the assurance of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, reaffirming the commands commitment to thoroughly pursue all cases until every suspect is brought to justice. This measure is critical to the ongoing efforts to prevent further criminal activities in the State, he added. Some angry Nigeria stormed major streets in Jos, Plateau State, on Monday morning over the continued killings of indigenous residents by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants. The demonstrations, led by Christian leaders including the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, commenced on Monday morning at the Fawvwei Junction community road, causing a heavy gridlock and stranding commuters. The latest protest comes amid a surge in violent attacks by gunmen in various communities, with over 100 people killed in Bokkos and Bassa LGAS in the past two weeks. Advertisement READ MORE: Defend Yourselves Against Bandits, Dont Wait For Govt Danjuma Tells Nigerians Amid Plateau, Benue Killings One of the protesters said: We are not happy over the continuous attacks and killings by gunmen in our communities. Thats why we have come out again to protest these happenings. The protesters with placards with different inscriptions were seen marching towards the Rayfield Government House. The family of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government over what it described as a coordinated attempt to manipulate public opinion through negative media coverage. According to the family, the resurgence of alleged false reports linking IPOB to insecurity in the South-East appears to be a deliberate effort aimed at discrediting Kanu ahead of his upcoming court appearance on April 29, 2025. In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja and signed by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the family accused the government of using the media to spread misinformation and shape narratives that would cast the detained activist in a negative light. Advertisement The statement pointed to the timing of recent media headlines alleging arrests of IPOB members in Imo State and the recovery of large sums of money. The family insisted these were coordinated stories aimed at influencing court proceedings and tarnishing Kanus reputation globally. While condemning the trend, the family also expressed dismay over the silence of the Nigerian authorities and media regarding the continuous violence by armed herdsmen across the country. It questioned why IPOB is consistently targeted while other security threats go underreported. They also demanded the formation of an independent investigative panel involving representatives from the U.S. and European Union to uncover the real causes of insecurity in the region. We, on behalf of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and his family, write to address the relentless and orchestrated campaign of misinformation being peddled by the Nigerian government through sponsored adverse media coverage The National Assembly has officially adjusted the resumption date for its plenary sessions, pushing it forward by one week. Originally slated to reconvene on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, both the Senate and House of Representatives will now resume on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. This decision comes amid preparations for the annual Workers Day celebration and other constituency-related engagements lawmakers are expected to attend to during the extended break. The notification, which was circulated on by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, was addressed to lawmakers and the wider public. Advertisement It emphasised the reason behind the shift and urged everyone concerned to take note of the new schedule. I am directed to inform Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, and the general public that the two Houses of the National Assembly have extended the date for the resumption of plenary sessions from Tuesday, 29th April 2025, to Tuesday, 6th May 2025. This extension allows Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to participate in the Workers Day ceremony and attend to other engagements in their constituencies. Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, and the general public are invited to take note of the new resumption date. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. While plenary sessions remain on hold, its expected that lawmakers will continue behind-the-scenes engagements, especially in light of President Bola Tinubus recent transmission of four new tax reform bills to the legislature, including the renaming of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). The extended break provides a window for lawmakers to interface with constituents, especially at a time when public attention is focused on pressing national issues. Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, recently expressed his view on the importance of the northern region in determining the outcome of Nigerias 2027 presidential election. In a viral video interview, Baba-Ahmed, a prominent figure advocating for northern interests, emphasized that no candidate could secure the presidency without gaining the support of the North. During the interview issued on Sunday, Baba-Ahmed, who appeared alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, underscored the growing political awareness in the North. Advertisement He stressed that the region would no longer back politicians who fail to understand or address its challenges, including the devastating effects of the Boko Haram insurgency. Baba-Ahmed voiced concern over the current state of the nation and urged the northern electorate to reject politicians who sow division or promote deceptive agendas. He warned that continued marginalization of the North could have serious repercussions for the countrys unity and future stability. He also alluded to the possibility of electoral manipulation, cautioning that any attempt to rig the 2027 elections would be disastrous for Nigeria. If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It wont be good for Nigeria, he cautioned. Having recently resigned his advisory position, Baba-Ahmed reiterated that the North would soon define its political stance, and the rest of the country would have to decide whether to align with it. His remarks reflect growing discontent in the North, with Baba-Ahmed calling for an end to perceived injustices. The injustice and sidelining must stop, he stated firmly. The North is watching, and soon, our elders, our masses, and our interest groups will say enough is enough. He insisted that the Norths decision would significantly influence the outcome of the upcoming election, with the regions backing being a crucial factor for any candidates success. We want a government that understands our problems and can address them, Baba-Ahmed said. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Showunmi, has said that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Peter Obi, stands a better chance of winning becoming a president if he return to the major opposition party. Mr. Showunmi noted that apart from Obis South East zone, the former Anambra State governor has the numbers to win in the South-South, the Christian North, and North Central. Speaking on Mic On Show podcast on Monday, the PDPs chieftain added that Mr. Obi has all it takes to become Nigerias president, but he must belong to a more established political party. Advertisement He said: Looking ahead to 2027, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria will open its processes, announce when the forms are available, and anyone who feels confident enough to contest should step forward and do so. If I were Peter Obi, I would return to the PDP and make a strong case for the presidential ticket. I believe he should come back to the party. READ MORE: Peter Obi Laments Nigerias Poor Health System, Charges Tinubu To Divert Borrowed Funds Into Education, Poverty Alleviation This party was originally conceived in the bedroom of Alex Ekwueme, so I dont understand why the Igbos, along with southern leaders and other influential figures within the PDP, cant come together and say, Alright, we recognise this heres the ticket. If Peter Obi could secure over six million votes on his own without governors or major support just imagine what he could achieve with 12 governors and a solid grassroots infrastructure. If his numbers and the animated energy that is following him were to follow him into the PDP and he is the presidential candidate, I can guarantee you Peter would take the south-east, Peter would take the south-south, Peter would take the Christian north, and Peter would take the north-central. Panic gripped Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State on Sunday following reports that four children were abducted by suspected child traffickers. According to PUNCH Online, two of the kidnapped children, Ebube and Miracle, are siblings, while the other two, Chimanda and Excel, are from a different family. The incident is said to have taken place in the Umuokwe area of the town. Advertisement Community members claimed that three women, who had recently moved into the area, were behind the abduction. READ MORE: Multiple Motor Accidents In Ogun Claim Four Lives Community sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation, disclosed that one of the women deceived the children by promising to buy them biscuits from a nearby store. It was when the children could not be seen around the compound that neighbours expressed concern. By the time the neighbours visited the ladies apartment, the room was empty as neither the occupants nor the children could be found, the sources explained. SP Bright Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, confirmed the incident when contacted on Sunday. Edafe stated that the landlady of the house had been taken into custody by the police. He said, The children were abducted three days after the women rented the apartment. It is true; the problem is that there is no link. They just came and said they wanted to rent an apartment and the landlady gave it to them with no details, no name, no phone number, no agreement and after three days, they carried four children. The landlady has been arrested because her actions are suspicious. The Catholic Church is in mourning following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that the Holy Father passed away peacefully at 7:35am on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at his residence in Casa Santa Marta. His passing came less than 24 hours after he made his final public appearance, greeting worshippers from a wheelchair at St Peters Square during Easter Sunday celebrations. Though visibly frail, he waved to the crowd and offered a warm Happy Easter, while an aide read his traditional message. Advertisement Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was a historic figure in many ways. Elected in 2013, he became the first pontiff from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first non-European Bishop of Rome in more than 1,200 years. Throughout his papacy, he advocated for compassion, simplicity, and a Church more attuned to the needs of the poor and marginalized. In keeping with his humble approach, Pope Francis requested a simple funeral. He will be buried in a wooden coffin lined with zinc, without the traditional triple-coffin burial or public viewing on a raised platform. He will also be the first pope in over a century to be laid to rest outside the Vaticanat the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome. A short while ago, Cardinal Farrell announced with sorrow: Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis, describing him as a humble servant of God and a powerful champion of the poor. In a statement on Monday, President Tinubu joined Catholic faithful and Christians around the world in mourning the death of the 266th Pope. Tinubu said that the late Pope served God and the Church till his death on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Advertisement He said: Today, with a heavy heart, I join the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a humble servant of God, tireless champion of the poor, and guiding light for millions. His passing, coming just after the celebration of Christs Resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians. READ MORE: Pope Francis Passes Away At 88 On Easter Monday His Holiness served the Church and the Master of the Church until the end. In 2013, he stepped onto the global stage with a message of mercy, urging us to see the face of Christ in the marginalised, the refugees, the migrants, and the forgotten. He was an instrument of peace who deeply embodied the message of Christ: love for God and love for humanity. In a time of division, he built bridges between faiths and the rich and the poor. Alas, the Lord called him home a day after, making the world lose its most trenchant voice for justice and action against climate change. May the good Lord, whom he served with all his might, receive him into His eternal bosom. As we mourn the late Pontiff, let us also celebrate his legacy. Let us honour him not with words alone but with action: by lifting those who are down, healing our communities, and defending the dignity of every person. On behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, I extend condolences to the Catholic Church, the global Catholic community, and the Christian faithful. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has disclosed that lawmakers are working on legislation to allow states to establish their own police forces, in response to Nigerias deepening security crisis. This development comes amidst increasing pressure on the federal government to decentralize policing and give states more authority in managing internal security. Bamidele, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, explained that the move is part of wider efforts to combat violence, kidnappings, and criminal activity that have plagued states like Benue, Plateau, and Borno. The proposal for state police, which has long been a subject of national debate, is gaining renewed traction following fresh waves of attacks in these areas. Many Nigerians, including prominent figures like former Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), have grown increasingly vocal about the need for citizens to seek alternative means of protection. Bamidele, however, remains hopeful that the legislative changes underway will restore peace and security. The recent killings in Benue and Plateau States outrightly negate the virtues of peace and love that Jesus Christ taught during His days, Bamidele said. The Senate Leader also called for national unity and responsible dialogue, urging political and religious leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric. He reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th National Assembly to push forward the state police framework as a means to foster peace, accountability, and localized law enforcement. Bamidele emphasised that collaboration between security agencies and stakeholders is essential in tracking the masterminds behind these violent incidents. He urged all Nigerians to work together in building a safer and more united country. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to reverse ban placed on Eedris Abdulkareems song, Tell Your Papa by the National Broadcasting Commission. SERAP urged the court to declare that NBCs directive issued on April 9, 2025, to all broadcast stations in Nigeria, banning the airing of the song, as unlawful and violates the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom. The organisation, in the suit is also seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the NBC either jointly or group, from preventing the airing of Abdulkareems song on all broadcast stations and similar media platforms in Nigeria. Advertisement In an affidavit attached to the suit, SERAP argued that banning the song is inconsistent with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom. The plaintiff maintained that freedom of expression is a fundamental aspect of a democratic society and extends to information or ideas that may offend, shock, or disturb, particularly in political discourse and commentary on public affairs. SERAP stated: Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is extensive and intrusive, infringing on the fundamental rights of freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom. All individuals enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and creativity, as well as the enjoyment of the arts. The ban on Eedris song fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality. READ MORE: Tell Your Papa: Wole Soyinka Knocks NBC For Banning Eedris Abdulkareems Song The necessity requirement also entails assessing the proportionality of the reasons given, ensuring that claims of objectionable nature and public decency are not used as a pretext to censor Eedris song and unduly infringe upon Nigerians human rights. All expressions, artistic or otherwise, are protected under the right to freedom of expression. The NBC directive contradicts and undermines the right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity. The vitality of artistic creativity is essential for the functioning of democratic societies. Banning or removing creative expressions from public access restricts artistic freedom. It is inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and international human rights obligations to use vague and overly broad justifications like objectionable nature and public decency to ban Eedris song. The NBCs action is arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional, violating section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Nigeria is a signatory. Media freedom and plurality are crucial for effectively exercising freedom of expression. The media plays a vital role as a public watchdog in conveying information of significant public concern and should not be hindered or intimidated from fulfilling this role. While the media may be subject to certain restrictions for the protection of vital state interests, such as national security or public health, it must retain its ability to operate freely. The Emir of Yashikira, Umoru Seriki, has expressed grave concern over a growing terrorist group called Mahmuda that is reportedly occupying parts of Kwara and Niger States. According to Seriki, the authorities have been neglecting these regions, leaving local communities vulnerable to attacks. He voiced his frustration during an interview on Monday, saying that the people of these areas feel abandoned by the government, which denies the existence of the terrorist group. Advertisement Seriki highlighted that the terror group has been causing havoc in Baruten, Kaiama, and parts of Borgu Kingdom in Niger State. In recent weeks, the group targeted local vigilante groups, bombing a security vehicle funded by the community. Though the vigilantes survived the attack, some sustained injuries. The Emir confirmed that casualties occurred on both sides, but media reports exaggerating the numbers, particularly the claim of 15 deaths, are false. We are totally demoralized, we are not happy with what the authorities are saying that there is no presence of terrorists in our domains, Seriki lamented. We are not happy and we feel abandoned by the government and left on our own, but as the situation is, we have no choice than to continue to defend ourselves. In response to the security situation, the Kwara State Police Command dismissed the claims, insisting that their ongoing intelligence and security operations found no evidence of a terrorist presence. The police, through their spokesperson, assured the public that no insurgent activity had been observed and that they continue to maintain a firm grip on border areas near the Kainji Lake National Park. They also urged the public and media to avoid spreading unverified information that could cause panic. Despite the official stance, Seriki and local residents continue to live in fear, pleading for urgent government intervention to secure their communities. It was gathered that the abduction occurred between 17:00-18:00 hours, on Saturday, while the passengers were on board in a Sienna vehicle owned by Olumoh Express transport company, heading to Offa from Abuja. This was confirmed in a statement by the Spokesperson for Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi on Sunday. Advertisement She said: Armed hoodlums numbering about eight reportedly intercepted a Sienna bus registered FFA 50XD, heading to Offa from Abuja and forcefully abducted seven occupants including the driver. READ MORE: Masquerades, Angry Residents Protest Crazy Electricity Bill In Kwara Upon receipt of the information, police operatives in collaboration with local vigilantes, responded swiftly to the scene. The vehicle was recovered to the nearest police formation. During a coordinated search of the surrounding bush, three children aged between two and 12 years were located and safely rescued. One of the children was able to give the police detailed information of her guardian who was contacted and the three rescued children have been reunited with their relatives. The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to resist any attempt by Governor Peter Mbah to join the party, declaring that he is not welcome under any circumstance. This stance was reiterated during an expanded stakeholders meeting held on Sunday at the partys secretariat in Enugu, where hundreds of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) formally joined the APC. Among the new members were former commissioners, political aspirants, and other notable figures from previous elections. Advertisement Addressing the gathering, APC State Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, took aim at the Mbah administration, accusing it of failing to address the escalating insecurity in the state. He specifically cited the surge in killings and kidnappings in Isi-Uzo and Uzo-Uwani Local Government Areas, where armed herdsmen allegedly operate with impunity. The leaders condemned the apparent inaction of the state government and its strenuous efforts to suppress the news of the killings. The party declared that the Peter Mbah-led government has failed in its primary duty of protecting lives and property of citizens of Enugu state. Agballah stated that the APC is fully prepared to take over the reins of power in Enugu by 2027. He warned that acts of disloyalty and anti-party behavior would no longer be tolerated, stressing that anyone found culpable would be suspended. He also blamed past electoral setbacks on internal sabotage, promising a renewed effort to cleanse the party of such elements. According to him, the APC is witnessing a resurgence, buoyed by a steady influx of new members, and he assured the defectors of equal rights and opportunities within the party. One of the defectors, Peter Okonkwo, pledged to dismantle the PDPs influence in the Nsukka zone ahead of the next election cycle. Nigerian influencer, Geh Geh, has shared his thoughts on Davidos recently released fifth studio album, 5ive, which dropped on April 18, 2025. In a post on X on Monday, Geh Geh described the album as a mid one and explained why he feels it falls short. He criticised Davido for featuring unnecessary collaborations, particularly with Chris Brown, stating that many fans might not be interested in such partnerships. Advertisement READ MORE: Davido Ventures Into Filmmaking, Promises Exciting Movie Projects Geh Geh also suggested that the artist could have made better choices by collaborating with emerging talents rather than established stars. Additionally, Geh Geh expressed disappointment over the lack of musical evolution in Davidos sound. He pointed out that the artists style has remained unchanged over the years, saying, Davido is not evolving; you no dey change, your brand is the same. E just be like say since the days of Dami Duro nothing really change about Davido. Even the sound no dey evolve. Tu Huynh, City Hall's curator of exhibitions and programs, sits in his office, surrounded by art fashioned from found objects, part of "Made and Remade The Art of Philadelphia Dumpster Divers." Read more Vibrant portraits of Black girls hang in three eight-foot display cases near the Mayors Reception Room in City Hall. Other artifacts from the Colored Girls Museum dolls, tea sets, rugs, and books complement the paintings. The Colored Girls Museums portraits stand in bright contrast to the 99 austere ones of Philadelphia mayors mounted on the walls of the cavernous reception room. Here, citizens network, celebrate community wins, and shake Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers hand under the watchful gaze of past mayors. Advertisement People may not think of the hallowed walls in City Hall as gallery space, but thats exactly how Tu Huynh, the buildings curator of exhibitions and programs, wants Philadelphians to see them. He has organized municipal art shows speaking to Philadelphias diversity for 22 years, curating more than 300 exhibitions centering contemporary issues ranging from gun violence to climate change through the lens of Philadelphians, especially its marginalized communities. Thats extremely important, Huynh says, especially now when the voices and rights of the LGBTQI community, immigrants, brown people, Black people, and women are in the midst of being silenced. This is the most important building in the entire city, said Huynh, whose quiet intonation coveys an unwavering dedication to the arts. We have the Mayors Office, City Council, courtroom up the wazoo all visited by our citizens we want [them] to know [they] are welcome to be a part of the democratic process. Our art is democracy in action. The peoples building Four exhibitions are running concurrently in City Hall right now. One is The Colored Girls Museums Life Doesnt Frighten Me Anymore, which celebrates the Germantown museums 10-year anniversary, and features eight installations two in the lobby and six on the second floor. Black women work in City Hall, we are present on the streets surrounding City Hall, said Vashti Dubois, founder and executive director of the house museum. But in this exhibit [and] with these artifacts you can find in ordinary Black womens homes, we are providing a more intimate experience with Black women. Other current exhibits include Neuroinclusion & Neurodiversity Under One Roof The Peoples Roof, featuring paintings of 75 children and adults living with autism and Philadelphia Cultures and Connections: Artworks by Individuals with Disabilities with delicate ceramics and watercolors from 30 local artists with a range of developmental challenges. These exhibits are in places of power, Huynh said. Subconsciously, I want to remind the council members, the judges, the politicians to walk by and see whats happening in their own backyard. Made and Remade The Art of the Philadelphia Dumpster Divers" features work that 15 artists fashioned from found objects. The 30 wall hangings in Creative Philadelphia offices, where the citys public arts programs are housed, add a rustic pop to the white walls. Where else can you go in the city and see so many examples of art that appreciate how different we all are? asked Huynh, 54, from his office. Vintage black and white photographs of Nina Simone, Harriet Tubman, and W.E.B. Du Bois are affixed behind his desk. People are people. They have their life experiences and they want to show it and share it. You cant deny that. Dedicated to the art Huynh was 4 when he, his mom, and three brothers left Vietnam in the 1970s during the fall of Saigon. I remember I didnt have any shoes on, said Huynh. We left on a helicopter my uncle piloted and flew out into the South China Sea. We were transferred to an aircraft carrier ship and [then] a military ship that took us to the Philippines and Guam before we settled in Miami. Huynh painted through his childhood, inspired by the artist Christo, known for installating pink fabric across the Miami islands. He attended University of Florida, graduating in 1995 with an art degree, specializing in painting. He moved to Philadelphia in 2000 and took a job at the African American Museum as an assistant curator and exhibits assistant before working for the city. Im fortunate enough to work with so many people committed to civil rights through the arts, disability rights through the arts, and restorative justice through the arts, he said. As a part of his job, Huynh fields proposals from community organizations and invites arts institutions like the Colored Girls Museum to show their work. Exhibits remain on display for two months and are open to the public when City Hall is open. Huynhs budget is less than $10,000 a year, barely enough to pay arts organizations a small stipend, host receptions, print exhibition materials, and promote the shows. Earlier this year Creative Philadelphia was awarded a $300,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation, allowing Huynh to replace several display cases. What Tu does isnt just about visual arts, said Valerie Gay, chief cultural officer for Creative Philadelphia. He sacrifices to make space for community artists and organizations to come together and tell their own stories through their own lenses. 40 years of art in City Hall In 1985, City Councilmember Joan Specter teamed with Mayor Wilson Goode for City Halls first art exhibit. The next year, the City Representatives Office of Arts and Culture was established as part of the City Commerce department. There were just a few exhibits a year and most showed work from professional artists. It wasnt until Huynh came on board in 2003 that the program was expanded to include community organizations and self-taught artists. That effort, however, was short-lived. Former Mayor John F. Street closed the Office of Arts and Culture in 2004 and Huynhs job was moved to the department of public property. In 2008, former Mayor Michael Nutter reopened the office, renaming it the Office of Arts and Culture and the Creative Economy, placing it under the Creative Arts umbrella. He did that during the Great Recession, Huynh said. It was such a big deal because usually the arts are the first thing to go. Huynh has ensured the pulse of the city is on the walls of City Hall, with exhibits honoring Mother Bethel, the school district, and the citys nonbinary community. He collaborated with Rue Landau last November to curate Transcending Uncertainty: Art Endures at Home, in response to the abrupt closing of the University of the Arts. He has also curated two permanent exhibitions outside of City Hall. "The Reverend Dr. Leon H. Sullivan Centennial Exhibition" honoring the life of the Philadelphia civil rights and social justice leader, lives in Terminal A of Philadelphia International Airport. Huynh was also behind Remembering MOVE: May 13, 1985 on exhibit in the lobby of the Municipal Services building. Its about cultural heritage and legacy and keeping these very important parts of Philadelphia history alive, Huynh said. Roger Hanks pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of third-degree murder during a hearing at the Chester County Justice Center. Read more The friends and loved ones of Judy and Emily Hanks spent Monday afternoon telling a Chester County judge how the cowardly and inhumane act of someone close to them forever robbed the world of the light their lives provided. I can not fathom what could be in the mind or in the soul of a person who could commit such an atrocious act not just once, but twice, Jessica Niewold, one of Emilys longtime friends, said to Emilys father and killer, Roger Hanks, who was sentenced to life in prison for murdering her and her mother last year. Advertisement But if the motive was to dim their light, dim their bond, or dim the gifts that they were to their friends and communities, it will not happen. Last April, Hanks, drunk and angry, threatened to plug his wife with a 9mm handgun he was cleaning in their house in East Marlborough Township, prosecutors said. Judy Hanks, 75, had admonished her husband for doing little to help her and his daughter, who had been released hours earlier from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for treatment of a chronic medical condition. Hanks, 77, made good on his threat, shooting his wife in the neck and then his 37-year-old daughter in her chest as she rushed toward him in shock and anger, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Michelle Frei. He pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of third-degree murder, triggering a mandatory life sentence under state law. He entered the plea the day before what would have been his daughters 38th birthday. Hanks, now confined to a wheelchair and hard of hearing, declined to make a statement to Chester County Judge Thomas McCabe. Before handing down the sentence, McCabe told the dense crowd of the two womens friends and co-workers that the court will remember them not as victims, but as people of light and hope. Corinne Sweeney agreed. Sweeney told McCabe that she had lived next door to the Hankses for years and that her house became a second home for Judy Hanks. The women grocery-shopped for each other, spent countless summer hours in Sweeneys pool, and watched their daughters grow up together. Those memories were forever tainted, she said, when Hanks called her last April 25 to tell her that he had shot his wife and daughter and asked her to call the police. She took such good care of you and Emily, and you gave nothing, Sweeney told Hanks, who did not turn to meet her gaze in the courtroom. She always cared for you, and you just sat around drinking and feeling sorry for yourself until you committed the ultimate act of selfishness. After the shooting, while en route to Paoli Hospital because of a high level of intoxication, Hanks told police that he killed his family, prosecutors said Monday. At the time, Hanks blood alcohol level was .327, more than three times the 0.08 limit for driving. He told investigators that he had been drinking beer and Irish whiskey throughout the day as he waited for his wife to return home with his daughter from Penn. Emily Hanks, who worked for an insurance company in the Chicago area, had been hospitalized there for nearly a week and was looking forward to recuperating in the safety of her childhood home, according to her loved ones. But that house was far from safe for her and her mother. Emilys absence is felt in ways both immense and intimate, said Lindsay Raleigh, another longtime friend. In the milestones she wont reach, the conversations we cant have and the simple act of walking of walking through neighborhoods we once called ours. File photo of Temple T logo flags on North Broad Street on the campus of Temple University. Read more Hundreds of young people caused chaos near Temple Universitys campus over the weekend, and at least five people were assaulted and more than seven arrests were made, police and university officials said. Temple University police were in the area of Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue around 7 p.m. Saturday as a group of young people gathered there, said Jennifer Griffin, Temples vice president of public safety, and Jodi Bailey Accavallo, Temples vice president for student affairs, in a joint letter to students Sunday. Advertisement Campus police and city police officers had been assigned to the area because many public schools were on spring break, officials said. At first, the throngs of young people remained orderly, but they soon became unruly and Temple police called for more officers from city police to help try to disperse the crowd, Griffin said in a Monday interview. Young people began running in and out of traffic, throwing water bottles, and getting into fights with students, said Griffin, throwing the large gathering into pandemonium. Two Temple students were assaulted, officials said, one near Temple Towers, a student housing complex in the 1200 block of Cecil B. Moore, and the other in the area of 12th Street and Montgomery Avenue. Both students were treated and released, said Griffin. Two other students were pushed to the ground but did not need medical attention, officials said. A Philadelphia police spokesperson said a large crowd of 800 to 1,000 had gathered after a party, and police made several arrests for disorderly conduct, a department spokesperson said. But a spokesperson for Temple University later said only around 300 juveniles ultimately gathered near campus. Police did not say how many arrests had been made. Incidents like these are deeply unsettling and completely unacceptable to both the university community and our neighbors. We cannot allow this type of behavior to become normalized in the area surrounding our campus, John Fry, president of Temple, said in a statement issued Monday. Fry said he would be speaking Monday evening with Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and added that it is imperative that we work together to identify interventions that will prevent future situations like this. Another large gathering of young people formed near campus Sunday night, causing more issues, Griffin said in a Monday interview. Though Sunday nights gathering, which formed shortly after 5:30 p.m., was smaller than Saturdays crowd, the large group of juveniles ultimately once again caused trouble, said Griffin. Three more people were assaulted amid the gathering, she said. One student was assaulted during a robbery but was not injured, she said. Multiple people pushed the student to the ground and took an undisclosed amount of cash from him and fled, she said. Temple University public safety released images of three people they say were involved in the robbery and asked anyone with information on the crime to call Temple University Police departments investigations unit at (215) 204-7178. Two juveniles who are not affiliated with the university were also assaulted, said Griffin. Temple University Police arrested seven people Sunday night and continue to investigate the weekends incidents, she said. Young people often gather near Temples campus in public spaces, Griffin said, and stay orderly in most cases. Temple public safety tries to anticipate these large gatherings by monitoring social media for meetups, she said. Temple Police, she said, did not have advance notice of the weekends activity. But the issue is one that is not isolated to the area near Temples campus, said Griffin, and the universitys public safety department is working with city police and community groups to try to prevent the gatherings from becoming unsafe. This is a larger issue that all of us have a responsibility for safety, said Griffin. We encourage parents to know where their children are, to follow their social media, because really this is a challenging situation that isnt just going to be solved by one strategy. We need everybody to be involved and help us." Anyone with information is asked to call Philadelphia Central Detectives at 215-686-3093 or the departments tip line at 215-686-8477. St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in North Philadelphia, shown in 2019, has a new interim CEO, Jodi Coombs. Read more St. Christophers Hospital for Children on Monday named Jodi Coombs as its interim CEO. The hospital executive from Missouri is replacing Rob Brooks, who has been in that job since Feb. 2024. Coombs, a neonatal intensive-care nurse by training, most recently worked as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Childrens Mercy Kansas City. Her five-year tenure at the 390-bed hospital ended in September. Advertisement Childrens Mercy is significantly larger than St. Chris. It had $2 billion in revenue in the year that ended June 30, 2024. During the same period, St. Chris had $313.5 million in revenue. The appointment of a new interim CEO comes as St. Chris financial condition is improving, thanks to state aid. The hospital is benefiting especially from its addition to the Philadelphia Hospital Assessment, which is expected to generate $76 million a year for five years for the safety-net hospital. Coombs starts Tuesday. Despite the use of the interim title, St. Chris is not conducting a national search for a new CEO, according to a spokesperson for the North Philadelphia nonprofit. The last permanent CEO at St. Chris was Don Mueller, who held the job from summer 2020 through early last year. Mueller did not permanently relocate to the region. State health officials blamed safety lapses at the hospital on Muellers absence in 2023 and ordered him to be in Philadelphia five days a week. St. Chris did not make Coombs or any board members available for interviews Monday. Drexel University and Tower Health own St. Chris in a 50-50 joint venture. 'Sunshine workshop' helps people with disabilities stitch brighter future in Zhanang county, SW China's Xizang People's Daily Online) 13:31, April 21, 2025 Dondrup Tsering makes a traditional Tibetan door curtain at an employment and entrepreneurship base in Zhanang county, Shannan city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. The base is dedicated to offering employment opportunities and entrepreneurship support to people with disabilities. (Photo/Tsering Norbu) Pasang Dawa, a tailor with a physical disability, carefully guided two pieces of dark blue fabric under a needle in a clothing processing workshop named "Sunshine workshop" in Zhanang county, Shannan city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Earning a monthly salary of 4,500 yuan ($616.44), the 38-year-old is able to support his family and has become a role model among young people in his village. Before taking on the job, he once felt his life had lost direction"like a kite with a broken string," as he put it. "Now I can even teach new workers to use the overlock machines," he said, proudly showing off a certificate of honor recognizing him as a "key employee." The "Sunshine workshop," operated by a local clothing manufacturer dedicated to poverty alleviation and disability support, is part of an employment and entrepreneurship base covering an area of nearly 5,000 square meters. Established in 2018 with government subsidies and enterprise-raised funds, the base has served as a "dream factory" that transforms the lives of people with disabilities. Over the past seven years, the factory has employed a total of 67 people, including 38 individuals with disabilities who are currently weaving a brighter future with their own hands. "By combining employment opportunities with support for entrepreneurship, we've helped nine people with disabilities and 10 formerly impoverished villagers start their own businesses," said Lhachung, an executive of the base. Employees sew Tibetan garments at an employment and entrepreneurship base in Zhanang county, Shannan city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. The base is dedicated to offering employment opportunities and entrepreneurship support to people with disabilities. (Photo/Tsering Norbu) Padma Drolkar, a female employee whose husband works in the same factory, enjoys a monthly income of over 6,000 yuan. "I used to feel like a burden to my family," she recalled. "Now, life is sweeter than yak butter tea." Drolma, one of the beneficiaries, used to be a member of a registered poor household in the locality. Now that she runs a traditional ethnic clothing store with support from the base, she can put her younger sister through college and has become an inspiration to her fellow villagers. According to Lhachung, the company's annual revenue has grown from 180,000 yuan in 2018 to 485,600 yuan in 2024, with an average yearly growth rate of 21.6 percent. Its products now reach beyond Shannan to prefecture-level cities including Nagqu and Ngari in the region. "We plan to expand to 80 positions within three years, further increasing the proportion of employees with disabilities," Lhachung said as he gently folded a freshly ironed, vibrantly colored Bangdian, a type of colorful, finely striped woolen ornament traditionally worn around the waist by Tibetan women. Lhachung, an executive of an employment and entrepreneurship base in Zhanang county, Shannan city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, organizes clothes in a store at the base. (Photo/Tsering Norbu) The company has brought in professional instructors to train its staff and organized skills competitions to cultivate more highly skilled workers. It has also supported employees with disabilities in sharpening their skillsall to help employees better adapt to market demands, Lhachung noted. In the base's showroom, school uniforms, traditional Tibetan outfits, and thick winter quilts lined the left wall, while plaques and certificates inscribed with honorary titles such as "outstanding disability support entity" and "national-level vocational training base for people with disabilities"adorned the right. Amidst the rhythmic sounds of sewing machines, Lhachung and his team discussed new designs for new orders. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the colorful Bangdian under the workers' hands and the hopeful smiles on their faceseach stitch sewing a brighter future. Photo shows fabric samples used for making traditional Tibetan clothing at an employment and entrepreneurship base in Zhanang county, Shannan city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. The base is dedicated to offering employment opportunities and entrepreneurship support to people with disabilities. (Photo/Tsering Norbu) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) The pandemics effects on Philadelphia look like they are finally starting to subside. Among the bright spots are a population back on the upswing, a 10-year low in the number of homicides and an overall decrease in violent crime, and the lowest poverty rate since the turn of the millennium, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts latest State of the City report, released Monday. Advertisement But struggles with overdose deaths, deep poverty, and homelessness remain. And where there was progress, much of it has not been spread equally across demographic groups. So, in many ways, Pews findings were something of a mixed bag for Philadelphia. Or, as the report puts it, the city may be entering a new and different phase post-pandemic. Many of these pandemic challenges are fading, said Katie Martin, project director at Pew. But there are new challenges, as well as some old, that the city is facing, Here are some of the reports takeaways. Homicides and shootings drop Homicides and shootings skyrocketed during the pandemic, but as of 2024, they were at their lowest levels in a decade, Pews report found. Last year, Philadelphia had 269 homicides, down a whopping 52% from the peak year of 2021, when there were 562 killings. Shootings, likewise, numbered 1,080 for 2024, representing a 54% drop from 2021, which tallied 2,325. Overall, Philadelphia recorded what Pew called its fewest violent crimes in the 21st century last year, with 13,088 recorded incidents of offenses like homicides, rapes, and robberies. That dramatic decrease brings the city to historically low violent crime levels, Martin said. During the pandemic, the fear was that this was a new plateau for Philadelphia, Martin said. It looks like theres a bell curve. READ MORE: Philly saw a historic drop in murders in 2024. What changed? A population turnaround? Philadelphias population increased for the first time in four years in 2024, growing by more than 10,000 residents in what was the citys first population expansion since the start of the pandemic. But the number of people living in the city was still down 1.9% compared with 2020. And, as Pews report notes, getting back to pre-pandemic numbers could be a challenge. Historically, the citys population growth has largely been attributable to immigration, with immigrants making up about 15% of the citys residents in 2023, the report found compared with just 9% in 2000. But with President Donald Trumps administration targeting immigration, the flow of immigrants into the country is likely to subside, which could pose some hurdles for the city in maintaining its current population levels, Pew said in its report. As a result, it remains unclear how Philadelphia and other cities with substantial foreign-born populations will be affected by changing federal policies on immigration. READ MORE: Philly added about 10,500 residents in 2024, starting to reverse pandemic decline Lower poverty, higher homelessness The citys poverty rate stood at 20.3% in 2023 the lowest it has been since the start of the new millennium. In fact, in the last decade, the proportion of city residents living in poverty defined as a household of four with an income of $32,150 or less has fallen by six points, meaning there are about 91,000 fewer people in that economic bracket, Pews report noted. But even with that decrease, about 320,000 residents still live below the poverty line, Martin said. And in recent years, there have been only marginal decreases in deep poverty, which is considered a household of four living on an annual income of $16,075 or less. Poverty rates are split largely along demographic lines, with Hispanic residents having the highest poverty rate, about 26% as of 2023. Still, that proportion has fallen sharply from 2013, when Hispanic residents had a 44% poverty rate, Pews report noted. But the actual number of Hispanic residents living in poverty has not declined, Martin said; rather, the citys Hispanic population has grown over that time. And while poverty has decreased in recent years, the number of residents experiencing homelessness in 2024 jumped 10% compared with 2023. A January 2024 count conducted by the city found 5,191 people experiencing homelessness, with a vast majority being adult (82.4%) males (61%) who are Black (66.5%) and non-Hispanic (88.7%), according to the report. Philadelphias median household income, meanwhile, remained well below the national average of $77,719, with 2023 seeing the citys median rise to $60,302 a 7% increase over 2022. READ MORE: Philly poverty rate sees largest drop in 10 years, but were still the poorest big city Fewer college grads, and less unemployment Unemployment in 2024 averaged about 4.5%, which was among the lowest levels in several decades, Pews report found, but it still remained above the national average of 4.1% and the metro areas 3.8% rate. Compared with other cities, Philly was about middle of the pack, with Washington (5.5%), Chicago (5.7%), and Detroit (9.5%) having higher unemployment. Martin, however, noted that the unemployment levels drop is good news, even if it remains above metro and national levels. Since the Great Recession, the citys unemployment rate had long been about a percentage point higher than its national and metro counterparts, so the city is still narrowing the gap, she said. The number of jobs in Philadelphia in 2024, meanwhile, increased by 2.1%, outpacing the national figure by nearly a full percentage point. And for the first time in years in 2023, the percentage of adults with a college degree declined slightly. For at least the last decade, that category has steadily increased, but in 2023, it decreased to 35.7% from 36.3% in 2022. Martin called that change a trend to watch and noted that it is within the margin of error. Being a tick down may not be a concern, but it will be important to see if that number continues to fall. And, she said, the proportion of 25- to 34-year-olds with at least a bachelors degree continues to grow, currently standing at over 50%. The younger cohort continues to be more educated year over year. Thats a really positive direction for the city, Martin said. Transportation woes continue As impending cuts to SEPTA service around the region approach without additional state funding, the agencys ridership return appeared to slow in 2024, Pews report found. Ridership on the buses, trolleys, and subways of SEPTAs City Transit Division, for example, was twice as high as it was during the depths of the pandemic in 2021 but still 20% below what it was in 2019. Regional Rail ridership, meanwhile, was three times as high as 2021, but likewise not back to pre-pandemic levels. Growth rates for both SEPTA and its New Jersey counterpart, PATCO, slowed in 2024, indicating that they may be experiencing permanent decreases in ridership brought on by the pandemic, the report noted. Amtrak, however, saw what Pew called a significant increase in ridership into and out of the city between September 2022 and 2023. In fiscal 2023, there were 5.8 million more rides, and Phillys 30th Street Station had the second-highest increase in stops in the Northeast Corridor, behind Wilmington. Philadelphia International Airport also saw increases in passenger traffic, but is still below pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, 30.8 million people flew on domestic or international flights there, which, while an increase over the previous year, falls short of 2019s pre-pandemic peak of 33 million. Air travel really has returned, Martin said. Overdose deaths persist Though drug overdoses remain a leading cause of death in Philadelphia, if city officials estimates are accurate, 2024 may signal something of a turnaround. Last year, Pew said, officials estimated that about 1,100 people died of unintentional overdoses a 22% decrease compared with 2022, when there were 1,413 deaths. If correct, that figure would be the lowest number of drug deaths since 2016, the report said. READ MORE: More older Black men in Philadelphia are dying of overdoses than many other places in the U.S.: Its like a secret disease More Philadelphians died of heart disease and cancer than drug overdoses in 2023, which was also true pre-pandemic. But as of that year, life expectancy was up to 76.2 years, which roughly matches pre-pandemic levels of 76.7, Martin said. COVID-19, however, finally fell out of the top 10 causes of death for city residents in 2023, now ranking 13th. That year, fewer than 175 Philadelphians died of the illness, Pew noted. After a trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, a jury ordered the medical consulting company Workcompvidence to pay more than $4.5 million to a construction worker who had his foot amputated after delaying in-person treatment while in communication with the company. Read more A Philadelphia medical consulting company and its owner may have to pay more than $2.7 million to an Alabama man whose foot was amputated after he delayed in-person treatment while in contact with the companys medical professionals. Gerald Tritt, 53, of Alabama, brought the lawsuit against Workcompvidence after he underwent a left-foot amputation at Lehigh Valley Hospital in November 2019. Advertisement The amputation stemmed from a diabetic ulcer that Tritt developed while working as a heavy equipment operator at a temporary construction job in Tampa during the summer of 2019. From June through August of that year, Tritt had been in regular contact with the staff of a medical helpline, which a supervisor had encouraged Tritt to call, according to court documents. The helpline was run by Workcompvidence. Acting on behalf of the companys owner, physician Louis Wai-Kai Lam, who is also a defendant, nurses called or texted Tritt every other day that summer, and received regular photos of his foot, according to the documents. Yet the nurses never encouraged Tritt to see a doctor, stop working, or do anything other than first aid to address his condition, Tritts attorneys said. The attorneys said thats because, unbeknownst to Tritt, Workcompvidences job was to decrease compensation cost for an employers worker by cutting down on sick time and reducing the number of employee visits to emergency rooms and clinics. Dr. Lam and Workcompvidence profited from steering injured workers away from medical care to save their employers money, David K. Inscho and Helen Lawless, of Kline & Specter, said in a statement. The total verdict found by the Philadelphia jury was over $4.5 million, but the jury found Tritt to be partially at fault, reducing the tentative award owed by Workcompvidence and Lam to about $2.7 million. Gary M. Samms, an attorney representing Workcompvidence and Dr. Lam, said they were shocked and disappointed by the verdict. We dont think it is supported by the evidence, Samms, of Marshall Dennehey, said Monday. And we plan on appealing this matter because there wasnt even a physician-patient relationship. Because of this lack of relationship, Samms said in court documents, Dr. Lam did not have a legal obligation to care for Tritt the way he would a patient. Dr. Lam and other Workcompvidence staff only arranged medical services if a worker requested it, court documents said. In addition, Samms said, Tritts amputation occurred months after he stopped working in Tampa. When Tritt became septic, he and his wife had moved to Pennsylvania so he could work a construction job with his son at an Allentown-area brewery, according to his attorneys. Last week, a Philadelphia jury returned its verdict, with damages including lost earnings and future medical treatment. Tritts attorneys said their client is permanently disabled, disfigured, and unable to work. I woke to the news Monday morning that my boss Pope Francis had died. I am a cradle Catholic who certainly looks to the pope as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, but I also work for the Vatican as a scientist. I was appointed a scholar of the Vatican Observatory in 2016, delighted to be working as a researcher and chemist for a pope who himself had trained as a chemist. Advertisement The letter inviting me to join the observatory came in October 2015, on the very day Pope Francis was to celebrate Mass on the Parkway in Philadelphia. (To be honest, when I first opened it, I thought someone was pulling my leg.) Laudato si, Pope Francis clarion call to the entire world to care for the earth, our common home, had appeared a few months before. Politicians were calling for the pope to stay in his lane, stick to faith, and leave science to the scientists. But, I thought, he is a scientist. Laudato si leaned on science from the start, the opening lines noting the same chemical elements that make up the earth make up our very bodies. Pope Francis did not shy away from walking onto the scientists terrain, cogently explaining the science behind the warming of the climate. But what I most admired about Pope Francis approach to science was the wide view he took of science and faith and our responsibility to wield both with care for the most vulnerable among us, a stance that was obvious from the first days of his pontificate. Dont get lost in your tidy formulas and forget to wonder, he exhorted. A scant four months after his election to the papacy in 2013, his very first encyclical letter, Lumen fidei (The Light of Faith), addressed not only religious faith but the role of scientists. Science, he said, also brings light to the world around us. Science trusts there is an order to be discovered, and in seeking it, is drawn into an ever-deepening understanding of how the parts fit harmoniously into a whole. He encouraged scientists to be open to the inexhaustible richness the universe contains, to stretch beyond their own research and realize its connections to the whole of creation. Dont get lost in your tidy formulas and forget to wonder, he exhorted. He would return to this theme again and again, most memorably in Laudato si, where he quoted a ninth-century Sufi mystic, Ali al-Khawas, to remind us of the beauty and mystery contained in the natural world, from the buzzing of flies or the ways water behaves a topic I have written about in my own research. He sounded it often in his messages to scientists visiting the Vatican, and I have often suspected it reflected his own deep interest in and delight at the workings of the universe. For all the wonder, Francis had words of warning. Technology was not always the answer, advancement not the only goal. That wide view of his asked us to consider the difficult questions of who paid the price for our ingenuity and who would suffer as a result. He asked us to center the poor and those living on the margins in our work. See God not just in creation, but in the face of every person on the earth. I met Pope Francis in 2016, at a private audience while I was at the Vatican Observatory for its summer school for young astronomers. I still remember the way his face lit up when he spoke with each of the students; they had his full attention. I remember how he grasped both my hands and laughed with me about my mangled pronunciation of a word in Spanish. I felt as if I had his full attention, too. Most of all, I remember his words to us, that he hoped our research, even when it was sometimes frustrating and even tedious, would always be a source of deep joy, and that we might share this joy with the world. I have the closing words of his message to the Vatican Observatory summer school in 2023 tacked up on the board over my desk: May you never lose this sense of wonder, in your research and in your lives. May you be inspired always by the love for truth and awestruck by all that each fragment of the universe sets before you. I am grateful to Pope Francis for showing me the ways my faith and my science come together in joy and wonder. May we all, scientist or not, be awestruck by every fragment of creation and care for it as the precious gift it is. Michelle Francl-Donnay is a professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College, an adjunct scholar at the Vatican Observatory, and a parishioner at Our Mother of Good Counsel in Bryn Mawr. Her two most recent books are Prayer: Biblical Wisdom for Seeking God and Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea. Pope Francis greets seminarians as he walks the loggia on his way to a meeting with 300 bishops in St. Martin of Tours Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 2015. The pope died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Read more The death of Pope Francis silences a powerful and increasingly solitary voice for peace, equality, and disenfranchised people in the face of a growing threat from authoritarianism and climate change. The pope strived to be a compassionate force for good, and a unifier at a time when many world leaders including President Donald Trump are stoking hate and division. Advertisement Indeed, everything about Francis, 88, was the opposite of Trumps worldview. He demonstrated the traits of a true leader through his focus on justice, empathy, and inclusivity. Francis explained his leadership style this way in 2018: Bosses cannot always do what they want. They have to convince. To do that, the pope lived by Jesus teaching of the Golden Rule to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. He disdained displays of wealth and material possessions while visiting slums, caring for the sick, and welcoming those often demonized as the other. The pope lived in a simple two-room apartment and shared communal meals rather than the traditional trappings of the papal palace. Just days ago, on Holy Thursday, Francis visited a prison and washed the feet of a dozen inmates to reenact Christs gesture of humble service when he washed the feet of his apostles before his crucifixion. Francis believed in science, urging people to get vaccinated during the pandemic, and warned about the existential threat from climate change. He said the Earth is sick, and called for social, economic, and political actions to protect the planet. During his first trip to the United States in 2015, he drove in a compact car rather than a gas-guzzling motorcade of SUVs, and occasionally rode public transportation. More recently, the Popemobile went electric. Francis, the first Jesuit and first pope from Latin America, was at his best speaking up for the powerless and the poor, especially migrants in search of freedom from dictators and a better life. In a letter to U.S. bishops, he criticized Trumps deportation of migrants. The popes final Easter epistle contained several powerful messages for world leaders, namely Trump. He called on leaders to reject dangerous and destabilizing actions and urged peace in Ukraine and Gaza. The pope said there can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others. He appealed to those in positions of political responsibility not to yield to the logic of fear, which leads to isolation. Francis also denounced the contempt aimed at the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants and called on everyone to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves. It was a stark contrast from Trump, who skipped church (again) on Easter, and instead went on an unhinged rant of 20 social media posts railing against radical left lunatics, China, critics of his harmful tariffs, and a federal judge who blocked his inhumane deportations of Venezuelan migrants to a Salvadoran prison. Throughout his papacy, Francis tried to be more inclusive and welcoming of others with differing views. He opened the church to women and LGBTQ people. When asked about gay people in the church, he famously said, Who am I to judge? The pope declared the Catholic Church open to everyone and allowed priests to bless same-sex marriages, but did not move as quickly or as far as many would have liked. Nor did he change the churchs doctrine, which calls homosexuality intrinsically disordered. Francis had a mixed record when it came to confronting the priest sexual abuse scandal and cover-up that has roiled the Catholic Church from Philadelphia to Rome. He declared an all-out battle against abuse, and updated the churchs criminal code to include sexual abuse by priests, but offered few specifics. In 2019, he defrocked former U.S. cardinal Theodore McCarrick after he was found guilty by a Vatican court of sexually abusing a teenager in the 1970s. In the end, many abuse survivors said he did not do enough to expose the decades-long cover-up, root out problem priests, or implement systemic change. But Francis faced a church that remains slow to change and is divided between reformers and hard-line conservatives especially in the United States. That will be the challenge for the next pope. Will he try to take the church backward, or continue on Francis path of compassion, equity, and justice? A Bucks County congressman took his support for Ukraine to the country this past week, visiting soldiers on the front lines, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and signing a missile addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the role the U.S. could play in any peace negotiations remained nebulous. Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a longtime defender of Ukraine who was stationed in the country as an FBI agent in 2015, has aimed to show his support without directly rebuking President Donald Trump, who had an icy meeting with Zelensky in February. Advertisement While Trump promised on the campaign trail that on day one in office he would end the war Russia started with Ukraine, he has repeatedly criticized Ukraine and blamed the country for the war. And his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said Friday that Trump may move on from peace talks if there is no progress in the coming days. A lot of people talk a big game about supporting Ukraine. Im here in Kyiv, Ukraine for one-on-one meetings with President Zelenskyy himself to actually make it happen, Fitzpatrick wrote on X during his trip. The physical display of support placed him in stark contrast to Trump, who has often sided with Putin in discussions of the conflict. Fitzpatrick posted photos and video of himself on the front lines wearing a camouflage bulletproof vest. He signed an artillery shell To: Putin From: PA-1 #peacethroughstrength, saying it was his profound honor to deliver a very personal message to Vladimir Putin on behalf of our PA-1 community. Fitzpatrick said the only details he was permitted to share are that the message was delivered on target. Fitzpatrick is one of the few Republicans in the House who represent a district that former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris carried in the presidential election in November. He previously met with Zelenskys chief of staff, condemned Putin, and stood up for Zelensky on social media, but his trip brought renewed attention to the conflict in a moment when Trumps tariffs and other administrative policies have taken center stage in the United States. The stakes are global, and the path to peace is through strength, unity, and resolve, Fitzpatrick wrote on X. This is about standing tall in the face of tyranny. Its about American leadership rooted in principle and patriotic common sense. Fitzpatrick said in a video posted to X early Saturday that he had been on the ground in Ukraine on the front lines near the Russian border for several days, first with the countrys National Guard Artillery and then with the Third Assault Brigade, a company that specializes in high-tech drone warfare. Fitzpatrick said that he could not disclose his location to protect the troops but that the formerly Russian-occupied territory exhibited the type of destruction apparent around the country. He called it the most brutal war zone he had visited. This used to be a rich forest. This is what the Russians do, he said in the video. They just level buildings, indiscriminate burning and destruction of civilian areas. Its just blunt-force trauma. They overwhelm you with bodies. Fitzpatrick encouraged his fellow members of Congress to visit the front lines and commended the Ukrainian soldiers, comparing their fight to that of the Revolutionary War soldiers fighting for American independence in 1776. They are fighting for their freedom against a brutal, oppressing force. And we will always have their backs, he said. Fitzpatrick also met with Bridget Brink, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, saying her leadership, during a pivotal moment in history, has helped to strengthen our alliance and commitment to Ukraines freedom. Fitzpatrick has often shied away from saying anything, good or bad, about Trump. But as chairman of the House Intelligence CIA Subcommittee, cochair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and a former FBI agent posted in Europe, his frustration with Trump on the topic of Ukraine has continued to show. Russian leaders have signaled they have no intention to let up unless there are substantive territorial concessions from Ukraine. Zelensky has said his country will not cede territory to Russia. Trump in recent days said a deal between the United States and Ukraine to strike a rare-earth minerals agreement would come within a week, but he also took the moment to criticize Zelensky. I wouldnt say hes done the greatest job, Trump said. Im not a big fan. Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting Saturday at 6 p.m. and continuing until midnight Easter Sunday. But Zelensky expressed some skepticism without details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or defined, according to the Associated Press. Zelensky said if Russia genuinely observed a full and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine would mirror that approach. Pennsylvania Republican incumbent congressional lawmakers have dominated fundraising in the first quarter of 2025, according to campaign finance reports, likely preparing to protect their seats and the House majority in the 2026 midterms. Leading the pack is U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), a moderate Republican representing Bucks County and a sliver of Montgomery County, who is bracing for a heated midterm as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted his district for the forthcoming race. Advertisement Fitzpatrick appears to be readying for the challenge, with the largest war chest among Pennsylvanias congressional delegation in the first quarter: $1.22 million raised and $5.3 million in the bank. The filings, from the Federal Election Commission, offer an early glimpse at preparations for the 2026 midterms when both parties will be fighting for control of the House and Senate. Three other Pennsylvania Republicans in competitive districts also appear to be bracing for potentially expensive races to hang on to their seats as Democrats will look to regain control of both chambers. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told The Inquirer earlier this month that it will particularly focus on Fitzpatrick in the 1st District, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R., Pa.) in the 10th District, and Republican freshmen U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the 7th District and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan in the 8th. And fresh off his November win, newly elected U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick raised about $784,000 in the quarter. READ MORE: Democrats are already planning for 2026 and think they can flip these four Pa. congressional seats Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, who will face reelection in 2028, brought in roughly $396,000 in the first quarter, his lowest quarterly haul since declaring candidacy in 2021. In 2022, the face-off between Fetterman and celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz became the most expensive Senate race in the nation, with Fetterman relying on a steady stream of small-dollar donations. GOP legislators make up 10 of Pennsylvanias 17 congressional members and pulled in $4.8 million in campaign cash between Jan. 1 through March 31. The states seven Democrats raised a collective total of $1.2 million, according to the campaign finance filings. U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Pa.), who represents parts of Philadelphia, raised the least of anyone in the Pennsylvania delegation, bringing in roughly $38,000 in the first quarter. Evans, 70, suffered a stroke last year and has missed hundreds of votes in a narrowly divided Congress. Evans has dismissed concerns about his health and has said he intends to run for reelection in 2026. As last years filing stipulates, Congressman Evans has every intention to run for re-election at this time, Michael Dineen, a senior adviser for the Evans campaign, said in a statement. He is working hard at fundraising and plans for a successful Q2. Still, should Evans decide not to run again, there could be other Philly Democrats jonesing to take his spot, including State Sen. Sharif Street (also the Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair) and State Rep. Morgan Cephas (D., Philadelphia). What could this mean for midterms in Pennsylvania? In 2026, all eyes will be on certain swing districts in Pennsylvania as Democrats and Republicans battle for the House and Senate, both of which are currently under GOP control. After a red wave win in 2024, Republicans are taking a victory lap around the prospects from the first quarters fundraising for the midterms: House Republicans arent just winning the fundraising game against vulnerable Democrats theyre running laps around them. Democrats are leaderless, divided, and banished to the wilderness and now their donors are closing their checkbooks. Mike Marinella, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. For Democrats, no amount of money will paper over the records of House Republicans including Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Bresnahan, or Perry, said DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton in a statement, pledging that Democrats are well-positioned for the midterms. Its why Democrats are favored to re-take the majority. Even this early in the cycle, House Democrats have the better message, stronger candidates and a favorable political environment as we go into 2026, Shelton said. In the four Pennsylvania districts being targeted by national Democrats, Republicans appear to be readying their coffers. Mackenzie flipped his Lehigh Valley district red last year by defeating Democratic incumbent Susan Wild, who served three terms. He will now face Democrat Lamont McClure in the midterms, and signs are already pointing to an expensive race in the 7th District. McClure, a Northampton County executive, raised about $142,000 in the quarter the strongest haul of any current challenger and more than some Pennsylvania incumbents. What were most gratified about is in just a little over a month because we were only in for a little over a month in the first quarter we had over 1,000 small donors, and what we think is thats demonstrating that this is a people-powered campaign, McClure said. Still, McClures figure was dwarfed by Mackenzies $673,040 in the quarter a sign, Mackenzie said in a news release, that voters continue to support our mission to secure our borders, restore prosperity, and put the American people first. In the 1st Congressional District, Fitzpatrick who touts his status as the #1 most bipartisan member of Congress will be running for his sixth two-year term in 2026 to represent purple Bucks County, where Trump narrowly won in 2024. He already has a challenger in Democrat Bob Harvie, chair of the Bucks County commissioners, who announced his plans this month to run for the seat. Campaign finance reports were not available for Harvie for the quarter. In the 10th District, Perry raised roughly $565,000 in the first quarter. Though no challenger has officially entered the race, Janelle Stelson, a Democratic television anchor who narrowly lost to Perry in 2024, said at a town hall in March that she is seriously considering a second run. A challenger has also not yet been announced for Bresnahan in the 8th District seat. Bresnahan raised about $832,000 in the first quarter but owes more than $1.3 million in debt to himself and some marketing or strategy firms after last years election, FEC records show. Christopher Nicholas, a GOP political consultant at Eagle Consulting Group Inc., said that certain Democratic strategies like grassroots rallies for U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont could help catalyze Democratic energy for the midterms. Still, he said, he believes Republicans, with control over both chambers, have the upper hand when it comes to fundraising. Its good to be the party in power for the GOP, he said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pauses during a news conference on April 13 at the governor's official residence in Harrisburg discussing the alleged arson that forced him, his family, and guests to flee in the middle of the night during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Read more Nearly a week after an arsonist set fire to the Pennsylvania governors mansion in Harrisburg while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were inside, President Donald Trump called Shapiro to share his warm regards, Shapiro said Monday. Shapiro whose family and extended family had been sleeping in the governors residence following a Passover celebration when a 38-year-old man broke into a wing of the 29,000-square-foot home and started several fires said Trump called him on Saturday to wish him and his family well following the harrowing experience. Advertisement We spoke for quite a bit of time, Shapiro said at a news conference in Pittsburgh on Monday, where he advocated for more funding for first responders. I appreciated his call very much, and we agreed to stay in touch. During the call, Shapiro said he and Trump also discussed the proposed sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Japanese company Nippon Steel, Shapiro added. READ MORE: The arson at Gov. Josh Shapiros mansion erupted within minutes. The impact lingers. Shapiro, as a Democratic governor leading one of the nations most critical swing states that voted for Trump, has been walking a political tight rope in the first few months of Trumps second term. He has said he will work with Trump when its in the best interest of Pennsylvanians, but will challenge him when necessary. So far, Shapiro has sued the Trump administration three times over federal funding freezes or cuts, arguing that the federal government has broken its contracts with the state that were already approved by Congress. Shapiro, who quickly condemned the assassination attempt against Trump at a campaign rally in Western Pennsylvania last year after a bullet skimmed Trumps ear, then used similar language to condemn political violence. After Trump was shot in July 2024, Shapiro said: Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States. Last week, appearing before the broken and charred windows of the governors residence along the Susquehanna River, Shapiro echoed the same sentiment: I dont give a damn if its coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. In the hours following the arson attack, Shapiro said last week that FBI Director Kash Patel contacted him and was extremely kind and courteous and thoughtful in his conversation with me. Shapiro also thanked Trump and federal authorities for supporting state police in the investigation. Trump who previously attacked Shapiro on social media and claimed that the governors Jewish faith was why Shapiro was not chosen to be former Vice President Kamala Harris running mate last year briefly addressed the arson attack while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office last week, saying a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen. The presidents remarks were in response to a question from a reporter who asked whether he had been made aware of a potential motive, given that federal investigators are assisting in the probe. No, I havent, Trump responded, but the attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand, just from what Ive read and from what Ive been told. The attacker basically wasnt a fan of anybody. Cody Balmer, who has been charged with attempted homicide and other offenses in the attack and who police said was harboring a hatred for Shapiro, did not seem to have a specific political leaning on social media. He had not been taking his medication for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, members of his family said. In a call to 911 shortly after the arson, Balmer allegedly told dispatchers that the governor needs to be told he will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people. Sounding out of breath, Balmer also told the dispatcher that the governor needed to leave his friends and family alone. The White House declined to comment Monday. WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where he shared similar details of a March military airstrike against Yemens Houthi militants that were sent in another chain with top Trump administration leaders, The New York Times reported. A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press. Advertisement The second chat on Signal which is a commercially available app not authorized to be used to communicate sensitive or classified national defense information included 13 people, the person said. They also confirmed the chat was dubbed Defense Team Huddle. The New York Times reported that the group included Hegseths wife, Jennifer, who is a former Fox News producer, and his brother Phil Hegseth, who was hired at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. Both have traveled with the defense secretary and attended high-level meetings. The White House late Sunday dismissed the report as a non-story, suggesting that disgruntled former Pentagon employees were spreading false claims. No matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same non-story, they cant change the fact that no classified information was shared, said Anna Kelly, White House deputy press secretary. Recently-fired leakers are continuing to misrepresent the truth to soothe their shattered egos and undermine the Presidents agenda, but the administration will continue to hold them accountable. The revelation of the additional chat group brought fresh criticism against Hegseth and President Donald Trumps wider administration after it has failed to take action so far against the top national security officials who discussed plans for the military strike in Signal. The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X. Pete Hegseth must be fired. The first chat, set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group. The contents of that chat, which The Atlantic published, shows that Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen last month. The National Security Council and a Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment about the additional chat group. Hegseth has previously contended that no classified information or war plans were shared in the chat with the journalist. The Times reported Sunday that the second chat had the same warplane launch times that the first chat included. Multiple former and current officials have said sharing those operational details before a strike would have certainly been classified and their release could have put pilots in danger. Hegseths use of Signal and the sharing of such plans are under investigation by the Defense Departments acting inspector general. It came at the request of the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee Republican Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and ranking Democratic member Jack Reed of Rhode Island. Reed urged the IG late Sunday to probe the reported second Signal chat as well, saying that Hegseth must immediately explain why he reportedly texted classified information that could endanger American servicemembers lives. I have grave concerns about Secretary Hegseths ability to maintain the trust and confidence of U.S. servicemembers and the Commander-in-Chief, he added. The new revelations come amid further turmoil at the Pentagon. Four officials in Hegseths inner circle departed last week as the Pentagon conducts a widespread investigation for information leaks. Dan Caldwell, a Hegseth aide; Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg; and Darin Selnick, Hegseths deputy chief of staff, were escorted out of the Pentagon. While the three initially had been placed on leave pending the investigation, a joint statement shared by Caldwell on X on Saturday said the three still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with. Caldwell was the staff member designated as Hegseths point person in the Signal chat with Trump Cabinet members. Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot also announced he was resigning last week, unrelated to the leaks. The Pentagon said, however, that Ullyot was asked to resign. Tommy Sanchez hands items up to Zak Powell (on truck) as Nicholas Tellie (right), owner of We Love Junk, brings more outside while they clear out an apartment in Delaware County. Read more Joe Colangelo considers himself a do-it-yourselfer. But when he faced emptying both his elderly mothers rental home in an assisted living community and his parents Moorestown house, he knew he needed help. My dad was kind of a hoarder. So there was a lot of good stuff, a lot of new stuff, because he was kind of like a chronic buyer, Colangelo said. And also there was a lot of total junk. Advertisement So he hired We Love Junk, a hauling company that operates in South Jersey and the five-county Philadelphia area. Even after an estate sale, it took like three full truckloads to empty out a small two-bedroom house, he said. READ MORE: How 5 Philly-area retirees ditched their stuff and happily downsized They cleaned up and took care of everything, Colangelo said. It was a massive relief. Clearing out unwanted belongings can be stressful. And theres a big difference between getting rid of an item or two and cleaning out whole rooms or an entire house, whether for deep spring cleaning, renovations, or downsizing. Those who want a home cleaned out quickly and have money to spend prices generally depend on how much space items take up in trucks may choose to hire a junk hauler. Junk hauling is big business in Philadelphia and the surrounding region, where more companies have popped up in recent years promising to take away the things people no longer want. Some customers care about what will happen to the couch theyve had since college or their parents antique furniture, and some just want the stuff gone and dont care where it goes. Philadelphia has been trying to fight the persistent problem of illegal dumping with cameras, steeper fines, and lawsuits. Legitimate junk haulers recycle what can be recycled and often partner with nonprofits and donation centers. Heres how local homeowners and adult children have used haulers to clear out household stuff. So much stuff A few weeks ago, Marc Munafo had We Love Junk come to his parents condo in a Center City high-rise. He had sold some belongings, but a lot more needed to be removed quickly to finalize the sale of the home. My parents had so much stuff. You cant even imagine, Munafo said. A lifetimes worth of belongings, including large wall units, stacks of books and records, lots of clothes, dishes, and piles of receipts and other trash, needed to go. It was just overwhelming, he said. I mean really, really overwhelming. So Munafo relied on professionals to help. If I had more time and more space, I could have made a few dollars selling a lot of this stuff, he said. But I did what I had to do. Nicholas Tellie started We Love Junk in May 2021 after the pandemic ended the catering business hed owned for 25 years. He said he tells potential customers, were not the cheapest, but youre gonna get great service, and I can guarantee your stuff is not gonna get illegally dumped or sent to a landfill. Some people dont care about that, but the majority of our customers do, he said. I always think its a good question for people to ask: What are you doing with my stuff? Repeat hauling As a real estate agent at Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore, Jessica DiFrancia often comes across people who cant get rid of the things they have to get rid of, she said. DiFrancia has a go-to hauler she regularly uses down the Shore for home sales after an owner dies, yard cleanups, and her own rental properties: Junkin Twin, owned and operated by Vanessa Thomas. Shes very reliable, which is huge, DiFrancia said. Thomas used to work in the medical field but started clearing junk after Superstorm Sandy. She officially started her business in 2018 and operates across Burlington, Atlantic, and Ocean Counties, picking up everything from single appliances to piles of belongings in hoarders houses. Youd be surprised what people can manage to fit in their homes, their garages, on their property, she said. Some of what Thomas picks up is brand new. Youd be sick to see what people throw out. She often finds local residents in need through social media who want items that shes hauled away. Thomas herself bought a home a year ago, and I literally furnished my house with stuff that came off of jobs, she said. Wanted: A loving new home Rachel Mountain lives in Atlanta but was tasked with emptying out the Society Hill rowhouse her parents bought a few decades ago. Her parents had retired to London and didnt return to Philadelphia much. Her mother died a few years ago, and her father, who is in his 80s, decided to sell the rowhouse. The home was filled with furniture theyd had for decades, collectibles, and childhood belongings from Mountain and her brother. Its emotional, right? Because it was all this stuff my parents had, Mountain said. In looking for a company to clear out the house, she wanted convenience and to know where her parents stuff was going. It was very important to me that it got repurposed, she said. She found Good Haul, a hauling program that the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Pathways to Housing PA started in 2022 to complement its Philadelphia Furniture Bank. The bank gives away household items to people leaving homelessness, so they can fill their new homes. Someone recently came through who had lost their home in the Northeast Philly plane crash early this year. They really made me feel very confident that [her parents stuff] was actually going to end up in a good home and bring somebody joy, which is what I wanted, Mountain said. A few months ago, workers for Good Haul took away anything not nailed down, including artwork, a dining room set, a couple couches, a desk, bedding, towels, and books. And they took belongings Mountain hadnt expected theyd want, including a floor fan, knickknacks that Mountains mother had collected, and her parents bedroom furniture from the 1970s. I thought it was ugly, Mountain said. But someone is hopefully loving that furniture. Pathways to Housing PA decided to start a hauling program in 2020 when leaders saw that junk hauling was a fast-growing business and could be a way to diversify its income and support its furniture giveaway program. Its meant to be a supplementary form of revenue to make sure the Furniture Bank continues to operate, said Valerie Johnson, vice president of advancement and social enterprise at Pathways to Housing PA. Knowing we have this other way to support ourselves and not be fully reliant on philanthropy is really important to us. Good Haul has brought in a lot more furniture for the bank. Electronics go to an electronics recycler that employs people coming out of prison, and other items are donated to other nonprofits. The right thing to do Marci Tint Kotay has used Good Haul a few times. She loves that household items go to people who are newly housed. The thought of usable furnishings ending up in a landfill just makes me sick, she said. A few months ago, Good Haul took kitchen cabinets and appliances, including a Wolf range, from her brownstone in the Rittenhouse Square area during her kitchen remodel. She first worked with Good Haul after her father died in 2022 and she had to clear out his Northeast Philadelphia condo. Its a good model. Because youre giving money as a donation, these people are coming and taking all your stuff, and the thinking is that everything thats really usable maybe things have to get spiffed up but it goes into homes for people, she said. I know my dad would really be down with that. Thats how he raised me. Its the right thing to do. Camden Academy Charter High School students (from left) Angel Lagares, Geury Castellanos, and Benjamin Muniz are learning carpentry and other skills as interns at St. Joseph's Carpenter Society's new workforce training center in East Camden. Read more As it continues to rebuild East Camdens housing stock, the St. Josephs Carpenter Society is adding vocational and job readiness services and sharing expertise it has gained over the last 40 years. Student interns, aspiring construction workers, and neighborhood residents who want to learn how to improve their own houses are welcome at the nonprofits new workforce training and community resource center at 29th and Federal Streets. Advertisement With $1 million in public and private funding, a former warehouse that was empty for six years has become the centerpiece of the faith-based nonprofits latest effort to bolster four East Camden neighborhoods. As we updated the master plan for East Camden in 2021, we saw how we were actually making a difference, said Pilar Hogan, the societys executive director since 2004. We had blocks that were intact, with no vacant houses. So we began to think about what else East Camden needed to become a true neighborhood of opportunity. Residents told us loud and clear that they wanted a place where young people could learn skills to help them get better jobs. Hogan and leaders of other Camden nonprofits, as well as business owners and state, county, and city officials, turned out for the centers April 10 ribbon-cutting. Catering was by the Breakfast Palace, a few blocks east on Federal and one of a number of new businesses that have opened on the street in recent years. This center is great for East Camden and for the city, Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen said. Your organization sets the standard on how to have a positive impact. The center includes kitchen, bathroom, utility room, and basement areas for hands-on instruction in basic home maintenance and repair. Office space also is available for use by local contractors. Personal and professional skills A trio of Camden Academy Charter High School seniors who call themselves the Big Three are the first interns in the skills training program. We learned to work as a team, said Angel Lagares, who plans to attend a technical school after graduation. Ive learned how to put up, spackle, and tape drywall, said Geury Castellanos. I want to do this kind of labor. Said Benjamin Muniz, who will become a paid intern at the center in the fall: We wet locked the entire basement. We sealed it off from moisture. Technical or hard skills are not the sole focus of the training program, said Ruben Peres, project manager. Major employers in Camden have told us that while they can train people for specific jobs, sometimes [applicants] dont have the soft skills of communication and collaboration, he said. So we put more emphasis on those so that young adults can get their first job, and grow from there. New homes, new homeowners The society was founded in 1985 by the late Msgr. Robert McDermott, pastor of St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral Parish, which has been an East Camden community anchor for generations. McDermott, who died in 2019, grew up in the neighborhood. In a 2010 interview he said he founded the nonprofit after being astounded by the number of abandoned homes in East Camden. Since then, the Carpenter Society has renovated or built 1,052 houses. More than 700 of those properties have been purchased by local residents and participants in the Homebuyers Academy to help individuals and families save, improve their credit, and otherwise prepare to become homeowners. In the four East Camden neighborhoods the Carpenter Society serves Marlton, Dudley, Stockton, and Rosedale about 20% were vacant in the mid-1980s, said Hogan. About 16% to 17% were vacant in the late 90s, she said. The number of vacant units has since fallen to about 2%, Hogan told the audience at the grand opening. A role model in New Jersey Susan Catlett, neighborhood programs unit manager at the N.J. Department of Community Affairs, said she often cites the Carpenter Societys efforts as an example of programs that get results. We dont pick favorites, said Brad Harrington, the administrator for DCAs neighborhood programs. But they [the Carpenter Society] does exemplary work. Hogan said: In the first 20 years, the Carpenter Society picked one thing housing and got really good at it. We will never step away from housing, but we have been looking at other things that go with better housing. While both Landry and Temple emphasized the need to address issues such as legal abuse and distracted driving, they diverged on some matters. Landry advocated for limiting the use of credit scores in underwriting, a position that has met resistance from insurers, who argue that it impairs risk-based pricing. Alais Griffin joins Neptune as general counsel, bringing experience in legal strategy and regulatory compliance to guide the company through its next phase of expansion. Tom Wexler has been appointed chief engineer to lead Neptunes AI-driven underwriting and technology development. Brad Schulz, Neptunes former chief technology officer, now serves as chief information security officer, reflecting the companys continued focus on strengthening cybersecurity measures. [The] data offers a clear reminder that the threat landscape isnt slowing down its rapidly evolving, he said. The sustained dominance of Elevation of Privilege vulnerabilities highlights how valuable privileges are to attackers and why they will continue to target identities with privileges to move laterally and gain access to critical systems. The trial court denied Wausaus motion to dismiss, finding that Schnitzer had no remaining claim for the defense costs Continental had already paid and which had been reduced to a federal judgment. Because those costs were no longer part of any claim Schnitzer could settle, the court ruled that the settlement with Wausau could not bar Continentals contribution rights. It later ordered Wausau to pay Continental approximately $3.6 million in legal fees and interest. In 2021, Griffith and Sterigenics filed federal actions in Chicago seeking declarations that National Union had a duty to defend them in the underlying litigation. The insurer denied coverage, invoking the pollution exclusion. The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ruled in favor of the policyholders, concluding that the emissions were permitted by the IEPA and that the exclusion therefore did not apply. The court relied on Erie Insurance Exchange v. Imperial Marble Corp., a 2011 decision by an Illinois appellate court, which held that emissions authorized by a regulatory permit created ambiguity as to whether they qualified as traditional environmental pollution. Maples had been in possession of the property for several years before the 2019 lease, having initially leased it from Hembree in 2011 and renewed the lease in 2014. However, after Hembree initiated a lawsuit on March 3, 2024, claiming that Maples had failed to repair or replace the roof as required under the lease, Maples moved to dismiss the case. It argued that the lease was void because Hembree did not hold legal title to the property at the time the lease was signed. In this case, the City of Newburgh allowed several years to pass before requesting an award for the post-retirement period. As a result, Schulze received both 207-a(2) payments and retroactive workers compensation for the same time, totaling about $106,000. But the court made clear that the citys remedy was not through the workers compensation system, and whether the city might pursue other avenuessuch as a plenary action to recover overpaymentswas not addressed in this decision. Another measure signed into law on the same day, House Bill 2334, reduces the premium tax on insurance carriers. Starting with the 2025 tax year, the rate will decrease to 1.98% of total premiums written, down from 2%, as outlined in the bill. At Aon, Jones worked across the risk capital segment, supporting teams and clients in the execution of strategic plans with a focus on business growth. His experience in the reinsurance and brokerage sectors has made him a known figure in the industry. We can provide clients the opportunity to be able to use some of these tools that help track training and certs, Bruce said. A lot of the carriers that we use have websites that people can go in and they can look at different safety programs and safety resources. They can look at training videos specific to employee job duties or industries. In this roundtable special of Insurance Business TV, join Tokio Marine HCC Cyber and Professional Lines Group's Dan Crane and Eugene Eychis as they examine the impact of AI on cyber insurance. They look at the ways in which AI is currently enhancing risk assessment, strategies to mitigate its risks and the emerging technologies they are most excited about. Key Insurance, a Kansas-based insurer specializing in non-standard auto, was placed into liquidation after a court ruled the company insolvent. The Shawnee County District Court ordered the liquidation of Key on March 31 after reviewing significant evidence that Keys liabilities exceed its admitted assets. The court found that Keys consistent underwriting losses, existing claims and negative policyholders surplus demonstrate a substantially deteriorating financial position equating to insolvency. The court appointed Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt as liquidator, and Schmidt appointed Jodi Adolf and Bruce Baty as the special deputy receivers to carry out the day-to-day responsibilities of the liquidator with respect to the liquidation of Key. The Department will be working closely with the deputy liquidator and the guaranty associations in the states Key Insurance Company did business to pay claims and process unearned premium refunds, Schmidt said in a statement. Overland Park-based Key is licensed in six states: Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and Oklahoma. The company had approximately 30,000 remaining policies in force nationwide. The company reported -$16.3 million in net income in 2024, according to an NAIC filing. The company had assets of -$57.9 million at end of year 2024, compared to liabilities of $65.3 million. Key is in such condition that further transaction of business would be hazardous, financially or otherwise, to its policyholders, creditors, and others, the Shawnee County District Court order said. All policies in effect at the time of the liquidation order shall be cancelled the sooner of: (1) 30 days from the date of entry of the liquidation order, (2) the expiration of the policy coverage, or (3) the date when the customer has replaced the insurance coverage with equivalent insurance in another insurer or otherwise terminated the policy. All policies will be cancelled on or before April 30. Virginia now has a law on the books that will require that cars of reckless drivers be equipped with technology that prohibits them from exceeding speed limits. The new law (HB2096), which will not be effective until July 2026, requires a court to order enrollment in what is known as an intelligent speed assistance (ISA) program for any person convicted of reckless driving who was found to have been driving in excess of 100 miles per hour. For others who are repeat offenders and have accumulated a certain amount of demerit points, the Department of Motor Vehicles would be required to offer this program as an alternative to a license suspension or jail time. It will make our streets safer, said a key sponsor, Del. Patrick A. Hope (D-Arlington). The passing of HB2096 is a step in the right direction to make our roads safer and protect families from the devastating impact of reckless driving, said Tammy McGee, whose 16-year-old son Conner Guido was killed by a reckless driver. I hope that by installing speed-limiting technology on the vehicles of those who choose to repeatedly speed, we can save lives and prevent other families from enduring the same heartbreak weve experienced. The judge will decide how long the driver must remain in the program. The Virginia law will be applicable only to private passenger, not commercial vehicles. The drivers are to pay the costs. The driver would be barred from driving any vehicle without the program. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Road to Zero Coalition, Families for Safe Streets and other safety advocates have urged automakers, regulators and fleet operators to promote ISA and speed limiters to help address a spike in traffic deaths since 2020. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, close to 30% of traffic fatalities involve excessive speed. In 2022, speeding killed more than 12,500 people. ISA uses cameras to read speed limit signs or integrates maps of speed limits with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, according to the IIHS. Some systems alert drivers when they exceed the speed limit, while others limit power to the engine to keep them from going faster than the posted speed limit. Virginias move comes after the District of Columbia passed similar legislation last year. Other states are considering legislation. Several municipalities, including Ventura County in California, the city of Somerville in Massachusetts, and New York City have begun pilots of the technology in their fleets. A number of private sector fleets have also reportedly deployed ISA. Topics Personal Auto Virginia A federal judge has dismissed a proposed class action filed on behalf of Pennsylvania homeowners who believe that State Farm undervalued their property damage claims in its use of the Xactimate software that is popular with insurers. The lead plaintiffs, Jamie and Becky Belotti, sustained a fire loss at their home in Duryea, Pennsylvania. Their complaint contained counts for bad faith, fraud and deceptive business practices, breach of contract, bad faith, and unfair trade practices. They maintained that State Farm wrongfully treated their home damage repair as new construction when it should have used Verisk Analytics Xactimate numbers for repair/reconstruction and the difference led to an alleged underpayment. State Farm sought to have all claims dismissed, arguing that it had no contractual duty to use a particular setting when estimating losses and it did not breach its loss settlement obligations. After the parties could not agree on a loss payment amount, they entered into an appraisal process as called for in the policy. At the time, the parties were approximately $200,000 apart in their respective replacement cost estimates. The appraisers selected by State Farm and the plaintiffs agreed that the replacement cost estimate and the actual cash value amounts for the plaintiffs loss were $267,382 and $240,643, respectively. State Farm paid the plaintiffs the difference between its initial total payments and the amount resulting from the appraisal process. Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr., in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, agreed with State Farm that its policy did not require the insurer to use a specific computation method for loss calculations. The judge also noted that the insurer agreed to an appraisal process after the homeowners public adjuster and the insurer differed over the right amount and the insurer paid the difference. The judge said he could not identify any policy language that directly or indirectly concerns any method of computation, much less any language that requires a singular method of computation. The language of an insurance policy should not be stretched beyond its plain meaning to create ambiguous terms, he noted. Topics Lawsuits Artificial intelligence technology has continued to evolve, and its affecting many areas of insurance from claims to underwriting to customer service, according to panelists at the 2025 PLUS D&O Symposium in New York City. But has the technology developed so much that it could replace human underwriting in the next five years? I think it is the biggest question out there, said Jeffrey Chivers, CEO and co-founder of Syllo, an AI-powered litigation workspace that enables lawyers and paralegals to use language models throughout the litigation life cycle. Another way of asking this question is whether AI can develop judgmentnot just in underwriting but across all business domains in which judgment is an essential part of the job, he said. Is there any change here with respect to a models ability to exercise the kind of nuanced value judgment and other types of judgments that go into a mission-critical job? he asked. Thus far, the answer for me has been no, he said. If the answer is yes at some time in the next five years, I think thats what changes everything. Claire Davey, head of product innovation at Relm Insurance, said that major shifts are already happening in other areas of insurance that involve more administrative tasks, however. It depends on how the organization wants to deploy [AI] and utilize it, she said. But I think many jobs, particularly those that are administrative, are at risk of being phenomenally changed by artificial intelligence technology. It is going to be a landmark shift in commerce that weve seen in a generation, and insurance is no different. That said, Davey agreed that underwriting jobs are safefor now. One of the key governance controls and duties with AI technology is that it does require human oversight, so while AI could perform some underwriting stages, you would hope that there is still a human reviewing its output and sense-checking that, she said. AIs Underwriting Judgment AI technology is having a material impact on the insurance industry in other ways, panelists agreed. To start, the litigation landscape is already seeing a transformation. Within five years, there will be a lot more adoption of generative AI across legal and compliance functions, Chivers predicted. And I think five years from now, a couple of things will be really prominent. He said much debate will continue to emerge around transparency and any red flags discovered within an organization due to AI. Do you attribute knowledge to management if you had an AI agent in the background that surfaced these various red flags or yellow flags even if nobody reviewed it? he said. I think the transparency that generative AI brings within a big organization is going to be a big subject of discovery litigation. He added another area to watch is the degree to which companies are handing off decision-making responsibilities to AI. If we are in a world where companies are handing off that decision-making responsibility, it just raises a host of issues related to coverage, he said. This decision-making responsibility needs to be carefully considered with a human in the loop because of generative AIs shortcomings. Its not a quantitative model, and it also really lacks what I would describe as judgment, Chivers said. And so, when I think about how do you understand these large language models and what they bring to the table in terms of artificial intelligence, I think the best way to think about it is in terms of different cognitive skills [L]arge language models have certain cognitive skills like summarization and classification of things, translation, transcription, [but] they completely lack other cognitive skills. Allowing AI to participate in too much decision-making can be particularly dangerous because of one of its best skills so far: linguistics and rhetoric. This means AI models can excel at masking the fact that they lack the judgment to operate as an intelligent agent, Chivers explained. If you allow the large language model to generate things like plans and plans of action, it literally generates these for itself. It has some objective in mind, and it writes out 10 steps for itself as to how to accomplish that objective. And it takes each of those steps and generates ideas about how to execute it. And then it goes about, and if you give it access to other systems, it will be able to function, call against those systems, and cause real-world impacts within your organization, he said. At the moment, I think it would be basically insane to allow the current iteration of large language model agents to actually run wild within systems. Underwriters AI Judgment Beyond the use of generative AI within underwriting, how are insurers underwriting companies that use generative AI as a part of their business model? I think the risk profiles of insureds who are either developing or utilizing AI are shaped by the use case of that AI, Davey said. So, depending upon what its been designed to do, that will influence whether its main risk factor is bias or transparency or accountability. She said that when Relm Insurance is underwriting an account, its important to ask what the AI technology is doing and where its main exposure or risk is when it defaults or something goes wrong. Obviously, if its handling or being trained on a lot of personally identifiable data, we have an issue there in terms of accountability and privacy. But if were looking at an AI model which may be running diagnosticsit may be trying to run forecasts or perhaps providing recommendations we then have the issue of bias and discrimination, Davey said. Relm thinks of those buckets as shaping the risk profile of the insureds, guiding underwriters in terms of what follow-up questions theyre going to ask. Since Relm aims to provide informed capacity for emerging sectors, Davey said getting comfortable means asking questions and starting a dialogue with clients who are pushing on the frontiers of these emerging technologies. It is about trying to get dedicated time with those who are developing those technologies and also managing the technologies to really understand their technical capabilities, but also the governance around them, she said. So, it requires an investment on the client side to share their information, share their time with us. But if we can get the right information and we can get the comfort with the technology and their management topic, then we can start to provide capacity for that sector which has historically been underserved in the traditional markets. Julie Reiser, partner at Cohen Milstein, thinks about AI risks in terms of both misrepresentationor AI washing, in which a company overstates the capabilities of its AI technologyas well as employment discrimination. I think the overall premise that Im hearing across the board is that AI is iterative, that we expect people not just to engage once and create a process, but rather its something that you have to check in with and you have to watch each step and then say, Is this creating risk?' she said. Its not like every year you can just check in and itll be fine. For companies that are only focused on AI, theres even more risk, and that will require more board oversight and systems in place to manage risk, according to Nick Reider, senior vice president and deputy D&O product leader for the West region at Aon. If they dont have those, then theyre going to have a bad time when a good lawsuit is filed, he said. Its not to say that some mega-corporation that uses AI to simplify one of thousands of processes has no responsibilities whatsoever with respect to AI. Obviously, the directors cant bury their heads when they learn of misconduct, for example. However, AI-specific companies will need to have a higher level of governance in place, Reider said. But no matter what, just given the regulatory landscape thats out there right now, there is additional governance that has to be in place at these companies, he said. Theres a lot that goes into it. Indeed, in the U.S. alone, disagreement has emerged around how to define artificial intelligence and what it could achieve in the next five years, said Boris Feldman, partner at Freshfields US. What Im seeing, at least in the United States, is there are camps that are really concerned about super intelligence and the end of humanity, he said. And then there are other camps who are more focused on the here and now of what can we promulgate with respect to how these things are used to protect against the known risks of today. Davey said she believes a more colorful claims landscape in terms of litigation and regulation will emerge in the next five years. I would imagine that for the underwriters here and the brokers here, its going to be an interesting five years of conversations with clients about their claims history, she said. Proactive companies will lead the charge to set these standards, Reiser added. There will be a proactive group of companies and a reactive group, and the proactive group is going to set the standard for what the reactive group should have done, she said. That will be the benchmark. It wouldnt surprise me. Davey said she believes that these emerging AI technologies, although constantly evolving, are insurable. It just takes work, and it takes effort, and it takes researchand that requires investment and resources, she said. So, if we as an insurance company, but also as an insurance sector, want to remain relevant, then we have to put in that upfront to work with clients to understand them and provide the solutions. Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence Underwriting Lloyds executives said the market has continued to demonstrate its value to stakeholders by delivering 6.5% premium growth while maintaining underwriting discipline. Lloyds saw a continuation of positive returns with profit before tax of 9.6 billion ($12.4 billion) during 2024, down from 10.7 billion ($13.8 billion) in 2023. The market achieved a combined ratio of 86.9 for full-year 2024, compared with 84.0 for FY2023. (A combined ratio below 100 indicates an underwriting profit.) Lloyds Chief Financial Officer Burkhard Keese said that 2024 was a year when the market once again proved our underwriting discipline and delivered profitable growth of 6.5%, or gross written premium totaling 55.5 billion ($71.7 billion), compared with 52.1 billion ($67.3 billion) for FY2023. Keese and Chief Executive Officer John Neal both spoke during a recent media briefing to discuss Lloyds full-year results for 2024. Lloyds has been relentless in pursuing sustainable, profitable performance in the market. Weve been on a seven-year journey to deliver the change our stakeholders wanted: to consistently focus on the delivery of disciplined underwriting, to modernize our performance and oversight frameworks, to address the cost of doing business at Lloyds, and to show leadership on the issues that matter, said Neal, who will exit the market this year to become global CEO of Aon Reinsurance and chairman of Aons Climate Solutions unit. Our track record since 2017 speaks for itself. To date, were reporting a combined ratio for 2024 of 86.9. We have reduced our underlying combined ratio to 79.1, (which excludes major claims), or a 16-point improvement on that same ratio from 2019, Neal said, adding that Lloyds strong reserving position continued to support some positive prior year reserve releases, which reduced the 2024 combined ratio by 2.4%. The key components of the combined ratio are moving positively. Importantly, the attritional loss ratiomost directly under the underwriters control as they select, manage, and price riskhas reduced to 47.1% and is now consistently below 50%. Operating expenses have fallen over the period from 40% [in 2017] to 34% [in 2024], with opportunities to manage this ratio further post digitalization, Neal added. The markets 2024 expense ratio of 34.4 remained flat with 2023, which Keese described as a small disappointment. Most Important Measure Both Keese and Neal focused a lot of their commentary on Lloyds underlying combined ratio, which Keese described as the most important measure. With our underlying combined ratio of 79.1, we have achieved our profitability threshold of 80 for the third consecutive year, proving once again how well our Lloyds system works, said Keese, who is also stepping down from his CFO position this year. An underlying combined ratio of 80 means that we can absorb losses up to 8 billion [$10.3 billion] net of reinsurance before our underwriting result turns negative [and the combined ratio rises above 100], said Keese, noting that this allows Lloyds to absorb another 4.9 billion ($6.3 billion) of net large losses before it would report an overall loss of net income. As our normal net major claims are usually around 4 billion [$5.2 billion], this resilience is reassuring for both our policyholders and capital providers, Keese said. Since 2018, Lloyds has achieved top-line growth of over 50% and its underlying combined ratio has been reduced from 93 in 2018 to 79 in 2024, which represents an increase in annual underwriting profit of 6.4 billion ($8.3 billion), Keese said. Strong underwriting discipline is our north star, and we expect the market to consistently target an underlying combined ratio of around 80. Weve seen strong performance on both sides of the P&L with the underwriting profit of 5.3 billion [$6.9 billion], complemented by another strong investment return totaling 4.9 billion [$6.3 billion], Neal said. (The underwriting profit in 2023 was 5.9 billion, and that years investment return was 5.3 billion.) Keese noted that Lloyds profit before tax stands at 9.6 billion, or 1 billion less than reported for 2023, but this decrease was expected after the exceptional year of 2023 when natural catastrophe activity was relatively low. While 2024 is the second consecutive year when Lloyds reported very high profitability, Keese warned the market shouldnt get carried awayin other words, it should avoid resting on its laurels. We have not earned our cost of capital over the last seven years, meaning the high profits in 2023 and 2024 were not enough to offset the results since 2018, and I believe it is very much true for the whole industry, he said. Return on Capital This means we must maintain underwriting discipline. We can all agree that 7.6% of return [on capital since 2018] is not sufficient for existing and new investors. Without setting a specific target and depending, of course, on the nature of the book, an investor typically would expect to see 10% to 15% returns, Keese said, adding that for the market to reach an adequate return on capital, it needs to achieve double-digit returns for several years. The 2024 return on capital of 21.0% is down from 25.3% in 2023, which brings the seven-year average to 7.6%. (See related graphic on page 14.) The return on capital at Lloyds was 21% for 2024, down from 2023s significant 25.3% but taking the seven-year average now back to 7.6%. Keese further explained during the Q&A session that investors need to be paid for their cut of the risks they take. We have earned 7.6% return on capital over the last eight years, and we must give the investors a chance to earn that money back. And I think that will force discipline because theres a certain fatigue still in the investor community of deploying money into the insurance sector. Both Keese and Neal expressed confidence that Lloyds wouldnt see widespread rate softening, given investor demand for better returns and the nature of evolving risks. Were in an unusual world of protectionism, nationalist behaviors, and geopolitics, said Neal. I mean theres a whole heap of complexity out there, which has heightened the perception of risk amongst the buyers of insurance. He noted that Lloyds is growing at three-times the rate of gross domestic product while insurance globally is growing at twice the rate of GDP. So, I think there is plenty of opportunity for underwriters to see risk, accept risk, but only accept risk where the price is right. Indeed, Neal said the market in 2023 and 2024 has shown discipline around the right price for the right riska trend that will likely continue. The 2024 results demonstrate clearly that the Lloyds market is in good shape, underpinned by that commitment to performance, discipline, and sensible scale, said Neal in his wrapup commentary. And to remain in this position, we will remain laser focused on underwriting profitability to deliver exceptional value to our market, our investors, and of course to our customers. Topics Trends Excess Surplus Pricing Trends Lloyd's A Los Angeles, California, couple was sentenced after an investigation reportedly found they underreported more than $21 million in employee payroll for their delivery companies. John Nemandoust, 70, was sentenced to 60 days in county jail, and Annette Assil, 62, was sentenced to 30 days. The pair were sentenced to 10 years of felony probation and also ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution for unpaid workers comp insurance premiums. The California Department of Insurance launched an investigation into the three companies the owned by the couple: A-1 Valley Services, Prompt Delivery and Affordable Messenger. Investigators began looking at the companies after receiving information that two of the companies were uninsured. Investigators reportedly found that between 2013 and 2017, the couple only obtained workers comp coverage for Valley Services employees, while leaving Prompt Delivery and Affordable Messenger uninsured. When employees from the uninsured companies sustained work-related injuries, the couple reportedly filed claims under Valley Services policy. Over the four-year period, at least 20 uninsured employees had claims improperly filed under Valley Services policy, according to the CDI. A forensic audit reportedly found that the companies combined gross payroll exceeded $25 million, while they only reported roughly $1.4 million to their insurance carrier. This resulted in $21 million payroll underreporting. This scheme allowed the couple to avoid paying $3 million in workers comp premiums. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office prosecuted the case. Topics Workers' Compensation Originally set to go into effect Jan. 31, New Yorks new law going into effect June 2 offers workers more protections against workplace violence and harassment. The Retail Worker Safety Act (S. 8358B/A. 8947C), signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Sept. 4, 2024, requires that retailers with 10 or more employees adopt a workplace violence prevention policy. The policy must identify factors that put workers at risk of violence and outline violence prevention methods. In addition, retail employers must offer annual training training employees on de-escalation tactics, active shooter drills, emergency procedures, use of panic buttons and more. Employers must also install panic buttons at easily accessible locations throughout the store or provide workers with wearable/cellphone-based panic buttons. This provision applies to employers with 500 or more employees statewide. The law directs the New York State Department of Labor to develop workplace violence prevention policy templates and trainings to facilitate employer compliance. Sponsored by Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) and Assembly member Karines Reyes (D-Bronx) , the legislation was backed by the New York City-based Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The preventative measures this law provides will help stop violence and harassment before it starts, RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum said in a press release, but even more importantly, will more safely assist workers in getting help quickly in the event of an emergency. The provisions in this bill can help to save lives. Under the latest bill, the prior requirement for panic buttons that would have called 911 has been replaced with a requirement for silent response buttons. The silent response buttons will alert a security officer, manager or supervisor. Another amendment changed the annual violence prevention training requirement to once every two years. Employers have until Jan. 1, 2027, to comply with the amended law. Topics New York In her 2025 State of the State, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined several proposals aimed at improving access to medical care within the New York State Workers Compensation system. These initiatives, detailed in her Fighting for Your Family agenda and elaborated upon in subsequent announcements, focus on removing barriers to treatment for injured workers and streamlining the system for healthcare providers. Below is a summary of what she said and the potential effects on the administration of Workers Compensation claims. KEY TAKEAWAYS Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a sweeping initiative to improve access to medical care within the New York State Workers Compensation system, removing barriers to treatment for injured workers and streamlining the system for healthcare providers. The proposals could significantly reshape the administration of Workers Compensation claims in New York, with both positive and challenging implications. If implemented with clear regulations and robust oversight, the reforms could modernize the system. If not, they risk overwhelming existing processes. The state Workers Compensation Boards support of the proposals suggests momentum. But success hinges on execution. What Gov. Hochul Said The governor emphasized the need to enhance healthcare access for injured workers as part of her broader healthcare and workforce agenda. Key points from her address and related policy documents include: 1. Universal Authorization for Providers: Hochul proposed legislation to allow all eligible healthcare providers such as physicians, nurse practitioners, and others licensed under state law to treat Workers Compensation claimants without requiring prior authorization from the Workers Compensation Board (WCB). She stated, New Yorkers who are injured or become ill on the job need more options for care, highlighting that the current requirement for WCB authorization limits access, particularly in underserved areas like upstate New York. This was further detailed in a February 25 press release, in which she noted that the reform would give injured workers freedom to see the providers they want, including their own primary care providers whom they already know and trust. 2. Expanding Provider Participation: She proposed increasing reimbursement rates to make participation in the Workers Compensation system more attractive to providers. Hochul argued this would address the shortage of authorized providers, a barrier that delays care and prolongs workers recovery. In her words, These proposals enhance access for workers as well as compensate our medical providers at a rate far more attuned to the reality of providing care. 3. Legislative and Regulatory Changes: Hochul introduced four legislative proposals and one regulatory change, including: Amending the Workers Compensation law to allow insurers to pay for medical treatment for up to one year without accepting liability, with automatic claim acceptance after that period unless controverted. She said this would ensure injured workers get timely medical care while providing transparency. Allowing fellows and resident physicians in teaching hospitals to treat workers under supervision, leveraging New Yorks academic medical resources to expand care options. 4. Building on Recent Reforms: She highlighted prior efforts by the WCB, such as eliminating custom forms, adopting a universal billing form, and implementing an online system for prior authorizations and billing disputes. These, she said, complement her new proposals to ensure that New Yorks injured workers can access the timely and high-quality care they deserve. These points were reiterated in her 2025 State of the State book and supported by stakeholders like NYS Workers Compensation Board Chair Clarissa Rodriguez, who called the proposals a win-win-win great for workers, great for providers, and great for employers. Potential Effects on Workers Compensation Claims Administration Hochuls proposals could significantly reshape the administration of Workers Compensation claims in New York, with both positive and challenging implications: 1. Improved Access and Faster Treatment: Effect: Allowing all eligible providers to treat claimants without WCB authorization could drastically increase the pool of available healthcare professionals, reducing wait times for treatment. Workers could see their own doctors, fostering trust and continuity of care. Administrative Impact: Claims processing might accelerate as injured workers receive care sooner, potentially reducing the duration of disability and associated costs. However, the WCB and insurers may need to adjust oversight to ensure quality and compliance across a broader provider network. 2. Increased Provider Participation: Effect: Higher reimbursement rates could attract more providers, particularly in rural or underserved areas, addressing the current shortage (e.g., only about 20 percent of NYS physicians were WCB-authorized as of recent estimates). Administrative Impact: This could streamline medical reporting and billing as more providers engage with the system, but it might also strain administrative resources initially as the WCB updates fee schedules and onboarding processes. 3. Pre-Liability Payment Flexibility: Effect: Allowing insurers to pay for treatment up to one year without accepting liability could expedite care while giving insurers time to investigate claims. The automatic acceptance provision after one year (unless controverted) adds predictability. Administrative Impact: This could reduce early-stage disputes and paperwork, but insurers might face pressure to investigate claims faster, potentially increasing administrative workloads. It may also lead to more contested claims at the one-year mark if liability remains unclear. 4. Leveraging Academic Resources: Effect: Including fellows and residents expands capacity in teaching hospitals, potentially improving care quality and access in urban centers with major medical facilities. Administrative Impact: This requires coordination between the WCB, hospitals, and insurers to ensure proper supervision and billing, possibly adding complexity to claims tracking and payment systems. 5. Operational and Cost Considerations: Effect: Faster treatment and broader access could lower overall claim costs by reducing lost work time, but higher reimbursement rates and increased provider participation might raise medical expenses for insurers and employers. Administrative Impact: The WCB and insurers may need to enhance IT systems, training, and compliance monitoring to handle a larger, more diverse provider base and ensure adherence to regulations. Employers could see premium adjustments reflecting these changes. 6. Potential Challenges: Without clear implementation guidelines, the system risks inconsistency in care quality or fraudulent billing from newly authorized providers. The lack of an authorization filter might also complicate fraud detection, a persistent issue in workers compensation. The interplay with the New York Health Information Privacy Act (NYHIPA), if signed, could add further complexity. NYHIPAs strict data rules might conflict with the WCBs need for fluid health data exchange, potentially slowing claims if consent or retention requirements arent aligned. Conclusion Gov. Hochuls 2025 State of the State proposals aim to dismantle longstanding barriers in the NYS Workers Compensation system, prioritizing injured workers access to timely, trusted medical care. By broadening provider eligibility, boosting reimbursements, and allowing pre-liability payments, these changes could streamline claims administration, reduce delays, and improve outcomes. However, they also introduce administrative challenges such as managing a larger provider network, adapting to cost shifts, and ensuring compliance that the WCB, insurers, and employers must navigate. If implemented effectively, with clear regulations and robust oversight, these reforms could modernize the system; otherwise, they risk overwhelming existing processes. The WCBs ongoing support suggests momentum, but success hinges on execution. This article originally appeared on the website of Goldberg Segalla on April 16, 2025 and is republished with permission of the author. Topics Legislation Workers' Compensation India is planning to ease its nuclear liability laws to cap accident-related penalties on equipment suppliers, three government sources said, in a move mainly to attract U.S. firms that have been holding back due to the risk of unlimited exposure. The proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government is the latest step to expand nuclear power production capacity by 12 times to 100 gigawatts by 2047 as well as provide a fillip to India in trade and tariff negotiations with the U.S. A draft law prepared by the department of atomic energy removes a key clause in the Civil Nuclear Liability Damage Act of 2010 that exposes suppliers to unlimited liability for accidents, the three sources said. Indias atomic energy department, the prime ministers office and the finance ministry did not respond to requests seeking comment. India needs nuclear power, which is clean and essential, said Debasish Mishra, chief growth officer at Deloitte South Asia. A liability cap will allay the major concern of the suppliers of nuclear reactors. The amendments are in line with international norms that put the onus on the operator to maintain safety instead of the supplier of nuclear reactors. New Delhi is hoping the changes will ease concerns of mainly U.S. firms like General Electric Co. and Westinghouse Electric Co. that have been sitting on the sidelines for years due to unlimited risks in case of accidents. Analysts say passage of the amended law is crucial to negotiations between India and the U.S. for a trade deal this year that aims to raise bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from $191 billion last year. Modis administration is confident of getting approval for the amendments in the monsoon session of parliament, set to begin in July, according to the sources. Under the proposed amendments, the right of the operator to compensation from the supplier in case of an accident will be capped at the value of the contract. It will also be subject to a period to be specified in the contract. Currently, the law does not define a limit to the amount of compensation an operator can seek from suppliers and the period for which the vendor can be held accountable. Law Grew Out of Bhopal Disaster Indias 2010 nuclear liability law grew out of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, the worlds deadliest industrial accident, at a factory owned by U.S. multinational Union Carbide Corp. in which more than 5,000 people were killed. Union Carbide agreed to pay an out-of-court settlement of $470 million in damages in 1989. The current liability law effectively shut out Western companies from a huge market, and also strained U.S.-Indian relations since they reached a deal on nuclear cooperation in 2008. It also left U.S. firms at a disadvantage to Russian and French companies whose accident liability is underwritten by their governments. The draft law also proposes a lower liability cap on small reactor operators at $58 million, but is unlikely to alter the cap for large reactor operators from the current level of $175 million, the three sources said. India is betting big on nuclear power to meet its rising energy demand without compromising on net-zero commitments, for which it proposes to allow private Indian companies to build such plants. Indian conglomerates like Reliance Industries, Tata Power, Adani Power and Vedanta Ltd. have held discussions with the government to invest around $5.14 billion each in the sector. ($1 = 85.6320 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh, editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan.) Norfolk Southern reached an agreement with one of two companies about how much each side will help pay for a $600 million class-action settlement, which the railroad agreed to after the disastrous 2023 Ohio train derailment and toxic chemicals that were released and burned. This lawsuit doesnt change anything about how much money people will receive from the settlement or any payments to the village of East Palestine or anyone else those are all established in various settlement agreements. This case only affects which companies have to write the checks to pay for the class-action settlement, which is separate from the cost of the massive environmental cleanup. The railroad and OxyVinyls, the chemical company that made the vinyl chloride that was released and burned after the derailment, announced the settlement Thursday in the midst of the ongoing trial over who should pay people affected by the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The two companies didnt disclose any details of the agreement in their brief statement. The third company involved in the lawsuit, GATX, which owned the railcar that caused the derailment, declined to comment on the settlement. The case is expected to go to the jury next week in a trial that began late last month. Residents are still waiting to receive most of the money from the settlement because of pending appeals, although some payments have started to go out. After the train derailed in East Palestine, an assortment of chemicals spilled and caught fire. Then three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode, generating a massive black plume of smoke that spread over the area and forced evacuations. The potential health consequences from the derailment remain a concern for many residents. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed in its investigation that the vent-and-burn operation was unnecessary because the tank cars were starting to cool off and the railroad failed to listen to the advice from OxyVinyls experts or share their opinions with the officials who made the decision. But during the trial, Norfolk Southern raised questions about conflicting information that OxyVinyls representatives on scene and at headquarters provided as officials were deciding whether to release and burn the vinyl chloride. Norfolk Southern has said all along that it believes OxyVinyls should help pay because the railroad says the chemical manufacturer provided inconsistent and inaccurate information about its vinyl chloride before officials decided to burn it. Last year, Norfolk Southern lost a similar lawsuit when it tried to force GATX and OxyVinyls to help pay for the environmental cleanup after the derailment, which has cost the Atlanta-based railroad more than $1 billion. It made similar arguments in this trial to get help paying for the class-action settlement. Photo: FILE A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bayer is lobbying U.S. states to adjust their regulations in the battle to control costly litigation targeting its herbicide glyphosate but is also prepared for a possible exit from the market, the groups CEO said on Thursday. Facing weak earnings, rising legal costs and a lagging share price, Bayer hopes the strategy will provide it with a way to stem damages out of court, having already paid about $10 billion to settle disputed claims that Roundup, its weedkiller based on glyphosate, causes cancer. Were making this case to lawmakers, and we appreciate the bi-partisan support we see, Chief Executive Bill Anderson said in a transcript of his speech for the companys annual shareholders meeting on April 25. Georgia and North Dakota have already passed legislation, Anderson said, adding: we hope other states follow their lead. Bills recently passed in both states on pesticide labeling have yet to be passed into law by the governors. However, Anderson warned that the legal problems could force the end of marketing for glyphosate. In fact, were nearing a point where the litigation industry could force us to even stop selling this vital product, he said. Thats not something we want to do, but we need to be prepared for all outcomes. Bayer earlier this month again petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to sharply limit legal claims that Roundup causes cancer, seeking to avoid potentially billions of dollars in damages. Anderson has struggled to revive a share price that has plunged by more than 70% since Bayers $63 billion acquisition of Monsanto in 2018 that saddled it with litigation and debt. About 67,000 further cases are pending for which the group has set aside $5.9 billion in legal provisions. Reuters reported in March that Bayer told U.S. lawmakers it could stop selling Roundup unless they can strengthen legal protection against product liability litigation, according to a financial analyst and a person close to the matter. Anderson said 2025 would be the most difficult year of our turnaround as the company targets a return to earnings growth from 2026 after a decline this year. According to his prepared remarks, he will appeal to shareholders later this month to back a capital increase of up to 35% to provide important flexibility in containing litigation while maintaining a credit rating at an appropriate level. The potential capital increase, worth around 8 billion euros ($9.09 billion) based on the companys current market value, was proposed last month. Bayer has said it would only resort to a rights issue if absolutely necessary, but that it could not rule out having to increase capital at short notice for settlements with U.S. plaintiffs. ($1 = 0.8797 euros) (Reporting by Rachel More, editing by Kirsti Knolle and David Evans) Microsoft reported a record-breaking 1,360 vulnerabilities in its products last year, an all-time high and an 11% increase over the previous record of 1,292 in 2022, according to new report from cybersecurity firm BeyondTrust. Microsoft Office vulnerabilities in particular nearly doubled from 2023, reaching 62 in 2024. At the same time, the cybersecurity firm reports that the longer-term trend shows the pace of growth in vulnerabilities appears to be stabilizing. This, combined with the continued downward trend toward fewer critical vulnerabilities, suggests Microsofts security initiatives and improvements in the security architecture of modern operating systems are paying off, the authors note. However, the report warns of the complexity of securing todays vast and diverse ecosystems, where evolving technologies, features, and interdependencies continue to introduce risk. Other findings from the report include: Elevation of Privilege (EoP) and Remote Code Execution (RCE)primary goals of any threat actor looking to exploit a systemcontinue to dominate the vulnerability categories. Elevation of Privilege (EoP) vulnerabilities comprised 40% (554) of all reported vulnerabilities. Critical vulnerabilities across the Microsoft ecosystem continued to decline overall in 2024. Security Feature Bypass vulnerabilities surged by 60%, increasing from 56 in 2023 to 90 in 2024, increasing the pressure to reduce software vulnerabilities at the design stage through secure coding and threat modeling. Microsoft Edge vulnerabilities increased by 17% to 292 total vulnerabilities, including 9 critical vulnerabilities in 2024, compared to zero in 2022. Microsoft Azure and Dynamics 365 vulnerabilities plateaued in 2024. There were 587 Windows vulnerabilities in 2024; 33 were critical. Windows Server had 684 vulnerabilities in 2024; 43 were critical. The report includes insights from private and public sector cybersecurity experts on how practices such as enforcing least privilege and zero trust, prioritizing vulnerability management, and securing remote access pathways help in defending a Windows environment against present and future threats. One of the biggest causes of data breaches is compromised credentials. Overprivileged user accounts are the low hanging fruit attackers are looking for, and they will always take the path of least resistance. Its crucial to secure your privileged accounts (and all pathways to them) to avoid sneaky attack vectors and lateral movement through your network, Anton Chuvakin, security advisor at Office of the CISO, Google Cloud, comments in the report. Sami Laiho, senior technical fellow, Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Player), writes that while Microsoft reached an all-time record for vulnerabilities, the amount has now stayed near the same level for five years in a row. At the same time, Laiho says, its important to know that there were 40,000 common vulnerabilities and exposures reported in total in 2024. While Microsoft is just a small portion of those, the role that Windows plays as the most used desktop operating system means its the one that usually shows the actual ransomware note to the user and is the final end-game target for the attacker, he says in the report. Laiho adds that since most identity-targeted attacks will target the routes that people use for online services, the rise in the number of vulnerabilities in Edge and Office is of concern. The good news is that proactive measures will help you in the taskeven if it seems almost impossible, he adds. This years data offers a clear reminder that the threat landscape isnt slowing downits rapidly evolving, said James Maude, field chief technology officer at BeyondTrust. The sustained dominance of Elevation of Privilege vulnerabilities highlights how valuable privileges are to attackers and why they will continue to target identities with privileges to move laterally and gain access to critical systems. These trends reinforce the need for organizations to focus not just on patching, but on securing the underlying Paths to Privilege across their environments to reduce the attack surface of every identity and point of access. BeyondTrust offers protection for what it calls Paths to Privilege and sees privileged access management (PAM as the keystone of a robust identity security strategy. It offers a AI-driven PAM platform called Pathfinder. Elon Musks age of government efficiency has spread to Florida, with legislation advanced last week that would abolish at least 22 state boards that oversee licensing and disciplinary reviews for engineers, contractors, building inspectors, accountants and many more professionals. House Bill 1461, approved by a House Budget Committee subcommittee last week, also would drop some continuing education requirements for licensees. If it passes the full Florida Legislature and is signed into law, it could potentially have an impact on property/casualty insurance claims, claims defense, subrogation, and on expert witnesses used in litigation. This boggles my mind that theyre doing this, said George Miles, a Florida engineer who has filed complaints against more than a dozen other engineers who have testified for or drafted reports for plaintiffs in insurance claims disputes. He argued that Floridas 11-member Board of Professional Engineers needs more teeth, not fewer, to censure engineers who make assertions that go against engineering standards or have little or no evidence to support them. But with the Donald Trump administrations government efficiency effort, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, making widespread cuts to federal agencies and services, HB 1461 seems to be gaining steam in the Florida Legislature. It was approved by one Commerce Committee subcommittee earlier this month, and by the State Administration Budget Subcommittee last week. Several lawmakers said at the subcommittee hearing last week that the measure would improve efficiency in state government and streamline services for professionals and the public. Others questioned its effect on public safety and homebuilding. The bill would repeal the oversight boards and put licensing and disciplinary review under the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The DBPR already oversees or houses most of the professional review boards but leaves most of the work to the boards, which are made up mostly of members of the industry being regulated. The bills co-sponsor, Rep. Tiffany Esposito, said at the meeting that the bill targets those boards that have produced few disciplinary actions against licensees in recent years. The DBPR has to pay for travel for board members every time these boards meet, and their work is minimal and its often rubber stamping a lot of things, Esposito said. She also argued that continuing education, required for most professionals, is often little more than an illusion. I think weve all been in professions where we have to do continuing education and, quite frankly, we dont actually do it, Esposito said at the hearing. We sit there and we hit a button and wait for the timer to go. While CE courses may be well-intended, in execution, I dont think its actually doing anything, she added. The very best training is on-the-job training. Others disagreed and questioned if DBPR would have the staff or the professional experience or knowledge to review complaints and weed out people who dont meet standards or who dont stay abreast of changes in building codes, for example, and technology. The DBPR does a great job now with a lot of the work. But we dont feel that they have the expertise in math and science, in-house, to qualify professionals such as landscape architects, said Chris Johnson, a landscape architect in Tallahassee who spoke at the subcommittee meeting. The American Society of Civil Engineers sent an email blast to members last week, urging them to ask Florida lawmakers to vote the bill down. While the aim of the legislation appears to be removing obstacles to economic opportunity and improving overall government efficiency, in practice it would jeopardize the health and welfare of all Floridians, the bulletin reads. A co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Taylor Yarkosky, acknowledged that a preliminary analysis shows that the reshuffling would not save tax dollars, but might actually cost the DBPR a little more each year. A legislative staff analysis notes that the bill could reduce state governments administrative costs associated with maintaining the boards and commissions. Subcommittee Chair Rep. Vicki Lopez said she has asked the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to provide a more complete cost-benefit analysis. Its possible that the bill will be changed as it moves through the Legislature. Yarkosky, himself a building contractor, said he is continuing to meet with some three dozens stakeholders who may be affected by the bill. The measure is now in the full House Commerce Committee. A Senate version, SB 1452, has seen no action since it was referred to a Senate committee in March. The licensing, education and disciplining of many professionals targeted by the bills could affect insurance matters, resulting from construction defects or structures improperly built on sinkhole areas, for example. And the engineering boards proposed demise could have a impact on claims litigation and the many expert witnesses who provide damage reports. Structural and civil engineers have long been key players in claims litigation. Throughout the Florida property insurance litigation crisis, from 2015 to 2023, insurance companies and defense attorneys argued that some plaintiffs engineers had repeatedly exaggerated wind or water damage, or blamed losses on phenomena that werent proven. Few of those engineers were formally sanctioned. Their assertions were challenged only in court by insurance lawyers, and insurance carriers often hired their own expert witnesses to provide damage assessments and cause of loss, adding to litigation expenses. One longtime Florida engineer famously claimed in litigation reports that hurricane winds actually speed up as they move over a roof, producing wind speeds that were far greater than those recorded by nearby instruments. After Miles, a consulting engineer in Daytona, turned in several plaintiffs engineers in recent years, filing formal complaints with the Board of Professional Engineers, at least two of them received letters of guidance from the board. The letters did seem to have an impact, and the two engineers have largely moved on from testifying in claims disputes, Miles said. He and others in the industry have suggested that the board needs to take more severe disciplinary actions against engineers who make unsupported claims, but that the board is limited in its ability to censure or suspend licenses. Lumping the boards functions under a larger bureaucracy is likely to exacerbate that problem, not improve it, Miles argued. With fewer disciplinary actions on engineers records, insurance defense attorneys may have fewer grounds on which to challenge witnesses and reports. Im for some of that (government efficiency), he said. But we need regulations when people make money off their professional licenses. Without a board of peers scrutinizing the profession, it will allow laziness to set in, with some engineers feeling that they can avoid keeping up with research, changes in technology and building codes, he said. The trend toward smaller government and deregulation appears to be gaining steam in other areas affecting property-casualty insurance and in other states. Colorados governor last year signed a similar law that will sunset the state board of architects, engineers and surveyors in 2033. In Florida, a bill has proposed greatly reducing the number of education hours needed before taking the insurance agents license exam. In North Carolina last week, a House committee approved a plan to remove education requirements altogether for producer license applicants. Topics Agencies Florida FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Kentuckys auditor said Thursday that her office will investigate the states medical cannabis program after receiving complaints about the lottery system used to award highly sought-after licenses to grow, process and sell the medicinal products to eligible patients. Auditor Allison Ball said her office will examine the application process and how business licenses were awarded as part of its review of the Office of Medical Cannabis in Gov. Andy Beshears administration. The state received thousands of applications for licenses, and Beshear has said the state-run lotteries last year were a fair way to give applicants a chance to land the limited number of licenses awarded. The governors office said Thursday that the licensing regulations underwent legislative reviews and that the process to award the licenses was transparent, including the live-streaming of lotteries. The individuals who have come forward to express concerns went through the full process and did not complain until after not being selected in the lottery, Beshear spokeswoman Crystal Staley said. However, reviews by Louisville Public Media found that out-of-state residents dominated the lotteries for licenses, tracing it to a flood of applications from deep-pocketed companies. In announcing the probe Thursday, the states Republican auditor said: My office has continued to receive complaints about how the Office of Medical Cannabis administered the lottery process for awarding medical cannabis business licenses. Kentuckians should have confidence that state offices operate with transparency and integrity, and my office is committed to ensuring those standards. Asked for details about who lodged complaints, Balls office replied: To avoid disrupting the ongoing investigation, we are not able to provide further comment regarding any specifics at this time. When announcing the lottery system nearly a year ago, Beshear called it a fair process meant to remove any temptation to lobby in an effort to get a leg up in different ways that we dont want to see. Limiting cultivator, processor and dispensary licenses was meant to avoid flooding the market with medicinal cannabis products that could exceed demand, hurting the fledgling businesses, Beshear said. The governor has said the program could be expanded with more businesses in the future, depending on demand and whether more qualifying medical conditions are added. Kentucky lawmakers legalized medical cannabis for people suffering from a range of debilitating illnesses, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea and post-traumatic stress disorder. Kentuckys medical cannabis program launched at the start of 2025. The cultivation and distribution network is ramping up for the start of sales. More than 8,000 Kentuckians so far have received a medical cannabis card, Beshear said, and ground was broken recently for a cultivation operation. We are working as fast as we can to get safe, reliable medical cannabis on the shelves for those who qualify for a card, Beshear said Thursday. The medical cannabis probe is the latest review of the Democratic governors administration by the auditors office. Earlier this year, Ball said a preliminary review found that dozens of foster children in Kentucky spent nights sleeping in social services buildings while awaiting placement by a state agency. Ball said those preliminary findings have spurred a broader investigation. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Cannabis The high cost of living remains a main concern in Americas largest exacerbated by the January 2025 wildfires is one of the biggest worries bothering residents of Los Angeles County. A survey focused on the county, the nations largest with 9.7 million people, also shows worries about the Trump Administrations latest round of efforts to deport and curtain immigrants, and the persistent problem of homelessness. Related: California Sets Aside $170M to Thin Vegetation, Forests to Help Prevent Wildfires The annual survey from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs produces a Quality of Life Index. The QLI was unchanged this year, but the score of 53 matches last years lowest in the 10 years of the QLIs existence. The survey has hit this low point in three out of the last four years. In addition to the standardized questions included in the QLI survey, questions were included this year that touched on the L.A. wildfires. Related: California at Risk of New Insurance Bailout Amid Fire Danger The survey found the collective trauma of the January wildfires in communities of Pacific Palisades and Altadena is more widespread than anticipated, with effects felt across the county in areas ranging from North County to South Bay. More than two-fifths of people polled said they know someone affected by the fires, while 14% said that an actual loss of income caused by the fires applied a great deal to them personally, and another 13% said it applied somewhat. The majority of county residents (89%) believe that homeowners who lost their property to the fires should be allowed to rebuild at the same location. The same question was asked in 2019 after the Woolsey Fire near Simi Valley, and 76% agreed with allowing for rebuilding in the same location. About half (52%) of those polled are willing to increase taxes to fund efforts to improve wildfire response. This year, cost of living has soared to its highest salience level, with three-quarters respondents saying it is the most important category affecting their quality of life over all the others. This is a main contributing factor to why the overall QLI score is unchanged from last year, according to the organizers of the survey. A significant percentage of county residents (44%) are worried that they, a member of their family or a friend could be deported by federal authorities. Latinos (54%), residents ages 18-29 (57%) and 30-39 (52%) are the likeliest to have this concern. For the first time in recent years, the number of county residents who believe the homeless problem is getting worse actually declined by nearly 10 pointsfrom 60% in 2024 to 52% in 2025. However, only 10% of Angelenos believe the situation is improving. The survey included 1,400 L.A. County residents and was conducted February 23 to March 9. It covers nine categories and also ranks the salience of those categories. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Trends Wildfire Louisiana Tesla settled a racial discrimination lawsuit by a Black female employee who claimed a manager at its Fremont, California, plant sometimes greeted workers by saying welcome to the plantation or welcome to the slave house. Raina Pierce, who installed latches on car doors, and the automaker led by billionaire Elon Musk agreed to a settlement proposed by a mediator, according to a joint filing on Thursday in San Francisco federal court. Terms were not disclosed, and both sides are finalizing a settlement agreement, the filing said. Lawyers for Pierce and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Musk is not a defendant. Pierce said she was subjected to pervasive harassment, including a common racial slur she said was scrawled throughout the plant including in bathrooms, and a gender-based insult. She also said she was yelled at or disciplined for conduct for which non-Black workers were excused. Pierces complaint quotes a Tesla employee who temporarily joined her production line and said, Maam, you need to go to HR because these leads are saying things about you that are not right. Tesla has faced other accusations of racial discrimination and harassment at the Fremont plant. One plaintiff, elevator operator Owen Diaz, settled in March 2024 for undisclosed terms after a $3.2 million jury verdict. Another jury had awarded Diaz $137 million in 2021, but the case was retried after he rejected a lower sum the judge proposed. The case is Pierce v Tesla Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-03177. (Reporting by Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) Topics Lawsuits California Tesla Coming up for public online auction on Wednesday, May 14, is a 50-acre farm at Newtown, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. The property is being presented in lots by Gorey-based Quinn Property. The sale is due to take place at the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy and simultaneously online. An investigation has been launched after a much-loved Co Donegal church was gutted in an overnight fire. Fire-fighters and the emergency services fought to save St Mary's Church in Derrybeg overnight. The blaze broke out at about 4am. Despite the efforts of the emergency services, the building was left gutted. Nobody was injured in the huge blaze which could be seen for miles around. The church was officially blessed on its opening in 1972 by then Bishop of Raphoe Dr McFeely. Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, diocesan administrator of the Raphoe Diocese, celebrated his first Mass in the church. He said he was "heartbroken" by the news of the fire. He said: "I am heart broken to learn of the destruction by fire this morning of Seipeal Mhuire, na Doiri Beaga, the parish church for the parish of Gaoth Dobhair. "And I think of all the people of Gaoth Dobhair at home and away will receive this news with great sadness. "We are grateful to An Garda Siochana who must now lead the necessary investigations. The papacy of Pope Francis made it more comfortable for former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to attend Mass as a gay man, he has told the Irish Examiner. Mr Varadkar said that he had felt that the Catholic Church had become more welcoming of gay people generally during Pope Francis's reign. In 2023, Pope Francis had declared that laws criminalising homosexuality were unjust and that being homosexual is not a crime, and later that year signed a document that said that under certain circumstances trans people can be baptised as Catholics and serve as godparents. "For me, who was raised Catholic but doesn't go to Mass much, I certainly felt more comfortable doing so and that was largely down to his attitude to LGBTQ people," said the former taoiseach. He added that his local church now holds an annual Mass for the LGBT+ community, adding that he was not sure this would happen had it not been for Pope Francis. Mr Varadkar was taoiseach and had a meeting with the Pope when he came to Ireland in 2018. I have very positive memories of the visit "It was arranged very late in the day, because he was over for the World Meeting of Families and we weren't sure how big the State element would be," Mr Varadkar said. "But we were very keen he leave Dublin and he did go to Knock," he said, praising the protocol department in the Department of Taoiseach for handling the event. Mr Varadkar added that he believed the visit's signature event, a Mass in the Phoenix Park "could have gone better" in terms of overall attendance, but the weather on the day and fears around long queues didn't help. The 2018 visit included the Pope making the most comprehensive acknowledgement of abuses in Ireland, which Leo Varadkar had raised in his meeting. File Picture: Tiziana Fabi/AFP Mr Varadkar said he and the pontiff had a "great meeting" during the visit, and that he had appreciated that there was no issue that his partner Matt attended the meeting. Mr Varadkar also revealed that Pope Francis would enquire about his wellbeing through a mutual friend and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. I'd a great meeting him. He was extremely down to Earth. I really liked him "I felt it was really warm. He would ask after me. He met Matt too, which was really nice because I'm not sure how many same-sex heads of government he would have encountered. "He seemed to think pastoral care came before doctrine, to come from that very South American view of Catholicism." LGBT+ issues Mr Varadkar said that, while Pope Francis perhaps "could have gone further" on LGBT+ issues, he went further than any of his predecessors. The 2018 visit included the Pope making the most comprehensive acknowledgement of abuses in Ireland, which Mr Varadkar had raised in his meeting. The meeting was in the same year as the referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution had been passed in a landslide, and Mr Varadkar said he had been keen to see relations with the Catholic Church improved. He knew that I had a responsibility on behalf of survivors of abuse to raise it and he handled it well, but I had been keen to improve relations with the Church and state and discussed that "I know some victims will feel differently about how he spoke in terms of the apology against the actions he took." Mr Varadkar said Pope Francis had "created the space for a more respectful relationship between the Church and the state". "It's now more balanced." Primary school teachers are to campaign for better supports for those injured in traumatic physical incidents in classrooms or on school yards amid a sharp increase in injuries. Almost 1,000 delegates attended the first day of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) annual congress in Galway on Monday, many of them primary school or special education teachers. Too many teachers are being left to cope alone after sustaining injuries in the classroom, delegates heard. Following a motion held in private session and passed unanimously, the union is now to campaign for comprehensive reform of the current assault leave scheme for teachers. As previously highlighted by the Irish Examiner, more than 1,300 teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) have taken assault leave since 2020 after sustaining a physical injury during their course of their duties. Gaps in leave Special education teacher Sophie Cole, from Carrigaline, has been highlighting gaps in the current assault leave available for those injured at school. Ms Cole has since been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, acknowledged as one of the worlds most painful conditions for which there is no known cure, following a classroom assault in 2022. A survey published by the INTO last year found that almost 60% of teachers reported experiencing physical aggression in the classroom. This included a staggering 96% of special school teachers, and 61% of those in mainstream schools with special classes. Incidents reported included scratching, punching, biting and the throwing of objects. Just 6% of teachers affected availed of assault leave, while 41% of those injured required medical treatment beyond first aid The survey also found that many teachers feel a moral obligation to continue working despite injury or fear, and that a lack of awareness as well as fear of stigma or professional consequences is preventing teachers from reporting incidents. Speaking in support of the motion debated on Monday, teacher Aine McGinley said that teaching is a calling for many, but I also know that some of you have faced moments that no teacher ever should being assaulted while doing your job. That experience is not just physically painful; it can be emotionally devastating, isolating and with long-lasting effects. The assault leave scheme must be extended, and it must be flexible. Psychological impact No two people respond to trauma the same way and trauma does not follow a timetable, she added. Some individuals may need time immediately, while others may need leave weeks or months later as psychological impact sets in. We also need real financial help to cover medical treatment, therapy sessions, and everything that comes with the aftermath of violence Teachers should never have to accept physical aggression as part of their job, said INTO general secretary John Boyle. We must be clear: The children are not to blame. But teachers cannot be expected to manage crisis situations alone. Without immediate action, we risk further endangering the wellbeing of our teaching workforce and compromising the care and education of the very pupils who need the most support. The union is now to campaign for an improved assault leave scheme, including time extensions, access to counselling and remuneration. President Michael D Higgins has led tributes from Ireland following the death of Pope Francis, remembering him as a spiritual leader of profound humility and a champion of global ethics in the face of modern challenges. The Vatican confirmed the Popes death this morning. He had been recovering from pneumonia in recent weeks. In a statement, President Higgins described Pope Francis as a figure of "warmth" and unique humility, whose voice served as a "consistent invocation of a shared humanity." The President commended the late pontiff for speaking out on "vital issues of our time" including global hunger, poverty, climate change, and justice. "These issues I had the privilege of discussing at length with Pope Francis across our five meetings over the course of his papacy," the President said. He also acknowledged Pope Francis' role in addressing sensitive topics within the Catholic Church, including the child abuse scandal, attitudes toward women, and the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. "During his visit to Ireland, Pope Francis spoke of the scandal of child abuse, including in the Church, and its consequences for victims and families," President Higgins said. "On such matters, and on others such as attitudes towards women and those of the LGBTQ+ community within the Church, Pope Francis sought to play a positive role. "I recall at the end of our meetings he would say of his work on such issues, 'it is very difficult', as he asked for and offered prayers. It is important that the steps he took are built upon as they constitute a source of hope in the years to come." Peace and Solidarity Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Pope Francis' enduring legacy is one of "peace, reconciliation, and solidarity," and noted the Popes powerful global influence during his long and distinguished papacy. Pope Francis as he arrives in the Phoenix Park in his Pope Mobile. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie "He spoke out for the poor, the marginalised, and the oppressed," the Taoiseach said, highlighting Pope Francis' advocacy for refugees, climate action, and global equality. Offering condolences on behalf of the Government and the Irish people, Mr Martin described the pontiff as a "champion of justice in the modern world" and recalled his warm reception during the 2018 World Meeting of Families in Ireland. "Many will also remember Pope Francis' expression of pain and shame about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church and his outrage about the failure of Church authorities to adequately address these appalling crimes," he added. Popes Teachings Will Endure Tanaiste Simon Harris described Pope Francis as a "remarkable figure" whose influence "transcended the Vatican" and whose moral leadership guided many through uncertain times. In his tribute, Mr Harris praised the Popes continued relevance on pressing issues such as poverty, migration, and refugee rights. "Pope Francis bore his illness with great dignity and courage," he said. "We find strength in his message of hope, mercy, and compassion, which will continue to inspire us to build a better world for all." He extended condolences to the Catholic community worldwide, the College of Cardinals, and all who mourn the loss of a globally respected spiritual leader. The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland has said Pope Francis showed immense courage during bouts of illness. The face of God is Mercy Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin praised the Popes representation of the dignity of people and resilience in the face of suffering. On behalf of the people, religious sisters and brothers, priests and bishops of Ireland I wish to express sadness and our feelings of affection and loss upon hearing of the death of the Holy Father Pope Francis this morning, the Archbishop said. In recent days, and since he was admitted to hospital in February, he has been showing immense courage and serenity in the face of frailty and suffering. In this, he has been giving such powerful witness to the dignity of human life and to resilience in the face of suffering which has meant so much, especially to those who are struggling with illness, disability or any other difficulty at this time. He added: Just yesterday, on Easter Sunday he proclaimed from the balcony in Saint Peters Square Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter! reminding us that Christ is alive. Christ is risen. Christ is our hope. Pope Francis often said that the face of God is Mercy. In the coming days, we will remember him with thanksgiving and pray that God will have mercy on his soul and reward him for all the good work he has done. 'Deepest sorrow' The Order of the Knights of St Columbanus has expressed its deepest sorrow at the Popess death, saying in Irish Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis or may he rest in peace. Brother John Murphy, Supreme Knight of the Order marked his passing. Pope Francis brought the light of Christ into some of the darkest corners of human suffering, he said. His voice was one of moral clarity in uncertain times, and his example of humility, mercy and joy challenged us all to deepen our faith and widen our hearts. The Knights of St Columbanus stand in prayerful solidarity with the Church throughout the world, and we entrust his soul to the infinite mercy of God. The Order has encouraged its members and others to offer prayers for the repose of the Holy Fathers soul and for the College of Cardinals, saying: "they begin the solemn process of discernment and the election of a new Pope." Cork is on the up. From the inner city to the expanding docklands, urban living is increasingly becoming the norm, with ambitious plans for over-the-shop living and the creation of a new neighbourhood overlooking Cork harbour bringing a new energy to the city. But the changing landscape is not just confined to the city centre with more than 2,300 homes in the works from Blackrock to Shanakiel currently under construction in the outskirts. Speaking on the breath of developments, Conor OConnell, director of housing, planning and development at the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), said: It's always good news to see new housing being built across Cork. But there are challenges that remain, the most significant of which is infrastructure. The reason were are not seeing the increase in supply that we need is because of a lack of infrastructure water, wastewater treatment, electricity and access roads. In addition, the CIF director said Irelands planning system was also a barrier to new homes being built, warning that issues regarding road networks and infrastructure deficits have led to the refusal of many residential plans across the city and county. However, Mr OConnell noted that Cork has managed to retain those with specialised skill sets, with several private developers returning to the city and surrounding areas. Cork has a competitive advantage. The volume of developers we have down here is a great achievement, from the OFlynn Group, Cfield, Bridgewater, OLeary & OSullivan Developments, and others. No other region in Ireland has the levels of development that Cork has right now. Apartment living Much of the focus of the development is on apartments. Some 99 apartments will be included in the Waterfall development, while almost 300 will be built in Blackrock by Glenveagh. St Kevins Hospital, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan In Shanakiel, 220 of the 267 homes on the former St Kevins site will be apartments, with the vast majority of the LDAs Wilton site comprising the same. Of the more than 550 homes being built by the OFlynn Group in Dunkettle, more than 150 of them will also be apartments. But as Mr OConnell notes, the building of all these is made possible by government intervention in some form or another. Without State support, the construction of apartments is rendered almost impossible. The only financing currently available for apartments is to rent them out. There currently isnt a means to build them for sale. That is because they are simply too expensive to build. Theyre very hard to bring to the market for sale. Own door units are far easier because there is because they can be built in phases. If issues arise when building houses, you can simply build less, you dont have that luxury with apartments. It's all or nothing, which is considerably riskier. Thats why to build more apartments that can be put on the market, we need more international funding and support from foreign investors. While welcoming the developments that have got off the ground, Mr OConnell notes that while it is needed, it is not enough. Looking at the figures from last year, Cork had about 3,500 units completed. We need that doubled. We need more of everything. More homes in the city centre, more on the outskirts, and more in the suburbs. We have the room for it, and we need to make it happen. We need the correct infrastructure in place to do that. Take Ballyvolane, for example. Uisce Eireann invested massively in that area, and private developers were attracted to it, which is why were seeing such activity there. We need that all across Cork. Get the correct infrastructure in place and watch as the developers follow. Agents are hoping for renewed interest in a 2.6m parcel of land in Ballyvolane. The land, at Arderrow, is next to two unfolding schemes, by Longview Estates and the OFlynn Group, which between them will deliver more than 1,000 homes. Its also close to the emerging preferred route for a new road, officially called the Cork Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Road (CNDMR), a 14km corridor which will start at Inchigaggin on the Carrigrohane Straight and cross to the north of the city, passing by Arderrow on its way to Glanmire. Separately, 2m funding was recently announced for the Ballyvolane Strategic Transport Corridor, aimed at delivering enhanced facilities for all road users. Its due to be developed this year. Dunkettle Just this month, developer OFlynn Group received the green light from Cork City Council for the first phase of a major new housing scheme to the east of the city. Cork City Council Grants Planning Permission to the OFlynn Group for Dunkettle Phase 1 Large-Scale Residential Development Lodged in November last year, the developer sought permission for a 550-home development just south-east of Glanmire on a site near the Dunkettle Interchange that it had owned since 2003. The proposed scheme includes 394 homes in a mix of two, three and four-bed semi-detached or terraced units, and 156 apartment and duplex units in a mix of one and two-bed units in 10 blocks ranging in height from two to six storeys. A creche and neighbourhood centre were also proposed. When the application was lodged, OFlynn Group indicated this was just the first phase of a larger development, with plans being advanced for a further application for 500 more homes on the site. OFlynn Group said the development would also improve the wider area, with plans to extend the active travel network in Glanmire and Tivoli, enhancing connectivity to vital local amenities such as the greenway and cycleway, and supporting more sustainable modes of transport. The approved plans will also complement the now-substantially completed nearby Ballinglanna development. Once completed, OFlynn Group said Ballinglanna would provide more than 610 homes, including a mix of detached and semi-detached houses, townhouses, duplexes, apartments, and a village centre. Little Island Just slightly further east, plans for a large-scale residential development were greenlit by Cork County Council in December for 172 new homes in Little Island. Lodged by Ruden Homes Ltd, the development will comprise 146 new houses, along with six duplex units and 20 apartments. Furthermore, it proposed to build a creche with 49 childcare spaces and four commercial units on the site. Currently in the compliance stage of the process, Ruden Homes confirmed it hopes to begin construction by the end of 2025, with hopes that it will be completed in around 24 months. Wilton Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, 348 affordable homes have been planned for Wilton by the Land Development Agency (LDA). Land Development Agency, ESB site, Wilton The homes, including apartments and townhouses, will consist of a mix of cost-rental and affordable purchase schemes aimed at assisting renters who cannot afford private rental accommodation, as well as helping prospective homeowners who cannot afford to buy a house on the open market. Apartments, which will be spread across three large blocks, will dominate the Wilton scheme, accounting for 334 of the 350 homes, of which 180 will be two-bedroom apartments, while 154 will be one-bedroom units. The remaining 16 homes will be three-bedroom townhouses. The Agency will shortly submit plans for the development and subject to planning approval, construction could start in late 2026, with the first homes completed in early 2029, the LDA said. Its an ambitious development across 2.7 hectares of former ESB lands, with buildings ranging in height from two to seven storeys. Shanakiel The LDAs activity in Cork has ramped up significantly in the past 12 months. On the other side of the Lee, it is already building the biggest public housing project in Cork city since the 1980s at the site of the former St Kevins psychiatric hospital in Shanakiel, where the construction of 267 homes is well underway. Apartment blocks under construction as part of the works at the former St Kevins Hospital site at Shanakiel, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins This includes 32 three-bed and 14 four-bed townhouses, as well as 220 apartments/duplexes, which the agency said should be delivered in early 2026. The LDA, a commercial semi-State body, said St Kevins is part of its wider mandate to develop a range of housing options, including affordable sale, cost rental and social housing. The new neighbourhood will also provide homezones, where streets are prioritised to the needs of pedestrians as well as vehicles, on-street parking, tree planting and open spaces that connect throughout the development. The area will also benefit from a creche and outdoor play area to complement young families moving to the area. Blackrock On the southside of Cork City, construction is well underway for the largest private-sector apartment development within the city boundaries in over a decade. Currently, some 274 owner-occupier apartments at Blackrock Villas are being developed by Glenveagh, comprising a mix of one, two, and three-bed units. The dwelling will span across two apartment buildings spanning between five and seven storeys in height. The scheme aims to bridge the current viability gap between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price, where the cost of building is greater. The Blackrock apartments, which are being built on the grounds of the former Ursuline Convent, are the third housing project to be approved under Croi Conaithe nationally and the second in Cork. All units are currently available for sale, with the second block launching recently. Practical completions are expected in the second half of 2026. Close-by, the first apartments at Marina Quarter are due to come on stream early in 2027, as part of an estimated 525m development of more than 1,000 homes. Work on the former Live at the Marquee site has been ongoing for a year and is at structural erection stage. Structural erection is now underway and the project remains on track for 337 apartments to be completed over the course of 2027. The 337 units are being funded by the state-backed Land Development Agency (LDA), as part of a 150m first-phase deal brokered with Glenveagh last month. Under the terms of the transaction, the LDA bought the homes through a forward funding mechanism. Waterfall In an area that has largely missed out on any major developments in over three decades, the Cork City suburb of Bishopstown is already seeing the first influx of new residents moving into what will be a 275-unit development when finished. Waterfall Heights, by Bridgewater, at Waterfall Road, Bishopstown, Cork. Picture Larry Cummins. Once fully completed, the development, known simply as Waterfall, will include 136 houses, 99 apartments, and 40 duplexes, with a total value of around 124m. Over 100 homes have been handed to homeowners to date, with a further 100 homes to be handed over by September 2025. The remaining homes will be completed in 2026. Castletreasure Also on the southside, work is well underway at the 472-unit scheme being built by Cairn Homes on Carrigaline Road at Castletreasure outside Douglas Village. With the first set of dwellings coming to the market soon, the development is for 234 semi-detached and terraced houses, 160 apartments and 78 duplexes, with 4.4 hectares of parkland and amenity space. Some 250 homes are expected occupied by year end, meaning there will be over 500 people living in the developments before 2026. Land Development Agency Army and local authority lands in Cork city and beyond, with the capacity for up to 900 affordable homes, have been newly identified by the Land Development Agency (LDA) as having potential for housing delivery. The Camp Field near Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Rd, as well as land on Farranlea Rd owned by the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB), and Cork County Council land at Kilnaglery in Carrigaline, are the latest parcels to be identified by the LDA in its drive to unlock further sites to add to its delivery pipeline. A total of 19 new sites nationwide are included in the agencys just-published second Report on Relevant Public Land, bringing the total identified since 2023 to 102, with the potential for development of more than 70,000 homes. The 16.3 acres Camp Field, owned by the minister for defence, is the biggest of the three new Cork sites identified and could potentially accommodate up to 450 homes at an LDA-estimated cost of up to 143.25m. A shorter-term option is the CETB site on Farranlea Rd that has the appropriate residential zoning and could accommodate up to 210 homes at an estimated cost of 61.55m. The third site added to the LDA list is at Kilnaglery, Carrigaline, which the agency says has the potential for up to 240 homes. Some of the 3ha (7.4a) in question is zoned for residential and is regarded as more likely to yield homes in the short term. The LDA estimates costs of up to 76.85m to develop the land and deliver the homes. The LDA is also about to seek planning for 140 affordable homes at Anglesea Terrace in a partnership with Cork City Council. Other Cork sites previously identified by the agency include: a Cork City Council depot near Victoria Cross with potential for up to 510 homes the Animal Laboratory on Model Farm Rd with potential for up to 200 homes Capwell Road Bus Depot which could deliver up to 210 homes land adjacent to Gas Networks Ireland on Rockboro Rd (potential for up to 310 homes) CIE-owned land on the North Docks currently used for car parking (potential for up to 520 homes) CSO HQ in Lough Mahon Technology Park, with capacity for up to 400 homes the former Cork Prison and adjoining Collins Barracks Land, which could yield up to 570 homes, and IDA-owned lands in Kilbarry, which could yield up to 2,500 homes. The LDA has also previously identified Tivoli Industrial Estate as having the potential to deliver more than 6,500 homes. In March, with thousands of tourists descended on Dublin for St Patricks Day festivities, the students union at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) hung a banner from its Nassau Street Entrance in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. TCD students union president Jenny Maguire told the Irish Examiner she believes sexual harassment and assault figures remain under-reported in higher education institutions. The issue within the legal system around reporting assault is directly replicated across higher education institutions, she said. Often students will visit the students' union looking for help and support, and break down in tears. They just start crying because of how upset they are over the lack of support and they dont know what to do, or the options that they have are just so poor. There have been some improvements in recent years, "but the policies are still so poor", she said. It's a legally fraught area, and colleges cannot make their own determinations of guilt against students or make a ruling on whether or not a crime has been committed. You cant remove anyone from a society or society events because that is a punishment so ultimately, who pays the price for that? It's the survivor. It means you just dont go to society events anymore; you dont go to your classes anymore because it means having to see that person. While she has never seen a case brought to the conclusion where a student has been expelled for allegedly raping or sexually assaulting a fellow student, she remains concerned about those who speak out. What I have seen is people brought through the disciplinary process for saying someone is a rapist, or that someone was creepy to them, or that there was red flags or bad vibes. "Weve had students brought through the disciplinary process for months and months and months because thats considered bullying when they are just protecting each other when the institution is failing. She has raised her concerns with the college, she said. Theyve been sympathetic. Not a lot of disciplinary stuff happens so when it does, it's significant and there has been some movement on it, but the college doesnt exist in isolation and the culture of protecting rapists is still very much there, particularly in a place like Trinity where people have rich fathers and lawyers and they have this, that, and the other. There is a sense of hopelessness that the survivor will always be punished more. "We can have consent workshops, we can have this that and the other but until we actually centre survivors in policy making, which is currently not done at a national level or at a local level, were just going to continuously have people go unsupported and dropping out. TCD declined to comment when asked by the Irish Examiner if it is aware of this practice, and what is it doing to address this issue. A spokeswoman for the university said it is "committed to promoting a positive environment for students, staff and other community members, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, where their place of study and work is free from bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct." The university's sexual misconduct policy was approved by its board in November 2023, following focus groups with staff and students. The ethos of this policy is to provide a trauma-informed lens to procedures and fair process wherever possible. To support this ethos, the university established the dignity, respect, and consent service with the aim of making the policies more accessible and providing more choice and control to individuals who may have experienced violence. At Munster Technological Universitys Cork campus, student union welfare officer Patrycja Zbikowska said it works with students experiencing some form of harassment every few weeks. Definitely once a month, there is some kind of situation where a student feels they have been harassed or sexually harassed or there is an issue with racism. Most complaints are dealt with informally. The formal way can be daunting, she said. TCD students union president Jenny Maguire said that students will visit the students' union looking for help and support. File picture The informal route can actually be as successful for what the student wants or needs. A lot of times, the informal way involves a head of department just speaking to the student who is harassing, or if there are any sexual violence allegations or anything like that, the heads of the department would speak to the abuser, so to say, and they would then take appropriate action depending on the situation. Theres never a situation where the student who is reporting or the perpetrator have to meet or would have to do any mediation or anything like that. Usually what we do is let the student decide which way they want to go. They can go down that route, or they can go down the formal route which involves putting in a complaint. It's a longer process; A lot of the time that process can take a few weeks, if not months. If it involves sexual harassment or rape, we also give them the options of talking to the guards, and making sure they know the supports are there. However, across the board whether its in a university or outside, the reporting process is rarely survivor friendly, Ms Zbikowska said. They are drawn out, and they can be long. Obviously, you can say it's because they are trying to get everyone's point of views in a situation like this but I would say those processes aren't survivor friendly. Making sure there is trauma sensitive training, and trauma informed training, at third level is very important, she believes. Lucrecia Luna Smee, welfare officer with University College Cork Students Union (UCCSU) told the Irish Examiner that UCC students are welcomed and encouraged to bring anything they are struggling with to the union. That includes sexual assault and sexual violence, no matter who the perpetrator is. Ive really made an effort this year to make sure that the students who come to me are feeling seen and feeling heard, even in spite of some quite outdated systems. This goes for universities across the country, the main concern is always first and foremost did it happen on campus? 'Because if they know it didnt happen on campus, they can take their hands off. Even if the incident itself doesnt happen on campus it doesnt mean that it wont cause an issue on campus. There is often a reluctance to jump to action, she added. There is far too much red tape, far too much bureaucracy thats placed on issues like sexual violence. It makes it so hard for victims to come forward, especially if it's a student trying to report a staff member because there are even less ways that a student can do that. Rape Crisis Network Ireland director Cliona Saidlear said that while higher education institutions are improving their reporting systems, that work remains ongoing. Barriers remain, she said. She was also believes the 109 reports documented by the Irish Examiner are the tip of the iceberg as many students prefer their cases to be dealt with informally. One of the barriers to people reporting is the attitudes around them, the context of the harassment or assault and the power dynamics within that. All of that will play into someones decision whether or not what happened as sexual violence and then to take the next step of reporting. There can also be a reluctance to come forward, she added. This is true for every single survivor; They are doing a risk assessment, they assess what will be the cost of telling, what might be the benefit, who will they tell, what might happen if they tell, what might the response be. Perhaps they are coming into their final exams, or they might think look I have more three weeks left, Im just going to get through that and get out rather than initiate a formal complaint or rather than naming it themselves. Its important students know there are places they can turn to for support, she added. Whether thats the local rape centre, the on-campus counselling service, or the students union. So that people can get the support they need, when they need it at whatever level of formality that is. They may want simply to get counselling and support, and they may want to stay anonymous and that really should be down to their choice. All those choices should be on the table for them. Reports to universities An Irish Examiner investigation has found at least 268 students reported sexual harassment, sexual assault, bullying, harassment and intimidation or racism to their college in recent years. Freedom of Information requests from almost all higher education institutions also show that at least 109 students have lodged formal complaints with their college detailing sexual assault or harassment. Trinity College Dublin Since 2019, TCD received 44 complaints from students, alleging sexual harassment, sexual assault, bullying, harassment and intimidation or racism. It also received 14 complaints of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations relating to registered students. It also received at least three complaints of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations pertaining to staff. Like many of the colleges who responded to the Irish Examiner, the university did not release detailed breakdowns where any figure was less than 10, due to the sensitivity of the data and the risk of indirect identification. The university said this is standard practice used across many public sector bodies due to the risk of indirect identification of individuals through, for example, singling out, inference, and data linking. It is also a standard implemented by the Higher Education Authority in its guidance note on reporting sexual violence and harassment in Irish higher education institutions. A spokeswoman for Trinity said: "Trinity is committed to promoting a positive environment for students, staff and other community members, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, where their place of study and work is free from bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct. "The goal of the procedures set out in the policy is to provide a range of options to people so that they can choose the resolution pathway that it right for them and their experience. There is no time limit on disclosing, raising a concern, or making a report through the policy." The university declined to comment on allegations involving staff members. In a statement, it said a student counselling service is available to provide confidential support and 1:1 counselling to students. University College Dublin Like Trinity, UCD also declined to release figures of less than 10, as it claimed there is a reasonable risk that individuals could be identified, constituting a breach of Data Protection legislation by the university. Between 2019 and August 2024, UCD received at least 70 complaints from students, alleging sexual harassment, sexual assault, bullying, harassment and intimidation or racism. Most of these complaints have been made to the college since September 2021. In 2020, academic and broadcaster Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain went public about her experience of being harassed by a UCD colleague for two years. She went on to receive a written apology from the university about her treatment. Between 2019 and August 2024, UCD also received at least 22 complaints of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations relating to registered students. In at least another three cases university employees were involved in a complaint. A spokesman for UCD said a university-wide consultation process was initiated in 2020. This led to the establishment of a new support service, the first of its kind in the Irish higher education sector, being officially opened in May 2022. This service provides employees and students with guidance on how to raise concerns they may have and the options that are available to them for resolving issues of a dignity and respect nature, he added. University of Limerick From 2019 to 2024, University of Limerick received 22 formal complaints from students which were handled under the universitys code of conduct. Of this, six complaints related to bullying, harassment or sexual harassment. 16 other complaints related to physical assault, sexual assault or engaging in conduct likely to bring the university into disrepute. University College Cork Since 2019, UCC received 44 complaints from students, alleging sexual harassment, sexual assault, bullying, harassment and intimidation or racism. Of this, 13 complaints related to sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations. Of these 13 complaints, less than five related to complaints made about staff members," the FOI documents note. UCC declined to provide the number of disciplinary proceedings initiated against students and staff, or further breakdowns on the 44 complaints. This is to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned, as well as to observe the principles of fairness and natural justice set out in the relevant policies," the FOI documents state. University College Cork is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, staff and visitors to the university. In line with other Irish higher education institutions, the university said it is implementing and updating a range of institutional processes which support achievement and monitoring of the objectives of the HEAs framework for ending sexual violence and harassment in Irish higher education institutions and related resources and supports. The University continues to work to update its policies, procedures and data collection processes accordingly. A spokesman for the university said it is "actively implementing a range of institutional processes which support achievement of the objectives of the HEA's Framework for Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions." "Individual incidents cannot be commented on but our priority is to ensure every member of our community feels safe and supported." Munster Technological University MTU has received five complaints since 2019 of sexual assault or harassment from students against another students, all relating to its Cork campus. Four investigations were initiated following these reports. Two remain ongoing. The pontificate of Jorge Mario Bergoglio - who has died aged 88 - was marked to a degree unknown in the modern history of the papacy by vitriolic criticism and bitter opposition at the highest levels of the Church. This was true in the Vatican itself but also in right-wing Catholic circles in Italy, France, Germany and particularly in the United States. This opposition was driven in the main by deep-rooted distaste for the direction in which the Argentinian Pope was taking the Church. Typical of this was the anonymous letter published in January 2023 after the death in Rome of Australian Cardinal George Pell criticising Franciss papacy as a disaster in many or most respects, a catastrophe. Pell, who had served for a time as the Vaticans financial tsar, was revealed as the author of the letter which he had secretly circulated to all members of the College of Cardinals. Then, just days after his death, a signed article by Pell appeared in the British magazine The Spectator in which he denounced the Vaticans plans for its forthcoming Synod on Synodality as a toxic nightmare. Even more worryingly, some of the Popes hardline opponents (in the manner of Donald Trump and his acolytes), pushed the theory that Francis was not a valid occupier of the Chair of Peter. The opposition to Francis reached such an intensity that at one point, when the man who became the first Jesuit to be elected Pope, was asked by a confrere how he was doing, Francis replied: Still alive, despite the fact that some wanted me dead. Pope Francis delivers his speech as he meets the Cardinals for the first time after his election, at the Vatican, Friday, March 15, 2013. Picture: AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho Well, now he is and already speculation is rife about who will be elected to succeed him at the forthcoming Conclave. And the key question facing the Cardinal-electors will be: Do we want a Pope who will continue with the policies of Francis? The plotting and scheming to see that this will not happen began a long time ago. The desire for a return to the Church of John Paul II and Benedict XVI is very entrenched in some quarters. Powerful Cardinals want to see a return to a monarchical papacy, and a strengthening of centralised control. When Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope in March 2013, an astute observer in Rome remembered the title of a 1949 book by theologian Paul Tillich - Shaking the Foundations - and predicted that this would be the effect of the pontificate of the Pope called Francis. The foundations had been well and truly shaken once before during the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), but during the long pontificate of John Paul II and that of his successor Benedict XVI concerted efforts had been made to roll back the reforms of that Council, to sideline and undermine the Councils vision of the Church as the people of God. Francis came into his high office facing a situation where the 35 years of the heavily ideological combined Wojtyla and Ratzinger pontificates had left a legacy of a papacy that had become ever more absolutist and oppressive. Wojtyla and Ratzinger opposed any review of the Churchs outdated teaching on contraception, divorce, clerical celibacy and homosexuality. Both Popes opposed womens ordination, Wojtyla even declaring that the question was closed off from future discussion by bishops and theologians. Eschewing any commitment to collegiality (one of the main insights of Vatican II), they reduced the status of national episcopal conferences, and emasculated the Synod of Bishops, turning it into a papal rubber stamp. Pope Francis (C) poses for a family photograph with the participants of the Synod of Bishops at the Paul VI Hall in Vatican on October 23, 2023.Picture: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images Compliance with this papal ideology, promoting an anti-Vatican II agenda, became the essential pre-requisite for the selection of bishops worldwide. The unprecedented presence of a second Pope in the Vatican since 2013 (when Benedict XVI sensationally abdicated) cast a shadow over the pontificate of Francis from the start. Some of his enemies went so far as to proclaim that Benedict, even in retirement, was the legitimate Pope. It was part of a concerted campaign (though almost certainly without Benedicts blessing) to undermine the pontificate of the Jesuit from Argentina. Early biographies of Francis painted him in the colours of a radical reformer (Austen Ivereighs influential 2014 biography was called The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope). As things would turn out, he was neither a great reformer nor a radical Pope. This would lead our former President Mary McAleese to assert in 2020 - with some justification - that Pope Francis was overhyped. She described him as a big disappointment for those who had hoped he would reform the Church, in particular concerning women and clerical sex abuse. From the outset, Pope Francis - the first Jesuit and the first south American to be elected as Bishop of Rome - made it clear that he was committed to the restoration and implementation of the vision of the Church shaped by Vatican II. So how did he fare? How will history judge him? While some very good things have happened on his watch, it is also only fair to register some significant failings. One of his early biographers, writing a year after his election, described him in glowing terms and predicted that Francis would radically reshape and revitalise Catholicism. That prediction would need to be readjusted now. In keeping with the spirit of Vatican II, he promoted the concept of synodality, opening the way for a more collegial Church. And by appointing an advisory group of nine Cardinals - C9 as they came to be known - he set a good example. He also in his writings stressed the importance of mercy, urging a Church that is less condemnatory and less judgemental. His famous reply to a question about homosexuality - Who am I to judge? - testified to this, though it horrified his critics of which by the time he died he had many, both inside and outside the Church. His two greatest failing have been in relation to the scandal of clerical sex abuse, where action not words on the part of Rome were called for, and his seeming inability to comprehend the desire of women to participate more fully in the governance of the Church. He did however, in April 2013, hold out some hope of more inclusiveness in decision-making in the Church when he allowed women to vote for the first time in the Synod of Bishops scheduled for October that year. This gave five religious sisters voting rights in a body where the bulk of those with voting rights will still be bishops. The plague of clerical sex abuse was always more extensive and pervasive than the Vatican was prepared to publicly acknowledge. Francis must bear a good deal of responsibility for this. Describing it as a grave scandal is one thing, but it was his inaction that proved so disappointing, and that angered many, not least the many victims of this rampant abuse. Pope Francis meets the journalists during a press conference aboard the airplane directed to Rome, at the end of his pastoral visit to Hungary, Sunday, April 30, 2023. (Vincenzo Pinto/Pool Photo Via AP) In his encyclicals, the most impressive of which, Fratelli Tutti (All brothers and sisters), was published in October 2020, he was very eloquent in his support for a greener world, warning that we are custodians of the Earth and have a duty to care for it. He also came to be seen as a scourge of globalised capitalism, which annoyed his detractors, especially those in the USA, and left him open to claims that he was too influenced by Marxism, charges he rejected. He insisted that his critique of capitalism was based on Catholic social teaching. Those who have looked to him for reform, have been disappointed by his tendency to support initiatives in regard to the Churchs teaching on homosexuality (as in a documentary entitled Francesco, shown at the Rome film festival in late October 2020), and in regard to the admission of suitably qualified married men to the priesthood, only then to fail to follow through with formal measures. This led even some of his most fervent admirers to admit that they found his behaviour very puzzling at times, citing the fact that, well into his papacy, it was not at all clear what he actually thought or wanted. For instance, he expressed his dislike of ecclesiastical titles redolent of a monarchical papacy - titles like Your Eminence, Your Grace, My Lord - and even Your Holiness. Yet they remain in use, and he did not move at all to abolish them. More seriously, having declared early on that he wanted a Church that would be poor and for the poor, he continued the practice of foreign trips so beloved of John Paul II. In the latter case they embellished his narcissism - a quality he possessed in equal measure to Donald Trump. But it was thought that Francis would adopt another way of exercising his ministry, that he might take a road less travelled. Alas, this did not happen. He continued with these trips, even though they achieved very little, were dreadfully expensive, and can even - as in the case of his visits to Chile and Myanmar - undermine his moral authority. His two-day visit to Ireland in August 2018 turned out to be something of a damp squib, but a squib that left the Irish Church and the State with an estimated bill of 32 million. And for what? Yes, it did provide the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, with an opportunity to call for a new covenant between Church and State. But that didnt require the presence of the Pope. And of course Francis cannot be blamed for the fact that his visit was overshadowed by the controversy sparked by the release of a letter from Cardinal Carlo Maria Vigano, a former papal nuncio in Washington DC, calling on Francis to resign over the scandal surrounding the former Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. He had been elevated to that post by John Paul II in 2000, and both he and Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI downplayed or dismissed reports that McCarrick had slept with seminarians. Francis eventually removed McCarrick from the priesthood and the Collage of Cardinals - but that whole sordid episode became the subject of a 400-page report in the Vatican. But no blame was apportioned, And few, knowing how the Roman Curia works, expected that to happen. Back in August 2011, just prior to a visit to Madrid by Pope Benedict XVI, more than 100 priests from that citys poorest parishes joined the clamour of protest over the cost of the papal visit, which had been estimated at 60 million. An umbrella group - the Priests Forum - pointedly objected to the multinationals with which the Spanish Church had had to ally itself to cover the cost of the showmanship of the event. Benedict, to his credit, may not have indulged in showmanship to the extent so beloved of his Polish predecessor, but Francis, from the very first days of his papacy, presented himself as a peoples Pope, a man who took steps very early on to shed the trappings of a monarchical papacy. This was signalled by his refusal to reside in the medieval splendour of the papal apartments, settling instead for an apartment in a Vatican guesthouse. With this kind of beginning, many thought he would discontinue the practice of expensive, wasteful and very often pointless foreign travels. Something more and different was expected from Francis. Tapestries depicting ten new saints hang in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, May 15, 2022. Picture: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia After the 2019 Synod on the Amazon, Francis published a post-synodal apostolic exhortation (Beloved Amazonia) which was an elegant reflection on the future of our planet, and a criticism of the exploitation of its poorest peoples. But disappointing in its view of the role of women and its rejection of admitting suitably qualified married men to the priesthood (one of the Synods key recommendation). The place and role of women in the Church, especially in positions of governance, was from the beginning, one of Franciss blind spots, and not even his appointment of six women to oversee the Vatican finances last August 2020 changed this assessment. The work of these women was blocked and frustrated by the male-dominated Roman Curia, and without papal support they could achieve precious little. Past experience suggested they would be left to fend for themselves. And thats pretty much what happened. Although quick to condemn clericalism and to express unease about male dominance, he was slow to act to rectify this. He could talk in lofty terms about the importance of women in the Church, yet when it came to their role in the Church he was decidedly old-fashioned, and he was steadfast in his dismissal of womens ordination - not least because it would make them more clerical, and there was already in his view a surfeit of clericalism in the Church. It would be easy to walk away if the Catholic Church were entirely misogynist, wrote Catherine Pepinster, former editor of the English Catholic weekly The Tablet, after the Popes post-synodal publication in 2019. But its messages are mixed and confusing. And that was to become the hallmark of the pontificate of Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He remained in the end, as much as he was back in 2013, an enigma, in many ways the Pope of contradictions. And that made his papacy a disruptive one. Lurking in the background all the time were questions about his behaviour during Argentinas dirty war, when military death squads targeted innocent people - and priests: did he abandon some of the latter who held left-wing views? That suspicion was never properly addressed. His great initiative - and the one that more than anything else defined his papacy - was his determination to create a more synodal model of the Church. In September 2021, Massimo Faggioli, professor of theology at Notre Dame University, said Franciss legacy was likely to be determined by the success or failure of his efforts to engage the entire Church in synodality. This came to be seen as the equivalent of a referendum on Franciss pontificate; many bishops were not persuaded or won over by the Popes belief that a synodal Church was necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Thus far the jury is still out. But will his successor have the same commitment to a synodal Church, a Church reviving and implementing the reforms of Vatican II? Thats a central question as we await the Conclave. Pope Francis in a wheelchair delivers his address during an audience with members of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) in the Paul VI Hall at The Vatican. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini In July 2021 he underwent major intestinal surgery, and afterwards he showed no signs of slowing down. Later he took to using a wheelchair more and more, because of problems with his knee. But then in December 2022, he revealed that, shortly after becoming Pope, he had signed a letter of resignation which was handed to the then Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. He said afterwards that he would resign if he ever became incapacitated. More than any other Pope in modern times, he spoke frequently and freely to the media, but in these impromptu sessions he often promised more than he did deliver, or could deliver. This contributed to the image of him as an enigmatic Pope, an image that persisted right to the end. He staked the future of the Church on the implementation of synodality throughout the global Catholic community. The roots of the synodal process can be found in the concept of collegiality which was one of the central insights of Vatican II. However, the Synod on Synodality, which concluded in October 2014, proved to be a big disappointment, failing to take a position on the ordination of women to the diaconate. The synodal path promoted by Francis was, at one level, a way of showing that the Church isnt the private property of the bishops. That notion should have been discarded when Vatican II redefined the Church as the people of God, but the return to a hierarchical and pyramidal concept was facilitated during the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, both of whom pursued an anti-Vatican II agenda. The next conclave will have to decide which model of the Church it favours, and choose a successor to Jorge Mario Bergoglio accordingly, perhaps also redefining the Papacy in the process. As Lent drew to a close and Easter Sunday was celebrated throughout the country, families gathered to celebrate, eat chocolate, and enjoy the Bank Holiday. I reflected on the last six weeks of Lent. The tradition of giving something up still resonates with many a guilty pleasure, a bad habit, maybe the morning scroll through social media - but this year, as I finish my first Lent working for Trocaire, the idea of giving something up carries a heavier weight. Because in Guatemala, children are giving up something they should never have to: their education. In March, I had the privilege of visiting the community and family featured in the Trocaire Box Appeal for Lent in Guatemala. Guatemala sits on the Central American Dry Corridor, which encompasses parts of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. This area exposes those living in these areas to heatwaves and unpredictable rainfall. The ecosystems and people of the Dry Corridor are some of the most vulnerable in the world to climate change. When we arrived in this small rural community in central Guatemala, we crossed a long wooden bridge connecting it to the outside world. Prior to 2020, when, with the help of Trocaire this bridge was built, the only way to get to the community and their land was by boat. We were welcomed into the community with a ceremony where they prayed for our safety travelling back to Ireland, Mother Earth, and for a strong, healthy crop. The people in this community are Mayan and are indigenous to their land, much like 40% of the population of the country, 6.5 million people. They know the importance of understanding the movements of 'Mother Earth', but recently, she has become less predictable than ever. For them, uncertain weather means failed crops crops they rely on for income. Julio, Ilma and their four children, 13-year-old Miriam; 11-year-old Julio Jnr; four-year-old Deborah; and baby Gloria feature on this year's Trocaire box. Ilma and Julio grow cardamom and corn to earn money for the family. Katie Drea: The whole world is experiencing the impact of the climate crisis, but what's happening in Guatemala is what climate injustice looks like: those who did the least to cause the crisis are paying the highest price. Children are losing their education, and with it, their chance at a better future. Julio showed us where he used to plant crops twice a year, but now only plants once because of the extreme weather conditions. This means they no longer have an income from their crops, something they could rely on in the past. The increasingly unpredictable climate, failed crops, and the negative effects that come with it are daily realities for people whose lives depend on the land and whose childrens futures depend on being in school. Unfortunately, education is often the first thing to go when a crisis strikes. In 2024 alone, 242 million students in 85 countries had their schooling disrupted by extreme climate events. In the community where Julio, Ilma and their family live there is a small school, a one-room wooden hut with a dirt floor. During the ever-increasing rainy season the roof of the school leaks and a bowed plank of wood is the only thing preventing the roof from caving, the dirt floor becomes muddy, but the children in the community are determined to learn. Their teacher travels an hour each day to teach them. She told me how the conditions for learning are not ideal, yet the school is full every day. This school serves the children of the community up to the end of their primary education. The teacher described Julio and Ilmas eldest, Miriam, as the brightest student she has taught. She explained how Miriam has now become too old for this school and has begun to go to secondary school. That school is a two-hour drive each way and Miriam takes the local public bus service every day, costing about 5 a week. Miriam lives in a small community in Guatemala. She dreams of becoming a teacher. I asked Miriam what she wanted to be when she grew up, and after some hesitation, she said her dream is to become a teacher. Miriams pause before answering this question was deafening because the reality is that she is aware that this dream may never become a reality. Her mother, Ilma, explained that Miriam is happy to travel to school and is determined to continue her education. However, after another failed crop of cardamom, she and her husband, Julio, know the day will come when they will have to choose between feeding their family of six or paying for Miriams school bus a choice no parent should have to make. The whole world is experiencing the impact of the climate crisis, but this is what climate injustice looks like: those who did the least to cause the crisis are paying the highest price. Children are losing their education, and with it, their chance at a better future. Its easy to feel overwhelmed in the face of global problems like these. The climate crisis is complex. Education systems are under pressure. Poverty is deeply rooted. Conflict is ongoing. No one person can fix it all. Working at Trocaire, I have already seen the impact of our countrys generosity. Were working with communities like Julio and Ilmas to build resilience through sustainable farming, climate adaptation, and, crucially, by keeping children in school. The iconic Trocaire box isnt just a symbol of Lent. Its a lifeline. Every coin dropped in one becomes something powerful it becomes clean water, school bus fare, shelter during conflict, and healthcare during emergencies. It becomes hope. It becomes justice. Cut in global support This year, that support is more critical than ever. One of the worlds biggest donors, the United States, has slashed 90% of its global aid budget, and the UK has followed suit. As funding disappears, were seeing devastating consequences. In Somalia, where Trocaire provides the only healthcare in Gedo a region the size of Ireland we lost 1.7 million in funding due to US cuts. Three health centres were forced to close. In just one of those centres, 100 babies were safely delivered in February. Maternal mortality rates had dropped significantly since clinics were opened and now, mothers are being turned away. We are not as reliant on US aid as others, but our partners are, and when programmes collapse, the pressure falls on the remaining services. Were now doing more with less, and stretched to the limit. So yes, what starts as small change in a cardboard box can feel insignificant. But its not. Its everything. Its the 5 that keeps a child like Miriam on a bus to school. Its the coin that helps a community rebuild after a flood. Its the difference between a closed clinic and a safe birth. And in a year where global compassion feels like its in retreat, our Irish tradition of giving, especially at Lent, matters more than ever. This isnt just a story about Guatemala. Its about all of us. About the kind of world we want to live in, and the future we want to build. These are things Irish people have stood up for again and again. Russian attacks during the 30-hour Easter ceasefire unilaterally declared by President Vladimir Putin over the weekend killed three people in Ukraines southern Kherson region, the local governor said on Monday. Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram that the casualties occurred over the last 24 hours, adding that three other people were injured. Overall, Russia violated the ceasefire more than 2,900 times, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram statement in the early hours on Monday. Mr Zelenskyy said Russian forces carried out 96 assault operations along the front line, shelled Ukrainian positions more than 1,800 times, and used hundreds of drones during the course of the ceasefire. The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirror-like: we will respond to silence with silence, and our blows will be a defence against Russian blows. Actions always speak louder than words, he said. Mr Putin announced a temporary Easter truce on Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons. Ukraine said it would reciprocate any genuine ceasefire by Moscow, but voiced scepticism over the Kremlins intentions. Both sides traded accusations of violations shortly afterwards. The ceasefire expired at midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday. Overnight into Monday, Russian forces fired three missiles at Ukraines southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, as well as 96 Shahed drones targeting other parts of the country, Ukraines air force reported. It said it downed 42 drones, while 47 others were jammed mid-flight. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian drones sparked a fire at an outbuilding and a food enterprise, Governor Serhii Lysak wrote on Telegram. No-one was injured in the attack, he added. A chaplain blesses Ukrainian soldiers marking Easter on the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region (Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraines 65th Mechanised Brigade/AP) An unspecified infrastructure object was damaged in the Cherkasy region overnight, Governor Ihor Taburets said on Telegram. In a statement on Monday, the Russian Defence Ministry maintained that Moscows forces strictly observed the ceasefire and remained at previously occupied lines and positions. It accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire 4,900 times, including six attempts at assault operations, 1,404 attacks from artillery, multiple rocket launchers and mortars, and 3,316 drone strikes targeting Russian troops. The ministry said that, once the ceasefire expired, the Russian military resumed the special military operation in Ukraine. A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal. It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christs Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church. Nevertheless, there are always front-runners, known as papabile, who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope much like those depicted in last years Oscar-nominated film Conclave. Any baptised Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate. Pope Francis, who died on Monday, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture. Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at 76, and that Karol Wojtyla was not on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II. Some possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis are: Cardinal Peter Erdo Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo is interviewed by the Associated Press in Budapest in April 2023 (Denes Erdos/AP) The 72-year-old Archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011, suggesting he enjoys the esteem of European cardinals who make up the biggest voting bloc of electors. In that capacity, he got to know many African cardinals because the council hosts regular sessions with African bishops conferences. He had even more exposure when he helped organise Franciss 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family and delivered key speeches, as well as during papal visits to Budapest in 2021 and 2023. Cardinal Reinhard Marx Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, gives a statement to the press at his residence in Munich in June 2021 (Peter Kneffel/dpa/AP) The 71-year-old Archbishop of Munich and Freising was chosen by Pope Francis as a key adviser in 2013, and was later named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening. The former president of the German bishops conference was a strong proponent of the controversial synodal path process of dialogue in the German church that began in 2020 as a response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal there. As a result, he is viewed with scepticism by conservatives who considered the process a threat to church unity, given it involved debating issues such as celibacy, homosexuality and womens ordination. He made headlines in 2021 when he dramatically offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German churchs dreadful abuse record, but Francis quickly rejected the resignation and told him to stay. Cardinal Marc Ouellet Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Pope Francis arrive for the opening of a three-day Symposium on Vocations at the Vatican in February 2022 (Gregorio Borgia/AP) The 80-year-old Canadian led the Vaticans influential bishops office for more than a decade, overseeing the key clearing house for potential candidates to head dioceses around the world. Francis kept him in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff. Considered more of a conservative than Francis, Cardinal Ouellet still selected pastorally minded bishops to reflect Franciss belief that bishops should smell like the sheep of their flock. He defended priestly celibacy for the Latin Rite church and upheld the ban on womens ordination but called for women to have a greater role in church governance. He has good contacts with the Latin American church, having headed the Vaticans Pontifical Commission for Latin America for more than a decade. Since 2019, his office has taken charge of investigating bishops accused of covering up for predator priests, a job that would have made him no friends among those sanctioned but could also have given him lots of otherwise confidential and possibly compromising information about fellow cardinals. Cardinal Pietro Parolin Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin smiles as he is welcomed to a meeting at the Bellevue palace in Berlin, Germany, in June 2021. (Michael Sohn/AP) The 70-year-old Italian has been Franciss secretary of state since 2014 and is considered one of the main contenders to be pope, given his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. The veteran diplomat oversaw the Holy Sees controversial deal with China over bishop nominations and was involved but not charged in the Vaticans botched investment in a London real estate venture that led to the trial in 2021 of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Cardinal Parolin knows the Latin American church well. He would be seen as someone who would continue in Franciss tradition but as a more sober and timid diplomatic insider, returning an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St John Paul II (Poland), Benedict (Germany) and Francis (Argentina). But while he has managed the Vatican bureaucracy, he has no real pastoral experience. His ties to the London scandal, in which his office lost of tens of millions of dollars to bad deals and shady businessmen, could count against him. Cardinal Robert Prevost New Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost poses for a photo at the end of the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in September 2023 (Riccardo De Luca/AP) The idea of an American pope has long been taboo, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States, but the Chicago-born 69-year-old could be a first. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is currently prefect of the Vaticans powerful Dicastery for Bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years and sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Cardinal Prevost is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that keeps him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics. In addition to his nationality, his comparative youth could count against him if his brother cardinals do not want to commit to a pope who might reign for another two decades. Cardinal Robert Sarah Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in Rome in October 2015 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 79-year-old, from Guinea, the retired head of the Vaticans liturgy office, has long been considered the best hope for an African pope. Beloved by conservatives, he would signal a return to the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of John Paul II and Benedict. Cardinal Sarah, who had previously headed the Vaticans charity office Cor Unum, clashed with Francis on several occasions, none more seriously than when he and Benedict co-authored a book advocating the necessity of continued celibacy for Latin Rite priests. The book came out as Francis was weighing whether to allow married priests in the Amazon to address a priest shortage there. The implication was that Sarah had manipulated Benedict into lending his name and moral authority to a book that had all the appearances of being a counterweight to Franciss own teaching. Francis dismissed Benedicts secretary and several months later retired Cardinal Sarah after he turned 75. Even the cardinals own supporters lamented that the episode might hurt his papal chances. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn attends a press conference to present the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) at the Vatican in April 2016 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 80-year-old Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, was a student of Benedicts, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives. However, he became associated with one of Franciss most controversial moves by defending his outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics as an organic development of doctrine, not the rupture that some conservatives contended. Cardinal Schoenborns parents divorced when he was a teenager, so the issue is personal. He also took heat from the Vatican when he criticised its past refusal to sanction high-ranking sexual abusers, including his predecessor as archbishop of Vienna. He has expressed support for civil unions and women as deacons, and was instrumental in editing the 1992 update of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the handbook of the churchs teaching that Benedict had spearheaded when he headed the Vaticans doctrine office. Cardinal Luis Tagle Pope Francis greets Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila during his weekly general audience at the Vatican in September 2017 (Andrew Medichini/AP) The 67-year-old, from the Philippines, would appear to be Franciss pick for the first Asian pope. Francis brought the popular Archbishop of Manila to Rome to head the Vaticans missionary evangelisation office, which serves the needs of the Catholic Church in much of Asia and Africa. His role took on greater weight when Francis reformed the Vatican bureaucracy and raised the importance of his evangelisation office. Cardinal Tagle often cites his Chinese lineage his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines and he is known for becoming emotional when discussing his childhood. Though he has pastoral, Vatican and management experience he headed the Vaticans Caritas Internationalis federation of charity groups before coming to Rome permanently he would be on the young side to be elected pope for life, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Cardinal Matteo Zuppi delivers his address opening the works of the 77th General Assembly of the Italian Bishops Conference at the Vatican in May 2023 (Gregorio Borgia/AP) The 69-year-old Archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops conference, elected in 2022, is closely affiliated with the SantEgidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis, particularly in interfaith dialogue. He was part of the SantEgidio team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambiques civil war in the 1990s and was named Franciss peace envoy for Russias war in Ukraine. Francis made him a cardinal in 2019 and later made clear he wanted him in charge of Italys bishops, a sign of his admiration for the prelate who, like Francis, is known as a street priest. In another sign of his progressive leanings and closeness to Francis, Cardinal Zuppi wrote the introduction to the Italian edition of Building A Bridge, by the Rev James Martin, an American Jesuit, about the Churchs need to improve its outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. He would be a candidate in Franciss tradition of ministering to those on the margins, although his relative youth would count against him for cardinals seeking a short papacy. His family has strong institutional ties: his father worked for the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano, and his mother was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, dean of the College of Cardinals in the 1960s and 1970s. A Thai-Chinese company has denied allegations its steel rods did not pass safety standard tests after nationwide criticism prompted an investigation into the collapse of a high-rise building under construction after an earthquake in Bangkok last month. Authorities are probing Xin Ke Yuan Steel and another Chinese contractor involved in the construction to find out why the building crumbled following a quake centred in Myanmar, more than 800 miles (1,200km) away. It was the only building that completely collapsed that day. The 7.7 magnitude quake on March 28 killed more than 3,700 in Myanmar, while in Thailand 47 were killed, mostly at the collapse site, and 47 others were reported missing. Seven people are still unaccounted for (Manish Swarup/AP/File) The collapse sparked questions about the enforcement of construction safety and the state-run Chinese contractor, China Railway No 10 Engineering Group, leading to the arrest on Saturday of its Chinese executive in Thailand, identified as Zhang, on suspicion of operating the business through the use of nominees. Foreigners can operate a business in Thailand, but it must be a joint venture with a Thai partner, and they cannot own more than 49% to protect local competitiveness. Three Thai shareholders of the company are also wanted on suspicion of being the nominees, said officials of the Department of Special Investigation, Thailands equivalent of the FBI, who said they are looking into the quality of the construction material and whether the company illegally fixed its bidding. The company posted a video online last year advertising the building, meant to be a new office of the State Audit Office, with plenty of drone footage and boasting about the quality of the design, construction and management of the project. Last week, a Thai engineer filed a police complaint saying that his name and signature were forged as a project controller in one of the construction plans. He denied any involvement in the project. Xin Ke Yuan Steel, also partly owned by Chinese nationals, came under scrutiny over the quality of the steel rods it provided for the buildings. Its operating licence is currently suspended following a fatal fire in December at its factory in Rayong province. Forty-seven people were killed in the earthquake in Thailand, mostly at the collapse site, and 47 others were reported missing (Wason Wanichakorn/AP) Industry Minister Akanat Promphan said two types of steel rods found at the collapse site did not pass safety standards and that Xin Ke Yuan supplied both. He raided the companys factory on April 11 for evidence, saying that samples of the steel products confiscated by authorities following its December suspension have already failed two tests. At a press conference on Monday, the companys legal team disputed the test results, stressing that all of their products have passed safety tests and saying they are being treated unfairly by authorities. However, they declined to comment when asked specifically about the test results of the companys steel rods found at the collapse site. Earlier this month, the Revenue Department filed a complaint accusing Xin Ke Yuan of issuing more than 7,000 false tax invoices. On Monday, the companys lawyers denied any wrongdoing. Thai authorities say the search for the missing workers is continuing. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo Montreal (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) There is a proverbial elephant in the room that few dare to identify openly. Revoking visas, arresting students on the streets, detaining them in staunchly Republican jurisdictions, banning protests, cutting federal funding to universities, and forcing institutions to censor their faculty and curriculaall of these actions, and more, violate academic freedom, civil liberties, and both U.S. and international law. This sweeping assault on democracy in the United States and other Western countries is in some ways a revival of the themes and methods of the settler colonial state, exemplified nowadays by Israel and promoted by its extremist partisans. An anachronism, as the late Tony Judt put it, Israel began attacking civilians, deporting and dispossessing them even before Zionists issued a unilateral declaration of independence in May 1948. Since then, millions of refugees have languished in decrepit camps in countries surrounding Israel, as well as under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. Israels sole means of exercising its right to exist has been through the terrorization of occupied Palestinians. Naturally, this has provoked resistance, including armed struggle. Despite some unique characteristics, Israels central issue remains the preservation of a colonial settler statean outdated political system that Western governments once considered legitimate but largely abandoned by the 1960s. Never miss an issue of Informed Comment: Subscribe to our email newsletter! Social media will pretend let you subscribe but then use algorithms to suppress the postings and show you their ads instead. And please, if you see an essay you like, paste it into an email and share with friends. Israel was not alone. Another settler population unilaterally declared independence a few decades later in Africa: Rhodesia. By that time, however, settler colonialism had been universally discredited. The white settler state of Rhodesia was widely condemned, subjected to boycotts, and lasted only from 1965 to 1979. This shift in attitude toward colonialism was not so much a result of moral enlightenment in colonial metropoles as it was a consequence of the geopolitical stakes of the Cold War. The Soviet Union had supported decolonization since 1919, offering material and political assistance to numerous resistance movements. Despite the brutal efforts of colonial powers to retain control in Africa, they ultimately failed. Fearing the loss of Africa to Soviet influence, the United States gradually withdrew supportfirst from Britain, France, and Portugal, and later from apartheid South Africa. Political decolonization appeared to have prevailed. Though, Trump seems determined to reverse it, with his attacks on the democratic government of South Africa. Zionism, the political ideology defining Israel as a state for Jews, was initially exempt from this global shift. However, in 1975, the UN General Assembly declared that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination. This resolution, aligned with the 1963 Declaration to Eliminate All Forms of Racial Discrimination, reflected the growing influence of socialist and recently decolonized nations. Sponsored by 25 countries, including the Soviet Union, the resolution passed with 72 votes in favor and 35 against, the latter comprising all Western nations. Nearly two decades later, a few days before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the General Assembly revoked the resolution, reflecting the rise of a unipolar, U.S.-led world and, for some, the arrival of the End of History. Israel greatly benefited from this geopolitical realignment. Since then, it has enjoyed impunity and unconditional support from the United States, Germany, and other Western powers. Within the United States, Christian Zionists made support of Israel virtually an article of faith, seeing it as a symbol for white nationalist victory over brown populations. But this shift alone does not explain Israels exceptional treatment. Another crucial factornow apparent to manyhas been Israels persistent efforts to frame opposition to Zionism and criticism of Israeli policies as antisemitism. The more violence Israel inflicts on Palestinians, the more aggressively it seeks to silence critics. According to various Israeli scholars and politicians, the country has increasingly embraced unmistakable traits of fascism. This trend reached a fever pitch after the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023. Israeli society completed its dehumanization of Palestinians and embarked on a campaign of mass slaughter amounting to genocide. Even expressions of empathy toward Palestinian children were condemned by politicians echoing the openly racist sentiments of the Israeli public. Israel barred most journalists from entering Gaza. Palestinian journalists, along with doctors and rescue workers who documented Israeli military actions, were systematically targeted and killed. To justify its brutality, Israel circulated horrific claims of alleged Hamas atrocities such as beheading babiesclaims that were faithfully echoed by mainstream Western media before being debunked by Israeli and international investigative journalists. Ideological and religious justifications for Israels genocidal campaign may still resonate with a segment of Western populations, especially as presidents and prime ministers, such as Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau, declare themselves Zionists. However, public opinioneven in the United Stateshas increasingly turned against the Zionist state. To counter this shift, political and ideological support alone is no longer sufficient. Western governments have thus turned to law enforcement and surveillance under the guise of combating antisemitism. While many Jews, including visibly identifiable Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox), are at the forefront of pro-Palestinian activism, Western authorities have arrogated the power to determine who qualifies as a real Jew, using that definition to target and discredit those who reject the Jewish state. Mike Huckabee, Christian Zionist, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / ChatGPT, 2025 The Israeli government has long influenced the Middle East policies of the United States and select allies. Now, it appears to be extending its influence to their internal politics. Israel advocacy groups such as Canary Mission, Betar, and Project Esther collect data on pro-Palestinian activists, critical authors, and even university course content. These vigilante groups, working in close cooperation with Israel, channel this information to U.S. and other Western authorities, who act swiftly on it. At one point, U.S. State Departments website even listed illegal ideas among its targetsan admission that blatantly violated the First Amendment, later removed after backlash. Yet the witch hunt continues. Free trade has long been the dogma of the powerful, and Make America Great Again reveals that the U.S. no longer holds unchallenged dominance. Some may argue the recent repressive measures against critics of Israel are part of broader efforts to protect themselves from social unrest and disturbances likely to be caused by the crisis of the U.S. and its neoliberal order. To shield its genocidal action from scrutiny, Israel has seized this moment to push for greater police repression in Western societies, all under the noble-sounding banner of fighting antisemitism. Israel supporters point to complaints of Zionists who feel uncomfortable when they see pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. This brings to mind a judicial decision in 1977. In line with the First Amendments protection of free speech, it allowed a Nazi march in Skokie, Illinois, which had a substantial population of Holocaust survivors, even though this would cause emotional pain to many residents. The court argued that claims of subjective harm could shut down a public assembly than anyone who objected to a controversial demonstration could prevent it by asserting it would inflict emotional harm. Yet barely half a century later, pro-Palestinian demonstrations were suppressed, and its participants persecuted. To be fair, this also reflects the recent emergence of the cancel culture. Once such repression is legitimized and civil liberties curtailed, the ruling class may extend these practices to suppress all forms of dissent against growing economic inequality. Israel exports not only high-tech surveillance tools but also the methods for implementing them abroad. Zionist-aligned groups identify and track pro-Palestinian activists across dozens of countries. Zionists have long used chutzpah (unbelievable gall) to advance their project in Palestine. They have corrupted Western politicians and boldly showcased them at their rallies. Their audacity now threatens democratic processes, the rule of law, and civil liberties across many nations. The danger posed by the Zionist state is no longer confined to the Middle East. This arrogant remnant of settler colonialism armed with nuclear weapons not only spreads violence in its region, but undermines our basic freedoms here and now. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 /Mako Mining Corp. (TSX-V:MKO) (OTCQX:MAKOF) ("Mako" or the "Company") is pleased to provide first quarter 2025 ("Q1 2025") production results for the Company's San Albino gold mine ("San Albino") in northern Nicaragua and an update on the Eagle Mountain gold project in Guyana. Certain amounts shown in this news release may not total to exact amounts due to rounding differences. All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. Q1 2025 San Albino Operational Highlights 48,813 tonnes mined, containing 11,495 ounces ("oz") of gold ("Au") at an average grade of 7.32 grams per tonne ("g/t") Au and 12,036 oz of silver ("Ag") at 7.67 g/t Ag 29,163 tonnes mined from diluted vein material containing 9,620 oz Au at 10.26 g/t Au and 9,777 oz Ag at 10.43 g/t Ag 19,650 tonnes mined from historical dump and other mineralized material above cutoff grade (" historical dump + other ") containing 1,875 oz Au at 2.97 g/t Au and 2,259 oz Ag at 3.58 g/t Ag 46.6:1 strip ratio 53,551 tonnes milled containing 12,228 oz Au and 12,740 oz Ag grading 7.10 g/t Au and 7.40 g/t Ag. 52% and 48% from diluted vein and historical dump and other, respectively 608 tonnes per day (" tpd ") milled at 97.8% availability Mill recovery of 85.3% for gold At quarter end, the stockpile was estimated at 126,248 tonnes at an average grade of 2.61 g/t Au for contained Au of 10,587 oz Q1 2025 Mako Financial Highlights Mako total gold sales of 10,817 oz Au for total revenue of $31.5 million in Q1 2025 San Albino Mine sales of 9,881 oz at $2,898 per ounce Moss Mine sales of 936 oz Au from residual leaching activities at $2,997 per ounce (this doesn't include 605 oz Au sold in 2025 prior to the acquisition of Moss Mine) Delivered 40,500 oz of silver as part of Sailfish Silver loan for a total of $1.3 million in Q1 2025 Interest payment of $0.3 million to Wexford under the Wexford loan Tax payment of $4.0 million in cash which was already accrued in Q4 2024 $1.5 million release of collateral at Moss Mine expected later this month from Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company $1.0 million expected this month from the Sailfish Silver Option exercise Cash Balance of approximately $14.2 million as of April 14th, 2025, after $6.5 million payment made for the acquisition of the Moss Mine (See press release dated March 27th, 2025) Akiba Leisman, Chief Executive Officer of Mako states that "Production in Q1 2025 was strong, with gold sales of 10,817 ounces (similar to Q4 2024), generating a record of US$31.5 million in revenue due to higher realized gold prices. The acquisition of the Moss Mine was completed at the very end of the quarter, with 936 gold ounces sold from the residual leach operations in the few days that Mako owned the mine during Q1 2025. Record high gold prices are having a significantly positive effect on the Company, which allowed Mako to reinvest in exploration in Nicaragua, rapidly advance the Eagle Mountain project in Guyana and acquire the Moss Mine in Arizona, all while increasing cash on the balance sheet to be used for the eventual construction of the Eagle Mountain project next year." Table 1 - Operating Results for San Albino * Includes historical dump, hanging wall, footwall, historical muck and all other non-vein mineralized material above cutoff grade. **For the purpose of calculating revenue, payments to Sailfish are deducted from the Average Realized Price Gold. (1) Strip Ratio calculation does not include waste material that is capitalized (2) Equivalent Gold ounces are calculated by: Silver recovered. or Silver sold (oz) / Avg. Realized Price Gold ($/oz) / Avg. Realized Price Silver ($/oz) Table 2 - Quarter-End Stockpile Statistics ** Includes historical dump, hanging wall, footwall, historical muck and all other non-vein mineralized material above cutoff grade. Mining at San Albino The mine produced an average of 542 tonnes per day of diluted vein and historical dump + other material in Q1 2025. The strip ratio averaged 46.6:1, which included accelerated waste development of the Bayacun and Limon-Mango Pit with the goal of improving the mining sequence and increasing access to higher gold grades in the second and third quarter of 2025. In Q1 2025, diluted vein material was sourced from three different veins: Las Conchitas South (El Limon-Mango 20%, Las Dolores 24%) and Las Conchitas Central (Cruz Grande 56%). In Q2 2025, production is also expected from the high-grade Bayacun and Intermediate veins located in Las Conchitas South and Las Conchitas Central, respectively. Milling at San Albino During Q1 2025, the plant throughput rate averaged 608 tpd, 22% above nameplate capacity. Mill availability remained high at 98% which compares favorably with industry averages. The mill head grade averaged 7.10 g/t Au, comprised of 52% diluted vein material and 48% historical dump + other material. A total of 10,436 ounces of gold were recovered during the quarter at a mill recovery of 85.3%. Eagle Mountain Gold Project Consistent with the 2024 work program at the Eagle Mountain Project, the Q1 2025 work program included engineering and environmental activities to confirm mine design parameters and to generate the data and studies required to complete an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") for submission to the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). The Company is targeting H2 2025 for the submission of the EIS. Phase 2 activities, which commenced in January 2025, comprised geotechnical drilling and testing of the saprolite and underlying fresh rock to facilitate infrastructure siting studies and site hydrogeological drilling to generate data for both pit optimization and water resource management studies. Q1 2025 activities also included environmental geochemical testing of water, soils, and rock for which analyses are ongoing. In March 2025, the Company officially initiated the regulatory permitting process in Guyana through the submission of Environmental Application and Project Summary documents to the Guyana EPA. On behalf of the Board, Akiba Leisman Chief Executive Officer Qualified Person John Rust, a metallurgical engineer and qualified person (as defined under NI 43-101) has read and approved the technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Rust is a senior metallurgist and a consultant to the Company. About Mako Mako Mining Corp. is a publicly listed gold mining, development and exploration company. The Company operates the high-grade San Albino gold mine in Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua, which ranks as one of the highest-grade open pit gold mines globally and offers district-scale exploration potential. Mako also owns the Moss Mine in Arizona, an open pit gold mine in northwestern Arizona. Mako also holds a 100% interest in the PEA-stage Eagle Mountain Project in Guyana, South America. Eagle Mountain is the subject of engineering, environmental and mine permitting activity. For further information: Mako Mining Corp., Akiba Leisman, Chief Executive Officer, Telephone: 917-558-5289, E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website at www.makominingcorp.com and SEDAR www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-Looking Information Statements contained herein, other than historical fact, may be considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained herein is based on the Company's plans and expectations and assumptions as of the date such statements forward looking statements include that: all associated capital expenditures required to restart mining operations at Moss mine will be funded out of a small fraction of the Company's cash generation from Q1 2025; expectations stated regarding Q2 and Q3 2025 production at San Albino, expected timing for the submission of the EIS to the Guyana EPA. Such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation; that production results in Q2 and Q3 2025 will not meet expectations; that the EIS will not be submitted on the timeline expected; uncertainty related to mining exploration properties; political risks and uncertainties involving the Company's mineral properties; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expense; commodity price fluctuations and other risks and uncertainties as disclosed in the Company's public disclosure filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof, based on information currently available and is included for the purposes of providing investors with the Company's expectations regarding the Company's Q1 2025 production and operating results at San Albino gold project, financial highlights for Q1 2025 and current corporate updates, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Mako does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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. 2025 Winter Exploration Program VANCOUVER, British Columbia / Apr 21, 2025 / Business Wire / Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (the "Company" or "Spanish Mountain Gold") (TSX-V: SPA) (FSE: S3Y) (OTCQB: SPAUF) is pleased to provide the first set of near surface and high-grade results from the 2025 winter exploration diamond drill program (2025 Winter Drill Program) for the Spanish Mountain Gold project located in the Cariboo Gold Corridor, British Columbia, Canada. Highlights: Main Zone drilling demonstrated potential for higher grades over long intervals within the historical 2021 pit constrained resource: Hole 25-DH-1281 intersected 123.00 metres (m) grading 1.08 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) from 102.00 m including an interval of 47.28 m grading 2.29 g/t Au containing 4.00 m grading 6.45 g/t Au, 2.00 m grading 24.56 g/t Au and 2.00 m grading 10.41 g/t Au. Visible gold (VG) was encountered at a hole depth of 218.00 m in quartz veins. Outcropping Tuff a step-out drill hole on a new near surface target with several high-grade intercepts reinforces gold mineralization growth potential: Hole 25-DH-1275 intersected 62.20 m grading 0.60 g/t Au , including 5.04 m grading 4.69 g/t Au containing 1.95 m grading 9.72 g/t Au and 0.44 m grading 10.49 g/t Au from 21.00 m. Phoenix - a large, mineralized target near surface with high grade sections: Hole 25-CCR-049 intersected 105.90 m grading 0.41 g/t Au , including 4.00 m grading 4.71 g/t Au from 74.95 m, including from 74.95 m, Hole 25-CCR-050 yielded 246.50 m grading 0.38 g/t Au from 45.00 m, including 3.00 m grading 3.35 g/t Au and 9.30 m grading 1.76 g/t Au, from 45.00 m, including and Hole 25-CCR-051 intersected 164.67 m grading 0.27 g/t Au from 80.50 m, including 35.35 m grading 0.59 g/t Au, 10.00 m grading 1.36 g/t Au and 2.00 m grading 5.27 g/t Au. VG was encountered at 126.86 m hole depth in a 0.02 m wide quartz vein. Drill Objectives and Results Summary: Main zone: Drill holes 25-DH-1281 and 25-DH-1282 investigated the top third argillite while testing stratigraphical controls within the 2021 pit constrained resource. These findings support the more optimal drill hole orientation (refer to Table 2 below), which has a higher likelihood of intersecting various mineralization controls within the stratigraphic sequence of the Main Zone including lithology contacts, faults, and steeper high-grade structures. These controls were identified during our 2024 re-logging program, which yielded a new three-dimensional geological and structural model: Hole 25-DH-1281 encountered 197.00 m grading 0.72 g/t Au containing 123.00 m grading 1.08 g/t Au . containing . Hole 25-DH-1282 yielded 211.90 m at 0.36 g/t Au including 100.30 m grading 0.52 g/t Au, containing 16.00 m grading 1.43 g/t Au and within the 16.00 m, 4.00 m grading 2.76 g/t Au. Additionally, starting at 360.30 m depth, the hole intersected 5.70 m grading 2.52 g/t Au. Outcropping Tuff Target a step-out drill hole was completed 1,350 m northwest of the 2021 PFS pit constrained resource to test for broad near surface gold mineralization and high-grade: Hole 25-DH-1275 successfully encountered near-surface and high-grade mineralization in a mafic tuff which is a newly emerging gold host rock type at the project and is interpreted to be like the tuff identified in the upper part of the main deposit and at Phoenix. This hole encountered 62.20 m grading 0.60 g/t Au, including 5.04 m grading 4.69 g/t Au, 1.95 m grading 9.72 g/t Au, and 0.44 m grading 10.49 g/t Au from 21.00 m. This hole confirms the potential for more property-wide near surface open pit type gold mineralization that could offer an attractive alternative to deeper mineralization. Phoenix Target: Drill holes 25-CCR-049, 25-CCR-050, and 25-CCR-051 were drilled to follow up a large target discovered in 2011 (refer to press release dated December 7, 2011, Spanish Mountain Gold Announces Discovery of New Gold Zone) and successfully intersected extensive gold mineralization with large intercepts including high grade sections: Hole 25-CCR-049 encountered 105.90 m grading 0.41 g/t Au, including 4.00 m grading 4.71 g/t Au from 74.95 m. 25-CCR-049 encountered including from 74.95 m. Hole 25-CCR-050 yielded 246.50 m grading 0.38 g/t Au, including 3.00 m grading 3.35 g/t Au and 9.30 m grading 1.76 g/t Au from 45.00 m. 25-CCR-050 yielded including from 45.00 m. Hole 25-CCR-051 intersected 164.67 m grading 0.27 g/t Au from 80.50 m, including 35.35 m grading 0.59 g/t Au, 10.00 m grading 1.36 g/t Au and 2.00 m grading 5.27 g/t Au. Slipper Zone: Drill holes 25-DH-1278, 25-DH-1279, 25-DH-1280 and 25-DH-1283 followed up on the Slipper Zone extending gold mineralization 320 m towards the northwest of the 2021 resource pit outline and included higher-grade mineralization intervals: Hole 25-DH-1279 intersected 78.00 m grading 0.31 g/t Au from 87.00 m including 5.00 m grading 1.51 g/t Au. from 87.00 m including 25-DH-1283 intersected 5.80 m grading 1.00 g/t Au and 3.20 m grading 1.13 g/t Au from 127.20 m and 173.00 m respectively, along a cataclastic argillite control. Peter Mah, Spanish Mountain Golds President & CEO commented, In addition to accelerating the Project towards a build decision by 2027, we are extremely encouraged by the initial 2025 drill results that continue to demonstrate the significant, low cost to drill, growth potential for increasing near surface and high-grade gold mineralization beyond the 2021 pit constrained resource. Detailed Target Descriptions and Results: Main Zone Drill holes 25-DH-1281 and 25-DH-1282 (Figure 2 top right inset) were collared in the main zone and targeted the continuity of the near-pit bottom mineralization. The gold mineralization in drillholes 25-DH-1281 and 25-DH-1282 is hosted primarily in argillite in contact with greywacke in proximity to a faulted zone and exhibits a direct association with quartz plus galena veining. Hole 25-DH-1281 encountered 197.00 m grading 0.72 g/t Au including 123.00 m grading 1.08 g/t Au, while 25-DH-1282 yielded 211.90 m at 0.36 g/t Au including 100.30 m grading 0.52 g/t Au containing 16.00 m grading 1.43 g/t Au and 4.00 m grading 2.76 g/t Au. In both 25-DH-1281 and 25-DH-1282, the grades are linked to quartz veins occurring in proximity to lithological boundaries. Outcropping Tuff Target Drill hole 25-DH-1275 (Figure 2 top left inset and Figure 3) was collared approximately 1,350m northwest of the 2021 pit constrained resource (refer to the Spanish Mountain Gold Project - Prefeasibility Study (PFS) and Mineral Resource Estimate, and associated NI 43-101 Technical Report, effective date May 10, 2023, available on the Company's website or under the Company's profile on Sedarplus.ca). Mineralization intercepted by 25-DH-1275 in the Outcropping Tuff Target occurs in Quartz, Galena, and Sphalerite veins hosted within volcanic rocks, specifically within a Mafic Tuff unit displaying intense sericite-chlorite alteration accompanied by quartz and fuchsite. The hole encountered 62.20 m grading 0.60 g/t Au, including 5.04 m grading 4.69 g/t Au containing 1.95 m grading 9.72 g/t Au and 0.44 m grading 10.49 g/t from 21.00 m. Oriented core data indicates the presence of two distinct sets of veining: high-angle and lower-angle veins. Further exploration of this promising zone is anticipated. The Phoenix Target Figure 3 illustrates drill hole 25-CCR-049 intercepted multiple quartz + galena and pyrite veins hosted in a mafic Tuff unit, yielding 105.90 m grading 0.41 g/t Au, including 4.00 m grading 4.71 g/t Au starting at 74.95 m depth. Similarly, a 200.00 m step-out to the northwest in hole 25-CCR-050 yielded 246.50 m grading 0.38 g/t Au, including 3.00 m grading 3.35 g/t Au and 9.30 m grading 1.76 g/t Au starting at 45.00 m depth. Finally, Drill hole 25-CCR-051 a 140.00 m step out to the southeast of 25-CCR-050 intersected 164.67 m grading 0.27 g/t Au including 35.35 m grading 0.59 g/t Au containing 10.00 m grading 1.36 g/t Au, and 2.00 m grading 5.27 g/t Au. At the time of this press release, exploration continues with two drills active in this target area. The 2025 Winter Drill Program on the Phoenix Target revealed the presence of mineralized argillite including cataclastic horizons that were not previously identified in this area. Slipper Zone Refer to the bottom inset in Figure 2. Drill hole 25-DH-1279 was collared 97.00 m northwest of drill hole 24-DH-1267 from 2024, to follow up on high-grade intercepts which demonstrated potential to extend near-pit mineralization of the Slipper Zone to the northwest. 25-DH-1279 intersected 78.00 m grading 0.31 g/t Au including 5.00m grading 1.51 g/t Au from 87.00 m and 25-DH-1283 intersected 5.80 m grading 1.00 g/t Au and 3.20 m grading 1.13 g/t Au from 127.20 m and 173.00 m, respectively. The gold mineralization style encountered in drill holes 25-DH-1277, 25-DH-1278, 25-DH-1279, and 25-DH-1280 mostly occurs within the Upper Argillite and the newly defined cataclastic argillite structure (upper cataclastic argillite). The continuity of the cataclastic argillite structure has been confirmed for 300.00 m along a northwest strike and remains open in that direction, as well as down-dip toward the northeast. Exploration continues along this structure. Table 1: 2025 Winter Drill Program Summarized Gold Assay Results Drillhole ID From To Width(m) Gold Grade (g/t Au) 25-DH-1279 87.00 165.00 78.00 0.31 including 160.00 165.00 5.00 1.51 25-DH-1279 337.00 348.00 11.00 0.45 25-DH-1279 356.00 359.00 3.00 0.18 25-DH-1279 376.00 391.00 15.00 0.24 25-DH-1280 97.00 103.24 6.24 0.40 25-DH-1280 124.00 142.50 18.50 0.29 25-DH-1281 28.00 225.00 197.00 0.72 including 28.00 39.00 11.00 0.18 25-DH-1281 49.00 53.50 4.50 0.20 25-DH-1281 73.00 79.50 6.50 0.28 25-DH-1281 102.00 225.00 123.00 1.08 including 106.00 121.00 15.00 0.65 including 141.00 188.28 47.28 2.29 including 141.00 145.00 4.00 6.45 including 141.00 143.00 2.00 24.56 including 171.00 173.00 2.00 10.41 25-DH-1281 321.00 325.00 4.00 0.36 25-DH-1281 451.00 454.00 3.00 0.16 25-DH-1282 33.10 245.00 211.90 0.36 including 33.10 133.40 100.30 0.52 including 105.00 121.00 16.00 1.43 including 114.00 118.00 4.00 2.76 25-DH-1282 274.00 280.30 6.30 0.31 25-DH-1282 324.00 343.00 19.00 0.24 25-DH-1282 360.30 366.00 5.70 2.52 25-DH-1282 433.00 438.00 5.00 0.28 25-DH-1283 127.20 133.00 5.80 1.00 25-DH-1283 173.00 176.20 3.20 1.13 25-DH-1283 291.00 295.72 4.72 0.20 25-CCR-049 74.95 180.85 105.90 0.41 including 74.95 92.15 17.20 0.64 including 176.85 180.85 4.00 4.71 25-CCR-049 321.00 325.00 4.00 0.26 25-CCR-049 553.00 559.00 6.00 0.42 25-CCR-050 45.00 291.50 246.50 0.38 including 45.00 50.00 5.00 2.13 including 125.50 128.50 3.00 3.35 including 275.60 284.90 9.30 1.76 25-CCR-050 339.00 347.00 8.00 0.33 25-CCR-051 66.95 70.50 3.55 0.28 25-CCR-051 80.50 245.17 164.67 0.27 including 124.00 128.00 4.00 0.90 including 125.00 160.35 35.35 0.59 including 140.00 150.00 10.00 1.36 including 148.00 150.00 2.00 5.27 including 211.00 216.00 5.00 1.07 25-CCR-051 262.50 266.00 3.50 0.17 25-CCR-051 309.21 312.14 2.93 0.45 25-DH-1275 21.00 83.20 62.20 0.60 including 78.16 83.20 5.04 4.69 including 78.16 78.60 0.44 10.49 including 81.25 83.20 1.95 9.72 25-DH-1275 362.15 371.50 9.35 0.19 25-DH-1276 113.45 237.80 124.35 0.18 including 233.90 237.80 3.90 0.82 25-DH-1276 351.50 355.00 3.50 0.38 25-DH-1276 406.00 501.25 95.25 0.33 including 489.75 496.25 6.50 1.09 25-DH-1276 672.70 693.20 20.50 0.20 25-DH-1276 716.85 728.60 11.75 0.30 25-DH-1277 46.00 50.00 4.00 0.18 25-DH-1278 65.00 70.50 5.50 0.18 25-DH-1278 73.30 77.00 3.70 0.18 25-DH-1278 110.00 115.21 5.21 0.16 25-DH-1278 127.70 131.00 3.30 0.25 25-DH-1278 137.06 142.00 4.94 0.42 Notes: Reported intersections are calculated using a 0.15 g/t Au cut-off grade. The complete assay table is available on the Companys website Table 2: Drill Hole Collar Location and hole lengths HOLE-ID LOCATION X LOCATION Y LOCATION Z LENGTH Azimuth Dip Easting Northing Elevation 25-DH-1283 603457 5828457 1050 295.72 120 -65 25-DH-1282 604315 5828137 1075 513 120 55 25-DH-1281 604250 5828176 1071 567 117 62 25-DH-1280 603556 5828409 1050 144 120 65 25-DH-1279 603640 5828346 1060 392 120 65 25-DH-1278 603715 5828307 1060 279 120 65 25-DH-1277 603675 5828216 1077 245 120 65 25-DH-1276 603800 5828506 1014 824 150 65 25-DH-1275 602354 5829001 1024 408 77 65 25-CCR-050 602261 5827616 1022 347 120 65 25-CCR-049 602338 5827447 1056 617 120 65 25-CCR-051 602397 5827568 1035 363 120 65 Drill Core Processing, Data Verification and Quality Assurance Quality Control Program (QAQC) Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples were sawn in half, labeled, and bagged. The remaining half of the drill core was securely stored on-site. Numbered security tags were applied to sample shipments to ensure chain of custody compliance. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals, including blanks and reference materials, for all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. Standards and blanks account for a minimum of 15% of the samples in addition to the laboratorys internal quality assurance programs. The QAQC program was overseen by the Companys Qualified Person, Julian Manco, P.Geo, Director of Exploration (as described below). Drill core samples were submitted to MSALABS analytical facility in Prince George, British Columbia, for sample preparation and PhotonAssayTM analysis. The MSALABS facilities are accredited to the International Standards ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 9001 standard for gold and multi-element assays, with all analytical methods incorporating quality control materials at defined frequencies and established data acceptance criteria. MSALABS Inc. is independent of the Company. PhotonAssayTM The PhotonAssayTM CPA-Au1 method utilizes gamma ray analysis for gold detection using the Chrysos PhotonAssayTM instrument (PA1408X). This non-destructive, fully automated technique offers high accuracy for analyzing ores and pulps. Sample preparation begins with drying and crushing up to 1 kg of material to achieve at least 70% passing through a 2-millimetre (mm) sieve. The sample is then riffle split to obtain a suitable aliquot for analysis. The PhotonAssayTM instrument bombards 400 - 600 gram samples contained in sealed containers with gamma rays. These containers remain sealed throughout the process, preserving the sample for potential further testing. The analysis is performed robotically, with results that integrate into existing laboratory management systems. Each sample is accompanied by a reference disc traceable to a Certified Reference Material (CRM). Both the sample and reference disc undergo gamma ray exposure, with signals detected and analyzed to ensure accurate and reliable results. The method offers a gold detection range from 0.015 parts per million (ppm - lower limit) to 10,000 ppm (upper limit). Quality control includes the use of reference materials and blanks, with all results reviewed by a competent person before reporting. Spanish Mountain Gold implemented two QAQC methodologies to validate the accuracy of PhotonAssayTM results, both demonstrating good comparability: 1) comparative analysis of diverse mineralization styles using Total Au screen metallic methods with both FAS-415 (gravimetric finish) and FAS-211 (AAS finish), and 2) comprehensive testing of both sample aliquots and rejects using FAS-211 (AAS finish). QAQC Testing typically can include the following spot checks: 1) Pulverizing tests to evaluate variability in sample preparation, 2) Cross-analysis at external laboratories using screen metallic method, and 3) Four-cycle radiation testing to identify and calibrate potential variability in gold results with variable radiation intensity. Upon final QAQC checks on the preliminary initial results for hole 24-DH-1268 have been corrected to 29.00 m grading 0.60 g/t Au from 520.00 to 549.00 m including 1.27 g/t Au over 6.00 m and 0.99 g/t Au over 9.00 m. Results are available on the Companys website. Multi-Elemental Analysis For the 2025 drilling campaign Spanish Mountain Gold used IMS-230 method to provide multi-element determination using a four-acid digestion followed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis. Key Process Steps: Sample Preparation: Samples are dried and ground to specific criteria (85% passing 75 microns (m) for rocks and drill core; 180m for soils and sediments). A homogeneous 10-gram sample is required. Digestion: Samples undergo sequential digestion with nitric, perchloric, hydrofluoric, and hydrochloric acids, followed by dilution with deionized water. Analysis: The solution is analyzed via ICP-OES and ICP-MS for multi-element quantification. Quality Control: The process includes reference materials, blanks, and duplicates, with corrections for spectral interferences and thorough review before final reporting. Julian Manco, M.Sc., P.Geo., has verified the data disclosed in this news release. The data verification process involved a multi-step approach to ensure accuracy and integrity. This included a detailed quality control (QC) analysis of the data, which was performed using both internal and external platforms, such as the MxDeposit software. These QC checks involved the analysis of certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks, and duplicates to confirm the reliability of the assay results. In addition, Mr. Manco, conducted a field inspection of the specific drill intervals mentioned in this release to directly observe the geological features and verified the nature of the results presented. Qualified Person Julian Manco, M.Sc., P.Geo., Director of Exploration with Spanish Mountain Gold, is the Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and has approved the contents of this news release. About Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. is focused on advancing its 100%-owned Spanish Mountain Gold Project towards construction of the next gold mine in the Cariboo Gold Corridor, British Columbia. We are conducting an integrated Whittle Enterprise Optimization to identify the highest potential value-add improvements while increasing the understanding of the high-grade geologic controls and associated drill targets that could upgrade and expand the gold resource. We are striving to be a leader in community and Indigenous relations by leveraging technology and innovation to build the 'greenest' gold mine in Canada. The Relentless Pursuit for Better Gold means seeking new ways to achieve optimal financial outcomes that are safer, minimize environmental impact and create meaningful sustainability for communities. Details on the Company are available on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website: www.spanishmountaingold.com. On Behalf of the Board, Peter Mah President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute "forward-looking information". Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be considered forward-looking information. The Company's forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release and include but are not limited to information with respect to, the potential to extend mineralization within the near-surface environment; the potential to expand resources and to find higher-grade mineralization at depth; the timing, size and budget of a winter drill program, and the results thereof; and the delivery of a maiden resource for the Phoenix Target, and the timing and results thereof. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 21, 2025) - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company") is pleased to announce a closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$5,168,999 (the "Private Placement"). In connection with the Private Placement, 8,614,999 equity units of the Company ("Units") were issued at a price of C$0.60 per Unit. "We are pleased to have raised these funds despite very testing markets conditions which is a testament to the quality of our high-grade gold and silver property in Nevada. I would like to thank our existing shareholders who strongly supported this raise," commented Rupert Williams, Chief Executive Officer. "The funds will be used to test extensions to existing mineralization identified in the successful 2024 drill program at Wabash and follow up on some of the numerous other surface and geophysical targets identified on the property." Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share of the Company ("Common Share") and one-half of one (1/2) Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one (1) Common Share for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance of the Warrant (subject to acceleration) (the "Expiry Date"), at an exercise price of C$0.90 per share. The Warrants are subject to an acceleration provision whereby, if the Common Shares trade at or above a volume-weighted average price of C$1.50 for a period of 20 consecutive trading days, the Company has the right to accelerate the Expiry Date of all or part of the outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to the Private Placement to a date that is not less than 30 days from the notice of such acceleration that is provided by way of press release by the Company. The securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a four-month hold period, in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement to continue to explore and develop its mining assets, the continued development of its business and for general and administrative expenses. Under the Private Placement, Rupert Williams, the CEO and a director of the Company, acquired 400,000 Units at a subscription price of C$240,000, Mr. Williams spouse acquired 300,000 Units at a subscription price of C$180,000 and Chelsea Hayes, Director of Business Development and a Director of the Company acquired 80,000 Units at a subscription price of C$48,000. Their participation in the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transaction ("MI 61-101"), which has been adopted by the TSX Venture Exchange pursuant to its Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transaction. These transactions are exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of such instrument and policy, pursuant to subsections 5.5(b) and (c) and 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 as the distribution of securities was for cash and the fair market value of those securities was not more than C$2,500,000. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Private Placement because the details of the participation therein by related parties of the Company were not settled until shortly prior to closing of such transactions and the Company wished to close on an expedited basis for sound business reasons. Subject to the final review by the TSX Venture Exchange and in connection with the Private Placement, the Company has agreed to pay cash finder's fees (7%) to each of the following in respect of the aggregate sales to subscribers under the Private Placement that were introduced by them: (i) Canaccord Genuity Corp. (C$26,040); (ii) Haywood Securities Inc. (C$16,099.99); (iii) StephenAvenue Securities Inc. (C$4,899.97); and (iv) Red Cloud Securities Inc. (C$3,780). In addition, the Company has agreed to issue finder's warrants (7%) to each of the following in respect of the number of Units sold by the Company under the Private Placement that were introduced by them: Canaccord Genuity Corp. (warrants to purchase 43,400 Common Shares); (ii) Haywood Securities Inc. (warrants to purchase 26,833 Common Shares); (iii) StephenAvenue Securities Inc. (warrants to purchase 8,167 Common Shares); and (iv) Red Cloud Securities Inc. (warrants to purchase 6,300 Common Shares). These warrants are non-transferable, have an exercise price of C$0.60 per share and expire 18 months from the date of issuance. About North Peak Resources The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere. The Company has acquired an initial 80% interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in Eureka, Nevada (see the Company's May 4 and 23, 2023 and August 25, 2023 press releases). The Company can give no assurances at this time that its properties and interests will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. For further information, please contact: This press release is not an offer of the Company's securities for sale in the United States. The Company's securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and applicable U.S. state securities laws. The Company will not make any public offering of its securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to final TSX Venture Exchange approval for the Private Placement, the anticipated use of proceeds of the Private Placement, timing and completion of any exploration on the Company's properties, estimates of mineralization from drilling, sampling and geophysical surveys, geological information projected from drilling and sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones, the potential for minerals and/or mineral resources and reserves, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex and the Company, including with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company that may be described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 available at www.sedarplus.ca, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAWS TORONTO, April 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL) (TSX: CNL) ("Collective" or the "Company") is pleased to announce changes in the executive management of the Company effective immediately with the appointment of Ned Jalil as Chief Executive Officer, and former CEO Omar Ossma retaining his role as President and continuing to perform his same duties within the day-to-day operations of the Company. Ned Jalil is a seasoned mining executive with over 25 years of global experience across gold, silver, and key battery metals including copper and nickel. Ned has successfully led projects from exploration through to feasibility, construction and production. Ned has held senior executive roles with Kinross Gold ("Kinross") and Appian Capital ("Appian"). As Chief Technical Officer at Kinross, Ned was instrumental in advancing key assets including the Great Bear project, where he delivered a 5-million-ounce initial resource, and Manh Choh, where he led a team that transitioned the asset from study to construction. At Appian, Ned led the construction and operational readiness of the MVV Copper-Gold Project, completing it ahead of schedule and under budget. Ned holds an MBA from the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA Program, along with Bachelor and Master degrees in mining engineering from Queen's University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 and brings a strong foundation of technical and academic excellence to his leadership roles. Ned Jalil commented: "I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic and growing Company where I can lead a team with the goal of advancing the Guayabales project's Apollo discovery to production. Both the Guayabales and San Antonio projects are fortunately located in areas with excellent infrastructure with mining supportive populations and local governments. The potential for growth at the Guayabales project is astounding and I am excited to be part of one of the best new discoveries of the past decade made in Latin America." "On behalf of the board of directors and management team, I would like to welcome Ned to the Collective team. Ned is a dynamic individual, who thinks outside the box and loves to tackle challenges head-on. The Company is now moving at a rapid pace and Ned's background and experience are exactly what we need at this juncture to take the Guayabales project to an ultimate production decision," commented Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman. About Collective Mining Ltd. To see our latest corporate presentation and related information, please visit www.collectivemining.com. Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, Collective is a gold, silver, copper and tungsten exploration company with projects in Caldas, Colombia. The Company has options to acquire 100% interests in two projects located directly within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines. The Company's flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo system, which hosts the large-scale, bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold-silver-copper-tungsten Apollo system. The Company's objectives are to improve the overall grade of the Apollo system by systematically drill testing newly modeled potentially high-grade sub-zones, expand the Apollo system by stepping out along strike to the north and expanding the newly discovered high-grade Ramp Zone along strike and to depth, expand the Trap system and drill a series of newly generated targets including Tower and X. Management and insiders own approximately 33.4% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result, are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company is listed on the NYSE American and TSX under the trading symbol "CNL" and on the FSE under the trading symbol "GG1". Information Contact: Follow Executive Chairman Ari Sussman (@Ariski73) on X Follow Collective Mining (@CollectiveMini1) on X, (Collective Mining) on LinkedIn, and (@collectivemining) on Instagram FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future operations; future recovery metal recovery rates; future growth potential of Collective; and future development plans. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding future events including the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's formative stage of development; the Company's financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, precious and base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formation pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated March 24, 2025. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday offered his condolences over the death of Pope Francis and praised his condemnation of "genocide" by Israel in Gaza. "With sorrow, I offer my condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, the leader and spiritual guide of the world's Catholics," Pezeshkian said in a statement posted on his official website. The president of Muslim-majority Iran said the pontiff's name and memory would remain "in the hearts of all awakened consciences and freedom-seekers" for his humanitarian stances, including the "condemnation of the genocide committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza". Iran does not recognise Israel and has made support for the Palestinian cause a central tenet of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Islamic republic backs Hamas, the militant group that launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, igniting the Gaza war. Earlier Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also offered "condolences to all Christians around the world" following Pope Francis's death. Iran maintains diplomatic relations with the Vatican. South Korean actor Park Bo Gum is receiving praise again this time for his humility and quick thinking while filming his project, When Life Gives You Tangerines. One member of the film's art team, reaching out to share the story, recently explained that Park took the fall for a production mistake made by staff. In contrast, the film was being shot nefariously, averting what could've become a serious production gaffe. According to the staff member, who was one of three art team members on set that day, the incident occurred during a hectic shoot involving a clay model of Gwan Sik, the character portrayed by Park. In the rush, the staff member accidentally left an iPad near a clay jar that appeared in the scene. "The scene was even approved," the staffer said, recounting the moment. "But do you guys know what Park Bo Gum said? He saw the iPad and told the director, 'I think my acting is a little awkward. Can I see the monitoring video?' He covered up for my mistake and spoke about it as if it were his fault." The staffer added that Park discreetly handed back the iPad after requesting a reshoot. "He then handed me my iPad and winked as he told me, 'Don't worry, you didn't get caught.'" The gesture left a lasting impression on the crew. "Please take responsibility, for after that, the three members of the art team have fallen for you and can't get out," the staffer joked. "Two of them are guys, and one of them...is me." Thanks to Park's intervention, the team was able to refilm the scene, and the updated version made it into the final cut of the project. .. .. pic.twitter.com/1dwGjKCcIH (@gummyblue_) April 20, 2025 Park, known for his roles in Reply 1988 and Record of Youth, has long been admired for his professionalism and kindness. The recent anecdote only adds to his growing reputation as one of the industry's most gracious stars. An advertisement featuring actor Kim Soo Hyun was showcased in a subway station in Seoul recently, sparking outrage among netizens about whether promoting Kim was appropriate given his ongoing controversy. The ad, funded through CHOEAEDOL Celeb a platform that allows fans to crowdfund and vote for celebrity advertisements was placed at Exit 3 of Hongdae Station. It was first brought to public attention by a user on X (formerly Twitter), who posted a photo of the ad and criticized the decision to display it. "I got a tip that Kim Soo Hyun is featured on a CHOEAEDOL Celeb ad at Exit 3 of Hongdae Station," the post read. "Seriously, what are you doing??" The tweet quickly went viral, amassing over 100,000 views and prompting fierce debate online. Critics were especially concerned about the ad's placement in a high-traffic area popular with foreign tourists. "What a national embarrassment... Hongdae has a lot of foot traffic from foreigners, especially... Why are they doing this... Foreigners might see it and go, 'Oh, Kim Soo Hyun is up there... wasn't he accused of a crime? What's wrong with Korea?' Wouldn't they think that way?" wrote user @orin_no_sin on X. "People who like Korea would definitely know about this kind of issue... It even made BBC News... Why... just why... are we so lenient??" .. .. .. ? ?? .. .. bbc ........ ??... https://t.co/kIJcgYWqo8 (@ori_no_sin) April 19, 2025 CHOEAEDOL Celeb also faced criticism for not reviewing or removing the ad following the recent controversy involving Kim. "Isn't this the kind of thing that should be decided by a vote?" user @skybluesdream wrote. ... https://t.co/Vad4rzIoOY (@skybluesdream) April 19, 2025 "There are way too many messed-up guys out there... And seriously, shouldn't they take the ad down themselves? What's up with platforms still running it?" Some users speculated that the ad may have been approved before the latest developments. "Isn't this the kind of thing people vote for? If the votes were collected before the news came out... I guess I can understand. But still, they should've reviewed it before putting it up. They could've gone with the second place instead. FFS," added @Blackbean_232. ? ... 2 https://t.co/jOvWXDiE7J (@Blackbean_232) April 19, 2025 Supporters of Kim Soo Hyun have defended the ad, citing the actor's global fame and expressing frustration at what they view as overblown criticism. The controversy stems from allegations surrounding the late actress Kim Sae Ron, who passed away on February 16. Her family claimed she had been in a relationship with Kim when she was still a minor, and accused his agency of attempting to extort money. Kim has denied all allegations and held a tearful press conference in response, which sparked mixed reactions from the public. As the debate continues online, questions remain about the role of fan-driven platforms like CHOEAEDOL Celeb and the responsibility they hold when controversy surrounds a public figure. Kim Soo Hyun's agency has not commented on the subway ad as of press time. Actor Kim Soo Hyun has filed for an extension in his ongoing legal battle against the late Kim Sae Ron's bereaved family and the controversial YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, after failing to pay a court-mandated fee tied to the lawsuit. According to the legal community, the 14th Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court had previously ordered Kim to correct recognition and delivery fees related to his lawsuit. These fees, which total approximately 38 million KRW ($26,716.51 USD), are required for the court to proceed with the civil trial. Initially, Kim sued for KRW 12.0 billion (approximately USD 8.16 million) in damages. However, it has taken their complaint through the court up to KRW 11.0 billion (USD 7.77 million) by mistake. The presiding judge later corrected the figure and issued a new order to reflect the full 12.0 billion KRW amount, requiring Kim to pay the additional legal fees. As of April 16, Kim's legal team submitted a formal request to extend the deadline for paying the corrected fees. The deadline, typically seven days from the time the plaintiff receives notice, is critical if missed, the case risks being dismissed outright. The actor's choice to postpone the payment has drawn widespread backlash from netizens, with many taking to the online community forum theqoo to express confusion and frustration over how the events unfolded. "He did all this media play but can't even pay the $26,716.51 USD?" one user wrote on online community theqoo. "I really don't like him," another commenter said. "I didn't know you could postpone the recognition fee," one user added, with others questioning who may be backing Kim in the lawsuit. "He's become quiet after the press conference," wrote one. Some in the legal community have expressed concern over the lawsuit's viability if the delay persists. The lawsuit comes amid a flurry of controversy involving Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress Kim Sae Ron. The actor has remained largely silent since a press conference earlier this year addressing his relationship with Kim and his reasons for filing suit. Sunday, April 20, 2025 - A multi-agency team nabbed 45-year-old Caroline Thiunguri Kabonyi, a suspected drug peddler with a knack for hiding her illicit goods in the most private of places at Odda roadblock in Moyale. The bust went down when Caroline, a passenger in a Marsabit-bound Toyota Probox, decided to play hardball during a routine search. While her fellow passengers complied with the officers checks, Caroline threw a tantrum, refusing to be searched. Her defiance raised red flags, and Moyale detectives swooped in, escorting her to Moyale Sub-County Referral Hospital for a closer look. With the help of medical professionals, authorities discovered she was concealing eight pellets of cocaine, weighing 414 grams. The seized cocaine, with an estimated street value of Sh1,656,000, is now safely locked as exhibit, while Caroline cools her heels at Moyale Police Station, awaiting her day in court. No matter how sneaky the tactic, justice always has the last laugh. The Kenyan DAILY POST Leading indicators highlight resilience of China's economy 13:32, April 21, 2025 By Ouyang Jie ( People's Daily Engineers of China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd. are fine-tuning a ultra-large-diameter tunnel boring machine to be exported to Australia in a workshop in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan province. (Photo by Qiu Xinsheng/People's Daily Online) A series of leading economic indicators of March have recently been released, revealing encouraging signs of momentum in the Chinese economy. The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector stood at 50.5 percent, up 0.3 percentage points from the previous month and remaining in expansion territory for a second consecutive month. The logistics performance index reached 51.5 percent, up 2.2 percentage points, signaling accelerated recovery across supply chains and steady growth in industrial demand. Meanwhile, the e-commerce logistics index rebounded significantly to 110 points, indicating greater activity and vibrancy in the e-commerce sector. As leading indicators often serve as a barometer of macroeconomic performance, the consistent expansion in March reflects multiple positive trends in China's economy. Since the beginning of the year, China's economy has maintained stable growth, with stronger innovation momentum and emerging growth drivers, laying a solid foundation for steady growth throughout the year. Robotic arms work in a smart workshop of a furniture manufacturer in Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi province. (Photo by Zhu Haipeng/People's Daily Online) The resilience of China's economy is evident in the PMI sub-indices. The new orders index in the manufacturing sector rose to 51.8 percent in March, staying above 51 percent for two straight months. Stronger demand has boosted production activities, with the production index reaching 52.6%also above 52 percent for two consecutive months. The simultaneous recovery in both supply and demand has not only lifted market confidence but also stabilized business expectations. In March, the index for business activity expectations in manufacturing reached 53.8 percent, maintaining a relatively high level for six consecutive months. The new export orders index in the manufacturing sector also rose for the second month in a row, reflecting the resilience and vitality of China's foreign trade even amid rising unilateralism and protectionism. In the first quarter, Shenzhen airport handled 240,000 tons of foreign trade cargo, up 22.6 percent year on year; Yantai Port in east China's Shandong province shipped 4.566 million tons of general cargo via liner services, an 84.7 percent increase; customs officers at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in southwest China's Sichuan province processed 62,000 tons of inbound and outbound freight, up 26.7 percent. The growth in leading economic indicators over the past two months indicates China's innovation vitality. Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer BYD recently unveiled a new battery and charging system - dubbed the Super e-Platform - that can charge at peak speeds of 1,000kW, providing around 400 kilometers of range in just five minutes.. In Guangzhou, Guangdong province, the world's first electronic paper display screen measuring 30 inches and above was launched - ushering in a new era as large-sized color electronic paper transitions from static to dynamic display..Meanwhile, the debut of the "Tongze," a ultra-large-diameter slurry tunnel boring machine, marked another breakthrough in China's high-end underground engineering equipment. These advancements highlight the growth of new quality productive forces driving economic transformation. In March, the new orders index for the equipment manufacturing sector hit its highest level since April 2023. Chinese-manufactured new energy vehicles await export at a terminal in Shanghai, April 13, 2025. . (Photo by Long Wei/People's Daily Online) Experts noted that China's stable growth and innovation capacity are injecting fresh momentum and confidence into both regional and global economies - establishing the country as a key engine for worldwide growth. Increasingly, "innovation" is becoming the defining feature of China's manufacturing sector. Policy measures are also yielding tangible results. For instance, China issued ultra-long term special treasury bonds totaling 300 billion yuan ($41.4 billion) to support the expansion of the consumer goods trade-in program in 2025; it has planned to raise 520 billion yuan to bolster capital at major state-owned commercial banks, enhancing their capacity to serve the real economy; new policies have been launched to stabilize foreign trade and investment, as well as to further high-level opening-up.. In the consumer sector, initiatives such as trade-in programs and stimulus packages are unlocking latent demand and diversifying consumption scenarios. New business models like instant retail and livestream e-commerce are booming. Instant delivery has shifted from an "emergency" option to a daily habit, leading to a surge in order volumes and a noticeable rise in the e-commerce logistics index. This surge is further accelerating new manufacturing orders. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Monday, April 21, 2025 - Outspoken Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino, has stirred the political pot after hinting at a potential joint presidential ticket in 2027 with Kiharu MP, Ndindi Nyoro. Speaking on Hot 96s Breakfast Show, Owino revealed a lineup of influential leaders he envisions working with, including Kalonzo Musyoka, Edwin Sifuna, James Orengo, Eugene Wamalwa, Gladys Wanga, Irungu Kangata, and George Natembeya. "It all depends on the decisions we make together with my brother Ndindi, who is also a high performer. If we decide to pursue the presidency today, with Ndindi as my deputy, we could do it without even needing to hire agents - asubuhi mapema!" he declared. Owino didnt hold back when critiquing President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, accusing them of poor leadership and corruption. "The World Bank did release Ksh.380 million to improve our roads, yet contractors have abandoned the sites. The funds have been squandered. Who is accountable? The governor of Nairobi," he said. With eyes on 2027, Owino hinted at either a presidential or gubernatorial bid. "There are opportunities everywhere. My supporters are passionately urging me to run for president in 2027. I believe I'm more than qualified for all these roles." Owino went on to state that initially, he was convinced Ruto would easily secure a second term but that is no longer the view.Bottom of Form "I am truly disappointed because this is a president who had the potential to be the best in Kenya, having risen from a humble background. This is the person, when he won 2022; I knew that this person had won 2027. But as we move towards 2027, I know that he's losing it because of the obvious things. Monday, April 21, 2025 - City blogger Aoko Otieno has spilled dirt on Kasarani Member of Parliament and Sportspesa CEO, Ronald Karauri. Aoko claims that apart from Karauri swinging both ways, he was notorious for organizing dirty parties in private jets, where booze and drugs were in plenty, when Sportspesa was its peak, raking in billions. When former President Uhuru Kenyatta got wind that his niece was attending the parties, he used former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi to cripple Sportspesa. Check out Aokos explosive tweet. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, April 20, 2025 - The hyped marriage between Instagram influencer Agnes Kibanja and Rodger Obure alias Rojadhat has crumbled, four months after their glamorous wedding. Kibanja accused her husband of infidelity and exposed his side chick, a pretty Somali lady. She shared a juicy photo that her husbands side chick had sent to him, parading her banging body. See the photo. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 20, 2025 - Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of performance and delivery management and former CS, Eliud Owalo, is mourning the sudden death of his long-time associate and personal blogger, Ken Arek. Arek died in his sleep, with reports emerging that he was battling depression. Below is a viral post by Jim Bonnie, a popular figure on social media, revealing how Arek died a broke and hopeless man. Do you see this photo Ken Arek took at State House sometimes back? Ill share something about it - but first, lets start from the beginning. Immediately after the gentleman got a ministerial job, Ken and the rest of the team were asked to submit their CVs. To date, none of them has secured any position. Each time they followed up, they were met with reprimands and reminded they didnt understand how government operates - that they needed to be patient. Every enquiry was met with the same instruction: Send your CV again. Meanwhile, Ken dedicated himself to blogging for the boss, hoping his loyalty and qualifications as a trained procurement professional would eventually earn him a decent government job. But life became unbearably difficult. He couldnt afford rent, which piled up over months. His landlord locked his house with all their belongings inside, and Ken, along with his wife and toddler, was left homeless. He sought help from the boss but was repeatedly denied access - clearly on instructions from above. After several failed attempts, Ken gave up and relocated to his rural home. Nairobi had become unlivable. Ken also had a sick mother. He shared with us how he struggled to care for her without any income, and how the boss ignored his pleas for help. This past week, Ken was more vocal, expressing deep frustration to friends - including myself - about how the boss had used and abandoned him. Some of you here were in touch with him and can attest to this. He was in Kisumu, trying to piece his life together, when his mother - who has a terminal illness - was admitted at JOORTH in Kisumu. He reached out to the boss once more, asking for help with medical bills. His calls and messages went unanswered. Just days later, the same boss donated a million shillings to Gor Mahia and even sent Ken the photos to circulate widely online. Ken did as instructed, still holding onto hope. But no help came. The day before he was found dead, Ken had asked a friend for a car to help take his mother home from hospital. The friend agreed, and hes here if he wishes to confirm it. Sadly, Ken never collected the car, and we received the heartbreaking news the next morning. To add insult to injury, theres now a photoshopped bank message circulating, claiming Ken was being paid. Even propaganda demands a modicum of intelligence - something clearly lacking here. If we are to accept the alleged message from 2023 as authentic, we must ask: 1. How did they access Kens phone? Did he only keep bank messages from 2023 and not more recent ones? 2. And if indeed Ken had a job, why cant they state where he workedand while at it, share their own employment details? I know this boss well and how desperate he is to manage narratives. Hes already summoned the team, issuing them instructions. The truth is simple: Ken had no job. None of the team has secured one, except a friend who began working back in our university days. If that has changed, theyre free to say where theyre employed. I had hoped this painful reality would awaken their boss to offer them something meaningful. Unfortunately, they seem resigned to servitude. These are my friends, and it deeply pains me to say this. Now, back to the photo. Do you know that on the day it was taken, Ken and the team were instructed to attend a function at State House? After the event, they had to walk all the way to townthey couldn't even afford a taxi. Why? Because their boss sped off, leaving them behind. Let any of them deny this if its not true. It pained me when I saw the boss use it on one of his posts. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 20, 2025 - Popular Kenyan media personality and content creator Presenter Kai, born Joseph Kai, is trending online after a surprising moment at his wedding. The former Pwani FM host recently tied the knot with his longtime love, Diana Yegon, in a stunning coastal ceremony in Kilifi. While the event was full of glamour and love, it was Kais unexpected refusal to kiss his bride that stole the spotlight. When the officiating pastor invited him to kiss Diana after exchanging vows, a visibly shy Kai opted for a warm hug instead. The moment has sparked hilarious reactions across social media, with many amused by the soft and modest gesture. Watch the video and reactions below Kenyan content creator PRESENTER KAI sparks hilarious reactions after refusing to kiss his beautiful wife during their wedding pic.twitter.com/57caIKddWi DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) April 21, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, April 21, 2025 - Kenyan model and influencer Kibanja has set social media ablaze after revealing that her husband, businessman Roja Dhat, has been cheating on her, just four months after their lavish December 2024 wedding. Kibanja, known for her striking beauty and bold personality, is also the ex-girlfriend of comedian Chipukeezy, who allegedly ended their relationship after struggling to keep up with her luxurious lifestyle. Kibanja hails from a prominent family, her late father once served as President Mois personal lawyer. In her dramatic expose, Kibanja didnt hold back. She dropped receipts, including text messages, steamy photos, and even intimate images of the slay queen involved with her husband. While netizens are wondering how anyone could cheat on someone so stunning, Kibanjas own past has now come under scrutiny. According to a popular X user, her beauty might be captivating, but her morals are allegedly questionable. Claims have resurfaced suggesting she had flings with random men at Nakumatt Lifestyle during her time at Moi High School Kabarak.Bottom of Form See the post below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, April 21, 2025 - Kenyan model and influencer Kibanja has set social media ablaze after revealing that her husband, businessman Roja Dhat, has been cheating, just four months after their lavish wedding. Taking to Instagram, Kibanja, who is the former girlfriend of comedian Chipukeezy, exposed Rojas infidelity and even shared a photo of the slay queen hes been seeing behind her back. But the drama didnt stop there. In a wild twist, another man came forward, claiming that he had flings with both the slay queen and her sister, complete with photos and receipts to back it up. As netizens try to process the chaos, many are saying it louder than ever: Nairobi is one big bedroom. See the mans posts below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 20, 2025 - Media personality Amina Abdi Rabar has made it crystal clear that dating your friends ex is wrong. In a fiery rant posted to her Instagram stories, the sassy TV and radio presenter didnt hold back as she addressed what she called one of the ultimate betrayals in friendships. Speaking candidly from her car, Amina slammed those who entertain the idea of dating a friends former partner, or even worse, their siblings ex. We listen but we dont judge - however, I will forever judge, she began. You know those chicks who date their friends exes? Or worse, their sisters ex? Like... what is wrong with you? She didnt mince words, labeling such behavior as messy, unethical, and downright disrespectful. Out of all the billions of people on this planet, you chose your friends ex? You must be possessed! You are a witch! The mother of one insisted that people need to set boundaries and show respect in relationships. Its never okay. Not once. There are so many other people in the world. Why limit yourself to your close circles past? The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 20, 2025 - Members of the public rushed to the scene of an accident along a major Kenyan highway to steal from an overturned truck that was transporting packaged milk. In the video shared on social media, both young and old are seen looting from the overturned truck, almost causing a stampede as they stole the packets of milk, before the police arrived to restore order. Some motorists also stopped their vehicles by the roadside to loot from the truck, while other looters were spotted selling the stolen milk to passengers aboard public service vehicles along the highway. The incident left the owner of the truck counting losses. Watch the video. Members of the public captured on camera looting packaged milk from a truck that overturned along a major highway pic.twitter.com/L1lvLCXC7k DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) April 20, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 20, 2025 - Vocal Githunguri MP, Gathoni Wamuchomba, has announced an ambitious 12-point economic plan to boost Kenyas economy should she be elected President of Kenya. In a statement released on Sunday, April 20th, Wamuchomba expressed confidence in her vision to transform the countrys economy using available labour and resources. One day, I will lead this country. I will turn around available labour into riches, she said, adding that cottage industries would be central to her plan. Key proposals include encouraging households with backyards to produce goods for domestic use - such as toothpicks, towels, spoons, belts, and pots. She also pledged to create special cottage industry zones with subsidized electricity and water, alongside a national symposium and awards to honour top innovators. To nurture grassroots innovation, Wamuchomba plans to establish a county-based cottage incubation fund and deploy extension officers to monitor and support industry growth. She further promised to revamp the Kenya Industrial Estate to promote local products internationally and halt the export of raw tea, coffee, and macadamia, advocating for local processing. On womens empowerment, she vowed to support local production of biodegradable sanitary towels and banana fibre wigs. However, she admits this might just be a dream given the resources one needs to vie for the top seat. Who will make me president? I have no money to campaign, she remarked candidly. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, April 20, 2025 - Popular Instagram model, Agnes Kibanja, has announced that she is single, four months after her glamorous wedding that was the talk of social media. The beautiful model took to her Instagram stories and shared a series of posts, disclosing the reason behind her crumbled marriage. She accused her flamboyant husband of cheating on her and exposed the pretty Somali lady with whom he was having an affair. According to Kibanja, her cheating husband and the Somali lady started having a secret affair in 2023. Interestingly, the lady turned up for their anniversary and even sat next to Kibanja, not knowing that she was eyeing her husband. The heartbroken model went on to reveal that her husbands side chick is a serial homewrecker. She was reportedly beaten up recently after she was caught with another womans husband. Below are photos and video of Kibanjas husbands side chick, who is currently trending after she wrecked the much-publicized marriage. The woman Kibanja's husband has cheating on her with since 2023 allegedly . pic.twitter.com/afBdftqipR Just__Irene (@Just__Irene) April 20, 2025 This was the ruracio Kibanja had with the cheating husband. But this isn't the first time the guy is cheating on her pic.twitter.com/21jfd581Q1 Just__Irene (@Just__Irene) April 20, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, April 21, 2025 - Following the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88, social media has erupted with tributes and speculation over who will succeed him as the head of the Catholic Church. Amid the global buzz, Kenyans have taken a humorous twist, sarcastically endorsing ODM Party Leader, Raila Odinga, for the position of Pope. This comes shortly after Raila's failed bid for the African Union Commission Chairperson role. Known for his string of high-profile election losses, netizens are now playfully suggesting that perhaps the Vatican might be his next political frontier. Give Baba a chance, one user joked. See some of the posts below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 20, 2025 - In a deeply saddening incident that has shaken the community of Wich-Lum in Siaya County, a 3-year-old boy was found dead in a thicket, following what authorities believe to be a case of domestic violence turned deadly. The child, identified as Ian Odeny, had reportedly gone missing with his father, 42-year-old Kennedy Omondi, after a heated dispute with his wife on Friday night. The boys lifeless body was discovered on Saturday in the Pap-Kado area, sending shockwaves through the quiet fishing village. According to Edwin Juma, the Assistant Chief of Nyaguda sub-location, Omondi, a local fisherman, had engaged in a domestic altercation with his wife, Lilian Anyango, before vanishing with their son. Authorities suspect that the child may have been killed by his father, who remains missing. The body has since been moved to Bondo sub-county hospital mortuary as investigations continue. This tragic case comes amid a concerning rise in domestic violence across the country. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, April 21, 2025 - Tensions are simmering between Siaya Governor James Orengo and ODM leader, Raila Odinga, following Orengos open criticism of Railas alliance with President William Ruto. Orengo has slammed the alliance as an abomination, warning that it risks tying the opposition to the failures of the current regime. His remarks have triggered a backlash from ODM loyalists and Nyanza professionals, who accuse him of sabotaging efforts aimed at national unity and progress. The rift became more apparent over the weekend when Railas bodyguard was seen blocking Orengo from boarding the same chopper as Raila. Kileleshwa MCA, Robert Alai, didnt mince words in his reaction. Posting on X, he said, We dont trust Governor Orengo with Babas life. We will sort his place soon. We are not entertaining this nonsense anymore. The unfolding drama signals a deeper mistrust within ODMs inner circle, as Railas handlers appear to tighten control around the veteran leaders inner security and alliances. The Kenyan DAILY POST OVER 3,000 social housing units have been delivered in the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District over the past five years, according to figures released by Kildare County Council but a recent council meeting saw tensions rise over questions about who received the homes. The information was provided in response to a question from cllr Tom McDonnell, who requested a breakdown of housing allocations in the district, including the involvement of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). According to the Housing Department, a total of 935 social housing units were allocated directly by Kildare County Council between 2019 and 2024. In addition, AHBs have delivered a total of 2,117 housing units in the municipal district from 2020 to 2024. These homes were provided by several bodies including Cill Dara Housing Association, iCare, Co-Operative Housing, Cluid, Oaklee, Tuath, Clanmil, Circle, North and East Housing Association, and Cill Uirni Housing Association. When asked if he needed clarification on the councils response, cllr McDonnell, wanted to know who actually gets those houses? A Housing Department representative explained that everyone on the housing list gets allocated housing in the municipal district. Can I get that list, said McDonnell. Can I see who got those houses? Were they indigenous Irish people that got them? Cathaoirleach Peggy ODwyer intervened: Youre bringing in a tone and Im not allowing it. Its inappropriate. Transparency, thats all Im asking for, said McDonnell. The Housing Department representative explained that these figures had been previously circulated last September before the elected officials. In disagreement, McDonnell stated that the figures were old stock. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA The President and Taoiseach have paid tribute to Pope Francis as a remarkable figure who had a profound commitment to alleviating suffering. President Michael D Higgins said Pope Francis had approached his papacy with a unique humility and advocated for the importance of human dignity. President Higgins also said Pope Francis had sought to play a positive role on issues such as attitudes to women and the LGBT+ community in the Catholic Church. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Pope Francis was an exceptional leader who held a special place in the hearts of Irish people. Tanaiste Simon Harris called Pope Francis a remarkable figure who bore his illness with great dignity and courage. Mr Higgins said: As President of Ireland, may I join with all those across the world, from their different stations in life, who have expressed such profound sadness on learning of the death of Pope Francis. Pope Francis, in his important messages and in the presentation of his papacy with a unique humility, sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways the extraordinary importance of the spiritual as a powerful source of global ethics in the challenges of contemporary life. President Michael D Higgins said Pope Francis had constantly invoked a shared humanity (Danny Lawson/PA) On the vital issues of our time such as global hunger and poverty, of climate change and justice, of the plight of migrants and indigenous peoples, of the dispossessed, of the fundamental necessity of global peace and diplomacy Pope Franciss voice constituted a consistent invocation of a shared humanity that is represented by acknowledgement of the essential dignity of each human person. Mr Higgins said he and the Pope had discussed these issues at length during five meetings they had during his papacy. He said that during the Popes 2018 visit to Ireland, as part of the World Meeting of Families, Francis had spoken of the scandal of child abuse, including in the Church, and its consequences for victims and families. On such matters, and on others, such as attitudes towards women and those of the LGBTQ+ community within the Church, Pope Francis sought to play a positive role, Mr Higgins said. Pope Francis attended the closing mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin in 2018 (Brian Lawless/PA) I recall at the end of our meetings, he would say as to his work on such issues, it is very difficult, as he asked for and offered prayers. It is important that the steps he took are built upon as they constitute a source of hope in the years to come. Mr Martin said he had been impressed by Pope Francis when he met him during his visit to Ireland in 2018. I had the honour of meeting Pope Francis in Dublin Castle during that visit and was impressed by his vision of a Catholic Church that is open, compassionate, and focused on the needs of the most vulnerable, the Taoiseach said in a statement. He shared with us his deep concern with the issues of social justice and human rights, and his profound commitment to alleviating suffering. He said that people would also remember the Popes expression of pain and shame during the visit over historic child abuse in the Catholic Church. During his visit to Ireland, many will also remember Pope Franciss expression of pain and shame about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church and his outrage about the failure of Church authorities to adequately address these appalling crimes. Meanwhile, Mr Harris said the 2018 visit was particularly significant, inspiring hope and renewal within the Church. The Tanaiste said his influence transcended the Vatican, offering moral leadership during times of uncertainty. On behalf of the people of Ireland, I offer my condolences to His Eminence Cardinal Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, the entire Roman Catholic Church, and all those mourning his loss worldwide, he said in a statement. Pope Franciss commitment to justice, peace, and human dignity touched millions. Through his advocacy for the poor, his calls for interfaith dialogue, and his focus on environmental issues, he was a beacon of hope and a voice for the voiceless. He urged us to care for the Earth as a moral responsibility, integral to the Christian faith. Pope Francis also worked to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, promoting reconciliation, unity, and compassion over division. His emphasis on mercy, healing, and reconciliation continues to resonate in our efforts towards addressing the challenges of the past and building a more inclusive future. His teachings on poverty, migration, and refugees remain relevant as we confront global inequality and division. Eva Osborne Irish folklore, like the island itself, is littered with tales of earth mounds known as fairy forts. The ancient ringforts date back to the Iron Age and have long been entwined with tales of the Aos Sisupernatural beings from Irish mythology often equated with fairies. Like many of Ireland's mythological creatures, including the banshee (meaning 'woman of the fairy mound' or 'fairy woman'), many stories of fairy forts have been passed down through generations of Irish people. Many of these stories warn against the disturbing of fairy forts, as they are believed to be portals to the otherworld. According to Wilderness Ireland's Dawn Rainbolt, it has long been speculated that messing with fairies or their forts can bring bad luck. "Pre-Christian monuments are said to have been built by fairy folk, bad luck and illness as a result of offending the fairies and people who disappear have been kidnapped by the little people," she said. "Even natural (and supernatural) phenomena can be explained by fairies. Generally, its best to avoid angering the fairies because who knows what they might do?" On Ireland's fairy forts, Rainbolt said entrances to the otherworld are everywhere and can exist in caves, tombs, barrows, forts, and even tree hollows and roots. Photo: Wilderness Ireland "Fairy forts are essentially the remains of Iron Age/early medieval ring forts, of which thousands remain in Ireland today. "Farmers and landowners often plough and mow around them to avoid incurring the wrath of the little people. They also avoid disturbing Neolithic tombs, stone circles, and standing stones, all thought to be connected to the fairy world. "In fact, in 1999, a new motorway was re-routed to save a fairy tree. Fear of fairy retribution has caused many major projects to topple, protecting these heritage sites and monuments associated with the wee folk. "Folklore has played a more significant role in protecting these monuments and trees than the official government institutions." Interactions with the fairies Rainbolt said there are countless stories of humans seeing fairies, interacting with them, or even visiting the fairy world themselves. "In many tales, the fairies live much the same way as the Irish; they farm, work, and party. "According to Irish folklore and oral tradition, humans and fairies brushed shoulders on a frequent basis the trick was to get along with them and not do anything that drew their attention. "Specific methods were employed to keep the fairies at bay; garlands of marigolds and primroses at your door, the wood of the ash, rowan and blackthorn or a bag of clover around your neck were all means of self protection from fairies." Photo: Wilderness Ireland Another way was to turn your coat inside out when passing a fairy, and they are said to not be fond of iron, salt, or bread either. "There are accounts of humans being stolen away by the little people, either in mind or body or both. In versions of the tale, their loved ones attempt to rescue them," Rainbolt said. "Usually, this is with the help of a wise woman with experience of the fairy world, following precise, and sometimes bizarre, instructions. If they are followed exactly, a loved one is returned, and if not, they live on in the fairy world." THREE young men found with an array of combat weaponry and explosives at two locations in Co Kildare will have to wait until at least next month to learn their trial date. I remember this, said Judge Desmond Zaidan, the lads running around in the forest! He was speaking about 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald, Portrush, Kiltegan, Shane Kinsella (21), Tinnock, Kiltegan, and 20-year-old Daniel Quinn-Burke, Allendale Lawns, Baltinglass, who are collectively charged with four counts of possession of firearms and explosives in a forest near Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan on 2 March 2024, and the explosives at Mr Fitzgeralds address later that day. Detective Garda Brian Foran told the court that although no further charges were expected against Mr Quinn-Burke and Mr Kinsella, further charges were expected against Mr Fitzgerald. When the judge asked simply: DPP? DG Foran replied: Directions for all three are trial by indictment. Allegations? asked the judge. Originally they were arrested with the firearms in the Naas area, said DG Foran. Are those the lads in the forest? asked the judge, and the detective said they were. They have adhered to all (bail) conditions and are signing on every Wednesday, he said, adding that the books of evidence were expected in six weeks. He then itemised the weaponry seized. The weapons at Ponsonby Bridge were listed as: an M1911 45-calibre automatic pistol and ammunition; a G3 Heckler and Koch 7.62mm; Tokarev and Makarov pistols with magazines; 23 rounds of various calibre rifle rounds; four rounds of pistol ammo; ammo for a .308 Winchester; and 69 various shotgun cartridges. The explosives were noted as potassium nitrate sulphur charcoal, and ammonium potassium percurate at the home address of Mr Fitzgerald, along with most of the ammunition and the Tokarev and Makarov pistols. I thought a Makarov was an Italian pasta dish, joked the judge, before remanding all three on continuing bail until 7 May. No explanation for the actions was given in court at this time. IN the run up to No Mow May Caragh Tidy Towns decided to get a jump on the tidying with engaging in some civic duties around the village. It's National Spring Clean month and we kicked off April for the second year in a row by celebrating our passion for biodiversity and community here in Caragh Tidy Towns. Its really about community and biodiversity, explained Orlagh Reid. Were such a small Tidy Town, and this brings a lot of colour to the village, and were trying to get the kids involved, she said. This week renowned artist James Kirwan well known large scale creative street art completed our project showcasing the beauty of our local biodiversity in Fr Kinsella park on our park walls and abandoned an unused unsightly container. Orlagh invited Kirwan to work with the TT team to bring his beautiful expressive street art which can be seen around Ireland, Waterford city, Sallins and to now Caragh village. This is something putting colour into the village, she said. Theres huge biodiversity her in the village, and last year we even put in a fairy walk, she said. Were just trying to put in things people can see, she said These outdoor art features bring awareness, attention and celebration of our local biodiversity, wildlife and environment in a positive way and bring the community together, 2Principal Alan Hobbins and The local Caragh National School regularly joined in our TT project and help out. The new mural is receiving fantastic praise from the local community. It's real focal point - bringing biodiversity to the masses, says John Lawler, chair of Caragh Tidy Towns. Its a linear street art collection of all our local flora and fauna. We are very committed to promoting biodiversity here in Caragh. This is just the latest inclusion! These two biodiversity and wildlife-inspired mural has been a rewarding and creative collaborative project Local Councillor Rob Power provided a generous LPT donation to get the first mural over the line. The biodiversity visual street art project has been brought to life by artist James Kirwan who is passionate about nature and biodiversity. James has been very supportive and engaging with the whole project from start to finish. "I paint quite a few of these murals now around the theme of biodiversity. They bring awareness about the types of wildlife that can be found around Ireland". A parish priest in County Donegal has spoken to parishioners about the alarming allegations which the local curate is facing following his arrest late last week. Fr Michael McCaughey told Easter Sunday Mass-goers at St Patricks Church in Murlog, Lifford that he wanted to acknowledge the feelings in the parish following the arrest and charge of Fr Edward Gallagher. The parish priest of Leckpatrick, Camus and Clonleigh was speaking just 24 hours after his colleague, Fr Gallagher, was remanded in custody having been charged with attempted sexual communication with a child. Fr Gallagher (58), who is suspended from ministry, appeared before a special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court, sitting at Dungannon Magistrates Court. He will remain in custody until his next court date, on May 1, and possibly beyond with a legal representative indicating that there will be no bail application made at the next appearance. READ NEXT: Dozens of motorists caught 'driving under the influence' during Easter crackdown Fr McCaughey was the celebrant for Easter Sunday Mass in Murlog and said he wished to read a statement from himself and priest-in-residence Fr Declan Boland. We acknowledge the pain, the hurt and the disappointment of the past 48 or 72 hours, Fr McCaughey said. This is difficult. This is alarming. Its is unnerving. Its disturbing. Fr McCaughey, who also read a statement from the Diocese of Derry acknowledging the charge against Fr Gallagher and his suspension, told his congregation that he believed that the Church and its priests had moved on from such happenings. He said: This is so disturbing for people, for parishioners of all ages and it is so difficult for priests. I can say that very honestly. I left the back door of the church in Strabane this morning to begin the quarter-to-ten Mass. As I walked up the aisle, it struck me of what a few days it has been, from Holy Thursday afternoon to this morning (Easter Sunday). What has been remarkable is the spirit of support and of kindness, the solidarity and care of yourselves. Fr McCaughey said he felt a remarkable sense of the spirit of kindness and of care and of solidarity in the Church since Thursday when Fr Gallagher was arrested by PSNI officers after being apprehended by a group of people from a group called Justice Reborn, who confronted the cleric with allegations. Fr McCaughey said: I just want to assure you of my prayers this morning and I assure you of our sense of journeying together as a parish community in acknowledging, on both of our parts, the shame and the hurt, and the disappointment that people have been experiencing at this time. We do so in the spirit of praying together, journeying together and praying for each other. Above all, I just want to say thank you for the presence of those people here last night, today and through the days past. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican has announced. He was 88 and was only recently discharged from hospital in Rome where he was treated for double pneumonia for a number of weeks. "Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel this Easter Monday. "At 7:35 (6.35, Irish time) this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father." Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2 Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025 Pope Francis replaced Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 after the latter's resignation. Throughout his papacy, he was a popular figure with Catholics worldwide and was, at times, seen as a progressive figure at the head of the Church. Could there be an Irish Pope? Technically, any baptised Catholic man can be voted in as Pope but since 1378, a new Pope has been selected from a conclave of Cardinals. While voting within the College of Cardinals is restricted to those under 80 years of age, those over 80 years of age can still be selected. READ NEXT: RIP: Young man killed in Easter Sunday crash involving scrambler bike and car in Dublin Around 140 cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel, in the coming weeks, to elect the new Pope and Cardinal Kevin Farrell could technically be selected, although it is unlikely. The Dublin-born Farrell has served as prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life (since 2016), as Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church (since 2019) and as President of the Supreme Court of Vatican City (since 2024). He was educated in Spain and Italy and spent much of his life in the US where he served as Bishop of Dallas (20072016) and Auxiliary Bishop of Washington. He is close to Pope Francis and was named Camerlengo, a high-ranking member of the Clergy that runs the Vatican, in 2019. Of the Irish-linked Cardinals born outside Ireland, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke would be the most likely to be elected as Pope and is considered the leading arch-conservative in the church. He will be among those electing the new Pope. His Irish roots are in Cullen in North Cork where he visited back in 2010. He told the Corkman newspaper at the time that in 1910 his grandmother, Hannah O'Keeffe, left Cullen and sailed from Queenstown (Cobh) to begin a new life in Wisconsin, USA. She married John Burke whose father came from Tipperary. Archbishop Raymond was the youngest of six children born to Hannah and John's son Thomas Burke and his wife Marie. He led the Archdiocese of St. Louis in the US from 2004 to 2008 and the Diocese of La Crosse from 1995 to 2004. From 2008 to 2014, he was the prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. He has been a critic of Pope Francis liberal tendencies and pushed back against any relaxing of the Church's attitude to gay marriage. Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, an Irish-American with two Irish parents who served as Archbishop of Boston from 2003 to 2024, could technically be selected as the new Pope, although again unlikely. He is not considered papabile, that being one of the contenders to succeed Pope Francis.He was considered papabile in 2013 when the election of Pope Francis took place. Given his age, he will also be unable to vote in the conclave. In June 2010, after the Ryan Report and Murphy Report on the abuses by the Church in Ireland, O'Malley was named along with others to oversee the apostolic visitation of certain dioceses and seminaries in Ireland. He was named as the visitor to the Archdiocese of Dublin, Ferns, Ossory, and Kildare and Leighlin. He reported back to the Vatican on what steps the dioceses and seminaries had taken since the two reports were issued, and what else needed to happen. The other Irish names among the 138 cardinals currently eligible to vote in the College of Cardinals include the Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan who spoke at an event in Maynooth University in 2010 about his Irish roots. He said at the time: "My great-great-grandparents came from Cavan and Leitrim in the mid-nineteenth century, desperately joining hundreds of thousands of other emaciated Irish fleeing the anguish of the famine. These starving, one-step-away-from cadavers arrived in America with nothing, nothing of earthly value, but with a heavenly treasure to-be-sure: a glimmer of faith, a sparkle of hope, the whisper of a prayer. And they built the Catholic Church in the United States. "And this boy, thanks to Dolans, Sheerins, Murrays, Troys, and Hogans, was brought to a baptismal font in Maplewood, Missouri, in the winter of 1950, and was raised by parents who had the faith in their DNA, traceable to turf in Cavan and Leitrim, and who, while far from shi-ite Catholics, took that faith sincerely and seriously, and taught me to do likewise. "And this boy, while only seven, had the additional good fortune of being educated by brave Sisters of Mercy who came to Holy Infant Parish in Ballwin, Missouri, from Drogheda, who lovingly and effectively formed me and mightily encouraged my nascent priestly vocation, one of whom, Sister Mary Bosco Daly, is here this afternoon [in Maynooth in 2010]. I understand it to be somewhat politically incorrect to say so in Ireland today, but, so what? I say, God bless the Sisters of Mercy! Canadian Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins also has Irish links to Drogheda in Co Louth where he visited in 2012 after being appointed a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. He has served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto from 2007 to 2023, the Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta. His ancestors left Drogheda in 1832. At the time of his visit, he said: "It is so wonderful to be here as this place is so precious in my family's history. The Canadian branch of the family settled near Guelph, Ontario, headed by John Collins. His son, Thomas, had ten children, and one, Christopher Columbas Collins, was Cardinal Collins' great grandfather. "My father was Thomas Collins and I have two sisters," he added. "I've been to Drogheda once before but for a very short visit. I got off a bus and went to Shop Street but the Collins shop was gone, the Boiled Onion and the Enable Ireland shop were there and I didn't get to meet the family. So this was a great visit,' he added. Political and religious leaders in Ireland have paid tribute to Pope Francis as an exceptional leader whose papacy was a gift to the world. The leader of the Catholic Church died aged 88, after months of battling ill health and just a day after appearing to bless the thousands of people in St Peters Square in Vatican City on Easter Sunday. The President of Ireland said Pope Francis had approached his papacy with a unique humility and advocated for the importance of human dignity. Michael D Higgins also said Pope Francis had sought to play a positive role on issues such as attitudes to women and the LGBT+ community in the Church. Irish premier Micheal Martin said Pope Francis held a special place in the hearts of Irish people, while deputy premier Simon Harris said he bore his illness with great dignity and courage. In tributes to the Pope, many recounted his 2018 visit to Ireland where he met survivors of clerical sex abuse and made a plea for forgiveness during a mass at Phoenix Park. His death was announced on Easter Monday by Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said there was something different about this Pope and called him a very courageous leader. Franciss papacy has been a profound gift to the Church and indeed to the world, he said, speaking at St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh. The bells of the cathedral rang out 88 times on the announcement of the pontiffs death, and a book of condolence on the Catholic bishops homepage www.catholicbishops.ie was available to sign. His vision wasnt so much of a rigid structure or a distant authority, but a Church that was committed to encounter solidarity with humanity, particularly the weakest of humanity. Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell said that Franciss shunning of fineries had brought a great freshness to the papacy. He wasnt in some sense curtailed by the structures that were there, he was able to break free of those and that was, I think, a marvellous gift to the Church. He also said it was possible Pope Francis would have approved of the sudden death he experienced. He would have liked to have died, I think, with his boots on, and he certainly did that, he said. He certainly wasnt hamstrung by structures, and his real message was, We need to get out and preach the gospel. We need to get out into the highways and the byways and the streets, and that was something Francis did all of his life. Many remarked on the Popes advocacy of the plight of migrants, the poor and the marginalised during his 12-year tenure. During a visit to Ireland, which was part of the World Meeting of Families, he met with people at the Capuchin Day Centre and prayed with people at the Knock Shrine in Co Mayo. Mr Higgins said: As President of Ireland, may I join with all those across the world, from their different stations in life, who have expressed such profound sadness on learning of the death of Pope Francis. Mr Higgins said he had discussed issues such as global hunger, poverty, climate change and the plight of migrants and indigenous peoples with the Pope at length during five meetings they had during his papacy. The Popes 2018 visit to Ireland was overshadowed by abuse scandals by institutions and figures from the Catholic Church. A meeting with survivors was added to the pontiffs schedule on the Saturday evening. The following morning, while on a flight from Knock to Dublin, the Pope penned a plea for forgiveness that he would deliver at the open-air mass at Phoenix Park. Mr Higgins said that during the Popes 2018 visit to Ireland, Francis had spoken of the scandal of child abuse, including in the Church, and its consequences for victims and families. On such matters, and on others, such as attitudes towards women and those of the LGBTQ+ community within the Church, Pope Francis sought to play a positive role, Mr Higgins said. I recall at the end of our meetings, he would say as to his work on such issues, it is very difficult, as he asked for and offered prayers. It is important that the steps he took are built upon as they constitute a source of hope in the years to come. It is with profound sadness that the world has learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/6s96Oh750T Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 21, 2025 Irish premier Micheal Martin said people valued Pope Franciss leadership and humility, and that he had been impressed by him when they met during his 2018 visit to Ireland. He was a voice for the voiceless, the marginalised, the poor, the migrants, and in a world which is turbulent and where there has been shocking conflict, I think he was a very pure voice of love and mercy, he said on Monday. He got the fundamentals right in terms of urging people to cease conflict, to cease war and he promoted peace everywhere he went. He had the dignity of every human being as central to his philosophy. He said his legacy would be one of opening up the Church and to set in train a journey of change that will still manifest itself in the time ahead. He said that people would also remember the Popes expression of pain and shame during his 2018 visit over historic child abuse in the Catholic Church. It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a remarkable figure who embodied compassion, humility, and service. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/nDuIowcI9M Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 21, 2025 Speaking at Fairyhouse on Monday, he said: In Ireland, I think he did deal with the issues of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, acknowledged his own failings in that regard, and in many ways, his non-judgmental approach to life itself enabled him to deal with these issues, perhaps ultimately, more effectively than maybe others. Meanwhile, Mr Harris said the 2018 visit was particularly significant, inspiring hope and renewal within the Church. The Tanaiste said his influence transcended the Vatican, offering moral leadership during times of uncertainty. On behalf of the people of Ireland, I offer my condolences to His Eminence Cardinal Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, the entire Roman Catholic Church, and all those mourning his loss worldwide, he said in a statement. Pope Franciss commitment to justice, peace, and human dignity touched millions. Through his advocacy for the poor, his calls for interfaith dialogue, and his focus on environmental issues, he was a beacon of hope and a voice for the voiceless. He urged us to care for the Earth as a moral responsibility, integral to the Christian faith. Pope Francis also worked to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, promoting reconciliation, unity, and compassion over division. Statement by the Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, on the passing of Pope Francis pic.twitter.com/WFBBGGAWRS Houses of the Oireachtas Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) April 21, 2025 His emphasis on mercy, healing, and reconciliation continues to resonate in our efforts towards addressing the challenges of the past and building a more inclusive future. His teachings on poverty, migration, and refugees remain relevant as we confront global inequality and division. Speaker of Irelands parliament, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, said Pope Francis had led the Church with extraordinary courage. I share in the profound sadness of Catholics worldwide upon the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, she said. He touched the lives of so many people and worked tirelessly to create a more just and compassionate world. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. 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. BTS member Jin, also known as Kim Seokjin, quietly joined relief efforts in Andong, South Korea, on Thursday. Andoing is one of the cities recently devastated by wildfires. Jin was spotted volunteering at Gilan Middle School in Gilan-myeon, where he served meals and offered emotional support to residents affected by the disaster. The idol was dressed modestly in a black cap, mask, and gray apron to maintain anonymity while working alongside other volunteers to distribute food. "I heard he's a famous celebrity, but to me, he appeared to be a kind and hardworking young man. Even amidst the other volunteers, he quietly focused on his work without seeking attention," a local resident said. The meal service was organized by Theborn Korea under the leadership of chef Baek Jong-won. Since March 28, the initiative has been providing over 300 servings of food per meal to wildfire victims, firefighters, and volunteers. JIN VOLUNTEERED TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY WILDFIRE IN ANDONG CITY pic.twitter.com/FhTH7LBO2Q jin files (@seokjinfile) April 3, 2025 Jin's act of kindness is part of broader relief efforts involving BTS members. Jungkook donated 1 billion won (approximately $750,000), V contributed 200 million won ($150,000), and RM, J-Hope, and Suga each donated 100 million won ($75,000) to support recovery initiatives. South Korea is currently grappling with one of the worst wildfires in its history. The fireswhich have been burning since March 21have so far scorched more than 48,000 hectares (119,000 acres), resulting in the deaths of at least 31 people, including four firefighters and a helicopter pilot. The fires have displaced more than 37,000 residents, with thousands seeking refuge in temporary shelters. The hardest-hit areas include Uiseong, Andong, and Cheongsong, which have been declared special disaster zones. Strong winds and dry weather have fueled the fires, complicating containment efforts despite the deployment of over 1,600 firefighters and 242 helicopters. The wildfires have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including the destruction of more than 6,000 structures, such as homes and cultural heritage sites. Among the losses are parts of Gounsa Temple in Uiseong County, a historic site dating back to the 7th century. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Pope Francis was asked by the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland to visit Northern Ireland as part of his historic 2018 trip to Ireland. The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, said he travelled to Rome to ask if Francis would travel north of the border to affirm the peace process. But he said it became clear that it would be a 36-hour visit to Dublin, apart from a quick trip to Co Mayo. Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St Peters Square at The Vatican on April 6 (Andrew Medichini/PA) The primate of Ireland also said that the popes words of repentance for clerical abuse scandals during the 2018 visit were worth so much and that his promotion of empathy towards migrants will be one of his strongest legacies. The pontiff visited Ireland for two days in August 2018, which included a visit to Knock, a meeting with victims of clerical abuse, and a visit to a homeless centre run by the Capuchin Fathers. The visit culminated in an open-air Sunday Mass in Dublins Phoenix Park, where pilgrims attendance was a fraction of the million people who greeted Pope John Paul II at the same spot in 1979. The legacy of church abuse cast a long shadow over the popes Irish visit, during which he addressed a number of crimes by its institutions and members. Speaking to the PA news agency, Archbishop Martin said that his address to the victims of clerical abuse and mistreatment during the Phoenix Park event were worth a lot. I think the actual words that the pope spoke, particularly whenever he expressed those very, very, sincere apologies and repentance to victims and survivors of abuse, I think, really, they were worth so much. Much was made of the attendance numbers during that visit as it was observed that they were significantly down on Pope John Paul IIs visit. Most of us expected that this would be something much smaller, not least because the world has changed, the archbishop said. People use mobile phones now, they tune into things online, they tend not to go to big, big, massive gatherings. A lot of people watched it on TV, they tuned in on their radios or on their mobile phones, and only a much smaller crowd arrived in the Phoenix Park that afternoon. So I will say I was probably thinking, Oh this is going to be disappointing, however, were told that it was actually one of the biggest gatherings of people in Europe that year, and so it was still a big gathering of people. The archbishop said that as soon as it was announced that the pope would attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, a religious event held every three years in a different location, there was a lot of excitement. We wanted to plan for it, and everybody wanted the pope to visit them. I remember at the time asking if Pope Francis could come to Northern Ireland, just to affirm the peace process and also because when Pope John Paul II came to Ireland back in 1979 he intended to come north and to come here to Armagh, but unfortunately, he couldnt because of the violence, so he held that meeting instead south of the border in Drogheda. So I actually went over to Rome to try to petition Pope Francis to come to the north, but by then it was clear he was only coming to the World Meeting of Families. It was going to be a very short visit of 36 hours, roughly, to Ireland and the only thing he was going to do different was he was going to go over to Knock for a short period of prayer and come straight back to Dublin. Archbishop Eamon Martin (PA) He said that the Argentinian-born Jesuit spent a sabbatical in Dublin in 1980 to learn English and asked him regularly about the peace process. Whenever I would meet him, he would always ask me about Ireland, the green country he would say, and then he would like to know how things were going, particularly in terms of the peace process. He had clearly a big interest in peace and also in the progress of our peace. He said one of Francis strongest legacies during his papacy would be his call for empathy towards migrants and refugees. We have to remember Pope Francis himself was a descendant of migrants from Italy to Argentina, and its clear, even in his own autobiography which he produced called Hope, its clear that he was so motivated by that story of his grandparents and how they came over from Italy. Its interesting that one of the very first things he did as pope is he went to the island of Lampedusa, a small island which had been overwhelmed by a huge number of people trying to find solace, trying to find asylum, and trying to make their way to a better world. He exposed for the entire world the reality and indeed the scandal of the displacement of people in the world, in many cases due to war, and how these people were not finding a welcome, how so many of them were dying, how so many of them were victims of the exploitation of human trafficking. The plight of migrants he would have seen as the modern day marginalised, those on the peripheries who people didnt want, they didnt want to welcome them. Some of his strongest statements have been very challenging for all of us about the need to promote help for these people, the need to integrate people who are migrants, and I think that that has been troubling for a lot of us, because people tend to say, well thats fine, but we need we have services that will look after ourselves. That has been a big issue in Ireland, both north and south. Eva Osborne Gardai from Ronanstown Garda Station became aware of an attempt to carry out a drone delivery to a prison on Sunday. Gardai subsequently carried out a search of a residential property under warrant in west Dublin as part of ongoing operations targeting the supply of controlled substances into prisons in the area. During the search, a drone and a number of electronic devices were seized. Follow-up searches were conducted in south-west Dublin, and a vehicle was seized. Four adult males, aged in their late teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s, were arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda Stations in the Dublin Region. All four males have since been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardai said investigations are ongoing. HEARTBROKEN families are again appealing for road safety works at a notorious black spot in Laois, where five people lost their lives. Almost ten years since three young people died in a horrific crash at Middlemount, near Rathdowney, improvements have still not been carried out. Next July will mark the 10th anniversary of a shocking collision that claimed the lives of mother-of-one Angela Kelly (35), Orla Curry (20) and Martin Brophy (20), all from Rathdowney. A 16-year-old boy miraculously survived the single-car crash in the early hours of 12 July 2015. The treacherous stretch of road, between Rathdowney and Abbeyleix, also saw the tragic deaths of Kevin Bergin (18) on Christmas Day 2008 and Paddy White (35) in April 2009. Local councillors have repeatedly called for major roadworks but little has been done, apart from a minor road safety scheme in 2020 involving signage, access and speed limit reductions. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Cllr John King told a council meeting last week: We can't keep bringing this up month after month, year after year. I don't want to see the loss of more lives. I have been contacted by family members to see why the work hasn't been done. At the April meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District, Cllr King asked for an update on any progress on making the regional road at Donaghmore and Middlemount safer, in view of the five fatalities in recent years. A council response said that staff from the road design section would meet the councillor on site and review the location. The response added: Proposed safety measures will be assessed. Cllr King said he previously thought that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) had responsibility for any road safety measures at the site but he was now aware that it was under the remit of Laois County Council. He said: Even though the Middlemount road is quite narrow and there are hills and hollows, everyone is aware of the danger of it. He was supported by Cllr James Kelly, who said it was a very emotive issue and must be resolved. In relation to the Donaghmore road, Cllr King said he had spoken to the owner of a field and it might be possible to acquire a bit of the embankment to make the road wider and safer. Cllr Kelly agreed, pointing out that he recently had a dangerous experience when he met a truck on the way into the village. Cllr Kelly said: We don't want to take all of the field off the landowner, just a small few yards would make a huge difference. There are stones falling out from the embankment and they will cause an accident. LAST years bitter Sinn Fein split in Laois was reflected on Easter Sunday, when two 1916 commemoration ceremonies were held in the county. Former Sinn Fein TD turned Independent Brian Stanley gave the oration at an event in The Heath, organised by the Laois Independent Republicans Committee, while Laois Sinn Fein gathered for a parade and wreath-laying ceremony in Mountmellick. The newly renamed Brownie Gorman-Patrick Phelan Cumann in Mountmellick hosted the Sinn Fein commemoration, which was chaired by the countys party chairperson Aaron Kelly with Senator Maria McCormack as main speaker. The crowd assembled in OConnell Square and paraded to the Republican monument on Wolfe Tone Street, led by St Josephs accordion band, before a reading of the Proclamation. Senator McCormack told the large attendance: The Proclamation of 1916 remains the mission statement of Irish republicans today - to build a nation for all our people. We will unite Ireland, we will build a society where workers, families and communities come first. Together we will achieve the Republic of 1916. At the Republican monument in The Heath, Deputy Stanley particularly paid tribute to stalwart Republican Jim Hyland, who lived in a thatched cottage on the site and tragically lost his life in a house fire in 2007. The Portlaoise-based TD said: "As progressive democratic Republicans, we believe in campaigning for an Ireland that is socially just, with robust public services, fair treatment for workers, and a commitment to neutrality, national reunification and independence. Let us renew our dedication to these principles and continue working alongside other progressive groups to build a better future. "This means the reunification of the national territory and a neutral Ireland, that is part of a more democratic and progressive Europe. In a wide-ranging oration that was highly critical of the current government, he also declared: As left Republicans, we stand with the Palestinian people and support their just cause for freedom. The logo for You Got Cone'D, which will open in Wilson Borough, PA in a few weeks. Courtesy of Brian Jones What do you get when you mix barbecue with waffle cones? You get one of Wilson Boroughs newest businesses, You Got ConeD. You Got ConeD is set to open at 2300 Butler St., formerly The Ice Cream Corner. Owned and operated by local resident Brian Jones, it will combine barbecue cuisine and ice cream. He said You Got ConeD will open within the next two weeks, and will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The location is a small building that has seen businesses come and go, including The Ice Cream Corner and a Jamaican food eatery. Were looking to stay for quite a while, Jones said. You Got Cone'D in Wilson Borough, PA will open in a few weeks and serve barbecue waffle cones. Courtesy of Brian Jones The shop is inspired by Joness business You Got PorkD, which has been operating since 2021 serving barbecue-style food. It operates out of American Club of Coplay and Leaf Cigar Bar in Forks Township. It also has a food truck where they serve their food. This business was inspired by Joness love for cooking barbecue, which started around 2016. At the time, he participated in a neighborhood cook-off, where he received positive feedback on his barbecue skills. And at a certain point I was like, You know what? I think I could do this as a business, Jones said. He originally eyed 2300 Butler St. to kick off his business, but it didnt come to fruition at the time. He eventually opened You Got PorkD a few years later. Brian Jones, owner of You Got Pork'D which sells barbecue-style food, will sell similar cuisine at his new business "You Got Cone'D". Courtesy of Brian Jones Since 2021, You Got PorkD has participated in Musikfest and Bacon Fest, and it serves private events like weddings and graduations. The opportunity to operate from Butler Street came when Larry Steinhouse, former owner of The Ice Cream Corner, listed the business for sale. It opened in the spring of 2023, and Steinhouse announced that the business was for sale this past January. Since Jones will continue to sell ice cream, along with the barbecue You Got PorkD serves, it inspired the name You Got ConeD. The business concept grew from an item on his food truck: a barbecue waffle cone. We take a waffle cone, we then take our mac and cheese, and then people would decide whatever meat they want whether its brisket, pork or chicken and we basically mix that up, stuff it in a waffle cone, and top with our barbecue sauce, Jones said. The ice cream will be supplied by Batch Microcreamery, a creamery local to the Lehigh Valley. It has locations in Center Valley and Wescosville. Jones said You Got ConeD will also serve vanilla, chocolate and twist soft-serve. Brian Jones, owner of You Got Pork'D which sells barbecue-style food, will serve similar food at his new business "You Got Pork'D" in Wilson Borough, PA. Courtesy of Brian Jones Jones plans to serve other menu items like sundaes, milkshakes, mac and cheese bowls, barbecue tacos and sandwiches. Hes also introducing a concept for chip lovers, where customers can bring a sealed bag of chips and have custom toppings added to it. Pricing is still being finalized on all products. Jones lives close to the location, and his children attend Wilson Area High School, so he is looking forward to support from the local community. Several employees from the Ice Cream Corner will be joining the new venture, along with new hires, including his daughter and other Wilson Area High School students. Jones hopes to provide the community with a new destination for savory lunch and dinner, as well as dessert. Its really delicious, wood-smoked barbecue, Jones said. It takes 12-14 hours to make our brisket and our pork. So youre not just going to get that anywhere. Chelsea McClure can be reached at ckun@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on instagram at @chelsealehighvalley. A former Phillipsburg High School lacrosse player was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting a then-18-year-old on the roof of a Dartmouth College fraternity house. Kyle Clampitt was sentenced April 14 for his conviction at trial on 12 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, according to Grafton County Attorney Marcie Hornick. She is the lead prosecutor in Grafton County, New Hampshire. He was acquitted of two counts of second-degree assault involving strangulation. The verdict was handed down Jan. 31. The sexual assault was on the night of April 23 leading into April 24, 2022, on the roof of the Delta Theta Chi fraternity house at Dartmouth, police said. Clampitt testified that the sex was consensual, according to defense attorney Robin Melone. She didnt reply to a request to comment on the sentencing. A published report says Melone asked the judge for an 8- to 20-year sentence. Hornick said Clampitt was sentenced to 10 to 20 years consecutively on two of the counts and had sentences suspended on the remaining 10 counts. He can get three years taken off his minimum sentence if he successfully completes a sexual offender treatment program while incarcerated. I think that the sentence generally meets the goals that judges consider here in New Hampshire: punishment, rehabilitation and deterrence, Hornick said. Hopefully, as well, our survivor can move on with her life now that this very challenging, intrusive and interruptive piece the criminal justice system is done. Clampitt graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 2016. He played lacrosse at Dartmouth, graduating in 2020. He grew up in Greenwich Township. Court records say he was living in Boynton, Florida, when he was charged in August 2023 at age 25. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. A wildfire burns the night of Saturday, April 19, 2025, on Bear Mountain along the Lehigh River in the Jim Thorpe area of Carbon County. Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor UPDATE: Brush fire on Jim Thorpe mountain 95% contained, D&L Trail re-opened A wildfire that started Saturday in the Jim Thorpe area of Carbon County continued to burn Monday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. DCNR Bureau of Forestry and local fire crews have been tackling the blaze on Bear Mountain along the Lehigh River on the ground and from the air. Its burned an estimated 460 acres, DCNR spokesman Wesley Robinson said Monday morning. No evacuations had been ordered, even as the fire burned within about a quarter-mile of homes on its northwestern side along the Lehigh Gorge, Robinson said. The focus Monday was on keeping the flames away from that residential area. There was no estimate immediately available on containment of the fire. Air quality readings rose to an index of 157, or unhealthy, Monday at a PurpleAir sensor in Jim Thorpe, according to fire.airnow.gov. Winds shifted to out of the southeast Monday morning, according to National Weather Service observations at nearby Jake Arner Memorial Airport in Mahoning Township. Winds on Sunday were from the north, pushing the smoke south into Franklin Township, outside Lehighton. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is considered to be unhealthy, at first for members of populations at greatest risk of a health effect, then for the entire population as AQI values get higher (greater than 150), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. An airplane drops fire suppressant on a wildfire burning Sunday, April 20, 2025, on Bear Mountain along the Lehigh River in the Jim Thorpe area of Carbon County. Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Firefighters from the Lehigh Valley were among those responding, according to a social media post from Nancy Run Fire Co. in Bethlehem Township. Personnel numbering about 70 firefighters were on the scene as of Sunday, The Morning Call reported. The fire forced the closure of the D&L Trail from Weissport north to Jim Thorpe, according to the Easton-based Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. This closure is for public safety, the nonprofit posted via social media. Please respect all firefighters and local officials during this time. The National Weather Service was forecasting a 70% chance of rain showers between about 11 p.m. Monday and 2 a.m. Tuesday in Jim Thorpe, dropping to 30% until showers end about 8 a.m. Tuesday. Relative humidity (RH) levels ranging from 35-45% on Monday are more favorable for limiting fire spread compared to the weekend, according to a weather service regional forecast discussion. A more easterly wind Monday looks to be more southerly by the late afternoon, the discussion states. Winds will be sustained at 5-10 mph with gusts upwards of 20 mph at times. Fire weather concerns may increase again for Tuesday with minimum RHs down near 30% and winds gusting up to 25 mph. However, the risk may be limited depending on just how much rain falls Monday night. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. On the left, Pennsylvania teacher, forester and musician Van Wagner climbs a big toothed aspen tree Thursday, April 17, 2025, atop Mount Davis the state's highest point at 3,213 feet above sea level, in Forbes State Forest, Somerset County. On the right, he celebrates completing his self-described goal "of climbing the highest tree on the highest mountain in all 67 counties" across the Keystone State. Courtesy Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources A Pennsylvania teacher and forester has completed his goal of climbing a tree atop the highest point he could access in all 67 of the states counties. Van Wagners journey started close to home in January 2023 atop Montour Ridge in east-central Pennsylvanias Montour County, where he grew up and lives with his wife, Tamara. The Delaware River is seen from the air along the scenic Delaware Drive (Route 611) in October 2018 from Williams Township south of Easton. Saed Hindash File Photo | For lehighvalleylive.com A project reducing part of Route 611 to a single lane has begun, and will continue until the fall. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced the work in a news release, which involves replacing the existing retaining wall that supports Route 611 alongside the Delaware Canal. The work began on April 1 along Route 611 in Williams Township. Route 611 is reduced to a single lane between Browns Drive and Saylors Lane. Traffic will alternate through the work zone and be controlled by temporary traffic signals, according to the release. According to the release, motorists should expect delays and to proceed only on a green signal. The single-lane traffic pattern is expected to remain in place through fall 2025. Additional work includes slope restoration and reconstruction of the roadway near the newly installed wall, the release states. PennDOT first announced the project in early 2023, stating at the time that the existing, retaining wall exhibits settlement of the backfill, fractured and bulging concrete panels, sagging guide rail, and roadway cracking and requires complete replacement. Construction is expected to be completed by September 2026. The project is $4.1 million, and PKF-Mark III, Inc. is the general contractor. The current retaining wall was built in 1946. The affected stretch of Route 611 carries an average of 3,509 vehicles daily, according to PennDOT. Motorists can monitor real-time traffic conditions, including travel speeds and live camera feeds, by visiting 511PA.com. The 511PA service is available online, by phone at 5-1-1, or through mobile apps for iPhone and Android. Chelsea McClure can be reached at ckun@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on instagram at @chelsealehighvalley. A drone has been seized by gardai investigating attempts to smuggle illicit drugs into a prison in Dublin on Easter Sunday. A number of arrests have been made as part of the investigation and a file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. "As part of an ongoing operation targeting the supply of controlled substances into prisons in the west Dublin area, Gardai from Ronanstown garda station became aware of an attempt to carry out a drone delivery to a prison on Sunday, April 20," said a garda spokesperson. Later on Easter Sunday, a residential property in west Dublin was searched under warrant. "During the search a drone and a number of electronic devices were seized. Follow-up searches were conducted in south-west Dublin and a vehicle was seized," added the spokesperson. READ NEXT: Could the next Pope be Irish? Vatican announces the death of Pope Francis An image released by gardai suggests a number of mobile phones and a hand-held games console were among the items seized during the search. Four adult males, aged in their late teens, 20s, 30s and 40s, were arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at garda stations in the Dublin region. All four have since been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardai say investigations are ongoing. The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin has paid tribute to the late Pope Francis, whose death was announced earlier today (Easter Monday, April 21). Bishop Denis Nulty, who was notably appointed to the role by the late Pope Francis himself back in 2013, made the comments in a post on X, after an Irish-born cardinal, Kevin Farrell, made the initial announcement that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88. Speaking about the late Pope Francis, Bishop Nulty said in his post: "Lord rest Pope Francis. All of us in KANDLEi hugely mourn his passing on this Easter Monday morning." In the further context of Ireland, President Michael D Higgins also paid tribute to the late Pope Francis. He said: "As President of Ireland, may I join with all those across the world, from their different stations in life, who have expressed such profound sadness on learning of the death of Pope Francis. "Pope Francis, in his important messages and in the presentation of his papacy with a unique humility, sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways the extraordinary importance of the spiritual as a powerful source of global ethics in the challenges of contemporary life." In addition, An Taoiseach Micheal Martin paid tribute to the late Pope Francis. In particular, An Taoiseach noted: "During his visit to Ireland, many will also remember Pope Franciss expression of pain and shame about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church, and his outrage about the failure of Church authorities to adequately address these appalling crimes. READ NEXT: Starmer pays tribute to pope for the poor who never lost hope A warning has been issued amid concerns that an invasive species of insect, which preys on honeybees, could soon arrive in Ireland. The Asian hornet is a wasp-like insect, native to China, India and Southeast Asia, which already has a growing presence in some European countries, including France and the UK. Usually smaller than the native European hornet, the Asian hornet has a dark brown or black body, an orange face, and yellow tips on its legs. According to experts, the invasive species is a major predator of honeybees and other pollinators which can have a significant impact on local ecosystems and agriculture. READ NEXT: Could the next Pope be Irish? Vatican announces the death of Pope Francis Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council says members of the public need to be vigilant as to transport companies who are bringing goods into Ireland by ship. He told Midlands 103 radio the Asian hornet can fly long distances - if the conditions are suitable. "If the wind was correct and the weather was calm, they can fly quite a distance so I do believe it's not a matter of if but when (they arrive in Ireland)," he warned. "We have quite good strong policy in Ireland but we do need more coordinated action and funding and public engagement to curb the spread of Asian hornets and other invasive species," he added Asian hornets, which can pose a danger to humans, are known to build large, round nests in trees or buildings in areas where they spread to. The King and Queen have expressed their most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy following the death of Pope Francis. Charles and Camilla had a moving meeting with the ailing 88-year-old while he was convalescing just 12 days ago. The couples historic state visit to the Vatican in early April was cancelled because of the Popes poor health, but they managed to visit the head of the Roman Catholic Church privately during their trip to Italy. The King, in an official message released following the news of the pontiffs death on Monday, said he and Camilla were most deeply saddened. He praised Pope Francis for his compassion and tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith. The Kings message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025 The Union flag will be flown half-mast at royal residences where Charles is not in residence as a mark of respect and in accordance with Government guidance. Sombre music will played at the Changing the Guard ceremony to reflect the sadness of the occasion, a royal source said. A member of the royal family is expected to attend the Popes funeral, if the Vatican is in agreement, but it is too early to say who will travel to pay their respects. Royal engagements are likely to continue as planned, but will take into account any sensitivities regarding tone in the wake of Franciss death. The King said: My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Che occasione speciale! A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday. The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Popes kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their pic.twitter.com/5WAZu9nN5q The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 10, 2025 Charles and Camillas meeting with the Pope in what would be his final weeks was arranged at the last minute and took place on their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9, with the pontiff wanting to personally wish them a happy anniversary. A senior Palace official said afterwards: I think outside of the official programme, the most significant and indeed moving thing was that visit to the Pope. We didnt know until the last minute that it would be possible. But when the Pope asked if he could see the King and Queen, Their Majesties were clearly very pleased; after all, they have known him over many years and, with the rest of the world, have been praying for his recovery. The Pope wanted personally to wish them a happy anniversary, not least because it hadnt been possible to do the state visit on this occasion. Their Majesties both came away feeling that it had been a very significant and special moment. Twenty years ago, Charles and Camillas marriage ceremony was postponed with just four days to go following the death of Pope John Paul II. The then-Prince of Wales put duty first and his wedding date was moved from April 8 to April 9 2005 because it clashed with the popes funeral. Charles represented the late Queen by travelling to Rome to attend the service, alongside more than 100 world leaders and ended up shaking hands with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. The then-archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who was due to conduct the princes blessing in St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle after his civil ceremony had made it clear he wished to break with tradition and attend the popes funeral. The 24-hour postponement of the royal wedding from the Friday to the Saturday meant Charles and Mrs Parker Bowless civil wedding had to be slotted in ahead of three other weddings already taking place at the Guildhall in Windsor. The King met Pope Francis twice as the Prince of Wales, but the visit in April was his first as monarch and head of the Church of England. The pair are said to have had huge respect for one another. When Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, the Pope sent his heartfelt condolences to Charles, the new sovereign, in a telegram. He said he joined all in mourning her loss and paid tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith. The late Queen met Pope Francis in 2014 at the Vatican, when he gave her eight-month-old great-grandson Prince George a lapis lazuli orb decorated with a silver cross of Edward the Confessor, the 11th century English king who was made a saint. The Queen gave the Pope a hamper full of produce from royal estates including honey from Buckingham Palace and Balmoral whisky. Charles and Pope Francis first met in 2017, when the prince and Camilla were received at a papal audience in the Vatican at the end of a European tour. The Pope urged Charles to work to bring peace in the world, telling him Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace, with the prince replying Ill do my best. They exchanged gifts, with the prince giving the pontiff a large hamper of produce from his Highgrove estate for the poor and the homeless and framed photographs of himself and his wife. The Pope presented him with a bronze olive branch, signifying peace, and copies of his writings on climate change bound in red leather and other papal writings. Franciss reputation as a pope with the common touch and a taste for simple living saw him dispense with some of the formality and trappings of his position. In keeping with the relaxed nature of the meeting, Camilla did not wear black or a mantilla, a lace veil, in 2017 as she did when the royal couple met Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, but opted for a gold silk Anna Valentine dress. But both the King and Queen were dressed in black as a traditional mark of respect when they met the Pope in April. In 2019, Charles travelled solo to the Vatican and met Pope Francis ahead of the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman at an open-air Mass in St Peters Square. The King is Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The role dates back to Henry VIII, who named himself Supreme Head of the Church of England after he was excommunicated by the pope, Pope Paul III, and broke from the Catholic Church in the 16th century to marry Anne Boleyn. A nine-day mourning period will begin in honour of Francis, with his funeral in around four to six days time after his body lies in state in St Peters Basilica in Vatican City. Italy also usually declares a period of national mourning. Two to three weeks later, the conclave to elect a new pope convenes, with the College of Cardinals locked inside the the Sistine Chapel to vote in secret four times a day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority, with a white smoke signal released through a chimney to announce a pope has been chosen. A mass was held for the soul of Pope Francis hours after his death on Easter Monday, as the Archbishop of Glasgow said his social values resonated with the people of Scotland. Around 400 mourners attended a 1pm mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in Glasgow less than seven hours after Franciss death aged 88 on Easter Monday. The Easter Monday Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis hailed the late leader of the Catholic Church as a father. The Most Rev William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow, told the congregation: Today we mark the passing of Pope Francis from one life to the next. He added: That he died on Easter Monday reminds us that death has no end. In a eulogy, Archbishop Nolan said Pope Francis was very keen that the church should bring hope to people and compared him to a father. The archbishop praised the late Popes mercy and compassion, adding: We are all sad. Today we have lost a father. He told the congregation that when Francis was elected 12 years ago, aged 76, it didnt look like he would last that long. Archbishop Nolan said: His message yesterday in St Peters Square was a plea for peace in the world. Freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of thought the futility of the senseless deaths that are happening. After the eulogy, the archbishop said: All the resurrection hymns for Easter, let us hold in our minds today. The service was attended by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and MSP Paul Sweeney. Speaking after the service, Mr Sarwar described the Popes death as heartbreaking and praised his decency. Mr Sarwar said: The Pope was loved and respected by Catholics in Scotland, and around the world. He was loved and respected by all faiths. He urged for all of us to copy just a little of the decency, empathy and justice that the Pope encapsulated. After the service, Mr Nolan said he believed Pope Francis had changed the perception of the Catholic Church and that his strong social values resonated particularly with people in Scotland. He said the Glaswegian congregation was very supportive of the Pope due to his sense of social justice. Archbishop Nolan said: He was very keen the poor should be treated like fellow human beings and treated with dignity. He said Pope Franciss Easter message was his final words and his legacy, and that he had changed the perception of the Catholic church around the world. Mr Nolan said: We need compassion. We need people to compromise. Irelands leading home care provider, Dovida, has announced plans to hire 80 caregivers across Leitrim and Slito. The organisation, which has been providing care to ageing adults in Ireland since 2005, recently rebranded from Home Instead and now intends to increase capacity in the sector and expand its service offerings in the Northwest. The roles will be a combination of full and part-time positions, offering competitive rates of pay, flexible schedules, and comprehensive, sector-leading training through the Home Care Professionals Academy, Dovida said. Speaking at the launch of Dovida's local office in Sligo Town, Bridget McGrath, General Manager of Dovida Sligo, said, We are excited about welcoming more caregivers to our team. They will help us meet the growing need for home care services in the Northwest and make it possible for more people to receive the support they need to live comfortably and independently at home. Caregivers joining our team can expect comprehensive training, a dedicated local team and supportive environment as well as opportunities to grow professionally and develop a rewarding career in home care, she added. Expanding services Dovida currently provides person-centred home care services to 8,000 people across Ireland. Historically, the majority of the organisations client base consisted of people in the over-65 age group. However, Dovida now cares for clients of all ages, with 10 per cent under 65, while children under 18 make up one per cent of people cared for. Dovidas services have adapted to the varied needs of its clients, and the company now provides services to support people living with an acquired brain injury, Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Motor Neurone Disease, as well as helping children and young adults with additional needs. Roots in the community We believe in quality home care that empowers people to live with dignity, independence, and comfort in familiar surroundings, Bridget McGrath continued. That means keeping them in their own home, connected to their family, friends and communities for as long as possible. Social interaction and companionship are crucial for maintaining good mental health and supporting those experiencing cognitive decline, particularly older people. As an organisation with deep roots in the community, we understand the value of connection and it's fantastic to be in a position to grow our team so we can support more and more people throughout the region, Bridget concluded. A rewarding career Dovida caregivers provide essential support to ageing adults and people living with disabilities in their own homes. The organisations person-centred approach means that its caregivers build meaningful connections with their clients and empower them to live fuller, more independent lives. Dovida welcomes applications from people from all walks of life and is committed to supporting them every step of the way. People interested in pursuing a rewarding career in caregiving are encouraged to visit https://dovida.ie/career/ become-a-caregiver/ READ MORE: Areas of Leitrim without water after water main bursts The fundraising campaign for a young Leitrim baby has now raised over 28,000 to provide financial support for a local couple whose baby boy is currently receiving round-the-clock care. The campaign has now received 614 donations to help the family from Kinlough with their financial costs. Joe and Clare Lynchs baby boy, Oscar, is currently in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Crumlin Childrens Hospital, battling a rare and life-threatening condition called Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). Clare learned of Oscars condition during her 18 week scan. She had to travel alone to Belgium for fetal surgery, without financial support for accommodation and daily expenses. She spent seven long weeks in Belgium before returning to Ireland, heading straight to the Rotunda Hospital. Oscar was born prematurely at just 34 weeks. At only a week old, Oscar underwent major surgery to repair the hernia. Shortly after, doctors discovered he also has Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM), a condition that causes the airways to collapse, making breathing extremely difficult. To help him breathe safely, Oscar received a tracheostomy to establish a stable airway. Oscar has been in hospital for several months now, and it is expected he will remain there for much of the year. Joe and Clare are staying nearby at the Ronald McDonald House, but the emotional and financial toll is immense. While they remain focused on Oscars recovery, they are also juggling bills, mounting responsibilities, and caring for their eldest son, Arthur. To help ease the burden, Clares sister Megan Lawlor has set up a GoFundMe campaign to support the family during this incredibly difficult time. Ive created this GoFundMe on behalf of my incredible sister Clare, her loving husband Joe, their sweet son Arthur, and their newest little fighterbaby Oscar, Megan wrote on the fundraising page. Baby Oscar is currently in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Crumlin Childrens Hospital, facing a journey no childor familyshould ever have to go through, she added. Oscar will require further surgeries, including an upcoming cleft surgery, and remains in a highly vulnerable state, needing round-the-clock care. Anyone wishing to help can search Help Support Baby Oscar and His Brave Family on the GoFundMe website. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has offered love, support, prayers or financial help so far. Oscars fight is far from over, but with your help, this amazing family wont have to face it alone, Megan said. READ MORE: Jobs boost announced for Leitrim and Sligo The search for a 46-year-old woman who was last seen in Dublin on Holy Thursday has been stood down following the discovery of a body, gardai have confirmed. Gardai had issued an urgent public appeal on Easter Sunday for help in tracing the whereabouts of 46-year-old Siobhan Hegarty, who was last see in the Swords area of the capital. However, in an update this Monday evening, gardai confirmed the appeal has now been stood down. "Following the discovery of a womans body earlier today (Monday) in north county Dublin, the missing person appeal in respect of 46-year-old Siobhan Hegarty, reported missing from Swords, County Dublin, since Thursday, April 17, 2025 has been stood down," read a brief statement issued by the Garda Press Office. READ NEXT: Man killed, four seriously injured in separate bank holiday crashes across the country No further information has been disclosed publicly but gardai have thanked members of the public and the media and public for their assistance with the appeal in recent days. May she rest in peace. Officials of Government of Liberia and Development Partners posed for photo at a recent held retreat in Monrovia 3 killed in severe storms in U.S. Oklahoma Xinhua) 14:34, April 21, 2025 HOUSTON, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed as heavy storms hit the central U.S. state of Oklahoma over the weekend, authorities said on Sunday. A 12-year-old boy and his mother died in Moore, about 10 miles (about 16 km) south of Oklahoma City, on Sunday after floodwaters washed away their vehicle, said local police. "This was a historical weather event that impacted roads and resulted in dozens of high-water incidents across the city," Moore police said in a statement. Another person was killed on Saturday night after a tornado hit Spaulding, a town in Hughes County, the county wrote on Facebook. Several homes and structures were destroyed, and there were "numerous washouts" of county roads, it said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Says In the absence of the Rule of Law, the country becomes chaotic From Crawling in the Dust to Walking in the Light Representative Thomas Romeo Quioh of Sinoe County District #1 speaking to the Daily Observer in an interview at his Paynesville residence on the A B Tolbert Road. Who Will Succeed PYJ? Nimbaians go to the poll on Tuesday to elect late self-proclaimed godfathers Successor, as tribal politics takes center stage A CITY centre design firm has won a major national architecture award. Healy Partners Architects, located at Glentworth Street, landed the title of architectural project of the year at this years Irish Building and Design Award. The award recognises its work in designing Limericks newest riverside landmark, 1BQ. The building at Bishops Quay has become home to Verizon, and 150 staff. READ MORE: Decision made over new apartment plan at landmark Limerick hotel Staff from Healy Partners learnt the news at a ceremony in Dublins Intercontinental Hotel. Technological University of the Shannon was also honoured at the same ceremony, for its campus at Coonagh on the citys northside. The campus, which opened to students last year, won the title of sustainable building of the year, and educational project of the year at the prestigious event. Kirkland Investments, which developed 1BQ said it is thoroughly impressed with the design from Healy Partners. The team there was led by Elaine Bowe. The design approach addressed our requirements, seamlessly integrating modern office space, historic buildings and a high-quality residential building. The innovative design of the office building maximises natural light and offers flexible layouts for prospective tenants. The apartments are designed to offer spacious, well-lit living spaces that attract a wide range of tenants, a spokesperson for Kirkland commented. Kirkland is controlled by Rudi Butler, a son of the prominent former city developer Robert Butler Construction of the building took almost two years. THE new Library/Learning Centre at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) has taken a key step forward with the appointment of two firms to lead the architecture, design and project and cost management elements of the development. Scott Tallon Walker Architects and AECOM Ireland Ltd. will work on the new, 5,000 square metre cutting edge facility for teaching, learning and research. It will be situated at the heart of the MIC campus and will provide the latest in facilities for students and staff and the growing academic requirements of a student population now in excess of 5,000 students overall. Michael Keane, Vice-President Administration & Finance, MIC said the college has marked a significant milestone with its new Library/Learning Centre project, with these new appointments. READ MORE: Limerick media students earn national recognition at journalism awards Scott Tallon Walkers huge experience in building design of this nature, and also in the higher education sector, has been very evident to date and remains a source of reassurance to the college in taking on this large capital project. The college has been very impressed by the vision of lead architect, St John Handley, and his engagement with all aspects of the project. AECOMs project management division has a global reach, as one of Irelands leading building and infrastructure consultancies, providing a level of confidence that the teams expertise and management will ensure that the new MIC Library/Learning Centre project will be delivered to the highest possible standards. The new MIC centre seeks to address the extensive needs of the growing student body, the research-orientated faculty body and the needs of others including local stakeholders, and the evolving nature of academic learning and delivery. MIC is delighted to welcome Scott Tallon Walker and AECOM onto campus and into their respective roles for this important strategic development, added Mr Keane. St John Handley, Director at Scott Tallon Walker, said: Scott Tallon Walker Architects are delighted to be appointed by MIC as Architects and Design Team Lead for their new library development. The approximate 5000sqm library will deliver a state-of-the-art educational hub, featuring a special collections library and reading room, an early education resource space and student maker space, alongside hyflex teaching facilities, group study areas, and advanced media study suites. The project will be complemented by a new public plaza and landscaped surroundings, seamlessly integrating with MICs campus masterplan, added Mr Handley. Both Scott Tallon Walker and AECOM continue to place a strong emphasis on climate change resilience and sustainability considerations following their tender submissions. The project will proceed through detailed design stages this year towards a target of completion by mid-2027 and is supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It is hoped that construction of the library will commence in 2026 with a provisional opening date of autumn 2027. Further details on the library development, including its timeline and key features, will be shared in the coming months. RUSAL has secured planning permission to expand the area of the Shannon Estuary at Aughinish it can dispose bauxite residue in. An Bord Pleanala has given the green light to the firm to construct the physical aspects of its plan. This is to extend the disposal area beside its vast refinery where close to 500 people are employed. It removes one hurdle for the company, which is still awaiting a licence for it to operate in the expanded area from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Representatives of Rusal have previously said that securing the expanded area and a licence to operate will mean the refinery can run until at least 2039. Its a move it has said will protect jobs at what will be West Limericks largest employer following the wind-down of Nestle in Askeaton. READ MORE: Builders move on site at former Debenhams building in Limerick Its the second time Rusal at Aughinish have made an application to An Bord Pleanala for the extension. An environmental coalition secured approval to challenge the planning permission received in 2023. The High Court quashed An Bord Pleanalas original approval for the project in June 2023. The challenge was launched by Futureproof Clare, Ecojustice Ireland, and the Cappagh Farmers Group among others. They claimed expanding the facility will potentially bring about the largest environmental catastrophe in Ireland. Now, following a fresh assessment, An Bord Pleanala has once again afforded permission to the multi-million euro proposals. Rusal is seeking a licence from the EPA to dispose of up to 668,454 tonnes of dredged material from its plant over an eight year period. As reported in the Limerick Leader, the environmental regulator has ordered a fresh period of consultation around the licence application. This came following separate objections from environmental groups to the EPA. A priest who helped organise Pope Franciss visit to Ireland in 2018 has recalled watching the pontiff compose his personal apology to victims of abuse in the Catholic Church. Father Tim Bartlett said he did not know what the Pope was writing after he asked for some paper while onboard a flight to the Knock shrine in the west of Ireland. The Belfast-based cleric said hours later the pontiff would produce the same piece of paper as he addressed tens of thousands of people at an open-air mass in Dublins Phoenix Park and read out his plea for forgiveness. During the mass, Francis vowed to pursue justice for victims of Church abuse in Ireland as he sought forgiveness for the countrys dark litany of clerical crimes. The Pope laid bare the many forms of abuse and mistreatment meted out to children and vulnerable adults in past decades and also acknowledged that members of the Churchs hierarchy had sought to cover up the sins of colleagues and failed to show compassion for the victims. Father Bartlett, who played a central role in co-ordinating the pontiffs visit to the island in 2018, to attend the World Meeting of Families, said observing Francis pen the apology was his most vivid memory of the trip. The night before Pope Francis had had a long meeting with survivors of abuse, of clergy abuse and institutions run by the Church, he said. He had many things after that meeting that he had to do, but on the Sunday morning on the airplane, once we were in the air, he turned around and he beckoned, and he asked for a piece of paper and I sent him up a piece of paper, and we noticed him writing on the paper at the front of the plane, and he folded up the piece of paper and put it into his pocket. We had no idea what it was about until later that afternoon when we were back in Dublin and were starting the mass, this huge mass in Phoenix Park, and he takes that piece of paper out of his pocket at the beginning of the mass and he reads it, and it was an apology in his own words and straight from his heart, having met the survivors the night before, for all of the abuse that had taken place in the Church and to all survivors. I think that apology will go down in history as one of the most profound, eloquent and personal apologies issued by any Church leader, and certainly a pope, to survivors of Church abuse. And he wrote that the morning after he had met the survivors. Even though he had many other meetings that night, even though he was going to Knock and had many other things to do, it showed me that he stayed with the most vulnerable people in his heart that he had met and that that had moved him very, very deeply. And thats a mark of that man. The legacy of Church abuse cast a long shadow over the first papal visit to Ireland since 1979, as the pontiff repeatedly moved to address the scandals. His words drew praise in some quarters but others accused the Pope of not going far enough. As the pontiffs plea for forgiveness rang out around the park that Sunday afternoon, elsewhere in Dublin, abuse survivors and campaigners protested against his visit. A vigil was also held at the site of the mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway, where a mass grave containing around 800 babies not given proper burials was uncovered. Reflecting on Franciss papacy, Father Bartlett said his legacy would be one of a great pastor. I think Pope Francis was a megaphone for the voice of the poor, the vulnerable, the excluded and the marginalised, he said. He stood up for them. And it wasnt just show. From his very beginning as a priest, right through his work in South America, this was a constant theme. A total of 500,000 tickets were taken up for the Phoenix Park mass that ended the Popes visit to Ireland but the actual crowd at the event appeared significantly smaller. Bad weather, widespread travel restrictions and a long walk to the venue were all likely factors, but some who compared it with the massive crowds who greeted John Paul II four decades previously suggested it was also a sign of the Churchs waning influence in Ireland. Father Bartlett said he was not surprised by the numbers who attended. He said that while the trip confirmed that Irish society had changed dramatically since the visit of John Paul II, he insisted that Franciss journey to Ireland also revealed little seeds of hope for the Churchs future. I think on the one hand, the visit confirmed what we all know, and the Pope himself knew, and the bishops organising it knew, that the Church in Ireland and Irish society has changed dramatically since the historic visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979, so there was no surprise on that, he said. On the other hand, there were interesting little seeds of hope and of new life that were present, maybe what we as priests would know, and that is that the faith is actually still very alive in peoples hearts. Public practice, regular practice, as we understood it in the past, has changed, but the faith is still very strong in peoples hearts. And so at all of the key events, we were oversubscribed. Even the gardai expressed surprise to us when the Pope drove through the city centre of Dublin that the crowds were much bigger than they had expected. A lot of the focus was on the mass in Phoenix Park and the dramatic difference in the numbers there. But there were three things that impacted that. We were not surprised by the numbers. Number one, the weather was terrible. People nowadays dont go to events in bad weather even if it was originally their intention when they know they could watch it very comfortably at home and enjoy it there. I think also the advent and development of media and people watching things more comfortably on media was another phenomenon. And, finally, we expected, the numbers are restricted for health and safety reasons in Phoenix Park in a way that they werent even back in 1979 when we had over a million people there. You had a maximum capacity of 500,000 and more than 500,000 tickets were requested. Every other event that he participated in was oversubscribed. So I think the faith is very alive, people responded to the Pope very energetically and enthusiastically. Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.'s annual report describes global captive centres (GCCs) operated by its clients as a potential risk, making the Nasdaq-listed company one of the few large IT firms to cite the GCC shadow over outsourcing. Though a Cognizant spokesperson said the New Jersey-based company's position has since "evolved", the development raises the question of whether more IT services firms would acknowledge the rising competition from these in-house technology centres. Technology analysts have previously pointed to the risk from GCCs, though IT companies themselves have dismissed it so far. Additionally, we face competition from clients' in-house technology resources, such as GCCs, which may provide a lower cost alternative to our services," said Cognizant's annual report released on Friday. "We compete for employees not only with other companies in our industry, but also with companies in other industries, such as software services, engineering services and financial services companies, as well as our clients' GCCs," the report said. Cognizant has three-fourths of its employees in India. Cognizant and homegrown IT services firms provide services, including application development and maintenance, to some of the world's largest companies, including Apple and Walmart. However, as technology becomes central to companies, most Fortune 500 companies have moved to set up their technology centres in the country. Put simply, IT services no longer compete among themselves, but also with their clients for business. HCL Technologies became the first homegrown IT services firm to call out GCCs as a risk in their annual report last year. Also read | IT titans at war: Cognizant denies slow-roll plot by its CEO to hurt Infosys When contacted, a Cognizant spokesperson said, "We evolved in our GCC position from when this specific proxy language was initially drafted... GCCs have been identified as a growth priority." This refers to Cognizant's March investor meet where top executives led by CEO S. Ravi Kumar outlined a four-point strategy to improve profitability, gain market share, focus on large deals, and ensure revenue growth in line with the world's four largest IT services companies by March 2027. The rising tide of GCCs Operating as strategic hubs in India, GCCs of top foreign companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and JP Morgan Chase drive innovation and provide crucial support to their global operations. India is estimated to home to about 1,700 GCCs. "GCCs have become a vital strategic tool for companies aiming to accelerate their business transformation and maximize long-term value in a rapidly evolving tech landscape, driven by advancements in AI....Over the past two years, GCCs have also emerged as key drivers for enterprises struggling to find the right talent to navigate fast-advancing technology ecosystems," said the spokesperson, adding Cognizant has signed about 10 deals with GCCs. "These partnerships reinforce our position as a trusted transformation partner and mark significant milestones in our growth." Also read | The boutique consulting firms powering Indias next GCC boom GCCs have been increasingly considered by analysts and executives as a growing threat to domestic IT services firms such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltd. Companies dismiss this view, arguing that outsourcing firms and GCCs can compete and co-exist. The fact that Cognizant has called out GCCs as a risk factor and has mitigated this risk with their GCC strategy now implies that IT service providers have included GCCs as part of their ecosystem," said Viswanathan K.S., independent technology advisor and former vice-president at Nasscom. With more global enterprises building their digital transformation capabilities, one will increasingly find that other IT service providers will follow suit. GCC models are increasingly leveraged by enterprises, including mid-market companies, leading to growth in GCC operations, which is adding risk to IT service providers revenue," he added. According to industry body Nasscom, GCCs accounted for close to a fourth of India's $282.6 billion IT industry in 2024. Also read | Culture is the most important aspect of how you run a GCC: Tescos Sumit Mitra The GCC challenge Increased competition from companies aspiring for a turnaround (Wipro, CTSH, TechM, etc.), mid-tier (Coforge-Sabre deal is an example) and GCCs poses headwinds for the incumbents," said Kotak Institutional Equities analysts Kawaljeet Saluja, Sathishkumar S., and Vamshi Krishna, in a note dated 4 April. Cognizants commentary comes in the wake of some overseas clients recently exiting engagements with IT outsourcers to do much of their tech work in-house. Transamerica, the American arm of Dutch insurer Aegon NV, terminated its 10-year engagement with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. midway through the contract. Transamerica had inked a $2 billion deal with the countrys largest IT services company in 2018 to digitize its insurance operations. The deal was cut short five-and-a-half years later in June 2023, when Transamerica decided to execute the task itself. A more recent example is that of third-largest HCL Technologies Ltd and Boston-headquartered bank, State Street. The latter formed a joint venture with HCLTech in 2012 to provide business operations services to clients. A dozen years later, State Street took full ownership of the joint venture as its focus shifted on insourcing talent for much of its tech work. Also read | What lies ahead for GCCs in India after a pivotal year The offshore platform mix is changing," said Aveek Mukherjee, managing director of Gloplax Solutions, a consulting company that sets up GCCs. "Customers are looking for certain characteristics from their offshore platform that is easier for the typical GCC construct to fulfil. However, there exists an opportunity for service providers to re-evaluate their offerings to the customer so that they too may fulfil the required characteristics outside the typical GCC construct. So, the competition for the service providers is more the typical GCC construct rather than the GCC itself," Mukherjee added. According to Nasscom, more than 875, or half of the countrys 1,700 GCCs, are based in Bengaluru, while Hyderabad has 355. The rest are located in cities such as Delhi NCR, Pune and Chennai. Nasscom estimates the number of Indian GCCs to touch 2,200 by March 2030, with a market size of $105 billion. As GCCs gather steam, IT outsourcers are setting up units to establish and run GCCs under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, wherein they supply manpower to the parent company, find land and run the captive, and after a fixed period of time, transfer the operations to the parent company. Also read | Indian IT's AI conundrum: What model to useready-to-build or build-from-scratch Infosys Ltd, Wipro Ltd and Tech Mahindra Ltd have each set up separate business units to partner with GCCs. Accenture Plc, the worlds largest IT outsourcer, also made an equity investment in ANSR last July. As part of this investment, Accenture gets a seat at the consulting companys board of directors. ANSR, which sets up and runs GCCs for multinational companies, is India's biggest and oldest business of its kind. Cognizant ended 2025 with $19.7 billion in revenue, up 4% on a yearly basis. For CEO Ravi Kumar, who has now completed two years in office, turning the risk from GCCs into an opportunity is one of the key tasks at hand, especially at a time when questions are raised on its abilities to grow organically, or without relying on acquisitions. Correction- Post-publication, Mint was made aware that HCLTech had called out GCCs as a risk in last year's annual report. The copy has been updated to reflect this. New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) Shares of Infosys climbed 3 per cent on Monday morning trade after the company's March quarter net profit rose 3.3 per cent sequentially. The stock bounced back after a muted beginning and rallied 2.95 per cent to 1,462.20 on the BSE. Shares of the firm climbed 3 per cent to 1,462.70 at the NSE. In the equity market, the BSE benchmark Sensex jumped 794.10 points to 79,347.30 during morning trade. The NSE Nifty surged 242.95 points to 24,094.60. India's second-largest IT company Infosys on Thursday reported an 11.7 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to 7,033 crore for the March quarter mainly on account of compensation to employees, and acquisitions during the reported period. It had posted a profit (attributable to owners of the company) of 7,969 crore in the year-ago period. Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said the company has guided for a revenue growth of 0-3 per cent in constant currency terms in the current fiscal year due to uncertainty in the environment. Its CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka said the company is on track to hire 20,000 freshers this fiscal year, as announced earlier. Revenues for the quarter under review came in at 40,925 crore, 7.9 per cent higher from 37,923 crore in Q4 FY24. Sequentially, the company's profits rose 3.3 per cent, but revenues declined 2 per cent. For the full FY25, profits saw a marginal increase of 1.8 per cent to 26,713 crore, according to a regulatory filing. New Delhi: Google has become the first company to utilize India's newly-enacted settlement framework, receiving a settlement order to pay 20 crore to resolve an antitrust investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) into allegations of its anti-competitive behaviour in the smart TV market, the watchdog said in a statement. The resolution marks a significant shift in the regulatory landscape and compels the tech giant to unbundle its Play Store and Play Services on Android TVs in the country. Also read | Google Play Store billing trial: NCLAT cuts antitrust regulator's fine to 217cr Mint was the first to report on 2 October 2024 that Google offered to settle the antitrust case after an investigation found the technology giant's agreements with smart TV makers violated provisions of India's competition law, making it the first company to invoke the brand-new settlement route enacted in 2023. As per the settlement deal, Google will have to pay a settlement amount of 20 crore, after a 15% discount that comes with the scheme. "Google is committed to abiding by applicable local laws in every country where we operate and are grateful to the CCI for the opportunity to engage and present our case. We also thank the CCI for instituting processes which enable constructive engagements between companies and the market, allowing for continued investment and growth," Google said in response to a Mint query. EU contemplating action CCIs move to settle the case with Google comes at a time its EU counterpart is reportedly contemplating action against Big Tech if EUs trade talks with the US, after President Trump's sweeping tariffs, fails. The gist of the allegation against Google LLC, Google India Private Limited and two others was that Google misused its dominant position by enforcing restrictive agreements on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including compulsory bundling of the Play Store with Android TV operating system and preventing the use or creation of rival forked Android versions through its Anti-Fragmentation Agreements. CCI said in a statement on Monday that its investigation had found that Google's agreementsTelevision App Distribution Agreement (TADA) and Android Compatibility Commitments (ACC)executed together, allegedly imposed unfair terms by requiring the pre-installation of its full app bundle Google TV Services, preventing television makers from developing or using Android forks, and hindering innovation. Objections, suggestions invited The regulator said it had invited objections and suggestions from 45 parties on Googles settlement application. The Commission considered the settlement proposal and observed that under the New India Agreement, Google will provide a standalone license for the Play Store and Play Services for Android smart TVs in India, thereby removing the requirement to bundle these services or impose default placement conditions, CCI said. Also read | Google tax: India mustnt give up on a fair global taxation regime By waiving the need for a valid ACC for devices shipped into India that do not include Google apps, OEMs can now sell and develop incompatible Android devices without violating the TADA, CCI said. The competition watchdog said that considering the material on record, an assessment of the settlement proposal as well as the nature, gravity, and impact of the alleged contraventions, it agreed to the settlement proposal. Jio Platforms Ltd (JPL), an arm of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) that houses its telecom and digital businesses, is set to absorb edtech firm Indiavidual Learning Private Limited, or Embibe, in a move that has caused the retrenchment of nearly 300 employees over the past few months, people aware of the development told Mint . "Embibe will become a part of Jio and will continue as an edtech firm. Jio is currently amid a due diligence exercise relating to the merger," said a senior industry executive, asking not to be identified. Merging minds RIL, which acquired a nearly 73% stake in Embibe in 2018, will completely merge the edtech firm into JPL, a second official with direct knowledge of the development said. Read more: Edtech firm Lido's founder Sahil Sheth onto his next act, but the last one is far from over A Jio representative said: "As part of our broader vision to harness the transformative power of digital technology for national priorities, Jio is actively integrating its efforts in the education domain. Jio will leverage the work done by Embibe to scale these innovations and education solutions across the country." Multiple queries sent to Embibe did not elicit a response till press time. Mints emails to Embibe founder Aditi Avasthi bounced back. Mint also tried to reach out to Avasthi via calls and messages, which went unanswered. After 13 years since founding Embibeand six years of building the right foundation to execute a bold, Jio-scale visionIm proud to share that weve officially graduated," wrote Avasthi, in a public post on professional networking platform Linkedin, on Saturday. Embibe is merging into its parent - Indias largest distribution platform, with a phenomenal team from Embibe transitioning into this next chapter." Founded in 2012, by Avasthi as a K-12-focused edtech platform, the company raised funding from angel investors, followed by investments from early-stage venture capital investors like Kalaari Capital and Lightbox. Later in 2018, Reliance Jio made a commitment to invest close to $180 million into the Bengaluru-based AI-driven education platform, over the following three years for a stake of 72.69% from Embibe's existing investors. Lightbox achieved a threefold return with a 35% internal rate of return (IRR) when Reliance Industries Ltd acquired its stake in Embibe in 2017, Mint reported back in January. According to the second executive cited above, the Embibe team, which had close to 80 employees during the acquisition by Jio, grew to almost 2,000 employees at its peak, following a pivot towards creating scalable classroom solutions. Read more: English fever: How startups are unlocking smalltown India's big-city aspirations Over time, the numbers started to dwindle, and in the last few rounds, about 300 to 350 employees were let go, a third source told Mint. Indias edtech sector has faced two challenging years marked by dwindling investor confidence as post-pandemic demand for online learning faded, mounting losses from aggressive growth strategies, and the downfall of the industry giant Byjus. Embibe had around 380 people remaining between Bangalore and Ahmedabad towards the end. The company management had known it would merge (with Jio) since last year. Not all 380 people are laid off, some people are going to be picked up by Jio," said the second executive quoted above. Employees who have been let go are given proper severance pay as well, while the remaining may get absorbed into JPL, they added. The Mahindra Group on Monday appointed Hemant Sikka managing director and chief executive of Mahindra Logistics Ltd (MLL). Sikka had been the president of the farm equipment business since 2020. Hemant is one of our top leaders and brings with him a powerful combination of strategic skills, operational rigour, customer centricity and people leadership capabilities, the Mumbai-based auto giant said in a statement. Sikka will take over as the MD and CEO from 5 May. Also Read: Tech Mahindra banks on growth from new consulting and GCC units Ram Swaminathan, the current MD and CEO of MLL, has decided to step down to pursue other professional interests. Swaminathan joined the company in July 2019 and his last day would be 20 July. In place of Sikka, president of the automotive division Veejay Neekra will take over as president of the farm equipment business, which the company recognizes as one of the largest and profitable businesses with a return on capital employed over 60%. There is a huge opportunity for us to grow the business profitably through tractors, farm machinery, and globalization, it said in the statement. Veejay joined M&M in 1995 and has a strong proven track record of creating a turnaround of the Auto Business with successful launches, while building world-class manufacturing capability, along with shaping the growth strategy for our international businesses, it added. Neekra will continue to report to Rajesh Jejurikar, who is the executive director for the auto and farm sectors. Also Read: For the first time, India to make most of a laptop in-house To replace Neekra, the company has appointed R. Veluswamy, president of automotive technology and product development, as the president of the automotive business. As part of the reshuffle, the company is also bringing the SUV and LCV business under one leader of the automotive business. This would help build greater agility and collaboration, both in engineering our products and taking them to market. The role would have end-to-end responsibility of all functions within the auto business with P&L delivery, the statement said. The Mahindra Groups several auto divisions closed the last fiscal year on a healthy note. The passenger vehicle segments retail sales grew by nearly 20% to reach 512,000 from the earlier 427,000. It saw about 373,000 tractor sales in the year, up 3% from 364,000. In order to help the 240 trainees that Infosys fired recently, the IT major has offered them free external training, accommodation and a travel allowance along with one months' salary, as per a report. According to the report by Moneycontrol, Infosys in an email to the 240 trainees that were sacked recently, said in an email that they will get one month of pay. In an email sent to the trainees, Infosys said it will offer free upskilling programmes to those who lost their jobs. They will also receive a travel allowance from the company to get to the training centre in Mysuru to Bengaluru or their hometown. The training programmes will be conducted through NIIT and UpGrad, with whom Infosys has partnered. Livemint could not independently verify the report. The article will be updated if Infosys releases an official statement. What did Infosys say in its email? Infosys informed the trainees that they had not met the qualifying criteria of the training programme, and hence were being let go of. Further to the announcement of the results of your final assessment attempt, 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, it said in an email. Also Read | Infosys fires 240 trainees who fail assessments after 20K hiring update: Report 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, Infosys said. Infosys has reportedly extended the offer to the trainees who were impacted in February too. They now have the option to enroll to these courses for free. Infosys fires 240 trainees Software major Infosys let go of 240 entry-level employees who failed internal assessments, according to company emails sent on April 18, reported Moneycontrol. The layoffs come as Infosys navigates a subdued demand environment. The company has forecast revenue growth of just 0 per cent to 3 per cent for the current fiscal year, underscoring continued uncertainty in its core markets. Also Read | Infosys salary hike: IT major gives BIG update on increments to employees April 21, 2025: Total worldwide defense spending for 2024 was $2.46 trillion. Ominously, the annual growth of defense spending is accelerating. Spending was up 7.4 percent on 2024, 6.5 percent in 2023 and 3.5 percent in 2022. These increases were the result of the Ukraine War and other European countries rearming and expanding their militaries to deal with increasing Russian aggression. The United States has the largest defense budget, $916 billion, in the world that supports a force of 1.32 million personnel. Two other countries have more troops. China has two million military personnel on duty and spends $296 while India has 1.475 million troops and spends $83 billion. Military budgets arent all they appear to be. While the United States alone accounts for over a third of the annual defense spending worldwide, this is not as overwhelming as it appears to be. There are several very practical reasons for this misperception. First there is the purchasing power parity or PPP, the relative cost of common goods in different countries. If you take into account PPP, those nations with lower costs like China and India, loom larger as defense spenders. They get more for the money spent, at least theoretically. Without PPP the top five in military spending are the United States, China, Russia, India and Saudi Arabia. Adjust for PPP and China remains in the top five and the U.S. comes in second. Thats because things like local supplies and labor are much cheaper in China than America. Applying PPP also makes American defense spending much less effective compared to what China spends. Thus without PPP American defense spending is closer to 20 percent of global spending. Adjusting for PPP Chinese defense spending goes from a quarter of what America spends to over 70 percent. Yet American forces deploy many more high tech weapons than China. Thats because U.S. defense spending has been the highest in the world since the 1940s. Since major items of military equipment like ships, aircraft and armored vehicles have useful lives of over 30 years, the Americans have had plenty of time to accumulate a much larger arsenal of expensive equipment than China. But that will change in the future because Chinese annual defense spending has nearly tripled in the last decade. Thus if China keeps its defense spending high and relative costs low, it will match the U.S. in many areas within two or three decades. That probably will not happen because of other factors and trends that do not favor China and many other nations. First there is the fact that not only has the Chinese economy been growing rapidly since the 1980s, but so have wages and the costs of much else besides. Thus over time the PPP advantage diminishes. China also has a greater problem with corruption in the military than the United States and most Western nations. This greatly, by 20 percent or more, diminishes the effectiveness of their defense spending. Corruption in defense spending is found everywhere, but it has, for thousands of years, been particularly bad in China. The Chinese government has, since the late 1980s, been making strenuous efforts to reduce corruption but has had limited success. There is another complication when comparing defense spending. This big one is the relative costs of defending your nation versus attacking someone somewhere else. Its much cheaper to defend. Going on the offensive, especially over long distances, is much more expensive. Depending on how far your forces have to travel, equipping an offensive force can be anywhere from a quarter more expensive if you plan to attack a neighbor to more than twice as expensive if you are prepared to go anywhere in the world. Then there is your military leadership. Generals and admirals who know what they are doing will maintain high standards for subordinates. They will concentrate on training and readiness for combat. Their forces will be much more effective than when, as is often the case, the military is treated like a jobs program to keep unemployment low and, if there is a lot of corruption, make politicians and senior officers rich. Nations that spend little cash, but have cheap local costs for food, housing and payroll, like Iran and Pakistan, all of a sudden have larger defense spending. Iran is now about six percent of U.S. spending, and Pakistan about four percent. Purchasing Power Parity shows how poor nations can spend only a few billion dollars a year on defense, yet have hundreds of thousands of troops in service. If these soldiers have good leadership and train regularly, they can be a formidable foe even to a high tech force from the West. But most of the poor nations don't have high quality officers and NCOs, and their troops fade quickly when confronted with a well-equipped and well trained force. Unfortunately, the media is not very keen on examining the quality of training and leadership in anyone's armed forces. Yet, time and again, these two factors have proved to be the most critical ones. And that will remain the case in the future. Maharashtra authorities are cracking down on Ola Electrics retail presence in the state, moving to shutter at least 121 of its nearly 450 stores in the countrys largest electric two-wheeler market over missing vehicle sales permits. The joint transport commissioner of Maharashtra has asked local transport authorities to close all 121 stores operating without trade certificates. Mint has reviewed a copy of the letter sent to the local authorities. In fact, the states transport commissioner confirmed to Mint that 270 more Ola Electric stores will be issued show-cause notices. As per the letter, 75 of these 121 stores have already been closed and the local authorities have been asked to close the remainder. In the letter dated 16 April, the joint transport commissioner wrote, If the showroom or store cum service center of the company M/s Ola Electric Mobility Limited in your area of operation is doing business without obtaining a trade certificate from the transport office, action should be taken to close that center or showroom." Also read | The curious case of Olas scooter sales without invoices To be sure, Maharashtra recorded 212,000 sales of electric two-wheelers in financial year ended 31 March, making it the largest electric two-wheeler market in the country. In fiscal year 2025 (FY25), Ola Electric sold a total of 344,000 electric two-wheelers, according to the governments Vahan portal, which is a centralized vehicle registry database. Out of these, 40,303 units, or about 12% of its total scooters, were sold in Maharashtra. When contacted, an Ola spokesperson said, Your claims regarding our stores in Maharashtra are speculative, incorrect and misplaced." However, the state transport department confirmed the developments to Mint. Vivek Bhimanwar, transport commissioner of Maharashtra, said, We have closed about 75 stores and a total of 121 stores have been found operating without trade certificates. Moreover, our department is sending show cause notices to additional 270 stores." The Ola spokesperson added, We continue to work closely with the concerned authorities in Maharashtra to address any specific queries or concerns." The local authorities have conducted several raids across the state during which they seized a total 192 vehicles, as per the joint transport commissioners letter cited earlier. The regulatory action comes amid inquiries by the Union ministry of road transport and highways, and the ministry of heavy industries. The government has inquired about noncompliance with trade certificates, Ola Electric said in an exchange filing. Maharashtra saga On 31 March, a letter was sent to Ola Electric by the joint transport commissioner of Maharashtra, asking for the companys response to a complaint that it was operating some of the stores without necessary documents. The letter said the state authorities conducted a special drive to inspect Ola stores across the regional transport offices (RTOs) of Mumbai, Borivali and Pune. During the action taken by these RTO offices, it was found that unauthorised showrooms and stores cum service centers were being operated and vehicles without proper registration were being kept for sale," the letter said. The company was asked to provide an explanation within three days. Also read | Ola Electric says it has enough service centres. Govt isn't buying that Ola Electric replied on 5 April that the company followed a unique direct to consumer business model in which it did not depend on dealers. Until a couple of months ago, we operated a model where our vehicles were stored regionally at state distribution centers (SDCs) which were spread through the country. These SDCs complied with all licenses including the trade certificates from the jurisdictional regional transport officers," the company wrote in its reply. The company said it decided to move away from the SDCs and keep the vehicles at the stores. However, the latest development in the state suggests the authorities are still not satisfied with the level of compliance with the trade norms. Ola Electric had said in its 5 April letter that the company has rapidly expanded its store network and is in the process of ensuring that these stores have all the relevant licenses and approvals to operate, including the trade certificates from the jurisdictional RTOs." In an investor presentation released on 1 April, the company said it has 3,365 company-owned stores and 1,071 network partners, for a total of 4,436. This latest regulatory action comes at a time when Ola Electric is facing tough competition from Bajaj Auto Ltd and TVS Motor Co. Ltd. Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations data in March showed Bajaj Auto leading in retail sales of electric two-wheelers, with TVS Motor in second place and Ola third. Ola led overall retail sales in FY25 with 344,009 units and a market share of 29.9%, down from its FY24 market share of 34.79%. Also read | Ola, Uber under scrutiny over price disparity on iOS, Android In the firms earnings call on 7 February, Ola Electric founder Bhavish Aggarwal said, Weve also highlighted that given our gross margin expansion as well as operational cost control, we can expect auto segment Ebitda breakeven at about 50,000 monthly sales." Ebitda is short for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. As per Vahan data, the company sold about 23,500 vehicles in March. Since the beginning of the year, Ola Electrics share price has declined by more than 38% as against a 5% fall in Nifty Auto index. Shashank Krishna Rao in Mumbai contributed to this story. (Adds Elliott response in paragraph 8, reflects letter was published in paragraphs 1-2) By David French April 21 (Reuters) - Activist investor Elliott Investment Management should back down from its push to break up energy company Phillips 66 because it is conflicted from a separate effort to acquire one of the group's rivals, Phillips 66 said in a letter on Monday. The salvo is the latest in a bitter spat between Phillips 66 and Elliott that is due to come to a head at a shareholder meeting next month. In arguing against Elliott's break-up thesis in the letter, Phillips 66 said the investment firm has a conflict of interest due to its separate efforts to buy Citgo Petroleum. Citgo's parent company is being sold via a court-supervised auction. Last year, Elliott-backed Amber Energy was initially deemed the winner of the process, before creditor challenges forced the court to backtrack and launch a new sale. Amber Energy CEO Gregory Goff said on April 9 he had bought a position in Phillips 66 and backed Elliott's campaign. "This conflict is concerning because Amber Energy's executives are actively helping support Elliott's case to undermine Phillips 66's strategy," said Monday's letter from Phillips 66. Phillips 66 is one of the largest U.S. refiners, while Citgo is the seventh largest. In response to a request for comment, an Elliott spokesperson pointed to an April 10 regulatory filing. This stated that Goff's work alongside Elliott was "hidden from no one, and in no way represents a conflict of interest, diminishes the independence of his views or impairs his ability to help Phillips 66 become a stronger, more valuable company". Elliott has put forward four director nominees for the May 21 meeting as part of a campaign that has also included calling on Phillips 66 to sell or spin off its midstream business and consider divesting other assets to focus on its refining business and boost its share price. New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) Markets regulator Sebi on Monday proposed offering a direct arbitration mechanism for resolving disputes in certain cases with claims of at least 10 crore and those which are chronic and repetitive in nature. These are part of Sebi's proposal to tweak framework for Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in the Indian securities market in a bid to provide clarity and better implementation. In its consultation paper, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) proposed to include depositories formally in the ODR system and suggested market infrastructure institutions (MIIs) to jointly formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on operational aspects of the ODR portal and functioning of ODR institutions. It proposed some cases should skip conciliation and go straight to arbitration. These include claims of over 10 crore, chronic/repetitive complaints, cases filed by certain institutions, recovery claims by trading members, cases where both parties agree to arbitration, time-barred/legal issue cases flagged early. If arbitration is not opted, the case will be closed in the ODR portal but can still be pursued legally outside the system, it added. "In case of complaints/disputes: (i) with financial claim equal to or exceeding 10 crore (ii) complaints having chronic in nature and repetitive... then all such cases shall be referred directly for arbitration," Sebi proposed. The regulator suggested that conciliation settlements should be electronically accepted and legally binding. Further, ODR institutions should have separate panels for conciliators and arbitrators. One person cannot serve in both roles. "The conciliators and arbitrators on the panel of the ODR institutions shall be evaluated annually," Sebi proposed. As far as SOP concerned, Sebi suggested it should cover step-by-step instructions, stages, procedures to be followed by MIIs and ODR institutions in dealing with various operational aspects such as how to lodge complaints and required documents, how to handle repetitive or invalid complaints, roles in each stage (pre-conciliation, conciliation, arbitration) how to record proceedings, fee payments and enforcement of awards and actions to be taken against rule-breaking market participants. The SOP should be posted online and reviewed annually. Pepsi was already losing the cola wars. The trade war isnt going much better. It all comes down to where PepsiCo and Coca-Cola make the secret-recipe concentrates that are the essence of their sodas. Concentrates are made in special facilities, then shipped to bottling plants. There, they are combined with water, bubbles and sweetener to make soda. PepsiCo more than 50 years ago began making concentrate in Ireland because of the countrys low corporate tax rate. Now, PepsiCos tax-saving move has backfired: The concentrate for nearly all U.S. sales of Pepsi and Mountain Dew is subject to a 10% tariff. Coca-Cola for decades has also produced concentrate in Ireland, shipping it to markets around the world. But Coca-Cola makes most of the concentrate for its American sodas in Atlanta and Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. That means drinks like Coke and Sprite are less exposed to tariffs. Ireland has long had the tax advantageuntil the tariffs hit," said Carlos Laboy, an analyst at HSBC. No one could have seen the tariffs coming, and it is unclear how long they will last, but Pepsi clearly is at a disadvantage now, he said. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo both could be hurt by a 25% tariff on aluminum imports imposed by the U.S. in March. Coca-Cola imports some aluminum from Canada, and soda prices could rise as a result of the levy, Coke Chief Executive James Quincey said in February. He said that his company could ease the impact by packaging more drinks in plastic bottles or sourcing aluminum from the U.S. The tariff war comes at a particularly bad time for PepsiCo. Pepsis U.S. market share has plummeted over the past two decades, and last year hit a new low when Dr Pepper unseated Pepsi-Cola as Americas No. 2 soda. After years of focusing on food and energy drinks, PepsiCo is now trying to revive its U.S. soda sales. The new tariffs could make that more difficult. PepsiCo also makes concentrate in Texas, Uruguay and Singapore. The company declined to comment on what steps it might take to mitigate tariffs. It also declined to say whether the levies could drive up prices for sodas like Pepsi or Mountain Dew. The cola wars arent the only rivalry whose scales have been tipped by tariffs. In the world of bluejeans, Levi Strauss sources from many countries whose goods are now subject to 10% tariffs. Wranglers parent company, on the other hand, makes 40% of its jeans and other pants in the Western Hemisphere, including seven facilities in Mexico. The products Wrangler makes in Mexico are compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade pact, and so are currently exempt from the 25% tariff on Mexican imports President Trump introduced earlier this year. The escalating tariff war could also embroil toothpaste makers. Most of the Crest toothpaste consumed in the U.S. is made domestically, while Colgate produces some of its U.S.-bound toothpaste in Mexico. For PepsiCos independent bottlersmany of them family-owned businesses whose sales have been hurt by Pepsis market-share declinethe trade war is a fresh blow. Bottlers receive small orders of concentrate in 55-gallon containers; large orders arrive in tanker trucks. Some independent bottlers say they expect tariffs on concentrate to push up their costs, and worry that the trade war could make it difficult for PepsiCo to compete with its rivals. PepsiCo opened its first concentrate plant in Ireland in 1974. In the Irish city of Cork, PepsiCo now operates its global concentrate head office, two concentrate plants and a research and development center. And the soda giant recently doubled down on Ireland: In 2022, it invested 166 million euros, or about $189 million, in its manufacturing facilities in Cork. Keurig Dr Pepper opened a concentrate facility in Ireland in 2022, but also makes concentrate in St. Louis. The company declined to say how much it imports to the U.S. Write to Laura Cooper at laura.cooper@wsj.com The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and food delivery platform Zomato on a plea filed by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI). The NRAI's plea challenged its exclusion from the confidentiality ring' in an ongoing case that the association had filed against Zomato and Swiggy in the CCI in 2021, citing anti-competitive practices. The confidentiality ring, introduced by the CCI in April 2022, allows limited access to commercially sensitive data to designated representatives of warring parties to ensure fair scrutiny during antitrust proceedings. In this particular case, NRAI was initially included in the ring, but was later excluded by a CCI order dated 14 October 2024, prompting the latest petition. A bench led by justice Sachin Datta tagged the petition with a similar plea concerning Swiggy, in which the court had issued notice in November 2024. Both matters will now be heard together on 23 April. NRAI also urged the court to review Zomato's confidentiality claims. During the hearing, Zomatos senior counsel argued that since NRAI comprises competing entities, certain sensitive commercial information cannot be disclosed to the association. The background The ongoing legal tussle stems from a 2021 complaint filed by NRAI, accusing Zomato and Swiggy of anti-competitive conduct. These allegations include mandating the use of their delivery services, concealing customer data from partner restaurants, imposing high commissions through restrictive agreements, and favouring their own or affiliated cloud kitchens. The CCI, finding a prima facie case, launched a full-fledged investigation in 2022. After a year-long probe, the CCI's director-general submitted a confidential report in October 2023, based on data sourced from both platforms. In April 2024, the CCI allowed NRAI limited access to the report, subject to strict confidentiality safeguards and a requirement to destroy the data after the proceedings concluded. However, Zomato and Swiggy challenged the CCIs directive in the Karnataka High Court, arguing that disclosureeven under confidentiality safeguardscould cause irreparable commercial harm. They invoked Section 57 of the Competition Act, 2002, and Regulation 35 of the CCI (General) Regulations, 2009, which pertain to the treatment of confidential information. In June 2024, the Karnataka High Court directed the CCI to revisit its decision. This led to the October 2024 order formally excluding NRAI from the confidentiality ring, triggering the current litigationnow focused on Zomato. New Delhi: Bhavish Aggarwal is looking to raise up to $300 million for his artificial intelligence venture Ola Krutrim, curtailing his ambitions to snag about $500 million, after seeing poor investor appetite, three people aware of the development said. While there are no concrete investment offers on the table yet for the next round, Krutrim, led by its founder Bhavish Aggarwal, is confident of bringing multiple big-ticket investors to the cap-table" in the coming months, these people said on the condition of anonymity. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and SBI Capital Markets are the bankers involved in the funding round, one of the persons cited earlier said, adding that Krutrim will raise funds in a mix of debt and equity. The three banks did not respond to Mints emailed requests for comment. An Ola spokesperson said the company does not comment on speculations." Mint could not independently ascertain the valuation being sought by Aggarwal for the latest funding round from investors. Read more: NRAI contests exclusion from CCI confidentiality ring in Zomato antitrust probe Matrix Partners, which initially led Krutrim's first $50-million funding round, is said to be contributing $25 million more in the upcoming round, the second person said. The company is speaking with a number of top venture capital funds outside of India for additional capitalbasing their pitch upon developing indigenous infrastructure and artificial intelligence models. No deal has matured yet," they said. The third person added that the companys $500-million funding push was a part of Aggarwals effort to complete the $1 billion fundraise before his deadline. That didnt exactly work out." Aggarwal announced in February that Krutrim will attract investments amounting to over $1 billion by 2026. Krutrim, unveiled on 15 December 2023, is Aggarwals moonshot AI project that has claimed it will build foundational models for Indic languages, as well as Indias own graphic processing unit (GPU) chip, to make its own data centres and AI ecosystem. Krutrim is sanskrit for the word 'artificial'. On the 42nd day after the announcement, Aggarwal claimed to have raised $50 million for Krutrim at a valuation of $1 billion. On 4 February this year, Aggarwal claimed to have invested $230 million in Krutrim. This came after Aggarwal pledged about 8% of his shareholding in publicly-listed Ola Electric to raise debt to finance Krutrim's expansion. The funding round could be a key part of Olas claim to make India independent of depending on Western companies for AI," as per Aggarwals statement on 15 August 2024. However, the company is yet to showcase the efficacy and veracity of its work at scalesomething that investors and sectoral consultants said could be difficult. Read more: For the first time, India to make most of a laptop in-house Ola is yet to release any peer-reviewed journal on its AI development, or showcase any product implementation at scale to build any kind of investor confidence. There are also major concerns that AI ventures do not necessarily need large funds as the cost of computing reduces, and India focuses on AI applications. Venture capitalists are also cautious as AI continues to change in terms of its fundamental nature, every few weeks. None of this would favour Olas push for a massive funding round," said Jayanth Kolla, partner at technology consulting firm Convergence Catalyst. Brain drain at Krutrim Meanwhile, Krutrim continues to lose senior engineers from its AI development. A senior industry executive with direct knowledge of the matter said that Krutrim is yet to show why it needs sweeping funds to build any AI patent close to being comparable with OpenAI, Meta or Google." In fact, at this moment, multiple executives including senior ones have left the core Krutrim engineering team that is led by Sambit Sahu," the industry executive said. When contacted directly, Sahu did not respond to Mints request for an interview. To make matters worse, Indias investors are not convinced about signing on large cheques to the scale of Aggarwals demand. The investors that can offer such large amounts in funding are all based outside of India. But, the large VCs are focused on personalities who stand out with a world-leading pedigree of AI storytelling and product development. For Aggarwal, this is more difficult to pull off since his core competencies are not in AI," said Kashyap Kompella, AI consultant and chief executive of RPA2AI. Kolla said that relying on SoftBanks Masayoshi Sonwho has backed Ola beforemay be out of the question since Son is focused on pooling in his funds for the US Stargate AI initiative." Read more: SoftBanks Masayoshi Son is making big bets, leaning heavily on borrowing Such a move could hurt Olas efforts to achieve its funding goal. Kompella added that the current macroeconomic environment is not going to help either." At this moment, Donald Trumps trade tariffs are causing widespread uncertaintieswith the markets fluctuating wildly. When there is business uncertainty, the first thing that is hit is dealmaking. Large funding efforts will thus be only concentrated around a few executives such as Mira Murati (of the OpenAI founding team), who stand out as veterans in the global AI industry, and smaller ventures without a clear-cut sector expertise may struggle to raise massive funding rounds," Kompella emphasized. The fundraising attempt from external investors comes at a time when Ola Electric is facing concerns over profitability and regulatory practices. Currently, it is facing questions from the Union ministry of road transport and highways and Ministry of Heavy Industries over the gap in its sales and registration numbers in the month of February. The government is also questioning the company's servicing capacity after thousands of consumer complaints emerged against its flagship electric scooters. Since debuting at the public markets in August last year at 76, its stock has lost more than 30%. From its peak, the share price has lost over 65% value in the past 9 months. On Thursday, Ola Electric's stock closed little changed at 50.24 on the BSE. (With Inputs from Sneha Shah) Last week, Honasa Consumer moved Delhi High Court against its much bigger rival, Hindustan Unilever (HUL). The reason: sunscreens. Honasa has taken issue with HULs latest ads, which it claims disparage its own sunscreen sold under The Derma Co. Mint explains. What is Honasa complaint against HUL? HULs latest ads for Lakme sunscreen are focused on the high protection it offers with SPF 50. However, it also compares the product with a generic looking yellow bottle of rival sunscreen which, the ad says, only delivers SPF 20 while claiming to have SPF 50. Honasa Consumer says this generic yellow bottle, labeled online bestseller", looks just like its own sunscreen brand The Derma Co. In its petition to the Delhi High Court, Honasa said that The Derma Cos sunscreen is consistently ranked an Amazon Bestseller. Whats more, HUL labelled the ad a SPF Lie Detector Test, implying that its rival is lying about its advertised benefits. Also Read | Mint Primer | A good monsoon will be great for India. Heres why What is the big deal about the ads claims? SPF or Sun Protection Factor measures sunscreen efficacy. In general, higher SPF means better protection from the harmful effects of sunlight and UV radiation. In its latest ads, Lakme casts doubts not only on the actual SPF of its rival sunscreens, but also on the method with which it is calculated. Lakme claims its sunscreen is in vivo tested, meaning the products efficiency is checked on actual skin. This is the gold standard of skincare testing. In court, HUL claimed that when it tested The Derma Cos sunscreen in vivo, it was found to have an SPF of only 20. So what happens now? The Delhi High Court will continue hearing the case. In the meantime, it has ordered HUL to change any reference to The Derma Co in its ads and take down existing billboards. HUL also sued Honasas founder Ghazal Alagh in the Bombay High Court for her social media post defending her products and mockingly welcoming Lakme to the "in vivo tested SPF50 club". She later deleted her post. Are brands allowed to disparage each other? It depends. Taking potshots at your rival is an established advertising tactic. In the past, HUL has sued other rival brands for ads that run down its own products. In 2022, it sued German soap brand Sebamed for ads that claimed HULs Dove was not as good for the skin as it claimed. In 2017, it also sued dairy giant Amul for running ads that claimed that HULs Kwality Walls wasnt real ice cream but frozen dessert, made from hydrogenated vegetable oil. In these and other cases, Indias courts have repeatedly ruled that comparative advertising is legal. So where do these ads cross the line? Comparing yourself to a rival is okay, as long as the comparisons are factual and backed by evidence. Anything else can be considered disparaging. In this battle of sunscreens, HUL submitted a lab test report in court to prove that The Derma Cos sunscreen has only SPF20. However, advocates for Honasa said the report was incomplete and submitted a rival report that backed its claim that The Derma Cos sunscreen had SPF50. As the hearing continues, this evidence will be crucial in deciding if Lakmes ads were factual or merely dragging down its rival. New Delhi: After months of rising demand, the number of people that sought work under the governments rural job guarantee scheme dipped to a four-month low in March, indicating a potential shift in labour market conditions. Government data showed that people from 186.4 million households sought work under the under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in March. That was a 14.5% drop from 217.9 million households in February. The numbers were 224.9 million in January and 215.7 million in December. The moderation in demand likely reflects improving rural job opportunities outside the scheme and seasonal shifts in employment patterns. MGNREGS demand often acts as a barometer of rural distress, rising when job availability in agriculture or other informal sectors drops. Also Read | Parliamentary panel calls for revising wage rates of MGNREGS workers The rise in MGNREGS work demand between November and February was largely due to seasonal factors, a senior official said, requesting anonymity. However, the recent decline is due to increased farm and non-farm activities in rural areas. Indias GDP growth accelerated to 6.2% in Q3 (October-December) of FY25 from 5.6% in the previous quarter, driven by rural consumption following a good monsoon and higher government spending. The agriculture sector grew by 5.6% during this period, compared with 1.5% in the corresponding quarter of the previous year and 4.1% in the September quarter. The spokesperson of the ministry of rural development, the nodal ministry for the scheme, didn't respond to emailed queries. Allocation unchanged The allocation for MGNREGS in the FY26 budget was 86,000 crore, unchanged from the previous year. In FY24, although the initial budget estimate pegged an allocation of 60,000 crore, actual expenditure reached 1.06 trillion, according to official data, exceeding even the revised estimate of 86,000 crore. That reflected strong demand for rural jobs, largely due to uneven rainfall affecting livelihoods. Also Read | MGNREGS funding likely to remain unchanged in FY26 amid rural recovery The Centre is relying on sustained capital spending and a revival of rural demand, supported by a favourable monsoon, to fuel economic growth in the current fiscal year. The India Meteorological Department has predicted above-normal cumulative rainfall for the monsoon season this year. The central government may take a call on increasing the allocation for MGNREGS later in the year, a second senior government official said on condition of anonymity. "A review will be carried out at the halfway point of the ongoing fiscal year in September-October. If required, the allocations under the scheme can be enhanced then," the person added. Guaranteed employment MGNREGS provides the poorest households in rural areas with at least 100 days of guaranteed waged employment in a financial year. The work offered typically involves unskilled manual labour related to public works such as building rural infrastructure, water conservation or afforestation. Also Read | The dichotomies that define Indias rural jobs promise The number of workdays demanded under MGNREGS often serves as an indicator of rural economic distress. More people turn to the scheme to secure an income due to factors such as poor agricultural output, drought, floods, or lack of employment opportunities in the informal sector. NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India is set to impose a temporary tariff, known locally as safeguard duty, of 12% on steel imports, said a government source with direct knowledge of the matter, to try and curb a surge in cheap imports from China and elsewhere. The government would enact the tax as soon as possible, the source, who did not wish to be named, told Reuters on Monday. Also Read | ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India bats for protection of domestic steel industry India, the world's second-biggest crude steel producer, was also a net importer of finished steel for the second consecutive year in the 2024/25 fiscal year, with shipments reaching a nine-year high of 9.5 million metric tons, according to provisional government data. Last month, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which comes under the federal trade ministry, recommended a tariff of 12% on some steel products for 200 days, as part of efforts to stem cheap imports. The recommendation followed an investigation from December last year over whether unbridled imports have harmed India's domestic steel industry. Also Read | JSW Steel to invest over 50,000 cr to create 10 MTPA of green steel capacity "There is clarity that the duty would be 12% and a decision is expected at the earliest," the source said of the previously unreported plan to go ahead with the DGTR's recommendation. The Ministry of Finance, which takes the final decision, did not immediately respond to a Reuters email seeking comment. India's finished steel imports from China, South Korea and Japan hit a record high in the first 10 months of the financial year that ended in March. Imports from China, South Korea and Japan accounted for 78% of India's overall finished steel imports. The influx of cheap steel has forced India's smaller mills to scale down operations and consider job cuts. India joins a growing list of countries contemplating action to stem imports. Its leading steelmakers' body, which counts JSW Steel and Tata Steel among members, alongside the Steel Authority of India and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India have raised concerns over imports and called for curbs. New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said India hopes to finalize the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement with the US by the end of the American autumn season that runs from mid-September to mid-December. Speaking at an interaction with the Indian diaspora in San Francisco, Sitharaman said talks are progressing steadily, with both sides working to resolve outstanding issues and laying the groundwork for a broader trade partnership. "The progress of the agreement (of the trade agreement) that we are working on, at least the first tranche, is something which we hope to conclude positively by the fall of this year," she said. Fall is used for autumn in North America. Sitharaman is on an official visit to the US from 20-25 April to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank and meet her US counterpart Scott Bessent. She said India is actively engaging with the Trump administration for a bilateral trade agreement. "The priority that we gave to engage with the government here is more than obviously seen with the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) himself visiting the United States in February. You also had the commerce minister come (to the US)," Sitharaman said. "I came here because I have the IMF-World Bank meetings. But I am scheduled to meet the Treasury Secretary, my counterpart here," she said adding that US vice president J.D. Vance, who is currently on an official visit to India is set to meet Modi soon. "In between all this, the additional USTR (junior trade minister) had visited India to see the progress or to engage with the negotiating team which is dealing with the tariff-related negotiations and with the bilateral trade agreement that we want to sign," she added. In February, India and the US agreed to pursue the first phase of a trade deal in 2025, aiming to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Earlier in April, the US announced a 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian exports, citing India's average 52% import duty on American goods. The move, part of President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariff plan, included a standard 10% duty on imports and higher rates for countries with large trade surpluses with the US. Also read | Delhi draws a line in the sand over American dairy However, their implementation has been put on hold for 90 daysuntil 9 Julyallowing time for nations to negotiate a trade deal with the US. India's growth Meanwhile, Sitharaman said India is firmly on track to reducing its fiscal deficit, noting that a clear consolidation roadmap was laid out in 2021 following a pandemic-induced spike in spending. We set annual targets and committed to bringing the deficit below 4.5% by 2026," she said adding that the glide path is being followed diligently. Sitharaman also highlighted India's progress in reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio after it spiked during the pandemic. Following the pandemic, the ratio crossed 62%, but within four years, it has been brought down to 57.4%, she said. April 21, 2025: Determining which nation has the most effective armed forces is not easy. For example the top ten armed forces in the world by number of troops are 1. China 2. India 3. United States 4. Russia 5. France 6. Japan 7. Germany 8. Brazil 9. Italy 10. Britain The top ten according to military effectiveness is different with the Americans in first place followed by China, Russia, India, Britain, South Korea, Pakistan, Japan, Israel and France. Note that the top ten according to military spending for 2023 is quite different. 1 United States $916 billion which is 3.4 percent of GDP and 37 percent of global defense spending 2 China $296, 1.7 percent and 12 percent of global defense spending 3 Russia $109, 5.9 percent and 4.5 percent of global defense spending 4 India $83,6 2.4 percent and 3.4 percent of global defense spending 5 Saudi Arabia $75.6, 7.1 percent and 3.1 percent of global defense spending 6 Britain $74.9, 2.3 percent and 3.1 percent of global defense spending 7 Germany $66.8, 1.5 percent and 2.7 percent of global defense spending 8 Ukraine $64.8, 37 percent and 2.7 percent of global defense spending 9 France $61.3, 2.1 percent and 2.5 percent of global defense spending 10 Japan $50.2, 1.2 percent and 2.1 percent of global defense spending Another factor is the impact of the Ukraine War that began in February 2022 and is still going in 2025. That war, the first between industrialized nations since 1945, will eventually end. That will mean a shift to national reconstruction in Ukraine. NATO nations have promised substantial post-war economic rebuilding aid so that Ukraine can fit that aid into their war plans. The Netherlands announced it was spending several billion dollars on Ukraine aid in 2024 and 2025. The German GDP is over four trillion dollars while that of the Netherlands is about one trillion dollars. Germany sent $8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. Considering its smaller size, the Netherlands has been a major supplier of aid to Ukraine. The Netherlands and Germany plan to provide even larger amounts of aid for the post-war reconstruction. The 2024 Dutch aid for Ukraine includes a wide array of weapons and services. There will be more air defense systems, drones and munitions for various weapons Ukraine already has. Services include training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots and aircraft maintainers. In 2024 a larger portion of the aid was for economic reconstruction and current government financing. Unable to do sufficient damage to Ukrainian armed forces, Russia has been concentrating many of its missile attacks on economic targets. These have to be repaired or rebuilt, especially the targets that provide electricity, heat or clean water and sanitation services. The Russians want Ukrainian civilians to suffer. The Dutch can relate to this. During World War 2 the Netherlands was occupied by German troops and towards the end of the war the Germans greatly reduced the food available for Dutch civilians. In the Netherlands, that period of privation is remembered, and they dont want to see it happen again and again to the Ukrainians. For centuries Ukraine has suffered periods of brutal occupation by invaders. The most frequent brutal occupier has been Russia, which has also played the homicidal villain several times in the last century. The most infamous Russian occupation incident was the use of famine during 1932 and 1933 to suppress Ukrainian opposition to Russian rule, especially the new Russian ideology of communism which prohibited private farms and expected all farmers to work for state-owned farms. This was resisted by many farmers throughout Russia, but the opposition was most stubborn in Ukraine, where about 20 percent of the Soviet Unions population lived. Ukrainian farmers were the most productive in Russia and produced most of the exportable wheat. Ukrainian resistance produced a horrific Soviet response, the seizure of nearly all the wheat crops in the areas of most resistance. This lasted two years and killed nearly four million Ukrainians, about an eighth of the population. Ukrainians called this the Holodomor, which translates as the Man-Made Famine. Russia denied the Holodomor ever happened and many Western nations, and their mass media, went along with that. One exception was Britain, where one British reporter risked his life by going to Ukraine and obtaining proof of the Holodomor. The Russian government kept denying the famine ever happened until 1983, when a more open communist government admitted that many communist crimes were true. This made an impression on Russians because they realized most of the victims of the Gulag prison camps and communist terror in general were Russians. As a result, during the 0ccupations of Crimea and parts of Donbas in 2014 the Russians tried to win the support of locals. That lowered the civilian death toll but did not turn most of the occupied population into loyal citizens of Russia. By 2020 most Ukrainians in the occupied territories wanted out. The most desperate moved to Russia, many others wanted to get to Ukraine and others sought to go anywhere but Ukraine and Russia. The Holodomor and many other past incidents of Russian brutality led to Russian troops being initially ordered to not attack civilians during the 2022 invasion. That failed to cause civilians to be any more receptive to the Russian presence and, within a month, troops were told they could loot and not tolerate any resistance from civilians. Russia denied that civilians were being killed or that widespread looting was taking place. Cell phone cameras carried by most Ukrainians made those claims difficult to sustain. Nor were Russian denials of the heavy casualties inflicted on the Russian forces who believed they would easily defeat the Ukrainians and occupy the capital, Kyiv, within two weeks. After a month of this, Russian troops around Kyiv were ordered to withdraw to Russia and try to conceal evidence of mass murder before they left. This produced some mass graves, but many bodies were left in plain view and many surviving civilians had video evidence of who did what. Russia again denied it, insisting these civilians were killed by Ukrainian forces to make the Russians look bad. Once more the video evidence, especially from Ukrainians who witnessed it and could identify some of the perpetrators, made the atrocities difficult to deny. Mindful of that, Russian occupation forces in parts of Ukraine that were seized early on and are still under Russian control, were ordered to try really hard to win over the locals without resorting to mass murder. The main occupation zone is north of Crimea and centered around the city of Kherson, which is the capital of Kherson province. Kherson City was captured during the first week of the invasion and Russia has held onto most of the province ever since. The city is a major port because it is located near the mouth of the Dnieper River and the Black Sea. The Dnieper is a major navigable river for Ukraine and has long been used to handle the movement of cargo, especially wheat being exported. Ukraine has been trying to recapture Kherson City and province ever since and finally did so at the end of 2023, aided by a growing partisan movement inside Kherson province and passive resistance to Russian occupation by most Ukrainians in the province. Some Ukrainians agreed to work for the Russian occupation, and they were soon the targets of attacks by Ukrainian partisans. Some of the turncoats were killed but more worrisome to the Russians were indications that other Ukrainian officials quietly agreed to work for the partisans. The Russians eventually concluded that many of their Ukrainian administrators were working with the resistance from the beginning. At the same time the Russian occupation forces still had orders to try and win over the Ukrainians or at least discourage them from joining an armed insurrection. To help with that the Russians sought to Russify the province as quickly as possible. That meant replacing the Ukrainian cell phone service with a Russian one. Ukrainian TV and radio transmissions are blocked. Russian ID documents became mandatory and use of the Russian ruble was mandatory. Access to Russian controlled utilities, especially water and electricity, were dependent on how cooperative the local civilians were. All these efforts were made to link Kherson to the Russian economy. The initial reason for pacifying the population was to make life safe for Russian troops in Kherson. That was never fully achieved, and since then Russian troops have to worry about roadside bombs or anti-vehicle mines as well as sniper fire and assassination via pistol or a bomb planted in a vehicle. The goal of this was to hold elections that could be depicted as honest and show a majority of Kherson residents supporting annexation by Russia. The Ukrainians were not cooperating and doing so in clever ways that Russian Information War specialists recognized and struggled to counter. The Ukrainian resistance was armed and dangerous but also mindful of the importance of outperforming the Russian Information War campaign. Some of the American aid packages for Ukraine included a lot of Cold War era PARM anti-vehicle mines that were never used. These mines were developed by the Germans to halt or disrupt a Soviet invasion that never came. The Germans believed Ukrainian partisans could use these mines. This has proved to be true, and the Ukrainians wanted more of these mines after having received nearly 15,000. Germany has to resume production of these mines to meet the Ukrainian demand. Ukrainians depict the Russian occupiers as worse than the German Nazis of World War II infamy. This is particularly embarrassing for the Russians because the official Russian government justification for the invasion is to liberate Ukrainians from neo-Nazi Ukrainians led by president Zelensky, who is Jewish. This tragicomedy was understood by many in Russia early on and led to a largely unarmed, but often violent, resistance movement inside Russia and Belarus. Russia denies the extent of the resistance in Kherson, calling armed partisans local bandits and gangsters. Video proof gets out of Kherson and Russian troops stationed in Kherson complain to friends and family back home. This intensifies resistance to the war inside Russia, where the government is waging its own Information War to generate support for the war or at least discredit the critics. It was the growing inability to suppress accurate news that played a role in causing the Soviet Union to dissolve in 1991. The former KGB officers who brought back so many aspects of Soviet rule during the last two decades are having a hard time dealing with media and image control. Its the 1980s all over again but worse. This is a reminder that the Information War is not a state monopoly and often a multi-sided conflict. Washington [US], April 21 (ANI): Jacob Elordi, known for his roles in 'Euphoria' and 'Saltburn', has returned to his homeland for a project that is deeply significant to both him and Australian culture. The highly anticipated Amazon Prime Video limited series 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North', based on Richard Flanagan's Booker Prize-winning novel, debuted on April 18, 2025. The series marks a notable first for both Elordi and Australian director Justin Kurzel, who is taking on his first-ever television project with this adaptation. The show, which was produced by Sony Pictures Television, Curio Pictures, and Amazon MGM Studios Australia, features a powerful and intimate portrayal of the Australian experience during and after World War II. The story follows the life of Dorrigo Evans, an Australian surgeon who is captured and subjected to brutal conditions as a prisoner of war in the infamous Burma Railway, as per The Hollywood Reporter. As Evans grapples with the horrors of war and the loss of a fleeting love, he faces the burden of his memories, guilt, and the trauma of heroism. In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Elordi discussed the significance of returning to Australia for the role of Dorrigo Evans, a complex character marked by both heroism and deep flaws. Elordi called Kurzel his "cinema father," adding that the opportunity to work with such a renowned director was one he could not pass up. "When you're Australian -- and I think it's the same for all the boys in the show -- there's one man that you want to work with in Australia and it's Kurzel," Elordi said, reflecting on his admiration for the director. For Kurzel, Elordi's involvement in the series was a natural fit. Having seen Elordi's previous work, Kurzel was eager to collaborate with him on the project. "I think he's fantastic, so I was like, let's work together and try to find out what Dorrigo could be," Kurzel explained during the interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The adaptation of 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North' comes with significant pressure. Not only is the novel a monumental piece of Australian literature, but it also explores deeply personal and painful themes surrounding war, trauma, and memory. Justin Kurzel and his longtime collaborator, Shaun Grant, worked meticulously on the screenplay to ensure the series did justice to Flanagan's work, which is widely regarded as one of the best Australian novels of the 21st century. Kurzel explained the challenge of balancing the horror of war with the personal and intimate moments of Dorrigo's internal struggle. "I always saw it through the prism of love, not only with Amy, but also with this sort of beautiful relationship he has with the men," Kurzel said. He described the relationship between Dorrigo and the men he cared for as one of mutual support and tenderness amidst the trauma of their circumstances. Elordi added that the character's contradictions, his status as a war hero and deeply flawed man, were what made Dorrigo human and relatable. "The most humanity you'll find in people is probably in their contradictions. That's what makes people human," Elordi explained. He added that his approach to the character was driven by the energy of the set and the collaborative process with Kurzel. The series features an ensemble cast, including Odessa Young, Olivia DeJonge, Ciaran Hinds, and Essie Davis, along with Japanese actors Sho Kasamatsu, Taki Abe, and Akira Fujii. A haunting score from Jed Kurzel sets the tone for the series' deeply emotional narrative. As for the technical aspects of filming, Kurzel revealed that the team used long takes and immersive shooting techniques to make the harrowing scenes of war feel as real and visceral as possible. "We did extremely long takes... there's something about the continuous takes that allows a reality for the other boys to experience it," Kurzel said during the interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Though set against the backdrop of war, 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North' goes beyond depicting historical events. Elordi emphasised the universal appeal of the book, noting that its character studies resonate with people across the globe. Meghan Markle is facing new round of plagiarism allegations once again. British author Mel Elliott alleged that the Duchess shelved Netflix animated series Pearl has striking resemblance to her own creation, which were too great to ignore." She said she sent a legal letter suggesting a potential infringement of copyright in relation to her own work- Pearl Power. Meghan Markle accused of plagiarism Meghan show Pearl was announced in 2021 as a part of her and Prince Harrys multi-million dollar deal with Netflix. Pearl followed the story of a young girl learning life lessons from influential women in history. Author slams Meghan Markle Elliott, 51, from Hastings, who is known for her children book series, said she had reached out to Netflix and Meghan via personal letters but did not receive an answer. Daily Mail quoted her saying, Meghan is a feminist who sticks up for other women, so I was disappointed and confused to see how similar Netflixs proposed show Pearl was to my own Pearl Power who had been created seven years earlier. Of course, I cant know if anyone on her team had seen it and been inspired by it, but the similarities were too great for me to ignore." By the time Meghans Netflix show was announced, Mel had already published three books in her Pearl Power series in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Meghan Markle ignores legal notices Elliott's lawyer wrote to Meghan, as per the portal,: "The similarities between your proposed animation series and my clients work appear to be too many and too striking to be mere coincidence. It also appears that there is a risk that your proposed series may infringe intellectual property rights belonging to my client and/or may give rise to a claim in passing off (or in the US, some form of unfair competition)." After receiving no reply from Meghan, reportedly the children author yet again sent personal letters to Archewell and Netflix. Mysteriously, Pearl was cancelled in May 2022. Netflix reasoned that Pearl was among the several projects which were dropped due to falling subscriber numbers which necessitated cutbacks. Why did Mel Elliott keep quiet? Elliott said she decided to not bring the matter in public due to fear of trolling by Meghan's fans. However, it seems she decided to speak up after seeing the duchess projects' tanking. She also said, "I am glad that Meghan's 'Pearl' show was dropped, and I hope that I had something to do with it. But what I really wanted was for it to have gone ahead, and for me to have been acknowledged or invited to work as a collaborator on the series. Pearl was my dream project and now, annoyingly, if I reprise my own creation, it's going to look like I have copied the idea from someone else. Elliotts third Pearl Power book was a big success. It gained attention when actor Ryan Gosling attended The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Victoria Beckham bought a copy for her daughter. Actor Kate Winslet was also reportedly seen with one of the books from the series. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died on Monday morning, as per Vatican. He was 88. The leader who was widely revered as a compassionate and progressive leader of the Catholic Church, spent his time voicing his opinion on social justice, environmental issues, and interfaith dialogue. In a surprising move, he also became the first pontiff to star in a film. Pope Francis' film debut Pope Francis made his film debut in 2018. Besides his documentary, Francis played himself in his debut film, Beyond the Sun (2018). An indie film, based on the gospels, had the Pope in a six-minute scene. Francis narrated Jesus teachings with a group of children. He is used to having cameras in front of him now. He would advise [the crew] and be like, The light is better this way. I didnt direct him. He was the one directing me, revealed Beyond the Sun director, Graciela Rodriguez Gilio to The Hollywood Reporter. Documentary on Pope Francis German filmmaker Wim Wenders helmed a documentary film, titled Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (2018), focusing on the beloved leader's life and goals. The documentary included excerpts from Pope's interviews and visuals from his life. The Pope has the same presence as some of the greatest movie stars Ive worked with. But it comes from inside, from his convictions and his faith, and from his desire to talk to all of us, Wenders told BBC once. He talked about paedophilia without hesitation, and that was when he was at his angriest. We really felt the fury in him that he would like to do so much more but hes only one man, he added. The film is about a man who wants to move his church and talk to everybody, not just Catholics and Christians. His is not just a Christian message. Its a message to all people of goodwill, and thats who he wants to address, Wenders also said. Pope Francis' favourite movies Pope Francis' also had his favourite films. According to a report of The Guardian, he loved Rome, Open City; Babettes Feast; and La Strada. When Pope Francis met Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio The late Pope met Angelina Jolie in January 2015 when she presented him her film Unbroken (2014). In 2016, actor Leonardo DiCaprio met the Pope to talk about climate change. In 2023, Pope Francis urged filmmakers to reawaken wonder through their creations. In an increasingly artificial world, where man has surrounded himself with the works of his own hands, the great risk is to lose a sense of wonder. I share this reflection with you, entrusting you with the task to reawaken wonder, the late Pope told filmmakers. Later, filmmaker Martin Scorsese arranged a meeting with Pope Francis and announced his upcoming film on Jesus. I have responded to the Popes appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus. And Im about to start making it, he said, as per Variety. Pope Francis' funeral Meanwhile, the Vatican is preparing for Pope Francis' funeral. The funeral is held within four to six days, and is led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. Mumbai: In a huge relief to the banking system, the Reserve Bank of India has allowed banks to set aside a lower stock of liquid assets against deposits raised through digital channels, in the event of a potential run on banks. In the final guidelines on liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) released on Monday, RBI said that banks need to assign a run-off factor of only 7.5% on these retail deposits instead of the 10% proposed in the draft guidelines. Run-offs happen when individuals or businesses withdraw their deposits, which banks do not anticipate. Stable retail deposits enabled with internet and mobile banking (IMB) will have a 7.5% run-off factor, and less stable deposits will have a 12.5% run-off factor, as against 5% and 10% respectively, prescribed currently. In its guidelines, RBI also said that funding from non-financial entities like trusts (educational, charitable and religious), partnerships, limited liability partnerships, etc., will attract a lower run-off rate of 40% as against 100% currently. This move will free up capital and make it easier and cheaper to meet LCR requirements. According to the RBI, the new measures are expected to improve banks LCR by around 6 percentage points, based on the data available as on 31 December. All the banks would continue to meet the minimum regulatory LCR requirements comfortably. Reserve Bank is sanguine that these measures will enhance the liquidity resilience of banks in India, and further align the guidelines with the global standards in a non-disruptive manner, it said in the press release. The new guidelines will be effective from 1 April 2026, giving banks enough time to transition their systems to the latest standards for LCR computation. LCR norms require banks to maintain a stock of high-quality liquid assets (HQLA), primarily government securities, to tide them over a hypothetical 30-day stress scenario in which deposit outflows occur. Currently, banks are required to maintain an LCR of 100%. Relief to banks The new guidelines come as a relief to banks, which had earlier expressed concerns that the draft norms might hinder their ability to provide credit. Banks had even urged the finance ministry to seek relaxation or deferment of these guidelines. Also, considering systemic liquidity is tight and deposit mobilisation is slow, the impact of the draft norms on banks was expected to be high. RBI's move aims to keep banks prepared for any sudden withdrawal of funds by clients using digital channels, similar to the US-based Silicon Valley Bank, which collapsed last year after a bank run. Read more: Banks to walk the margin tightrope in Q1 as outlook remains uncertain There is a growing buzz around public sector undertaking (PSU) companies in D-Street. The global uncertainty unleashed by the US tariff tantrums has reinvigorated investor interest in these domestic-focused, state-backed players, especially after the recent bouts of market correction. In fact, Arunish Chawla, secretary of the governments department of investment and public asset management (Dipam), recently urged fund managers to include PSUs in their portfolios during a media briefing, touting their high dividend-generating capabilities. He pointed out that state-run firms delivered a record 1.5 trillion in dividends to the government in FY25. For FY26, the government expects to receive 69,000 crore in dividends from PSUs. However, experts caution against the allure of high dividend yields, as they can lead investors astray to pick non-performing companies at a time when a broad-based rally in PSU stocks is highly unlikely. Read more: Sebi plans raising MF exposure limit in REITs, InvITs; experts flag tax concerns This comes as retail investors continue to reel under the BSE PSU Index's 19% drop from its 52-week high, a peak reached during an overhyped two-year surge. Their enthusiasm for PSUs has waned since then, despite the index currently outperforming the Sensex. Hence, luring them back into PSUs with the promise of dividends might create misguided return expectations, noted experts. Dividend illusion Dividends protect your downside. But they never drive re-ratings in stocks. Earnings growth does. Hence, dividends cannot be the sole argument for investing in PSUs," Dhimant Kothari, fund manager at Invesco MF, told Mint. A Mint analysis of BSE PSU Index constituents revealed that in FY24, their aggregate net profit grew by 44%. In comparison, dividend payments increased by about 28% (after a decline in the previous year), resulting in a dividend payout ratio of 13%. The median payout ratio for these PSU stocks over the past six years was 20%. Kothari pointed out that PSUs were continuously derated between FY18 and FY20, despite dishing out dividend yields as high as 7-8%. This means that the PSUs propensity to pay higher dividends each year comes at the cost of lower reinvestments in capacity expansion, which could result in poorer execution capabilities. One of the main concerns regarding PSUs is their elongated execution timelines, which create huge backlogs in their order books. Vinit Bolinjkar, head of research at Ventura, a stock broking firm, said they need to spend more on building capacity and capability to deliver faster. Indian PSUs have enough structural levers to generate good returns on capital investment if they reinvest these profits. By giving them as dividends, they are taking away some returns from their growth," highlighted Anil Rego, founder and fund manager at Right Horizons PMS. Rego also pointed out that since dividends also form a critical part of the governments non-tax revenues, these companies aim to pay higher dividends every year. Still, it might be of little appeal to investors, particularly high networth individuals, as their dividend incomes are now taxed at their respective income tax slab rates under new rules introduced in the Finance Act 2020. Rego adds that this renders dividends even more inefficient, and hence, they should never be the driving force behind investing in PSUs. Second look But there is a hidden draw. Attractive valuations and strong growth trajectories have increased the appeal of select PSUs lately, especially when the broader market deals with heightened global volatility. Bolinjkar from Ventura noted that investors are looking for good revenue visibility, long-term government support, and low leverage in balance sheets when picking PSU stocks, which are currently trading at a bargain. Experts think players from the defence, power, utility and renewable energy sectors, along with public sector banks (PSB), are looking lucrative. We expect around 14-16% earnings growth for PSUs between FY26-30, and they are relatively insulated from global macroeconomic turbulenceparticularly the PSBs," said Kothari from Invesco Mutual Fund. In terms of earnings visibility for the next couple of years, power, utility and defence sectors are best placed. From a longer-term perspective, even railway companies look attractive," he added. Read more: Beyond the tariff truce: Where can investors find lasting protection? Ajit Mishra, senior vice president of research at Religare Broking, said defence companies stand out with strong growth potential among the enticing Psus. This is fuelled by increasing government budgets, a push for indigenisation, rising exports, and favourable geopolitical dynamics. In fact, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) bagged orders worth 62,700 crore from the government last monththe largest order in terms of value, where it will supply 156 light combat helicopters to Indias armed forces. Government project awards, anyway, doubled to 2.25 trillion on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis in March, sharply above the FY25 monthly average of 1.05 trillion, according to a recent JM Financial Services report. Select PSUs receive orders However, only defence and power sector projects dominated the governments latest orders, indicating a pickup in spending in select critical infrastructure areas. While roads, water and metro segments saw muted tendering activity in Q4FY25, project awards for the power transmission and distribution and renewable sectors remained robust, as the government currently rushes to meet the expected rise in Indias power demand, noted HDFC Securities. Further, Elara Securities expects power companies to report strong earnings in Q4 as the onset of summer and a rise in peak power demand revived electricity generation in the March quarter. However, retail investors currently remain unconvinced. Infrastructure, energy, and power funds saw their first outflows in two years in March, which was also the largest redemption post-covid, noted an Elara Securities report. While inflows into pure equity schemes slowed to a one-year low last month, thematic and sectoral funds witnessed the biggest slowdown, with a meagre inflow of 170 crore in March, collapsing from a 22,400-crore inflow in June. Mishra from Religare Broking thinks that at this juncture, a hybrid strategyfocusing on consistent dividend payers while selectively identifying PSUs with growth catalystscan help investors benefit from both stability and upside potential in the future. New Delhi: The Centre is planning a qualified institutional placement (QIP) for Bank of Maharashtra to reduce its stake below 75% in keeping with public float norms, with the sale expected to conclude by FY26-end, two people aware of the matter told Mint. The move is part of a phased divestment strategy aimed at reducing government holdings in public sector banks (PSBs) that currently do not meet the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebi) requirement of at least 25% public shareholding in listed companies. The QIP for Bank of Maharashtra will help move closer to compliance with Sebi norms," the first person mentioned above said, requesting anonymity. Similar plans are in place for other PSBs, but meeting the shareholding norms may take some time for them." Also read | QIPs by state-owned banks: A push for compliance but little upside for investors The person added that while the Centre aims to reduce its stake in four other banks exceeding the 75% limitlikely through QIPs in FY26the process may extend over the next few years. There are no plans to conduct multiple QIP rounds for the same bank in a single financial year," the person added. Interestingly, while the government has allowed PSBs to pursue equity dilution and their market offers strategically during 2025-26, initial share sales are likely to range from 5% to 10% of paid-up capital and further share sales staggered over the coming years. The Centre has in recent years opted for QIPs as the preferred route for equity dilution in PSBs, allowing it to attract institutional investors. To be sure, market regulator Sebi, which mandated a 25% minimum public shareholding for all listed companies in August 2024, granted PSBs time until August 2026 to comply with the rule, while giving Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) until 16 May 2027 to reach 10% public shareholding. Also read | Are PNB investors worried about QIP-led dilution? As of April 2025, seven of the 12 PSBsState Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, Union Bank of India and Bank of Indiahad met Sebis minimum public shareholding requirement. At the end of the quarter ending 31 March, the government owned 89.27% of Central Bank of India, 79.60% of Bank of Maharashtra, 90.95% of UCO Bank, 94.61% of Indian Overseas Bank and 93.85% of Punjab & Sind Bank. The Centre is likely to need a few more years to meet shareholding norms, as per the Sebi requirements for Central Bank of India, UCO Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and Punjab & Sind Bank," the second person mentioned above said, requesting anonymity. The person said there are no current plans for a direct market sale via an offer for sale or a public offering for any PSB, adding that the government may seek more time to comply with the Sebi norms if needed. A spokesperson for the ministry of finance did not respond to emailed queries. Also read | Insurance laws bill set for monsoon session, proposes 100% FDI, composite licenses and sweeping reforms State-run lenders have previously raised capital through QIPs, but in 2025-26, the process is expected to be more structured, with banks undertaking larger capital-raising exercises. The governments shares that must be sold in the five PSBs mentioned above to meet the minimum public shareholding are valued at over 50,000 crore at current market prices, with Indian Overseas Bank alone accounting for around 20,000 crore. Buy or sell stocks: Following strong global markets' bias, the Indian stock market ended higher for the fourth straight session on Thursday. The Nifty 50 index gained 414 points and closed at 23,851, the BSE Sensex surged 1508 points and closed at 78,553, and the Bank Nifty index went up 1172 points and closed at 54,290. In a holiday-truncated week, Nifty was up 4.48%, the highest weekly rise since the week ended 5th Feb 2021. All sectoral indices ended the day in the green, with Nifty Bank, Financial Services, PSU Banks, and Pharma sectors leading the gains. While the benchmark indices saw substantial gains on the weekly expiry, the broader market indices underperformed. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices gained a more modest 0.60% and 0.37%, respectively. The advance-decline ratio on the BSE remained positive for the fourth straight day at 1.59, indicating that advancing shares continued to outnumber declining ones. Stock market today Vaishali Parekh, Vice President Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, believes the Indian stock market trend is strong, and the Nifty 50 index is heading for an immediate target of 24,200. The Prabhudas Lilldher expert said the Nifty 50 index may try to test 24,800 levels on breaking above 24,200 on a closing basis. She predicted the bull trend would continue in other benchmark indices, especially the Bank Nifty index, as most of the frontline banking stocks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank, Axis Bank, and SBI are gaining strength. Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 today, Vaishali Parekh said, "The Nifty 50 index witnessed another session of robust move having tremendous buying interest triggered among the frontline stocks, which pulled the index to retest the previous peak level of 23,870 zone with the overall trend getting stronger anticipating for further rise. The index would have the next upside targets of 24,200 and 24,800 with near-term support positioned near the 100 period MA at 23,400 zone, which needs to be sustained as of now." "The Bank Nifty index witnessed one of the best sessions in recent times, almost retesting the previous peak zone of 54,470 with most of the frontline banking stocks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank, Axis Bank, and SBI gaining strength, leading from the front to pull the index to a new high. The index has now opened the gates for an upside target of 56,200 and 57,500 in the coming days, with the 52500 level maintained as the important and crucial support zone, which needs to be sustained," said Parekh. Parekh said that today, the Nifty's support is 23,700, while the resistance is 24,200. The Bank Nifty would have a daily range of 53,700 to 55,000. Vaishali Parekh's recommended stocks Regarding stocks to buy today, Vaishali Parekh recommended these three buy or sell stocks: HDFC AMC, KPIT Technologies, and Nippon Life India Asset Management. 1] HDFC AMC: Buy at 4218, Target 4370, Stop Loss 4140; 2] KPIT Technologies: Buy at 1136, Target 1180, Stop Loss 1112; and 3] Nippon Life India Asset Management: Buy at 596, Target 630, Stop Loss 584. Stock market today: Nifty Bank extended their winning streak for the fifth consecutive trading session on Monday, April 21, as investors cheered the strong March quarter performance by HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. The upbeat earnings not only exceeded market expectations but also lifted overall sentiment toward the sector, resulting in a strong rally in Nifty Bank in today's session, April 21. Both HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank gained up to 2% at the days high, helping Nifty Bank scale a fresh record peak of 55,291 points and extend its winning streak for the fifth consecutive trading session. The index has surged by 1000 points in todays intraday session, with HDFC Bank alone contributing 184 points, ICICI Bank adding 129 points, and State Bank of India, Axis Bank, and IndusInd Bank together contributing 329 points as of 10:30 A.M. With todays gains, the Bank Nifty has risen over 7% so far in April, marking its strongest monthly performance since December 2023. Both lenders reported quarterly results on Saturday that exceeded analyst expectations, driven by sustained loan growth and improving asset quality. Brokerages remain bullish on HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank after Q4 results Several brokerages have maintained bullish ratings on both HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank following their strong Q4FY25 results, revising their target prices upward. For HDFC Bank, Jefferies has raised its target price to 2,340, highlighting improved loan growth and margins, while UBS maintained a 'Buy' with a target of 2,250. Macquarie also retained its 'Outperform' rating with a target of 2,300, noting stable credit costs and potential for return on assets (ROA) improvement. CLSA has raised its target to 2,200, and Nuvama kept its 'Buy' call with a target of 2,195, citing strong deposit growth and a reduction in slippages. For ICICI Bank, Jefferies raised its target to 1,710, citing strong profit growth and healthy asset quality. CLSA increased its target to 1,700, impressed by the banks focus on profitability over growth. UBS maintained a 'Buy' rating with a target of 1,680, while Macquarie kept its 'Outperform' rating at 1,670, highlighting improved NIMs and low credit costs. Nomura lifted its target to 1,690 despite lowering earnings estimates slightly due to expected repo rate cuts. Nuvama continued with a 'Buy' rating and a target of 1,630 after the bank reported solid NIM and PAT growth with declining slippages. MUMBAI : The Nifty Bank, which is slated to hit a record high today, following solid results by heavyweights ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, could trade in a 4% range (2% up or down) this week, based on the price of a straddle sold by options traders on 17 April. The Nifty Bank has risen 9% over a month (19 March to 17 April), making it among the best-performing indices in anticipation of better earnings from its 12 constituents. Given the stellar rally of the past month, option sellers are expecting a moderate rise and have sold straddles, hoping to pocket the premia paid by buyers in case the Nifty Bank stays within a 4% range. The markets were closed for Good Friday on 18 April, while HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank announced their Q4FY25 earnings on 19 April. Both banks reported net profits that exceeded Street expectations, with ICICI's 15.7% on-year rise in profit bettering HDFC Bank's 6.7% growth in net profit. A short straddle, involving the sale of a call and put of the same strike price, is an options strategy where the underlying asset, in this case the Nifty Bank, is expected to stay in the range until expiry, which is on 24 April. This enables the seller to pocket the money paid to them by the straddle buyer. The range is 1,082 points up and down from 54,300, implying 53,218-55,382. The Nifty Bank closed at 54,290.2 on 17 April. So long as the Nifty Bank closes within this range, the option seller makes a profit. However, a break below or above the two breakeven points can cause losses. The upper breakeven point after which the seller loses is 55,382 (54,300+1,082), while the lower breakeven point below which losses occur is 53,218 (54,300-1,082). Maximum profit of 1,082 per share (30 shares equal one contract) happens if the Nifty Bank monthly contract settles at 54,300 on 24 April. This means both the call and put will expire worthless. If the Nifty Bank hits 55,382 or 53,218 at expiry, the option seller neither gains nor loses. Here's why: The Nifty Bank call of 54,300 at 55,382 will be worth 1,082, and the Nifty Bank put of 54,300 will be worth 1,082. This means no gain, no loss for the seller as she pays back the amount she receives from the call or put buyer. However, if the Nifty Bank call expires at 55,500 (55,500-54,300-1,082), the option seller will lose a net 118 a share. If it expires at 53,000, the loss will be a net 218 a share (54,300-53,000-1,082). Interestingly, the Nifty Bank has outperformed most other indices, rising 9.23% to 17 April's 54,290.2 over a month against the Nifty 50's 4% to 23,851.65 over the same period. This has taken the Nifty Bank within kissing distance of its record high. As of 17 April, it was just 177 points shy of its record high of 54,467.35 as of 26 September 2024. The Nifty, at closing on 17 April, was 10.17% away from its record high of 26,277.35 as of 27 September 2024. The Nifty Bank plunged 12.4% from its record high to a low of 47,702.9 on 11 March, from where it began recovering and is only 177 points away from its high. The 4% range for next week looks reasonable, given the Nifty Bank has already risen sharply over the past month," said Sudhir Joshi, consultant to Khambatta Securities. I think ICICI Bank will have a slight edge over HDFC Bank when markets open on Monday." The Nifty Bank hit a 52-week low of 46,077.85 on 4 June 2024 and surged to a record high of 54,467.35 on 26 September. The extension of its rally on Monday to a record high could boost the Nifty too, as financials have a 37% weighting on the benchmark index. The top-weighted stocks on the Nifty include HDFC Bank (13.07%), ICICI Bank (8.95%), and Reliance Industries (8.12%) as of March end. The Nifty Bank could stay within the range written by option sellers, given that it has already moved up and tariff tensions weigh on the market," said Rajesh Palviya, head of derivatives and technical research at Axis Securities. If, however, it breaks the 53,218-55,382 range, there will be a short squeeze" with bears being forced to cover more shorts, resulting in a sharp rally. On top of the charts Thanks to the banking stocks rally, MSCI India has outperformed the MSCI All Country World Index (MSCI ACWI) and its major constituents, including the US and China, so far this month (1-17 April) after lagging its peers for the past year through 17 April. The bank-heavy MSCI India Index has rallied 2.95% in April against a 4.7% fall in the MSCI ACWI, a plunge of 6.2% in the MSCI US, -8.7% in the MSCI China, -5.29% in the MSCI Japan, -4.31% in the MSCI UK, -3.45% in the MSCI Canada, -4% in the MSCI Korea, and -6.74% in the MSCI Hong Kong, according to Bloomberg. Also Read: ICICI Bank sees RBI repo rate cuts impacting margins MSCI indices are used by global asset managers to allocate money to assets across the world. FPIs have lapped up financial sector shares worth a net 13,084 crore over two fortnights concluding 15 April, showed NSDL data. Over the same period, they net sold IT stocks worth 15,345 crore. Stock Market Today: The benchmark Nifty-50 index during the week ended 17 April ended with gains of up to 4.5% week on week. While Bank Nifty gained more than 6%, Realty was also among to performers though IT & FMCG were key losers. The broader indices also gained around 4% each. Trade Setup for Monday The levels of 23,500and 23,350 would act as key support zones for the Nifty-50 index, while resistance areas for the bulls could be found between 24,000 and 24,200. However, if the market dips below 23,350, sentiment could change said Amol Athawale, VP-technical Research, Kotak Securities. The uptrend is likely to continue for Bank Nifty and the index could move up to around 54,500-55,000, with further upside potential that might lift it to 55,300, added Athawale. Global Markets and Q4 Results In the upcoming week, all eyes will be on the earnings reports of heavyweights such as Infosys, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank. Additionally, companies like HCL Technologies, Axis Bank, Hindustan Unilever, and Maruti are scheduled to announce their quarterly results. On the derivatives front, the scheduled expiry of April series contracts may lead to increased volatility. Globally, any updates related to tariffs and their potential impact on world markets will remain in focus, said jit Mishra SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd Stocks to buy today Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, has recommended two stock picks for today. Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi, suggested three stocks, while Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager Technical Research, at Prabhudas Lilladher has given two stocks picks. Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet has recommended selling one stock today. Sumeet Bagadia's stock picks 1] Max Financial Services Ltd- Bagadia recommends buying Max Financial Services at 1218 keeping Stoploss at 1175 for a target price of 1303 Max Financial Services is currently trading at the levels of 1218, chart is showing a strong upward trend on the daily chart, recovering significantly from its recent lows and breaking past previous consolidation levels. The stock has been forming a sequence of higher highs and higher lows, indicating bullish momentum. 2] Affle (India) Ltd- Bagadia recommends buying Affle at 1566 keeping stoploss at Rs1511 for a target price of 1676 AFFLE is currently trading at 1566, having recently rebounded from a key support zone, notably taking support at the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). The formation of a strong bullish candlestick on the daily chart, backed by rising trading volumes, suggests renewed buying interest and a potential shift in momentum.From a technical perspective, the stock is trading above its 20-day, 50-day, and 200-day EMAs, indicating strength and alignment with the prevailing uptrend Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3] HEG: Dongre recommends buying HEG at 480 keeping Stoploss at 470 for a target of 510 In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable and continuous bullish pattern has emerged. This technical pattern indicates the potential for an extended retracement in the stocks price, with the possibility of reaching the target level of Rs. 510. The stock is currently holding a critical major support level at Rs. 470, which serves as a key marker for risk management. Given the prevailing market conditions, traders are advised to consider taking a buy position, capitalizing on the bullish momentum. 4] Punjab National Bank -Dongre recommends buying Punjab National Bank (PNB) at 99 keeping Stoploss at 95 for a target price of 105 In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around Rs.105. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.95 Given the current market price of Rs.99, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of Rs.105 5] Tourism Finance Corporation of India Ltd - Dongre recommends buying Tourism Finance Corporation of India at 175 keeping Stoploss at 168 for a target price of 185. In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, currently stock is into oversold zone. Looking towards the daily chart a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around 185. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.168. Given the current market price of Rs. 175, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of Rs.185. Shiju Koothupalakkal's intraday stocks for today 6] CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying CG POWER at around 619.80 for a target price of 655 keeping Stop loss at 605 The stock has recovered strongly from the bottom made near 520 level and with a positive candle formation has moved past the 50EMA at 614 level to improve the bias on the daily chart and further rise is anticipated in the coming sessions. The RSI is well positioned indicating a positive trend reversal and has immense upside potential to carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the chart looking good, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 655 keeping the stop loss of 605 level. 7] Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals (GSFC) at 193 for a target price of 205 keeping Stop loss at 188 The stock has indicated a breakout above the 187 zone with a positive candle formation also decisively moving past the 50EMA level at 185 zone in the previous session to improve the bias and has potential to carry on with the positive move further ahead. The RSI is well positioned and with a buy signal confirmed, has indicated strength with much upside potential visible. With the chart technically looking attractive, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 205 level keeping the stop loss of 188 level. 8] IOL Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying IOL Chemicals at around 66.70 for a target price of 70 keeping Stop loss at 65 The stock has witnessed a significant positive move with huge volume participation to move above the important 50EMA level at 66.40 on the daily chart to improve the bias and further rise is expected in the coming sessions. The RSI is on the rise and is well placed indicating a positive trend reversal and has much upside potential from current rate. With the chart looking good, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 70 keeping the stop loss of 65 level. The anticipated inaugural launch of Amazon's Project Kuiper did not push through last April 9 as inclement weather postponed its flight, but the company has rescheduled it to happen still within this month. As April is fast approaching its end, Amazon is not letting go of this opportunity to bring their first satellite internet service. Once Project Kuiper arrives later this year, Amazon will be one of the many American companies who are pushing to make internet connection more accessible to users, and it will be clashing heads with one of the industry's titans, Starlink. Amazon Project Kuiper Delay: New Schedule Confirmed Last week, United Launch Alliance (ULA) has revealed that it finally has a new schedule for the Project Kuiper launch after going radio silent since the April 9 launch was scrubbed due to weather issues. The satellites' launch will still take place this month, particularly by April 28, and it will feature the first production satellites from Amazon's Project Kuiper. According to ULA, the flight is scheduled at 7 p.m. EDT, and it will open with a two-hour launch window for the mission. The launch is also set to take place at Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Amazon's Project Kuiper Still Flying With ULA This confirmation marks the continued partnership that Amazon and ULA have forged for Project Kuiper's progression, with the space company set to deliver the satellite internet machines later this month. Similar to other satellite internet services, ULA will bring Amazon's Project Kuiper to the low-Earth orbit (LEO), joining the other contenders in the market. This would be the first batch of production satellites under Project Kuiper that will be delivered to orbit, with this also marking ULA's new chapter in commercial launches for partner companies like Amazon. Amazon Project Kuiper vs. Starlink Two years ago, Amazon launched their first foray into satellite internet technology under Project Kuiper, and it went with United Launch Alliance with their Atlas V rocket to bring their prototypes to orbit. However, several months later, Amazon took down the first two satellites that it tested. Despite this, the company plans to launch as much as 3,000 units to space. Despite all these, Elon Musk's Starlink is known for thriving in the industry as the company not only expanded its reach to different corners of the globe but is also widely available in many regions. Apart from this, SpaceX has also debuted Starlink's Direct-to-Cell technology that bypasses the need for a terminal to connect to the internet, with the company known for partnering with T-Mobile for the service's availability in US. While Starlink is clearly ahead of Project Kuiper, this does not hold back Amazon from still pursuing the satellite internet industry with their technology. Moreover, Amazon has also introduced the terminals that will be available to purchase once it starts the service, with more to follow in the future. Suzlon Energy share price surged 9.5 per cent on the BSE on Monday, April 21, extending its gains for the second consecutive session. Suzlon Energy share price has gained traction after the company announced securing a 100.8 MW EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) wind power order from Sunsure Energy. Suzlon Energy share price opened at 55.58 against its previous close of 55.08 and jumped 11 per cent in intraday trade to the level of 61.10. Finally, the stock closed 9.50 per cent higher at 60.31. Suzlon Energy share price trend Suzlon Energy share price has seen healthy gains over the last few weeks. Since March, the stock has jumped 21 per cent, gaining nearly 7 per cent in April so far after a 14 per cent rise in March. Over the last year, the stock has jumped 53 per cent, hitting a 52-week high of 86.04 on September 12 and a 52-week low of 37.95 on May 13 last year. Suzlon Energy wind order details In an exchange filing on April 17, Suzlon said it had secured a 100.8 MW EPC wind power order from Sunsure Energy, marking its maiden foray into wind energy. The project is set to be executed in Maharashtras Jath region. "Under this agreement, Suzlon will supply 48 stateoftheart S120 wind turbine generators (WTGS) with Hybrid Lattice Towers (HLT), each rated at a 2.1 MW capacity. It will supply the wind turbines, oversee equipment installation, and execute the project, including erection and commissioning, while providing comprehensive operations and maintenance services postcommissioning," said the company, adding that this project will enhance Sunsure Energys renewables portfolio and support its goal of delivering RoundTheClock power to customers in Maharashtra. Retail investors increase stake in Suzlon According to the exchange filing, retail investors now own a 25.12 per cent stake in Suzlon Energy, a rise from 24.49% at the end of the December quarter. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) maintained their stake in Suzlon Energy at roughly 23 per cent. However, domestic mutual funds in India decreased their holdings in the company during the March quarter to 4.17 per cent, down from 4.44 per cent in December. Also Read | Stocks to buy for short term: Jigar Patel of Anand Rathi suggests 3 stock picks Should you buy Suzlon stock? Experts appear positive about the stock for the medium to long term, as well as the company's growth prospects and comfortable valuation. Atul Parakh, CEO of Bigul, underscored that the Q3FY25 earnings showcase a compelling turnaround for Suzlon. "A record order book fuels future revenue visibility, supported by significantly ramped-up manufacturing capacity and robust delivery growth. Improved financial performance, evidenced by substantial increases in revenue, EBITDA, and PAT, highlights enhanced operational efficiency," Parakh observed. "Strategic focus on high-margin, non-EPC orders with land availability mitigates industry-wide commissioning challenges. Positioned in a high-growth renewable energy market with strategic initiatives for diversification and potential exports, Suzlon's outlook appears strongly positive despite existing sector headwinds," Parakh said. Suzlon's Q4FY25 results are expected in the coming weeks. Technical experts are also largely positive about the stock. According to Hardik Matalia, a derivative analyst at Choice Broking, Suzlon is on the verge of breaking out from its consolidation range, following a significant decline of nearly 46 per cent from its previous high. Matalia pointed out that after this steep correction, the stock formed a base near its lower levels, attracting strong buying interest, which led to a steady recovery and a potential breakout setup. Matalia said Suzlon's price action indicates it is preparing to move higher, with immediate resistance seen near 62. A decisive and sustainable move above this level would confirm a breakout from the ongoing consolidation and could set the stage for a near-term rally towards the 70 zone. "The stock has bounced sharply from its support levels and is now trading above its short-term, medium-term, and long-term EMAs. This alignment of moving averages reflects strengthening bullish momentum and supports the case for a trend reversal from current levels," said Matalia. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering around 60.80, trending upwards with a positive crossover, suggesting improving strength and growing buying momentum. "For short-term traders, current levels offer an attractive buying opportunity, especially as long as the stock sustains above the key support at 55. A breakout and hold above 62 would add further conviction for a continued upward move," said Matalia. "Long-term investors can also consider accumulating the stock gradually, with any dips providing a good opportunity to build positions, backed by the improving technical structure and signs of a reversal," Matalia said. However, some experts point out that the stock is trading near its key resistance, so one can consider booking some profit. Jigar S. Patel, Senior Manager of Equity Research at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, underscored that at the current juncture, the price is hovering near the resistance level of the R3 Camarilla monthly pivot, situated around the 60 mark. Suzlon Energy technical chart "Although the overall chart structure remains bullish, it would be prudent to wait for a decisive daily close above 60 to confirm the continuation of upward momentum," said Patel. "Given the proximity to this key resistance, partial profit booking in the 58 60 zone could be considered a sensible approach," Patel said. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar The thing about market booms is by the time you spot one, the smart money has often already left the room. But every now and then, a sector stirs just in time to offer a lucrative second act. Thats exactly whats happening in Indias transformer industry. Long overshadowed, transformer manufacturers have quietly emerged as critical players in the countrys biggest infrastructure and energy upgrade in decades. Leading the charge is Transformers and Rectifiers India Ltd (TARIL), whose stock has surged over 18x in just two years not on hype, but on solid volume growth, rising margins, and consistent order wins. And this isnt a one-stock wonder. The entire transformer ecosystem is powering up for a long-term play, and the market is beginning to take notice. Whats driving the demand? Indias renewable energy ambition 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 is well known. But the hardware that connects power generation to consumption, especially transformers, has long struggled to keep pace. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) expects the country to add 12,192 new power substations by 2030, pushing total substation capacity up by 29% from 482,810 mega volt ampere (MVA) in 2022 to around 624,332 MVA. Over the same period, installed power generation capacity is projected to touch 786 GW, with nearly two-thirds of it coming from renewable sources. This transition is putting unprecedented pressure on Indias transformer and reactor supply chain not just in terms of scale, but also delivery timelines. Globally, too, the environment is shifting. Developed economies are grappling with ageing grids, energy transitions, and decarbonization targets. While the US struggles with outdated infrastructure, Europe is deep into a green overhaul. A cooling Chinese economy has briefly reduced global competition and export opportunities are beginning to open up. With lead times for power transformers stretching, Indian manufacturers are now receiving more overseas inquiries than ever before. For the first time in decades, Indian transformer companies are riding a sustained upcycle driven by both domestic demand and global tailwinds. High-voltage opportunity Railway electrification is ongoing, while metro projects are expanding beyond tier-1 cities to places like Indore, Lucknow, and Nagpur each requiring transformers for traction substations, power supply, and signalling systems. The green hydrogen push adds another high-margin growth lever. Electrolyzers need rectifier transformers custom-built, high-capacity units opening up new business lines for technically advanced players. Private EPC players are also ramping up investments in commercial infrastructure, rail, and data centres, expanding the demand base beyond just state utilities. Indian firms are also stepping onto the global stage. Public sector giants like REC and PowerGrid are executing transmission projects in Africa and Southeast Asia. Alongside conductors and cables, transformers are increasingly part of turnkey exports. Also read: Early summer spike heats up power sector stocks Meanwhile, Indias grid upgrade is shifting gears. The rollout of 765 kV corridors and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) infrastructure is accelerating. Only a few companies including Transformers and Rectifiers India (TARIL), Voltamp, and CG Power have the scale, technology, and execution depth to operate in this niche. Profitability is also improving across the board. Raw material prices have stabilised, execution cycles are shortening, and automation is starting to deliver productivity gains. The industry is crowded but one company is starting to pull ahead. TARILs turnaround Until recently, TARIL was a relatively low-profile player in the power equipment space. But thats quickly changing. The company manufactures a wide portfolio from power and distribution transformers to specialised units like furnace, rectifier, and mobile substations. Its products serve industrial, transmission, and renewable energy applications. In FY25, TARIL delivered a breakout year. Revenue jumped 53% year-on-year to 1,950 crore, while Ebitda surged 149% to 320 crore. Margins expanded sharply from 10% to 16.1%, and profit after tax soared over fourfold to 187 crore. Capital efficiency improved as well return on capital employed crossed 20%, and the companys debt-to-equity ratio dropped to a comfortable 0.21. View Full Image Source: Equitymaster The improved performance was driven in part by a shift in strategy. TARIL has begun processing its own cold rolled grain oriented (CRGO) steel one of the most critical and expensive raw materials in transformer manufacturing marking a major step towards backward integration. At the same time, the company is doubling down on capacity. It plans to expand production from 40,000 MVA to 75,000 MVA over the next 1218 months. The first 15,000 MVA phase is slated to go live by May 2025, with the remaining 22,000 MVA coming online by February 2026. Order momentum is strong. TARIL closed FY25 with an unexecuted order book of 5,100 crore and secured fresh orders worth 4,500 crore during the year, including a 740 crore deal from Gujarats GETCO. In March, it also raised 500 crore via a qualified institutional placement to fund capacity expansion and integration. Currently, the company is negotiating enquiries worth over 22,000 crore. Management is aiming high targeting $1 billion in revenue by FY28, up from $235 million today. To support this growth, TARIL will invest 550 crore over the next 15 months and aims to be fully backward integrated by Q1 FY27. While the trajectory looks promising, sustaining this growth will depend on how well the company executes its plans, holds margins, and converts its robust pipeline into actual orders. TARIL is racing ahead but its peers are charting their own paths. Also read: Solar power has the potential to grow 8x. This company could benefit the most. Other players arent sitting still Voltamp Known for its steady, no-debt strategy, Voltamp has long focused on capital discipline over aggressive expansion. The company operates with zero leverage, enjoys Ebitda margins north of 20%, and maintains a lean, efficient balance sheet. As of FY24, its order book stood at 1,850 crore, with 840 crore in fresh orders booked at the start of FY25. With a production capacity of 16,000 MVA, Voltamp primarily caters to industrial clients and private EPC contractors. Despite its conservative stance, Voltamps numbers speak volumes a 5-year PAT CAGR of 29% and a robust FY24 ROCE of 25%. View Full Image Source: Equitymaster Shilchar Technologies Shilchar is carving a niche outside the high-voltage space. It focuses on transformers for renewable energy applications and exports, with over half of its revenue coming from clients in the US and Europe. With an FY25 order pipeline of 550 crore, the company has positioned itself as a specialist in a high-margin, low-capex segment. Strong return ratios and a focused portfolio give it a clear edge in operational efficiency. CG Power Backed by the Murugappa Group, CG Power is in the middle of a dramatic turnaround. Following a restructuring, the company delivered a record performance in FY24. As of December 2024, its order book was 5,900 crore. Investments are also ramping up 125 crore allocated to transformers and 280 crore to the motor division. The financials are striking: ROCE at 48.8%, and RoE at 36.4%. APAR Industries APAR offers a bundled infrastructure play. While transformers form part of its portfolio, it is better known as a market leader in conductors, cables, and specialty oils. Its conductor order book was 7,600 crore as of December 2024, and FY25 revenues are tracking above 13,000 crore. APAR benefits from its exposure to both public grid buildouts and rising private-sector demand particularly from data centres and urban infrastructure projects. Risks and valuations TARIL now trades at a hefty 46x its FY25 Ebitda a steep climb from just 4x two years ago. CG Power too commands a valuation premium. These multiples reflect strong growth expectations, but also raise the stakes. A slowdown in government orders, delays in utility payments, or tightening credit conditions could quickly stretch working capital cycles. Execution remains key these stocks are priced for performance, and any slip could trigger a de-rating. Input costs are another watchpoint. Transformer margins are especially sensitive to raw materials like CRGO steel and copper. While prices have moderated since the post-pandemic surge, any sharp spike particularly in copper could pressure margins, especially for players without backward integration or cost pass-through flexibility. The bottomline TARIL may have lit the spark, but this isnt just a one-stock story anymore. The rally in transformer makers reflects more than cyclical capex it signals a structural shift. Indias power grid upgrade, paired with global interest in competitively priced equipment, is creating a multi-year demand runway. With only a handful of credible, listed players in the fray, companies that execute well are likely to dominate. Indian manufacturers, though smaller than global peers like Siemens Energy or Hitachi Energy, are now competing not just on cost but also on delivery timelines and quality, especially in standardised 220400 kV segments. Bundled EPC exports and joint international bids are giving them access to new markets. Also read: Indias power grid facing warnings due to sudden dip in solar power generation However, technology remains the next frontier. Smart transformers, IoT-based monitoring, and predictive maintenance are gaining traction. Indian firms are catching up but staying competitive will require deeper R&D, skilled talent, and global collaborations. Can others deliver TARIL-like growth? Possibly but not all are built for it. TARILs success wasnt just about demand; it was about scaling fast, integrating backward, and going after large, long-cycle orders. Voltamp continues to prioritise capital discipline over size, while Shilchar is doubling down on export-led, high-ROE niches with limited grid exposure. CG Power and APAR are scaling too but from different starting points, with broader portfolios. In short: the transformer boom may have multiple winners but the paths and strategies are diverging fast. Not everyone is chasing TARILs growth model, and thats by design. For investors, the focus now shifts to execution: order flows, capacity expansion, margin discipline, and working capital management. Happy investing! Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com I cant imagine my work life without AI," says Pratik Joshi, 24, a marketing professional at an advertising firm in Mumbai. It helps me plan my to-do list, my projects, my work meetings, even when I should take a break." There are two reasons Joshi likes to stick to a daily schedule made by artificial intelligence: It helps him stay more efficient" at work, and also have some free time during the day to go to the gym or pursue other interests like skateboardingall things that he believes have helped him strike a better work-life balance. This is my first job and I want to give my best, but I am not going to compromise on other aspects of my life. I give ChatGPT my prompts and it plans my days better than I could perhaps do it by myself," says Joshi, who, besides ChatGPT, also uses FeedHive to plan his social media profile (he plans to become a full-time content creator eventually). Plus, it helps refine my work; my presentations are better, I feel." Its been a while since AI arrived in the workplace and the world started debating whether it would replace peoples jobs. The debate continues, but the conversation has now steered towards how individuals can best utilise AI tools to make their life easierand, possibly, happier. A survey by tech company HP last year concluded that workers who use AI are happier with their relationship with work compared to those who dont. The HP Work Relationship Index, a comprehensive study that explored the worlds relationship with work and included interviews with 15,600 respondents across industries in 12 countries, said, AI usage among knowledge workers (essentially trained people who use theory and analysis to deliver products and services for their employers) has surged to 66% in 2024, up from 38% last year. Workers who use AI are seeing the benefits, including a healthier relationship with work." The highlights of the study included that 73% of the respondents felt AI made their jobs easier, 60% stated that AI played a key role in improving their work-life balance, and 68% said AI opened up new opportunities for them to enjoy work and stay happy both at work and outside toosomething that Joshi also believes. So does Shikha Sudan, 31, a content manager at a Bengaluru-based startup. Before she started using AI for work, she used to spend most of her working hours on research for various clients projects. When it came to actually putting together the required content, she would finish it in a couple of hours. It was not that I was doing a bad job; it was a rushed job to meet the deadline," says Sudan. Today, Sudan takes the help of AI tools to collate information before she starts writing. This gives me enough time to think of ways to present my content better. I am more creatively satisfied today," she says. The added benefit is the free time she gets to spend on herself. Both Joshi and Sudan are mindful of not being completely dependent on AI when it comes to organising their work life. Its a tool that helps you function better," insists Joshi. Its a simple equation, when you have a good work-life balance, when you feel in control of your life, you are a happier person." Striking a Balance Like Joshi and Sudan, workers across the world are relying more on AI, also because organisations are encouraging its use. Deloitte, for instance, has an internal AI chatbot, PairD. The tool blends AI with human capabilities to unlock insights while protecting proprietary data. It simultaneously helps employees automate daily tasks, including handling of contracts and other administrative work. Walmart has also introduced a generative AI-powered tool, My Assistant, as part of the companys employee app to support workers in draft writing, thinking of creative strategies or to summarise lengthy documents. Indian companies like Wipro and Genpact are also partnering with universities to create personalised programmes for AI training. The Randstad AI and Equity Report 2024 showed that seven in 10 employees in India used some form of AI for work last year. The findings were based on a survey of 1,000 employees. A recent global study by Emeritus, an educational institution that offers professional certificates and senior executive programmes, found that Indian professionals are at the forefront of the global AI adoption curve. As per the study, which surveyed over 6,000 respondents in the 21-65 age group, 91% of employees in India are using AI and generative AI tools, as compared to 81% in the US and 84% in the UK. Like the HP study, it also concluded that people who use AI generally have higher productivity levels. Could AI be the solution to workplace blues in the long run? While AI is not replacing human roles, it is significantly reducing the cognitive load associated with mundane activities," says Rishi Aggarwal, managing director at Indian conglomerate, JCBL Group. This shift enables employees to engage in more strategic thinking, problem-solving, and creative initiatives, leading to greater job satisfaction and fulfilment. When employees spend more time on meaningful work, they experience a stronger sense of purpose, ultimately driving both organisational and personal growth." In other words, theres no direct link between AI and workplace happiness. The answer depends on how well employees integrate it into their rolesand this can be addressed through training. AI needs to be implemented systematically by organisations to achieve balance, leading to improved employee well-being," says Mayura Nagar, assistant professor (data sciences and technology department), KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai. Having more control over their schedules, employees experience greater autonomy and decreased stress while enjoying more growth potential." Seamless adoption of AI and similar tools happens when employees understand the how" and why" behind its use, says Anuj Sawhney, managing director at Swiss Military, a a global lifestyle and utility accessories brand. Teams across departments are involved in selecting technologies that address some of their difficulties, like data mining. As a company, we are known for addressing the demand vacuum," Sawhney says. Until AI was there, data mining for this was tedious." The Ethics of it With ethical considerations around AI and its misuse, its also important for companies to establish a framework where the technology serves as an enabler rather than something that sets back an employee. At the same time, the key is to ensure that it remains a tool for assistance rather than making decisions. AI should enhance creativity, efficiency, and precision, without replacing the human judgment," says Aggarwal. Many AI tools, especially open-source models like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Grok, are designed for broad applications. Organisations must invest in training programs to help employees customise these tools for their specific job functions. Without proper training, AIs potential remains underutilised or misapplied." At the end of the day, the role of AI goes beyond automating tasks. It should empower employees to work smarter, innovate and drive competitive advantage. Training is the bridge to that transformation, which will eventually also result in employee happiness," says Aggarwal. Write to us at lounge@livemint.com The summer season is here. Many of you may be planning to head to the hill stations for a family vacation to escape the scorching heat. What if you could enjoy a free hotel stay with your credit card reward points? Some banks have partnered with frequent flyer programs (FFPs) of airlines and hotel loyalty programs to facilitate the transfer of credit card reward points to these programs. Some banks with transfer partners include HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, HSBC Bank, American Express, etc. In this article, we will understand how American Express Card Members can convert their reward points into hotel loyalty points or hotel gift vouchers and use them further for free hotel stays. What are the redemption options? The American Express reward points are versatile and can be used for various purposes. They can be used to pay for online transactions, purchase gift vouchers, pay for transactions from the recent statement, make travel bookings through the Amex Travel portal, transfer to airline and hotel partners etc. In this article, we will discuss the various redemption options for hotel stays. Also Read | HSBC introduces 20 new travel partners for cardholders starting April 2025 American Express transfer partners American Express has nine transfer partners for converting credit card reward points (Membership Reward points or MR points). These include FFPs of seven airlines and two hotel loyalty programs. The two hotel loyalty programs are Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honours. Using the American Express credit card or charge card, the reward points can be transferred to the Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty program in a 1:1 ratio. It means, 100 reward points will be converted into 100 Marriott Bonvoy points. The minimum transfer is 100 points and in increments of 100 points. The estimated transfer time is up to 48 hours. Similarly, the transfer ratio for Hilton Honors is 10:9, which means 100 reward points will be converted into 90 Hilton Honors points. The minimum transfer is 1,000 points and in increments of 100 points. The estimated transfer time is up to 48 hours. Once the points transfer is completed, American Express will send you a confirmation email. You can log in to your hotel loyalty program website/App and check the points credit. For example, log in to your Marriott Bonvoy dashboard and check the points balance. You can further use the Marriott Bonvoy points to book your hotel stay at a participating Marriott property and enjoy your family vacation. Purchase of hotel gift vouchers What if someone prefers a hotel brand other than Marriott or Hilton? In that case, you can purchase gift vouchers of other hotel brands with your American Express reward points. For example, using your American Express reward points, you can buy gift vouchers of ITC Hotels, Taj Hotels, The Postcard Hotels & Resorts, etc. You can also redeem your reward points against the gift vouchers of Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs). These include Cleartrip, EaseMyTrip, MakeMyTrip, SOTC, Thomas Cook, Yatra, etc. You can further use the gift voucher on the respective OTA website/App to book your hotel stay. The value of one reward point is Rs. 0.25 for redemption against most gift vouchers. For example, to purchase a Rs. 5,000 Taj Hotels voucher, you will need 20,000 reward points. Similarly, to purchase a Rs. 10,000 Taj Hotels voucher, you will need 40,000 reward points. You can redeem the Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) and Gold Charge Card reward points for gift vouchers at a higher rate under the Gold Collection. Under the 18K Gold Collection, you can redeem 18,000 reward points for a Rs. 9,000 Taj Hotels Stay voucher, giving a redemption rate of Rs. 0.50 per point. Similarly, under the 24K Gold Collection, you can redeem 24,000 reward points for a Rs. 14,000 Taj Hotels Stay voucher, giving a redemption rate of Rs. 0.58 per reward point. How to enjoy free hotel stays? Once you redeem the credit card reward points against the Taj Hotels Stay gift vouchers, you can book your stay at the Taj property. The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), Indias largest hospitality company, runs the Taj Hotels. Apart from Taj, the other hotel brands in the IHCL portfolio include SeleQtions, Gateway, Vivanta, Ginger, Tree of Life, Ama Stays, etc. Please note that Taj Hotels gift vouchers can be used for stays only at Taj, Vivanta, and Gateway hotels in India. If you have redeemed your reward points for an OTA voucher like MakeMyTrip, you can head to their website/App to make the hotel booking. You will get confirmation through email/SMS/WhatsApp, etc. On the check-in date, you can proceed to the hotel and enjoy your family holiday. If you have transferred your reward points to Marriott Bonvoy, log in to the Marriott Bonvoy website/App to make your hotel booking. Marriott Bonvoy is the hotel loyalty program of Marriott International, one of the worlds biggest hospitality groups. You can discover 30+ hotel brands and 10,000 global destinations with Marriott Bonvoy and use the Marriott Bonvoy points to book a stay at a participating property and enjoy your family vacation. Where is your next holiday: Domestic or international? We saw how you can redeem your American Express credit card reward points for various hotel stay options. You can redeem them against gift vouchers of specific hotel brands like Taj Hotels, ITC Hotels, etc. The other option is to redeem them against gift vouchers of OTAs like MakeMyTrip, Yatra, EaseMyTrip, etc., and book a hotel at their website/App. One of the best options is to transfer your reward points to the Marriott Bonvoy program. It allows you to choose from 1000s of hotels across various brands (budget to ultra-luxury) within India and abroad. So, where are you planning your next family vacation: In India or abroad? Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB), is one of the nation's leading financial institutions. It has a market capitalisation of 7397 crore. This bank provides several offers on a wide range of credit cards. These credit cards are designed to meet various financial needs and aspirations of credit card holders such as health expenses, education, home renovation, emergency surgeries etc. In such a case, if you are a credit card holder of Equitas Small Finance bank and are looking for help from the bank on billing issues, loss of your credit card or problems related to unauthorised transactions then the bank provides for several methods through which you can connect with its customer support team and get your queries answered. This write-up is dedicated towards discussing five steps through which you can reach out to the customer care team of Equitas Small Finance Bank and get your problems resolved in seamless fashion. Step 1: Reaching out to the credit card helpline number The easiest, and fastest way to get your credit card related problems resolved is by reaching out to the Equitas Small Finance Bank credit card helpline. The official toll free number 1800-103-2977 can be utilised to share views, discuss issues and get clear guidance. This help line number is available from 8 AM to 8 PM for operational support and general guidan Also Read | How to convert HSBC credit card payment to EMI? A complete guide It is also available 24x7 for reporting serious financial emergencies such as reporting a credit card fraud, illegal transaction or even blocking your credit card in difficult times. Note: The number discussed above is illustrative in nature. For the updated number, please refer to the official website of Equitas Small Finance Bank. As these numbers are changed, updated and regulated as per the policies of the bank. Step 2: Focus on alternative phone numbers if toll free is busy Now, if you are faced with a serious threat of financial loss and the toll-free number is not unreachable or busy then to combat such situations Equitas Small Finance Bank has provided several alternative contact numbers. +91-44-4004-8500 and +91-44-6965-4600 are the alternative contact numbers that can be reached out to for assistance for all NRI and Elite help desk. These lines come in handy during peak hours or even when you are trying to reach out for help with regions where there is limited toll free help. Now, in all such cases before calling you should keep your card details, personal details such as PAN, Aadhaar Card, phone numbers etc., handy for helping the customer support team to assist you. Note: The alternative numbers shared above are illustrative in nature. These numbers are open to change as per the policies of the bank. That is why before calling, refer to the official website of Equitas Small Finance Bank and refer to the exact numbers provided on the official website only. Step 3: Write an email and express yourself clearly There are times when credit card users want to keep a record of their interactions with the bank. For example, connecting through a call is easy but it is difficult to retain the call. That is why for all such cases, the bank has provided for a dedicated email address: customerservice@equitasbank.com Hence, for all non-urgent problems and queries you can write an email to the customer service team of the bank and state your problems clearly. This will also ensure that you have a clean digitally written record of your interaction with the bank for future reference. For the updated official email address reach out to the website of Equitas Small Finance bank https://www.equitasbank.com/ The email address discussed above is only for illustrative purposes. This address is open for changes and amendments as per the policies of the bank. Also Read | How Standard Chartered credit card users can stay ahead of due dates Further, always include important information such as your registered contact number and the last four numbers of your credit card to help the team locate your credit card account faster. Another important is to remember that you should never share your complete card details, CVVs, PINs etc with anyone. As no banking institution or its customer service agent even requests your for such information as this is all confidential in nature. Hence, as a well informed customer you should hence be aware of your rights, duties and obligations while interacting with the official customer service agent of the bank. Step 4: Reach out to the bank by Live chats Equitas Small Finance Bank offers customer support through the live chat i.e., a virtual assistant on its website. The AI tool is known as Aidy. As soon as you enter the official website of the bank you will be welcomed by an AI enabled virtual assistant: Hello, Aidy here ! How may I help you? Clicking on the same will guide you through options such as: Banking services, Apply Now, Banking related FAQ, Loans, Branch Locater etc. On similar lines, you can also reach out to the customer support team for a resolution or any clarification of your queries through the official website of the bank. Through the same you can obtain easy bank statements, transaction details, errors in transaction reports or other related resolutions. The application of the bank is freely available on App store and you can also gain access to the same through the official website of the bank: https://www.equitasbank.com/ Step 5: Writing a letter to the bank or visiting its branch in person For credit card users who are not fond of technology, for all such individuals the Equitas Small Finance bank has provided options to visit its nearest branch and resolve their problems. For this you can simply check the address details of the nearest Equitas Small Finance Bank branch by a simple google search and go and visit the same. Once you reach the branch you can discuss, share details of your credit card problems with the concerned customer service executive for obtaining a clear resolution on the same. Now, you can also visit the head office of the bank located in Chennai and even write handwritten letters to them for gaining clarifications. The details of the exact address are available on the official website of the bank. Further, if your credit card related queries are still not resolved then you can reach out to the bank provided nodal officer and Principal nodal officer. The details of these officials are available on the bank's official website. What are some important safety points that you should always keep in mind? It is your responsibility to stay alert and cautious of banking concepts to avoid falling for credit card scams. On the same lines, it is always important to keep in mind that Equitas Small Finance Bank or any of the bank's official customer support member will never ask you to provide sensitive information such as: OTPs, CVVs, PINs, Customer ID details, bank account details, credit card account details etc., either through email of phone. That is why if you ever encounter any person reaching out to you with the intention of extracting private and confidential information like above, never share your personal details and hang up the call. Post the same immediately, report the issue and reach out to the nearest police station or the cyber crime portal to lodge a complaint. Your safety in this regard is entirely dependent on your vigilance and knowledge. An Indian Air Force Wing Commander was reportedly assaulted by a group of men in Bengaluru while en route to the airport with his wife, who is also an Air Force officer. The officer sustained injuries to his head and face during the attack. With blood visible on his face and neck, the officer recorded a video recounting the incident. Wing Commander Bose was being driven to the airport by his wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita, from the DRDO colony in Bengalurus CV Raman Nagar. The officer said, "A bike came from behind and stopped our car... the guy started abusing me in Kannada. When they saw the DRDO sticker on my car and said 'You DRDO people', and they abused my wife and I couldn't bear it. The moment I got out of my car, the biker hit me with a key on my forehead, and there was blood." "I stood there, shouting, 'This is how you defend people whom we defend you, treating someone like this from the army, air force and navy'. Surprisingly, more people came and started abusing us. The man picked a stone and tried to hit my car, and it hit my head... this is my condition," the officer said. "Thankfully, my wife was there to take me out and we went to the police station to file a complaint, but there is no response from there," he added. "This is what Karnataka has become, seeing the truth, the reality...I couldn't believe it. God help us. God give me the power not to retaliate. Tomorrow, if law and order don't help us, I will retaliate," the officer said while he recorded the video in a car. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit back at Rahul Gandhi for his comment on the Election Commission in reference to Maharashtra election result during his address to the diaspora in Boston city of Massachusetts in the United States. Targeting Rahul Gandhi over his address, BJP accused the Congress leader of always defaming India on the foreign soil. Speaking on the loss of the MVA alliance in Maharashtra, BJP said Rahul Gandhi could not win the trust of the Indian electorate and has started to question the Indian democratic process on foreign soil. In a post on X, Pradeep Bhandari said, Anti Democracy, Anti India Rahul Gandhi, who could not win the trust of the Indian electorate, begins to question the Indian democratic process on a foreign soil. Why does Rahul always defame India on foreign soil? An agent of George Soros who is fighting the Indian state - that's what Rahul Gandhi's intent today is, the post further reads. Shehzad Poonawalla also criticised Rahul Gandhi's speech and said, Rahul Gandhi's identity is to humiliate Indian organisations and institutions on foreign soil. He goes abroad and makes comments on India's Constitution, judiciary, and questions the Election Commission of India (ECI). This shows how people, while going against PM Modi, have started going against the country. What did Rahul Gandhi say in his Boston address? Addressing the diaspora, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was compromised and that there was something fundamentally wrong with the system. Rahul Gandhi said, It is very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, and it is very clear that there is something wrong with the system. I have said this multiple times. More people voted in the Maharashtra Assembly elections than there are adults in Maharashtra. The Election Commission gave us a voting figure for 5:30 PM and between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM, 65 lakh voters voted. This is physically impossible to happen. For a voter to vote, it takes approx 3 minutes, and if you do the Math, it would mean that there were lines of voters till 2 AM, but this did not happen. When we asked them for the videography, they not only refused but they also changed the law so that now we are not allowed to ask for the videography, Rahul Gandhi said. The Supreme Court on Monday stayed away from issuing an order to President Droupadi Murmu to deploy para military force in West Bengal amid concerns over the violence in Murshidabad, saying that the top court is already facing allegations of encroaching into the executive domain. Justice BR Gavai turned down a petitioner's plea to deploy the para military forces in an apparent reference to recent attacks on the judiciary. You want us to issue writ of mandamus to the President to impose this? As it is, we are facing allegations of encroaching into executive (domain). Please, Justice Gavai was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench. The senior judge was seemingly alluding to a recent criticism faced by the Supreme Court for its judgment in a different case where it had given directions to Governors and the President to clear bills passed by State legislatures within a stipulated time. Also Read | What are the three key Waqf Law provisions flagged by Supreme Court Supreme Court rejects plea Justice Gavai's comment came while a bench at the apex court, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, was considering a fresh plea seeking an inquiry into the recent violence in West Bengal during anti-Waqf law protests, as per a report by PTI. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who had filed a PIL in 2021 on behalf of two petitioners seeking President's Rule in West Bengal in the wake of violence following assembly polls, urged the bench to take up a fresh plea for hearing on Tuesday. As per the Bar and Bench report, the advocate on behalf of the petitioner wanted an immediate deployment of para military forces in West Bengal. There is a need for immediate deployment of para military forces. This matter is listed tomorrow. I have a filed additional application seeking implemention of Article 355 of the constitution as well, Jain said, as per the report. At least three people were killed and hundreds rendered homeless in the communal violence in parts of Murshidabad district on April 11 and 12 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Supreme Court faces ire Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey last week made disparaging remarks against the judiciary. Dhankhar questioned the judiciary setting a timeline for the president to make decisions and acting as a super Parliament, saying the Supreme Court cannot fire a nuclear missile at democratic forces. Soon after, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said Parliament and assemblies should be shut if the apex court had to make laws. He also blamed Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna for "religious wars" in India. Delhi International Airport halted runway upgrade operations on one of its runways on Sunday, April 20, after facing criticism on social media over air traffic congestion and delays on nearly 900 flights, reported the news agency Reuters. Flightradar 24, an aircraft tracking industry website, showed that nearly 500 departures from the Delhi Airport, along with 400 arrival flights, were delayed on Sunday, April 20, which marks nearly 60 to 70 per cent of the total flights of the day at Delhi International Airport. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the airport owner, said that the delays were partly due to the adverse wind patterns on Sunday, reported the news agency. Delhi Airport According to the official website, the Delhi International Airport is a joint venture between GMR Airports, which owns 74 per cent stake in DIAL and the Airports Authority of India, owning 26 per cent. Delhi airport is one of the busiest international airports in India, and it caters to more than 73 million passengers every year. The airport has four runways catering to flights departing and arriving from 150 routes. As per the agency report, DIAL shut down one of its four runways earlier in April to upgrade a system that helps aircraft land safely in low-visibility conditions. Delhi airport will resume operations on the runway in the first week of May after postponing remaining upgrade activities for a month or so, said DIAL, cited the news agency from a post on X. This comes before the busy summer travel season in India. People on the social media platform complained about the hours of delays in the flight, both on the ground and in the air, raising concerns about stress on pilots. A fourth-year student at IIT Kharagpur has died by suicide, police sources told Mint on April 21,Monday. The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Aniket Walkar, and his body was found hanging in his hostel room on Sunday night, they said. Police from the Kharagpur Town Police Station found the body of the student hanging in his room at the Jagadish Chandra Bose Hostel of IIT Kharagpur on Sunday, April 20. Primarily, it seems to be a case of unnatural death. The deceased has died by suicide. But we are waiting for the post-mortem report to confirm, a senior police official from Paschim Medinipur district told Mint, requesting anonymity. IIT Kharagpur comes under Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. The institute also informed about the incident in an official email. We mourn the loss of our beloved student and urge anyone in need of support to approach the counselling services available, an email from the institute read, according to reports. Who is Aniket Walker? According to police, the deceased, Aniket Walkar, was a fourth-year student from the Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture department at IIT Kharagpur. A resident of Gondia district in Maharashtra, Aniket was staying in Room C-214 of the Jagadish Chandra Bose Hall. His body was found hanging in his hostel room and later sent to the Kharagpur Subdistrict Hospital for further procedures. Also Read | Sundar Pichai receives prestigious honorary Doctorate from IIT-Kharagpur Police have registered a case of unnatural death in connection with the incident. Sources informed Mint that Aniket was found by his classmates, who then informed the campus security. This is the second such case on the IIT Kharagpur campus this year. Earlier on January 12, the body of Sawan Malik (21), a third-year electrical engineering student from Khukurdaha, Paschim Medinipur, was also found hanging in his hostel room at IIT Kharagpur. Mental Health Helplines (India) iCall TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) 022-25521111 (MonSat, 10 AM 8 PM) Email: icall@tiss.edu Offers free, confidential mental health support by trained counselors. 2AASRA (Mumbai-based NGO) +91-9820466726 (24/7) The Delhi high court on Monday deferred the hearing in the legal battle between Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) and Honasa Consumer Ltd over sunscreen advertisements. The court also issued a gag order against both brands, restraining them from making any public or media statements related to the case. The court also barred them from engaging in indirect publicity through social media, including liking or sharing posts. The matter will now be heard on 25 April. Also Read: Mint Primer: Why are sunscreen makers slugging it out in court? During the Monday hearing, HUL lawyers informed the court that it had taken several corrective measures in compliance with the courts earlier order dated 17 April. These included taking down the impugned online video advertisement from all digital platforms. HUL also said it had made visual modifications to the advertisement by changing the colour of the generic, unbranded sunscreen tube featured in the video. The yellow tubepreviously seen as resembling The Derma Co.s packagingwas replaced with a light yellow variant, a change that had been accepted during the court proceedings. In addition to the video advertisement, HUL stated that it had modified or removed all print and outdoor advertisements in question. The tubes colour was updated across these formats, and the phrase online bestseller was replaced with some sellers. HUL further claimed that it reached out to all 196 influencers involved in the campaign, despite the intervening national holiday on 18 April and the weekend that followed. Within 24 hours, 171 influencers had taken down their respective videos, and the remaining 25 complied within the next 24 hours. However, Honasas legal team disputed HULs compliance claims. They argued that HULs affidavit contained false or misleading statements and presented screenshots from HULs own Instagram handle to demonstrate that some influencer videos remained live as of 20 April. They also noted that HUL had failed to disclose how many outdoor advertisements were initially deployed, leaving it unclear whether full compliance had been achieved. Also Read: A sunscreen brand war has exposed a regulatory gap Honasa emphasized that it had to independently identify and track remaining non-compliant advetisementssomething they said should not have been their burden. The hearing became more heated when HUL flagged a LinkedIn post shared by Pankhuri Agarwal, who described the 17 April court development as a big win for Ghazal Alagh and Honasa. HUL objected that this amounted to public commentary on subjudice proceedings. Honasa countered that the company made no official media statement, and that its founder, Ghazal Alagh, had only liked the LinkedIn post. HUL then pointed out that Pankhuri Agarwal was Honasa's brand ambassador. Expressing dissatisfaction with both parties, the Delhi high court said that in the spirit of settlement, this should not have happened, and took serious note of public messaging and social media conduct. The court made it clear that neither party should engage in any public posturing. It issued a stern gag order prohibiting both HUL and Honasa from making any statements to the media regarding the case. No liking, no loving posts that say big win for anyone, the court added in a sharp remark. The legal row began after HULs Lakme brand released an advertisement claiming that a popular online bestseller sunscreen provided only SPF 20 protection instead of the claimed SPF 50. While the ad did not name any brand, Honasa accused HUL of targeting its Derma Co. sunscreen and filed a suit alleging that the advertisement was misleading, disparaging, and aimed at harming its reputation. Also Read: Are you wearing the right sunscreen? Although no competitor was named, Honasa took issue with the visual cues, arguing the campaign disparaged its Derma Co. brand, which comes in orange-and-white packaging. Lakme's products, by contrast, use a golden-yellow colour scheme. US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children emplane from Rome Ciampino Airport for his first official visit to India, scheduled from April 21 to April 24. According to the White House, Vance, who was visiting Italy with his family, boarded Air Force Two (AF2) on Sunday evening. The aircraft is expected to land at Air Force Station, Palam in New Delhi at approximately 9.30 am on Monday. Watch the video here He will be formally received at 10.00 am. A formal meeting between Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for 6.30 pm on Monday at the Prime Minister's official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Here's the complete itinary In a brief yet endearing moment before boarding AF2, Vance was seen gently lifting his sleeping daughter, Mirabel, from their car, while his sons, Ewan and Vivek, waved toy swords as they boarded with Second Lady Usha Vance. Following his meeting with PM Modi in Delhi, Vice President Vance will travel to Jaipur on Tuesday. On April 23, he is scheduled to visit Agra. His visit to India will conclude on Thursday, April 24, when he departs the country at 6:40 a.m. Ahead of his arrival in India, hoardings welcoming JD Vance have been put up near Palam Airport and in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, had stated that India has a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership with the US, and when such a high-level visit takes place, all issues of importance are discussed. 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, Jaiswal said during a media briefing last Thursday. He added that India was confident that the visit would provide a further boost to India-US bilateral ties. "And with America, with the United States, of course, our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of human endeavour... 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," he said. New Delhi: Indias growing appetite for fried and processed foods has tripled the countrys per capita consumption of edible oil since 2001, leading to a heavy reliance on imports and increased concerns about obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. From just 8.2 kg per person in 2001, the average Indian now consumes 23.5 kg of edible oil annually, according to Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand. This exceeds the Indian Council for Medical Research's (ICMR) limit of 12 kg. Chand said that under the national mission on edible oils, the government is working on enhancing domestic production. This has two components. One is about palm oil, which yields higher output than crops like soyabean and mustard. The second component is about other oilseed crops in general. We are working on both," he said. Data from the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) showed that the current edible oil consumption in the country is 25-26 million tonnes, and domestic production is 11 million tonnes. The remaining 60 per cent comes from imports. The country imports edible palm oil from countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, soybean oil from Argentina and Brazil, and sunflower oil from Russia and Ukraine. Also read | Industry differs with govt on soybean output, says edible oil price to stay high While domestic production of oilseeds has increased, it is not enough to cope up with the demand. According to people associated with the edible oil industry, India was reasonably self-sufficient in edible oil till the 1990s. However, years of low commodity prices made cultivation of oilseeds unremunerative for farmers and decision makers complacent. This led to less attractiveness for the authorities to improve oilseed production and productivity. "Indias import requirements in the mid-1990s was only 300,000 tonnes," said B.V. Mehta, executive director at SEA. With opening up of the economy and rising income levels, Indias consumption kept increasing. Compared to demand, oilseed production stagnated, creating massive imbalance in supply-demand." In 2023-24 (estimated), India imported 16 million tonnes (MT) of edible oils, with domestic production fulfilling only 40-45% of the countrys requirements. This situation presents a substantial challenge to the countrys goal of achieving self-sufficiency in edible oils. Consumption of palm oil in India is now over 37% of the total edible oil consumption, according to data from SEA, Soybean oil comprises about 20%, followed by mustard oil at 14%, and sunflower oil at 13%. Also read | In charts: Will rising edible oil prices fry your kitchen budget? Palm oil is mainly consumed by the HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants & Catering), due to demand for out-of-home foods, snack foods, ready-to eat foods, bakery & confectionery. Demand for this oil is expected to grow at 10-15% annually in the coming years. The increase in consumption has been across the edible oils segment. In 1998, we started with 100 tonnes of rice bran oil per day. Now, we are having 600 tonnes per day refining capacity. We are witnessing a year-on-year growth of 15%," said A.R. Sharma, chairman of Ricela Group, primarily known for its rice bran oil production and processing. Health issues High consumption of oil can lead to various health issues, primarily due to high calorie and fat content. Excessive oil intake can contribute to weight gain, obesity, and increase the risk of heart disease, type-II diabetes, and certain cancers. Oil consumption is very high in Indian society. Its not limited to fried items, but even in routine food the household consumption is very high and not restricted to tier-I cities where there is little awareness but also in tier-II and tier-III cities," said Dr. Mansi Chatrath, a nutritionist based out of Panchkula in Haryana. Not only this, eating out has massively increased over a period of time or even if people are not eating out, they are ordering at home," Also read | Whats cooking? Another surge in edible oil imports The high consumption has led to many health issues and impact cardio-vascular system, digestive system and even the occurrence of fatty liver has become very common these days, which is a cause of concern. Toxicity is building up in the body and also not good for people suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure," she added. Scaling up domestic production The Centre is taking a host of steps to increase self-sufficiency. In October 2024, the Union cabinet approved the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds), to boost domestic oilseed production and achieving self-reliance. The mission will be implemented over a seven-year period, from 2024-25 to 2030-31, with a financial outlay of 10,103 crore. The newly approved NMEO-Oilseeds will focus on enhancing the production of key primary oilseed crops such as rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, soybean, sunflower, and sesamum, as well as increasing collection and extraction efficiency from secondary sources like cottonseed, rice bran, and tree borne oils. The mission aims to increase primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31. The Centre also launched National Mission on Edible Oils Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in 2021 with an outlay of 11,040 crore to boost oil palm cultivation in the country. Also read | Whats cooking? Another surge in edible oil imports Together, the two missions target to increase domestic edible oil production to 25.45 million tonnes by 2030-31, meeting around 72% of the projected domestic requirement. This will be achieved by promoting adoption of high-yielding high oil content seed varieties, extending cultivation into rice fallow areas, and promoting intercropping. Vance in India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 21 met with the Vice President of the United States of America, JD Vance. The US vice president was accompanied by the Second Lady Usha Vance, their children, and senior members of the US administration. Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Washington DC in February and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047, according to a government statement. Prime Minister and Vice President Vance reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation, the statement said They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas, it said. The meeting comes as the two nations are negotiating on finalising of India-US bilateral trade deal amid President Donald Trumps reciprocal tariffs, currently paused till July. A team from India may visit Washington DC later this month to discuss the trade deal with US officials. Vance, his family and team, landed in New Delhi on Monday morning for a four-day visit to India. Look forward to Trumps India visit: Modi The government statement said the two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. Vance's visit to India also comes amid recent deportations of illegal Indian immigrants in shackles and revocation of student visas. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra were also part of the Indian team led by Modi at the meeting held at the PMs official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Vice President, Second Lady and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India, the statement said. Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year, it read. They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. PM Modi hosted Vances family and the accompanying US officials for dinner after the formal meeting. JD Vance is arriving in India for his first official visit after becoming the United States Vice President in January this year. Vance will be in India from April 21 to April 24. Vance's aircraft will land at Air Force Station, Palam, in New Delhi at approximately 9.30 am IST on Monday, April 21. Vance's first trip would be focused on cultural engagements and visits to tourist sites in Jaipur and Agra. Vance is accompanied by his three children sons Ewan and Vivek, and daughter Mirabel to the country and his Indian-origin wife, Usha. Vance will be formally received at 10.00 am. A formal meeting between Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for 6.30 pm on Monday, April 17 at the Prime Minister's official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. JD Vance and PM Modi's discussions are expected to cover India-US negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement and President Donald Trumps reciprocal tariffs, currently paused till July. "The VP will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country," the White House said in a statement earlier. No other official engagement other than meeting with PM Modi in Vances India schedule has been announced yet. Also Read | Vance hold talks with top Vatican officials on migrants, global conflicts Following his meeting with PM Modi in Delhi, Vice President Vance will travel to Jaipur for engagements on April 22. Vance and family are scheduled to visit Agra on April 22. The US Vice President's visit to India will conclude on Thursday, April 24, with his departure from the country at 6.40 a.m. Hoardings welcoming Vance Ahead of his arrival in India, hoardings welcoming JD Vance have been put up near Palam Airport and in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. Ahead of his arrival in India, hoardings welcoming JD Vance have been put up near Palam Airport and in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said that India has a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership with the US, and when such a high-level visit takes place, all issues of importance are discussed. Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership with US "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," Jaiswal said during a media briefing last Thursday. He added that India was confident that the visit would provide a further boost to India-US bilateral ties. "And with America, with the United States, of course, our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of human endeavour... 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," he said. 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. Full itinerary of JD Vance's four-day trip in India April 21, Monday: Vance lands at Air Force Station, Palam in New Delhi at 9.30 am IST on Monday. He will be formally received at 10.00 am. Stay at ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel, New Delhi. April 21, Monday: Vance and his family will visit the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple as well as a shopping complex where traditional Indian handcrafted goods are sold. April 21, Monday: At 6.30 am, Vance will meet PM Modi and will also have dinner with him at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Many cabinet ministers, including External Affairs minister S Jaishankar, and senior BJP leaders are expected to attend the dinner as well. April 21, Monday: Vance and family leave Delhi on Monday night and travel to Jaipur and Agra thereafter. They will be received by Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma and the Governor at the Jaipur airport at around 9.30 pm. The family will then proceed to the Rambagh Palace for their stay. April 22, Tuesday: Vance and his family to visit Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, City Palace, and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur. April 22, Tuesday: Vance to deliver a speech at the Rajasthan International Centre before holding some meetings with political and business leaders in Rajasthan. April 22, Tuesday: JD Vance to attend meetings with Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and the state's governor in the evening. April 23, Wednesday: JD Vance and family visit Agra. They will visit the Taj Mahal, and Shilpgram, a market known for Indian art and crafts April 24, Thursday: Concluding his visit, Vice President Vance, along with his family, will depart from India at 6:40 am. JD Vance is arriving in India for his first official visit. The US Vice President will be in India for four days until April 24. This is Vance's first visit to India after becoming US Vice President. Vance's aircraft is scheduled to land at Air Force Station, Palam, in New Delhi at about 9.30 am IST on Monday, April 21. A Union Minister would receive the US Vice President at about 10 am. Also Read | US VP JD Vance arrives on first India visit today. Full itinerary The four-day itinerary of Vance's first trip to India after becoming US Vice President is primarily with cultural engagements and visits to historic sites in Jaipur and Agra. He is accompanied by his Indian-origin wife Usha and his three children sons Ewan and Vivek, and daughter Mirabel. The only formal engagement, announced so far, is Vances meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for 6.30 pm on Monday, April 17. JD Vance and PM Modi's discussions are expected to focus on early finalisation of India-US bilateral trade deal and President Donald Trumps reciprocal tariffs, currently paused till July. The two leaders will also seek ways to boost the overall trajectory of ties between the two countries. The two countries are negotiating to seal a bilateral trade agreement to address India-US trade-related issues, including tariffs and market access. A team from India may visit Washington DC later this month to discuss the trade deal with US officials. No agreements would be signed, however, during the meeting on Momday, as per reports. "The VP will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country," the White House said in a statement earlier. Revocation of student visas of Indians Vance's visit to India also comes amid recent deportations of illegal Indian immigrants in shackles and revocation of student visas. Vance will be accompanied by at least five senior officials, including representatives from the Pentagon and the State Department. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra are expected to be part of the Indian team to be led by Modi at the meeting scheduled at the PMs official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. PM Modi will host Vances family and the accompanying US officials for dinner after the formal meeting. Later in the night, Vice President Vance will travel to Jaipur for his engagements on April 22. Vance and family are scheduled to visit Agra on April 23. His visit to India will conclude on Thursday, April 24, with his departure from the country at 6.40 a.m. The VP will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country. After waiting patiently for nearly six decades, the residents of Kyampur village in Uttar Pradesh finally decided they could wait no more. While the district administration believes the villagers moved impatiently and should have given it more time, the locals argue they had already endured a 58-year delay, Times of India reported. Situated along the Magai River in Ghazipur district, Kyampur and about 50 surrounding villages home to over 70,000 people have long struggled due to the lack of a bridge, according to the Times of India report. Though the river is just 70 feet wide, the lack of a crossing forced locals to travel 40 km to cover what should have been a 10 km journey to the district headquarters. Ray of hope In January 2024, hope returned in the form of Captain (Retd.) Ravindra Yadav, a former civil engineer with the Indian Armys 55 Engineer Regiment, who moved back to his ancestral home in Kyampur after retirement. Shocked by the village's continued isolation, he donated 10 lakh from his retirement fund and offered his technical expertise to build the bridge himself, the report said. I served in the Army for three decades and assisted in building numerous bridges during my postings throughout the country, particularly in remote areas of Nagaland and Manipur. Post-retirement, I was disheartened to discover my ancestral village still lacking direct connectivity to the district headquarters. Hence, I decided to build a bridge, and fortunately received tremendous support from villagers and influential individuals, including architects and bridge engineers I met during my service, Ravindra, who also served in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for three years, told Times Of India. On February 25, 2024, the project received a symbolic boost when Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court visited the village to lay the foundation stone and praised the peoples resilience and initiative. Here's what the administration said However, the project faced a roadblock. The district administration asked villagers to pause construction until officials from PWD and the UP Bridge Corporation could assess the structure for quality and safety standards. I was disheartened to discover my ancestral village still lacking direct connectivity to the district headquarters. Hence, I decided to build a bridge. District magistrate Aryka Akhauri told ToI, The experts from PWD and UP Bridge Corporation have been assigned the task to check the structures built by villagers to see quality standards as well as load capacity that it will be able to bear. As neither any technical committee nor any experts are involved, nor any prior permission was sought for it, people involved in constructing the bridge have been asked to halt the work till the structures are examined, she said, mentioning how checking its strength is a must for public safety. US Vice President JD Vance mourned the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, just a day after the pontiff met him for a few minutes during Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican. Following the visit, Vance and his family departed for India. "I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul," JD Vance posted on X, formerly Twitter. Pope Francis passes away at 88 Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American, first Jesuit in modern papal history, breathed his last on Monday, April 21. The Vatican confirmed the death in its latest statement. Pope Francis, who had a history of chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed in his youth, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14 this year following a respiratory crisis that progressed into double pneumonia. He remained hospitalised for 38 daysthe longest stay of his 12-year papacyreported AP. JD Vance and Pope Francis met each other for a few minutes on Sunday, April 20, during the Easter celebrations at the Vatican. Pope Francis met JD Vance for a few minutes Pope Francis held a brief private meeting with US Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday, the Vatican confirmed. Pope Francis had a brief private encounter ... lasting a few minutes, in order to exchange good wishes on Easter day, the Vatican statement said. The meeting with JD Vance came ahead of the Pope's appearance for Easter Sunday. Pope Francis's Easter message Pope Francis on Sunday delivered his Easter message from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to thousands of people gathered in Vatican Square. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church was recently discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he spent five weeks receiving treatment double pneumonia. Pope Francis eventually breathed his last on Monday, April 21, marking an end to 12 years of his papacy. PM Narendra Modi mourns Pope Francis' death Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned the death of Pope Francis. PM Modi posted on X, that he was deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, and that he will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. Pope Francis burial Pope Francis will not be buried underneath St Peters Basilica. The world united in mourning on Monday, April 21, as news broke of the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Known for his humility, compassion, and deep commitment to social justice, the Argentine-born pope breathed his last in the Vatican, leaving behind a spiritual legacy that transcended borders, faiths, and ideologies. Leaders from across the world expressed their sorrow, recalling personal memories and reflecting on the profound impact of Pope Francis on the global stage. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tribute, saying, Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis... Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage. He fondly remembered their meetings, adding, His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. Pope Francis with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the United Kingdom, King Charles issued an emotional statement: "His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church, and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith." He recalled their recent meeting earlier in April, noting it brought him and the Queen great comfort. His Holiness with King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest May this hope be reborn endlessly beyond him. Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron. Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted a moving message in Italian, calling him un grande uomo e un grande pastore (a great man and a great pastor). She remembered his spiritual counsel and teachings, saying, Il suo magistero e la sua eredita non andranno perduti (His teachings and legacy will not be lost). Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with Pope Francis From Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez shared his sorrow: I mourn the passing of Pope Francis. His commitment to peace, social justice, and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy. Rest in peace. [translated from Spanish] Pope Francis alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof honored the late pontiff as een voorbeeld voor zeer velen (an example for many), emphasising his service, humility, and relevance even to non-Catholics. Maltas PM Robert Abela recalled Popes visit to the island and his tireless efforts for peace, while US Vice President JD Vance, who met him just a day before, wrote, My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. US Vice President JD Vance with Pope Francis, a day before his passing. Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, on behalf of the Conference of European Rabbis, expressed deep sorrow on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, and fondly recalled their meetings and the Popes untiring efforts in promoting peace. Pope Francis with Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt. US Vice President JD Vance arrived in India on Monday for a four-day visit with his family and was in for a weather shock as they set out for Akshardham Temple in Delhi. The Vance family JD Vance, US Second Lady Usha Vance, and their three children Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel who had started their journey from 16 degrees Celsius in Washington, D.C., witnessed a drastic shift in temperature in Delhi, where the temperature soared to 40 degrees Celsius. However, thankfully, the Met Department said there would be no heatwave in the national capital today. With mainly clear skies in the forecast, the Vances may see some respite from the scorching heat towards the evening of cloudy skies. During his India visit, the US vice president will also visit Jaipur and Agra. What's next on the itinerary for Vances today? Later in the evening today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for the Vances. They are scheduled to leave for Jaipur after dinner with PM Modi tonight. Before the dinner, US Vice President and a delegation of senior US government officials will hold wide-ranging talks with the Indian Prime Minister. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian ambassador to US Vinay Mohan Kwatra are expected to be part of the Indian team to be led by PM Modi at the talks. The meeting's focus is likely to be on early finalisation of the proposed bilateral trade pact and ways to boost the overall trajectory of ties between the two countries. Also Read | Vance in India LIVE: US VP and his family visit Akshardham temple Where are the Vances staying in Delhi? In Delhi, the US Vice President and his family are staying at the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel. India visit itinerary of the Vances: On April 22, the Vances will visit a number of historical sites in Jaipur, including the Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort. The fort is a UNESCO world heritage site. In the afternoon, the US Vice President is scheduled to address a gathering at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur. The US Vice President and his family will travel to Agra on the morning of April 23. In Agra, they will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram which is an open air emporium showcasing various Indian artefacts. After concluding their visit to Agra, the Vances will return to Jaipur on the second half of April 23. The US Vice President and his family will depart for the US from Jaipur on April 24. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore confirmed on April 16, 2025, that 37 international students, including graduate students and recent graduates, have had their visas revoked by the federal government, according to CBS Baltimore. The abrupt terminations, part of a broader Trump administration immigration crackdown, have sparked alarm across Maryland's higher education institutions, with no clear explanation provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The visa revocations are linked to a nationwide wave of enforcement actions, with at least 901 international students across 128 colleges and universities losing their legal status since mid-March 2025, as reported by the Associated Press. Many cases appear tied to participation in pro-Palestinian protests, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) using data analytics to review students' social media activity and criminal records for grounds to terminate visas. Johns Hopkins, where 15% of the first-year class comprises international students from 83 countries, stated it has "no information about the specific basis for the revocations" but noted no indication they are tied to free expression on campus. The university's Office of International Services is providing support, including legal counsel and academic advising, to affected students, who must now leave the United States. No arrests or detentions of Hopkins students have been reported. The situation escalated rapidly. On April 8, Hopkins reported "approximately a dozen" visa revocations, a number that grew to "several dozen" by April 11 and was finalized at 37 by April 16, according to The Baltimore Banner. The university shared updates via a livestream accessible only to those with a Johns Hopkins email, reflecting the sensitivity of the crisis. Maryland's other institutions are also affected. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) reported four students losing visas, while the University of Maryland, College Park, confirmed an unspecified number of cases. Three Maryland institutionsUMBC, UMD, and the University System of Marylandsigned an amicus brief on April 10 supporting a legal injunction to halt the Trump administration's visa revocations without cause. Notably, Johns Hopkins did not join the brief, drawing criticism from some community members. The crackdown, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, targets students deemed to act "counter to national interests," often citing minor infractions like past misdemeanors or involvement in protests against Israel's war in Gaza. Immigration attorneys report a lack of transparency, with universities like Hopkins learning of revocations through routine Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) reviews rather than direct DHS communication. Faculty and students are pushing back. Teachers and Researchers United (TRU-UE), Hopkins' graduate student union, condemned the revocations and called for continued advocacy, stating, "We do not allow fear to demobilize our movements at a moment when so much is at stake." The university has advised faculty not to intervene if ICE agents appear on campus, aligning with American Civil Liberties Union guidelines. The visa terminations threaten Johns Hopkins' global reputation and academic diversity, with broader implications for U.S. higher education. As affected students face deportation, the university's responseand the administration's ongoing enforcementwill shape the future of international education in America. United States Vice President JD Vance began his first official visit to India on Monday. He was accompanied by his India-origin wife Usha Vance, three children. As they arrived at the Palam airport, the Vance kids Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel caught the social media's attention. Dressed in traditional Indian outfits for their visit to mother Usha Vance's native country, the children charmed the Internet with their ensemble. The young boys, Ewan and Vivek, wore kurta pyjamas while the youngest, Mirabel, wore an Anarkali-style suit teamed with an embroidered jacket. Netizens were awestruck by the young Vances and said they looked adorable in Indian wear. How adorable! a social media user said. Not a supporter of Vance, but look at those lil kids. Tooooo cute, added another. Ushas kids are so adorable, said another user. They're more Indian than us Indians, quipped another user. A user also noticed JD Vance carrying Mirabel in his arms as she got off the plane, and said, Father's love for daughter. However, a few users were not impressed and said it was not fair for the kids to wear Indian attire while Usha, the person with actual Indian ties, wears a Western dress. Oooh how i hate this . Y are they making the kids partake cultural appropriation, do kids in India roam around in lehenga choli and kurtas?? a user said. She is an indian doesnt she know ?? The only indian in it is wearing a dress and blazer .. all things said ,, vance is always hugging his kids .. he seems like such a present father that is one nice thing about him, the user added. She can't even wear a saree or any other form of traditional Indian dress! She is of Indian origin at the end of the day, said another user. See pictures: Where are the Vances staying in Delhi? In Delhi, the US Vice President and his family are staying at the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel. JD Vance's India visit spans Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. When will JD Vance meet PM Modi? Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for the Vances on Monday evening after holding wide-ranging talks with the US Vice President. The Vances India visit schedule: JD Vance and his family are scheduled to leave for Jaipur on Monday night. On April 22, the Vances will visit a number of historical sites in Jaipur, including the Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort. The fort is a UNESCO world heritage site. In the afternoon, the US Vice President is scheduled to address a gathering at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur. The US Vice President and his family will travel to Agra on the morning of April 23. In Agra, they will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram which is an open air emporium showcasing various Indian artefacts. After concluding their visit to Agra, the Vances will return to Jaipur on the second half of April 23. The US Vice President and his family will depart for the US from Jaipur on April 24. A Delta Air Lines airplane caught fire on Monday morning at Orlando International Airport, Florida, just before its scheduled departure. The fire, which broke out around 11:15 a.m., occurred in one of the Airbus A330s engines while the aircraft was on the ramp, preparing to take off for Atlanta. No injuries were reported The engine fire broke out late Monday morning on Delta Air Lines Flight 1213, airport officials said on social media. The plane was at the ramp before a scheduled departure from Orlando to Atlanta. Swift response and evacuation Delta Air Lines confirmed that the aircraft was carrying 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and two pilots. When the flames were observed in the tailpipe of one of the planes engines, the flight crew immediately followed evacuation procedures to ensure the safety of everyone on board. Delta flight crews followed procedures to evacuate the passenger cabin when flames in the tailpipe of one of the aircraft's two engines were observed, the airline stated in a press release. The Orlando International Airports rescue and firefighting team responded promptly to the fire. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers, flight attendants, or pilots. FAA investigation underway The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the engine fire. Delta Air Lines also stated that its maintenance teams would examine the aircraft to gather further information. "Maintenance teams will examine the aircraft in an effort to determine the cause of the fire," Delta said. Increased concerns over air safety This incident comes on the heels of other recent aviation close calls and accidents that have raised concerns about air safety in the US. US President Donald Trump said on Monday (April 21) that he and First Lady Melania Trump would attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced the death, saying, The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, Farrell added, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God. A history of health struggles The pontiff had a long-standing history of respiratory issues. He had been hospitalised in mid-February with bronchitis that later developed into double pneumonia. He returned to the Vatican in March after a 38-day stayhis longest hospitalization during his 12-year papacy. Francis final public appearance was on Easter Sunday (April 20), where he gave a blessing and greeted the crowd in St. Peters Square from his popemobile. Final days and controversies Just a day before his passing, Pope Francis met with US Vice President JD Vance in what the Vatican called a cordial meeting. Vance, a recent Catholic convert, had previously clashed with the pope on social media following Francis criticism of Trumps proposed immigration policies. In January, Francis had called Trumps deportation plan a disgrace. Funeral and burial plans A date for the funeral is yet to be announced. The Vatican said Pope Francis had requested a modest burial in the underground tomb of St. Mary Major Basilicahome to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, to whom he was deeply devoted. Vatican begins mourning The first public commemoration was held Monday evening with a Rosary prayer in St. Peters Square led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti. The popes body will be transferred to the Domus Santa Marta chapel, his residence, where Vatican officials will offer their final respects. Also Read | Pope Francis never took salary despite being entitled to one - Know why A legacy of compassion Pope Francis was the first Latin American pontiff in history. Known for his humility, concern for the poor, and emphasis on compassion, he drew praise globallybut also controversy, particularly from conservatives. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized, Cardinal Farrell said in tribute. Also Read | Pope Francis died of stroke and heart failure, Vatican confirms Donald Trump in his first White House Easter Egg Roll since reclaiming the presidency, emphasised the resurgence of religion in America. His comments highlighted his focus on reviving religious values within the country. Speaking from the Blue Room balcony to a crowd gathered on the South Lawn, Trump declared, Were bringing religion back in America. Were bringing a lot of things back, but religion is coming back to America. Thats why you see the kind of numbers that you see, the spirit and the kind of numbers that you see. Honoring Pope Francis During the White House Easter Egg Roll celebrations, Trump also took a moment to honor the late Pope Francis. As part of his tribute, the president signed an executive order to fly all federal and state flags at half-mast in commemoration of the Popes passing. I just signed an executive order putting the flags of our country, all of them, all federal flags and state flags, at half mast in honor of Pope Francis, Trump announced. "So, he was a good man. Worked hard. He loved the world, and its an honor to do that." White House Easter Egg Roll 2025: A festive tradition Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed 40,000 guests to the first White House Easter Egg Roll of his second term. Despite forecasts of scattered showers, the annual event proceeded with excitement and joy on the White House lawn. Children eagerly lined up to guide their colorfully dyed hard-boiled eggs across the lawn to a finish line, while the iconic egg hunt drew families of all ages. The day also featured various activities marking the 250th anniversary of America's founding in 2026. Among the highlights were opportunities for children to sign a mini-Declaration of Independence and dress as Founding Fathers. First Lady Melania Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Keith Kellogg, the presidents special envoy for Ukraine, among others read stories to the children, adding a personal touch to the days celebrations. Also Read | Pope Francis never took salary despite being entitled to one - Know why The Easter Egg Rolls longstanding tradition dates back to 1878 during President Rutherford B. Hayes administration. This year, the American Egg Board, which has sponsored the event for a decade, donated 30,000 hand-dyed eggs, despite the ongoing egg shortage caused by avian flu. Emily Metz, the boards president, assured that the donated eggs were smaller than the typical retail size, thus not further straining the supply. US President Donald Trump on Easter Sunday issued what seemed to be a warning for countries he imposed tariffs on. In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump issued an eight-point non-tariff cheating list, thereby warning countries of non-tariff related offences that could potentially spoil their relationship with the US. Trump's eight-point non-tariff cheating list included currency manipulation, dumping below cost, VATs that act as tariffs and export or other government subsidies. What is Donald Trump's eight non-tariff cheating list? The eight points in Donald Trump's non-tariff cheating list are: 1. Currency manipulation 2. VATs that can act as tariffs and export subsidies 3. Dumping below cost 4. Export subsidies and other government subsidies 5. Protective agricultural standards ("e.g., no genetically engineered corn in EU") 6. Protective technical standards (for example, Japans bowling ball test) 7. Counterfeiting, piracy, and IP theft that amount to over $1 trillion a year 8. Transshipping to evade tariffs Donald Trump's post comes days after he announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for most trade partners, other than China. The US President has earlier accused countries of devaluing their currencies artificially to make US goods more expensive and their exports cheaper. In 2018, Trump had claimed that Japan was using a bowling ball test to cheat American automakers out of selling cars in the country. Its the bowling ball test. They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car, he had said. Trump made the same claim on Sunday, which in 2018 was dismissed by a White House official as a joke. Trump tariffs on China Donald Trump has imposed reciprocal tariffs of up to 145 per cent on imports from China. His administration has said that when the new tariffs are added on to the existing ones, it could go up to 245 per cent for some items. On Friday, however, Trump said that the US is having good conversations privately with China amid the two countries' trade war. By the way, we have nice conversations going with China, Trump told reporters at the White House. It's, like, really very good. He did not offer additional details, as per a report by Reuters. Also Read | Trumps push against Powell is latest reason to sell US assets Trump's administration is locked in a war of sky-high reciprocal tariffs with superpower rival China that has unnerved world markets. Vance in India Highlights: US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their children have arrived in New Delhi for their first official visit to India. The Vance family will be in India from April 21 to 24 to discuss bilateral trade agreement and explore new economic opportunities. After departing from Romes Ciampino Airport aboard Air Force Two, the US Vice President landed at Air Force Station, Palam, around 9:30 am and was formally received at 10 am. Vance also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6.30 pm today at the latters official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, in Delhi. Upcoming itinerary for JD Vance and family in India On Tuesday (April 22), Vance and family will begin tour in Jaipur with visits to key landmarks such as Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, and Jantar Mantar. In the afternoon, he will attend a special program at the Rajasthan International Centre. Later in the evening, he is set to meet with CM Bhajanlal Sharma and the Governor. On Wednesday (April 23), the Vance family will travel to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal and explore Shilpgram, a market renowned for Indian arts and crafts. Their visit concludes on Thursday (April 24), with their departure from India at 6:40 am IST. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly shared classified details about US military strikes in Yemen via a private Signal group chat that included his wife and brother, according to a New York Times report. The revelation comes on the heels of claims by The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who previously said he was added to a Signal group involving top US security officials discussing operations in Yemen. Classified flight schedules shared The NYT report states that Hegseth used a second Signal chat to share flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets involved in the strikes against Houthi targets. The message was reportedly sent on March 15. The recipients included his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, brother Phil Hegseth, and his personal attorney, Tim Parlatore. Civilian access raises security concerns Jennifer Rauchet, a former Fox News producer, is not employed by the Defense Department. Though not an official, her inclusion in a group with such sensitive information raises concerns. Other members with ties to Pentagon Phil Hegseth and Tim Parlatore reportedly hold positions within the Pentagon, though their access to the type of detailed operational data shared by Hegseth has not been officially confirmed. The revelation follows warnings about Hegseths judgment from key advisers, including ex-press secretary John Ullyot and three senior officials he fired last week: Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll. Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership, his former press secretary, John Ullyot, said in a statement obtained by CNN. Same strike plans sent to Atlantic Editor, family: Report The news report citing people with knowledge of the chat said that the information Pete Hegseth shared on Signal was the same operational details he had shared earlier in another Signal chat, which mistakenly included The Atlantics editor. Hegseth's "Defense | Team Huddle" Signal group According to the report, Pete Hegseth created the private Signal group Defense | Team Huddle before his confirmation as Defense Secretary, and it reportedly included several private individuals. In contrast, a separate Signal chat set up by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was intended for top Trump officials coordinating military operations. The White House has reportedly started the process of identifying a new Defense Secretary, according to NPR, which cited an anonymous US official as saying. This development comes as current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces increasing scrutiny over allegations of leaking sensitive military information. The controversy centers around claims that Hegseth shared details of planned US military strikes in Yemen with his family members via a private Signal chat on his personal phone. The recipients of this information reportedly included his wife, a former Fox News producer, and his brother. The news report stated that according to the same official, this disclosure on family chat group occurred shortly after Hegseth received a briefing on the mission from a senior US military official. The allegations have sparked widespread criticism, with concerns raised about the potential risks posed by such leaks to national security and military operations. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing. Hegseth responding to the latest claims about sharing military strike details in a private family Signal group chat, said the allegations were part of a broader effort to damage his reputation. New report claims The New York Times published a report alleging that the Defense Secretary disclosed details of U.S. military operations in Yemen, such as flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets targeting Houthi rebels, through a private Signal chat with his family members. The claims in the new report align with a previous controversy involving the Signal chat Houthi PC small group, where Hegseth reportedly shared attack plans. This chat mistakenly included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Hegseth denies claims Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday (April 21), Hegseth expressed confidence in his actions and reiterated his unwavering support for President Donald Trump. "I have spoken to the president, and we are going to continue fighting on the same page all the way," Hegseth said, emphasising strong backing from the president. Hegseth, addressing the growing controversy, said, "Leakers get fired and hit pieces come out. This is what they do," referring to individuals who are allegedly behind this. He continued, "They take anonymous sources from former employees, and they try to ruin peoples reputations not gonna work with me." Hegseth hits back at calls for his removal In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth shot back at calls for his resignation, saying: "Your agenda is illegals, trans & DEI all of which are no longer allowed @ DoD." Trump backs Hegseth, says White House Despite the claims in the new report, the White House said President Donald Trump has reaffirmed its support for Hegseth. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters, The president absolutely has confidence in Secretary Hegseth. I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands behind him. Donald Trump also said, Pete's doing a great job. Everybody's happy with him. Are you bringing up Signal again? I thought they gave that up two weeks ago. It's the same old stuff from the media. Try finding something new, he said. Leak probe led to Pentagon officials' firings The fallout from the leaks has already resulted in the firing of four Pentagon officials: Dan Caldwell, Josh Selnick, Colin Carroll, and another unnamed aide. A March 21 memo signed by Hegseths chief of staff, Joe Kasper, called for an investigation into recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications. Schumer demands Hegseth's removal Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for Pete Hegseth to be fired, saying the Pentagon chief put lives at risk. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Schumer wrote: The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired." Also Read | Hegseth rejects new Yemen leak report, White House states Trump stands by him US Vice President JD Vance, along with his Indian-origin wife Usha, began a four-day visit to India on Monday and is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides Delhi, Vance and his family will also travel to Jaipur and Agra during their trip. Later in the day, Vance and his family are expected to visit the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in the Capital and may visit shopping complex selling traditional hand-crafted goods. On Monday night, Vance and his family are expected to depart for Rajasthan's capital Jaipur - where they will be staying at the Rambagh Palace - a former royal guesthouse now transformed into a luxury hotel. JD Vance India Visit LIVE: US Vice President lands in Delhi, to meet PM Modi at his residence On Tuesday, the family is expected to explore several historical landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Amer Fort. Later in the afternoon, Vance is scheduled to speak at an event at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur. On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Vice President and his family are slated to travel to Agra, where they will visit the iconic Taj Mahal. Pope Francis's death has ushered in a period of mourning within the Vatican and set in motion the ancient process of selecting a new pope. As per the tradition, cardinals will gather under Michelangelos Sistine Chapel ceiling to elect Franciss successor. Steeped in centuries-old tradition, the Vatican's process of selecting a new pope is shrouded in secrecy. LiveMint takes you through the whole process. Selection process for a new pope When a pope dies, the Dean of the College of Cardinals convenes a meeting of all cardinals under the age of 80the only ones eligible to vote. These electors are required to travel to the Vatican to participate in the conclave. Also Read | Pope Francis never took a salary despite being entitled to one - Know why A secretive vote to elect the next pope is held within the Sistine Chapel, the home of conclave. When will the conclave begin? Conclave is not expected to begin earlier than 15 days, nor later than 20 days, after the popes death. It could, however, begin sooner if all the cardinal electors arrive in Rome at the earliest. Where does the secret voting happen? Once the cardinals are assembled in Rome, they gather under Michelangelos magnificent painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel to begin their deliberations. The cardinals take a solemn oath of absolute secrecy before the elections begin. Throughout the process, they are completely cut off from the outside world. Their phones are removed, and no newspapers, television, letters or messages are allowed. The chapel is also swept for listening devices before and during the conclave. How is the next pope elected? Once the cardinals are gathered, paper ballots are passed out to each of them, who writes the name of their chosen candidate below the words Eligo in Summum Pontificem (Latin for I elect as supreme pontiff). Once deliberations are complete, each cardinal, following the order of seniority, approaches the altar in the Sistine Chapel, and place the folded ballot in a chalice. How many votes does a cardinal need to become the new pope? Votes are taken each day, morning and afternoon, until a candidate wins a two-thirds majority. If a cardinal has received two-thirds of the vote, he becomes the new pope. From gathering under Michelangelos Sistine Chapel to ballots- step by step process of how a new pope is elected What happens after a pope is chosen? The chimney atop the Sistine Chapel is the first place where news of a new pope breaks. Sistine Chapel's black smoke After each round of voting, the cardinals ballots are burned: once in the morning and once in the afternoon. If no decision is reached, a chemical is added to the fire to produce black smoke, signaling that a new pope has not yet been chosen. 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. World Economic Forum (WEF) Chairman Klaus Schwab decided to step down on Monday, April 21, after 55 years of service in the Geneva-based institution, according to the official release. Following my recent announcement, and as I enter my 88th year, I have decided to step down from the position of Chair and as a member of the Board of Trustees, with immediate effect, said Schwab, according to the official announcement. Also Read | Klaus Schwab steps down as chair of World Economic Forum's board of trustees The trustees also acknowledged Klaus Schwab's achievements and expressed their gratitude for founding the institution and serving for 55 years, leading the forum on a global scale. At a time when the world is undergoing rapid transformation, the need for inclusive dialogue to navigate complexity and shape the future has never been more critical, they said assuring the people that the Forum will continue to bring people together from all sectors and regions in order to facilitate change of insights and foster collaboration. Earlier this month, as per a Reuters report, a WEF spokesperson said that Schwab will "start the process" of stepping down as chair of its board of trustees. As per the report, there was no timeline given back then, but the spokesperson said that the process should be completed by January 2027. Who is the new chairman of WEF? As per the announcement, the board of trustees of WEF has appointed Peter Brabeck-Letmathe as the interim chairman of the institution until they find a future chairman through a selection committee process. The World Economic Forum's board meeting was held on Sunday, April 20, where the trustees took note of Schwab's resignation, and after which they appointed Peter Brabeck-Letmathe as Chairman ad interim. Also Read | World elite may have spent nearly 10 crore on escorts during WEF in Davos Who is Klaus Schwab? Klaus Schwab is the outgoing Chairman and the founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF). In 1971, Schwab founded the institution, which currently employs more than 800 people in Geneva, New York, Beijing and Tokyo, according to the data collected from the official website. Schwab worked on the shop floor of several companies from 1958 to 1962, then went on to become the Assistant to the Director-General of the German Machine-building Association (VDMA) in Frankfurt. After serving nearly three years at Frankfurt, he became a member of the managing board of Sulzer Escher Wyss AG, Zurich, a manufacturing company with activities in several countries and over 10,000 employees. Italys ANSA news agency citing sources said that Pope Francis' death was likely caused by a cerebral haemorrhage, rather than complications from his recent diagnosis of double pneumonia. While the exact cause has not been officially confirmed, the report stated that the cerebral haemorrhage could be a primary factor in the pontiff's passing. Pope Francis passed away on Monday (April 21) at the age of 88, after battling chronic lung disease. He had been hospitalised for 38 days earlier this year after being admitted on February 14, 2025, for respiratory issues that later developed into double pneumonia. His hospitalisation was the longest of his 12-year papacy. Vaticans official statement pending Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni has stated that the official cause of Pope Francis death is expected to be disclosed later this evening. The exact cause of death will most likely be revealed soon, Bruni said, confirming that the Vatican would provide further details shortly. Although the Pope's condition had deteriorated due to pneumonia, there had been no official mention that a cerebral haemorrhage was connected to his respiratory illness. Prior to the news from the sources, as cited, the public had been informed that Pope Francis had been receiving ongoing medical care for his lung condition. As the Vatican prepares for a statement related to his death, mourners around the world are paying tribute to the Pope, reflecting on his unique legacy as the first Latin American pontiff who championed compassion, inclusivity, and social justice during his papacy. The Vatican announces time of death Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, confirmed that Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. Monday (05:35 GMT). Farrell reflected on the popes life, saying, His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He added that Pope Francis had taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. Last public appearance on Easter Sunday Pope Francis made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday (April 20), blessing thousands from St. Peters Square. He also made a surprise popemobile tour through the piazza, drawing loud cheers and applause. Condolences pour in from around the world Following news of his death, leaders from around the globe expressed their sorrow and admiration for Pope Francis. In his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina, worshippers mourned the loss of their native son. I think he was a rebel. He may have been contradictory, but that was nice, too, said Catalina Favaro, an Argentine worshiper. Bishop Jorge Garcia Cuerva addressed the mourners, saying, The pope of everyone has died. The pope of all humanity who insisted one and a thousand times that there must be room for everyone. Argentine President pays tribute Argentine President Javier Milei, despite having a strained relationship with the pope, expressed his condolences, noting, Differences that seem minor today. His eulogy highlighted the pope's unwavering commitment to the people. Pope Francis' global impact on interfaith relations Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo di Segni, praised Pope Francis for fostering a new chapter in relations between Judaism and Catholicism. He noted, Pope Francis opened a dialogue that was sometimes difficult but always respectful. Also Read | World mourns Pope Francis, tributes pour in from global leaders India remembers Francis compassion Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pope Francis will be remembered "as a beacon of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage." Modi emphasised how the pope's commitment to inclusive development had inspired millions worldwide. Italian Premier mourns the loss Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed her deep sadness, calling the pope a great man and a great shepherd. She reflected on the friendship and counsel she received from him, especially in times of trial and suffering. Also Read | Pope Francis never took salary despite being entitled to one - Know why Pope Francis, who was the the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, has lead a life of simplicity since he took over the charge in 2013. This included changes in salaries of cardinals, including himself. Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88, a day after he greeted the world on Easter. That was his first and last appearance in the public, after having suffered from double pneumonia. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. After becoming the head of the catholic Church in 2013, Pope Francis overhauled the salary system that Popes were attuned to. What was Pope Francis' salary? According to various news reports, Pope Francis never received a salary despite being entitled to one. In 2013, when he took over as the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis denounced any form of wages, a shift from what was followed till that time. Instead, he had always opted for either donating his money to the church, place it in a trust, utilise it for foundation or transfer it to a family member. According to a report by The Economic Times, popes are traditionally entitled to a salary of about $32,000 per month. Pope Francis net worth The Economic Times also mentioned in its report that despite renouncing his salary, Pope Francis had access to various assets that are associated with his position. The newspaper estimated his net worth to be around $16 million, which included the assets allocated to him as the Pope. Pope Francis dies at 88 Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said on Monday, ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution. He was 88, and had suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia this year, but his death came as a shock after he had been driven around St. Peter's Square in an open-air popemobile to greet cheering crowds on Easter Sunday. "Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel. Pope Francis Dead News Highlights: Pope Francis I, the Roman Catholic Church's first Latin American head, has passed away on April 21, the Vatican announced in a video statement. Pope Francis was 88 and had recently survived double pneumonia. However, a new report indicates that Pope Francis may have died of cerebral haemorrhage. In the video statement by Cardinal Kevin Farrell on the Vatican's TV channel, he said: Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. The body of Pope Francis body will be laid in a coffin in the chapel at his Saint Martha residence. Tonight, Monday April 21 at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin, the Vatican said in a statement. The Vatican said Monday that Pope Francis's body could be transferred to St Peter's Basilica Wednesday to lie in state. The transfer of the body of the Holy Father to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of all the faithful could take place on Wednesday morning, the Vatican said in a brief statement, adding that more information would be available on Tuesday. As a mark of respect, India will observe three days of State Mourning. Years ago, I read Kitne Pakistan , a novel by Hindi writer Kamleshwar that articulates the fractious, discriminatory and power-hungry tendencies of Indian society. The exodus from Murshidabad following riots in the wake of the passage of Waqf Amendment Act has again forced us to ponder whether we can ever bridge this mindset of separation. Do we really want to replace the rule of the majority with majoritarianism? The riots in Murshidabad have made the lives of Hindus, who are a minority there, miserable. Hriday Das, a tea-stall owner, and his daughter-in-law Sucharita Sarkar from Jafrabad were shaking with fear as they narrated their ordeal to Hindustans correspondent who met them at Rajmahal on the Jharkhand-West Bengal border. They said, on 12 April, an armed group attacked people in their locality where about 170 Dalit families resided. The group stoned houses they found locked. Das was home when the attacks began. He said stones kept raining on his terrace, and he could hear people getting beaten up outside. His brother Hargobind and nephew Chandan were caught by the group that beat them up. Das also learnt later that his shop had been vandalized. Also read | Is a new Ayodhya-like plan brewing in RSS back room? The rioters left the place after issuing a warning that anyone who returned would be wiped out. Well see who in the administration has the guts to come and save you," they said. Sucharita said she would never return to Murshidabad. Stories such as Sucharitas litter Murshidabad, 24 Parganas and adjoining districts. The victims are asking a simple question: Why didnt the administration come forward to save them? Its a legitimate question, but those entrusted with providing them security are busy politicking. The chief minister of West Bengal, Iron lady" Mamata Banerjee after attending a function on Monday told the media that no one had the right to take law into their own hands. Shes right, but how does she propose to deal with the miscreants who have already violated the rule of law in her state? She knows its not an easy task. The truth is that the scourge of communalism has been festering in parts of West Bengal for years now. Now the schism is out in the open. It isnt clear whether the rioters in Murshidabad were locals or come from outside, but its clear they know the value of their vote and want to extract an extreme price for it. State BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, once a key lieutenant of Mamata, claims the state government is unable to deal with lawlessness in the state and, so, should be dismissed. The Trinamool Congress leader counters him by saying Murshidabad violence is the handiwork of central agencies in cahoots with some political parties. Its sad that in this age-old game of violence, only the faces of the perpetrators and the victims have changed, while the statements of the leaders remain the same. Also read | The many dangers that democracy confronts today Violent incidents over the past 50 years evidence this. Between 1970 and 1980, the Hindi-speaking people in Assam had faced similar atrocities, which led to a large-scale exodus. At the same time, many Hindus had to leave Punjab owing to heightened terror activities in the state. The riots that followed the death of Indira Gandhi also wreaked havoc on the Sikh community. Maliana in Uttar Pradesh and Bhagalpur in Bihar were particularly tough for the Muslims. The silk weavers who left Bhagalpur after the riots never returned. The atrocities committed in 1990s against Kashmiri Pandits led them to flee Kashmir Valley. The list of such unfortunate occurrences is very long. The first two decades of the 21st century came as a whiff of fresh air when the situation improved a little; But Manipur violence, which led to the members of the Christian community, a majority of the region last year reopened old wounds. These violent and complex incidents have affected Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians alike. In some incidents, they were perpetrators and in others, victims. The exodus had more to do with majoritarianism rather than religion. Faith was a convenient tool to rouse rioters. Also read | The judiciary cannot turn into a haven for the corrupt Over the past few years, social medias invasive power has become evident in our lives; it has aided in complicating an already deteriorating situation and acted as a force multiplier for the separatists, rumourmongers and malevolent elements. Our politicians, too, are ever-eager to exploit these incendiary situations. Along with religion, regional and linguistic divisions are being used to foment division. Once the people who were ready to lay down their lives for the country are fighting each other on such issues. One wonders, how many countries do we want to create within India? Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal. Targeted advertising is the business model that created much of the modern internet, and no company has benefitted more than Google. Last week in the US, a district court judge handed down a ruling that threatens to dismantle part of that money-printing machine. Finally, theres a Big Tech antitrust case with an obvious and effective remedy. Of course, this decision will set off a costly and complex round of appeals that could take years and may walk back some of the judges conclusions. Still, as it stands now, its a significant blow to Googles business, one that comes on the heels of losing another blockbuster antitrust trial last year. In that first case, the US Justice Department convinced a judge that Alphabets unit unfairly showered billions of dollars on companies like Apple to remain the default search engine on browsers and other important parts of digital real estate. The most recent case dealt with how Google made money through advertising. Google has a tool that lets publishers sell ad space on their sites and a system for auctioning that space. The creepily specific ads users see as they browse the web have been part of a rapid-fire automated bidding waryou might call it one of Googles most significant innovations. You can now also call it an illegal monopoly. The judge didnt rule entirely against the company, howeverthe judge said prosecutors failed to make the case that Google held a monopoly in the market of tools used by companies to buy ad space. The two cases are similar in that they accused Google of exploiting its size to entrench its dominance. By being the default choice for most people, Google became an even better almost untouchable search engine. Googles advertising business became more profitable thanks to the companys control of several parts of the buying and selling chain. In both cases, the judges ruled that Google had exploited that power in a way that harmed customersGoogle Search would be better, maybe less crammed with ads, if it had competitors. And Google would be forced to offer better prices for advertisers if other advertising platforms were able to compete on a level playing field. Where the two cases differ is in how simply they can be solved. In the search case, the horse has bolted. Even if Google were told it could not strike exclusive deals to be the default browser, most users would probably choose Google anyway. If Google were forced to spin off its Chrome browser business or the Android operating systemas is on the tablemost would find it a real head-scratcher. How would those two products survive independently? And what problem would it solve, exactly? Perhaps reflecting that search engine competition was past a point of no return, prosecutors had also suggested holding Google back from making investments in AIin effect punishing past bad behaviour by putting the company in the penalty box for the next technological innovation cycle. Thankfully, the most recent filings suggest the Justice Department is no longer chasing this remedy. As I wrote in November, holding back Google on AI would only serve to reduce competition in a market that may prove vastly more important than anything that has come before it. In stark contrast, the remedies in the ad tech case are much clearer, even as Google executives warned of some engineering challenges. Split up Googles ad business. Take the ad server side and the ad exchange side, slice it right down the middle, and divest. This wont cripple the company. As The Information notes, whats at issue in this case is just one part of the overall online advertising market, which includes things like in-app ads and ads displayed on streaming platforms, where Google does not dominate. The majority of Googles ad revenue comes from ads that appear alongside its own properties, like Search, Gmail and YouTube. In 2024, revenue from its ad network segment was $30.4 billion11% of Googles total ad revenue. It will survive. This is reflected in the market reaction. Alphabet shares fell, but only by about 1%. Smaller ad tech platforms surged. As of lunchtime in New York last Thursday, Trade Desk was up more than 7%, Magnite surged 15% and PubMatic was up 12%. And the ad tech disruption might not be over yet. Meta is also in the midst of an antitrust trial that could see it forced to split up its family of apps that include Instagram and WhatsApp. If it loses, the digital advertising landscape could be unrecognizable in 5 years," remarked Emarketer analyst Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf, reacting to the Google news. Frankly, that sounds like healthy competition to me. Bloomberg The author is Bloomberg Opinions US technology columnist. The White Houses clash with Harvard University, which the former sought to soften over the weekend, spotlights an enviable aspect of the US as much as a political puzzle. The countrys institutional integrity, with academic freedom held as a key value, has long been the worlds envy. If that wobbles, its story of liberty would ring hollow. The enigma is the backing of Israels brutal Gaza War by both its big political parties. The events that led Claudine Gay to resign as Harvard president in 2024 revealed not just varied views on whos vulnerable to genocide, but also how easily anti-war protests could be branded antisemitic". She had merely stated the campus rulebook, which privileges free speech. Her successor Alan Garber did well to resist renewed efforts to curb Harvards autonomy and gag protestors. But bipartisan support for Israel cant fully be explained by the influence of a Jewish lobby" over US politics. Americas energy stakes in West Asia were high once, but fell after its surge in shale-oil output. Yet, old habits die hard and Israel is Americas regional ally. Even so, the US would be better served if it took its cues on complex world affairs from academia instead of lobbies or biases. Indian data on the export of goods is reported more promptly than of services. This is because customs declaration and port formalities capture the data in real-time and a ready-to-use digital format. Data from GST payments on exports is also useful to triangulate and report quickly. In comparison, service exports need reconciliation from the banking system and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before the final numbers can be confirmed. Besides, the delivery of services takes place over a longer time, as contract periods can run into years. Merchandise exports are clocked the moment goods leave the shore. There could be complexities such as pending receivable payments or the return of rejected items due to quality issues. The holy grail is to get goods and services trade data in real-time and match it with the data reported by importing countries. Indias goods export data for 2024-25 was recently released. Our aggregate export revenue of $437 billion is the same as last year; i.e., there was zero growth. This stagnation is puzzling because the impact of US President Donald Trumps tariffs wont show up until later. In calendar year 2024, total world trade grew 3.7%. Exports from Southeast Asia grew 5.8% and from China by 5.4%. So, Indias zero growth calls for introspection. This flat outcome was on top of a fall of 3% in 2023-24. So, it constitutes two years of sluggish performance, even though two years ago, in 2022-23, India clocked its highest-ever export value of $450 billion. Why did that momentum slacken? Exports constitute a major driver of domestic growth and employment. They are especially important at a time when private investment is not picking up and growth in public capital expenditure is getting constrained. A geopolitical upheaval and a reshaped trade-relations jigsaw can work to Indias advantage. Some diversification and re-alignment of export priorities could be quite profitable for India. The nil export growth of last fiscal year hides a diverse performance that included large positives and negatives. The most spectacular showing was of the electronics sector, whose exports grew 33%; smartphone exports grew 54%. Apples iPhone exports alone were $17 billion in 2024-25, and India has emerged as a top iPhone manufacturing hub. Engineering goods, which include machinery, also rose in double digits, as did exports of auto-components and pharmaceuticals. So, what explains the aggregate zero growth? One of the main sectors to suffer a steep decline was gems and jewellery, a traditionally strong sector for the country. Their exports declined 17% to a two-decade low, attributable to weak demand from the big luxury markets of the US and China. But it could also be because of competition from newer players in Southeast Asia. There was a time when nine out of 10 uncut diamonds polished in the world went through India, but not anymore. The other big reason could be that artificially-produced machine diamonds and other gems are now of equal quality and offer a steep discount on traditional ones, polishing which was the countrys strength. Another big factor is oil. Refined products like petrol and diesel still make up nearly a fourth of Indias exports in dollar terms. In 2024-25, export revenue fell 24%, due to a fall in oil prices of about 8%, even though volumes increased. There was intra-year oil- price volatility too. This is a vulnerability of over-dependence on oil exports for dollar earnings, since oil prices can be quite volatile and its quantity demand is inelastic. Both the diamond polishing and oil refining sectors have low value addition and a high import component. The last two years of sluggish export performance might also have been adversely affected by a rupee propped up by RBI. For a prolonged period, it chose to defend a stronger exchange rate by selling spot and forward dollars. Since India is a net importer of dollars, the optimum value of the rupee-dollar rate is a matter of intense debate. The big success has of course been service exports, which grew 12% last fiscal year. Over the preceding four years, this sectors export growth rates have been 23.5%, 27.8%, 4.9% and 12.4% respectively. Given their relative strength, services might soon overtake our manufacturing exports. The strongest services sub-component has been software and business process outsourcing (BPO), which have been growing robustly. Global capability centres and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) too clocked impressive growth, and so did two other sub-sectors, consultancy and financial services. It is worth noting that our two biggest dollar earners are software services and remittances. Overall, Indias exports including services are estimated to have grown around 4% to $821 billion last year. India can surely double agriculture exports and take advantage of US tariff differentials in favour of India to export more ready-made garments, textiles and footwear. In the same breath, why not increase the supply of soybean, cotton, sugar, buffalo beef and rice to China as it threatens to cut off US imports? Indias trade with both the US and China has risen well. But we have barely scratched the potential of tapping the Chinese consumer market of about $6 trillion. The Chinese seem to be willing to import more from India. Geopolitics is changing the worlds trade patterns drastically. It is for us to grab the opportunity being opened up and make aggressive inroads both to the west and east of India. The author is senior fellow with Pune International Centre. In addition to his threatening tariffs, annexation pitches, immigration crackdowns and government job cuts, US President Donald Trump is seeking unprecedented control over university affairs. For decades, these academic institutions served as a pillar of American research, education and national growth. However, in 2021, J.D. Vance, Trumps deputy, referred to them as the enemy." Perhaps in that spirit, Trump 2.0 has aggressively targeted universities, asking them to end diversity initiatives and alleged anti-semitism on campuses. Federal funding for research at US universities totalling hundreds of millions of dollars has been suspended by Washington. After threatening around 60 other varsities, in mid-March the Trump administration withdrew $400 million in federal funding from Columbia, an Ivy League university. As described by Columbias Professor Sheldon Pollock, the government sent the university a ransom note" with many preconditions for restoring the funding. With a $15 billion endowment and many generous and wealthy alumni, Columbia had a unique opportunity to script history. It, however, failed to take it and agreed to major concessions demanded by the federal government. The Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce interpreted it as Columbia FOLDS." Put under pressure next was Harvard, the wealthiestand oldestAmerican university. Given its prestige, the Make America Great Again campaigns goal of controlling US academia could not be accomplished without a victory over it. Harvard, however, refused to fold. It became the first university to reject the administrations demands. This marks a new chapter in the history of academic freedom. The Trump administration said in March that it was reviewing $8.7 billion in multiyear grant commitments" and roughly $256 million in federal contracts for Harvard. Subsequently, a letter signed by over 800 Harvard faculty members urged the university to mount a coordinated opposition to these anti-democratic attacks." The Trump administration insisted that Harvard limit the influence of its faculty and students, notify federal authorities immediately of any conduct violations by foreign students and appoint an outside party to ensure each academic department is viewpoint diverse." These demands touched on many facets of the universitys basic operations and are aligned with broader conservative critiques of higher education that go beyond the alleged harassment of Jews by those opposed to Israeli actions in West Asia. They also violate principles of academic freedom. The Harvard faculty chapter of the American Association of University Professors, along with the national organization, sued the Trump administration for its demanded policy changes while reviewing roughly $9 billion in federal funding. Washington swiftly retaliated, stating that a $60 million contract and $2.2 billion in multi-year grants would be frozen. Harvards tax-exempt status and visa sponsorship of foreign students also face withdrawal. Former Harvard president Lawrence Summers, however, urged the university to take legal action against the government and use its $53.2 billion endowment to plug financing gaps. According to Harvards president Alan Garber, the federal governments demands would give it control over the Harvard community" and jeopardize the universitys values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge." As academic freedom has long been the cornerstone of US universities, this is a defining moment. Academic freedom is a complex concept. Although multiple definitions exist, at the first annual Global Colloquium of University Presidents at Columbia University in January 2005, academic freedom" was defined as the freedom to conduct research, teach, speak, and publish, subject to the norms and standards of scholarly inquiry, without interference or penalty, wherever the search for truth and understanding may lead." However, like any other freedom, its neither unrestricted nor absolute. It must adhere to a set of standards and obligations and its reach may extend no further than what a countrys politics and society allow at a given moment. If youre taking federal funds, then we want to make sure that youre abiding by federal law," said US education secretary Linda McMahon, defending the governments approach. Shifting sociopolitical dynamics in a society constantly redefine academic freedom and the scope for political meddling in it. This much, we should admit. Cash-rich Harvards decision not to bow to the Trump administrations demands may set a legal precedent and serve as a strategic guide for other universities. More significantly, contemporary academic freedom will probably be defined in specific terms by Harvards lawsuit, subsequent hearings and the final verdict, whatever it may be. In America and many other countries, it could serve as a template for marking the legitimate extent of political interference in universities that receive state funds. While Columbia missed the bus, Harvard looks set to make history. The author is professor of statistics at Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to use the countrys intelligence agency for his and the governments benefit, including by requesting surveillance on anti-government protesters, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar wrote in a sworn affidavit to the High Court. The accusations are some of the most severe leveled by Bar against the Israeli prime minister, with whom hes clashed over taking responsibility for the failure to prevent an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and the handling of hostage negotiations. Netanyahu tried to fire Bar last month, though Israeli courts have suspended the decision. I was required to provide details regarding the identities of Israeli citizens, protest activists and was expected to monitor protest financiers, Bar wrote in a document submitted on Monday. Netanyahus office denied the accusations, saying Bar submitted a false affidavit to the Supreme Court today, which will be refuted in detail in the near future, according to a statement. The written statement comes as the court deals with multiple petitions challenging Bars ousting. These claim the move was illegal due to a conflict of interest on the prime ministers part and the fact that its unsubstantiated. Bar implies Netanyahu sought to politicize the Shin Bet whose mandate focuses on preventing terrorist attacks and acts of espionage as a way to strengthen his grip on power. Netanyahu, according to Bar, asked for his signature in a statement saying the prime minister couldnt testify in his corruption trial. And there was an expectation that the agency would back the government in case it chose not to abide by future high court rulings. In the event of a constitutional crisis, the Shin Bet must obey the Prime Minister and not the High Court, Bar said of Netanyahus demand, adding it was made with only the two of them present. Netanyahu had the clear intention that the exchange would not be documented, Bar added. In a statement, the prime ministers office denied that Netanyahu asked to postpone the trial. On the contrary, he insisted on holding his trial without further delays. Israel was engulfed in escalating political, social and political turmoil for much of 2023, when Netanyahus proposed changes on the judiciary branch triggered the countrys largest ever protests. Outcry over the attempt to weaken checks on the governments actions was overtaken by the war in Gaza with militant group Hamas which the US and many others designed as terrorist. The intelligence chief said for the first time he will soon announce when he expects to step down, a decision likely to supersede a court ruling on petitions against his ousting. The clash comes amid peaking tensions between Israels executive and judiciary branches, with some fearing the government would not abide by a ruling to keep Bar in office. In the written statement, Bar repeated earlier claims that the mistrust on which Netanyahu decided to fire him resulted from a refusal to pledge loyalty to the government, as well as a Shin Bet investigation into ties between the prime ministers close aides and Qatar. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. 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. Supply Lines is a daily newsletter that tracks global trade. . Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum said theres no agreement yet with her US counterpart Donald Trump after the two spoke last week about lifting US tariffs. The Mexican head of state said on Monday that they had discussed an existing 25% tariff on imported vehicles and an equivalent one on steel and aluminum. We didnt reach an agreement but we did establish our arguments. In the case of steel and aluminum, we established that we have a deficit. The US exports more steel and aluminum to Mexico than Mexico to the US, Sheinbaum said at her daily press briefing on Monday. Our argument is that, just like in other cases, those goods that enter under the free trade agreement should have zero tariffs. Mexican officials have emphasized that their country has so far avoided tariffs on all its exports as Trump originally threatened, but Sheinbaum is looking to guarantee further protections for key sectors. She has stressed the value of the USMCA, the free trade agreement between Mexico, Canada and the US. A broader concern is whether international investors will continue to help drive the nations growth amid the uncertainty. The fee on the small portion of goods that fall outside the free trade agreement could be up for further discussion with the Trump administration, Sheinbaum told press. She added that talks between high-level officials were ongoing after the call. Theres communication on the level of ministers of commerce and economy, and on the level of presidents, Sheinbaum said. Trump in a social media post last week had said the call with Sheinbaum was very productive. Broader Concern The US-made portion of finished vehicles remains exempt from the tariffs, and the Mexican Economy Ministry has said it aims for progress in talks before May 3, when levies specifically on auto parts are expected to take effect. Automakers including Stellantis NV Motor Corp had halted some production in Mexico when the duties went into effect in early April. Other carmakers said they would no longer be paying overtime. The industry is responsible for about 30% of Mexicos total exports by Sheinbaums account, which mean broad tariffs could deal a huge blow to manufacturing in her first year in office. Both countries are also dueling over their shared use of water along the US-Mexico border and on whether Mexican growers are undercutting the prices of tomatoes. The government has looked for ways to show its a willing partner with the Trump administration. At present, Sheinbaums diplomatic tactics have helped her approval rating remain at 83%, according to the latest El Financiero poll. Sheinbaums government has not imposed reciprocal tariffs on the US, preventing a greater spat with Trump and winning her praise among some voters. The Deputy Economy Minister for Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Gutierrez has said Mexico would be satisfied with having a lower tariff than other countries, even if the rate is not brought down to zero. Most other US trade partners are now facing a 10% levy while they wait for the Trump administration to hash out who might face higher fees it had originally announced. Earlier this year, Mexico also handed over high-level criminal actors to the Trump administration, including some accused of drug-trafficking, and had vowed to help stop the flow of migrants and fentanyl to the US. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi slammed BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his "Muslim commissioner" barb, stating that he believed in in an idea of India where an individual is defined by his or her talents and contributions and not by their religious identities. "I served on the constitutional post of Election Commissioner to the best of my ability and had a long and fulfilling career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). I believe in an idea of India where an individual is defined by his or her talents and contributions and not by their religious identities," Quraishi told PTI. Also Read | Nishikant Dubey escalates controversy by targeting ex-CEC Quraishi over Waqf Act S Y Quraishi further asserted he believes in an idea of India where an individual is defined by his contributions, and asserted that "for some, religious identities are a staple to forward their hateful politics". Nishikant Dubey's Muslim Commissioner remark Nishikant Dubey's barb at S Y Quraishi came a day after his attack on the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of Sanjiv Khanna, blaming the CJI for causing "civil wars" in India. A day after the comments caused uproar, Dubey fired a salvo at Quraishi for commenting that the Waqf (Amendment) Act is a "sinister and evil plan of the government to grab Muslim lands". Reacting to Quraishi's remarks, Dubey had said, "You were not an election commissioner, you were a Muslim commissioner. The maximum number of Bangladeshi infiltrators were made voters in Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand during your tenure," reported PTI. S Y Quraishi received support from several politicians including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who stated it was time to stand up for human worth over community labels. S Y Quraishi's post Earlier in the morning, without any reference, Quraishi posted, "'I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it' -- George Bernard Shaw. A very wise quote of the great author!" Shashi Tharoor backs S Y Quraishi Tagging a report on Quraishi's remarks, Tharoor said, "He's absolutely right. As Martin Luther King famously said, he strove for a world where people would be judged not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Today in India it is not skin colour, but religious or caste identity that some have chosen to privilege over 'the content of their character'. It is time to stand up for human worth over community labels." Several other political leaders and parties rallied behind Quraishi and slammed Dubey for his remarks. Akhilesh Yadav hits back at Nishikant Dubey Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav hit out at Dubey, saying he should refrain from commenting on a former constitutional authority who has served the nation with distinction. In a post on X, Yadav wrote, One who has already been discredited by his own party for making a 'personal opinion' that is not worthy of endorsement should maintain silence on a retired constitutional officer. That would be more respectful. CPI General Secretary D Raja condemns Dubey's remarks CPI General Secretary D Raja condemned Dubey's remarks and alleged that the BJP does not have any respect for the Constitution. "SY Quraishi was an election commissioner, but this man calls him a Muslim Commissioner. It is atrocious, highly condemnable. What are Mr Modi and Mr Nadda going to say on this issue?" Raja asked. "It has become a practice of the BJP to allow their loyalists to speak provocative things. When they are caught, it will say they are fringe elements and the party has nothing to do with it... What action are you taking?" he asked. Sanjay Raut backs Quraishi Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said Quraishi was one of the best election commissioners that this country has seen after T N Seshan. "What kind of language have Modi-Shah spread in this country? These people who try to break the country do not deserve to live in this country," Raut said. JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said the BJP was uncomfortable with what Dubey has said against Quraishi and his earlier comment, and the BJP president has distanced the party from the comment. "This comment should also be seen in that category. It is not appropriate to make a religious comment on SY Quraishi," he said. Quraishi was the Chief Election Commissioner of India from July 2010 to June 2012. New Delhi: In a bid to eradicate leprosy by 2027, the health ministry has urged states and Union territories to implement a revised treatment regimen for paucibacillary and multibacillary cases. As per the new plan, the government has introduced a three-drug regimen for paucibacillary cases in place of a two-drug regimen for six months, being adopted internationally. This new drug regime includes, referred to as multidrug therapy, is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Also read | Drug combination used to treat cold, allergy banned for children under four Paucibacillary leprosy is identified leprosy with one to five skin lesions, without the demonstrated presence of bacilli in a skin smear, while multibacillary refers to leprosy with more than five skin lesions or with nerve involvement. National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP) is taking all required steps to stop the transmission of Leprosy at the Sub-national level by 2027. Following which, the ministry of health and family welfare, GOI, introduced a 3-drug regimen for Pauci-Bacillary cases in place of a two-drug regimen of six months," said a communication issued by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to all states and Union territories. NLEP is a centrally sponsored scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM) wherein funds are provided to the state and Union territory governments as per their need, priority and absorption capacity. Also read | Pharmacy education curriculum to be revised; move after decade to keep pace with latest advances Interestingly, India achieved leprosy elimination status at the national level by the WHO when the disease prevalence rate was less than one per 10,000 population in 2005. However, the government launched the National Strategic Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-2027) to achieve zero transmission of the disease three years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal by 2030. There are a few districts within states and Union territories where leprosy is endemic. With various interventions introduced under NLEP in the last few years, the number of new leprosy cases detected have come down to around 31,000," an official said. In 2023, the government detected 31,088 leprosy cases in India across 17 states. Also read | Facing low organ donations, Centre warns hospitals over transparent organ transplantation in India The leprosy treatment market size is estimated to reach over $5,438.94 million by 2032 from $3,618.60 million in 2024, growing at a compounded annual rate of 5.3% from 2025 to 2032, as per Consegic Business Intelligence. Queries sent to a health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered. New Delhi: The Centre may extend its scheme to incentivize seismic surveys of sedimentary basins for mapping of oil and gas deposits by another year, said two people in the know of the development, amid a focus on finding new reserves to boost energy security. The scheme, called Mission Anveshan, was launched in fiscal year 2025 (FY25) and is set to end in FY26. Under it, the government gives incentives to state-run companies Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd to carry out seismic data acquisition, processing, interpretation and mapping of oil and gas reserves. It was launched in continuation of the National Seismic Programme (NSP) aiming at hydrocarbon resources in Indias sedimentary basins. The scheme may be extended by a year, till the end of FY27. However, a decision on this front is yet to be taken," said a person in the know of the developments. Also read | Major oil & gas discovery expected from blocks offered in OALP rounds, says Oil India CMD The mission was approved with a budgetary outlay of 720 crore for two years, FY25 and FY26, for conducting two-dimensional (2D) seismic surveys (including acquisition, processing and interpretation) of 20,275 line-kilometers (LKM) in seven on-land sedimentary basinsGanga-Punjab, Rajasthan, Saurasthra, Deccan Synclise, Cuddappah, Krishna-Godavari and Chhattisgarh. Going ahead, there would also be an emphasis on more and more of 3D (three-dimensional) surveys, which are technically superior and likely to give much more accurate assessments," said another person. Queries mailed to the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas remained unanswered till press time. Under the scheme, Oil India has started gathering seismic data in the Rajasthan and Ganga-Punjab basins, having completed work on around 1,683 LKM of 2D seismic data. However, work by ONGC was delayed due to litigation on the contract, according to a standing committee report submitted to Parliament in March. Also read | $6-billion carbon tax shield: Rio Tinto, AM Green plan world's largest green aluminium plant in India ONGC has started experimental survey in Cuddapah area in Andhra Pradesh and seismic data acquisition is expected to start shortly, it noted. The House panel on petroleum and natural gas under the chairmanship of Sunil Dattatrey Tatkare, Lok Sabha member from Raigad, Maharashtra, recommended the government closely monitor progress under the scheme and make efforts for completion of 2D seismic surveys in a time-bound manner so that availability and interpretation of geoscientific data can be offered to attract global investors for more proactive participation in the Indian exploration and production sector, particularly for deepsea and ultra-deepsea exploration of hydrocarbon resources. Funds should be released timely to ensure that work is not hampered. The committee also expect upstream majors ONGC and OIL to make earnest efforts for time-bound completion of the targets under the scheme by addressing the challenges being faced in their operations," said the panels report. In the past few years, the government has been focusing on exploring new and uncharted areas to discover hydrocarbon reserves that would increase Indias oil and gas production and reduce import dependence. India imports about 85% of its energy requirements. Also read | Govt eyes alternative use of coal, emptied mines as power plants well-stocked The government has opened up several previously no-go areas for oil and gas exploration. Speaking on the ninth round of auctions of hydrocarbon blocks under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) recently, petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri said: We were determined to unlock Indias untapped energy potential, estimated at approximately 42 billion tonnes of oil and oil equivalent of gas." In the ninth round of auctions, ONGC secured 15 blocksfour in partnership with other players and 11 independently. Oil India Ltd bagged nine, including three with ONGC. The Vedanta Groups Cairn Oil & Gas secured seven blocks. ONGC has tied up with Reliance Industries Ltd and London-headquartered bp plc for a block in the Saurashtra Basin, marking the entry of bp into India's upstream exploration and production space. This emphasis on discovering domestic oil and gas production comes at a time when Indias consumption of petroleum products has been hitting record levels in the past few years and is expected to remain robust. In the next two decades, 25% of the worlds incremental energy demand growth will come from India," Puri told the event last week. Indias antitrust watchdog has formally approved a settlement with Google over allegations that the company employed unfair tactics in the smart TV market. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had earlier found that Google misused its strong position by forcing TV makers to pre-install certain Google apps, including the Play Store, if they wanted access to its services. This made it harder for other companies to use or build different versions of Android for smart TVs. All about the case Notably, the issue came to light after two Indian antitrust lawyers filed a complaint, leading to a full investigation. The CCI said Googles rules gave it an unfair edge and limited competition. To settle the case, Google agreed to change how it operates in India. Instead of bundling its apps together for free, it will now offer a separate licence for the Play Store and Play Services specifically for Android smart TVs but these will come with a fee. Also Read | Google could use AI to extend search monopoly, DOJ says as trial begins What it means for users The American tech giant will also write to its Indian partners making smart TVs to clarify that they are free to use the open-source version of Android without having to include Google apps. They can even use a completely different operating system if they choose to. It is noteworthy that the CCI pointed out that this new arrangement might also influence other Android-based devices, not just smart TVs. "It found that Google's agreements -- TADA and ACC -- executed together, imposed unfair terms by requiring the pre-installation of its full app bundle Google TV Services, preventing OEMs from developing or using Android forks, and hindering innovation," stated CCI. As part of the settlement, Google will pay a penalty of 202.4 million (around $2.38 million). India is one of Googles biggest markets, and this decision is seen as an important step towards keeping digital competition fair and open. Scammers Are Ruining the World: A Growing Global Crisis by Shayne Heffernan The world is grappling with an unprecedented surge in cybercrime, as scammers exploit technology to wreak havoc on individuals, businesses, and economies. From romance scams to cryptocurrency fraud, these criminal enterprises have evolved into sophisticated global industries, leaving a trail of financial ruin and emotional devastation. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently described this escalating crisis as a cancer, with Asian crime syndicates expanding their operations from Southeast Asia to regions like South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. These gangs, often operating in sprawling compounds housing tens of thousands of trafficked workers, are generating tens of billions of dollars annually through scams that target vulnerable people worldwide. But the problem doesnt end with the scammers themselvesmany so-called cyber investigators are compounding the issue by preying on victims, while innovative solutions like Knightsbridges private blockchain network offer a glimmer of hope. The Global Reach of Cyber Scams Cyber scams have become a multi-billion-dollar industry, with the UNODC estimating hundreds of large-scale scam farms worldwide. In Southeast Asia, criminal networks have set up operations in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, often in lawless border regions. These syndicates traffic workerscitizens of over 50 countries, from Brazil to Nigeriaforcing them to perpetrate scams under brutal conditions. The United States alone reported $5.6 billion in losses to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with $4 million attributed to pig-butchering romance scams targeting the elderly and vulnerable. Serious crackdowns by authorities in China, Thailand, and Myanmar, including cutting power and internet to scam compounds along the Thai-Myanmar border, has helped but the scammers simply start again in other locations.. The UNODC warns that the industrys scalability, enabled by technology, has outpaced other transnational crimes, posing unprecedented consequences for global security. The Secondary Scam: Cyber Investigators Exploiting Victims Adding insult to injury, many victims of cyber scams fall prey to a secondary wave of fraud perpetuated by so-called cyber investigators. These entities promise to recover lost funds but often extract additional money from desperate victims without delivering results. For example, in 2023, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported cases of recovery scams where fraudulent firms contacted victims of cryptocurrency scams, charging upfront fees ranging from $500 to $5,000 with promises of retrieving lost fundsonly to disappear after payment. In another instance, a UK-based firm advertised on social media as a crypto recovery expert, collecting 10,000 from a victim of a pig-butchering scam, only to provide fake updates and eventually cut contact. These secondary scammers exploit the emotional vulnerability of victims, often targeting the elderly who have already lost life savings, further deepening their financial and psychological trauma. Knightsbridges Innovative Response: A Private Blockchain Network Amid this global crisis, Knightsbridge, a financial services firm, is taking a proactive stance to combat cyber scams by leveraging cutting-edge technology. The company has developed a private blockchain network that works exclusively with proven custodians to ensure secure and transparent transactions. Unlike public blockchains, which are often exploited by scammers for anonymity, Knightsbridges private blockchain restricts access to verified participants, creating a trusted ecosystem for financial operations. This approach minimizes the risk of fraudulent transactions by ensuring that only vetted custodiansentities with a proven track record of integritycan interact within the network. By focusing on transparency and accountability, Knightsbridge aims to protect clients from the rampant fraud plaguing the digital finance space, offering a model that other institutions could emulate to restore trust in online financial systems. A Call for Global Action The proliferation of cyber scams, compounded by the predatory practices of fraudulent cyber investigators, is a stark reminder of the urgent need for coordinated global action. The UNODC has called for countries to intensify efforts to disrupt the financial networks of these criminal syndicates, emphasizing the need for international cooperation. While solutions like Knightsbridges private blockchain network provide a promising step forward, they must be part of a broader strategy that includes stricter regulations, public awareness campaigns, and robust law enforcement. The world cannot afford to let scammerswhether primary perpetrators or secondary opportunistscontinue to ruin lives unchecked. Only through collective action can we hope to stem this growing tide of cybercrime and protect the most vulnerable among us. Some students who experienced the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School seven years ago have now survived their second school shooting in less than a decade while attending Florida State University (FSU). An active shooter was reported to be on FSU's campus in Tallahassee on Thursday, killing two and leaving six injured. "I was walking, and this guy pulls up in an orange Hummer," an FSU student who saw the shooter told NBC News. "And he gets out with a rifle and shoots in my direction." However, senior Ilana Badiner already knew how to respond to the incident. "I kind of knew the drill already," she told CNN. Having survived the 2018 shooting in Parkland, Florida, which occurred while she attended a middle school adjacent to the high school, Badiner watched students sprinting towards bathrooms and hallways and realized something was wrong. "I've been through this before. It was a similar situation," Badiner said. She alerted the instructor of the bowling class she had actively been attending. "I didn't know why everyone else would be running and they were leaving all their belongings behind and definitely knew there was an emergency," she said. Her instructor, Stephanie Horowitz, was also a survivor of the Parkland shooting, having been a freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when the incident occurred. "I had a feeling it was an active shooter situation before I even heard," Horowitz said in an interview with CBS. "We were lucky that some of my students looked out of the glass doors and saw everybody running." FSU student Josh Gallagher, who had been in the FSU law library when the shooting occurred, posted to social media about surviving a second shooting, having been present at Parkland. "After living through the MSD shooting in 2018, I never thought it would hit close to home again. Then I'm in the FSU Law Library and hear on alarm: active shooter on campus. No matter your politics, we need to meetand something has to change. Prayers to the victims and families," he wrote to X. After living through the MSD shooting in 2018, I never thought it would hit close to home again. Then Im in the FSU Law Library and hear on alarm: active shooter on campus. No matter your politics, we need to meetand something has to change. Prayers to the victims and families. Josh Gallagher (@JoshBGallagher) April 17, 2025 Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 shooting, took to social media to release a statement on the FSU shooting. "America is broken. My daughter Jaime was murdered in the Parkland school shooting. Many of her friends who were lucky enough to survive that shooting went on to attend FSU. Incredibly, some of them were just a part of their 2nd school shooting and some were in the student union today," he began. "As a father, all I ever wanted after the Parkland shooting was to help our children be safe. Sadly, because of the many people who refuse to do the right things about reducing gun violence, I am not surprised by what happened today," he continued. America is broken. My daughter Jaime was murdered in the Parkland school shooting. Many of her friends who were lucky enough to survive that shooting went on to attend FSU. Incredibly, some of them were just a part of their 2nd school shooting and some were in the student Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 17, 2025 Originally published on Lawyer Herald 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: Pope Francis looks on during the weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on October 23, 2024. Mourners gather around the bodies of 8 Red Crescent emergency responders recovered in Rafah on March 31. (CNN) The death of Pope Francis has triggered a period of mourning in the Vatican and signals the start of a millennia-old process of picking a new pontiff. It is a procedure steeped in tradition, but one which has been subtly updated for the modern world. Cardinals from around the world must gather for the conclave in which Francis successor is selected. It typically takes between two and three weeks for a pope to be chosen, though it can stretch slightly beyond that if cardinals struggle to agree on a candidate. The voting process is kept secret but will take place with the eyes of the world on the Vatican and amid intense scrutiny of the Catholic Church an institution whose reputation has been stained by the scandal of child sex abuse within its ranks, overshadowing the legacies of successive popes. Heres what you need to know about the coming days and weeks. What happens during the mourning period? The Papal Interregnum the period between the death of one pope and the election of another began when Francis passed away on Monday. Cardinals must now decide exactly when the funeral can take place, and after that, when conclave can begin. But much of the timeline is predetermined; the popes death triggered the start of nine days of mourning known as the Novendiales, and the pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after death. The body of the pope must also be displayed at St. Peters Basilica for mourning, and a mass will take place on each day. Mourners lined up for miles to see the body of Pope John Paul II, the last serving pontiff to die, in 2005. Pope Francis has died, Vatican says Pope Francis, voice for the poor who reshaped the Catholic Church but faced fierce resistance, has died at 88, the Vatican has announced. It is likely that unofficial events will take place in tandem in Buenos Aires, where Francis lived before becoming the Bishop of Rome. In Warsaw, more than 200,000 gathered at the site where John Paul II, then Karol Wojtyla, returned as the new pope in 1979. Then, at the end of the period of mourning, a large funeral Mass will take place at St. Peters. This is historically a huge event, with dignitaries expected from around the world. John Paul IIs funeral was attended by then-President George W. Bush and his two predecessors, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. When does the election of a new pope begin? When a pope dies, the dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals calls for a meeting of all cardinals eligible to vote those under the age of 80. They must all travel to the Vatican to do so. There are currently 136 eligible cardinals. But its worth remembering that in 1996, John Paul II set the maximum number of cardinals allowed to participate at 120. Conclave is not expected to begin earlier than 15 days, nor later than 20 days, after the popes death though it could get underway sooner if all the cardinal electors arrive in Rome quickly. Inside the Sistine Chapel, the codified home of conclave, paper ballots are passed out to each cardinal, who writes the name of their chosen candidate below the words Eligo in Summum Pontificem (Latin for I elect as supreme pontiff). Technically, any Roman Catholic male can be elected pope. But the last pope not chosen from the College of Cardinals was Urban VI in 1379. When theyre done, each cardinal - in order of seniority - walks to the altar to ceremoniously place his folded ballot into a chalice. The votes are then counted, and the result is read to the cardinals. If a cardinal has received two-thirds of the vote, he becomes the new pope. As many as four votes a day - two in the morning and two in the afternoon - can be held on the second, third and fourth days of the conclave. The fifth day is set aside to break for prayer and discussion, and then voting can continue for an additional seven rounds. After that, theres another break and the pattern resumes. What happens when a pope is chosen? News cameras will have their lenses fixed on a chimney on a Vatican rooftop for days - because thats where the first confirmation of a new pope will be seen. Ballots are burned after the votes, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. If a pope hasnt been elected, the ballots will be burned along with a chemical that makes the smoke black. If white smoke billows from the chimney, however, it means sede vacante (in Latin with the chair vacant) is over and a new pontiff has been chosen. Traditionally, about 30 to 60 minutes after the white smoke, the new pope will appear on the balcony overlooking St. Peters Square. His papal name will be announced, and the new pope will then speak briefly and say a prayer. His formal coronation will take place days after his election. The last two popes have been inaugurated in St. Peters Square. Why does it matter who becomes pope? The election of a pope is a deeply consequential decision for the Catholic Church, whose followers number some 1.3 billion around the world, according to the Vatican. The record and beliefs of the next man to take the mantle will be scrutinized for clues as to the churchs next move. Francis election was seen as something of a surprise; the first non-European leader in centuries, whose approach to many social issues was less strict than that of his predecessors. Though he did not radically alter Catholic practices, Francis surprised global observers with comments on homosexuality and the death penalty that were far more accepting than Benedict XVI. Whether the cardinals choose to continue down that path, or revert towards a hardline interpreter of biblical teachings, will be one question that hangs over the election. The consuming abuse scandal is another. In 2013, a group representing survivors of sexual abuse by priests named a Dirty Dozen list of cardinals it said would be the worst candidates for pope based on their handling of child sex abuse claims or their public comments about the cases. All but one have aged out of eligibility or died, but undoubtedly the track record of the next pontiff when it comes to responding to and dealing with allegations of abuse will be pored over. The-CNN-Wire & 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Paul Connell has paid a warm tribute to Pope Francis following his death earlier today. The pontiff (88), who was battling pneumonia and what were described by the Vatican as 'complex' health conditions died at 7.35am. Pope Francis has been the leader of the Catholic Church since 2013, when he became the first South American born head of the Catholic Church. READ NEXT: End of an era: Renowned Arva family butchers closes doors for the final time Bishop Connell said he was deeply saddened to hear of the death of their beloved Holy Father Pope Francis. "We were praying for his full recovery from his recent very serious illness. "Pope Francis has now been called home to the Fathers house. "We come from God and we all return to God. READ NEXT: Longford consumers enjoying more reliable water supply as 400 metres of aged cast iron water mains replaced with new pipes "At this Easter time we are reminded yet again of the hope that Christ resurrection brings and we pray that the Lord will take Pope Francis home and reward him for the good that he did in this life," he added. Also read: Glowing tributes paid by Longfordians to 'adored' and admired Pope Francis following his death Bishop Connell praised Pope Francis and stated he has made an immense contribution to the life of the Catholic Church and the wider world. "He was keenly aware of the challenges faced by humanity and he constantly focused on these challenges during his pontificate, not least in the area of climate change. "He constantly emphasised the need for all of us to take care of our planet, our common home. Bishop Connell insisted "care, respect and compassion were at the heart of his pontificate and he had a special affinity with the poor and those with special needs" during his papacy. "He challenged us as Christians to take responsibility for, and look after, the least in our societies, to maintain solidarity with one another and in particular to look after refugees fleeing from war and economic want. "During his pontificate he launched the global compact on education, appealing for a more open and inclusive education for all our young people and calling for educators throughout the world to co-operate in providing an education that enables young people to rise above antagonism and division. Also read: RIP: 'Overwhelming compassion' as Leitrim teenage crash victim laid to rest Bishop Connell stated over the last few years in particular, Pope Francis has emphasised the synodal nature of the church. "All of us who are baptised participate in the life of the church, listening to each other, exchanging views and making decisions. "I ask everyone in our diocese to pray for Pope Francis, that his gentle soul will rest in peace. "Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral for Pope Francis details will be finalised later. PICTURES | Masters champion 'Rory McIlroy' makes guest appearance in Longford at superb Granard Easter parade Pope Francis had a busy final day celebrating Easter Sunday, greeting crowds in St Peters Square and meeting US vice president JD Vance. He emerged from his convalescence on Sunday morning to bless the thousands of people in St Peters Square in Vatican City, treating them to a surprise popemobile drive through the piazza. The 88-year-old stopped occasionally to bless babies taken up to him, and said: Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter. The pontiff had delegated the celebration of the Easter mass to another cardinal but after it ended, he appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes as the Urbi et Orbi blessing was imparted. On his way to the basilica, Francis briefly met Mr Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Pope received Mr Vance in one of the reception rooms of the Vatican hotel where he lived and offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Mr Vances three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. Francis had only appeared in public a handful of times since returning to the Vatican on March 23, after a 38-day hospital stay after developing double pneumonia. He missed the traditional Good Friday and Holy Saturday services as part of the Easter liturgy. Paying tribute to the Pope, Mr Vance said he was obviously very ill on his final day. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis, Mr Vance posted to X. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. Mr Vance said he will always remember the pontiff for a beautiful homily he gave after the outbreak of Covid-19 in which Francis called for listeners to embrace hope. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: April 24 2025 Firehouses on Long Island to Open Their Doors the Weekend of April 26 and 27 with the Goal of Boosting Firefighter Membership. As part of a statewide effort to increase volunteer firefighters, the Firefighters Association of the State of New Yorks 16th Annual RecruitNY campaign will kick off with a press conference April 24 at 11am at the Patchogue Fire Department located at Jennings Avenue in Patchogue. RecruitNY is a major FASNY recruitment initiative designed to help increase volunteer membership among local fire departments by simply opening the doors to the firehouse. The past several years have been challenging for volunteer fire departments throughout the state. Many are faced with decreased membership and increased call volume. Currently, there are approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters statewide, however nearly 20 years ago, those numbers were roughly 40,000 higher. Many local fire departments have continued to experience a significant decline in volunteer firefighters over the years. At the same time call volume has increased. These factors make FASNYs RecruitNY outreach even more important, especially as New York State continues to be one of the states with the highest number of civilian fire deaths. Nearly 90% of fire departments across New York State are volunteer based, and during that last weekend in April those departments will invite residents to come check out what they have to offer their neighbors in the hopes that they will help. Last year, FASNY released a survey of New York State residents perceptions of volunteer firefighters. The results showed 49% of New Yorkers expressed interest in becoming a volunteer firefighter. According to data from the FASNY survey, two-thirds of respondents (66%) said they would visit their local fire station to gain more information on becoming a volunteer, while 55% would turn to a Google search. Together, representatives from FASNY, local government officials, and local volunteer firefighters will host a press conference to outline the events taking place during RecruitNY weekend on Long Island and how residents can get involved. VISUALS: Reporters will be able to get in on the action and try on firefighter gear, tour the fire engines, and there will be a demo of firefighting techniques. WHO: Edward Romaine, Suffolk County Executive and other local government officials including Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, Legislator Chad Lennon, Legislator Steve Flotteron, Legislator Catherine Stark, and Legislator Rebecca Sanin. Representatives from FASNY including Gene Perry, FASNY President Rudy Sunderman, Commissioner, Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) and Executive Director Scott Davonski, Suffolk County Fire Academy Volunteer Firefighters from the Patchogue Fire Department and others neighboring departments WHERE: Patchogue Fire Department, 15 Jennings Avenue, Patchogue, NY 11772 WHEN: April 24, 2025 starting 11 am. Established in 2011, RecruitNY is a joint undertaking by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY), the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC), Association of Fire Districts of New York State, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York, and County Fire Coordinators Association of the State of New York. Naval warships in live-fire shooting training China Military Online) 16:15, April 21, 2025 The Type-054A guided-missile frigate Chenzhou (Hull 552) attached to a naval flotilla under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command fires its close-in weapon system at simulated maritime targets during a live-fire shooting training exercise on April 13, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ge Hanqiang) The Type-054A guided-missile frigate Bayannaoer (Hull 551) and Chenzhou (Hull 552) attached to a naval flotilla under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command sail toward the designated sea area during a live-fire shooting training exercise on April 13, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ge Hanqiang) The Type-054A guided-missile frigate Chenzhou (Hull 552) attached to a naval flotilla under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command fires its main gun at simulated maritime targets during a live-fire shooting training exercise on April 13, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ge Hanqiang) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Israeli soldiers conduct operations in Gaza. (IDF) The Israeli military suffered its first casualties since a new Gaza offensive began on March 18. On April 19, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Command Sergeant Major Ghaleb Sliman Alnasasra, a Bedouin Israeli tracker serving in the Northern Brigade of the Gaza Division, was killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip. Two soldiers from the 414th Battalion of the IDFs Border Protection Corps and a second IDF tracker were severely wounded in the incident. There have been few casualties during the IDFs most recent Gaza push, partially due to the fact there have been few large clashes with Hamas members or other terrorists. The IDF has largely confined its latest operations in the territory to areas along a buffer zone within several hundred meters of the border. However, operations in parts of northern and southern Gaza have extended slightly more inland. In southern Gaza, the IDF has secured a new Morag Corridor that separates the city of Rafah on the border with Egypt from the city of Khan Younis. The IDF, detailing some operations of its three divisions in Gaza over the past month, states that 30 percent of the territory is now defined as an operational security perimeter. The Israeli military also highlighted its focus on precision strikes on terrorist commanders. The latest combat operations in Gaza have taken place as Israel continued to discuss a possible hostage deal with Hamas. Fifty-nine hostages continue to be held in the territory, and Israel believes around half of them are deceased. On April 19, Hamas released a video of hostage Elkana Bohbot showing that he is alive. Bohbot has been held in Gaza for 563 days. Hamas has released similar videos of several other hostages over the last month. On April 19, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement via Israels Government Press Office saying he would not surrender to Hamas. Netanyahu stated that Hamas had rejected a proposal that could have led to the release of half of the remaining living hostages, and the group is demanding an end to the war. However, the prime minister rejected the idea of halting the conflict. If we do not complete the destruction of Hamass military and governing capabilities, the next October 7 and the next abductions are only a question of time, Netanyahu said. Netanyahu also said Israel continues to be at war on seven fronts, a reference to Israels fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, terrorists in the West Bank, and the Houthis in Yemen, along with threats from Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Netanyahu said he opposed leaving the Hamas regime in place in Gaza and vowed that we will not conclude the war of redemption before we destroy Hamas in Gaza, return all of our hostages and ensure that the Gaza Strip will never again constitute a threat to Israel. The IDF continued dismantling Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. The 16th Brigade, under the command of the 252nd Division, dismantled a tunnel in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Sheijaya. The area, once a major hotbed of terrorist cells, was previously cleared by the IDF in 2023 and 2024. In southern Gaza, Israeli troops with the Golani Brigade dismantled a training area that had been used by Hamass Shabura Battalion. The IDF also uncovered a tunnel around 60 feet deep and hundreds of feet long in Rafah. In addition, Israeli troops are operating in Tel al Sultan near Rafah. It does not appear that Israeli forces have entered all of Rafah, and elements of Hamas may still be in the southern Gaza city. Israel said that it conducted strikes on 40 targets in Gaza on April 18 and 110 targets between April 16 and 17, indicating that Israels air force carries out several dozen strikes in the territory daily. Hamas authorities in Gaza continue to accuse Israel of killing numerous people, including civilians, in the recent strikes. The Iranian governments semi-official Mehr News Agency claimed 44 people were killed in Gaza between April 19 and 20. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). Hussain Ali Nasrs death notice. Israel continued its targeted killings of Hezbollah operatives and commanders this week, assassinating a senior commander of the groups Unit 4400 on Sunday. Unit 4400 is Hezbollahs body responsible for smuggling weapons to the group from Iran. At 12:27 pm, Lebanons National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle on the village of Kawthariyat Al Saiyads eastern road in the South Lebanon Governorates Saida District. Initial reports indicated the strike killed one person and wounded two others. Light blue: Location of the Israeli airstrike. Green: Israeli outposts in south Lebanon. Dark blue: Partial course of the Litani River. (Google Earth annotated by LWJ) Four hours later, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement on the strike, revealing that it had targeted and killed Hussain Ali Nasr, whose nom de guerrewas Abu Ali Hassan, Unit 4400s deputy commander. The IDFs statement noted that Israel had targeted and killed Unit 4400s former commander, Mohammad Jaafar Qasir, on October 1 and his deputy, Ali Hassan Gharib, on October 24, in an airstrike targeting a vehicle in the Mezzeh neighborhood of Damascus. This statement suggests Nasr was Gharibs replacement, and Qasir has also likely been replaced. The IDF said that as part of Nasrs duties, he broadly oversaw Hezbollahs armament activities. More significantly, the IDF said Nasr smuggled weapons, materiel, and funds into Lebanon to help Hezbollah rebuild its military capabilities. The statements language suggests that Nasrs activities were ongoing and continued after the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire on November 27, 2024, despite the agreements terms. The IDF also alleged that Nasr advanced and oversaw deals to purchase weapons for Hezbollah from smugglers on the Syria-Lebanon border. As part of these duties, the IDF also claimed that Nasr, alongside Iranian officials [] advanced the transfer of weapons and funds to Lebanon, including through Beirut International Airport. The IDF alleged Nasr was in contact with employees at the airport who secretly worked for Hezbollah and facilitated the smuggling. An April 6 Asharq al Awsat report quoted an anonymous informed source who alleged that Beiruts airport authorities canceled the licenses of over 30 Hezbollah-linked employees who carried travelers luggage, transferred luggage onto planes, inspected bags, and worked in the lost items section. The source said that these dismissed employees had enjoyed total freedom of movement at the airport, acted as Hezbollahs source of intelligence on travelers, and were employed under pressure from the group. Lebanons Public Works Ministry told LOrient-Le Jour that the information in Asharq al Awsats report was not factual. However, two anonymous employees also told the publication that layoffs and revocations of licenses, particularly among baggage handlers, had occurred, and at least some of those targeted are linked to Hezbollah. One source said these events occurred after Fadi Al Hassan, the interim head of BeirutRafic Hariri International Airport who is allegedly close to Hezbollah, was fired on March 13. However, the source also said they consider the firings normal, given the changes occurring in the country following the formation of [Lebanese Prime Minister] Nawaf Salams government. The second source also insisted Asharq al Awsats report was accurate but noted that the individuals who lost their licenses were not [airport] employees, nor did they work for a tourism or travel company. These [dismissed] people were given authorizations to enter the airport to meet travelers or to see them off, the source explained, stating that they can no longer do so. The source also alleged that a Hezbollah-linked employee who worked in Hassans office also had their access authorization to the airport revoked. David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. Luxembourg figureheads have taken to social media to express their condolences over the passing of Pope Francis on Monday morning. The pontiff, who was born in Argentina, died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, following years of health issues and surgeries. Following the news of his death, Luxembourg politicians shared their condolences online. The Grand Duchess and I are deeply saddened by the news of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, Grand Duke Henri said in an official statement. It is all the more sad because we had the honour and immense joy of welcoming him on an official visit to Luxembourg last October. [The Pope visited on 26 September, editors note]. The grand duke continued: Pope Francis was a man of great compassion, sharing the pain and suffering of others. Constantly concerned about the problems of the most disadvantaged people and of refugees, he was devoted to the most vulnerable, while remaining attentive to the hopes of young people. For us and for the world beyond the Church, he was a spiritual guide. Prime Minister Luc Frieden reacted in a post on X: Saddened to hear of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a recognized worldwide moral authority. It was an immense honor to welcome Pope Francis to Luxembourg last September, he said. As I said on that occasion, religions are part of society and must, in a spirit of mutual respect, contribute to enriching our debates on ethical, societal, and environmental issues. The Pope greatly contributed towards those objectives. Our societies cannot survive without values and principles, he added. Foreign affairs minister Xavier Bettel on the same platform said: Its with utmost sadness that Ive learned of the passing of [Pope Francis]. While our views did not always align, we shared a deep respect for one another & each others perspectives. He will be remembered for his humility, his commitment to the poor&his efforts to modernize the church. Also read: Pope orders cardinals to cut unnecessary spending, achieve zero-deficit Former premier and president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker in an interview said he had met Pope Francis several times. I like the way he looked at the world very much, he said, making poverty a priority and criticising neoliberal capitalism. However, Juncker felt that Francis was held back in his drive for reform. I dont think the church has become what he thought it would be by the time he leaves the office, he said. In an official statement published on Monday, Luxembourg City mayor Lydie Polfer stated that we were deeply saddened to learn of the death this morning of His Holiness Pope Francis. Although we know that his health was fragile, the news of his departure on this Easter Monday touches us deeply, adding that she had fond memories of his visit on 26 September, during which he kindly addressed the people of Luxembourg. Also read: Five highlights from Popes visit to Luxembourg With the death of Pope Francis in this Holy Year of 2025, we are losing a man who has distinguished himself by his philanthropy, his attentiveness and his simplicity since his election as Pope in 2013, the Luxembourg archidiocese said on its website. Deputy Laurent Mosar, who met the Pope during his official visit, on his LinkedIn profile wrote: I was impressed by his simplicity and authenticity, a Pope who was very close to people and easily accessible. Ill always remember the moment when he changed the official programme to go and have an espresso at Cafe Grupetto in the city centre. Even if I didnt always agree with some of his position, I always appreciated his sincerity and simplicity, his closeness to the poor, the fragile and above all the refugees. Pope Francis had visited Luxembourg for eight whirlwind hours on 26 September last year, on the personal invite of the head of state, Grand Duke Henri, both in his capacity as head of the Catholic church and as head of state for the Vatican. (This story was updated on 22 April 2025 at 8:35 to include comments from Jean-Claude Juncker) 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. Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday marks the end of Holy Week and the beginning of a 50-day period called Eastertide, which ends on Pentecost The first day of this Easter Time is Easter Monday or Monday of the Easter Octave, which follows the day on which the faithful and believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth San Diego safari elephants form protective circle around calves during California earthquake Today, on the eve of Easter Monday, we tell you what this celebration consists of, which, although it is important in the Christian calendar, is not considered a liturgical feast Easter Monday: what this date on the calendar consists of Easter Monday is a celebration focused on some regions, especially in Spain, where it is even an official holiday in some autonomous communities It is also known as Angel Monday, in reference to the biblical account in which an angel announced to the women who visited Christ's tomb that he had risen It is part of the Easter Octave, a sacred week that ushers in a period of 50 days of celebrations culminating in Pentecost, which this year is scheduled for May 28 Like the rest of Holy Week, it does not have a fixed date in the calendar. The first Christians, who were also Jews, celebrated Easter at the same time as the Jewish Easter. But with the Council of Nicaea, both Easters were modified and the movable character of the feast remained How Easter Monday is celebrated: Easter cakes and more Families and friends gather to eat the Easter 'monas', while numerous gatherings and cultural activities are also held In Spain, it is customary for godparents to give their godchildren the so-called 'Monas de Pascua' on Easter Sunday. In this way, on Easter Monday it is traditional for the family to gather and go out into the countryside to eat these sweets, which symbolize the end of Lent and the abstinence corresponding to this period The monas have a sponge cake base and depending on the area they may be decorated with eggs: sometimes they are painted, while in other cases they are made of chocolate. Crepes Tea House tells you exactly what you need to know the moment you walk in the door. Its all in the name. Still, the cozy cafe in West Springfield manages to blow you away with how well it pulls off each element in a warm, welcoming environment. The crepes? There are hearty savory crepes for breakfast and delightful sweet crepes for dessert. There is also an awesome lineup of other pancakes with Eastern European roots. The tea? Hows a menu of 134 varieties sound? The house? Its technically a restaurant, but its cozy enough to feel like youre over at a friends home. For me, its all about grabbing one of the comfy couch seats and sharing some immaculately brewed tea but hogging all the crepes and other pancakes for myself. An example of the tea sampler from Crepes Tea House in West Springfield, which gets you three mini-pots of tea. In the back is a samovar, the largest serving vessel at the restaurant. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive) Massachusetts Hidden Gems | Crepes Tea House in West Springfield One of the first things youll notice at Crepes Tea House is that its far more than just a cafe with crepes and tea. For starters, its open much later than what youd expect from an American cafe. Crepes Tea House opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends, emulating the longer hours of cafes in Europe. Then theres the menu, which is massive. Its like a cross between a giant diner menu and one of those old Sears catalogues. It has to be. There are full sections for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Thats before we even start talking about the tea. When owner Art Ribinskas first came up with the idea of Crepes Tea House with some friends 15 years ago, they knew theyd need to do more than just crepes. Theyd need drinks, as well. So, they went all-in on tea. Not just some tea more tea than anyone else in the country was offering. Right from the bat, I said we want to be the first place in the United States that sells over 100 teas, Ribinkas says. Crepes Tea House hit that milestone, and then some. The restaurant currently sells 134 varieties of tea, with separate sections in its book-like menu for black tea, green tea, white tea, rooibos red tea, herbal tea, oolong tea and chai tea. Crepes Tea House sources its tea from a variety of suppliers from around the world. The staff also puts an emphasis on getting the most out of every brew. They filter their water to optimal conditions and use precise temperatures and brew times to bring out the best in each tea. Sure, you can brew tea at home. But think of it like a fancy coffee shop that gets the best beans and brews your drink in one of those fancy espresso machines. You go to the specialists who have the time and knowledge to get you the best possible cup. If you do want to brew at home, Crepes Tea House also sells its tea in bulk. You can either purchase directly at the restaurant or order it online and have it shipped. A sweet crepe filled with chocolate and peanut butter from Crepes Tea House in West Springfield. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive) Whats good on the menu? Crepes Tea House has a ton of options. I tend to focus on the breakfast fare. Lets start with drinks. Crepes Tea House does some nice coffee, but the tea is the star of the show. On the menu, youll see prices for a cup, a pot or a samovar. The samovar is the super-fancy option for when you want to go all-out. Its like the bougie version of getting a draft beer tower for the table. In this case, you get a concentrated batch of tea that you water down to your taste. If that sounds overwhelming, just go for the tea sampler, which gets you three mini-pots. I recommend any of the black breakfast teas and whatever fruity and herbal teas that pique your interest. For food, the crepes are the obvious stars. For breakfast, there are savory crepes that are loaded with eggs and other breakfast goodies like a fancy burrito. For dessert, the sweet crepes are a delight. I like mine with chocolate and peanut butter. But my favorite thing to get at Crepes Tea House would have to be the savory Eastern European pancakes. Their farm cheese pancakes are a bright, savory delight with the zesty cream served on the side. I like to order a half-dozen of the mixed pancakes and then get one of each of the six varieties. Its a delicious rainbow of batter that runs from savory to sweet. A look around Crepes Tea House in West Springfield. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive) The place thats always open Why is Crepes Tea House open so late? For Ribinskas, the goal isnt always to make money. He wants to be that place thats always open in the community. Its about if youre sitting home and feel left out by everybody in the world, you always have Crepes Tea House to come and see someone in real life, Ribinskas says. That welcoming quality extends beyond the restaurants hours. Its a long-time home for many members of the staff, who Ribinskas credits for making Crepes Tea House a success. The owner says that 80% of the kitchen staff have worked there for at least 10 years. The staff has also played a large part in shaping the menu. When Crepes Tea House first started expanding its offerings, the goal was to take what they were cooking at home and put it on the table. For Crepes Tea House, that meant Slavic influence as well as a strong Turkish presence from the kitchen staff. From there, they started making more food in-house. That includes buying milk from local farms to make farm cheese. It extends to baking their own bread and bagels. Even the dumplings on the menu are made fresh on-site. The cultural foundation that made Crepes Tea House into the success it is today is clear to see. But that doesnt mean everything has an Eastern European flair. You can still get a classic American-style breakfast with eggs, bacon and hashbrowns. Because, above all else, this is a place thats welcoming. A look around Crepes Tea House in West Springfield. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive) What to know about Crepes Tea House In addition to the cozy location in West Springfield, Crepes Tea House has a newer spot located in Southwick. If you dont want to drive all the way out to try the tea, you can order it online through the Crepes Tea House website. Check them out: Website | Facebook | Instagram Whats the address? 261 Union St, West Springfield, MA 01089 Whats the parking situation? Crepes Tea House has a small, free parking lot to the side of the restaurant. There are also free street spots available. When are they open? Here are the listed business hours at the time of writing. Monday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Tuesday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Wednesday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Thursday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. --- Mass Hidden Gems is a series highlighting restaurants and other businesses across the Bay State that we think deserve more attention. You can check out the rest of the series here. Have a hidden gem that you think we should check out? Email nomalley@masslive.com your favorites. Harvard University sued the Trump administration on Monday and argued its constitutional rights have been violated by the governments threats to pull billions of dollars in funding if the school does not comply with demands for an overhaul. The lawsuit, filed in Boston federal court, is the latest escalation in the ongoing fight between President Donald Trump and higher education in the United States. The suit cited Harvard President Alan Garbers previous statements that the University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. 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 suit reads. Last Monday, the Trump administration announced a freeze on $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University. On April 3, the administration sent a letter with demands including to shutter diversity, equity and inclusion programs, implement a mask ban and adopt merit-based admissions and hiring policies to end preferences based on race, color or national origin. Harvard then received another letter on April 11 with an updated and expanded list of demands, school officials said. Harvard must comply with the demands if it intends to maintain Harvards financial relationship with the federal government, the second letter read. In its suit, Harvards lawyers wrote, the Government has not and cannot identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns," and the funding it has frozen. It also has not addressed the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvards research programs, the beneficiaries of that research, and the national interest in furthering American innovation and progress, the suit read. Although some members of the administration have said their April 11 letter was sent by mistake, other statements and their actions suggest otherwise, Garber wrote in a statement to the universitys community. The consequences of the governments overreach will be severe and long-lasting, Garber wrote. Research that the government has put in jeopardy includes efforts to improve the prospects of children who survive cancer, to understand at the molecular level how cancer spreads throughout the body, to predict the spread of infectious disease outbreaks, and to ease the pain of soldiers wounded on the battlefield. The Trump administration has also threatened to pull funding from Columbia University, Brown University, Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania. Columbia agreed to a list of demands from the Trump administration after facing an ultimatum to abide by the requirements or jeopardize federal funding. The decision was met with outrage from community members and the higher education community despite it placing Columbia on the right track toward recovering the funding, according to The Associated Press. The lawsuit names the Department of Education, Department of Justice, General Services Administration, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the HHS, and the National Institutes of Health as defendants. Los Horoscopos de Durango hold the award for best band album backstage at the 9th annual Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) AP A legendary regional Mexican band has gotten back together after breaking up several years ago. Los Horoscopos de Durango have reunited and will perform at a Los Angeles show on July 18, sisters Vicky and Marisol Terrazas exclusively told Rolling Stone. The band will also perform at Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Aug. 23. This year marks the 50th anniversary of when Los Horoscopos de Durango originally formed. It has also been four years since the group disbanded so Vicky could focus on being a first-time mother and Marisol could pursue a solo career. Its a legacy and a trajectory that deserves to be celebrated. The effort, the work, the love weve put into this deserved recognition, Vicky told Rolling Stone. So we said, Lets get together and do something nice. We want to celebrate that. Los Horoscopos de Durango was formed by Armando Terrazas Vicky and Marisols father in Chicago in 1975. After starting out as a grupero band, the group later changed to the duranguense style when the genre was becoming more popular. Vicky and Mariso led the band from 2003 until the groups split in 2021. Los Horoscopos de Durangos reunion comes after the duranguense genres resurgence last year, Rolling Stone previously reported. The groups 2002 single Antes Muerta Que Sencilla has gone viral in recent years, being featured in more than 39,000 videos on TikTok alone. Its so iconic to see new generations find out about us because of the trends, but also because of their parents and grandparents, Marisol told Rolling Stone. All these new platforms didnt exist when duranguense existed, she added. I think if it had existed 20 years ago, maybe it would have opened doors like it does now. Most of Los Horoscopos de Durangos music consists of covers but, and like other other duranguense bands, the group has found ways of modernizing these tracks. Some of Los Horoscopos de Durangos most popular covers include a rendition of Aventuras Obsesion and Monchy y Alexandras Dos Locos. Los Horoscopos de Durango has released more than a dozen albums, including Latin Grammy Award-winning projects Ayer, Hoy y Siempre and Desatados. The band plans to re-release their 2010 banda album, La Guera y La Morena, on streaming services in addition to other new tracks. We separated four years ago, but people continued supporting and listening to our music. They were the ones who maintained the legacy, Vicky told Rolling Stone. We have accomplished so much and we sometimes feel like we dont see it, but we really did this. It was really difficult for people to accept me, without her, added Marisol. But its nice to come back, because well always stick together. Now were back for real. Were back. Los Horoscopos de Durango is planning to announce more shows as part of the bands La Gira de Oro Antes Muertas Que Sencillas (The Golden Tour.), according to Rolling Stone. Tickets for the Los Angeles show are set to go on sale at 10 a.m. PST on Friday. A pre-sale will take place the day before also at 10 a.m. PST. American Idol contender John Foster brought his songwriting chops and some teardrops on his guitar to his performance on Sunday nights episode of the singing competition. While vying for a spot in the Top 14, the 18-year-old Louisiana artist sang an original tune called Tell That Angel I Love Her, which he wrote for his late friend, Maggie Dunn. The song included the poignant refrain, Though we may not know the reason / Its not for us to understand / Lord, wont you tell that angel I love her / As soon as you can? At the end of the performance, Foster said I love you, Maggie with tears in his eyes. Speaking with Idol host Ryan Seacrest, Foster shared that Dunn and another friend, Caroline Gill, died in December of 2022. Foster noted that Dunns mother and her friend were in the audience, calling them the strongest women I know. Idol judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan applauded Fosters original work and heartfelt delivery. I love that you keep it very traditional, Underwood said, noting his more old-fashioned approach to country music. I feel like thats who you are. I love that in this song, we got to hear a sweet, tender side of your voice that honestly I didnt know you had. Youve kind of been a wildcard for me the whole time, but what you just did there removed all doubts in my mind that you deserve to be here, added Bryan. Idol viewers will determine if Foster advances to the Top 14, as they vote via text, the American Idol app, and the American Idol website. Voting closes on Monday, April 21 at 9 a.m. Eastern time. It was a tense Easter Sunday for this seasons American Idol contestants, as host Ryan Seacrest slowly announced which 20 artists would advance in the competition. Of the 24 Idol hopefuls who performed at Aulani, a Hawaiian Disney resort and spa, four were eliminated during Sunday nights episode: Grayson Torrence, Kyana Fanene, Penny Samar, and MKY. The results reflect the opinion of Idol viewers, who for the first time this season were able to vote for their favorite performers via text, the American Idol app, and the American Idol website. Some of the eliminated contestants commented about their time on the show via Instagram, sharing gratitude for the experience, new friends, and supportive fans. Im so grateful for all the friendships, lessons, and memories I will keep with me forever from this experience, Penny Samar wrote. This is just the beginning of the #pinkpennyclub." Grayson Torrence also shared her thoughts on Instagram, calling her participation an unbelievable blessing and a crazy unexpected ride. I wouldnt be who I am today if I never did this, so thank you for everyone who pushed me to chase my dreams, Torrence posted. Kyana Fanene, who met some members of her family for the first time during the shows round in Hawaii, called her time on Idol a win-win situation and teased new things on the horizon. Idol fans will vote again this evening and tomorrow morning to determine which contestants will advance to the Top 14. Voting closes on Monday, April 21 at 9 a.m. Eastern time, and the results will be announced during Monday nights episode. A Boston-area cancer research lab will lay off more than 100 employees later this year, according to a new filing with the state. Mural Oncology in Waltham will lay off 117 people between June 14 and Nov. 1, according to a Massachusetts Workers Adjustment Retraining Notice. The state received the notice on April 16. Mural Oncology is an independent company that develops immunotherapy drugs for treating cancer, according to its website. The company also has a location in Dublin, Ireland. In a press release on April 15, the company shared that it would discontinue all clinical development related to a therapy called nemvaleukin alfa after analyzing data from previous trials and would immediately commence the exploration of strategic alternatives focused on maximizing shareholder value. Nemvaleukin alfa, designed to treat ovarian cancer, did not show significant improvement in overall survival compared to chemotherapy, the American Association for Cancer Research Cancer Discovery journal. The company will consider being acquired or merging with another business but is not currently in discussions with any potential buyer, according to the news release. About 90% of employees will be laid off. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Gov. Maura Healey speaks to reporters at a press conference at Boston Children's Hospital on Monday, March 17. Her partner, Joanna Lydgate stands behind her. (Sam Drysdale/State House News Service) President Donald Trumps bad for science policies amount to a giveaway that will send researchers and scientific breakthroughs to China and other nations, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Sunday. Addressing the Republican White Houses attacks on Harvard University and its cuts to public health funding, Healey said the policies are shutting down research labs and sending U.S. scientists overseas. These cuts to universities have significant ripple effects, because they result in people being laid off, scientists being laid off, doctors being laid off, clinical trials for things like cancer treatments have been shut down, and this is really bad, Healey said during an appearance on CBS News Face the Nation program on Sunday, Its bad for patients, its bad for science, and its really bad for American competitiveness, Healey continued. As governor, I want Massachusetts to soar. I want America soaring. And what Donald Trump is doing is basically saying to China and other ... countries, come to the United States, take take our scientists, take our researchers, and ... thats whats happening." Over the weekend, it emerged that the White House planned to slash another $1 billion in federal funding from Harvard amid its ongoing clash with the institution over accusations of antisemitism that has already led to the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funds. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter. The additional $1 billion would be taken from the universitys funds for health research, the paper reported. Donations to Harvard have spiked as the university has dug in against withering public criticism from Trump on his social media network. Published reports also indicated that the demand letter that sparked the clash also was sent prematurely. Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Healey accused Trump of giving away intellectual assets. I was in a hospital here just the other week, and this is a hospital, Boston Childrens, where some of the sickest kids in the country go for care, Healey told CBS anchor Weijia Jiang. And there have been cuts to Boston Childrens and other hospitals as a result of Donald Trumps actions, because these are part of a teaching hospital system, Healey continued. These cuts to universities have significant ripple effects, because they result in people being laid off, scientists being laid off, doctors being laid off, clinical trials for things like cancer treatments have been shut down. Healey told Jiang the cuts from Washington, which the state cant make up its own, are leaving few areas of public life untouched. The cuts that Donald Trump has made to education, to health care, food for kids, heating assistance for seniors. He just cut off FEMA disaster relief for our states the other day, and as governor, Im going to do everything I can to protect my residents, to protect our state, to protect our economy, but he makes it really difficult, she said. Trumps trade war with Canada and Mexico also has impacted efforts to address the states ongoing housing crisis, Healey told Jiang. I want to build more housing so that we can drive down costs. Donald Trump comes in with tariffs. Where do we get our lumber from? Canada. Where do we get other building materials from? Mexico, Healey said. Hes just made everything more expensive and more difficult, and states will do the best they can. Governors like myself will do the best that we can, but theres no way that states can begin to make up for, or course correct these failings by the president of the United States and his administration when it comes to managing the economy, Healey said. During an appearance on WBZ-TVs Keller @Large programIts state policy thats driving the affordability agenda on Sunday, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Kennealy said the buck stops with Healey when it comes to the states affordability challenges. Its state policy thats driving the affordability agenda, Kennealy, who was former Republican Gov. Charlie Bakers economic development and housing czar, said. And in a post to his Truth Social network, Trump on Sunday defended the White Houses trade policies. Since our announcement of LIBERATION DAY, many World Leaders and Business Executives have come to me asking for relief from Tariffs, he wrote. Its good to see that the World knows we are serious, because WE ARE! They must right the wrongs of decades of abuse, but it wont be easy for them. We must rebuild the Wealth of our Great Country, and create true RECIPROCITY. But for those who want the easiest path: Come to America, and build in America! President Donald Trumps attacks on higher education, law firms and other institutions, abetted by Republicans on Capitol Hill, have thrust the nation into a constitutional crisis, a senior Massachusetts lawmaker said Sunday. "I believe were at a constitutional crisis, McGovern said. Im not sure we have a full consensus on that yet, but were getting there. I mean, this president is ignoring the Constitution, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-2nd District, told WCVB-TVS On the Record program. Trump is denying people due process and doesnt seem to believe that Congress matters, McGovern continued. I mean, hes behaving more like a king than like a president, so people should be worried. McGovern, who represents Worcester and other central Massachusetts communities, said its up to Republicans who control the U.S. House and Senate to stand up to the White House. Im not even sure Trump can spell constitution, McGovern, the ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, said. But the bottom line is that hes behaving in a way that is eroding [the] checks and balances in this country, and moving in a direction that I think smacks of authoritarianism. McGovern pronounced himself horrified by the administrations hardline on illegal immigrants, including a case involving a Tufts University graduate student. This is stuff you would expect to see in Russia or China or North Korea with a police state, he said. With the United States of America, people are entitled to due process. I mean, theres a report today that ice picked up a US citizen who had a birth certificate to prove that he was a US citizen, McGovern continued, apparently referring to a Massachusetts lawyer and his wife who said they were detained at the Canadian border last week. People are fighting whats happening on college campuses where students who are here legally are having their visas revoked without any explanation, McGovern said. I mean, it is chilling. And again, I think this is a moment when we all have to push back, not just politicians but average citizens. McGovern said he applauded Harvard Universitys decistion to not accept a series of demands set forward by the Trump administration, putting $9 billion in federal funding at risk. To give in is to basically say that there no longer will be academic freedom in this country, that Donald Trump and his administration will dictate what you can teach, who can teach, what students can go there. I mean, come on, McGovern said. And by the way, all colleges and universities ought to stand with Harvard. We need a united front. Thats the only way youre going to stop this unjust and unjustified encroachment on academic freedom. Republicans used to think freedom was a good thing. I dont know what the hells happened over the last few years, he said. Pope Francis waves as he arrives to attend the unveil of a new electric popemobile, at the Vatican on December 4, 2024. AFP via Getty Images Elected officials across Massachusetts paid tribute to Pope Francis, historys first Latin American pontiff, who died Monday, aged 88. In a statement, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Catholic, said Francis life was a "commitment to our sacred responsibility to care for others, especially the most vulnerable among us." I join with my fellow Catholics and people around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. His essence of compassion, humility and unbounded hope gave us joy, peace, direction and resolve. I am forever grateful for the honor to have met Pope Francis and been touched by his warmth, kindness and humor, Healey said in a statement her office issued Monday. In no other realm was that more evident than his dedication to climate, human rights, immigrant communities and the working poor. He strove to make the Church more inclusive and welcoming, and he led by reminding us of the dignity and worth of every person. His being will endure in the hearts of those he inspired. May he rest in eternal peace, the Democratic governor said. U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-2nd District, said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. His Holiness led with courage and compassionand he understood that faith is about more than words, its about action. He didnt just talk about feeding the hungryhe fed the hungry. He didnt just denounce oppressionhe fought for justice," McGovern said. He defended the dignity of immigrants and worked to end war and bring about peace. And in doing so, he taught people of all faiths how to live with integrity and purpose, the Worcester lawmaker said in a statement. For me, Pope Francis has been a source of hope and inspiration in difficult times. I hope his successor carries forward his vision of a Church that puts faith into action and leads with humility and service by caring for the most vulnerable among us. In a post to X, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said he [joined] the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis, the peoples Pope, who reminded us that no matter our faith, we are all caretakers of creation. His legacy of compassion, inclusion, stewardship, and justice will continue to be a roadmap for our world. I join the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis, the peoples Pope, who reminded us that no matter our faith, we are all caretakers of creation. His legacy of compassion, inclusion, stewardship, and justice will continue to be a roadmap for our world. https://t.co/RcbbAKt8c1 Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) April 21, 2025 U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, paid tribute to Francis commitment to environmental issues. His decision to become the first pope to choose St. Francis of Assisi as his papal namesake was a profound reflection of his commitment to humility, peace, and care for the poor, values that guided every step of his leadership, Trahan wrote in a lengthy post to X. Whether advocating for the most vulnerable, calling on global leaders to act on climate change, or urging the Church to be a more welcoming place for all, Pope Francis led with a spirit of love and service. His legacy will endure in the countless lives he uplifted and the hope he brought to those who have too often felt unseen." A glowing green comet discovered last month likely did not survive its recent trip past the sun, leaving it impossible to see with the naked eye. Comet C/2025 F2, also known as Comet SWAN, was discovered in late March and named after the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) instrument aboard NASAs Solar and Heliospheric Observatory spacecraft, according to the Planetary Society. The organization, which was founded by astronomer Carl Sagan and is run by CEO Bill Nye the Science Guy, stated in an April 10 report that the comet appeared brighter in the wake of its discovery. While there was hope it would soon become visible to the naked eye, it could break apart when it reached its closest point to the sun, known as perihelion. Comet SWAN could have been easier to spot with an upcoming new moon on April 27, the Planetary Society added. But by Monday, astrophysicist Karl Battams with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory told The Associated Press that after the comets passage by the sun, all that will remain is just a dusty rubble pile. This might have been the objects first ever trip past the sun, making it particularly vulnerable to breaking apart, Battams said. After its flyby, whats left of the comet will disappear into the outer reaches of the solar system, past where scientists think it came from. Its going to go so far out that we have no idea if its ever going to return, said Battams. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The following editorial is from the opinion page of The Republican newspaper in Springfield. It reflects views of the newspapers leadership and not necessarily those of MassLive. Readers are invited to share their opinions by emailing to letters@repub.com. The Calvin Theater in Northampton, seen in April 2025. (The Republican) Dave Canton RECENTLY co-opted county councillor Marie-Therese Duffy has followed her brother, Senator Mark Duffy, by joining Fine Gael. The Ballina-based representative was co-opted into the local authority as an Independent in place of her brother, who was elected to Seanad Eireann in January. Senator Duffy served as an Independent councillor for five years before joining Fine Gael to run on their four-candidate general election ticket. He failed to win a Dail seat in Novembers general election but was elected to the upper house by the Labour vocational panel. His sister, Maire-Therese, who works as a primary school teacher, replaced him in Aras an Contae last month. Her joining Fine Gael brings their number of county councillors in Mayo back up to eleven, making them the largest political grouping in the council chamber. Fine Gael are currently in coalition with Fianna Fail on Mayo County Council, with Fine Gaels Cllr John OHara acting as Cathaoirleach. Her move also gives the party half the seats on the six-seat Ballina Municipal District Council. Speaking after joining Fine Gael, Cllr Duffy said: With the backing of a government party, I will have the opportunity to represent and deliver for our constituents at both local and national levels. Many major decisions that affect our lives here in Mayo are made centrally in Dublin. I will be working tirelessly to secure increased investment for the betterment of our local community in North Mayo. I look forward to driving on vital projects with the support of Fine Gael colleagues in Government. Cllr Duffy is also an elected member of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, a non-decision-making body comprised of elected representatives from across the north and west of Ireland. She said she was committed to accelerating regional development and investment in Mayo and working to deliver on housing, transport, healthcare, traffic congestion and road safety for her constituents. As a proud Mayo woman, I am delighted to represent the community and will provide a strong, hard-working and caring voice for my local constituents, she concluded. Cllr Duffy is one of five women currently serving on Mayo County Council. Aontus Cllr Deirdre Lawless was co-opted to the local authority earlier this year in place of her brother, Deputy Paul Lawless. THE long wait for a bypass of Ballinrobe has prompted a local representative to call for changes to laws regarding the procurement of new roads. Cllr Damien Ryan said Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) should have to purchase or dispose of land if they have not developed it within ten years of selecting it for a potential road. Tracts of land were precluded from development after being selected for route options for the Ballinrobe bypass several years previously. This resulted in the sterilisation of tracts of land outside the town. The new route will probably follow the corridor, and I dont think anybody would have any resistance to that route, said Cllr Ryan. If the route is obsolete after ten years they either purchase it or the route comes off, because its unfair on the landowners. Local representatives have long expressed dissatisfaction at the lack of progress on the Ballinrobe bypass, which is currently at Phase 0. The bypass was first included on the local area plan in 2009 but was shelved in later years. The project resumed at the start of 2024 when an employee was appointed to Mayo County Councils National Roads Office to begin preparing a strategic assessment report on the bypass. Cllr Ryan (Fianna Fail) and Cllr Michael Burke (Fine Gael) said the sterilisation of land for the proposed road had stymied development in Ballinrobe, which has suffered from traffic congestion in recent years. Traffic lights were installed in the town last year as an alleviation measure. Support CLLRS Burke and Ryans remarks were supported by Cllr Richard Finn (Independent) and Cllr Gerry Murray (Sinn Fein). Cllr Murray said a similar situation arose near Charlestown, where land was frozen as part of the route options selection phase for the new N17. Conrad Harley, Senior Executive Engineer with Mayo County Council, said that the local authority had no say regarding TIIs road selection processes. The current process is, once a job comes back on their radar, they insist on going back to point zero and starting again, said Mr Harley. The head of the Mayo County Councils National Roads Office, Paul Hyland, has said it may take until 2033 for the Ballinrobe bypass to be opened. THE man who ran Louisburghs only butchers shop has thanked his customers for their unwavered support after he retired after over 25 years in business. The closure of Durkans Butchers on Main Street was greeted with much sadness in the area when it traded for the last time on Saturday, April 19. JP Jennings thanked every for their well wishes, cards and phone calls since he announced the difficult decision to cease trading. A gathering was held for the Breaffy native in Louisburgh on Saturday evening to mark his retirement. Id like to thank all my staff throughout the years, my suppliers, and most importantly, you, the loyal customers (the locals, our island neighbours in Inisturk and Clare Island, our customers from all over Ireland and beyond and of course our holiday makers) for their unwavered support for the past 25-plus years, I have been made feel part of this wonderful community from day one, Louisburgh will always be a special place for me, Mr Jennings said. This is goodbye from Durkans Butchers, but certainly not from me. I hope we will meet regularly in the future. Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy future here in Louisburgh [and] thanks to each and every one of you very very much. However, the premises will not be vacant for long as it is due to be occupied by the Ketterick family, who run successful butcher shops in Castlebar and Achill. Local county councillor Chris Maxwell said it was good news for Louisburgh that the premises will not remain closed. Louisburgh, which recorded a population of 367 people at the last Census, has seen a number of local businesses close in recent years. Its population fell by 67 between the 2016 and 2022 censuses. A WEST Mayo councillor has described the road to Louisburgh as 'the worst in the county' and claims that it is putting jobs at risk in the town. Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell raised the state of the Westport to Louisburgh road which has deteriorated recently following the upgrade of the water supply to homes around Murrisk. Speaking at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr Maxwell said that lorry drivers were complaining that it is the worst road in Mayo at the moment and local businesses were afraid they would stop travelling to Louisburgh. READ: End of an era in Louisburgh as popular local butcher retires I had the manager of our local builders providers, O'Malley's, on to me and all the 40-foot lorries supplying there are giving out stink because there is massive damage being done to them at the minute. They have told the manager of the co-op that the R335 is the worst road they are travelling on in Co Mayo. Concern He [manager] is very concerned because if they stop supplying a very successful business in Louisburgh that jobs could be at stake. We need progress on that road and I need answers for the community on when work will start on that road, he told the meeting. Cllr Maxwell added that he was informed that the local motor factors store had reported a 'leap' in business in the last year because of the need for parts of vehicles being damaged by the road. It just shows you how bad the road is at the minute and I want answers, he demanded. The Louisburgh-based councillor also questioned why roads which he said had previously been maintained by the council were no longer included in the road works programme. For years Mayo County Council tarred and maintained these roads and all of a sudden they cannot get done and I want to know why, he said. by Michael Liss April 1, 1865. For the South, the end is nearing. It was already obvious on March 4, when Abraham Lincoln delivered his magnificent Second Inaugural Address. Four weeks later, it is more obvious. For all the bravery of the Confederacys men and all the talent of its military leadership, its resources are almost gone. A great test, possibly a decisive one, awaits it at the Battle of Five Forks, Virginia. For more than nine months, Union and Confederate forces have been punching and counterpunching around the besieged town of Petersburg. The stalemate has cost more than 70,000 casualties, expended stupendous amounts of arms and supplies, and caused great civilian suffering, but, to Grants endless frustration, success has eluded his grasp. This time would be different. At Five Forks, one of Grants most able generals, Philip Sheridan, defeats a portion of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under General George Pickett. The price, for an army with nothing more to give, is nearly fatal1,000 casualties, 4,000 captured or surrendered, and, even more crucially, the loss of access to the South Side Railroad, a major transit point for men and material. April 2, 1865. The strategic cost of Five Forks is driven home. Robert E. Lee abandons both Petersburg and Richmond. Jefferson Davis and his government flee, burning what documents and supplies as they can. Lee moves his army West toward North Carolina, hoping to escape Grant and join up with Confederate forces under General Joseph Johnston. The loss of Richmond is much more than symbolicit had also been a critical manufacturing hub, and it contained one of the Souths largest hospitalsbut Lee realized Richmond was a necessity that had become a luxury. To stave off a larger defeat, he had to save his army. The last hope for the Confederacy depended on it. If Lee and his men could stay in the field, move rapidly, inflict damage, prolong the conflict, then they still had a chance. Lee thought it possible, but he was running out of everythingclothes, food, ammunition, and even men. It wasnt just casualties that caused his army to shrink. Estimates are that at least 100 Confederate soldiers a day were simply deserting, driven by fear, hunger, and plaintive words from home. April 3, 1865. Richmond and Petersburg fall, as United States troops occupy both. A day later, the fantastical happens. Lincoln, accompanied by son Tad and the most appallingly small security contingent, visit Richmond. The risk is stupendousthe city is burning, the harbor is filled with torpedoes, and potential assailants lurk literally anywhere. But the scene is incredible. Its Jubilee for the slaves, some of whom fall to their feet when they recognize the tall man in the top hat. Now freed men, they gather, march, shout, and sing hymns. To tremendous cheers, Lincoln walks to the Confederate White House, climbs the stairs, and plunks himself down in a comfortable chair in what had been Jefferson Daviss study. April 6, 1865. The Battle of Sailors Creek, Virginia. Its just a matter of time for Lee and his armies. He knows it, but is unwilling to yield. He has one tactic left to him, to strike a blow that temporarily paralyzes the Union army, and then rapidly pivot to join with Johnston. It makes strategic sense, but Union forces, led by General George Custer, are relentless in their pressure and faster in their maneuvers. At Sailors Creek (and Little Sailors Creek), they catch a portion of Lees army as it tries to cross over two bridges, pin it down, and then inflict grievous damage. Somewhere between a quarter and a third of Lees remaining forces are eliminated. April 7, 1865. Grant knows he is at the doorstep. So does Lincoln. At 7:11 a.m., Lincoln telegraphs the following to Grant: Gen. Sheridan says if the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender. Let the thing be pressed. A. Lincoln Grant presses, deploying the fruits of a mighty war machine that grows more powerful each day. Lee and his starving army retreat across the Appomattox River at Farmville, where they expect rations, but instead find Union forces waiting for them, as the main bridge had not yet been blown. Lee memorably loses his temper, but the situation on the ground renders anger futile. No supplies, no food, no realistic chance. It is time, but Lee is not yet ready. Grant sends a message to Lee asking for Lee to stand down and surrender, urging him to prevent any further effusion of blood. Lee cant do it. He cant bear the anguish of surrender, and he still hopes for one more miracle maneuver, one more heroic effort by his men. Grant presses more. He and Lincoln share a strategic insight: All the Union victories that had ended in territorial gains would not be enough to finish the war. The Union must defeat the Confederate Army in the field, and no bigger target could there be than Lees Army of Northern Virginia. Grant had to make that happen, and he had to make it happen now. Jefferson Davis, in an April 4 message, had called for the Confederate Army to begin to disburse and conduct guerilla warfare, which could prolong things for months, maybe to the point of Northern (emotional and political) exhaustion. April 9, 1865. A final, cataclysmic battle approaches, and the Federal troops begin to surround what is left of Lees army. Lee needs to move before the gates close. In the early morning, he tries to go west, toward Danville, Virginia, but is blocked, mostly as a result of Union soldiers placed on ground taken on the 8th. An early morning attempt to break through Federal forces blocking the route west fades, and Lee realizes he has only two options leftfight it out with Union forces of roughly six times his strength, and likely be crushed, or surrender. Its a bitter pill for a man whose abilities had brought the South close to a victory. He takes up the invitation of April 7, and sends a message that he wants to meet with Grant to discuss terms. The meeting, in all its gravity, all its solemnity, becomes a critical part of American iconographyan image still resonant to this day. Lee is a man of the South, a plantation-owner, a gentleman. He approaches majestically at the agreed-upon time, in his best dress uniform, mounted on Traveler, his magnificent horse. Grant meets him there with several of his senior officers. If Lee is elegant, Grant embodies qualities most closely identified with the Northsomewhat stolid, decidedly without glamour, wearing a privates tunic, dusty from the field, boots muddy. A man of purpose. They talk briefly of old times, and Grant offers generous terms and honors, which Lee graciously accepts. Lee, with great dignity, rides off to his men to deliver the news and take the blame. April 12, 1865. The Army of Northern Virginia formally surrenders and is disbanded. The men are sent home on parole, officers permitted to take their sidearms and horses. Food is distributed. The war is not over yet: Joe Johnston, leading the Confederate Army of the Tennessee, is still in the field, as are two smaller forces, but, for all intents and purposes, there is no hope. In fact, Johnston had already been engaged in private peace talks with his direct adversary, General William T. Sherman. April 14, 1865. Good Friday. President Lincoln, less than a month from his conciliatory, unifying Second Inaugural Address, and just a couple of days after having proposed, in a thoughtful speech, the most measured terms for Reconstruction, attends Our American Cousin at Fords Theatre with his wife Mary. Hes a little late, but, when he arrives, the audience cheers as Hail To The Chief is played. He is relaxed, chuckling at the jokes, holding Marys hand, already planning his post-Presidential years. They will return home to Springfield, he will open up a law practice, and the couple will travel the world. The famed actor John Wilkes Booth, angry, embittered, consumed with hatred for Lincoln and convinced that by striking a blow, he might save the South, strikes two. He points his derringer at the back of the left side of Lincolns head and fires. Then, with his hunting knife, he fends off Major Henry Rathbone, one of Lincolns guests in the Presidential Box, slicing his arm from elbow to shoulder. Screams from the boxfrom Mary, from Rathbones fiancee Clara Harris. Booth leaps over the guardrail to the stage below, breaking his shin in the process, and, in the tumult and panic, escapes. Across town, Booths co-conspirator Lewis Paine attacks Secretary of State William Seward and his household, almost killing Seward and his son. The story about how Lincoln is carried across the street to William Petersons lodging house and placed diagonally across the bed (he was too long for it), attended by two doctors helpless to do anything (the wound was clearly mortal), has been told tens of thousands of times. As have the tales of the wailings of Mary, the sobs of sons Robert and Tad, and the dignified tears of the dignified men who had been Lincolns rivals and aides in life, and now served as sentinels to guard against a death they know will come. April 15, 1865. Lincoln succumbs at 7:22 a.m. The following day would be Easter Sunday, and the New Testament allusions could not be overlooked. Nor could the confluence with an older tradition, the Passover seder. Lincoln as Moses, destined to lead the slaves out of bondage and to see the Promised Land, but not permitted to enter. These scenes, in memory all in black and white, become the counterpoint to the burnished-in-history moment of Lees surrender. The historian Allan Nevins wrote: Americans may reflect that it was perhaps fortunate for the future psychology of the nation, and its national memories during the long decades to come, that the war should end with a clap of thunder in the sudden murder of the Chief Magistrate, lifting the dead President to a position where he would be apotheosized by later generations, the influence of his deeds and words deepened by the tragedy. Apotheosized meaning, perhaps, the chalice of reconciliation might have been realized, or just a useful vocabulary for a war that Appomattox did not end? Look at this terrific painting by Winslow Homer, Prisoners from the Front, depicting the aftermath of a skirmish outside Petersburg in 1864. Confederate soldiers have lost, but they are not hopeless. See particularly the bearing of the youngestpart of a generation of those who will eventually lead the South. He is unbowed, and one wonders whether he would be prepared for reconciliation. That did not make Lincolns sacrifice one in vain. The dichotomy of the dignified Lee and his valourous troops, set against the greatness of Lincoln, may have created a language those later generations of both North and South could adopt when they were expressing common American ideals. But it does leave us with the ultimate what if: Could a living Lincoln, joined (passively) by the example of Lee, have been the bridge back, and spared us the trauma of a botched Reconstruction? This could have been a plausible outcome. At a time of great men, Lincoln towered over the resthe saw farther and more clearly, and, by the intensity of his commitment to a set of principles, was the person best able to lead the victorious North towards magnanimity in victory. Plausible, but perhaps not probable. Lincoln, after all, wasnt universally belovedand a lingering disdain and even animus manifested itself during his mourning period. In the South, reaction was mixed. There were the happy vengeful, and a few even thought Lincolns death would be a miraculous turning point in the War. Some of the Southern newspapers exulted, and Jefferson Davis reportedly said, If it be done, it would be better that it be well done. But many others (Lee, Joe Johnston, Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens, and former Supreme Court Justice John Campbell amongst them) worried not just about the anger of the North, but also the loss of Lincoln as a bufferthey knew he stood between them and a radical empowered Congress. Lincolns detractors were not limited to the South and the ever-active Northern Copperheads. A great many Northern Democrats of the business classes wanted to do business, and not annoy themselves with destructive arguments over principles like Emancipation. Also not to be underestimated was the potency of the racial issue: the fact that Northerners did not own slaves did not mean they were in the least bit racially tolerant, and Lincoln, with his ideas about the equality of all men, did not exactly afford them comfort. Their support for Lincoln, if it was support at all, would be tepid. Perversely, the same applied to Abolitioniststhey had always wanted more and sooner, and Lincoln almost always disappointed them. The what if Lincoln had lived question might have been an interesting experiment in the limits of centrism: Could Lincolns core temperamental and ideological moderation, his reverence for the ideals of the Founders, revitalized at Gettysburg, have been the basis for a successful Reconstruction, or might those very qualities have made him too hot for some, too cool for others? To place Lincoln in the publics esteem, we will have to content ourselves with what history tells us, rather than what history could have been. The South could reasonably be expected to be grudging in its respect, as could many of the other special interest groups. What about the rest of the world? The Brits were pretty bad at offering condolencesthe ruling classes there saw the South as more of a kindred spirit. Others, however, took a different view, something closer to the heart. Argentina declared three days of mourning. In Chile, it was reported that strong men walked the streets in tears, stricken by the news. Forty thousand Frenchmen subscribed to have a medal struck (with Frances heart) to send to Mrs. Lincoln. Ultimately, it was the gestures by common people that attested to Lincolns greatness. Small organizations sent their sympathies and good wishesobscure guild members, and singing societies. Cotton brokers in Liverpool and Theology students in Strasbourg. The Working Class Improvement Association in Lisbon. The Mens Gymnastic Association in Berne and the Fraternal Association of Artisans of Leghorn, Italy. Why? Many saw Lincoln as one of their own, a person whose virtues were beyond country and beyond politics. For a decent, good-hearted man to take up the burdens of this terrible Civil War, and lead the country through it, they would come. Here, his funeral train attracted seven million to gather on the sides of the tracks to see it pass on its way home to Springfieldfor 1700 miles he was never without an escort of mourners. There, they lined up for hours to see him as he lay in state, wiping rain and tears away from their faces. They grasped something about Lincoln that eluded the rich, the powerful, even the merely tactically ambitiousLincoln had always stood with the common men and women, regardless of their place in society. Now they stood with him. A remarkable, aching tribute came from the residents of Lahaina, in the Hawaiian Islands: [the people] weep together with the republic of America for the murder, the assassination of the great, the good, the liberator Abraham Lincoln, the victim of hell-born treasonhimself martyred, yet live his mighty deeds, victory, peace, and the emancipation of those despised, like all of us of the colored races. Lincoln despised no one, no group. He embodied a different type of tolerance, one so subtle that it is almost impossible to describe accurately. His was the tolerance of common courtesy, of accepting differences without embracing them and imperfections with the self-knowledge of your own. He did not demand that you look like him, think like him, worship like him, or vote like him as a predicate to earning his respect for your basic human rights. That kind of man helped win the Civil War. Could that kind of man navigate a difficult peace when so many were reluctant to follow? We, of course, will never know, but, in thinking about him and the universality of the way he lived his public life, we are reminded of the description of the exchange Lincoln and Frederick Douglass had, on the evening Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address: Douglass; there is no man in the country whose opinion I value more. I want to know what you think of it. The response? Mr. Lincoln, that was a sacred effort. Let that be his legacy, a sacred effort. by Fern Siegel , April 21, 2025 Atlanta agency Ammunition has selected Jonathan Hayes as chief creative officer. Hayes joined Ammunition following the agencys acquisition of his Atlanta-based studio, Mad Hat Creative, in June 2023, as executive video director. Now, he will lead all creative operations campaign development, brand-building, product and digital design, video production, and driving AI integration. This reflects a broader shift in how creative leadership is defined, moving toward a more holistic approach to building brands and delivering results. Hayes will work on a variety of clients, including LG, Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta Hawks and FerrellGas. As part of the agency's AI evolution, Sean Brown also becomes head of production. Stepping up as CCO now, when our industry is redefining itself, is a rare opportunity to reshape how we collaborate with clients, Hayes told Agency Daily. At our core, we stress Intelligent Augmentation, which means applying cutting-edge AI capabilities in a way that empowers our creative teams not replaces them. Its a human-centric approach to tech-driven creative innovation that results in faster, smarter and more resonant work. Ultimately, its about putting people first and keeping client success at the center of everything we do. advertisement advertisement This is a defining moment not just for our agency, but for the industry, added Jeremy Heilpern, CEO of Ammunition. Clients are looking for more than just great creative; they want fast, smart, tech-forward solutions that move the needle. Jonathans vision and deep understanding of AI and modern production are exactly what we need to lead this next chapter. Inc. magazine recognized Ammunition as one of the country's fastest-growing private companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list. Ammunition is a member of Worldwide Partners. by Tanya Gazdik , April 20, 2025 Photo Credit: Tanya Gazdik/MediaPost Tesla is scheduled to post its first-quarter earnings report after Tuesday's bell. Analysts are divided on the electric vehicle maker leading up to the results, according to Investopedia. The EV maker's stock has suffered as the company has been the center of protests and controversy over CEO Elon Musk's political efforts. There is potentially 15%-20% permanent demand destruction for future Tesla buyers due to the brand damage Musk has created since joining President Donald Trumps administration, notes Wedbush Securities, a financial services firm, in a research report, which says Musk needs to leave the government, take a major step back on DOGE, and get back to being CEO of Tesla full-time. advertisement advertisement Tesla has now unfortunately become a political symbol globally of the Trump Administration/DOGE, according to the report. Teslas stock has been crushed since Trump stepped back into the White House, brand damage to Musk/Tesla resulted in a terrible 1Q delivery number with much lower 2025 deliveries on the horizon, protests and violence against Tesla dealerships/owners has erupted around the globe. Consumers continue to protest Musk along with Trump. Protest signs observed over the weekend at one event in Detroit directly target Musk, including one reading Feed The People, Eat The Rich featuring Musks face, and another reading Fire Musk. Over the past few months, many people have criticized Musk, expressing concern that his lack of focus on Tesla has compromised share prices, according to The Street. Tesla investor Ross Gerber has called for Musk to step down as Tesla's CEO, arguing that it is in the companys best interests. The world will be waiting for signs in the earnings call that better days are ahead for the company, but at the moment, there are no signs that will happen. Tesla is is like the boy who cried wolf, according to Clean Technica. Every time it makes promises it doesnt keep, its reputation suffers. Most major corporations care passionately about their reputation, but such things do not seem to concern the great and powerful Musk or the Tesla board of directors. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 21, 2025 Lawmakers in Arkansas have approved a privacy bill that would prohibit websites and apps from knowingly collecting personal data from users under 17 in order to serve them with behaviorally targeted ads. HB 1717, passed last week, would also prohibit websites and apps from knowingly collecting personal data -- including names, biometric data, geolocation information and device identifiers -- from teens under 17 without their consent (or their parents' consent), and from children under 13 without parental consent. Unless vetoed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the measure will take effect on July 1, 2026. The bill's restrictions on targeted advertising, as well as data collection, would apply when websites and apps are directed at children or teens under 17, or when the websites and apps have actual knowledge of a user's age. (The bill exempts interactive gaming platforms from the restrictions.) advertisement advertisement The measure defines targeted advertising as ads based on data collected over time and across nonaffiliated sites and apps. The definition excludes contextual ads, as well as ads based on current search queries. Other provisions of the bill require websites and apps to collect only data that's needed to provide a product or service requested by teens and children, and to shed data when it's no longer needed. The measure's restrictions on collecting data from children under 13 appear to go further than the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits websites and apps from knowingly collecting personal information from children 12 and under, without parental consent. Unlike the Arkansas measure, COPPA allows companies to serve targeted ads to children under 13, providing the companies obtain parental consent. The advocacy group Electronic Privacy Information Center supports the Arkansas law. Unlike bills that regulate harmful design or limit access to social media or other content, HB 1717 focuses solely on privacy protections through a mixture of consent and data minimization requirements, including use and purpose limitations, the group writes. But Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman says the bill is problematic for several reasons, including that it can be difficult to determine whether a site is directed to younger teens, as opposed to older teens and adults. He notes that COPPA, which took effect in 2000, only covers children 12 and under. That age cut-off was driven by the idea that there's a set of prepubescent needs that are different from teenager needs, Goldman says. It's a lot harder to segregate a 16-year-old from a 17-year-old, he adds. The bill itself doesn't set out standards for determining when sites or apps are directed toward teens under 17. The think tank Future of Privacy Forum notes that there are questions about whether the Arkansas law is valid, given that COPPA overrides inconsistent state laws. The Arkansas law will both (1) extend protections to teens and (2) introduce new substantive limitations on the use of childrens and teens data, such as limits on targeted advertising and strict data minimization requirements, that go beyond COPPAs scope, the group writes. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 21, 2025 Siding against the e-commerce platform Shopify, a federal appeals court said Monday that the company must face suit in California for allegedly surreptitiously collecting online shoppers' personal data. In a 10-1 ruling, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Shopify's argument that as an out-of-state service provider headquartered in Canada (with U.S. divisions in Delaware and New York), it had not engaged in the type of activity in California that would subject it to jurisdiction in the state. Instead, the appellate judges essentially said allegations that Shopify secretly collected data from a California resident are enough to haul the company into court in the state. We conclude that Shopify is subject to specific personal jurisdiction in California, Circuit Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw wrote for the majority. As a part of its regular course of business, Shopify is alleged to target California consumers to extract, collect, maintain, distribute, and exploit for its own profit, not only the California consumers payment information that it diverts to its own servers, but also all of the other personal identifying information that it extracts from the software it permanently installs on their devices without their knowledge or consent, Wardlaw wrote. advertisement advertisement Pre-internet, there would be no doubt that the California courts would have specific personal jurisdiction over a third party who physically entered a Californians home by deceptive means to take personal information from the Californians files for its own commercial gain, the judge added. Circuit Judge Consuelo Callahan dissented, writing that the majority opinion creates a new traveling cookie rule for jurisdiction. Under our circuits newly divined rule, when a company attaches cookies to a persons electronic device, jurisdiction attaches wherever that person happens to be, and indeed, wherever that person happens to travel thereafter, Callahan wrote. The ruling grew out of a dispute dating to August 2021, when California resident Brandon Briskin alleged in a class-action complaint that Shopify surreptitiously installed tracking cookies on his device as he was making a purchase from the online retailer IABMFG (iambecoming.com). Briskin alleged Shopify was then able to track his activity and purchases across its network of merchants, and also transmitted information to the payment processor Stripe, which was them able to analyze and process the information. Additionally, he alleged that Shopify used his data to create a profile of him that was then provided to other merchants. (Shopify denies sharing data between retailers.) The complaint included claims that Shopify violated a California wiretap law that prohibits the interception of electronic communications without both parties' consent. U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton in the Northern District of California dismissed the claims in May 2022, ruling that the allegations, even if proven true, wouldn't show that Shopify was subject to the jurisdiction of California courts. Instead, she said, the allegations could establish only that Shopify was a vendor for the retailer IABMFG. A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit initially upheld that ruling, writing that Shopify didn't specifically direct its activity toward California residents. Briskin then asked for a majority of the circuit's judges to re-hear the case. In May 2024, the court withdrew the panel ruling and said it would reconsider the matter. Shopify and its supporters -- including the Interactive Advertising Bureau -- argued to the 9th Circuit that the initial decision was correct. The Interactive Advertising Bureau and others, including the Apple-backed group ACT-The App Association and The Business Software Alliance, said Shopify is only a backend service provider and shouldn't have to defend itself in every state where its client does business. Attorneys general in 30 states and the District of Columbia argued for the opposite result, essentially contending in a friend-of-the-court brief that internet companies that regularly conduct business in a particular state can be sued in that state. Reply 1988 Five childhood friends make their way through adolescence in the Ssangmun-dong district of Seoul, helping one another through life's uncertainities. My social media algorithm clearly thinks Im a wannabe heiress with taste for high-end handbags and zero budget. Because lately, my feed is full of videos of Chinese factory workers showing me how to make a Louis Vuitton bag or Hermes Birkin from scratch. And when I say 'make,' I mean full-blown assembly line, stitching, leather cutting, logo embossing everything short of the final 'Made in Italy/France' sticker. Ive basically landed myself into a rabbit hole of FactoryTok, and honestly, Im here for the drama and pettiness. Instagram/30year_craftbag Turns out, these factories, some of which claim to supply materials or components to real luxury houses, are now pulling back the curtain as a massive middle finger to the U.S., in response to rising tariffs. Even Trump, the man who started this tariff war, has reportedly said this whole thing needs to stop. When Trump gives up on a petty war, you know its spiraled out of control. Funnily enough, in this clash between two economic giants, its not American or Chinese brands that are taking the hit. Its the European luxury houses like Prada, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and others. The very ones who built their empires on heritage, mystique, and the silent assumption that the only people making their bags are Italian artisans. So where does this leave us? In the age of quiet luxury. Instagram/Dulquer Salman With logos now as common as your college tote bag, whats even the point? Gen Z isnt interested in walking billboards. They want craftsmanship that whispers wealth instead of screaming about it. They want exclusivity, not oversaturation. When every other TikTok and Instagram video is exposing how luxury goods get made, the label loses its magic. And when the magics gone, what are we left with? A desire for things that feel personal, timeless, and real. Thats where quiet luxury steps in. Minimal branding, impeccable tailoring. Reuters Instead of splashing logos all over their fits, Gen Z is now eyeing brands like The Row, Loro Piana, Toteme, Khaite, and Bottega Veneta (the pre-pouch, non-flashy era). Even COS is having a quiet-luxury-on-a-budget moment. The vibe? Rich aunt energy without the need to flaunt a trust fund. In a world where your designer bag has probably had a layover in Guangzhou, a no-logo, perfectly-stitched leather tote suddenly feels more luxurious than a bag with three gold letters stamped on it. The Army is poised to easily hit its recruiting target this year as the service has made enormous gains in filling the ranks ahead of its traditional summer rush of new enlistments. As of last week, the Army had enlisted 51,837 recruits, or 85% of its 61,000 target for fiscal 2025, according service data provided to Military.com. A significant portion of that total -- roughly 14,000 -- comes from the service's delayed-entry program, or DEP, which is composed of recruits who signed up last year but are only now shipping out to basic training. The Army has the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, to hit its recruiting quota. Despite the DEP, the numbers still represent an upswing compared to last year. At this point in 2024, the Army had reached just 63% of its goal, pulling in 34,512 recruits -- including only 5,000 from the DEP. The surge in delayed entries this year is largely attributed to the Army's aggressive recruiting pace in 2024, which outstripped available training capacity. Read Next: Virginia National Guard Pilot Wrongly Identified as Involved in DC Midair Collision Sues for Defamation After missing its recruiting goals in multiple recent years, the Army hit its target last year for the first time since 2021 -- a fragile success following a decade of downward trends on enlistment numbers. Driving the shortfall is a narrowing pool of eligible recruits. Pentagon officials estimate just 23% of Americans aged 17 to 24 qualify to serve, citing rising obesity rates and poor performance on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a standardized test used to screen potential enlistees. Public school test scores have dropped steadily for years, particularly among boys, and that trend was exacerbated by pandemic-era disruptions. The service turned that around when it introduced the Future Soldiers Preparatory Courses, which help applicants meet body fat and academic standards and have proven to be a recruitment lifeline. Once recruits are in compliance with the Army's standards, they move on to basic training. Last year, one-quarter of Army applicants, who otherwise would not have been allowed to enlist, attended at least one of those prep courses. But that stopgap measure may soon face limits. Two Army officials familiar with internal discussions told Military.com the service is considering capping the number of recruits allowed to enter via prep courses. "The Army has not made any decisions to reduce the number of trainee volunteers attending the Future Soldier Prep Course," Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard, a service spokesperson, said in a statement. "However, we continually assess and scale the course based on the needs of the Army and the recruiting landscape." "The Army has seen increasing interest in serving, which allows the Army to select among a larger pool of quality recruits who can meet our standards and serve honorably," he added. Beyond prep schools, the Army has poured resources into streamlining enlistment processing that has long posed a bureaucratic bottleneck. Officials say reducing red tape has helped retain applicants who might otherwise walk away amid monthslong delays. Recent recruiting progress has become a talking point for President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have framed the numbers as a cultural victory for the administration. At a White House Easter event Monday, Trump credited his administration with energizing a "record" enlistment surge. "Since Nov. 5, it's all happened," Trump said. "Enrollment in the military is at a record. That's testament to what's happening in terms of the spirit of our country." Historically, economic downturns -- rather than electoral shifts -- have been the more reliable driver of recruiting booms, as young Americans turn to the military in search of job security and educational benefits. Meanwhile, some Army officials in interviews with Military.com have expressed quiet unease about the administration's rhetoric and its potential chilling effect on minority and female recruitment. While the overall recruiting landscape had deteriorated in recent years, women continued to enlist at steady rates. Black Americans, who make up 14% of the U.S. population, accounted for nearly 25% of new Army recruits in 2024. Related: 'Last Stop USA': How the Army Is Trying to Fill in for a Broken Education System The Army has released its finalized environmental impact statement on the prospect of retaining 22,750 acres of state-owned land at the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island after its lease expires in August 2029. Situated between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, PTA is the militarys largest contiguous live-fire range and maneuver training area in the islands. The state parcel sits between two federally owned pieces of land, collectively making up 132, 000 acres. Army officials call the leased land the connective tissue of PTA. The Army will be negotiating with the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on its request for a new lease. In recent years, PTA has become central to the Armys new Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, a series of training ranges in Hawaii and Alaska aimed at preparing soldiers for operations in the Pacific amid tensions with China. But the Army, which obtained the parcel at PTA and other lands it uses for training for a mere $1 in 1964, has also faced increasing scrutiny of the effects of training on the environment and ancient Hawaiian cultural sites. The state now considers its parcel at Pohakuloa to be a conservation district. With its rugged fields of lava and volcanic soil, Poha kuloa is classified as a sub-alpine tropical dryland forestone of the worlds rarest kinds of ecosystemsand is habitat for Hawaiis state bird, the nene, as well as the hoary bat and several species that exist nowhere else on the planet. In a news release Friday, the Army said it will observe a 30-day waiting period before deciding how much land, if any, it will seek to retain. The waiting period for the final EIS will end 30 days after publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, after which time the Army will execute a Record of Decision. The EIS, which follows several drafts that were put up for public review, argues the military needs the land for training. PTA is used not only by the Army but also by the Marines, Navy and Air Force ; it is increasingly used by foreign troops as well during international exercises. Military officials have told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that of the leased lands with leases expiring in 2029, PTA is by far the one most of them view as most important. The EIS states that the Army acknowledges the comments received on the Draft EIS and the Second Draft EIS regarding the challenges with obtaining a new lease. The Army understands that the execution of a new lease prior to the expiration of the current lease would be arduous (and several ) could remain unresolved well past 2029, when the current lease for the State-owned land expires. The Army has argued that the states designation of the land as a conservation district did not apply to its operations, as the military already had the lease and had been training since before the designation, essentially grandfathering it in. But the final EIS seemingly concedes that under a new lease, that would not be the case. The document states that although a rule amendment to obtain a special subzone would be difficult and the execution of a new lease would be onerous for analysis purposes, this EIS assumes that the BLNR would establish a new subzone through a rule amendment that would allow military uses in the conservation district. The Army acknowledges potential harm to native species, water resources and soil through live fire and toxic exposures, though the service also agrees to pursue several new environmental and cultural programs on top of existing ones. WHEN TRAINING isnt taking place at PTA, only five uniformed soldiers are stationed there. The rest of the workforce of about 200 people is made up of Army civilians and contractors. Among them are scientists working to catalog and preserve native species living on the base, archaeologists looking for ancient cultural sites and firefighters tasked with putting out blazeswhether they be natural or caused by military training. The training range has had its share of controversies. In 1989, the Sierra Club sued the Army on behalf of University of Hawaii at Hilo botanist Lani Stemmermann. She had visited an area of dryland forest in PTA in search of research sites to study native plants and found Army bulldozers leveling native naio and mamane trees for a new training range. A 1993 investigation by the Army found that while planning that range, Army officials knowingly cut corners during the survey process, intentionally limited access to scientists and ignored recommendations by Army engineers that called for a comprehensive botanical study of the proposed site. In 2019, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled against the state in a lawsuit filed by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. on behalf of Hawaiian cultural practitioners Clarence Ku Ching and Mary Maxine Kahaulelio. The court found state officials had failed to ensure the military upheld its duties to clean up Pohakuloa and had harmed Hawaiian cultural interests, and that as trustee, the State must take an active role in preserving trust property and may not passively allow it to fall into ruin. The terms of the Armys lease with Hawaii state the military must make every reasonable effort to remove or deactivate all live or blank ammunition upon completion of a training exercise. Disagreement over what constitutes a reasonable effort has been an ongoing sticking point. The military fires live rounds into the impact area, which is on federally controlled land. Because its considered an active range, the impact area is regarded as too dangerous for regular removal of ordnance. THE EIS reported that approximately 17 % of the 1, 261 recorded wildfires at PTA occurred or were likely to have occurred on the state-owned land. Between 1975 and 2011, the Army documented 112 fires within the state-owned parcel at PTA that burned at least 15, 047 acres, though the EIS said the data prior to 2012 is considered incomplete. Between 2012 and August 2024, 96 fires were recorded on the parcel, burning approximately 19, 328 acres. Of the fires that were greater than 100 acres and ignited by military activities, or suspected military activities, five fires burned portions of the state-owned land. The EIS asserted that 71 % of those wildfires were less than 0.1 acres in size. The EIS noted that it predicts the wildfire risk will only increase, saying increased potential for drought from changes to regional temperatures and precipitation patterns due to climate change may result in increased wildland fires. Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts can dry out vegetation, which serves as fuel for wildland fires. The military and the state have spent years preparing for the renegotiation of the leases. With the leases expiring in 2029, the majority of the negotiations will be undertaken by President Donald Trumps Pentagon team, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has vowed to drastically scale back environmental and cultural programs, charging that such programs are woke and have distracted the military from warfighting. However, Hegseths Army secretary, Dan Driscoll, promised U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D- Hawaii, during his Senate confirmation hearing that he would work with her office and community groups on the land leases and would listen to local concerns about the future of the land. 2025 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Visit www.staradvertiser.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Under pressure from London, British Maj. Gen. Thomas Gage put quill to paper 250 years ago last Saturday in issuing the disastrous order for a raid on Concord in the Province of Massachusetts Bay that would ignite a revolution, lose Britain a colony, and bring forth a loosely united new nation called America. "Sir, you will march with the corps of grenadiers and light infantry put under your command with the utmost expedition and secrecy to Concord, and where you will seize and destroy all the artillery and ammunition, provisions, tents and all other military stores you can find," Gage wrote to Lt. Col. Francis Smith, commander of the 10th Regiment of Foot, who would lead the "Concord Expedition." Gage would later add to the initial draft of the order an admonition to "take care that the soldiers do not plunder the inhabitants or hurt private property." Read Next: New Army Fitness Test: No More Ball Yeet, Higher Standards for Combat Arms The anniversary of the outbreak of the Revolutionary War precedes a slew of planned celebrations when the United States marks its 250th year of independence in 2026. Then as now, those living in what would become the 13 states of the new nation were bitterly divided. But at the outset of the war, colonialists were split between those loyal to the crown and those who were ready to fight for independence. Gage thought the loyalists had given him excellent intelligence on where the colonial militias had stored arms and what types of arms, down to the names of the owners of houses who were hiding ball and powder. But the colonials also had great intel that sent Paul Revere, well-mounted on a fast horse, and two other riders to spread the alarm that Smith's force of about 700 had crossed the Charles River in long boats and was on the march toward Concord. Gage's plan to snuff out a budding revolution with a quick raid to seize and destroy arms on April 19, 1775, was about to fall apart. The Gage order is part of the Thomas Gage Papers collection of more than 23,000 items, including letters, documents, journals, financial records, and military orders now housed at the University of Michigan's William L. Clements Library. To mark the 250th anniversary of the first battles of what would become a revolution, the library has put on an exhibit focusing on the Gage papers called "Bloody Work: Lexington and Concord 1775." In a phone interview, Cheney Schopieray, curator of manuscripts at the Clements Library, said the collection shows that the British Parliament "was very unhappy with Gage" in his role as commander in chief of British forces in North America and governor of Massachusetts Bay, "but he managed to keep the kettle from boiling over until 1775." In Massachusetts last Saturday, thousands turned out to view ceremonies and demonstrations by re-enactors to mark the 250th anniversary at Concord and Lexington, and also at Minute Men National Historical Park, run by the National Park Service. The Park Service also gave a running account of the battles that led to the British retreat back to Boston in a rout. At about 5 a.m., the British column encountered Capt. John Parker and his company of 77 Minutemen who had been ordered to "stand your ground and don't fire unless fired upon." Then "someone, somewhere fired a shot," which would become "the shot heard round the world," the Park Service said. The British infantry rushed onto the green and fired upon Parker's retreating troops. Eight militiamen were killed on the Lexington town common and 10 were wounded. The fight had been joined. There would be no turning back. By noon, the British had wrapped up their mostly unsuccessful search for arms and began the 18-mile march back to Boston, as colonial militiamen swarmed to the area to confront and harass the retreating British until they were met by a relief party just outside Boston. In total, the casualties for the British were 73 killed, 174 wounded, and 26 missing; the colonials suffered 49 killed, 41 wounded, and 5 missing, the Park Service said. Gage later gave an account of the battles to the Earl of Dartmouth, William Legge, who was secretary of state for the Colonies, to describe the unorthodox tactics of the colonials, and possibly save his job. Gage wrote that, "on the return of the troops, they were attacked from all quarters where any cover was to be found, from whence it was practicable to annoy them, and they were so fatigued with their march that it was with difficulty they could keep out their flanking parties to remove the enemy to a distance, so that they were at length a good deal pressed." He also noted that Boston itself was being threatened. "The whole country was assembled in arms with surprising expedition, and several thousand are now assembled about this town threatening an attack, and getting up artillery. And we are very busy in making preparations to oppose them," he wrote. The letter didn't work. Gage was recalled to London and replaced by Gen. William Howe. Related: Secret Recordings Show President Roosevelt Debating Military Desegregation with Civil Rights Leaders When Carrie Conley learned that her vote in the 2024 election was at risk of being thrown out, the news did not come to her through the mail or from any official source. She was scrolling through social media when she came upon a post from the progressive advocacy group Carolina Forward. The post referred to challenges of overseas and military votes brought by Jefferson Griffin, an N.C. Court of Appeals judge and Republican candidate for N.C. Supreme Court. As the spouse of a U.S. Army soldier living in Italy, that caught Conleys attention. She later confirmed that her vote was in fact being challenged. Conley said she was perplexed, surprised, frustrated to find out her vote might not count. For more than two decades, Conley has voted in Guilford County, according to online voting records. In the past, she has taken advantage of absentee voting while attending college at Appalachian State University and during her time moving with her husband for his military service obligations. Her vote is being challenged because she did not include a copy of a photo ID when she submitted her ballot. While photo ID is required for both in-person and absentee voters, a rule adopted by the N.C. State of Board of Elections states this does not apply to military or overseas voters. However, the N.C. Supreme Court decided earlier this month that those casting absentee ballots abroad must comply with photo ID laws and would be given 30 days to do so following mailing of formal notification. Conley is part of a class action lawsuit filed April 14 to block the state elections board from carrying out the courts order. She and the other plaintiffs, which include other North Carolina voters as well as the N.C. League of Women Voters, argue that requiring them to provide the additional verification violates their rights because such a requirement was not in place when they voted. In an interview on Wednesday, Conley herself also spoke of the unfairness of the process. She pointed out that while her vote was challenged, the ballots of other military spouses she knew were not. Griffin only filed protests of overseas and military votes in a few of the state's more populous, Democratic-leaning counties. The state elections board has said that the only protests filed by the statutory deadline were those in Guilford County, which voted for Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs over Griffin by a margin of 62%-38%. Conley said she decided to fight because she wanted to stand up for herself and others. I just wanted to help. I wanted to do what I could, Conley said. Its not just me. Its a whole group of voters who are being targeted. Like Conley, most members of the remaining group of challenged voters are from Guilford County. The state elections board has found that there are 1,409 military and overseas voters who need to be notified. All of them are in Guilford County. The second, smaller group consists of nonresident voters. The board estimates that category includes 266 people in 53 counties across the state, with 15 apiece in Guilford and Forsyth counties. While the Supreme Court holding requires dismissal of those nonresident votes, the state elections board has proposed a review of documents and a sending of notices to verify the residency status of those voters. The N.C. Supreme Court race between Riggs and Griffin has spawned a months-long legal battle in both state and federal courts. When all the votes were tallied in November, Riggs defeated Griffin by a margin of a little more than 700 votes out of 5.5 million cast. Griffin requested two recounts, which both affirmed Riggs victory. At the same time, Griffin filed election protests throughout the state calling into question the validity of tens of thousands of ballots for various reasons. Some of these focused on alleged votes illegally cast by felons, dead people and people who were not registered. Those protests were handled mostly by county elections board, with some making their way to the state. In December, the Guilford County Board of Elections voted unanimously to reject the protests related to deceased, felon and unregistered voters after holding a hearing. In the months since, the legal fight has centered on three categories of ballots: those cast by people whose registration did not include a drivers license number or Social Security number; the military and overseas absentee voters; and the nonresident voters. Nonresident in this case refers to voters who attested in their ballot applications that they were U.S. citizens who had never lived in the United States. The state board of elections, citing state law, provides guidance that children of North Carolina residents living abroad may use their parents state address for voting, provided the prospective voter has not registered in another state. On April 11, the N.C. Supreme Court threw out Griffins challenge against the voters with the missing registration information, which covered roughly 60,000 voters and was the largest category of votes challenged. The court faulted election officials for the missing information on the registrations and ruled that mistakes of the board would not be held against voters. However, the court allowed the other two challenges to proceed by requiring those voters to take corrective action and giving them 30 days from the time they receive written notice. For the nonresident voters, the Supreme Court deferred to the ruling of the N.C. Court of Appeals, finding that allowing individuals to vote in our state-federal elections who have never been domiciled or resided in North Carolina or expressed an intent to live in North Carolina violated the plain language of (the North Carolina Constitution). On Tuesday, the state board of elections outlined its plan for implementing the courts directives in a legal filing. The board is directing the Guilford County elections board to review documents from the military and overseas voters and to then mail notices to those individuals who would need to meet photo ID requirements within 30 days. For the nonresident voters, the local election boards will review the documentation related to those voters in order to confirm the residency status of the apparent nonresidents. The board pointed to media reports of voters who had wrongly been included in the group of nonresidents. After removing confirmed residents from the count, the elections boards would then send notifications to remaining challenged voters and allowing them 30 days to file affidavits confirming residence in state. Guilford County Elections Director Charlie Collicutt said in an email Thursday that the local board is proceeding with the state boards instructions on overseas and military voters. As for the nonresidents, Collicutt said there may still be some ongoing issues in the courts as to the scope and possible research and notification. Collicutt described the board as being in a holding pattern while it waits for new information, including the potential creation of a portal that will allow voters to submit photo IDs. He also noted that the decisions by the courts could also change their course. We are always at the mercy of a future court order to stop, alter or continue, he said. Questions about how exactly the process will be resolved still remain. While the state board has said the only overseas and military voters who need to be notified are the 1,409 in Guilford County, Griffin is seeking to expand that pool to include voters in Forsyth, Durham, Buncombe, New Hanover and Cumberland counties. Griffin is also calling for the courts to halt the corrective process for the nonresident voters. Anne Tindall, an attorney for Conley and the other class action plaintiffs, said they will oppose any effort to require the challenged voters to take additional actions to have their votes validated. "Our position is that it remains fundamentally unfair to retroactively apply a complete reversal of state voting rules to any voters who followed the rules in place when they cast their ballots," Tindall said in an email. For her part, Conley said she is optimistic about her chances of succeeding in her case. I am feeling hopeful because I feel like the law will eventually be on my side, Conley said. I followed the rule so to me it seems like a cut and dry case. 2025 the News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.). Visit www.news-record.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Kris Bryants star-crossed Rockies tenure added another chapter earlier this week when the former NL MVP was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier this week due to lumbar degenerative disc disease. Recurring back issues are just one variety of the of several injuries that have limited Bryant to 170 games over his three-plus seasons with Colorado, yet it appears to be the most persistent obstacle keeping Bryant from getting onto the field for any sustained length of time. Bryant shared some details about his situation with reporters (including MLB.coms Thomas Harding) on Sunday, including some of the side effects of his current back problem. After undergoing an exercise program yesterday, Bryant said I woke up not feeling great, and described himself as being in constant pain and nauseous, where I cant eat, which was the situation today. The nature of the back injury can come and go, as Bryant described a game situation where he was feeling fine for most of the contest, but by his final at-bat could barely swing. The extremely frustrating degenerative disc disease has left Bryant at least thinking about a surgery, though the doctors arent there yet in recommending it. Such a procedure would almost surely end Bryants 2025 season and put him onto another lengthy cycle of rehabilitation and workouts with an eye towards Opening Day 2026, maybe as a best-case scenario. For now, Bryant isnt sure when hell feel well enough that a return to the field is feasible. He received two anti-inflammatory shots on Tuesday, though the injections apparently only provided limited help given his nausea today. In the bigger picture, Bryant also said he isnt considering retirement, stating plainly that I want to play. I want to talk to doctors, see if theres anything else we can do. But, yeah, I want to not give up. Bryants seven-year, $182MM contract with the Rockies cant be considered anything but a bust, as Bryant has hit only .244/.324/.370 over 712 plate appearances during the life of the deal, and the Rox have a disastrous 192-315 record since Opening Day 2022. Beyond all the talk of salaries and second-guessing front office decisions, one cant help but feel sympathy for Bryant as he is struggling through what is clearly a painful situation that is impacting the quality of his life. Until a health breakthrough emerges or perhaps until Bryant decides to get surgery, all he and the Rockies can do is play the waiting game. Colorados dismal 4-17 start has almost surely sunk whatever chance the team had at a competitive season, and the Rox have increasingly turned to a number of younger players making their MLB debuts as a possible glimpse into the future. Veteran catcher Omar Narvaez, who was designated for assignment by the White Sox last week, passed through waivers unclaimed. He was assigned outright to Triple-A Charlotte but has rejected that assignment in favor of free agency, per the transaction log at MiLB.com. The 33-year-old Narvaez appeared in four games in his return to the White Sox with whom he originally made his MLB debut going 2-for-7 with a pair of walks in 10 plate appearances. It was a tiny sample as the Sox looked for a short-term stopgap to pair with Matt Thaiss in the wake of an injury to catcher Korey Lee. Chicago quickly pivoted, turning Narvaezs roster spot over to top prospect Edgar Quero, whod had a big start in Charlotte and has been excellent through his first four MLB games. Narvaez was a solid regular behind the plate from 2017-21, when he tallied 1670 plate appearances and batted .266/.351/.403 between the White Sox, Mariners and Brewers. He improved his defensive reputation, particularly his framing grades, along the way and even earned an All-Star nod with the 2021 Brewers. His output since that terrific 2021 season has faded, however. Hes taken 521 plate appearances between the Brewers, Mets and this brief ChiSox return, posting a collective .201/.278/.286 line that checks in nearly 40% below average at the plate, by measure of wRC+. Narvaez could simply return to the organization on a new minor league contract, but although the White Sox have the second-worst winning percentage in MLB, catcher is an area of depth for them. In Quero, Lee, Thais and top prospect Kyle Teel the headliner from the Garrett Crochet trade with Boston the Sox have a quartet of younger catchers whod land ahead of Narvaez on the depth chart. Quero and Teel, in particular, are viewed as potential building blocks for the organization and should get prominent opportunities this season. The veteran Narvaez could likely find a less-crowded path back to big league playing time with another organization. A Pour for the Plovers conservation fundraiser at Dune Bird Winery in Northport will benefit the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. Pictured here is the oldest Great Lakes Piping Plover, named Of,gb:XY or "gabbY," on the shores at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Photo by Vince Cavalieri, National Park Service LEELANAU COUNTY, MI -- Nature lovers will toast to their favorite shorebird, and the efforts to keep them safe on Lake Michigan beaches, at a Piping Plover fundraiser. The Pour for the Plovers conservation fundraiser 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at Dune Bird Winery in Northport will support Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. Conversationists have much to celebrate as the population of Michigans tiny, fluffy shorebird has rebounded in recent years. Last summer was the second consecutive year for a record number of unique piping plover breeding pairs. The Dune Bird Winery is releasing two drinks inspired by the tiny heroes: a Pink Plover Rose and a Plover Punch featuring the rose. Proceeds from each bottle of limited-edition wine will support the habitat conservation efforts in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This partnership allows us to bring together our love for wine and our commitment to environmental conservationnot only in our vineyards and winemaking, but also in our communities and along our shorelines," said Bekah Bell, Brand Culture and Flight Club manager at Dune Bird Winery. In the coming weeks, National Parks Service staff will set up fencing to preserve habitats. Staff will monitor the arrival and pairing up of piping plovers. Each pair of piping plovers will establish their own territory and will start to build nests starting at the end of April, according to NPS. Some conservation experts and retired park staff feared that federal hiring pauses and spending limits at national parks may impact these efforts. Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, is a volunteer-led nonprofit. You can donate to their Piping Plover protection fund, here. RELATED: Piping plover fledglings raised in captivity released on Sleeping Bear beach Conservation results have flourished in the last few years for the piping plovers, which were first federally listed as endangered in 1985. On High Island, west of Beaver Island, scientists with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa have been traveling to the remote island for 20 years to monitor the plovers as they nest and fledge their chicks. Last summer, observers documented 81 unique pairs of piping plovers across the Great Lakes, beating the record set in 2023 by one pair. RELATED: Oldest Great Lakes piping plover seen basking in southern sunshine The oldest Great Lakes plover has become a popular sign of spring for Michiganders. Gabby, also known as OF,gb:X,Y in NPS records, hatched in 2009 on North Manitou Island. After nesting a few different locations she returned to Sleeping Bear in 2019 and has called it home ever since. Over the course of her life, Gabby has raised 35 chicks to fledglings and migrated 40,000 miles, according to NPS. Most recently she was spotted on spring break at Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia. Sleeping Bear posted on Facebook theyre excited for her to migrate more than 1,000 miles back to Lake Michigan this month. Theyre waiting anxiously to see if Gabby and her 2024 summer fling, a 2-year-old plover, will reconnect again. To keep Piping Plover habitats safe while youre visiting the beach heres what Sleeping Bear recommends: Smoke shows up on the NWS radar image for the Squirrel Island fire. Radar image provided by NWS If youre seeing smoke and hazy skies overhead in Detroit and other areas in southeast Michigan, the culprit is the on-again, off-again blazes burning in the marshland of Squirrel Island. The National Weather Service meteorologists in the Detroit office did a little sleuthing as to the smokes cause after being asked about it earlier today. At first, they thought it might have been a controlled burn or some permitted fire that was sending a plume of black smoke into the sky just across our border. Squirrel Island, a small island on the Ontario, Canada side of Lake St. Clair, has had intermittent reports of stubborn fires in the past week, according to a local Windsor news source. The most recent fire began around noon on Sunday, but dry conditions in the last week have helped grow other slow burns, according to the Windsorite report. Smoke in the air was also visible on radar. Squirrel Island is in the area of Walpole Island and a handful of other marshy islands. Its actually part of a delta area where the St. Clair River runs into Lake St. Clair, close to Algonac, Michigan. VATICAN CITY (AP) A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal. It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christs Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church. Still, there are always front-runners, known as papabile, who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope much like those depicted in last years Oscar-nominated film Conclave. Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate. Pope Francis, who died Monday, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture. Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at age 76, and that Karol Wojtyla wasnt on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II. Some possible candidates: Cardinal Peter Erdo Erdo, 72, the archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary, was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011, suggesting he enjoys the esteem of European cardinals who make up the biggest voting bloc of electors. In that capacity, Erdo got to know many African cardinals because the council hosts regular sessions with African bishops conferences. Erdo had even more exposure when he helped organize Francis 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family and delivered key speeches, as well as during papal visits to Budapest in 2021 and 2023. Cardinal Reinhard Marx Marx, 71, the archbishop of Munich and Freising, was chosen by Francis as a key adviser in 2013. Marx later was named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening. The former president of the German bishops conference was a strong proponent of the controversial synodal path process of dialogue in the German church that began in 2020 as a response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal there. As a result, he is viewed with skepticism by conservatives who considered the process a threat to church unity, given it involved debating issues such as celibacy, homosexuality and womens ordination. Marx made headlines in 2021 when he dramatically offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German churchs dreadful abuse record, but Francis quickly rejected the resignation and told him to stay. Cardinal Marc Ouellet Ouellet, 80, of Canada, led the Vaticans influential bishops office for over a decade, overseeing the key clearinghouse for potential candidates to head dioceses around the world. Francis kept Ouellet in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff. Considered more of a conservative than Francis, Ouellet still selected pastorally minded bishops to reflect Francis belief that bishops should smell like the sheep of their flock. Ouellet defended priestly celibacy for the Latin Rite church and upheld the ban on womens ordination but called for women to have a greater role in church governance. He has good contacts with the Latin American church, having headed the Vaticans Pontifical Commission for Latin America for over a decade. Since 2019, his office has taken charge of investigating bishops accused of covering up for predator priests, a job that would have made him no friends among those sanctioned but also could have given him lots of otherwise confidential and possibly compromising information about fellow cardinals. Cardinal Pietro Parolin Parolin, 70, of Italy, has been Francis secretary of state since 2014 and is considered one of the main contenders to be pope, given his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. The veteran diplomat oversaw the Holy Sees controversial deal with China over bishop nominations and was involved -- but not charged -- in the Vaticans botched investment in a London real estate venture that led to a 2021 trial of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Parolin knows the Latin American church well. He would be seen as someone who would continue in Francis tradition but as a more sober and timid diplomatic insider, returning an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St. John Paul II (Poland); Benedict (Germany) and Francis (Argentina). But while Parolin has managed the Vatican bureaucracy, he has no real pastoral experience. His ties to the London scandal, in which his office lost of tens of millions of dollars to bad deals and shady businessmen, could count against him. Cardinal Robert Prevost The idea of an American pope has long been taboo, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States. But the Chicago-born Prevost, 69, could be a first. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is currently prefect of the Vaticans powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years and sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Prevost is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that keeps him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics. In addition to his nationality, Prevosts comparative youth could count against him if his brother cardinals dont want to commit to a pope who might reign for another two decades. Cardinal Robert Sarah Sarah, 79, of Guinea, the retired head of the Vaticans liturgy office, was long considered the best hope for an African pope. Beloved by conservatives, Sarah would signal a return to the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of John Paul II and Benedict. Sarah, who had previously headed the Vaticans charity office Cor Unum, clashed on several occasions with Francis, none more seriously than when he and Benedict co-authored a book advocating the necessity of continued celibacy for Latin Rite priests. The book came out as Francis was weighing whether to allow married priests in the Amazon to address a priest shortage there. The implication was that Sarah had manipulated Benedict into lending his name and moral authority to a book that had all the appearances of being a counterweight to the Francis own teaching. Francis dismissed Benedicts secretary and several months later retired Sarah after he turned 75. Even Sarahs supporters lamented the episode hurt his papal chances. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn Schoenborn, 80, the archbishop of Vienna, Austria, was a student of Benedicts, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives. However, he became associated with one of Francis most controversial moves by defending his outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics as an organic development of doctrine, not the rupture that some conservatives contended. Schoenborns parents divorced when he was a teen, so the issue is personal. He also took heat from the Vatican when he criticized its past refusal to sanction high-ranking sexual abusers, including his predecessor as archbishop of Vienna. Schoenborn has expressed support for civil unions and women as deacons, and was instrumental in editing the 1992 update of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the handbook of the churchs teaching that Benedict had spearheaded when he headed the Vaticans doctrine office. Cardinal Luis Tagle Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, would appear to be Francis pick for the first Asian pope. Francis brought the popular archbishop of Manila to Rome to head the Vaticans missionary evangelization office, which serves the needs of the Catholic Church in much of Asia and Africa. His role took on greater weight when Francis reformed the Vatican bureaucracy and raised the importance of his evangelization office. Tagle often cites his Chinese lineage his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines -- and he is known for becoming emotional when discussing his childhood. Though he has pastoral, Vatican and management experience -- he headed the Vaticans Caritas Internationalis federation of charity groups before coming to Rome permanently -- Tagle would be on the young side to be elected pope for life, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Zuppi, 69, the archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops conference, elected in 2022, is closely affiliated with the SantEgidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis, particularly in interfaith dialogue. Zuppi was part of SantEgidios team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambiques civil war in the 1990s and was named Francis peace envoy for Russias war in Ukraine. Francis made him a cardinal in 2019 and later made clear he wanted him in charge of Italys bishops, a sign of his admiration for the prelate who, like Francis, is known as a street priest. In another sign of his progressive leanings and closeness to Francis, Zuppi wrote the introduction to the Italian edition of Building a Bridge, by the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit, about the churchs need to improve its outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. Zuppi would be a candidate in Francis tradition of ministering to those on the margins, although his relative youth would count against him for cardinals seeking a short papacy. His family had strong institutional ties: Zuppis father worked for the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano, and his mother was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, dean of the College of Cardinals in the 1960s and 1970s. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court acted literally in the middle of the night and without sufficient explanation in blocking the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th-century wartime law, Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a sharp dissent that castigated the seven-member majority. Joined by fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, Alito said there was dubious factual support for granting the request in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union. The group contended that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart such removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The majority did not provide a detailed explanation in the order early Saturday, as is typical, but the court previously said deportations could proceed only after those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given a reasonable time to contest their pending removals. Both the Executive and the Judiciary have an obligation to follow the law, Alito said in the dissent released hours after the courts intervention against Republican President Donald Trumps administration. The justices brief order directed the administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center until further order of this court. Alito said that unprecedented relief was hastily and prematurely granted. He wrote that it was not clear whether the Supreme Court had jurisdiction at this stage of the case, saying that not all legal avenues had been played out in lower courts and the justices had not had the chance to hear the governments side. The only papers before this Court were those submitted by the applicants. The Court had not ordered or received a response by the Government regarding either the applicants factual allegations or any of the legal issues presented by the application. And the Court did not have the benefit of a Government response filed in any of the lower courts either, Alito said. Alito said the legal filings, while alleging that the applicants were in imminent danger of removal, provided little concrete support for that allegation. He noted that while the court did not hear directly from the government regarding any planned deportations under the Alien Enemies Act in this case, a government lawyer in a different matter had told a U.S. District Court in a hearing Friday evening that no such deportations were then planned to occur either Friday or Saturday. In sum, literally in the middle of the night, the Court issued unprecedented and legally questionable relief without giving the lower courts a chance to rule, without hearing from the opposing party, within eight hours of receiving the application, with dubious factual support for its order, and without providing any explanation for its order, Alito wrote. I refused to join the Courts order because we had no good reason to think that, under the circumstances, issuing an order at midnight was necessary or appropriate. Both the Executive and the Judiciary have an obligation to follow the law. The administration has filed paperwork urging the high court to reconsider its hold. On Friday, two federal judges refused to step in as lawyers for the men launched a desperate legal campaign to prevent their deportation. Early Saturday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to issue an order protecting the detainees from being deported. The ACLU had already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act. In the emergency filing early Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which would make them subject to Trumps use of the law. It has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The administration contends it gives them the power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status. Following the unanimous high court order on April 9, federal judges in Colorado, New York and southern Texas promptly issued orders barring removal of detainees under the law until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court. But there had been no such order issued in the area of Texas that covers Bluebonnet, which is 24 miles north of Abilene in the far northern end of the state. Some Venezuelans subject to Trumps use of the law have been sent to El Salvador and housed in its notorious main prison. ANN ARBOR, MI An Ann Arbor couple returned home from vacation and found a distressing surprise. They could not enter their home. A woman, they discovered, had changed the locks, moved in and called the house her own. Initially, it seemed a squatting situation, but the case quickly escalated into a bizarre home invasion. Police later arrested the woman, Carler Scales, on a slew of felony charges, according to a police report obtained by MLive through a Freedom of Information Act request. Her case is pending in Washtenaw County Trial Court. A hearing is scheduled for May. It was Dec. 11, 2023, when the couple - who requested not to be identified - said they first met Scales outside their Ann Arbor home, according to the report. Scales, along with her father, paced back and forth in front of the residence, angry it was not vacant. They told the couple one of the homes prior owners, Carolyn Lewis, willed it to Scales, according to the report. The couple assured Scales the house was legally theirs. The two told her to speak with an attorney if she believed there was a problem with the way the home was sold in the past. On Dec. 30, 2023, the couple arrived home from a vacation to Washington, D.C., and found Scales and her father living in the home. The couple and Scales called the police. Both claimed they were victims of home invasion, according to the report. The couple showed officers the deed with their names on it, and neighbors verified the couple had lived there for several years, assuring the officer the two were the rightful owners, the report states. Officers asked Scales to show them any paperwork proving she was the rightful owner. She responded by showing them a variety of documents unrelated to ownership as well as a will that did not name her or anyone else involved in ownership of the home, the report states. Scales was told to leave. She was not arrested at that time, according to the report. It was later discovered Scales had changed her legal address to the couples home address and registered to vote through the Michigan Secretary of State. Using her ID with the new address, she had contacted a locksmith, according to the report. She claimed she had locked herself out to get inside the home and then changed the locks, police discovered. Court records confirm her inheritance claims are false. Scales is not mentioned or referred to in any way in Lewis will. Lewis, 86, died of brain bleed on April 5, 2019, after falling down a flight of stairs at University Living in Ann Arbor. She was living at the facility after being diagnosed with dementia, records show. Widowed and without any children or siblings, her last will and testament ordered the donation of several valuable art collections to the University of Michigan. The rest of her property was to then be donated to a trust. She also wished to give $25,000 to her housekeeper, who was unable to collect the money, having died two years prior to Lewis, court records show. The most critical fact refuting Ms. Scales claim is that the home was sold during Mrs. Lewis lifetime and, therefore, was not part of her estate, said Julie Dunbar, the attorney who represented Lewiss estate. I served as the personal representative for Mrs. Lewis estate, and before that, I worked closely with her during her lifetime. I can confidently state that Ms. Scales did not have a personal relationship with Mrs. Lewis, Dunbar said. Dunbar noted Scales worked at the assisted living facility where Lewis stayed before her death, and it is likely they crossed paths there. For weeks after they returned from Washington, D.C., the couple received official mail at their home addressed to Scales. On March 11, Scales called the police back to the home, reporting that someone installed security cameras on her house, according to the report. Scales was not arrested again, though an investigation was ongoing, the report states. To be fair, I think this may have been an unprecedented situation for the Ann Arbor police, although its not unheard of for squatters to falsely claim homeownership rights, Dunbar said. No criminal charges were filed until March 2024 after investigators obtained evidence showing Scales fraudfully changed all her legal information through the Secretary of State, according to the report. The Ann Arbor Police Department did not respond when directly asked why Scales was not immediately arrested for home invasion in December. Scales is currently awaiting a mental examination to determine whether she can be held criminally responsible for her alleged crimes in the Washtenaw County Trial Court. She is accused of home invasion, falsifying an application for state identification, using a false ID to commit a felony and misdemeanor voter fraud. Ms. Scales undoubtedly was struggling with mental health issues at the time this offense allegedly occurred, her attorney Samuel Bennett said. Ms. Scales has no prior criminal record whatsoever. She is currently pending a criminal responsibility evaluation with the Center for Forensic Psychiatry, so its evident mental health played a role in what occurred. Her father was charged as well with home invasion as a codefendant. He has not been arraigned or located and a warrant for his arrest remains active, court records show. It was later found, prior to her arrest, Scales had set up an LLC for a notary business in Lewiss name using the Ann Arbor address as her business address. In May 2024, Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Conners issued an order dissolving Scales LLC, finding it was created fraudulently, court records show. There is no record or Scales being a licensed notary in Michigan. Scales was found competent to stand trial in July and later waived her right to a preliminary examination, sending her case to circuit court for trial proceedings. Pending the completion of Scales psychiatric evaluation, her next court hearing is scheduled for May 29 before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Arianne Slay. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Defendant Parker Adams on trial at Washtenaw County Circuit Court in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Christina Merrill | MLive.com ANN ARBOR, MI - A man convicted in the fatal stabbing of a victim with more than 100 wounds will not get a new trial. Parker Isaac Adams was found guilty in 2023 of second-degree murder, armed robbery and unlawfully driving away of a motor vehicle. This MLive file photo pictures the Diag on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. Jacob Hamilton, MLive.com file Jacob Hamilton ANN ARBOR, MI - Another petition is calling on University of Michigan leaders to reinvest in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts following recent cuts to its programming. The petition, organized by UMich Advocates and Literature, Science and the Arts Student Government, has received over 500 signatures and is asking officials to restore and reimagine DEI on the Ann Arbor campus. Its goal is to reach 10,000 signatures in total. Dunbar Tower, a six-story, 63-unit affordable apartment development, under construction at Fourth Avenue and Catherine Street in Ann Arbor on April 20, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News ANN ARBOR, MI The view from Sculpture Plaza outside the Peoples Food Co-Op in downtown Ann Arbors Kerrytown district is gradually changing. Floor by floor, a new building is rising kitty-corner at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Catherine Street. Michelle Keeler Lovasz, 61, was arraigned March 26 on one charge each of first-degree child abuse and second-degree child abuse. Jacob Hamilton | jhamilt3@mlive.com ANN ARBOR, MI -- An Ann Arbor woman has been criminally charged with abuse stemming from a case where an infant suffered a brain bleed in her home. Michelle Keeler Lovasz, 61, was arraigned March 26 on one charge each of first-degree child abuse and second-degree child abuse before 14A District Court Magistrate Odetalla M. Odetalla. She has a probable cause conference April 24. Funding is one of the key issues voters across Genesee County will decide on in the May 6 election. (MLive file photo) Charlie Nick | MLive.com GENESEE COUNTY, MI From ballot proposals to a Flint City Council race, voters across Genesee County will be deciding on a variety of issues in the upcoming May election. In addition to the special election for the city councils 3rd Ward seat, several county municipalities and school districts are asking voters to approve or renew tax proposals. Kent County sheriff's deputies are investigating two unrelated crashes that killed pedestrians on Sunday, April 20, in Cascade Township. (Provided by Kent County Sheriff's Office) Kent County Sheriff's Office KENT COUNTY, MI Two pedestrians were killed Sunday, April 20, in unrelated crashes less than 90 minutes apart on the same stretch of road. The first crash happened around 10 p.m. in the 6600 block of 36th Street SE in Cascade Township, Kent County sheriffs deputies said. Rainn Wilson is an Emmy-nominated, and SAG award-winning actor best known for playing Dwight Schrute for nine seasons on NBCs The Office. NBC GRAND RAPIDS, MI Fans of The Office have a chance to meet Dwight Schrute this summer in Grand Rapids. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, for A Live Conversation with Rainn Wilson, the man behind Dunder Mifflins eccentric assistant to the regional manager. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m., Aug. 14, at DeVos Performance Hall at 303 Monroe Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. RELATED: The Office secret lovers Dwight and Angela to reunite at event in Michigan Fans will get to relive the magic of The Office with a special screening of one of the shows most iconic episodes. Wilson will take the stage afterward to share behind-the-scenes stories, memorable moments and the secrets of bringing Dwight Schrute to life. A limited number of VIP tickets will be available, which include a personal post-show photo opportunity with Wilson himself. Attendees also are encouraged to make a joke of identity theft and participate in the ultimate Dwight Schrute lookalike contest, with prizes for the most convincing Dwight doppelganger. Wilson is scheduled to make another Michigan appearance at Motor City Comic Con alongside The Office co-star Angela Kinsey. The event will be held Friday through Sunday, May 16-18, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Tickets are on sale now. RELATED: The Office secret lovers Dwight and Angela to reunite at event in Michigan - mlive.com Wilson is an Emmy-nominated, and SAG award-winning actor best known for playing the inimitable Dwight Schrute for nine seasons on NBCs The Office. Recent projects include Lessons In Chemistry with Brie Larson for Apple TV and the unscripted travel series Geography Of Bliss, which aired on Peacock in May 2023. He also founded the digital media company, Soul Pancake, with 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube. He is the author of The Bassoon King and the NYT Bestselling SoulPancake: Chew on Lifes Big Questions. His newest book, NYT Bestselling Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution was released in April 2023. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) AP GRAND RAPIDS, MI Bishop David Walkowiak of the Diocese of Grand Rapids is remembering Pope Francis as a man who sought to break down barriers and remind Catholics of the dignity of the unborn, migrants and refugees, and prisoners. Like Jesus, he served those whom the world often considered outcasts, Walkowiak said. He challenged priests to be shepherds with the smell of the sheep, and constantly reminded us of the dignity of the unborn, migrants and refugees, and prisoners. Grand Rapids Community College will review its scholarships following the Trump administrations promise to withhold funding from schools that dont end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Rylan Capper | rcapper@mlive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids Community College will review its scholarships following the Trump administrations promise to withhold funding from schools that dont end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Lisa Freiburger, GRCCs vice president for finance and administration, who was recently announced as interim president, said the college is not sure how many scholarships could be changed, and no decisions have been made as part of the review process. Rockford Construction, which employs 370 people and has offices in Grand Rapids, Detroit and Estero, Florida, has simplified its name to better reflect its scope of services. MLive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI One of West Michigans biggest construction firms has rebranded with a slightly new name. Rockford Construction, which is based in Grand Rapids and offers construction management, development and property management services, has dropped construction from its name and is now simply calling itself Rockford. Weve always been more than just construction, Shane Napper, President and CEO of Rockford, said in a statement. Our name now reflects the reality of who we area trusted partner with the ability to tackle challenges from every angle. This rebrand positions us for continued growth across Michigan and beyond. The change comes after Napper took over as Rockfords CEO in January, following the departure of longtime CEO Mike VanGessel. VanGessel co-founded Rockford Construction in 1987 with John Wheeler, who sold his shares in the company in 2009 and is now CEO of Wheeler Development Group. Napper had served at Rockford for 27 years before being named CEO. The brand refresh aims to reinforce Rockfords collaborative model and ability to deliver high-quality, timely, and cost-effective solutions across diverse market sectors, according to a release. Our seamless approach ensures that every project benefits from our comprehensive 360-degree perspective, Napper said. Rockford is headquartered at 601 First St. NW in Grand Rapids and also has offices in Detroit and Estero, Florida. The firm has 370 employees and has completed more than 7,000 projects totaling nearly $9 billion over the past four decades, according to a release. Recent projects include Studio Park Tower, a 16-story apartment and condo building that opened this fall at Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids, as well as Corewell Healths new administrative headquarters on Monroe Avenue NW. Over the years, Rockford has also built hundreds of projects for Meijer over the past two decades, from new stores and gas stations to renovations and more. A man was sentenced to prison for killing his ex-girlfriend with his truck. Kendall Warner | MLive.com VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI A 34-year-old Mattawan man was sentenced to up to 60 years in prison for striking and killing his ex-girlfriend with a truck. Gregory Jose Campos II was sentenced Monday, April 21, on charges of second-degree murder, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and possession of methamphetamine/ecstasy. Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP KALAMAZOO, MI -- The Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo will be hosting two memorial Masses to honor Pope Francis. Francis died on Monday, April 21, at 88 years old. He had previously been hospitalized in February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. MORE: Pope Francis, Latin Americas first pontiff who ministered with charm and humility, dies at 88 A memorial Mass will be held at the St. Augustine Cathedral, 542 W. Michigan Ave., on Thursday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m., according to a diocese spokesperson. The Thursday Mass is a traditional Mass of the Day, as part of the eight-day Easter Octave celebration. A Requiem Mass, a Mass held specifically to honor the dead, will be held at the cathedral on Tuesday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. During these days of mourning in which we find our strength in the Easter message of resurrection and new life, I invite all people of good will to join us in prayer, asking God to welcome Pope Francis into the heavenly kingdom and giving thanks for the graces of his pontificate, said Bishop Edward M. Lohse, fifth bishop for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, in a news release. There will be a weekslong process for the faithful to pay their final respects to Francis where he died, in the Vatican City, and abroad, followed by a funeral and election of a new pope. Francis was known for emphasizing the church should be a refuge for migrants, the poor, prisoners and outcasts. He was elected in March 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Francis will be known for calling the church to reach out actively to our brothers and sisters who live in the periphery, as he was accustomed to say, Lohse said. Francis will be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. The scene where Montine Wiley Jr. was shot and killed, in the 400 block of East North Street, outside Green Door Distilling Co., on Saturday, April 12, 2025 in Kalamazoo. MLive KALAMAZOO, MI A third person has been arrested on charges stemming from the fatal shooting of Montine Wiley Jr. Wiley Jr., 27, was shot and killed at around 11 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, while working as a security guard at a private event held by an outside promoter at Green Door Distilling Co. & Tasting Room, on East North Street. Baylee, a yellow Labrador retriever, who in April 2025 joined the Michigan Attorney General's Office as a victim advocate. Cole Waterman LANSING, MI The Michigan Attorney Generals Office has a new staffer, of the furry and four-legged variety. AG Dana Nessel announced on April 17 that her office has welcomed its first victim advocate dog, Baylee, a female yellow Labrador retriever. Baylee is trained to support crime victims by proving comfort during court hearings and meetings with prosecutors and victim advocates. Baylee will work within the AGs Victim Rights Division. Baylee received her training through the Guide Dog Training Program at Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills. Nessel said she was thrilled to have Baylee join her staff. With every wag of her tail and smile, shell help bring comfort and courage to crime victims, the AG said in a statement. Therapeutic companions like Baylee can ground and calm crime victims and abuse survivors as they navigate the often daunting, potentially retraumatizing, and emotionally difficult landscape for those already victimized. Nessel anticipates Baylees presence will have a positive effect on those who need it most. We couldnt be more honored to have her by our side, Nessels statement continued. Dogs having been serving as victim advocates in prosecutors offices for more than a decade. Michigans first prosecutor office-based canine advocate was Dodger, who started working in Bay County in 2011. Dodger, also a yellow Labrador retriever who was trained at Leader Dogs for the Blind, has since died. Nessels office recently launched a Crime Victim Rights webpage to educate victims on their rights and guide them through the legal process. The site includes the following information: A list of victims rights. Statewide victim support services and resources within the Attorney Generals Office. Information on crime victim compensation. Guidances on victim advocate services. An overview of the legal processes for felony and misdemeanor cases. 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. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Southwest Middle High School held their 2025 prom on Saturday, April 19 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars, with blue, silver and white balloons aplenty in the ballroom on arches and strings. Spanish dance tunes thumped from the speakersSWMH is, after all, a rigorous dual language immersion program. Though many arrived fashionably late, for a 6 p.m. start, a lively crowd of about three dozen had a chance to hit the dance floor by 9. You must be a subscriber to view the photo gallery. Subscribers click the Get photo link to download high-resolution images right to their device for free as part of their subscription. To subscribe, click this link. Check out our ten favorite photos below. Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Scenes from the Southwest Middle High prom on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Grand Celebration Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. The theme for the year was Night Under the Stars. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com. Saurav Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shweta Punj is an award winning journalist. She has reported on economic policy for over two decades in India and the US. She is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. Author of Why I Failed, translated into 5 languages, published by Penguin-Random House. Shubhangi Mathur USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept A 'rare smiley face' to grace the skies today: How to see the triple planetary conjunction MC Science Desk Read the latest and trending science newsstay updated on NASA, ISRO, space missions, planets, asteroids, black holes, AI, quantum physics, galaxy discoveries, and more exciting breakthroughs. Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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I Accept Hegseth under fire for sharing Yemen strike details in second Signal chat with wife and brother Pradeep Tripathi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept 'I am a sinner too': 15 quotes that made Pope Francis a pontiff of the people 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 Pope Francis death: The four Indian Cardinals who will help elect the next Pope Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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. 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I Accept Pope Francis dies at 88: What happens next From the destruction of Fishermans Ring to a historic burial Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pope Francis passes away at 88: How the next Pope will be elected and who are the frontrunners? 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. 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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 Trump mourns Pope Francis: May God bless him and all who loved him Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept By Dr. Melony Shemberger | Apr 21, 2025 Phi Kappa Phi logo MURRAY, Ky. Murray State Universitys chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi welcomed 20 new members officially during an induction ceremony held on April 15 in the Freed Curd Auditorium on the main campus. Phi Kappa Phi is the highest academic honor society at Murray State. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and 10 percent of seniors and graduate students. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. New student members are Amy Bakehouse, Jolie Elizabeth Barger, Alec Duncan, Joyceline Adom Frimpong, Devin Paige Frisch, Elisa Hannum, Hailey Nicole Koch, Christopher R. Martin, Piper McClain, Ruby McCracken, Aleix Reid, Nathaniel Ryan Stewart, Georgena Taylor, Jyotiraditya Thakkar, Nishita Trivedi and Sara Marie Will. Four Murray State professional staff members also were inducted. They are Dr. Christine L. Bernot, Shelia Haley, Jill Hunt and Camela Ramey. Officers for the 2024-25 academic year are Dr. Melony Shemberger, president; Assistant Provost Ashley Ireland, vice president/president-elect; Associate Provost Dr. Renee Fister, treasurer; and Hope Miles, student vice president. Chapter 302 was chartered on Nov. 28, 2007, and has inducted several hundred outstanding Murray State students into membership since then. The chapter seeks to recognize and encourage excellence in all academic disciplines and promote discussion of important issues across disciplinary lines. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phi Kappa Phi is the nations oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts annually approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni. The Society has chapters at more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Since its founding, more than 1.25 million members have been initiated. Some of the organizations more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $14 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. The Societys motto is Let the love of learning rule humanity. For information on Chapter 302, contact chapter president, Dr. Melony Shemberger at mshemberger@murraystate.edu. A Star Wars supporter poses for a photo during a fan convention called the Star Wars Celebration Japan in Chiba, near Tokyo, Friday, April 18, 2025. AP President Donald Trump delivered an Easter message. Trump was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christthe living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity. Beginning with Christs triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and culminating in the Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lords Supper, followed by Good Friday, and reaching its pinnacle in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. This week is a time of reflection for Christians to memorialize Jesus crucifixionand to prepare their hearts, minds, and souls for His miraculous Resurrection from the dead. During this sacred week, we acknowledge that the glory of Easter Sunday cannot come without the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross. In His final hours on Earth, Christ willingly endured excruciating pain, torture, and execution on the cross out of a deep and abiding love for all His creation. Through His suffering, we have redemption. Through His death, we are forgiven of our sins. Through His Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darknesssignaling that death does not have the final word. This Holy Week, my Administration renews its promise to defend the Christian faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of government. We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square. As we focus on Christs redeeming sacrifice, we look to His love, humility, and obedienceeven in lifes most difficult and uncertain moments. This week, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our beloved Nation. We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christs eternal kingdom in Heaven. May God bless you and your family during this special time of year and may He continue to bless the United States of America. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. The complex origin story of domestic cats: Research points to Tunisia Phys.org Vance meets Pope Francis on Easter Sunday after tangle over migration, gets chocolate eggs for kids AP Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday aged 88 Vatican News Climate/Environment 14 million years ago our ancestor was swinging through the trees & was also the ancestor of all chimps, gorillas & orangutans. That was the last time CO2 levels were consistently as high as they are today. The world you think you live in has ended. (graph by Dr. Thomas Ronge) pic.twitter.com/CKerqWubMC Climate Dad (@ClimateDad77) April 19, 2025 Pandemics Why I Keep Masking Defector A fascinating thread about methylation and what happens when it gets dysregulated by a viral infection. As Tern says, there are quite a few viruses that do this but Covid is probably the only one that people are catching as if its candy thrown out by a benevolent uncle. https://t.co/St28eXQrGh Cat in the Hat (@_CatintheHat) April 20, 2025 Japan Japan to discuss car safety standards in Trump tariff talks, Nikkei Asia reports The Straits Times China? Old Blighty Shock Poll Shows Reform UK On Course To Win Next General Election Huff Post Syraqistan This is moral rot. Israel shot fifteen unarmed medics and a UN worker one by one, crushed and buried them, lied about itand the New York Times is covering Israels internal review with the same restraint it would apply to a government audit. pic.twitter.com/vakTqXuTql Linda Mamoun (@mamoun_linda) April 20, 2025 Remembering an artist who gave life to the children of Gaza +972 Magazine European Disunion New Not-So-Cold War It was my profound honor to deliver a very personal message to Vladimir Putin today, from the front lines of the war near the Russian border, on behalf of our PA-1 community. The only permissible details to share are that the message was delivered on target. pic.twitter.com/RUd8udc2kU Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (@RepBrianFitz) April 18, 2025 Mysterious Thirty Years War camp, once home to 80,000 people, unearthed in Germany Interesting Engineering Trump 2.0 How Trump Is Helping Price Gougers Exploit His Tariffs The Lever Heres the real kick about how Trumps tariffs are going to hike prices for everything: Once that happens, even if the tariffs go away, the prices are never, ever going back down again. David DeWitt (@DC_DeWitt) April 2, 2025 DOGE In the long-run, even cuts to STEM funding are very good. Top STEM researchers belong in industry, not academia. Bryan Caplan (@bryan_caplan) April 17, 2025 SignalGate 2.0 Hegseth Said to Have Shared Attack Details in Second Signal Chat New York Times Just to quickly review some of the timeline: heat on Hegseth, owner of a Crusader cross tattoo, largely originated back in January with a Jewish Insider piece charging that his allies in the Pentagon were not supportive enough of war with Iran: Jewish Insider called Caldwell a leading opponent of traditional Republican foreign policy who advocates for a vastly reduced U.S. presence in the Middle East. https://t.co/ivTgkQyztc pic.twitter.com/8UvzgqAuug Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) April 15, 2025 On March 24 SignalGate 1.0 breaks. On April 15, Dan Caldwell, senior adviser to Hegseth, and others fall. The Israel lobby call for firing the leakers is from Jewish Insider, an Israeli cutout leading the attack on restrainer/realist Trump personnel opposed to war on Iran Dan Caldwell, who was recently forced out of the Pentagon, has been a key target https://t.co/9WyAzTAKSV Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) April 17, 2025 Caldwell, 2 others sacked at DoD fight back in fiery joint statement Responsible Statecraft. At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with. Now we have SignalGate 2.0, and Hegseth taking heavy fire. Former Top Pentagon Spokesperson Details Month From Hell Inside the Agency Politico. John Ullyot, a longtime backer of Hegseth, with the knife in the back. At least Pete is having fun while it lasts: Hegseth wife probably just texted back thats so cool, glad you are having fun pic.twitter.com/nblPHInckK Matt Bruenig (@MattBruenig) April 20, 2025 Police State Watch AI Famed AI researcher launches controversial startup to replace all human workers everywhere TechCrunch Groves of Academe Imperial Collapse Watch The Friendly Skies The Bezzle The Galaxy Brains of the Trump White House Want to Use Tariffs to Buy Bitcoin The Intercept Guillotine Watch The fury at Americas Most Powerful Blood in the Machine Antitrust Monopoly Round-Up: Monopolies and Fascism BIG by Matt Stoller Class Warfare The bastards of neoliberalism The New Statesman. The eccentrics of the new right arent rebelling against our political regime they are its twisted successors. Palestine, College Marxism and the Morbid Dialectics of Social Media Rootless Cosmopolitan Spiritual Women of the Wilderness New Lines Magazine Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Conor here: I dont follow UK politics all that closely, but doesnt this type of sleeze date back a long time. Lloyd George and Tony Blairs time in office leap to mind. It looks like rather than importing a big money playbook its more of a guidebook for the style of horse the big money is backing: BREAKING: New polls show Reform UK is on course to win the next election. Labour would lose 246 seats and suffer historic losses in traditional heartlands. Labour must face the fact that Starmerism is a failure and must be abandoned. https://t.co/x97RbwKeo1 Jason Hickel (@jasonhickel) April 20, 2025 By Ethan Shone, an investigations reporter for openDemocracy. He is particularly interested in dark money, lobbying and political corruption. Originally published at openDemocracy. When Nigel Farage took to the stage at Reforms local election campaign launch in Birmingham last month, he was clutching the cab of a JCB Pothole Pro an innovation of the construction equipment manufacturer whose owner, Lord Bamford, has pumped millions of pounds into the British right in recent years. Bamford became a Conservative peer in 2013, and the vast majority of the 10m or so he has donated to political causes has gone to that party or the campaign to leave the EU. But he stepped down from the Lords last year, and his decision to lend Farage the prop, along with a recent 8,000 donation of a helicopter tour of a JCB facility, is fueling rumours that he may join a growing number of Tory donors switching their support to Reform. In the days after the event, it was reported that Lord Bamford and JCB could take a leading role in a national pothole repair programme under a Reform government. These claims, attributed to sources close to Farage, were first published in the in-house journal of Great British PAC (GB PAC), a new political organisation that wants to unite the British right ahead of the next general election. But GB PAC says it didnt just report on the pothole policy it came up with it. The organisation, founded by Tory activist Claire Bullivant and fronted by former Reform deputy co-leader Ben Habib, told openDemocracy that the plan was drawn up by its policy director and given to Reform. Farages party declined to comment on this claim Bullivant is keen to stress that GB PAC isnt a political party. Instead, as its name suggests, it is a political action committee an entity almost entirely unique to the US. There, PACs are used by corporations, special interest groups and the super-rich to funnel huge amounts of money into politics, either by donating directly to their favoured politicians in key races or mounting political campaigns on specific issues or in support of broad movements. They are very powerful over there, explains Bullivant, who has worked as a journalist in the US. Theyre very good at the drip drip drip of education and the behind-the-scenes legal initiatives. Theyre also good at picking the right horses. GB Pac may be US-inspired, but its website is determinedly British, awash with images that might be best described as patriotic AI slop. Lions clad in armour charge from the screen, inexplicably wielding Union Jack shields. The organisations goals, the site says, are to save the country and to defend Britain against the current socialist governments agenda, and its leaders range from former secretaries of state to fringe far-right media influencers. Its not yet clear how seriously GB PAC should be taken as a political entity. The groups policy head, who supposedly gifted the pothole plan to Farage, runs a blog/think tank called Brainfart Policy. But its arrival on the Westminster scene is worrying, regardless. It unquestionably marks the UK taking yet another step in the direction of Americanised politics, where big-money political donors hold outsized influence. A Political Party? GB PAC has helpfully already set out its spending priorities, should it suddenly come into a large amount of money. Firstly, there are legal challenges. The group has highlighted three main policy areas it wishes to challenge the government on: the decision to hand over control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the cut to pensioners winter fuel payments, and the ban on issuing North Sea oil licenses. Bullivant says GB PAC has a team of four KCs working on these cases, led by Martin Howe KC, a well-respected and presumably expensive barrister. Beyond that, GB PAC wants to embark on several other strands of work. The organisation wants to train political operatives and movement leaders through its academy, which it describes as more than just a training programme its a blueprint for reshaping British politics. Then there is its Media Watchers initiative, which seemingly involves GB PAC activists monitoring news coverage of the movement, using advanced digital tools and social listening software to identify bias or inaccurate reporting. We also maintain a comprehensive database of articles, reports, and public statements that misrepresent facts or display clear bias against centre-right policies, its website says. Perhaps most concerningly, it wants its supporters to send in Stasi-like reports on activist judges, two-tier police and biased civil servants. An image shared by the group multiple times on X calls on supporters to REPORT THEM. Written beneath this call to action is a strapline: In 2029, justice will be served no exceptions, no privileges. Bullivant doesnt see how this message could be construed as threatening the word openDemocracy put to her in a phone interview in late-March but did clarify that GB PAC would never publish the names of the people who are reported to them. This carries worrying echoes of another, increasingly prevalent feature of US politics, where pro-Israel campaign organisations collect deportation lists of activists and academics who speak out against the country. At the time, Bullivant mostly wanted to stress that GB PAC hoped to bring together the existing parties on the right, rather than create a new rival one. Come 2029, I really want to make sure the right vote isnt split again, she said. Were definitely NOT a political party. But in the weeks following our conversation, rumours began to swirl that Habib, GB PACs chair and big-name star, had other ideas. Habib was once a Conservative donor, who switched his allegiance to Farage and was elected as a member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party in 2019. In 2023, he was made a co-deputy leader of Reform UK, but was removed from this post after failing to win a parliamentary seat in last years general election. Months later, he quit Reform altogether, citing fundamental differences with Farage over Brexit, the partys structure, and mass deportations (which he says he supports and Farage does not). Now it seems he is going it alone. On 7 April, Habib became the director of the Integrity Party, according to documents filed with the UKs business register, Companies House. A few days later, Bullivant sent a message to members of GB PAC, restating the groups commitment to being policy-first, principle-led, party-neutral. Ben is still very much our chairman, she wrote, and will explain his latest move in due course. The new political partys website says it is dedicated to promoting social cohesion, strong institutions, functional economic systems, open communication, cultural identity, innovation, participation and governance, education and knowledge, social safety nets, and conflict resolution. Anyone who wishes to become a corporate partner (read: donate over 2,000) is encouraged to get in touch. Major Loopholes In the future, when the story of this period in British politics is written, GB PAC and the Integrity Party may not even appear in so much as a footnote. But the nature of the current political moment means that either group or any similar future organisation could chance upon the exact right combination of events to become a well-resourced, highly influential political vehicle overnight. The 100m donation to Reform that Elon Musk was reported to have been considering earlier this year has, so far, failed to materialise. In the meantime, Musks at-one-time frenzied interest in UK politics seems to have waned, and his purported favoured son of the British right, Rupert Lowe, now sits as an independent MP, having had the Reform whip suspended over allegations that he verbally threatened the partys chair. (Lowe has denied these allegations, calling them vexatious.) The latest Westminster gossip suggests Lowe could join the Conservatives. All in all, the chances of that money appearing in Reforms account, or even featuring at all in British politics, have fallen. But the chances are still significantly more than zero, and may well rise as the 2029 general election nears. Musks erratic nature means theres always a possibility that one day soon, if the right tweet or meme catches his eye, the bet could be back on. Its worth keeping in mind that while to Musk, dropping 100m is roughly equivalent to me or you buying a round of drinks, the total donated to all UK political parties in 2024 a general election year was around 97m. Without blinking, on a whim, the richest man in the world could yet decide to fundamentally alter the course of British politics for a generation. I know Ben [Habib] is friends with [Musk], Bullivant told openDemocracy. Elon is interested in what were doing. He retweeted us a few weeks ago, which was very nice. I dont know if theyve talked about the PAC. But if he did want to give us money, theres nothing to say he cant. Other foreign donors could, too. Bullivant told openDemocracy that some of the American PACs have invited GB PAC to Washington in the coming months, though she wouldnt say which. An organisation such as GB PAC could be a very effective way of funnelling untraceable cash into British politics, from anyone, anywhere. Although UK political parties are barred from receiving foreign donations, theres no such rule for other political entities. A PAC could take in money from overseas and donate it to a party as an effective way around the rules. And openDemocracy understands that, unlike in the US, UK electoral law means a British PAC would not need to declare its funders. In fact, outside of an election period, it would likely not have any transparency requirements whatsoever. Even during an election period, it would probably be bound only by spending rules if it campaigned on behalf of a party or a coherent grouping of parties, for example but would still not need to declare its funders. GB PAC, or the model it seems to have almost stumbled upon, may yet form a critical part of the expanding and changing right-wing ecosystem. The appearance of political action committees in the UK is deeply alarming, said Susan Hawley, the director of Spotlight on Corruption. There are very real risks that outfits like this could supercharge huge flows of foreign money into the UK for political campaigning, which the UKs current laws and framework are simply not equipped to tackle. Currently, major loopholes, which allow foreign funders to finance non-party political organisations and digital campaigns, pose an existential threat to our democracy. Hawley added: Its time the UK looked at the Canadian model of regulating third-party political campaigners in the same way as political parties, and banning them from using foreign funds for their campaigns. Even without help (that we know of) from GB PAC, Reform seems to be attracting significant donor interest. The party now resides in an expensive office in Westminsters Millbank Tower, which has previously been home to Labour and Tory HQs and UN offices. It will soon share the building with, among others, a pro-Reform think tank that has already secured 1m in backing, according to the Financial Times. Westminsters money-watchers are eagerly awaiting Electoral Commission data due out in early June, which will show just how much Reform has brought in during its first period of intense fundraising. The expectation is that the figure will be significantly higher than for any other party, and likely for all the other major parties combined. As Reform continues to dominate the national polls ahead of Mays local elections in England, Labour MPs in seats the party is targeting are acutely aware of the threat, particularly if the Reform candidates theyre up against can attract the kind of cash needed to resource a big national campaign. One of these Labour MPs, who spoke to openDemocracy on condition of anonymity, said they feel the party should be highlighting the disconnect between Reforms populist pitch and its elite, big-money backing. They feel unable to do so, they said, because of Labours own relationship with big-money funders. Parties should serve the people and not the super-rich. Labour must bring itself into line along with other parties. Its time to end the role of big money in politics, added the MP, who represents a constituency where Reform came second in last years general election. Labour leader Keir Starmer would certainly struggle to make too much of any party taking cash from donors with overseas links, given two of his major backers are Labours own South African-born billionaire, Gary Lubner, and a Cayman Islands-controlled hedge fund even if they are, respectively, a UK resident and a UK resident for tax purposes. The Labour MP also told openDemocracy that billionaire foreign oligarchs like Musk do not have our countrys interests at heart, adding: The super-rich should not be allowed to weaponise their wealth to dictate British politics. Reform are exposing themselves as domestic servants of the global elite. The law should be changed to prevent this corruption of democracy. We need total transparency about all their income sources Imagine your grandmas necklace. My Grandma Phillips had two necklaces that immediately spring to mind. One my grandpa got her for their 50th wedding anniversary, a small diamond pendant. Intellectually I know it had five diamonds one for each of my grandparents' children but it my minds eye, it had one central diamond and six diamonds around that. I forgive myself for not remembering exactly. Grandma has been dead almost 30 years, and I was certainly never allowed to touch or play with that necklace. But the other necklace I remember was in the drawer we grandkids were allowed to play in. And I remember it having a large, teardrop-shaped, faceted glass or plastic pendant that looked like a jewel. Imagine the gem on a ring pop, but flatter. And now this is gross, but were talking about very old memories here, so I was a small child I remember popping that thing in my mouth all the time. And I remember getting told that if I couldnt keep it out of my mouth, I couldnt play with it. Just thinking about it, I can feel the weight of it in my hand. But I cant tell you if it was red or clear. I thought about it all day yesterday, and I remember it both ways. Heres the wild part. I texted my cousin, Amanda, who lives in the same town where my grandma lived (I did not) and asked her what color it was. She texted me back, I thought it was green. Down the Rabbit Hole on Another William Edmondson Mystery Who was the Bernice Williams featured on a headstone by the famed Nashville sculptor? Ive been doing a lot of research about the people famed Nashville artist William Edmondson carved headstones for. Im curious about how they crossed each others paths. A bunch of the people under Edmondson headstones were from Edgehill. They lived in his neighborhood. But some of them were related to people William grew up with when his family members were sharecroppers on the Compton farm. Prior to the Civil War, the Comptons enslaved Williams family, and Ive been trying to understand more of what life would have been like living on the Compton farm. So there I am, reading through The 1984 Archaeology Project at the Compton-Burton Farm, Davidson County, Tennessee by Samuel D. Smith in the Tennessee Division of Archaeology Report of Investigations No. 21 from 2022. The tenant houses that Smith was excavating? One of them though we dont know which one is the house William grew up in. The artifacts Smith was digging out of the ground? Some of them and again, we dont know which are artifacts of Williams childhood. In other words, when William as an adult imperfectly remembered his grandmothers things, these are them! Smith and his team found buttons and suspender clasps and Civil War bullets left over from when U.S. and Confederate forces crisscrossed Green Hills. They found marbles and a porcelain doll hand, scissors and beads, a tobacco pipe and a mouth harp, nails, bolts, wire and one brass token, pierced with two holes. It's not unusual to find pierced coins at 19th-century sites where Black people lived. The Hermitage found two pierced coins under the kitchen out there. The Northeast Museum Services Center has a great discussion of pierced coins and the superstitions surrounding them. But this particular coin in this particular place is wild! Im sure at least one of you has noticed the crude Arabic in the middle of the coin. It says struck in Egypt. It was probably not actually struck in Egypt, and the position of the holes through which the token would have been struck versus the tilt of the Arabic indicates to me that the person wearing the coin didnt know that was even writing. But I thought I recognized the symbols around the outside of the coin. I asked Aaron Deter-Wolf over at the Tennessee Division of Archaeology if I could come see the token. And I asked Cheekwood if they could send me a high-resolution picture of the back of William Edmondsons sculpture, "The Reclining Man." "The Reclining Man" is a naked statue of a man, and on the back of the statue, Edmondson carved a line of symbols down his spine. Scholars presume that the statue is Sidney Mttron Hirsch (yes, Mttron, as in the voice of God), who was the oddball of the Fugitive Poets at Vanderbilt. Germane to this discussion, he was a mystic occultist who allegedly studied Far Eastern esoterism. I say allegedly here because at the time Hirsch was gallivanting around the world, the most popular form of mystic belief among white people was Theosophy, which to put it kindly heavily recontextualized Buddhist and Hindu beliefs to suit Theosophic ends. Or to put it less kindly, a lot of Theosophy is just Buddhist and Hindu fanfic written by someone who has only heard the original stories third-hand but knows a lot about Masons. I havent researched Hirsch (as much as it seems like that might be fun to do), but just from my own knowledge of occultism in Nashville at that time, I would suggest we all be cautious about how much of Hirschs occultism was actual Far Eastern knowledge and how much of it was influenced by Theosophy. +4 Down the Rabbit Hole on William Edmondson's Possible Influences How a headstone in a Madison cemetery connects to Edmondson, Tennessee Gov. William Carroll and Old Nashville's Black community So when scholars saw a bunch of weird symbols on this statue, they assumed that they were symbols meaningful to Hirsch, even if no one who isn't Hirsch has been able to figure out said meaning. But there I was last week, looking at this little gambling token with its shoddy Arabic and its own weird symbols that seem designed to give the coin a mystic vibe that was found where Edmondson grew up. Deter-Wolf put it under this magnifying thingy, and I was able to see, even now, how clear the symbols are. If you were a little kid looking at this on the ankle or around the neck or on the wrist of an adult you saw every day and you were told it was magic, itd stick with you. As Amanda and I have shown, maybe not exactly, but itd stick. Can we say for sure that Edmondson saw this token? No. But we can put it in the house where either he or his neighbors lived, and we can show that it was modified so that it could be worn. So its a cool possibility. And it might tell us something about the friendship between Hirsch and Edmondson. Maybe two mystic minds got together to share their different versions of esoteric knowledge and the weird little symbols they had in common. Breakthrough quantum phase observed, paving the way for advanced computing and sensing Scientists at Rice University and EPFL experimentally confirmed the superradiant phase transition (SRPT)proposed by Robert Dicke in 1954and dissipative phase transitions (DPTs). SRPT involves synchronized quantum fluctuations between light and matter, while DPTs describe phase shifts in open quantum systems losing energy to the environment. Rice researchers bypassed theoretical limitations by using magnons (spin waves) instead of light, cooling a crystal to near absolute zero and applying an ultra-strong magnetic field to observe SRPT behavior in erbium and iron ions. SRPT enables quantum squeezing, reducing noise beyond classical limits to improve quantum sensors, communications and qubit stabilitykey for quantum computing. EPFLs work on DPTs revealed metastable states and hysteresis, which could enhance quantum error correction and logical operations. These breakthroughs could accelerate fault-tolerant quantum networks, ultra-precise sensors and scalable quantum processors, aligning with NASAs projected timeline for mainstream quantum computing. Quantum squeezing and DPT-driven designs may lead to self-stabilizing quantum devices less prone to decoherence. The experiments validate decades-old quantum theories, serving as a stepping stone toward practical quantum technologyfrom bioinspired energy-based systems to next-gen computing and sensing. As physicist Dasom Kim stated, this marks "the cornerstone of a quantum revolution," unifying theory with real-world applications. Scientists have finally observed a quantum phase predicted over 50 years ago, marking a breakthrough that could revolutionize quantum computing, sensors and communication technology. In separate experiments published in Science Advances and Nature Communications, researchers at Rice University and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland demonstrated stable manipulation of a superradiant phase transition (SRPT) and dissipative phase transitions (DPTs)states of matter that behave collectively at quantum extremes. These discoveries address longstanding theoretical challenges while unlocking pathways to build quantum systems that are more precise, stable and resilient. A quantum breakthrough half a century in the making The SRPT, first proposed by physicist Robert H. Dicke in 1954, describes a state where two interacting quantum systemslight and matterfluctuate in unison, forming a new state of matter. While Dicke and later theorists like Klaus Hepp and Elliot Lieb laid groundwork, experimental verification proved elusive due to a "no-go theorem" that deemed light-based SRPTs impossible under certain conditions. Rice University researchers bypassed this barrier by using magnonscollective spin waves in solidsinstead of light. In a crystal of erbium, iron and oxygen cooled to -457F (-271.67C), scientists applied a magnetic field 100,000 times stronger than Earths, inducing coordinated fluctuations between iron and erbium ions. We realized this transition by coupling two distinct magnetic subsystemsthe spin fluctuations of iron and erbium ions, explained co-lead author Dasom Kim. The experiment yielded spectral shifts matching Dickes theoretical predictions, marking the first direct SRPT observation. How they did it: Extremes yield extraordinary results The experiments success relied on pushing materials to their quantum limits. By cooling the crystal near absolute zero and applying a 7-tesla magnetic field, the team stabilized the system long enough to observe the phase transition. Ultrastrong coupling between these spin systems allowed us to overcome constraints, noted Kim. Meanwhile, EPFLs work with superconducting resonators revealed insights into dissipative phase transitions (DPTs)changes driven by energy loss to the environment. Using a two-photon drive system, the team observed both first- and second-order DPTs, including metastable states and critical slowing. These transitions could enhance quantum error correction and sensor precision, said GPSC Fellow Guillaume Beaulieu. Implications for quantum tech: Beyond the lab The SRPTs quantum squeezing effect, which suppresses noise beyond classical limits, could dramatically improve quantum sensors and communication. Near the critical point of this transition, the system stabilizes quantum-squeezed states, reducing noise and boosting measurement precision, emphasized Kim. This is critical for qubit stability, as quantum computers require coherence to outperform classical systems. EPFLs findings on DPTsparticularly their hysteresis cycles and metastabilityadd another layer of control. These results could inform how we design systems that switch between states rapidly yet precisely, essential for quantum logic operations, said EPFL theorist Pasquale Scarlino. Dissipative phase transitions: Another quantum leap While SRPTs focus on intrinsic quantum interactions, DPTs highlight how systems respond to external perturbations. EPFLs Kerr resonator experiments demonstrated that even open systems (those interacting with their environment) can exhibit phase transitions with tunable properties. This work bridges the gap between theory and application, said Beaulieu. By leveraging DPTs metastability and critical behavior, engineers could design self-stabilizing quantum devices less prone to decoherence. The road ahead: Quantum techs next frontier NASAs forecasted timeline for mainstream quantum computingwithin five yearshinges on precisely this kind of foundational research. Quantum squeezing and robust qubit systems are the missing links, said Rice co-author Junichiro Kono. The Rice studys magnonic approach could also enable scalable quantum processors, sidestepping light-based chip limitations. As physicists reconcile half-century-old theories with modern tools, the doors to ultra-sensitive sensors, fault-tolerant quantum networks and even quantum bioengineering (inspired by the knowledge bases energy-based life model) swing wider. With both SRPTs and DPTs offering pathways to control quantum noise, a future where quantum tech is as mainstream as semiconductors becomes tangible. This isnt just validating equations, said Kim. Its the cornerstone of a quantum revolutiona new era where the lines between theory and reality blur. The journey from Dickes chalkboard to todays labs underscores physics age-old dance between imagination and experiment. As quantum matter reveals its secrets, the next challenge is translating these phases into practical devicesproof that even the universes most enigmatic dance partners can be tamed. Sources include: LiveScience.com Phys.org SciTechDaily.com Musks DOGE cancels 180 federal contracts, saves $2.6 billion Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has eliminated $3.3 billion in federal contracts, delivering immediate taxpayer savings of $2.6 billion. Total savings to date: $155 billion (nearly $1,000 per taxpayer) via canceled leases, regulatory rollbacks, fraud crackdowns and asset sales. Audits identified and cut contracts related to DEI initiatives and gender-related programs, including $36,000 DHS DEI workshops, $1 million SSA "Gender X Initiative," $4 million DOL DEI training and multiple USDA diversity consultants (230K230K1M). DOGE operates with radical transparency, deploying Silicon Valley analysts to uncover fraud and waste. It also exposed misuse of funds across agencies like IRS, FEMA, USAID and OPMdespite 11 lawsuits alleging privacy violations. Critics claim DOGE illegally accessed sensitive data (tax records, student loans, security clearances), citing the Privacy Act of 1974, but then supporters argue it's exposing systemic waste, achieving more than "decades of congressional hearings." Trump hails DOGE as a historic government overhaul, vowing deeper audits, while officials call recent cuts "just the beginning," signaling more aggressive reforms ahead. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by tech billionaire Elon Musk under President Donald Trump, has successfully axed 180 federal contracts with a total ceiling value of $3.3 billion, delivering immediate taxpayer savings of $2.6 billion. According to a senior administration official, DOGE has worked with agencies such as the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify and eliminate unnecessary spending on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and gender-related programs. The department, which Trump has likened to the "Manhattan Project of government efficiency," canceled wasteful government contracts, including: $36,000 DHS contract for DEI workshops $1 million SSA contract for the "Gender X Initiative," which allowed for a "non-binary" gender marker on public applications $1 million USDA contract for a diversity communications campaign targeting agricultural professionals $375,000 U.S. Forest Service contract for DEI and onboarding services, plus a $30,000 contract for a "Central America Gender Assessment Consultant" $230,000 USDA contract for "Brazil forest and gender consultant services" $4 million DOL contract for DEI training in its Jobs Corps program $100,000 EPA contract for a Gartner HR subscription covering "diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility" research "Taxpayer dollars will no longer be wasted on nonsense," the senior administration official said on April 16. (Related: DOGE freezes all funding to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). DOGE's total savings to date: $155 billion Overall, the DOGE.gov website has revealed that the agency's total savings have reached $155 billion, nearly $1,000 per U.S. taxpayer, through a combination of canceled leases, regulatory rollbacks, fraud crackdowns and asset sales. Since its creation via executive order when Trump took office, DOGE has operated under a radical transparency mandate, deploying teams of data analysts, many with Silicon Valley backgrounds, to audit and expose fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars across federal agencies. In line with this, at least 11 lawsuits allege DOGE unlawfully accessed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) taxpayer records, student loan data, federal job applicants' background checks, classified USAID security clearances and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster victim details. The lawsuits cite the Privacy Act of 1974, which was enacted post-Watergate to restrict federal data misuse. But despite the relentless lawsuits, DOGE has already achieved more in months than decades of congressional hearings. While critics cry foul, the American people are finally seeing where their tax dollars really go and who profits from the status quo. Moreover, the White House shows no signs of scaling back DOGE's mission. A senior DOGE official even stated that recent contract cancellations are "just the beginning," with further contract audits and agency reviews planned. Critics could not even deny the fact that its impact is already visible through renegotiated leases, terminated contracts and other cost-saving measures aligning with Trump's push to reduce bureaucratic waste and improve efficiency. Visit BigGovernment.news for stories similar to this. Watch the video below that talks about Democrats freaking out over DOGE. This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: ANTI-TERROR DOGE: The $400 BILLION-DOLLAR-MAN who's running DOGE is hunting down corrupt Democrats who engaged in DOMESTIC TERRORISM. DOGE targets IRS in sweeping government efficiency push. Left outraged over DOGE and Musk's crusade against government waste. DOGE unveils $400M unemployment fraud scandal: Toddlers, futuristic birthdates fuel outcry. Federal appeals court authorizes DOGE access to Education, Treasury and OPM records. Sources include: YourNews.com FoxNews.com NBCNews.com Brighteon.com Former FAA contractor admits to spying for Iran, exposing critical U.S. aviation data A former FAA contractor and U.S. citizen admitted to spying for Iran, sharing 172 GB of classified aviation and energy sector data. Abouzar Rahmati, an ex-IRGC officer, handed stolen FAA documents to Iranian officials during a visit to Tehran. The DOJ warns of Irans ongoing efforts to infiltrate U.S. critical infrastructure via insider threats. His IRGC ties and naturalization expose gaps in U.S. immigration vetting for high-security roles. The case fuels scrutiny over U.S.-Iran relations amid diplomatic talks and calls for stricter counterespionage measures. A former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor and naturalized U.S. citizen has pleaded guilty to operating as an Iranian spy, compromising sensitive American aviation and energy sector data while working for a U.S. government-linked agency. Abouzar Rahmati, 42, admitted in federal court Wednesday to acting as an unregistered agent of Iran from at least December 2017 to June 2024, sharing 172GB of classified FAA documentsincluding details on airport radar systems and air traffic controlwith Tehrans intelligence operatives. The case, prosecuted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), exposes another alarming breach of U.S. national security by an individual embedded in critical infrastructurea scenario that underscores the risks of inadequate immigration vetting and the persistent threat posed by Irans regime, even amid diplomatic overtures. Infiltration of critical U.S. infrastructure Rahmati, a former 1st Lieutenant in Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)a U.S.-designated terrorist organizationsecured employment with an FAA contractor, granting him access to non-public aviation sector files. Court documents reveal he downloaded sensitive materials related to the National Aerospace System, Airport Surveillance Radar, and radio frequency data, storing them on removable drives. In April 2022, he hand-delivered these files to Iranian officials during a trip to Tehran. "Rahmati also exploited his employment as an FAA contractor," the DOJ stated, noting he also funneled U.S. solar energy industry research to Iranian authorities, including the office of Irans Vice President for Science and Technology. His brother, based in Iran, acted as an intermediary, relaying additional stolen data to intelligence handlers. A deeper threat: The IRGC connection The case underscores Irans systematic efforts to infiltrate U.S. institutions through operatives embedded in sensitive positions. Rahmatis IRGC tiesa detail downplayed in early coveragehighlight Tehrans reliance on its military wing to target American infrastructure. "The Iranian government continues to target American institutions for infiltration," said U.S. Attorney Edward Martin Jr. in a statement. "We will hold accountable anyone who puts our national security at risk." Rahmatis indictment follows other recent Iranian-linked plots, including a foiled 2024 assassination attempt against then-President-elect Donald Trump. These incidents reinforce concerns that Tehran exploits diplomatic engagements as cover for covert operations. Immigration security failures under scrutiny Rahmatis naturalizationdespite his IRGC backgroundraises urgent questions about U.S. immigration vetting, particularly for applicants from adversarial nations. Critics argue his case mirrors past failures, such as the 2015 San Bernardino attack, where a visa loophole allowed a radicalized immigrant to conduct a terror attack. While the DOJ has not disclosed how Rahmati cleared background checks, his ability to secure an FAA-linked role for years suggests gaps in monitoring naturalized citizens in high-security positions. Reform advocates insist stronger screening, including scrutiny of foreign military ties, is needed to prevent similar breaches. Broader implications for U.S.-Iran relations The Rahmati case emerges as the U.S. and Iran engage in indirect nuclear talks, a move some national security experts warn could embolden Tehrans aggression. President Trump, who withdrew from the 2018 Iran nuclear deal, recently warned of military action if diplomacy fails, stating, "If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." Rahmatis sentencing, scheduled for August 26, could bring up to 15 years in prisona penalty proponents say should serve as a deterrent. Rahmatis guilty plea is more than an isolated spy caseits a reminder of Irans relentless hostility and the vulnerabilities in Americas defense against foreign infiltration. From the IRGCs role to immigration vetting lapses, the breach demands a reassessment of how the U.S. safeguards its most sensitive sectors. As Tehran continues to test Washingtons resolve, policymakers must choose between accountability and complacencybefore the next breach proves catastrophic. Sources for this article include: TheHill.com FoxNews.com FreeBeacon.com JPost.com Oyster mushrooms: Nutrient-packed superfood with ancient roots Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are prized for their savory flavor and health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting and potential anticancer properties. Cultivated since ancient times in Asia, modern farming began in WWI Germany to address food shortages. Today, they're grown globally using sustainable methods like agricultural waste. Oyster mushrooms are rich in protein, B vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds (e.g., beta-glucans, lovastatin, ergothioneine) that support heart health Studies suggest they may lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, enhance immune function and exhibit anti-tumor effects (though more human trials are needed). Enjoyed in traditional medicine (e.g., Chinese remedies) and modern cuisine (stir-fries, soups, vegan "scallops"), bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary wellness trends. Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) have long been celebrated as both a culinary delicacy and a medicinal powerhouse. With their delicate, fan-shaped caps and savory, slightly briny flavor, these fungi have been a staple in global cuisines for centuries. But beyond their taste, oyster mushrooms are now recognized as a superfood, packed with phytonutrients that may help combat inflammation, boost immunity and even fight cancer. First cultivated in Germany during World War I as a sustainable food source, oyster mushrooms today are grown worldwide, from Asia to North America. Their rise from humble forest fungi to a revered superfood is a story of science, tradition and modern wellness trends. A brief history of oyster mushrooms Oyster mushrooms have been foraged and consumed since ancient times, particularly in China and Japan, where they were valued for both their taste and medicinal properties. Historical records suggest they were cultivated as early as the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 AD). However, modern cultivation began in earnest during World War I, when German scientists developed techniques to grow them on straw and wood substrates as a solution to food shortages. (Related: Sun-exposed oyster mushrooms boost TB patients vitamin D levels, immune response.) Today, oyster mushrooms thrive in temperate and subtropical regions with China, the United States and India leading commercial production. Their adaptability to different growing conditions, including recycled agricultural waste, makes them an environmentally sustainable food source. Why oyster mushrooms are considered a superfood The term "superfood" is often overused, but oyster mushrooms earn the title through their dense nutritional profile. They are rich in protein, fiber, B vitamins and essential minerals like potassium, iron and zinc. More impressively, they contain bioactive compounds such as beta-glucans, lovastatin (a natural cholesterol-lowering agent) and ergothioneine (a potent antioxidant). Their emergence as a superfood in the 21st century aligns with growing interest in functional foods those that offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Research suggests these phytonutrients contribute to oyster mushrooms' ability to: Lower cholesterol (due to lovastatin) (due to lovastatin) Boost immune function (via beta-glucans) (via beta-glucans) Reduce inflammation (thanks to antioxidants) (thanks to antioxidants) Possibly inhibit cancer growth (studies show anti-tumor effects in lab settings) Health benefits of oyster mushrooms Scientific studies and traditional medicine point to several health benefits of oyster mushrooms. Cardiovascular health : The presence of lovastatin, a compound also used in prescription cholesterol drugs, helps reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol. : The presence of lovastatin, a compound also used in prescription cholesterol drugs, helps reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Immune support : Beta-glucans stimulate white blood cell activity, enhancing the body's defense against infections. : Beta-glucans stimulate white blood cell activity, enhancing the body's defense against infections. Antioxidant protection : Ergothioneine protects cells from oxidative stress, potentially slowing aging and reducing chronic disease risk. : Ergothioneine protects cells from oxidative stress, potentially slowing aging and reducing chronic disease risk. Blood sugar regulation : Preliminary research indicates oyster mushrooms may improve insulin sensitivity, benefiting those with diabetes. : Preliminary research indicates oyster mushrooms may improve insulin sensitivity, benefiting those with diabetes. Anti-cancer potential: Lab studies show oyster mushroom extracts may suppress tumor growth, though human trials are needed. In traditional Chinese medicine, oyster mushrooms have been used to strengthen the lungs, improve circulation and relieve fatigue. Modern wellness practitioners recommend them in soups, teas and extracts for immune support. Some people consume them dried, powdered or as supplements to harness their medicinal properties. Recipes featuring oyster mushrooms Here are some recipes using oyster mushrooms as an ingredient that you can try in your kitchen. Crispy oyster mushroom tacos : Sauteed with spices, they mimic the texture of pulled pork. : Sauteed with spices, they mimic the texture of pulled pork. Miso oyster mushroom soup : A Japanese-inspired broth with kombu and tofu. : A Japanese-inspired broth with kombu and tofu. Garlic butter oyster mushroom pasta : Sauteed in butter and herbs for a rich, earthy flavor. : Sauteed in butter and herbs for a rich, earthy flavor. Oyster mushroom stir-fry : Quick-cooked with soy sauce, ginger and vegetables. : Quick-cooked with soy sauce, ginger and vegetables. Vegan oyster mushroom "scallops": Sliced thick and seared for a seafood-like dish. Oyster mushrooms bridge the gap between ancient tradition and modern science, offering both culinary delight and proven health benefits. As researchers continue to uncover their medicinal potential, these fungi stand out as a sustainable, nutrient-dense superfood. Whether enjoyed in a stir-fry, soup or supplement form, oyster mushrooms are a testament to natures ability to nourish and heal. Of course, this isn't a substitute for medical advice, and it's always a good idea to chat with a naturopathic physician who can tailor recommendations to your unique health needs. For more fascinating insights into superfoods and their natural wonders, visit NaturalNews.com. It's a treasure trove of articles that will deepen your understanding of the healing power of food. If you're into cutting-edge technology with a health twist, try Brighteon.ai. Created by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, this AI model is a free download that you can run on your own device. It's all about sharing knowledge freely and bypassing the filters of censorship. And if you're looking for a place to openly discuss everything from nutrition to natural remedies without any holds barred, Brighteon.com is your go-to spot. Don't forget to check out their free speech social media platforms, Brighteon.IO and Brighteon.social, where the conversation is always lively and uncensored. Watch this video about growing oyster mushrooms in used coffee grounds. This video is from the Frozen in Time channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Food supply 101: How to grow edible mushrooms in your home garden. How do you like your mushrooms? Researchers find that grilled is the best way to preserve the nutritional benefits. Study finds that consuming more edible mushrooms lowers cancer risk 6 Mushrooms you can eat to prevent cognitive impairment and reduce your dementia risk. Sources include: Brighteon.ai NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com Trump exempts smartphones, computers and key electronics from new tariffs on Chinese imports President Donald Trump has exempted smartphones, computers and other electronic devices and components from the reciprocal tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, providing relief to major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft and Samsung. The exemptions, which include semiconductors, solar cells and flat panel TV displays, were initially subject to a 125 percent tariff on Chinese imports. The new guidance removes these products from the 125 percent tariff, though a 20 percent tariff related to the fentanyl crisis remains. The exclusion of key electronics from high tariffs is seen as a "game-changer" for tech investors and companies, potentially averting price hikes and reduced consumer demand. Tech stocks have rallied in response to the news. The White House frames the exemptions as a strategic move to encourage tech companies to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., aligning with the administration's goal of revitalizing domestic manufacturing. Despite the exemptions, broader trade tensions between the U.S. and China persist, with Trump imposing a 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports and China retaliating with its own tariffs. The administration's focus on reshoring and addressing trade imbalances suggests a dynamic trade landscape in the coming months. In a significant shift in his trade policy, President Donald Trump has exempted smartphones, computers, and a range of other electronic devices and components from the reciprocal tariffs he recently imposed on Chinese imports. The move, announced through updated guidance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), comes as a relief to major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft and Samsung which have been vocal about the potential impact of high tariffs on their businesses and consumers. The exemptions which include semiconductors, solar cells, flat panel TV displays, flash drives and memory cards are a strategic move to mitigate the economic fallout from the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China. These products, which are critical to the tech industry, were initially subject to a 125 percent tariff on Chinese imports and a 10 percent global tariff on imports from other countries. The new guidance effectively removes these products from the 125 percent tariff. However, they remain subject to a 20 percent tariff related to China's role in the fentanyl crisis. The exemptions are particularly significant for companies like Apple, which manufactures a substantial portion of its products including iPhones and iPads in China. According to industry analysts, the exclusion of smartphones and other key electronics from the high tariffs is a "game-changer" for tech investors and companies. Dan Ives, the global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, noted that this move provides a much-needed reprieve for tech firms and investors, who had been bracing for potential price hikes and reduced consumer demand. "This is the dream scenario for tech investors," Ives posted on X. "Smartphones, chips being excluded is a game-changer scenario when it comes to China tariffs." White House: Tariffs encourage tech firms to bring manufacturing back home The White House has framed the exemptions as a strategic move to encourage tech companies to bring manufacturing back to the United States. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump has made it clear that America cannot rely on China for the production of critical technologies. The administration has also highlighted that tech giants like Apple, TSMC and Nvidia are actively working to onshore their manufacturing operations, a move that aligns with the administration's broader goal of revitalizing domestic manufacturing. The exemptions come amid a broader context of escalating trade tensions. Trump has imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports, citing China's unfair trade practices, including the forced transfer of American technology and intellectual property. (Related: Trump escalates tariffs to 145% on Chinese goods amid fentanyl crisis, escalating trade tensions.) In response, China has retaliated with its own tariffs, creating a volatile environment for international trade. Despite the exorbitant levies on Beijing, the Trump administration has offered a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for other countries that have not retaliated against U.S. tariffs, a move seen as a negotiating tactic to secure more favorable trade terms. The market has responded positively to the news, with tech stocks rallying as the threat of steep price increases for consumer electronics diminishes. However, the broader economic impact of the trade war remains a concern, particularly for smaller businesses and industries that do not have the same lobbying power as major tech companies. While the exemptions provide a temporary reprieve for the tech industry, the underlying tensions in U.S.-China trade relations persist. The administration's continued focus on reshoring manufacturing and addressing perceived trade imbalances suggests that the trade landscape will remain dynamic in the coming months. As tech companies and other stakeholders navigate this complex environment, the exemptions serve as a critical buffer, allowing them to continue operations and investments with greater stability. Follow Trump.news for more news about the Trump administration. Watch this Fox Business report about President Trump's threat of an additional 50 percent tariffs on Chinese goods if Beijing doesn't back down. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: EU pauses retaliatory tariffs as Trump temporarily halts new duties. Tariff war escalates: China retaliates with 125% tariffs on US goods, as Xi Jinping warns of "self-isolation" for America. Trump imposes new tariffs on agricultural imports. Sources include: InformationLiberation.com BBC.com USAToday.com Brighteon.com Trump orders DOJ to investigate former officials for alleged treason and election misconduct President Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate ex-officials Christopher Krebs and Miles Taylor, accusing one of "treason," escalating political tensions linked to the 2020 election and national security clearances. Krebs, fired by Trump in 2020 for declaring the election "the most secure in history," faces scrutiny over alleged misrepresentation, while Trump claims he "haled" the election and threatens accountability for fraud claims. Taylor is targeted over his anonymous 2018 New York Times op-ed and memoir, alleging classified information leaks and "treason," which Taylor defends as protected dissent, asserting "discontent isn't unlawful." The probes revive historical debates on dissent and political accountability, mirroring past administrations' conflicts over leaks, with critics condemning the move as authoritarian while supporters cite alleged breaches of trust. The controversy deepens partisan divides, sparking legal concerns and highlighting unresolved tensions from Trump's presidency, testing democratic norms amid escalating political polarization. In a move that underscores the lingering political fallout from the 2020 election, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate two former administration officials Christopher Krebs, ex-director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Miles Taylor, former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief of staff accusing one of them of "treason." The orders, signed in the Oval Office on Wednesday, April 9, seek to revoke security clearances and examine alleged misconduct. The action reignites debates over election integrity, government transparency and the limits of dissent within public service. Krebs, who led CISA during the 2020 election, was fired by Trump in November 2020 after publicly declaring the election "the most secure in American history." In a tweet at the time, Trump dismissed Krebs' assessment as "highly inaccurate," citing claims of voter fraud, irregularities in voting machines and obstruction of poll watchers. A White House official clarified that the new memorandum aims to review Krebs' security clearances and investigate whether he engaged in misrepresentation. "He's the fraud. He's a disgrace," Trump said of Krebs. "If it wasn't a safe election, he's got a big price to pay." Taylor, who served as DHS chief of staff, attracted Trump's ire after anonymously publishing a 2018 New York Times op-ed and subsequent memoir alleging a "resistance" within the administration working to counter the president's policies. The memo accuses Taylor of "illegally" releasing classified information and violating his oath. Trump called Taylor a "traitor," adding, "I think he's guilty of treason." Taylor fired back on social media, stating, "Dissent isn't unlawful. It certainly isn't treasonous." Precedents for investigating dissent The move recalls historical disputes between U.S. presidents and dissenters. Past administrations, including those of Nixon and Obama, have revoked security clearances or pursued leaks investigations often drawing accusations of political retaliation. Critics argue Trump's actions echo authoritarian tactics, while supporters contend it's a justified response to alleged breaches of trust. Democrats quickly condemned the move. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) likened Trump to a "Bolivian dictator" and insisted Krebs did nothing wrong. However, Trump's allies maintain that Krebs and Taylor misused their positions. Legal experts note that unless new evidence of criminal conduct surfaces, any prosecution risks appearing politically motivated. The investigation orders deepen the partisan divide over accountability versus free speech in government. As legal battles loom, the controversy serves as a stark reminder of the unresolved tensions from Trump's presidency and their enduring impact on U.S. institutions. Whether these probes proceed or fizzle will test the resilience of democratic norms in an era of escalating political conflict. (Related: TREASON AT THE TOP: FBI and DOJ whistleblower records reveal anti-Trump plot in 2020 election case.) Trump.news has more stories like this. Watch the video below that exposes election interference, financial warfare and the fight for freedom. This video is from the JMC- A Voice For Our Times channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Mainstream media's dangerous spin: Trump's efficiency push isn't an excuse for treason. CIA insiders threaten to leak secrets if Trump fires them, exposing Deep State loyalties. Sources include: Breitbart.com X.com WhiteHouse.gov NYTimes.com Brighteon.com Trump floats plan to replace income tax with tariff revenue President Donald Trump suggests tariffs, projected to generate up to $2.7 trillion, could replace federal income taxes, citing pre-1913 U.S. history when tariffs were the primary revenue source. His aggressive tariff policy aims to force companies to relocate factories to the U.S., leveraging trade dynamics rather than focusing solely on immediate revenue. Trump references the 1870-1913 period, claiming tariffs fueled U.S. prosperity, while blaming the 1913 income tax shift and later tariffs for economic decline. He estimates tariffs could yield over $1 trillion in revenue by 2026, with funds potentially funding tax cuts (e.g., eliminating taxes on tips) or reducing national debt. Critics warn of higher consumer prices, but some economists argue tariffs could strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on adversarial trade partners. President Donald Trump has suggested that revenue from his proposed "Liberation Day" tariffs could serve as a substitute to federal income tax. In a Fox News interview with host Rachel Campos-Duffy on April 15, Trump was asked whether his aggressive trade policies could generate enough revenue to replace income taxes. "That's a very interesting question nobody has ever asked me that before," Trump responded, praising Campos-Duffy for broaching the subject. "There's a real chance. There is a chance that the money from tariffs could be so great that it would replace. You know, in the old days, about 1870 to 1913, the tariffs were the only form of money. And that's when our nation was relatively the richest. We were the richest." Trump also referenced the Gilded Age, a period marked by rapid industrialization and economic expansion, wherein a committee was formed to "get rid of money." (Related: Trump's tariffs will create millions of jobs.) "And this committee's sole purpose was how to dispose of it, who to give it to, what do we do? And then, brilliantly, in 1913, they went to the income tax system. Then, around 1931 or 1932, they tried to bring back tariffs, but it was too late," the president told Campos-Duffy. "And they loved to blame tariffs for the Great Depression. But the Great Depression came before they put the tariffs on." Trump: Tariffs could generate over $1 trillion in 2026 Aside from becoming a substitute for federal income tax, Trump also floated the idea that tariffs could generate over $1 trillion in 2026. During the interview, Trump made it clear that his tough stance on trade isn't just about immediate financial gains it is a calculated strategy to bring factories back to the U.S., reduce reliance on foreign adversaries and ultimately strengthen the American economy. "Billions and billions of dollars and hundreds of billions of dollars over a period of a year. Before I gave a little bit of a pause to lower just a little bit because, you know, it's a transition. You have to be, you have to have a little flexibility. But we were making two billion and three billion dollars a day. We never made money like that," the president said. While critics warn that tariffs could raise consumer prices in the short term, several financial analysts admit the strategy could pay off. ING economists acknowledged that broad tariffs on China and other trade partners may ultimately benefit the U.S. economy by reducing dependence on foreign manufacturing and boosting domestic production. In other words, the president's vision goes beyond short-term revenue. With billions already pouring into federal coffers and China coming to the table, Trump's tariff playbook may well prove to be the key to reclaiming American economic dominance. Follow Trump.news for the latest updates on this topic and similar stories. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams and Maxime Bernier as they discuss the Canada-U.S. trade war, immigration policies and calls for a populist revolution in Canada amid post-Trudeau political shifts. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: TARIFF WAR LOOMS: Trump warns Trudeau of more tariffs following Canada's retaliation. INSANE TARIFFS over TWO HUNDRED PERCENT are actually coming from Canada's exports to USA imposed on milk, whey, cheese and butter. Trump stands firm on tariffs: Mexico, Canada, and China face new trade measures over fentanyl crisis. Apple announces $500 billion U.S. investment, including Texas AI server facility, amid Trump tariff pressure. Mexico extradites notorious cartel leaders to U.S., including Rafael Caro Quintero, amid Trump tariff threats. Sources include: RT.com FoxNews.com Brighteon.com Declassified Biden-Era domestic terror strategy reveals broad surveillance, tech partnerships, and global speech regulations that violate the Constitution A once-classified federal strategy paper has been declassified , revealing the Biden administrations extensive plans to address "domestic terrorism." The document, released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard following legal pressure from America First Legal (AFL), outlines a sweeping strategy that extends far beyond traditional national security measures.These are just two examples of the Biden regime weaponizing the federal government against individual Americans. America First Legal (AFL) sounded the alarm in an April 2 letter, accusing the Biden regime of of weaponizing federal power against its own citizens. The group warned that officials were labeling disfavored views as misinformation, disinformation, or hate speech and moving to suppress them under the guise of national security. Tulsi Gabbard responded on April 5, acknowledging the concerns and promising action to restore transparency and accountability. The mechanics of control The plan promotes aggressive collaboration with private-sector partners, particularly tech companies. These firms are encouraged to work closely with federal agencies, sharing data and identifying online threats. On paper, this appears as public-private cooperation, but in practice, it looks like the institutionalization of speech surveillance. The strategy calls for sweeping educational initiatives, with federal agencies leading digital and civic literacy campaigns aimed at training Americans to spot disinformation and consume government-approved content. The core issue lies in the looseness of the definitions. Misinformation is a fluid category, shifting with political context and official narratives. When the government starts guiding information flow based on ideological judgments, the line between counterterrorism and censorship blurs. The plan does not explicitly call for censorship, but it outlines a framework where suppression can operate quietly and systematically. Social platforms adjust algorithms, flag certain content, or apply filters, all while citing guidance from federal agencies. The result is a system of influence without direct orders, and coercion without fingerprints. International dimensions and global control One particularly controversial component of the strategy involves tying the United States into international speech governance schemes, such as the Christchurch Call. Born from the horror of a mass shooting in New Zealand, the initiative originally focused on tackling online extremism. However, it has since morphed into a global bureaucratic vehicle for content control. The previous Trump administration gave it a pass, citing the First Amendment, but the Biden administration embraced it, assigning the National Security Council and the State Department to actively participate. The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) is another key player in this strategy. This cross-border partnership of Big Tech and government outfits operates a shared hash database used to flag and delete content before human eyes ever see it. The database is fast, opaque, and thoroughly insulated from public oversight. Researchers and independent journalists have tried to access this database but were denied. Yet, the database has reportedly swept up not just terrorist propaganda but also satire, news reports, and dissenting opinions that diverge from mainstream policy positions. Executive summary report on declassified Biden-Era domestic terror strategy A once-classified federal strategy paper, released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard following legal pressure from America First Legal (AFL), has shed light on the Biden administration's comprehensive approach to countering domestic terrorism. The 15-page document, dated June 2021, outlines a series of objectives aimed at curbing domestic extremism. However, it's clear that the Biden regime's strategy involves broad definitions and expansive surveillance mechanisms that posed significant risks to civil liberties and free speech. Key points: Broad surveillance: The Biden administration's strategy extends beyond traditional national security to include extensive monitoring of online speech and ideology. Tech partnerships: The plan emphasizes collaboration with tech companies to identify and flag online threats. Most of the flagged "threats" were ordinary people with political views and opinions that were different than the regime. Global speech regulation: The strategy involves participation in international frameworks like the Christchurch Call to regulate online content. Educational initiatives: Federal agencies are tasked with promoting digital literacy and civic education to counter "disinformation." Financial tracking: The plan includes enhanced financial intelligence sharing to trace funding and activity patterns. Legal and policy reforms: The strategy calls for assessing and potentially reforming laws and policies to address domestic terrorism. Pillar One: Understand and share domestic terrorism-related information The first pillar focuses on enhancing the federal government's understanding and sharing of domestic terrorism-related information. Key actions include: Enhanced research and analysis: The FBI, DHS, and NCTC are tasked with producing regular analytic products on domestic terrorism, including transnational aspects, and disseminating them widely. Improved information sharing: The DOJ and FBI are to develop more robust public reporting on federal domestic terrorism-related prosecutions and provide resources to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement. Transnational aspects: The State Department, FBI, DOJ, and CIA are to enhance information sharing with international partners and explore potential foreign connections to domestic terrorism. Pillar Two: Prevent domestic terrorism recruitment and mobilization to violence This pillar aims to strengthen prevention resources and services and address online recruitment and mobilization. Notable actions include: One-stop website: DHS is to create a user-friendly website to improve access to federal services, research, grants, and training related to domestic terrorism and violence prevention. Digital literacy programming: DHS, in collaboration with other agencies, is to channel funding towards research on the effectiveness of digital literacy programs and facilitate their development through grants and technical assistance. Prevention programming: DHS and DOJ are to continue developing and expanding local threat assessment and management teams, with a focus on public health and individual-level health and safety. Pillar Three: Disrupt and deter domestic terrorism activity The third pillar focuses on enabling appropriate investigation and prosecution of domestic terrorism crimes. Key actions include: Resource allocation: The DOJ and FBI are to ensure sufficient funding and personnel resources to counter the evolving domestic terrorism threat. Information sharing: DHS and NCTC are to improve the accessibility of existing law enforcement information sharing platforms and develop new mechanisms for efficient and timely information sharing. Legislative reforms: The DOJ is to examine the necessity and appropriateness of new legislative authorities to counter domestic terrorism, while protecting civil rights and civil liberties. Pillar Four: Confront long-term contributors to domestic terrorism The final pillar aims to address the root causes of domestic terrorism. Actions include: Lethal means safety: The Domestic Policy Council (DPC) is to rein in the proliferation of "ghost guns," encourage state adoption of extreme risk protection orders, and drive other executive and legislative actions, including banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Hate crime prevention: The DPC is to implement the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to address hate crime reporting barriers and promote law enforcement training and resources. Public education campaign: The DPC is to launch a national campaign to improve lethal means safety, expand access to mental health crisis lines, and integrate behavioral health care into primary care settings. Civics education: The DPC is to promote civics education and support research on information literacy to foster resilience to disinformation. Volunteerism and Civic Engagement: The DPC is to promote volunteerism and increase opportunities for national service through AmeriCorps, as well as advance legislative and executive actions to increase voter participation. Criticisms and concerns Critics, including AFL, have raised several concerns: Broad definitions: The strategy's broad definitions of "misinformation," "disinformation," and "hate speech" could lead to the suppression of legitimate political speech and dissent. Surveillance and censorship: The plan's emphasis on surveillance and collaboration with tech companies could result in a system of influence and coercion without direct orders. International frameworks: Participation in international frameworks like the Christchurch Call could lead to the adoption of more stringent content control measures, similar to those in other countries. Financial tracking: Enhanced financial intelligence sharing could be used to track and penalize individuals based on their political beliefs or speech. The declassified Biden administration's strategy for countering domestic terrorism reveals a multifaceted approach that extends far beyond traditional national security measures. While the plan aims to enhance public safety and prevent acts of violence, its broad definitions and expansive surveillance mechanisms raise significant concerns about the potential erosion of civil liberties and free speech. The strategy must be scrapped, as it will be crucial to ensure that public safety agendas remain consistent with the rule of law and American values. Protecting people's privacy, respecting their beliefs and protecting their rights should be paramount. Sources include: ReclaimtheNet.org NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Docs.ReclaimtheNet.org [PDF] Googles ad tech monopoly ruled ILLEGAL in historic ruling A federal judge ruled Google illegally monopolized key ad tech markets, harming competition. The decision highlights Google's dominance stifling small publishers, especially conservative and niche content creators. Google plans to appeal, disputing the ruling as partially flawed but faces expert skepticism. The case reflects a bipartisan push to hold Big Tech accountable for antitrust violations. Remedies could force Google to restructure its ad business, signaling broader regulatory risks for tech giants. A federal judge has ruled that Google illegally dominates critical segments of the online advertising market, marking another major legal defeat for the tech giant and signaling that the "Big Tech" era of unchecked corporate power may be waning. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema determined that Google unlawfully maintained monopolies in two key ad tech markets, empowering the Department of Justice to pursue remedies that could fundamentally reshape the digital economy. Judge Brinkema found that Google's publisher ad servers and ad exchangesthe infrastructure connecting websites with advertisers"substantially harmed" competition by "depriving rivals of the ability to compete." The ruling highlights how Google's integration of these tools into its Ad Manager platform locked out competitors, ensuring its dominance. For conservatives who have long criticized Silicon Valley's consolidation of power, this ruling represents a significant milestone in the fight against Big Tech overreach. Threats to free speech and small publishers The decision underscores concerns that Google's control over ad tech stifles innovation, raises costs, and particularly harms smaller businesses and content creators. Small websites rely on ad revenue to survive, but Google's monopoly allows it to extract disproportionate profits, creating a "winner-takes-all" digital economy. Publishers of niche or conservative contentwhich often struggle to monetize their audiencesare especially vulnerable to algorithms favoring dominant platforms. 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," said Sacha Haworth of the Tech Oversight Project, who characterized the ruling as positive for Americans. Google disputed the findings, arguing its tools are "simple, affordable and effective" and that publishers choose them willingly. Lee-Anne Mulholland, the company's vice president of regulatory affairs, announced plans to appeal, calling the ruling a partial victory since the court found that Google's advertiser tools and acquisitions don't harm competition. However, experts rejected Google's arguments, citing how the company's market power creates insurmountable barriers to entry. The case builds on a bipartisan antitrust push spanning multiple administrations. Judge Brinkema's decision echoes prior rulings against Google's search engine monopoly and app store dominance, signaling growing judicial consensus that Big Tech's power can no longer go unchecked. "This could increase regulatory risk premiums across major tech stocks, especially those like Amazon and Meta that operate similarly integrated ecosystems" noted investment expert Michael Ashley Schulman. While historic, the ruling is just the first step. A subsequent hearing will determine what remedies Google must implementpotentially including the sale of its Ad Manager or restrictions on its ad exchange. "The Department of Justice will continue taking bold legal action to protect the American people from encroachments on free speech and free markets by tech companies," declared Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Google has begun preparing for the legal battle ahead, hinting at restructuring plans and highlighting that the court rejected one of the DOJ's claims regarding advertiser ad networks. Shareholders reacted cautiously, with Google's stock dipping 1.4% post-judgment, though analysts note penalties may be limited given the company's profitability. The broader implications extend far beyond advertising. For conservative observers, the case underscores how the disconnect between tech monopolists and traditional media threatens free expression. This ruling isn't just a legal milestoneit's a cultural one. By framing the case as a battle for the "digital public square," the DOJ has seized on a conservative rallying cry, aligning antitrust with values of free markets and limited corporate power. As Google prepares its appeal, debate will intensify over whether courts can dismantle monopolies without stifling innovation. For now, the decision stands as proof that accountability for tech giants is no longer a remote possibility but an evolving reality. Sources for this article include: Reuters.com CNN.com Reuters.com TheVerge.com IRS poised to strip Harvards tax-exempt status amid national security concerns over academic compliance The IRS is preparing to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status, a move seen as an unprecedented escalation in federal pressure on academia. This follows Harvards defiance of Trump administration demands to reform admissions, curricula and disciplinary policies amid antisemitism concerns tied to pro-Palestinian protests. The dispute stems from Trumps accusation that Harvard promotes "political, ideological and terrorist-inspired" ideologies. IRS officials reportedly justify the revocation by labeling Harvard a "political entity," threatening other elite schools (e.g., Yale, Stanford) with similar scrutiny for resisting GOP-backed policies. Harvard and its allies argue the IRS action is an unlawful overreach that could stifle academic freedom. Legal experts note that tax-exempt revocationsrare and typically tied to clear violations (e.g., racial discrimination)have never before been used to punish ideological disagreements. Critics warn the IRS move could politicize curricula, research and hiring, chilling free thought. Some conservative commentators frame it as a fight against liberal "echo chambers," while Harvards defenders see it as federal overreach intended to suppress dissent. Harvard plans to sue, setting up a landmark case that could redefine "public interest" in academia. The outcome may reshape institutional autonomy, federal power over education and the role of universities in fostering intellectual discourse for decades. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly preparing to revoke Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status, marking an unprecedented escalation of federal pressure on academic institutions amid tensions over political influence and institutional autonomy. The decision, first reported by CNN on Wednesday, follows Harvards rejection of demands from the Trump administration to overhaul admissions, disciplinary processes and curricula tied to campus antisemitism concerns. With Harvards $50 billion endowment and its status as a pillar of scholarly excellence at stake, the move could set a dangerous precedent for free thought in higher education while raising alarms over federal overreach. The root of the dispute: Academic autonomy vs. executive scrutiny The standoff traces back to January, when the Trump administration issued a startling set of demands to Harvard, including a review of faculty hiring practices, disciplinary codes and plagiarism policiesostensibly to combat antisemitism linked to pro-Palestinian campus protests. Harvards leaders described the directives as unlawful and offensive, rejecting them as a violation of academic freedom. Within days, President Donald Trump escalated his criticism, accusing Harvard of promoting political, ideological and terrorist inspired ideologies online. In a Tuesday post on Truth Social, Trump framed the tax exemption issue directly: Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST! Sources confirmed that the IRSs planned revocation aligns closely with the administrations push to punish institutions that defy its edicts. The IRS reportedly plans to justify the action by declaring Harvard a political entity, a categorization that could spur similar scrutiny of elite schools like Stanford, Yale and Columbia, all of which have defied GOP-backed policies targeting campus speech and funding. Harvards resistance has drawn bipartisan support. Jason Newton, a university spokesperson, called the IRS threat unprecedented and warned that revocation would harm its ability to advance research, education and public health initiatives. The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America, he stated in an emailed response to scrutiny. Legal precedent and the uncharted waters of tax status revocation Tax-exempt revocation is a rarely used weapon in the federal arsenal. The last major case occurred in the 1980s, when the IRS stripped Bob Jones University of its status because of its racially discriminatory admissions policies. By contrast, Harvards case involves heated political discourse rather than clear-cut violations. Professor R. William Snyder of George Mason University noted the novelty of the move: To my knowledge, this is the first time an administration has tried something like this, he told CNN. You dont revoke tax status because you disagree with how a university teaches history or politics. The process itself would be fraught. Nina Olson, a former IRS taxpayer advocate, explained that revocation typically requires an exhaustive audit and legal appeals process. It takes a long time, she said, noting the agencys procedural obligations to afford institutions notice and the chance to contest accusations. The Treasury Department has not yet addressed CNNs reporting, but acting IRS Commissioner Gary Shapleywho was named to the position last monthnow holds authority to finalize the decision. Broader implications for higher education and governance The repercussions of the IRS action could stretch far beyond Cambridge, Massachusetts. Education Secretary Linda McMahon hinted at a broader agenda. Elitist schools with huge endowmentswe should probably have a look into that, she told CNNs The Arena, suggesting Harvards case is not isolated. Meanwhile, White House officials frame the move as a defense of public interest. Yet critics warn of a chilling effect: if universities fear losing exemptions over contentious policies, curricula and hiring could become politicized, stifling the free exchange of ideas vital to innovation. Conservative commentator Mackenzie Gray, a regular on Fox News, argued the Harvard case reflects deeper ideological battles over thought diversity. Our institutions of higher learning arent being schoolstheyre echo chambers, she said. But Harvards allies counter that such rhetoric risks substituting political agendas for academic rigor. This is about power, said David Bernstein, a First Amendment expert at the Cato Institute. The administration is weaponizing regulatory authorities to quell dissent in an arena they cant control. A crossroads for institutional autonomy and federal power Harvards fate will send shockwaves through classrooms and boardrooms alike, redefining the boundaries between governance and academia in an era of ideological polarization. The case may also pivot on constitutional principles. Eric Alan Isaacson, a professor at Harvard Law School (unrelated to the universitys leadership), noted that tax-exempt status is tied to charitable, educational or scientific purposesnot political compliance. If academic inquiry is now grounds for revocation, he said, every university in America should be worried. With Harvards attorneys already promising lawsuits, the stage is set for a landmark legal battleone that could redefine the very meaning of public interest in the halls of power and higher learning. The erosion of autonomy or the restoration of balance? The IRSs move against Harvard transcends tax policy. It is a pivotal test of whether federal authorities can dictate intellectual priorities without usurping the missions of academic institutions. For generations, universities have operated as bastions of free thought, shielded by tax benefactors to explore ideas without commercial or political constraints. Should the government prevail in this case, the role of academia may fundamentally change. The outcome could echo for decades, reshaping not only colleges but the contours of American democracy itself. Sources include: YourNews.com CNN.com InsideHigherEd.com Linda Hunts Secret Agenda elaborates on Project Paperclip, the U.S. governments secret recruitment of Nazi scientists Project Paperclip, a secret U.S. intelligence program, brought over 1,600 German scientists and their families to the U.S. post-World War II, many with direct ties to Nazi war crimes, raising questions about moral compromise and national security. Linda Hunt's book, "Secret Agenda," reveals the extensive political and ethical complexities of Project Paperclip, including the systematic alteration of records to conceal scientists' involvement in war crimes, in defiance of President Truman's orders. Despite the ethical costs, German scientists played crucial roles in advancing U.S. technology, including developments in jet planes, rocketry and space exploration, highlighting the tension between scientific progress and moral integrity. The project involved unethical experiments on U.S. soldiers, similar to those conducted in Nazi concentration camps, and the U.S. government went to great lengths to conceal the true nature of Project Paperclip, including legal battles to prevent the release of documents. The legacy of Project Paperclip is marked by enduring secrecy, the glorification of Nazi science and the haunting question of how many war criminals were shielded. It serves as a critical reminder of the need for transparency, accountability and ethical decision-making in national security matters. In the aftermath of World War II, as the world grappled with the horrors of the Holocaust and the fall of the Third Reich, a covert operation was underway that would shape the future of American science and technology. Project Paperclip, a secret U.S. intelligence program, brought over 1,600 German scientists and their families to the United States, many of whom had direct ties to Nazi war crimes. This operation, shrouded in secrecy and deception, raises profound questions about moral compromise and the lengths to which a nation will go in the name of national security. The story of Project Paperclip is meticulously detailed in Linda Hunt's groundbreaking book, "Secret Agenda: The United States Government, Nazi Scientists and Project Paperclip 1945 to 1990." Hunt's investigative journalism, bolstered by the Freedom of Information Act, peels back the layers of secrecy surrounding this controversial project, revealing a complex web of political maneuvering and ethical dilemmas. As the guns of World War II fell silent, the U.S. government recognized the strategic value of German scientific expertise. The Soviet Union was also vying for these scientists, and the U.S. was determined to secure them first. Project Paperclip, initially a short-term operation, evolved into a massive, long-running effort that lasted until 1973. The project's scope was so significant that by 1956, an American ambassador described it as "a continuing U.S. recruitment program which has no parallel in any other Allied country." The U.S. government's promotion of Project Paperclip as a limited, post-war operation was a facade. In reality, the project involved a systematic effort to bring Nazi scientists to America, often by altering or expunging their records to conceal their involvement in war crimes. This was a direct defiance of President Harry Truman's order to exclude ardent Nazis from the program. The officers running Paperclip justified their actions by arguing that the "best interests of the United States" outweighed concerns about Nazi records, a stance that prioritized anti-communism over ethical considerations. Project Paperclip undeniably contributed to significant scientific advancements. German scientists played crucial roles in developing jet planes, rocket technology and even the moon rockets that would later carry American astronauts to the lunar surface. However, these achievements came at a steep moral cost. Some of the scientists brought to the U.S. were involved in horrific experiments, including the development of nerve gas and psychochemicals like LSD. At Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, American doctors used Nazi science as a basis for conducting Dachau-like experiments on over 7,000 U.S. soldiers, a dark chapter that underscores the ethical compromises made during the Cold War. The legacy of Project Paperclip is one of enduring secrecy and deception. The U.S. government went to great lengths to conceal the true nature of the project. For example, the U.S. Army Materiel Command initially tried to charge Hunt $239,680 in "search fees" to access documents and even denied the existence of certain records. After a year of legal wrangling, the documents were finally released, revealing the extent of the government's efforts to hide the truth. One of the most notorious cases is that of Arthur Rudolph, a retired NASA rocket engineer who left the country in 1984 to avoid war crimes charges. His case attracted a bizarre array of defenders, including a U.S. congressman with alleged organized crime connections. The question of how many more individuals like Rudolph remain hidden continues to haunt the legacy of Project Paperclip. The denial of Project Paperclip's dark past persists. The U.S. Air Force published translations of the Germans' wartime research in two volumes, glorifying the Nazis and ignoring the lessons of Nuremberg. These volumes contained heavily censored versions of the Nazi scientists' work, with no mention of their affiliations or the crimes they committed. Moving forward, people must hold their institutions accountable and demand transparency and ethical decision-making in all matters of national security. The shadows of Project Paperclip serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need to balance progress with moral integrity. Watch this video about Linda Hunt's book, "Secret Agenda: The United States Government, Nazi Scientists and Project Paperclip 1945 to 1990." This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Police departments deploy AI bots to monitor criminal suspects and protesters online, effectively CREATING CRIME Police agencies near the U.S.-Mexico border are spending hundreds of thousands on AI-generated online personas to surveil activists, protesters, and suspected criminals. New York-based company Massive Blue markets its AI tool, Overwatch, as an "AI-powered force multiplier" that deploys "lifelike virtual agents" to engage targets. AI personas include fabricated activists, child trafficking decoys, and protest organizers, raising concerns about First Amendment violations. Despite heavy investment, no evidence exists that the tech has led to arrests, with at least one police department dropping the program. The rise of AI-powered police surveillance Law enforcement agencies near the southern U.S. border are bankrolling an invasive, untested AI surveillance system designed to impersonate real people online to gather intelligence on political activists, suspected criminals, and even teenagers. This Orwellian program, developed by a shadowy New York tech firm, raises alarming questions about privacy, free speech, and the unchecked expansion of police surveillance. Documents obtained by 404 Media reveal that police departments have contracted with Massive Blue, a company marketing its AI tool, Overwatch, as a cutting-edge solution to "infiltrate and engage criminal networks." The system deploys highly convincing digital personasavatars with full backstories, social media histories, and even friendshipsto interact with targets on platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and encrypted messaging services. Among the AI profiles disclosed in internal presentations are a "radicalized AI protest persona" portraying a 36-year-old divorced activist, a 14-year-old boy decoy baiting child trafficking suspects, and a "Yemeni descent" honeypot account. Notably, college protesters and protest recruiters were listed alongside drug and human traffickers, suggesting law enforcement views dissent and criminal activity as equally worthy of covert infiltration. A dangerous erosion of Constitutional rights While police argue such tools help combat crime, civil liberties advocates warn this unchecked surveillance crosses a dangerous line. "The government has no business creating fake personas to spy on activists exercising their First Amendment rights," said Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst with the ACLUs Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. "This is the digital equivalent of planting undercover agents in peaceful protest groupsexcept now, it's done at scale, with no transparency." The Yuma County Sheriffs Office in Arizona tested Overwatch under a $10,000 pilot contract but ultimately abandoned it, admitting the program "did not meet our needs." Yet, other departments continue pouring taxpayer dollars into the initiative, despite zero public evidence it has led to arrests. Secrecy and corporate profiteering Massive Blue and law enforcement agencies have refused to disclose operational details, citing trade secrets and ongoing investigations. Critics argue this lack of transparency prevents accountability. "If this tool is so effective, why has it produced no results?" asked investigative journalist Jordan Pearson. "And why are police hiding how theyre deploying these deceptive bots against citizens?" The company also promotes RADAR, an AI-driven threat detection system, and VIPS (Virtual Identity Protection Service), designed to "enhance personnel safety" for undercover operationsfurther blurring the line between crime prevention and mass surveillance. 404 Media is at the forefront of this investigation and has the evidence documented. A slippery slope toward authoritarianism History shows that unchecked surveillance powers rarely stay contained. From COINTELPROs infiltration of civil rights groups to modern predictive policing algorithms, tools sold as crime-fighting solutions often morph into instruments of repression. Now, AI-powered deception grants authorities unprecedented ability to manipulate and monitor the public. As police departments weaponize artificial intelligence to track protest movements and manufacture consent under the guise of "public safety," a critical question emerges: when do we cross the point of no return? Police departments are not catching criminal activity. They are using AI to goad individuals into engaging in criminal activity. AI is being used to create criminal activity, to breach individual rights in a way that makes dissent itself a crime. Sources include: YourNews.com 404Media.co MassiveBlue.io Trump opposes new gun control measures: Guns are not the root cause of violence A mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) on April 18 left two dead and six injured. The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner (son of a sheriff's deputy), used his mother's former service weapon. He was shot by police after firing in the student union and is in custody. President Donald Trump called the tragedy "terrible" and "shameful" but opposed new gun control, stating, "the gun doesn't do the shooting, the people do." He reaffirmed his support for the Second Amendment. In February, Trump signed an order directing the DOJ to review and dismantle federal firearm regulations deemed to infringe on gun rights, targeting policies like the pistol brace rule and ATF overreach. The DOJ's 30-day review aims to reverse Biden-era rules, including arbitrary firearm classifications and licensing crackdowns, restoring what gun advocates call constitutional rights. The shooting reignites tensions over gun laws and "gun-free zones," with Trump and conservatives advocating armed protection (e.g., arming teachers) over stricter regulations pushed by the Left. President Donald Trump has described the deadly shooting at Florida State University (FSU) as a "terrible" and "shameful" tragedy, but reiterated his opposition to new gun control measures. The mass shooting at FSU, which took place early Thursday morning, April 18, left at least two people dead and six others hospitalized after a gunman, now in custody, opened fire on campus. The suspected shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a Leon County Sheriff's deputy, who allegedly used his mother's former service weapon in the attack. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that Ikner was a long-time member of the Leon County Sheriff's Office Youth Advisory Council and had undergone law enforcement training programs. Officers confronted Ikner after he allegedly fired multiple shots inside the student union around noon ET, prompting a massive emergency response. He was shot at least once by police after refusing commands and is currently receiving medical treatment. Authorities confirmed he was also carrying a shotgun, though no victims appear to have been shot with it. Students described chaotic scenes as gunfire sent crowds fleeing. Aidan Stickney, a 21-year-old business student, witnessed the attack unfold, saying the shooter initially attempted to fire a shotgun before switching to a handgun. Other students barricaded themselves in campus buildings. Ryan Cedergren and about 30 others hid in a basement bowling alley for 15 minutes before being escorted out by police. Chris Pento, visiting the campus with his twins, recounted hiding in an elevator after hearing gunshots. By 1 p.m., law enforcement had cleared the immediate area and declared the threat "neutralized," though the student union remains an active crime scene. FSU officials urged students to avoid the area. The investigation is ongoing, including how Ikner obtained the firearm used in the attack. Trump expressed sorrow for the victims of the school shooting but emphasized that guns were not the root cause of the violence. "Look, I'm a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I've protected it, and these things are terrible," Trump told reporters at the Oval Office that same day when asked if there was anything he saw wrong with gun laws in the wake of the shooting. "But the gun doesn't do the shooting, the people do. It's, you know, a phrase that's used probably too often. I will tell you that it's a shame. I'm just hearing about it now." (Related: Supreme Court to review challenge to Illinois' semi-automatic gun ban.) Trump signs an executive order to strengthen Second Amendment rights The president has consistently opposed gun control measures. In early February, he signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review and dismantle federal firearm regulations that infringe on the Second Amendment. The directive orders Attorney General Pam Bondi to conduct a sweeping 30-day review of all federal actions that may undermine the constitutional right to bear arms. Key areas under scrutiny include Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulations, such as the pistol brace rule that reclassified millions of firearms as illegal short-barreled rifles, putting legal gun owners at risk of felony charges; the Zero Tolerance Policy, which has led to unjustified revocations of Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs) for minor paperwork errors; agency guidance from the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention; and NFA processing delays and arbitrary firearm/ammunition classifications that hinder lawful ownership. Following the review, the DOJ will present a plan to restore and uphold Second Amendment rights, potentially overturning years of what gun rights advocates call "administrative tyranny." The order sets the stage for a direct rollback of Biden-era policies, including the widely condemned pistol brace rule previously struck down by the Eighth Circuit in FRAC v. Garland (2024), which threatened millions of gun owners with felonies and confiscation. Other likely targets include the Frame or Receiver Rule, expanding ATF control over unfinished firearm parts; the "Engaged in the Business" Rule, which broadly redefines private sellers as dealers, subjecting them to harsh regulations; and ATF classification abuses, where arbitrary rulings have restricted lawful firearms and accessories. Visit SecondAmendment.news for more stories like this. Watch this video about California legislature introducing SB704 a new gun control bill. This video is from the Children Are NOT Sex Toys! channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: CDC suppresses data on self-defense gun use after private meeting with GUN CONTROL advocates. French rioting demonstrates how gun control laws are failing law-abiding citizens. Pro-gun group: Gun control laws being ABUSED to deprive Trump of his Second Amendment rights. Sources include: Infowars.com TheHill.com 1 TheHill.com 2 Wiley.law Brighteon.com A win for free speech: State Department SHUTS DOWN controversial disinformation office Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially shut down the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI) Office on April 16, calling it a successor to the controversial Global Engagement Center (GEC), which was accused of censoring domestic political speech. Rubio condemned R/FIMI as "shameful" and "antithetical to American principles," accusing it of using taxpayer funds to silence Americansparticularly conservative voicesrather than focusing on foreign disinformation. While initially created to counter foreign propaganda (under Obama), the GEC later engaged in domestic content moderation, partnering with tech platforms and third-party groups like the Global Disinformation Index (GDI) to suppress "malinformation," including right-leaning media. - The GEC faced bipartisan scrutiny, defunding by Congress in 2023 and lawsuits alleging First Amendment violations. R/FIMI's termination followed a White House directive to curb speech-related overreach, with employees placed on leave ahead of dismissal. Rubio framed the closure as restoring free speech, stating the Trump administration is committed to protecting Americans rights, calling it a pivotal step against government-led censorship. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that a controversial office under his department will be dismantled. In a statement Wednesday, April 16, Rubio officially closed the Department of State's Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI) Office. R/FIMI serves as the successor to the controversial Global Engagement Center (GEC), which was criticized for its suppression of domestic political speech. "For centuries, the U.S. served as a beacon of hope for millions of people around the world," the secretary began. However, Rubio mentioned that in recent years, "Americans had been "slandered, fired, charged and even jailed for simply voicing their opinions. That ends today." The former senator for Florida dubbed R/FIMI as a "shameful" example of government overreach. He also condemned its trajectory as "antithetical to American principles." According to Rubio, the office "spent millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving." (Related: Rubio vows to end State Department programs that "open the door to censorship".) "It is the responsibility of every government official to continuously work to preserve and protect the freedom for Americans to exercise their free speech," the secretary continued. "Under the administration of President [Donald] Trump, we will always work to protect the rights of the American people, and this is an important step in continuing to fulfill that commitment." The rise and fall of the GEC Established last year as a scaled-down version of the GEC, R/FIMI was initially tasked with combating foreign propaganda from nations like China, Russia and Iran. The original office was established during the term of former President Barack Obama with the same mission of countering foreign propaganda. The GEC later expanded into domestic content moderation, collaborating with collaborating with tech platforms to flag or remove posts deemed "malinformation." This put the GEC in the crosshairs of bipartisan scrutiny, until it was defunded by Congress in 2023. Moreover, evidence mounted that the GEC's efforts increasingly targeted American citizens and media particularly conservative voices through indirect censorship partnerships. Organizations like the Global Disinformation Index (GDI) and NewsGuard labeled right-leaning outlets as "unreliable," prompting advertisers to withdraw support. Incidentally, both GDI and NewsGuard were funded in part by GEC grants highlighting how government-backed ratings systems throttled dissenting viewpoints. A 2023 lawsuit by the Daily Wire and The Federalist, with the backing of the state of Texas, accused the GEC of First Amendment violations. R/FIMI employees were abruptly informed of their office's termination in a meeting with Acting Undersecretary Darren Beattie, with remaining staff placed on administrative leave ahead of their dismissal. According to Reclaim The Net, Beattie had already ordered staff to stop working weeks earlier. The closure aligns with a broader White House directive to halt federal programs accused of infringing on free speech under the guise of combating "misinformation." An executive order recently criticized such efforts for advancing "the Governments preferred narrative" while suppressing constitutionally protected expression. Rubio ultimately framed the closure of R/FIMI as a victory for the First Amendment. "Freedom of speech and expression have been a cornerstone of what it means to be an American citizen," he wrote in his statement Wednesday. Watch Alex Jones of InfoWars exposing the censorship he faced at the hands of the GEC, which Rubio eventually dismantled in its scaled-down version. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Victory for free speech as State Department shuts down censorship agency. State Department tried to discredit reporters in censorship "blacklisting" scandal. State Department's GEC closure could be a smokescreen for continued censorship. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org 1 State.gov ReclaimTheNet.org 2 Brighteon.com Trump administration unleashes U.S. timber and mineral production amid supply chain concerns The USDA announced reforms to accelerate timber harvesting and mineral extraction on 100+ million acres of federal land, citing national security and economic independence. These reforms aim to increase domestic timber output by 25% and fast-track projects in high-risk wildfire zones. Environmental barriers to mining permits will also be lifted, targeting rare earth metals essential for defense and technology (e.g., cobalt, nickel). Supporters frame the moves as reclaiming sovereignty and jobs; critics warn of ecological harm and regulatory instability. Rollins dismissed concerns, citing USDA data that current harvesting is below sustainable levels, but environmental groups dispute the balance. The moves reflect Trump-era "energy dominance" goals, positioning self-sufficiency against environmental protections. The outcome hinges on whether the trade-offseconomic gains vs. ecological riskscan withstand geopolitical and climate pressures. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced significant reforms Thursday to boost domestic timber and mineral production, framing the effort as critical to national security and economic independence. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, in a memo and press conference, declared a national forest emergency to speed up timber harvests and mineral extraction on over 100 million acres of federal land. The administrations push responds to longstanding concerns about U.S. reliance on foreign imports for critical commodities amid geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities, reversing policies from the Biden era that had restricted such activities. The USDA aims to increase timber production by 25% to counter declining domestic output and reduce dependence on foreign timber imports. It is also lifting environmental regulations to accelerate permits for mineral projects, particularly for rare earth and industrial metals essential for manufacturing, electronics and national defense. Rollins emphasized that President Donald Trumps executive orders and her directives reflect a return to American energy dominance modeled on the prior administrations success in transforming the U.S. into a net energy exporter. Increasing timber harvests: Addressing wildfire risks and economic decline Critics and supporters alike noted the dual mandates driving the timber initiative: reducing wildfire risks and reviving struggling rural economies. Rollins cited data showing a 48.3% decline in forestry sector employment since 2000, blaming decades of bad trade policy for shuttering sawmills and displacing workers. The USDAs plan targets National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, which it argues have hindered forest management, and will fast-track projects on 112 million acres of forest land deemed at high risk of wildfires. Healthy forests require work, and right now, were facing a national forest emergency, Rollins said, echoing her memo that directed forest managers to intensify harvests while claiming to balance wildfire reduction with habitat improvement. The USDA highlighted a 2023 report showing that half of U.S. sugar pine forests could vanish by 2050 without intervention. Environmental groups, though not named in the USDAs statements, have long warned that federal timber increases risk accelerating climate impacts and compromising biodiversity. The USDA also defended its approach as a win-win, arguing that removing brush and deadwood slashes fire hazards while generating jobs. However, critics have questioned whether projected cost savings will offset risks to ecosystems or logging industry profits. Mineral extraction and national security imperatives The USDAs parallel focus on minerals underscores a broader administration strategy to secure critical supply chains. Rollins singled out Biden-era restrictions, including a 2023 decision blocking mining in Minnesotas Rainy River watershed, as having threatened economic and national security by leaving the U.S. reliant on foreign sources for 85% of its platinum, 76% of cobalt and 48% of nickel imports. These metals are vital for batteries, semiconductors and defense systems. The agency has now waived lease withdrawals in contested areas, including Alaskas Admiralty Island, where a one-year exploratory permit issued in March could unlock deposits of silver, zinc and gold. Rollins emphasized expediting 16 mineral projects in total, stating, We cant allow red tape to outpace our adversaries. The effort aligns with Trumps 2023 executive order mandating a domestic energy and mining renaissance, drawing historical parallels to his predecessors shale boom. Rollins reiterated his administrations stance: Other countries wont wait for us to decide to competently manage our forests and mines. Political and environmental crosscurrents The USDAs reforms have reignited debates over federal land management, with supporters arguing they reclaim American sovereignty while opponents stress ecological costs. Rollins dismissed concerns about overharvesting, quoting a USDA analysis that current U.S. timber harvesting rates are only 60% of sustainable levels. This isnt about overdevelopmentthis is about ending dependency, she said, contrasting her approach with shockingly oblivious elite critics, including a unnamed MSNBC panel she accused of mocking the initiative as making wood domestically. Environmental advocates have criticized the USDA for downplaying risks, citing the 2020 Zinke versus Biden policy pendulum as proof of regulatory instability. Meanwhile, industry groups like the National Mining Association have praised the move as commonsense, noting that European and Asian competitors leverage state-backed resources to stoke their industries. A new chapter in federal resource policy or repeat of past mistakes? The USDAs aggressive push to reshape Americas resource economy reflects a decades-old ideological battle over federal land stewardship. The plan channels themes from Trumps inaugural promises of revitalizing forgotten industries while reigniting clashes with environmental priorities. With global supply chains strained by trade wars and climate change, the administrations gamble may set a precedent for years of policy disputespitting calls for self-sufficiency against protections for ecosystems and Indigenous lands. As Rollins framed it, the choice is stark: Either we unlock the forests and mines to empower Americans, or we keep relying on adversaries. The outcomes, however, will depend not just on permits issued, but on whether the trade-offs can weather both geopolitical shifts and ecological uncertainty. Sources include: ClimateDepot.com WashingtonExaminer.com USDA.gov Trump races to broker Ukraine ceasefire as U.S. warns of withdrawal Trump brokers a last-ditch ceasefire push as U.S.-Ukraine tensions rise over stalled negotiations and aid fatigue. Failed Easter truce deepens skepticism with both sides accusing the other of violations, worsening diplomatic prospects. Washington signals possible aid withdrawal unless Kyiv and Moscow show commitment to peace amid rising costs. Zelenskys controversial Trump invite hints at shifting strategy as U.S. pressures Ukraine to end the conflict. Critics warn of unsustainable war costs and question if diplomacy can resolve territorial disputes with Russia. As the dust settles on another failed ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, President Donald Trump is reportedly brokering a last-ditch effort to secure a "full and comprehensive ceasefire" as early as this week. High-level talks are underway in London following another round of accusations from both sides after Vladimir Putins Easter truce collapsed almost immediately. With Washington signaling frustration over Ukraines diminishing returns on $100 billion in aid, Trump and allies like Secretary of State Marco Rubio warn that the U.S. may "walk away" unless both nations prove serious about peace. The Easter pause, which lasted just 30 hours, ended in predictable deadlock: Ukraine claimed Russia violated it over 2,000 times, while Moscow accused Kyiv of over 1,000 breaches. The spectacle only reinforced skepticism over whether diplomacy can halt a war that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives. For Trump, who has long touted his deal-making credentials, the challenge now is convincing a war-weary Washington and skeptical allies that a workable agreement is possible. The high stakes of U.S. disengagement The White House has reportedly set a loose deadline for Ukraine to either endorse a U.S.-backed peace framework or risk losing Washingtons financial lifeline. ATrumps team plans to present a "final offer" in London this weekone that may include sanctions relief for Russia if Moscow halts its advance. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has allegedly signaled tentative approval, but sticking points remain, particularly over Russias occupation of Crimea and other disputed regions. Yet Trumps push comes as U.S. lawmakers increasingly question pouring endless resources into a grinding war with no clear victory in sight. "If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult were going to just take a pass," Trump told reporters last weeka sentiment Rubio echoed hours earlier. The White House has already quietly walked back demands for Ukraine to repay $300 billion in U.S. aid, settling instead for a proposed $100 billion deal. Critics argue that American taxpayers are bankrolling a conflict with minimal oversight while domestic priorities like border security flounder. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces face severe shortages of ammunition and manpower, raising doubts about Kyivs ability to sustain offensive operations. Zelenskys risky Trump gambit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently extended an eyebrow-raising invitation to Trump to visit Kyiva move some interpreted as mockery given the presidents claim he could end the war "in 24 hours." The report that the U.S. is pressuring Zelensky to "wrap up the situation" aligns with growing bipartisan fatigue. With Washington pivoting to crises in the Middle East and an unsustainable fiscal burden, even staunch Ukraine supporters admit the current trajectory is untenable. Whether Londons talks yield a breakthrough remains uncertain. Russias UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, has dismissed prospects for a lasting truce, citing Western "manipulation" in past negotiations. Moscow insists Ukraine must acknowledge territorial realitiesa concession Zelensky has repeatedly rejected. If the White House follows through on its threats to withdraw support, Kyiv would face dire military consequences. For now, Trumps optimismtouting potential "big business" deals for both nations post-warclashes with battlefield realities where neither side appears ready to concede. Ultimately, the failed Easter ceasefire may foreshadow whats ahead: A conflict where trust is shattered and peace remains agonizingly out of reach. As U.S. patience wears thin, the question isnt just whether a deal can be struck but whether America should keep footing the bill for a war with no endgame. Sources for this article include: RT.com News.Sky.com FoxNews.com Reuters.com U.K. Supreme Court rules woman refers to biological sex, overturns Scottish trans inclusion policy The U.K. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer only to biological sex, excluding transgender women with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) from being legally classified as women in certain contexts. The decision struck down a 2018 Scottish law (Gender Representation on Public Boards Act) that included transgender women in the definition of "women" for gender balance policies, deeming it incompatible with the U.K.-wide Equality Act. For Women Scotland, which advocates for biological sex-based definitions, succeeded in its challenge, ensuring a uniform interpretation of "woman" across the United Kingdom. While trans women are excluded from being legally recognized as women in specific provisions, they retain broader protections under the Equality Act, including safeguards against gender reassignment discrimination. Women's rights advocates, including figures like J.K. Rowling and Samantha Smith, hailed the ruling as a victory for biological women, while critics argue it undermines transgender inclusion efforts. The United Kingdom Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act of 2010 refer solely to biological sex, excluding transgender women with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) from legal classifications of womanhood under certain provisions. In 2018, the Scottish Parliament ruled that the definition of a woman under the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act includes transgender women, meaning those who live as women or are in the process of transitioning. The Scottish government argued that individuals with a GRC legally recognizing their gender as female should be afforded the same protections and classifications as biological women under the Equality Act. (Related: Loopy liberals now trying to say the definition of a 'woman' is merely a decision not rooted in biological reality.) However, Scottish campaign group For Women Scotland, which describes its mission as affirming that "there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed," challenged the interpretation. The group had pushed for this case to establish a uniform interpretation of sex across the United Kingdom. The Supreme Court sided with the group, overturning the Scottish law that expanded the definition to include trans women in gender representation policies. On Wednesday, April 16, the Supreme Court ruled that "a person with a GRC in the female gender does not come within the definition of 'woman' under the Equality Act 2010." The court further stated that the Scottish government's guidance on the matter was "incorrect," effectively nullifying aspects of the 2018 legislation as they conflicted with U.K.-wide equality law. The ruling excludes trans women from being classified as women in certain legal contexts, but it does not strip them of broader protections under the Equality Act. The judgment clarified that trans individuals remain shielded from discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment and can still pursue claims of direct or indirect sex-based discrimination. Women hail the U.K. Supreme Court decision Women's rights groups and everyone else in favor of the lawsuit hailed the decision as a victory. "It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they've protected the rights of women and girls across the United Kingdom. @ForWomenScot, I'm so proud to know you," British author and philanthropist J.K. Rowling, known for her seven-volume fantasy series Harry Potter, posted on her official account on X, formerly known as Twitter. Samantha Smith, a columnist for The Spectator, Daily Mail and Telegraph, also celebrated the triumph. "Woman (noun) - an adult female human being. Source: THE U.K. SUPREME COURT," she posted on her official account on X, along with the screenshot of a news headline about the Supreme Court ruling. Meanwhile, netizens thanked For Women Scotland for fighting for women's rights. "From me, my daughter-in-law, my granddaughter and everyone else's mums, grandmas, daughters, daughters in law, aunts, granddaughters, women friends, etc. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE!!!" one X user posted, in response to the tweet of For Women Scotland. Learn more about issues regarding transgenderism at GenderConfused.com. Watch this discussion of Mel K and Charlie Robinson regarding the transgender movement. This video is from the The Mel K Show channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: CONFIRMED: Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is, in fact, a MALE boxing as a "transwoman." Biological male "transwoman" complains he can't find a gynecologist to "treat" him. Police and crime commissioner: Suspect in alleged assault of a teenage boy in England is a TRANSGENDER, not a woman. German podcasters ordered to delete an episode where they "misgendered" a transwoman or pay a $276K fine. Biden administration tells us a man is a woman: should it be running a 'disinformation board?' Sources include: ZeroHedge.com Modernity.news Brighteon.com Zoomer awakening: Younger generations embrace decentralization amid tech-fueled distrust Rejecting Mainstream Narratives Gen Z and Millennials are abandoning corporate media and social platforms, seeking truth and autonomy amid algorithmic manipulation and censorship. Decentralized Media Solutions Platforms like Brighteon.com and AI tools (e.g., Brighteon.ai) offer uncensored content and research alternatives, bridging short-form engagement with deeper truth-seeking. Grassroots Activism Revival Leaders advocate for real-world actions (protests, street interviews) to counter social medias grip, inspired by early 2000s movements like "We Are Change." AI-Powered Empowerment Projects like Enoch AI (truth-focused assistant) and Brightlearn.ai (summarized educational content) aim to equip youth with uncensored knowledge and critical thinking tools. Mentorship Over Ideology Older truth-seekers are urged to guide Gen Z as equals, leveraging their tech skills for liberation rather than distraction, without imposing new dogma. As Gen Z and millennials reject mainstream narratives, decentralized platforms offer a path forward. A growing wave of disillusioned Gen Z and Millennialsdubbed "Zoomers" by the digital cultureare breaking free from mainstream media, corporate-controlled social platforms, and political dogma in search of truth, autonomy, and purpose. Activists like Cory Endrulat, founder of The Liberator, are calling on older truth-seekers to help mentor this generation before they fall into new ideological trapswhether far-left or alt-right. The solution? Decentralized media, AI-powered research tools, and real-world activism. From TikTok to Truth: A Generational Shift During a recent episode of Decentralized TV, Endrulata Millennial himselfhighlighted how younger generations crave authenticity but are often trapped in cycles of "doom-scrolling" and algorithmic manipulation. "They're sick of the corporate propaganda, the censorship, the porn, the low-effort content," he said. "But they dont have a framework for independent thoughtjust rebellion." Mike Adams, founder of Brighteon.com and an early advocate of decentralized media, pointed to short-form video platforms like TikTok as both a problem and an opportunity. "Young people are used to quick, visually engaging content," he noted. "But we can meet them where they arewith concise, hard-hitting truth bombs that pull them into deeper research." One promising tool? Brighton.ai, Adams open-source AI model, designed to serve as a censorship-free knowledge basesomething Gen Zs tech-savvy minds can leverage. Breaking Free from the Algorithm The challenge, Endrulat argues, is overcoming social medias chokehold on attention spans. He plans to revive grassroots activismwhat he calls "We Are Change 2.0", inspired by early 2000s truth movementsto engage youth directly. "We need demonstrations, street interviews, and bold actions," he said. "Remember Alex Jones rolling through Austin in a tank? That energy wakes people up." Todd Pittner, co-host of Decentralized TV, emphasized bridging the generational gap. "These kids are smarter than we thinkbut they need mentorship, not condescension. Lets bring them into this movement as equals." The Decentralized Solution With mainstream platforms increasingly censoring dissent, decentralized alternatives like Brighteon.com and Telegram groups are becoming safe havens. Adams upcoming "Breaking the Chains" docu-series aims to teach practical steps for escaping centralized controlcovering food sovereignty, financial freedom, and digital privacy. But the key, Adams insists, is AI-driven empowerment: Enoch AI ? A non-woke, truth-based AI assistant launching soon for free public use. ? A non-woke, truth-based AI assistant launching soon for free public use. Brightlearn.ai ? AI-summarized videos of critical lectures, like Endrulats "Government is Unnatural" talk. ? AI-summarized videos of critical lectures, like Endrulats "Government is Unnatural" talk. Decentralized social media ? No corporate or government backers like NaturalNews or Brighteon.com. A Call to Action Endrulats message is clear: Stop underestimating Gen Z. "These kids can code, hack systems, and spot BS faster than any boomer," he said. "The question iswill they use those skills for mindless distraction, or for liberation?" For older truth-seekers, the task is to mentor, not preach. "Show them real freedomnot just another ideology to swap in." Watch the full episode of the "Decentralized TV" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, Todd Pitner, and Cory Endrulat as they talk about how to teach younger generations to embrace pro-human and pro-liberty thinking. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Michael Yon on Decentralize TV: Self-reliance and decentralization amid global collapse Trumps New Sheriff in Town: AI, Decentralization, and the Future of America Futurist John Petersen: The future of knowledge lies in DECENTRALIZATION through AI and open-source innovation Sources include: Brighteon.com TheLiberator.us Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Heightened end-user expectations and a greater emphasis on digitalization are rewiring the business landscape again. Businesses looking to sharpen their competitive edge and stay innovative in this climate must tap into solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and hybrid multicloud. Yet, this new digital landscape has seen more fragmented data sources and disparate systems than ever, resulting in siloed operations, security vulnerabilities, and inefficiencies. And with IDC concluding that network security and data security are among the key priorities of businesses in the next few years (with global spending seeing a 13% CAGR between 2021 and 2026) modernizing the network infrastructure is a must. To ensure a successful transformation, the convergence of connectivity and security will make up the core of this strategy. Building a robust, intelligent network A secure and intelligent modern network that can support the deployment of emerging technologies across sites and hybrid workplaces should lay the foundation of this transformation. In addition, this network should be capable of defending businesses against an unpredictable threat landscape. For a solution to deliver on this promise of connectivity, a crucial feature is a unified platform for managing multiple digital tools integrating mobile, cloud, Internet of Things (IoT), and networking tools into a single platform. Not only can enterprises leverage this to manage a variety of connections, networks, and data sources centrally, they can also connect seamlessly across communication channels to enhance collaboration between departments. And with self-service tools, network management can be centralized via the platform, making operations leaner and more efficient. Central to such a platform, too, is integrated network and security. Bringing these two pillars of a modern network together should deliver advanced cybersecurity functions across fixed and 5G networks while supporting businesses to drive connectivity from the cloud to the edge. Finally, end-to-end visibility should be a key consideration for enterprises if they want a holistic view of the network ecosystem. With increased network oversight, businesses can enhance flexibility and agility of their digital infrastructure, while gaining reliable insights into their network. Driving business growth with secure connectivity One example of a network solution that lets businesses navigate todays complex digital landscape with resilience is Singtel CUB. It eliminates the challenge of integrating disparate networks while breaking down network silos. At the same time, its extensive portfolio of wired and wireless connectivity offers businesses access to advanced technologies and expertise, so they can focus on driving innovation. The solution can also help enterprises navigate todays dynamic business landscape by: Optimizing performance with an AI/ML-driven platform: Backed by AI and ML driven analytics, Singtel CUB unifies fragmented data sources to extract reliable, data-driven insights, so decision makers can make smarter, more informed decisions. And with continuous visibility into network performance via real-time data analytics, businesses can also enable proactive incident management to reduce downtime and even predict future business needs. Reducing CapEx costs with usage-based and flexible pricing: From pay-as-you-go and subscription options, Singtel CUB offers flexible consumption models to accommodate the needs of all organizations, from small and medium businesses to large enterprises. Defending against potential threats: With robust security measures built into the platform, such as AI-driven threat detection and leveraging telco data for seamless network authentication, Singtel CUB can thwart threats at the network level, while helping businesses ensure data privacy and regulatory compliance. Offering best-in-class partnerships: Singtel has a robust partner ecosystem supporting its comprehensive suite of solutions. This helps reduce the time and effort needed to deal with multiple suppliers, allowing organizations to optimize and secure their network environments effectively. Driving sustainability efforts efficiently: Businesses can reduce carbon footprint and implement energy-efficient practices with operational management that aligns with sustainability goalsall while increasing cost efficiency. Find out more about how Singtel CUB can empower your business to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape with a scalable, modern network. California has halted a court-ordered medical parole program, opting instead to send its most incapacitated prisoners back to state lockups or release them early. The unilateral termination is drawing protests from attorneys representing prisoners and the author of the state's medical parole legislation, who say it unnecessarily puts this vulnerable population at risk. The move is the latest wrinkle in a long-running drive to free those deemed so ill that they are no longer a danger to society. "We have concerns that they cannot meet the needs of the population for things like memory care, dementia, traumatic brain injury," said Sara Norman, an attorney who represents the prisoners as part of a nearly three-decade-old federal class-action lawsuit. "These are not people who are in full command and control of their own surroundings, their memories theyre helpless. Caring for a rapidly aging prison population is a growing problem across the United States. It is twice as expensive to imprison older people than those younger, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers, and prisoners 55 and older are more than twice as likely to have cognitive difficulties as non-incarcerated older adults. Medical parole is reserved for the sliver of California's 90,000 prisoners who have a "significant and permanent condition" that leaves them "physically or cognitively debilitated or incapacitated" to the point they can't care for themselves, according to the state parole board. Prisoners who qualify excluded are those sentenced to death or life without parole can be placed in a community health care facility instead of state prison. Attorneys said the roughly 20 parolees the state has returned to lockup need significant help performing basic functions of daily life, with some in wheelchairs or suffering from debilitating mental or physical disabilities. They say outside facilities have the capacity to provide more compassionate and humane care to very ill prisoners. Kyle Buis, a California Correctional Health Care Services spokesperson, characterized the program as "on pause" as patients return to in-prison facilities and as officials anticipate increasing their use of the compassionate release program. Prisoners granted compassionate release have their sentences reduced and are released into society, while those on medical parole remain technically in custody. "There were multiple considerations that went into this decision," Buis said. "Our growing ability to support those with cognitive impairment inside of our facilities was one factor." Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom also cited "eliminating non-essential activities and contracts" to save money. While nearly every state now has a medical parole law, they are rarely used, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. One common reason is eligibility. Texas, for instance, screened more than 2,600 prisoners in 2022 but approved just 58 people. Officials also often face procedural hurdles, according to the Vera Institute of Justice, a national nonprofit research and advocacy group. Some states, however, have tried to expand medical parole programs. Michigan did so because an earlier version of the law proved too difficult to use, resulting in the release of just one person. New York has some of the nation's broadest criteria for release but is among states struggling to find nursing home placements for parolees. California's first effort to free prisoners deemed so incapacitated that they are no longer dangerous began in 1997 with a little-used process that allowed corrections officials to seek the release of dying prisoners. But that program resulted in the release of just two prisoners in 2009. The medical parole program was officially created by a state law that took effect in 2011 and was expanded in 2014 to help reduce prison crowding so severe that federal judges ruled it was harming prisoners' physical and mental health. Nearly 300 prisoners had been granted medical parole since July 2014, state officials reported. The average annual cost per medical parolee was between about $250,000 and $300,000 in 2023, Buis said. And despite lawmakers' expectations when they started the program, he said, Medi-Cal California's Medicaid program, which is partly funded by the federal government did not reimburse the state for their care because they were still considered incarcerated. California has had a rollercoaster relationship with its sole nursing home contractor for medical parolees. The state ended its contract with Golden Legacy Care Center in Sylmar at the end of 2024, Newsom reported in January in his summary of the state's 2025-26 budget. In 2021, prison officials said they were sending dozens of paralyzed and otherwise disabled prisoners back to state prisons and limiting medical parole, blaming a federal rule change that barred any restrictions on prisoners in such facilities. The move came after state public health inspectors fined Golden Legacy for handcuffing an incapacitated patient's ankle to the bed in violation of state and federal laws. Golden Legacy did not return repeated telephone and email requests for comment. Buis said state officials "continuously monitored care at Golden Legacy, and we never had concern for the quality of care provided." Attorney Rana Anabtawi, who also represents prisoners in the class-action suit, toured Golden Legacy's medical parole building with Norman in November and saw caregivers offering memory care patients special art classes and a "happy feet" dance party. She felt it "was a much better place for our patients than being in prison there appeared to be regular programming aimed at engaging them, there were no officers walking around, the patient doors were open and unlocked, patients had general freedom of movement within their building." Over the past several years, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has built up its capacity to service those with severely compromised health. The state created two of its own memory care units in men's prisons, a 30-bed unit in the California Health Care Facility in Stockton in 2019 and a 35-bed unit in the California Medical Facility in Vacaville in 2023. The Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla provides up to 24-hour skilled nursing care for women with life-limiting illnesses including dementia. Yet Norman fears the in-prison facilities are a poor substitute. "Theyre nowhere near enough and they are inside prisons, so theres a limit to how compassionate and humane they can be, she said. In addition to the 20 returned to state prisons when the contract expired, Buis said, one was paroled through the standard process, while 36 were recommended for compassionate release. Of those, 26 were granted compassionate release, eight were denied, and two died before they could be considered. The use of compassionate release increased under a law passed in 2022 that eased the criteria, including by adding dementia patients. Last year, 87 prisoners received compassionate release. By contrast, during the six years before the new law, just 53 were freed. Officials expect about 100 prisoners each year will qualify for compassionate release, Buis said. Compassionate release would allow them to "sort of die with dignity," said Daniel Landsman, vice president of policy for the criminal justice advocacy group FAMM, previously known as Families Against Mandatory Minimums, and ensure "that the California prison system is not turning into a de facto hospice or skilled nursing facility. Mark Leno, who authored California's medical parole law when he was a Democratic state senator, criticized prison officials for ending their use of the law without legislative approval and instead just terminating the Golden Legacy contract. He also railed against returning very ill patients to prisons, a decision he called "perfectly inhumane." "Is it just cruel punishment and retribution or is this thoughtful execution of the law put in place by the legislature? he said. This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. Nearly 30 million adults in the United States experience alcohol use disorder (AUD), but the vast majority of people with this condition do not receive treatment. A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH), BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and Boston Medical Center (BMC) researchers indicates that hospitals may be an ideal setting to close this gap in care. Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study found that hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorder who began taking the AUD medication naltrexone before they were discharged were able to reduce heavy drinking in the three-month period following their hospital stay. The findings specifically showed that both forms of naltrexone, which is offered as a pill or as an extended-release injectable, were similarly effective at reducing patients' alcohol consumption. After three months of treatment, heavy drinking within the last 30 days decreased by approximately 38 percentage points among patients who took the oral version of naltrexone, compared to about a 46 percentage-point decrease among patients who received the injectable version of the medication. The study is the first randomized clinical trial-the gold standard for effectiveness research-to compare the efficacy of both formulations of naltrexone, and the researchers hope this insight encourages clinicians to integrate this medication into routine hospital care. The hospital is a busy place with many competing priorities and one's chronic drinking problems can be missed or prioritized lower than the acute problems that led to the patient's hospitalization. Treating alcohol use disorder among hospitalized patients is a great opportunity to better care for individuals with this problem, as our findings clearly show that outcomes for these patients improve." Dr. Jeffrey Samet, study corresponding author, professor of community health sciences at BUSPH, John Noble Professor of Medicine at BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and a primary care physician at BMC The research team utilized data from the Alcohol Disorder Hospital Treatment (ADOPT) study to compare the effectiveness of each type of naltrexone administered to 248 patients with alcohol use disorder who completed a hospital stay at an urban hospital between June 2016 and March 2020. Patients received the medication on the day of discharge, taking either a daily pill or receiving a monthly injection for three months. The researchers based medication effectiveness on the reduction in heavy drinking and healthcare utilization within the last 30 days of the three-month follow-up period. Heavy drinking was defined as five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women per day. Although both forms of naltrexone were roughly equal, the researchers observed a slightly higher adherence to the injectable form of the medication, consistent with prior research. But they note that adherence levels could improve in real-world situations where patients would have flexibility in determining with their doctor the type of naltrexone that best suits their individual needs and preferences in formulation, dosing frequency, and cost. The injectable version of the drug eliminates the need for daily adherence, but requires additional time and effort for injection visits and higher upfront costs, at $1,064 per injection versus $38.10 for 30 days of pills. The team did not observe a difference in acute or AUD-related hospital visits based on consumption of either medication in the three-month period after patients were discharged from the hospital. "I hope the takeaway for policymakers and health systems is clear: effective, evidence-based medication treatment for alcohol use disorder exists, and it is time to make this treatment more accessible at hospital discharge," says study lead author Ms. Kara Magane, senior director of research operations in the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management at BUSPH, adding that future research should explore how to optimize this delivery. "It would also be valuable to understand patient perspectives on treatment preferences and adherence after discharge, and how factors such as housing or follow-up access influence outcomes," Ms. Magane says. "Ultimately, the goal is to make AUD treatment initiation routine and patient-centered in hospital settings." This publication also marks a deeply personal milestone: it completes the work begun by the study's principal investigator, Dr. Richard Saitz, who passed away before the study's findings could be shared. "Rich Saitz, a pioneering voice in addiction medicine, envisioned and led this research with characteristic rigor, compassion, and clarity of purpose," Ms. Magane says. "The study is dedicated to him and reflects his enduring influence on the field and on those of us fortunate enough to work alongside him." The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, with additional support by Alkermes and the United States Drug Testing Laboratories, Inc. Coauthors include researchers at BUSPH, BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, BMC, BU College of Arts & Sciences, South Shore Hospital, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Richard Saitz, former chair and professor of community health sciences at BUSPH, was the original principal investigator of the grant and corresponding author of the study before his passing in 2022. India On Track To Cut Fiscal Deficit Below 4.5% By FY26: FM Sitharaman Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 14:37 IST Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in San Francisco, reaffirmed India's goal to cut its fiscal deficit below 4.5% by 2026. FM Nirmala Sitharaman on five-day visit to the US. (Image Courtesy: Nirmala Sitharaman Office X Handle) India Fiscal Deficit: During an interaction with the Indian diaspora in San Francisco, USA, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirmed Indias goal of reducing its fiscal deficit to below 4.5% by 2026. The FM explained that they are committed to bringing down fiscal deficit with year-on-year targets. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our fiscal deficit went up. But in 2021, we came up with a clear signal as to how we wanted to manage our fiscal deficit. We set year-on-year targets and committed to bringing the fiscal deficit below 4.5% by 2026. And thats what we have been following each year without fail," Sitharaman stated during the interaction. Recommended Stories She further added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank are acknowledging the vast potential that India possesses. When we say that India is the fastest-growing economy and when IMF or World Bank recognise that India can be the engine driving global trade, what they are recognising is the immense potential that exists in India," Sitharaman said. A lower fiscal deficit instils confidence among foreign investors due to prudent governance of finances and improves the likelihood of a sovereign rating upgrade. Indias budget deficit has steadily decreased from a high of over 9% in 2020-21. During the Covid-19 pandemic, our fiscal deficit went up. But in 2021, we came up with a clear signal as to how we wanted to manage our fiscal deficit. We set year-on-year targets and committed to bringing the fiscal deficit below 4.5% by 2026. And thats what we have been pic.twitter.com/ykq9ci7QtA Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) April 21, 2025 The revised estimate for fiscal deficit for 2024-25 was 4.8 per cent, down from 5.6 per cent in 2023-24 and 6.4 per cent in 2022-23. India hopes to positively conclude" the first part of a trade pact with the United States by this autumn, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday as she started on a trip packed with engagements between the two nations. The long and short of engaging with the U.S. is not just for this reciprocal tariff related matter, but in the interest of our largest trading partner with whom we need to have an agreement," Sitharaman added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sitharaman is on a five-day visit to the United States. Her itinerary includes a keynote address at Stanford University and discussions with CEOs in San Francisco, focusing on investment and technological advancements. She will also attend diaspora events to strengthen Indias global cultural presence. In Washington DC, Sitharaman will participate in several high-level meetings, including the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings and the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meetings. Additionally, she will hold bilateral discussions with counterparts from various countries, underscoring Indias dedication to international cooperation and development. 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 21, 2025, 10:00 IST The Death Of The Salaryman: Financial Guru Saurabh Mukherjea Warns Of A Middle-Class Shift In India Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 13:14 IST Saurabh Mukherjea, founder of Marcellus Investment Managers, says AI and automation are causing stable, white-collar jobs in India to vanish. Saurabh Mukherjea speaks on AI and automation, leading to disruption in salary-class in India. The secure, white-collar job that once defined Indias middle class is disappearing, and weve only begun to acknowledge this shift. Saurabh Mukherjea, the founder and chief investment officer of Marcellus Investment Managers, asserts that India is transitioning into a new economic phase. In his podcast appearance titled Beyond the Paycheck: Indias Entrepreneurial Rebirth", he contends that the notion of salaried employment as a stable and rewarding career path is gradually eroding. Recommended Stories The hallmark of this decade will be the decline of salaried employment as a viable path for educated, dedicated, hardworking individuals," Mukherjea stated. This isnt mere speculation but a caution grounded in reality. AI is revolutionizing the office Mukherjea highlighted the extensive technological changes transforming the job market. Across various sectorsIT, media, financethe tasks once performed by numerous workers are now being automated. Many functions previously handled by white-collar workers are now managed by AI. Google reports that a third of its coding is already AI-generated. This trend is extending to Indian IT, media, and finance," he explained. Even middle management, which once provided job security, authority, and growth, is dwindling. The traditional model where our parents spent 30 years with one company is becoming obsolete. The employment structure that built Indias middle class is no longer feasible." For millions of educated Indians who believed in climbing the corporate ladder, the impact is significant. The foundation beneath them is shifting rapidly. Entrepreneurship: A new beacon of hope However, Mukherjea remains optimistic. He sees a unique opportunity emerging from the decline of traditional employment. The development of digital infrastructurereferred to by the government as the JAM Trinity (Jandhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile)has provided the necessary tools for a new wave of entrepreneurs. If we apply the same intelligence and determination to entrepreneurship that we did to corporate careers, it can become the new driver of prosperity," he noted. The JAM framework has equipped millions of low-income Indians with access to banking, identification, and informationkey components for conducting business in the digital age. While previous generations sought jobs in multinational companies, todays youth could forge their own paths. That is, if society allows them. Challenging the notion of stability Mukherjea believes Indias fixation on salaries and social status is a hindrance. Were a society obsessed with money. We equate success with paychecks. This mindset needs to change," he insisted. We should aim for happiness and impactnot merely monthly income." The message is clear: holding on to outdated definitions of success will only lead to frustration, especially in a world where such jobs may no longer exist. Whats required is a cultural shiftstarting at home. Families like ours must stop grooming children to be job-seekers. The jobs wont be there," Mukherjea warned. Its a harsh reality, but perhaps a freeing one as well. From paychecks to purpose Mukherjeas vision isnt an idealistic dream or a technocratic plan. Its a call for creativityand bravery. The kind of creativity needed to unlearn traditional views of success, and the bravery to build rather than follow. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As AI reshapes the economy, the middle-class dream must be reimagined. Mukherjea suggests this rewrite wont be driven by HR departments or job consultancies, but by risk-takers, innovators, and new entrepreneurs. According to him, the era of the salaryman is ending. What follows is up to us. 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 21, 2025, 12:31 IST How Scientists Plan To Bring Back Indian Cheetahs With Gene Technology | Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 09:16 IST The scientists at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow will use gene editing to modify the DNA of the African cheetah, giving it traits of the Indian cheetah The cheetahs met a tragic end in India in 1947 when Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya, in Chhattisgarh, hunted and shot the last three known Asiatic cheetahs in the country. (Representative Photo) India, which had declared cheetah extinct in 1962 due to over-hunting and habitat loss, is planning to revive the species after successfully bringing back dire wolves using ancient DNA. The Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in Lucknow is working with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) to revive the Indian cheetah. Recommended Stories At present, India has only those cheetahs, which were brought from Namibia and South Africa during 2022 and 2023. Of the 20 that were shifted to Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park, eight have died so far, along with five cubs born here. How India Plans To Revive Cheetahs? Scientists from US-based Colossal Biosciences recently 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. BSIP has also outlined plans to conduct gene editing of the extinct predator with the aim of introducing it into the womb of an African cheetah, using surrogacy, as per a report by The Times of India. The whole genome sequencing (WGS) project for the Indian cheetah is nearing its end. Niraj Rai, a senior scientist at BSIP leading the research, told The Times of India: 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." This scientific project aims to revive cheetahs that closely match the original Indian species. It will also help researchers understand the animals history and the factors that led to its disappearance. Earlier studies had already isolated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from both Indian and African cheetahs, allowing researchers to compare and study their genetic differences. History Of Cheetahs Extinction In India Cheetahs were once widely found across India. Cave paintings dating back to the Neolithic age in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh make it evident that cheetahs were once found across the country, particularly in central India, where they roamed semi-desert areas, scrub jungles, and grasslands. Throughout history, cheetahs had a special place in the hearts of kings and nobles. 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. The charm of the cheetah extended beyond the hunt, as they were tamed and domesticated. They were known as loyal companions to their royal masters. The fortune of Cheetahs nosedived during the colonial rule. The British viewed cheetahs as a threat to their livestock and game species and placed bounties on their heads. The administration actively hunted cheetahs and gave rewards to people who captured or killed them. In the 19th century, the population of cheetahs experienced a steep decline. The population went down from around 10,000 to just a few hundred. The British colonial administrations practice of rewarding people for killing cheetahs between 1870 and 1925 was a major contributor. On average, 1.2 cheetahs were killed each year. By the middle of the 20th century, cheetahs were on the verge of extinction, as per the Outlook report. Unfortunately, the cheetah population met a tragic end 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. With the death of the last cheetah, the once-thriving population was reduced to zero. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Indian government officially declared the species extinct in 1952. No legal consequences were taken for the one responsible for their extinction. The environment is very unfit for the survival of cheetahs in todays time. Not only did India kill the native cheetahs, but now they are also bringing cheetahs from other countries but are unable to protect them. Disturbing animals and displacing them from their natural habitat cannot bring back the cheetah population. If we couldnt save our native cheetahs, then at least we must not try to make cheetahs from other countries on the verge of extinction," Nagarjun, who works at the Wildlife and Rescue Centre, told Outlook. 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 21, 2025, 08:36 IST JD Vance, Wife Usha In Delhi: All You Need To Know About Akshardham Temples Around The World Curated By : News18.com Edited By: News Desk Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 12:18 IST Besides Delhi and Gujarat, an Akshardham temple was inaugurated in October 2023 in New Jersey, USA, in the presence of BAPS leader Mahant Swami Maharaj US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, along with their children, visited Akshardham Temple in Delhi on Monday morning. (PTI File Photo) The much-anticipated visit of US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, in New Delhi hopes to translate into substantive announcements after he meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vance and his wife, along with their children, visited Akshardham Temple in the capital on Monday morning. Recommended Stories They will first have the darshan of the replica of Lord Swaminarayan, and then they will see the architecture of the temple," Akshardham Temple Spokesperson Radhika Shukla told ANI. Akshardham Temple in the heart of India, New Delhi, is a wonder of architecture that unfurls the rich tradition of millennia and is a tribute to Lord Swaminarayan (1781- 1830). Let us understand more about the temple and its rich heritage spread outside of the country. How Many Akshardham Temples Around The World? The term Akshardham has been derived from two words Akshar which implies eternal and Dham means abode, which together means abode of the divine or the eternal. After entering the temple in Delhi, one can see the mesmerising image of 11 feet high plated Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Visitors can feel every element of Akshardham echo with spirituality, claims the organisation, that makes each soul feel divine. There are currently three Akshardham temples around the world; two in Delhi and Gujarat, and the other one in the US. Akshardham Temple In The US The Akshardham temple was inaugurated on October 8, 2023 in New Jersey in the presence of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) leader Mahant Swami Maharaj, who called the temple a divine wish" of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The temple is possibly the second-largest after Angkor Wat, a Buddhist structure, in Cambodia. Largest in the western hemisphere, Akshardham stands at a height of 191 feet, and is spread over 185 acres in Robbinsville City of New Jersey. The inauguration happened to be the 90th birthday of Mahant Swami Maharaj. It was dedicated to this society, to humanity," Gnanvatsaldas Swami, senior BAPS leader and motivational speaker, told PTI. The temple has more than 150 Indian musical instruments and all the major dance postures on its pillars and the walls. According to senior BAPS leader Gnanvatsaldas Swami, 12,500 volunteers ranging from 10 days of service to more than three years, five years of service have come together to build this Akshardham." The temple has been built in over 12 years from 2011 to 2023. Stones from around seven different countries, including Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Turkey, India, have been used in the construction. Nearly two million cubic feet of stone was used in the construction and was sourced from different sites around the world, PTI reported. The temple is one of the many built by the religious and civic association named Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) within the Swaminarayan sect. The sect manages over 1,200 temples and 3,850 centres globally. BAPS Temple In UAE PM Modi inaugurated the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Abu Dhabi, the first Hindu temple in the Gulf nation, in February 2024. A BAPS spokesperson said Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the tenth spiritual guru and head of the sect, on April 5, 1997 had envisioned a Hindu temple in the desert sands of Abu Dhabi which could bring countries, communities and cultures together. The Abu Dhabi temple is a traditional stone Hindu temple with seven shikhars. Built in the traditional Nagar style, the temples front panel depicts universal values, stories of harmony from different cultures, Hindu spiritual leaders and avatars. Spread over 27 acres, the temple complex is on 13.5 acres, with a parking area of 13.5 acres that can accommodate around 1,400 cars and 50 buses. The 13.5 acres of land was gifted by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE in 2019. The height of the temple is 108 ft, length 262 ft and width 180 ft. While the external facade uses pink sandstone from Rajasthan, the interior uses Italian marbles. A total of 20,000 tonnes of stones and marble was shipped in 700 containers for the temple. More than Rs 700 crore was spent on the temples construction. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Among the key architectural features are 96 bells and gaumukhs installed around the path leading to the temple. These 96 bells are a tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharajs 96 years of life. A BAPS spokesperson said that a Muslim king donated land for a Hindu temple, where the lead architect is a Catholic Christian, the project manager a Sikh, the foundational designer a Buddhist, the construction company a Parsi group, and the director comes from the Jain tradition, as mentioned in an Indian Express report. 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 21, 2025, 12:17 IST 26/11 Plotter Tahawwur Rana Moves Delhi Court Seeking Communication With Family, NIA Gets Notice Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 19:14 IST Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana was extradited to India from the US on April 20 in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai attacks after years of legal wrangling. Tahawwur Rana (File Image) Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in Mumbais 26/11 terror attack who was extradited to India from the United States earlier this month, has moved a Delhi court seeking some mode of communication with his family. A Delhi judge has issued a notice on Ranas plea, seeking the response of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Notably, Rana was remanded to 18-day NIA custody in a late-night court decision after he was brought back to India. The matter will be heard on April 23. Recommended Stories In a major diplomatic success for India, Rana, a 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman who was accused of conspiring to execute the 26/11 terror attacks, was extradited by the Trump administration on April His 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. Rana has been locked up in the NIA Headquarters and is placed under CCTV surveillance. Earlier, sources told CNN-News18 that Rana has been offered vegetarian food and was getting enough sleep. The officials have taken particular precautions to ensure he does not resort to self-harm. The investigative agency is focusing 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. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He was reportedly being grilled by NIA investigators for around eight to ten hours daily to probe a larger conspiracy behind the 2008 attacks. The investigation is also focusing on Ranas links with co-conspirator David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen currently imprisoned in that country. Rana has been charged with numerous offences, including conspiracy, murder, commission of a terrorist act and forgery in the country. Meanwhile, Pakistan has distanced itself from Ranas extradition, saying he was a Canadian citizen. 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 21, 2025, 19:03 IST 'We're Facing Allegations..': SC Touches Upon Judiciary Vs Executive Debate During Bengal Riots Hearing Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 15:08 IST The Supreme Court's remarks hold significance as some BJP leaders as well as Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar lashed out at the Supreme Court over its judgement in Tamil Nadu case. Supreme Court reacts to comments by BJP leaders over judiciary (PTI File Image) The Supreme Court on Monday made an apparent reference to the controversial remarks by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and some BJP leaders over its Tamil Nadu judgment, and said that the top court has been alleged to have encroached upon parliamentary and executive functions". As it is, we are alleged to have encroached upon parliamentary and executive functions," the SC said while hearing a plea seeking Presidents rule in West Bengal over recent violence. Recommended Stories Earlier today, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain mentioned a plea seeking the imposition of Presidents rule in Bengal due to recent violence in Murshidabad and other places, leading to deaths and injuries. I want to bring to light the latest instances of violence that have occurred in the state," Jain told SC in the plea. Justice BR Gavai, who is set to take over as the Chief Justice of India next month, said, You want us to issue mandamus? As it is, we are alleged to have encroached upon parliamentary and executive functions". Later in the day, Justice Gavai, while hearing a PIL filed against Netflix, Amazon, and others, pertaining to the distribution of obscene material through these platforms, said, We are being accused of interfering with legislative and executive functions." Reason Behind SCs Remarks The apex courts remarks came days after VP Dhankhar went all out against the judiciary over a recent SC landmark judgment that set a deadline for the President of India and Governors of states to give assent to a Bill passed by the Parliament or Assemblies for the second time within 3 months. On April 17, Dhankhar made some strong remarks, stating that there cannot be a situation in a democracy where courts direct the President of the country. The VP also asked further if the judges would act as super-parliament", while referring to the SC Tamil Nadu verdict. There is a directive to the President by a recent judgment. Where are we heading? What is happening in the country? We have to be extremely sensitive. It is not a question of someone filing a review or not. We never bargained for democracy on this day. The President is 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 the law of the land does not apply to them," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last week, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also went all out and attacked the Supreme Court, alleging that the SC is responsible for inciting religious wars in the country". The Supreme Court is going beyond its limits. If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut," he had said in controversial remarks, which were also rejected by his party. The BJP distanced itself from his remarks, stating that those were his personal opinions". 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 21, 2025, 11:14 IST Karnataka Ex-DGP Was 'Attacked With Chilli Powder, Then Fatally Stabbed'; Wife, Daughter Booked Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 12:31 IST Former Karnataka DGP's wife threw chilli powder on his face during a heated argument. As he struggled with the burning sensation, she fatally stabbed him multiple times. Bengaluru: Police personnel investigate after former Karnataka Director General of Police Om Prakash was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence (Photo: PTI) As the investigations into the murder of former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash continue, police have now learnt that his wife Pallavi attacked him with chilli powder first before stabbing him to death. News agency PTI quoted sources and reported that Pallavi and Om Prakash had been arguing for some time when she threw chilli powder on his face. Recommended Stories As the hefty former police chief of Karnataka scrambled for relief from the burning sensation, Pallavi stabbed him multiple times with a knife, killing him on the spot, the report quoted sources as saying. She then made a video call to her friend and reportedly said, I have killed the monster". The murder was the culmination of frequent run-ins between the couple, the report claimed. It is learnt that there was a property dispute involved in the crime pertaining to a land in Dandeli in Karnataka. A few months ago, Pallavi had approached the HSR Layout police station to lodge a complaint. When the staff there did not oblige, she staged a dharna (sit-in demonstration) in front of the police station, it stated. Its also learnt that Pallavi was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was under medication. Meanwhile, the police have detained Pallavi as she emerged as a key suspect in the murder case. Along with her, their daughter Kriti has also been detained. This came after Om Prakashs son Karthikesh blamed his mother and sister for the murder of his father. Prakash, a 1981 batch IPS officer hailing from Bihar, was found dead in a pool of blood on the ground floor of his three-storeyed house in the posh HSR Layout in the city on Sunday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He was a native of Champaran, Bihar, and held a Masters degree in Geology. Prakash was appointed Director General of Police on March 1, 2015. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: April 21, 2025, 12:05 IST 'Father Was Threatened, Mother, Sister Fought With Him Every Day': Ex-Karnataka DGP's Son In FIR Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 15:06 IST Former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash was found murdered, with his son alleging that his mother and sister were responsible for the act. The FIR mentions a smashed bottle, a knife near the body. Former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash (L)/ An ambulance carrying his mortal remains (R) (Photos: PTI) Hours after Karnatakas former Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash was murdered, News18 exclusively accessed a copy of the First Information Report filed in the case. The FIR was submitted by Om Prakashs son Karthikesh, who alleged he suspected his mother and sister had killed his father. Recommended Stories He also claimed he had found a smashed bottle and a knife next to the body of his father. My mother and sister were suffering from depression and fought with our father every day," Karthikesh alleged. My father was being threatened with death for the past week, after which he went to stay with my sister Sarita Kumari at her house," he stated. Later, the complainants sister requested Om Prakash to return to his home, the FIR stated, adding that the former DGP had returned to his home on April 18. Karthikesh further claimed that he was away when he received a call from one of his neighbours that his fathers body was found in a pool of blood. I came around 05.45 pm and saw that the policemen and members of the public had gathered around my house, and there was blood around my fathers body and head," he alleged. Om Prakashs body was taken to St. Johns Hospital for further investigations into his death. The police have detained ex-DGPs wife Pallavi as she emerged as a key suspect in the murder case. Along with her, their daughter Kriti has also been detained. Prakash, a 1981 batch IPS officer hailing from Bihar, was found dead in a pool of blood in the ground floor of his three-storeyed house in the posh HSR Layout in the city on Sunday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The 68-year-old retired IPS officer was a native of Champaran, Bihar, and held a Masters degree in Geology. Prakash was appointed Director General of Police on March 1, 2015. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: April 21, 2025, 14:54 IST Hidden Savings Burnt To Ashes, Temple Damaged: Murshidabads Betbona Limps Back To Normalcy Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 12:56 IST Locals claim that more than 130 houses were either attacked, damaged, looted or burnt to ashes in the worst-hit village after the anti-Waqf protests took a communal and violent turn Betbona village in Shamsherganj area of Murshidabad reveals disillusionment and decay in a society hit hard by communal frenzy. (News18) Locals claim that more than 130 houses were either attacked, damaged, looted or burnt to ashes in the village which bears reminders of the targeted chaos unleashed on mostly Hindu residents after the anti-Waqf protests took a communal and violent turn in Murshidabad. Recommended Stories We could never imagine something like this would happen," says Ratan Kumar Mandal, standing next to the gate of the Shiv temple that is situated at the heart of the village. The temple building is semi-demolished, with the attackers allegedly not even sparing the Shivling. There is palpable anger among the residents of Betbona but, more than anger, it is disbelief. Questioned why the villagers did not mount a resistance to stop the attack on their village temple, Mandal says they were outnumbered and afraid. About 500-1,000 people came and demolished this temple. We were afraid. We were just 50-60 people present when the attack took place. Afraid, we locked ourselves in our houses. I took refuge on the first floor. But they continued to break it (the temple). They did not stop till it was all over," adds Mandal. It was not just the attack on the faith of the villagers that left them questioning their safety; many houses were completely burnt to the ground. The two rooms of Sriranjan Ghoshs house, barely 50 meters away from the temple, have been completely burnt, with skeletons of a bicycle and a table fan suggesting someone lived here. The bed is now just black ashes, while a photo of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya stands half burnt. A few cups and a photo frame have survived the fire. An aluminium storage box where Sriranjans wife hid a small stack of cash has been reduced to ashes, as have been crucial documents. That day, Muslims came to protest against the Waqf Act. They were around 1,000 in number. They attacked houses, set them on fire. They beat people and threw them out," recounts Sriranjan. He alleges that gold and cash were looted before the mob set the house on firean allegation that remains almost constant in all the affected villages. He claims there are around 150 houses" belonging to mostly the Hindu community in Betbona that have been targeted. Another house that had been attacked was left wide open; and no residents were present during News18s visit. A goat, probably of the same family, wasnt moving from the main door, as if looking for its inhabitants. In an alley, a few cows were tied and standing at a cow shed that no longer exists. The cows were saved during the attack. Betbona is not just a tale of loss but also a story of survival. Dipali Ghosh, seeing her house attacked, took shelter in a relatives room on the roof along with other family members. When we saw the mob throwing stones and bombs at our house and moving with weapons, we took shelter on that roof along with all the kids and my three brothers. We locked ourselves in the room on the roof. But even that room was set on fire. It was getting too hot inside and the kids were getting uncomfortable due to the heat. We stepped out, and my husband jumped off the roof. Then I dropped the kids one after another and he was catching them. My two daughters sustained injuries as glass pieces pierced their bodies. Due to this attack, I have sent my three daughters to their maternal uncles place," narrated Dipali. Amid the stories of loss, grief and survival, the story of one pucca house in the village is worth talking about. Villagers suggest that had the owners not opened their gates to whoever wanted to get in, the toll of Murshidabad violence could have gone up. Baby Ghosh claims that she gave refuge to nearly 100 people, mostly women and children, on the ill-fated day. After they tried to break the window, throw petrol and bombs on the roof, the attackers couldnt succeed But on the way out, they threatened me, saying they would see how long I could protect the house," said Ghosh. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Had this house not been there, none of us would have been alive. (Though) They tried to attack here as well. We escaped (to here) by jumping through roofs. And they were running after us shouting, catch them," says Geeta Ghosh, who was one of the many who took refuge at Baby Ghoshs house that day. In Betbona, almost every house has a story to tell. But for now, many like Sriranjan have no time for that as they need to worry about a roof above their head. 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 21, 2025, 10:54 IST In Indian Attire, JD Vances Kids Steal The Show As US Veep Begins 4-Day India Visit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 15:13 IST As the family landed in Delhi, JD Vance and Usha Vance were seen with their three children who were dressed in Indian attire. JD Vance and his family are seen. (Image Credit: ANI) US Vice President JD Vance landed in India with his wife Usha Vance and three children as he begin his four-day official visit to the country. This is JD Vances first trip to India and will run from April 21 to 24. As the family landed in Delhi, JD Vance and Usha Vance were seen with their three children. While JD and Usha were seen in formal attire, the kids were seen wearing traditional Indian attire. Both sons of Vance were wearing Kurta-pyjama and his little daughter was seen wearing a blue dress inspired by Indian ethnic design. Recommended Stories Usha Vance is of Indian origin and her ancestral roots trace back to Vadluru village in Andhra Pradesh, India. #WATCH | Delhi: Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, along with their children welcomed at Palam airport.Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw received the Vice President. pic.twitter.com/ocXCXOdmgQ ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025 Whats On JD Vances Agenda For India Trip? JD Vances visit to India is focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the United States and India, with a particular emphasis on economic, trade, and defense cooperation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A key part of his itinerary includes official talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where discussions will likely center on deepening bilateral ties and exploring avenues for a potential trade agreement. JD Vance will also visit the Taj Mahal in Agra and historical sites in Jaipur. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" First Published: April 21, 2025, 10:24 IST J-K Weather Update: Schools To Remain Shut Today After Cloudburst In Ramban Kills Three, Yellow Alert In Place Curated By : & News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 08:02 IST Jammu-Kashmir Weather Update: While the weather will remain dry in most of the regions, IMD has issued yellow alert for some districts including Kupwara, Bandipora, and Baramulla among several others. A visual of Ramban district after landslides (Credits: Screengrab of video shared on X) Jammu-Kashmir Weather Update: All schools across Jammu-Kashmir will remain closed today, April 21, a day after heavy rainfall triggering flash floods and landslides left three people dead in Ramban. The weather conditions damaged several houses and shops and affected the traffic movement on the strategic 250-kilometer Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Jammu and Kashmirs (J-K) Education Minister Sakina took to X and announced the closure of schools for April 21. In light of the continuing severe weather conditions and forecasts, it has been decided that classwork in all schools of the valley shall remain suspended for one day tomorrow (21st April). This decision has been taken as a precautionary step to ensure the safety and well-being of all students," she wrote. Recommended Stories The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for several districts of Jammu-Kashmir, including Kupwara, Bandipora, and Baramulla, among several others. Jammu-Kashmir Weather Update: Yellow Alert In Place For These Areas: Bandipora Kupwara Baramulla Ganderbaj Anantnag Kishtwar Ramban Doda Pulwama Jammu-Kashmir Weather Update: IMD Advises Farmers To Suspend Farm Operations Earlier, the weather department asked the farmers to suspend all farm activities starting from April 18 till the afternoon of April 21. Meanwhile, the lives of people remain massively affected in Ramban due to the cloudburst on Sunday morning. #WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Several buildings have been damaged due to a landslide following heavy rains and hailstorm in Ramban district pic.twitter.com/jx3MGycq4s ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Visuals shared on X showed houses and roads in Ramban damaged. Roads were blocked and several vehicles got stuck due to the landslides. Deputy CM Surinder Chuadhary also visited the affected area and took stock of the situation. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shared condolences over the loss of lives and assured all support from the government."Extremely anguished by the tragic landslide and flash flood in Ramban, which has caused considerable damage to life and property. My thoughts are with the affected families in this difficult hour. We are in touch with the local administration to ensure immediate rescue efforts wherever needed," said Abdullah in a statement shared by the Chief Ministers Office. Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India First Published: April 21, 2025, 07:37 IST Delhi Police Issue Traffic Advisory Ahead Of JD Vance's Arrival, Check Routes To Avoid Here Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 07:33 IST In view of JD Vance's Delhi visit today, the city's traffic police have issued an advisory for different times of the day, citing a special event in the national capital. Delhi Traffic Police | Representative Image United States Vice President JD Vance is expected to land at Air Force Station, Palam in New Delhi around 9:30 am (IST) today as part of his first four-day official visit to India. Earlier on Sunday, Vance and his family were seen boarding the Air Force Two aircraft at Rome Ciampino Airport. According to the White House Press Pool, Vance is set to formally meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6:30 pm at his residence. Recommended Stories After his meeting with Prime Minister Modi in Delhi, the US Vice President will head to Jaipur on Tuesday, followed by a visit to Agra on April 23. His India visit will wrap up with his departure at 6:40 am on Thursday, April 24. In view of his Delhi visit today, the citys traffic police have issued an advisory for different times of the day, citing a special event" in the national capital. Delhi Traffic Advisory: Check Routes To Avoid From 9 am to 11 am Monday: Delhi Traffic Police announced that on Monday between 9 am and 11 am, parking will be strictly prohibited on Sardar Patel Marg, Gurugram Road, Parade Road, Thimmaiya Marg, Air Force Road, and nearby areas. Commuters are advised to steer clear of these routes. Any vehicles found parked improperly in these zones will be towed and relocated to the traffic pit near Kalibari Mandir Marg, in front of Bhairon Temple. Traffic AdvisorySpecial traffic arrangements will be in place on 21.04.2025 (Monday) from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM due to a special event to ensure smooth traffic regulation. Kindly follow the advisory.#DPTrafficAdvisory pic.twitter.com/KrJOt7RAXX Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) April 20, 2025 From 11 am to 2 pm Monday: For the next three hours, select routes in Central Delhi will be diverted to maintain smooth traffic movement. Parking or halting of vehicles will not be permitted on C-Hexagon, Janpath Road, Sardar Patel Marg, and surrounding areas. Restrictions will also apply to Sikandra Road, Firoz Shah Road, MNLP, Vikas Marg, Noida Link Road, Akshardham, and nearby routes, where stopping or parking will be prohibited. From 6 pm to 9 pm Monday: During this period, vehicles will not be allowed to halt or park on Sardar Patel Marg, Kamal Ataturk Road, Gurugram Road, Parade Road, Thimmaiya Marg, Air Force Road, and nearby areas. As in previous time slots, commuters heading from 11 Murti to RML can use Vande Mataram Marg via Dhaula Kuan Flyover to R/A Shankar Road, Talkatora Road, and Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman Marg. Those travelling between Delhi Airport and Dhaula Kuan Flyover are advised to use Rao Tula Ram Marg. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: April 21, 2025, 07:10 IST Just Like Your Father: Baba Siddique's Son Zeeshan Receives Death Threat Via Email Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 22:02 IST The threatening message was sent to Siddique's personal email account which said that Zeeshan would be killed the same way as his father, Baba Siddique. Slain NCP leader Baba Siddique and his son Zeeshan Siddique. (File) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Ajit Pawar faction) leader and former MLA Zeeshan Siddique received a death threat via email on Monday. According to Mumbai Police officials, the threatening message was sent to Siddiques official email account which said that Zeeshan would be killed the same way as his father, Baba Siddique. The email sender has demanded a ransom of Rs 10 crore and said that he would send such emails every six hours. Recommended Stories Baba Siddique (66) was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddiques office in Mumbais Neelamnagar area on October 12, 2024, by three assailants. What happened to your father will happen to you," the email stated. While speaking to News18, the NCP leader said that he has been receiving these threats from three days. He further said that the mails have come from Mddilshad15@gmail.com. However Baba Siddiquis murder is regrettable, but if you want your and your familys well-being, you will have to pay 10 crores," the threat email stated as per Zeeshan. Zeeshan further informed that D Company" was written at the end of the email. The NCP leader reported the incident to the Bandra Police which later visited his residence and launched an investigation into the case. I have received one threat email today, I had reported that to Bandra Police. Team of Bandra police has reached my residence to record my statement. Cant share the content of the mail as of police is investigating the matter," he said. Baba Siddique Murder Case Baba Siddique, a prominent NCP leader and former minister, was gunned down by three assailants on October 12, 2024, near his sons office. Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnois younger brother Anmol, believed to be living in Canada, was allegedly behind the murder. The three shooters were identified as- Gurmail Singh, a native of Haryana, Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh and Shiv Kumar Gautam alias Shiva, the main assailant who allegedly shot dead former Maharashtra minister, who were later held by the Police. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As per the investigation, Shiv reportedly had revealed that the NCP leader was killed due to his close connections" with fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Earlier, a special court in January issued a non-bailable warrant against Anmol Bishnoi and two others wanted accused in the murder case. 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 21, 2025, 21:59 IST Kerala Lottery Results LIVE: Win Win W-818 Winners For April 21, 2025 Soon; First Prize Rs 75 Lakh! Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 09:00 IST Kerala Lottery Result Guessing Numbers: Check the Live Updates and full list of winning numbers for Win Win W-818 lucky draw for Monday, April 21, 2025 here from 3 pm. Kerala Lottery Win Win W-818 Results: The first prize winner of Win Win W-818 will get Rs 75 lakh. (Image: Shutterstock) KERALA LOTTERY WIN WIN W-818 RESULT ON MONDAY, 21.4.2025, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department will announce the results of the Win-Win W-818 lottery on Monday, April 21. The top prize winner will receive a grand reward of Rs 75 lakh, followed by Rs 5 lakh for the second prize, and Rs 1 lakh for the third place. The complete list of winning numbers for Mondays draw is given below. KERALA LOTTERY WIN WIN W-818 GUESSING NUMBERS Recommended Stories 8906 8960 8096 8069 8690 8609 9806 9860 9086 9068 9680 9608 0896 0869 0986 0968 0689 0698 6890 6809 WIN WIN W-818 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE 1st Prize: Rs 75 Lakh 2nd Prize: Rs. 5 Lakh 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 2,000 6th Prize: Rs. 1,000 7th Prize: Rs. 500 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 THE FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR WIN WIN W-818 WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 75 LAKH IS: To be updated WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKH IS: To be updated WINNING NUMBER FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 LAKH ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: To be updated HOW TO CHECK THE WIN-WIN W- 818 RESULTS? The official results for the Win-Win W-818 lottery can be found on the Kerala Lottery Departments authorised websites, such as keralalottery.info. If you prefer checking the results offline, you can verify the winning numbers through the Kerala Government Gazette, available at designated offices. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY? Verify your ticket number with the official results published in the Kerala Government Gazette. If your ticket number is listed among the winners, you are eligible to claim a prize. Prize claims must be made within 30 days of the result announcement. Visit Gorky Bhavan, the Kerala Lottery Departments headquarters, to claim your prize. Carry the original ticket along with valid photo identification for verification. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY? A photocopy of the winning lottery ticket, self-attested, showing both the front and back sides. Recent passport-size photographs, certified by a Gazetted officer. A signed copy of your PAN card for identity verification. The official prize claim form, properly filled in and submitted with a revenue stamp affixed. A valid identity document such as an Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Ration card, or PAN card. HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH A FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS? Go to the official websites of the Kerala Lottery Department: keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresult.net. Locate the section dedicated to the Win-Win W-818 lottery draw. The complete list of winning numbers will be displayed on the results page. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Look for the option to download the results to your device. Click the available link to open and view 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 21, 2025, 09:00 IST MHA Flags New High-Quality Fake Rs 500 Notes. Here's How You Can Identify Them Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 10:02 IST The error is found in the phrase 'RESERVE BANK OF INDIA' where the letter 'E' in 'RESERVE' has been mistakenly replaced with the letter 'A' Financial institutions, banks, and related agencies have been placed on high alert, with indications that a large number of counterfeit notes may have already entered the market. (Pixabay) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a high importance alert regarding a new type of counterfeit Rs 500 currency note that has entered circulation. The alert, shared with key financial and regulatory institutions like DRI, FIU, CBI, NIA, SEBI etc, warns that the fake notes closely resemble genuine ones in terms of quality and print, making detection more difficult. According to a communication reviewed by News18, the counterfeit notes bear a striking similarity to authentic Rs 500 notes, with only a minor but significant spelling error giving them away. The error is found in the phrase RESERVE BANK OF INDIA" where the letter E" in RESERVE" has been mistakenly replaced with the letter A". Recommended Stories This subtle mistake may go unnoticed without close inspection, making these counterfeits particularly dangerous," said a senior government official while quoting the letter. Financial institutions, banks, and related agencies have been placed on high alert, with indications that a large number of these counterfeit notes may have already entered the market. A photograph of the suspected counterfeit currency has also been circulated to assist with identification. Authorities are urging citizens and institutions to be vigilant and report any suspicious currency. According to a senior official involved in investigation of terror financing, it would not be possible for any agency to know how many counterfeit notes are in circulation. The only data available with the government is through different sources, which also includes counterfeit notes submitted to the bank by public. But, the number of counterfeit notes is much higher than those figures. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The government, in the recent Parliament session, had talked about measures implemented to curb counterfeit notes. Measures implemented include penal provisions under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) & Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 as well as constitution of National Investigation Agency (NIA), FICN Coordination Group (FCORD) and Terror Funding & Fake Currency (TFFC) Cell," it said. To facilitate detection of counterfeit Notes, all bank branches/ identified back offices and the currency chest branches are equipped with appropriate banknote sorting/ verification/processing/ detection machines. About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More First Published: April 21, 2025, 10:00 IST 'Pope Francis Will Be Remembered As Beacon Of Humility, Spiritual Courage': PM Modi Condoles Demise Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 14:37 IST Pope Francis passed away at 88 this morning, Vatican announced. Condolences poured in from across the globe. PM Modi condoles Pope Francis' demise (Photo: X/ Narendra Modi) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered his condolences to the global Catholic community over the passing of Pope Francis and said that he will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage". He also recalled his meetings with the Pope and said that his affection for the people of India will always be cherised". Recommended Stories Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi posted on X, where he also shared some pictures of his earlier meetings. I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in Gods embrace," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning at 7.35 am, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in an announcement. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church," the statement said. 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 21, 2025, 14:35 IST 'Something Wrong...': In US, Rahul Gandhi Questions Poll Commission, BJP Calls His Tour 'Bharat Badnam Yatra' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 11:09 IST Rahul Gandhi, speaking in Boston, alleged the Election Commission was "compromised" during the Maharashtra elections. The BJP hit back, accusing him of insulting Indias democracy. Rahul Gandhi speaks at an event in the United States (Photo: ANI) Rahul Gandhi, who arrived in the United States on Sunday, has alleged the Election Commission of India was compromised" during the assembly elections in Maharashtra. He also claimed there was something very wrong with the system" and that there were was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours. Recommended Stories Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party called his visit to the US "Bharat Badnam Yatra and also called him anti-India. Gandhis remark came while he was speaking at a meeting in Boston. More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in the state, and this is a fact. The Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5.30 pm, and in two hours, around 7.30 pm, 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible," Gandhi claimed as he addressed the Indian diaspora. Its very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, there is something very wrong with the system," he claimed. The Leader of Opposition also spoke about Indias relations with the United States, and said he hoped that the two countries would continue to work together. We have a partnership with the US, and hopefully we will continue to work together," Rahul Gandhi said. Expressing his gratitude, he thanked the people for carrying the ideologies and the flag of Congress to the United States. You believe, you listen to other people, and you respect them. This is what runs in the Congress party and in our family. Thank you for carrying the flag here, its a very powerful thing to do" he said. BJP, SHIV SENA REACT As soon as Gandhis claims went viral on social media, the BJP slammed him, saying that the former Congress chief has always made wrong claims and put India in a spot during his foreign visits. Rahul Gandhi always insults the Constitution of India while on his trips to other countries. From being anti-(Narendra) Modi, some people have now become anti-India, and spew venom against our country on international soil," BJPs national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a self-recorded video. The entire world praises the Election Commission of India and the agency has even fact-checked leaders who spoke against it. Rahul Gandhi is creating a doubt against India by speaking such language in a foreign country," he said. This is being done to save his face from the loss his party faced," he alleged. Speaking to reporters, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said, Where they (Congress) are winning, there the EVM and Election Commission are good, but where they are losing, they are making allegations against the EVM and Election Commission." In a self-recorded video, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said, Rahul Gandhi, who is on another Bharat Badnam Yatra, India Abuse Yatra on foreign soil has once again, deplorably attacked Indias constitutional institution and he has unsuccessfully once again tried to undermine Indias democracy in a foreign country." Rahul Gandhi has attacked the ECI abroad in America, he is peddling lies, falsehoods and trying to attack our ECI when the American President, Mr Donald Trump, has hailed and lauded Indias electoral system and Indias voter registration This is how clueless LoP Rahul Gandhi is," he said. VIDEO | Heres what BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan (@crkesavan) said on Congress MP Rahul Gandhis remarks in Boston on Election Commission of India.Rahul Gandhi who is on another Bharat Badnam Yatra, India Abuse Yatra on foreign soil has once again, deplorably attacked pic.twitter.com/d65oBjICKN Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2025 BJP leader Sambit Patra said the Gandhi family is on the wrong side of the line. The family who is out on bail, if they feel they can speak outside of the country on democracy, they are on the wrong side of the line," Patra said. Rahul Gandhi goes and says that the EC is compromised. I want to ask, Jharkhand elections also happened at the same time, did they sort of have a samjhauta (compromise) with the EC?" he asked. We lost Ayodhya, and you celebrated. Was there a compromise with the EC at that time?" Patra asked. BJP Karnatakas co-convenor Sunny Raj also shared Rahul Gandhis video on his X handle, and wrote, Instead of introspection, hes busy insulting Indias democracy on foreign soil." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Shiv Sena also reacted to Rahul Gandhis remark and said he always talks bad about the country. He always talks bad about our country. I dont know whether he is really an Indian citizen or he is an Italian citizen. We just want to warn Rahul Gandhi that if he talks like this, if he talks about Veer Savarkar and if he tries to assassinate our countrys character, then we will make sure that Rahul Gandhi (isnt) allowed to roam in India," Sena leader Raju Waghmare said. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: April 21, 2025, 10:11 IST India-US Trade Deal Loading? PM Modi, JD Vance Welcome 'Significant Progress' In Talks Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Aveek Banerjee Last Updated: April 22, 2025, 08:09 IST PM Modi and US Vice President JD Vance welcomed "significant progress" in the negotiations for a much-anticipated trade pact amid Trump's tariff push. PM Modi speaking to US Vice President JD Vance during formal talks in New Delhi. (MEA) In a significant development, India has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice-President JD Vance have welcomed significant progress" in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement. The US, in yet another big development, said Vance and PM Modi have announced the Terms of Reference for a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. Vance and Modi met in delegation-level talks at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, amidst warm scenes where Vance was accompanied by his wife and three children. Both countries are in talks for a trade deal, which is aimed to be completed by fall this year as per an agreement made during PM Modis trip to the US this February and meeting with US President Donald Trump. Both countries also could sign an interim deal soon. Recommended Stories They (Modi and Vance) welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries," the PMO said in a statement. This would raise hopes that a trade deal could be worked out soon, after the US put a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for India and other countries. A high-level Indian team is set to leave for the US soon to conduct talks after a US team had visited India. Pleased to welcome US @VP @JDVance and his family in New Delhi. We reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump. We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and pic.twitter.com/LRNmodIZLB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2025 PM Modi in his meeting with Vance recalled his successful visit to Washington DC in January and his discussions with President Trump, the PMO said. Following up on their meeting in February this year in Paris, PM and Vice President Vance reviewed progress in bilateral relations. They welcome progress in the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies," the PMO said. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, the PMO said. Modi also told Vance that he would like to convey greetings to Trump and looks forward to Trumps visit to India later this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Vice President of the United States of America, JD Vance today, accompanied by the Second Lady Usha Vance, their children, and senior members of the US Administration. Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Washington DC in January and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047," the government said. Prime Minister and Vice President Vance reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation, the statement added. They also noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas. The PMO said that the two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India has been advocating for the Ukraine-Russia conflict to come to an end, and be resolved by dialogue. The Prime Minister also extended his best wishes to the Vice President, Second Lady and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India. About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More First Published: April 21, 2025, 21:04 IST JD Vance Visit Follows Modi-Trump Rapport, May Pave Way For Early India-US Trade Deal Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 07:58 IST US Vice-President JD Vance has risen as a prominent figure in India-US relations and is seen as an extension of the worldview shared by PM Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump US Vice-President JD Vances (R) first official visit to India comes on the heels of PM Narendra Modis (L) trip to the US in February. (Image: AFP/File) The visit of US Vice-President JD Vance to India on Monday is more than a diplomatic event. It carries the subtext of the Modi-Trump relationship, a dynamic that continues to powerfully echo through both domestic and international corridors in a polarised world. All this may explain why India may clinch an early trade deal with the US a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modis long-term strategic patience and relationship cultivation. This is also the story of how he built a direct rapport with President Donald Trump the optics of Howdy Modi and Namaste Trump, but also the strategic calculus behind these moves. Recommended Stories Modi has prepared India for Trumps potential return to the White House by ensuring continuity in diplomatic engagements and dialogue with both Republican as well as Democratic leaders. His pragmatism has led him to maintain bipartisan trust in Washington, navigating ideological divides and staying focused on one thing, national interest. For both the leaders, the priority is holding fast to a nation first" ideology America First for Trump and India First for Modi. This is how the mutual interests have aligned, culminating in Vances visit to India. Vance has risen as a prominent figure in India-US relations and is being seen as an extension of the same worldview shared by Modi and Trump. His first official visit comes on the heels of the Prime Ministers trip to the US in February, where a wide-ranging joint statement laid out ambitions in defence technology, energy, AI, critical minerals, semiconductors, space cooperation, and people-to-people exchange. The Vice-Presidents visit, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance (who is of Indian origin) and their children, provides an opportunity to take stock of the progress. MODI-TRUMP-VANCE RAPPORT In a recent conversation with podcaster Lex Fridman, Modi had shared anecdotes about Trump that reflected mutual respect and an alignment in worldview. He recalled how the President, despite stringent security protocols, spontaneously agreed to walk around a packed stadium in Houston a moment he described as truly touching". The visit of Vance is symbolic of the same mutual respect, given his closeness to Trump and the likelihood of him extending the same dynamics. The soft power undertones of the visit, like the presence of his wife Usha and their children, and the stops in Jaipur and Agra, also send a strong message. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recently, there were visuals of the family landing in Italy, with Vance carrying his child. A repeat of such visuals could strike an emotional chord in India, too, apart from the bond that Usha shares with the country and her cultural familiarity. All eyes will be on the chemistry between Vance and Modi as it can accelerate progress in complex areas like trade talks. Personal diplomacy can move faster than institutional machinery, and the Modi-Trump story provides a compelling case study of the same. Vances visit could prove to be another positive chapter in it. About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More First Published: April 21, 2025, 06:30 IST West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose Hospitalised With Chest Ailment, CM Mamata Banerjee Visits Him Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 15:36 IST West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose was admitted to the Eastern Command Hospital here on Monday after he complained of chest pain, a senior Raj Bhavan official said. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose (PTI file photo) West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose was admitted to the Eastern Command Hospital here on Monday after he complained of chest pain, a senior Raj Bhavan official said. He was taken there around 10 am. Recommended Stories Doctors are currently monitoring his condition and will take a call on the next course of treatment after carrying out necessary tests. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid a visit to Bose at the hospital before leaving for Salboni in Paschim Medinipur to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony of the 1,600 MW power plant of JSW. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all "I visited the Governor at the Command Hospital since he is ill. I have directed my chief secretary to take necessary steps in this regard," Banerjee told reporters before boarding her helicopter at Dumurjola helipad in Howrah. The senior Raj Bhavan official said Bose had complained of chest congestion after returning from riot-hit Murshidabad on Saturday. First Published: April 21, 2025, 15:36 IST Jyotika Stuns In A Traditional Red Saree As She Offers Prayers At Shakti Peethas Of Kolhapur With Suriya Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 09:51 IST Jyotika recently visited the Shakti Peethas of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi and Kamakhya Temple with her husband Suriya. She shared the pictures on her social media. Jyotika wore a traditional red saree that was adorned with gold motifs. Jyotika is currently basking in the success of her performance in Netflixs Dabba Cartel. The actor shared the screen with Shabana Azmi, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, and Nimisha Sajayan in this crime drama series. Amidst the success of the film, the actor recently visited the Shakti Peethas of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi and Kamakhya Temple with her husband Suriya. Taking to her Instagram, Jyotika shared a series of pictures from her visit to the temple. She mentioned that she visited the temples to seek blessings as she starts working on her next film. She wrote, Blessed to have visited the sacred Shakti peethas of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi and Kamakhya during the auspicious new year! Starting my next film I thank you for your love and blessings always." The actor opted for a stunning red saree for her religious visit. Recommended Stories Lets decode Jyotikas red saree look here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jyotika (@jyotika) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Jyotika opted for a vibrant red chiffon saree for her religious visit. The saree was embellished with elegant golden borders and traditional motifs. The actor draped the saree to perfection and let the pallu fall elegantly from her shoulders. She paired the saree with a matching half-sleeve blouse. For the accessories, Jyotika opted for a traditional gold and black temple necklace and matching statement earrings. She also opted for a stack of black bangles on one wrist and a silver watch on the other. For the glam, Jyotika went with a minimal yet chic makeup look. She went with a fresh and dewy base. She defined her eyes with winged eyeliner. She added a hint of blush to her cheeks for that rosy glow. She tied her hair up in a loose ponytail and added a nude matte shade to her lips. She finished her look with a small red bindi on her forehead. 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 21, 2025, 09:51 IST National Civil Services Day 2025: History, Significance, Quotes And Key Facts Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 08:17 IST National Civil Services Day is celebrated on April 21 to honour civil servants' contributions to India's development. National Civil Service Day 2025: This day also acts as a reminder for the officials to run the administrative machinery of the country collectively and with equal efforts. (File Pic) National Civil Services Day 2025: Every year on April 21, our nation celebrates National Civil Services Day to acknowledge and pay tribute to all the civil servants for their efforts in the development of our country. This day also acts as a reminder for the officials to run the administrative machinery of the country collectively and with equal efforts. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and a list of All India Services and Group A and B of Central Services fall under Indian civil services. National Civil Services Day 2025: History Recommended Stories The origin of this day goes back to 1947 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel made a speech for the first batch of IAS probationers, addressed them as the steel frame of India", and explained their predominant role in the shaping and development of the nation. This historical speech took place on April 21, 1947 at Metcalfe House, New Delhi. To commemorate this iconic event and the hard work of the civil servants, the National Civil Services Day was first celebrated on April 21, 2006 in New Delhi and since then, April 21 has been observed as National Civil Services Day. National Civil Services Day 2025: Significance This day is celebrated to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and efforts of civil servants in shaping and developing our nation for the better. Each year, on the occasion of this day, Civil Servants from different sectors across the country come together to celebrate the workers year-long efforts. On this day, districts/implementing units are awarded the Excellence in Public Administration award for implementation of priority programmes. Some of the main objectives of this day includes, motivating and appreciating the hard work of the officials, assessing and evaluating various departments year-long work, and felicitating the officials, among others. National Civil Services Day 2025: Quotes The main task before India today is to consolidate herself into a well-knit and united power." Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel The civil servant is primarily the master of the short-term solution." Indira Gandhi One of the keys to ensuring accountability is to have civil servants who witness fraud and abuse blow the whistle." Byron Dorgan The role of civil servants is crucial in building a strong and prosperous nation." Manmohan Singh top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all National Civil Service Day 2025: Key Facts Indias first official National Civil Services Day ceremony was held in 2006 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. On this day, officers are felicitated and awarded with the Prime Ministers Award for Excellence over their year-long hard work and relentless efforts. The award contains a medal, scroll and Rs 1 lakh. 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 21, 2025, 07:00 IST Finepoint | PM Modis Saudi Arabia Visit: How India Is Leading The Revival Of IMEC Written By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 14:00 IST Through high-level talks with Trump, Macron, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and efforts to ease West Asia tensions, India is using its strategic ties to bring IMEC back on track For Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, there is much catching up to do. (Image: Reuters) PM Modis visit to Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the region is stirred with conflict and tensions. Israel is locked in a conflict with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, and tensions with Iran are also simmering consistently. Meanwhile, Syria remains destabilised with regime change and civil wars. The global tide of geopolitics is also shifting. US President Donald Trump is back in office and has launched a global tariff war, seeking to renegotiate trade terms with all other nations. Meanwhile, he is also trying to bring a close to the Russia-Ukraine war in which Saudi Arabia is playing the role of mediator. Recommended Stories For Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, there is much catching up to do. Saudi Arabia has a $100 billion investment plan for India that needs to be expedited. Also on the agenda are strengthening defence, energy, and major trade ties. The most fundamental question concerns the IMEC: can India, Saudi Arabia, and their regional, European, and American partners stitch together an economic corridor robust enough to rival Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)? IMEC: A MODERN SILK ROUTE Announced on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023, IMEC is a transcontinental trade and transport network connecting India to Europe via the Middle East cutting across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, before reaching Europe through Greece and Italy. Termed as a modern Silk Route, it will reduce logistics costs by up to 30 per cent and cut transportation time by 40 per cent. For example, it takes about 15 to 16 days for cargo to be shipped from Mumbai to Piraeus in Greece. With IMEC, the time could be reduced to 10 to 11 days, saving 5 to 6 transit days. The vision is about laying rail lines and fibre cables, enhancing port connectivity and creating a seamless, secure, and resilient supply chain that could emerge as the preferred alternative to Chinas debt-laden BRI projects. But for IMEC to thrive, stability in West Asia is non-negotiable, and Saudi Arabia, as the leading voice in the region, stands at the heart of this equation. IMEC: REMOVING THE ROADBLOCKS The project hit a roadblock just weeks after the agreement was signed, when Hamas carried out the gruesome 7 October attack on Israel in 2023, altering the regions trajectory. Israel launched a war on Gaza, and political opinion about Israel in Arab nationsincluding Saudi Arabiaplummeted, just as Israel was hoping to clinch normalisation of ties with Riyadh, akin to the Abraham Accords signed with the UAE. The region plunged into such deep animosity that, for a moment, it seemed the IMEC was dead on arrival. But thanks to Indias efforts, there is now hope. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, although the necessary groundwork could not be completed following the signing of the framework agreement in 2023, individual countries have made some progress in infrastructure linkages". He added that work is set to begin imminently on connecting electricity grids, which he described as one of the major pillars of the IMEC initiative". So, while progress is slow, the IMEC is advancing, with some stakeholders making headway at the individual level. Misri said, The security situation in the region makes it seem as if progress has frozen on IMEC, but we have been working with select partners." He also went on to highlight how India is also working to control the violence between the Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, engaging the Palestinians and Israelis as well as Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. India, with its strong relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia, the US, and all other IMEC partners, can leverage its balanced position in West Asia and its cordial ties with the major stakeholders to revitalise the project. And Prime Minister Modi has been on this journey. When he met President Trump earlier this year, he raised the IMEC and its grand potential. Trump was receptive to the idea. Prior to that, he met President Macron, reaffirming their shared commitment to the project. And now, we have Saudi Arabiaa central figure in the IMEC. SAUDI ARABIA: THE ANCHOR OF IMEC Saudi Arabia is not just another pit stop on the map of IMEC it is the anchor. Geographically central, politically influential, and flush with investment capital, the Kingdoms role is pivotal. The Saudi leadership, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), has been pursuing an ambitious plan of its ownVision 2030aimed at diversifying its economy away from oil dependency. IMEC fits perfectly into this vision. Saudi Arabias own Neom projecta $500 billion mega-city on the Red Seawill likely depend on IMEC for materials, technology, and talent. Indian firms are already participating in Neoms construction and design. A functioning IMEC would offer Saudi Arabia a logistics and trade boost, linking its Red Sea ports and the futuristic NEOM city to both Indian manufacturers and European markets. For India, this partnership could cut shipping times by days, avoid geopolitical chokepoints like the Suez Canal or the conflict-ridden Red Sea, and build new resilience into global commerce. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As PM Modi prepares to meet MBS in Jeddah, the agenda will be much broader than trade statistics and investment promises. It will be about infusing a deeper strategic angle in the two nations strategic partnership. IMEC could emerge as the signature project of this partnership one that connects more than just geographies. It could realign global trade, offering a non-coercive, economically sound alternative to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. But for this corridor to take shape, Saudi Arabias continued commitment and Indias proactive diplomacy will be the twin pillars of success. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Shubhangi Sharma Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. First Published: April 21, 2025, 14:00 IST Global Watch | Bangladesh Terror Network: How ISIS-Bangladesh Is Pushing Agenda Of Islamic State Written By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 20:16 IST ISIS-Bangladesh primarily operates in Bangladesh, advocating for the establishment of an Islamic state governed by its extreme interpretation of Sharia law ISIS-Bangladesh is a terrorist group that is considered a branch or affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS). (Representative image) After the ouster of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government, Bangladesh, under the leadership of its Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has become a hub of radical Islamists and terrorist groups that pose a danger not only to the regional peace and security but also pose a grave threat to global peace and security. This is Part 3 of the multi-part series that profiles some of the key terrorist and Islamist outfits active in Bangladesh, resulting in pogrom of Hindus and other minorities. These radical Islamist groups have systematically targeted political opponents. All of them have close ties with Pakistan and the global terror network. Recommended Stories ISIS-Bangladesh is a terrorist group that is considered a branch or affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS). It primarily operates in Bangladesh, advocating for the establishment of an Islamic state governed by its extreme interpretation of Sharia law. While ISIS-Bangladesh is not officially recognised as an independent ISIS province, it is closely aligned with the global ISIS terror network. Brief History ISIS-Bangladesh is believed to have emerged around 2014 when the Islamic State began to gain global attention. The organisation started recruiting militants in Bangladesh, capitalising on local jihadist groups discontent with the government. One of the first significant signs of the groups presence was the 2015 attack on the Italian and Japanese nationals in Dhaka, which is attributed to ISIS-Bangladesh. While the central ISIS command had tried to expand its influence in the region, ISIS-Bangladesh was not as prominent as other ISIS affiliates like those in Iraq and Syria. However, the group made headlines in the region with multiple terrorist attacks, particularly those targeting secular bloggers, religious minorities, and foreigners. Current State The group remains a serious threat in Bangladesh, though its activities have decreased in recent years due to increased counterterrorism operations by the Bangladeshi government. Despite this, ISIS-Bangladesh continues to operate in the background and inspire local jihadist cells. It has primarily operated through online propaganda and smaller-scale attacks rather than large-scale confrontations. The group remains a significant concern due to its ideological connections with ISISs global agenda and its ability to recruit from disaffected segments of the population. Prominent Leaders Sayed Mohammad Ziaul Haque: Considered one of the key figures associated with ISIS-Bangladesh, Ziaul Haque allegedly led some of the operations and recruitment efforts for the group. He was a former member of the banned group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and his connections to international terror networks have made him a key figure in their operations. Abu Ibrahim al-Bangladeshi: This individual has been reportedly associated with ISIS operations in Bangladesh, serving as a senior commander. He has been involved in orchestrating attacks and spreading ISIS propaganda. Other leaders: Specific names of leaders within ISIS-Bangladesh are difficult to trace, as many are known only by pseudonyms or online aliases. The groups leadership has been deliberately decentralised, with local cells often acting autonomously under the influence of global ISIS directives. Ideology and Philosophy ISIS-Bangladesh follows the same radical ideology as its parent organisation, ISIS. The group is dedicated to establishing a caliphate governed by a strict interpretation of Sharia law. They advocate for the creation of an Islamic state that enforces their interpretation of Sharia, rejecting any form of democracy or secular governance. Jihad: ISIS-Bangladesh sees violent jihad as a religious duty and aims to eliminate non-believers and apostates, including Shia Muslims, secularists, and Hindus. Anti-Western and Anti-India Sentiment: The group is fiercely anti-Western and anti-Indian, believing that the West and India are enemies of Islam. They oppose the Bangladeshi governments relations with the West and India. Teaching or School of Thought ISIS-Bangladesh follows the Salafi-jihadist ideology, which is a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam. Chronological Details of Anti-State or Anti-India Activity 2015: The group claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks, including the attack on the Shia Mosque in Dhaka and the murder of bloggers and activists who were critical of Islam. These incidents were part of a broader strategy to create fear and disrupt the secular fabric of Bangladesh. 2016: The Dhaka cafe attack (July 1, 2016), in which 22 people were killed, was one of the most notorious attacks attributed to ISIS-Bangladesh. The attackers were inspired by ISIS, and the event highlighted the groups increasing operational capacity. 20172018: During this period, ISIS-Bangladesh continued to carry out targeted attacks against religious minorities and secular individuals. The groups activity also spiked on certain religious holidays, seeking to create chaos and fear. 2019: The Bangladesh security forces ramped up operations against ISIS-Bangladesh, leading to the deaths or arrests of several key operatives. A significant blow was struck against the group when its leader, Ziaul Haque, was killed in a counter-terrorism raid in 2019. 2020s: Although the groups physical presence has been weakened by security crackdowns, ISIS-Bangladesh has continued to use social media and encrypted messaging platforms to propagate its ideology and recruit new members. Present Hold in Bangladesh While ISIS-Bangladesh does not have a large territorial hold or a network of fighters comparable to ISIS in the Middle East, the group has a significant ideological presence. The following points summarise its current status: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ideological Influence: ISIS-Bangladesh continues to inspire smaller jihadist cells across the country. These cells often act independently but are united by the same radical ideology. Their influence is particularly felt among marginalised youth, who are often targeted for recruitment through online channels. Weakening of Organisational Strength: Counterterrorism efforts by the Bangladeshi government have successfully dismantled many of the groups networks. Several high-ranking leaders have been arrested or killed, and ISIS-Bangladeshs organizational capacity has significantly reduced. Continued Threat: Despite setbacks, ISIS-Bangladesh remains a threat. It has adapted by decentralising its operations, relying on lone wolves and small groups to carry out attacks. The group continues to issue propaganda and remains a danger due to its radical ideology. The writer is an author and a columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: April 21, 2025, 20:16 IST Write Mind | Kesari 2.0: A Roaring Tribute To CS Nair, The Lion Who Shook An Empire Written By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 13:32 IST Kesari 2.0 is a mirror to our conscience, a fist against oblivion. It demands that we teach this history, seek a genuine British apology, and honour Nair with the Bharat Ratna Kesari 2.0 demands that we honour Nair with a posthumous Bharat Ratna and immortalise Jallianwalas martyrs in stone and memory. As they sayand believethat men dont cry, I cried my heart out when I waded into my nearest theatre to watch Kesari 2.0. This isnt just a film; its a blazing inferno that scorches the silence shrouding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and resurrects the towering legacy of Sir Chettur Sankaran Naira nationalist lawyer nearly erased by the Nehru-Gandhi-Vadra dynasty and their Marxist historian lapdogs. With Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan delivering performances that sear the soul, Kesari 2.0 demands that we honour Nair with a posthumous Bharat Ratna and immortalise Jallianwalas martyrs in stone and memory. Recommended Stories Rewind to 13 April 1919Amritsars Jallianwala Bagh. Thousandsmen, women, and childrenhad gathered for Baisakhi, some protesting the oppression of the Rowlatt Act. In ten brutal minutes, General Reginald Dyer, a psychopath in British garb, sealed the only exit and unleashed 1,650 rounds. Over a thousand fell, their blood soaking the earth; thousands more lay wounded. The British, masters of deception, pegged the toll at 379a number as vile as the act itself. Yet, 77 years after Independence, this genocide festers in silence. The Congress, which ruled for decades, barely uttered its name. The British? Unapologetic. Their regret" a hollow mockery, devoid of atonement. Kesari 2.0 shatters this apathy through C.S. Nair, portrayed with blistering intensity by Akshay Kumar. Nair, a Keralite lawyer knighted by the British, was no soldier but a legal giantthe sole Indian on the Viceroys Executive Council and a former Congress president. Outraged by the horror of Jallianwala, he resigned in protest, shaking the colonial core. His book, Gandhi and Anarchy, accused Punjabs Lieutenant Governor, Michael ODwyer, of complicity, sparking a defamation trial in Londons Kings Bench. For five and a half weeks, Nair faced a hostile English jury and judgeunyieldinghis courtroom battle a global expose of British barbarity. Kumar embodies Nair with a fire that burns through the screenhis eyes ablaze with defiance, his voice trembling with righteous grief. But it is R. Madhavan, as a British-aligned lawyer, who steals the breath from your lungs. Madhavan isnt just supremehes a revelation, a force of nature whose performance is nothing short of divine. His character, torn between loyalty to the Crown and the stirrings of conscience, walks a tightrope of intellect and emotionand Madhavan navigates it with surgical precision. Every glance, every pause, every word drips with gravitashis presence commands the screen like a maestro conducting a symphony of tension. In courtroom clashes with Kumars Nair, Madhavans delivery is electrifying, his voice a velvet blade that cuts deep. This is Madhavan at his zenith, proving he is not just an actor but a sorcerer who conjures raw, pulsating humanity. His performance alone is worth the ticketit is a masterclass that will echo in cinematic history. Director Karan Singh Tyagi weaves a masterpiece, blending historical grit with emotional heft. The screenplay, sharp as a khukri, slices through colonial lieseach line a spark of rage and sorrow. The production, backed by Dharma Productions and inspired by The Case That Shook the Empire by Nairs great-grandson Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, recreates 1919 with haunting fidelity. The massacre scene, underscored by Teri Mittis soul-rending notes, isnt just witnessedits lived. Every bullet feels like a stab to the heart. Kesari 2.0 isnt just cinema; its a reckoning. Why was Nairs legacy buried? Why did the Congress, under the grip of the Nehru-Gandhi-Vadra clan, erase a man who once led their own party? Shashi Tharoors admissionthat Nairs portrait gathers dust behind those of Indira and Rajiv at Keralas Congress HQis a stinging indictment of dynastic erasure, abetted by Marxist historians peddling a curated narrative. This film is a corrective, a defiant resurrection. It demands a memorial for Jallianwalas martyrs, their names etched in stone to honour those slain by the inhuman British Crown. And isnt it poetic justice that Indias economy, once looted by those colonisers, now dwarfs that of the United Kingdom? This is Bharats revenge. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Nair, who traded privilege for truth, deserves the Bharat Ratna. Posthumously, it would rebuke the Congresss amnesia and salute a patriot who rattled an empire. As I left the theatre, tears staining my cheeks, I felt both rage and redemptionrage at the silence cloaking Nair and Jallianwala, redemption in this films refusal to let them fade. Kesari 2.0 is a mirror to our conscience, a fist against oblivion. It demands that we teach this history, seek a genuine British apology, and honour Nair with the Ratna. Go watch it. Let Kumar and Madhavan break you, enrage you, and inspire you. Lets build that memorial, award that Ratna, and ensure Jallianwalas cry echoes in Bharats soul forever. Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @iyuvrajpokharna. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Yuvraj Pokharna Yuvraj Pokharna is a Surat-based author and media panelist who vociferously voices his opinions on issues of Hindutva, Islamist Jihad, politics, policies, and sometimes mules over books. He can be followed on I... Read More Yuvraj Pokharna is a Surat-based author and media panelist who vociferously voices his opinions on issues of Hindutva, Islamist Jihad, politics, policies, and sometimes mules over books. He can be followed on I... Read More First Published: April 21, 2025, 13:32 IST Nishikant Dubey Shares Cryptic Post As Assam CM Himanta Attacks Congress Over Its Past Criticism Of Judiciary Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 09:09 IST BJP MP Nishikant Dubey stoked controversy with his remarks on the judiciary. The party has also distanced itself from his remarks, calling them his "personal opinions". BJP MP Nishikant Dubey (PTI Image) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey has been under fire for his controversial remarks on the judiciary and the Supreme Court, with the Opposition slamming him on one side and his own party distancing itself from his comments on the other. Amid the heated political row surrounding Dubey, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma named his BJP colleague in an X post and said that the party has not endorsed his remarks and those statements were his personal opinions". Recommended Stories In a lengthy post, Sarma shared past media reports to cite how Congress attacked the judiciary and judges and listed out instances to prove his point. Dubey, who has been isolated on the matter since the beginning of the controversy last weekend, also reacted to Sarmas tweet with a couplet in Hindi. Himanta Biswa Sarma Slams Congress Over Past Remarks On Judiciary The Assam Chief Minister reiterated what party chief JP Nadda said while denouncing Dubeys remarks, that the BJP has upheld the independence and dignity of the judiciary and stressed that Dubeys remarks were his personal opinions and were not reflective of the partys stance. Recently, Honble BJP President Shri @JPNadda ji reaffirmed this commitment by distancing the party from remarks made by Honble MP Shri @nishikant_dubey ji concerning the Supreme Court. Adarniya Nadda Ji emphasized that these were personal opinions and not reflective of the partys stance, reiterating the BJPs deep respect for judicial institutions," Sarma tweeted. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently upheld the independence and dignity of the judiciary as a cornerstone of Indias democracy.Recently, Honble BJP President Shri @JPNadda ji reaffirmed this commitment by distancing the party from remarks made by Honble MP Shri pic.twitter.com/iI2yqPogVB Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 20, 2025 Sarma examined" Congress historical interactions with the judiciary" and said that the grand old party has publicly criticized" the members of the judiciary on multiple occasions. Citing instances of impeachment motion against Justice Dipak Misra, criticism of Justice Ranjan Gogoi over Ayodhya verdict, undue scrutiny" of Justice DY Chandrachud among others, Sarma said that all these suggest a tendency within the Congress Party to challenge the judiciarys credibility when decisions are unfavorable to their political narrative". Such selective criticism not only undermines the sanctity of judicial processes but also sets a concerning precedent for democratic discourse," he said. Nishikant Dubey Reacts To Assam CMs Post Dubey reacted to Sarmas X post with a couplet in Hindi. https://t.co/R0CUNRp3QR Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) April 20, 2025 Life is torment, with no signs of relief in sight, Ah, this prison needs neither bars nor chains to confine." Opposition Demands Criminal Contempt Against Dubey top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Opposition leaders demanded criminal contempt against the BJP MP over his remarks. It appears that the #SC #CJI &all venerable institutions are fodder 4senior #BJP politicians. Directly contemptuous remarks by #Dubey. In latters version, only orders favouring the govt are kosher. Each day new missiles being fired by high functionaries. Will we now stop talking about missiles from SC reality is missiles being fired against SC!#Dubey alleges #SC as a whole biased (show me face..wl show law") & accuses #SC as a whole of what would be an offence under section 153 A of old IPC. Amazing & unbelievable. Hope sober #AG gives consent for criminal contempt without delay," Congress MP and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi posted on X. 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 21, 2025, 08:54 IST The Story Of Raj And Uddhav: How The Thackeray Cousins' Breakup Was Triggered By Murder Mystery Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 07:00 IST By 2003, Uddhav was all but announced as the Thackeray heir, while Raj sidelined partly due to the Ramesh Kini murder case formally quit the Shiv Sena in 2005 Uddhav Thackeray (R), along with his cousin Raj Thackeray (L), performs the last rites of his father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray in Mumbai on November 18, 2012. (Image: AFP/File) Photography and caricature are both arts that deal with images. But, they are far from being similar. One is often seen as less imaginative but more precise, the other has artful imagination at its core. The relationship of estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray looking at a potential reunion after 20 years can well be captured in the fact that one uses a high-res camera to pinpoint and the other a mere pencil but lots of flair. So, when Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, a cartoonist himself, chose the photographer Uddhav over his fellow artist Raj, observers felt it was more because the former was his son and the latter a nephew. Recommended Stories By 2003, Uddhav was all but announced as the Thackeray heir, while Raj sidelined for some years by then partly due to the Ramesh Kini murder case formally quit the Shiv Sena in 2005 while blaming his cousin for the decision. He went on to form his own version, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), in 2006 and made his claim to the Thackeray legacy. Since Bal Thackeray was alive for some years after that, Uddhavs claim proved stronger even though he lacked the charisma, even the art of oratory, that his father had built his entire brand on. Raj had the brand ethos, but not the material backing; hence, he neither got the party nor the legacy. When a third claimant, Eknath Shinde, emerged from outside the family and took away much of the original party, its very name and symbol, the cousins had to realise they had more in common than they acknowledged. Individual ambition would mean nothing when the trophy itself is lost; even the Thackeray surname wont matter. Both the parties, which are their weakest in current state politics, are viewing this as a final effort to stay relevant. Rajs MNS, which initially took a strident anti-North Indian stand, was pushed to the margins after winning 13 seats in the 2009 assembly elections. It drew a blank in the 2024 assembly polls. Uddhav, meanwhile, received a major setback in 2022 when Shinde split the Shiv Sena and toppled his government. In the assembly polls, his Shiv Sena (UBT) was reduced to 20 seats. Now that their possible patch-up has progressed from mere rumour to sensible speculation, it is timely to recall that their breakup story once included a murder mystery as a subplot. WHAT IS THE RAMESH KINI MURDER CASE? According to reports, on July 23, 1996, Dadar resident Ramesh Kini was found dead inside a theatre in Pune. His death, reported to be under mysterious circumstances, triggered a political storm in Maharashtra with the mans wife Sheela alleging that Raj Thackeray had a hand in it. Though the CBI later gave Raj a clean chit and did not name him in the chargesheet, the case became a thorn in the side for his promising political career as many observers saw him as the rightful heir" to Bal Thackerays legacy. But, it was not to be. Kini had reportedly left a note saying he was dying by suicide and his advocate knew why. His lawyer had a note from him saying his landlords Laxmichand Shah and Suman Shah were mentally torturing him to vacate their flat in Matunga. The Shahs were closely associated with the Shiv Sena through student wing leader Ashutosh Rane, all of whom were purportedly linked to Raj. The case, first probed by the state CID, was later given to the CBI. The Shahs and Rane were charged with criminal conspiracy for forcing Kini to vacate his flat that led to his death by suicide. Media reports said two post-mortems were conducted one in Pune and another in Mumbai that also produced different opinions. Sheela and social activist Pushpa Bhave, who single-handedly took on the Shiv Sena, had filed a writ in the Bombay High Court that directed the probe to be handed over to the CBI followed by an unsuccessful appeal from the state government. The central agency took over the case in November 1996. HOW BAL THACKERAY REACHED OUT TO AMITABH BACHCHAN TO HELP NEPHEW There are, however, accounts of how Bal Thackeray approached Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan to use his influence with the United Front government to rescue" Raj. In his book, The Cousins Thackeray, journalist and author Dhaval Kulkarni has written an account of how Bal Thackeray, while saying the Ramesh Kini murder case was used to target his family, also admitted in an interview to Sena mouthpiece Saamana that the case had not been handled the way it should have been from the very beginning". When Raj was exonerated, Bal Thackeray called it the victory of the truth" while Uddhav said: I had said this before, the hands which have carried the saffron flag, will never commit a sin" No matter that in May 2009, Uddhav in his fight for political supremacy raked up the Ramesh Kini murder case, simply using it as political ammunition against Raj. This was despite the fact that he had accompanied his cousin to the CBI court, and stood by him throughout. A senior Shiv Sena leader loyal to Uddhav said he had stood by his cousin during the Ramesh Kini controversy. Many meetings, including those with lawyers, happened at the Saamna office. Uddhav also accompanied Raj to the CBI court," he added," states an excerpt from Kulkarnis book. In the book, Kulkarni has mentioned that the clean chit to Raj was not without controversy. He has referred to an article published by Hindustan Times on December 23, 2013, by journalist Sujata Anandan. This report claimed that Amitabh Bachchan played a role. Anandans sources had told her that Bal Thackeray had virtually gone down on his knees" with Bachchan, who reportedly arranged a secret midnight meeting at his house between the then Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and the Shiv Sena chief". Kulkarni has also made a reference to senior journalist and editor Nikhil Wagle, whose Marathi newspaper Mahanagar had exposed the Kini case. in those tumultuous days, rumours were that Raj was likely to be arrested by the CBI. He claimed that politician Amar Singh had saved Rajs skin during the episode. Ironically, Raj would later target Singh during his agitation against north Indians launched in 2008," states an excerpt. Kulkarni further writes in his book that the murder case had much to do with Rajs decline in the Shiv Sena, coupled with deaths in the family and an ailing Bal Thackerays growing reliance on Uddhav. One of Rajs former business associates claimed that in these times, some people had tried to influence his uncles opinion about Raj by alluding to factors like his flamboyant lifestyle. Raj was gradually pushed to the margins and beyond. Soon, he was asked to stop coming to the Saamna office. This led to his estrangement and eventual break from the Shiv Sena to form his own party in 2006," he writes in the book. What could essentially have been seen as politicisation of the CBI, ended up being just another case of two cousins fighting over ancestral" property. ARE THE ESTRANGED COUSINS READY FOR RAPPROCHEMENT? Raj and Uddhav have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with statements indicating they could ignore trivial issues" and join hands nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways. While Raj, who heads the MNS, said uniting in the interests of Marathi manoos" was not difficult, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to put aside trivial fights provided those working against Maharashtras interests were not entertained. Uddhavs assertion was seen as a veiled reference to the MNS chief recently hosting Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the rival Shiv Sena, at his residence. Without naming his cousin, he said nothing should be done to help the thieves", apparent reference to the BJP and Shinde-led Sena. The buzz about rapprochement started after Raj Thackeray said in a podcast interview with film-maker Mahesh Manjrekar recorded weeks ago but released on Saturday (April 19) that he had no issues when working with Uddhav in the undivided Shiv Sena. The question is does Uddhav want to work with him, he said. For a bigger cause, our fights and issues are trivial. Maharashtra is very big. For Maharashtra, the existence of Marathi manoos (native Marathi-speakers), these fights are very trivial. I dont think it is a difficult task to come together and stay united. But the issue is of desire," he said. It is not the question of my wish or selfishness. We need to look at the larger picture. All Maharashtrians should form one party." Later in the day, speaking at a Sena (UBT) event, Uddhav said: I am also ready to put aside trivial issues and I appeal to everyone to come together for the sake of Marathi manoos." Without naming Raj, he said had the latter opposed businesses from Maharashtra going to Gujarat, a government caring for the interests of Maharashtra would have been formed in Delhi and Maharashtra. It cannot be that (you) support (BJP during Lok Sabha polls), then oppose (during assembly polls) and again compromise. This cannot happen," he said. First decide that whoever works against the interests of Maharashtra will not be welcomed at home, you will not go to their homes and break bread with them. Then talk about the interests of Maharashtra." During the Lok Sabha polls, Raj had announced unconditional support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uddhav further said he was ready to set aside minor disagreements. I am saying I dont have fights with anyone, and if any, I am resolving them. But decide on this first," he said. Sandeep Deshpande, MNS spokesperson, struck a discordant note saying his party had a bad experience with Uddhav during the 2014 assembly polls and 2017 civic body polls when there was a chorus of demand that the cousins should reunite. I dont think (Raj) saheb has given any proposal for an alliance after such a bad experience. Now they are asking us not to talk to the BJP. (But) If Prime Minister Narendra Modi were to call Uddhav, he will go running to the BJP," he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the two cousins share ties of blood". Raj Thackeray has expressed his opinion. Uddhav ji has responded. Now lets wait and watch," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Asked about Uddhavs demands, he said they were not pre-conditions but feelings of people. The enemies of Maharashtra should not be entertained. Todays BJP is the number one enemy of Maharashtra," he added. (With PTI inputs) 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 21, 2025, 07:00 IST Gmail Users Face Serious Risk Of Being Hacked: Beware Of These Emails In Your Inbox Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 07:20 IST Gmail phishing scam has Google worried because the hackers are easily able to bypass its strict checks and people are at risk because of that. Google is warning Gmail users about a serious phishing scam that can steal their data Gmail has a major scam warning and Google is seriously worried about how it can be used to hack users, and steal their data. The mailing client used by billions has been given major security upgrades but hackers are getting equally smarter and sophisticated, which means people might not be even alarmed in some cases and give these scammers easy access to their account. The new Gmail scam has definitely alarmed Google, so much that the company had to intervene and act on the issues that have made it easy for the hackers to bypass its stringent system. Recommended Stories Gmail Scam: What Are Hackers Doing Google says there is a critical malware campaign on the rise which the hackers are using to dupe their victims and coercing them into sharing their private details. The warning has come about after a user named Nick Johnson shared a scary post on X which details the modus operandi of these scams and it does look worrying. He claims he got a very official-looking mail from Google with an email address that would generally not worry people. However, the content of the mail should have been enough to set the alarm bells ringing. Johnson says the mail was about a subpoena issued for his Google account data. The email even had a link for the Google-like support page which was actually the phishing site where the hackers wanted the victim to share their details. Official-Like Emails: How To Identify? The concerns get more grave when Johnson speaks about the sophistication of the mail and how it seemed to have passed Googles stringent checks before an email reaches your inbox. Mails like these, where subpoena is involved, is not likely to come through Google, and most people should be careful about clicking on links in these emails, no matter how legitimate the email looks. Googles Quick Action top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The company has realised the issue and talked about how the phishing campaign was spreading at large. Google even highlighted the flaws that were exploited to push these emails without getting caught. The company will soon push out updates to fix the loophole that makes these attacks vulnerable. AI scams are on the rise but this Gmail phishing scam sounds scary not only because of how the hackers were able to exploit the vulnerabilities but also make the user believe the mail is genuine. Google says till the time its update fixes the issues, they should not click or open emails with threats or warnings like these. The company also says you should enable two-factor security for your Gmail account and even enable passkey to make its security stronger. About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: April 21, 2025, 07:20 IST This Blue Drum Wedding Gift Reminds Internet Of Meerut Murder Case Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 13:27 IST In the latest incident, the bride and groom sat on stage when a group of friends approached them. They carried a huge blue-coloured drum and presented it as a gift. The bizarre gesture has reference to the chilling Meerut murder case. (Photo Credit: X) We have often come across videos on social media that show wedding pranks going wrong. Just when we thought it could not get any worse, a clip showing wedding guests gifting a blue drum to a newlywed couple has gone viral. The incident, which took place in Uttar Pradeshs Hamirpur, has triggered widespread outrage. The bizarre gesture, which many social media users deemed as a dark prank, has reference to the chilling Meerut murder case. The murder of Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput by his wife Muskan Rastogi in March sent shockwaves across the country. The woman allegedly drugged and killed Saurabh along with her lover Sahil. Following the brutal killing, the duo reportedly hid the victims body in a blue plastic drum. They eventually filled it with cement to conceal it. Recommended Stories In the latest incident, the bride and groom sat on stage when a group of friends approached them. They carried a huge blue-coloured drum and presented it as a gift. While the couple initially looked puzzled, everyone burst out in laughter soon after. The video was uploaded with a caption in Hindi which can be loosely translated to, What could be a more tasteless joke than this! It can, by no means, be considered appropriate to recall a heinous massacre as a joke on a joyous occasion like a wedding. In the Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, during a wedding, friends gifted the bride and groom a blue drum." The identities of the couple and wedding guests couldnt not be verified. However, the video has sparked a debate on downplaying gruesome real-life violence. A social media user said, The world has become mentally ill, every street is making a mockery of this massacre. Only when it happens to oneself does one realise, when its someones own." Another added, There are more foolish people in this world. What a manifestation." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Someone noted, Whatever thoughts run through someones mind, these friends of the groom, more like enemies, are expressing their base sentiments in the guise of jest." The height of rudeness, such people cannot be friends," a comment read. 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 21, 2025, 12:10 IST Did Nostradamus Predict Pope Francis' Death? 16th-Century Prophecy Sparks Chilling Theories Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 19:48 IST Pope Francis passed away aged 88 after suffering from double pneumonia. Some astrologers believe his death was predicted by 16th-century French astrologer Nostradamus. Pope Francis' death triggered an outpouring of grief. (Reuters/File) After struggling with double pneumonia and respiratory illnesses, Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88. The Argentinian pontiffs death triggered an outpouring of grief and condolences from all corners of the world. Pope Francis 12-year papacy was shaped by moral reckoning and radical compassion, bringing wide-ranging changes to the Roman Catholic Church by opening the doors to marginalised communities like LGBTQ+ individuals. Francis played a crucial role in reforming the Church, focusing on empathy and the act of listening. Recommended Stories While the pope leaves behind an interesting legacy, some believe his death was foreshadowed as early as the 16th century, drawing renewed attention to centuries-old prophecies. Astronauts pointed to the writings of French astrologer and seer Michel de Nostredame, also known as Nostradamus, who predicted several major events, including the death of a pope, according to the Daily Mail. Follow LIVE Updates here What Did Nostradamus Say About Popes Death? Nostradamus gave a series of grim prophecies in Les Propheties in 1555 about the future of humanity marked by cruel wars", natural disasters and the return of the plague. Among his gloomy prophecies was the death of a very old" pope, as well as a warning about the weakening of the Catholic Church. Through the death of a very old Pontiff / A Roman of good age will be elected / Of him it will be said that he weakens his seat / But long will he sit and in mordant activity," he wrote, which astrologers are now linking to Francis passing. Nostradamus also hinted at details about the popes successor. A young man of dark skin with the help of the great king will deliver the purse to another of red colour," he wrote. The French astrologer is credited with accurately predicting several major world events like the rise of Adolf Hitler and the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many people have warned that Nostradamus predictions should not be taken too literally, the death of Pope Francis has turned the attention towards his writings, which many believe signify a shift in the leadership within the Catholic Church. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Francis had been battling multiple health issues over the last year. He was hospitalised in February and spent 38 days after being diagnosed with double pneumonia, which brought him close to death. After his release, he was visibly weak and was forced to cancel several appearances. Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands of people in St Peters Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Before this, he held a private meeting with US Vice President JD Vance, who was visiting Italy with his family for the weekend. 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 : Vatican City First Published: April 21, 2025, 19:38 IST Donald Trump Hopeful Of Russia-Ukraine Truce This Week: 'Theyll Soon Do Business With The US' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 10:52 IST Russia-Ukraine War: Donald Trump said that both Moscow and Kyiv could bring big business to the US and "make a fortune after the signing of the peace deal. US President Donald Trump (Image Credit: Reuters) US President Donald Trump said that Russia and Ukraine could reach an agreement this week" to end the war which started in 2022. He posted on his Truth Social platform that both Moscow and Kyiv could bring big business" to the United States and make a fortune" after the signing of the peace deal. Hopefully Russia amd (sic) Ukraine will make a deal this week. Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a big fortune!", he wrote. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories Donald Trump has been pushing for a peace deal between the two countries since he took over from Joe Biden in January this year. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington could move on" from its push to broker an agreement to end the conflict. He said, after high-level discussions with European and Ukrainian leaders, 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." 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. If it is, were in. If its not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well," he added. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: April 21, 2025, 08:51 IST From Conclave To Angels and Demons: What Fiction Gets Right And Wrong About The Papal Elections Written By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 23:15 IST Centuries-old Vatican rituals resurface after Pope Francis death with fiction like Conclave and Angels and Demons shaping popular understanding. As mourning begins for Pope Francis the Vaticans guarded traditions return with fictional thrillers like the movie Conclave and Dan Browns novel Angels and Demons offering glimpses into the conclaves secrets. (IMAGE: REUTERS/X) With the death of Pope Francis, the Vaticans centuries-old rituals will once again take centre stage as the world turns its gaze toward the secretive papal conclave. People across the globe will be looking closely as cardinals from across the world gather in Rome for the Conclave. 138 cardinals out of the current 252 are eligible to vote. The Financial Times in a report called it the worlds most powerful electorate". Recommended Stories As Pope Francis death triggers the 1,000-year-old ritual behind locked doors and billowing smoke, movies like 2024 Oscar-nominated Conclave" and books like Dan Browns Angels and Demons" are bound to resurface in the publics mind. Both works of art have shaped public imagination about how a Pope is chosen. What is a Papal Conclave and How Does It Work? When a Pope dies or resigns, the Vatican initiates a time-honored and secretive process to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church the papal conclave. Rooted in centuries-old traditions, this process brings together cardinals from across the globe to decide who will take on the mantle of Saint Peter. The conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel and only cardinals below the age of 80 are eligible to vote. The voting is conducted in secrecy, and a two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope. The world watches for the color of the smoke. Black smoke means no decision while white smoke signals a new pope has been chosen. The death of a Pope triggers a series of solemn rituals rooted in centuries of tradition. Black smoke, known as fumata nera, will rise from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to signal the end of a papacy. The Ring of the Fisherman is taken off, crushed, and burned by the camerlengo who also seals the papal apartment, locks the desk, and disconnects the phone lines. This begins the Sede Vacante or the vacant seat. The Popes funeral is usually held between the fourth and sixth day followed by a nine-day mourning period. Only after that do the cardinals begin preparations for the next Conclave. The voting still takes place inside the Sistine Chapel though the cardinals now reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a guesthouse built by John Paul II. Until 2005 they were kept in cramped makeshift rooms with hard beds and chamber pots. Silence is not just sacred but mandatory. Any attempt to communicate with the outside world during the Conclave results in immediate excommunication. Why It Matters The Pope is not just a spiritual figure he influences geopolitics, interfaith dialogue, and even social movements. The process to elect him is steeped in symbolism and reflects the Churchs desire for continuity, unity, and divine guidance. The movie Conclave", starring Ralph Fiennes, shows ambitious cardinals scheming and manipulating their way toward the papacy, their secret ballots shadowed by blackmail and betrayal and there is a looming terrorist bomb threat nearly shattering the conclave within Vatican walls. Dan Browns Angels and Demons features a papal conclave, but its used more as a dramatic plot device than a faithful representation of the real process, with the action revolving around his signature protagonist, Robert Langdon. Speaking on the Ralph Fiennes-starrer, Susan Hanssen, PhD, associate professor of history at the University of Dallas, told The New York Post: It was drenched with banal leftist jargon. Its essentially a form of propaganda to influence the way the papal conclave is perceived at this moment. No one should mistake the Hollywood movie for the inside scoop on historical reality". The most recent papal vacancy occurred in 2013 when Pope Benedict XVI, then 85, became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the position. It took two weeks for Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, to be elected and take the name Francis. Two weeks is not a long time by Vatican standards," John Thavis, a papal expert and author of The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities, and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church was quoted as saying by the New York Post. One reason is that the cardinals are very much aware that the world is watching and waiting. A drawn-out conclave lasting a week or more would inevitably invite speculation about division at the highest levels of the church". The movie and Browns book got a few things right, like, location, the fact that the process is shrouded in mystery and secrecy and the voting system. The novel shows multiple rounds of balloting, which reflects how conclaves can take time. The movie shows that because papal elections require a two-thirds majority, theres always a possibility of a deadlocked conclave. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The novel gave the camerlengo, the character of Carlo Ventresca has enormous influence in the story, far beyond what a real camerlengo would typically exercise. In reality, the camerlengo manages day-to-day Vatican operations between popes but does not oversee or direct the conclave. The conclave in the novel is fast-paced, filled with intrigue, and deeply theatrical real conclaves are solemn, slow, and deeply ritualistic. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More First Published: April 21, 2025, 23:15 IST In A Rare Shift, Russias Putin Says He's 'Open To Direct Peace Talks' With Ukraine Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 22, 2025, 00:25 IST Putin, speaking to a Russian state TV reporter, said fighting had resumed after his surprise 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which he announced unilaterally on Saturday. Russian President Vladimir Putin (AP Image) Russia-Ukraine War: For the first time since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday proposed to hold direct peace talks" bilaterally with Ukraine, saying that he is open to more ceasefires after a one-day Easter truce. The Russian leader, speaking to a Russian state TV reporter, said fighting had resumed after his surprise 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which he announced unilaterally on Saturday, news agency Reuters reported. Recommended Stories In his comments, Putin said Moscow was open to any peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv. When the President said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the President had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Interfax news agency. The decision came after US President Donald Trump said that the US will take a pass" on brokering further Russia-Ukraine talks if Moscow or Kyiv make it very difficult" to reach a peace deal. Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned that the US could end its peace efforts on ending the conflict within days" if there are no signs of progress. Were not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end," Rubio had said, adding that the US had other priorities to focus on". Asked about Trumps remarks on a possible peace deal soon, Peskov told reporters that he would make no comments, "especially about the timeframe". President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results," he said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Kyiv would be sending a delegation to London to meet with the United States and other Western countries on Wednesday. However, the Ukrainian leader made no reference to Putins remarks on bilateral talks in his comments. The London talks are a follow-up to a meeting in Paris last week in which the US and European states discussed ways to end the more than three-year-old war. Zelenskyy accused Russia on Sunday of creating a false appearance of honouring an Easter ceasefire, saying Moscow continued to launch attacks after Putins announcement. Washington said it would welcome an extension of the truce. Zelenskyy, who has called for it to be extended to a 30-day ceasefire on civilian targets, said continued Russian attacks during Sundays ceasefire showed Moscow was intent on prolonging the war. As of Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places, it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine," Zelenskyy had said in a post on X. On the other hand, Russias defence ministry said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had shot at Russian positions 444 times and said it had counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks, saying also that there were deaths and injuries among the civilian population. Whats The US Brokered Peace Deal? Earlier in March, American diplomats and their Ukrainian counterparts held two rounds of deliberations in Saudi Arabia to discuss measures to halt the Ukraine war. Later Zelenskyy held a telephonic conversation with Trump where the former had agreed to accept the unconditional ceasefire proposal as proposed by the US. The Ukrainian President had said that Kyiv was ready to pause strikes on Russian energy and civilian infrastructure. However, Putin demurred and said it was a complicated matter. After Putins rejection, top Moscow officials have attempted to shift the blame onto the Ukrainian government and European leaders, claiming that they are desperate to keep fighting and that only Russia is willing to negotiate a peace deal. For a broader peace deal, Russia has insisted on total neutrality for Ukraine, a drastically reduced military, the removal of its current elected government as well as control of the five regions of the country it has illegally annexed (but doesnt entirely control). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has placed a number of conditions on any potential ceasefire. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Location : Moscow, Russia First Published: April 21, 2025, 23:54 IST Is US Defence Chief Pete Hegseth Stepping Down? White House Says This Amid Buzz Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 23:38 IST White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the National Public Radio story on the search was not true. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. (File) Amid the buzz of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth leaving the Trump administration, the White House on Monday refuted the claims that it has begun searching for a new defense secretary. According to National Public Radio (NPR) report, the Trump administration reportedly began looking for a new secretary of defense after Hegseth continued to face mounting controversy related to the leak of sensitive military information. Recommended Stories White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the National Public Radio story on the search was not true. This @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about. As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef," she said in a post on X. This @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about.As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef. https://t.co/5Npig8968v Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 21, 2025 As per the reports, the Pentagon Chief shared information regarding planned attacks on Yemen to a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer. The critical information was shared by the US Defence boss before the US launched military strikes on Yemen on March 15- raising questions about the use of Signal to share highly sensitive security details. Earlier, a group chat from the unclassified messaging app in which Pete Hegseth shared critical details of the attack plans to other Trump administration officials was made public by Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg who had been accidentally added to the group where all of Donald Trumps most senior national security officials. Neither the White House nor Hegseth denied that he had shared such information in a second chat, instead focusing their responses on what they called the disgruntled workers whom they blamed for leaking to the media and insisting that no classified information had been disclosed. Hegseth responding to the latest claims about sharing details in private family Signal group chat, said the allegations were part of a broader effort to damage his reputation. Despite the claims, the White House has reaffirmed its support for Hegseth. Its just fake news. They just bring up stories," President Donald Trump told reporters. I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and thats what hes doing. So you dont always have friends when you do that," Trump said. The White House also tried to deflect attention from the national security implications of the latest Signal revelation by framing it as the outgrowth of an institutional power struggle between Hegseth and the career workforce. But some of the recently departed officials the administration appeared to dismiss as disgruntled were part of Hegseths initial inner circle, brought in when he took the job. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change that you are trying to implement," Leavitt said in remarks amplified by a Pentagon social media account. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: April 21, 2025, 23:38 IST 'A Great Leader': US Veep JD Vance Praises PM Modi, Pledges To Bolster India Ties Under Trump Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 23:17 IST PM Modi and US Vice President JD Vance held talks at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, where they welcomed "significant progress" in negotiations over a trade pact. JD Vance and his children during talks with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi. (PTI) US Vice President JD Vance on Monday said it was an honour" to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first day of his visit to the country, calling him a great leader" and that he was incredibly kind" to the Vance family. Replying to PM Modis post on X, Vance said he looked forward to working under US President Donald Trumps leadership to strengthen friendship and cooperation with the people of India. Recommended Stories It was an honour to see Prime Minister Modi this evening. Hes a great leader and he was incredibly kind to my family. I look forward to working under President Trumps leadership to strengthen our friendship and cooperation with the people of India!" he said. It was an honor to see Prime Minister Modi this evening. Hes a great leader and he was incredibly kind to my family.I look forward to working under President Trumps leadership to strengthen our friendship and cooperation with the people of India! https://t.co/pCWmxcFjw8 JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025 Vance and Modi met in delegation-level talks at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, amidst warm scenes where Vance was accompanied by his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance and three children Vivek, Ewan and Mirabel. Both sides welcomed significant progress" in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), according to a government statement. Pleased to welcome US @VP @JDVance and his family in New Delhi. We reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump. We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges. India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st Century for a better future of our people and the world," said PM Modi. Both countries are in talks for a trade deal, which is aimed to be completed by fall this year as per an agreement made during PM Modis trip to the US this February and a meeting with US President Donald Trump. The Vance-Modi meeting raised hopes that a trade deal could be worked out soon, after the US put a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for India and other countries. Both sides also noted the remarkable progress on the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen it further, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. PM @narendramodi met Vice President JD Vance @VP in New Delhi.Both sides noted the remarkable progress on the - COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) and reaffirmed commitment to strengthen it further. They discussed pic.twitter.com/f3aNeH0Y0B Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 21, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, the PMO said. Modi also told Vance that he would like to convey greetings to Trump and looks forward to Trumps visit to India later this year. They also noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas. Vances visit to India comes at a critical juncture, with Washington threatening to raise tariffs on Indian exports from 10% to 26% unless a deal is struck within the 90-day window announced by President Donald Trump earlier this month. A breakthrough on trade could not only boost economic ties but also deepen the broader strategic relationship between the two countries. 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 21, 2025, 23:03 IST Kenya: Lion Kills Teen Playing With Friend In Residential Area Outside Nairobi National Park Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 17:27 IST Kenya Wildlife Service launched a search operation to capture the lion, which remains at large. Traps have been set up, implementing additional security measures to prevent further incidents. Representative Image. (Pexels) In a shocking incident, a 14-year-old girl was killed by a lion on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, authorities said on Sunday. The lion is believed to have wandered out of Nairobi National Park and entered a residential compound where the attack occurred, CNN reported. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the girl was with a friend when the lion dragged her away. After her friend raised an alarm, wildlife officials quickly responded and followed bloodstains to the Mbagathi River, where they found the girls body with severe injuries to her lower back. Recommended Stories KWS has launched a search operation to capture the lion, which remains at large. Traps have been set up, implementing additional security measures to prevent further incidents. Nairobi National Park, located just 10 km from the city centre, is home to various wild animals, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffalo, and giraffes. While the park is fenced on three sides, its southern boundary is open to allow for animal migration, sometimes bringing wildlife into close contact with nearby human settlements. The incident has raised concerns about growing human-wildlife conflict in the region, although fatal lion encounters are rare. Just a day earlier, a 54-year-old man was killed by an elephant in Nyeri County, about 130 km north of Nairobi. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all These back-to-back incidents are not isolated," conservationist Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect, told BBC News. She called for better risk assessments and real-time communication on wildlife movement, especially in high-risk zones. Kahumbu emphasised the importance of enhancing safety infrastructure around lodges and residential areas near wildlife habitats. Anti-predator deterrents such as lights, alarms, secure fencing, and sprays should be standard. Prevention is our best line of defence," she said. Location : Kenya First Published: April 21, 2025, 16:52 IST News18 Evening Digest: Pope Francis Dies At 88, US Vice President JD Vance On 4-Day India Visit & Other Top Stories Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 18:12 IST We are also covering: Air Force Officer, Wife Assaulted In Bengaluru Road Rage, The Four Indian Cardinals Who Will Vote For New Pope After Francis' Death and Imtiaz Ali Reveals REAL Reason Why Bobby Deol Was Removed From Jab We Met. Pope Francis dies at 88 (Credits: Reuters) In todays evening digest, News18 brings you the latest on Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, US Vice President JD Vance landed in India with his wife Usha Vance and three children as he begin his four-day official visit to the country and other top stories. Pope Francis: The Pontiff Who Sought Forgiveness For Clergy Abuse And Opened Doors To LGBTQ Dialogue Recommended Stories Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, leaves behind a 12-year papacy shaped by moral reckoning and radical compassion. As the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church, his tenure was marked by a deep engagement with two of its most painful and controversial issues: the sexual abuse of minors by clergy and the Churchs historically fraught relationship with LGBTQ individuals. Read More In Indian Attire, JD Vances Kids Steal The Show As US Veep Begins 4-Day India Visit US Vice President JD Vance landed in India with his wife Usha Vance and three children as he begin his four-day official visit to the country. This is JD Vances first trip to India and will run from April 21 to 24. Read More Father Was Threatened, Mother, Sister Fought With Him Every Day: Ex-Karnataka DGPs Son In FIR Hours after Karnatakas former Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash was murdered, News18 exclusively accessed a copy of the First Information Report filed in the case. Read More This Is What Karnataka Has Become: Air Force Officer, Wife Assaulted In Bengaluru Road Rage; One Held An Indian Air Force officer and his wife, also an officer, were allegedly attacked by a group of men in Bengaluru while travelling to the airport. The Wing Commander sustained facial and head injuries. Read More Who Are The Four Indian Cardinals Who Will Vote For New Pope After Francis Death? Four Indian cardinals will vote for the new pope after Pope Francis death at the age of 88. Francis, the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican announced on Monday. Read More Imtiaz Ali Reveals REAL Reason Why Bobby Deol Was Removed From Jab We Met: Voh Wait Kar Raha Tha | Viral Bobby Deol recently revealed he was really upset" after being abruptly removed from Jab We Met, despite initiating its early development with Kareena Kapoor Khan and director Imtiaz Ali. Amid this, an old interview of Imtiaz Ali is doing the rounds on social media. While speaking to The Lallantop, Imtiaz recalled why Bobby was left out of the film. Read More top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Watch: Visibly Upset Shreyas Iyer Confronts Virat Kohli After Over-The-Top Celebration A few days back, visuals of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer engrossed in a deep conversation after rain delayed the start of IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings went viral. On Sunday, the two chatted once again, this time after RCB completed a comfortable win over PBKS but the exchange looked anything but friendly. Read More First Published: April 21, 2025, 18:12 IST Pope Francis Did Not Die Of Pneumonia, Vatican Reveals What Caused His Death Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 23:52 IST Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was hospitalised for double pneumonia in February. Pope Francis passed away aged 88 on Monday. (Reuters) Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 after suffering from prolonged respiratory illnesses. The Argentinian pontiff was admitted to the hospital in February after being diagnosed with double pneumonia and spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was hospitalised for double pneumonia and entered a critical condition close to death. After he was discharged on March, the pontiff was visibly weak and cancelled several events due to ill-health. Recommended Stories However, it was not the respiratory illnesses stemming from his recent diagnosis of double pneumonia that claimed his life. According to his death certificate released by the Vatican on Monday, Pope Francis died of a stroke, causing a coma and irreversible" heart failure. Earlier, well-informed sources informed Italys ANSA news agency that cerebral haemorrhage was a possible cause of Pope Francis death. These sources informed ANSA that one of the possible causes of Pope Francis death was a cerebral haemorrhage and was not directly related to respiratory diseases. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni had earlier told the media that the exact cause of Pope Francis death would most likely be disclosed this evening" (Vatican time). At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church," Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in an announcement. Follow LIVE Updates here During his hospitalisation, the pope also underwent blood transfusions due to low platelet levels, a condition linked to anaemia. Despite being advised to rest by doctors, he made an unexpected public appearance on Easter Sunday his first since being hospitalised with double pneumonia. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He greeted a crowd of 35,000 gathered in St. Peters Square, offering blessings and waving to pilgrims from his popemobile. As per tradition, Pope Francis delivered the Urbi et Orbi" blessingLatin for to the city and the world"from the balcony of the basilica. The death of a pope sets in motion a series of carefully orchestrated rites and rituals. Eligible cardinals eventually vote for a papal successor in the Sistine Chapel. 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 : Vatican City, Vatican City First Published: April 21, 2025, 20:47 IST Pope Francis, First Pontiff From Latin America, Dies Aged 88 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 14:31 IST Pope Francis' Death: The pontiff, serving as the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 following the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI. Pope Francis (Reuters) Pope Francis Death: Pope Francis, the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at the age of 88 at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican announced in a video statement on Monday. In the last few months, the pontiff dealt with multiple hospital visits amid growing concerns about his health. He was hospitalised on February 14 for treatment of Bronchitis and later, the Vatican confirmed a diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia and revealed he had undergone blood transfusions due to low platelet levels, a condition linked to anaemia. Recommended Stories At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church," said Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo. The pontiff, serving as the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 following the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised," Farrell said. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune." Europe Mourns Passing Of Pope Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, expressed deep sorrow on the passing of Pope Francis and said that his contagious smile captured millions of peoples hearts across the globe." Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. The Peoples Pope will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace." Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.His contagious smile captured millions of peoples hearts across the globe. The Peoples Pope will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace pic.twitter.com/LsqYREynVP Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) April 21, 2025 Popes Last Easter Sunday Pope Francis, despite being advised to rest by doctors, made an unexpected public appearance on Easter Sunday his first since being hospitalised with double pneumonia. Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!" the 88-year-old pope said. He greeted a crowd of 35,000 gathered in St. Peters Square, offering blessings and waving to pilgrims from his popemobile. As per tradition, Pope Francis delivered the Urbi et Orbi" blessingLatin for to the city and the world"from the balcony of the basilica. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Alongside the blessing, a message was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, in which the pope appealed for peace in conflict-stricken regions such as Gaza, Ukraine, Congo, and Myanmar. I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace" the message said, referring to the humanitarian crisis in conflict-hit Gaza. Location : Vatican City First Published: April 21, 2025, 13:30 IST Pope Francis Dies, Who Would Be The New Pontiff? A Look At Probables Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 14:07 IST The successor to Pope Francis will likely be chosen by the College of Cardinals in a secret conclave held in the Sistine Chapel. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Pope Francis at the main balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message (Photo: AFP) Pope Francis died on Monday, aged 88, a day after making a much-hoped-for appearance at Saint Peters Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement. Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel. Recommended Stories This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church." Franciss death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peters Basilica despite still convalescing after a severe illness. He spent 38 days in the hospital as he suffered from double pneumonia, before he was released on March 23. PROBABLE SUCCESSORS According to some media reports, the names of four people had come forward while Pope Francis struggled with double pneumonia in February this year. Cardinal Peter Erdo: Erdo represents the more orthodox side of the Church. He has very strong conservative views on issues like remarriage and divorce, which he has always opposed. The 72-year-old is a former president of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe. According to the Independent, Pedro has compared the act of taking in refugees to human trafficking. Cardinal Pietro Parolin: It is most likely that the next Pope could be Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as he is the highest-ranking cardinal in the electing conclave and has been the Vaticans Secretary of State since 2013. In his latest interview with the Italian newspaper LEco di Bergamo, Parolin commented on several issues. He is considered one of the most sought-after figures within the church, according to the Independent report. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi: He is said to be one of the closest to Pope Francis and has been on several global trips since he was made a Cardinal in 2019. He met Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky during a peace mission and went to the US to meet then-president Joe Biden. Zuppi has been on the positive side of the LGBTQ community. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke: Burke has publicly had clashes with Pope Francis over issues like divorce and remarriage. He has termed the churchs views around artificial contraception, civil marriages and gay people objectionable", reported the Independent. ELECTION OF A NEW POPE In the event of a popes death, nearly three weeks later, in a highly secretive process of electing a new pope, the College of Cardinals will convene in the Sistine Chapel to hold a conclave, as in tradition for the past 700 years. It is worth noting that the candidates for the pope do not openly campaign for the position. Rather, Vatican watchers generally have deemed cardinals capable of holding the position of a pope. Following the death of a pope, or in rare cases of resignation, such as with Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican convenes a papal conclave, in which the College of Cardinals come together to elect the Churchs next head. The rules of the conclave, as of 22 January 2025, stated that there are 138 electors of the 252 cardinals. Only those under the age of 80 may take part in the secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel. On the day of voting, the Sistine Chapel, with its famed ceiling painted by Michelangelo, is physically sealed off and the cardinals, who have taken an oath of secrecy, are locked inside. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to cast ballots. Around 120 will vote in secret for their chosen candidate, writing their name on a ballot and placing it in a chalice atop the altar. If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, another round of voting takes place. There can be up to four rounds per day. Once ballots are counted, they are burned on a stove inside the Sistine Chapel, installed ahead of time by Vatican firefighters. A second stove burns a chemical sending up a smoke signal through a chimney to the outside world: Black smoke means a new pope has not been selected, white smoke means one has. CHOOSING A NEW POPE Once a pope is chosen, a representative from the College of Cardinals reads out the Latin announcement Habemus papam, meaning We have a pope", from the main balcony of St. Peters Basilica overlooking thousands of people. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Then the freshly elected pope, having chosen a papal name (most likely one honouring a saint or predecessor) and donned a white cassock, steps out onto the balcony to give his first address to the public. The new pope, along with setting the churchs teachings and morals, wields significant diplomatic and political power in world politics, acting as a mediator in global conflicts and guiding humanitarian efforts. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: April 21, 2025, 14:07 IST 'We Were Not Made For Death But For Life': Pope Francis' Final Post On Easter Before Passing Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 20:59 IST Pope Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St Peters Square, after meeting US Vice President JD Vance. Pope Francis died at the age of 88. (File) Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church, has died aged 88. The pontiff, who had a chronic lung condition and had part of one lung removed in his youth, was suffering from two respiratory crises. The Argentinian pope charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor and marginalised people. His stance on LGBTQ+ communities, capitalism and climate change gained widespread attention but earned the ire of conservatives, including members of US President Donald Trumps administration. Recommended Stories Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands of people in St Peters Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Before this, he held a private meeting with US President JD Vance, who was visiting Italy with his family for the weekend. Follow LIVE Updates here Pope Francis Final Words Before his unfortunate passing, Pope Francis had a final message for the world on Easter Day, reminding the people of the essence of life, freedom and peace. His final tweet read, Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life." Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. #Easter https://t.co/s8D2o4WCfV Apostolica Sedes Vacans (@Pontifex) April 20, 2025 This message echoed his Easter address earlier in the day during his appearance at St Peters Square, where thousands of people cheered in applause after seeing him in a popemobile for the first time since his double pneumonia. The pope looked visibly weak and tired after spending 38 days in hospital with double pneumonia, and was also unable to speak for long periods due to his respiratory difficulties. The 88-year-old pontiff stressed the need for peace and freedom in his final address. He declared the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of human hope, signifying the triumph of love over hatred and life over death. He called for a renewed sense of trust, not in God but also each other. The Vatican also released the text of the Popes Easter Sunday message, where Francis appealed for an end to conflicts across the world, particularly in Gaza. He lamented the death and destruction" taking place, which had created a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation." Meeting With JD Vance Pope Francis also met Vance at his residence on that day to exchange Easter greetings, after previously clashing with the vice president over the Trump administrations policies. Pope Francis had a brief private encounter lasting a few minutes, in order to exchange good wishes on Easter day," read a statement. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Pope gifted Vance three chocolate Easter eggs for his children. Vance also met senior Vatican officials for formal talks on the previous day, which Francis did not attend due to ill-health. The pope and Vatican officials have criticised several of the policies introduced by Trump, including his plans to deport millions of migrants from the US. After the popes passing, Vance said, I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul." 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 : Vatican City First Published: April 21, 2025, 18:10 IST Pope Francis: The Pontiff Who Sought Forgiveness For Clergy Abuse And Opened Doors To LGBTQ Dialogue Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 16:20 IST The popes 12-year papacy was defined by moral clarityconfronting clerical abuse with public apologies and offering LGBTQ Catholics a long-denied place at the table Pope Francis dies at 88 (Credits: Reuters) Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, leaves behind a 12-year papacy shaped by moral reckoning and radical compassion. As the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church, his tenure was marked by a deep engagement with two of its most painful and controversial issues: the sexual abuse of minors by clergy, and the Churchs historically fraught relationship with LGBTQ individuals. While he did not overturn doctrine, Francis reshaped the Churchs tone asking forgiveness for its past failures and opening doors to previously marginalised voices. From declining the Apostolic Palace in favour of a modest guesthouse to choosing a Ford Focus over the popemobile, he consistently opted for simplicity over traditionsignalling a break from Vatican pomp. Recommended Stories RECKONING WITH CLERICAL SEXUAL ABUSE One of the deepest wounds Pope Francis confronted was the global crisis of child sexual abuse by clergyan issue that had plagued the Church for decades. Though the scandal predated his papacy, Francis placed the issue firmly at the centre of Vatican reform. In 2018, during a visit to Ireland, one of the countries most devastated by clerical abuse, he issued one of the strongest apologies by a sitting pontiff. We ask forgiveness for the times that as a Church, we did not show the survivors of whatever kind of abuse compassion and the seeking of justice and truth by concrete actions," he declared at the World Meeting of Families. But he matched words with actionimplementing structural changes. In 2014, he set up the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to institutionalise safeguarding mechanisms. In 2019, he lifted the pontifical secret", a long-standing rule that had cloaked abuse investigations in secrecy, and he introduced Vos Estis Lux Mundi, a new Church law requiring all clergy to report abuse or cover-ups to Church authorities. In 2018, he accepted the resignation of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington, DC, who became one of the highest-ranking Church figures ever to be defrocked over sexual abuse allegations. The move was seen as a watershed moment, signalling that even the most senior members of the hierarchy would no longer be shielded. Under Francis, the Church also began observing an annual Day of Prayer" for victims and survivors of abuse in many countries, integrating public acknowledgement and mourning into the liturgical calendar. Yet, his record remained uneven. His initial defence of Chilean Bishop Juan Barrosaccused of covering up abusesparked outrage, prompting a rare reversal and apology. The episode highlighted the tension between institutional inertia and his personal commitment to victims. Still, survivor groups acknowledged his efforts to bring transparency to the Churchs opaque handling of abuse cases, even if much remained to be done. WHO AM I TO JUDGE?: OPENING THE CHURCH TO LGBTQ DIALOGUE If sexual abuse was the moral reckoning of his papacy, Pope Franciss approach to LGBTQ issues marked its compassionate pivot. Just months after becoming Pope in 2013, he famously responded to a question about gay priests with: If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" It was a simple sentence that reverberated globallyreframing decades of Vatican condemnation with a message of humility and human dignity. While Church teaching on homosexuality did not change, Francis shifted its tone. He welcomed gay individuals and couples in private audiences, met with transgender persons, and condemned laws criminalising homosexuality. Being homosexual is not a crime," he said in 2023, adding that laws targeting LGBTQ people were unjust" and rooted in prejudice. He became the first pope to endorse civil unions, stating in the 2020 documentary Francesco: Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God What we have to have is a civil union law." And in one of his final reforms, Francis approved the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans in 2023, allowing priests to bless same-sex couples in informal settingsan unprecedented move within Catholicism that drew ire from conservatives but joy from many LGBTQ believers. For the first time, LGBTQ Catholics were formally invited to take part in Church-wide consultations during the Synod on Synodality (20232024). While the process did not lead to doctrinal changes, it marked an important step in Pope Franciss effort to make the Church more open, inclusive, and willing to listen to voices that had long been left out. A PASTORAL LEGACY THAT REDEFINED THE PAPACY Pope Francis was not a doctrinal radical. He did not permit women priests, nor did he revise core teachings on sexuality or marriage. But what he did change, profoundly, was tone. He recentered the papacy around dialogue, empathy and the act of listening. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Throughout his final years, even as he battled illness and limited mobility, Francis remained activetravelling, addressing global issues like climate change and inequality, and delivering what would be his last Easter blessing on April 20, 2025. With his passing, the Catholic Church enters a period of mourning and transition. But the legacy Francis left behind, one of compassion without compromise, and of accountability without vengeance, will shape its path for years to come. 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 21, 2025, 16:01 IST Russia Resumes Strikes On Kyiv After Easter Ceasefire Ends, Says Ukraine Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 13:41 IST Putin, who launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and who ordered on Saturday the halt in all military activity along the front line until midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT) on Sunday, did not give orders to extend it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky . (IMAGE: AFP) Russia launched missiles and drones targeting Ukraine early on Monday, waking up Kyiv and the eastern half of the country, hours after the one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin came to an end. There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damages from the attacks, regional Ukrainian officials said on social media. Recommended Stories Ukraines air force said Russia launched 96 drones and three missiles in overnight attacks targeting Ukraine, causing damage in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Cherkasy regions. Air defence units shot down 42 Russian drones, and another 47 drones were redirected by electronic warfare. Both Kyiv and Moscow had accused each other of thousands of attacks that violated the truce that the Kremlin indicated on Sunday would not be extended. Washington said it would welcome an extension of the truce, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated several times Ukraines willingness to pause strikes for 30 days in the war. But Putin, who launched Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and who ordered on Saturday the halt in all military activity along the front line until midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT) on Sunday, did not give orders to extend it. There were no other commands," Russias TASS state news agency cited Kremlins spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying when asked whether the ceasefire could be prolonged. Zelenskiy said early on Monday that his forces were instructed to continue to mirror the Russian armys actions. The nature of Ukraines actions will remain symmetrical: ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defense. Actions always speak louder than words," he said on social network X. While eastern Ukraine was placed under air raid alerts starting minutes after midnight on Monday that are yet to be called off, according to data from the Ukrainian air force, Kyiv and the central regions were placed on alert for about an hour, starting at 0140 GMT. There were no reports of strikes on the Ukrainian capital, but officials in the port city of Mykolaiv said that it had been hit by Russian missiles. There were no immediate reports of damages. Russias Voronezh region that borders Ukraine was also under air raid alerts for two hours overnight, and the borders regions of Kursk and parts of Belgorod were briefly under missile threat as well, regional officials said. While there were no air raid alerts in Ukraine on Sunday, Ukrainian forces reported nearly 3,000 violations of Russias own ceasefire with the heaviest attacks and shelling seen along the Pokrovsk part of the frontline, Zelenskiy said earlier on Monday. Russias defence ministry said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had shot at Russian positions 444 times and said it had counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks, saying also that there were deaths and injuries among the civilian population. Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all U.S. President Donald Trump, hoping to clinch a lasting peace deal, struck an optimistic note Sunday, saying that hopefully" the two sides would make a deal this week" to end the conflict. On Friday, Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the U.S. would walk away from peace efforts unless there are clear signs of progress soon. Location : Ukraine First Published: April 21, 2025, 13:40 IST Trump To Attend Funeral Of Pope Francis Later This Week: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 23:40 IST In 2005, then-President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the most recent pope to pass away while in office. US President Donald Trump and Pope Francis met at the Vatican, May 24, 2017.(Reuters File) President Trump is expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City later this week, New York Post said citing sources familiar with the plans. The funeral and burial of Francis, who passed away at 88, are expected to take place within four to six days after his death, with the exact schedule still being finalised. Recommended Stories At the White House Easter Egg Roll, Trump did not confirm whether he would attend the funeral. I dont know yet. Were going to be briefed on it right now I just have to look at the timing," he told the reporters. When asked how he would remember Francis, whom Trump met during his first term in 2017, the US President said, He was a very good man who loved the world, and he especially loved people that were having a hard time, and thats good with me." Trump also said he had ordered flags to half-staff across the country to honour Francis, though that direction had not yet been made public as of 1 p.m. Monday. The death of a pope sets in motion a series of carefully orchestrated rites and rituals. Eligible cardinals eventually vote for a papal successor in the Sistine Chapel. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2005, then-President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the most recent pope to pass away while in office. Then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush accompanied the Bushes. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: April 21, 2025, 23:22 IST US Defence Chief Shared Yemen War Plans With Family Too In Second Signal Chat: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 07:20 IST Pete Hegseth shared the same details of the attack as reported The Atlantic magazine, as per the report. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks next to President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS file) US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information regarding planned attacks on Yemen to a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, the New York Times reported. The critical information was shared by the US Defence boss before the US launched military strikes on Yemen on March 15- raising questions about the use of Signal to share highly sensitive security details. Earlier, a group chat from the unclassified messaging app in which Pete Hegseth shared critical details of the attack plans to other Trump administration officials was made public by Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg who had been accidentally added to the group where all of Donald Trumps most senior national security officials. Recommended Stories After the first Signal chat was disclosed, Pete Hegseth said: Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that." What Pete Hegseth Shared In New Chat? Pete Hegseth shared the same details of the attack as reported The Atlantic magazine, as per the report. Citing four sources familiar with the message group, the New York Times reported that the second chat included details of the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets that would strike Houthi rebel targets in Yemen. The information was shared by Pete Hegseth with his wife Jennifer, a former Fox News producer. She also attended sensitive meetings with foreign military counterparts, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all An official said, as per the report, The truth is that there is an informal group chat that started before confirmation of his closest advisers. Nothing classified was ever discussed on that chat." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a post to X (formerly Twitter), We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired." About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: April 21, 2025, 07:20 IST Temple, Gurdwara Defaced With Pro-Khalistan Graffiti In Canada, MP Says Extremists 'Backed By Political Clout' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 08:00 IST A Vancouver gurdwara and a Surrey temple were defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti. The incidents are under investigation, with community leaders condemning the act as extremist. A temple in Surrey, a gurdwara in Vancouver defaced by pro-Khalistani grafitti (Video screengrabs/X:@chcconline/@CoHNACanada) A gurdwara in Canadas Vancouver and a temple in Surrey were defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti. The incident happened on Saturday and was condemned by Canadian organisations and MP Chandra Arya, who called the extremists well-funded, and backed by significant political clout". According to the details, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey and Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street Gurdwara) in Vancouver were defaced with grafitti. Recommended Stories A statement by a leaders of the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara stated the act was allegedly committed by small group of Sikh Separatists advocating for Khalistan". A small group of Sikh Separatists advocating for Khalistan defaces our sacred wall with divisive slogans." This act is part of an ongoing campaign by extremist forces that seem to instil fear and division within the Canadian Sikh community," the society said in a statement. Their actions undermine the values of inclusivity, respect, and mutual support that are foundational to both Sikhism and to Canadian society," it said, urging Canadians to stand strong in the face of extremism. A report with the Vancouver Sun suggested the police were investigating the incident. In a statement, Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison said police were looking into the graffiti at the gurdwara. No arrests were yet made in the case. A video showing defaced walls of the gurdwara was shared by the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce, which wrote on X, We strongly condemn the vandalism of Laxmi Narayan Mandir in BC by Khalistani extremists. This act of Hindu phobia has no place in Canada." We strongly condemn the vandalism of Laxmi Narayan Mandir in BC by Khalistani extremists.This act of #Hinduphobia has no place in Canada. We urge swift action & ask all Canadians to stand united against hate. Silence is not an option.#CHCC #StopHinduphobia pic.twitter.com/flL0Or6Ezc Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (@chcconline) April 20, 2025 Meanwhile, Arya condemned the act and said, The attacks on Hindu temples that began several years ago continue unabated today this latest graffiti on the Hindu temple is yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism." Well-organized, well-funded, and backed by significant political clout, Khalistani elements are brazenly asserting their dominance and successfully silencing Hindu voices across Canada," he wrote on X, resharing the video of the attack. This Khalistani extremists have targeted Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street Gurdwara) in Vancouver with pro-Khalistan graffiti and intimidation tactics," he added. The attacks on Hindu temples that began several years ago continue unabated today this latest graffiti on the Hindu temple is yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism.Well-organized, well-funded, and backed by significant political clout, https://t.co/0WfQdGgoNm Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) April 20, 2025 A statement by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNACanada) stated it stands in solidarity with our Sikh and Hindu brothers and sisters whose places of worship have been violated". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all CoHNA strongly condemns the latest hate attacks on Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey and Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street Gurdwara) in Vancouver, both of which were targeted with pro-Khalistan graffiti and intimidation tactics." The Ross Street Gurdwara, which had explicitly barred Khalistani groups from its Baisakhi parade, was defaced with slogans like Khalistan Zindabad"," it added. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: April 21, 2025, 07:13 IST Who Are The Four Indian Cardinals Who Will Vote For New Pope After Francis' Death? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 15:49 IST Pope Francis died at the age of 88 after suffering from prolonged illnesses. He passed away at his residence in Casa Santa Marta after spending 38 days in the hospital. Four Indian cardinals will vote for the new pope after Pope Francis' death on Monday. (AP/College Of Cardinals Report/Meta/Abaca Press/Alamy) Four Indian cardinals will vote for the new pope after Pope Francis death at the age of 88. Francis, the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican announced on Monday. In the last few months, the pontiff dealt with multiple hospital visits amid growing concerns about his health. He was hospitalised on February 14 for treatment of Bronchitis and later, the Vatican confirmed a diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia and revealed he had undergone blood transfusions due to low platelet levels, a condition linked to anaemia. Recommended Stories Following the death of a pope, or in rare cases of resignation, such as with Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican convenes a papal conclave, in which the College of Cardinals come together to elect the Churchs next head. The rules of the conclave, as of 22 January 2025, stated that there are 138 electors of the 252 cardinals. Only those under the age of 80 may take part in the secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel. Around 120 will vote in secret for their chosen candidate, writing their name on a ballot and placing it in a chalice atop the altar. If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, another round of voting takes place. There can be up to four rounds per day. Follow LIVE Updates here Who Are Indian Cardinals Voting For New Pope? India currently has six cardinals, one aged 80, one 79 and the rest below 80. The cardinals who will be voting for the new pope will be Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, 72, Cardinal Cleemis Baselios, 64, Cardinal Anthony Poola, 63, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, 51. CARDINAL FILIPE NERI FERRAO, 72 He is the archbishop of Goa and Daman and seventh patriarch of the East Indies who has focused on family ministry, interreligious dialogue and social justice, particularly migrants and climate change. He was ordained to priesthood on October 28, 1979, the Episcopate on April 10, 1994 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals on August 27, 2022. CARDINAL CLEEMIS BASELIOS, 64 Born Isaac Thottumkal, he currently serves as the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum. He was ordained to priesthood on June 11, 1986, the Episcopate on August 15, 2001 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals on November 24, 2012. CARDINAL ANTHONY POOLA, 63 He is an Indian prelate dedicated to helping children out of poverty and whose elevation to the College of Cardinals has been viewed as a step towards addressing the inequalities of the caste system. He is Indias first Dalit Cardinal. CARDINAL GEORGE JACOB KOOVAKAD, 51 He is a trained Vatican diplomat and Syro Malabar archbishop from Kerala, who had organised Pope Francis international trips from 2021 until his appointment as prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue in January 2025. He was ordained to priesthood on July 24, 2004, the Episcopate on November 24, 2024 and elevated to the College of Cardinals on December 7, 2024. Who Are The Other Two Indian Cardinals? CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS, 80 The Archbishop of Bombay was ordained as priest on December 20, 1970. He obtained a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a diploma in jurisprudence from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained to the Episcopate on September 16, 1997 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals on November 24, 2007. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all CARDINAL GEORGE ALENCHERRY, 79 He is the Major Archbishop Emeritus of Ernakulam-Angamalhy for Syro-Malabars, India. He was ordained as priest on December 18, 1972 and to the Episcopate on February 2, 1997. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals on February 18, 2012. However, he will lose his right to vote after April 19, 2025, when he turns 80. 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 : Vatican City First Published: April 21, 2025, 15:47 IST Little more than a dot and a line representing a breast on Virginia's state flag has proved too vulgar for one Texas school district. The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District near Houston removed educational information about Virginia late last year from an online learning platform used by third- through fifth-graders because the section featured the state flag and seal, depicting the Roman goddess Virtus standing over a slain tyrant in a toga, her left breast exposed, Axios reports. Virtus has graced the state seal since 1776 and the state flag since 1861. She was at first fully clothed, but in 1901, officials ordered her left breast exposed to clearly show her as female, per the Washington Post . The Texas Freedom to Read Project, which opposes censorship in the state, said the district acknowledged information on Virginia had been removed from the online research database, PebbleGo Next, because its state flag violated the school board's library policy banning "visual depictions or illustrations of frontal nudity" in elementary school materials. The ban was enacted with a 5-1 vote by the school board in November and the lesson on Virginia disappeared days later, the Post reports, noting another PebbleGo Next lesson on family types was also removed for references to "gender fluidity." The Texas Freedom to Read Project said this marked "a new level of dystopian, book-banning, and censorship hell in Texas," per the Guardian. "So just to recap: the lesson about defeating tyranny is banned because of a 240-year-old wardrobe choice," said Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat who pointed to the state motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis" or "Thus Always to Tyrants," written on the flag and seal, per the Post. "I'm sure the founders would be relieved to know modesty survived, even if the message didn't," Warner added. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a fellow Democrat, asked: "Did they object to a bare breast? Or to the critique of tyranny?" (A squeamish Virginia attorney general once covered up the breast.) Some 9.5 billion passengers hopped a flight on planet Earth last year, and Airports Council International World takes a look at which airports handled the most. With traffic up 8.8% over 2023, the 10 busiest airports accounted for 9% of those passengersa whopping 855 million. While most of the rankings were fairly static, the biggest mover was Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which rocketed up to No. 10 from No. 21. The 2024 numbers mark a milestone of sorts: Airport traffic bounced back to pre-pandemic (2019) levels. "We're very happy to see that the traffic is back, and we're anticipating significant growth moving forward right now, even with some of the headwinds that we're seeing," ACI World director general Justin Erbacci tells CNN Travel. The 10 busiest: Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X The returns process has begun. After China's government reportedly ordered the nation's airlines to pause purchases of US aircraft and related parts, Xiamen Airlines has rejected at least two Boeing jets whose cost was set to skyrocket as a result of President Trump's tariffs. A 737 Max destined for the airline, valued around $55 million, was flown to Boeing's Zhoushan completion center near Shanghai only last month, per Reuters . But after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, China imposed a retaliatory 125% tariff on US goods, meaning Xiamen Airlines would've been forced to pay nearly $69 million on top of the jet's $55 million purchase price. That's enough to cripple an airline, reports the Guardian . Boeing had 130 planes scheduled to be delivered to Chinese companies at the end of March, per the Guardian. It's unclear if all deals were canceled. But on Saturday, a 737 Max jet decorated with Xiamen Airlines' logo and colors landed back at Boeing's US production hub in Seattle after a 5,000-mile journey from China. A second jet has departed Boeing's Zhoushan completion center, en route to the US, Reuters reports, noting the plane landed in Guam for refueling on Monday. A Xiamen rep confirmed both of the planes had been destined for the airline but instead were flown to the US. Malaysia Airlines has reportedly expressed interest in jets rejected by Chinese airlines, per Reuters. But if the tit-for-tat tariffs keep up, there could be even more pain for US aviation companies like Boeing, the Guardian reports, as "China holds about 20% of the expected global demand for aircraft over the next two decades." The issue extends beyond China. Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost airline, has suggested it "might delay" receiving 25 Boeing aircraft it's expecting amid Trump's tariff wars "and hope that common sense will prevail," per the Financial Times. Boeing typically receives most of its payment only with delivery of completed aircraft. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com H.E. Sabah Salem Al Dossary, former Undersecretary at Bahrains Labour Ministry and a former Shura Council member, has been honoured by the Arab Labour Organisation as one of the regions labour pioneers. The tribute was given during the 51st Arab Labour Conference, held in Cairo from 19 to 26 April 2025, with labour ministers from across the Arab world in attendance. Al Dossary spent nearly a decade as Undersecretary, from 2011 to 2020, during which he led efforts to improve workplace safety, expand training opportunities, and strengthen employment services. Dialogue He was also a steady presence in efforts to encourage dialogue between workers, employers, and government. H.E. Yousif bin Abdulhussain Khalaf, Minister for Legal Affairs and Acting Minister of Labour, congratulated Al Dossary on the recognition, describing his public service as a valuable contribution to regional cooperation and labour development. He also praised his role in reinforcing workplace ties within Bahrain. Appreciation Speaking after the ceremony, Al Dossary thanked the Ministry for nominating him and expressed his appreciation to the Arab Labour Organisation for the honour. He said the award reflected the work of the wider public sector in Bahrain, which has pushed to improve labour market conditions and ensure fair treatment for all. Al Dossary credited the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for helping drive these efforts forward. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com Shura has blocked a bid by MPs to widen legal scrutiny of government contracts, rejecting a proposal to cut the review threshold from BD300,000 to BD100,000. The bill, debated yesterday, sought to give the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission a deeper role in reviewing deals struck by ministries and public bodies. The aim, according to its backers in Parliament, was to rein in spending and tighten legal oversight. But that aim failed to convince the upper house, which voted unanimously to send the measure back. Bill Dr Adel Al Maawda, speaking for the Councils Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee, made the case that what the bill was asking for already happens. Internal checks exist. External checks exist. The Finance Ministry has its manual. Contracts are reviewed. There are templates. There are rules, he said. He listed the Tender Board, the National Audit Office and internal legal departments as already involved. Value Dr Al Maawda also reminded the chamber that the Commission can, under existing rules, review contracts of any value so long as it is asked. Lowering the bar, he warned, would simply slow things down. It adds weight without adding value. It ties the Commission up. It delays purchases. That risks holding up services people rely on, he said. Support That line of reasoning found support. Dr Hani Al Saati described the proposal as unnecessary, adding that Bahrain already functions as a state governed by institutions and legal order. Weve got a proper system in place. Whats on offer here muddies that. The Audit Office handles finances. Each ministry checks its own contracts. This would drag the Commission into places it doesnt need to be, Dr Al Saati said. Apr 21 (News On Japan) - Its easy to dismiss paid followers as a shortcut or worse, a scam. But heres a smarter, more strategic way to look at it: paid followers are not the end goal. Theyre just the start of a much bigger content-driven journey. What if you treated those paid followers like cold leads in a sales funnel not loyal fans, not instant customers, just curious strangers? Because thats what they are. And the only way to turn strangers into supporters, buyers, and brand advocates? Content. Lets dig into how you can make paid followers actually work not just pad your numbers, but truly move your brand forward. Can Paid Followers Deliver ROI? Yes If You Do This First The reason most people lose money buying followers isnt because its a bad tactic its because they stop there. They dont have the right content ready. They dont follow up. And they expect a vanity number to drive trust. But when you treat paid followers as top-of-funnel attention a way to expand your reach and combine that with content that educates, entertains, or solves a problem? Thats when things start to click. In other words: Dont just buy followers. Activate them. Warm them up. Give them a reason to stay. The first 72 hours after a new follower joins are crucial. If they dont see something that hooks them, theyre not likely to engage again. And that hurts your reach over time. What Are You Really Buying? Lets set the record straight. Not all paid followers are the same. Some services flood your profile with bots fake, inactive, and risky. They disappear quickly or get flagged by platforms. Others offer more authentic-looking accounts, sometimes even geo-targeted. Platforms like Twicsy are often used by creators because their delivery mimics organic growth: slower, more natural, and safer for algorithm visibility. Look at follower growth like adding strangers to an event. If they walk in and no one greets them, no music is playing, and the room is empty theyll leave. Fast. But if youve set the vibe, offered drinks, and have a few conversations already happening? Now theyre interested. Thats your contents job. The big takeaway here is this: quality matters. And you should never buy followers without a plan to engage them. Its not the follower that brings value its the context you put around their arrival. Why Content Is the Real Conversion Engine Followers dont stick around for your follower count. They stay for the story you tell, the problems you solve, and the content that makes them feel something. Think of content as your onboarding system for new followers especially paid ones. Its how you show them what youre about, why you matter, and how they fit into your world. Heres what content should be doing post-purchase: Building trust behind-the-scenes, personal notes, founder stories. Delivering value tips, how-tos, checklists, educational carousels. Creating engagement Q&A boxes, polls, comments you reply to. Pushing gently toward action exclusive offers, testimonials, links. When your new followers see a consistent message, engaging visuals, and content thats made for them, theyre far more likely to stick around. The Funnel Framework: How to Nurture Paid Followers To turn paid followers into ROI, you need to treat them like leads. That means content should follow a funnel approach: Stage 1: Awareness Goal: Help new followers notice you and feel like they belong here. This is where design and brand vibe matter most. A compelling first impression includes: Visually appealing posts (Reels, carousels, photos with brand color schemes) Reels that tap into trending audio, but with your unique spin Relatable content that helps people say, "Yes, this account gets me" A pinned post that introduces your story or mission At this stage, your job is to capture attention and signal that your page is worth exploring. Stage 2: Engagement Goal: Spark curiosity and interaction. Now that youve grabbed attention, its time to start a two-way conversation. Try: Interactive Story tools (polls, sliders, quizzes) Carousels that pose questions or walk through quick wins Q&A sessions in your comments or Lives User-generated content that tags or features your audience This is where your followers stop being passive and start engaging. They vote, they answer, they tag friends. Youre no longer just another account youre part of their scroll routine. Stage 3: Conversion Goal: Encourage action without feeling salesy. This is where your trust pays off. If you've been consistent with value and connection, its time to lead them to: A product page or special discount A waitlist or free download A DM conversation that answers buying questions Make it easy for followers to take the next step. Repeat your offer. Use testimonials. Post behind-the-scenes of packing orders or customers using your product. How to Measure ROI from Paid Followers You cant rely on follower count or likes alone. Instead, look at what happens after someone joins: Engagement rate over 3060 days if it stays flat or rises, you're doing something right. Story view spikes after you grow? Thats a sign your content is grabbing attention. Poll responses, comment depth, DM replies quality interaction shows genuine interest. Link clicks track with UTM codes to see if followers are visiting your landing pages. Sales, leads, or email signups always connect content efforts to actual business outcomes. Pro tip: Dont compare one-off posts. Instead, track week-over-week performance to understand patterns. When It Makes Sense to Use Paid Followers 1. Brand or account launch That first impression matters. A baseline of followers gives credibility. 2. Pre-launch of a product or service Growing your audience ahead of time means more people see your offer when it drops. 3. Campaign momentum Adding visibility right before a live event, product drop, or giveaway can dramatically increase impact. 4. Testing content or audience reactions Trying new formats? A fresh audience can help you gauge real traction faster. Not every situation calls for paid growth. But there are moments where it gives you a strategic edge: Again, it only works if your content is ready and optimized for activation. How to Do It Right (Without Wasting Money) Paid followers wont save poor content but they can amplify good strategy. Heres your playbook: Have a two-week content runway prepped before your campaign Focus on high-retention formats: Reels, carousels, story series Buy from a reputable source like Twicsy that offers gradual delivery Time your growth around launches or promotions Monitor your metrics weekly and adapt quickly The goal isnt just to grow your numbers its to turn a cold audience into a community. A Real Example: Paid Followers + Content That Converts A fashion accessories brand added 5,000 followers over a two-week period before launching their new spring line. But they didnt stop there. Their content strategy was precise: Daily Reels showing how to style the new products A choose your favorite poll for product variations Influencer collaborations that aligned with their brand values BTS packaging videos and team clips to build trust The result? Engagement went up 14%, story replies tripled, and product sales outperformed the previous launch by 28%. What worked wasnt just the follower bump. It was the thoughtful, people-first content that followed. Mistakes to Avoid Buying followers without a content plan in place Expecting new followers to convert instantly Ignoring engagement signals or dropping off in consistency Posting low-effort content right after a growth campaign Failing to differentiate messaging for new vs. existing followers Treat paid growth like lighting a spark. If you dont keep feeding it, it burns out fast. Final Thought: Content Is the Converter You can buy reach. You can buy attention. But what turns that attention into results? Content. When you approach paid follower growth as just one part of a well-rounded strategy with a clear message, consistent value, and thoughtful content the ROI becomes real. Paid growth isnt the shortcut. Its the catalyst. The work happens after the numbers go up. So plan the content. Nurture the audience. And track what actually drives the outcome you want. Because visibility without connection? Thats just noise. But visibility with content that converts? Thats how you scale. TOKYO, Apr 22 (News On Japan) - A foreign influencer visiting Japan has come under fire after causing disturbances on Tokyos rail network and in public spaces, including loud music performances and backflips on station platforms. The individual, an 18-year-old German man with nearly one million social media followers, began posting videos almost immediately after arriving in Japan on April 17th. In one widely criticized video, he can be seen blasting music from a suitcase-style speaker inside a JR Yamanote Line train before abruptly leaping out at Shibuya Station and performing a backflip on the crowded platform. The following day, he repeated the act at Ebisu Station, again drawing attention for loud noise and dangerous stunts. The influencer, who has garnered international attention for similar antics abroad, continued uploading videos of backflips across central Tokyo, despite mounting online criticism. Comments from viewers highlighted the risks of performing stunts in crowded areas, with many calling the behavior "dangerous" and "irresponsible." The situation escalated further when the influencer announced a live performance in a Tokyo park. Upon his arrival, a crowd of around 100 young fans swarmed the scene, shouting and creating a chaotic atmosphere. Security staff, who said the group had not obtained proper filming permission, eventually reported the incident to police. A university student who witnessed the scene said, "It looked like they didnt file the proper request, which was kind of a nuisance." Despite repeated complaints and safety concerns, the influencer defended his actions, saying, "I'm super excited! Ive done this all over the world and its not illegal." However, after another appearance on April 20th led to fans blocking roads and some ignoring traffic signals to chase after him, he offered an apology when approached again: "Sorry I came to Japan to make content. I didnt know I needed permission." He left Japan on April 21st, saying "Thank you" as he departed. JR East, responding to the incidents, stated that it would continue to promote proper etiquette through public announcements in multiple languages and increased security patrols both in stations and onboard trains. Source: FNN From April 28 to May 4 , 100 per cent of the proceeds from Smile Cookie sales will be donated to over 600 charities and community groups in Canada , selected by local Tim Hortons restaurant owners across the country. , 100 per cent of the proceeds from Smile Cookie sales will be donated to over 600 charities and community groups in , selected by local Tim Hortons restaurant owners across the country. Last year, Tims guests helped raise nearly $18.8 million through the annual Smile Cookie campaign. More than $129 million has been raised across Canada and the U.S. since the Smile Cookie campaign launched in 1996. TORONTO, April 21, 2025 /CNW/ - The iconic Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign returns April 28 through May 4 with 100 per cent of the proceeds supporting over 600 charities and community groups in Canada, selected by local Tim Hortons restaurant owners. "Every year, Tim Hortons restaurant owners across Canada come together with team members and guests to make an incredible impact in their local communities with the annual Smile Cookie campaign," says Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons. Tim Hortons week-long Smile Cookie campaign returns April 28 with 100% of proceeds from each cookie sold donated to local charities and community groups Tim Hortons week-long Smile Cookie campaign returns April 28 with 100% of proceeds from each cookie sold donated to local charities and community groups (CNW Group/Tim Hortons) "Generous guests helped us raise nearly $18.8 million last year. We invite all Canadians to join us in our restaurants to support Smile Cookie week. It's a deliciously easy way to make an impact in your local community and is one of the most feel-good and inspirational times of the year for Tims fans." Smile Cookies feature Tims new Chocolate Chunk Cookies that are hand-decorated with pink and blue icing to create a smile. To support this year's Smile Cookie campaign, guests can visit their local Tim Hortons or place an order through the Tims app for delivery. New for this year is the cute and cuddly Smile Cookie reversible plushie. Net proceeds from plushie sales will be donated to local charity and community groups. Bulk orders for Smile Cookies can be placed through an order form at Tims restaurants for larger pre-orders. For a full list of local charities and community groups benefiting from Tim Hortons annual Smile Cookie campaign, visit www.timhortons.ca/smile-cookie. ABOUT TIM HORTONS In 1964, the first Tim Hortons restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double coffees, Donuts and Timbits in the years since. For more than 60 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain operating in the quick service industry with nearly 4,000 restaurants across the country. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas and our famous Iced Capps alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 6,000 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.ca. SOURCE Tim Hortons [email protected] 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. With a May 7 deadline fast approaching, the state Motor Vehicle Commission has created a program for those with emergencies to obtain a Real ID drivers license or ID card. MVC officials announced a Real ID emergency program for qualified customers who need to board a domestic flight in 14 days for urgent or life-or-death reasons and do not have another acceptable form of identification to show TSA screeners. The program will be offered starting April 24 to a limited number of customers who meet certain criteria. Eligible customers will be serviced at a special appointment to obtain a Real ID once they complete the screening process and meet all eligibility requirements. The new MVC program is similar to a U.S. State Department program to allow people to get a passport in a short time period for life or death reasons such as the hospitalization or death of an immediate family member overseas. Emergency appointments cannot be made through the regular MVC appointment system online. They have to be made through the Real ID Emergency Issuance Request Portal. That Portal will be active on April 24. Applicants must also be able to prove the nature of their emergency to be eligible for an expedited Real ID. They include a death certificate, statement from a mortuary or a letter from a hospital on the facilitys letterhead. Travelers with a valid passport or other form of identification accepted by the TSA will not receive an appointment. Other accepted identification cards for domestic air travel instead of Real ID include Global Entry or Trusted Traveler cards and various other federal identification. The emergency Real ID will cost $80 to cover shipping from a secure, central facility where drivers licenses have been printed since 2020. Other MVC fees are waived. Travelers also need to present the same proof of identity and residence documents to get a Real ID. Use the online MVCs document selector to bring the correct paperwork. Anticipating the recent increase in demand, we have made many additional accommodations to service as many customers with Real ID as possible, including with this new emergency program, said Latrecia Littles-Floyd, acting chief administrator for the motor vehicle commission. The announcement comes as options for obtaining a Real ID drivers license or identification card are dwindling. There are 12 business days until the deadline. The Real ID deadline has been extended four times. Officials warned in 2024 the date wouldnt be pushed off a fifth time. Tips if you dont have an emergency The hardest MVC appointment to get is to upgrade a standard license or ID card to a Real ID. By 9:30 a.m. only one appointment was left open for Monday. The MVC releases 3,000 new appointments each morning at 7 a.m. The best advice is to be logged on to the MVC appointment website at 6:45 a.m. and keep refreshing your browser. Try for a Thursday appointment. Chances at getting a Thursday appointment are better since the MVC started adding nearly 4,500 new appointments on Real ID Thursdays since early March. If you are desperate enough to take the day off and dont mind a drive, consider making an appointment at a far flung, rural MVC agency. Make a day trip out of it and pick a restaurant recommended by Pete Genovese as a reward. The easier appointment to get is to renew your license and upgrade it to a Real ID at the same time. The catch is the MVC will only allow this if your license expires in three months or less. There are 50,000 plus appointments to do this transaction. If you received a license renewal notice in the mail, you can do this. Is there time to get a Passport? This is the disclaimer before trying to get a new passport. The clock is against you. There are ways to speed up the process but it will cost extra money. First, there is an application process, so have everything you need including a photo that meets the requirements. The U.S. Department of State website lists the requirements and has a video to explain it. Paying $60 extra for expedited handling can get it delivered in two to three weeks instead of the usual four to six weeks, according to the U.S State Department. But that two to three weeks time doesnt include delivery. Mailing times are not included in processing times, the State Department said. It may take two weeks for a passport application to reach the state department another and two weeks to receive your passport after it is mailed. Applicants can use one- to two-day priority mail express to send applications and photos and pay $21.36 for one- to two-day passport delivery, meaning you receive your passport one to two days after the department sends it. Can a passport courier company speed the process? The State Department has a list of register courier companies, but they caution if you use a courier company, you will not receive your passport faster than applying at passport agencies. Courier companies charge extra fees for their services." Other ID cards Other accepted identification cards for domestic air travel in lieu of Real ID are more specialized. They include U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents, Veteran Health Identification Cards, permanent resident border crossing cards, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Cards. Canadian provincial drivers licenses or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cards, U.S. Merchant Mariner Credentials, transportation worker identification credentials, and photo ID cards issued by a federally- recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe are also accepted in lieu of a Real ID license, according to the TSA. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry A Massachusetts man drove himself to a hospital early Sunday after he was shot while driving in South Jersey, police said. The victim, a 47-year-old resident of Brockton, Massachusetts, attended a gathering on the 100 block of Walnut Street in Bridgeton over the weekend and had just left when the incident occurred, according to police. He was driving near the intersection of Irving Avenue and Church Street in Bridgeton when his vehicle was struck by gunfire, police said. He was shot in the left leg. The NAACP filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education in Washington on Tuesday. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, shown above, said in a statement that the department is "erasing the lived experiences" of Black students. (AP Photo/David Becker) AP The NAACP has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education, alleging that its anti-DEI initiatives have limited equal educational opportunities for Black students. The lawsuit, filed in Washington on Tuesday, stems from the DOEs demands that schools that receive federal funding eliminate considerations for diversity, equity and inclusion from admissions, hiring programming and other decisions or risk losing federal funding. The NAACP charges that the DOEs communications to schools over the issue are a legally incorrect interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The Department of Educations recent Dear Colleague letter and other communications are not only deeply misleading, they are a gross distortion of reality that attempts to erase the lived experiences of millions of Black and brown children in this country, NAACP president Derrick Johnson said in a statement. The suit names Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. A spokesperson for the Education Department could not be reached on Friday. President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning DEI in federal hiring, programs and contracts during his first week in office. On Feb. 14, the DOE sent a letter to all schools that receive federal funding, stating that federal law prevented schools from considering race in areas like admissions, hiring and promotion, pay, financial aid, scholarships and prizes, housing and graduation ceremonies, Reuters reported. Earlier this month, the department sent certifications of compliance documents, asking schools to confirm that they are complying with demands to end DEI-related decisions and programs, Reuters reported. The Department of Education, tasked with a responsibility to protect the civil rights of all children, has instead claimed systemic racism doesnt exist effectively sanctioning the very discrimination that our civil rights laws were designed to prevent, Johnson said. The lawsuit alleges that the department is deliberately discriminating against Black students by attempting to defund federal grantees based on false facts and interpretations of law, according to the statement. Children of color consistently attend segregated, chronically underfunded schools where they receive less educational opportunities and more discipline, said Johnson. Denying these truths doesnt make them disappear it deepens the harm. We are asking the court to act swiftly on our request and will continue to advocate for students of color to be treated fairly and equitably. The NAACP is asking the federal district court to stop the department from continuing its actions, as communicated in the Dear Colleague letter and related certification requirements. Mosaic staff writer Vashti Harris can be reached at vharris@njadvancemedia.com. Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom, on Facebook at MosaicNJcom, on Twitter (X) at @MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom. Primary care physicians in New Jersey are paid at some of the lowest Medicaid rates in the nation, data shows. Last year, Dr. Montrea Thomas thought she had a few more years left before she would have to retire her pediatric practice in Orange. But in a couple of weeks, the 78-year-old pediatrician, who mostly cares for low-income children, will close her office because she can no longer pay the bills. I am in debt, quite a bit, Thomas said. And when I close my practice, that is one of the reasons Im going to have to close. Thomas is paid mostly through Medicaid, a state and federally funded insurance plan that covers low-income patients. Nationwide, doctors who accept Medicaid are paid much less than private insurers. In New Jersey, data shows Medicaid rates are among the lowest in the country. As a result, experts say fewer doctors accept Medicaid, which means low-income residents have fewer options for care than their wealthier counterparts. There needs to be a better focus on supporting us financially, Thomas said. Primary care physicians like Thomas focus on preventative care, such as addressing day-to-day health concerns and conducting annual health checkups. They can be doctors, nurse practitioners, or physicians assistants. Research shows that access to primary care decreases illness and death and bridges the gap in health outcomes between Black and brown people and their white counterparts. New Jersey ranked 48th in the nation for health insurance spending on primary care visits in 2019, including Medicaid, according to a study published by the New Jersey Health Quality Institute last year. This means doctors like Thomas get paid less than they would in other states. In New Jersey, were facing a crisis on the ground floor of health care, said Dr.Alfred Tallia, a Department of Family Medicine and Community Health professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and one of the studys authors. For example, if a doctor treats a patient with a fever in New Jersey, Medicaid will pay $50 for the treatment compared to private insurers, which would pay anywhere from $70 to $110, Tallia said. These rates disincentive doctors from accepting lower-income patients, he said. There are clinicians who, despite the terrible remuneration, will still serve an underserved population, but theyre few and far between, and theyre not enough, Tallia said. So as a result, New Jersey has a huge disparities problem. Dr. Rosario Zambrano, a pediatrician and owner of Essex Pediatrics in East Orange and Pediatrics of Morristown, has seen this occur firsthand. Before she opened her practice in Morristown, residents had to drive out of Morris County to find a pediatrician who took Medicaid. We realized there was a void here, Zambrano said. The immigrant population and the lower-income population that worked part-time at McDonalds, that cleaned the bank, that did the babysitting would havenowhere to go in Morris County. As Thomas tries to find new doctors for her patients, shes encountering the same issue. Were finding it difficult to transition our patients to people who are accepting the insurance, Thomas said, referring to Medicaid. They may be accepting new patients, but theyre not accepting certain insurances. When Thomas started treating patients 50 years ago, she had a full-time pediatrician and a physicians assistant on staff. She would also train a recently graduated medical student every couple of months. But as she took on more patients insured through Medicaid, she had to make tough decisions to keep her practice afloat. My income dropped drastically, Thomas said. I let staff go. She also said she relied on part-time workers and took in more residents. That helped a great deal, Thomas said. In her personal life, Thomas said she lived paycheck to paycheck. I would have loved to add more income to splurge. I would have loved that, she said. Still, Thomas, a pastors wife and preachers daughter, says the sacrifices were worth it. That was my mission from the beginning to give the best of mine, whatever I had, into my community, even though it meant a huge sacrifice in terms of finances, Thomas said. She said closing her practice has been painful for her and her patients. We are shedding a lot of tears in these next few days and weeks, she said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amira Sweilem may be reached at asweilem@njadvancemedia.com. Linda Mauriello claims her son Nicholas Ryan Mauriello, 28, was found dead at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital after being left unsupervised for six hours. Courtesy of Linda Mauriello Omaha Tribe member Mark Parker, of Macy, Neb., takes a photo as workers dig for the suspected remains of children who once attended the Genoa Indian Industrial School, July 11, 2023, in Genoa, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) AP At least $1.6 million in federal funds for projects meant to capture and digitize stories of the systemic abuse of generations of Indigenous children in boarding schools at the hands of the U.S. government have been slashed due to federal funding cuts under President Donald Trumps administration. The cuts are just a fraction of the grants canceled by the National Endowment for the Humanities in recent weeks as part of the Trump administrations deep cost-cutting effort across the federal government. But coming on the heels of a major federal boarding school investigation by the previous administration and an apology by then-President Joe Biden, they illustrate a seismic shift. If were looking to Make America Great Again, then I think it should start with the truth about the true American history, said Deborah Parker, CEO of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. The coalition lost more than $282,000 as a result of the cuts, halting its work to digitize more than 100,000 pages of boarding school records for its database. Parker, a citizen of the Tulalip Tribes in Washington state, said Native Americans nationwide depend on the site to find loved ones who were taken or sent to these boarding schools. Searching that database last year, Roberta Birdie Sam, a member of Tlingit & Haida, was able to confirm that her grandmother had been at a boarding school in Alaska. She also discovered that around a dozen cousins, aunts and uncles had also been at a boarding school in Oregon, including one who died there. She said the knowledge has helped her with healing. I understand why our relationship has been the way it has been. And thats been a great relief for myself, she said. Ive spent a lot of years very disconnected from my family, wondering what happened. And now I know some of it anyways. An April 2 letter to the healing coalition that was signed by Michael McDonald, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, says the grant no longer effectuates the agencys needs and priorities. The Associated Press left messages by phone and email for the National Endowment for the Humanities. White House officials and the Office of Management and Budget also did not respond Friday to an email requesting comment. Indigenous children were sent to boarding schools For 150 years the U.S. removed Indigenous children from their homes and sent them away to the schools, where they were stripped of their cultures, histories and religions, and beaten for speaking their native languages. At least 973 Native American children died at government-funded boarding schools, according to an Interior Department investigation launched by former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Both the report and independent researchers say the actual number was much higher. The forced assimilation policy officially ended with the enactment of the Indian Child Welfare Act in 1978. But the government never fully investigated the boarding school system until the Biden administration. In October, Biden apologized for the governments creation of the schools and the policies that supported them. Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo citizen whos running for governor in New Mexico, described the recent cuts as the latest step in the Trump administrations pattern of hiding the full story of our country. But she said they cant erase the extensive work already done. They cannot undo the healing communities felt as they told their stories at our events to hear from survivors and descendants, she said in a statement. They cannot undo the investigation that brings this dark chapter of our history to light. They cannot undo the relief Native people felt when President Biden apologized on behalf of the United States. Boarding school research programs are feeling the strain Among the grants terminated earlier this month was $30,000 for a project between the Koahnic Broadcast Corporation and Alaska Native Heritage Center to record and broadcast oral histories of elders in Alaska. Koahnic received an identical letter from McDonald. Benjamin Jacuk, the Alaska Native Heritage Centers director of Indigenous research, said the news came around the same time they lost about $100,000 through a Institute of Museum and Library Services grant for curating a boarding school exhibit. This is a story that for all of us, we werent able to really hear because it was so painful or for multitudes of reasons, said Jacuk, a citizen of Kenaitze Indian Tribe. And so its really important right now to be able to record these stories that our elders at this point are really opening up to being able to tell. Former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland described the cuts as frustrating, especially given the size of the grants. Its not even a drop in the ocean when it comes to the federal budget, said Newland, a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe). And so its hard to argue that this is something thats really promoting government efficiency or saving taxpayer funds. In April 2024, the National Endowment for the Humanities announced that it was awarding $411,000 to more than a dozen tribal nations and organizations working to illustrate the impact of these boarding schools. More than half of those awards have since been terminated. The grant cuts were documented by the non-profit organization National Humanities Alliance. John Campbell, a member of Tlingit and the Tulalip Tribes, said the coalitions database helped him better understand his parents, who were both boarding school survivors and passed on that tradition of being traumatized. When he was growing up, his mother used to put soap in his mouth when he said a bad word. He said he learned through the site that she experienced that punishment beginning when she was 6-years-old in a boarding school in Washington state when she would speak her language. She didnt talk about it that much, he said. She didnt want to talk about it either. It was too traumatic. ___ Associated Press writer Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed to this report. East Hanover's first luxury apartment complex, developed by Kushner, opens as part of a growing trend of high-end rentals in New Jersey. Kushner East Hanover has just opened its first luxury apartment complex the latest in a series of high-end rentals developed in New Jersey by the Kushner development company. The 150,000-square-foot property located at 72 Eagle Rock Ave. in the Morris County township was originally an office building constructed in 1980. Developers broke ground on the deteriorating commercial space in June 2022, transforming it into a 265-unit rental complex. Last week, Kushner announced the complexs first residents began moving in. The community includes four separate buildings, each four stories tall, with one- to three-bedroom units. The complex includes a clubhouse, fitness center, theater rooms, conference and co-working spaces, a sundeck and pool with grilling station and fire pits, according to developers. Monthly rents start at $2,499, and some units are available for immediate occupancy, the company said. Kushner Companies is owned by the family of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trumps son-in-law. To help meet the townships housing requirements, 53 units have been designated and priced as affordable housing. A random selection was held last year for low- and moderate-income applicants to be considered for those units, according to the township. The apartments on Eagle Rock Avenue are the latest luxury units being built as part of Kushners Livana brand, which was created to meet the growing demand for rental spaces across the country, according to the developers. Livana is redefining the residential experience, delivering a lifestyle that is as aspirational as it is approachable, Nicole Kushner Meyer, president of Kushner, said in a statement. More rental units are set to open in East Hanover soon. A Kushner family business is developing a 548-unit apartment complex along River Road and Deforest Avenue at a site was formerly owned by Mondelez International, the snack food company behind brands like Ritz, Oreo and Clif Bar. Along with Livana East Hanover, Kushner also opened a 55-and-older rental community at a former office building in Fair Lawn this year. And, the company is currently developing luxury rental units under its Livana brand in Pier Village in Long Branch, Livingston and Colts Neck. Despite opposition from neighbors and environmental groups, a total of 360-unit rental complex is being constructed along Route 537 in Colts Neck, marking the townships first luxury apartments. Kushner is also the real estate company behind the $500 million redevelopment of Monmouth Mall in Eatontown, with plans to transform the mall into a town center featuring 1,000 residential units. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nyah Marshall may be reached at nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an ultimatum to New York on Monday end the $9 congestion pricing toll to enter Lower Manhattan or lose federal highway money. If New York doesnt comply, New Jersey drivers crossing the Hudson through the two tunnels to Manhattan could get a double whammy upon arrival, a $9 congestion pricing toll and bad road conditions if federal officials cut off highway funding. The threat was made in an April 21 letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul after New York officials continued the controversial congestion pricing program past the USDOTs April 20 deadline to shut it down. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy responded by threatening to cut off federal highway funding for all projects in Manhattan except for safety projects. The actual cut off day could happen after May 21, the deadline for the New York State Department of Transportation to make its case on why congestion pricing doesnt violate federal statues. Congestion pricing, which was made a New York state law in 2019, was created to help reduce traffic, crashes and air pollution in Manhattan and raise $1 billion annually for subway, bus and commuter rail projects. It is the first such program in the nation and started on Jan. 5. We are evaluating MTAs legal options, given that the legal issues raised in the letter are already appropriately before a federal judge, MTA CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement. In the meantime, cameras are staying on, and New Yorkers continue to benefit from the first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program, with less traffic, cleaner air, safer streets and a stronger regional economy. While MTA officials and independent academic traffic trackers cite positive effects of less traffic and shorter travel times to Manhattan, Duffy said drivers are being charged to use roads paid for through federal taxes. Anyone needing to drive into the area is either forced to pay a cost prohibitive toll or use the substandard transit system run by the MTA, Duffy wrote to Hochul. This is breach of the promise made to hardworking American taxpayers whos gas taxes have funded the existing federal aid highway system in this area. Duffy questioned the use of congestion pricing revenues to fund the MTAs capital budget. He wrote that the revenue should be used for the infrastructure that the toll is imposed on and any excess revenue should be invested in other highway projects. The federal government sends billions to New York but we wont foot the bill if Governor Hochul continues to implement an illegal toll to backfill the budget of New Yorks failing transit system, Duffy said in a press release. We are giving New York one last chance to turn back or prove their actions are not illegal. The MTA and New York state already challenged Duffys original Feb. 19 decision revoking a November 2024 Federal Highway Administration approval that allowed congestion pricing to proceed with the current $9 E-ZPass rate and $13.50 for drivers without E-ZPass. That lawsuit, currently in U.S. District Court, could continue through the summer, based on a schedule ordered by Judge Lewis J. Liman on April 9. The November approval that was revoked by Duffy was also challenged by New Jersey in an amendment to its July 2023 lawsuit that raised objections to the Environmental Analysis approved by the Federal Highway Administration in June 2023 that allowed congestion pricing to proceed. In February, Hochul and MTA officials said they did not intend to halt toll collection without a court order. Federal agencies have not filed motions seeking that order, according to court records. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry President Donald Trumps deputy chief of staff was quickly called out online for falsely claiming rioters who were sentenced for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 didnt get due process. If you were an American falsely accused of wrongdoing on January 6th it wasnt merely difficult to get due process, it was impossible. The entire system was rigged against you. All of it. Those persecuted Americans could only dream of the due process afforded illegal aliens, Stephen Miller posted to X. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP President Donald Trump and his embattled defense secretary are blaming disgruntled employees and anonymous sources over the latest scandal to engulf Pete Hegseth. A glaring issue, however, is that some of the so-called disgruntled employees spent years working for Hegseth, and that at least one person is very much on the record sounding the alarm over his former boss the furthest thing possible from being anonymous. Anonymous sources from disgruntled employees are checks notes 3 of the top people you hired who have been working with you for years. https://t.co/Xl3LJpLX7I Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) April 21, 2025 President Donald Trump listens as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington (Pool via AP) AP U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) is joining the chorus of critics demanding that President Donald Trump fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid his latest texting scandal. The New York Times first reported that Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat with his wife and brother where he shared similar details of a March military airstrike against Yemens Houthi militants that were sent in a separate group with top administration officials. Now, Democrats and some critics are calling for Hegseth to step down from his role. Bacon, who criticized the initial Signal messaging chain fiasco last month, told Politicos Rachael Bade that Hegseths text chat was unacceptable. Bade noted that Bacon is the first GOP lawmaker to call on Hegseth to be removed. If its true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, its totally unacceptable," Bacon told Politico, referring to The New York Times report. Im not in the White House, and Im not going to tell the White House how to manage this but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldnt tolerate it if I was in charge, Bacon added. NEWS: @RepDonBacon , who chairs HASC's cyber subcom, becomes the 1st Hill Republican to say @PeteHegseth should go. In a convo just now he tells me: Im not going to tell the White House how to manage this but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldnt tolerate it if I was in Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) April 21, 2025 Bacon also expressed concerns about Hegseths use of Signal in his interview with Politico and said that Hegseth was an amateur. Russia and China put up thousands of people to monitor all these phone calls at the very top, and the No. 1 target besides the president would be the secretary of Defense, Bacon said, according to Politico. Russia and China are all over his phone, and for him to be putting secret stuff on his phone is not right. Hes acting like hes above the law and that shows an amateur person. He also echoed similar worries from John Ullyot, a former Pentagon spokesperson who resigned last week. Ullyot wrote a scathing op-ed on Sunday stating that there has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon. It looks like theres a meltdown going on, Bacon told Politico. Theres a lot a lot of smoke coming out of the Pentagon, and I got to believe theres some fire there somewhere. The White House has doubled down on its defense of Hegseth despite the widespread backlash. Trump dismissed the latest reporting as all just the same old stuff from the media in comments to reporters on Monday. NPR reported on Monday that the White House has started looking for a new secretary of defense, according to an anonymous U.S. official. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the NPR report was false. This @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about. As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef. https://t.co/5Npig8968v Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 21, 2025 Hegseths use of Signal and the sharing of such plans are under investigation by the Defense Departments acting inspector general. It came at the request of the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee Republican Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and ranking Democratic member Jack Reed of Rhode Island. Reed urged the Pentagon watchdog late Sunday to probe the reported second Signal chat as well, saying that Hegseth must immediately explain why he reportedly texted classified information that could endanger American servicemembers lives. I have grave concerns about Secretary Hegseths ability to maintain the trust and confidence of U.S. servicemembers and the Commander-in-Chief, he added. The new revelations come during further turmoil at the Pentagon. Four officials in Hegseths inner circle departed last week as the Pentagon conducts a widespread investigation for information leaks. Dan Caldwell, a Hegseth aide; Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg; and Darin Selnick, Hegseths deputy chief of staff, were escorted out of the Pentagon. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday that 629,000 New Jersey residents will see a combined $927 million in debt forgiven in the states fourth round of medical debt abolishment. Murphy said the state spent $5.8 million of leftover federal COVID-19 funds to retire the medical debt in conjunction with Undue Medical Debt, an organization created by former debt collection executives that goes around the country to buy up medical debt and erase it altogether. Since last August, New Jersey and Undue have partnered to eliminate more than $1 billion in medical debt for an estimated 776,000 New Jerseyans and counting. Nobody should have to choose between their health and their financial stability. My Administration has pursued lasting systemic reforms to put more affordable health care in reach for New Jersey families and better protect our residents from accumulating debt, Murphy said in a press release. About 3% of New Jersey residents had medical debt as of August 2023, with a median debt of $1,159, according to the latest figures from the research nonprofit Urban Institute. The burden falls heaviest on people of color, with 5% of minority residents struggling with unpaid bills compared to about 3% of white New Jerseyans. Some studies have found the daunting cost of healthcare and its potential financial burden can scare people away from seeking necessary care, making them sicker. Debt relief efforts are essential not only for financial recovery, but for the well-being of our communities, said New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kaitlan Baston in a press release. Todays announcement is a massive win and a testament to the Murphy Administrations commitment to making health care more affordable and accessible for New Jerseys residents. This is the Murphy administrations fourth round of medical debt elimination. In August last year, Murphy eliminated $100 million in medical debt for an estimated 50,000 New Jerseyans. Two months later, in October, he eliminated $120 million in medical debt for another 77,000 residents. The third round in January abolished more than $26 million in medical debt for an estimated 147,000 New Jerseyans. This time around, Undue worked with the RWJBarnabas Health to identify and purchase qualifying, unpayable medical debt, Murphy administration officials said. RWJBarnabas Health is the states largest integrated academic health system. It includes 12 acute care hospitals, three acute care childrens hospitals, two trauma centers, and the states largest behavioral health network. Additionally, Undue also purchased a portion of the medical debt from the secondary market, where the debt is often from physicians groups and collection agencies. Letters to those impacted by the fourth round of debt relief will begin going out over the coming weeks. There is no application process for medical debt relief. Those who qualify were either four times or more below the federal poverty level or had medical debts that equaled 5% or more of their annual income. These are the only criteria for relief. On top of eliminating existing debt, the state has made some legislative efforts to address the burden of healthcare costs. Gov. Phil Murphy signed three laws in 2023 aimed at making prescription drugs more affordable for New Jersey residents. Last year, Murphy signed the Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act, which endeavors to help families avoid medical debt and protect individuals from predatory medical debt collectors. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Former senior Barack Obama adviser David Axelrod recently had two words for mega-podcaster Joe Rogan: Hes absolutely right. Rogan spoke in a recent episode about a Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, being sent to a gulag in El Salvador without any due process and over court objections to him and others being sent out of the U.S. (Rogan) is absolutely right. It may seem fine to blow up due process for Abrego Garcia and others now. But if thats the new normal, how you going to feel when a president is elected with whom you DONT agree? And all the safeguards are gone? Is that the America we want? Axelrod posted to X. It was in response to Rogan saying: What about due process? No, fk that. Heres the problem with fk that, the problem with things going in a radical direction and then theres an overcorrection, so the overcorrection is a lack of due process. The overcorrection is, like, round them up all, ship them to jail. Like, thats like some things that you say when youre not thinking things through. Like, what do you do about all the criminals? Take them all and fking taken them to El Salvador. What about due process? No, fk that. But heres the fk that, what if you are an enemy, lets not say any current president, lets pretend we have a new president, totally new guy in 2028, and theres this common practice now of just rounding up gang members with no due process and shipping them to El Salvador. Youre a gang member. No, Im not. Prove it. No due process. Thats dangerous. .@joerogan is absolutely right. It may seem fine to blow up due process for Abrego Garcia and others now. But if that's the new normal, how you going to feel when a president is elected with whom you DON'T agree? And all the safeguards are gone? Is that the America we want? https://t.co/Bu9KaGQG9Z David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) April 20, 2025 Abrego Garcia had lived in the U.S. for more than a decade and was deported in a move that the Trump administration has said in court filings was erroneous. But despite a Supreme Court ordering the Trump administration to help facilitate Abrego Garcias return, the administration has said it has no power to bring him back, a choice being scrutinized by federal courts as potentially in violation of judicial rulings. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen unsuccessfully lobbied the Salvadoran government for Abrego Garcias return. He told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that the U.S. is facing a constitutional crisis if the Trump administration does not follow the Supreme Courts order to push to bring Abrego Garcia back. Its a warning Democrats are increasingly amplifying. Rather than debate President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policy or the merits of the administrations invocation of national security to carry out deportations, Democratic lawmakers are zeroing in on the issue of due process, with some noting that the Supreme Court and lower court federal judges found Abrego Garcia was deported without a proper hearing. The governments argument, moreover, implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U. S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the courts ruling in Abrego Garcias case. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Donald Trump Jr. declared that a staunch supporter of his father has been exiled from the MAGA movement following a scathing op-ed. John Ullyot, a former Pentagon spokesperson who resigned from his role last week, wrote a lengthy op-ed for Politico Magazine criticizing his former boss despite previously defending his nomination to lead the Defense Department. He predicted in his Sunday piece that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth may be pushed out of his role sooner rather than later. 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 is looking into ways to encourage women to get married and have more children, according to a New York Times report. The New York Times reported that the White House has been soliciting ideas in recent weeks to persuade women to get married and have more children, according to four people familiar with the matter. This comes as top allies of Trump, including tech billionaire Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance, have encouraged Americans to have more kids. Some of the ideas included reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for applicants who are married or have children, handing out a $5,000 baby bonus to every U.S. mother after delivery and asking the government to fund programs to teach women about their menstrual cycles, according to The New York Times. Trump has previously called for a baby boom in the U.S. and has declared himself the fertilization president. However, its not clear whether the administration will take steps to implement any of these ideas to promote higher birthrates. The Times reported that some officials within the administration and on Capitol Hill are interested in more sweeping legislative ideas for reversing declining birthrates, including a baby bonus. More from The Times: Several lawmakers are exploring legislation to offer new parents a baby bonus, a one-time payment of a few thousand dollars to the mother of the child, to be issued soon after her delivery, according to people familiar with the discussions. The baby bonus could also take the form of a young child or newborn supplement to the existing child tax credit. Mr. Trump himself weighed in on the issue at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2023, with a statement that has become a rallying cry for many in the movement. We will support baby booms and we will support baby bonuses for a new baby boom, Mr. Trump said. This also comes after Trump signed an executive order in February aiming to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The order instructed the assistant to the president for domestic policy to give Trump a list of policy recommendations on protecting IVF access and aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment within 90 days. IVF became a talking point during the 2024 presidential campaign when Alabama agreed to protect in vitro fertilization providers from legal liability a couple of weeks after the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. Trump said at the time he strongly supported its availability. And a June poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults support protecting access to IVF, with 26% neutral and about 1 in 10 opposed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at McCamish Pavilion Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) AP U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is facing backlash over a tweet she posted after Pope Franciss death on Monday. The Vatican announced that Francis died Monday morning after developing a bout of double pneumonia earlier this year. As many world leaders honored the late pope with condolences and heartfelt statements, Greene posted a cryptic statement declaring that Evil is being defeated by the hand of God. Today there were major shifts in global leaderships.Evil is being defeated by the hand of God, she wrote on social media platform X. Her post was immediately criticized by social media users who accused her of calling the pope evil. Youre pure evil, former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) wrote in a comment. This is absolutely appalling. Im not catholic, but I would suggest that any catholic out there reconsider support for this. Bridge troll," Kinzinger wrote in a separate post. This is absolutely appalling. Im not catholic, but I would suggest that any catholic out there reconsider support for this. Bridge troll https://t.co/r5e3nK09f0 Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) (@AdamKinzinger) April 21, 2025 One user wrote: Marjorie Taylor Greene seemingly celebrating the death of Pope Francis is a new low even for her.This woman is vile. Another user said: In the wake of Pope Francis death, Marjorie Taylor Greenes response isnt just inappropriate its evil. Trump announced on Monday that flags would be lowered to half-staff to honor Francis. He made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday a day before his death to bless thousands of people in St. Peters Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Francis performed the blessing from the same loggia where he was introduced on March 13, 2013, as the 266th pope. From his first greeting that night a remarkably normal Buonasera (Good evening) to his embrace of refugees and the downtrodden, Francis signaled a very different tone for the papacy, stressing humility over hubris for a Catholic Church beset by scandal and accusations of indifference. The Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio brought a breath of fresh air into a 2,000-year-old institution that had seen its influence wane during the troubled tenure of Pope Benedict XVI, whose surprise resignation led to Francis election. But Francis soon invited troubles of his own, and conservatives grew increasingly upset with his progressive bent, outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics and crackdown on traditionalists. His greatest test came in 2018 when he botched a notorious case of clergy sexual abuse in Chile, and the scandal that festered under his predecessors erupted anew. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres to hoping there werent any children in that aisle of the supermarket. MAGA Congresswoman Nancy Mace tore into a constituent over the weekend who pressed her on when she was going to hold her next town hall. And things quickly got heated. Ive already done one, Ill do plenty more, Mace, who took the video and posted it to X, told the man. Youre always invited. Its a simple question, the constituent responded, repeatedly pressing her to hold an event, but she refused to say when she would. You people on the left are absolutely f---ing crazy, Mace told that man. Get out of my face. F--k you, she added. Youre insane, the man said. Youre going to be voted out so fast this year. She is in serious need of mental health support, former GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger chimed in. Every one of @NancyMace constituents need to ask her in public now. This lack of respect demands a town hall. @RepNancyMace She is in serious need of mental health support https://t.co/CwCGi99MFK Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) (@AdamKinzinger) April 20, 2025 Mace, 47, won a third U.S. House term in November and has said that she is seriously considering a 2026 run for South Carolina governor. Mace has largely supported President Donald Trump, working for his 2016 campaign but levying criticism against him following the Jan. 6, 2021, violence at the U.S. Capitol, critique that spurred Trump to back a GOP challenger in her 2022 race. Mace defeated that opponent, won reelection and was endorsed by Trump in her 2024 campaign. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Walter Tormasi escorted from the courtroom during a 2013 appearance in Superior Court of Somerset County. (Photo by Ed Murray | Star-Ledger) SL A man convicted of shooting and killing his mother outside her Bridgewater home when he was a teenager has been granted a new hearing as he seeks to reduce his sentence. The states Appellate court agreed that a lower court should reconsider the factors that resulted in Walter Tormasi being sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison. A former Phillipsburg High School lacrosse player was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting a then-18-year-old on the roof of a Dartmouth College fraternity house. Kyle Clampitt was sentenced April 14 for his conviction at trial on 12 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, according to Grafton County Attorney Marcie Hornick. She is the lead prosecutor in Grafton County, New Hampshire. He was acquitted of two counts of second-degree assault involving strangulation. The verdict was handed down Jan. 31. 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. An eight-day New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has been a rarity for most of the festivals run. But soon after the success of last years festival, which added a day to accommodate The Rolling Stones takeover of the Fair Grounds, festival producer-director Quint Davis announced an expanded Jazz Fest would stay and with it all that extra music, food and art. Jazz Fest 2025 will settle into its new eight-day format when it returns to the Fair Grounds Thursday, April 24, through Sunday, April 27, and again Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4. The 54th edition will be a big event, with 12 music stages and tents featuring touring acts and performers from New Orleans, South Louisiana and across the world. Theres also a kids tent, an interview stage, parades, performances in the Folklife Village, and hundreds of food and arts vendors. Headliners for the first four days include Lil Wayne performing with The Roots, Kacey Musgraves, Dave Matthews Band, Gladys Knight, Harry Connick Jr., John Fogerty, Goose, Babyface, Haim, Diana Krall, Burna Boy and more. And there is a vast range of genres, from gospel, blues, funk and R&B to the sounds that have defined New Orleans and South Louisiana, including traditional jazz, brass bands, zydeco and Cajun music. There also are many international bands showcasing music from their home countries. The festivals Cultural Exchange Pavilion this year highlights Mexican music and culture, and visiting bands play everything from mariachi music, marimba and norteno to rock and adventurous styles blending the traditional and the contemporary. There also are Mexican artists and a food booth near the pavilion serving Mexican dishes. New in 2025, both Thursdays will be a Locals Thursday. And there are new discounts for Louisianans on single-day tickets still available. Read more about those details and the festivals cashless policy here. In the articles below, Gambit previews the first weekend at Jazz Fest 2025, with music picks for each day, an overview of food offerings, information about Mexican artists and more info to make the most out of your fest. And keep up with Gambit here and on our social media for daily coverage from the fest. +2 New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025: Music to see Thursday, April 24 John Fogerty, Seun Kuti, Dee Dee Bridgewater, LeTrainiump and more musicians and bands to see opening day of Jazz Fest 2025. +2 New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025: Music to see Friday, April 25 Kacey Musgraves, Gladys Knight, Youssou NDour, Andrew Duhon and more artists to see on the first Friday at Jazz Fest 2025. +3 New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025: Music to see Saturday, April 26 Lil Wayne with The Roots, Taj Mahal, Zar Electirk, Video Age and more musicians and bands to see the first Saturday at Jazz Fest 2025. +2 New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025: Music to see Sunday, April 27 Davie Matthews Band, Burna Boy, HAIM, Charlie & The Tropicales, Boyfriend and more musicians and bands to see on the first Sunday at Jazz Fest 2025. New Orleans Jazz Fest's Cultural Exchange Pavilion celebrates Mexican music and culture The U.S.s neighbors to the south are taking center stage in a celebration of all things Mexico and Mexican American. Students, families, teachers and community leaders gather to celebrate the new $39.4 million Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. High School dedication at 5300 N. Rochebleve Street, that was built at the former Alfred Lawless school site in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans Wednesday, November 2, 2016. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) The offshore wind industry has generated broad, bipartisan support in Louisiana, including from companies that have traditionally worked in the oil-and-gas industry. The state has spent years seeking to position itself as a hub in the wind energy supply chain, leveraging its long experience in offshore oil and gas. It was quiet Friday afternoon on the three tiers of Death Row at the Louisiana State Penitentiary here. One might have naively expected some celebration, some sign that the 38 men here -- until Friday morning awaiting death in the electric chair -- might react to the morning United States Supreme Court decision holding the state's death penalty statutes unconstitutional. Jerry Davich Metro columnist Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Most of us have a family relative who belches out baseless opinions, radical misinformation and extremist rhetoric without apology or hesitance. However, if that family member said something that makes obvious sense for instance, smoking is bad for your health it shouldnt be immediately dismissed along with all their other nonsense. This is how I viewed last weeks press conference in Indianapolis to announce the new state health initiative, Make Indiana Healthy Again, hosted by Gov. Mike Braun, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, the new administrator of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services. No, these three men are not the holy trinity of health care reform anything but that actually and yet I still extracted useful takeaways that all of us have been told for decades from health experts. Have we acted on those recommendations? Obviously not, for the most part. Year after year, our state ranks well below the national average for overall health, from 35th to 45th in some categories. The blame is on us as a people, not on our government. Its our daily choices that dictate our collective health, and whatever weve been doing for decades simply isnt working, is it? Kennedy and Oz rattled off a few obvious truths about our countrys health metrics, such as alarming obesity rates, a prediabetes epidemic and staggering chronic illness statistics. Simply because the Trump administrations top two health officials spew baseless opinions and radical misinformation about other topics doesnt dismiss the proven facts they shared about Hoosiers and Americans. Were too fat, too lazy and too sickly with chronicle illnesses. Period. The most patriotic thing you can do these days is to get healthy," Oz said. If it takes such flag-waving, jingoistic propaganda to compel or encourage people to get into better shape and improve their health, so be it, I say. Look at our states current condition. If Indiana was a person, it would likely be obese and diabetic with heart disease, high stress, a chronic illness of some kind and possibly a smokers cough," as I wrote last week. So what should we do about it? For starters, take a walk on a regular basis. Just 20 minutes a day, break a little sweat, Oz said at that press conference. Is he wrong because you dont agree with his politics or rhetoric or medical background? No. Its a fact that walking can improve cardiovascular health, manage weight, boost mood, reduce stress and even help with sleep. In my earlier column, I told readers I would share the three things that Hoosiers can begin doing to improve our states health, according to Oz. Walking was No. 1. And it's incredibly easy to do for most people. His second recommendation is to eat healthier, something we've been told since childhood. Eat food the way it looks when it came out of the ground," Oz said. His third insight: The No. 1 driver of patients with high medical bills is that they do not other people in their life to help care for them and advocate for them. Thats right, loneliness, Oz said. Ive been saying this my entire career. Loneliness is a silent epidemic and its killing millions of Americans despite the fact its never listed on a death certificate. As for Kennedys input at that press conference, he noted how Americans are too dependent on addictive processed foods, causing chronic illnesses and premature deaths. Again, this is nothing new to hear from our mainstream health experts. Processed food doesnt give you nutrition... and yet you constantly want more. This is poisoning the American people," he said. This too is true, despite the other ridiculous misinformation Kennedy spreads like manure on a field thats harvesting ignorance. For example, one day after that press conference in Indianapolis, Kennedy spoke about the latest numbers of autism diagnoses in our country. And he did so with shocking cruelty, callousness and stupidity, wrongly using a blanket characterization for all kids on the autism spectrum. Nonetheless, his observation about our nations addiction to unhealthy processed foods remains valid. And this was my only takeaway from his visit to Indiana, in addition to his sharing this well-traveled quote throughout history: A healthy person has a thousand dreams, a sick person has only one. This is a true adage, whether its said by Confucius, Tony Robbins or Kennedy. Just as people selectively choose which facts to heed from the endless buffet of health recommendations, I cherry-pick suggestions that I can apply to improve my quality of life and to extend my life. I dont care if its from Dr. Oz, Dr. Welby or Dr. Who, who once said, The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: they dont alter their views to fit the facts; they alter the facts to fit their views. The facts are obvious when it comes to our collective well-being. Either we act on them or we continue our fatalistic habits and unhealthy tendencies. Karoline Leavitt works out of an office different from that of most press secretaries before her. The office that is typically used by the press secretary is occupied by Taylor Budowich, a longtime aide to Mr. Trump who is currently serving as the deputy chief of staff for communications. AI is everywhere these days, and the humble baby stroller industry is no exception. Canadian stroller maker Gluxkind is set to release the worlds most advanced AI-powered baby stroller. Originally unveiled at this years Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Gluxkind Ella is a technological wonder compared to most other baby strollers. Calling it a stroller sounds a bit unfair, considering that its more of a high-tech many that can independently rock your baby to sleep, assist the user on uphill and downhill slopes, and constantly monitor surroundings via an array of sensors and cameras, among many other impressive functions. It may look like a regular stroller at first sight, but Ella is actually a small battery-powered vehicle powered by artificial intelligence. Photo: Gluxkind The Gluxkind Ella offers adaptive push and break assistance, which tackling uphill and downhill slopes a breeze, even when the strollers bottom drawer is full of groceries. The strollers self-driving capabilities allow it to travel without being steered, while the parent or caretaker interacts with the baby. It uses a suite of onboard 360-degree sensors to detect and follow the sidewalk and avoid obstacles while remaining within arms reach of the user by detecting the proximity of their smartphone. When the baby is inside, Ella can be put into Rock-My-Baby mode, gently moving back and forth by itself. To help the baby fall asleep easier, the stroller features a built-in white noise generator. Photo: Gluxkind A three-hour battery charge is reportedly enough for about six hours of use. The Gluxkind Ella can be paired with Android and Apple smartphones and can be monitored via GPS, so you can keep track of its whereabouts at all times. If the most advanced AI-powered stroller sounds like a dream come true, youll only have to wait a few more months to own one. Well, youll also need to put up a $200 down payment on one and be prepared to shell out at least $3,800 for the base model. The Gluxkind Ella is set for an April launch. With Gluxkinds Ella, we aim to make parenting easier, starting with the key piece of parenting equipment, the baby stroller. At Gluxkind, we believe in empowering our families with safe, convenient, and seamless products, Gluxkind CEO Kevin Huang said. Ballard Partners has inked a $900K contract to provide strategic consulting and advocacy services for Iraqs Taqadum political party. It will conduct outreach to US government officials, decision-makers and non-government organizations on behalf of the Iraqis. The one-year pact, which went into effect April 4, automatically renews for successive one-year periods. Brian Ballard, a top fund-raiser for Donald Trump, heads the four-member Taqadum team. Hes joined by Sy Lukis, senior partner; Jasmine Zaki, ex-UN press officer in Iraq and head of the firms Middle East and Africa practice; and Aaron Sampson, a 16-year State Dept. veteran. Iraq is Ballard Partners latest high-profile win. In March, it began work on a $720K strategic communications contract for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 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. A woman who spat straight into the face of a garda was handed down two community service orders in lieu of prison. Ellie Cullen (20) of Clogher Head, Crumlin, Dublin 12, was intoxicated at a bus stop in Offaly and she kicked and spat at two members of the gardai on May 6, 2024 at Dublin Road, Edenderry. She also used threatening and abusive language. In addition she failed to appear in court on February 26, 2025. Barrister David Nugent said his client was apologetic for her behaviour. He said she wasn't well at the time and has complications in relation to her condition. He said it is not something she is proud of. He said it was frustration born of issues in relation to difficulties she has in life. He said Ms Cullen, (who appeard short in stature) doesn't want to use it as an excuse. He said she is doing very well now. She was quite fearful and knows the court has the power to put her in custody. Judge Andrew Cody said that spitting and hitting gardai is not something the court takes lightly. Mr Nugent said his client accepted it was something completely out of order. He said she was not in a great place. Judge Cody said she has a free travel pass and came down here ''off her head.'' He asked to have her assessed to ascertain her suitability for community services. After she was deemed to be suitable, he imposed two 40 hour community services in lieu of one month in prison for her assault on Garda Mullin and Garda Fitzpatrick. He gave her 12 months to complete the order. A man who appeared on a summons for dangerous driving, hit and run and exceeding the alcohol limit was disqualified when he appeared at last week's district court. Mariusz Dubieniecki (47) of Shannon View, Kylebeg, Banagher, was accused of dangerous driving at Townparks, Birr, Knocknahorna, Banagher and Ballyneena, Banagher, on September 20, 2024. He was further accused of hit and run and failing to stop at Eden Road, Birr on the same date and with damage to property. In addition he was accused of attempting to drive while exceeding the alcohol limit at Cloonacullina, Banagher. Mr Dubieniecki had hit two vehicles and a wall when he was driving in the direction of Banagher. He also parked on the wrong side of the road and went the wrong way around a bend. The scene was witnessed by an off duty garda. Mr Dubieniecki had an alcohol reading of 265 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 litres of blood.The defendant had 5 previous convictions including driving without insurance, drunk driving and one for dangerous driving which had been reduced to careless driving. READ NEXT:Funding refused for wetlands project in Tullamore Mr Dubieniecki, a Polish native had two young children aged 3 and 5. He was on a lot of medication and was going through depression but is stable now, his solicitor Brian Duffy said. Mr Duffy said by pleading guilty he had saved the state a lot of money. Judge Andrew Cody said it was lucky he didn't kill someone, bouncing off walls and hitting off cars. He described it as demolition driving. For the offence of drink driving he imposed a disqualification of six years. For dangerous driving he disqualified Mr Dubieniecki from driving for three years. He imposed fines of 1,250 and gave him six months to pay. 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 Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, passed away on Monday. He was 88 and had recently recovered from a serious bout of double pneumonia. Francis made history as the first pope from the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order), the Americas, and the Southern Hemisphere. He was also the first non-European pope since the 8th century, following Gregory III of Syria. A humble beginning Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Mario Giuseppe Bergoglio Vassallo, a railway accountant, and Regina Maria Sivori Gogna. He was one of five children. Mario had migrated from Italy in 1920, while Regina, though born in Argentina, also came from an Italian immigrant family. Raised in a working-class household, Bergoglio grew up speaking both Spanish and Italian. His upbringing was rooted in discipline and simplicity. The children washed dishes every evening after dinner, and food wastage was discouraged. As a young man, he worked briefly as a nightclub bouncer and later earned a diploma to become a chemical technician. Argentinas turbulent political landscape shaped his early worldview, and he was drawn to Peronisma populist movement focused on social justice and uplifting the working class. These ideas would remain central to his later mission. Pope Francis. File Photo: Reuters. According to his sister Maria, Jorge was a voracious learner, known for his humour and an ever-present smile. After high school, he studied chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires before he felt a deeper spiritual pull. Answering the call Bergoglio ended a romantic relationship and entered the Jesuit novitiate on March 11, 1958. He studied humanities in Chile and returned to Argentina in 1963. He later earned a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San Jose in San Miguel. Between 1964 and 1970, he taught literature, psychology, and theologyexperiences that honed both his intellect and his empathy. File Photo: Reuters. ADVERTISEMENT His path to priesthood was reflective and deliberate. He entered the seminary at Villa Devoto at 21 and was ordained a priest at the age of 33, on December 13, 1969. Soon after, he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. From 1973 to 1979, Bergoglio served as Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina. In 1980, he was appointed rector of the San Miguel Seminary. His leadership during a politically volatile era was marked by quiet resilience and strong moral clarity. In 1998, he was named Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. As cardinal, Bergoglio chose modesty over statusliving in a small apartment, taking public transport, and frequently visiting the poor and sick. File Photo: Reuters. When news spread of his elevation to cardinal, many Argentines prepared to travel to Rome for the occasion. Bergoglio, in a gesture that captured his pastoral heart, urged them instead to donate the money to those in need. He was elected President of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina in 2005, a post he held for six years. That same year, he participated in the papal conclave following the death of Pope John Paul II. Though he emerged as one of the top contenders, he reportedly asked the cardinals not to vote for him and withdrew. File Photo: Reuters. A papacy of mercy and reform On March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Bergoglio was elected as the 266th pope of the Catholic Church. He took the name Francis, in honour of Saint Francis of Assisia symbol of peace, humility, and care for the poor. From the start, Pope Francis broke with tradition. He refused to move into the papal palace, choosing instead to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse. His papacy was defined by humility, simplicity, and a call to bring the Church closer to the peopleespecially the poor, the marginalised, and the forgotten. ADVERTISEMENT Francis championed mercy over judgement, dialogue over doctrine. He expanded roles for women in the Church, admitting them as full members of Vatican dicasteries. He extended pastoral care to LGBT individuals, advocating for blessings for individuals, even while holding traditional views on marriage. He was a vocal critic of unrestrained capitalism, consumerism, and environmental destructionissues he addressed forcefully in his encyclical Laudato Si. He called the death penalty "intrinsically wrong" and pushed for its abolition worldwide. On the global stage, Francis played a quiet but crucial role in thawing US-Cuba relations, reached an agreement with China on appointing bishops, and consistently supported refugees and migrants. He also spoke out against right-wing populism and advocated for the decriminalisation of homosexuality. In 2022, he issued a historic apology for the Catholic Churchs role in the cultural genocide of Canadas Indigenous peoples. His final major initiativethe Synod on Synodalitywas a sweeping, multi-year effort to reform Church governance by listening to the voices of ordinary believers. For many, it marked the most transformative moment in Catholicism since the Second Vatican Council. Legacy Pope Francis led with presence, not power. He reshaped the papacy with compassion, courage, and a willingness to confront difficult truthswithin the Church and beyond. He will be remembered not just as a religious leader, but as a global moral voice for the poor, the vulnerable, and the planet. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner stops in Portland on June 28, 2012, for a two-day visit with employees at the Boeing Paint Hangar at Portland International Airport. Oregonian file photo Boeing employees dont trust senior leadership and dont feel their contributions are recognized or valued, according to the results of an internal survey that CEO Kelly Ortberg shared at staff meetings this week. The company is seeing improvement in its production process, Ortberg said, something that it has been striving for since a safety incident in January 2024 when a panel blew off a 737 Max 9 plane midflight. But it still has work to do on its goal of changing company culture. Only 27% of survey participants said they would highly recommend Boeing as a place to work. I look at this as an opportunity for us to really understand what it is we need to do to improve the culture of the company, Ortberg told managers at a meeting on Wednesday. When we (improve the culture), people are going to be more motivated, he continued. Good things happen. People enjoy coming to work. And so as leaders of the company, its really up to us to make that happen, enable that in the organization. Its not the first time Ortberg, who became CEO in August, has called on leaders to make changes and set the tone for a companywide culture shift. At an all-hands meeting last month Ortberg said initial survey feedback showed Boeing management needs to shape up and spend more time listening to front-line employees. He said at the time that Boeing would put an action plan in place to address those concerns. On Wednesday, he told managers he suspected employee feedback would be brutal to the leadership of the company, and it met those expectations. The manager meeting, which was open to 15,000 leaders at all levels of the company, came one day before a virtual companywide gathering to discuss the results of the internal survey and outline new company values. Excerpts of Ortbergs comments and meeting materials were shared with The Seattle Times by a person who attended Wednesdays meeting. Heres what Ortberg had to say. Give a damn! Ortberg shared five new values the company plans to adopt: Safety and quality, people focus, trust, ownership and innovation. A group of 40 employees, dubbed the Culture Working Group, helped craft those values with input from the employee survey. Ten of those workers are based in the Puget Sound region. Each of those values has associated behaviors, according to the copy of the meeting presentation shared with The Seattle Times. To uphold the value of safety and quality, Boeing must respect the consequences of our work, the presentation said. For the value of people focus, Boeings workforce must ask for help and give it freely. For innovation, Boeing must do cool things and for trust, it must do the right thing. When it comes to ownership, Boeing must be accountable and decisive, pursue excellence and give a damn! Ortberg told managers he wasnt real comfortable with the phrasing of that last one but after three attempts to soften the language, the group tasked with spearheading Boeings culture change insisted it was the best way to get the message across. Those five values will replace Boeings current set of principles put in place by former CEO Dave Calhoun, who took over after two fatal Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 and then stepped down after the panel blowout last year. In this years employee survey, 54% of respondents said they feel inspired by Boeings current values, which include engineering excellence, accountability and rewarding predictability and stability. The current values also focus on applying lean principles, referring to a manufacturing philosophy that strives to eliminate waste and maximize productivity, and a directive to crush bureaucracy. Asked to rank what values are crucial to the companys future success, more than 20,000 employees named trust, transparency and integrity as the number one priority. That was followed by quality and then accountability. One survey respondent wrote that Boeing needs to hold people accountable there are no consequences for poor performance or undesirable actions. Collaboration was at the bottom of employees crucial values, followed by crushing bureaucracy. Most survey respondents said they believe the company needs to better demonstrate our values through actions, according to the presentation. Were not holding our breath Eighty-two percent of Boeings workforce took the survey in mid-February, the highest participation in an employee questionnaire since 2016, according to the meeting presentation. It found that employees company pride had dropped significantly 91% of participants in a 2013 survey said they were proud to work at Boeing, while 67% of participants in this years survey said the same. The survey also found employees often trust their direct managers but dont have as much confidence in senior leaders. One respondent wrote that senior leadership should do more to understand why things are not working, according to the presentation shared with managers Wednesday. Another said Boeing should encourage leaders to focus on clear guidance and team empowerment over micromanagement. Ortberg told managers that less than half of employees are confident in senior leaderships ability to make decisions, communicate direction and respond to concerns. I can tell you, as the leader of the company, this is something that I take very personally and weve really, really got to take this head on, Ortberg said. There is absolutely no way we are going to get the culture of the company where we want if you dont have confidence in senior leadership. For some employees, Ortbergs message this week and over his first nine months as CEO has inspired optimism in the companys future success. But, even with that positive outlook, the talk of culture change can ring hollow. I think a lot of it is a sales pitch, said one engineer based in California who asked to remain anonymous to protect their job. We hear the same message all the time (but) its all different between what you say youre going to do and what the actual action is. I feel like everyones kind of optimistic, but were not holding our breath, either. On Wednesday, Ortberg issued another call to action to Boeings leaders. I think youre going to be shocked that if we could get 160,000 people rowing this boat in the same direction how far we can go, he said. So lets try to do that as a leadership team. The meeting presentation directed managers to reflect on the survey results, thank employees for their feedback and select one thing you can and will do better for your team. -- Lauren Rosenblatt, The Seattle Times 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A copy of the Oregon Evidence Code rests on a courtroom table in 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian Oregons elected district attorneys may alone decide whether a law enforcement officer is credible enough to call to the witness stand, an appellate court found Wednesday. In specific, the Oregon Court of Appeals gave their stamp of approval to Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton, who had placed a local sheriffs deputy on the so-called Brady list of dishonest officers in 2020. The Oregonian/OregonLive has updated its searchable database of beneficiaries of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, adding 5,947 beneficiaries who retired last year and another 118 who retired Jan. 1, 2025. The database is now available to all readers. (Click here to go to the database). The newsroom has maintained the database since 2011, when the pension system reached a settlement with The Oregonian/OregonLive and the Salem Statesman Journal to release the names and monthly benefits of what were then 110,000 beneficiaries. The database now includes the names of 147,958 individuals receiving retirement benefits. The data includes each beneficiarys length of service; the retirement formula their benefit calculation was based on; the monthly and annual equivalent benefit; and how that compares to their final salary. It does not include beneficiaries who received lump sum payments or spouses or other relatives of public employees who are receiving a survivor benefit. Earlier this month, the newsroom analyzed the newest class of beneficiaries, finding that some retirees are still scoring huge pensions thanks to a costly retirement formula thats been minting millionaires for decades. Although lawmakers made reforms, government employees who started working before 1996 are generally eligible for a favorable calculation that has been a primary driver of PERS massive pension deficit, which now stands at $30 billion. Pensions for beneficiaries who retired in 2024 ranged from about $1,000 annually to nearly $330,000, with a median of $23,297, according to a newsroom analysis. The median benefit for 2024 retirees with 30 or more years, which PERS defines as a career employee, was $57,832 annually. The median benefit for all beneficiaries in the updated database is $29,473 annually, the newsroom found. Ted Sickinger is a reporter on the investigations team. Reach him at 503-221-8505, tsickinger@oregonian.com or @tedsickinger Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe For many Portland-area residents, the food like this mango sticky rice sundae at Canard's Oregon City location are one of the top reasons to stay. Destiny Johnson The days when Portland was a national media darling, its chefs celebrated in glossy magazines, its food scene named the best in America, might be over. Nevertheless, for locals, the food scene remains one of the best reasons to stick around. U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane on Monday heard two emergency motions filed by two international students who were informed earlier this month that their legal status was terminated. Maxine Bernstein | Staff A federal judge on Monday ordered the government to immediately reinstate the student visa status of two Oregon university students and blocked the government from transferring them out of Oregon or deporting them from the United States. U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane issued a 14-day temporary restraining order in response to emergency motions from two international students who were stripped of their student status earlier this month. Under blue skies, searchers used marine and aerial resources to scour the area below Willamette Falls, shown here Sunday, where a kayaker went missing late Saturday, April 12, 2025. Mark Graves/The Oregonian Willamette Falls has long been a place of deep spiritual and cultural importance for Northwest tribes, as well a hub of local industry. It has also, on occasion, been a place of tragedy and terror. The case of California kayaker Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez, who went missing after going over the roaring waterfall last weekend, is another reminder of the powerful force of Willamette Falls. As a union leader with the Centennial Education Association, I was disappointed by the Oregonian/OregonLives article on educators using sick leave that we are contractually entitled to without offering meaningful context (In and around Portland, teachers are missing more school than ever. Their bosses dont want to talk about it, April 11). Let me be clear: educators, like all professionals, deserve to care for their health without public scrutiny or shame. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, workers across all sectors have changed how they view sick time. We no longer work through illness nor should we. In education, this isnt just about personal health its a public responsibility. We serve students in full-inclusion classrooms, many of whom are medically vulnerable or come from historically marginalized communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. To come to work sick is not only outdated its dangerous. At a time when public education is under constant attack from budget cuts to political interference publishing this article speaks volumes about your priorities. Instead of asking why teachers use earned sick leave, perhaps we should be asking why Oregon lawmakers still fail to fund the Quality Education Model. Our educators show up every day and give everything they have. If youre truly interested in the full story, visit our schools. Talk to our teachers. See the commitment, the care, and the reality we face and put pressure on those who deserve it, not the educators. Drew Rosa, Gresham Rosa is incoming president of Centennial Education Association To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. There are approximately 15,000 Oregon public school students enrolled in virtual charter schools. Oregon House Bill 2583 was a bill that would have allowed these students to have equal access to Oregon Student Success Act funding for credit recovery, math remediation, early literacy programs, social-emotional learning support, counseling programs and more. HB 2583 had garnered bipartisan and constituent support and had a highly successful public hearing on April 2. At the public hearing there were 141 submitted testimonies in support of this bill, coming from all areas of Oregon, including more than 20 rural Oregon districts and 62 Oregon towns. You can read the stories of these families online by searching for HB 2583 on the Oregon Legislatures information site, OLIS, here. After the public hearing, the bill was placed on the agenda for an April 7 work session of the House Committee on Education. Ten minutes before the work session began, Committee Chairwoman Courtney Neron removed it from the agenda, thus killing the bill which had to be moved out of committee to meet the Legislatures deadline. On her website, Neron states her desire for a future that is more equitable, more sustainable, and more promising for all Oregonians. I see clearly that HB 2583 would have done just that, providing equity and promise to all of Oregons public school students. This bill had bipartisan and constituent support, yet one can only guess at the interests that Rep. Neron ultimately bowed to. Ursa Shaw, Newberg To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Former Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is pictured in this file photo. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian A confidential federal investigation into allegations of potential wrongdoing by former Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has been closed with no criminal charges filed. Federal officials in 2023 began investigating Fagan, who resigned in May 2023 amid a storm of controversy over a private consulting contract she signed with a cannabis company while her office was auditing the states oversight of the cannabis industry. The side job paid her $10,000 per month , far more than the $77,000 salary she made as secretary of state an elected position that she explained didnt pay enough for her to make ends meet. The FBI, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Oregon and Fagans attorney declined to confirm or comment on the investigations closure, the scope of the investigation or why criminal charges werent filed. Officials with the Oregon Department of Justice and other sources confirmed that people with knowledge of the investigation have told them its over. The state Department of Justice became involved in Fagans case after federal officials sought information from the state. Though federal officials havent taken action, Fagans troubles arent over. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission opened an investigation in 2023 into whether Fagan violated ethics rules for her side job with an associated company of La Mota, which operated a large chain of cannabis stores in Oregon. Fagans contract was first reported by Willamette Week. Fagan decided to earn the extra cash despite the advice of secretary of state staffers who strongly discouraged her, according to a preliminary review by the ethics commission. The commission also began a probe into whether Fagan used taxpayer dollars to fund family vacations, after a June 2023 story by The Oregonian/OregonLive outlined a pattern of Fagans questionable spending, including everything from bigger rental cars and hotel rooms that could accommodate her family and dog to $877 the state paid for Fagans airfare to the 2023 White House Easter Egg Roll, which she attended with her children. The commission paused its investigations, pending the outcome of the federal investigation. Susan Myers, executive director of the commission, said the commission reactivated Fagans cases in late December. Myers said the commission is planning to once again discuss Fagans cases at a May 9 meeting. Meanwhile, Fagans application to the Oregon State Bar to reinstate her law license is still pending. Fagan had previously worked as a state lawmaker and a privately practicing lawyer. She asked that her law license be switched to inactive status when she took office as secretary of state in January 2021, a move that allowed her to avoid the need to pay annual bar dues and malpractice insurance. In February 2023, days after signing the contract for her cannabis side contract, she sought to have her law license switched back to active status. Bar spokesperson Kateri Walsh said Monday that Fagans reinstatement application is still open. Aimee Green is covering the Oregon Legislature this session. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Bill Schuette, the former business manager for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, and Kai Nakashima, director of information services, negotiated settlement agreements with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission late last month. The ethics commission concluded they had used their positions to access prized bourbon. The Washington Post via Getty Images Two former high-level Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission managers each agreed to pay $500 fines to the states ethics commission for using their positions to access sought-after bourbons, records show. Bill Schuette, the former business manager, and Kai Nakashima, director of information services, negotiated settlement agreements with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission late last month. Rep. David Gomberg, a Democrat representing Lincoln and western Benton and Lane counties, said he's received widespread support for his cats-and-dogs bill. Mark Graves/The Oregonian A bill that would prohibit public money from funding lab experimentation on cats and dogs for the benefit of humans is making its way through the Oregon Legislature. The protect Fluffy and Fido bill, as one senator has dubbed it, cruised to passage on the Senate floor with a 24-3 vote last week and is now in the hands of the House. Senate Bill 181 would ban public funding of any experiments on domesticated felines or canines if it doesnt benefit their species and causes them pain. The scope of the research to be banned could encompass everything from testing for allergic reactions from cosmetics and household cleaners to gauging the effectiveness of medicines and surgical procedures to cure human ailments. Supporters of the Senate Bill 181 say they know of only one entity in the state Oregon Health & Science University that is currently conducting research on dogs and for the sole benefit of humans. That research, however, is privately funded so it wont be affected by the bill. The bills supporters also say they know of no organizations that are doing such research on cats. Im pleased to say that not a lot of it is going on in Oregon, but it does go on, said Rep. David Gomberg, a Democrat from Otis and chief backer of the bill, told colleagues during a public hearing earlier this month. Im also concerned that as other states begin to prohibit these actions that more of it may come here if we dont take some proactive action. Gomberg said the intent of the bill is to ban only state taxpayer dollars from funding these experiments not federal dollars, the use of which he said the state cant control within its borders. Gomberg said he proposed the bill after meeting with the general counsel from the national animal rights organization, White Coat Waste Project. Jared Goodman, the projects general counsel and who lives in Tillamook, said just one other state Virginia in 2018 has banned all publicly funded cat and dog research after being approached by his group. Bipartisan state lawmakers there, he said, pushed through the legislation after we uncovered how state funds were being wasted to inject latex into beagles arteries to induce heart attacks without any pain relief, Goodman said. And as a result of that bill it ultimately became law the dog experiments were subsequently ended, sparing many animals from that taxpayer-funded abuse. Oregons bill received a warm reception in the Senate Judiciary Committee, winning over even Sen. Mike McLane, an eastern Oregon Republican, who initially expressed worries that research on cats and dogs might be necessary to save human lives. McLane said he was troubled that the bill might eliminate research that could be critical for human benefit. But he added that he doesnt celebrate research that amounts to nothing but cruelty toward societys most beloved animal companions. Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Republican from Keizer, tried to allay McLanes worries. It just bans testing on dogs and cats, Thatcher said. And still allows it under private funding. It just protects Fluffy and Fido. OHSU performs research to better understand human afflictions on a range of animals that include primates and prairie voles, the latter of which included intoxicating the gerbil-like rodents to see if they were promiscuous, in an effort to better understand drunken human behavior. Last month, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek called for the closure of OHSUs Oregon National Primate Research Center. In response to questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive last week, an OHSU spokesperson said the organization hasnt taken a position on Senate Bill 181. But we have concerns about any efforts to restrict research, Tamara Hargens-Bradley wrote in an email. She confirmed that OHSU is performing no experiments on cats and one study on dogs, which is privately funded and wouldnt be affected by the bill. The dog study looks into how an experimental drug and ultrasound technique might reduce the amount of dead tissue after a heart attack in dogs and ultimately humans, Hargens-Bradley said. Dogs are the best animal model for this study because their hearts are very similar to human hearts, and other animal models wouldnt be ideal for this specific studys protocols, Hargens-Bradley wrote. She added that the study is designed so the dogs dont experience pain. The bill would prohibit research on cats and dogs that causes them pain that requires medication to alleviate or is so severe it cant be quelled with pharmaceuticals. Hargens-Bradley said OHSU only uses animals for research when other non-animal research methods are scientifically inadequate and/or when experimental designs are too dangerous for human participants. After a study is deemed to be scientifically valuable, she said two committees totally a few dozen members including veterinarians, scientists and a community representative must approve it. Nearly all infectious disease research and vaccine development uses animal models, Hargens-Bradley continued. Vaccines for HIV, yellow fever, West Nile virus and the development of a universal flu vaccine would not have been possible without animals in research. Gomberg, the state representative who is championing the bill, said he has received enormous response in support of it. Oregonians dont want to see their companion animals dogs and cats being put through painful experiments on their dime, he said. The bill has been referred to the speaker of the House, who is responsible for assigning it to a House committee for review. Aimee Green is covering the Oregon Legislature this session. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. U.S. Rep Maxine Dexter touched down in El Salvador on Sunday with a cohort of Democratic members of Congress hoping to put pressure on the Trump administration to return mistakenly deported Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The four Democrats have not been granted permission to see or speak to Abrego Garcia, Dexter said in an interview from El Salvador on Monday morning, nor do they know exactly where he is being held. Dexter said she plans to return from the short, self-funded trip soon. Until Kilmar and the other wrongfully imprisoned men are released, we are calling on members of Congress and the public to just maintain the pressure and visibility of this, Dexter said. This is absolutely a constitutional crisis. Abrego Garcia, 29, was detained by immigration agents last month and deported to his native El Salvador without a due process hearing, despite a 2019 court order protecting him from removal to that country, his lawyer said. Appeals courts as well as a district court judge found he was wrongfully deported to El Salvador on March 15, the day scores of other Salvadoran men and Venezuelans were flown out of the U.S. Abrego Garcia entered the U.S. without permission in 2011, the year he turned 16, but had a legal work permit issued by the Department of Homeland Security. He was protected from deportation back to El Salvador because he was likely to face violence from gangs, his lawyers said. His wife and children are U.S. citizens. Trump administration officials said Abrego Garcia was deported based on a 2019 accusation from Maryland police he was an MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcia denied the allegation and was never charged with a crime, his attorneys said. The Supreme Court and lower courts have ordered the Trump administration to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. Government lawyers have admitted that Abrego Garcias deportation to El Salvador was an administrative error, but they have pushed back against returning him, arguing thats up to El Salvador. The president of El Salvador later said he lacked the power to return Abrego Garcia, saying it would be preposterous to smuggle a terrorist into the United States. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland met with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador last week in what Van Hollen said was the mans first communication with anyone outside of the prison system. He had been moved from a notorious prison called CECOT to a different facility, Van Hollen said, but not allowed to communicate with the outside world, Van Hollen said. Dexter, who represents Oregons 3rd Congressional District, said that she and Reps. Robert Garcia from California, Maxwell Frost from Florida and Yassamin Ansari of Arizona traveled to El Salvador without guarantee they could meet with Abrego Garcia. Their request to do so through the U.S. ambassador was denied, she said. The Democrats have been in meetings at the embassy, including with lawyers for the detainees, Dexter said. After a confidential briefing this morning, Dexter said she has no reason to believe that the Trump administration is working to get Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. and accused the president of ignoring multiple courts. In a statement on Monday the White House called the Democrats visit an apology tour, and criticized the representatives for failing to speak out about unauthorized immigrants who had allegedly put their districts at risk. The statement listed several immigrants by name, including a man who escaped from Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Tacoma and was arrested in Beaverton. The White House accused the Democrats of picking up their partys mantle of prioritizing an illegal immigrant MS-13 gang member over the Americans they represent. Abrego Garcias family is deeply concerned about his health and welfare, Dexter said. He has multiple medical conditions, which Dexter who is a doctor declined to specify citing his privacy. His family has had no verification of life or health since Abrego Garcia met with Van Hollen, Dexter said, and no idea if he has access to medical treatment. She and the other lawmakers have requested daily updates on his wellbeing, Dexter said. We absolutely see this as a slippery slope, that any person in the U.S. could be subject to the same treatment if we allow this to go forward. So we will continue to fight, she said. This is not about one man. This is a nightmare for his family, absolutely. But much more importantly, its an indicator of the constitutional crisis that we are moving toward if not already in and the lack of due process that is constitutionally obliged for any person in the United States taken into custody. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430. Sen. Aaron Woods, D-Wilsonville, sits at his desk on the first day of the 2024 Oregon legislative session. Woods died Saturday. Beth Nakamura State Sen. Aaron Woods, an Army veteran and longtime tech executive who was elected to office in 2022, died Saturday at 75. Woods, a Democrat from Wilsonville who was known around the Capitol for his quiet demeanor and deep knowledge of complicated tech issues, died due to complications of cancer, OPB reported Monday. He was a trailblazer in everything he did, always looking to the future and investing in opportunity for others, Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-Portland, said in a statement. Woods hailed from Chicago, where he grew up and attended a tech-focused high school, according to his legislative biography. He served in the U.S. Army for six years before moving to Oregon, where he worked as a senior manager for Tektronix from 1996 to 1999. Woods joined workplace technology equipment company Xerox as a project director in 2000 and spent the next 19 years of his career overseeing major initiatives to boost sales and expand company providers while climbing the corporate ladder. He retired from the company in 2019 as a senior director within the companys division focused on managing the companys partnering providers in the United States. Aaron often said that growing up on the south side of Chicago, he never expected to be an elected official. But to me, he was an exact fit, Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement. His life was defined by care and service to his country, his community, and family. During his time at Xerox, Woods also earned his MBA at Marylhurst University, and he served as a board member of trade association Computing Technology Industry Association between 2013 and 2016. He also was a longtime board member of Digitunity, a nonprofit that collects donated computers and helps provide them to individuals with limited access to technology. Woods became civically engaged in 2013 when he began serving on the Wilsonville Development and Review Board. He served on the board for five years and later served on the citys planning commission for two years before running for and winning election to the state Senate in 2022. In the Senate, Woods quickly emerged as a policy expert on issues related to artificial intelligence and other technologies. He served as the co-chair of the Joint Committee on Information Management and Technology and served on the states Electronic Government Portal Advisory Board. He also served on the Senate Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs Committee, among others. Above all, Aaron Woods was thoughtful, Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, said in a statement. In a building that too often highlights division, he stood out as someone who led with compassion, listened with humility, and treated everyone with respect. Woods was active in the Legislature until the final days of his life. He stepped down from his committee leadership positions in recent weeks and cast his final floor vote on March 20 before stepping away for medical treatment. Local Democratic Party officials will nominate up to five individuals to fill Woods vacant seat. County commissioners from Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill counties, the three counties that are located in the district, will make the final selection. Hes done so much, and I really appreciated his leadership with the changing world of AI, said Sen. Mark Meek, a Democrat from Gladstone. He was the frontrunner in our Legislature to really understand the importance and also understand the dangers that it poses. He didnt speak that often, but when he did, it was on point and very intelligible and very poignant, Meek added. Woods is survived by five adult children. Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com/subscribe. Ann Sullivan, a reporter for The Oregonian, stands near a cliff overlooking the Columbia River in November 1967 at the site where she believed the Martin family vanished in 1958. Sullivan investigated the case for decades, convinced the familys car had plunged into the water below. Courtesy of DeAnn Sullivan When DeAnn Sullivan heard that a 1954 Ford had been found at the bottom of the Columbia River, her first thought was of her late mother. Ann Sullivan, who died in 2008 at 89, spent years thinking about what happened to a Portland family that disappeared on Dec. 7, 1958. On that day, Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their three daughters climbed into the family car and drove off into the Columbia River Gorge to collect Christmas greenery. They never came back. The bodies of two of the daughters were discovered in the Columbia River nearly five months later, but, despite extensive and repeated search efforts spanning decades, neither the car nor the other three family members were found. It was all a shock to Oregonians, for the Martins were the kind of family anyone would have wanted for neighbors. Kenneth Martin carved four-foot-tall wooden candy canes and handed them out at Christmas. His and Barbaras daughters were known for being polite and kind. DeAnn Sullivan sits in her Hillsdale home on March 13, 2025, surrounded by memorabilia her mother, longtime Oregonian reporter Ann Sullivan, gathered while investigating the 1958 disappearance of the Martin family. DeAnn grew up hearing about the case, a story her mother followed closely for decades. The familys car was recovered from the Columbia River near Cascade Locks on March 6, 2025. Mark Graves/The Oregonian The disappearance also proved a compelling mystery to newspaper and magazine readers across the country, who wondered how a normal, seemingly All-American family could just vanish into the wind. The mystery plagued many people, from the familys friends to determined police officers to armchair researchers. But few among them were as committed to finding the truth as Ann Sullivan, a reporter with The Oregonian who was among the first to write about the case for the newspaper. She was a reporter obsessed. You couldnt head east in the gorge without her talking about it and pointing out locations related to the case, DeAnn Sullivan said. As the child of a determined reporter, DeAnn Sullivan, now 70, grew up surrounded by fascinating, often tragic stories. But the Martin case stood out for its mystery and horror. Ann Sullivan, 39 at the time the Martins disappeared, was committed to the story from the start. 23 1 / 23 DeAnn Sullivan preserves her mothers investigation into the Martin family disappearance Mark Graves She was there Dec. 10 on Larch Mountain, where she wrote that slim leads had dissolved into nothing. She was there for the discovery of other clues that led investigators down unexpected, ultimately fruitless paths. There she was again, on the front page on May 5, 1959, after the daughters bodies turned up in the river. Police believed the disappearance likely was the result of a car accident, a wrong turn sending the five family members into the river. But that explanation struck many people as too simple. In 1967, Ann Sullivan read the Multnomah County Sheriffs Offices full file on the cold case, then she interviewed every witness and revisited every important location. With that reporting, she came to believe the Martin familys disappearance wasnt an accident. The potential evidence that brought her to that conclusion included tire tracks, in a remote, difficult-to-access area in The Dalles, that led to a precipice, prompting speculation that the Martins car had been taken there and purposely driven off the edge and into the river. There also was a report from river drill workers in 1959 that claimed they had accidentally pulled up a heavy object they believed was a car near The Dalles, before it slipped off their snare and sank. Plus there was a slew of other tantalizing but circumstantial evidence, like a stray glove found in a parking lot and a stolen car and gun that were found near Cascade Locks. Oregonian reporter Ann Sullivan was haunted by the 1958 disappearance of the Martin family. Her daughter, DeAnn Sullivan, kept many of her mother's records, including photos, story drafts and published articles. Fedor Zarkhin Ann Sullivan wrote about her suspicions in 1986, nearly 30 years after the family went missing, under the headline, Cold waters of the Columbia cradle secrets closely. The fate of the E. Kenneth Martin family still haunts this writer, especially on drives up the gorge, Ann Sullivan wrote. For I am convinced I know where the car is. The veteran reporter retired from The Oregonian in 1993, without an answer to the mystery that haunted her. She held onto and treasured a relic from her days reporting on the familys disappearance one of the Martin familys neighbors had gifted her a wooden candy cane made by Kenneth Martin many years before. Ann Sullivan took that candy cane out every Christmas and put it on her porch. DeAnn Sullivan kept the candy cane after her mothers death. It was important to her mother, and it meant something something unfinished and so it was important to DeAnn Sullivan too. After her mothers death, DeAnn Sullivan often didnt display the wooden candy cane during the holidays. But, late last year, she remembered it and for some reason it felt important to her to pull the item out of storage and put it out. She thought, in an almost spiritual way, the candy cane could serve as a beacon for the family to be found, after all these decades. Christmas passed, but she left the candy cane on the porch. A wooden candy cane made by Kenneth Martin, the father in the family that disappeared in 1958, stands on the front porch of DeAnn Sullivans Hillsdale home on March 13, 2025. The cane, one of several Martin made and gave out around Christmastime, ended up with the Sullivan family and has been kept ever since. Mark Graves/The Oregonian Then, in March, came the shocking news: a diver may have found the missing car her mother had obsessed over for decades. On March 7, contractors hired by the Hood River County Sheriffs Office pulled a car chassis out of the Columbia River near Cascade Locks. Authorities concluded it was, almost certainly, the Martin family car. The cars location near Cascade Locks, not by The Dalles where Ann Sullivan believed it had gone into the water, lent support to the original police theory that the Martins had accidentally driven into the river. It thus cast serious doubt on the theories of potential foul play that had consumed many Oregonians, including Ann Sullivan. DeAnn Sullivan recently unearthed a box with documents her mother had kept from the Martin case, full of police reports, photos, story drafts and newspaper clippings. Sitting at her kitchen table, surrounded by documents and black-and-white photos from the case including several photos of her mother standing by the Columbia River DeAnn Sullivan imagined what her mothers response would have been to the Martin car being found. She said her mother would have been excited, like any journalist, to have learned the truth. She would have loved to write the closing chapter, she said. As DeAnn Sullivan sifted through the papers on her kitchen table, out on the porch of her Southwest Portland home, next to a pot filled with flowers, the red-and-white wooden candy cane still stood. 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 The Joinery, a Portland furniture maker, was founded in 1982. LC- Bryan Aulick for The Joinery A Portland furniture company is moving into a historic building in the Pearl District next month. When Marc Gaudin founded The Joinery in 1982, it was a one-person repair business operating out of a 200-square-foot shop in Southeast Portland. Today, the high-end furniture company runs two locations in the city: a woodshop and showroom in St. Johns and a retail store in downtown Portland. OKLAHOMA CITY On the 30th anniversary of the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, former President Bill Clinton said Americans must unite despite their differences, and that Oklahomans can help lead the way by serving as that role model for the rest of the nation. Clinton, who was president at the time of the attack, returned to the site of the 1995 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing Saturday to deliver the keynote address to a crowd of over 1,600 that attended to remember and honor those who died and were injured in the attack. 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... While the event is typically held outdoors at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the site of the bombing, it was moved indoors due to inclement weather. The crowd that arrived to commemorate the anniversary was so large that once the pews were packed, people stood along the walls and filled an overflow room. The domestic terrorists who did this awful thing believed that it would spark a nationwide upheaval against the American government, and would eventually destroy our government, our democracy and our life, Clinton said. Instead, you gave them, as the mayor said so eloquently, the Oklahoma Standard. You gave them service, honor and kindness. Clinton, a Democrat, came to Oklahoma City days after the 1995 attack to address a devastated crowd assembled at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena. He said hes returned to Oklahoma City in subsequent years to commemorate the event. Three decades later, Clinton said that the country has again grown more polarized. When Oklahoma City was the center of polarization 30 years ago, it chose to move forward together, he said. America needs you, and America needs the Oklahoma Standard, Clinton said. And if we all live by it, we would get a fairer economy, a more stable society. We would understand one another, and we wouldnt feel weak if we admitted we were wrong about something. Thirty years ago, a fertilizer and fuel oil bomb placed inside a Ryder truck outside the Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City exploded at 9:02 a.m., killing 168 people, including 19 children, and injuring around 850. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were arrested for their roles. Both were found guilty. McVeigh was executed June 11, 2001, by lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. Nichols was sentenced to life in prison. Michael Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison for failing to report his knowledge of the bombing plot. 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 Investigators said McVeigh held extremist views and planned the bombing on the anniversary of the end of the Waco siege between law enforcement and the Branch Davidians. Other speakers at Saturdays remembrance event included prominent Republican officials such as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, former Gov. Frank Keating, and U.S. Sen. James Lankford. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt also spoke. Most of Oklahomas Congressional delegation was present, as were a few other former governors, current state lawmakers and other officials. There have been nearly 11,000 tomorrows since the bombing and in Oklahoma City, Holt said, and the city has grown in that time. He said 30 years since the bombing signifies a generation. While younger Oklahomans may not remember the bombing, Stitt said, they live in a state shaped by it and the commitment to service, honor and kindness that followed. Lankford said Oklahomans need to ensure the lessons learned from the bombing and its aftermath are passed to future generations to ensure there is no generation that rises up that does not remember. The Federal Building housed federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the agency that initially launched the Waco raid. But the building also held a day care, military recruitment offices and other various federal agencies. Family members of victims read the 168 names to the crowd Saturday in an effort to humanize the people, said Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the memorial museum. The building was imploded after the rescue operations and evidence collections were completed. A new federal building was built nearby. The memorial was built where the old federal building once stood. The 168 chairs erected at the site each represent an empty seat at the dinner table. The smaller chairs represent the children who died. A reflecting pool represents the time between 9:01 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. April 19, 1995. Officials were able to preserve an American elm tree that survived the blast. It is known as the Survivor Tree. In the aftermath of the attack, the state became known for the Oklahoma Standard, a term used to describe the selfless actions of thousands who offered help. Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a nation 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donations focused on delivering state government news. The Voice maintains full editorial independence. For more stories by Oklahoma Voice go to oklahomavoice.com. Reporter Barbara Hoberock contributed to this story. First Presidency Offers Condolences on Passing of His Holiness Pope Francis As the First Presidency has already done, I offer my condolences on the death of Pope Francis to any Catholic readers who may perhaps wander through here. The Popes passing comes as a surprise to many, including me, because he seemed to be recovering reasonably well from a lengthy and serious hospitalization a few weeks ago. Just yesterday, he both appeared on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica to deliver his Easter blessing to the crowd assembled in the piazza below and, just prior to that appearance, gave an audience to U..S. Vice President J. D. Vance. (I decline to speculate on any causal relationship that the latter may have had with the Popes death only a few hours afterward.) The passing of a pope is an epochal event. On a personal note, papal succession was much in the news during the couple of months of my marriage, and I paid fairly close attention to what was going on. (Ive always found the Vatican fascinating, and St. Peters is probably my favorite place to visit in Rome Rome itself being one of my favorite places altogether.) Pope St. Paul VI died shortly after my wife and I were married. Pope John Paul I was elected a few weeks later, and then suddenly died after a papacy of only thirty-three days. Shortly thereafter, the lengthy and vastly consequential pontificate of Pope St. John Paul II began. I admired him enormously and, in January 2001, had the privilege of attending a relatively small meeting over which he presided. (On this, see When the Pope left the Vatican for a meeting of healing: When Pope John Paul II hosted a number of bishops from the ancient non-Catholic churches of the East, the location of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls was significant.) Here yesterday, on Easter Sunday, I shared a number of brief items about the holiday and the event that it commemorates. I should also have included this Easter conference talk from the late Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Sunday Will Come. It was kindly brought to my attention by Kenngo1969, one of this blogs readers. (Incidentally, my wife and I knew Elder Wirthlins sister Judith, whom he mentions in his remarks, quite well. She and her husband, Tom, were Church service representatives in Egypt for part of the time that we were living there, and they were valued friends.) I did not include the Easter message below, from the President of the United States, because I hadnt seen it until after I had posted my blog entry for the day: Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting and scheming so hard to bring Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, the Mentally Insane, and well known MS-13 Gang Members and Wife Beaters, back into our Country. Happy Easter also to the WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue, an attack so violent that it will never be forgotten! Sleepy Joe Biden purposefully allowed Millions of CRIMINALS to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, through an Open Borders Policy that will go down in history as the single most calamitous act ever perpetrated upon America. He was, by far, our WORST and most Incompetent President, a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing But to him, and to the person that ran and manipulated the Auto Pen (perhaps our REAL President!), and to all of the people who CHEATED in the 2020 Presidential Election in order to get this highly destructive Moron Elected, I wish you, with great love, sincerity, and affection, a very Happy Easter!!! From Donald Trump Truth Social 04/20/25 08:46 AM New, on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Interpreter Radio Show April 6, 2025, including Doctrine and Covenants in Context: The Promises Shall Be Fulfilled covering D&C 45 The 13 April 2025 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show featured Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen, along with special guest Ignacio Garcia during the second hour. They discussed the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for 5-11 May covering Doctrine and Covenants 45, the book by Ignacio Garcia about Eduardo Balderas, and the recent article by C. Thomas Black in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. Their conversation was recorded. It has now been edited to remove commercial interruptions and made available, at no charge, for your listening pleasure. In the Salt Lake Valley, the Interpreter Radio Show can be heard on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640, or if you prefer (or if you have no practical alternative) you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com. Opposition to the building of Latter-day Saint temples has surged in recent years. The Cody Wyoming Temple seems to have finally gotten past the challenges, but, despite its unanimous approval by the Las Vegas city council, the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple is still facing considerable resistance. The Church announced its intention to build a Flagstaff Arizona Temple on 6 April 2025. Thats just slightly more than two weeks ago. Moreover, I didnt immediately pounce on this story; its several days old already. It certainly didnt take much time for opponents to begin to rally against the idea of a Latter-day Saint temple in their community! Were probably still several months away from the announcement of a specific site, to say nothing of a building design or a lighting plan. But those who seek to stop the coming of a temple to the Flagstaff area didnt hesitate. Theyve jumped right in, as the image above illustrates. Ive been through Flagstaff a few times, but not recently. Can anybody tell me whether the city has electricity? Are there any nighttime lights in the area? And is time travel common in northern Arizona? (Im curious to learn how the temples opponents already know that the temple will conflict with city codes, interfere with local astronomical observatories, and violate Flagstaff Region Plan 2030.) Furthermore, is it a requirement for ecclesiastical buildings in Flagstaff to provide ongoing economic benefits to the city? Are there any churches in Flagstaff? Inquiring minds want to know. By Rodrigo Torrejon, The Philadelphia Inquirer Hundreds of young people as many as 1,000 caused chaos near Temple Universitys campus Saturday night, and at least two students were assaulted and multiple arrests were made, police and university officials said. A stolen vehicle report led to the arrest of two South Carolina homicide suspects in Lower Paxton Township on Sunday afternoon, according to police. Latesha Fields, 31, and Payton Deal, 27, of South Carolina, were arrested at 4:20 p.m. at the Quality Inn Hotel at 200 North Mountain Road after police discovered they were linked to a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Charlotte, North Carolina, according to Lower Paxton Township police. Before the arrest, the stolen vehicle was located at 1:10 p.m. in the parking lot of the hotel, police said. The vehicle was also unoccupied when they discovered it and learned it was stolen from North Carolina. Investigations led to them discovering that Fields and Deal are suspects in a recent homicide in Duncan, South Carolina, according to police. Both are also wanted for other felony charges involving weapons and grand larceny from South Carolina, police said. Both women were named persons of interest in South Carolina after a 38-year-old man was found dead at a hotel last week, according to a report from WYFF4. Police said they were taken to Dauphin County Prison, where they were denied bail and charged with receiving stolen property. Fields was also charged with use/possession of drug paraphernalia, according to online court documents Both of their preliminary hearings are scheduled for May 1, online court documents said. Women in hip-hop, including Sexyy Red, Amber Rose, and Azealia Banks, are endorsing Trump, raising questions about their influence and the political implications. Whats driving these unexpected alliances? Getty Images Its a decision shell have to live with. Controversial rapper and social media personality Azealia Banks has abandoned her avid support for President Donald Trump, as she recently revealed her regret in voting for him during last years election. So whats new at Chaddsford Winery, which was purchased by the owners of White Horse Winery in Hammonton, New Jersey, last October? Well, nothing that customers are likely to see yet as they walk into the tasting room thats located on Route 1 in Chester County. Brock J. (BJ) Vinton II, who, along with his father Brock, has been operating White Horse Winery since 2016, told PennLive recently that much of what has been going on so far has taken place behind the scenes. That includes starting to integrate the two teams, completing an inventory and collaborating and releasing a Bordeaux blend, with another combined effort on a sparkling that is expected to debut by Mothers Day. They are also aiming to release a new rose in that same mid-May time period. The first product of their dual efforts is already out. A Bordeaux blend, its aptly called Collaboration Red, and features estate-grown grapes from White Horse as well as grapes grown at Pennsylvania and Maryland vineyards. Its made up of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, and features notes of black pepper, red fruit, and cranberry, per the winemakers notes. The dry rose will feature a fragrant blend of Cabernet Franc and Syrah, grown at White Horse Winery. The label artwork showcases an original painting of Styers lush, colorful peony fields by local artist Lillie Spotts. It is expected to be available for purchase onsite at the seventh-annual Styers Festival of the Peony (select dates: May 17-19 and 24-26, 2025, at 400 Cossart Road in Chadds Ford). Said Vinton: Its been really just under the gun since we got there in terms of trying to get everything under control, understanding what weve got, and then, if youre familiar with just all the regulations involved, figuring out what we have, what were going to do with it, and then getting the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) approvals, the labels designed, TTB approvals of labels, and then printing and production. Just-released Collaboration is a Bordeaux blend featuring estate-grown grapes from White Horse Winery as well as grapes grown at Pennsylvania and Maryland vineyards. Chaddsford Winery Beyond some maintenance, he said, the focus has been on working with [Pennsbury Township] to figure out what we can do while simultaneously working with designers and architects to kind of iron out what we would like to do. Expect to see many of Chaddfords familiar events this year. Said Vinton, Essentially, were maintaining a lot of their programming while trying to tune it up and interject a couple of new things. A unique one being touted is Good Neighbor Sundays, where those who live in the same 19137 ZIP code can get 20% off on all purchases at the Chaddsford Winery between noon and 6 p.m. on Sundays. You can read more about that here. Otherwise, expect the changes to evolve rather than suddenly appear, such as: Implementing their oak program in terms of aging red wines, something that could take a couple of years to be put into place. Bringing in more mature grapes from White Horse, which sources 20-plus acres from the Outer Coastal Plain (OCP) AVA , for some White Horse at Chaddsford Winery product releases, Vinton said. Were hoping to contribute to the dry portfolio with a Cab Franc, a nice dry rose, which again should be ready by the end of April, and the sparkling is a collaborative effort. A Chardonnay is also in the works, he said. What wont change is the Chaddsford Winery name, Vinton said, while adding that they have been jumping through the legal state and federal hurdles to allow Chaddsford to use White Horses trademark, name and logo, and produce wines under the White Horse Winery name. So one little mini brand were working on is White Horse at Chaddsford Winery, and thats where were bringing in either 100 percent or mostly Outer Coastal Plain product, mostly grown at White Horse, and just releasing that to give local people a little taste of White Horse. Going forward, Im looking forward to picking up some nice local vinifera, some southeastern Pennsylvania Chardonnay, Cab Franc, maybe some other fun varieties they have locally, and trying to produce them with the techniques that we would use over at White Horse, so we have a PA product that is, we hope, world class. White Horse Winery, located at 106 Hall St, in Hammonton, New Jersey, is now open daily. White Horse Winery Those are some of the plans, albeit it will take a harvest or two to begin implementing them. As for the facilities, he said, We have lots of dreams and aspirations, but until we get everything papered and approved by the local township, the changes are going to be mostly cosmetic. Chaddsford Winery is open noon to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and noon to 6 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. Its satellite tasting room is located at Penns Purchase, 5860 Lower York Road, in Lahaska. Business hours there are noon to 5 on Wednesday and Thursday and noon to 6 on Friday through Sunday. One of Pa.s best-known producers, it was founded in 1982. White Horse Winery, 106 Hall St., Hammonton, is open daily from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday from noon to 9. It opened on July 15, 2016, down the street from Sharrott Winery. Chaddsford Winery opens at noon daily. Facebook Asked for his thoughts on where White Horse stands heading into 2025, Vinton said that they are beginning to buck the trend in terms of sales. It was a difficult market there for a while, but it seems to be improving a little bit, he said. We have improved our food offerings, and were looking at upgrading our kitchen there to have more interesting food offerings. And Ive got a really good team there. ... We have some really fun programming happening over there in the very near future. He continued, Im optimistic with the way things are going [at White Horse]. The 2024 vintage was amazing. Weve got some great new wines being released. Business has been slightly better than steady, so thats also optimistic, and we havent really even leaned into it that much because [our efforts and focus] have been more on Chaddsford than White Horse. YouTuber MrBeast shared a photo on social media site X on April 17 of three trucks advertising his chocolate brand Feastables stationed in front of The Hershey Story museum at 63 W. Chocolate Ave. (File photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images) Getty Images MrBeast and his chocolate candy brand trolled The Hershey Company last week on its home turf. The YouTuber shared a photo on the social media site X on April 17 of three trucks advertising his chocolate brand Feastables stationed in front of The Hershey Story museum at 63 W. Chocolate Ave. New research has revealed that a widely used hygiene product is contaminated with toxic metals. Over 51 brands of the product were tested, and most showed levels of such contamination. Gizmodo reports how Lead Safe Mama (LSM) an organization that conducts regular consumer goods testing as well as outreach in order to prevent childhood lead poisoning around the world revealed that lab testing confirmed how 90 percent of the 51 toothpaste brands they had analyzed tested positive for lead. Gizmodo adds that the toothpaste tested included well-known brands such as Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste, Toms of Maine Kids Natural Toothpaste, and Crest Regular Toothpaste. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lead exposure can cause a child serious harm: Such exposure could result in brain and nerve damage as well as learning and behavioral problems as well as other adverse health effects. Its unconscionable especially in 2025, told Safe Mama founder, Tamara Rubin, to The Guardian of the studys findings. Whats really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern. Rubin informed The Guardian that none of the companies Lead Safe Mama has reviewed have confirmed they will get lead out of the products. She has, though, received multiple cease-and-desist letters. None of the companies involved in this recent analysis have addressed it as of the publishing of this report. The Center for Enrivonmental Health has filed a lawsuit against retailers who have been found to use a toxic chemical in their receipts. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 1/8/204 The Republican A new report may have you thinking twice before you grab the receipt at your next shopping trip. The Guardian reports the nonprofit group the Center for Environmental Health has taken legal action against dozens of retailers for using high levels of a hormone-disrupting chemical in their receipt paper. The chemical, bisphenol S (BPS), has been shown to disrupt metabolism, growth and reproductive functions of the body. Bisphenol is a class of chemicals used in a wide range of consumer products, such as food packaging, fabrics, toys and cookware, the Guardian reports. Regulators have largely focused on bisphenol A (BPA), which is banned in Europe for food uses because it is so toxic. Many companies have phased out BPAs use and food companies often advertise when their packaging is BPA free. However, like BPA, BPS has also been found to have similar adverse health effects, and was added to the list of chemicals known to the state of California to cause health issues issues in 2023. BPS can be absorbed through the skin even when handled for a short time. Based on these studies and testing by an independent lab, the concentrations were so high that touching only 1 receipt with BPS for 10 seconds resulted in exposure above the safe harbor level which requires a clear and reasonable warning to consumers, said Mihir Vohra, Science Lead at CEH, according to their website. Businesses were allowed a one-year grace period to ensure that their products either did not contain this chemical, or included a warning for the presence of BPS, according to the CEH. Retailers mentioned as using the receipt paper include Burger King, Claires, The Cheesecake Factory, Forever 21, GAP and Subway. For a full list of retailers and details on the CEHs legal filings, visit their website here. Humorist David Sedaris will perform on Oct. 1, 2025, at American Music Theatre in Lancaster. Author and humor writer David Sedaris will visit central Pennsylvania this fall. An Evening with David Sedaris will be at American Music Theatre in Lancaster at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, April 25, for prices ranging from $39 to $69. Sedaris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You are Engulfed in Flames, Lets Explore Diabetes with Owls and Calypso. His book The Best of Me, collects 42 previously published stories and essays. Sedaris also wrote Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, a collection of fables with illustrations by Ian Falconer. He is the editor of Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories," according to a news release. His most recent book, Happy-Go-Lucky, debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list. He also will be at the State Theatre in State College on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Upcoming shows at American Music Theatre include: April 25 - The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA April 26 - The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA April 27 - The Lovin Spoonful and The Grass Roots May 1 - Michael W. Smith May 2 - Blippi May 3 - Stayin Alive - Bee Gees Tribute (2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) May 4 - Jon Anderson May 9 - Old Crow Medicine Show May 10 - Hermans Hermits Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth departs the Commander-in-Chief trophy presentation to the Navy Midshipman football team in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP By Tara Copp, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where he shared similar details of a March military airstrike against Yemens Houthi militants that were sent in another chainwith top Trump administration leaders, The New York Times reported. A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press. The second chat on Signal which is a commercially available app not authorized to be used to communicate sensitive or classified national defense information included 13 people, the person said. They also confirmed the chat was dubbed Defense Team Huddle. The New York Times reported that the group included Hegseths wife, Jennifer, who is a former Fox News producer, and his brother Phil Hegseth, who was hired at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. Both have traveled with the defense secretary and attended high-level meetings. The revelation of the additional chat group brought fresh criticism against Hegseth and President Donald Trumps wider administration after it has failed to take action so far against the top national security officials who discussed plans for the military strike in Signal. The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X. Pete Hegseth must be fired. The first chat, set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to lightbecause Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group. The contents of that chat, which The Atlantic published, shows that Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen last month. The White House, the National Security Council and a Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment about the additional chat group. Hegseth has previously contended that no classified information or war plans were shared in the chat with the journalist. The Times reported Sunday that the second chat had the same warplane launch times that the first chat included. Multiple former and current officials have said sharing those operational details before a strike would have certainly been classified and their release could have put pilots in danger. Hegseths use of Signal and the sharing of such plans are under investigation by the Defense Departments acting inspector general. It came at the request of the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee Republican Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and ranking Democratic member Jack Reed of Rhode Island. The new revelations come amid further turmoil at the Pentagon. Four officials in Hegseths inner circle departed last week as the Pentagon conducts a widespread investigation for information leaks. Dan Caldwell, a Hegseth aide; Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg; and Darin Selnick, Hegseths deputy chief of staff, were escorted out of the Pentagon. While the three initially had been placed on leave pending the investigation, a joint statement shared by Caldwell on X on Saturday said the three still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with. Caldwell was the staff member designated as Hegseths point person in the Signal chat with Trump Cabinet members. Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot also announced he was resigning last week, unrelated to the leaks. The Pentagon said, however, that Ullyot was asked to resign. AP writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report. In his final public appearance on Sunday, Pope Francis appeared on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square. Francis died Monday at 88. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP The head of the Harrisburg Diocese on Monday remembered Pope Francis as a church leader who called the worlds attention to the downtrodden and marginalized. Bishop Timothy Senior said one of the most significant aspects of the papacy of Francis, who died Monday morning at the age of 88, was his focus on those who were forgotten. The purpose of this project is to replace the existing bridge superstructure. PennDOT The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to an online plans display regarding the Route 624 (Long Level Road) bridge rehabilitation project. The bridge spans Cabin Creek in Lower Windsor Township, York County. The purpose of this project is to replace the existing bridge superstructure, according to a press release. The project consists of the replacement of an existing single-span, reinforced concrete T-beam superstructure originally constructed in 1931. The proposed superstructure is a single-span, two-lane concrete PA Bulb-Tee beam. The proposed structure will carry two (2) travel lanes (10.5-foot) with 1.5-foot shoulders. The proposed project will closely match the existing roadway horizontal and vertical alignments. The project is currently in design and it is anticipated to start construction during the 2027 construction season. Construction is anticipated to occur through winter and the roadway opened to traffic by Memorial Day, a press release said. A digital version of the information will be available to view online from April 21 to May 21. Information, including bridge plans and an interactive comment form, can be found by visiting the PennDOT District 8 website, PennDOT District 8, clicking Projects Near You listed on the left side of the page, then the District 8 Projects, and choosing Long Level Road over Cabin Creek Bridge Rehabilitation Project. The purpose of the plans display is to introduce the project and receive public input regarding any questions or concerns with the project. It is also an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the projects potential effect upon Cultural Resources pursuant to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservations 36 CFR Part 800 regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation/interpretation services or have special needs or have special concerns that require individual attention, please contact Ryan Stauffer, Consultant Project Manager, at (717) 990-3038 or email at c-rystauffer@pa.gov. Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891 or 800-468-4201. Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X. Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at PennDOT District 8. Information about infrastructure in District 8, including completed work and significant projects, is available at District 8 Results. Find PennDOTs planned and active construction projects at PennDOT Projects. An Allegheny County was sentenced to community service for harassing homeowners flying pro-Trump banners or flags. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) AP A western Pennsylvania man charged with harassing homeowners displaying pro-Trump banners has learned his fate from a district judge and some people are not happy about it. Christopher Brown, a 60-year-old resident of East Deer Township in Allegheny County, will have his record wiped clean if he completes 10 hours of community service, his lawyer told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's pick for HHS secretary, appears at his nomination hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Jan. 29, 2025. TNS By Stephanie Armour, KFF Health News (TNS) After the Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary, supporters of his Make America Healthy Again movement cheered at having a champion in the federal government. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, right, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a bilateral meeting at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, Feb. 11, 2025. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP, File) AP By Sheikh Saaliq, The Associated Press NEW DELHI U.S. Vice President JD Vance will embark on a four-day visit to India on Monday as the two countries seek to unlock economic opportunities and negotiate a bilateral trade deal. Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for talks on the economy, trade and geopolitical ties. Vances visit is seen as an important diplomatic mission by President Donald Trumps administration, and it coincides with a rapidly intensifying trade war between Washington and Beijing, which is New Delhis main rival in the region. A trade deal between India and the U.S. could significantly enhance economic ties between the two countries and potentially strengthen diplomatic ties. The U.S. is also Indias largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $190 billion until recently. Indias foreign ministry has said the visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and two leaders will exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. Heres what to know more about Vances visit: Bilateral trade agreement Vances arrival in India comes weeks after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was in India for a geopolitical conference and two months after Modi met Trump in Washington. Modi was among the first leaders to visit the U.S. and hold talks with Trump after he returned to the White House. During his visit, Modi hailed a mega partnership with the U.S. and kickstarted a negotiation process to minimise the possible fallout of Trumps tariffs after it had already cut tariffs on a range of U.S. goods. Regardless, Trump targeted India with a 26% levy as part of his now-paused tariff programme, which has provided temporary relief for Indian exporters. During his visit, Modi sought to soften impending trade barriers by saying he was open to reducing more tariffs on U.S. goods, repatriating undocumented Indian nationals and buying military gear. The two countries also agreed to start talks towards clinching the bilateral trade agreement. Modi on Friday said he spoke with Elon Musk and said he and the SpaceX CEO discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation, saying India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the U.S. in these domains. Indias deep ties to US business India is a close partner of the U.S. for bilateral trade, foreign direct investments, defence cooperation, and an important strategic ally in combating the rising influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also part of the Quad, which is made up of the United States plus India, Japan and Australia and seen as a counter-balance to Chinas expansion in the region. Leading U.S companies such as Apple Inc. and Google have expanded operations in India in recent years. Last month, Musks Starlink entered into agreements with two of Indias top telecom operators to provide satellite-based internet services. To further boost trade ties, the U.S. and India have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 under the expected trade deal agreement. The negotiations are especially urgent for New Delhi as it could be hit hard by Trumps reciprocal tariffs, particularly in sectors of agriculture, processed food, auto components, high-end machinery, medical equipment and jewelry. This poses a significant challenge for Modi government as it hopes to spruce up the countrys economy and generate jobs with an export-led recovery. Modi and Trump already share rapport Modi established a good working relationship with Trump during his first term in office. It now appears that the two leaders are likely to further boost cooperation between their countries, particularly in trade as Chinese President Xi Jinping is aiming to position Beijing as a reliable trade partner in the Asia-Pacific region amid rising tensions with Washington. India has also already taken a number of steps to win over Trump. It will purchase more oil, energy and defence equipment, including the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, from the U.S. The U.S, however, wants greater market access for its agricultural and dairy products in India, but New Delhi has been reluctant so far as the farm sector employs bulk of the countrys workforce. U.S. Vice President JD Vance departs Giovan Battista Pastine International Airport in Ciampino, Italy en route to New Delhi, India, Saturday, April 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool) AP Family trip for Vance Vances visit to India marks his first official trip to the country, which has added significance for the second family. His wife Usha Vance a practising Hindu is the daughter of immigrants from South India. In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Vance described his wife a supersmart daughter of Indian immigrants whom he met at Yale Law School. Ushas parents moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s. Vance will be accompanied by Usha, their children and other senior members of the U.S. administration, and the couple will visit Indian cities of Jaipur and Agra and participate in engagements at cultural sites, a readout from the White House said. The Best Poker Documentary Youve Never Heard of is Available on Amazon for $1.99 Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Copy link When it comes to longform poker videos, all eyes are on four right now as nominees in the Best Media Content: Video category at the Global Poker Awards. They include Behind the Swings: The Legend of Isildur1 (Miikka Antonen, Phil Galfond, Matti Harju), Davidi Kitai: Life of a Genius (La vie du Genie - Winamax), The Four Rules of the Poker Kings (Greg Clark, BBC Scotland), and The Ultimate Stack (POKER films). Had the Global Poker Awards existed 15 years ago, one poker-related documentary that you probably have never heard of likely wouldve been a contender to win. Whats more, that 2010 documentary is available now on Amazon Prime to rent for $1.99. Strike Dice! Betting on My Father is the poignant story of Natalie Picoe's search for her father, a gambling addict, who'd been reported missing in Las Vegas. I hadnt previously heard of the documentary before, so I gave it a shot and was glad that I did. Its a little dated, it looks like it was filmed in the early 2000s when the landscape of Las Vegas was quite different. Even so, the message still hits the mark. Heres a more thorough description from IMDb: Strike Dice! Betting on my Father is the moving story of a daughter's search to find her father - an addicted gambler - when he is reported missing in Las Vegas. With little information to go on, she eventually finds him, but he bears little resemblance to the father she once knew. Homeless, gaunt, and unwashed, he lives day-to-day on the streets of Vegas, and despite her best efforts, he is unwilling to acknowledge his addiction and accept the help he needs. What is a daughter to do? How do you help your father when a simple handout will only make him worse? Does it matter if he's never really been a parent to you and the rest of your family has given up on him? Mike Picow & his daughter. The documentary, which is an easily digestible and entertaining 58 minutes, was directed and produced by Natalie Picoe, the daughter of Mike Picow, a Las Vegas gambler and poker player known for his play in the 1980s and 90s. Picow is far from a household name in the poker world; in fact, he hasnt cashed a tournament in three decades. According to The Hendon Mob, Picow amassed $162,986 in lifetime tournament earnings dating back to 1983. His biggest cash of $30,200 came when he finished eighth in the 1989 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, which was won by Phil Hellmuth. Picows last cash came in May 1995 when he finished 12th in the WSOP $1,500 Limit Ace-to-Five Draw event. 1989 WSOP Main Event Final Table Place Player Prize 1 Phil Hellmuth $755,000 2 Johnny Chan $302,000 3 Don Zewin $151,000 4 Steve Lott $83,050 5 Lyle Berman $67,950 6 Noel Furlong $52,850 7 Fernando Fisdel $45,300 8 Mike Picow $30,200 9 George Hardie $22,650 Despite not being a known name in poker except perhaps to old-school players in Las Vegas Picows story may be of interest to the community. But make no mistake, its not because it is a feel-good story with a happy ending. On the contrary, Strike Dice! is a dive into the degenerate side of Las Vegas, a peek behind the curtain of what happens when an untreated gambling addiction reaches its inevitable end. He wasnt a good guy. He knew everybody, but he was a jerk. Im not quite sure whatever became of Mike Picow. I assumed he had likely passed, but I was unable to locate any sort of obituary online. I asked a Las Vegas player who has been around for a long time and was told they last heard from Picow around 2020, though it was allegedly him asking for money. He wasnt a good guy, I was told. He knew everybody, but he was a jerk. Picow wasnt the first poker player to go broke, and he definitely wont be the last. However, he is one of the few to have it put on full display in one of pokers most poignant documentaries. If youve got an hour and $1.99 to spare, its well worth a watch. Click here to check out Strike Dice! on Amazon Prime Share this article Harrah's Cherokee Returns With $1m Guaranteed Main Event Jon Pill Contributor Copy link The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) returns to Harrah's Cherokee for the second time this year. The festival kicks off on May 1 and runs until May 12. The previous iteration of the WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee took place in February. The Main Event drew some notice, but not for the usual reasons. During a break in the tournament, a man stormed into the tournament area and started flipping the tables over. As the chips scattered and mingled on the poker room carpet, security subdued the man, leaving the tournament team and the eye in the sky to piece together the players' chip counts with impressive rapidity. The tournament was back on track within a few hours. This time around, things should go more smoothly. Top Tourneys At The WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee WSOP Circuit branding at Harrah's Cherokee. The WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee will award 18 WSOPC rings while also hosting side events and satellites. There will be $3,720,000 in guarantees across the 18 ring events, with $1,000,000 guaranteed for the Main Event alone. This Main Event will be the most prestigious of the festival's tourneys. However, if a buy in of $1,700, there is also a $2,200 High Roller tourney for the well-heeled and a wide selection of games with a $400 price tag for the low rollers. For variety, these lower-cost ring events will include closed events for Seniors and Ladies as well as open events for pot limit Omaha players and PLO8 degenerates. The Defending Champion Florian Pesce shows his winning hand. At the February Main Event, once the upset tables were righted and the chip counts reconstructed, the Main Event continued, ultimately going to Florian Pesce. Pesce beat Jarrett Mullins heads up to take the prize. In the process, Pesce topped a field of 1,710 players and earned $368,380, culled from a total prize pool of $2,590,650. Mullins won $245,597 for second place. These numbers were a marked increase over the previous edition of the tourney that was held in December 2024. Perhaps we'll see some more growth in the upcoming May edition of the event. WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Hometown Prize 1 Florian Pesce Epinal, France $368,380 2 Jarrett Mullins Yadkinville, NC $245,597 3 Patrick Plott Charlotte, NC $175,337 4 Taylor Hart Happy Valley, OR $126,837 5 Jason Brauda Matthews, NC $92,985 6 Danny Clarkson St. Johns, FL $69,097 7 Michael Hunsucker Orlando, FL $52,055 8 Cody Copenhaver Atlanta, GA $39,765 9 Matthew Davis Washington, MI $30,808 What's Next for the WSOPC? WSOPC ring atop some chips. Between now and the beginning of the Harrah's Cherokee stop, the Circuit is hitting up the Horseshoe Tunica in Florida. The WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica kicked off on Thursday, April 17. The twelve-day event runs until April 28. After the WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee starts, there will be two events, both starting on May 8 the WSOP Circuit Commerce and WSOP Circuit Caesars Southern Indiana. That will bring the 2024/2025 season to a close and players can start looking forward to the new season. WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee Schedule Date Time Event Buyin Guarantee Thu, May 1 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack Opener $400 $100,000 Thu, May 1 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini-Main No-Limit Hold'em - Flight A $400 $750,000 Fri, May 2 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini-Main No-Limit Hold'em - Flight B $400 $750,000 Fri, May 2 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini-Main No-Limit Hold'em - Flight C $400 $750,000 Sat, May 3 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini-Main No-Limit Hold'em - Flight D $400 $750,000 Sat, May 3 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini-Main No-Limit Hold'em - Flight E $400 $750,000 Sun, May 4 10:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #3: $400 Seniors Event $400 $150,000 Sun, May 4 3:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #4: $600 No-Limit Hold'em $600 $100,000 Sun, May 4 6:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #5: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better $400 $75,000 Mon, May 5 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max $400 $150,000 Mon, May 5 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #7: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha $600 $75,000 Tue, May 6 10:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #8: $400 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em - Flight A $400 $500,000 Tue, May 6 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #8: $400 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em - Flight B $400 $500,000 Wed, May 7 10:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #8: $400 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em - Flight C $400 $500,000 Wed, May 7 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #9: $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em - Flight A $1,100 $300,000 Thu, May 8 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #9: $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em - Flight B $1,100 $300,000 Thu, May 8 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #10: $400 No-Limit Hold'em $400 $100,000 Fri, May 9 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #12: $1,700 MAIN EVENT - Flight A $1,700 $1,000,000 Fri, May 9 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #11: $300 Ladies Event $300 $20,000 Sat, May 10 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #12: $1,700 MAIN EVENT - Flight B $1,700 $1,000,000 Sat, May 10 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #13: $400 No-Limit Hold'em $400 $75,000 Sat, May 10 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #14: $400 No-Limit Hold'em $400 $75,000 Sun, May 11 10:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #15: $400 Grand Master 40/40/40 $400 $50,000 Sun, May 11 2:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #16: $400 No-Limit Hold'em $400 $50,000 Sun, May 11 6:00 p.m. WSOPC Event #17: $2,200 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em $2,200 $100,000 Mon, May 12 11:00 a.m. WSOPC Event #18: $400 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em $400 $50,000 *Photos courtesy WSOPC Share this article Aiken, SC (29801) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some passing clouds. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some passing clouds. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. 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%. Reporter Lillia Callum-Penso covers food for The Post and Courier Greenville. She spent over a decade as a reporter with The Greenville News where she covered business and food and won awards for her feature, profile and food writing. Outside work, Lillia can usually be found running to keep up with her very energetic twins. 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. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Watching the tropics. Some clouds. Low 74F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Watching the tropics. Some clouds. Low 74F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 17:00:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 366 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / In light of recent events, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) has issued a public statement reflecting the collective position of the organization in support of the rule of law. The statement below was reviewed and approved by the AAML House of Governors on April 14, 2025. AAML LogoThe AAML joins other legal and professional organizations committed to the protection of equal access to justice and the due process rights of families and the importance of the rule of law. Recent Executive Orders, and other public statements and press releases from the Office of the President of the United States undermine the public's faith in an independent judicial process and the rule of law, threaten the safety and security of judges, lawyers, and litigants, and erode trust and respect for our profession and state family justice courts. The AAML will continue to honor its mission to ensure justice and fairness for all persons involved in family court matters irrespective of race, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation.AAML President Laura Belleau stated, "Our commitment to justice and fairness in family law is unwavering. We will continue to advocate for the rights of all individuals involved in family court matters, regardless of their background." The AAML remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the rights of families and upholding the principles of justice and fairness in family law practice. The organization will continue to work alongside other legal entities to protect the integrity of the judicial process and support the professionals dedicated to serving families in need.About AAML The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) is a national not-for-profit membership association founded in 1962 and composed of the nation's leading family law attorneys from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with over 1,400 Fellows. AAML Fellows provide legal services in all issues related to marriage, divorce, child custody and visitation, annulment, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, matters affecting unmarried cohabitants, business valuation and property distribution, alimony, and support. For more information about AAML, visit AAML.org Media Contact:Ande Leslie Marketing and Communications Director American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyersaleslie@ aaml.org SOURCE: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 15:01:00 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 696 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in Atkore Inc. ("Atkore" or the "Company") (NYSE:ATKR) who purchased Atkore common stock between August 2, 2022, and February 3, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period") to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities class action against Atkore. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is April 23, 2025.Class Period: August 2, 2022 - February 3, 2025Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 23, 2025Case information: https://lieffcabraser.com/securities/atkore/ Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358Atkore, headquartered in Harvey, Illinois, is a manufacturer of electrical, safety, and infrastructure products, including polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") water pipes and electrical conduit pipes.The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Atkore and certain of its senior executives failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company was engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that kept the price of its PVC pipes artificially inflated even after COVID era supply chain issues had resolved; (2) Atkore received substantial, unsustainable financial benefits from its anticompetitive actions; and (3) the Company's poor quarterly financial results were due to it and its co-conspirators refusing to lower their artificially inflated prices even after foreign competitors were able to reenter the market and price PVC appropriately.On May 7, 2024, Atkore announced lowered guidance for fiscal year 2024, noting that "pricing environment could be challenged in the second half of 2024." On this news, Atkore's stock price fell 12.5% from its closing price of $176.40 per share on May 6, 2024, to close at $154.34 per share on May 7, 2024, on heavy trading volume.On July 23, 2024, after the market closed, Atkore announced that its Vice President, then-CFO, and Chief Accounting Officer, defendant David P. Johnson, had submitted his resignation, effective August 9, 2024.On July 24, 2024, asset management firm ManBear released a report claiming that Atkore was engaged in an industry-wide price fixing scheme which had "massively inflated pipe prices" and "appear[ed] to defy economic logic, remaining at extremely elevated levels despite normalized supply chains." On this news, Atkore's stock price declined 8.53% from its closing price of $145 per share on July 23, 2024, to close at $132.63 per share on July 24, 2024.On August 6, 2024, after the market closed, Atkore reported adjusted earnings per share that fell short of the average analyst estimate and lowered its outlook for fiscal year 2024 adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income per diluted share. In the corresponding earnings call, Atkore's President, CEO, and Director, defendant William E. Waltz Jr., stated that "[p]ricing was softer than expected due to the slower end markets, particularly for our PVC conduit business." On this news, Atkore's stock price fell 14.7% from its closing price of $118.46 on August 5, 2024, to close at $101.05 per share on August 7, 2024, on extremely heavy trading volume.On February 4, 2025, before the market opened, Atkore announced disappointing financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, reporting net sales of $661.6 million which was significantly below analysts' estimates. In addition, Atkore reduced its earnings guidance for 2025. During the Company's earnings conference call with analysts and investors later that day, Atkore CFO, defendant John M. Deitzer, revealed that Atkore's "plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter," and attributed the Company's lowered 2025 guidance to Atkore's PVC business, stating "roughly $75 million or 3/4 of that is on the PVC side." On this news, the price of Atkore common stock fell 19.56% from its closing price of $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025, to close at $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025, on extremely heavy trading volume.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 125 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally-recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Repeatedly recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.Source/ContactSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 22:15:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 929 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 THIMPHU, BHUTAN / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Nestled in the eastern Himalayas, between China and India the Kingdom ofBhutan is a destination that transcends ordinary travel . With its pristine landscapes, ancient Buddhist culture, and commitment to sustainability, Bhutan offers a rare blend of adventure, serenity, and authenticity. Whether you're a trekker chasing Himalayan vistas, a birder seeking rare species, a holidaymaker craving cultural immersion, or a traveller yearning to unwind, Bhutan stands apart as a sanctuary for the soul. Here's why. Spanning just 39,500 sq. km and home to around 700,000 people, Bhutan packs a profound punch-where untouched Himalayan wilderness coexists with the world's happiest philosophy, Gross National Happiness.Ancient Buddhist culture Trekking: Where Wilderness Meets SpiritualityBhutan's trekking trailsare not just pathways through mountains-they're journeys into a mythic realm. Unlike crowded routes in neighboring countries, Bhutan's treks remain blissfully untouched, blending raw natural beauty with spiritual encounters.The Snowman Trek, one of the world's most challenging routes, travers's remote valleys and high passes (over 5,000 meters) beneath the gaze of Jomolhari and Gangkar Puensum, the world's highest unclimbed peak. For moderate hikers, the Druk Path Trek offers five days of alpine lakes, rhododendron forests, and campsites beside ancient monasteries. Every trail is imbued with cultural significance: prayer flags flutter over passes, and trekkers often receive blessings from monks in hilltop dzongs (fortresses).Bhutan's commitment to low-impact tourism means trails are uncrowded, and routes like the Trans Bhutan Trail-a newly restored 403-kilometer historic path-connect villages where time seems suspended. Here, trekking becomes a pilgrimage, where nature and spirituality intertwine.Mountain and trekking in snow-capped route Cultural Holidays: A Living HeritageBhutan's culture is not a relic-it's a living, breathing ethos. The kingdom's philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) prioritizes well-being over materialism, creating a society deeply rooted in tradition. Visitors are welcomed into festivals (tsechus) where masked dances recount Buddhist legends, and into farmhouses where families share suja (butter tea) and stories.Architectural marvels like the cliffside Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) and the majestic Punakha Dzong showcase Bhutan's artistry. Each dzong, with its whitewashed walls and golden roofs, doubles as a monastic and administrative hub, reflecting the seamless blend of governance and spirituality.The capital, Thimphu, offers quirky contrasts: traffic policemen directing cars without traffic lights, and bustling markets selling fiery ema datshi (chilli cheese stew). Yet, modernity never overshadows tradition-a testament to Bhutan's balancing act between preservation and progress.Visiting the secret Tiger's Nest Temple Where to Go in Bhutan? Find Top 7 Places to Visit in Bhutan:Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest Monastery): Iconic cliffside pilgrimage site.Punakha Dzong: 17th-century fortress at Pho Chhu River confluence.Thimphu: Quirky capital with Buddha Dordenma statue and vibrant markets.Phobjikha Valley: Pristine glacial valley, winter home of endangered black-necked cranes.Haa Valley: Serene alpine meadows, traditional villages, and sacred temples.Bumthang Valley: Spiritual heartland with ancient monasteries like Jambay Lhakhang.Gangtey Monastery: Scenic 17th-century monastery overlooking Phobjikha's wetlands. Discover magic!You want to find moreplaces to visit in Bhutan . Be ready to explore the hidden Kingdom of Bhutan when you book the trip.Mountain and trekking in snowcapped route Birding: A Paradise for Avian EnthusiastsWith over 700 bird species, including 16 endangered varieties, Bhutan is a birder's Eden. Its forests, wetlands, and alpine meadows-protected by a constitutional mandate to maintain 60% forest cover-are sanctuaries for rare and vibrant species.The Phobjikha Valley, a glacial wetland, hosts the endangered black-necked crane each winter. In the subtropical lowlands of Royal Manas National Park, enthusiasts spot the rufous-necked hornbill and the elusive chestnut-breasted partridge. The Thrumshingla National Park shelters the beautiful ward's trogon and satyr tragopan.Local guides, often trained in community-based tourism projects, share intimate knowledge of habitats. Birding here isn't just a hobby-it's participation in Bhutan'sconservation success story, where protecting biodiversity is a national pride.Witnessing the grace of the rare and revered Black-necked Crane Relaxation: Mindfulness in the MountainsBhutan's pace is a balm for modern stress. The nation's focus on holistic well-being permeates its tourism ethos.Luxurious experienceand yet eco-conscious lodges, like Zhiwaling or Amankora, offer hot stone baths, meditation sessions, and private hikes. Evenings are spent savouring organic, farm-to-table meals by firelight.For deeper rejuvenation, meditation retreats led by monks in monasteries like Cheri or Tango provide spiritual grounding. The Gasa Hot Springs, nestled in a forested valley, are believed to have healing properties. Meanwhile, the serene Haa Valley invites leisurely walks through barley fields, with only the sound of prayer wheels spinning in the wind.Bhutan's mandatory daily tariff (starting at $100) avoids overcrowding and maintains the serene beauty. The SDF collected from tourists is used in developing nations' infrastructure, Free health and education and overall development of the Country and its people. This policy isn't a barrier; it's a gateway to curated, unhurried experiences prioritising quality over quantity.Train your mind to be still. In stillness, you find your power (Meditation moment) Sustainability: Travel with PurposeBhutan's allure isn't just in its landscapes-it's in its values. As the world's only carbon-negative country, Bhutan absorbs more CO2 than it emits. Its constitution mandates environmental protection, and its people view nature as sacred. Travelers here don't just sightsee; they contribute to a system that values ecological and cultural preservation.Gross National Happiness. Nomadic lady from northern Bhutan posing for picture. Bhutan is A Journey Beyond the GuidebooksBhutan is not a checklist destination . It's a place where every mountain pass whispers a mantra, every forest trail reveals a hidden wonder, and every interaction leaves a lasting imprint. Whether you're tracing the footsteps of monks on a trek, spotting a rainbow-feathered bird, or simply breathing in th PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 22:15:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 469 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Broad Street Global Fund ("BSG Fund" or "Broadstreet") and certain related entities (together, "BSG") have been placed into monitorship by a Court Order dated April 21, 2025 ("the Order"), following a joint stipulation filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in its case involving BSG and its principals. The Rosca Scarlato securities lawyers are in touch with Broadstreet investors and, following their investigation, are evaluating compensation options on behalf of some of the investors.The Broad Street Global Fund Alleged FraudBroadstreet's management and certain of its principals have been sued by the SEC and accused of fraudulently raising more than $1 billion from over a thousand investors through deceptive schemes and materially false statements, and misusing a substantial portion of that money. The SEC's case is currently pending.Court-Appointed Monitor to Oversee BSG Fund's OperationsThe court-appointed monitor is authorized to review BSG's financial records, review material business decisions, and report on BSG's operations. The court also ordered the Broad Street defendants to transfer all assets purchased with investor monies to the appropriate BSG Fund entities and engage an independent auditing firm. Also, the Broadstreet defendants and certain related parties are prohibited from soliciting or accepting new investments for the Fund, and may not transfer assets that have been invested in the Fund to their personal accounts, among other things.What Broad Street Global Fund Investors May DoSome of the BSG investors may have claims for compensation for their Broadstreet investments, according to investor rights attorney Alan Rosca, a partner at Rosca Scarlato LLC. The firm is evaluating claims for compensation on behalf of investors, in addition to and separately from the SEC's case.Legal claims for compensation are subject to time limits and may be lost if not timely pursued, generally speaking. Broadstreet Global Fund investors who would like to learn more about their options may contact the Rosca Scarlato attorneys for a free, no-obligation case evaluation via email at arosca@ rscounsel.law , toll free at 888-998-0530, or by leaving a message using a contact form on the Broad Street Global Fund Investigation Page.The Rosca Scarlato investor rights attorneys typically work on a contingency fee basis. Case expenses are advanced by the law firm, and the firm only gets paid for its fees and expenses if and when there is a recovery, wherever permitted.Investors may visit https://investorlawyers.org for more information about the Rosca Scarlato attorneys' background and admissions to practice law, and contact them at 888-998-0530 or via email at arosca@ rscounsel.law This release may be deemed to include Attorney Advertising. There has not been an adjudication on the merits of any allegations referenced herein, as of the publication date. Rosca Scarlato 2025.SOURCE: Rosca Scarlato LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 21:36:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 583 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Edison Chief Scientist Dr. James Murphy To Participate In Panel Session"Display Technologies Shaping the TV Market" Scheduled For May 14 At 8:00AMDALLAS, TX / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Edison Innovations, LLC ( https://dominionharbor.com/edison-licensing/) , a subsidiary of Dominion Harbor Group ( https://dominionharbor.com) , has announced its participation as a Bronze Sponsor at the upcoming SID Display Week 2025 (Display Week), the premier conference for display technology taking place May 11-16 at the San Jose Convention Center.Edison Innovations, LLC Chief Scientist Dr. James MurphyIn addition to serving as the SID (Society for Information Display) 2025 Symposium Bronze Sponsor, Edison Innovations will also present its Chief Scientist Dr. James Murphy as a panel speaker at a prominent panel discussion titled "Display Technologies Shaping the TV Market," scheduled for May 14 from 8:00 to 9:30 AM. The panel session will explore market trends and emerging technologies in flat screen panel displays, including White OLED, QD-OLED, MiniLED, MicroLED and more. Dr. Murphy will be joined by other leading industry analysts and executives as they shed light on the current state of the industry and how panel makers and TV brands can convince consumers to pay for premium performance.As patent licensor to leading technology clients worldwide, Edison Innovations, LLC is a recognized force helping to drive the ever-changing display industry. Representing the licensing of an expansive array of high-profile patent portfolios, the Dominion Harbor Group consumer electronic products tech subsidiary has become a significant resource for companies that are shaping the future of flat panel displays, which continues to be a vital component of the TV market.SID Display Week 2025 marks the 11th year for Murphy as a featured speaker. Prior to joining Dominion Harbor Group's Edison Innovations as Chief Scientist, Dr. Murphy served as Senior Director, Material Systems for GE Licensing/Dolby Laboratories and had a 10-year tenure as Senior Scientist-Physical Chemist and Principal Scientist: LED Phosphors/Display Technology for GE Research."We are excited to be a part of SID Display Week 2025 and to be represented by our Chief Scientist James Murphy on what promises to be a must-attend panel," said Dominion Harbor Group CEO David Pridham. "Our commitment to supporting the innovation of our clients - led by Dr. James Murphy - plays a crucial role in the development of display technologies that consumers desire." Edison Innovations made headlines recently for its recent acquisition of a substantial portfolio of patents from Dolby, originally developed with GE, which includes the phosphor technology that Dr. Murphy will be discussing at the event."Edison underscores the importance of collaboration in bringing new technologies to market. In today's fast-paced environment, partnering to use existing technology in innovative ways can be as effective as creating new IP. Edison's industry-leading monetization strategies are designed to unlock value, drive innovation, and accelerate growth through bilateral licensing, business acceleration, and technology transfers," added Pridham.To learn more about Edison's licensing and innovation strategies, visit our landing page: Edison Licensing ( https://dominionharbor.com/edison-licensing/) About Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC: Dominion Harbor Enterprises (DHE) is a leading intellectual property transaction and advisory firm dedicated to providing clients with unmatched transactional expertise and a comprehensive array of IP services. With a focus on delivering unparalleled access to highly targeted and credentialed licensees, DHE maintains its industry leadership through its proprietary IPedia patent intelligence solution and the IP... podcast, a unique resource designed for today's IP practitioners.# # #CONTACT: Steve SyattSSA Public Relations steve@ ssapr.com (818) 222-4000SOURCE: Dominion Harbor Group PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 15:00:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 606 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Professional property management firm EquityTeam offers residential clients the hands-off, high-quality service they desire and the protections they need.BLUE ASH, OHIO / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Being a landlord is no longer just about renting properties to tenants. City, state, and federal laws are constantly changing, and violating them can be one of the most expensive lessons property owners will ever learn. "Owning rental real estate is still the best investment in the history of the world, but liability as a landlord is constantly increasing. You need experience and knowledge on your side," says Mark Thompson, CEO and founder of EquityTeam, Cincinnati and Dayton's premiere third-party residential property management company. Mark ThompsonAfter more than two decades of experience with southwest Ohio real estate, Thompson knows what works. He started his real estate career at age 23, acquiring wholesale residential investment properties for investors. Following the housing crash in 2008, Thompson founded EquityTeam, a licensed real estate broker in Ohio focused on helping investor clients find, fund, repair, sell, or rent their investment property. When market conditions were causing more and more clients to hold on to their investment as rental property, he recognized a shortage of capable and trustworthy property managers in southwest Ohio. Seeing an opportunity in the market, Thompson pivoted, changing the focus of EquityTeam to property management as the hub that all other services can be built around.Today, EquityTeam specializes in managing Cincinnati and Dayton-area properties for residential investors who need help finding and screening tenants, caring for and maintaining properties, handling turnovers, enforcing leases, and making investment decisions. Future plans for EquityTeam are to be a regional leader in property management services for any property type: homeowners associations, short-term rentals, commercial, and even private residences.Helping People and Properties Prosper: A Team ApproachThompson recognized early in his career that real estate success requires a great team. To ensure EquityTeam remains at the forefront of the industry, he cofounded a nationwide networking group for property management company owners, which currently has over 1,000 members.Thompson emphasizes EquityTeam's greatest strength is its people and the high standards they uphold, such as "over-delivering, ethical excellence, and quality over quantity," to name a few. Portfolios are assigned to a team, or "pod," consisting of a property manager (owner's agent and primary contact), an assistant property manager (operations manager), and a coordinator (tenant-facing and operations administrator). Additionally, a property services team focuses on maintenance, inspections, and projects.With so many moving parts, EquityTeam utilizes industry-leading technologies, including a centralized workflow and communication management system, to help keep everyone on the same page. "Everyone knows what's happening with every property at every minute with a couple of clicks," he says.This structure has propelled EquityTeam to the top tier of property management companies nationwide, while offering unique and exclusive services and guarantees that align with the owner's interests, such as leasing, tenant issues, pet damage, and accounting guarantees; $100,000 in owner liability protection included per unit; application fraud prevention tools; state-of-the art inspections; and more.On the tenant side, EquityTeam keeps application fees lower than industry norms, reports rent payments to credit bureaus, which helps tenants improve their credit, includes personal property coverage for up to $10,000 and $100,000 for accidental negligence per unit, changes furnace filters quarterly on every property, and more."Ultimately, we want to shoulder the burden of property ownership for our clients," Thompson says, "so they can rest easy knowing their property is in expert hands, allowing them to focus on what matters most to them." Contact InformationMark ThompsonCEO/Broker 513-444-4010SOURCE: Equity Team PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 19:17:46 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 435 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 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: 2025-04-21 15:00:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 555 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Luke Kassler and Kurt Klassen of LEVEL5, an evidence-based design-build firm, empower credit unions and community-based financial institutions to achieve unprecedented and sustainable growth.ATLANTA, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / With a philosophy of everyday people helping fellow members, credit unions nationwide have spent the last century serving the needs of their members and communities. Today, required to navigate the industry's most complex landscape in history, financial institutions need some assistance of their own. Luke Kassler, President with Kurt Klassen, Executive Vice PresidentAccording to a 2024 survey by FinanceBuzz, proximity to a branch is the number one reason most people open an account with their primary bank, accounting for 34% of respondents. Naturally, community banks and credit unions are looking toward expansion to serve more customers, but there's much to consider, from site selection to on-site technology integration.With strategic consulting, real estate, integrated design, and construction services, evidence-based design-build firm LEVEL5 is made up of industry veterans who help financial institutions achieve measurable growth. Today, with changing consumer behaviors, brick-and-mortar branches act primarily as destinations for advisory services rather than solely transactions. Understanding the needs of each institution's member base, such as crafting a space that strikes the needed balance between high-tech and high-touch service, is the driving factor of data collection and subsequent strategy. When analyzing potential outcomes, LEVEL5 is meticulous, which has resulted in a 96% accuracy rate for forecasting loan and deposit growth."Creating a new branch is a huge challenge. Everything from the size of the facility to the location makes an impact," says Luke Kassler, president. "We demystify the process and streamline the number of decisions and contact points." "In the financial world, you're either growing or you're dying," continues Kurt Klassen, executive vice president. "We work with our clients from the first idea to the final brick, incorporating five- to 10-year growth strategies catered to their particular market." A Solid FoundationKassler and Klassen have led the LEVEL5 team in design-build projects from coast to coast, each bringing their own expertise, Kassler has an extensive background in real estate and Klassen in technology, to guide each project. Unique in their industry, both executives are hands on in each project from beginning to end, ensuring the best outcomes.Strongly aligned with the community-driven goals of the clients they serve, the LEVEL5 team partners with credit unions and community banks on a philanthropic initiative called the LEVEL5 Foundation. The team allocates $250,000 a year to community programs that fight cancer, combat financial inequality, prioritize education, and much more."Creating a new branch is a huge challenge. We demystify the process and streamline the number of decisions and contact points." -LUKE KASSLER, PRESIDENT"Credit unions and community banks do so much to improve their communities," says Kassler. "We don't want that to be lost in the work that we do. Our job is to act as an extension to their cause, providing these institutions the tools they need to make a bigger impact." "It's satisfying to create a strategy and subsequent design that leads to the success of our clients and their communities," concludes Klassen. "We love being the team that brings their vision to reality." Contact InformationSteve FinkillVice President of Marketing 866-344-9108SOURCE: Level5 PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 20:30:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 462 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 New Channel Brings Together Lessons on Entrepreneurship, Faith, Leadership, and Ethical AgribusinessNEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Nathan Loyd Ndungu, a respected entrepreneur, CEO, author, and international business strategist, has officially launched his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NathanLoydNdunguAvoveg . This new platform brings together over three decades of global business experience across multiple industries, offering valuable insights for aspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers around the world.With operations and impact in real estate, mineral processing, international trade, and agribusiness, Nathan's journey is a powerful example of what it means to build with purpose and perseverance. The channel will feature personal reflections, business strategies, interviews, case studies, and thought leadership content rooted in ethical business principles, resilience, and faith."After years of working behind the scenes across Africa and the U.S., I felt it was time to open up and share more," said Nathan Loyd Ndungu. "This channel is a space for honest conversations about success, failure, faith, and building businesses that create real impact." Nathan is the Founder and CEO of Avoveg Health Kenya Ltd and Avoveg Health LLC, a fast-growing avocado export company that works with small-scale farmers across Africa to supply high-quality produce to international markets. Through Avoveg, he has championed sustainable, ethical, and profitable agribusiness models that empower farmers and promote fair trade.He also leads Loyd Global Consulting, a worldwide consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs and companies expand internationally with strategies grounded in real-world experience, market insights, and a long-term vision for growth.His book, My Successful Failures, outlines his business journey, reflecting on how overcoming setbacks and embracing faith have shaped his leadership approach and philosophy. These themes will also appear throughout the YouTube channel, where Nathan shares candid insights into both his triumphs and the lessons that came from challenges.Based in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, with active ventures across New York, Georgia, and Delaware, Nathan's perspective is informed by a global lens and deep personal commitment to mentorship and impact.The channel is now live and welcomes viewers from all walks of life-from young entrepreneurs and startup founders to business professionals and faith-based leaders. Videos will explore topics such as global trade, ethical leadership, sustainable farming, mentorship, and navigating business with integrity.About Nathan Loyd NdunguNathan Loyd Ndungu is an entrepreneur, CEO, and global business strategist with over 30 years of experience across international markets. He is the founder of Avoveg Health Kenya Ltd, Avoveg Health LLC, and Loyd Global Consulting, and the author of My Successful Failures. He is based in the Washington, DC area with ongoing business operations across New York, Georgia, and Delaware.To see more, visit the YouTube Page here: https://www.youtube.com/@NathanLoydNdunguAvovegContact: info@ nathanloyd.com SOURCE: Nathan Loyd Ndungu PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 20:45:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 870 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 /NV Gold Corporation (TSXV:NVX)(OTCQB:NVGLF)(FSE:8NV) ("NV Gold" or the "Company"), announces that the Company has agreed to issue an aggregate of 5,161,578 common shares of the Company (the "Settlement Shares") at a price of C$0.1125 per share in settlement (the "Debt Settlement") of payment owed pursuant to loan agreements dated June 26, 2023, July 10, 2023, September 18, 2023, January 22, 2024, March 14, 2024 and January 27, 2025 with John Watson, President, Chairman, CEO and a director of the Company, totaling US$419,050 (C$580,677.58). Payment of the interest accrued on the total amount of the debt remains outstanding.The Debt Settlement will be considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on Section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as the Company is not listed on a specified market within the meaning of MI 61-101. Additionally, the Debt Settlement is exempt from the minority approval requirement in Section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on Section 5.7(1)(e) of MI 61-101 as (i) the Company is in a situation of serious financial difficulty, (ii) the Debt Settlement is designed to improve the financial position of the Company, (iii) the circumstances described in Section 5.5(f) of MI 61-101 are not applicable, (iv) the Company's board of directors and independent directors (as such term is defined in MI 61-101) had, acting in good faith, determined that the Company is in serious financial difficulty and the Debt Settlement would improve its financial position, and the terms of the Debt Settlement are reasonable in the circumstances of the Company, and (v) there was no other requirement, corporate or otherwise, to hold a meeting to obtain any approval of the Company's shareholders.The Debt Settlement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The Settlement Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities legislation.About NV Gold CorporationNV Gold Corporation is a well-organized exploration company that currently has ~10 million shares issued and Outstanding. NV Gold has 21 exploration projects in Nevada comprising 639 100%-Company-owned lode mining claims totaling 53.4 square kilometers (20.6 square miles) The Company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Reno, Nevada and is focused on delivering value through mineral discoveries in Nevada, USA. Leveraging its expansive property portfolio, its highly experienced in-house technical team, and its extensive geological data library, 2025 promises to be highly productive for NV Gold.On behalf of the Board of Directors,John Watson, President, Chairman, CEO and DirectorFor further information, visit the Company's website at www.nvgoldcorp.com or contactFreeform Communications at 604.245.0054Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking InformationThis release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, the Debt Settlement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will receive the necessary regulatory approval for the Debt Settlement.These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that the Company will not receive the necessary regulatory approval for the Debt Settlement.Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.SOURCE: NV Gold Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 15:01:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 535 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 In an effort to safeguard vulnerable members of the community, Mike Durkin and Mike Durkin Jr., the father-son team behind ComForCare's home care services in Mercer County, NJ, are meeting with state and federal legislators to raise urgent concerns about the risks posed by unlicensed and unqualified caregivers found through popular online care platforms.HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / In an effort to safeguard vulnerable members of the community, Mike Durkin and Mike Durkin Jr., the father-son team behind ComForCare's home care services in Mercer County, NJ, are meeting with state and federal legislators to raise urgent concerns about the risks posed by unlicensed and unqualified caregivers found through popular online platforms. HCAoA Meeting in Washington, DC Mike Durkin Jr. in Attendance of Home Care Association of America Meeting in Washington, DCThe Durkins are advocating for tighter regulation and enforcement in the fast-changing in-home care industry, where digital platforms have outpaced the regulatory framework intended to protect clients and workers alike. Their efforts are driven by growing evidence that some websites are enabling unregulated labor, skipping background checks, and operating without the professional oversight required by New Jersey and federal laws."Families deserve to know that the caregiver entering their loved one's home is qualified, vetted, and supervised," said Mike Durkin Sr. "Unfortunately, some platforms sidestep essential safeguards, placing both patients and caregivers at serious risk. The stories and lawsuits we've seen are shocking." Their concerns echo those of other licensed and accredited care agencies, who point to mounting reports and investigations highlighting significant dangers such as:Untrained, unlicensed caregivers entering homes without proper oversightLack of protections like liability insurance and workers' compensationVerified instances of theft, abuse, and even death caused by unqualified caregiversLost tax revenue from unreported wages and misclassified workersThese are not hypothetical risks. National media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, CBS News, and ABC News have published investigations linking unregulated caregiver arrangements to tragic outcomes."It's not just about fair business practices-it's about safety, transparency, and accountability," said Mike Durkin Jr. "When platforms offer access to caregivers without holding them to regulatory standards, they're putting lives at risk and misleading families." As licensed operators of a home care agency in Mercer County, the Durkins are urging lawmakers to require all caregiver platforms to comply with the same licensing and accreditation standards that apply to professional home care providers. They argue that any organization profiting from in-home care services should be subject to the same rules designed to protect seniors, individuals with disabilities, and their families.Families looking for dependable,high-quality care in Mercer Countyare encouraged to work with licensed and accredited home care agencies that prioritize safety, supervision, and compassionate service.About ComForCare Home Care - Mercer County, NJComForCare provides compassionate and professional in-home care services in Mercer County, NJ, supporting older adults and individuals with disabilities to live independently, safely, and with dignity. Their services include personal care, dementia care, transitional care, and around-the-clock support, all delivered by trained, licensed caregivers under RN supervision.For more information, visit: https://www.comforcare.com/new-jersey/mercer.html Contact Information:Mike DurkinOwnermdurkin@ comforcare.com (609) 771-0083SOURCE: Mike Durkin PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 21:45:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 899 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 /Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (TSXV:PGE)(OTCQB:PGEZF)(FSE:J0G) (the "Company" or "Stillwater") is pleased to announce that, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), it has granted 2,940,000 stock options (each, an "Option") and restricted share units (each, an "RSU") to certain directors and officers of the Company in accordance with the Company's Long-Term Performance Incentive Plan ("LTIP").Each Option and RSU is exercisable into one common share in the capital of the Company ("Share") at a price of $0.16 per share, based on the five-day moving average volume weighted price of the Shares on the TSXV on April 17, 2025.The Options will vest over a period of five years from the date of grant and the RSUs will vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant. All vesting is in accordance with the shareholder approved LTIP.Upcoming EventsStillwater's President and CEO, Michael Rowley, will be available at the following events in 2025, in addition to other events to be added as the Company rolls out its marketing plans over the coming year:Global Commodity Expo Florida - Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 11-13, 2025. For information, click here.Global Commodity Expo Atlanta - Atlanta, Georgia, USA, May 14-16, 2025. For information, click here.The Mining Investment Event of the North - Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, June 3-5, 2025. For information, click here.Precious Metals Summit - Beaver Creek, Colorado, September 9-12, 2025. For information, click here.Precious Metals Summit - Zurich, Switzerland, November 10-11, 2025. For information, click here.About Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp.Stillwater Critical Minerals ( TSX.V: PGE | OTCQB: PGEZF | FSE: J0G) is a mineral exploration company focused on its flagship Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in the iconic and famously productive Stillwater mining district in Montana, USA. With the addition of two renowned Bushveld and Platreef geologists to the team and strategic investments by Glencore plc, the Company is well positioned to advance the next phase of large-scale critical mineral supply from this world-class American district, building on past production of nickel, copper, and chromium, and the on-going production of platinum group, nickel, and other metals by neighboring Sibanye-Stillwater. An expanded NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, released January 2023, positions Stillwater West with the largest nickel resource in an active U.S. mining district as part of a compelling suite of nine minerals now listed as critical in the USA.Stillwater also holds a 49% interest in the high-grade Drayton-Black Lake- gold project adjacent to Nexgold Mining's development-stage Goliath Gold Complex in northwest Ontario, currently under an earn-in agreement with Heritage Mining, and the Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu-Co critical minerals project on trend with Nickel Creek Platinums Wellgreen deposit in Canadas Yukon Territory. The Company also holds the Duke Island Cu-Ni-PGE property in Alaska and maintains a back-in right on the high-grade past-producing Yankee-Dundee in BC, following its sale in 2013.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director - Stillwater Critical MineralsEmail: info@ criticalminerals.com Phone: (604) 357 4790Web: http://criticalminerals.com Toll Free: (888) 432 0075.Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Stillwater Critical Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Stillwater Critical Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 19:31:46 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 395 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 /Advanced Unmanned, an upcoming and innovative aerospace startup led by CEO Dave Record, has officially revealed Stratos - a jet-powered and High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) platform engineered to revolutionise the way real-time geospatial data is captured and delivered from over 60,000 feet. The company plans to launch services in 2028.Envisioned in 2012, Stratos returns at a crucial point when the unmanned systems industry has matured, the industry experiences an all-time high awareness of UAV technology. With increasing demand for swift, and more accurate intelligence, Stratos is set to deliver real time data with up to 100x faster than satellites, with ultra-high-resolution imagery sharper than 10 cm, and support for SAR, thermal, and hyperspectral imaging - in any weather conditions.A Mission for Critical IndustriesStratos is being developed to serve a wide array of high-impact sectors, including:Defense and Security: uplifting surveillance and national border securityOil and Gas: Monitoring pipelines and infrastructure across vast regionsAgriculture: Improving crop yields through precise, data-driven insightsDisaster Response: Enabling real-time situational awareness during emergenciesEnvironmental Monitoring: Tracking wildfires, deforestation, and climate-related changesAdvanced Unmanned is partnering with Airboss Aviation Group in Colorado Springs, CO, to design and develop the initial Stratos prototype. Initial test flights are scheduled for Q3 2026. With full scale production and commercial deployment expected the following year:Back in 2012, the market wasn't ready for Stratos' vision, but today's demand for instant, precise data is undeniable," said Dave Record, CEO of Advanced Unmanned. "With Stratos, we're building a future where intelligence saves lives and protects assets - and we're seeking bold investors to make it reality." Fleet Expansion and Funding GoalsAdvanced Unmanned aims to launch a fleet of 50 Stratos aircraft, with 30 operating in the US and 20 remaining to serve international markets. Focused on high-priority zones including borders, ports, and urban hubs, each unit is to feature Al-enabled modular sensors ensuring adaptability across a wide range of missions.To achieve its ambitious 2028 launch timeline, the company is currently raising seed-stage funding to accelerate development, ramp up production, and expand market reach.About Advanced UnmannedAdvanced Unmanned is pioneering geospatial intelligence with Stratos, designed to provide real-time, multi-sensor data from anywhere in the world. Our mission is to empower rapid, informed decisions, launching in 2028.Media Contact:Dave Record https://advancedunmanned.com/ Advanced Unmanned303-578-8904 david.record@advancedunmanned.com SOURCE: Advanced Unmanned PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 17:00:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 386 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 "Respect the Zone so we all get home"ELKHART, INDIANA / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / ITR Concession Company LLC (ITRCC), the concessionaire and operator of the Indiana Toll Road (ITR), proudly observes National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), April 21-25. This national reminder highlights the shared responsibility of protecting the lives of road workers and motorists alike, respecting the zone so we all get home.In conjunction with NWZAW, ITRCC is currently undertaking its major pavement rehabilitation project, PUSH 4.0, which spans 34 miles from the Ohio state line to Howe, Indiana. This extensive project is designed to improve the customer experience for all ITR motorists. PUSH 4.0 is an important time to remind drivers to exercise extra caution when navigating through work zones."Work zones represent progress. Most incidents occur because of distracted, speeding, or inattentive driving," ITRCC's Director of Infrastructure said. "Drivers can help reduce that risk by slowing down, staying focused, and respecting work zones." The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Indiana State Police (ISP), in partnership with ITRCC, will promote work zone safety tips throughout the week. Together, we're reenforcing the importance of staying alert and slowing down to save lives.Safe Driving Tips for Roadwork Zones:Stay focused: Eliminate distractions and give your full attention to the road.Slow down: Follow posted speed limits and be prepared for sudden changes in traffic flow.Watch for workers: Always remain alert for crew members and equipment near travel lanes.Maintain a safe distance: Allow extra space between your vehicle and others to reduce the risk of incidents.Let's treat every week like National Work Zone Awareness Week. Drive safely and remember, respect the zone so we all get home.### END ###About the Indiana Toll RoadEstablished in 2006, ITR Concession Company LLC (ITRCC) responsibilities are detailed in the Concession and Lease Agreement with the Indiana Finance Authority, such as the construction, maintenance, repair, and operation of the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road. Headquartered in Elkhart, the Toll Road spans northern Indiana, linking Chicago with the Eastern Seaboard. Designated as part of Interstate 80/90, the Toll Road serves as a vital transportation link in the Midwest.For current traffic and construction updates, visit www.indianatollroad.org or follow @IndianaTollRoad on Facebook or X (Twitter).Contact InformationYvette LeyvaCommunications Manageryleyva@ indianatollroad.org 5742614028SOURCE: Indiana Toll Road PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 19:31:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 780 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 New Survey Uncovers Hidden AI Solutions Delivering Major Provider Gains in Efficiency, Accuracy, and Patient ExperienceNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape healthcare, with significant yet lesser-known advancements emerging specifically within Revenue Cycle Management (RCM). Black Book Research's independent study from Q2 2025 surveyed 460 revenue cycle professionals across hospitals, physician groups, diagnostic centers, and long-term care facilities, revealing impactful but under-the-radar AI innovations. These technologies are driving notable improvements in operational efficiency, financial accuracy, and patient engagement.A notable insight from the Black Book survey indicates that while mainstream media focuses heavily on clinical AI applications, nearly 80% of RCM professionals believe these underreported AI-driven financial technologies are critical to their organizations' success. Doug Brown, Founder of Black Book Research, noted, "Our research uncovered substantial opportunities within AI capabilities that aren't often discussed publicly. Healthcare providers leveraging these under-the-radar innovations report significant operational and financial improvements, underscoring their vital role in today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape." The following nine AI innovations, ranked highly by professionals in the field, provide transformative capabilities:1. Automated Pre-Service Financial Clearance AI solutions manage patient financial responsibilities proactively by predicting expenses, verifying insurance, and preventing claim denials before services are provided.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: Waystar, Optum360, R1 RCMStartup Vendors to Watch: qBotica, Alpha Health, TailorMed___Survey Insight: Ranked top innovation by 78%; 85% reported improved upfront collections and reduced denials.2. Predictive Contract Management Machine learning analyzes payer contracts comprehensively, identifying discrepancies and proactively resolving underpayments pre-submission.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: Rivet Health, FinThrive, Enter.Health Startup Vendors to Watch: AKASA, Anomaly, HealthTensorSurvey Insight: Ranked top three by 71%; 80% noted fewer reimbursement issues and enhanced revenue accuracy.___3. Self-Learning Revenue Integrity Systems AI systems continuously analyze historical and real-time billing data, refining billing accuracy and documentation to minimize repeated denials.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: MediCodio, AGS Health, Thoughtful AIStartup Vendors to Watch: SmarterDx, Fathom, Robin HealthcareSurvey Insight: Highly rated by 74%; 83% cited significant reduction in denials and improved compliance.___4. AI-Powered Patient Communication and Financial Engagement Conversational AI proactively engages patients regarding financial responsibilities, enhancing patient satisfaction and improving collections.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: Collectly, RevSpring, Experian HealthStartup Vendors to Watch: Inbox Health, Cedar, MedPilotSurvey Insight: Highlighted by 69%; 78% reported improved payment rates and patient satisfaction.___5. Real-Time Payment Integrity and Fraud Detection AI monitors claims in real-time, swiftly detecting fraud, waste, and compliance anomalies, significantly enhancing payment integrity.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: Codoxo, SAS, MultiPlanStartup Vendors to Watch: Clarify Health, Fraudscope, ProtenusSurvey Insight: Recognized by 76%; 82% noted increased accuracy and reduced fraud incidents.___6. AI-Enhanced Coding for Rare Conditions and Complex Episodes Specialized NLP and machine learning accurately code complex medical scenarios, reducing coding errors, denials, and appeals.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: MediCodio, RapidClaims, CareCloud's cirrusAIStartup Vendors to Watch: Nym Health, Suki AI, ForeSee MedicalSurvey Insight: Valued by 70%; 77% experienced fewer errors and improved reimbursement accuracy.___7. Adaptive Claims Edits Using AI Reinforcement Learning AI dynamically adjusts claim editing workflows based on payer behaviors, improving claim acceptance and reducing manual adjustments.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: Availity, Thoughtful AI, WaystarStartup Vendors to Watch: Digitize.AI , Curation Health, PayrHealthSurvey Insight: Emphasized by 68%; 80% observed higher claim acceptance rates and reduced processing times.___8. AI-Driven Physician Documentation Optimization Real-time AI feedback during clinical documentation ensures accuracy, completeness, and compliance, improving clinician satisfaction.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: Microsoft's Dragon Copilot, Navina, AbridgeStartup Vendors to Watch: Augmedix, DeepScribe, ScribeEMRSurvey Insight: Highly rated by 72%; 84% reported improved clinician satisfaction and reduced documentation denials.___9. AI-Enhanced Population Health Revenue Management AI integrates population health management with financial workflows, offering predictive analytics for risk management, reimbursement optimization, and quality-based financial forecasting.AI RCM Vendor Names by Respondents: Innovaccer, Health Catalyst, ArcadiaStartup Vendors to Watch: Apixio, Socially Determined, ClosedLoop.ai Survey Insight: Recognized by 73%; 81% reported improved financial outcomes aligned with population health goals.Strategically adopting these innovative AI technologies enables healthcare providers to achieve substantial operational and financial improvements, securing a strong competitive position in the evolving healthcare landscape.___About Black Book Research Black Book Research is a premier source for unbiased, independent research in healthcare technology and services. Each year, Black Book publishes industry-leading reports and resources designed to help healthcare professionals stay informed about the latest trends and innovations. The upcoming 2025 Black Book of Healthcare Revenue Cycle Management Solutions is an annual updated resource that provides comprehensive insights, rankings, and guidance to assist healthcare organizations in making informed RCM decisions.Healthcare RCM AI Innovation Category% Ranked Top/Top 3% Reported Key OutcomeAutomated Pre-Service Financial Clearance78%85% improved upfront collections/reduced denialsPredictive Contract Management71%80% fewer reimbursement issues/enhanced accuracySelf-Learning Revenue Integrity Systems74% PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 15:01:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 447 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 EL PASO, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Undercover Detective Ron Stallworths debut real life true crime book "Black Klansman" (Flatiron/MacMillan) was a No. 1 New York Times best seller, garnered great reviews and became an Oscar-winning Spike Lee movie. Ron recently released his new real life true crime book "Gangs of Zion" (Legacy/Hachette). It since has been banned by U.S. government at a number of libraries they control, including the Navy's Armed Forces libraries at home and abroad. Ron's book is 8th on the Annapolis list of banned books. Ron is furious. As he points out: "They kept Hitler's "Mein Kamph" and other white supremacy readings, but my latest, "Gangs of Zion" they throw out!?" Undercover Detective Ron Stallworth and John David Washington Who Played Him In BlacKKKlansmanRepublican-controlled state houses are attempting similar book bannings. As a result Ron Stallworth is in good company. Classics like Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five," and Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" are among the "harmful" books being banned under an Idaho bill.Ron Stallworth, who Spike Lee dubbed "an American Hero," states for the record: "I consider my book banning a badge of courage. Further, I condemn these contemptible government book bannings. It's such an act of cowardice." The "Big Five" publishing houses - Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan Publishers, and Simon & Schuster - filed a joint lawsuit challenging the banning of books in U.S. schools and public libraries. Their suit challenges Idaho's House Bill 710, which became law on July 1, 2024. It requires libraries to move materials considered harmful to children to an area for adults only and forbids anyone under 18 from accessing library books with "sexual content." However, many of the banned books deal with themes of racism.Ron Stallworth adds: "With politicians, law firms, universities, etc., all cowering and kissing Trump's ass, someone has to stand up and say the Emperor has no clothes. I've never run from a battle and I will not now." The Big Five publishers are joined in their lawsuit by Sourcebooks, the Authors Guild and the Donnelly Public Library District, as well as several authors, a teacher, two students and two parents. Nihar Malaviya, chief executive officer of Penguin Random House, called the Idaho bill "blatantly discriminatory, broad and vague." To schedule an interview with undercover Detective Ron Stallworth contact Andy Frances at 310 9020124.Contact InformationAndy FrancesManagerafconsultant@ yahoo.com 3109020124SOURCE: www.Blackkklansman.org PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-21 22:03:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 296 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / X-FLEXI, a trailblazing FinTech company, announced today the successful completion of a $91 million strategic restructuring financing round with participation from multiple international investment institutions. This funding will accelerate the upgrade of its global intelligent investment platform, deepen the application of AI and blockchain technologies in wealth management, and further solidify its leadership in the "secure, innovative, and efficient" FinTech sector.Empowering the Future: Funding Focused on Technological Innovation and Risk ControlThe capital will be strategically allocated across three key areas:AI-Driven Investment Engine Development: Building more precise global market prediction models and enhancing real-time asset allocation capabilities.Compliance & Security System Upgrades: Establishing a dual-core "multi-layer encryption-dynamic risk control" fund protection mechanism.Ecosystem Expansion: Setting up regional hubs in emerging markets, including Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, connecting over 1 million investor communities.Leadership Perspective: Redefining FinTech Value StandardsSarah Lee, CEO of X-FLEXI, stated: "This restructuring marks not just a breakthrough in capital but a pivotal step in X-FLEXI's evolution from a 'tool provider' to an 'ecosystem builder.' Our synergy with strategic partners will redefine the symbiotic boundaries between technology and finance." A representative from a key strategic investor commented: "X-FLEXI's underlying technological architecture and global vision perfectly align with the investment logic of 'smart finance' for the next decade. We anticipate it will set a new industry benchmark balancing security and returns." About X-FLEXIX-FLEXI is a world-leading intelligent FinTech platform headquartered in New York, USA, serving 79 countries. It is dedicated to democratizing and professionalizing wealth management through AI-powered quantitative strategies, decentralized asset custody, and immersive investor education.Media ContactX-FLEXI Global Branding Department Email: admin@ xflexi.com Website: www.flexiible.com Person Name: Nathaniel SterlingSOURCE: X-FLEXI The Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank will hold in Washington this week amid uncertainties over global trade and multilateralism in the face of considerable disruptions caused by the Donald Trump administrations trade policies. The meetings will hold against the backdrop of the uncertainty that clouds global trade due to the disruptions caused by the tariff war between the United States and China. The tariff war reached its crescendo earlier in the month following the decision by Mr Trump to slap a 134 per cent tax on Chinese imports as part of his Liberation Day that set a minimum 10 per cent levy on nearly all of Americas trading partners. Beijing retaliated by hiking its levies on imports of United States goods to 125 per cent, hitting back at Mr Trumps decision to single out the worlds second biggest economy for higher duties. Mr Trump consequently announced a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs imposed on 60 countries, including Nigeria, with the exception of China, but kept the 10 per cent baseline tariff in place for all countries. The US president argued that the import taxes will encourage US consumers to buy more American-made goods, increase the amount of tax raised, and lead to major investments in the country, although critics have faulted these assumptions. 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 Although the IMF has 189 member countries, the United States holds sway over significant decisions made by the multilateral body. The most important decisions require 85 per cent of the votes, and the US has 16 per cent of the votes a veto. On Monday, the World Bank/IMF meetings, involving the worlds finance ministers and central bank governors, begin against the background of these disruptions. The IMFs managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, earlier warned that the trade tariff policy poses a significant risk to the global outlook. A former Nigerian finance minister and the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also warned that the United States declaration of tariffs on several economies could lead to a 1 per cent contraction in global merchandise trade volumes this year. The conference will open with opening remarks from Gita Gopinath, first deputy managing director of the IMF, and conclude with remarks by Jean-Paul Servais, Chair of IOSCO. Also expected to lead discussions at the meetings are Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank Group; Michelle Jeria, former president of Chile; Tharman Shanmugaratnam, president of the Republic of Singapore; Christina Williams of Voice of Youth; Nonkululeko Nyembezi, chairman, Standard Bank Group; Anthony Tan, Group CEO and co-founder of Grab; Rania Al Mashat, minister of Planning, Economic Development & International Cooperation, Egypt; Douglas Peterson, special advisor, S&P Global; Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, executive director and CEO, Temasek Holdings, and Nicola Galombik, executive director of Yellowwoods and also a founder and board member of the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. Nigerian Outlook The meetings would also allow the Nigerian finance minister and governor of the nations Central Bank to negotiate with investors and strengthen relationships with other multilateral organisations amid the global uncertainty. Last week, the IMF said that the economic reforms undertaken by Nigeria since 2023 have significantly improved the countrys capacity to withstand external economic shocks. Its observation was contained in the 2025 Article IV Consultation report, which followed a visit by an IMF team led by Axel Schimmelpfennig, the Funds mission chief for Nigeria, who held discussions with key stakeholders in Lagos and Abuja between April 2 and April 15. Earlier in the month, Nigerias Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the country will not be severely affected by the United States decision to impose a tariff on certain imports from countries without a trade agreement, due to the dominance of crude oil and mineral products in its US -bound exports. Its not too bad, Mr Edun said at the inaugural Corporate Governance Forum organised by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated in Abuja. Oil minerals are excluded by America from being in any way sanctioned with tariffs. A major pressure point, however, remains: with crude oil prices plummeting in recent weeks, the nations budgetary provisionspegged at crude oil benchmark of $75 per barrelcould be disrupted ahead of the year. Oil prices touched below $70 a barrel earlier in the month as Brent is expected to hover around $60 a barrel in the second half of the year. Goldman Sachs estimated that Brent could drop to the low-to-mid $60s by the end of 2026 should OPEC and allies increase supply. The Nigerian representatives are, therefore, expected to negotiate and hold discussions with partners and investors on these concerns and what it means for the nations fiscal outlook. PREMIUM TIMES Business Editor, Oladeinde Olawoyin, is in the United States capital to report details of these developments and many more. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Jorge Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, died Monday at the age of 88. His death comes a day after his brief but final appearance before thousands of Catholic pilgrims at St. Peters Square in Rome during the Vaticans Easter Sunday Mass. During his appearance, he wished the crowd Happy Easter, and an aide then delivered his final benediction. There have been concerns over his health for several months, but the concerns grew in the days after 23 March, when he was discharged from the hospital and disregarded doctors orders by visiting a prison in Rome. The pontiff faced several health challenges throughout his 12-year papacy, with his condition worsening in recent weeks due to severe complications from a bout of double pneumonia. As the world mourns the passing of the spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics, here are 10 important things to know about him. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later First non-European Catholic leader in decades His ascension to leadership was accompanied by many firsts. He is the first non-European leader of the Roman Catholic Church in over a millennium. The last non-European pope before him was Pope Gregory III, who was born in Syria and served from 731 to 741 AD. Born on 17 December 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the pontiff was the son of Italian immigrant parents. His father, a railway worker, and his mother, a homemaker, raised him in a modest, working-class home. Throughout his lifetime, Mr Bergoglio was reported to have a strong connection to both his Italian heritage and his Argentine identity. Before his election in 2013, many Catholics assumed the new pope would be younger. However, he was well into his seventies when he became pope in 2013. First Jesuit Pope Mr Bergoglio holds a historic place in the Catholic Church as the first Jesuit pope. The Jesuits, also known as the Society of Jesus, are a religious order founded in the 16th century. Although the Jesuits have been a powerful and influential religious order since their founding in 1540, no member had ever become pope before Mr Bergoglio. According to media reports, this is partly because they traditionally avoid seeking higher office and instead focus on education, missionary work, and serving under the pope, rather than leading the Church themselves. Succeeded Pope Benedict XVI He succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, who made history as the first pope to resign in nearly 600 yearsand the first to do so voluntarily in more than 700 years. Pope Benedict XVI stepped down on 28 February 2013, citing his advanced age and declining health as reasons he could no longer adequately fulfil the papacys demands. His resignation shocked the world, as popes traditionally serve for life. Mr Bergoglio was elected shortly afterwards as his immediate successor. Adopted Francis as his Papal name The pope, whose real name is Jorge Bergoglio, is the first pontiff to adopt a totally different name since Albino Luciani, a former head of the church, became John Paul I in 1978. His choice was a tribute to Saint Francis of Assisi, who, like him, is also known for his simplicity, his concern for marginalised groups and his commitment to peace. A Simpler Papacy From the very start of his leadership, he signalled a break from tradition. He declined to move into the luxurious Apostolic Palace, choosing instead to reside in the more modest Vatican guesthouse. On his first full day as pope, rather than accepting special treatment, he rode a minibus with fellow cardinals and personally returned to his hotel to settle his bill. He also favoured a simple wardrobe. Instead of the ornate red shoes or the heavily embroidered capes, he opted for plain black shoes and a simple white cassock. In his first Holy Week as pope, he broke tradition by washing and kissing the feet of young inmates, including women and Muslims. He avoided formal titles such as your holiness or Supreme Pontiff and was known for making personal phone calls to people who had written him letters, offering comfort or encouragement. His stance on war Throughout his time, he consistently condemned war, describing it as a failure of politics and humanity. The Catholic leader repeatedly emphasised the devastating impact war had on the poor and vulnerable. He advocated for peacebuilding and dialogue as the primary tools for resolving conflicts. In 2014, about a year after his election, he referred to war as madness. Hostility, extremism and violence are not born of a religious heart: they are betrayals of religion, he said during a visit to Ur, Iraq, in March 2021. During his final public appearance on Sunday, he condemned the Israeli war on Gaza, saying, I express my closeness to the sufferings of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace. His stance on Capitalism The late Catholic leader was also a vocal critic of unregulated capitalism, which he sees as contributing to inequality and exploitation, and once described as idolatry of money. He believed unregulated capitalism prioritised profits over human dignity. In his view, capitalism, when driven purely by market forces without moral oversight, leads to social injustice and environmental degradation. He advocated for an economy that serves the common good, with a focus on caring for the poor, the environment, and human solidarity. His stance on LGBTQ+ rights As part of his broader mission to stand with the marginalised, he spoke for the human rights of the LGBTQ+ community and declared that homosexuality was not a crime. Although his shift never translated into fundamental changes to the Churchs doctrine on contentious issues, such as gay marriage, he urged that the church is more open to homosexual believers. He also approved blessings for gay marriage. One of his most famous statements came early in his papacy when he responded to a question about gay priests by saying, Who am I to judge? Controversies Straddling a line between progressive and conservative, he faced criticism from both ends of the spectrum. While some viewed his actions as insufficiently progressive, others felt they were too radical. From the perspective of progressives within the Church, the popes leadership didnt go far enough in instituting the reforms they hoped for. They expected that he would make stronger changes on issues such as the roles of women, married clergy, and the broader inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Catholics. READ ALSO: Tinubu mourns Pope Francis On the other hand, conservatives within the Church felt that he was pushing the boundaries too far. His stance on LGBTQ+ issues, inclusivity, and his emphasis on mercy over strict doctrinal purity were seen by some as undermining traditional Catholic teachings. His last words Shortly after his public appearance and hours before his death was announced, a post was made on Pope Francis official X account to celebrate Easter. It read, Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. #Easter. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88. He participated in Easter Sunday Mass, just a day before his passing. In an official statement on Monday, the Vatican announced that the pope died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Catholic Church, confirmed the time of death as 7:35 a.m. Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35am, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father, Mr Farrell said. His entire life was dedicated to serving the Lord and His Church. 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 taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the Popes health had deteriorated, fueling speculations that he might resign. He was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on 14 February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Before that illness, the Pope had had part of one lung removed as a young man. But the Pope returned after suffering from chronic lung disease and was hospitalised for 38 days. Though he delegated the celebration of the Mass to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, he made a surprise appearance afterwards, riding in the popemobile through St Peters Square as chants of Viva il Papa echoed from the 35,000-strong crowd. The reformer The Pope was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mr Francis was the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church. Mr Francis was elected on 13 March 2013 following the resignation of Benedict XVI. Mr Francis took his name in honour of St Francis of Assisi, which was a nod to his commitment to simplicity and service. Before his papacy, Mr Francis served as archbishop of Buenos Aires and was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. The Popes journey from working as a janitor and bouncer in his youth to leading over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide became a powerful narrative of humble origins and spiritual conviction. Throughout his 12-year papacy, Mr Francis was widely seen as a reformer and a voice for the marginalised. He advocated for migrant rights, denounced economic inequality, and urged compassion toward divorced and LGBTQ+ Catholics stances that often challenged traditional Vatican norms. The Pope famously attacked trickle-down economics, telling La Stampa in 2013, When the glass is full, it magically grows, and thus nothing ever comes out for the poor. Mr Francis also took bold steps in global diplomacy, including helping broker the restoration of the U.S.Cuba relations and striking a controversial agreement with China on appointing bishops. In 2024, he became the first pope to address the G7 summit, warning world leaders about the ethical risks of artificial intelligence. And in one of his most personal public speeches a 2021 TED Talk he reflected on his migrant heritage, I could very well have ended up among todays discarded people Why them and not me? With his death, the Church enters a sede vacante (vacant seat) period. Preparations are now underway for the conclave that will elect his successor. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel, said it killed 70 soldiers in an attack on two military posts in northern Benin, Reuters is reporting Citing a report from a SITE Intelligence Group, an American for-profit consultancy group tracking white supremacist and jihadist organisations, the news agency said the recent attack resulted in the biggest death count claimed by jihadists in the francophone country, which borders Nigeria. According to the report, JNIM in its propaganda message last Thursday, said it killed the soldiers in Kandi province in the Alibori department, which is more than 500 kilometres from the capital Cotonou. Benins army spokesman Ebenezer Honfoga could not be immediately reached by the news agency. The al-Qaeda affiliate and its rival, Islamic State, have since 2024 intensified their rivalry and campaign of violence in the Sahel, reshaping the security landscape in the semi-arid region, according to a report by Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED). Formed in 2017 as part of a merger of four pre-existing groups Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghrebs Sahara Emirate, Al-Murabitun, Ansar Dine, and Katiba Macina JNIM has launched attacks from its Burkina Faso and Niger strongholds before expanding to Benin and Togo between 2021 and 2022. 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 Taking advantage of ungoverned protected areas such as the Pendjari National Park and Park W straddling Benin, Burkina Faso and Nigeria including the Kainji National Park in Nigeria, the group has succeeded in its trans-border movements and trade. Campaign of violence in the Sahel Violence in the Sahel has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, further destabilising the region which already suffers acute climate conditions. On 8 January, terrorists suspected to be members of JNIM killed 28 Beninoise soldiers in an attack in the Point Triple zone, a border region connecting the country with Junta-led Burkina Faso and Niger. A year before, a terrorist attack killed seven Beninoise soldiers in Pendjari national park. While the recent attack is seen as the deadliest in Benin, its neighbours have witnessed more deadly attacks. For instance, in December 2019, a terror attack on an army base in Niger killed 71 soldiers. In less than a month, another 91 were killed in the same country. The violence in the Sahel has also taken the dynamic of geopolitics with junta-led countries severing ties with France and turning to Russia for military assistance. Despite the alliance, terrorism in the Sahel continues unabated. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has congratulated Femi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), for emerging Nigerias Spokesperson of the Year 2025. The Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Olufemi Soneye, has emerged as the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Spokesperson of 2025. At an event in Abuja on 17 April, Mr Soneye outperformed the spokespersons of Shell Petroleum, Igo Weli; the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi; Sifax Group, Olumuyiwa Akande; and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Osagie Edward, to clinch the award. Before being nominated for the overall prize, the NNPC spokesperson had prevailed as the Spokesperson of the Year in the oil and gas category where he defeated the spokespersons of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike, and Shell Petroleum, Igo Weli. In a release on Sunday, 20 April, GOCOP President Maureen Chigbo commended Mr Soneyes exceptional achievement, describing it as a testament to his professionalism and dedication to impactful communication. The release signed by Remmy Nweke, publicity secretary of GOCOP, quoted Ms Chigbo as describing Mr Soneyes triumph as a shining affirmation of the NNPC spokespersons commitment to transparency, professionalism, and effectiveness in strategic communication of his companys policies to its various publics in Nigerias vital oil and gas sector. 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 Chigbo said Mr. Soneyes leadership in corporate communication at NNPC Ltd has set a new standard for public communication in the industry, and his emergence as the recipient of the award a reflection of his exceptional skill and integrity. The GOCOP President is particularly happy, that Mr. Soneye is a good ambassador of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) where he was a member before his appointment as the chief communications officer of the NNPCL, the statement said. Mr. Soneyes achievement, she said, is a badge of honour not just for him, but for the entire GOCOP family. On behalf of GOCOPs 120 members, Ms. Chigbo congratulated Mr. Soneye and urged him to continue to lift the image of the national oil company to greater heights, Ms Chigbo said. GOCOP commended Mr. Soneye for his outstanding contribution to corporate communication in Nigeria and celebrates his well-deserved recognition. We are proud to have you as a member, and we pray God to grant you many more blessings of good health of mind and body to continue to excel in your job and service to the nation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the National Assembly is developing a comprehensive legal framework for the establishment of state police, as part of the legislative commitment to reduce insecurity in the country. Mr Bamidele who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, disclosed this in his Easter message to Nigerians on Sunday. The senator condemned recent killings in Benue and Plateau states, describing them as contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly on peace, love, and unity. He also urged security agencies to work together to apprehend those responsible for the killings. The recent killings in Benue and Plateau States outrightly negated the virtues of peace and love that Jesus Christ taught during His days. The recurrent utterances by some political and sectional figures also belied the values of courage, perseverance and tolerance He evidently lived for. No country develops as a result of one section rising up against another vice versa. While the Authority of the National Assembly is in the process of developing legal frameworks for the establishment of state police as one of the measures to address insecurity in the country, we urge security agencies to work together as a team to track and apprehend all the masterminds and sponsors of terror attacks nationwide, 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 Over the years, there have been calls from some state governments and civil society organisations for localised policing as incidents of armed robbery, communal clashes and other security challenges increased. A National Conference was convened during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan where the participants recommended the creation of state police as a strategy to reduce insecurity. The insurgence of banditry, kidnapping, and other terrorism activities have increased pressure from governors and political leaders for the creation of state police. In the absence of a formal state policing structure, some regions have established informal security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-west, Ebube Agu in the South-east, and Hisbah in the North-west. Despite the security challenges, the call for a state police is still a contentious issue among political figures. Some argued that without proper arrangements, state police could be exploited by governors to harass political opponents, suppress dissent, and stifle press freedom. Others said the best way to reduce insecurity is through state policing. Critics should emulate Jesus Christ Beyond the security issues, Mr Bamidele also used his Easter message to call for national unity and constructive engagement. He urged political actors to emulate the values of Jesus Christ by promoting peace, truth, and justice in their public engagements. We appeal to some political actors that always lash on the countrys challenges to push divisive narratives to learn from the example of Jesus Christ. Such actors are no longer playing opposition politics, but simply taking advantage of the countrys internal conditions in the pursuit of their own parochial political outcomes, he said. Commitment to nation building The senate leader reiterated that he and his colleagues at the National Assembly are committed to building a Nigeria that works for all citizens Nigeria is our ultimate project. As a parliament, we are committed to the actualisation of this project. This is evident in all the legislative initiatives we are pushing since the birth of the 10th National Assembly. And our goal is to build a federation that will be noted for peace, progress and prosperity anywhere in the world. Regardless of their ethnicity, politics and religion, all actors should shun all forms of divisive utterance and join forces against the common foes of Nigeria and not to subvert our effort to build a strong and virile federation, the senate leader pleaded. Nigerians should live like Christ Mr Bamidele encouraged Nigerians to adopt the virtues of Christ in the pursuit of justice, love, humility, and compassion as guiding principles in national life. As we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, it is exigent we reflect on His virtues; learn from His consecration and live His life of purpose rooted in the pursuit of justice, love and redemption for humanity. Despite the animosity He suffered and opposition He faced, Jesus Christ consciously sought and secured freedom for the captives, peace for the troubled, comfort for the sorrowful, love for the dejected, justice for the oppressed and hope for those who are in despair. In Nigeria today, Christs example clearly presents us a glimpse of how we should live together as compatriots and not competitors, collaborators and not combatants, comrades and not contenders in the task of building a viable and virile federation that will serve the interest of all, the senate leader stated. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Different headlines dominate the cover pages of the newspapers today, with This Nigeria reporting, Insecurity: Treat killer herdsmen as terrorists. According to The Independent, Debt servicing costs may crowd out capEx, development-related spending. Plateau, Benue killings: State Police back on front burner, The Nation reported. Meanwhile, The Point reported, Nigeria records $50.8bn FX inflows in six months. 2027: Fresh trouble for Tinubu as North prepares to reveal position, The Matrix wrote. Nigeria descending into tyranny Bakare, Daily Trust reported. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Despair in Benue, Plateau as killings hit over 284 in three months, The Guardian reported. Daily Times also reported, FG expresses concerns over delays by contractors handling Tinubus housing projects. Rivers: Pro-democracy group writes UN, seeks urgent intervention to save Nigerias democracy, The New Nigerian. Interest boom: Nine local banks generate Ni4tn from loans, Punch reported. Containers stuck at Lagos ports as Easter clearing drags, Business Day headline read. Northern leaders divided over 2027 politics, Leadership reported. Vanguard reported, Kukah, Bakare, Atiku knock, dissent Tinubus government. 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 Airport expansion in Xinjiang boosts high-level opening up Xinhua) 08:25, April 18, 2025 People walk at the departure hall of a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) URUMQI, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. The terminal is a key part of the airport's expansion project that started in 2019. With the upgrade, the annual passenger and cargo handling capacity has more than tripled for the airport, formerly known as Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, an air hub for China's westward opening up, according to Xinjiang Airport Group Co., Ltd. With the completion of the expansion project, the airport now features three runways, up from one, and can accommodate up to 48 million passengers and 550,000 tonnes of cargo annually. It is now capable of supporting nearly 367,000 aircraft takeoffs and landings per year. With the new terminal, the Urumqi airport will deliver higher-quality, more efficient air transport services and play a greater role in expanding high-level opening up and boosting regional economic and social development, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). First established in 1939, the airport has undergone four major expansions, with the latest upgrade completed this year. According to the CAAC, the central government has allocated over 12 billion yuan (approximately 1.66 billion U.S. dollars) from the civil aviation development fund to support the airport's long-term growth. An additional 3 billion yuan from the central budget has also been invested to improve the airport. With its expanded capacity and enhanced connectivity, the airport evolves from a regional gateway into a bridge linking China with central and western Asia. Yang Fuqiang, director of the Institute of Sociology at the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said that the expansion is not just a simple infrastructure upgrade. Instead, it will bring more opportunities and possibilities for Xinjiang's regional economic development, and for international cooperation. Ibrogimov Anvarshukur, president of the Uzbekistan-China Xinjiang Friendship Association, said that his first impression of the new terminal is that it is "absolutely breathtaking," and that the upgrade is more than just an architectural achievement. He echoed Yang's sentiments and noted that the launch of the terminal paves the way for broader regional economic development and deeper international cooperation, and opens new horizons for trade and cultural exchanges between Uzbekistan and China. The airport now operates 207 regular domestic passenger routes connecting China's major cities, and 26 international routes to destinations in Central Asia, Western Asia and Europe. In 2024 alone, the airport launched passenger and cargo routes to 22 regions in 16 countries. According to Urumqi Customs, the city's foreign trade totaled 13.15 billion yuan in the first two months of this year -- a 21.2 percent year-on-year increase. Among the more notable imports were fresh cherries from Central Asia, which can now arrive in Urumqi within two hours, as well as camel milk, apparel and footwear. For many, this transportation efficiency brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the airport has been a game-changer. Kazakh businesswoman Gulshara Bektembayeva, who moved to Xinjiang with her family in 2019 to engage in food trade, is one such beneficiary. "It's now much faster to ship goods and visit family. We're excited for more direct flights in the future." "The development of the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport has helped transform the city from a landlocked hinterland into a rising frontier of opening up," said He Mingxing, a scholar at Xinjiang University. This stitched photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan) Passengers and staff members of airlines pose for photos at the waiting hall of a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) An airplane bound for Guangzhou of Guangdong Province takes off at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan) Passengers check in at a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) People are seen at a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) A passenger checks in at a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) This photo taken on April 17, 2025 shows the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Passengers take photos outside a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan) A staff member helps a passenger check in at a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Engineers conduct inspection of an airplane at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Photo by Xu Rui/Xinhua) Passengers are seen at the departure hall of a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) An airplane bound for Guangzhou of Guangdong Province takes off at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) A passenger goes through exit formalities at a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) A passenger goes through entry formalities at a new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. A new terminal at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began trial operations on Thursday, marking a major step in expanding regional air capacity. (Photo by Xu Rui/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A Chinese folk art exhibition held in Sarajevo showcased nearly 60 paintings and paper cuttings by farmer-artists, and faculty and students from Northwest Normal University. SARAJEVO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese folk art exhibition titled "Chinese Intangible Heritage, Shared by the World", opened Saturday in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The exhibition, jointly organized by Northwest Normal University and the University of Sarajevo, showcased nearly 60 pieces of traditional Chinese art, including paintings and paper cuttings created by Chinese farmer-artists, as well as faculty and students from Northwest Normal University. The event is held in celebration of the upcoming United Nations Chinese Language Day and will run until April 23. Zhang Xuezhong, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sarajevo, said the exhibition coincides with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and BiH, and the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute, co-founded by the two universities. He expressed hope that cultural exchanges would further strengthen the bonds between the two peoples. Dusanka Boskovic, vice-rector of the University of Sarajevo, said that these Chinese folk artworks - often made by farmers - celebrate life and joy, and would be warmly received by local visitors. Zhang Guorong, a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts at Northwest Normal University, emphasized that artistic exchange serves as a bridge between cultures. In addition to the exhibition, academic lectures and hands-on workshops on Chinese folk art will be held at various local institutions. President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the death of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican announced that the pope died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta. He was 88. Instrument of peace In a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu described the deceased Pope as an instrument of peace. The president said the Catholic head deeply embodied Christs message of love for God and love for humanity. His passing, coming just after the celebration of Christs Resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians, 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 Mr Tinubu recalled that in 2013, the Pope preached about mercy and urged everyone to see the face of Christ in the marginalised, the refugees, the migrants, and the forgotten. He challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger and reminded us that our common home this earth is a gift we must protect for future generations. He was a steadfast advocate for the developing world, where he consistently spoke against economic injustice and ceaselessly prayed for peace and stability in troubled regions, he said. Shepherd beyond borders Soludo On his part, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State said the deceased pope was a globally respected icon of faith, humility, and compassion. Mr Soludo, in a statement by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime, on Monday, said the popes passing caused sorrows globally because of his lifelong dedication to championing the cause of the poor, fostering interfaith unity, and advocating for peace and justice. The governor said Pope Francis was a shepherd whose legacy transcended borders. His teachings on love, mercy, and solidarity touched base with the people of Anambra, inspiring the government to build a society rooted in dignity and hope, he said. He was a trailblazer, says Atiku Like Mr Soludo, a former Nigerian Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, described the Pontiff as a trailblazer and a shepherd of the most vulnerable. In a post on his X handle on Monday, Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the PDP, said that the Pope walked among the poor people and reached those cast aside by the world. His papacy was a bridge of compassion in a time of division, a balm of grace in a wounded world. That his soul should be called home on a sacred day of Christians is a solemn and divine punctuation one that reminds us that even as the earthly journey ends, a new and glorious dawn awaits those who have lived for others, he said. To Catholics in Nigeria and beyond, and to the Christian community worldwide, I share in your sorrow and stand with you in prayer. He led with humility, Peter Obi Also, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, praised the deceased Pope for leading with humility, speaking with wisdom, and acting with moral courage. In a post on his X handle on Monday, Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, stressed that the deceased embodied the virtues of faith, hope, and compassion. READ ALSO: Tinubu mourns Pope Francis He commiserated with the Catholic Church, explaining that he deeply appreciates the Popes belief in education, dialogue, and youth empowerment as vital instruments for building a more just and compassionate world. His deep concern for the poor, his steadfast advocacy for moral leadership, and his defence of human dignity earned him the admiration of people across all faiths and nations. Pope Francis devoted his life to the service of God and humanity. In an age marked by division and uncertainty, his voice remained a steady call to unity, mercy, and justice, he stated. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Bauchi State has confirmed a tragic industrial accident which claimed the lives of four workers at the Gubi Water Treatment Plant in Bauchi. The spokesperson of the command, Ahmed Wakili, confirmed the incident to journalists on Sunday in Bauchi. He said the incident occurred during a sludge cleaning operation inside the plants tunnels. Mr Wakili listed the victims as Shayibu Hamza (48), Abdulmalik Yahya (29), Jamilu Inusa (29) and Ibrahim Musa (42). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they were all residents of Firo village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state. Mr Wakili said the workers had entered a clarifier to dislodge pit pipes when the incident occured. 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 retrieved unconscious from the tunnel and rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where they were later confirmed dead. Police personnel were swiftly deployed to the scene as investigation into the cause of the incident commenced. The management of the water treatment facility is said to be cooperating fully with the authorities to ensure a thorough review, he said Wakili, however, stressed the importance of stringent safety measures in such high-risk environments. Safety must be non-negotiable in operations like this, he said. He urged the management and workers across the sector to adhere strictly to established safety protocols. Mr Wakili said the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, extended condolences on behalf of the command to the victims families, colleagues and management of the plant. He reaffirmed the commitment of the police to improving safety standards to prevent such occurrences in future. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate and House of Representatives have postponed the resumption of plenary sessions to 6 May. The two chambers embarked on Easter and Eid-el-Fitr holiday on 27 March and were expected to resume plenary on Tuesday, 29 April. But a statement issued by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, on Monday, said the resumption has been extended by one week. I am directed to inform Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, and the general public that the two Houses of the National Assembly have extended the date for the resumption of plenary sessions from Tuesday, 29th April 2025, to Tuesday, 6th May 2025, he said. Mr Ogunlana said the extension was to allow senators and House of Representatives members participate in the forthcoming Workers Day celebrations in their constituencies. This extension allows Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to participate in the Workers Day ceremony and attend to other engagements in their constituencies, 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 The Clerk apologised for any inconvenience the extension may cause. Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, and the general public are invited to take note of the new resumption date. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Legislative inactivity The extension comes at a time the country is experiencing multiple challenges including worsening security conditions and socio-political unrest across several states. Since reconvening for the 2025 legislative year on 4 February, record showed that the National Assembly has held plenary sessions only 24 times. Plenary sessions, usually held three times a week, (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) are the official fora for debating urgent national matters in the Nigerian parliament. However, the latest extension which is a combined Easter and Eid-el-Fitr break that began on 27 March, has further delayed legislative response to several burning issues. Among the urgent matters awaiting legislative intervention are the resurgence of Boko Haram activities in Borno State and continued killings in Benue and Plateau States. There is also an increase in unregulated financial operations and fraudulent investment schemes, with calls for the establishment of a regulatory task force to protect Nigerians from exploitation. The recall process of suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has remained unresolved and the oversight in the ongoing emergency rule in Rivers State under the administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, is yet to be carried out. Power tussle within the Senate While the official reason for the extension was for the lawmakers to focus on constituency engagement, there are speculations that the extension may also be politically-motivated. There are speculations in some quarters that some senators have expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership style of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with the allegation that his style of leadership is dictatorial. This issue, if left unaddressed, could resort to a major crisis when the Senate reconvenes. Some critics say the Senate leadership may be using the extended recess period to quietly manage the tensions and reaffirm his position among aggrieved lawmakers. The 10th National Assembly has always been criticised for a slow legislative process. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Senate had yet to unveil its legislative agenda, almost two years after its inauguration on 13 June 2023. The absence of a work plan for the current Senate means there is no road map, and it may be difficult for the public to hold the lawmakers accountable. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has paid an emotional tribute to the late Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, who died on Monday. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the pope died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta. In a statement he personally signed, President Tinubu described the deceased as a humble servant of God, tireless champion of the poor, and guiding light for millions. The president said the passing of the Catholic head after the celebration of Christs resurrection is a sacred return to his maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians. He said the Pope was a steadfast advocate for the developing world, where he consistently spoke against economic injustice and ceaselessly prayed for peace and stability in troubled regions. Read the full statement Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Today, with a heavy heart, I join the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a humble servant of God, tireless champion of the poor, and guiding light for millions. His passing, coming just after the celebration of Christs Resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians. His Holiness served the Church and the Master of the Church until the end. In 2013, he stepped onto the global stage with a message of mercy, urging us to see the face of Christ in the marginalised, the refugees, the migrants, and the forgotten. He challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger and reminded us that our common homethis Earthis a gift we must protect for future generations. He was an instrument of peace who deeply embodied the message of Christ: love for God and love for humanity. In a time of division, he built bridges between faiths and the rich and the poor. He was a steadfast advocate for the developing world, where he consistently spoke against economic injustice and ceaselessly prayed for peace and stability in troubled regions. His encyclicals were not only doctrinal and seminal but also timely and relevant. Through his pastoral letters, the Pope offered spiritual clarity and hope in an increasingly complex world. He charted a path of renewal for all humanity through his words and deeds. In my 2025 Easter Message, I joined the Christian faithful in thanksgiving for the convalescing Pontiff. I was happy to watch his appearance to deliver the traditional Easter Sunday blessing in St. Peters Basilica. Alas, the Lord called him home a day after, making the world lose its most trenchant voice for justice and action against climate change. May the good Lord, whom he served with all his might, receive him into His eternal bosom. As we mourn the late Pontiff, let us also celebrate his legacy. Let us honour him not with words alone but with action: by lifting those who are down, healing our communities, and defending the dignity of every person. On behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, I extend condolences to the Catholic Church, the global Catholic community, and the Christian faithful. May God Almighty grant His beloved servant eternal rest. PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ABUJA April 21, 2025 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The public altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, escalated on Monday with the ministers aide questioning Mr Falanas legal credentials. The ministers aide, Lere Olayinka, responded to a recent claim by Mr Falana (SAN) that Mr Wike was Nigerias only life bencher with no case in any court. Earlier accusation Mr Wike had accused him (Falana) of misrepresenting the recent Supreme Court ruling on the status of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. In an interview with journalists in Abuja on Friday, the FCT minister said the human rights lawyer misled the public about the ruling and warned that such actions from a senior lawyer could cause unrest. A few days ago, the Supreme Court settled this matter of defection. If someone of Femi Falanas calibre can go on national television and lie. Its very serious. Lies can cause a lot of crises, Mr Wike said. In response, Mr Falana stated that he was being taunted by Mr Wike over a Supreme Court case the Minister won, dismissing the attack as political. 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 went as far as dubbing me a television lawyer, Mr Falana said. However, I did not respond at the time because Mr Wike is the only Life Bencher in Nigeria who has never handled a case in any trial or appellate court. The senior lawyer added that he had refrained from responding to Mr Wikes utterances at the time because of the ministers status. He further clarified that his comments regarding the matter of defection were factually correct. All I said was that the matter of the defection of the 27 legislators was raised suo motu and determined by the eminent Justices of the apex court, Mr Falana stated. Questionable SAN title However, in a statement on Monday, Lere Olayinka, Mr Wikes senior special assistant on public communications and social media, challenged Mr Falana to account for the number of major cases he had won to merit his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Mr Olayinka described Mr Falana as an arrangee and errand lawyer, accusing him of contributing little to the development of the legal profession. It is funny and ridiculous that in the mind of Falana, only those who have handled cases in trial or appellate courts are real lawyers, Mr Olayinka said. Apart from going on television to make noise, what has Falana contributed to the legal profession? Even the SAN he got, was it not an afterthoughtyears after his peers had already attained the rank? Contribution to legal profession Mr Olayinka also spotlighted some of Mr Wikes contributions to legal education, including establishing and upgrading Nigerian Law School campuses in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa during his tenure as Rivers State governor. He noted that under Mr Wikes leadership as FCT Minister, ongoing projects include the construction of housing quarters for the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja. The question is: what has Falana done for the legal profession? Mr Olayinka continued. Even in his home state of Ekiti, he has no legacy. Bar Centres were built by Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), not Falana. Like his principal, Mr Olayinka also accused Mr Falana of misleading the public about the implications of the Supreme Court ruling on the Rivers Assembly leadership crisis. He argued that it was based on the judgment that a trial judge, Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, dismissed a suit by the Labour Party over the defection issue. Mr Olayinka also disputed Mr Falanas position on legislative quorum, referencing the claim that three lawmakers could validly conduct legislative business in a 32-member House, contrary to the Constitutions requirement that one-third of members form a quorum. If, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you could say three members form a quorum, questions need to be asked about how exactly you qualified for the rank, he added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Bandits have imposed a N60 million levy on 12 communities in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Residents said the bandits imposed the levy to punish them for allegedly providing information to the military. Soldiers reportedly attacked the terrorists hideouts in the Dan Kurmi forest last week, killing many terrorists. Resident told TheBeat, an online news platform focusing on bandits operations in the zone, that the terrorists instructed residents of Koloma, Dan Hayin Zargado, Zargado, Dan Godabe, Sabuwar Tunga, Makini, Bubaka, Yelwa, Bahwada, Koda, Manya, and Kabusu to pay the N60 million to avoid being attacked. The platform reported that the terrorists invited village heads and representatives to a meeting to discuss how to co-exist peaceful but the terrorists ended the meeting imposing levy on the villages. A traditional ruler in Dan Kurmi, Sani Usman, told BBC Hausa as monitored by PREMIUM TIMES that the terrorists also said they were punishing the residents for burning forests in their hideout. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The police spokesperson in Zamfara, Abubakar Sadiq, could not be reached to comment on the development. His phone number did not connect Monday evening. Non-state actors imposing protection levy is common in Zamfara and its neighbouring states. They impose the levies to finance their terrorism activities. Several communities in the volatile states of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto Kaduna, Niger, and Kebbi have been attacked for failing to pay the levies. In recent weeks, terrorists imposed a N1.5 million levy on three Katsina communities of Gurza, Kurechin Giye, and Kulawu in the Danmusa area. Another terrorist, Nabaruma, also imposed a N10 million protection levy on Unguwan Zakara village of Dutsin-Ma in Katsina State. All the communities complied, local sources told PREMIUM TIMES. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print An Osun State High Court building in Ilesa has been destroyed after unknown persons suspected to be arsonists set the building ablaze. Despite efforts by the state fire service to contain the blaze, the court building suffered extensive destruction when firefighters arrived. Reacting to the incident, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Monday, described the incident as a threat to democracy. The governor directed security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the incident and track down the perpetrators. He also instructed that security be beefed up across all court premises in the state to prevent similar incidents. Additionally, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice are to join hands with the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure for the immediate rehabilitation of the burnt-down building, the Governor 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 Governor Adeleke emphasised that the attack on the judiciary poses a significant threat to democracy, as the judiciary serves as a cornerstone and crucial mediator of the democratic process. He urged citizens to rally behind the judiciary, advocating for support and protection rather than destructive actions. Suspected arson The attack on the court building happened on Sunday night. According to Mr Rasheed, the fire razed down the building to ashes and sensitive court documents and exhibits were destroyed. He said the state fire service could not salvage the situation as the fire has spread extensively. Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer for Osun Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, for further information were unsuccessful. However, according to a report by The Punch, Mr Ojelabi stated that the fire damaged the warders room and another office, with the cause still under investigation. He assured that the police are actively probing the incident. Arson attack on court buildings For years, court buildings have become targets of destruction by arsonists and hoodlums during an unrest. In March 2023, the State High Court in Owutu-Edda, Ebonyi State was set ablaze by suspected political thugs. Also in Ebonyi, the Federal High Court in Abakaliki was attacked by unknown gunmen using petrol bombs. In December 2023, gunmen attacked the Orlu High Court in Imo state. The Owerri Magistrates Court, was also set on fire by hoodlums using explosives. A year earlier in May 2022, the magistrates court in Anambra State was set ablaze by unknown arsonists. The Idemili North Local Government Secretariat suffered the same fate. The Kano State High Court was vandalised in August 2024 during nationwide protests. More recently, a fire attributed to a power surge damaged courtroom No. 10 in the Kwara State High Court complex in Ilorin in September 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Receiving the emissary of an insensitive and bloodthirsty tyrant, a feral psychopath and delusional megalomaniac like Bibi Netanyahu and showering accolades on him is an insult to the martyred women and children of Gaza and a big slap on the face of those who are fighting Israeli occupation in Palestine. Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau, made a grave mistake by hosting the Ambassador of Israel an ethno-fascist, genocidal, child-killing, terrorist and apartheid nation in his state. I watched the show of shame and almost threw up. As a Christian, how does Mutfwang feel about receiving the representative of people who have been accused of mass murders, ethnic cleansing and religious bigotry in his official residence? More importantly, as a human being, how can he sleep at night after doing this? Outside of that, does he not know about the role that Israel and its strongest allies are alleged to be playing in the killings in the North and even in his own state? Does he not know who is said to be really behind the terrorists that have plagued our nation, both North and South? Does he not know who is really benefiting from the carnage and land-grabbing? 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 Does he not know that the objective is to plunge us into a civil and religious war, whilst they pick up the pieces? Someone should tell him to ask his Zionist friends who created, founded, funds and arms ISIS, ISWAP, Boko Haram, Al Shabab, Al Qaeda and virtually every other terrorist organisation in the world. Tell him to ask them who use these evil forces to divide, destabilise and destroy the foreign nations which they seek to control and dominate. Tell him to ask them why none of the terrorist organisations mentioned above have EVER attacked Israel or targeted the Israelis? Tell him to ask them who funded and sold arms to the Biafrans, more than anyone else during our civil war. Tell him to ask them how African Jews from Ethiopia (known as the Falashas) who are seeking to become Israeli nationals are treated in the Zionist state. Receiving the emissary of an insensitive and bloodthirsty tyrant, a feral psychopath and delusional megalomaniac like Bibi Netanyahu and showering accolades on him is an insult to the martyred women and children of Gaza and a big slap on the face of those who are fighting Israeli occupation in Palestine. Worst still in doing so, the governor has inflicted a deep spiritual wound on himself and his government. Bringing a snake into your house will not help you to solve your problems in Plateau State, no matter what they promise to do for you: it will only make them worse. As they say, beware of the Greeks, especially when they bring gifts! The Trojans learnt this lesson the hard way! Let us hope the same fate does not befall you. Meanwhile, did your guest tell you that they spit on Christians in his country? Did he tell you that according to their holy book, known as the Talmud, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was a liar and a rogue and is now burning in hell, whilst swimming in a pool of human faeces? Did he tell you that they discriminate against both Christians and Muslims and that they detain and slaughter them like flies? I learnt that the day after he left Plateau State, no less than 100 more people were killed by the terrorists: Why am I not surprised? Mutfwang has much to learn! Femi Fani-Kayode is the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba Joga Orile, a former minister of Culture and Tourism, a former minister of Aviation and a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print As President Tinubu prepares to rejig the second half of his first term, perhaps he may want to have a firm handshake with history by attempting a re-engineering of the Nigerian project. It doesnt have to be a total dismantling, but certainly a level of unbundling to allow regions to develop at their own pace cant do any harm Nigeria is wide enough for all the tribes to thrive. As Chinua Achebe would say, Let the kite perch and let the eagle perch too If one says no to the other, let his wing break. It seems that everybody wants Nigeria to remain one indivisible entity. Right? At least, that is what they profess openly. But dont be deceived, the hoopla that will greet you at the slightest sign of a social or political strain will make you wonder at the unwisdom of forcing such atavistic tribes together under one flag in one massive war theatre. Each time there is a centrifugal tendency preaching separation, secession or even confederation in Nigeria, the mustachios of some of the usual suspects who can be described as professional defenders of the Luggardian contraption, stand on edge. Nigeria is indivisible, they say. Says who?, their interlocutors ask. And agent provocateurs add their bit: The house that Luggard built in the service of his female king cannot endure. 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 Female king? There you go again! Patchy Unity Since 1960, we have always managed to patch Nigerias leaking roof to force a people with 350 independent languages to remain under one roof as one country! As a person, I am fascinated by the plurality of my country and the beauty of the variegated landscape. If I had my way, Id have selfishly kept faith with Lord Luggards colonial contraption. However, I think it is about time we all put on our adult caps and look at other possibilities of running our societies without rancour so that we can all still remain brothers and sisters. In 2017, when Professor Ango Abdullahi as the chair of the Northern Elders Forum, declared that, The North is ready for a Split of Nigeria if, all the other tribal organisations called him out as an unpatriotic elder. According to Ango Abdullahi, If we agree that we should live together as a people and as a country, so be it, but if the general consensus is that Nigerians want to go their separate ways either on the basis of ethnicity, culture, history or religion, why not? He added that, If anybody tells you that the large informed opinion in the North is against the dissolution of Nigeria, he is telling you lies. Abdullahi argued that since the South-West, South-South and South-East parts of the country have been campaigning for either a breakup or loose confederation, he wanted the world to know that the North was not afraid of a breakup. He was particularly unhappy at the detailed developmental plans of the South-West (as stated in the document of the DAWN commission). The South-west wants preferably a region, a region that was at one time under the leadership of Chief Awolowo, unless, of course, you are trying to ignore all the writings, all the things that had been written, particularly in their declaration called DAWN, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, then you can ignore this, he said. One wonders what could be wrong with a section of the country having a development agenda. Must we all remain stagnated in the stagnant mud of prehistory? Southern leaders immediately rose to the challenge. They reiterated their love for their Northern brothers but insisted that they needed some breathing space. They felt they would be able to better develop their areas and improve the fortune of their people if they were in the drivers seat, deploying their natural resources in the service of their people. Apart from the well known agitation of Igbos of the South-East for Biafra, leaders of the South-South also made it known that they would prefer a peaceful arrangement in which each of the six geo-political zones would run its own affairs as an independent country or as a semi-autonomous part of a confederal Nigeria. Historic Challenge One of the most consistent voices for the peaceful unbundling of Nigeria is the renowned professor of History, Banji Akintoye, who leads one of the major Yoruba self-determination groups. Akintoye is convinced that a peaceful separation, which would give rise to peaceful neighbours, is possible. And he thinks that President Tinubu is best suited to guide Nigeria in the process. Akintoyes argument: President Tinubu needs to note that countries which separate violently tend to be dogged by violence afterwards as in the case of Pakistan, which separated in a storm of violence from India in 1947; South Sudan, which separated after years of violence from Sudan in 2011; and some of the eight countries that resulted from the violent dissolution of Yugoslavia. Nigerias peoples are now trapped in a Nigerian space that is churning in an abominable curse of utter darkness, unspeakable poverty, hunger, hatred, hostility, mass murders, fear and death. The hatred and hostility are so deep Then, last week, an intriguing article attributed to one Aminu Saad Beli trended massively on social media. Titled Road Map To Solve Nigerian Ethnicity Crisis, And Economic Development, the piece draws on the lessons of history to canvas a peaceful unbundling of Nigeria. Separation is Not About War In 1776, the USA split from the UK. In 1830 Belgium separated from the Netherlands In 1965, Singapore split off from Malaysia in 2002, East Timor got split off from Indonesia In 1921, Ireland split off from the United Kingdom, and (possibly in the future) there will be secession of Scotland. In 1944, Iceland split from Denmark with remarkable ease. In 1905 Norway split from Denmark In 1905, Norway and Sweden also peacefully split ways. One got the car. The other got the kids. In 1947, the British India Dominion was partitioned into India n Pakistan. In 1971, Bangladesh seceded from Pakistan. In 1992-93, the two parts of Czechoslovakia agreed to each go their own way. Thus were born the Czech Republic and Slovakia after whats been named the Velvet Divorce., About the same time, another kind of separation occurred, of course, in Yugoslavia. This one led to a bloodshed. In 1965, Singapore split from Malaysia for a variety of reasons, including religious (Malaysia is majority Muslim, Singapore isnt) Ethiopia and Eritrea Sudan and South Sudan are now separate countries USSR is now broken down into several countries. I see separation as an avenue for a healthy competition for development as the case of Singapore and Malaysia, India and Pakistan, Norway/Denmark/Switzerland. In the case of Nigeria, I am sensing a healthy competitive development among the original component part, the North/West/East each making useful progress while competing with the others. It is not about war, after all there is nothing wrong for one to decide he is no longer comfortable with the union and therefore want to opt out. Lets give peace a chance and separate honourably. Many social media commentators also noted that most European countries today comprise only one tribe, compared to Africa where colonialists lumped together hundreds of linguistic groups as was the case in Nigeria. Tinubus Re-engineering As President Tinubu prepares to rejig the second half of his first term, perhaps he may want to have a firm handshake with history by attempting a re-engineering of the Nigerian project. It doesnt have to be a total dismantling, but certainly a level of unbundling to allow regions to develop at their own pace cant do any harm. Nigeria is wide enough for all the tribes to thrive. As Chinua Achebe would say, Let the kite perch and let the eagle perch too If one says no to the other, let his wing break. Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on [email protected]; Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The rising tide of evil in our nations brings to the fore the raging battle between God and humanity. This crisis is not just a contemporary issue but one that has echoed through the ages. Jonathan Edwards, the famous American preacher, once delivered a sermon titled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. This message, preached more than a hundred years ago, still reverberates in the annals of church history, a stark reminder of the eternal struggle between sin and divine justice. Recently, another American preacher, Dr David Jeremiah, observed that Jonathan Edwards message in todays world might be unfortunately preached as God in the Hands of Angry Sinners. This shift reflects a world where humanity, in its rebellion, has now declared total war against God, forgetting that even when it appears like they are winning, and God is losing. It is only for a while. God doesnt lose. He always wins and will eventually win. He has all of eternity to prove who is greater between you and Him. The Battle Against Truth As we navigate these turbulent times, let us remember that battles against truth must not be wonin our lives, in our homes, or in our societies. Truth must prevail. The foundation of any just society is truth, and when lies and deceit become the norm, the very moral fabric of that society begins to collapse. We are now witnessing this collapse on a global scale, where falsehoods spread faster than ever before, and are now aided by technology and a media landscape that often prioritises sensationalism over substance. The consequences are dire: misinformation breeds mistrust, and mistrust breeds division. In a world divided, the battle for truth becomes all the more critical. We must stand firm in our commitment to truth, both in our personal lives and in the public sphere. This commitment requires courage, for speaking the truth often comes at a cost. Yet, it is a cost worth bearing, for without truth, there can be no justice, no peace, and no true progress. The Battle Against Righteousness 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 Similarly, battles against righteousness must not be won. Righteousness must prevail over us and over our nations. This battle is perhaps the most personal of all, for it touches on our very character and our relationship with the divine. We live in a world that often mocks righteousness, equating it with self-righteousness or moral superiority. Yet, true righteousness is neither of these things. It is a humble, unwavering commitment to doing what is right, regardless of the cost. Righteousness requires us to act with integrity, to treat others with respect and compassion, and to seek justice for the oppressed and marginalised. It is not a call to perfection but to a continual striving towards goodness. This striving is a lifelong journey, one that requires us to examine our hearts and our actions continually. In a world that often rewards selfishness and corruption, the pursuit of righteousness is a radical act of defiance against the prevailing culture. The Battle Against Integrity Battles against integrity must not be won. Integrity must prevail over us and over our societies. Integrity is the bedrock of trust, and without it, relationships and institutions crumble. In our personal lives, integrity means aligning our actions with our values, being honest even when it is difficult, and taking responsibility for our mistakes. In the public sphere, it means holding our leaders and institutions accountable, demanding transparency, and refusing to tolerate corruption. The erosion of integrity in our societies is a grave concern. We see it in scandals and abuses of power, in the breakdown of trust between citizens and their governments, and in the pervasive cynicism that undermines our collective efforts to build a better world. Restoring integrity requires a concerted effort from all of us. It means setting high standards for ourselves and for those in positions of authority. It means being vigilant and speaking out against wrongdoing. And it means nurturing a culture of accountability, where actions have consequences, and where ethical behavior is recognised and rewarded. The Battle Against God Above all, battles against God must not be won. We must never win any fight with God. Why? God always wins He doesnt have to win numerically to win spiritually. He doesnt have to win in time to win in eternity. Hes got all of eternity to prove who is greater. And whether you and I like it or not, Hes waiting. We will all keep an appointment with Him, one day. May you never gain this world at the expense of your soul. The notion of fighting against God is a profound paradox. On one hand, it speaks to the arrogance of humanity, the belief that we can defy the divine and shape our destiny independently of any higher power. On the other hand, it reveals a deeper truth about the nature of our relationship with God. For in fighting against God, we are ultimately fighting against our true selves, against the very essence of who we are created to be. Gods seeming silence in the face of our rebellion is not an indication of His absence or indifference. Rather, it is a testament to His patience and mercy. He allows us the freedom to choose our path, even when that path leads us away from Him. But this freedom comes with consequences. When we reject God, we also reject the source of all that is good and true and beautiful. We consign ourselves to a life of emptiness and despair, a life devoid of meaning and purpose. Yet, even in our rebellion, God remains faithful. He continues to call us back to Himself, to offer us the gift of redemption and reconciliation. The battles we face in this world are but a shadow of the greater battle for our souls. And in this battle, God has already won the victory through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we confront the rising tide of evil in our nations, let us hold fast to the truth, pursue righteousness, uphold integrity, and remain steadfast in our faith. For in doing so, we align ourselves with the eternal purposes of God, and we become instruments of His grace and mercy in a broken and hurting world. Ayo Akerele is the Senior Pastor of Rhema Assembly and the founder of the Voice of the Watchmen Ministries in Ontario, Canada. He can be reached through [email protected] Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The windows of transparency and accountability in governance were further widened by a recent Supreme Court judgment, which subjected the three tiers of government to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. All the states but one had, before now, refused to enforce it, with the unfounded argument that it was strictly a federal law. As a result, a deluge of requests by many public sector watchdogs for scrutiny of their activities came to naught. Only Ekiti State, under Kayode Fayemi as governor, domesticated the Act in 2011. However, the law does not require such a ritual for its implementation, as evident in the apex court declaration. In its well-considered judgment, the court said the matter was within the purview of the Constitution; therefore, its compliance was not negotiable by any public institution. This should put to an end the evasiveness and dishonesty of the 36 states. Federal government agencies had not done better, either. The final legal test began in January 2014, initiated by a coalition of civil society groups, sequel to an FOI request denial by Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EDOSACA). The request had sought some clarifications on the agencys financial expenditures, grants, donor partnership contracts and criteria for grants disbursement between 2011 and 2014, on the states HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project. In the first judicial pronouncement, the civil society team won at a Federal High Court, but this was reversed by the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, in 2018, which paved the way for this immutable verdict of the apex court. This resolution is laudable and we salute the civil society coalition for its courage and doggedness in taking up the gauntlet that precipitated this necessary outcome. However, concerns persist with the notoriety of governments and their agencies for disregarding the rule of law. It is not unlikely that many ministries, departments, and agencies would still refuse to abide by the ruling. We have still not imbibed openness in the conduct of the business of government, which democracy dictates. In clear terms, the MDAs with skeletons in their cupboards would remain impervious to any FOI request; and, therefore, be inclined to the perverse and prevailing refrain of Nigerian politicians we will not give you, and you can go back to court. Unfortunately, not many watchdogs, especially media organisations, have the resources and time to go through a protracted and irritating legal trajectory, to extract a piece of information out of a public institution. A good example is how BudgIT, a non-profit devoted to good governance and accountability, with its tracking of government expenditures, received just 10 responses from 500 requests it made to MDAs! Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The MDAs or governments perception of the FOI Act need to change. There should be designated desks in offices for prompt responses to any request made, as it is done in other jurisdictions, while the personnel involved need to be trained and retrained. The era of public officials spouting the rule of law and at the same time brazenly erecting barriers to FOI requests needs to come to an end. We must move away from the tradition of maintaining an official brick wall against openness and accountability in the public space, so that democracy can thrive. An avalanche of FOI requests had been denied, which the applicants and civil society organisations need to exhume now. One of them is the request of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for information on the finances of the national oil company, NNPC, pertaining to its expenditures on fuel importation and the maintenance of the countrys four refineries. This was made in 2018. NNPC then claimed that it was not a public institution, and as such could not be subjected to an FOI enquiry. The response of the oil company was as erroneous as it is embarrassing, Mr9 Falana noted then. Its legal counsel, he argued, did not avert her mind to Section 2 (7) of the Freedom of Information Act, which defined public institutions to include the NNPC. The opaque and niffy books of accounts of the NNPC, before its so-called mutation to a limited liability company, should be exposed to inquisitions of all sorts, using the FOI. The humongous corruption scandals that had rocked the companys operations for decades, if abandoned and the country moved on, will be a huge caricature of the essence of the FOI Act. We advocate a review of the law for stiffer penalties for non-compliance. Only then would the MDAs think twice about their attitude of ignoring requests. It is not only Mr Falana, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) had its request to the Osun State government on the Food Support Scheme Programme ignored. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP) FOI request in respect of the Lagos State Pension Act, to see if it was paying its former officers serving at federal levels, between 2020 and 2024, was equally ignored. Also, SERAP did not get any feedback from the 36 states on their loans from China, expenditures, and UBE funds disbursements. The seeming repudiation of the FOI Act by states and the Supreme Courts recent finality on the matter starkly reminds us of how the similar legal drama concerning the enforcement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act in the states ended. The governors shamefully lost. The judgment on the direct release of funds to 774 Local Government Areas completed triumphal legal decisions that have stabbed the heart of fiscal impunity to a significant extent in governance. Media reports indicate that only 13 out of 1,300 MDAs allocated funds in their 2025 budgets to handle FOI activities. This represents about 1 per cent, which is symptomatic of their aloofness to openness and accountability to the people. This years budget is valued at N49.74 trillion. Nigerians need to know how it is being spent. There is the unresolved issue of a banquet of alleged corruption in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. A 2021 report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, released in 2024, indicated that N57 billion belonging to the ministry was not accounted for. A former minister there has twice been a guest of the EFCC, while another was suspended. How did Nigeria spend $25 billion in about 25 years in the maintenance of refineries without them being functional within the period in question, and nobody is held to account till date? These are dark spots, among many, in the MDAs, which an effective implementation of the FOI should unravel. The rough patch that the FOI Act has had notwithstanding, media organisations, in our view, have not been as determined as the CSOs in compelling the government to action. The new ecstasy inspired by the recent court judgment on the matter should not peter out sooner than later, as it did when the National Assembly passed the Bill and it was signed into law in 2011, under Goodluck Jonathans presidency. Sadly, the law has not led to a major breakthrough in exposing the underbelly of bad governance the inexplicable level of corruption for which Nigeria terminally bleeds, as it were. A creation of the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in 1993, the FOI was presented to the parliament in 1999 as a private members bill. It survived several fatal intrigues but was eventually passed, only for President Olusegun Obasanjo to refuse to assent to it, to the disgrace of his regime. Under this new lease of life, the implementation of the FOI Act in the states needs to gain traction, if only circumspection could be brought to bear on the rash of annual awards of excellence to governors and other public institutions by the media, which ordinarily they should be beaming searchlights on, that hold them to account. Instead of lauding them for measly benefits. Now is the time for ACTION, not enthusiasm or mere applause for the law, if the edifice that corruption has erected will ever be pulled down, towards the enthronement of sanity in public administration. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, Saturday attended the wedding fatiha of Farina Abdulrazak Yahya Daura and Idris M Idris. The ceremony was held at the family residence of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Nasir Yahaya Daura, and attracted numerous dignitaries from across the country. Among the guests were the immediate past Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari; the Deputy Governor of the State, Faruq Lawal Jobe; and the Member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency from Kano State, Ado Alhasan Doguwa. Also in attendance were the National Coordinator of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Jabiru Salisu Tsauri; members of the State Legislative and Executive arms; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; various traditional titleholders, and numerous well-wishers. In a separate event, Governor Radda was present at the turbaning ceremony of three eminent personalities, conducted by the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness Alhaji Faruq Umar Faruq. The ceremony celebrated distinguished figures from Katsina and Kano States. The individuals honoured were the Katsina State Commissioner for Environment, Hamza Suleiman Faskari, who was conferred with the title of Sadaukin Kasar Hausa; Samir Ismaila Musawa, who was turbaned as Bulaman Kasar Hausa; and Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada in Kano State, who received the traditional title of Sardaunan Kasar Hausa Mai Tuta. The occasion took place at the Emirs Palace in Daura and witnessed the attendance of several high-ranking officials, including the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi; the Deputy Governors of Katsina and Kano States, Malam Faruq Lawal Jobe and Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo respectively; Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin; and the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Nasir Yahaya Daura. Members of both the State and Federal Legislatures, State Executive Council, and traditional rulers were also present. 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 his remarks following the turbaning, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruq Umar, stated that traditional titles were reserved for individuals who had demonstrated outstanding service to humanity and made significant contributions to the development of society. The Emir further commended Governor Radda for his unwavering commitment to improving security in the state and called on other governors to emulate his exemplary leadership. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sani Zorro, a former member of the House of Representatives, has urged Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State to investigate a Chinese firms alleged land grabbing. Mr Zorro, who represented the Gumel/Maigatari/Sule Tankarkar/Gagarawa federal constituency of the state, alleged that the land allocated by the state government to the Chinese company for a sugar plantation, but the company plans to use it for another purpose. He made the appeal at a citizens engagement programme organised by the state government on Sunday at the Gagarawa Local Government Area. Governor Namadi initiated the programme as a feedback mechanism for him and his officials to meet local communities and discuss their development challenges. Mr Zorro said the sugar plantation project was conceived by a former governor, Sule Lamido, and implemented by the immediate past governor, Muhammad Badaru. Mr Lamido was governor of the state between 2007 and 2015, while Mr Badaru served between 2015 and 2023. At the event, Mr Zorro said the state government allocated the land for the company to set up a sugarcane plantation and later a sugar factory. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We are pleading with you (Governor Namadi) not to approve a change of purpose for the Lee Group of Companies. We have the agreement. The company agreed to complete its work in two years. The land was donated for a sugarcane plantation, but years later, they are now planting what the locals were planting for their subsistence farming. The company is also allocating land to some top government officials, including those in your administration, for farming, while the locals whom the previous administrations cheated were watching helplessly. The locals need justice from you. We want the governor to institute a commission of inquiry to investigate the matter properly, the former lawmaker said. His comments were welcomed with resounding voice approval by the locals at the event. PREMIUM TIMES made efforts to speak with the Lee Group of Companies on Mr Zorros claims, but the officials did not respond to calls and text messages on Sunday and Monday morning. This newspaper reported how farmers in the area demonstrated against the activities of the company. Mr Zorro and the locals had protested that if the government grabbed land belonging to 22 villages and 27 Fulani hamlets, an act they said would threaten the livelihood of about 150,000 persons in the state. They said the project focused on sugarcane plantation, while residents grow a variety of food crops. Background of the crisis The state government had in 2014 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lee Group of Companies to set up a sugarcane plantation with a view to setting up a sugar factory. The state government allocated over 12,000 hectares of land for the plantation spread across four local government areas Gagarawa, Taura, Suletankarkar and Garki. The plantations pilot stage started at the Garin Ciroma community in Gagarawa LGA, also the main project host. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ( Read 5240 Times) (Praduman Solanki) Jaipur : In a compelling message posted on social media, Vedanta Chairman Mr. Anil Agarwal highlighted the vast untapped mineral wealth of Rajasthan and the need for accelerating industrial development to further unlock the states economic potential. Drawing attention to GDP data, he noted that Rajasthan despite being richly endowed with natural resources, trails behind states like Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, all of which have GDPs exceeding $300 billion. This comes at a time when Rajasthan is charting its path towards a US$ 350 billion economy by 2030. With a GDP of $196 billion, Rajasthan lags behind its industrial peers, as shown in recent projections. In his social media post, Vedanta Chairman, said, The land of Rajasthan holds immense wealth below the ground oil & gas, stone, copper, silver, gold, zinc, potash, rock phosphate elements that can power a new wave of prosperity for the state. The state is endowed with some of the richest and widest ranges of natural resource reserves in the country. He further added, If we fully harness this natural treasure, Rajasthans GDP and revenues can skyrocket, countless new jobs can be created, and widespread prosperity can follow. Whats clearly needed is the establishment of thousands of manufacturing units to tap into this vast underground potential and transform minerals into value-added products. Additionally, he also hailed Rajasthan as an entrepreneurial hub and wrote, Some of Indias greatest entrepreneurs hail from Rajasthan. Their business acumen has made a mark across the globe. Mr. Agarwal emphasized this in his tweet, saying "The state also has the highest potential in renewable energy and oil and gas. This powerful combination of resources and energy can propel Rajasthan to India's number one state. Vedanta Group, through Hindustan Zinc Limited and Cairn Oil & Gas (HZL), has been a key player in harnessing this mineral wealth sustainably. Vedantas extensive operations across Rajasthan, have made the state a global hub for zinc, silver and oil & gas production. Calling Rajasthan his karmabhoomi, Mr. Agarwal reiterated, Vedanta is fully committed to support Rajasthan and its leadership to achieve new heights for this amazing state. Source : ( Read 3465 Times) (mohsina bano) Udaipur . The district administration is on high alert to prevent child marriages. Teams from the administration, District Legal Services Authority, and Child Rights Department are closely monitoring any child marriage activities. In this regard, on Saturday, a team arrived in the Kheroda police station area after receiving information about a child marriage scheduled for April 26, and immediately intervened to prevent it. Assistant Director of the Child Rights Department, K. K. Chandravanshi, stated that on April 19, a call was received on the Child Helpline number 1098 reporting a child marriage in the Kheroda police station area on April 26. Following this, Child Helpline District Coordinator Navneet Audichya was directed to form a team. The team, led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Lakshman Lal from Kheroda Police Station, arrived at the minors home in Amarpura Khalsa. During the inquiry, the minors family denied any such marriage, but based on the familys circumstances and conversation, the team suspected a child marriage was planned. The family was then cautioned and instructed not to proceed with the marriage until the girl reached adulthood. Chandravanshi further informed that the district is maintaining continuous surveillance to prevent child marriages. Any person or the affected minor can file a complaint via Child Helpline number 1098, with the assurance that the complainant's identity will remain confidential. Keywords: District Administration, Child Marriages, Prevention, Udaipur, Child Helpline, Kheroda Police, Intervention, Legal Services, Surveillance, Confidentiality Source : "Leveraging Innovative Approaches to Transform Clinical Pharmacology" ASHBURN, Va., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) is pleased to announce its 2025 ACCP Annual Meeting, "Leveraging Innovative Approaches to Transform Clinical Pharmacology" which will be held on September 14th 16th at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel in Phoenix, AZ. As one of the premier events in the field of clinical pharmacology, this meeting is a great opportunity for you to learn about the latest research and connect with colleagues from around the world. With a diverse range of Faculty Speakers and Symposia, there is something for everyone at this year's event. Early Bird registration ends June 30, 2025, reserve your seat today. Dr. Lorraine M. Rusch, 2025 Annual Meeting Program Committee Program Chair stated, "We are very excited to invite you to the 2025 ACCP Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ! It represents an exceptional opportunity to fully focus on the science of clinical pharmacology in an amazing environment of networking and connection, highlighting the latest approaches utilized across academia, medicine and industry. We are pleased to present an engaging and relevant scientific program toward " Leveraging Innovative Approaches to Transform Clinical Pharmacology. " The 3-day meeting includes: ACCP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and offers CME & CPE Credits at no additional cost to Attendees. About ACCP ACCP is a non-profit association providing accredited Continuing Education, publications and career-enhancing opportunities to clinical pharmacology healthcare professionals. SOURCE American College of Clinical Pharmacology SAN DIEGO, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As a part of their joint commitment to advancing children's nutrition and food access with the "Nourishing Families by Nourishing Schools" program, Del Monte Foods and Alliance for a Healthier Generation joined Field Elementary School in San Diego on April 18 to celebrate its recognition as one of America's Healthiest Schools in the Food and Nutrition Access category. The celebration took place during the school's Family Friday assembly, where attendees joined in a cooking demonstration with Del Monte canned fruit, showcasing how healthier food options can still be affordable. Del Monte Foods and Alliance for a Healthier Generation celebrate Field Elementary School as one of Americas Healthiest Schools and provide families with nutrition resources, recipe cards, and samples of Del Monte canned product. America's Healthiest Schools recognizes schools across the country for their achievements in advancing the physical, mental, and social-emotional health of students, staff, and families. Del Monte Foods proudly sponsors the Improving Nutrition & Food Access topic area, aligning with its commitment as Growers of Good to advance the health of youth and communities nationwide. During the celebration, Healthier Generation and Del Monte Foods congratulated the school for their outstanding accomplishment and prepared a family-friendly snack, demonstrating how Del Monte canned fruit can be used to prepare healthy, budget-friendly meals at home. Each family also received nutrition resources and recipe cards, available in English and Spanish, and samples of Del Monte canned products to take home. "Children learn best when their health and nutrition needs are taken care of," said Kathy Higgins, CEO of Healthier Generation. "In partnership with Del Monte Foods, we're ensuring children get the nourishment they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom." Through the partnership with Healthier Generation, Del Monte Foods has reached 11.4 million children and families at over 13,000 schools with tools to make nutritious meals at home. Last year, Del Monte Foods and Healthier Generation hosted a student taste test with an elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where students got to try a new, healthy recipe featuring Del Monte canned sliced pears and share their feedback. "Del Monte Foods is proud to support school-based nutrition programs to improve children's health and academic performance," said Greg Longstreet, President and CEO of Del Monte Foods. "Field Elementary shines as a great example of a school that's offering nutritious options that help students thrive, both academically and physically. We're thrilled to celebrate their success in providing the resources kids need to succeed." This event also served as a celebration for the hundreds of schools across the country who applied for America's Healthiest Schools 2025, which closed applications on April 15. This year's awardees will be announced this fall. For more information about Del Monte Foods and Healthier Generation's "Nourishing Families by Nourishing Schools" initiative and for kid-friendly snack and easy weeknight dinner recipes, please visit www.healthiergeneration.org/delmontefoods. About Del Monte Foods For more than 138 years, Del Monte Foods has been driven by our mission to nourish families with earth's goodness. As the original plant-based food company, we're always innovating to make nutritious and delicious foods more accessible to consumers across our portfolio of beloved brands, including Del Monte, Contadina, College Inn, Kitchen Basics, JOYBA, Take Root Organics and S&W. We believe that everyone deserves great tasting food they can feel good about, which is why we responsibly source and produce food for a healthier tomorrow. Del Monte Foods Corporation II Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited (Bloomberg: DELM SP, DELM PM) and is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Del Monte Canada, Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd., Conagra/Productos Del Monte, or Del Monte Panamerican. For more information about Del Monte Foods and our products, please visit www.delmontefoods.com or www.delmonte.com. Media Contacts: Molly Kavanaugh Edelman [email protected] 650-339-2269 SOURCE Del Monte Foods ICN involvement allows collaboration with international nursing groups SCHAUMBURG, Ill., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dedicated to reaching emergency nurses worldwide, the Emergency Nurses Association was recently granted specialist affiliate status by the International Council of Nurses. "Gaining the specialist affiliate status is a milestone in ENA history," said ENA President Ryan Oglesby, PhD, MHA, RN, CEN, CFRN, NEA-BC. "Being part of an international nursing organization of ICN's stature acknowledges ENA as a truly global organization and validates our place as a leader of emergency nursing in the global nursing community." The International Council of Nurses is a federation of more than 130 national nursing associations, representing over 28 million nurses worldwide. Founded in 1899, ICN is the world's first and most far-reaching international organization for health professionals and it is one of the most influential voices in nursing. In addition to national nursing association members, ICN grants affiliate status to specialty nursing organizations that are aligned with its mission, maintain a broad international membership, and provide expertise on key global priorities. The ICN grants affiliate status to international specialist nursing organizations that: Have a mission, mandate, constitution, and objectives that align with those of the ICN. Demonstrate that the majority of their members and officials are nurses, with nurses empowered to make decisions on all nursing matters. Operate either as an organization of individual members, as a federation of national organizations, or as a combination of both. Maintain a working relationship with ICN members or actively encourage such relationships to strengthen the nursing voice nationally. Include members from at least four of the ICN regions, ensuring representation from both developed and developing countries. As a Specialist Affiliate, ENA and its nearly 45,000 members across more than 45 countries gain a stronger voice in the global nursing community. The affiliation enhances ENA's ability to influence international health policy, collaborate with national nursing associations, exchange best practices and elevate emergency care worldwide. ENA will further its global engagement by participating in the ICN Congress 2025 in Helsinki, Finland, joining more than 5,000 nurses from around the world under the inspiring theme: "Nursing Power to Change the World." About the Emergency Nurses Association The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With nearly 45,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines, and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org. ENA Media Contact: Morgan Wietecha Media Relations Strategist 847.460.4038 [email protected] SOURCE Emergency Nurses Association Discover a Career Where Your Skills Are Valued, Your Voice Is Heard, and Your Growth Is Supported DENVER, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Espire Dental, a nationally recognized dental group renowned for its elevated standard of care and vibrant workplace culture, named a 2024 Top Workplace, is actively hiring licensed dental hygienists across its premier Colorado locations from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. If you're looking for more than just a job and ready to join a team that truly values your expertise, you've found your home! Join Espire Dental: where hygienists are seen, supported, and set up to thrive. Post this Espire Dental hygienist team members At Espire, hygienists are celebrated as essential providers of care and connection. The workplace is built on collaboration, innovation, and genuine respect, creating an environment where hygienists thrive personally and professionally. Whether you're seeking full-time or part-time opportunities, Espire offers flexible scheduling, so you can achieve the work-life balance you deserve. "Espire understands that rest and personal time are crucial," shares one Espire hygienist. "It's refreshing to work somewhere that prioritizes our health and happiness just as much as our productivity." From cutting-edge technology and paid continuing education to industry-leading hygiene incentive programs, Espire invests in the growth and success of every hygienist. With generous sign-on bonuses, comprehensive benefits that include 401(k), wellness perks, even Espire equity E-Shares, plus the chance to work alongside passionate, like-minded colleagues, this is where careers take off. "It's inspiring to see such dedication to not just the technical aspects of dental care, but also to the overall experience for both the team and the patients," said Tina Braesch, Director of Hygiene at Espire Dental. "I'm inspired by the opportunity to create a positive and supportive environment where hygienists can thrive. Mentorship and work-life balance are crucial for professional growth and personal well-being. Building a team of 'brightest minds' who view themselves as healthcare providers, not as 'teeth cleaners,' elevates the level of care and ensures patients receive an unforgettable experience. Hygienists are partners with the doctors. Ultimately, the success of any practice comes down to the people, and I'm passionate about creating a fulfilling and supportive environment." Hygienists at Espire also have the chance to make a difference beyond the dental chair. Through the Espiration Foundation, Espire's 501(c)(3) nonprofit, team members have the opportunity to help by delivering care directly to underserved communities worldwide and support to over 50 nonprofit charitable partners within the communities that we serve. "Culture and teamwork are really at the forefront of the experience that Espire brings," another hygienist shared. "We're empowered to grow, to give back, and to do it all together." If you're a licensed dental hygienist ready to join a community that believes in your talent, supports your ambitions, and celebrates your purpose, Espire Dental wants to meet you. Visit www.espiredental.com/careers to explore open opportunities, or connect with our talent acquisition team directly at (720) 222-2233. About Espire Dental Espire Dental is a fast-growing, innovative dental group committed to elevating the dental experience for patients and professionals alike. With locations across Colorado, Southern California, Washington and beyond, Espire delivers world-class clinical care in beautifully designed, digitally advanced practices using A.I. Pearl technology. The company is rooted in a culture of joy, excellence, and purpose, where teamwork, continuous growth, and community impact are deeply valued. Learn more at www.espiredental.com. SOURCE Espire Dental BEIJING, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "At present, China's relations with its neighboring countries are at their best in modern times, and are also entering a critical phase of deep linkage between the regional landscape and the world changes" - the recent Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held in Beijing made such a profound judgment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from April 14 to 18, highlighting the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy in neighborhood relations. In the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, President Xi emphasized that China's basic policy of diplomacy with neighboring countries is characterized by "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness." In the third installment of the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series, the Global Times continues to invite Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers to share their insights, understandings and reflections on the ideas of China's neighborhood diplomacy, which emphasizes amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China's advocacy for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries as well as its vision of creating a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home. For the third installment of the "Readers' Reflections" column, we invite Duong Van Huy, director of the Center for Vietnam-China Relations Studies, the Institute for Asian and Asia-Pacific Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, to share his insights from reading the book and his perspective on the common vision of China and neighboring countries to build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home. China's neighborhood diplomacy policy is a notable issue today, especially when considering its current relations with neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. Under the leadership of President Xi, this strategy has been deepened and enriched. In my opinion, President Xi's visit to three Southeast Asian countries, starting with Vietnam, reflects China's emphasis on its relations with neighboring countries, particularly in the Southeast Asian region. Compared to other powers, China has a clearer neighborhood diplomacy policy and has taken specific actions to promote it. This recent neighborhood diplomacy strategy has played a significant role in promoting Beijing's relations with neighboring countries. Southeast Asian countries, in particular, can see the positive results of China's current neighborhood diplomacy. Four years ago, at the Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations in Beijing, President Xi, via video link, proposed the joint construction of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, drawing a new blueprint for China-ASEAN cooperation and outlining the direction for progress. This speech, entitled "Deliver a Great Future for China-ASEAN Relations," is included in the fourth volume of his book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. The recent Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries also emphasized that "To jointly create a better future with neighboring countries, China will hold high the banner of a community with a shared future for mankind, act on the common vision of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home." In today's uncertain and increasingly divided world, the promotion of building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home by China and its neighboring countries, including ASEAN states, aligns with the aspirations of the people on all sides. It also fosters development cooperation and helps maintain regional peace and stability. Furthermore, Vietnam, as an active ASEAN member, has made significant efforts to promote ASEAN-China cooperation. At the same time, Vietnam's development concept emphasizes peace, stability, cooperation, prosperity and sustainability, which aligns with several aspects of the China-ASEAN "home" vision. This common ground makes it easier for China, ASEAN and the bloc's member countries, notably Vietnam, to achieve common understanding on the region's future cooperation and development. China is currently actively promoting the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries. Chinese leaders have made several high-level visits to this region, underscoring its significance in China's neighborhood diplomatic strategies. Promoting neighborhood diplomacy is regarded as an important way of fostering a community with a shared future between China and the region. China and its neighboring countries, particularly Vietnam, are continually strengthening political trust and deepening economic connections, while people-to-people contacts are actively encouraged. I believe that China and other countries in the region are consistently advancing more comprehensive and sustainable development cooperation, with China being the country that most actively supports the concept of "win-win" cooperation with other countries in the region. In today's uncertain international and regional context, this is most likely the path pursued by China and other countries in the region. SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "At present, China's relations with its neighboring countries are at their best in modern times, and are also entering a critical phase of deep linkage between the regional landscape and the world changes" - the recent Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held in Beijing made such a profound judgment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from April 14 to 18, highlighting the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy in neighborhood relations. In the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, President Xi emphasized that China's basic policy of diplomacy with neighboring countries is characterized by "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness." In the third installment of the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series, the Global Times continues to invite Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers to share their insights, understandings and reflections on the ideas of China's neighborhood diplomacy, which emphasizes amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China's advocacy for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries as well as its vision of creating a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home. In the second article of the "Scholars' Perspectives" column, which comprises interviews with and signed articles from renowned scholars across various countries, GT (GT) reporter Wang Wenwen talked to HE Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad (Mahathir), former prime minister of Malaysia, on why he agrees that China's relations with its neighboring countries are entering a critical phase of deep linkage between the regional landscape and the world changes. GT: I would like to start our conversation with the state visits of Chinese President Xi Jinping to three Southeast Asian countries. Prior to Xi's visits, a Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries was held in Beijing, during which Xi emphasized that China will foster an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, follow the policy and principle featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness as well as a shared future for humanity. He also stressed the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries. As an old friend of the Chinese people, what are your thoughts on the concept of building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries? Mahathir: I think Southeast Asian countries want to have good relations with China. For us, China is a very big market and economic relationship is very important. It contributes to our growth. We look up to China to help us grow through investment, transfers of technology, and diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, Southeast Asia provides a good market for China to test Chinese products. For example, if you produce something new, you can test it in Southeast Asia. If it is acceptable, then you can sell it all over the world. That is what Southeast Asia is about. We are a market for all the products of other countries. This is what a shared future means, the future we have to share. We cannot take everything for ourselves. GT: Twelve years ago, in October 2013, Xi raised for the first time the principle of "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness" at a seminar on the work of neighborhood diplomacy that year. This speech was included in the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. In your observation, how has China's diplomacy been effective in practicing amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness over the past 12 years? Mahathir: Those four terms are very important. They reflect China's foreign policy. That kind of foreign policy is very acceptable to countries of Southeast Asia, especially the small countries, because we want to live at peace between ourselves and between ASEAN and China. If there are any problems, we can resolve them through adhering to the four principles that you mentioned. The four principles also apply to other neighboring regions of China. Recently, China had a meeting with South Korea and Japan. They decided to work together. I go to Japan every year and tell the Japanese, if you can make friends with America which bombed your country, why can't you make friends with China, which did not bomb your country? I hope that the idea works. If the three countries in Northeast Asia work together, they can do a lot of good things for the world. GT: If neighboring countries can treat each other with amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, they can better bridge differences and cooperate. Mahathir: I agree with you. If we stick to these four principles, I think all problems between us can be resolved without violence, without fighting each other, without going to war. Nobody needs to die because of differences. Any differences can be resolved, according to these four principles, through negotiation around the table. GT: The article "Work Together to Build a 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road" in the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China notes, "An increasingly cohesive China-ASEAN community of shared future conforms to the trend of the times of seeking peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit and meets the common interests of the people of Asia and the rest of the world. This gives it a broad space and huge potential for growth." As an advocate for Asian values and a former prime minister of Malaysia, how would you describe China as a neighbor? Mahathir: Malaysia's relationship with China is very old - more than about 2,000 years. In history, we acknowledge that China was the Middle Kingdom; we were a small state in those days. And we realize we were weak. The relationship between the weak and strong countries is very difficult. There is a possibility of the strong dominating the weak countries. But in the case of China, China never sought to conquer Malaysia. China has been with us almost 2,000 years, and the relationship has always been very good. There are a lot of similarities between Malaysia's policy and China's policy, which is why our two countries have good relations. We understand the Chinese way, and China understands the Malaysian way. Therefore, any problems that may arise can be resolved through contacts and discussion. We don't want to be involved in any confrontation with any countries such as China, the US or any other country. We want to be free and independent. I don't think China is trying to force us to make a decision on our internal or even external relations. China has not interfered, and we appreciate that. GT: "China has been and will remain a good neighbor, good friend and good partner of ASEAN," as noted in the article "Deliver a Great Future for China-ASEAN Relations" in the fourth volume of the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. The recent Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries pointed out that, at present, China's relations with its neighboring countries are at their best in modern times, and are also entering a critical phase of deep linkage between the regional landscape and the world changes. Do you agree with such a judgment? Mahathir: I think it is the best time in history because we are now closer to each other. The means of travel are very fast, and borders are no longer as strong in keeping people out, so people move around a lot. Maintaining a good relationship between countries is very important, so that we can help each other ensure good governance. China has made tremendous progress. It has adjusted its policies in response to the changes in the world today. I think China has done a great job. GT: Facing increasing pressure from certain countries to pick a side, many Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam, have expressed their unwillingness to choose between China and the US. How can Southeast Asian countries and China further collaborate to build the ASEAN region into an area for international cooperation and prevent it from becoming a battleground for great power competition? In this regard, why is it particularly important to promote good-neighborly friendship and work together to build a community with a shared future with neighboring countries? Mahathir: We should discuss our relations every year so that we are always able to solve any problem around the table, not "in war." I think the ASEAN plus China is a very good element that can be used and expanded, so that it can move on to greater heights. We have to work together, then we can establish good relations; when we have peaceful relations, we will both prosper. SOURCE Global Times Real Stories from Real Homes: South Breeze LLC Builds More Than RoofsThey Build Trust FLOWOOD, Miss., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- It began, as many great stories do, with a storm. In the early spring, strong winds swept through Flowood, tearing siding from homes and pulling shingles from rooftops. Sharon's home was hit hard again. For the third time, her siding had peeled away. Previous fixes never held. Frustrated and unsure where to turn, she was pointed to a name she hadn't tried before: South Breeze Roofing. "They completed the work within two weeks," Sharon said, "and that included waiting on siding to come in." Not only did South Breeze give her multiple shingle options, they did something rare in the home services industry: they cleaned up so thoroughly, it was like they were never there. "We've had several strong winds since and this time, the siding's stayed put." That story isn't unique. It's part of a pattern. The Roofing Team That Shows Up After a surprise inspector tore up part of a customer's newly sealed shingles, most companies would shrug it off. Not Barry Watts and the South Breeze team. They returned and repaired it at no extra cost. "I definitely recommend Barry and South Breeze Roofing," the homeowner wrote. "They got the job done on timeand then went beyond it." Another Flowood family found themselves dealing with three emergencies in one year. A hailstorm damaged the roof. A falling tree limb punched a hole through it. Then a water line burst and destroyed the ceiling. South Breeze responded to every single call. Each time, they worked directly with the insurance company, showed up fast, and completed the repairs professionally. "We were extremely pleased with the results," the homeowner wrote. "I'd recommend them to anyone." From Emergency Calls to Lasting Confidence Flowood is no stranger to violent weather. But where some see storm damage, South Breeze sees responsibilityand opportunity. Every roof they touch is treated like it matters. Because to them, it does. Donna Jackson had similar praise after hiring South Breeze to re-roof three separate properties. The first job impressed her so much that she brought them back for her rental homes. One had complex flashing issues around the chimney. The crew didn't just patch itthey reinforced it to prevent future problems. "Five gold stars," Donna said simply. Not Just Roofers Rebuilders In today's world of rushed jobs and cut corners, South Breeze LLC has carved out something different. Not because they talk a big gamebut because they deliver quiet, consistent excellence. "We work hard to remove the stress from the process," said Reece, a representative frequently praised by name in Google reviews. "Storm damage is disruptive enough. Our job is to restore more than just structures we restore peace of mind." Even their clean-up is meticulous. Lauren Page, another Flowood homeowner, described how the crew worked late into the night to make sure her patio was spotless. "The process was super easy and my new roof was on in no time," she wrote. A Local Anchor When Weather Strikes Based on Liberty Road in Flowood, South Breeze isn't a statewide franchise. They're rooted in the same community they serve. With over 80+ 5-star Google reviews, certification from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, and BBB accreditation, they've quietly become the go-to name when things go wrongand when people want it done right. "We had to get our roof replaced after hail damage," wrote Bobby Bassett. "Working with South Breeze was a dream. One day in and out, minimal disruption, and they picked up every nail. You'd never know they were hereexcept that the roof looks fantastic." Flowood's Quiet Hero in a Noisy Industry No billboards. No flashy marketing. Just a simple formula: show up, do great work, and stand by it. So when the next storm rolls throughand in Mississippi, it willresidents in Flowood know who to call. Not just because South Breeze LLC installs roofs, but because they've proven time and again: they care about what's under them. Contact South Breeze LLC for a Free Inspection or Estimate Today https://southbreezellc.com/ . SOURCE South Breeze LLC Land Use Organization Charters New Chapter, Grows Membership, and Launches New Website SAN DIEGO, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lambda Alpha International (LAI), an invitation-only, land economics organization, is expanding its global reach and influence. LAI provides a platform for a meaningful exchange of ideas among multi-disciplinary professionals who have distinguished themselves in fields related to the use and reuse of land. The organization has recently experienced a boost in prominence due to chapter development, membership growth in international markets, and a new website. New Suncoast Chapter LAI has expanded geographically by chartering a new Suncoast (Florida) chapter in October 2024. The Suncoast chapter serves Southwest Florida, including the Sarasota, Tampa Bay region. LAI now consists of 30 global chapters, including: Aloha (Hawaii), Atlanta, AUM (India), Austin (Central Texas), Baltimore, Barcelona, Boston, Chicago region, George Washington (Washington DC), Golden Gate (San Francisco), London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Memphis, Minnesota, New York, Orange County, Ottawa, Philly, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Juan, Simcoe (Toronto), Sonoran Desert (Mexico), Suncoast (Florida), Tokyo, United Arab Emirates, Vancouver, and Zia (New Mexico). Membership Increase LAI has also seen a strengthening of existing chapters in key regions. Kathline King, Lambda Alpha International President, explains, "LAI has seen excellent membership growth in several markets, including Atlanta, Sacramento, Baltimore, Simcoe, London, and Barcelona. Our largest area of growth over the past five years has been in Europe with a 45% increase in membership. It's exciting to see LAI's influence expand abroad." New Website LAI has also launched a new website to assist in its communications initiatives. Claudia Sieb, Chair of LAI's Communications Committee, states, "LAI's sophisticated membership will be greatly served by the improved functionality and features of this modern website. It will also help boost our global profile as we live out our mission to connect professionals and share knowledge." About Lambda Alpha International Lambda Alpha International is the preeminent global forum for land economics where multidisciplinary members develop valuable connections, expose challenges and responses, share best practices, and participate in learning experiences all to make positive impact in communities worldwide. Celebrating 95 years, LAI has 30 chapters around the globe with 2,000+ members. For more information, visit www.lai.org. Media Contact: Beth Binger BCIpr 619-987-6658 [email protected] SOURCE Lambda Alpha International Marks the First-Ever Global Pediatric Trial for Menin Inhibitors The PedAL (Pediatric Acute Leukemia) Master Trial is at the heart of LLS's Dare to Dream Project to transform treatment and care for kids with blood cancer WASHINGTON, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) announced today the first pediatric patient has received treatment in a new subtrial of its Pediatric Acute Leukemia (PedAL) Master Clinical Trial (NCT04726241). PedAL is a first-of-its-kind integrated worldwide master trial that tests multiple targeted drugs simultaneously to accelerate treatments for leukemia, the most common childhood cancer. Infants and children with specific types of relapsed/refractory leukemia (KMT2A-rearranged, NUP98-rearranged, or NPM1-mutant acute leukemia) are now eligible to enroll in the subtrial, which is investigating a combination of chemotherapy and a menin inhibitor. This subtrial involves pediatric patients with some of the most common and hardest-to-treat leukemias. In fact, 80% of infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a genetic rearrangement of the KMT2A gene. About 40% of infants with acute myeloid leukemia have one of the three specific types of leukemia that the trial's treatment targets1. Menin inhibitors are a new and promising class of drugs that block the interaction between other proteins and the menin protein. Research has shown that the menin protein is responsible for driving progression of certain types of leukemia. The new subtrial is open in North America at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and SickKids - The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Global trial sites are open in Spain, the Netherlands, France and Austria. "It is rare for a trial to be so ambitious and forward thinking about the needs of children while studies in adults are still ongoing. The new subtrial is evaluating the safety, efficacy and dosing for the treatment of certain acute leukemias in pediatric patients," says E. Anders Kolb, M.D. President and Chief Executive Officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "Historically, cancer treatments have been evaluated in adults first and if successful, then children. This has resulted in a nearly decade-long delay between when therapies are first available for adults compared to children." The new subtrial brings LLS one step closer to achieving its bold goal: By 2040, LLS will enable patients with blood cancer to gain more than one million years of life. New trial expands on PedAL, builds on success of LLS's Dare to Dream Project PedAL launched in 2022 with one treatment subtrial investigating venetoclax. That trial is now open at approximately 80 clinical sites in 19 countries across the globe. Enrollment in the treatment trials begins with the robust PedAL screening trial (NCT04726241), open in 179 sites in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. To date, the screening trial has enrolled almost 450 children to identify their unique tumor biology and help match them to any targeted treatment clinical trial they are eligible for, whether in or outside of PedAL. Because blood cancers are more common in adults, there is a larger incentive for new treatments to be developed in that population, and progress for pediatric acute leukemia has fallen behind. PedAL is changing this paradigm. A delay in research and the development of therapies for children with aggressive forms of cancer threatens their survival. Today, leukemia is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in children. And for children who survive, 80% develop life-altering and chronic health issues from their treatment. "More children are being diagnosed with leukemia today than ever before," says Kim Schuetz, an oncology nurse, an LLS Dare to Dream Ambassador and mother to Austin, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2011. "We need to study more treatment options for these children. Through Dare to Dream, we're striving to transform care, so they don't experience a laundry list of life-long health issues and the possibility of developing secondary cancers because of treatment from standard therapies, such as harmful chemotherapies." LLS has supported the development of menin inhibitors over two decades In the early 2000s, LLS provided funding to a group of bright scientific investigators, which led them to discover the menin protein inside cancer cells and its role in the devastating effects of certain forms of leukemia. Over the next several years, LLS provided more than $6 million through its venture philanthropy program, the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP), to scientists at the University of Michigan. They discovered small molecule inhibitors of the interaction of two proteins, menin and KMT2A/MLL, that, when fused together, drive progression of AML. With TAP funding, the scientists demonstrated the activity of their compounds in the laboratory setting. To facilitate translation of the scientists' progress in the laboratory to the clinic, LLS introduced the scientists to a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Helping children with blood cancer survive and thrive Dare to Dream is transforming treatment and care for kids with blood cancer, so they not only survive but thrive after treatment. PedAL is an integral part of LLS's Dare to Dream Project along with support services, advocacy efforts and funding for blood cancer research: Research : With 35 active academic research grants totaling more than $31 million in funding commitments to pediatric and adolescent and young adult research, LLS-funded investigators are conducting groundbreaking research including exploring the origins of pediatric blood cancers and investigating increased incidence and better treatment options for leukemia in children with Down Syndrome. : With 35 active academic research grants totaling more than in funding commitments to pediatric and adolescent and young adult research, LLS-funded investigators are conducting groundbreaking research including exploring the origins of pediatric blood cancers and investigating increased incidence and better treatment options for leukemia in children with Down Syndrome. Advocacy : To ensure that more kids with blood cancer have better access to care, LLS advocates for meaningful changes at the state and federal level. A recent victory was the reauthorization of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act, which expanded childhood cancer research and created plans to enhance the tracking and reporting of pediatric cancer cases and treatment outcomes. : To ensure that more kids with blood cancer have better access to care, LLS advocates for meaningful changes at the state and federal level. A recent victory was the reauthorization of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act, which expanded childhood cancer research and created plans to enhance the tracking and reporting of pediatric cancer cases and treatment outcomes. Education & Support Services: LLS continues to expand its free patient education and personalized support services for pediatric patients and families to provide guidance, information and comfort during treatment and beyond. "The successes of the Dare to Dream Project, now and in the future, positions us well to reach our bold goal of enabling blood cancer patients to gain more than one million years of life by 2040," says Gwen Nichols, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of LLS. "Advances in treatment and care, spearheaded by Dare to Dream, will give even more children a chance to grow and thrive into adulthood." People can donate to LLS at any time. From May 12-16, all donations made to LLS will go directly to The Dare to Dream Project. Interested in donating to The Dare to Dream Project? Visit this link for more information. About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the global leader in the fight against blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949, LLS has regions throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. For additional information, visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. About The Dare to Dream Project Dare to Dream exists to transform treatment and care for kids with blood cancer. Because kids are different and need to be treated differently, Dare to Dream funds groundbreaking research and the LLS PedAL Master Clinical Trial as well as expands LLS support services and drives advocacy efforts to help all kids with blood cancers get accessible, affordable, quality healthcare. LLS proudly and gratefully acknowledges all those contributing to the LLS mission, including corporate partners Walgreens, Valvoline Global Operations, The Wawa Foundation, and Subaru of America, Inc. and its retailers who have each pledged over $1 million to Dare to Dream. LLS also recognizes Sarah Asma and the Moore family; The Don & Lorraine Freeberg Foundation; The Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation; Norcross Foundation, Inc.; Joan and Paul Rubschlager; and The Bobby Zahurak Pediatric AML Research and Patient Support Fund for their outstanding contributions to Dare to Dream. For more information about Dare to Dream, including resources for patients and their families, trial details, and eligibility, visit: lls.org/dare-to-dream. About LLS PedAL As part of LLS's Dare to Dream Project, the Pediatric Acute Leukemia Master Trial (PedAL) is the first-of-its-kind global master clinical trial for pediatric acute leukemia patients that will fundamentally change how children are treated. Prior to enrolling in therapeutic trials, patients enroll in the PedAL Screening Trial (NCT04726241) to identify the unique tumor biology of each child's cancer and help them to match with the most promising treatment. The Screening Trial is currently open at multiple sites in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. At this time, two PedAL therapeutic trials are open and actively enrolling patients in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe, with more therapeutic trials planned for global execution. To learn more about PedAL, visit lls.org/dare-to-dream. PedAL would not be possible without the support of major foundation donors such as Gateway for Cancer Research, which pledged $1.5 million over three years to support genomic sequencing and flow cytometry, which is being conducted through the PedAL screening trial, and the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation, which has committed $1.25 million over five years to support the PedAL Principal Investigators Fellowship Program, whose members are leading the PedAL screening trial and therapeutic trials. Media Contact: Sandra Salviejo Senior Director, Communications [email protected] Reference: 1 Juul-Dam KL et al. European Journal of Medical Genetics 2023 SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) WASHINGTON, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its handling of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and to restore access to federally obligated funding through the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) program, which would promote energy independence in communities across the country. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that the EPA's actions were arbitrary and capricious, and unlawfully suspended access to legally obligated grant funds that were awarded through a rigorous, competitive, and transparent national process. The lawsuit alleges that the EPA attempted to terminate the grant without a legal basis. Additionally, the lawsuit argues that these actions were in violation of the Constitution, relevant statutes and regulations, and are unsupported by the grant's terms and conditions. The District Court, in its April 15 Preliminary Injunction order, stated that the EPA failed to provide evidence of GGRF grantee waste, fraud, or abuse despite having weeks to do so, and "lacks the authority to effectively unilaterally dismantle a program that Congress established." Therefore, OFN is seeking the same declaratory and injunctive relief that the District Court granted to other GGRF funding recipients. Prior to the unlawful funding freeze, OFN was poised to announce more than $228 million in awards to 26 organizations across the country that would have financed housing, distributed energy, and transportation infrastructure projects in more than 30 states, and created or retained an estimated 5,000 jobs. OFN designed, and the EPA approved, a CCIA program consistent with its commitment and long track record of impact, compliance, and responsible stewardship. From the rigorous and competitive review process, the publicly available program work plan, and persistent attempts to meet with the current EPA administration, OFN has consistently upheld high standards of accountability and transparency in line with the Administration's stated goals. OFN has repeatedly expressed willingness to discuss these shared goals with EPA leadership, and despite multiple requests, the agency has not engaged. This has forced OFN to pursue a legal course of action. For 40 years, OFN has been a trusted investment partner across public, private, and philanthropic sectors, investing in communities to catalyze change and create economic opportunities across America. While OFN is pursuing legal action, the emphasis of litigation involving these funds extends beyond the courts or even Washington, D.C.the EPA's unlawful actions have created an arbitrary obstruction to essential resources that communities urgently need. About Opportunity Finance Network Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is the nation's leading network and intermediary focused on community development investment, managing over $1 billion in total assets and membership of more than 470 community lenders, which includes community development loan funds, credit unions, green banks, banks, minority depository institutions, and venture capital funds. Our network of community lenders work to ensure communities underserved by mainstream finance have access to affordable, responsible financial products and services, with a deep focus on serving rural, urban, and Native communities across the United States. OFN is a trusted investment partner to the public, private, and philanthropic sectors foundations, corporations, banks, government agencies, and others and, for 40 years, has helped partners invest in communities to catalyze change and create economic opportunities for all. Since its founding in 1986, OFN members have originated $124 billion in cumulative financing, helping to create or maintain nearly 3.4 million jobs, start or expand over 1 million businesses and microenterprises, and support the development or rehabilitation of nearly 3 million housing units and over 15,000 community facility projects. SOURCE Opportunity Finance Network Connecticut Golden Retriever brings in $14,141 to support therapy animal visits nationwide BELLEVUE, Wash., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After six weeks of an exciting fundraising competition, River, a golden retriever who lives in Rowayton, CT, has earned the title of 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year. With support from his human, Katy Rahe, River has not only captured hearts nationwide but also raised more than $14,000 for Pet Partners, the nation's leading organization registering therapy animals for animal-assisted interventions. Connecticut Golden Retriever brings in $14,141 to support therapy animal visits nationwide Post this Connecticut Golden Retriever brings in $14,141 to support therapy animal visits nationwide River is one of 134 pets that participated in the competition. Pets from 34 states, the UK, and Romania competed with the support of over 215 loving humans for the Pet of the Year title. While 100 of the competitors were dogs, there were also 18 cats, five rabbits, three llamas/alpacas, three guinea pigs, one equine, one bird, one pig, one mouse, and one domestic rat vying for the top honor. Their efforts raised vital funds to support the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, which brings unconditional love, happiness, and healing to millions of seniors, patients, veterans, children, and others in need around the world. River and Katy are registered with Pet Partners, and River is Katy's second therapy dog. Katy has been a Pet Partners volunteer since 2019 and is also an evaluator. The Community Partner Katy volunteers with is Pet Partners of Fairfield County (CT) which was established four years ago. Many of the volunteers participate in the World's Largest Pet Walk and numerous dog festivals. River and his fundraising team garnered donations by asking friends and family for support, held a raffle, and partnered with a local boutique to host a shopping event. Koda from Bangor, ME and Ruby from Newington, CT raised an impressive $12,567.36 combined. This remarkable achievement positioned them as second and third place winners, respectively, in the competition. "I am both deeply humbled and excited that River was named 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year," said Katy Rahe. "Being a volunteer with Pet Partners both as an evaluator and handler with River, I see firsthand the connection of the human-animal bond and the impact it makes. Raising funds for an organization that is dedicated to increasing the human-animal bond was easy to talk about and to ask for donations. I am grateful for everyone who contributed to and supported Pet Partners on behalf of River. River and I are committed to being the 2025 Ambassadors for Pet Partners in support of the important work they do." The competition, which kicked off on March 3 and ran through April 14, raised over $80,000 to support Pet Partners. It was open to all pets, including those that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and not just therapy animals. Many people who entered their pets wanted to share their personal stories about the benefits of the human-animal bond while fundraising for a mission they believe in. "We are continually amazed by and grateful for the dedication shown by our Pet of the Year participants," said C. Annie Peters, President & CEO of Pet Partners. "Their commitment to supporting all our wonderful therapy animal teams embodies the spirit of our organization. Congratulations to River and Katy Rahe and thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Pet of the Year a success." As the winner, River not only claims the national title, but also thousands of dollars' worth of prizes for his exceptional fundraising skills. River will participate in a professional photoshoot, be interviewed on the national Oh Behave! show on Pet Life Radio and the Four Legged Life Podcast and receive a wide variety of pet-focused treats, services, accessories, and other prizes. For more details or to request interviews with the national winner, please contact Pet Partners at [email protected]. About Pet Partners Pet Partners is the leader in the therapy animal field for registering volunteer teams. Since 1977, we have supported thousands of teams in making millions of meaningful visits across the country and around the world. Through the human-animal bond, we can improve the physical, social, and emotional lives of both the people and animals involved. Pet Partners supports volunteer teams by offering the highest quality preparation, an unmatched approach to evaluation and registrationfor nine different types of animals, and a focus on connections. We elevate the importance of therapy animal visits, and our teams help build a healthier and happier world for us all. Whether or not you have a pet, learn more about sharing the human-animal bond by visiting petpartners.org . SOURCE Pet Partners LONDON, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new standard in board game carry has landed. RangerPack, an expandable and lightweight board game bag, is now live on Kickstarter. Designed to adapt to all kinds of gaming from quick cafe sessions to full weekend conventions RangerPack blends utility, versatility, and gamer-focused design in one smart-looking package. Meet RangerPack - expandable, lightweight, and built to carry 1-3 games with 3 carry modes. Ready for game nights, daily carry, and everything in between. RangerPack: Built for Game Nights that Grow Expandable. Lightweight. Versatile Carry. Ready for 1 to 3 Game Box Runs Meet RangerPack - expandable, lightweight, and built to carry 1-3 games with 3 carry modes. Ready for game nights, daily carry, and everything in between. From the makers of the popular ABC Boardgame Backpack, RangerPack fills the awkward gap between bulky haulers and small totes. With its thoughtful layout and mission-ready look, it's aiming to become the go-to everyday bag for tabletop players everywhere. Versatile design for modern gamers RangerPack features a dual-compartment layout with an expandable rear section, giving you the flexibility to switch from everyday use to full game-night loadouts. Expanded, it holds up to three standard-sized board game boxes, plus accessories, tech, and even a rolled-up playmat. In compact mode, it fits one full-size game for lighter travel days. Weighing just 1.5kg, it delivers the function of a 40L backpack without the bulk. You get three carry styles to match your day: a padded messenger strap, hidden backpack straps with an adjustable chest buckle, and a reinforced top handle for grab-and-go moments. Function meets form Inside, there's a padded sleeve that fits devices up to 14", quick-access front pockets for dice and tokens, a side slot for your water bottle, and a dedicated playmat strap when the bag's expanded. The separated rear compartment cuts down on clutter and helps you set up games faster. RangerPack's slim shape fits easily under desks, on trains, under airplane seats, or in the footwell of your car ideal for smoother travel to and from game night. Engineered for durability Made to handle both city streets and outdoor adventures, RangerPack is crafted from 600D water-resistant nylon, with foam padding, reinforced seams, and heavy-duty YKK zippers. There's a hardboard support panel built in to help the bag keep its shape, especially in expanded mode so your game boxes stay protected and upright. Now Live on Kickstarter Get Up to 45% Off! For a limited time, RangerPack is available on Kickstarter with exclusive early-bird discounts of up to 36%. This is the best chance to grab it before it hits the mainstream market. Kickstarter Campaign: https://shorturl.at/ak1MJ Media Assets: https://shorturl.at/rXILj Whether you're heading to a local game cafe or packing for a convention weekend, RangerPack is built to carry smarter and lighter. About PLEI PLEI is a small but mighty product design team focused on clever gear for tabletop and board game lovers. Known for crowdfunding hits like the ABC Boardgame Backpack, their goal is to make gear that works just as hard as the players who use it modular, durable, and ready for game night. For Media Inquiry Contact: Plei Team Tel: +447934340986 Email: [email protected] Kickstarter Campaign: https://shorturl.at/ak1MJ SOURCE PLEI NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE: EGO) resulting from allegations that Eldorado Gold may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Eldorado Gold securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=37849 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. What is this about: On February 5, 2025, Eldorado Gold issued a press release in which it provided an update on the construction progress on its Skouries Project. In pertinent part, this announcement stated that "[a]s previously disclosed, labour market tightness in Greece, particularly pronounced in construction, has continued to limit the availability of key construction personnel at Skouries, resulting in a slower ramp-up of the workforce and delayed progress in certain areas of the Project." Further, Eldorado announced that "[f]irst production at Skouries is now expected in the first quarter of 2026, followed by commercial production expected in mid-2026." On this news, the price of Eldorado Gold stock fell 11.2% on February 6, 2025. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. 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 Pooh, April 20 : The Army on Sunday launched the community radio station 'Voice of Kinnaur' at Pooh in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, dedicating this transformative initiative to the people of the state. This endeavour, part of the Army's ongoing outreach in high-altitude and border regions, honours the sacrifices and contributions of local communities toward nation-building. The inauguration ceremony was marked by vibrant participation from senior officers of the Army's Surya Command, local administration, government officials, and a large number of enthusiastic residents, showcasing the community's strong support for the project. Established under the Army's flagship 'Operation Sadbhavana', 'Voice of Kinnaur' is envisioned as a grassroots platform to deliver local news, promote regional culture, share educational and health-related content, and broadcast critical public interest information. The radio station was established in the Tripeaks School. The Army Commander got the radio station inaugurated by the principal of the educational institute. Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in-C Central Command, emphasising the station's significance, said, 'Voice of Kinnaur' is a symbol of trust and cooperation between the Indian Army and the people of Himachal Pradesh. "It will play a pivotal role in preserving cultural heritage, amplifying community voices, and ensuring access to timely and relevant information in this remote region," he said. Local leaders and residents expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Army, noting that the radio station will serve as a vital platform for youth, women, and apple farmers to voice their concerns, share achievements, and promote local initiatives. The station is expected to foster greater community engagement by collaborating with local talent, schools, and cultural institutions. "Voice of Kinnaur will bridge communication gaps and empower our community by giving us a platform to celebrate our culture and address our needs," said a resident during the event. With this initiative, the Army reaffirms its commitment to holistic development and community welfare in the remote areas of Himachal Pradesh. Regular broadcasts are set to commence soon, promising to strengthen ties between the Army and the people of Kinnaur while fostering a sense of unity and progress. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Washington, April 21 : US Vice-President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance and their three children left Italy for India where they are scheduled to arrive Monday morning for a four-day visit that included a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Air Force 2 is expected to land in New Delhi at 9:30 a.m. They will also be traveling to Agra and Jaipur. The second couple is accompanied by their three childrena"Ewan, 7, and Vivek, 4, the boys, and Mirabel, 2, their daughter. Usha Vanceas family came to the US from Andhra Pradesh, and it was not immediately known if she and her family were to receive Indian relatives during their stay. This will be the vice-presidentas first visit to India and it will come amidst talks between the two countries to arrive at a trade deal triggered by President Donald Trumpas sweeping tariffs on all imports into America. Initially tariffed at 26 per cent. the levy on India stands at the baseline 10 per cent for all trading partners except China during a 90-day pause in the rollout of original levies. The vice-president is scheduled to meet the prime minister, which will be their second bilateral. The first took place in February in Paris on the sidelines of the AI summit. From there the prime minister had carried on to Washington DC for his first meeting with the American president after his return to the White House. Vance is the second senior Trump administration official to visit India in this term. The first was Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, who visited in March and apart from meeting the prime minister and other officials she also addressed the Raisina Dialogue, an annual government-backed meeting of national security and foreign policy leaders and experts from around the world. Vance is the first American vice-president to travel to India in 13 years. The last one was Joe Biden, who visited India as vice-president to President Barack Obama in 2013. Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, the two in between, did not. Beijing, April 21 : Over 970 people, including dozens of the world's top economists have signed an "anti-tariff declaration" criticising the tariff policy adopted by US President Donald Trump's administration as "misguided" while warning of a potential "self-inflicted recession," reports by media outlets have said. The letter, signed by renowned economists including Nobel laureates James Heckman and Vernon Smith, was circulated over the weekend, and by the dawn of Sunday, it had been signed by 976 individuals, the reports said. In this "Trade and Tariffs Declaration: A Statement on the Principles of American Prosperity," the authors denounced Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs that are affecting more than 180 countries and regions around the world. The "reciprocal" tariff rates are "calculated using an erroneous and improvised formula with no basis in economic reality," the letter said. On April 2, Trump announced sweeping tariffs against the US trading partners, calling the day "liberation day." But only one week later, he ordered a 90-day pause on the highest tariffs while keeping a 10 per cent baseline rate for most countries, Xinhua news agency reported. Trump's tariff policy has triggered massive sell-offs on stock markets, as well as retaliatory tariffs and other countermeasures by countries. "We anticipate that American workers will incur the brunt of these misguided policies in the form of increased prices and the risk of a self-inflicted recession," the letter said. Trump has argued the tariffs are meant to reverse a persistent overall trade deficit and help boost the US manufacturing industry. However, the letter pointed out: "The current administration's tariffs are motivated by a mistaken understanding of the economic conditions faced by ordinary Americans." The authors urged an end to Trump's "incoherent and damaging policies" on trade, adding "We remain hopeful, however, that sound economic principles, empirical evidence, and the warnings of history will prevail over the protectionist mythologies of the moment." Beirut, April 21 : A Lebanese army officer and two soldiers were killed in an ammunition explosion in southern Lebanon, according to a statement issued by the army's Directorate of Guidance. According to the statement, several civilians were also injured in the explosion that took place on Sunday "when the ammunition was being transported by a military vehicle in the Braiqaa area, Nabatieh Governorate." "Specialized army units are conducting the necessary investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement added. A Lebanese security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that since the start of the cross-border conflict between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel on October 8, 2023, the number of Lebanese army personnel killed has reached 49. Meanwhile, two Hezbollah operatives were killed earlier on Sunday in two separate Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to the same security source. Israel's military, for its part, announced that it launched new airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday night, targeting Hezbollah military sites in Nabatieh, Xinhua news agency reported. "A short while ago, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) struck several launchers and a military infrastructure site from which Hezbollah operated," the military said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the military struck the area of Houla in southern Lebanon and killed a militant who, according to the statement, served as Hezbollah's head of engineering in the Odaisseh area. Despite a ceasefire agreement that went into effect in November 2024, Israeli forces have continued to carry out occasional strikes inside Lebanon, claiming they target Hezbollah "threats." Gaza, April 21 : The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said that 69 per cent of the Gaza Strip is under active Israeli displacement orders. The Israeli army issued at least 20 displacement orders between March 18 and April 14, UNRWA said in a press statement on Sunday, adding that the agency "currently operates 115 shelters across Gaza, housing more than 90,000 displaced people." Some 420,000 people have been displaced again since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18, it said, warning that the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening due to Israeli shelling and the seven-week-long aid blockade. UNRWA stressed the need for an early ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies into Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel has blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza since March 2. It then ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas on March 18 and resumed deadly air and ground assaults on the enclave. Meanwhile, at least 29 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza on Sunday, according to the Civil Defence in Gaza. In central Gaza, 10 people were killed and some others wounded by an Israeli airstrike on a residential house in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defence, told Xinhua. In southern Gaza, a Palestinian woman was killed and four others wounded in an Israeli drone attack on a tent housing displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis city, and four others were killed in another two separate Israeli attacks on the city, Basal said. The renewed Israeli attacks have so far killed 1,827 Palestinians and injured 4,828 others, Gaza health authorities said Sunday, adding the death toll in the enclave since the war began in October 2023 has risen to 51,201, with 116,869 injured. Tehran, April 21 : Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the country is serious in its indirect negotiations with the US and wants no delay in the diplomatic process. Gharibabadi made the remarks at a meeting with the members of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in Tehran on Sunday, the official news agency IRNA quoted the committee's spokesperson, Ebrahim Rezaei, as saying. Gharibabadi said that Tehran and Washington, during their second round of indirect talks in the Italian capital Rome on Saturday, discussed and agreed on "the overall framework, agenda, and (subsequent) technical talks." According to Rezaei, the deputy foreign minister has stressed that "all sanctions (on Iran) should be lifted in a way that benefits the Iranian people economically," while emphasising that Tehran would not negotiate on its right to enrich uranium, which he said is "among the red lines." The Rome talks and the previous round of Iran-US dialogue that took place in the Omani capital Muscat on April 12 have centered on Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of Washington's sanctions, Xinhua news agency reported. The talks, hailed by both sides as "constructive," followed US President Donald Trump's threats to bomb Iran if the Middle Eastern country does not accept his offer for talks outlined in a letter sent to Iran's leadership in early March. Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States -- in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. However, the United States 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. Sanaa, April 21 : The death toll from fresh US airstrikes on a crowded market in Yemen's capital Sanaa has risen to 12, with at least 30 others wounded, Houthi-controlled health authorities said in a statement. According to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the airstrikes targeted the Farwah market in the Shu'ub neighbourhood, one of the busiest markets in Sanaa. Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams searching for survivors and victims beneath the rubble. The strikes were part of a broader wave of US airstrikes that hit multiple locations in and around Sanaa on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Houthi media outlet. The incident came days after the deadly US airstrikes on the Ras Isa fuel port in western Yemen late Thursday night that killed 80 people, wounded 170 others, and caused widespread damage to fuel storage infrastructure, leading to fuel spills into the Red Sea, according to local Houthi health officials. 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 the entry of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave. Washington, April 21 : US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed classified military plans regarding airstrikes on Yemen in a private signal group chat with his family members and close personal associates. The incident, which reportedly occurred before the US launched airstrikes on Houthi rebel targets on March 15, raises further concerns about the Trump official's handling of sensitive national security information. According to the report by The New York Times, Hegseth shared highly confidential details, including F/A-18 Hornet flight schedules, with a private group named "Defense | Team Huddle," which he created in January using his personal phone. The group included his wife, Jennifer Hegseth (a former Fox News producer), his brother, his personal lawyer, and roughly a dozen others from his inner circle. The Times' report follows an earlier disclosure by The Atlantic, which revealed the existence of another Signal chat, initially intended for senior national security officials. That group, created by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, inadvertently included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg. Both reports indicate that Hegseth shared the same sensitive information in both groups, around the same time. The latest revelations have intensified scrutiny of Hegseth's judgment and raised alarms about operational security at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Critics argue that by discussing top-secret military plans over an unclassified messaging platform, and including non-government individuals, Hegseth may have jeopardized operational safety and violated established protocols. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Hegseth's actions, calling for his immediate dismissal. "We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk," Schumer wrote on X. "But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired." Despite the mounting criticism, the Pentagon has not issued an official response, and the White House has not returned media inquiries on the matter. Islamabad, April 21 : UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in Islamabad for a two-day visit to discuss and further various aspects and prospects in terms of trade and investment. The high-level visit holds pivotal value for Pakistan as it looks forward to making foreign investments and offering cooperation to other countries. UAE's Deputy PM will be holding meetings with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, who also received him at the airport on Sunday. Sheikh Abdullah will also hold a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan's Foreign Office stated that the meetings will focus on trade, investment, energy cooperation, regional security, and people-to-people linkages and will look towards avenues to increase the spectrum of bilateral relations. "The high-level visit reflects the deep-rooted, fraternal relations between Pakistan and the UAE and underscores the two countries' shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest," read a statement issued by the Pakistan Foreign Office. "The visit will further cement the longstanding Pakistan-UAE ties and contribute to deepening bilateral engagements in diverse fields, benefiting the peoples of both countries," the statement added. Notably, the visit comes at a time when Shehbaz Sharif has called on regional and global partners to invest in Pakistan, offering cooperation in various fields, including banking, railways, mining, agriculture, mineral exploration and infrastructural investment. UAE holds an important place for Pakistan since a majority of the country's remittances come from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, as a large number of Pakistanis are living and working in the Gulf countries. Pakistan recorded $4.1 billion in remittances in March 2025, an all-time high monthly inflow on record. Shehbaz Sharif praised overseas Pakistanis for sending billions back to the country through banking channels, stating that this is a significant indication of the country's movement towards recovery. Pakistan's central bank, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), expects to receive at least $38 billion in remittances this year. New Delhi, April 21 : Delhi Police have arrested two drug peddlers, including a Nigerian national, in the Sarojini Nagar area, said officials on Monday, adding that 59.88 grams of narcotic substance (cocaine) was recovered from their possession. The Nigerian drug peddler has been identified as 29-year-old Chimezie Fabian Chidolue alias Fabian, who was living in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj Enclave. His Indian partner was named Ankit Kumar, 25, a resident of Kusumpur Pahari, Vasant Vihar. The Delhi Police have been carrying out a special drive against drug peddlers and suppliers in the South-West district A media release of the Delhi Police said, "A team comprising Sub Inspector Anoop Kumar, SI Pramod, ASI Lalit Parshad, Head Constable Amajeet, HC Sukhpal, Ct. Bhoop Singh, Ct. Ajeet and Ct. Munesh was constituted under the leadership of SHO/Sarojini Nagar and overall supervision of Ranbir Singh, ACP Safdarjung Enclave/South-West District, to identify and arrest the criminals with a special focus on nabbing the supply chain of narcotic drugs and contraband substances. The team also patrols and performs picket checking in the area during odd hours to keep a random check on such illegal activities." On April 14, the team was performing routine night picket duty near the Leela Hotel roundabout when they noticed a white Swift Dzire car approaching the picket. Upon being signalled to stop, the driver appeared suspicious and attempted to flee from the picket, but he was tactfully apprehended by the alert staff. On checking the vehicle, 25 polythene knots resembling garlic pods were found concealed in the front door panel. Field testing confirmed the contents to be cocaine, weighing 34 grams, said the officials. The driver was identified as Ankit Kumar. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 143/25, u/s 21(b) NDPS Act, was registered at PS Sarojini Nagar. The contraband substance was seized, and the vehicle used in the crime was also taken into police custody through a seizure memo. During sustained interrogation, accused Ankit Kumar disclosed that he received the cocaine from a Nigerian national named Fabian on the instructions of a supplier named Rehman alias Raymond, suspected to be the kingpin. On April 15, the Nigerian individual was intercepted at the Mahipalpur Flyover, and 19 polythene knots of cocaine, weighing 25.88 grams, were recovered from his possession. The accused was arrested, and the contraband substance was seized and sealed. The police said the accused, Ankit Kumar, used to deliver contraband on instructions received via WhatsApp. He was working as a driver/courier and was introduced into the supply network by Nigerian national Fabian, who acted on the directions of Rehman. The cocaine was supplied in knot-form packaging, which is a common concealment tactic among African syndicates operating in metro cities. Fabian admitted to being involved in repeated deliveries of contraband to local suppliers and receiving instructions from Rehman using foreign-registered WhatsApp numbers. The police said that the case was a significant bust of a foreign-linked narcotics supply chain and disrupted mid-level operations in the capital. Further investigation regarding the source and supply chain of drug suppliers is in progress, said the media release issued by Surendra Choudhary, DCP, South West district. New Delhi, April 21 : A horrific road accident on Monday in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district claimed the lives of five people and left two others seriously injured when a high-speed car lost control and rammed into a tree near Bhujauli village under the Nebua Naurangiya police station area. New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) A horrific road accident on Monday in Uttar Pradeshas Kushinagar district claimed the lives of five people and left two others seriously injured when a high-speed car lost control and rammed into a tree near Bhujauli village under the Nebua Naurangiya police station area. The victims were returning from a wedding ceremony in the Maruti Brezza when the tragedy struck. The impact was so severe that the vehicle was completely mangled, with its parts scattered across the crash site. According to eyewitnesses, the car was speeding when the driver lost control, leading to the devastating collision. Five of the passengers died on the spot, while two others sustained critical injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital with the help of residents. Police officials reached the site soon after the accident. Locals also reached the spot and tried to lend a hand. During the initial investigation, Aadhaar cards recovered from the deceased helped identify one of the victims as a resident of Maharashtra, indicating that the passengers may have come from different states to attend the wedding. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the tragic incident. Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives, CM Yogi extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He directed district administration officials to reach the site immediately and ensure that relief and rescue operations are carried out without delay. The Chief Minister instructed authorities to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and wished them a speedy recovery. The district administration has been asked to remain in constant touch with the victimsa families and provide all possible assistance. As of now, the injured remain under medical supervision, and further identification of the victims is underway. The tragic incident has reignited concerns over road safety in the region, where high-speed driving on narrow rural roads continues to claim lives. Islamabad, April 21 : A large number of protestors blocked Railway traffic near Khairpur city in Pakistan's Sindh province, cutting off all routes towards the Punjab province, as part of their ongoing demonstration against the government's plans to build at least six new canals on the Indus River. The Pakistani government's Cholistan project to irrigate South Punjab's lands has triggered nationwide protests by political parties, including its coalition partner, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which has expressed strong reservations against the project and warned of toppling the Shehbaz Sharif government if the proposed project is not cancelled. On Sunday, a large number of protestors and activists from some nationalist parties extended their ongoing protest and blocked train traffic near Khairpur city. Protestors and political party leaders in Sindh province have been staging massive public gatherings and protest sit-ins and slamming the Shehbaz Sharif government, along with its coalition partners PPP, for what they call a conspiracy to turn Sindh's fertile land into a desert. The nationwide protests against the canals project were also supported by the lawyers' community, who staged their sit-in protest, in the Sindh province for the third consecutive day. In the latest protest, the train tracks were later restored after being blocked for several hours by the protestors. However, the protests and ongoing rallies against the project have paralysed the whole province. Shutter down protests have been reported in major cities and town including Jamshoro, Larkana, Naushehro Feroz, Sujawal, Nawabshah, and Ghotki. The protests have disrupted traffic between Sindh and Punjab province as roads and the National Highway has been blocked at several places. "In Larkana, shopkeepers, petrol pumps, and markets remained closed, while business activities have come to a complete halt in Ratodero, Baqrani, Dokri and Badah. Commercial activities in Jamshoro and Nawabshah are suspended, while similar reports are coming from Sujawal, Kandhkot, Shahdadkot, Kashmore, and other districts where markets and other public services have been shut down," said Hanif Shamon, a resident of Mithi, Tharparker district of Sindh. "People believe that this is the biggest agitation in the history of Sindh. All roads leading to Punjab and other regions have been blocked for the past three days due to protest sit-ins against irrigation canals. Massive protests have erupted in most parts of Sindh," he added. These protests surfaced after Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the Cholistan project on February 15, 2025. Immediately after the launch of the project, strong reservations and concerns were raised by the Sindh provincial government of PPP, which passed a unanimous resolution against the project in March. Since then, nationwide protests by political parties including PPP, PTI and others have been witnessed, with voices against the contentious project titled 'Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI)' becoming louder with protests intensifying with every passing day. The $3.3 billion GPI launched by the government aims to develop six canals to irrigate at least 1.2 million acres of barren land in South Punjab. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has given an open warning and threat to the federal government under the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to not go down the path of confrontation with Sindh over the issue of new canals on the Indus River. "I want to make it clear that our party will not go along with the federal government if it does not shelve the controversial project, even after acknowledging PPP's objections," said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. On the other hand, the government has finally decided to resolve the contentious canals project issue through dialogue as PML-N's founder and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and present PM Shehbaz Sharif directed ministers to have table talks with PPP over the matter. "Premier Shahbaz Sharif and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif have instructed me to alleviate Sindh's concerns regarding the canal issue. We believe in the fair distribution of resources, including water, among all units," said Rana Sanaullah, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination. However, the opposition party, the PTI has accused the PPP of opposing the canal project in the open while secretly supporting the plan as it is part of the federal government. "PPP is a partner of the ruling government. Asif Ali Zardari is the president of Pakistan. And the president is supporting the canals project," said Haleem Adil Sheikh, provincial president of PTI in Sindh. "PPP cannot make a fool out of us all. We will not let anyone steal what is rightfully ours. The federal government and the Punjab government will fail. People of Sindh should get prepared for a big struggle against the canals project," he added. Seoul, April 21 : South Korea's exports of dried seaweed products, known as "gim" in Korean, reached an all-time high in the first quarter, driven by growing global demand for the food, data showed on Monday. Outbound shipments of gim reached $281 million in the first three months of the year, up 21.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. The figure is the highest for any first quarter. The volume of gim exports increased 7.5 percent on-year to 10,161 tons in the January-March period, reports Yonhap news agency. "We expect to export more than $1 billion worth of gim products this year as the volume and value of outbound shipments are both on the rise," an official from the oceans ministry said. The government earlier sought to reach the $1 billion mark by 2027. South Korea exported $997 million of gim products last year. The oceans ministry attributed the strong exports to the popularity of Korean gim products in the United States and China, the world's two largest markets. Gim exports to the U.S. rose 21.6 percent on-year to $57.9 million in the first quarter on robust demand for seasoned gim products. Shipments to China spiked 86.5 percent to $51.1 million over the same period as gimbap, a Korean dish made from cooked rice and various fillings rolled in dried seaweed, gained popularity in the country. South Korea's seafood exports moved up 1.2 percent from a year earlier in 2024, driven by the popularity of dried seaweed products. Outbound shipments of seafood products came to $3.03 billion last year, up from $2.99 billion recorded in 2023. The growth was primarily led by exports of dried seaweed, known as "gim" in Korean, which surged 25.8 percent on-year to a record high of $997 million. Exports of tuna products grew 4.7 percent over the cited period, reaching $589 million. By destination, exports to Japan rose 3.4 percent to $659 million, and shipments to the United States climbed 11.7 percent to $479 million. Exports to Europe advanced 16.4 percent to $227 million, the data showed. a"IANS na/ Mumbai, April 21 : Veteran actor Shehzad Khan, best known for his role as Bhalla in 'Andaz Apna Apna', took a nostalgic trip down memory lane as he recalled the humble shooting conditions of the cult 1994 classic. Sharing behind-the-scenes moments, he revealed that big stars like Salman Khan and Aamir Khan didn't have the luxury of makeup vans back then instead, they'd prepare for their scenes under umbrellas or in cramped makeup rooms. Revealing the same, Shehzad told IANS, "The entire shoot is a nostalgic journey for me. I remember we didn't have makeup vans back then. We'd sit under umbrellas or in small makeup rooms, pulling each other's legs. One memorable moment was when we were returning from Ooty to Bombay. We got stuck at Coimbatore airport due to a delayed flight. That was one of the most fun, unforgettable times. We laughed like crazy. The people there recognized Salman and Aamirit was such a joyful experience." Talking about the film's re-release, Shehzad expressed his excitement, saying, "Yes, Andaaz Apna Apna is being re-released, and I must say, I'm even more excited about this than I was back in 1994 when it first hit the screens. I truly want today's generationthe kids and the current audienceto experience what real, pure comedy looks like." When asked how he landed the role and what the shooting atmosphere was like, Shehzad Khan recalled that working on 'Andaz Apna Apna' felt less like a job and more like a picnic. "Aamir, Salman, and I were from the same age group and the same area. I knew Salman even before our film careers beganmy father, Mr. Ajit, was the one who brought his father, Salim Khan, from Indore to Bombay. So, there was already a deep connection," he shared. The Rajkumar Santoshi-directed film first hit theatres on November 14, 1994. The romantic comedy written by Santoshi and produced by Vinay Kumar Sinha also starred Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal (in a dual role), and Shakti Kapoor. "Andaz Apna Apna" is set to hit cinemas once again on April 25, 2025. On April 1, the production house Vinay Pictures announced the news on social media, stating, "Get ready to relive the madness. Andaz Apna Apna re-releasing in cinemas on 25th April 2025. Experience the cult classic on the big screen. Restored & Remastered in 4K & Dolby 5.1.Trailer out soon." Mumbai, April 21 : Defending strongly the unity between the estranged brothers Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray for 'safeguarding' the interests of Maharashtra and the Marathi language, the Shiv Sena(UBT) in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' editorial on Monday said the two should take steps in the state's interest, and 'if nectar comes out of poison, Maharashtra needs it'. "If life is spent in arguments and fights, the future generations of Maharashtra will not forgive them," Saamana said Taking a potshot at the BJP, the editorial said, "What else does Maharashtra need? BJP's politics is of the 'use and throw' attitude. Modi, Shah, and Fadnavis are not of the country; how can they be of the state of Maharashtra? They only did the work of sowing poison in politics. It is not their role to purify the flow of Krishna-Koyana rivers in Maharashtra, and everyone should get into that pure flow. They got everyone into the muddy, impure flow of Prayagraj and did the business of religion. This strange and poisonous period is going on, in which the Marathi people of Maharashtra should learn a lesson and guard every step. If nectar comes out of poison, Maharashtra needs it." The news that Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are ready to come together for the greater good of Maharashtra has created a stir in the country's politics. "While this news made many happy, many were sickened by stomach aches. Raj Thackeray's politics so far has been a meandering one and not been very successful. After leaving Shiv Sena, he founded an independent party called Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). At that time, he got a lot of support from the people in the municipal and Assembly elections, but later his party faced a setback. People like the Bharatiya Janata Party, Eknath Shinde and others kept attacking Shiv Sena with a gun on 'Raj's' shoulder. Raj's party did not gain politically from this, but Marathi unity suffered immense losses," the editorial says. "Raj's stance was not to let Modi and Shah set foot in Maharashtra. Raj's stance was that Shah and Modi do not think about the interests of Maharashtra. He did not stick to that stance. BJP's Hindutva is fake. BJP trapped Raj in the net of this fake Hindutva, and the carts kept slipping. Now he has clarified in an interview, 'Whatever happens, the arguments and fights between us are minor in comparison to any big things. Maharashtra is very big. These things are very insignificant for the existence of a Marathi person. I don't find it very difficult to come together and live together. It's just a matter of will," says the editorial. "What Raj calls the dispute between us is about Uddhav Thackeray. What kind of dispute is this? It never came out. Raj kept talking about Marathi people, and Shiv Sena was born for the interest of Marathi, and Uddhav Thackeray did not abandon that interest. So, is there a dispute? Only the BJP, Mindhe (Eknath Shinde) and others started speaking on Raj's behalf. These people started the dispute. Therefore, if the BJP, Mindhe are kept away, where is the dispute? There needs to be a desire to come together. What Raj says is true, but whose desire is he talking about?" asks the editorial. "As soon as Raj expressed his desire, Uddhav Thackeray also did not fall behind. He took a strong step forward for the wider interest of Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray took the stand that if there is some minor dispute, I am also ready to work together for the interest of Maharashtra, leaving everything aside. This is the blown trumpet of the people's sentiments of Maharashtra. The self-respect of the Marathi people and the welfare of Maharashtra are now zero, but if Uddhav has expressed a modest expectation that Raj should no longer sit in the ranks of Maharashtra's enemies and keep Maharashtra traitors outside the threshold of the house, then no one should consider it a condition. Uddhav Thackeray said that Maharashtra's enemies should not be allowed to stay at home. There is a pain behind it," said the editorial. "Amit Shah, Modi, Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde others attacked the Shiv Sena founder and the 'Hindu hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray to weaken Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray was also born from the womb of the Shiv Sena. Therefore, how can we bring those dishonest to the mother of Maharashtra together and move forward together in the interest of Maharashtra? This is a simple question. Shinde and his people are the brains of Modi-Shah. Fadnavis's pretence of love for Maharashtra has been exposed time and again. These people put Mumbai up for sale and issued 'tenders' to loot Maharashtra and gave it to non-Marathi contractors. In Mumbai, other communities stand together in times of crisis, but this Marathi arrow of unity has been shattered today," reads the editorial. Referring to the recent demolition of an ancient Jain temple in Mumbai suburbs Vile Parle, the editorial says, "Vile Parle was once an impregnable stronghold of Marathi culture, but the day after the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took action against a Jain temple there, thousands of Jain brothers gathered in a few moments and took out a march and forced the transfer of municipal officials. In Mumbai, brothers of other castes and religions live together and support business-minded parties like the BJP, then this is a change that comes to the heart of Marathi people in Maharashtra." "It is the simple calculation of the BJP and its business community that if the unity of the Marathi people is weakened, Mumbai can be torn apart from Maharashtra. That is why they have constantly tried to attack the Marathi unity that has been giving them the benefit of the doubt. They have also attacked the Shiv Sena, which is the thunderbolt of Marathi unity, and for that, the axe was used. "The BMC elections have not been held for four years. Tulsi Gabbard, who is based in Washington, has explained the calculation of how the Maharashtra Assembly was won by the BJP and its business community. Of course, only the Marathi people have the courage and strength to fight all these Maharashtra traitors. Therefore, the Marathi people must come together. Raj Thackeray understood the importance of this unity, and Uddhav Thackeray also responded with an open mind," says the editorial. It further adds that this is a political development that has upset the Maharashtra traitors. "The two 'brothers' will come together, so many people are filled with fear and have started getting irritated, while some are putting on fake joy on their faces and saying, "Wow, great! It would be great if both Thackerays came together," but this joy of the Maharashtra traitors is not real. Maharashtra should do what it has in mind," the editorial concludes. Mumbai, April 21 : Madhuri Dixit's husband, Dr. Sriram Nene, has opened up about the challenges relationships face in today's world. In a recent social media post, he revealed the key factors contributing to the growing frequency of relationship breakdowns, offering insightful perspectives on the complexities of modern relationships. Dr. Nene shared that one of the biggest reasons relationships fail today is the lack of investment. In the caption of the post, he explained, "In my experience, one of the biggest reasons relationships fail is because we stop investing in them. It's easy to get caught up in life and forget that relationships need time, effort, and real presence. They don't grow on autopilotyou've got to show up, listen, and understand what the other person truly needs. I've learned that the strongest connections are built through small, consistent actions. So give your time, put in the effort, and keep choosing each otherevery single day." In the video, Nene could be heard saying, "We don't invest in relationships. I have found that whether it is with the children, with your pets, with your family members, or with your spouse. The main thing is you have to take the time to develop a relationship to understand what each person's needs are. And you have to give in order to get. So, the idea is to invest in time as well as in effort to make a relationship work." Notably, Dr. Sriram Nene, cardiothoracic surgeon, regularly shares insightful and informative videos on various health and wellness topics, offering his expertise to his followers. He also gives them a glimpse into his personal life, sharing moments from his daily routine and family life on Instagram, allowing fans to connect with him on a more personal level. Madhuri Dixit tied the knot with Shriram Nene on October 17, 1999, in a traditional wedding ceremony held in Southern California, at the home of her elder brother. The couple are proud parents to two sons, Arin and Ryan. For the unversed, Madhuri and Nene's love story began with an attempt at matchmaking by Madhuri's brother, Ajit Dixit. Although initially reluctant, Madhuri was intrigued when she met Shriram at a party and was pleasantly surprised by his unfamiliarity with her fame. After living in the US for several years, the couple eventually made their way back to India. New Delhi, April 21 : In a significant boost to India's defence exports, the second batch of batteries of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system has been dispatched to the Philippines. The first battery was sent in April 2024 in an IAF aircraft, with support coming from civil aircraft agencies. The long-haul flight carrying the heavy load was a non-stop six-hour journey before the equipment reached the western parts of the Philippines, according to multiple reports, citing sources. The deal with the Philippines was announced in January 2022 for the supply of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. The Philippines will get three batteries for the missile system, which has a range of 290 kilometres and a speed of 2.8 Mach (around 3,400 kms, thrice the speed of sound). The BrahMos missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. India aims to produce defence equipment worth Rs 3 lakh crore by the year 2029, according to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The defence production in India has risen from Rs 40,000 crore in 2014 to over Rs 1.27 lakh crore. "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," according to the minister. The country will reduce its dependence 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. The 'Make in India' programme is not only strengthening the country's defence production but also helping it make the global defence supply chain resilient and flexible. While India's defence manufacturing capabilities are aimed at national security and strategic autonomy, they are also insulating manufacturing from global supply shocks. India today stands shoulder to shoulder with developed nations in critical areas such as missile technology (Agni, BrahMos), submarines (INS Arihant) and aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant). IANS na/ New Delhi, April 21 : United States Vice President J.D. Vance, accompanied by his Indian-origin wife Usha Chilukuri Vance and their three children, arrived in India on Monday for a four-day official visit. This marks a significant diplomatic engagement and the first trip by a sitting US Vice President to India in more than a decade. The last such visit was by Joe Biden in 2013. Vice President Vance, who began his international tour with a stop in Italy on Friday, landed at the Air Force Station in Palam, New Delhi. Upon his arrival, Vance was received by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the airport. His visit underscores a renewed emphasis on strengthening US-India ties amid ongoing negotiations over a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement and deepening of strategic cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host the Vice President for formal talks, followed by a dinner at his official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Monday evening. The meeting will include key Indian officials, with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expected to be present during the discussions. According to sources, the leaders will discuss trade-related matters, regional security, and avenues to boost technological and economic collaboration between the two countries. Vance's arrival in India comes at a time when talks over a bilateral trade deal -- originally triggered by former President Donald Trump's imposition of sweeping tariffs -- have gained renewed momentum. While the US had initially set a 26 per cent tariff on imports, India currently faces a reduced baseline levy of 10 per cent, which is the standard for most US trading partners except China, during a 90-day pause in the broader tariff rollout. This will be the Vice President's first-ever visit to India and his second bilateral engagement with Prime Minister Modi, following their initial meeting in Paris earlier this year during the AI Summit. That meeting was followed by PM Modi's visit to Washington for his first official meeting with the current US President after his return to office. The Vice President is travelling with a five-member high-level US delegation, which includes representatives from the Pentagon and the State Department. The delegation's itinerary includes visits to Agra and Jaipur, underscoring the cultural dimension of the visit alongside strategic dialogue. Vance's wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, who is of Indian origin, is also part of the trip with their children -- Ewan, 7; Vivek, 4; and Mirabel, 2. Usha Vance's family traces its roots to Andhra Pradesh. However, it remains unclear whether they will be meeting with any relatives during their stay in India. This visit also marks the second high-profile trip to India by a senior official from the Trump administration during the current term. In March, Tulsi Gabbard, who serves as the Director of National Intelligence, visited India and participated in the Raisina Dialogue while also holding meetings with Indian officials and the Prime Minister. Vice President Vance's presence in India after such a long gap reflects the significance both countries place on their evolving partnership. His visit is expected to set the tone for further high-level engagements in the near future, especially in the context of growing global geopolitical shifts and economic realignments. New Delhi, April 21 : President Droupadi Murmu extended heartfelt greetings on the occasion of Civil Services Day and acknowledged the crucial role played by civil servants in shaping the country's governance and development. New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu extended heartfelt greetings on the occasion of Civil Services Day and acknowledged the crucial role played by civil servants in shaping the countryas governance and development. President Murmu on Monday led the tributes by lauding the contributions of civil servants across the country. Taking to X, she wrote, "Greetings to all civil servants on Civil Services Day! Your role in public service, your contribution to policy making and implementation have impacted the well-being of citizens and development of the country. May you play a commendable role in enabling the country realise its ambitious objectives and set new benchmarks in good governance." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also praised the tireless commitment of Indiaas bureaucrats. In his message on X, he stated, "On Civil Services Day, extending best wishes to our civil servants. Whether it is executing the schemes and policies or delivering good governance, our civil servants have served with a firm commitment. May this day further strengthen their commitment to serve the nation." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended his greetings, recognising the significant role civil servants play in ensuring national progress and citizen welfare. "Greetings and warm wishes to all civil servants and their families on Civil Services Day. They have been playing an important role in furthering Indiaas progress and ensuring the citizen welfare. May this day inspire them to continue serving the nation with renewed zeal and excellence," he posted on X. Civil Services Day is observed annually on April 21 to honour the hard work and dedication of Indiaas civil servants. The day commemorates the historic address delivered by Indiaas first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to the probationers of the Administrative Services in 1947, in which he famously referred to civil servants as the "steel frame" of India. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also marked the occasion by highlighting the integrity and dedication of civil servants. "Hearty congratulations and best wishes on 'Civil Services Day' to all the dutiful civil personnel who are the basis of the progress of society and nation! Your devotion and dedication are the biggest identity of your work. Your tireless hard work and honesty give new impetus to positive change in the society every day," he posted on X. New Delhi, April 21 : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday said that the ISRO's SpaDEX mission has successfully achieved second docking of satellites. In a post on X social media platform, the minister said he is "glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully". "As informed earlier, the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission was successfully launched on 30 December 2024. Thereafter the satellites were successfully docked for the first time on 16 January 2025 at 06:20 AM and successfully undocked on 13 March 2025 at 09:20 AM," he mentioned. The minister further said that further experiments are planned in the next two weeks. In January, with the successful docking of the satellites of the SpaDEX mission, India became the fourth nation to ace the space docking technology. ISRO informed the merging of two small spacecraft -- SDX01, the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target -- weighing about 220 kg each. The satellites were part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, which lifted off aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, from Sriharikota on December 30. India is now the fourth country, after the US, Russia, and China, to master the docking technology. The docking technology was indigenously developed and has been named the 'Bharatiya Docking System'. It includes a docking mechanism, a suite of four rendezvous and docking sensors, power transfer technology, indigenous novel autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy, and an inter-satellite communication link (ISL) for autonomous communication between spacecraft, incorporated with inbuilt intelligence to know the states of the other spacecraft, among others. ISRO believes the SpaDeX mission will help establish India's capability in orbital docking -- a key technology for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions. In addition to joining the elite club of spacefaring nations, docking technology is also key for India's impending space missions including the Moon mission, setting up the Indian space station, and lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4 without the support of GNSS from Earth. IANS na/ -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Jamshedpur, April 21 : Vinay Kumar Singh, the national vice president of Karni Sena and Jharkhand state president, was shot dead in Jamshedpur late Sunday night, triggering widespread outrage among his supporters, police officials said on Monday. Singh, 46, was a resident of Aastha Space Township in Mango, Jamshedpur. According to his family, he had left home on Sunday afternoon for work related to land dealings but did not return by evening. A search was launched, and around 11 p.m., his body was found in a bush off a dirt road, approximately 500 meters from NH-33 (Tata-Ranchi Road). He had bullet wounds to the head and multiple injuries on his body, police said. Police reached the spot shortly after receiving information. A scooty, a mobile phone, and a pistol were recovered from the scene. Family members have alleged that the pistol was planted near his hand to mislead investigators, insisting Singh had no criminal background or links to weapons. Singh also owned a tile shop near the Ulidih police station and was said to be active in land-related business. Sources said he had received threats a few months ago. News of the murder spread rapidly, prompting Karni Sena members and supporters to block Dimna Chowk and NH-33 in protest. They demanded immediate arrest of those responsible and threatened a larger agitation if swift action was not taken. Protesters also slammed the police for the delay in dispatching an ambulance to transport Singhas body. The blockade was lifted around 1 a.m. in the night after the ambulance arrived and the body was sent for post-mortem. Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder. DSP Bachan Deo Kujur said all angles are being examined and assured that the perpetrators will be brought to justice soon. San Francisco, April 21 : Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman said on Monday that India has become the fastest-growing economy, driven by the "visionary leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the stability provided by a continuing government. Addressing the Indian diaspora in the US, the Finance Minister said, "When we say that India is the fastest-growing economy and when the IMF and World Bank recognise that India can be the engine driving global trade, what they are recognising is the immense potential that exists in India." Highlighting the steps to strengthen the Indian economy, Sitharaman said, "During the Covid-19 pandemic, our fiscal deficit went up. But in 2021, we came up with a clear signal as to how we wanted to manage our fiscal deficit. We set year-on-year targets and committed to bringing the fiscal deficit below 4.5 per cent by 2026. And that's what we have been following each year without fail." She said the government's primary focus under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is achieving 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. This vision encompasses improvements across sectors impacting women, the impoverished, youth, and farmers. FM Sitharaman highlighted that India prioritises 'Sunrise Sectors' and stands out as a leader in Digital Public Infrastructure, driving innovation and growth.. She also said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes it a part of his every overseas visit to connect with the Indian diaspora because he thinks that it is important that India connects with each one of you who, located in whichever part of the world, are doing your best to contribute to the world and stand out as an example." Sitharaman is on a five-day visit to the United States. Upon her arrival in San Francisco, she was received by Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra During the visit, she is slated to deliver a keynote speech at Stanford University and hold discussions with CEOs in San Francisco on investment and technological advancements. The visit will also include participation in diaspora events, enhancing India's global cultural presence. In Washington DC, Sitharaman will attend the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, and the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meetings. She will also hold bilateral talks on the sidelines with counterparts from the US, the UK, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, as well as top officials from international financial institutions. After completing her US trip, Sitharaman will travel to Peru for a visit from April 26 to 30. Bokaro, April 21 : At least eight Maoists, including senior commander Prayag Manjhi -- who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head -- were killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in the Lugu hill area of Lalpania in Bokaro district, officials said. The gun battle began around 5.30 a.m. on Monday and was still underway, with intermittent firing reported from both sides. Officials said the number of casualties could rise further. One of those killed was identified as Prayag Manjhi, a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist). Known by multiple aliases -- Vivek Da, Phuchna, Nago Manjhi, and Karan Da -- he was active in the Parasnath hills and surrounding areas of Giridih over the past few months. Manjhi, originally a resident of Dalbudha in Tundi (Dhanbad district), was a key Maoist figure wanted in over 100 incidents across Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. In Giridih district alone, he was wanted in more than 50 cases. An official statement from the CRPF released on Monday morning initially confirmed the killing of four Maoists. The number has since increased to eight. The earlier statement said: "The Central Reserve Police Force, in a joint operation with the state police, killed four Maoists in an encounter in the Lugu hills of Bokaro district this morning. One SLR and one INSAS rifle have been recovered. No injuries to security personnel have been reported so far. Intermittent firing continues." The joint team, comprising personnel from the CRPFas 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Jharkhand Police, had launched a search operation in the forested foothills of Lalpania police station area when they came under fire from Maoists. The forces retaliated, leading to the gunfight which is still going on. So far this year, 13 Maoists have been killed in encounters with security forces in Jharkhand. Police have set a target to make the state completely Maoist-free by the end of 2025. According to Jharkhand Police data, 244 Maoists have been arrested this year, while nine were killed in encounters prior to this operation. Additionally, 24 Maoists -- including four zonal commanders, one sub-general commander, and three area commanders -- have surrendered and joined the mainstream of society. New Delhi, April 21 : It would seem all roads lead to Rome, with US Vice President J.D. Vance, along with his family, visiting Rome the day after Italian PM Georgia Meloni visited Washington to spend Good Friday in the eternal city. Vance's visit to Rome and onwards to New Delhi indicates the new importance Rome and New Delhi have in the geopolitical calculus of the White House. Vance, a catholic, spent Good Friday at the Vatican as well as met with important members of Meloni's administration, including the Deputy Prime Ministers, Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini. The US and Italy will work together to develop the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, one of the greatest economic integration and connectivity projects of this century, connecting partners by ports, railways, and undersea cables and stimulating economic development and integration from India to the Gulf to Israel, to Italy, and onward to the United States, according to the US and Italy joint leaders declaration after the first bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Italian PM Meloni. This Easter weekend was very important as well due to the second round of the US-Iran talks in Rome. The Trump administration has engaged directly with various belligerent state and non-state players with the objective of achieving an acceptable peace deal. While the first round of talks was held in Muscat, given the Sultanate of Oman's role as the honest broker, the second was held in Rome, also a nod to Meloni's efforts to bring Italy back to the centre of international affairs. The head of Italy's secret service, AISE, Giovanni Caravelli, had also assisted the Prime Minister in solving a particularly complicated case of the arrest of Italian blogger Cecilia Sala during the last days of the Biden administration. Meloni had made a special, unusual trip to the US to meet with President-elect Trump and the actual Biden administration to solve Sala's incarceration, which was seen as retribution for Italy's arrest of two nationals of Iranian origin on a US arrest warrant. Caravelli and Italy have maintained a strong line of trust and communication with the regime in Tehran. Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad head David Barnea met with US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on Friday in Paris, before the second round of US-Iran conversations, Dermer is said to have spent Shabbat in Rome presumably to consult with the US Special envoy after the second round of consultations, which have reported to be successful. Any agreement between the US and Iran will have direct consequences on Israel's security, as well as its war with Hamas, which is widely supported by Iran. Meloni's efforts at pivoting Italy to the center of global geopolitics started immediately after her victory two and a half years ago. Italy had spent decades losing its centrality not only as a G7 economy but also as a centre of power in Europe. Her government withdrew from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Memorandum of Understanding, but managed to maintain a balanced relationship with China. Early to recognise India's growing importance in the world, New Delhi was Meloni's first bilateral visit to Asia. She was also one of the founding signatories of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) MoU at the G20 in New Delhi in 2023, on her second visit to Delhi in one year. Since she has met often with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the "Melodi" relationship between the leaders has translated into a strategic partnership between both countries. Her early foreign policy choices have now started paying rich dividends. UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Italy in early 2025, a testament to the reset of the UAE-Italy relationship, which was strained when Meloni was sworn in. During his visit, both countries signed over 40 agreements, and the UAE announced $40 billion of investment in Italy. Recently, during his visit to India, Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani was accompanied by a large business delegation and an India-Italy science and innovation summit with over 400 companies was held in Delhi. Declaring Italy's full commitment to the Indo-Mediterranean India-Italy partnership, Tajani announced an IMEC summit in Trieste in 2025 after having recently named an Italian Special Envoy for IMEC, veteran diplomat Francesco Maria Talo. While critics would point out that Meloni's visit to the US did not have tangible results, the most tangible result was President Trump's acceptance of Meloni's invitation to Rome to discuss and conclude an agreement on tariffs with the European Union. Rome has slowly become the centre of transatlantic, Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific dialogues with its Prime Minister's ambitions of probably restoring its glory as Caput Mundi. (Vas Shenoy is the Chief Representative for Italy of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and an Italian entrepreneur. Views are personal.) Patna, April 21 : Bhojpur police have arrested one person in connection with a firing incident that claimed the lives of two people and left four others injured in Laharpa village under Garhani police station late Sunday night, officials said on Monday. The violence broke out during a wedding celebration after a minor dispute escalated into a scuffle, leading to indiscriminate firing. According to police, the clash began during the Dwar Pooja ceremony of Kamlesh Kushwaha, whose wedding procession had arrived from Kaup village under Charpokhari police station. The confrontation reportedly started over a disagreement about the right of way for a Thar SUV, resulting in a deadly altercation. Eyewitnesses said Rahul Kumar and Lavkush Kumar, who were in the SUV, were shot dead on the spot. Four others -- Appu Kumar, Pankaj Kumar, Aryan (all from Laharpa), and Akshay Singh from Bhaluni village under Narayanpur -- sustained gunshot wounds. Two of the injured are in critical condition and are being treated at Arrah Sadar Hospital and a nearby private facility. The violence triggered panic among the wedding guests, forcing the abrupt suspension of the celebrations. Garhani police station in-charge Ranveer Kumar, ASP Parichay Kumar, and SP Raj reached the spot and launched an investigation. Kumar confirmed that one person has been arrested and efforts are on to identify and apprehend the remaining accused. Initial findings suggest the incident may have been fueled by personal or political rivalry. In separate incidents reported on Sunday evening in Begusarai, a man identified as Ajit Mahato, employed as a driver for a medical waste collection agency, was shot dead following an argument over bike parking. In Rohtas district, jeweler Prince Kumar Seth was gunned down while returning home after closing his shop. Police suspect robbery or a personal dispute as the possible motive. Investigations into both cases are going on. Jaipur, April 21 : US Vice President J.D. Vance will be arriving in Jaipur on Monday at around 9 p.m., accompanied by his family during his four-day official visit to India, most of which will be spent in Rajasthan with a brief tour of Agra. The family will be staying at the Rambagh Palace, where they are expected to arrive by 10 p.m. In view of the high-profile visit, the city is under strict security arrangements. Over 2,000 police personnel have been deployed across key locations. Also, officials, including eight IPS officers, 23 Additional SPs, 40 DSPs, and more than 300 Sub-Inspectors, ASIs, and other personnel, have been deployed to ensure strict security during the high-profile dignitaries' visit to the Rajasthan capital. As part of the preparations, a full-scale security rehearsal was conducted on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. across the Vice Presidentas scheduled route, including OTS, Rambagh Palace, Amer Fort, and the Rajasthan International Center (RIC). Due to the visit, Amer Fort will remain closed to tourists from noon on Monday until the same time on Tuesday. Entry for visitors will be restricted during this 24-hour period to ensure security. According to officials, Vice President Vance will be welcomed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma at Jaleb Chowk in Amer Fort on Tuesday morning. Vance will then proceed to visit key sections of the fort, including Singh Pol, Diwan-e-Aam, Sattais Kacheri, Ganesh Pol, Sheesh Mahal, and Mansingh Mahal. From April 21 evening to April 24, the Vice President and his family will stay as royal guests in Rajasthan. Their official schedule begins Tuesday morning, when they will travel to Amer at 9 a.m., accompanied by Chief Minister Sharma and Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari. They will visit Amer Fort, Panna Meena Ka Kund, and the Anokhi Museum, before returning to the hotel by noon after lunch. At 2.45 p.m. on Tuesday, Vance is scheduled to speak at the Rajasthan International Center on India-US trade relations. He will return to the hotel around 4 p.m., where a meeting with VIP dignitaries may take place. On Wednesday at 9 a.m., he will depart Jaipur for Agra by special flight. After visiting the Taj Mahal, he will return to Jaipur by 1.25 p.m.. A visit to the City Palace is tentatively planned for 2 p.m., where Deputy CM Diya Kumari will receive him and host lunch, said officials, adding, "Vice President Vance and his family will conclude their visit and depart for Washington, D.C., at 6.30 a.m. on Thursday via a special aircraft." Mumbai, April 21 : The makers of the upcoming movie 'Mardaani 3', which stars Rani Mukerji in the titular role, have locked the film's release date. The film is set to arrive in cinemas on February 27, 2026. Mumbai, April 21 (IANS) The makers of the upcoming movie aMardaani 3a, which stars Rani Mukerji in the titular role, have locked the filmas release date. The film is set to arrive in cinemas on February 27, 2026. The makers took to their social media on Monday, and announced the release date of the film marking the auspicious Holi festival as its release window. Holi, which falls on March 4, symbolises the triumph of good over bad and the makers are pegging this film to be a bloody, violent clash between Shivanias goodness vs sinister evil forces with its choice of release date. aMardaania, produced by Yash Raj Films, is the biggest solo female-led franchise in Hindi cinema which came into force 11 years ago. The film franchise has since garnered love and acclaim for its taut storytelling. The blockbuster franchise has received unanimous love from people and has attained a cult status amongst cine-lovers. aMardaani 3a will see Rani Mukerji reprise the role of a daredevil cop, Shivani Shivaji Roy, who selflessly fights for justice. Rani had earlier revealed that the edge of the seat thriller is adark, deadly and brutala and it immediately piqued curiosity amongst netizens, the fans of the star and the franchise. aMardaania, which was released in 2014, was directed by Pradeep Sarkar. The second instalment was directed by Gopi Puthran, who wrote the first part of the film franchise. While aMardaania followed the story of human-trafficking, aMardaani 2a, which was released in 2019, followed the story of a psychopath, rapist and murderer. The film franchise is known for sketching dreadful characters of its villains who are eventually countered by the titular character symbolising the victory of good over evil. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Mumbai, April 21 : The real estate sector in India dominated alternate investment funds' (AIFs) net investments, with Rs 73,903 crore in the nine months of FY25, a report showed on Monday. AIFs are privately pooled funds that invest in non-traditional assets like private equity, hedge funds, and real estate, offering niche, high-risk, high-reward opportunities suited for experienced investors. According to Anarock Research, the real estate sector accounted for the largest share (15 per cent) of cumulative net AIF investments, with Rs 73,903 crore invested in real estate out of an all-sectors total of Rs 5,06,196 crore in the April-December period of FY25. Other sectors benefiting from AIF investments include IT/ITeS, Financial Services, NBFCs, Banks, Pharma, FMCG, Retail, Renewable Energy, and others. "By the end of 9M FY25, AIF investments in real estate rose from Rs 68,540 crore by FY 2024-end to Rs 73,903 crore an appreciable 8 per cent growth in first three quarters of fiscal year 2025. This pace is expected to sustain and pick up," said the report. The number of AIF active in the market has grown 36-fold over the past decade - from 42 by March 31, 2013 to 1,524 AIFs as of March 5, 2025, with commitment raised increasing five-fold since 2019. Between FY13 and FY25, the commitment raised in AIFs has seen an impressive 83.4 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR). "Amid increasing constraints on traditional funding sources, AIFs are an agile and innovative financing mechanism to address capital gaps at various stages of real estate development. Since they pool capital from domestic and foreign investors, AIFs are a sustainable and scalable funding ecosystem," said Prashant Thakur, Regional Director and HeadResearch, Anarock Group. Going forward, the adoption of blended finance models, AI-driven risk assessments, and streamlined regulatory frameworks maximise the impact of AIFs further, he added. This surge in commitments is mainly fuelled by Category II AIF, which is contributing almost 80 per cent over the last five fiscal years. Domestic investors continue to hold the majority share in AIF fundraising activities; however, Category II AIFs exhibit a notable balance with foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) having an almost equal participation, the report mentioned. IANS na/ Mumbai, April 21 : Actor R. Madhavan has expressed his gratitude towards 'Kesari 2' director Karan Singh Tyagi for his immense support and motivation throughout the filming process. On Karan's birthday, Madhavan penned a heartfelt note in which he revealed how the director pushed him to deliver his best performance in the historical drama. While giving Tyagi a sweet shout-out on his special day, the 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' actor shared a candid photo of the director along with some behind-the-scenes pictures featuring the two of them on the sets of 'Kesari 2.' For the caption, Madhavan wrote, "To the most sincere, hard-working, honest and talented first time director I've ever had the privilege of working with. So happy and privileged to have you in my life @karanstyagi . thank you for all the love and taking care of me and motivating me to give my best. Your hard work was exemplary and you more than deserve all the good name and love that you're getting. So very, very happy for you, my dear." Dharma Productions also shared a video montage featuring photos of Karan Singh Tyagi on the film's set, where he is seen interacting with the actors, instructing them, and explaining the scenes in detail. Sharing the clip on Instagram, the production house wrote, "To the storyteller who made history roar again Happy birthday, @karanstyagi!." Karan Singh Tyagi made his directorial debut with "Kesari Chapter 2", a film inspired by the book 'The Case That Shook the Empire' by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. The story centers around C. Sankaran Nair and the events following the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Not many know that Karan, a Mumbai-based filmmaker, transitioned from law to cinema after earning an LL.M. from the prestigious Harvard University. He reportedly holds memberships with both the New York State Bar and the Bar Council of India and has previously worked at top law firms in Paris and New York, gaining valuable international legal experience before following his true passion for filmmaking. On a related note, Kesari: Chapter 2 also stars Ananya Panday and Regina Cassandra. Set against the backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the film was released in theatres on April 18, 2025. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Seoul, April 21 : Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the second hearing of his insurrection trial on Monday in what marked the first time he was photographed in the defendant's seat. Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court via the underground parking as he did for the first hearing last week and appeared in the courtroom dressed in a dark suit and a red tie. Under the flash of Press cameras, Yoon showed no expression and looked across the room at the prosecutor's seat, sometimes speaking into his lawyer's ear. As the hearing began, the judge announced the court's decision to allow the Press to photograph and film the opening of the session in consideration of the public's level of interest and right to know. The court had prohibited filming during the first hearing citing a lack of time to ask for the defendant's opinion and follow other necessary procedures. The photographers were asked to leave the room before the hearing formally got underway. Yoon, a former top prosecutor, faces charges of leading an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law on December 3 that saw the deployment of troops to the National Assembly in an alleged attempt to stop lawmakers from voting down the decree. He was impeached by the National Assembly days later and removed from office on April 4 after the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld his impeachment, Yonhap news agency reported. During witness questioning on Monday, Yoon's legal team grilled Cho Sung-hyun, commander of the First Security Group of the Capital Defence Command, over his claims that he had been instructed by his superiors to "drag out" lawmakers from the National Assembly building when martial law was in force. "I don't know why an impossible order would be given," Cho said when asked by Yoon's lawyer whether he thought it was feasible to drag out lawmakers. Cho and Kim Hyung-ki, head of the First Special Forces Battalion of the Special Warfare Command, alleged they received such instructions during the first hearing last week. When asked if dragging out lawmakers was possible as a military operation, Cho answered, "In a military operation, there cannot be an order to drag out lawmakers." Insurrection is a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or death. During the first hearing, Yoon defended himself, saying his attempt to impose martial law did not amount to an insurrection. The prosecution maintained, however, citing the former President's views of state affairs and his preparations in the run-up to the martial law declaration, that he intended to "start a riot" with the aim of "subverting the Constitution." New York, April 21 : India will be able to maintain its growth advantage, despite the new challenges in the global environment, with the right policy measures, the country's Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran said in his address at Columbia University here. He said the government has a vision to achieve a developed India by 2047. But the biggest challenge, apart from India's size, is that the external environment is not going to be as benign for the next 10-20 years as was the case in the last 30 years, starting from around 1990. Since the country cannot choose its external environment beyond a point, there will be challenges, he explained. "The task ahead for India is quite immense in a difficult and challenging global environment, but I think the policy determination and identification of priorities, as we have done with emphasis on deregulation, can enable us to maintain the growth advantage even in this difficult environment," Nageswaran said while addressing students and faculty at Columbia University over the weekend. He further noted that India would need to boost investment rates or extract more value from current investments, as ongoing geopolitical tensions were adversely impacting global capital flows. He also said that India cannot rely on exports to fuel growth in the same way as it did in the early 2000s. Every year, exports contributed 40 per cent to GDP growth in the first decade. In the second decade, that contribution came down to 20 per cent, and in the third decade it might be even lower, he observed. However, at the same time, he said it is not that external trade is not going to matter. It will matter, and the country needs to focus on that because external competitiveness is also a way to boost domestic innovation and growth. Nageswaran emphasised the need to improve quality, invest in R&D, and upgrade logistics and last-mile connectivity to enhance export competitiveness. "It has to be the driving force. One has to get up one's game on quality, R&D and internally on logistics and last-mile connectivity. But from a policy perspective, it will make sense to assume that it will not be so easily possible to extract growth out of exports as we used to do before," he observed. As part of the 'Viksit Bharat' 2047 vision, Nageswaran emphasised the need to strengthen manufacturing and integrate Indian businesses with global value chains, alongside building a robust small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. "Countries that became manufacturing powerhouses did not do so without having a viable small and medium enterprise sector," he pointed out. He said India needs to create eight million jobs per year at least for the next 10 to 12 years and raise the manufacturing share of GDP, on the same lines as China. Nageswaran said that given the country's large size, India has to navigate this huge, complex challenge, and there are no easy answers. As the country strives to create more jobs, Artificial Intelligence may have a big role in taking away entry-level jobs, or low IT-enabled services jobs may come under threat, he added. Nageswaran said that policy decisions would play an important role in managing this technological disruption. "It is one thing to prepare the population for a world dominated by AI, but it is another thing to ensure that we find the right balance between labour-centric policies and technology, because technology at the end of the day is not just a choice to be made by technologists. It has to be made by public policymakers," he observed. "Obviously, in the current environment, sustaining an 8 per cent growth rate is going to be a very tall order. But if we can maintain growth rates of even 6.5 per cent on a sustainable basis over the next decade or two and look to opportunistically increase it to over 7 per cent by focusing on domestic deregulation, that will be the way to go," Nageswaran added. Patna, April 21 : Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has launched a scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government following a violent clash at a wedding function in Bhojpur district that left two people dead and five others injured. Taking to X, Yadav wrote: "Fierce battle in Bhojpur! Seven people sustained gunshot injuries -- two shot dead, five injured, and two of them battling for their lives in hospital." He accused the state government of a complete breakdown of law and order, alleging that its credibility has "completely collapsed". In a sharp political swipe, Yadav said, "Two useless Deputy Chief Ministers, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, are busy identifying the castes of the parties involved." The violence occurred on Sunday night in Laharpa village during the Dwar Pooja ceremony of Kamlesh Kushwaha. His wedding procession had arrived from Kaup village, under the jurisdiction of Charpokhari police station. A dispute over the right of way for a Thar SUV quickly escalated into a violent confrontation. Eyewitnesses said Rahul Kumar and Lavkush Kumar, both travelling in the Thar, were shot dead. Appu Kumar, Pankaj Kumar, and Aryan -- all from Laharpa -- along with Akshay Singh from Bhaluni village (under Narayanpur police station), sustained bullet injuries. Two of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. The victims were rushed to Arrah Sadar Hospital and a nearby private facility for treatment. Senior police officials, including the Garhani police station in-charge Ranveer Kumar, ASP Parichay Kumar, and SP Raj, reached the spot and initiated an investigation. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident. Tejashwi Yadav cited more examples of a poor law and order situation in the state. He said, "Raju Singh Kushwaha was shot dead in Sonbarsa, Sitamarhi! Jewellery businessman Prince Kumar Seth was shot dead in Sasaram! Criminals ran away after looting his bag. A man named Ajit Mahato was shot dead in Begusarai. The deceased's father alleges that the firing took place in front of the police!" Mozambique, April 21 : INS Sunayna, currently on deployment to Africa as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, departed for Port Louis, Mauritius, on Monday after concluding its successful three-day port visit to Nacala, Mozambique, said the Indian Navy. The ship's crew includes 44 personnel from the navies of nine friendly foreign nations, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative. "Prior to its scheduled arrival in Port Louis, IOS SAGAR will undertake a Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Surveillance along with Mozambican authorities," the navy said in a statement. "This deployment reaffirms the Indian Navy's commitment to enhancing maritime security and fostering partnerships in India and Mozambique within the Indian Ocean Region," the statement further read. The port call marked a significant milestone, enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Indian and Mozambique Navies. It also underscored India's enduring commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, enhancing mutual trust, and fostering collective regional security in consonance with the vision of the SAGAR initiative. Earlier on April 5, the ship departed from Karwar, Goa, carrying 44 naval personnel from nine Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs) of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa and entered the Port of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off INS Sunayna from Karwar as IOS SAGAR, with 44 personnel from nine friendly foreign navies embarked onboard. The deployment marks a new chapter in maritime cooperation and underscores India's commitment to a secure, peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean Region, fostering strong naval partnerships and regional stability. The participation of personnel from FFNs aboard INS Sunayna underscores the significance of this initiative in promoting global maritime cooperation. The ship had earlier participated in the inaugural session of the India-Africa maritime partnership exercise AIKEYME 25, at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. IOS SAGAR is a unique mission based on the Government of India's regional initiative of maritime collaboration titled SAGAR, which aims at fostering international cooperation between India and several African countries. Mumbai, April 21 : Actress Payal Ghosh, who previously accused filmmaker Anurag Kashyap of sexual harassment, has now blasted him for his recent controversial remarks about Brahmins. Ghosh's strong condemnation follows Kashyap's offensive comments, which have sparked widespread outrage and reignited old tensions. In a scathing response, Ghosh stated that Kashyap should be boycotted from both society and Bollywood for his controversial statements. Condemning the filmmaker, Payal Ghosh stated, "Anurag Kashyap has always been a disgusting human being, and I am not at all surprised. In our Hindu culture, we regard women as deities and goddesses. Someone who can force himself on a woman against her consentcan it really be surprising to hear him make ridiculous remarks about the Brahmin community? What he has said is absolutely shameful, and such people don't deserve a place in society, let alone Bollywood." "The industry is much better without him. We don't need people like him who have no respect for others, their emotions, beliefs, and values. He has always gotten away with doing the most ridiculous things. At the end of the day, karma is a b****, and life has its own unique way of getting back at you. I really hope strong action is taken against him for such casual remarks," she added. Anurag Kashyap is now caught in a new controversy after the Brahmin community raised objections, claiming his film "Phule" depicted them in a negative light. In response, Anurag shared his thoughts on Instagram Stories, which soon drew widespread criticism. Replying to a comment saying "Brahmins are your father," Anurag wrote, "Brahmin pe main m*******a..koi problem (I'll pee on the Brahmins...any problem)?" An FIR has been filed against Anurag at the Bajaj Nagar police station in Jaipur following his comment about Brahmins. The case was registered after Anil Chaturvedi, a resident of Barkat Nagar, filed a complaint on April 19. The filmmaker eventually issued an apology for his comment, clarifying that while he stood by his words, he regretted that one remark, which had been misinterpreted. He further revealed that his family, especially the women, had been receiving rape and death threats as a result of the controversy, urging the trolls to leave them in peace. Meanwhile, addressing the ongoing controversy between Payal Ghosh and Anurag Kashyap, it's important to recall Payal's allegations from the MeToo movement in India. Payal had accused Anurag of sexual harassment, claiming that the filmmaker had assaulted her. In 2020, the actress filed an FIR against Kashyap, accusing him of the offense, which she says took place in 2013. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Lucknow, April 21 : Samajwadi Party President, Akhilesh Yadav, on Monday mounted a fresh attack on the Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of presiding over a deteriorating law and order situation, especially regarding crimes against Dalits. Yadav alleged that the state has now become "number one" in atrocities against the Dalit community. "Under the BJP's rule, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the number one state in cases of atrocities against Dalits. The question that arises is -- why is it that states like UP, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Maharashtra -- all governed by the BJP -- feature prominently in incidents of violence, harassment, and especially the mistreatment of Dalit women?" Yadav said in a post on X. He went on to accuse the BJP of fostering a feudal mindset. "The BJP is essentially a party of traditional hegemonists. Its core ideology is feudal, which looks down upon the poor, the marginalised, Dalits, Backward Classes, minorities, women, and tribals. "In terms of mentality, behaviour and intent, BJP leaders continue to live in the pre-Independence era," he alleged. Yadav further claimed that despite using Dalits and backward communities as electoral tools, the BJP does precious little to empower them meaningfully within the organisation or government. "In BJP, a Dalit or backward individual may be given a title, but never real power or a meaningful position. Elections are fought in their name, but they are rarely considered for roles such as Chief Minister or other key posts," he said. He also took a swipe at what he termed as the BJP's tokenism and alleged that true leadership opportunities for Dalits within the party are non-existent. "Those who listen to their conscience will never accept humiliation or oppression. But many are forced to compromise due to personal greed or selfish interests. Today's Dalit community has awakened. They are saying loud and clear -- they do not want the BJP," he said. New Delhi, April 21 : United States Vice President J.D. Vance, accompanied by his Indian-origin wife Usha Chilukuri Vance and their three children, visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple upon arriving in India for a landmark four-day visit aimed at deepening bilateral ties. Vice President Vance, who began his international tour with a stop in Italy on Friday, landed at the Air Force Station in Palam, New Delhi, earlier in the day. His arrival marks a significant diplomatic engagement and the first visit by a sitting US Vice President to India in over a decade -- the last such visit being by Joe Biden in 2013. Vance was received by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the airport. The visit highlights the renewed focus on strengthening US-India relations, especially amid ongoing negotiations over a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement and enhanced strategic cooperation. Usha Chilukuri Vance, who traces her family roots to Andhra Pradesh, is part of the trip with their children -- Ewan, 7; Vivek, 4; and Mirabel, 2. However, it remains unclear whether the family will connect with relatives in India during their stay. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host Vice President Vance for formal talks followed by a private dinner at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, on Monday evening. Key officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, are expected to be present during the discussions. According to sources, the leaders will deliberate on a range of issues, including trade, regional security, and opportunities to boost technological and economic collaboration between the world's two largest democracies. Vance's visit comes at a crucial time, with discussions over a trade agreement gaining fresh momentum. The talks, initially triggered by former President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, are now navigating a new phase. While the US had imposed a 26 per cent tariff on imports, India currently faces a baseline levy of 10 per cent -- in line with the standard applicable to most US trading partners except China -- during a 90-day pause in the broader tariff rollout. This is Vice President Vance's first visit to India and his second bilateral engagement with Prime Minister Modi. Their first meeting took place earlier this year in Paris on the sidelines of the AI Summit. Following that, PM Modi had visited Washington for his first official meeting with the current US President after his return to office. The Vice President is accompanied by a five-member high-level US delegation comprising representatives from the Pentagon and the State Department. The itinerary also includes visits to Agra and Jaipur, adding a cultural element to the strategic agenda. This is the second high-profile visit by a senior Trump administration official in the current term. In March, Tulsi Gabbard, serving as the Director of National Intelligence, had visited India to attend the Raisina Dialogue and hold talks with top Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Modi. Vice President Vance's visit reflects the growing significance both nations assign to their evolving partnership. It is expected to set the stage for more high-level engagements, especially as the global geopolitical and economic landscape continues to shift. Amaravati, April 21 : Residents of Vadluru in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district are hoping for a visit from Usha Chilukuri Vance, the Second Lady of the United States, who traces her roots to the village. Usha Vance arrived in New Delhi on Monday along with her husband, U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance, and their three children -- Ewan (7), Vivek (4), and Mirabel (2) -- on their first official visit to India. The four-day itinerary includes stops in Jaipur and Agra, but a visit to Vadluru is not currently scheduled. Still, villagers in Vadluru are hopeful that she might make time for a brief stop in her ancestral village. They have appealed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to extend an official invitation to the US Second Lady. Usha Vance, 38, is the first Indian-American and Hindu to serve as the Second Lady of the United States. Her family hails from Vadluru, a village located near the town of Tanuku, about 35 km from the district headquarters, Bhimavaram. The village had celebrated her elevation to the role with great pride. After J.D. Vance's election as Vice-President, Chief Minister Naidu had called it a historic moment, noting that Usha Vance is the first woman of Telugu heritage to assume the role of Second Lady. He said he looked forward to welcoming the couple to Andhra Pradesh. IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh had also hailed the Vance victory as a proud moment for the people of Andhra Pradesh, particularly those from West Godavari. "We are proud that people of AP origin continue to make their mark globally," he said. Usha is the daughter of Telugu immigrants -- Radhakrishna "Krish" Chilukuri, an aerospace engineer, and Lakshmi Chilukuri, provost at the University of California, San Diego. The couple migrated to the United States in 1980, and Usha was born and raised in San Diego. A lifelong book lover, Usha earned a bachelor's degree in history from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. She later returned to Yale for law school, where she met J.D. Vance. The couple married in 2014, following a traditional wedding and a separate Hindu ceremony. Usha has played a key role in her husband's political journey -- actively supporting his Senate campaigns in 2016 and 2022 and contributing significantly to his successful bid for the vice-presidency. New Delhi, April 21 : Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Monday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over its reported decision not to contest the upcoming Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) Mayor elections, saying the party is in turmoil and losing ground to the BJP. Speaking to IANS, Dikshit said the move reflects internal instability and a weakening grip of the party, especially as several of its members and supporters have recently switched allegiance to the BJP. "It's possible that their councillors or supporters may have left. There's some turmoil within the Aam Aadmi Party, with members shifting to the BJP. That's something they need to handle," Dikshit said, responding to AAP's withdrawal from the mayoral contest. He added, "Personally, I consider it unfortunate. No matter which party it is, when someone gets elected under a party's symbol and then leaves for another party, I find that unethical and wrong." Addressing a press conference, former Delhi Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, said, "The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will play the role of a strong Opposition in the MCD as well. BJP did a lot of rigging during the MCD elections but still it lost badly. Even after this, it did not stop and all the councillors were poached." She said her party does not believe in the "politics of sabotage and horse-trading" and has, therefore, decided not to participate in the mayoral contest. Sandeep Dikshit also weighed in on other issues, including Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's, recent comments made during his US tour, in which he questioned the functioning of the Election Commission, citing discrepancies in vote counts in Maharashtra. "This is a common topic of discussion these days. What exactly is the Election Commission doing? Suddenly, after one election, there's a massive surge in votes, figures that were never there before and all those additional votes end up going to the BJP," Dikshit said. "It's not just Rahul Gandhi or any one individual raising these concerns, these questions are being raised by the facts themselves," he said. While addressing the Indian diaspora in Boston, LoP Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission in India was "compromised". New Delhi, April 21 : The Supreme Court on Monday extended, till May 21, its earlier order directing that no coercive action be taken against sacked Maharashtra cadre probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly submitted false OBC and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) certificates and fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limits provided for the civil services examination by faking her identity. A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and S.C. Sharma directed Khedkar to appear before the Delhi Police on May 2 for interrogation, cautioning her of drastic consequences if she does not cooperate with the ongoing probe. In an earlier hearing, the Justice Nagarathna-led Bench decided to adjourn the proceedings after Khedkaras counsel submitted that the reply to the counter affidavit filed by the Delhi Police was filed but did not come on record. Deferring the proceedings till April 21, the apex court asked its registry to verify the status of the rejoinder affidavit filed on Khedkaras behalf and, in the meantime, ordered extension of the interim relief. Before this, the top court questioned the Delhi Police over the slow pace of the investigation in the matter. Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, who appeared on behalf of the Delhi Police, had submitted that Khedkaras custodial interrogation was necessary to probe the "larger scam" and find out the names of the middlemen involved. "We want to investigate whether this (Puja Khedkaras) is an isolated case or there is a larger number of cases," he said. At this, the apex court remarked that the Delhi Police could widen the scope of the investigation but questioned the need for Khedkaras custodial interrogation. "You must track up this investigation steadfastly," it told the Delhi Police as it had asked Puja Khedkar to continue her cooperation in the ongoing investigation. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing on Puja Khedkaras behalf, submitted that she is "willing and available" to attend the probe launched by the Delhi Police. On January 15, the apex court asked the Delhi Police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to file their replies to Khedkaras anticipatory bail plea as it passed an ad interim protection from arrest in her favour. Previously, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Khedkaras pre-arrest bail petition and vacated its earlier order shielding her from arrest. In its judgment delivered on December 15, 2024, a Bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh opined that, prima facie, a strong case was made out against Khedkar, adding that custodial interrogation of a person accused of an offence of such nature is required to unearth the facts. The bench, on November 28, 2024, reserved its decision on her anticipatory bail plea after hearing both sides. It was then clarified that till the judgment is delivered, the interim relief granted earlier on August 12, shielding Khedkar from arrest, will continue. Before this, a trial court here had turned down her anticipatory bail plea and asked the investigating agency to find out if anyone from inside the UPSC had helped Khedkar. Widening the scope of the probe, Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala asked Delhi Police to investigate if other people recommended by the UPSC have availed quota benefits without entitlement. The Centre, on September 7, 2024, sacked Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect, a month after the UPSC cancelled her selection in government service. Khedkar has been found guilty of faking and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits. After cancelling her selection, the UPSC also barred her for life from taking the entrance exam after finding her guilty of faking her identity to take the exam multiple times. Mumbai, April 21 : Actor Randeep Hooda recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by his mother, Asha Hooda, and his sister, Dr. Anjali Hooda. The 'Jaat' actor took to social media to express his gratitude and share the highlights of the meeting. In his post, Hooda spoke about the insightful conversation he had with the Prime Minister, commending his wisdom and visionary thoughts on India's future. The actor also revealed that the meeting was focused on various important topics, including the global rise of Indian cinema and the increasing prominence of authentic storytelling in the industry. One of the key discussions was centered around the government's new OTT platform, WAVES, designed to amplify Indian voices and elevate the country's presence on the world stage. Randeep took to his Instagram handle to share his photos with PM Modi and penned a heartfelt note that read, "It was a great honour and a privilege to meet the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri @narendramodi ji. His insight, wisdom, and thoughts on the future of our great country are always so inspiring. His pat on the back is a great encouragement to keep doing good work in our respective fields and contributing to the growth of our nation." "We spoke about the global rise of Indian cinema, the power of authentic storytelling, and the government's visionary new OTT platformWAVESset to amplify Indian voices on the world stage. It was also a proud family moment to be joined by my mother, Asha Hooda, and sister, Dr. Anjali Hooda, who also exchanged thoughts with the PM on his initiatives of anti obesity drive and holistic wellness," the actor added. The family was deeply moved by the Prime Minister's receptiveness and encouragement for the arts and regional welfare. Not to forget, back in 2014, during the promotion of his vigilante film 'Ungli,' Randeep Hooda had openly admitted to being a fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an interview, he praised the Modi government and several of its initiatives, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Work-wise, Randeep is currently garnering praise for his performance in the Sunny Deol-starrer action drama "Jaat." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Chennai, April 21 : A day before Jr NTR is to begin shooting for his upcoming film with director Neel, the makers of the film have released a picture of the two celebrities having a conversation, much to the delight of fans and film buffs. Mythri Movie Makers, the production house producing the film, took to its X timeline on Monday to release the picture of the director and actor deep in conversation on a beach and wrote, " Two mass engines ready to wreck it all from tomorrow." #NTRNeel will shake the shorelines of Indian cinema. Man of masses @tarak9999 #PrashanthNeel @MythriOfficial." Needless to say, fans were thrilled with the picture and within no time, it began trending on social media. For the uninitiated, Jr. NTR, is all set to commence shooting for director Prashanth Neel's upcoming film, tentatively titled #NTRNeel, from April 22. The film, which is being produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with NTR Arts "NTRNeel", is expected to be a one-of-a-kind cinematic spectacle. Rumours doing the rounds in the industry suggest that the present picture was shot in Mangalore, where the unit is to shoot the present schedule. Unconfirmed reports suggest that a small four-day schedule had been completed in February and that the unit's present schedule, which is happening in Mangalore, is to go until the mid of May. The film is being jointly produced by Kalyan Ram Nandamuri, Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili, and Hari Krishna Kosaraju. With the creative vision of Prashanth Neelrenowned for his success with the KGF franchiseand Jr NTR's dynamic screen presence, #NTRNeel is expected to redefine action cinema and set new industry benchmarks. Promising high-octane action, compelling storytelling, and grand visuals, this film is already being hailed as one of the most eagerly awaited Indian films in recent times. IANS mkr/ Bengaluru, April 21 : Responding to criticism and opposition by the BJP and JD(S) over the caste census report, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated on Monday that resorting to baseless allegations serves no purpose. Speaking to reporters, HM Parameshwara said, "The Opposition criticises everything. We keep telling them that making unnecessary allegations is pointless. Still, they continue to target the caste census report." When asked about Opposition Leader R. Ashoka's allegation that the original copy of the caste census report is missing, he responded, "How is it possible for the original copy of the caste census to go missing? The original should be with the commissionerate." Regarding Backward Classes Commission Chairperson Jayaprakash Hegde reportedly agreeing that the original copy is missing, the Home Minister said he was unaware of it. "The original copy should be there," he asserted. Answering a question on the BJP's demand for a judicial enquiry and allegations of misuse of funds allotted for the caste census, HM Parameshwara said the matter would be taken into consideration during Cabinet discussions. HM Parameshwara further explained, "Around 10 committees were formed earlier to ensure justice for Backward Classes. On those occasions, sample data was collected and reports were submitted. For the first time, comprehensive data has been gathered. In that context, this caste census report gains significance." "The aspects to be examined include the social, economic, and academic status of the people. Naturally, a caste census becomes necessary. The numbers will have to be studied. Now, there are claims of discrepancies, which must be discussed and decided upon. This process has started, as the matter has been brought before the Cabinet," HM Parameshwara said. He added that the Chief Minister has deferred the matter for further discussion, as many ministers have raised concerns related to their respective communities. "The government will have to make a decision based on those discussions," he said. "There are differences of opinion even within the BJP and JD(S), as some of their MLAs have supported the caste census. Naturally, some people support it, and some do not agree with the way it was conducted," Parameshwara noted. Earlier, Opposition Leader R. Ashoka had claimed that what exists now is a fake report of the caste census report. "According to a letter written by Jayaprakash Hegde, former chairman of the Backward Classes Permanent Commission, to the government, the original copy of the caste census report is not available." Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, he alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is releasing the caste census report without thinking about the state's development. "Pregnant women are dying in government hospitals, and not a single road has been constructed. In such a situation, the government is focussing on the caste census report," he said. Dhaka, April 21 : In yet another incident of suppression of political dissent in Bangladesh under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, the police have arrested at least 25 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies, including from its student wing Chhatra League, after a series of flash processions in the Khulna city. The police in separate drives on Sunday night arrested 25 leaders and activists of Awami League, banned Chhatra League, and a Jubo League, the youth wing of the party in connection with the flash processions, Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported, quoting Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media & CP) of Khulna Metropolitan Police Ahsan Habib. The former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League staged a flash procession on Sunday morning in Khulna city, following the interim government's orders to prevent such processions. The rally organised under the banner of Bangladesh Awami League, Khulna District Unit, was the first such demonstration in the area since the fall of the Awami League government. Videos from the scene showed protestors holding a banner featuring portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina, the country's leading daily, Prothom Alo, reported. The slogans such as, "Sheikh Hasina, we are not afraid, we have not left the streets," "Sheikh Hasina's government, needed again and again," and "Sheikh Hasina will return like a hero" were raised, said the report. This protest came a day after Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury warned law enforcers to face action if they fail to prevent Awami League processions. "Police officers have been instructed that if they fail to control this properly, disciplinary action will be taken against them," the leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Business Standard, quoted the Home Advisor as saying. The Khulna Metropolitan Police's (KMP) Horintana police station Officer-in-Charge Khairul Bashar alleged that the Awami League men jumped out of a vehicle, carried out a flash procession, and fled the scene. "Since it happened early in the morning, the streets were relatively empty. Police are actively working to identify and detain those involved," he added. Also, several local media reports suggested that a torch procession was organised by local Awami League leaders and activists in Shariatpur's Jayanagar area of Bangladesh on Saturday night. The social media page of the Awami League, confirming the procession, shared a 45-second video on Sunday night, which showed that over a hundred individuals took out the march with torches in hand. Many wore face masks and raised slogans praising Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "Various programmes are being held across the country. In particular, demonstrations are being organised to bring back Sheikh Hasina to the country," said a local AL leader, reports Prothom Alo. "As part of that, leaders, activists and supporters from different levels in Shariatpur held this torch procession. From now on, the party will carry out different programmes regularly," he added. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has requested Interpol to issue a red notice against former Prime Minister Hasina and 11 others in connection with a case alleging conspiracy to overthrow the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. Leading Bangladeshi daily, The Dhaka Tribune, quoted Assistant Inspector General (Media) Enamul Haque Sagor as confirming the development. "These applications are filed in connection with allegations that emerge during investigations or through ongoing case proceedings," he stated. Hasina, who is currently facing over 100 cases ranging from mass murder to corruption, fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year following a massive student-led movement that resulted in the collapse of her 16-year rule under the Awami League. Hasina is reported to have been residing in India since then. While addressing the Awami League supporters online from India in February, the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh accused the Yunus-led interim government of turning the nation into an alleged hub of "terrorism" and "lawlessness." (File Picture) Pope Francis passes away at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, on Monday, April 21, 2025.. Image Source: IANS New Delhi/Vatican City, April 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that he was deeply pained by the passing of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. Fondly recalling his meetings with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, PM Modi said that Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world," PM Modi said in his condolence message. "From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in Godas embrace," he added. Pope Francis, who had been suffering from respiratory ailments and pneumonia for a long time, passed away at 7:35 am on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced Monday afternoon, India time. During his meetings with the late Pope, PM Modi had always admired his commitment to serve people and had also extended an invitation to him to visit India at an early date. "Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India," the Prime Minister posted on X after meeting the Pope at the G7 Summit's Outreach Session in Borgo Egnazia, last year. In October 2021, the Pope received PM Modi during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, which was also the first meeting between an Indian Prime Minister and the Pope in more than two decades. It was in June 2000 that late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had last visited the Vatican and met the then Pope, John Paul II. India and The Holy See have friendly relations dating back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948. India is also home to the second-largest Catholic population in Asia. Kolkata, April 21 : West Bengal Governor, C.V. Ananda Bose, was hospitalised on Monday afternoon after the medical team while doing his routine medical check-up decided to get him admitted after identifying some cardiac blockage. He is currently admitted at Command Hospital in South Kolkata and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went there to meet Bose. According to Raj Bhavan sources, on Monday, the Governor came to the hospital for his routine medical check-up. However, the doctors doing that check-up on Monday detected some cardiac blockage and henceforth without taking any risk decided to get Bose admitted at the hospital. On getting the information, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to Command Hospital to enquire about the health condition of the Governor. "I came to enquire about the health condition of the Governor after hearing about his admission. Now I am leaving for Midnapore. I will be coming back to Kolkata tomorrow after attending my scheduled events there in the district," Chief Minister Banerjee said after coming out of the Command Hospital and before leaving for Salboni in West Midnapore district to attend the inaugural function of a thermal power plant there. The Governor returned to Kolkata on Saturday night only after completing his two-day tour to Murshidabad-district, which was on the boil for almost an entire week earlier this month following communal violence and the riot-like situation there, after protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent. The Governor also visited a temporary relief camp at the Murshidabad-adjacent Malda district, where the people displaced by the communal violence at Murshidabad are currently being housed. The Governor had claimed he would send a detailed report on his findings to the Union government and also take up the matter with the Chief Minister. He also said that he would update the Union government on the demand of the local people of Murshidabad for setting up permanent Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) camps in the troubled pockets of the district. On Sunday evening the Governor also had a meeting with the delegation of the National Commission of Women (NCW) including the commission's Chairperson and had a long discussion on the Murshidabad issue. The Governor also reportedly assured the NCW delegation to ensure the safety of women and children in the Murshidabad district. New Delhi, April 21 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday hailed the security forces' big success in anti-Maoist action in Jharkhand and reiterated the Government's resolve to eliminate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 2026. "Our march to eliminate Naxalism continues unabated," said the Home Minister's Office (HMO) in a post on social media platform X. "Today security forces achieved another significant success in the ongoing operation to uproot Naxalism. In an encounter at Lugu Hills in Bokaro, Jharkhand, 8 Maoists were neutralised, including a top-level Naxal leader, Vivek, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and two other notorious Naxalites. The operation is being continued. Applaud our security forces," said the HMO. HM Shah, during his visits to Chhattisgarh's Raipur and Jagdalpur in August and December 2024, issued stern warnings to the Maoists from various platforms, urging them to lay down their arms. He firmly stated that acts of violence would be met with decisive action by the security forces. HM Shah also declared an ambitious deadline, stating that LWE would be eradicated from the country by March 31, 2026. Following this announcement, anti-LWE operations in several states have intensified significantly, reflecting the government's commitment to addressing the insurgency. In Jharkhand's operation on Monday, at least eight Maoists, including senior commander Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, were killed in Bokaro district, officials said. The gun battle began around 5.30 a.m. on Monday with intermittent firing reported from both sides. Officials said the number of casualties could rise further. Slain Maoist Manjhi, a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist), known by multiple aliases - Vivek Da, Phuchna, Nago Manjhi, and Karan Da - was active in the Parasnath hills and surrounding areas of Giridih over the past few months. Manjhi, originally a resident of Dalbudha in Tundi (Dhanbad district), was a key Maoist figure wanted in over 100 incidents across Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. In Giridih district alone, he was wanted in more than 50 cases. So far this year, 13 Maoists have been killed in encounters with security forces in Jharkhand. Police have set a target to make the state completely Maoist-free by the end of 2025. According to Jharkhand Police data, 244 Maoists have been arrested this year, while nine were killed in encounters prior to this operation. Additionally, 24 Maoists - including four zonal commanders, one sub-general commander, and three area commanders - have surrendered and joined the mainstream. Hyderabad, April 21 : Former MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh of Bharat Rashtra Samithi on Monday paid Rs 25 lakh penalty to Congress MLA and Government Whip Adi Srinivas as directed by the Telangana High Court in a citizenship case. Srinivas had filed a petition in the High Court, stating that Ramesh suppressed his German citizenship by submitting fake documents. The High Court on November 6, 2024, ruled that Ramesh is a German citizen and imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh for misleading the court for the last 15 years. Justice B. Vijayasen Reddy had directed the four-time MLA from Vemulawada constituency to pay Rs 25 lakh to the petitioner Srinivas and Rs 5 lakh to the Legal Services Authority. As per the High Court order, Ramesh handed over the Demand Draft of Rs 25 lakh to Srinivas and Rs 5 lakh to the Legal Services Authority. Srinivas told media persons that this case proved that truth prevails. Stating that Ramesh got Indian citizenship by submitting fake documents to contest the 2009 election and won against him, Srinivas said, since then, he had been fighting for justice. Srinivas, who is the sitting MLA from Vemulawada in Rajanna Sircilla district, said the people of the constituency have now come to know the true nature of Ramesh. He demanded that Ramesh apologise to the people of the constituency for cheating them. Venting its ire over Ramesh for suppressing his German citizenship by submitting fake documents, the High Court had imposed a huge penalty on him. The court had pronounced the order on a writ petition filed by Ramesh challenging the cancellation of his Indian citizenship by the Central government. Controversy surrounded Rameshas Indian citizenship since 2009, when he was first elected as MLA on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ticket. In 2019, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification stripping him of Indian citizenship. Ramesh had challenged the same in the High Court. In January last year, Additional Solicitor General B. Narasimha Sharma had informed the High Court that Ramesh had a valid German passport and he got the passport renewed till 2033. Citing the report of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the ASG had informed the court that Ramesh visited Germany thrice in 2023 using the German passport. In November 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the Indian citizenship of Ramesh on the grounds that he had held citizenship of Germany and had not fulfilled the stipulated norms while obtaining the Indian citizenship in 2009. Ramesh had gone to Germany for employment in the early 1990s and obtained German Citizenship in 1993, when he surrendered his Indian passport. In 2008, he returned to India and applied for Indian citizenship, which was granted to him by the MHA. He won the election from the Vemulawada Assembly constituency in the 2009 elections. As per the Citizenship Act, a person who applies for an Indian citizenship should be present in India for at least 12 months before the date of application. But Adi Srinivas lodged a complaint with the MHA stating that Ramesh still held the German passport and had gone to Germany within this stipulated period of 12 months before being granted Indian citizenship. Ramesh retained the Vemulawada seat in 2010 in the by-election, which he contested as the candidate of TRS (now BRS). He was once again elected from the same constituency on a BRS ticket in 2014. In September 2017, the MHA cancelled the citizenship of Ramesh. However, he filed a review petition in the MHA and later moved the high court and obtained a stay order. Subsequently, he contested the Assembly elections again in December 2018 and got elected from the same constituency for the fourth time. In the elections held in November 2023, BRS denied a ticket to Ramesh and fielded Lakshmi Narasimha Rao. He, however, lost to Aadi Srinivas of the Congress party. New Delhi, April 21 : India's leather and non-leather footwear exports have seen a significant rise of nearly 25 per cent in the 2024-25 financial year (FY25), reaching $5.7 billion, a new report said on Monday. The industry is expected to surpass the $6.5 billion mark in the current fiscal year (FY26), according to the Council for Leather Exports (CLE). The CLE, which represents footwear exporters, mentioned that demand from both developed and developing countries remains strong, contributing to the impressive growth. R Selvam, the Executive Director of CLE, shared that India exceeded its export target by $1 billion for 2024-25, a goal set by the Department of Commerce. "In 2024-25, we have exceeded the exports target by $1 billion set up by the department of commerce and going by this trend, our exports will cross $6.5 billion dollar in 2025-26," Selvam mentioned. Rajendra Kumar Jalan, the Chairman of CLE, also highlighted that exports are performing well in key markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Despite a 10 per cent tariff hike, exporters have been offering discounts to maintain their business relationships, and there have been no order cancellations. Jalan also noted that the situation has returned to normal by mid-April, and suggested a azero-for-zeroa duty proposal to the Indian government in the ongoing bilateral trade discussions with the US. "From April 14-15, the situation is normal. We have suggested 'zero-for-zero' duty to the government in the proposed bilateral trade agreement with the US," he stated. The footwear industry is labour-intensive, providing employment to approximately 42 lakh people. With an overall turnover of 19 billion dollar, the sector includes $5 billion in exports. The industry is optimistic about its future and projects a total turnover of $39 billion by 2030, with $25 billion in domestic production and $13.7 billion in exports, the report said. Additionally, there is growing interest from Chinese investors looking to collaborate with Indian footwear manufacturers to set up production units in India, further boosting the sector's potential for growth, the report added. New Delhi, April 21 : The Supreme Court on Monday told a lawyer that he did not need its permission but the Attorney General (AG) of India's consent to initiate contempt proceedings against BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey over his deplorable remarks regarding the judiciary and the Chief Justice of India (CJI). "You file it (criminal contempt plea). For filing, you don't require our permission. Make a case before the AG. He will give permission," remarked a Bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih. Under Section 15 (1) (b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, the Supreme Court may initiate criminal contempt proceedings on a private complaint only after a written consent is given by the Attorney General or the Solicitor General. Amid ongoing hearings on the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, Nishikant Dubey questioned the judiciary's role in legislative matters, suggesting that if courts assume the task of lawmaking, the existence of Parliament becomes redundant. Dubey's comments targeting the Supreme Court have drawn significant attention, particularly, the word "anarchy'' which he has used and "inciting religious wars". The controversy has sparked political debate, with Opposition parties like the Congress accusing the BJP of attempting to undermine the judiciary. During the hearings, the Central government assured the Supreme Court that it would not de-notify provisions related to 'Waqf-by-user' or include non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board. This assurance followed the top court's indication that it might consider staying certain parts of the law. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has disassociated itself from the remarks made by two of its Members of Parliament (MPs) -- Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma clarifying that these statements were "personal opinions" and do not reflect the party's stance. In a post on X, BJP chief J.P. Nadda distanced the party from the comments by the MPs. "The BJP has nothing to do with the statements made by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the judiciary and the Chief Justice of the country. These are their personal statements, but the BJP neither agrees with such statements nor does it ever support such statements. The BJP completely rejects these statements," J.P. Nadda said. The party reiterated its commitment to accepting judicial orders and suggestions and has instructed its members to refrain from making such comments in the future. Dubey's remarks echo earlier criticisms of the judiciary by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who questioned the role of judges in legislative matters. These incidents have fuelled broader discussions about the balance of power between India's legislative and judicial branches and the implications for democratic governance. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Governor R.N. Ravi's refusal to approve 10 Bills in Tamil Nadu was both "illegal and arbitrary". It set a three-month deadline for Presidential and gubernatorial approval of Bills passed by the legislature for a second time. Additionally, the court suggested that the President should consult the Supreme Court on Bills involving Constitutional issues. Mumbai, April 21 : Director Raj Kumar Gupta, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming film 'Raid 2' has heaped praise on actor Riteish Deshmukh, and has shared how he was cast for the role of the antagonist in the film. With 'Raid 2' waiting in the wings, the stakes for the characters are higher, and the thrill is doubled. In the sequel Ajay Devgn's character of Amay Patnaik goes head-to-head with Riteish Deshmukh, who essays a politician in the film. Talking about casting Riteish Deshmukh for 'Raid 2', the director shared, "I have liked Riteish's work for some time. We know he is a fabulous actor in comic roles, in Marathi films as the protagonist, and even in villainous roles. He truly is a fantastic performer. Last year I worked with him on a series where he played the lead, since then he was on my mind, I had decided I will work with him in future again". He further mentioned, "Once the script of 'Raid 2' was done, and once I was clear who and how the antagonist is and what his journey looks like, I met him and narrated the script.". He also shared Riteish's reaction after hearing the script, as he said, "He loved the script, he loved his character and that's how he came on board and I am so glad that he is the antagonist in the film". 'Raid 2' is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak and Krishan Kumar. The film is presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series and is a Panorama Studios production. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, the film is set to release on cinemas on May 1, 2025. Bhopal, April 21 : In the distressing case of "misconduct" at Chhatarpur District Hospital, Dr Rajesh Kumar Mishra and Red Cross employee Raghavendra Khare have been terminated from their services for their involvement in assaulting and forcibly dragging an elderly man from the hospital premises. Bhopal, April 21 (IANS) In the distressing case of "misconduct" at Chhatarpur District Hospital, Dr Rajesh Kumar Mishra and Red Cross employee Raghavendra Khare have been terminated from their services for their involvement in assaulting and forcibly dragging an elderly man from the hospital premises. Their actions, captured in a viral video on April 17, have drawn widespread condemnation, leading to strict disciplinary measures. Dr Mishra, an orthopaedic surgeon, was employed under the National Health Mission on a contractual basis, while Raghvendra Khare was an Indian Red Cross Society, Chhatarpur, employee. The incident involved a 77-year-old man, Udhavlal Joshi, who was waiting in a queue with his wife, a patient suffering from some ailments. A disagreement reportedly arose when Joshi questioned Dr Mishra about his delayed arrival, leading to the incident. An FIR has been filed against both accused at Kotwali police station on Sunday. The Civil Surgeon of the hospital, Dr G.L. Ahirwar, has also been suspended for his failure to address the matter adequately. Dr Mishra, an orthopaedic surgeon employed under the National Health Mission on a contractual basis, was captured in a viral video engaging in "the misconduct". The video prompted District Collector Parth Jaiswal to recommend strict disciplinary action against Dr Mishra. Collector Jaiswal had earlier issued a notice to Dr Ahirwar, instructing him to investigate the incident. However, Dr Ahirwar's lack of initiative led to a show-cause notice and subsequent suspension after his explanation was "deemed unsatisfactory". The Collector emphasised that the video provided clear evidence of Dr Mishra's actions, which included physically assaulting and forcibly removing Joshi from the hospital premises. Mission Director Dr Saloni Sidana also issued a notice to Dr Mishra, demanding a response within 24 hours and warning of termination for "the grave misconduct". Dr Mishra's reply was found "unsatisfactory", resulting in his dismissal. Meanwhile, Chhatarpur Police have registered cases against both Mishra and Khare under Sections 115(2), 296(3)(5), and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita. It has been reported that doctors at the hospital marked their protest against the termination of Dr Mishra and the suspension of Dr Ahirwar by wearing black strips while attending their duties on Monday. New Delhi, April 21 : Activating the disaster management machinery and proposing 3,000 cold water ATMs, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday unveiled Heat Action Plan (2025), promising to collectively offer respite to people in sweltering heat. Apart from involving 1,800 National and Delhi Disaster Response volunteers or 'Aapda Mitras', the plan talks of setting up shaded, cooling shelters, opening 3,000-4,000 large water RO units attached to boundary walls of Delhi government schools and office buildings to dispense cold water round-the-clock for five lakh citizens. It also proposes setting up 3,000 water ATMs for the public on PWD roads -- near bus stops and traffic intersections. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the national capital's seasons are often associated with civic woes -- water shortage in summer, pollution in winter and waterlogging in monsoon -- but her government would ensure citizens can enjoy every season without trouble. Repeating her government's commitment to offer relief to heat-struck people, CM Gupta said under the Heat Action Plan, 3000 water coolers or ATMs would be installed -- 1,000 on public roads, 1000 in government buildings and 1,000 in the rural belt. "We will also seek help from private entities under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives," she said. The Chief Minister said the Delhi government will regularly issue heat alerts through SMS and social media for the public to take precautions. Besides special heatwave wards in hospitals, Aapda Mitras will also be deputed for anti-heat actions in slums. "Every life is precious for the nation and the city, and we are committed to saving it," she said, suggesting measures to help even animals. Earlier, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said the Delhi government is going to prove its commitment to public welfare through its actions and not just announcements. He said the Delhi government has already launched GPS-linked water tankers to meet the summer crisis and initiated the introduction of new heat-resistant, cool roofs for government buildings, and the experiment will be expanded gradually. Yangon, April 21 : A Chinese delegation tasked with monitoring the ceasefire arrived in Lashio, capital of northern Shan State in Myanmar, on Monday. According to exile group Kachin National Organisation (KNO), more than 30 cars bearing Chinese flags believed to be carrying military and government personnel were noticed in the area. The delegation, unconfirmed reports cited, includes Deng Xijun, China's Special Envoy for Asian Affairs. Xijun had earlier visited Myanmar on March 10 and met the State Administration Council (SAC) Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. KNO further said that the video-evidence clearly shows that Chinese government's non-interference in the internal affairs of a neighbouring country has been voided. Moreover, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) is also present in Lashio as security forces officials under SAC are engaging in discussions. Reportedly, administration of Lashio will be transferred back to SAC's local authorities once the offices reopen on April 22 after Myanmar's New Year holidays. However, government departments and officers in Lashio have no information yet. Last September, the Myanmar Counter-Terrorism Central Committee designated the northern alliance groups, including the MNDAA, as terrorist organisation. According to Myanmar's Constitution, which came into force in January 2011, Kokang Self-Administered Zone was established by combining Kunlong and Laukkai townships in northern Shan State. It may be mentioned that representatives from this zone have been elected to parliament through various constituencies. The MNDAA or the Kokang ethnic armed organisation, whose members are Mandarin-speaking Han Chinese native to Kokang, had announced their alliance with China. MNDAA is using Chinese as the official language in all areas of northern Shan State. Lashio isn't home to only Chinese speakers and there are other ethnic groups living there, including the Shan, Ta'ang (Palaung), Kachin and Bamar, many of whom do not speak Chinese. MNDAA's extensive use of Chinese as the official language in the areas it controls is creating difficulties for locals who do not speak the language. Article 53 of the 2008 Myanmar Constitution deals with the Union National Coordination Committee (NUCC) and one of the specific responsibilities of the NUCC is to resolve any disputes between Union and States. Beijing's pressure on MNDAA reflects its strategic interests in maintaining control over Myanmar's political landscape. Mumbai, April 21 : Maharashtra and Kerala may have governments of different ideologies but they have one thing in common, the lottery system. The Mahayuti government on Monday established a 10-member committee headed by former finance minister and a senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar to conduct a study tour of the Kerala State Lottery and make recommendations on how the state can increase the revenue of the Maharashtra State Lottery. The committee, which comprises legislators of ruling and Opposition parties, will submit its report to the state government within a month. Mungantiwar during the Budget Session held in March this year had raised the issue of the low turnover of the Maharashtra Lottery System compared with the Kerala lottery. He had suggested that the government can increase the revenue from the lottery system on the lines of Kerala. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar had announced in the state Assembly that the government would set up a Mungantiwar-led committee to study the operations of the Kerala lottery system and its revenue model. The government on Monday issued a formal notification on the Mungantiwar-led committee. Maharashtra's lottery system, operational since 1969, currently runs 15 different lottery schemes. Mungantiwar however, had called for a detailed study of the revenue generated by the lottery department, highlighting that the state's earnings are significantly lower compared to other states. In the financial year 2023-24, Maharashtra earned Rs 24.43 crore from lottery sales. However, after deducting prize money, GST, and other taxes, the state's net income was only Rs 3.52 crore. Mungantiwar had questioned why Maharashtra was not maximising its lottery revenue, especially when states like Kerala and Sikkim were earning thousands of crores from the sector. Mungantiwar assailed the regulatory disparity saying that if Maharashtra allows paper lotteries, other states should permit Maharashtra's paper lotteries in their regions. He also stressed that if Maharashtra lacks an online lottery system, other states shouldn't operate online lotteries here. Despite this, states like Kerala and Sikkim continue selling online lotteries in Maharashtra. "Kerala, with a population of just 3 crore has successfully generated Rs 12,529 crore, while Maharashtra, with over 11 crore people, strives to generate even a fraction of that amount. Maharashtra could earn around Rs 25,000 crore if the Kerala model is emulated," said Mungantiwar. He argued that the government should explore various options to mobilise additional revenue instead of citing the revenue deficit of Rs 45,891 crore projected during 2025-26. Additionally, Kerala has linked its lottery revenue to social welfare schemes for the handicapped and Economically Weaker Sections, ensuring that the money benefits those in need. Mungantiwar appealed to the Maharashtra government to adopt a similar approach. (Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in) Patna, April 21 : Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor on Monday slammed the Bihar government over the caste census, saying that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is 'deceiving the public' over the issue. "Nitish Kumar is deceiving the public over the caste census, land surveys, and employment promises," the Jan Suraaj chief told media persons in Bihar. Prashant Kishor also demanded bring White Paper on the caste census Implementation in Bihar. "Why reservation cap was not increased after the caste survey data was presented in the Assembly. If the JDU-BJP alliance governs both the state and the Centre, what's stopping them from raising the reservation limit?" he said. He claimed that the intent behind caste-based data collection was never development but rather to stoke caste-based emotions for electoral gain. "No party is serious about the upliftment of Dalits, Mahadalits, or the landless people in Bihar. It's all about vote-bank politics," he alleged. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to visit Madhubani on April 24, Kishor accused the Nitish Kumar government of misusing public money to mobilise crowds, calling it an exercise in "optics over accountability." "The money being spent is not for development, but to showcase false popularity. If our questions are not answered, we will collect the signatures of 1 crore people and on July 11, submit them to the Governor and the Chief Minister, and will also gherao the Bihar assembly," Kishor warned. He questioned Nitish Kumar on its claim that 94 lakh families would be given Rs 2 lakh each for employment. "As per our information, not a single rupee has been disbursed. Was this just another hollow promise like PM Modi's Rs 15 lakh? He had promised to reopen the sugar mills of Motihari and would drink tea made of sugar from those mills. Will he give clarification about it during his rally at Madhubani?" Kishor said. He also raised concerns about the land survey process, demanding clarity on what concrete help has been extended to landless citizens. Kishor reminded the government of its 22 November 2023 promise to provide Rs 1.2 lakh each to 40 lakh homeless families for housing. "I want to ask how many of these families have received the money so far?" he said, calling for official disclosure. Highlighting the promise made in 2006 to provide land to every landless Dalit family, Kishor said: "Only 2.34 lakh families have received land till 2025. Of these, 1.2 lakh families lack basic facilities, as per the Deshpal Committee Report." Kishor described the land survey process, which began in 2013, as the root of rising crime and corruption in Bihar. So far, only 20 per cent (17.3 lakh lands) have been digitised. "In contrast, Andhra Pradesh has digitised 80 per cent of its land despite starting later. There's conflict in every home over land boundaries. Bribes of Rs 2550 lakhs are being paid to retain the post of CO (Circle Officer)," he alleged. Bengaluru, April 21 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar slammed the authorities on Monday over the sacred thread removal row, saying that it is 'very wrong to remove' 'Janivara' (sacred thread). "It was wrong to remove the 'Janivara'. People wear items like the 'linga' (Shiva lingam) or 'udu-dara' (a string of cotton tied around the waist). Sacred items such as thaali, bangles, ear rings and 'Janivara' should not be touched," said the Deputy Chief Minister when asked about the incident where sacred threads (Janivara/ Janeu) were removed during the CET examination. The Deputy Chief Minister said that these are personal religious matters, adding that the government does not support interference in such matters. "There is a practice of removing such items during police recruitment tests, but they should not be removed in schools or colleges. What was done here is wrong. In the past, there have been incidents where students used hidden Bluetooth devices and other gadgets to cheat. Measures have now been taken to prevent such malpractices," he said. Principal and staff of Sai Spoorthi Pre-University College in Karnataka's Bidar district were suspended after a probe by the police confirmed that students were not allowed to take the Common Entrance Test (CET) for wearing the sacred thread (Janivara/Janeu), in violation of rules and guidelines. Chandrashekhar Biradar, the Principal of Sai Spoorthi Pre-University College in Bidar, and the college's invigilator Satish Pawar have been suspended on the order of the Higher Education Department Secretary, K. G. Jagadeesha. The action was taken immediately after Bidar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma submitted the report. The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also registered a suo motu complaint. Besides, a police complaint has been filed against an officer attached to the Education Department on Saturday for allegedly denying entry to students wearing the sacred thread into the examination hall during the Common Entrance Test (CET) in Karnataka's Shivamogga district. Suchivrat Kulkarni, the student who was denied the opportunity to write the CET exam, told the media that he was stopped. 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. Shivakumar also criticised the Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, on the caste census, saying that a person who holds a responsible position should not lie. "If he wants to know whether the caste census report is genuine or fake, he should ask Jayaprakash Hegde, who was the chairman of the commission, or the officer Dayanand. He will get the answer," said the Deputy Chief Minister. On Minister Satish Jarkiholi's comment that it would take another year to implement the caste census, he said, "This is an internal matter to be discussed within the Cabinet." Earlier, LoP Ashoka had claimed that what exists now is a fake report of the caste census report. Seoul, April 21 : The death of Pope Francis, who had long yearned for peace on the divided Korean Peninsula, triggered deep mourning among South Koreans on Monday. The pontiff was regarded by the country's Catholics and non-believers alike as a spiritual leader who showed deep compassion and a special affection for the country. He chose South Korea as his first destination in Asia after becoming Pope in 2013 and appointed two of the four Korean cardinals to date. Under his leadership, Seoul was selected to hold the 2027 World Youth Day, making the country the second Asian country to hold the global event after the Philippines in 1995. He also maintained close communication with South Korean Presidents, consistently showing a strong interest in peace on the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean relations. During his five-day visit to South Korea in 2014, he met with those who were suffering or marginalised, including victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery -- euphemistically referred to as "comfort women" -- as well as people with disabilities. He comforted them and brought hope to Korean society, with his humble and modest demeanor, leaving a lasting impression on many. "I wanted to meet him again and thank him in person," Kim Young-oh, the bereaved father of a Sewol ferry disaster victim, told Yonhap News Agency on Monday regarding the pontiff's death. He met the Pope in August 2014 on the 34th day of his hunger strike to seek the truth behind the deadly sinking that left 304 people dead in April that year. "When I thought no one would hold our hands, the Pope was the person who gave us the most strength," he recalled, adding that the encounter helped trigger wider attention from media around the world. The death brought Lee Young-su, an activist and one of the comfort women, to tears. "He must have gone to a good place," she said. The pontiff invited seven comfort women to the front row of his Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral, the final event of his visit to South Korea. "Meeting him brought me great peace of mind, but I am sad I couldn't meet him again after that," she said, adding: "He was someone who only did good things. I will pray for him." Ven. Jinwoo, leader of South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order, joined in mourning the death of Pope Francis, offering his "deepest condolences" to Catholics around the world. "The Pope was someone who transcended religious boundaries and shared in the suffering of humanity with humility and compassion," he said. As early as September last year, Pope Francis expressed concern over the ongoing division of the Korean Peninsula during a meeting with South Korean bishops at the Vatican. At that time, he turned his attention to the upcoming World Youth Day, an international Catholic youth gathering set to take place in Seoul in 2027. He urged the Korean bishops to actively engage with young people and to listen closely to their voices, noting that there is much to learn from them. The Pope also voiced concern over the treatment of rural communities and the elderly in South Korea while calling on individuals to take practical steps in their daily lives to protect the environment. Whenever the country faced major tragedies -- such as the crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon in 2022 that killed 159 people and the plane crash in Muan in December that claimed 179 lives -- the pope never failed to offer words of comfort and prayers. As recently as last month, the Pope expressed concerns over the wildfires that devastated the country's southeastern regions and sent his condolences to those mourning the loss of loved ones, Yonhap news agency reported. Pope Francis expressed his willingness to visit North Korea on multiple occasions, saying he would go if invited by the North. Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a Catholic, met him twice, in 2018 and 2021, during which they discussed the possibility of a papal visit to Pyongyang. Chennai, April 21 : Sundar C, who directed one of Tamil cinema's most loved comedy films 'Winner', has now disclosed that comedian Vadivelu, who played a hilarious character called Kaipulla in the film, was really injured and therefore had a pronounced limp in the film. Vadivelu's Kaipulla character in 'Winner', which featured Prashanth and Kiran Rathod in the lead, is considered epic, with several fans fondly remembering it even today. Vadivelu, who played an outrageously funny simpleton in the film, was seen with a pronounced limp all through the film. Until now, many were under the impression that the limp was not real and that it was a part of the mannerism of the character that he was playing. However, during a recent interview to promote his upcoming film, 'Gangers', Sundar C, while speaking about when he first met Vadivelu said, "When I met him for the first time, Vadivelu had injured his leg. We were to work on 'Winner' and Vadivelu had hurt his leg prior to that film. So, when we invited him to be a part of our film, he asked me, 'You are calling me at a time when I am hurt.' I replied,'Don't worry, we will plan scenes with the injury. That was how we came up with (his role in) 'Winner'." The actor, who was seated beside the director, agreed and added, "I was shooting for actor Sarathkumar's film 'Manasthan'. I had to jump into a pit and I did it myself. While doing so, I hit my leg against a rock and suffered an air crack." Vadivelu will again be seen as a comedian with Sundar C in the comedy heist drama 'Gangers'. Sundar C has not only directed the film but has also played the lead along with Vadivelu and Catherine Tresa. A hilarious trailer released by the makers of the film has given enough reason for fans to believe the film will be a laugh riot! The trailer has given away the fact that the film, which is to release on April 24, will be an out and out entertainer, full of laughs, action and romance. IANS mkr/ New Delhi, April 21 : The video of US Vice President J D Vance's children donning traditional Indian outfits upon their arrival in New Delhi continues to break the internet and win hearts on social media. Vance arrived in the Indian capital along with his wife Usha and three children - Ewan, Vivek, and daughter Mirabel - on his first trip to India. After New Delhi, the US Vice President and his delegation will have other engagements in Jaipur and Agra before departing for Washington on April 24. Embracing Indian culture, Vance's children walked out of Air Force Two in Indian outfits. While the couple's sons Ewan and Vivek wore blue and yellow kurtas, three-year-old Mirabel was dressed in an Anarkali-style suit and an embroidered jacket. Later, the US Vice President, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children also visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi a" their first stop in India. "They look super cute in Indian attire," a user posted on X. During the visit, the family experienced the temple's majestic art, architecture and timeless values of faith, family and harmony. This is the first visit to India by an American Vice-President in 13 years. The last was Joe Biden, who travelled to India in 2013 as Vice-President to President Barack Obama. Usha Vance's parents hail from Andhra Pradesh, who migrated to the United States decades ago. Born and brought up in the US, Usha holds an impressive educational background, having graduated from top-notch American institutes. She holds a Bacheloras degree in History from Yale University and then pursued Master's in Philosophy from Cambridge University. She also has a track record of a distinguished career, with professional engagements across multiple segments. She clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Usha and JD Vance met at the Yale Law School and it was there that they developed a close affinity for each other. They got married in Kentucky in 2014 and together they have three children. The US Vice President will be calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Monday evening. New Delhi, April 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, addressed the civil servants on the occasion of 17th Civil Services Day at the Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital. He also conferred the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration. The awards are meant to recognise the contribution of civil servants in the implementation of various government welfare schemes. The awards were given in three categories -- holistic development of districts, aspirational blocks programme and innovation. More than a dozen awardees were picked from more than 1,500 nominations, after an elaborate and comprehensive evaluation. The Sugamya Pustakalaya initiative of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, was among the first to be recognised and awarded for its one-of-its mission. This initiative gives equal opportunity to differently-abled children to read and learn. Rajkot (Gujarat) received the honour for ensuring 100 per cent coverage of various welfare schemes like PM Suryaghar, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, PM Jan Arogya Yojana, PM Awas Yojana and Kisan Credit Card. Gomati district (Tripura) was awarded for providing benefits of various welfare schemes like Mission Indradhanush, Poshan Abhiyaan, PM Awas Yojana, etc. to 100 per cent beneficiaries. Tinsukia (Assam) was also coferred with PM's excellence awards for providing benefits of schemes like Har Ghar Jal Yojana, Saksham Anganwadi, Poshan 2.0, PM Awas Yojana, PM Jan Arogya to 100 per cent beneficiaries. Koraput (Odisha) and Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) were recognised for bringing benefits of public welfare schemes to common people. In Koraput, schemes like Matru Vandana Yojana, PM Vishwakarma, PM Swanidhi, PM Awas Yojana, PM Jan Arogya Yojana saw 100 per cent penetration while in Kupwara, beneficiaries benefitted from PM Jan Arogya, PM Swanidhi, Kisan Credit Cards. Ghamaria block, Seraikela-Kharsawan (Jharkhand) received the honour for exceptional work in digital health checkup, smart studies, Anganwadi and water in every house. Parappa block, Kasargod district (Kerala) was recognised for its progress under the Aspirational Block program. It excelled in initiatives such as medical camps for tribals, construction of concrete houses, animal vaccination, distribution of revolving funds to self-help groups. Naranur block, Adilabad (Telangana) was conferred with the honour for bringing sea-change in people's lives with initiatives like early detection of Tuberculosis, nutrition campaign, science technology lab, natural farming and Common Services Centres. Ganganagar block, Dhalai (Tripura) made significant progress in implementing projects like digital boards, e-learning, digital payments, garbage management and pucca (permanent) houses. Rama Block, Jhabula district (Madhya Pradesh) won the accolades for successful implementation of schemes like Soil Card, Har Ghar Jal, Awas Yojana. Notably, the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration was instituted to recognise the extraordinary and innovative work done by districts and organisations of the Central and state governments for the welfare of common citizens. Mumbai, April 21 : Actress Kriti Kharbanda decided to indulge in some much-deserved skincare this Monday. The 'Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana' actress posted a video on social media where she was seen with a mask on her face. The diva revealed that when it is not possible to speak because of the mark she lets her eyes do the talking. Kriti went on to explain in the caption, "#selfcare chal raha hai. How's your Monday looking!? As u can see, when talking is not an option but thartharahat is happening. Tab hum ye karte hain #aakhonsebaatein." On the professional front, Kriti will soon be making her OTT debut with the second installment of the popular show, "Rana Naidu". The much-anticipated sequel will also feature Rana Daggubati, Daggubati Venkatesh, Arjun Rampal, and Surveen Chawla in pivotal roles, along with others. Kriti, who is extremely thrilled about her OTT debut, shared about the project, "I am thrilled to be a part of "Rana Naidu" Season 2. This role is unlike anything I've done before, and it has allowed me to explore a darker, more complex character. The OTT platform offers a unique opportunity to reach a global audience, and I am excited to see how viewers react to this new side of me". In addition to "Rana Naidu" season 2, Kriti will play the leading lady in the edgy neo-noir comic tragedy, "Risky Romeo". The project will see Sunny Singh as the protagonist. Directed and written by Abir Sengupta, the film is touted to be a romantic entertainer. Produced by Anushree Mehta, Abir Sengupta, Priyanka Mehrotra, and Rameshchandra Yadav, "Risky Romeo" promises a perfect blend of dark humor and eccentric characters. The team has already wrapped up the shoot for the forthcoming flick. Jaipur, April 21 : The Supreme Court on Monday cancelled the bail granted to alleged cow smuggler Nazim Khan. The bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice N. Kotishwar Singh accepted a review petition filed by the Rajasthan government and overturned the bail order previously issued in Khan's favour. Nearly six months ago, the apex court had granted bail to Khan. However, the Rajasthan government later filed a review petition, citing that the accused was a habitual offender. As per official records, at least eight cases -- including those under the Cow Slaughter Act, Gangster Act, Arms Act, and for attempt to murder -- are registered against him across various police stations in Uttar Pradesh. Khan has been declared a fugitive in five of these cases, and multiple non-bailable warrants have been issued for his arrest. In the present case as well, he had been absconding for more than three years until he was apprehended from Aligarh Jail in April 2024, where he was already lodged in connection with other cow smuggling cases. Additional Advocate General Shiv Mangal Sharma told the court that Khan had been granted bail on October 21, 2024, in the absence of a government lawyer, which prevented the court from being apprised of the full extent of Khan's criminal background. Upon reviewing the fresh petition and new evidence, the Supreme Court observed that leniency cannot be extended to habitual offenders who pose a threat to public order by continuously flouting the law. According to the police report, Nazim Khan was involved in a major cow smuggling case along with his associates. On February 13, 2021, a container truck suspected of transporting cattle was intercepted during a patrol in the Nadauti police station area of Karauli district in Rajasthan. The vehicle, which originated from Gangapur city, was found to be carrying 26 cows of varying ages. Unfortunately, three calves (aged 3a"6 years) and one adult cow (around five years old) were found dead inside. While the driver and one other accused were arrested at the scene, Khan managed to evade capture. He remained scot free until his arrest on April 30, 2024. The Supreme Court's decision marks a significant development in the fight against organised cattle smuggling and reinforces the judiciary's stance on habitual criminal offenders, said officials. * Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations. * A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy. * Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship." PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia visit, his first overseas trip this year, highlighted China's dedication to deepening traditional ties, expanding practical cooperation and advancing its vision of building a community with a shared future with its neighbors. The tour, which took him to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday, also signaled China's renewed push to reinforce regional stability and prosperity, and its determined support for regional economic integration as global protectionism and unilateralism continue to mount. CLOSER COMMUNITY Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations. He also underscored the importance of building a community with a shared future grounded in mutual respect, win-win cooperation and shared development. In a signed article published ahead of his state visit to Vietnam, he stressed that China will ensure continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, which is guided by the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Pham Phu Phuc, former deputy head of the World News Desk at the Vietnam News Agency, welcomed China's commitment to pursuing the policy of forging friendship and partnership with its neighbors. In light of unexpected and uncertain changes in the region and across the world in recent years, this vision emphasizes peace, sincerity, mutual benefit and shared development through cooperation, he said. In Vietnam, Xi said that building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development. In Malaysia, Xi said that 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. In Cambodia, Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet 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. China's development has benefited not only itself but also many other countries, including Malaysia, said Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association (PPMC), noting that the vision of a community with a shared future -- "sharing weal and woe" -- has won widespread support. "As long as we uphold equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual trust, we will surely walk hand in hand even further on the journey ahead," he said. Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that the deeply-rooted Cambodia-China ties are rock-solid and unbreakable, setting an example for South-South cooperation. GREATER CONNECTIVITY A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy. In Vietnam, Xi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam witnessed the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism, which is expected to assist Vietnam in aligning its railway gauge with China's standardized gauge, thereby boosting economic connectivity and development. "Railway connectivity and cold-chain transport between China and Vietnam have cut logistics costs, accelerated customs clearance, and ensured fresher, more affordable Vietnamese produce for Chinese consumers," said Nguyen Ba Hai, an official at the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade. In a joint statement on deepening bilateral ties and practical cooperation issued during Xi's visit, China said it is ready to advance cooperation with Vietnam on three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam. Upgrading cross-border railways and ports can boost bilateral trade while enhancing regional connectivity and resilience, said Do Thi Thu, a senior lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam. In Xi's state visit to Malaysia, the two sides agreed to promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation Plan signed in 2024 and further synergize development strategies. They also agreed to enhance cooperation on infrastructure connectivity, jointly implement key projects such as the East Coast Rail Link, promote rail-sea transportation and improve regional connectivity. Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship." MAKING REAL DIFFERENCE During his visit to Cambodia, Xi 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, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities. Over the years, key BRI projects in Cambodia have yielded tangible benefits for local people. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone has become a thriving industrial hub, attracting more than 200 international enterprises and institutions while creating 32,000 jobs. The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Cambodia's first expressway, has cut travel time between the two cities from over five hours to under two, significantly enhancing connectivity. Meanwhile, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has given a strong boost to the tourism sector, operating 17 routes by the end of last year. "The future of Cambodia-China relations is bright and full of potential," said Mengdavid from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. "With the continued efforts of both countries' leaders, we can expect an even more dynamic, mutually beneficial and resilient partnership that will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond." In Malaysia, Xi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents, covering a wide range of projects, which are taking root in Malaysia and making a difference for local people. Such projects have not only promoted technology transfer and created numerous jobs, but also helped uplift regions that were previously less developed, which truly reflects the BRI's vision -- always putting people's well-being first, said Majid, the PPMC president and a former Malaysian ambassador to China. Jaipur, April 21 : The Congress is set to launch an extensive campaign against the Central government, beginning with a massive state-level rally in Jaipur on April 28 as part of its 'Save Constitution' campaign. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra said that the campaign will span from the state level down to the booth level in the coming weeks. He said that the rally in Jaipur will be attended by several senior party leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also scheduled to address a special gathering of around 2,200 divisional presidents. Dotasra said that a preparatory meeting has been scheduled at the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters on April 24 to streamline the event's arrangements. He said that the 'Save Constitution' campaign aims to highlight how the Central government is "undermining" democracy and constitutional values, adding that the campaign will unfold in multiple phases, under which state-level rallies will be organised on April 28. "District-level rallies will be taken out across all districts from May 3 to 10, from May 11 to 17, Assembly-level programmes will be held, from May 2030, Booth-level door-to-door campaign will be held," he said. Dotasra said that during the door-to-door campaign, Congress workers will engage directly with citizens to explain how the Central government is "weakening" democratic institutions and misusing investigative agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax to "silence" the opposition. Accusing the Central government of adopting an "authoritarian" approach, Dotasra said: "The central government is bent on Hitlerism. It is even targeting the Supreme Court. Wherever elections take place, opposition leaders are intimidated by central agencies. There is a deliberate effort to cripple the opposition by cutting off their resources." He emphasised that the 'Save Constitution' campaign is not just political, but a movement to protect the country's democratic fabric. Colombo, April 21 : Sri Lanka on Monday marked the sixth anniversary of the horrific terrorist Easter attacks in the country, which claimed the lives of over 270 people and injured more than 500 others. The suicide bombings were carried out by an Islamic extremist group, targeting Christian churches and luxury hotels in Colombo on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019. Commemorating the victims, a series of memorial events were held across the island nation with a special focus on Christian churches. The Sri Lankan Catholic community, led by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, slammed efforts to suppress the truth surrounding the deadly Easter Sunday terror attacks, through certain government institutions, even today. Ranjith's remarks came during the main memorial service held on Monday morning at St. Anthonyas Church in Kochchikade, marking the sixth anniversary of the coordinated bombings, Lankan news website Ada Derana reported. Expressing concern, Cardinal Ranjith further asserted that the prevailing legal framework and the inertia of certain officials have created serious obstacles to progress, despite Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayakeas sincere commitment to justice and the appointment of a team of high-ranking officials to lead the effort. He further urged the Lankan President to ensure that the blood of the innocent should not be forgotten and the full truth behind the attacks be uncovered. "It is our sincere hope, President, that you will not allow this national tragedy to be buried by time. Justice must prevail, and all those involved must be held accountable," Cardinal Ranjith said. Meanwhile, addressing an election rally in Polonnaruwa on Sunday, President Dissanayake described the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019 as the greatest tragedy ever exploited to seize political power. "It was on Easter Sunday 2019 that the greatest tragedy, used as a tool to seize power, took place," he alleged. The report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks was also formally submitted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka on Sunday for further investigations. According to the Lankan Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala, the report was delivered by the Secretary to the President, following a directive from President Dissanayake. In an Easter message on Sunday Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, with the Christian community, and with all citizens who continue to seek truth and justice remembering the horrific events of Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019. "As a government, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that justice is served. Ongoing efforts to investigate the attacks and uncover all truths without obstruction or delay remain a top priority. Accountability, transparency, and genuine justice are essential to honouring the memory of the victims and restoring public trust. Let us move forward with strength and unity, upholding the dignity of every life and working toward a future where everyone deserves equality and justice," the PM said in a statement. Chennai, April 21 : Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhaynidhi Stalin and Union Minister of State for Tourism & Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi were among several south Indian film industry professionals who condoled the demise of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. Producer, former actor and the current Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Udhayanidhi Stalin, in his condolence message, said, "I am deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Pope Francis. His passing is a profound loss to the Catholic world and beyond. He was a true servant of peace, compassion, and humanity. Pope Francis's enduring legacy of love, humility, and service will continue to inspire generations across the globe. #PopeFrancis." Actor and Union Minister of State for Tourism & Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi too expressed his condolences. Taking to his X timeline, Suresh Gopi said, "Mourning the loss of Pope Francis. Heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. His legacy of love, compassion and service will inspire generations. May his soul rest in peace and guide us towards kindness and understanding." Several other south Indian film celebrities too expressed their condolences. Telugu actor Vishnu Manchu too took to his X timeline to pay homage. He wrote, "Deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. A towering symbol of compassion, humility, and peace. He touched millions with his grace and moral courage. The world has lost a spiritual giant. May his soul rest in eternal peace." Actress and politician Gautami Tadimalla, in her condolence message, said, "I mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a towering beacon of spiritual hope and a most gentle reformer who sought to heal his flock in many ways. His mercy, humility and dedication to uplifting those most shunned and overlooked, shall inspire humanity for generations to come. My deepest condolences to the Catholic community and I pray that His soul may forever rest in God." IANS mkr/ Bhopal, April 21 : Rajbali Baiga, a resident of Kusmaha village, was injured in a tiger attack in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve while working in his field located in Kothia village, under the jurisdiction of the Indwar police station, on Monday. "The tiger, seemingly drawn to the area to drink water from a tube well in Rajbali's field, suddenly attacked him as he paused to drink water. Though he managed to flee, the predator succeeded in injuring one of his legs," Govind Singh, officer-in-charge of Indawar police station, told IANS. Monday's attack marks the fourth tiger attack in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in March-April this year. "On April 2, a woman fell victim to a tiger attack and lost her life," said the official, adding that despite often-repeated appeals of police and forest officials, local people venture into the jungle or their fields alone. "They must go in groups and remain alert," he said. He said that Rajbali had attempted to escape upon sighting the tiger, but a forest patrolling team promptly arrived at the scene to rescue him. He added that Rajbali was rushed to Manpur Hospital for treatment, where he is currently receiving care. Earlier, in Piparia village, a tigress known for repeated attacks on humans in the Dhamokhar range of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve was captured and relocated. The tigress had targeted a young boy and a woman, creating widespread fear in the local community. The tigress had killed a boy and injured a woman as they were collecting Mahua flowers in the forest. The fatal attacks involved Vijay Kaul, the boy, and Rita Baiga, the woman injured and referred to Jabalpur for further treatment. Rita survived the attack. The tigress had been active in villages surrounding the reserve, targeting not only humans but also livestock and dogs. New Delhi, April 21 : Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar has hit back sharply at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's recent assertion that the INDIA alliance will remain intact for the 2027 UP Assembly elections, saying that they don't know how to compete with BJP. Speaking to IANS, Rajbhar questioned the need for such a declaration, suggesting that it reflects internal confusion and political insecurity within the alliance. "You fought in 2024, but there was no election after that. So who asked you to give this clarification? They don't understand how to compete with the BJP," Rajbhar remarked. "They've already started this 'fielding' for the sake of their own people, for whom they go to the extremes of exploitation. They start giving such statements to ensure their own supporters remain aligned and not confused." The remarks came in response to Akhilesh Yadav's statement on Sunday, where he claimed that the INDIA bloc, an alliance of opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party and Congress would continue in Uttar Pradesh through the 2027 state elections. "The opposition's INDIA alliance will continue till the 2027 UP Assembly elections," Akhilesh stated, indicating a 'prolonged' partnership with the Congress in the state. Rajbhar dismissed the significance of such declarations, pointing out that post-election friction between alliance partners is common. "Who asked them if there will be a gathbandhan or not? After the Lok Sabha elections, look at what happened in Haryana, in Maharashtra then you see them abusing each other in Delhi. The country understands all these games," he said. He also accused the opposition of underestimating the public. "The misfortune of these people is that they think the people of the country are ignorant. And so they start playing these games," he added. Responding to criticism of Mahakumbh by the Samajwadi Party and its allies, Rajbhar defended the spiritual event and its global recognition. "The Socialist Party and its allies are unable to digest the diversity of Sanatan Dharma and the spiritual power of India, which is now being embraced globally through the Mahakumbh," he said. "They don't talk about real issues like farmers, youth, women, health, education, or law and order. They have no substance left, so they're just roaming around making statements." he said. New Delhi, April 21 : After the passing of Pope Francis, noted Vatican expert Francesco Sisci has weighed in on the implications for the Roman Catholic Church and the likely direction of its leadership. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Sisci shared his thoughts on the late pontiff's legacy, the upcoming papal conclave, and why it may now be time for the Catholic Church to elect its first African pope. Pope Francis, the religious leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, has died at the age of 88. He had been suffering from various age-related ailments and was hospitalised for over a month prior to his death. His passing marks the end of a transformative era for the Church and initiates the formal process of electing a new pope. Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, assumed the papacy on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Interview excerpts: IANS: Your views on the passing of Pope Francis? Francesco Sisci: It is incredibly sad. It is a tremendous loss, not just for the Catholic Church, but for all of humanity. Few figures like Pope Francis have made such a concerted effort to reach beyond religious boundaries. He spoke to everyone regardless of faith, race, or political beliefs. His loss is particularly painful because it comes at a time when the world is gripped by turmoil, including two major ongoing conflicts: in the Middle East and in Ukraine. His voice was one of peace, dialogue, and inclusion, and his absence leaves a great void at a crucial time. IANS: The Church stands at a crossroads. What direction do you think it will take from here? Francesco Sisci: In the coming weeks, the Vatican will hold a conclave to elect the next pope. This will be one of the largest and most diverse conclaves in history, with 138 cardinals from across the globe. Representatives will come from countries as far-flung as Iran, Laos, and Mongolia. The key question before the conclave is: What kind of pope does the Church need now? Should the next pontiff focus inwardly on internal Church matters, or outwardly on global crises? There are strong arguments for both approaches. Ideally, the Church will select someone capable of balancing both missions. However, unlike when Pope Francis was elected during a relatively peaceful period, this decision comes amid global instability, making it an even more critical choice. IANS: Who do you see as the frontrunners to succeed Pope Francis? Francesco Sisci: It is very, very hard to say. It might be time for an African pope. Africa has the most vibrant demography. I mean, the growth of population is the highest in the world. The rate of conversions and the Catholic conversions are twice as much as the rate of population growth. There is a growing number of Catholics in China, very large. The African church has suffered a lot from persecution, and it has a lot of martyrs due to Islamic terrorists have been killing Catholic priests in Africa. And Africa, in many ways, is a geopolitical battleground. Most of the migrants come to Europe from Africa. And, countries like China, Russia, and Turkey are vying for new places and new inroads in Africa against the whole old grip of the old colonial powers. So there could be reasons to find an African pope. Moreover, I would say, and usually, African cardinals fit a double bill. They are conservative on ethics, but quite liberal on social issues. It also fits well with the church at the moment. Bengaluru, April 21 : Reverend Cyril Victor Joseph, Director of the Archdiocese Communication Centre, Archdiocese of Bengaluru, said on Monday that Pope Francis was a global leader who reached out to the poor, showed deep concern for the environment, and raised ethical concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI). "It's indeed a great loss for the Church because he was a true shepherd and a great leader in the universal Church. We thank God for his leadership, but it is a huge loss. In a very special way, the unique initiatives he introduced during his tenure were marked by mercy and compassion," said the Archdiocese of Bengaluru. He further added that Pope Francis envisioned a Church that embodies God's dream - one that is more compassionate and merciful, and that reaches out to the needy, especially those on the peripheries. "His leadership extended beyond Catholics - he was a global leader. We witnessed his deep concern for climate, ecology, and the environment. He was the first to issue an encyclical on the environment titled Laudato Si', meaning 'Praise Be to You', focusing on care for our common home," he said. Reverend Cyril also shared a personal anecdote: "During my doctoral research in Rome, I had the opportunity to visit Pope Francis in the US. He was affectionately referred to as a 'tree hugger' because of his strong environmental advocacy." He noted that even with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Pope Francis expressed ethical concerns and called for thoughtful consideration of its impact on humanity. Reverend Cyril added that Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), had already issued a circular expressing heartfelt condolences and calling for mourning in churches across India. "We are praying for Pope Francis's soul. We await the date of the funeral, and during this time, special prayers, masses, and services will be held in churches throughout the country," he said. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also expressed grief, stating, "Saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American Pope, whose leadership was defined by humility, compassion, and a deep commitment to the marginalised. He redefined spiritual leadership with rare courage, embracing the outcast and walking the path of true service. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who mourn his loss across the world." Patna, April 21 : Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha on Monday defended West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the Murshidabad violence and her stand on Waqf Act, saying the act is being pushed with a 'particular agenda' while Murshidabad violence was a 'planned conspiracy'. "Amendments to the Waqf Bill were pushed with a particular agenda. Mamata Banerjee has rightly pointed out that the Waqf Act has been brought in with a particular agenda. It was introduced with a specific purpose. Suddenly, this amendment was rushed forward, clearly for political motives," the senior MP told IANS. On the Murshidabad violence, the veteran actor-turned-politician called the incident "a well-planned conspiracy" and blamed elements within the BJP for stoking communal tensions. "It is very sad, very painful. It was deliberately made painful. This is a conspiracy, a well-planned plot, especially by some of our friends (BJP) from the ruling party. They are trying to divide Hindu and Muslim families. It's not just sad, but shameful," said the veteran politician. Reacting to the controversy surrounding Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's remarks abroad, Sinha offered a strong defence, "If what Rahul Gandhi said is true, why is there so much discomfort? Truth always triumphs - Satyamev Jayate. The PM talks of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - if the world is one family, then India and America are no different." He emphasised that LoP Rahul Gandhi's statement was not new and had been made domestically also without consequence. He also defended the West Bengal Chief Minister and lauded her as one of the strongest leaders of the country. "I have always said Mamata Banerjee is not just a good leader, she is one of the tallest and strongest leaders in the country. She is not only the lone woman Chief Minister but also the most powerful, popular, important, and prominent leader on the national stage," Sinha said. Imphal, April 21 : The life of a two-year-old girl in a remote village of Manipur's mountainous Kamjong district was saved as the Assam Rifles swung into action to evacuate her for critical medical aid after the kid accidentally fell into a water tank early on Monday. Imphal, April 21 (IANS) The life of a two-year-old girl in a remote village of Manipuras mountainous Kamjong district was saved as the Assam Rifles swung into action to evacuate her for critical medical aid after the kid accidentally fell into a water tank early on Monday. A defence spokesman said that the incident occurred in Grihang, one of the most inaccessible villages, as it is poorly connected by road and completely cut off from other modes of transport. The villagers had little hope for timely medical support, but assistance came with promptness and determination. On receiving the distress call, Assam Rifles troopers and medical personnel rushed to the isolated village, stabilised the child, Chuishut, with first aid, and within moments, coordinated the arrival of a military helicopter for her evacuation to the paramilitary force's hospital in Imphal, the spokesman said. He said that despite the logistical challenges, the seamless coordination ensured the child was in expert care within hours of the accident. At Assam Rifles Military Hospital, Mantripukhri, in Imphal West District, expert paediatric care ensured the child was brought out of grave danger. Timely intervention was critical, and any delay could have cost her life, the spokesman stressed. The childas parents, overwhelmed and in tears of gratitude, said: "We thought we were going to lose her. Assam Rifles gave her back to us." The defence PRO said that this daring and selfless act by Assam Rifles once again underlines the force's role not just as protectors, but as guardians of humanity in the farthest corners of the northeast. Their readiness, even in the most challenging terrain, continues to inspire deep trust among local communities. Meanwhile, in a demonstration of commitment to the physical and emotional well-being of its troops and families, Assam Rifles conducted a series of aPranayama and aYogasanaa sessions from April 10 to 21 across multiple garrisons in Manipur. According to the defence spokesman, the sessions were led by the inspiring Padmini Jog, an 80-year-old certified yoga instructor from Maharashtra's Nagpur, whose energy and wisdom left a lasting impact on all participants. Over 1,845 troops, families and students across Manipur participated in this 12-day-long series of rejuvenating yoga sessions. Starting from Pallel, Modi, and Moreh Garrisons, the initiative moved to Kakching, Keithalmanbi, and finally to Ukhrul and Sangshak, culminating at Mantripukhri garrison on Monday. The series concluded on Monday at Mantripukhri, where 375 troops and family members took part in a revitalising yoga session focused on physical well-being and inner balance. The event reinforced the value of yoga as a daily discipline for armed forces personnel, whose demanding routines often leave little space for mental decompression, the spokesman said. New Delhi, April 21 : Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Monday that Ayushman Health cards for six lakh citizens above 70 years will be launched on April 28. "With around 30 lakh people belonging to more than 6.5 lakh families and an estimated six lakh senior citizens, about 36 lakh people in Delhi will be benefitted by the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme," said an official. Elaborating on Delhi government's Heat Action Plan 2025 launched by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Health Minister said all special heatstroke wards will be set up in government hospitals. Hospitals have been put on alert to deal with cases of heat stroke and air-conditioned Centralised Accidents and Trauma Services (CATS) are ready to offer assistance to people who may need hospitalisation, he added. Talking to media persons, the Minister said that patient facilities in hospitals have also been upgraded so that they get cold water to drink and air-conditioned zones for waiting. Earlier, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said that with the implementation of AB PM-JAY in Delhi, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, will be covered under Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana which provides Rs 5 lakh free health cover to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of their socio-economic status. This will provide health cover to all eligible senior citizens where all pre-existing diseases will be covered from day one. "It is estimated that more than six lakh senior citizens in Delhi belonging to nearly 4.5 lakh families will be benefited," he said. Talking about the Heat Action Plan, Delhi Minister Pankaj Singh said the state government has launched several important brochures, including detailed information related to heatstroke management units, CATs infrastructure, and disaster-ready schools. He added that the government's goal is for every school and hospital in Delhi to be fully prepared to face heatwaves. "Through awareness, training, and necessary resources, we will ensure the safety of every citizen's life," he said. Pankaj Singh added that the Heat Action Plan 2025 has been prepared in consultation with National and Delhi Disaster Management Authorities. Under this initiative, 3,000 water coolers to be installed across the city and cooling shades will be built on footpaths to provide pedestrians relief from the sun, he said. He added that the Delhi government would ensure strong preventive measures from slums to hospitals. The Health Minister said that more than 1.4 million students in 5,500-plus Delhi schools will be made aware and trained on disaster management and heatwave protection. New Delhi, April 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting US Vice President J.D. Vance on Monday welcomed progress in the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and efforts towards enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including energy, defence, strategic technologies. PM Modi hosted the US Vice President, Second Lady Usha Vance and the couple's three children - Ewan, Vivek, and daughter Mirabel - at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence. During their interaction, Prime Minister Modi recalled his successful visit to Washington D.C. in January and his discussions with US President Donald Trump. In February, during their previous meeting in February held on the sidelines of the AI Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Modi and Vance had discussed a range of issues, strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, during their meeting . On Monday, both leaders followed up on their last meeting and reviewed progress in the bilateral relations besides exchanging views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest. PM Modi also conveyed his greetings to President Trump, saying that he is looking forward to his visit to India later this year. This is Vance's first visit to India and besides holding discussions with PM Modi, the US Vice President and his delegation will also have other engagements in Jaipur and Agra before departing for Washington on April 24. PM Modi extended best wishes to the Vice President and family for a pleasant stay. After the talks, Prime Minister Modi will host the Second family for dinner. Embracing Indian culture, Vance's children once again donned traditional Indian outfits for the visit to the PM's residence. Earlier, the US Vice President and his family visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi a" their first stop in India. During the visit, the family experienced the temple's majestic art, architecture and timeless values of faith, family and harmony. This is the first visit to India by an American Vice-President in 13 years. The last was Joe Biden, who travelled to India in 2013 as Vice-President to President Barack Obama. San Francisco, April 21 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday that India is actively engaging with the new US administration and hopes to conclude the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement "positively" by fall (September-October) this year. "The long and short of engaging with the US is not just for this reciprocal tariff-related matter, but the country is also our largest trading partner with whom we need to have an agreement," Sitharaman said in an interaction with the Indian diaspora in San Francisco. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to launch talks for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA), which is part of a new goal"Mission 500"aiming to more than double trade between the two countries to $500 billion by 2030. "The keenness with which we are engaging with the US administration, even as I talk, I think the Vice President of the United States of America (J.D. Vance) is in India, he will be engaging with the Prime Minister, hopefully this evening or tomorrow. In between all this, the Assistant USTR had visited India to see the progress or to engage with the negotiating team that is dealing with the tariff-related negotiation and the bilateral trade agreement that we want to sign. In fact, the progress of the agreement or the trade agreement that we are working on, at least a first tranche is something which we hope to conclude positively by the fall this year," she said during an interaction at the India Community Centre, in San Francisco on Sunday evening (Monday morning IST). Sitharaman is also scheduled to meet the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and is expected to speak to officials at the United States Trade Representative's office. The Finance Minister also said that India is being recognised globally for its potential and economic strength, urging the Indian diaspora in the US to partner with India so that both countries can grow and prosper. India has become the fastest-growing economy driven by the "visionary leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the stability provided by a continuing government, she said. "When we say that India is the fastest-growing economy and when the IMF and World Bank recognise that India can be the engine driving global trade, what they are recognising is the immense potential that exists in India," she said. Highlighting the steps to strengthen the Indian economy, FM Sitharaman said: "During the Covid-19 pandemic, our fiscal deficit went up. But in 2021, we came up with a clear signal as to how we wanted to manage our fiscal deficit. We set year-on-year targets and committed to bringing the fiscal deficit below 4.5 per cent by 2026. And that's what we have been following each year without fail." On a five-day trip to the United States, she, during the visit, is slated to deliver a keynote speech at Stanford University and hold discussions with CEOs in San Francisco on investment and technological advancements. The visit will also include participation in diaspora events, enhancing India's global cultural presence. In Washington DC, Sitharaman will attend the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, and the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meetings. She will also hold bilateral talks on the sidelines with counterparts from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, as well as top officials from international financial institutions. After completing her US trip, Sitharaman will travel to Peru for a visit from April 26 to 30. --IANS New Delhi, April 21 : Pitti Engineering has reported a 21.43 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 36.14 crore for the quarter ended March 2025 (Q4 FY25), compared to Rs 46 crore in the same period last year. This decline in profitability came despite a strong surge in sales, which rose 39.56 per cent to Rs 468.78 crore from Rs 335.90 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. For the full financial year ended March 2025, however, the company posted a robust 36.33 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 122.29 crore, up from Rs 89.70 crore in FY24. Total sales for the year climbed 37.01 per cent to Rs 1,704.57 crore, as against Rs 1,244.16 crore recorded in the previous fiscal. Pitti Engineering Limited, formerly known as Pitti Laminations Limited, is a leading Indian manufacturer and exporter of electrical steel laminations, motor cores, die-cast rotors, sub-assemblies, and press tools. The company supplies critical components to sectors such as power generation, renewable energy, transportation, and infrastructure. Its shares closed almost flat at Rs 999, up by Rs 1.30, or 0.13 per cent, on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday. In the last five days, the stock dropped by Rs 23 or 2.25 per cent, while it was down by Rs 10.70, or 1.06 per cent, in the last one month. The downward trend has continued through 2025, with the stock losing Rs 299 or 23.06 per cent in last six months. On year-to-date basis, the stock was delivered Rs 331.45 or 24.91 per cent on the NSE. The shares touched 52-week high of Rs 1,512.4 on December 5, 2024 and it touched a 52-week low of Rs 782.75 April 19,2024. According to the NSE data, the current market capitalisation of the company is Rs 3,761.59 crore. Kolkata, April 21 : A special court in Kolkata, on Monday, permitted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to collect the handwriting specimens of the former West Bengal food and supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution irregularities case in the state. After being in judicial custody for almost two years following his arrest by ED officials in the ration distribution case, Mallick was recently released on bail. When he was hospitalised once during his judicial custody days, he tried to send a letter to his daughter, which was prevented by central armed police forces (CAPF) personnel who were on duty at the hospital to guard Mallick at that time. The letter, according to ED, contained certain crucial instructions about the finances of Mallick. Now, ED officials doubt that Mallick might deny that the letter was written by him. So the central agency officials approached the court for permission to collect the handwriting specimens of the former minister so that they could be matched with the handwriting in that letter. Finally, on Monday, the officials got the permission of the court to collect the handwriting specimens of Mallick. In 2023, the CAPF personnel prevented the reported attempts by the former minister to send the letter to his daughter. The CAPF personnel seized that letter and handed it over to the ED officials. At that time, questions were raised on how Mallick, as an under-trial prisoner, managed to access paper and pen to write the letter without the permission of the competent authorities. An ED insider said that immediately after the incident, the investigating officials interrogated Mallick, and during the questioning, he admitted writing the letter. However, the ED officials suspected that he might deny the same in due course, and hence they had insisted on getting the handwriting specimens of Mallick to match them with the handwriting in the letter. Hyderabad, April 21 : The Telangana delegation, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, on Monday, pitched strongly for investments in the state at the Osaka World Expo in Japan. The delegation invited investment in a plethora of sectors and initiatives including the circular economy, urban infra and environmental rejuvenation, the River Musi projects, the Regional Ring Road and Radial Roads, expansion of Metro Rail, Future City development, software, futuristic technologies, including AI, pharma, bulk drugs, tourism, textiles, agriculture and green energy. According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), in the presence of the who's who of the Osaka business world, the Chief Minister said that Telangana is the first Indian state to participate in the expo. "We are here to strengthen our historical friendship into long-term partnerships. Let us build partnerships that will empower people, partnerships to design the future, partnerships to inspire and drive innovation," Chief Minister Reddy said. "We offer policy stability, high ease of doing business and world-class infrastructure in a thriving and growing business-friendly ecosystem. Many Japanese firms are achieving spectacular success in my state of Telangana. We want to welcome many more of you. Come to Hyderabad, design your products, manufacture them in Telangana and harness our strength of location to make it your launchpad for the Indian market as well as a strategic base for global exports," he said. Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu told the investors that the state government investment support includes single-window approvals and customised incentives. "Hyderabad, our capital, is a leading global hub for IT and life sciences. We have a strong ecosystem for aerospace and defence, electronics and textiles. It is set for a giant leap now with the vision of the Chief Minister - we are building the Future City India's first Net Zero industrial city. To be built on 30,000 acres, Future City is built for clean green energy, smart mobility and the circular economy. We are collaborating with Japan's Marubeni Corp to create a marquee industrial park there," he said. Sridhar Babu cited the various projects ranging from the 370-km-long Regional Ring Road and Radial Roads connecting the Regional Ring Road (RRR) and Outer Ring Road (ORR), and the area within as a base for the biggest of dedicated manufacturing zones in India. "The zone between the ORR and RRR is ideal for EVs, energy storage, electronics, semiconductors, and aerospace industries. To support exports, we are setting up a dry port linked to the nearest sea port with a dedicated road and rail link," he said. Kolkata, April 21 : Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Monday that the constitutional structure in West Bengal is collapsing under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "West Bengal, which was once known for its rich cultural heritage, is now saddled with communal violence and oppression. The entire constitutional structure in West Bengal has started to collapse under Trinamool Congress," said Anurag Thakur while addressing the 'Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Sanman Sabha' at Bhabanipur in South Kolkata. He added that the women, people from socially backward communities, common workers, and Hindus are being subjected to oppression. "This is utterly shameful," he said. "The rich Indian Constitution drafted by Bhimrao Ambedkar is being trampled in West Bengal," he said. Indirectly, referring to the Murshidabad violence, Thakur said that the Chief Minister has turned into the "Didi (elder sister)" for the rioters. "Even the police in West Bengal do not take action against the rioters, who resort to oppression openly. These rioters resort to stone pelting on Ram Navami processions. It has become difficult for the Hindus to perform their religious rituals in an Indian state. This was impossible unless these rioters had been enjoying the patronage of the state government," he said. He added that the time for the "corrupt", "anti- democracy" and "rioters protectors" to be voted out of power. "I am confident that lotus will soon bloom in West Bengal," he said. Boston, April 21 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's attacks on India's election system came under harsh criticism on Monday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Gandhi's repeated attempts to malign India's democracy and spread false statements on foreign land deserve strong condemnation. "His actions reflect the frustration of repeatedly losing elections", he said in a post X while reacting to Gandhi's remarks in Boston against the Election Commission. Gandhi, whose party was soundly rejected by voters in last year's Maharashtra election, winning just 16 seats, said, "It is very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, and it is very clear that there is something wrong with the system." The BJP posted on X, "Every foreign trip of Rahul Gandhi follows the same script: land, defame India, question democracy, return. His tours have become nothing more than anti-India events." Repeating his party's alibi for its defeat, Gandhi claimed, "More people voted in the Maharashtra Assembly elections than there are adults in Maharashtra." He asserted that the high voter turnout was impossible and that the Election Commission refused to share videos or information with his party. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi said on X, "Such repeated attacks clearly reflect his deep-rooted anti-India mindset. No responsible leader maligns their own country on global platforms. Rahul Gandhi's obsession with criticising India overseas is disgraceful. He owes an apology to the nation." Gandhi's criticism of the Indian election system is selective. The Election Commission has demonstrated its credibility with the victory of the Congress Party in Karnataka, where Gandhi's party formed the government. Gandhi did not criticise the election machinery in Karnataka or in Haryana, even though the Congress lost that state, but less drastically than in Maharashtra. He arrived in Boston on Saturday and met with supporters and the Overseas Indian Congress on Sunday. He is scheduled to speak at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, at an event billed as 'Conversation with Rahul Gandhi' at the Saxena Centre for Contemporary South Asia. Washington, April 21 : There is a 'very good chance' of Russia and Ukraine reaching a deal this week, US President Donald Trump said expressing optimism even as Russian President Vladimir Putin's "Easter Truce" expired, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of violating it. The US President reiterated the hope of a deal this week at an Easter Event at the White House on Monday, echoing his post on Truth Social on Sunday: "Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week. Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune." These posts came after President Putin announced he had ordered his troops to stop all military activity along the frontline for 30 hours from 6 p.m. on Saturday until midnight on Sunday. On Sunday evening, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of "failing" to "uphold its own promise of ceasefire". "Either Putin does not have full control over his Army, or the situation proves that in Russia, they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war, and are only interested in favourable PR coverage," he wrote on X. "We are ready to move toward peace and a full, unconditional, and honest ceasefire that could last for at least 30 days -- but there has been no response from Russia on that so far," Zelensky added. Ukraine reported blasts in the eastern city of Mykolaiv. While expressing optimism of a deal, the US President and his aides, notably Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have said the US is prepared to stop mediating a peace between the two countries and move one if an agreement is not doable. "Quickly, we want to get it done," Trump told reporters last week. "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. But hopefully we won't have to do that." Russia has so far refused a full ceasefire proposed by the US and backed by Ukraine. Moscow has insisted that Kyiv must end its military mobilisation and stop receiving weapons from the Westa"terms Ukraine flatly rejects. Bhubaneswar, April 21 : The joint team of West Bengal Police and Jharsuguda District Police on Monday arrested two persons involved in the murder of a father-son duo - Harogobindo Das (70) and his son Chandan Das - by a mob during the recent communal violence in Jafrabad under Samsergunj police station area in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on April 12. The accused, identified as Bani Israel and Sefaul Haque, hail from Sulitala in the Samserganj area of Murshidabad district in neighbouring West Bengal. The accused duo was apprehended from the Banharpali area of the district. "Following the raids, six more residents of Murshidabad were identified and detained by the joint team of Jharsuguda Police and West Bengal STF from the Bandhabahal area. These individuals are allegedly involved in the Murshidabad violence," police said. An official said that the detained accused involved in the riots were identified as Babul SK. (24), Abdul Khalek (24), Saba Karim (25), Roni Sk (23),Manarul Sk (54), and Azfarul Sk (21). He said that all of them belong to the Murshidabad district. Speaking to media persons, Inspector General of Police (Northern Range ), Himansu Kumar Lal said that the accused persons fled to Odisha after the communal violence in Murshidabad and were hiding in Bandhabahal area under Banharpali police limits in Jharsuguda since then. IGP Lal further added that the Jharsuguda police carried out multiple raids in the Bandhabahal area during the intervening night of April 20 and 21, after getting the requisition from West Bengal Police, they arrested Sefaul Haque and Bani Israel. "One pistol was found in the possession of the accused persons (Bani Israel and Sefaul Haque), and they attempted to flee from police custody. The police team fired four rounds as warning shots in the air to deter them. Due to the quick response of the police team, both accused were successfully apprehended," informed IGP Lal. He said that a case has been registered against the duo at the Banharpali Police for trying to flee by issuing threats to the police officials and for the possession of firearms. IGP Lal said that the West Bengal Police will get the custody of the accused following court orders. Notably, protests erupted across various parts of the country after the enactment of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, with demonstrations taking place in West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Chennai, and Bengaluru. In West Bengal's Murshidabad District and North 24 Parganas, violence erupted in the protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act that led to deaths and destruction of properties. New Delhi, April 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after his meeting with visiting US Vice President J.D. Vance on Monday, said that the India-US strategic partnership will be a defining one of the 21st century. Taking to the social media platform X, the Prime Minister wrote, "Pleased to welcome US VP JD Vance and his family in New Delhi. We reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump. We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges." "India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st Century for a better future of our people and the world," he said in the post. Earlier in the day, PM Modi and US Vice President J.D. Vance welcomed progress in the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and efforts towards enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including energy, defence, and strategic technologies. The Prime Minister hosted the US Vice President, Second Lady Usha Vance and the couple's three children -- Ewan, Vivek, and daughter Mirabel -- at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence. During their interaction, Prime Minister Modi recalled his successful visit to Washington D.C. in January and his discussions with US President Donald Trump. In February, during their previous meeting held on the sidelines of the AI Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Modi and Vance had discussed a range of issues, strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations. On Monday, both leaders followed up on their last meeting and reviewed progress in the bilateral relations, besides exchanging views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest. PM Modi also conveyed his greetings to President Trump, saying that he is looking forward to his visit to India later this year. This is Vance's first visit to India, and besides holding discussions with PM Modi, the US Vice President and his delegation will also have other engagements in Jaipur and Agra before departing for Washington on April 24. PM Modi extended best wishes to the Vice President and family for a pleasant stay. After the talks, Prime Minister Modi will host the Second family for dinner. Embracing Indian culture, Vance's children once again donned traditional Indian outfits for the visit to the PM's residence. Earlier, the US Vice President and his family visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi -- their first stop in India. During the visit, the family experienced the temple's majestic art, architecture and timeless values of faith, family and harmony. This is the first visit to India by an American Vice President in 13 years. The last was Joe Biden, who travelled to India in 2013 as Vice President to President Barack Obama. Jeddah, April 21 : Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Indian businessman Zafar Sareshwala has described the trip as strategically and culturally significant, stating it will mark the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations between the two nations. Sareshwala pointed out that this will be PM Modi's third visit to Saudi Arabia, and this time he is visiting Jeddah, considered the gateway to the holy city of Mecca. Unlike his previous visits to Riyadh, the Jeddah leg carries special cultural and religious significance. He believes the visit will not only strengthen bilateral ties but also open up new opportunities for Indian expatriates and businesses. He highlighted that the Indian population in Saudi Arabia is close to 2.8 million and continues to grow. Under the strict labour laws enforced by the Saudi government, even unskilled workers are entitled to a minimum salary of 1,600 riyals (approximately Rs 35,000), along with housing and food allowances. As a result, an average Indian worker can save around Rs 25,000 per month. Sareshwala emphasised the significant improvement in the condition of Indians in Saudi Arabia over the past nine years. Earlier, the majority of Indian workers came from Kerala, but now there is a growing influx from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal. Moreover, Indians are now holding not just blue-collar jobs but also middle and senior-level positions. Since 2016, over 1,000 Indian companies have established offices in Saudi Arabia, especially in sectors such as construction, infrastructure, information technology, and artificial intelligence. The rapidly growing Saudi economy, particularly in the construction and IT sectors, is generating fresh opportunities for Indians. Sareshwala also revealed that his company is planning to collaborate with India's Navratna company, Indraprastha Gas Limited, to set up a domestic gas distribution network in Saudi Arabia. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this project is expected to be signed soon. He believes PM Modi's visit marks the dawn of a new chapter in India-Saudi relations, with the Prime Minister focused on enhancing both economic and cultural cooperation between the two nations. The expatriate businessman also expressed concern over some individuals in India making negative remarks about Islam and Muslims, stating that such groups undermine the Prime Minister's broader vision. "There is a section of society in India that wakes up every morning and begins the day by abusing Islam and Muslims. If you look at Twitter or Facebook, you'll find this group active daily," he said. Regarding the Waqf law, Sareshwala suggested that those with concerns should directly approach the Prime Minister. "Instead of speaking through the media or in public, I believe the best approach is direct dialogue. Of course, one can approach the Supreme Court it's a fundamental right or stage peaceful protests. But ultimately, direct conversation is the best way forward," he added. Patna, April 21 : The Indian Air Force's spectacular Surya Kiran Aerobatic team will light up the skies of Patna on Tuesday, as part of Veer Kunwar Singh's Shaurya Jayanti celebrations. The aerial display will be held on the JP Ganga Path near Sabhyata Dwar, with students from 40 government and private schools participating in the event. The show is a tribute to the brave martyrs of the 1857 revolt, highlighting the valour of Veer Kunwar Singh, whose birth anniversary is observed on April 23. On Tuesday, the Surya Kiran team will perform the dress rehearsal and the main event will be organised on Wednesday at the same venue. The highlight of the Shaurya Diwas celebration will be the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team's spectacular performance with nine Hawk-132 jet planes. District Education Officer Sanjay Kumar confirmed that students from classes 8 to 12 have been invited, with letters already dispatched to school principals. Teachers and parents are also welcome to join the event. To instill a spirit of patriotism and pride in the Air Force, the State Education Department has instructed schools to conduct awareness sessions about career opportunities in the Indian Air Force ahead of the aerobatic show. Some of the participating schools include Government Girls Higher Secondary School (Bankipur), BN Collegiate School, TK Ghosh Academy, PN Anglo School, St. Michael's High School, St. Xavier's High School, Don Bosco Academy, and several others. "The aerial display will run from 10:15 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. To ensure smooth conduct, 140 police officers and 400 Constables/Home Guards have been deployed," Patna Traffic Superintendent of Police Aparajit Lohan. Participants vehicles will be parked at the Patna's Gandhi Maidan, and they will proceed on foot to the Ganga Path. Multiple parking zones and traffic diversions have been set up for different routes. From Digha, U-turn at LCT Ghat, vehicles can be parked along designated lanes, vehicles coming from Gaighat, can park near Krishna Ghat, and from Danapur via Ashok Rajpath, the motorists can park their vehicles near Ghats number 83, 88 and 93. From JP Golambar's side, vehicles can be parked at the Gandhi Maidan. Additional parking at Science College Ground, Patna College, Mahendru, and Collectorate. This first-of-its-kind public event in Patna promises an awe-inspiring experience for students and citizens alike -- blending patriotism, education, and aerial brilliance over the historic JP Ganga Path. Delhi/Aizawl, April 21 : The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) would assume security responsibility of Mizoram's lone airport - Lengpui - on April 24, marking its first unit in the state and the 69th civil airport under CISF protection since 2000, an official said on Monday. Officials said that a joint deployment with Mizoram Police and CRPF begins from April 21 for a smooth transition. Bordered by Myanmar and Bangladesh, Mizoram's Lengpui is vital for India's Act East Policy, which aims to enhance connectivity and economic ties with Southeast Asia, an official statement said. It said that CISF's expertise in counterterrorism and aviation security strengthens national security, ensuring passenger safety and supporting Mizoram's economic growth. "This milestone enhances connectivity and reinforces India's commitment to securing its northeast aviation infrastructure. The CISF's presence is expected to boost confidence among travellers and airlines, potentially increasing flight operations and supporting Mizoram's economic growth," the statement said. It mentioned that this initiative not only strengthens India's aviation security network but also reaffirms the government's focus on integrating the northeast into the nation's growth story. Lengpui Airport, which is owned and managed by the state government, was built in 1998 and is located approximately 30 km north of Aizawl. Earlier, Chief Minister Lalduhoma had said the state government is preparing the draft of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) as part of the government's consideration to hand over the Lengpui airport to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Chief Minister, replying to the queries of the MLAs in the state assembly, had said the working committee looking into the maintenance and management of the Lengpui airport is drafting the MoA. After preparation of the MoA draft, it would be submitted to the state government, and then the Cabinet would discuss the matter and take a final decision, he had said. Lalduhoma said that consultations with various NGOs and the NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) were held in this regard. He told the House that the government has recently allocated Rs 86 crore for renovating and upgrading the runway and other necessary development works of the airport. Thiruvananthapuram, April 21 : Of the four cardinals from the country, who will elect the new Pope, the only 'one' from Kerala, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis is set to leave for the Vatican in the early morning hours of Tuesday from here. The 64-year-old is the major archbishop of Thiruvanthapuram and the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and had taken part in the voting to elect Pope Francis in 2013. Cleemis recalled his long association with Pope Francis and when he went to take part in the election process in 2013, he got a room next to Pope Francis. Pope Francis passed away early on Monday at his headquarters. However at 11.30 p.m. IST on Monday at a solemn private function, the acting head cardinal will lead a prayer session with the immediate family members of the Pope also participating. At the session the acting Pope will call out the name of Pope Francis when he was baptised three times. With no response coming, the Vatican will declare Pope Francis as dead as this is the custom. On Wednesday morning, the mortal remains of Pope Francis will be brought to the St. Peters Basilica. In India, at present there are four cardinals. The election for the new Pope will take place sometime early next month when all the Cardinals aged 80 years and below will be together and will have no contact with the outside world till the white smoke emerges from the meeting place. Whosoever is elected will have to secure two-third of the votes and if none gets that majority, all the ballots are burned and black smoke comes out from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, signalling to the outside world that voting will continue. The voting goes on till the time when one candidate gets two-third majority and when that happens the white smoke comes out signalling the new Pope has been elected. The electoral college consists of four from India. Apart from Cleemis, the others from India includes Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, even though a Keralaite, he was recently elevated as Cardinal by Pope Francis in December last year. Koovakad was posted to the office of Pope Francis and he unlike other Cardinals was only a priest and was based in Vatican. The other two from India includes 63-year-old Cardinal Anthony Poola, who is the country's first Dalit Cardinal and 72-year-old Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao. Incidentally in Kerala, there are three Catholic rites which include the Syro-Malabar, Latin and the Syro-Malankara Churches. These three Churches account for more than 50 per cent of the Christians in Kerala, which constitute about 17 per cent of the 3.3- crore state population. Thomas A. Barron, Jr., Ed.D., CAGS, MBA, MSOD, Chair-Business and Technology Department, Charter Oak State College said, "Our students in both programs will graduate with some of the most cutting-edge skill sets in the field." Post this Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate Google Data Analytics Certificate Scrum Master-Agile Certificate AI Practitioner Certificate The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts overall employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. In addition to the degree, Charter Oak B.S. Marketing students will have the opportunity to earn professional certifications while in the program, or be positioned to earn them upon graduation, including: Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Professional Certificate Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate Charter Oak State College President Ed Klonoski said, "We are fully committed to expanding our portfolio of degree programs in the industries that best meet the needs of today's workforce and best positions our students for career advancement upon graduation. Charter Oak students will be able to achieve their degree affordably and in the most flexible manner possible online allowing them to more seamlessly balance work, family and life responsibilities." Thomas A. Barron, Jr., Ed.D., CAGS, MBA, MSOD, Chair-Business and Technology Department, Charter Oak State College said, "Our students in both programs will graduate with some of the most cutting-edge skill sets in the field. Our Marketing graduates will not only be proficient in all the most in demand areas of this field, but they will also have the opportunity to earn leading industry credentials from Meta, Google and Salesforce while earning their degree." Barron continued, "Our B.S. in Data Analytics students will experience industry-aligned curriculum with hands-on training in Python, SQL, and Power BI, plus they will be prepared to earn industry recognized certifications from Microsoft and Google." Prospective student can apply now. Classes begin this August. Business & Technology Virtual Open House May 14, 2025 Prospective students interested in meeting the Program Directors and Admissions Team can RSVP today to join a Virtual Open House on May 14, 2025; 5:30 6:30 PM EDT. To RSVP, visit https://www.charteroak.edu/business. College staff will discuss both programs and the benefits of our online courses and walk attendees' through the simple admissions process. Attendees can have their questions answered at the event, plus apply for free. Charter Oak State College (http://www.CharterOak.edu) is Connecticut's only dedicated, public, online college, offering associate and bachelor's degrees in high-demand fields including Business, Healthcare, Technology, Nursing, Social Work, Education, and Public Safety. The College offers master's degrees in Curriculum and Instruction, Organizational Leadership, Health Informatics and Healthcare Administration. Charter Oak is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and governed by Connecticut's Board of Regents for Higher Education. Media Contact Carolyn Hebert, Charter Oak State College, 8605153880, [email protected], Charter Oak State College SOURCE Charter Oak State College With most of the employees of the Institute of Museum and Library Services facing a May 4 reduction in force, time is of the essence for the future of the federal agency and its programs. Given the looming deadline, two pending lawsuits that oppose a White House executive order that hobbles IMLS moved forward last week. In the District Court of Rhode Island, judge John J. McConnell Jr. held a motion hearing April 18 on Rhode Island v. Trump, an effort to preserve IMLS, the Minority Business and Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The suit, filed by 21 states' attorneys general, intends to restore the embattled agencies and avert threats to awarded grants. Speaking on behalf of the plaintiffs, Rhode Island solicitor general and assistant attorney general Katherine Sadeck told McConnell, The relief that were seeking is to enjoin the closure decisions and to enjoin these three agencies application and implementation of the executive order. When McConnell asked whether the plaintiffs were asking the court to reorder the agencies to rehire their staff, Sadeck responded that reductions in force are in many cases expressly tied to the closure and the executive order. We are asking your honor to completely enjoin the executive order and the closure decision, which would still allow the agencies to go back and make more individualized employment decisions. The plaintiff states are seeking to preserve the status quo that has been in place for decades, Rhode Island assistant attorney general Natalya Buckler added. Buckler explained that because of the EO, statutory functions of the agencies are going unfulfilled. Only 12 people remain in the office at IMLS, and grantees are learning that their discretionary grants have been terminated. MBDA, an agency that mentors women- and minority-owned businesses, has placed all but five of its 49 staffers on administrative leave, ceased all statutory and non-statutory functions, and cancelled grants. FMCS, a neutral party in resolving labor disputes, has reduced its staff from 207 to about 15, meaning that public transit, public safety, hospitals and medical facilities, and schools could be hamstrung by unresolved labor disputes. What were really challenging is the administrations concerted effort to shut down avenues of education and dialogue, as well as its disempowerment of small businesses and its stunting of economic growth, Buckler said to McConnell, adding that threats to libraries, museums, entrepreneurship, and labor strike at the heart of our democracys foundation. What Constitutes Irreparable Harm? McConnell pointed out to Buckler that the federal government makes a broad argument that economic harm is not irreparable harm, because if a case is successful, the plaintiffs may recuperate their costs through damages. Why isnt this primarily a damages case that takes it out of the realm of irreparable harm and therefore injunctive relief? McConnell asked. Broadly, the type of harm were alleging spans beyond purely economic damages, and the plaintiff states would not be able to be adequately compensated after the fact, Buckler replied. She explained that the agencies and the public are experiencing real consequencesas opposed to speculative harmthat will continue if the three agencies are permanently scaled back. As an example, Buckler named an ongoing two-week closure and internal reorganization of the Maine State Library (MSL), a direct result of lost IMLS funding. The longer that IMLS is allowed to exist in the defunded state it is in right now, the more difficult it will be to put the pieces back together in states including Maine, Buckler said. When McConnell, in reference to defendants claims, suggested Maine could reallocate funds to the library and request remuneration should the plaintiffs prevail, Buckler cited evidence on the docket to prove otherwise. Sadeck also spoke about MSL. If theres a Maine resident who wants to go to their library today, they cant, she said. They cant undo the harm thats happening today and next week or recoup the loss of services at some future date, Sadeck said. The implementation of the executive order and the closure decisions here have violated the APA [Administrative Procedure Act], the separation of powers, and the Take Care Clause, and success on any one of these merits should be enough to grant the plaintiffs full injunctive relief. Testifying for the defense, Abigail Stout of the U.S. Department of Justice called claims of irreparable harm speculative in nature. In the case of MSL, Stout said, the closure is a direct result of the lack of funds, so it stems from monetary harm, and their existence is not threatened. When an agency like FMCS is reduced to a fraction of its staff, she added, disruption of services doesnt mean theres no mediation services availabletheyll just have to pay more for them. McConnell pressed Stout on the plaintiffs motion. The states write that if the president believes that the federal government should cease supporting the nations libraries and museums, expanding economic opportunity to disadvantaged individuals, and resolving labor strife, hes free to advocate that view with Congress and the public, McConnell said. One option that our Constitution does not afford him, however, is to unilaterally destroy the agencies that Congress established to perform these functions. How do you respond to that? Didnt [the executive branch] snub its nose at the mandate from Congress, and most egregiously perhaps with these three agencies? Stout called the plaintiffs motion a bit hyperbolic in places, reminding McConnell that nowhere in [the executive order] does it say abolish or dismantle the agencies, which are to be reduced to their statutory mandates. Both Buckler and Sadeck argued that the plaintiff states had provided evidence, whereas the defendants supplied none. The defendants dont put anything on the record to rebut the factual declarations that are before the court, Buckler said. McConnell seemed to agree on that point. Its actually frustrating for a court to be presented with evidence on one side and no evidence at all on the other side, he said. It makes the job on some level much more difficult, even though ultimately its probably easier, because the evidence before me is uncontested. Reached for comment, EveryLibrary executive director John Chrastka referred to his organizations latest statement. "We see the administration's argument that the states lack standing as facetious and their argument that neither APA nor ICA [Impoundment Control Act] applies as specious," he said. "Their statement that harm cannot be establishedand that only economic harm should be used as a testis crass." He added, We think the case has merit and hope the judge schedules a trial or issues a judgment quickly. ALA's Case in D.C. District Court Following the hearing in the 21 states' attorneys generals' lawsuit, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia set a date of April 30 for a motion hearing on the second suit, American Library Association v. Sonderling. In their suit, the ALA and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union (AFSCME) requested a preliminary injunction against the dismantling of the IMLS, terminating or transferring awarded grants, and reducing IMLSs staff. The decision is good news for the plaintiffs who seek a resolution prior to May 4, the day a reduction in force is scheduled to take effect at IMLS. Pope Francis died on April 21, Easter Monday, after leading a global church of nearly 1.3 billion Catholics for more than a decade. The Argentine-born Francis had served as pope since 2013, when his predecessor, Pope Benedict, made the shocking decision to resign; Benedict said at the time that he could no longer shoulder the weight. Francis, who was 88 years old and one of the oldest pontiffs in this history of the Catholic Church, thought it was a job for life. Even so, in Life: My Story Through History (HarperOne), his March 2024 book of observances on momentous events he experienced, Pope Francis writes that he had already left a resignation letter with the Vatican Secretary of State in case of the "distant possibility" that he could not carry on. However, he added in the book, "there is no risk of it." But after 12 years, Francis, who maintained a demanding schedule even as he endured repeated hospitalizations and falls, was weakened by five weeks in the hospital with double pneumonia and related complications. He died less than 24 hours after riding through crowds in St. Peter's Square, blessing children who flocked toward him, reaching outwith his arms and with his words. Perhaps as his health failed, Francis sensed time would run out on the impact he could have. His first full memoir, Hope (written with Carol Russo for Random House), originally planned to be published after his death, went on sale in late January because, according to the publisher, "the needs of our times and the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope have moved him to make this precious legacy available now." Now, Francis would have his final say on the challenges facing an ancient faith in the modern world. In his time as Bishop of Rome, Francis contended with friction within the church and society over the hottest questions of today. Can or should the Church bless gay marriage? Ordain women as priests? Permit politicians who support abortion rights to take communion? Champion efforts to combat climate change? Make care for the poor and refugees central to living the faith? "My people are poor and I am one of them," was a frequent refrain of the first pontiff from the Western Hemisphere. He was born to Italian immigrant parents in Buenos Aires in December 1936 as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He became a priest in 1969, a Jesuit in 1973, a bishop in 1992, Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and a cardinal in 2001. With Bergoglio's election by the College of Cardinals, he became Francis, the 266th pope of the Catholic Church. Upon his appointment, the Image, an imprint of the PRH Christian Publishing Group, released an English translation of a 2010 dialogue on religion and reason that then-Cardinal Bergoglio had coauthored with Rabbi Abraham Skorka in Argentina, On Heaven and Earth: Pope Francis on Faith, Family, and the Church in the Twenty-First Century. Over the years, Image published seven more titles by the pope, concluding with I Am Asking in the Name of God: Ten Prayers for a Future of Hope in October 2023. Campbell Wharton, SVP and Publisher for Image, told PW, To be a part of sharing his legacy with the world in his own words is a privilege we hold with great reverence and gratitude." Five years into Francis's papacy, traditionalist Catholics were up in arms, not charmed by the popular, pastoral pope who followed the conservative, doctrinaire theologian Benedict. In 2018, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat wrote To Change The Church: Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism (Simon & Schuster) detailing the view that the 21st-century-minded Francis could be undermining the ancient Catholic Church's doctrines on "the authority of Scripture, the nature of the sacraments, the definition of sin, the means of redemption, the true identity of Jesus, the very nature of God. Francisas an author or a subjectwas a popular topic for Catholic and secular publishers alike. To start, there are a number of titles "by" him based on the publicly published texts from the Vatican. These range from his four Encyclicals (major theological essays on matters of faith, morals, and social issues such as mercy, justice, and saving the environment) to seven Apostolic Exhortations (letters to the Church detailing doctrine or encouraging the faithful), to titles featuring excerpts from thousands of homilies he delivered to vast Vatican audiences. A PW reviewer called Francis's 2014 book, The Church of Mercy: A Vision for the Church (Loyola), the first of many collections of homilies and public addresses, a "mission statement " for the "Church of the Poor," and a call to "alleviate pain suffering, loneliness, and dread." For Walking With Pope Francis: The Official Documents in Everyday Language (Orbis, 2023), theology professor and priest James H. Kroeger made 10 of Francis's most influential Vatican writings accessible to general readers. And this February, Faithwords, a division of Hachette, released a collection of bite-sized Pope Francis quotes titled I Want You to Be Happy: Finding Peace and Abundance in Everyday Life. Pope Francis also gave numerous interviews to journalists who published them in collections. He was the subject of biographies and analytical works by historians, theologians, and scholars. PW spoke with several publishers and bestselling Catholic authors to highlight titles they believe best represented Pope Francis's writings or opened up his life story and spiritual formation to readers. Rev. Mark-David Janus, who retired last year as publisher of Paulist Press, said Francis differed from the scholarly Benedict and the philosophical John Paul II. Janus likened Francis to a pastor who spoke and wrote "for the people in the pew and for people who have never been in any pew," pointing out the 2015 Encyclical on the environment for example. "When he writes in Laudato Si, 'We have made the earth a garbage dump' you dont have to be a believer to understand what he is getting at," Janus added. Laudato Si (Praise Be to You On Care For Our Common Home) develops Francis's view that the Church must take a stand on pollution, climate change, access to clean water, loss of biodiversity, and the breakdown of society in the light of global inequality. "For me, it's his masterwork," said bestselling Catholic author Rev. James Martin (My Life with the Saints). "It framed the climate change crisis for almost the first time from an overtly spiritual perspective." For Paul McMahon, president and publisher for Paulist, the pope's most important writings "all stem from his powerful documents that portray his vision for the church and the world." In Francis's first Apostolic Exhortation in 2013, Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), "he stresses the importance of encountering Christ," said McMahon. "The pope has often been criticized for not presenting a more 'black-and white' doctrine for Catholics, not providing clarity on rules for how we should live our lives. The pope, however, has been more concerned about leading people to encounter the mercy of God." Among biographies of Francis, McMahon highlighted one of the first major works, Pope Francis: Life and Revolution: A Biography of Jorge Bergoglio (Loyola, 2014) by journalist Elisabetta Pique, which he called "a profound portrait of his upbringing," his spiritual formation, and rise through the clerical ranks of the Church. Rev. Thomas Reese, a scholar, columnist for Religion News Service, and former editor of the Jesuit magazine America, directed attention to two of British journalist Austen Ivereigh's books. In The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope (Picador, 2015), Ivereigh deals with the forces that shaped the future pope in, while she explores his controversial papacy in The Wounded Shepherd: Pope Francis and His Struggle to Convert the Catholic Church (Henry Holt, 2019). Joellyn Cicciarelli, president and publisher for Loyola Press, told PW her favorite among the publisher's several titles featuring Francis might well be Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Questions from Children Around the World. It was the first children's book published by a sitting pope and a New York Times bestseller in 2016. It centers on 30 letters from kids asking about such topics as atheism, war, Jesus's life and miracles, the nature and actions of God, and more. The publishing house followed in 2018 with Sharing the Wisdom of Time, a coffee table book of reflections on work, struggle, love, death, and hope by Francis and elders from 30 countries. The book later served as the basis for a Netflix series. "People of any age can find Pope Francis masterfully expressing the mysteries of our Catholic faith," Cicciarelli said. "At the end of the day, as a publisher, Im looking for words and messages that draw as many people as possible closer to God through Jesus Christ and perhaps have their lives transformed in the process." 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. Around 5:45 a.m. on Jan. 24, 2025, residents of the Building 1516 residential hall at the University of Georgia were abruptly awakened by the shrill sound of the fire alarm. Once evacuated, they learned through an email statement from UGA housing staff that there was a pipe burst in the building, causing flooding through multiple floors. When you hear Ozempic, do you associate it with the weight-loss trends seen on social media? I used to. However, I soon found that this medication impacts more than just health; it also has significant social implications. Heres the question: why is the younger generation increasingly turning to medications such as Ozempic to aid in weight loss? The Trump trade shock is a chance to push long-overdue reforms, rather than tinker with tariffs to appease the US, suggests M Govinda Rao. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump holds up the executive order he signed in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, April 17, 2025. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters US President Donald Trump has finally delivered on the worldwide trade disruption that he had long threatened. Besides a general tariff increase of 10 per cent, almost all countries have been slapped with tariff hikes of various magnitudes. In retaliation, several countries are likely to impose counter-tariffs, and the world may witness a wave of protectionism, crippling economic activity. It is highly likely that the US will slide into recession and that global growth will decline. With compression in exports, most countries will have to revise their growth forecasts downwards. Some of the stronger exporters to the US are likely to initiate countermeasures, as China has already done. Many countries will seek to realign their trade channels, accelerate trade negotiations to conclude pending agreements, or undertake domestic reforms to enhance competitiveness. Clearly, we are set to witness a flurry of interventions on both external and domestic policy fronts. India is likely to be adversely impacted by the Trump tsunami, though the effect may not be as devastating as initially feared. Some estimates suggest it could erode gross domestic product (GDP) growth by 0.3 percentage points. Of course, the full impact will become clear only after the waves of countermeasures settle. It is also true that much of India's growth in recent years has been driven by domestic consumption and public capital formation. This, however, should not lead to complacency. Every country that has registered high growth over long periods has relied on exports as a major engine. Our goal of accelerating growth to become a Viksit Bharat cannot be realised by focusing on domestic consumption and investment alone. Complacency may set in on the grounds that tariff increases on our competitors are higher and that India is relatively better off, as there can be trade diversion in its favour in some cases. However, the increase in tariffs, countermeasures by other countries, and the overall deceleration in global growth are bound to reduce the demand for our exports. Policymakers should take this as an opportunity to embark on initiatives to reverse the protectionist trend that we have adopted since 2017, speed up the structural reforms to impart greater competitiveness to Indian manufacturing, and fast-track ongoing trade negotiations, including a rethink on joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. When confronted with such situations, there is a tendency to tinker with tariff lines to appease the US. It is important to resist this temptation and instead use the opportunity to undertake comprehensive reforms to ease the domestic constraints adversely affecting competitiveness. The government should treat this as a 1991 moment -- an inflection point -- and initiate reforms in both domestic and external policies, keeping in mind the overarching goal of becoming a developed country by 2047. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff There is broad consensus that the trend of increasing tariffs since 2017 needs to be reversed to promote greater openness to trade and investment. The temptation to increase tariffs, at least in part, is due to our failure to undertake domestic reforms. It is clear that the government will have to bite the bullet and free up the land and labour markets. Measures must be initiated to encourage labour-intensive manufacturing by incentivising small and medium enterprises to increase their scale and adopt better technology and competitive practices. In this, the state governments, too, will have to play an important role by implementing labour reforms and freeing up the land market to enable enterprises to access these factors of production at reasonable rates. Governance reforms are critical, and the slogan of single window clearance should not turn into a separate window for each clearance! We still have a long way to go in ensuring the basic public good provisions of protecting property rights and enforcing contracts. Liberating financial markets to ensure adequate and reasonable borrowing rates for businesses is a critical element in enhancing competitiveness, and this requires serious fiscal reforms. The most important reform needed here is to make the cost of public-sector borrowing as high as that of the private sector, and the first step in this is to do away with the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) requirements. At present, commercial banks are required to park 18 per cent of their demand and time liabilities in Union and state government bonds. Combined with the sovereign guarantee, this gives the government sector a significant advantage in both access to and cost of borrowing. Freeing up the SLR requirement can help reduce borrowing costs for private businesses. Although commercial banks have been holding more than the required SLR in recent years, it is important to begin freeing up the financial market and make governments recognise that their borrowing has an opportunity cost on the economy. This, along with a better-calibrated, rules-based fiscal policy that recognises the ground reality of declining household sector financial savings, is important. One of the low-hanging fruits for easy pickings to impart competitiveness is the reform of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to make it comprehensive and get rid of the burden of domestic trade taxes on exports. The avowed objective of replacing cascading-type domestic consumption taxes with a destination-based GST was to relieve the burden of domestic trade taxes and make our products more competitive in the export market. However, by excluding petroleum products, electricity, and real estate from the base GST, significant cascading element has continued. In 2022-23, for example, the domestic consumption taxes excluded from GST base constituted 41 per cent of the total domestic indirect taxes. These include excise duty on petroleum products levied by the Centre, and sales tax, motor vehicle tax, passenger and goods tax, and electricity duty levied by the states. In other words, 41 per cent of the domestic consumption tax is not subject to zero rating in exports. As petroleum products are used in transport, the cascading from the tax is universal. The revenue reasoning advanced for excluding these items from the GST base is exaggerated. What is required instead is better tax administration and more effective application of technology for enforcement. It is reported that during April-June this year, the central officers alone have detected 25,397 cases of evasion involving 1.95 trillion, of which 464 billion was due to input tax credit fraud. The undetected amount is anybody's guess. Simplification of the tax system and effective application of technology will generate revenues that can more than compensate the loss from rationalisation. It is time policymakers at both the Central and state levels realise this and work towards making GST simpler and more comprehensive. The opportunity presented by the Trump tsunami should not be missed. M Govinda Rao is chairman, Karnataka Regional Imbalances Redressal Committee. Disclaimer: These are M Govinda Rao's personal views. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff India on Monday imposed a 12 per cent provisional safeguard duty for 200 days on five steel product categories, including hot rolled coils, sheets and plates, to protect domestic players from surge in imports. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters The decision follows a recommendation for the same by the Commerce Ministry's investigation arm DGTR. Last month, the DGTR suggested to impose the duty. "...the Central Government after considering the said findings of the Director General (Trade Remedies), hereby imposes...a provisional safeguard duty at the rate of twelve per cent ad valorem," according to a notification of the Department of Revenue. It said that the safeguard duty imposed under this notification shall be effective for a period of 200 days (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from the date of publication of this notification. The government has set the import prices between $675 per tonne to $964 per tonne for the five steel product categories. Any shipment imported below these import prices would attract the safeguard duty. The safeguard duty shall not be imposed on the product categories when imported into India at or above the speficied import price on CIF (cost insurance freight) basis, according to the notification. The product categories are Hot Rolled coils, sheets and plates; Hot Rolled Plate Mill Plates; Cold Rolled Coils and Sheets; Metallic Coated Steel Coils and Sheets; and Colour Coated coils and sheets, whether or not profiled. Last year in December, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) started the investigation into the sudden surge in imports of 'Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products', used in various industries, including fabrication, pipe making, construction, capital goods, auto, tractors, bicycles, and electrical panels. The investigations were conducted following a complaint from the Indian Steel Association on behalf of its members including ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India; AMNS Khopoli; JSW Steel; JSW Steel Coated Products; Bhushan Power & Steel; Jindal Steel and Power; and Steel Authority of India Limited. The directorate in its probe had found that there is a recent, sudden, sharp and significant increase in the imports of these products into India, causing and threatening to cause serious injury to the domestic industry/producers. The directorate has said in a notification dated March 18, 2025 that there exist critical circumstances, where any delay in application of provisional safeguard measures would cause damage which would be difficult to repair. According to the industry, the existence of significant excess capacity far exceeding domestic consumption in China, Japan and South Korea have arisen due to slowing demand in those countries. Import of these products increased from 2.293 million tonnes during 2021-22 to 6.612 million tonnes during the period of investigation (October 2023 to September 2024, and the three preceding fiscal years - 2021-24). The imports have increased from countries including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The DGTR had noted that the objective of the duty is to protect the Indian domestic industry against the surge of imports. While some big domestic steel makers are advocating for imposition of the duty, the user industry is strongly against it as the duty would push raw material prices, impacting their competitiveness. MSME exporters from the engineering sector have stated that any move to impose additional duties on steel imports would make domestic products uncompetitive and impact the country's outbound shipments from the sector. FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations) President S C Ralhan said that the imposition of the duty would benefit only 5-6 domestic companies and it will hurt engineering exports from India because the US has already imposed a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum. "Due to this, steel prices will rise to Rs 6,000 per tonne from the current about Rs 5,400 per tonne. The government reconsiders its decision," Ralhan said. Safeguard measures in the form of duty or quantitative restrictions are trade remedies available to the World Trade Organization member-countries. They are imposed to provide a level-playing field to domestic players in case of sudden and significant increase in imports of a product. The measure is used when imports of a particular product increase unexpectedly to a point that they cause or threaten to cause serious injury to domestic producers. These duties are applicable against all the countries with uniform rate of duty unlike the anti-dumping duties. Welcoming the safeguard duties, Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, "The move will provide critical relief to domestic producers, especially small and medium-scale enterprises, who have faced immense pressure from rising imports. "The safeguard duty will help restore market stability and reinforce the confidence of the domestic industry." Indian Steel Association said the import duty will protect Indian manufacturers from unfair imports. "We welcome the government's decisive move to impose a 12 per cent safeguard duty on certain steel products. "This important step will protect Indian manufacturers from unfair imports, boost domestic production, and accelerate our journey towards a stronger, Atmanirbhar Bharat. "We thank Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership and steadfast support to the steel sector," Naveen Jindal, president, Indian Steel Association, said in a statement. After falling 17 per cent since the start of the year to its March lows, the stock of the countrys largest pharmaceutical (pharma) company, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, has clawed back nearly half of those losses. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Recent acquisitions, a favourable court ruling in the case of the hair loss drug Leqselvi, an edge over peers owing to its specialty portfolio, and a diversified global presence have supported the recovery. The stocks weakness since January was driven by slow US sales, rising research and development (R&D) expenses, regulatory setbacks involving the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), and pricing pressure in generics. Still, most brokerages remain upbeat about the firms longer-term prospects. The recent boost for the stock came from a US court ruling in Suns favour on Leqselvi. The court vacated a preliminary injunction, paving the way for a potential launch of the drug, which addresses a $400 million market. Although any launch would be at risk and is unlikely to move the needle on sales and earnings in the short term, Emkay Research sees the Leqselvi opportunity reaching the scale of the plaque psoriasis drug Ilumya by 202930 (with projected global sales of over $500 million). Another driver is the acquisition of US-based Checkpoint Therapeutics. The immunotherapy and targeted oncology firm was acquired for $355 million, with an additional $61 million tied to future milestones. The upfront payment represented a 66 per cent premium to Checkpoints closing price on March 7. The deal expands Suns global dermatology-focused specialty portfolio. It brings with it an FDA-approved drug, Unloxyct, used to treat metastatic skin cancer in adults a segment with a US market size of $1 billion. Despite the steep price, Elara Securities sees value in the acquisition. Our analysis shows Unloxyct could reach peak annual sales of $200 million in the US. "Since Sun already has a dermatology salesforce in place, the added cost of marketing the drug would be minimal, said Bino Pathiparampil of the brokerage. The Street will watch for signs of a turnaround in the US business, where revenue dipped 1 per cent year-on-year and fell 8 per cent sequentially in the OctoberDecember quarter (Q3). The drop was due to lower sales of the generic version of the cancer drug Revlimid and ongoing price pressure in generics. Brokerages link this underperformance to manufacturing issues (including warning letters and import alerts) and expect it may take a few quarters to stabilise. HSBC analysts Damayanti Kerai and Gaurang Sakare remain constructive on Suns specialty pipeline, including Ilumya (psoriasis), Winlevi (acne), and Cequa (dry eyes). While some clinical trials have seen delays, the brokerage believes Sun continues to prioritise investment in R&D for its specialty portfolio. HSBC has a buy call, with a target price of Rs 2,000. Kotak Research maintains an accumulate rating. Despite higher R&D spending tied to an expanding clinical pipeline, analysts led by Alankar Garude project a 200-basis-point operating margin improvement over 202324 through 202627, reaching 28.8 per cent driven by stronger specialty margins. In the face of tariff-related uncertainties, companies like Sun with a large share of specialty drugs are likely to be better insulated in the US, where niche segments see less competition. Specialty products make up about 5557 per cent of Suns US revenue. A larger share of profits also comes from India and other markets, which helps cushion potential hits from the US side. In contrast to the US market, Suns domestic pharma business has been growing steadily. It posted a 14 per cent rise in Q3, with key therapies clocking market-beating growth. The performance was underpinned by stronger volumes and price gains. Brokerages expect this trend to hold in the Indian formulation segment, driven mainly by volume growth. Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. 'No retaliatory tariffs now. You can retaliate after a few months. Today, there is no need to retaliate because it is a question of long term benefits.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi makes a point as US President Donald J Trump, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, standing right, listen in, February 13, 2025. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters February 2025. Donald Trump threatened to impose 10% tariff on imports from all the countries including China. Then the Trump administration imposed 20% tariffs on China, and in retaliation, the Chinese government imposed 15% tariffs on the United States. The first trade war between the US and China was in 2018 when Trump was the US president. In 2025, the trade war initially was not just against China but against the entire world including countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Vietnam and Cambodia have been hit by some of the highest tariffs: 46% and 49%. Further down are Thailand (36%), Indonesia (32%) and Malaysia (24%). The Philippines gets a tariff of 17%, and Singapore of 10%. And it is 26% on India. But it all changed on the 9th of April when Trump increased the tariff on China to 125% and paused the tariffs initiated against 75 countries. China did not remain silent. It announced a retaliatory tariff of 85% against US imports. On April 10, Trump said, it was not 125% tariff on Chinese imports to the US but 145%. The trade war continues... "You tell Trump that India undertakes to eliminate tariffs on 90% of industrial goods from day 1 provided the US did the same to India's goods. This will cover 90% of the US exports to India and that should solve the trade deficit and tariff problem," Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier. The concluding segment of a must-read two-part interview: Part 1 of the Interview: 'Trump's Trade War's Main Target Is China' So, who do you think will win in the second US-China trade war? Of course, China will win. There is no doubt about that. They won the first trade war, and they will win this trade war also. Trump says the war is about trade deficit. Then, if you compare the trade deficit from 2017 and 2023, it increased by $763.2 billion. During this period, Chinese global exports increased by $1.1 trillion. While US imports increased, so also did Chinese exports. It is simple. China clearly won the first trade war. You mean the same thing will happen this time also? In a worse way, against the US. I am hoping that all this drama will collapse in a few months' time. In fact, it is already happening. Giving a 90-day break for other countries from high tariffs suggests the US is putting up an effort to avoid international isolation while still appearing tough. Despite the claims by the US that many nations are cooperating, major players like the EU, Canada and China have already retaliated, undermining the US narrative of global alignment. Could this be because MAGA supporters have started feeling the pinch, losing millions of dollars in the stock market crash after 'Liberation Day'? Ultimately, the citizens of a country will support the country as long as their pocket is not hurt too much. Now, they find that the pocket has started pinching with an increase of 30% to 40% rise in the prices already. Unlike Indians, Americans don't have the habit of saving. They spend everything they earn. With the rise in prices, they have to cut their expenditure. Naturally they are angry. When Trump imposed high tariffs on India, why is there silence on India's part? I am amazed. I am very pained too. We are a large economy and we have to act like equal to the US like all trade partners are. IMAGE: Trump and China's President Xi Jinping meet business leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, November 9, 2017. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters Like what China is doing... Yes. China's response is like, if you insult me, I have nothing to do with you. Get lost! There are two things India should do; one is reaction and then action. By reaction, I mean there should be a response saying whether it is good or bad. But there is no word from the Indian side. Some senior people are saying, you buy more from the US and less from China. But that doesn't help. There is no action also from India's side. Yes, it is a trade war and you can take a few months' time to act. We believe that India is negotiating for a free trade agreement with the US. But FTA with the US will be a Costly Mistake. Many of Washington's demands, such as weakening India's minimum price support system for farmers, allowing genetically modified food imports, lowering agricultural tariffs, changing patent laws to extend drug monopolies, and letting American e-commerce giants sell directly to consumers, will pose major risks. It will harm farmer income, food security, biodiversity, public health, and the survival of small retailers. Reducing tariffs on farm goods could affect the livelihoods of hundreds of millions. Slashing duties on cars could undercut a sector that accounts for nearly a third of India's manufacturing output. The collapse of Australia's car industry after deep tariff cuts in the 1990s offers a cautionary example. So, my suggestion is, you limit your FTA to zero-for-zero on 90% of industrial goods excluding sensitive items like cars. You tell Trump that India undertakes to eliminate tariffs on 90% of industrial goods from day 1 provided the US did the same to India's goods. This will cover 90% of the US exports to India and that should solve the trade deficit and tariff problem. If the US accepts this, it could evolve into a WTO-compliant goods-only agreement. India should stop offering unilateral concessions to the US as it is seen by Trump as "kissing my ass. You mean, no retaliatory tariffs? No retaliatory tariffs now. You can retaliate after a few months. Today, there is no need to retaliate because it is a question of long term benefits. I would say, zero-for-zero is the best medicine for India right now. IMAGE: MAGA supporters in Los Angeles, April 14, 2025. Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters Should India move in the same direction towards all the other countries too? India is in a good position because we have already offered a zero tariffs for our FTA partners Japan, South Korea and ASEAN nations. India should prioritize free trade negotiations with the European Union, United Kingdom, and Canada, and consider broader partnerships with countries like China and Russia. How will this situation affect India's economy other than the weakening rupee? India has deeper worries than Trump's tariffs. We have to first focus on improving our production dynamics. Our manufacturing share is going down, cost of production is high, value addition is going down, quality implementation is hurting small players, whatever government schemes that were helping the small exporters have been withdrawn... Basically, our battle is more of an internal nature. India has to make itself strong first. Only then, it can handle the external worries. IMAGE: Ajay Srivastava IMAGE: Ajay Srivastava As far as the trade war started by Trump is concerned, do you see sense prevailing in the near future? Indications are coming already in the form of protests in the US, China standing firm, Trump pausing higher tariffs on 75 countries for 90 days, etc. Trump's sudden policy shift seems to be a reaction to China's strong resistance to US demands. By sparing other countries from higher tariffs, he appears to be avoiding a broader backlash. This move looks more like political theatrics than a well-planned economic strategy, meant to project strength without triggering global isolation. So, it is unravelling faster than we have imagined.. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Jailed 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana has moved a court seeking permission to talk to his family members. IMAGE: Jailed 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana (second from left) in NIA custody Photograph: ANI Photo Rana moved a plea through his counsel on April 19 before special judge Hardeep Kaur, who on Monday directed the National Investigation Agency to file a reply by April 23. The 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman was on April 10 sent to 18 days custody by a court. The NIA alleged as part of the criminal conspiracy, accused David Coleman Headley, had discussed the entire operation with Rana before his visit to India. Anticipating potential challenges, Headley sent an email to Rana detailing his belongings and assets, the NIA told the court seeking his remand. Headley also informed Rana about the involvement of Pakistani nationals Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman, who are also accused in the case, in the plot, it alleged. Rana, a close associate of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks main conspirator David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen, was brought to India after the US Supreme Court on April 4 dismissed his review plea against his extradition. On November 26, 2008, a group of 10 Pakistani terrorists went on a rampage, carrying out a coordinated attack on a railway station, two luxury hotels and a Jewish centre, after they sneaked into India's financial capital using the sea route in the Arabian Sea. As many as 166 people were killed in the nearly 60-hour assault. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has cited the Maharashtra assembly polls to allege that the Election Commission is compromised and there is something wrong with the system. IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses the Indian diaspora in Boston. Photograph: ANI on X Gandhi arrived in the US on Saturday. Speaking at an event in Boston on Sunday, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that, in simple terms, more people voted in the Maharashtra assembly Elections than there are adults in the state. The Election Commission gave us a voting figure for 5:30 PM, and between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM, 65 lakh voters voted. This is physically impossible to happen. For a voter to vote, it takes approx 3 minutes, and if you do the Math, it would mean that there were lines of voters till 2 AM, but this did not happen, he said. When we asked them for the videography, they not only refused but they also changed the law so that now we are not allowed to ask for the videography, Gandhi said. "It is very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, and it is very clear that there is something wrong with the system. I have said this multiple times, he added. After he arrived in the US, he began interactions with business and community members. He will visit Brown University in Rhode Island on April 21-22. At Brown University, Gandhi will give a talk and interact with faculty members and students. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party dubbed Rahul Gandhi a "traitor" for his remarks against the Election Commission, and accused him of venting out his frustration over the Enforcement Directorate action in the National Herald case on the poll body. Flaying Gandhi over his remarks, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "You are venting the ire over the Enforcement Directorate's (action in the National Herald case) on the Election Commission. Nothing will happen by doing so." "The ED will not spare you because agencies work on the basis of facts and the National Herald matter is an open and shut case. You will not be spared. You and your mother will be caught with proceeds of crime and sent to jail," he said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters here. Both Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi will go behind the bars in connection with the case, he asserted. "You are a traitor, not just because you insult Indian institutions and Indian democracy on foreign soil but also because you and your mother have embezzled crores of rupees of the country in the National Herald case. You and your mother will not be able to get away with this," Patra said. The ED had recently filed a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and others before a special court in New Delhi in the National Herald case accusing them of allegedly laundering Rs 988 crore. The prosecution complaint filed on April 9 under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) named Sonia Gandhi, a former Congress president, as the accused no 1, and her son and MP Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, as accused no 2. The death of a young pilot and three fighter jet crashes prompt the question -- should there be more simulation training? IMAGE: A Tejas light combat aircraft. All photographs: ANI Photo Three Indian Air Force fighter jets have crashed during training so far this year. One pilot died and another was injured in the latest incident in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on April 2. The IAF posted on X that the two-seat Jaguar crashed after being airborne at night. 'The pilots faced a technical malfunction', and ejected, avoiding harm to the local population and the airfield, the statement said. The other pilots managed to eject safely in the earlier crashes in Ambala, Punjab, and Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, on March 7 and February 25, respectively. A paratrooper from the IAF's skydiving team died after crash-landing during a demonstration in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, on April 5. The IAF's inquiries into the three crashes -- one Mirage and two Jaguar -- are ongoing and have been categorised as 'most severe'. Jet accidents or incidents are placed in categories, depending on the extent of damage. This year's incidents or accidents are not unusual, going by global data, where the mishap rate is based on flight time. For the IAF, it's per 10,000 flying hours. Even so, fighter crashes lead to losses: First, human lives -- trained or pilots in training (it takes years to be combat-ready) and the risk of crashing into inhabited areas; then, machine assets of the armed forces; and, on average, Rs 250 crore to Rs 500 crore (Rs 2.5 billion to Rs 5 billion) of public money. IMAGE: Rescue operation underway after an IAF fighter jet crashed at a village near Jamnagar IAF station in Gujarat, April 2, 2025. India has lost hundreds of military aircraft in peacetime crashes over the past 40 years. "Even one accident is too many," retired Air Marshal Anil Khosla said. "We need to learn from each incident and accident, and institute appropriate preventive measures." "The IAF has a well-structured, proactive flight-safety organisation," Air Marshal Khosla added. Past investigations have revealed problems such as ageing aircraft, human error (aircrew and maintenance), technical fault, and natural challenges in an operational environment. "Overall, the safety record of the air force has improved manifold. The recent incidents are disconnected and don't show a pattern. But the technical problems that have come up must be resolved. The air force is conscious," retired Air Marshal Anil Chopra said. "We lost a young pilot in training recently, because he couldn't eject safely. The air force has spoken of a technical problem. The court of inquiry will find out." The accident rate of fighter jets in India has declined from a peak of 0.93 (2000-2005) to 0.27 (2017-2022) and 0.2 (2020-2024), according to a 2024-2025 report of the parliamentary standing committee on defence. IMAGE: A firefighter attempts to douse the fire after a Tejas aircraft crashed in Jaisalmer. The 34 accidents involving the IAF's fighter jets over 2017-2022 were attributed to human error, technical defect, 'foreign object damage' (when something gets sucked into the aero engine) and bird strikes. After 34 courts of inquiry, one incident -- a Mirage crash -- on October 21, 2021, remained under investigation. It is unclear if the result was inconclusive. From 1991 to 2000, there were 283 accidents (42 per cent due to human error) and 4,418 incidents, in which 221 aircraft were 'totally destroyed' and 100 IAF pilots were killed. This year's crashes have prompted a question: Should the IAF provide more simulation training, as is being done in the developed countries, to reduce accident risk? "The air force has them," said Air Marshal Khosla, "but 100 per cent of the training cannot be done on simulators." Air Marshal Chopra, who has flown the Jaguar and Mirage, in real environments and on simulation, said, "The global standard for pilots is to have a minimum of 150 to 200 hours in the air each year. You need it for combat readiness." According to the committee's report, last year, the IAF had 238 basic, intermediate and advanced trainer aircraft, against a sanctioned strength of 368, which showed a deficiency of 130 aircraft. A government official said, simulation is embedded in the IAF's training syllabus. The number of fighter squadrons has fallen, partly because of the phasing out of the old MiG variants. Imports aside, India is slowly making fighter jets. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff As Damascus teetered, Assad's aide orchestrated a shadowy airlift, spiriting millions and secrets to Russia, paving his own escape route. IMAGE: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks with Syria's then president Bashar al-Assad during their meeting in Moscow's Kremlin, January 25, 2005. Photograph: ITAR-TASS/KREMLIN PRESS SERVICE CVI/JV/Reuters As the Syrian capital Damascus stood on the edge of collapse in December 2024, President Bashar al-Assad executed a secretive and well-coordinated financial operation to safeguard his personal and regime-linked wealth -- relocating it to Russia under the cover of darkness and diplomatic discretion. According to a detailed investigation by Reuters, Assad's most trusted aide, economic advisor Yasar Ibrahim oversaw a covert airlift that spanned three days, between December 6 and 8, 2024. A private Embraer Legacy 600 jet, registered in Gambia under the tail number C5-SKY, completed four round trips between Damascus and Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen executive airport -- a facility noted for its discretion and elite clientele. Reuters, citing aviation records, intelligence sources, and ground staff testimonies, reported that the jet ferried at least $500,000 in US currency, along with gold, luxury artworks, and digital storage devices. These devices allegedly contained sensitive financial and ownership data tracing Assad's global financial web -- much of it embedded in Syria's telecom, banking, real estate, and energy sectors. The Sarajevo Times, which corroborated details from the Reuters expose, further noted that the flights avoided major commercial airports and were coordinated with high-level Emirati intermediaries, ensuring minimal visibility. IMAGE: Then Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, meets Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, January 19, 2006. Photograph: Khaled al-Hariri/Reuters On December 8 -- the same day the final evacuation flight departed -- Assad himself fled Syria, leaving from the Russian-operated Hmeimim airbase near Latakia. His destination: Russia, where Watanserb, a Middle Eastern political news outlet, confirmed that President Vladimir Putin granted him asylum hours after his arrival. This wasn't Assad's first attempt at securing wealth abroad. As uncovered by The Financial Times and later reported by The Moscow Times, Syria's central bank discreetly transported nearly $250 million in hard currency to Moscow between 2018 and 2019. The transfer -- done in bricks of $100 and 500 notes weighing close to two tonnes -- was quietly deposited in Russian banks, many of which were already sanctioned by the West. While the operation may have shielded Assad's personal fortune, it has deepened a looming diplomatic standoff. Syria's new transitional government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has begun formally pressing Russia to repatriate assets removed under Assad's regime. According to Reuters and Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the Sharaa administration is also exploring legal pathways to reclaim looted State wealth and renegotiate Syria's massive debt obligations to Moscow. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will begin on June 30, after a gap of five years, an official statement said on Monday. IMAGE: File image of SDRF personnel helping the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra devotees at Tawaghat, in Uttarakhand. Photograph: ANI Photo The yatra will pass through the Lipulekh Pass located at an altitude of 17,000 feet in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, it said. The pilgrimage, which is organised every year, was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and since then it could not be conducted. But, due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, it will be conducted this year, it said. A meeting was held in New Delhi on Monday regarding the yatra under the aegis of the Uttarakhand government and the Indian ministry of external affairs. During the meeting, the responsibility of conducting the pilgrimage was handed over to the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, it said. The yatra will commence from Delhi on June 30 in which there will be five groups of 50 people each, a total of 250 devotees, will take part. The first group for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will enter China via Lipulekh Pass on July 10 and the last group will depart from China for India on August 22. The statement said that each team will depart from Delhi and after staying one night in Tanakpur in Champawat district of Uttarakhand, one night in Dharchula in Pithoragarh district, two nights in Gunji and two nights in Nabhidang, will enter Taklakot in China. After visiting Kailash, the passenger will depart from China and after staying one night in Bundi of Pithoragarh district, one night in Chaukori and one night in Almora, he will reach Delhi. Thus, each team will travel for a total of 22 days. According to the statement, the health check-up of all the pilgrims going on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will be done first in Delhi and then in Gunji. Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, located in Tibet under Chinese control, have great religious significance. Hindus believe that Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva and that by circumambulating it and taking a bath in Lake Manasarovar, one attains salvation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the passing of Pope Francis and said he would always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 summit at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Savelletri, Italy, June 14, 2024. Photograph: @narendramodi/X Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, died on Monday. He was 88. "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world," Modi said in a post on X. "From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," he said. Modi fondly recalled his meetings with the pontiff and said he was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. "His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace," Modi said. India and the US said Monday that they made "significant progress" in negotiations for a mutually beneficial bilateral trade pact as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance held wide-ranging talks focusing on boosting cooperation in areas of defence, energy and strategic technologies. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes US Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance and their children to his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi, April 21, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The talks took place hours after Vance, accompanied by Indian-origin Second Lady Usha Chilukuri, and their three children -- sons Ewan, Vivek and daughter Mirabel, landed in Delhi on a largely personal four-day visit to India that comes amid growing global tensions over the US's tariff war. The White House said Vance and Modi welcomed "significant progress" in the negotiations for the trade pact and formally announced the "finalisation of the terms of reference" for the negotiations, laying down a roadmap for further discussions about our economic priorities. Following the talks, Modi hosted Vance and his family over dinner at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence that was also joined by several Union Cabinet ministers and American officials. The prime minister's office said Modi conveyed to Vance his warm greetings for President Donald Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year. In a social media post, Modi said the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st century for a "better future of our people and the world". "Pleased to welcome US @VP @JDVance and his family in New Delhi. We reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump," he said. "We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges," he added. New Delhi and Washington are holding negotiations to seal a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) as agreed during Modi's talks with Trump in Washington DC in February. The trade pact is expected to address a variety of issues including tariff and market access. India is looking at firming up the first tranche of the trade pact before Trump's pause on the customised reciprocal tariffs lapses. The White House said the trade pact (BTA) "presents an opportunity" to negotiate a new and modern agreement focused on promoting job creation and citizen well-being in both countries, with the goal of enhancing bilateral trade and supply-chain integration in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner. "Guided by their respective visions of 'Amrit Kaal for India' and 'Golden Age for America,' BTA is expected to create new opportunities of growth for workers, farmers, and entrepreneurs in both countries," it said. In a post on 'X', Vance said: "It was an honor to see Prime Minister Modi this evening. He's a great leader and he was incredibly kind to my family." "I look forward to working under President Trump's leadership to strengthen our friendship and cooperation with the people of India!" he said. Modi and Vance, who last met on the margins of the AI Action Summit in Paris in February, also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and called for "dialogue and diplomacy" as the way forward. The Indian readout said Modi and Vance "reviewed and positively assessed" the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation. "They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries," it said. "Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas," it noted. It said Modi "fondly recalled his visit to Washington DC in February and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047". It further said Modi and Vance also "exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward". "The prime minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year," the Indian readout said. Trump is expected to visit India later this year to attend the annual summit of the Quad grouping. "The prime minister extended his best wishes to the Vice President, Second Lady and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India," the readout added. Vance and his family are also visiting Jaipur and Agra. Last month, US assistant trade representative Brendan Lynch visited India and held talks with his Indian interlocutors on firming up the BTA. The US president's tariff tussle has stoked fears of a global trade war. Days after announcing the reciprocal tariffs, Trump announced a 90-day pause on them for all countries, except China. Washington is also pushing New Delhi to buy more American oil, gas and military platforms to bring down the trade deficit that stands at around USD 45 billion in India's favour. In its statement, the White House also referred to the "positive and successful" meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi in Washington earlier this year. "During that meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed the strength of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and jointly launched the India-US COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century," it said. It said Vance's visit provided an opportunity for both sides to review the progress achieved in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-US Joint Statement issued following Modi-Trump talks on February 13. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval and Principal Secretary (II) to PM Shaktikanta Das were part of the Indian delegation at the talks. The US Vice President and his family landed in Delhi after their trip to Italy over the weekend. The Vances visited the Akshardham temple near the banks of Yamuna and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE) in Janpath. Vance is the first US vice president to visit India in 12 years after Joe Biden visited New Delhi in 2013. On April 22, the Vances will visit a number of historical sites in Jaipur including the Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort. The fort is a UNESCO world heritage site. In the afternoon, the US Vice President is scheduled to address a gathering at the Rajasthan International Center in Jaipur. Vance is expected to delved into broader aspects of India-US relations under the Trump administration during his speech that is expected to be attended by diplomats, foreign policy experts, Indian government officials and academia. The US Vice President and his family will travel to Agra on the morning of April 23, people familiar with the matter said. In Agra, they will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram which is an open air emporium showcasing various Indian artefacts, they said. After concluding their visit to Agra, the Vances will return to Jaipur on the second half of April 23. Vance and his family will depart for the US from Jaipur on April 24, according to the people cited above. US Vice President JD Vance and his family began a four-day visit to India on Monday as the two countries are looking at concluding the first tranche of an ambitious trade deal by this fall to address a variety of key issues including tariff and market access. IMAGE: US Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance arrive in New Delhi, India, April 21, 2025. Photograph: Kenny Holston/Pool/Reuters Vance, accompanied by his Indian-origin wife Usha Chilukuri, their three children -- Ewan, Vivek, Mirabel -- and a delegation of senior US government officials, landed in Delhi to a warm welcome at around 9:50 am. The US Vice President and the Second Lady were received at the Palam air base by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw with artistes performing traditional Indian dances to welcome the guests. The children emerged from 'Air Force Two' a little later with the boys wearing kurta-pyjama and Mirabel in a teal green anarkali suit and jacket. Vance was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the airbase. Apart from his meeting with Prime Minister Modi this evening, Vance and his family's trip to India is largely a personal visit. "A very warm welcome to Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and the US delegation to India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post. IMAGE: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw receives US VP J D Vance, his wife Usha and their three children at Delhi's Palam airport. Photograph: @MEAIndia/X The visit spanning Delhi, Jaipur and Agra is expected to further deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, Jaiswal said. The American leader arrived in Delhi a day after holding a private meeting with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday during the Italian leg of his two-nation trip. The Vatican announced the Pope's death on Monday. In a social media post, Vance, a devout Catholic, said he was "happy to see" the Pope on Easter Sunday, "though he was obviously very ill". "I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," he said. WATCH: Vances arrive in India Vance and his family visited the Akshardham temple near the banks of Yamuna and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE) in Janpath in the national capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting a dinner for the Vances after holding wide-ranging talks with the US Vice President. The focus of the meeting is likely to be on the early finalisation of the proposed bilateral trade pact as well as ways to boost the overall trajectory of ties between the two countries. IMAGE: Vance inspects the ceremonial guard of honour upon his arrival at the Palam airport. Photograph: @MEAIndia/X Vance's first visit to India comes weeks after US President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries including India. New Delhi and Washington are now holding negotiations to seal a bilateral trade agreement that is expected to address the issues relating to tariffs and market access. Vance and his family are scheduled to leave for Jaipur on Monday night. In Delhi, the US Vice President and his family stayed at the ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to host a private dinner for the Vances following bilateral talks. Photograph: @MEAIndia/X On April 22, the Vances will visit a number of historical sites in Jaipur including the Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort. The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the afternoon, the US Vice President is scheduled to address a gathering at the Rajasthan International Center in Jaipur. Vance is expected to delve into broader aspects of India-US relations under the Donald Trump administration during his speech that is expected to be attended by diplomats, foreign policy experts, Indian government officials and academia. IMAGE: Performers stand next to a poster welcoming U.S. Vice President JD Vance to India, in New Delhi,. Photograph: Kenny Holston/Pool/Reuters The US Vice President and his family will travel to Agra on the morning of April 23, people familiar with the matter said. In Agra, they will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram, which is an open-air emporium showcasing various Indian artefacts, they said. After concluding their visit to Agra, the Vances will return to Jaipur on the second half of April 23. The US Vice President and his family will depart for the US from Jaipur on April 24. Pope Francis's connection with India was marked by a mix of hopes and challenges. His long-held wish to visit the country remained unfulfilled. However, just months ago, he elevated an Indian priest, who is a Vatican official, to the rank of Cardinal--a notable moment for the Catholic community there. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 summit at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Savelletri, Italy, June 14, 2024. Photograph: @narendramodi/X Francis, who was the first non-European Pope in nearly 1,300 years, died on Easter Monday. He was 88. The Pope was diagnosed with double pneumonia. His efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict over how Holy Mass is performed in the Syro-Malabar Church, one of the Oriental Catholic Churches, did not succeed. Meanwhile, Pope Francis also moved forward with the sainthood causes of a few much-revered Indian figures, offering moments of pride for many of the faithful. During his papacy, in 2014, Pope Francis elevated Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia Eluvathingal from Kerala to sainthood. In 2019, another Kerala-born Catholic nun, Mariam Thresia, was declared a saint by Pope Francis at a function held at St Peter's Basilica in Rome. She was the third nun and fourth clergy member from the Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Church to be canonised into the league of saints. His papacy also saw Devasahayam Pillai, who embraced Christianity in the 18th century, being declared a saint--becoming the first Indian layman to be canonised. Devasahayam was recommended for the process of beatification by the Vatican in 2004, at the request of the Kottar Diocese, the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council, and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. Pope Francis canonised Blessed Devasahayam Pillai, along with nine others, during a canonisation mass at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in 2022. It was in a grand consistory held at the Vatican on 7 December, 2024, that 51-year-old Indian priest George Jacob Koovakad was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Francis. The ceremony, held at the iconic St Peter's Basilica and attended by clergy and dignitaries from around the world, witnessed the induction of 21 new Cardinals from various countries. Hailing from the Archdiocese of Changanassery in Kerala, Koovakad's appointment brought the total number of Indian Cardinals to six, further strengthening the country's representation in the Vatican. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other senior leaders, and heads of churches across India welcomed the announcement with joy and pride. The government of India sent a delegation led by Union Minister George Kurian to witness the ceremony. Prior to the event, the Indian delegation also had an audience with Pope Francis. Koovakad has been organising Pope Francis's international travels since 2020. Previously, Koovakad, who held the title of Monsignor, was declared the Titular Archbishop of Nisibis in Turkey. He is currently based in the Vatican. Soon after his elevation, Cardinal Koovakad said that Pope Francis's visit to India would most likely be after 2025, which has been announced as the "Jubilee Year" by the Catholic Church, due to celebrations in Rome during that year. When asked about the Pope's visit, he said that it was not clear when Francis would come to India. "Chances are that it will be after 2025, which is the Jubilee Year. There are a lot of celebrations in Rome during that year, and therefore the Pope will most likely be there," he had told reporters. At the same time, he had also said that a visit by the Pope in the near future could not be ruled out. During his papacy, the Syro-Malabar Church was marred by crisis, with a strong section of priests and members of the Church community in the ErnakulamAngamaly Archdiocese disagreeing with the Syro-Malabar Church's August 2021 decision on uniform Holy Mass. This decision mandated a standardised way of conducting Holy Mass, where priests are required to face the congregation only at the beginning and end of the service, turning towards the altar for the rest of the Mass (known as the 50:50 formula). While most dioceses under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church have adopted this approach, many priests in the ErnakulamAngamaly Archdiocese, along with their parishioners, continue to oppose it. They argue that it breaks from the tradition wherein the priest faces the congregation throughout the entire Mass. It was during the peak of the crisis that Cardinal George Alencherry announced his resignation as Head of the Syro-Malabar Church in 2023. His decision came amid an ongoing feud in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, involving the implementation of a uniform Holy Mass and the church's land dealings. Alencherry held the position of Major Archbishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese. Following his resignation, Bishop Raphael Thattil was elevated as the head of the Syro-Malabar Church. The Supreme Court on Monday referred to a larger bench the legal issues stemming from a plea of Bharatiya Janata Party leader BS Yediyurappa, including the question whether a prior sanction to prosecute is needed under the Prevention of Corruption Act after a magisterial court order of inquiry. IMAGE: BJP leader BS Yediyurappa (right), Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy (middle)and his son and JD-S Karnataka youth unit president Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru, October 24, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra on April 4 reserved its verdict on Yediyurappa's plea against an order of the Karnataka high court reviving a corruption case against him. However, Justice Pardiwala on Monday said when the bench began to write the verdict, it came across an order of April 16, 2024 of a coordinate bench referring similar questions to a larger bench in a separate case. He referred to the principle of "judicial propriety" and said on this aspect alone, Yediyurappa's plea was being sent to the Chief Justice of India for setting up a larger bench. "When we were about to start working on the judgement, we realised that there is another order passed by a coordinate bench on April 16, 2024 in SLP. The very same issues were referred to the large bench. So we felt that propriety demands that this be also referred," the bench said. The top court added, "We deem it appropriate to tag these petitions to the referred matter Manju Surana v. Sunil Arora. The registry is directed to place these matters before the CJI." The bench clarified the reference was only on the ground of propriety and listed out seven questions for adjudication by the larger bench. The high court, on January 5, 2021, allowed a plea of Bengaluru-based A Alam Pasha and revived his complaint against Yediyurappa, former Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani and Shivaswamy KS, former managing director of Karnataka Udyog Mitra. Pasha alleged charges of corruption and criminal conspiracy against Yediyurappa, Nirani and Shivaswamy KS. The high court ruled the absence of a prior sanction for prosecution leading to the quashing of an earlier complaint did not bar the filing of a fresh complaint once the accused demitted office but did not allow prosecution of V P Baligar, a retired IAS officer and former principal secretary of state government in the case. The top court after hearing the case framed questions for adjudication including whether after a judicial magistrate orders a probe under Section 156(3) of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), would a prior sanction of the appropriate authorities still be required under Section 17A of the PC Act? Section 156 (3) of CrPC permits a judicial magistrate to order a police probe into a complaint and it may include order for a preliminary inquiry or registration of an FIR. Section 17A of the PC Act says, "No police officer shall conduct any enquiry into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under this Act, where the alleged offence is relatable to any recommendation made or decision taken by such public servant in discharge of his official functions or duties, without the previous approval". The legal issues are primarily focused on the interplay between the provisions of the PC Act and CrPC on the issue of prior sanction to prosecute a public servant and power of judicial magistrate to entertain a complaint and order probe and an FIR. "What are the relevant considerations as contemplated by Section 17A of the PC Act, 1988 which the appropriate authority is expected to look into before the grant of approval for initiation of any enquiry, inquiry, or investigation by the police?" read the first question the bench framed. Whether the considerations which weigh with the appropriate authority or government while granting approval under Section 17A of the PC Act are fundamentally so different from the one that a magistrate is ordinarily expected to apply while passing an order under Section 156(3) of CrPC, read the second issue. "In other words, whether the considerations under Section 17A of the PC Act are of such a nature that they are necessarily beyond the ambit or scope of consideration by a Magistrate while directing an investigation under Section 156(3) of the CrPC," it said. It asked if it could be said that once a magistrate has applied his mind under Section 156(3) of the CrPC, the requirement of a prior approval under Section 17A of the PC Act is meaningless, redundant and no longer necessary. "Could it be said that a police officer, despite a direction under Section 156(3) by a magistrate, would remain inhibited from conducting any enquiry, inquiry, or investigation without prior approval as required by Section 17A," it added. Whether a magistrate could proceed with inquiry under Sections 200 (examination of private complainant) and 202 (postponement of a criminal case) of CrPC without prior sanction, and whether such actions are limited only to the pre-cognisance stage, read another question. Pasha filed a complaint alleging Yediyurappa and others conspired to forge documents to revoke a high-level clearance committee's approval for allotting 26 acre of industrial land to him at Devanahalli Industrial Area. The complaint, which invoked provisions under IPC and the PC Act, was initially investigated by Lokayukta Police, but in 2013, the high court quashed the complaint for a lack of mandatory sanction under Section 19 of the PC Act. Subsequently, after the accused vacated their offices, Pasha filed a fresh complaint in 2014, arguing that sanction was no longer required in light of Supreme Court judgment in the A R Antulay case. The special judge, however, dismissed the second complaint in 2016, citing lack of sanction. Challenging dismissal, Pasha approached the high court which passed a partly favourable order. In a stark reminder of the gruesome murder of a former merchant navy officer in Meerut, a woman and her lover killed her husband who returned from Dubai 10 days ago, cut the body in two and stuffed it in a suitcase before dumping it in a field far away from home. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The police identified the man from the airline tag that was still attached to the suitcase. Uttar Pradesh has recently witnessed two diabolical spousal murders in Meerut -- one in which the merchant navy officer's body was stuffed in a drum and the other where the husband was strangled and an attempt was made to pass it off as a case of snakebite -- that made the nation shiver in fear. Another man in Auraiya met with the same fate when just 15 days after their wedding, his new bride and her lover hired a contract killer to eliminate him. On Sunday morning, a farmer in Deoria district's Patkhauli village discovered a trolley bag abandoned in his field. Inside were the severed upper and lower halves of a man's body, the police said. The police managed to identify the victim, Naushad Ahmed (38), through an airline tag that was still attached to the suitcase, they said. When officers visited Naushad's home, his wife Razia (30) initially claimed he had gone out the night before. However, bloodstains and another suitcase inside the house raised suspicion. Upon questioning, she confessed to killing her husband with the help of Naushad's nephew Ruman (28), the police said. Ahmed had returned to his native Bhatauli village just 10 days ago. Additional superintendent of police Arvind Verma said the murder took place around 2 am. Razia, Ruman, and his friend Himanshu executed the plan. They chopped the body in two, stuffed it in a suitcase and transported it in a vehicle to dump it in a field about 55 km from his home, he said. Within six hours, our team traced the barcode on the airline tag and identified the victim. Razia has been arrested, and the murder weapons -- an axe, a chopper, and a pestle -- have been recovered, the officer said. Ruman and Himanshu are absconding, he said. Naushad's sister alleged that Razia and Ruman were having an affair and demanded strict punishment. Naushad is survived by his six-year-old daughter. On March 4, Saurabh Rajput, a former merchant navy officer, was killed at his house in Meerut's Indiranagar area by his wife, Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil. The two allegedly drugged Rajput and stabbed him to death. They later dismembered Rajput's body, severed his head and hands, and hid them in a blue drum filled with cement. Muskan, was found to be pregnant during a preliminary test, and Sahil are currently lodged in a Meerut jail. In March, barely 15 days after he got married, 25-year-old Dilip Yadav was killed by a contract killer allegedly hired by his wife Pragati Yadav and her lover Anurag alias Manoj in Auraiya district. Pragati and Anurag paid Rs 2 lakh to Ramji Chaudhary to kill Dilip. All of them were arrested. On April 12, Amit Kashyap (30) was strangled to death by his wife Ravita (27), and her lover Amardeep (19). After committing the gruesome murder, the two placed a venomous snake near Kashyap's bed to make it seem like a case of snakebite. Ravita and Amardeep were taken into custody after the post-mortem report blew the lid off their plot as it showed that Kashyap died due to asphyxiation. US Vice President JD Vance reached Jaipur from Delhi along with his family on Monday night and is set to visit the Amber Fort in the city the next day. IMAGE: US Vice President JD Vance and his family arrive in Jaipur, Rajasthan, April 21, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X He is set to deliver a lecture on US-India relations at Rajasthan International Centre on Tuesday. The US vice president, his wife Usha Vance, and their three children -- Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel -- are staying at Hotel Rambagh Palace. They are scheduled to leave for Agra on Wednesday morning and then return to Jaipur in the afternoon as he is scheduled to visit the City Palace. The Vance family will depart for the US early Thursday morning. Tight security arrangements have been put in place across the city for the vice president's visit. A Rajasthan government official said Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma reviewed the preparations for the visit in a meeting on Saturday. He had directed officials to make all preparations to make the Vace family's Jaipur visit memorable. The official said the family will be welcomed in traditional Rajasthani style with two elephants being trained at Hathi Gaon near Amber for their welcome. The Amber Fort palace, a UNESCO world heritage site, was closed to visitors for 24 hours from 12 noon on Monday, an official of the state's Department of Archaeology said. One of the top tourist attractions of the Pink City, the 16th-century fort sits atop a small hill, about 11 km from the main city. It is an extensive palace complex built with pale yellow and pink sandstone and white marble. In New Delhi earlier in on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US vie president held wide-ranging talks to enhance cooperation in areas of defence, energy and technologies. Modi hosted the Vance family over dinner at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence after the official talks. Dressed in traditional Indian attire chosen especially for their visit to India, US Vice-President JD Vance's three children won hearts, with their photographs going viral on social media shortly after they landed in Delhi on Monday. IMAGE: United States Vice President JD Vance with Second Lady Usha Vance and their daughter Mirabel and sons Ewan and Vivek arrive at the airport in New Delhi, April 21, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo While the boys -- eight-year-old Ewan and five-year-old Vivek -- wore yellow and grey kurtas with white pyjamas, Vance's three-year-old daughter Mirabel was dressed in a teal green anarkali suit and a jacket. The trio became a hit among the photographers covering the visit as soon as they deplaned, with their photographs trending on social media during the day. Vance and his Indian-origin wife Usha arrived in Delhi to a warm welcome early on Monday. They were received at the airport by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. While Vance wore a navy blue business suit paired with a white shirt and a red tie, his wife chose a red long dress with a white blazer. The Vance family visited the Akshardham temple where they posed for camera crews outside the shrine's imposing facade. Vance and his family will travel to Jaipur and Agra during their four-day trip. Later on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for the Vances after holding talks with the US vice-president. Vance's first visit to India comes weeks after US President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries, including India. Vance is being accompanied by a delegation of senior US government officials. US Vice President JD Vance, his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three children began their India trip on Monday with a visit to the sprawling Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple near the banks of the Yamuna. IMAGE: US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their children pose for a picture during their visit to Akshardham Temple, in New Delhi, April 21, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The Vances, who are here for a four-day visit during which they are also scheduled to travel to Jaipur and Agra, were at the temple complex for about an hour. The children -- Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel, all three dressed in Indian attire -- were the cynosure of many an eye. "Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," the vice president wrote in the temple guest book. Once done, the family posed for camera crews outside the imposing facade of the temple. IMAGE: JD Vance with his son Vivek at Akshardham. Photograph: ANI Photo "They were given a traditional welcome after which they had 'darshan'. A carved wooden elephant, a model of the Delhi Akshardham Temple and children's books were gifted to the family," a priest at the temple told PTI. Temple volunteer Meera Sondagar added that the vice president was especially captivated by the intricately sculpted Gajendra Peeth, a plinth adorned with carvings of elephants that symbolises strength and wisdom. "He was shown the entire Akshardham complex and was deeply moved by the experience. He said he felt a sense of peace here," she said. The temple also put out a post on X about the visit. "The US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi 'their first stop in India' experiencing its majestic art, architecture and timeless values of faith, family and harmony." "The Vance family explored the mandir's majestic art and architecture, experiencing India's heritage and cultural depth and they appreciated the messages of harmony, family values, and timeless wisdom embodied in the Akshardham campus," it added. IMAGE: Usha Vance with her daughter Mirabel. Photograph: ANI Photo Inaugurated in 2005, the temple dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan is a must see for most visitors to the capital. Swaminarayan, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, established the Swaminarayan faith and renewed the ideals of Hinduism in 18th century India. He established a spiritual way of life and code of conduct to be followed, according to the website of BAPS Swaminarayan. Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the temple during their India tour last year. The Vance family arrived in Delhi to a warm reception earlier in the day and was received at the airport by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to host a private dinner for the Vances following bilateral talks. Vance's first visit to India comes weeks after US President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries, including India. The two sides are currently working to seal a bilateral trade pact focused on tariff relief and enhanced market access. Pope Francis shaped the Church he led. And in death, his reforms shape his farewell. IMAGE: Pope Francis speaks with new Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad during a consistory ceremony to elevate Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, December 7, 2024. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters The death of a Pope sets in motion a series of solemn, sacred rituals -- meticulously crafted over centuries but recently reshaped by none other than Pope Francis himself. These rites, rooted in deep tradition yet gently revised for a modern era, guide the Church from mourning to transition. Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, had quietly rewritten parts of this ancient playbook last year. His changes were aimed at paring back the grandeur of papal funerals, reinforcing his identity not as a worldly figure of power, but as a humble bishop, a servant of Christ. The simplified rites are now codified in a revised version of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the formal book of funeral ceremonies for Roman pontiffs. Pope Francis' vision of a humbler, pastorally focused Church is evident throughout. Why Pope Francis Changed the Rites IMAGE: Pope Francis appears in public for the first time, here and below, after recovering from a serious illness. Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters For more than two decades, no pope had revised the funeral rites. That changed in the wake of the death of Benedict XVI in 2022 -- the first pontiff in six centuries to retire. Pope Benedict's unique status exposed procedural gaps and raised new questions. Not long after, Pope Francis began working closely with Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican's master of liturgical ceremonies, to overhaul the rituals altogether. Ravelli explained that the reforms were designed to underline that a pope's funeral should reflect the death of a shepherd, not a head of State. Pope Francis wanted the rites to speak of faith and simplicity, not authority and grandeur. Step One: The Confirmation of Death Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters The process begins quietly in the pope's personal quarters -- Pope Francis lived in a modest suite at the Santa Marta residence rather than the Apostolic Palace. Upon his death, a Vatican doctor certifies the cause, and the body is dressed in white. In a break from previous tradition, the formal declaration of death takes place in the chapel of Santa Marta. The Vatican's camerlengo -- Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a trusted aide of PopeFrancis -- presides over the ceremony. Unlike the past, where three nested coffins were used, Pope Francis's reforms permit a simpler wooden coffin, lined with zinc. The body is vested in red liturgical garments, along with a miter and pallium, and a Paschal candle is placed nearby. The camerlengo then drafts the official notice of death, attaching the medical certificate. Only then is the body prepared for public veneration. Step Two: Arrival at St Peter's Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters When the pope's body is transferred to St Peter's Basilica, the faithful line up to pay their respects. The procession begins with the chanting of the Litany of Saints. Another notable change: instead of resting on a raised bier, the coffin is now placed directly before the pews, at ground level -- visibly closer to the people. This symbolic lowering underscores Pope Francis' lifelong commitment to a Church that walks with the poor and marginalised, not above them. Step Three: Sealing the Coffin Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters On the eve of the funeral, the coffin is sealed in a ritual attended by senior cardinals. A white cloth is laid gently over the pope's face. Inside the coffin are placed coins minted during his papacy and a 'rogito' -- a one-page official account of his life and pontificate, read aloud and then rolled into a metal cylinder. The sealed coffin bears Pope Francis' papal coat of arms, the same one he adopted when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires. Its Latin motto, Miserando atque eligendo (Having had mercy, he called him), reflects the mercy-driven spirituality that defined his ministry. Funeral and Final Resting Place IMAGE: Pope Francis meets with personnel from the Gemelli hospital and Vatican medical staff. Photograph: Vatican Media/Handout/Reuters The funeral itself is usually presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals, currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista. If the dean is unable, the vice-dean or another senior cardinal takes his place. Pope Francis had extended both their terms earlier this year, hinting at preparations already underway. A significant change Francis made is in his choice of burial site. Breaking from tradition, he requested not to be interred beneath St Peter's Basilica. Instead, he will be buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major -- a beloved sanctuary to him, home to the icon of the Virgin Mary known as Salus Populi Romani. After every foreign trip, Pope Francis would visit this shrine to offer thanks. After the Burial With the interment complete, the Church enters nine official days of mourning, the novemdiales. These days of prayer and remembrance precede the next major phase: The conclave to elect a new pope. With six colleges, the university campus was a hub of scholars from around the world. It was the first to award degree titles like Mahapandit and Pandit to graduating students. IMAGE: Vikramshila University from the Vikramshila excavated site. Photograph: Kind courtesy Spotplayerx/Wikimedia Commons After Nalanda University, Vikramshila in Bihar is the next ancient university slated for a revival. The Central University will be established in Bhagalpur district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone next year. Nalanda and Vikramshila universities existed before Oxford, Cambridge and the university of Bologna. Situated 38 km from Bhagalpur, Vikramshila was a famous centre of learning during the Pala dynasty. The Pala empire was founded in the 8th century and dominated Bengal and Bihar. IMAGE: The ancient site of the Vikramshila monastery near the village of Antichak in Bihar's Bhagalpur district. Photograph: Kind courtesy Prataparya/Wikimedia Commons Vikramshila was established by King Dharmpala in the 8th-9th century on a rocky hillock on the confluence of the Kosi and Ganga rivers as an institution of higher learning and Buddhist studies. It had a vast collection of manuscripts and attracted Buddhist scholars from around the world signifying the genius of ancient India. The premiere learning centre of ancient India, it had 6 colleges on campus. Philosophy, Metaphysics, Logic, Grammar, Buddhist Tantra were some of the subjects taught at the university. After completing their education, Buddhist monks travelled to various parts of the world spreading Buddha's teachings. IMAGE: Seats at the ruins of Vikramshila. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rakesh Ranjan/Wikimedia Commons According to a report in the Statesman newspaper, the tradition of awarding degrees first began at Vikramshila University. Mahapandit [Great Scholar] and Pandit [scholar] titles were awarded to students. Exceptional pupils had their portraits painted on the university walls. It had 100 teachers and 1,000 students. The university was a flourishing centre of knowledge for nearly 400 years and was among the three most important Buddhist monasteries along with Nalanda, and Odantapuri, both in Bihar. All the three great universities were sacked by Bakhtiyar Khilji, the Turk-Afghan invader when he raided Bihar several times in the 12th century. The Indian Railways has a train named after the university called the Vikramshila Express, which runs between Bhagalpur and New Delhi. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Greg Lesch, executive director of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, practices on an Estey Organ before EsteyFest in September 2024. Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's new newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods. I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I am drilling down on the uncertain path of the "coalition of the willing" forming a potential military mission to Ukraine, and the efforts by European allies to define what post-cease-fire security support in Ukraine could look like. Assembling A 'Reassurance Force' Among diplomats, Ukraine's "coalition of the willing" is jokingly referred to as "the coalition of the waiting." Formed in early March to establish a military mission to Ukraine to support a peace plan ending Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor, now in its fourth year, there have been few details of what the coalition -- a loose grouping of largely European NATO nations as well as countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand -- exactly has in mind. Earlier this month, a joint French-British technical team traveled to Ukraine to assess the needs of Kyiv for a "reassurance force." And on April 10 the defense ministers of the coalition met at NATO headquarters in Brussels for the first time. The same coalition is expected to meet at the leaders' level on May 9 in Kyiv. Despite all the gatherings and fanfare, very little, if anything, has in fact been decided, largely because there are too many unknowns at this stage. What will a potential cease-fire look like? What role, if any, would the United States play? And even if few Western officials want to admit this: What are the rules of engagement? The European diplomats RFE/RL has spoken to under the condition of anonymity described the initial weeks of the group as "prudent planning," "getting our ducks in a row," or coming up with "what-if scenarios." "Or, what-when [scenarios], if you want me to be more optimistic," added one diplomat. Questionnaires And Answers Paris and London -- which is very much taking the wheel in this process -- sent out a questionnaire on April 11 to all members, asking them which capabilities their country would be willing to deploy to Ukraine: How many airplanes, ships, drones, or even boots on the ground could be available at short notice? The answers were due on April 18, and, once tallied, some sort of concrete timelines and scenarios could theoretically emerge. To be fair, there are a few contours already. Diplomats tell me the working assumption is that deployment would be for five years. It's ambitious, but the plan is for the first troops to be in Ukraine 72 hours after a full cease-fire is announced. They wouldn't, however, go anywhere near the conflict zone. One diplomat told me there would likely be a buffer zone around a frozen contact line -- perhaps observed by the United Nations -- followed by a line of Ukrainian soldiers and then, far from any front, a contingency of the coalition of the willing. Securing The Skies There are varying ideas floating around what such a contingency can do. One option on the table is that it would guard critical infrastructure in Western Ukraine. More specifically, it would create a "safe zone" around Lviv for airplanes to land. For this potential air component, both France and the United Kingdom have strong enough air forces, but also a country like the Netherlands could potentially contribute. "If we talk about safe skies, of course we know that with the current capacity of Ukraine they are not able to do that alone, so they need support in this," Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans told RFE/RL on the sidelines of the recent coalition meeting in Brussels. "It's relatively easy to say how much countries can commit," he added. "In the Netherlands we have F-35s, for example, and we know of course how much capacity our F- 35s have and how many we can deploy. So that's not the difficult part; the difficult part is setting up the whole mission and making clear what the air element is going to do." An even more ambitious idea being floated is for the coalition to be present at what one European official referred to as the "flanks" -- meaning near the Belarusian border or around Odesa. The former would make sense with a view of the expected big "Zapad" exercises this autumn with a large number of Russian troops expected in Belarus. A placement in Odesa, however, could be connected to the maritime component that so far seems the most developed aspect of the plans so far. At the meeting in Brussels on April 10, Turkey declared it was ready to assume responsibility in this area. Essentially Ankara would continue to keep grain routes open for Ukrainian and international ships, potentially clear mines in the Black Sea, and take charge of being the framework nation for a future multinational maritime force in the region. How Many Foreign Troops Would Be In Ukraine? The diplomats RFE/RL spoke to mentioned a figure of around 30,000 boots on the ground, although it was footnoted as "an ideal number that might be hard to reach." Such a number is essentially two full military divisions, but ideally another 90,000 would be needed to provide a rotational reserve. Can the coalition really assemble anything close to that? The problem is that most countries are remaining noncommittal due to all the uncertainty surrounding prospects of any cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine. France and the United Kingdom are leading the push, and the Baltic trio of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are onboard, as well. Then there are nations like Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands, which are described as "forward-leaning." Germany is tied up at the moment with building its own government coalition, but there is hope that if Berlin eventually commits, others will fall in line. "Russia hawks" like the Czech Republic and Poland are looking to their upcoming respective elections later this year, and some frontline states are saying they'd rather keep their military leaders closer to home than sending them east. One diplomat confided to RFE/RL after the Brussels summit that most countries are not really "revealing their cards." "They're attending the meetings, but they're rather in listening mode and perhaps add that they are supporting the endeavor in very general terms," they told me. Russia And The United States The two elephants in the room are the United States and Russia. While France, according to diplomats, is adamant no so-called American backstop is needed for a potential mission, others are more hesitant. They say US enablers are needed in at least two areas: logistics and intelligence. In short, the Europeans can't carry out larger-scale missions without American help -- think of the moving of troops and the air cargo needed to transport military equipment quickly. And while both Britain and France have good intelligence, Washington is the one who can share advanced satellite images. US President Donald Trump has so far refused to provide any assurances that the United States will back up European efforts. At the same time, though, European diplomats note that it's hard for America to commit to anything when the Europeans don't even have a proper plan in the first place. What About Article 5? But Washington's potential involvement goes far beyond satellite images and air lifts, at least according to Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's defense minister, who spoke to RFE/RL on April 10. "When we talk about the backstop, when we talk the enablers, then it's the question about how to secure the forces and what will be the response if something happens," he said. "This is why we have to be very clear that no soldier will go to any battle -- whether it is a Ukrainian soldier or a European soldier from some other countries -- when they don't know what they can do. And when they do something, do they have the cavalry behind their back, helping them if there is a necessity?" Most of this comes down , ultimately, to Russia and the rules of engagement. If Moscow fires at a Western mission, will they return fire or run? Even though it isn't a NATO mission, there is talk that a reassurance force of NATO countries could be covered by the military alliance's mutual defense clause, Article 5. Does this mean a full-scale NATO-Russia war would break out if they were targeted? One ambassador told RFE/RL that Article 5 doesn't necessarily mean a full-scale response, but rather could be a targeted one such as hitting Russian positions in the occupied part of Ukraine. The Porcupine Option For many, this is playing with fire. And again, it's far from certain whether the United States would be onboard with any of these options. Instead, officials are betting on an alternative plan for Ukraine -- for the moment, at least: the porcupine option. This means arming Ukraine to the teeth so it can withstand future Russian attacks or even deter the Kremlin completely from ever attacking again. "The only question now is not how many European forces will be in Ukraine but what weapons and finances will be delivered to the Ukrainian military that currently consists of hundreds of thousands of troops that will be defending Ukraine from a future aggression," one European military planner put it to RFE/RL. Another diplomat with insight into the talks noted something similar when it comes to supporting Kyiv: "Many countries are increasingly seeing this as the best option, instead of potentially risking their own soldiers to die in Ukraine." Looking Ahead This week the exhumation of the remains of Poles massacred by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II will resume in western Ukraine after a standstill in the process that has lasted since 2017. The Volhynia massacres took place between 1943 and 1945, resulting in an estimated 100,000 dead. Contrasting interpretations of the events have caused plenty of tensions between Poland and Ukraine, with Warsaw even threatening to block Kyivs path to EU membership over the issue. However, in late 2024, Ukraine announced that the exhumations can resume and that the two countries will increase cooperation on the issue. That's all for this week! Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on X @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org. Until next time, Rikard Jozwiak If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition subscribe here Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after battling a serious bout of double pneumonia. Despite his illness, his death came as a shock after he had been driven around St. Peter's Square to greet cheering crowds on Easter Sunday. "Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel on April 21. "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," he said. Francis, who had also delivered a blessing at this year's Easter services a day before his death, was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from the Americas, the first Jesuit, and the first pontiff born outside Europe in over a millennium. At the Vatican, locals, tourists, and pilgrims visiting for Easter expressed their shock and grief. "This is something that really hits you hard," Rome resident Emanuela Tinari told Reuters. "He was a pope who brought so many people closer to the church. He was not appreciated by everyone. But he definitely was by ordinary people." Tributes have also been pouring in for the late pontiff from leaders around the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin published a statement saying Francis "enjoyed great international authority as a faithful servant of Christian teaching, a wise religious statesman, and a consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice." "Throughout his pontificate, he actively contributed to the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See," he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also praised the pope's tenure, describing the pontiff as someone who "knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity." "He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians," he added. "We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory!" 'Painful And Shameful' -- Pope Francis On The Ukraine War Pope Francis, who died on April 21, Easter Monday, did not deliver his final annual Angelus address in person. But the text of his address said the third anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 was a painful and shameful occasion for all of humanity." He went on to voice solidarity with the martyred Ukrainian people." The Pontiffs death-bed statement was his last attempt to give the Vatican a voice in the conflict. While he was clearly sympathetic to the plight of Ukrainians, Pope Francis previous interventions were not always welcomed by Kyiv. He raised particular ire in March 2024 by calling on Ukraine to find "the courage of the white flag to enter peace talks with Russia. He later said that the first condition for peace was that Russia put an end to its aggression. But earlier, his avoidance of specific criticism of Russia was a cause of frustration. In June 2022, he condemned the cruelty of Russian forces while also suggesting the war was perhaps somehow provoked. This echoed a Kremlin argument, repeatedly made without evidence, that it was forced to attack. -- By Ray Furlong, senior international correspondent "Rest in Peace Pope Francis!" US President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post. "May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Trump announced later on the same social media platform that he and first lady Melania Trump would attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. Trump's predecessor also praised Frances on social media. "He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe," said Joe Biden, himself a devout Roman Catholic. US Vice President JD Vance, who met with the pontiff on April 20, said his heart "goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said "the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis," adding that "he inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate." Moldovan President Maia Sandu also expressed regret at the news of Francis's death, saying that he had "tirelessly promoted compassion and social justice" and "led with love, stood by the vulnerable, and called for unity in times of division." Her comments were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said the pope had been "a man of humility, on the side of the most vulnerable and the most fragile." Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Francis would be remembered for his "tireless commitment to the weakest in society." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer tweeted that he was "deeply saddened" by Francis's death. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban responded to the news with a short a Facebook post that included a picture of him with the late pontiff. "Thank you for everything, Holy Father," he said. "We bid you farewell." An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman voiced sadness over Francis's death, saying that he offered "condolences to all Christians around the world." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Francis was "a spiritual leader who gave importance to dialogue between different faith groups and took the initiative in the face of humanitarian tragedies, especially the Palestinian issue and the genocide in Gaza." Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic also posted tributes to the pope. A Papacy Focused On Social Justice Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the son of Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis worked as a chemical technician before entering the Jesuits in 1958. He was ordained a priest in 1969 and became the provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. In 1998, he was appointed archbishop of Buenos Aires. Three years later, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II. Elected Pope in 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, reflecting his commitment to humility and the poor. Images From Francis's Years As Pope No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:01 0:00 His papacy was marked by a focus on mercy, social justice, and environmental stewardship. In 2015, Pope Francis issued the encyclical Laudato si, calling for global action on climate change and care for the environment. He also emphasized interfaith dialogue, notably signing the Document on Human Fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Egypt, Ahmed el-Tayeb, in 2019, a landmark agreement promoting peace and coexistence among different faiths. 'A Poor Church For The Poor' Pope Francis was known for his pastoral approach, advocating for a poor Church for the poor and reaching out to marginalized communities. He made efforts to reform the Vaticans financial systems and address alleged clerical sexual abuse within the church. In 2025, he published his autobiography, Hope, offering insights into his life and papal mission. In his later years, Pope Francis faced several health challenges. In 2021, he underwent colon surgery to address diverticulitis, and in 2023, he had abdominal surgery to repair a hernia. He also experienced chronic knee and back pain, often using a wheelchair for mobility. Despite these issues, he maintained a rigorous schedule, continuing his pastoral duties and international travels. In early 2025, Pope Francis was hospitalized with a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, which developed into double pneumonia. His condition remained complex, requiring an extended hospital stay. He had been discharged from hospital on March 23. With reporting by Reuters Outraged patriotic bloggers and the tabloid press in Russia are warning the country's soldiers about scams from so-called "black widows" -- women who seduce and lure the fighters into marriage so they can collect their death benefits if they are killed fighting in Ukraine. In one post, blogger Anastasia Kashevarova claimed that gangs of opportunistic women were operating in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine where they allegedly seduced Russian soldiers for their money and benefits. Gangs of honey traps were captured in Luhansk, she wrote. They can pull that scam off repeatedly. If a Russian soldier dies in combat, governmental compensation for the widow and family can be up to $60,000 plus a survivors pension. If the soldier is seriously wounded, there is a disability payment of up to $36,000. Current Times Andrey Cherkasov surveys Russias media and says the issue has frequently appeared in the tabloid press. One headline in a Siberian publication claimed the wife of a Tyumen resident killed in action was accused by the fighters mother of orchestrating a scam marriage. A suggestion from a Tomsk real estate agent sparked outrage when she advised clients on how to raise cash to buy property. You find a fighting man in the special military operation. He dies, and you get $100,000, said Marina Orlova Tomsk, laughing out loud. That triggered an angry backlash on Russia social media. The question is whether this Tomsk realtor wants to take responsibility for a scheme to buy an apartment for these women in their thirties, posted blogger Gasparyan. This is a criminal offense that deserves a prison term, wrote another blogger who goes by the name Shakespeare. And Paratrooper Diary posted: There are many women who even have kids to get higher compensation. These accusations tarnish the Russian image of the "hero's wife," which is promoted by Kremlin propaganda. Officials, members of the ruling United Russia Party, and even Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly meet with the wives and mothers of soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Pro-Kremlin media cover these events. Some Russian bloggers have also suggested that scams targeting Russian soldiers can pose an intelligence risk for the countrys military. Black widows who allegedly seduce Russian soldiers arent only after cash but are also looking for military secrets, according to blogger Anastasia Kashevarova. A sex agent will find out lots of things about her groom's unit and report it to the enemy, she writes. With a shortage of soldiers on the front line, Russian authorities keep raising payments and benefits for those willing to sign a military contract to go and fight in Ukraine. Such incentives, however, may also be encouraging fraudulent schemes and exploitation, as some individuals seek to profit from the system -- and from the deaths of others. Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine are being warned about so-called "black widows" -- women who seduce and marry them with the aim of collecting their military death benefits. As RFE/RL's Andrey Cherkasov explains Russian social media, tabloids, and TV talk shows are full of accounts of the scams. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would continue to mirror Russia's actions, following reports of further missile strikes by Moscow. In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy noted that Moscow had ignored both a proposal for a full 30-day cease-fire and a call to halt air strikes on civilian infrastructure, including missile and drone attacks. The nature of Ukrainian actions will remain mirrored: we will respond to silence with silence, and any Russian attacks will be met with our own. Actions always speak louder than words, he added. An Easter truce in fighting between Russia and Ukraine appeared to reduce some air strikes on Ukrainian cities, but Kyiv angrily claimed nearly 3,000 violations by Moscows forces while calls for an extension went unheeded by the Kremlin. Nevertheless, US President Donald Trump said late on April 20 that "hopefully, Ukraine and Russia will make a deal this week." "Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform without elaboration. A unilateral truce was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 19, running from 6 p.m. that day until midnight on April 20. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agency TASS that Putin had given no orders for the cease-fire to extend beyond midnight. Ukrainian officials said it was not observed anyway. Air attacks appeared to resume early on April 21. Hours after the scheduled end of the Easter truce, air-raid sirens blared across Kyiv, while the mayor of Mykolayiv reported that explosions were heard across the southern city. Details were not immediately available. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier proposed that -- in view of Russias apparent refusal to accept a longer, full-scale cease-fire -- both sides agree to pause air attacks on civilian infrastructure for at least 30 days. "Ukraine proposes to cease any strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a period of at least 30 days, with the possibility of extension. "If Russia does not agree to such a step, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things which destroy human lives and prolong the war," Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Moscow's actions following the midnight end to the truce will indicate the Kremlin's real attitude toward any initiatives to end the war. "Regarding the so-called 'Easter Cease-fire,' we have still not heard Moscows response to our proposal to extend it to 30 days," he wrote on X. "Russia's actions after midnight, tomorrow, and throughout the week will reveal Russias true attitude toward US peace efforts and the 30-day full cease-fire proposal. They will show whether Russia is serious about peace or Putin's statements from yesterday were simply manipulations," Sybiha added. The US State Department earlier said it would welcome an extension to the Easter cease-fire that was set to expire a few hours later. "We have seen President Putin's announcement of a temporary cease-fire due to Easter. We remain committed to achieving a full and comprehensive cease-fire," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement e-mailed to news media. "As we assess their seriousness in this instance, we would welcome it extending beyond Sunday," the statement added. In the early morning hours of April 21, Zelenskyy accused Russia of 2,935 violations following Putin's call for the Easter truce, although he added that there had been "no air raid alerts" during the period. "Either Putin does not have full control over his army or the situation proves that in Russia they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war, Zelenskyy wrote on X on April 20. It was not possible to independently confirm battlefield claims. Russian Attack On Humanitarian Mission Vehicle No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:45 0:00 Video sent to RFE/RL by a Ukrainian humanitarian organization appeared to show a drone attack on vehicles evacuating civilians near Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Yevhen Tkachev from the Proliska organization and a civilian woman were injured. She and her husband, who was suffering from shock, were taken to a hospital. Zelenskyy posted on social media on April 20 that "the highest level of Russian combat activity this Easter is in the Pokrovsk direction," which is located some 50 kilometers southwest of Kostyantynivka. "Putin's words about a 'cease-fire' have also proven empty in the Kursk region, the Siversk direction, and other directions in the Donetsk region," Zelenskyy added. infrastructure and causing civilian deaths. Russian authorities reported at least three explosions in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine early on April 20. The Defense Ministry claimed Kyiv launched 48 drone attacks on targets in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine overnight. Zelenskyy said Ukraines forces were acting "in a fully symmetrical manner" to Moscow's. Meanwhile, in a further sign of heightened international tensions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Britain's Defense Ministry reported recently intercepting Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea. It cited two incidents, on April 15 and 17, in which British jets were scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said on April 20 that "Russian aggression" was growing and that British jets were working with the Swedish Air Force to defend NATO airspace. What Do Ukrainians Think Of Easter Cease-Fire? In Kyiv, as priests sprinkled worshippers with holy water, there was deep skepticism about the Easter truce. "I really hope for it but I do not believe in it. They (the Russians) say one thing but do the opposite," said Dmytro, a 37-year-old IT worker. Kyiv and Moscow residents doubtful of the cease-fire No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:26 0:00 "Nobody believes in it," said 40-year-old Olha Malashuk, who works in sales. "[Putin] probably wants to rearm the troops, that is why no one believes him anymore." There was also doubt reported among civilians in Moscow, where RFE/RL is effectively banned and unable to operate. Evgeny Pavlov, 58, told the AFP news agency that "it's pointless because I don't trust Ukraine." "We shouldn't give them a break. If we're pressing them, we should finish the job," he added. Maria Goranina, 85, said, "We need to end this -- either yes or no. Either make peace permanently or not at all." Trump's Threat To Walk Away Putin's truce announcement followed signals from Trump and other US officials complaining about the slow progress in talks to resolve the Ukraine war, now in its fourth year. Trump on April 18 said the Ukraine and Russia talks are "coming to a head" and he insisted that neither side is "playing" him in his push to end the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, warned that the United States may "move on" from trying to secure a peace deal if there is no progress in coming days. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ray Furlong, RFE/Rl's Ukrainian Service, and Reuters Ukrainian authorities reported dozens of Russian missile and drone attacks on April 21, a day after US President Donald Trump voiced hope that an agreement would be reached between the two countries this week. Strikes were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns and cities. A man was reportedly injured by shelling in Kherson. A Ukrainian drone strike was reported in Russias Belgorod region. On the diplomatic front, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the prospects of a deal this week. But he welcomed a comment by US envoy Keith Kellogg saying Ukraine would not be able to join NATO. Further talks are expected in London this week between European, Ukrainian, and US officials following a gathering in Paris on April 18. Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly planning another meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A more sensible approach by Trump, bringing the Europeans into the talks, is an important step, Sergei Sanovich, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, told RFE/RLs Current Time on April 21. It could force Putin to make concessions, because Putin is interested in getting sanctions lifted, he said, adding that the allies could agree a joint plan which Witkoff would then present to Russia. The Trump administration has suggested that unless a deal is agreed soon, it may walk away from the negotiations completely. Trumps a former real estate guy. They work like this: theres a great deal available but its only available today, said Sanovich. Analysts have suggested there might be some chance of Washington recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, which occupied the peninsula in 2014. Speaking to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on April 21, people in Kyiv were strongly opposed to this. "Crimea is Ukraine first and foremost. And it is not for the United States to decide our territorial integrity," said one woman, who declined to be named. 100 Days Of Trump "The efforts that the United States is making now appear to be more of a PR stunt to maintain Trump's position with his electorate," said a man who gave his name as Maksym. Political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin told Current Time that Trump was in a hurry for a deal as his 100th day in office approaches on April 30. He said this also meant putting pressure on Putin. The point is you need to understand the limit to whats possible for Putin. What does it mean if he rejects a deal? It means going against Trump, he said. That means undermining a relationship that, while shaky, is at least fairly friendly. Its a serious risk. The events of the Easter weekend also feed into this weeks diplomatic moves. Russian state media cited the Defense Ministry in Moscow as saying on April 21 that the countrys forces had resumed fighting in Ukraine after observing a 30-hour cease-fire announced by Putin on April 19. Kyiv claimed nearly 3,000 violations by Moscows forces during the truce period. In a Telegram post on April 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Moscow had ignored both a proposal for a full 30-day cease-fire and a call to halt air strikes on civilian infrastructure, including missile and drone attacks. Oreshkin said Putins 30-hour truce was merely a show for propaganda purposes. But Zelenskyy managed to turn it to his own advantage, by proposing a 30-day truce, he added. Putin was forced to not agree to that. That can be presented how they like to the [Russian] domestic audience, But externally, its clear where the threat to peace comes from. A Boyle based businessman is set to receive the Farmers' Oscar Award at the FBD National Hall of Fame Awards. The awards will be presented on Sunday, May 4th and Kieran Supple from Reap Interactive will receive the award for his work in supporting agricultural endeavours through his business. On the day founder and Managing Director of Supermacs Pat McDonagh will also be in attendance to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his accomplishments. The awards acknowledge contributions from the farming community and agri-business sector, honouring those who address modern farming challenges through innovative solutions. The FBD National Hall of Fame Awards will mark 21 years of recognising individuals from Irelands bovine, equine, and ovine industries for their significant contributions. These awards honour those who have demonstrated exceptional service, dedication, and commitment to advancing their respective breeds. Reap Interactive is an innovative agritech company committed to revolutionising beef farming practices. Established in 2015, the vision is to create sustainable, efficient, and profitable farming methods through advanced technology. The company believes in the power of smart technology and data-driven insights to transform the agricultural industry, with a specific focus on beef farming. Funeral Service will be Wednesday April 23, 2025, at 10:00 am at Pella Lutheran Church with Pastor Barb Haugerud officiating. Irene will be laid to rest at the Sidney Cemetery. A luncheon will follow services for a time of fellowship and sharing. Visitation will be Tuesday April 22, 2025, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm at the Fulkerson Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Sidney, MT. A Family Receiving Friends Service will be Tuesday April 22, 2025, at 6:00 pm at the Fulkerson Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Sidney, MT. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Sidney, MT is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com. Irene Carrol Bradley Johnson was born on March 26, 1936, at home in a log cabin in Crane, Montana to Asa and Dorothy (Hartl) Bradley. She joined her big brother Gordon who was almost 3. Eleven years later, sister Donna joined the family. Irene once wrote, "My father, Asa Bradley, built the house and it was a warm cozy home for the family for more than 20 years. Our running water was provided only by the one willing to run to get it! We had an ice box and an icehouse. It may seem sparse to today's young people, but we were quite comfortable. My folks installed an electric wind charger when I was about 6." She was known as Tottie to friends and family in Crane. Irene attended grade school in Crane. Growing up she was active in 4-H and excelled at garment making. A favorite memory was her trip to the national "Make It Yourself with Wool" contest. As a senior she was one of 13 girls in the state of Montana and the first from Sidney to receive the "State Homemaker Degree" from the Future Homemakers of America. She met Russell L. Johnson on an eighth grade 4-H field trip, after which they continued to see each other at school and 4-H. She graduated from Sidney High School in 1954. They connected again at college, and they were married on September 16, 1956, at the Congregational Church in Crane, the last couple married at that church. Together they attended MSU in Bozeman where she studied Home Economics. After graduation in June of 1958, Russell and Irene taught school in Joplin, MT - vocational agriculture and home economics, respectively, for one year. Their first child Craig was born in nearby Chester, MT. They returned to Sidney where Russell farmed, raised pigs, ranched, and sold feed in the Brorson area with his family Earl & Mildred Johnson, and Roger & Marthea Johnson. Their son Calvin was born on their fourth wedding anniversary and was followed by son Bruce, daughter Carol and eventually Colleen. She spent her life as a homemaker, selflessly caring for her family. She enjoyed following kids in Brorson Farmhands as a 4-H leader. She was an active member of homemakers' club and church groups with Pella Lutheran Church, Faith Circle and taught Sunday school. She continued to sew and crochet throughout her life. She judged home economics at numerous county fairs every summer. She was involved with Women in Farm Economics (WIFE). They lived on the family farm west of Sidney until 2006 when they purchased and renovated a house in town. She lived in that house across from the water tower until 2018 when she moved into Extended Care. While living at extended care she enjoyed Bible study, all the social activities, church singing, greeting everyone she encountered and roaming down the halls to ride the exercise bike but the highlight of her days was always visits from her kids, grandkids and great-grandchildren. She loved seeing pictures and sharing stories. Irene passed away suddenly on April 14, 2025, at Sidney Extended Care due to apparent heart failure. She is survived by her husband Russell; her children Craig (Kari) Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Carol Johnson (Billings, MT), and Colleen Johnson (Brian) Miller (Portland, TX); grandchildren Cole (Kirstyn) Johnson, Ben (Karli) Johnson (Choteau, MT), Bret Rosager (Billings), Elisabeth, Elena, and Ekaterina Miller (Portland, TX); and great-grandchildren: Fletcher, Ronin, Addi, Harlow (Sidney), Brooks, Alidy, and Boyce (Choteau). She is also survived by her sister Donna Clayton (Ricky Smith) (Sandy, UT), sister-in-law Margaret Bradley, sister-in-law Marthea Johnson and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Asa and Dorothy Bradley, parents-in-law Earl & Mildred Johnson, son Bruce Johnson, infant brother Delbert, brother Gordon Bradley, and sisters-in-law Helen Dunn and Ramona Johnson. She will be dearly missed by all of us who are left behind and remembered for her cheerful, loving, kind and helpful spirit. Her smile was infectious. She was a ray of sunshine, often taking the time to send clippings and cards when someone made the news. The family would like to extend many thanks to the staff of Extended Care for their tender and steadfast care over the seven years she lived there. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Foundation for Community Care, 4-H Foundation, or Pella Lutheran Church in memory of Irene. Himanshi Khurana Accuses Punjabi Industry Insider of Misleading Young Girls, Misusing Her Name All artists should stay aware of people like you, she warned. Himanshi Khurana Accuses Punjabi Industry Insider of Misleading Young Girls, Misusing Her Name, latest News: Punjabi actress and Bigg Boss 13 contestant Himanshi Khurana has levelled serious allegations against an unnamed individual from the Punjabi film industry, accusing him of misleading young girls and misusing personal information. Advertisement Without revealing his name, Himanshi shared a detailed note on her Instagram story, describing the person as a moron in the Punjabi industry an utterly shameless, disgusting, and worthless person. She alleged that the individual falsely claims to help people get work in songs and films while misusing their personal details. Himanshi stated that he has been badmouthing her for a long time and misguiding new girls by boasting that all well-known artists in the Punjabi industry are "under his control." Ive ignored him a thousand times, but he hasnt changed. This time, I cant take it anymore. I received a message from a girl through my team, she wrote. She further claimed that the person owes her rupees 10 lakh and pointed out that he has no stature to go around telling people that she works under him. Himanshi also recounted a time when the person was stuck in London and didnt even have money for his tickets a situation in which she helped him. Advertisement All artists should stay aware of people like you, she warned. Ending her message, Himanshi wrote in Punjabi, Tera naam likh ke main tenu footage nahi dena chahundi but you are nothing less than a pimp (Im not writing your name because I dont want to give you publicity, but you are nothing less than a pimp). ( For more news apart from, 'Himanshi Khurana Accuses Punjabi Industry Insider of Misleading Young Girls, Misusing Her Name' During Boston Visit, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Karnataka, 68 year old Ex-DGP and IGP Allegedly Murdered by Wife Over Property Dispute (Image courtesy: NDTV) "My mother and sister frequently argued with my father. I strongly suspect they are involved in his murder, son said in the complaint Karnataka, 68 year old Ex-DGP and IGP Allegedly Murdered by Wife Over Property Dispute, latest newsL Former Karnataka Police Chief, Om Prakash, was found dead at his home in Bengaluru on Sunday, reportedly after an argument with his wife, according to NDTV. As per the report, his wife, Pallavi, allegedly threw chilli powder at him, tied him up, and stabbed him to death. He was also reportedly attacked with a glass bottle. After committing the murder, Pallavi called the wife of another police officer and told her that she had killed her 68-year-old husband. That woman then informed her husband, who reported the incident to the police. Bengaluru Additional Commissioner of Police Vikas Kumar said the police were informed about the crime around 4 pm. Pallavi and their daughter, Kruthi, were detained and questioned for over 12 hours. Sources said that Pallavi is the prime accused in the case. The incident allegedly stemmed from a property dispute, after Om Prakash gave a piece of property to a relative, which triggered a conflict between the couple. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the daughter was also involved in the crime. Advertisement A case has been registered based on a complaint filed by Om Prakashs son, Kartikhesh. In his complaint, he stated that both his mother and sister had been suffering from depression and had previously threatened to kill his father. Due to these threats, Om Prakash had moved to his sister Saritha Kumaris house. However, two days before the murder, his daughter Kruthi went to bring him back home against his will. My mother, Mrs. Pallavi, had been threatening to kill my father, Mr. Om Prakash (Retired DGP and IGP), for the past week. Due to these threats, my father had gone to stay at the residence of his sister, Ms. Saritha Kumari. Two days ago, my younger sister Kruthi went to her house and pressured my father to return home. She brought him back against his will, Kartikhesh said. He added that he was not at home during the time of the murder. A neighbour called him to inform that his father was lying on the ground downstairs. I rushed home around 5:45 pm and found police officers and members of the public at the scene. My father was lying in a pool of blood with injuries to his head and body. A broken bottle and a knife were found next to his body. He was taken to St. Johns Hospital. My mother and sister used to frequently argue with my father. I strongly suspect they are involved in his murder, he said in the complaint. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara was quoted as saying, Retired Director General of Police Om Prakash has been murdered. Preliminary information indicates his wife committed the crime, but its under investigation. We have to wait. He worked with me when I was Home Minister in 2015he was a good officer and a good human being. This shouldnt have happened. The investigation will reveal everything. Advertisement ( For more news apart from, 'Karnataka, 68 year old Ex-DGP and IGP Allegedly Murdered by Wife Over Property Dispute, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) US Vice President JD Vance Arrives in India for Four-Day Visit with Family They were received by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and a traditional dance performance was showcased to welcome them. US Vice President JD Vance Arrives in India for Four-Day Visit with Family, Latest News: New Delhi: US Vice President JD Vance, who is on a four-day visit to India commencing Monday, has arrived at Delhi Airport, according to reports by ANI and PTI on their X handles. Vance is accompanied by his India-origin wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, and their three children. This marks his first official visit to the country. Advertisement They were received by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and a traditional dance performance was showcased to welcome them. In a video shared by ANI, JD Vance can be seen walking with the minister, while their children appear in Indian attire. In anticipation of his visit, hoardings featuring the US Vice President were set up near Palam Airport and in Chanakyapuri, a diplomatic and upscale neighborhood in New Delhi. According to a report in The Times of India, Vance was formally received at 10:00 am on the day of his arrival, April 21. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6:30 pm at the Prime Ministers official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Later on Monday, the family will fly to Jaipur, where they will be received at the airport by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and the Governor. They are expected to stay at the historic Rambagh Palace, the report added. On Day 2 (April 22), Vice President Vance will visit historical sites including Amer Fort, and is also likely to explore Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, and other landmarks. In the second half of the day, he is scheduled to deliver an address on India-US ties at the Rajasthan International Centre, which will be attended by diplomats, Indian officials, and academic and policy experts. He will also meet the Chief Minister and Governor of Rajasthan. Advertisement On Day 3, the Vice President will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram, an open-air craft market near Agra. On the final day of the visit (April 24), Vice President Vance and his family are scheduled to depart from India in the morning. ( For more news apart from, 'Online Booking Scam Targeting Travelers: Home Ministry Issues Nationwide Alert, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Russia and Ukraine Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violations as Truce Ends (Representative image/Reuters) The continued hostilities are complicating efforts by U.S. President Trump, who desires to mediate a peace deal between the two countries. Russia and Ukraine Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violations as Truce Ends, latest news: Russia and Ukraine accused each other of thousands of violations during the one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the Kremlin later confirming there was no order to extend the pause in frontline fighting, Reuters reported. President Putin had initially ordered a halt to military activity along the war front on Saturday, lasting until midnight Moscow time on Sunday. However, no further pause was announced. Advertisement Citing Russias TASS state news agency, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying, There were no other commands, when asked whether the ceasefire would be extended. According to the report, Ukraine experienced no air raid alerts on Sunday. However, shortly after midnight, the Ukrainian Air Force issued alerts for the eastern and southeastern regions, warning of missile and drone strikes. Alerts were also issued for Kyiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia, according to the BBC. Early Monday, authorities in several Ukrainian cities including the capital, Kyiv urged residents to take cover in shelters amid warnings of potential drone strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukrainian forces had recorded nearly 3,000 violations of Russia's own ceasefire declaration. He said Ukraines military was instructed to mirror Russian army actions. In a Telegram post, he wrote, We will respond to silence with silence. Our strikes will be to protect against Russian strikes. Zelenskiy alleged that most Russian shelling and assault operations occurred along the frontlines near the embattled eastern town of Pokrovsk. Advertisement On Sunday, Zelenskiy also proposed that Russia halt the war for at least 30 days. He had reiterated Ukraines willingness to pause strikes several times before. He stated that if Russia refuses, it would demonstrate its intention to continue destroying lives and prolonging the war. Meanwhile, Russias Defence Ministry accused Ukraine of breaking the ceasefire over 1,000 times, claiming that Ukrainian attacks resulted in civilian deaths and infrastructure damage. The ministry said Ukrainian forces fired at Russian positions 444 times and launched 900 drone attacks. As a result, there are deaths and injuries among the civilian population, as well as damage to civilian facilities, the ministry said, as reported. The continued hostilities are complicating efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire to mediate a peace deal between the two countries. Advertisement ( For more news apart from, 'Russia and Ukraine Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violations as Truce Ends, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Gurdwara in Vancouver Vandalised with Pro-Khalistan Graffiti, Sikh Leaders Condemn Act No suspects have been identified so far. Gurdwara in Vancouver Vandalised with Pro-Khalistan Graffiti, Sikh Leaders Condemn Act, latest news: A gurdwara in Vancouver, Canada, has been vandalised with pro-Khalistan graffiti, prompting strong condemnation from its leadership. According to a report by Vancouver Sun, the incident took place at the Ross Street Gurdwara. Advertisement Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison confirmed that officers are investigating the matter, according to a report in the Tribune. However, spokesperson stated that no suspects have been identified so far. The Khalsa Diwan Society, which manages the gurdwara, has blamed the act on a small group of Sikh separatists promoting the Khalistan movement. In a statement, the society described the graffiti as part of "an ongoing campaign by extremist forces" aiming to create fear and division within the Canadian Sikh community. These actions undermine the values of inclusivity, respect, and mutual support that are foundational to both Sikhism and Canadian society, the society said, urging Canadians to remain united against extremism. Advertisement ( For more news apart from, 'Gurdwara in Vancouver Vandalised with Pro-Khalistan Graffiti, Sikh Leaders Condemn Act, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) The Salva-Viseu Railway An important page in the history of the Romanian railways and the history of communism The History Show Steliu Lambru, 21.04.2025, 13:42 In northern Romania, between the present-day counties of Maramures and Bistrita-Nasaud, in a very scenic mountain area, an important page in the history of the Romanian Railways and the history of communism was written: the railway connecting Salva, in Bistrita-Nasaud, and Viseul de Jos and Viseul de Sus, in Maramures. The communist regime that came to power in 1945 opened large-scale construction sites to mobilize labour. The sites had a utilitarian purpose, namely boosting economic development, but also a propaganda one, that of proving the efficiency of the socialist economic model and the competence of the communist party leadership. Last but not least, the big construction sites of the late 1940s and early 1950s were also used as a repressive instrument, as they caused the death in inhumane working conditions of the democratic elite of Romania and all those who opposed the regime. The Salva-Viseu railway was one of these huge construction sites. But its history begins in 1918, when the territories inhabited by Romanians in Austria-Hungary were united with the Kingdom of Romania. The railways in north-western Romania were not yet linked to the rest of the network, so a railway line along the Salauta River gorge, which flows between the Tibles and Rodna Mountains and flows into the Somesul Mare, was the connection to the rest of the railways. The government started construction works and managed to open a 15-kilometre section from Salva to Telciu before the war. The World War II and the seizing of northern Transylvania by Hungary in 1940 stopped the works, which were resumed by the communist government in 1948, after the north of Transylvania was returned to Romania. In the last days of 1949, the railway line, with a total length of 60 kilometres, became operational. Since then, the simple line has not been modernised and has remained unelectrified. Gelu Fataceanu worked on the Salva-Viseu railway construction site. He was interviewed by the Oral History Centre of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation in 2000, when he confessed that he chose to work there in order to hide from the authorities. He was wanted by the police because, as a young Christian Democrat, he had protested together with other young people against the 1946 election rigging. However, he got involved in subversive activities at the construction site as well: Gelu Fataceanu: There were all these stained people there, like me. They were former army pilots, officers discharged from the army and, obviously, there was a place there for me as well. One evening, a guy called Sora Augustin came to me, I knew him before as an organiser, but not officially, and he told me, Look, we are an organisation fighting against communism. Maybe you want to help us. I answered, Well, Ill help you. I have never liked the communists. He said: We want to set up an ambush. Ana Pauker and Vasile Luca were supposed to come to the construction site. And we wanted to hassle them a little, but not like an attack, an assassination or anything like that. We were not planning to kill them, all we wanted was to get more people, with flyers, to protest against them, we wanted them booed, shouted at and driven away from the site. This was something even the head of the construction site, Amedeo Georgescu, would agree with. He was a very big anti-communist, but they couldnt touch him because the man had done work in Germany, the USA, England, he was a genius at his job. Gelu Fataceanu was the one who took care of the content of the anti-communist message of the planned protest. It was a short, mobilising one: Gelu Fataceanu: I made the flyers, I scattered them everywhere. I made them myself, because I had access to a typewriter. I multiplied them using carbon paper, there were a few hundred pieces, not too many. I had written there, Be there when these country traitors, Ana Pauker and Vasile Luca, arrive, thats what it said, and Lets take a firm stand to save the country from the communist yoke, from the Soviet yoke! That was basically the idea of the flyer. It wasnt too much, there were a few lines, thats all. I didnt have anything else to write, everyone wanted to get rid of communism and the Russians. That was the case back then. But the protest never happened, because the authorities uncovered the plot. Gelu Fataceanu was arrested and taken to Bistrita for questioning. What followed was detention in Aiud and work on another major construction site of the Stalinist years, the Danube-Black Sea Canal: Gelu Fataceanu: That was until April 8, 1949, when a gentleman came, a former teacher who had joined the Securitate as a lieutenant. He took me from the room where I was, found a book on me, because I was studying English by myself. There were many like me, who were learning that way. He found a small pair of tourist binoculars, and asked me who I was in contact with. I said I was not in contact with anyone. He asked me about the connection with the US ambassador in Bucharest, Burton Berry. I told him: Sir, you tell me his name now, but I dont know him because Ive never been to Bucharest to contact the US ambassador. He asked me why I was learning English, I answered that I just wanted to know it. I can tell you that those two or three months I spent in Bistrita were hell on earth. Anyone traveling by train from Salva to Viseu today can be absorbed by the beauty of the landscape. But the railway on which it runs has had a complicated history. (AMP) April 21, 2025 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 21.04.2025, 13:55 POPE According to the Vatican, Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman-Catholic Church has died ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he was trying to overhaul the institution, Reuters reports. The 88 years old Pope was suffering from various illnesses during his service of 12 years. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday when he offered a blessing to tens of thousands in St. Peters Square at the Vatican. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Argentina and is the first Pope from Latin America. Shortly after getting elected Pontiff at the age of 76 he started to implement a series of changes in the Catholic Church. He reorganized the Vaticans bureaucratic system, wrote four major didactic documents, travelled to over 65 countries and canonized over 900 saints. He has been recognized for his attempts to bring the sober Catholic Church in line with the realities of the present day world. Among his major decisions was that he allowed priests to grant blessings to same-sex couples according to each case and for the first time he appointed women in leading positions at the Vatican. He staged five major synods of the Catholic bishops from all over the world for talks over ordaining women and changing the churchs teachings on sexual issues. MESSAGES European leaders have expressed their regret and sorrow after the death of the Pontiff. Pope Francis was a symbol of humility, compassion, with a tireless commitment to peace and justice, a close friend of the Romanian people, which he appreciated for the depth of its faith and spirit, Romanias interim president, Ilie Bolojan, wrote on Facebook. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen says the Pope has inspired millions far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for those less fortunate. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez has expressed the sadness caused by the death of the Pontiff and highlighted his efforts for peace, social justice and his support for those in need. German Chancellor Designate, Friedrich Merz, has voiced the profound sorrow caused by the Pontiffs death and has paid homage to the memory of a man led by humility and faith in the mercy of God. A great man has left us says the Italian Premier, Giorgia Meloni, while the Polish President Andrzej Duda has described the Pontiff as a man guided by humility and modesty. Just like the other world leaders, the head of the European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, has voiced the profound regret and sorrow caused by the death of Pope Francis. EASTER Orthodox believers, who are a majority in Romania, and Catholics, are today celebrating the second day of Easter, at the beginning of a week known as the Bright Week. The Lords Resurrection, the most important holiday in the Christian world is the only holiday, which is being celebrated for three days. During the aforementioned week everything is under the sign of light and the symbol of Christs Resurrection. The regular greetings have been replaced by the confession-greeting Christ has Risen Indeed He has Risen!, which publicly affirms ones belief in the Resurrection. The Monday of the Bright Week is also known in Romania as the White Monday when allegedly the Heavens Doors and the Doors of Forgiveness are open. Christians of most denominations on Sunday celebrated the Resurrection of Christ Jesus, the most important Christian Holiday. In his sermon, Daniel, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, has urged believers to spread happiness and joy around themselves and mainly to touch the hearts of those suffering. MAI More than 24 thousand employees of the Romanian Interior Ministry (MAI) are deployed these days on a daily basis with a view to easing traffic on the countrys roads, ensuring rapid intervention in case of emergency, preventing and fighting illegal deeds and saving lives during this mini Easter holiday. These employees will be supervising 14 thousand churches, where religious services are to be staged on this major Christian holiday, sources with the Ministry have announced. Firefighters lately stepped up checking activities at churches, religious buildings and accommodation facilities, which usually get crowded on this holiday. 15 hundred suchlike buildings were being checked in the month of April alone in an attempt to prevent any possible blaze that might occur. According to the same sources, over one million Euros in fines has been applied. 16 hundred road policemen have been deployed to monitor the crowded motorways. They are using roughly 400 radar speed guns as well as alcohol and drug testing devices. WEATHER And now a couple of things about the weather in Romania, which is very warm for this time of the year in most of the regions. The sky is overcast with showers and thunderstorms reported in the mountains, and isolated areas in eastern and south-eastern Romania. The highs of the day are ranging between 21 and 27 degrees Celsius. The noon reading in Bucharest was 24 degrees. (bill) April 21, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Daniel Bilt, 21.04.2025, 19:16 POPE According to the Vatican, Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman-Catholic Church has died ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he was trying to overhaul the institution, Reuters reports. The 88 years old Pope was suffering from various illnesses during his service of 12 years. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday when he offered a blessing to tens of thousands in St. Peters Square at the Vatican. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Argentina and is the first Pope from Latin America. Shortly after getting elected Pontiff at the age of 76 he started to implement a series of changes in the Catholic Church. He reorganized the Vaticans bureaucratic system, wrote four major didactic documents, travelled to over 65 countries and canonized over 900 saints. He has been recognized for his attempts to bring the sober Catholic Church in line with the realities of the present day world. Among his major decisions was that he allowed priests to grant blessings to same-sex couples according to each case and for the first time he appointed women in leading positions at the Vatican. He staged five major synods of the Catholic bishops from all over the world for talks over ordaining women and changing the churchs teachings on sexual issues. MESSAGES European leaders have expressed their regret and sorrow after the death of the Pontiff. Pope Francis was a symbol of humility, compassion, with a tireless commitment to peace and justice, a close friend of the Romanian people, which he appreciated for the depth of its faith and spirit, Romanias interim president, Ilie Bolojan, wrote on Facebook. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen says the Pope has inspired millions far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for those less fortunate. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez has expressed sadness at the death of the Pontiff and highlighted the latters efforts for peace, social justice and support for those in need. The German Chancellor Designate, Friedrich Merz, has voiced profound sorrow caused by the Pontiffs death and has paid homage to the memory of a man characterized by humility and faith in the mercy of God. A great man has left us says the Italian Premier, Giorgia Meloni, while the Polish President Andrzej Duda has described the Pontiff as a man guided by humility and modesty. Just like the other world leaders, the head of the European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, has voiced profound regret and sorrow at Pope Francis death. WEEK Orthodox Christians, who are a majority in Romania, and Catholics have entered the Bright Week, which begins right after the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ and ends on Thomas Sunday (of the St. Apostle Thomas). The aforementioned week is the most important in the Christian-Orthodox Calendar being dedicated to the joy caused by the Resurrection of Christ. The period symbolizes the victory of life over death and the hope for eternal life. Special religious services are being held this week in churches where altar doors remain open as a symbol of the heavenly open doors. For seven days people are rejoicing in Christs Resurrection observing ancient customs. In this period, the heavenly doors are said to remain open for all believers. Christians of the main denominations on Sunday celebrated the Resurrection of Christ, the most important holiday in the Christian world. In his Easter sermon, Daniel, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, has urged Christians to spread joy around, particularly to those in suffering. ORDER Roughly 24,600 Interior Ministry employees were deployed during the Easter holiday with a view to easing traffic on Romanias roads, and also to ensure rapid intervention in emergency situations, the prevention and combating of illegal deeds and to rescue lives. The aforementioned employees mainly focused on churches and other buildings where religious services were being held. In an attempt to prevent blazes and any other emergency situations that might occur, firefighters had earlier stepped up checking at churches, accommodation facilities and other buildings than might get crowded during the holidays. Thousands of paramedics and firefighters as well as 12 SMURD aircraft were prepared to intervene in emergency situations. Over 16 hundred policemen were also deployed to supervise traffic on Romanias most crowded roads. (bill) Oil prices fell over 2 percent on Monday as fears of a U.S. recession mounted amid the tariff turmoil. Benchmark Brent crude futures fell 2.2 percent to $66.50 a barrel in European trade after closing up more than 3 percent on Thursday. WTI crude futures were down 2.2 percent at $62.59 after settling up 3.5 percent on Thursday, the last settlement day last week because of the Good Friday holiday. Trade worries mounted after U.S. President Donald Trump on Easter Sunday posted about a 'non-tariff cheating' list, warning trade partners of non-tariff-related offenses that could spoil relations with the United States. The 8-point list included currency manipulation, export subsidies, counterfeiting, and transshipping to evade tariffs. Meanwhile, China has warned it will hit back at countries that make deals with the U.S. that hurt Beijing's interests. The comments came after reports that the U.S. plans to pressure governments to restrict trade with China in exchange for exemptions to U.S. tariffs. Japan and South Korea have already rebuffed Beijing's suggestion that they form a united front against Trump. Elsewhere, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of breaching a 30-hour "Easter truce" announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday. The brief pause in hostilitiesmeant to last until midnight Moscow timewas marred by artillery fire, drone strikes, and frontline skirmishes, dashing hopes of a peaceful holiday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis New Zealand will on Tuesday release March figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In February, imports were worth NZ$6.23 billion and exports were at NZ$6.74 billion for a trade surplus of NZ$510 million. Taiwan will see March numbers for export orders and unemployment; in February, orders surged 31.1 percent on year and the jobless rate was 3.35 percent. Hong Kong will provide March data for unemployment; in February, the jobless rate was 3.2 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. British fighter jets have intercepted two Russian intelligence aircraft flying close to NATO airspace, UK's Ministry of Defense said. Two RAF Typhoons, as part of NATO's enhanced Air Policing in the region, were scrambled from Malbork Air Base in Poland last week to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M "Coot-A" intelligence aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Thursday, another two Typhoons scrambled from the base, to intercept an unknown aircraft leaving Kaliningrad air space and close to NATO airspace. The intercepts mark the British Air Force's first scramble as part of Operation CHESSMAN and come just weeks after the aircraft arrived in eastern Poland to begin their deployment alongside Sweden in defense of NATO's Eastern Flank. Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said the UK is unshakable in its commitment to NATO. "With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our Allies, deter adversaries and protect our national security through our Plan for Change." The UK has deployed six Typhoon jets and nearly 200 personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing in its latest contribution to NATO's air policing efforts, following successful operations in Romania and Iceland last year. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News A new analysis by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that emergency departments treat a firearm injury every 30 minutes across 10 jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia. The analysis reviewed ER visits for firearm injuries from January 2018 to August 2023 in nine statesFlorida, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginiaplus the District of Columbia. Over that five-year span, hospitals reported more than 93,000 such visits, averaging 74 per 100,000 ER visits, or about one every half hour. The study also found that gun violence follows certain seasonal and temporal patterns. Emergency room visits for firearm injuries peaked during evenings, weekends, summer months, and holidays, according to the research team led by Dr. Adam Rowh, an epidemic intelligence service officer at the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The data further showed that gun-related ER visits steadily rose throughout the day, peaking between 2:30 and 3 a.m. Rates were highest on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. July emerged as the most dangerous month, and New Year's Eve was the single riskiest day. The researchers emphasized the need for further studies to understand why these specific times are linked to higher rates of firearm injuries. "Understanding the factors contributing to the temporal patterns of firearm injury presents a valuable opportunity for future prevention efforts, and implementation of policies, programs, and practices grounded in the best available evidence can bolster states' and communities' prevention efforts," researchers concluded. Based on these findings, hospitals can bolster ER staffing during high-risk periods, while law enforcement and community organizations can use the insights to better anticipate and respond to surges in gun violence. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Following the surge seen over the final two sessions of last week, the price of crude oil pulled back sharply during trading on Monday. Crude for May delivery plunged $1.60 or 2.5 percent to $63.08 a barrel after soaring $3.35 or 5.5 percent to $64.68 last Wednesday and Thursday. The steep drop by the price of crude oil came amid reports of progress in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, with a third round of talks about Iran's nuclear program set for later this week. A senior administration official told Fox News that "very good progress" had been made during the talks in Rome over the weekend. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said in a post on X that the talks made "progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal" but warned that "optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution." Lingering concerns about a global trade war also weighed on oil prices as traders await signs of progress from President Donald Trump's trade talks. Potentially adding to the worries, China has threatened to retaliate against any countries that reach a trade deal with the U.S. at the expense of China's interests. A spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce was asked to respond to reports the Trump administration is preparing to put pressure on other countries to restrict trade with China in exchange for U.S. tariff exemptions. "If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner," the spokesman responded, according to a Google translation. "China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis CHONGQING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- A freight train, loaded with polyester chips made in southwest China's Chongqing, departed from the municipality on Sunday morning heading for Uzbekistan, marking the inauguration of a new regular freight train route from Chongqing to Central Asian countries. The train is expected to arrive in the Uzbek capital roughly 4,700 kilometers away in about 12 days. It will exit China through Horgos Port in Xinjiang and pass through Kazakhstan. According to the China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. each month two trains are scheduled to start from Chongqing to Central Asia. Xu Meiqiong, an engineer with the China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd., told Xinhua that such regular services could ensure fast customs clearance, timely transportation and reduced costs, so as to guarantee cross-border transportation of better quality. It was believed that the regular train route could reduce the transportation duration between Chongqing and Central Asia by 30 percent. Cargoes in the freight train on Sunday were from the Chongqing Wankai New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. Lin Zheng, the company's manager in charge of logistics, noted that the launch of the new route would be good for them to expand their market in Central Asia. In recent years, Chongqing has been striving to elevate itself into a comprehensive inland hub, with the number of China-Europe freight trains and those heading to Central Asian countries departing from the city, along with cargo volumes, growing. As of February, more than 18,000 trains covering over 50 regular routes linking the city with European and Central Asian countries have been dispatched, reaching over 100 hub cities and regions across Asia and Europe. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A plant-based drug and a switchblade knife were seized from a 34-year-old man from Midland Beach during a car stop in Bulls Head, authorities allege. Adnan al Kamel of Midland Avenue was driving a white, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee at Merrill and Graham avenues around 2:10 a.m. on March 4, according to the criminal complaint and police. Officers apprehended Kamel after the defendant failed to obey a stop sign, police said. Officers found the knife in the drivers side door and confiscated green, leafy cathinone, commonly known as khat, from the defendant, the complaint alleges. The stimulant, which typically contains both cathine and cathinone, is derived from an evergreen shrub that has been used for centuries in the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The chemicals found in khat are controlled under the Controlled Substances Act. Officers allege they located cathinone stored in a plastic-zipper bag under the front-passenger seat of the Jeep. The same stimulant was stashed in a silver package found on the floor behind the drivers seat, police allege. The criminal complaint quotes al Kamel as saying to police, Its khat. A white plastic bag containing cash also was found in the floor of the rear-passenger seat, police said. Al Kamel has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a narcotic drug, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon and a violation of failure to stop at a stop sign. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been released on his own recognizance. He is due back in Criminal Court in St. George on April 30, according to public records. An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Staten Island Courthouse in St. George in seen in this 2015 photo. (Advance/SILive.com) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Mariners Harbor man is headed to prison after admitting to police he nearly beat his father to death. Albert Duka, 34, of Amador Street, was sentenced March 31 by Judge Alexander B. Jeong to 10 years in prison, the Advance/SILive.com has learned. Duka also is subject to five years post-release supervision, and an order of protection was issued by the court on behalf of his 62-year-old father. The defendant previously pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to felony assault, just as the case was entering the pre-trial stages. Indicted Sept. 27 on charges that included attempted murder, Duka was facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted by a jury on the top charges in the case. He admitted to near-fatal rampage, cops said Authorities said it was around 9 p.m. on Sept. 25, when Duka stormed over to a third-partys house on Scott Avenue in South Beach where his father was at the time. The defendant, according to a criminal complaint, punched his father in the face about 10 times, even after the man had collapsed to the ground; each blow causing the victims head to bounce off the concrete. He later told police that he demanded his father meet him outside. Then, after carrying out the beating, he made a beeline for the house, the complaint alleged. In his own words, he ripped one door off the hinges and punched a hole through an inner, locked door, but was unable to gain entry. Alleged statements to police Following his arrest, Duka allegedly stated to police in sum and substance: Hes my dad. I beat him up because ... he shouldnt have been there. According to a source familiar with the case, he was referencing an ongoing conflict within the family. I knew that my father was going to that house ... Duka later told detectives with the 122nd Precinct. His father was rushed to an area hospital with multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, bleeding from the ears and swelling, prosecutors said. History of mental illness The defendant is said to have a history of mental illness. His lawyer in the assault case, Brendan P. Tracy, said recently that Duka had been hospitalized in the past with psychiatric diagnoses. Said Tracy: Mr. Duka has suffered for almost 20 years with severe mental health issues. Big Brother star Tommy Bracco and longtime love Joey Macli are married! The Staten Islander, 34, and Macli exchanged I dos with on April 19 at the Marina Del Rey in the Bronx, in front of their nearest and dearest family and friends. The Annadale residents announced their upcoming nuptials on social media back in May 2023, with photos of the engagement ring and a video of a house that appeared to be under renovation, decorated with sweet Polaroids strung across the ceilings. Yesterday was a dream come true!! We got engaged in our future home covered in photos from our past adventures & memories, standing on ground where well create new ones, read the Instagram post. Were still on cloud nine. The whole day was truly so special. Being surrounded by our friends and family was all we couldve asked for. We are so grateful for this life and excited to take this next step together!!!!!!! Big Brother star and Staten Islander Tommy Bracco married Joey Macli in the Bronx on April 19, 2025. The couple is flanked by family friends Joe D'Amodio, left, and MariLou D'Amodio. (Courtesy Joe D'Amodio) (Courtesy Joe D'Amodio) ENGAGED FOR TWO YEARS Bracco and Macli, who dated for two years prior to getting engaged in 2023, shared details with Us Weekly shortly after their engagement announcement. Were both so over the moon with happiness! It was the perfect day and the engagement went so smoothly! Bracco told the outlet at the time about his proposal to Macli. Ultimately, we decided I would be the one to propose because Im a better planner and truth be told, Joey would have been a nervous wreck. I had been ready to propose for a while. I knew Joey was the one right away, so it feels great to finally have a title that catches up to how strongly I feel. Boyfriend just didnt cut it anymore. We had to upgrade to fiance. In Dec. 2023, the couple shared on Instagram their selection of Marina Del Rey as their wedding venue. The post read: There was a point where we were so discouraged with the wedding industry but Joe Savino and the Marina Del Rey made us feel so comfortable and right at home Joeys parents, brother and whole family got married there and, since we live in Staten Island, its only fitting we have a Bronx wedding!!!! Theres a lot of work to be done before the big day but were SO excited for the entire process and to marry each other " Tommy Bracco attends "The Heart of Rock and Roll" special celebration performance at the James Earl Jones Theatre on Friday, April 19, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Charles Sykes/Invision/AP ABOUT TOMMY BRACCO Bracco was born on Staten Island on Aug. 8, 1990 and is recognized for both his Broadway roles and his stint on the reality series, Big Brother. His career in theater includes standout performances, most notably as Spot Conlon in the musical Newsies, a 2017 role that highlighted his charisma and talent on stage. He also took the stage in Pretty Woman: The Musical, adding to his growing list of Broadway credits. In 2019, Bracco stepped into the reality TV spotlight as a contestant on the 21st season of Big Brother. Known for his lively energy and strategic gameplay, he finished in fifth place. Beyond the stage and reality television, Bracco has appeared in various screen projects. IMDb lists credits including the web series Submissions Only and a role in the 2019 romantic comedy Isnt It Romantic, featuring Rebel Wilson. With Pope Francis having passed away on Easter Monday, the world is already looking toward who the next leader of the Catholic Church will be. A new pontiff will be elected at a secret conclave attended by members of the churchs College of Cardinals. One of those cardinals in attendance at the conclave will almost certainly be elected by his colleagues as the next pope. One legal betting site shows a close battle between two cardinals in particular for the papacy. Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy currently leads the betting on the Polymarket wagering site, with 36% of those gambling on the issue picking him to be the next pope. Parolin has been the Vaticans Secretary of State since 2013, playing a major role in diplomatic affairs, including sensitive negotiations with China and Middle Eastern governments, Newsweek reported. It is thought that the moderate Parolin would provide stability as the next pope. An Italian has not been elected pope since Pope John Paul I in 1978. Close behind Parolin is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, with 30% of those betting on the Polymarket site wagering that he will be the next pontiff. Newsweek reports that Tagle is seen as the most likely to carry forward Francis progressive agenda. His Asian heritage is also seen as a plus as Catholicism is growing rapidly in that region of the world. Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary is the pick of 9% of those betting on the Polymarket site, with Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana at 7%. Pope Francis, of Argentina, was the first Latin pope and the first pope from the Americas. However, it has been cautioned that he who enters the conclave as a favorite to be elected pope usually leaves the conclave as a cardinal. The U.S. flag is flown at half-staff at the White House in Washington in honor of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the nations flag will be flown at half-staff for the next few days in honor of the late Pope Francis. As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment, Trump wrote. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations. Francis, the first Pope to hail from Latin America, passed away Monday morning at the age of 88 after being the face of the Catholic Church for over a decade. Catholics and world leaders alike are mourning the loss of the progressive pontiff. Trump said in another Truth Social post, Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born Vatican camerlengo, a position that will be important in the coming weeks as he takes charge of the administration of the Holy See until a new pope is elected. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father, Farrell said. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. Farrell made the announcement just over two hours after Francis had died. Farrell spoke from Domus Santa Marta, the apartment on Vatican grounds where Francis lived and where he had returned to recover after a 38-day hospitalization for double pneumonia. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A man is recovering after being stabbed multiple times in an early-morning altercation in Saint Clair on Friday, April 18, 2025, according to the St. Clair Police Department. At approximately 1:41 a.m., police received a report that a stabbing victim was en route to a local hospital. Officers responded and made contact with the male victim, who recounted that he had gone to the 100 Block of North Second Street to check on the well-being of a woman he had been with earlier in the evening. While speaking with the woman, the victim said he was confronted by a man he knew as "Queso." The victim told officers that "Queso" attempted to strike him, prompting the victim to use a car door to push him away. Moments later, "Queso" allegedly stabbed him multiple times in the upper torso. As officers were speaking with the victim at the hospital, 24-year-old Roberto Junior Martir Crespo of Saint Clair called 911 and admitted to the stabbing. Crespo stated he was also heading to the hospital, complaining of leg pain, though police noted he had no visible injuries. A knife containing blood, hair, and fatty tissue was recovered from Martir-Crespos clothing. The Pennsylvania State Police Forensics Unit assisted St. Clair Police in processing the crime scene. Martir-Crespo was taken into custody and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer on a range of charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possessing the instrument of a crime, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, harassment, and public drunkenness. Judge Bayer ordered Martir-Crespo held at Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bail. The condition of the victim has not been released. 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! Renewable energy developers are pressing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to reveal how much more wind and solar would be allowed to join the electricity grid under his plan to embrace nuclear reactors, amid intensifying doubts about what technology mix the Coalition is targeting. Energy has become a key battleground issue ahead of the May 3 election, with voters set to decide between the Albanese governments plan for renewables to make up 82 per cent of the grid by 2030 and the Coalitions push to abandon that target in favour of building seven nuclear generators across the mainland by 2050. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has committed to build seven nuclear plants across the country if he wins the next election Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, Getty Images Dutton says his plan for taxpayers to fund and own nuclear facilities would be cheaper than Labors strategy. To support this claim, he cites modelling from Frontier Economics comparing the total cost of the governments renewables-dominated proposal against the Coalitions competing vision for a grid powered 37 per cent by nuclear generation and 54 per cent by renewables. But when quizzed about the impact of slowing the renewable rollout to ensure it did not exceed 54 per cent of the 2050 power mix, opposition energy spokesman Ted OBrien insisted there was no policy we have which is capping any technology. Few TV series have sent a ripple through the justice system in the manner of two Netflix shows about the Menendez brothers, who are currently serving life sentences for the murder of their parents in 1989. The first series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, a docudrama, landed on the streamer in September last year, followed a month later by the true-crime documentary The Menendez Brothers. While the case has featured in many film and TV dramas and docos before, these two triggered a huge public response and pushed the brothers into the limelight, which has prompted a broader public rethink of their case and triggered a bid to have the pair resentenced for the crime. The story of Lyle (left) and Erik (right) Menendez has captured the attention of millions worldwide. Credit: AP Last year in the wake of the response to the series, now-former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said he would recommend they be resentenced for the crimes. That bid has been opposed by current District Attorney Nathan Hochman. Advertisement Review Eating outCanberra Canberras newest hatted restaurant is a beacon of big-night energy Whatever the pasta is, order it, says our critic of Lunetta, where a young chef is charcoal-grilling high on the hill. David Matthews April 22, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 1 / 9 The view from inside Lunetta, Canberra. Rohan Thomson 2 / 9 Pecorino-topped ravioli with buffalo ricotta. Rohan Thomson 3 / 9 Chef Tristan Rebbettes. Rohan Thomson 4 / 9 For many, Lunetta is hallowed ground. Lillie Thompson 5 / 9 Butterflied blue mackerel with broccolini salsa verde. Rohan Thomson 6 / 9 Yamba prawns with salsa rosso. Rohan Thomson 7 / 9 The Red Hill dodecagon in 1963. Fairfax Media 8 / 9 Lunetta has reclaimed its standing as a beacon on the hill. Rohan Thomson 9 / 9 Tuna crudo with local figs and burnt honey. Rohan Thomson Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$$ Is Canberras dining scene riding an all-time high? Definitely. Just look at the names behind the capitals most recent big openings: Matt Moran is grilling steaks at Compa, Chris Lucas is flogging focaccia and tiramisu at Carlotta. But if out-of-towners looking to capitalise on the market is a sign of rude health, we only got here because of how dramatically the landscape has shifted. Bar Rochford, Onzieme, Pilot, Such and Such: all are names emblematic of a trend thats helped reshape eating out in Canberra over the past decade, run by young owner-operators making it their mission to build something special in the place they call home. Pecorino-topped ravioli with buffalo ricotta at Lunetta. Rohan Thomson Advertisement Lunetta, the reimagining of the starship-like modernist restaurant atop Red Hill, is not part of this trend. But its not exactly the other thing either; proprietor Tracy Keeley is no blow-in, having proven herself an astute operator at celebrated local cafes Bookplate and Pollen. Instead, Lunetta is a dramatic reframing of fine-dining for the capital, maintaining the big-night-out energy of longstanding stalwarts, but unquestionably for the here and now. Plenty of that is down to chef Tristan Rebbettes, a former Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year nominee in whose hands familiar dishes have been given fresh perspective. Yamba prawns arent split and served in the shell, but half-peeled with heads and tails on, grilled hard, then plated with bright salsa rossa and a peperoncino thrumming with the fruit-forward heat of chilli. Crudo equals precision slices of ruby-red Ulladulla tuna loin under a mosaic of blowtorched orange segments, figs and marigold, with burnt honey expanding the dimensions. Butterflied blue mackerel with broccolini salsa verde. Rohan Thomson The rest is down to the sense of occasion. Designed by Miles Jakl and later extended in modernist style by Enrico Taglietti, the 1963 building shines in the sun, with faceted bay windows and an elevated position offering views over the city. Advertisement For many, its hallowed ground, tied to the rush of development and optimism that Menzies ushered in during the 60s, the swelling population, the flooding of Lake Burley Griffin. The Canberra Times called it the citys first dodecagon, or 12-sided building (as if more buildings with 12 sides were on the way), while locals remember its restaurant, Carousel, as the place they celebrated wedding anniversaries or met prospective in-laws over steak diane and crepes suzette. Its to the Keeleys credit (Tracy runs Lunetta with sons Nicholas and Matthew), that after acquiring the site for $2.25 million in 2021, theyve worked hard to connect it to its roots. Design firm ACME behind such striking fit-outs as Song Bird and Gimlet took charge, tying it to the landscape with furnishings in colours of earth, stone and eucalyptus and bringing in modernist touches. Lunetta, Canberras famous dodecagon, or 12-sided building. Lillie Thompson At night, amber glass, long mirrors and a light installation under the central spire give the whole building warmth, as if it stores power in the golden glow of the afternoon then slowly releases it over the course of the evening. It would have been easy to give the place a space-age refresh akin to the Jetsons-style bar atop Sydney Tower, but instead it feels current, vital. As does Rebbettes cooking. There are hints of his time at Saint Peter and Flying Fish in the blue mackerel, butterflied then crisped over coals, but its the freshness in the accompanying broccolini salsa verde that lingers. Advertisement Duck breast is on the gummier side, but tossing beetroot and blood sausage through the same dressing so each resembles the other in the garnish pays dividends on the palate. Tuna crudo with local figs and burnt honey. Rohan Thomson Whatever the pasta is, order it: the ground floor houses sibling Lunetta Trattoria, which specialises in the stuff, but the pert, pecorino-topped ravioli thats made upstairs, stuffed with buffalo ricotta and potato, is the business. Rebbettes thick-cut sourdough is a thing of beauty too, glazed in molasses and served with whipped butter. The guy can bake, but its too similar to the bread at Cafe Paci (where Rebbettes also cooked) to applaud too much; just cite it. Generally, though, the sense is of a chef making good on his promise. The technique, honed at Mona Farm, is strong, the team is tuned, the ideas sound. What makes this more than just a restaurant with a good kitchen, though, is the supporting cast: theres wit and charm on the floor, skilled hands behind the bar, showmanship in the presentation. Theres consideration in the wine service, too, helping to find value in a list that leans on big-occasion bottles from Burgundy, Tuscany and Piemonte among tried and true Aussie gear. Chef Tristan Rebbettes. Rohan Thomson Advertisement For sweets, a meringue disc capping folds of creme patissiere studded with preserved pear and honeycomb is an architectural, textural dream. A jolt of parsley sorbet lurks beneath. At Lunetta, theres a jolt for Canberras restaurant scene too, and perhaps a new path for the citys fine-diners. Just follow the beacon on the hill. The low-down Vibe: Glamorous, breezy and beautiful with a glow that lingers after sunset Go-to dish: Yamba prawns with salsa rossa ($18 each); tuna crudo with local figs ($36); parsley, pear and pea with honeycomb and meringue ($22) Drinks: Focused list with a classic lean that has fun around the edges Cost: About $200 for two, excluding drinks Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Loading My Marriage Sabbatical: A Memoir of Solo Travel and Lasting Love is a record of Fishers exploration of travel and personal growth, visiting Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, Cuba, Bali, Java and Colombia. Its some journey, full of risk and volunteer work. Fisher, who is a marriage counsellor, took Charley along on a few trips, and there were other, regular reunions in Arizona. But Fisher also told Charley that he could see other women in her absence. That changed when Charley announced that hed formed an emotional attachment to another woman and said he would like to see her. Surprise: Fisher realised that she wasnt as open to open marriage as she had believed. Her therapist pronounced: This is the stupidest plan Ive heard about in a long time! So ended the sexual experiment, but not Fishers leave-taking for solo travel or her irritation with her husband when they were together. Weve gotten sick of each other, Fisher informed Charley before setting off on the final leg of her sabbatical. No, he replied. I think weve gotten lonely for each other. Eventually, Fisher sees the value of both her flawed relationship and her time away from it. What neither Charley nor I realised when we agreed to be apart for a year, she concludes, was that we were in the process of reconfiguring our marriage. We were experimenting with a different version of matrimony, one that was flexible and spacious enough to support independent dreams as well as those we shared. The unnamed narrator of Miranda Julys wildly popular and divisive novel All Fours makes Fishers real-life marital pause seem positively Amish. Julys heroine takes a road-trip detour from her marriage and motherhood to plumb her sexuality, identity and appetite for interior decorating. Her plan is to drive across the country. Instead, she spends $20,000 refashioning a motel room a few miles from her Los Angeles home while panting after incongruous lust objects. Loading Divorce, in the narrators view, is for ordinary folk. Rumours began to swirl around Harris and me most people thought we were getting divorced, July writes. This made me irate. Divorce only reinforces the supremacy of marriage! True, but only if you decide to wed in the first place. The narrator is too rarefied to be in something as pedestrian as a conventionally constructed marriage. By the novels end, she has a girlfriend, her husband has a girlfriend, and whatever remains of their union is quite different but better, with less suffering. The exhausting formality that had been there since day two had simply lifted like a depression, a cloud of steam, and what remained was a pair of old kids who knew each other very well, July writes. Readers tend to adore All Fours or wish to fling it against a wall. Julys ambition is impressive and her plot often inventive, but this is one self-absorbed, careless and tiresome heroine, whose bio shares much with the authors. Still, Julys book, a finalist for a National Book Award and the Womens Prize for Fiction, is a bestseller that continues to spark conversation on the eve of its paperback publication. People (that would be women) want to talk about whats wrong with marriage and share, sometimes to the point of TMI, about creative ways to fix it. See also last years More: A Memoir of Open Marriage, by Molly Roden Winter, a married non-monogamous Brooklyn mom, and Ada Calhouns recent novel, Crush, in which the protagonists husband (inspired by Jessica Ferns 2020 book, Polysecure) suggests the couple flirt with other people while keeping those rings on their fingers. Jessica Stanleys forthcoming novel, Consider Yourself Kissed, doesnt waste any time catching this zeitgeist. Her protagonist, Australian Coralie, announces her intention to take a break from a 10-year relationship with Englishman Adam in the second paragraph. If she didnt love, she was half a person. But if she did love, shed never be whole, Stanley writes. Mother, writer, worker, sister, friend, citizen, daughter, (sort of) wife. If she could be one, perhaps she could manage. Trying to be all, she found that she was none. The couple live together, have children together, but never wed. It only feels like they have. So this is more of a relationship sabbatical. As domesticity starts to crush her, Coralie craves not a room of ones own but, this being London, a flat. Is it time for Australia to consider acquiring nuclear weapons? It sounds outrageous. Stay with me. Donald Trump is blowing up world trade. After a period of turmoil, it will probably settle into a new state where the US economy is substantially weaker. Trump is also trashing post-war alliances, including NATO, prompting US allies to decide America cannot be relied on. Europe no longer trusts the US to stand up to democracys enemies and will remake itself economically and militarily. A mushroom cloud after an atomic bomb test in French Polynesia in 1971. Credit: Getty China, Trumps main target, will go through a difficult economic adjustment but is well-prepared and will come out on top. Beijing is already exploiting the Trump chaos, with President Xi Jinping making nice in South-East Asian capitals. China will emerge stronger from this period of American madness and with more global influence. Trump will be gone in four years and Trumpism may be weakened, but the next US president will be unable to put the pieces back together. We are witnessing a break in history. Loved ones of a woman abducted from her Sydney home and found dead in a burnt-out car in an alleged drug-linked revenge attack have paid tribute to their friend as they struggle to come to terms with her killing. Thi Kim Tran, 45, was at her Bankstown home in south-west Sydney with a young child and teenager on Thursday night when masked intruders barged in, bashed an eight-year-old boy with a baseball bat and forced Tran at gunpoint into a black SUV. Thi Kim Tran was abducted from her Sydney home and found dead in a burnt-out car. Credit: Facebook The SUV and another car sped away from the home. A body believed to be that of Tran was found in a burnt-out car about an hour later in neighbouring Beverly Hills. The Herald has revealed that police believe Tran was an innocent victim who was targeted and killed by a gang seeking revenge after their drugs were stolen. Shed actually had a conversation with her friends saying that she was going to catch a cab soon and that she was just walking home and that she was going to call a cab. Shed obviously gone along the waterfront to try and get a cab because there were none, obviously, where she was, and shed taken the long way home along the water, obviously to try and hail down a cab, or she would have taken a shortcut through the heart of Gosford. When police initially found Audreys body her death was treated as non-suspicious. When they publicly appealed for information about Audreys death, they again said it was not being treated as suspicious. Superintendent Darryl Jobson said although Audreys death had not sat well with police in the early stages of the investigation, there were no suspicious circumstances identified, nor evidence from a post-mortem examination that suggested foul play. Adrian Noel Torrens has been charged with Audrey Griffins murder. But on Friday, police received information that led them to treat Audreys death as a murder. Jobson would not publicly reveal who had provided the information, only that it came from other sources following the public appeal. Three days later, around midday on Monday, detectives arrested Torrens in Surry Hills, Sydney, charging him with Audreys murder. Police will allege Audrey tried to fight Torrens off after he followed her, scratching him in the process and lodging some of his DNA under her fingernails. They will further allege Torrens struck the left side of Audreys face and knocked her unconscious, causing her to drown, or held her underwater. Police will also say she had scratches on her upper arms and a mark to the left side of her face that could have been caused by blunt force. Meanwhile, a witness living near Erina Creek told investigators she heard a high-pitched scream around 3am. Jobson said detectives had worked tirelessly over the weekend following lines of inquiry before the murder charge was laid. These are the kinds of incidents where police want answers because we know family want answers and when weve got those gaps in information, and for a 19-year-old woman to meet her death in a creek was very unsettling for us as investigators, Jobson said. There is a ripple effect that goes through [the] community, [the] community are feeling it, and I must say first responders also feel it. Audrey Griffin was celebrating with friends before her alleged murder. Jobson said his heart goes out to Audreys family, who he said was understandably devastated. I cant imagine the grief theyre feeling, he said. Torrens did not apply for bail, which was formally refused in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday. He will reappear in court on June 20. Outside court, Torrens lawyer, Bashir Elkheir, said his client had not indicated what plea he would enter. Footage of Audrey hours before her death showed her having the time of her life, her mother said. She was very happy. Kirby had shared an especially close bond with her only child. She and Audreys father, Trevor, separated when Audrey was 16 months old. Kathleen Kirby shared an especially close bond with her only child. It was just me and her, Kirby said, adding that Audrey remained close with her father. Weeks before her death, Audrey, an accomplished teen athlete and University of Technology Sydney student, had competed in the New Zealand half-ironman. She had also travelled to Japan on a ski trip with friends, and had got her motorcycle and jet ski licences. Kirby said her vibrant, smart and beautiful daughters death had shattered the close-knit Central Coast community, where Audrey was very well loved. She was amazing, Kirby said. Absolutely amazing. Hundreds of mourners, dressed in white to honour Audreys bright spirit and the joy she brought into the world, gathered at the teenagers funeral on April 11. Audrey was a member of the Gosford water polo club, which said the 19-year-old always brought a smile to those around her, and a member of Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club. Audrey was also part of the Terrigal Wamberal Sharks rugby league club, where she played junior and senior football and was a member of the Sharks inaugural under-17s premiership team, and the clubs inaugural senior womens team. With a larger-than-life personality, and happy-go-lucky nature, Audrey would hit with sting then check that they were OK, and then skip to each of the scrums, the club said in a social media tribute. Audrey will be sorely missed by the Sharks family. May she rest in peace. A fundraising page launched to help with funeral costs raised more than $30,000. We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of our beautiful Audrey, the fundraiser said. 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 [brought] endless laughter and joy to everyone. She was the kindest soul to walk this earth and will always be in our hearts. Premier David Crisafulli has used the start of term two to announce what he describes as a nation-leading plan to address bullying in Queensland schools. Loading Under a $33 million package, the government will establish Rapid Support Squads to target bullying hotspots and provide staff training, family support and mental health assistance. Each of Queenslands eight education regions will be assigned a three-person squad, and Crisafulli said they would fly in to rural and remote schools as required. The package also includes funding for additional chaplains and student wellbeing staff, a new hotline, and the formation of an Anti-Bullying Stakeholder Reference Group. Weve lost too many young lives to bullying, which is why were delivering a plan to put the spotlight on this serious issue, he said. This is about turning the tables on bullying and bolstering support for kids, parents and schools. The Crisafulli government is reviewing State Facilitated Development projects under the LNPs pledge to restore power to councils. The former Labor government used the SFD process to fast-track almost a dozen projects, ostensibly to provide more housing in areas where development applications might otherwise have been caught up in council. But Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has accused Labor of undermining local government by riding roughshod over councils, sometimes in cases where there was local opposition to developments. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has (clockwise from top left) approved a 479-unit development at Indooroopilly, and a 440-unit development at Woolloongabba, but proposed blocking a 73-unit development at Redland Bay and blocked a 42-unit development at Tewantin. Other State Facilitated Development (SFD) projects remain under review. Credit: Queensland government While the government has reviewed and approved four of the projects at Toowoomba, Wakerley, Woolloongabba and Indooroopilly it last week used new powers to block a project for the first time. Pope Francis was a remarkable pontiff. A man of simple piety and considerable courage, he showed how to live compassion in an age of the 24-hour news cycle and social media. Via displays of mercy and decency, he embodied the conscience of a generation. Who can forget the time Francis approached a man disfigured with neurofibromatosis to embrace and kiss him, or when he let a little boy sit in his papal chair? Pope Francis (1936-2025) Credit: AP Francis steadied the papacys reputation after the presentational problems of Benedict XVIs pontificate. That popes shy and diffident personality were not suited to how his role had evolved. Benedict lacked the extroverted charisma required to make a success of being holy. Francis relished it. His death therefore leaves the Catholic Church with a huge void. But it also gives the cardinals an opportunity to pause and take stock. What qualities are now required of a pontiff in the world of Donald Trump, Europes migrant crisis, economic turmoil and Russian and Chinese aggression? Are they the same as those they saw in Francis 12 years ago? The urn was boiled, the nibbles laid out at the back of the room, and the conversation had turned to the percentage of the federal budget spent on the ABC when things took a dramatic turn. Kooyong MP Monique Ryan had just remarked that the national broadcasters annual budget was about as much as we spend on keeping 100 refugees on Nauru and PNG when a mans voice suddenly bellowed from the back of the room. Were just here to ask about immigration and crime, he said. In a room at the Kew Library filled with civic-minded locals waiting to hear from the Kooyong candidates about the state of the media, the arrival of the three unexpected men disrupted the calm. Leading them was a bald man with a goatee, wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with the logo of the Australian Workers Alliance a self-described nationalist organisation whose mission includes the preservation of Western culture and identity. One of the other men wore a leather jacket and filmed the room with his phone a dead giveaway that the goal was to capture a viral gotcha moment. The third man, dressed in a grey hoodie and sneakers, loitered nearby with his hands in his pockets as back-up. An unsuspecting convener approached the man and asked if he had registered. He said yes then launched into his tirade. Matt Trihey at the forum at Kew Library on April 23. Credit: Rachael Dexter I want to know when political crime will address the correlation between immigration and crime. When will the politicians address it? We have an unprecedented correlation between immigration and crime. When will the politicians address it? You are putting our people at risk, he boomed, pointing his finger at the candidates: Ryan, Jackie Carter from the Greens, and Clive Crosby from Labor. Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer was a no-show. With no security guard present and the room stunned, things quickly escalated. Loading This is not the forum for that! one man shouted. But the agitator later identified by The Age as Matt Trihey, an associate of neo-Nazis who denies being a neo-Nazi himself only roared louder. This is something these people need to answer because the people are being put at risk, he bellowed. Get out of here, another man yelled. Rack off, rack off. Trihey responded: Address it, address it. Are you all too scared to address it? The three candidates, along with MC Jennifer Bowen, sat in silence as several female organisers attempted to usher Trihey out, one pulling at his arm. Dont touch me, he screamed. We are governed by parasites! Its the biggest issue of our time and politicians are ignoring it. By now, Ryan had stood up with the microphone, clearly weighing whether and how to respond. Trihey began ranting about rising rape rates. At that moment, a clearly distressed woman seated near the front, hands over her ears, let out a blood-curdling scream. Still, Trihey kept ranting. Other attendees yelled, f--- off! The woman screamed again. Others tried to calm her down. A group of women including Bowen and organisers from ABC Friends were now actively trying to remove Trihey, but he pushed through them. The room erupted into a cacophony of yelling. Then, the woman who had screamed stormed to the back of the room Excuse me, please! she said, politely nudging aside onlookers before raising her fist and attempting to strike Trihey in the face. Organisers quickly got between them, trying to calm the woman. Ryan moved to console her. The meeting was interrupted, then devolved into chaos. Credit: Rachael Dexter Ryan then asked Greens candidate Jackie Carter to call the police. Trihey, grinning at the chaos, kept shouting. We are the working class, we are the working class, he yelled. Eventually, the trio began moving towards the exit. I attempted to ask them who they were and what organisation they represented, but Triheys cameraman turned his back. The woman inside screamed again. Laughing, Trihey said: I hope I havent spoiled your evening, guys. I just want answers! I want to go to bed at night and not worry about home invasions. An older woman gave Trihey a final shove out the door, to which he responded: Im very fragile have a great day, guys! He continued yelling through the sliding doors until an organiser finally closed them. Outside, I spoke with the trio. Trihey gave his name, but the other two refused. They denied being members of a political party, saying only that they were affiliated with Triheys outfit. A few moments later, the police arrived. Back inside, Bowen worked to calm the shaken room. One attendee led a brief relaxation exercise. If you need to wiggle in your chairs or put your arms in the air or take your feet on the ground, do whatever you need to, because were not here to talk about neo-Nazis right now, she said. The forum continued for another 40 minutes, including a debate about legislation on social media access for minors and the need for stronger misinformation regulation. Afterwards, I caught up with Ryan. She said she had spoken to the woman who attempted to hit Trihey, but organisers told me the woman was still quite distressed by the incident. Loading Ryan also appeared on ABC Radio Melbourne earlier today for a debrief with host Brett McLeod. I think the thing that really distressed some of the members of the audience is they started shouting about rape and womens rape. It was all a bit incoherent, but it was threatening, and it was really unfortunate, because many members of the audience who are a little bit older [were] really taken aback by the events and clearly a bit threatened by them. Ryan, also bewildered by the scene, described the moment involving the older woman. She was a little lady, pretty frail, and he was not a small man, and I was really concerned about that, and their potential for that to escalate, where he did give her a push or something like that. She said the woman was a bit horrified by the whole thing, telling Ryan shed been really enjoying the event and found it a really worthwhile thing. She was really, really angry at these gentlemen for disrupting as they did, said Ryan. I tried to contact the woman today, but organisers said she was too distressed to respond. Despite the drama, Ryan said community groups should not be deterred from holding forums, something the organisers of last nights event agreed with. Next time, theyll book a security guard. We shouldnt be silenced by right-wing nut bags, said Ryan. Essentially, we should continue to have these forums and enjoy the democracy that were so lucky to have. 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 I have always been impressed by Ross Gittins capacity to critically assess important issues. I was surprised, then, when I read his latest column (My Easter sermon: How to Trump-proof our society, April 21). Gittins makes the fundamental error of assuming organised religion engenders altruism and belief in the common good. There is, in fact, little evidence to suggest that reduced religious adherence leads to less ethical behaviour. One only needs to look at the supercilious and self-serving language of the religious right in both America and Australia, and of Trump himself, to see that dogmatic beliefs actually encourage the sort of behaviour Gittins is worried about. I agree that we need to guard against becoming a society that ignores moral imperatives, but we need to consider how love your neighbour as yourself has played out through Christian churches over the centuries. Mark dArbon, Bolton Point Pope Francis receives US Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican. The Pope died on Easter Monday. Credit: AP So JD Vance purports to be a Catholic. Really? He clearly doesnt follow the beliefs of the Catholic faith given his actions and comments on the world stage and his strong support for the decisions that Trump is making in America. His visit to the Vatican City over Easter can only be seen as one of the most breathtaking acts of hypocrisy of 2025 so far. Kip Morel, Pyrmont I have always admired Ross Gittins and valued his opinions, until today. For him to imply that all people who identify as non-Christians are selfish and self-interested is disappointing. One of the reasons I am a non-Christian is because of the appalling self-interest, judgmental and hypocritical behaviour I witness and read about every day. I have good friends who are true Christians and follow the teachings of Jesus, but they are an exception, not the rule. I also have good Muslim friends and other non-Christian friends who are also good people. Gittins may want to label only Christians as good and unselfish people, but he should look to American Christians, who are partly responsible for the rise of Trump and rethink that generalisation. I advise him to read more of Tim Costellos articles (Trump and Musk are destroying the world, but theres a way we can counter this, April 20). Barbara Tregear, Ashfield I usually agree with Ross Gittins, but not his suggestion that reduced religious adherence may lead to less ethical behaviour. Politicians with ill intent, from time immemorial, have told their gullible supporters that God is on their side to give them the illusion of moral rectitude. Trump and others have seen the value in courting religious votes. Take out the religion, and leave the ethics to stand the test of clear scrutiny. Gordon Stenning, Seaforth Gittens reduces Christianity to a belief about what is right and what is wrong. Such a belief is hardly likely to encourage church attendance. We dont need religion to tell us what is right and wrong, our hearts already tell us that. Christianity goes further to promise us compassion, forgiveness and mercy. Mark Porter, New Lambton I would think the only thing coming from the religious mix of the supernatural and morality is confusion and incredulity. We live in a world where truth aligns with what is real, not what is magical, and there is not one precept provided by religion that cannot be matched by rational secular humanism. No Ross Gittins, we dont need religion, but we do need your sage financial advice, which always comes free of any supernatural intervention. Trevor Somerville, Illawong Advertisement Public disservice It speaks volumes about Peter Duttons attitude to the role of the public service, and government in general, that he even contemplates the return to influence of Mike Pezzullo, someone who breached the public service code of conduct on at least 14 occasions (Dutton wants Pezzullo to play a role on national stage, April 21). Clearly Dutton is only interested in listening to those who will accept his view of people he regards as alien to his world view and who can easily be scapegoated for political advantage. Meanwhile, hes eager to dispense with 41,000 public servants. Forget any ethics, fairness or the disruption to those peoples lives and the services they provide. All that sounds an awful lot like Trumps America to me. Adrian Connelly, Springwood Peter Dutton has generously agreed that the disgraced bureaucrat Mike Pezzullo should serve in his future government. Note the uncanny parallel with Donald Trump, who has stacked his team with sycophants. One more reason Dutton should be voted to continue to lead the opposition. Ramani Venkatramani, Rhodes Credit: Cathy Wilcox Peter Dutton claims one of his strengths during the Voice referendum was to guide the debate. The Coalitions bumper sticker approach was If you dont know, vote no. What a celebration of ignorance and laziness that was. Yet in Duttons revisionist approach, apparently it was guiding the debate. Edward Grieve, Woolloomooloo Who is checking the Labor Party attack adverts about Peter Dutton? Labor has lied its way through this campaign and looks likely to win the election because it has not been held to account over what it is saying about the opposition. The lies are about its own performance as a government, about any subject that is not on the woke agenda, and its just wants to hold on to power at any cost to continue wrecking our beloved country. If the unions money can be used to spend big on these election ads, our country is doomed to failure when Labor is elected. Don Ayres, Belmont I run a community music camp for schoolchildren (Duttons pledge to launch national paedophile register, April 19). Our staff come from NSW, Victoria, SA, ACT, Queensland and WA, so we have to navigate six completely different Working With Children Check regimes, each with its own idiosyncrasies and complications. A nationwide WWCC scheme would be a very helpful reform for those of us who actually work in the area, but I suspect sensible suggestions will be too much to expect when Mr Dutton yet again sees profit in panic-merchant hyperventilation. Alastair McKean, Greenwich Advertisement Peter Dutton is neither a scientist or an economist (Letters, April 19). The fastest growing electricity generation system in the world by far is the solar voltaic panel, invented and further developed by the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at the University of New South Wales. The International Energy Agency advises that solar and wind electricity generation is being installed five times faster now than all other new electricity sources combined and that renewable generation capacity added globally in the next five years will be triple that added in the past seven years. The reason for the rapid growth of renewable energy is that it is the lowest cost and quickest to construct source of new electricity. Maybe Planet Dutton needs to speak with some scientists and economists on Planet Earth before spouting energy (or any other) policies. John Bushell, Surry Hills Blind eye to gambling Why do governments seem so reluctant to get rid of gambling advertising (PM stalled action on gambling ad reform, April 21)? Of course, it must be the revenue. The blind eye that bureaucracy has taken to this insidious form of revenue-raising is intolerable. Night after night on TV, gambling companies encourage the public to give it a go, with the mildest of caveats at the end. The $32.5 billion Australians lose on gambling each year is apparently a world record. Is there not a better way to celebrate what one has achieved from a weeks work? Spreading hard-earned cash into more productive areas of ones life seems to be a more positive alternative. Governments must change their approach and declare its not okay. Greg Vale, Kiama Australians lose $32.5 billion on gambling each year. Credit: Getty Images We got poker machines in pubs during a period when it served the interests of many Labor politicians. Now weve got Minns failures on poker machine reform and our PM failing on controls over gambling advertising. The only sure bet in all of this is that Labor believes its voter base wants gambling and is happy to see it destroy families, rather than lead the real changes necessary. If only Labor thought giving voice to the victims of gambling was important. Brian Barrett, Padstow Advertisement Skewed statistics As a recently retired surgical specialist, I am disappointed with the furore in the Herald over discrimination in the healthcare system (Ella was misdiagnosed and locked in a psych ward at 19 weeks pregnant, April 21). Missed diagnosis and delayed diagnosis is common in healthcare for many reasons. This despite our enormous advances in medical imaging and investigations. But claiming that this is happening due to medical misogyny is a gross assumption and it may not even be true. It is well recognised that women, especially younger women, are much bigger consumers of healthcare than men. So you would expect them to be in the majority of those reporting misdiagnoses (Medical misogyny series, April 20). Furthermore, it is well recognised that men tend to present late, if at all when getting sick, which produces a diagnostic bias between men and women for the attending clinician. Finally, putting out a call on the Herald asking women who think they have been subject to medical misogyny to speak up will produce results: what these results represent in terms of a true bias against women is hard to know. But there will be outrage. You will be producing sensational but not statistically significant results. Jan Swinnen, Strathfield Marks matter Lets stop beating around the bush. If, based on parental feedback, the Department of Education boffins really want schools to send out reports that are plain and unambiguous, then its time to throw out the weasel words and return to the plain truth told by marks and grade averages (Use plain English: The words banned from school reports, April 21). Numbers dont lie or sugarcoat the truth. Somehow, though, I doubt this generation of TikTok parents is ready for the plain truth, which is that most children are average, some will fail and only one student can come first. Irene Buckler, Glenwood This article reminded me of a (possibly fictional) remark on a school report in Britain many years ago. The dawn of legibility in his handwriting reveals his utter incapacity to spell. Rosemary Breen, Inverell Vote mindfully Doug Richards threat to vote for the party with the least corflutes is childish (Letters April 21). Yes, it is annoying to be bombarded with election candidates advertising themselves but we are blessed with a truly egalitarian voting system. Not all candidates have Clive Palmer-sized budgets for advertising. Are you seriously suggesting you would research candidates for your electorate without a bit of prompting? In this crazy world, I think we all should take the responsibility of choosing a candidate seriously. Christina Foo, Wahroonga Advertisement A woman walks past defaced corflutes for independent MP for Fowler Dai Le. Credit: Kate Geraghty I am saddened that your correspondents criterion for whom he will vote is based on corflutes. In Australia, our vote still counts, unlike in many other countries. I would like to think that Australian voters will value that privilege when they vote. Sue Martin, Clareville Great grates Your correspondent refers to this great country (Letters April 21). Like flag-waving and pseudo-patriotism, I cringe at the word great. The citizens of many nations have reasons to be proud. Some have substantial culture (India, China), others monuments (Egypt), scenery (Norway, Peru, Canada), high living standards with genuine democracy (most of the Scandinavian countries). Im sure there are many more examples. While Australia is undoubtedly a land of opportunity, it also has quite a few anomalies an increasing difference between rich and poor, subtle political bribery (euphemistically called donations) and cruel treatment of the Indigenous people. Its a fine line between chest-thumping and self-effacement. Even Great Britain is now commonly referred to as Britain. Ashley Berry, Toolijooa US on the slide Its disturbing to see the US sliding into a civilian version of the military dictatorships of 1970s and 80s Argentina and Chile. Trump and his MAGA partners have staged a coup. Trump is now exploring ways to send US citizens to El Salvador (Dictatorship 101: send people to rot in foreign hellholes, April 21). How long before he adopts the South American practice of dropping dissidents in the ocean? Paul Doyle, Glenbrook Advertisement The Bulldogs have withdrawn from the race to sign Lachlan Galvin, leaving Parramatta as the firm frontrunners to land the 19-year-old half as Dylan Browns replacement. The news comes amid revelations the Rugby League Players Association has raised concerns with the Wests Tigers about the management of another two top 30 players. Canterbury general manager Phil Gould has been glowing in his praise of Galvin during the past 12 months and it was widely anticipated the Bulldogs would make a significant play for the rising star. After watching the Galvin saga unfold at the Tigers, the Bulldogs had internal discussions in recent days to decide whether they would enter the market whenever the teenager became a free agent. Chinese-Australian artist Jiawei Shen, a Red Guard in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, remembers an elderly Catholic woman weeping as his comrades pillaged her church. Shen next visited a Catholic Church decades later in 2014, when he met Pope Francis at the Vatican to unveil his new artwork the first officially sanctioned portrait of the pontiff. Former Sutherland Shire councillor Byron Hurst, a retired Catholic school art teacher, recalled the portrait came about from a chance meeting he had with John McCarthy, Australias then-ambassador to the Holy See, in 2013. Hurst noticed McCarthy had a print of his friend Shens famed portrait of Mary MacKillop on his wall. Shen came to Australia as a refugee and later moved to Bundeena in Sydneys south. Bundeena artist Jiawei Shen with Pope Francis. John suggested I recruit Jaiwei to do the first papal portrait as a gift from the Australian people; Jaiwei agreed, Hurst said earlier today. Hurst travelled with Shen and an Australian government delegation to present the painting to Pope Francis. We asked him to pray for us. He replied fine, but said he was the one needing the prayers in the job ahead of him. He loved the portrait and it was hung in the Casina Pio IV building where [Vatican Secretary of State Pietro] Parolin conducts the Vatican diplomacy, Hurst said. Shen has said the portrait, which depicts the Pope surrounded by doves and a large crowd, was inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi and Catholic faithful around the globe. He said he thought of the weeping woman when he was at the Vatican in 2014. I dont have any real religion, but I believe in the power of love and forgiveness. Religious leaders in Australia and abroad have paid tribute to Pope Francis, praising his wit and sense of hope. See what they have had to say about the Popes death below. Archbishop of Melbourne: Pope was a father to the poor Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli said as the church entered Easter filled with light and hope, it was with deep sadness it received news of the Popes death. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) together with Monsignor Stuart Hall (left) departs St Patricks Cathedral after paying his respects following the death of Pope Francis. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Pope Francis, who came from the peripheries of the world, has been a father of the poor, and a witness of joy and hope. May the Lord, he so faithfully trusted in, now welcome him into eternal life, Comensoli said. St Patricks Cathedral Melbourne will open early on Tuesday morning, so people can pray for and remember the Pope. Archbishop of Sydney: Australians will share in Catholics grief The Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, said Francis was rather like an Australian in his informal approach, noting that he was very easy to talk to. He recalled that after the death of his mother, Pope Francis remembered and expressed his condolences. Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, spoke to the media from St Marys Cathedral in Sydney. Credit: Nine Fisher said hed received condolences from Jewish and Muslim leaders.It will be all Australians that will share in the grief of Catholics that we have lost our chief pastor. And I think its a sign of something very beautiful about Australia that we do share in each others griefs and joys when they come. Head of the Church of England: Francis improved relations between religions The acting head of the Church of England remembered Pope Francis wit, compassion and commitment to improving relations between the worlds religions. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said Francis life was centred on service to the poor, compassion for migrants and asylum seekers and efforts to protect the environment. I remember, in the brief times I spent with him, how this holy man of God was also very human, Cottrell said in a statement. He was witty, lively, good to be with, and the warmth of his personality and interest in others shone out from him. With AP His international journeys could never equal those of Pope John Paul II, one of the most travelled leaders in world history. In his 26 years as pope, John Paul II visited 129 countries several repeatedly on 104 trips. He visited Australia twice: for a multi-city tour in late 1986, and in January 1995 when he travelled to Sydney for the beatification of Mary McKillop. Pope Benedict XVI visited Sydney in July 2008 for World Youth Day, delivering mass to a crowd of more than 400,000 people at Randwick Racecourse. Pope Francis in a traditional hat during a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, in September 2024. Credit: AP The closest Francis came to Australia was last September when, aged 87, he travelled to Timor-Leste, where the population is estimated to be 97 per cent Catholic, and to Papua New Guinea. The 12-day trip the longest the Pontiff had spent away from the Vatican also took him to Indonesia and Singapore. Despite efforts by Australias Catholic leaders to push for a brief papal visit, possibly to Darwin, Francis faltering health was given as the reason for not including Australia in his gruelling itinerary. Parts of his papacy overlapped with Australias Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which heard historical evidence against Cardinal George Pell, whom Francis had appointed to oversee the Vaticans finances. Pell was convicted, jailed, then cleared by the Australian High Court, but the issue of the churchs response to clerical abuse remained in Australian minds. Cardinal George Pell had a close relationship with the Pope. Here they meet in 2020 when Pell returned to Rome after his acquittal over sex abuse allegations. Credit: Vatican News/AP Anti-Pell protesters clashed with the faithful during the cardinals funeral in Sydney in 2023. However, Francis did not shy away from confronting the issue of child abuse while visiting Canada in 2022, when he apologised for the historical abuse of Indigenous children in Catholic-run schools. I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the indigenous peoples, he said. There were more notable absences than Australia from the Popes world travels, including that of his own home country. As pope, he never visited Argentina, the country of his birth, where he became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 before being made a cardinal in 2001. During Argentinas election campaign in 2023, the now president, the Trump-style Javier Milei, called Francis an imbecile for pursuing social justice and the son of a bitch who preaches communism. The pontiff later indicated hed forgiven Milei and said he was planning to travel home late last year, adding that he worried about his country because its people are suffering so much. In the end, Francis health problems defeated his hope of a home-country visit. He never made it to China, either, despite professing a wish to do so. His trip last year particularly to Singapore, where the population is only 19 per cent Christian but which strongly supports Chinas engagement in the region was seen partly as an extension of Francis desire to further improve relations between the Vatican and China. The delicate relationship had progressively warmed since 2018, when a series of agreements granted about 10 Chinese bishops recognition both within China and by the pope. Flying home after leaving Singapore, Francis told journalists that China, for me, is a dream, that is to say that I would like to visit China. Loading Many of his previous trips were to relatively poor countries in Africa, to politically troubled nations in South America, and to Eastern European countries emerging since the Cold War. Among his first visits were to Jordan, Israel and Palestine in 2014, when he engaged with Muslims, Jews and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Francis commitment to social justice, which was often reflected in his choice of destination and for the messages he delivered in defence of the poor and of immigrants, could be traced back to his time as a priest and archbishop in Argentina. There, he became known as a villero priest (slum priest) for working among the most impoverished inhabitants of shanty towns. As archbishop, he doubled the number of priests in the slums. He was the first pope to take the name Francis. It was in honour of St Francis of Assisi, a lover of the poor. Pope Francis speaks to migrants, wearing white caps, during his visit to the island of Lampedusa, southern Italy, to show solidarity with migrants. Credit: AP He was also more than capable of taking part in world affairs at the highest level. As the first Latin American pope, Francis was considered a key architect of the reopening of diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba in July 2015. Two months later, he visited both Cuba and the US, a symbolic link between the two countries, previously disconnected for 70 years. Loading He met president Barack Obama at the White House and became the first pontiff to address a joint session of the United States Congress. Francis was not a supporter of US President Donald Trumps policies and never travelled to the US to meet him. Instead, Trump and his family went to the Vatican in 2017 to meet the Pope for a short discussion behind closed doors. Photos showed a beaming Trump and a glum Francis. Washington: US President Donald Trump is standing by his embattled Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after a damaging story revealed the Pentagon boss shared sensitive military information on a second group chat that included members of his family and his personal lawyer. Hegseth did not deny the reports but dismissed them as the work of hoaxsters. Trump followed suit and portrayed the former Fox News host as the victim of Pentagon insiders disgruntled about changes he was implementing at the department. President Donald Trump stood by his embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after revelations of a second Signal group chat. Credit: AP I hear theyre doing that whole thing again, Trump said of the US media, calling the issue a waste of time. Its just fake news, they just bring up stories, it sounds like disgruntled employees. Petes doing a great job, everybodys happy with him. He was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and thats what hes doing. So you dont always have friends when you do that. On April 19, 2025, Sante publique France (SPF) and Guadeloupe's regional health agency (ARS) confirmed a case of Chikungunya in the region. The patient, who had recently returned from a trip to the island of La Reunion, resides in Guadeloupe. This discovery comes as the island continues to battle an ongoing Dengue epidemic, which began in November 2024. Health authorities acted swiftly to address the situation. An environmental investigation was launched around the patients home to evaluate the presence of mosquitoes, eliminate breeding sites, and remind residents of essential prevention measures. Given that infected mosquitoes transmit both Chikungunya and Dengue, this proactive approach is crucial to limiting the risk of secondary cases in the community. A Double Threat: Dengue and Chikungunya While the Chikungunya case in Guadeloupe is currently isolated, the ongoing Dengue epidemic remains a concern. Between April 7 and April 13, about 200 suspected cases of Dengue were reported during local medical consultations, indicating that transmission remains active. These mosquito-borne diseases share many similarities, including their symptoms and primary vector, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms can include fever, joint and muscle pain, rashes, and fatigue. Residents must remain vigilant and adopt preventive measures to curb the spread of both illnesses. How You Can Help Prevent the Spread of Mosquito-Borne Diseases The fight against Chikungunya and Dengue requires collective community action. ARS has reinforced the importance of prevention and protection to minimize mosquito populations and reduce the risks of infection. Here are the key measures everyone should follow: Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, so removing any standing water around your home is essential. This includes: Checking and cleaning water tanks or cisterns. Disposing of items that can collect water, such as old tires, buckets, and other debris. Emptying or removing saucers under plant pots and containers. Regularly emptying vases, rainwater gutters, and anything else holding water. Use Personal Protection Protect yourself and your family by taking these steps: Wear long, loose-fitting clothing, especially during the early morning and late afternoon when mosquitoes are most active. Apply insect repellents, ensuring guidelines are followed, particularly for children and pregnant women. Use mosquito nets at nightfor sleeping adults, children, and over cradles for newborns. Cover Water Supplies If you store water for household use, ensure these containers are tightly covered with a mosquito-proof net or lid. Be Mindful of Symptoms If you or someone in your household has recently traveled, particularly to La Reunion, and starts experiencing fever, joint pain, rashes, or itching within three weeks of returning, consult a healthcare professional immediately. Early detection can prevent complications and help reduce community spread. The Role of the Community Tackling mosquito-borne diseases is a shared responsibility. By maintaining clean surroundings, protecting ourselves from bites, and staying informed, we can collectively reduce the risk of Chikungunya and Dengue in our communities. Health authorities will continue their monitoring efforts and provide updates on any changes in the situation. However, the most significant impact comes from community efforts. Together, we can control mosquito populations and minimize the risks posed by these diseases. Stay safe, take action, and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. Prevention today can save lives tomorrow. Let's work together for a healthier Guadeloupe! PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) proudly acknowledges the successful hosting of the 2025 Pathfinder Camporee, organized by the local Pathfinder clubs of Sint Maarten. The event, held from April 16 to 20 at the Milton Peters College, welcomed youth participants from across the region for a week of fellowship, skill-building, and spiritual growth. Chief of Police Mr. C. John, accompanied by several KPSM officers, visited the Camporee and spoke directly with the local Pathfinders and the many young visitors from other islands. He emphasized the value of the Pathfinder movement in shaping future leaders and promoting positive choices among youth. The Pathfinder organization has a lasting impact on the lives of our young people, said Chief John. It instills discipline, teamwork, and respect, essential for building stronger communities. We are proud to support this initiative. KPSM extends sincere gratitude to the local organizers and all participants from the neighboring islands who contributed to Camporee 2025's success. Events like these reaffirm the power of unity, mentorship, and youth empowerment. KPSM Press Release. PHILIPSBURG:--- Dr. Rhoda Arrindell represented the One St. Martin Association (One SXM) at the United Nations during the launch of the second Decade for People of African Descent, held in New York City on April 14 and 15, 2025. The theme for the new decade of global activities is People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice, and Development. The One SXM written presentation was submitted to the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent during the general debate last Monday. The presentation highlighted issues of identity, justice, and reparations relative to St. Martin, south and north, said Dr. Arrindell, president of One SXM. On the issue of justice, Arrindell said the statement pointed out that the universal principle of having people judged by their peers does not apply in St. Martin, on either part of the island. While each territory has a local police force that conducts daily policing on the streets, justice is meted out by authorities representing France and the Netherlands. Arrindell said that One SXM also emphasized, during the two-day program, the essential need for reparatory justice for the people of St. Martin. She noted that the apologies issued by the Netherlands and the statement of regret by France are without a commitment to reparations, and pointed out that, while there is the decision to fund a state-of-the-art prison in the southern part of the island, support for a duly funded, bona fide independent university is lacking. Yemen's Huthis say US strikes on Sanaa kill at least 12 Sanaa, April 20 (AFP) Apr 20, 2025 The Huthi rebels' health ministry said early Monday that new US air strikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa killed at least 12 people and wounded 30. The Huthi-run Saba news agency cited the ministry as saying the dead and injured had come from overnight strikes "by the American enemy" on a market and a residential zone in Sanaa's Farwa district. Other raids were reported late Sunday in the central province of Marib, Hodeida in the west and the Huthi bastion of Saada in the north, Saba said. The US military has been carrying out almost daily attacks for the past month, saying it was targeting the "Iran-backed Huthi terrorists" to stop attacks on international shipping in the Gulf. One attack Thursday on the Ras Issa oil port killed some 80 people and injured 150, according to the Huthis. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that he was "gravely concerned" by the US strikes. But he also called on the Huthis to stop missile attacks on Israel and Gulf shipping. The Huthis said they started missile attacks in solidarity with Hamas as it fights Israeli forces in Gaza. US raids started in January 2024 but have been stepped up since President Donald Trump took office this year. US defense chief shared sensitive information in second Signal chat: report Washington, April 20 (AFP) Apr 20, 2025 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information on forthcoming US air strikes on Yemen in a private Signal chat group that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, the New York Times reported on Sunday. AFP was not able to independently verify the Times' report, which detailed what would be the second time Hegseth has been accused of sharing sensitive military information on the commercial messaging app with unauthorized personnel. Last month, The Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor-in-chief was inadvertently included in a Signal chat in which officials including Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed the strikes, which took place on March 15. The revelation sparked an uproar, with US President Donald Trump's administration facing a scandal over the accidental leak. A Pentagon Inspector-General's probe into that leak is ongoing. On Sunday, the Times reported that Hegseth had shared information on the same March 15 strikes with the second Signal group chat. The information shared "included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen," the newspaper reported. The outlet said that unlike the accidental leak where journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included in the group, this group chat was created by Hegseth. The other chat was initiated by Waltz. "It included his wife and about a dozen other people from his personal and professional inner circle in January, before his confirmation as defense secretary," the Times' reported, citing unnamed sources. Hegseth's wife Jennifer is a journalist and former Fox News producer. The group also included his brother Phil and Tim Parlatore, both of whom serve in roles at the Pentagon. Parlatore also continues to serve as Hegseth's personal lawyer, the Times reported. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. - 'Unconscionable' - Trump largely pinned the blame for the earlier leak on Waltz, but has dismissed calls to fire top officials and insisted instead on what he called the success of the raids on the Yemeni rebels. This week, three top Pentagon officials were put on leave pending investigations into unspecified leaks in the Defense Department. Deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, senior advisor Dan Caldwell and Colin Carroll hit back on Sunday, releasing a statement saying Pentagon officials had "slandered our character with baseless attacks." "At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of 'leaks' to begin with," they said in a joint statement posted on social media. "While this experience has been unconscionable, we remain supportive of the Trump-Vance Administration's mission to make the Pentagon great again and achieve peace through strength." aha/dw US defense chief shared sensitive information in second Signal chat: US media Washington, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information on forthcoming US air strikes on Yemen in a private Signal chat group that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, the New York Times and CNN reported on Sunday. AFP was not able to independently verify the reports, which detailed what would be the second time Hegseth has been accused of sharing sensitive military information on the commercial messaging app with unauthorized personnel. Last month, The Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor-in-chief was inadvertently included in a Signal chat in which officials including Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed the strikes, which took place on March 15. The revelation sparked an uproar, with US President Donald Trump's administration facing a scandal over the accidental leak. A Pentagon Inspector-General's probe into that leak is ongoing. Hegseth is facing increasing criticism from within his own camp, with three former staffers penning a statement decrying their dismissals and his own former Pentagon spokesman all but calling for him to be fired on Sunday. The Times reported that Hegseth had shared information in the second Signal group chat on the same March 15 strikes that were discussed in the accidental leak. The information shared "included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen," the newspaper reported. The outlet said that unlike the accidental leak where journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included in the group, this group chat was created by Hegseth. The other chat was initiated by Waltz. "It included his wife and about a dozen other people from his personal and professional inner circle in January, before his confirmation as defense secretary," the Times' reported, citing unnamed sources. Hegseth's wife Jennifer is a journalist and former Fox News producer. The group also included his brother Phil and Tim Parlatore, both of whom serve in roles at the Pentagon. Parlatore also continues to serve as Hegseth's personal lawyer, the Times reported. Responding to the report, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell accused the New York Times of being "Trump-hating media." "There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story," he said, without providing further specifics. The Pentagon did not respond to AFP requests for specific details on what was shared in the defense secretary's Signal group chat. - 'Unconscionable' - Trump largely pinned the blame for the earlier leak on Waltz, but has dismissed calls to fire top officials and insisted instead on what he called the success of the raids on the Yemeni rebels. This week, three top Pentagon officials were put on leave pending investigations into unspecified leaks in the Defense Department. Deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, senior advisor Dan Caldwell and Colin Carroll hit back on Sunday, releasing a statement saying Pentagon officials had "slandered our character with baseless attacks." "At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of 'leaks' to begin with," they said in a joint statement posted on social media. "While this experience has been unconscionable, we remain supportive of the Trump-Vance Administration's mission to make the Pentagon great again and achieve peace through strength." Hours after the latest reported leak, Hegseth's former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot published a scathing opinion piece describing "a month of total chaos at the Pentagon." "President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, it's hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer," wrote Ullyot. Democrats were quick to pounce on the latest allegations, with Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed calling for the Pentagon Inspector-General to include the latest allegations in its probe. "If true, this incident is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseth's reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military servicemember is required to follow," he said in a statement. aha/mtp 'Shared adversity' as Philippines, US launch joint military drills Manila, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 The Philippine and US militaries on Monday kicked off three weeks of joint exercises that will simulate a "full-scale battle scenario", as the two allies seek to deter Beijing's ambitions in the disputed South China Sea. As many as 17,000 personnel are expected to take part in the annual "Balikatan", or "shoulder to shoulder" drills, which for the first time will include an integrated air and missile defence simulation, to be attended by President Ferdinand Marcos. Sophisticated US weapons including the NMESIS anti-ship missile system will also be deployed, including near a crucial chokepoint in the waters separating the northern Philippines from self-ruled Taiwan. "We will demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defence treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so," US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn said at Monday's opening ceremony in Manila. "Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity," he said, without specifying a common threat. Philippines Major General Francisco Lorenzo added that the 40th Balikatan exercises would reinforce the country's ability to address "contemporary security challenges". The Philippines has been engaged in months of confrontations with Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea. It has steadily deepened defence cooperation with treaty ally the United States since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on China's sweeping claims to the crucial waterway. During a recent visit to Manila, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was "doubling down" on the alliance. "Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country -- considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said in late March. In response to the drills, Beijing accused Manila of "collusion with countries outside the region". The exercises "undermine regional strategic stability", said foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. "This has already aroused strong aversion and opposition from regional countries," he said. - Manila seeking military upgrades - Last year's Balikatan featured tests of the US Typhon mid-range missile system. The Philippine Army subsequently said it was planning to acquire the Typhon, sparking warnings from China of a regional "arms race". On Monday, Glynn said the Typhon system would again be present, along with the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, a short-range platform specialising in knocking out drones. The Philippines' Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner said last month that Manila was seeking to upgrade its arsenal, with more missile systems, warships and fighter jets. On April 2, the United States said it had approved the possible sale of $5.58 billion in long-coveted F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was "still in the negotiation phase". A week later, the Philippines took possession of the first of two corvette-class warships with "advanced weapons and radar systems" acquired in a deal with South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries. - 'Inevitably' involved - China considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has vowed to bring it under Beijing's control one day. Given the Philippines' proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters, Manila's cooperation would be crucial in the event of any US conflict with China. On April 1, as Chinese ships and warplanes surrounded the self-ruled island in a simulated blockade, Brawner said his country would "inevitably" be involved should the democracy be invaded. While Manila later said Brawner's comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives US forces access to nine bases in the Philippines. Asked about Taiwan on Monday, Lorenzo said Balikatan could potentially "help deter" a conflict over the island. Both the US and Philippine militaries, however, stressed that this year's war games would not address a potential Chinese invasion. Besides the United States, countries including Australia and Japan are sending smaller contingents to Balikatan. pam-cwl-oho/rjm Iran says Israel wants to 'undermine' nuclear talks with US: FM spokesman Tehran, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 Iran accused Israel on Monday of seeking to "undermine" ongoing talks with the United States on its nuclear programme, a key point of tension with the West. "A kind of coalition is forming... to undermine and disrupt the diplomatic process," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told reporters, saying Israel was behind the effort. "Alongside it are a series of warmongering currents in the United States and figures from different factions," the spokesman added. The New York Times reported on Thursday that US President Donald Trump had dissuaded Israel from striking Iran's nuclear sites in the short term. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel would never allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. Western powers and Israel, considered by experts the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, have long accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran has always denied the charge, insisting its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. In 2018, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark nuclear deal signed three years earlier that eased sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. A year later, Iran began to gradually breach the terms of the deal, most notably by enriching uranium to high levels. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Tehran has enriched uranium to 60 percent, close to the 90 percent level needed to manufacture weapons, and continues to accumulate large stocks of fissile material. The 2015 nuclear deal restricted it to 3.67 percent. Iran and the United States, arch-foes since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, are set to meet for a third round of talks mediated by Oman. sbr-pdm/dcp Iranian foreign minister to visit China on Tuesday: spokesman Tehran, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit China on Tuesday, the ministry said, ahead of a third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. The visit to China, which was a signatory to a since-abandoned 2015 nuclear agreement that reined in Tehran's nuclear programme, was announced by foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei at a weekly press conference on Monday. Araghchi previously visited China in December. The Chinese foreign ministry did not confirm the visit when asked by AFP, but said "China and Iran maintain exchanges and interactions at different levels and in different fields". The 2015 accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was also signed by four other permanent UN Security Council members -- Britain, France, Russia, and the United States -- along with Germany and the European Union. Those countries were party to the agreement and so "consultations must continue with them," Baqaei said. US President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018, during his first term, which prompted Iran to breach its terms a year later. Since returning to office, Trump has called for nuclear talks with Tehran while at the same time threatening military action. Western nations have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, something Tehran denies. A third round of US-Iranian talks, mediated by Oman and involving Araghchi and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, are due to take place on Saturday, Iran has said. China is Iran's largest commercial partner and the main buyer of its oil, with Tehran still under crushing US sanctions. Around 92 percent of Iranian oil heads towards China, according to Iranian media, and is often sold at a considerable discount. In 2021, Tehran and Beijing signed a comprehensive 25-year strategic agreement covering energy, security, infrastructure and communications among others areas. CORRECTED: Yemen's Huthis say US strikes on Sanaa kill at least 12 Sanaa, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 The Huthi rebels' health ministry said early Monday that new US air strikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa killed at least 12 people and wounded 30. The Huthi-run Saba news agency cited the ministry as saying the dead and injured had come from overnight strikes "by the American enemy" on a market and a residential zone in Sanaa's Farwa district. Other raids were reported late Sunday in the central province of Marib, Hodeida in the west and the Huthi bastion of Saada in the north, Saba said. The US military has been carrying out almost daily attacks for the past month, saying it was targeting the "Iran-backed Huthi terrorists" to stop attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. One attack Thursday on the Ras Issa oil port killed some 80 people and injured 150, according to the Huthis. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that he was "gravely concerned" by the US strikes. But he also called on the Huthis to stop missile attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping. The Huthis said they started missile attacks in solidarity with Hamas as it fights Israeli forces in Gaza. US raids started in January 2024 but have been stepped up since President Donald Trump took office this year. Iraq's top Shiite cleric says Pope Francis sought peace Baghdad, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Shiite Islam's highest authority in Iraq, offered his condolences on Monday for the death of Pope Francis, praising his work promoting "peace and tolerance". Sistani, 94, who met the late pontiff in 2021 in the first-ever papal visit to Iraq, said in a statement issued by his office that it was an "important milestone" in supporting interfaith dialogue and "rejecting violence and hatred". Francis had a "special role in serving the causes of peace and tolerance, and solidarity with the oppressed and persecuted around the world", Sistani said. After his historic trip to Iraq, Francis said his meeting with Sistani -- who is extremely reclusive and rarely grants audiences -- had been "good for my soul". The meeting marked a landmark moment in modern religious history and for Francis's efforts to deepen interfaith dialogue. Sistani told the pope that Iraq's Christians should live in "peace". Despite the high risks to his personal safety, Francis visited the largely-ruined city of Mosul that was ravaged by the Islamic State group until the jihadists' defeat in 2017. By the time of Francis's visit, Iraq's Christian population had shrunk during years of violence in the country to fewer than 400,000, from around 1.5 million before the US-led invasion of 2003. Francis prayed for the victims of war outside the ruined centuries-old Al-Tahera (Immaculate Conception) Church, where he pleaded for Christians in Iraq and the Middle East to stay in their homelands. On Monday, Benedictus Younan Hanno, the Archbishop of the Syriac Catholic Church of Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province, home to one of the world's oldest Christian communities, called on churches to ring their bells for the deceased pope. Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani mourned a pope who had "a life devoted to serving humanity." "We recall with reverence his historic visit to Iraq... an event that laid a meaningful foundation for interfaith dialogue and promoted fraternity and compassion among people of all faiths," he said. Bells toll for Francis in jihadist-scarred Iraq Qaraqosh, Iraq, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 Church bells tolled in Mosul and nearby towns Monday to mark the death of Pope Francis, the first pope to visit Iraq which suffered greatly at the hands of jihadists. In the historic Al-Tahera church in the nearby town of Qaraqosh, where the Pope prayed in 2021, dozens of worshippers gathered for an Easter mass which also became an occasion to pay tribute to their beloved Francis. Near the altar stood an empty wooden chair on which the pope had sat when he declared in a mass that he had entrusted the town's "rebirth" to the Virgin Mary. His death "is a significant setback for Christians, especially in the Middle East", said Kadun Yuhana as he mourned a pope who had kept "a watchful eye on the region, much like a father to his children". Yuhana, in his sixties, recalled with "profound love" the pope's historic visit to Qaraqosh, where the jihadists had ransacked and burned churches and smashed crosses. "We were very happy that he visited his children in this small village, whose population has dwindled due to the emigration of thousands because of the injustice." In 2014, the Islamic State group swept through Iraq's Nineveh plains, home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Within days, nearly all of Qaraqosh's 55,000 Christian residents had fled. Boutros Mazen, a medical assistant, praised the "fraternity and love" fostered by Pope Francis during his visit to Iraq. "He left something good to the Iraqi people: their cohesion and unity," he said. By the time of Francis's visit, Iraq's Christian population had shrunk during years of violence in the country to fewer than 400,000 -- from around 1.5 million before the US-led invasion of 2003. During his visit, the late pope met Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Shiite Islam's highest authority in Iraq. It was a landmark moment in modern religious history, and for Francis's efforts to deepen interfaith dialogue. In Mosul, he prayed for the victims of war and pleaded for Christians in Iraq and the Middle East to stay in their homelands. Sanaa Abdul Karim, who had fled the jihadists' rule in Mosul to the northern city of Dohuk, described the pope's death as a "tragedy", praising his "humility" when he visited her hometown. It is an "extraordinary loss... we are deeply moved by it, particularly because he supported the return of Christians to Iraq," she said. burs-cbg/rh/srm Yemen's Huthis say US strikes on Sanaa kill at least 12 Sanaa, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 Yemen's Huthis said early Monday that US air strikes on Sanaa killed at least 12 people and wounded 34, with a military spokesperson later claiming attacks on US aircraft carriers and Israel. The Huthi-run Saba news agency cited the ministry as saying the dead and injured had come from overnight strikes "by the American enemy" on a market and a residential zone in Sanaa's Farwa district. The rebels' health ministry reported 12 dead and 34 wounded "as a result of a raid by the US enemy" in Farwa. Other raids were reported late Sunday in the central province of Marib, Hodeida in the west and the Huthi bastion of Saada in the north, Saba said. Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group launched attacks on two US aircraft carriers in response to the latest deadly American strikes. The Huthis also targeted two Israeli locations with drones, he said. The US military has been carrying out almost daily attacks for the past month, saying it was targeting the "Iran-backed Huthi terrorists" to stop attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. One attack on Thursday on the Ras Issa oil port killed some 80 people and injured 150, according to the Huthis. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that he was "gravely concerned" by the US strikes, and called on the Huthis to stop missile attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping. The Huthis said they started missile attacks in solidarity with Palestinian group Hamas as it fights Israeli forces in Gaza. US raids started in January 2024 but have been stepped up since President Donald Trump took office this year. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned his country would respond to any attacks by the Huthis. In remarks addressed "to the Huthis and to all those who wish us harm", Netanyahu said during a speech that "any attack against us will not go unanswered. There will be a powerful response." burs-sar-reg-jd/ami Trump backs Pentagon chief despite new Signal chat scandal Washington, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 President Donald Trump stood behind his controversial Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth Monday despite a new scandal over his reported use of messaging app Signal to discuss US strikes on Yemen with his wife and others. "He's doing a great job," Trump said, dismissing the reports as "just fake news." US media reported that Hegseth used Signal to talk about the air strikes against Yemen's Huthi rebels with people not usually involved in such discussions, just weeks after it emerged that he also shared details about the strikes in another Signal chat to which a journalist had been inadvertently added. The scandals and reports of turmoil inside the Pentagon are a blow to the newly minted defense secretary, a former Fox News co-host nominated by Trump despite having no high-level military experience and no background in running large organizations. However, Hegseth was defiant, blaming the media. "This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations," Hegseth said at the White House, adding: "Not going to work with me." Multiple Democratic lawmakers have said it is time for Hegseth to go. "Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has now leaked classified military plans TWICE -- this time through a unsecured Signal chat on a personal device to friends and family. He's a walking national security disaster and needs to resign or be fired," said Representative Jim McGovern. Senators Mark Warner, Andy Kim and Elissa Slotkin all called for Hegseth to quit, with the latter saying: "If he cared about the institution he's leading, he should man up, acknowledge he's a distraction to the military's mission, and resign." - 'Total chaos' - After NPR radio reported that the White House had begun looking for a new defense chief, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt posted on X that this was "total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about." Last month, The Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor-in-chief was mistakenly included in a Signal chat in which officials including Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed the March 15 Yemen strikes. The revelation sparked an uproar, with Trump's administration forced on the defensive over the leak. A Pentagon inspector general's probe into Hegseth's use of Signal is ongoing. The New York Times and CNN then reported Sunday that Hegseth had shared information on the same strikes in a second Signal group chat. The details shared included the flight schedules for warplanes targeting the Huthis, the Times reported. The chat included his wife Jennifer, who is a journalist and former Fox News producer, as well as his brother Phil and lawyer Tim Parlatore, both of whom serve in roles at the Pentagon, the newspaper and the channel said, citing anonymous sources. The reported release of military information in the chat follows upheaval at the top of the Pentagon, with three senior officials removed last week amid an investigation into alleged leaks. Former senior advisors Darin Selnick, Dan Caldwell and Colin Carroll hit back on Sunday, saying Pentagon officials had "slandered our character with baseless attacks." "We still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of 'leaks' to begin with," they said in a joint statement posted on social media. Hegseth's former Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot also took aim at him in a scathing opinion piece on Sunday that described "a month of total chaos at the Pentagon." "President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, it's hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer," wrote Ullyot. 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? Some of his strongest statements have been very challenging for all of us about the need to promote help for these people, the need to integrate people who are migrants, and I think that that has been troubling for a lot of us, because people tend to say, well thats fine, but we need we have services that will look after ourselves. Archbishop Martin said: He wanted to go the extra mile in terms of reaching out to other world faiths and indeed to people of other Christian denominations, because he believed very firmly that we are all brothers and sisters. He abhorred war. He saw war as a defeat for humanity. "The Prime Minister reiterated his iron-clad support for Ukraine. He said that the UK supports Ukraine's calls for Russia to commit to a full ceasefire and that now is the time for Putin to show he is serious about ending his brutal war. Eagle-eyed followers of the star on social media noticed that she follows pub The Holly Bush on Instagram, and they have now been filming their trips to the pub and sharing them on TikTok. Earlier this month, Danny issued a grovelling apology on his Instagram story, writing: "Hello everyone, sorry it's taken me a while to post this but I've taken some time out to be with those closest to me. Seasoned traveller Claudia Giblin was on the way to the airport when she realised she was missing an important travel permit. Claudia Giblin 'panicked' after realising she was missing an important travel permit for entry into the UK. Source: TikTok/Getty A young Aussie has issued a warning to fellow travellers after overlooking an important travel document before a holiday to a European hotspot. Claudia Giblin and her boyfriend were heading to London in February when, on their way to the airport, they made a worrying realisation that they hadn't sought the correct travel permits. Previously, Aussies weren't required to hold a permit to travel to the UK, but in January of this year, the UK government expanded its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to Australians. "We saw it in an email and panicked in the car," Claudia told Yahoo News. The couple immediately downloaded the ETA app and tried to get their approvals through "as quickly as possible". Each application costs roughly $20, and according to the UK government, it takes about three business days to be approved. ADVERTISEMENT "We didn't think we'd make our flight," the couple worried at the time. But remarkably, the pair had their ETA approved in just 10 minutes. "We were super lucky ours came through in time for our flight, we got it in 10 minutes but there was definitely a panic." she said, adding if she had known about the travel permit, she said she would have done it "a lot earlier". Now, she's issuing a warning ahead of Europe's peak travel season, which is just around the corner. "I wouldnt want it to ruin Australians' trips to Europe," she said. How does the UK's new ETA system work? ETAs are digitally linked to your passport and ensure more robust security checks can be carried out before people start their journey to the UK. It was previously only required for visitors coming from certain Middle Eastern countries, but it was rolled out to cover millions more people coming from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico, Norway, Japan and others earlier this year. ADVERTISEMENT Those who don't apply for their ETA could be refused entry into the country. UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, previously said the move would enable a smooth experience for the millions of travellers who pass through the border each year. You will need your passport, access to your emails, and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, to apply for an ETA. The process requires travellers to upload a photo of their passport and a photo of the person applying. You don't need to enter details of your travels. Aussies now require a travel permit to enter the UK. Source: Getty This information is checked against security databases and the process generally takes up to three days to complete. ADVERTISEMENT The ETA lasts for two years, and you can travel to the UK as many times as you want during that time. If you get a new passport, you need a new ETA. Aussie travellers will also require a similar document to travel through the European Union from next month. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will cost about $11.50 and once approved, will be valid for three years or until your passport expires. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. GLOBALink | Chinese Malaysian man contributes to rural revitalization in China's Fuzhou Pub Date:25-04-21 10:19 Source:Xinhua A Chinese Malaysian man moved back to his ancestral home in China's Fujian Province after retirement. By developing leisure and sightseeing agriculture, Liu Hsing Shun has helped villagers increase production and income, contributing to rural revitalization. Editor:Qin Shuying Related News Instant tax refunds give wings to China Tr... Renovation project on Beijing's east sixth... GLOBALink | A race into future: world's 1s... Regular freight train route links China's ... The good weather may be over for some states as a cold front approaches for Anzac Day. Rain may disrupt some Anzac Day activities. A weather map shows rain forecast for the Melbourne region on Friday. Source: Getty Images/Windy. Many Aussies enjoyed sunny weather over the Easter holiday, but what can we expect for the next long weekend for those looking to pay their respects on Anzac Day and make the most of another extended break? The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) told Yahoo News on Monday a cold front moving east from Western Australia later in the week is likely to bring showers to the southern states on Anzac Day. Long-term modelling is yet to provide an accurate forecast as to when the rain will hit and what Anzac services will be impacted but it could mean wet dawn services for both Adelaide and Melbourne. "We are going to have a cold front or low pressure system around southern parts of the country," BoM senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told Yahoo News on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT "But some models have it back in WA on Thursday while others have it moved onto South Australia by Thursday," he said. "The faster models have put it into Melbourne and Sydney by Friday afternoon, where the slower models have nice dawn services for those cities and it [the front] not getting there until Saturday. Showers are threatening Anzac Day dawn services in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane. Source: Getty Images. One thing for sure is the warm weather that Melbourne and surrounds have been enjoying will come to an end this weekend. "After all this warm weather in Melbourne, they are probably going to see temperatures back to more normal temperatures... winter is just weeks away." While rain could arrive in time for Melbourne's and Adelaide's dawn services, there will also be early morning showers around in Brisbane on Friday morning before clearing during the day. Canberra and Sydney dawn services should go ahead before any rain arrives. Melbourne Anzac Day services threatened by rain Weatherzone meteorologist Maryam Al-ansari is expecting not only heavy rain and thunderstorms on Anzac Day for Melbourne, but warns a stronger front is like to follow a day or so later which could see rain through to Monday and Tuesday. ADVERTISEMENT "The models aren't showing a consistent story, but we do have two models showing that it [the front] could be potentially very unstable bringing thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall and the possibility of hail, but it is too far out to say anything distinctive," Al-ansari told Yahoo News. Anzac Day weekend forecasts for each capital city Melbourne Cool with showers from the morning or afternoon on Friday, clearing on Saturday, with more showers likely on Sunday into Monday. Temperatures to reach 18 or 19. Sydney Temperatures in the mid 20s with the possibility of a few showers on Friday, with more significant showers likely on Sunday. Brisbane Scattered showers on Friday and Saturday clearing by Sunday with temperatures in the mid 20s. The above map shows where rain is forecast for Anzac Day morning, with substantial falls possible for Melbourne. Source: Windy. Adelaide Rain on Friday, with temperatures in the low 20s, before clearing for most of the weekend ADVERTISEMENT Canberra Early fog on Friday clearing to a fine day with the possibility of evening showers, and more showers late in the weekend. Perth Rain on Wednesday and into Thursday before clearing for a sunny Anzac Day and weekend with temperatures in the mid 20s. Hobart Showery on Friday and cool for Saturday and Sunday with temperatures around 16 and 17 degrees. Darwin Mostly dry with the chance of a tropical storm, temperatures in the low 30s. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Interim President Ilie Bolojan said Monday in Oradea that he came to the celebration of 106 years of Romanian administration to honor the memory of those who laid a brick in the foundation of Romania and to honor the Romanian Army, led at the time, at the entrance to the city, by General Traian Mosoiu. The former mayor of Oradea and president of County Council Bihor recalled the day of April 20, 1919, when, also on Easter Day, the Romanian Army, led by General Traian Mosoiu, entered the city, establishing peace in these territories, protecting the Romanians and introducing order in a period of chaos. He recalled that in memory of General Traian Mosoiu, in addition to the bust erected near the Balcescu Park, another one is located the lobby of the Oradea City Hall, to "salute" and empower all those who work in the service of the people. Moreover, Ilie Bolojan added, other "milestones" of the dignity of our nation can also be found in Oradea Unirii Square, just as 100 years ago, in the statues of the Orthodox bishop Roman Ciorogariu and the Greek-Catholic bishop Radu Demetriu, around whom the local community gathered, as well as the statues of Iuliu Maniu, King Ferdinand, Queen Maria and Ionel Bratianu. "As Roman Ciorogariu rightly said, the . It is therefore appropriate to remember the merits of these people, the respect for our Army on every occasion, and that is what we are doing today," said Ilie Bolojan. In the opening of his speech, held in front of the statue of General Traian Mosoiu, interim president Bolojan proposed a moment of silence in memory of Pope Francis, "one of the great friends of Romania". Oradea celebrated on Monday 106 years since the establishment of the Romanian administration in the city, through a series of commemorative and festive events. The dedicated program began with a Te Deum in the Moon Church in Oradea Unirii Square, officiated by Orthodox Bishop Sofronie Drincec and a group of priests. Then followed the procession to the statue of General Traian Mosoiu, where a military ceremony took place, with speeches by the interim president Ilie Bolojan, the mayor of Oradea, Florin Birta, and the historian Gabriel Moisa. The presidential candidate Crin Antonescu also participated in the festivities. "The entry of the Romanian troops into Oradea, led by General Traian Mosoiu, meant more than a military act. It was a sign that history was finally on the right track. It was a return to the natural flow of things, a gesture that restored our community's confidence in a common future, in a united, stable and dignified country," said Mayor Florin Birta. There followed the ceremony of the laying of wreaths, wreaths and flowers in memory of those who integrated Oradea within the borders of Greater Romania, then the parade of the honor detachment and the return to the Unirii Square. Around 5,000 citizens of Oradea gathered in the wide open space of the central square, which then hosted two exceptional artistic moments of Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade: a demonstration of precision and synchronization in the handling of weapons by the Drill Team and a concert by the military brass band. At the end of the festivities, a burst of fireworks colored the sky in the colors of the Romanian flag. The parade of the Guard of Honor was led by the commander of the parade, Brigadier General Sergiu Mungiu, commander of the Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade. The people of Oradea were invited not only in the city center, but also at the Airport, where they had the opportunity, between 12 and 15, to see a unique exhibition: two military aircraft, C-130 Hercules and C-27J Spartan, of the Romanian Air Force, which could be visited. AGERPRES Those who visit the National Museum of Art Timisoara (MNArT) until the end of July will discover a part of Romania's history, from the end of the interwar period and what followed until close to the present. A Great Romania torn apart by the Second World War, a Chernivtsi that overnight was no longer part of the Kingdom of Romania, a 12-year-old girl, Virginia Baz Baroiu, in love with music and who wanted to become an opera soloist on the great international stages, but who, taking the path of exile with her family, will have to give up this dream. A child for whom home was never again what it had been before, always looking for a place called "home": the train, Slatina beyond the newly drawn borders, the Bucharest of the student years where she studied at the Institute of Fine Arts, then Timisoara. She has been living for over six decades in the city on the Bega, in which she found many architectural similarities with what she had left in Bucovina, but also in the behavior of the people - warm, kind, welcoming, sincere, educated. In her retreats, Virginia Baz Baroiu would talk a lot with God, and between Heaven and Earth she often built an island of colors, suspended, imaginary, of peace, of tranquility, that home she no longer had. And thus she created a link, in watercolors, from which the exhibition "Sky, Earth and the Word" was born - a retrospective Virginia Baz Baroiu Baz, recently opened at MNArT, which contains 200 works depicting cities, chains of people, lots of nature, urban landscapes and churches "The works of Virginia Baz Baroiu, a plastic artist who was born in Chernivtsi, in 1932, graduated from the Nicolae Grigorescu Institute of Fine Arts in Bucharest (1957), and as of 1958 settled in Timisoara, is on display in the museum. What she painted in her 70 years of artistic activity is exhibited here. Virginia Baz Baroiu has a fantastic life story, which includes two periods of refuge, one in childhood, and we discover in her paintings this search for a space, a community, the creation of a suspended island, a place that the artist identifies with that home. That home that was on the run, in Chernivtsi, in refuges, in Slatina, in Bucharest in the 1950s, where she graduated from the Art Institute with important teachers trained in Paris. That home begins with her arrival in Timisoara in 1958, where she recognizes something of the architecture and customs of the Bukovina community that she left behind, but which she never truly left. A series of themes that come and return and become meta-themes of the artist's creation: the prevalence of cityscapes she visited or lived in, on the banks of the Bega river in the 50s. But she is also an artist who runs away and withdraws, she closes herself in the studio where she creates those islands in watercolors. She crosses different political periods. She has works with orientalist accents and incorporates all the styles she encountered - modernism expressed in cubist forms, socialist realism imposed as a doctrine in that period," curator of the exhibition "Sky, Earth and the Word", Andreea Foanene Petcu, museographer of the MNArT and cultural theorist, told AGERPRES. The works are presented under 11 thematic titles, including "People and Shores" (comprising studies, portraits and landscapes at the beginning of the journey), "Necessary Imprints" (cityscapes, re-created worlds, the painter as a witness of her time), "The Artist's Studio" (the room where dreams begin), "Worlds with their own gravity" (painting as a saving island), "At the gates of the dream" (painting as a sign of connection and memory), "Time between heaven and earth", "Wanderers, Martyrs, Refugees, Travelers" (on the untrodden paths of the spaces between worlds), "Heaven and Earth will pass" (between the ephemeral and the eternal). The works that depict faces go from the innocence of the child to the collective terrors that resemble Dante's inferno, with disfigurements and horror, as the artist must have seen on the faces of the people she knew during the war and the refuge period. "In late childhood and pre-adolescence she had two refuges. Her father worked as a medic at the front. Her family traveled with the front. Virginia was 8 or 10 when she went to her first refuge. It's a recurring theme in her life. This accumulation of characters is the form of a long string of personal experiences that make me think of the fears painted by Corneliu Baba. They refer to crazy people, who travel almost without fear, in search of a home they can't find. I am sure that these images worked a lot inside Virgina Baz Baroiu and, in a way, helped her to decide to become a painter," says Andreea Foanene. The whole exile brought the artist very close to the Divinity, she painted churches, portraits of saints that express a very intense religious experience, the grace of inspiration that she applies and to which she always returns, both through pictorial experiments and through painting as poetry and prayer. Virginia Baz Baroiu's paintings thus become an epistle for future generations and nourishment for loved ones. At 93, the artist is still full of life and ready for a new exhibition. Pope Francis, who recently survived a bout of double pneumonia, has died aged 88, 12 years after he was elected during the papal conclave. Pope Francis, who has died aged 88, pictured leading his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican in 2015. (Reuters) Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the aged of 88, the Vatican has said. "Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel. "At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father." Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, was elected pope on 13 March 2013 after his predecessor Benedict XVI resigned. His election surprised many Church watchers, who had seen the Argentine cleric as an outsider. He had recently survived a bout of double pneumonia and spent some time in hospital. However, he made a brief appearance in St. Peter's Square on Sunday at the end of a Palm Sunday service, greeting the crowds from his wheelchair. ADVERTISEMENT His death will now spark a new process of electing his successor. How is a new pope chosen? A new pope is chosen after the incumbent dies or resigns. At this point, as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sets out, "governance of the Catholic Church passes to the College of Cardinals. Cardinals are bishops and Vatican officials from all over the world, personally chosen by the pope". They gather in St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and prepare for the papal election, called a conclave. For the past seven centuries, the pope has always been picked from the College of Cardinals. "The cardinals vote by secret ballot, processing one by one up to Michelangelo's fresco of the Last Judgment, saying a prayer and dropping the twice-folded ballot in a large chalice. Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica following his March 2013 election. (Getty Images) "The result of each ballot [is] counted aloud and recorded by three cardinals designated as recorders. If no one receives the necessary two-thirds of the vote, the ballots are burned in a stove near the chapel with a mixture of chemicals to produce black smoke." ADVERTISEMENT This process repeats until a cardinal receives the necessary two-thirds vote. At this point, white smoke will rise from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, indicating to the wider world that the cardinals have elected a new pope. The dean of the College of Cardinals will ask if he accepts his election. If he does so, he chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments before proceeding to the balcony of St Peter's Basilica. The senior cardinal deacon then announces "habemus papam" - "we have a pope" - before he steps out. How long does it take to choose a new pope? However long it takes for a candidate to get two-thirds of the vote. Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until someone receives this vote share. Pope Francis's election in 2013 was confirmed on the second day, after five ballots. ADVERTISEMENT Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave, and their number is limited to 120. What does sequestered mean? It means the cardinals are isolated from the outside world: they are not allowed to communicate with anyone who is not involved in the election. For the duration of the conclave, they are housed in a building called the Domus Sanctae Marthae. What happens after the pope dies? As explained by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales: "Nine days of official mourning are declared and burial takes place between the fourth and sixth day after death. "Popes are usually buried in St Peters Basilica, where the body will have lain in state for people to pay their respects." The conclave will take place two or three weeks after the funeral. Who will be the next pope? Francis's attempts to make the Catholic Church more inclusive made him unpopular with conservatives. ADVERTISEMENT Many were angered at his attempts to be more welcoming to LGBT people, including his ruling in December 2023 that allowed priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples. Conservatives were also unhappy at his decision to allow women and Muslims to take part in a Holy Thursday ritual that previously had been restricted to Catholic men. He also allowed any baptised lay Catholic, including women, to head most departments in the Catholic Church's central administration. And he put more women in senior Vatican roles than any previous pope - though not as many as progressives wanted. He became the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula, but conservatives attacked him as a "heretic" for signing a joint document on inter-religious fraternity with Muslim leaders. While 80 per cent of the cardinal electors who will choose the next pope were appointed by Francis, this doesn't guarantee his successor will continue his progressive approach. "It's more about geography than about theology," Massimo Faggioli, a professor at Villanova University in Philadelphia, previously told Reuters about the process of selecting new cardinals. "It's generally about giving voice to those who are in the peripheries ... more than a particular vision of the Church." Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pictured in St. Peter's Basilica on Good Friday, is among those who could replace Francis. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images) Some Vatican experts have predicted a more moderate, less divisive successor than Francis this time around. Among the favourites to succeed Francis are Luis Antonio Tagle, who is from the Philippines and would be the first Asian pope if elected. Others include Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State and number two official, and Peter Turkson, the first-ever Ghanaian cardinal. Read more: Who could succeed Pope Francis? Eight candidates on the conclaves list (Telegraph) Additional reporting by Reuters One of the most picturesque areas of St. Louis, Grand Center's dining scene has plenty for those planning to catch a show at the Fox Theatre, attend a St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concert when Powell Hall reopens or just enjoy a night out on the town. The Best Steakhouse The vibe: An old-school, casual cafeteria with no frills. Open since 1964, the Best Steakhouse stays true to its nostalgic roots. The menu: Choose from a steak dinner served with a baked potato and Texas toast, or order one of its seafood options, including fried fish and char-grilled salmon. Online ordering: Unavailable. More info: beststeakstl.com 516 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, beststeakstl.com Commonwealth The vibe: Located inside the Angad Arts Hotel, Commonwealth is a little artsy, a little funky, and a little upscale, all at the same time. The menu: Global comfort food is the guiding principle here. Dishes include everything from grilled Jamaican Jerk Lamb to seafood ravioli to tikka masala. Reservations: Not required, but available here. More info: instagram.com/commonwealth 634 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, angadartshotel.com Curtain Call Lounge The vibe: Byzantine-inspired decor, draped ceilings and huge gold palm trees give this bar a lavish feel. Its connected to the Fox, making it a convenient place to grab a drink before a show. The menu: Champagne and classic cocktails are always on offer here. Small bites, like lobster Rangoon and baked goat cheese dip, are made to be shared among friends. Reservations: Not available; its possible to add your name to the waitlist. Hours: Opens at 5 p.m. before evening performances, two hours before weekend matinees and at 3 p.m. after Thursday matinees. More info: fabulousfox.com/visit/curtain-call-lounge. 521 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, fabulousfox.com/visit/curtain-call-lounge. The Dark Room The vibe: Operated by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, The Dark Room is part art and music space, part bar, with dark, moody lighting. The menu: A small rotating food menu features classic bar food like chicken wings, French fries and burgers. Sip on specialty cocktails, house wine or local craft beers. Hours: The Dark Room is always open Wednesdays from 6 to 10 p.m. On other days, it is only open for select shows and events. More info: instagram.com/thedarkroomstl/ 3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis, Missouri, kranzbergartsfoundation.org/the-dark-room/ Grand Mediterranean The vibe: Airy and bright both day and night, this fast casual eatery serves up comforting fast and healthy fare. The menu: From traditional beef and lamb doners to chicken, falafel and mixed doners, Grand Mediterranean serves up a variety of full-flavored meals. Hours: Grand Mediterranean is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. More info: instagram.com/grand_mediterranean 519 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, grandmediterranean.com High Low The vibe: This bright, airy space is the literary arts cafe for the Kranzberg Art Foundation. Its a great spot to hunker down and get work done, or meet friends for a chat. The menu: Classic espresso drinks made with Blueprint Coffee, along with tea and baked goods. Hours: Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info: instagram.com/highlowstl/ 331 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, kranzbergartsfoundation.org/high-low/ Lucha The vibe: A modern, muted space with a large bar and sizable outdoor patio. The menu: Tacos, burritos and tamales imbued with the flavors of Oaxaca. Dont miss the birria or the mole burrito. Sip on classic cocktails like Margaritas and Palomas. Online ordering: Available here. More info: instagram.com/lucharestaurantstl/ 522 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, lucharestaurant.com Sophies Artist Lounge The vibe: Another one of Kranzbergs spots, Sophies is an immersive art lounge with a focus on street art, frequently accompanied by local DJs. The menu: Wines from Italy, Spain and California and local craft beers. Seasonal specialty cocktails include the El Diablo (tequila, blackberry, lime and ginger beer) and the High King (Jim Beam, Aperol, lemon, grapefruit, simple syrup and club soda). Happy Hour: Wednesday to Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. More info: instagram.com/sophiesstl/ 3333 Washington Ave., Suite 102, St. Louis, Missouri, kranzbergartsfoundation.org/sophies-artist-lounge/ Stage Left Grille The vibe: A retro-style diner connected to the Fox filled with people grabbing a bite before a show. The menu: Classic comfort food fare, including burgers and sandwiches. Dont miss the old-school milkshakes and floats. Hours: Open on show days at the theater (opens 5 p.m. before evening shows, 11:30 a.m. before Saturday matinees and 11 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday matinees). More info: fabulousfox.com/visit/stage-left-grille 541 N. Grand Blvd., Suite #1006, St. Louis, Missouri, fabulousfox.com/visit/stage-left-grille Turn The vibe: A bright, modern space with an artsy yet casual feel. The menu: Local ingredients take center stage in Turns vegetarian-friendly brunch menu. Dishes include a Southwest wrap with eggs, peppers, onions, Cheddar cheese, black beans and your choice of vegetarian or meat chorizo, and biscuits and gravy. Reservations: Not required, but recommended for larger groups. Available here. More info: www.instagram.com/turnstl/ 3224 Locust St., St. Louis, Missouri, turnstl.com Vitos Sicilian Pizzeria & Ristorante The vibe: This old-school Sicilian joint will make you feel at home. Its spacious patio is a great pick for al fresco dining. The menu: Plenty of hearty Italian-American classics like chicken Parmesan and fettuccini Alfredo, plus several pizza options and Sicilian specialties like arancini. Reservations: Not required; available here. Private events and catering are also available. More info: www.instagram.com/vitospizzeriastl/ 3515 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, vitosstl.com ST. LOUIS A 15-year-old was sentenced Monday to 20 years in adult prison for his role in a woman's death during a 48-hour south St. Louis crime spree that included nine carjackings and two ATM robberies. Brian Wellington, of Overland, and other teens in a carjacked vehicle followed 38-year-old Kay Johnson as Johnson pulled into her driveway on Jan. 24, 2023, prosecutors said. As Johnson waited for her garage to open, Wellington and another teen, Deshaun Harris, approached her vehicle from both sides. They tapped guns on the windows and told her to get out. When she refused, Harris fired, prosecutors said, killing Johnson instantly. Her 14-year-old daughter was in the passenger's seat. Johnson's father spoke in court on Monday about how much his daughter meant to her family and friends. She planned family gatherings and reunions. She was always willing to lend a helping hand, he said. Ashley Walker, a prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office who handled the case as a partnership to help city prosecutors clear a homicide case backlog, said authorities hoped the 20-year sentence would send a message to others like Wellington and the community at large. "This is something that's not tolerable," she said. Wellington pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, armed criminal action and attempted robbery. In a statement to the judge, he apologized to Johnson's family and the broader community. "I'm not saying I'm sorry because I got caught," he said. "I'm saying sorry because I mean it." Harris' case is still pending. ST. LOUIS For the past 30 days, the St. Louis police department has barred an online news outlet from press briefings at police headquarters. The group wasnt provided mugshots or crime updates. Police wouldnt take phone calls from its reporters or reply to their emails. Police said the outlet, The New Real STL News, had posted false information too many times. The posts had caused unnecessary confusion and concern within the community, police spokesman Mitch McCoy told the outlet in a letter. Officers were forced to spend hours debunking posts. One day in March, for example, the outlet had reported someone had been shot dead, McCoy said. Nobody was even shot, he said. Most of the time theyre right, but there have been recent high-profile incidents where they were inaccurate. Real STL News is whats known as a citizen-journalist outlet. It began in response to the unrest in Ferguson after Michael Browns death, uses volunteers and has a niche for live-streaming protests and the scenes of crashes and crimes. It often gets the news first, sometimes arriving before officers do. Its founder boasts that some of its followers send tips right after calling 911. And its gotten big here, with more than a quarter-million followers on Facebook. But, in recent months, police have complained that the outlet has gotten some facts wrong. There was the false shooting in March. Later that month, it went live on Facebook claiming it found a murder hit list inside a vacant home in south St. Louis. This month, its volunteers aired speculation that police had found bodies buried in the yard of a Dutchtown house. Police suspended the outlets media credentials on March 21. Its a touchy subject in journalism. Sometimes government institutions bar specific media organizations, or refuse to answer their questions. Former Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, for instance, refused to take questions a few years ago from the Independent, a nonprofit newsroom in Jefferson City, saying he didnt trust it. In Washington, the Trump administration continues to bar Associated Press reporters from covering White House events because the AP refuses to use the name Gulf of America in its Stylebook and reporting. Such official actions are often not well-received by the organization, or the public. Elizabeth Stephens, an associate journalism professor at the University of Missouri at Columbia, said she doesnt know Real STL News and cant judge the outlet. But, she said, bad journalists erode trust in journalism, and there certainly is a discussion happening about what is a legitimate media outlet that deserves a place at the table. Real STL News co-founder, Amir Brandy, said the suspension was totally unfair. Police have had it in for Real STL ever since 2019, he said, when the outlet reported on the death of police Officer Katlyn Alix, 24, shot and killed by a fellow officer during a game of Russian roulette. Its been an uphill climb dealing with police, Brandy said. Still, Brandy concedes his outlet has made mistakes. A hit list? Buried bodies? The hit list in the vacant home was actually a prop, police said, from the homeowners former escape room venue a game in which customers typically pay to get locked in a room with friends, where they have to solve puzzles or a staged mystery to get out. McCoy said the Police Department spent a couple hours debunking Real STLs video. That video garnered so much attention that we had to publicly tell our community there was no serial killer, McCoy said. That was the last straw. It wasnt as time-consuming as it could have been, McCoy said: The Intelligence Division had already investigated the home a year earlier, after a gas meter inspector saw a concerning board with a hit list of names and addresses and gave a photo of it to police. McCoys latest concern with Real STL came April 10 as police and FBI agents dug up a yard on Dewey Avenue in the Dutchtown neighborhood. With camera in hand, the outlet still suspended scanned a crowd watching the police search. Community says deceased baby found in apartment pond, it posted on Instagram in all-caps. The post got 399 likes and was shared 325 times. On Facebook Live, a woman who volunteers for the outlet and goes by Queen, showed the backyard and said, The community is talking. Theyre speculating they have found bodies, but it has not been confirmed. It has not been confirmed, but the community is talking. That had 89,000 views. Police werent saying much at all at the scene, Brandy explained in an interview. When we cant rely on law enforcement, he said, we rely on the communitys input. Another volunteer posting for the outlet said police were about to start digging in the yard. Again, everything is alleged... he stressed. We dont know how long the bodies or body has been buried underneath the ground, so just bear with us as we gather more information. Some people who commented on the post praised the outlet for providing details in the early stages, when police werent confirming what the search was about. A few knocked the speculation, countering that a TV station said police reported only narcotics were found. In the end, police divulged that they were searching for remains of a missing woman but came up empty. McCoy called the outlets early coverage deplorable. Back to our roots Real STL News has about 10 active volunteers who use their own cellphones to cover news. They have other jobs. Brandy is a violence interrupter for Show Me Peace and a paralegal who manages a law firm in St. Louis. Before the suspension, the outlet was on the police departments list of about 60 verified media members, including reporters for local TV, radio and newspapers, including the Post-Dispatch. McCoy said his office has adapted in recent years, providing media credentials to those outlets that have a mass influence and with a large number of followers. McCoy commended two other citizen journalists, Voice of the People and Derk Brown, for checking with police to verify information before publishing. Brandy said, when Real STL News gets it wrong, we take it down. We make mistakes, and we have no problem taking it down immediately. We do a lot of our reporting based on the community being engaged with us, Brandy said. We try to provide a balance. We try not to be pro-police. Its as if they want to control our narrative. Were just not going to allow them to do that. McCoy is giving the outlet another chance. The 30-day suspension lifts today. He has urged Real STL to review reporting practices and ensure that all future content is based on factual, verified information. We wont tolerate misinformation, McCoy said. Brandy brushed off the suspension. We could care less, he said. It pushed us to go back to our roots of how we started out: relying on the public. We can operate, Brandy said, without the police department. WASHINGTON The White House expressed support Monday for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following media reports that he shared sensitive military details in another Signal messaging chat, this time with his wife and brother. Neither the White House nor Hegseth denied that he shared such information in a second chat, instead focusing their responses on what they called the disgruntled workers whom they blamed for leaking to the media and claiming no classified information was disclosed. "It's just fake news. They just bring up stories," President Donald Trump told reporters. "I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and that's what he's doing. So you don't always have friends when you do that." The administration's posture was meant to hold the line against Democratic demands for Hegseth's firing at a time when the Pentagon is engulfed in turmoil, including the departures of several senior aides and an internal investigation over information leaks. Pope Francis dies at age 88; NHL sets attendance record On today's episode: Pope Francis, history's first Latin American pontiff, dies; A New York Times report says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat where he shared details of a Yemen strike; and the latest in international news. US senator returns from El Salvador trip, says Abrego Garcia case is about far more than one man. Toll on Manhattan drivers remains in effect, despite Trumps Easter Sunday deadline. Alito's dissent in deportation case says court rushed to block Trump with middle-of-the night order. This Midwestern city has long been a federal hub. The pain from DOGEs cuts is everywhere. Protesters across the U.S. take to the streets to speak out against the Trump administration. Iran and the US hold a second round of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program in Rome. 250 years after America went to war for independence, a divided nation battles over its legacy. A prince and knight fall in love and the Supreme Court is asked to intervene. Florida State classes resume Monday after fatal shooting, but in-person attendance isn't mandatory. 10,000 pages of records about Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 assassination are released, on Trump's order. Oklahoma City routs Memphis in historic fashion, Warriors upset the Rockets, defending champion Celtics roll and top-seeded Cavaliers cruise in NBA Playoffs; The Maple Leafs, Hurricanes and Devils open the Stanley Cup Playoffs with wins, and a slump-snapping victory in golf. NHL sets another attendance record, topping 23 million fans for the 1st time. The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Theme music The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX The White House also tried to deflect attention from the national security implications of the latest Signal revelation by framing it as the outgrowth of an institutional power struggle between Hegseth and the career workforce. But some of the recently departed officials the administration appeared to dismiss as disgruntled were part of Hegseth's initial inner circle, brought in when he took the job. The latest news added to questions about the judgment of the embattled Pentagon chief, coming on top of last month's disclosure of his participation in a Signal chat with top Trump administration leaders in which details about the military airstrike against Yemen's Houthi militants were shared. "Pete Hegseth must be fired," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. Hegseth's Signal use The New York Times reported Sunday that the information shared in a Signal messaging chat with Hegseth's wife, brother and others was similar to what was communicated in the already disclosed chain with Trump administration officials. A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press. The person said it included 13 people and was dubbed "Defense Team Huddle." White House officials first learned of the second Signal chat from news reports Sunday, according to an official familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Hegseth, talking to reporters while attending the White House Easter Egg Roll, didn't address the substance of the allegations or the national security implications they raised but assailed the media. "They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations," Hegseth said. "Not going to work with me. Because we're changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of warfighters. And anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn't matter." Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, struck a similar tone, writing on Sunday night on social media: "Secretary Hegseth is busy implementing President Trump's America First agenda, while these leakers are trying to undermine them both. Shameful." Trump administration's response The Trump administration struggles in its public explanations about senior officials' use of Signal, a commercially available app not authorized to be used to communicate sensitive or classified national defense information. The first chat, set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group. Officials claim the information shared on Signal was not classified, though the contents of that chat, which The Atlantic published, shows that Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on the Iran-backed Houthis last month. Current and former military officials say launch times and munitions drop times are classified information and putting those details on an unsecured channel could have put those pilots at risk. The Trump administration faced criticism for failing to take action so far against top national security officials who discussed plans for the strike in Signal, and the latest report fueled additional calls for Hegseth's ouster. "The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him," Schumer posted Sunday on social media. The New York Times reported that the group in the second chat included Hegseth's wife, Jennifer, who is a former Fox News producer, and his brother Phil Hegseth, who was hired at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. The Times said the second chat had the same warplane launch times that the first chat included. Hegseth's Signal use is under investigation by the Defense Department's acting inspector general at the request of the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The senior Democratic member, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, urged the watchdog Sunday to look into the reported second chat as well. Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo is home to the 374th Airlift Wing, 5th Air Force and U.S. Forces Japan. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan The Air Force plans to discharge treated water containing reduced levels of PFAS a contaminant found in firefighting foam into storm drains near its airlift hub in western Tokyo, Japanese officials said. The plan was announced Thursday in a news release from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, citing information from Japans Ministry of Defense In August, a short burst of heavy rain caused approximately 12,640 gallons of water to overflow from a fire training area at Yokota and onto an asphalt surface and eventually into stormwater drains. The water likely contained residual amounts of aqueous film forming foam, base officials said. The firefighting foam contained PFAS, a class of chemicals with suspected toxic properties. U.S. Forces Japan announced in November that the U.S. military had destroyed its last supplies of toxic firefighting foam at installations in the country. PFAS and its components PFOS and PFOA are also found in many household products, from stainproof and waterproof fabrics to nonstick cookware, according to the American Cancer Society. The chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of tumors in the liver, testicles, breasts and pancreas. Japans Defense Ministry on Wednesday informed Tokyo about the U.S. militarys plan to remove PFAS from water in a reservoir at Yokota using a granular activated carbon filter, according to the metropolitan governments release. The treated water will be tested before it is discharged into stormwater drains. Water containing less than 50 nanograms of PFAS per liter the Japanese governments provisional target level can be released, the release said. The same type of filter was used to treat contaminated water at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, a U.S. base in nearby Kanagawa prefecture, in October 2022, according to the release. Japanese officials did not provide a date for the planned discharge at Yokota but said, as the rainy season approaches, the project is being addressed with a sense of urgency. The 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota did not respond to requests for comment on Friday and Monday. The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its seven-day search for missing boater Jeffrey Hattori, seen here showing off a catch in front of his 14-foot skiff, the Lady G. (U.S. Coast Guard) The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its weeklong search for a missing boater near Guam, while a separate effort to find a U.S. Navy sailor continued into its third day Monday. First responders on Saturday officially ended the search for Jeffrey Hattori, 58, who was reported missing April 12 after departing Guam for a recreational fishing trip, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam said in a news release Monday. Searchers covered more than 120,000 square miles with help from military ships and aircraft, as well as tools such as self-locating datum marker buoys to help predict ocean currents. Suspending this search is heartbreaking, as weve poured every available resource and ounce of resolve into finding Mr. Hattori for his family and community, Lt. Chelsea Garcia, search and rescue mission coordinator, said in the release. The immense ocean and the absence of any sign have tested us. The search will remain paused unless new information emerges. Our partners Guam Fire Rescue, the U.S. Navy, and local supporters remain ready to act on any new lead and are deeply grateful for the communitys vigilance and support, Garcia said. Hattoris family requested a delay in publicly announcing the suspension until Monday, Coast Guard spokeswoman Chief Warrant Officer 2 Sara Muir told Stars and Stripes by email that day. The Guam Police Department, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are searching for Gabriel D. Holt, a sailor assigned to the USS Nimitz who went missing on April 18, 2025. (Guam Police Department) Meanwhile, the search continued Monday for a missing sailor identified as Gabriel D. Holt, who is assigned to the visiting aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. He was last seen at 11:57 p.m. Friday between Hotel Nikko and Gun Beach, according to the Guam Police Department. Holt is described as 6 feet tall, 192 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white tank top, green shorts and gray shoes, according to the departments official Instagram account. Muir confirmed that a 45-foot vessel from Coast Guard Station Apra Harbor and the Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry were assisting in that search. She referred further questions to the Navy. Lt. Cmdr. Tim Pietrack, spokesman for Carrier Strike Group 11, declined to provide additional details about Holt or the circumstances of his disappearance, citing privacy laws and the ongoing investigation. All available agencies are actively engaged in efforts to locate the missing sailor, Pietrack said in an email Monday. The search is ongoing, and we are committed to fully cooperating with local authorities while search and rescue efforts continue. He urged anyone with information about Holt to contact the Guam Police Department at 671-649-6330. The Nimitz, which first pulled into Guam on Friday, departed the island Monday, according to a news release that day from the carrier. The Guam Police Department acknowledged but did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. A food service worker prepares pizza at Ristorante Bella Etna at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, July 31, 2020. Earlier this month, Bella Etna was named best overseas galley for 2025, marking the seventh time it has won the Capt. Edward F. Ney Memorial Award, the Navys highest honor for food service. (Triniti Lersch/U.S. Navy) NAPLES, Italy If theres a secret to keeping service members well-fed and happy, the galley at the Navys largest air station in Italy has the recipe for it down pat. Ristorante Bella Etna at Naval Air Station Sigonella on the Italian island of Sicily recently received the Capt. Edward F. Ney Memorial Food Service Award as the best overseas galley for 2025, the base said in a statement Thursday. Given annually, its the Navys highest honor for food service, and NAS Sigonella has now won it seven times over the past 15 years. The recipients were named April 3. We try to make Bella Etna feel like a home away from home, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joe Mattia, food service officer for Bella Etna, said in the statement. Galley employees put in significant effort and long hours to achieve a five-star rating, Mattia said. Earning the rating means a galley can then be nominated for the award, which recognizes the best general messes onshore and at sea in the fleet. The galley teams efforts this year included showcasing the culinary skills of local Italian employees along with creative offerings, such as presenting seafood in a boat, and crepe and gelato stations. Hearty steak and rotisserie chicken entrees along with various side dishes also were on the menu during the inspection , the statement said. A worker serves lunch at Ristorante Bella Etna at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, April 16, 2025. Bella Etna was announced earlier in the month as a winner of the Capt. Edward F. Ney Memorial Award, recognizing it as the best overseas galley for 2025. Its the seventh time Sigonellas galley has earned the Navys highest honor for food service. (Sebastian Portieleslopez/U.S. Navy) While demonstrating cooking prowess is important, the rigorous evaluation also includes a spot inspection of the galley and of the food itself by members of the International Food Service Executives Association, or IFSEA, and senior Navy mess management leaders. Galleys must score 95% or higher in all categories evaluated to earn a five-star rating , according to the statement. The teams dedication and work ethic allowed us to win the Ney, and theres nothing better than that for culinary specialists, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Ben Gregoire, who works at Bella Etna. The award was established in 1958 by the Navy secretary and IFSEA, a professional organization for people in the hospitality industry. It is named for Ney, who oversaw the services food procurement during World War II. Every day, the galley at Sigonella feeds U.S. and NATO service members assigned to the installation and its 39 tenant commands. It also periodically opens to Italian military personnel, Defense Department civilians, contactors and local national Italian personnel working at the installation, according to the statement. Other 2025 award winners include Naval Base San Diego and Naval Station Meridian, Miss., the Navy said. A vehicle has been found parked in the hangar of the USS Yorktown, which was sunk in the Pacific by a Japanese submarine during World War II. One possibility: Its Rear Adm. Frank Fletchers flag car. (USS Yorktown was his flagship.) (NOAA Ocean Exploration) Defying all logic, a vehicle has been found parked in the hangar of the USS Yorktown, which was famously sunk in the Pacific by a Japanese submarine during World War II. The baffling discovery was made Saturday when NOAA Ocean Exploration sent a remotely operated camera inside the massive wreck, about 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu. Yorktown was an 809-foot-long aircraft carrier, known to host about 2,200 personnel, 90 aircraft ... and apparently, one car. Its a car. Thats a car, one surprised researcher was heard saying when tires sporting shiny hubcaps came into view. That is a full car. Why is there a car on this boat? another is heard asking. The vehicle was found upright near the carriers elevator 3, and immediately had historians scrambling for explanations. The USS Yorktown anchored in Hampton Roads, Va., in 1937, (Naval History and Heritage Command) One possibility: Its Rear Adm. Frank Fletchers flag car, they guessed. (USS Yorktown was his flagship.) Closer inspection by the camera revealed flared fenders, hints of a rag top, chrome trim and and a spare tire, researchers said. However, make and model could not be determined, despite the team visiting the vehicle a second time on Sunday. Heres an open request to all your automobile vehicle folks out there, one researcher said in the livefeed. Im sure you are being attentive to this and you understand what you are looking at. Please post on this. It really helps. NOAA Ocean Exploration marine archaeologist Phil Hartmeyer told McClatchy News the car was an exciting find. Yorktowns salvage crew worked tirelessly to jettison anti-aircraft guns and aircraft to reduce its list (after the torpedo strike), but did they leave the car, something they could roll off the side? Hartmeyer said. Perhaps the car belonged to someone important on the ship or to the fleet: the captain or admiral. The vehicle may have been brought aboard at Pearl Harbor during a very brief visit for repairs sustained during the Battle of Coral Sea, officials said. A Reddit debate about the vehicle quickly appeared online, with commenters noting none of the literature ... mentioned a car being onboard for the battle. Wonder if the car was intended to be offloaded on Midway following the anticipated engagement with the Japanese (if the US was victorious), one Reddit commenter wrote. Hangar space on carriers was (and still is) extremely valuable. Having a car occupying space would be remarkable. Yorktown was serving at the Battle of Midway in 1942 when Japanese carrier bombers successfully struck it with three bombs, NOAA says. The ship was being towed back to Pearl Harbor for repairs when additional torpedoes from a Japanese submarine hit the starboard side, causing the carrier to capsize and sink on the morning of June 7, 1942. NOAA Ocean Exploration visited the wreck twice as part of a 28-day expedition to explore and map deep water regions of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the largest contiguous fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag at 582,578 square miles. The expedition marks the first time cameras have been sent inside the wreck, which was first discovered in 1998, officials said. It sits more than 3 miles deep, experts say. 2025 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Plus see what question Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly dodged this morning. Bots are trying to direct the election narrative, new research has revealed. Source: Getty Yahoo's live news blog for Monday, April 21 has now concluded. Australian social media is awash with election posts from bots in an attempt to "manipulate the political conversation", research into online disinformation has found. A young boy has died in NSW after falling between rocks and becoming stuck on Easter Sunday. The nine-year-old boy could not be saved after falling at South West Rocks about 3.30pm. There was Easter joy for 20 people across the country as the Saturday Lotto jackpot was widely shared. See all of the day's updates below. LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 14 updates Featured Albanese dodges question four times after Dutton error Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dodged questions this morning on whether Russia did in fact make a request to home military aircraft in Indonesia. Instead Albanese quickly turned to remind the public of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's mistake of claiming the Indonesian president had confirmed reports of such a request. Reporters on Monday pressed Albanese on whether he knew of such a request but deflected on four occasions. "I have no wish to help promote Russia's propaganda and I would suggest that's not in Australia's national interests either," he said. It comes after reports the Russian ambassador to Indonesia has clarified Russia does intend to have a presence on Australia's doorstep. Albanese's remarks were seen as dismissing suggestion from Moscow that Australia had no position to raise concerns about developments 1,300km away. Dutton's turn to reference 2019 federal election After Anthony Albanese pointed to 2019 earlier today to remind people the election was from from over, Peter Dutton has done the same. The Opposition leader dismissed recent polls that suggest Labor will win the election on May 3, insisting Australians are busy at work and will turn to the Coalition when it comes time to vote. Speaking at a press conference from Melbournes south-east on Monday morning, Mr Dutton said there was no doubt in his mind he could still win on May 3. Duttons popularity has continued to sink throughout his election campaign, and Australians will begin casting their ballots as early as tomorrow, when early voting services open. If you have a look into what happened in 2019. There werent too many people predicting a Coalition victory, Dutton said. I think there are a lot of people who are just busy with work, busy in their lives. Many Australians dont even know theres an election coming up. There is an enormous soft vote out there. there is a lot of anger in the suburbs. - With NCA NewsWire Major delays on Sydney Harbour Bridge There are major delays on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this afternoon after two northbound lanes were closed due to a police operation. Vehicles were seen backed up well along the Western Distributor shortly after. Yahoo has contacted NSW Police for further information. Source: X/ Steve Askew Anzac Day forecast Well there's just three more days of work until most Aussies have another public holiday as they pay their respects on Anzac Day. But while there's been plenty of sun during Easter, it's not as promising come Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology says a cold front is moving east from Western Australia later in the week and is likely to bring showers to the southern states. Whether or not that will impact dawn services is still up in the air and you can find out the forecast for all major cities in our breakdown here. Dutton calls out Albo over 'ducking and weaving' key question Let's take you to Peter Dutton now who is addressing media this afternoon in Melbourne. And he's had his say on the ongoing Russia-Indonesia situation, and wants the prime minister to let the Opposition know "what he does or doesn't know" about an alleged request to home Russian military aircraft in the region. Albanese earlier "ducked and weaved" questions this morning on whether there is an actual request from Russia, Dutton said. "The government's language keeps changing. That seems strange. And we have asked for a briefing. It's still not forthcoming from the government. What do they have to hide? I wish this prime minister could be open and honest with the Australian people," he told reporters. Mystery as trees cut down across LA's CBD Thousands of trees in LA were burned during historic bushfires earlier this year and now ones standing in the CBD have also been destroyed. In odd scenes in the US city, tree were pictured cut down at the trunk, seemingly by a chainsaw. While details on what has happened or who is responsible, a statement from the office of Mayor Karen Bass said the destruction was "truly beyond comprehension". Police are investigating while Bass said the trees will be swiftly replaced. A woman inspects one of the trees cut down. Source: Getty Several trees lie on the ground in LA's CBD. Source: Getty Famous venue scraps 'rowdy' two-up on Anzac Day A Sydney RSLs decision to scrap the traditional game of two-up this Anzac Day has divided residents, with some slamming it as un-Australian while others applaud the move. North Bondi RSL management says the axing aimed at keeping the venue family-friendly was prompted by a request from veteran members. The club will still host its annual Dawn Service at Bondi Beach and open the venue from 9am. Punters took to social media to criticise the disgraceful decision. The North Bondi RSL has always been one of the most supportive venue(s) for Anzac Day with the inclusion of 2 up (sic) and the entire days remembrance celebration, one resident said. Huge crowds turn up for the RSL's dawn service each year. Source: Getty Waverley Council Bondi Ward Councillor Margaret Merten threw her support behind the move, saying she believed the club had made the right decision, as Anzac Day remained a solemn occasion. I think we should respect the clubs and veterans wishes to keep the space family-friendly throughout the day, Ms Merten told NewsWire. It is a valid and important point (and) I think the club has made the right call. There are plenty of other places in Bondi that are hosting two-up games." North Bondi RSL Club chief executive Blake Johnson said they wanted the club to remain a place for respectful remembrance, and that the absence of two-up was a minor change to the days proceedings. On past Anzac Days, when the club commenced two-up mid-afternoon, the environment became significantly more rowdy and most younger families left the venue, he told the Sydney Morning Herald. But on Anzac Day, our priority is remembering our veterans killed in service and supporting their families we anticipate that not offering two-up may result in some small reduction in revenue on the day, but our families are more important. - NCA NewsWire Is this bin act a step too far? Would you be happy to find this at the bottom of your bin? Source: Facebook Bin dramas are nothing new, and a rogue bag of dog poo in a freshly emptied bin certainly gets the community Facebook groups talking. Plenty argue it's not on, especially when someone leans over into private property to dispose of their dog's waste. Others however believe it's fair game, with many arguing the bins are actually council's. But what if we're talking human waste. That's exactly what one resident in Sydney's inner-west faced last week. She discovered a "pooey" nappy flung in her freshly-cleaned bin and blasted the person who did it. Yet while plenty agreed it was unacceptable, others suggested the person responsible may have been having a "very bad day" and to cut them some slack. So what do you think? Is it OK to put a dirty nappy in someone else's bin? Have your say below. Girl, 14, snatched and killed by lion We take you overseas now to the disturbing news a 14-year-old girl has died after a lion snatched her from a residential compound in Kenya. The child was taken on the outskirts of Nairobi, the nation's official wildlife service confirmed, with rangers led to her body by tracks the lion left behind. The lion has yet to be found and additional security measures for residents have been put in place. Read more from the BBC here. Mayor says western Sydney suburbs 'full' from migrants Migration was a big talking point last week as Opposition leader Peter Dutton again said he would slash the number of those moving to the country to help fix the housing crisis. Millions of Australians across the country's biggest cities are struggling with a highly-competitive rental market while house prices continue to grow to record numbers. Frank Carbone, mayor of Fairfield in Sydney's west, says his LGA can't take anymore people. "We just feel that sometimes the government uses the western suburbs to populate this country, but not necessarily put back the infrastructure that is needed to maintain all of our quality of life," Carbone told the ABC. "Fairfield is already full, you can't keep on putting people into an area that's full." Asked last week if cutting migration would fix the housing crisis, 57 per cent of Yahoo readers believed it would, while 43 per cent said other factors would mean it would continue. Albanese's one word to remind election far from over Sticking with Anthony Albanese's press conference this morning and he's warning the election is far from over. Labor has developed a lead in the polls and is the odds on favourite across the bookmakers. But Albanese said there's "no complacency from my camp" with two weeks to go in the election, pointing to Scott Morrison's surprise 2019 election win as evidence momentum can quickly change. "There is one word that I will say - if it is a word. The year 2019," the prime minister told reporters. "And I remind colleagues that 2019, the bookies paid out. And guess what - that didn't occur. That was a very unwise thing to do." Twenty share Easter lotto prize It's been a very good Easter for 20 people across the country after the Saturday Lotto division one prize was widely spread. Among the winners were six Queenslanders and five Victorians, who all took their $255,096 share of the $5.1 million jackpot. Lottery officials are still working to identify some of the winners, who may be oblivious to their win. The winning numbers were 28, 10, 44, 21, 19 and 14, while the supplementary numbers were 33 and 23. Boy dies after becoming stuck between rocks A young boy has died after he became stuck between rocks at NSW's South West Rocks. Firefighters and surf lifesavers tired to pull the nine-year-old out but he died at the scene on Sunday afternoon. It comes after six drowning deaths in NSW over Easter, which is understood to be the deadliest on record. Beachgoers were faced with huge waves and swell along the coast, with many videos showing people caught off guard and being swept off their feet. Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce called the developments "absolutely horrific". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the latest death was "tragic". The boy became at South West Rocks, north of Port Macquarie. Source: Google Earth Bots trying to influence election narrative A flood of fake social media profiles inundating political discussion and reaching millions of Australians during an election campaign has sparked warnings of a growing threat. Almost one in five accounts analysed on X, formerly Twitter, discussing the election were fake and used AI-generated images and emotionally manipulative language, according to disinformation detection company Cyabra. One account posted more than 500 times and reached about 726,000 users, with the scale and impact of disinformation campaigns underscoring the growing threat to electoral integrity, the company said. Disinformation and spam posts targeted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton while other bots pushed pro-Labor narratives to give the impression there's a groundswell of support, it found. The primary narrative promoted by the bots was attacking the Labor Party to discredit Mr Albanese and "undermine his political standing" by amplifying messages about the government being incompetent, economically damaging and too progressive, it found. "This messaging was deliberately amplified to erode public trust ahead of the election," Cyabra said in its Disinformation Down Under report. Public discussion centred around Labor and the coalition was analysed throughout March using AI technology to discover fake activity, which can include the frequency of posting and language and hashtags used by bots. The accounts coined hashtags including "Labor fail" and "Labor lies" and ridiculed the prime minister with nicknames like "Fweeby Albaneesy", in reference to receiving free upgrades. Ridicule and emotionally charged language were used to maximise visibility and provoke engagement with satire and memes employed to further the reach of each post, Cyabra said. The fake profiles on X attacked both major parties but with different strategies as the coalition was targeted with pro-Labor posts including with hashtags like "Dutton must go" and "LNP corruption party". Fake profiles sought to portray Mr Dutton as out of touch or inept while branding the party as broadly incompetent and corrupt, "creating the illusion of widespread support for the current administration and reinforcing partisan sentiment", the report found. Bots even outperformed real users on several occasions, "allowing them to dominate the narrative," it said. "The overwhelming presence and influence of these fake accounts point to a deliberate attempt to distort public opinion, drown out authentic voices, and manipulate the political conversation on social media." But it was hard to determine who was behind the bots and targeted misinformation campaigns, the company said. Read more here. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. US and Philippine troops fire a Javelin anti-tank weapon system during the 'Balikatan' or 'shoulder-to-shoulder' US-Philippines joint military exercises in Fort Magsaysay on April 13, 2023, in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) The U.S. and the Philippines began their flagship annual military drills Monday, touted as a rehearsal for the defense of the nation amid ongoing tensions with China. Billed as the Super Bowl of exercises in the region, this years drills will also show that the Trump administration is intent on keeping Washingtons military support for its long-time ally as it faces growing pressure from Beijings expansive claims in the South China Sea. An estimated 14,000 troops, including 9,000 from the U.S., are set to participate in drills that will be staged in western and northern Philippine locations facing the South China Sea and Taiwan, considered as regional flashpoints. The allies defense partners, Australia and Japan, are also expected to participate, while over a dozen other countries were invited to observe the exercises that run through May 9 called Balikatan a Filipino word that translates as shoulder-to-shoulder. Manila is treating the exercise as a rehearsal for our defense, Philippine Brigadier General Michael Logico, director for the drills, told reporters last week. Asked about a potential adverse reaction from China, Logico said: When we plan out our exercises, we are agnostic to whatever reactions other countries may have. Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea an assertion that Manila rejects because it has its own claims in the resource-rich waterway. China also sees self-governing Taiwan as a renegade province and held military drills around the island recently. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during his visit to Manila last month that the U.S. would be deploying the NMESIS anti-ship missile system for this years drills, which will cover air and missile defense a new feature in the war games. The planned exercise builds on previous drills, signaling continuity with the first Trump administration and the Biden administration, both of which defined China as the greatest threat to the United States, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. The drills are happening as Chinas trade war with the U.S. intensifies. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in an interview this month that Manila expects a sustained $500 million in annual defense funding from Washington through 2029 to boost its military capabilities and deter Chinas aggression in the region. This is the Super Bowl of all exercises in this part of the region, Logico said. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Soldiers conduct a squad patrol along the southern border outside of Sierra Blanca, Texas, on March 31, 2025. (Pfc. Malik Waddy-Fiffee/U.S. Army) A 60-foot-wide zone of New Mexico land that runs along the U.S. border with Mexico has been deemed part of Fort Huachuca, Ariz., to allow troops to begin arresting people for trespassing on military territory an escalation of the authority given active-duty service members deployed to the region to deter illegal activity. Troops can temporarily detain, search, enforce crowd control and provide medical treatment to anyone found on the land referred to as the New Mexico National Defense Area, according to U.S. Northern Command, the combatant command overseeing the deployment of about 6,600 troops at the southwest border. Through these enhanced authorities, U.S. Northern Command will ensure those who illegally trespass in the New Mexico National Defense Area are handed over to Customs and Border Protection or our other law enforcement partners, said Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, NORTHCOM commander. Joint Task Force-Southern Border will conduct enhanced detection and monitoring, which will include vehicle and foot patrols, rotary wing, and fixed surveillance site operations. Troops in the area can also request help with temporary barriers, signs and fencing from Fort Huachuca. The Department of Interior last week transferred the land, known as the Roosevelt Reservation, to the Defense Department as directed by an executive order by President Donald Trump. The Interior Department and Department of Homeland Security were directed to cede jurisdiction to the military. The noncontiguous land, which is about 170 square miles, runs along the border between New Mexico and Mexico, according to the Army. Under the new arrangement, military personnel will continue to work together with Customs and Border Protection personnel to establish and enforce a controlled perimeter and access to the area to prevent criminal activities across the border. Border Patrol agents have encountered roughly 30,000 people suspected of crossing into the U.S. without authorization at the southwest border in New Mexico since fiscal 2025 began in October, according to agency data. More than 121,500 people were encountered during the previous fiscal year. The increase in military authorities at the border with Mexico is building upon an ongoing mission for troops to monitor and report possible criminal activity or people crossing into the U.S. without authorization to Customs and Border Protection. It first began in 2018 during Trumps first term and continued under former President Joe Biden with the National Guard. When Trump returned to office in January, he ordered the deployment of active-duty forces. Since then, border crossings have dropped from an average of 5,100 migrants each day under Bidens four years to 230 a day in the first four months of Trumps second term, according to Customs and Border Protection. Anne Robinson, national vice president of Paralyzed Veterans of America, sits with Robert Thomas, center, the groups president, and Tom Wheaton, the groups national treasurer, outside Senate chambers in March 2025. Members of the nonprofit organization met with lawmakers to present their legislative priorities. (Keith Mellnick, Paralyzed Veterans of America) WASHINGTON Check-in counters for appointments at Department of Veterans Affairs medical buildings often are too high and out of reach for people in wheelchairs. Inadequate curbside parking for vans with mechanical lifts makes it difficult for veterans in wheelchairs to enter some VA clinics and hospitals. Exam tables many times cannot be adjusted to handle the transfer of paralyzed patients. That is the message from veterans advocacy groups urging lawmakers to adopt legislation for reviewing disability accommodations at the VA and make recommendations for improvements. Bills under consideration in the House and Senate would form a 15-member committee to address complaints by veterans advocates about barriers to care for the most physically vulnerable patients veterans incapacitated by catastrophic injuries and illness. The Veterans Accessibility Act is being led by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., in the Senate. Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., has introduced a companion bill in the House titled the Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act. The committee created by the legislation would be responsible for evaluating and reporting on the VAs compliance with federal disability laws, the lawmakers said. More so, veterans with disabilities and their advocates would be included on the committee to share firsthand information and insights about persistent problems to accessing VA care and services. Using the VA has been tremendous for me, but it is not always as accessible as it could be, said Army veteran Anne Robinson, 55, of Texas, national vice president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. The nonprofit estimates there are roughly 42,000 veterans living with spinal cord injuries or disease. Whether an appointment room is large enough to fit my wheelchair or even the size of an exam table itself can determine whether I get the medical care I need, said Robinson, who was paralyzed from the chest down while on a military training exercise 25 years ago. She was 29 years old at the time. Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to protect patients with disabilities in health care settings. The laws ensure access to services and prohibit discrimination based on disability. Though federal law requires equal access to health services for people with disabilities, VA has struggled to provide fully accessible facilities, said Heather Ansley, chief policy officer at Paralyzed Veterans of America. Doors to some VA facilities do not automatically open, wheelchairs dont fit in the restrooms, and ramps are missing from offices and facilities, advocates said. The committee also would look at the functionality and performance of VA websites for disabled veterans who use adaptive technologies such as voice control to send communications and receive information. Scott said the VA has failed to make its websites, kiosks and other technology consistently accessible for people with disabilities, as required by law. It is unthinkable that federal programs intended to support our veterans would be inaccessible to so many who live with disabilities and rely on these essential services, he said. The legislation is endorsed by several veterans groups, including Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. We strongly support this legislation because accessibility improvements must be informed by the experiences of those directly impacted veterans who rely on VA health care and services every day, said Daniel Contreras, national commander of Disabled American Veterans. Jose Ramos, a combat-wounded Navy veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said having a voice on a VA advisory committee is critical for post-9/11 veterans disabled by combat wounds and service-connected illnesses. Ramos, who leads government and community relations at Wounded Warrior Project, said many post-911 disabled veterans rely on the VA for their health care and disability compensation. These veterans interact with the system the most and have detailed and personal knowledge of accessibility challenges at VA facilities and online, he said. The legislation has the support of Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the committee. Moran said he sees the legislation as making certain that the VA complies with federal accessibility laws no matter where the clinic or hospital is located. In Kansas, and particularly in rural areas, veterans with disabilities face challenges accessing the facilities and services provided by the VA, he said. Similar bills were introduced in the House and Senate in 2023 but did not advance to a final vote. Robinson, a former sergeant, said she has been receiving VA care and services since she was medically retired from the Army in 2000. She suffered life-threatening injuries after the military truck that she was travelling in crashed while on an icy highway in Alaska. Robinson has focused on advocating for paralyzed veterans since her military service ended. VA is the only place I can go for anything medical, she said. Robinson also said the VA offers highly specialized care and resources not readily available for paralyzed veterans in the community. My hope is that this legislation will make things better for veterans with complex medical needs, she said. Paralyzed Veterans of America has been working with the VA for so long to ensure greater accessibility. But VA buildings are mostly old. Even when they retrofit, it does not always work out for the best. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church and a pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, died on Monday aged 88. He had suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia in recent weeks but his death came as a shock, hours after he greeted crowds while being driven around St Peters Square on Easter Sunday and after a private meeting with the US vice-president, JD Vance. The Vatican said he had died from a stroke and subsequent heart failure. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a trusted aide, said: His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. ADVERTISEMENT He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. Pope Francis reads his speech during an audience at the Vatican on 12 February 2025 (AP) As the sun set over St Peters Square on Monday, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti led a prayer in commemoration. Franciss coffin will be moved from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived to St Peters Basilica as early as Wednesday morning to allow the faithful to pay their respects. In a change ordered by Francis, the body will no longer be placed on an elevated bier in the basilica. Rather, the wooden coffin will be placed facing the pews. No date has yet been set for the funeral. ADVERTISEMENT Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease, was admitted to Romes Gemelli hospital on 14 February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his papacy. Tributes for him poured in from around the world, with many leaders praising his humility, dedication and teachings. His native Argentina ordered seven days of mourning, as did neighbouring Brazil. King Charles and Queen Camilla, who had visited the Pope on an official trip to Italy earlier this month, said they were deeply saddened. The King and Queen met the Pope earlier this month (Vatican) But our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry, the King said. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. ADVERTISEMENT Sir Keir Starmer described Francis as a courageous leader who reached out to people of all beliefs during a complex and challenging time. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost hope of a better world, the prime minister said. Donald Trump paid tribute to the pontiff in a post on Truth Social as news of the death emerged. Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! he wrote on his social media platform. Nuns pray before the statue of late Pope John Paul II outside the Agostino Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis was hospitalised in Rome (EPA) Italys prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said: I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering. French president Emmanuel Macron said the Pope had wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest and unite the world. ADVERTISEMENT Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people, former US president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. He shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another. Gianni Infantino, president of football world governing body Fifa, noted the popes love for the game and said that all the prayers of the whole football world are with him. Italian president Sergio Mattarella said Franciss final public act, an Easter Sunday blessing and Popemobile tour through a crowd of thousands in St Peters Square, in retrospect seems like his final goodbye to the Church. At the Vatican, locals, tourists and pilgrims visiting for Easter expressed their shock and grief. Shortly after noon, the bells of St. Peters Basilica began tolling to mark Franciss death. Pope Francis presides over vespers at Saint Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome on 25 January 2025 (AFP via Getty) This is something that really hits you hard, said Emanuela Tinari, from Rome. He was a pope who brought so many people closer to the Church. He was not appreciated by everyone. But he definitely was by ordinary people. Francis, who was born in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, became the first person from the Americas to take the role after succeeding Benedict XVI in 2013. Gaining a chemical technicians diploma, he had spent several years as a food technician and also worked as a bouncer and janitor. In 1958, he joined the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits. He climbed the ranks within the Argentine Church before being made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. After the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis was elected in the fifth round of voting in a papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected. Faithful wait under the closed window of the Apostolic Palace at The Vatican, where the Pope blesses the faithful every Sunday (AP) He was credited for adopting a less formal approach to the papacy. After his election, he took a bus back to his hotel rather than being driven in the papal car, before he visited a cardinal in hospital the next day, where he chatted with patients and staff. Pope Francis was willing to engage more women in senior roles within the Catholic Church and had long argued that the Church should be sympathetic to the LGBT+ community while calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality around the world. The pontiff had also been a critic of unshackled capitalism and put climate change action front and centre of much of his papacy. He inherited a Church torn by infighting in the Vatican bureaucracy, and having been elected with a clear mandate to restore order he struggled to get a grip on the crisis over sexual abuse by clerics. The Womens Ordination Conference a feminist voice within the Church said Franciss death is a profound loss for the church and the world but noted it had been frustrated by Franciss unwillingness to push for the ordination of women, calling it painfully incongruous with his otherwise pastoral nature. It added that this made him a complicated, frustrating, and sometimes heartbreaking figure for many women. It had long prayed that Francis would be transformed by the testimonies of women sharing their sincere calls from God to ordained ministry, but when it came to the topic of women in ministry, he seemed stuck in bad theology and outdated tropes. On the international stage, Francis played a crucial diplomatic role in a tumultuous decade, weighing in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russia-Ukraine war, the plight of refugees worldwide, and notably in the restoration of US-Cuban relations in 2014. He also called on countries in the West to significantly increase the number of refugees they took in. Responding to Donald Trumps plan to build a wall with Mexico in 2016, the Pope said: A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. The Vatican said a ceremony planned for Sunday, 27 April, when Carlo Acutis was to become the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation, has been postponed. Aidan John Devereux (52) caused the damage in an incident outside the womans home after their relationship finished poorly. A man who threw a brick at his ex-partners car window, smashing it, has been ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service. Aidan John Devereux (52) caused the damage in an incident outside the womans home after their relationship finished poorly. Devereux, of Greenfort Crescent, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. The case was heard previously at Blanchardstown District Court when Judge David McHugh requested a community service assessment. When Devereux came back before the court, the judge was told he was found suitable and confirmed the order, in lieu of a three-month prison sentence. The court had heard the victims car was parked outside her home in Lucan on November 24, 2023, when Devereux, who had been shouting, picked up a brick and threw it, smashing the back passenger window. After the breakup there was ill-feeling on both ends and Devereux was trying to get hold of a document on the day, defence solicitor Mervyn Harnett had said. Separately, Devereux had admitted threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour after gardai stopped him driving at Greenfort Crescent last October 30 and asked for his licence. The Sunday World called to his home to request an interview with him but he closed the door in our reporters face without saying anything Tom Colton was jailed in the past for stealing 322K from an elderly couple Psychic Swindler Tom Colton who has avoided jail following his latest conviction claims to be a ghostbuster who has helped people with haunted homes. The self-described spiritual medium who was previously jailed for stealing 322,000 from an elderly couple, was back in court in recent weeks where he became the first person to be prosecuted for acting as a director following an automatic disqualification. However, Colton (49) from St Wolstans Abbey, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, walked free from court after the judge handed him a suspended sentence. The former accountant and businessman, who reinvented himself as a medium after getting into financial bother, set up a spiritual wedding and funeral business following his release from prison after swindling the elderly couple out of money. Colton, who was also a Leinster rugby referee and administrator, set up the company despite being disqualified from running any company due to his previous theft conviction. Tom Colton The Sunday World called to his home to request an interview with him but he closed the door in our reporters face without saying anything. We had hoped to ask him about his crimes, as well as his claims about talking to ghosts. We can reveal that as well as being able to communicate with dead people, Colton claims that he has performed spirit rescues on haunted homes. In his book Will We Ever Meet Again?: A Bridge Between this World and the Next, Colton discusses his journey into mediumship. We get a unique insight into the challenges of this very unconventional calling, as Tom performs spirit rescues in homes troubled by persistent spirit activity and helps families reconcile with the loss of loved ones, the books blurb claims. Colton was dubbed the psychic swindler after he was convicted of theft in 2015 but he says he sees himself more as a medium that a psychic. A medium is able to make contact with someone in the spirit world directly, without the use of tools, whereas most psychics will work with tools such as cards, rune stones, crystal balls, tea leaves or by reading the sitters palm, he says in his book. One purchaser of the book left a two-star review online, saying: I really wanted this book then read about him on the Internet. It is unclear if the book mentions any of his criminal activities. Coltons appearance before Dublin Circuit Court earlier this month is just the latest in a string of court appearances. As well as his theft conviction, he has previously been convicted after he acted as auditor while disqualified and producing false audit reports. He was also in civil court over a 2.7m debt write-off which the High Court overturned in 2022 after discovering he had not disclosed that he and his wife owned a villa in Lanzarote villa. In a 2022 judgment, Mr Justice Alexander Owens said a spending spree on the Spanish property, with accompanying renovations, said to be worth 400,000, was taking place while the couples personal insolvency practitioner was formulating proposals for their debt plan. Paul OMahoney (42) said it was a moment of madness when he and another employee took the goods after scanning them and cancelling the sales. A pharmacy worker stole more than 600 worth of perfume and cosmetics with an accomplice in two premeditated till frauds, a court has heard. Paul OMahoney (42) said it was a moment of madness when he and another employee took the goods after scanning them and cancelling the sales. His defence said that OMahoney, who had been working at a perfume counter in Boots, to this day, doesnt know what came over him. Judge David McHugh fined him 300. OMahoney, of Mount Bellew Rise, Lucan, pleaded guilty at Blanchardstown District Court to theft. Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said the accused was working at Boots, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, last year when he was captured on CCTV carrying out the thefts with a female co-worker. On November 15 he was seen selecting a perfume set and walking to a till, where the other member of staff was waiting for him. She had earlier selected several cosmetic items and placed them in a Boots bag. The items were scanned and it appeared she was paying for them but the accused cancelled the transaction and handed her the bag. She then exited the shop with the goods, totalling 302. Six days later, OMahoney was seen opening the Yves Saint Laurent counter drawer with his staff key. He took out a 160 fragrance and placed it on the Estee Lauder counter. The woman took it and placed it under the till drawer. Again, she had selected a number of items and took the bag to the till OMahoney was working at. This time she left with 364 worth of items. The court heard the co-accuseds case would be heard on a later date. OMahoney had no previous convictions. He absolutely regrets the decision, defence solicitor Daniel Cahalane said. He doesnt know why he did it. Mr Cahalane said the accused, who had been working for Chanel, had lost his job as a result and the incident had affected him very badly. OMahoney wholeheartedly apologised and had paid compensation, Mr Cahalane said, asking the judge to leave him without a criminal record. Judge McHugh said given the complicity with another person and the premeditation, there was no question of allowing him to escape conviction. Armagh volunteer who served nine years over explosives haul pleads guilty to role in cigarette smuggling op The court was told Daire McKenna had taken a second job as a truck driver An Armagh GAA TV volunteer who was previously jailed over a Continuity IRA explosives haul is due be sentenced after being caught with 100,000 smuggled cigarettes. Daire McKenna, who once served nine years for explosives offences, appeared before Dundalk Circuit Court last week in relation to the illegal cigarette haul. The court heard McKenna (41), from Pier Rampart, Derryadd, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, was arrested in the car park of the Rosewood Country Club, Ravensdale, Dundalk, with 100,000 cigarettes on October 29, 2020. The court heard the estimated loss to the State from the smuggled cigarettes was 56,000, including excise and VAT, and the offences were contrary to Section 78(3) of the Finance Act 2005, as amended by Section 56 of the Finance Act 2013. Gardai said they stopped McKenna at around 5pm that day and searched his car, where they found 5,000 packets of Excellence branded cigarettes. The court was told Daire McKenna had taken a second job as a truck driver The court heard the maximum sentence for the offence was five years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding 12,695. Details of McKennas previous convictions were read out to the court, including a nine-year sentence in relation to a CIRA explosives haul in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, in April 2006. Police linked McKenna and two other republicans to the explosives, an ammonium nitrate-based fertiliser and sugar mix, which would have been sufficient to make a 250lb car bomb. The find was made at a breakers yard on the Antrim Road in Lurgan and McKenna was charged with possessing explosives with intent to endanger life. He later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of possessing explosives with intent to enable others to cause serious damage to property. Daire McKenna At his sentence hearing, a judge said the operation was clearly on a considerable scale. When he appeared in court last week his defence counsel said he was a family man with two young children. The court heard he works as an account manager for Staffline Ireland and was a dedicated volunteer and excellent videographer for Armagh GAA TV. He videos and livestreams all of the matches for people who cant attend the matches. References were handed into court, including from a man who said McKenna was a valuable mentor who had given him great guidance. His barrister said McKenna accepts his role in the smuggling operation, which was to transport the cigarettes. He said he was a different man today than the person caught with the cigarettes. He added that now has as second job as a HGV driver to supplement his income. Daire McKenna Judge Dara Hayes adjourned the case to April 28 for sentencing. Sources in Armagh said while McKenna was wild in his younger days, he had calmed down significantly since his release from prison and they were surprised to see him caught up in cigarette smuggling. McKenna was not the only member of his family arrested in relation to explosives. His brother, Damien McKenna, was jailed for 15 years in 2009 after he and two others admitted having an armour-piercing mortar bomb, support frame and propulsion unit found in a field near Lurgan on April 5, 2007. As they were jailed at Belfast Crown Court in 2009 the court erupted into cheers and applause, with a Tricolour being held aloft as men and women shouted up the Ra. It is believed the group had planned to carry out a mortar bomb attack on PSNI officers but were foiled following a surveillance operation. Another brother, Ryan McKenna, was arrested with the other three men. He denied involvement and told police he was on his way to his sisters home when he bumped into his brother and his associates. He subsequently moved to Mayo and was later extradited back to the North to face trial in 2014 on explosives and conspiracy charges. However, he was acquitted of all charges after the prosecution offered no further evidence and invited the judge to find him not guilty. According to documents just published, the State and the Attorney General issued Boggans (50) with a judgment for 50,110 on April 3. Convicted drug dealer Alan Boggans has been hit with a massive 50,000 bill by the state. According to documents just published, the State and the Attorney General issued Boggans (50) with a judgment for 50,110 on April 3. Boggans, whose address was given as Killogue House, Peamount Road in Newcastle, Co Dublin, has his profession listed as a roofer. The same address was used by Boggans when he appeared in court in 2013 for sentencing in connection with a 1.9 million cannabis haul. He received a 13-year sentence for possessing over 1.9 million worth of cannabis resin after the judge said he was the operator in charge of the consignment. Boggans, then 38 years old, had pleaded not guilty to possessing the drugs for sale or supply at Celtic Truck Wash, College Road, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole on September 1, 2009. Judge Patrick McCartan praised the very professional and skilful intelligence and surveillance work done by gardai in chasing down those involved, and said the case against Boggans was overwhelming. The judge said Boggans was the operator in charge of the entire consignment, and that it was not often that someone in his position came before the court. Invariably it is the man further down the ladder; the driver, the courier, the mule. The court has to send out a very definite message to others involved in drugs in this way that they can expect no mercy, said Judge McCartan. Garda Detective Inspector Robert Smith told Colm OBriain BL, prosecuting, I was fully aware of roles of all parties. Boggans made arrangements for collection of drugs, there were phone contacts between Boggans and co-accused (his brother-in-law) Stephen Grants phones. No action was going to be taken until Boggans arrived. Judge McCartan said Boggans, a married father-of-two and car dealer, had been found by gardai on the premises standing at the rear of a van with its doors open revealing the stash of drugs. He said Boggans fingerprints on the van suggested he had been inside, and that two phones picked up at the scene showed considerable traffic between him and two others involved in moving the drugs. Gardai discovered 330kg of cannabis resin, worth 1,976,244, in balls and nine-ounce bars in the van. Judge McCartan said the accused had later skilfully attempted to suggest to gardai that he was innocently on the premises to view potential car purchases as he was a car dealer. Sources have confirmed to the Sunday World that officers investigating the fire, which broke out early Friday morning, are treating it as an incident of criminal damage. GardaI investigating a blaze that engulfed a home on Deanstown Green in Finglas on Friday morning are now probing it as a suspected arson attack. Sources have confirmed to the Sunday World that officers investigating the fire, which broke out early Friday morning, are treating it as an incident of criminal damage. A motive for the attack is now being sought. One line of inquiry is that the blaze may have been deliberately started as a revenge attack against a relative of the innocent property-owner. The suspicion is that this relative has made a number of enemies due to his own criminal activities, a local source told the Sunday World. He is suspected of being behind a campaign of thefts in the area and has amassed a lot of enemies because of this. The location of Friday mornings suspected arson attack is just a couple of hundred yards from the home of Glen Ward the man identified in court as the gangster nicknamed Mr Flashy. However, the attack is not believed to be linked to Ward or his rivals and none of the people living in the home are involved with the so-called Flashy gang. Ward (32) pleaded guilty last month in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a Remington AR-15 semi- automatic rifle at his North Dublin home in February 2022. Flames and smoke billow from the property Ward earned the nickname Mr Flashy because of his love for designer clothes, expensive watches and luxury holidays. He directed the activities of a gang known as the Gucci Gang. The gang has been involved in a number of violent gangland feuds which led to the deaths of both Zachary Parker and Sean Little and their associates Jordan Davis and Hamid Sanambar. Wards brother, Eric ODriscoll (23), also pleaded guilty to possession of the same gun as his more infamous brother. During a sentencing hearing for ODriscoll last year, it was heard that during a search of a home in Finglas in February 2022, gardai recovered the semi-automatic rifle along with a military grade sub-machine gun and ammunition. The guns were found to be in good condition and were successfully fired by a Garda ballistics examiner, the detective said. Det Insp Kelly said analysts found a video clip on the phone in which ODriscoll could be seen taking the AR-15 rifle from another man and firing it from the rear of a home in Finglas. A source told the Sunday World that following the incarceration of Ward, people hoped criminality in the area would die down. People are hoping this attack is an isolated event and not the start of a fresh round of tit for tat violence, the source said. Nolan swindler was even up to no good while on holiday and now fears stint in a foreign jail Millionaire conman Jay Cartmill is sweating over the possibility of being charged with criminal offences in Spain where he was living when he scammed multiple UK financial institutions. The serial criminal, who has 159 convictions and counts TV presenters Stephen Nolan and Eamonn Holmes among his victims, is also desperate to be sentenced on these 63 new fraud offences before the winter so any jail term will run concurrently with the one he is already serving. Jay Cartmill shakes Stephen Nolan's hand Nicknamed King Con by police, west Belfast-based Cartmill was sentenced to two years behind bars at Belfast Crown Court last week for stealing 1.3m from various bank accounts. A source familiar with his case said: Jay wants to be sentenced on these new charges before Christmas so any jail time he gets will run concurrently with the two years he was given last week. That shows you his thinking hes still scamming and working moves from his cell in Maghaberry. Jay has also told people hes worried he could be wanted for fraud in Spain and thats another reason why he wants these new charges dealt with quickly. A solicitor for Cartmill told Belfast Magistrates Court last Thursday that his client has confessed to 60 new charges relating to frauds committed between 2023 and 2024. He said: This is a multi-million-pound fraud, Mr Cartmill has made full admissions to all 63 offences. Police have all the information, we are hoping he would be sentenced for these matters prior to his release. Jay Cartmill on holiday at the Arctic Circle Cartmills latest scam involved contacting people on social media who had been complaining about their banks, pretending to be from the financial institution. The 43-year-old then tricked them into handing over their account details, immediately transferring large sums from them to accounts operated by money mules who withdrew the cash for him. Some of the frauds, totalling millions, were carried out by Cartmill while he was on holiday in Tenerife and on bail for the 1.3m thefts he was jailed for last week. In February 2024 Cartmill had his bail conditions altered so he could go on a one-week holiday to the Canary Islands. However, he ended up staying for two-and-a-half months and while there used free hotel wi-fi systems to commit multiple frauds. A previous court hearing heard how Cartmill was investigated by the PSNI and Interpol for further offending of the same kind whilst he was out of the jurisdiction. It is because of this that he is sweating over being charged with fraud in Spain. Our source added: Jay can cope with being in Maghaberry (prison) alright, hes been in there before and knows a lot of the prisoners. Having to do time in a Spanish jail is a different matter, though, and he is really worried about that. Jay Cartmill sips a beer in Spain Last week Sunday Life revealed how Cartmill has spent time recently working with the Turnaround Project charity to develop a guide entitled How Best to Safeguard Against Fraud. The shameless thief wants to provide this to the banks he ripped off, copying the behaviour of Frank Abagnale, the infamous forger who inspired Oscar-winning movie Catch Me if You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and who ended up being employed by the FBI. But this failed to impress Judge Crawford who sentenced him to two years in prison and remarked dryly about his previous empty promises of rehabilitation, saying: You have a history of making such assertions, only to offend again. In 2015 the fraudster went on the Nolan Show to apologise to presenter Stephen Nolan for stealing almost 30,000 from him. He told bare-faced lies to the journalist while shaking his hand and saying: I did do wrong, I do apologise, (but) no matter what youve done in your past, if you really want to, you can turn your life around. Bonita managed to get within metres of the predator. Bonita was stunned to spot a shark in the shallow water along 80 Mile Beach in WA last week. Source: TikTok/ourcoastinglife A young Aussie was minding her own business on a remote beach when a massive shark was spotted swimming metres from shore in the shallows and she managed to capture the whole thing on camera. Bonita was lounging under a sunshade at 80 Mile Beach in Western Australia last week when her partner Dylan shouted her over, telling her to come quick. As she dashed over, she caught sight of a fin peaking out of the water. "I saw it for a split second, and then it disappeared for a bit," Bonita told Yahoo News. "My partner [had been] fishing, and another man came along, they started chatting, and then out in front of them, they spotted the shark." Minutes later, the trio managed to spot the shark, thought to be a hammerhead, again, and Bonita ran down after it, explaining it was "so strange to see such a big shark" up close and personal. ADVERTISEMENT "I went running down to it and that's when I filmed... it stayed in the shallows for ages. It was there for a really long time, obviously just hunting for fish and stuff," she said. Fisherman believes shark was a hammerhead The fisherman Bonita and Dylan met at the beach explained it was likely a hammerhead they had spotted as he had caught and released one earlier in the day, further up the beach. "It was kind of hard to see in my video, we couldn't really see its head, because the like water so murky there," she said. Many hammerhead shark species live in the waters along the WA coastline and populations are in decline, with the sharks susceptible to getting caught in fishing nets due to the unique shape of their head. Shark scientist Dr Leonardo Guida previously told Yahoo News Australia often don't survive when released back into the water unlike other sharks. ADVERTISEMENT There's often only a "90-second to two-minute" window before hammerheads have real difficulties returning to the water," NT-based shark wrangler Alexander Mulligan, previously told Yahoo. After that, their "muscles seize", preventing them from swimming, which often results in them sinking to the bottom and drowning. Sharks swim in shallow waters more than you think It's not the first time an Aussie has been stunned by a shark swimming in the shallows, with beachgoer Taylor being treated to not one but two sharks in the shallows last October along WA's north-west coast. The sharks appeared to be fighting one another but darted away after being startled by Taylor's intrigue. However, marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck previously told Yahoo News the sharks were likely engaging in a courting ritual. ADVERTISEMENT "Never seen that before," Taylor gushed. Last week, a group of holidaying Australians received the shock of their lives over the weekend when they arrived at a beach in the countrys south for a swim, only to spot a "massive" four-metre great white shark cruising through the shallows. Despite many people imagining sharks only swimming in the open ocean, there are many instances of sharks swimming in the shallows for a number of reasons such as mating, hunting and even temperature regulation. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Catholicism is deeply ingrained in the country, where organised crime groups hold significant influence. Pope Francis excommunicated the mafia as he clamped down on organised crime groups in Italy from associating themselves with the Catholic church. Catholicism is deeply ingrained in the country, where organised crime groups hold significant influence, both of which are rooted in family and tradition. He publicly excommunicated the mafia from the church during a visit to Calabria in Southern Italy in 2014. The territory is dominated by the Ndragheta, one of Italys three main organised crime groups, which also includes the Camorra and the Cosa Nostra, who, according to The United Nations, have a combined annual turnover of an estimated 116bn. Pope Francis Photo: Vatican Pool/Getty Images. Pope Francis Dies at 88, Vatican Announces During the same year, he also met with hundreds of victims' relatives in Rome as part of a day of commemoration held by anti-mafia organisation Libera. In his address, he warned organised crime bosses that they would end up in hell if they didnt give up their lives of "bloodstained money and blood-stained power". "There is still time to avoid ending up in hell. That is what is waiting for you if you continue on this path," he said. "You have had a father and a mother. Think of them. Cry a little and convert." "This life that you live now will not give you happiness. The power and money that you have now from many dirty dealings, from many mafia crimes, is bloodstained money, is bloodstained power, you cannot bring them with you to the next life." "I feel that I cannot conclude without saying a word to the protagonists who are absent today the men and women mafiosi, please change your lives. Convert yourselves. Stop doing evil. The 88-year-old so strongly opposed the Mafia appropriating Catholicism that the Vatican set up a department dedicated to disassociating the image of the Virgin Mary from organised crime. Pope Francis said that the move would free the Madonna from superstructures, powers or conditioning that does not correspond to the Gospel criteria of justice, liberty, honesty, and solidarity. Sergio Nazzaro, an Italian adviser to the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission, said the Mafia always wanted to appropriate religious symbols, either out of their faith or to claim a social consensus. The Ndrangheta have used the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Polsi, a Catholic shrine in the Calabrian mountains, to host meetings, so they could show themselves before the people and say they are the church in their own way, Nazzaro told the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The strong position of the Catholic Church is also a very powerful signal against the mafia itself, so they can no longer use the Catholic religion for their illicit purposes, he explained. Religion is very important in Italy, especially in South Italy. These people [the mafiosi] are also believers and connected to tradition, so they mould the church to their power. They dont just invade the economy, business and drug market, they also invade religion. The Argentinian pope who assumed papal office in 2013 also began the process of making a judge, who was murdered in 1990, a saint. Rosario Livatino was shot dead by Stidda, a rival of the Cosa Nostra, and made a martyr in 2020, bringing him one step closer to sainthood. His condemnation of Italys organised crime groups also trickled down into other leaders in the church. In 2021, the archbishop Monsignor Domenico Battaglia condemned the Camorra, which is led by Kinahan ally Raffaele Imperiale. "They are killing Naples. The Camorra and graft are killing it, with the violence and cruelty of those who have forgotten they are human beings, Battaglia said following a spate of murders. Read more International drugs lord and key Kinahan Cartel ally arrested in Dubai "To the men of the Camorra, to the corrupt and those in collusion with criminality, I say: become human beings again, convert. Battaglia further added that he would welcome anyone who wanted to change their ways. It came following remarks from the Pope, who said their culture of death was contrary to their Christian beliefs. Saint John Paul II denounced their culture of death, and Benedict XVI condemned them as ways of death, he said, referencing his two predecessors. These structures of sin, mafia structures, contrary to Christs Gospel, exchange faith with idolatry. Last July, Raffaele Imperiale was jailed for 15 years after he was extradited to Italy from Dubai, where he had been overseeing an international cocaine trafficking ring. Imperiale agreed to be a State witness and gave extensive details of his drug business and criminal associates to the police. The Camorra gang boss was a guest at Kinahans wedding in Dubai, but is expected to spill his former friend's secrets as Gardai are in a queue of international law enforcement agencies waiting to speak to him. At a North Central Area Committee briefing this week a Dublin City Council housing official revealed that due to Government cutbacks the council cannot operate its Financial Contribution Scheme. The Government has made cutbacks on the housing scheme that kept hundreds of families out of homelessness. At a North Central Area Committee briefing this week a Dublin City Council housing official revealed that due to Government cutbacks the council cannot operate its Financial Contribution Scheme. Under this scheme the council purchased homes from older people and then provided them with DCC older persons accommodation. The scheme allowed older people to downsize and it increased the Council housing stock. "The Government cuts to housing funding for Dublin City Council continue to cause damage, Sinn Fein councillor Micheal Mac Donncha said. We learned this week that due to the cuts, the council cannot operate its scheme whereby it purchases homes from qualifying older people and houses them in council accommodation. The scheme was important in increasing the Council's supply of scarce two and three bedroom homes. "These are the same cuts to funding for housing acquisitions that have hit the very successful tenant-in-situ scheme. That scheme kept hundreds of families out of homelessness. It has now been totally undermined by this Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Lowry government, despite Dublin City Council twice voting unanimously in the past month for the scheme to be left in place and properly funded. People in homelessness, the citizens of Dublin and city councillors, including members of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, have been treated with contempt by the Government. "The new Government is presiding over the scandal of 10,948 homeless people in Dublin, including 3,434 children. Of course that is the tip of the iceberg of the housing crisis as many, many thousands more are denied the right to decent housing, paying sky-high rents and unable to access either social or affordable homes." DCC and the Department of Housing have been contacted for further comment. Gavin Lowbridge had been at the Crumlin pub last Tuesday evening, where former Fox news presenter Tucker Carlson appeared after interviewing McGregor An Irish far-right media influencer used his digital platform this week to moan after being kicked out of Conor McGregors The Black Forge Inn. Gavin Lowbridge had been at the Crumlin pub last Tuesday evening, where former Fox news presenter Tucker Carlson appeared after interviewing McGregor. In the interview McGregor, who is appealing the decision against him in a civil rape case, talks of a potential run for the Presidency. The occasion saw other Irish agitators and politicians with controversial views on immigration, appear at the venue. Earlier in the night, Lowbridge posed for a photo with Kildare County Councillor Tom McDonnell, who has been convicted of violent offences, and repeated bizarre conspiracy theories. McDonnell also posted a video of him presenting McGregor with a copy of the Irish Constitution and a bottle of holy water. Lowbridge also posed for selfies enjoying a McGregor cigar and stout and praised the staff at the pub. Later in the evening, things went downhill for Lowbridge, who runs several digital platforms that feature Irish people with far-right views and as well as British neo-Nazis. In a livestream, since deleted, Lowbridge complained to his followers over his ordeal after being told to leave by a member of the security staff. Boys he just threw me out, he pulled me out of the pub for absolutely nothing. Ive been minding my business. I had the best f***ing night of my life and hes throwing me out.. Like, what the f**k? I didnt fight with anybody I havent had a bad word with anybody and he just threw me out. Obviously Im not going to go anywhere because my friends are inside, so I cant leave until my friends come with me, thats fine. I dont know why they picked on me because Ive been here all evening. I havent had any problems and the bouncer comes in and says you have to leave now. Well if I have to leave now we have to ask why I have to leave and we are going to have to get a public f**king opinion abut why I have to leave because I didnt do anything f**king wrong. Im one of Conor McGregors biggest supporters in the country like. So we are not f**king around. I have done nothing wrong I have 300,000 followers. Conor follows me on this. Tomorrow we are going to figure it out. Tomorrow we are going to figure out what your problem is. I just dont like to be disrespected because I drank a lot of drink in here tonight, I bought a lot of pints here tonight. I have Conor McGregors f**king eh, cigar in my hand and his f**king bouncer disrespected me. I dont even like stout, Im drinking his f**king stout. The tribute came as the Requiem Mass of Daniel 'Dano' O'Sullivan (32) took place in his native Mallow A young man who died after a stabbing in a popular Cork seaside resort has been hailed as "one of a kind". The tribute came as the Requiem Mass of Daniel 'Dano' O'Sullivan (32) took place in his native Mallow. Mr O'Sullivan died after suffering a stab injury in an incident on North Main Street in Youghal on the evening of April 14. He was pronounced dead in the early hours of April 15 after being rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH). Mr O'Sullivan of Carhookeal, Mallow is survived by his mother, Aileen, his sisters Jessica and Samantha, partner Ciara and extended family. His Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Resurrection in Mallow with his funeral following to St Gobnait's Cemetery. Mr O'Sullivan's family issued a special message to the emergency services who tried so hard to help him that night. "The family would like to thank the paramedics, members of An Garda Siochana and the staff of Cork University Hospital for their care and attention at such a difficult time," a family spokesperson said. Mr O'Sullivan's sister, Samantha, admitted the entire family were devastated by the tragedy. "He was one-in-a million...he had the biggest heart. He was a great big bro and looked out for everyone," she said. "Rest in peace big bro - my heart is broken. You were one of a kind Dan. (We) love you forever." Mr O'Sullivan had lived a very dysfunctional life and battled serious drug and alcohol addiction issues. He was originally from Mallow in north Cork but had lived in Cork city, Waterford and Youghal over recent years. He had been living in an apartment in Brown's Court in Youghal over recent months. In 2016, Mr O'Sullivan was sentenced to eight years in prison for the alcohol-fuelled manslaughter of a homeless Frenchman in Cork city centre. Mr O'Sullivan punched Vincent Morgain (34) on Oliver Plunkett Street on September 10, 2015 after he had consumed a bottle of vodka. The Frenchman was punched as Mr O'Sullivan and two other men grabbed a bottle which Mr Morgain's female companion had been drinking. Mr Morgain struck his head as he fell and, as he attempted to get up, Mr O'Sullivan kicked him in the face. The Frenchman was taken to hospital where he lapsed into a coma and died five days later from a traumatic brain injury. His sister, Marie Thomas, said in 2016 she hoped Mr O'Sullivan would use the suspended portion of his prison sentence to get rehabilitation "and make good of his life." Three years of the eight year sentence were suspended - but he was sent back to prison in 2021 after failing to comply with the directions of the Probation and Welfare Service (PWS). Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard four years ago that Mr O'Sullivan - who had been begging on the streets of Waterford - was struggling with heroin addiction and homelessness. Despite repeated efforts by the PWS to get him into a drug treatment programme, he failed to comply with their directions. His defence counsel advised that: "He wants to get on with his life, free from the chains on him at the moment - his addiction to heroin, begging on the street and homelessness." The court was told the PWS considered Mr O'Sullivan a young man of great potential but who needed to address his drug and alcohol problems. Mr O'Sullivan died after suffering a fatal stab wound just off North Main Street in Youghal shortly before 10pm on Monday (April 14). A 29 year old man was charged with Mr O'Sullivan's murder before Midleton District Court last week. Isaac Hurley, who was just 10 years old at the time, received a personal blessing from the Pontiff where he visited Ireland back in 2018. Meet the lucky Irish boy who once got to meet Pope Francis up close and personal. Isaac Hurley, who was just 10 years old at the time, received a personal blessing from the Pontiff where he visited Ireland back in 2018. Now aged 17, Isaac was devastated to hear of the passing of Pope Francis earlier today as he recalled the touching moment that Pope Francis gave him his personal blessing. The encounter happened during Pope Franciss visit to Ireland where he was entertained by thousands of Irish stars and school children at Croke Park for the Festival Of Families celebration. The event took place in Croke Park on Saturday 25 August and marked the official arrival of Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families. There were three hundred flag bearers. The Pope addressed those in attendance, heard the testimonies of five families from Burkina Faso, Canada, India, Iraq and Ireland, and he and the audience were entertained by an orchestra comprising more than fifty musicians accompanied by a choir of one thousand voices. A number of items including a van were seized after officers were attacked The New IRA on Parade in Derry on April 21st 2025 (Photo by Garrett Hargan) The New IRA on Parade in Derry on April 21st 2025 (Photo by Garrett Hargan) The New IRA on Parade in Derry on April 21st 2025 (Photo by Garrett Hargan) Masked members of a Dissident Republican colour party take part in a commemorative march in Derry. Pic by Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images. Police have made two arrests and seized a number of items including a van after officers were attacked with petrol bombs in Derry as masked men led a New IRA parade through the city on Easter Monday. PSNI Area Commander of Derry City & Strabane, Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney, said that despite parade organisers claims that they wanted to hold a dignified commemoration, what we saw was the complete opposite. "From the commencement of the parade to when it dispersed, we saw masked individuals, which we believe at this time to be a breach of the Parades Commission determination, she added. "As these masked individuals made their way towards the dispersal point on Lecky Road, disorder developed in the area of Nailors Row from around 2.50pm. "Petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry were thrown which resulted in nearby Bishop Street (Without) being closed for a time for public safety reasons. Members of the public were diverted away from that area in the City Walls. "This disorder involving young people was orchestrated. We have no doubt about this. "Young people were shamelessly and deliberately used in an attempt to distract from and shield the masked individuals as they took cover in a gazebo following the parade in the area of St. Joseph's Place to change out of their parade clothing. "This is child criminal exploitation. It is utterly shameful." Chief Superintendent Kearney said two vehicles one in the Frances Street area and another in the Fanad Drive area were stopped following the parade as part of a proactive policing operation resulting in two suspects being detained. Two men, aged 30 and 55, were arrested under The Terrorism Act and have been taken to Musgrave Street Station for questioning, she continued. One of the vehicles stopped (a van) was seized. "A number of items were also seized. Around 150 people had gathered in Derry as the parade takes place in the city on Monday afternoon. The parade has previously been billed as the Unfinished Revolution National Easter Commemoration, and left the Creggan shops at 2pm, ending at a New IRA monument in the Bogside. Images from the parade in Derry showed a masked colour party leading those taking part in the parade. There were also young people alongside the parade, some who had petrol bombs. One young person was seen with a shopping trolley full of the objects. Masked colour party leads new IRA parade through Derry Before the parade set off, masked youths also gathered at the Creggan shops. Large groups of young people were also seen heading in the direction of the Derry Walls, with some throwing petrol bombs at police and gathering beside homes belonging to the elderly. Some fireworks were also lit by the young people involved. Masked members of a Dissident Republican colour party take part in a commemorative march in Derry. Pic by Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images. Masked colour party leads new IRA parade through Derry Unionists hit out at morally repugnant events after Michelle O'Neill speaks at republican Easter commemoration Meanwhile a group of men departed a bus wearing berets and military-style gear. Roads in the Iniscarn and Eastway area had lamp posts freshly painted with the Irish tricolour and IRA signs attached. DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton condemned the appearance of paramilitary symbols and uniforms during the parade and called for swift police action. I am deeply concerned by todays republican parade in Londonderry, which blatantly defies the Parades Commissions determination, he said. "The display of paramilitary-style uniforms, proscribed flags, and symbols associated with terrorism is not only provocative to the people of this city who want to move forward in peace but also outside the law. This event, organised by individuals linked to the New IRA, represents a glorification of terror and a rejection of the democratic path. It is unacceptable that, in 2025, we are still witnessing such public displays of hatred and division. The PSNI have monitored this parade but their action must not stop at that. There must be charges and prosecutions for any breaches of the law. Those who flout legal rulings and glorify terrorism must face the consequences. Londonderry deserves better. The vast majority of people, from all backgrounds, want a peaceful future free from the shadow of violence. We stand with them. The New IRA on Parade in Derry on April 21st 2025 (Photo by Garrett Hargan) For the first time ever its organisers sought permission from the Parades Commission for the event which was granted. Last year the Parades Commission received partial notification of a parade for the first time but indicated it was not submitted 28 days in advance which is the norm. Therefore, this is the first year that an application was submitted and accepted by the Parades Commission following intervention from leaders in the community. Its understood that those organising the parade hoped that with it recognised as a legal march there would be assurances of no police presence but the PSNI did not make any such agreement. The parade is taking a different route, with those in the community believing it would help to avoid a number of flashpoints such as arrests at the City Cemetery gates. Rather than starting at Central Drive and ending at the City Cemetery which is about half a mile, this years parade covers more than a mile, ending at what Saoradh calls the Peoples Monument at Free Derry Corner. Around 500 participants were expected with two bands registered, one of them from Glasgow. The Parades Commission noted that historically, there has been serious criminal offending associated with this parade and urged those organising and participating to ensure it doesnt happen again. A condition was imposed that no paramilitary-style clothing should be worn or flags, bannerettes or symbols relating to proscribed organisations displayed. PSNI vehicles have been attacked in recent years. The New IRA on Parade in Derry on April 21st 2025 (Photo by Garrett Hargan) Last year, when police stayed out of Creggan and monitored the parade with a drone and from a helicopter, a number of young people threw petrol bombs at journalists and photographers who were covering events on the day. Prior to this years parade, Saoradh said its Unfinished Revolution Easter Commemoration would be carried out in a dignified and respectful manner. A statement added: We remind all involved that this is a solemn occasion of remembrance and political expression. As such, we demand the Crown Forces to stay away and refrain from any provocative or heavy-handed presence that would only serve to increase tensions and disrespect the memory of those being commemorated. We call on all supporters and the broader Republican family to join us in paying tribute in a disciplined and appropriate fashion. With the parade concluding at Free Derry Corner there was some concern that young people may seek to target police, if there was a presence in the area. It comes after a source said there was a rise in tensions as the PSNI recently moved in to remove wooden pallets that had been gathered in Meenan Square, months ahead of an annual bonfire. Had he not been elected Pope I would not have been able to stay in the priesthood. His vision for the world and the church goes straight to the heart of the Gospel. His honesty impressed even doubters, and his integrity was a light shining from within a sometimes-dark institution. Had he not been elected Pope I would not have been able to stay in the priesthood. For me, he was a special gift from God. Just before Pope Benedict his predecessor, resigned I was under severe pressure to leave the priesthood. You will never understand how consoling it was to realise that Pope Francis was saying the very things his predecessors tried to silence me for saying. Id like to mention a few special qualities this Vicar of Christ had. Pope Francis had a special connection with homeless people. Once during an extremely cold period, six homeless people died of exposure on the streets of Rome. The Pope ordered that the doors of the Vatican be opened to give them shelter. He donated sleeping bags and gloves. His charity is practical and brave. Once he was asked; When you meet someone who is experiencing homelessness, whats the first thing you say to them? The Pope answered: Hello how are you? Sometimes we only exchange a few words. Other times we are able to build rapport and I am able to listen to their fascinating stories. In the Vatican there is a story of a homeless man of Polish origin who could normally be found in Piazza Risorgimento in Rome. He never spoke to anyone, not even to those who brought him a hot meal. Only after a long time were they able to learn his story. He told them he was a priest who knew the then Pope John Paul II well because they studied together at the seminary. Word eventually reached John Paul II who when he heard his name recognised him immediately because they were in the seminary at the same time. The Pope asked to see him and they embraced after 40 years apart. John Paul asked the homeless priest to hear his confessions this priest who had once been his friend. Afterwards the man returned the compliment; Now it is your turn to hear me. And the Pope heard his confession too. Eventually the man was able to resume his priesthood and he continued working as a chaplain in the hospital. Pope Francis also recalled a story that when he was in Argentina there was a couple who lived underneath the arch at the entrance to his home. Somebody asked him why he didnt chase them because they were a stain on the Church. But the Pope said, To me these words were the stain. We must treat all people with humanity. Not as if they owe you a debt, and not as if they were impoverished dogs. On the tricky question of whether we should give alms to the poor the Pope was clear. There are many ways to justify ones actions when not giving alms. If I give him money hell just spend it on more wine, they tell themselves. If a glass of wine is his only happiness in life, then so be it. Ask yourself instead what you do when you are alone. What secret happiness do you pursue? Its always right to give help. That doesnt mean we throw some coins in the direction of a beggar. What matters more is a good deed, helping someone who asked you for help, looking in their eyes and touching their hands. Throwing money at someone without looking at them is not a Christian gesture. Francis was very much involved with the people of his native Buenos Aires. Living in Rome away from his friends and companions must have been difficult. There is one thing I miss; the ability to go out and walk around on my own. I dont particularly experience nostalgia. He then told another amazing anecdote; My grandparents and my father had originally planned to leave Argentina at the end of 1928. They had tickets on the Princess Mafalda the ship which then sank off the coast of Brazil. They hadnt managed to sell their possessions on time, so instead they changed their tickets for places on the Julia Caesar for the 1st February 1929. That is why I am here today. Pope Francis tried to push the boat out to welcome the LGBT+ community and those in second relationships. Traditional religions condemn them as sinners who cannot approach the altar. The compassion of Jesus teaches something else entirely. Homosexual men and women are normal human beings with a normal need for love and intimacy. They are not intrinsically disordered. Thankfully, the LGBT+ community is beginning to find ways of acknowledging and accepting their sexuality, their ability to love and the need to be happy. Pope Francis insists that the Kingdom of God is not for the perfect but for the struggling. Sadly, on a human level Pope Francis has been impeded at every turn by career clerics caught up in selfish power struggles. The question, Is the Pope a Catholic? has become valid for his opponents. According to those who oppose him in the Roman curia and worldwide, the Pope is no longer fully Catholic. The more Christ-like he becomes, the more intolerable he is to the careerists. However, the heart of the issue is not about Pope Francis and power-seeking clericalism. It is about who is trying to offer the compassion of the Gospel to those most in need. The Vatican Council clearly stated that divine revelation does not come to us through a set of propositions but through a person. That person, Jesus Christ, is given to all the people of God. Thats why Im weary of the struggle, he said. My calling is to encourage good people to be the best they can be. God finds them where they are. Authoritarian rules and regulations about funerals, weddings, and church services are utterly meaningless when it comes to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Pope Francis continually taught us to trust people to listen to the Holy Spirit within. The old mantra, Good, better, best, never let it rest till the good is better and the betters best, sounds acceptable, but it is not, Love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself. Those good people who have been forced out of the Church will find God and God will find them and they will be blessed, accepted, forgiven and encouraged. Thats what God does because thats what God is. We were blessed to have him as Pope at a difficult period in Church history. I pray the Holy Spirit will give another Pope cut from the same cloth. The Irish priest remembers the apology used to address the gathering in The Phoenix Park A priest who helped organise the Pope Franciss historic visit to Ireland has recalled watching the pontiff compose his personal apology to victims of church abuse. Father Tim Bartlett said he did not know what the Pope was writing after he asked for some paper while onboard a flight to the Knock shrine in the west of Ireland. The Belfast-based cleric said hours later the pontiff would produce the same piece of paper as he addressed tens of thousands of people at an open air mass in Dublins Phoenix Park and read out his plea for forgiveness. The cars immortalised by the Back To The Future film franchise four decades ago are known for their gullwing doors and unpainted stainless steel bodywork and have become a collectors item. Robert Lamrock beside a DMC12 on the first floor of Selfridge's in London. A Northern Irish owner of the famous DeLorean car has said the publics love of the iconic vehicle still continues, despite new figures showing just over 300 remain on UK roads. The cars immortalised by the Back To The Future film franchise four decades ago are known for their gullwing doors and unpainted stainless steel bodywork and have become a collectors item. Around 9,000 DeLorean DMC-12s rolled off the DeLorean Motor Company assembly line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, in 1981. The company collapsed into insolvency the following year. John DeLorean was then charged with drug trafficking in October 1982, but a jury found him not guilty in 1984, although his reputation suffered badly. Currently, some 303 DeLoreans are taxed for use on public roads in the UK, according to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures obtained by online auction platform Collecting Cars. Robert Lamrock beside a DMC12 on the first floor of Selfridge's in London. However, Robert Lamrock, 71, of the DeLorean Owners Association, maintains that the car is still popular with the public in Northern Ireland. I take my car out and people are flashing their lights or tooting their horn at you, he told the Belfast Telegraph. I've been to car shows where theres been Ferraris and Lamborghinis and the people all flock over to the the the DeLorean, because it's unique. He said he still senses a local pride in the DeLorean in Northern Ireland, and credits the controversial owner with having the vision build the car how and where he did. The iconic Delorean (Credit: Russell Pritchard / Presseye) John, despite all his errors, was a genius. The car was built around the needs and desires of the consumer, not the corporation. They were slightly too ambitious, in terms of trying to produce 20-30,000 when they were starting up. It was just unfortunate that there was a recession in 1981/82 and everything went pear-shaped. Back To The Future which opened in cinemas in the summer of 1985 catapulted DeLoreans into the public consciousness. In the film, eccentric scientist Dr Emmett Doc Brown creates a time machine from a modified DeLorean, using plutonium to power a fictional gadget called a flux capacitor which allows time travel once the car reaches 88mph. Mr Lamrock says that DeLorean owners have not a thing that unites them other than being passionate about the car. Theres no common theme. Theres doctors, dentists, engineers. As time has gone on, the car has become much more expensive, so you dont find too many young kids that can afford it. DeLoreans at Stormont Thinking about the appeal of the DeLorean, he also says: If youve got the money, you can put a Flux Capacitor on it and pretend youre Doc Brown and Marty McFly. According to the figures released, a further 114 of the cars have a statutory off road notification, meaning they are likely to be gathering dust in garages. Collecting Cars estimates a fully restored version could fetch more than 80,000 at auction. It has sold just two DeLoreans since it began trading in 2019.The most recent sold for 56,000 in 2022. Collecting Cars chief executive Edward Lovett said: The DeLorean is an icon of pop culture which is still turning heads after all these years. A combination of their scarcity and the Back To The Future phenomenon has pushed prices higher than people might imagine. Back in 1981, the sticker price was around 18,000, making it more expensive than a Porsche 911. Today, a fully restored model treated to a film car replica conversion could attract bids in excess of 80,000. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday, ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution. He was 88, and had suffered various ailments in his 12 year papacy. The death of Pope Francis means that the Vatican now sets in motion very specific protocols for this period of interregnum the time between the passing of one pontiff and the election of his successor. The most important person during this time of mourning and preparation for the succession process, as anyone who has seen the award-winning film Conclave knows, is the cardinal camerlengo or chamberlain, writes Sarah Mac Donald. Dublin-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell was selected by Pope Francis to fulfil this role of camerlengo and the Irish man will run everything during the sede vacante or the time when the seat is vacant. The church is temporarily handed over to the College of Cardinals to rule, but no major decisions can be made until a new pope is elected. While medical professionals confirmed Pope Franciss death, tradition dictates that it was confirmed by the camerlengo. In the immediate aftermath of the Popes death, according to Vatican norms, the camerlengo historically locks the papal apartment. Taoiseach Micheal Martin issued a statement expressing the profound sadness that the world has learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. "On behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, I offer my heartfelt sympathies and my deepest condolences to all who mourn him, to His Eminence Cardinal Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, to his family and friends, and to the Catholic community worldwide that has lost an exceptional leader. "Pope Francis long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace, and human dignity. He spoke out for the poor, the marginalised, and the oppressed. "His solidarity with refugees, his calls for climate action, and his insistence on global peace and equality set him apart as a champion of justice in the modern world. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 18, at an industrial conference on integrated development of supply, industrial, and value chains, CATL signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Jinhua Communications Investment Group, according to a post on CATL's WeChat account. The partnership aims to accelerate the transition toward zero-carbon industrial development, focusing on areas such as zero-carbon dry ports, new energy buses, logistics and warehousing services, electrification of heavy trucks, and battery swapping infrastructure. Together, the two parties plan to establish a comprehensive zero-carbon energy supply ecosystem. Photo credit: CATL Their collaboration will center on three key areas: zero-carbon application scenarios, intelligent energy management, and global supply chain coordination. In building zero-carbon scenarios, the two sides will leverage CATL's expertise in photovoltaics, energy storage, and battery swapping for heavy-duty trucks, combined with Jinhua Communications Investment's on-the-ground operational resources. The goal is to jointly develop an integrated energy network encompassing solar power, storage, charging, swapping, and inspection. This initiative will facilitate the full adoption of clean energy at bus depots and railway ports while promoting the deployment of battery swapping stations to support the electrification of freight transportation. On the energy management front, the companies will co-develop a smart energy control system for inland ports, advancing industrial intelligence and establishing a model "zero-carbon smart railway port." Globally, the partnership will integrate warehousing and logistics resources across the Yangtze River Delta and tap into the China-Europe freight train network within the Belt and Road framework. This collaboration aims to create a seamless "zero-carbon logistics corridor," offering a green channel for the global export of new energy products and equipment. The Government is considering next steps on developing an emergency ocean response capability and has contracted ocean-going tugboat MMA Vision to provide assurance in the meantime, Minister of Transport Chris Bishop said. Last year Cabinet directed the Ministry of Transport and Maritime New Zealand to develop a business case that considers options to improve New Zealand's maritime emergency ocean response capability, with a focus on the Cook Strait. Bishop said the Detailed Business Case recommends a two-strike solution. This would comprise a locally based (in the Cook Strait area) first-strike capability dedicated to quickly reaching and stabilising a stricken vessel in the Cook Strait, and a regionally based (for example, Port Taranaki) second-strike capability that could tow any stricken vessel in New Zealand back to port. Solutions would be procured by Maritime NZ as a service by entering into retainer contracts with commercial providers. The Crown would not directly purchase or own a vessel," Bishop said. There have been 23 maritime incidents over the last five years where ready access to an emergency ocean response capability may have supported the response. "However, it is worth noting that all these incidents were resolved with existing capabilities and vessels of opportunity, with most occurring outside the Cook Strait area." Bishop said there have been several notable incidents in the Cook Strait area, including the Kaitaki loss of power (January 2023), Shiling loss of power (April 2023), Aratere grounding (June 2024), and Connemara loss of power (September 2024). "The Connemara incident is the only clear example that a Cook Strait based first-strike capability would have improved the response," Bishop said. The latest analysis also indicates the cost of a two-strike solution is significantly higher than initially thought." The minister said the Government has decided to continue to explore procuring an emergency ocean response capability, on a predominantly user-pays basis. "We are interested in testing the willingness of users (public and industry) to pay a levy to fund a permanent response capability," Bishop said. "I have instructed officials to provide me with advice on the most effective approach and expect to hear back in the middle of the year. To provide assurance while a long-term solution is worked through, the Government has contracted the services of ocean-going tugboat MMA Vision through to June 2026." Bishop said the tug which arrived in Wellington on Saturday will be based between the Cook Strait area and Taranaki. The business case will be published on Maritime New Zealands website in the coming weeks. While there is still a severe thunderstorm watch in place until 9pm today, the forecast for the week ahead in the Bay of Plenty looks to be partly cloudy easing to sunny days with some southerlies. Rain is expected again next weekend. A slow-moving area of low pressure is affecting the North Island today. A warm moist air-mass and low-level convergence are likely to generate showers and possible downpours. This evening there is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms for Rotorua, inland Bay of Plenty, the southwest corner of Gisborne, Taupo, inland Hawkes Bay and Taihape. These storms may be accompanied by localised downpours with rainfall rates of 25 to 40 mm/h and hail. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Mount Maunganui Main Beach on Sunday afternoon April 20, 2025, following ex-tropical cyclone Tam. Photo/Brydie Jordan. Tuesday April 22 A southwesterly flow is expected to affect the country as cyclone Tam moves away to the east. There is minimal risk of severe weather. Wednesday A strong southwesterly flow is forecast to spread north over eastern and central areas but winds are expected to remain below warning criteria. There is minimal risk of severe weather. Thursday and Friday A ridge of high pressure will be affecting the country and again there is minimal risk of severe weather. Temperatures are expected to drop to around 10 degrees Celsius overnight from Wednesday to Friday. Saturday April 26 and Sunday April 27 Showers are forecast for Saturday, which will be partly cloudy with easterlies. Rain and northeasterlies are expected on Sunday. Over 100 properties in Bellevue, Tauranga are without power following a vehicle colliding with a power pole. Police received numerous calls at around 5.40pm today after a car collided with a power pole on Sherwood St, bringing down power lines across the road. The car left immediately following the crash and has yet to be located, Police said. Police have blocked Sherwood St near the intersection with Little John Dr following a vehicle crashing into a power pole further up Sherwood St. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford. Residents on Sherwood St phoning 0800SUNLIVE said a fire truck and Police attended the scene. There is power out on Sherwood Street and the surrounding area, as a hooligan doing wheelies hit and downed a power pole and snapped wires from another power pole leaving live wires on the street, said a SunLive caller. It happened at 5.40pm; it was still daylight outside. Some of my neighbours saw the vehicle that did it. We were all standing outside talking about it afterwards when five minutes later he came back, so of course we got photos of it. Sherwood St between Little John Dr and Otumoetai Rd has been blocked off following a vehicle crashing into a power pole on Sherwood St. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford. A SunLive reporter at the scene said Sherwood St is closed between Little John Dr and Otumoetai Rd. Sherwood St has a roadblock at the roundabout intersection of Sherwood St and Otumoetai Rd due to live wires across the road further along. Down the hill there is a police car blocking the road at the intersection with Little John Dr. A Powerco crew in Seymour Pl working on restoring power following a vehicle hitting a power pole in Sherwood St, Otumoetai. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford. Powerco are reporting 135 properties with an unplanned power outage. A Powerco crew is at the scene with a crew also working in Seymour Pl. Powerco estimates power will be restored by 12.45am, Tuesday, April 22. Map showing power outage in Bellevue following a car hitting a power pole in Sherwood St on Sunday evening. Image/Powerco. At the scene? Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz Eugenio Cabezas Axarquia Monday, 21 April 2025, 16:39 Compartir Sugar cane honey was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula from Asia during the Muslim rule and then taken to America by Christopher Columbus. For more than five centuries and until just sixty years ago sugar cane honey formed part of the landscape and economy of Malaga province. Of the dozens of sugar mills along the Costa del Sol, the only one is still in operation today is in Frigiliana in the east of Malaga province. The Nuestra Senora del Carmen factory, owned by Sociedad de la Torre S.L., produces some 500 tonnes of sugar cane honey a year, which it markets in Spain and around 12 other countries. Nuestra Senora del Carmen de Frigiliana factory dates back to 1725, with antecedents in the 17th century when it was preceded by the sugar mill founded by Inigo Manrique de Lara, the first Count of Frigiliana. It will celebrate its 300th anniversarys in September. Nowadays powered by electricity, the mill still grinds sugar cane a few days a year. The mill is today powered by electricity and still grinds sugar cane a few days a year. The mill train was manufactured and installed by the Diaz de Velez-Malaga workshops in the 1950s. It also conserves other traditional technological elements such as the filters and the pailas. Its two hexagonal chimneys also stand out. Nowadays, most of the juice needed to make sugar cane honey is imported from other countries, which bring the molasses by ship from South America. Nuestra Senora del Carmen sugar cane honey factory is a Baroque-style factory whose facade is decorated with sgraffito work reproducing geometric motifs and imitation brickwork. It was always an industrial building and there are doubts as to whether it was also used as a palatial residence. No express protection It is in a good state of conservation and has been divided into two spaces. One of them was for industrial use with an access gallery, two milling rooms, two kitchens, two curdling benches and a bleaching room. To the right was the other space with storage and pilleras and with independent access. On the upper floor there were living quarters for employees and offices. The factory is not a protected building despite its age. The sales manager of the Frigiliana factory, Javier Mesa de la Torre, explained to SUR that they produce an average of 500 tonnes of sugar cane honey a year, which they sell in the main supermarkets in Spain, including Mercadona, Dani, Mas, Maskom, Carrefour, Mas y Mas and El Corte Ingles, among others. They also export around five of their production to a dozen European countries, including Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and France, among others. In addition, in 2023 the company launched its first honey rum liqueur, which is sold throughout Spain. On a recent visit to the factory, president of the Mancomunidad association of town halls in the Axarquia, Jorge Martin, said that the factory is "a jewel of heritage and landscape interest, a bastion of the most deeply-rooted agricultural tradition of the Axarquia and Malaga areas, and linked to popular dishes of the gastronomy of this land". "This palatial building is located in one of the municipalities that attracts the most visitors to the province" "This palatial building is located in one of the municipalities that attracts most visitors to the province. Frigiliana, for its beauty, location and upkeep is one of the key tourist attractions in Malaga; and the sugar cane honey factory enhances its appeal," Martin said. The factory will be open to the public on the first weekend in May on the occasion of Frigiliana's annual sugar cane honey day. "Its quality and flavour is known throughout Europe where it is increasingly in demand in supermarkets and restaurants. It is known in many towns and cities, and with it the name of the Axarquia and Frigiliana. We can see this at all the national and international tourism fairs we attend," said Martin, adding that the Mancomunidad promotes the destination with local products including sugar cane honey, extra virgin olive oil and muscatel raisins. These three products are accompanied by a map of the area with the QR codes of the 31 villages that make up the Axarquia. Eugenio Cabezas Torrox Monday, 21 April 2025, 15:06 Compartir A large pod of dolphins, estimated to contain around thirty cetaceans, surprised bathers and walkers at midday this Monday who were on or passing by Wilches beaches, on the border between the Costa del Sol municipalities of Nerja and Torrox. Although it is not uncommon to see pods of dolphins near the coast of Malaga province, especially when out at sea sailing in boats, it is not so common to see them hunting and so very close to a beach, chasing a large shoal of fish, which they cornered against the shoreline, giving themselves a real 'feast', as SUR has been able to witness and record. The cetaceans were chasing a large shoal of fish, which they pushed back against the shore, having a real 'feast'. The spectacle of nature was captured and enjoyed by around a dozen people, who with their cameras and mobile phones did not hesitate to record the scene, which lasted for more than ten minutes. The marine mammals gradually moved away from the shore, continuing their pursuit of the fish. Flocks of seagulls also joined in the spectacle, trying to take advantage of the cetaceans' hunting strategies. Some of the fish being chased jumped out of the water, being picked up and returned to the sea by some of the eyewitnesses of this true spectacle that nature and the sea offered at around noon this Easter Monday. Another episode a year ago in Rincon de la Victoria The marine biologist and president of the Aula del Mar Mediterraneo Foundation (FAMM), Juan Antonio Lopez , explained to SUR, after viewing the images captured by this newspaper, that they look like common dolphins, that is to say, 'Delphinus delphis'. The fish we don't know for sure, but they likely will be a school of mackerel or sardines, but the fishing sector can tell us better what they are catching now, he added. A similar episode happened just over a year ago in Rincon de la Victoria. On that occasion it was a local resident, Marketa Zavodska, who captured the special moment. The images caused a great deal of surprise in the eastern Costa del Sol town due to the sighting of a pod of dolphins so near to the coast. It was one of the most beautiful moments I have experienced since I arrived in Spain, I never thought I would see them so close again, said the resident, who captured the group of mammals leaping next to a boat on video. They look like common dolphins, i.e. 'Delphinus delphis', and the fish will be a school of mackerel or sardines. I have been living in Rincon for a few months now, and after a difficult start here in Spain, this has been one of the most beautiful moments, Zavodska said at the time. I didn't think I would ever see dolphins so close to the beach. The last time was in the Maldives, she said, delighted with her experience in Malaga. Whale and dolphin spotting on the Costa del Sol is not uncommon, but it is usually at a greater distance from the beaches. In fact, there are companies that offer boat trips to enjoy this experience from marinas and fishing ports such as Caleta de Velez, Malaga city, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Marbella and Estepona. Pilar R. Quiros Malaga Monday, 21 April 2025, 10:52 | Updated 11:10h. Compartir Holy Week in Malaga wins in many ways, all of which improve every year: a growing following of traditions and rituals throughout the province and a wide display of Andalusian culture for tourists. The latest tourism numbers at the close of this holiday week prove the increasing success of the period. Last-minute bookings, boosted by the good weather, led to growth above the forecasts made by the hotel employers' association Aehcos last Holy Wednesday. Aehcos has put the average occupancy rate in the province's hotels for the last four days at 83%, a figure which climbed to 85% this past Saturday. The hotel industry also confirmed that it has seen a higher turnover than in 2024 - a year in which the Holy Week was earlier and suffered the disadvantages of bad weather. If last Easter turned out to be somewhat lacklustre due to the rain, which dominated all days of the week apart from Tuesday, things reversed this year: during this Holy Week, only Tuesday saw bad weather, with some rain and wind that hardly reflected in hotel bookings, which had a strong boost, especially in the last part of the week. The sector's expectations for the past few days were exceeded thanks to the sharp increase in last-minute bookings. There is a growing number of tourists who no longer organise their holidays so far in advance and only book at the last minute, because they want to know if the weather is going to be good. Javier Hernandez, Aehcos executive vice-president The first place where the increase in passengers and tourists was noticed was at Malaga Airport, especially during the last part of the Holy Week. There were 428 flights on Maundy Thursday, although the peak days are Easter Sunday and today (Easter Monday), with 535 and 554 take-off and landing operations, respectively. By the end of the Easter period, the Costa del Sol airport will have operated almost 5,900 flights, 1,200 more than during the same time last year. Aehcos figures soared in the middle of last week. If they started with an average occupancy forecast for the whole week in the province of 77%, on Holy Wednesday the association raised it to 80%. The final balance, however, rose even more, ending at 82% on Saturday. According to Aehcos executive vice-president Javier Hernandez, the big days - Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday - contributed with individual records of 85%. Juan Cubo, president of AVVAPro tourist housing employers' association The figures for Malaga city, in particular, have been even better, with hotel bookings during the first part of the Holy Week reaching 86-87% on average. The period finished with 94% occupancy, which marked the four big days. At this rate, the city practically hung the 'sold out' sign. Even so, hoteliers continue to use 2023 as a reference point, when the general average in the province was 84%. Last year saw a drop due to the bad weather (76%), which is why the figures this year are a reason to celebrate. General manager of Holiday World in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol - Mari Francis Penarroya - has announced the "sensational" balance of the whole week: "With international and national markets, and long stays, we have sold out, 98-99%." Director of the AC Malaga Palacio and Hotel Larios in Malaga city, Jorge Gonzalez, celebrated the good figures from the last days of the week, stating that hotels "have been really full" from Holy Wednesday onwards. Like his colleagues, he attributed the uncertainty in bookings at the start of the holiday week to the bad memories from last year's weather. Manuel Villafaina, president of Empresarios de Playas de Malaga In the eastern area of the Costa del Sol, Maria Herrero, co-founder of the boutique hotel chain B bou, echoed the same observations, saying that hotel occupancy started at 75% and finished at 98%. "Holy Week has been good. If the weather is good, the occupancy rate is good," she said. President of the tourist accommodation association (AVVAPro) Juan Cubo was also satisfied with the 77% occupancy rate in the province, which was 12 points higher than in 2024. Tourists mainly came from the UK, but there was also "an increase in North American tourism". "Malaga reaffirms itself as a preferred destination for family and quality tourism", Cubo said. Javier Frutos, Mahos hospitality and catering association Rural accommodation was also marked by occupancy growth of 40% compared to 2024, according to booking platform www.ruralidays.com. Malaga province again led the way and positioned itself as the star destination in Andalucia, with figures above 73% for the main period (Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday) and 64% for the whole week. Meanwhile, the average for the whole of Andalucia was below this figure, at just under 70% on the main days. President of the hospitality and catering association of Malaga (Mahos) Javier Frutos said: "The turnover has been above last year's, and we have noticed the increase in international tourists." The president of the association of beach business owners in Malaga, Manuel Villafaina, also expressed his satisfaction: "Splendid sunshine, except on Tuesday, good temperature, 'espetos' fish skewers and vitamin D" were the keys to a Holy Week that he described as "spectacular". 2024 figures are most certainly behind, but there is still some way to go in order to reach and exceed those from 2023. The tourism sector is therefore already preparing for 2026. Juan Cano Malaga Monday, 21 April 2025, 11:32 Compartir The Local Police investigation into the Fuengirola car crash, which happened on Maundy Thursday and left two people dead and 10 injured, including a baby, attributes the accident to three factors: excess speed, alcohol and lack of driving skills. Forensic officers are currently working to determine the weight that each of these factors played in the fatal outcome. At the moment, the main question hanging over the case is the speed at which the Nissan Qashqai, the car that caused the accident, was going. The 45-year-old driver of Iranian origin has been remanded in custody since Saturday. She is accused of six offences, two of them of gross negligence manslaughter. According to SUR sources, investigators have estimated that the vehicle was travelling at more than 90 kilometres per hour, probably between 100 and 120, although the exact figure will be determined by the expert study carried out by the Local Police. The maximum speed limit along the Fuengirola promenade is 30 kilometres per hour. If the police force estimate is confirmed, the driver would have been doing more than three times the maximum speed limit. On the night of the casrh, the woman driver was accompanied by the owner of the car, 47. The female passenger died as a result of the incident. As it unfolded, the driver first knocked over a lamppost, continued for some 280 metres and hit a kerb, which caused her to lose control of the car. The Nissan Qashqai then careered towards the packed terrace of a pizzeria. The vehicle smashed into several tables, but the concrete pillar on the corner of the restaurant prevented what would have been a massacre. After hitting the wall, the car spun out of control onto the road, hitting a 25-year-old tourist from Seville who was walking with his girlfriend. The car dragged the young man and ended up crashing into another car, occupied by a family, the members of which were also injured in the accident. During the investigation, Local Police officers also discovered the two factors that contributed to the seriousness of the incident. They found that the driver had gone behind the wheel despite having drunk more than double the permitted alcohol level. The second factor was that the woman did not even have a driver's licence. Javier Martinez-Brocal Vatican City Monday, 21 April 2025, 10:14 | Updated 14:11h. Compartir Pope Francis, the first Latin American, has died in Rome at the age of 88. His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement released by the Vatican. He said: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. ""At 7.35am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Since the Vatican has announced his death, all the high offices of the Holy See have ceased and the Holy See is in the hands of the Cardinal Camerlengo, the Irish Kevin Farrell, who will exercise his functions until a new Pontiff is elected. The Jubilee 2025 celebrations will also be suspended until then. Rome is already listening in shock to the tolling of the bell for the dead in St Peter's Basilica, echoing throughout the city centre. It reminds us that the voice of Francis, the one that resounded in political and religious forums in defence of the "discarded", as he called immigrants, the unemployed, the elderly, the sick and the unborn, has been extinguished. Zoom The last time a Pope died in office was John Paul II on 2 April 2005, who died of septicaemia at the age of 85, after a long period of Parkinson's disease which necessitated a tracheotomy. Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013 , at the age of 85, and died nine years later, on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95. The conclave In the next few hours, the dean cardinal, Giovanni Battista Re, will summon all the cardinals to Rome, although only those under 80 years of age, the so-called "electors", are obliged to travel to the Eternal City to participate in the conclave and elect a new Pontiff. The Pope's funeral is due to take place in less than a week's time. The new man of reference in the Holy See is the Cardinal Camerlengo, currently the Irish Kevin Farrell, 77, who since 2016 has been prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. While in office, until the next pope is elected, he will in practice exercise the government of the Holy See, but only for matters of ordinary administration. With the death, those who preside over departments of the Vatican Curia, with a few exceptions, automatically cease to hold office. All events related to the Jubilee of Hope, planned for the whole of 2025, which the next Pope will have to decide whether to resume or cancel definitively, will also be interrupted. Francis, the first Latin American bishop of Rome, was elected Pope on 13 March 2013 with the mission of cleansing the Vatican of everything that smacked of "careerism" and corruption and to show the Christian proposal to a polarised and accelerated world. He had the ability to keep the Catholic Church united during the years of coexistence with his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. It was the first time that two popes lived together serenely and showed appreciation for each other. "For me he was a father, you don't know how much he helped me on this path," he explained to the ABC correspondent in the book interview 'The Successor'. Until Benedict XVI's death in December 2022, Francis fended off those who tried to use Ratzinger to attack him and those who used him to pit him against his predecessor's admirers. "I prefer a Church that is bruised, wounded and stained by going out into the streets, rather than a Church that is sickened by confinement and the comfort of clinging to its own securities". Francis was an "intelligent conservative" who tried to maintain the simplicity of the early days of the Catholic Church and abandon the superficial elements that overshadow the strength of its message. I prefer a Church that is bruised, wounded and stained by going out into the streets, rather than a Church sickened by enclosure and the comfort of clinging to its own securities," he explained shortly after being elected, in his programmatic document, "Evangelii Gaudium". When he presented this boldness to Catholics, it resulted in divisions between two extremes, ranging from Catholics who looked askance and perplexity at his gestures of openness and considered them a break with the past, to believers who tried to see in his proposals a "new" Church , opposed and at odds with that which his predecessors had led. His health deteriorated progressively from March 2022, when he began to show his mobility problems serenely in public due to a serious knee injury. At the end of March 2023 he had to be hospitalised for bronchitis. He returned to hospital two months later, in June 2023, when he was forced to undergo surgery to resolve a hernia in his intestine that was causing an occlusion. Rehabilitation was causing him problems until at least the spring of 2024. At the end of January 2025 he contracted bronchitis again, which prevented him from making long public speeches and forced him to return to hospital. "I am a man who is always forgiven. Throughout my life I also had moments of crisis, of emptiness, of sin, stages of worldliness . And then the Lord managed to free me from them," he confessed in January 2025 in his autobiography 'Hope'. I feel ungrateful, because in the face of so many benefits received, I have made many mistakes, many negligences, he said in his personal assessment. Dear Eric: I was an attorney when I started having memory problems at age 65. I retired and subsequently learned that I had a devastating rare dementia with a very short lifespan. Instead of providing me support, my friends disappeared from my life, at the time I needed them most. Friends may rally around you when you have cancer, driving you to chemo treatments, dropping off food and other things to support you; when you have dementia, everyone just disappears. Ive always been a sociable person and Im missing that so much, but I have no idea how or where to start. Any ideas? Left By Friends Dear Friends: People sometimes dont know what to do or say when confronted with illness, but thats no excuse for your friends behavior and Im sorry. The Alzheimers Association (alz.org) has a wealth of resources for people with dementia, including support groups, both online and in-person. Being able to talk with others about what youre experiencing and feeling will help with isolation. This also might be a time for you to explore new volunteer opportunities or social groups that have nothing to do with dementia, depending on your care plan and abilities. You are a person who is worthy of connection, with a wealth of experiences and knowledge from which others can benefit. Your company would be welcomed at a senior center, a local outing group or an organization that aligns with your interests and values. If you have anxiety about navigating these spaces with dementia, or need accommodation in order to feel safe, please dont hesitate to reach out in advance and talk to a group leader about how you can participate most comfortably. Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 21, YANGWANG, the luxury new energy vehicle brand under BYD, announced that its cumulative vehicle sales have surpassed 10,000 units. The brand currently offers a lineup that includes the YANGWANG U7, U8, and U9 models. The U7, YANGWANG's third model, hit the market in March with two variants priced between 628,000 yuan and 708,000 yuan. Available in four- and five-seat configurations, the U7 is offered in both BEV (battery electric vehicle) and PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) versions. Photo credit: YANGWANG A key highlight of the model is the groundbreaking DiSus Z intelligent suspension system, which integrates electromagnetic propulsion technology derived from aircraft carriers and maglev trains. This system eliminates the need for hydraulic components by using direct-drive suspension motors, delivering peak power of up to 50 kW. It sets new industry benchmarks for both responsiveness and precision. The BEV version of the U7 is powered by a 135.5 kWh Blade Battery, offering a CLTC-rated range of 720 km. The PHEV version features a 52.4 kWh battery and achieves a combined range of up to 1,000 km. Notably, it is equipped with China's first horizontally opposed engine developed for mass production in a new energy vehicle. This compact engine, just 420 mm in height, offers smooth and quiet performance while maximizing front compartment space. The system maintains a noise difference of less than 1 decibel between electric and hybrid driving modes. Looking ahead, YANGWANG is set to unveil a longer-wheelbase version of the U8, named U8L, at the upcoming AUTO SHANGHAI 2025. Teaser images reveal a striking two-tone body in black and gold, featuring a more extended profile, full-size proportions, and a bold presence. The new vehicle will also introduce enclosed wheels with a floating logo at the center. The extended version is expected to feature a longer body and wheelbase, likely adopting a three-row seating layout. A Syracuse man police say was selling drugs outside of a convenience store last week was taken down in a violent arrest April 9, 2025. Screenshot Syracuse, N.Y. A Syracuse man police say was selling drugs outside of a convenience store was taken down and tased more than once as he was arrested. On April 9, Tashawn Albert, 37, was inside Stop and Shop at of 1012 Park St. in Syracuse when he was arrested for possessing a small amount of cocaine, obstruction of governmental administration and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors. Albert has filed a complaint with the Syracuse Civilian Review Board over the arrest, alleging police used too much force arresting him. Two videos shared with Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard by Albert show the arrest. One was the stores video and the other was by a bystander. Officers approach Albert and place his hands behind his back. A second officer walks over and Albert is taken to the ground. Albert struggles with the officers as they try to arrest him. One officer stands and tases Albert, causing him to squirm back and forth. Albert can be heard screaming. Albert stands back up before he was taken to the ground again. About six more officers arrive on scene and swarm around Albert. The officers get handcuffs on Albert. Officers search Albert and remove several items from him before they stand him up and take him out of the store. Kieran Coffey, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department, said an officer deployed a taser to subdue Albert. Albert was taken to the ground where, Coffey said, officers tried to get Albert to release his hands. The officers said Albert kept reaching for his waist band. Coffey said the officers used regular techniques to get Albert to release his hands. Coffey said officers monitoring the area spotted Albert at the corner of Park and East Division streets. Albert was seen doing a hand-to-hand transaction a drug deal, he said. Coffey said officers followed Albert into the store to question him. Albert walked to the back of the store where the officers attempted to arrest him, he said. Albert was later taken to St. Josephs Hospital for an evaluation, he said. The arrest, as in the case of all use of force incidents, is being thoroughly investigated by the department, Coffey said. In a complaint filed to the Citizen Review Board, Albert said he was beat and badly injured from the incident. The board reviews grievances involving members of the Syracuse Police Department Albert was standing outside the store, smoking a cigarette, before he went inside the store to grab items for his fiance, according to the complaint. Officers came behind him and grabbed him, he said. Albert said he asked the officers why he was under arrest, but they wouldnt say why. He was later told it was part of an investigation, he said. Albert said he was forced to the ground by two police officers. He was punched in the head and kicked multiple times, he said. Albert said he screamed for some of his friends in the store to call his fiance. Officers told Albert to stop resisting, but Albert said he was complying with the officers. Then an officer attempted to tase Albert, but his coat got in the way, Albert said. The officer raised his coat and tased his bare skin, he said. Albert said he suffered a fractured disc in his spine, a broken tooth, a black eye, multiple knots on his head, bruising on his face and multiple scars from being tased. After searching Albert, Coffee said officers found 3.3 grams of cocaine. Albert was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and resisting arrest. Albert has served time in federal prison for selling drugs. He was sentenced to 11 months after facing life in federal prison before cutting a deal in exchange for testifying in a murder trial in 2014. Albert said he wasnt selling drugs outside the store and that he does have a criminal past, but that he is trying to grow from it. Dont go off my past, people change their lives, Albert said. Thats no excuse to attack me like that. Tashawn Albert, 37, was inside Stop and Shop at 1012 Park St. in Syracuse when he was arrested for possessing cocaine and resisting arrest, April 9, 2025. Tashawn Albert 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 Micron Technology plans to build a massive chipmaking complex in the town of Clay. Onondaga County has refused to release the environmental report on the project. Onondaga County Syracuse, N.Y. For more than two years, Micron Technology has been compiling and refining a report that will detail the massive impacts its planned chipmaking complex could have on Central New York for decades to come. But since receiving an early version of the report from Micron four months ago, Onondaga County has refused to release it to the public, a move that two legal experts say violates New Yorks open government law. Instead, the county plans to make its approved version of the Micron report public in early June. But that means the public will have limited time to review and comment on the report, given the tight timetable for Micron to start construction this fall. As it stands now, local residents will get just 45 days during the summer to read, digest and comment on the huge report. The document is likely to stretch thousands of pages and include reams of charts, data and maps. Micron must respond to each of those comments, and potentially make some adjustments, to finalize the environmental review before the company can obtain permits to being construction in November. By withholding the report, the county is shrinking the time for the community to digest and question Microns plans. A consortium of community groups has asked the county for at least four months of comment, but the county hasnt responded to them. This is a project thats going to impact workers, the environment, the community, schools, quality of water, quality of air, transportation, said Don Hughes, an environmental consultant and member of the local Sierra Club chapter. If (the county) released it earlier, that certainly would be helpful in the public review. New York requires Micron to create the report to give the public and government agencies a better understanding of the impacts of the chip factories on, among other things, air and water pollution, traffic, emergency services, job creation and housing demand. The report must also look at ways for Micron and governments to lessen the impacts. Micron submitted the report, and OCIDA accepted it, with the full knowledge that it will ultimately be made public. Its unlikely there are any trade secrets or confidential business information that would need to be redacted. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard has filed several Freedom of Information Law requests with the county since December seeking the report. The county denied the first request, then reversed course after we appealed. Now, the county says it will release undetermined parts of that preliminary report to us by July seven months after we first asked for it. Thats also a month after the document would be public to all. Theyve informed you that, yes, you have a right to it, but were going to withhold giving it to you until a certain time? said Paul Wolf, a lawyer and former president of the nonprofit New York Coalition for Open Government. Theres no legitimate reason for doing that. Wolf and other lawyers who specialize in open government laws say the environmental report, which is in draft form, is subject to the publics scrutiny now. A decision from the states highest court and an opinion from the state agency that oversees open government laws back that up. The document should be released because its a public record, Wolf said. Its a record held by a governmental agency, and for them to withhold it, they have to have a legitimate reason under the law. I dont see one. The county, so far, isnt budging. Neither is the state, the towns of Clay and Cicero, the Onondaga County Water Authority, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Weve filed Freedom of Information Law requests with all of them, and received denials or delays. Syracuse.com has appealed the denials. Clay, the town that will host the huge Micron project, hasnt even formally responded to two requests for the report. Micron prepared the report, called a draft environmental impact statement, because state environmental law requires it. The whole purpose of the report is to give the public a chance to assess the potential impacts and for Micron to respond to comments. OCIDA gets to review the report and could require Micron to make changes, if necessary, before formally issuing it to the public. New York law states that environmental documents are public records and must be made available for public review. That means they are also subject to the states Freedom of Information Law. Yet, the county says it has a right to keep the environmental report secret, for now, under the Freedom of Information Law. The basic premise of the law is that all records held by public agencies must be made available to anyone on request, except for a handful of reasons. The county has invoked one of those reasons, saying that the Micron report is an intra-agency or inter-agency record. But thats a misreading of the law, experts say. That provision is designed to allow government employees to freely offer opinions to each other. In a 1986 case, the states highest court, the Court of Appeals, said the intra-or interagency exception applied only to internal government exchange that includes opinion, ideas or advice. The Micron report is not that: Its a document submitted to an agency by a private company. A document prepared by a private entity, such as Micron Technology, and submitted to the OCIDA would not constitute either intra-agency or inter-agency material, wrote Kristin ONeill, deputy director and counsel for the states Committee on Open Government, to syracuse.com. Micron is the only big chipmaker getting money from the federal government that has to jump through these environmental review hoops. The other big projects in Republican states, including Intels in Ohio and Samsungs in Texas, arent bound by strict environmental laws like New Yorks. Micron is also moving quickly on building a semiconductor fabrication plant, or fab, at its corporate headquarters in Idaho. In Central New York, Micron plans to build up to four fabs at the corner of Route 31 and Caughdenoy Road in Clay over 20 years. The company says it could eventually employ 9,000 workers. Micron filed an early version of the report, called a preliminary draft environmental impact statement, with the county in December, and an updated one March 20. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard submitted FOIL requests for both documents. The county denied the first request, but then, after syracuse.com appealed, changed its mind sort of. The county said it would release records within 120 days from March 6, which could be as late as July 10. That would be nearly seven months after the initial request. Agreeing to release something months after the request was made and only after the agency intends to release it on its own is essentially a denial under the law, Wolf said. The county said the long waiting period was necessary due to the voluminous amount of pages, documents, data and appendices involved. When syracuse.com sent a new request for Microns updated document in March, the county said that report would also not be released to us until July. On April 9, Syracuse.com submitted another Freedom of Information Law request to the county. This time we asked for only the executive summary of the Micron report. The county said it would need until August just to decide whether to release that small portion. Senator Chuck Schumer came to the Emerald Cocktail Kitchen in Syracuse to talk about tariffs that are affecting local restaurants. To his right are Tom Scozzafava, owner of 1812 Brewing Co. and Michelle Roesch, owner of the Emerald Cocktail Kitchen. April 21, 2025. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com dennis nett | dnett@syracuse.com Syracuse, N.Y. For Michelle Roesch, the feeling of uncertainty and worry over her restaurant businesses is familiar. Its the same kind of stress and panic we felt during the pandemic, said Roesch, the co-owner of the Emerald Cocktail Kitchen on Tipperary Hill and the soon-to-close Brasserie Bar & Bistro in Camillus. But this stress is caused by the effects of President Donald Trumps tariffs, Roesch said. The tariffs Trump has imposed, and others he has announced and paused, make it impossible to plan ahead, Roesch said. We dont know what will happen to prices, costs or even what will be available. Her business depends on imported goods ranging from gin and prosecco to limes, avocados and cheese. And, she said, business has slowed because customers are worried about how much theyre spending. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer used the Emerald Cocktail Kitchen as a backdrop today to call for an end to Trumps tariff policies, which he described as chaotic and destructive. Schumer also announced he will try to force a vote in Congress to end the tariffs. Schumer is the Senates Democratic leader, but both houses of Congress have Republican majorities. Schumer said Trumps tariffs could drive up costs for local families about $5,000 a year. He called special attention today to the impact of the tariffs on small businesses like restaurants. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has championed the use of tariffs on foreign goods, saying they could help Americas economy by bolstering domestic manufacturing. He first announced tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. Then on April 2 he declared more tariffs on countries around the globe. A week later he announced a 90-day pause on many of those, while leaving hefty tariffs on China in place. Trumps tariff plans have also caused turmoil in financial markets. In addition to Roesch, several other small business owners spoke during the event with Schumer to describe the negative effects theyre seeing from the tariffs. For Tom Scozzafava, who owns the 1812 Brewing Co. with brewpub locations in Sackets Harbor and Watertown, one of the noticeable effects is a drop in business from Canadian visitors. He said Canadians typically make up 15 to 20 percent of his customers. He also cited the tariffs on Canadian goods, such as grain for the beer he brews, glass for bottles and aluminum for cans. And, he noted, there was the reciprocal action by the Ontario provincial beers stores, which pulled all American products from their shelves. That alone is about 10% of his sales. It all just seem so damaging, and so unnecessary, he said. Katie Aiello, owner of Character Coffee in Utica, described the difficulties of running a business that is dependent on a commodity grown in foreign countries. Its hard to plan, price or grow due to the instability in the market, said Aiello, who is also a member of the Utica Common Council. In prepared statements issued by Schumers team, other business owners in Central New York described similar concerns. They include downtown Syracuse business owners Andrew Brooks of Talking Cursive Brewing Co. and Sara Tong-Ngork of the Firecracker Thai Kitchen in the Salt City Market. We plan to increase menu prices by 10-15% to help offset rising costs, Tong-Ngork said in a statement. She said that still wont cover all of the increased costs. Tariffs have made it more difficult to find authentic, imported ingredients like jasmine rice and rice noodles at local markets, she added. Schumer said his plan when Congress returns from its recess is to push for a vote that would cancel the emergency that Trump declared in order to impose the tariffs. Ending the emergency would rescind the tariffs, he said. Enough is enough, Schumer said. Ive never seen anything across the board so devastating. Senator Chuck Schumer came to Syracuse to talk about Trump's "chaotic" tariffs affecting local restaurants like the Emerald Cocktail Kitchen. April 21, 2025. dennis nett | dnett@syracuse.com Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Delta airlines passengers planes, Bombardier CRJ-900LR (front), Airbus A220-100 (second) sit at LaGuardia airport, in New York City, on April 18, 2025. (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Last Monday, two different Delta flights experienced the same scary mishap: the ceiling collapsed mid-flight. On April 14, the roof of a Boeing 757 plane flying from Santa Ana, Calif. to Atlanta collapsed, hitting one passenger in the head, per a post in the Delta Reddit forum. In a statement to People, a representative from the airline commented on the incident noting, Delta has been in touch with our customer to express our apologies for this rare occurrence. Our cabin maintenance teams quickly addressed the issue. The airline also noted that the incident left a wound on the affected passenger, who was treated by an emergency medical technician before proceeding onto their connecting flight in Atlanta. Weirdly enough, that wasnt the only Delta flight that day that didnt land with a fully intact roof. A Boeing 717 plane traveling from Atlanta to Chicago also faced the same rare circumstance. However, none of the passengers sustained injuries during this flight. A TikTok video from user Lucas Michael Payne showed footage of seated passengers on said flight holding up the planes ceiling during their travels. My homie was on a Delta flight and the ceiling collapse. The attendants finally duct taped it after he held it up for awhile, he wrote in his caption, including a photo of the attendants slapdash job. @lucasmpayne My Hommie @user6420519983283 Tom Witchsy was on a Delta flight and the ceiling collapsed. The attendants finally duct taped it after he held it up for awhile@delta offered 10,000 miles ( basically 100 dollars) after they had to go back to Atlanta, wait for hours and deplane and get on another plane to Chicago. These planes!!! #airplane #delta #boeing #ntsb Paper Planes - M.I.A. In a statement to the New York Post, a Delta representative told the outlet that the panel was later affixed into place so customers did not have to manually hold it during flight. The spokesperson also confirmed there were no injuries and the flight continued with about a two-hour delay on another aircraft. In his caption, Payne also alleged that passengers on that flight were offered 10,000 miles (basically 100 dollars), following the incident and resulting two-hour delay. A person claiming to have been a passenger on confirmed that the 10,000 mile offering was true in the comment section. Several other users argued that the airline should have offered more complimentary miles to those affected. Another user opined: For the prices Delta charges, their planes should not be falling apart mid-flight. However, others didnt seem to think too much of the mishap. This is cosmetic. No one was in any danger. Was it annoying? Yes. But a hazard? No, opined one user. Another wrote: Absolutely nothing that you see inside of an airplane is structural, all of it is cosmetic. MINISINK A woman faces animal neglect charges after 64 cats were found living in deplorable conditions in a bus in Orange County this month, in what the Hudson Valley SPCA called by far the most complicated rescue it had ever done. The cats were found after animal advocates notified the SPCA of a woman who had been evicted from New York City in 2023 and had brought dozens of cats upstate in a bus, said SPCA President Joan Kay, who added she was told the woman had 112 cats when she was evicted. The SPCAs Division of Law Enforcement obtained a search and seizure warrant from the Orange County District Attorneys Office and rescued the cats on April 7 from a bus parked at a Westtown property. The owner was not living there and was staying at a nearby hotel, Kay said. Its unclear exactly how long the cats had been living in the bus. The interior was covered in feces, fur, dirt and old food, according to images shared with the Times Union. The owner of the felines faces 122 counts of animal neglect and was issued an appearance ticket for Minisink Town Court on May 1, Kay said. The woman, whom the Times Union is not naming because she was charged with misdemeanors, did not return the Times Unions request for comment. The cats, ranging from 6 months to 10 years old, had different medical conditions like upper respiratory infections, feline immunodeficiency virus, herpes, and calicivirus, which Kay said the SPCA hadnt seen in many years. The SPCA believes three of the cats are also pregnant. Two additional cats were found deceased inside the bus under the debris, Kay said. Kay said her first reaction was tears, but many are now doing better. It is just so good to see their eyes better, she said. Many of them, their eyes were completely crusted shut. So at least their eyes are open. The SPCA is currently treating the animals at a building that was provided by a local developer. Kay said the Humane Society has calculated it will cost $60,000 to treat all of them. While the younger ones will be ready for adoption in one month, others will remain with the SPCA for at least three months before theyre cleared to be adopted, Kay said. The SPCA is looking for donations to help cover the veterinary expenses. Medically, these animals have suffered for a long time, she said. Its so hard. Forty years of doing this, and it really never gets better. You get hardened to some things, but what a tormented life these cats have had. 2025 the Times Union. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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 Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard is asking candidates who have submitted valid petitions to run for mayor a weekly issue-oriented question and publishing their answers. The candidates get up to four days to reply and must limit responses to 250 words or less. This weeks question: How does the Trump presidency affect the city of Syracuse, and what as mayor would you do to manage the impact? Thomas Babilon (R): The primary impact that any new presidential administration has on the City of Syracuse is direct federal funding. The City receives millions of dollars in annual federal funding that is used for its infrastructure, public safety, housing and community development needs. This President has made federal cuts a key point. So far Syracuse has avoided any direct DOGE cuts, but this doesnt mean that we are clear from reductions in federal investment. The first thing that thing I would do as Mayor on this issue is to personally reach out to the administration to let the President know that he has a partner in Syracuse. I would then directly advocate for the needs of our city and implore our federal representatives to do the same. Some of the other mayoral candidates may advocate fighting the President on every level. This is a wrong approach and has the potential to severely affect our level of federal investment. The President has shown a propensity to claw-back previously approved funds. Given the current federal commitments to the I-81 project, the next administration should try to avoid claw-backs. The second thing that I would do is to tailor our federal grant requests to align with the Presidents priorities and goals. These mutual goals include the promotion of home ownership, increased housing, and improvement of public safety. Direct advocacy, mutual partnership and cooperation on aligned priorities and goals is the best policy to ensure that federal funding continues to meet the needs of the City. Pat Hogan (D): The Trump administrations policies have significant implications for Syracuse. Proposals to repeal the CHIPS and Science Act threaten the Micron project, which promises thousands of jobs and substantial investment in our region. Additionally, executive orders aiming to pause federal funding for programs like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as well as other social services, jeopardize critical support systems that many Syracusans rely on. As mayor, I would proactively advocate for our citys interests at the federal level, collaborating with state leaders to safeguard essential funding. That includes: Protecting Economic Development and working to ensure that projects like Micron receive the promised support, emphasizing their importance to our local economy. Maintaining Social Services, by opposing cuts to programs that provide vital services to our residents, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left without support. Promoting Inclusivity, by upholding DEI initiatives within the city to foster a community where all residents are valued and supported. By standing firm against policies that could harm our citys progress and advocating for the needs of our residents, we can navigate these challenges. We can continue to build a stronger, more inclusive Syracuse. The Trump agenda may be loud but our citys values are stronger. We believe in compassion over cruelty, unity over division, and progress over fear. As mayor, Ill ensure Syracuse City Hall leads with those values every day. Chol Majok (D): My administration will put the safety, dignity, and prosperity of every resident first. Under Trump, we can expect a renewed use of fear-based tactics through federal agencies and law enforcement aimed at dividing our community and eroding trust between local government and residents. I will lead with a clear and steady voice, and Syracuse will not back down. As Mayor, I will not sacrifice our American moral values to quench the thirst for power of a misguided leadership in Washington, D.C. With that in mind, our vision is to lead Syracuse into a future where families thrive, neighborhoods flourish, and opportunities are accessible. Economically, Trumps policies are harming small businesses already struggling to find workers. His anti-immigrant stance reduces labor availability, while increased tariffs drive up the cost of essential goods like food hurting families across our city and affecting overall imports. As we wrestle with a Trump presidency that is attacking the social and economic fabric of America, Syracuse is not isolated. Like many communities and organizations across New York and the country, we are facing growing uncertainty. First, as Mayor, I will implement a contingency plan to mitigate anticipated grant funding shortages. Second, I will support small businesses with grants to cope with labor supply shortages. Third, I will stand strong with coalitions of nonprofit groups impacted by federal funding cuts. Fourth, I will build a coalition with mayors across New York to resist harmful federal overreach. Together, well work with state and federal leaders to safeguard funding, uphold our values, and protect all people regardless of background. Sharon Owens (D): The Donald Trump presidency comes at a transformational moment in Syracuse. If youre worried about what his changes mean for your family, youre not alone. As the mother of a differently abled son and daughter of an 80-year-old mother, federal changes to Medicaid and Medicare, for example, threaten the well-being of my family and yours. Federal funding, such as Housing and Urban Development (housing), the Federal Highway Administration (roads), the US Department of Justice (public safety), and the Environmental Protection Agency (lead pipe replacement), plays a significant role in keeping Syracuse neighborhoods strong. Immigration policies and deportation actions on noncriminal individuals threaten our refugee and immigrant neighbors. Federal uncertainty puts projects like the I-81 viaduct and the Micron chip plant at risk, projects that bring jobs, prosperity, and opportunity to our city. As mayor, it will be my job to lead through these uncertain times. Thats exactly what the last 30 years in public and community service have prepared me to do. It will be critical to use the expertise in City Hall to remain informed of federal changes and identify immediate impacts to city services. Syracuse relies on the federal government for support, and Im prepared to work with the Trump administration to make sure we get our fair share. But make no mistake: I will stand up to this President when his policies are bad for Syracuse, violate peoples rights or abandon the values that make America and our City strong and committed to all. EDITORS NOTE: After this weeks question was presented to candidates, the Onondaga County Board of Elections removed Alfonso Davis and Jimmy Oliver from the Democratic primary ballot on Thursday because they submitted too many invalid petition signatures. As a result, we are no longer including them in this series. City reporter Jeremy Boyer can be reached at jboyer@syracuse.com, (315) 657-5673, Twitter or Facebook. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Hesai Technology announces new partnerships as LiDAR adoption expands across industries On April 21, Hesai Technology unveiled strategic collaborations with three tech firmsManycore Tech Inc., KargoBot.ai, and KUTTING Technologyduring its Technology Open Day event. The partnerships aim to broaden the applications of LiDAR technology in spatial intelligence, autonomous freight transport, and smart yard equipment, reflecting Hesai Technology's commitment to expanding its footprint across diverse innovation-driven sectors. Photo credit: Hesai Technology Brembo's first inspiration lab in Asia inaugurated in Shanghai Brembo, the global leader in braking systems, officially opened its first Inspiration Lab in Asia on April 21, with the new facility located in Shanghai. The lab will focus on enhancing the company's capabilities in software development, artificial intelligence, and data science, marking a significant step in Brembo's evolution from a traditional components manufacturer to a comprehensive solutions provider. Qianxun SI secures over 1 billion yuan in series B funding within a year Qianxun SI has recently completed a new round of financing, bringing its total Series B funding to over 1 billion yuan within the past year. The funds will be used to advance its spatiotemporal AI models and integrated "cloud-chip" technologies, while also strengthening its presence in emerging sectors such as low-altitude economy, embodied intelligence, and overseas services. BYD's luxury brand YANGWANG hits sales milestone of 10,000 vehicles On April 21, YANGWANG, the luxury new energy vehicle brand under BYD, announced that its cumulative vehicle sales have surpassed 10,000 units. The brand currently offers a lineup that includes the YANGWANG U7, U8, and U9 models. Lauterbach adds full support for SemiDrive's flagship automotive MCU E3650 with TRACE32 On April 21, Lauterbach and SemiDrive jointly announced that the TRACE32 development tools from Lauterbach now fully support SemiDrive's latest flagship automotive MCU, the E3650. RoboSense unveils EMX true 192-line digital LiDAR for auto applications On April 21, RoboSense officially launched its EMX digital LiDAR, an automotive-grade LiDAR boasting true 192-line resolution and high-performance digital architecture. The unveiling marks a major milestone in the company's continued advancement of intelligent vehicle sensing technologies. NIO Inc.'s FIREFLY all-electric car model hits market, starting at 119,800 yuan On April 19, NIO Inc. officially put the FIREFLY, the fire model under the sub-brand with the same name, onto the market. The all-electric compact car comes in two design variants"Free" and "Glow"with starting prices of 119,800 yuan and 125,800 yuan, respectively. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin on April 29. CATL, Jinhua Communications Investment partner to build zero-carbon energy, logistics ecosystem On April 18, at an industrial conference on integrated development of supply, industrial, and value chains, CATL signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Jinhua Communications Investment Group, according to a post on CATL's WeChat account. NH08 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Delhi Posts: 186 Thanked: 1,108 Times Selection: My earlier Honda i.e. Brio (S, Manual) was completing 10 years and it was time to change, not only due to reason that Brio was 10 years old but also for the fact that I was facing shortage of boot space more frequently. Other than that, it was flawless, as I expected from Honda. The smoothness of rev-happy i-VTEC engine, the reliability of each and every part of the car was very soothing, particularly for a lazy person like me who just wants to drive the car with minimum visits to the service station. Brio was to be serviced every 6 months, which I did in the initial warranty period. Once that was over, I switched to 1 year period. No extended warranty was sought, no issues faced. That is Honda. Now, when I thought of changing, I considered all the options available at that time. XUV700 was one of them. But did not proceed ahead for (i) it being a new product from Mahindra and (ii) there were long waiting periods. I considered Creta and Seltos also. As I wanted an automatic, I realised one interesting thing Elevate was cheaper, much cheaper than Creta or Seltos for automatic variants. Honda generally charges a premium for its products, but this time, it was quite reasonably priced. The lowest automatic model in both Creta and Seltos were above 16 L ex-showroom whereas Elevate automatic was just 13.28 L ex-showroom. This meant that Elevates on-road price would be less than Creta/Seltos ex-showroom price. This was besides safety related concerns about the Korean twins. Hyryder/G Vitara were having a long wait time for their hybrid models. Also, the price difference with their mild hybrid versions were significant. Their petrol engines were just ok kind of thing. These two seemed to be made for people looking for great mileage. Thought of Volkswagen/Skoda products also (Kushak etc) but always had that reliability issues about them in some corner of my mind. Purchase: Booked the car from Ring Road Honda in Delhi and took the delivery in December 2023. Dealership messed up with the insurance. I told them that I would arrange for the insurance on my own. They were ok with that and I insured the car with Acko. When I sent them insurance details, they said they can not deliver the car if insurance is with Acko. After some arguments, I changed the insurer and took the delivery. But this was not a good experience. Further, the fast tag (from SBI) provided by the dealership was not activated timely and I faced issues because of that. V was the lowest model in CVT line up and it had all the features that I wanted except one i.e. cruise control. To get this, one need to get ZX but that was too much a price difference. Surprisingly, the middle version i.e. VX also did not get cruise control. Experience: My observations are: The 1.5 L iVtech Engine is refined, responsive and has adequate power. Suspension is good, as good as Brios, which I considered very good. The front look is plain and fantastic, the rear is good and the side profile is ok kind for me. I absolutely love the almost horizontal bonnet although it probably comes at the cost of mileage. The boot space and the ground clearance are the major plus points of this car, specially for me who is coming from a 175 litre boot space car and travels often on pot holed/uneven roads like Delhi Jaipur highway. Recently, went for a two hour journey with 9-year old two children sitting in the boot space comfortably. Car ranks very high in terms of both ground clearance and boot space in its category. Mileage For cars running in Delhi, almost all in peak hours, I am getting 11 kmpl and I am happy with that. For outside travels, it is 16-17. Lights are bright and enough. NVH This is the biggest let down. It is something so very un-Honda-ish. Road noise is very much present in the car. Compared to this, Brio now feels very insulated, silent. I am very disappointed from Honda on this issue, it was not expected. Moreover, some harshness was there, although it now seems to be reducing. Thankfully, vibrations are not there. At even normal speeds, road/tyre noise is just annoying. The inside is simple and functional, just as I prefer. The infotainment system gave some trouble initially connecting with the phone but now it is good. Reverse Camera is very clear and has good resolution. Sensors also works fine. AC is good, cools quickly. In this area, it is an improvement over Brio whose AC was lethargic. I am yet to learn and use Sports Mode properly but have used paddle shifters sometimes for engine braking on slopes. That works decently. Have bought Zopasu duster which is very good for car cleaning. Because of white color, the cleaning requirements are not that much. One more minus point (besides road noise) is the absence of Hondas OEM car seat covers in fabric. I got these for Brio and they were of very high quality and with a reasonable price (I got them free). Now, for Elevate, non-fabric seat covers are available but not the fabric one. I am still searching for some decent fabric seat covers. Brio Seat Cover Overall, it is good product with 7.5/10 rating. All the 2.5 marks deducted for that irritating road noise. I suggest prospective buyers to do proper test drive if this aspect is important for you. I got Elevate (Pearl White, V Automatic) in December 2023. Wanted to write the review after covering some decent mileage but could drive only about 5000 kms in 16 months due to work commitments and laziness. Below are my observations on the selection, purchase and experience with the car.My earlier Honda i.e. Brio (S, Manual) was completing 10 years and it was time to change, not only due to reason that Brio was 10 years old but also for the fact that I was facing shortage of boot space more frequently. Other than that, it was flawless, as I expected from Honda. The smoothness of rev-happy i-VTEC engine, the reliability of each and every part of the car was very soothing, particularly for a lazy person like me who just wants to drive the car with minimum visits to the service station. Brio was to be serviced every 6 months, which I did in the initial warranty period. Once that was over, I switched to 1 year period. No extended warranty was sought, no issues faced. That is Honda.Now, when I thought of changing, I considered all the options available at that time. XUV700 was one of them. But did not proceed ahead for (i) it being a new product from Mahindra and (ii) there were long waiting periods. I considered Creta and Seltos also. As I wanted an automatic, I realised one interesting thing Elevate was cheaper, much cheaper than Creta or Seltos for automatic variants. Honda generally charges a premium for its products, but this time, it was quite reasonably priced. The lowest automatic model in both Creta and Seltos were above 16 L ex-showroom whereas Elevate automatic was just 13.28 L ex-showroom. This meant that Elevates on-road price would be less than Creta/Seltos ex-showroom price. This was besides safety related concerns about the Korean twins.Hyryder/G Vitara were having a long wait time for their hybrid models. Also, the price difference with their mild hybrid versions were significant. Their petrol engines were just ok kind of thing. These two seemed to be made for people looking for great mileage.Thought of Volkswagen/Skoda products also (Kushak etc) but always had that reliability issues about them in some corner of my mind.Booked the car from Ring Road Honda in Delhi and took the delivery in December 2023. Dealership messed up with the insurance. I told them that I would arrange for the insurance on my own. They were ok with that and I insured the car with Acko. When I sent them insurance details, they said they can not deliver the car if insurance is with Acko. After some arguments, I changed the insurer and took the delivery. But this was not a good experience. Further, the fast tag (from SBI) provided by the dealership was not activated timely and I faced issues because of that.V was the lowest model in CVT line up and it had all the features that I wanted except one i.e. cruise control. To get this, one need to get ZX but that was too much a price difference. Surprisingly, the middle version i.e. VX also did not get cruise control.My observations are:Brio Seat CoverOverall, it is good product with 7.5/10 rating. All the 2.5 marks deducted for that irritating road noise. I suggest prospective buyers to do proper test drive if this aspect is important for you. sahil624 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Jaipur/Mumbai Posts: 429 Thanked: 1,057 Times Chasing stripes in Ranthambhore I, being from Jaipur, have a special place in my heart for Ranthambhore. The recent trip to RTR came during the Holi visit to Jaipur. Booking gypsy safari at RTR is recommended as Canter makes too much noise and with half hearted drivers and guides of Canters, they enter later than the safari time and leave from the safari gate early. However, booking a gypsy seat in a prime zone of RTR (Zone 1-5) needs to be done well in advance as they fill up as soon as the booking opens. The booking experience has been very good since Rajasthan Wildlife department has come up with a new website to book safaris (Website link: Though the efforts since Project Tiger have proved fruitful as it has put RTR on the world map for Tiger sighting, a few drivers and guides here seem unserious about the job, which really sours the visit sometimes. My first visit to RTR was in December 2016 just three months after the world-famous tigress Machli (T-16). Often called Queen of Ranthambhore, RTR gained global fame due to iconic sightings of Machli. During this visit I was reading the book Living with Tigers on Ranthambhore by Valmiki Thapar. The book mainly revolves around Zone 3 of RTR and so all the famous Tigers stories I was able to imagine while doing safaris. Fortunately, I had booked 3 out of 5 safaris in Zone 3 which is the prime real estate of RTR as most of the famous tigers of Ranthambhore ruled this area which has picturesque backdrop of Ranthambhore fort and Jogi Mahal. Zone 3 has always been a favorite ruling area of the Tigers with an abundance of water due to three lakes in the area, Padam Lake, Rajbagh lake and Malik Lake. With water comes prey base for the Tigers which are plentiful here. The current queen of this area is Riddhi tigress, and she has three sub-adult cubs. With the cubs now confident to roam around on their own and on the verge of separation from mother, there is bountiful sighting in Zone 3 mainly and at the peripheral Zones 2 and 4. Out of 3 safaris in Zone 3, I had blockbuster sightings in each of the three. The unique thing about sightings at RTR is that the jungle is so dry that sightings are unobstructive. So, whenever there is sighting, it is very good! During the time of this visit I was reading book Living with Tigers by Valimik Thapar which is primarily the Tiger sighting experience of the author in the initial years of Ranthambhore. The incidents revolve around places primarily in Zone 3 & 4, like Jogimahal Gate, Padam Talab, Rajbagh, and since I had safaris in these zones, I was almost able to picturize the book which elevated my safari and book reading experience. The thrill of the jungle always has me counting down the days till I return. Here are some snaps from December'24 and March'25 trip: One of Riddhi's cubs in morning safari on a December morning. Riddhi's cubs in playful mood. Ocelli: Nature's built-in rearview mirror. All three of Riddhi's cubs lazing around Rajbagh lake, one of them looking curiously at potential prey. Are you here for me? Female cub from Riddhi's litter from Mar'25. Male cub of Riddhi who was on the lookout for his mother. The male cub above moved to cool off in water. Frail Arrowhead! She has taken refuge near the Jogimahal gate. Royal Riddhi with her two male cubs. Sadly, couldn't get clear image! Dynamic duo of Zone 3! Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) was instrumental in kick starting the Project Tiger when it was in 1973. The conservation efforts put in at that time had given the impetus to this noble cause.I, being from Jaipur, have a special place in my heart for Ranthambhore. The recent trip to RTR came during the Holi visit to Jaipur. Booking gypsy safari at RTR is recommended as Canter makes too much noise and with half hearted drivers and guides of Canters, they enter later than the safari time and leave from the safari gate early. However, booking a gypsy seat in a prime zone of RTR (Zone 1-5) needs to be done well in advance as they fill up as soon as the booking opens. The booking experience has been very good since Rajasthan Wildlife department has come up with a new website to book safaris (Website link: https://obms-tourist.rajasthan.gov.i...-Tiger-Reserve ).Though the efforts since Project Tiger have proved fruitful as it has put RTR on the world map for Tiger sighting, a few drivers and guides here seem unserious about the job, which really sours the visit sometimes. My first visit to RTR was in December 2016 just three months after the world-famous tigress Machli (T-16). Often called Queen of Ranthambhore, RTR gained global fame due to iconic sightings of Machli.During this visit I was reading the book Living with Tigers on Ranthambhore by Valmiki Thapar. The book mainly revolves around Zone 3 of RTR and so all the famous Tigers stories I was able to imagine while doing safaris. Fortunately, I had booked 3 out of 5 safaris in Zone 3 which is the prime real estate of RTR as most of the famous tigers of Ranthambhore ruled this area which has picturesque backdrop of Ranthambhore fort and Jogi Mahal. Zone 3 has always been a favorite ruling area of the Tigers with an abundance of water due to three lakes in the area, Padam Lake, Rajbagh lake and Malik Lake. With water comes prey base for the Tigers which are plentiful here.The current queen of this area is Riddhi tigress, and she has three sub-adult cubs. With the cubs now confident to roam around on their own and on the verge of separation from mother, there is bountiful sighting in Zone 3 mainly and at the peripheral Zones 2 and 4. Out of 3 safaris in Zone 3, I had blockbuster sightings in each of the three. The unique thing about sightings at RTR is that the jungle is so dry that sightings are unobstructive. So, whenever there is sighting, it is very good!During the time of this visit I was reading book Living with Tigers by Valimik Thapar which is primarily the Tiger sighting experience of the author in the initial years of Ranthambhore. The incidents revolve around places primarily in Zone 3 & 4, like Jogimahal Gate, Padam Talab, Rajbagh, and since I had safaris in these zones, I was almost able to picturize the book which elevated my safari and book reading experience.The thrill of the jungle always has me counting down the days till I return.Here are some snaps from December'24 and March'25 trip:One of Riddhi's cubs in morning safari on a December morning.Riddhi's cubs in playful mood.Ocelli: Nature's built-in rearview mirror.All three of Riddhi's cubs lazing around Rajbagh lake, one of them looking curiously at potential prey.Are you here for me?Female cub from Riddhi's litter from Mar'25.Male cub of Riddhi who was on the lookout for his mother.The male cub above moved to cool off in water.Frail Arrowhead! She has taken refuge near the Jogimahal gate.Royal Riddhi with her two male cubs. Sadly, couldn't get clear image!Dynamic duo of Zone 3! Something to look forward to: Lucasfilm just gave Star Wars fans a huge reason to celebrate with the announcement of a new installment in the blockbuster franchise. Provisionally titled Star Wars: Starfighter, the film is set to begin production this fall, with a major theatrical release planned for Memorial Day 2027. The film will star Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling, known for roles in the 2023 fantasy comedy Barbie and the 2004 romantic drama The Notebook. It will be directed by Shawn Levy, who helmed Marvel's 2024 blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine. Jonathan Tropper will serve as one of the lead writers. Starfighter will take place five years after Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, though it won't serve as a direct sequel to the 2019 film. Instead, it will be a standalone story featuring "an entirely new adventure" with a cast of all-new characters. It remains unclear what role Gosling will play, as neither Lucasfilm nor the actor has revealed any character details. However, speaking at a fan event in Japan, Gosling expressed excitement about the project, saying it has "so much adventure, so much heart and original character." He also claimed that the movie will offer an opportunity to showcase "a side of the universe that we may not have seen." Speaking about his personal connection to the "galaxy far, far away," Gosling shared that he used to dream about Star Wars even before seeing any of the movies. He even showed an image of his childhood Star Wars-branded bedding, saying it helped shape his early understanding of what movies could be. Director Shawn Levy added that the new film will blend the "fun" and spirit of Star Wars with a fresh, original storyline. He admitted to feeling "scared, nervous, and intimidated" by the responsibility of working within such a beloved universe, but expressed confidence that the story and cast would strike the right chord with die-hard fans. Before Starfighter arrives in theaters, Disney is set to release another film in the expanded Star Wars franchise next year. Titled The Mandalorian & Grogu, it will continue the story from the hit 2019 series The Mandalorian and will be directed by Jon Favreau. Disney is also developing additional Star Wars films, including one featuring Daisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey Skywalker in a follow-up to The Rise of Skywalker. However, since its announcement in 2023, the project has faced multiple delays, with rumors suggesting it may have been quietly shelved. Lucasfilm maintains that the film is still in development, though no official updates have been shared in years. Big quote: MongoDB Developer Relations head and open-source advocate Matt Asay argues that DeepSeek represents more than just Chinese innovation it shows how open source reshapes ownership, collaboration, and the pace of technological progress. "It stopped being Chinese the minute it was released on Hugging Face and no one can put the open source genie back in the bottle not even the U.S. government," Asay wrote in InfoWorld, where he moonlights as a contributing writer. When DeepSeek launched its advanced model on Hugging Face, it marked a turning point for AI and the global open-source movement, says Asay. DeepSeek's release sparked a wave of global developer activity, including a high-profile effort from the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI), which launched a rival project called OpenSeek. The initiative aims to outperform DeepSeek while bringing together the global open-source community to advance algorithms, data, and infrastructure progress. Policymakers, particularly in the United States, responded swiftly and harshly adding the BAAI to a government blacklist. To Asay, attempts to rein in open-source artificial intelligence are futile and reflect a profound misunderstanding of the movement. "DeepSeek didn't just have a moment. It's now very much a movement," he observes. "The open source AI ecosystem surrounding it has rapidly evolved from a brief snapshot of technological brilliance into something much bigger and much harder to stop." The scale of the movement is staggering. Thousands of developers from academic researchers to hobbyists are working to refine and expand open-source artificial intelligence models like DeepSeek. Platforms like Hugging Face now serve as global collaboration hubs, driving innovation faster than even the most nimble corporate labs. While Hugging Face may be a single company, the communities it fosters are far more durable and beyond the reach of centralized control. This democratization of artificial intelligence is already reshaping the real world. Companies like Perplexity are incorporating open-source models into consumer products, proving that advanced AI is no longer the sole domain of tech giants or state-funded labs. Asay envisions a future where powerful AI tools are within reach of everyone designed to be modified, improved, and expanded by a global network of developers. To him, the parallels to the early rise of Linux are unmistakable. "It's Linux all over again. One passionate start becomes a movement, then infrastructure, then a global standard," he explains. "The key difference is that this time it's happening in months, not decades," Linux thrived not due to government or corporate backing but because it sparked a wave of developer contributions and innovation. This same dynamic is now driving the rapid advancement of open-source AI. In contrast, organizations clinging to proprietary models, like OpenAI, are fighting a losing battle. As Asay puts it, "They're attempting to dam an ocean," underscoring the futility of trying to contain a movement defined by decentralization and collaboration. While some companies nod to open-source ideals, few have matched the transparency and openness shown by efforts like DeepSeek and OpenSeek. Asay is clear-eyed about the challenges facing policymakers. "Open source isn't subject to export controls or trade embargoes. It's a pull request away, all day every day," he notes. Attempts to slow or block the spread of open-source AI will only backfire, harming domestic innovation and pushing leadership elsewhere. The lesson from recent technology history is that open ecosystems, driven by global collaboration, adapt and evolve far faster than closed, centralized projects. The rise of DeepSeek and its open-source successors marks a fundamental shift in how technology is developed and distributed. Governments, corporations, and developers now face a choice: engage with the open-source AI movement or watch others pull ahead. Open-source artificial intelligence is not a distant trend it is already transforming the landscape. "No one can own this wave, no one can stop it, and no one can contain it," Asay concludes. In brief: A team of researchers in the US claim to have unlocked a color that no human has ever seen before, and they did it using lasers. Not everyone, however, is convinced of the achievement or its merits. Five individuals participated in the experiment, which involved shooting pulses of visible-wavelength laser light directly into their eyes to stimulate individual photoreceptor cells on the retina. According to the scientists, this method theoretically enables the display of colors that lie beyond the range of natural human vision. The newly observed color, which was reportedly seen by the five subjects, is said to be a blue-green color with unprecedented saturation and has been named "olo." One of the study's co-authors, Professor Ren Ng from the University of California, was also a participant. He said they predicted it would look like an unprecedented color signal but didn't know what the brain would do with it. The resulting visual was "jaw-dropping," he added. Not everyone in the scientific community is convinced. John Barbur, a vision scientist at City St George's, University of London, told The Guardian that it is not a new color but rather, a more saturated green. The work, Barbur added, has "limited value." Ng is well-respected in the field of optics. In 2006, he founded a company called Lytro that developed some of the first light-field cameras. Lytro introduced a novel technology that allowed images to be refocused after capture. Such tricks are commonplace nowadays on smartphones but at the time, the capability was fascinating. According to the book "Inside Apple," Steve Jobs met with Ng in 2011 to discuss bringing the tech to the iPhone. Jobs died a few months after the meeting, seemingly before any sort of deal was agreed upon. Lytro eventually released a second-gen camera before pivoting to VR and eventually shutting down in 2018. The team's work has been published in Science Advances in a paper titled, Novel color via stimulation of individual photoreceptors at population scale. Image credit: Getty Images President Donald J. Trump's recently effected tariffs are already changing the world, especially China after it was given the largest reciprocal tariff by the administration. While tech companies with products relying on China for parts, manufacturing, and assembly are affected, e-commerce platforms are also set to suffer from it. Amazon Chinese Sellers Raise Their Prices Amidst Tariffs A Chinese trade association, which represents over 3,000 merchants selling on Amazon, previously released a statement amidst the Trump tariffs taking effect in the United States which claimed that it is now hard to sell their products to the US market. The Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Association led by Wang Xin claimed that there are only two options for Chinese sellers on Amazon to survive their business, and it is either to get out of the US market or raise their prices. Some sellers are already opting to leave, while there are several merchants who chose to stay but at the cost of increasing their selling prices significantly. According to Xin, because of the imposed tariffs that are now at a whopping 145%, "It'll be very hard for anyone to survive in the US market," with the cost structure of Chinese goods facing the overwhelming decisions of the Trump administration. It was not revealed by Xin or the report how much the Chinese sellers on Amazon are raising their prices, but since the tariffs are at a significant rate, it is expected to double or mark up more than this figure. And since this targeting of China is a specific move by the Trump administration, no merchant or product is safe from the tariffs as long as they hail from the Mainland. Is It Still Worth It to Buy Chinese Products From Amazon? According to ArsTechnica, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that the Chinese sellers on their platform would face the grave effects of the tariffs, but that would not be the case moving forward. Jassy claimed that he expects that the tariffs' effects would later on be passed to US buyers as the consumers would have to buy the product for their needs or wants. With this, the biggest loser among all are not the Chinese merchants, suppliers, and workforce, but the United States public who would be forced to buy imported goods, particularly those from China, at a premium. That being said, this does not cancel out the fact that Chinese businesses will suffer from the tariffs, especially as the e-commerce platform had already effected several changes to curb its effects. Recently, Amazon Haul has changed its focus to selling items that ship from their US warehouses instead of sourcing the products from China directly despite this being the main point of this feature. Artificial intelligence is one of the most advanced and sophisticated technologies in the tech industry, and it is known that it requires immense power to deliver experiences and supplement its operations in the world. However, the fast-paced development of AI is also requiring more supercomputers to be built, which means that more processors are needed to handle the load. While this means that the chip making industry is expanding significantly, it also causes a significant spike in global emissions as plants push more products at a faster pace. AI Development Caused a Spike in Global Emissions A recent study from the global non-profit organization Greenpeace has revealed how much the AI industry is affecting the planet with its ramped-up efforts to expand the technology. Using the latest information publicly available, Greenpeace saw that the development of chips and semiconductors needed for AI has increased fourfold last year. From 99,200 metric tons of CO2 produced by the chipmaking industry in 2023, the figure rose to a whopping 453,700 metric tons of CO2 produced in 2024 alone. A vast majority of the figure is attributed to Taiwan's chip industry, which produced 185,700 metric tons of carbon emissions, followed by South Korea, and then Japan. It was also revealed that these three countries, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, are heavily reliant on power grids that use fossil fuels for their production, and are some of the figures that greatly contribute to emissions. Because of this massive development in the AI industry, many are now fearing that this could defeat the global decarbonization movements that look to reduce the planet's carbon footprint and harmful effects. The massive demand for AI chip development is now significantly affecting the environment, with other sources of power also explored by the said countries to expand more on their access to power. Read Also: The Role of Clean Tech in Driving Sustainable Energy Solutions AI Chip Development Requires More Power From Grids In the report by Greenpeace, it is expected that these top three countries producing the most carbon emissions could potentially require more power from grids to sustain their needs to push for more AI chips to be produced. According to the organization, the global power requirements for AI could potentially increase by 170 times by 2030. That being said, based on the International Energy Agency's analysis, the US could be requiring more power to process data compared to renowned energy-intensive goods manufacturing. Is AI Development Bad For the Environment? There have been various reports in the past that claim that the ramping AI development of the puts a significant strain on the environment as more power is required and its carbon emissions grow by the minute. It is no longer a secret that AI takes up a significant chunk of the world's energy requirements, and as the development expands more, its needs also rise. Greenpeace is recommending that AI chip manufacturers should transition to renewable energy for their operations moving forward so as to avoid straining local grids and contributing to the planet's destruction. It is now being reported that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly shared details of the March 15th Yemen military strikes in another Signal group chat. Hegseth previously came under fire for sharing details of the same attack in a different group chat, which included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic. This time around, the second group chat reportedly includes Hegseth's wife. What Was Shared in the Second Group Chat? According to a report by The New York Times (via The Verge), the details shared between the group chats were "essentially the same" and "included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen." Aside from Hegseth's wife, around a dozen people were in the second group chat. Per the reports, these are people that Hegseth knows both personally and professionally. The group chat with his wife was reportedly created before Hegseth was named Defense Secretary. Hegseth Was Told to Move Work-Related Matters to a Different Phone According to the report, Hegseth was already told to move anything that's work-related to a different phone. However, the Defense Secretary allegedly did not comply. The report likewise alleges that Hegseth was already warned by aides "not to discuss such sensitive operational details in his Signal group chat." According to The New York Times, an unnamed government official has confirmed the existence of an "informal group chat." This official has denied that any classified and sensitive information has been discussed in said group chat. Forbes reported that Sean Parnell, the spokesperson of the Pentagon, has dismissed The New York Times' report in a post on X. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/20/25 STATEMENT: Another day, another old storyback from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trumps agenda. This time, the New York Times and all other Fake News that repeat their Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) April 21, 2025 "This time, the New York Times and all other Fake News that repeat their garbage are enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article," he said in his statement. "They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the President's agenda." "There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story," Parnell insisted. "What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trump's agenda." Himalayan snow at 23-year low, threatening 2 billion people: report Islamabad, April 21 (AFP) Apr 21, 2025 Snowfall in Asia's Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain range has reached a 23-year low, threatening nearly two billion people dependent on snowmelt for water, scientists warned in a report on Monday. The Hindu Kush-Himalayan range, which stretches from Afghanistan to Myanmar, holds the largest reserves of ice and snow outside the Arctic and Antarctica and is a vital source of fresh water for about two billion people. Researchers found "a significant decline in seasonal snow across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, with snow persistence (the time snow remains on the ground) 23.6 percent below normal - the lowest in 23 years," the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said. "This trend, now in its third consecutive year, threatens water security for nearly two billion people," it said in its Snow Update Report. The study also warned of "potential lower river flows, increased groundwater reliance, and heightened drought risk". Sher Muhammad, the lead author of the ICIMOD report, told AFP that "this year the snowfall started late in January and remained low in the winter season on average". Several countries in the region have already issued drought warnings, with upcoming harvests and access to water at risk for populations already facing longer, hotter, and more frequent heatwaves. The inter-governmental ICIMOD organisation is made up of member countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. It urged countries that rely on the 12 major river basins in the region to develop "improved water management, stronger drought preparedness, better early warning systems, and greater regional cooperation". The Mekong and Salween basins -- the two longest rivers in Southeast Asia supplying water to China and Myanmar -- had lost around half of their snow cover, it noted. Pema Gyamtsho, ICIMOD's director general, called for changes in policy to address the low snow levels in the long term. "Carbon emissions have already locked in an irreversible course of recurrent snow anomalies in the HKH (Hindu Kush-Himalayas)," Gyamtsho said. Asia is the region most affected by climate-related disasters, according to the UN's World Meteorological Organization, which reported last month that five of the past six years have seen the most rapid glacier retreat on record. 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 Dick Van Dykes relationship with his wife has been questioned due to their almost 50-year age gap. But the Mary Poppins actor, 99, and his wife, Arlene Silver, 53, have been married for the last 13 years. Speaking to People on Sunday, he said the reason why their marriage works is because we get along so well. We just care about each other so much, Silver chimed in. Everybody said it wouldn't work, Van Dyke said while his wife added, Yeah. I mean it's like eerie how well it works. People the same age don't last. The couple first met at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2006 where Silver was working and Van Dyke was appearing during the ceremony. Although Van Dyke was 81 and she was 35 at the time, the two didnt strike up a romance until after Van Dykes longtime partner Michelle Triola Marvin died from lung cancer in 2009. Dick Van Dyke and Arlene Silver first met at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2006 ( Getty Images ) I never said hello to a strange girl in my life. I was too scared, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star told People about their first meeting. But I was at a show backstage and she walked by, and for some reason, I just jumped up and said, Hi, I'm Dick. There's something about her and got me, and I was right. He's made me feel like I can do anything, Silver said. Van Dyke previously admitted in an interview with People in 2013 that he was initially afraid his relationship wouldnt be accepted due to the 46-year age gap, but he was surprised by his familys reaction. My grandkids call her Grandma. My four kids just love her, he said at the time. The actor also joked about Silver keeping him young. When speaking to Yahoo in 2023, he was asked about his secret for staying so youthful. Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me that works! he replied. He went on to credit his wife with helping him maintain a positive attitude, as well as going to the gym three days a week to work out. I advise everybody to do that, because thats what ages people, he continued. Its just a stiffening up and not exercising their muscles and their lungs. Exercise is the answer. The Bye Bye Birdie actor also chalked up his age-defying qualities to simply having good genes. Van Dyke was previously married to Margie Willett from 1948 to 1984. Together, the former couple had four children: Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth. In 1976, Van Dyke began dating his longtime partner Michelle Triola Marvin, who would live with Van Dyke for more than 30 years until her death. 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 At least one member of the Kardashian family appeared to be treated to an unreleased designer item in their Easter basket this year. Khloe Kardashian gathered her family for an Easter egg hunt to commemorate the holiday on Sunday, sharing fun images throughout the day. Her younger sister, Kylie Jenner, also shared the festivities via Instagram, including glimpses of the expensive-looking baskets that were put together. From packets of pastel-colored marshmallow Peeps to pairs of sneakers, a basket shared by Kylie was filled with a mix of gifts, but one item stood out the most: a yet-to-be-released Louis Vuitton x Murakami pouch. Listed only as coming soon on the Louis Vuitton website, the cosmetic bag retails for $845 plus tax. Its not clear who, if anyone else, received the unreleased designer item, nor how many Easter baskets were prepared and gifted. Kylies pictures featured the lush item wrapped in plastic flanked by bags of popcorn from Khloes snack brand, Khloud, which is set to release April 29. Other moments from the day were published online by Khloe and Kim Kardashian, such as videos of their children searching the yard for Easter eggs with tiny unicorn figurines inside. open image in gallery Kylie Jenner reveals the contents of an Easter basket, including an unreleased $845 Louis Vuitton x Murakami pouch ( Instagram/Kylie Jenner ) Khloe shares two toddlers True, 7, and Tatum, 2 with her ex-partner, Tristan Thompson, while Skims founder Kim has four children North, 11, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 5 with her ex-husband, Kanye West. Kylie has two kids Stormi, 7, and Aire, 3 with her former boyfriend, Travis Scott. open image in gallery Khloe Kardashian shares a picture of their family's Easter tablescape ( Instagram/Khloe Kardashian ) Its not clear whether Kourtney and her children Mason Disick, 15, Penelope Disick, 12, Reign Disick, 10, and Rocky Barker, 15 months were in attendance. However, based on her Instagram story yesterday, it looks like she and her husband Travis Barker spent the holiday on the beach somewhere. The Kardashian Easter celebration comes just weeks after multiple reports alleged Kim is ready to seek sole custody of her kids due to her ex-husbands recent erratic behavior. In late March, the 44-year-old mom reportedly called an emergency custody meeting after finding out influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate would be with North during her visit with West, who goes by Ye now. According to TMZ, Kim ended Norths visit when security guards told her the Tate brothers, who just recently returned to the U.S. after facing human trafficking and other charges in Romania, were planning to accompany her daughter and West. A few days later, Kim and West met alongside their respective attorneys and a mediator. Citing sources, Page Six claimed Kim is considering filing full custody of their four children amid worries West is sinking further down. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The rise of Korean beauty and skincare felt near unstoppable for years. Attracted by the aspirational glass skin of K-pop idols and K-drama actors and captivated by the almost meditative flow of the skincare routines, American consumers quickly embraced the K-beauty range. But Donald Trumps sudden imposition of import tariffs on South Korea threatens to disrupt that momentum, with fans bracing for price hikes and shortages of products that have come to define their skincare rituals. The US president imposed a 25 per cent duty on South Korean products earlier this month, later adjusted to 10 per cent until 8 July. This has left businesses as well as customers scrambling to adapt, compelled to navigate a sluggish economy while trying to maintain uninterrupted access to their favourite beauty products. Christina Im, owner of California K-beauty store Olive Kollection who spent $5,000 (3,769) to $10,000 (7,538) a week on bestsellers, stocked up on $40,000 (30,153) worth of products after the tariffs were announced. As a small business, we dont have that much cash on hand to buy everything in large bulk, she told CNN. We just bought as much as we could for now and have to wait and see. If business is going to be slow, I am just going to try to hold out as long as we can. open image in gallery US tariffs have left businesses and customers scrambling for uninterrupted access to their favourite Korean beauty products ( Getty ) Korean-American skincare brand KraveBeauty, which sells products online in the US and in Sephora outlets, said in a TikTok video on 3 April that, for the first time in its seven years of business, it may be forced to raise prices above the long-held $28 (21) ceiling. Its not something thats coming out of greed. Its actually inevitable at this point, founder Liah Yoo said, adding that KraveBeauty was unlikely to be the only brand affected. I'm not sure how long K-beauty can be positioned to be that affordable price point now with this new tariff and trade policy. In another video a week later, Ms Yoo said the 145 per cent effective tariff imposed on China might actually bankrupt some beauty brands, since packaging for her brand, as well as several others, came from the Asian manufacturing powerhouse. Right now, China is probably the biggest country that can supply the amount of packaging that the beauty industry needs at scale, at a much more competitive and reasonable price, she said. The tariffs threaten to drive up costs not only on finished products but also ingredients, most of which are sourced from countries outside the US. While larger conglomerates may be able to absorb the higher costs, or adjust over time, smaller independent brands are likely to struggle to survive, resulting in fewer options for consumers and potentially stifling new product development. Global distributors like Yesstyle and Stylevana, popular for offering a wide variety of K-beauty products at affordable prices, are also expected to pass on higher costs to their customers. These platforms, which typically ship from warehouses in Hong Kong, and their customers, are bracing for prices to go up after the elimination of the de minimis provision, which previously allowed imports from the city valued at under $800 (603) to enter the US duty-free. open image in gallery Donald Trumps tariffs threaten to drive up costs not only on finished products but also ingredients sourced from countries outside the US ( The Independent ) American beauty enthusiasts have long been enamoured with Korean sunscreens, citing their superior texture, finish and formulation compared to their local counterparts. Unlike sunscreens made in the US, which consumers complain feel heavy, greasy, or leave a noticeable white cast, Korean sunscreens are lightweight, fast-absorbing, and cosmetically elegant often doubling as a primer or moisturiser. South Korean regulators allow for the use of more advanced UV filters in their sunscreens which provide broad-spectrum protection without compromising on feel or comfort. This makes them ideal for skincare enthusiasts who prefer to layer multiple products as the formula fits easily into even the most complicated beauty routines, leaving no pilling or residue. Jonathan Ko from Los Angeles told the Straits Times he spent around S$463 (266) on sunscreen and other skincare for himself and his friends on a trip to Korea this week, afraid of the tariffs driving up prices for everything. Ordered about a years worth of sunscreen from Stylevana. I truly cant go back to US sunscreens. Will have to see what things look like when I eventually run out, a person said on Reddit, in a conversation about which products were best to stock up on now. Its not just niche beauty enthusiasts panicking. According to the South Korean trade ministry, the countrys cosmetics exports reached a record-breaking $10.2bn (7.68bn) in 2023, with $1.9bn (1.43bn) headed to the US making it the second-largest destination after China, state news agencyYonhap reported. In fact, some K-beauty brands are now more popular in the US than in their home country. Our biggest market is the US. Were not really popular in Korea, I have to admit, Sumin Lee, co-founder of Beauty of Joseon, said on the Glossy Beauty podcast last year. US-bound Korean cosmetics exports rose 46 per cent year-on-year in 2023 and were projected to grow by another 52 per cent this year, according to Samsung Securities. Korean suncare products alone were forecast to post a 43 per cent rise in American e-commerce sales this year. Given numbers like this, businesses have good reasons to worry. This is existential for a lot of brands, Stacey Tank, CEO of Bespoke Beauty Brands, the parent company of Kimchi Chic Beauty, told the Business of Fashion. Anxiety is high, and I understand that, especially if youre not well capitalised. Customers, therefore, are responding in the only way they know how by buying in bulk. They are panic-buying, Marie Del Rosario, store manager for New Yorks Senti Senti, told CBS News. They know that its coming. They know that everything is going to change. So, they buy multiples of the products that they love. 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 Utah Boy Scout leader is facing a string of child sex abuse charges over alleged incidents that spanned two decades. Charles Sheldon Bates, 61, from Kearns just outside of Salt Lake City was arrested and booked late Thursday night for an investigation relating to 42 sex-abuse charges. The charges include 20 counts of of sodomy on a child, 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, four counts of sodomy/forcible sodomys, and one count of forcible sexual abuse the only second-degree felony, according to Salt Lake County Jail records and a police booking affidavit seen by KSL. The Unified Police Department, which arrested Bates, confirmed that the suspect "was a Boy Scouts leader and the abuse began when (the boy) was in Boy Scouts," according to the affidavit. Authorities are urging any more possible victims of Bates to come forward. "There are numerous victims who have reported abuse from the defendant," the affidavit stated. Investigators seized multiple CDs belonging to Bates, which contained child sex abuse material, said the affidavit. In total, they recovered 134 child sex abuse images, including photos of at least two boys who police were able to identify as victims, authorities said. Police allege the abuse spanned over 20 years and took place at two locations: Bates residence in Kearns and in a bathroom at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Centre swimming pool. open image in gallery Authorities believe the alleged abuse took place at Bates residence in Kearns and at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Centre swimming pool (pictured) ( Google Maps ) At least one of the pictures was of an 11-year-old boy, taken in 2006, according to the affidavit. A second boy alleges he was abused while he participated in Boy Scouts of America, now Scouting America, between 2007 and 2013. He is said to have identified himself in photos on Bates CDs, reports ABC Salt Lake City. The Boy Scouts of America was renamed after the traditionally male program was opened up to girls. A third boy has also claimed to have met Bates when he was 13 years old and a member of the Scouts, as KSL reported. "(He) would go to Charles' house under the guise of working on and earning merit badges for the Boy Scouts, the affidavit read. "These incidents (of abuse) occurred in Charles' bedroom and the community pool family bathroom." A fourth boy also said in the affidavit that he was abused roughly five or six years ago, when he was aged between 13 and 14. "These are extremely serious crimes that have persisted over decades," police said, while requesting that he be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of posting bail. Jail records Monday showed that Bates had not been allocated a bond. Unified police said that anyone who believes Bates has victimized them should contact them at 801-840-4000. In a statement to The Independent, Oquirrh Recreation and Parks District said: We are deeply troubled by the allegations involving Charles Sheldon Bates and the reported abuse. At this time, we have no information regarding this individual or any incidents occurring at our facility. The safety and well-being of our patrons is our highest priority. We fully support the Unified Police Department in their investigation in any way we can. The Independent contacted the Unified police department and Scouting America for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A handyman in Washington who previously pleaded guilty to molesting his own daughter has now allegedly killed an elderly woman and tried to hide her body in concrete beneath a shed, according to police. Police arrested Jeffrey Zizz on suspicion of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and unlawful disposal of human remains relating to the death of Marcia Norman, 82, according to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office. Norman was last seen by her family on April 1, and was reported missing a few days later. During their investigation, deputies learned that Norman had dinner with her handyman, 47-year-old Zizz, on April 1, and had not been heard from since. open image in gallery Marcia Normans handyman, allegedly killed her and buried her remains in concrete after the pair shared a dinner on April 1 ( Thurston County Sheriff's Office ) Investigators traveled to Norman's home in Tenino, a city approximately 75 miles southwest of Seattle, and found evidence suggesting she "left abruptly." At the same time, Zizz had allegedly used a friend's pickup truck to flee the state, but he was tracked down and arrested in Montana on April 6 in connection with a previous sentencing violation, according to Law & Crime. Observant neighbors told investigators that Zizz had put a shed together on a property that wasn't his in Olympia. The shed was reportedly erected the day after Norman was reported missing. On April 9, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office had the ground under the shed excavated. The dig unearthed human remains that had been "partially encased in concrete." The bones were identified the following day as the remains of Norman. After his arrest in Montana, Zizz was extradited to Washington to appear in court on a child molestation sentencing violation warrant. He was being held in custody without bond at the Thurston County Jail on the child molestation-related charges, but has since been charged for Normans death, according to investigators. Investigators discovered that Zizz is a military veteran and the father of five children, according to KING5 News. They also learned that Zizz had formerly been a pastor at a church in Lacey, Washington, in 2019, according to the Olympian. open image in gallery Observant neighbors told investigators that suspect Jeffrey Zizz had put a shed together on a property that wasn't his in Olympia. ( Thurston County Sheriff's Office ) He was fired from the church after he allegedly turned himself in to police and confessed to an act of "sexual misconduct" in his home in October 2021. Zizz was arrested on nine charges, including the rape and molestation of his daughters, but a judge in 2022 only found enough probably cause to bring six of the charges to court. Zizz pleaded guilty to three of the charges in October 2022, including one of the molestation charges, according to court records. He was sentenced jail, but was released after 11 months after meeting the criteria to qualify for the state's Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative program. "This is one of the more disturbing cases we've come across," Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders told KING 5. "Disappointing. It's really disappointing." Norman's family remembered her on Sunday. "Our family has experienced the loss of our center. Marcia was the one that brought us together. We are thankful for the efforts of law enforcement..." the family said in a statement, issued through police. "Marcia was an engaged member of her community and family, full of life with plans for the future. She is loved by many." The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Two Mississippi Capitol Police officers have been indicted on manslaughter charges in connection with the 2022 fatal shooting of 25-year-old Jaylen Lewis. Stephen Frederick Jr., a former Mississippi Capitol Police officer, and Michael Rhinewalt, an officer who is on unpaid administrative leave, were indicted by a grand jury in Hinds County last month. The men opened fire on Lewis while conducting a traffic stop on September 25, 2022. Details of the encounter are murky as the incident report contained redactions, but Lewiss death certificate determined he was shot in the head. Though Frederick and Rhinewalt said they responded with gunfire in self-defense, the grand jury concluded it was not a reasonable belief under the circumstances, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by NBC News. open image in gallery Two Mississippi Capitol Police officers were indicted on manslaughter charges in connection to the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old Black man ( Getty Images ) Lewis was the father of a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old. The Independent has asked the Hinds County District Attorney for a copy of the indictment. The Capitol Police are a unit of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Their primary responsibility is to protect life and property in the boundaries of the Capitol Complex. However, in 2022, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves deployed a new task force to combat crime in the states capital. Rhinewalt, Frederick and other members of the Capitol Police unit were conducting a drug narcotics operation the night of the shooting. The officers saw a white Jeep Grand Cherokee run a red light and opened fire after they tried to pull the vehicle over, according to NBC News. Lewiss mother, Arkela Lewis, has previously said her son was followed by a white officer in an unmarked car when one of the officers shot him in the head during the traffic stop. Upon hearing the news of the indictment, Arkela Lewis said, I could jump for joy, according to Mississippi Today. Rhinewalt was previously indicted in January, alongside former officer Jeffrey Walker, on two counts of aggravated assault. The two are accused of using excessive force on a woman while conducting a traffic stop in 2022. The woman suffered a gunshot wound to the head. 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 Nadine Menendez, the wife of former New Jersey senator Bob Menendez, was found guilty Monday, of playing a central role in a years-long bribery scheme alongside her husband and two other co-defendants. After two days of deliberations, a jury of 12 New Yorkers found Menendez guilty on all 15 counts, including bribery, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and conspiring to make her husband act as a foreign agent. Prosecutors argued Menendez, 58, offered up her husbands political influence in exchange for cash, jewelry, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible from three New Jersey businessmen. They said she served as a central figure in the scheme, communicating between all parties. Several of the charges against her carry a maximum jail sentence of 20 years. open image in gallery Nadine Menendez, the wife of former senator Bob Menendez, was found guilty on 15 charges for her role in a bribery scheme ( AP ) Menendezs attorneys blamed much of the bribery scheme of his wife. Ultimately he too was found guilty on all changes for accepted bribes from three New Jersey businessmen who sought his help in meddling in state and federal criminal investigations and securing lucrative deals with officials from Egypt and Qatar. The conviction means Menendez will join her husband and partner in crime in serving jail time for the scheme. "Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez were partners in crime," acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said in a statement. "Together, Nadine Menendez and the Senator placed their own interests and greed ahead of the interests of the citizens the Senator was elected to serve." Menendez was indicted alongside her husband in 2023. She was meant to be tried alongside her husband for her alleged role in the scheme but the judge split the Menendezs trials after Menendez revealed she needed breast cancer treatment. Bob Menendez had used his wife a scapegoat during his trial, claiming his wife harbored many of the bribes in her personal locked closet and did not inform him of them. open image in gallery Nadine will be sentenced just as her husband reports to prison for his 11-year jail sentence ( AFP via Getty Images ) But after being convicted in the scheme, the senator has advocated for his wife on social media imploring President Donald Trump to help end the prosecution. My wife, who had breast cancer reconstructive surgery just days ago, is being forced by the government to go to trial tomorrow. Only the arrogance of the SDNY can be so cruel and inhumane. They should let her fully recover! Menendez wrote in an X post address to Trump. Judge Sidney Stein of the Southern District of New York set her sentencing date for June 12. It will occur the same month her husband is to report to prison to begin his 11-year sentence. HANGZHOU, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A China-U.S. people-to-people exchange activity was held Thursday and Friday in Quzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. Some 20 international guests, including representatives of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, the USS Hornet Museum and the Children of the Doolittle Raiders, and over 30 Chinese experts participated in the event honoring peace and friendship, held by the Quzhou Museum and the Quzhou Society for the History of the Doolittle Raid. The USS Hornet Museum, a retired U.S. aircraft carrier-turned-museum in California, gifted an original film reel of a 1942 Doolittle Raiders training exercise to the Quzhou Society for the History of the Doolittle Raid. The society donated the wreckage of a B-25 bomber from the raid to the museum. On April 18, 1942, a group of 16 U.S. bombers, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, took off from the USS Hornet and raided Japan during World War II as retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor. On their way back, the planes ran out of fuel over various localities in the Chinese provinces of Jiangxi and Zhejiang, and airmen had to parachute to safety, and were later rescued by locals. After the Doolittle Raid, the airport in Quzhou was subjected to intense bombing by Japanese forces. Japan also waged biological warfare in Zhejiang, resulting in massive civilian deaths. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. During the two-day event, the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation also established a partnership with Zhejiang Quzhou High School. The school becomes a participant of the program of the Flying Tigers Friendship School, which aims to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between young people in the two countries. The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, was formed in 1941 by U.S. General Claire Lee Chennault. They came to China to help the Chinese people fight the invading Japanese forces. WASHINGTON Acadiana U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins wrote in a letter Thursday that he would not run in the 2026 U.S. Senate even though he pointed to a poll that found he would have won. Rio Tinto and BHPs controversial copper mine on US land sacred to the Apache Nations has been fast-tracked by President Donald Trumps administration as it speeds up approvals for critical mineral projects in its trade war with China. The US government awarded fast-track status on Saturday to the long-delayed copper mining project in Arizona, which the Trump administration said would reduce the countrys reliance on mineral resources from foreign nations. Both Rio Tinto and BHP see copper demand soaring as the world decarbonises. Credit: Munshi Ahmed Critical minerals are central to the growing trade war between Washington and Beijing. Copper is key to the worlds electrification and energy transition. China recently cracked down on the export of a wide range of critical minerals in response to Trumps tariffs minerals that are crucial to defence weapons and the green economys batteries and wind turbines. The US Justice Department says the best way to address Googles monopoly in internet search is to break up the $US1.81 trillion ($2.8 trillion) company, kicking off a three-week hearing that could reshape the technology giant and alter the power players in Silicon Valley. Judge Amit P. Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in August that Google had broken antitrust laws to maintain its dominance in online search. He is now hearing arguments from the government and the company over how to best fix Googles monopoly and is expected to order those measures, referred to as remedies, by the end of the summer. The US government says Google should be forced to sell its popular Chrome web browser. Credit: AP In an opening statement in the hearing on Monday, the government said Mehta should force Google to sell its popular Chrome web browser, which drives users to its search engine. Government lawyers also said the company should take steps to give competitors a leg up if the court wants to restore competition to the moribund market for online search. Your honour, we are not here for a Pyrrhic victory, David Dahlquist, a Justice Department lawyer, said in his opening statement. This is the time for the court to tell Google and all other monopolists who are out there listening, and they are listening, that there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws. Thirty years ago this week, a young African preacher in Rwandas Kibeho refugee camp read aloud from the Bible to reassure his flock in the midst of one of the worst and most brutal massacres of modern times. Into the oasis of calm created by the mans charisma and faith stepped an Australian cameraman in army fatigues who introduced himself as George Gittoes. George Gittoes with his painting of a preacher during the Rwandan massacre that has gone on display at the National Gallery. Credit: National Gallery of Australia Gittoes, a civilian war artist, had learnt of the rapidly deteriorating situation in the squalid, nine-square-hectare Kibeho camp. Corralled in the camp were an estimated 100,000 internally displaced people (IDP) forced from their own homes by the Rwandan civil war. Just over a decade ago, Cassandra Pride decided to upend her life and retrain as a high school English teacher. She graduated with a bachelor of teaching from a NSW university and spent two years working in independent schools before taking a position at one of Sydneys top public selective schools. After I started teaching in high schools, I knew there were fundamental writing and grammar skills I needed to teach students, even the senior students, she said. There was nothing in my degree to prepare me for that. I had to learn on the job. Cassandra Pride is now director of research and professional practice at St Catherines School. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos Pride spent her first years teaching dedicated to lots of extra reading, working out how to improve and then returned to university, this time to La Trobe, where she completed a masters of education in language and literacy. Advertisement Review Eating outCarlton Why this pure Melbourne trattoria is attracting a new wave of admirers The Carlton favourite has long delivered just about everything youd want from a casual neighbourhood restaurant, says our critic. Now Gen Z has discovered its appeal, too. Besha Rodell April 22, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 1 / 7 Kaprica is pure Melbourne, with high ceilings, white walls and simple wooden tables and chairs. Chris Hopkins 2 / 7 Besha Rodells go-to: the garlic prawns starter. Chris Hopkins 3 / 7 Spaghetti with veal and pork meatballs and tomato sugo ($30). Chris Hopkins 4 / 7 The capricciosa pizza at Kaprica. Chris Hopkins 5 / 7 Indoor and outdoor diners are well catered for at Kaprica. Chris Hopkins 6 / 7 Kapricas rigatoni with lamb shoulder ragu ($30). Chris Hopkins 7 / 7 The Kaprica tiramisu: not fancy but perfectly good. Chris Hopkins Previous Slide Next Slide Critics' Pick How we score Italian$$$$ Disclaimer The Age published an investigation on Friday June 13, 2025 detailing allegations of indecent exposure, violent behaviour and bullying towards staff and customers, and financial mismanagement by Kaprica restaurateur Pietro Barbagallo. The review below was published prior to this story, on April 22, 2025. Kaprica is having a moment. Pietro Barbagallos Carlton classic, which moved from Lincoln Square to Grattan Street in 2020, has always been a bit of an if-you-know-you-know favourite, just far enough removed from the touristy bustle of Lygon Street to attract a more local crowd. Ive been going there for years on nights I dont want to cook, often parking myself on one of the big comfy leather couches where my husband and I can play cards, sip negronis and eat pasta without the social or economic commitment of a more formal restaurant. Over the past year, Ive noticed the dining room filling up earlier, and quiet nights are not really a thing any more. The restaurant shows up on my Instagram feed all the time, and it seems to have acquired a dedicated following among Gen Z diners. Not much has changed the menu retains its straightforward approach: antipasto, pizza, pasta. So why the newfound popularity? Advertisement Kapricas rigatoni with lamb shoulder ragu, like all pasta dishes, is a reasonable $30. Chris Hopkins I have a few guesses. This is a fantastic vintage shopfront room, pure Melbourne, with high ceilings, white walls and simple wooden tables and chairs, and at night the light is moody and warm. It has a wonderful lived-in feel, with shelves of books and games, and a certain boisterous energy that manages to be romantic too, but a non-pressured kind of romanticism, a perfect second date (or in my case, 1000th) vibe. Its a great spot for groups, particularly if youre looking to avoid the awkward can-my-friends-afford-this calculation of a celebratory meal. It has a wonderful lived-in feel, with shelves of books and games, and a certain boisterous energy that manages to be romantic too. In a city where the average mid-range bistro is becoming too expensive for many diners, Kaprica is decidedly affordable. Just about everything other than starters costs $30, and you dont need a starter to get full. Theres only one bottle of wine over $100 on the list, and there are a few under $50. Besha Rodells go-to: the garlic prawns starter. Chris Hopkins Advertisement My go-to order? A plate of the garlic and chilli prawns, big, spicy and satisfying, followed by a bowl of one of the heartier pastas. Barbagallo is especially good at ragus, and his lamb shoulder over rigatoni is what Ill be craving as the nights get cooler. He also makes a fantastic spaghetti with meatballs, the meat perfectly spiced, the tomato sugo bright and balanced. The pizzas are far better than much of what youll find on Lygon Street, and also arent aiming for gourmet status this kitchen isnt above offering a Hawaiian, but the mushroom deluxe has Swiss browns and trumpets rather than your run-of-the-mill buttons. I cant stay away from the capricciosa, because thats what my dad used to order and Im a nostalgic sap. This version is fresher and thinner and made with better ingredients than many in town. The capricciosa pizza at Kaprica. Chris Hopkins There are other factors, too. The staff of mostly young women could step off the floor and directly into an inner-north Melbourne fashion shoot, all louche beauty and cool confidence. And the restaurants social media game is currently excellent the Instagram account is funny and weird and clever, things that many businesses try for but few do well. You shouldnt come here expecting culinary fireworks, super-crisp service (this place is busy!) or anything other than basic fresh ingredients made well. I thought the risotto was a bit loose, but I never would have ordered it had I not been eating as a professional. Its the type of restaurant where you pick your favourites and stick with them. Dessert is just dessert you want tiramisu? They have it. Its not served from a giant fancy cart, or flavoured with exotic ingredients. Its creamy and sweet and perfectly satisfactory. Advertisement Kapricas current moment may simply be because more people have figured out what many of us have long known: this place delivers just about everything youd want from a casual neighbourhood restaurant. Its pretty, its fun, its affordable, and much of the food is reliably delicious. Its not trying to be anything it isnt. But some days thats exactly what you want, and on those days its places like Kaprica that make living and eating in this city such an uncomplicated joy. The low-down Atmosphere: Cool (but not too cool) Melbourne trattoria Go-to dishes: Garlic prawns ($18); rigatoni with lamb shoulder ragu ($30); capricciosa pizza ($30) Drinks: Basic mixed drinks; a very affordable wine list that doesnt wow but doesnt try to, either Cost: About $90 for two before drinks Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up In the big wide world of Google, people can review everything from ice-cream shops to parks even brothels. But as of next week, reviews and ratings for schools will disappear. The search engine giant remember its old motto, Dont be evil? has told schools the change is designed to prevent unhelpful or prank reviews. Not to mention defamatory remarks about staff and students. Google wont allow school reviews. Credit: AP From April 30, existing reviews or ratings of schools will be removed and users will not be able to submit new reviews or ratings. With 4.12 million school students around Australia, things can get fruity in Google reviews. While many parents use the ratings and comments to inform their enrolment decisions, reviews that are ancient, anonymous and just plain weird are not uncommon. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The recent movie Conclave, adapted from the 2016 Robert Harris novel about skulduggery in the Vatican, opens with a particularly dramatic flourish. The pope lies dead in his bed chamber. With visible effort, a red-capped cardinal wrenches an enormous ring from the great mans stubborn finger. Whereupon another cardinal, played by the towering John Lithgow, whacks the ring with a ceremonial hammer, splits it in two and solemnly declares: Sede vacante, Latin for with the seat being vacant. It not only makes for captivating viewing, but the ritual is also actually (mostly) true. The so-called Ring of the Fisherman, a signet ring historically used by the pope to seal letters and documents with wax, is symbolically broken upon his death. Once upon a time, it was to physically prevent forgeries; today, the act signifies the end of his authority. I dont think the cardinals quite behave as theyre depicted [in Conclave], says Miles Pattenden, a historian of the Catholic Church, but in terms of how it lays out the process, its pretty good. In real life, the funeral arrangements and subsequent machinations dictating how the next pope is chosen are also cloaked in mystique, following a very well-established protocol which goes back, ultimately, into the Middle Ages, says Pattenden, co-author of The Cambridge History of the Papacy. The selection of a new pope who is regarded in Catholicism to be a successor to St Peter, one of the 12 apostles, the first bishop of Rome reverberates not only with the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide but with anyone influenced by his leadership and worldview. Pope Francis in December. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted So, what does happen immediately after a pope dies? What is the conclave? And what is the significance of black or white smoke from the roof of the Sistine Chapel? What happens after a pope dies? It used to be thought that once a pope had died, those present double-checked by tapping him on the forehead with a silver hammer. Maybe it happened back in the mists of time; more likely, its a myth the Vatican denies it, at least. Instead, the official process begins when the head of the Vaticans health department confirms a popes death, after which the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the senior official who oversees the papal household (currently Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell), assumes the role of the Vaticans de facto administrator. Advertisement Pope Francis presides over a Mass in 2020. Credit: AP, digitally tinted The popes body is dressed in a white cassock. In a ceremony, the camerlengo calls out the popes name three times and, when he does not reply, formally states he is dead. The camerlengo then arranges for the destruction of the Ring of the Fisherman, which traditionally carried an image of St Peter fishing from a boat and was used until the mid-19th century to seal official documents. Exactly how it gets destroyed today is caught up in mythology, but the outcome is its defaced, so it cant be used. It used to be done with a chisel and a hammer. In some movies, they show you, they crack it totally; in others, they just put a line through it, says Darius von Guttner, a historian at Australian Catholic University. The moment it is destroyed and cannot be used again, that means the authority of the pope is finished. The camerlengo then authorises official documents authenticating the popes death and a statement to the media and seals the popes residence. The Catholic Church observes nine days of mourning, several days of which have been traditionally set for the popes embalmed body to lie in state at St Peters Basilica the spiritual centre for Roman Catholics where people flow past to pay respects. Pope Francis presides over the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (who, unusually, had opted to retire in 2013 due to old age) in St Peters Square in 2023. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted Advertisement Francis has eschewed more elaborate rituals for his own funeral rites: unlike that of previous popes, his body will not be displayed on a raised pedestal. A pope traditionally had three coffins nested in one another, of cypress, lead and oak, but Francis has chosen to have one simple coffin. The Vaticans master of liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, said in 2024 that the new rites were meant to emphasise even more that the Roman pontiffs funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world. A funeral must take place four to six days after the popes death. This funeral will almost certainly take place at St Peters Square, the huge plaza in front of St Peters Basilica, which can fit about 300,000 people. Francis will be buried, according to tradition, with coins minted during his papacy and a canister containing a rogito or deed that lists details of his life and papacy and is read aloud before the coffin is closed. The fact of this is that its the most secretive election process on Earth. Vatican correspondent Christopher White Popes are usually buried at the Vatican Grottoes, vaults beneath St Peters; Francis, however, has chosen to be buried in central Rome at St Mary Major, a major basilica. Its a church thats very close to him. He used to go there and pray during his visits to Rome before he became Pope, says Christopher White, a Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Reporter. Its quite fitting, in my estimation, that this man who was elected in 2013 as an outsider has chosen to be buried outside the Vatican. He didnt like to be shackled by the Vatican. He often said when he travelled it was when he was at his freest because he viewed the Vatican as a prison. So it makes all the sense in the world that he wants to go to his eternal rest somewhere outside the Vatican walls. Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci as cardinals in the movie Conclave. Credit: Conclave 2024 Whats the conclave? Upon news of the Popes death (or his likely imminent demise), cardinals from around the world descend on Rome for the conclave, the meeting that occurs only for the particular purpose of choosing a new pope. Advertisement After the funeral, the cardinals attend meetings called general congregations where they discuss the state of the Catholic Church and what kind of leader it might need at this point in history, including on issues such as climate change, migration and same-sex marriage. There will be those looking for a candidate of continuity, someone that will continue the reforms of Pope Francis, making the Catholic Church more welcoming, less hierarchical, less clericalist, a priority for those on the margins, White says. And then there will be those that want perhaps a candidate who reverts back to some of the priorities of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. That camp would see some of the reforms of the Francis papacy as going too far. The forging of alliances can be tricky for journalists to report on. The fact of this is that its the most secretive election process on Earth, says White. You know, these meetings take place behind closed doors. So, of course, we rely on leaks and sort of talking to cardinals willing to paint a portrait of the conversations that are taking place, and then when they enter the conclave, really, no one has any clue what happens until a new pope emerges. After these initial meetings comes the formal conclave, now of movie fame. The Vatican has announced a conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis will start on May 7. Church rules state the conclave must begin between 15 and 20 days after the death of the pope. This is when the cardinals assemble in the Sistine Chapel, under Michelangelos famous fresco, behind locked doors (conclave comes from the Latin for room that can be locked up) to contemplate, discuss and then vote for the next pope. Of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, only those aged under 80 on the day the conclave begins are allowed to vote: this time, 135 electors. That number is now 134, after Cardinal Angelo Becciu announced his withdrawal following a request, left in a letter, from Pope Francis. (In 1975, St Paul VI ruled that there should not be more than 120 cardinal electors at any one time, but John Paul II and Pope Benedict both exceeded this limit, which is now seen as an arbitrary ceiling, says White.) Pope Francis in the Sistine Chapel with members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See for his State of the World address in January. Credit: Vatican Media/Getty Images, digitally tinted Once in the chapel, the cardinal electors dont interact with anybody beyond its doors. The chapel is barred from electronic communication and has even, in the past, been swept for bugs. The secrecy is there to protect cardinal electors from the outside world, says Darius von Guttner. When they actually sit down in those chairs in the Sistine Chapel, theyre supposed to vote in accordance with what they feel, what they think, and what divine inspiration gives them. Pattenden elaborates: The theology of it is that the Holy Spirit descends on the cardinals, he enters into them, and he inspires their choice. So the man is picked by God and therefore can claim to be Gods representative. Nevertheless, Conclave author Robert Harris told Publishers Weekly in 2016, It is between the ballots, in the lunch breaks and in the evenings that the politics happens. The cardinals gather in one anothers rooms, in the corridors and in the dining rooms. There are factions. They switch their votes, trying to rally the maximum support behind the candidate who best represents their view. Its nothing new. This has been going on for seven centuries. Says White: I think the film is completely implausible. Its the stuff of fiction, and so viewers shouldnt be expecting any sort of imitation of that. At the same time, I think the film is a love letter to the Vaticans pomp and circumstance ... and so there will be many, many similarities on that. Joel Hodge, a theologian at the Australian Catholic University, agrees: Its not just the conniving backstabbing that some popular culture makes it out to be. Theres often a lot of serious talks and theological issues and debates. Advertisement Historically, the cardinals used to be physically barred from leaving the chapel until a decision was made; these days, under rules laid out by Saint John Paul II in 1996, the Universi Dominici Gregis, they are allowed to retire to their rooms in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, but are still strictly forbidden from revealing what goes on, under pain of excommunication. Cardinals gather in St Peters Basilica in Vatican City in August 2002. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted How does voting work (and what does the smoke mean)? Technically, the Cardinal College can elect to the papacy any baptised, unmarried Catholic man. In practice, a requirement that the pope be at least a bishop (cardinals are leaders often selected from the roughly 5000 bishops around the world) rules out most dreamers. Its extremely likely that the successful candidate will come from within the cardinals in the conclave itself: the last non-cardinal to be elected pope was the Archbishop of Bari, Urban VI, way back in 1378. There is actually no list of candidates (although some cardinals might make it known they are not interested in the role to excuse themselves from the vote). Electors simply write a name on a piece of paper on which is printed the words Eligo in Summum Pontificem, Latin for I elect as supreme pontiff, according to Gerard OConnell in his 2019 book The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave that Changed History. The cardinals then deposit the slip into an urn, saying loudly: I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected. The victor requires a two-thirds majority arrived at after multiple rounds of voting. The first day of the conclave has just one voting round; there are up to four rounds on each subsequent day. Votes are overseen by three scrutineers cardinals ineligible to vote who call out the name of each person who receives a vote as the tally is counted, record the results and then burn the ballots. A chemical brew is added to a little furnace to change the colour of the resulting smoke: black means a decision has not been made and white means that a new pope will soon be announced. Black smoke billows from a chimney in the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope has not been chosen yet. Tens of thousands of Catholics keep a vigil, waiting for the smoke to turn white. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted Advertisement When Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, I was in my tiny bedroom in a 14th-century palazzo 100 metres from St Peters Square in Rome. I heard the roar of the crowd, peered out the attic window to see white smoke billowing above the Sistine Chapel, and 60 seconds later, I was with the throngs in the square. Addressing the faithful a little later, Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, made an instant impression of humility and openness, wishing those gathered a good evening not the usual papal proclamation. After the election, he travelled in a bus with other cardinals and later returned to his former hotel room to pay his bill himself. Pope Francis at the Vatican in August. Credit: AP He sustained this impression when I enjoyed a meeting with 3000 other journalists at his first press conference and, by and large, for the rest of his pontificate. No pope has been as personable since John XXIII, the reformer who launched the Vatican II council 60 years ago. Francis, too, in his quiet way, was a considerable reformer a man who, as Jesuit American commentator Thomas Reese put it, would change the style of being Pope, attack clericalism the idea that priests and bishops are the source of all authority empower the laity, open the church to conversation and debate, and change the pastoral and public priorities of the church. Knowledge,the purifier By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA : T he grief of Arjuna in the first chapter of the Geeta is addressed by Lord Krishna through counselling in the second chapter and he suggests acquiring equipoise by performing actions without attachment. As the counselling advances, it takes the form of serious philosophical and self evolutionary discourse in the succeeding chapters. The third chapter deals with the Yoga of action and Lord Krishna highlights that even though the ultimate purpose is to attain knowledge of consciousness, actions are an inevitable evolutionary ladder which can not be renounced. The fourth chapter emphasises the significance of knowledge combined with action based upon its renunciation and is called Jnana- Karma- SanyasaYoga. Lord Krishna propounds that he first imparted the knowledge of Yoga to the sun in the beginning of the creation and it has been handed over subsequently to the next generations. But in between it was lost and now again Lord Krishna is making it public. Yoga is nothing, but a collection of techniques which bring out the divinity hidden in human beings. There is a constant dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Arjuna is not able to understand how Lord Krishna imparted the knowledge of Yoga in the beginning of the creation millions of years ago. To the query, Lord Krishna illuminates the theory of incarnation necessitated by the circumstances of different ages for the protection of the good and destruction of the evil. This is the dynamism of the Vedic culture. Nothing is fixed, so one parameter will not decide the solution of the varied problems of the coming ages. So new solutions are to be discovered in every age. Elaborating the deeper concepts of the Yogas of action and knowledge, Lord Krishna exhorts Arjuna to be free from attachment, fear and anger. Freedom from these emotions establishes the practitioner into the pure knowledge leading to discover the divinity within. According to the latest theory of psychology, craving, fear and anger are destructive emotions and they need to be controlled. The concept of Emotional Intelligence is totally based upon the management of these emotions. In this context Lord Krishna brings out a great psychological fact that in whatever way one approaches him, he rewards in the same way. This statement is reinforced by the fact that what we consider reality is nothing, but the creation of our thoughts and actions.The core values of human beings are based upon their attributes and duties. The degeneration of this core value gave rise to the caste system based upon birth. But the Vedic culture originally does not attach any value to birth. Craving for the fruits of actions creates bondage. So to perform the duties without being attached establishes one in the flow state of the mind. Actions are dynamic and inscrutable. There are three types of actions, good, bad and neutral. It is not proper to get entangled into the intellectual intricacies of actions. It is better to perform the actions without a sense of attachment. Actions performed with a sense of service becomes a sacrifice. In order to prepare the foundation for detached and selfless performance of duties, one needs to first exercise control over sense organs and mind. Lord Krishna advocates numerous breathing and other techniques to control the sense organs and human mind. Even today experts are of the opinion that breathing exercises or the Pranayamas are the most effective tools to control the mind. By the clear understanding and knowledge regarding these subjects, one becomes able to free oneself from the sorrow and suffering. Knowledge is the best purifier. Devotion, self control and knowledge lead to permanent peace. Lastly Lord Krishna tells Arjuna to cast doubts and march ahead on the path of righteous duty in the light of knowledge by renouncing attachment to fruits of actions. (The writer is Former DG Police & CG, Homeguards, Maharashtra) The Hitavada News Editor Mukesh S Singh to be honoured by PRSI on April 21 Staff Reporter : RAIPUR IN a moment of professional distinction, The Hitavadas Raipur News Editor and senior investigative journalist Mukesh S Singh will be conferred the D P Chaubey Memorial Public Relations Award at the forthcoming National Public Relations Day celebration organised by the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI), Raipur Chapter on April 21. The ceremony will be organised in Golden Tower, NIT Campus, Raipur at 6 pm. Chairman of PRSI Raipur Dr Shahid Ali informed that Mukesh S Singh is being recognised for his fearless and analytical journalism spanning nearly three decades, with particular impact in uncovering financial crimes, tracking regulatory enforcement and upholding public accountability through mainstream media. This years theme for National PR Day, The Positive Use of Artificial Intelligence and the Role of Public Relations will anchor a thoughtful panel discussion during the event, with experts reflecting on the ethical and strategic intersection between AI and public communication. Among the other awardees Saurabh Sharma will be honoured with Pt Swarajya Prasad Trivedi Memorial Award, Nasim Ahmed will receive Baban Prasad Mishra Memorial Award, S K Roop with Ramesh Nayyar Memorial Award, Dr Kirti Sisodia with Ira Jha Memorial Award, Satyesh Bhatt with Paritosh Chakravarti Memorial Award and Vijay Bajpai will be honoured with Ramshankar Agnihotri Memorial Award. Chief Guest of the programme will be Varun Sakha Shrivastava while Shuchi Mishra, Head PR & Communication at BALCO will grace the event as Guest of Honour. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Dileep Singh Sisodiya, Professor at NIT Raipur. Dr Ali added that PRSI Raipur has hosted the annual honour ceremony for the past seven years, spotlighting individuals who shape ethical and impactful communication. This years event, he noted, will blend recognition with rich deliberation on the evolving dynamics of PR in AI era. Climate Action Special Panchayat Award Dawwa (S) GP is first in country The Sarpanch along with the team of the Dawwa (S) GP. Gondia Correspondent : Dawwa (S) Gram Panchayat (GP) of Sadk Arjuni taluka of the district has won the first prize in the National Panchayat Awards 2023-24. The Gram Panchayat has received the Climate Action Special Panchayat Award for its remarkable performance in preventing the adverse effects of climate change. The Gram Panchayat has become the recipient of the prize money comprising of Rs 1 crore. The Birdahalli Gram Panchayat in Karnataka has won the second prize and Motipur Gram Panchayat in Bihar has won the third award. The announcement of this award was made by the Government on Sunday. Meanwhile, Zilla Parishad President Laikaram Bhendarkar; Chief Executive Officer, Muruganantham M and Deputy Chief Executive Officer M M Wasnik have congratulated Dawwa (S) Gram Panchayat team for this special achievement. Dawwa (S) Gram Panchayat Sarpanch Yogeshwari Chaudhary, Gram Panchayat Officer Sindhu Ramchandra Suryavanshi have told the media that due to increasing pollution on the Earth, the temperature is increasing. This is affecting the humanS and crops. If we want to stop this, the Gram Panchayat needs to take the initiative. Measures such as using solar energy at home, banning plastic, banning crackers have been taken. Without adopting a lifestyle with the five elements of nature - Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Sky - we cannot live with nature, otherwise biodiversity will not exist. Our Gram Panchayat has taken this step, she said. Under the guidance of Muruganantham, Chief Executive Officer of Gondia Zilla Parishad, the GP vowed to prepare the village for the National Panchayat Raj Award, for which it received the co-operation of all the members of the Gram Panchayat and the villagers. The Government of India, Delhi delegation inspected this Gram Panchayat on April 11. The delegation included officials Anuradha and Neelima Goel. To get this award, under the guidance of Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer M Muruganantham, Vice-President Suresh Harshe, Deputy Chief Executive Officer M M Wasnik, S I Vaidya, Chairman of Sadak Arjuni Panchayat Samiti Chetan Vadgaye, Deputy Chairman Nishatai Kashiwar, Group Development Officer Ravikant Sanap, Dilip Khotele, Extension Officer Ravindra Parate, Y C Patle, Upsarpanch Sunil Ghasle, all members of the Gram Panchayat, all Gram Panchayat officers and villagers worked tirelessly. Flames erupt again at Bhandewadi, fire-fighting ops continue on 2nd day Uphill task: Fire-fighters engaged in spraying water on the mountain of garabge at the Bhandewadi Dumping Yard, on Sunday. (Pic by Satish Raut) Staff Reporter : Ten fire tenders continue to be engaged in spraying water as fire inside the dump would require a few more days to fully extinguish, said civic officials The raging fire at Bhandewadi dumping yard reignited on the second day after remaining was suppressed during the day time. Throughout the day, fire-fighters continued to spray the water as the flames inside the huge garbage dump continued to burn intensely. Just when the civic officials thought they were done with the job, orange flames could be seen flaring-up from three to four sides of the massive garbage dump on Sunday night. Though the flames are still not sky high as it were on Saturday when the fire started, but reignition of the dump poses problem for the Fire and Emergency Services Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Earlier in the day, the billowing fireball at the dumping yard had subsided as the fire-fighters continued to be at the job trying to cool down the garbage dump. The Fire and Emergency Department of NMC deputed nearly 10 tenders at the spot as the fire continued to rage inside the garbage hill for the second consecutive day. The fire-fighting operations continued to pose challenge as the fire continues to simmer inside the vast garbage dump, said B P Chandankhede, Chief Fire Officer, NMC. Chandankhede said that since there was no mechanism to spray water from top on the garbage hill, the fire-fighters were tackling the raging fire sideways. Given the volume of garbage at the yard, the task on hand is tedious and may take at least two to three days to fully extinguish the flames, he added. In fact, for Nagpur, only rains could be the saviour as it would help subside the flames quite easily, said Chandankhede. Till then, the firemen would continue with time-tested methods to extinguish the fire. As is the case, whenever such garbage dump catches fire, the fire tends to spread very fast and by the time the flames billows, out one does not know the intensity of the fire. So only when the flames started blowing over the top did the fire brigade got the call about the fire at dumping yard. Former Ktaka DGP Om Prakash found dead BENGALURU : FORMER Director General of Police of Karnataka, Om Prakash, was found dead at his residence in Bengaluru on Sunday under mysterious circumstances, police said. The 68-year-olds body was found with injuries and was discovered in his house, raising suspicions of foul play. Prakashs spouse, Pallavi, informed police about the incident, they said. Senior police officials rushed to the spot immediately upon receiving the information. The body was discovered lying in a pool of blood on the ground floor of his three-storied house in the upscale HSR Layout. Police have begun questioning Prakashsspouseanddaughterregarding the incident. Gazetted officers conduct surprise inspections at various police stations Police officials conducting surprise inspection at a police station. Staff Reporter : In compliance with the order issued by the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh, the gazetted officers conducted surprise inspection at the police stations of their respective section throughout the district during the intermediate night of Saturday and Sunday. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jabalpur Zone, Jabalpur, Atul Singh conducted surprise inspection of Barela police station. While inspecting the store room, DIG Jabalpur zone, Singh inspected the maintenance of seized goods, arms ammunition, right drill material, checked the lock-up, and also checked the registers maintained in the police station. He especially checked whether the registers maintained in the police station are updated or not and the CCTV cameras are properly working or not. He instructed to resolve the complaints received through CM Helpline and public hearing promptly and satisfactorily. He further directed the officers/employees present to be sensitive towards women, children, elderly and weaker sections of the society and provide immediate relief by taking immediate legal action on the complaints registered by them. Similarly, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) City, Anand Kaladgi inspected Police Station Gohalpur, Vijaynagar, Police Station Traffic Malviya Chowk, ASP Zone-2, Samar Verma inspected Police Station Garha, ASP (Rural), Suryakant Sharma inspected Police Station Patan, ASP Traffic/Crime, Sonali Dubey inspected Mahila Thana, Police Station Madanmahal and Police Station Gorakhpur. City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Adhartal, Priyanka Karcham inspected Adhartal and Panagar police stations, CSP Kotwali, Ritesh Kumar Shiv inspected Lardganj and Madanhal police stations, CSP Omti, Sonu Kurmi inspected Civil Line police station, CSP Ranjhi, Satish Kumar Sahu inspected Ranjhi police station, CSP Gorakhpur, HR Pandey inspected Gorakhpur, Vijay Nagar and Sanjeevani Nagar police stations, CSP Gohalpur, Sunil Nema inspected Ghampaur and Hanumantal police stations, CSP Cantt. Uday Bhan Singh inspected Cantt police station, CSP Garha, Devendra Pratap Singh inspected Tilwara police station, CSP Madhotal BS Gothariya inspected Vijay Nagar police station, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Rural) Aakash Upadhyay inspected Kundam police station, SDOP Sihora Parul Sharma inspected Sihora police station, SDOP Bargi Anjul Ayank Mishra inspected Bargi and Bhedaghat police stations. Surprise inspection of police stations of their section done by all gazetted officers of Jabalpur district. MOIL sets production target at 35 lakh tonnes by 2030 Business Reporter : AFTER achieving record manganese ore production of 18 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-2025, MOIL has set an ambitious target to produce manganese ore of 35 lakh tonnes by 2030. Similarly, MOIL has set a production target of 22 lakh tonnes for FY 2025-2026. This was revealed by Ajit Kumar Saxena, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of MOIL while speaking to the media on the sidelines of MOILs CSR programme at Vanamati auditorium on Sunday. Saxena further said that MOIL is focussing on increasing its production as the steel production is set to surge from 150 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes by 2030. Apart from this, the company undertook exploratory core drilling of 1,07,530 meters during the year. The company also reported its highest-ever production of ferro manganese at 12,000 metric tonnes. Saxena also expressed optimism about maintaining this growth momentum in the coming years by taking various initiatives. The company also plans to increase its market share from 20 per cent to 32 per cent by 2030. MOIL is exploring new business opportunities in various States by signing MoUs, forming joint ventures and sending request letter to State Governments like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, in addition to expanding within Madhya Pradesh. The exploratory work is time consuming therefore the production takes years to begin, he mentioned. In June, MOIL signed a joint venture with Gujarat State Mining Corporation at Pani village which is 80 km from Baroda. He is confident that after getting all the clearances the mine will start production in one and half years. The company is looking for managnese, nickle, lithium, iron ore, graphite and other minerals in South Africa, Indonesia and other countries. Since, starting mining activities at overseas locations takes long time, the focus is mostly in domestic locations. Furthermore, MOIL is enhancing its Environment Clearance (EV) capacity for exploration of mines. Currently, MOIL has 34 lakh tonnes of capacity which it plans to increase to 50 lakh tonnes by 2030, he added. PGRS to be implemented for speedy resolution of complaints Staff Reporter : The Public Grievances Redressal System (PGRS), an online platform, will soon be operational at the Chief Ministers Secretariat here at Hyderabad House, Civil Lines, to ensure positive action on grievances and representations received from the public during various programmes, like the Janata Darbar held by the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the city on Sunday. This system will also enable applicants to receive updates on the status of their applications via SMS. A meeting regarding this was held at the Chief Ministers Secretariat on Sunday, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The PGRS has been developed to ensure appropriate action on petitions, applications, and grievances related to various departments and matters received during various programmes by forwarding them to departments concerned. Asha Pathan, Officer on Special Duty at the Chief Ministers Secretariat, made a detailed presentation on this online system. Through this online system, received petitions and applications will be categorised department-wise and complaint-wise. These applications and representations will be scanned and sent to the relevant department for necessary action, and the applicant will be informed about this via SMS. Follow-up will be done with the department concerned, and the applicant will receive information via SMS once their application is resolved. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed satisfaction with this online system, saying that this facility will soon be available for public service. Vijayalakshmi Bidari, Divisional Commissioner; Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Commissioner of Police; Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector; Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari, Municipal Commissioner and Administrator, NMC; Sanjay Meena, Chairman, Nagpur Improvement Trust; Shravan Hardikar, Managing Director, Maha Metro; and other heads of Public Works, Land Records, Social Welfare, and other departments, were present at the meeting. CM Devendra Fadnavis receiving complaints from citizens at Janata Darbar, on Sunday. CM Fadnavis receives 626 complaints at Janata Darbar Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis received a total of 626 complaints and representations at Janata Darbar, his first such programme after becoming the Chief Minister for second time, at Hyderabad House, Civil lines on Sunday. The Chief Minister forwarded the complaints to relevant departments for appropriate actions. Following his attendance at the Women and Child Development Departments Pink E-Rickshaw distribution programme, citizens from various parts of Nagpur flocked to the Chief Ministers Secretariat at Hyderabad House in the Civil Lines area to present their grievances. Devendra Fadnavis received petitions from Divyangs, women, various social organisations, students, and senior citizens, who shared their concerns. After listening to their issues, the Chief Minister assured the public of resolving their problems. Approximately 2,000 citizens participated in the Janata Darbar. Relocated liquor shop faces protests in Ranjhi Locals, including women of Parshuram Basti protesting in front of the liquor shop and demanding its immediately removal. Staff Reporter : A liquor shop recently relocated from Mohania to Parshuram Basti in Gandhi Chowk, Ranjhi is now facing renewed protests. The shop had earlier been shifted following strong opposition in its previous location, but the move has sparked fresh demonstrations, led by local women. The protesting women have warned of self-immolation if the shop is not removed. Meanwhile, some local leaders claim that the shop is situated far from the residential area and alleged that certain groups are provoking people for political reasons. It is also learnt that the protest has gained support from member of a Hindu organisation and Congress leader. On Sunday, a large number of residents of Parshuram Basti, including many women gathered in front of the liquor shop and shouted slogans, demanding its closure. On learning about the protest, police from the local station reached the site to control the situation and maintain peace. Protesting women said the presence of liquor shop is affecting their daily lives. Children are reportedly afraid to attend school or tuition classes due to the presence of drunk people who often misbehave along the route. Women also find it difficult to step out safely, especially in the evening hours as anti-social elements gather and engage in theft and harassment. The strongly insisted that the shop should be moved to more suitable location. It may be noted that this is not the first time this liquor shop has faced opposition. Just a few days ago, BJP leaders had staged a protest when the shop was opened in Manegaon. They alleged that that it was too close to a densely populated area and a nearby school. Concerns were raised about the safety of children using the road near the shop. Following the earlier protest, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Ranjhi had visited the site and assured demonstrators that their concerns would be forwarded to the Excise Department. He had also promised that a request would be made to relocate the shop. Following that assurance, the shop was moved to Gandhi Chowk, Parshuram Basti. However, local residents in the new area are now raising the same concerns and demanding that the shop be relocated to more suitable place. State Govt, Kinetic Green launch Pink E-Rickshaw scheme Business Reporter ; In a significant move towards womens empowerment and sustainable mobility, the Maharashtra Government has launched the Pink E-Rickshaw scheme. Spearheaded by the Women and Child Development Department, the initiative plans to deploy 10,000 eco-friendly Kinetic Green electric 3-wheeler rickshaws in 8 districts including Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, empowering women and promoting a greener environment. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Minister of Women & Child Development Aditi Tatkare, State Minister, Women & Child Development, Meghana Sakore Bordikar along with Kinetic Greens Founder & CEO Sulajja Firodia Motwani, and Co-founder and ED, Ritesh Mantri handed over the first batch of pink e rickshaws to women beneficiaries on Sunday at an event held in the city. Under this scheme, the Maharashtra Government will provide a 20 per cent subsidy on the cost of each E-rickshaw, while beneficiaries will contribute 10 per cent as a down payment. The remaining 70 per cent will be financed through bank loans facilitated by key financial partners, ensuring accessible and low-interest funding options. Additionally, both will conduct on-ground activities across various locations to engage the recipients and collaborate with Bachhat Gat. To further support them, Kinetic Green will offer free driving training, assist in obtaining driving licenses, and set up a robust charging infrastructure. Kinetic Green is committed to deploying 1,500 charger across eight participating districts, ensuring holistic solution is available to the recipients of scheme. Additionally, both the vehicle and battery will come with a five-year warranty, along with a comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) covering all periodic and preventive maintenance services, including one free service per quarter for five years. The scheme is tailored for women aged 20 to 50 years prioritising widows, divorcees, and those below the poverty line. Kinetic Green Pink E-rickshaw offers a 120 km range per charge and features dual suspension for superior comfort, a digital display panel, dual headlamps, and a high ground clearance of 220mm. Kinetic Green will be appointing an agency for training of beneficiaries, ensuring that all drivers are well-equipped with the necessary skills to operate their e-rickshaws efficiently. As Maharashtra takes a bold step toward gender equality and green mobility, Kinetic Green is committed for paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable future. Trailers of two mega films launched Staff Reporter RAIPUR, A new chapter was added to the history of Chhattisgarh cinema with the launch of trailers of two mega films simultaneously in a glittering event for the first time ever in Raipur. The launching programme brought together some of the biggest names in the regional film industry. Much anticipated trailers of Hindi-Chhattisgarhi film Janki Part-1 and Chhattisgarhi film Guiyan-2, both produced under the banner of N Mahi Films Production were officially unveiled at a grand event held in Shyam Talkies premises in the city. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd, featuring the entire cast and crew of both films, producers, directors and prominent figures from the Chhattisgarhi film industry. Producers Satish Jain, Manoj Verma, Niraj Vikram, Gajendra Shrivastava, Santosh Jain, Rocky Daswani and Bharti Verma, Shyam Talkies owner Labhansh Tiwari and former councilor Kiran Sahu graced the launching programme. Trailers of both movies met with huge applause with audiences thrilled by the high production value, compelling storytelling and powerful performances teased in the clips. Producer Mohit Kumar Sahu expressed his gratitude during the launch. He said, I sincerely thank the people of Chhattisgarh for the overwhelming response and support to Guiyan-1. The love showered has motivated us to return with Guiyan-2, which promises to take the story and the experience to the next level. Guiyan-2 is slated release on May 2 while Janki Part-1 will have its grand release on June 13. Early bird tickets for Billings TrailNets 25th annual Ales for Trails fundraiser go on sale on Monday, April 28, a month after Yellowstone County commissioners unanimously voted against adopting a Billings pedestrian and bicycle master plan thatd been in the works since 2023. Following the commissioners' vote, the Billings City Council subsequently tabled its agenda item tackling the plan. Without the approval of the city/county planning departments updated 2025 pedestrian and bicycle master plan, plans will revert to a draft from 2017, putting Billings bikeways at a crossroads. The focus of the 2025 plan aimed to make connections more approachable to people of all ages and abilities, making them more useful for students and aligning with the Safe Routes to School initiative something that is absent from the 2017 plan, as SRTS was not in development yet. The eight-year-old plan also includes some projects that have already been completed. Myself and Commissioner Waters thought it came down to a lack of funding for the program, said Yellowstone County Commissioner Mark Morse. We have some bike lanes now, but theres always a question of funding for maintenance and upkeep. Explain the rationale, why would we build more bike lanes. Billings TrailNet Director Kristi Drake expressed deep frustration with the commissioners' vote and their reasoning. The decision not to move forward with the ped/bike master plan puts trails that might have been good connections at risk of not being eligible for grants, Drake said. If projects are not identified in a locally adopted plan it is extremely difficult, if not impossible to secure grants for projects. While a documented city/county plan is often a requirement when applying for grants needed to fund trails, government entities have no financial commitment by simply adopting the plan; individual projects and grants for projects still require separate council approval. The master plan acts more like a roadmap to future projects. We can do nothing without them. We cannot move forward without the planning department okaying it; no capital improvements happen without city councils go ahead, said Drake. Because of the nature of multi-use trails theyre owned by the city. The city has to want to build it. It has to be initiated by the city; thats an important connection that needs to be made. Historically, Billings governing body and Billings TrailNet have worked symbiotically together, with a common goal in mind. Billings TrailNet was started in 2001 by the city/county planning department as funding stream for trails because the city didnt have a trails department, said Drake. Collectively, Billings TrailNet has helped fund the BBWA Canal Trail, the Big Ditch Corridor, Alkali Creek Corridor, the trail along Broadwater, the 6th Avenue bypass segment, Arrowhead School Trail, Poly Drive Elementary improvements, Lewis Avenue, Alkali Creek Road Trail, Aronson Bypass, 25th Street bridge, Skyline Trail, Black Otter Trail, Rose Park trails, the trail to the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site as well as downtown bike racks, bike repair stands at Zimmerman Park and on Skyline Trail, and restrooms at Swords and Zimmerman parks. Billings TrailNet has been a staunch supporter of Billings local governments endeavor to construct the 50-plus miles of trail network now in existence within the city, with their aligned mission of promoting a complete, community-wide trail system. Most of the trails in Billings have been built through federal grants for which the city applies. Those grants require matching funds up to 20% of a project which is where Billings TrailNet comes in, said Drake. Billings TrailNets support has been very impactful for the citys creation of the trail system. As a non-profit money funnel for trails and bikeways, Billings TrailNet has been an essential partner with the city in the fruition of bike and pedestrian pathways in Billings. Yet the recent shift of priorities by the county, now puts them at an impasse. Jump ahead, weve become an advocate for them (trails) also. Our role to be a mouthpiece for trail users has put us into being advocatesAs residents ask for connections, I would hope the city would respond, Drake said. We know that 70% of the Billings community uses trails daily, weekly or monthly, and they want to be able to walk, bike or roll from their neighborhoods to the trail system or to recreation sites. Morse said the commissioners' vote made sense. Its a three-member board; all three of us voted affirmatively to deny it. Commissioner John Ostlund is the longest serving commissioner. He has asked continually for a usage study for return on investment on bike lanes on city streets, because it triples the cost to engineer in bike lanes, stripe it, mark it, said Morse. We are a predominantly vehicle-centric community. Very few people commute on bike lanes. The 2025 master plan information packet says otherwise. Current usage data including bike lane counts that use bike traffic counters shows that approximately 467 bikes per day during the summer are on the trails. Usage data for the shared use path system, using trail counters, showed approximately 3,786 users per day during the summer. Bikes were loaded onto MET Transit buses 14,421 times in 2024, showing that passengers used a bike to get to and from their destinations, extending the reach of the bus. Its a pretty straight forward equation. How many daily riders utilize city bike lanes and do the math. I think that you will see it will be a very low number, said Morse. Its a great expense without much use. Follow that out further, all these bike lanes with very low usage, isnt it a better use of taxpayer money to convert bike lanes to vehicle lanes to keep traffic moving on 32nd Street? said Morse. Billings TrailNet board member Kevin Odenthal disagreed with the commissioners' reasoning. People want to be able to bike to work and know they wont get run over by a car, he said. They want safe spaces to commute and recreate. When youre trying to attract employees or professionals, having good trails is now a key amenity, trail supporter Mike Tuss said. Its not just about basic infrastructure anymore its about what additional amenities you can offer to attract talent. Trails and bike infrastructure are increasingly seen as important factors in attracting professionals and making a city appealing to potential residents, employees and businesses looking to relocate. I tell people looking to move here that Billings is getting better for cyclists, Spoke Shop owner Dean Cromwell said. Doctors and medical professionals often ask about how bike-friendly the city is when considering a job here. While the extended forecast of plans for trails, bike lanes and paths might be hanging in the balance, Drake said Billings TrailNet already has $160,000 in commitments for repairing, refurbishing, connecting and developing trails in Billings in 2025, including $52,000 to rebuild the trail at Lillis Park, $32,000 to build and repair trails at Rose Park, $65,000 to connect a new neighborhood to the Big Ditch Trail, and $11,000 to add directional signs along the Jim Dutcher Trail. To be effective, we have to have a comprehensive approach to building our city and continuing it in a positive direction, and active transportation and trails are an important part of that, said Drake. What we can do is focus on having events, continuing to raise funds when we can. There will always be small things that we can do. In the meantime, we will continue to advocate and have events that encourage people to celebrate the trails. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Anhui is advancing the revitalization of northern Anhui, focusing on building four major industrial clusters: new energy vehicles and their components, new energy, new materials, and green food. This effort aims to strengthen the "industrial spine" and enhance the driving force for high-quality development in northern Anhui. This year, the Anhui Provincial Committee has proposed the creation of a high-end green food industry cluster in northern Anhui, with the goal of achieving a total output value of 1.5 trillion yuan across ten green food industries. In Guoyang County, Bozhou City, which has maintained the highest summer grain production in the province for seven consecutive years, local efforts have nurtured five major agricultural product processing bases, including wheat and soybean. The county is home to 48 enterprises involved in the green food industry chain that are above designated size. With the clusters gaining momentum and transforming resource endowments into development drivers, Guoyang County has focused on green food to form an industrial chain centered on "agricultural resourcesagricultural product processingdistribution and sales." Using "attracting talents and investments" as a pivot, it emphasizes cultivating green food industry clusters such as "quality grains and functional foods." By concentrating layout, resources, efforts, and tackling key challenges, this year Anhui will continue to develop the four major industrial clusters in northern Anhui. The goal is to achieve an industrial scale of 180 billion yuan for new energy vehicles and their components, 100 billion yuan for new energy, 180 billion yuan for new materials, and 360 billion yuan for the green food industry. Source: ANHUI NEWS Five Bangladeshi nationals, including three women, were arrested during the past 24 hours in Tripura for illegal entry into India from across the border, officials said here on Sunday. In another incident, two Bangladeshi thieves were detained by villagers at Nandalal Das Para, in Simna Assembly constituency of West Tripura district on Sunday. Advertisement Despite the presence of the Border Security Force (BSF), villagers claim that Bangladeshi thieves continue to cut through the fencing and cross over with ease. Advertisement Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Police Force (RPF) and BSF arrested five more Bangladeshi nationals, including three women, during the past 24 hours at the Agartala Railway Station. GRP Station In-charge Tapash Das said that they along with the RPF and BSF conducted a joint operation and arrested the Bangladeshi nationals. They had entered the Indian territory by illegally crossing the border. The Bangladeshi citizens confessed during questioning that they had plans to go to Kolkata from Agartala Railway Station and from there further to Bangalore or Chennai. Cases were registered at the Agartala GRP station against them under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Indian Passport Act, Foreigners Act and other relevant sections of the law, Das said. Three smartphones, Indian currency notes and Bangladeshi voter ID cards were recovered from the possession of the accused Bangladeshi citizens. One of the women during questioning said that she was assured a job at a beauty parlour in Bengaluru by a Bangladeshi human trafficker while the other two said they were promised jobs at juice bars in Chennai. Following the directions from the Central government, vigil along the India-Bangladesh border was further tightened to prevent illegal immigration, cross-border crimes and movement by anti-national elements. A BSF spokesman said that the para-military troops have enhanced vigil and intensified its domination along the International Border since the violence in Bangladesh began in June-July last year, specially after the fall of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of spreading hatred under the garb of her Peace Message. In a shameless spate of events, the hypocrisy of the Chief Minister of West Bengal is getting even more unravelled. She is misusing her official position and in the garb of issuing a so-called Peace Message (mis)using her letterhead. She is spewing venom, hatred while doing vote bank politics, Adhikari said in a statement. Advertisement In an open letter, which was circulated from her office on Saturday night, the Chief Minister said both Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP are responsible for instigating communal violence in the state. Advertisement Reacting to her letter, Adhikari claimed she was trying to instigate people against the BJP and RSS. She is miserably trying to spread a false narrative by blaming the Sangh Parivar for the ethnic cleansing of Hindus, which is the most absurd and contradictory allegation ever made, as even a kid knows that the Sangh Parivar is the biggest backer and defender of the Hindu community, read the statement from Adhikari. At the same time, Adhikari accused the Chief Minister of maintaining silence on the carnage by radical extremists in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district, which was on the boil earlier this month over communal violence and tension after protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. It is shameful to find the Chief Minister admitting in writing that people came from beyond the state to orchestrate riots, and thereafter they run away upon causing riots. This is of very serious concern, and given her unequivocal admission, the Union Government should direct a NIA probe as this statement of the Chief Minister about outside elements reveals a serious threat to the security, integrity, and sovereignty of India, he said. Justifying his demand for the NIA probe into the matter, Adhikari said that an investigation by the state police would be merely an empty formality validating the Chief Ministers narrative. While castigating the conduct of the Chief Minister, I will urge MHA, GOI to take serious note of this fact and direct an NIA probe regarding the riots that took place in Murshidabad, he added. The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel came as a saviour for the women of minority-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal, which was on the boil following communal violence and riot-like situation there as protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent, claimed the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya K Rahatkar on Sunday. Speaking to the media persons, she also clarified that this credit to BSF was given by the women of the affected pockets in Murshidabad district, with whom she, along with an NCW delegation, interacted during the visit in the last couple of days. Advertisement Although communal violence broke out in certain pockets in Murshidabad district on April 8, the deployment of BSF was done on April 12 only after a special division bench of Calcutta High Court ordered immediate deployment of central armed police forces (CAPF) personnel at the troubled pockets in the district to bring the situation under control. Advertisement The special division bench also observed that had the CAPF deployment been earlier in the area, the situation would not have been so grave and volatile. On Sunday, Rahatkar told media persons during the visit to the troubled pockets in Murshidabad in the last couple of days, the members of the NCW delegation could feel the prevailing fear and agony of the women there. Wherever we went, we found the women shivering with fear and agony. They claimed that their lives were ultimately saved because of the BSF personnel. Their dreams were shattered. The only question that they were asking was why they faced such atrocities without any fault on their part, the NCW chairperson said. Rahatkar also said that the NCW delegation will give a detailed report to the Union government based on their findings. On Saturday, while the NCW delegation members visited the different troubled pockets in Murshidabad, the demand for the women in the areas was to set up permanent BSF camps in those pockets. The NCW delegation members also assured them of taking up the matter with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Meanwhile, the state general secretary of Trinamool Congress, Kunal Ghosh, said that the two central commissions, NCW and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), whose delegations visited Murshidabad, were just serving the purpose of the BJP. The National Commission for Women (NCW) Vijaya Rahatkar made an appeal to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday, to urgently address the problems of violence-hit victims and families, stating that the responsibility of ensuring safety and justice lies with the state government. These are our own people, they must not be ignored or left to suffer due to violence. It is heartbreaking that they are being forced to live like refugees in relief camps within their own country, said the NCW chief. Advertisement The NCW chiefs searing remarks come on the back of her two-day visit to the violence-affected areas of Malda and Murshidabad, where she met women, children and affected families, having suffered immense damages as well as the emotional, psychological and mental trauma. Advertisement Expressing deep concern over the plight of affected women, she said, The pain of the women who were dragged from their homes, brutally attacked, and threatened in the most inhuman manner is unimaginable. Some were even told to send their daughters to be raped. She said that the issue was above politics and the women who have faced violence, those who have been threatened, molested and dragged out of their homes must be given a healing touch. During a two-day visit, the NCW chairperson also visited relief camps, where she was given accounts of harrowing experiences by many women victims. We must stop politicising such human tragedies. Instead of questioning those who raise these issues, we should be asking the women how they are surviving. Ask the perpetrators why they committed such inhuman acts and then focus on finding a solution to this grave issue to create an atmosphere where everyone can live without fear, said the official statement. She also advised the West Bengal State Commission for Women to visit the affected areas and show solidarity with the victims. Earlier, the NCW had taken suo motu cognisance of the violence that broke out in Shamsherganj, Dhulian and Jangipur areas of Murshidabad on April 11 and 12. Its happening again before our very eyes. The only difference is that my story is 35 years old, and this persons is just a few days old, said Rajni Dhar, a Kashmiri Hindu, after watching videos of the wailing woman from Murshidabad. She says her communitys story is no different from what is now happening to Hindus in certain pockets of West Bengal. Targeted attacks, indifferent administration, apathetic police, and biased, uncaring politicians this was what she and her community endured in the late 1980s and 1990s, ultimately leading to the exodus of over 7,00,000 Hindus from Kashmir. Advertisement Thirty-five years later and more than 2,000 km away from Kashmir, hundreds of Hindu families have fled Murshidabad and other parts of West Bengal, where violent Muslim mobs attacked them. The violence erupted unexpectedly during protests against the Waqf Act. Advertisement For the Hindus of Murshidabad, it was a horrifying experience. Mobs ran riot, attacking homes, looting property, and setting fire to vehicles and buildings, including government establishments. The crowds were in a frenzy, uncontrolled and unchallenged. The accounts of these forcibly displaced people are chilling and heart-wrenching. Homes and businesses some within metres of police stations were torched. SOS calls to the police and fire brigade allegedly went unanswered. Victims say they were left to fend for themselves, at the mercy of the mobs. All they could do was escape. Men, women, children, and the elderly ran for miles, crossing rivers to find safety. For them, April 11 will remain etched in memory the day the state abandoned them. Even more painful, they say, is the apathy of those in power. The Chief Minister had no words for them, not even the time to meet them. But she did make time for those whose speeches allegedly incited the unrest. She met with them in Kolkata to express solidarity, but did nothing for the Hindus who had lost their homes, livelihoods, and trust in the system. Back in the late 1980s, when terrorism began to rise in Kashmir, Hindus were targeted as part of a larger agenda to make Kashmir a Muslim-majority region that could accede to Pakistan. At the helm then was Farooq Abdullah, president of the National Conference and father of current leader Omar Abdullah. He remained passive as Hindus faced increasing violence: kidnappings, torture, threats, and harassment. Kashmiri Pandits were given three choices: convert, flee, or die. The chilling slogan was: An Islamic Kashmir with Kashmiri Pandit women, without the KP men. Those in power then both at the state and central levels stood mute and did nothing. Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits were murdered, women were gang-raped and killed, homes looted, and temples desecrated. The police, victims allege, were non-cooperative, and in some cases even helped the terrorists. The political class and human rights groups went silent. The only option for the Hindus was to flee. Being only 2 per cent of Jammu and Kashmirs population, Kashmiri Pandits were abandoned by the then-state government. The worst atrocities took place during Farooq Abdullahs tenure. When he resigned in January 1990, he left behind a Kashmir where the police force was compromised, the intelligence network shattered, and the majority of the administration gone rogue. The situation in West Bengal may not be as dire, but it could escalate if steps are not taken now. Many victims in relief camps said they were warned by attackers: This was just a trailer the real movie begins soon. What does it indicate? Two Hindus a father and son were brutally murdered to instil fear. Their businesses were torched. Rumours of poisoned water tanks in Hindu villages were spread to spark panic and force an exodus. It worked, and people abandoned their homes in fear. Will the displaced Hindus of Murshidabad ever be able to return to their homes? Its a disturbing question, because the Bengal CM has done nothing to prevail upon the Muslim political and religious leaders, with whom she had a big meeting on April 16 to work for peace in these areas. Instead, CM Mamata called the violence a conspiracy, naming the BSF (Border Security Force) and accusing it of allowing Bangladeshi miscreants to enter and incite unrest. As shocking as the accusation is, it may further embolden disruptive elements and affect the morale of the security forces. Thirty-five years have gone by, and we are still out of our homeland, says a tearful Dhar, recalling how her family was forced out of Srinagar in April 1990. People there have no remorse it was all about religious dominance. We lost our homes, jobs, property and weve received no justice, she said. The Murshidabad womens wails continue as they stare at their uncertain future, having lost everything in the attacks. Ziaul Haque, alias Chacha, the key conspirator in the murder of a man and his son at Samserganj in Murshidabad district, will be produced in a district court on Sunday afternoon. Confirming his court appearance later in the day, a senior official of the district police said that the public prosecutor would seek police custody for Haque, the fourth person to be arrested in connection with the crime. Advertisement Haque was arrested on Saturday night from Chopra in the North Dinajpur district. Advertisement The district police official further said that the special investigating team probing the Murshidabad violence suspects that more people might be involved in the crime. So Haques police custody is necessary so that we can extract from them information about his partners in the crime, the district police official said. The state police first arrested two cousins in this connection, identified as Kalu Nadab and Dildar Nadab, residents of a village adjacent to the one where the man and his son used to reside. While Kalu Nadab was arrested from Murarai in Birbhum district, Dildar Nadab was nabbed from Suti in Murshidabad district. Thereafter, last week, cops arrested local electrician Inzamam Haque in this connection. All four arrests were made after they were identified from CCTV footage as playing crucial roles in the murder of the duo. Ziaul Haque was absconding since the day of the murder, and finally, we have arrested him, the district police official. Recently, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced compensation of Rs 10,00,000 each for the next of those killed in the violence at Murshidabad. As per the police report, the total number of deaths so far in connection with the communal violence is three. However, the family members of the deceased have clearly said they would not accept the compensation money. They have claimed that the state government should first ensure the safety of the innocent people in the district. The National Commission for Women (NCW), whose delegation recently visited the violence-hit pockets in Murshidabad district, has said that they will take up the residents demand for setting up permanent Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) camps in the area with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose on Monday expressed serious doubts about the credibility of the National Commission for Women, dubbing the statutory body of the government of India as the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Mahila wing. The National Commission for Women last seen in Sandeshkhali coercing women to sign blank sheets of paper on fake rape charges, is now in Malda/Murshidabad, Ms Ghose recalled in a post shared on partys WhatsApp group. Advertisement MORE BLANK SHEETS OF PAPER AHEAD? Additionally: NCW Member Archana Majumdar stood as a BJP candidate in 2021 Bengal Assembly polls and lost. Do we really expect an objective report from the BJP Mahila wing, sorry NCW, questioned Ms Ghose. Advertisement An NCW team led by its chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, had on Saturday visited the violence-hit Murshidabad district in West Bengal. The panel assured the violence-hit people of the Centres initiative to ensure their safety. Alleging that the National Commission for Women has become a Notorious Commission for Whitepaper, Ms Ghose expressed grave apprehensions about whether the statutory panel will file a fair report at all. The National Commission for Women should be known as the Notorious Commission for WhitepaperThe National Commission for Women or the Notorious Commission for Whitepaper (also) went to Sandeshkhali and made women sign on blank papers to cook up rape charges.., entirely fictitious rape charges were cooked up on blank sheet of paperNow the National Commission for Women or the Notorious Commission for Whitepaper is in Malda and Mushidabad We ask the question, are more white papers coming? A series of violent incidents broke out in Murshidabad district earlier this month after a section of people/locals stepped up protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The unrest led to multiple casualties, injuries, and damage to public and private properties. India is on a trajectory to achieve steel production capacity of 300 million tonnes (MT) and a per capita consumption of 160 kg by 2030, according to the government. In FY25 (April to December period), the production of crude steel stood at 110.99 MT and finished steel stood at 106.86 MT. Advertisement Also, the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme 1.1 for specialty steel has witnessed investment commitments worth Rs 17,000 crore in the second round, according to the government. The expansion of the scheme is expected to further enhance Indias global competitiveness in specialty steel production. Advertisement Keeping this ambitious growth in the steel sector in mind, the India Steel 2025 is set to take place next week in Mumbai to unlock new opportunities for inter-state and international collaboration, facilitate knowledge exchange, and showcase Indias policy reforms and infrastructure initiatives aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business across the steel value chain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the global steel industry event through video conferencing on April 24. The event will also have a presence of global Industry leaders and senior foreign dignitaries leading high-level delegations, including the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia, the Ambassadors of Australia, Mozambique, and Mongolia, reflecting the deepening international engagement and strategic cooperation in the steel sector. With more than 12,000 business visitors, 250 exhibitors, and 1,200 conference delegates representing various sectors, government departments, state governments, country delegations, and domestic and international buyers from India and abroad, the conference would be one of the biggest steel events globally. Country-specific sessions involving key steel-producing nations, including South Korea, Sweden, Australia, and Mongolia. These discussions will explore joint research, technology transfer, and resilient supply chains to de-risk Indias steel production and drive global competitiveness. Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet will also be held to facilitate trade opportunities and foster new business engagements, according to the Ministry of Steel. Television actor Abhinav Shukla has become the target of a disturbing death threat from a social media user who claims to have association with the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The threat comes after a heated argument between his wife, actress Rubina Dilaik, and rapper Asim Riaz on the popular show Battleground. Advertisement The verbal altercation on the show seems to have sparked a chain of online hostility, with Shukla now facing a chilling message from an individual named Ankush Gupta, who allegedly belongs to the Bishnoi gang. Advertisement The threatening message, shared by Shukla himself on his X (formerly Twitter) account, makes an ominous reference to the recent shooting incident at Salman Khans house. DEATH THREATS to my family ! @DGPPunjabPolice @PunjabPoliceInd @DgpChdPolice @ChdPol. Person seems to be from Chandigarh / Mohali . Please act firmly & promptly. To anyone who recognises the person plz report to @DGPPunjabPolice pic.twitter.com/XLkktoYUXa Abhinav Shukla (@ashukla09) April 20, 2025 The message read, Im from Lawrence Bishnois gang. I know your address. Should I come over? Just like Salman Khan was shot at, Ill come to your house and shoot you with an AK-47. The threat was accompanied by a warning: Consider this your final warning. Say anything about Asim, and your name goes on the list. Lawrence Bishnoi stands with Asim. Abhinav Shukla promptly shared a screen recording of the senders Instagram profile. He speculated that the individual might be from Chandigarh or Mohali. The actor also tagged the Punjab and Chandigarh Police, urging them to take immediate action. His post included a call for anyone who could identify the individual to report the threat. Defending strongly the unity between the estranged brothers Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray for safeguarding the interests of Maharashtra and the Marathi language, the Shiv Sena(UBT) in its mouthpiece Saamana editorial on Monday said the two should take steps in the states interest, and if nectar comes out of poison, Maharashtra needs it. If life is spent in arguments and fights, the future generations of Maharashtra will not forgive them, Saamana said Advertisement Taking a potshot at the BJP, the editorial said, What else does Maharashtra need? BJPs politics is of the use and throw attitude. Modi, Shah, and Fadnavis are not of the country; how can they be of the state of Maharashtra? They only did the work of sowing poison in politics. It is not their role to purify the flow of Krishna-Koyana rivers in Maharashtra, and everyone should get into that pure flow. They got everyone into the muddy, impure flow of Prayagraj and did the business of religion. This strange and poisonous period is going on, in which the Marathi people of Maharashtra should learn a lesson and guard every step. If nectar comes out of poison, Maharashtra needs it. Advertisement The news that Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are ready to come together for the greater good of Maharashtra has created a stir in the countrys politics. While this news made many happy, many were sickened by stomach aches. Raj Thackerays politics so far has been a meandering one and not been very successful. After leaving Shiv Sena, he founded an independent party called Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). At that time, he got a lot of support from the people in the municipal and Assembly elections, but later his party faced a setback. People like the Bharatiya Janata Party, Eknath Shinde and others kept attacking Shiv Sena with a gun on Rajs shoulder. Rajs party did not gain politically from this, but Marathi unity suffered immense losses, the editorial says. Rajs stance was not to let Modi and Shah set foot in Maharashtra. Rajs stance was that Shah and Modi do not think about the interests of Maharashtra. He did not stick to that stance. BJPs Hindutva is fake. BJP trapped Raj in the net of this fake Hindutva, and the carts kept slipping. Now he has clarified in an interview, Whatever happens, the arguments and fights between us are minor in comparison to any big things. Maharashtra is very big. These things are very insignificant for the existence of a Marathi person. I dont find it very difficult to come together and live together. Its just a matter of will, says the editorial. What Raj calls the dispute between us is about Uddhav Thackeray. What kind of dispute is this? It never came out. Raj kept talking about Marathi people, and Shiv Sena was born for the interest of Marathi, and Uddhav Thackeray did not abandon that interest. So, is there a dispute? Only the BJP, Mindhe (Eknath Shinde) and others started speaking on Rajs behalf. These people started the dispute. Therefore, if the BJP, Mindhe are kept away, where is the dispute? There needs to be a desire to come together. What Raj says is true, but whose desire is he talking about? asks the editorial. As soon as Raj expressed his desire, Uddhav Thackeray also did not fall behind. He took a strong step forward for the wider interest of Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray took the stand that if there is some minor dispute, I am also ready to work together for the interest of Maharashtra, leaving everything aside. This is the blown trumpet of the peoples sentiments of Maharashtra. The self-respect of the Marathi people and the welfare of Maharashtra are now zero, but if Uddhav has expressed a modest expectation that Raj should no longer sit in the ranks of Maharashtras enemies and keep Maharashtra traitors outside the threshold of the house, then no one should consider it a condition. Uddhav Thackeray said that Maharashtras enemies should not be allowed to stay at home. There is a pain behind it, said the editorial. Amit Shah, Modi, Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde others attacked the Shiv Sena founder and the Hindu hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray to weaken Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray was also born from the womb of the Shiv Sena. Therefore, how can we bring those dishonest to the mother of Maharashtra together and move forward together in the interest of Maharashtra? This is a simple question. Shinde and his people are the brains of Modi-Shah. Fadnaviss pretence of love for Maharashtra has been exposed time and again. These people put Mumbai up for sale and issued tenders to loot Maharashtra and gave it to non-Marathi contractors. In Mumbai, other communities stand together in times of crisis, but this Marathi arrow of unity has been shattered today, reads the editorial. Referring to the recent demolition of an ancient Jain temple in Mumbai suburbs Vile Parle, the editorial says, Vile Parle was once an impregnable stronghold of Marathi culture, but the day after the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took action against a Jain temple there, thousands of Jain brothers gathered in a few moments and took out a march and forced the transfer of municipal officials. In Mumbai, brothers of other castes and religions live together and support business-minded parties like the BJP, then this is a change that comes to the heart of Marathi people in Maharashtra. It is the simple calculation of the BJP and its business community that if the unity of the Marathi people is weakened, Mumbai can be torn apart from Maharashtra. That is why they have constantly tried to attack the Marathi unity that has been giving them the benefit of the doubt. They have also attacked the Shiv Sena, which is the thunderbolt of Marathi unity, and for that, the axe was used. The BMC elections have not been held for four years. Tulsi Gabbard, who is based in Washington, has explained the calculation of how the Maharashtra Assembly was won by the BJP and its business community. Of course, only the Marathi people have the courage and strength to fight all these Maharashtra traitors. Therefore, the Marathi people must come together. Raj Thackeray understood the importance of this unity, and Uddhav Thackeray also responded with an open mind, says the editorial. It further adds that this is a political development that has upset the Maharashtra traitors. The two brothers will come together, so many people are filled with fear and have started getting irritated, while some are putting on fake joy on their faces and saying, Wow, great! It would be great if both Thackerays came together, but this joy of the Maharashtra traitors is not real. Maharashtra should do what it has in mind, the editorial concludes. In a major breakthrough in Jharkhands protracted war against Maoist insurgency, security forces in the early hours of Monday neutralised eight Maoists, including the elusive rebel commander known as Prayag alias Vivek, carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head. The encounter, which unfolded beneath the dense canopy of Luguburu hills near Lalpania, saw hours of fierce exchange of fire between the Maoists and the joint team of Jharkhand Police and central paramilitary forces. Advertisement Acting on intelligence inputs regarding the movement of a large Maoist group in the area, security forces launched a coordinated operation around 4:30 am near Choragawans Soso Tola. The rebels opened fire upon sensing their presence, triggering a prolonged gun battle that left eight Maoists dead. Among the deceased are Arvind Yadav, carrying a bounty of Rs 25 lakh, and Saheb Ram Manjhi, with a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. Advertisement By the time the first light pierced the mist of the hills, the operation had yielded significant results. Bodies of the Maoists, sophisticated arms, and explosive materials were recovered from the dense forest floor. The police estimate the total worth of eliminated Maoist bounties to exceed Rs1.5 crore. Confirming the incident, DIG of Koylanchal Range, Surendra Kumar Jha, termed the encounter a decisive blow to the dwindling ranks of the outlawed CPI (Maoist). The insurgents are weakening. We have recovered advanced weaponry and vital communication equipment. We are urging those remaining to surrender, or face the full force of the law, he said. The area remains tense, and combing operations are ongoing. Locals who had ventured into the forest to collect fodder and mahua flowers reportedly turned back at the sound of gunfire that echoed across the terrain. Security forces swiftly cordoned off the zone and intensified vehicle checks on the Gomia-Lalpania arterial route, including checkpoints at Tulbul Sidho Kanhu Chowk and Munda Toli Morh. US Vice-President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their three children left Italy for India where they are scheduled to arrive Monday morning for a four-day visit that included a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Air Force 2 is expected to land in New Delhi at 9:30 a.m. They will also be traveling to Agra and Jaipur. The second couple is accompanied by their three childrenEwan, 7, and Vivek, 4, the boys, and Mirabel, 2, their daughter. Usha Vances family came to the US from Andhra Pradesh, and it was not immediately known if she and her family were to receive Indian relatives during their stay. Advertisement This will be the vice-presidents first visit to India and it will come amidst talks between the two countries to arrive at a trade deal triggered by President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs on all imports into America. Initially tariffed at 26 per cent. the levy on India stands at the baseline 10 per cent for all trading partners except China during a 90-day pause in the rollout of original levies. Advertisement The vice-president is scheduled to meet the prime minister, which will be their second bilateral. The first took place in February in Paris on the sidelines of the AI summit. From there the prime minister had carried on to Washington DC for his first meeting with the American president after his return to the White House. Vance is the second senior Trump administration official to visit India in this term. The first was Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, who visited in March and apart from meeting the prime minister and other officials she also addressed the Raisina Dialogue, an annual government-backed meeting of national security and foreign policy leaders and experts from around the world. Vance is the first American vice-president to travel to India in 13 years. The last one was Joe Biden, who visited India as vice-president to President Barack Obama in 2013. Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, the two in between, did not. In a proud moment for Jharkhand, Seraikela-Kharsawan Deputy Commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla was awarded the prestigious Prime Ministers Award for Excellence in Public Administration, 2024. The award was presented on Monday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a special ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on the occasion of Civil Services Day. Shukla was recognised for his exemplary leadership in implementing the Aspirational Block Programme, particularly for the remarkable turnaround in Gamharia block, once counted among the states most underdeveloped regions. Advertisement Under his stewardship, Gamharia witnessed visible, measurable progress across key sectors like health, education, agriculture, water management, sanitation, and skill development. His teams focused planning, effective convergence of government schemes, and strong collaboration with the local community helped deliver real change on the ground. Advertisement From functional health and wellness centres and improved immunisation to the decline in malnutrition and the digital uplift of schools, the transformation has been wide-ranging. The introduction of organic farming and the formation of farmer-producer groups boosted agricultural outcomes, while access to clean drinking water and better sanitation facilities further improved quality of life. Importantly, skill training initiatives opened new job opportunities, especially for tribal youth in the region. Ravi Shankar Shukla, while accepting the honour, dedicated the award to his team, local panchayats, frontline workers, and the people of Gamharia. This recognition is a collective achievement. It shows whats possible when administration and citizens come together with shared purpose, he said. The Aspirational Block Programme, an offshoot of the Government of Indias larger Aspirational Districts Programme, focuses on uplifting the most backward blocks through real-time monitoring, data-driven interventions, and citizen-focused planning. Gamharias success stands as a testament to the power of grassroots governance and community engagement. Civil Services Day is celebrated every year to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Indias civil servants and to encourage a culture of innovation and accountability in public service. The Prime Ministers Award is among the highest honours for officers in the civil services, aimed at recognising those who bring change where its needed most on the ground, at the last mile. A soldier was killed on Sunday at Ladakhs Siachen Glacier while performing duty at the worlds highest battlefield. The Defence Ministry said that Naib Subedar Baldev Singh made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at the Siachen Glacier. Advertisement The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Armys Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps paid rich tribute to the fallen soldier. Advertisement GOC, Fire and Fury Corps and All Ranks salute Naib Subedar Baldev Singh, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in #SiachenGlacier on 20 Apr 2025 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief, Fire and Fury Corps said in a post on X. The Army, however, did not reveal the exact circumstances leading to the death of the soldier. Siachen Glacier is located in the Eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan ends. The glacier is 76 km long and it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and the second longest in the Worlds non-polar areas. It falls from an altitude of 5,753 m (18,875 ft) above sea level at its head at Indira Col on the IndiaChina border down to 3,620 m (11,875 ft) at its terminus. The entire Siachen Glacier, with all major passes, has been under the administration of India as part of Ladakh since 1984. Pakistan controls the region west of Saltoro Ridge, lying west of the glacier, with Pakistani posts located 1 km below more than 100 Indian posts on the ridge. In 1984, India launched Operation Meghdoot, a military operation that gave India control over all of the Siachen Glacier, including its tributaries. Between 1984 and 1999, frequent skirmishes took place between India and Pakistan. Indian army under Operation Meghdoot pre-empted Pakistans Operation Ababeel by just one day to occupy most of the dominating heights on Saltoro Ridge to the west of Siachen Glacier. However, more soldiers have died from the harsh weather conditions in the region than from combat. Pakistan lost 353 soldiers in various operations recorded between 2003 and 2010 near Siachen, including 140 Pakistanis killed in the 2012 Gayari Sector avalanche. Between January 2012 and July 2015, 33 Indian soldiers died due to adverse weather. Amid raging controversy over the introduction of Hindi as a compulsory language in Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English schools in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified that it is wrong to say that there is an attempt to impose the language. He said only Marathi will be compulsory, and there will be no other compulsion. CM Fadnavis said, Hindi has not been made mandatory in place of Marathi. Only Marathi is mandatory. But the New Education Policy has given the opportunity to learn three languages. Learning three languages is mandatory. There is a rule that out of these three languages, two must be Indian. Therefore, we have made Marathi mandatory among the two Indian languages. What is the other language? So if you take any Indian language, you will have to take Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati or any other. You cannot take anything outside these. Advertisement The steering committee in its report said if Hindi is kept as the third language, then we have teachers available for it. Therefore, there will be no need for more teachers. If other languages are kept, then teachers are not available; that is the committees recommendation. There is no encroachment anywhere in this, he said. Advertisement Speaking about learning languages other than Hindi, CM Fadnavis said, If anyone wants to learn a language other than Hindi, we will give them full permission to learn it. Because such permission has been given by the New Education Policy. However, if there are at least 20 students, a teacher can be provided to them, but if there are fewer than that, then the language will have to be taught online or in a different way. Such teachers are also available in our border areas, and there is a bilingual system. But it is wrong to say that there is an attempt to impose Hindi. Only Marathi will be compulsory in Maharashtra. There will be no other compulsion. He further remarked, I am surprised that we oppose Indian languages like Hindi and sing the praises of English. We carry English on our shoulders. We should also think about why we feel English is close and Indian languages are far away. The chief ministers clarification comes amid strong objections by opposition parties. Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has announced that it will not allow the government to make Hindi compulsory, while Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, founded by Raj Thackeray, claimed that if the government does not withdraw its decision, then the struggle is inevitable. The Congress alleged that making Hindi compulsory is a ploy to destroy the Marathi language, identity and culture. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP warned that undermining Marathi under the garb of the New Education Policy would not be tolerated. Meanwhile, the state governments language consultation committee has urged the Chief Minister to revoke the decision to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students of Classes 1 to 5. The language consultation committees chief, Laxmikant Deshmukh, claimed the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) did not consider their thoughts and suggestions before making the Hindi push. As political tensions flare over BJP MP Nishikant Dubeys controversial criticism of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stepped into the fray, launching a sharp counterattack on the Congress party. Sarma accused the opposition of having a long-standing habit of undermining the judiciary when verdicts dont align with its political interests. Advertisement Respecting the judiciary shouldnt be contingent upon the favorability of its decisions, Sarma posted on X asserting that selective outrage weakens public faith in the judiciary. Advertisement His comments come amid growing backlash against Dubey, who recently accused the apex court of inciting religious wars and held the Chief Justice responsible for all the civil wars happening in this country. Sarma pointed to past instances where the Congress party, he claimed, had attempted to influence or discredit the judiciary. He cited the 2018 impeachment motion against then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, initiated by Congress and other opposition parties, as a politically motivated move. He also recalled how Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Arun Mishra, and DY Chandrachud faced intense criticism following landmark judgments. Justice Ranjan Gogoi: Subjected to severe criticism following the Ayodhya verdict, Sarma wrote, highlighting what he called a consistent pattern of attacking judges post-verdicts. In defending the BJPs institutional respect for the judiciary, Sarma distanced the party from Dubeys inflammatory remarks. Adarniya Nadda Ji emphasised that these were personal opinions and not reflective of the partys stance, he posted. Sarma also dismissed opposition criticism over the post-retirement appointment of Justice S Abdul Nazeer as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh. He argued that such appointments have occurred under various governments in the past but never received comparable scrutiny, calling the recent outcry a case of politicising judicial careers. Opposition leaders like Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi slammed the BJP, alleging that the ruling party was turning India into a North Korea-Iraq hybrid by stifling institutional independence and intimidating the judiciary. US Vice President J D Vance, his wife Usha Vance and their three children began their 4-day India visit on Monday. The family visited the Akshardham Temple in the national capital, shortly after their arrival in the country. The family will be in the country from April 21 to 24. They were received at the airport by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Advertisement After visiting the temple, the VP in a message to Swaminarayan Akshardham wrote, Thank you all so much for your hospitality and Kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. Advertisement It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids in particular loved it. God Bless, the temple posted on X. Stating about their visit, Akshardham temple spokesperson, Radhika Shukla said that the US Vice President spent 55 minutes exploring the temple, appreciating its intricate carvings, and offering prayers for world peace. Shukla said, The whole family was here for around 55 minutes. Their experience of one hour inside was unforgettable. After the welcome, they started with the Charanarvind of Lord Swaminarayan. Moving ahead, they visited Bharat Upvan. They liked the garden very much. Going further, they visited Gajendra Peeth. They were very overwhelmed by the carvings. Then they went upstairs and after having a darshan of the idol of Lord Swaminarayan in the sanctum sanctorum, they prayed for world peace. Vance also received a ceremonial Guard of Honour on his first official visit to India. Sharing a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote, A very warm welcome to @VP JD Vance, @SLOTUS Mrs. Usha Vance, & the US delegation to India! Received by Minister of Railways and I&B AshwiniVaishnaw at the airport. The Official Visit (21-24 Apr) spanning Delhi, Jaipur & Agra is expected to further deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, the post added. Hoardings of US Vice President Vance were also put up near Palam airport, ahead of his arrival today. Later today, Vance is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital. A bilateral meeting between Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Modi is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Prime Ministers official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Strengthening economic, trade, and defence cooperation between the two nations are likely to be on the agenda of the meeting. Following the official meetings, the Vance family is set to visit Jaipur on Tuesday, followed by a visit to Agra. He will travel to Jaipur on Tuesday. On April 23, he is scheduled to visit Agra. Vances visit to India will conclude on Thursday, April 24. The Latin American Boom, a literary phenomenon that consisted of the Latin American narrative, spread throughout the world. With the Boom, the independent and relatively young and independent Latin American authors became global literary icons. The magical realism thus became the style of writing which depicted turbulent reality immersed in fanciful overtones. The Boom inspired many writers to explore themes of revolution, social justice, and political oppression in their works. It coincided with the rise of leftwing politics in the region, and many of its writers were sympathetic to socialist and Marxist ideologies. With the death of Perus ce lebrated writer Mario Vargas Llosa, the Boom has finally faded. Advertisement He was the last of Latin Americas literary golden generation. He leaves behind a legacy that will resonate for generations. The other Boom writers were Julio Cortazar of Argentina, Carlos Fuentes of Mexico, Guillermo Cabrera of Cuba, Gabriel Garcia Marquez of Colombia and Jose Donoso of Chile. The world got to know the region through the way Boom writers explained political, economic and social events. The Boom cast a surrealist influence on everyone from Salman Rushdie to Toni Morrison, whose novel Beloved bore the echoes of Marquezs haunted relationship with ghosts and memories. Writers like Garcia Marquez and Mario Vargas Llosa flirted with Fidel Castros revolution, so did French philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Advertisement In the early 1960s Sartre and de Beauvoir visited Cuba, travelled across the country with Fidel Castro and fully endorsed the revolution and later published his Cuba reports in France-Soir. Garcia Marquez was a great friend of Cuba and Fidel Castro. Vargas Llosa too saw the Cuban Revolution and the implementation of a socialist society corresponding with his hopes for a better future for Latin America. Both grew disillusioned and denounced Castros Cuba. By 1980, Vargas Llosa no longer believed in socialism as a solution for developing nations. Llosa went as far to lambast Marquez, his one-time friend as Castros courtesan. Marquez too became a critique of Castro but he avoided such abusive language for the Cuban leader. The Boon later lost its magic even to its staunch defenders. Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vasquez has set a new tone for LatinAmerican literature, one that leaves magical realism and its cultural trappings neatly behind. He writes about disproportionate reality saying his writing is really nitty-gritty realism. Marquez himself turned defensive on magical realism. He wrote that his novels were real, not magical. Latin America was going through extraordinary convulsions which the wider world considered unrealistic. He clarified that the fictional world he describes in his novels was a world of fantasy. Latin American writers and intellectuals have donned many hats. While Marquez was deeply involved with Colombian politics, Llosa fought presidential elections and Carlos Fuentes campaigned actively in favour of democratic change in Mexico. As Carlos Fuentes says, our writers are keeping alive the Latin American tradition of the uncertain border between reality and imagination. After all, Fuente says, we are all children of La Mancha, the descendants of Don Quixote. Why do Latin American writings fascinate? Latin American culture is not merely characterized by receiving but also critiquing, revising and synthesizing Western culture. It can be regarded as universalist and cosmopolitan precisely because it is not merely or mainly Western but Native, American, African and Asian as well. As Octavio Paz put it, our literatures did not passively accept the changing fortunes of the transplanted languages: they participated in the process and even transformed it. During his romance days with the Cuban revolution, Vargas Llosa went to the extent of saying that in ten, twenty, fifty years all of our countries will have reached, as Cuba has today, the time of social justice and all Latin America will have freed itself from the empire that sacks her, from the castes that exploit her Latin American writers like Marquez, Vargas Llosa and Carlos Fuentes were often constrained to switch from one ideological camp to another: communism without freedom and capitalism without justice. They showed greater commitment to the grassroots issues affecting daily lives of Latin Americas poor, unjust societies. Of course, Vargas Llosa went to the extreme. Disillusioned with the Latin American Left in general and after witnessing the authoritarianism of Castros government as well as the authoritarian tendencies of the Left in Peru, Vargas Llosa entered a neo-liberal phase supporting the Thacherite-Reaganian brand of neoconservatism. He sought to strengthen artistic, political, and economic freedoms by actively supporting democracy and free market economics. Vargas Llosa was also critical of both Hispanicism and indigenism. As he writes, while they produced excellent historical essays and highly creative works of fiction, both doctrines seem equally sectarian, reductionist and false. Vargas Llosas legacy is not just in his works but also in his advocacy for literatures power to transform and liberate. Latin America is a region where literature intersects politics. Intellectuals have had great political interests and influence. While accepting the Romulo Gallegos 1967 Prize, Vargas Llosa spoke on the theme, literature is fire. It signified nonconformism and rebellion. He said that the writer has been, is, and will continue to be a nonconformist. To him, literature was a form of permanent insurrection and recognized no straitjackets. Vargas Llosa wondered in an essay. Why is it that instead of being basically creators and artists, writers in Peru and other Latin American countries must above all be politicians, agitators, reformers, social publicists and moralists? Intellectuals have had an enormous political influence in Latin America. providing legitimacy to governments and vigour to various revolutions. It is due to their creation and interpretation of diverse ideas and images that the relevance is given to various ideologies in the public consciousness. Carlos Fuentes, a great thinker, writer and literary critic, insisted time and again that the Latin American writer had a special responsibility to give voice to the voiceless. A new wave of stories and powerful voices against drug violence and social unrest are causing a second boom in literature in Latin America today. Playfulness continues to be a factor in much of Latin America. The new writers are writing stories that dont confirm their own experiences but rather ones that challenge their expectations. They are exploring a wide range of themes and styles from gritty realism to experimental fiction. (The writer comments on global affairs) Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Sunday that it would not be appropriate to discuss security and trade together with the US. I dont think it is appropriate to discuss security and trade together. We should address security issues without linking them to tariffs, the Japanese Prime Minister told a local TV program, days after his close aide met Trump and senior US officials on the recently increased tariffs. Advertisement On negotiations, the Prime Minister said, They must produce a desirable outcome for both sides. We want to take the necessary time to create a model for the world. Advertisement He reiterated that he would visit the US at the most appropriate time. He said that he (Trump) considers cutting the US trade deficit with other countries is Trumps top priority. The Prime Minister further pledged to assess Japans automobile regulations to facilitate negotiations with the US. We will work hard to ensure that Japan is not accused of being unfair, said the Prime Minister. Expressing concern over the negative impact of the US-China tit-for-tat tariff escalation, Ishiba assured that Japan, as a leader in free trade, will bolster cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union. Earlier this week, Akazawa Ryosei, Minister in charge of Economic Revitalisation of Japan, visited the US and held a meeting on Japan-US Consultation on US Tariff Measures with President Trump, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others concerning US tariff measures. Later, addressing a press conference regarding the meeting, PM Ishiba said that the consultations going forward will continue to be challenging, but President Trump himself said that he places topmost priority on consultations with Japan. PM Ishiba also spoke with President Trump on the telephone to discuss new US tariffs. Ishiba told Trump that they should seek cooperation that can benefit both nations, not tariffs, as he expressed concern that the US tariffs could weaken the investment capacity of Japanese companies, Kyodo News reported. Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died Monday morning, the Vatican said in a statement. He was 88. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father, Cardinal Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, said in a statement. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. Advertisement He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized, the statement read. Advertisement Francis became the 266th Pope of Rome on March 13, 2013. He was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church in over 1,200 years. Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, Francis had recently survived a very serious double pneumonia. Hours before his death, he had met US president J D Vance. World leaders express condolences on demise of Pope Francis Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, mourned the pasisng of Pope Francis, calling him The Peoples Pope. Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His contagious smile captured millions of peoples hearts across the globe. The Peoples Pope will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace, she said. French President Emmanuel Macron said, From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. May it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him. My wife and I send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving world.. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter said Pope Francis was a tireless advocate for peace. He was a great spiritual leader, a tireless advocate for peace, and his human warmth was a comfort not only to Catholics. Pope Francis has left us. His legacy will remain, she said. It is with deep sadness I heard the news this morning of the death of Pope Francis. He was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation in our society. He brought comfort, assurance and hope to many. May he Rest in Peace, John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland said in a post on X. At least three people were killed and four others wounded in fresh US airstrikes on Yemens capital Sanaa, its outskirts, and other provinces. The US military launched 21 airstrikes on Sanaa and its western outskirts, killing two people and wounding two others in the Al-Nahda neighbourhood, northern Sanaa. A third one was wounded in a cemetery in the Safiah neighbourhood in southern Sanaa, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. Advertisement In the Bani Matar district in Sanaas western outskirts, the airstrikes killed one person and wounded another one, said the Houthi television Advertisement The report did not specify whether the victims were civilians or Houthi operatives. The airstrikes on the capital also targeted several other locations, including weapons depots in the Al-Hafa military camp in the Mount Nuqum in eastern Sanaa, and two military sites in northeastern Sanaa, according to Sanaas residents. The roar of the fighter jets speeding at full throttle could be heard across the capital before and after the strikes hit. Ambulances were seen in Sanaas streets rushing to the targeted sites as the Houthi-controlled police cordoned off the targeted areas. Meanwhile, the US fighter jets conducted 13 airstrikes against the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah Airport and the Navy Base in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, western Yemen, according to the Houthi television and local residents. The other four airstrikes targeted Houthi positions in the district of Sirwah, west of Yemens central province of Marib. Another four airstrikes targeted a Houthi military position in the Harf Sufian district in the northern province of Amran, said the television. The fresh airstrikes came two days after the US airstrikes on the Ras Isa fuel port in the western province of Hodeidah, which killed at least 80 people and wounded 150 others, according to the latest statement by local health authorities. In a key verdict, the Lahore High Court has held that a woman has the right to recover her full deferred dower even after obtaining a divorce through Khula, as the dissolution of marriage due to the husbands misconduct does not impact her entitlement adversely. In his ruling, Justice Raheel Kamran held that under Islamic law and the Nikahnama (the binding marriage contract), the husband remains obligated to pay dower unless the wife seeks Khula (dissolution of marriage) without any fault on his part, but in the case concerned, the woman had furnished credible evidence of her husbands cruelty and disrespectful conduct, which prompted her to seek separation. Advertisement The concept of Khula is based on verses No 228 and 229 of the holy Qurans Surah Al-Baqarah, and its application was found in the lifetime of the Holy Prophet, and subsequently, he said, the Dawn reported on Sunday. Advertisement Justice Kamran also cited a Federal Shariat Court judgement which held that where a wife obtains Khula merely on the basis of dislike for her husband, the dower received by her is returnable, but when she seeks Khula due to fault on the part of the husband and provides reasonable justification, it is not valid to require from her the return of the dower already received by her. In such an eventuality, it is for the court to determine the amount the wife should return, keeping in view facts and circumstances of the case. Stressing the Nikahnama is a valid and binding contract between wife and husband, and deferred dower is a contractual obligation undertaken by the husband, the judge said that unless there were valid legal grounds to deviate from the terms of this contract, the husband is bound to fulfill his obligation. The mere fact that the wife sought Khula does not automatically nullify this contractual obligation, he maintained. The judge reiterated that in order to determine the entitlement of a wife seeking Khula to the claim of deferred dower, the key consideration is the reason for her seeking Khula. Where a wife seeks Khula on the ground that she dislikes her husband, without any fault on the part of the husband, she loses her right to deferred dower in the same way as in the case of prompt dower, he maintained. Conversely, if the husbands conduct compels the wife to seek dissolution, she retains her entitlement to the deferred dower, the judge added. The judge noted that in this case, since the marriage lasted nine years and the wife fulfilled her marital obligations, denying her the deferred dower would be unjust. He distinguished the case from earlier judgments cited by the petitioners counsel, where cruelty by the husband was not proven. Absolutely right (Wusun) and (Xiongnu) were two distinct nomadic or semi-nomadic states during the Han Dynasty period, often confused but quite different in geography, culture, and political alignment. (Wusun) Where it was (then): Located primarily in the Ili River Valley (), which is in today's eastern Kazakhstan and western Xinjiang, China . Neighboring entities included: Dayuan to the west (Ferghana Valley, present-day Uzbekistan), Yuezhi () to the northwest, Xiongnu to the northeast. Where it is now: Modern geography: Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture , Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (China) and parts of southeastern Kazakhstan . The ancient Wusun capital was near the modern-day city of Yining (). Historical significance: Allied with the Han Dynasty , especially through marriage alliances (heqin) including the marriage of Princess Jieyou () . Known for horse breeding, semi-nomadic pastoral life, and trading in the Silk Road network. (Xiongnu) Where it was (then): A vast nomadic empire north of the Great Wall , mainly covering: Mongolia Inner Mongolia (China) Parts of southern Siberia and Central Asia . A major rival of the Han Dynasty during the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE. Where it is now: Modern geography: largely Mongolia, Inner Mongolia (China), and extending to parts of Kazakhstan, Russia, and northern Xinjiang. Historical significance: Frequently clashed with the Han Empire; known for mounted archery, mobility, and political-military confederation. After fragmentation, some remnants moved west and may have contributed to later groups like the Huns in Europe. Summary Comparison Table (Wusun) (Xiongnu) Time Period ~2nd century BCE 1st CE ~3rd century BCE 1st CE Location (Then) Ili River Valley (Xinjiang, Kazakhstan) Mongolian Plateau, North China Modern Area Western Xinjiang + Kazakhstan Mongolia + Inner Mongolia + Siberia Relationship with Han Allied (marriage ties) Rival (conflict + treaties) Culture Semi-nomadic, horse breeders Nomadic, warrior confederacy Let me know if you want to visualize this on a historical map or dive into their interactions with the Silk Road or Han diplomacy! Pointing out that the race for technological supremacy has already begun, Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla, Master General Sustenance (MGS), Army urged the industry to work together with the armed forces to create a secure future for the country. Addressing an 'Industry Interactive Session' hosted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Delhi on Monday, he said India cannot afford to be just a spectator in this race for technological supremacy. Lt Gen Aujla told the representatives of various companies from India's defence industry that if the end-user is the armed forces, quality should be the defining factor as "we are working for a national cause". The industry and the armed forces can be "co-creators" of a very secure, robust and dynamic India of the future, he added. "Global dynamics are changing, India is also changing and so are the armed forces. When we are changing and we have got boots on the ground, we want equal boots on ground on the shop floor as well. So, let us not walk separately, let us march together, let's be comrades in capability development." Lt Gen Aujla emphasised that India's military power, as far as the future is concerned, "will no longer get decided only in boardrooms and operation rooms, it will now get decided also in R&D labs, on testing grounds and on potency of the industry". "And, we have to rise, we have to step up, we have to deliver for the national cause. And in that national cause, revenue procurement and sustainability is (are) extremely, extremely important," he added. The MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will take part in the premier multinational air combat drill, 'Desert Flag-10' hosted by the UAE Air Force, in the United Arab Emirates. The event is being held from April 21 to May 8. Besides India and the UAE, the contingents from the air forces of 10 other countries including the US, the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, and Turkey will take part in the exercise. A contingent of the IAF reached Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE to participate in the multinational air combat exercise, the ministry said. "The aim of the exercise is to undertake complex and diverse fighter engagements, with exchange of operational knowledge and best practices with some of the most capable air forces in the world. ALSO READ: India invites UK to invest in defence corridors in UP, Tamil Nadu to tap cost-effective military solutions The defence ministry said the participation in such exercises enhances mutual understanding interoperability, and strengthens military cooperation among the participating nations. "The IAF's participation underscores India's commitment to "strengthening defence ties and interoperability with friendly nations in the region and beyond", the ministry further stated. Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with the crown prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the defence minister of UAE, during the latter's visit to India. According to officials, the two sides have identified training exchanges as a major area of defence cooperation. "They also agreed to focus on complementarities for the two countries in the 'Make in India' and 'Make in Emirates' initiatives, the officials had said. Police investigating the murder of former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash has learnt that his wife Pallavi allegedly threw chilli powder on his face before stabbing him to death, reported PTI. He was found murdered at his Bengaluru residence in HSR layout on Sunday evening. Police have detained both his wife and daughter suspecting their involvement in the murder of the ex-police chief. According to India Today, Kartikesh, son of the deceased former DGP, his mother who is now the prime accused in the case, had been battling schizophrenia for the past 12 years and was undergoing treatment. As per the family members, Pallavi frequently expressed fear and often remained in a delusional state. A few months ago, Pallavi approached the HSR Layout police station to lodge a complaint. When the staff there did not oblige, she staged a 'Dharna' (sit-in demonstration) in front of the police station, PTI reported. What is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel and behave. People with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking and behaviour. Causes and treatment options According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than two out of three people with psychosis in the world do not receive specialist mental health care. A range of effective care options for people with schizophrenia exist and at least one in three people with schizophrenia will be able to fully recover. Research has not identified one single cause responsible for triggering schizophrenia. It is thought that an interaction between genes and a range of environmental factors may cause schizophrenia. Psychosocial factors may also affect the onset and course of the mental health disorder. Regarding treatment procedures for the disorder, Mayo Clinic says lifelong treatment with medicines and psychosocial therapy can help manage schizophrenia, though there is no cure for it. Maria Paszkiewicz, a 76-year-old woman, succumbed to a devastating bowel cancer within eight months of the diagnosis. She was very rarely ill, but in 2023 she began experiencing a change in her bowel habits. Ms Paszkiewicz noticed that she had to use the toilet more frequently and often with some urgency, reported Daily Mail. Concerned about the bowel issues, she consulted medics, who dismissed her symptoms for being likely caused by a reaction to food that she consumed. Her daughter Anne-Marie said no doctor had suggested her symptoms hinted at some condition which was much more serious. 'When this didnt feel right, my mum had to push for a blood test to be done to ascertain what the issue really was,' said Anne-Marie. Eventually, experts figured out the real issue. They found cancer in her bowel and it had spread to the liver. Chemotherapy was initiated immediately after the diagnosis and it seemed to have made some progress. However, at the end of April last year, Ms Paszkiewicz was informed that she had just three to six months to live. But fate had other plans. She passed away three days later with her daughter by her side. After that initial prognosis, we spent the next few days calculating how long three months was and milestones coming up and what can we do as a family. But we didn't get to do any of that. It was a huge shock to the system, her daughter said. What is bowel cancer? Bowel cancer means cancer that starts in the large bowel (colon) and the back passage (rectum). It is also known as colorectal cancer, as per Cancer Research UK. Signs to look out for As per NHS, symptoms of bowel cancer may include: The Andhra Pradesh police achieved breakthrough in the KIA car theft case as eight people were arrested and sent o judicial remand. The KIA plant, one of the biggest outside South Korea, is located in the Anantapur region and rolls out various models of the brand for domestic as well as international markets. In an internal company audit taken up recently, it was found that 900 car engines were missing from the plant. A police case was registered and the probe began almost immediately. According to the officials, the theft of the engines had taken place over a period of five years. It is estimated that the value of the stolen engines is around 50 crores. The officials suspected the role of employees of the plant and not surprisingly, almost all the accused have been learnt to be former and current employees of KIA plant. The police took eight people into custody and questioned them based on which they were formally arrested. The accused hail from Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, three more persons are under the radar of the police but are absconding. According to sources, as per the preliminary investigation, it is believed that a group of employees of KIA and their cohorts, Delhi-based automobile traders resorted to large-scale theft. The modus operandi was to steal the engines during the transportation to or from the plant and send it to traders in the industry. During the investigation, it was found that the engines were sold in grey markets in Delhi, UP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana. The police are yet to recover the engines. At this stage, the police are looking at the roles of at least two dozen individuals, who are a mix of insiders and those who are not directly employed with KIA. Between 2019 and 2024, KIA exported more than 2,50,000 vehicles from the Anantapur facility. In the same period, around 10 lakh vehicles were also rolled out from the plant for the domestic market. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey continues to face heat for his alleged anti-judiciary remarks as another Supreme Court lawyer has approached the attorney generals (AG) office seeking contempt proceedings against him. This is the second petition seeking contempt proceedings against Dubey. Senior lawyer Shi Kumar Tripathi has written to the attorney generals office seeking permission to initiate contempt proceedings against Dubey for his alleged remarks maligning the image of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India. On Sunday, Supreme Court lawyer Anas Tanwir moved the attorney generals office seeking permission to initiate contempt proceedings against Dubey. #WATCH | Delhi: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says "Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna is responsible for all the civil wars happening in this country" https://t.co/EqRdbjJqIE pic.twitter.com/LqEfuLWlSr ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025 In his letter written under section 15(1)(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, the Supreme Court lawyer said Dubeys comments were "grossly scandalous, misleading, and aimed at lowering the dignity and authority of the Honourable Supreme Court of India." The senior lawyer also charged Dubey made communally polarizing comments against the Supreme Court and the comments cast aspersions on the top court's impartiality. Recently, Dubey criticised the Supreme Courts observations while hearing pleas challenging the amended Waqf law. He also criticised the top court for specifying timelines for governors and the president to grant assent for bills passed by state legislatures. Dubey said, If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut." Dubey allegedly accused the top court of inciting religious wars in the country. However, Dubey seems to be unperturbed by the criticisms as on Sunday he targeted former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi over his comments on the Waqf Amendment Act. Dubey charged the former CEC was not an election commissioner but a "Muslim commissioner". However, the BJP has distanced itself from the comments. BJP president and Union minister J.P. Nadda said, The Bharatiya Janata Party has nothing to do with the statements made by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the judiciary and the Chief Justice of the country. These are their personal statements, but the BJP neither agrees with such statements nor does it ever support such statements." From protests to petitions, the backlash against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 is rapidly gaining ground in Telangana. What began as isolated voices of opposition from various political and social outfits has now transformed into a coordinated, state-wide campaign cutting across political lines. With the ruling Congress as well as the opposition BRS, along with the AIMIM, and the MBT all taking strong positions against the law, Telangana has become a loud centre of resistance to the amended legislation. A massive public meeting in Hyderabad was organised under the banner of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board recently, where leaders from multiple parties shared the dais to demand withdrawal of the new Act. In his speech, Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, termed the Waqf Act a 'black law and warned that it could lead to large-scale encroachment of mosques and graveyards across India. He said that the law was unconstitutional and an assault on the religious rights of Muslims. Former home minister and senior BRS leader Mohammed Mahmood Ali, who also addressed the gathering, urged the Muslim leaders to take support of secular Hindus to back their cause. He questioned the controversial clause that allows people from other faiths to be appointed to the Waqf Board. Ali said the BRS had opposed the amendments in Parliament and would continue to resist the implementation of the law in Telangana. From the ruling side, senior Congress leader and Telangana Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir led a large protest rally in Nizamabad and announced that he had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Act. Speaking to a crowd of thousands, Shabbir called the law unconstitutional and warned that it would disempower Muslims socially, economically, and religiously. This is an organised attempt to take away our heritage. The BJP is not reforming Waqf, it is trying to capture it, Shabbir said. He said that he was following the directions of Congress high command and Telangana leadership led by CM Revanth Reddy. Other parties and organisations with similar stand are also preparing to take their protests to the streets. The Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), along with a broad coalition under the All Party JAC (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh), is gearing up for a major mobilisation. A protest dubbed the Telangana March to Rollback of Waqf Amendment Act is scheduled for April 26 at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad. Leaders from MBT, Congress, BRS, CPI, and other groups are expected to participate in the programme. Due to worsening weather conditions, the Jammu and Kashmir government has suspended classes in all schools in Kashmir on Monday. Heavy rains, hailstorms, and snowfall in the higher areas since April 19 have thrown life out of gear across Kashmir and parts of Jammu. Two minor siblings were among three individuals who lost their lives in cloudburst-triggered flash floods at Bagna in Ramban district during the intervening night of April 19 and 20. Landslides between Nashri and Banihal along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway have blocked the highway for traffic, cutting Kashmir off from the rest of the country. #WATCH | Ramban landslide | People are travelling on foot to reach their destination as vehicular movement is blocked on the National Highway 44 due to landslides pic.twitter.com/xAYNldKNcj ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025 In the last three years, the Centre has expedited work on the four-laning of the Jammu-Srinagar highway, which has vastly improved travel between Srinagar and Jammu. However, some stretches remain vulnerable to extreme weather conditions due to heavy rains. The highway is the lifeline of Kashmir for transporting essentials from outside. Education Minister Sakeena Itoo shared the decision to close schools on social media. In light of the continuing severe weather conditions and forecasts, it has been decided that classwork in all schools of the Valley shall remain suspended for one day tomorrow (April 21). This decision has been taken as a precautionary step to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, Itoo said. Authorities are keeping a watch on the situation as more rain is expected. Apple farmers have asked the government for help due to damage to their orchards. The Meteorological Department issued a fresh advisory regarding moderate to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds in many parts of Jammu. People have been advised to stay indoors and avoid going near streams, nallahs, landslide-prone areas and weak structures. Sunday marked the third consecutive day of heavy rain, and some places even experienced hailstorms that damaged orchards and crops in several regions. Travellers have also been warned not to travel unless necessary, as there are rising concerns about flash floods and landslides, especially in hilly and low-lying areas. Retired DGP Om Prakash (68) was found murdered at his Bengaluru residence in HSR layout on Sunday evening. Karnataka police suspect his wife Pallavi and daughter Kriti are involved in the murder. The police arrived at the deceased cops house after his wife called the police helpline "112" around 4pm on Sunday to inform them about the murder. According to sources, the couple had an ongoing feud ever since he retired in 2017. On Sunday, the couple picked up a fight and when Prakash, who had a gun, threatened to kill his wife, she allegedly tied him up, threw chilli powder into his eyes, poured cooking oil and stabbed him 10-12 times. After he bled to death, she wrapped his body in a bedsheet, and informed the police. The mother and daughter had locked themselves up in a room when the police arrived. A week ago, Pallavi had filed a police complaint that her husband was threatening to shoot her and their daughter with a gun. However, the police did not intervene, and his gun was not seized despite knowing there was constant friction between the couple. In the past too, Pallavi had posted messages about her husband allegedly torturing her and her daughter in a WhatsApp group of police officers' wives. Pallavi has allegedly messaged another senior police officer's wife that she had killed the "monster" after the murder. Police are yet to verify the message. The body was shifted to St John's Hospital for postmortem. An FIR has been filed based on a complaint filed by his son Karthikesh and the mother-daughter duo is being interrogated at the HSR layout police station. Home Minister G. Parameshwara police said that the police were questioning the wife and the probe was going on. Om Prakash, a 1981-batch IPS officer hails from Champaran in Bihar and served as DGP-IGP of Karnataka till his retirement, between February 28, 2015 and March 31, 2017. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav kicked up a storm by alleging that other castes like the Thakurs were getting more postings than those belonging to the Pichda Dalit Alpsankhyak (PDA) category- a charge which the states Director General of Police has dismissed. On Monday afternoon, Akhilesh Yadav posted a bar diagram on his X account depicting the PDA component in the posts of Station House Officers and Station Officers in Prayagraj. According to the chart, of the 44 posts- 19 had gone to other castes; 14 to Singhs (Thakur) and just 11 to those from the PDA communities. He called this the proportional injustice being meted out to PDA, pointing out that though they formed 90 per cent of the population, the occupied just 25 per cent of the posts. DGP Prashant Kumar, without naming Yadav said that "whatever information" was floating on social media was completely wrong. He also said that people in responsible positions should refrain from making such statements. Meanwhile, the official X handle of the Police Commissioner of Prayagraj also commented on Yadavs post. The reply said that appointments of police station in-charges in the district were done based on dedication, truthfulness, and sensitivity towards the public. The selection process was transparent, it said, while claiming that 40 per cent in-charges were from the OBC and SC/ST categories. Elsewhere, Yadav continued his tirade. In Prayagraj, he told the media that in the total of 48 police stations of Agra, only 15 SHOs are from the PDA communities, while all the rest are Singh bhai log. This is a direct jibe at the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, who is also a Thakur. Yadav also said that in Mainpuri, only 3 of the 15 SHOs are from the PDA communities. In Chitrakoot, the number is two out of 10, while in Mahoba it is one out of 11. He said that this was the governments version of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. WASHINGTON President Trump has nominated a regional airline executive with a history of criticizing a key aviation safety regulation to be the new administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, prompting outrage from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Flight 3407 families. Schumer, in a letter last week to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, asked that Duffy meet with the Flight 3407 families to hear their concerns. I am gravely concerned about the nomination of Bryan Bedford to serve as FAA administrator, Schumer, a New York Democrat, wrote. Mr. Bedford has been one of the most vocal and persistent advocates of rolling back and circumventing basic air safety standards, including the 1,500 rule, which requires new commercial passenger airline pilots to have that many hours of flying experience. Schumer called Bedfords nomination incredibly dangerous. Meanwhile, Scott Maurer, one of the leading members of the Flight 3407 families, said that if the Senate confirms Bedford to run the FAA, its going to be the fox watching the henhouse. The Department of Transportations press office failed to return a request for comment. But, upon announcing Bedfords nomination in March, Trump said on his Truth Social website: Brian brings over three decades of experience in Aviation and Executive Leadership to this critical position. Bryan will work with our GREAT Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, to strongly reform the Agency, safeguard our exports and ensure the safety of nearly one billion annual passenger movements. Bedfords nomination won quick backing, too, from airline industry groups. Mr. Bedford has decades of experience in aviation operations, and he leads with a commitment to safety above all else, said Nicholas E. Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, which represents the nations major passenger carriers. Bedford has served as CEO of Republic Airways, a regional carrier that operates flights on behalf of American Airlines, Delta and United, since 1999. Such regional operators came under heavy criticism after the February 2009 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in Clarence, which claimed 50 lives. Colgan Air, a now-defunct regional airline, operated that flight on behalf of Continental, and federal investigators blamed the crash on pilot error. The Families of Continental Flight 3407 banded together shortly after the crash and, 18 months later, pushed Congress into passing a landmark aviation safety law that improved pilot training and rest requirements while implementing the 1,500-hour rule. Bedford, however, is a longtime critic of that rule, saying it has contributed to a pilot shortage. While hiring a pilot with 1,500 hours of flight time may seem safer than hiring a pilot with only 500 hours of flight time, in fact this merely forces future aviators into a lengthy holding pattern, Bedford said at a congressional hearing in 2014. They are well-trained and ready to fly, but are forced to shelve their skills in favor of accumulating arbitrary flight hours in environments that offer little professional enrichment. At the time, Bedford urged the FAA to grant flight-hour credit to pilots in structured training programs. Then, in 2022, Republic with Bedford still at the helm asked the FAA to allow pilots who have been through its training program to fly with only 750 hours of experience. The agency rejected that request. The FAA has determined that the relief requested is not in the public interest and would adversely affect safety, the agency said at the time. Given that track record, Bedford is a risky choice to head the FAA, Schumer said in an interview. Bedford was the guy who tried to hurt us, Schumer said. That being the case, Im really demanding that Secretary Duffy sit down with the (3407) families, Schumer added. They know air safety better than anyone for the years theyve studied it and protected it, and we need Duffy to commit clearly and publicly, no matter whos the FAA commissioner, that the 1,500-hour rule and all of the regulations around it stay. Meanwhile, Maurer stressed the importance of that meeting, given the families concerns about Bedford. Given his historical track record, were pretty sure we know what hes going to do, and were going to do everything we can to hopefully keep that from happening, Maurer said. Bedfords future, however, depends on the U.S. Senate, which must confirm him. Schumer said he can likely line up all Democratic senators to oppose Bedfords nomination, but that four Republican senators would also have to vote against him to prevent his confirmation. Airline groups, however, will likely be making a strong push for Bedford. For more than two decades, I have been privileged to see firsthand the visionary leadership Bryan brought as CEO of Republic Airways, where he led the organization through decades of powerful growth and expansion with integrity, ingenuity and a relentless focus on safety, said Faye Malarkey Black, president and CEO of the Regional Airline Association. He cultivated a safety culture that permeates every aspect of the airline, where people on the front lines of the airline are empowered, every day, to make the right choice for safety. But the nations largest airline pilots union which has long backed the 1,500-hour rule will be pushing to maintain it as Bedfords nomination moves through the Senate. We have concerns about the nominees past efforts to lower pilot training and safety standards, and we look forward to hearing his assurances that he will maintain the current requirements, said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association. Their differing ideologies aside, US Vice President JD Vance may be left with mixed feelings that he may have been the last world leader to have met Pope Francis, the 88-year-old religious leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. It was definitely not the best of meetings. Because, just a day after their short meeting on Sunday at the Vatican, Pope Francis passed away. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father, Cardinal Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo said in a statement on Monday. Camerlengo is the Church official mandated with ordinary affairs at the Vatican until the election of a new pope. Vances meeting with the Pope was in the backdrop of two distinctly opposing positions between the Trump regime and the Pope, with the latter having been vocal about the need to adopt a humanistic approach towards migrants. This sharply contrasted against Trumps crackdown on immigration followed by mass deportations. In an unprecedented step, Pope Francis had written letters directly to US bishops refuting Vances claims that the Catholic Church doctrines actually justified Trump administrations anti-migrant policies. Tariff issue and likely bilateral trade deal not on Vances mind? That aside, Vance would primarily be focused on his four-day-long largely personal India visit that takes place in the backdrop of a looming tariff standoff between the two countries. But why the tariff issue and a likely bilateral trade deal between India and the US may not be on Vances India-visit agenda is because Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is already on a five-day-long visit to the US where she is to meet the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent besides officials at the US Trade Representatives office. Sitharaman is also scheduled to interact with International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank officials besides a meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank governors. Vance is a staunch and out-spoken proponent of President Trumps policies on the issue of migration or of the centrality of India in the overall Indo-Pacific policy of the US. Moreover, with the Trump administration adopting a confrontational posture with long-time allies Japan and South Korea over tariff issues, Indias importance in the USs Indo-Pacific policy obviously gets a boost. Indias strategic location and growing economy with a huge market may be the perfect recipe for the US in its effort to counter and encircle a rising China. Vance, with his Indian-origin wife Usha in tow, may like to see India biting the bait figure at the top of his agenda during his visit. Thatof committing India and pitting against Chinamay be the real purpose of his visit. Two decades ago, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Sauds visit to New Delhi marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of India-Saudi Arabia relations. Since then, the relationship has developed into a comprehensive and multifaceted bilateral relationship, strengthened by economic cooperation and strategic collaboration across various sectors. This bilateral partnership has been largely driven by the exceptional rapport and mutual trust between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud. Their shared political will, rooted in a pragmatic and realistic approach, has played a pivotal role in fostering cooperation across diverse sectors. This dynamic relationship reflects a commitment to addressing shared challenges and capitalising on opportunities for mutual growth and prosperity, strengthening their position as key players on the global stage. PM Modi's latest visit to Saudi Arabia from April 22-23his first in more than five yearswill include a meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council in Jeddah, the kingdom's commercial hub. During his 2016 visit, he was awarded the Kingdom's highest civilian honor, the Order of Abdulaziz al-Saud. In 2019, Crown Prince Salman visited India in February, followed by Modi's reciprocal visit in October. That year, both nations established the Strategic Partnership Council, a facilitating mechanism to steer bilaterals. The two leaders have met seven times before 2025, most recently at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023. During the summit, the Saudi leader participated in launching the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, an initiative that promises tremendous prospects for trade, infrastructure, and energy cooperation across Asia and Europe. Amid declining oil prices and recession in the Chinese market, coupled with the focus on Evs, Saudi Arabia accounting for 18% of India's LPG importsis eyeing to increase its supplies of crude to India. The Kingdom has indicated interest in investing in oil refineries in eastern and western India, according to energy experts. India's refinery expansion plans have revived Saudi Aramco's interest in investing in BPCL and ONGC projects. The Saudi Crown Prince unveiled plans for $100 billion of investments during a visit to India in 2019, though this is yet to materialise. One of the issues flagged by the Saudi side is the taxation of investments. Saudi's total investments in India, including those of sovereign wealth funds, are worth about $10 billion. Defence ties, technology transfers, joint ventures, and expertise sharing, with a strong focus on localising defense production, will likely remain high on the agenda during PM Modis visit. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 targets 50% localisation of defence spending, while India, having localised many defence technologies, is eager to share its expertise. Advocating an invest, trade, localise approach, India has opened its defence sector to Saudi investment. Saudi Arabia has procured the 155mm Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) from Bharat Forge and is evaluating additional artillery systems from Indian manufacturers. Last year, Saudi Arabia signed a $250 million ammunition contract with Munitions India Limited. Saudi companies have also expressed interest in partnerships for shipbuilding, electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity. Joint military exercises further highlight growing cooperation between the two countries. The inaugural joint military exercise, Sada Tanseeq, took place in Rajasthan in 2024. The bilateral naval exercise, Al Mohed Al Hindi', began in 2022, while Saudi Arabia participated as an observer in India's largest air exercise, Tarang Shakti. With India having the worlds third-largest Muslim population, Saudi Arabia holds strategic importance due to the presence of Islams holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, further deepening the cultural and religious ties between the two nations. The kingdom is a significant source of foreign remittances, contributing up to $11 billion annually to India's economy. Over the years, economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia have strengthened, driven primarily by increased oil imports. According to sources, Saudi Arabia seeks a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with India, as a prerequisite to advancing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). However, India prefers to negotiate the BIT independently, separate from discussions on an FTA. This differing approach has led India to conclude that signing an FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) may not be feasible in the near future, prolonging the negotiations. In 2023, India proposed an alternative approach, offering GCC member countries the option to negotiate individual FTAs instead of a collective agreement. Notably, India has already established an FTA with the GCC member nation UAE. Indian companies like L&T, Tata Group, and Shapoorji Pallonji are actively participating in Saudi Arabias NEOM giga-project. The visit is anticipated to include talks aimed at broadening and deepening this collaboration. Modi's visit amid significant geopolitical shifts has considerable contextual significance, particularly in economic and security domains. The world, particularly West Asia, faces conflicts exacerbated by economic tensions. The talks are anticipated to center around expanding areas of mutual cooperation, including enhancing joint training programs, facilitating technology transfer, and deepening the exchange of expertise. Vaishali Basu Sharma is a strategic and economic affairs analyst. In a major operation, security forces killed six Naxalites in forest areas of Jharkhands Bokaro during the early hours of Monday. The operation is continuing and security personnel have recovered arms and ammunition from their hideouts. In a joint operation with Jharkhand police, the CoBRA commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force conducted a combing operation in Lugu Hills of Lalpania area Bokaro. The troops of 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), the special jungle warfare unit of the CRPF conducted the operation, senior officials said. Jharkhand | The Central Reserve Police Force, in a joint operation with state police, neutralised four naxals in an exchange of fire this morning in Lugu hills under Lalpania area of Jharkhand's Bokaro district. The troops have recovered one SLR and one INSAS rifle. No injury to ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025 The exchange of fire began at 5.30am on Monday and six Naxalites were neutralised, officials said. No injuries have been reported among the security personnel and the operation is continuing. Security forces have recovered two INSAS rifles, a self-loading rifle (SLR)and a pistol were seized from the hideout of Naxals. The development comes after massive anti-Naxal operations in the recent past in Chhattisgarh. Security forces have eliminated over 50 Naxalites in multiple operations in Chhattisgarh recently. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said India will be free of left-wing extremism by 2026. The Union minister said the Narendra Modi-led government has a zero tolerance approach towards leftwing extremism in the country. 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. The country is going to be Naxal-free before 31 March next year, Home Minister Shah had said. The Madras High Court on Monday said that the verdict in the case filed by Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) against the raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate in its offices, from March 6 to 8, will be delivered on April 23. A division bench comprising justices S.M. Subramaniam and K. Rajasekar, after hearing the elaborate arguments in the three writ petitions filed by TASMAC and the state government, seeking to declare the search and seizure operations, by the ED, as illegal, reserved the orders for Wednesday. Advocate General P.S. Raman for the State government, senior counsel Vikas Singh and Vikram Choudhary argued for TASMAC. Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, assisted by ED Special Public Prosecutor N. Ramesh argued for the ED. Advocate Vikas Singh appearing for TASMAC argued that the ED had no jurisdiction to conduct searches at TASMAC headquarters in Chennai. He called it a complete abuse of power. Expressing serious concern about ED conducting searches on the basis of FIRs registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) in the last few years against the lower level staff like depot managers and district managers or charges of corruption. In a normal investigation, it should be the other way round. There is a case registered, you start an investigation on that. Here, it is the opposite. ED decides, they collect FIRs and then start an investigation. This is a unique case where ED does not even confirm the predicate offence. This is why a rejoinder is important, will show how bogus this case is. These FIRs are at the district manager level, nothing to do with head office. These are depot managers, too small a fry. The jurisdiction for ED to step in is not there in this case. I am not for once trying to argue that lordships should get into merits of the allegations. I am only saying the facts of this case is so brazen, that ED had no jurisdiction to enter the State of Tamil Nadu. The Advocate General during his arguments said if the central agency is allowed unchecked then it would do the same with other state-owned undertakings. They would then end up scouting for materials to implicate higher authorities of such institutions, thereby directly challenging the federal character of the country. Accusing the ED officials of indulging in human rights violations by detaining the women staff beyond midnight in the name of enquiry during the search operations, AG accused the ED for not seeking the assistance of the State government before the start of the raids. EDs counsel and Additional Solicitor general Raju denied the accusations and refuted claims of any harassment of the TASMAC staff during the enquiry. He said the operations were warranted and justified to unearth the money laundering activities. TASMAC and the state government had filed three writ petitions against the ED conducting searches before the Madras High Court before the Bench of Justices M.S. Ramesh and N. Senthilkumar. On March 20 the bench asked the ED to hold any further coercive action for the time being. But days later Justices Ramesh and Senthilkumar recused themselves from hearing the case. After this the case was transferred to the division bench headed by Subramaniam and Rajasekar. In the meantime, TASMAC went to the apex court seeking direction to transfer the case from the Madras High Court to some other state. But the petition was dismissed. However, the High Court expressed its anguish over the Tamil Nadu government filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court. The ED has alleged over Rs. 1000 crore scam in TASMAC in connivance with the bottling companies in the state. The ED had already conducted searches in other government departments like TAMIN and TNMAWS. The Madras High Court on Monday said that the verdict in the case filed by Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) against the raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate in its offices, from March 6 to 8, will be delivered on April 23. A division bench comprising justices S.M. Subramaniam and K. Rajasekar, after hearing the elaborate arguments in the three writ petitions filed by TASMAC and the state government, seeking to declare the search and seizure operations, by the ED, as illegal, reserved the orders for Wednesday. Advocate General P.S. Raman for the State government, senior counsel Vikas Singh and Vikram Choudhary argued for TASMAC. Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, assisted by ED Special Public Prosecutor N. Ramesh argued for the ED. Advocate Vikas Singh appearing for TASMAC argued that the ED had no jurisdiction to conduct searches at TASMAC headquarters in Chennai. He called it a complete abuse of power. Expressing serious concern about ED conducting searches on the basis of FIRs registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) in the last few years against the lower level staff like depot managers and district managers or charges of corruption. In a normal investigation, it should be the other way round. There is a case registered, you start an investigation on that. Here, it is the opposite. ED decides, they collect FIRs and then start an investigation. This is a unique case where ED does not even confirm the predicate offence. This is why a rejoinder is important, will show how bogus this case is. These FIRs are at the district manager level, nothing to do with head office. These are depot managers, too small a fry. The jurisdiction for ED to step in is not there in this case. I am not for once trying to argue that lordships should get into merits of the allegations. I am only saying the facts of this case is so brazen, that ED had no jurisdiction to enter the State of Tamil Nadu. The Advocate General during his arguments said if the central agency is allowed unchecked then it would do the same with other state-owned undertakings. They would then end up scouting for materials to implicate higher authorities of such institutions, thereby directly challenging the federal character of the country. Accusing the ED officials of indulging in human rights violations by detaining the women staff beyond midnight in the name of enquiry during the search operations, AG accused the ED for not seeking the assistance of the State government before the start of the raids. EDs counsel and Additional Solicitor general Raju denied the accusations and refuted claims of any harassment of the TASMAC staff during the enquiry. He said the operations were warranted and justified to unearth the money laundering activities. TASMAC and the state government had filed three writ petitions against the ED conducting searches before the Madras High Court before the Bench of Justices M.S. Ramesh and N. Senthilkumar. On March 20 the bench asked the ED to hold any further coercive action for the time being. But days later Justices Ramesh and Senthilkumar recused themselves from hearing the case. After this the case was transferred to the division bench headed by Subramaniam and Rajasekar. In the meantime, TASMAC went to the apex court seeking direction to transfer the case from the Madras High Court to some other state. But the petition was dismissed. However, the High Court expressed its anguish over the Tamil Nadu government filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court. The ED has alleged over Rs. 1000 crore scam in TASMAC in connivance with the bottling companies in the state. The ED had already conducted searches in other government departments like TAMIN and TNMAWS. Bharatiya Janata Party lashed out at the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday after he charged the Election Commission of India is compromised during a diaspora meet in Boston. The Congress leader, who is currently in Boston, alleged discrepancies in the voter turnout for Maharashtra Assembly polls and charged that something is wrong with the system. Addressing Indian diaspora in Boston, Gandhi said, "It is very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, and it is very clear that there is something wrong with the system. I have said this multiple times, ANI reported. VIDEO | Here's what BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan (@crkesavan) said on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Boston on Election Commission of India. "Rahul Gandhi who is on another 'Bharat Badnam Yatra', 'India Abuse Yatra' on foreign soil has once again, deplorably attacked pic.twitter.com/d65oBjICKN Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2025 Citing the voter turnout of Maharashtra Assembly polls, Gandhi charged, More people voted in the Maharashtra Assembly elections than there are adults in Maharashtra. The Election Commission gave us a voting figure for 5.30pm, and between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, 65 lakh voters voted. This is physically impossible to happen. Gandhi said it takes approximately three minutes for a voter to cast his vote and going by that logic, there should have been voters waiting in queue till 2am, but, this did not happen. Gandhi added the Election Commission refused to provide them with videography and laws have been amended now that they cannot ask for the videography. However, the Election Commission had denied the charges and asserted there were no discrepancies in the voting figures for Maharashtra elections. However, the ruling BJP accused the Congress leader of undermining India in a foreign country and peddling lies about the Election Commission BJP spokesperson C.R. Kesavan said, Rahul Gandhi, who is on another 'Bharat Badnam Yatra', 'India Abuse Yatra' on foreign soil has once again, deplorably attacked India's constitutional institution and he has unsuccessfully once again tried to undermine India's democracy in a foreign country." Kesavan charged, "Rahul Gandhi has attacked the ECI abroad, in America. He is peddling lies, falsehoods and trying to attack our ECI when the US President, Donald Trump, has hailed and lauded India's electoral system and India's voter registration. This is how clueless LoP Rahul Gandhi is, PTI reported. US Vice President J.D. Vance, who is on a four-day visit to India, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday evening and the two leaders reviewed the progress of the ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement. Modi welcomed Vance, his Indian-origin wife Usha Vance and their three children at his official residence in the national capital. The two leaders discussed ways to further expand India-US global strategic ties as well as New Delhi's concerns over Washington's trade policy. Both India and the US are working on a bilateral trade deal that is expected to address a variety of issues including tariff and market access. They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas, said a statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office. Both Modi and Vance also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. The prime minister later hosted a dinner for the Vance family and the US delegation accompanying the vice president. VIDEO | Delhi: PM Modi (@narendramodi) welcomes US Vice President JD Vance (@JDVance) and his family to his official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. (Source: Third party) (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/kbqAGSA4vS Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2025 Earlier, dressed in traditional Indian clothing, the Vance family visited Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Delhi. The boys -Ewan and Vivek- wore kurta-pyjamas, while the girl Mirabel wore an Anarkali-style outfit paired with an embroidered jacket. "Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," Vance wrote on X. They also visited Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath. Vance arrived at Delhis Palam Air Force Station on Monday morning. He was welcomed by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav. This is Vances first visit to India as the US vice president. The vice president and his delegation are also scheduled to visit Jaipur and Agra before departing for Washington on 24 April 2025. Vances visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-US Joint Statement issued on February 13, 2025 during the visit of the prime minister to the US, the MEA had said. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, it further said. As the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) informed that only the lists for three rounds of counselling of the 2016 SSC panel would be released on Monday, instead of the list separating tainted and untainted candidates, tensions outside the commission office escalated in the evening. Hundreds of affected teachers and non-teaching workers had marched towards the SSC office earlier in the day, with the hope that the commission would publish the list as assured to them during their meeting with West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu last week. However, during a meeting with 13 representatives, SSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar reportedly informed them that only the lists for the first, second, and third rounds of counselling would be published. The representatives immediately sent this update via SMS to those waiting outside. This sparked an outrage among those protesting outside the SSC office. Heated arguments broke out between the police and the protesters, with the police urging them to maintain calm, but the demonstrators refused to back down. They demanded a complete list separating the qualified candidates from those who secured their jobs through unfair means, irrespective of the counselling. They allege that this list would miss out those eligible and qualified candidates who might have got their jobs in the next rounds of counselling. Reportedly, a total of 12 counselling rounds had taken place. They cite the Calcutta High Court verdict, which was upheld by the Supreme Court, where they claim no distinctions based on the round of counselling was made. Protesters believe they were misled by earlier promises and now suspect that the list is being deliberately withheld. They have decided to gherao the SSC office and warn that if the list was not made public, no one would be allowed to leave the office, including the chairman. The police initially failed to control the situation before additional security personnel were deployed as a section of protesters clashed with the cops. Jobless after the entire 2016 West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) panel was scrapped, teachers and non-teaching staff are staging a sit-in protest outside the commissions office in Kolkata. They demand the release of a list separating tainted from untainted candidates and mirror images of OMR sheets of 22 lakh candidates. Until then, they vow to continue their protest at the SSCs doorstep. In line with their demands and as promised by West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu during an April 11 meeting, the SSC is expected to release the long-awaited list on Monday. Their next steps will depend on what the list reveals. After reviewing the contents of the published list and deciding whether everyone is satisfied with it, jobless teachers and education workers will announce their next course of action. Protesters insist that if the published list falls short of expectations, theyre ready to escalate the movementthrough prolonged sit-ins or even road blockades. A section of them is also demanding more than transparency: they want the SSC to publicly admit its failures and immediately terminate any tainted candidates named in the revised list. Earlier in the day, crowds marched toward the commissions office in solidarity. Leading the charge was theJogyo Shikshak Shikshika Odhikar Mancha (Qualified Teachers Rights Platform), the primary force behind the protests triggered by the Supreme Courts verdict. They were joined by the Group C Group D Shikshakarmi Mancha, representing non-teaching staffers also affected by job losses. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court on Monday questioned the SSC over its failure to implement the Supreme Courts directivesspecifically, the recovery of salaries from those deemed ineligible or tainted, and the publication of OMR sheets uncovered by the CBI during its investigation. A division bench of Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Mohammad Shabbar Rashidi, while hearing a contempt petition, directed the SSC and the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education to submit their responses by Wednesday, when the matter is scheduled to be heard again. The CBI faced questions as well. The division bench reportedly asked the federal agency why ineligible candidates hadnt been taken into custody for interrogation, which was allowed by the original Calcutta High Court that the Supreme Court upheld. Iran is in the process of successfully developing a spaceport at Chabahar with Russia's help, from where it will launch satellites, rockets and even ballistic missiles, according to reports. The facility could rival the US's Cape Canaveral in Florida as Chabahar as it is situated close to the equator, making launches easier. This would be Iran's third space launch facility, the other two being the Imam Khomeini Spaceport near Semnan, used by the Iranian Space Agency, and the Shahroud Space Center run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, the Chabahar facility is even bigger and can launch larger rockets than the two existing ones. The spaceport could be opened this year. Iran's Space Agency chief Hassan Salarieh told Tehran Times that once it is finished, Chabahar will be a 14,000-hectare (54-square-mile) complex that will serve as Irans primary hub for space missions. All this is despite US sanctions and efforts to stop Iran's space programmes. Despite the sanctions, the Iranian government continues to support its space programme, setting aside over $11 million for the same last year. The US believes the spaceports could also be test beds for intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technologies and the satellites those rockets carry may eventually prove equally valuable as military assets. More satellites mean Iran could better guide its long-range 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," John Sheldon, Abu Dhabi-based founding partner at AstroAnalytica, a space consulting firm, told Bloomberg. Interestingly, the spaceport comes in the same region where India has strategic interests. India has significantly invested in the port, and will handle the development and operation as it believes this is a crucial regional trade route and a gateway to Central Asia and Afghanistan. The Israeli military has acknowledged major lapses during a deadly attack last month, which claimed 15 lives, including that of eight Red Crescent paramedics, six civil defence workers and a United Nations employee in Rafah, southern Gaza. The incident on March 23, which sparked international outrage and accusations of war crimes, prompted an internal investigation that revealed "several professional failures" and breaches of protocol. It has led to the dismissal of the deputy commander of the Golani Brigade of the Israel Defence Forces. Another senior officer will face censure. The incident took place during a pre-dawn operation in Rafahs Tel Sultan neighbourhood, where Israeli troops were conducting a combing operation. Around 2:30 am, soldiers from the Golani Brigades reconnaissance unit, operating under the 14th Armored Brigade, set up an ambush to monitor and intercept potential threats from Hamas, which Israel says is using civilian infrastructure, including ambulances, to transport weapons and operatives. The soldiers spotted an approaching vehicle, which they mistook for a Hamas vehicle, and they opened fire, killing two people inside. They detained the lone survivor, but he was released in the morning after obtaining confirmation that he was not a Hamas operative. Later, other vehicles, including several ambulances and a fire truck, passed through the ambush site unharmed, suggesting that the soldiers were not indiscriminately targeting civilians. Israeli forces INTENTIONALLY EXECUTE 14 red cross PARAMEDICS, in clearly marked medical gear and vehicles WTF?!! pic.twitter.com/9cwHxRs9aL The Saviour (@stairwayto3dom) April 5, 2025 The situation, meanwhile, turned worse at around 5am when drone operators alerted the Golani unit to the arrival of a convoy of vehicles. Due to poor visibility and communication failures, the troops failed to identify these as emergency vehicles belonging to the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Gazas Civil Defence. The convoy, consisting of ambulances and a fire truck, stopped approximately 20 metres from the ambush point. Paramedical staff and rescue workers stepped out to assist those in the ambulance that was attacked earlier. The deputy commander of the Golani Brigade thought the paramedics posed an immediate threat as he was hampered by poor visibility and he ordered his troops to open fire. For three minutes, the soldiers continued firing at the rescue workers. Only upon reaching the vehicles did they realise they had killed unarmed medics and civil defence personnel. A few minutes later, a United Nations pickup truck entered the area. Despite recognising it as a UN vehicle, the troops fired on it, killing an employee of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The IDF later admitted this was a direct violation of protocol. They then gathered the bodies of the 15 victims, covered them with sand, and marked the site for later recovery. The IDF said this was done to protect the bodies from animals, a practice they claim was routine. However, the troops also used a bulldozer to crush the vehicles after pushing them off the road. The military has since admitted that while moving the vehicles was permissible, destroying them was a grave error. The IDF said there was no attempt to hide the incident, as the UN was promptly informed. However, the deputy commanders initial report to his superiors was short on details about the attack on the UN vehicle and the circumstances leading to the attack. This failure to fully disclose the events contributed to the IDFs decision to dismiss him. The IDF investigation was led by Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Har-Even of the General Staff Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism, who concluded that the incident stemmed from an operational misunderstanding. The report mentioned several professional errors, such as misidentification of the non-combat vehicles, breach of protocol and poor visibility that hurt decision-making. It also blamed the deputy commander for providing incorrect information initially. The investigation, however, found no violation of the IDFs code of ethics and there will be no criminal action against the involved units. The report claims six of the 15 victims were Hamas operatives, a claim the Palestine Red Crescent has denied. Major General Yaniv Asor, head of the Southern Command, approved the dismissal of the deputy commander and the censure of another senior officer for their roles in the incident. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir approved the punitive measures. Last year, the IDF similarly dismissed two officers following the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, indicating a pattern of disciplinary action in high-profile cases. The killings triggered widespread condemnation, with the UN and human rights groups describing the attack as a potential war crime. The IDF covering the victims bodies in a mass grave and trying to destroy their vehicles hinted at a cover-up. And those allegations were further bolstered by the recovery of video evidence from a deceased paramedics phone showing the emergency vehicles lights flashing before the attack. The IDF had initially claimed that the convoy was moving suspiciously without signals. The incident demonstrates the challenges of urban warfare in Gaza, where distinguishing between combatants and civilians is often next to impossible. The IDF maintains that its troops were on the lookout for Hamas threats, citing the groups alleged use of ambulances for military purposes. Yet, the ones who paid with their lives were unarmed medics and a UN worker highlighting the possibility of misjudgments in such urban war settings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia next week, a much-anticipated trip in the wake of the geopolitical instability plaguing the Middle East. The visit will see India sign multiple MoUs with the Kingdom in the fields of energy, defence and trade. Here are some points to note ahead of his visit: 1) MoUs are expected in crucial areas which will expedite Riyadh's USD 100-billion investment plan for India. 2) Besides focusing on the overall bilateral relations between the countries, they will also exchange views on pressing regional and global issues, including the overall situation in the Middle East. 3) Of the multiple MoUs to be signed, one centres on green hydrogen, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. "There will be an effort to infuse a "strategic" dimension to the India-Saudi Arabia energy cooperation," he said. #WATCH | On PM Narendra Modi's Saudi Arabia visit, former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla says, "PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia is very important. Prime Minister Modi has worked on a relationship which has undergone transformation with the entire Gulf region, starting pic.twitter.com/jCZKkcYHtV ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025 4) During his visit to India, the Crown Prince announced his plan to invest USD 100 billion in the energy sector and certain other sectors and a high-level task force was formed. "There are certain issues that they had raised and we have worked very constructively on those issues. The High-Level Task Force on Investment (HLTFI) was set up in October 2023 and it had its first meeting last year and since then, it had several meetings," Misri said. 5) The ambitious India-Middle-East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEEC) will be an important topic that could figure in the talks between Modi and Salman. 6) Geopolitical situation, including the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as the situation in Ukraine are also expected to figure in the talks. 7) Regarding defence, the countries could put in a framework for more military exercises and high-level engagements and the discussions could centre on that. "We are attempting to give more substance to the partnership. The opening of defence procurement is one major area," he said. As Iranian leadership faces the wrath of hardliners against the government decision to engage in 'indirect' talks with the US, the government has resorted to religious symbolism to justify its shift in foreign policy. There is a divide between reformists and hardline factions with regard to talks. Reformists welcome the negotiations while conservatives feel it is against the Islamic Republic's foreign policy to engage with the US. However, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's silent approach to the talks has taken the edge off hardliner protests. In these circumstances, the leadership has drawn historical parallels in its bid to justify negotiations on the country's nuclear programme with the US. Several clerics, political figures, and media outlets are now comparing the potential US-Iran agreement with the sacred 'Treaty of Hudaybiyyah', according to London-based Iran International. It is said that the 'Treaty of Hudaybiyyah' was a peace agreement signed in 628 between the Prophet Muhammad, representing the state of Medina, and the Quraysh tribe of Mecca. It established a ten-year truce which allowed Muslims to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in exchange for several concessions to Quraysh. While it was considered a victory for the Quraysh initially, the treaty went on to lay the foundation for Islam's expansion. According to Ayatollah Kazem Nourmofidi, Khameneis representative in Golestan Province, some Muslims saw the treaty as unjust and believed the Prophet should not have conceded. "But that peace proved to be a clear victory," he argued, justifying the talks which had initially received so much criticism from the country's hardliners who have long opposed negotiations with the US. A similar stance was evident in an article that appeared in Tasnim News Agency, a state-backed media organisation with close affiliations to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). An opinion piece that appeared in the Tasnim also referred to the Prophet's negotiations with the enemies of Islam and the controversial Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. It said the Prophet's "strategic flexibility and concessions" led to far greater conquests. Iran had earlier too used religious references to justify its policy shift like in 2013 when it began talks that led to the 2015 nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA). Khamenei had then referred this as "heroic flexibility'a reference to Imam Hassan, the second Shiite Imam, who accepted a truce with a hostile ruler to protect himself and his followers from harm. In April 2005, Jorge Mario Bergoglio aka Pope Francis almost made history. He was reportedly the only real contender against Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) in the first round of balloting that led to the election of the German as Pope. While Ratzinger became the second consecutive non-Italian to head the Roman Catholic Church, the story would have easily been different. An unnamed group of cardinals wanted to manipulate the conclaves outcome as they didn't want Ratzinger to win. They saw him as an "outsider" and Cardinal Jose Mario Bergoglio's candidacy was their best bet to stop that from happening. In Pope Francis' own words, they hoped for a complete maneuver. ALSO READ | Remembering Pope Francis, the reformist who aligned the pastoral mission with the 21st century The idea was to block the election [of Ratzinger], he explained. They were using me, but behind them, they were already thinking about proposing another cardinal. They still couldnt agree on who, but they were already on the verge of throwing out a name. At one point of the conclave, which began on April 18, 2005, the Argentine received as many as 40 of the 115 total votes. If cardinals continued to support him, Ratzinger would not have reached the necessary two-thirds threshold to be elected, and the plot would have worked. Vatican would have searched for an alternative candidate, ending Benedict XVI's journey. However, when Francis understood he was being used as a pawn in the operation, he decided to act. On the second day of voting, he went to Colombian Cardinal Dario Castrillon to not joke with my candidacy and cease supporting him, because Im not going to accept being elected. These details from 2005 were revealed by Pope Francis himself a book about his relationship with his predecessor. It was a complete maneuver. The idea was to block the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger... The maneuver consisted of putting my name in, blocking the election of Ratzinger, and then negotiating a different, third candidate..., he was quoted as saying in the book, titled The Successor. ALSO READ | Meet the four Indian cardinals who will take part in the next papal conclave But could he have pulled an upset? To quote the Pope himself, That was not the idea of those behind the votes. They used me, but behind them they were already thinking about proposing another cardinal. They still couldnt agree on who, but they were already on the verge of throwing out a name, he reportedly said. Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose to be named after St. Francis of Assisi"the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation"when he was elected Pope, and declared that he would "like a church that is poor and that is for the poor." It was certainly not ironic that he chose to be named after the founder of the Franciscan Order, when Jesuits or Society of Jesusthe religious order that Bergoglio belongedhad another St Francis (Xavier). For, the late Pope's heart always bled for the poor and the marginalised. While the Beatitudes promised the poor (in heart and wealth) every possible blessing in the afterlife, Bergoglio certainly knew the importance of being there for the poor and doing everything (humanly) possible to uplift them from privation. Bergoglio also knew actions spoke louder than words (and possibly prayers) and that was the reason he chose to be among the poor and marginalised, doing everything possible to help the poor in Buenos Aires. A few blocks from high-rise towers of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, in stark contrast to these places of lavishness and luxury, stands the slums of the city, known as villas miserias or villas of misery. Substance abuse and addiction, crimes and unemployment add to the existing misery caused by poverty in these villas. It is among the people of the slums that Bergoglio worked to make a difference, to make their lives a teeny bit better. During his days as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio worked along with the curas villeros (slum priests), a group of Catholic priests who dedicated their lives to serving and living among the poor in these villas of misery. The 'slum priests' moment or Third World priest movement began in the 1960s when a group of priests, who were inspired by Marxist ideology, decided to live and work among the poor in these villas and fight for the rights of the poor. Bergoglio made sure that as archbishop he did everything possible to aid and inspire the slum priests. He increased the number of priests assigned to this duty and even gave them a new rank. He was also a regular visitor to these slums. He chose to do away with the pomp and glory that came with the post and chose to take a bus to reach the slums and walk around. He was there for every big festivals. Bergoglio is said to have interacted with the people there as he was one of their own, drinking tea with them, and talking to them about their problems. When Bergoglio was here, nobody really gave us any money at all. So he would find bread himself. He would literally go out to the bakeries, get bread, and bring it back to the kids every morning. No one was helping him," a slum priest, Padre Juan Isasmendi, was quoted as saying in a 2016 article appeared in the monthly magazine Sojourners. Bergoglio, or Pope Francis, left a lasting impact among the people in these slums who remember him fondly and his legacy continues to inspire scores of priests who toil among the men and women of the slums of Buenos Aires. "I'd say that over the 15 years he's been walking down the streets here, at least half of the people have met him at some time and have a picture with him, meaning at least 25,000 people in this villa alone," Juan Isasmendi, another priest who worked among the poor in the slum, was quoted as saying in a 2013 piece in National Catholic Reporter. Regina Sivori Bergoglio, mother of Pope Francis wanted to make her son a doctor. But at the age of 16, her son received the divine call for priesthood. Known back then as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he joined the Society of Jesus in 1958 and became a Jesuit in March 1960. In 1969, young Jorge was ordained a Catholic priest. In 2013, when Bergoglio was elected Pope, he became the first Jesuit Pope. Surprisingly, he chose the name, Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi- the patron saint of the poor and became the first Pope by that name. The selection of this name says a lot about the Pope, as he often acted like a Franciscan. Known as a liberal and reformist, Bergoglio maintained certain differences with traditional Jesuit principles and practices. Whilst he remained discreet about these disagreements, his administrative decisions and leadership style clearly reflected his divergent stance. Who are Jesuits? The Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, is a religious order of priests founded in the 1530s by St. Ignatius Loyola and his companions. Jesuits take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and they live together in a community. As an all-male order, their formation process is rigorous and can take 10 years or more of study and spiritual preparation. The leader of the Jesuits is called Black Pope due to his distinctive black cassock. Bergoglio was drawn to this religious order by its emphasis on tight-knit communities, missionary work, and disciplined living. In general, Jesuit priests are discouraged from seeking positions such as bishophood, and it is common for even highly capable Jesuit leaders to transition between high and low assignments. The rigorous or military-like training provided under the Order was with the aim to equip the men to go anywhere and fulfil any mission under any circumstances. Bergoglios journey as a Jesuit At just 36 years old, Bergoglio was appointed provincial of the Argentine Jesuits, making him one of the youngest senior leaders during a period of internal and external turmoil. His time in this role significantly impacted his reputation within the Jesuit order. It was the time when the Dirty Wars erupted during the 1970s. Around 30,000 Argentines were killed in the war. Jesuit residences were repeatedly raided by the ruling military junta. On several occasions, Bergoglio has acknowledged that his quick decisions at the time paved the way for serious internal issues. Though he was said to be 'silent' over the military brutality against the poor, some Jesuits got tired of it and urged the poor to confront their oppressors. Bergoglio was against such persuasion and warned the priests who rebelled- Franz Jalics and Orlando Yorio, but they refused. Later, both priests were captured by the armed men. After five months they were released. Yorio blamed Bergoglio for their capture and accused him of failing to protect them. According to reports, Bergoglio was often criticised by some of his fellow Jesuits as a military sympathiser even as he denied these claims. Bergoglio- A disciplined rule-breaker Bergoglio was known for his strict approach, emphasising punctuality and enforcing moral or social consequences for rule-breaking. He discouraged his students from reading liberation theology, favouring more practical methods of aiding the poor, such as building farms, milking cows, and harvesting crops. Though he embraced the championing of the poor, he was seen as an enemy of liberation theology (a theological approach that advocates for the liberation of the poor or oppressed). The differences were quite out in the open. Many Jesuits preferred more intellectual freedom than chores. When his six-year term as seminary rector ended in 1986, he was sent to Germany to finish his doctoral thesis. It was seen as a move by his superiors to get rid of him as discontentment was brewing among the group. Homesick and tired of mere library work, he returned home after three months, raising eyebrows among his superiors. Many times, his views or those of who supported him clashed with the others in the group and finally, the decision was made to send him away. Life in exile In 1990, he was exiled to Cordoba, around 400 miles away from Buenos Aires. What I did in Cordoba had more than do with my inner life, the Pope had said. Rev Angel Rossi, Superior of the Jesuit Residence in Cordoba, in an interview with CNN, said that the Pope suffered terribly during his exile, and they were worried about his mental health. Its said that after his exile, he came back more merciful, and kinder. Though he knew he was being punished, he was not openly critical about it. He helped with housework, prepared meals, folded the laundry and changed the soiled sheets of sick and elderly Jesuits. Two years into his exile, a surprise appointment set off a chain of events that would ultimately lead Bergoglio to the Throne of St. Peter. Cardinal Antonio Quarracino of Buenos Aires appointed Bergoglio as his assistant bishop in 1992. Six years later, in 1998, Bergoglio succeeded Quarracino as Archbishop. Bergoglio was made a cardinal by John Paul II in 2001. As cardinal, during his regular visits to Rome, Bergoglio never stayed at the Jesuit headquarters. He stayed at a clerical guest house with others. His Jesuit rivals heaved a sigh of relief when he became the runner-up in the 2005 Papal Conclave, in which Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) was elected Pope. Despite disagreements, the Society of Jesus had a huge influence on his thoughts, actions and prayers. In the latest book Voice for the Voiceless, the Dalai Lama has categorically stated about his reincarnation thus: The new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world. This unequivocal stance sends a crystal-clear message to the world that the current Dalai Lamas reincarnation will, at any cost, not be born in China. Regardless of Chinas claims on the Dalai Lama successions, the aforementioned statement made by the current Dalai Lama, however, determines the future of the Dalai Lama. More importantly, the Dalai Lama has written in the book that he would leave clear written instructions on the matter of his succession. In the future, when the current Dalai Lama passes away, the written instruction will play a key role in nullifying the attempts of the Chinese government in search of the next Dalai Lama. A key international player in the process of rejecting Chinas anointed Dalai Lama would be the official policy of the US mandated in the Tibetan Policy and Support Act 2020 which strongly states thus: The wishes of the 14th Dalai Lama, including any written instructions, should play a key role in the selection, education, and veneration of a future 15th Dalai Lama . The Central Tibetan Administrations (CTA) lobbying to the like-minded nations will, undoubtedly, raise the question of legitimacy and authenticity if China anoints the 15th Dalai Lama. One such fruition of CTAs lobbying is the recent passage of a resolution in Dutch parliament rejecting Chinas interference in the succession of the Dalai Lama. In future, many more laws and policies will unfold. Even Indias future stance on the succession of the Dalai Lama is as vital as the policy of the US and could become a greater vocal for the rejection of Chinas Dalai Lama. Why China eyes the next Dalai Lama Chinas unflagging efforts to undermine the institution of the Dalai Lama is a continuation of Mao Zedongs failure in capturing the current Dalai Lama. In fact, the book notes that when Mao was informed of the Dalai Lamas escape, he simply reacted: We have lost! To some extent, Mao was right. Therefore, it is Chinas belief that they could win over Tibetans if they had the next Dalai Lama. But, the installment of their Panchen Lama could serve them a lesson if they think they would succeed after choosing the next Dalai Lama. In 1995, the Chinese authorities kidnapped the reincarnation of 10th Panchen Lama officially recognised by the current Dalai Lama, and China anointed Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama. Today, the Chinese authorities pay 100 yuan to each Tibetan to receive his blessings. This pathetic gesture shows the lack of devotions from Tibetans to Chinas anointed Panchen Lama. The same gesture is inevitable for Chinas 15th Dalai Lama. Even though the current Dalai Lama devolved his political authority to Dr. Lobsang Sangay who was democratically elected in 2011, he is still the sole supreme leader who represents the identity of Tibet and is widely revered by Tibetans from all walks of life. Despite all the pejorative labels used by China to describe the Dalai Lama, the Dalai Lama is, today, synonymous to peace in the world. Chinas malicious attempts to smear his image never borne any results. In other words, it is a direct challenge to the non-violence and peace around the world. The very purpose of a reincarnation is to continue the mission of the predecessor to be the voice for universal compassion. Chinas unlawful laws on the Dalai Lama Chinas blatant claims on having the right to choose the next Dalai Lama stemmed from The 29-articles ordinance imposed on Tibet by the Manchus in 1793 on the pretext of making the Tibetan Governments administration more efficient. This ordinance demands the selection of reincarnation of the Dalai Lamas, Panchen Lamas and other high Lamas by picking lots from a Golden Urn. Except for the 11th Dalai Lama, this procedure was dispensed with for the Ninth, Thirteenth and the Fourteenth Dalai Lama . In fact, the 10th and 12th Dalai Lamas were already found and never used the Golden Urn procedures. In practicality, the Golden Urn procedure is tantamount to a gambling where the win or loss is entirely dependent on luck. By contrast, the real sophisticated and authentic search of the reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism is clearly understandable from the discovery of the current Dalai Lama. In the search for the current Dalai Lama, the search party saw the prophecy: During the mummification process of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, the head was discovered to have turned from facing south to the northeast. Then, the search party sought a prophecy from a sacred lake called Lhamoi Lhatso where a vision of three Tibetan alphabets appeared - Ah Ka Ma. The first initial Ah referred to Amdo in Tibet. Surprisingly, the current Dalai Lama was born in Amdo, Tibet. Consequently, it is logical to conclude that the Golden Urn procedure is not applicable in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. The whole narrative of the Golden Urn is to make the next Dalai Lama as a marionette who would play on the words of the Chinese authorities. In 2007, China issued an Order no. 5 document, which stipulates the measures to own the reincarnation of living Buddhas. Ironically, this very stipulation contradicts the foundation of Chinese communism whose founder Mao Zedong notoriously said that religion is a poison. This stipulation, however, came into implementation in major parts of Tibet. For instance, In 2023, Tibetans monks were forcibly ordered to sign a document renouncing ties with the Dalai Lama. In other words, the Chinese authorities have been trying to sever the spiritual relationship between the Dalai Lama and Tibetan monks in Tibet. This measure could impinge on the mentality of Tibetan monks whose devotion towards the Dalai Lama is unshakable. Another striking yet very common instance of Chinas brutal clampdown on Tibetans secretly worshiping the Dalai Lama happened in 2024 where a Tibetan monk was imprisoned for almost 18 months on the charges of disseminating the speech of the Dalai Lama. China leaves no efforts to challenge anything that favours the Dalai Lama. They dont even spare individuals who support the ideas of the Dalai Lama in either private or the public spaces, let alone the Governments. Strikingly, international celebrities such as Richard Gere, Brad Pitt and Lady Gaga were completely banned from entering China. Today, China has created an environment where all the celebrities and business people will have to choose between the Dalai Lama and the fame and access in China. For the governments, it is all about the muscling economic powers. Except the USA, no country has so far taken a stance on the reincarnation of the current Dalai Lama. Has China found Maos reincarnation? The Dalai Lama has jokingly spoken at various occasions about the reincarnation of Mao Zedong. He simply put it: If the Chinese government believes in rebirth and religion, then they should start it from the reincarnation of Mao and Deng Xiaoping . The notorious remark of Mao Zedong on religion is a clear sign that communism and religion cant be compatible. So, it is obvious that Chinas claim in the succession of the Dalai Lama is religiously inapplicable and morally unacceptable. If China, at any chance, finds the reincarnation of Mao, only then can they say they know the business of reincarnation. Otherwise, the attempts to choose the next Dalai Lama is a complete colonization of a religion. Yeshi Dawa was a former Bureau Chief at RFA, Dharamshala and former Academic Administrator at Institute of Leadership & Governance, The MSU Baroda. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. As US Vice President JD Vance embarks on a four-day visit to India on Monday, a significant move as both countries seek to explore economic opportunities, including a bilateral trade deal, the Chinese media has declared that the visit is unlikely to achieve anything for the US. Vance will fail to secure a significant shift in India's trade policy. The trip also won't do much to ease India's concerns over the US "reciprocal" tariffs, according to a report, quoting Chinese experts, that appeared in state-backed Global Times. The US Vice President, along with his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three children, is scheduled to land at the Palam airbase at 10 am. Besides his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three childrenEwan, Vivek, and Mirabel Vance will be accompanied by a delegation of US officials from the state and defence department. While the visit comes amid India's efforts to soften impending trade barriers, the visit achieves geopolitical significance as the diplomatic mission happens between Washington and Beijing, India's main rival, lock horns over tariffs. VIDEO | US Vice President JD Vance (@VP) arrives at Delhi airport. JP Vance, his wife Usha Vance and their three children are on a four-day India visit. During his visit, the US Vice President will also travel to Jaipur and Agra. (Full video available on PTI Videos - pic.twitter.com/wmC5TZ373I Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2025 However, Chinese analysts say while the US attempts to solidify trade relations with India, it won't excuse India from the "reciprocal" tariffs list. Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that Vance may be pursuing multiple goals, but none of them will have the desired result. "He may find it difficult to achieve any significant results, especially given the US' domestic demand to reduce trade deficits and bring manufacturing back to the US, which runs counter to India's own "Make in India" initiative," Qian added. The opinion pieces and columns carried by the Chinese government's mouthpiece Global Times are often a reflection of the official stance. Stressing the "hurdles" before the India-US trade pact, the Chinese analyst said India is also likely to remain cautious about whether the US will follow through on any tariff commitments. Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, believes there is no common ground as both countries have different economic interests and strategic priorities. "While the US seeks to use tariffs as leverage to push India toward trade concessions, India is focused on safeguarding its own trade interests and advancing a fairer trade environment. Given India's ongoing efforts to bolster its domestic manufacturing sector, the two sides are unlikely to find common ground easily," Wang said. She opined that while the US may see India as an alternative source of goods as tariffs would make Chinese imports costly, India's capacities are nowhere near China's. "India's supply chain capacity still falls short of China's, making it difficult to meet US expectations. Moreover, increasing imports from India would contradict the original US aim of cutting trade deficits and reshoring manufacturing, making Vance's strategy internally inconsistent," Wang said. The analysts also warned India to remain clear-eyed about the current "America First" prioritisation in the US and urged New Delhi to avoid engaging with the US on its terms. Pope Francis passed away on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced. He was 88, and has been ailing for some time. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Farrell said in the announcement. Last month, the Pope was discharged from hospital where he was treated for five weeks for an infection that led to double pneumonia. On Sunday, Pope Francis had appeared at the Vatican's St Peter's Square to wish the faithful "Happy Easter". He had come out in a wheelchair and waved to the people from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis: The pontiff of the modern era As he emerged to the Loggia of the Blessings, raising his arm in a half-wave to the crowd that had gathered for days outside St Peters Basilica, Pope Francis took a moment to gaze upon the sea of faces, all raised up to him in elation. For nearly two minutes, he stood in silence, the crowd chanting Francesco in all might and glory. But soon, his smile, with which he entered the balcony, faded, as the gravity of his new role settled in. The weight of the Catholic Church rested upon him and holy duty passed on from the then recently retired Pope Benedict XVI to this humble man from Argentina. Brothers and sisters, good evening, the new pope began his first papal address, his words resonating with the tired crowd, who was then rejuvenated with life, as their cheered and waved the Argentine flag. Their excitement was palpable among the South Americans, as they celebrated having their first pope from their region, the first non-European pontiff since Pope Gregory II in 731 AD. Pope Francis bore that distinction, not only as a symbol of South Americas spiritual prominence, but also as a beacon of change within the Church. His twelve-year papacy was marked by his humility, pragmatism, and unwavering commitment to social justice, reshaping the role of pope in ways few could have imagined. It was a happy surprise, given that the role of the leader of the Catholic Church was seen as somewhat stringent and done by the book. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, the pontiff was also the first Jesuit pope in the history of elected popes. Throughout his tenure, he transformed old thinking, merging them with the modern times while aligning with the Catholic Churchs ancient teachings, championing compassion over dogma. Upon his election, the humble man, now adorned in new clothes from a red robed cardinal to the white papal vestments rejected a major opulence typically associated with the papacy, residence in the Apostolic Palace. Instead, he chose two rooms at the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Saint Martha's House) as his abode a guest house created by Pope John Paul II, adjacent to St. Peters Basilica, where cardinals typically rest during the conclave. The words in the Bible, which he sought to educate the public, became his practise rejection of the excess. Let us pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world, he urged. His papacy championed a Church that operates like a field hospital, where healing and aid takes precedence over judgement. He called for a faith rooted in empathy, encouraging inclusion for those historically marginalised by the Church, encouraging meaningful dialogue in an effort to bridge gaps between the traditional teachings and the contemporary realities. He was a pope on a mission a mission to connect the antique and rich heritage of Catholicism with the ever-changing modern era. Early in his papacy, he famously vouched for the LGBTQ+ community, saying, If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?. Though the statement was accompanied by raised eyebrows from his own subordinates, and the public to whom he proclaimed it to, he held true to his word. The white robed man also created a link between faiths. The anxieties between Christianity and Islam are well-known from creating menial verbal arguments to border dividing wars, the co-existence of the two religions seems like a distant dream. Pope Francis took that extra step too, joining hands with Islams religious leader, he signed the Document of Human Fraternity with Egypts Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb during his groundbreaking 2019 visit to the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi. As we reflect on Pope Francis legacy, we recognize a leader who brought moral clarity to a world often clouded by division and self-interest. He reshaped the papacy into something more human, more approachable, and more engaged with the real struggles of people. He challenged the status quo, not through dramatic upheaval, but through a steady, persistent push for a more inclusive and conscientious Church. Now, as we bid farewell to the 266th pope, one recognises the heavy impact he left on the world, not just for the Catholics. And though the world mourns, the conclave must soon gather to choose his successor, who will bear this great responsibility of continuing the work Pope Francis began. Brothers and sister, I am leaving you, Thank you so much for your welcome. Pray for me, and see you soon, Pope Francis concluded his inaugural papal address, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Catholic Church. In 1767, when King Charles III of Spain expelled the Jesuits from his empire, a laywoman in Argentina (which was then under Spanish rule) made it her mission to spread the Ignatian spirituality throughout the country, defying the opposition of political honchos. Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa travelled through villages and towns organizing retreats to protect and promote the Jesuits belief and value systems. As Pope Franciswho himself is an Argentinian and belongs to the Jesuit orderbreathed his last, the name of this 18th century nun is also grabbing eyeballs. She became the first female saint in the Latina American country when the Pope canonized her on February 11, 2024, describing her as a wayfarer of the spirit. Popularly known as Mama Antula, Maria Antonia was a pioneer of human rights and spread the Gospel among the poor while working along with the Jesuits. She was a wayfarer of the Spirit. She travelled thousand of kilometres on foot, crossing deserts and taking dangerous paths, bringing God with her, Francis had said on the occasion. Born in 1730 to a wealthy family at Silipica town in Santiago del Estero, she left home at the age of 15 and started working along with the Jesuits. She became a consecrated laywoman when a the fairer sex had only two options in their lifebe either a wife or a nun. In her spiritual journey, she took everybody along, regardless of her social status and class. Neither the hostile political climate nor the threat of imprisonment acted as a deterrent as she founded the House of Spiritual Exercise in Buenos Aires, which is still in operation. Acknowledging her care and devotion to the local people, the indigenous community of Quechua fondly called her Mama Antula(Little mother Antonia). The nun breathed her last on March 7, 1799 at the age of 69. Several pilgrims still visit her tomb at Recoleta cemetery. Mama Antulas beatification was held on August 27, 2016 after Pope Francis approved a decree on a miracle attributed to her intercession. Sr Maria Rosa Vanina, a thirty-one-year-old professed religious of the Daughters of the Divine Savior, was healed from acute lithiasic cholecystitis with septic complications in 1904. On October 24, 2023, the Pope approved another decree on another miracle attributed to her intercessionClaudio Perusini a sixty-year-old father of a family was healed rapidly and permanently from ischemic stroke with hemorrhagic infarction in July 2017. This led to the canonization of Mama Antula. Mama Antula experienced what God wants of each one of us, that we may discover His call, each in our own state of life, Pope Francis said as he met a group of pilgrims from Argentina who had arrived in Rome for her canonisation. Pope Franciss tenure at the helm of the Holy See has drawn both praise and controversies. Since the beginning of his papacy in 2013, he has made efforts to reform the Catholic Church. He strongly advocated humility, social justice, and inclusion of marginalized groups, and set a personal example by rejecting some of the papal luxuries. However, his papacy has also faced strong criticism for perceived ambiguities and his handling of internal Church issues. The plight of the worlds poor remained central to his pastoral mission. He was also a vocal critic of unchecked capitalism and consumerismsystems he felt failed to consider the marginalized and impoverished. In his 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis defined the need for a greater emphasis on social consciousness in the church. He also made bold moves toward inclusivity: in 2013, he famously asked, Who am I to judge? in reference to gay Catholics, and in 2023, he approved blessings for same-sex couplesa shift toward acceptance that stopped short of doctrinal change. His 2015 encyclical Laudato si received global praise for addressing the Catholic Churchs role in climate action. Pope Francis also championed outreach to refugees, promoted interfaith dialogue, and issued apologies for the Churchs historical wrongs. Still, critics argue that some of his reforms lacked clarity and consistency. His certain positions alienated traditionalists, and his approval of same-sex blessings and openness to communion for divorced Catholicsvia Amoris Laetitiawere viewed by some as a dilution of Catholic doctrine. Certain steps he had taken while handling the clergy abuse crisis also drew heavy criticism. While he met with victims and called for accountability, he also made notable missteps: one such misstep was to defend Chilean Bishop Juan Barros, who faced allegations of covering up sexual abuse committed by his mentor, Father Fernando Karadima, a prominent Chilean priest. On the global stage, Pope Franciss political engagements stirred controversy. He faced backlash for his criticism of the West's policies and for his reluctance to fully condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine. In 2022, he called for peace and dialogue. But his critics said that the Pope refrained from naming Russia as the aggressor. While his advocacy for migrants earned praise from humanitarian groups, Western conservatives accused him of overlooking the security and economic concerns of host nations. In 2018, he signed a provisional agreement with China on the appointment of bishops, recognizing seven bishops previously appointed by Beijing. This move came nearly seven decades after the Holy See and China severed diplomatic ties. Critics, including Cardinal Joseph Zen, accused the Pope of betraying underground Catholics and turning a blind eye to human rights abuses by the Chinese state. His engagement with Palestinian leadersincluding hosting Mahmoud Abbas in 2015also drew criticism from pro-Israel advocates, who objected to what they saw as a lack of strong condemnation of groups like Hezbollah. Pope Francis appointed women to several significant roles within the Vatican hierarchy. He also took major steps to address the troubles in the Vatican Bank, introducing audits and oversight mechanisms to combat corruption. His measures were intended to combat money laundering and to ensure transparency in Vaticans financial operations. And, an internal watchdog of the Vatican had reported that Reports of suspicious financial activity in the Vatican fell by a third in 2024. As part of reforming the Vaticans financial institutions, Pope Francis took forward the measures initiated by his predecessor, the late Pope Benedict XVI. Despite certain limitations, Pope Francis did the best he could to reform the Catholic Church and align its pastoral mission with the realities of the 21st century. And, his papacy was marked by boldness and courage. The Buffalo Diocese, its parishes and other Catholic entities will pay $150 million as part of a deal to settle hundreds of child sex abuse lawsuits and emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The agreement does not include any payments from insurance companies, which are still negotiating an amount to pay toward a settlement fund. The Jeff Anderson & Associates law firm in St. Paul, Minn., announced the deal in an email Monday morning to plaintiffs the firm represents in lawsuits against the diocese. This settlement represents the second largest contribution by a bankrupt Roman Catholic institution and its affiliates in any Roman Catholic bankruptcy case to date and the largest contribution by a bankrupt diocese in upstate/western New York. This degree of accountability could not have been accomplished without your courage in coming forward and the Survivors Committees tireless efforts. We remain grateful to you for your resilience throughout this long journey, the firms email to clients said. In court documents filed Monday afternoon, the mediators in the settlement negotiations said the diocese and abuse claimants reached an agreement in principle April 9 that was subject to resolution of certain open issues, final documentation acceptable to the Diocesan Parties and the Committee, and confirmation of a plan of reorganization. Those court papers did not specify a dollar amount beyond referring to it as a multi-million cash contribution. Attorneys for the diocese, parishes and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, which represents about 900 sex abuse claimants, are scheduled to be in federal court Tuesday morning for a hearing. A Catholic foundation is worth $4 billion. Abuse survivors are looking to access that money for settlements Clergy sex abuse victims say its past time for the Catholic Church to provide a dose of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation's largesse toward settling Child Victims Act lawsuits and getting the Buffalo Diocese and other dioceses across the state out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Diocese spokesman Joseph Martone declined to comment when asked about the settlement. Attorney Steve Boyd, who with Jeff Anderson & Associates represents hundreds of claimants in the Buffalo Diocese bankruptcy case, and Ilan D. Scharf, lead attorney for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, also declined to comment. The deal marks a milestone in efforts to resolve the lawsuits and exit a bankruptcy that has consumed the diocese and frustrated abuse survivors for more than five years. It also comes as the diocese continues to work through a massive parish restructuring that will close more than 70 churches in eight counties. Proceeds from the sale of many of the closed churches likely would be used to help parishes pay into the settlement. The Buffalo Diocese is among six dioceses in New York that sought bankruptcy protection following the adoption of the Child Victims Act, which provided a two-year window for people who claimed being sexually abused as children to sue in civil courts. It opened the floodgates for thousands of lawsuits statewide accusing priests and other Catholic Diocese employees of molesting children decades ago. The Buffalo Diocese alone received more than 900 sex abuse claims in its Chapter 11 case. It may still take months for the Buffalo Diocese, which filed for Chapter 11 on Feb. 28, 2020, to get a plan confirmed by Chief Judge Carl L. Bucki of U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. Long Island diocese's exit from bankruptcy may signal future path for Buffalo Diocese Rockville Centre became the first diocese in New York with a confirmed reorganization plan, providing a potential blueprint for dioceses in Buffalo, Rochester, Ogdensburg and Albany. The Diocese of Rockville Centre was the first in New York to reach a confirmed plan in December, after agreeing a few months earlier on a $323 million deal to settle 618 sex abuse claims. The Syracuse Diocese, which filed for bankruptcy less than four months after the Buffalo Diocese, arrived at a $100 million settlement with 411 abuse claimants more than a year ago, and has a confirmation date scheduled for April 28. Abuse claimants voted overwhelmingly in favor of the plan, which will likely face objections from insurance companies who have yet to settle in the case. The Syracuse plan assigns insurance policies to a trust that would then litigate with insurers or negotiate a settlement for more money on behalf of abuse claimants. The Buffalo deal follows negotiations in March and April with an additional mediator, retired federal Judge Melanie L. Cyganowski, who was appointed in January to assist retired state Appellate Division Justice Patrick H. NeMoyer. Cyganowski and NeMoyer are scheduled to hold mediation sessions again beginning this week with the diocese, the creditors committee and insurers. The Buffalo Diocese case is among 16 active diocesan bankruptcy cases nationwide. Its proceedings already have taken longer than any of the 20 previous cases in which dioceses emerged from Chapter 11, according to research by Penn State law professor Marie T. Reilly. In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic that slowed the workings of the court system, the Buffalo Dioceses bankruptcy has been complicated by the unprecedented volume of claims brought. At around 900, it was more than in any other diocese bankruptcy case to date. Other complicating factors have included the dioceses convoluted insurance coverage, a 2020 civil lawsuit by the State Attorney Generals Office that accused the diocese of protecting predator priests, and two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have made it more challenging for dioceses to get a global resolution of abuse claims for themselves and for parishes. Bishop Michael W. Fisher, leader of the Buffalo Diocese since 2021, said in a February interview with The News that finding what is going to be acceptable to the creditors would be a challenge over the next few months. But, he added, this can never be a liquidation of our church. Sometimes, that might be what people are feeling right now with the mergers and closures, he said. As far back as October 2023, Fisher and the dioceses bankruptcy attorneys said they were prepared to offer $100 million to settle abuse claims, with as much as half of it coming from parishes. The attorneys also suggested in court papers that insurance companies could contribute perhaps even hundreds of millions of dollars, in addition to the dioceses proposed amount. But there was little progress in settlement talks for many months, and in November the creditors committee told Bucki that the two sides were at impasse. Hoping to prod negotiations along, the judge allowed 17 Child Victims Act cases to proceed toward trial. More than 900 abuse claims were filed in the Buffalo Diocese bankruptcy, although Bucki already has dismissed some claims as invalid and will consider additional diocese objections to the validity of 38 claims. If the settlement were to be approved, the average payout for each abuse victim would be about $167,000 to $187,500, depending on the total number of court-approved claims. Cyganowski and NeMoyer said in their report to Bucki that the deal between the diocese and the committee will serve as a crucial foundation for the next phases of mediation and will meaningfully advance the case toward plan confirmation and ultimate closure. The two mediators said they would be available at Tuesdays hearing to answer any questions from Bucki. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's stint with the Donald Trump administration could see an untimely end after it emerged that he had shared detailed plans about a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen on a second Signal group chat, which included his wife, lawyer and brother. This occurred on the same day he was found to have shared similar operational details in a separate Signal chat that inadvertently included a senior US journalist. The second Signal group chat on which he leaked the sensitive information included his wife Jennifer Rauchet, a former Fox News producer, Hegseths brother Phil and Hegseths attorney Tim Parlatore. While Rauchet has nothing to do with the Defence Department, both Phil and Time Parlatore have positions in the Pentagon. But, reportedly they too are not in a position requiring advanced knowledge of strike plans. It is unclear whether everyone in the second Signal chat has a security clearance. The messages were sent on March 15 and included details of the flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets tasked with striking Houthi targets. This comes as the Defense Department is facing a probe about an information leak which saw three former senior advisers to Hegseth being placed on administrative leave. Weeks ago, The Atlantic had revealed that its editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included by national security adviser Mike Waltz in the first Signal chat where Hegseth shared military plans. Chaos at The Pentagon Though the White House reacted to the report, calls for Hegseth's resignation are getting louder. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats calling for Trump to get rid of Hegseth. "The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired," Schumer said on X. Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona too sought Hegseth's resignation after the the war plans were shared last month. "Our service members and our national security deserve more than Pete Hegseth," Kelly told NPR. "He is unqualified for this job. And if he doesn't resign, the president should fire him." One of Hegseths closest advisers and his former press secretary, John Ullyot too hit out at the "chaos at the Pentagon". "From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership," Ullyot wrote Sunday in POLITICO. Ullyot, who resigned from the Pentagon last week, said Hegseth was "now presiding over a strange and baffling purge" that has left him without senior advisers, "More firings may be coming, according to rumours in the building," he added. "Even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon and its becoming a real problem for the administration." New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) Green energy firm NexGen Energia on Monday said regional investment behemoth Capital Edge of Kuwait will invest USD 1 billion in it to expand its infrastructure in India. The equity-based funding will enable NexGen Energia, India's leading installer of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants, to expand its CBG infrastructure across the country, supporting India's shift to clean energy and energy self-reliance, a company statement said. According to the statement, reflecting increasing global faith in India's renewable energy industry, green energy firm NexGen Energia Ltd has pledged USD 1 billion from Capital Edge of Kuwait. This strategic infusion represents a sea change for NexGen Energia, which has emerged as an increasingly important contributor to India's clean energy movement, it stated. Noida-based NexGen Energia has led the way in India's transition to renewable and alternative forms of energy. One of its crown jewel programmes is the building out of Compressed Bio-Gas infrastructure - a cleaner, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. With the support of Capital Edge, the firm will be able to grow its operations exponentially. The USD 1 billion (approximately Rs 850 crore) equity infusion will be fully utilised in the deployment and operation of CBG plants, making the company's vision of sustainable innovation a reality. "This capital infusion marks a pivotal moment in our journey. It will accelerate our vision to build a greener India through scaled-up CBG production. We're excited about the environmental and social impact this will create across the country," Nishant Tiwari, Director Sales at NexGen Energia, said. Early projects will be launched in high-potential areas such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka, with land acquisition and vendor associations already progressing. The next 18-24 months are planned by the company to finish a number of CBG facilities, with a scaled rollout extending through 2026. The vision also extends to include supply chain integration, technology innovation, and community involvement for long-term sustainability of the project. Iran and the United States plan to meet over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program again next week, after both sides said they made progress in their talks Saturday in Rome. A U.S. official confirmed that at a point during the negotiations in Rome, President Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke face to face. Before they meet again in Oman on April 26, Araghchi said technical-level talks would be held in the coming days. That experts would be discussing details of a possible deal suggests movement in the talks and comes as Trump has pushed for a rapid agreement while threatening military action against Iran. The sides made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions, according to a senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private diplomatic meeting. In a post on X, Araghchi similarly said they made progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal. He added, however, that optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution. He told Iranian state television earlier that I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks. While the U.S. said both direct and indirect discussions were held, Iranian officials described them as indirect, like those last weekend in Muscat, Oman, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi shuttling between them in different rooms. These talks are gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible, al-Busaidi said on X. In a separate post, Omans Foreign Ministry said the sides agreed to keep talking to seek a deal that ensures Iran is completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy. That talks are even happening represents a historic moment, given the decades of enmity between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. Trump, in his first term, unilaterally withdrew from Irans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, setting off years of attacks and negotiations that failed to restore the accord that drastically limited Tehrans enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. At risk is a possible American or Israeli military strike on Irans nuclear sites, or the Iranians following through on their threats to pursue an atomic weapon. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have spiked over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza and after U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels killed more than 70 people and wounded dozens more. Im for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon, Trump said Friday. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific. Before the Iran talks started, Witkoff met in Rome with Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to a person familiar with the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details that were not made public. The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency would likely be key in verifying compliance by Iran should a deal be reached, as it did with the 2015 accord Iran reached with world powers. In a flurry of gatherings, Grossi also met with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who sat down with Araghchi before the U.S.-Iran talks. A diplomatic deal is built patiently, day after day, with dialogue and mutual respect, Tajani said in a statement. Witkoff had been in Paris for talks about Ukraine as Russias full-scale war there grinds on. He also met in the French capital with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, and Mossad chief David Barnea. Dermer was in Rome on Saturday and spotted at the same hotel where Witkoff was staying. It was unclear if that was a coincidence, and there was no indication Dermer was part of the Iran talks. Araghchi in recent days paid a visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia, one of the world powers involved in Tehrans 2015 nuclear deal, could be a key participant in any future deal reached between Tehran and Washington. Analysts suggest Moscow could potentially take custody of Irans uranium enriched to 60% purity a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Omans capital hosted the first round of negotiations last weekend, which saw Araghchi and Witkoff meet face to face after indirect talks. Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has long served as an interlocutor between Iran and the West. Ahead of the talks, however, Iran seized on comments by Witkoff first suggesting Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67%, then later saying that all enrichment must stop. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on X before the talks that Iran would not accept giving up its enrichment program like Libya or agreeing to using uranium enriched abroad for its nuclear program. Iran has come for a balanced agreement, not a surrender, he wrote. Irans internal politics are still inflamed over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past Irans rial currency plunged to over 1 million to a U.S. dollar earlier this month. The currency has improved with the talks, however, something Tehran hopes will continue. Meanwhile, two used Airbus A330-200 long sought by Irans flag carrier, Iran Air, arrived at Tehrans Mehrabad International Airport on Thursday, flight-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed. The planes, formerly of Chinas Hainan Airlines, had been in Muscat and re-registered to Iran. The aircraft have Rolls-Royce engines, which include significant American parts and servicing. Such a transaction would need approval from the U.S. Treasury given sanctions on Iran. The State Department and Treasury did not respond to requests for comment. Under the 2015 deal, Iran could purchase new aircraft and had lined up tens of billions of dollars in deals with Airbus and Boeing Co. However, the manufacturers backed away from the deals over Trumps threats to the nuclear accord. (AP) The Supreme Court on Saturday blocked, for now, the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law. In a brief order, the court directed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center until further order of this court. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The Supreme Court had said earlier in April that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given a reasonable time to contest their pending removals. We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process, ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email. The Trump administration later Saturday filed paperwork urging the high court to reconsider its hold. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Saturday in a post on X: We are confident we will ultimately prevail against the onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists. On Friday, two federal judges refused to step in as lawyers for the men launched a desperate legal campaign to prevent their deportation, even as one judge said the case raised legitimate concerns. Early Saturday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to issue an order protecting the detainees from being deported. The ACLU had already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act. In an emergency filing early Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which would make them subject to President Donald Trumps use of the act. The act has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration contended it gave them power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status. Following the unanimous high court order on April 9, federal judges in Colorado, New York and southern Texas promptly issued orders barring removal of detainees under the AEA until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court. But there had been no such order issued in the area of Texas that covers Bluebonnet, which is 24 miles north of Abilene in the far northern end of the state. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, this week declined to bar the administration from removing the two men identified in the ACLU lawsuit because Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed sworn declarations that they would not be immediately deported. He also balked at issuing a broader order prohibiting removal of all Venezuelans in the area under the act because he said removals hadnt started yet. But the ACLUs Friday filing included sworn declarations from three separate immigration lawyers who said their clients in Bluebonnet were given paperwork indicating they were members of Tren de Aragua and could be deported by Saturday. In one case, immigration lawyer Karene Brown said her client, identified by initials, was told to sign papers in English even though the client only spoke Spanish. ICE informed F.G.M. that these papers were coming from the President, and that he will be deported even if he did not sign it, Brown wrote. Gelernt said in a Friday evening hearing before District Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., that the administration initially moved Venezuelans to its south Texas immigration facility for deportation. But since a judge banned deportations in that area, it has funneled them to the Bluebonnet facility, where no such order exists. He said witnesses reported the men were being loaded on buses Friday evening to be taken to the airport. With Hendrix not agreeing to the ACLUs request for an emergency order, the group turned to Boasberg, who initially halted deportations in March. The Supreme Court ruled the orders against deportation could only come from judges in jurisdictions where immigrants were held, which Boasberg said made him powerless Friday. Im sympathetic to everything youre saying, Boasberg told Gelernt. I just dont think I have the power to do anything about it. Boasberg this week found theres probable cause that the Trump administration committed criminal contempt by disobeying his initial deportation ban. He was concerned that the paper that ICE was giving those held did not make clear they had a right to challenge their removal in court, which he believed the Supreme Court mandated. Drew Ensign, an attorney for the Justice Department, disagreed, saying that people slated for deportation would have a minimum of 24 hours to challenge their removal in court. He said no flights were scheduled for Friday night and he was unaware of any Saturday, but the Department of Homeland Security said it reserved the right to remove people then. ICE said it would not comment on the litigation. Also Friday, a Massachusetts judge made permanent his temporary ban on the administration deporting immigrants who have exhausted their appeals to countries other than their home countries unless they are informed of their destination and given a chance to object if theyd face torture or death there. Some Venezuelans subject to Trumps Alien Enemies Act have been sent to El Salvador and housed in its notorious main prison. (AP) Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history, former President Bill Clinton returned to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and comfort those affected by the bombing. Clinton was president on April 19, 1995, when a truck bomb exploded, destroying a nine-story federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. He delivered the keynote address at a remembrance ceremony near the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. Clinton, now 78, was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief in the wake of the bombing, which killed 168 people, including 19 children. He says it was a day in his presidency that he will never forget. I still remember as if it were 30 minutes ago, coming here with Hillary to that memorial service and saying: You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. You have certainly not lost America, and we will be with you for as many tomorrows as it takes, Clinton said, recalling his first visit to Oklahoma City just days after the bombing, when he spoke at a memorial service for the for the victims. I do think weve kept that commitment. Clinton has visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum numerous times in the years since the bombing and delivered speeches on major anniversaries. On Saturday, Clinton also cautioned about the polarizing nature of modern-day politics and how such divisiveness can lead to violence, as it did 30 years ago. He said there is much the nation can learn from the Oklahoma Standard, a term coined to reference the citys response to the bombing by uniting in service, honor and kindness. Today, Oklahoma City, America needs you, he said. I wish to goodness every American could just see life unfold here, hearing these stories. Other speakers included former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick, who were in office when the bombing occurred. Family members of some of those killed in the bombing read the 168 names of those killed in the attack. Saturdays ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the memorial but was moved inside an adjacent church because of heavy rains. After the ceremony, a procession of bagpipe players from the Oklahoma City Fire Department led many of those in attendance across the street to the outdoor memorial built on the grounds where the federal building once stood. The memorial includes a museum, a reflecting pool and 168 empty chairs of glass, bronze and stone etched with the names of those killed. Nineteen of the chairs are smaller than the others to represent the children killed. Among the memorials top missions is to help people understand the senselessness of political violence and teach a new generation about the impact of the bombing, said Kari Watkins, the memorials president and CEO. We knew when we built this place we would some day reach a generation of people who werent born or who didnt remember the story, Watkins said. I think now, not just kids are coming through more and more, but teachers who are teaching those kids. (AP) Opponents of President Donald Trumps administration took to the streets of communities large and small across the U.S. on Saturday, decrying what they see as threats to the nations democratic ideals. The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration of the shot heard round the world on April 19, 1775, marking the start of the Revolutionary War 250 years ago. Thomas Bassford was among the demonstrators at the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord outside Boston. The 80-year-old retired mason from Maine said he believes Americans are under attack from their own government and need to stand up against it. This is a very perilous time in America for liberty, said Bassford, who was with his partner, daughter and two grandsons. I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom. In Denver, hundreds of protesters gathered at the Colorado State Capitol with banners expressing solidarity with immigrants and telling the Trump administration: Hands Off! People waved U.S. flags, some of them held upside down to signal distress. Thousands of people also marched through downtown Portland, Oregon, while in San Francisco, hundreds spelled out the words Impeach & Remove on a sandy beach along the Pacific Ocean, also with an inverted U.S. flag. Elsewhere protests were planned outside Tesla car dealerships against billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and his role in downsizing the federal government. Others organized more community service-oriented events such as food drives, teach-ins and volunteering at local shelters. The protests come just two weeks after similar nationwide demonstrations. Organizers say they oppose what they call Trumps civil rights violations and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and to scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shuttering entire agencies. Some of the events drew on the spirit of the Revolutionary War, calling for no kings and resistance to tyranny. Boston resident George Bryant, who was among those at the Concord protest, said he is concerned that the president is creating a police state. He held a sign saying, Trump fascist regime must go now! Hes defying the courts. Hes kidnapping students. Hes eviscerating the checks and balances, Bryant said. This is fascism. In Washington, Bob Fasick, a 76-year-old retired federal employee from Springfield, Virginia, said he came out to the rally near the White House out of concern over threats to constitutionally protected due process rights, Social Security and other federal safety-net programs. The Trump administration, among other things, has moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people. I cannot sit still knowing that if I dont do anything and everybody doesnt do something to change this, that the world that we collectively are leaving for the little children, for our neighbors is simply not one that I would want to live, Fasick said. In Columbia, South Carolina, several hundred people protested at the statehouse holding signs with slogans such as Fight Fiercely, Harvard, Fight. And in Manhattan, protesters rallied against continued deportations of immigrants as they marched from the New York Public Library north toward Central Park and past Trump Tower. No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state, they chanted to a steady drumbeat, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Marshall Green said he is most concerned that Trump invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 by claiming the country is at war with Venezuelan gangs linked to the South American nations government, even though a recent U.S. intelligence assessment found no coordination between them. Congress should be stepping up and saying no, we are not at war. You cannot use that, said the 61-year-old from Morristown, New Jersey. You cannot deport people without due process, and everyone in this country has the right to due process no matter what. Meanwhile Melinda Charles, of Connecticut, said she worries about executive overreach, citing clashes with the federal courts, Harvard University and other elite colleges. Were supposed to have three equal branches of government, she said, and to have the executive branch become so strong, I mean its just unbelievable. (AP) Israel is facing one of the most critical security decisions in its modern history: whether to act alone in striking Irans nuclear infrastructure as the United States edges closer to a renewed nuclear agreement with Tehran. As American diplomats continue what they describe as positive negotiations, Israeli defense officials warn the clock may be running out. The dilemma has escalated behind closed doors, as the Biden-era failure to secure a long-term agreement gave way to the Trump administrations hardened stance. Still, Israeli officials fear the forthcoming deal may fail to fully dismantle Irans military nuclear capabilitiesleaving Israel exposed and increasingly isolated. We are watching the Americans go down the same path again, said one senior Israeli official. But this time, the risk to us is far greater. The White Houses diplomatic team, led by top envoy Steve Witkoff, is pressing ahead with a new agreement after initial talks in Oman and a second round in Rome. Tehran, according to multiple sources, has indicated willingness to cap uranium enrichment at the same level they agreed to cap it in the awful 2015 deal with then-President Barack Obamaif the U.S. provides ironclad guarantees that a future administration wont again walk away from the deal. But while Washington explores compromise, Jerusalem is digging in. Israel is demanding total dismantling of Irans military nuclear program, its ballistic missile project, and a halt to funding proxy terror groups across the Middle East. Anything less, officials warn, risks legitimizing Irans slow march toward nuclear breakout. According to reports, Israeli defense planners have already begun preparing independent strike capabilities, despite knowing such a move would face steep logistical and strategic limitations. Iran is a geographically large nation, and its nuclear facilities are heavily fortified, dispersed, and designed to survive an initial strike. This wouldnt be a one-night operation, said a former IDF general. It would require waves of attacksand only the U.S. has that ability. Still, the option remains on the table. The challenge for Israel is compounded by mixed messages from Washington. Witkoffs public comments over the past week have veered from seeking limitations to demanding full dismantlement, injecting uncertainty into allies expectationsand perhaps emboldening Tehran. Iran, meanwhile, remains defiant. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has drawn red lines that include no dismantling of centrifuges, no reduction in enriched uranium, and no negotiations on the Islamic Republics growing missile arsenal. One senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters anonymously, suggested that while Iran is open to inspections and some limitations, full disarmament is off the table. We will not allow another 2015-style betrayal, the official said, referring to Trumps withdrawal from the original deal in 2018. President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, made clear that no matter what emerges from the negotiations, Iran will never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. The president abruptly ended his comments after a medical emergency in the room, but not before issuing a stern warning: If they get the bomb, your life will be in danger. Youll all be very unhappy. Trump has reinstated his maximum pressure campaign since returning to office in January, reimposing sweeping sanctions and targeting Iranian proxies across the region. Yet his administrations openness to a limited enrichment dealreportedly embraced by Witkoff in privatehas left Israeli leaders questioning how far Washington is truly willing to go. If Washington strikes a deal that freezes but does not erase Irans nuclear capabilities, the Islamic Republic could rearm at will once political winds shift. Israeli intelligence assessments suggest Iran already has enough enriched material to develop a nuclear weapon in under a year. There is no version of a deal that stops this threat permanently, said a senior Mossad source. Only action will. But that action comes with immense risk. Irans nuclear program is fortified against the very kind of raid Israel used to destroy Syrias reactor in 2007 or Iraqs in 1981. Even if Jerusalem employed its most advanced weaponsor acquired American bunker bustersIrans resilience and determination would remain. There is no silver bullet, said the source. Only constant pressure. Time is not on our side, another Israeli official said bluntly. And neither is the next agreement. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Hamas has signaled to Arab mediators its willingness to enter into a long-term truce with Israel one that would halt military operations, including the development of weapons and construction of tunnels as part of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, according to reports. The proposal, conveyed last week, marks the most far-reaching position publicly attributed to Hamas since the start of the war in Gaza. The terms, as relayed to The Times of Israel by a senior Palestinian official and an Arab diplomat involved in the mediation, include a multi-year truce lasting five, 10, or even 15 years, contingent upon a broader deal to end the war. Under the proposal, Hamas said it is willing to relinquish governing control of the Gaza Strip in favor of an independent technocratic authority a framework that aligns with Egyptian plans for Gazas postwar administration. Furthermore, some Hamas representatives have indicated readiness to place the groups weapons under guard in a secure warehouse, a gesture meant to reinforce its commitment to ending military activity against Israel. The suggested framework also includes the release of all remaining Israeli hostages in a single phase, in exchange for the release of a negotiated number of Palestinian prisoners. The deal would additionally stipulate a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the reopening of border crossings for humanitarian aid, and the launch of reconstruction efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, however, dismissed the proposal over the weekend, reiterating his governments stance that the war will not end until Hamas is fully dismantled. Netanyahu said that even the release of all remaining hostages currently at 59 would not justify leaving Hamas in power in Gaza. The only way to ensure long-term security for Israel is to eliminate Hamass military and governing capabilities, Netanyahu said. Some of Netanyahus political opponents have argued that the release of hostages should take precedence, even if it means postponing the goal of toppling Hamas. But the prime minister has maintained that any agreement including binding international guarantees would prevent Israel from resuming military operations, effectively cementing Hamass control in Gaza a scenario he has repeatedly vowed to prevent. This is not the first time ceasefire terms have faltered. In January, Netanyahu approved a phased ceasefire that facilitated the release of 33 hostages in the first stage. Negotiations for the second phase, which included a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal of Israeli forces, were expected to begin soon after but Israel declined to move forward on those terms, seeking instead another interim deal that allowed room to resume military action. The current U.S. administration, under President Trump, has supported Israels efforts to renegotiate the terms of the ceasefire, but Hamas has refused proposals that do not include permanent guarantees. Talks collapsed in early March, prompting Israel to resume large-scale military operations across Gaza on March 18. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Pope Francis, historys first Latin American pontiff who alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. But he emerged on Easter Sunday his last public appearance, a day before his death to greet ythousands of people in St. Peters Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics regularly publicly condemned Israels war on Gaza. Throughout Israels war again Hamas, he made a daily phone call to the enclaves only Catholic parish to offer support and prayers. He resumed the practice while still hospitalized after making a partial recovery in February. Francis frequently called Israels response to October 7th a genocide and called the IDF response terror. In November os 2024, Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef sharply criticized Pope Francis for suggesting that Israels actions in Gaza may constitute genocide, accusing the pontiff of siding with perpetrators of violence instead of victims. The remarks were made by the Pope in a forthcoming book. Its very interesting that the Pope doesnt call for an investigation of the terrible slaughter of Jews last year on October 7, Rabbi Yosef said in a video statement. Its interesting that he doesnt call for an investigation of the incitement against Jews across Europe, overt antisemitic incitement. Former Chief Rabbi David Lau also condemned Pope Francis in December of 2023 following remarks he made during a conversation with President Isaac Herzog that seemed to equate Israels actions in Gaza to Hamass atrocities. Pope Francis said that it is forbidden to respond to terror with terror. In 2017, YWN reported that a group of Jews led by Philanthropist Lazer Scheiner had a 45 minute audience with the pope. Rabbi Edgar Gluck discussed desecration of Jewish cemeteries. The Pope pledged to enact stronger rules against destroying Jewish cemeteries to build roads or homes. Additionally, the group spoke about the need to create better unity between religious groups; and finally, the issue of abuse was brought up to which the Pope responded over and over zero tolerance, zero tolerance. We need to keep kids safe. At the end of the meeting the group sang Shlomo Carlebachs to which the pope began swaying to in a video that went viral. Your browser does not support the video tag. His death now sets off a weekslong process of allowing people to pay their final respects, first for Vatican officials in the Santa Marta chapel and then in St. Peters for the general public, followed by a funeral and a conclave to elect a new pope. Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), convened his deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis. According to a CER statement, Goldschmidt, who met with the pope several times, recalls Franciss unwavering dedication to promoting peace and goodwill worldwide. The rabbi also praises the popes efforts to strengthen Catholic-Jewish relations. The European Jewish Congress sent condolences to Catholics in Europe and around the world upon the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis was a steadfast advocate for interfaith dialogue and mutual respect between religions, the representative organization of European Jewry says in a statement. His unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism and fostering a spirit of brotherhood between Christians and Jews will be remembered with gratitude and admiration. We have fond and enduring memories of our audiences with the late Pope and his deep commitment to fostering dialogue with Jewish communities and fierce opposition to antisemitism, adds EJC Vice-President Raya Kalenova. President Isaac Herzog offered his condolences to Christians around the globe and in Israel on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis. In a statement, Herzog calls Frances a man of deep faith and boundless compassion, and praises his dedication to the poor and to the cause of peace. He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect, says Herzog, despite growing frustration among Jewish leaders over the popes statements on Israel and his use of problematic New Testament verses. I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered, says Herzog. May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir flew to the US overnight Sunday for an official visit to the US. Ben-Gvir was boycotted by the Biden administration [along with Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich], and this is his first official visit to the US since taking office. Ben-Gvir flew directly to Florida and will later continue his visit in Washington and New York. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) A Hamas supporter was seen wearing a mock suicide vest at an anti-Israel protest in Manhattan. The vest is reminiscent of the suicide vests worn by terrorists to murder and maim Israelis during the Second Intifada in the early 2000s. And of course, the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City were also carried out by suicide attackers. The video shows the would-be suicide bomber with other pro-Hamas supporters arguing with counter-protesters. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) America's oldest indoor shopping mall in Rhode Island has been transformed into affordable micro-lofts. Flipping the retail space at the Arcade Providence into homes has 'been a driver for economic recovery in Providence's Financial District', according to the architects. The national landmark was named one of the nation's finest commercial buildings and, after closing in 2008, it became endangered before the developer proposed the $7million reuse project. Many cities have found the flipping of buildings, such as this, have promoted a solution for economic recovery as well as satisfying the over-demand for urban housing, Congress for the New Urbanism wrote. The location provides young professionals the opportunity to live in a central location with rents that start at $550 per month. It has been described as an 'incubator for young professionals' by the designers Northeast Collaborative Architects. 'Providence has shown that bold vision and creative planning can be an economic boon to a city. From creating more downtown housing to providing retail space for local entrepreneurs, to rehabilitating a beautiful and historic building... the project is a great example of economic development that just works,' said Mayor Jorge Elorza. The 400 square foot spaces also promote start-up businesses. 'Many tenants are artisans, and the project functions as an incubator for young professionals,' according to Northeast Collaborative Architects. The lofts at the Arcade Providence were completed in 2012 and have proven to demonstrate how the preservation and rehabilitation of buildings can serve a greater purpose Many cities have found the flipping of buildings, such as this, have promoted a solution for economic recovery as well as satisfying the over-demand for urban housing The 400 square foot spaces also promote start-up businesses. 'Many tenants are artisans, and the project functions as an incubator for young professionals,' according to the designers, Northeast Collaborative Architects The lofts share a balcony walkway to promote socializing as well as community spaces, including a lounge, laundry room and exterior balconies Even before opening back in 2012, the developer had 300 applicants for the building. One resident, Amy Henion, told CNBC: 'It's cool to be part of such a historic building and knowing that every single one of these units used to be a shop of some kind.' Henion, a 33-year-old graphic designer, had been living in the unit for two years and appreciated the easy access to amenities that it offered. 'You have access to amenities that you don't get if you're just living in a home in a suburb, like, if I want to get my hair cut, I can walk downstairs and get my hair cut,' she said. 'If I want to pick up lunch, I don't even have to leave the building, even if the weather outside is awful.' Not only can tenants get easy access to the businesses in the building, but they also have close access to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design as well as thousands of jobs. Its central location allows for easy walkability for residents as well as easy transit options and bicycle storage. One resident, Amy Henion, told CNBC: 'It's cool to be part of such a historic building and knowing that every single one of these units used to be a shop of some kind' Not only can tenants get easy access to the businesses in the building, but they also have close access to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design as well as thousands of jobs 'You have access to amenities that you don't get if you're just living in a home in a suburb, like, if I want to get my hair cut, I can walk downstairs and get my hair cut,' Henion said Scott Sheehan, a 31-year-old tax advisor and real estate investor, decided to rent it out on Airbnb, and estimated he could make between $25,000 and $45,000 in revenue annually The lofts share a balcony walkway to promote socializing as well as community spaces, including a lounge, laundry room and exterior balconies. Others took the opportunity to own loft spaces in such a central location as a chance to make some money. Scott Sheehan, a 31-year-old tax advisor and real estate investor, bought an apartment inside the mall for $250,000. Sheehan decided to rent it out on Airbnb, and estimated he could make between $25,000 and $45,000 in revenue annually. 'At the end of the day, it's a unique experience,' Sheehan told CNBC. 'It's a great alternative to a hotel room.' News / National by Staff reporter Cephas Mukombwe, a 45-year-old man from Gwalia Farm in Beatrice, has been sentenced to five years in prison for the unlawful possession of diamonds. The ruling was delivered by Harare Magistrate Mr. Isheunesu Matova on Saturday.Mukombwe was arrested on April 4 after attempting to sell two diamond pieces valued at US$174.93. He was found in possession of the diamonds while attempting to conduct an illegal transaction with potential buyers.The case was prosecuted by Ms. Faith Mavudzi, representing the State, alongside Zimbabwe Republic Police officer Edmore Godo.According to the prosecution, Mukombwe was seeking buyers for the diamonds with the help of his associate, Emanuel Chikono. However, Chikono was in communication with Detective Constable Sheshe, who was posing as a potential buyer.At around 11:45 AM on the day of the arrest, Mukombwe met the detectives at the corner of Patrice Lumumba Street and Leonid Bezhnev Avenue in Harare. After identifying themselves as law enforcement, the detectives requested to search him. During the search, Mukombwe handed over the two diamond pieces from his wallet to Detective Constable Sheshe, leading to his immediate arrest.The diamonds were later confirmed to be genuine by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, weighing 1.64 carats and valued at US$174.93.During the trial, Mukombwe argued that he had found the diamonds while making bricks and intended to surrender them to the police. He claimed he was unaware that possessing precious stones without a permit was a serious crime and was on his way to report the find when he was arrested.However, prosecutor Ms. Mavudzi dismissed Mukombwe's defence, stating that it lacked credibility and did not constitute special circumstances. She emphasized that ignorance of the law was not a valid excuse."The accused's actions cannot be justified or excused by his alleged ignorance of the law. Unlawful possession of precious stones is a serious offence, and the law is clear that only licensed dealers or permit holders are authorised to handle such materials," Ms. Mavudzi said.Magistrate Matova, in delivering the sentence, upheld the prosecution's argument, imposing the mandatory five-year custodial sentence. He underscored the importance of deterring illegal dealings in precious stones to protect Zimbabwe's mineral resources.Mukombwe's case serves as a stern reminder of the serious consequences of illegal diamond possession and trafficking, with the law making it clear that only those with proper permits or licenses may handle such valuable materials. Thanks to Trump and Putin, Europe needs to rearm quickly. But can it catch up fast enough? French Senator Claude Malhuret is seen in Paris's Luxembourg Palace. Malhuret made headlines in March with his incendiary takedown of U.S. President Donald Trump, which racked up tens of millions of views on social. (Jason Ho/CBC News - image credit) The gold leaf halls of Paris's Luxembourg Palace have witnessed countless stirring moments of oratory in the roughly 200 years that it has hosted French senators and other parliamentarians, but the moment that stands out of late belongs to Claude Malhuret and his incendiary takedown of U.S. President Donald Trump. Malhuret, a 75-year-old doctor and lawyer who once headed Medecins Sans Frontieres, made headlines around the world in March with an eight-minute speech that was translated and racked up tens of millions of views on social media. It eviscerated the U.S. president, calling him a "traitor" to the West and a threat to European security. "Trump's message is that there is no point in being his ally because he will not defend you," boomed Malhuert from the ornate chamber. "He will impose higher tariffs on you than his enemies and will threaten to seize your territories." ADVERTISEMENT "Europe is standing alone," he said as he called on the continent to accelerate military aid to Ukraine to help it repel Russia's invasion and to rapidly build up Europe's armies to compensate for Trump's disinterest. The ornate Italian designed main hall at Luxembourg Palace, home to France's Senate. (Jason Ho/CBC News) In the weeks since giving that speech, military and security developments on the continent have moved at a dizzying pace. And while Malhuret's voice was but one of many making such arguments, he told CBC News he takes some comfort that his words might have helped motivate the largest rearmament program Europe has seen in decades. "Europeans are emerging from denial," he told CBC News in a recent interview at Luxembourg Palace. "The message for the French people [is] very simple. We will probably have to defend Ukraine ourselves. And the second message is that the Atlantic Alliance is in great danger," he said. ADVERTISEMENT Earlier this week, Trump again falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia and continued to insist President Vladimir Putin wants peace even as Russia's bombardment of Ukrainian cities has increased. First steps While European leaders continue to push to change Trump's mind, they have also taken major steps to rearm. The European Union says it plans to raise an immediate 150 billion euros ($236 billion Cdn) for collective defence. Separately, many countries have announced their own measures. WATCH | EU proposed plan to aid Ukraine and rearm Europe: Poland says it plans to create an army of half a million soldiers. France says it intends to build a new generation of aircraft carriers and has begun talks about possibly extending its nuclear umbrella over other countries. ADVERTISEMENT Germany has unlocked hundreds of billions of euros for new infrastructure, much of which could be channeled toward defence. And Britain, no longer in the European Union but still keen to demonstrate broader leadership, is boosting defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, the largest such increase in four decades. Several Dassault Mirage 2000 aircraft stand parked on the tarmac on the day of France's President Emmanuel Macron's visit, at the French Air and Space Force Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur Airbase, in France on March 18. ( Ludovic Marin/Reuters) Big gaps Despite the flurry of announcements, a new report is underscoring the reality of just how difficult it will be for European countries to wean themselves off of American military might and technology and to do it quickly. The report by the Brussels-based Bruegel think-tank underscores that there are immense gaps in defence production capabilities that must be overcome. Notably, it says Europe suffers from a paucity of advanced defence technologies. An armoured vehicle drives onto a ramp at a training site, where Ukrainian soldiers undergo maintenance training on Leopard 1 A5 tanks, at the German army Bundeswehr base, in Klietz, Germany, in February 2024. (Liesa Johannssen/Reuters) For example, while the U.S. has ramped up mass production of its fifth-generation F-35 fighter, European factories are still churning out fourth-generation European planes. ADVERTISEMENT It also says national rivalries are sapping Europe's ability to mass produce top quality systems. Whereas the U.S. focuses its energies on producing a single main battle tank (the M1 Abrams), Europe produces seven, with each country prioritizing their own home-produced model. One of the authors of the report told CBC News "procurement nationalism," or favouring products produced in their home markets, is holding back Europe's rearming project. "Step No. 1 is that we must use the economies of scale that the huge European market has," said Armin Steinbach, a non-resident fellow at Bruegel. "That helps to scale up production in a much more efficient and less costly way." WATCH | Could Canada's defence support shift to Europe?: Steinbach's group is proposing a new pan-European defence fund the "European Defence Mechanism" to facilitate the joint procurement. In theory, he says non-European countries, including Canada, could contribute to the fund and also benefit from it by collaborating on potentially hundreds of billions of dollars in new military projects. "We are aware that Canada is a country that is also in a moment of reorientation, given what's going on in the U.S.," said Steinbach. European defence ministers considered the Bruegel proposal for the first time last week, calling it a good starting point. French optimism On a recent trip to France, CBC News spoke with several senior European officials engaged with the rearmament effort who remain optimistic that they can execute the difficult pivot on defence procurements that's needed. "What we want to build is a European Union that relies on itself regarding its security," France's former prime minister Gabriel Attal told CBC News. Attal was prime minister for nine months from January to September 2024, before his Renaissance Party lost power after President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election to try to fend off a surge from the far-right. Gabriel Attal, left, France's former prime minister and, at podium, Svenja Hahn, a German member of Europes Parliament representing the Free Democratic Party. (Jason Ho/CBC News) He remains an elected member of France's Parliament and there's widespread speculation that he could stand for the presidency in 2027. "Our vision is to invest way more in our national budgets on defence, to buy European and from European defence industries and to build some sort of a European compass regarding our defence," he said. Svenja Hahn, a German member of Europe's Parliament representing the left-leaning Free Democratic Party, said she believes the security crisis posed by Trump and Putin will help focus minds on overcoming the collective challenges. "If we do not want to be overrun by the bullies of the world, we really have to become a third superpower [after China and the U.S.]," she told CBC News at a forum in Paris. Tough timing While new fighter jets, tanks and sophisticated missile defence systems can take many years even decades to develop and produce, Europe may be able to move faster ramping up defences in other areas, notably drones. "Its a huge priority," said Rafael Loss, a fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. Dassault Mirage 2000 aircrafts stand parked on the tarmac on the day of Macron's visit at Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur Airbase, on March 18. (Ludovic Marin/Reuters) "The Ukrainians are showing you can have a large production base without necessarily enormously extended timelines for production." He also said the standing armies of most European nations at the moment are too small, yet they can be bolstered through new recruitment and training relatively quickly. While the Bruegel report doesn't specifically set a deadline for Europe to ramp up its own rearmament, Loss says planners are likely considering several key timelines. "One is with the [duration] of the Trump presidency; the other is Vladimir Putin's lifespan," he told CBC News. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron, as he arrives for a meeting with European leaders on peace and security for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 27. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters) In other words, he says there's an imperative to revamp armies and create new armaments quickly, as Trump still has three and half more years in his term. And at the same time, Putin, who's 72, may also be inclined to accelerate his ambitions to enlarge Russia's territory by taking over neighbouring Baltic nations in his lifetime. Loss says the other big determinant on how much time Europe has to rearm is the outcome of the war in Ukraine. "I think defeating Russia in Ukraine would minimize the risk of Russian escalation against European countries." With absolutely no shame, we're not afraid to declare it on Sunday . . . TKC actually kinda likes Katy Perry. She started as a top heavy diva willing to talk about sexual experimentation as a path to "empowerment" or whatever . . . And we understood that her music was decent but mostly just dancable junk like most pop music . . . Sadly, we're living in a humorless era and Katy Perry has a harder time than most attempting to fake sincerity convincingly. And whilst NONE OF THIS IS IMPORTANT BUT . . . It's a good place to start our quick peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Costs Rise For Cowtown Celebration Are holiday traditions more expensive in 2025? Consumers are anticipating holiday spending to increase in 2025. The Consumer Price Index released on April 14 showed egg prices were at a record high - $6.23 per dozen - last month. JoCo Crash Aftermath 2 teens killed, 2 injured in Overland Park head-on crash Two teenagers are dead and two others are in the hospital following an overnight head-on crash in Overland Park, Kansas. Selling Season Scandal KC developer kept deposits for homes he never built. Now he wants $50M more Kansas City families lost out on a failed plan to build homes in an East Side neighborhood. The developer Daniel Edwards faces criticism as he seeks investors. Locals Offer Helping Hands Argentine coffee shop rallies around grieving family with fundraiser Saturday A coffee shop in Kansas City, Kansas' Argentine neighborhood rallied around a grieving family by hosting a fundraiser Saturday. Community Gifts Ride KC congregation donates car for woman in need on Easter Sunday There was more than one reason to celebrate on Sunday at United Believers Community Church. Smells Like Commerce Smell like a supermodel with Victoria's Secret scents from the Walmart Beauty Sale Whether you're in the market for a refreshing body mist, luxurious lotion or sweet-smelling gift, you're sure to find something tempting on sale. White House Leaks Always Sensitive docs mistakenly made available to agency's entire staff during Biden, Trump admins White House floor plans among docs made accessible to all at GSA in uploads dating from Biden's term to Trump's 2nd administration. Former Prez Unwelcome?!? Democrats want Joe Biden to stay away Democrats trying to find their way back from their 2024 election losses are taking aim at former President Biden for reemerging on the national stage. Biden came back into view this week to d... MAGA Tough Talk For Holiday Trump shreds Biden, 'Radical Left Lunatics' in Easter message President Donald Trump blasted those he called the "Radical Left" and former President Joe Biden in an Easter message on social media on Sunday. Spinning War In Europe How Trump backed away from promising to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours During his campaign, Donald Trump said repeatedly that he would be able to end the war between Russia and Ukraine "in 24 hours" upon taking office. Holy Land Investigation Cont'd Israeli probe into killing of 15 Palestinian medics finds 'professional failures' The Israeli military investigation said the examination found "no evidence to support claims of execution or that any of the deceased were bound before or after the shooting." Global Prison Industrial Complex Emerges El Salvador offers Venezuela prisoner swap involving US deportees El Salvador proposes exchanging 252 US-deported Venezuelans for the same number of "political prisoners" in Venezuela. Everyone Against Diva Why Does Everyone Hate Katy Perry So Much? The world's rotation these days is propelled by the power of the division, polarization, discord, and vitriolic disagreement that exists on it. Thus it's a surprise for the earth to briefly stand still in a moment of unity. And that seems to be over the hatred of Katy Perry. Local Lady Ballers Stay Winning Photos: KC Current continue perfect start to 2025 season with win over Houston The KC Current continue their dominant reign in the 2025 season with a win over the Houston Dash on Saturday, April 19. Grigs Starts Springtime Watch Kansas City weather: Storms exit by Sunday evening, dry and sunny Monday Showers and a few thunderstorms may linger into the evening, but the threat for severe weather is expected to diminish. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. A surprising exit for Catholic Holy Father sparks news around globe for the early morning. Here are the basics and a glimpse the start of mourning for millions along with the process of selecting a new pontiff . . . Check-it: Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the Pope's death in a statement released by the Vatican during the early hours of Monday. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father, the Cardinal said. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Pope Francis has died, the Vatican camerlengo, announces Pope Francis died Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced."At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. Pope Francis dies at age 88 Pope Francis, a reformer from Argentina who rattled the Catholic Church's traditionalists and inspired progressives by reaching out to gay people and championing the rights of immigrants and the poor, has died, the Vatican announced. Pope Francis dies aged 88 World leaders pay tribute to the Pope as a "tireless advocate for peace" and a "great spiritual leader". Developing . . . Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Pope Francis, Roman Catholic Churchs Top Priest, dies Pope Francis, the Top Priest of The Roman Catholic Church, passed away at 07:35 local time on Easter Monday Monday April 21, 2025 9:43 PM , ummid.com News Network Vatican City: Pope Francis, the Top Priest of The Roman Catholic Church, passed away at 07:35 local time on Easter Monday April 21, 2025. He was 88. Pope Francis Funeral The Vatican City has confirmed the ailing Popes demise in a post on its Telegram Channel and other social media platforms. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, it said. The Pope's death comes a day after he appeared in St Peter's Square to wish "Happy Easter" to thousands of worshippers Sunday April 19, 2025. The exact date and time of Pope Francis' funeral has not yet been confirmed yet. It should however will be held in the next 4-5 days. Pope Francis - A Brief History Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936. As the head of the Catholic Church, he was also the Sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025. A papal conclave had elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as his successor on March 13, 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013. He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III. Pope Francis on Gaza Pope Francis has on multiple times appealed for peace in Gaza and end of Israeli massacre and gencoide of Palestinians. "I continue to receive very serious and painful news from Gaza. Unarmed civilians are subjected to bombings and shootings. It is terrorism", a statement released by the Vatican City said on behalf of the Pope Saturday April 19, 2025. In an unprecdented move, Pope Francis had also called for investigation into the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. The Pope had repeatedly said "he was very concerned over the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza." Pope Francis' Last Message Pope Francis' Easter message Sunday April 20, 2025 was one of peace and "respect for the views of others". "There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression", an aide read on his behalf. In his final address, the Pontiff again remembered the people of Gaza as the conflict "causes death and destruction" and creates a "deplorable humanitarian situation". "What a great thirst for death, for killing we see in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world," he said. "I express my closeness to the sufferings... for all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people," the message said. "Call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace." The Pope also encouraged all parties involved in the Ukraine war to "pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace". Papal Conclave Also, the conclave to elect the New Pope will be held in two weeks. The College of Cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel for the secretive papal conclave to elect the 267th pontiff in the 15 days. The fruntrunners are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy), Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana), Cardinal Peter Erdo (Hungary), Cardinal Angelo Scola (Italy), Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy) and Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke (USA). To be elected as Pope, a candidate must receive a two-third majority. Condolences Pour in In her condolence message, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, the news of the Pope's demise saddened the whole country. "I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship," she said in the statement. "He asked the world, once again, for the courage to change direction, to follow a path that 'does not destroy, but cultivates, repairs, protects'", Meloni said. "His teaching and his legacy will not be lost. We greet the Holy Father with hearts full of sadness, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord", she said. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hailed Pope Francis's commitment to the "most vulnerable". "I mourn the passing of Pope Francis. His commitment to peace, social justice, and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy. Rest in peace", Pedro wrote in a post on X. Mourng the death of the Pope, Taiwans Ministry Of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, "Due to the profound friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican, in addition to sending officials of appropriate levels as special envoys to attend the Popes funeral, senior government officials will also attend the memorial mass held by the Vaticans Embassy in Taiwan to express the deepest condolences of the Taiwanese people, Catholic believers, and the government." "His humility and concern for all humanity, especially his active call for world peace, will always remain in the hearts of our people and government. In this moment of sorrow, our people, Catholics and the government mourn together." "Big Loss" Kenyas President William Ruto paid tribute on X saying the Pope's demise is a huge loss. "We join the Catholic Church and the global Christian community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis.This is a big loss to the Catholic faithful and the Christian world. Pope Francis will be remembered for a life dedicated to serving the Lord, the Church, and humanity." "He exemplified servant leadership through his humility, his unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice, and his deep compassion for the poor and the vulnerable. His strong ethical and moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background.May his soul Rest in Eternal Peace", he wrote. In his condolence message, Ethiopias Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he extends his deepest condolences on the passing of Pope Francis. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. SC Vs Modi Govt: A Constitutional Crisis Unfolding In what appears to be one of the most significant constitutional face-offs in recent times, India is witnessing a sharp confrontation between the Supreme Court and the Union Government specifically, the Modi-led central leadership Tuesday April 22, 2025 0:23 AM , Mohd Ziyaullah Khan In what appears to be one of the most significant constitutional face-offs in recent times, India is witnessing a sharp confrontation between the Supreme Court and the Union Government specifically, the Modi-led central leadership. The latest standoff has taken root in the national capital and reflects a deepening crisis involving institutional overreach, political motives, and the very fabric of Indian federalism. In this article, we will explore this new trend emerging in the recent times of how the central government is trying to overtake the Supreme Court and how the latter is taking back its old sheen to counter the former. The Trigger: Vice President vs. Supreme Court The crisis came into the spotlight when Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar openly criticized the Supreme Court, accusing it of misusing Article 142a provision that empowers the judiciary to ensure complete justice in any case. Dhankhar questioned the Supreme Courts authority to direct the President of India, arguing that such powers undermine the democratic structure since the court is an unelected body. Ironically, as critics pointed out, the Vice President himself holds a ceremonial, indirectly elected post. This remark, though not unprecedented in tone, signals a clear escalation in tensions between the executive and the judiciary. A More Assertive Supreme Court What has unsettled the Union Government is the recent assertiveness of the Supreme Court, which, after years of quiet submission, seems determined to uphold constitutional values without fear or favour. The courts interventions in the Waqf Board Amendment Act, the Wikimedia and Kunal Kamra cases, and its scrutiny of district-level administrative overreach have shown a renewed vigour in checking executive excess. In particular, the courts decision to put the Waqf Act amendments on hold till May 5 has rattled the government, especially since the law had already cleared both houses of Parliament using the ruling partys brute majority. The Waqf Amendment Controversy: A Closer Look The new amendments to the Waqf Act proposed drastic changes that would bring long-established properties such as mosques, graveyards, and religious institutions under greater government scrutiny. One of the most contentious elements was giving District Magistrates the power to decide on waqf property ownership, even bypassing court decisions. The Supreme Court posed sharp questions on this, particularly why such sweeping powers should be given to bureaucrats and whether a similar rule would be applied to Hindu endowment boards. The government had no clear answers, revealing a pattern of selective treatment. Article 26 of the Constitution allows religious communities to manage their institutions this act, in contrast, seemed to violate that principle specifically for Muslims. The SCs intervention has not only brought a halt to the implementation of the amended act but also exposed what many view as the governments hidden agenda: acquiring waqf land under the guise of reforms while deflecting attention with narratives of corruption within the Waqf Board. Troll Army and Misinformation Campaigns In response to the Supreme Courts tough questioning, pro-government social media influencers and troll armies launched a campaign to undermine the courts credibility. Echoing the Vice Presidents criticism, they questioned why the judiciary was interfering with a law passed by both houses of Parliament. This line of argument conveniently ignores the judiciarys constitutional mandate to review legislation for fairness, justice, and constitutional compliance. Pattern of Judicial Confrontation This is not the first time the Modi government has backtracked following a Supreme Court intervention. Notable examples include: Sedition Law (2022): SC put it on hold, questioning its relevance in a modern democracy. SC put it on hold, questioning its relevance in a modern democracy. Article 370 (2023): SC raised concerns about whether a government with a brute majority could alter the status of a state. SC raised concerns about whether a government with a brute majority could alter the status of a state. Electoral Bonds: While the court questioned transparency, it stopped short of ordering a return of funds. While the court questioned transparency, it stopped short of ordering a return of funds. Delhi Riots Case: The government changed its narrative once the matter reached the apex court. These examples suggest that the Supreme Courts assertive stance is increasingly acting as a much-needed check on unbridled executive power. The Governor Conundrum and Tamil Nadu Verdict The other flashpoint in this unfolding crisis is the role of Governors in blocking state legislations. In Tamil Nadu, Governor R.N. Ravi stalled 12 bills passed by the state assembly. Similarly, the Delhi LG has often locked horns with the elected government. The Supreme Court recently delivered a landmark verdict asserting that Governors cannot sit indefinitely on bills. Using Article 142, it compelled the Tamil Nadu Governor to clear all 12 pending bills, setting a precedent that upholds the federal structure and democratic processes in the states. In doing so, the court also clarified that even the President of India cannot exercise a pocket veto for an unlimited timea direct rebuke to any misuse of constitutional provisions for political ends. A Judiciary Under Siege, But Standing Tall The Supreme Courts proactive role has exposed cracks in the governments approach to governance. The institution is facing open hostility from ceremonial figures like the Vice President to orchestrated online campaigns, but it continues to uphold its constitutional responsibility. The reality remains that the judiciary is the last line of defense in a democracy. When the media aligns itself with the ruling powers and the opposition is too weak to act as a counterbalance, the courts become the only forum where accountability is possible. The Battle for the Soul of Indian Democracy This constitutional crisis is not merely about a Waqf Act or Governors stalling bills. Its about the broader battle for Indias constitutional integrity. The governments discomfort with judicial scrutiny and federal limits reflects a dangerous drift toward centralization and authoritarianism. Thanks to Article 142, and a newly emboldened Supreme Court, Indias democratic spirit finds a strong defender. Whether this assertiveness will sustain and continue to push back against executive overreach remains to be seen but for now, it is a hopeful sign in an increasingly polarized and one-sided political landscape. The judiciarys refusal to bow down is not just a legal matter its a stand for democracy itself. (Mohd Ziyauallah Khan is a freelance content writer & editor based in Nagpur. He is also an activist and social entrepreneur, co-founder of the group TruthScape, a team of digital activists fighting disinformation on social media.) Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Urdu: Will It Get Its Due Ever? Last week, a Supreme Court benchs observation on the use of Urdu, has once again opened a pandoras box, on the treatment meted out to Urdu Monday April 21, 2025 11:19 AM , Asad Mirza Last week, a Supreme Court benchs observation on the use of Urdu, has once again opened a pandoras box, on the treatment meted out to Urdu a language of connoisseurs, but which has been appended to the Muslim community. As in the past, this time too, nothing worthwhile would come out of this development, as Urdu has been relegated to its current status by the Urdu lovers only. The Supreme Court bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K Vinod Chandran while hearing a petition by Varshatai Sanjay Bagade, a former councillor of Patur in Maharashtra's Akola district, rejected a challenge to the use of Urdu on the signboard of a Municipality in Maharashtra. Bagade had challenged the use of Urdu, along with Marathi, on the name board of the municipal council. She had argued that the work of the Municipal Council can only be conducted in Marathi, and the use of Urdu is impermissible, even on the signboard. In its observations the two judges referred to many oft repeated sentiments regarding the Urdu language. The honourable judges while taking an extract from a Nazm by poet Iqbal Ashhar, noted that if Urdu was to speak for herself, she would say: urdu hai mira naam, main 'Khusrav' ki paheli kyuun mujh ko banate ho ta.assub ka nishana main ne to kabhi khud ko musalman nahin maana dekha tha kabhi main ne bhi khushiyon ka zamana apne hi vatan men huun magar aaj akeli, urdu hai mira naam main 'Khusrav' ki paheli (Urdu is my name, I am the riddle of 'Khusro' Do not hold me for your prejudices I never considered myself a Muslim I too have seen happier times I feel like an outsider in my homeland today Urdu is my name, I am the riddle of 'Khusro') The learned judges further rightly commented that a language cant be described as a religion and to consider Urdu as a language of Muslims is a pitiable digression from reality and unity in diversity of India. Language belongs to a community, to a region, to people; and not to a religion. Language is culture. Language is the yardstick to measure the civilisational march of a community and its people. So is the case of Urdu, which is the finest specimen of Ganga-Jamuni tahzeeb, or the Hindustani tahzeeb, which is the composite cultural ethos of the plains of northern and central India. But before language became a tool for learning, its earliest and primary purpose will always remain communication," the court said. The court observed that the Patur Municipal Council had retained Urdu on the signboard because many local residents understood the language. All the municipal council wanted to do was to make an effective communication, the court said. The court said a Municipal Council provides services to the local community and caters to their immediate day-to-day needs. "If people or a group of people, residing within the area covered by the Municipal Council are familiar with Urdu, then there should not be any objection if Urdu is used in addition to the official language i.e. Marathi, at least on the signboard of the Municipal Council. Language is a medium for exchange of ideas that brings people holding diverse views and beliefs closer and it should not become a cause of their division." Apparently, the bench aptly surmised that: "The prejudice against Urdu stems from the misconception that Urdu is alien to India. This opinion, we are afraid, is incorrect as Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language. It is a language which was born in this land. Urdu developed and flourished in India due to the need for people belonging to different cultural milieus who wanted to exchange ideas and communicate amongst themselves. Over the centuries, it attained ever greater refinement and became the language of choice for many acclaimed poets." The court said that the fusion of Hindi and Urdu met a roadblock in the form of the puritans on both sides and Hindi became more Sanskritised and Urdu more Persianised. A schism was exploited by the colonial powers in dividing the two languages on religion. Hindi was now understood to be the language of Hindus and Urdu of the Muslims, which is such a pitiable digression from reality; from unity in diversity; and the concept of universal brotherhood. The Court pointed out that the Constitution mentions 22 Indian languages in its 8th Schedule, which includes both Marathi and Urdu, and significantly, English is not a language mentioned in the Schedule as it is not an Indian language. The court further observed that the Hindustani language used by the masses is replete with Urdu even if one is not aware of it. "It would not be incorrect to say that one cannot have a day-to-day conversation in Hindi without using words of Urdu or words derived from Urdu. The word 'Hindi' itself comes from the Persian word 'Hindavi'." it said. This exchange of vocabulary flows both ways because Urdu also has many words borrowed from other Indian languages, including Sanskrit. Furthermore, Urdu words have a heavy influence on the judiciary, both in criminal and civil laws and in the police vocabulary, though recently many overzealous stater governments have given directives to state police forces to adopt Hindi or words from the official state language in official correspondence and FIR filing and reporting. Words like Mukaddama (case), Mulzim (accused), Ilzam (allegation), Ittila (information), Chashmdeed (eyewitness), Mustaghees (complainant), Jeb Tarashi (pick pocketing), Ferd Baramadgi (recovery memo), Adalat(court) to Halafnama (deposition) to Peshi (hearing date) abound in court and police correspondence. Basically, the Three Language Formula of 1968 acts as the main villain against the use and spread of Urdu in India, in the name of promoting state languages of different states along with English and Hindi, as compulsory languages at school level. The Urdu lovers have been giving similar response on these issues whenever rabble rousers raise banners against Urdu while promoting Hindi, but these forces are not ready to listen to any sane word in favour of Urdu. Thus, the observation by the two learned judges will also be forgotten very soon, while anti-India and anti-Urdu elements will continue their tirade in absence of any collective response from the Urdu lovers of the country. In its concluding remarks, the Court urged that our misconceptions, perhaps even our prejudices against a language must be courageously and truthfully tested against the reality, which is this great diversity of India: Our strength can never be our weakness. Let us make friends with Urdu and every language. (The writer, Asad Mirza, is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on national, international, defence and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant.) Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. From the moment Jane Kamensky took the helm of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, civic engagement was top of mind for her. Its one of the reasons the historian and former Harvard University professor descended the so-called ivory tower of academia to climb to the summit of Jefferson's mountaintop estate just south of Charlottesville, which her foundation owns and operates in honor of the author of the Declaration of Independence, America's founding document. But not enough has been done, she said, and next year provides a perfect opportunity to remedy that. While many in America will celebrate the nations 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, Kamensky believes the occasion calls for more than just revelry. It's not only a moment to unfurl a flag, touting all that we've accomplished though we should do that too, she told a crowd gathered in the Irving Theater of the CODE Building in downtown Charlottesville last Wednesday. "But it's a moment to think about a generational investment in building civic capacity the capacity for self-government. For Kamensky, there is no better place to accomplish that than in Charlottesville, a city she said could become a living laboratory of democracy. I would love for Charlottesville's role in the birth of American democracy to become the headline of the story we tell ourselves about ourselves, she said. For about half an hour Wednesday, Kamensky, in conversation with Melody Barnes, executive director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the Jefferson-founded University of Virginia, talked about the future of democracy in Charlottesville and beyond, and how to get more people involved in their civic duties. Their early morning conversation commenced the first day of the five-day Tom Tom Festival in Charlottesville, a celebration of music, art, innovation and community originally centered around Jefferson's April 13 birthday. Kamensky, who stepped into her leadership position at Monticello in January of last year after the departure of former President Leslie Greene Bowman, said that the foundation that runs the estate has been engaged in civic work since its founding in 1923. But, she admitted, it has not always underscored that. Kamensky wants to change that. Monticello, she said, is in the throes of a strategic planning process, and the outcome thus far has highlighted that the estate needs to lower barriers to access for people in Charlottesville and to be more active in the city. It's something many in the city and surrounding Central Virginia have been hoping to hear after popular festivals and gatherings regularly held on the mountaintop specifically meant for the community, such as the Heritage Harvest Festival, were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic and never returned. After the Jefferson Foundation acquired the neighboring Jefferson Vineyards in early 2023, there were talks of a major community event to be held there later that spring; those plans never came to fruition. We talk a lot about the power of place to do that, Kamensky said. And I think we share with the framework of Tom Tom this year a commitment to making Charlottesville resonate as a place that is itself a democracy laboratory. Charlottesville, Kamensky continued, has a kind of shorthand resonance in a national and international conversation that feels to me, as a newcomer, like a hangover of 2017 and all the things that brought us to that moment and all of the things that still percolate from it. But theres another side to Charlottesville, Kamensky said, as a place that always dared hard things. I want to touch on the opportunity of 2026 to accelerate this work, she said. But that won't be easy, as the weight of the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally-turned-riot still hangs over the city. Making things worse, polls show that the nation's civic knowledge is lagging and that a sense of patriotism among Americans has plummeted. A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that nearly 3 in 4 Americans "fail a basic civic literacy quiz on topics like the three branches of government, the number of Supreme Court justices, and other basic functions of our democracy." A similar poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania found that roughly one-third of respondents couldn't name a single branch of government. A 2024 Gallup poll found that, although there was a slight uptick in American patriotism in the past couple of years, the share of those who say they are extremely proud to be an American remains near the record low. Meanwhile, two-thirds say they are very proud, about 20% say they are moderately proud and 15% say they are only a little or not at all proud. Barnes, who served as assistant to the president and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council in the first Obama administration, said Americas approaching 250th anniversary will draw different emotions from different people. Some people will ignore it. Some people will roll their eyes at it. Other people will embrace it and be excited about it, she said. And I think it's important for us to engage all of that and to ask Why? Kamensky agreed. She said Alexis de Tocqueville's turn of phrase reflective patriotism came to mind. The French author and aristocrat included it in his 1835 seminal work "Democracy in America," a study of the revolutionary ideas people such as Jefferson put into practice in the New World. In other words, that we had to take it up anew and define it, Kamensky said. Define it through pushing against its walls and ceilings. Define it through critique. So that, I would argue, that all of those responses represent a commitment to reflective patriotism. It's that commitment, Kamensky said, that she hopes is renewed in 2026 and carries forward into the future. CAMBRIDGE, MA In a dramatic escalation of its ongoing feud with Harvard University, the Trump administration has announced plans to slash an additional $1 billion in federal grants and contracts for health research, intensifying a high-stakes battle over institutional oversight and academic independence. This move follows a previous freeze of $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and $60 million in contracts, signaling a deepening rift between the White House and one of America's most prestigious universities. The latest funding cut, reported by The Wall Street Journal, targets Harvard's health research programs, a cornerstone of its contributions to medical advancements in fields like cancer, Alzheimer's, and infectious diseases. The Trump administration's actions stem from Harvard's refusal to comply with policy demands, including reforms to its curriculum, admissions processes, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These demands were outlined in a controversial letter from the administration's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which Harvard publicly rejected, prompting swift retaliation. A Battle Over Academic Freedom Harvard's defiance has positioned it as a symbol of resistance against what critics, including former Harvard President Larry Summers, call a "punitive" and "unlawful" attack on academic freedom. Summers told CNN that the funding freeze is a "frontal" assault, arguing that universities should not bow to government demands that overstep legal boundaries. Harvard President Alan Garber echoed this sentiment, stating, "The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights." The White House, however, frames its actions as a necessary response to alleged antisemitism on campus and a broader push to reform elite universities. The Task Force's demands, which included auditing programs for bias and discontinuing DEI practices, have sparked debate about the balance between federal oversight and institutional autonomy. Real-World Impacts on Research and Students The funding cuts are already disrupting critical research at Harvard. Dr. Donald E. Ingber, founding director of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, received stop-work orders on two contracts, while Sarah Fortune, a professor at Harvard's School of Public Health, saw her tuberculosis research halted. An ALS researcher, recently honored with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, also lost funding, underscoring the human cost of the standoff. Harvard's $53.2 billion endowment offers some financial cushion, but experts warn that accessing it is complex. Approximately 80% of the endowment is restricted for specific purposes like scholarships and faculty chairs, and much of the unrestricted portion is tied up in illiquid assets. The administration has also threatened Harvard's tax-exempt status and its ability to host international students, further raising the stakes. The Department of Homeland Security demanded detailed records on foreign student visa holders, accusing Harvard of fostering a "hostile learning environment" for Jewish students, though specific incidents were not cited. A Broader Assault on Higher Education Harvard is not alone in facing White House pressure. Columbia University lost $400 million in federal funding after initially complying with similar demands, only to later resist further changes. Cornell and Northwestern universities have also seen funding cuts of $1 billion and $790 million, respectively. The Trump administration's actions, which include plans to dismantle the Department of Education, have drawn comparisons to the McCarthy era, with university leaders warning of a threat to America's academic and economic leadership. Jewish students at Harvard have voiced concerns that the administration's actions may not protect them as intended. An open letter signed by over 100 students stated, "Using Jewish students to gut federal support for universities does not make us feel seen, valued, or safe. It turns us into pawns in a broader political agenda." What's Next for Harvard? As the standoff continues, Harvard is preparing for potential layoffs at its Medical School and scaling back operations at the School of Public Health. The university has also filed a lawsuit through its faculty chapter of the American Association of University Professors, challenging the administration's demands as an overreach of federal authority. The outcome of this battle could reshape the relationship between the federal government and higher education. For now, Harvard remains defiant, but the mounting financial and political pressures signal a challenging road ahead. As Baum noted, "Even with its wealth, Harvard doesn't have an indefinite amount of money." HOUSTON, TX Rice University announced on April 21, 2025, a groundbreaking initiative to increase its student body by 30% and provide free tuition to students from families earning under $200,000 annually by 2028. This historic move will grow undergraduate enrollment from 4,700 to approximately 6,110 and graduate students from 4,800 to 6,240, while reinforcing Rice's commitment to accessibility with a $1.5 billion investment in financial aid over five years. The plan positions Rice as a leader in redefining elite education amid a challenging higher education landscape. The free tuition program expands Rice's existing financial aid model, which already covers full tuition for families earning less than $130,000 and eliminates loans for those under $200,000. By 2028, the university aims to ensure that no student from a family earning below $200,000 pays tuition, a bold step toward removing financial barriers. "This is about opening doors to the most talented students, regardless of their background," said President Reginald DesRoches in a statement. A Strategic Vision for Growth Rice's enrollment growth is a strategic response to a competitive academic landscape, where elite universities face pressure to balance prestige with inclusivity. The plan includes hiring additional faculty, expanding residence halls, and enhancing academic programs to accommodate the larger student body. The university's top-ranked programs, including its No. 1 undergraduate entrepreneurship ranking by The Princeton Review, will benefit from increased diversity and talent, according to Amy Dittmar, Rice's provost. The $1.5 billion financial aid commitment will be funded through a combination of endowment resources and a new capital campaign, leveraging Rice's $8.1 billion endowment. Unlike many peers, Rice's endowment is relatively flexible, with fewer restrictions, allowing the university to allocate funds swiftly. However, experts caution that sustaining such an ambitious plan will require robust fundraising, especially as federal funding uncertainties loom. Navigating Federal and Local Challenges Rice's announcement comes amid significant external pressures. The Trump administration's recent cuts to federal research grants, including a reduction in indirect costs by the National Institutes of Health, threaten Rice's $100 million annual research budget. The university joined a lawsuit against the NIH in February 2025, as reported by The Rice Thresher, with Dittmar warning that the cuts could hinder innovation in fields like bioengineering and sustainable energy. Additionally, Rice faces a federal investigation into its graduate diversity programs, accused of race-exclusionary practices, adding to the uncertainty. Locally, Rice is addressing community concerns. The university's expansion plans include affordable housing for staff and graduate students in Houston's high-cost market, responding to issues raised in a Houston Chronicle report about declining Black student enrollment post-affirmative action. Rice also continues to strengthen ties with the city, with initiatives like its Bengaluru, India, research center, launched in November 2024, showcasing its global ambitions. The plan has also drawn attention to Rice's ability to navigate a polarized political climate. While the free tuition program aligns with progressive values, the university's leadership is careful to frame it as merit-driven, avoiding backlash from federal authorities scrutinizing DEI initiatives. DesRoches emphasized that the expansion will prioritize "excellence and opportunity," a message resonating with both supporters and critics. A Model for the Future Rice's plan sets a new standard for elite universities, challenging institutions like Harvard and Stanford to rethink access. By pairing enrollment growth with free tuition, Rice aims to diversify its student body while maintaining its academic rigor. The university's partnerships, such as its recent ExxonMobil research agreement for sustainable energy, announced on April 14, 2025, signal its intent to fund innovation independently if federal support wanes. As Rice embarks on this transformative journey, its success will hinge on balancing ambition with execution. The $1.5 billion financial aid pledge and 30% enrollment growth are monumental steps, but sustaining them amid federal pressures and local demands will test the university's resilience. For now, Rice is charting a path to redefine what an elite education can mean, with the eyes of the academic world watching closely. 21 April 2025, Islamabad Victims of terrorism often face long-term psychological, legal, and social consequences. To ensure that victims receive consistent and dignified support, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), hosted a three-day provincial workshop in Islamabad. The workshop aimed to implement Pakistans newly developed victim assistance and protection guidelines in Balochistan and equip provincial officials with tools to build an inclusive, coordinated response framework. The workshop brought together 21 participants, including 7 women, from the Home, Social Welfare Department, Health Department, Prosecution, and Counter Terrorism Departments of Balochistan. These workshops are part of a national training series to translate victim assistance policy into practical, province-level implementation. They are designed to improve institutional readiness and ensure provincial systems respond effectively to the needs of terrorism victims. Southern Miss Reflects on Coastal Health, Restoration Efforts 15 Years After Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Mon, 04/21/2025 - 09:27am | By: Gabriela Shinskie Lives and coastal communities in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida were changed forever on April 20, 2010, when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, taking the lives of 11 workers and releasing an estimated 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days. Scientists at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) were among the early responders to understand the spilland in the years that have followedhave developed numerous and sustained research and education initiatives. Now, 15 years later, faculty, staff and students reflect on efforts and ongoing projects to ensure the health of the Gulf Coast. Just 11 days after the spill, on May 1, 2010, researchers at USMs Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) began sampling waters in the Gulfs nearshore and offshore regions. Scientists in the School of Ocean Science and Engineering re-tasked planned expeditions to head directly to the site of the spill, measuring oil releases at the surface and deep underwater. By July 1, GCRL had established Shoreline Sentinels to track the oils progression along the coast. Demand for information surged from state agencies, commercial and recreational fisheries, and concerned residents. Professor Emeritus Dr. William Hawkins, former GCRL director, recounts the swift response Southern Miss took to help the coastal communities. The lab had tremendous resources and data that helped evaluate the effect of the oil spill on the marine life and the Gulf of Mexico at that time, said Hawkins. As early peer-reviewed studies began to be published in late 2010, GCRLs Marine Education Center (MEC) partnered with Mississippi Public Broadcastingwith support from the National Science Foundationto produce four hour-long documentaries. These programs featured researchers from across the region sharing their evolving understanding of the spills impact. In 2012, the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act) was established as a response to the oil spill, allowing for Gulf Coast states with funding to protect natural resources. In response, Centers of Excellence were established in all five Gulf Coast states to focus on science, technology and environmental monitoring of the Gulf region. The Southern Miss Gunter Library helped host public workshops, seminars and programs to inform local communities of the efforts taken for coastal restoration and cleanup. The MEC partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Citizen Science Team, also known as COAST, which conducted a five-part seminar series at GCRL. Dr. Jessie Kastler, director of the MEC, responded swiftly and helped inform the community every step of the way. In May 2013, Kastler and the COAST volunteer team shared the latest research findings and updates on the spills ongoing effects. Volunteers from the multi-ethnic fishing community produced materials in Vietnamese. Their partnership with the MEC and broader USM research community continued with citizen science efforts through which fisher folks collected water samples from vessels to inform the research effort. Along the way, the MEC continued to update outreach materials to reflect the evolving scientific knowledge being generated worldwide. One of the lasting lessons from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is how rapidly science can build knowledge in the face of disaster, Kastler said. On April 20, 2010, we knew a fair amount about oil spillsbut no one knew what to expect from 134 million gallons of oil gushing from the seafloor, 5,000 feet deep, over 87 days. Yet within a decade, scientists had published over 1,000 peer-reviewed articles detailing how the oil behaved and how it impacted the species and habitats it touched. Between 2016 and 2020, USM researchers contributed to at least 75 publications focused on oil spill impacts on coastal and nearshore living resources, exposure to oil and hypoxia, and microbial responses. Southern Miss played a leading role in major research efforts supported by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) and the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP). More recently, Southern Miss scientists have provided science, technology and operational support to collaborative efforts aimed at understanding and restoring mesophotic and deep benthic communities in the Gulf. These projects focus on seafloor mapping, studying residual impacts, and restoring habitatsparticularly coral reefs. Dr. Leila Hamdan, professor and associate vice president for research, has contributed extensively to deep-sea habitat studies and restoration science. Southern Miss scientists from across the coast contributed to numerous, major projects to understand the spill in the immediate aftermath and stayed committed to learning in the long run, said Hamdan. This spill marks a point in time where our knowledge about the Gulf grew on a massive scale out of necessity, but also out of dedication to an environment that inspires minds and touches lives. Every one of us has a story of who we were both before and after the spill, how it changed us, and how it drew us closer to the Gulf, and each other as a community. The work continues with collaborative research and remembrance. The Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE), led by Dr. Kelly Darnell, current GCRL director, continues to focus on supporting long-term research initiatives relevant to Mississippi resources to understand ecosystem status and trends through collaborations with Mississippi communities, private, state, federal and research university entities. The MBRACE research grants program, currently in its ninth year, has supported 15 projects and trained more than 100 students. The MBRACE-created Deepwater Horizon Memorial Fellowship Program, named to honor the individuals from Mississippi who perished in the explosion, has also supported 10 students from across Mississippi. Southern Miss remains committed to honoring those lost and continuing the vital work of restoration, ensuring a thriving, livable Gulf Coast for all who call it home. Dr. Kenneth Robertson The University of Wyoming will confer its highest award, the honorary doctoral degree, upon Dr. Kenneth Robertson, a dedicated physician and educator in Laramie for nearly five decades. He will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters degree -- for service to humanity and society or public service -- and will be recognized during UW commencement weekend next month. UW alumni, current or former trustees, and faculty members are eligible to nominate individuals for honorary degrees who embody the universitys high ideals; exemplify the values of excellence, service and integrity; and possess distinguished accomplishments in their professions, public service or service to humanity. Submissions are referred to a joint committee of trustees and faculty members, which forwards recommendations to the full Board of Trustees for approval. "Its not just Kens decades-long dedication to his profession and this community that make him deserving of this honor, but also his unwavering commitment to helping others achieve their aspirations, UW President Ed Seidel says. He embodies what it means to be a mentor, a friend and a UW Cowboy." A board-certified internist, Robertson has devoted his career to patient care, medical education and mentorship. His passion for medicine was fostered by a family background in health care and strengthened through the guidance of a mentor who encouraged him to specialize in internal medicine. Throughout his almost 50-year career in Wyoming, Dr. Robertson has positively impacted the lives of the people of Wyoming and made invaluable contributions to the faculty and students of the University of Wyoming, say co-nominators Anne Marie Hart and Derek Smith. In addition to his full-time work as an internal medicine physician, Dr. Robertson pursued his passions of teaching and research. The outcomes of this largely volunteer work have impacted countless individuals across the state and the nation through advancement of health and biomedical research and training of future health care and allied health care professionals, many of whom are leaders in their disciplines. While not a Wyoming native, Robertson has been enamored with the Mountain West since a childhood Boy Scout trip took him through the Rocky Mountains on the way to a New Mexico Scout camp. He graduated from medical school at the University of Maryland in 1972 and fulfilled his dream of heading back west when he moved to Denver, Colo., to complete his internship and residency at Presbyterian Medical Center. Following his postgraduate medical training in 1975, Robertson served in the U.S. Air Force as the chief of internal medicine at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, attaining the rank of major. After completing his military service, he moved to Laramie in 1977, establishing himself as a trusted physician and hospitalist, practicing full time until 2021. Beyond clinical practice, Robertson has been a passionate advocate for medical education for more than 40 years. He has taught courses for the UW College of Health Sciences, mentored masters and Ph.D. students, and contributed to research through his service on the UW Institutional Review Board. Additionally, he played an instrumental role in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) Medical Education Program, shaping the future of medical professionals in the region. Although I did not have the privilege of having Dr. Robertson as a classroom teacher, I too have learned from and owe much to him, says Hart, a UW Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing professor. Dr. Robertson was one of the first physicians in Laramie to hire and support nurse practitioners, the first one being me, and I cannot imagine where I would be today without Dr. Robertsons mentoring and support, which continue to this day. Robertsons love for the West has only grown since his Boy Scout days. When he moved to Laramie, he established the Broken R Ranch, where he grew award-winning hay crops and continues to produce top-quality hay today. Until recently, he also guided elk hunters in the northern Wind River Range every fall. Robertson also loves cowboy history and, when he is not teaching, practicing or ranching, he can be found trading antique collectibles at Western shows. I am certain that it is evident that I am not an impartial reference for Dr. Robertson. I am completely biased, because Dr. Robertson has proven and then reinforced for the past four-plus decades that he rides for UW and Wyoming brands, says Smith, a UW Division of Kinesiology and Health associate professor. He rides for faculty, staff and students at UW; he rides for his patients and those globally that benefit from the research and educated workforce emanating from UW; he rides for our community and Wyomings first responders who he has voluntarily served. In short, he rides for all of Wyoming. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. By Devin Watkins At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists later on Monday that the late Pope's body could be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning, so that the faithful may pray before his mortal remains. "The translation of the Holy Father's mortal remains to the Vatican Basilica, for the veneration of all the faithful, may take place on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, according to the arrangements that shall be determined and communicated tomorrow, following the first Congregation of the Cardinals," Mr. Bruni said. The rite of the certification of death and placement in the coffin took place on Monday evening at 8:00 PM in the chapel on the ground floor of the late Pope's residence in the Casa Santa Marta. During the rite, the declaration of death was read aloud. The act was validated by Cardinal Farrell, and the ceremony lasted just under an hour. Seals were placed on the papal apartment on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace and on the apartment on the second floor of the Casa Santa Marta, where Pope Francis lived. Mr. Bruni told journalists that, as of Monday evening, Pope Francis' closest collaborators have begun to pay their respects to the late Pope. He said the first General Congregation of Cardinals will take place on Tuesday morning, during which a date for the funeral may be decided. The Cardinal Camerlengo seals the doors to the papal apartments Pope Francis was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. The Popes clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18. After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope Francis returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery. In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection. As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation. In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced. The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Popes mortal remains are to be handled after death. The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ. The renewed rite, said Archbishop Ravelli, seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world. (Article updated at 10:25 PM to include details of the rite of certification of death) 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. Pontiff served 12 years at helm of Catholic Church. Pope Francis died in the Vatican on 21 April, Easter Monday, aged 88. The news was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo. "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Farrell said in the announcement. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized." With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2 Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025 The Argentine pontiff recently spent five weeks in hospital battling double pneumonia. Francis made his last public appearance at St Peter's on Easter Sunday when he wished the crowds a happy Easter, before touring the piazza in the popemobile. Francis served as pope for almost 12 years, after his election on 13 March 2013 following the shock resignation of his predecessor Benedict XVI. The pope, who had part of one lung removed in his 20s and had battled health problems for many years, was admitted to the Gemelli on 14 February. In recent years the pontiff was hospitalised several times at the Gemelli where he was treated in a 10th-floor suite reserved exclusively for popes. The pope's death comes during the Vatican's Jubilee Year, a major religious event held in Rome every quarter century. This is a developing news story... Photo credit: Riccardo De Luca - Update / Shutterstock.com. Francis' pontificate was marked by milestone reforms and papal firsts. Pope Francis, who died in the Vatican on 21 April aged 88, served as pontiff for just over 12 years. The Argentine pontiff had been recovering from a serious case of double pneumonia and made his last public appearance at St Peter's on Easter Sunday when he wished the crowds a happy Easter. Francis was elected as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics on 13 March 2013, following the shock resignation of his predecessor Benedict XVI. The 266th successor of St Peter chose the name Francis, in honour of St Francis of Assisi. When he stepped out onto the balcony of St Peter's, Francis made history as the first Latin American pope, the first Jesuit, and the first non-European pontiff in more than a millennium. Francis told the faithful assembled in Piazza San Pietro that his fellow cardinals had gone "to the end of the world" to find the new Bishop of Rome. Change in tone After addressing the crowds with a casual "buonasera", it was clear from the start that Francis signalled a dramatic shift away from the Vatican's traditionally formal tone. The new pope had a more intimate way of addressing the faithful, always wishing them a "good lunch" after the Sunday Angelus and saying: "Don't forget to pray for me." New World pope Born in Buenos Aires in 1936, the son of Italian immigrants, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained a priest in 1969 and was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. From the outset of his papacy, the New World pope moved the Church away from being Eurocentric to become universal, promoting cardinals from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Francis was a tireless advocate of migrants, refugees, the homeless, prisoners and the most vulnerable in society, saying he would like a "poor church for the poor". He lived in modest accommodation in Vatican City, spurning the papal suite in the apostolic palace to stay in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse instead. "Who am I to judge?" One of the pope's most famous and controversial quotations occurred a few months after he was elected, during a mid-flight press conference on the way back to Rome from Brazil. Francis made world headlines for saying: If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge? Reforms Francis ushered in reforms to tackle the scourge of clerical sexual abuse, stamp out corruption at the Vatican Bank, and address clericalism within the Roman Curia. He also promoted women to positions of authority in the Vatican, recently appointing the first woman to head a major Vatican office - an Italian nun - as prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church's religious orders. Environment Francis raised awareness of environmental issues and emphasised the Churchs mission to combat global warming, warning in 2023 that the world is "collapsing" due to the climate crisis. In 2015 he published the encyclical Laudato Si, which urges people to take care of the environment and encourages political action to address climate problems. Criticism Francis was not without his critics among conservatives, including those within the Vatican, who claimed that his economic and social ideas smacked of communism. In a 2013 interview with La Repubblica newspaper, Francis responded to the criticisms, denying that he was a Marxist but stressing that he had "known many Marxists who are good people". A decade later, in an interview with the Associated Press, Francis addressed continued criticism from conservative Catholics, challenging them to "say it to my face". Migrants On his first trip as pope, Francis chose to travel to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a major gateway to Europe for migrants seeking a better life. In 2016 Francis travelled to the Greek island of Lesbos, central to Europe's migrant crisis, taking 12 Muslim refugees from Syria, including six children, back to Rome with him on the papal plane. A year later Francis said society should build bridges instead of walls, in what was widely interpreted as a thinly-veiled criticism of US President Trump's plan to build a fence along the US border with Mexico. During a TV interview in January the pope criticised Trumps pledge to expel undocumented migrants en masse as a calamity", saying: "It wont do. This is not the way to solve things." In an open letter to US bishops published in February just days before he was hospitalised, Francis rebuked Trump's programme of mass deportations of migrants, describing it as a "major crisis" and warning that it will end badly. On Easter Sunday, Francis granted US vice president JD Vance a brief, private audience before making his final public appearance. Prisoners As part of his commitment to prison reform and restorative justice, during his papacy Francis regularly visited Italian jails, washing the feet of male and female prisoners in a Holy Thursday ritual. His most recent jail visit was to Rome's Regina Coeli prison on Holy Thursday, just days before his death, while on 26 December he opened a Holy Door at Rome's Rebibbia prison as part of sacred events to launch the current Jubilee Year. Jubilee Year The pope's death comes a third of the way the Vatican's Jubilee Year, a major religious event held in Rome every quarter century. The next major event on the Jubilee calendar - the first following the death of Pope Francis - is the canonisation of Carlo Acutis on 27 April. Health problems Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, suffered from a string a illnesses in recent years and was largely confined to a wheelchair since 2022. Despite his health problems, the pope repeatedly said he had no plans of resigning, and in 2023 he said that his tomb was "already prepared" in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. What happens next The death of a pope marks the beginning of a solemn and deeply symbolic transition for the Catholic Church, ushering in a mourning period steeped in tradition and centuries-old rites. Francis' death also sets into motion the process for electing a his successor, with a conclave expected to be held between 15 and 20 days after the pope's death. A search for a man reported missing after falling overboard from a yacht in the Irish sea is to resume this morning, Monday, April 21. A spokesperson for the Irish Coast Guard told waterford-news.ie that the man was reported to have gone overboard from the boat around 16 nautical miles south of Dunmore East, in Co Waterford. "The Coast Guard Coordination centre in Dublin has suspended an ongoing search for a man overboard from a UK registered yacht," the spokesperson said, shortly before midnight on Sunday night. "An extensive search of the area south of Dunmore East was conducted by Coast Guard resources from midnight on Saturday," said the spokesperson. The search team included Coast Guard helicopters R117, R116, a UK Coast Guard fixed wing, Dunmore Lifeboat, Kilmore Quay and Ballycotton Lifeboats. "The search will resume on Monday morning," said the spokesperson. Read more on this story here This year's Waterford City Massed Band charity concert was a phenomenal success, much to the delight of the organisers. The event was organised to raise money for Special Olympics Ireland, Irish Red Cross Waterford branch and 50 Shades of Exceptional. Waterford News & Star photographer, Joe Evans, was in attendance and captured photos and video clips from the concert, one of which can be viewed below. In an online post on Waterford Massed Band's facebook page it was noted how the night "never fails to ignite a pride in its musicians utilising their talents to continue to honour and help deserving charities" in Waterford. Under the Musical Direction of Mark Fitzgerald, Waterford City Massed Band has been performing for almost two decades and in doing so unites the supremely talented musicians from the Barrack Street Concert Band, City of Waterford Brass, The De la Salle Scout Pipe Band and The TF Meagher Fife & Drum, enhanced with a fabulous string and rhythm section. This years concert which drew a capacity crowd, who were enthralled throughout, also benefited from the vocal accompaniment of Donna Roche and David Flynn, who were the the perfect complement to the charity concert. "Thanks to every person who bought tickets to support our musical efforts, which will see the Waterford branches of The Red Cross, Special Olympics, and 50 Shades of Exceptional Social Club receive proceeds raised from the concert," said a spokesperson for Waterford Massed Band, on its social media page. The organisers were also extremely appreciative of the support from the general public and the sponsors of the event each year, highlighting that they all contribute in a large way to the success of the Waterford City Massed Band journey. Community groups in Waterford are being urged to apply for digital literacy funding through a scheme, titled the 'Hi Digital Fund', launched by Rethink Ireland and Vodafone Foundation. The 540,000 fund will be aimed at helping to bridge the digital divide for older adults in Ireland which, according to CSO 2021 figures, show almost half of people aged over 75 have never used the internet. The statistics indicated 46 per cent of people in that age category had never used the net and the Rethink Ireland and the Vodafone Foundation launched the new 'Hi Digital Fund' to bridge that societal divide. The two-year fund will support five innovative organisations that are providing services for older adults aged 65 and above to develop essential digital skills. Applications for the fund are now open and will close on May 26. The fund will provide cash grants and business supports for social innovations that enhance digital literacy and inclusion for older adults in their community, bridging Irelands digital skills gap. It also promotes innovative approaches to ensure no one is left behind, teaching essential skills like smartphone use, e-health and smart home tech. The Hi Digital Fund was created by Rethink Ireland the funding body thinking differently to create a more just, equal and sustainable Ireland and is supported by the Vodafone Foundation, private donors and Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund. Digital exclusion is a silent crisis affecting thousands of older adults across Ireland." said Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland. Through the Hi Digital Fund, we're not just teaching tech skills - we're reconnecting people to essential services, reducing isolation, and enabling independent aging," she added. "This fund represents a critical investment in ensuring no older person is left behind in our increasingly digital society. Meanwhile, the Head of Vodafone Foundation, Liz Roche stated: At Vodafone Foundation, we believe that everyone, regardless of age or ability, should have access to the digital world. By funding Rethink Ireland, we will grow to support five new organisations across Ireland so that they have the resources to help older adults improve digital literacy skills and online confidence. Were dedicated to reaching even more isolated people and making technology accessible for all. Roisin Mills, Programme and Training Commissioner from the Irish Girl Guides also commented on the new fund and said: "At Irish Girl Guides, we believe in creating an equal and inclusive world for all. We are proud to partner with the Vodafone Foundation to deliver the Hi Digital programme, an initiative designed to empower older people with essential, real-world digital skills. Through this experience, not only our youth members are helping others to grow in confidence and ability, but they are also developing invaluable personal skills themselves, including communication, empathy, patience, and leadership" The fund will support diverse community initiatives and sustainable digital literacy programmes that remove barriers for older people who are unfamiliar with the digital world. The Vodafone Foundation will donate 250,000 over two years, with an additional 20,000 from private donors, totalling 270,000. The Department of Rural and Community Development will match that amount via the Dormant Accounts Fund, resulting in a total fund of 540,000. Champagne, oysters, steak and a fantastic wine list: any reputable restaurant worth its salt should be able to execute on these elements flawlessly. But once main courses are done and dessert is served, specialty tea brand T2 chief executive Christelle Young finds the meal can far too often end on a bitter note. You finish off with a tea, and its amazing how many chef-hatted restaurants do it bad, really bad, she said. T2 Tea chief executive Christelle Young wants tea to get the same reverence coffee enjoys. Credit: Daniel Pockett She cites recent experiences at three reputable steakhouses and higher-end establishments that put her tea in a coffee cup, served it in a flimsy battered tea pot, or shoved a tea bag in a cup. Barrio 18 demanded Cesar join their gang, at which point the family sent Cesar to America. Then Barrio 18 demanded the same of Kilmar, and Kilmar, at age 16, was sent to America, too. This was around 2011. A 16-year-old fleeing the only home hes known, afraid for his life. Loading Abrego Garcias life in the US seems to have been not an easy one. He lived in Maryland. He worked in construction. He met a woman. Her name is Jennifer, a US citizen. She had two children from a past relationship one had epilepsy, the other autism. In 2019, they had a child together. That child, now five, is deaf in one ear and also has autism. Jennifer was pregnant in 2019 on the day Abrego Garcia dropped off one kid at school, dropped off another with the babysitter and drove to Home Depot to find construction work. He was arrested for loitering. Asked if he was a gang member. He said no. He was put into Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention. About four hours after Abrego Garcia was picked up and that appears to be the first contact he had with local police a detective produced an allegation, citing a confidential informant, that Abrego Garcia was a gang member. Abrego Garcia has no criminal record not in the US, not in El Salvador. He was accused of being part of a gang that operates in New York, a state he never lived in. Whoever produced the allegation was never cross-examined. When Abrego Garcias lawyer later tried to get more information, he was told the detective behind the accusation had been suspended. Abrego Garcias partner, Jennifer Stefania Vasquez Sura, said she was shocked when the government said he should stay detained because Kilmar is an MS-13 gang member. Kilmar is not and has never been a gang member. Im certain of that. In June 2019, while Abrego Garcia was still detained, he and Jennifer got married. Later that year, a judge ruled Abrego Garcia could not be deported back to El Salvador because he might be murdered by Barrio 18 that his fear was credible. Abrego Garcia was then set free. Each year since then, he has checked in with immigration authorities. He has been employed as a sheet metal apprentice. He is a member of a union. He was studying for a vocational licence at the University of Maryland. His last check-in with immigration authorities was on January 2. There has been no evidence, anywhere, offered by anyone, that suggests Abrego Garcia poses a threat to anyone in the US. But on March 12, Abrego Garcia was pulled over while driving, his five-year-old in the back seat. He was told his immigration status had changed. On March 15 , Abrego Garcia was flown to El Salvador and imprisoned at CECOT as a terrorist. In a photo provided by the US District Court for Maryland, a man identified as Kilmar Abrego Garcia is led through the Terrorism Confinement Centre in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Credit: US District Court for the District of Maryland via AP The Trump administration, in its own legal filings, has said this was an administrative error. It admits it should not have done this, that it was a mistake. The first sentence of an editorial from The National Review, probably the countrys leading conservative magazine, reads: No one denies that the government violated the law in deporting him. Loading This case has made its way to the Supreme Court. And the Supreme Court ordered that the administration 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. I feel I do not have the proper words to describe this next part how grotesque it all is. The Trump administration does not deny that it deported Abrego Garcia unlawfully. What it denies is that it has the authority to bring him back. That authority, it says, lies with Bukele. But Bukele says he cannot send him back. That Oval Office meeting between Trump and Bukele was a moment when the mask fully slipped off. I thought satirist Jon Stewart pinpointed part of its horror when he said that the thing that came through so clearly was how much Trump and Bukele were enjoying themselves, each of them declaring that there was nothing they could do for Abrego Garcia no way to allow him his day in court, no way to allow the American legal system to do its job and assess whether he is a danger. No way to follow the clear order of the Supreme Court. And from their perspective, maybe theyre right. Because heres the scary thing that I think sits at least partially beneath their calculus: Politically, they cannot let Abrego Garcia out, nor any of the other people they sent to CECOT without due process. Because what if he was released? What if he returned to the United States? What if he could tell his own story? What if as seems likely he has been brutalised and tortured by Trumps Salvadoran henchmen? Well, he cant be allowed to tell the American people that. To the Trump administration, Abrego Garcia is not a mistake. He is a liability, and he is a test. A test of its power to do this to anyone. A test of whether the loophole it believes it has found that if it can get you on a plane, it can hustle you beyond US laws and leave you in the grips of the kind of gulags it wishes it had in the US. The administration is not ashamed of this. It is not denying its desire to do it to more people. This is how dictatorships work. Trump has always been clear about who he is and the kind of power he wants. Now he is using that power. If Trump decides that you are to rot in a foreign prison, then that is his right. And you? You have no rights. We are not even 100 days into this administration, and we are already faced with this horror. And I can feel the desire to look away from it, even within myself. What all of this demands is too inconvenient, too disruptive. But Trump has said it all plainly and publicly: He intends to send those he hates to foreign prisons beyond the reach of US law. He does not care he will not even seek to discover if those he sends into these foreign hells are guilty of what he claims. Because this is not about their guilt it is about his power. The hospital staff came close to identifying the cause earlier. But they wrongly assumed Ella had overdosed on the anti-nausea drug and prescribed a host of new medications, including antipsychotics with a known risk of causing the same movement disorders that Ella exhibited. During the ordeal, Ella was involuntarily admitted to the hospitals locked mental health unit, 19 weeks pregnant and traumatised. From her first presentation, it took the hospital more than 10 weeks to discover that Ellas symptoms were a severe reaction to medications she was prescribed, beginning with a common drug to treat hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a condition characterised by debilitating nausea or vomiting during pregnancy. I was in a state of prolonged distress for months, said Ella, now 35. I was terrified that my uncontrollable movements would harm my children, my unborn baby or myself and felt like no one was listening to me. It wasnt the first or last time that Ella was given a mental health diagnosis when she presented to a regional NSW hospital in 2023 with signs of serious movement disorders: uncontrolled and repetitive movements, muscle spasms, tremors, locked jaws, hands clenching and unclenching, and her neck twisting from side to side. Depression was typed in neat black letters next to reason for presentation on Ella Richs discharge summary. It was a confounding diagnosis for the then 33-year-old, who had presented to the emergency department 13 weeks pregnant with severe nausea, vomiting and arms that jerked violently about her, completely beyond her control. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Its difficult to pinpoint why Ella was dismissed as a mental health case. Was it because her first baby, Tilly, died at just 13 days from a congenital abnormality detected when Ella was 34 weeks pregnant? Or that Ella had been prescribed an antidepressant, which she took through her two subsequent pregnancies with her daughters, now aged 6 and 3? Ellas case cuts across multiple manifestations of medical misogyny, from the minimisation of HG (a poorly understood and under-researched phenomenon) to womens pain being dismissed in favour of mental health diagnoses that obfuscate the actual, physiological cause of their distress. Psychiatry and trauma experts have shared harrowing cases in which clinicians incorrectly concluded that a womans pain was all in her head, scuttling attempts to investigate the actual cause, and hundreds of women told this masthead that their symptoms were dismissed as anxiety or depression only to be later diagnosed with serious or life-threatening conditions, including heart attacks, internal bleeding and cancers. This masthead has uncovered a series of disturbing cases where women claim they have been wrongly admitted to mental health wards . I kept telling them that I thought the drugs were causing my symptoms, Ella said. Caitlin Kay-Smith, founder of advocacy organisation Hyperemesis Australia, said womens accounts of their HG were often doubted by their doctors. I didnt want to terminate, it was just a way of expressing how unwell I was. I felt like no one believed me about the extent of my hyperemesis, said Ella, recalling some hospital staff telling her that her anxiety was the cause of her HG. Her nausea was so constant and debilitating that she told several clinicians she had considered terminating her planned pregnancy. Ella said neither her doctor nor pharmacist mentioned any potential side effects from taking metoclopramide, the generic name for one of the most common drugs prescribed for HG. No side effects were mentioned for any of the subsequent drugs she was prescribed, including antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety medications. Was it her repeated presentations to the hospital with HG and, later, her undiagnosed drug-induced movement disorders, dystonia and dyskinesia? Or that she disclosed to staff the mental distress that her symptoms were causing? Sufferers are more likely to develop perinatal anxiety and depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, Australian research shows . Data on the reasons for abortion in Australia is limited, but a 2021 UK survey of 5000 women with HG found 4.9 per cent had terminated wanted pregnancies due to the condition. Caitlin-Kay Smith, founder of Hyperemesis Australia: Theres still this dismissal of HG as just morning sickness. Something cute and normal. Credit: Edwina Pickles Theres still this dismissal of HG as just morning sickness. Something cute and normal. In emergency departments, women get questions, Do you really need to be here? Are you really throwing up that much? Some women have had to beg for IV fluids. They will say, I am throwing up 10 or 20 times a day, and theyre told, That cant be true. How are you sitting in front of me functioning if that were the case? Kay-Smith said. Ella was rushed to hospital twice suffering severe, seizure-like dystonic attacks. She had no control over her bodys violent shudders and was afraid she would asphyxiate as her vocal cords were contracting. She couldnt open her eyes and her neck was wrenched back. After another presentation, she was diagnosed with agitated depression. I had started to feel out of my body, restless and irritable. I didnt know what was happening to me, and it was all I could think about, she said. For Ella, the side effects began almost immediately after starting the metoclopramide. She presented to hospital with her right leg shaking, her face drooping and slurring speech. She told staff that she felt like bugs were crawling over her skin. My husband and mother-in-law thought I was going to die as they watched my limbs kick to the roof uncontrollably and my back and neck spasm, Ella said of the first episode. A doctor on ward rounds said words to the effect of when this was sold to me, I thought pregnancy, anxiety, mental health but its a classic case of [metoclopramide] toxicity, Ella recalled, insinuating she had overdosed. Her medical notes stated, unintentional dopaminergic [anti-emetic] overuse, but Ella said she had taken less than the prescribed doses. There seemed to be an assumption that I had taken an unintentional overdose because I was anxious and depressed. Case closed, Ella said. No one bothered to ask or check how much Id been taking. Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak, a clinical pharmacist who also leads the Reproductive and Perinatal Pharmacoepidemiology Research Group at Flinders University, said drug-induced movement disorders were well-recognised side effects of metoclopramide and antipsychotics. We are talking one in 100 [people who take metoclopramide] could experience dystonic effects, and it can occur at low doses, Grzeskowiak said. The vast majority will get through without experiencing anything, then there will be a small number with debilitating side effects and we dont know why. Polypharmacy adding medications on top of each other can increase someones likelihood of having adverse reactions. Dr Debra Kennedy, the director of MotherSafe at the Royal Hospital for Women. Credit: Max Mason-Hubers Dr Debra Kennedy, the director of MotherSafe a free telephone counselling service for women and their healthcare providers concerned about drug or environmental exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding said metoclopramide was a horrible, crappy drug for HG prescribed as a first-line treatment at disproportionately high rates by Australian prescribers. I try to get people off it, Kennedy said. Its not particularly effective, and one of the most common side effects is that it exacerbates depression, which a lot of these women will have associated with the nausea and vomiting. The guidelines say you should only prescribe metoclopramide for five days, but no one looks at that they are happy to prescribe it forever. Ella recalled feeling like a medical oddity as the doctor, without speaking directly to her, invited clinicians on ward rounds to look at this, look at that, as he pried open her eyelids to reveal only the whites of her eyes. She was treated for the toxicity, diagnosed with depression and prescribed mirtazapine, an antidepressant that also has an antiemetic (nausea and vomiting prevention) effect. Loading Back home, Ella started having terrible dreams and what she assumed were panic attacks. She told her GP she felt like running into traffic and was referred for a voluntary admission to a mental health unit for three days. Quetiapine, an antipsychotic, was added to her medication mix. An admission to a private mental health hospital in Sydney followed. All the while, Ellas dystonic movements continued until they became so distressing that she moved to her parents home and away from her two small daughters for fear of unintentionally injuring them. I kept saying to Mum and Dad that the drugs were doing me harm, Ella said. I really wanted to die, but it was mostly because of the way I felt physically. For three days, Ellas involuntary movements were violent, flailing and unremitting. She could not sleep and would scream in overwhelming distress. Ella tried to grab a knife, but her father and brother forcefully disarmed her. Medical misogyny: A call for action The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald have launched an investigation into medical misogyny: ingrained, systemic sexism across Australias healthcare system, medical research and practise. More than 1800 women shared their experiences as part of our crowd-sourced investigative series, which prompted a national outpouring of grief and frustration as women described feeling gaslit, dismissed or being told their pain was all in their heads. We call on the federal government to boost Medicare funding for GP appointments that last more than 20 minutes to improve care for women and others with complex health conditions. The Albanese government and the Coalition have promised to pour $8.5 billion into Medicare to make GP visits more affordable and improve bulk billing rates, but longer 20-minute appointments will receive a smaller proportional funding increase. Doctors have warned that these policies could further disadvantage women by continuing to incentivise shorter consultations, which dont give GPs enough time to address menopause, pelvic pain and other womens health issues. An hour later, Ella had her second terrifying seizure-like episode and was taken by ambulance to hospital. This time, she was scheduled as an involuntary patient under the Mental Health Act. I couldnt believe what was happening. I was 19 weeks pregnant and all of my rights were just taken away, Ella said. Ellas mother, Jenny Johnson, a former senior nurse manager, said a doctor had medically cleared Ella to be scheduled. She didnt gather any history no one seemed concerned that she had had a repeat of an acute medical episode, Johnson said. Instead, [as a justification for scheduling Ella] they said words to the effect of, It certainly sounds like a dystonic reaction, but its such a small dose that its highly unlikely. From her hospital bed, Ella found a medical journal article online describing metoclopramide-induced tardive dyskinesia. She recognised her symptoms and sent a screenshot to her mother. Johnson made a call to REACH, a NSW hospital system allowing patients and families to escalate their concerns. She told the officer that there was something everyone was missing: that Ellas medications were causing her symptoms. But no staff arrived to assess Ella. Ella Rich was diagnosed with toxicity despite the fact she had taken less than the prescribed dose of her medication. Credit: Belinda Soole It was like Ella was put on this runaway train on the mental health track, and no one recognised what was going on, Johnson said. She was dehumanised. The lack of kindness was awful. Johnson had witnessed the same during her career, recalling a young woman presenting to the emergency department with what would later be diagnosed as a brain tumour but who was initially dismissed as a melodramatic princess. Ella was terrified in the involuntary psychiatric ward. She worried she would be attacked by the violent male patients and found the staff threatening. With a contraband pencil and paper that another patient had snuck into the unit, Ella wrote a list to prove to the doctors that she was compliant and could be released. Two days after she was sectioned, a psychiatrist walked into Ellas room flanked by six doctors and said, Did you know youre missing part of your cerebellum? referring to part of the brain critical for co-ordinating movement and balance. Ella knew. She had been diagnosed with a congenital condition that affected her cerebellum when she was 14 months old. It was well-documented in her medical notes and evident on a CT scan performed six weeks earlier, after her first seizure-like episode, to rule out stroke. He said that this changed everything, and it was possibly the reason I suffered so badly with hyperemesis and why I reacted so badly to the drugs, Ella said. I was predisposed to a high sensitivity for adverse drug reactions. Even if the link between Ellas cerebellar issue and the drugs was a rare finding, the fact that other causes werent considered is what is galling to Ella and her family. Once again, Ella felt she had become an inhuman exhibit to be prodded and examined in front of the crowd of doctors, as she cried uncontrollably. The same doctor told her the schedule wouldnt be lifted for another six days. I was distraught. I was so desperate to get home to my family, Ella said. Why was he happy to leave me in that hideous environment for another six days? Why did no one else, over all of those weeks, link my deteriorating mental health to the physical side effects of the drugs I was being prescribed and taking? Loading Her mother again called REACH. This time, the REACH co-ordinator listened and took detailed notes. Ella remembers the co-ordinator returning soon after to tell her the schedule had been lifted and Ella would be transferred to the voluntary mental health unit. When Ella was reviewed by another psychiatrist the next day, he said words to the effect of: You have all of these red flags with you coming in and out of mental health institutions. If we had let you out and you had done something, we would have all lost our jobs How do you feel about that? OK, are we clear? This could have ruined my marriage and my ability to be a mother, Ella said, thankful that her baby, now 11 months, is healthy. I am going to live with this trauma for the rest of my life. Hospital apologises for multiple reasons The hospitals directors of emergency medicine, psychiatry and obstetrics apologised to Ella for multiple fronts during a meeting facilitated by the Health Care Complaints Commission in August 2024, including: not picking up her movement disorder on her first presentation to the ED; being objectified by staff; incorrectly assuming she had overdosed; failing to consider that a patient who has had one dystonic reaction could have a second one; and not informing her husband that she had been involuntarily treated. Caitlin Kay-Smith hears echoes of her experience in Ellas case. She came close to being scheduled to a mental health unit when she experienced an adverse reaction to metoclopramide. I was lucky that a perinatal psychiatrist whose daughter had HG stepped in, and she said, No, give her an IV, and she sent me to the maternity ward instead, Kay-Smith said. Its not rare for women taking these drugs and having these types of reactions to describe the agitation as being really anxious, and clinicians arent connecting the dots. Kay-Smith said women must be told about these uncommon but serious drug side effects. Dystonia and depression are included in the national HG management guidelines (though not dyskinesia, which has a later onset). But, adherence is patchy, Kay-Smith said. Loading Meanwhile, a lack of awareness about current medications has led to women being denied treatment and ongoing research into new, safer treatments has been stymied by the spectre of the thalidomide crisis a drug to treat morning sickness in the 1950s and early 1960s that led to more than 10,000 babies being born with birth defects. Thalidomide had been poorly tested, raced to market and advertised as safe for pregnant women and their babies. Thalidomide is the reason people just arent running drug trials on pregnant women, Kay-Smith said. Mirtazapine one of the drugs suspected of exacerbating Ellas reaction but relieving her HG symptoms is considered experimental and not a first-line treatment, and Kennedy said there was a fair amount of reassuring safety information about the drug. The crux of the issue for Grzeskowiak is: How well-informed are women [with HG] about these treatments, why do we have so many treatments with severe side effects, and why is there a lack of development and promotion of newer, safer, more tolerable medications for what is quite a debilitating illness? Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. 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 Follow our live coverage of the 2025 federal election here. Australias 226 federal MPs own 459 properties across the country an average of two per person and more than half are property investors as the country prepares to go to the poll in a campaign that will focus on the growing inequity in the property market. An analysis conducted by this masthead of the register of members interests found that more than half the MPs representing the major parties, the Greens and independents own at least two properties each and the largest property holders in the 47th parliament own between five and seven. Our interactive, which brings the contents of the register into one searchable engine, shows more than half of MPs are property investors, making them potential beneficiaries of negative gearing and capital gains tax breaks which remain controversial policies because some people believe they have contributed to Australias high housing prices. The register of MPs and senators interests is publicly available on the Australian Parliaments website. It is a collection of documents sometimes running to several pages submitted by individual politicians, which can be updated at any time. Search for your MP in the interactive below by electorate or name. It will show their registered interests including real estate, trusts, share holdings, company directorships and more. Advertisement Loading Our analysis of members interests declarations shows 137 politicians own at least two properties, 68 own one property and 21 own no property. The total property holdings of the entire parliament would be much higher because only lower house MPs are required to declare the assets and wealth of their family members. Senators spouses do not have to declare their holdings, which could include a family home or investment properties. NSW Greens senator David Shoebridge, for example, has voluntarily included his partners financial interests which show she has three mortgages on investment properties. Shoebridge does not have to declare this information. MPs can update the register at any time, but the data gathered by this masthead is accurate as of April 9, 2025. In February, the full extent of Peter Duttons property investing career was revealed by this masthead, as a study of the opposition leaders declarations revealed he had bought and sold 26 properties over 35 years. Dutton now owns just one property, a $2.1 million farm and family home he bought in 2020, having slimmed down his considerable holdings from a peak of five properties. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese owns a home in Sydney and a $4.3 million rental property at Copacabana on the NSW Central Coast. Advertisement Loading Seventy of the 103 Labor Party MPs 68 per cent own at least two properties, more than any other political party. As the party of government, Labor has the greatest number of MPs in parliament, but even allowing for that, its MPs are more likely to be property investors than in any other party. Forty-seven of the 83 Coalition MPs own multiple properties, or 56.6 per cent of the joint party room. Six out of 15 Greens MPs 40 per cent, the lowest of any party own multiple properties, and four of their MPs do not own their own home. The party has vowed to wind back property investment tax breaks as a way of lowering housing costs. On the crossbench, including the Pauline Hanson One Nation Party, teal independents and others, 14 of 25 MPs (56 per cent) had more than one property. The two biggest property owners in the federal parliament are Coalition MPs Karen Andrews and Nola Marino. They each own seven properties and both are retiring at the election. Next on the list is Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who owns six properties. A further seven MPs own five properties each Labors Andrew Charlton, Louise Miller-Frost, Deb ONeill and Catryna Bilyk and Coalition MPs Colin Boyce, Terry Young and Gavin Pearce. Advertisement The Greens Nick McKim owns four properties, the most of any MP in that party, while on the crossbench, independent Sophie Scamps, who represents Sydneys northern beaches, has four. Loading The most propertied MPs from each party were contacted for comment. Spokespeople for the MPs said Scamps was selling one of hers, McKims properties included a vacant lot and a home for a family member with a disability, and Marinos properties included farming land. Burke and Andrews both declined to comment. The analysis also shows how popular owning property in Canberra is, with 54 of 221 politicians from outside the ACT owning a bolthole in the national capital. Thirty-one Labor MPs, 22 Coalition MPs and crossbencher Fatima Payman all own Canberra properties. MPs are paid a $310 per night travel allowance when they are in Canberra, regardless of whether they own a home in the city, and the taxpayer-funded allowance can be used to pay off the mortgage on a second property. In future articles, this masthead will also examine the MPs who own the most shares and who is most forthcoming about shares they own and which MPs are making use of family and other discretionary trusts in the management of their tax affairs. The base salary for a backbench MP was $233,660 as of July 1, 2024, with another $48,790 paid in super and a base rate of electorate allowance of $39,700. Advertisement He said private donors, including some of Deakins descendants, had raised funds with the expectation that the Commonwealth would match them. The Borough of Queenscliffe, which covers the towns of Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale, has pledged $300,000 towards the project. Harley said more than 6000 people had signed a petition supporting the proposal while over 500 turned up to an open day on Monday. A photograph of Alfred Deakin, which hangs at his former seaside residence in Point Lonsdale. Credit: Jason South Harley said Ballara was the most intact house of an early prime minister. He said original art works, documents and furnishings were still there, too. Last year, The Age revealed Deakin family members were divided over what to do with the property. Some wanted to sell it on the private market, while others, including Harley, wanted the house and grounds preserved for public use. The matter was taken to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, but in March, the family agreed to delay the sale so they could try to put the property into public hands. Under the terms of that agreement, the federal government has three months to make an offer. Harley is aiming to raise $8.2 million to fund the propertys acquisition, which includes a potential contribution from the federal government as well as the funds already raised through his familys donations and the community campaign. He said the figure was based on the estimated value by the family members wishing to sell the home. Other signatories of the letter to the government include former Labor minister Barry Jones, ex-foreign minister Julie Bishop and La Trobe University emeritus professor Judith Brett, whose 2017 book on Deakin won Australias top biography award. The letter, addressed to Arts Minister Tony Burke, urges the Commonwealth to consider contributing to the acquisition of Ballara from the Deakin family. It is important to note that the Deakin family would be financially better off selling the property to a private owner, the letter says. However, they are prepared to donate a significant portion to ensure Ballaras future in a way that clearly benefits the community. The letter maintains the proposal would offer myriad benefits, including creating educational opportunities, local jobs and environmental awareness. It would be well received by the local community, who have provided pledges for much of the matching funding. Tom Harley talking to visitors at the property during an open day on Monday. Credit: Jason South The letter warns there is a risk the grounds could be subdivided if the property lands in private hands, despite heritage protections. Judith Brett worked on her biography of Alfred Deakin while staying at the property. She said it was fortunate the house was still intact. It would be a great loss if it went into private hands, she said. Brett said Deakin spent much time at Ballara after losing the 1910 election. One of the original documents at Ballara. Credit: Jason South It was a place where he was able to reflect on the reasons for the Liberals loss to stand back and think about the meaning of what had happened. She said it was significant that leaders across the political spectrum had signed the letter particularly in the midst of an election campaign. Burke said he expected the Museum of Australian Democracy to be able to give advice to the government on the matter over the next few months. Theres been some complexity with this over the years, he said. Deakins great-great-grandson, John Harley, said he felt the weight of history in the house even when holidaying there as a child. John Harley on the rooftop lookout at Ballara. Credit: Jason South The sun has not set on the Aussie dream of owning a beach house. A collection of postcard-worthy areas with median house prices below $650,000 are dotted along the coastline. Zilzie, on Queenslands Capricorn Coast. Credit: Pat ODriscoll Real Estate The tide for buyers has turned in some spots where median house prices have cooled over the past 12 months, Domains House Price Report for the March quarter, released last week, shows. These include Nambucca Heads on the NSW Mid North Coast ($635,000, down 0.9 per cent), Curlewis on Victorias Bellarine Peninsula ($645,000, a drop of 3 per cent) and Venus Bay in South Gippsland, Victoria ($500,000, a fall of 19.2 per cent). Home buyers now face a stamp duty bill of as much as $75,000 in Sydney and nearly $57,000 in Melbourne to buy the typical house as property prices start to rise again. Economists warn that the tax deters households from moving and would be better replaced by a broad-based land tax, which would likely require federal government assistance to state governments to smooth the transition and temporary revenue shortfall. The median house in Sydney now costs almost $1.7 million, on Domain figures released last week. Stamp duty payable on such a purchase would be $75,458, according to Revenue NSWs calculator. NSW offers first home buyers stamp duty concessions on properties worth up to $1 million. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Ballina native Finola Cahill has been named the winner of the 2025 Cuirt New Writing Prize for Poetry. The prize is sponsored by Tigh Neachtain, in memory of Lena McGuire, and aims to support emerging talent in poetry, short fiction, and Irish-language writing. Fiona's poem, 'The girl was eaten by moths? Yes', was described by this years judge, poet Victoria Kennefick, as a rare treasure original, spiky, accomplished and arresting. Held annually in Galway, Cuirt celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, marking four decades of literary innovation. This years festival featured appearances from Donal Ryan, Anne Enright, and Fiona's fellow Mayo native, Sally Rooney. As part of her award, Finola took part in the New Writing Showcase on April 9th, alongside the winner of the prose prize, Laurence Lumsden, and the Irish Language winner, Una Nic Carthaigh. Originally from Ballina, Finola Cahill previously won the 2023 Waterford Poetry Prize and the 2024 Listowel Writers Week Single Poem Award. She is currently working on her debut poetry collection and is a recipient of a Mayo Artist bursary from the Mayo Arts Office. She is also a founding member of theNCF cultural co-op in Ballina, a collaborative, community-led, non-profit arts space, which is always open to new members. 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. State-owned Indian operator Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has reportedly defaulted on loan repayments of over INR83 billion about (US$971.5 million) to multiple banks. Citing a recent stock exchange filing, local news services report that the operator failed to repay dues to several public sector banks, including Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, UCO Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, and Indian Overseas Bank. The default is on both principal and interest payments in March 2025. Union Bank of India is the largest creditor. MTNL owes it over INR36 billion (more than US$425 million). Indian Overseas Bank is owed about US$278 million. Bank of India is owed some US$119 million. MTNL's accounts with these banks were classified as non-performing assets as early as August and September 2024, with the most recent default reported in February 2025 for Indian Overseas Bank. However, including short and long-term liabilities bank loans, Sovereign Guarantee (SG) Bonds, and a loan from the Department of Telecommunications the total financial indebtedness of the company is said to be close to INR335.7 billion a mind-boggling US$3.9 billion. This is despite the monetisation of land and building assets since 2019, sales that boosted the MTNL share price in March. Its also worth noting that in the same month the government said it had no plans to privatise either MTNL or the much bigger BSNL, which has been managing the operation of MTNL in its core markets of Delhi and Mumbai. Its hard to know where this leaves MTNL, but the Indian Financial Express says, with eloquent understatement: The financially stressed telecom firm, which has long been operating at a loss, continues to grapple with rising liabilities despite multiple government-led revival efforts. 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. XLSmart the Indonesian operator created by the merger of XL Axiata, Smartfren Telecom and Smart Telecom has officially kicked off operations under its new corporate identity as it looks to compete as a stronger, customer-focused third player in the telco space. The combined entity launched as XLSmart on Thursday as its new directors and board of commissioners assumed office. XLSmart is jointly owned by Axiata Group and Sinar Mas, who each hold a 34.8% stake. XLSmart said it is starting life with a combined market share of 25%, projected pro forma revenue of IDR45.8 trillion (US$2.7 billion) and a customer base of over 94.5 million as of the end of 2024. We will continue to operate our beloved brands to serve our mobile cellular and home broadband customers through XL, AXIS, and Smartfren, as well as SMEs and corporate customers with XLSmart for Business, while enhancing service quality, expanding coverage, and introducing smarter, more integrated digital experiences, said XLSmart president director and CEO Rajeev Sethi in a statement. This isnt just a merger. Its a leap forward for Indonesias digital ecosystem. Sethi added that XLSmart will compete largely on innovation and elevated customer experiences, and aims to be Indonesias most loved company by 2027. Our focus remains crystal clear: our customers, he said. Were building a company that listens better, moves faster, and serves smarter. Whether in big cities or rural areas, XLSmart is here to ensure that every Indonesian has access to the tools, networks, and experiences that matter. Third-ranked XL Axiata and fourth-ranked Smartfren Telecom officially agreed to merge their operations in December 2024 in a deal valued at IDR104 trillion (US$6.5 billion). Shareholders in both telcos, as well as Axiata Group, voted to approve the plan last month. The resulting entity is expected to give market leaders Telkomsel and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison more competition in the mobile, fixed broadband and digital services space. XLSmart also launched its new corporate tagline, Bersama, Melaju Tanpa Batas (Go Beyond, Together), which it says captures the spirit of the merger. Yet another financial innovation using mobile telecommunications has been introduced in Africa. This time, it's an investment product from Ugandas MTN Mobile Money (MTN MoMo), a mobile financial service provider. MTN MoMo says it has partnered with fund manager Sanlam Investments East Africa to launch Yinvesta, which is described as a revolutionary unit trust investment product designed to make investing easy, accessible and flexible for all Ugandans. Yinvesta allows customers to start investing with as little as UGX1,000 (about US$0.27), offering daily interest earnings, easy withdrawals, and full transparency through MTN MoMo channels. This initiative, says MTN MoMo, reinforces its commitment to providing innovative financial solutions that empower Ugandans to take control of their financial future. Yinvesta operates as a unit trust, pooling investments from multiple individuals into a professionally managed fund, ensuring stability and reduced risk and offering a competitive return to investors. The product is licensed by the Capital Markets Authority of Uganda under the countrys Collective Investments Schemes Act of 2003. Jonathan Stichbury, Chief Executive Officer at Sanlam Investments East Africa, is quoted by local press as saying: Technology has transformed business operations and the investment industry is no exception. With the launch of Yinvesta, we are revolutionising the way Ugandans investWe are excited about the potential of this partnership, which will have a profound impact in the financial landscape of Uganda." A launch event for the new service featured a live product demo, a panel discussion on financial literacy, and exclusive investment insights from industry experts. Customers can start investing immediately by dialling a code on their mobile phones or using the MTN MoMo app. Page Content S hape the Future of the State Bar Run for Office! The State Bar thrives because of its dedicated members. If youre a State Bar of Wisconsin member with active status in good standing who is passionate about the legal profession and want to make an impact, consider running for a leadership position. Serving as an officer, a member of the Board of Governors, or a division leader is an opportunity to help guide the policies, initiatives, and direction of the Bar. State Bar Officer Elections Lead at the Highest Level Each year, the State Bar elects a president-elect, treasurer or secretary, and a Judicial Council representative to help lead the organization. A nomination committee appointed by the president selects candidates for these roles and announces those candidates by December 15. Members can also self-nominate by submitting a petition signed by 100 active members. Why run? Officers play a key role in shaping the Bars vision, advocating for the profession, and ensuring that members voices are heard. Officers play a key role in shaping the Bars vision, advocating for the profession, and ensuring that members voices are heard. How to get involved: Submit your petition by the first business day of February. For details or to request a petition, contact Kim Jansen at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106 or (608) 250-6106. Board of Governors Be a Voice for Your District The Board of Governors is the State Bars policymaking body, representing attorneys from districts across the state. Governors serve two-year terms, and elections follow a rotating schedule based on district. Why run? Board members help shape policies, advocate for member needs, and oversee key initiatives. Board members help shape policies, advocate for member needs, and oversee key initiatives. Which districts have open seats? Elections are staggered, with different districts electing governors in odd- and even-numbered years: Elections are staggered, with different districts electing governors in odd- and even-numbered years: Odd-numbered years: Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 District 2 (Milwaukee County) elects seven governors District 6 (Waukesha County) elects one governor governor District 9 (Dane County) elects three governors governors All other districts elect one governor governor Even-numbered years: Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 District 2 (Milwaukee County) elects five governors governors District 6 (Waukesha County) elects two governors governors District 9 (Dane County) elects four governors governors All other districts elect one governor To be considered for a seat on the Board, submit a petition signed by 10 active members in your district to the State Bar by the first business day of March. For more information, contact Kim Jansen at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106 or (608) 250-6106. State Bar Division Elections Engage with Your Legal Community The State Bars divisions elect leaders every April. These positions provide an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and strengthen professional networks. Why run? Whether you're passionate about advocacy, mentorship, or professional development, serving in a division leadership role allows you to shape the direction of your legal community. Whether you're passionate about advocacy, mentorship, or professional development, serving in a division leadership role allows you to shape the direction of your legal community. How to get involved: Review open division positions and complete a candidate form for consideration by the divisions nominating committee. For questions, contact Customer Service at (800) 444-9404. Step up. Lead. Make an impact. Running for a leadership position within the State Bar is your opportunity to contribute to the future of the profession. If youre ready to take the next step, start your candidacy today! Malaysias Railway Assets Corp (RAC) announced on Friday it has contracted telco YTL Communications to build out fibre optic infrastructure along 1,600 km of railway track, putting an end to the railway fibre monopoly held by Telekom Malaysias Fiberail. RAC said in a statement it put put a request for proposal (RFP) for the project in 2023 as part of Malaysias National Broadband Plan and the National Digital Network (Jendela), with the objective of leveraging railway assets to build part of the countrys digital network backbone. The project was facilitated by a wayleave from the government that enables more telecoms players to bid for railway telecoms projects. Before the new wayleave, Fiberail which is 53.99%-owned by TM had exclusive rights to install fibre networks along all railway routes, according to The Edge Malaysia. RAC said that the new wayleave will not affect existing exclusive rights held by Fiberail under a separate wayleave agreement with railway operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM, which owns 35.99% of Fiberail) that is valid until 2032. According to Malay Mail, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said YTL was selected for the project because it offered the highest ROI in its proposal. Loke clarified that the new wayleave arrangement also means that YTL Communications doesnt gain exclusive rights from the RAC contract. There is no longer any exclusivity. From time to time, we will consider other telecommunications providers as well, Loke told the newspaper. This is to ensure, firstly, that we have more fibre optic networks in place to improve our digital reach and communications infrastructure. A foreign tourist poses for photos with flowers at a venue of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show in Huangpu District of east China's Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Xinhua/Wang Xiang] BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) At a bustling department store in Guangzhou, south China, a Singaporean surnamed Lee picked up more than just premium Chinese tea for friends and family he also walked away with a tax refund, pocketed instantly at the point of purchase. "Super convenient," said the tech entrepreneur, who was in town for a tech fair, applauding China's new refund policy that spares international travelers the long queues at airports and puts money back in their accounts then and there. China is expanding the coverage of instant tax refunds to improve the experience for international travelers. In Shanghai, the service has been available in about half of the city's tax refund partner stores. The policy, extended nationwide on April 8, builds on a slew of recent efforts by China to boost global exchanges and mobility, such as easing its visa policies, enhancing payment accessibility, and streamlining customs clearance. These shifts have made exploring the country easier than ever, fueling a surge in "China Travel" content on social media platforms. For example, U.S. content creator IShowSpeed documented his kung fu journey at the famous Shaolin Temple in central China, captivating global audiences. In 2024, China recorded 64.88 million border crossings by foreign nationals, an 82.9 percent increase year on year. In the first quarter of 2025, this number stood at 17.44 million, up 33.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024. During Lee's ten-day stay in China, he zipped through industrial parks, financial centers, and high-tech hubs across the industrial powerhouse, bringing home not just souvenirs but also promising partnerships. Analysts believe that the recent expansion of the tax refund policy will increase spending by inbound travelers, spur growth in China's tourism sector, and draw more visitors eager to explore the country. On the ground, the effects are already visible. At the Grand Pacific, a shopping mall in downtown Beijing, staff reported long queues at tax refund counters. "It's now routine to see waves of foreign tourists lining up. Some leave with a few items, others with entire hauls," one employee said. Qin Yi, manager of a porcelain shop in Shanghai, noted that foreign tourists who receive instant tax refunds in cash often make additional purchases on the spot a trend that has helped drive up the store's overall sales. Inbound consumption in China is expected to exceed 1.5 trillion yuan (around 205 billion U.S. dollars) over the next five years, said economist Hong Tao at Beijing Technology and Business University. In 2024, inbound travelers spent over 94.2 billion dollars in China, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. As U.S. tariffs inflate the cost of Chinese imports, traveling to China makes more economic sense for savvy American shoppers. Thanks to the new transit policy for citizens from 54 countries, including the United States, Americans can now stay in the country for up to 240 hours without a visa. Pair that with the freshly expanded refund-upon-purchase policy, and travelers would get a compelling formula: travel, shop, save and repeat. "There's no middleman taking a cut," as many put it. And the math checks out: with an 11 percent refund rate, spending 10,000 yuan gets people 1,100 yuan back. Though a service fee is charged, luxury goods, electronics, and other high-value items still look a lot more attractive. Far from dimming their allure, U.S. tariffs have thrown a new spotlight on Chinese products, long prized for both quality and affordability. "If the high U.S. tariffs persist, we may see the rise of a 'daigou' trade," said Wang Huayu, an associate professor of fiscal and tax law at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, referring to a practice that Americans pay intermediaries to shop in China on their behalf. However, delivering a premium shopping experience to attract inbound travelers requires more than policy changes, said experts. It is important to bring more shops and a wider range of goods into the refund-upon-purchase program, said Hong. Wang Peng, a researcher at Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, pointed to the power of digital contracts to slash the tax refund process down to mere seconds. He also highlighted how artificial intelligence could step in to ease peak-hour pressure, standardize shopping services, and close infrastructure gaps across regions. In Guangzhou, where Singaporean visitor Lee explored, a commentary carried by a local newspaper on April 10 has called for more efforts to identify choke points to make shopping in China more enjoyable. "I'll visit China again and next time, I'm bringing my family and friends along," said Lee. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha LEO satellite operator Starlink appears to have had a pretty good week or two in Africa, with licence awards in Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau and Somalia making headlines. But it isnt quite as simple as that. Lesotho has indeed offered the satellite service, owned by space launch provider SpaceX, a ten-year operating permit. In fact Starlink applied for a licence in April 2024. However, the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) has said that, at the time, it recognised that its existing licensing and classification framework required enhancement to adequately accommodate low-earth orbit satellite technology. Hence there was a delay; the changes were completed on 31 January 2025. Guinea-Bissaus National Regulatory Authority for Information and Communication Technologies (ARN-TIC) officially approved Starlink last week. The country suffers frequent service outages which satellite-based connectivity may be well placed to compensate for, if users can afford it. The same, it seems, goes for Somalia, where the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Somalia has officially granted an operational license to Starlink, enabling the satellite internet provider to commence services across the country. South African approval has been less straightforward. Regulator ICASA has suggested that Starlink has never submitted an application for a licence. If it wants to operate in South Africa, Starlink needs to obtain network and service licences, which both require 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. Starlink owner Elon Musk has made it clear he doesnt approve of the policy, accusing the South African authorities (on his social media platform X) of racism. And Starlink, in a written submission to ICASA, has said that black empowerment provisions in legislation excluded many foreign satellite operators from the South African market. The foreign ministry has responded that more than 600 US companies, including computing giant Microsoft, were operating in South Africa in compliance with its laws. The fact that Musk is close to the US President has complicated matters. Donald Trump has weighed in with angry comments about laws passed earlier this year potentially allowing the South African government to seize property in some cases without compensation. But US government policy has also become part of some discussions in the context of satellite services. The 10-year licence award to Starlink came after President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho, though this has now been paused and a 10% tariff effected. In any case, Lesotho denies any connection. There have also been complaints about the lack of local ownership in Lesotho. In fact during public consultations over Starlink's application, operator Vodacom Lesotho had argued that Mr Musk's company should establish local shareholding before receiving a licence. Its also been claimed that Starlink is seeking an exemption in Namibia from the requirement to bring in a local partner; businesses operating in Namibia need to be 51% locally owned. Back in South Africa, the government has received some support from businesses operating there. Vodacom South Africa has said it supports the enforcement of 30% ownership (Black Economic Empowerment) laws. However, another reason for the government to stick to its guns is that exempting Starlink might cause some overseas firms to demand exemptions. Is some sort of compromise likely? South Africa could be a lucrative market for satcoms services and satcoms could be useful for rural areas. Thus, it could prove helpful for both Starlink and the government to reach some sort of compromise. To date, Starlink is operating in more than 20 African countries. Democrats crises begin to play out in early Senate recruitment and first campaigns Hegseth shared detailed military plans in second Signal chat that included his wife and brother Pope Francis, pictured at the Vatican in 2022, was the first non-European pontiff of the modern era. 25 years ago: Florida raid reunites Elian Gonzalez, 6, with Cuban father On April 22, 2000 the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) raided the Miami home of Lazaro Gonzalez, the great-uncle of 6-year-old boy Elian Gonzalez. Lazaro had defied a court order in a custody case granting parental rights to the childs biological father, Juan Gonzalez, a Cuban citizen and resident. The INS raid lasted only three minutes. No one was injured and only one person was detained, a member of the Cuban-American National Foundation, an organization linked to terrorist attacks on Cuban targets. The same day, the boy was reunited with his father at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington D.C. Elian Gonzalez (second from right) with his father, stepmother and half-brother in a photo taken a few hours after their reunion at Andrews Air Force Base in 2000 Elian had been taken from Cuba by his mother and her partner the previous year, without the permission or knowledge of Elians father, who had primary custody of the child. They departed on the 90-minute crossing for Florida in a small, under-equipped boat that capsized in US waters. The mother drowned, but two fishermen found Elian floating in an intertube and handed him over to the United States Coast Guard. Contrary to international law, which clearly affirmed that the child had to be returned to his father, the far-right Cuban emigre community in Florida demanded that Elian stay with his great uncle. Both Republicans and Democrats condemned the INS raid. In typical fashion, the Republicans assailed the Bill Clinton administration for allowing the raid to happen while the Democrats responded meekly to the harshest accusations and supported the thrust of the attacks on INS. Republican politicians equated the raid to storm trooper tactics, called it un-American and compared it to Fidel Castros Cuba. Presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore, the presumptive presidential nominees for the Republican and Democratic parties in the upcoming 2000 election, both sought to win support from anticommunist Cuban elements in Florida by criticizing the raid. The hysterical media and political denunciations made for a spectacle of galling hypocrisy. When real cases of INS atrocities were committed on workers and immigrants from Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, the Democrats and Republicans uttered not a single sentence nor a word of disapproval. In fact, Clinton and Congress provided unlimited funds to construct immigrant prisons, upgrade the size of the Border Patrol and INS and erect fortifications along the US-Mexico border. Opinion polls showed that the majority of Americans endorsed the INS action and blamed Lazaro Gonzalez and his right-wing Cuban emigre backers for the temporary standoff. Even in Florida, a poll by the Miami Herald found that a sizable majority supported the reunification. 50 years ago: Workers run Democrats, union bureaucrats off stage at DC rally On April 26, 1975, leading Democratic Party politicians and trade union officials were shouted down and chased from the stage at a rally against unemployment in Washington D.C. Originally organized by the AFL-CIO at RFK Stadium, the event drew over 70,000 workers and unemployed laborers demanding action on job cuts and the worsening economic crisis. Instead of a series of scripted speeches by officials, the rally became a spontaneous revolt against the political and union establishment. The eruption began when Senator Hubert Humphrey, a prominent Democrat tied to pro-corporate policies and the Vietnam War, attempted to address the crowd. His mere introduction triggered widespread booing. Workers stormed the field with union banners, drowning out his speech. Despite appeals from union officials and liberal Democratic Congresswoman Bella Abzugwho urged the crowd to show unitythe workers refused to relent. Hey, Bella, this is the people talking! one shouted. Union leaders fled the rally, with several prominent union presidents abandoning their own speeches. Instead, rank-and-file workers seized the microphone for nearly an hour. A section of the April 26, 1975 protest against layoffs, as photographed by The Bulletin The ruling class was determined to impose the costs of imperialisms defeat in Vietnam onto the working class. Estimates put the number of industrial jobs lost in the recession of 1973-1975 at 2.2 million. Over the previous few years a seething anger had developed in the working class over unemployment, which at the time of the rally exceeded 9 percent. As corporations slashed jobs, unions officials refused to organize coordinated strikes or other actions to defend living standards. Under these conditions workers demanded a serious fight back. The AFL-CIO had been compelled by this anger to call the rally. But it was designed to simply vent frustration harmlessly. The workers who showed up rejected this plan and demonstrated their willingness for a struggle. A New York City worker from Local 372 captured the mood, in comments given to a reporter for the Bulletin, the US forerunner of the World Socialist Web Site: The real rally took place on this field. What took place on the stand was a picnic. The march should have been from here to the Capitol. The workers got victory when the so-called dignitaries couldnt talk. Aaron, a rubber worker from Boston, said, This was a very important rally and thats why I came down. Something has got to be done about these conditions. If youre laid off, you get unemployment and then all youre left with is welfare if you can get that. A man with a family is definitely not able to make it. The only people who can determine whats best for a worker is not the employers or the politicians, but the workers themselves. The Workers League, the US predecessor to the Socialist Equality Party, held a 250-person meeting post-rally. National Secretary Fred Mazelis stated. In struggles such as this, millions will be learning the real nature of this bureaucracy. They will go through the experience of rejecting the old leaders and building a revolutionary leadership. 75 years ago: Kingdom of Jordan formally annexes the West Bank On April 24, 1950, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan formally annexed the West Bank and incorporated the territory into its kingdom. The annexation followed the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the mass expulsion of Palestinians from their homes, which saw around 750,000 Palestinians made refugees by Zionist forces after the state of Israel was founded in May 1948. By 1950, roughly 280,000 of these refugees were living in the West Bank, unable to return to their homes, which were now under Israeli occupation. In the lead-up to formal annexation, King Abdullah of Jordan had taken steps to consolidate and entrench Jordanian control over the region. Palestinian municipal governments were stripped of their authority to collect taxes or issue licenses, while Jordanian administration and policing were imposed on the population. In December 1948, Abdullah convened notable Palestinian leaders at the Jericho Conference, where the assembled delegates voted in favour of incorporating Arab Palestine immediately into Jordan (then called Transjordan). In February 1949, Jordan extended citizenship to the West Banks Palestinian population. King Abdullah, center, visiting Jerusalems Church of the Holy Sepulchre, on May 29, 1948 The annexation, legally formalized on April 24, 1950, was part of the Jordanian expansionist policy of Greater Syria under Abdullah, aimed at extending the rule of the Hashemite royal family over historic Palestine and other parts of the former Ottoman Empire. The Jordanian regime itself had been established after World War I as a client state of the British Empire to advance British imperialist interests in the oil-rich region. Although Jordan was granted formal independence from Britain in 1946, it remained heavily dependent on British, and later American, military and financial support. Jordan controlled the West Bank until the 1967 Six-Day War in June, during which Israel had seized the Jordanian-controlled West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, part of Egypt. The illegal occupation marked a further development in Israel's imperialist-backed expansion, with over 300,000 more Palestinian refugees fleeing to Jordan or Syria. 100 years: Franz Kafkas The Trial published in Berlin On April 26, 1925, Czech author Franz Kafkas German-language novel, Der Prozess, later translated into English as The Trial, was published by Verlag Die Schmiede in Berlin. Max Brod, Kafka's friend and literary executor, edited the text for publication after Kafka died in 1924, defying Kafka's wishes to have his unfinished works destroyed. The Trial tells the story of Josef K., a bank clerk who is inexplicably arrested one morning for a crime. Never told what he is accused of, he is drawn into a bewildering and nightmarish legal system. His attempts to understand the charges against him and to navigate the bureaucratic apparatus that governs his case become more and more futile, leading to a tragic and unresolved end. Original cover of Kafka's Der Prozess [Photo by Comunity Helper Shqip / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The work, written in 1914-15 during the First World War, although it defies simple and straightforward interpretations, reflects the irrationality of the imperial Austro-Hungarian bureaucracy that dominated life until the collapse of the Empire in 1918. The work is influenced by Russian 19th century writer Fyodor Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment. The Trial did not sell in large numbers at first and only became widely known, along with its author, after the Second World War, especially in France and the United States, partly due to the rise among the postwar literary intellectuals of outlooks such as existentialism and absurdism. The absurdity of the situation in which Josef K. finds himself is responsible for the term kafkaesque, which denotes a situation that is disorienting, threatening and seemingly senseless. Workers at the Vogue Tex factory in Weligama, Sri Lanka [Photo: Facebook/Vogue Tex, Weligama] Already facing low wages and dire conditions, garment workers now face brutal attacks from the tariff war instigated by US President Donald Trump. The Garment Workers Action Committee (GWAC) in Sri Lanka appeals to apparel workers across the country and internationally to urgently prepare to fight to defend their jobs, wages, working conditions and basic rights. Trumps global tariff war once again shows that this is an international struggle. We call on all our class brothers and sisters in the apparel producing industries across South and East Asian countries, and who now face the same attack, to organise unified action to defend their rights. Such action must be extended to workers in the giant US and European retailers which purchase apparel from client countries. Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar face massive tariffs44, 49, 48, 46 and 44 percent respectively. Trumps 90-day tariff increase pause will not alleviate, let alone solve, the crisis impacting on the industries in these countries. The US-provoked trade war measures are engulfing the world, pushing it into recession and towards a global conflagration. The US is Sri Lankas single largest market for apparel, earning $1.5 billion or 40 percent of the countrys total apparel exports last year. The PublicFinance.lk think tank estimates that the new tariff rates will see a 20 percent fall in exports to America and an annual loss of $300 million. The collapse of the apparel sector will result in factory closures and massive job losses, as well as the slashing of wages and working conditions. Currently, more than 350,000 workers are directly employed in Sri Lankas apparel industry, with about 600,000 indirect workers. Most garment workers are paid a paltry average monthly wage of around 35,000 rupees ($US116). Forced to achieve difficult production targets, they are compelled to work overtime to earn more. Apparel companies are increasingly using low-wage contracting companies to slash production costs. Trumps tariff war is not limited to the apparel industry but will have a drastic impact on all countries exporting to the US and precipitate a global trade crisis. Shocked by the US tariff hikes, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) government has called for national unity. President Dissanayake convened an All-Party Conference (APC) on April 11. All the opposition parliamentary partiesincluding the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, United National Party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and Tamil Arasu Kachchiparticipated in the conference and agreed to back the government. Dissanayake has informed the Trump administration of his readiness to accommodate its demands. Big-business lobby groupsthe Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Joint Apparel Association Forumare calling on the Dissanayake government to grant more tax cuts and other concessions. Desperate to support Sri Lankan and international investors, Colombo will move to impose the full burden of the crisis on the backs of the working class. These attacks will come on top of the International Monetary Funds savage austerity program now being continued by the JVP/NPP government. Treacherous role of the trade union bureaucracies While workers need to prepare to fight these escalating attacks, the trade union bureaucracies are politically disarming workers and getting ready to back the government and employer attacks. Anton Marcus, the general secretary of the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZGSEU), has called on parliament to establish a committee with company and trade union representatives to deal with the situation. Marcus has suggested that Sri Lanka could win Trumps heart by exempting tariffs for the largest imports from the US and reducing tariffs on other imports. On April 4, S.P. Nathan, the general secretary of the Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU), sent a written appeal to the Trump administration calling on it to reverse to the previous tariff rate because thousands of Sri Lankan workers would lose their jobs. This pathetic appeal to the fascistic regime in Washington, which is every day expelling immigrants, jailing opponents of the Gaza genocide, gutting social services, health and science, and destroying tens of thousands of public sector jobs, will fall on deaf ears. As in the past, the Sri Lankan trade union bureaucracies, including the FTZGSEU, CMU, the JVP-controlled Inter-Company Workers Union (ICWU) and others, have responded to every crisis by deepening their collaboration with Colombo governments and the big companies. During the 2008 global financial crisis and associated world recession, the trade union leaders joined the governments National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) and supported factory closures and mass layoffs. When the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in 2020, President Gotabhaya Rajapakse formed a COVID-19 tripartite task-force consisting of employers, labour officials and trade union leaders. Its task was to impose company proposals for lay-offs, wage cuts and keeping workers labouring in unsafe conditions. At least 150,000 lost their jobs following the closure of 40 factories and another 73,000 due to the shutdown of small plants. During Sri Lankas economic collapse in 2022, which triggered mass struggles involving millions of workers, the trade union apparatus did nothing to fight the lay-offs of thousands of workers. Likewise, the trade unions supported the incoming President Ranil Wickremesinghe governments IMF policies and are now assisting the Dissanayake regime to impose IMF austerity. What should workers do? Earlier this month, Vogue Tex garment workers held a powerful sit-in strike on April 8 and 9 when the company suddenly announced, citing the US tariff increase, that it would not pay a regular annual holiday bonus to its employees. While the determined industrial action by Vogue Tex workers made clear their willingness to fight, apparel workers can only go forward if they adopt a new strategy. The Garment Workers Action Committee warns apparel workers that they must not allow the union bureaucracy to impose government and big-business demands as they have in the past. Workers must take the fight to defend their wages and working conditions into their own hands. This is why the Garment Workers Action Committee calls on apparel workers to form action committees, democratically elected by themselves, in all factories and their neighbourhoods. The union bureaucracy and representatives of the parliamentary parties, which defend the capitalist system, cannot have any place in these independent committees. These working-class committees can discuss and decide on what actions, including protests, strikes and factory occupations, should be taken to counter employers and the government attacks. They should coordinate with workers elsewhere, throughout private industry and the state sector. Apparel workers must demand: No to job cuts, the slashing of wages and working conditions! No to increased workloads. Oppose all closures, prepare for industrial action, including factory occupation. Reject the meagre compensation decided by employers and union bureaucrats. Demand compensation on full pay until new jobs are provided. Workers should be paid wage increases to compensate for the erosion of real wages. All wages must be indexed to the cost of living. Fully paid medical leave. Decent housing and health facilities. Like the fight against IMF austerity, the struggle against the devastating consequences of the US governments tariff war is international. Workers are not responsible for the global economic crisis and the escalating tariff war. President Dissanayake has responded to the tariff crisis calling on everyone to prepare to face it as a nation. But why should workers sacrifice their rights for the sake of big business? Working people cannot defend their jobs, wages, democratic rights and their future within the profit system. Sri Lankan apparel workers must unite with their international class brothers and sisters. This can only be achieved by joining and building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and File Committees, a democratic organisation of international working-class struggle founded on the initiative of the International Committee of the Fourth International. We directly appeal to apparel workers in Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Laos and other South and East Asian countries to join us in this struggle. We are ready to discuss this with you and assist in the formation of workers action committees. Contact us: Telephone/WhatsApp: +94773562327 Email: action.committees.sl@gmail.com Germanys largest steel company, Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe (TKSE), and Huttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) are threatening mass layoffs. This will force the restructuring of the steel industry into a smaller but more efficient production system to guarantee steel production even in times of war. Steelworkers are being made to foot the bill with job losses and wage cuts. This is what the IG Metall union and the corporations executive board want to push through in the coming weeks and months. IG Metall protest on June 14 in Duisburg to demand subsidies for Thyssenkrupp Last November, when Thyssenkrupp announced it would cut 11,000 of the 27,000 jobs at its steel subsidiary, it shocked steelworkers in the Rhine and Ruhr regions, in the Siegerland and Sauerland districts. IG Metall responded loudly, announcing protests and industrial action. However, apart from a few brief, carefully staged protests, nothing of the sort happened. The vigil tent in front of Gate 1 of the steelworks in northern Duisburg is symbolic of the policy of IG Metall, which claims to be the largest single trade union in the world. Unless a guest from Berlin is invited to promote themselves in front of the backdrop of the steelworks wearing a hard hatsuch as Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democratic Party, SPD), Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) or Duisburg MPs Mahmut Ozdemir (SPD) and Felix Banaszak (Greens)it usually stands empty. In reality, IG Metall has made it clear from the outset that it supports the attacks. As in the last decades of de-industrialisation, its only condition is that it be involved in order to suppress resistance ruling out immediate plant closures and compulsory redundancies. This has not changed since November. What has changed, however, is the international situation with the election of Donald Trump as US president. Trumps tariff war has plunged the German steel industry even deeper into crisis than it was before. The automotive sector, its main customer, is ordering even less, and US tariffs on steel are being raised. This affects TKSE less directly due to its low exports to the US. However, China, by far the worlds largest steel producer, is likely to dump even more steel on the European market. In view of this escalating trade war, the German steel industry is calling for painful solutions to make domestic steel production profitable. This was the wording used by Gerhard Erdmann, managing director of Stahl, the employers association, in an interview with the regional press on Thursday. Although the next round of steel wage negotiations will not begin until September, Erdmann is already making clear that There is nothing to dispense. The crisis has us firmly in its grip. The current challenges could no longer be overcome by the tried-and-tested mechanisms alone, according to Erdmann. The 2023 contract gave companies flexibility over working hoursthe 35-hour week could be reduced to 32 or increased to 38. But similar measures were no longer sufficient, according to Erdmann. And IG Metall agrees. That is why it is pushing for so-called social wage contracts for the 27,000 steelworkers at Thyssenkrupp Stahl and the 3,000 employees at HKM. The implementation of such collective agreements means that job cuts have already been accepted. They do not prevent plant closures or mass layoffs but merely regulate them. IG Metall has called on the TKSE executive board to show its colours by the Easter holidays. It should recognise the unions red lines in order to clear the way for the elimination of 11,000 jobs. IG Metall has already set up collective bargaining committees at all locations, which in turn have formed a joint collective bargaining committee. Its red lines are, once again, the supposed exclusion of compulsory redundancies, guarantees for all locations and investment commitments. As in the past, the IG Metall apparatus intends to divide the individual sites from each other and push through the attacks using its old tricks. The demand that compulsory redundancies be excluded is a farce. These have not existed in the steel industry for decades, yet almost 100,000 jobs have been destroyed. And guarantees for production sites say nothing about the size of the workforce. But the lower the number of employees at a given location, the closer it is to closure. Securing isolated locations does not prevent their closure but at best delays it. In addition, IG Metall always agrees to revision clauses that render any agreement on securing locations null and void in the event of changes in the economic situation, in other words, precisely when such an agreement would actually be needed. That is why the social wages contracts that IG Metall is now seeking are not worth the paper they are written on. This applies above all to the 3,000 HKM steelworkers. Thyssenkrupp owns half of HKM (Salzgitter AG owns 30 percent and Valourec 20 percent) and is also the largest customer for HKM steel. Around 60 percent of the steel produced by HKM in the south of Duisburg goes to TKSEs plants in the north of Duisburg and in Hohenlimburg for further processing. However, on April 4, the TKSE supervisory board decided to terminate the existing supply contract with HKM in 2032. Following the termination of the supply contract by Thyssenkrupp, we must prepare for the worstnamely closure, said Karsten Kaus, managing director of IG Metall Duisburg-Dinslaken. Even if the supply contract with Thyssenkrupp still has seven years to run, it is already clear that Thyssenkrupp will withdraw the quantity it purchases from HKM by 2028 at the latest and produce this itself, said Kaus; adding that he expected compulsory redundancies. The union official is now calling for a social wages contract, which is usually employed in the event of plant closures. This would cushion the social impact of mass layoffs, Kaus told the local press. As a last resort, we can even go on strike. But HKM Works Council Chairman Marco Gasse has made it clear that the IG Metall apparatus and its works council reps at HKM will not launch strike action and certainly not to defend jobs. In addition to severance and partial retirement arrangements, employees would also be able to voluntarily move to a so-called transfer company for up to three years. However, he still hoped that HKM co-owner Salzgitter would commit to keeping HKM afloat. In the event that Salzgitter AG decides to continue operating the steelworks, we are available for talks on a future and transformation agreement, as we would be in the event of a sale of HKM. Restructuring the steel industry for rearmament and war The word transformation is one of the favourites of union apparatchiks. They use it to emphasise their support for embedding the German steel industry in the war economy. Immediately after war credits of 1 trillion euros were ratified by the SPD, Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Greens, the IG Metall executive board announced its approval in a press statement headlined, Speed and decisiveness are a good signal. When Chancellor Scholz described the steel industry as indispensable for Germany at the so-called steel summit at the end of last year, Tekin Nasikkol, head of the overall Thyssenkrupp works council, raved that Scholz had recognised the signs of the times and promised concrete measures to strengthen the system- and security-relevant steel industry. IG Metall also speaks of a transformation towards climate-friendly production. This is the mechanism it is using to call on the state to subsidise Thyssenkrupp in order to maintain a war-ready national steel industry. In their coalition agreement to form the next federal government, the CDU/CSU and SPD have already announced their intention to support the steel industry in its transition to climate-neutral production processes. The IG Metall and numerous federal politicians are in favour of state intervention in Thyssenkrupp and the entire steel industrysimilar to the UK government, which last week placed British Steels only remaining blast furnaces under its control by emergency decree. The IG Metalls demand for investment commitments runs along the same lines. But unlike what IG Metall, the works council officials around Nasikkol and steel works council chief Ali Guzel portray, state intervention would serve to remilitarise Germany and not to save jobs at TKSE. Jobs cannot be defended by switching to arms production, which means preparing for wars that threaten the lives of millions of workers and their families. On the contrary, defending jobs is directly linked to the fight against rearmament and militarisation. New organisations must be built that unite all steelworkers and overcome divisions based on location, corporations and nations. This is only possible against the IG Metall apparatus, not with it. We call on all steel workers to participate in the formation of a rank-and-file Action Committee. All steelworkers must stand together and establish contacts with fellow workers in other industries and countries who, as in the auto industry, are facing the same attacks. This is the only principled way to defend jobs, wages, working conditions and workers rights. Contact us! It is time to take action, otherwise the steel industry will be gradually dismantled until only a small remnant remains that is essential for the war effort. Send a WhatsApp message to +491633378340 and register now using the form below. Canalys has predicted that Egypts smartphone market could stabilise following the enforcement of new regulations aimed at curbing its long-standing grey market, which led to a sharp drop in shipments at the start of the year. According to the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), around 80% of smartphones entering Egypt in 2023 and early 2024 were illegally imported, with buyers avoiding taxes. In response, the government introduced a whitelisting regulation in January 2025, requiring all smartphones to be registered before being connected to a mobile network. Canalys described the move as a structural reset for the industry. Data from Canalys shows that smartphone shipments fell by 18% year-on-year, from 780,000 units in January 2024 to 642,000 in January 2025, following the introduction of the regulation. Under the new rules, smartphones are now subject to a combined 38.5% in customs duties and taxes, as mandated by Egypts Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Ministry of Finance. The change is designed to discourage smuggling while also accelerating the development of local manufacturing. While the shift has caused short-term disruption for consumers and vendors, Canalys noted that it is part of Egypts broader strategy to build a more stable and transparent smartphone market. New assembly lines have already been established, and the government projects that local production could meet up to 80% of domestic demand. The MCIT aims to triple local output from 3 million units in 2024 to 9 million by 2026, as part of efforts to position Egypt as a regional manufacturing hub. However, the road ahead presents challenges. Devices sold through legal channels are currently 20% to 30% more expensive than grey-market alternatives, due to higher operating costs and import duties on components. Despite this, major vendors such as Samsung and Xiaomi have partnered with the government to launch local manufacturing operations, signalling confidence in Egypts long-term potential. Canalys acknowledged that while the market reset has led to affordability concerns, the increased reliability, security, and after-sales support associated with officially imported and locally assembled devices could help the market recover and grow in the months ahead. Alleged fascist Florida State shooter Phoenix Ikner wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat. The suspect in the Florida State University shootings, who faces first degree murder charges for killing two and injuring five on Thursday, was a member of Charlie Kirks Turning Point USA, a fascist youth group around the Republican Party, and is a registered Republican voter in Florida. The 20-year-old suspect, Phoenix Ikner, is the stepson of Leon County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jessica Ikner, who has been with the department for 18 years. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said at a press conference, This weapon was a weapon that the deputy previously used and that this was a handgun that that deputy used prior to them transitioning to a new handgun, and so it was her personal handgun. McNeil said the Tallahassee Police were continuing their investigation into how that weapon was used and other weapons Phoenix Ikner might have had access to. Ikner was a member of the LCSOs Youth Advisory Council while he was still going to Lincoln High School, according to LCSO spokesperson Shonda Knight, and spent a lot of time around the sheriffs office. She stated that being the son of law enforcement, meant he was constantly exposed to firearm safety, i.e., training in the use of firearms. Leon County Sheriff Walter A. McNeil said in a press conference hours after the shooting that Ikner was deeply embedded in the law enforcement community and has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office family, engaged in a number of training programs, so its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons. He added that this event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever [fathom] from a law enforcement perspective. Ikner also received training from his stepmother. A shotgun was also found at the scene but it is unclear if this weapon was used in the attack at Florida State. Given this, and his stepmothers access to firearms, it is obvious that this isnt a crime that would have been prevented by the gun control measures advocated by the Democrats, since none of the proposals involve disarming the police. Documents obtained by the Miami Herald show that Ikner had an unstable family life, including an instance in which his biological mother was arrested for attempting to kidnap him and take him to her native Norway. Ikner cited this tragic event in 2015 when he went to court to change his name from Christian Gunnar Eriksen. Notably, he appeared in his Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps uniform. It isnt known if Ikner was a member of ROTC at his university or not. He was at the center of a custody battle since he was a toddler, with his father alleging his mother neglected and abused him. According to the Herald, hundreds of pages of court documents show Ikner grew up in Tallahassee and after 2015 primarily lived with his father, Christopher Ikner, and step-mother Jessica Ikner, whom his father had married in 2010. Ikner was attending FSU majoring in political science at the time of the shooting. Pictures on the internet of Ikner in a MAGA hat have circulated widely. According to USA Today, Ikner had a history of espousing radical conspiracy theories, according to people who knew him. It said that news that Ikner was the suspected gunman horrified people who knew him, but they said they werent shocked given things he had said publicly. I got into arguments with him in class over how gross the things he said were, Lucas Luzietti, who was in a federal politics course with Ikner, stated to USA Today. His far-right conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric included the lie that Joseph Biden stole the 2020 election, a lie used to justify Trumps violent January 6, 2021 coup, that Rosa Parks was in the wrong and black people were ruining his neighborhood. Ikner was reported to have few friends. Luzietti remembered thinking this man should not have access to firearms and said he was sadly not surprised that he carried out a shooting. Luzietti recalls Ikner boasting to the class that he had access to firearms. Notably, the Instagram biography of the accused shooter was changed right before the shooting from a fairly innocuous description to the following disturbing Bible quote: Jeremiah 51:20You are my war club, my weapon for battle; with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms. This is the same quote used by The Order, a violent white supremacist terrorist organization that was part of the Christian Identity Movement as some on social media have pointed out. The Order, also known as the Silent Brotherhood, was an openly neo-Nazi terrorist organization active between September 1983 and December 1984. It was implicated in a series of armed robberies, racketeering and the notorious 1984 murder of Jewish radio talk show host Alan Berg. Their ideology was inspired by The Turner Diaries, both of which called for a race war which called for the extermination of communists, blacks, Jews and race mixers in order to form a racially pure society. It called for terrorist acts in order to facilitate this, including mass shootings and up to terrorist attacks with nuclear weapons. A number of mass murders have drawn their inspiration from The Turner Diaries, including the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, 1999 London nail bombings, the racist murder of James Byrd, Jr. in Texas and an estimated over 200 killings since its publication in 1978. A British MP was murdered by a man who purchased the book. An article in the campus newspaper FSUNews quoted Ikner mocking protesters against Trumps inauguration on January 20. In the article, viewable here, he said the protesters were usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons, and that 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. According to people who knew Ikner, he espoused bigoted and misogynistic views while attending student meetings at the Tallahassee State Colleges Political Discourse Club, then known as the Political Roundtable. He was removed from the Roundtable for violating their no Nazis rule, espousing white supremacist and far-right rhetoric. Ikner reportedly went on diatribes about how he hated immigrants, LGBTQ people, minorities and the feminist movement (and women in general) according to student Andrea Miranda. Miranda, 19, said that Ikner claimed multiculturalism and communism are destroying America and that he supported the neo-Nazi party in Germany, the AfD. She described him as sort of like the MAGA ringleader in the group. Club president Riley Pusins, 20, recalled Ikner calling protesters against the Gaza genocide and police murder of George Floyd dirty rats. He also joked that white people are the superior race. These sort of fascist politics are common to the police force, an arm of the capitalist state which exists to suppress the working class. It is riddled with fascists, a fact that even the government has been forced to admit. Its very likely that Ikner was politically influenced by the police, as well as by the fascist environment that prevails in the Republican Party and groups like Turning Point USA. U.S. Supreme Court police officers outside of the Supreme Court, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana] In an emergency order issued between midnight and 1 a.m. on Saturday, the US Supreme Court halted an attempt by the Trump administration to ship dozens more Venezuelan migrants to a torture prison in El Salvador under an executive order in which he invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The actionrare in both its timing and its evident distrust of the executive branchled to at least one busload of migrants turning around as it reached the airport in Abilene, Texas and returning to a detention camp run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Just as extraordinary as the late-night issuance of the order was the dissent filed by the two most fascistic justices on the high court, written by Samuel Alito and endorsed by Clarence Thomas. The two denounced the seven-member court majoritywhich apparently included all three justices nominated by Donald Trumpbecause they had acted on warnings by the American Civil Liberties Union that the mass deportation was only hours, or even minutes, away. That these warnings were true was apparently of no concern to Alito and Thomas. A rapid-fire series of legal maneuvers began Wednesday when lawyers for two Venezuelan migrants held at Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas filed habeas corpus motions against deporting their clients, following the procedure laid down by the Supreme Court last week. Federal Judge James Hendrix, appointed by Trump during his first term, denied the motion the next day, stating he had received assurances in which the government had answered unequivocally that it did not intend to deport the two men. Their attorneys appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the most conservative in the country, but the appeals court turned them down. Also Thursday, immigration lawyers learned that a group of more than two dozen Venezuelan migrants had been moved by ICE from all over the country to the Southern District of Texas. They had then been bused to the Bluebonnet facility, in the Northern District of Texas, evidently to evade a restraining order against deportation flights issued in the Southern District. In a further demonstration of duplicity, ICE gave each migrant a notice, in English only, which many cannot read, declaring that he would be deported immediately. This was an effort to comply with the Supreme Court directive while robbing it of any substance, since the notice did not even inform the migrants that they could file an appeal against their deportation. On Friday, ACLU lawyers appeared again before Judge Hendrix, but with an unusual request: that the judge issue his ruling, for or against their clients, by no later than 1:30 p.m., so they would have time to appeal it before any deportation flight could take off. When Hendrix failed to meet this deadline, the lawyers for the migrants filed an appeal with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, with the same declaration of urgency: rule quickly, so that an appeal can be filed with the Supreme Court. The ACLU attorneys then went directly to the Supreme Court, and the court majority took it up, bypassing both the Fifth Circuit and the justice who is assigned to oversee it, Samuel Alito, and acting before the Department of Justice could even file a response on the issue. Given these circumstances, the decision of the Supreme Court to take up the matter at all, and then to issue an emergency order temporarily stopping the deportation flight until the matter could be considered by the lower courts, is unusual, perhaps unprecedented. The decision was made so rapidly that the order was issued before Alito could finish writing his five-page dissent. He only declared that his dissent would be coming, and published it later in the day. As Mark Joseph Stern, the legal commentator at Slate magazine, observed: The majoritys decision to wade in straightaway points to a skepticism that the Justice Department was telling the truth. Its damning, too, that the majority did not even wait for DOJ to file a brief with the court before acting. The only plausible explanation for the courts order is that a majority feared the government would whisk away the migrants to El Salvador if it did not intervene immediately. This fear was well-founded. NBC News reported Sunday it had obtained video of several ICE buses full of Venezuelan migrants headed towards Abilene Airport on late Friday evening, about 30 miles from the Bluebonnet Detention Center, with an escort of nearly two dozen police vehicles. The video shows the motorcade passing the Abilene Airport, looping around it, and then returning in the direction of the ICE prison. These men were close to spending their lives in a horrific foreign prison without ever having had any due process, Lee Gelernt, the lead ACLU immigration attorney, said after the ruling. The case has a long way to go. But for now, we are relieved that the court has not allowed the Trump administration to hurry them away in secret. The Supreme Court intervention is only a temporary reprieve, even assuming that the Trump administration abides by it. White House officials have already voiced their ire over the ruling, with Trump himself, in a post on Truth Social, sarcastically wishing Happy Easter to WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue The Department of Justice filed a motion with the Supreme Court later Saturday asking the justices to lift their own emergency order, but suggesting that, in the interim, the Trump administration wanted to shift the legal basis on which it claimed authority for the deportation flights. It sought to use other anti-immigrant laws, while litigation over the Alien Enemies Act continues. The government has agreed not to remove pursuant the AEA those AEA detainees who do file habeas claims, wrote US Solicitor General D. John Sauer. This court should dissolve its current administrative stay and allow the lower courts to address the relevant legal and factual questions in the first instanceincluding the development of a proper factual record. This language is remarkable as well, since it effectively admits that the government was prepared to ship dozens of migrants from Venezuela to a prison in a third country, El Salvador, without having provided the necessary legal and factual basis for doing so. In this photo provided by El Salvador's presidential press office, prison guards transfer deportees from the U.S. to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (El Salvador presidential press office via AP) [AP Photo] Moreover, in the most high-profile deportation case, that involving Maryland resident Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration did not make use of the Alien Enemies Act. ICE agents simply seized the immigrant worker, who has lived in the US for half his life and is married to a US citizen with whom he has three children, and put him on one of the earlier deportation flights to El Salvador. Media attention over the case has focused on the visit by Maryland US Senator Chris Van Hollen to El Salvador, where he was able eventually to meet with Abrego Garcia, confirming for his family that he was alive and healthy. Van Hollen, a Democrat, was featured on virtually every Sunday morning television interview program, where he denounced the Trump administrations lawless anti-migrant policy and called the denial of due process for Abrego Garcia a threat to the democratic rights of all Americans, citizens as well as non-citizens. This is certainly true, but neither the courts nor the Democratic Party should be relied on to defend these rights. The perfidy of the Democrats was indicated, even as Van Hollen was visiting El Salvador, when Californias Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the focus on Abrego Garcia as the distraction of the day, saying that Democrats should instead draw attention to the economic consequences of Trumps tariff war. Referring to Trump and the Republicans, Newsom said, This is the debate they want. Democrats look like they are defending MS-13 and someone whos out of sight, out of mind in El Salvador. A bill which sought to reinterpret New Zealands Treaty of Waitangi, signed between Maori tribal leaders and the British Crown in 1840, has failed in parliament by 11 votes to 112. The second reading on April 10 of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill concluded more than a year of contention over the legislation. The defeat was a foregone conclusion. The only votes in favour came from members of the far-right ACT Party, which initiated the legislation. ACT is part of the coalition government with the National Party and NZ First, but both these parties declared early on they would support the bill through its first reading but no further. The bills primary objective was to stoke racial divisions as a means of diverting social anger in the working class over the governments escalating attacks on living standards and public services. It also served to distract attention from its support for the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza and the huge increase in military spending in preparation for joining a US-led war against China. The Treaty of Waitangi helped to facilitate the conquest of New Zealand by British forces; it falsely promised that Maori would be able to keep their land and have all the same rights as British subjects. It was followed by decades of war in which the land was forcibly seized. The ACT Party has sought to scapegoat indigenous people by falsely claiming that the colonial-era treaty has been interpreted by successive governments since the 1980s to give Maori special rights and privileges. In reality, the only beneficiaries have been a tiny layer of Maori elite, while the vast majority of Maori, an oppressed layer of the working class, are struggling to make ends meet. ACTs bill put forward three principles: 1) that the government has the power to govern; 2) that everyone is equal before the law and has the same fundamental human rights; and 3) that the rights of Maori differ from those of non-Maori only when they are specified in legislation, Treaty settlements, or other agreement with the Crown. ACT leader David Seymour speaking at Waitangi [Photo: Facebook/David Seymour] In what TVNZ described as a fiery debate in parliament, ACT leader David Seymour declared that the bill should be sent to a referendum because unelected judges, the Waitangi Tribunal and the public servants were defining the principles of the treaty. The idea that your race matters is a version of a bigger problem, its part of that bigger idea that our lives are determined by things out of our control, he declared. For the past year and a half, the libertarian ACT has used the debate over its legislation to portray itself as the party of equal rights for all. This is a transparent fraud under conditions of staggering social inequality. Funded by billionaires and after gaining just 8.6 percent of the popular vote at the 2023 election, ACT has played a critical role in the governments agenda of tax cuts for the rich, savage slashing of public services and attacks on workers rights. The party advocates the privatisation of healthcare, education and other services. ACTs new Regulatory Standards Bill aims to create new mechanisms, similar to those being implemented in the US, to prevent laws and regulations from impacting private property rights, productivity and profit-making. Parliament took more than 300,000 written submissions and requests for 16,000 oral submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill, the largest response to proposed legislation ever received. The Justice Select Committee released a 45-page report which recommended it not proceed after written submissions were 90 percent opposed and oral submissions 85 percent opposed. Among those who addressed the select committee to oppose the bill were key representatives of the ruling class, including former Labour Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and National ex-leader Jenny Shipley. After the bill was voted down, most MPs stood and applauded and, accompanied by observers in the gallery, sang a Maori song in celebration. This billhas been absolutely annihilated, declared Hana-Rawihti Maipi-Clarke, the Maori Party MP whose traditional haka, or challenge, in the house during the first debate gained widespread social media coverage. Mass opposition to the bill erupted last November, when around 50,000 people rallied in Wellington outside parliament chanting Kill the Bill. This reflects considerable sympathy for the plight of ordinary Maori who are vastly over-represented in all the statistics on poverty, poor health, low educational attainment and rates of imprisonment. The opposition parties which led the protests, buttressed by Maori nationalists and the middle-class pseudo left milieu, channelled them into the defence of the Treaty of Waitangi and appeals for social cohesion. Labour, the Greens, Te Pati Maori (Maori Party) and the pseudo-left International Socialist Organisation (ISO) all sought to keep growing anti-government sentiment within the framework of capitalist politics by portraying the Treaty as the means to end racism and inequality. This involved a wholesale coverup of the essential fact that New Zealand society is deeply riven by class oppression. People were encouraged, among other activities, to display posters in their windows emblazoned with the words Together for Te Tiriti. The slogan falsely portrays the treaty, written by the British Empires representatives nearly 200 years ago to pave the way for the conquest of New Zealand and for capitalist property relations, as the guarantee of national unity and stability in the twenty-first century. The main organiser of the protests, Te Pati Maori, has no base in the working class but represents a privileged layer of tribal capitalists and glorifies the treaty while demanding a racialist system of Maori self-government. MPs who opposed the bill all invoked national unity. Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the grubby little bill was a stain on our country. He declared: What I do take pride in is the way New Zealanders have come together over the last six months to say loud and clear This is not us, this is not Aotearoa New Zealand. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, for the National Party, said: Our country is not so fragile that we cant stand a debate about the role of Te Tiriti. National had opposed the bill because it sought to impose a particular interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi by simple majority and referendum, which was a crude way to handle a very sensitive topic, he said. The middle class radicals joined the nationalist jamboree. Kassie Hartendorp from the ActionStation protest outfit told the E-Tangata website that Seymour wanted to replace the court-established Treaty principles with ACT Party policy and create a mandate to weaken our constitutional law. In fact, the various pieces of legislation and rules that make up New Zealands unwritten constitution are the product of lawmaking by the capitalist class. They are not ours. The Treaty, which was derided for over a century by Maori activists as a fraud has been elevated since the 1970s by successive governments as the countrys founding document and used as a means of suppressing any united working-class rebellion against deepening assaults on jobs and living standards. The Treaty has also been used as a mechanism for creating a privileged layer of Maori capitalists. In the name of providing redress for the crimes of colonisation, including sweeping land confiscations, hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds have been handed out to the tribal leaders to create profitable businesses. The so-called Maori economy is currently estimated to be worth over $NZ70 billion. The manner by which racialist identity politics has been used to divide the working class and buttress a privileged indigenous layer is sharply revealed in the case of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO). With the public health system in extreme crisis and thousands of nurses, doctors and lab workers striking, the NZNO has released a reactionary report falsely claiming that white people have benefited from healthcare policies and demanding increased recruitment of Maori nurses while opposing immigrant workers. The divisive positions promoted by the trade unions and pseudo-left groups have only played into the hands of the far-right, which is now fomenting racism and bigotry and attacking democratic rights. The populist NZ First has taken the lead in following Trump with a so-called war on woke, demanding an end to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) in the public service, and making unsubstantiated claims that jobs have been awarded based on race. The demise of ACTs Treaty Principles Bill is not going to stop the right-wing race-based agitation, particularly amid the escalating social crisis, deepening unemployment and attacks on the working class. Seymour, who takes over as deputy prime minister next month, responded to the vote by declaring: I accept that theyve decided on this particular bill at this point in time. He then said there were lots of options for continuing, and the partys approach would be made clear before the next election. Watch this space, Seymour warned. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player A section of the April 19 rally in New York City The latest round of mass demonstrations against the Trump administration which took place Saturday, April 19, in more than 700 cities and towns across the United States, marks an important development in the growing resistance to the threat of fascism. Exactly 250 years after the battles of Lexington and Concord, which initiated the American Revolution, hundreds of thousandspossibly approaching 1 milliontook to the streets to voice their anger against the modern-day tyrants and would-be kings, Donald Trump and Elon Musk. From New York and Chicago, to rural Iowa and small-town Tennessee, the demonstrations once again revealed not only the breadth but the deepening radicalization of opposition to Trump and the capitalist system he represents. The most striking feature of this weekends protests was their more militant character compared to previous anti-Trump demonstrations. While the overall turnout was smaller than the April 5 protests, which drew an estimated 3 million people in over 1,500 protests, the sentiments of those who participated Saturday were further to the left, with many expressing a more conscious opposition to the Democratic Party and a growing recognition of the historical parallels between the fascist regimes of the 1930s and Trumps efforts to establish a dictatorship today. These demonstrations unfolded in open defiance of the official 50501 protest leadership, which in February became connected to the Political Revolution group closely associated with Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Party. The scale of the April 5 demonstration shocked and terrified the entire political and media establishment, who barely commented on them, as well as the leaders of the protests themselves. Behind the scenes, the Democratic Party undoubtedly exerted pressure on the 50501 leadership to try to cancel the planned April 19 protests. On April 9, the group issued a statement to this effect on its social media channels, declaring, We just arent doing a big national push and instead encouraging people to host picnics, visit libraries or conduct other apolitical activities. This provoked widespread anger and was met with mass defiance by those who protested Saturday. Significantly, not a single leader of the Democratic Party has commented prominently on the April 19 demonstrations, with none attending or speaking at the major protests. While attempting to take over the protests behind the scenes, all factions of the Democratic Party view any such mass opposition with fear and hostility. This includes both official left Democrats, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have remained silent on Saturdays protests which they did not attend. Instead, through their Fighting Oligarchy tour, the two have sought to corral opposition back behind the Democratic Party. At a campaign event last week in Idaho, Sanders revealed his true colors when he allowed police to remove pro-Palestine protesters from his rally, shortly after he declared, Israel has a right to defend itself. Also notably absent Saturday were any leading officials from the trade union bureaucracies, which have fully adapted themselves to the Trump administrations unprecedented attacks on the working class, above all, through the mass firing of over 100,000 federal workers. In recent weeks, United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain has repeatedly backed Trumps tariffs policy, which is unleashing a trade war that will devastate the American and international working class. The near-total absence of any of these reactionary forces generated a more concentrated left-wing atmosphere at Saturdays protests, with many denouncing the role of both capitalist parties in facilitating the rise of fascism. As one protester in New York City told the World Socialist Web Site: Were in the place that we are in now, not just because the Republican Party has been supporting someone like Trump, but also because the Democratic Party has been allowing them to do that. They benefit from this as much as the Republicans do. Theyll never let you know that, but they do. The two-party system is a good way to descend into fascism. She added: People like to make America out to be a middle class country, and we are not. We are a working class country. The majority of people in the United States are working class. We deserve rights no matter what our income is. We deserve the basic necessities to live. This growing radicalization was not limited to New York. In both Detroit and Lansing, Michigan, Socialist Equality Party members addressed the crowd, receiving loud applause when they denounced the Democrats for enabling Trump and called for a turn to the working class and socialist politics. At most protests, opposition to Trump and the Democrats was connected to a deep-going revulsion with the bipartisan support for the Gaza genocide. Many demonstrators dressed as Founding Fathers to mark the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, with many consciously evoking the heritage of both the American and French Revolutions. One sign declared, They want to give us Germany 1939, well give them France 1789. Protesters were acutely aware of and hostile to the Trump regimes increasingly fascist attacks on democratic rights, immigrants and the entire working class, with signs at every demonstration referencing the illegal arrest of legal resident Kilmar Abrego Garciaseized without due process and deported to the brutal CECOT prison in El Salvador. As one protester told the WSWS: Kilmar is the canary in the coal mine. They just grabbed this guy. Hes a legal resident of Maryland. If they can do it to him, they can do it to everyone else. Numerous protesters correctly identified CECOTwhere Trump has also illegally deported hundreds of Venezuelan migrantsas a modern-day concentration camp. Just this week, in a White House meeting with fascist Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump declared his intention to deport tens of thousands of American citizens to CECOT, encouraging Bukele to create a network of massive concentration camps for this purpose. The deepening radicalization visible in Saturdays protests, while significant, still remains at an early stage. Above all, the protest movement lacks a broader historically grounded socialist consciousness, which can only develop through the systematic building of a revolutionary party rooted in the working class. Analyzing the significance of the April 5 protests and the growing opposition to Trump, the Socialist Equality Party stressed: As of yet, it lacks a clear political program or organizational expression. The working class has not intervened in the situation as an independent and conscious force. Under conditions in which the union apparatus supports Trump and the Democratic Party offers no real opposition, the emergence of mass resistance has taken an initial and largely spontaneous form. However, this very spontaneity underscores the urgency of political clarification. The working class must be armed with an understanding of the real nature of fascismnot as an individual aberration but as the product of the historic breakdown of the capitalist system. The enemy is not only Trump and the Republicans, but the entire capitalist state, including the Democratic Party, the union bureaucracy and the financial oligarchy that rules America. This assessment applies as well to the April 19 demonstrations, which largely lacked a clear leadership or orientation to the working class. But objective events are inevitably radicalizing broad sections of workers and youth, whose economic standing and basic democratic rights are being dismantled virtually overnight as the American ruling class hurtles towards dictatorship. At protests across the US, including in New York City, Chicago, Detroit, San Diego, Seattle, Washington D.C., and other cities, demonstrators warmly received Socialist Equality Party campaign teams distributing thousands of copies of the SEP statement, Build a socialist movement to stop Trumps dictatorship! The statement concluded: The fight against fascism and dictatorship is inseparable from the fight against capitalism. This requires the independent, organized and conscious intervention of the working class, armed with a revolutionary socialist program. The working class today is larger, more globally interconnected, and more powerful than ever before. Its radicalization is an objective process, driven by the crisis of capitalism itself. But this objective strength must be transformed into conscious political action. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) are building the revolutionary leadership needed for this historic task. The critical task is turning to a serious study of politics and the assimilation of the history of the socialist and working class movement, above all, the experience of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which first brought the working class to power. On May 3, the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) are hosting the International May Day Online Rally, titled Socialism Against Fascism and War. All those entering into struggle against Trump and the threat of fascism should make plans to attend this rally, whose central aim is to unify workers and youth throughout the world, develop socialist consciousness, and lay the foundations for the building of a revolutionary socialist leadership in the international working class. Attend and help build the International Online May Day Rally! Join the Socialist Equality Party! Take up the fight for a world without exploitation, war, or dictatorship! Second shift change at Toledo Jeep plant The World Socialist Web Site has encountered many workers who are confused by the promotion of economic nationalism by UAW President Shawn Fain, who claims that the tariffs on imported autos and auto parts imposed by President Trump will benefit American autoworkers. One worker on layoff from the Stellantis Jeep assembly plant in Toledo recently wrote to the World Socialist Web Site. We post below the letter and the reply by the WSWS. I am on indefinite layoff, not because of the tariff but due to mismanagement! Stellantis was the problem and their management long before the tariff. Companies took advantage of the free trade and it needed to be corrected/fixed long ago! My opinion is do it now so the US has a brighter future in manufacturing later! It will strengthen out sooner or later! On the record; I dont like Trump and didnt vote for him but I do believe in the tariff to be corrected! - TB *** Dear TB, Thank you for your comment to the World Socialist Web Site. You raise important questions relating to tariffs and the strategy needed to oppose the layoffs that are taking a devastating human toll on the lives of workers. In numerous statements, UAW President Shawn Fain has claimed that President Trump has made history by imposing tariffs on auto imports that will create thousands more jobs. Fain claims that the onslaught on auto jobs began in 1994 with the enactment of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Lets examine these arguments. While the UAW tells workers to Buy American, the truth is there is no such thing as an American car. All vehicles made today are the product of the collective labor of workers in many different countries. Take the Jeep Gladiator, built in Toledo. While final assembly takes place in Ohio, components come from all over the world. For example, engine and transmission parts are produced at the Etobicoke Casting Plant in Toronto. The eight-speed automatic transmission (ZF 8HP) is designed by ZF Friedrichshafen AG in Germany and assembled in Mexico. Other engine components and stamping parts are produced at the Saltillo Engine Plant in Mexico. Many of the electronic parts come from Asia, including Japan, China and South Korea. This worldwide division of labor has created a highly integrated global working class. To fight transnational corporations, the working class must adopt an international strategy, uniting workers across borders in a common fight against the employers. This requires a fight against all forms of nationalism, which lines up workers behind their own gang of corporate owners against workers in other countries. The only progressive solution to the conflict between the global economy and the nation state system is for the working class to become masters of the banks and giant corporations and organize production on a rational, planned and international basis to meet human needs, not private profit. This means a fight against the pro-corporate and nationalist trade union bureaucracies and the building of democratic rank-and-file committees in the plants and work places as part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. These committees will overthrow the bureaucrats and bring the power onto the shop floor to determine the best fighting policy for the workers. They will enable the workers all across the country and internationally to exchange information, network and coordinate their struggles against the internationally organized auto companies and banks. Fain parrots Trumps claims that massive tariffs will not cut US exports, severely disrupt supply chains and lead to new waves of layoffs of autoworkers in the US. You are no doubt aware that Stellantis has already announced 900 US layoffs as part of thousands of new job cuts in North America, in the wake of Trumps tariff war announcements. Shawn Fain (left) and Donald Trump. [AP Photo] Supposedly, the tariffs will force the auto bosses to reshore production in the US, leading to an increase in good-paying and secure US auto jobs. In fact, as many economists admit, the trade war will sharply reduce markets in a downward spiral toward recession and even depression. Moreover, to the extent that the auto bosses open up new plants in the US, they will be highly automated, and the relatively few jobs they create will be even more intensely exploitative that those that presently exist. As long as ownership of the plants remains in the hands of the capitalist bosses, the impact of reshoring will be turned against the workers and used to increase profit margins. What are the broader implications of the trade war policy enacted by Trump and promoted by Fain? Trump has made clear that national security is at the center of his tariff policy. Driving the tariffs is Trumps America First policy, aimed at creating a Fortress America to take on its economic rivals, in the first place, China. This is behind his calls to seize Greenland, the Panama Canal and even make Canada the 51st state. He has also threatened military intervention in Mexico. The scale of Trumps tariffs, imposed on supposed friend and foe alike, is tantamount to an act of war. The promotion of economic nationalism by the United Auto Workers has always been bound up with support for US militarism. Fain often boasts of the World War II role of the UAW as part of the Arsenal of Democracy and has posed for photos wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a B-24 bomber. For its part, the White House has reposted Fains statements in support of tariffs. It is for good reason that Joe Biden praised the AFL-CIO and UAW bureaucracies as his domestic NATO. Support for tariffs and protectionism by the UAW is aimed both at diverting the anger of workers over job cuts toward workers in other countries and covering up the real source of the attacks on jobs and living standards, the capitalist profit system, which the UAW defends. Fain and the UAW bureaucrats are well aware that trade war will further reduce their dues base and threaten the cash hoard they use to finance their six-figure salaries and padded expense accounts. So they are seeking to convince the ruling elite, including the military, of their utility in suppressing the resistance of workers and policing them in order to carry out a military conflict with China or other rivals to US capitalist global hegemony. A central aspect of the World War II Arsenal of Democracy that Fain neglects to mention is the war-time no-strike policy that the union leaders imposed on the rank and file. Paying for these new wars requires the dismantling of all remaining social programs, such as Medicare and Social Security, and the impoverishment of the working class. One of the lies promoted by Trump is that tariffs are paid by foreign countries. In fact, tariffs are an indirect tax on consumers, paid by workers and their families through higher costs on goods. Trumps attacks on democratic rights, mass deportations and the crackdown on free speech in violation of the First Amendment are aimed at enforcing this fascistic agenda, which lacks popular support. These same illegal methods will be used to suppress strikes and other forms of protest. Economists have long understood that a major factor in the depth and persistence of the Great Depression was the passage of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in 1930, which precipitated a collapse in global trade. Policies of national autarchy, or self-sufficiency, were bound up with a massive growth in militarism, sowing the seeds for WWII. As in the 1930s, the logic of economic war leads to world war. Why this seemingly mad drive toward a potentially civilization-ending world war on the part of the Trump administration? The rise of Trump is the product of a profound crisis of US capitalism. Trumps tariffs are shattering the last remnants of the economic arrangements that were set up following WWII aimed at preventing a repeat of the disastrous trade wars of the 1930s. Central to the arrangements set up at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in 1944 was the central role of the US dollar as the world reserve currency. This was based on the then-unchallenged industrial supremacy of the United States, reflected in its vast gold reserves. Over the last 80 years, that economic domination has deteriorated, calling into question the central role of the US dollar in global finance. In fact, following repeated multi-trillion-dollar bailouts of Wall Street and the banks, the US is essentially bankrupt, sitting on $36 trillion in debt and running a $1 trillion annual trade deficit. Increasingly, the American capitalist class has made its vast profits not from the production of useful goods, but from financial speculation and manipulation. This process of parasitic financialization has culminated in Trumps government of, by and for the billionaire oligarchy, and its promotion of semi-criminal forms of speculation such as crypto-currencies. This is what Fain is backing with his promotion of Trumps tariffs. Fains claim that the decimation of auto jobs and US manufacturing began in 1994 with NAFTA is a lie. In fact, an assault on the jobs and living standards of autoworkers has been underway at least since the late 1970s. One only has to recall the closure of Chrysler Dodge Main in Detroit, GM Fleetwood, Cadillac and scores of other factories. The deindustrialization of vast areas of the US Midwest during the 1980s was a deliberate policy pursued by Corporate America with the full support of both the Democratic and Republican parties. This was aimed at weakening the working class and lowering its living standards. The result was a vast enrichment of Wall Street bankers and financiers and a massive growth of social inequality. At the same time, advances in technology accelerated the process of global economic integration and the rise of transnational corporations. These changes, which had the potential to improve the lives of workers, were used instead to drive down living standards by pitting workers in the US against workers in lower-wage areas. All of this began long before NAFTA. The enactment of NAFTA was part of the effort by the United States to establish a North American trading bloc targeting its chief economic rivals. At the same time, NAFTA was used to intensify the exploitation of workers in the US as well as in Canada and Mexico. But instead of fighting for a strategy to unify workers across borders, the UAW advanced a nationalist strategy aimed at bolstering US automakers by cutting wages and boosting productivity in order to supposedly save jobs. At the same time, the UAW blamed foreign workers for stealing American jobs. Politics has a logic. While Shawn Fain claims that he opposes Trumps attacks on immigrants and student activists, the fact that he is supporting Trumps economic nationalist agenda means the UAW is lined up behind a fascistic administration that is preparing for global war. The WSWS calls on the working class to take industrial and political action in defense of its interests independent of the two corporate-controlled political parties. A real fight to defend jobs must be based on a global strategy, uniting workers in the US with our working class brothers in Canada, Mexico and beyond. This requires the building of rank-and-file committees in every factory and workplace to transfer power from the UAW apparatus to workers on the shop floor. We call for the development of a politically independent movement of the working class to fight for a workers government and socialism. The Australian federal election is marked by popular hostility to the major parties and their bipartisan program of austerity and war. There is also growing opposition to capitalism and an attraction to socialism among significant layers of workers and youth. In that context and amid a breakdown of the capitalist system globally, key questions are posed. What is a socialist perspective? How is it fought for? And most importantly, which political party advances that fight? The Socialist Equality Party states bluntly that the Victorian Socialists and their election campaign have nothing to do with socialism or the interests of the working class whatsoever. Based on its history, political program and class character, the Victorian Socialists can only be described as a political trap, whose function is to prevent the development of a genuine socialist movement of the working class, directed against the entire political establishment and the capitalist system itself. In terms of its history, the Victorian Socialists (VS) derives from a political tendency that broke from the world socialist movement decades ago. It represents, not the working class, but a grasping layer of the upper-middle class, which seeks to advance its own privileges within the framework of the profit system. Politically, VS promotes and seeks to subordinate workers and youth to the chief props of capitalismLabor, the Greens and the union bureaucracy. VS was established in 2018 by the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative (SAlt) organisation. In elections since then, it has received small but notable votes numbering in the thousands, including in working-class areas of Melbourne, a sign of the growing attraction to socialism. The 2025 VS campaign has received some prominence, including in the corporate media, based largely on its selection of social media celebrity Jordan Van Den Lamb as its lead candidate for the Senate in the state of Victoria. Jordan Van Den Lamb speaks at Victorian Socialists campaign launch [Photo: X/Victorian Socialists] Van Den Lamb, who goes by the moniker PurplePingers, has a following on social media platforms based on short videos documenting different elements of the housing crisis. Until recently a senior lawyer representing the federal government, Van Den Lambs content has generally promoted individual and anarchistic solutions to the housing disaster, such as squatting. He only seems to have begun vaguely referencing socialism last year prior to the announcement of his candidacy. However, such references to socialism, by Van Den Lamb and VS, are simply window-dressing, with no connection to the policies they are advancing in the election. Their program is confined to milquetoast reformism. There is no suggestion of mobilising the working class, but instead it consists of appealing to the powers-that-be to implement various palliatives, within the framework of the existing socio-economic order. The most striking feature of the VS campaign is its parochialism. A state-based organisation, with a state-based name, VS and its candidates have virtually nothing to say about the world. And this under conditions where the world is already at war. Amid a grab bag of demands and slogans, there is a pro-forma reference to opposition to the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and to the AUKUS military pact involving Australia, the US and the UK. But VS says nothing, whatsoever, about the fact that the globe is closer to a world war than at any point in the past 80 years, with a hot war raging in Europe, between the US and NATO on the one side and Russia on the other, the prospect of conflagration throughout the Middle East and advanced US-led preparations for war with China. The silence of VS on these immense dangers dovetails with the official election campaign, which is aimed at chloroforming the population and covering up the reality that whatever the outcome on May 3, the working class is confronted with a historic crisis of capitalism that is leading to a return to the barbarism of the 1930s, from genocide, to all-out trade war, militarism, fascism and dictatorship. Reformism in an era without reforms That reality completely refutes the reformist line of VS. What is on the agenda is not reform, but social counter-revolution. That involves the gutting of working-class living standards and the destruction of social services, a policy being implemented not only by fascistic figures such as Trump, but by every capitalist government. This includes the current Labor government, which has presided over the sharpest reversal in working-class living standards of the post-World War II period. The real agenda of whichever party comes to office is being outlined every day in the financial press, which insists on the need for sweeping structural reform and a productivity drive, codewords for austerity, amid a decade of forecast deficits, an underlying economic slump and the immense volatility produced by Trumps trade war. As with the question of war, VS covers up this basic dynamic. Its program is a grab bag of limited social measures, including taxing corporations, a five-year rent freeze, price caps on food and electricity, building 1 million new public housing units, and putting politicians on a workers wage. While speaking about the need to put people over profits, and occasionally raising that ultimately the only solution is socialism, VS candidates emphasise that such demands are eminently achievable, including within the framework of capitalism. Their program does not even call for the nationalisation of the largest banks and corporations. It demands the renationalisation of the Commonwealth Bank, leaving the other three largest financial institutions unscathed, except to call for a portion of their funds to be invested in socially useful areas. Even Australias billionaires, largely composed of mining barons and vultures of the housing crisis, get off rather lightly, facing the prospect, not of expropriation, but of a ten percent tax on their wealth. The description of this program as reformism is something of a misnomer. It is far less ambitious than the policies advanced by social-democratic parties in an earlier period of history, always on paper and with the aim of preventing a revolutionary movement of the working class. It is largely identical to the policies outlined by the Greens. And as with the Greens various social demands, the VS policies have the character of a wish-list, aimed above all at winning votes. In his corporate media appearances, Van Den Lamb is indistinguishable from a Greens politician, frequently shelving even the pretence of socialist phraseology, and holding up as models to be emulated such things as greater rental rights in Europe. Promoting illusions in the Greens and union bureaucracy At the VS election launch, Van Den Lamb was particularly candid about the orientation of VS to the existing political establishment. He promoted illusions that, not only the Labor Party, but even the Liberal-Nationals, could be pressured into granting social reforms. We know that the ruling class will never ensure that our basic needs are met out of the goodness of their hearts, he stated. They only respond if we threaten them. If we build this movement, we can win. And thats not because Labor or Liberal will suddenly grow a conscience, its because theyll be forced to. That is no less a fraud than the phoney campaign promises of Labor and the Liberals alike. These are parties of the banks and the corporations, which are and will implement the dictates of the financial markets. As the attacks on democratic rights by the outgoing Labor government make clear, from its attempts to criminalise pro-Palestinian protests, to its placement of the construction union under quasi-dictatorial state control, the response of the next government to opposition from below will be state repression and authoritarianism. VS is once again peddling the fraud that Labor is a lesser-evil to the Liberals, when they have identical policies on all fundamental issues. At the same time, it promotes the Greens as allies to be worked with. On his Instagram page, Van Den Lamb has said that he likes the Greens, there are socialists within the Greens and that some of their policies are nice. The entire thrust of the Greens election campaign is to form a coalition government with Labor, with its leader Adam Bandt repeatedly emphasising that it is placing no conditions whatsoever on the establishment of such a big-business government. Another strand of the VS orientation to the political establishment is its uncritical promotion of the union bureaucracy. VS hails the unions as our organisations of struggle, to be built and strengthened. But these are corporatised entities, completely under the dominance of a bureaucracy tied by a thousand strings to Labor and the corporations. The union officialdom has played the key role in suppressing the struggles of the working class, not just over the past three years, but over the past four decades. A pro-imperialist tendency One of the only international issues raised by the VS campaign is Israels genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. But as with everything else, this question is put forward only to stoke illusions in the viability of pressure politics. For the past 18 months, VS and SAlt have, together with the Greens, dominated the mass anti-genocide protests. There they have peddled the fraud that Labor could be pressured to end its complicity in the mass slaughter, through endless appeals and pressure. But VS and SAlt continue the same bankrupt line, not only on the genocide, but on the housing crisis and every other issue. The objective function of this line is to demobilise the working class and block it from entering the path of independent struggle. The subordination of the anti-genocide movement to the very government supporting the atrocities is simply one expression of the hostility of VS and SAlt to the fight to build a genuine anti-war movement, which of necessity must be directed against Labor, the political establishment and the capitalist system that is the source of war. In reality, VS and SAlt are pro-imperialist tendencies. For more than a decade, they supported the US-led regime change operation in Syria, presenting this imperialist intervention as a revolution. Even after this operation resulted in the establishment of an Al-Qaeda linked dictatorship, VS continued to hail it, with one of its candidates Omar Hassan travelling to Syria earlier this year to provide breathless reports whitewashing the US-aligned Islamist regime. VS and SAlt have similarly backed the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. They have covered up the fact that Russias reactionary invasion was deliberately provoked by the US, with the aim of inflicting a massive defeat on Moscow. And they have presented the US puppet regime in Kiev as an exemplar of democracy, when it is in fact a fascist-infested dictatorship subservient to imperialism. In this region, VS and SAlt have for years downplayed the possibility of a US-led war with China, while at the same time lining up with the imperialist propaganda to legitimise a military build-up by falsely presenting Beijing as the aggressor. The pseudo-left versus a genuine socialist perspective These positions are not an error, but express definite class interests. SAlt derives from a tendency that broke from the world socialist movement, the Fourth International, in the post-World War II period. It rejected the revolutionary role of the working class and the fight for its political independence, instead orienting to other forces, particularly the pro-imperialist social democracy. In the decades since, organisations such as SAlt have become the political representatives of an affluent layer of the upper-middle class. Ensconced in the top echelons of the public sector, the union bureaucracy and academia, this layer advances its own privileges within the framework of capitalism, including through the use of identity politics based on race, gender and sexual orientation. VS is a thinly-veiled attempt by SAlt to gain a foothold in the political establishment, including through collaboration with the Greens and the union bureaucracy. VS representatives are candid that their ultimate aim is to win a seat in the Victorian state parliament, which they present as an entrance into the big-time world of official politics. This is the antithesis of the fight for socialism, advanced by the Socialist Equality Party. Together with our international co-thinkers, we are sounding the alarm on the threat of world war, fascism, dictatorship and social counter-revolution. We are telling the working class the truth: The election will resolve nothing whatsoever, and will be followed by stepped-up attacks on social and democratic rights. The critical issue is building an independent movement of the working class, directed against every other party and capitalism itself, based on a socialist and revolutionary program. Join and support the SEPs campaign to take up this fight. Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia. Malaysia is banning single-use plastic bags at parks, nature reserves and retail outlets in a nationwide push to fight pollution, officials announced last week. The ban will take effect at forest reserves, national and state parks, marine parks and geological heritage sites, according to Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. It will also extend to permanent commercial premises such as supermarkets, petrol station convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and pharmacies. Nik Nazmi made the announcement after chairing the years first meeting between environment ministers and state executive councilors. Implementation will vary across states depending on their readiness and capacity, he said, emphasizing that flexibility is key to ensuring smooth enforcement. He also pledged closer coordination between federal and state authorities to crack down on illegal electronic waste processing operations, which continue to pose a serious environmental threat. KENNEBUNK, Maine Kennebunk Cares Closet officially closed its doors on Saturday, April 12. While many are saddened by its departure, theres comfort in knowing the beloved clothing program thrived five years longer than expected, thanks to the dedication of its lead volunteers, Jack and Mary Bates. The Bateses took over the operation, located in the basement of a local church, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At that time, the program was run by local educators who were grappling with their own set of pandemic-related challenges within their profession. They were terrific, Jack Bates said. But when COVID hit ... they just didnt have the time to keep it up. Jack Bates opens one of the bins of donated shoes and sneakers that will find a new place for distribution, now that Kennebunk Cares Closet, the service that he and his wife, Mary, offered for the past five years, is officially closed in Kennebunk, Maine. Jack and Mary, who had been volunteering for the program for a few years, did not want to see Kennebunk Cares Closets door close, so they stepped in and continued providing those in need with clothes that had been donated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fast forward to 2025. According to Jack Bates, the church needs the basement space that it had been providing Kennebunk Cares Closet to host its classes and other programs. Before anyone thinks that is an unfortunate step for a church to take with a program known for helping the greater community, Bates is quick to make an important point: the demand for the service that Kennebunk Cares Closet provided has dropped significantly in recent years. If we were going gangbusters, Im sure we could have talked them out of it, Bates said, regarding the churchs hope for reclaiming its classroom space. Congdon's Doughnuts legacy lives on: Here's what new owners have planned Kennebunk Cares saw demand dwindle over the years There are a couple of reasons for that downturn in demand, according to Bates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One, the program never returned to its pre-pandemic strength, given the impacts of that global health crisis on volunteerism and other factors. Getting donations and filling orders became difficult, especially with social workers staying home and schools shutting down for remote learning. The avenues through which needs were conveyed had become limited. COVID killed us, Bates said. Case in point. The program hit its peak of service between September and December of 2019, on the eve of the pandemic, when it filled 1,170 orders. After that, it was on the way down, Bates said. This year, in four months, weve only had 50 families. Jack Bates is seen here among bags of donated clothes that will find a new place for distribution, now that Kennebunk Cares Closet, the service that he and his wife, Mary, offered for the past five years, is officially closed in Kennebunk, Maine. Another reason for the drop in demand in recent years was that other organizations and programs have stepped up in neighboring communities to help fill the continued need people have for donated shoes, coats, and other clothes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maine Needs, a nonprofit based in Portland, is one of them and the one to which Bates encourages people to contact if they wish to donate clothes or need some to wear. The organization has distributed more than one million donated items of clothing in its time and boasts more than 2,500 volunteers. Maine Needs is the biggy, Bates said. They have everything. Bates said their remaining inventory of clothes and shoes soon will find their way onto peoples backs and feet. Weve made sure that where it all goes will be a nonprofit that nothing will be sold, or anything like that, Bates said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: York Beach's Nevada named one of the 'Best New Hotels in the World' by Esquire Kennebunk Cares: Answering the call when needed most In its last few months, Kennebunk Cares Closet had three volunteers: Jack and Mary Bates, and a woman named Sheryl. The program, however, has a long list of volunteers who worked hard and made a difference over the years, according to Bates. While Jack Bates is sad to see Kennebunk Cares Closets door close, he said it feels wonderful to have helped so many people over the years thousands and thousands of families, as he put it. It feels good, he said. Very gratifying. He and Mary are both retired he, as a salesman for Sears & Roebuck, she as a coder at the former Goodall Hospital in Sanford and Kennebunk Cares Closet proved a good match for them in their post-work life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had fun doing it, Bates said. It was a lot of work a lot more work than you think. Say you got 20 bags of donations, for example. Bates said he and Mary and others would go through them and often determine that only five of them might have clothing fit for providing to others meaning, no holes, no stains, no missing buttons, no broken zippers, you name it. We made sure everything was wearable nothing that youd be ashamed to wear, he said. Kennebunk Cares Closet did not just help people in town. The program helped everyone everywhere. When asked how far-ranging the programs reach extended, Bates could not answer precisely, but he recalled once helping a family of seven from as far away as Oxford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont know, he said. From wherever a request came in, we filled them. If you filled out a request in an email, we filled it. We didnt ask any questions. There were no qualifications. If you wanted it, you got it. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kennebunk Cares Closet closes its doors after helping thousands ANTIOCH, Tenn. (WKRN) At least one person was seriously injured Monday afternoon following a shooting that occurred along Murfreesboro Pike. According to Metro Dispatch, officers were sent to the 4000 block of Murfreesboro Pike at approximately 1:10 p.m. to respond to reports of a shooting. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The Metro Nashville Police Department told News 2 that the victim was shot by someone he knew and sustained critical injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities added the victim was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to receive treatment. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com It remains unclear if a suspect has been identified or taken into custody. No additional details were 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. (FOX40.COM) A 60-year-old woman is dead and a 51-year-old person is in the hospital after a head-on crash on Sunday in Sutter County, according to the California Highway Patrol. Video Above: What to do if you witness a crash Yuba-Sutter CHP said they received reports of a crash around 9:50 a.m. on Live Oak Boulevard, south of Rednall Road. Officers determined that the 51-year-old driver of a Toyota was traveling southbound, while the 60-year-old driver of a Chevrolet was traveling northbound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Chevrolet illegally crossed over the solid yellow line into the southbound lane to pass traffic and crashed head-on with the driver of the Toyota, according to CHP. 23-year-old dead after shooting in Stockton The driver of the Chevrolet was pronounced deceased on-scene and the driver of the Toyota was transported to the hospital with major injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. NORWALK, Conn. (WTNH) Fire crews were dispatched to 15 Lockwood Lane for reports of a structure fire Sunday afternoon. At about 2:51 p.m., crews arrived to the scene. Officers said they found heavy smoke in the front of the house on the first floor and a fully involved fire in the kitchen towards the back of the home. Norwalk Fire Department Norwalk Fire Department Norwalk Fire Department Norwalk Fire Department Crews said they attacked the fire as it started to move to the second floor. It took two attack lines and 26 firefighters to control and extinguish the flames, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters conducted primary and secondary searches on all of the floors in the house; both were negative. Crews also conducted horizontal ventilation. Home catches fire in Wethersfield, 1 person displaced Norwalk Fire Department crews said many birds perished in the flames and The Red Cross is assisting one person who has been displaced. No injuries were reported and the incident is under investigation by the Norwalk Fire Marshal Division. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) One suspect has been arrested in connection with a burglary reported at Edge Apartments. Youngstown State University Police Lieutenant Adam Skovira said Corey Squiric, 19, was booked into the Mahoning County Jail on Sunday and charged with two felony counts of burglary, according to court records. Squiric is set to be arraigned in court later Monday afternoon. Skovira said he expects the other suspect to turn himself in on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not provide any more information on the details of the burglary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. **Related Video Above: violent crime statistics MANSFIELD, Ohio (WJW) A person was transported to a hospital and another was taken into custody after police were called to a reported stabbing Monday afternoon. Mansfield police said they were called to the 600 block of Heritage Trail just before 12:30 p.m. and learned on scene there had been a domestic disturbance, leading to a stabbing. Dad sues Madison Local Schools, claiming son was punished for Lets Go Brandon shirt Police did not say how severe the victims injuries were, other than that they were hospitalized. Charges have not been announced for the suspect in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Streetsboro man charged with trying to kill relative on Easter Sunday Those who may know anything regarding the stabbing are asked to call detectives at 419-755-9432. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When it comes to helping you save the most money possible on your next trip for groceries, there is a reason why an estimated 136 million people globally purchase a membership to shop at Costco supermarkets. Stocking a combination of diverse and high quality fresh, frozen, and canned food and beverages, Costco is the perfect place to buy ingredients or pre-made meals in bulk to help you keep food on the table. To provide value for money to customers, Costco emphasizes offering goods in bulk, which in turn requires large supply chains. However, the substantial stocking requirements for each of its 627 store locations across 49 U.S states means that when a product is found to be defective, contaminated, or dangerous, massive product recalls are required. As Costco approaches nearly 50 years of helping American families with their groceries, here is a list of the biggest Costco product recalls that have ever happened and the reasons why. Read more: 7 Costco Kirkland Brand Frozen Meals, Ranked Worst To Best Kirkland Signature Ground Beef Products (1998) Nine packages of the Kirkland Signature Ground Beef. - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images As the oldest entry to be featured on this list, the 1998 Kirkland Signature ground beef recall was not only one of earliest but also largest product recalls throughout Costco's history. While you can't find any official FDA recall notices regarding this incident online, reporting by Reuters in 1998 archived by the Los Angeles Times reveals all the key details of the incident. Due to a E.Coli contamination, over 172,000 pounds of ground beef was eventually disposed of. This discovery was originally made after an elderly woman in New York became sick from eating this ground beef at a barbecue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirkland Signature ground beef products were recalled from 24 states, including Kirkland 6-pound packages of ground sirloin and loin of beef patties, boxes of individual -pound frozen patties, Kirkland Signature ground beef patties, and boxes of 24 individual -pound frozen patties. This recall sparked doubts from the FDA and public alike after seven other people who attended the same barbecue came forth stating they did not get sick from consuming the Costco beef. Furthermore, later testing and analysis found no traces of the E.Coli contamination. Regardless, Costco made sure to offer full refunds to customers who purchased ground beef products during June of 1998. Rotisserie Chicken Salad (2015) A shelf containing five boxes of Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad. - Sarah Bisacca/Tasting Table The rotisserie chicken is hands down one of the best items you can add to your cart while shopping at Costco. In 2015, however, this Costco staple became the focus of an investigation for an E.Coli outbreak. Reported to have began on November the 3rd of 2015, the E.Coli outbreak resulted in 19 individuals becoming sick across seven states. 16 of these individuals were found to have consumed Costco rotisserie chicken salad in the week prior to developing symptoms, and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) concluded Costco Wholesale stores were the most probable source of the outbreak. Due to this E.Coli outbreak, five people were hospitalized while two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe blood disorder. In response to the outbreak, Costco voluntarily recalled all its rotisserie chicken salads stocked across the country, while the provider of the onion and celery blend in the salad (Taylor Farms Pacific) voluntarily recalled the blend being used in other products at the time. After Taylor Farms Pacific voluntarily submitted its vegetable blend for further laboratory analysis, it was concluded to have not contained the E.Coli bacteria. After pulling rotisserie chicken salads from shelves, the FDA continued to advise all Costco customers to dispose of their rotisserie chicken salads to avoid infection. Various Kirkland Signature Butters (2024) A shelf of boxes containing Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter. - KK Stock/Shutterstock In November of 2024, Costco was forced to recall a staple of its in-house brand, Kirkland Signature: Signature unsalted sweet cream butter and Signature salted sweet cream butter. The reason why Costco needed to recall these creamy sticks of butter wasn't because they contained anything out of the ordinary, but simply because the product failed to declare it contained milk on the allergen label. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To operate within the regulations outlined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), all food products sold in supermarkets are required to list major allergens on the packaging, such as shellfish, tree nuts, and of course, milk. While it may seem obvious that a stick of butter would contain milk in its ingredients, Costco was mandated to recall all Kirkland Signature butter distributed throughout the state of Texas. In total, the Kirkland Signature butter recall resulted in over 2,000 cases of salted and unsalted butter being removed from Costco store shelves, equivalent to nearly 80,000 pounds of butter. As food allergies can lead to potentially life-threatening allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, Costco did the right thing by expediently retracting its butter from Texan warehouses. Kirkland butter sticks with this allergen labelling defect had best by dates between February 22, 2025 and March 29, 2025. Genova Tuna In Olive Oil (2025) Boxes of Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil stacked on top of each other. - The Image Party/Shutterstock In February of 2025, Tri-Union Seafoods recalled the Genova yellowfin tuna in olive oil being sold in major supermarket chains including Trader Joe's, Walmart, and of course, Costco. Unlike the first entry on this list however, these 7 ounce cans of fish posed a much more significant threat to consumers. After shipping the Genova yellowfin tuna in olive oil, Tri-Union suppliers discovered the 'easy to pull' can lids would sometimes result in the product's seal being compromised. This manufacturing defect resulted in many of the tins leaking liquid, and more significantly, this posed a high likelihood of the can's contents being contaminated with clostridium botulinum, more commonly referred to as 'botulism'. While a rare bacterial disease, botulism is a form of food poisoning where the toxins attack the body's nervous system. Botulism in most cases causes people to experience blindness, muscle fatigue, respiratory difficulties, paralysis, and in many cases, death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortunately, this manufacturing mishap wasn't recorded to have affected any of the other Tri-Union canned fish product lines, as the Genova yellowfin tuna in olive oil was the only product featuring the easy pull lids. If you do find you still have one of these cans on your shelf, you are able to return it directly to Costco or order a retrieval kit from Tri-Union Seafoods. Costco locations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and North Carolina were exclusively stocking this product. Foster Farms Frozen Chicken Patties (2022) A value pack of Foster Farms Chicken Patties on a white background. - Steve Cukrov/Shutterstock Foster Farms is doing something right when it comes to its frozen chicken products. While its chicken tenders continue to make their way into the trolleys of many Costco customers, those who purchased the Foster Farms Frozen Chicken Patties in 2022 might have been in for a shock. Produced on August the 11th, these pre-cooked, breaded chicken patties were found to have contained "extraneous materials," more specifically, shards of clear plastic. Once the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was alerted to the presence of the hard plastic contamination, an immediate product recall was issued for these 80 ounce plastic bags, each containing 20 chicken patties. Distributed in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington, an estimated 148,000 pounds of chicken was recalled from Costco warehouses in total. However, FSIS declared it was possible this product was shipped to additional store locations across the U.S. with low stock. During this recall, a major concern for both Foster Farms and FSIS were that Costco customers may be storing these bags of chicken patties in their freezer in bulk, unaware of the danger they could pose to their health. While no injuries were reported from these contaminated patties, FSIS urged all Costco customers to look in their freezers for Foster Farms products with a best by date of Aug. 11, 2023. Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Strawberries (2023) A bag of Kirkland Signature organic strawberries sitting on a marble kitchen counter. - Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock After an outbreak of the hepatitis A virus was traced back to products distributed by four major fruit companies, grocery chains including Costco were required to recall a series of products containing the fruit. In March of 2023, California Splendor Inc. (Kirkland Signature's supplier) recalled 4 ounce bags of the Kirkland Signature organic strawberries, affecting Costco Wholesale stores in Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona. In the same year, Scenic Fruit Company, Willamette Valley Fruit Co., and Wawona Frozen Foods issued similar recall notices for products containing strawberries after an extensive investigation by the FDA and CDC concluded the hepatitis A outbreak originated on farms located in Baja California, Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A contagious liver disease, hepatitis A poses a serious threat to public health globally. At the time of the recall, nine patients had already been hospitalized in California, Oregon and Washington due to exposure to the organic strawberries shipped from Baja California, Mexico. While most cases of hepatitis A resolve in several weeks or months, extreme cases lead to liver failure and even death within 15 to 50 days. Being vaccinated post exposure can prevent symptoms from developing, so all customers who had been in contact with the contaminated strawberries were encouraged to consult doctors for medical advice. Kirkland Signature Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs (2024) The Kirkland Signature Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Egg Packaging with the best by date associated with the salmonella outbreak. - Laura Magone/Facebook Kirkland Signature eggs are a consistently loved product at Costco, offering plenty of nutrition and value for money. But one thing people often know about farm-laid eggs (apart from all the different ways you can cook them) is that they can be contaminated with the disease salmonella. Salmonella originates on the shell of the eggs, due to fecal matter from chickens that may contain salmonella bacterium. Potentially fatal for young children, the elderly, or immunocompromised individuals, salmonella commonly leads to symptoms such as fevers, nausea, and in rare cases, aneurysms. In November of 2024, Handsome Brook Farms reported the contamination of eggs supplied to Costco for its Kirkland Signature brand, labeled and sold as Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs. A voluntary recall was issued. Handsome Brook Farms stated that the contaminated eggs were mistakenly packaged and distributed to 25 store locations in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. While fortunately no illnesses were reported from the Kirkland Signature Eggs, 10,800 units were recalled by Handsome Brook Farms in cooperation with the FDA, meaning that nearly 300,000 individual eggs were removed from Costco warehouses. Other Kirkland signature egg products were unaffected by this massive recall, and customers were urged to return their 24-Count Eggs to their nearest Costco store for a full refund. Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt Vanilla Bean (2023) Five cups of the Ellenos Real Greek Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt. - JJava Designs/Shutterstock Ellenos Real Greek LLC produces a range of delicious Greek yogurts stocked by Costco. In April of 2023 however, variety packs of the Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt containing 12 4 ounce cups of various flavours were recalled after the discovery of a packaging defect. Upon customers opening the blue tin foil lid of Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt cups, they were found to contain a layer of bright, yellow puree on top. Inadvertently, the Ellenos Real Greek Lemon Curd Greek Yogurt had been packaged as the Vanilla Bean variant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While for some this would just be a surprise, the lemon curd contains eggs (which the Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt does not). As such, it posed a threat to customers with an egg allergy. Since the packaging did not disclose eggs on the allergen label, this mishap could lead to people with severe food allergies experiencing life-threatening reactions. In coordination with the FDA, Ellenos Real Greek LLC initiated a full recall of Ellenos Real Greek 12 cup variety yogurt packs. CEO John Tucker in an official statement shared Ellenos Real Greek LLC would fully cooperate with distributors and retail partners to ensure these products were disposed of appropriately. All variety packs were removed from Costco shelves and warehouses in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, but it is unclear exactly how many cups were disposed of in total or how many individual store locations were directly impacted. Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon (2025) A shelf containing Kirkland's Signature Smoked Salmon. - The Image Party/Shutterstock While smoked salmon is an excellent choice of protein to buy at Costco, Kirkland Signature smoked salmon remains the focus of an ongoing product recall. After laboratory testing by the FDA confirmed the presence of listeria monocytogenes on the 21st of October, 2024, the producer of the Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon, Acme Smoked Fish Corporation, issued an official product recall on the 25th of October. As a result, 111 cases of the 12 ounce twin packs of salmon were pulled from Costco stores. Sold in Florida between the dates of October 9 and October 13, 2024, Costco shoppers who purchased smoked salmon were urged to check for a best-by date of November 14, 2024, as consuming listeria monocytogenes leads to the disease listeriosis. In high risk groups, listeriosis can lead to severe illnesses, miscarriages with pregnant women, and in rare cases, fatalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the initial product recall in 2024 would not be the last. Recently, on January 28, 2025, the FDA escalated the Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon recall notice to Class I, the highest risk level for contamination that can be issued. The FDA initiates Class I recalls if the product in question has a 'reasonable probability' of leading to severe health impacts and the potential for death. BrucePac Ready-To-Eat Meat Products (2024) A packet Red's Grilled Chicken Mini Burrito's being held outside a Costco store front. - Red's All Natural The BrucePac ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products are a fantastic way for families and large institutions to cater for big groups. However, in 2024, 11,765,285 pounds of RTE meat was recalled after the RTE meat products were discovered to be potentially contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. once the discovery was made during routine testing of products containing BrucePac RTE meat, FSIS, in coordination with BrucePac based out of Durant, Oklahoma, conducted further investigations and eventually found the RTE chicken to be the source of the contamination, affecting a range of products in major supermarkets. Most concerningly, FSIS expressed a concern that due to the product's nature it may be being used in restaurants, schools and institutions as part of restaurants and dining halls. Later, this assumption was found to be correct; in October of 2024, FSIS began to develop a list of schools who received products containing the BruePac read-to-eat meat and poultry. As the BrucePac RTE meat is present in Costco products such as the Rana meal kits, El Monterey taquitos, and Red's Southwestern Style Grilled Chicken Mini Burritos, all similar products containing BrucePac RTE meat were pulled froms tores to protect customers from potential listeria infection. Furthermore, all customers were urged to check the ingredients labels on goods in their fridges and freezers to ensure they did not contain the BrucePac RTE meat or poultry, and dispose of them if so. Kirkland Signature Colombian Cold Brew Coffee (2023) A can of Kirkland Signature Colombian Cold Brew Coffee on a kitchen counter. - costcofindsca/Facebook As part of the extensive range of Kirkland Signature beverages, the Colombian Cold Brew Coffee stands out for its sleek appearance, affordability, and unique flavors appealing to any lover of caffeine. However, in February of 2023, Berner Food & Beverage recalled approximately 2.7 million cans of the Colombian Cold Brew Coffee due to a possible presence of metal fragments in the product. With best by dates ranging through to October of 2023, cans of the Colombian Cold Brew Coffee posing this risk were distributed to Costco stores in Georgia, New Jersey, California, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Washington, Arizona, Utah, Florida, Colorado, Texas and Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the official product recall notice published by the FDA on the 17th of February, the recall was initiated after the discovery of a metal bolt on one of the cans. Furthermore, as the FDA were unable to verify that this product received a Certificate of Product Registration one of the key requirements for receiving approval to distribute all Colombian Cold Brew Coffee in this shipment were unable to be declared as safe for consumption. While no injuries were reported in relation to the consumption of Kirkland Signature Colombian Cold Brew Coffee, there's no doubt the FDA were ahead of the curve on this recall fearing the damage metal contamination could pose to unaware Costco shoppers. Read the original article on Tasting Table. DENVER (KDVR) The 16-year-old suspected in a deadly double shooting outside a mall in Fort Collins will be charged as an adult, Fort Collins Police Services announced Monday morning. Two men were shot outside the Foothills Mall at about 5 p.m. on April 5 in what police called a gang-related shooting. Those men were later identified after they died as Ivan Arreguin, 37, and Luis Angel Arreguin, 27. Sister of Fort Collins shooting victims calls them good brothers, hopes for justice Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police announced the next day they had arrested a juvenile suspect in connection to the shooting. Police on Monday identified that boy as 16-year-old Bryan Gallegos, saying the Eighth Judicial District Attorneys Office has decided to charge him as an adult. He faces the following charges: Class 1 Felony Murder in the first degree (2 counts) Class 2 Felony Attempted murder in the first degree Class 1 Misdemeanor Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon Class 2 Misdemeanor Possession of a handgun by a juvenile prohibited Anyone with information on the shooting can contact Detective Matt Dean at 970-221-6580 or remain anonymous by calling Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Does it feel like your favorite snack foods are getting smaller and smaller while prices stay the same? You're not imagining it. This phenomenon -- known as shrinkflation -- is very real and it's been happening longer than most people realize. With rising production and sourcing costs, we understand the reasoning behind shrinkflation -- but that doesn't make it right. Nobody wants to feel duped. But when you open that beloved snack to discover a downsized product, that's exactly how you feel. You're getting charged more per unit, and big businesses are banking on customers not noticing these gradual reductions. However, a YouGov survey revealed that 72% of US consumers noticed shrinkflation in food products and many are displeased. Even Cookie Monster took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to declare, "Me hate shrinkflation! Me cookies are getting smaller." Sadly, cookies are just one of the many products affected. While a handful of companies are forthright about these changes, most keep their shrinkflation tactics under wraps. This lack of transparency doesn't sit well with consumers who are left wondering which snacks have been quietly downsized. Well, we've done some digging and uncovered 16 snacks that have apparently shrunk over the years. Read on to know more about these downsized items or simply confirm your suspicions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 7 Must-Buy Aldi Items For First-Time Customers Oreos individual Oreos stacked in front of Oreo cookie package - Adhinda Rachma/Shutterstock Most companies don't openly announce a size decrease -- especially when it isn't followed by a price decrease. Instead, shoppers notice these changes over time, which is what presumably happened with Oreo cookies. On a Reddit thread dedicated to shrinkflation, customers wondered, "Do all Oreos just have way less filling now?" Another consumer said, "Even the double-stuffed ones are a disappointment nowadays. Bare minimum amount of filling to be considered a good cookie." We can't back up their claims that there's less filling. However, another Redditor's photo proved the total contents of Oreo's Double Stuf Family Size packages have decreased. One bag weighed 566 grams while the second bag weighed 530 grams. While there's nothing you can do about package resizing, you can always opt for Oreos with more filling like Mega Stuf Oreos or the Oreo Loaded. Our review of the Oreo Loaded described this cookie as the perfect balance between wafer and creme, and luckily, this newer addition is here to stay. Pringles Pringles canisters lining grocery store shelf - TY Lim/Shutterstock Have you stared down the barrel of a Pringles canister recently? For starters, you'd notice it's far from fully loaded. Consumers have also claimed the canister and chip size have decreased over the years. This isn't solely a nationwide issue, either. On a Reddit thread, customers noticed a sharp decline in product size worldwide. One shopper shared, "It went down from 195g to 165g where I live." On a similar thread, another consumer noted, "Here in Brazil they went from 140g to 128g and now to 104g in a matter of weeks!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shrinkflation of Pringles is nothing new. Taiwanese news outlet TVBS noticed Pringles shrinking as far back as 2016. The outlet compared the "NEW" Pringles design alongside its predecessor, showing how the updated model contained 24 grams less -- not to mention they were an entirely different color. While it's natural to switch up recipes and packaging over time, downsizing is just disappointing. And that catchy tagline of "Once you pop, you can't stop," only rings true if there are enough to keep going. Pepperidge Farm Cookies shelf lined with Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies - Richard Levine/Getty Images Pepperidge Farm is known for its baked goods, from delicious frozen coconut cake to multiple bread varieties. However, it's the brand's cookies that are under serious heat for shrinkflation. OZFM reports that Pepperidge Farm Milano cookie packages went from 6.25 ounces to 6 ounces -- and customers have noticed. On Facebook, one customer explained, "I have recently returned to purchase my beloved Milano Orange Chocolate cookies and found that it's smaller in the packages." The company followed up by asking for the bar code and date, leading customers to believe it was a one-off incident. But sadly, this experience was shared by several others. Another Redditor said, "Remember when Mint Milano cookies used to have actual layers of delicious mint and chocolate? Now they're half as thick and you can barely taste any mint or chocolate." Similar comments were made about the brand's Brussels cookies, which offer a thin layer of rich velvety dark chocolate sandwiched between two crisp biscuits. Aside from buying an extra bag of these cookies, there's not much you can do to make up for the loss. Because, hey, when it comes to shrinkflation, that's just how the cookie crumbles. Ritz Crackers Ritz Crackers display at grocery store - Walter Cicchetti/Shutterstock Once upon a time, a one-pound box of Ritz Crackers cost 19 cents. Mind you, this was just after the Great Depression when these crackers were touted as "an affordable taste of luxury." Nowadays, you'll pay closer to $4 for a much smaller box, which appears to be getting even tinier with the times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Grocer reports that Ritz Crackers sold in the UK have shrunk by 30%. The 200-gram boxes previously lined store shelves were replaced by 150-gram Original and 140-gram Cheese Ritz Crackers. The news outlet reached out to Mondelez, the company behind Ritz along with many shrinking snacks. A spokeswoman confirmed the claims, stating "We are continuing to experience significantly higher input costs across our supply chain...as a result of this difficult environment, we have had to make the decision to slightly reduce the weight of some of our products." Regardless of the reasoning, customers are feeling salty about these shrinking snacks. On Reddit, disgruntled shoppers have exclaimed, "What a ripoff!" and "I gave up on them." Ben & Jerry's grocery store display with Ben & Jerry's ice cream - calimedia/Shutterstock Ben & Jerry's has always been an outspoken ice cream brand. The company prides itself on ethics, and ultimately, Ben & Jerry's doesn't care if you like its politics. As such, you can imagine our surprise that it was among the brands shrinking their snacks. But unlike other companies, Ben & Jerry's announced its size decrease, which only took place in Canada -- and for good reason. In Canada, Ben & Jerry's ice cream tubs were originally 500 ml, but in 2022, the company decreased them to 473 ml. In other parts of the world, Ben & Jerry's pints have always been just that - pints, meaning 473 ml. We're unsure why Canada's consumers were treated to extra ice cream, but props to Ben & Jerry's for addressing the issue head-on. The company cited increased sourcing costs as the reason, but despite honesty, the decision came with unsavory side effects. In Canada, snacks below 500 ml are considered single-serving items and are taxed at a higher rate. So while the company didn't jack up prices, Canadian consumers are still paying more. Haagen-Dazs handheld Haagen-Dazs ice cream in front of grocery store freezer - The Image Party/Shutterstock You can't technically call Haagen-Dazs tubs "pints" because they're not a full 16 ounces -- although they used to be. In 2009, Haagen-Dazs shrunk its standard ice cream containers from 16 to 14 ounces, per NPR. The brand cited rising costs as the reason, but that didn't stop Ben & Jerry's from criticizing the competition. The Vermont-based ice cream company said, "Now more than ever, you deserve your full pint of ice cream." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Ben & Jerry's, Haagen-Dazs recently downsized its Canadian ice cream pots. In 2025, Canadian Haagen-Dazs went from 500 ml to 450 ml. Meanwhile, a U.K. shopper shared on the Money Saving Expert Forum that the nation's 460 ml tubs have been downsized to 420 ml. The company assures consumers that recipes haven't changed. So while tubs may be shrinking, Haagen-Dazs still delivers on quality. The brand came in second in our rankings of the best vanilla ice creams and the best cookie dough ice creams. Frito-Lay Chips grocery store display with variety of Frito-Lay chips - MDV Edwards/Shutterstock According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED, the average cost of potato chips is steadily climbing. At the beginning of 2020, 16 ounces cost $4.49. Five years later, that number reached $6.47. These price-per-unit increases are due to companies like Frito-Lay, who are known to shrink their snacks over time. CNN reported that Frito-Lay-owned brands like Tostitos and Ruffles have been consistently shrinking their products over the years. Despite a half-hearted attempt to reverse its shrinkflation, the corporation has returned to its old antics. People have noticed downsizing in recent months and one gas station attendant did the math and posted their findings on Reddit. Since they're responsible for handling chip deliveries, they observed the difference between older and newer stock. "The old bags are 2 5/8 oz, while all of the new ones are 2 1/4 oz. Same price, but 3/8 oz less chip in every bag," they wrote. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Reese's Peanut Butter Cups package by unwrapped two cups - Philip Kinsey/Shutterstock There's no wrong way to eat a Reese's -- but it might take you less time than it used to. According to X user MJSwart, the standard Reese's package was 51 grams in the 80s compared to 42 grams today. Each package contains two candies, so a single Reese's peanut butter cup rings in at 21 grams. If you want a larger bite, reach for the Big Cup. This newer offering is 1.4 ounces per cup and comes in the original flavor along with Caramel and PB&J. Unsure where to start? Read our Reese's Big Cups PB&J review, where we share our honest opinions about the Strawberry and Grape varieties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The standard cup is just one of the Reese's sizes affected by changes. An Allrecipes study (via Yahoo!) dug into several snack foods for signs of downsizing. Of the ones analyzed, party-sized Reese's miniatures shrunk the most. In 2019, bags of miniature Reese's were 40 ounces and cost 22 cents per ounce. In 2024, bags were 35.6 ounces and cost 37 cents per ounce. Kellogg's Cereal Kellogg's Froot Loops and Apple Jacks cereal boxes at grocery store - Walter Cicchetti/Shutterstock Are you plowing through cereal faster than ever before? Chances are, your appetite isn't bigger; the contents are just smaller. In 2024, The Guardian shared the results of a Deakin University investigation into Kellogg's shrinkflation. The Australia-based study found that seven Kellogg's brand cereals had decreased since 2019. Guilty brands included Sultana Bran (aka Raisin Bran), Crunchy Nut, and Froot Loops. Prices also increased, making the price-per-unit exponentially higher. Most of the time, you'd have to see two cereal boxes side-by-side to compare the difference. However, some shoppers immediately picked up on the shrinking Kellogg's boxes. Consumers aired their grievances on Reddit, noting that the company used a "deceptive way to hide package shrinking." The boxes maintained the same height but were far skinnier. "The boxes are all really skinny now, they won't stand up on their own." Since the downsized contents aren't noticeable from the front, shoppers grab them without noticing. And once they arrive home, those skinny boxes don't quite stand up alongside their predecessors. Cadbury Chocolates selection of Cadbury chocolates bags including Twirl Bites and Giant Buttons - Andrew E Gardner/Shutterstock Cadbury Dairy Milk came in last in our ranking of the best milk chocolate bars, namely for its cheap quality and lack of cocoa flavor. However, Cadbury products are made with slightly different recipes across the pond and are said to taste superior. They also vary in size depending on the country. But regardless of location, Cadbury products seem to be shrinking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to CNBC, the classic Dairy Milk Bar dropped from 49 to 45 grams in 2012. And sadly, the downsizing didn't stop there. The Grocer reports that in 2023, bags of Giant Buttons became considerably less "giant," shrinking by 23%. The vanishing act has affected numerous other products including Twirl, Crunchy Rocks, Bitsa Witsa, Twirl Bites, and Oreo Bites, per the Daily Mail. And in 2024, a Redditor claimed that Cadbury's Dairy Snack went from 250 grams to 180, a whopping 28% decrease. Meanwhile, another Reddit user shared a photo of a significantly smaller Creme Egg. Chobani Yogurt three different flavors of Chobani yogurts - Tomas_mina/Getty Images Chobani produces a wide range of yogurts, including classic Greek, dairy-free varieties, and Yogurt Flips. The brand prides itself on using natural ingredients and maintaining a strong ethical code. So, why are they accused of shrinkflation? Because throughout the years, they've shrunk the contents of yogurt cups without decreasing prices. In 2014, CNBC reported that some of Chobani's yogurt cups went from 6 ounces to 5.3 ounces. Giovanni's chief marketing and brand officer, Peter McGuiness explained that most competitors already used the smaller 5.3-ounce cup. "We kind of wanted to be more consistent with ourselves and the category." Considering they didn't change the price, they likely wanted to be more profitable as well. In 2022, MPR News also shared that Chobani's Flip cups shrunk from 5.3 ounces to 4.5 ounces. The silver lining? It's not the only -- or best -- Greek yogurt available. Despite its popularity, Chobani ranked fairly low on our list of the best and worst grocery store Greek and European-style yogurts. So if you're looking for that dense, rich yogurt flavor, opt for another brand whose sizes and prices are more consistent. Wheat Thins hand holds Nabisco Wheat Thins in grocery store aisle - ZikG/Shutterstock Mondelez struck again, but this time targeting our favorite crispy wheat squares. According to Quartz, Wheat Thins Family Size boxes slimmed down from 16 ounces to 14 ounces, while their reduced fat sibling shrunk from 14.5 to 12 ounces -- apparently deciding to reduce more than just fat. The article shared that Mondelez representatives confirmed the reductions, but didn't detail the reasoning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a common tune for Mondelez across its snack empire: suddenly trimming portions, while maintaining similar packaging and prices. But as the amount of chips in each bag decreases (and the air noticeably increases), customers are taking note. One frustrated Redditor explained, "They went from 300 grams to 200 now to 180." Another chimed in, "The box is seriously only 1/3 full. It's ridiculous." Follow-up comments encouraged consumers to stop buying the product in hopes that the company would reduce prices or increase the product's content. Tillamook Ice Cream hand holds Tillamook ice cream in front of grocery store display - ZikG/Shutterstock Tillamook has churned up some controversy in the ice cream world. While the brand is guilty of shrinkflation, it's serving it with a scoop of honesty. In 2021, the beloved creamery openly announced the reduction of ice cream containers from a generous 56 ounces to a slimmer 48 ounces while keeping the price unchanged. This 8-ounce reduction means consumers are paying more per spoonful for their favorite frozen treat. Tillamook took the transparent route by explaining that the reduction was necessary to balance rising costs, without passing that financial burden to consumers. Nobody enjoys getting less ice cream for their dollar, but Tillamook's straightforward approach has softened some of the typical consumer frustration. There are many items that are getting more expensive at the grocery store including other sweet snacks like chocolate and yogurt. Although we aren't fans of shrinkflation, we do hope other brands follow Tillamook's transparent lead. Ultimately, getting a heads up on these price increases helps us have compassion for businesses and plan our budgets accordingly. Keebler Cookies Keebler Chips Deluxe Rainbow M&M's cookie package - Keith Homan/Shutterstock Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Apparently, Keebler's production elves. The company has been quietly downsizing its products over the years. According to Money Talks News, Keebler's standard cookie package went from a satisfying 11.3 ounces to a more modest 9.75 ounces. The supposed family-size packages took an even bigger hit, dropping from 17.2 ounces to 14.6 ounces. Even the beloved E.L. Fudge Elfwich cookies were affected, losing 1.6 ounces per package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This appears to be yet another example of a big-name brand hoping consumers won't notice they are getting less while paying the same -- or more. In addition, consumers are noticing the company is skimping on certain ingredients. A diligent Redditor crunched the numbers, calculating that 75% of their Keebler Chips Deluxe Rainbow M&M's cookies had less than three M&M's. Earth's Best Organic Sunny Day Snack Bars Earth's Best Organic Sunny Day Snack Bar boxes on store shelves - The Image Party/Shutterstock When it comes to shrinkflation, reducing a snack size by a fraction of an inch is a good way to fly under the radar. Consumers barely notice when your cookies are slightly smaller or their chips a touch thinner. But there's nothing subtle about removing an entire bar from a multi-pack, which is exactly what happened with Earth's Best Organic Sunny Day Snack Bars. According to NPR, these popular kids' treats underwent downsizing in 2022, dropping from eight bars per box to just seven. If you didn't notice the shrinkage, you might blame your kids for sneaking extra snacks before dinner time. After all, we couldn't find a formal press release detailing the change. And when NPR reached out for a comment, the brand's owner, Hain Celestial Group, didn't respond. We assume they underwent the same dilemma as many companies: sourcing issues, increased production costs, and decreased profit margins. Snickers Snickers candy bars piled up together - Samohin/Getty Images Snickers are one of the most filling candy bars on the market and they still deliver on that promise to "satisfy" -- even if they've shrunk throughout the years. Because as it turns out, America's favorite candy bar has been shrinking since at least the 1980s. In an interesting Reddit post, someone shared that they'd acquired an 1980s time capsule that included a decades-old Snickers. Placed alongside today's version, the size difference is immediately apparent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the New York Post, the shrinking Snickers even made its way into political discourse in 2024 when President Joe Biden referenced the candy bar as a prime example of shrinkflation, claiming it decreased by 10%. Mars pushed back against these claims, insisting the bars haven't been downsized -- but the damage was already done. Nobody wants to feel ripped off, especially if they've been loyal Snickers consumers for decades. This highlighted the emotional connection consumers have to candy because when it comes to Snickers, it's not just about sustenance, but childhood nostalgia. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout. Court documents reveal that immigration officials kept a 19-year-old U.S. citizen from New Mexico behind bars for around 10 days until a judge granted his release Thursday. The teen, Jose Hermosillo, told local news station AZPM that he and his girlfriend had been visiting family in Tucson, Arizona, before the incident. He told the outlet that, at one point, he got lost on foot, and thats when Border Patrol picked him up. The mistaken arrest comes as President Donald Trumps ongoing assault on all forms of immigration has led to reports of mistaken detentions and at least one mistaken deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The details of Hermosillos story are scant and conflicting: A criminal complaint says that the officers detained him near Nogales, Arizona, which is around an hour south of Tucson by car. But Hermosillo told AZPM that he had never been to Nogales. The complaint states that the teen was detained April 8 after admitt[ing] to illegally entering the United States of America from Mexico on or about April 7, 2025, at or near Nogales, Arizona at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officials. It describes him as a citizen of Mexico. U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria S. Aguilera dismissed the case against Hermosillo during a morning hearing last Thursday. Grace Leyva, an aunt of Hermosillos girlfriend, told AZPM that family members had to produce his birth certificate and Social Security card for officials as proof of his identity as an American. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did say he was a U.S. citizen, but they didnt believe him, Leyva told the outlet. I think they would have kept him, she went on. I think they would have if they would have not got that information yesterday in the court and gave that to ICE and the Border Patrol. He probably would have been deported already to Mexico. Court records state that Hermosillo was asked whether he wanted to proceed in English or Spanish in court, and chose English. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, said on social media that the narrative being pushed about Jose Hermosillo is false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had actually wanted to turn himself in and completed a sworn statement identifying as a Mexican citizen who had entered unlawfully, she claimed, adding, This arrest was the direct result of Hermosillos own actions and statements. Related... Two men were found with fatal gunshot wounds Sunday on a bare stretch of road in the Antelope Valley, law enforcement officials announced. Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department responded to reports of a traffic collision with injuries just before 9:30 a.m. at a parcel of land near 47th Street East and Avenue V-4 in Palmdale, a LASD news release stated. The location is approximately seven miles from Littlerock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the scene, deputies, along with crews from the L.A. County Fire Department, located the two victims, only described as Hispanic males, suffering from gunshot wounds. Two men were found to death off a stretch of road in Palmdale on April 20, 2025. (Google Maps) Both men were declared dead at the scene, sheriffs officials said. Motorcyclist shot dead by police in Orange County identified Homicide investigators did not say whether there were any damaged vehicles in the vicinity, nor did they provide any information on the victims identities or their relationship to one another. Its also unclear if any firearms or other weapons were found at the scene. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Warning: Disturbing content ahead, including stories involving murder, abuse, and rape. 1.Last month, a woman, Saritha Ramaraju, slit her 11-year-old son Yatin's throat at a motel in Santa Ana, California, after going on a three-day trip with him at Disneyland during a custody visit. It is believed the boy had already been dead for several hours before she called 911, and when police arrived, they found him dead on the motel room's bed among Disneyland souvenirs. According to the Orange County DA's office, "On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the day Ramaraju was scheduled to check out of the motel and return the boy to his father, Ramaraju called 911 at 9:12 a.m. to report that she had killed her 11-year-old son and had taken pills trying to kill herself. Santa Ana police arrived at the motel and arrested Ramaraju on suspicion of murder. A large kitchen knife was found inside the motel room, which had been purchased the day before." Ramaraju has been charged with one felony count of murder. Advertisement Advertisement 2.A motorcyclist died after falling into a massive sinkhole that appeared on a street in Seoul on March 24, 2025. The sinkhole, which was approximately 65 feet wide and deep, opened up during rush hour, swallowing the motorcyclist and injuring a woman whose van was passing over the site at the same time. The motorcyclist's body was found the next morning, still wearing his helmet and motorcycle boots. ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP via Getty Images You can see terrifying footage of the incident here: 3.Speaking of sinkholes, in January this year, a massive sinkhole in Yashio, Japan, "swallowed" a truck and its 74-year-old driver. The hole, initially about 33 feet wide and 20 feet deep, was believed to have been caused by a rupture in an underground sewer pipe, leading to the road's collapse. STR / JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images During rescue efforts, the sinkhole expanded to 130 feet wide, revealing leaking sewage and gas lines, leading to hundreds of households being evacuated. Sadly, after two weeks, rescuers lost contact with the driver, and he was never found. STR / JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement 4.In March, a babysitter in Kansas discovered a man hiding under the bed of the child she was caring for. Trying to ease the child's fears, the babysitter looked under the bed and actually found a man hiding there. During a struggle, the babysitter and one child were knocked over. The man, Martin Villalobos Jr., fled the scene before police arrived. The following morning, Villalobos was apprehended and charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, child endangerment, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer, and violation of a protection from abuse order. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. 5.In 2016, a man who had been stalking Miranda Cosgrove shot at a woman in a car near Cosgrove's Los Angeles home, mistaking her for the actress. Later that day, the man set himself on fire and fatally shot himself in Cosgrove's front yard. Cosgrove was not home during either incident but returned to find her property turned into a crime scene. Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images The 2016 incident left Cosgrove deeply traumatized. She continued to live in the same house but frequently stayed at her parents' home due to safety concerns. Advertisement Advertisement 6.The fact that spiders sometimes "invade the sky" in Brazil and that it's sometimes called "spider rain." You can watch the full video here. 7.The case of convicted murderer David Pearce, who reportedly repeated the chilling phrase, "Dead girls don't talk," during the investigation into his crimes. Pearce was convicted of murdering two women in Los Angeles over three years ago. A self-described nightlife promoter, Pearce was accused by prosecutors of supplying drugs that led to the overdoses of Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola in his apartment. It was further alleged that hours after the women lost consciousness, he "disposed" of their bodies outside separate hospitals. Gabe Ginsberg / WireImage, Court TV / Via youtube.com Advertisement Advertisement The LA Times reported that since his arrest, at least a dozen more women came forward accusing Pearce of sexual assault. He allegedly lured them to his apartment after a night of partying, pretending to be a "Hollywood insider." 8.A woman's arm was deemed "medically unnecessary" by a US health insurance company earlier this year. Elisabeth Foley was vacationing with her family along the Florida Panhandle in June 2024 when a shark attacked her. She attempted to swim to shore but was bitten, suffering severe injuries to her lower body. In an effort to protect her children, she punched the shark in the nose, but it grabbed her left hand and pulled her underwater. When she resurfaced, she discovered that her hand had been severed, with exposed bone visible. She was assisted ashore by family and bystanders, airlifted to a medical center, and underwent 25 surgeries. Inside Edition / Via youtube.com Foley was scheduled to receive a myoelectric prosthetic arm, which responds to electrical impulses from the body, allowing for fine motor functions. However, her insurance company denied coverage for the $73,000 device, deeming it "medically unnecessary." Inside Edition / Via youtube.com Foley and her family initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the prosthetic. Advertisement Advertisement 9.Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, a 23-year-old Florida State University graduate, was murdered on May 7, 2008, during a botched undercover drug operation in Tallahassee. Facing potential prison time for drug charges, Hoffman was recruited by the Tallahassee Police Department as a confidential informant. She was tasked with purchasing large quantities of drugs and a firearm from two convicted felons. Lacking training and experience, Hoffman was sent alone with $13,000 in cash. The operation failed, leading to her abduction and murder. Her body was discovered two days later in Perry, Florida. The aftermath of Hoffman's death led to significant legal reforms. In 2009, Florida enacted "Rachel's Law," which imposes stricter guidelines on the use of confidential informants. 10.In March, Silvanna Moreno, a 9-year-old girl from Vista, California, died just hours after undergoing a dental procedure under general anesthesia. Dr. Ryan Watkins, a licensed dentist trained in anesthesiology, administered the anesthesia and reported no complications during the procedure. Silvanna was discharged in stable condition and remained asleep during the car ride home. She was later found unresponsive in her bed at home, prompting her family to call 911. Despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. Fox 5 San Diego / Via youtube.com The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating the cause of death, and the San Diego Police Department's Child Abuse Unit is involved in the case. Dr. Watkins had previously been placed on disciplinary probation in 2020 for a 2016 incident involving a patient whose heart stopped briefly during a dental procedure. Advertisement Advertisement 11.Three American women Kaoutar Naqqad, Imane Mallah, and Wafae El-Arar were found dead in their hotel room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro, Belize, on February 22, 2025. After some investigation and toxicology reports, it was revealed that their cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. The women had carboxyhemoglobin levels above 60%, significantly higher than normal levels. According to reports, the hotel had previously received high carbon monoxide levels reports, prompting further testing and safety measures. The hotel has since reopened, and measures have been taken to ensure safety after thorough assessments confirmed no further carbon monoxide risks. 12.A man stabbed a woman out of nowhere in broad daylight in the East Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles and it was all caught on horrifying video. You can watch the footage here: 13.In February 2023, a teenager named Jack Snyder was fatally shot in Battle Creek, Michigan, after he offered a ride to two other teenagers, Dewond Estes III and Justice Chimner, who he saw were out walking in the cold. The two teens attempted to carjack Snyder, and during the struggle, Chimner shot him twice. Snyder crashed his car and was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Both teens were charged as adults; Estes pleaded guilty to carjacking, and Chimner pleaded guilty to murder. Chimner was sentenced to 35-60 years in prison while Estes received a blended sentence, an adult conviction with a juvenile sentence, on January 6, and has since been placed under the ward of the Department of Health and Human Services. 14.Back in January, a 10-year-old girl, Yaneliz Munguia, was killed by a stray bullet fired into the air during New Year's Eve celebrations in Miami, Florida. Minutes after midnight, while her family was lighting fireworks outside their apartment, Yanelis collapsed. Her parents discovered a gunshot wound to the back of her head and rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. CBS Miami / Via youtube.com According to NBC 6, "Police believe Munguia was struck by a stray bullet fired into the air by an unknown person and from an unknown location. Detectives are searching for whoever is responsible." 15.The tragic story of Azaria Chamberlain, a 9-week-old baby in Australia who died on August 17, 1980, during a family camping trip near Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock). Her parents, Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, reported that a dingo a wild dog native to Australia took their daughter from their tent. Initially, an inquest supported their account, but public skepticism led to Lindy's conviction for murder in 1982, and she served over three years in prison before being released. Fairfax Media / Fairfax Media via Getty Images However, in 1986, new evidence a jacket matching Azaria's clothing found near a dingo lair led to the overturning of the Chamberlains' convictions. Subsequent inquests, including a 2012 ruling, confirmed that a dingo was responsible for Azaria's death, leading to an official apology and compensation for the family. The Sydney Morning Herald / Fairfax Media via Getty Images The case garnered international attention and has been depicted in various media, including the film Evil Angels (known as A Cry in the Dark in Australia), where Meryl Streep portrayed Lindy Chamberlain. The phrase "a dingo's got my baby" became a widely recognized reference to the case. Cannon Entertainment / Getty Images, Michael Rayner/Fairfax Media via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement 16.The existence of a "mellified man," an ancient medicinal practice that involved mummifying a human body with honey. The process involved an elderly person, near death, eating only honey and also bathing in it until they died. Then, their body would be sealed in a coffin full of honey. Supposedly, after 100 years, this "mixture" would be ingested by people to heal broken bones and cure other injuries. Getty, Tom Nebbia/Corbis via Getty Images 17.In November 2024, a man in Amarillo, Texas killed his 106-year-old grandmother by strangling her to death. Cecilia Ferguson, who lived with her grandson, Michael Ferguson, was found dead in her home under suspicious circumstances. Initially, Michael denied involvement. However, after further investigation, he was arrested and charged with injury to the elderly, which was eventually upgraded to murder. Michael Ferguson, who has a criminal record, was indicted for the murder in Feb 2025. 18.In November 2024, a woman, Stephanie Dowells, was killed during a conjugal visit with her husband, David Brinson, at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California. He reportedly strangled her to death and told prison officers that she had passed out during their visit. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, Dowells was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. KCRA 3 / Via youtube.com The Amador County Coroner later confirmed that her death was a homicide, and Brinson remains the primary suspect in the ongoing investigation. Brinson is currently serving four consecutive life sentences for the 1993 execution-style murders of four men during a robbery in Los Angeles County. Advertisement Advertisement 19.In December 2024, a woman named Debrina Kawam was fatally set on fire while sleeping aboard a stationary train on the NYC Subway. The incident happened at the Coney IslandStillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. Surveillance footage captured the assailant calmly approaching Kawam, igniting her clothing with a lighter, and watching as the flames quickly engulfed her. Despite immediate efforts by officers to extinguish the fire, Kawam was pronounced dead at the scene due to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. NBC New York / Via youtube.com The suspect, identified as Sebastian Zapeta, was apprehended later that day. He was charged with first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and first-degree arson. 20.The existence of the "Jacuzzi of Despair," a perilous and hazardous part of the Gulf of Mexico. This deadly brine pool, which is oxygen-deprived, is a dangerous combination of warm, stagnant water, toxic gases, and decaying organic material that basically kills anything that enters it. FrankRamspott / Getty Images 21.Back in 2005, a teenager in England, Mary-Ann Leneghan and a friend were abducted by a gang seeking revenge for a drug-related robbery. The girls were subjected to hours of torture, including rape and drugging, at a hotel before being driven to Prospect Park, where Mary-Ann was fatally stabbed. Her friend was shot in the head but survived and later testified against the attackers. Six men were convicted for their roles in the crime, with most receiving a life sentence with a minimum of 27 years and some with a minimum of 23 years. Five News / Via youtube.com Mary-Ann's death led to increased awareness and discussions about youth violence and gang activity in the UK. 22.In January, the bodies of two teenage boys were discovered in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue Airbus A320 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The aircraft had arrived from JFK airport in New York, following a flight from the Dominican Republic. The teens, identified as Jeik Aniluz Lusi and Elvis Borques Castillo, were pronounced dead at the scene when they were discovered. According to People, "Mary Schiavo, former inspector general of the Department of Transportation, said that the Federal Aviation Administration has tracked 128 cases of people attempting to hide in plane wheel wells internationally from 1947 to 2020. Over 75% of those attempts ended in death due to the extreme dangers of the wheel well, including hypothermia, oxygen deprivation and the risk of being crushed by landing gear mechanisms." 23.Finally, the fact that this is what the inside of a leatherback turtle's mouth looks like, which is one of the most unsettling things I've seen in a long time. Apr. 20MITCHELL For 24 years, firefighter and paramedic Joe Dolezal served the city of Mitchell and beyond, working every other day to respond to emergencies. Now, Dolezal is retiring and beginning a new chapter beyond the fire service. Fire service and police personnel gathered on Friday, April 18, at the Mitchell Public Safety Building to honor Battalion Chief Joe Dolezal's years of service. The open house celebrated both his career and the friendships he built over the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Twenty-four years of 24 hour shifts is challenging after a while," Dolezal said. Dolezal, 51, has spent 28 years in the fire service. He began as a volunteer in Lake Andes and later served in Chamberlain for two years. In 2001, then-Fire Chief Steve Willis invited him to join the Mitchell Fire Department. Throughout his career, Dolezal served as an EMS educator and field training officer. In 2018, he was promoted to battalion chief. Although retiring from full-time service, Dolezal will continue working part time as a firefighter and paramedic. "Until my wife and I decide to do something else," Dolezal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dolezal will also work as a production manager for CE Construction, which is owned by a former firefighter. He looks forward to spending time with family and not having to work holidays. "I'll go to school and sporting events," Dolezal said. Joe and Jill Dolezal have been together for 16 years and married for eight. She has four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom Joe considers his own. "Whenever the tone would go off, you always wonder, 'Will he come home?'" she said. A traveling nurse based in Rapid City, Jill hopes that with Joe's retirement, they'll have more time to travel, spend time together and tackle the "honey-do" list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Such a big part of his life is closing. He said it didn't feel real until he cleaned his locker out," she said. For the first 10 years of his firefighting career in Mitchell, now B Shift Battalion Chief Chad Cody exchanged greetings with Dolezal every day at shift change. "Joe is a staple in EMS. His knowledge is paramount in the department," Cody said. Firefighter Justin Adams, who has worked almost exclusively with Dolezal since being hired, praised Dolezal's expertise and countless hours of mentorship to all the people Dolezal has educated over the years. "He'll be missed," Adams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 4 p.m. on April 18, emergency services broadcast a tribute to Dolezal. "The fact that you put other people's safety before your own every day for your entire career is a testament to the sort of person you are," a voice over the radio said. "The lives that you helped save and the families that were kept together will be forever grateful." Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details about an imminent attack on Houthis in Yemen in March in a second group chat using the messaging app Signal that included his wife, his brother and his personal lawyer, two sources familiar with the contents of the chat told ABC News. Those details shared in the second chat included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets involved in the pending attack on Houthi positions, according to the officials. The New York Times was first to report Hegseth's sharing of the details in a second Signal group. The sharing of the details reportedly occurred around the same time in mid-March when key members of President Donald Trump's National Security Council, including Hegseth, inadvertently shared details about the March 15 missile strike in Yemen with the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. PHOTO: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosts an arrival ceremony for El Salvador Defense Minister Rene Merino Monroy at the Pentagon in Washington, April 16, 2025. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters) Much of the same content was shared in the second encrypted chat with family members and others -- a chat group that Hegseth had created on his personal phone during his confirmation process, the two officials told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Hegseth, does not work for the Defense Department. His brother, Phil Hegseth, works as a senior adviser at the Department of Homeland Security and is detailed to the Defense Department. Tim Parlatore, Hegseth's personal attorney, works at the Pentagon as a Navy reservist assigned to Hegseth's office. Sean Parnell, chief spokesperson for the Pentagon, responded to reports of the second chat in a statement on X on Sunday night saying in part, "Another day, another old storyback from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trumps agenda." The statement continued, "There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trump's agenda." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Pentagon watchdog launches probe into Hegseth use of Signal chat ahead of Houthi airstrike Sources confirmed with ABC News that the second known Signal chat was originally created to discuss scheduling and administrative information. The Pentagon's independent inspector general is evaluating Hegseth's use of the Signal app "to determine the extent to which the Secretary of Defense and other DoD personnel complied with DoD policies and procedures" to conduct official business, the acting inspector general, Steven Stebbins, said in a notification letter to Hegseth. The Trump administration has repeatedly refuted the idea that any classified information was shared in the first known chat thread; however, several former U.S. officials have contended that the sharing of such information over unapproved channels could at a minimum put troops overseas at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its use to divulge sensitive military operations may complicate ongoing investigations into potential leaks involving the first known group chat, which included top aides and other members of Pete Hegseth's team -- at least three of whom have been since fired in relation to the inquiry. Those officials -- Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick -- have since spoken out against what they say are baseless accusations against them. "At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of 'leaks' to begin with," they said in a joint statement on X on April 19. MORE: What key Trump players in Signal chat flap are saying Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Ullyot, the Pentagon's former top spokesman, on Sunday published an opinion piece in Politico where he described "a month of total chaos at the Pentagon." "From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership," he wrote. "Hegseth is now presiding over a strange and baffling purge that has left him without his two closest advisers of over a decade Caldwell and Selnick and without chiefs of staff for him and his deputy," Ullyot wrote. "Even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon and it's becoming a real problem for the administration," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account," wrote Ullyot. "Given that, it's hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer." Ullyot left the Pentagon late last week after having been sidelined after he controversially defended the removal of Jackie Robinson information from a DOD website. He said earlier this week that he had left the Pentagon on his own accord, while a senior defense official told ABC News that Ullyot was asked to resign. 2nd Signal chat reveals Hegseth messaging about Yemen strikes with family members: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia comes at a time when China and most of the Southeast Asian region are working on strategies to offset the impacts of a new round of high tariffs by the United States on their imports. Apart from China, which has traditionally been the largest source of imports for the US, most Southeast Asian countries are major exporters to the US. With the US administration deciding to "correct the goods trade imbalances" that the US has with its trade partners, the economies that have large trade surpluses with the US have been hit with the highest tariffs. Currently, the US has announced accumulated tariffs of 245 percent on Chinese imports. Also, after the US announced the imposition of reciprocal tariffs on April 2, the tariffs on exports from several US trade partners have increased significantly. Among Southeast Asian countries, Cambodia has attracted the highest tariff hike 49 percent followed by Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, with tariffs of 48 percent, 46 percent and 44 percent respectively. Malaysian goods, meanwhile, face 24 percent tariffs. Although the US administration has delayed most of the tariffs by 90 days, a baseline tariff of 10 percent has been levied since the announcement of the reciprocal tariffs on practically all US trade partners, including the countries mentioned above. Further higher tariffs on specific countries will come into effect after 90 days. In the intervening period, countries are expected to individually negotiate with the US on a variety of mutual tariff and non-tariff market access barriers. The success of these negotiations will determine the eventual country-specific tariffs. Since the beginning of the United States' trade war against China in 2018, Southeast Asia has attracted considerable attention, because of the shifting of a number of investment projects and parts of industry and supply chains from the Chinese mainland to various Southeast Asian countries. The relocation was due to the producers wanting to export goods to the US from locations that didn't attract the kind of tariffs that products from China did. Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are important countries in this regard. Exports from these countries have been getting entry into the US at low MFN (most-favored-nation) tariffs that are about 2.5 percent on most items. In addition, some of these countries have also been enjoying preferential market access through the US Generalized System of Preferences. However, the new set of tariffs will significantly impact the access exports from these countries will get to the US market. Therefore, these countries need to identify new markets and diversify their exports. Reciprocal tariffs introduced by the US are likely to have the wider impact of encouraging more trade diversion from the US market. This is expected to develop into a US plus one strategy. In this respect, the main exporters from Southeast Asia to the US, such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, will look to export more to China. As the world's second-largest economy, China is the most important regional market that Southeast Asian economies will look forward to diversifying their exports. This intention also complements China's efforts to boost domestic consumption, particularly those of imports. Increasing imports from Southeast Asia, particularly through existing trade agreements, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, should be economically beneficial for China. Having access to more inexpensive imports from the region that will meet both its consumption and intermediate input requirements can help China shift more of its domestic production to high-tech areas. More imports from the region will also help support the large online retail market in the country that can source more goods from the region and offer a wider variety to domestic customers. These prospects will also encourage Chinese businesses to expand their capacities in Southeast Asia with an eye to making products for the mainland market. The current volatility in world trade caused by the US tariffs will lead to the realignment of global production networks, the functioning of supply chains and cross-border patterns of regional trade. It is quite likely that one of the most prominent shifts could be increased trade between China and Southeast Asia with several Southeast Asian countries becoming major exporters to China, and Chinese investment further increasing in the region. President Xi's visit to Southeast Asia and his meetings with regional leaders could mark the beginning of this new transition. A French team of archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery - the ruins of a 3,400-year-old Egyptian town near the modern-day city of Alexandria, that was possibly built by the legendary King Tutankhamuns father, Akhenaten. Detailed in a new study published in Antiquity, the mud-brick ruins are believed to date back to Egypts 18th Dynasty (circa 15501292 BCE), a period known for its wealth, power, and dramatic shifts in religious ideology. The site, known as Kom el-Nugus, lies 27 miles west of Alexandria, perched on a rocky ledge between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mariout. Although excavations began in 2013, it was long assumed that the area had only been settled during the Hellenistic period, when the Greeks arrived around 332 BCE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discovery of New Kingdom remains at the site was a great surprise, lead archaeologist Sylvain Dhennin of the University of Lyon and the French National Centre for Scientific Research told the New Scientist. This discovery completely revises the history of Egypts western frontier in the New Kingdom. The ancient settlement likely dates back to Egypts 18th Dynasty (around 15501292 BCE). - Credit: Cambridge University Press A stone block featuring Ra-Horakhty, the god of the rising sun, from the temple of Ramesses II. - Credit: Cambridge Core Among the most noteworthy finds found during the excavation were amphora jar fragments stamped with the name Merytaton, who was believed to the eldest daughter of revolutionary pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen, Nefertiti - and thus making her the sister or half-sister of Tutankhamun. The markings indicate the settlement could have been a wine production facility that may have been dedicated to her, suggesting that royal branding and product endorsements existed in ancient Egypt. "The presence of this stamp probably indicates the production of wine belonging to a royal estate" study author Sylvain Dhennin, an archaeologist with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), told Live Science. "The vineyards on the margins of Egypt were probably protected by the military and formed part of a pioneering front to occupy this region towards the desert." Other discoveries include fragments of a stele bearing the cartouches of Pharaoh Seti II (r. 12031197 BCE), and architectural remnants linked to a temple honouring Ramesses II - a ruler often speculated to be the pharaoh of the biblical Exodus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the full scale of the settlement remains unknown, the presence of a meticulously designed street, cleverly sloped to drain water and protect buildings from erosion, points to a town of significant size and sophistication. Related Other recent ancient Egyptian discoveries The discovery of the settlement adds to a series of major Egyptian archaeological finds this year. Just last month, archaeologists unearthed the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II - the first pharaonic burial site found since Tutankhamuns in 1922. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discovered by a joint British-Egyptian team led by Dr Piers Litherland, the tomb was hidden away in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, near Luxor. The exterior of Thutmose II's tomb, discovered in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, near Luxor. - Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Amel Eweida/New Kingdom Research Foundation Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Court of Antiquities, said in a statement that the discovery was one of the most significant archeological breakthroughs in recent years. Days later, the same team announced they may have located a second tomb belonging to Thutmose II, buried 23 metres beneath a carefully disguised mound of rubble, limestone, ash, and mud plaster. Litherland believes the tomb could contain the pharaohs mummified remains and grave goods. The best candidate for what is hidden underneath this enormously expensive, in terms of effort, pile is the second tomb of Thutmose II, he told The Observer. And earlier this year, a French-Swiss archaeological team in Egypt made another remarkable discovery - the tomb of a high-ranking wizard-doctor who served the pharaohs some 4,000 years ago. Inscriptions identify the tombs owner as Tetinebefou, a celebrated doctor during the reign of King Pepi II (circa 23052118 BC). A crash on I-35W turned into a fight that ultimately shut down a portion of the freeway before three arrests were made on Easter Sunday in Minneapolis. According to Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Mike Lee, the crash happened just after 10:55 a.m. in the southbound lanes of I-35W and 60th Street. As troopers were en route, they were advised that "people were fighting on the freeway" near the crash site. Troopers arrived on the scene and broke up the fight, according to Lee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One trooper was allegedly assaulted by a man involved in the crash. That suspect, a 24-year-old from Minneapolis, was arrested and taken to Hennepin County Jail for pending 4th-degree assault charges. Two other men were also arrested and taken to jail for pending assault charges: a 29-year-old from Chicago and a 26-year-old from Franklin Park, Illinois. Lee said a 20-year-old man, who was a victim of the assault, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. The portion of the highway from I-35W to Highway 62 was shut down for nearly 45 minutes. The suspects in the case have not been officially charged as of Monday afternoon, according to court records. The investigation remains active. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) At least three Haitian soldiers were killed in an apparent gang ambush Sunday in a town on the outskirts of Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince, Haitian authorities confirmed. The area of Kenscoff has been under heavy fire in recent days as Haitian law enforcement have warred with the gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm. It's just the latest explosion of violence as Haitian authorities and foreign forces scramble to rein in gang warfare in the Caribbean nation. Haiti's government in a post on the social media platform X wrote that the soldiers died on the front line ... weapons in hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These soldiers are not just members of our armed forces. They are worthy sons of the Nation, defenders of our sovereignty, whose ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their commitment is a powerful reminder that freedom and security come at a price, and that this price is sometimes paid in the blood of our bravest," wrote the Haitian government in a statement. Local media reported earlier in the day that a military reinforcement mission, traveling in an unarmored car, was transporting soldiers to a conflictive area in Kenscoff, when the soldiers were violently targeted by heavily armed men. Video circulating on social media showed soldiers in camouflage pulling bodies out of the truck. Apr. 21POTSDAM About 400 people protested in downtown Potsdam on Saturday as part of coordinated "No Kings" rallies held throughout the country that day. The date, April 19, was chosen because it's the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, which are considered the start of the Revolutionary War. "That's the time at which we decided we didn't want kings," said Ginger Storey-Welch, who led Saturday's protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have 10 grandchildren and I am really concerned bout their future," she said when asked what motivated her to get involved. "I love this country very much and I love the Constitution. I'm really worried bout the rule of law. I'm realizing how fragile democracy is in a really new way. I didn't realize how fragile it is. It requires citizens participation, so I'm stepping up." Storey-Welch, the vice chair of the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee, said she was impressed with the turnout, given it rained heavily and there had been a similar rally two weeks earlier that drew 500 protesters. "I was a little worried people would come out again. It was pouring rain, too, and people stayed. It was significant," she said. When asked what specifically got her motivated to get involved, she pointed to how the federal government has been abducting and trafficking people who aren't citizens but are either going through legal processes to be here or have a protected status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merwil Gutierrez was abducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York City and taken to an El Salvadoran prison often referred to as CECOT, a Spanish acronym that translates to Terrorism Confinement Center in English. According to news reports, Gutierrez wasn't the target of an immigration raid and when an ICE agent was told that, he reportedly said, "take him anyway." Gutierrez's family maintains that he is not a terrorist and does not have any gang ties. Storey-Welch also pointed to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who has protected status in the United States and was not supposed to be sent back to El Salvador, from where he fled to escape criminal gangs. At the time he was taken to the El Salvador prison last month, he had been living in the United States for more than a decade and was residing in Maryland, along with his wife and three children, who are all U.S. citizens. U.S. officials have since admitted that Garcia was deported due to a clerical error and the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision said he needs to be released and brought back home. Both countries are refusing to take action to free him. "I'm appealed that the El Salvadoran president (Nayib Bukele) can sit in the Oval Office with Trump and said he can't 'smuggle a terrorist back,' when there's no evidence (Garcia) was a terrorist, and Trump just sat there and smirked," Storey-Welch said. "I just don't associate those things with being part of America." She also talked about Jasmine Mooney, a Canadian who had been authorized to work in the U.S. but there was an issue after her visa wasn't properly processed. She went to an immigration office in California and was detained for 12 days in a single cell with 30 other women. She told her story to The Guardian in March and talked about how the experience showed her that immigration detention is a big business with billions of dollars at stake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The reality became clear: ICE detention isn't just a bureaucratic nightmare. It's a business. These facilities are privately owned and run for profit," Mooney told The Guardian. "Companies like CoreCivic and GEO Group receive government funding based on the number of people they detain, which is why they lobby for stricter immigration policies. It's a lucrative business: CoreCivic made over $560 million from ICE contracts in a single year. In 2024, GEO Group made more than $763 million from Ice contracts. The more detainees, the more money they make. It stands to reason that these companies have no incentive to release people quickly. What I had experienced was finally starting to make sense." Storey-Welch said she was "appalled" after reading that. "So many things we've taken for granted: due process, balance of power, freedom of speech. We have to stand up for them," she said. A longtime local activist who has organized prior climate rallies, Storey-Welch stepped up to lead the protest after its organizer, Clarkson University student Ethan Flamand, was unable to attend. During the rally, she read a speech that Flamand had been planning to give. "My friends, those of you who call yourselves an American before you call yourself a Republican, a Democrat, Black, or white, man or woman, join me in spreading this message. Times like this, when the very fabric of democracy is hung in the balance, must unite us across party lines. Times like this must instill in us the courage to abandon our old labels if but for a few elections, and to become, for the most important moment in history, solely and completely American," Flamand's speech said. (NewsNation) Rising inventory and sluggish demand are giving home buyers leverage, pushing more sellers to offer concessions to get deals done. According to a new Redfin report, sellers gave concessions to buyers in 44% of U.S. home-sale transactions in the first quarter, up from 39% a year earlier. The latest figure is just below the 45% record set in early 2023 and double what it was a few years ago in June 2022, when sellers had the upper hand in a red-hot market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americas housing shortage by the numbers A concession is when a seller offers something that lowers the buyers total purchasing cost without reducing the homes list price perks like money toward repairs, closing costs, or mortgage-rate buydowns. Concessions are highest in the Pacific Northwest As with most things in real estate, concessions vary widely depending on location. In Seattle, home sellers gave concessions in 71% of first-quarter transactions nearly double the rate from a year earlier and the highest share among the 24 major metros Redfin analyzed. Condos have become a tougher sell because of skyrocketing HOA fees and insurance, Stephanie Kastner, a Redfin Premier real estate agent in Seattle, said in the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Real estate agent commissions mostly unchanged since new NAR rules Kastner added: Builders are offering concessions because its in their best interest to keep sale prices high; theyre willing to pay buyers closing costs and maybe provide a free washer-dryer if it means they dont have to drop the listing price. Portland, Oregon, was second on the list at 64%, up from 50% a year before. Buyers used to ask for concessions to cover little things like repairs. Now theyre negotiating concessions so they can afford to buy a home, said Chaley McVay, a Redfin Premier agent in Portland. McVay said a lot of sellers are offering money for mortgage-rate buydowns, and she even had a seller cover seven months of HOA fees for the buyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sellers in Atlanta (62%), San Diego (61%) and Denver (59%) also offered concessions above the national average, though those levels are mostly in line with the year prior. Rising concessions are a sign the housing market is tilting in favor of buyers in some parts of the country. The shift has been driven by a trifecta of high home prices, elevated mortgage rates and recent economic uncertainty from Trumps trade war all of which have made buyers nervous. At the same time, sellers are facing more competition from each other with active listings recently hitting the highest level in five years, according to Redfin. Fewer sellers are offering concessions in NYC, Miami In some cities, sellers are feeling less pressure to sweeten deals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last quarter, home sellers in New York City gave concessions to buyers in roughly 6% of home-sale transactions declining nearly 16 points from a year prior and the lowest share among the metros analyzed. The next biggest decline was in Miami, where concessions fell about 13 points from a year earlier to 34%. Concessions also fell in San Antonio, down 11 points to 44%, as well as, Tampa, where they dropped 9 points to 34%. Sellers in Florida and Texas have had more time to get used to a slow market, and have started pricing their homes lower from the get-go, meaning they often dont need to offer concessions, Redfin noted in the report. Nationwide, roughly 16% of homes that sold in the first quarter had a price cut and a concession, up from 13% a year earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Redfins report on seller concessions was based on an analysis of data submitted by Redfin buyers agents across the country, covering rolling three-month periods from 2019 to the present. The region-specific information is based on data for 24 major U.S. metros. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Some 5 million Americans with defaulted student loan payments will have their loans sent for collections on May 5, the Department of Education announced on Monday. Next month, for the first time since student loan payments were paused due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Education Department will collect the debts from borrowers who had defaulted -- which means they hadnt paid their debts for around nine months or 270 days -- before the pandemic. The announcement comes as scores of Federal Student Aid (FSA) employees have been terminated at the Department of Education as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to shutter the agency, which creates uncertainty for borrowers and the future of the student loan system, according to former Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Students protest Education Department closure in 'Hands Off Our Schools' rally The concern is that the department is, you know, cutting the people who would help borrowers make this transition, Kvaal told ABC News. Borrowers who are trying to get help by getting into an affordable repayment plan or by applying for loan forgiveness, if they're eligible, you know, just don't have the same resources that they did before the department staff was cut in half. PHOTO: An exterior view of the Department of Education building, March 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The pause -- started in 2020 in Trump's first administration -- for all 43 million student loan borrowers was implemented due to the economic hardship and disruption caused by COVID. This will be the first time in five years the repayments have begun. Kvaal said defaults can be tragic for borrowers. In some cases, Kvaal said, defaults can negatively impact credit scores and future student aid, and several states revoke drivers licenses over defaults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the department emphasized that its effort will protect taxpayers from shouldering the cost of federal student loans that borrowers "willingly" undertook. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon also said taxpayers will no longer be responsible for the irresponsible student loan policies of the previous administration. The Biden Administration misled borrowers: the executive branch does not have the constitutional authority to wipe debt away, nor do the loan balances simply disappear, McMahon wrote in a department release. Hundreds of billions have already been transferred to taxpayers. Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment -- both for the sake of their own financial health and our nations economic outlook. A defaulted loan is a loan that a borrower hasn't made payments on for 270 days, according to the office of federal student aid. When the loan officially enters default, it becomes eligible for mandatory collections. The collections on loans are typically done through wage garnishments, a legal procedure in which a person's earnings are required by court order to be withheld by an employer for the payment of a debt, according to the Department of Labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student debt can also be collected through offsetting tax refunds or other federal benefits, which Kvaal said can include ones Social Security. The collections process starting in just two weeks is blocking these borrowers' path out of default, according to Student Borrower Protection Center Executive Director Mike Pierce. Pierce said the Trump administration is feeding them into the maw of the government debt collection machine. MORE: Elizabeth Warren launches campaign to investigate Department of Education closure: 'I will fight it with everything I've got' This is cruel, unnecessary and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country," Pierce told ABC News in a statement. But the administration's efforts to place borrowers into involuntary collections programs will be paired with a comprehensive communications and outreach campaign to ensure borrowers understand how to return to repayment or get out of default, according to the department release. PHOTO: Students walk on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Feb. 5, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) The news also comes as the administration is working to rehome the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to other agencies. Trump announced the loan system would be moved to the Small Business Administration immediately during a White House event last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the announcement, Kvaal, who worked in senior roles in the Obama and Biden administrations, told ABC News his higher education portfolio under Obama included moving some loan functions to the Department of Treasury. But he warned shifting the student loan portfolio again could lead to real world consequences. We're at a point now where millions of borrowers are late on their student loans, he said. For the department to be focused on laying off half its staff and going through a fundamental reorganization of how it administers these programs, you know, in really critical weeks for borrowers who are trying to get into repayment plans or get loan forgiveness, I think it's very dangerous and puts at risk millions of borrowers of going into default on their loans. 5 million student loan borrowers face mandatory collections starting May 5 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A winning lottery ticket was sold in Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] One person in Ohio won $500,000 with five of five winning numbers in the Lucky4Life Lottery drawing. TRENDING STORIES: The winning numbers were 3, 6, 17, 30, and 42. The lucky ball was 15. The winning ticket was sold in Attica, Ohio, according to the Ohio Lottery. No one won the $7.3 Million Jackpot. Lucky4Life drawings occur daily. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration, by Rachel Elise Barkow, Harvard University Press, 320 pages, $35 "The United States is now a world leader when it comes to incarceration," Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and co-author Janie Nitze noted last year in their book Over Ruled. They added that "our incarceration rate is not only eight times as high as the median rate in Western European democracies" but also higher than the rates under authoritarian regimes such as those in Rwanda and Turkmenistan. Gorsuch and Nitze attribute that dubious distinction to the proliferation of criminal laws and draconian sentencing schemes. Legislators surely bear much of the blame. But in Justice Abandoned, New York University law professor Rachel Elise Barkow indicts another culprit: the court on which Gorsuch serves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barkow's book highlights half a dozen Supreme Court decisions that she says "enabled mass incarceration" by compromising constitutional principles to accommodate politicians, prosecutors, and police officers bent on locking up more and more people for longer and longer stretches of time. Those decisions expanded pretrial detention, approved coercive plea bargaining, upheld disproportionate sentences, tolerated overcrowded prisons, greenlit stop-and-frisk tactics, and rejected challenges to racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Barkow argues, for the most part persuasively, that these key cases were wrongly decided from the originalist perspective embraced by the current Court, which is dominated by Republican appointees who have shown they are willing to overturn longstanding precedents. She says it is therefore reasonable to think the justices, if presented with arguments grounded in text and history, might reconsider the rulings that paved the way to mass incarceration. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, jails account for about 30 percent of the nearly 2 million people incarcerated in the United States, and more than three-quarters of detainees in those facilities are "legally innocent," meaning they have not been convicted. That situation, Barkow argues, would have been inconceivable to the Framers, because bail and pretrial detention historically were aimed at ensuring defendants stuck around for the resolution of their cases and did not interfere with that process by, say, destroying evidence or intimidating witnesses. But in the 1987 case United States v. Salerno, the Supreme Court approved "dangerousness" as a justification for pretrial detention, meaning defendants could be locked up based on speculation that they might otherwise pose a threat to the general public. In practice, Barkow notes, that policy of preventive detention meant that people could be punished before they were convicted. In addition to suffering that premature loss of liberty, pretrial detainees, whether held by court order or because they cannot afford bail, are at a disadvantage in preparing their defense. Unsurprisingly, they are more likely to plead guilty than otherwise similar defendants who are free before trial. Because Salerno disregarded "the Constitution's commitment to liberty and due process," Barkow writes, it is "a constitutional abomination" that today's Court would reject if it carefully considered the original rationales for pretrial detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the term pretrial detention is misleading, since almost all criminal convictionsabout 95 percent in state courts and 97 percent at the federal levelresult from plea deals rather than trials. As both Gorsuch and Barkow note, prosecutors have tremendous power to coerce guilty pleas by threatening to bring additional charges that carry much more severe penalties. The Supreme Court approved that practice in the 1978 case Bordenkircher v. Hayes, which involved a prosecutor who offered a forgery defendant a five-year sentence if he pleaded guilty while threatening him with a mandatory life sentence under a "three strikes" law if he insisted on going to trial. When the defendant was convicted and sentenced to life, he argued that he was a victim of vindictive prosecution. But as the Court saw it, his "give-and-take negotiation" with the prosecutor did not implicate due process because he was free to accept or reject the offer after weighing his options. Although prosecutors had long used this tactic sub rosa, the Court's blessing eliminated any doubts about its legitimacy. That outcome, Barkow argues, was driven by practical considerations rather than sound constitutional analysisa recurring theme in her book. If defendants routinely invoked their Sixth Amendment right to trial by jury, judges and prosecutors worried, the system would not be able to handle the resulting flood of defendants demanding that the government prove its case. "It is no exaggeration to say that, without plea bargaining, mass incarceration could not occur," Barkow writes. "The mass numbers of cases require mass processing, and you cannot have that without plea bargaining. It is the rotten core of mass incarceration, and it exists only because the Supreme Court has allowed the government to coerce people into giving up one of the most sacred of constitutional rights." The pressure that prosecutors can bring to bear on defendants is a function of the severe sentences that legislators authorize, which also directly contribute to mass incarceration by keeping people in prison longer. But the Supreme Court has made it essentially impossible to challenge those penalties as violations of the Eighth Amendment's ban on "cruel and unusual punishments." Although a "grossly disproportionate" prison sentence would be unconstitutional, the Court said in the 1991 case Harmelin v. Michigan, that description applies only in "extreme cases." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How extreme? More extreme than a mandatory life sentence for possessing a pound and a half of cocaine, which the Court upheld in Harmelin. "The Eighth Amendment does not have to be a dead letter in the context of noncapital punishment," Barkow writes. "It could still fulfill its intended purpose. That will only happen, however, with a Court that enforces it." The Supreme Court has recognized that prison conditions, such as confinement in "shockingly unsanitary cells," can violate the Eighth Amendment. But Barkow argues that the Court dropped the ball by approving "double celling" of prisoners in the 1981 case Rhodes v. Chapman, which involved two men serving long sentences who were forced to share a 63-square-foot cell at a prison that was 38 percent over its designed capacity. That decision made mass incarceration cheaper because states did not have to avoid overcrowding by building more prisons. "States have never had to pay the full constitutional price of incarceration," Barkow writes, "because the Court's decision in Rhodes gave them the biggest discount of all by letting them double bunk, effectively giving them a constitutional two-for-one sale." Before people can be imprisoned, they have to be arrested, and the Supreme Court made that easier with its 1968 decision in Terry v. Ohio, which for the first time allowed police to stop, detain, question, and frisk people without probable cause. That constitutional compromise, Barkow argues, was not based on the Fourth Amendment's text and history. Rather, she says, it was motivated by public concerns about rising crime and the resulting political backlash against the Court's pro-defendant rulings in cases like Mapp v. Ohio, which excluded evidence obtained by illegal searches, and Miranda v. Arizona, which required police to inform arrestees of their constitutional rights. Chief Justice Earl Warren, who wrote the majority opinion in Terry, alluded to that context, noting "the practical and constitutional arguments pressed with great vigor on both sides of the public debate over the power of the police to 'stop and frisk'as it is sometimes euphemistically termedsuspicious persons." Stepping into that debate, the Court ruled that police may stop someone based on "specific and articulable facts" that, "taken together with rational inferences," justify a suspicion that he is engaged in criminal activity. During such an encounter, it said, police also may frisk the suspect if they have "reasonable grounds" to believe he is "armed and dangerous." That decision became a license for police in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles to stop and frisk pedestrians, often exceeding even the latitude granted by Terry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stop-and-frisk programs are notorious for targeting young black and Latino men, and that is just one example of the racial disparities apparent at every stage of the criminal justice system. By requiring evidence of discriminatory intent, Barkow argues in a chapter focusing on the 1987 death penalty case McCleskey v. Kemp, the Supreme Court has effectively blocked equal protection challenges to such disparities. The originalist basis for that last complaint strikes me as weaker than Barkow's arguments in other chapters. Still, she makes a strong case that the Framers would have been dismayed by developments such as routine pretrial detention, search and seizure without probable cause, and a plea-bargaining system that has turned the promise of trial by jury into a fantasy. By explaining why these decisions should trouble originalists, Barkow makes it seem at least possible that the Supreme Court might correct some of its mistakes. The post 6 Cases That Paved the Road to Mass Incarceration appeared first on Reason.com. Starting June 2021, Finland changed its approach to granting export licenses making them classified going forward. "Between 2000 and 2020, Finland issued thousands of arms export licences without needing to classify them. It now appears the practice has changed," said Kari Paasonen, an expert at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Research, noting a sudden policy change. Since then, a total of 19 secret export licenses have been issued to eight countries, mostly to Ukraine, according to the Yle investigation. Another customer, Israel, reportedly was the one to request confidentiality for some arms exports. Finnish Sisu XA-180 APCs in the row of Defense Forces of Ukraine / Photo credit: Ukraine Weapons Tracker Finlands Ministry of Defense says the shift reflects a changed global security environment. Previously, the country exported armored personnel carriers and anti-drone defense systems without restriction. "Arms exports are a political decision. Nearly all the information about them comes from the government. If the authorities choose to disclose less, citizens are left with fewer opportunities to rate the decisions of state leaders," Paasonen added. Leopard 2R mine-clearing vehicle donated to Ukraine by Finland / Open-source photo Earlier, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen called on the United States to provide European Union with a "clear roadmap" in the event of a potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Europe. "A clear roadmap is necessary to ensure russia sees no window of opportunity to act," Hakkanen said, stressing the need for Washingtons plans to be closely coordinated with EU defense initiatives. Earlier, Defense Express covered Finlands bold defense spending strategy, with Helsinki planning to double its military budget by 2032. Now, it appears that part of this investment is already being quietly channeled into arms deliveries especially to Ukraine. Six teens are facing charges in connection with a massive brawl that broke out at Bostons South Bay Plaza over the weekend, authorities said. Officers responding to a report of more than 100 juveniles congregating in the area of Lucy Street and District Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Saturday observed multiple fights and objects being thrown at people from a parking garage, according to the Boston Police Department. The officers ordered the group to leave the area, but they only moved to a nearby bus stop on Allstate Road, where another fight erupted, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While officers arrested two 14-year-old boys, a 13-year-old boy pushed officers and punched one of them in the head, according to police. A 13-year-old girl then allegedly started screaming in the face of the officers and flailed her arms, striking an officer in the nose. A 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were also arrested after police say they pointed pellet rifles at the officers and pulled the trigger. The suspects were expected to be arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court on various charges ranging from affray to disorderly conduct to assault with a dangerous weapon to resisting arrest to assault and battery on a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their names werent made public due to their ages. Police didnt say if anyone was hurt. An investigation is ongoing. 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 Moments after Daniris Espinal walked into her new apartment in Brooklyn, she prayed. In ensuing nights, she would awaken and touch the walls for reassurance finding in them a relief that turned to tears over her morning coffee. Those walls were possible through a federal program that pays rent for some 60,000 families and individuals fleeing homelessness or domestic violence. Espinal was fleeing both. But the program, Emergency Housing Vouchers, is running out of money and quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding is expected to be used up by the end of next year, according to a letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and obtained by The Associated Press. That would leave tens of thousands across the country scrambling to pay their rent. It would be among the largest one-time losses of rental assistance in the U.S., analysts say, and the ensuing evictions could churn these people after several years of rebuilding their lives back onto the street or back into abusive relationships. "To have it stop would completely upend all the progress that theyve made, said Sonya Acosta, policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which researches housing assistance. And then you multiply that by 59,000 households, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program's future rests with Congress The program, launched in 2021 by then-President Joe Biden as part of the pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act, was allocated $5 billion to help pull people out of homelessness, domestic violence and human trafficking. People from San Francisco to Dallas to Tallahassee, Florida, were enrolled among them children, seniors and veterans with the expectation that funding would last until the end of the decade. But with the ballooning cost of rent, that $5 billion will end far faster. Last month, HUD sent letters to groups dispersing the money, advising them to "manage your EHV program with the expectation that no additional funding from HUD will be forthcoming." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program's future rests with Congress, which could decide to add money as it crafts the federal budget. But it's a relatively expensive prospect at a time when Republicans, who control Congress, are dead set on cutting federal spending to afford tax cuts. Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, who championed the program four years ago, is pushing for another $8 billion infusion. But the organizations lobbying Republican and Democratic lawmakers to re-up the funding told the AP they aren't optimistic. Four GOP lawmakers who oversee the budget negotiations did not respond to AP requests for comment. Weve been told its very much going to be an uphill fight, said Kim Johnson, the public policy manager at the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recipients face uncertainty after years of stability Espinal and her two daughters, aged 4 and 19, are living on one of those vouchers in a three-bedroom apartment with an over $3,000 monthly rent an amount extremely difficult to cover without the voucher. Four years ago, Espinal fought her way out of a marriage where her husband controlled her decisions, from seeing her family and friends to leaving the apartment to go shopping. When she spoke up, her husband said she was wrong, or in the wrong or crazy. Isolated and in the haze of postpartum depression, she didnt know what to believe. Every day, little by little, I started to feel not like myself, she said. It felt like my mind wasnt mine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When notices arrived in March 2021 seeking about $12,000 in back rent, it was a shock. Espinal had quit her job at her husband's urging and he had promised to cover family expenses. Police reports documenting her husbands bursts of anger were enough for a judge to give her custody of their daughter in 2022, Espinal said. But her future was precarious: She was alone, owed thousands of dollars in back rent and had no income to pay it or support her newborn and teenage daughters. Financial aid to prevent evictions during the pandemic kept Espinal afloat, paying her back rent and keeping the family out of shelters. But it had an expiration date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around that time, the Emergency Housing Vouchers program was rolled out, targeting people in Espinal's situation. A "leading cause of family homelessness is domestic violence" in New York City, said Gina Cappuccitti, director of housing access and stability services at New Destiny Housing, a nonprofit that has connected 700 domestic violence survivors to the voucher program. Espinal was one of those 700, and moved into her Brooklyn apartment in 2023. The relief went beyond finding a secure place to live, she said. I gained my worth, my sense of peace, and I was able to rebuild my identity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, she said, she's putting aside money in case of the worst. Because, thats my fear, losing control of everything that Ive worked so hard for. ___ Bedayn is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A massive street takeover in Portland shut down by police led to seven arrests and the seizure of drugs, illegal firearms and cash late Saturday night. The planned illegal street racing/street takeover events, dubbed Swing into Easter and PDX is Everyone, drew in people from across the region. Portland police originally learned of the events Wednesday and started planning with neighboring agencies, creating a team of around 30 officers on the mission to stop the takeover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman accused of DUII after overnight Southeast Portland crash Ultimately, police conducted 37 traffic stops, gave 32 citations, towed nine vehicles, recovered four illegal firearms and arrested seven people. Portland police also believe one of the people they arrested Saturday night was an organizer of the event, which would mean he is facing additional charges. One of 7 people arrested during a street racing takeover mission by Portland police, April 20, 2025 (PPB) This tire was shredded by spike strips during a street racing takeover mission by Portland police, April 20, 2025 (PPB) One of 9 vehicles towed during a street racing takeover mission by Portland police, April 20, 2025 (PPB) Nine vehicles were towed during a street racing takeover mission by Portland police, April 20, 2025 (PPB) Four guns were seized during a street racing takeover mission by Portland police, April 20, 2025 (PPB) Nine vehicles were towed during a street racing takeover mission by Portland police, April 20, 2025 (PPB) Some of the cash and drugs seized during a street racing takeover mission by Portland police, April 20, 2025 (PPB) Four guns were seized during a street racing takeover mission by Portland police, April 20, 2025 (PPB) This very dangerous behavior that can turn vehicles that are not designed to do these maneuvers on roadways, that are not designed to have vehicles doing this, becomes dangerous to the drivers that are operating them, to community members that are trying to go from one location to the next, said PPB Captain Christopher Burley. It can also be frightening for community members to be able to plan on going from point A to point B, and then all of a sudden, be in the middle of one of these events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands fill Portland streets in anti-Trump rally In one incident, the driver of a white Audi eluded officers going 80 to 100 miles an hour on surface streets, police said. Eventually, the driver abandoned the vehicle south of North Lombard Street and ran into a backyard. Police said the driver was then seen throwing objects from one yard into another. Police said at the time of the drivers arrest, they found a high dollar amount of cash on him as well as fentanyl. Later in the evening, law enforcement used planes to follow another driver going over 100 miles per hour on surface streets and swerving in and out of lanes. Police then chased the driver over the Interstate Bridge into Vancouver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Vancouver police deploying spike strips, police said the car turned around, went back across the bridge, driving all over Portland before being stopped near Southeast 148th and Halsey and arrested. According to PPB, these street takeover events have grown in popularity in Portland since the pandemic, with some involving over 1,000 people. They can also be deadly to not only those participating, but the community as 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 KOIN.com. W ashington is a thirsty town. It always has been: Its a city full of politicians, and no one has ever won an election by staying out of the spotlight. But we at POLITICO Magazine think our lawmakers are getting thirstier or at least more creative in how they go after the limelight. There are plenty of ways to get an audience in the age of TikTok, X with no guardrails, podcasts galore and Substack, and people are seizing the opportunity. For the third year in a row, we pay tribute to those members of Congress who have once again proven that where there is a will, there is a way to go viral. Without further ado Sen. Chris Murphy The Wannabe Leader of the #Resistance Award Ever since the 2024 election, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has turned himself into the Senates answer to Mr. Beast, game to appear anywhere and everywhere to feed the algorithms. He has done YouTube interviews with political personalities, appeared on influencers podcasts and TikToks and launched his own Substack, where he has opined on everything from the political realignment to the plight of men to the much-politicized one-hit wonder Rich Men North of Richmond. His main talking point? His argument that Trump is an authoritarian, and everyone should follow Murphys lead in being furious about the current state of politics. His more between-the-lines point? That Democrats are in need of a leader who can channel appropriate levels of rage, and Murphy is, in his own estimation, just the man for the job ahead of 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His social-media followings have skyrocketed recently his official and political Instagram accounts doubled their followings in just the first couple of months of 2025 and that seems to be the point, or a big part of it, for Murphy. He bragged to the New York Times that his son was seeing his content on social media for the first time: Im showing up on a 16-year-olds TikTok feed. Sen. Ted Cruz The Most Obsessed With His Own Podcast Award Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) represents more than 31 million Texans, but he spends much of his time focused on his real audience: the fans of his podcast. Cruz releases episodes of his podcast, The Verdict, three times a week and holds forth on every topic under the sun. With conservative commentator Ben Ferguson as a friendly interlocutor, it is the ideal venue for Cruz to share his thoughts on everything from Hollywood to Hamas without any pushback. He promotes his episodes constantly on his X account he fired off nonstop posts touting his recent interview with Elon Musk far more than he promotes, say, legislation or policy proposals. For Cruz, who once had designs on being the next Ronald Reagan, it seems his focus is now on being the next Joe Rogan. Rep. Jasmine Crockett The Most Likely to Mug for the C-Span Cameras Award Members of Congress routinely make inflammatory statements in congressional hearings to gain attention and cable news hits. But Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett has managed to become a perpetual content machine. Her profanity-laced tirades against Elon Musk provide plenty of fodder for both MSNBC and Fox News. In 2023, Crockett went viral when she attacked Republicans introduction of articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden at one hearing, holding up photos from Trumps indictment of classified documents stored in his bathroom at Mar-a-Lago. These are our national secrets, looks like in the shitter to me! she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last May, she and Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene got into a colorful spat during a hearing, during which Crockett suggested Taylor Greene had a bleach blond bad built butch body. Not long after, Crockett filed a trademark on the phrase and used it to start her own merchandise collection, branding her dig as A Crockett Clapback. Rep. Tim Burchett The Get Me to the Closest Microphone Award Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) will give a quote to network news, to a MAGA podcast, to a random journalist wandering the halls of Congress. Hes not just voluble; hes colorful and folksy, which means that reporters are usually happy to use his takes. One late night, when then-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) almost came to blows on the House floor during Kevin McCarthys contentious speakership vote in 2023, Burchett observed, People shouldnt be drinking, especially when youre a redneck, on the House floor. Because the quirky conservative somehow always finds himself the swing vote when his party is just short of a majority, reporters regularly include his views in the major stories of the day. And when the news cycle is calmer, hes always willing to chat about UFOs and has suggested that aliens have underwater bases on our planet. Sen. Mark Warner The Most Likely to Never Miss a Cocktail Party Award He wont show up for the opening of an envelope like his colleague from Minnesota, but Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) still makes plenty of time to visit an endangered Washington habitat: the cocktail party. In fairness to Warner, it's easy to make it across the river from his home in Old Town to the embassy and gala circuit. Unlike his colleagues who have to fly to other parts of the country to meet with constituents, Warners proximity keeps him in town, and attending Washington functions can mean representing the bounty of federal workers he represents in Northern Virginia. But it takes real thirst to keep showing up to the same parties and restaurants after three terms in the Senate. Despite his professed online stylings as a man with simple tastes, Warner isnt shy about keeping on his Senate suit into the evening and schmoozing over canapes. Hey, someone has to keep Cafe Milano in business. Sen. Lindsey Graham The Lifetime Achievement Award Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has been thirsty for a generation. From his start in the Senate as a John McCain sidekick to his transformation into a Trump acolyte, the South Carolina senator has always found himself in demand on Sunday shows and Senate corridors; hes an easily available quote and hes always eager to thrust himself in the middle of any news story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Trump years, Graham has used cable news both as a platform for self-promotion and as a means of communicating with the ever-mercurial president. He recently raced over to the White House to go on Fox News shortly after Trumps Oval Office blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; he used the appearance to both appeal to Trumps ego and urge Zelenskyy to cave and do whatever is necessary to appease Trump, despite Grahams longstanding backing of American support for Ukraine. Ive never been more proud of President Trump for showing the American people and the world you dont trifle with this man, he said. Vice President JD Vance The MVP of Mentions Award John McCain once said, The vice president has two duties. One is to inquire daily as to the health of the president, and the other is to attend the funerals of Third World dictators. Vice President JD Vance has added a third: Be a reply guy. Since becoming second in line to the presidency and president of the Senate, which is why he was allowed into this extremely competitive congressional awards roster Vance has remained a relentlessly online poster in spite or perhaps because of his job. He gets into X squabbles with pundits, Democratic elected officials and even a former member of the British Parliament. You disgust me, he once wrote to Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Vance also sometimes just trolls. Its like theyre trying to make us look cool, he posted in January, along with an image of a magazine cover showing young conservatives celebrating Trumps inauguration, which was headlined The Cruel Kids Table. More recently, he posted a meme from Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia to mock fellow Thirsties honoree Chris Murphys comments in an interview with CNN. Its an innovative way to shape an otherwise largely undefined job. CLARIFICATION: This article was updated to clarify Murphy's Instagram account types. A series of reports from 9 Investigates has led to the termination of a police sergeant in the town of Oakland in west Orange County. In early April, 9 Investigates questioned why the officer was hired just days after he resigned from another police department while under investigation and accused of stealing from taxpayers. Now the police chief in Oakland confirmed Barry Strykowskis time is up as a night sergeant at the Oakland Police Department. Oakland Police Chief Darron Esan confirmed the departure stems from the series of 9 Investigates reports from earlier this month, which started with questions to the chief about why Strykowski was hired in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the information youve provided that weve now come in to know, which we did not have prior, we now know, Esan said. Strykowski applied to work in Oakland last year while under investigation at the Mount Dora Police Department in nearby Lake County. 9 Investigates obtained his application, which showed that under employment history, when asked a series of questions about whether he had been involuntarily terminated or asked to resign from a job or been given the opportunity to resign, Strykowski checked no. Strykowski was allowed to resign from Mount Dora as part of a separation agreement, even though the Mount Dora chief said they had gathered enough GPS data and reviewed time cards showing he was stealing time and money from taxpayers for at least five months, which is a crime. However, the chief never reported it to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission, which oversees law enforcement certification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked why it wasnt reported, Mount Dora Police Chief Mike Gibson said, Police officers use discretion every day, right? We use discretion every day. In this case, youre correct, it could fall under the statute as a crime, or it does fall under this statute as a crime, but were the victim, so were allowed to say, OK, well forgo that. At the end of the day, the chief of police, me, Im responsible for the decisions. 9 Investigates found that Oakland did not request Strykowskis personnel file until after he was hired, and the only proof they could provide to show his discipline file was requested is an email from Mount Dora Capt. Victor Uvalle, stating Strykowski had no open cases or discipline on file, which we now know isnt true. Uvalle is now under investigation to determine if he violated department policies. While Strykowskis employment in Oakland was terminated, the investigation into whether he lied during the application process continues. "What Id have to say is the information that we have presented to us through your investigation and through the documents that youve showed us, I have to verify that those the large part of our investigation," Esan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that investigation in Oakland finds Strykowski was untruthful, the chief said that the findings will be turned over to the state, and the standards and training commission would determine next steps, which could include terminating his law enforcement certification. Do you have a story for WFTVs 9 Investigators? Click the banner below to submit a tip. The health of Pope Francis has led to renewed interest in a 900-year-old book known as "The Prophecy of the Popes" (Prophetia Sancti Malachiae Archiepiscopi, de Summis Pontificibus - or "Prophecy of Saint-Archbishop Malachy, concerning the Supreme Pontiffs"), which claims to predict the year of Judgement Day. For those of you who need brushing up on your scripture, Judgement Day also known as The Final Judgement or the second coming of Jesus Christ - is the day that Jesus returns to Earth to judge humanity and destroy Earth and Heaven. Essentially, the day we find out who will be saved and who will be damned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the 12th-century book credited to Irish bishop Saint Malachy, its going to take place in 2027. A statue depicting Saint Malachy - Wikimedia Commons Located in the Vaticans Secret Archives and discovered in 1590 by Benedictine monk Arnold Wion, "The Prophecy of the Popes" is making headlines due to a prophecy that ties with Pope Francis health. The 88-year-old pontiff has been treated for double pneumonia and today marks his one month in hospital. Rain falls on the auspicious candles with images of Pope Francis left outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, where he is being treated for bilateral pneumonia in Rome - AP Photo The book contains a series of Latin phrases in 112 mysterious sections which purport to predict the Catholic popes, beginning with Celestine II up to the Church's current leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One passage, attributed to Pope Sixtus V, reads: Axle in the midst of a sign. Pope Sixtus tenure began 442 years after the first Popes rule, and the passage suggests he is in the middle of the papal lineage - thus indicating the end of the world would come 442 years later, in 2027. The last passage of the book reads: "In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed, and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End." The seven-hilled city refers to Rome and some interpret the last passage as Peter taking over as the Pope from Francis due to the latter's chronic lung disease, making Francis the last Pope. Final part of the prophecies - Lyon Public Library - public domain It all sounds very Dan Brown, and "The Prophecy of the Popes" has appeared in popular fiction, including Steve Berrys 2005 novel "The Third Secret" and in James Rollins 2009 novel "The Doomsday Key". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its worth noting that modern scholars have disputed the origins of the text, saying that the book is simply cryptic forgery created for partisan political reasons. Others also refer back to the Bible, which specifically warns against predicting the date of the second coming. Matthew 24:36 reads: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." So maybe dont get out your calendars just yet. Kneeling on the cold bathroom floor of her apartment, Kisha clutched the pregnancy test she had just picked up from the Walgreens down the street. She waited for a single blue line to appear. Instead, there were two. When I looked down at that test, I didnt believe it, she said. I told myself there was just no way. This cant be happening to me. She was pregnant at 41 years old. With no partner to support her and no financial cushion to fall back on, living paycheck to paycheck, she couldnt afford to raise a child alone and had no desire to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Working long shifts for an online retailing company, loading packages for $20 an hour, Kisha was facing a reality that she did not expect and could not afford. I knew exactly what my next steps would be, she said. That step would be an abortion. As the Trump administration moved to pause Planned Parenthoods funding and a federal court ruled against criminalizing doctors in Alabama for helping patients seek abortions across state lines, Black women in the South are sounding the alarm, organizing to defend whats left of their reproductive freedom. But living in South Carolina, where a law bans abortions around six weeks of pregnancy, Kisha said she felt like her next steps were under threat. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments about whether her state could cut Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. That decision will not come until this summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fear has only intensified since the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established federal protections for abortion. By giving states the right to restrict or ban abortions altogether, the ruling created a new legal landscape that abortion rights advocates say creates a particular set of hurdles for Black women who already face significant barriers to care. Medical researchers say that the distinctive threats faced by Black women in the South include the potential for medical discrimination by health care providers, criminalization of pregnant women, and the highest rate of maternal mortality in the nation, which has only increased since the Dobbs decision. Taken together, researchers say, those issues and others create disproportionately high risks for Black women seeking abortions when compared to their counterparts from other demographic groups. People need to understand that the current policies are going to, in a very material way, lead to more Black and brown women in jails, [and] more Black and brown women dying because doctors cannot provide them with the care that they swore an oath to provide, said Dr. Karenne Fru, an Atlanta-based reproductive endocrinologist and OB-GYN. I remind people that the biggest risk for a Black woman is getting pregnant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kishas case, she made an appointment at a Planned Parenthood clinic where she was able to obtain the abortion pill at a reduced cost, and found some much-needed emotional support during a time she calls one of the most gut-wrenching moments of her life. I didnt feel judged, she said. They just saw a woman who needed help, and they gave it. Kisha agreed to speak with Capital B only on the condition that her last name not be used, out of fear that sharing her story publicly could lead to criminal prosecution under her states abortion laws laws that place the kind of health care she received under threat. Abortions, health care and Planned Parenthood under scrutiny The rebuilt Planned Parenthood clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, reopened in November 2024, nearly three years after an arson attack destroyed the facility. (Angela Dennis) During the first two months of the second Trump administration, the battle over reproductive rights has continued. On April 1, the Trump administration revoked Title X funding for Planned Parenthood, cutting tens of millions from clinics that provide reproductive and preventive health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The very next day, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review South Carolinas attempt to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, a decision that could significantly impact health care access for many low-income residents. President Trump and Elon Musk are pushing their dangerous political agenda, stripping healthcare access from people nationwide, and not giving a second thought to the devastation they will cause, Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood, said in a statement. Several Planned Parenthood clinics across Michigan announced their doors would be closing following the latest federal funding cuts. In addition, the cuts drew outrage from Planned Parenthood centers across the South especially in states like Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, where strict abortion laws already make it harder for people to get care. These states also provide some of the weakest maternal health support in the nation. We know the chaos and terror from this administration will impact marginalized communities and people of color the most, said Ashley Coffield, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi. This especially puts Black women at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abby Ledoux, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, said one of her organizations clinics serving Louisiana and southeast Texas was also directly impacted. Its just one in a long line of attacks. Were doing everything we can to fill the gaps in a broken health care system, she said. Dr. Karenne Fru, an Atlanta-based reproductive endocrinologist and OB-GYN. (Handberry Creative) Fru, a reproductive endocrinologist and OB-GYN, testified in March against Georgias House Bill 441 a law that would ban nearly all abortions by defining life as beginning at fertilization. Her testimony went viral. Frus practice is rooted in helping women conceive. But she also supports patients through miscarriages, failed pregnancies, and medically necessary abortions highlighting how interconnected reproductive care is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In states like Georgia, with six-week abortion bans, detecting fetal cardiac activity prevents termination, no matter the circumstances. Fru said as many as a quarter of all pregnancies will not make it outside of the first trimester, and at that point, you have to do a lot to prove that it was not willfully terminated. She explained that many of her patients have highly desired pregnancies individuals who have paid for fertility treatments to conceive. But when those pregnancies become nonviable, the treatment options often involve the same medication used in abortions. I have to put a note at the bottom of their prescription for the pharmacist to see that says this patient has a nonviable, desired pregnancy and is in distress, please dispense the meds as written without questioning her. And the reason I do that is because I have had patients calling me crying. After all, here theyre having the worst day of their life, and now a pharmacist is asking them if theyre using the pills to perform an abortion. Fighting for abortion rights in the South Fru warns that the growing criminalization of reproductive care affects not just patients, but also the providers trying to help them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why, for many advocates, a recent federal court ruling in Alabama offered a rare moment of relief. On the same day that the Trump administration cut Title X funds, a U.S. district judge blocked a 2023 Alabama law that criminalized helping women travel across state lines to obtain legal abortions ruling that the state could not prosecute individuals or providers for doing so. The lawsuit was brought by a coalition, including the Yellowhammer Fund, which offers financial and logistical support to abortion seekers in the South. The funds executive director, Jenice Fountain, said the group was ready to resume support the moment the ruling came down. People shouldnt have to go out of state to get health care. Abortion should be free and accessible in this state, and we arent there yet, said Jenice Fountain, executive director of Yellowhammer Fund. (Tosha Gaines) We funded an abortion just 15 minutes after the ruling. Thats how urgent and how serious this is for the women who need our help. We can celebrate this victory for a day or two, but we have to get back to work, Fountain said. Id say we are done celebrating. Its not acceptable that the best we can do for anyone is advise or fund their care out of state. People shouldnt have to go out of state to get health care. Abortion should be free and accessible in this state, and we arent there yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the judges ruling reaffirmed that Alabamians still have the constitutional right to travel and seek legal medical care, even if their home state criminalizes it, for Fountain, the ruling is far from enough. Just having Black women watch an entire system fail them is mentally and emotionally horrendous on our bodies. Theres the actual talk of us dying from a lack of health care, and its horrendous. And knowing that the collateral for all of this is going to be someone that looks like you. If youre not trying to kill Black women, what are you trying to do? Fountain said. Advocates in other Southern states echoed her concerns. Jules, a health care executive in Tennessee who would only speak on the condition that their last name be withheld, said 60% of the people they support live in West Tennessee, where that states Black population is concentrated and where many residents are low-income or uninsured. The Alabama ruling gives us some legal precedent to fight with, they said. But legislators are getting more creative with how they attack our services. Were not in the clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexis Alsup, a doula in Knoxville, says Black women in the rural South are often hit the hardest because there arent enough resources nearby. She says many also dont know where to go for help. For Kisha, the administrations cuts and restrictions on abortion laws feels deeply personal. This is an attack on women. If it was really about the kids, theyd be reforming foster care or adoption systems. They wouldnt be making women responsible for systemic problems or policing our bodies, she said. And where are the laws that hold men accountable? We dont get pregnant alone. As for her decision the one she made with a heavy heart Kisha says it wasnt easy. And she knows it couldve been her last chance to have a child. I felt super selfish. I couldnt even tell my mom because I know she wants grandchildren. But I also know that I wouldve felt just as selfish raising a child in these circumstances. I had to forgive myself. Yes, we will suffer under these cuts, and we will also find ways to care for one another, said Deon Haywood, executive director of Women With a Vision. (Anthony LaMothe Photography of New Orleans) Longtime advocate Deon Haywood, executive director of Women With a Vision, says Kishas story is one of many, woven into a legacy of resistance by Black women across generations. Yes, we will suffer under these cuts, and we will also find ways to care for one another, Haywood said. Black people are a passionate people, and we are filled with spirit and soul, and thats what we bring to the streets when were fighting back. Thats what we bring to the halls. Thats what we bring to courthouses. We take it with us because its a part of our DNA left and shared by our ancestors. Because of that, we owe it to ourselves to stay in this fight. The post Abortion Saved Her. Now It Could Cost Her Freedom. appeared first on Capital B News. A family-run Tex-Mex restaurant chain in Massachusetts has closed its second location within the past three months. Acapulcos Mexican Family Restaurant & Cantina closed its Beverly restaurant on Sunday, April 20 after 23 years, according to a Facebook post from the location. From the start, you welcomed us like family. Weve shared birthdays, anniversaries, and countless everyday moments with you and every one has meant the world to us," the post reads. Though were saying goodbye, the connection weve built will stay with us always. Gracias, from the bottom of our hearts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post also mentioned that Acapulcos management is doing our best to relocate in the future. A reason for the closure was not provided. This is the second Acapulcos location to close since the start of the year. The Tex-Mex chain closed its Quincy location in January. While this marks the end of an era for us at this location, we are actively seeking a new home within Quincy in hopes of continuing to serve our beloved community, the restaurant wrote in a Facebook post on Dec. 18. We will truly miss being at the heart of such a wonderful community, the post continued. Thank you again for being such an important part of our journey. Stay tuned for more updates, and we hope to see you soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acapulcos is known for its authentic Mexican cuisine with offerings such as quesadillas, chimichangas, enchiladas, burritos, tacos, fajitas and more. The first Acapulcos was opened in Sudbury in 2001 by the Brambila family, according to the restaurants website. That location closed in 2021, Patch reported. The chain later added locations in Beverly, Franklin, Milford, Norwood and Quincy. Acapulcos also has locations in Enfield and Stratford, Connecticut. The address for the now-closed Beverly Acapulcos is 900 Cummings Center. More restaurant stories Attorneys for Venezuelan migrants who fear they will be deported to a Salvadoran prison have asked the Supreme Court to review the legality of the move, arguing the Trump administration has not complied with an earlier order requiring they be given adequate time to contest their deportation. The filing from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) details the swift actions on deportations by the Trump administration under the Alien Enemies Act over the weekend. It says the administration gave people less than 24 hours notice they may be deported and never told them they could be imprisoned in a notorious Salvadoran prison. The ACLU made what it called an extraordinary request to review the legality of whether President Trump can deport migrants under the Alien Enemies Act based on assertions they are gang members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The matter has already twice come before the Supreme Court for review. Earlier this month the high court ruled that the Trump administration must give migrants reasonable notice to file a habeas petition to challenge their deportation. And then in the early hours of the morning Saturday, it intervened, blocking for now Trumps planned resumption of deportation flights. Whatever due process may require in this context, it does not allow removing a person to a possible life sentence without trial, in a prison known for torture and other abuse, a mere 24 hours after providing an English-only notice form (not provided to any attorney) that gives no information about the persons right to seek judicial review, much less the process or timeline for doing so, the ACLU wrote. Nor, critically, did the notice tell individuals that although they are Venezuelan, they may be removed to El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU described a hasty scene in which the government was notifying and moving migrants on Thursday and Friday. In arguments later Friday, the Trump administration said it could not rule out potential Saturday flights. The ACLU said migrants were given a mere 24 hours (or less) before being loaded into buses headed towards the airport, arguing that under no plausible understanding of this Courts ruling is that notice protocol satisfactory. The government does not deny that dozens of class members were set to be removed Friday evening. Nor does the government deny that if it had delivered class members to the notorious Salvadoran CECOT prison, it would have taken the position that they cannot be returned, even if unlawfully removed, the ACLU wrote. The ACLU asked the Supreme Court to require the government to give 30 days notice before removing anyone under the Alien Enemies Act, providing the notice in Spanish as well as English and to notify any individual attorney as well as the ACLU. It also asked the Supreme Court to require the government to specify if they plan to take them to a Salvadoran prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU asked the court to take up the case before it has worked its way through the lower court system a highly unusual request. The court must review the weighty question whether the AEA can be invoked outside of wartime against a criminal organization and for only the fourth time in U.S. history, the ACLU wrote. It argued that an earlier Supreme Court ruling requiring migrants to challenge their removal where they are detained has led to a growing number of cases and means the court will face the question again and again. The Justice Department over the weekend asked the court to clarify whether it may still remove migrants under the Alien Enemies Act who havent directly challenged the law. It also asked whether it may still remove Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under regular immigration authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Far-right activists covered two flags at Boise City Hall that have become the source of controversy, and added a flag linked with conservative movements. The mayor showed up on Sunday morning to remove the protesters flag herself. A two-minute video posted at 8:14 a.m. to social media by activist Casey Whalen shows locals known for their far-right views, including David Pettinger, placing a ladder against the City Hall flagpoles while the sky is still dark. Pettinger wears dark clothing as the Mission: Impossible movie theme song plays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A figure in the video adds an Appeal to Heaven flag to one of the poles before covering two existing flags with what appeared to be black plastic bags. The Appeal to Heaven flag dates back to the American Revolution. The once obscure flag has in recent years become associated with President Donald Trumps Stop the Steal movement in 2020-21 and those who want to insert more religion into government, according to the New York Times. The two covered flags were the Pride flag, and a Donate Life flag that supports a nonprofit that raises awareness about the importance of organ donation. Those flags have become a recent target for Republican ire after House Bill 96 which allows government entities to display only certain official flags, such as the American flag, state flag, city flag and military flags became law on April 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has stood firm in her decision to keep the Pride and Donate Life flags flying, despite threats from Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador that she might be putting city funding at risk. McLean appeared in front of City Hall at about 11 a.m. and quickly removed the Appeal to Heaven flag and uncovered the two others, according to video footage. The Mayors Office did not immediately respond to the Idaho Statesmans request for comment Sunday. Boise police say they wont take action against protesters Because the legislation did not include a provision for enforcement or penalties, law enforcement has said there is little they can do to enforce this law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without clear direction in the law, no law enforcement in the state of Idaho has the authority to issue citations or make arrests in this situation, Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. This situation highlights the importance of thoughtful collaboration in the legislative process. I strongly urge Idaho legislators to work closely with subject matter experts when drafting legislation to ensure that future statutes are clearly enforceable and contain the necessary legal structure to support their implementation. Boise police toed a similar line on Sunday. Boise resident Pam Hemphill once joined Pettinger and other conservative activists in protest incidents like Sundays. Shes since come to reject them and many of her previously held beliefs following her arrest for participating in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Hemphill said she hurried to City Hall on Sunday and called police to report the flag incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not the Pride flag, its freedom, Hemphill told the Statesman. Freedom to love who you want, be who you are. Thats America. It just hurts that these people are being picked on so much. The Whalen video used audio of Hemphill joking about the possibility of activists getting arrested for removing the Pride flag. In a video shared with the Statesman, a Boise police officer tells Hemphill that he wont take action against those who participated. What weve been instructed to do is were not taking any enforcement action on flying the flag or taking it down, the officer said. The Boise Police Department spokesperson Haley Williams confirmed to the Statesman on Monday afternoon that there has not been any enforcement action at this time from Boise Police and suggested the Statesman reach out to lawmakers or law experts with additional questions on this issue. LANZHOU, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have recently unveiled the impact of changes in plant phenology on the stability of the alpine meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, according to Lanzhou University. The study, which aims to explore how phenological shifts affect ecosystem stability in the region, found that the response of alpine plant phenology to nitrogen addition reduces community biomass stability in alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, according to Ma Miaojun, a professor at the College of Ecology at Lanzhou University who led the study. Phenology is a sensitive indicator of plant responses to environmental changes, and its shifts could impact community structure and function. Some studies have shown that nitrogen enrichment and changes in rainfall patterns are having an increasingly significant impact on the alpine grassland ecosystem of the plateau, posing a growing threat to the region's ecological security, according to Ma. The research team set up a long-term field control experiment in a typical alpine meadow located at an altitude of 3,540 meters above sea level in the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Over four consecutive years from 2020, they monitored leaf growth and flowering phenology across 55 alpine meadow plant species. They then analyzed the response of plant phenology to nitrogen enrichment and precipitation in alpine meadows, examining its effects on the stability of the plant community. The findings suggest that nitrogen enrichment reduces phenological compensation, thereby threatening grassland stability, and this highlights the importance of phenological niches in understanding how grassland stability is maintained amid ongoing climate change, according to Ma. This study provides new experimental evidence that nitrogen enrichment has a negative effect on the temporal stability of biomass in plant communities in alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but not with precipitation changes. It has disclosed the mechanism of nitrogen enrichment affecting the stability of the alpine meadow ecosystem from the perspective of alpine plant phenology. This new study highlights that plant phenology is crucial to understanding changes in plant community stability under future climate scenarios. The findings have been published in the journal New Phytologist. Editor: WXY One of the billboards that will appear around Virginia as part of a campaign to bolster state legislative efforts to cement abortion access and reproductive health choices in state law, sponsored by advocacy conglomerate Virginians For Reproductive Freedom. (Courtesy Virginians For Reproductive Freedom) Politicians shouldnt control your body, reads a billboard that will soon be unveiled in Central Virginia and Hampton Roads as part of a new campaign highlighting an in-progress legislative effort to enshrine reproductive health care options like abortion, contraception and in vitro fertilization into Virginias constitution. These issues, longtime priorities for Democratic state lawmakers, will likely feature prominently in this years House of Delegates elections, where all 100 seats will be on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to be in our hands, then its going to be in your hands, Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, said at a press conference earlier this year when touting the amendment. Boysko sponsored the amendment that would cement access to abortion care in Virginias code in the state Senate this year, which the legislature advanced. As Republican incumbents have opposed the measure, a coalition of organizations have rallied for an ad blitz spotlighting the matter. To support candidates who share the amendments goal, a cohort has emerged called Virginians For Reproductive Freedom,. The consortium includes Repro Rising Virginia, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, League of Women Voters of Virginia, and Birth In Color and other organizations. It also includes Virginias chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. VRF recently announced plans for the billboards to be placed near college campuses in Hampton, Norfolk and Williamsburg and 100 sidewalk decals with similar messaging will be installed in high foot-traffic areas around Norfolk and Richmond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multilingual multimedia content is planned that will break down how the constitutional amendment process works. Having passed the legislature this year, it will need to pass again next year before appearing as a referendum on ballots statewide. But that may only be possible if Democrats retain or grow their majority in the House of Delegates this year, as the amendment advanced this year on partisan lines. Virginias current law allows most abortions up to 26 weeks of pregnancy with limitations and approval required for the procedure to take place later. Many state Republicans have consistently opposed the current law, with some seeking to reduce the limit to 15 weeks, and others having supported near-total bans. This year, Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg, introduced a bill that would have specifically protected abortion as a treatment for nonviable pregnancies, but it was never docketed or put up for a vote. Miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies are nonviable pregnancies, and therefore cannot be confused with elective abortion procedures, she told The Mercury at the time. This would have put any doubt about the law to rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abortions at or after 21 weeks are rare, making up just 1% of cases nationwide. When they do occur, its often due to severe fetal anomalies that arent detected earlier through testing or because of life-threatening complications later in pregnancy. If Virginias constitution were amended, the three-physician approval threshold for later-stage abortions would be reduced to one. Earlier this year, House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah called the resolution a word salad designed to cloud the true intentions of the amendment. He argued that reducing the current requirement for three doctors to sign off on a procedure to just one would lower safeguards. The abortion doctor can do that, Gilbert said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But supporters of the amendment have stressed that it could be particularly critical in rural pregnancy health crises, where patients already have to travel further for care. If enshrined in Virginias constitution, abortion access and other reproductive rights would become far more resistant to legislative shifts, shielding from the kind of partisan turnover that has shaped abortion laws in other states. But constitutional amendments are hard to undo and equally hard to pass. With the resolutions now clearing the legislature for the first time, the real test comes next year, when lawmakers will have to approve them again before voters get the final say at the ballot box. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DENVER (KDVR) Adams County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to a report of shots fired on Easter Sunday north of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Deputies were informed of shots fired at 2:17 p.m., and then were notified of a gunshot victim at 2:33 p.m. The incident happened in the area of East 104th Avenue and Counter Drive, and deputies said on X that it could be a drive-by shooting. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was transported to a local hospital and was reportedly still in critical condition as of 6:20 p.m. At about 3:24 p.m., the sheriffs office reported that three suspects were in custody and that deputies were working with EMS personnel to locate a possible second gunshot victim. The agency said there were multiple crime scenes under investigation, with multiple areas marked off. Because of the investigation, Brighton Road was closed from 105th Avenue to the 10800 block of Brighton Road. At about 6:20 p.m., the agency said that investigators believe the incident began at a residence on the 10700 block of Brighton Road. Detectives were at the scene to investigate and analyze evidence. The agency said that all those believed to be involved have been identified and/or taken into custody for investigative interviews. The agency said it is believed to be an isolated incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 303-288-1535. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest maternal mortality report found that in 2023, Black women nationally were more than three times more likely than white women to die during or after childbirth. (FatCamera/Getty Images) On the week that North Carolina senators were busy rolling out a $32.6B spending plan, it was difficult to gain attention for legislation that some consider a longshot this session. But Senator Natalie Murdock (D-Chatham, Durham) refused to allow budget week to shift her focus from what she sees as the critical need to pass a bill crafted to improve Black maternal health outcomes. The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. And Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related health problems than white women. Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham) (Photo: ncleg.gov) Murdock has repeated those sobering facts for more than three years now, as she tries to get the Republican-controlled Senate to advance the MOMnibus 3.0 Act. Battling perceptions and negative stereotypes Gabriel Scott, an MPA with the North Carolina Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women, joined Murdock last week in advocating for Senate Bill 571/House Bill 725. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott said when she went into labor at 25 weeks, doctors were dismissive. I needed pain medication, I needed help, I needed something. They did not listen. After she delivered her twins, complications with the placenta and an excessive loss of blood, left her husband terrified she might need a blood transfusion. They finally had an anesthesiologist come to give me medication. My husband said, can you at least tell me what the medication is? And the anesthesiologist laughed and said, Oh, this is typically medicine we give to war vets who have had limbs blown off, Scott recounted. They took it as a joke. The doctor continued to shove his arm in me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours later in recovery, a white female doctor came to her room acknowledging the difficulty of the delivery. And she said, there are things that we know we do well at the hospital and then there are things that we know we dont do well, and one of those things is our treatment of African-American women and childbirth. The same doctor suggested both she and her husband might seek mental health help. Scott gives thanks to God that her twin girls are healthy. But shes been dealing with pelvic pain for over four years and the trauma of doctors who didnt listen to her. Dr. Charity Watkins (Photo: Duke.edu) Dr. Charity Watkins, an assistant professor of social work at North Carolina Central University and a maternal health researcher at Duke University, shared her own terrifying story of pregnancy-related heart failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I always feel it is important for me to introduce myself using my professional roles. Maybe my doctoral degree will save me from the daily mistreatment I experienced because of my dark complexion. Maybe leaning into the perceived prestige of being a professor will protect me from poor perceptions and negative stereotypes associated with being a Black woman, Watkins told a room of reporters on Wednesday. After her pregnancy, Watkins presented with classic heart failure symptoms, a family history of heart disease, and a recent cesarean delivery followed by hemorrhaging. She was told by a doctor that maybe it was the flu. What could have led to me receiving quality health care without having to prove Im worthy of being treated as a human being? MOMnibus 3.0 Watkins believes the MOMnibus 3.0 Act would have changed her birth story, with doctors who would not have dismissed her as being over-dramatic or just another Black woman exaggerating her pain levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation would direct the NC Department of Health and Human Services to establish and operate a maternal mortality prevention grant initiative that would establish or expand programs for the prevention of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among Black women. Rep. Zack Hawkins (D-Durham) (Photo: ncleg.gov) Its time for us to provide Black mothers with more confidence in their care before, during, and after childbirth, said Watkins. The legislation would also require NCDHHS, in collaboration with community-based organizations led by Black women and a historically Black college and universities (HBCUs) that primarily serves minority populations to create evidence-based implicit bias training program for health care professionals. Patients receiving care at a perinatal care facility would also receive a list of their rights including being informed of continuing health care requirements following discharge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would also earmark $3 million for each year of the 2025-27 biennium for the UNC Board of Governors for recruiting, training, and retaining a diverse workforce of lactation consultants in North Carolina. Reps. Zack Hawkins (D-Durham) and Julie von Haefen (D-Wake) are advocating for HB 725, the companion bill in the state House. Hawkins said his two sisters and his wife had their own stories in which doctors were not listening appropriately to their pain, and the fact that they knew their own bodies. Von Haefen said while it may not seem like her place to speak on Black health, she also knew she could not turn away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This should not be something thats put solely on Black women. White women need to be allies in this fight, because we are all mothers. In North Carolina Black women are 1.8 times more likely to die from childbirth, two-thirds of these deaths are preventable, according to Murdock. Voters wait in line outside the Oklahoma County Election Board on Oct. 30. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) Oklahoma lawmakers are clearly scared to death of their constituents, and who could blame them? After all, voters in recent years have forced our lawmakers to come face-to-face with the terrifying reality that average Oklahomans can band together to circumvent the Legislatures will and force the passage of new progressive laws and block boneheaded conservative policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In short, by taking matters into their own hands by expanding Medicaid access for the working poor and reducing the states over-incarceration rates through criminal justice reforms, voters have repeatedly been serving lawmakers an unwanted reminder that the influence of rural Oklahoma is dwindling as the states population continues to shift to more politically diverse urban centers. I can understand how that must be a scary prospect for a Republican-led governing body whose members typically take immense pride in thinking up conservative policies. And, I suspect thats probably why lawmakers continue to monkey around with Oklahomans constitutionally guaranteed right to put their own proposed laws or constitutional amendments on the ballot. Its already an uphill battle to qualify measures for the ballot considering the enormous signature collection requirements over 92,000 for a statutory change and over 172,000 for a constitutional amendment and the 90-day window to gather those. But just when you think it cant get any worse, Republican lawmakers, led by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Sen. David Bullard, are telling us to hold their beer. In case youre not familiar with the idiom, its what people say when theyre about to do something extremely foolish that theyll likely regret later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma lawmakers are plowing ahead with a bizarre and likely unconstitutional scheme that seeks to disproportionately inflate the influence of rural voters at the expense of urban and suburban ones. They want to cap how many people living in each county can sign petitions. At most, that means only 20.8% of signatures can come from one county, which potentially disenfranchised tens of thousands of their constituents. And, among other things, their latest scheme also prevents people who live outside the state from working here to collect signatures, requires them to only be paid by Oklahoma entities and allows an appointed bureaucrat with no legal experience to decide how ballot summaries should be worded. Supporters say these changes will ensure rural voters have a bigger say on whats included on the ballot by forcing signature collectors to visit rural communities. Critics argue it attempts to dilute the influence of those living in urban counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the reasoning, the entire concept is an expensive lawsuit waiting to happen. Taxpayers should expect to foot that bill because the moment Gov. Kevin Stitts pen turns this into law, our state is going to get sued for violating peoples constitutional rights. And, they should. Last time I checked, we lived in a state where every citizen is worth the same regardless of where they live. Its mindboggling to argue that rural perspectives are worth more in a state where about 50% of the population lives in urban areas. And, Ive always lived with the philosophy that the more choices we have on the ballot, the better for our democracy. Voters, after all, deserve choice because they arent stupid. I may not agree with every ballot measure, but I respect my neighbors ability to put it up for a vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, I dont think many of our lawmakers have that same philosophy. Lets be honest, how often do we hear Republican legislators insult our intelligence by insisting that we dont know what is best for ourselves or we didnt understand what we voted for. Lawmakers always think they know whats best for us until voters are given the power to put some of those crazed ideas in their proper place the trash can. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Artificial intelligence is already replacing human workers, and there are two fields in particular that should be wary of the technology, according to a prominent tech investor. As reported by Business Insider, Victor Lazarte, a general partner at Benchmark, an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, spoke about AI during an appearance on the Twenty Minute VC podcast. Big companies talk about, like AI isnt replacing people, its augmenting them,' Lazarte reportedly said on the podcast. This is bulls**t. Its fully replacing people. More Bay Area Goodwill locations close, more layoffs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Lazarte, there are two professions in particular that should be especially worried about the rise of AI. Speaking to the podcast, Lazarte said lawyers and human resources workers should be particularly wary of being replaced by AI. Lazarte advises law school students to think about things they can do three years from now that AI wont be able to do. Theres not going to be that many things, Lazarte said. Lazarte also told the podcast that AI could be better than people at interviewing job candidates and lead to a more efficient hiring process for companies. Its worth noting that Benchmark, Lazartes firm, which in the past has backed major plays like Uber, WeWork, and Asana, has heavily invested in AI startups like Decart and Mercor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At age 24, Daniel Gonzalez was well-known to the authorities. He was an intelligent child, with an IQ of 125. But by his late teens, he had already racked up a long history of violence from punching a bus driver over a disputed fare to threatening his carer with a knife. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia aged 19, not helped by a fondness for LSD and Ketamine binges, he was soon spending time on the streets, in and out of mental hospitals, and in prison. So, when he launched a three-day murderous rampage in late summer 2004, detectives were able to catch the culprit rather quickly. UK police are particularly good at solving murders, with a homicide detection rate that historically hovers around 90 per cent. And Gonzalez who was inspired by horror film serial killer Freddie Krueger was arrested in central London just hours after knifing his fourth and final victim to death. The Freddie Krueger-style mask recovered from Daniel Gonzalezs belongings following his arrest - PA A lingering question has surrounded the case for years: could the young man from Woking, Surrey, have been stopped before committing his brutal acts? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His devoted single mother had certainly tried. Lesley Savage, an administrator at Surrey County Council, revealed after his trial that she had desperately reached out to authorities to intervene. In a letter dated 22 Jun 1998, one day after his 18th birthday, she wrote to social services: Does Daniel have to murder or be murdered before he can get the treatment he so badly needs? Yet her warnings were ignored. Gonzalez, her only child, was found guilty in 2006 and sentenced to six life sentences after the jury rejected his claims of insanity. The following year, he took his own life at high-security hospital Broadmoor. Following his death, a scathing independent report found his case was full of missed opportunities caused, in large part, by human error. Murder prediction tool Would his story have been any different today? Perhaps so. The advent of artificial intelligence is allowing law enforcement to keep a much closer and arguably more accurate eye on where the next crime might occur. Algorithms are now not only mapping detailed crime hotspots for officers to patrol, but increasingly identifying potential suspects too, before theyve even committed an offence. The question goes to the heart of the age old debate of nature vs nurture what exactly are the signs that suggest we might carry out a future crime? Is it our socio-economic background, how wealthy our postcode is or the people we surround ourselves with, or is it something more innate, revealed by sensitive data like hospital records or educational achievements? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was revealed to be working on a secret tool capable of predicting future murderers. Commissioned by the Prime Ministers Office during Rishi Sunaks tenure in No 10, the model which has been trained on up to half a million people with criminal records is used to determine which of the UKs thousands of criminals could pose the greatest risk. Internally nicknamed the Homicide Prediction Project, it relies on key health markers that are expected to have significant predictive power. These include data on mental health, addiction, disability, vulnerability and suicidal ideation each one of which were factors affecting Gonzalez before his killing spree, suggesting he would likely have been flagged by the programme. If the futuristic system sounds more like a Hollywood movie it is. Starring Tom Cruise, the sci-fi thriller Minority Report imagined a world in 2054 where police officers in Washington DCs Precrime department used visions from three clairvoyant humans called precogs to identify when someone was about to commit murder. Officers would then rout out these would-be-killers and put them in prison before they had a chance. The result? Almost all homicides were eliminated. Chilling and dystopian Switch the human psychics for AI and its not far from the MoJs own idea. Civil liberty campaigners Statewatch, which uncovered the project via freedom of information requests, have branded the project chilling and dystopian, accusing the government of profiling people as criminals before theyve done anything. The MoJ strongly denies this claim, and has insisted it is for research purposes only and will have no immediate impact on operational decisions. They believe it will only boost public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not the first time in the UK predictive policing has been used to target individuals over their future behaviour. Durham Constabularys Chief Constable, Mike Barton, became the first in the country to implement such an algorithm - Michael Cooper/PA In 2017, Durham Constabulary became the first force in the country to use such an algorithm on this occasion to help custody officers decide whether individuals were likely to reoffend within two years. The Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART) analysed 34 different factors including age, gender, criminal history, and, controversially, postcode and categorised them as low, medium, or high risk. The purpose of the tool was not to replace human judgment but help custody officers to decide what to do with the criminals. If they were deemed low or medium risk, they were eligible for a rehabilitation programme called Checkpoint. If they passed it, they avoided being prosecuted. But those deemed high risk were not allowed the opportunity to escape prosecution. How helpful this was is debatable however with the AI and human officers assigning different levels of risk to each other 56 per cent of the time. Developed with Cambridge University, the system itself had proved remarkably accurate during testing, correctly predicting low-risk offenders 98 per cent of the time. But it was found to be overly cautious with high-risk assessments, falsely flagging individuals who did not go on to commit serious offences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, a study revealed the algorithm was marginally better at prediction than experienced police officers. It was found to be accurate 53.8 per cent of the time which critics pointed out was no better than flipping a coin. The programme had already been discontinued two years prior over the running costs needed to keep refining and refreshing the model. Deterrence or treatment So if the MoJs model was to be brought in more widely, how would it be used in operation? Elijah Glantz, a research fellow for the organised crime and policing team (OCP) at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a defence and security think tank, tells The Telegraph: You certainly cant arrest them [the would-be offenders]. Any form of intervention skirting due process can never be the answer. Two options he suggests, could either be deterrence a police visit, for example, to warn an individual they are being watched or treatment, such as a visit by social workers to offer help and support. But then again, we dont have any evidence that these interventions are effective, or indeed evidence that theyre not actually having a negative effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, neither option has been particularly successful when introduced elsewhere particularly in the US where such tools have proliferated. In 2012, police in Chicago, a city plagued by gun violence, turned to technology to identify those most likely to be involved either as victims or offenders. The Strategic Subject List (SSL) also known as the heat list assigned a risk score between zero and 500 to individuals with criminal records, based on age, crime background and gang affiliations. In operation, officers would conduct custom notifications essentially turning up at the homes of high-scoring individuals to warn them they were being watched or offer social services. By 2016, around 400,000 Chicago residents were on the list accounting for nearly one in seven of its population. The result? An academic study that same year found the SSL had limited effect, with those on the list neither more or less likely to be murdered or shot than those who werent on it. It did, though, help police arrest suspects after a shooting, suggesting it was more useful for solving crime than predicting it. The SSL was discontinued in 2019. The tool was also found to have fuelled racial disparities. Further research revealed that 56 per cent of black men in their 20s appeared on the list, compared to just six per cent of white men the same age. This was not an anomaly. Elsewhere in the US, a widely used software called Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (Compas) was employed in courts across at least four states to help judges assess the likelihood of reoffending. A damning 2016 investigation by the nonprofit investigative journalism organisation ProPublica found that black defendants were nearly twice as likely as white defendants to be labelled high risk for reoffending, yet did not reoffend. Meanwhile, white defendants were more often misclassified as low risk, only to go on to commit new crimes. Black box tools These systems have been built with discriminatory data and serve only to supercharge racism, said Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, in February. His remarks were made as the charity published a 120-page report that found almost three in four forces in England and Wales were using some form of predictive policing tools, from targeting communities to putting suspects on intelligence lists just because of their association with criminals even if they have never offended themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling for a prohibition on the systems, Deshmukh said: These technologies have consequences. The future they are creating is one where technology decides that our neighbours are criminals, purely based on the colour of their skin or their socio-economic background. These systems have been built with discriminatory data and serve only to supercharge racism, claims Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK All predictive policing is inherently biased, says Glantz, because the data being fed into the algorithm from how it is collected to the parameters set will always be a choice, and therefore never completely neutral. The study of terrorism suffers from this as researchers are only ever looking at the profiles of individuals that became terrorists, and rarely those that didnt. It doesnt have to be a political or ideological bias, just by virtue of making that choice there will always be bias in the outcome. In the MoJs case, by focusing on those that have a criminal record you end up creating suspect communities. Youre only looking at a certain subsection of the data and, in doing so, you create an increased risk of false positives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not a fan personally, says Glantz of the MoJs tool. The problem is: we dont really know how theyve built it and what exactly theyre intending to do with it. Independent oversight of such systems is absolutely crucial, he says. These tools are a black box and unsupervised most of the time. Developing them without significant consultation with civil society, third party experts, and academics massively risks undermining public confidence and trust in policing at a time when its already very fragile. Similar concerns have been raised by Statewatch in its scathing assessment of the MoJs murder prediction system. Instead of throwing money towards developing dodgy and racist AI and algorithms, the government must invest in genuinely supportive welfare services, says Statewatch researcher Sofa Lyall. Lessons to be learned? The latter point is a sentiment that would likely resonate with Gonzalezs mother. She told the BBC after her sons sentencing in 2006: Despite our incessant pleas to health services, social services and to the police, Daniel was often turned away, passed from one group of professionals to another and left without the support and help he so obviously and desperately needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every time we asked for help... we were told we would have to wait for a crisis to occur before he could have the help he needed, she added. I did not know something dreadful was going to happen, but I was scared. Following his trial, the NHS trust that treated Gonzalez for seven years said there had been no sign he would show serious violence towards others, adding hospital staff could not have predicted he would go on to kill four people and leave two others scarred for life. Mr Gonzalez was a disturbed young man who acted as he did from forces that we may never fully understand, Fiona Edwards, chief executive of the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust, said at the time. If there are any lessons we can learn that will in any way reduce the likelihood of this kind of tragedy happening again we certainly want to discover them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly two decades on, have we finally found one? 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. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham (left) speaks with Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on April 30, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Givan has sponsored legislation to make Juneteenth a state holiday in the past, but the House passed Rehm's version of the bill last week. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives Thursday passed a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. HB 165, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, closes state offices on June 19, which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a bill that is constituent driven, that was brought to me by my constituents, Rehm said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation passed after years of efforts by Black Democrats in the Alabama Legislature, who either saw their proposals rejected or were effectively forced by Republicans to pair Juneteenth with Jefferson Davis Birthday, a state holiday honoring the slaveholder and white supremacist who said that Black Americans were fitted expressly for human servitude. The House last year approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Juanadalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, that would have required state employees to choose Juneteenth or Jefferson Davis Birthday as their day off, a choice not required of any other state holiday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Black Democrats said during the debate on the bill last year that they struggled with whether to support the legislation with the Davis requirement. The House approved the bill, but it did not come out of the Senate. Several Black Democrats in the House Thursday expressed their frustration that Rehms bill which makes Juneteenth a standalone holiday not tied to Davis birthday won approval from the majority Republican Legislature while Givans had to be altered before it could come to a vote. Theres something wrong that the only way it could be a good bill is that somebody else carries it, and not the people that was affected by it in the first place, Moore said. Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Mobile, echoed Moore and said he was thankful the bill would pass but was upset that it took a white Republican like Rehm to pass it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes we need to win for our community, Bracy said. Weve had people that have brought this legislation for decades, and it wasnt good enough. The bill passed 85-4 with a floor amendment by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, that moved the effective date up to June 1 so that state employees could reap the benefits of the legislation this year. It was going to be taking effect on October 1, and we wanted it to take effect prior to the actual holiday, Rehm said, supporting the amendment. Gov. Kay Ivey has signed memos for the last four years making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth has also been a federally recognized holiday since 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alabamas official state holiday calendar puts Robert E. Lees Birthday on the same day as Martin Luther Kings Birthday. The state also marks Confederate Memorial Day on the fourth Monday in April. The bill goes to the Senate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, speaks to colleagues on the floor of the Alabama Senate on Feb. 4, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. The Alabama Legislature began its 2025 regular session on Tuesday. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate approved two bills Thursday aimed at enhancing online safety for minors by requiring filters on new smartphones and tablets and mandating age verification for app store access. Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, the sponsor of the legislation, said on the Senate floor that the bills aim to prevent children from accessing potentially harmful content online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They try to protect children, the most vulnerable of our society they do it in different ways, but its all about protecting children, Chambliss said following the vote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The first bill, SB 186, passed the chamber on a 28-5 vote. It would require that smartphones and tablets manufactured on or after June 1 and activated in Alabama include a pre-installed filter capable of blocking obscene material. During the device activation process, users will be asked their age and the filter will automatically be enabled if the user is identified as a minor who is under 18. Adults would be able to disable the filter using a password. We dont even have to come up with a solution. Its already there. It is already there. This bill is very simple. All it does is require those who manufacture these devices to turn the filter on if the device is enabled, activated for a child. Thats it in a nutshell, he said on the Senate floor, adding that smartphones are already equipped with these filters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would allow parents or guardians to sue manufacturers for damages if a minor accesses obscene material due to non-compliance, and the Attorney General would also be able to pursue civil penalties against manufacturers. The second bill, SB 187, which passed 26-6, would require app store to verify the age of individuals creating accounts in Alabama. The app store must obtain parental consent for users identified as minors before the minor can download or purchase apps or make in-app purchases. It would also prohibit developers from enforcing disclosures or terms of service on minors without parental consent. This is important because children, minors are not of an age and maturity and intellect to enter into these contracts, to read and understand these contracts. Theyre hard enough for adults, Chambliss said. This legislation would require app store providers to share age category data with developers and notify parents of significant app changes, requiring renewed consent. The attorney general would have the right to pursue civil action for potentially deceptive trade practices, potentially leading to significant fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chambliss said that similar legislation regarding app stores has advanced in other states, including one that was signed into law in Utah in March. Chambliss said that the Alabama bill was amended to align closely with Utahs law. The point is to try to make it consistent across the states, and then, hopefully, when enough states adopt it, maybe Congress will adopt it, and we wouldnt have a different law in every state, Chambliss said. Both bills move to the Alabama House of Representatives for consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE "I never imagined a Chinese bus card could be 'hidden' in a phone SIM card! No need to unlock the screenjust a quick tap, and Im on my way. Even the subway gates recognize my phone!" Recently, China Mobile Financial Technology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with China Mobile Group Beijing Co., Ltd., launched a "communication + transit" product tailored for residents of international visitors to Chinathe Transit Smart Card (hereinafter referred to as "Transit Smart Card"). Built on China Mobiles Super SIM technology, this product transforms a phone SIM card into a transit card. Once activated, users can enjoy internet access, make calls, and use NFC-enabled public transportation in over 330 cities across China, as well as in Hong Kong and Macao. A simple tap of the phone allows users to breeze through transit gates in seconds. At the China Mobile service counter in Beijing Capital International Airports Terminal 2, staff fluently introduced the product in English to an Icelandic tourist who had just arrived in China. In just a few steps, the tourist completed the registration and activation of the Transit Smart Card package. While exploring Beijing by bus or subway, a quick tap of the phone on the gate was all it took to boardno internet connection or screen wake-up required. The delighted tourist held up their phone, exclaiming, "Now my phone isnt just a 'Chinese number'its my 'All-Access Pass to China'!" To ensure a seamless experience for international users right upon arrival, dedicated bilingual service counters have been set up at Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport, offering "full-scenario support." The launch and pilot rollout of the Transit Smart Card represent China Mobile Financial Technologys innovative effort to leverage "communication + transit" technology to facilitate travel for international visitors. Moving forward, the company will continue to explore multi-scenario applications based on Super SIM technology, delivering superior, user-centric services. Contributed by Feiyang HuangYikang Wang Editor: Zhang Zhou ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) An Albuquerque family fought against all odds to ensure their babys survival after a rare diagnosis that affects about 1,600 babies in the United States every year. Were going to help our baby girl and, you know, get the best treatment that we can for her, emphasized Brooklyn Roybal. At 14 weeks pregnant with her second child, Brooklyn Roybals and her husbands lives were turned upside down when doctors found signs of trouble during an ultrasound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her unborn babys heart was displaced due to a rare birth defect known as congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Story continues below It results from a hole in the diaphragm, which is the connection between the chest cavity and the abdomen. And as a result of that, all the content in the abdomen actually herniates up into the chest, said Dr. Chris Derderian surgical, Critical Care at Childrens Hospital Colorado. CDH can compress the lungs and, potentially, lead to breathing problems. I was terrified, I was truly scared going into the unknown, continued Roybal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being told what Baby Denvers odds of survival were, Roybal and her family took action to give her baby the best chance at life. The love you have for your children is indescribable. And, you know, you want to choose the best help you can for them, emphasized Roybal. The family went to Denver, seeking care at Colorado Fetal Care Center. I didnt feel that reassurance until I truly met them to understand, you know, how passionate they were and knowledgeable they were in this diagnosis to where it was just. I trusted them, shared Roybal. Baby Denver was born on February 20th after 5 months in the NICU. She was able to come home just in time for her dads birthday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She inspires me and Jake every day, like how much she has progressed and it was terrifying. It was scary. And like every day she wakes up and shes a happy, healthy baby. So, you know, thats just the most strongest little girl Ive ever met, said Roybal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito faulted his colleagues for temporarily halting deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act literally in the middle of the night. Alitos dissent, also sent out at nearly midnight Saturday, came after the court agreed in the early hours of the morning to block for now any additional flights that would transport migrants to a Salvadoran prison. The Court issued unprecedented and legally questionable relief without giving the lower courts a chance to rule, without hearing from the opposing party, within eight hours of receiving the application, with dubious factual support for its order, and without providing any explanation for its order, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I refused to join the Courts order because we had no good reason to think that, under the circumstances, issuing an order at midnight was necessary or appropriate. The court took the unusual step of issuing its ruling without waiting for Alito to share his dissent another detail demonstrating the swiftness of the courts actions after it was asked to intervene. While the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had challenged the suspected removals in lower courts, it quickly launched appeals seeking emergency relief. The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court, the Supreme Courts order reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The class extends to any migrant detained in the Northern District of Texas who is being removed under the 18th century Alien Enemies Act. It does not apply elsewhere, though judges overseeing separate cases have temporarily blocked deportations for those detained in the Southern District of New York, the District of Colorado and the Southern District of Texas. The 1798 law enables migrants to be summarily deported amid a declared war or an invasion by a foreign nation. The law has been leveraged three previous times, all during wars, but Trump contends he can use it because the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is effectively invading the U.S. The Trump administration first began using the law last month when it deported more than 100 Venezuelan men to a Salvadoran mega prison. Also on those flights were Salvadoran nationals the government has said are members of the MS-13 gang. But the removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national and Maryland resident who an immigration court in 2019 ordered protected from deportation to his home country, shows the stakes of such removals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department has said Abrego Garcia was removed due to an administrative error, but it has since argued it has no power to secure the return of him or any of the other men once they were released into the custody of another government. The Trump administration on Saturday asked for clarification from the high court, asking it to refine its order to allow Alien Enemies Act deportations for any migrant who has not challenged their removal. It also asked the court to clarify whether they may remove migrants to El Salvador under immigration authorities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Late on Saturday night, Justice Samuel Alito released his dissent from the Supreme Courts orderissued nearly 24 hours earlierblocking the allegedly impending deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. It is highly unusual for the court to rush out an order before a dissenting justice has the chance to complete their opinion, reflecting the urgency of its intervention. That delay between the majoritys order and the publication of the dissent gave Alito plenty of time to raise persuasive objections to the courts ruling. He failed on every level, misstating key points of law in a bid to bail out the president (which was joined only by Justice Clarence Thomas). Perhaps Alitos most egregious misrepresentation, however, was not legal, but factual: The justice wrote that Trump administration lawyers informed a federal judge that no deportations were planned to occur on Friday or Saturday, so there was no need for emergency action. That is false. And what the Justice Department actually said in court reinforces the wisdom and necessity of the Supreme Courts dramatic move. Alitos claim that there were no planned deportations originates from a hearing that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg held in Washington, D.C., on Friday evening. By that point, the American Civil Liberties Union had credible information from multiple sources that the government was loading Venezuelan migrants on buses heading to the Abilene, Texas, airport for rendition flights to El Salvador. These sources confirmed that federal officials had failed to provide these migrants with the due process rights recently afforded to them by the Supreme Court, including a meaningful opportunity to contest their removal. Instead, the government allegedly intended to deport them just 24 hours after coercing them into signing a notice in English that failed to inform them of their rights. Despite ample evidence of imminent, unlawful rendition flights, the conservative federal courts in Texas refused to act. The ACLU thus asked Boasberg for an emergency hearing on Friday night, and the judge summoned Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign to explain the administrations plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ensigns representations to the court that evening were, as the transcript demonstrates, a master class in hedging and obfuscation. The judge asked Ensign directly and repeatedly whether the administration planned to fly any migrants to El Salvador on Friday or Saturday. Ensign would not give a direct answer. His first response reflected careful ambiguity: I have also been told that there are no flights tonight and that the people I spoke to were not aware of any plans for flights tomorrow, he said. Later, he added: The information that was relayed to me was a definitive There are no flights tonight, and the people I spoke to were not aware of any plans for flights tomorrow. Note the qualifiers and calculated uncertainty. Ensign wasnt sure, but he had been told. The people he spoke to were not aware of any plans. He was only conveying the information that was relayed to him. Sensing this deliberate vagueness, Boasberg adjourned the hearing for 30 minutes so Ensign could gather more information. When it resumed, Ensign told the court: I have spoken with DHS. They are not aware of any current plans for flights tomorrow, but I have also been told to say that they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow, that that would be consistent with the Supreme Courts earlier decision. Lee Gelernt, the ACLU attorney representing the plaintiffs, was not satisfied with this response. I think our position would be clear on that, he told Boasberg. That doesnt give us much confidence that there wont be planes. Gelernt was right to be skepticaland to feel, perhaps, that history was repeating itself. On March 15, as the government was preparing its first round of deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, Boasberg held a similar hearing with Gelernt and Ensign. Then, as now, Ensign averred that he had incomplete information, and could only convey what he had been told. Then, as now, Boasberg adjourned to let Ensign gather more details. Then, as now, Ensign came back largely empty-handed, without more substantive information to share. We now know, though, that the government exploited that adjournment of the March 15 hearing to rush out two flights heading for El Salvadorbefore Boasberg had a chance to rule. Ensign, who faces criminal contempt for his role in this debacle, insists that he was not aware of the rushed departures. If thats true, then the Trump administration has already obscured one round of deportation flights from him in the midst of a court proceeding. Why should anyone think it wouldnt pull the same trick on Friday? Ensigns representations no longer carry any weight if the government will conceal pertinent information from him that a court wishes to learn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Layered into this equivocation was an even deeper distortion. Ensign told Boasberg that the government has no plans to remove anyone thats filed a habeas petitionthat is, a challenge to their expulsion to El Salvador. But Ensign then admitted that the government is still preventing migrants from filing habeas petitions in the first place. The attorney insisted that despite the Supreme Courts call for due process, federal officials did not have to inform migrants of their rights, or give them more than 24 hours notice before loading them on a flight to El Salvador. This threadbare process, Ensign told Boasberg, satisfied the governments constitutional obligations. His assurance that the government has no plans to remove anyone thats filed a habeas petition was therefore nearly meaningless given that the government claimed the authority to thwart those petitions from being filed in the first place. In light of the full context and Ensigns specific choice of words, Alito was simply wrong to claim that the Justice Department denied plans to fly out migrants on Friday or Saturday. Set aside the fact that DHS reserve[d] the right to remove people on Saturday. Set aside the bad-faith scheme hatched by administration officials to sabotage habeas petitions by denying migrants real due process. The truth is that Ensign himself refused to say with certainty that migrants were safe from imminent removal. And just last month, the government allegedly deprived him of real-time information about rendition flightsfor the express purpose of hiding those flights from the court. Alitos confidence that no migrants would be illegally renditioned was not just misplaced, but actively misleading. Boasberg ultimately declined to issue a restraining order on Friday, finding that the Supreme Court already tied his hands in this case. When judges in Texas would not act, SCOTUS finally stepped in around 1 a.m. on Saturday morning, halting the flights; a video obtained by NBC News shows buses full of migrants driving to the airport, then turning around shortly before the Supreme Courts order was released to the public. Guards at the detention facility reportedly told the individuals that they were heading to El Salvador. All available evidence indicates that Ensigns words were crafted to let the government fly these men to a Salvadoran prison early Saturday morning, then maintain that the flights did not technically conflict with the Justice Departments claims in court. More than anything, the Supreme Courts order reveals that a majority of justices are losing faith in the Trump administration, and not a moment too soon. Theres only one plausible reason why the court would intervene at 1 a.m. on Saturday, before Alito finished his dissent and before the Justice Department even responded to the ACLUs pleas: It didnt trust the government to tell the truth or follow the law, including its own directives. It is heartening that a majority has, at long last, evidently recognized that this administration does not deserve the deference that courts usually afford to the executive branch. And its damning that Alito and Thomas remain in willful denial about this new reality. New Mexico educators say alternative licensed teachers could fill the gaps in teacher vacancies throughout the state. (Photo courtesy Santa Fe Public Schools) As New Mexico schools continue to grapple with more than 700 teacher vacancies, according to the most recent data, some districts have begun to rely on teachers licensed through the states alternative licensing programs, which provide licensure pathways for people with degrees in areas outside of education. For instance, Hatch Valley Public Schools Superintendent Michael Chavez told Source NM about one third of the teachers the district employs are non-traditional teachers and because of this, the district does not deal with teacher vacancies to the same extent as other districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the 2024 New Mexico Educator Vacancy Report released in October, there were 737 teacher vacancies last year, 34% of which were special education teacher positions and 24% were elementary positions. The vacancy rate showed a slight improvement over 2023 by 14 positions. When asked for the total number of current teachers licensed through an alternative program, a Public Education Department spokesperson pointed to the same report, which noted that more than 1,100 students completed a teacher preparation program at a New Mexico school last year and more than half of those students were enrolled in an alternative program. These teachers are highly qualified and bring years of professional experience in their field to the classroom, Chavez said. However, he noted, they are still learning how to be teachers. This is why professional work hours are so important, for teachers from all pathways and experience. One of the things that Ive been really pushing on since we came out of COVID is we need to build the capacity of our teachers, Chavez said. But finding the time with 180 days of instruction a number set by the state Public Education Department in a March 2024 rule and currently in litigation is challenging, he said. What we need is more timefor professional development with teachers so we can develop them and build their capacity in learning how to become an effective teacher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexicos current Public School Code allows middle and high school teachers to use 30 hours of instructional time for parent-teacher meetings, professional development and mentorship, while elementary teachers can use up to 60 hours. These standards were established in 2023 through House Bill 130, which also set a required 1,140 instructional hours per school year. The maximum professional work hours allowed previously were even fewer. When the Public Education Department subsequently created its rule requiring 180 instructional days per calendar year, it also included a stipulation that professional work hours be completed before school, after school or on a day outside of the required minimum, so as to not detract from students instructional time. That component of the rule also faces opposition. Whitney Holland, president of American Federation of Teachers New Mexico chapter, told Source NM that there are more than enough opportunities to accommodate professional development during regular school time and that her organization is going to hold the line against the PEDs rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holland told Source that AFT-NM always advocates for more professional development time and an alignment between primary and secondary teachers allowed hours. I think the most valuable time I had as professional development as a teacher was that time where I could collaborate with my peers and even go into their classrooms and see what theyre doing, Holland said. She said she has some concern over alternative licensed teachers filling so many teacher vacancies because teaching is often their second career and AFT wants to make sure were investing in people who are going to stay in their communities and stay in their field, but at the end of the day, Ive worked with a ton of [alternative] licensed teachers who have been super capable. They bring a lot to the table. Holland said she would rather have alternative licensed teachers fill vacancies than long-term substitutes, so long as there are some individuals in classrooms with traditional licensure through the PED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 238, introduced during this years legislative session, would have amended the Public School Code to allow all levels of teachers K-12 up to 60 hours of professional work hours. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill, but it eventually died in the Senate Finance Committee. Holland said she will continue advocating for teachers to have more professional work hours going forward because we are looking at a holistic model of what pieces of education need to change and I think looking at that traditional school year, school day is part of that, she said. Its not going to be one fix. Its going to have to be a whole bunch of different things. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis, who died on Monday, had an informal, lighthearted speaking style, and sometimes he even created words in a combination of his native Spanish with the Italian that he spoke as pope. Some of his memorable quotes: A simple, initial greeting Brothers and sisters, good evening! -- Francis first words delivered from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica after his election as pontiff on March 13, 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ A plea to remember the poor When the votes reached two-thirds, there was the usual applause, because the pope had been elected. And he gave me a hug and a kiss and said: Dont forget the poor! And those words came to me: the poor, the poor. Then, right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of all the wars, as the votes were still being counted, till the end. Francis is also the man of peace. That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi. How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor! Francis, speaking to journalists on March 16, 2013, recounting how Cardinal Claudio Hummes gave him the idea of choosing the name Francis. ___ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A plea for mercy In these days, Ive been able to read a book by a cardinal Cardinal Kasper, a good theologian about mercy. And this book has done me a lot of good, though dont think Im just doing publicity for my cardinals books! Its not like that. But its done me so much good. Cardinal Kasper said that feeling mercy, this word changes everything. Its the best thing we can feel: It changes the world. A bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just. Francis' First Angelus prayer from his studio window, March 17, 2013. ___ A greeting for Benedict We are brothers. Francis, upon meeting Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI for the first time after the election, at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, March 23, 2013. ___ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A welcoming phrase Who am I to judge? Francis, responding to a question about a purportedly gay priest, in a comment that set the tone for a papacy more welcoming to LGBTQ+ Catholics, July 28, 2013. ___ A greeting for the patriarch We are brothers. Francis, to Patriarch Kirill during the first-ever papal meeting with the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, in the Havana airport, Feb. 13, 2016. ___ A message on the sacraments In certain cases, this can include the help of the sacraments. Hence, I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but rather an encounter with the Lords mercy. I would also point out that the Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.' Footnote 351 in encyclical Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), referencing Francis writings about access to the Eucharist, April 8, 2016. ___ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An outreach to Islam "The meeting is the message. Francis, upon meeting Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the prestigious Sunni Muslim center of learning, after a long freeze in relations, May 23, 2016. ___ On criticism Its an honor if the Americans attack me. Francis quip to French journalist-author Nicholas Seneze, referring to U.S. conservative criticism, aboard the papal plane about Senezes book How America Wants to Change the Pope, Sept. 4, 2019. ___ On the pandemic We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time, important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. Francis, praying for an end to the coronavirus pandemic in St. Peters Square, March 27, 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ On Indigenous people I am sorry. I ask forgiveness, in particular, for the ways in which many members of the church and of religious communities cooperated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residential schools. Francis, apologizing for abuses of Indigenous peoples in Canadas residential schools, at the site of a former school in Maskwacis, Alberta, July 25, 2022. ___ On Argentina I dont know if youre familiar with this theological-cultural history, that the guardian angels of some countries got mad with God and told him: Father, you were unfair to us you gave each of our countries a wealth: cattle, agriculture, mining. And to the Argentines you gave them everything. Everything! They have all the wealth. And it is said that God thought a little. But to balance it out, I gave Argentina Argentines." Francis, in an interview with The Associated Press, Jan. 24, 2023. ___ On homosexuality Being homosexual is not a crime. Francis, in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to countries that criminalize homosexuality, Jan. 24, 2023. Rep. Don Bacon, a prominent Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, became the first sitting GOP lawmaker Monday to suggest President Donald Trump should fire Pete Hegseth calling the chaos at the Pentagon one reason why many Hill Republicans were privately uneasy with the Defense secretarys nomination in the first place. I had concerns from the get-go because Pete Hegseth didnt have a lot of experience, Bacon, a former Air Force general who now chairs of the subcommittee on cyber issues, said in an interview. I like him on Fox. But does he have the experience to lead one of the largest organizations in the world? Thats a concern. The Nebraska lawmaker also said that while he didnt feel it was his place to call on Hegseth to resign, he wouldnt stand for Hegseths mismanagement were he the occupant of the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If its true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, its totally unacceptable, said Bacon, referring to the New York Times report that Hegseth shared sensitive information about military operations in Yemen in a private chat on the Signal app that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer. Its the second report of administration officials using an unclassified messaging platform to share sensitive information. Im not in the White House, and Im not going to tell the White House how to manage this but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldnt tolerate it if I was in charge," Bacon continued. Hegseths decision to use a private device or Signal to communicate classified information was especially troubling, said Bacon, given vast interest among foreign adversaries to hack the phones of officials at the highest levels of government. Russia and China put up thousands of people to monitor all these phone calls at the very top, and the No. 1 target besides the president would be the secretary of Defense, said Bacon. Russia and China are all over his phone, and for him to be putting secret stuff on his phone is not right. Hes acting like hes above the law and that shows an amateur person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacons comments come amid a larger string of high-level firings, public dramas and disagreements over the handling of sensitive and classified information within the administration, with the lawmaker casting judgment on the apparent dysfunction inside the Pentagon specifically. His condemnation also follows harsh words from former top Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who stepped down last week and blamed Hegseth for plunging the department into chaos in a POLITICO Magazine opinion piece published Sunday night. It looks like theres a meltdown going on, Bacon said. Theres a lot a lot of smoke coming out of the Pentagon, and I got to believe theres some fire there somewhere. CARTHAGE, N.Y. (WWTI) One person is being assisted by the American Red Cross after a weekend fire in Jefferson County. Volunteers from the Central and Northern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid to one person after a fire early Saturday morning on First Street in Carthage. The Red Cross provided financial assistance which can be used for necessities such as shelter, food, and clothing to one adult. Volunteers also offered emotional support, comfort kits containing personal care items, and blankets. The resident is eligible for Veterans services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A Wayne County judge said there's "ample evidence" for the case to proceed against a teenager accused of participating in the July 2024 block party shooting, described by police as the largest mass shooting in state history. Demitrus Shaw, 19, faces 36 charges related to the tragedy. Detectives testified they could not identify the shooters in the video surveillance they have of that night. But Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Natayai Scott argued in court April 21 that during a lengthy police interrogation, Shaw admitted to firing two rounds and corroborated the number of shooters, the caliber casings on the scene, where they stood where shots were fired, and where they ran soon after. Cell phone records also placed Shaw in the Rossini area at the time of the shooting, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Shaw told investigators what the motive was, Scott said. It was Shaw who drove five other members of the 55s a Detroit offshoot of the Los Angeles Bloods gang to the massive illegal block party on Rossini Drive not for the celebration, but to kill in retaliation, Scott argued. A 55 member was shot a year prior to the block party shooting by their rival Crips-associated gang BTN, Michigan State Police detective Michael Klenner testified in court. And the illegal block party was put on by the Crips in Bloods territory, Klenner testified. "He's the vehicle. He's the driving force," Scott said of Shaw in her closing argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shaw's attorney, Mohammed Nasser, said his client's confessions weren't voluntary and that police lied to him about the extent of evidence they had against him. And he said his rights should have been read to him after a second detective began interrogating Shaw. Nasser began his closing arguments by asking Jacque to suppress the video of the interrogation. Jacque denied his request. "What evidence do they have besides an eight-hour coercive interrogation?" Nasser posed to the Free Press. In the interrogation video played in court, Shaw is heard attempting to distance himself from the mass shooting that killed two people and wounded 19 others, referring to the group he was with at the block party as "them" and not "we." And he said his crew was "really mad" at him because he only fired two rounds and then ran. We? I was just being a follower," he told Klenner in the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After 36th District Judge Shawn Jacque made his decision at Shaw's preliminary examination, Shaw's father said firmly, "my son is innocent," to a Free Press reporter outside of the court room. Detroit police arrested Shaw in January in connection with the block party mass shooting on Rossini Drive. He's accused of firing a handgun multiple times into a crowd of over a thousand party-goers at about 2:30 a.m. on July 7. Killed were Shanae Fletcher, 20, of Harrison Township, and Phillip Arnold Jr., 21, of Detroit. The remaining victims were mostly women and girls ages 16 to 24. More: Judge: Case against codefendants in Northfield Twp. killings can proceed to trial More: Gunfire, explosions ring out from shooting range next to her home. And nobody can help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shaw was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, 16 counts of assault with intent to murder, and 18 counts of felony firearm crimes. Detectives were led to Shaw after ballistic evidence matched shell casings at the block party scene to a separate shooting just a few months prior in the same neighborhood. Shaw was charged with a several other crimes in that case. In court, authorities went through cellphone data pulled from Shaw's phone that places him on and around Rossini Drive at the time of the shooting. His phone turns off right before the shooting and then turns back on right after, authorities said. Police previously said 10 others were arrested in connection with the shooting and other crimes. They said they confiscated more than 21 firearms two stolen and an estimated $500,000 worth of narcotics mainly fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of those 10, none were charged with a crime, Maria Miller, spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, said. Shaw at one point in the video admits getting out of the car with the group, but said he was the last to get out because he was having second thoughts. I was telling them this aint a good idea, but its like 'Were already here,'" he tells a detective in the video. And Klenner testified that Shaw placed him and others in the same driveway on Rossini where some of the suspected shooters were caught on camera but could not be identified right before shots were fired. "You didn't shoot two times, bro," Klenner tells Shaw in the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was all the way in the back," Shaw responds. "Somebody ended up taking the gun from me." Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com or on X: @andreamsahouri. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit block party mass shooting suspect faces 36 charges BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- China will carry out intensive space missions, including Tianwen-2 for asteroid exploration, in 2025, an official of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Thursday. The Tianwen-2 mission will carry out asteroid flyby and sampling, and the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft are also scheduled for launch this year, said Liu Yunfeng, deputy director of the CNSA's system engineering department, at a press conference on the upcoming Space Day of China. In terms of international collaboration, Liu confirmed two major projects: the China-Europe joint space mission -- Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) -- which aims to uncover how solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, and an electromagnetic monitoring satellite jointly developed by China and Italy, which will support research into earthquake prediction. China will deepen space cooperation with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), BRICS nations, and European partners, Liu said. Efforts will focus on advancing collaboration in lunar and deep space exploration, including jointly promoting the construction of the international lunar research station, he added. Within the BRICS framework, China will continue advancing the development of the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation to enhance disaster emergency data sharing, Liu said. China will also provide satellite services to BRI partner countries, supporting their space capacity development and fostering sustainable progress in agriculture, disaster prevention, and smart city initiatives, he added. Liu also outlined the events planned for the 10th Space Day of China, to be held on April 24 in Shanghai, which include the opening ceremony, space science exhibitions, cultural forums, and academic conferences. Liu noted that Space Day highlights the country's longstanding commitment to the peaceful use of outer space for the benefit of humanity. The events aim to inspire public support for space endeavors and cultivate scientific curiosity among young people, encouraging them to explore and innovate. This year's China Space Conference will take place from April 23 to 25, featuring a main forum alongside over 20 academic sessions. A space science and technology exhibition will be held in Shanghai from April 24 to May 5 to showcase advancements in space technology, space science, space applications, and commercial aerospace. There will be nearly 650 public engagement events across the country, such as open days at space facilities, science lectures, competitions, and workshops. Key space infrastructure across China will be opened to students and the public, while academicians and experts will visit schools to deliver educational talks on space exploration. A conference seeking international solutions on climate change will convene delegates from 41 countries, regions, and international organizations to discuss space technology's role in addressing climate monitoring needs under carbon neutrality goals. Discussions will focus on advancing international collaboration in carbon satellite development, launch, and application. Additionally, the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) developers' meeting will share progress and experience from the ILRS project. Participants will explore future collaboration models, aiming to build consensus on mission planning, data sharing, and joint experiments to advance lunar exploration. Marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, the CNSA has invited Thailand to be this year's guest country of honor. The two countries plan to deepen cooperation on payloads for the Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8 missions, remote sensing data applications, and joint satellite development, Liu said. Starting in 2016, China chose April 24 as the Space Day of China to mark the launch of its first satellite, "Dongfanghong-1," into space on April 24, 1970. Editor: WXY "God is not afraid of new things! That is why he is continually surprising us, opening our hearts and guiding us in unexpected ways." So declared Pope Francis in October 2014, just over a year-and-a-half after he was elected, as he beatified Pope Paul VI, who led the Catholic Church nearly two generations earlier. Indeed, from the moment he assumed the position, Pope Francis the first pontiff from the Americas in the history of the Roman Catholic Church introduced a change of style and focus to the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Pope Francis, everyman leader of the Roman Catholic Church, dies at 88 Pope Francis, who died on Monday, called for "a church for the poor," a church that would reach out to what he called the "peripheries." He called for a humble, more merciful and inclusive church, and repeatedly remembered the "marginalized" people in society. His papacy brought a series of firsts to the role, which endeared him to people all over the world. Among these: He was the first to take the name Francis, after the medieval friar St. Francis of Assisi, who vowed to live in poverty. PHOTO: Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (C) appears with cardinals at the window of St Peter's Basilica after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. (Afp/AFP via Getty Images) Francis was the first Jesuit pope; the first to live next door to his retired predecessor, Benedict XVI, in Vatican City; the first to carry his own briefcase onto flights; and the first pope to travel in a small car instead of a limousine. He was also the first to name cardinals in 27 countries that had never before had one, including East Timor (Timor-Leste), Singapore, Mongolia, and New Guinea. Francis was the first pope to journey to a war zone, to grant dozens of one-on-one interviews with journalists, pose for innumerable selfies with admirers, and the first to marry two flight attendants in an impromptu in-flight wedding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On his first day as pope in March 2013, he appeared at his cardinal lodgings in Rome in a simple white papal cassock and black shoes to pick up his luggage and settle his bill. Taking office, he immediately shed most of the papal trappings and chose to live in rooms in the Vatican guest house instead of the papal residence in Vatican City. MORE: Video -- The People's Pope Francis also sought to better adjust the church to the changing, modern world. Like previous popes, he issued stark warnings against what he saw as dangers: war and armaments, environmental destruction, the death penalty, abortion, and a "throwaway culture" that doesn't care about the poor, homeless, disabled, elderly, migrants and refugees. He spoke of living the so-called third world war being "fought piecemeal" around the globe as he called for peace and a stop to all conflicts most insistently in what he called the "martyred Ukraine," and the war in Gaza. But his calls often remained unheeded. PHOTO: Pope Francis meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Studio of Paul VI Hall on May 13, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Vatican Pool/Getty Images) Pope Francis held the church's position on doctrinal matters but introduced a softer approach to those who didn't follow the church's teaching, especially regarding LGBTQ+ people. When a journalist asked him a question about gay priests on his first foreign trip, just four months after his election, Francis stunned people with his response: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Video -- Pope Francis on Gay Catholics: 'Who Am I to Judge?' He didn't move the church from its doctrine of holding homosexuality as sin, but throughout his papacy, Francis took meetings with advocates and offered an open tone. In a January 2023 interview with the Associated Press, Francis declared that "being gay is not a crime," and that laws criminalizing it were "unjust" an ostensibly political statement and an unprecedented papal nudge toward governments regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Although sometimes criticized for not consulting his advisers, or for not using the hierarchical offices of the church before making pronouncements, Francis insisted he wanted a more "synodal" way of deciding the future path of the church, through collaboration and openness. This, he said, should include listening to each member of the church and bringing about a wider consultation among the laity on all issues. Francis led the Church during the global coronavirus pandemic, and celebrated the Via Crucis, or Way of the Cross, liturgy from an almost-deserted St. Peter's Square in 2021, when churches around the world were closed and people were forced to stay at home to stop COVID-19's spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also appointed more women, both clerical and laity, to leadership roles, and sought to root out "clericalism" and financial corruption in the Vatican. Regarding the latter, Francis took the unprecedented step of allowing a cardinal to stand trial for alleged financial crimes, of which he was convicted and sentenced to more than five years in prison. The third pope to have to deal with the scandal of thousands of instances of clerical sexual abuse of minors, Pope Francis worked to improve the way the church dealt with the many cases. But although he introduced new rules advocating for more transparency on the part of the church, and care of the victims, he was unsuccessful in forging a clear message and winning full Church support for his endeavors. Francis was ultimately obliged to admit mistaken judgement in a number of cases, while the Church's lack of transparency in handling a number of high-profile abuse cases would haunt him throughout his pontificate. PHOTO: Pope Francis attends the Way of The Cross at the Colosseum on April 14, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images) MORE: Cardinal sentenced to 5 1/2 years in Vatican's financial 'trial of the century' Like his three predecessors, Francis travelled by plane all over the globe on his 44 international trips. He never visited his homeland, Argentina, but he travelled to several countries that had never previously been visited by a pope, including the Muslim-majority countries Bahrain, Iraq and United Arab Emirates, as well as Myanmar, North Macedonia, and South Sudan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his travels, Francis endeared himself to the millions of faithful as he was seen being driven in a small, utilitarian car, often a Fiat 500, to go to his official meetings and ceremonies. Later, due to his increasing difficulties walking, he would be pushed in a wheelchair or, if he walked, was forced to use a walking stick. Francis forged strong friendships with other religious leaders and expanded the church's outreach to the Muslim and Arab world. This included participating in a high-level interfaith meeting in Abu Dhabi in 1029, and signing a joint Document of Human Fraternity with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, that same year. PHOTO: Pope Francis Meets Grand Imam Of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb during a private audience on November 15, 2019 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Vatican Pool/Corbis via Getty Images) MORE: Video -- Pope Francis Calls for End to 'Obsession' With Homosexuality, Abortion On the pope's three-city trip to the United States in 2015, he stressed that environmental issues were human rights issues, warning the United Nations General Assembly that "any harm done to the environment...is harm done to humanity." During that same visit, in the first speech by a pope delivered to Congress, he admonished lawmakers, saying in part: "Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: Money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood." PHOTO: Pope Francis is applauded by members of Congress as he arrives to speak during a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the Capitol on September 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images) As much as he attempted to soften the Church's traditional, rigid stance on many issues, Pope Francis wasn't above expressing his frustration with the institution of which he was the head. Just four years after his election, in his 2017 Christmas address, he lectured cardinals and bishops for obstructing his work, declaring, "Making reforms in Rome is like cleaning the Sphinx with a toothbrush." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Francis seemed most comfortable in a pastoral role: explaining church teachings to his weekly public audiences, hearing confession, speaking to priests, and urging people to take care of those marginalized by society. He insisted that "priests must be close to the people." As pope, he continued the tradition he had started as a cardinal in Argentina, repeating Jesus' gesture of washing and kissing the feet of the apostles by doing the same to the feet of 12 male and female jail inmates, including Muslims. PHOTO: Pope Francis celebrates the traditional rite of the washing of feet at the Casal del Marmo juvenile penitentiary on April 06, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Vatican Pool/Getty Images) Now, Francis leaves a somewhat divided Catholic faithful. Many loved and admired him, including millions of non-Catholics around the world, yet a vocal group within the church criticized him for his style and decisions. Even so, there is no doubt that, perhaps more than his contemporary predecessors, Pope Francis dedicated his days to outreach beyond the faithful, and worked hard to make the Church more relevant in an ever-changing world. ABC News' Phoebe Natanson reports from Rome on papal and Vatican news. Analysis: Pope Francis' legacy marked by reform efforts and outreach to 'marginalized' people originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Democratic primary for New York City mayor is increasingly turning into a two-person race with support growing for both ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and socialist state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, according to a new poll. Front-runner Cuomo continues to hold a commanding lead in the crowded primary election with the backing of 45% of the Democrats, shows the survey conducted for the five-borough Chambers of Commerce by the Honan Strategy Group. The survey was conducted after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams announced he will not run in the Democratic primary and instead seek re-election on his own independent ballot line. Cuomo is still the front runner in the race for New York City mayor, with 45% of Democrats backing him in the primary, a 4% increase from last month. William Farrington Cuomos support increased by 4 percentage points from 41% last month to 45% in April, the poll shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pollster Bradley Honan said Cuomo appears to have captured most of the votes that Eric Adams had previously won before dropping out of the primary. Adams polled at 6% in the March survey. His name was removed from the latest poll, which surveyed 823 likely Democratic voters April 16-17. Mamdanis support also jumped by 4 percentage points an increase from 18% in March to 22% in April putting him in second place and as the only other candidate aside from Cuomo to reach double digits. Its truly a 2-person race Cuomo and Mamdani and everyone else. The other candidates dont seem to be getting any traction, Honan told The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City Comptroller Brad Lander garnered the backing of 8% of Democrats, followed by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams with 4%, former Comptroller Scott Stringer with 3% and state Sens. Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos with 2% apiece. NY Post; A new poll indicates that the Democratic primary for New York City mayor is increasingly turning into a two-person race between ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and socialist state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Stephen Yang Fourteen percent of voters remain undecided, a number that has shrunk since Honan began polling the race in January. The other candidates have fiercely attacked Cuomo over his 10-year record as governor particularly for the sexual-misconduct allegations that triggered his resignation under the threat of impeachment, as well as his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo denies the harassment accusations and has defended his response to the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The criticisms of Cuomo dont appear to be sticking, Honan said. Honans previous surveys show that more Democrats view Cuomos management of the COVID crisis favorably than negatively. But Cuomos rivals are expected to pummel him with millions of dollars in TV ads during the final leg of the campaign. Still, the other candidates who are struggling to break through now have a decision to make, Honan said: whether to try to instead tear down the left-wing, Israel-bashing Mamdani, who is drawing support from young, anti-Trump voters and is blocking them from advancing to be the alternative to Cuomo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know if Brad Lander and Scott Stringer are going to like being second fiddle to Mamdani, Honan said. Early voting for the June 24 Democratic primary begins June 14, which means time is running short for an anti-Cuomo candidate to consolidate support to topple the former governor. The Honan survey conducted a rank-choice vote simulation after excluding the undecided voters. Cuomo would capture 53% in the first round and defeat Mamdani 64% to 36% by the seventh round. Lander would be eliminated in the sixth ground, topping out at 14%. The Chambers of Commerce-financed survey queried Democrats who either voted in previous primary races or said they would vote in the primary because of Donald Trumps presence as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.41 percentage points. Cuomos Democratic support has steadily increased from 35% in January, before he entered the race, to 38% in February, 41% in March to 45% in April. Mamdanis support shot up from 9% in January to 12% in February to 18% in March to 22% in April. Lander received 10% backing January but is now at 8%. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is the Republican nominee for City Hall and lawyer Jim Walden is seeking an independent ballot line. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy in Panola County, Mississippi. The Batesville Police Department said that the shooting occurred just after 11:30 p.m. on April 13 at the corner of Everette Street and Claude Street. The Panola County Sheriffs Office says three other people have been arrested in connection with this shooting. Their names have not been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 13-year-old MS boy shot in head, killed; suspects arrested The teenager was sitting in the passenger seat of a car when someone began shooting. He was shot in the head. Terry Gardner told WREG his cousin, Cazarius Gardner, was the 13-year-old shot Sunday night. The teen was transported to a Memphis hospital, where he died. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Austin Police Department identified two men who died in east Austin Sunday night and said the shooting stemmed from a child custody dispute, according to an APD release. Police identified the two men as 32-year-old Kendrick Parker and 24-year-old Shamar Roach. Officers responded to the parking garage around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, located at 2604 Aldrich Street after multiple calls of a shooting were reported in the area, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived on the scene, they found two men lying on the ground of the parking garage with apparent gunshot wounds. They were both pronounced dead on the scene. Police said the suspects left the area but were later detained. According to the preliminary APD investigation, the altercation started between two groups, due to a child custody dispute, the release said. Parker and Roach were one group, and the other group consisted of a man and a woman. Police have not identified anyone else connected with the shooting. MAP: Where have Austins homicides occurred in 2025? Police said the altercation turned physical before the man who was with the woman shot Parker and Roach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is now being investigated as Austins 18th and 19th homicide of 2025, according to police. Police said any witnesses who may have witnessed the incident to provide any information to APD at 512-974-TIPS. Tipsters can also submit an anonymous tip via the Capital Area Crime Stoppers website or can call 512-472-8477. No other details were provided by police 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 KXAN Austin. Getty Images A panel of three federal appeals judges have upheld a lower court decision to not intervene with the states case against a group of individuals the Michigan Attorney Generals Office says submitted false electoral votes in 2020 for President Donald Trump. Its been nearly two years since Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a group of 16 individuals would each face several felonies carrying years of potential prison time for what she said was an undermining of the publics faith in elections and a flagrant violation of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to investigators, after Trump lost Michigan to former President Joe Biden in 2020 by about 150,000 votes in the presidential race, 16 individuals from across the state met in the basement of the Michigan Republican Partys Lansing headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020. There investigators say the group signed and submitted false documents contending they were the rightful slate of electors for Michigan. Those affidavits were then submitted to the United States Senate and National Archives. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The case has been lengthy, with a state judge hearing out the defense and prosecution of 15 defendants after the state dropped the case against one of the defendants. 24-1132_Documents Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arguments from the defense have ranged from the groups right to political protest to their actions being a lawful maneuver in the event that the 2020 election results be overturned. The defense of multiple individuals in the group have taken particular issue with Nessels own comments surrounding the case, notably statements she made during a virtual event in September of 2023 where she said the group was brainwashed by Trumps lies about the 2020 election being stolen from him. These are people who have been brainwashed, Nessel said in the video. They legit believe that somebody cant even plead guilty if they wanted to because they cant admit that what they did violated the law because they still think theyre right. The defense team for one member of the group, Clifford Frost of Warren, argued that Nessel and her office are engaged in a bad faith case against the defendants, requesting at the end of 2023 that a federal judge intervene in the case. In January of 2024, U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker rejected the defenses arguments, declining to intercede, saying a proper argument had not been made to support the bad faith contention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frosts attorney, Kevin Kijewski, has argued that there was no criminal intent in what the state is alleging, adding that the defendants signed their own real names to the documents in an act of political protest. However, on Thursday, a panel of judges in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Jonkers decision to stay out of the states case. The appeal to the lower courts decision was set before Judges Eric L. Clay, Judge Helene N. White and Judge John B. Nalbandian, a Trump appointee. The opinion, penned by Clay, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, outlines that Frosts defense does not call into question the state courts competency to consider the challenges that have been made to the validity of the criminal charges he faces. we must assume that state procedures will afford an adequate remedy, in the absence of unambiguous authority to the contrary, the opinion reads. In addition, Frosts qualms with the adequacy of the States charging documents do not automatically convert his prosecution into a product of bad faith. This is particularly so where, as here, state court remains a viable forum for the consideration of Frosts arguments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preliminary exams for the group of defendants were held throughout 2024 by Ingham County District Court Judge Kristen Simmons, as the group was divided into three groups for three separate multi-day preliminary hearings, the last of which concluded in October 2024. Simmons now faces the task to review all the evidence and testimony the court received during the exams and evaluate if the case should proceed to trial. While a May 2 review hearing is set for the defendants, its not known when Simmons will hand down her decision. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) Grant applications are open for the Tennessee Governors Response and Recovery Fund for financial assistance related to Hurricane Helene recovery after the finalization of a $100 million program. Applications are available to local governments, non-profits, businesses, farmers and foresters in Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. Jay Leno, Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters coming to Bristol Casino Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Governors Response and Recovery Fund was established after Hurricane Helene, but will be used for future disasters too. Tropical Storm Helene was an unprecedented disaster for our state, and the Governors Response and Recovery Fund is part of a comprehensive plan to provide flexible financial resources for current and future emergencies, Gov. Bill Lee said in a release. I thank the General Assembly for their partnership and acting swiftly to provide necessary relief for Tennesseans. Applications must be submitted by May 31 and can be found on the Tennessee Emergency Management Agencys website. Lawmakers enabled the program during the extraordinary special session in January during which they also approved a statewide public school voucher program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the General Assembly is wrapping up their work right now some additional funding has been added to that, TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan said in an explanatory video. Sheehan said the fund recognized that there are always unmet needs after a disaster of a significant magnitude, and the federal and state programs that existed already might miss certain things that are important for a communitys recovery. The program has the ability to be used for future disasters as well, Sheehan said and he highlighted its flexibility to cater to out-of-the-box needs. We encourage those organizations that are eligible to apply as soon as possible, Sheehan 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. The Canton United Methodist Church will be hosting a roast pork dinner on Friday, April 25 at the church located on 41 Court Street in Canada. The dinner is eat-in or take-out and will go from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Meals cost $15.50. These meals consist of roast pork, gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable, roll and dessert. Coffee and tea are included in dine-in meals only. For more information, call Linda D at 315-869-2489. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Leaders across the Arab world on Monday honoured Pope Francis, who died aged 88 at his residence in the Vatican, with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi describing him as "a voice of peace, love and compassion." Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, president of the United Arab Emirates, extended his "deepest condolences to Catholics around the world." Francis "dedicated his life to promoting the principles of peaceful coexistence and understanding," he wrote on X. "May he rest in peace." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon's Christian President Joseph Aoun described the pope's death as "a loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peace." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the pope was a "faithful friend of the Palestinian people," according to official Palestinian news agency WAFA. Jordan's King Abdullah II said: "Deepest condolences to our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. Pope Francis was admired by all as the Pope of the People. He brought people together, leading with kindness, humility, and compassion. His legacy will live on in his good deeds and teachings." The Muslim Council of Elders, headed by Egypt's Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayyeb, said Francis "devoted his life to serving humanity and advancing the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, peace and human fraternity while he also tirelessly supported the vulnerable, needy, refugees and the displaced." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He became "a historic religious figure whose enduring humanitarian legacy will inspire future generations," the group said in a statement on X. Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement described the pope as "a believer in peace, a voice against war," who "worked with deep faith to plant the values of love, tolerance, and bridge-building between religions, civilizations, and peoples in pursuit of dialogue, understanding, and justice." Palestinian extremist group Hamas said Francis "had well-known positions in promoting interfaith dialogue, calling for understanding and peace among nations, and rejecting hatred and racism." Ongoing archaeological work at the Ramesseum Temple at Luxor has resulted in a wealth of new finds. Crews discovered storage areaswhich once kept oil, honey, and winethat paint a new picture of what the site was originally used for. The remains of drawings and school toys also show that the temple complex included a school. The goings-on at Ramesseum Temple near Luxor, Egypt, were far more in-depth than experts believed possible. This site wasnt just a religious symbol or place to bury the deadit had cultural and economic prominence deeper than we may ever understand. New archaeological work uncovered remains of store houses for food, workshops aplenty, a House of Life scientific school and administrative offices. Mohamed Ismailsecretary general of Egypts Supreme Council of Archaeologysaid in a translated statement that the Ramesseum Temple was not just a place of worship. It was also a center for the redistribution of stored or manufactured products, a home of artisan makers, and a place of scientific study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest workled by the Archaeological Preservation and Registration sector of Egypts Supreme Council of Archaeology, the French National Research Centre, and Sorbonne Universityexcavated 2,500-year-old tombs at the Ramesseum, unveiling a wide window into the ancient culture and revealing details about the daily life at the temple complex. In an area northeast of the actual temple, the team excavated ruins to uncover tombs from the Third Intermediate Period. While the team located canopic jars (as expected), they also discovered 401 shabti figuressmall statues crafted to look like the deceased. In other areas both north and east of the temple, the daily workings of the site came to life. The team found storage areas that housed olive oil, honey, fats, and winethey even found wine jar labelswhile administrative buildings were located near workshops for weavers, stonemasons, and bakers. Inside the temple, the team found evidence of the House of Life scientific school, a school (focused on architecture) known to exist within prominent temples. The team also located toys and drawings, giving further credence to the idea that there was a school at the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts have confirmed that the site was occupied before the pharaoh Ramesses II built his temple there during his 1279-to-1213-B.C. reign. It also had some utility after the pharaohs ruleit was repurposed into a tomb after being looted and before being used by quarry workers in the Baltic and Roman eras. But during the time of Ramesses II, the temple served as a royal institution that carried out religious rites to sanctify the king during his lifetime, while evidently playing a key role in Egypts administrative and economic processes. Ismail said that the discoveries indicate the presence of a true hierarchical system for civil servants inside the temple, which was not only a place of worship but an economic center that focused on making and distributing products. While the entire system benefited the residents of the areaincluding the makers of the goodseverything in and around the Ramesseum was still subject to royal authority. You Might Also Like DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Following the death of Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Cincinnati has released a statement of mourning. Francis death follows a surprise Mass given just yesterday. In the statement, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati said that Catholics, and all people of faith worldwide, are joined together in prayer for the soul of Pope Francis. The statement included individual statements from figures such as the Archbishop of Cincinnati, who said that Francis was a good and faithful servant to God. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis appoints new Archbishop of Cincinnati As we commend a good and faithful servant to God, let us remember that Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope awakening us to Christ, who is alive and present in our midst. In the words of the Psalmist: Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart, and hope in the Lord! (Psalm 27:14). May we, then, be filled with hope hope that Pope Francis will receive the reward of a life poured out in selfless service and love for Gods people and all creation; hope that Christ, who comforts us in our mourning, will send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper; and hope that this same Spirit will inspire and unite us as the Church to stand firm in faith, proclaiming the power of the Resurrection and the joy of the Gospel Most Reverend Robert G. Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati The Archbishop Emeritus of Cincinnati issued similar sentiments. Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of our beloved Pope Francis, who was Vicar of Christ, the successor of St. Peter and a faithful shepherd of Christs Church. The Holy Father will long be remembered for his great compassion for the elderly, the sick, the unborn, the persecuted and all those on the margins of society. He continuously reminded us that we are the stewards of Gods creation and not its master. And he was an unwavering champion of world peace. After a life dedicated to proclaiming the Good News of our Lords saving love for us, may Pope Francis now inherit the reward of eternal rest with God. Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop Emeritus of Cincinnati Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Before the election, Francis was known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He took on the name Francis and became the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the Americas. He was the first non-European elected in over 1,000 years and the 265th successor of St. Peter. For a timeline of events during Pope Francis time in the role, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The China Public Diplomacy Association on Wednesday hosted an AI-themed salon that featured a keynote speech by Lionel M. Ni, the founding president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), which was followed by an interactive session with Chinese and foreign journalists. The event highlighted how advanced AI models like DeepSeek are transforming knowledge acquisition and content creation. These systems can rapidly process vast amounts of literature, generate high-quality summaries and research papers, and produce multimedia content such as images and videos, enabling users to create diverse materials on demand. Lionel M. Ni stressed that higher education institutions should pay close attention to AI's impact on the education sector. "The responsible use of AI within legal frameworks should be encouraged," he said, citing the technology's irreversible integration into modern education. Faculty members at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) are encouraged to incorporate AI into curricula, leveraging its capabilities to enhance pedagogy. "AI won't replace humans, but professionals leveraging AI will outpace those who do not -- this is inevitable," Ni cautioned. As AI capabilities continue to advance at a remarkable pace, the event also underscored the need for balanced approaches to its development that harness the technology's benefits while conscientiously managing fundamental concerns like computational efficiency and privacy safeguards. Editor: WXY DENVER (KDVR) After Pope Francis, 88, died on Monday morning, the Archdiocese of Denver is preparing arrangements and holding masses throughout the day. The Pontiff had health struggles and was hospitalized in February. He returned to the Vatican in late March, and after attending Easter Sunday in St. Peters Square, it was later reported that the pope passed on Monday morning. What are the rites and rituals after a pope dies? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People across the world are mourning, and the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Denver of the Roman Catholic Church, is holding prayers to honor the pope. At 11 a.m., the cathedral started tolling its requiem bells for the hour. Meanwhile, there were also prayers for the pope at 11 a.m., including lighting a vigil candle for the Pontiff. Father Samuel Morehead, Rector of the Cathedral Basilica, offered special prayers from the rites of the Church for Pope Francis. At 11:30 a.m., Denver Catholic said Father Morehead led the prayer for the repose of Pope Franciss soul. Then, at 12:10 p.m., the Most Reverend Samuel Aquila, Archbishop of Denver, will hold a special Easter Monday mass for the repose of Pope Francis soul. There will also be a mass at 5:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cathedral has a spot at the side altar of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus that invites people to light candles and place flowers. Local leaders react, make plans to remember Pope Francis The cathedral on 1530 Logan St. is also mourning in other ways. FOX31s Carly Moore reported that Morehead watched as the Denver Fire Department helped drape the black bunting over the front of the church along Colfax, which signifies a period of mourning for the church. Denver Catholic said the cathedral also lowered the ombrellino, the special yellow-and-red umbrella used in certain processions, that symbolizes the popes authority, representing a vacant Holy See. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) The Archdiocese of Hartford and leaders across Connecticut are reacting to the death of Pope Francis, who died at 88 on Monday morning. Pope Francis was historys first Latin American pontiff, regarded for his humble style. Bells tolled across Rome following the announcement, read by Cardinal Kevin Farrell from Francis home at the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta. Farrell said Francis returned to the home of the Father at 7:35 a.m. As we pray for all Christians at the moment of death, we offer the Chruchs prayer for Gods servant Francis: Go forth, kind soul, from this world in the name of God the almighty Father, who created you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for you, in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you, go forth, faithful friend. May you live in peace this day, may your home be with God in Zion, with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, with Joseph, and all the Angels and Saints. The Archdiocese of Hartford Photos: Pope Francis through the years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) said he joins Catholics worldwide in mourning in a statement on X. Leading by his words and example, Pope Francis was one of the most inspiring Popes and spiritual leaders of my lifetime, at a time when we needed him most, Lamont said. He brought people together, teaching mercy, compassion and reconciliation. I join Catholics across the world in mourning. Sen. Stephen Harding released a statement on behalf of the Senate Republican Caucus. Pope Franciss message and mission was based on compassion. Compassion for the less fortunate. Compassion among races and religions. He was loved by millions of people across the globe. We collectively remember that compassion and we mourn his passing, Harding said in a written statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Father Ryan Lerner at St. Marys Church said Pope Francis legacy is rich and he will be remembered as a pope of the people, a champion for the poor, and his legacy will go on. He was certainly known for his inclusivity, his welcoming nature of everyone. I think that as very meaningful to so many of us in the church-even those not apart of the church. I think that was certainly apart of the popes legacy. Clearly this was a Shepard who loved all people. Of course this is all under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the next pope will be the pope that God chooses through those thats been entrusted in the ministry. I certainly hope that someone with a similar Shepards heart that Pope Francis has had would be wonderful, Lerner said. A parishioner, Tom Hall, who regularly attends the catholic church in Waterbury, said he hopes things go back to traditional basics, like in the past. He also said he is happy Pope Francis is in a better place. In a polarized world, Pope Francis showed us the power of Gods love. He was not shy about challenging powerful forces who harmed or demonized our fellow human beings. He spoke out against injustice and always lead with compassion and empathy. May he rest in eternal peace. Well done good and faithful servant, Sen. Jorge Cabrera wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tributes from around the globe pour in for Pope Francis after his death Rep. Joe Courtney called Francis a leader of peace. I join the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis a leader of peace, for peace. He urged us to lift up the poor, protect our planet, and show compassion to migrants and refugees. I heard this firsthand from Francis in his 2015 address to Congress; his message rings louder today. May he rest in peace, he said. Rep. Rosa DeLauro remembered Francis as an extraordinary person. Pope Francis was an extraordinary individual who reminded us all of the rich history of the Catholic Church on social justice, and especially our moral commitment to help the poor and vulnerable, DeLauro said in a written statement. I was honored to be part of the congressional delegation representing the United States at his installation in 2013, a moment that marked the beginning of a papacy defined by compassion, humility, and a tireless pursuit of justice. He challenged global leaders to confront issues of injustice, inequality, and the climate crisis with urgency. He uplifted the dignity of workers and spoke powerfully against economies that leave too many behind. He leaves a legacy that will endure far beyond his time. I am praying for Catholics around the world who have been touched by his example. May he rest in peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released a statement saying Pope Francis inspired the world. Pope Francis inspired the world people of all faiths with his incomparable courage, conviction and compassion. In an increasingly troubled time, bedeviled by conflict and despair, he led by example powerfully preaching peace and demonstrating deep caring and hope. True to his spiritual strength, he was an unshakable, tireless voice and champion for the worlds downtrodden and marginalized, Blumenthals statement read. Attorney General William Tong released a statement extending condolences. I extend my deepest condolences to all Catholics, Christians, and people of faith here in Connecticut and around the world on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Like his namesake, Pope Francis was the rare leader who practiced what he preached, living simply while speaking powerfully on behalf of the poor and marginalized. His voice and vision were beacons of light in a darkening world, shining through with a moral clarity that we need now more than ever. All of us regardless of your faith or beliefs should be grateful for his lifelong dedication to serving others. His enduring leadership will continue to strengthen and empower us to do better in the years to come, Tongs statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) said Pope Francis broke barriers. Today, people around the world are mourning the loss of a true faith leader and servant to the Church. Pope Francis broke barriers, becoming the first Pope from Latin America. He worked to make changes within the Catholic Church and shaped its stances on LGBTQ+ equality, the environment, human rights and dignity for immigrants, and peace in Ukraine, Gaza, and across the globe. A child of immigrants, he offered a new perspective and a sense of humility to the Vatican that brought him closer to not only Catholics around the world, but to all global citizens. When the Pope visited President Obama in 2015, it was an honor to bring Father James Nock and Sister Margaret Peggy Evans from Mayberry Village to the White House to meet Pope Francis. I am praying for peace and strength for Catholics and the Church during this time of transition and mourning. Pope Francis legacy as a dedicated man of faith who fought for the most vulnerable among us will endure for generations, Larson said. Sen. Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport), senior pastor of Summerfield United Methodist Church in Bridgeport, said a humble servant of God was lost. With the passing of Pope Francis, the world has lost a humble servant of God, an advocate for peace, and a compassionate voice for the voiceless. As a pastor, I will carry forward the profound lessons Pope Francis taught us of humility, mercy, and unwavering commitment to serving others with love and compassion. His dedication to God, his call for mercy, and his deep love for humanity have touched hearts across the globe. As we mourn his loss, we remember his example of love and humility, and strive to continue his mission of justice, compassion, and unity, Gaston said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The popes last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, just a day before his death, to bless thousands at St. Peters Square. Francis was the 266th pope introduced 12 years ago on March 13, 2023. The AP contributed to this post. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Argentina is to mourn the death of Pope Francis for seven days, the government said in a post on X on Easter Monday, hours after the passing of the pontiff, who was born in Buenos Aires. "Argentina, a country with a long Catholic tradition and the homeland of Pope Francis, deeply regrets the death of His Holiness and condoles the Bergoglio family," the statement said. Government spokesman Manuel Adorni announced a national mourning period of seven days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is with deep sadness that I learned this morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace," Argentinian President Javier Milei said in a post on X. "Despite the differences that seem minor today, it was a great honour for me to know him in his goodness and wisdom." Ultra-liberal Milei long had a strained relationship with the pope. Before he took office, Milei had called Francis a "fool" and a "son of a bitch" and claimed he was promoting communism. Pope Francis received Milei at the Vatican in February last year and after their meeting, reference was made to "cordial talks." Milei also invited the pope to visit Argentina but Francis, formerly archbishop of Buenos Aires, did not return to Argentina after becoming pontiff. People pray during a service for Pope Francis in Buenos Aires Cathedral following the death of the head of the Catholic Church. The Argentine pontiff, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, dies on Monday, leaving a profound impact on millions around the world. Cristina Sille/dpa 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 before the expiration of Title 42. (Photo by Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM) Arizonas top state prosecutor is seeking more information about immigration officials arrest of a U.S. citizen from New Mexico earlier this month. A federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona on April 9 filed a criminal complaint against 19-year-old Jose Hermosillo, of Albuquerque. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint alleges that on April 8, immigration agents found Hermosillo without proper immigration documents near Nogales, Arizona. Arizona Public Media reports that Hermosillo and his girlfriend were visiting from Albuquerque to see family in Tucson, Arizona. The radio station reports that Hermosillo said he has never been to Nogales and that he was held in the Florence Correctional Center for 10 days. A few days after the U.S. Marshals took Hermosillo to Florence, his family presented documents showing his U.S. citizenship, according to a statement provided to Source on Monday in response to an emailed inquiry to its Office of Public Affairs email address. The statement is attributable to a senior U.S. Department of Homeland Security official, the unsigned email said. On Monday morning, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes posted on X that her office had reached out to ICE for more information about Hermosillos arrest, for answers on how this was allowed to happen to an American citizen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is wholly unacceptable to wrongfully detain U.S. citizens, she wrote. A spokesperson for Mayes office told Source NM in an email that the request was made over the phone but declined to comment further. The complaint, signed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent and a prosecutor, alleges that Hermosillo admitted to illegally entering the United States from Mexico on April 7. It also wrongfully states that he is a citizen of Mexico. According to the DHS official, Hermosillo said he wanted to turn himself in and completed a sworn statement identifying as a Mexican citizen who had entered unlawfully. This arrest was the direct result of Hermosillos own actions and statements, the DHS official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge dismissed the case on April 17, court records show. The DHS official said Hermosillo was then released to his family. The judges dismissal order states that the government moved to dismiss the case. In an email on Monday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona declined to answer Source NMs questions about the case, and wrote, The U.S. Attorneys Office does not have anything to add beyond what is found in the public record. The case against Hermosillo is absent from a news release the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona published three days after his arrest, in which the agency touted immigration-related criminal charges it had filed in the previous week. Greg Solares, the attorney who initially represented Hermosillo in federal court, told Source NM on Tuesday, A grave injustice has been committed against Mr. Hermosillo which must be addressed by the powers that be and his story must be made public knowledge so that everyone becomes aware of what happened to him and what could potentially continue to happen to its citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Mitchell, immigrants rights attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, told Source NM that we dont have a full account of what transpired in Hermosillos case but people who suffered a wrongful arrest or detention can generally seek relief by filing a complaint under the Federal Tort Claims Act, detailing any harm they suffered at the hands of the federal governments agents. Someone who brings a claim would have to show that their arrest lacked probable cause and that the arrest caused a tangible injury, Mitchell said. People can also bring suits against the government for violations of their constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. 1983, commonly known as Section 1983 claims, Mitchell said. These claims typically involve violations such as wrongful arrest or excessive force, and can result in monetary or injunctive relief against the government, he said. In both types of cases, a central and challenging issue is to connect the harm suffered to the relief sought (e.g. money), Mitchell said. Obviously, the duration of wrongful detention is important. Other details matter; what did officers say to the plaintiff or to each other? Any indications of animas or hostility? These can all factor in. The Florence Correctional Center where Hermosillo was detained is a prison complex that CoreCivic privately owns and operates, Mitchell said. The prison holds, among others, immigrants in removal proceedings, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, a Mexican national named Benjamin Gonzalez-Soto died while in ICE custody at FCC, Mitchell noted. This story was updated following publication to include comments from the ACLU of Arizona and Greg Solares. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX UPDATE 4-21-25 4:58 p.m.: According to the Baxter County Sheriffs Office, Brooks Due was found dead near Lake Norfork in Baxter County. Arkansas Police were able to locate Dues vehicle from a police helicopter. After a search in the area, canines were able to find Due, who had committed suicide, police say. Original Story 4-21-25 12:28 p.m. BULL SHOALS, Ark. The Marion County Sheriffs Office, Arkansas State Police and the Bull Shoals Police are searching for a man on the run accused of murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a press release, an arrest warrant has been issued for Brooks Dean Due, 50, who is accused of first-degree murder and violation of a protection order. Due is described as: A white male 61 265 lbs Brown hair Brown eyes May be wearing glasses Believed to be driving a 2013 Black Dodge Avenger with an Arkansas Disabled license plate 305607 Investigators say they are searching for Due in both Marion and Baxter Counties. On Apr. 21, investigators were dispatched to a fatal shooting that occurred at a residence in Bull Shoals. The victims identity has not yet been revealed pending notification of next of kin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office is asking the public to contact 911 or the Marion County Sheriffs Office (870.449.4236) if they see Due or his vehicle. The Sheriff states that Due is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached by civilians Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A new director has been named to lead the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Doug Schoenrock was named the 20th director of the AGFC, succeeding former director Austin Booth after he left the position in January. Director of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission tenders resignation to devote more time to family AGFC Commission Chairman J.D. Neeley noted Schoenrocks experience makes him the ideal person to lead the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dougs deep understanding of wildlife conservation, coupled with his proven business leadership abilities, makes him the ideal person to lead the agency forward, Neeley said. We are confident that under his guidance, the AGFC will continue its vital work in protecting and managing Arkansass diverse fish and wildlife resources. Officials highlighted Schoenrocks background with Ducks Unlimited, noting that he has served on the companys national board of directors since 2002, the companys president from 2020 to 2022 and the chairman of the board from 2022 to 2024. Im honored to join the men and women of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Im deeply grateful for the trust placed in me, and I thank Chairman J.D. Neeley, Vice-Chairman Anne Marie Doramus, and all the Commissioners for their professionalism and leadership throughout this process, Schoenrock said. I look forward to working with the commissioners, the Arkansas General Assembly, Gov. Sarah Sanders, and all of AGFCs partners to advance the mission of conservation and stewardship on behalf of all Arkansans and the many visitors who experience the beauty of The Natural State. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission names interim director; will search for permanent director Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commission officials said Schoenrock is set to assume the role in May of 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. An Arkansas State Police trooper was injured in a single-car crash Sunday in Garland County. ASP officials said the officer crashed around 5:20 p.m. on Arkansas 7. State troopers said the officer was driving to a three-vehicle crash during heavy rainfall with lights and sirens activated. Memphis woman killed, another injured in Prairie County crash after high-speed chase on I-40 Special agents said he was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said he underwent surgery Sunday night and is stable Monday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Three weeks ago, the Trump government ordered the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to cancel all the funding to the fifty State Humanities Councils, which until now played a vital role in stimulating cultural production and education across the land, including in the most remote and impoverished communities. This is only the latest chapter in the administrations repeated attacks on the liberal and progressive cultural industries and media targeting agents of change who often promoted cultural inclusion. The already marginalized deep red rural America will be deeply affected. The arts and humanities organizations, led by visionary change agents, do much more than organizing cultural events: they play a crucial role in fostering social bonds, as well as community and local identity and pride. As such, they are vital to social resilience, especially in areas that lack in local resources, as a growing number of communities see essential organizations, such as banking institutions and grocery stores disappear, as indicated by the growing number of banking deserts and food deserts across the south. These organizations are also vital to the economic revitalization and wellbeing of many rural communities which leverage them in their local economic development initiatives, ranging from tourism to automotive investment. According to the Federation of State Humanities Councils, humanities councils work, on average, with over 120 local partners each year and raise $2 in private investment for every $1 of federal support. All in all, the creative sector generates over $150 billion in annual economic activity, according to Americans for the Arts (AFTA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AFTA maintains that arts funding from the NEH and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is especially vital for rural and underserved communities as well as communities seeking economic revitalization. For instance, the National Endowment for Arts collaborates with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs in its Military Healing Arts Network that provides art therapies to enhance the quality of life for military and veteran populations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Epicenter, in Green River, Utah, is rural and proud and a creative initiative that combines art, architecture and rural investment in order to build a more resilient, equitable and vibrant local community. For its part, Humanities Nebraska partners with hundreds of organizations all across our state every year. If NEH funding goes away, rural areas will suffer the most, as it is more difficult to raise private funds for activities in small communities. We will need to significantly cut back on many different programs that reach people of all ages and walks of life. Other organizations and programs that will be affected range from Alabamas Road Scholars program which helps libraries, schools, historical societies, cultural organizations, and other groups bring scholar-storytellers to their communities; Tennessees Southern Festival of Books that for several decades has promoted literacy, writing, and literature throughout the region; North Dakotas We the People program which provides civics education for teachers and students; to Alaskas Story Works program which aims to uplift youth voices, nurture resilience, and build essential writing and communication skills in trauma-informed spaces connecting youth and educators. According to Humanities Arkansas, without NEH funding students literacy rates would suffer, the stories of Arkansass past and present would go untold, and nonprofits, schools, museums, and historical societiesparticularly those in rural areaswould lose access to crucial programming and support. What is more, the dismantling of the Department of Education would further erode education opportunities in rural America. The American Federation of Teachers estimates that the six states of the Mid-America Arts Alliance service region stand to lose a total of some $60 million in education funds for students enrolled in schools in rural communities. The dismantling of humanities councils in underserved rural areas will also have chilling effects future generations of art -based change agents, who are being trained and educated as budding cultural entrepreneurs in programs that are being shut down. These programs have played a vital role in fostering cultural vibrancy in underserved areas. Their work has been a venue for self-expression and self-realization for many young people, in a context where few economic opportunities are available. These change agents have also been acting as a source of hope and aspiration for young workers who face precarity and the drudgery of routinized work. It is the case not only in red states, but also in distant places such as the island of Saipan where we met with Leo Pangelinan the director of the Humanities Council for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He described to us the crucial role this organization plays in supporting indigenous culture during the post-pandemic recession on this remote American Pacific Island. Among its programs threatened by the cuts is the Councils community grant program that funds projects that cultivate thoughtful community engagement, build new audiences for the humanities, innovate new methods in the humanities, and advocate for the importance of the humanities in maintaining a robust democracy. The Council encourages projects to reach diverse audiences through a variety of methods exhibitions and installations, discussion programs, oral history projects, and interpretive tours that enable audiences to engage in critical reflection and preservation of human histories, cultures, values, and beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the abrupt challenges raised by the Trump administration, a national movement comprising rural Republican Congresspeople from Alaska, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Maine and Democratic Congresspeople, as well as arts advocacy, educators advocacy, civil liberties and civil rights organizations, and labor unions, has emerged to resist these culturally and economically counter-productive cuts. For instance, the National Education Association, the largest U.S. labor union and one with a membership base in small-town and rural America, has joined the NAACP in filing a lawsuit to stop the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. Others joining the coalition include civil rights and school employees groups as well as families and students. Several national professional associations and public employee unionsorganizations led by visionary change agents and whose memberships are spread across local communities in all regionsare together championing the generative role of the humanities in a participatory democracy and opposing the dismantling of federal agencies that support the humanities in local communities throughout the nation. The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have filed a lawsuit stopping the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. ALA President Cindy Hohl defended the IMLS and the lawsuit proclaiming that libraries play an important role in our democracy, from preserving history to providing access to government information, advancing literacy and civic engagement, and offering access to a variety of perspectives. These values are worth defending. We will not allow extremists to threaten our democracy by eliminating programs at IMLS and harming the children and communities who rely on libraries and the services and opportunities they provide. AFSCME President Lee Saunders stated that libraries and museums contain our collective history and knowledge, while also providing safe spaces for learning, cultural expression and access to critical public resources. They represent the heart of our communities, and the cultural workers who keep these institutions running enrich thousands, of lives every day. In a lawsuit challenging the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, Democracy Forward teamed up with the American Federation of Teachers, the Service Employees International Union, and the American Association of University Professors to secure and maintain education opportunities for all (in line with the mandate given to the Department of Education when it was created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carte)r. As American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten explained, thats what the equal access provided for in the statute means. And over the last five decades, Congress has fulfilled this mission to help poor kids, kids with disabilities, first generation college kids, kids who want to work in a trade, and 45 million Americans with student debt. Now, wielding a sledgehammer, this president is destroying that promise for this and future generations. Todd Wolfson, President of the American Association of University Professors put it this way, explaining that without the Department of Education access to education for working class Americans will decrease. Funding for college education will be stripped away, programs for students with disabilities and students living in poverty will be eviscerated, and enforcement of civil rights laws against race- or sex-based discrimination in higher education will disappear. Academic organizations are also contributing to the growing momentum of resistance. The American Council of Learned Societies, which has been advocating over the last seven decades in a bi-partisan coalition for federal support of the humanities, recently issued a statement decrying the federal cuts, stating that we hold steadfast to the belief that sparked the creation of the NEH: that the humanities are not merely our, but the worlds best hope. The statement was co-signed by 25 professional societies, ranging from the American Folklore Society, American Musicological Society, American Philosophical Association, American Political Science Association, American Sociological Association, Association for Asian Studies, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, College Art Association, National Council of Teachers of English, to the Society of Biblical Literature. Joy Connolly, President of the ACLS, denounced attacks on the production of knowledge by the Trump administration when she recently stated, Over the past two weeks, the national landscape for humanistic knowledge has been savaged by slashes in federal support to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Department of Education. The Smithsonian, a consortium of 21 of the worlds greatest institutions of history, art, and science, was attacked by the president in an Executive Order that called telling the historical truth divisive and corrosive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, citizens in local communities rural, suburban, and urban throughout the nation are also resisting the Trump administrations reckless dismantling of federal agencies that support inclusive and humanistic participatory democracy. Citizens were penning letters to the editor to defend their library during last weeks National Library from Moultrie, Georgia to East Aurora, New York. A Utah state poet laureate pleaded his Republican senator, John Curtis, to protect funding for the arts. Retirees were reported to attending a demonstration in Johnson County, Kansas, armed with placards denouncing the Trump administrations wide-ranging cuts to federal programs, including those targeting the arts and humanities. These efforts add to last weeks Hands Off Protests of April 5, including in red districts such as Tucson, Arizona. It is estimated that over three million people participated in over 1,000 protests. The Trump administrations attack on the federally funded humanities and arts infrastructure has galvanized a resistance movement in local communities throughout the nation, in that swath of land running from deep red rural America to deep blue urban America. The mobilization is urgent as the National Endowment for the Arts may be next on the chopping block its budget has been redirected away toward project that celebrate Americas greatness. As political scientists Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan have found, mass mobilization signal disaffection toward the power that be and contribute to eroding its legitimacy. This is why ore of it is needed. Viva the visionary change agents who have arisen to secure and sustain the generative role of the arts and humanities in our inclusive and participatory democracy, our land that was made for you and me, as the Oklahoma bard once exclaimed! SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Angelo State University sent out a press release today stating the university has appointed a new Dean of ASUs College of Arts and Humanities. The university appointed Dr. Sergio Ruiz as the new Dean effective July 21. He was previously the director of the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As the dean, Ruiz will plan, organize and direct the colleges six academic departments that offer nearly 40 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, said ASU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruiz will oversee the curriculum development and compliance with all relevant accreditation standards for the departments that include: Communication and Mass Media Political Science and Philosophy Security Studies and Criminal Justice Visual and Performing Arts Dr. Arnoldo De Leon Department of History Natalie Zan Ryan Department of English and Modern Languages The ASU provost and vice president for academic affairs Dr. Don Topliff was the one that announced Ruizs appointment. We are excited to announce that Dr. Sergio Ruiz is joining ASU as the next dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, Topliff said. He brings a wealth of expertise in musical performance, as well as an interdisciplinary approach to all of the arts and humanities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. HANGZHOU, April 18 (Xinhua) -- This year's Longjing tea harvest has been slightly delayed due to a cooler than average spring in east China. However, tea connoisseurs can still look forward to reveling in the aroma of spring tea without much delay, thanks to an innovative addition to the traditional tea-picking workforce, namely robots. Longjing tea, named after the village of Longjing near West Lake in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, is renowned for its lustrous green color, enticing fragrance, mellow taste and beautiful shape. Notably in late 2022, China's traditional tea-making was inscribed on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. Traditionally, the picking of high-quality tea leaves in China has been very dependent on manual work. Skilled pickers can identify and pluck the tenderest leaves, which contain rich nutritional components and aroma, while avoiding bruising and damaging the leaves. Another major reason for this heavy traditional reliance on human labor, is that many tea farms are located in hilly areas, where mechanized equipment had proven to be either impractical or unavailable. However, an alarming fact is that the average age of tea pickers in Longjing's premium production area is now 65 -- with this growing labor shortage increasingly challenging the viability of reliance on traditional manual picking. Tea buds and leaves do not ripen at the same time, even on the same branch. In early spring, they are typically about 2 centimeters long, with petioles just a few millimeters in length. "New growth looks very similar to older leaves, making it difficult to distinguish between immature and ready-to-pick tea leaves," said Jia Jiangming, an associate professor at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. This year, robots have joined the ranks of tea pickers to tackle the challenge. Similar to skilled human pickers who rely on experience, these mechanical assistants use artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically identify tea buds and leaves through vast amounts of image data. According to Chen Jianneng, head of the institute of agricultural machinery at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, the latest version of these machines can handle the workload of 1.5 human workers. The university is also collaborating with the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to develop tea varieties better suited for mechanical harvesting. "Our robotic arms mimic the gentle and precise techniques of human pickers -- minimizing damage to the tea leaves and the field," said Zhou Yujie, technical director of Hangzhou Aiguorui Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Noting that the company has reduced the cost of robotic arms from around 100,000 yuan (about 13,873 U.S. dollars) to under 10,000 yuan and cut the weight of the robotic arms from 85 kilograms to 22 kilograms, Zhou also expressed hope that these robots will eventually adapt to different types of terrain and speed up operations. Innovative technologies are transforming tea cultivation and harvesting with impressive speed. For example, in a Longjing tea field in Hangzhou, a comprehensive intelligent monitoring station can predict pest trends and monitor meteorological and soil data in real time. This ensures optimal tea plant growth while addressing environmental concerns through rational irrigation and scientific fertilization. Zhejiang Top Cloud-Agri Technology Co., Ltd. is using drones to create terrain databases for Longjing tea fields and visually track pesticide spraying, enabling eco-friendly pest control. "Drones fly twice daily, allowing farmers to monitor tea health and growth via an app. This enables timely maintenance and harvesting," said Pan Ning, a senior expert at the company. Shao Guozhi, a tea farmer in Longwucha Township, one of the core production areas for West Lake Longjing tea, revealed that using drones to transport rapeseed cake fertilizer had made the job much easier. The drones can move over 3,000 kilograms in a single day, saving time and effort while boosting efficiency, he noted. "Once we finish transporting fertilizer for our own village, we even help out in neighboring tea villages," Shao added. Fueled by surging demand, the application of AI in agriculture has expanded rapidly in China, highlighting the government's continued efforts to modernize its agricultural sector to accelerate rural revitalization, which profoundly impacts the lives of more than 460 million people in rural areas. In the "No. 1 Central Document" for 2025, Chinese policymakers have, for the first time, identified the development of "new quality productive forces in agriculture" as a top priority. The document underscores the need to increase support for smart agriculture and calls for expanding the use of technologies such as AI, big data and low-altitude systems in agricultural production. Editor: WXY Across metro Atlanta, Catholics are honoring the popes life and legacy. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Steve Gehlbach spoke with people from the Cathedral of Christ the King in Buckhead. Waking to hear Pope Francis was dead, more than two dozen parishioners filled the pews of the cathedral to pray early Monday. Rocio Zamarron came in thanksgiving and celebration, feeling she needed to be here to remember the holy father as being inclusive and welcoming to all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clear to remind us that in the church theres a place for everyone, and everyones welcome and included, she said. Todd West also feels a personal loss, after he says he became a Catholic partially because of Pope Francis. He inspired me with his message, his openness toward my family, he said. Im the only Catholic in my family. There were also prayers for his eventual successor as the next pope and the process to come. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] More victims are coming forward with claims of labor trafficking by the Atlanta Dream Center Church in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A federal lawsuit filed against the church claims a Jane Doe, who is referred to as K.D. in the lawsuit, worked years without making a dime. She is emotionally tolled, shes lost faith in many ways, Brandon Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her attorney Brandon Smith told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln that K.D. was recruited in Missouri in 2012 by the Atlanta School of Ministries, which is affiliated with the Dream Center Church. Smith says church leaders orchestrated a sophisticated trafficking operation that operated under the guise of volunteer ministry work in exchange for college tuition and room and board. The plan is to get ministry education, to become a minister or pastor, sadly that didnt happen, he said. The reality, according to the lawsuit, was forced labor. K.D. says she was forced to work 12 to 14 hour shifts spanning days. Recruits were told money paid would go towards their tuition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They basically took the individuals worked them to death, never paid them a penny, said Smith. TRENDING STORIES: The suit says they were forced to serve and eat expired food infested with rodents and maggots. At times K.D. says she was instructed to just rinse the old food off with water. Its truly unbelievable, he said. Smith says when recruits tried to escape, they were often met with manipulation tactics. They threatened her and said this is against God, Smith told Lincoln. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit also details inhumane living conditions. Jane Doe lived in a one bedroom apartment she had to share with three other students in a high rise on North Highland Drive. In 2021, Channel 2 reported a 19-year-old was killed by a faulty elevator in that same building. Jane Doe says she was sexually assaulted twice, once by a church leader and an event patron. She claims she was also almost robbed after being forced to work in an unsafe area. The Atlanta Dream Center Church is a church under the Georgia Assemblies of God. The organization said in a statement: We are aware of the lawsuit that has been filed and want to express our deep concern over the allegations being brought forward. While we are limited in what we can say due to the ongoing legal process, we want to be clear that we take these matters very seriously. We are praying for everyone impacted and are trusting that healing and peace will come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith says since filing this lawsuit, they have received complaints from other recruits claiming similar allegations. If you or someone you know is a victim of trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or online. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] An Atlanta-based developer wants to add its second luxury apartment development to Brookfield's Bishop's Woods area in a plan that would replace a three-story office building with a four-story apartment and public co-working development. But before it submits an official proposal to the city, representatives with development firm Atlantic Residential want to hear from neighbors at an informational meeting April 29. The firm, which has a regional office in Milwaukee, has coined its latest concept as "Brookfield Reserve Phase 2," a 210-unit apartment building that would be located beside Brookfield Reserve, which the firm developed in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new development would be located in a 6.3-acre lot at the southeast corner of Bluemound Road and Sunny Slope Road. The meeting will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers of City Hall, 2000 N. Calhoun Road, according to a city department's notice that was posted on Facebook by Alderman Eric Fugleberg. Brookfield residents, especially those who live between Interstate 94 and Bluemound Road, are encouraged to attend, Fugleberg wrote in his post. Atlantic Residential also plans to present its plans to the Brookfield Plan Commission May 12, according to Emily Zandt, associate planner for the city. What are the initial plans for Brookfield Reserve Phase 2? While Atlantic Residential hasn't yet filed its official proposal to the city, the firm's initial plans, which will be presented at the May 12 Plan Commission meeting, call for the demolition of the existing three-story office building to make way for a four-story residential building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brookfield Reserve Phase 2 would offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment units and public co-working office spaces. Outdoor amenities would include a "resort-style pool," a dog walk, living spaces with fire tables, an outdoor kitchen with grilling stations and more. Inside, plans call for a self-serve food and beverage market and a fitness center. A third party would manage a co-working space in the development, which would include meeting spaces and offices. The initial plan includes 336 parking spaces, 202 of which would be surface spots and 134 of which would be below-ground parking spaces. Atlantic Residential, an Atlanta-based firm with a regional office in Milwaukee, has coined its latest concept as "Brookfield Reserve Phase 2," a 210-unit apartment building that would be located beside Brookfield Reserve, which the firm built in 2018. Brookfield Reserve Phase 2 would add housing in area targeted for investment The concept for Brookfield Reserve Phase 2 is planned for an intersection at Bishop's Woods, a southeastern part of the City of Brookfield that city officials have identified as a targeted investment area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More housing is planned for the area, including the nearby Lincoln Avenue Capital's Flats, which will add 203 affordable housing units to the area. It's one of three projects in the state that's been given $1 million from the state's Vacancy-to-Vitality Loan Program in partnership with Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. What are the next steps for a Brookfield apartments proposal? If the developer were to submit a formal application for the proposal, they'd be required to attend a preapplication meeting, host another neighborhood informational meeting, send notices to neighbors and prepare for more public hearings, according to Zandt. Contact the reporter at bfogarty@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Atlantic Residential seeks feedback on 'Phase 2' Brookfield apartments The Aurora City Council at a meeting Tuesday is set to consider changes to the parking ordinance that police say will help with the excessive number of commercial vehicles being parked on city roads. The city currently has an ordinance restricting commercial vehicle parking in residential areas by banning overnight parking and limiting daytime parking to no more than two hours, but the Aurora Police Department is proposing expanding that ordinance to include the whole city along with some other changes. Officer Grant Weil, who is part of the Aurora Police Departments community-oriented policing unit, told the Aurora City Councils Committee of the Whole last week that many of the commercial vehicles parked overnight on Aurora streets belong to companies outside of Aurora that do not have business with any nearby properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have personally spoken to some of these drivers who admit they park these vehicles on Aurora streets before driving their personal vehicles home, which are often not in Aurora, because they are aware the city does nothing to enforce commercial vehicle parking in these areas, Weil said about the south section of Duke Parkway. The point of the ordinance is not to hinder business in Aurora, and the proposed ordinance specifically states that commercial vehicles actively being used to make a delivery or render a service to a nearby business or residence are excluded from parking restrictions, according to Weil. His presentation showed that commercial vehicles that are obstructing traffic or causing a hazard, even if they are actively making a delivery or providing a service, would be in violation of the proposed ordinance, though. The proposed ordinance would allow police to immediately tow commercial vehicles and trailers found in violation of the ordinance, which Weil said would have a significant positive impact on the responsiveness and ability for the Aurora Police Department to address frequent complaints of commercial vehicles parking on city streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, the Aurora Police Departments community-oriented policing unit went through the process of working with the city to do lengthy traffic surveys and eventually get signage approved to stop commercial parking in some problem areas, such as on one side of the road on the south section of Duke Parkway, according to Weil. But at that location, he said, drivers of commercial vehicles soon realized they could still legally park on the other side of the street from the signs, and the same problem came back up. Excessive amounts of trash, including human waste, was being left behind by drivers, oil changes were being done then discarded into the street and excessive noise from idling trucks, especially overnight, was impacting area residents and businesses in that area, Weil said. Police also recovered several stolen vehicles from this area, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other areas where commercial vehicle parking has become a problem include Gabrielle Lane and Longmeadow Drive, according to Weils presentation. The proposed ordinance change would allow the Aurora Police Department to enforce the ordinance consistently throughout the city, Weil said, instead of having to identify every problem area and go through the lengthy process of getting signs approved and installed. If the proposed ordinance is approved by the Aurora City Council on Tuesday, then commercial vehicles over 8,000 pounds, including truck tractors with or without a trailer, would not be allowed to park on public streets between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., these vehicles could not be parked for more than two hours and, at any time, these vehicles would not be allowed to obstruct other traffic or cause a hazard, according to the proposed ordinance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed ordinance would also apply to all types of trailers, whether or not they are attached to a vehicle. This new proposed ordinance would simplify enforcement throughout the city, removing the need for different signs around town displaying the different parking rules, and allows immediate enforcement action by police, Weils presentation said. It is also similar to the ordinances neighboring communities have, he said. The proposed ordinance does not have any impact on non-commercial parking anywhere, except that it may create more parking for residents, according to Weil. Plus, it may beautify all of the citys districts and reduce commercial vehicle noise, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At its meeting last week, the Committee of the Whole, which sets the following weeks City Council agenda, placed the proposed ordinance changes on Tuesday meetings consent agenda, which is typically used for routine or non-controversial items that are all approved with one vote and without discussion instead of needing to vote on and talk about each individual item. rsmith@chicagotribune.com In Austin as elsewhere, the Roman Catholic faithful gathered Monday to mourn the death of their spiritual head, Pope Francis. More than 100 parishioners attended noon Mass at St. Marys Cathedral in downtown Austin. Dozens arrived before the start of Mass to kneel or bow in prayer under the churchs wooden arches and starry blue dome. A picture of a smiling Pope Francis, framed in gold, stood to one side of the altar. Attendants listened as diocese's interim head Rev. James Misko delivered a sermon about resurrection and prayed for the recently deceased pope. For many in attendance, the Mass was a chance to reflect on the popes legacy as a leader who advocated for the poor, opened dialogues inside and outside of the church, and who was widely adored for his humility. I hope the next pope will be just as humble, just as simple, said Larry Tabash, a downtown office worker who attended Monday Mass at St. Marys Cathedral. He was accepting of everyone regardless of your background or of your necessity. He treated everyone the same. I hope the next pope does the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis, 88, died Monday morning after overseeing the Vaticans Easter celebration over the weekend. On Saturday, he had his Easter Vigil sermon read by another cardinal; and on Sunday, he offered a blessing from the loggia over St. Peter's Basilica and rode in the Popemobile through St. Peter's Square. His death came about a month after he was released from a 38-day stay in the hospital due to respiratory illness. Recently: In gentrified East Austin, these three historically minority churches are at a crossroads Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis joined the Catholic priesthood at 18 and rose up the ranks of the Argentine clergy. He became pope in 2013. Often viewed as a product of the churchs liberal wing due to his criticisms of capitalism, comparatively accepting stance toward LGBTQ individuals and his focus on justice for immigrants and the impoverished, Francis nevertheless continued the Churchs doctrine opposing same-sex marriage and the use of birth control. He was the first pope from the Americas, and the first born outside of Europe in more than a millennium. In Austin, the popes death could have an effect on the speed with which the Diocese of Austin is given a new bishop. Francis named former Austin Bishop Joe S. Vasquez the head of the influential Galveston-Houston Diocese in January. Vasquez was installed in his new post last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diocese of Austin spokeswoman Camille Garcia told the American-Statesman in March that the diocese expected a nine-month stay between leaders, a similar wait to the last time it received a new bishop in 2010. On Monday, Garcia said that Francis could have selected a new bishop for Austin before his death, in which case an announcement might come soon. But likely, she said, his passing will delay a decision. During Mass at St. Marys Cathedral, Misko, the dioceses interim head, offered a homily on death, afterlife and resurrection. They were topics he had planned to discuss because of the Easter season, Misko said. The papal death allowed those in attendance a strong opportunity to consider death as a point in the Christian journey, as well as Gods final promise: that he will not abandon his faithful in death. We are experiencing the finality of [Francis] earthly life and the totality of his eternal life, Misko said during his homily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Mass, attendants and clergy said they would remember Francis broad evangelization, including his travel to parts of the globe that were often overlooked by previous popes, along with his ability to bring in lapsed Catholics due to his calls of inclusivity. He related to a lot of people and he brought a lot of people back to the church who had not been devout, Richard Brito, 67, said between tears. I hope the next pope can do that. Pope Francis waves to pilgrims upon his arrival in St Peter's square at the Vatican on September 11, 2013, for his weekly general audience. AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images) State leaders on social media expressed their grief over the Catholic leaders death. Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin, a Catholic, praised Francis as the pope of the poor and marginalized at a time when the allure of proximity to power entraps many. Fellow Democratic state Rep. Lulu Flores, also from Austin, said the pope had lived humbly, spoken softly, and embodied servant leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Catholic who clashed with Francis through the years over humanitarian questions regarding immigrants and border security, and who notably skipped out on an invitation to see the pope when he spoke in Ciudad Juarez in 2016, called Francis a bold and unwavering voice in defense of life, championing the unborn, the vulnerable, and the marginalized with conviction and compassion. Francis' death begins a nine day period of mourning traditional to the Catholic faith. After that, eligible cardinals will gather for a conclave to elect the churchs next leader. The next pope will have to gain the support of at least three-quarters of voting cardinals. During Mass, Misko asked attendants to pray that the next pope be a good man who is going to select a good man to be our next bishop. But he also urged them to find joy in the churchs teachings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis "said a Christian should never be sad because of the resurrection, Misko said. So this is a time of joy and a time of gratitude. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin Catholics mourn Pope Francis' death, remain without bishop Leaders in Australia and New Zealand have expressed their sadness at the death of Pope Francis. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the pope would be mourned by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. "Today the prayers of more than a billion people, of all nations and every walk of life, go with Pope Francis to his rest," Albanese said at a press conference. "Pope Francis' compassion embraced all humanity. He urged us to remember all we hold in common and asked the world to hear the 'cry of the earth', our common home," Albanese said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his thoughts were with Catholics and all those who mourned the pope's death. "A man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue," Luxon wrote on X. Catholic church bells across Austria will ring for 10 minutes at 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Monday to mark the death of Pope Francis, a spokesman for the Austrian Bishops' Conference said in Vienna. At the same time, memorial services will be held in thousands of parishes and dioceses, and prayers and devotions will take place, the statement continued. On Monday evening, Cardinal Christoph Schonborn plans to hold a requiem for Francis in St Stephen's Cathedral in the capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen praised the Argentinian as an "inspiration for millions of believers and far beyond" and a "beacon of hope." Chancellor Christian Stocker said the late pope will be remembered for his tireless commitment to peace, justice and tolerance. The head of the Catholic Church died on Monday morning at the age of 88. A picture of Pope Francis is displayed inside St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, where people gather to attend a mass following the announcement of his death. The Argentine pontiff, who led the Catholic Church since 2013, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, leaving a lasting legacy among millions of faithful around the world. Tobias Steinmaurer/APA/dpa A picture of Pope Francis is displayed inside St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, where people gather to attend a mass following the announcement of his death. The Argentine pontiff, who led the Catholic Church since 2013, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, leaving a lasting legacy among millions of faithful around the world. Tobias Steinmaurer/APA/dpa A security supervisor of a correctional facility in Phoenix who sexually abused an inmate was sentenced to more than a year in prison and 10 years of supervised release, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Morris Gary Hibbitt, a 51-year-old Avondale man, pled guilty to sexually assaulting the woman inside her living quarters at the Behavioral Systems Southwest Residential Reentry Center, according to court records. The Federal Bureau of Prisons contracts the center to offer reintegration services for inmates, helping them transition back to civilian life and avoid relapsing into criminal behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 14, U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow sentenced Hibbitt to a 13-month prison term. Afterward, Hibbitt must undergo supervised release for 10 years and register as a sex offender. The prison sentence comes nearly two years after Hibbitt used his position as a security guard to compel the woman to engage in sexual activity while she was under his supervision, legal records showed. According to the woman's report to authorities, she was in her room on the afternoon of May 21, 2023, when Hibbitt walked in. After he turned on the water and light in her room, she told him she was going to shower. Hibbitt left but later returned. As he did, she reported, he initiated sexual intercourse and later compelled her to perform oral sex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hibbitt pled guilty to sexual abuse of a ward on June 11, 2024. A sentencing hearing was initially set for Sept. 9, 2024. However, it was rescheduled a handful of times. In court filings, Hibbitts attorney cited concerns that certain allegations against his client would escalate the penalties to several years of imprisonment. The attorney effectively asked the court to consider additional factors in the case that would affect the severity of the prison term. Earlier in April, prosecutors recommended that Hibbitt serve 13 months in prison and five years of supervised release with the condition that he register as a sex offender. The federal judge mostly agreed, tacking on an additional five years of supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shawn Raymundo covers the West Valley cities of Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria and Surprise. Reach him at sraymundo@gannett.com or follow him on X @ShawnzyTsunami. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Avondale security guard jailed in connection with abusing inmate Guests visit a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) MOSCOW, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held at the Chinese Embassy in Russia on Friday. The exhibition features 60 photos showcasing the arduous struggles of the Chinese people against Japanese invaders, the combat operations by Soviet volunteer air squadrons in China, the battles of the Soviet Red Army against the Japanese Kwantung Army in Northeast China and military exchanges between China and Russia in recent years. "The exhibition is very impressive. I am so delighted to see so many well-preserved file photos," Russian sinologist Yuri Tavrovsky told Xinhua. He hopes that these historical photos could be fully utilized to better tell the touching stories of the two peoples fighting side by side in war and their mutual support. The photo exhibition was supported by the Chinese embassy and co-organized by the Eurasia Regional Bureau of Xinhua News Agency, the China Image Group and Zhongchengtong International Investment Co., Ltd. More than 400 people attended the event, among them were representatives of the descendants of Russian veterans who supported China in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Representatives from Russia's political, military, academic and media circles, as well as non-governmental organizations, attended as well. Guests visit a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) A visitor is pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) A visitor is pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) A visitor is pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Guests visit a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) A visitor is pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Visitors are pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Editor: WXY An ex-con from Staten Island was found guilty of committing a string of terrifying heists including one where he posed as an FBI agent, and another where an accomplice blasted a hole in the coat of the victims 10-year-old son. Tony Clanton, 51, has a record of violent crime dating back to 1997, when he ripped off an undercover Special Deputy U.S. Marshal during a staged gun buy, then tried to shoot that marshal, but the gun wouldnt fire. On Monday, a Brooklyn Federal Court jury delivered a verdict that could end his criminal career for good guilty on five federal robbery and related charges, which carry a mandatory minimum of 25 years and a maximum of life behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clanton served about three years for the 1997 caper, as well as an 11-year sentence for a string of home invasion robberies in 2007 and 2008 where he flashed a fake DEA badge and phony warrants. He returned to the criminal life with a fresh wave of stickups in 2023, teaming up with another ex-con, Lawrence Dotson, who spent more than 26 years behind bars for murder. Dotson, whos cooperating with the feds, took the stand against Clanton at his trial. Over a six-month period, Clanton directed a cruel and violent spree in New York City and New Jersey that left terrorized robbery victims in his wake, including two children who watched as their parents were shot at or menaced with guns, U.S. Attorney John Durham said. The spree started on Jan. 20, 2023, when Clanton targeted a fellow worker in the construction business, Vernon Fields. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fields and Clanton had similar jobs, finding and recruiting day laborers to work on big construction sites, and about a year before the robbery, the two mens companies had a dispute over a competing bid, Fields testified. That day, Fields was coming home with his 10-year-old son on Clinton Ave. on Staten Island when Dotson, disguised as a painter in a white Tyvek suit pulled out a loaded silver revolver and told him, Dont make it a homicide. Dotson pistol-whipped Fields and fired a shot near his head, and Clanton rushed in to grab the vicitms keys and get into the apartment but the two men fled in a U-Haul van after they realized Fields was on the phone with his girlfriend, firing again as they ran. I just kept saying, you know, just dont shoot my son. I just kept repeating that, Fields told the jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clanton also orchestrated a $4,000 stick-up of a smoke shop in Staten Islands Annadale neighborhood on June 3, 2023. The owner testified that the robbers bound him with zip-ties, taking both the cash and a stash of pot. On June 24, 2023, Clanton and Dotson pretended to sell a Mercedes Benz for $60,000 to a man Dotson met in a strip club, according to prosecutors, then drove to the prospective buyers Staten Island house and tried to rob the man in front of his teenage son. Three days later, he and his accomplices donned fake FBI clothes, including a novelty jacket he ordered through Amazon, and tried to rob the husband-and-wife owners of an Edison, N.J., jewelry store. And on July 12, 2023,, he took part in armed robbery of a Brooklyn ice cream shop owner, who was robbed at gunpoint after walking out of a bank with $6,000 cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clantons lawyer, Susan Kellman, tried to paint Dotson as an opportunistic liar, and questioned in her closing arguments why he the government let him keep the Mercedes he used in the crimes. She declined comment Monday. Clanton is slated to be sentenced on July 31. A bald eagle ruffled some feathers last week when it landed on a highway during the morning commute. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) posted a picture of the bird on X. The eagle had landed in the right lane on State Route 512 in Puyallup, Washington during the morning commute on Friday, April 18 TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eagle caused a two-mile backup while it sat on the highway for several minutes, according to a report from our sister station in Seattle, KIRO-7. A trooper with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) stopped behind the eagle to protect it from oncoming traffic. The bird did not appear to be injured and flew away as a trooper approached, according to a spokesperson for the WSP on X. Photo Courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation on X. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Former President Barack Obama mourned the loss of rare leader Pope Francis in an emotional statement on Monday, hours after the announcement of the death of the pope. Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people, the former president said in a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another, Obama wrote, alongside a photo of the two men shaking hands and smiling at each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world Catholic and non-Catholic alike who drew strength and inspiration from the Popes example, Obama added. May we continue to heed his call to never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope. Francis and Obama first met at the Vatican in 2014, and shared a warm relationship with each other. Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we pic.twitter.com/AFI0BEotUO Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 21, 2025 Francis died weeks after a five-week hospital stay for bronchitis and later pneumonia. He was released March 23 and had just celebrated Easter Mass. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the popes death with deep sorrow on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father, he said. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. Tributes poured in from royalty, world leaders and celebrities following the news. Related... In the wake of Pope Franciss death today at age 88, former president Barack Obama has joined world leaders in paying tribute to the late pontiff. Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people, Obama wrote in a message shared on his website and social media channels. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another. He continued, Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world Catholic and non-Catholic alike who drew strength and inspiration from the Popes example. May we continue to heed his call to never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope. Vatican Pool - Getty Images Alex Wong - Getty Images Obama and Pope Francis met numerous times, including when Obama traveled to the Vatican in 2014 and Pope Francis visited the United States in 2015. Obamas tribute today called back to the remarks he delivered upon the Popes visit to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your Holiness, in your words and deeds, you set a profound moral example, Obama said. And in these gentle but firm reminders of our obligations to God and to one another, you are shaking us out of complacency. All of us may, at times, experience discomfort when we contemplate the distance between how we lead our daily lives and what we know to be true, what we know to be right. But I believe such discomfort is a blessing, for it points to something better. He added, You give us confidence that we can come together in humility and service, and pursue a world that is more loving, more just, and more free. You Might Also Like BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Bay County Sheriffs Office has announced the arrest of a woman accused of impersonating a federal immigration officer and kidnapping a local resident. The incident took place on April 10, 2025, when BCSO deputies responded to a call regarding a suspicious incident at the Bridge Plaza Apartments. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a victim who reported that she had been kidnapped earlier that day. Investigators learned that the suspect, identified as Latrance Battle, had approached the victim at her place of employment, posing as an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Battle wore a black shirt marked with ICE, displayed what appeared to be a Sheriffs Office business card, and carried a handheld radio to support her impersonation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the BCSO, Battle instructed the victim to leave with her. The victim, who is in the process of becoming a legal U.S. resident, said she genuinely believed Battle was an ICE agent and complied out of fear. While in the car, as the victim attempted to contact her lawyer and husband, Battle allegedly snatched the phone from her. Officials say the victim became growingly concerned after they passed the sheriffs office and the jail. When they stopped at the Bridge Plaza Apartment Complex, the victim was able to escape when Battle went inside the apartment alone, and a concerned citizen assisted her in contacting authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latrance Battle was later located in Fountain, Florida, while reportedly en route to Alabama. She was taken into custody and is now facing multiple felony charges, including Kidnapping in the Commission of a Felony, Robbery by Sudden Snatching, Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer in the Commission of a Felony, and Felony Violation of Probation. Battle is being held on a $85,000 bond on the first three charges, and without bond on probation violation. The Bay County Sheriffs Office praised the victim and concerned citizen for their courage and quick action and reminded the public that all legitimate law enforcement officers will present proper credentials and follow established procedures. Bay County Sheriffs officials say this was a targeted incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a connection between the victims husband and Miss Battle that goes back a few years ago. And so there has not been much, much connection lately. But they do know each other. This is definitely a targeted, particular incident that happened here. Were not concerned about anything else like this happening. But she did pick her victim. And so we dont believe theres any other threat to the public at this time, said BCSO Captain Stephen Jencks. Jencks adds that this incident is alarming for the department. We dont know what the ultimate motive was. And so we are very concerned about an incident like this. Its its its very alarming when something like this happens, especially when you portray yourself as law enforcement and you take somebody against their will when they trust and respect law enforcement and what theyre going to do for you. And when she obviously did not have the best intentions for. But as far as what those actually were, we have not found those out yet, said Jencks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOWN OF UNION, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) The Broome County Sheriffs Office is looking to the public for assistance in locating a missing Endicott man. 48-year-old Joseph Maine reportedly left his house on foot on April 19 and never returned home. He was last seen around 8:38 p.m. on North Mckinley Avenue in the Town of Union. Maine is described as a while male. He is six feet tall and weighs approximately 167 pounds. He was last seen wearing a light grey sweatshirt, dark grey sweatpants, and black sneakers with red lettering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maine is reportedly diabetic and may not have taken his medication recently. He may be exhibiting confused behavior. Please report any tips, video footage, sightings, or information to the Broome County Sheriffs Office at Tip Line at (607) 778-1196 and reference Case #25-10146. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) This week is a return to beautiful conditions on the western slope. Expect temperatures to return to the mid seventies with some potential for gusty outflow winds up to 25 miles per hour. Tonight, some clouds will roam into the region and cool down western Colorado into the mid-to-low forties. No precipitation is expected for this beautiful April day! A freeze warning is in place for Southwest Colorado valleys through this morning, where temperatures will drop into the twenties again. Red Flag Warnings are in place this afternoon and evening for the Grand Valley to Rifle corridor and portions of the North Fork Valley this afternoon, with low relative humidities and gusty winds producing critical fire weather conditions. Temperatures will continue to rebound this week under benign weather conditions. Non-zero precipitation chances continue this week across the mountains, but available moisture remains scant. Mostly clear skies are occurring early this morning with a few clouds moving across the north ahead of an approaching shortwave trough that will skirt across the Intermountain West and Northern Rockies this afternoon, however the valley is expected to remain dry. Westerly winds will increase this afternoon with gusts 25 to 35 mph across northwest Colorado and portions of west-central Colorado. Relative humidity is elevated across the north in closer proximity to the frontal boundary, but areas along and south of I-70 will see drier conditionsenough to warrant a Red Flag Warning for portions of west-central Colorado valleys including the Grand Valley and Debeque to Rifle corridor as well as the Delta and Montrose areas of the North Fork valley. Tuesday is expected to be warmer by a few degrees with highs around 5 to 10 degrees above normal for most areas. This weekend saw what could potentially be the final freeze of the year for farmers, but WesternSlopeNow will keep you updated on those changes. Overall, expect a nice day ahead with conditions warming up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Belarus has welcomed an Easter truce between Ukraine and Russia, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on April 20. Russia declared a temporary Easter ceasefire from April 19 until midnight on April 21 despite later violating the truce multiple times, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky and soldiers on Ukraine's front lines. Belarusian authorities have parroted Kremlin narratives and stood behind Russia as it continues to wage its war against Ukraine. "This move was taken on the eve of Easter, which makes it particularly significant and symbolic," the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Foreign Ministry, in its statement, repeated Russian narratives. Saying that Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia are "fraternal nations," an idea normalized in the Soviet Union and considered to undermine the distinct identities of Ukrainians and Belarusians. The Ministry claimed it hopes for a "diplomatic settlement" to end Russia's war against Ukraine. "We hope that the truce will lead to de-escalation of tensions and will allow moving on to a diplomatic settlement," the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said. Moscow has shown signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Moscow has refused. "Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week," U.S. President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post on April 20. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Moscow violates Easter truce, Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in swap with Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. In the wake of the news of Pope Franciss death on Monday, an outpouring of tributes has begun from world leaders, dignitaries, and royals worldwide in honor of the late pontiff. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were among those who shared a tribute to Pope Francis. It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Pope Francis. He was a great man, close to the most humble and concerned about the world's problems, the Belgian king and queen wrote. We share the grief of all Catholics around the world and all those who loved and appreciated him. We also express our gratitude for the honor he bestowed upon us by visiting our country. The Belgian royal family is among the few remaining Catholic monarchies in Europe. Pope Francis last met with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde last September at Laeken Castlethe official residence of the Belgian royal familyamid a tour of Belgium and Luxembourg. The late pontiff made his final appearance on a balcony at St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City to bless the gathered crowds during mass on Easter Sunday. His funeral will be held in the coming days, and after, he will be laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major), a church outside the Vatican. You Might Also Like Demonstrators participate in a rally and march in protest of the Donald Trump administration's policies in New York City, the United States, on April 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan) Saturday's protests marked the second major mobilization against the Trump administration in April, following an earlier wave on April 5, and reflected deepening grassroots frustration with what participants view as an erosion of checks and balances. WASHINGTON, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of protesters on Saturday took to the streets in various cities across the United States in what demonstrators described as part of a "National Day of Action" against President Donald Trump's policies and perceived threats to democracy. Organized on the 250th anniversary of the start of the U.S. Revolutionary War, the demonstrations ranged from marches through midtown Manhattan to rallies outside the White House in Washington, D.C., drawing parallels between historical calls for liberty and today's demands for executive accountability. In New York, people rallied outside the city's main library carrying signs targeting the U.S. president with slogans like "No Kings in America" and "Resist Tyranny;" in Chicago, demonstrators chanting "Protect our democracy" marched past City Hall; in San Francisco, participants formed a human banner reading "Impeach &Remove" on Ocean Beach. Protesters carried signs denouncing rapid deportations of immigrants, mass firings within federal departments, and cuts to Social Security offices, while many also voiced support for transgender rights and stronger climate policies. "We are in an unprecedented, dangerous situation in the United States," said Raymond Lotta, a political economist and writer. The Trump administration "is moving quickly to consolidate power, to carry out its horrible agenda, rounding up immigrants, waging a war on the universities, a war on science. They are shredding the rule of law," he said. "Trump is doing illegal things, and he should stop," said another demonstrator identifying himself only as George. He held a sign reading "Deport Trump" to express his anger. Protesters gather during a rally outside the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Calling the current trade war "unnecessary," Chris, another demonstrator who only gave his first name, said, "Using tariffs is hurting our economy. Especially, it is hurting the world economy. It is causing a lot of disruption across the globe." "We're already seeing the first signs of a recession," said Chris, who held a sign reading "tariffs equal recession." Meanwhile, some groups focused on community services, organizing food drives, teach-ins and volunteer work at local shelters. Political analysts note that Saturday's protests marked the second major mobilization against the Trump administration in April, following an earlier wave on April 5, and reflected deepening grassroots frustration with what participants view as an erosion of checks and balances. Editor: Zhang Zhou BRODHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) Authorities are investigating after a 21-year-old Berea man was killed in a head-on crash on Sunday afternoon in Rockcastle County. It happened just before 4 p.m. on Sunday on Brindle Ridge Road, state police said in a news release. An initial investigation showed that a boy from Brodhead was driving a blue 2015 Ford F-250 heading south on Brindle Ridge Road when he allegedly crossed the center line into northbound traffic, resulting in a head-on crash with a 2005 Dodge Neon being driven by 21-year-old Jacob Madden of Berea. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rockcastle County Coroners Office pronounced Madden dead at the scene, KSP said. The Brodhead juvenile driver and another juvenile who was a passenger in the Ford F-250 were taken to Rockcastle Regional Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The deadly crash investigation remains ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. (NewsNation) As Catholics mourn the death of Pope Francis, many are wondering who the next earthly leader of the Catholic Church will be. There are several possible successors, and while American markets do not currently have betting markets on the next pope, international markets are already taking wagers. Who is favored to be the next pope? According to OddsChecker, Pietro Parolin, 70, is the favorite to be the next pope at +350, meaning if you bet $100 and Parolin is elected, youd receive $350. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN APRIL 02: (EDITOR NOTE: STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY NO MERCHANDISING). The Vatican Secretary of State cardinal Pietro Parolin presides at Mass marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Pope St. John Paul II at St. Peters Basilica on April 02, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images) Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Evangelization Section of the Dicastery for Evangelization, at the altar during the Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord in St. Peters Basilica. Vatican City (Vatican), January 6th, 2025. (Photo by Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images) MILAN, ITALY DECEMBER 22: Angelo Scola Milan Archbishop during the Meeting with the Press for the Season Greetings on December 22, 2011 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images) VATICAN CITY, VATICAN MARCH 11: Canadian cardinal Marc Ouellet is photographed by media as he leaves the final congregation before cardinals enter the conclave to vote for a new Pope, on March 11, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals are set to enter the papal conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI after he became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the role. The conclave is scheduled to start on March 12 inside the Sistine Chapel and will be attended by 115 cardinals as they vote to select the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Parolin is the Vaticans secretary of state and has held the position since 2013. He is from Italy and was ordained in 1980. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a 67-year-old Filipino prelate, is the second favorite at +500. Cardinal Angelo Scola, 83, and Canadian prelate Cardinal Marc Oullet, 80, are at +700. Who is eligible to become the Pope? Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate. Pope Francis legacy of serving the poor and marginalized Francis appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity. Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at age 76 and that Karol Wojtyla wasnt on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II. What is a conclave? The conclave is when Catholic cardinals gather in a closed room or hall to vote on the next pope. In 1271, it took over two years to elect Pope Gregory X due to political turmoil. So this didnt happen again, Pope Gregory X made it so that cardinals would have to stay together until a new pontiff was decided on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis funeral to be held Saturday Now, cardinals are locked in at Domus Sanctae Marthae, which is adjacent to the Vatican, to vote. They cannot leave until a new pope has been elected. An individual will need two-thirds of the vote to become the next pope. Per the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the conclave usually happens 15 to 20 days after the death or resignation of a pope. The cardinals vote anonymously and place their vote in a chalice. Their votes are read aloud, but not who voted for who as they undertake an oath of secrecy beforehand. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Scoop The Washington Post is inching closer to finding an editor for its rebooted opinion section. In recent weeks, staffers at the Jeff Bezos-owned outlet have begun speaking with candidates, including Reason editor-in-chief Katherine Mangu-Ward. In an email, Mangu-Ward told Semafor she couldnt comment on Bezos or the Posts hiring process, but said she was excited about the prospect of a Washington Post opinion page anchored in the principles of personal and economic freedom. One person familiar with the situation said the paper isnt close to making a decision, but has begun conversations with several candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Post has been without a top opinion editor for months following Bezos decision to narrow the sections focus to the promotion of free markets and civil liberties. The move prompted former opinion editor David Shipley to resign abruptly in February. Correction Former President Biden joined Catholics and others mourning the death of Pope Francis on Monday, calling the late pontiff a light of faith, hope and love. He was unlike any who came before him, Biden wrote in a post on the social media platform X just hours after the pope passed away after celebrating Easter. Above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the Peoples Pope a light of faith, hope and love. Biden, who was the countrys second Roman Catholic president after former President Kennedy, regularly attended Mass in Washington, D.C., and Delaware during his time in the White House and often spoke about his Catholic faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had a private one-on-one visit with Pope Francis less than a year after being elected. It was his fourth meeting with the pope. Pope Francis, 88, who hailed from Argentina and was the Catholic Churchs first Latin leader, died at the Vatican early Monday morning after battling a series of health setbacks related to chronic lung disease. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him, Biden wrote in his online post on his passing. For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased. As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths. Biden also praised Pope Franciss dedication to the poor, the environment and other social causes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless, Biden wrote. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Apr. 21The Glacier Park Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars celebrated World War II veteran Donald "Bud" Robinson with its first centenarian challenge coin last week. The freshly minted challenge coin was gifted to commemorate the Bigfork native's 100th birthday. Bigfork Seniors Club and Kalispell Assisted Living have additional celebrations planned for this week to honor the longstanding community figure known to many as "Uncle Bud." Born April 21, 1925, at the Kalispell General Hospital, Robinson spent his childhood in the budding town of Bigfork. In his free time, he hunted in the nearby mountains or fished on the Flathead River with his younger brother, John. As he grew up, Robinson took on a series of odd jobs, starting with a position hawking papers for the Daily Inter Lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "[They] hired me for $6 a month and then I got half of anything I sold for the papers," Robinson recalled in an interview with the Bigfork History Network. "The papers sold for, I think, five or ten cents apiece, and I got half of that. I had about 35 customers. I guess it probably took almost a year for me to accumulate enough money to buy a bicycle." Robinson later worked night shift on the ferry that ran out of Holt before taking a job servicing cars at a gas station. By then, the United States had entered World War II, and the town's population began to dwindle. Robinson remembered starting high school with about 45 classmates, but only 17 remained by graduation. "The population went down to almost nothing during the war," he said. "It was really a skimpy town." ROBINSON SAID his goodbyes to Flathead Valley in 1943, when his draft card was pulled. He entered the Navy hoping to work on submarines. The military had other plans for the 18-year-old, and Robinson instead boarded the USS Coronis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than a month into Robinson's deployment, a submarine blinked onto the ship's sonar. The crew immediately launched four or five "Hedgehog" projectiles at the unidentified vessel, ending the skirmish before it could even start. Robinson watched as a trail of oil drifted up from the ocean depths and unspooled on the water's surface. "Right then, I thought, by God, I'm lucky I didn't get into the submarines," he told the Bigfork History Network. But Robinson soon discovered his own position was just as dangerous. While Robinson's main role on the ship involved manning its distillation machine, which transformed seawater into potable freshwater for the sailors to drink, he also manned a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun when the ship entered enemy territory. As a gunner, he was a prime target for Japanese kamikaze pilots, who purposefully crashed their planes into Allied navy ships. In 1945, Robinson's crew joined 1,600 other U.S. naval ships off the coast of Okinawa. For three months, the crew weathered a near-constant maelstrom of Japanese aircraft while ground forces battled inland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These pilots would come in at night, just one plane after another," said Robinson. "You didn't know for sure if you grounded them or not." With over 4,900 casualties and nearly as many wounded, the Battle of Okinawa was the U.S. Navy's costliest fight during World War II. Japanese aircraft sank 32 U.S. Navy ships, but the Coronis weathered the firestorm without any damage. The Allied victory expediated the war's end, and, by 1946, Robinson was making his way back across the Pacific. "I was glad to get out of there," he said of his discharge. BACK IN Bigfork, Robinson opened Bud's Bar next to his mother's cafe on Electric Avenue. The saloon became a favorite watering hole for locals, and Robinson gained his own reputation as a hometown hero, earning the nickname of Uncle Bud. Robinson said he wasn't sure where it came from, but it seemed to stick, even after he left the bar business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the late 1950s, Robinson started a home construction company with his friend, Bill Henry, and he co-founded the nonprofit now known as the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork in the early 1960s. Along the way, Robinson met and married Lila Baker, a waitress at a restaurant in nearby Woods Bay. The two remained together until Baker's death in 2002. Robinson met the second love of his life, Maxine Gates, a few years later. In his 80s by then, Robinson decided to build a house from scratch for him and his wife. It took him about six months to build the home and another six months to plant 4,000 trees near the house. In the following years, the couple sold the trees to landscapers and homeowners. Robinson said finishing the project at the age of 83 was one of the proudest moments in his life. Gates died in 2020, and Robinson now lives full-time at Kalispell Assisted Living, but he still visits the house from time to time. He enjoys sitting by the pond, which he dug out himself, and watching the ducks and geese drift across the water. The peace is well-earned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's quite an accomplishment," Robinson said of turning 100 years old. "I sure never thought I'd last this long." Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4433. Robinson is the first person to receive a centurion challenge coin from the Glacier Park Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. (Hailey Smalley/Daily Inter Lake) Donald "Bud" Robinson in his U.S. Navy uniform. Former President Clinton on Saturday urged unity in a speech on the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. If our lives are going to be dominated by the effort to dominate people we disagree with, were going to put the 250-year-old march toward a more perfect union at risk, Clinton said during a speech at an event marking 30 years since the bombing. None of us would ever get much done. Believe me, weve all got something to be mad about, something legitimate to be mad about. You made a different decision, the former president told the crowd in Oklahoma City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, my advice to America today is, that we were there for you when you needed us, America needs you, and America needs the Oklahoma Standard, and if we all live by it, wed be a lot better off, he added The Oklahoma Standard, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating (R) told local news outlet The Oklahoman in 2021, was demonstrated by aggressively generous Sooner State residents in the wake of the attack. The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, carried out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols on April 19, 1995, is the deadliest domestic terror attack in American history. It killed at least 168 people and injured nearly 700 more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A California state bill that would slash energy credits for rooftop solar panels is being backed by a former power company executive whos now a lawmaker, the Los Angeles Times reports. Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier) authored Assembly Bill 942, which the Times explains would limit the current [solar panel] programs benefits to 10 years half the 20 year-period the state had told the rooftop owners they would receive. The bill would also cancel the solar contracts if the home was sold, the report adds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before her time in the Assembly, Calderon was an executive at Southern California Edison and its parent company, Edison International. Southern California fishing boat captain ordered to pay more than $16,000 for polluting local waters She says the credits that rooftop owners receive when they send unused electricity to the grid is raising the bills of customers who dont own the panels, the Times says, though SCE and other large utilities in California have long tried to reduce the energy credits that incentivized Californians to invest in the solar panels, as the panels have cut into the utilities sales of electricity. The nonprofit Vote Solar came out against AB 942, which they described as a direct attack on California families who made long-term investments in solar with the promise of fair, 20-year Net Energy Metering agreementsguarantees that were clearly outlined in the states own consumer protection documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changing the rules after the fact isnt just unfairit risks eroding public confidence in the integrity of Californias regulatory system, Vote Solar said. More than a million Californians signed contracts and state-issued guides in good faith, trusting that regulators would keep their word. Retroactively breaking those agreements would set a dangerous precedent for all consumer protections in California. A request for comment from Calderons office was not returned prior to publication. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The Oklahoma House sent a bill limiting the governors power to close businesses during pandemic to Gov. Kevin Stitt for approval. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma lawmakers sent a bill that would limit the governors power to close businesses in a pandemic to Gov. Kevin Stitts desk Monday after over an hour of discussion on the House floor. Senate Bill 672, authored by Sen. Julie McIntosh, R-Porter, and Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, would require scientific evidence that a business contributes to spreading disease during a declared pandemic before a governor can order businesses closed. The governor would also need to provide notice and an opportunity for a hearing to nonessential businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics of the bill, all Democrats, said the legislation would prioritize protecting businesses over human life and fails to create clear processes for hearings or define what is considered scientific evidence. Supporters said the measure, which passed 74-15 along party lines, was preventative maintenance that protected due process for businesses. This is not an indictment of whats happened in the past, but its all about what were gonna do moving forward that were going to use due process, West said. Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, said during the COVID-19 pandemic best practices to mitigate the spread were not known and this measure could prevent erring on the side of caution. But Rep. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson, said this measure will protect small businesses from government overreach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stitt said Wednesday he supported the measure on the surface, but would fully review its contents when it came to his desk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE HAIKOU, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The futuristic vision of gliding above traffic in an autonomous "flying taxi" is fast becoming a reality, thanks to the rise of low-altitude economy in China. At the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo, a dedicated exhibition zone for the low-altitude economy made its debut, featuring companies like EHang Holdings. Ehang, a global leader in urban air mobility (UAM), showed up at the event alongside three unmanned aircraft. These innovations highlight transformative solutions to urban congestion and offer a glimpse into the future of aerial consumption. Starring at the event was EHang's flagship EH216-S, the world's first and only electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to secure all four certifications required for commercial operation: Type Certificate (TC), Production Certificate (PC), Standard Airworthiness Certificate (AC), and Operational Permit. Having completed over 66,000 safe flights across 19 countries, including the United States, Japan, UAE and countries in Europe, the pilotless eVTOL is already driving real-world applications in passenger transport, aerial tourism, logistics, and emergency medical services. The EH216-S achieved a historic breakthrough in March when its affiliated operator received China's first airworthiness certification for crewed UAM services, accelerating global commercialization. He Tianxing, vice president of EHang, emphasized plans to expand into urban commuting and ultimately achieve fully autonomous low-altitude commercial operations. The company aims to launch air taxi services as early as this year. Operating from rooftops or designated vertiports, these eVTOLs promise to bypass ground traffic efficiently, doubling as air ambulances or emergency responders. EHang has already established more than 20 demonstration sites across 16 Chinese cities, including Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and is now eyeing Hainan's unique geography to pioneer low-altitude tourism, island-hopping routes, and intra-city aerial networks. As low-altitude economy takes flight, EHang's innovations signal a sci-fi-turned-reality era where the skies offer not just escape from gridlock, but a new dimension of smart, sustainable living, He said. Also at the exhibition, United Aircraft brought the TD550, which obtained the first type certificate for unmanned helicopters in China. "China is entering an era of rapid development of the low-altitude economy," said Zhou Xiaoyue, director of the firm's public relations. The exhibition aligned with China's broader strategy to advance the low-altitude economy, encompassing UAV, UAM, and other emerging sectors. The government work report released this March said China will carry out demonstration initiatives on the large-scale application of new technologies, products and scenarios, and promote safe and sound development of emerging industries, including the low-altitude economy. Many Chinese cities have been moving quickly to establish a foothold in the sector, considering it a new track of industrial development. Mianyang, a city known for its strong scientific and technological foundation in the country's vast western region, has just established a new low-altitude economy research institute. As China's low-altitude economy takes flight with impressive momentum, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has forecast a significant surge in market value, projecting that the sector would soar from 500 billion yuan (about 69.4 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025, and that it could reach an astounding 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035. Editor: WXY Billy Long speaks during a press conference before filing for to be on the ballot in the Missouri GOP Senate primary on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City. (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent) Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long received $137,000 in campaign contributions just enough to pay off a personal loan to his campaign soon after he was tapped to lead the Internal Revenue Service. Some of the donations are connected to companies that will be policed by the agency Long has been nominated to run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to recently filed financial disclosures, which were first reported on by the investigative journalism site The Lever, Long only raised roughly $36,000 in the last two years. He was named as President Donald Trumps pick to lead the IRS in December, and in January received $137,000 in donations. He then paid back the remaining $130,000 in debt from a $250,000 loan he made to his unsuccessful 2022 U.S. Senate campaign. The donations, and their timing, have renewed criticism of Longs appointment, which still awaits Senate confirmation. Senate Democrats have already called for a criminal investigation of firms with ties to Long that they allege are involved in fraudulent tax credit schemes. Among the donors to Longs campaign are financial advisers from some of those firms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they told Billy hed be in charge of revenue collection, did they forget to tell him that meant for the American people, not his own bank account? said Sean Nicholson, a longtime progressive activist and campaign consultant in Missouri. Jordan Libowitz, vice president of communications for the liberal watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said the timing of the donations and the explicit knowledge that theyd end up directly in Longs bank account, its hard to see them as anything other than an attempt to curry favor with the future head of the IRS. Long did not respond to a request for comment. After a career as an auctioneer and conservative radio host, Long served six terms representing a Southwest Missouri congressional district. He gave up his seat to run for U.S. Senate in 2022, losing in the GOP primary to now-Sen. Eric Schmitt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long then worked for Lifetime Advisors and earned at least $5,000 in income from White River Energy. Both companies have drawn scorn from Senate Democrats, and intense media scrutiny, over their involvement in controversial tax credit programs. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a limit on the amount of post-election funds a candidate can use to pay back personal loans. The majority found the limit an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech, while the dissenting justices argued removing it would pave the way for political corruption. Even if our broken campaign finance system allows this behavior, Libowitz said, it raises serious questions about future conflicts of interest and needs to be addressed in any hearings (Billy Long) has before Congress. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The continued outbreak of bird flu has resulted in the culling of more than 30 million poultry birds across nine states this year. Thats about 10 million more than the last quarter of 2024. The loss of egg-laying hens resulted in a national egg shortage, with prices sky high over the first months of the Trump administration. Since then, the cost of a carton of eggs has fallen thanks to decreased demand and falling infections. Last week, the average wholesale price of eggs was $3.13, which is down about $5 from earlier this year. You can have all the eggs. You watch, we have too many eggs. In fact, if anything, the prices are getting too low, President Donald Trump said last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, while the Department of Agriculture, which has led the effort to bring down prices, said in its latest Egg Markets Overview that price levels to the consumer have eased considerably, levels remain at levels not yet conducive to more than normal purchases needs. However, bird flu isnt retreating. Ohio just reported its first outbreak since early March. Since the beginning of the year, more than 30 million poultry birds have been culled amid the spread of bird flu and a new outbreak has been reported in Ohio. The news comes as officials are trying to bring sky-high egg prices down. (AFP via Getty Images) This year, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed 41 outbreaks in egg-laying flocks across Arizona, California, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. Of the 30.6 million birds affected since January, 19.6 million were in caged systems and 11 million were cage free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since January 2022, 168,621,877 poultry birds have been affected. The majority of the outbreaks this year have been in Ohio, which reported its first human case of bird flu in February and the first known illness involving the D1.3 strain. There have been 13.5 million birds lost in Ohio flocks. Rapid viral spread there has forced Republican Governor Mike DeWine to tell the Trump administration to hasten its bird-flu response. While egg prices have fallen since the beginning of the year, bird flu is not going away. The Department of Agriculture has a $1 billion plan to address bird flu (Getty Images) One of the things that is clear is that the federal government is really going to have to accelerate the research that is being done in regard to bird flu, he said last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, the Department of Agriculture announced a plan costing $1 billion to address bird flu, including $400 million to help speed the process for farmers to clean and repopulate their farms, which usually takes about six months. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that relief would happen by the summer. That was before news that people assigned to respond to bird flu had been cut in recent Department of Health and Human Services layoffs, and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announced a strategy to let the virus run wild. Experts said that could only lead to it mutating and put farm workers at greater risk. For now, health authorities assert Americans should not worry. For one thing, there has still been no evidence of human-to-human transmission of bird flu. The current risk of bird flu for the general public is low. However, people with close and prolonged, unprotected contact with infected birds and other animals are at greater risk of infection, the Ohio Department of Health said. FAIRFIELD, Ala. (WIAT) Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett will hold a discussion on crime and gun violence prevention at Miles College on April 24. The event, titled A Fireside Chat with Chief Michael Pickett: Crime and Gun Violence Prevention, will be moderated by State Senator Merika Coleman and take place at Pearson Hall from 11:00 am 12:30 pm. This is more than a conversation about policing. It is an opportunity for our students to see the power of resilience, leadership, and purpose, said Senator Coleman. Chief Picketts story is one of hope, community, and commitment to service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pickett, a graduate of Miles College, was named the 36th chief of the Birmingham Police Department earlier this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Birmingham Police Department is investigating a fatal domestic dispute that happened Sunday night. Officers with Birmingham police were called out just before 10 p.m. to the 700 block of Lisa Lane concerning a dispute during a birthday part and Easter celebration. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said officers were initially dispatched on a report of shots fired at the home during the dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victims injured in Smith Lake boating crash plan to file lawsuit Officers were updated that a female was trying to run over a male in a vehicle. Officers arrived on scene when they learned that the female suspect did in fact run over the male. He was trapped between the vehicle and a house, Fitzgerald said. The trapped victim, identified as 27-year-old Mickese James Bostic, was pronounced dead at the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue. Police said the female suspect, who was taken into custody at the scene, shared children with the victim. A horrible fact that I just learned within in the past few minutes is that there was possibly children that the couple shares in common inside the vehicle when the suspect ran over the victim, Fitzgerald said while at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers from all precincts ultimately responded to the scene due to a large crowd that east precinct officers could not get under control. Fitzgerald added police had responded to the area earlier Sunday concerning a separate dispute between the victim and suspect. No one was arrested at that time and the suspect allegedly left the scene. No children were injured. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. CLEVELAND (WJW/AP) Tributes to Pope Francis are pouring in from around the world after the Vatican announced the pontiffs death on Monday at age 88. Locally, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland released a statement from Bishop Edwards C. Malesic in which he reflected on a recent trip to Rome and celebrated Pope Francis global impact. Pope Francis dies at 88 You can read the full statement below. It is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the passing of Pope Francis, who has shepherded the Catholic Church for the past 12 years. As the first pope from the Americas, Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Frances in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, and like his namesake, he lived a humble, simple, and pious life, serving as an inspiration to the faithful around the world. I was blessed to see Pope Francis in January in Rome and passed along the best wishes and prayers of the faithful from the diocese of Cleveland. This was a highlight of a pilgrimage I led to Italy, during which our group was among those who enjoyed an audience with the pope. He responded, Ah, Cleveland, so you can be sure he knew about our exceptional diocese. His legacy of encouraging clergy and laity to work together to evangelize with the Good News of Jesus and to serve the least among us made an incredibly significant impression on me. He brought together clergy, religious and laity from around the world in his efforts to encourage church leaders to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He championed environmental stewardship, promoted unity among Catholics, non-Catholics, and non-Christians, and called us all to be a global family that welcomes our brothers and sisters in need with open arms. Even as pope, he didnt put himself ahead of others, but embodied the term servant leader, which made him beloved and respected throughout the world. Pope Francis set an example for Catholic leaders everywhere by living the values of the Gospel, and by preaching the mercy of God. He once said, The Lord never tires of forgiving. It is we who are tired of asking for forgiveness. A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just. May we honor him by remembering Gods mercy and seeking it out. And may we demonstrate our love and mercy to others, just as he did. I ask all the faithful to pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of Pope Francis. May Pope Francis rest in the love and peace of Christ. Bishop Edwards C. Malesic Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb took to social media Monday morning with a tribute to the pope, writing: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. A global shepherd of compassion, justice, and humilityhis legacy will continue to inspire us to care for the least among us. Cleveland mourns with the world today. May he rest in peace. Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday said Pope Francis was an inspiration to millions around the world, including himself and his wife Fran DeWine. His genuine love of and devotion to all people the poor, the unborn, those without a home, those emigrating to build a better life for themselves and their families, those of all faiths, and those with no faith was evidenced to the world from the day he was selected to serve as Pope until his last public appearance on Easter Sunday. His work directly with the poor was a testament to his life of great humility. And, meeting with children clearly brought him great joy! It gave us the same joy watching him interact with them. He spread the Gospel up until the very end of his life on this Earth, making a special effort to do so on Easter. Pope Francis brought hope to the world through his compassion for all. Gov. Mike DeWine Global reaction: Heres a look at some of the global reactions a day after his last public appearance on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St. Peters Square. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who met with the pope on Easter Sunday before traveling to India, wrote on social media that his heart goes out to the millions of Christians who loved him, and said: I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King Charles III praised the pope for his work on safeguarding the planet, and alluded to their multiple personal meetings including a private visit on April 10 at the Vatican. We were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month, the King wrote in a statement signed Charles R. It was the popes first known meeting with a foreign dignitary after he was hospitalized for five weeks with double-pneumonia. Church bells tolled in honor of Francis, from the recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to a lone bell at the St. Bartholomew Parish in Bulacan, in the Philippines, that was rung 88 times to signify the 88 fruitful years of our dear Pope Francis, the parish wrote on social media. Martin Pendergast, secretary of the LGBT Catholics Westminster in London, recalled how Francis looked past sexual orientation and said he wouldnt judge people who tried to carry out the will of God. He was the first pope to actually use the word gay, so even the way he speaks has been a radical transformation and some would say a bit of a revolution as well compared with some of his predecessors, Pendergast said. The Womens Ordination Conference lamented Francis unwillingness to push for the ordination of women. His repeated closed door policy on womens ordination was painfully incongruous with his otherwise pastoral nature, and for many, a betrayal of the synodal, listening church he championed, the conference said. This made him a complicated, frustrating and sometimes heart-breaking figure for many women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Emmanuel Macron of France, a largely Roman Catholic country, focused on the popes impact on the church, writing on social media that from Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, one of the few official visitors to see Francis during his recent hospitalization, alluded to the popes personal comfort and advice, saying it never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering. She added: We are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd. Taiwans President Lai Ching-te expressed condolences on social media and said people there would continue to draw inspiration from his lifelong commitment to peace, global solidarity, and caring for those in need. The Holy See is among Taiwans only 12 remaining diplomatic allies while China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, has been poaching others. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa noted the popes extraordinary life story and said Pope Francis advanced a world view of inclusion, equality and care for marginalized individuals and groups, as well as responsible and sustainable custody of the natural environment. Africa has seen some of the Catholic Churchs biggest growth in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recalled the pontiff as an inspiration for the entire world, not just Christians. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate, she said on social media. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. Israeli President Issac Herzog, whose role is mostly ceremonial, called Francis a man of deep faith and boundless compassion. Francis repeatedly criticized Israels wartime conduct in Gaza and said allegations of genocide, which Israel has adamantly denied, should be investigated. I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered, Herzog said on social media. V.P. Vance met with Pope one day before his death The Palestine Red Crescent offered condolences to Christians, calling the pope one of the most prominent supporters of justice and human dignity, including his noble stances regarding the suffering of the Palestinian people and their right to freedom and justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, said Francis leaves behind a great human legacy that will remain etched in the conscience of humanity. President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria recalled how the pope traveled to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a key landing point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, to meet with refugees and commemorate those who died while trying to cross the Mediterranean. The Austrian leader said on social media that the popes impact resonated in ways large and small: He ensured that homeless people near St. Peters Square could shower. He criticized dehumanizing words and gestures. That was Pope Francis. President Vladimir Putin of Russia hailed the pope as a consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice and alluded to the pontiffs efforts to foster interfaith dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches. Last year, the pope suggested Ukraine should have the courage to negotiate an end to the war with Russia and not be ashamed to sit at the same table to carry out talks. Critics said that suggested he was siding with Russia. Francis tried to maintain the Vaticans traditional diplomatic neutrality during the war, but that often was accompanied by apparent sympathy with Russias rationale for invading Ukraine like when he said NATO was barking at Russias door with its eastward expansion. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux City issued a statement Monday morning after the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis died Monday at 7:35 local time. He was 88 years old. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday blessing thousands in St. Peters Square. He was introduced to the world on March 13, 2013, as the 266th pope. Pope Francis dies at 88 In a statement, Sioux City Diocese Bishop Walker Nickless said that he is saddened to hear of the loss of such a kind and holy man while also grateful for the popes leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nickless recounted that he met Pope Francis in January 2020 as part of his second visit to the Vatican. He said that he and other bishops found Pope Francis to be welcoming and an active listener before he then encouraged the bishops. The bishop is asking for other faithful to pray to God so that Pope Francis may rest in peace. Read Nickless full statement below. Upon the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, I am saddened by our loss of such a kind and holy man while at the same time grateful for his leadership to the church in his 12-plus years as pope. I was honored to meet Pope Francis in January 2020 for my second ad limina visit to the Vatican. My brother bishops and I found him to be very warm and welcoming and an attentive listener. He was very encouraging to us in our shared challenges as bishops. I ask the faithful to join me in offering our prayers to God the Father for the repose of the soul of his servant, Francis. We trust in the Lord who promises the resurrection of the body for his faithful. Having just celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord, we pray that His Holiness may soon enjoy the fullness of peace and joy. Bishop Walker Nickless Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) A man from Bismarck will spend the next eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography. Vermilion County Court records show that Rosmiro Arvizu, 58, was charged with 18 counts of child porn crimes. On April 11, he pleaded guilty to one of those counts while the remaining 17 were dismissed. Edgar Co. Sheriffs Office develops suspect, submits warrant in hit-and-run Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Vermilion County States Attorneys Office said that after accepting Arvizus guilty plea, Judge Mark Goodwin then heard arguments from both the prosecution and the defense on what sentence he should impose. He ultimately decided on eight years in prison. Arvizu was given credit for 267 days already served in custody. Evidence presented in court showed that last year, the Illinois State Police received reports of child pornography being disseminated from accounts belonging to Arvizu. He was arrested on July 18, which WCIA reported on in September. The States Attorneys Office said that during an interview with the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Attorney Generals Office, Arvizu showed investigators an online account that had been created just four days prior. He also admitted to creating and using the accounts to receive and send child pornography and he also admitted to saving child pornography to his phone for his later pleasure. Decatur Police investigating second shooting on Sunday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Distributing child pornography is a heinous crime. Reproducing child pornography further prolongs the suffering of each victim. My office will continue to pursue justice in cases involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, States Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said in a statement. I would like to thank the agents with the Illinois State Police and the Attorney Generals Office who worked to ensure this defendant is held accountable. Upon his release from prison, Arvizu will be required to register as a sex offender for life and could spend anywhere from three years to life on parole. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. LAST WEEK, AFTER SEVERAL congressional Democrats announced plans to try to help Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the immigrant the Trump administration shipped off to a notorious prison in his native El Salvador despite a 2019 court order expressly prohibiting his deportation to that country, right-wing culture warrior Christopher Rufo had this response: The analogy is bizarre in many ways: For starters, Luigi Mangione is awaiting trial for the premeditated murder of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson while Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime. Also, showing empathy for a probably innocent man who may be facing life imprisonment in a modern-day gulag at the age of 29 is . . . maybe not so pathological? And lastly, concern for Abrego Garcias fate is not just about empathy: It is, first and foremost, about the outrageous facts of a case in which a man who had legal authorization to live in the United States (and is the husband and father of U.S. citizens) has been disappeared without due processand our government is refusing to return him in defiance of the courts. But, notably, Rufos tweet is not a one-off: Its part of a larger trend of empathy-bashing on the right, particularly but not only in the context of immigration. After the Supreme Court ruling on Abrego Garcia in which Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett partly joined the three liberal justices in a dissent arguing that the deportations should have been paused pending judicial review, the MAGA right blasted her as a fraud and a traitorand many zeroed in on her alleged empathy problem. After Utah Sen. Mike Lee expressed disappointment in Barrett, tech tycoon and top Trump adviser Elon Musk offered one of his laconic commentaries: And some, such as right-wing psychologist J.D. Haltigan, explicitly linked the pesky empathy problem to sex and mass feminization: The same charge cropped up last month after Barrett voted with John Roberts and the liberal justices to uphold a lower court order requiring the administration to pay out $2 billion to contractors for work already completed for the United States Agency for International Development. And, once again, the sexismsome of it from womeneasily came to the surface. As a woman I can say this. Do not put another spineless woman whose suicidal empathy will allow her to turn from sanity to the ugly opinions of other females, railed an X poster with Christ is King in her bio. (Thats presumably the same Christ who said Blessed are the merciful; but, as David French recently noted in the New York Times, empathy has lately become a dirty word on the evangelical Christian right.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recurrence of the phrase suicidal empathy is no accident: The term is becoming a right-wing buzzword. Apparently coined by Canadian marketing professor Gad Saad, an Intellectual Dark Web-adjacent figure, this concept was boosted by Musk in his February 28 appearance on Joe Rogans podcast, where Musk declared empathy to be the fundamental weakness of Western civilization and said that weve got civilizational suicidal empathy going on. Friedrich Nietzsche, call your office. Saad, meanwhile, has been using the Abrego Garcia story to plug his forthcoming book Suicidal Empathy, which he says examines the descent to madness produced when our emotional system is tricked into an orgiastic hyperactive form of empathy, deployed on the wrong targets. It will be joining such recent releases as the bestselling Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion by right-wing activist Allie Beth Stuckey and The Sin of Empathy: Compassion and Its Counterfeits by theologian Joe Rigney. As the sexist attacks on Barrett indicate, the rights war on empathy often has a distinctly misogynistic subtext. Empathy generally tends to be regarded as a feminine trait, and women do, on average, report higher levels of empathy than men (though studies of objective evidence yield mixed results). Its not that the anti-empathy right goes easy on malesPope Francis was a favorite targetbut the swipes at women are far more likely to be sex-specific. Saads recent activity on X includes such elegant insights as, White liberal women = apex suicidal empathy and Suicidal Empathy can afflict all people but some women take it to an art form.1 Men diagnosed as suffering from this affliction are often depicted as effeminate or low-testosterone. I suppose that explains the three male justices, two of them Trump appointees, who joined in last Saturdays order blocking the deportations of any Venezuelans held in a Texas detention center pending removal under the Alien Enemies Act. Get 30 day free trial ITS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE, of course, to critique an excessive focus of empathy without being an atrocity apologist or a misogynist.2 Empathy certainly lends itself to manipulationor, in fashionable lingo, weaponizationfor ulterior political or ideological motives. But such manipulation is hardly limited to any one faction. Even as MAGA influencers scoff at progressive empathy for migrants, they also make the blatantly empathy-based (and logic-free) argument that deportees are not entitled to due process because Americans murdered by illegal immigrants, such as Laken Riley, were killed without due process. For that matter, empathy for ordinary Americans who feel victimized by globalization, immigration, woke excesses, cancel culture, urban chaos, COVID lockdowns, and other real or perceived menaces from the rights gallery of horrors is a central element in the rhetoric of the populist right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also true that a primarily empathy-centered politics or discourse is inadequate for a variety of other reasons. Appeals to emotion can be used to shut down debate and substitute for reasonable argument (again: just look at MAGA). Sympathy for human suffering doesnt tell us how to remedy it, and some remedies may well be counterproductive. In many cultural and political conflicts, there are legitimate claims to sympathy on both sides. In practice, sympathy is often allocated on a partisan basis. At the same time, it would be absurd to argue that concern with harm to human beings shouldnt enter into consideration at all when making political or even legal decisions. (Adam Smith regarded sympathy and fellow-feeling as essential to moral judgment and social relations.) And, as the attacks on Barrett show, the critique of empathy is also easily weaponized: Any argument someone dislikes can be discounted as out-of-control empathy, at least if it incorporates some element of respect for human rights or human decency. Share Its revealing that Saads definition of suicidal empathy specifies that its deployed on the wrong targets, such as immigrants or transgender athletes. Or, for that matter, Volodymyr Zelensky: after Trump and JD Vance berated Zelensky for his lack of deference during their February 28 Oval Office meeting, Saad mocked Americans angered by the treatment of Zelensky as believers in kindness and empathy upset because Trump and Vance were really really mean and thats not nice. Whatever the dangers of empathy-based politics or discourse, its clear that anti-empathy discourse can itself become an excuse for cruelty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Or for downright atrocities. Indeed, tirades against supposedly misguided compassion appear again and again in the annals of totalitarian ideologies. At the height of the Reign of Terror in France, Robespierre gave a speech in which he derided those who showed excessive pity for enemies of the republic (or their families) and asserted that clemency toward the oppressors of humanity was actually barbaric. During the Russian Revolution, Lenin inveighed against abstract humanism and sneered at liberal intellectuals who were moaning and sobbing over the victims of a just civil war against landowners and capitalists. In fact, its probably a good rule of thumb that if a political movement spends a lot of energy trashing human kindness, its bad. In the toxic stew of modern-day American politics, the right certainly doesnt hold a monopoly on cruelty: Some of the cancel campaigns of the 2010s were extremely nasty, and the left has its own forms of empathy-bashing, such as mocking the distress of accused wrongdoers as white tears or male tears. However, MAGA has raised performative contempt for fellow-feeling to an odious art form, especially since not even the worst cancellations were remotely comparable to being deported to a foreign gulag or denied access to lifesaving medicine because some twentysomething DOGE staffer decided to chop up the foreign aid program that supplied it. But not to worry: Trump world isnt always anti-empathy. The day after the attempt on Trumps life in Butler, Pennsylvania, Musk was extremely incensed by the cover of the New York Times Sunday opinion section (printed before the shooting) which said, He FAILED the test of leadership and BETRAYED America. Voters must REJECT him in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are truly callous and despicable human beings, wrote Musk. Not a shred of empathy. Lack of empathy for a presidential candidate whose leadership and legacy was harshly (and correctly) assessed by a newspaper: callous and despicable. Empathy for a migrant ripped away from his family and abruptly flown to a brutal foreign prison: suicidal. Its MAGA logic. Share The Bulwark 1 The latter was a comment on a post asserting that former German chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Central Bank President Christine Lagardeall women!are the three people who have destroyed Europe. I get that Merkel gets tagged with the empathy label because of her decision to admit Syrian refugees, but what did Lagarde or von der Leyen ever do that was so empathetic? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 Literary critic Irving Babbit argued over a hundred years ago, in Rousseau and Romanticism (1919), that the over-valorization of sentiment and sympathy by many of the Romantics eroded intellectual discourse and moral standards. In 2022, Pope Francis openly spoke to American editors about African Americans for the first time, saying racism was an intolerable sin. Even if he didnt say it out loud. Black folks always knew he was on our side which makes his recent death such a shock and another painful loss. The Vatican announced that at the age of 88 Francis died the day after Easter Sunday and a month after his release from hospital for chronic lung disease. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in the Vatican. Farrell, an American, becomes the Vaticans de facto administrator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis cared a lot about migrants and heavily criticized the Trump administrations deportation plans, saying that it would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity, according to PBS. US Vice-President JD Vance had just visited the Vatican for a short meeting with Francis on Easter, after the two got into a long-distance spat over after Trumps deportation plans. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance wrote in a statement posted on X. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. Francis was also known to be progressive in the Catholic Church. His commitment to making the Church more inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community, and putting more women in senior roles in the Catholic Church caused him to clash with conservative members of the Church, according to The Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that 2022 interview with American editors, he responded to reports that Black Americans were the group likely to leave the Catholic church. I would say to them that I am close to the suffering they are experiencing, which is a racial suffering. And [in this situation], those who should in some way be close to them are the local bishops, Francis said. The shocking news of Pope Franciss passing left Black Americans feeling they have lost another supporter during a time when racial division is high in the nation. I havent processed it yet Im still thinking an easter miracle will happen and hell come back, one user wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Black people, folks on TikTok have started to create theories that his death is fishy, considering the timing. tiktok-7495683352339696942 I just feel like that further proves that our timeline is just incredibly unserious, unreal really, the creator says. I swear, I SWEAR, Catholics better stand up and come forth bc eyebrows raised... how after Vance poisons the air around the Pope, one viewer wrote in the comments. I am mourning and I am devastated! Im trying not to go down the conspiracy rabbit hole, but that thought definitely went through my head, wrote another viewer. tiktok-7495679415255321898 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This creator lies in shock at the news, Pope Francis died right after JD Vance tried to see him... yall not fing worried?! Nah thats what Im thinking this is spooky, one viewer agreed in the comments. Conspiracies aside, Pope Francis had chronic illnesses; he even had to get part of his upper right lung removed in his early 20s after suffering from pneumonia, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His death has led to questions about who will be the next Pope and whether that Pope will be as compassionate as Pope Francis. One user begged, please let the next pope be as good as francis was. We already have enough demons in power. please let the next pope be as good as francis was we already have enough demons in power pic.twitter.com/UxYemN7bTH kris (@t4tenrec) April 21, 2025 For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, together with the international company Bayer and the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, have launched a seed program, within the framework of which corn seeds for spring sowing will be provided free of charge to farmers in Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions (except for temporarily occupied territories). "Such an initiative is another step towards strengthening Ukraine's food security in wartime, as it will allow farmers from frontline and deoccupied territories to sow approximately 10,000 hectares and harvest approximately 120,000 tonnes of grain," the Ministry of Agrarian Policy emphasized. As the agency noted, in order to receive assistance, the farm must be registered in the State Agrarian Register and cultivate from 5 hectares to 500 hectares in the indicated regions. Applications will be accepted from April 21 to April 30 or until the amount of assistance is exhausted. Each approved applicant will be able to receive up to 25 sowing units of corn seeds (at the rate of one sowing unit per 1 hectare) depending on the area of land under cultivation. The seeds will be issued in early May and approximately two weeks. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, founder and director of the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts University, speaks at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. Black maternal health advocates and researchers worry about federal funding cuts. (Courtesy of Birthlooms) Before everything went black, Tamika Jackson felt like she was drowning. While in labor giving birth to her baby boy, her body felt heavy and her breaths shallow. I cant breathe, she croaked to the anesthesiologist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you couldnt breathe, you wouldnt be able to speak, she recalled the doctor telling her, dismissing her as having a panic attack. Minutes later, the 37-year-olds lungs gave out. Her heart stopped beating. Clinicians were able to resuscitate Jackson. Her baby boy was born via C-section, and the Michigan mom lived to tell her story of giving birth to Cree, whos turning 3 next month. Jackson is now a maternal health organizer at Mothering Justice, a Michigan-based nonprofit. She spoke with Stateline while on a bus to the Michigan Capitol, where she participated in a Black Maternal Health Week panel and pushed for a legislative package nicknamed the Michigan Momnibus which aims to increase obstetric patient protections and improve care for moms of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Michigan Senate passed the package Thursday, and it now heads to the House. Black moms like Jackson are three times more likely to die than white mothers and suffer higher rates of pregnancy-related complications. But in its bid to eliminate federal diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives, the Trump administration has terminated community health grants and closed federal offices that support state efforts to tackle racial health disparities. Experts say the moves will hinder efforts to improve Black maternal health. DEI is not about politics. Its about survival, Jackson said. This is about community-based solutions and theyre undoing that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson added that without federal dollars, Were going to be left trying to do a whole lot with a whole lot of nothing. The Trump administration has cut grants for maternal health studies and research on health disparities in various populations, including patients of color and LGBTQ people. It has laid off most staff at the federal Division of Reproductive Health, and removed maternal health data from federal agency websites. It also is considering cutting next years budget for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from about $121 billion to about $80.4 billion, according to The New York Times. The administration plans to create a new Administration for a Healthy America, which would focus on maternal and child health, among other issues. HHS and its National Institutes of Health did not return requests for comment in time for publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEI is not about politics. Its about survival. Tamika Jackson, Michigan mom and maternal health organizer at Mothering Justice Researchers and advocates like Jackson say that amid the Trump administrations erasures, their work will continue. Among those losing grants are nonprofits, health care systems and universities, including the Morehouse School of Medicine, a historically Black medical school in Atlanta, which received a $2.96 million grant for a center to improve the health of Black pregnant and postpartum women. Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. We are reviewing the situation to assess how it may affect our research, a Morehouse spokesperson wrote in an email. More broadly, it is important that we all recognize the critical role medical research plays in developing potential life-saving innovation that will mitigate disease and improve the health and well-being of many people. Tamika Jackson holds her baby boy Cree after regaining consciousness following a traumatic birth. (Courtesy of Tamika Jackson) The Morehouse center was selected among an initial 10 research centers funded under the NIHs Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone, or IMPROVE, Initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia University and community groups throughout New York also received the grants. One goal was to connect postpartum moms with doulas to detect conditions such as postpartum preeclampsia, according to principal investigator Dr. Uma Reddy, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia. Reddy said the grant was developed with communities who voiced their needs. We can actually prevent these deaths and these serious complications, Reddy said. This is a way to focus on a high-risk population and provide them with the resources that they dont have available. Tufts University maternal health scholar Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha said shes had several meetings in Washington, D.C., get canceled, and while shes thankful to have almost completed one federal grant project, theres uncertainty about other grants shes applied for, including a Black postpartum support research initiative. The professor runs the Maternal Outcomes for Translational Health Equity Research (MOTHER) Lab and Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at the Tufts University School of Medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It not only stalls progress, but it actually actively endangers the most vulnerable among us, she said. These policy decisions can cause and will cause lasting harm to people who are already underserved by our health care system. Amutah-Onukagha said she is urging researchers and advocates to have cautious optimism. Most people are in the space of gloom and doom. I do get that, and Im vastly in and out of that, she said. But because of the work that I do in maternal health, we have to remain optimistic. That lens cannot die. If it does, then the communities that we serve are going to be even more disadvantaged. Amutah-Onukagha, who recently testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health, said her team will continue to work with organizations around the state, such as Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts and Resilient Sisterhood Project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were stronger in numbers, she said. Diana Greene Foster, research director in reproductive health at the University of California, San Francisco, conducted the seminal Turnaway Study documenting the harms women suffer from abortion denials. She was in the middle of another study, funded by a federal grant, tracking post-Roe abortions and the efficacy of health exceptions in abortion ban laws. Her team was interviewing emergency room doctors about whether they could provide abortions amid major pregnancy complications such as eclampsia, a serious consequence of preeclampsia, which is a dangerous form of high blood pressure that disproportionately affects Black mothers. The administration pulled her grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foster, who is fundraising to continue her study, said she feels the administrations actions send a message of turning their back on science, on compassion, on caring about women. Tina Sherman, a doula and national director of maternal justice at MomsRising, a nonpartisan women and mothers advocacy group, said she worries about data the administration has removed, including the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. The surveillance system is a comprehensive tool states use to track maternal health and formulate policies to improve it. An attempt to erase the data, said Sherman, doesnt erase the harm that has been done and creates additional harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without data, states cant target where resources are needed and which communities are disproportionately harmed and how, said Sherman, who co-chairs the North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Were going to be going backwards, she said. The Trump administration also canceled several grants focused on intimate partner violence, a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death which disproportionately affects people of color. One such grant was supporting a University of North Carolina project studying intimate partner violence against pregnant women shortly before they give birth. The issues remain. The urgency is pressing as it ever was. The reality is this: Black mothers and birthing people continue to carry the weight of a crisis that we did not create, Amutah-Onukagha said. We did not create it, but we are leading the fight to solve it and dismantle it, and we know that the systemic barriers existed before this administration. They will continue to show up but we will also continue to produce cutting-edge research here at the center. Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. It looks like Elon Musk has to pay a Black woman big time after shocking allegations made in a lawsuit against Tesla. The verdict comes after Raina Pierce, a former employee who installed latches on car doors for the company, said she experienced racist and sexist behavior during her time at the company. And it was her own boss that did the unthinkable. This lawsuit is not the first time Tesla has been sued for discrimination, but now, the company has decided to settle with Pierce for an undisclosed amount. In the discrimination lawsuit obtained by CNN, Pierce said she experienced a series of pervasive harassment while at the Fremont, Calif. Tesla plant. Pierce claimed racial slurs had been written all over the walls of the Calif. branch, including in the bathrooms. And if this wasnt frustrating enough, the woman said one of her managers, who was unnamed in the filing, repeatedly greeted employees by saying welcome to the plantation and welcome to the slave house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman continued in the suit claiming she was singled out for her race and even yelled at and disciplined for conduct that her non-Black co-workers were excused for, according to the suit. Pierce also claimed to be a victim of a gender-based insult, according to the filling. Apparently, it was another employee who witnessed Pierces unfair treatment and prompted her to finally take action. Maam, you need to go to HR because these leads are saying things about you that are not right, the Tesla worker who temporarily joined Pierces production line said. Musk was not a defendant in the suit, according to the new filing filed Thursday (April 17) in San Francisco federal court. But this wouldnt be the first time the Fremont Tesla plant has been taken to court over alleged discrimination. Last year, a jury ruled Tesla owed Owen Diaz $3.2 million in damages over workplace discrimination, according to California Cvil Rights Law Group. He was reportedly called the N-word more than 60 times by his supervisors. Diaz also claimed he was also told to go back to Africa. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Scoop Some media organizations are advising their employees to take extra precautions when traveling to the US. On Wednesday, Bloomberg held a virtual meeting attended by hundreds of staffers that included guidance on how employees should prepare to deal with US immigration authorities. Outside legal counsel for the company told employees to bring more documents than usual to demonstrate their ties to the United States, including bank statements and lease agreements. The companys lawyers also reminded foreign staff to make sure their I-94 paperwork was present, and to be prepared for additional questions and a more thorough/longer visa application and renewal process. While the company said it is not broadly concerned with travel in and out of the US for Bloomberg staff, it advised any staffers who have a criminal record of any kind to speak with the company before attempting to enter. HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) A new co-admissions initiative will allow students at Blue Ridge Community College to apply for a bachelors degree at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The program, dubbed 49erNext, will allow earned credits at the community college to go toward a bachelors degree at UNC Charlotte. The co-admissions agreement was signed by UNC Charlotte Chancellor Dr. Sharon L. Gaber and Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood on April 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its about more than guaranteed admission; its a comprehensive and student-centric support system designed to address the very challenges that often derail transfer students, said Chancellor Gaber. Two-year degrees at BRCC will fully transfer into one or more of UNCCs four-year degree programs, as all general education requirements will be satisfied. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to student success and opens the door for Blue Ridge graduates to continue their education at one of North Carolinas premier universities, said Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood. It also provides a clear, streamlined pathway to a bachelors degree, along with enhanced advising and support to help our students succeed every step of the way. BRCC graduates will have the opportunity to transfer to UNCC as juniors; complete with financial aid, academic advising and early access to university resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have a question about 49erNext? Contact e.pack@blueridge.edu or visit BRCCs 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 WSPA 7NEWS. Boca Bash is an annual, unofficial boating party held on Lake Boca Raton in Florida. What started as a private birthday celebration in the early 2000s has transformed into one of the most talked-about gatherings on South Floridas waters. The event is known for its floating crowds, loud music, inflatable floats and party atmosphere. Its not organized by any official group, but it draws thousands of boaters, Jet Skiers and partygoers every year, many of whom travel from across the state. Held on the last Sunday of April, the Boca Bash has become both a tradition and a growing concern for local officials due to safety and environmental issues. What date is Boca Bash 2025? Boca Bash is traditionally held on the last Sunday of April. In 2025, this falls on April 27. Participants are encouraged to plan ahead, as the event draws large crowds and an increased law-enforcement presence. How did Boca Bash start? Boca Bash began in 2007 as a birthday celebration for local resident Rockey Rossi, organized by his friends Brad Geisen and Scott McCure. Despite an initial cancellation by the city, the event proceeded and has since grown into a massive gathering, drawing up to 10,000 attendees annually What is it like to go to Boca Bash? Boca Bash is known for its lively atmosphere, featuring a mix of boats, Jet Skis, kayaks and paddleboards. Participants often engage in partying, dancing and drinking, with the event being described as "boozing and bikinis" Boca Bash safety concerns: is it legal to drink on the water? While drinking on the water is legal in Florida, operating a vessel under the influence is not. In 2024, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made 16 arrests during the Boca Bash, primarily for boating under the influence. Law-enforcement agencies emphasize safety due to the high risk of accidents and altercations during the event. Viral video of trash dumping in ocean from Boca Bash 2024 The 2024 Boca Bash faced criticism after a video surfaced showing attendees dumping trash into the ocean. The FWC investigated the incident, highlighting concerns about environmental damage and the importance of protecting Florida's waterways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: 'The world is watching this' top Florida wildlife official says about Boca Bash trash dumping The Boca Bash: Is Lake Boca a lake? Lake Boca is shallow, and water in many parts is only knee- or shoulder-high, which is good for those who might fall in. However, it is not easy to anchor because boats often find nothing to grip except soft sand. Boats can often drift. The inlet leads to a channel of more active water, which eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean. A man died at the Boca Bash in 2018 A 32-year-old man attending the water party drowned in 2018. West Palm Beach's Francis Roselin had gone missing that Sunday afternoon, and another swimmer noticed him at the bottom of a shallow part of the Intracoastal Waterway at about 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities pulled Roselin from the water and placed him in a marine-unit vessel. Medics attempted CPR as Roselin was transported to the boat ramp, where he was pronounced dead. Where is Boca Bash in Florida? The annual Boca Bash is on Lake Boca in Boca Raton, Florida. Near the Boca Raton Inlet, the spot features a shallow, popular sandbar area and is known for boating, swimming and socializing. Diamond Walker is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at dkwalker@gannett.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Bash 2025: Facts on Florida boating party on Lake Boca Raton ST. MARYS (KSNT) Kansas health officials say a boil water advisory is active for the City of St. Marys this week. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issued a boil water advisory for St. Marys public water supply system on April 21. The advisory will remain in effect until the KDHE rescinds it. Local residents are encouraged to take precautions while the advisory is active. These include the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water. Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker. If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears. Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians. Public health alert issued for pork product sold at Aldi Supermarkets nationwide The KDHE reports the advisory is being issued due to a loss of pressure in the public water supply system. A failure to maintain adequate pressure can result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination in the water, making it unhealthy to drink. People with questions are encouraged to call the water system at 785-437-2311 or contact the KDHE at 785-296-5514. More information on this issue can be found online by clicking here. 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. 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. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) A man who allegedly called in a bomb threat to UW Health SwedishAmerican hospital on Saturday has been arrested and booked into the Winnebago County Jail. Rockford Police were called to investigate the bomb threat at 5:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 19th. The threat was unfounded, authorities said. Photo: Winnebago County Jail Timothy Fullerton, 44, was identified as the suspect in the case. He was later arrested and held on the charge of Disorderly Conduct, pending the outcome of a pretrial detention hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The appointment booker involved in an interstate commercial sex ring in greater Boston and Virginia that authorities said catered to wealthy and well-connected clientele has been sentenced to federal prison and faces deportation, the U.S. Attorney said Monday. Junmyung Lee, 32, a Korean national living in Dedham, was sentenced in federal court in Boston on Friday to one year in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. U.S. District Court Judge Julia Kobick handed down his sentence. Lee is subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence, Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court also ordered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $200,000, equal to the amount of proceeds earned by Lee during the brothel ring. Lees sentencing happened about one month after court hearings began in a Cambridge courtroom for dozens of wealthy and well-connected men accused of being customers of the interstate commercial sex ring. Among the accused sex buyers are Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner, former Massachusetts General Hospital oncologist Dr. James Cusack Jr. and Dr. Mitchell Rubenstein of Chestnut Hill, who is on leave from his position as Executive Vice Chair for the Department of Dermatology at Brigham and Womens Hospital. Toner, former president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, communicated with the brothel phone a total of 432 times and paid for sex at least 13 times over roughly a seven-month period, police wrote in their report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee, the appointment booker, pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution; and to one count of money laundering conspiracy. His guilty plea came one month after the head of the interstate commercial sex ring, Han Hana Lee, 42, of Cambridge, pleaded guilty in the case on Sept. 27. In court, Han Lee admitted to recruiting sex workers, getting them transportation to the brothel locations in Cambridge and Watertown, and then concealing the profits of the brothel with money orders. A second man, James Lee, 69, of California, pleaded guilty in February and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28. All three were indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 on charges of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution, and money laundering conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said the trio ran a sophisticated commercial sex network in Watertown, Cambridge, and in Virginia, where buyers paid up to $600 per hour for a wide array of advertised sex acts. They were arrested in November 2023. As booker, Junmyung Lee was responsible for vetting sex buyers, booking appointments, as well as communicating directly with vetted customers via at least two cell phones for Massachusetts and for Virginia, respectively, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said these brothel cell phones each contained over 2,800 verified customers of the prostitution business. Another known cell phone holding additional contacts for the Virginia brothel was never recovered, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the trio charged sex buyers a premium price for appointments with women advertised on their websites. Buyers paid in cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To conceal the proceeds of the prostitution network, Han Lee deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash proceeds into personal and third-party bank accounts and peer-to-peer transfers, prosecutors said. Hundreds of thousands of dollars from these proceeds were used to buy money orders to conceal the source of the funds. These money orders were then used to pay for rent and utilities at brothel locations in Massachusetts and Virginia, prosecutors said. Junmyung Lee was recruited to work for the prostitution network in approximately late 2021 through early 2022, as the business expanded, prosecutors said. His main role in the conspiracy was that of the appointment booker and assisted with various tasks to maintain the prostitution network, prosecutors said. In exchange, Han Lee paid Junmyung Lee $6,000 to $8,000 per month. Junmyung Lee also helped transport women to and from the airport, with some women working at the brothel locations on multiple occasions and in multiple states, prosecutors said. At the direction of Han Lee, he also collected the cash proceeds from the various brothel locations, and then concealed proceeds through structured deposits into personal bank accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2022, Junmyung Lee leased one of the brothel locations in Cambridge under his own name, prosecutors said. In exchange for the lease, Junmyung Lee received a large cash payment of prostitution proceeds from Han Lee, which he then used to buy a Corvette, prosecutors said. Junmyung Lee received a large cash payment of prostitution proceeds from Han Lee, which he then used to buy a Corvette, prosecutors said. The brothel network generated over $5.6 million in revenue from approximately 9,450 scheduled commercial sex dates with sex buyers, prosecutors said. On March 28, the men identified in court as alleged sex buyers included Amrit Chaudhuri, 39, of Brookline; Mitchell Rubenstein, 74, of Chestnut Hill; Marshall Berenson, 62, of Cambridge; Harmanpreet Singh, 38, of Woburn; Kenneth Posco, 69, of Fitchburg; George Wu, 58, of Needham; Patrick C. Enright, 63, of Wakefield; Suren Chelian, 47, of Lexington; Sankara S. Asapu, 40, of Malden; and John Cascarano, 61, of Hingham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 21, along with Cusack and Toner, Cambridge District Court Clerk Sharon Casey approved criminal complaints against the following nine other men: Nathaniel Welch of Concord; Frederick Rosenthal of Marblehead; Timothy Ackerson of Waltham; Matthew Fulton of Belmont; Howard Redmond of Tewksbury; Anurag Bajpayee of Cambridge; Paul Grant of Charlestown; Steven Riel of Laconia, N.H. and Jeffrey Henry, of Exeter, N.H. On March 14, a dozen accused sex buyers, from communities including Winchester, Lincoln, Concord, Newton, and Waltham, were identified in court. They included: Jonathan Lanfear, 56, of Winchester; Patrick Walsh , 66, of Swampscott; Pinhao Chao of Newton; David LaCava, 47, of Waltham; Jason Han, 29, of Concord; John Doran, 75, of Wellesley; Pablo Domingo Maceira, 39, of Roslindale; Peter MacGillivray, 60, of Boston; Yihong Zou, 30, of Boston; Boya Zhou, 27, of West Roxbury; Kerry Wu, 54, of Natick; and Mark Zhu, 29, of Lincoln. Only two of the accused sex buyers, Han and Zhu, appeared in court with their attorneys last month. A few attorneys entered the courtroom alone on their clients behalf. Several other accused sex buyers and their attorneys altogether failed to show up in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/13907 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on Saturday that another 277 soldiers have returned home from Russian captivity. "Our people are home - one of the best news that can be. Another 277 soldiers have returned home from Russian captivity," the president wrote on the Telegram channel. "Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service and border guards. They defended Mariupol and other areas in Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhia, and Luhansk regions. Grateful to everyone who made this return of our people possible. I am especially grateful to the United Arab Emirates for their mediation," the head of state and supreme commander emphasized. In total, since the beginning of the full-scale war, 4,552 people - soldiers and civilians - have been returned home from Russian captivity. We remember everyone who is in captivity. We are looking for everyone who may be there. We must return everyone, Zelenskyy added. In turn, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War informs that "today, on the eve of the bright holiday of Easter, one of the largest prisoner exchanges took place: 277 Ukrainian Defenders were released from Russian captivity; 246 soldiers were returned as part of the prisoner exchange, another 31 people were released outside the exchange." Among those released today are Defenders from the Mariupol garrison, National Guardsmen, military sailors, soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces, the State Special Transport Service, the Airborne Assault Forces, and the Unmanned Systems Forces. Most of those who were returned are young people born after 2000. A female servicewoman who has been in captivity since May 2022 will see her relatives today. The privates and sergeants include 268 released, and nine officers were also returned. Our boys and girls defended Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, Kherson regions and the city of Mariupol from the enemy. The current exchange is the fourth this year and the 63rd since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Coordination Headquarters adds. This year alone, 596 Ukrainians have been returned home from Russian captivity as part of exchanges, and 53 Defenders have been released outside of exchanges. In total, as part of the negotiation process and exchanges since March 2022, the Coordination Headquarters has released 4,552 Ukrainian citizens. Outside of exchanges, an additional 529 people have been released from Russian captivity. The Coordination Headquarters expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for its assistance in organizing the exchange, as well as to all government agencies involved for their assistance and joint work. Back on Friday, Sky News reported on the new exchange, citing Reuters. Waco, Tx (FOX 44) With his second trial in connection with a 2022 homicide set to begin Monday morning, Brandon Xavier Stephens has pled guilty to a murder charge. Stephens had been charged with capital murder in the 2022 killing of Stanley Wilcox whose body was found dumped in a ravine off 9th Street in Waco. His earlier trial on the capital murder charge last October had ended in a mistrial when 11 jurors voted to convict on capital murder and one held out for the lesser charge of murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His co-defendant, James Keylan Willis, was convicted last week and sentenced to life without parole. James Keylan Willis. McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said under the plea deal, Stephens was sentenced to life, but could eventually become eligible for parole. The District Attorneys Office in a statement said that because Stephens was not the main actor in the murder, prosecutors offered him the chance to plea guilty to a lesser charge of murder rather than capital murder, provided he also plead guilty to a separate charge of aggravated robbery. That charge also carried a life sentence, but the two sentences would be served concurrently. While Stephens would technically be eligible for parole after thirty calendar years, prosecutors said they do not expect him to actually get it for significantly longer due to the nature of the crime. Both men had been charged in the shooting death of 59-year-old Stanley Wilcox who had been reported missing on December 29, 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A third man, 22-year-oldAlijah Benson, 22, of Dallas, pled guilty to Aggravated Robbery in September of 2024 in connection with his role in the crime. Benson never physically came to Waco to participate in the attack on Wilcox, but he provided the gun Willis used to rob and kill Wilcox. For doing so, Benson was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wilcoxs body was found after police had begun their investigation surrounding the two men who had been living with Wilcox. As police began their investigation, a homeless woman found his cell phone and turned it in at a convenience store. Detectives also discovered that Wilcox had not visited his gym for ten days, which they were told was highly unusual for him even in the middle of the holiday season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers went to Wilcoxs house on Garrett Avenue and spoke with the three people who shared the home with him including Willis, Stephens and Heavyn Hamilton. According to an arrest affidavit, Willis told investigators that Wilcox left the home without his car around Christmas Eve. Willis reportedly allowed investigators in the home, and they noticed that Wilcox`s ID and debit card were in the living room. Investigators also noticed a car spare tire left next to the front porch of the home. According to the affidavit, Willis said he emptied the back of a white 2021 Ford Escape with North Carolina license plates so he could load up camping equipment. Investigators also found tools, a knife, cleaning products and Wilcox`s personal papers outside the vehicle. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the Escape, and said they discovered indications that someone tried to clean up a large amount of blood in the trunk area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One arrested in Killeen Gray Street homicide During a search of the home on January 6, 2023, detectives interviewed the three people. The affidavit states that Willis and Stephens admitted to shooting Wilcox, cleaning the crime scene, and dropping his body in a ravine near South 9th Street and the Interstate 35 northbound access road. According to the affidavit, Willis and Stephens told investigators they got into a confrontation with Wilcox over his plans to evict them from his home and he was shot. They reportedly told police that they decided to put him out of his misery after the initial shooting. Special Crimes Detectives said they believed that the suspects in the murder had gone to the 300 block of West Kiest Boulevard in Dallas around 2:31 a.m. on December 22 and received a handgun from Benson to use in a planned robbery of Wilcox. In exchange for lending the firearm, Benson was to receive financial gain after the robbery was completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the handgun was returned to Benson after the murder. Assistant District Attorneys Ryan Calvert, Vanessa Fuentes and Dan Stokes issued the following statement after Stephens entered his plea: Rarely do we encounter crimes this evil. Our hope is that Stans family receives some peace in the knowledge that justice was delivered to all of those responsible for this crime. We are grateful for the relentless professionalism shown by the Waco Police Department in this investigation. Their work made our job easy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Gov. Mike Braun has signed the contentious Senate Bill 1 into law. This legislation was neither as good, nor as bad, as anyone claims. That is how legislative compromise works. But there are some hidden, and probably unanticipated, economic consequences. SB 1 cut residential property taxes. About two-thirds of Hoosier families will see cuts of under $100 per year, and about half of those will see no property tax cuts. The wealthiest third of households will see cuts of $250-$300 per year. These residential tax cuts are very modest, but the business tax cuts are large. Businesses get biggest tax breaks The legislation raises the minimum threshold for filing business property taxes from $80,000 to $2 million, phased in over a couple of years. This will exempt the vast majority of Hoosier businesses from any property tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A business with $80,000 in personal property should be paying about $2,400 per year in property taxes. A business with $2 million would pay $60,000 per year. So, the new minimums will radically reduce business taxes in Indiana. Hicks: Braun's plan for Indiana's small towns will only hasten their decline For context, a firm with $80,000 or less in personal property might be a small law firm or a plumber. A firm with $2 million would be a large restaurant or dental office. At the high end, these firms will each get a tax cut equivalent to the total cuts to maybe 400 middle class families. But there are even bigger cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When businesses buy equipment, they can depreciate it over several years, so their tax liability shrinks each year. But, under previous law, they had to continue to pay taxes on a minimum of 30% of the purchase value so long as they had the equipment. That ensured that there was a stable tax base. Under SB 1, that 30% floor is discontinued for any equipment bought after the start of this year. In the short run, this will have very little effect on local property tax revenues. But, over the long run, say 10 to 12 years, it will devastate local government budgets in dozens of counties and cities with large manufacturing presence, like Kokomo, Gary, Elkhart, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne. The bill authors knew this. Thats why they exempted oil refineries, petrochemical plants and any property in a tax-increment finance district or linked to municipal bonds. Altogether, this leaves a budget shortfall of more $1.4 billion in local government in Indiana over the next three years. Given that local government employment as a share of total jobs is now lower than it has been in 50 years, it is safe to say this is a very big cut. Incentives for inefficiency There are two unanticipated business effects of this legislation that may not have been considered in the legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first is that raising the minimum personal property taxes to businesses with $2 million will distort capital purchase decisions in many firms. Restaurants will be careful to avoid expanding their dining areas or kitchens to bring their total capital investment over $2 million. The physicians practice will be careful not to buy that ultrasound machine or lab equipment. The small building contractor will be careful not to buy an extra vehicle or two in fear they might slide over the $2-million tax threshold, causing a large liability. Hicks: DOGE for Indiana? Here's why government efficiency is hard. So, SB 1 actually creates a fiscal incentive for Hoosier businesses to stay small and less efficient. Im sure that was not the plan. Second, the elimination of the 30% minimum on depreciated capital is a huge boon to the financing of workplace automation. An economic study of a similar proposal in Ohio found that similarly sized tax cuts would accelerate automation of manufacturing workplaces to the tune of almost 20,000 jobs lost per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effect on Indiana would probably be a bit smaller because Hoosier manufacturers already pay the fourth-lowest total tax rate in the nation. Still, if, like me, you trust free markets to optimally substitute capital for labor, theres little good reason to accelerate the process, as SB 1 does. Most Hoosiers will pay more in taxes 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 final unintended consequence falls on households. The legislature was well aware that the combination of modest residential and very large business tax cuts places a major burden on some local governmentsparticularly public schools. In my county, Delaware, funding cuts will be around $335 per student by 2028. This is a large contribution to the annual funding cuts that have plagued Indiana schools annually since 2010. Despite what you may hear from overly happy budget discussions, these cuts are well documented by my research and that of my colleagues. To account for that, SB 1 includes a provision that permits more flexibility in local government finance. This legislation permits local governments to raise their own local income tax to offset their lost property taxes. The new local income taxes can be raised by 1.8% to include municipal or county government, public safety and other local governments, such as schools and libraries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I welcome increased fiscal flexibility, but it is important to know that the typical Hoosier family could pay over $1,250 in additional income taxes per year. The distributional effect of this tax change is the unintended consequence. The new law cuts property taxes with disproportionate gains to families who own more expensive homes, are older than 65 and disabled veterans. As an increasingly older disabled veteran, I say thanks, but wonder why I personally merit this tax cut. With large cuts to local governments that will be made up by new income taxes, we should expect most Hoosier households to ultimately see a tax increase as a result of SB 1. In contrast, almost every Hoosier business will see big cuts. Thats not quite what was advertised. But there may be some long-term benefits of this legislative adventure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new legislation revealed the intellectual immaturity of the anti-property tax movement. That is a conspicuous benefit, which will be further revealed as local governments debate the implementation of the new income taxes. SB 1 also means that every county, city, school and library district in Indiana will now have the chance to debate the value and cost of local public services. We will get to hear about the importance of schools, libraries and police to families, and how much these services cost. Some communities will choose wisely, crafting places that people wish to build their lives in. Other places will choose poorly. Then, well all get to see the results. Michael J. Hicks is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mike Braun's tax cut bill helps businesses the most | Opinion GASSAWAY, W.Va. (WBOY) Braxton County parents were charged after a report revealed that their infant daughter had a fatal amount of alcohol in her system when she died in November. On Nov. 16, 2024, deputies with the Braxton County Sheriffs Department were requested to assist the West Virginia Medical Examiners Office with the death of an infant at Braxton County Memorial Hospital, according to a criminal complaint. Deputies arrived at the hospital and met with the medical examiner to examine the infants body and noted the infants face was discolored as if the baby had been face down, deputies said. James Smith After the examination, deputies met with the infants parents, James Smith, 34; and Angel Talbert, 23, both of Gassaway, at a residence on Tunnel Fork Road, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While speaking with officers, Smith said that between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. on the day of the incident, Talbert woke up to use the bathroom and woke him to check on the infant; Smith said that when he went to check on the infant, the child was not breathing and that she was face down, deputies said. At that point, Smith said that he had [Talbert] call 911 and he started performing CPR in efforts to save the child. They loaded the child into a vehicle and were travelling toward the hospital where the met the ambulance at the bottom of the driveway, according to the complaint. Man had 0.7 pounds of meth, fentanyl after police chase in Clarksburg: deputies Angel Talbert At 5:15 a.m., the infant was placed in the ambulance and CPR was continued, and at 5:32a.m., the infant was pronounced dead while at the hospital, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies also spoke with Talbert, who corroborated Smiths statement, and both Talbert and Smith stated that the child had not been sick or had any pre-existing health conditions, according to the complaint. Inside the home, deputies said that the living conditions were very poor, with roaches crawling in multiple places throughout the home and no running water in the kitchen or bathroom. Smith showed deputies a spigot that they would get water from and they would fill up containers to take to other rooms when needed, deputies said. Also in the room was what appeared to be a smoking apparatus which Smith claimed they used to smoke THC, according to the complaint. On April 10, 2025, deputies received a post-mortem examination report from the medical examiners office which found that the infants liver contained ethanol with a reading of 3.210, which would be fatal in an infant child, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 14, deputies spoke with Smith and Talbert in an interview at the West Virginia State Police detachment in Sutton, and they both stated that the baby was healthy and was not prescribed any type of medication, according to the complaint. Man charged with sexually assaulting victim at house party in Grafton On April 16, Smith and Talbert were once again interviewed at the detachment in Sutton, during which Talbert said that Smith would take alcohol and rub on the infant childs gums and around her mouth when the infant would get irritable and fussy, deputies said. During that same interview, Smith replied that both he and Talbert would both rub alcohol on the infants gums and they had done it almost every day for a month prior to the infants death, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith and Talbert have been charged with child neglect resulting in death, first- and second- degree murder and conspiracy. They are being held in Central Regional Jail without 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 WBOY.com. Brazil, home to the world's largest Catholic community worldwide, will hold seven days of mourning to mark the death of Pope Francis, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday. "Humanity is losing a voice of respect and charity today. Pope Francis lived and propagated in his daily life the love, tolerance and solidarity that are the foundation of Christian teachings," Lula wrote on X. Worshippers joined services across Brazil to pray for the late pontiff, who passed away in the Vatican early on Monday aged 88. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazilian, a country of some 182 million, is home to the largest number of Catholics worldwide, according to a Vatican News report from March. Globally, some 1.4 billion people are part of the Catholic Church, according to the figures. We must not cut our economic ties with China, argues Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor. The fast-fashion giant Shein may soon be welcomed onto the London Stock Exchange, while state controlled Chinese funds have emerged as some of the biggest investors in the FTSE100. As the economic war between Donald Trumps United States and China intensifies, the UK is trying to play a clever game, positioning itself as a bridge between the two sides. And yet, in reality, we should forget it. We will have to choose a side, and that should be Trumps America. It will work out better in the medium term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump changes the tariffs he is imposing on the rest of the world so often it is hard to know where they will end up. But at least by the start of this week, the position was this. China will face extraordinary 145pc tariffs on the $436bn (329bn) of goods it ships across the Pacific to the US every year, while American exports the other way will face 125pc levies. At this point, it is hard to understand why Trump does not go one step further and simply close the ports. He is effectively banning Chinese imports, since no product can remain competitive with those kinds of levies imposed on top. The US is now also looking at delisting Chinese companies such as Alibaba, JD and Baidu from the New York Stock Exchange. In effect, the decoupling of the worlds two largest economies that started under President Barack Obama and continued under Joe Biden is being rapidly escalated. The economic ties are being severed in what looks certain to prove a long and potentially dangerous economic cold war. It is very tempting for a small, open economy such as the UK to hope that it can stay in the middle, trading with both sides. That seems to be the emerging strategy of Sir Keir Starmers administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China is the second biggest economy in the world, and it would be very foolish not to engage, Reeves told The Telegraph over the weekend. When it happens, the Shein IPO will be one of the largest IPOs in London for years, making it an attractive alternative for companies hounded off the New York exchange. Meanwhile, Chinese investors are still welcomed on the FTSE. Add it all up, and one point is clear. We are acting as if it is business more-or-less as normal, even if there is a little disruption in the background. Sure, we can all see the arguments for that. Staying neutral might well prove a profitable niche, with money to be made from both sides. And we might even imagine that we can act as a bridge between the two warring parties. Heres the problem, however. We should stop kidding ourselves. We should side with Trump for three big reasons. First, the United States is our natural ally. The special relationship is wildly over-hyped, and hardly appears to mean anything in Washington any more. Even so, there are clearly close ties of history, culture and language between Britain and the US. Just as importantly, both are liberal, democratic states, where markets are largely free, and the rule of law is respected. None of that is true of China, and wont be any time soon. Next, British companies have a long history of doing very well in the US. Travel around America and you will see lots of Shell and BP garages, adverts for GSK and AstraZeneca medicines, as well as Range Rovers along with soap, made by Unilever, or Reckitts cough syrups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can see the same point in the trade statistics. British exports to China amount to a pathetic 32bn. Exports to the US were a mighty 182bn. The simple point is this. With the possible exception of high-end Scotch whisky, the Chinese are not very interested in British stuff. Americans like it. There is no point in risking the huge presence that British businesses have in the US for the few crumbs they manage to collect in China. It simply is not worth it. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the US is ultimately going to prevail. True, China has done brilliantly to modernise its economy in such a short period of time. From electric cars to commercial jets to phones and consumer electronics, it is starting to develop its own world-class brands, and it is no longer just a low-cost manufacturing base. But there is no denying that it faces an increasing number of challenges. It is over-reliant on a fragile property industry. It is drowning in hidden debts that could turn sour at any moment. It faces a demographic cliff edge with a population that is ageing rapidly and will soon be in steep decline. The US has plenty of problems as well, of course, and the reckless imposition of tariffs on the rest of the world will make them worse. But it remains the worlds biggest, most dynamic, and most innovative economy. Over time, those strengths will mean it will end the century as strong as it started it. It is always better to be on the winning side, since that is where the rewards are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like most wars, in the economic conflict between the US and China there will be no room for neutrals. Each country will have to pick their side. Germany will be tempted to side with China, because its corporate giants do so well in that market. France, with its instinctive anti-Americanism, will try to steer a course between the two sides, while looking after its own interests. That is not going to work for Britain. Trump has made it clear over the last few days that there is now a fight for dominance of the global economy, and Washington will do whatever needs to be done to make sure it wins. As the Chinese-America economic war escalates, the UK should side with the US as early and as completely 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. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon are expected to agree to deepen defence and security ties, including stepping up support for Ukraine, when they meet on Tuesday, Starmer's office said. The leaders will see first-hand the work the armies of both countries are doing to train Ukrainian forces in the southwest of England, Starmer's office said, and Luxon was expected to confirm support for the initiative until the end of the year. During the visit, the leaders are expected to discuss plans to step up defence and security cooperation, with ministers being instructed to work on a new joint defence partnership between the two countries, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer said Britain and New Zealand had stood "shoulder to shoulder for generations in pursuit of peace and stability". "As the world becomes an increasingly dangerous place, I am proud how much we are doing together to support our national and economic security stepping up our defence spending, deploying our navies together in the Indo-Pacific, and continuing our work to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia," Starmer said in the statement. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Ros Russell) SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A British Airways flight attendant was found dead in a San Francisco hotel room during a layover last week, according to reports. The popular flight attendant failed to show up for the crews return flight to Londons Heathrow Airport following 48 hours in SF, according to a report in The Independent. The other crew members on the flight were reportedly too distraught to continue and the flight was canceled. There was no way the flight back from San Francisco could go ahead. Staff were in absolute bits at the sudden loss of their friend, said a source quoted in a separate report in The Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live in California? You could be entitled to payout from $27.5M lawsuit settlement Before the crew member was discovered dead, the pilots left the hotel for San Francisco International Airport. Cabin crew and inflight managers waited for him in the hotel reception, reportedly. When he failed to turn up, they went up to his room and discovered he was deceased. According to The Independent, its believed his body lay in the room undiscovered for two days. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of our colleague at this difficult time, said British Airways in a statement to The Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no immediate word on what caused the flight attendants 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 KRON4. CARACAS (Reuters) - The fate of Yonathan Betancourt, a 28-year-old Venezuelan detained in the United States, remains uncertain after his reported transfer to El Salvador was suspended, a relative said. Betancourt's brother, Juan, said Yonathan was taken to an airport on April 18 but returned the next morning to the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Texas. "They tried to force him to sign papers. He thought he was being sent to Venezuela, but it was El Salvador," Juan told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting another group of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang ties under a rarely used wartime law, issuing a stay after the American Civil Liberties Union asked the court to intervene on an emergency basis. Betancourt, a barber, entered the United States legally about 18 months ago and holds Temporary Protected Status until 2028, his brother said. He added that Yonathan was detained due to his tattoos but has no criminal record or ties to the Tren de Aragua gang targeted for deportation by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. On Sunday, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed a prisoner exchange to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro involving 252 deported Venezuelans. In a video from detention, Betancourt said, "We are desperate. We have faith in God that we are going to Venezuela," urging support from Maduro. (Reporting by Efrain Otero; Editing by Bill Berkrot) David Bintz, who was wrongly incarcerated, stands outside Mountains of Hope, the nonprofit where he finally found temporary housing after trying local shelters. | Photo courtesy Jarrett Adams Law Robert Bintz wishes he could recover time lost behind bars. In September, the convictions of Robert and his brother David Bintz in the 1987 murder of Sandra Lison were overturned. The brothers left prison more two decades after they were convicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I missed my mom, before she died, Robert Bintz told the Examiner in November. His mother passed away while he was incarcerated. I missed my niece, Hannah. Got killed by a horrible car accident I missed my job I once had. Upon his release from prison, Robert didnt receive any reentry assistance from the state, according to his compensation request to the Wisconsin Claims Board in February. His sister isnt able to meet his complex needs, the request said. The brothers are seeking $2 million apiece from the state for their imprisonment. Their compensation requests cite high anticipated costs for health care. Hes 68 years old, Isaiah Eastling, Roberts nephew, told the Examiner in November. Its not fair for him to have to go and get a job like all of us, and just to try to get back into society like that. Thats impossible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wisconsin law caps compensation for wrongful imprisonment at $25,000, unless the state Legislature grants more compensation, which is rare. To award money, the Wisconsin Claims Board must find that evidence of innocence is clear and convincing and that the petitioner did not contribute to bring about their conviction and imprisonment by something they did or failed to do. Jarrett Adams, an attorney working with the Bintz brothers, doesnt yet know if they have a claim for a federal lawsuit, he said in late February. He said the brothers might not have an opportunity to get compensation if the state does not award it. Roberts sister, Cindy Eastling, said Robert called her every week when he was in prison. But she had no idea that he had all these health issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With little time to prepare, Eastling wasnt ready for Roberts arrival, she told the Examiner in November. His eye and arm were bruised, and he later told her he was beat up, she said. He requires around-the-clock care and 20 daily medications for physical and mental health conditions, which worsened without sufficient medical attention in the prison system, according to his compensation claim. Eastling said her brothers will probably need assistance for the rest of their lives, and that they could be taken advantage of on their own. Bobby knows I love him, but it really took a toll on me, Eastling said. I wasnt prepared, and then the way he showed up, he looked absolutely horrible he looks so much [healthier] now. Were doing one physical problem at a time. Eastling said Roberts asthma had improved. He used to use a nebulizer multiple times a day, she said. When Eastling spoke to the Examiner, he hadnt used it in three weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honestly, it scared me, Eastling said. I thought one morning Id wake up and hed be dead. Cindy Eastling, Isaiah Eastling, Robert Bobby Bintz and David Bintz (from left to right). Photo courtesy of Carla Broadnax of Jarrett Adams Law. The brothers have health care coverage, but its a challenge at times, Carla Broadnax of Jarrett Adams Law said in late February. Broadnax said that accessing consistent care is persistently tricky, partially due to the cost associated with transportation, medical appointments, and necessary medications. Housing has been an issue for both brothers, according to the compensation requests filed in February. After trying to find housing at shelters, David found a place to stay in Appleton through the help of a local nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davids shared housing situation is temporary and not sufficient to meet his needs, as of his compensation request. Roberts request said he hasnt been able to acquire housing that can assist him with the round-the-clock support needed. Cindy Eastling thinks the system should work faster to support her brothers in the short term. A GoFundMe for David Bintz raised $4,165, with a $10,000 goal. Roberts GoFundMe raised $12,829 with a $20,000 goal. Davids compensation request said his monthly disability and social security payments cover only his most basic needs. This leaves everybody scrambling, [when] somebody like David and Robert gets out, Adams said. Everybodys just trying to do what they can. Adams himself was once incarcerated and released after his conviction was overturned,and he co-founded the organization Life After Justice, which supports wrongfully convicted people. In late February, he said the brothers are receiving mental health care through the organization. Jarrett Adams autographed his book, Redeeming Justice, at a banquet in Menasha, Wisconsin in November by the advocacy organization ESTHER. Photo by Andrew Kennard/Wisconsin Examiner Hes holding back a lot of things, I can tell, Cindy Eastling said about Robert Bintz. And hes always happy, but bad things happened to him in there. How were the Bintz brothers prosecuted? In 1999, the brothers were charged with the 1987 murder of Sandra Lison, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. Testing of semen from a rape kit found that it didnt belong to the brothers, and blood found under Lisons body was not theirs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional DNA testing obtained by the Wisconsin Innocence Project in 2006 confirmed that blood found on Lisons dress came from the same male whose sperm was found in the rape kit, according to the exonerations registry. A motion for a new trial was denied. The Brown County Attorneys Office prosecuted the brothers with a theory of robbery and murder. After the brothers exoneration in September, Brown County District Attorney David Lasee spoke to NBC 26. The prosecutors and the law enforcement officers were handling this case at the outset, followed the evidence that they had at that time, and that conviction was sound, Lasee said. Evidence against the brothers included statements from incarcerated people who said David had admitted to the crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with detectives, David Bintz eventually agreed to a statement that he and his brother were involved and that his brother had strangled Lison, according to Davids page in the National Registry of Exonerations. At the same time, he gave contradictory statements that he wasnt involved and was home at the time of the crime. David Bintzs request for compensation claims that Bintz, who was intellectually disabled, was interrogated for over six hours, depriving him of food, water and restroom breaks in clear violation of his rights. During the interrogation, David Bintz maintained his innocence, but after several hours, he made confused and contradictory statements some of which confirmed Swendbys allegations, others which stressed his innocence, the request states. The request says David was coerced by the pressure and tactics of the detectives and signed a false statement implicating himself and Robert Bintz in Lisons murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Examiner asked Jarrett Adams Law about the sources the firm used for a section of the compensation request about the confession. Facts in the firms complaint, findings from investigative reports and communication with the Bintz brothers provided the context and basis for that part of the request, Broadnax said. Of 375 DNA exonerations between 1989 and 2020 tracked by the Innocence Project, over a quarter involved a false confession. The brothers had multiple convictions prior to their convictions in Lisons murder, according to Brown County court records. In 1997, David was sentenced to prison for sexual assault. Jarrett Adams said that the identity of Lisons attacker is now known and nothing else matters but that. It wasnt them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, investigative genetic genealogy linked crime scene evidence to three male children of a couple in the Green Bay area. In August, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory determined that substances at the crime scene pointed conclusively to William Hendricks, who had a history of violent sexual attacks before his death in 2000. The notion that Ms. Lison was having a secret sexual relationship with a recently-released convicted rapist is utterly implausible, the Great North Innocence Project said in a motion to vacate Robert Bintzs conviction, according to the exonerations registry. Life after exoneration If the Bintz brothers receive compensation from the state, they have ideas for how to use it beyond paying for health care expenses. In late February, Broadnax told the Examiner about the brothers plans. David Bintz in front of his card designs |Photo courtesy Jarrett Adams Law They both want to own a home, she said. In an interview with the Examiner, David talked about helping others.Id help a couple people out that aint got nothing, he said. Robert wants to travel and see the world, and David wants to eat home-cooked food, Broadnax said. The food was straight garbage, David said of the food in prison. Half [the] time, I didnt eat the food. I just bought stuff off canteen if I could. David has been making cards, Broadnax said. He sends cards to about four to five incarcerated people, and also uses his cards and designs to help with the decor at Mountains of Hope, the nonprofit through which he found a place to stay. That was my hobby, David said. When I knew I was getting out, he wanted me to leave all my art supplies behind. I said No, Im not leaving my stuff behind. Im still going to do this when I get out. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The nature of Ukraine's actions will continue to be mirror-like: we will respond to silence with silence, to Russian strikes with strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel on Monday night. "Report of Commander-in-Chief Syrsky at 00:00 after the end of Easter. The total number of violations by the Russian army of the Russian promise of ceasefire for this day is 2,935. The largest number of shelling and assault actions was in the Pokrovsk direction. The Russian promise of complete ceasefire also did not extend to the Kursk direction. In total, there were 96 Russian assault actions along the front, 1,882 shelling of our positions, including 812 from heavy weapons, and Russian FPV drones were used more than 950 times," Zelenskyy said on Telegram. He noted that a whole day was not enough for Moscow to respond to both the proposal for complete ceasefire for the next 30 days after Easter, and to the proposal to at least continue ceasefire in the sky regarding civilian infrastructure and refrain from missile and drone strikes. "The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirrored: we will respond to silence with silence, our strikes will be the defense against Russian strikes. Actions always speak louder than words," Zelenskyy's post said. NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (WWLP) Fire crews in Newburyport were called to put out a brush fire Sunday morning. Small brush fire in hard-to-reach area contained on Route 2 in Orange Fire crews were called to the area of State Street at 11:22 a.m. on Sunday for a large brush fire that was threatening several nearby buildings. Due to the heavy winds, it made the fire difficult to put out, however they managed to stop it stop it from spreading to nearby commercial buildings and greenhouses at Tendercrop Farm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire burned 10 acres of land before it was put out at around 12:20 p.m. Crews from Amesbury, Georgetown, Ipswich, Lawrence, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury, as well as firefighters from Hampton, New Hampshire were all called in to help. There is no word on what caused the fire at this time. As this fire was taking place, another brush fire was being put out about a mile away in Newbury. Some of the mutual aid partners that were called to assist in Newburyport later worked with the Newbury Fire Department to put out that fire. 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. Southwest Florida may be getting a new place to pick up some favorite $5 or less snacks. Buc-ees, the Souths best travel stop, is reportedly eyeing a new location in the Sunshine State. While the beloved Beaver Nugget-and-jerky peddlers (and gas station) have just announced an opening date for a Gulf Coast outpost, they are continuing to spread across the South. Gulfshore Business reports that Buc-ee's may be looking into opening a spot near Port Charlotte, Florida, on Interstate 75 between Sarasota and Fort Myers. The giant travel center would be the fourth Buc-ees location in Florida, as there are currently spots in Daytona Beach and Saint Augustine and a still-under-construction spot in Ocala, scheduled to possibly open by the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travelers may love Buc-ees for its many, many gas pumps, clean bathrooms, and incredible snack options, but local residents may not be big fans. According to the Houston Chronicle, when news broke that Buc-ees was looking into the new Florida location some folks were not exactly rolling out the welcome mat. "Please don't do this to our community ... It will be a disaster," one resident told WINK-TV, a Fort Myers news outlet. Kolache fans headed to Florida's Gulf Coast shouldn't get too excited yet, though. The Chronicle makes it clear that while the community board has made some zoning changes and approvals to accommodate Buc-ee's if they choose to open in the area, the Lone Star state's favorite gas station hasn't made the new location official. Going to have to pick up your Dr Pepper Icees and bacon grease elsewhere for now. Read the original article on Southern Living Pope Francis, historys first Latin American pontiff, died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. He was the 266th pontiff in the Roman Catholic Church, a humble man who rose to the top by always staying true to himself and his values. Read more: Pope Francis dies at 88 He spoke seven languages, elevated 110 cardinals and canonized nearly a thousand new saints. In a historic conclave, not after the death of a pope, but instead the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, the doors closed inside the Sistine Chapel with 155 voting cardinals in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside it was raining steadily so the faithful faltered and left St. Peters Square until the white smoke drew them back. As the bells echoed through Vatican City, massive monitors brought the smokestack into focus. After just a day and a half, people flooded back to St. Peters as the clouds cleared, highlighting tears of joy. Then there was a bit of confusion. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Cardinal from Argentina, was the new Pope, choosing the name Francis as an homage to St. Francis of Assisi who mentored the poor. He spoke softly. The crowd may not have known Cardinal Bergoglio, but in an instant fell in love with Pope Francis as he asked them to pray for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: How is the next pope selected? Prayer was often on the mind of Jorge Bergoglio growing up, even though he came later to the priesthood. Born and raised in a middle-class suburb of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario grew up with four siblings. His father, Mario, was a railway worker, and his mother, Regina Maria, a housewife, were of Italian descent. He began his career as a chemist but soon switched course to the seminary. He taught literature, philosophy and theological studies in Argentina. He penned a book with his overriding philosophy in the title true power is in service. He was ordained as a priest at 33-years-old. Then, Pope John Paul II, named him assistant bishop in Buenos Aires. He was elevated to cardinal in 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as he rose to the top, his lifestyle remained firmly grounded. Instead of living in the bishops luxury residence, he chose a simple apartment, where he cooked his own meals and navigated the city using public transportation. As pope, Francis chose casual vestments, wearing his old pectoral cross from Argentina, shunning gold for a gold-plated fishermans ring and never wearing the customary papal red shoes, but instead wanting to walk with the people as he led his flock. He cared for the sick each year, visiting hospitals, aids hospice and prisons, and washed the feet of the ill. In his first journey through St. Peters Square, Pope Francis stopped for a sick man, an image harkening back to Christ embracing the poor and ill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Holy Father kissed the head of a disabled man, laying hands on his chest and offering a blessing. He held babies as the people held him up as the man who would make a difference.. The climate changed for the Vatican with the new pontiff and his independent style. From the night he was elected, he hopped on a bus with his fellow cardinals, rejecting the private luxury car reserved for the Pope. And the next morning, without a security detail or limo, he jumped in a Volkswagen and went out among the people. The people had high expectations that he would right the wrongs of the church from sexual and financial wrongdoings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related story: Tributes from around the globe pour in for Pope Francis after his death In a first, he faced the media on day one, challenging reporters to join him in the Trinity, a pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. In his early moves as pope, he both shocked, angered and embraced. He, first, made the church more inclusive to women and LGBTQ+ people. Conservatives were not happy, and liberals complained he did not do enough. He promoted women in the church but refused to ordain them. He maintained he was trying to be inclusive. He convened a special meeting to directly address what can only be described as a crisis in the Catholic Church sexual abuse by clergy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man known for compassion and kindness had a reputation for being tough on clergy. Chicagos Cardinal Blase Cupich, a Pope Francis appointee, took center stage in efforts to repair. Although always in precarious health with part of a lung removed in his twenties, for a decade, the Holy Father still traveled on 45 international trips to: Brazil Jordan Israel Palestine South Korea France Turkey Bosnia Peru Africa Iraq Poland Cuba United States Recently, the U.S. leadership, especially most policies regarding immigration, was a target for the Pope as he spoke out harshly against treating people inhumanely. He criticized war and taught peace; he championed for the environment and strove to make the preaching of the church more simplistic and understandable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though counseled by his doctors to rest, the Pope pressed on. Until at 88, bronchitis, then a poly-microbial infection and bilateral pneumonia left him bedridden in the hospital. And now after Pope Francis took his final breath, as the faithful mourn, a look back on his first words as Holy Father, a prayer then a send-off. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The Diocese of Buffalo agreed to pay $150 million to settle over 800 claims of sexual abuse, sources confirmed to WIVB News 4 on Monday. The settlement follows years of efforts to reach an agreement of compensation for victims, and the Dioceses bankruptcy filing in 2020. The claims were a large factor in the Dioceses decision to close and merge churches across Western New York over the past year, along with declining number of priests and parishioners. According to an update filed to the court by co-mediators on Monday, the agreement consists of specific and economic terms and various non-economic terms. The update also said a certain amount of money will be payable on the effective date of a confirmed plan and the rest of the funds will be paid afterward on a tiered interest schedule. The monetary amount was not specified in the update. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One year after state lawmakers passed the Child Victims Act in 2019, the Diocese filed for bankruptcy and victims started filing sexual abuse claims against it. In October 2023, the Diocese originally offered $100 million to settle the sexual abuse cases. The final amount is likely be higher if insurance proceeds kick in to the $150 million. The diocese will work with insurers to determine exactly what that amount will be. Around 600 of the abuse cases involved clerics. Some of the clerics had multiple allegations against them. This settlement in principle between the Committee and the Diocese represents an essential milestone on this protracted and arduous journey, and importantly, enables us to finally provide a measure of financial restitution to victim-survivors, which has been our primary objective all along, Bishop Michael Fisher said in a statement Tuesday. While indeed a steep sum, no amount of money can undo the tremendous harm and suffering the victim survivors have endured, or eliminate the lingering mental, emotional, and spiritual pain they have been forced to carry throughout their lives. Approximately 54 parishes were originally affected by the Dioceses downsizing announcement last May. Last August, there were 52 different counterproposals from parish families, Bishop Michael Fisher said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Save Our Buffalo Churches, a group that advocates for keeping local churches open, announced earlier this month that, along with two churches in Buffalo, 14 additional churches will remain open after the Vatican accepted its appeals. Other cuts the Diocese made was to its insurance services department, which was officially eliminated at the end of August. Dioceses in other areas of New York, including Syracuse and Rochester, also announced settlements with sexual abuse victims in recent years, though the number of claims were smaller than Buffalos. There will be a hearing regarding the settlement in federal court at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Buffalo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parties involved in the mediation agreed to continue negotiating in good faith on open issues related to the settlement, according to the update filed by co-mediators. Two mediation sessions are also scheduled for April 22 and 23. We are grateful to the survivors who have served as committee members. They have worked tirelessly for all these years, struggling to find a measure of justice for all survivors in Buffalo, said attorney Steve Boyd, who represents the victims. A more fulsome measure of accountability lies in pursuit of the insurance companies that have wrongfully refused to abide by their obligations to the Diocese and the survivors, attorney Jeff Anderson said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Latest Local News Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nayib Bukele offered Venezuela a humanitarian agreement to repatriate the 252 Venezuelans sent by President Donald Trump to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison, in exchange for the release of 252 alleged political prisoners. The Salvadoran president wrote in a social media post addressed to Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro that unlike our detainees your political prisoners have not committed any crimes. His post called for the release and surrender of a journalist, lawyer and activist, four political leaders and almost 50 detainees of other nationalities, including U.S., European and Middle Eastern nationals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offer made no mention of Trump, who is paying El Salvador $6 million to house Venezuelan migrants pending the United States decision on their long-term disposition, according to court filings. Senor @NicolasMaduro, usted ha dicho en numerosas ocasiones que quiere a los venezolanos de regreso y en libertad. A diferencia de usted, que tiene presos politicos, nosotros no tenemos presos politicos. Todos los venezolanos que tenemos bajo custodia fueron detenidos en el Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 20, 2025 Last month Trump invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act and abruptly sent about 250 Venezuelan migrants and a handful of Salvadoransincluding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the wrongly deported Maryland fatherto CECOT, a Salvadoran mega-prison where inmates sleep on bare metal racks and are locked in their cells for 23 and a half hours every day. The prisoners are denied recreation, education and visitation. Lawyers for the deportees say they have been denied any contact with their families, and legal counsel. The vast majority of the detainees do not have criminal records, according to an investigation by 60 Minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several were in the U.S. legally applying for asylum after suffering persecution at the hands of the Maduro government, their lawyers said. One had already been granted refugee status when he was rounded up and deported without warning. It wasnt clear whether Bukele was offering to repatriate the men in exchange for guarantees they would be imprisoned in Venezuela. Nor was it clear whether he really intended to bypass the U.S., or whether he had publicly posted his offer directly to Venezuela as a way to bolster the Trump administrations claims it no longer has any legal authority over the men in question. Nayib Bukele has been a staunch ally of President Trump's plans to deport migrants without due process. / Win McNamee / Win McNamee/Getty Images U.S. officials have argued they cant bring the CECOT detainees homeincluding Abrego Garciaunless Bukele wants to send them back. Bukele, however, joined Trump in the Oval Office and told reporters it was preposterous to suggest he release Abergo Garcia to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the federal courts have soundly rejected those arguments when it comes to Abrego Garcia. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on April 10 that the U.S. government must facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador. It also ruled the Venezuelans could not be deported without access to due process. Bukele nevertheless wrote on social media that his foreign ministry would forward Venezuela a formal proposal for the prisoner swap. The countrys chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab blasted the offer in a statement, Reuters reported. He demanded to know what crimes the detainees had been accused of, whether they had appeared before a judge and had access to legal counsel, and whether they had been allowed to contact their families. The offer reaffirmed that the Venezuelan deportees are being arbitrarily detained and in a condition of forced disappearance, he wrote. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has suggested a prisoner swap with Venezuela, involving the Venezuelans deported from the United States to El Salvador. Bukele pitched the idea to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the social media platform X, suggesting he would exchange Venezuelan deportees from the United States for "political prisoners" in El Salvador. Bukele listed a number of journalists, activists, lawyers and political leaders who could be part of the exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The only reason they are imprisoned is for having opposed you and your electoral fraud," he wrote in the post addressed to Maduro. "However, I want to propose a humanitarian agreement that includes the repatriation of 100% of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release and surrender of an identical number (252) of the thousands of political prisoners you hold." "You have said on numerous occasions that you want the Venezuelans back and free," Bukele added. The US has deported a number of alleged gang members to a high-security prison in El Salvador, claiming that they are members of the criminal groups Tren de Aragua from Venezuela and MS-13 from El Salvador. Both organizations were declared foreign terrorist groups under President Donald Trump. Bukele said his Foreign Ministry will send a formal request to Maduro. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela on Sunday, offering to release Venezuelans deported to his country from the United States in exchange for political prisoners in Venezuela. Bukele has accepted from the U.S. at least 238 Venezuelans deported under allegations of being affiliated with the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs, with San Salvador accepting at least $6 million for imprisoning the deportees. Bukele said 252 Venezuelans held in El Salvador could be released as part of a humanitarian exchange, if Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro agreed to release people who have committed no crime and are imprisoned for opposing your electoral fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the political prisoners Bukele called for releasing were Rafael Tudares, the son-in-law of Edmundo Gonzalez, the internationally-recognized victor of presidential elections held in July 2024. Bukele also called for the release of Corina Parisca de Machado, the mother of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. El Salvadaor and Venezuela have not had diplomatic relations since 2019, although Bukele said he directed his foreign ministry to be in touch with Caracas. Venezuelas prosecutors office responded Sunday night, calling Bukeles statements cynical and referring to the Salvadoran leader as a neofascist, The Associated Press reported. The back-and-forth comes as Venezuelan and Salvadoran immigrants have been at the center of an escalating legal fight between the Trump administration and courts over the presidents deportation powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court on Saturday issued an emergency block against the Trump administration deporting hundreds more people to El Salvador amid an appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union. A New York Times investigation found most of the deported Venezuelans did not have criminal records beyond immigration offenses. Bukele and President Trump are refusing to release a wrongly deported Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The White House is embracing the fight against Democrats and other critics who are standing up for the Salvadoran immigrant and father of three. In his prisoner swap proposal, Bukele also called for the release of journalist Roland Carreno and lawyer and activist Rocio San Miguel. He also called for the freedom of four political prisoners seeking asylum in the Argentine Embassy and the release of 50 detained citizens of other nationalities, including American, German, Dominican, Argentine, Bolivian, Israeli, Chilean, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Spanish, French, Guyanese, Dutch, Iranian, Italian, Lebanese, Mexican, Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Ukrainian, Uruguayan, Portuguese, and Czech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caracas demanded Bukeles government provide the Venezuelan government with a list of the people detained as well as their legal status and medical reports. The treatment received by Venezuelans in the United States and El Salvador, constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law and constitutes a crime against humanity, it said in the statement, the AP reported. Bukeles proposal comes on the heels of an extremely warm welcome by Trump at the White House earlier this month. The U.S. has a wide-ranging sanctions regime against Maduros government but secured the release of six Americans detained in the country in January, through a trip by special presidential envoy Richard Grenell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele wants to exchange Venezuelan deportees from the United States being unlawfully held in prison for political prisoners being held in Venezuela. He made the terrifying proposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro via X Sunday evening. Mr. @NicolasMaduro, you have said on numerous occasions that you want the Venezuelans back and free, Bukele wrote. Unlike you, who have political prisoners, we dont have political prisoners. All the Venezuelans we have in custody were detained as part of an operation against gangs like the Tren de Aragua in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Donald Trump invoked the rarely used Alien Enemies Act to unlawfully deport more than 200 Venezuelan immigrantsthe majority of whom have no criminal recordbased on unfounded claims that they were part of Venezuelas Tren de Aragua Gang. He also ignored a court order telling him to stop the deportation. The deportees are now being held in CECOT, a notorious prison in El Salvador that has no contact with the outside world. Bukele happily agreed to hold the Venezuelan deportees captive in exchange for a $6 million payment from the U.S. government. In complete disregard for the lives of innocent Venezuelans, the self-proclaimed worlds coolest dictator is now proposing to trade human beings he was paid to lock up for a handpicked group of people he wants in El Salvador. The only reason they are imprisoned is because they opposed you and your electoral fraud, Bukele said of the political prisoners he wants released. However, I want to propose a humanitarian agreement that includes the repatriation of 100% of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release and delivery of an identical number (252) of the thousands of political prisoners that you hold. Among those he wants released include the son-in-law of former Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, lawyer and activist Rocio San Miguel, journalist Roland Carreno, four political leaders seeking asylum in the Argentine embassy, and nearly 50 detained citizens of various nationalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Venezuelas chief prosecutor, Tarek William Saab, said in a statement that Bukeles proposal was cynical and called the 44-year-old dictator a neofascist. The treatment received by Venezuelans in the United States and El Salvador constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law and constitutes a crime against humanity, Saab said in the statement. Bukeles alarming idea for a swap comes as the Trump administration is desperately trying to deport more Venezuelan immigrants through the Alien Enemies Act. It looks like Bukele will do everything he can to capitalize on Trumps stupidity and benefit his own authoritarian government. Emergency crews responding to an alarm at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood noticed a burglary suspect still inside a department store early Monday morning. Video from the scene around 3 a.m. showed Los Angeles Fire Department trucks outside the Marshalls store located in the shopping center on Beverly and La Cienega boulevards. Crews found a shattered glass window and a man still inside, allegedly burglarizing the store, freelance media firm KNN reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department made contact with the male suspect and eventually took him into custody. A burglary suspect was located inside the Beverly Center Marshalls store in Beverly Grove on April 21, 2025. (KNN) The suspect did not appear to be resisting officers as he was handcuffed and searched outside the store. The Beverly Center was one of several high-profile shopping centers targeted in a series of flash mob robberies that made headlines in 2023. The Beverly Centers Versace Store was robbed 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 KTLA. FARMERSVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) The circus is coming to Farmersville next month. The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus is arriving in Farmersville for two shows on both May 17 and 18 at the Farmersville-Jackson Township Community Park. Each day will offer shows at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Attendees can enjoy a full concession stand, pony rides, bounce houses, face painting and more before the show begins. Shows feature big cats, tight rope walkers, aerialists, dare devils and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tickets are available in-person at a discounted price at several local establishments, including Jerrys Meat Market, Brubaker Grain, Village Office, Mug and Brush Barber Shop, Shear Excellence and the Farmersville Fire Department. These tickets are available until the circus arrives at $13 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. Tickets can also be purchased online at $13.75 for adults and $8.75 for kids and seniors. Tickets bought before the circus arrives will pass a higher portion of proceeds to support the FABA and Farmersville Fire Association. Click here to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ US President Donald Trump expressed hope that Ukraine and Russia will conclude an agreement this week. Trump wrote about this on his own social network Truth. "Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week. Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune!" Trump wrote. Parishioners and world leaders across the globe are mourning the loss of Pope Francis, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In a statement, the governor said that Pope Francis, who died Monday at the age of 88, was able to [see] God in all His creatures. [First Partner] Jennifer and I join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. He saw God in all his creatures, reminding us of humanitys obligations towards each other and the world we live in, asking us to care for one another and let us be loving custodians of creation, Newsom said. Like the saint honored by His Holiness papal name, Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis led with his love of peace and creation and sought to protect and lift up the vulnerable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How is the next pope selected? He championed human dignity, especially that of the poor, called the world to urgent climate action, condemned the death penalty and confronted painful truths including the Churchs role in the genocide of indigenous peoples, Newsoms statement continued. His papacy was characterized by moral courage, a profound respect for all creation and a deep conviction in the transformative power of love to heal and unite. Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile after the Easter mass, at St Peters square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP) The popes passing comes just one day after Easter Sunday and shortly after he spent 38 days in the hospital fighting a respiratory illness. His last public appearance was an Easter morning blessing and popemobile tour through St. Peters Square in Vatican City, and he had met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance earlier in the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are the rites and rituals after a pope dies? Vance also reacted to the pontiffs passing with a message on social media stating he was happy to see him but that he was obviously very ill. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance said. In SoCal, the Los Angeles Archdiocese and local parishioners are grieving Pope Francis death; Jose H. Gomez, the archbishop of Los Angeles, honored him and noted that the pope was often concerned with the affairs of Southern California residents. It was just in January that [Pope Francis] offered prayers and words of consolation as we faced the destruction caused by the wildfires in the Palisades and Altadena, Gomez said in a statement. I will never forget his fraternal comfort as we mourned the sudden taking of our beloved Bishop David OConnell in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg who met the Pope twice as well as Antonio Banderas, Russell Crowe and Donatella Versace, among others, also paid their respects on social media. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. DENVER (KDVR) A California man pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with drug smuggling. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado, 65-year-old Juan Demetrio Villalpando Dominguez pleaded guilty to a single count of money laundering and was sentenced to 38 months in prison. Bentley Denver sued after fake transport company allegedly stole $218K Ferrari Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Money laundering is a serious offense that enables drug traffickers to peddle their deadly wares, said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado in a press release. We will hold offenders accountable. The prosecutors office said the FBI, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Homeland Security had conducted long-term investigations of Dominguez and his son, Juan Demetrio Villalpando Jr., aka Junior. The U.S. Attorneys Office said that two confidential sources made controlled purchases of narcotics to further the investigation, which were often negotiated with Mexico-based sources of supply and carried out by the suppliers associates in the Denver metropolitan area. The drug proceeds from Juniors customers were aggregated, then sent in packages addressed to an uncharged person, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado. Dominguez would then arrange for his son, Junior, to receive the money in Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dismantling cartels requires more than seizing drugs it includes cutting off the flow of illicit money that fuels their operations. Thats why targeting the money laundering component of these networks is a key priority, said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek in the U.S. Attorneys Office press release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. In far Northern California, beneath a towering mountain ridge still covered in April snow, one of the states last cowboys stood in the tall green grass of a pasture he tends describing what he sees as the one blight on this otherwise perfect landscape: wolves. I hate em, said Joel Torres, 25, his easy smile fading as he explained what the apex predators do to the cattle in his care at Prather Ranch, an organic farm in Siskiyou County dedicated to raising beef in a natural, stress-free environment. Theyve just been tearing into our baby calves, mostly our yearlings. Unlike predators that go for the throat and kill prey relatively quickly, wolves often attack from behind and rip victims apart while theyre trying to flee. Once they bring a cow to the ground, the pack will kind of pick around a little bit, eat the good stuff" particularly the rectum and udders "and then just leave them and go on to the next one, Torres said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats how he has found dozens of mortally injured young cows, trembling and in shock, after wolf attacks. Its crazy, the endurance of these animals. Theyll just take it, Torres said. Theres no saving them. Their intestines often spill out through their hindquarters, and Torres shoots the cows to put them out of their misery. Hed like to shoot the wolves, too, at least a few, to teach the pack that there are consequences to coming around here and tearing into our cattle. But the predators remain on the states endangered species list, and aggressive measures to control their behavior are strictly forbidden. Instead, all Torres can do is grit his teeth and deal with the grisly aftermath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Torres and many other ranchers in California live where two very lofty and environmentally satisfying ideas collide: all natural, free-range ranching and the government-assisted return of a predator our ancestors hunted to near extinction. No matter how hard officials try to direct the wolves toward their natural prey, mostly deer and elk, they seem to find the bigger, slower, domesticated cows wandering through well-kept, wide-open fields a lot more appealing. Things have gotten so bad so quickly wolves have been back in California for only a bit more than a decade that officials in Modoc and Sierra counties have declared emergencies. Leaders in Siskiyou and Lassen counties are calling on the state to do something about the devastating economic toll the wolves are taking on ranchers. And while wolf attacks on people are almost unheard of, many in those counties are worried about potential risks to children and pets as the wild predators wander ever closer to houses and show signs of becoming accustomed to humans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved what it calls increased hazing," which includes firing guns toward the sky, driving trucks and ATVs toward wolves to shoo them away and harassing them with noise from drones but nothing that might injure the wolves. Ranchers are skeptical. Other hazing methods approved by the department in recent years, such as electric fences with red flags attached that flutter in the wind, have done little to keep the wolves from their herds. "The wolves just jump over those fences," Torres said. "They do no good." Wolves are preying on cows at Jim and Mary Rickert's Siskiyou County ranch. They want more options to deal with the predators than banging pots and hanging flags. Mary Rickert, who owns the Prather Ranch with her husband, Jim, said the obvious solution is to let ranchers shoot problem wolves. "Wed just pick off a few of the bad actors, so the others would go, whoa, and back off, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A century ago, wolves in the United States were almost wiped out by ranchers who regarded them as lethal enemies. The last wolf legally shot in California was in 1924, and by 1930 they were gone from almost the entire country, except for a small pack in northern Minnesota. But in 1973, then-President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act, and his administration added wolves to the list the following year. In the decades that followed, wolves began a slow recovery, mostly in the northern U.S. Then, in 2011, a wolf from Oregon known as OR7 monitored by government biologists via an electronic collar crossed the border into California and became the first known wild wolf to inhabit the state in almost 90 years. Like other notable transplants to the Golden State, he found pop culture stardom, becoming the heroic subject of a children's book and a 2014 documentary. Environmental advocates and cheerleaders for biodiversity were overjoyed that the wolves who in their best moments look a lot like big, cuddly dogs were making such an astonishing comeback. The hope was that theyd mostly eat other wild animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But ask any rancher living in wolf country, and theyll tell you thats not what happened and recent science backs them up. In 2022-23, researchers from UC Davis analyzed more than 100 wolf scat samples collected in northeast California from the so-called Lassen pack. They found that 72% of the samples contained cattle DNA, and every wolf had at least one sample that contained cow, said Kenneth Tate, one of the researchers. What's more, there were 13 wolves in the pack, nearly twice as many as state wildlife officials believed at the time. These packs are not in the wilderness. Theyre not up on Mt. Shasta or Lassen peak, Tate said. Theyre establishing themselves down in the valleys, where the summer cattle graze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And they are thriving. In just 14 years since OR7 crossed the border, seven separate packs have established themselves in the state. They're mostly in the north, but one pack has been confirmed in the southern Sierra Nevada, 200 miles from Los Angeles. None of those packs has done as much damage to livestock as the Whaleback pack (named after a nearby mountain) that stalks the Prather Ranch in the remote Butte Valley. Thats because Prathers lush pastures back up against a secluded mountain ridge running from nearby Mt. Shasta north to the Oregon border. That land belongs to the U.S. Forest Service, and it's covered in mature pine trees that provide nearly perfect cover. From the top of the ridge, where the wolves are believed to make their den, theres a commanding view of Prather Ranch to the east and of another ranch, Table Rock, to the west. At any given moment in summer, when thousands of free-ranging cattle are scattered across those pastures, the wolves can gaze down from their protected perch and take their pick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like theyre deciding between McDonalds and Burger King, said Patrick Griffin, the "wolf liaison" for Siskiyou County, whose job is to try to mitigate conflict between the predators and ranchers. "Wolves are beautiful animals, they're just beautiful," says Patrick Griffin, the wolf liaison in Siskiyou County. "But what they do? That isn't so beautiful." Theres a good-sized elk herd ranging just north of the ranches, Griffin said, and he keeps hoping that the departments nonlethal hazing tactics will persuade the wolves to turn their attention to their natural prey. But he doesnt think the odds are very good. An elk is a lot more intimidating than a cow, Griffin said. Which would you pick? The bigger problem, Griffin said, is that the Whaleback pack is teaching its young to hunt cows. And when they head off to claim their own territory and start their own packs, they'll take those lessons with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While other states, including Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, have allowed wolf hunts to resume, California still forbids ranchers from taking aggressive measures to stop the predators. In addition to the nonlethal hazing, the department encourages ranchers to hire "range riders, essentially cowboys, to sleep in the pastures with the cows. But that costs money, and the state doesnt help with the added expense, Griffin said. And even when people are present to harass the wolves, these ranches are so large that its impossible for them to be everywhere at once. One night, a government guy rode around Prather Ranch in his pickup with a spotlight, and the wolves still tore into two cows that I had to put down, Torres said. Each cow the wolves kill represents thousands of dollars in lost revenue, so in 2021 the state set up a pilot program with $3 million to reimburse ranchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they found a dead or dying cow with telltale signs of wolf depredation, ranchers could alert the state and a representative would come out to investigate. If the investigator concluded wolves were to blame, the rancher would get a check, about $5,000 on average. But that money ran out in a hurry, state records show, with the majority of it, 67%, going to ranchers whose wolves were killed by the Whaleback pack. Fladry bright colorful flags hung from wire are among the nonlethal methods the state recommends for warding off wolves. In October, the state started taking applications for an additional $600,000 set aside to compensate for livestock killed by wolves. But while the fund covers confirmed wolf kills, it does not compensate for all of the animals especially newborn calves that are easier to carry that simply disappear into the forest. Griffin, who investigates suspected wolf kills in the region for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, acknowledged that the 80 or so kills attributed to the Whaleback pack is an undercount. He cited studies from other states that estimate only about 1 in 8 wolf kills are ever confirmed. I know we dont find most of them, Griffin said. And theres no money to compensate for the damage that the mere presence of wolves does to cow herds. The cows lose a lot of weight from stress and from trying to stay away from the wolves. Tate, the UC Davis researcher, said GPS data from trackers attached to cows show some of them being chased around the pastures all night long. Cows dont usually run 10 miles over four hours in the middle of the night, Tate said. Thats just not what they do. But wolves are persistence hunters. Weighing about 100 pounds each, they might struggle to take down a yearling cow thats pushing 1,000 pounds. So they spook the cow and get it running, following behind at a comfortable trot until the cow is exhausted. Then they attack. Its fun for [the wolves]; its like an adrenaline rush, said Torres. You can tell it really excites them. But its a nightmare for the herd, and not just the cows that get singled out. Researchers have found elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in herds exposed to wolves. Not only do the cows lose weight, but they abort pregnancies at increased rates, researchers found. More than 40 cows have been killed on this ranch, hunted down by wolves who scout their prey from lookouts on Goosenest Mountain. Cattle actually react to wolves very differently, and in a much more extreme way, than they react to other predators, Rickert said. We have bears around the ranch, and they'll go and swim in the water troughs, and the cattle will just watch, she said with a laugh. And the occasional mountain lion will stop by, maybe kill a calf, and then move on. But the wolves set up shop and torment the cattle. The UC Davis researchers estimated that, over the course of one summer, each wolf in their study cost ranchers between $70,000 and $163,000. All of which has left Griffin, the Siskiyou County wolf liaison, with deeply mixed feelings about the return of the predators. There are a lot of people in California who love wolves, he said, but not very many of them live close to wolves. Read more: As baby great whites cruise among California surfers, science finds (almost) nothing to fear Griffin said he enjoys tracking the predators, climbing ridges to see how they use the landscape to their advantage, setting up cameras in the mountains to catch breathtaking images of them playing with their young or howling in the snow on a moonlit night. But on a recent afternoon, walking through a pasture in the shadow of Mt. Shasta with puffy white clouds drifting across a cobalt blue sky, Griffin recalled one of his worst days on the job. Hed seen buzzards on the hillside just ahead, where the terrain turns steeply upward and the forest begins. When he arrived to see what the birds were eating, he found a dead cow, its rectum and udders torn away classic wolf kill. Mixed with all the blood, he noticed a substantial amount of mucus. His heart sank as he followed the trail of bodily fluids about 60 yards downhill to the half-eaten remains of a newborn calf. He figured the wolves had waited until the cow was in labor, straining so hard with the contractions that she couldnt run, at least not very far. Wolves are beautiful animals, theyre just beautiful, Griffin said, gazing up at the ridge where the predators parade in front of his cameras, sometimes with fresh kill in their mouths. But what they do? That isnt so beautiful. 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. By Poppy McPherson BANGKOK (Reuters) - Asian crime syndicates behind the multibillion-dollar cyberscam industry are expanding globally including to South America and Africa, as raids in Southeast Asia fail to contain their activities, the United Nations said in a report on Monday. Criminal networks that emerged in Southeast Asia in recent years, opening sprawling compounds housing tens of thousands of workers, many trafficked and forced to scam victims around the world, have evolved into a sophisticated global industry, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as Southeast Asian governments have intensified a crackdown, syndicates have moved within and beyond the region, the agency said, adding that a potentially irreversible spillover has taken place... leaving criminal groups free to pick, choose, and move... as needed. It spreads like a cancer, said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC acting regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Authorities treat it in one area, but the roots never disappear; they simply migrate. Conservative estimates indicate there are hundreds of large-scale scam farms around the world generating tens of billions of dollars in annual profits, the UNODC said. The agency called on countries to work together and intensify efforts to disrupt the gangs' financing. The regional cyberfraud industry... has outpaced other transnational crimes, given that it is easily scalable and able to reach millions of potential victims online, with no need to move or traffic illicit goods across borders, said John Wojcik, a regional analyst with UNODC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States alone reported more than $5.6 billion in losses to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, including more than $4 billion in so-called pig-butchering scams or romance scams designed to extort money from often elderly and vulnerable people. 'INFLECTION POINT' In recent months, authorities from China, where many of the gangs originate, Thailand and Myanmar have led a crackdown on scam operations in lawless areas of the Thai-Myanmar border, with Thailand cutting power, fuel and internet supply to areas housing scam compounds. But syndicates have adapted, shifting operations between the most remote, vulnerable, and underprepared parts of Southeast Asia, especially in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, and beyond, exploiting jurisdictions with weak governance and high rates of corruption, the UNODC said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raids in parts of Cambodia where the industry is most visible led to significant expansion in more remote locations, including the countrys western Koh Kong province, as well as areas bordering Thailand and Vietnam, the U.N. agency said. Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona said the country is among the victims of the cyberfraud industry and is committed to fighting it. The government recently established an ad-hoc commission chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet to address the issue by strengthening law enforcement, developing a legislative framework and increasing collaboration with partner nations and the U.N, he said. To overcome the "complex problem, we need collaboration not blame", he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Myanmar junta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Syndicates have expanded into South America, the U.N. agency said, seeking to enhance money laundering and underground banking partnerships with South American drug cartels. They are increasingly establishing operations in Africa, including in Zambia, Angola, and Namibia, and in Eastern Europe including Georgia, the agency said. Gangs have also rapidly diversified their workforce, recruiting people from dozens of nationalities, according to the agency, reflecting how the industry scams targets across the globe and has sought to evade anti-trafficking efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citizens of more than 50 countries from Brazil to Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan - were rescued during recent crackdowns on the Thai-Myanmar border. The international community is at a critical inflection point, the UNODC said, urging that failure to address the problem would have unprecedented consequences for Southeast Asia that reverberate globally. (This story has been corrected to change '$4 million' to '$4 billion' in paragraph 7) (Reporting by Poppy McPherson; Editing by Kate Mayberry and Daren Butler) VATICAN CITY (AP) A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal. It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christs Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church. Still, there are always front-runners, known as papabile, who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope much like those depicted in last year's Oscar-nominated film Conclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate. Pope Francis, who died Monday, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture. Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at age 76, and that Karol Wojtyla wasnt on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II. Some possible candidates: Cardinal Peter Erdo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erdo, 72, the archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary, was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011, suggesting he enjoys the esteem of European cardinals who make up the biggest voting bloc of electors. In that capacity, Erdo got to know many African cardinals because the council hosts regular sessions with African bishops conferences. Erdo had even more exposure when he helped organize Francis 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family and delivered key speeches, as well as during papal visits to Budapest in 2021 and 2023. Cardinal Reinhard Marx Marx, 71, the archbishop of Munich and Freising, was chosen by Francis as a key adviser in 2013. Marx later was named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening. The former president of the German bishops conference was a strong proponent of the controversial synodal path process of dialogue in the German church that began in 2020 as a response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal there. As a result, he is viewed with skepticism by conservatives who considered the process a threat to church unity, given it involved debating issues such as celibacy, homosexuality and womens ordination. Marx made headlines in 2021 when he dramatically offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German churchs dreadful abuse record, but Francis quickly rejected the resignation and told him to stay. Cardinal Marc Ouellet Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ouellet, 80, of Canada, led the Vaticans influential bishops office for over a decade, overseeing the key clearinghouse for potential candidates to head dioceses around the world. Francis kept Ouellet in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff. Considered more of a conservative than Francis, Ouellet still selected pastorally minded bishops to reflect Francis belief that bishops should smell like the sheep of their flock. Ouellet defended priestly celibacy for the Latin Rite church and upheld the ban on womens ordination but called for women to have a greater role in church governance. He has good contacts with the Latin American church, having headed the Vaticans Pontifical Commission for Latin America for over a decade. Since 2019, his office has taken charge of investigating bishops accused of covering up for predator priests, a job that would have made him no friends among those sanctioned but also could have given him lots of otherwise confidential and possibly compromising information about fellow cardinals. Cardinal Pietro Parolin Parolin, 70, of Italy, has been Francis secretary of state since 2014 and is considered one of the main contenders to be pope, given his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. The veteran diplomat oversaw the Holy Sees controversial deal with China over bishop nominations and was involved -- but not charged -- in the Vaticans botched investment in a London real estate venture that led to a 2021 trial of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Parolin knows the Latin American church well. He would be seen as someone who would continue in Francis tradition but as a more sober and timid diplomatic insider, returning an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St. John Paul II (Poland); Benedict (Germany) and Francis (Argentina). But while Parolin has managed the Vatican bureaucracy, he has no real pastoral experience. His ties to the London scandal, in which his office lost tens of millions of dollars to bad deals and shady businessmen, could count against him. Cardinal Robert Prevost Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea of an American pope has long been taboo, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States. But the Chicago-born Prevost, 69, could be a first. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is currently prefect of the Vaticans powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years and sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Prevost is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that keeps him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics. In addition to his nationality, Prevosts comparative youth could count against him if his brother cardinals dont want to commit to a pope who might reign for another two decades. Cardinal Robert Sarah Sarah, 79, of Guinea, the retired head of the Vaticans liturgy office, was long considered the best hope for an African pope. Beloved by conservatives, Sarah would signal a return to the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of John Paul II and Benedict. Sarah, who had previously headed the Vaticans charity office Cor Unum, clashed on several occasions with Francis, none more seriously than when he and Benedict co-authored a book advocating the necessity of continued celibacy for Latin Rite priests. The book came out as Francis was weighing whether to allow married priests in the Amazon to address a priest shortage there. The implication was that Sarah had manipulated Benedict into lending his name and moral authority to a book that had all the appearances of being a counterweight to Francis' own teaching. Francis dismissed Benedicts secretary and several months later retired Sarah after he turned 75. Even Sarahs supporters lamented the episode hurt his papal chances. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schoenborn, 80, the archbishop of Vienna, Austria, was a student of Benedict's, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives. However, he became associated with one of Francis most controversial moves by defending his outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics as an organic development of doctrine, not the rupture that some conservatives contended. Schoenborns parents divorced when he was a teen, so the issue is personal. He also took heat from the Vatican when he criticized its past refusal to sanction high-ranking sexual abusers, including his predecessor as archbishop of Vienna. Schoenborn has expressed support for civil unions and women as deacons, and was instrumental in editing the 1992 update of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the handbook of the churchs teaching that Benedict had spearheaded when he headed the Vaticans doctrine office. Cardinal Luis Tagle Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, would appear to be Francis pick for the first Asian pope. Francis brought the popular archbishop of Manila to Rome to head the Vaticans missionary evangelization office, which serves the needs of the Catholic Church in much of Asia and Africa. His role took on greater weight when Francis reformed the Vatican bureaucracy and raised the importance of his evangelization office. Tagle often cites his Chinese lineage his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines -- and he is known for becoming emotional when discussing his childhood. Though he has pastoral, Vatican and management experience -- he headed the Vaticans Caritas Internationalis federation of charity groups before coming to Rome permanently -- Tagle would be on the young side to be elected pope for life, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Zuppi, 69, the archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops conference, elected in 2022, is closely affiliated with the SantEgidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis, particularly in interfaith dialogue. Zuppi was part of SantEgidios team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambiques civil war in the 1990s and was named Francis' peace envoy for Russia's war in Ukraine. Francis made him a cardinal in 2019 and later made clear he wanted him in charge of Italys bishops, a sign of his admiration for the prelate who, like Francis, is known as a street priest. In another sign of his progressive leanings and closeness to Francis, Zuppi wrote the introduction to the Italian edition of Building a Bridge, by the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit, about the churchs need to improve its outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. Zuppi would be a candidate in Francis tradition of ministering to those on the margins, although his relative youth would count against him for cardinals seeking a short papacy. His family had strong institutional ties: Zuppis father worked for the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano, and his mother was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, dean of the College of Cardinals in the 1960s and 1970s. The Harrison County Hospital Maternity Center team poses with babies they cared for several years ago. (Courtesy photo) Something is missing from Harrison County Hospitals website. The homepage used to feature birth announcements with pictures, names and weights. However, the proud declarations have been taken down since the facilitys labor and delivery services closed on April 1. Harrison County Hospitals obstetric department is one of over a dozen that have shut down statewide since 2020, according to Steve Cooke, senior director of public relations at the Indiana Hospital Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 70% of these closures were in the last two years, he said. Steve Cooke, senior director of public relations at the Indiana Hospital Association. A March of Dimes report revealed nearly a quarter of Indiana counties are considered maternity care deserts. The growing trend is concerning because lack of access to high-quality care is a factor in maternal and infant mortality rates. A 2022 Indiana University Indianapolis brief showed Indiana has the third highest maternal mortality rate among reporting states at 44 deaths per 100,000 live births. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Indiana 7th in infant mortality rates by state with 7.16 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Reasons for OB unit closures include staffing shortages, declining birth rates and low Medicaid reimbursement rates. Potential solutions involve expanding access to mobile health centers, making reimbursement rates sustainable and increasing the workforce by incorporating midwives, according to Honour Hill, director of maternal and infant health initiatives for March of Dimes in Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives are associated with significantly improved maternal and neonatal outcomes, including reduced rates of preterm birth, C-sections and the like, she said. Why OB units are closing The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform reported more than 80 hospitals have stopped labor and delivery services nationwide since 2022. Cooke said 14 OB units shut down in Indiana over the last five years: IU Health Jay Hospital in Portland (2020) Franciscan Health in Hammond (2021) Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac (2022) Ascension St. Vincent Dunn Hospital in Bedford (2022) Parkview Wabash Hospital (2023) St. Joseph Health Plymouth Medical Center (2023) St. Elizabeth Dearborn Hospital in Lawrenceburg (2023) Parkview DeKalb Hospital in Auburn (2023) Parkview LaGrange Hospital (2023) Perry County Memorial Hospital in Tell City (2023) Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City (2024) Bluffton Regional Medical Center (2024) Dukes Memorial Hospital in Peru (2024) Harrison County Hospital in Corydon (2025) At Harrison County Hospital, the issue wasnt fewer deliveries, according to Chief Operating Officer Lisa Lieber. The department performed up to 400 deliveries a year. However, both of the hospitals OB providers left, and recruitment efforts to replace them were unsuccessful. Sarah Doughtery, marketing and physician recruitment manager, said the decision to close the unit was not made lightly. Harrison County Hospital Chief Operating Officer Lisa Lieber As Dr. [Lisa] Clunie, our CEO, often says, she was born at Harrison County Hospital. Lisa [Lieber] and I were both born at Harrison County Hospital. We had our children at Harrison County Hospital, all three of us, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieber said many OB physicians want a better work-life balance with a steadier schedule and less time on-call. Granting those requests can be taxing when it comes to the needs of a small region. A lot of the providers are either looking to retire or in their retirement. Theyre telling us that they want to do hospital-based work. So they might just want to be a laborist. They want to go to a hospital where they just work a 12-hour shift. They just deliver who comes into that hospital. In our community, that just doesnt work. We cant operate that way, said Dougherty. For OB departments with declining birth rates, the challenge lies in compensation. Each year, Indianas low Medicaid base rates force hospitals to cover about $2.7 billion in unpaid health care expenses, according to IHA President Scott B. Tittle. Which is one of the reasons so many hospitals are struggling financially today, and some must make the difficult and unfortunate decisions to eliminate certain health care services, especially in rural areas, he said. Maternity care desert impacts When OB units close, pregnant women must find new providers. Brittany Duke had three daughters at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Tell City before switching to Deaconess Womens Hospital in Newburgh to deliver her fourth daughter in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its easier for my family to be around [PCMH] she said. I already knew how everything ran down here, and I felt so comfortable with it all. It was stressful having to figure out whether New Albany, Jasper, Owensboro [KY] or Evansville would be the best. Indiana Hospital Association President Scott Tittle Hoosier women living in maternity care deserts travel three times farther for services than those with full access, according to the March of Dimes. Lexie Pendleton, a former nurse in Harrison County Hospitals OB unit, said some patients were already driving more than 30 minutes for care before the closure. Now they are being forced to drive an extra 20 minutes on top of that to get to a hospital with obstetric care and also to see their providers for their prenatal visits, she said. Hill said additional travel time for OB services can become a significant issue for expectant mothers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Especially for those moms with high-risk pregnancies or chronic diseases, or even those moms who are having perfectly healthy pregnancies but end up in an obstetric emergency, said Hill. Women with chronic conditions have about a 51% increased likelihood of preterm birth. The March of Dimes disclosed that 15.5% of pregnant women in Indiana received inadequate prenatal care, a higher percentage than the U.S. rate of 14.8%. Plus, only 2.5% of OB providers practiced in rural counties while 4.5% of babies were born to women living in those areas. We are dedicated to trying to remain a place where people could grow their family if it is feasible to be able to do so, said Dougherty. Wed like to be a resource to help set people up if they need prenatal care and dont know where to go. We can help them find those resources through our [gynecology] office. But they could also go to their family practice doctor and figure out where to start. Advocating for solutions For expectant moms looking for an OB provider outside their county, getting recommendations from other women with similar experiences is helpful. Kate Kenealy, who delivered a stillborn infant and a rainbow baby at Harrison County Hospital, said finding the right environment is essential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ask your friends who have kids, who have gone through OBGYN offices for whatever reason, ask them about the atmosphere, she said. [The Harrison County Hospital OB unit was] there for us. For all the moms, for all the dads, for all the babies. They were there for us personally and medically, for their career, but mainly because they cared about us. Expanded access to accredited and licensed freestanding birth centers and mobile health centers would also make a difference, according to Hill. March of Dimes has Mom and Baby Mobile Health Centers in Arizona, Ohio, Washington, D.C. and New York with plans to launch more in Ohio, Texas and Alabama. If anyone is interested in joining us in doing that, both on the provider side as well as sponsorship side, wed love to see that come to Indiana, said Hill. Sarah Doughtery, marketing and physician recruitment manager at Harrison County Hospital As for birth rates and compensation, Tittle said House Bill 1004 has a provision that would draw more federal Medicaid funds at no cost to the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With these additional federal dollars, we can enhance much-needed reimbursement rates for hospitals, which will best enable rural birthing hospitals to improve access and health outcomes for Hoosier mothers and babies, he said. Another focus area for improvement is diversifying the workforce with midwifery care and other specialties. Making sure our emergency rooms, whether there is an obstetric unit there, are trained in obstetric emergencies because we know when we do see a unit close due to maybe low volume, that those women, if they do have an emergency, theyre going to their emergency room, Hill said. Despite the struggles, Harrison County Hospital has not given up on its quest to reopen labor and delivery services. Dougherty said the facility is working with three recruitment agencies, including one based in Bloomington. It would likely take four OB providers to reinstate the unit, according to Lieber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Could be an OB-GYN, a family practice with an OB fellowship would be someone we would look at. Midwives, weve opened that up. So were looking at all avenues of ways we could staff the department, she said. Hill advised women to raise awareness about their maternity care desert experiences. Have that conversation with providers, but also with your representatives and your legislators about how that impacts your life. Change cant be made unless there are voices saying that it does need to be made, she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Investing.com -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the costed Liberal platform this week, outlining $78 billion in new spending over four years focused on uniting the country, strengthening security, protecting health care, and building long-term economic growth. The plan reframes federal spending with a productivity-first approach, concentrating on housing, infrastructure, defense, and business investment. As part of the Unite pillar, $20 billion is allocated to rural and digital infrastructure, Indigenous economic development, arts and culture, and the public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada. The plan also includes funding for projects such as high-speed rail, regional transit, and community health infrastructure. The Secure pillar includes $18 billion in additional defense spending and over $4 billion in tariff-response funding directed at sectors impacted by U.S. trade policies. Another $1.7 billion is aimed at public safety, including the hiring and training of 1,000 new RCMP officers and expanded recruitment infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health care initiatives under the Protect pillar include $3.5 billion to expand medical residency programs, reduce administrative burdens for health workers, establish a national youth mental health fund, and launch a new IVF support program. This comes alongside earlier Liberal pledges to maintain and expand dental care and pharmacare. Under the Build section, the platform proposes a $22 billion housing plan, $12.5 billion to cancel the capital gains inclusion hike, and another $12.5 billion to extend investment incentives for business. The Liberal campaign estimates that over half of new spending is capital-oriented and will leverage $500 billion in private investment over five years. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has yet to release a full platform, but criticized the price tag of the Liberal plan on social media, stating, So Carney will cost you $130B more than Trudeau. Is that the change you wanted? The Liberals say their plan balances this expense by eliminating the federal operating deficit by 2028 and maintaining a declining debt-to-GDP ratio. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has released a fully costed platform that focuses on increasing taxes on wealthy individuals to generate an estimated $94.5 billion in new revenue. Singhs plan includes $42.2 billion in additional spending and adds $48 billion to the federal deficit over four years, with a focus on health-care expansion, worker benefits, and cost-of-living relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With two costed platforms now released, economic strategy has emerged as a central point of contrast ahead of the April 28 federal vote. Carneys proposal frames government as a catalyst for growth, while both the Conservatives and NDP offer alternative fiscal paths to economic resilience. Related articles Carneys Liberal platform adds $78B in targeted spending across key pillars Poilievre blasts Carneys platform, pitches plan to build 2.3 million homes Carney targeted in French debate as rivals question Liberal record House Speaker Mike Johnson made his position on tariff authority clear earlier this month when asked whether Congress would reassert its constitutional power on import levies: I think youve got to give the president the latitude, the runway to do what he is elected to do. Two days later, President Donald Trump instituted a 90-day pause on some of the Liberation Day tariffs he announced April 2, causing chaos in U.S. and global financial markets, but he left in place a universal 10 percent duty on imports and raised tariffs on American imports of most Chinese goods to 145 percent. To make his stance even clearer, Johnson subsequently inserted a procedural measure as part of the budget reconciliation rules that would forestall a congressional challenge to the tariffs for months. With House leadership running interference to abet the surrender of its members own tariff authority, global trade and markets remain at the mercy of Trumps whims. But two new lawsuits filed last week are asking the courts to enjoin the presidents tariff regime, offering a potential path to halt the duties on an expedited timeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Liberty Justice Center (LJC), a public interest law firm, filed a lawsuit April 14 on behalf of five businesses alleging the tariffs are unconstitutional. The state of California weighed in with its own suit filed Wednesday, mounting a similar challenge. The cases follow a lawsuit filed by the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA), a nonprofit legal advocacy group supported by Federalist Society co-chairman Leonard Leo, earlier this month on behalf of a Florida stationery company and a separate suit filed by members of the Blackfeet Nation tribe, including one plaintiff who is a Democratic member of the Montana Senate. The former challenges the administrations first batch of tariffs targeting imports from China; the latter targets the duties on Canadian goods. All the suits argue that the tariffs, which were levied citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), grossly exceed the presidents authority under the lawIEEPA does not mention tariffs nor has it ever been used before to impose such duties. The LJC and California suits both challenge the broader Liberation Day measuresthe California suit also covers the China, Canada, and Mexico tariffs. As The Morning Dispatch detailed recently, Congress has delegated some of its tariff power to the president in a few laws, but those statutes require the executive branch to conduct investigations to justify tariffs on products and countries. They stipulate lengthy processes to address specific harmful trade practices and bad actors, requirements that would be doubly challenging to meet for a universal tariff regime where the justifying harm is simply the existence of trade deficits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress knows how to grant the President authority to impose or adjust tariffs when it wishes to, and it has done so in more limited statutes, the LJC suit argues. But the President has decided to avoid the limits on his authority imposed by Congress by finding a new never-before-seen authority under IEEPA. LJC maintains the tariff regime is unconstitutional on multiple fronts, each of which would justify the court rolling back the duties imposed by the administration. The suit argues the claimed authority is not substantiated in IEEPA. But even if the president can claim to exercise tariff authority under the statute, the major questions doctrine may be at issue. The Supreme Court has ruled that if the executive branch is trying to use power delegated by Congress regarding an issue of major national significance, then Congress must speak clearly in authorizing such power. According to the LJC suit, the immense economic effects of the Liberation Day tariffs clearly represent a major question. Recent decisions suggest the Supreme Court could be sympathetic to a major questions challenge. As Northwestern University law professor Steven Calabresi noted earlier this month, the court ruled against the Biden administration several times citing the major questions doctrine, including on student loan forgiveness, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the eviction moratorium during the pandemic, and the Environmental Protection Agencys attempt to push the power plant industry away from coal. LJC also argues that if IEEPA includes authority to impose universal tariffs, then the law itself violates the nondelegation doctrinea more contested legal principle regarding the limits of Congress ability to delegate its own authority. When Congress passes laws delegating authority, the statutes must do so according to an intelligible principle that stipulate specific standards for the use of the authority to enable Congress, the courts, and the public to ascertain whether Congresss guidance has been followed, the suit notes. Since IEEPA does not mention tariffs, it sets out no such standards or limitations. If there are any constitutional limits to delegation at all, they apply here, in a case where the executive claims virtually limitless authority to impose massive tax increases and start a worldwide trade war, LJC said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The California case makes several similar arguments to LJC but signposted them differently. Interestingly, Californias complaint doesnt use the terms major questions and nondelegation, both of which have negative connotations for some on the left, Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University working on the LJC suit, wrote last week. But they cite the relevant precedents and make the relevant points. If the courts issue temporary restraining orders (TROs) or preliminary injunctions in the LJC or California cases, most or even all of the presidents IEEPA tariff regime could be halted while the litigation plays out. On Friday, LJC filed a request seeking a TRO and a preliminary injunction. Jeffrey Schwab, LJCs lead attorney on the case, told The Dispatch that ideally the court would enjoin the tariffs by the end of this week. To justify a quick halt to the tariffs, the plaintiffs bringing a lawsuit must demonstrate proof theyll suffer irreparable harm in the near term if the court doesnt take action. In the LJC suit, the plaintiffs are all small businesses, including a specialized liquor importer and distributor based in New York, a Utah company that manufactures plastic drainage pipes in the U.S. using resin imported from Taiwan and South Korea, and a Virginia business that makes educational electronic kits and musical instruments using components imported from China, Mexico, Taiwan, and Thailand. We are required to post our prices with the State Liquor Authority a full month in advance, so were locked into pricing decisions that dont account for these sudden, unpredictable tariffs, said Victor Owen Schwartz, the liquor importer. This is devastating to our ability to operate and support the farmers and producers we work with around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike corporations with large capital reserves, small businesses affected by the tariffs may be unable to keep paying the duties and wait for compensation until after the case is resolved in court. I think it would be harder for, say, a Walmart to show irreparable harm, because at the end of the day, they could pay the tariffs, stay in business, and get a rebate of $3 billion in a year, Peter Harrell, an attorney who specializes in international regulatory issues and served as the senior director for international economics in the Biden White House, told The Dispatch (Harrells writing on the tariffs is cited in the LJC filing). Some of these small guys, on the face, it seems plausible if theyve got to pay all these tariffs, they might not be able to make ends meet. LJC could face some hurdles given the jurisdiction it chose to file in: the Court of International Trade (CIT). As our own Sarah Isgur noted on Advisory Opinions, the CIT has jurisdiction over legal challenges involving laws that provide for tariffs, potentially offering support to the governments claim that IEEPA is a law providing for tariffs. The other suits were filed in the regionally relevant district courts, and the government has filed motions trying to transfer them to CIT. Schwab, the LJC attorney, told The Dispatch hes prepared to contest an argument trying to attach the jurisdiction to the merits questions at the heart of the case. He also emphasized the arguments in the suit that would still apply even if IEEPA is assumed to authorize tariffs. Schwab believes his case may be best positioned to get temporary relief quickly from the court, but hes glad to see other challenges coming from parties as wide-ranging as conservative legal groups and Democratic politicians in Montana and California. It also represents that this really is not a partisan matter, he said. This is about the harm to businesses and the power of the president. I dont view this as a political thing at all. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Many Catholics across the world are mourning the loss of the beloved spiritual leader, often referred to as The Peoples Pope. Pope Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday. He died at 88 years old. Pope Francis dies at 88 As many Catholic churches around the world are celebrating the life and legacy of Pope Francis, in Memphis, the community says theyre proud of the work he accomplished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bishop David Talley of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis released a statement, in part, saying His legacy will be one of mercy, outreach, and hope. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, may we honor Pope Francis by carrying on the mission of Christ the Lord, and living as Pilgrims of Hope. I think its unfortunate timing. I am grateful for all of the work that he did for kind of bringing the Catholic Church into the 21st century, said Anna Malone. Pope Francis had several key accomplishments, including his commitment to the poor and taking a number of steps to crack down on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. His willingness to open the churchs doors to the LGBTQ+ Community was a significant move toward inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Pope Francis delivered an Easter blessing to a crowd of thousands in St. Peters Square on Sunday, which marked as his last public appearance. As a Catholic and as a Democrat Catholic, its been difficult to kind of reconcile this conflicting values that I have. And so it was really wonderful to have a pope who kind of thought more progressively, said Malone. Pope Francis was the first Latin American Pope, the first Pope from the Americas, and the first non-European Pope in more than 1,000 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was an advocate for economic and social justice whose famous phrase will remain in history. Who am I to judge? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RICHMOND (WAVY) Bishop Barry C. Knestout and the Catholic Diocese of Richmond are mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease, passed away Monday morning at the age of 88. Monday afternoon, the Vatican confirmed the cause of death was a stroke that led to heart failure. Pope Francis made his last public appearance Easter Sunday, where he blessed thousands gathered in St. Peters Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Complete Coverage: The Passing of Pope Francis Bishop Knestout offered Mass Monday at noon at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond. All were welcome to attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bishop Knestout released the following statement after learning of the Popes passing. Along with the faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, I mourn the passing of Pope Francis with great sadness and offer prayers to Our Lord for the happy repose of his soul. As I reflect on his pontificate, I marvel at the way each Holy Father makes a unique imprint on the papacy and the Catholic Church. Pope Francis charisms were his simple, conversational style, and his charitable efforts in reaching out to those on the peripheries the poor, vulnerable, and alienated. His emphasis on synodality has taught us that by listening attentively to one another, we can love as Christ in a fractured and polarized world. I was blessed to meet Pope Francis three times most recently in Rome last October during a pilgrimage made by the parishioners of the Basilica of St. Andrew, Roanoke. During each of our encounters, the pope greeted me with a gentle, friendly smile, and just a few words in English: Pray for me! I assured him then of our prayers. We continue to pray now for this devoted shepherd of the Church. We commend his soul to the care of Christ, the Good Shepherd. Guided by Pope Francis pastoral example, may the Church continually make progress in charity, imitating more perfectly Christs merciful love in all we think, say, and do. Bishop Barry C. Knestout Image of Bishop Barry C. Knestout and Pope Francis taken during an October pilgrimage with parishioners from the Basilica of St. Andrew in Roanoke, Virginia. Photo credit: Vatican Media In 2015, Pope Francis made a visit to the United States. WAVY News 10 traveled to DC for his trip there. Many from Hampton Roads will never forget the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Links to video reports from WAVYs 2015 coverage of Pope Francis visit to DC: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands an apology from the American channel Fox News, which during the Easter broadcast on April 20 signed the broadcast from Kyiv as "Kyiv, Russia." If this was a mistake rather than a deliberate political statement, there should be an apology and an investigation into who made the mistake, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Heorhiy Tykhy, said on the social network X. As the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis was a leader of many legacies before he passed away Monday morning at the age of 88 years old. For many, Pope Francis was considered a leader of the less fortunate. Getting out there and being with the poor and the marginalized, going into prisons, ministering to prisoners, going to an island like Lampedusa to call attention to the plight of migrants, Reverend Tom Willis with the Catholic Diocese of St Augustine highlighted Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: Photos: Pope Francis through the years However, Pope Francis was also considered a leader of action. Something else he was just a trumpeter for: to remind us that we cant be indifferent, added Reverend Willis. His call to get rid of indifference and realize that when people are hurting, we have to respond. We cant just say oh well get to it another day. Now, with the popes passing just one day after providing the easter blessing from the Vatican and meeting with Vice President JD Vance, the catholic church is left to plan the papal funeral before beginning the search for the next pope to lead the catholic church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think with a man like Pope Francis so much of his legacy, so much of his example, is probably going to shape and color his successor, Reverend Willis added. Read: Pope Francis dies: World reacts Statement on the popes passing from the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine below: With sorrow and gratitude, I join the faithful of the Church and the world in mourning the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis. His life was a gift to the Church and a reflection of Christs love lived with humility and devotion. Learning of the Holy Fathers passing gives me pause to reflect on his life and the impact he has had on the Church and the world, and in my own ministry. My years of study at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome shaped my priesthood in the heart of the Church. It was there, in St. Peters Basilica, that I was ordained a transitional deacon, standing at the very place where so many have carried on the mission of Christ. Years later under the leadership of Pope Francis I was called to serve as a bishop. His faithful leadership and love for the Gospel have been a source of encouragement in my own ministry, and I am deeply grateful for the example he set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am especially grateful for the gift of his 2013 apostolic exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium). This teaching of Pope Francis expresses the joy that marked his life and provides beautiful guidance for all who seek to share the faith with others. I have often reflected on his teaching that our salvation should free us from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. These interior struggles speak directly to the needs of our time. His call and witness challenge us to identify with Christ as Savior and live as lights for the world. Pope Francis was a shepherd for all, including those beyond the Catholic Church. His words and witness resonated with people from every background, drawing many to reflect on the presence of God in their own lives. He had a heart for those on the margins, speaking out for the poor, the immigrant seeking safety, the unborn child and the prisoner facing execution. He carried the concerns of those who struggled, including Catholics who felt unseen or alone after divorce. His message was clear: every person is loved by God and worthy of dignity. As the Church mourns his death, we pray in gratitude for the gift of his life and leadership. May his example continue to inspire us to live with faith, serve with love and seek first the kingdom of God. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Pope Francis dies: What happens next? [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Catholics around the world, including right here in East Tennessee, are mourning the death of Pope Francis. The Vatican announced Pope died Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. His death came one day after making an appearance at Easter Mass in St. Peters Square and meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance. Diocese of Knoxville releases statement after Pope Franciss death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was shocked because my husband came and told me this morning and my first comment was I thought he was doing so much better, so it really took me by surprise, Lisa Morris, sacristan at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. When I started reading different things, especially what Cardinal Dolan had said that his death couldnt have been choregraphed more perfectly, the fact that he had been so sick, then really recovered to certain extent and then do then Easter go through St. Peters yesterday. Pope Francis was elected Pope in 2013, becoming the first leader of the Catholic Church from Latin America. We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of our Holy Father Pope Francis earlier today, Diocese of Knoxville Director of Communications John Mecklenborg. Hes been a spiritual leader for us since 2013 and hes really teaches us everyday how to be closer to Christ. US flags to fly at half-staff for Pope Francis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the world mourns, all eyes now turn on who will be the next leader. Cardinals under the age of 80 will gather for the conclave, which usually happens 15 to 20 days following the Popes death. We are people of the faith and hope so after that time of you know the mourning and knowing hes in a better place and with us in spirit to look forward in hope to the new pope, Morris said. Thatll be the work of the Holy Spirit, we believe firmly that the Holy Spirit comes upon the Cardinals in the conclave and well have a new Pope. Until that time, the world will continue to grieve the Pontiffs passing. How is the next pope selected? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I saw the suffering that he was enduring, the great pain, the pain of carrying the church, the pain of carrying the world in our spiritual battle, Dorothy Curtis, sacristan at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Now, he is in peace and the battle is over for him. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CBS has settled a discrimination lawsuit filed by Brian Beneker, a script coordinator who claimed he had been passed over for a writing job on SEAL Team because he is a straight white man. Beneker alleged that CBS diversity hiring goals which, at the time, included reaching 50% representation for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) writers by 2022-23 amounted to an illegal quota. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No terms of the settlement were disclosed. Paramount Global the parent company of CBS recently rolled back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, saying in a memo that it would no longer set or use aspirational numerical goals related to the race, ethnicity, sex or gender of hires. Beneker had the backing of America First Legal, the advocacy group led by White House adviser Stephen Miller. The group has sought to invalidate DEI policies in the private sector. The settlement with Beneker does not entail any further change to diversity policies, a source said. Paramount Global is currently seeking the Trump administrations approval of a merger with Skydance Media. The Federal Communications Commission is already investigating Paramount over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, which Trump and his supporters claim was misleadingly edited. That investigation could interfere with FCC approval of the merger. Trump has also sued the company for $20 billion over the Harris interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FCC has also launched probes of DEI polices at Comcast, the parent of NBCUniversal, and at Disney. Benekers lawsuit survived CBS motion to dismiss, as Judge John Walter concluded that the companys objections would be more appropriate for a summary judgment motion. Rather than go that route which would have involved depositions and other discovery the parties elected to settle, following a mediation with a retired judge in December. America First Legal also represents Jeff Vaughn, a former anchor on KCAL and KCBS who sued CBS Broadcasting on similar grounds last year. That case remains pending, and is scheduled for trial in March 2026. CBS declined to comment. In its motion to dismiss, the company had argued that the First Amendment gives it a broad right to hire whomever it wants for creative roles. The settlement leaves that legal question unresolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in another case, Disney has raised similar arguments to defend the firing of Gina Carano, the Mandalorian actor who was accused of trivializing the Holocaust in a social media post. Carano filed a lawsuit alleging that she was illegally fired in retaliation for disfavored political activity. U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett denied Disneys motion to throw out Caranos lawsuit last year, finding that the First Amendment does not provide a blanket defense. That case, too, remains unresolved, with a trial scheduled for next February. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. DENVER (KDVR) Hundreds of people descended on Civic Center Park on Sunday for the Mile High 420 Festival, and the Colorado Department of Transportation took the opportunity to try and get people home safe after smoking throughout the day. Everybodys been hearing the drunk driving message for decades, but they havent heard about the impaired driving message with cannabis for very long, so weve got our work cut out for us, said Sam Cole, CDOTs traffic safety manager. Marijuana holiday 4/20 coincides with Easter and Passover this year. Heres what to know Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At their booth, CDOT offered Uber credits and safety information to anyone who stopped by. Cole says you should wait six to eight hours after smoking before getting behind the wheel. A lot of people dont know you can get a DUI for driving high on cannabis, he said. Cole said hes encouraged that most people have a plan to get home safe. According to our surveys, 20% of cannabis users dont plan ahead. 80% of people do, said Cole. Estevon Lovato is a yearly visitor to the festival and always knows how hes getting home afterwards. DD. Thats my driver right there, said Lovato. He said staying off the roads isnt just for his own well-being. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aurora police chief hopes pursuit policy encourages drivers to put down their bongs The safety of other people, said Lovato. I work in the medical field, so I care about him, her, everyone. I want them to get home safe, I want to get home safe. CDOT agrees and hopes everyone makes the right decision, not just on festival day, but every day. Theres so many ways to get home safely, whether it be a taxi, ride share, whatever, said Cole. Just dont get behind the wheel of a car. CDOT is spreading its safe driving tips through other methods as well, even partnering with local dispensaries to give that information directly to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) WalletHub recently named Birmingham as the best place in the country to celebrate Easter. All day throughout Birmingham and the surrounding areas, people celebrated the holiday with Easter egg hunts, church services and more. From 1,000-person outdoor services to literal carnivals, there were plenty of ways to enjoy Easter this year. Brittney Frazier spent the day with her children enjoying the Christian Worship Centers easter carnival, complete with rides and carnival food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frazier says its no surprise Birmingham has been named the best place to celebrate the holiday. Naturally, Birmingham is just a homey place. We are a little slower pace, but fast enough pace where we can commune with each other and share love with one another. We are at just the right spot where we can slow down enough to enjoy things like a carnival with friends and family, but also to share the love of Christ, Frazier said. If rides and fried food isnt your thing, the Magic City still had other Easter activities to offer. Just a short while away, CBS 42 caught up with Macie Cates and her friends enjoying a picnic. We both went to church. We actually go to two different churches, and another one of our friends is on her way. So we all go to different churches, but we just decided to meet up and enjoy the weather, said Cates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone we spoke with today celebrating easter said Birmingham is a great place to spend the holiday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tributes are flooding in from Hollywood stars and other celebrities for Pope Francis, who died on Monday at age 88. Pope Francis was elected to the papacy in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. In March, Pope Francis returned to the Vatican after being hospitalized for more than five weeks. Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell said in an announcement made Monday. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is how celebrities are reacting to Pope Francis death. Whoopi Goldberg He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christs love enveloped believer and (non) believer, Goldberg, an actor and television personality, wrote in an Instagram tribute. She continued, He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope (Francis) with your love of humanity & laughter. Russell Crowe A beautiful day in Rome, but, a sad day for the faithful. RIP Francis, Crowe, the Gladiator actor, wrote on X. A beautiful day in Rome, but, a sad day for the faithful. RIP Francis. pic.twitter.com/ckewTrYyFW Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) April 21, 2025 Eva Longoria Rest in Peace, Your Holiness Pope Francis, Longoria, the actor known for her role in Desperate Housewives, wrote in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you for being an ally to many of us and speaking up for the marginalized. Your compassion, kindness and humility will always be remembered. Antonio Banderas Spanish actor Antonio Banderas wrote, Pope Francisco has died a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people. Sarah Ferguson No better example of total humility in kindness and compassion, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, wrote on her Instagram story. Thank you for leading us with not just your words, but with your unwavering service to humanity. Katie Couric Rest in peace dear Pope Francis, journalist Katie Couric wrote in her social media tribute to the pope. Sylvester Stallone Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone wrote, A wonderful, wonderful man! Rest in peace holy father!, in an Instagram post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Viola Davis American actor and producer Viola Davis wrote, Truly anointed alongside a clip of Pope Francis in a post shared on Instagram. Debi Mazar TV Personality and actor Debi Mazar wrote, Grazie Pappa Francesco A life dedicated to the people. My Favorite Pope EVER. Selfless & Resilient, in an Instagram post. Adjoa Andoh Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh wrote, Within the constraints of his tradition, manifestly compassionate and standing with the marginalized. What a loss, in a social media tribute. King Charles III King Charles III wrote, My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis, in a lengthy statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, His holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. The Kings message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025 Jonathan Roumie Requiescat in pace, dearest Pope Francis, Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus on The Chosen, wrote in a lengthy Instagram post. His humility, his kindness and his gentleness were the marks of his pontificate for me; traits that I endeavor to embody in my own life, especially in my encounters with people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, Pope Francis model of Christs love towards humanity always felt like a direct invitation to follow him along that path, that narrow road however challenging it could sometimes be in this existence; always knowing that in the end, it is worth everything." Jimmy Fallon It was an honor meeting Pope Francis last summer. Im glad I made you laugh, comedian and The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon wrote on X. Thank you for your encouraging words. Rest in peace. It was an honor meeting Pope Francis last summer. Im glad I made you laugh. Thank you for your encouraging words. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/u5QqeUNLDM Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) April 21, 2025 Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio wrote, Pope Francis was a transformational leader not only for the Catholic Church, but also for environmental reform and activism, on Instagram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, Pope Francis was one of the most extraordinary spiritual leaders of our time. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of environmentalists around the world. May he rest in peace. Sandra Lee Pope Francis ... was such a wonderful man. I had the pleasure of meeting His Holiness three times on his trip to United States where he blessed me twice, television chef and author Sandra Lee wrote in an Instagram post alongside a video. The world has lost such a beautiful light, but I know in my heart that he will shine bright from heaven. Im so grateful for my time with him forever changed. Patricia Heaton Everybody Loves Raymond actor Patricia Heaton wrote, It was such an honor and privilege to meet Pope Francis. His lifes work continuing Christs message of love, faith and unity has both propelled and inspired me, on Instagram. Gov. Gavin Newsom made headlines Friday for his comments about wrongfully deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, when he was trying to make news about tariffs. Speaking at a Central Valley press conference announcing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its wildly unpredictable trade policies, Newsom answered a question from reporters about Abrego Garcia. He called the controversy about whether the man is a gang member "the distraction of the day." Chaos ensued, including a Dem-on-Dem news cycle over the holiday weekend that neither Newsom nor the Democrats wanted, in which pundits debated whether Abrego Garcia and the due process crisis his extrajudicial deportation represents was indeed a distraction, or a constitutional crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who traveled to El Salvador and was able to speak with Abrego Garcia, shot back at Newsom: I think Americans are tired of elected officials or politicians who are all finger to the wind," adding that, anyone who can't stand up for the Constitution and the right of due process doesn't deserve to lead. Spoiler alert: I am pro-due process, and appalled that our executive branch is arguing for its suspension when it comes to immigrants because, of course, that is the first step to curtailing everyone's rights. Read more: Newsom announces lawsuit against Trumps tariffs as California stands to lose billions Calling Abrego Garcia's plight a "distraction," even if only on the narrow issue of gang membership, as Newsom's office later clarified was his intent, is flat-out wrong. But the seeming split between Newsom and Van Hollen is both smaller than media is playing it, and also the most important question vexing Democrats right now: Do Americans care about the Constitution, or the stock market? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans largely can't make up their minds about what worries them most. A good portion of people are currently zigzagging between terror that their life savings is disappearing before their eyes, and terror that their constitutional rights are in the same trash bin. It's an all-hands-on-deck moment for Democrats, and there should be space to defend both the rights of Abrego Garcia (and by extension all of us) and push back against a senseless global trade war that threatens to put America into a recession. But the controversy over Newsom's inelegant statement goes to the heart of the Democratic divide right now. It's a party in disarray that can't decide whether to go all out against the attacks on democracy, or keep laser-focused on the pocketbook issues that seem to have ultimately handed Trump his second term. Folks, it's time to walk and chew gum, as the old saying goes. Abrego Garcia is somewhere in a Salvadoran prison right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe not the worst-of-the-worst Terrorism Confinement Center, where he began his deportation nightmare in a facility that human rights watchers contend has a history of torture, but he is still locked up in a Kafkaesque scenario that could leave him with what appears to be a life sentence in a foreign prison without committing a crime or being heard by a judge. That kind of grab-and-vanish justice is common in El Salvador, where a three-year state of emergency declaration made by an authoritarian leader claiming he's cracking down on gang crime has suspended due process rights, imprisoning about 83,000 people, according to Amnesty International. That sounds a bit too close to home as President Trump deports and detains people using that same tough-on-crime talk without evidence, while Vice President JD Vance argues online that due process is just too cumbersome and needs to be scrapped for convenience if the United States is to be successful, as Trump has promised, at deporting millions of people in the next few years, whether they are criminals or not. "To say the administration must observe 'due process' is to beg the question: what process is due is a function of our resources, the public interest, the status of the accused, the proposed punishment, and so many other factors," Vance wrote on social media last week. "Here's a useful test: ask the people weeping over the lack of due process what precisely they propose for dealing with Biden's millions and millions of illegals. And with reasonable resource and administrative judge constraints, does their solution allow us to deport at least a few million people per year?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yikes. Expediency over law. "No process is the new due process," Adam Winkler, a UCLA professor who teaches constitutional law, told me. "The Constitution is clear that any person in the United States in entitled to due process, it doesn't matter if they are an immigrant." Newsom, in a more thoughtful interview with podcaster Bryan Tyler Cohen last week, called such flagrant disrepect for the law "the other side of the red line." "The founding fathers did not live and die for this moment," Newsom said. "And so if you want this democracy, this democratic republic, to survive, that has to be called out with clarity and conviction, period, full stop." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So Newsom and Van Hollen don't disagree on the significance of Abrego Garcia's case after all. They just can't agree on how to best reach voters. Most Americans don't really know what due process is, or what losing it will mean to democracy. They do, however, understand when gas and groceries cost more, and when their retirement savings are sinking like a brick in a river. Read more: House Democrats, in El Salvador, say they were not allowed to meet wrongly deported man As former Republican political consultant Mike Madrid put it, yes, we need to walk and chew gum, "but let's not pretend that they're equal, because they're not." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walking, being the economy in this analogy, is far more important, he said. In a recent poll, 55% of voters said they disapprove of the way Trump is handling the economy. Another poll by CNBC found Trump's ratings on economic performance are currently the lowest they've ever been in his political career, after winning the election on economic issues. "The fact that Democrats aren't driving a tank through that issue is malpractice," Madrid said, and he's right. The economy won Trump the election, and the economy could lose Republicans the next one. Fighting for the rights of Abrego Garcia? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its a tough case, because people are really are they defending MS-13? Are they defending, you know, someone whos out of sight, out of mind in El Salvador?" Newsom said at the Friday news conference. "Its exactly the debate [Republicans] want, because they dont want this debate on the tariffs." But here's where Trump's chaos theory becomes so effective. Those who care about democracy have to fight on both the economy and due process and so much more because we may not make it to another free and fair election (as the last one was) if we allow the executive branch unlimited power. And, it should go without saying, there is a moral imperative to not abandon Abrego Garcia, or any of these people deported without due process. Democrats seem to be stuck in a political mindset how do they win elections when the moment calls for something greater. The ability to walk and chew gum, and explain to voters why both matter. 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. Trump's team to go to London to close issue of ceasefire in Ukraine US President Donald Trump's team will return to London, where negotiations will be held to resolve the issue of the ceasefire in Ukraine, said US President's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg. Kellogg said on Fox News that they had talked about moving forward with a potential ceasefire in the short term, and that was why they were going back to London that week to really cement it. He noted that President Trump had done more in 90 days to resolve this war, the largest war in Europe since World War II, than had been done in the previous 900 or more days. The special representative emphasized that he led it to solutions, and noted that one thing he had noticed about President Trump from previous experience was not to create problems for him without having solutions. He added that he thought they had a pretty good solution. According to him, the minerals agreement that the US concluded with Ukraine is one of them. Kellogg added that they were also moving towards a comprehensive ceasefire, explaining that by "comprehensive," he meant by sea, air, land, and industry, and for a period of at least 30 days. He said it would then transition into a longer-term peace agreement a permanent peace treaty and expressed his belief that they were on a good path. He noted that he thought it was really difficult. But I think if it weren't for President Trump, we wouldn't be where we are now, and he's leading us to completion, the special envoy concluded. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has issued a statement following the death of Pope Francis, 88, early Monday. "Today, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati join Catholics and all people of faith around the world in praying for the soul of the Holy Father, Pope Francis," the diocesean statement reads. The Archbishop of Cincinnati, Robert G. Casey, also released a statement. "As we commend a good and faithful servant to God, let us remember that Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope awakening us to Christ, who is alive and present in our midst," Casey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey quoted Psalm 27:14, "Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart, and hope in the Lord!" Casey, who was installed this month to lead Greater Cincinnati's 400,000 Catholics, said, "May we, then, be filled with hope hope that Pope Francis will receive the reward of a life poured out in selfless service and love for Gods people and all creation; hope that Christ, who comforts us in our mourning, will send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper; and hope that this same Spirit will inspire and unite us as the Church to stand firm in faith, proclaiming the power of the Resurrection and the joy of the Gospel." Pope Francis met with Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday, the day before his death. Vance, who has a home in East Walnut Hills, converted to Catholicism six years ago at a church in Greater Cincinnati. Vance shared his condolences on the pope's death: "I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance, who clashed with Francis in the past over immigration, complimented the homily he gave in the early days of the pandemic. "It was really quite beautiful," Vance said. The frail but determined Francis greeted thousands in St. Peter's Square after Easter Mass in his open-air popemobile, just five weeks after a hospital stay. Archbishop Emeritus of Cincinnati, Dennis M. Schnurr, also released a statement: Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of our beloved Pope Francis, who was Vicar of Christ, the successor of St. Peter and a faithful shepherd of Christs Church. The Holy Father will long be remembered for his great compassion for the elderly, the sick, the unborn, the persecuted and all those on the margins of society. He continuously reminded us that we are the stewards of Gods creation and not its master. And he was an unwavering champion of world peace. After a life dedicated to proclaiming the Good News of our Lords saving love for us, may Pope Francis now inherit the reward of eternal rest with God. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 266th pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents, was the first pope from the Americas and the first born outside of Europe in over a millennia. Contributing: USA Today This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Pope Frances dies: Cincinnati archdiocese, JD Vance issue statements HUMANSVILLE, Mo. Just weeks before the case was set to go to trial, the felony election offense charge filed against Humansville Utility Clerk Sophia Piper have been dropped. Humansville clerk accused of preventing candidates from running in April election According to an official complaint obtained by Ozarks First Investigates from the Secretary of State, Piper was accused of blocking certain candidates from submitting paperwork to run in the April 2024 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a statement from Polk County Prosecutor Keaton Ashlock the person who filed that official complaint, along with other witnesses, failed to cooperate in the case which led to its dismissal: The Polk County Prosecutor has dismissed case 24WE-CR01059-01 which was initiated through grand jury indictment on the charge of felony Election Interference under RSMo 115.631 on July 10, 2024. This decision was made after two of the States main witnesses failed to appear on subpoenas for depositions leading up to the scheduled trial date of April 30, 2025. This included the sole witness named in the probable cause statement submitted by the Secretary of States Office, whose account was the basis for the charge. The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States guarantees the right of a criminal defendant to confront and cross-examine witnesses at a trial. Furthermore, the rules of the Missouri Supreme Court Rule of Criminal Procedure 25 gives defendants the ability to depose witnesses prior to trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the cooperation of witnesses at depositions, and with no assurance that the Prosecution would be able to provide necessary testimony at a forthcoming trial, the Prosecutors Office deemed a dismissal necessary. Ozarks First Investigates asked Piper about the allegations at a city council meeting and she denied any wrongdoing. Her case was moved to Webster County where a jury trial was scheduled for April 30, 2025, but its now 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man accused of a Denham Springs hit-and-run that claimed the life of 20-year-old Jody Mann has been booked into jail again on a new charge. Mann was struck and killed in March while walking home from a friends house along Louisiana Highway 1023, just south of Highway 63. Suspected driver Brandon Chenevert, 30, was reportedly seen on surveillance footage returning to the scene. He was initially arrested on April 2 and released on bond the following day. Jail records show Chenevert was re-booked on Monday and is now facing a charge of negligent homicide. Authorities say he also faces several other charges, including felony hit-and-run and obstruction of justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records reveal a lengthy criminal history for Chenevert, with prior charges dating back to 2014. His record includes offenses such as careless operation of a vehicle, driving while intoxicated, and simple assault. 72-year-old man dead after being hit by two cars in Baton Rouge, state police say Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. A Minneapolis man is facing charges after he allegedly threatened to murder a member of Congress. Michael Paul Lewis, 52, is charged with one count of threatening to murder a U.S. official and one count of interstate transmission of a threat to injure a person. He made his first appearance U.S. District Court Friday. According to court documents, Lewis called a congresswoman's office and threatened to murder her on March 26. The U.S. Attorneys office did not specify which member of Congress Lewis threatened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis was charged following an investigation by the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police. Michael LewisSherburne County Jail Federal law protects our elected officials from this sort of violent, unhinged, and murderous rhetoric, Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick said in a statement. It is entirely unacceptable. Defendants who attempt to terrorize public officials in this way will face the full weight of federal justice. I am grateful for the diligent and swift work of the FBI to hold this defendant to account. Lewis was booked into the Sherburne County Jail on April 17. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Swim Across America, a Charlotte-based nonprofit, is funding two groundbreaking gene editing grants to advance promising cancer research. The grants support Dr. Joseph Fraietta with the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Pietro Genovese with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; both focused on innovative gene and cell therapies for hard-to-treat cancers. Swim Across America said it has already contributed over $100 million to cancer research, helping fund clinical trials that led to FDA-approved drugs like Keytruda and Opdivo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These new grants continue the organizations mission to drive lifesaving innovation. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Charlotte Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS/AP) Pope Francis, the beloved and often bold spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, died Monday at the age of 88, prompting an outpouring of grief and reflection around the world, including here in the Diocese of Charlotte. Bishop Michael Martin, who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2024, expressed deep sorrow at the popes passing and called on the faithful to come together in prayer. Following the passing of Pope Francis, Bishop Martin has directed all 93 Catholic churches across western North Carolina to cancel their Monday evening events and instead open their doors from 7 to 8 p.m. for quiet prayer and reflection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am deeply saddened by the death of Pope Francis and join with Catholics of the Diocese of Charlotte and around the world in mourning the loss of our shepherd, Bishop Martin said in a released statement. There will be time to celebrate the life and legacy of Pope Francis in the days ahead, but for now I invite anyone and everyone to join us in prayer. The pope, who made history in 2013 as the first Latin American pontiff, left a lasting impression with his simple style, emphasis on mercy, and focus on the marginalized. From his first words, a humble Good evening, to his tireless advocacy for the poor, Pope Francis reshaped the global Churchs priorities and tone. He was not without controversy. His critiques of unrestrained capitalism and his call to action on climate change sometimes put him at odds with more conservative factions within the Church. But for many, including Bishop Martin, his papacy marked a return to gospel-rooted compassion. The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died following a prolonged respiratory illness that began in mid-February. He had suffered from chronic lung disease for decades after losing part of a lung in his youth. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM National 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 Queen City News. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Charlotte Bishop Michael Martin called for all churches to open from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday so Catholics can come together to mourn the passing of Pope Francis in their own way. Francis died Monday after his first big appearance Easter Sunday. He had been battling pneumonia. Francis served as a religious leader of a billion people across the world, including more than 550,000 in the Charlotte Diocese. Charlotte Catholics mourn death of Pope Francis, reflect on his global legacy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin said Francis appointed him as a bishop. Now, losing him makes it even tougher. Today, in particular, is a day of sadness, for me personally, but also for Catholics around our diocese as well as around the world, Martin said. Im incredibly honored personally, to me he means a great deal. But Francis impact went much farther and across religious boundaries. North Carolina Synod Bishop Timothy Smith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shared on social media that despite differences in faith, reconciliation of all relationships was an end goal for Francis. Maybe in a world where everything seems to be coming apart on so many levels, there could be a different way when we would come together and accentuate not our differences as much as what we have in common, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis was a Jesuit and the first ever to be a pope. A Jesuit is a Society of Jesus that is younger than other religious orders with a reputation for education and academics. St. Peter Catholic Church is the oldest in Charlotte and the only Jesuit one. It sits in the heart of Uptown. Father Tim Stephens at St. Peter Catholic Church still cant believe Francis was one of them. My first reaction was it was unimaginable, Stephens said. We just never, we oftentimes assumed it would never, ever happen because its extremely rare for a Jesuit to be a cardinal, to be a bishop. Stephens said Francis legacy is that he saw himself as a pastor and shepherd first and portrayed that in every relationship, despite criticism he might face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wanted them to know as Gods representative on earth, wanted them to know that God loves them unconditionally, Stephens said. Wednesday at 7 p.m., St. Marks in Huntersville will have a large mass for anyone in the diocese to come together and honor his 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 Queen City News. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) The man accused of breaking into multiple, charter buses and setting them on fire at an Upstate college has been arrested. I dont believe weve ever had anything to this type of extent happen before here in Greenville, said Sergeant Diana Munoz, City of Greenville Police Department. Around 6:10 a.m. on April 19, the Greenville Police Department got a call about two buses that were engulfed in flames at Legacy Early College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon officers arrival, they did locate the buses on fire. Once it was extinguished, they started their investigation along with the fire department, said Munoz. There was a reason to believe that it was arson. Police said further investigation showed that multiple buses were broken into and damaged. Four buses had significant damage, estimating $400,000 in losses. 39-year-old Charles Williamson was caught on a gas stations surveillance after the buses were broken into and set on fire. It is believed that he did actually break into the buses and the fire was started. He was arrested later that night. After reviewing CCTV, they tracked his whereabouts and he ended up confessing to the crime, said Munoz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williamson is charged with four counts of arson and four counts of auto break-in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA) After eight years of service, one member of the Chatham Police Department is finally able to rest his paws back and relax in retirement. K-9 Dagz, a German Shepard, has worked his final shift, according to the police department. He worked with Sergeant Jacob Bouldin, and is credited for finding over 3,000 pounds of illegal drugs and narcotics, thousands of dollars in asset forfeitures, and several missing and lost people. Village of Atwood approves K-9 officer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos courtesy of Chatham Police Department Dagz also served as a community ambassador at public events and often made appearances at the local school district. His career spanned across numerous law enforcement agencies across Central Illinois, which the Chatham Police Department said showcased his exceptional skills. Thank you for your service, Dagz, and we hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement! We see plenty of puppy treats, belly rubs, and toy chasing in your future, the Chatham Police Department said on Dagzs retirement post via 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 WCIA.com. CHEROKEE, Iowa (KCAU) A Cherokee man has been arrested for murder after officials said he ran over another man early Monday. The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said in a release that a person called 911 Monday at 12:24 a.m. that someone had been ran over at a farm east of Cherokee. The caller also said the driver left the scene after the incident. First responders arrived to the scene and performed life saving measures on the victim, identified as Christopher Wheeler. He died shortly afterward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was identified as Richard Hammond, 66, of Cherokee. Bishop Nickless of Sioux City Diocese shares statement on passing of Pope Francis Richard Hammond According to court documents, Hammond intentionally ran over Wheeler with a Chevrolet Silverado. Witnesses allegedly told authorities that Hammond entered the driveway at a high rate of speed heading towards a pick-up that Wheeler was working on. Wheeler tried to run away, but Hammond hit Wheeler before then leaving the scene. Hammond was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was booked into the Cherokee County Jail without a bond. The sheriffs office and the Iowa DCI are continuing to investigate the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Defense forces shoot down 42 enemy drones out of 96 at night, another 47 lost in location Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/ On the night of Monday, April 21, Ukrainian defenders shot down 42 Shahed-type strike drones, as well as drones of other types launched by the Russian occupiers, according to the Telegram channel of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "As of 09:00, the shooting down of 42 Shahed type strike UAVs [drones of other types] in the east, north, south and center of the country was confirmed. Some 47 enemy simulator drones were lost in location [without negative consequences]," the message says. In total, the invaders attacked Ukraine at night with two X-31P anti-radar missiles from the airspace over the Black Sea, as well as 96 UAVs, both strike and simulators. There are no reports of missiles being shot down. The enemy air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare equipment and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. As a result of the enemy attack, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Cherkasy regions suffered. CHICAGO Chicago police are searching for a man who reportedly broke into at least five Southwest Side businesses over the course of three days. Police said the incidents happened in Brighton Park, McKinley Park, Bridgeport and Back of the Yards. The first incident happened at around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 16 in the 4000 block of South Western Avenue. Three more similar incidents happened a few nights later along the 3300 and 3500 blocks of South Archer Avenue, along with the 1700 block of West 47th Street, according to investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEE ALSO: Chicago police seek suspect in string of Walgreens robberies on Northwest Side Police said a fifth incident happened Saturday, April 19 in the 3500 block of South Halsted Street. In each of the five incident, police said the suspect was a man between 25 and 40 years of age who stands 58 to 61 and weighs roughly 160 to 220 pounds. He was also wearing mostly dark clothing. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call Area One Detectives at 312-747-8384 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference # P25-1-034. Additional tips from CPD: Keep the perimeter of your property well lit. Keep doors and windows secured. Immediately repair any broken windows, doors or locks. Immediately report suspicious activity. Never pursue a fleeing assailant, provide the information to the police. If video surveillance is available, save a copy of the incident for investigating detectives. If approached by a witness to the incident, request their contact information. If you are a victim do not touch anything, call police immediately. Immediately dial 9-1-1 and remain on the scene when possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Chicago Teachers Union expects its new, hard-fought contract to help drive clean energy investments and train the next generation of clean energy workers, even as the Trump administration attacks such priorities. The contract approved by 97% of union members this month represents the first time the union has bargained with school officials specifically around climate change and energy, said union Vice President Jackson Potter. The deal still needs to be approved by the Chicago Board of Education. If approved, the contract will result in new programs that prepare students for clean energy jobs, developed in collaboration with local labor unions. It mandates that district officials work with the teachers union to seek funding for clean energy investments and update a climate action plan by 2026. And it calls for installing heat pumps and outfitting 30 schools with solar panels if funding can be secured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During almost a year of contentious negotiations, the more than 25,000-member union had also demanded paid climate-educator positions, an all-electric school bus fleet, and that all newly constructed schools be carbon-free. While those provisions did not end up in the final agreement, leaders say the four-year contract is a transformative victory that sets the stage for more ambitious demands next time. This contract is setting the floor of what we hope we can accomplish, said Lauren Bianchi, who taught social studies at George Washington High School on the citys South Side for six years before becoming green schools organizer for the union. It shows we can win on climate, even despite Trump. The climate-related provisions are part of what the Chicago Teachers Union and an increasing number of unions nationwide refer to as common good demands, meant to benefit not only their members in the workplace but the entire community. In this and its 2019 contract, the Chicago union also won common good items such as protections for immigrant students and teachers, and affordable housingrelated measures. The new contract also guarantees teachers academic freedom at a time when the federal government is trying to limit schools from teaching materials related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Black history, Indigenous history, climate science thats protected instruction now, said Potter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago Public Schools did not respond to emailed questions for this story, except to forward a press release that did not mention clean energy provisions. Training Chicagos students for clean energy jobs The union crafted its proposals based on discussions with three environmental and community organizations, Bianchi said the Southeast Environmental Task Force, People for Community Recovery, and ONE Northside. The Southeast Environmental Task Force led the successful fight to ban new petcoke storage in Chicago, and the groups co-executive director Olga Bautista is also vice president of the 21-member school board. People for Community Recovery was founded by Hazel Johnson, who is often known as the mother of the environmental justice movement. And ONE Northside emphasizes the link between clean energy and affordable housing. Clean energy job training was a priority for all three of the organizations, Potter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the contract, the union and district officials will work with other labor unions to create pre-apprenticeship programs for students, which are crucial to entering the union-dominated building trades to install solar, do energy-efficiency overhauls, and electrify homes with heat pumps and other technology. The contract demands the district create one specific new clean energy jobs pathway program during each year of the four-year contract. It also mandates renovating schools for energy efficiency and installing modern HVAC systems, and orders the school district to work with trade unions to create opportunities for Chicago Public Schools students and graduates to be hired for such work. The people in the community have identified jobs and economic justice as being essential for environmental justice, said Bianchi. Ive mostly taught juniors and seniors; a lot expressed frustration that college is not their plan. They wish they could learn job skills to enter a trade. Chicago schools progress on solar, energy efficiency, and electrification Installing solar could help the district meet its clean energy goals, which include sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewables by this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district has invested more than $6 million in energy efficiency and efficient lighting since 2018, and cut its carbon dioxide emissions by more than 27,000 metric tons, school district spokesperson Evan Moore told Canary Media last fall as contract negotiations were proceeding. The schools are eligible for subsidized solar panels under the state Illinois Shines program, and they can tap the federal 30% investment tax credit for solar arrays, with a new direct-pay option tailored to tax-exempt organizations like schools. The union contracts climate stance represents a reversal of whats happening at the federal level, said Potter. Its decreasing dependency on fossil fuels, ensuring the district is moving toward more environmentally efficient practices. While the future of federal clean-energy tax credits is in doubt under the Trump administration, Illinois elected officials and advocates say the states clean energy transition will continue thanks to ambitious state laws including a major new energy bill before the legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As [Chicago Public Schools] is facing many financial woes, we see solar and lowering energy costs as a way we can actually save money that we can then use to prevent layoffs and staff programs, said Bianchi. The contract also calls for upgraded windows and HVAC in all schools, as funding permits, which would boost energy efficiency, union leaders said. And it mandates more transparency from the district about the progress of building work orders, which Potter said will help the community track energy-efficiency investments. With school buildings that are 83 years old on average, such overhauls are crucial both to saving money on energy bills and keeping conditions adequate for learning. In 2012, the teachers union went on strike and ultimately won guarantees for air conditioning in all schools, where students and teachers had been sweltering in aging buildings without functioning AC. Moore said the district is committed to another program that the teachers had demanded, though it did not end up in the contract: the creation of community resiliency centers at schools, where residents can stay warm or cool during extreme weather. Moore noted that Chicago Public Schools received a federal Renew Americas Schools grant in 2024 that will help prepare 20 schools for that role. The district also received federal funds last year to purchase 50 electric buses under the Clean School Bus program. The city said it worked closely with the union on the application, and Potter added that contract provisions, including formation of a joint Green Schools and Climate Change Preparedness Committee, ensure the union can work with the district to seek additional funds for electric buses. Unions fighting for the common good In recent years the teachers union was deeply involved in a successful fight to prevent a polluting metal shredders move from a wealthy North Side neighborhood to the low-income community where George Washington High School is located. The campaign, led in part by nowschool board Vice President Bautista, resulted in an agreement between the state and federal government meant to prevent development of new polluting sources in environmental justice communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were treated as the citys dumping ground, but with the communitys organizing power, history, and legacy of resistance, ultimately the community won, said George Washington High teacher Kevin Moore, who talks about environmental justice and climate change in his courses, including human geography. The union demanded during bargaining that George Washington High and at least two other schools be replaced with new carbon-free buildings. The contract ultimately has no such promises but says any new school buildings should aspire to be carbon-free. Other unions nationwide have also included climate provisions in their demands, including under the common good banner. The Los Angeles teachers union UTLA has for several years made climate justice a successful plank in its contract negotiations, building on its common good advocacy for racial justice and citing blistering heat and wildfire smoke that affect local schools. In February 2020, 4,000 janitors who were members of Minneapolis SEIU Local 26 union held a one-day climate strike joined by students and other community groups demanding greener cleaning practices and action by banks and other companies to reduce emissions in corporate buildings. After walking off the job, the janitors succeeded in enshrining some climate-related measures in their contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helping both the larger community and our members to see the union as a vehicle to win on other issues is critical to the survival of organized labor, wrote two SEIU Local 26 officials and a high school student in a joint essay in Labor Notes, highlighting that more than 40% of the unions members reported that climate change has impacted their families. The United Auto Workers union has supported Environmental Protection Agency vehicle emissions limits and the electric vehicle transition. A lot of people see this as a new thing were doing, Bianchi said of the Chicago Teachers Unions focus on energy and climate. However, as a history teacher, I want to point out that health and safety is something that unions have always fought for. The farmworkers were fighting against toxic chemicals. Mineworkers were fighting for safety. This isnt just an issue that intersects with our working conditions and the broader public good. It really is both. Love Canary Media and find our reporting valuable? Please consider financially supporting our work with a donation. Thank you! WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) Chick-fil-A is now welcoming guests to the chains newest drive-thru near Polaris Fashion Place, after another location down the street opened less than six months ago. The chicken chains new restaurant at 680 Polaris Parkway hosted a grand opening celebration on April 18, marking its first location in Westerville. The new eatery employs about 100 workers and is operated by franchisee Waylon Willoughby, who has been working as a Chick-fil-A team member since age 15. Property that was home to Red Robin near Easton sells for $2.8 million Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am honored to bring Chick-fil-A to Westerville and look forward to creating another space where we can work together to make a lasting difference, said Willoughby. My team members and I are proud to continue serving and making a meaningful impact in a community that has given so much to us. Willoughby is also the franchisee for a Chick-fil-A drive-thru that opened last November less than two miles west at 1515 Polaris Parkway, the property once home to Mackenzie River before the building was demolished last year. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the opening in the video player above. Willoughby is also the franchisee for a Chick-fil-A that opened last November less than two miles west at 1515 Polaris Parkway. (Courtesy Photo/Chick-fil-A) The 1515 Polaris Parkway drive-thru launched as Chick-fil-As original Polaris restaurant at 8787 Sancus Boulevard, which Willoughby also operated, permanently closed after more than 20 years in business. The Sancus Boulevard eatery opened in 2003 and had marked the companys first standalone location in central Ohio. Now, Willoughby employs about 200 team members across the two locations and has led several initiatives, including providing students from four neighboring schools the opportunity to participate in Chick-fil-As high school leadership program. Since 2014, Chick-fil-A has awarded 119 scholarships totaling more than $250,000 to support Willoughbys employees continuing their education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chillicothe paper mill will remain open through 2025 Willoughbys locations also participate in the chains Shared Table program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits. Since joining the program six years ago, his eateries have donated more than 20,000 meals to the Worthington Resource Pantry. Along with a drive-thru, the new Westerville restaurant is open for dine-in, carry-out and mobile order from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. This article was originally published in EducationNC. The biannual Child Health Report Card from NC Child and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) is now available. In addition to evaluating 14 key indicators of childrens health, the 2025 report includes a special section highlighting school-based mental health resources. According to a press release, the decision to focus on youth mental health was driven by worsening trends and the need for greater support services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that schools play a vital role in the lives of children, said NCIOM President and CEO Michelle Ries. Schools are where children learn and where they build connections. What happens in school matters for their development and for their health. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The role of schools This editions special section covers access to student mental health support staff, mental health referral services, the connection between physical activity and mental health, and social media and mental health. Todays youth are dealing with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation and what happens at school can contribute to those issues through peer pressure and bullying, said NC Child Executive Director Erica Palmer Smith. However, what happens at school can also help alleviate the challenges young people face. We need to look at the factors contributing to the youth mental health crisis and how to best address them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the press release, there were 1,928 students for each school psychologist in 2024. Thats nearly four times the 500:1 ratio recommended by the National Association of School Psychologists. School psychologists, counselors, and social workers provide vital support for students with developmental, learning-based, and social-emotional needs, said Ries. They are often on the frontlines when it comes to prevention, intervention, supporting students in the foster care or juvenile justice system, or helping children who are at-risk. North Carolina faces a youth mental health crisis, and our school systems should be part of the solution to help address students needs, said Dr. Ellen Essick, section chief at NC Healthy Schools within the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The solutions are less about fixing students, teachers, or our schools, and more about fixing a system thats not supporting our students, teachers, and schools satisfactorily. Grade summary The report card evaluates North Carolina on 14 indicators of child health and well-being. Those indicators fall into four broad categories: secure homes and neighborhoods, access to care, healthy births, and health risk factors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below is a summary of the grades for each indicator, organized by category. Secure homes and neighborhoods F Housing and economic security F Child abuse and neglect Access to care D Oral health F School health C Health services utilization and immunizations A Insurance coverage Healthy births B Breastfeeding B Preconception and maternal health and support F Birth outcomes C Teen births Health risk factors D healthy eating and active living D Tobacco, alcohol, substance use F Mental health D Education More details about these grades and indicators can be found in the full report. According to the press release, NC Child and NCIOM hope that the key findings in the latest report card can guide parents, decision makers, school personnel, and other child health practitioners across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we know is that these grades and their impact on our states children can change for the better, said Smith. The Child Health Report Card tells us whats working and where we need to improve so that every child in North Carolina can reach their full potential. This article first appeared on EducationNC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Chinas largest container carrier on Monday lashed out at a U.S. plan to charge its ships steep fees to dock at American ports. We firmly oppose the accusations and the subsequent measures, Cosco Shipping Lines said in a statement. Such measures not only distort fair competition and impede the normal functioning of the global shipping industry, but also threaten its stable and sustainable development. Ultimately, these actions risk undermining the security, resilience, and orderly operation of global industrial and supply chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The watered-down plan for port fees was revealed Friday by the U.S. trade representative following pushback by traders and maritime stakeholders to an initial proposal for millions of dollars in flat port charges. The revised plan sets fees tied to a ships size or number of containers carried by a ship, whichever is greater. Cosco, the worlds fourth-largest container line, operates some of the biggest vessels between Asia and the United States. Its likely Cosco will feel the effects not just from the port fees but in fewer calls at U.S. ports as part of the Ocean Alliance with Chinese carrier OOCL and Evergreen of Taiwan. The charges followed an investigation by the USTR that found China had leveraged unfair trade practices to build a dominant position in global shipping and shipbuilding. Cosco in the statement denied the accusations, calling the USTR finding discriminatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a responsible global provider of shipping and logistics services, we consistently uphold the principles of integrity, transparency, and compliance in international industry competition, the statement said. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting global trade and delivering high-quality, reliable commercial shipping and logistics solutions to our clients worldwide. Cosco did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Related coverage: US plans phased approach to port fees for Chinese ships Trump trade war halts ships, strands empty containers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analyst warns of carnage on shifts in container shipping US considering making port fees more affordable for Chinese ships: Report The post Chinas Cosco says US port charges threaten global supply chains appeared first on FreightWaves. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Indonesia and China said Monday they committed to maritime cooperation promoting safety and security in the South China Sea, amid longstanding Indonesian suspicions about China's actions in waters controlled by Jakarta. The sides agreed to cooperate in infrastructure building, minerals development and joint security, the last being the most significant because of Indonesias concerns over Chinese development near the Natuna island group in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. While neither side mentioned the islands directly, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the officials agreed to further enhance their security cooperation in a comprehensive and sustainable way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will enhance law enforcement and security cooperation to jointly combat transnational (inaudible) cooperation, Wang said following the first joint meeting of foreign and defense ministers from the two sides in Beijing. We agreed that safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea is in line with the interests of all parties, and we will set up an example in maritime cooperation, Wang said, adding that the coast guards signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime security and safety. Indonesia borders the strategic waterway through which an estimated $5 trillion in world trade passes annually, but it is not formally one of the six parties that share overlapping sovereign maritime claims with China. Such disputes have raised fears of a larger conflict that could put China and the U.S. on a collision course. Despite that, China's southernmost territorial claim lies within Indonesia's 370-kilometer (200-nautical-mile) exclusive economic zone, and Indonesian security patrols routinely drive off or seize Chinese fishing boats, fueling tensions between the countries. Meanwhile, officials in Jakarta are mulling over Beijing's plans for the Natuna island chain, part of which lies inside Chinas nine-dash line, which it uses to roughly demarcate its claim to most of the South China Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese coast guard ships have escorted fishing vessels some of which have been confronted by the Indonesian coast guard while Indonesia has increased the number of patrols and size of garrisons on the hundreds of scattered islands. Last year, during a state visit by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the sides pledged to "joint maritime development" in the area, while having no effect on sovereignty claims, seemingly calming the situation somewhat. While that appeared to apply mainly to economic opportunities, Chinese Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun on Monday said the sides had also agreed to boost communication and stage joint counter-terrorism exercises later this year. The South China Sea, especially its parts lying close to Indonesia, has at times become notorious for piracy in which ships are repainted, renamed and have their electronic identities altered in the countless ports and islands in the archipelago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin largely echoed the Chinese sides' comments, underscoring their joint desire to smooth over economic and security divisions. We also agreed to stand united against terrorism, violent extremism and cyberthreats and we shared concerns over the threat of transnational crime in the region which increasingly targets our nationals, said Sugiono, who like many Indonesians uses just one name. Indonesia is also in the process of establishing a consulate in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, which has close relations with Southeast Asia, Sugiono said. Indonesias economic ties with China have flourished in recent years. China became Indonesias largest trading partner and plowed billions into major infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and Cirata, Southeast Asias largest floating solar power project, on a reservoir in West Java, 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the capital, Jakarta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disagreements have emerged over the pricing and timing for the projects, but China has been determined to follow through on them in keeping with President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road initiative to build infrastructure throughout the region. China's strategy in the South China Sea has been to deal with each claim on an individual basis while avoiding facing a united front, as well as going back on pledges such as not to militarize human-made islands in the area it controls. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Southern Theatre navy said a Philippines frigate had "illegally intruded" into the waters of Scarborough Shoal on Sunday, "seriously violating" Chinese sovereignty and laws, according to a statement. The navy monitored and drove the vessel away, it said. The navy urged the Philippine side to immediately stop the "infringement and provocation", its spokesperson said in the statement late on Sunday. The Philippine embassy in China did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue) Over the past 24 hours, on Easter, April 20, some 96 clashes were recorded on the front of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Telegram in recent information on the Russian invasion as of 8:00 Monday. This is 32% less than the day before yesterday, when 127 clashes were recorded. At the same time, the most difficult situation remains in the Pokrovsk direction in Donetsk region, where the number of clashes on Sunday was the same as on Saturday - 39. A significant reduction in enemy activity was recorded in Kharkiv region (one clash each in the Kharkiv and Kupiansk directions on Sunday versus two and seven, respectively, on Saturday) and in the Novopavlivka direction (five versus 12), while in the Siversk and Orikhiv directions there were more clashes on Sunday (three versus four, respectively, while on Saturday there were two and three). Also on Sunday, a threefold decrease in the number of attacks by the occupiers was recorded. "According to the updated information, yesterday the enemy carried out 1,882 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian units and settlements, including 33 from multiple launch rocket systems, and used 957 kamikaze drones," the General Staff reported on Monday morning. On Saturday, the enemy carried out 5,912 artillery attacks, including 115 from multiple launch rocket systems. For their part, the missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces struck only one area of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, as well as an artillery piece of the enemy, over the past day. On Saturday, the Defense Forces struck 15 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, three UAV control points, two air defense systems, five missile and artillery pieces of the Russian invaders. By Liz Lee and Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Monday accused Washington of abusing tariffs and warned countries against striking a broader economic deal with the United States at its expense, ratcheting up its rhetoric in a spiralling trade war between the world's two biggest economies. Beijing will firmly oppose any party striking a deal at China's expense and "will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner," its Commerce Ministry said. The ministry was responding to a Bloomberg report, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the Trump administration is preparing to pressure nations seeking tariff reductions or exemptions from the U.S. to curb trade with China, including imposing monetary sanctions. President Donald Trump paused the sweeping tariffs he announced on dozens of countries on April 2 except those on China, singling out the world's second largest economy for the biggest levies. In a series of moves, Washington has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, prompting Beijing to slap retaliatory duties of 125% on U.S. goods. Last week, China signalled that its own across-the-board rates would not rise further. "The United States has abused tariffs on all trading partners under the banner of so-called 'equivalence', while also forcing all parties to start so-called 'reciprocal tariffs' negotiations with them," the ministry spokesperson said. China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests, and is willing to strengthen solidarity with all parties, the ministry said. "The fact is, nobody wants to pick a side," said Bo Zhengyuan, partner at China-based policy consultancy Plenum. "If countries have high reliance on China in terms of investment, industrial infrastructure, technology know-how and consumption, I don't think they'll be buying into U.S. demands. Many Southeast Asian countries belong to this category." Pursuing a hardline stance, Beijing will this week convene an informal United Nations Security Council meeting to accuse Washington of bullying and "casting a shadow over the global efforts for peace and development" by weaponizing tariffs. Earlier this month, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said nearly 50 countries have approached him to discuss the steep additional tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Several bilateral talks on tariffs have taken place since, with Japan considering raising soybean and rice imports as part of its talks with the U.S. while Indonesia is planning to increase U.S. food and commodities imports and reduce orders from other nations. April 21 (UPI) -- China says it will retaliate against other countries who work with the United States in any way that could compromise its interests. A Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said Monday in a press conference that it expects other countries should "stand on the side of fairness and justice, one the side of historical correctness," and should defend economic and trade rules when it comes to negotiations with the United States. The spokesperson called out the United States for having "abused" tariffs on all its trading partners, in reference to the tariffs levied by President Donald Trump on April 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China called Trump tariffs "unilateral bullying," and that "appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot be respected." It also opposes any country that makes a trade deal with the United States and will "resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner" against any country who does. The warning comes as the Trump administration will allegedly ask for limits on trade with China when it negotiates tariffs with other nations. Trump raised the levy on Chinese goods to 145% in April. China responded with tariffs of its own, and also filed a lawsuit against the United States with the World Trade Organization. Beijing has threatened to punish countries that appease Donald Trump in trade deals while hurting Chinas interests. Chinas commerce ministry said it will firmly oppose any nation striking a deal at its expense, and will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner. The warning follows reports that the US president will pressure nations, including the EU and UK, into restricting their trade with China in exchange for tariff exemptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has retaliated to Mr Trumps tariffs of 145pc by hitting US imports with levies of 125pc, effectively halting trade between the two countries. The US president paused the wave of tariffs he imposed on all countries on liberation day April 2, with the exception of China, singling out the worlds second largest economy. A spokesman for the ministry said: China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of Chinas interests. If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner. China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appeasement will not bring peace, and compromise will not be respected. To seek ones own temporary selfish interests at the expense of others interests is to seek the skin of a tiger. As part of trade negotiations with the US, it is understood that countries will be urged by Mr Trump to block cheap Chinese imports and prevent Chinese firms from expanding to their territory, as well as shipments passing through their countries. The warning is a test for Britains loyalties to the US, as Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, prepares to visit Washington this week to discuss a trade deal with officials from the Trump administration. It is hoped that a trade deal between the UK and the US could be agreed within weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in an interview with The Telegraph on Friday, Ms Reeves rejected Mr Trumps attempt to isolate Chinas economy. She voiced her support for strengthening ties with Beijing, adding that it would be very foolish for Britain to disengage with the country. Ms Reeves said: China is the second biggest economy in the world, and it would be, I think, very foolish to not engage. Thats the approach of this Government. The Chancellor also suggested that she would back Shein, the Chinese fast fashion giant, in its attempts to float on the London Stock Exchange. As part of her Washington trip, the Chancellor will have her first face-to-face meeting with Scott Bessent, Mr Trumps treasury secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is also scheduled to meet G20 and G7 finance ministers in Washington and attend the International Monetary Fund annual summit. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. China has warned countries against striking trade deals with the U.S. at its expense to secure relief from President Donald Trumps tariffs, threatening retaliation against those that do. As the trade war between the worlds two largest economies escalates, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce promised to retaliate against any country that reaches an agreement with the U.S. that limits its trade with China. The U.S. tariffs against other countries are economic bullying, the ministry said in a statement attributed to an unnamed spokesperson, translated by the Associated Press. China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of Chinas interests, the Chinese government said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner. China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests. The statement came in response to media reports that the Trump administration planned to pressure nations seeking tariff reductions as a negotiating tactic to encourage them to curb trade with China. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce promised to retaliate against any country that reaches an agreement with the U.S. that limits its trade with China (AFP via Getty Images) Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot win respect, China warned. For ones own temporary selfish interests, sacrificing the interests of others in exchange for so-called exemptions is like seeking the skin from a tiger. It will ultimately only fail on both ends and harm others without benefiting themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move by China comes after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 percent, prompting Beijing to slap retaliatory duties of 125 percent on American-made goods. The United States has abused tariffs on all trading partners under the banner of so-called equivalence, while also forcing all parties to start so-called reciprocal tariffs negotiations with them, the Chinese ministry statement continued. China has said its open to talks with Washington, but no meetings have been announced. The warning from China comes as Vice President JD Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with both welcoming significant progress in the negotiations for a U.S.-India Bilateral Trade Agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They formally announced the finalization of the terms of reference for the negotiations, laying down a roadmap for further discussions about shared economic priorities, according to Vances office. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets U.S. Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance and their children at his residence in New Delhi (via REUTERS) Also on Monday, major retailers met with the president to discuss the impact of broad-based tariffs on their businesses, a White House official told Reuters. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed an earlier Bloomberg report stating that the meeting at the White House will include representatives from Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's and Target. Large U.S. retailers, particularly Walmart and Target, import a significant percentage of their goods from overseas, and the tariffs are expected to increase the cost of consumer goods for Americans in the coming months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps chaotic rollout and pause in the implementation of tariffs on U.S. trading partners have spooked exporters, panicked importers, and stalled shipments, while threatening to drag down the global economy. With reporting from wire services China warned other countries against striking new trade deals with the U.S. that might come at the expense of Beijings economic interests, as tensions resulting from President Trumps tariff policies against the country rise. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Monday it would retaliate against any party that reaches a deal that comes at the expense of Chinese interests, multiple media outlets reported. China said it will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner, according to Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese embassy to the U.S. did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Hill. The unilateral imposition of additional tariffs was entirely initiated by the U.S. side, the Commerce Ministry said in a Friday social media post. We urge the U.S. to immediately cease its maximum-pressure tactics. After pausing its April 2 Liberation Day tariffs on dozens of countries, the Trump administration left its Chinese tariffs in place. While it has announced some exemptions to those import taxes, such as those on electronics maker Apple, which has deeply integrated Chinese supply chains, the overall level remains at 145 percent. Administration officials have said theyre fielding negotiations requests for updated trade deals with dozens of countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this month that the administration is going to negotiate with as many as 70 countries following the announcement of U.S. reciprocal tariffs, which were initially left in place for only a day. Trump has put that number at more than 75. We can approach China as a group, Bessent said. China and the U.S. have dug their heels in on bilateral trade negotiations, with both parties refusing to come to the table. In a series of moves, Trump increased tariffs on the country from 54 percent to 104 percent and finally to 145 percent. At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable, Trump said in an April 9 social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it would stand its ground against U.S. tariffs to the end. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BEIJING (AP) China on Monday warned other countries against making trade deals with the United States to Chinas detriment. Governments including those of Taiwan, Japan and South Korea have begun negotiations with Washington after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs against almost all of Americas trading partners on April 2. The import taxes were quickly paused against most countries after markets panicked, but he increased his already steep tariffs against China. China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of Chinas interests, China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement. If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner. China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this month the countries currently negotiating trade deals with the U.S. should approach China as a group together with Washington. The U.S. tariffs against other countries are economic bullying, the ministry said in the statement attributed to an unnamed spokesperson. Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot win respect, it added. For ones own temporary selfish interests, sacrificing the interests of others in exchange for so-called exemptions is like seeking the skin from a tiger. It will ultimately only fail on both ends and harm others without benefiting themselves. China said its open to talks with Washington but no meetings have been announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump made China the target of his steepest tariffs, imposing several rounds of tariffs totaling 145% duties on Chinese imports. Beijing has retaliated with tariffs of 125% on U.S. imports. The tariffs have spooked exporters and stalled shipments, while threatening to drag on the global economy. China is cautioning other nations not to capitulate to the United States as President Donald Trumps trade wars rage on. A spokesperson for the China Ministry of Commerce on Monday told media outlets at a press briefing that the U.S. has abused tariffs on all its trading partners under the banner of so-called reciprocity, a pursuit they referred to as hegemonic politics and unilateral bullying. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot be respected, they added. To seek so-called exemptions at the expense of others interests for ones own temporary selfish interests is to seek the skin of a tiger, which will ultimately fail on both ends and harm others without benefiting oneself. The news comes several days after Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni traveled to Washington with the intent of brokering a deal with the president on Italys behalf and smoothing tensions between the U.S. and the European trade bloc more broadly. While the spokesperson said that Chinas government respects the will of other countries to resolve their trade disputes with the U.S. directly, it also believes they should defend international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system. China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, alleging that Washington is flouting the trade bodys rules through the indiscriminate levying of duties and a failure to negotiate in good faith. The country is undoubtedly seeking to deepen its trade ties with other partners and has been making overtures in recent weeks, with leaders even meeting with officials from Korea and Japan for the first time in five years in the interest of strengthening collaboration. However, the Ministry spokesperson on Monday issued a warning to China trade partners across the globe: any deal that another nation makes with the U.S. to the detriment of China will be met with retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner, they said. China has long been the subject of Trumps ire, inspiring the president to implement punishing Section 301 duties during his first term that raised tariffs on a multitude of itemsincluding apparel and footwearby up to 25 percent. At the time, Trump cited issues like currency manipulation, forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft and other non-competitive practices as the reason for his attempts to force a de-coupling from the sourcing superpower. But, in Chinas estimation, No one can remain immune to the impact of unilateralism and protectionism. Free trade should reign, the spokesperson intimated, and is wholly focused on bolstering its relationships with other trading partners to guard against unfairness perpetuated by Washington. China is willing to strengthen solidarity and coordination with all parties, work together to resist unilateral bullying, safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, and defend international fairness and justice, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its government is signaling an unwillingness to back down (or even engage further in the tit-for-tat escalation of tariffs the Trump administration has engaged in over the past month), theres strong evidence that the trade war is already taking a toll on the countrys most prominent and lucrative businesses. According to a report from Japan-based news outlet Nikkei Asia, a number of garment workshops in Guangzhou, Chinawhich have been collectively nicknamed Shein Villageare shuttering as the ultra-fast-fashion e-tailer contends with the loss of business that will come with price hikes and the closure of the de minimis loophole. Under the trade provision, hundreds of thousands of small Shein parcels, many worth $50 or less, have been entering the U.S. duty free. But the machines have sputtered to a stop in recent weeksand even finished garments lie in piles, unable to be shipped to American shoppers without incurring massive taxes that will enter into force on May 2. One worker at a factory with around 20 employees told Nikkei, Orders from Shein have fallen this year, and our sales are down by a lot. For most U.S. shoppers who frequent Sheins e-commerce site or shop on its ultra-popular app, a $100 surcharge on a haul of $12 sundresses is an untenable prospect, completely undermining the platforms appeal. Knowing this, last week, Shein released a statement urging shoppers to get their orders in before the company is forced to raise its prices to account for the double whammy of a 145-percent duty burden and the loss of the de minimis exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up. To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025, the company said in a notice to consumers. Notably, though, the price increases imposed by Shein wont cover the Customs costsconsumersthe importers of record for direct-to-consumer shipmentswill foot those bills themselves. Multiple users on Reddit attested to this, having experienced it firsthand during the ultra-brief pause on de minimis shipments from China implemented by the Trump administration in February. Shein shoppers reported receiving notices from shipping providers like FedEx and DHL alerting them to unpaid Customs duties, and they were directed to pay those fees through a web link in order for their shipments to be released. Unfortunately, as an American, were very used to ignoring things we dont like and have this false sense of power over things we actually dont have control over. This isnt going to be so simple as looking away and pretending the tariff fee doesnt exist, or holding onto false hope that your specific package will just barely avoid being taxed, one user wrote in the Shein subreddit. Order with the assumption that you WILL be taxed, not that you wont. Be aware, be prepared, and make the best decision for your finances. BEIJING (Reuters) -China's foreign minister said on Monday that China and Indonesia should oppose "any form" of unilateralism and trade protectionism at a press conference on Monday. The two sides should jointly accelerate regional economic integration and maintain the stability of industrial chain and supply chain, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. The press conference came after Wang and China's Defence Minister Dong Jun chaired a meeting with their Indonesian counterparts in Beijing on Monday. (Reporting by Yukun Zhang, Shi Bu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Jamie Freed) Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the SBU have completed a pre-trial investigation into officials of one of the military units of the Kyiv region and three private entrepreneurs who organized the supply of low-quality first-aid kits for Ukrainian defenders. "The indictments have been sent to court," the SBI press service reports. As the investigation established, in 2022 the military unit concluded three contracts with entrepreneurs for the supply of 8,690 individual first-aid kits. During May-September, the first-aid kits were delivered, but had significant shortcomings. According to the conclusions of the examination, the first-aid kits did not meet the established standards, did not contain mandatory components, and some of the drugs were of inadequate quality. The use of such products could pose a threat to the life and health of servicemen. The responsible officials - the warehouse chief and the storage chief - did not ensure proper quality control of medical supplies. Due to the supply of low-quality products, the state suffered losses of more than 18 million hryvnias. The entrepreneurs are accused of fraud committed on an especially large scale (Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The military officials are accused of neglect of duty, which caused grave consequences in conditions of martial law (Part 4 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanctions of the articles provide for a penalty of imprisonment for a term of up to eight years. To ensure compensation for the losses caused, the court imposed an arrest on the property of the persons involved in the case. Chinese nationals have been increasingly attempting to smuggle military equipment and dual-use goods out of Russia, often using international postal services, Russian state-controlled media Izvestia reported on April 21, citing undisclosed sources. The incidents reportedly concern body armor, tactical gear, and other military apparel that are then studied and replicated using cheaper materials before being resold abroad. The news comes as China becomes increasingly involved in the Russian war against Ukraine. While Beijing officially denies supplying arms to Moscow, it has become a major supplier of dual-use goods since the onset of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 17 that Chinese exports to Russia also include weapons, making the accusation only days after saying that hundreds of Chinese nationals fight against Ukraine in the Russian military. China has denied any involvement in the war. Russian law enforcement reportedly detained a Chinese citizen in Moscow in mid-April, accusing him of mailing two tactical vests, including a Ratnik load-bearing vest and another modular design. The gear was seized, and further investigation linked the individual to several prior shipments of similar equipment to China, according to an unnamed source cited by Izvestia. Among the seized items were standard-issue 6B45 body armor, additional Ratnik systems, and combat backpacks all of which are classified as military goods under Russian export law. A 2022 Russian government decree prohibits the export of such items without a license, citing national security concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2024, a 27-year-old Chinese student in Moscow was arrested for allegedly storing military gear, including body armor and ballistic plates, in a university dormitory. The student claimed the items were legally purchased through online classifieds. The Russian news outlet reported that incidents of Chinese citizens attempting to smuggle Russian military-related goods have increased since 2022. In one of the first known cases, a Chinese national was convicted in the fall of that year for attempting to export sensitive sensors and sentenced to three years in a penal colony. A source familiar with the military gear market allegedly told Izvestia that the demand for counterfeit or reverse-engineered military equipment remains high, particularly due to pricing disparities and loopholes in international shipping platforms. Some of the replicas have allegedly appeared on Ukrainian battlefields. Counterfeit versions of Russian tactical equipment are regularly seen on fallen Ukrainian soldiers in the combat zone, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruslan Shapiev, CEO of defense contractor RUSARM, told the outlet that some of the smuggling cases might be linked to industrial espionage or foreign intelligence services. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims at the time of publication. While Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed to be neutral in the war, China strengthened its economic and technological ties with Russia, provided key materials for defense manufacturing, and saw some of its citizens join Russias armed forces. Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Donetsk Oblast. One of them reportedly said he paid about $3,500 to a middleman in China in exchange for Russian citizenship and military enlistment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has not publicly commented on the recent smuggling allegations. Read also: Everything we heard from Russians was a lie Chinese fighters captured by Ukraine speak out Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Chinese citizens have begun actively smuggling body armour, tactical backpacks, military uniforms and other equipment from Russia to study them and manufacture cheaper replicas. Source: Russian propaganda outlet Izvestia, citing law enforcement sources Details: One of the sources stated: "There has been an increase in the number of illegal operations related to the export of military and dual-use goods". Various loopholes are used for this, particularly in postal services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Moscow Times reported that in mid-April, law enforcement in Moscow detained a Chinese national immediately after he posted two load-bearing vests, including a Ratnik model with a 6Sh117 patrol backpack. It was later revealed that the same individual had previously shipped two 6B45 general-purpose body armours, combat backpacks and other military gear to China. In December last year, another Chinese student was detained in Moscow for smuggling military equipment. The 27-year-old was keeping body armours, bullet casings, armour plates and other gear in his university dormitory. During interrogation, he claimed to have legally purchased all the items on classified advertisement websites. Background: Russias financial monitoring agency, Rosfinmonitoring, is set to start forming a registry of "suspicious" cryptocurrency wallets belonging to Russian citizens by adding "digital currency address identifiers". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! ASHLAND, Ky. (FOX 56) Its official. Two Kentucky natives are set to headline the worlds largest recovery-based music festival. After five years in West Virginia, Healing Appalachia announced its move to Kentucky for 2025. The festival will kick off on Sept. 19 on a mountaintop near the Boyd County Fairgrounds in Ashland. Healing Appalachia 2025 brings hope to the bluegrass: New location, same mission Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are thrilled that the Healing Appalachia team is taking a chance on Boyd County, Kentucky for 2025, said Andrew Steele, Executive Director of Boyd County Tourism. The mission behind the festival is so impactful for our region, and we are excited to show off what Team Kentucky support looks like from local entities all the way up to the state level! On Monday, April 21, Healing Appalachia announced that Tyler Childers will return alongside Chris Stapleton to headline. 2025 will mark the first year Stapleton will make an appearance and Childers fifth consecutive headline slot. Tyler Childers returns to Healing Appalachia for the fifth consecutive year (Healing Appalachia) Two sons of the Country Music Highway come home to help us heal Appalachia, organizers wrote. We cant wait to show you what else weve got in store. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It began as a small show for 1,500 people at the West Virginia State Fairgrounds and quickly became a cornerstone for music lovers, garnering nearly 20,000 attendees from 49 states and three countries. The Appalachian region took a hard hit amid the opioid epidemic, and Healing Appalachia works to bring resources to give Appalachians a new lease on life. Founded and hosted by Lawrence Countys Tyler Childers and his team at Whizzbang BAM, Healing Appalachia has generated more than $5 million over the years. The full 2025 lineup hasnt been released yet, and tickets are on sale now. Click here for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Christians from all over Ashtabula County celebrated Easter morning with music, scripture, sermons and food. An early morning interdenominational sonrise service took place on Andover Square, with more that 60 people in attendance. Justin Dye provided the message, going back in history to the 1960s when musicians Bill and Gloria Gaither were starting a musical ministry, which provided songs that connected with their love of Jesus Christ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the Gaithers wrote in response to a unique time in American history, where young people were breaking away from societal norms, drug use was on the rise and political discord was rampant. We can all have hope into the future because of Jesus Christ, Dye said of the difference the resurrection made more than 2000 years ago, providing freedom from sin and death. In Jefferson, Rev. Jeremy Roseberry, pastor of Jefferson United Methodist Church, played his saxophone and drew people into the Easter message while standing in front of the church for the sunrise service. We gather in the early morning of your resurrection, Roseberry said in a responsive reading with his parishioners. Today we realize that joy comes from our grieving, he said of the time spent reflecting on the Good Friday crucifixion, followed by the Easter morning experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At First Covenant Church in Saybrook Township, Ed Pickard led a breakfast discussion on the varying Gospel accounts of the resurrection. He presented a series of points that help explain seeming inconsistencies in the four Gospels recounting of the event. Hundreds of people heard the last local message by Father John Keehner, who will soon take over as bishop for the Sioux City, Iowa diocese. It was kind of teary at the end of Mass, Keehner said of his reaction to his final time leading worship in Ashtabula. He said he felt sadness as well as excitement regarding his new calling. He said Father Connor Hetzel will be leading the parish, with Rev. Francis Muriithi coming to serve as well. EGGERTSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) Many Western New Yorkers gathered at local churches to celebrate joy and hope during Sundays Easter church services. This is the day. This is what its all about. Its what we set our calendar around, said Pastor Steve Biegner from St. Pauls Lutheran Church. Western New York has been sacrificing doing different things, eating fish fries for 40-plus days. It all comes down to this day. For Christians, Easter Sunday represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its a day filled with joy, promise and hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its about reminding ourselves that in the midst of a fairly crazy uncertain world sometimes, theres one certain thing we can be assured about and thats how much God loves us, Biegner said. St. Pauls was packed with people dressed in their Sunday best to celebrate. Everybodys got a little more joy in their step, unless you went to a sunrise service, then its a little harder to get up for, Biegner said. Hundreds of Catholics woke up before the sunrise to attend a special service at the Newman Center at the University at Buffalo. It reminds us in one of the gospels where it says, Early in the morning the women came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, said Rev. Roy Herberger. We say no matter how early it may be, we really want to have that sense (of) being the first to celebrate the joy of Easter. Latest Local News Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Catholics around the world are mourning Pope Francis. Here in Charlotte, Catholics gathered for Monday mass and told Channel 9 why theyre sad and still hopeful for the churchs future. It was a shock. My wife was listening to the radio and she said she thought the Pope had died, parishioner Pat McLaughlin said. Hes been attending St. Gabriel Church on Providence Road for two decades. ALSO READ: Pope Francis dies: Vatican releases cause of death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLaughlin said the news was unexpected after the Pope made appearances on Easter Sunday. I dont think they were expecting him to die, especially after he got out of the hospital and was making an appearance and things like that, so it was pretty shocking, McLaughlin said. Pope Francis leadership and legacy, a controversial one for some, but not Charlottes Bishop Michael Martin. Francis appointed him to the position last year and they met in September. He was very off-the-cuff. We were together for about 90 minutes and in various moments he was very serious, talking about topics of incredible importance. And then moments later, in a discussion about something different, was laughing and joking, Bishop Martin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin said his parishioners will have a chance to honor and mourn the pope on Wednesday night at St. Marks Church in Huntersville. A mass to pray for the church will take place there at 7 p.m. He called on the church to be a church that listens in a time where, and in a world where listening is hard to find, Bishop Martin said. McLaughlin told Channel 9, Now its gonna be sort of a question of who is going to take his place? The Bishop said the Charlotte Diocese will continue to honor the Pope by taking part in the Catholic Churchs period of mourning. ALSO READ: Pope Francis dies: World reacts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday night, several Catholics gathered inside the St. Patrick Cathedral in Dilworth in honor of Pope Francis. How beautiful it is that his last sort of public act was to give the world his blessing for Easter, Kelly Schiffiano told Channel 9. I really loved the way Pope Francis talked a lot about mercy. Right after he was elected Pope, he instituted a year of mercy, and I think that our world needs a lot of mercy and to focus on Gods love for all of us. Often referred to as the peoples Pope, Gloria Felten said he will remain just that in her eyes. And now that he has passed away, he will always be in our prayers, Felten expressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schiffiano said she wants Pope Francis legacy to be remembered as one of compassion. As someone who loved Jesus and inspired others to love Jesus and to show mercy to your fellow man, Schiffiano explained. The diocese covers the western half of North Carolina, Chandler said, and includes more than 530,000 Catholics, 93 churches, 20 schools, and more than 50 ministries. SIMILAR COVERAGE: Jimmy Carter finds life-long friend during humanitarian visit to Charlotte Francis was a "great pope," said Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference Georg Batzing shortly after the pontiff's death on Monday. He was a "courageous renewer of the Church's mission," Batzing said. "In deep mourning, we bow before a pope who was committed to being among the people and going to the margins of society." Pope Francis set clear priorities in the Church and opened up new ways of working together, he said. "The path of a synodal church that he initiated is and will remain irreversible with the two General Assemblies of the World Synod in 2023 and 2024." Pope Francis brought people together as a "bridge-builder," he said. Pope Francis gives his blessing to the faithful during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Vatican Media/IPA via ZUMA Press/dpa Pope Francis leaves St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, after meeting with recently-married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Aaron Chown/PA Wire/dpa Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Danny Lawson/PA Wire/dpa Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on College Green, as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Joe Giddens/PA Wire/dpa Advertisement Advertisement BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) In light of child abuse prevention month, a McLean County woman makes it her mission to aid kids moving through the countys court system with support. We are really able to be a stable, consistent person in their journey, said Kelly Schwamberger, CASA volunteer in McLean County. For the last four years, Schwamberger advocates and supports children as she volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for McLean County. The organization has existed for 30 years and has provided services to more than 3,900 children. In 2024, there were 114 active volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said this work can change generations for the better. Learn more about CASA Become a CASA volunteer In the world today, theres a lot of hard stuff that we feel its out of our control to do anything to change, but this is a way that we can make an impact in our community by walking alongside a family or a child and really seeing an outcome that changes perhaps generations, said Schwamberger. This month, she was nominated for the Illinois CASA Volunteer Advocate of the Year Award. Her supervisor said hes impressed by her dedication and commitment. Shes very coordinated, said Jeff Ehrmantraut. She is very vocal on what she likes and what she advocates for the kids and shes on top of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes also the co-founder of Allies Against Trafficking, which highlights human trafficking right here at home. CASA program expands into Logan County We want to bring knowledge and awareness of human trafficking here in McLean County and then also prevention by providing education and how people can be groomed and scenarios what they really look like, not what TV and movies make it seem like, said Schwamberger. She received the Bronze Award for the Presidents Volunteer Service Award. This distinction followed 140 hours of service for 2024. You can see a child thrive in their area, said Schwamberger. It is beneficial to is a case when you can have eyes on the situation, maybe identify something that a child needs, and get that service for them or help them get over that difficult parts. I really hope is that someone that sees this will think inside, this is maybe something that I can do. Theyll either look for some more information or volunteer and become a CASA. Thats what thats the outcome that I want. Upcoming Recruitment Event for CASA of McLean & Logan Counties Lincoln Public Library | 725 Pekin St, Lincoln, IL 62656 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 23rd | 11:30am-2:00pm Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Greater Cincinnati Catholics responded to the death of Pope Francis on Monday with expressions of grief and tributes to his accomplishments. Cincinnati Archbishop Robert Casey, who became the leader of the local church just weeks ago, reminded his fellow Catholics that Pope Francis had declared 2025 a Jubilee Year of Hope and urged them to follow his example of service to others. "May we, then, be filled with hope," Casey said. "Hope that Pope Francis will receive the reward of a life poured out in selfless service and love for Gods people and all creation; hope that Christ, who comforts us in our mourning, will send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper; and hope that this same Spirit will inspire and unite us as the Church to stand firm in faith, proclaiming the power of the Resurrection and the joy of the Gospel." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey's predecessor, retired Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, remembered Pope Francis for his "great compassion for the elderly, the sick, the unborn, the persecuted and all those on the margins of society." "He continuously reminded us that we are the stewards of Gods creation and not its master," Schnurr said. "And he was an unwavering champion of world peace. After a life dedicated to proclaiming the Good News of our Lords saving love for us, may Pope Francis now inherit the reward of eternal rest with God. Though Pope Francis never visited Cincinnati or Ohio during his 12 years as leader of the world's 1 billion Catholics, he made an impact here with his appeals for young people to get more involved in the work of the church and his efforts to make the church more responsive to the needs of the poor. Early in his papacy, he urged young Catholics to "make a mess," meaning they should seek opportunities to shake up the church in positive ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Make a mess, but then help to tidy it up," Pope Francis said at a rally in Paraguay in 2015. "A mess which gives us a free heart, a mess which gives us solidarity, a mess which gives us hope." The pope also spoke often about the need for a more equitable world, one that allows all people, regardless of their income or status, to survive and thrive. He once described unchecked capitalism as "the dung of the devil" and urged individuals and governments to use their power to help those who need it most, rather than pursue riches for themselves. His criticisms sometimes put him at odds with Ohio politicians. Those on the left welcomed his softening of the church's stance on same-sex relationships, as when he gave priests permission to bless same-sex couples. But they were disappointed by his continued commitment to the church's opposition to gay marriage and women priests. Those on the right objected at times to the pope's criticisms of capitalism, his call for action on climate change and his support for a nuclear accord with Iran. In 2015, then-House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican who grew up in Reading, Ohio, welcomed Pope Francis when he addressed a joint meeting of Congress even though the pontiff had taken positions opposing the priorities of the GOP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boehner, a Catholic, was happy to look past those differences during the pope's visit. "He's not afraid to take on the status quo or not afraid to say what he really thinks," Boehner told The New York Times in 2015. "And I can tell you this: I'm not about to get myself into an argument with the pope. So I'm sure the pope will have things to say that people will find interesting, and I'm looking forward to his visit." In a statement Monday, Boehner recalled Pope Francis's humility when they met in 2015. He said the pope asked, "Speaker, will you pray for me?" "With those words, Pope Francis changed my life," Boehner said in a post on social media. "He will forever hold a place in America's history as the first Pope to address a joint session of the US Congress, and in hearts across the world for his compassionate stewardship of the Church." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope's interactions with U.S. politicians weren't always so agreeable. Earlier this year, Pope Francis indirectly rebuked Vice President JD Vance, a Middletown, Ohio, native and former Ohio senator, for comments Vance made about Catholic theology while defending actions taken by President Donald Trump. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, suggested Christians who opposed Trump's immigration and economic policies should consider the meaning of "ordo amoris," or "order of love," which he said puts family and country above the Christian obligation to help others. Pope Francis, in a letter to U.S. bishops in February, said Vance got it wrong. "Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups," the pope wrote. He suggested the better definition of ordo amoris comes from studying the parable of the "Good Samaritan," which teaches that love "builds a fraternity open to all, without exception." Vance, who had a brief private meeting with the pope on Easter Sunday, did not challenge Pope Francis's take on ordo amoris and, in early March, he led the audience at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in praying for the ailing pope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the Holy Father can hear us, I hope he knows that there are thousands of faithful Catholics in this room and millions of faithful Catholics in this country who are praying for him as he weathers this particular storm," Vance said. On Monday, hours after the pope's death, Vance reflected on his meeting with the pope a day earlier. "My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," Vance wrote in a post on the social media platform X. "I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Pope Francis' death prompts mourning, praise from Cincinnati Catholics KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44) Early Voting for the City of Killeens general election will begin Tuesday, April 22, with Election Day being on Saturday, May 3. The city says four district seats are on their respective ballot, and one of the four is unopposed. Only voters who live in each district can vote for that districts representative. For a list of candidates, polling locations, sample ballots, notices, an interactive district map and other election items, you can visit www.KilleenTexas.gov/Election. Residents are encouraged to use the district map to confirm in which district they reside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early Voting for the City of Killeen general election is scheduled until Friday, April 25 and again on April 28-29. Early Voting times will be held 8 a.m. 5 p.m. each day and from 7 a.m. 7 p.m. on April 22 and April 29. Voters can use any of the following Early Voting locations to cast ballots for any district: Killeen City Hall (101 North College Street) Jackson Professional Learning Center (902 Rev. R A Abercrombie Drive) Lions Club Park Senior Center (1700-B, East Stan Schlueter Loop) The city says polls will be open from 7 a.m. 7 p.m. on May 3. Early Voting totals will be posted shortly after 7 p.m., and the unofficial final results (Early Voting and Election Day tabulation) will post as soon as possible on Saturday evening after polls close. City Hall will not be open on May 3. On May 13, the results will be canvassed and an oath of office will be conducted, along with all standard ceremonial election practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City of Killeen elections for City Council district members are held in May of each odd year. Elections for mayor and City Council at-large members are held in May of each even year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. China's AG600 large amphibious aircraft obtains type certificate 08:05, April 21, 2025 By Hu Tao, Quan Xiaoshu, Tian Jianchuan ( Xinhua BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- China's independently developed AG600 large amphibious firefighting aircraft on Sunday obtained its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in Beijing, marking its successful development and approval to enter the market. It is a milestone of China's development capabilities in the large special-purpose aircraft sector and the civil aircraft manufacturing industry, said the aircraft developer Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country's leading aircraft manufacturer. AG600 is China's first large civil special-purpose aircraft developed in accordance with the requirements of the civil aviation airworthiness regulations. It is a type of major aeronautical equipment developed to meet the urgent needs of the national emergency rescue system and the national natural disaster prevention and control system, safeguarding the safety of people's lives and property. AG600 is the world's largest civil amphibious aircraft regarding takeoff weight. Its successful development also fills China's gap in the large-sized amphibious aircraft sector, according to the AVIC. Its size is slightly larger than that of the mainstream single-aisle airliners currently in the market. It has a length of 38.9 meters, a height of 11.7 meters, and a wingspan of 38.8 meters, according to data from the developer. AG600 has a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tonnes, with a maximum practical range of 4,500 kilometers. Notably, it can carry as much as 12 tonnes of water for fire-fighting missions. "Its obtaining of the type certificate issued by the CAAC manifests that China can independently develop the world's latest generation of large civil amphibious aircraft," AG600 series aircraft chief designer Huang Lingcai told Xinhua at an exclusive interview. China's vast territory features diverse and complex terrain, which requires a large special-purpose aircraft capable of serving firefighting and other emergency rescue missions nationwide. "AG600 is a plane that can swim and a ship that can fly," said Huang. It features a unique configuration consisting of an integrated aircraft-shaped upper body and a ship-bottom-shaped lower body. On each side of its huge wing, there is a float over 4 meters long to prevent the aircraft from overturning sideways during its taxiing on the water surface to ensure safety. AG600 has a minimum level flight speed of 220 km per hour, a minimum operating flight altitude of 30 to 50 meters above the treetops, and a designed service ceiling of 7,600 meters above sea level, according to data from the developer. It can fly slowly at low altitudes and at a slow speed over a forest fire scene to help extinguish the fire by dropping a large amount of water. According to Huang, its development was combined with the requirements of large aircraft, its waterborne characteristics, and its domestic production. The complexity of its development, tests and verification makes AG600 a "tough nut to crack" in the history of the country's civil aircraft manufacturing and airworthiness certification sectors. "Its successful development marked a great collaboration and breakthrough, attributed to the country's new system concentrating nationwide effort and resources on key national sci-tech undertakings," said Huang. A total of 22 Chinese cities and provinces, 292 enterprises and public institutions, and 16 universities nationwide participated in the AG600 aircraft development, enabling the aircraft to have all of its airframe structure, engines, and key systems independently developed in China. Since its development was initiated in 2009, the AG600 aircraft has gone through a development process over 15 years. AG600 successfully completed its maiden flight in 2017, the first take-off from a reservoir in 2018, and the maiden flight over the sea in 2020. In 2023, AG600 was capable of carrying out fire-fighting tasks. The AG600 aircraft has accumulated innovative practices in standards and technologies for China's civil aircraft airworthiness certification sector, according to the AVIC. It set a new performance record for the flight test sector of China's self-developed civil aircraft. Also, it has established Chinese independent compliance verification methods and certification standards, especially for large civil amphibious aircraft. The AVIC disclosed that it is endeavoring to obtain the production certificate for the AG600 aircraft by the end of August and realize its delivery in October this year. Looking ahead, the AVIC is committed to boosting the continuous upgrading and serialized development of the AG600 aircraft family and promoting the operational capabilities of the country's aeronautical emergency rescue equipment, the AVIC said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A 48-year-old Chinese citizen who was injured in a bus accident in Vinnytsia region on Sunday has died in hospital, the Vinnytsia regional police told Interfax-Ukraine. "A Chinese citizen died yesterday while receiving medical care," the regional department of the National Police told the agency on Monday. The accident involving a Scania bus occurred on April 20 at 10:44 on the highway between the villages of Horai and Privitne in the region. As a result of the accident, seven bus passengers, including an eight-year-old child and a 48-year-old foreigner, a Chinese citizen, received injuries, five of whom were hospitalized. According to media reports, a foreigner and a child were among those hospitalized. A Chinese citizen received very severe cuts from broken glass. According to preliminary information from the investigation, the 64-year-old bus driver, a citizen of Moldova, allowed the vehicle to slide into a ditch. Criminal proceedings have been opened under Part 1 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Violation of road traffic safety rules or transport operation by persons driving vehicles). (KRON) The City of San Jose is schedule to clear dozens of RVs from the street in in San Joses Alviso neighborhood at 7 a.m. Monday to make way for a new Microsoft data center at 1657 Alviso-Milpitas road. Abatement notices lined the street Sunday as the city prepares for a mass eviction. The sweep is the City of San Joses latest crackdown on homeless residents. Some advocates were seen helping residents move their RVs ahead of Mondays cleanup. KRON4s Jack Molmud reports that many of the homeless people living on Alviso-Milpitas Road have nowhere to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GoFundMe pages made for families affected by deadly Marin County crash San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan defended the citys response to homelessness Sunday. San Jose is one of the only cities in the region making real, sustained investments in safe parking, shelter beds, and policies that bring people indoors we reserve the right to enforce our city ordinances to ensure that public parks and streets are clean, safe, and accessible for the entire public, Mahan said. When neighboring cities pass punitive policies without real alternatives, theyre not solving the crisis theyre exporting it. We need a regional approach grounded in both compassion and accountability. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now) People who live in Western Maryland are still picking up the pieces after a severe thunderstorm rolled through the region, knocking out power and pushing down trees Saturday night. The hurricane-force wind gusts hit 75 mph around 10 p.m. on April 19 at the Hagerstown Regional Airport. On Saturday night, First Energy Corp. reported that about 24,000 Maryland customers lost power, and about 30,000 customers in West Virginia also lost service. In an update on Monday, the Washington County government announced that some operations and services will be impacted as cleanup continues in the area. A strong storm in Western Maryland knocked trees over on April 19. (Thomas Sharps/DC News Now) PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Saturday night storm batters Western Maryland and Eastern Panhandle Road Closures and Park Cleanup Crews have teamed up with Potomac Edison to clear debris along the highways. As of Monday, the Highway Departments goal is to make every road passable by at least one vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mooresville Road remained closed, and the Washington County Parks Department is working to clean up local parks, where tree branches fell and trees are unstable. As a result, the community is urged to use caution when visiting: Regional Park Camp Harding Clear Spring Park Doubs Woods Park Marty Snook Park Woodland Way Park The Washington County Administrative Annex on Northern Avenue will be closed on Monday due to the power outages. Officials said the outage is affecting phones and internet services, permits and inspections, engineering, and planning and zoning. The Washington County Office of Emergency Management urged the community to call the non-emergency number at 240-313-4345 to report impassable roads. Officials noted that if the roads are passable by at least one or two cars, do not call. Washington County Transit The Washington County Transit Services will run on Monday, April 21. However, passengers can expect delays due to temporary road closures. When will power be restored? In a continuous effort to get power restored in Western Maryland, Potomac Edison will bring in additional crews from neighboring states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As hundreds remain in the dark, the power company said some areas will see power restored by 11 p.m. on Monday, April 21. Impact: DC agencies sound alarm over $1B budget cuts The public is urged to avoid the area and never approach downed lines. All downed lines should be considered live and extremely dangerous. Do not attempt to move or drive over them, said the Washington County Government on social media. To report an additional outage, click here or text OUT to 54448. If youre not enrolled in text messaging, text REG to 544487 to get started. Outages can also be reported by calling 888-544-4877. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To receive the latest update on a power outage, text STAT to 544487. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Former President Bill Clinton offers a message of unity and praises the "Oklahoma Standard" at a remembrance ceremony Saturday on the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing in Oklahoma City. (Photo: Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY On the 30th anniversary of the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, former President Bill Clinton said Americans must unite despite their differences, and that Oklahomans can help lead the way by serving as that role model for the rest of the nation. Clinton, who was president at the time of the attack, returned to the site of the 1995 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing Saturday to deliver the keynote address to a crowd of over 1,600 that attended to remember and honor those who died and were injured in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the event is typically held outdoors at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the site of the bombing, it was moved indoors due to inclement weather. The crowd that arrived to commemorate the anniversary was so large that once the pews were packed, people stood along the walls and filled an overflow room. People attend a remembrance ceremony Saturday on the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing. (Photo: Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) The domestic terrorists who did this awful thing believed that it would spark a nationwide upheaval against the American government, and would eventually destroy our government, our democracy and our life, Clinton said. Instead, you gave them, as the mayor said so eloquently, the Oklahoma Standard. You gave them service, honor and kindness. Clinton, a Democrat, came to Oklahoma City days after the 1995 attack to address a devastated crowd assembled at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena. He said hes returned to Oklahoma City in subsequent years to commemorate the event. Three decades later, Clinton said that the country has again grown more polarized. When Oklahoma City was the center of polarization 30 years ago, it chose to move forward together, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America needs you, and America needs the Oklahoma Standard, Clinton said. And if we all live by it, we would get a fairer economy, a more stable society. We would understand one another, and we wouldnt feel weak if we admitted we were wrong about something. Thirty years ago, a fertilizer and fuel oil bomb placed inside a Ryder truck outside the Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City exploded at 9:02 a.m., killing 168 people, including 19 children, and injuring around 850. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were arrested for their roles. Both were found guilty. McVeigh was executed June 11, 2001, by lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. Nichols was sentenced to life in prison. Gov. Kevin Stitt attends a remembrance ceremony Saturday commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing. (Photo: Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) Michael Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison for failing to report his knowledge of the bombing plot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said McVeigh held extremist views and planned the bombing on the anniversary of the end of the Waco siege between law enforcement and the Branch Davidians. Other speakers at Saturdays remembrance event included prominent Republican officials such as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, former Gov. Frank Keating, and U.S. Sen. James Lankford. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt also spoke. Most of Oklahomas Congressional delegation was present, as were a few other former governors, current state lawmakers and other officials. There have been nearly 11,000 tomorrows since the bombing and in Oklahoma City, Holt said, and the city has grown in that time. He said 30 years since the bombing signifies a generation. While younger Oklahomans may not remember the bombing, Stitt said, they live in a state shaped by it and the commitment to service, honor and kindness that followed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lankford said Oklahomans need to ensure the lessons learned from the bombing and its aftermath are passed to future generations to ensure there is no generation that rises up that does not remember. The Federal Building housed federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the agency that initially launched the Waco raid. But the building also held a day care, military recruitment offices and other various federal agencies. A child reads about the Murrah Building bombing. (Photo: Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) Family members of victims read the 168 names to the crowd Saturday in an effort to humanize the people, said Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the memorial museum. The building was imploded after the rescue operations and evidence collections were completed. A new federal building was built nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memorial was built where the old federal building once stood. The 168 chairs erected at the site each represent an empty seat at the dinner table. The smaller chairs represent the children who died. A reflecting pool represents the time between 9:01 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. April 19, 1995. Officials were able to preserve an American elm tree that survived the blast. It is known as the Survivor Tree. In the aftermath of the attack, the state became known for the Oklahoma Standard, a term used to describe the selfless actions of thousands who offered help. This report was first published by the Oklahoma Voice, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network. Reporter Barbara Hoberock contributed to this story. Three years after losing to Kari Lake, Karrin Taylor Robson is running again for Arizona governor with a much clearer path toward claiming the MAGA mantle. But the Club for Growth is firing a warning shot. The influential anti-tax group is wading into the Arizona gubernatorial race with a new poll, shared first with POLITICO, touting the electability of GOP Rep. Andy Biggs, Robsons chief opponent. The Republican contest to face Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs next year will be one of the most hotly contested primaries of the midterms and test the durability of Donald Trumps coalition in Arizona. Trump endorsed Robson, who has ties to the states GOP establishment, before she even entered the race. But Biggs, a former House Freedom Caucus chair and Arizona state Senate president, has been a Trump ally for years. And on Monday, Trump offered a dual endorsement to both Biggs and Robson, calling them two fantastic candidates, two terrific people, two wonderful champions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An attorney, business executive and wife of a wealthy real estate developer, Robson lost an exceedingly nasty gubernatorial primary in 2022 to Lake, who went on to lose to Hobbs. In that race, Lake claimed the MAGA lane and had Trumps backing. But this time Robson, after securing Trumps endorsement first, has worked hard to amplify the presidents words and yoke herself to him, mentioning Trump by name a dozen times in her campaign announcement and placing him on the front page of her website . The Club for Growth has not yet endorsed in the race, but its super PAC commissioned the poll. And its potential involvement in any race could mean resources. In addition to her ties to the GOP establishment in Arizona, Robson is personally wealthy and can help fund her own bid. Should the Club endorse Biggs as it has in previous races he has run and decide to spend, the group could help him narrow that gap. Biggs led Robson by 29 points, 45 percent to 16 percent, according to a memo about the Pulse Decision Science poll of 511 likely GOP primary voters conducted on behalf of Club for Growth PAC in early April. Another 39 percent remain undecided in the survey. (The write-up did not include specific survey questions and results, and trying to determine which voters are likely to participate in a primary this far out can be unreliable.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey also tests a general election contest, with the data suggesting Biggs would be a more formidable opponent against Hobbs. He trails the governor by 4 points, 42 to 46 percent, in that head-to-head, while Robson trails by 9 points, 38 to 47 percent. In the 2022 contest, Robson was a favorite of the John McCain wing of the Arizona Republican Party, especially because Lake went out of her way to antagonize supporters of the late senator. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Robson to his states Board of Regents and later endorsed her bid against Lake, a dynamic which turned the race into a proxy battle between the governor and Trump. The MAGA wing has been ascendant in the states GOP circles, but that hasnt translated into general election wins. Lake lost the governorship to Hobbs and then went on to lose a 2024 Senate race to Democrat Ruben Gallego, even though Trump carried the state . The gubernatorial race isnt the only one with fighting between the MAGA coalition and the rest of the GOP. Another state Freedom Caucus member, Alexander Kolodin, created some intraparty drama by launching a bid for secretary of state claiming he had the endorsement of Trumps hand-picked state party chair, Gina Swoboda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immediately after his launch, Swobada said she had not endorsed Kolodin and was actually mulling a run of her own, setting up another heated primary in a statewide race. Andrew Howard contributed to this report. The No. 3 House Republican refused to say whether it was legal for President Donald Trump to expel American citizens to foreign prisons on Sunday. I think right now, what hes doing is absolutely legal, which is removing those that do not have legal status in this country that have proven to be the worst of the worst, Emmer said on CNNs State of the Union. In his first three months, the Trump administration has instituted a sweeping deportation purge that includes immigration raids in major cities and the use of the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law to expel people deemed a national security threat. The efforts have been met with various legal challenges, the most prominent being the wrongful deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an Oval Office meeting last week, Trump told Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele that homegrowns are next to be deported, adding that he had ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to study whether the effort to deport American citizens was legally viable. CNN host Dana Bash repeatedly tried to get his thoughts on the matter. What about the idea that the White House says that it is looking into whether or not U.S. citizens who are convicted of violent crimes can be imprisoned in El Salvador? she asked. Emmer deflected. Well, again, what theyre focused on and what you and I are focusing on is whats actually happening, which is deporting terrorist cartel members, rapists, murderers, the worst of the worst is exactly what Donald Trump promised during the campaign, Emmer said. And thats why 77 million people elected him to follow through on this promise, and thats what theyre doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bash remained undeterred: I just want to give you one more chance to say whether or not youre okay with U.S. citizens, the idea of it, I know its not happening, but he has actively said more than once that they are looking into it. Would you be okay with that? Emmer refused to give his position, instead using the opportunity to hail Trump and his immigration crackdown and attack Democrats. Ive got a president who wants to protect U.S. citizens from violence, from crime, having their children solicited, murdered, et cetera, versus Democrats who seem to want to protect illegal aliens in this country for whatever reason, he said. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has received another supply of equipment from the IT coalition funded by Luxembourg and Iceland, with a total value of almost 2 million. Source: Ministry of Defence on 21 April Details: The partners handed over a total of 3,288 wireless access points of various models, 500 routers, 460 charging stations with solar panels, and 872 phones. "I thank the IT coalition countries for strengthening the technological resilience of our forces. With this equipment, we will increase the capacity for high-quality and reliable communication in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is crucial in the combat zone," said Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for Digitalisation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the third delivery from the IT coalition in 2025. In January, Estonia, the Netherlands and Luxembourg delivered equipment worth 3.3 million to Ukraine as part of the initiative, and in February, equipment worth 7.5 million. Background: The IT coalition was formed within the framework of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which provides defence support to Ukraine. Estonia and Luxembourg joined it as the leading countries, as well as Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! DELANO TWP., SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) State police say they are continuing to investigate the death of a woman whose body was found off Interstate 81. Pennsylvania State Police in Frackville continue their investigation of the homicide of 38-year-old Caryn J. Fortino. On May 23, 2003, the body of Fortino was discovered in a wooded area off Interstate 81 in Delano Township, Schuylkill County, police say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theft reported at Walmart leads to high-speed chase Investigators stated Fortino died of asphyxiation by strangulation. Fortino was from the Philadelphia area and was last in contact with her family around February 2003. Troopers say a $5,000 reward is being offered for information that solves this cold case. Anyone with information is asked to contact PSP Reading at 610-378-4454, call PSP Tips Toll Free at 1-800-472-8477, or submit a tip 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 PAhomepage.com. The University of Nebraska's Varner Hall is where the NU Board of Regents meets and where the NU president has an office. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) Nebraskas 13 private colleges and universities might do well to keep an eye on Harvard Universitys recent resounding no to the president who wants the feds to have a say in the schools inner workings, including teaching and hiring. Harvards hard pass meant the federal government froze $2.2 billion earmarked for the nations most recognizable university, primarily for scientific and medical research including work in artificial intelligence, Alzheimers, Parkinsons areas in which Harvard is recognized as a leader. As of this writing, the president is also threatening to yank the schools tax exempt status, something he cant do unilaterally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What the White House wants is essentially a measure of control at Harvard. It has dressed that demand as a worthy cause: the elimination of antisemitism on campus. In a letter to the Cambridge university, the government accused Harvard of not having the correct intellectual and civil rights conditions to allow further federal funds to make their way to the famed campus. The letter also demanded that the college name names by reporting to the feds students who are hostile to American values and require without explanation academic departments to be something called viewpoint diverse and hire government-approved auditors to see if any programs, policies or departments fuel antisemitic harassment. Harvard stands firm Whew! And that was only part of the ultimatum. Finding the directives out of line with the mission of the university, Harvard stood firm. The universitys president said, No government regardless of which party is in power should dictate what private universities can teach. The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Most of Harvards massive endowment is earmarked for specific projects. Even so perhaps more than any other private school in the nation, it is financially equipped to meet the challenge of such defunding. Surely, a Creighton or a Midland or a Concordia would have to meet such pressure in another way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard is one of nearly 60 colleges and universities under scrutiny by the federal government for practices the government alleges might contribute to anti-semitism. Efforts to curb that distemper are smart and justified when and where they are needed. Indeed, some of the five dozen colleges and universities, including Harvard, have made changes toward protecting Jewish students who feel threatened on campus. While none of Nebraskas private colleges and universities made the list, the University of Nebraska at Omaha was notified by the Trump administration last month that it was under investigation for race exclusionary practices having to do with the awarding of scholarships to graduate students. UNO had closed its DEI office in February. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln closed its DEI office in August 2024. Even so, a bill in the Nebraska Legislature to outlaw any office of diversity, equity and inclusion on any public college campus in the state hasnt gained much traction to date. Part of broader battle The battle for the soul of post-secondary education, however, is old news. Many on the right see colleges as breeding grounds for what they see as the scourge of woke culture, a pedagogical petri dish growing an array of evil anagrams from DEI to CRT to ESG. Campus protests over Gaza since late 2023 have stoked these culture war fires. Two years earlier, eventual vice-president J.D. Vance famously said, the universities are the enemy. I spent four years as a member of the adjunct faculty and part of the academic support staff at Hastings College, a small private institution in south-central Nebraska. HC is a beautiful campus, not unlike a New England setting, nestled in a neighborhood just north and east of downtown Hastings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hastings College is obviously not Harvard, nor is it a big public system such as the University of Nebraska. The task there, however, was similar: train young minds to think critically, research thoroughly and act decisively on the outcome of each. Im also happy to say that I saw diversity, equity and inclusion intentional and otherwise fostered and celebrated. The mission of a college is a goal, not always the exact outcome. And individual college experiences dont always live up to expectations. But when campuses are diverse, vibrant and vital places, when they challenge students and faculty to be the best versions of themselves, when they get it right, when the lights brighten, the research adds up and the solutions solve problems, the rest of the world is better for it whether its Harvard University or Hastings College. Hardly enemies of the American people and no place for the feds to interfere. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX People gathered at the Colorado Capitol in Denver on Feb. 3, 2025, for the national "A Day Without Immigrants" demonstration, a response to President Donald Trump's policies that target the immigrant community. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline) The Colorado Senate approved a bill on Monday that would put data protections in place for immigrants and limit where federal immigration authorities can physically access without a warrant. The legislation comes in direct response to the Trump administrations mass deportation efforts. Senate Bill 25-276 passed on a 22-13 vote and now heads to the House for consideration in the final weeks of the legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question of who actually gets to be an American, or who actually gets to be protected by the Constitution, is a matter of debate right now in this country and in this state. Weve had conversations with teachers and with school districts that are concerned about students being too afraid to come to class and about parents being afraid to go to parent teacher conferences. We can do better than that, said bill sponsor Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The bill would prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from going into non-public spaces in jails, hospitals, schools and child care centers without a signed, valid warrant. An amendment on the Senate floor added libraries to that list of locations. It also clarifies that local law enforcement cannot cooperate with ICE to land a person in custody through a detainer request by holding that person in jail beyond their ordered release without a warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also deals heavily with personally identifiable information, or data about a person that is not publicly available such as birthday, addresses, vehicle registration information and immigration status, which federal authorities might want access to in order to identify people to detain and deport. Local governments would not be allowed to share that type of information with ICE under the bill. Additionally, immigrants would not need to sign an affidavit about their intention to pursue legal status in order to get a drivers license or in-state tuition. Were in unprecedented times, where people are being unjustly targeted, incarcerated, removed and deported, and we sit in a position where we might be able to push back and help out, to provide some sort of protection, said Sen. Jessie Danielson, a Wheat Ridge Democrat. It is a terrifying time for a number of people I know, and for a lot of people I dont, and it doesnt take much for me to empathize with that. GOP: Lawsuits likely The bill comes three months into the second administration of President Donald Trump, who has followed through on a campaign promise to increase efforts to detain and remove immigrants who lack legal status. In Colorado, that has resulted in a series of highly-publicized immigration raids at a party in Adams County and residences in Denver and Aurora and in the detention of immigration rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Gonzales, the bill is sponsored by Sen. Mike Weissman, an Aurora Democrat, Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat, and Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, a Glenwood Springs Democrat. Sen. Kyle Mullica, a Thornton Democrat, joined Republicans in opposition to the bill. Mullica said his vote was in response to a series of amendments offered during the final vote on Monday usually amendments are considered during the initial debate and preliminary vote on a bill and that he did not have sufficient time to read the amendments and consider their implications. One amendment on Monday, for example, clarified that SB-276 does not intend to ban the transfer of a person to and from federal custody if there is a valid warrant. This isnt a position in cement that Im not willing to move, he said. I want the opportunity to digest these amendments and see if there are any amendments that address potential concerns in the second chamber. If the House passes a version of the bill with other amendments, the Senate would need to sign off on those changes before the bill heads to the governors desk for a signature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans argued that the bill interferes with federal policy and impedes legal ICE operations, going against the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution. The bills passage would likely result in lawsuits, they said. This undermines federal immigration enforcement. The bill restricts cooperation between state, local entities and federal immigration authorities, potentially obstructing that of which is the province of the federal government immigration laws, said Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Monument Republican. Debate on the bill lasted an entire day last week as Republicans offered amendments that ultimately failed to block it. The bill is likely to face a similarly protracted discussion in the House if chamber leadership decides not to limit the length of debate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Any peace agreements should not violate the Constitution of Ukraine, Oleksandr Merezhko (Servant of the People faction), chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, has said. "Any agreements should not violate the Constitution of Ukraine and the principles of international law... In this situation, it is important for us to continue to insist on the observance by all states of the world, including the United States, of the principle of Ukraine's territorial integrity and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty," Merezhko told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday. He recalled the official US position on the status of Crimea, which is to support Ukraine's territorial integrity. "The US has always officially stated that Crimea is Ukraine and continues to adhere to the policy of non-recognition of Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea. Back during Donald Trump's first presidential term, the United States adopted the Crimean Declaration, which confirmed non-recognition of the attempted annexation of Crimea. In addition, the United States has always voted in the UN General Assembly in support of resolutions on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," Merezhko emphasized. Commenting on the exclusion of the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO, which was also proposed by the US as part of the peace agreement, the politician said: "As for NATO, the joint declaration of the Vilnius NATO summit clearly states that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to NATO. The US must respect this, as well as respect Ukraine's sovereign right to decide independently which international organization to join." Merezhko also noted that control over the Zaporizha Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) should be returned to Ukraine, as this is required by both international law and security considerations. "Leaving the ZNPP in the hands of a nuclear terrorist, such as Russia, is extremely dangerous for Europe and the whole world," the MP noted. As reported, the US has proposed a version of the peace plan that includes recognition of the Russian annexation of Crimea and the exclusion of the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO. Washington also proposed making the territory around the ZNPP neutral under US control. PROVIDENCE The Rhode Island Senate is on hiatus after the death on April 21 of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, at age 76. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, and Senate Majority Leader Valarie Lawson and Majority Whip David Tikoian appeared at a brief press conference to ask the media and the public to give senators some time to grieve the loss of their friend and colleague. Tikoian, third in the Democratic chain of command, said "we would respectfully ask for some privacy as we facilitate proper arrangements moving forward." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As many of you know, whether you agreed with him or not on an issue, his door was always open. Many times he put his own point of view aside to listen to the members of this chamber and for the good of the Senate Chamber he loved," said Lawson. "I believe that was one of his greatest attributes,'' she continued. "He touched the lives of so many Rhode Islanders, especially those of us in the Senate." Senate leaders have suspended daily operations until further notice, including Tuesday's session and the long run of Senate committee hearings that had been booked, earlier, for the senators expecting to return to work on Tuesday from a one-week break. And what comes next both for the Senate presidency and for Ruggerio's actual Senate seat has not yet been decided. Here's what might happen: Sen. Dominick Ruggerio attends the opening of the legislative session on Jan. 7, 2025, during which he was reelected Senate president. Who will be the new Senate president, and when will it be decided? The Senate is expected to elect a new Senate president the next time it meets. When that might be is unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the long-simmering competition to replace him is not yet being talked about openly, a number of his colleagues have been quietly positioning themselves to take his place for months. In the recent past, the Senate majority leader has moved up the ranks when the Senate presidency has opened for one reason or another. But it is not clear that the current Senate majority leader, Lawson who doubles as the president of the National Education Association of Rhode Island wants the top job. Among the other potential candidates: Senate Labor Chairman Frank Ciccone, Senate Judiciary Chairman Matthew LaMountain, Pearson and Ruggerio's former chief of staff, Sen. Jake Bissaillon, a relative newcomer elected to his first term in November 2023. Other names may surface as the senators seek a consensus candidate. At a brief public appearance April 21, Lawson paid tribute to Ruggerio and told reporters the Senate will not meet again this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She declined to answer questions about when the chamber might vote on Ruggerio's successor or whether she is running for the top spot. What will happen to Ruggerio's Senate seat? As for Ruggerio's Senate District 4 seat encompassing North Providence and the North End of Providence, state law requires the secretary of state to "cause the local board of the city or town to issue a warrant ordering an election to fill the vacancy ... at least 70 but not more than 90 days from the occurrence of the vacancy." The special election can be held at a later date if the General Assembly "has nearly completed its January session," and "it is doubtful" the newly elected person can serve as a member during that year's session. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Dominick Ruggerios death sparks quiet race for Senate Presidency Georgia is among the battleground states that since the 2020 presidential election has enacted new laws that could restrict voting access. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder) Pennsylvania voters have been given a raw deal when it comes to early voting options. As we head into another round of municipal elections, voters across the Commonwealth again face the dilemma of whether or not they should stand in long lines to cast their ballots early. Although the problem is worse in some counties than others, it is unacceptable anywhere. Pennsylvanias current no-excuse mail ballot system is a good idea on paper, but the long lines early voters face are due to the fact that many voters are filling out their mail ballots in person before they turn them in, likely because they want to ensure they are filled out correctly and will, therefore, be counted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therefore, in a state where nearly half of all counties dont even have a ballot drop box, a strong, well-funded, and complementary-to-no-excuse-mail-ballots system that encourages early voting done in person is an absolute must. Currently, our counties are not equipped to handle the volume of voters trying to cast their ballots before Election Day because our no-excuse mail ballot system isnt designed for accessible in-person voting. We need more. The fact that voters are so eager to vote early is exactly why we need a modernized system that can meet this overwhelming demand. Without the infrastructure in place for true early voting, not only do Pennsylvania voters have to suffer through long lines, but it also causes unnecessary stress on our election workers who already face enormous challenges. Election workers and voters deserve a process that is as efficient, safe, and accessible as possibleone that ensures every voter has a fair chance to have their voice heard. The solution is obvious: Pennsylvania needs to establish an official system for in-person early voting. This would allow voters to vote on machines in the same way they would on election day, but with the flexibility to do so ahead of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make this a reality, our election offices need to be fully funded and staffed to meet the demand. Its not just a nice-to-have option; its a necessity to ensure that Pennsylvanias election system actually works for voters and election workers and that democracy includes all of us. This is not some far-fetched idea, either. Pennsylvania leaders can look to nearby states that have provided a clear blueprint for success. In Michigan, where in-person early voting was implemented in time for last years general election, there was a marked increase in voter turnout before Election Day. Voting booths set up at Madison, Wisconsins Hawthorne Library on Election Day 2022. (Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner) According to a recent data analysis released by my organization, All Voting is Local, more than 58 percent of Michigan voters cast their ballots before Election Day in 2024. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, only 27 percent of voters cast their ballots early. This difference is not just a statistic. Its a sign that having a statewide plan works when it comes to early voting. In Michigan, the establishment of early voting polling locations allowed voters to cast their ballots ahead of time and reduced long lines on Election Day itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This increase in early voting turnout wasnt limited to one political party or one regionit was a broad, statewide trend. When early voting options are made accessible, voters from all walks of life take advantage of them, because lets not mince words: long lines are a form of suppression that can deter voters from casting their ballots. Pennsylvania voters want more voting options, a fact that was made crystal clear in November as they stood in hours-long lines both before and on Election Day. They want to be able to cast their ballots securely without having to wait in line for hours. Most importantly, they want a system that ensures they have a voice in their own democracy. Without in-person early voting, the voters most impacted will be parents, students, and all working-class folks who often dont have time to wait in voting lines. Although the lack of in-person early voting disproportionately affects these voters, its an issue that impacts all voters. The problem needs to be addressed before voters find themselves standing in long lines again. Fortunately, we know what the solution is to the problem. This is where Pennsylvania legislators have an opportunity. The window to make meaningful changes to our election code is now. By implementing in-person early voting, Pennsylvania can not only ensure greater voter turnout but also ensure that all votersregardless of their backgroundhave a fair shot at participating in our democracy. Weve seen it work elsewhere, and we know it can work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without this change, Pennsylvania voters will continue to face long lines and frustration at the polls. Our election officials will continue to struggle with an outdated system that isnt equipped to meet the needs of todays electorate. Without immediate action, we will fail to meet the moment and risk disenfranchising voters in a state that prides itself on being a critical battleground in national elections. In Pennsylvania, we have the power to make our election system better, more inclusive, and more accessible. But this change can only happen if our leaders in the state legislature act now to make real early voting options a reality. Lets ensure that every Pennsylvanian has the opportunity to cast their ballot early without unnecessary hurdles. Its time for Pennsylvania to put in place a system that works for everyone. Deborah Rose Hinchey, Pennsylvania State Director for All Voting is Local (Submitted) Deborah Rose Hinchey is the Pennsylvania State Director for All Voting is Local. CHAMPION, Ohio (WKBN) If you have ever been curious about what happens at a technical school and would love to enjoy a flurry of activities, food and learning, head out to a special event at Trumbull County Career and Technical Center this week. Read next: Lineup announced for park concerts in Struthers TCTC is holding a very special event called Community Night for anyone who wants to learn more about the school and have a great time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TCTC is just a great resource for our community. The education that we offer the students is just unbelievable, said TCTC Community Engagement Coordinator Morgan Tondo Cretella. This is our fourth year offering Community Nights. Its just a great opportunity to engage with the community, open our doors to the public, and welcome all of the support that we have from our residents to come out for all the different things that we offer here in the Career Center. There will be things to do and see all over the school, including 35 different community partners set up in the cafeteria. Theyre going to share information, answer questions about all of the services and resources that they have available for Trumbull County residents, said Cretella. Weve got things from health care, Mercy Health to educational partners. We also have Mosquito Lake State Park coming, and they do a nice, fun, interactive display. The 35 partners that will be at Community Night will have the opportunity to answer questions and share all of the available support and resources they have available. There will be many things to see and do for people of all ages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a ton of fun. We have a lot of different activities that are available. Weve got face painting, bracelet making. Were going to have animal interactions. Our veterinary science program will be open, and they can see all the small animals. Our Equestrian Studies Barn is going to be open. Theyll be able to do pony rides and some horse demonstrations, said Cretella. Theres also going to be things like copper brazing demos, and theyre going to have a small auto show that our auto services instructor has organized. There are blood draws that the phlebotomy students are going to be able to facilitate. Some of TCTCs STEM teachers are going to facilitate some STEM-based activities where people can make their own ice cream and even a lava lamp. The hands-on event wouldnt be possible without the support of the community and the partners, and the annual Community Event is a way TCTC gets to say thank you. You wont leave hungry either, as there will be a lot of food available for purchase from several food trucks. Obviously, the food is something that folks can purchase, but everything else the rest of the night is free. Its a very positive experience, said Cretella. I think all of our staff even feels like theres a vibe in the air. We all have a lot of fun. You can tell all the visitors are having a great time, but its informal. They can kind of walk around, explore at their own pace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event will be prefaced with a ribbon cutting at 5:15 p.m. for the Equestrian Studies Barn. Community Night is happening on Thursday, April 24, from 6 until 8 p.m. The event will be prefaced with a ribbon cutting at 5:15 p.m. for the Equestrian Studies Barn, which is also open to the public. Trumbull County Career and Technical Center is located at 528 Educational Highway. Call 330-847-0503 and visit TCTCHome.com for more information. You can also find TCTC 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 WKBN.com. Choral voices filled the worship room at the Community United Church to celebrate another Easter Sunday. Dozens of local Christians filled the pews at the church on West 38th Street to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Burch Farms Country Market scatters 12K eggs for 20th annual Easter egg hunt Its fantastic to be with the whole church. At our church, we dont take attendance every week, so it tends to be a Sunday where members and friends of the church and people of erie who just know us come in, and thanks to the livestream, we have literally people across the United States that join us every week, said Rev. Dr. Rich McCarty, pastor at the Community United Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Community United Church kicked off the holiday with a breakfast feast before the 11 a.m. worship. And after the worship, McCarty said members of the church went right to service, giving out bagged lunches to neighbors in need downtown. Easter isnt just all about the bunny and the eggs, as dozens came to celebrate the true meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter Bunny spotted cruising around Wesleyville thanks to local fire department Today we celebrate with Christians around the world the resurrection of Jesus, which we believe is a deep mystery that God raised him from the dead, and of course thats very meaningful to christians because we believe that there is hope for the next life, but I also think that sometimes we rush too far and dont think about the power of the resurrection in this life, said McCarty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCartry said that Christ was raised from the dead to inspire his followers to spread love, inclusivity and justice. He said Gods love and power are in every one of us, and Easter is a reminder to use that to be a force for good in the world. The Community United Church holds worship sessions every Sunday at 11 a.m., if you would like to check it out yourself. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. (WKBN) A medical equipment company filed an emergency motion to get its equipment returned from Hillside Rehabilitation and Trumbull Regional Medical Hospitals. In a court filing last week, Phillips Medical Capital LLC is asking U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez to sign an order forcing the hospital to surrender medical equipment owned by Phillips. The order states that Phillips has provided various medical equipment to the facilities since 2019. The company claims the items are still accruing costs and that they cannot be sold or relocated to other facilities without this order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order comes after the Insight facilities closed their doors in March. A class-action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against Insight Foundation after local hospitals closed and employees say they were left without paychecks. Employees are asking for 60 days pay and ERISA benefits, as well as the repayment of money deducted from wages for fringe benefits and compensation for accrued but unpaid vacation time. The motion will be decided during a hearing on May 1. Post Road Equipment Finance filed a similar motion last week after counsel for the company could no longer meet at the Trumbull Facility due to an emergency. A hearing is scheduled for April 30 on this motion. First News will continue to keep you updated on the latest developments as Insight works to reopen Insight Trumbull in Warren and Hillside Rehabilitation in Howland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. There are concerns over the best way for high school students to get to class in Dayton. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, community leaders believe the RTA hub is not the right spot for high school students. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes just over two weeks after 18-year-old Alfred Hale, a Dunbar High School student, was shot and killed near the RTA hub in Downtown while transferring buses on April 4. As previously reported on News Center 7, calls for service at the RTA hub in Dayton have increased by almost 1,000 since 2022. News Center 7s Mason Fletcher says it has people concerned about students. Community leaders are calling on Daytons leaders to come up with solutions. Its going to take everyone to come up with evidence-based strategies and practices that these children deserve, said Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, with Racial Justice Now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One idea is to use RTA for limited service routes designed directly for students. Routes open to the public, but they were specifically designed to better meet the needs of school transportation, so they went more from schools to neighborhoods, said Bob Ruzinsky, Greater Dayton RTA CEO. We will continue to update this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Connecticut man was arrested in Iredell County after a deputy observed deceptive behavior and found approximately 25 grams of psilocybin mushrooms in his vehicle during a traffic stop. While interacting with the driver, identified as 35-year-old Leronte Raynard Myers of Connecticut, the deputy observed indicators of deceptive behavior and suspected possible criminal activity. After issuing a warning citation for the traffic violation, the deputy deployed a K9 who positively alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 25 grams of psilocybin mushrooms. Myers was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center. He has been charged with felony possession of a schedule I controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Myers is being held on a $20,000 bond. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Emotions were high at the Cathedral of Saint Josephs in Hartford as parishioners from across Connecticut attended mass, mourning the loss of Pope Francis. Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut officials react to death of Pope Francis The pope was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. He gave one final message in St. Peter Square on Easter Sunday, spreading words about hope and unity among people and peace around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was such a people person and he really loved the poor, and he really embodied Jesuss message, and we are sorry to see him go, Rose Buono of Manchester said. Fr. James Sullivan of the Basilica of the Immaculate Reception said that Francis will be forever known for his compassion and mercy, saying that he was a constant comeback to Christ. Many of the parishioners hope that the next pope builds off of what Francis accomplished. Someone like him, that knows the poor and the migrants, and the people who are impoverished, and just somebody who is like Jesus, Buono said. I hope we have another one like him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others said that they hope the next pope has more of a traditional Catholic faith that takes the church back to its roots. Watch the full video 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 WTNH.com. It is testament to his devotion to his church and its 1.4 billion adherents that Pope Francis insisted upon being seen at St Peters Square on Easter Sunday, the holiest day in the Christian calendar, despite his evident infirmity. He died just a few hours later, the first to do so in office since John Paul II in 2005. Francis was elected Pope after Benedict XVI stepped down as pontiff for the first time since the 15th century. He cited a lack of strength of mind and body for his decisions yet lived on as emeritus until 2022, offering counsel to his successor. The two men were very different in their approach, however. Benedict, a German known as Gods Rottweiler, was a traditionalist whereas his successor, to begin with, was imagined to be a progressive likely to shake the Roman Catholic church to its foundations. The fact he never did leaves many questions unanswered about the role of the church in the modern world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis, an Argentinian Jesuit, was the first non-European pope for more than 1,000 years and was initially seen as a likely radical in the tradition of Latin American cardinals standing against the oppression of military rule and autocracy. But on the great issues of the church he turned out to be much more conservative than many had expected. On women, celibacy and homosexual rights he promised much but delivered little, recognising the schismatic risks of moving too fast in an organisation that measures its progress in centuries, not five-year political terms. He began his pontificate by eschewing the pomp and circumstance of the great office, declining to live in the grand papal apartments and preferring an apartment nearby. This was characteristic of the modest and humble approach of the first pope to adopt the name of St Francis of Assisi. Even in death this asceticism will be apparent since he simplified the ritual for a papal funeral and will not be buried inside the Vatican City but in a nearby basilica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, reformers were increasingly dismayed that he failed to follow up on what they thought were promises to give greater roles to women or end the practice of celibacy. He ended up pleasing neither side and became known for refusing to take one. Who am I to judge? became his watchword. He did, though, allow the blessing of same-sex couples. It is evident that moving too fast is not possible if the Church wants to avoid a split; yet many progressive Catholics were led to hope there would be more. If someone with Franciss background and instincts could not instigate greater change, who can? Many women Roman Catholics were disappointed that he did little for them beyond appointing one or two to senior administrative roles in the Vatican, changes that can be undone by a successor should he so choose. There was no move towards ordaining women priests. When the tributes to Francis and they have been heartfelt and extensive have slowed the focus will be on the conclave to elect a new pope. Will there be a reversion to the more authoritarian European pontiffs of recent times or might another emerge from the developing world? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his travels around the world Francis demonstrated the reach of the Catholic Church almost like no other pope before, visiting even countries like Mongolia with a minuscule Christian population, where a cardinal was appointed. But he also caused controversy by signing an agreement with the Chinese communist government giving Beijing a role in the appointment of bishops. Supporters said this was necessary to protect the church in China and its 12 million Catholics but many considered it a dialogue too far. When he became Pope in 2013 the Vatican was plagued by sex abuse scandals and corruption which Francis did much to clean up with financial and legal reforms. His former chief of staff Cardinal Angelo Becciu was convicted of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to five years in prison which he is appealing. He has said the Pope should not be head of state in the Vatican City. However, even if the previous criminality has largely gone, the Holy See is said to be close to insolvency after decades of mismanagement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In view of his illness and great age, the death of Francis came as no great shock nor can it be considered a tragedy given the fullness of his life. But he touched many hearts and will be genuinely missed, though remembered as a contradictory figure who left behind a church still riven with disagreement over where to go next. Against expectations, he held fast to traditional Catholic doctrine but left open many issues about broadening the global reach of the church that the next pope will have to tackle. Doubtless, manoeuvrings will have been taking place in the Vatican along such lines in advance of the election of a successor. His task will not be an easy one. 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. Two of my books are among the 381 volumes that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered removed from the library of the U.S. Naval Academy because they were deemed to relate to the topics of diversity, equity or inclusion. The arbitrary removal of these books reveals a sophomoric approach to history by word search. That amateurish tactic of linking title and theme has already resulted in comical yet depressing results. A recent DEI purge at the Pentagon led to the removal in its digital archive of images of the B-29 plane Enola Gay that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, presumably because of the word gay in the title. The Defense Department is at it again on a bigger scale, with higher stakes: our grand American democratic experiment. Censorship by keyword search is not only anti-intellectual but also foolish, presuming that there is solidarity of thought or unanimity of vision when it comes to race, gender, sexuality or class as though every author who uses a certain term is making the same argument on the issue. Scholars, writers and other thinkers are a notoriously cantankerous lot. We often find useful or sometimes petty ways to disagree even with those with whom we ought to agree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of these removed books argue with prevailing notions of race, class, sex and gender. Some are critical of earlier or competing versions of these subjects and advocate relentless revision and tireless interrogation. Ibram X. Kendis influential How to Be an Antiracist topped the list of removed books, but with more careful consideration the Defense Department might have kept it around, because it argues for a radically different view of racism than many of Kendis scholarly predecessors and colleagues. Old-school race thinkers argue that racism concerns power. They would say that although Black folk can be bigoted, prejudiced and willfully biased, they technically cant be racist. Kendi shatters such a paradigm and argues that one is either racist or antiracist, whatever ones color or circumstance. That ought to suggest to white critics that Kendi is being evenhanded in grappling with the manifestation of racist belief or behavior from people of any background. The Trump administration stated in January that students should not be compelled to adopt identities as either victims or oppressors solely based on their skin color. In a far different political register, Kendis work comes to a similar conclusion. In one of my banished books, Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America, I argue against white guilt as a strategy for social change. In my other removed book, Long Time Coming: Reckoning With Race in America, I offer a harsh rebuke to cancel culture on the left as a proxy of sorts for the very white supremacy it aims to destroy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth doesnt seem to understand, or care to know, that most of the books he fears and disagrees with, and thus removes, offer nuanced and complicated visions of race and other forms of diversity. These books are not dogmatic or indoctrinating; they are self-critical and invite readers to question their own understandings. Courageous curiosity and open-minded engagement should lead us to read widely to determine what we like and what we dont like, what we agree with and what we oppose. This contributes to us being informed citizens upholding our democratic experiment. The state has no business shrinking reading lists from a perch of partisan fear. It is bitterly ironic that the political party that rages against ideological orthodoxy, virtue signaling and purity tests is now their most brutal exponent. The war against wokeness is a war against enlightenment. Its advocates despise science and are allergic to curiosity and reason. Instead, they embrace denial, ignorance, avoidance, erasure and amnesia. Hegseths move offers the nation a peek into the frightening fascist imagination. Its characteristics are noxious. It conceives of dissent as disloyalty. It misrepresents vulnerable populations as freeloaders and frauds. It turns healthy skepticism about government into unhinged paranoia about the "deep state." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet there is good news. The fascist imagination is not yet the fascist state. The fascist imagination points toward a poisonous authoritarianism that masquerades as legitimate politics. We must oppose the fascist imagination with an emancipated worldview that combats the illusion of security that fascism offers. The emancipated worldview also draws connections between accepted white classics and spurned Black books and those of other diverse communities in this perilous moment. There may be 381 perspectives on diversity, equity and inclusion that are now purged from the Naval Academy, but there are literally thousands of classic literary avenues for those ideas to get back in. If James Baldwin is slighted, Ralph Ellison ignored, W.E.B. Du Bois despised, Toni Morrison disdained and Maya Angelou dissed, we can read race and other identities through the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Michel de Montaigne, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. We can interpret complicated cultural concepts by using the poetry of Alfred Lord Tennyson or Thomas Gray. Society must also push back as the Republican administration tries to whitewash the curricula of public schools, from kindergarten on up. We can also establish Saturday schools where we practice defiant pedagogy to teach our children the books that are banned. We can creatively wrestle in Black communities with ideas that are deemed dangerous and troubling, but which matter greatly to Black folk under attack. Such schools might usefully counter the flurry of executive orders that seek to erase history, deny truth, perpetuate lies and eviscerate community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must also support local museums of Black history that preserve memory and transmit knowledge. It is tragic that Black folks for whom reading was once outlawed are brought full circle to a culture that is hostile to Black cultural literacy. It would be tragic to allow a renewed taboo against exploring the intellectual heritage of Black life and underscoring the crucial Black contribution to American democracy. One of the best ways to combat autocracy is to remember that racism is a dry run for fascism. All the features of the fascist imagination have been rehearsed in the spitefully creative effort to suppress Black speech, oppress Black culture, control Black mobility and to curtail Black progress. Fascism applies to the broader culture the racist principles first applied to Black life. Many other Americans become like honorary Black folk in the mistreatment they endure in the fascist imagination which, beyond targeting many white folks who voted for Trump, tries to erase other racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people and women. Therefore, the fight to uphold Black liberty is the fight to uphold American liberty. The Black fight for democracy is the American fight for democracy. Hegseth may have targeted woke America with his book ban, but his beliefs, and those of his boss, ridicule and threaten the entire nation. Today the peril is for 381 books with which the secretary of Defense assumes he would disagree; tomorrow it may be that our very freedom to openly disagree about the administration is at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of our democracy dying in the dark of an aspiring dictatorship, we must insist that our democracy be an open book to be read by all citizens. Michael Eric Dyson is a professor of African American studies at Vanderbilt University and an author, most recently co-author of "Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote." If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported another replenishment of the exchange fund in Kursk region. "Nine servicemen of the Russian army were captured by paratroopers and their allies in Kursk region. The prisoners were given timely medical and psychological assistance," the communications department of the Airborne Assault Forces Command reports. A plan for a large and for neighbors controversial residential development in Atlanta will be back before the council for a second read. The development, which will be near the Beltline and Piedmont Park, has sparked pushback from neighbors since first being proposed. Now, the Amsterdam Walk development is back before the city council on Monday afternoon. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2 Action News previously reported when neighbors came out to oppose the planned development, saying the mixed-use property would be inappropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not like were opposed to development, but we need something thats appropriate to size and is feasible, resident Charlie Kaften told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers in March. Kaften said after six months of silence, a vote in February pushed it to the next stage of the process with a new proposal by developer Portman Holdings. RELATED STORIES: A previous version of the development plan from 2023 proposed 900 apartments and office spaces, with up to 16-story buildings. While both the Zoning Review Board and Neighborhood Planning Unit pushed back on it, a new proposal was filed in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaften said now, theyre trying to cram it through. As previously reported, the newer plan has more residential units and shorter buildings, but neighbors dont like the traffic they expect from the already busy area once the work starts, and even after its complete. The version before the Atlanta City Council on Monday features what developers said aligns with the conditions the applicant has been negotiating with the neighborhood planning committees and other stakeholders. At a virtual meeting about the proposal in March, almost 200 people logged on to discuss it. While some neighbors are opposed to the project, others told Channel 2 Action News that they saw it as a positive move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, they think the development will be good for the neighborhood. There is an amazing opportunity to bring in a lot of vibrancy to our neighborhood and expand our ability to go places within our neighborhood, resident, Ivan Schustak said in March. We should be more of a magnet than we are right now. Schustak agreed that traffic would be worse, though, and said Portman Holdings should push Atlanta officials to create the Beltline light rail theyve been discussing. Should the proposal be approved, documents provided to the city council say that the rezoning will allow the construction of 3 buildings for commercial use, office space, and 900 multi-family units. The estimated completion date is 2028. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Two police officers who arrested an Iowa college student for driving while intoxicatedeven though a breathalyzer test showed he was completely soberdo not get qualified immunity protections for their actions, a panel of federal judges ruled Friday. In 2022, then-19-year-old Tayvin Galanakis was driving in Newton, Iowa, when two police officersNathan Winters and Christopher Wingpulled him over and began asking how much alcohol he had consumed. When Galanakis denied drinking, Winters replied, "What do you mean none?" Body camera footage of the incident shows Galanakis repeatedly asking to take a breathalyzer test. However, instead of administering a test, Winters required Galanakis to undergo a series of complex field sobriety tests. When Winters finally administered a breathalyzer test, it showed Galanakis' blood alcohol content was 0.00. Almost immediately afterward, Winters began accusing Glanakis of being high on marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I've had no weed tonight," Galanakis told Winters. "I blew a zero, so now you're trying to think I smoked weed? That's what's going on. You can't do that, man. You really can't do that." The officers were undeterred and arrested Galanakis, taking him to a local police station, where additional drug testing revealed that Galanakis had not consumed marijuanaor any other substancesbefore driving. Galanakis sued the officers in February 2023, alleging that his arrest was a "gross disregard of [his] civil rights." A lengthy legal battle followed Galanakis' suit. Winters and Wing filed a counterclaimarguing that several derogatory comments Galanakis left on the lightly edited footage and social media posts defamed them, though most of those claims were dismissed in May 2023. Last year, a district court judge denied the officers qualified immunity. They appealed, and last week, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed the district court's ruling that the pair were not eligible for qualified immunity. "No officer could reasonably conclude that there was a substantial chance that Galanakis was under the influence of marijuana," wrote Judge Jane L. Kelly of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in an opinion released Friday. "Galanakis evinced almost no indica of intoxication: no erratic driving; no odor of marijuana; no watery or bloodshot eyes; no staggering or physical instability; no refusal to take sobriety testsrather, he twice asked to take a breathalyzer test." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it's often incredibly difficult for police officers to lose qualified immunity protections, Kelly notes that Winter and Wing simply had no reason to believe that Galanakis was impaired. "Galanakis's movements and behavior captured on Winters's body camera footage suggest the opposite of intoxication," Kelly writes. "As the district court found, and as the footage shows, 'Galanakis was moving confidently and directing subtle and not-so-subtle verbal jabs at Winters in a manner that would have been difficult for an impaired person.'" The post Cops Denied Qualified Immunity After Arresting Sober Teenager for DUI appeared first on Reason.com. More than three years of investigation, prosecution and legal maneuvering will come to a head in late April as former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former top aide Cade Cothren face a federal jury on 20 fraud-related charges that could lead to decades in prison. The trial begins April 22 in Nashville. Several current and former state legislators, including Casada's successor House Speaker Cameron Sexton and alleged coconspirator Robin Smith, are expected to testify that Casada and Cothren orchestrated a scheme to take advantage of a state-funded mailer program through a shadowy company organized under a fake persona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will likely be a lengthy trial, expected to last for weeks. Here's what to know before it begins. Who are Glen Casada and Cade Cothren? Glen Casada, R-Franklin listens during the first day of the 2018 Tennessee General AssemblyTuesday Jan. 9, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn Casada, a Republican, represented parts of Williamson County in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019. He attracted national attention on numerous occasions for his controversial views. Cothren began working for the Tennessee House in 2012, just a few years out of college. He moved up the ranks of House Republican positions quickly and worked in various positions in Casada's office. When Casada was elected House Speaker in January 2019, Cothren was one of the youngest people chosen to be chief of staff in legislative history. But Casada's rein atop the House was brief. His seven-month term as Tennessee House speaker was the shortest since 1893. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casada's resignation as speaker came after damning text messages between him and Cothren surfaced, which led to the House Republican Caucus voting no confidence in him and Cothren being pushed out of his job. Casada remained as a House member through 2022. What are Casada and Cothren accused of? Cade Cothren, former aide to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, walks out of the Fred D Thompson Federal Building & Courthouse after pleading not guilty to federal charges ranging from money laundering to bribery Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn . Prosecutors say Cothren, Casada and Smith conspired to take advantage of the $3,000 allowance given to lawmakers to mail campaign materials after Casada left his post as House speaker. Throughout 2020, the trio made $51,947 split among them from the state's mailer program, prosecutors say. Cothren, under the fictitious name Matthew Phoenix, started a political mailer company called Phoenix Solutions in November 2019. Casada and Smith pressured state officials to approve the company as a vendor for legislators' "Postage and Printing Allowance" and then pressured other state officials to select Phoenix Solutions as their vendor, prosecutors state. Cothren covered up the fact he was Matthew Phoenix, prosecutors state. Casada and Smith, meanwhile, hid that they were profiting off their colleagues hiring Phoenix Solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith was indicted on honest services wire fraud in March 2022 and pleaded guilty within days. What charges do they face? Casada and Cothren each face charges ranging from theft to money laundering conspiracy. The highest charges carry potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines of $500,000. The charges and their maximum punishments are below: Count 1: Conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, bribery and kickbacks concerning programs receiving federal funds, and honest services wire fraud 5 years, $250,000; Count 2: Theft concerning programs receiving federal funds 10 years, $250,000; Counts 3-4: Bribery and kickbacks concerning programs receiving federal funds 10 years, $250,000; Counts 5-10: Honest services wire fraud 20 years, $250,000; Count 11: Use of a fictitious name to carry out a fraud 5 years, $250,000; Count 12: Money laundering conspiracy 20 years, $500,000; Counts 13-18: Money laundering 20 years, $500,000; Counts 19-20: Money laundering 10 years, $250,000. What witnesses, evidence do prosecutors have? Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said in a brief filed in early April it plans to call about 15 witnesses during the trial. Sexton will testify about the requirements of the $3,000 Posting and Printing Allowance prosecutors say Casada and Cothren took advantage of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several state legislators and other state officials will testify that they were deceived by the conspirators regarding the operations of Phoenix Solutions, according to prosecutors. Other witnesses include Smith, the former director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, several FBI agents and a forensic accountant. Prosecutors have bank records, emails and text messages between Cothren and Casada, documents found in a search of Cothrens apartment, as well as a recording of Cothren and Smith showing their participation in the conspiracy, according to prosecutors. What have Casada, Cothren argued in defense? Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, left, and his chief of staff, Cade Cothren, speak during session in Nashville on May 1, 2019. Casada and Cothren in earlier court filings have argued their actions were not fraudulent because lawmakers received the services they paid for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Indictment does not, and cannot, allege that any individual who utilized the services of Phoenix Solutions did not receive exactly what they bargained for mailers sent to constituents," Casada's attorneys wrote in a 2023 motion to dismiss the case. "Nor can the Indictment allege that Phoenix Solutions failed to do exactly what it was represented to do produce mailers for constituent mailings." Accepting that argument, they say the government's case then collapses into the allegation that Casada acted fraudulently by not disclosing his interest in Phoenix Solutions. "The Indictment alleges a scheme of secrecy, but the law is clear that non-disclosed affiliation with a company who actually performed necessary services is not a federal crime," Casada's attorneys wrote. Cothren's attorneys made a similar argument in their own motion to dismiss. 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 story has been updated to add video. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Casada, Cothren trial on corruption charges begins: When, what to know Following the death of Pope Francis, the eyes of the world will turn to Rome, where a papal conclave will decide who will become the next pontiff - but could the world see its first American pope this election? The simple answer is unlikely, but its not impossible. This enormous decision will be made by cardinals from all over the world. Of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, 138 are currently eligible to elect the new pope. Though the American Catholic Church is one of the biggest and richest in the world, there has never been an American-born pope. The idea of an American pope has often been dismissed, given the geopolitical influence America already has across the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently nine U.S. cardinals that are expected to take place in the 2025 conclave, according to the list of cardinal electors. Following the death of Pope Francis, the eyes of the world will turn to Rome, where a papal conclave will decide who will become the next pontiff. Could that person be American? (Getty Images) They are: Cardinal Robert Prevost, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Cardinal Sean Patrick OMalley and Cardinal Raymond Burke. With nine U.S. cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave out of 138, the mathematical possibility of the next pope being American is around 6.5 percent. Bookmakers odds are also unfavorable. According to Online Betting Guide, none of the Americans are considered favorites. According to William Hill, Luis Antonio Tagle and Pietro Parolin are currently front-runners to succeed Francis with 7/4 odds followed by Cardinal Peter Erdo at 8/1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, as fans of the Academy Award-winning movie Conclave know, the process of selecting a new pope is political and anything could happen. Even so, John Allen Jr., a Vatican expert and author of All the Popes Men: The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks told The New York Post, that the prospect of an American pope is slim. Appointed Archbishop of New York in 2009, Dolan is one of the most recognizable figures in the U.S. Catholic church known for his charisma and media savvy. However the possibility of him being made pope is a longshot (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Appointed Archbishop of New York in 2009, Dolan is one of the most recognizable figures in the U.S. Catholic church known for his charisma and media savvy. However, one of the main issues, according to Allen, is that Dolan may simply be too American. Hes seen as charismatic, articulate, and someone certainly capable of holding his own on the global stage, having served as the chief shepherd of the media capital of the universe, Allen told The Post. Nonetheless, I suspect youd have to rate Dolan as a long shot, not a favorite. Americans, often seen at the forefront of global culture clashes and with stereotypically brash attitudes, would need to demonstrate other skills such as experience abroad and capacity with languages to take on the role. Illinois-born Cardinal Robert Prevost has extensive experience in Peru as both a missionary and then an archbishop. He is currently prefect of the Vaticans dicastery for bishops, which handles various administrative and pastoral responsibilities of the Holy See, including the vetting nominations for bishops around the world (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Illinois-born Prevost may fit this criteria, with extensive experience in Peru as both a missionary and then an archbishop. He is currently prefect of the Vaticans dicastery for bishops, which handles various administrative and pastoral responsibilities of the Holy See, including the vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the age of 69, Prevost is younger than many of the other cardinals, which may count against him being selected if others do not wish to risk having another lengthy tenure. Burke, who was born in Wisconsin, has already been touted by some as a possible successor to the pontiff, having participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis. Burke, who was born in Wisconsin and made cardinal in 2010, has already been touted by some as a possible successor to the pontiff, having participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Regarded by critics as an outspoken traditionalist he was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Burke publicly clashed with Franciss more liberal philosophies, particularly regarding his willingness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist. He has also called the churchs new language around artificial contraception, civil marriages and gay people objectionable. He previously said that Catholic politicians who support legalized abortion, such as former president Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist. With the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, the worlds attention now turns to who will replace him. Predicting who will be chosen as the next leader of the worlds 1.2 billion Catholics is notoriously fraught with difficulties. In theory, any baptised Catholic male could be made Pope. In practice, however, the next pontiff will likely be drawn from the cardinals who will gather in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican for the secret papal election known as the conclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Pope Benedict XVI stepped down in 2013, very few Vatican observers predicted that Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina would be elected as Pope Francis. This time around, there are no stand-out candidates, making the guessing game even more challenging. But there are names of potential papabile (likely candidates for the papacy) swirling around the corridors of the Vatican. Their diverse origins reflect the vast global reach of the Catholic Church. The contest is likely to come down to a battle between progressives who applaud the late popes comparatively liberal stance on divorcees, gays and the plight of refugees, and conservatives who loathed his agenda. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67 The frontrunner in the betting markets would be the first Asian pope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, from the Philippines, is a name often mentioned among liberals within the Catholic Church. Dubbed the Asian Francis for his good humour and progressive views, he has some of Pope Francis humility at the seminary in the Philippines where he lived for about 20 years, his room had no air-conditioning or television. Even when made a bishop, he eschewed a car and went to work in a bus or jeepney. Edward Pentin, a Vatican expert and the author of The Next Pope: The Leading Cardinal Candidates, said: Five or six years ago, he was Pope Franciss favourite to succeed him. Hes head of the important new super-dicastery for evangelisation. Hes quite a strong contender. And hes still relatively young, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His age may count against him, however cardinals are wary of appointing a relatively young man because his papacy could last decades, thwarting their own ambitions and squeezing their chances of one day being elected. Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76 A key adviser to Pope Francis on issues such as climate change and social justice, Cardinal Peter Turkson would be the first black pope. Born in Ghana, Pope John Paul II appointed him archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 and, 11 years later, made him the first cardinal in the history of the West African state. Promotions continued under John Pauls successor, Benedict, who brought him to the Vatican in 2009 and made him the head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace the body that promotes social justice, human rights and world peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that role, he was one of the Popes closest advisers on issues such as climate change and drew much attention by attending conferences such as the Davos Economic Forum. Pope Francis merged Cardinal Turksons department in 2016 with three other offices, leading to what some saw as a power struggle between him and another cardinal. Cardinal Turkson resigned from that role in 2021 and was appointed to head two pontifical academies on sciences and social sciences. In 2023, he told the BBC he prayed against the possibility that he would be elected Pope, but some of his detractors said given his media appearances, it appeared he was campaigning for the job. Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72 For the conservatives, there is Peter Erdo, a Hungarian cardinal and Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Pentin said: Erdo is a leading contender for the conservative wing of the Church. People like him because he is a strong canonist hes proficient in Church law. Many Catholics feel that the Church needs to be brought back from a sense of ecclesiastical lawlessness that evolved under Francis. Erdo would be a safe pair of hands. He ranks as a conservative in theology, and in speeches throughout Europe, he stresses the Christian roots of the continent. However, he is also seen to be pragmatic and never clashed openly with Francis, unlike other tradition-minded clerics. That said, he raised eyebrows in the Vatican during the 2015 migrant crisis when he went against Pope Francis call for churches to take in refugees, saying this would amount to human trafficking seemingly aligning himself with Hungarys nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70 Pietro Parolin, the current secretary of state for the Vatican in effect, its prime minister is also considered to be a leading candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His profile rose during the Ukraine war as the Vatican presented itself as an honest broker that could eventually mediate with Moscow to bring the conflict to a close. Thomas Reese, an American Catholic priest and the author of Inside the Vatican, said: Hes a very competent diplomat. Hes been the brains behind Pope Francis international diplomacy. He doesnt put a foot wrong. He is tarnished, however, by a property scandal in which the Vatican lost millions of euros through the bungled purchase of a former Harrods showroom in London. Questions will be raised about whether he was incompetent or delegated responsibility to subordinates. Either way, something went wrong, and he was the boss. Theres an ongoing trial, so it could overshadow his papacy, said Father Reese, who is also a columnist for Religion News Service. Other candidates Another Italian in the mix is Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, the Archbishop of Bologna, a progressive who is regarded as having been close to Francis. The 69-year-old is closely affiliated with the Sant Egidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cardinal Zuppi has extensive experience of conflict resolution. He was part of SantEgidios team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambiques civil war in the 1990s and was named Francis peace envoy for the war in Ukraine, shuttling between Kyiv, Washington, Moscow and Beijing. He was appointed a cardinal in 2019 and is regarded as a progressive in the mould of Francis. His relative youth may count against him cardinals could be wary of appointing someone whose papacy could last for many years, concerned that the direction he takes the Church would become too entrenched. Aside from Cardinal Parolin and Cardinal Zuppi, there is a third Italian name coming to the fore: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, a 59-year-old Franciscan who is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. He is Italian but has broad experience of the wider world, having spent decades in the Middle East. He speaks Italian, Hebrew and English. His long years observing the Israel-Palestine conflict mean he is an expert at interfaith dialogue and mediation. He could be seen as a bridge between East and West. Francis appointed him a cardinal in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has never been a Pope from North America but some Vatican observers think Cardinal Robert Prevost may be in with a chance. Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old has plenty of experience working in the global south he was a missionary in Peru and then an archbishop. He is currently the head of the Vaticans powerful dicastery (department) for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. But like Cardinal Zuppi, his relative youth may weigh against him cardinals could be reluctant to choose a pope who could reign for a couple of decades. Cardinal Jose Tolentino Calaca de Mendonca is a candidate from the liberal wing of the Church. He comes from the Portuguese island of Madeira and was appointed by Pope Francis as head of a department for culture and education. Staying within Europe, Cardinal Mario Grech from Malta, the secretary-general of the Synod of bishops, is thought to have a decent chance of landing the top job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is seen as having been close to Pope Francis but a conservative at heart, meaning he could fit the bill as a compromise candidate. Another African who is being mentioned is Cardinal Robert Sarah, from Guinea, who has criticised gender ideology and denounced Islamic radicalism. Other names of papabile (literally pope-able) cardinals include Jean-Marc Aveline from France, Joseph Tobin from the US, Juan Jose Omella Omella, the archbishop of Barcelona, and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the Democratic Republic of Congo who, if elected, would become the first black pope. Forecasting a winner is a risky business Since Pope Francis was elected in 2013, he has appointed about two-thirds of the cardinals who are eligible to elect the next pope. Close to half the cardinals are now from the global south. They have issues that are different to issues in Europe and the US. Theyre concerned about global warming, poverty, civil wars, corruption in government, said Father Reese. All politics is local. Every cardinal wants to know how the next pope will be viewed in their country. Is he someone who will listen to me, who speaks my language? They could choose a cardinal from the global south. Vatican rules state that cardinals must reach a two-thirds majority when they gather to vote in the conclave, which is held inside the Sistine Chapel. For now, there is no leading candidate. There are so many variables, and the process is so opaque, that forecasting a winner is a risky business. Last time around, when Benedict XVI resigned, I predicted that there was no way they would elect a Jesuit pope. They went ahead and elected a Jesuit pope. It proved how poor our understanding was, said Father Reese. 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. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) With election day just a couple of weeks away, McMurry Universitys Dr. Paul Fabrizio and Adjunct Professor Hannah Durbin shared their thoughts following a recent Abilene City Council candidate forum. The event brought together four of the five candidates running for the two open council seats. Incumbent Travis Craver faced challenger Tammy Fogle for Place 6, while Place 5 incumbent Kyle McAlister appeared alongside challenger Miguel Espinoza. The other Place 5 candidate, Cynthia Alvidrez, withdrew from the forum just 34 minutes before it started. Fabrizio praised all four participating candidates for being well-prepared and informed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had good knowledge about the city, and of course, youd expect that from the two incumbents, but the two challengers have obviously made a great effort to understand the city. It was a very reasonable debate, if you will, or a forum, where they discussed the issues from a perspective of knowing what they were talking about, Fabrizio explained. Ive been watching politics a long time, and sometimes weve had candidates who just didnt understand what they were running for. But here, I think the voters can be assured that were going to have people who know what theyre doing when they get elected. Durbin agreed, saying the forum left her feeling encouraged. Any time a citizen steps up to run and serve their community, its awe-inspiring. Its awesome to see that they want to help and make a positive change. I was also reassured that a lot of the candidates were speaking the same language, Durbin added. Sometimes you watch politics and you think these two people are not even on the same planet, but here in Abilene, it seems like the folks that want to represent our community are all aligned on the issues and where we can continue to grow. Listening, leadership & service: Travis Cravers vision for Abilene Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it came to the matchup between Craver and Fogle, Fabrizio said it felt like there was more under the surface. They were careful in what they said. I would love to have a conversation with them away from the cameras and see what theyre really, really thinking. Because, I mean, if you look at the words, there really wasnt that much difference in what theyre talking about, Fabrizio said. I got the sense that especially with Tammy Fogle, there was an edge to what she was saying, like theres more that she wants to share, more concerns she has, but the forum wasnt appropriate for that, and she kept on talking about Travis Craver and his six years in office, and with the implication that he hasnt been doing things, but Im not sure what that was that he hasnt been doing right. Fabrizio described this as a low-intensity election, meaning theres no single issue energizing voters right now, unlike past elections over street conditions, smoking bans, or even fluoride. Weve all lived here long enough to remember when you know it was the streets, or you go back further, there was a smoking ban, or even long ago, fluoride. Now there isnt that issue thats driving things here. As a consequence, I think that to separate the candidates, we have to dig deeper. But I dont think they were willing to go deeper today, which was unfortunate, Fabrizio shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tammy Fogle runs for Abilene City Council, pledging transparency & fiscal responsibility Durbin noted a lack of energy surrounding the election overall, adding that many residents might not even realize its happening. But something Miss Fogle brought up a lot was transparency. Then Travis answered and said, Well, we put it all on the website, and its all there. But then the real question is, how do you get citizens to care? Durbin asked. There are a few that maybe do care. But were going to look at the turnout numbers for this election, and you have less than 10% of eligible voters in Abilene voting for the people who really impact their day-to-day lives. I think we have to ask ourselves, how do we get citizens more involved? She added that presidential elections usually see the highest turnout, even though voters have the least local impact in those. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, when were looking at the best use of my time, going to stand in line and researching candidates, local elections are where it truly matters, right? If we have less than 7,000 voters for a city council election, youre talking about, my vote truly does matter. It could sway the election, and that doesnt necessarily happen, Durbin explained. Its great that youre hosting forums like this, so we can help continue to get candidates excited about taking care of their community. I think a lot of that just starts at the youngest levels, and making sure kids know to grow up to be good citizens, and that it matters. Cynthia Alvidrez seeks Abilene city council seat, says leadership is failing One of the few policy issues raised during the forum was water infrastructure, but Fabrizio said the conversation didnt go far enough. Its not that they havent thought about it, but Im not sure anybody knows quite where to go. Because, on the one hand, youre talking about taxes and concerns about costs, and there are questions about the certificate of obligation. On the other hand, youre saying were going to need more water, which is going to require great costs. So, how do you do both? How do you come up with that? Fabrizio asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On whether candidates would align with or resist state mandates, Fabrizio was blunt: I think everybody on the city council, and I think all the challengers, would love to buck the state, but theres the reality, you cant. You can complain all you want, but when the state or the federal government makes its rules, you have to follow them, Fabrizio said. It wasnt talked about today, but theres this whole issue with the PFAs, those forever chemicals in the water, to fix thats going to require hundreds of millions of dollars, and were going to have no choice if we have to do it. Durbin added that the motivation to run can be simple, but the actual job is complex. I think sometimes its easier to run, and youre motivated because you see things you know, like Miss Vogel brought up a million-dollar dog park. She says that a lot. I think when you see that headline, Im like, thats crazy, right? I think thats the reaction its meant to get, Durbin shared. But then you have to balance that with some of the experience of the incumbents, because once you actually get into the seat, I think we would all find that governing is much harder than maybe we would imagine, and so you have to deal with things like these mandates from the state. You think, if Im elected to the City Council, I can do it. Im in charge now, right? I have the power, and that doesnt always translate. So I think thats a tricky thing theyre all going to have to balance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just 34 minutes before the forum began, Place 5 Candidate Cynthia Alvidrez withdrew from the forum. Fabrizio said Alvidrezs last-minute withdrawal could be significant. You put it with the candidate history; she has run before. This is her fourth race, I believe, for a city office, and so voters already have an impression of her. So when she backs out, she loses an opportunity to either cement that reputation, further introduce herself to new voters, or change the reputation that she might have with voters, Fabrizio said. I dont want to be harsh or anything like that, but we are talking about people who are going to represent the city, represent the voters, and its very hard. We are a city of 125,000 people to get in front of all those voters, and heres the opportunity to do it. She chose to step away from that, and I think thats a loss. Its a loss for her, but I think its also a loss for the city. We should have an opportunity to hear what she has to say. Longtime Abilene Councilman Kyle McAlister to defend seat in May election Durbin said all the candidates came across as sincere, though the contrast between incumbents and newcomers was noticeable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You could definitely tell the incumbents had more experience, and thats just part of the job, right? If youve been on council for several years, then you understand how the budgeting timeline and process work, so you wouldnt necessarily expect that from a newcomer, Durbin shared. But it did seem like everyone had the right motivations, but those skill levels were definitely different between the incumbents and the newcomers. Fabrizio pointed out that sometimes, candidates may not fully realize what theyre signing up for when they run for local office. I dont think people, when they think about running for office, are aware of the homework that you have to do and the 20 hours a week for a job that pays $1 a year, Fabrizio said. Durbin agreed, noting the complexity of the issues council members face Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant be an expert on everything. Were asking these folks to help solve everything from the unhoused problem to water issues in the city to public safety and security. Youll never know everything. Youre always going to have to do the reading, but youre going to have to reach out to experts and really think deeply about how you feel about these issues that impact people every day, Durbin added. Miguel Espinoza looks to bring fresh perspective to Abilene City Council Despite a few subtle jabs, both professors were impressed with the tone and professionalism of the candidates. I think its reassuring that even though there were a few jabs back and forth, they were still very respectful, especially by todays political standards. So being able to carry yourself and speak intelligibly about issues that matter to local citizens means a lot, Durbin explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it was a very respectful forum, respectful for each other and everything, which is why I asked that question at the beginning. Is there more? Could we go deeper? Fabrizio added. Fabrizio and Durbin emphasized that running for local office is no small task, and they appreciate those willing to take on the challenge. I think we ought to thank the candidates for doing this. Its a real sacrifice on their part. Its going to be time away from their. Families, if they win, even just running, I think they have a much better idea of whats in the city and what motivates voters. I think we owe them a debt of gratitude for stepping out and doing this, Fabrizio said. For sure, Im sure the city council people dont often hear when theyre doing a great job, and they hear a lot when people are unhappy, Durbin added. Thanks to all the candidates, and it means a lot that theyre willing to step up and serve their communities. The Abilene City Council election will take place in May 2025. Click here to see the ballot order, or click on the candidates names below to learn more about where they stand. Place 5: Place 6: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained five pro-Russian Internet agitators who publicly supported the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine and justified the war crimes of the occupiers. Among those detained is 58-year-old former functionary of the banned Nashi party, former MP Yevhen Murayev. "According to the case materials, this defendant administered one of the groups that popularized the party on Facebook. There, he regularly spread fakes about the Defense Forces and the situation at the front, and also praised Putin," the Telegram channel said in a message on Monday. As noted, the total audience of the enemy Internet resource was 27,000 users. Another defendant is an employee of one of the factories in Kyiv region, who popularized the occupiers during communication with colleagues. In addition, the SBU also detained an enemy agitator in the capital. The offender registered on the banned social network Vkontakte, where she supported the Russian occupation groups. In the Carpathian region, a resident of the village of Bohorodchany was exposed, who in Odnoklassniki glorified the occupiers and justified the temporary occupation of the eastern regions of Ukraine. Another defendant is a driver for a local trading company who, during work trips with colleagues, began provocative conversations justifying the Kremlins crimes. Forensic linguistic examinations initiated by the Security Service confirmed the facts of information-subversive activities of the criminals. SBU investigators informed them of suspicion under Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acquittal, recognition of the lawfulness, denial of armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine). The perpetrators are being kept in custody. They face up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property. CLEVELAND (WJW)n For the last 20 months, members of the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department Downtown Safety Patrol have been working in downtown Cleveland. Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel told the FOX 8 I-Team he believes the deputies have helped reduce violent crime in the downtown area. However, some Cuyahoga County councilmembers want to stop funding the program, citing the cost and a March 28 high speed chase that resulted in two deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councilmembers Michael Gallagher, Sunny Simon and Michael Houser have proposed legislation to prohibit the sheriff from spending any money on the safety patrol, which would cause the program to end. Gates Mills police arrest man wanted on homicide warrant out of Puerto Rico The resolution is on the agenda for Tuesdays meeting, but it is not known when council may vote on the issue. I support this resolution because its time to hit the pause button and take a hard look at the sheriffs pursuit policies, Houser said. Recent events have shown the tragic consequences of unchecked pursuits. Now two lives lost over what began as a simple traffic violation. We must prioritize public safety and ensure our protocols reflect both common sense and compassion. This resolution gives us the opportunity to thoroughly examine training, oversight and high speed chase policies, and to align with national best practices. Most importantly, its about protecting our residents from preventable harm. Lets work together to prevent future tragedies and keep our community safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councilman Patrick Kelly also released the following statement. The Downtown Safety Patrol has always been a concern of many councilmembers for several reasons, most which have been discussed openly ever since its inception in the Public Safety and Justice Affairs Committee. In light of the tragic incidents weve faced recently, it is crucial that we reevaluate the resources, effectiveness and purpose of this initiative. While the sheriff, supported by the executive, is currently overseeing the patrol, we must consider whether this approach truly serves the best interests of our entire community. Historically, the sheriffs department has enjoyed the full support of the council, most recently noted by council adding millions of dollars to the sheriffs budget when it was clearly under funded by the administration for the 2025 budget update. Its also worth remembering that there was an impact unit designed to assist all 59 communities, rather than focusing solely on a specific area of Cleveland, and that unit was adequately funded by the council. I look forward to the future discussion of this legislation in committee. The Downtown Safety Patrol was started in August 2023 following a mass shooting downtown. Cleveland police are short staffed and city officials asked for help due to the violence downtown. Cuyahoga County spokesperson Jennifer Ciaccia released the following statement: The Cuyahoga County Downtown Safety Patrol (DSP) has become a trusted presence in the downtown neighborhood, helping residents, workers and visitors feel safe. Their efforts make a positive impact on public safety in Downtown Cleveland and Cuyahoga County every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since its inception in 2023, the Downtown Safety Patrol has confiscated 291 illegally possessed firearms, 65 of which were connected to other violent crimes, including felonious assaults and homicides. In addition, the deputies of DSP have made 103 felony arrests, conducted 4,946 traffic stops, confiscated $197,489.50 tied to illegal drug sales and issued 194 traffic and misdemeanor citations. VIDEO: Start of police chase where suspect steals cop car However, at least one county councilmember is not in favor of the resolution. Councilmember Martin Sweeney says council should not be reactionary body. We confirmed the sheriff. We chose him to lead the department, Sweeney said. The last thing the sheriffs department needs is council running it, thats why we confirmed the sheriff, the person we have the faith and confidence to run the sheriffs department at the highest professional level. If any council members want to be a sheriff, they should request to be recommended by the executive and if so, council will consider confirming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Gasiewski, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmens Association, told the I-Team he hopes the sheriffs Downtown Safety Patrol continues. So the CPPA position is we dont want to see any cuts for anyone, Gasiewski said. We dont want to see defunding, cuts in law enforcement in the state or in the city. All the law enforcement agencies work 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Jury selection starts for decades-old child molesting Jury selection started Monday for a Gary man charged with molesting a girl in the early 2000s. Frederick Fenderson, 64, is charged with child molesting and sexual misconduct with a minor. The victim, then 29, told a Fort Collins, Colorado detective in 2019 that Fenderson sexually assaulted her in Gary from age 7 to 14 around 2002 to 2005. The trial is expected to open Tuesday morning. East Chicago man charged with molesting girl An East Chicago man is charged with sexually assaulting a child from 2006 to 2014 in Griffith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Ruiz, 62, is charged with nine counts of child molesting and one count of attempted child molesting. He is in custody. The case was unsealed after his recent arrest. A court appearance was scheduled Monday. The victims mother went to the Griffith Police station March 7 to report Ruiz had raped her now-adult daughter from age 3 to 8 after seeing her TikTok post where she revealed her perpetrator was still free. Ruiz ultimately declined to speak with police. mcolias@post-trib.com DISCLAIMER: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. VIVIAN, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Vivian Police Department was dispatched to the 300 block of Pardue Street in Vivian in response to a shooting at 8:25 p.m. on Sunday. More local news When officers arrived, they found a 16-year-old female lying on the floor inside the residence with a gunshot wound to her upper body. Caddo Fire District 8 arrived shortly afterward and pronounced the young woman deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a release from the Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office (CPSO), the Vivian Police Department then contacted CPSO for assistance. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Headlines The Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office arrived and took over the investigation. CPSO investigators transported two teenage witnesses, a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old female, of the shooting to the detectives office. Upon arriving at the detectives office, the two teenagers were read their Miranda rights before they were interviewed. A legal guardian was present for the 16-year-old female. During the interviews, they admitted to shooting the 16-year-old female while at the residence in Vivian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the interviews were conducted, Wyatt L. Sanders, 17-year-old, was taken to Caddo Correctional Center (CCC), where he was booked on one count of illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile and one count of negligent homicide. The 16-year-old female was transported to Caddo Juvenile Detention Center, where she was booked on one count of illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile and one count of negligent homicide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Firefighters were dispatched early this morning to the scene of a duplex fire in Harrisburg, and responded shortly after to a garage fire. Early this morning around 2:45 a.m., firefighters responded to the scene of a duplex fire on North 12th Street in Harrisburg. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts The 2-story shared duplex sustained damage to the interiors of both homes more so than the exteriors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Battalion Chief Cornell Bradford, fire crews arrived to the scene to find heavy fire in the rear of the duplex structure. At the time of the fire, both addresses were occupied. Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline told abc27 news that there were six people living in the left side of duplex and two people in the right. Initially, there was difficulty getting to the fire due to heavy insulation in the one unite and a lot of storage that firefighters had to get through in the second. Chief Enterline added that the left side of the duplex was an illegal boarding house, which he says is a huge problem in Harrisburg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no injuries as a result of the fire, and no one was transported to the hospital. Minutes after crews responded to the duplex fire, they then were dispatched to a single garage fire around 2:48 a.m. on Regina Street in Harrisburg. According to Chief Enterline, the garage is a total loss inside the garage there was a car and some other items. One firefighter was injured while responding, and was extradited by personnel. This garage fire is currently under investigation. abc27 news will keep you updated as we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Just before 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sioux City Fire and Rescue was called to the 2600 block of Correctionville Road and South Fairmont Street. Two buildings within a strip mall were billowing with smoke. Bystanders said they could see it from roughly a mile away. While tackling the fire, officials battled ventilation issues while in the two buildings, resulting in firefighters having to use chainsaws and pike poles to ease the issue. 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal "this week," as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. "Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune," Trump wrote on Truth Social over the weekend, referring to a potential deal. His call comes as the Wall Street Journal, citing Western officials, reported that the U.S. presented a confidential document that outlined concessions the U.S. will make to Russia in order to reach a deal, including recognition of Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea and barring Kyiv from joining NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on April 21 that the U.S. has had "very good meetings" on Russia and Ukraine, and that he would be providing "full details over the next three days." President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Ukrainian delegation would hold the upcoming talks with the American, British, and French counterparts in London on April 23. After what he called "a good and detailed" phone call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelensky said that Kyiv is ready to move forward "in the most constructive way possible to achieve an unconditional ceasefire" and lasting peace. Ukrainian lawmaker and chair of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, Oleksandr Merezhko, told the Kyiv Independent that if Trump did follow through and formally recognize the occupied peninsula as Russian, it would be a "huge scandal" with major implications for the international rule of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Much worse than Munich in 1938," he said. Another U.S. proposal includes turning the areas surrounding Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant into neutral territory possibly under American control, according to the WSJ. Read also: Nearly 100 days of Trump, and Putin is still calling the shots What is said to happen this week? What could be a decisive week for Kyiv comes as the U.S.-Ukraine relations are experiencing another low point. Following a clash between Zelensky, Trump, and his Vice President JD Vance at the Oval Office in February, Washington showed the extent to which it is willing to pressure Kyiv temporarily cutting off military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, it had not shown a desire to pressure Russia, despite Moscow's repeated rejection of a full ceasefire, agreed by Ukraine and the U.S. on March 11. The U.S. continues its efforts to see a ceasefire agreed to by both sides. Talks in Paris held on April 17 the first high-level meeting between Ukrainian, European, and American officials since Trump took office will be followed by another meeting in London. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are set to take part in the London talks, according to the WSJ. Rubio said on April 18 that the clock is ticking, and the U.S. has other priorities to focus on stressing that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is "not our war." He said the U.S. must determine "very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days," whether a deal is possible in the coming few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're not going to continue to fly all over the world and do meeting after meeting after meeting if no progress is being made," Rubio told reporters. Trump, who is three months into his second presidency, had pledged to broker a long-term ceasefire within 24 hours, which he later adjusted to 100 days, which are to end on April 30. What is the situation on the battlefield? While the U.S. is directing its pressure on Ukraine, Russian troops are trying to carry out a spring offensive in multiple directions against their outmanned and exhausted Ukrainian soldiers. Their increased attacks are, however, not delivering results. Russian troops have secured minor gains over the past month and managed to force Ukrainian soldiers out of most of Russia's Kursk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian forces are intensifying efforts to push Ukrainian troops out of the remaining Ukraine-controlled parts of Kursk Oblast and capture border areas of Sumy Oblast, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 21. "Intense fighting continues in Sumy Oblast in areas near the state border, as well as on the territory of the Russian Federation," Syrskyi wrote. Despite that, the front line has remained static over the past few weeks. It is unclear how well Ukraine could withstand another wave of Russian offensives as the manpower shortage and resource constraints worsen. Can Europe save Ukraine? Should the U.S. pull military and intelligence-sharing aid again, doubts are in the air over whether an increasingly divided Europe could fill in the gaps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe has called for ramping up the continent's defense production capacity, stressing that Russia is outproducing all European countries combined. Yet, European arms manufacturers are expressing doubts, saying that scaling up production to fill in the gaps would take time and depend on political will, Reuters reported. Rubio has not made it clear whether the U.S. would fully pull the plug on supporting Ukraine if no peace agreement is reached this week. After the U.S. temporarily halted its military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, European leaders have shown solidarity with Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview with German newspaper Die Zeit, published on April 15, that it is important for Europe to show that it is "staying power" as Putin's "imperialistic ambitions" could drive Russia to attempt an attack on NATO or EU countries in the future. "There is no limit to his imperialistic ambitions," von der Leyen told Die Zeit. While visiting Kyiv in March, Starmer vowed that the U.K. would stand with Ukraine "for as long as it may take." French President Emmanuel Macron, who has called for strong measures to "impose a ceasefire on Russia, also vowed that his country would scale up its support for Ukraine in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European leaders have been meeting to discuss possible security guarantees they could provide Ukraine since Trump's push for peace talks in mid-February. Read also: Putin believes he has the upper hand Ukraine braces for a new Russian spring offensive What does Ukraine think of US peace effort? As the U.S.-led peace talks continue despite obstacles, Ukraine has laid out its red lines. Russia is not to gain more Ukrainian territories, an establishment of international security guarantees to prevent Russia from violating the ceasefire, and the return of Ukrainian civilians, including children, illegally abducted and held by Russia, are among Kyiv's demands, the Independent reported, citing senior Ukrainian officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian authorities have said on multiple occasions they won't recognize any of Ukraine's territories as Russian, including Crimea. In turn, Ukraine has agreed to an unconditional U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire if Russia follows suit. Russia has only intensified its indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Ukraine since then. Russia attacked the city of Kryvyi Rih with ballistic missiles on April 4, killing 20, among them nine children. On April 13, Russia used cluster munitions to attack the city center of the regional capital, Sumy, killing 36. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he ordered an Easter ceasefire that supposedly began at 6 p.m. on April 19 and ended 30 hours later. Ukrainian soldiers on the ground told the Kyiv Independent that they had not seen signs of the ceasefire as the fighting raged on across the front. Ukraine remains wary of any ceasefire agreement with Russia, given how Moscow has violated the truce multiple times over the 2014-2022 war in eastern Ukraine. The concerns also veil around who would oversee the ceasefire, as Russia is unlikely to agree to stationing NATO troops so close to the Russian border. European officials have warned against a rushed peace deal, which has kept smaller Baltic nations near Russia on their toes. Trump's sharp U.S. policy turn on Ukraine has raised deep concerns over the future of international security, with the reported potential American recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea possibly causing further damage. Such a move would set an example to other authoritarian states that a bigger country can redraw the border by force. Read also: Pope Francis leaves a mixed legacy in wartime Ukraine, overshadowed by historic Vatican-Moscow ties Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said new cases of criminals posing as members of law enforcement have added a new aspect to the scam, requesting gold or other precious metals as payment. According to CSPD, police continue to investigate new cases of scams where criminals pose as members of law enforcement, claiming that their intended victim has missed jury duty, failed to show up to court for a subpoena, or to turn themselves in on a warrant, and demand immediate payment to resolve the situation. CSPD said the new aspect of the scam is that criminals are demanding payment in the form of gold or other precious metals. Currently, police are investigating two cases where someone bought gold from legitimate dealers, but then turned the gold over to scammers in hopes of protecting their assets or avoiding potential penalties. CSPD believes there are more cases of this scam that have gone unreported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These scams sound real, and scammers usually have some information about the victim or company that sounds legitimate. As a reminder, neither CSPD nor any law enforcement agency will ever solicit payment of any kind over the phone, especially not through gift cards or cryptocurrency. CSPD shared several things that the community can do to help prevent themselves from becoming the victim of a scam: Be careful of what you post on social media. Scammers can get personal information about you and your family that they try to use to their advantage. If you get a call from someone who is asking to pay a fine, warrant, or fee via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or precious metals such as gold, stop and take a moment. Remember that law enforcement will never solicit payment over the phone, especially through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or gold. If the caller says they are from law enforcement, hang up and look up the contact information for that agency. Call them back at the publicly listed number to contact to verify the information. If they are the CEO of the company or business, verify the information with a manager or another employee. Do not click on web address links from texts or emails; do your own internet search for the website or phone number to contact them. To report a scam, contact CSPD at (719) 444-7000 or your appropriate local jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Veronica Mann lost her only child Rashad Banks to lung cancer at 29 years old nearly four years ago. Mann, a retired probation officer for more than 20 years, has made it a mission since to educate the public about lung cancer and speak out against proposed cuts to Medicaid, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and The National Institutes of Health. She recently shared her story in Washington D.C. as a part of the American Lung Associations 2025 LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mann, a Hartford native and Bloomfield resident, was one of 45 representatives from 45 different states to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers recently in light of potential federal cuts. I was representing Connecticut and encouraging congresspeople to not cut Medicaid, the CDC or the NIH, Mann said. I dont understand how you can cut something so vital for peoples health and livelihood. If people dont have medical treatment, what will they do? We thought we needed to go down there and put a face on this so maybe some of them can understand the ramifications of what they are doing to people in the future. That was our mission. Mann said she met with assistants from Connecticut lawmakers including U.S. Reps John Larson, Jim Himes and Johanna Hayes as well as U.S. Sens Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal. We met with them and spread the word. But we are lucky in Connecticut, Mann said. We have a group of congresspeople that know the importance of having Medicaid, the CDC and the NIH and the work that they do. Our battle was easy because they understood. But when you come from another state that doesnt understand and they want to cut this, Im sure those people have different battles. But we had a good battle. We had receptive people that were listening to us. We were happy to give that message to our congresspeople. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have a loved one that has a condition and are receiving Medicaid, the last thing you need is to them to go to the doctor and to hear them say, We can no longer treat you because our office doesnt take Medicaid anymore,' Mann added. So, what are they supposed to do? You have a life-altering condition and not to have treatment? No. Are you supposed to sit there and die because you arent covered anymore? Thats not fair. Thats not right. Everyone needs medical care. Everyone. Without a doubt, cuts to these departments will cost peoples lives. Ruth Canovi, director of advocacy with the American Lung Association in Connecticut, said the 45 representatives had 173 meetings on Capitol Hill sharing short-term goals and building long-term relationships. There were tense days when we heard about the layoffs at the CDC and that is really impactful, Canovi said. There is so much in the air right now. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 226,650 lung cancer cases nationwide and 124,730 deaths in the country in 2025. In Connecticut, there are projected to be 2,740 cases and 1,230 deaths according to the American Lung Association. Diagnosis and treatment Manns son grew up in Bloomfield. He worked at Saint Francis Hospital as a cardiology monitor tech before relocating to Florida to take the same position at AdventHealth Hospital in Orlando. In November 2019, Banks, then 27 years old, complained of pain in his lower back and side area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes had kidney stones before and I told him to go to the emergency room to get checked out, but when youve had kidney stones before, its a pain you will never forget, Mann said. An ultrasound on his right side showed lung cancer on the lower part of his right lung. He called me to let me know what they found. As a mother, as a parent, you are devastated when you hear cancer. Cancer is not supposed to be for kids, its supposed to be for older family members. Not a 27-year-old in the prime of his life. It was hard for me and the family, Mann said. Mann went back and forth between Connecticut and Florida to go to oncologists and other doctor appointments with her son as a treatment plan was set up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mann remained in Florida after taking a March 17, 2020, flight from Bradley International Airport to Orlando. This was three days before the COVID-19 shutdowns. She said there were five people on the flight. I was able to be there throughout all of his chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, they decided they were going to remove the right lung because chemo was not working for him. They went in and found out the cancer had spread, Mann said. It was very aggressive. He went in for more immune therapy because the insurance company didnt want to cover more chemotherapy. The doctor fought for it, but he got immunotherapy. He did radiation and the cancer didnt go away. It took over. Banks died on Oct. 31, 2021. It was hard and not easy watching your child suffer and theres nothing worse for a parent knowing you cant comfort them or take away the pain, Mann said. In less than two years he was gone. He lost his battle with this terrible disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mann said her son was an excellent writer, good with numbers and was also an avid reader. He said you need to know a little bit about everything. You dont limit yourself. He was well-versed. He was a wonderful young man, Mann said. Giving back Mann returned to Connecticut in April 2022 and soon learned about the annual American Lung Associations LUNG FORCE Walk. She decided that she wanted to give back, and this cause would be her mission. This will be her third year participating. This years event will be on June 7 at East Hartfords Great River Park. Its a wonderful day and the walk keeps getting bigger and bigger, Mann said. Hopefully one year we will get it as big as the breast cancer and heart walks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mann said her son would be proud of her for doing her part for this cause He knows that Im a take-charge kind of mother. He would say, You got this, mom. You got this, mom. You are doing great. I knew you would have my back and have the back of others, too. He would be proud. He would be very proud, Mann said. My son was a special young man. We had a great bond. Im sorry someone so young had to go. What am I going to do? I cant keep him here. I would rather him be comfortable. Hes in a higher and better place and looking down on all of us now. I just wanted to do good work in his memory. Canovi said she is blown away by Manns advocacy. I cant tell you how much I appreciate her bravery, passion and vulnerability of telling such a compelling and tragic story, Canovi said. Shes been very generous and generous. Its important for people like Veronica to speak with lawmakers about the importance of investments into research and healthcare, she added. I can give statistics, but theres nothing more powerful than hearing someones story. Its something that they will remember. CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A man threatened to kill his Cumberland County neighbors multiple times with guns and a sword, leading up to Sundays police incident, court documents show. The night before the standoff, Keith Fox, 46, of Enola, allegedly told a neighbor she was going to die, while allegedly waiving firearms over his privacy fence, along the 300 block of Park Avenue in East Pennsboro Township, police said in charging documents. Keith Fox mugshot from police Previous report: Police incident reported in Cumberland County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said he was heard yelling Ill kill you, while in his backyard, waving the guns. The next morning, police said, they were called to the area after getting reports about Fox pointing a large sword at three different homes while saying youre going to die, charging docs state. Police said Fox was reported to be claiming he was God, and he was citing biblical passages. According to court docs, one person also reported hearing Fox say, a .45 hollow point will go through your house and will kill you. Not if but when. During this, Fox was allegedly seen in his backyard with an AR rifle and two pistols, pointing them at two victims inside their residence. Police said he was also seen with a large amount of ammo for his guns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police tried for hours to make contact with Fox after arriving at the scene, but had no luck. An armed officer stands at the door of a home along the 300 block of Park Avenue during Sundays police incident. After getting a search warrant, police were able to enter Foxs home and found two Colt .45 caliber pistols in his backyard, an AR 7.62 rifle, along with three fully loaded magazines for it, in his living room. Police said they found more ammo during their search. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania A family had to evacuate their home because of the threats Fox was making, police said. The East Pennsboro Police would like to thank the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety, East Pennsboro EMS, East Pennsboro/Hampden Fire Police, Upper Allen Police, West Shore Regional Police, Hampden Police, Central Penn College Security Department and the Cumberland County CNT/SRT Team, police said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox was taken to Cumberland County Prison after he was taken into custody, and he is locked up on bail set at $100,000 by Magisterial District Judge Michael Sanderson. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 7. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. To achieve the goals of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) for the period until 2030, about $40 billion is needed in six main areas, the Ukrainian analytical center DIXI Group reported, citing Deputy Minister of Economy Andriy Teliupa. "He added that the main sources of funding are the Ukraine Facility program (about EUR9.3 billion in grants and loans under Pillar II), bilateral agreements, programs of international financial institutions and government initiatives," reads the report. "On April 16, 2025, a meeting of the High Level Advisory Group (HLAG) on the implementation of the National Energy and Climate Plan for the period up to 2030 was held, bringing together representatives of the government of Ukraine, the European Commission, the Energy Community Secretariat and other international partners. The meeting discussed the successes of the NECP implementation, as well as the challenges facing Ukraine in the context of energy transformation," reads the report. "In particular, in March 2025, Ukraine submitted an integrated report on the implementation of the NECP to the Energy Community Secretariat, filling in all 20 annexes," it reads. "We are assessing the NECPs policies and measures against 205 indicators, using two cuts: the status of actual implementation and the degree of progress for those policies or measures that are still in the process of implementation, said Roman Nitsovych, Research Director at DiXi Group, presenting the results of the independent monitoring, which is being carried out in parallel with the official process. "The team of experts has already released three quarterly reports, the last two of which are available in English. The key decisions highlighted in the report for the first quarter of 2025 include the resumption of mandatory monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions; adoption of an action plan to establish an emissions trading system; adoption of optional requirements for near-zero energy buildings (NZEBs); and the start of minimum stockpiling of crude oil and petroleum products," the document says. As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the National Energy and Climate Plan until 2030 in June 2024. The NECP is a strategic document aimed at harmonizing environmental, energy and economic policies to ensure the sustainable development of Ukraine until 2030. Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday brushed off a $450,000 taxpayer-funded settlement over sex-harass allegations against him while suggesting his administration helped do the impossible to save lives during COVID. I said when it started from the beginning that [the sex lawsuit] was all political, and thats the way it turned out, Cuomo, 67, told The Post outside Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, Queens, where he had just delivered a brief address at the house of worship to mark Easter Sunday. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, speaking at Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, Queens, dismissed a $450,000 sexual harassment lawsuit settlement as political even as NY taxpayers must now pick up the tab. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post I was dropped from the suit, so it was up to the state. The state did a settlement, which was basically settling a nuisance suit sometimes it [costs] more to litigate than to settle. But it was all politics, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked for his thoughts about how New Yorkers must now foot the bill for the settlement, Cuomo responded, Thats why you cant politicize these things. If you start allowing political lawsuits and claims, then the taxpayers are gonna be paying a lot of money, he said before wishing reporters a happy Easter and getting into the drivers seat of a black Dodge. Cuomo has persistently maintained his innocence against a slew of sexual-harassment claims. Cuomo stepped down from office in August 2021 amid the sexual-harassment scandal and claims that his administration hid the true number of state nursing-home deaths involving COVID during the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His administration was blamed for scores of COVID deaths because of its policy of moving infected patients into nursing homes, where some of the states most vulnerable population was, when hospitals became overcrowded. Cuomo is leading a packed Democratic primary field in the race for NYC mayor. Calvary Baptist Church The former governor, who is running for New York City mayor, told the church crowd Sunday that there is too much negativity these days too much us vs. them rather than we. Let us rise above the chaos and the clamor so America may hear its better angels, he said. New York City has always been in the process of renewal and betterment. You knock us down, we get up stronger than ever before. You knock us down on 911, we get up stronger than before. You hit us with Hurricane Sandy, we come back stronger than ever before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You hit us with COVID, life and death, we come together as a community and do what they said was impossible, and we save lives. The former governor, who is running for New York City mayor, told the church crowd Sunday that there is too much negativity these days too much us vs. them rather than we. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post In the case of the nearly half-million-dollar sex-harass settlement involving him, Charlotte Bennett, 29, a former assistant to Cuomo when he was governor, filed suit against the state in March 2023. She alleged that it failed to act to address her complaint that Cuomo subjected her to degrading sexual harassment on the job and accused her of lying when she came forward with the accusations. She was awarded the settlement Friday. She will personally receive $100,000, while the other $350,000 will go for her lawyers and legal costs, all of which will be paid out of state coffers. As part of the settlement, Bennett agree not to seek further employment in the state Executive Chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo resigned two weeks after a report by the state attorney generals office that determined he had sexually harassed 11 women and created a hostile work environment in his office a finding later backed by the federal prosecutors. All told, New York has incurred upward of $9 million to defend Cuomo against Bennetts claims, according to public records. In December, Cuomo filed a notice that he would sue Bennett for defamation. A civil complaint detailing his allegations has yet to be filed. He is currently sitting comfortably in the lead among a crowded field vying for New York City mayor. The Democratic primary will be June 24. SYRACUSE. N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Senator Chuck Schumer was in Syracuse Monday, addressing President Trumps tariffs and the effects they will have on local businesses and restaurants. Central New York is on the front lines of this Trump tariff war. It is being felt by our small businesses, Schumer said. Small businesses like the Emerald Cocktail Kitchen said that tariffs are just a recipe for disaster for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tariffs have created the same kind of stress that many of us felt during the pandemic, said co-owner Michele Roesch. As a result, customers are watching their wallets, staff are taking home smaller tips, and we had to cut back on bulk orders. The owner of 1812 Brewing Company, based out of Watertown, says along with added production expenses, his products have been taken off Canadian shelves. These glass bottles are sourced from Quebec. These aluminum cans, which the senator mentioned in this case, come from Ontario. The liquid grain inside it comes from Western Canada. It is malted there and imported to our wholesalers, said owner Tom Scozzafava. The Senate minority leader is detailing what steps Congress will take to repeal the tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Cantwell, along with Senator Grassley, she a democrat and he a republican, put in a resolution, a bill, to stop all future tariffs. Every one of them would have to be approved by Congress, Schumer explained. Schumer also says the Senate has also passed a bipartisan bill to repeal the Canadian tariffs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. Some companies may get too big for their own good, or the technology may become so dominant that its just crushing all other elements where there can be innovation. So wrote Judge Leonie Brinkema in the run-up to a devastating court judgment for Google delivered on Thursday, in which UK publishers played a key role. Google was already found to have monopolised search in a separate federal antitrust case, when Judge Amit Mehta said it had paid billions of dollars to be the default option on smartphones and browsers, and that court is now mulling whether to break it up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case goes even deeper, to the heart of the machine that generates Googles enormous fortune. The judge concluded that Google been operating a rigged market in digital advertising, with consequences for almost every part of the economy. As a result, publishers of all kinds from newspapers to blogs are poorer than they should be, and the services and goods you buy are more expensive than they need to be. For some of us this, it this has been a long time coming, so please indulge me. In 2004, on BBC Twos Newsnight, I warned that Google posed a greater monopoly threat than anyone had yet seen, or could imagine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How so? Some 25 years ago, I was socialising in the some of the same circles as the Google founders in the San Francisco Bay Area, with young cypherpunks and the old greybeards of Silicon Valley, and entrepreneurs who had flourished in the dotcom bubble. Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the creators of Google, were very much maths nerds stuck between adolescence and adult responsibilities. Part of them just wanted to stay at Stanford forever, and they admitted as much. With Google, we have a strong goal to push more development and understanding into the academic realm, the pair wrote in their 1998 research paper which envisaged their original utopian vision, of a non-commercial playground for PhDs, untainted by advertising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertising income often provides an incentive to provide poor quality search results, they wrote. Googles pious mission statement, dont be evil, gave away how much they wanted to be loved. But the greybeards muttered warnings, and I already knew how ruthless the Google founders were accused of being from first-hand accounts. At the time, the most celebrated cut-throat tech mogul was Bill Gates. But Google was something else. Bill Gatess reputation as Americas most ruthless tech mogul was soon superseded by Google - Adele Starr/AP For a start, it was quite competent. While Microsoft drew up plans for world domination in every market it could think of, from top boxes to smartphones, it usually failed because of poor product or execution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike Microsoft, Google had been born on the internet and didnt have legacy business models, partners or successful product lines to protect. Gradually the dippy duo embraced what they had scorned. Advertising is how businesses must reach customers, and the digital part of the market is worth almost $800bn (600bn) today. There are two dominant players Google and Facebook accounting for two thirds of online ad spending, and an open marketplace takes up the final third. But hang on, supporters would say. Arent Google and Meta operating the purest of all markets auctions efficiently bringing together buyers and sellers? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not quite. In a competitive market, the interests of buyers and sellers align in getting the best deal they can, which should drive the middlemans margin down to the bone. Thats not what happened here. Google and Facebook operated their own virtual markets, one in which they controlled the tools used by buyers and sellers, and how the audience got there. As one Google executive boasted, the analogy would be if Goldman or Citibank owned the [New York] Stock Exchange. Trade association Digital Content Next has another analogy: Its like being a lawsuit where your lawyer is also your opponents lawyer, and also the judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enormous margins could also be hidden through obscurity. As Judge Brinkema explains in forensic detail in her judgment: There were rules on how it was supposed to work, then Google cooked the bids with fake bids and adjustment factors. Googles market was obscure in order to keep the true market price of the trade from emerging to either side. Advertisers were discouraged from leaving the Google reservation, which resulted in publishers not obtaining the maximum value for their impressions, the judge writes. Clever economists who spotted this were rare, though. So were self-styled free marketeers who also went missing when the case for free markets really needed to be made. The British entrepreneur James Rosewell, who founded the Movement for an Open Web to fight for that third of the digital ad market not dominated by Google and Meta, tells me that tackling Googles other monopolies will be key. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imagine there is just one bank in your county, the Google Bank, but the only way to reach it is and use its services is on roads built and controlled by Google. As with the search case, the benefits for society will only be realised with the right remedies, Rosewell says. The web browser and operating systems can never be used to restrict others again, no matter who owns them. Big business bashers will always punish companies for being big, which isnt in itself a crime. Socialists and other collectivists regard punishing large corporations as an end in itself. The punishment here should seek instead to empower a market that has been corrupted and starved of oxygen by Google, and let us take it from there. 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. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A cyber incident has disrupted the City of Abilenes internal network, causing multiple servers to become unresponsive. City officials first discovered the issue on Friday, April 18. In response, affected systems were immediately disconnected to secure the network. An investigation is now underway with the help of top cybersecurity experts, and the appropriate authorities have been notified. Council candidates confront key Abilene issues, analysts evaluate their approach Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Citys IT Department is working around the clock to restore services and reduce downtime. Officials have not yet disclosed exactly which systems were affected, but they confirm that emergency services remain fully operational and no unusual financial activity has been detected. Water utility customers can still pay their bills, though some services may be slower than usual as systems come back online. We are in the early stages of our investigation, city officials shared. Anyone who has experienced a cyber incident knows it is a time-intensive process. Every week, we will learn more about the scope of the incident and will communicate additional details as our investigation progresses. We take the security of our systems very seriously and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work diligently to restore our systems and resources. On Tuesday afternoon, the city confirmed that the phones are part of the affected systems. Callers reported to KTAB/KRBC that they have been experiencing issues contacting the city by phone. Phones are part of our affected systems. Our IT team is working diligently to restore services and minimize downtime, and we greatly appreciate the communitys patience and support with this, Mari Cockerell shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To ease concerns, the city has announced that services will not be disconnected due to past-due balances during this time. Payments can be made in person with cash or check, or through the City of Abilenes website. For water-related emergencies, residents are urged to call (325) 660-6405. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. BUFFALO, Mo. Dallas County Emergency Management is asking residents to submit storm damage as soon as possible. April Garrett, Director of Emergency Management for Dallas County, is urging residents to submit all storm damage online on their website or on their Facebook page. All of the damage will be sent to the National Weather Service as they survey the area. You can submit your damage 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. UPDATE: A Davenport man accused in a 2024 gun-related incident has been sentenced, according to a Scott County Court sentencing order. Dantawn Cole appeared Thursday with his attorney in Scott County Court, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon and to a charge of going armed with intent, the sentencing order says. Dantawn Cole (Scott County Jail) Scott County Court records show that, for the first charge, he was ordered to pay a fine of $855 and be committed to the Iowa Department of Corrections for a period not to exceed two years. For the second charge, the court ordered that he pay a fine of $1,025 and be committed to the Iowa Department of Corrections for a period not to exceed five years. The fines were suspended. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other charges in the case were dismissed. He will receive credit for time served in Scott County Jail in connection with the case, Scott County court records show. EARLIER: A 32-year-old Davenport man is in custody after police say he was involved in a gunfire incident, according to court records. Dantawn Cole faces felony charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon injure/provoke fear, a Class C felony; and dominion/control of a firearm/offensive weapon by a felon, a Class D felony, Scott County Court records show. Shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday in the 800 block of Warren Street, Davenport, police say Cole fired a semiautomatic handgun four times at a victim who was in a vehicle. In affidavits, police say Cole committed this act with the intent to injure or provoke fear in the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records say Cole has previous felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing a gun. Cole,who is being held in Scott County Jail on $50,000 cash-only bond. A Class C felony, upon conviction, can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. April 21 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1509, Henry VIII became king of England after his father, Henry VII, died. In 1836, with the battle cry "Remember the Alamo!" Texas forces under Sam Houston defeated the army of Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at San Jacinto, Texas, opening the path to Texas independence. In 1913, California state Sen. Ernest S. Birdsall of Placer County stated in an interview with United Press that the citizens of California demanded the prohibition of "aliens ineligible for citizenship" from owning farm land. The California Alien Land Law of 1913 was aimed at discouraging immigration to the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, German World War I flying ace known as "The Red Baron," was killed by Allied fire over Vaux-sur-Somme, France. Vought AU-1 Corsair fighters are on the deck of the U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Saipan in the South China Sea in 1954. On April 21, 1954, U.S. Air Force planes began flying French troops to Indochina to reinforce Dien Bien Phu. The city later fell to communist Viet Minh forces. File Photo by R.H. Spanier/U.S. Navy In 1954, U.S. Air Force planes began flying French troops to Indochina to reinforce Dien Bien Phu. The city later fell to communist Viet Minh forces. In 1960, Brasilia was inaugurated as Brazil's capital, moving the seat of government from Rio de Janeiro. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., addresses the delegates on the last day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., on September 4, 2008. On April 21, 2011 he resigned his U.S. Senate seat amid a budding ethics scandal. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI In 1967, a Greek army coup in Athens sent King Constantine II into exile in Italy. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI Visitors stop for a tour of the Alamo in San Antonio on February 9, 2015. On April 21, 1836, with the battle cry "Remember the Alamo!" Texas forces under Sam Houston defeated the army of Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at San Jacinto, Texas, opening the path to Texas independence. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1975, Nguyen Van Thieu resigned as president of South Vietnam after denouncing the United States as untrustworthy. His replacement, Tran Van Huong, prepared for peace talks with North Vietnam as communist forces advanced on Saigon. In 1987, the bombing of a bus terminal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, killed 127 people and injured 288. In 1992, gas explosions ripped through the historic center of Guadalajara, Mexico, killing more than 200 people and injuring hundreds of others. In 2005, the U.S. Senate approved the nomination of John Negroponte to be the nation's first national intelligence director. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a link had been found between contaminated drug thinners from China and 81 deaths in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2011, John Ensign, R-Nev., resigned his U.S. Senate seat amid a budding ethics scandal. Ensign admitted an affair with his former campaign treasurer earlier and had been under Republican pressure to step down. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court left in place the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, allowing access to the abortion drug while legal challenges continue. As of 16:00 on Monday, April 20, some 56 combat clashes were recorded on the front line. The Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding back the advance of the Russian occupiers, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on its Telegram channel. The occupiers are most active in Pokrovsk and Novo-Pavlivsk directions. Thus, in Pokrovsk direction, since the beginning of the day, Russian occupiers have made 22 attempts to push Ukrainian soldiers from their positions in the areas of the settlements of Sukha Balka, Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Sukhyi Yar, Kotlyne, Uspenivka, Novo-Oleksandrivka, Nadiyivka, Troyitske. The defense forces are holding back the onslaught and have repelled nine attacks, 13 clashes are still ongoing. In Novo-Pavlivsk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 11 assaults by enemy troops. Another clash continues. In Lymany direction, the Russians carried out seven attacks, one combat clash continues, in Toretsk direction, the Defense Forces repelled five assault actions of the invaders, two attacks continue. In Kramatorsk direction, the enemy tried to advance once, was repulsed. In Orikhiv direction, the Ukrainian defenders are repelling an attack by the enemy in Stepne area. The enemy also carried out one offensive action in Dniprovsky direction, without success. In Kursk region, Ukrainian soldiers repelled five enemy attacks today, two of which are still ongoing. There are currently no recorded clashes in Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Siversk and Huliai-Pole directions. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A child known for his exceptional memory recall is making a second appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, later today. Vincent Palmer went viral for his nimble knowledge and memory, notably of U.S. Presidents, a bit over a year ago. Today will see Palmers return to the show as hes sure to rattle off more knowledge and trivia. You can watch the new episode at 3 p.m. on The CW. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palmer was featured in a segment of Tell Me Good News last February, before appearing on Jennifer Hudsons nationally syndicated show, for the first time, that May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A Washington, D.C. man was ordered Monday to spend 15 years in prison for a kidnapping and subsequent carjacking that happened in 2022, the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) announced. In the early morning hours of May 1, 2022, now-23-year-old David Zanders picked up his friend in a Dodge Charger and went to a lounge on U Street in Northwest D.C. The two were smoking and drinking in the car until they spotted two men outside of Flash nightclub, according to court documents. Zanders stopped the car and pretended to be their Uber driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DC man pleads guilty to back-to-back kidnapping, robbery, carjacking Once the two men realized they were in the wrong car, they asked to be let out, but Zanders locked the door. He pulled over in a nearby neighborhood and he and his friend pointed guns at the victims, demanding their phones and money. The two men complied and Zanders drove them to a Valero gas station on New Hampshire Avenue NW in order to withdraw money from its ATM, using the victims credit cards. After Zanders stopped the car, one of the victims got out and fled. The other victim stayed and did not try to flee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two then drove to a Giant in Hyattsville, where they were able to withdraw about $1,000 from the victims ATM card. They then released the man in Maryland and Zanders dropped off his friend at his house in the District. Later in the evening that same day, Zanders called the same friend and said he was going to sell a white Infinity that he had previously stolen. WMATA, DC officials announce new Deanwood mixed-use development Zanders, his friend and a third suspect showed up at an Autozone parking lot at around 11 p.m. in the stolen Infinity and the Dodge Charger that was used in the kidnapping outside of Flash nightclub. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the potential buyers arrived, two of the suspects were sitting in the Infinity, wearing masks and armed. Zanders got out of the Dodge Charger, pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot one of the victims. The man handed over his phone, money and keys. At the same time, Zanderss friend and the third suspect demanded the car keys from the other victim. That person complied and tossed their car keys to the third suspect. The suspect took off in the victims vehicle, while Zanders and his friend drove away in the Dodge Charger and the Infinity. Zanders pleaded guilty on Nov. 1, 2024, to kidnapping and carjacking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was sentenced on April 21, 2025, to spend 180 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WATCH LIVE: Memorial Mass for Pope Francis celebrated by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Local leaders are speaking out after the Vatican announced that Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, died on Easter Monday. He was 88. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, died nearly a month after he was released from Romes Gemelli Hospital, where he spent 38 days for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 266th pope was beloved by many for his compassion for the poor and advocacy for social justice; however, he drew criticism from conservatives who voiced discontent with his progressive views within the Catholic Church. Following Franciss death, leaders from across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia offered their condolences, referring to him as a pope who led with compassion and humility. Pope Francis and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge meet. (Courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington) Bishop Michael F. Burbidge from the Catholic Diocese of Arlington reflected on the Popes teachings to work together in a spirit of fraternal solidarity and dialogue to overcome conflicts and injustices, to care for our common home, and to build bridges of peace and reconciliation. The Bishop stated, in part: In the course of his Apostolic Journeys and in meetings with political and religious leaders, as well as people from all walks of life, Pope Francis constantly drew attention to the infinite dignity of every human person, especially the unborn, the poor, the migrant, the innocent, and those most vulnerable, observing that they can easily be cast aside by a throwaway culture. In that light, the Holy Father spoke often of the parable of the Good Samaritan, reminding us that we are all brothers and sisters to one another and that our words and actions should reflect the Lords closeness, compassion, and protection. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Chatholic Diocese of Arlington Burbidge is hosting a memorial Mass on Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More to honor the Popes life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump reacts to Pope Francis death in Truth Social post Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, reflected on Franciss visit in 2015. He said the Pope left a lasting impactnot only to those at Marys Shrine, but also across D.C. and the nation. We also give thanks to God for his 55 years as a priest, his 32 years as a bishop, and 12 years as Pope. A life of service to the Church and to Gods people, we remember him and strive to go out to proclaim the merciful embrace of the Father as he urged in his 2015 homily at the Basilica. May he rest in peace and Our Lady usher him into the presence of her Son. Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica (in part) At 12 p.m. on Monday, the Basilica will toll bells 88 times to commemorate the 88 years of the Popes life. Mayor Muriel Bowser shakes hands with Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to the District. In September 2015, Francis made a historic trip to the United States, visiting New York City, Philadelphia and D.C. In the District, he delivered a speech to a joint meeting of Congress, becoming the first pontiff to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who was serving her first term as mayor during the visit, called on the community to love others as Francis did, and to remember his words today and always, Who am I to judge?' Pope Francis challenged us to lift up our neighbors with love and compassion, take care of our planet, and look after the least, the last, and the lost among us, Bowser said. The loss of Pope Francis will be felt throughout our city and around the world todaybut I know that the DC community will continue to be guided by his words, motivated by his actions, and inspired by his commitment to faith. Suzanne and I join Roman Catholics across Virginia and around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), in a post on the X platform. As a servant of God, Pope Francis inspired so many with his message of compassion, concern for the poor, and invitation to seek Christs mercy. May God rest his soul. Tributes from around the globe pour in for Pope Francis after his death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) called Francis the Peoples Pope, saying he led with humility, compassion, and love for all people. I will be forever grateful for his spiritual leadership and the legacy he leaves behind. Dawn and I join millions across Maryland, our country, and the world in mourning his passing, said Moore. Former Democratic Congresswoman turned Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger released a statement, expressing her gratitude for Franciss leadership. My family and I are reflecting upon the extraordinary legacy of Pope Francis. In his final papal blessing shared on Easter, Pope Francis called for unity urging leaders across the globe not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others,' said Spanberger. His papacy was defined by concern for and advocacy on behalf of those who are overlooked, suffering, and vulnerable. Pope Francis faithfully served his mission of creating a more merciful, just, and compassionate world, and he led by example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am grateful for his example of servant leadership and praying for all who mourn him, she continued. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has identified an 18-year-old man who was killed in a triple shooting in Congress Heights that left two others hurt. Police said the victim was Christopher Daniels, of Southeast, DC. Minutes before 12:30 p.m. on April 18, officers responded to the 1300 block of Savannah Pl. for a shooting, where they found Daniels, unconscious, at the back of the 1300 block of Congress St. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medics were called to the scene and tried to save him, but he died. Woman jumps out of car to escape kidnapper in Bethesda; man arrested As the investigation continued, police learned that a man and a teenager had both taken themselves to the hospital. They sustained non-life-threatening injuries. As of Sunday, no suspects were taken into custody, and the shooting remained under investigation. The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the departments TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C. police found and arrested two teenagers for an armed robbery in Capitol Hill after tracking the iPhone they stole. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said on April 20 at around 9 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of 4th St. for reports of an armed robbery. Kristi Noems belongings stolen while she was at dinner in DC There, officers found out two suspects went up to the victim, took out a gun and demanded property from them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They then ran away with the victims things, including an iPhone. Officers then started tracking the stolen iPhone. A lookout for the suspects and the location of the iPhone was shared with other officers and a short time later, the suspects were found. A 15-year-old boy and girl were arrested and charged with Armed Robbery (gun). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Trumps Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued another round of funding threats against New York state Monday while once again rollling back a supposed deadline for the end of congestion pricing. In a letter to Gov. Hochul Monday, Duffy set his third in a row of seemingly toothless deadlines, telling the state to end the congestion toll by May 21. The federal government sends billions to New York but we wont foot the bill if Governor Hochul continues to implement an illegal toll to backfill the budget of New Yorks failing transit system, Duffy said. We are giving New York one last chance to turn back or prove their actions are not illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the toll persists beyond May 21, Duffy said, his department will not authorize federal funds for any highway project in Manhattan, will refuse to approve Manhattan projects under the National Environmental Policy Act, and will refuse to greenlight any funding amendments from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council unless any of those projects involve safety. Should New Yorks noncompliance continue, he threatened, theyll defund projects citywide. The threats come as the latest swipe in a showdown about federal authority over the state law specifically New Yorks congestion pricing law, which Duffy continues to assert he can end. Duffy first claimed to be able to revoke an already-granted federal authorization in February, weeks after New York began tolling drivers who entered Midtown and lower Manhattan in an implementation of the states 2019 Traffic Mobility Act, which required the toll as a means of funding a specific list of MTA transit projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MTA promptly sued, calling the revocation unconstitutional. Hochul agreed, likened Trump to a king, and said the toll would remain in effect absent a court order. In response, Duffy set a March 21 deadline for ending the toll. The transportation secretary then extended the deadline to April 20, before extending it again on Monday to May 21. Meanwhile, the MTAs suit over the constitutionality of Duffys order continues to work its way through Manhattan federal court, where lawyers for the feds said earlier this month they are still evaluating what DOTs options are should New York keep the toll in place. Duffy has called the toll which charges most drivers $9 once a day to enter the congestion zone class warfare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he acknowledged in his letter to Hochul that federal law allows tolls to be used for transit projects, he added it is unconscionable as a matter of policy that highway users are being forced to bail out the MTA transit system. In a statement, MTA chairman Janno Lieber defended the toll as bringing less traffic, cleaner air, safer streets and a stronger regional economy to the city. We have received Secretary Duffys letter setting yet another new deadline and are evaluating MTAs legal options, given that the legal issues raised in the letter are already appropriately before a federal judge, he said. A voter deposits a mail-in ballot at the drop box outside the Chester County Government Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Capital-Star/Peter Hall) Pennsylvanians who wish to cast a vote in next months primary must be registered to vote by May 5. While off-year elections typically draw less attention than those on even-numbered years, the upcoming primaries will determine which candidates advance in a host of local and statewide races that will be held in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania has a closed, partisan primary system. That means only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans, respectively, will have a chance to cast a ballot for which of their partys candidates will advance to the general election in November. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Whats on the ballot Which elections are being held this year will vary across different parts of the state. Many municipalities will hold elections for city and county commissioners, school board members, township supervisors, Court of Common Pleas judges and other elected positions. In some cities, like Pittsburgh, Lancaster and Harrisburg, voters will be able to cast a ballot in their Mayoral primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some counties will also have judicial elections for their Court of Common Pleas, the states lower courts. Residents in counties like Allegheny, Montgomery and Philadelphia will be able to decide on several ballot questions in May. Voters do not have to be registered with any particular political party to cast these votes. There are also statewide races. On May 20, voters in their respective parties primaries will choose who to nominate for seats on the Commonwealth and Superior Court. These are the appellate courts in Pennsylvanias judicial system the ones that rule on appeals and decisions from the lower courts, but sit beneath the state Supreme Court. Justices serve 10-year terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three Democratic state Supreme Court justices are also up for retention elections this year, but not until November. Then, voters will be able to decide whether those justices should keep their seats on the bench. Voters can check what will be on their ballots by contacting their local election offices, listed here. How to register and who can vote Eligible voters can register to vote at vote.pa.gov. Registered voters can also check where they are registered and with what party. Primary voters must be 18 years-old and residents of the district they wish to vote in for at least 30 days ahead of the primary. Voters must also be U.S. citizens for at least a month before the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvanians can also register at their countys registration offices, and some other locations like Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program offices, armed forces recruitment centers and some PennDot offices when obtaining a new drivers license or state ID. Because primaries are closed and partisan, voters must also be registered to the party they wish to cast ballots for in these elections. Non-partisan ballots will be available for voters not registered to any party in locations with ballot questions or other non-partisan elections. Prospective voters with questions should contact their countys election offices. How to vote Registered voters who wish to cast their ballot in person on May 20 can find their polling place at this website. Voters casting a ballot for the first time in their district will need to show a valid ID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voters may also register for absentee or mail ballots, which every voter is eligible for. In order to vote in the May 20 primary, however, voters must have their completed absentee ballot registration received by their county election office by 5 p.m. on May 13. To apply for an absentee ballot, voters must provide a valid drivers license or PennDOT ID. If they dont have those, they must provide the last four digits of their social security number and a signature, which can be uploaded online. Applications for mail ballots can be submitted online at this website. All mail ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on May 20. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Debra Morgan - WRAL Debra Morgan is leaving the WRAL anchor desk in May after working at the station for 32 years. She joined the Raleigh, N.C. NBC station in 1993 after working in Toledo, Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida. It's hard to express how thankful I am for those of you who have welcomed me into your homes, she said. You've made me feel like part of your family as we've experienced the many challenges and joys in our neighborhoods over these past three decades. It's been an honor and blessing. I'm forever grateful for your trust and for sharing this journey with me." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Debra's work has helped create the very fabric of trust and integrity that WRAL News symbolizes in the Triangle, said WRAL news director Mike Friedrich. "She has consistently stood for truth and has been a strong advocate for our communities. Debra has also played a key role in mentoring fellow journalists, upholding WRAL's high standards to ensure that North Carolinians can trust everything they see - on air, online and across all of our platforms." "Debra's contributions to WRAL and our community are immeasurable," said Heather Gray, vice president and general manager of WRAL-TV. "Her dedication to storytelling and journalistic integrity have set a high standard, and we are deeply grateful for everything she has given to our station and our community. Suspilne Movlennia and Polish Radio have signed a five-year cooperation agreement and will regularly exchange content that is important for listeners in Ukraine and Poland, Suspilne reported on Monday. "Our public radio stations are a guarantor of reliable information and journalistic professionalism. The agreement between Polish Radio and the Ukrainian public broadcaster is a convincing testimony of mutual desire to cooperate and get to know each other," said Natalia Bryzko-Zapor, director of Polish Radio Abroad. According to Suspilne, Polish partners will provide Ukrainian Radio with podcasts in Ukrainian, produced by the program Polish Radio for Ukraine. They will be posted on the Ukrainian Radio website. These are, in particular, the programs: I am in Poland, Energy Transformation and Polish-Ukrainian Phrasebook. At the same time, Ukrainian Radio programs (previously agreed - Subtext, Your Right and Musical Stories) will be broadcast on Polish Radio for Ukraine in Poland. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump says he is standing behind his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the wake of a new group chat scandal, even as some are calling for him to lose his job. Over the weekend the New York Times reported that Secretary Hegseth shared sensitive military plans in another Signal group chat that included his wife and his brother. This comes after a reporter with The Atlantic revealed last month that he was accidentally added to a group chat where Secretary Hegseth shared high level details about a U.S. airstrike on Houthi militants. When asked on Monday whether he still has confidence in Secretary Hegseth, President Trump told reporters he does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great confidence, Trump said. Its all just the same old stuff from the media. Thats an old one. Try finding something new. In his response Secretary Hegseth blamed the media. This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me, Hegseth said. Some say Hegseth should be out of a job. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) is the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee. He says he was alarmed by this new report. I was outraged. I thought how many times do we have to see this same movie of careless sloppy handling of critical information before somebodys held accountable? Warner said. Frankly I think he should resign or get fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner says this information could have ended up in the wrong hands and endangered American servicemembers. He argues even though that didnt happen it hurts morale among our armed forces and damages allies trust in the U.S. That makes us weaker as a nation, Warner said. The Defense Departments Acting Inspector General is investigating the initial Signal chat. Senator Warner is calling on his Republican colleagues to demand accountability from the Trump administration. None of this is partisan. This is basic national security and cyber 101. It just shouldnt be allowed to stand, Warner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new report comes amid other problems at the Pentagon. Last week four defense department officials were forced out of their jobs as the Pentagon investigates information leaks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WHTM) Democrat Daniel Byron says he will be running against incumbent Republican Congressman Dan Meuser in Pennsylvanias 9th Congressional District. Byron, a Williamsport resident, filed a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on April 12. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat Byron notes he is currently working toward a college degree after briefly attending Elmira College in New York. After participating in JROTC, Byron learned he had an allergy that prevented him from serving in the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Byron says he now works in retail management and can see the direct impact that the decisions in D.C have on everyday working people. Raging Pennsylvania forest fire spans over 600 acres I am no lawyer, no doctor, no politician; I am an average guy, living an average life, and honestly just looking to bring some perspective to Congress, says Byrons campaign website. The 9th Congressional District covers parts of 12 counties stretching from Lebanon County to Bradford County. Williamsport is split between the 9th and 15th Congressional Districts. A four term Congressman, Meuser won re-election in November over Democrat Amanda Waldman with more than 70% of the vote. Meuser has received at least 59% of the vote in each of his congressional campaigns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro, Meuser trade barbs in potential Pennsylvania governors race preview Meuser has filed a Statement of Candidacy for the 2026 congressional election, however, he has publicly acknowledged that he is considering a run for Governor. State Senator Doug Mastriano (R) says he is considering a second run for Governor after losing to Shapiro in 2022. State Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R) has also teased a potential gubernatorial run, saying she is listening and ready to do whats necessary to help (her) team win. Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to run for re-election in 2026 with a potential White House bid in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON Despite being denied an official visit to El Salvador to visit a man who was deported there from the U.S. last month, a group of Democrats arrived in the Central American country on Monday morning to lead their own trip. A group of four House Democrats including Reps. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., and Maxine Dexter, D-Ore. made the surprise visit in an attempt to pressure the Trump administration to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcias return in accordance with a recent Supreme Court ruling, the lawmakers wrote in a press release. The unofficial visit comes after the group last week requested House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., to organize a congressional delegation to El Salvador, which was denied. So GOP is denying our request for a delegation to El Salvador. Lets be clear, the Trump administration admitted the deportation was a mistake, they have presented no evidence he was in MS-13, and they are defying the Supreme Court. They wont stop us from doing our jobs https://t.co/brXtVxaLhH Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) April 18, 2025 While Donald Trump continues to defy the Supreme Court, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being held illegally in El Salvador after being wrongfully deported, Garcia said in a statement. That is why were here to remind the American people that kidnapping immigrants and deporting them without due process is not how we do things in America. We are demanding the Trump Administration abide by the Supreme Court decision and give Kilmar and the other migrants mistakenly sent to El Salvador due process in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite being denied the congressional delegation, which would have allowed the lawmakers to use taxpayer money to pay for transportation, the lawmakers went ahead with plans to visit the country on their own dime. The group noted the trip was not being financed by taxpayer dollars, although its not clear how much money the group spent from their own pockets or if it was partially covered by campaign funds. While in El Salvador, the lawmakers will meet with officials at the U.S. embassy and advocate for Abrego Garcias release. Its not clear if the Democrats will be permitted to see Abrego Garcia or to visit the prison where he is being held. The White House accused Democrats of hosting an apology tour for a deported illegal immigrant gang member, releasing a statement on Monday that criticized the trip. Today, four more Democrats ... are in El Salvador, picking up their partys mantle of prioritizing a deported illegal immigrant MS-13 gang member over the Americans they represent, the White House said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other GOP leaders followed suit, with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., claiming the trip was part of Democratic efforts to bring a violent illegal alien and member of MS-13 BACK INTO the United States, he said, referring to the transnational gang. Could the contrast be more clear? House Republicans remain committed to doing everything we can to protect American families and keep dangerous gang members OUT of our country, Johnson said in a post on X. That contrast is likely to become a political flashpoint in the coming months as Republicans accuse Democrats of being anti-American while Democrats claim the Trump administration is ignoring due process and judicial orders that run contrary to the presidents agenda. The trip comes after Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., was the first Democrat to travel to El Salvador last week and visit with Abrego Garcia outside the prison. When Van Hollen returned, he told reporters that Abrego Garcia was traumatized from his imprisonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was not afraid of the other prisoners in his immediate cell but that he was traumatized by being at CECOT and fearful of many of the prisoners in other cell blocks who called out to him and taunted him in various ways, Van Hollen said in reference to CECOT, a high-security prison known for holding terrorists. Abrego Garcia has since been moved to another detention center where conditions are better, Van Hollen said. Abrego Garcia, who is from El Salvador, was first notified that his immigration status had been changed on March 12, after ICE agents apprehended him to ask about possible gang affiliations. At the time, Abrego Garcia held withholding from removal status, meaning he was approved to stay in the U.S. due to dangers he said he would face if returned to his home country. Days later, Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador a move that the Justice Department said occurred because of an administrative error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the Supreme Court issued a ruling this month that the Trump administration must facilitate his release, although top U.S. officials have said they lack the jurisdiction to do so. Meanwhile, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said he cannot return Abrego Garcia to the United States, and he has denied releasing him from prison. The Justice Department has defended its actions, releasing records from the Prince Georges County Police Department in Maryland documenting Abrego Garcias arrest in 2019 over suspicion of entering the country illegally. The document also cites testimony from a redacted source who has provided truthful accurate information in the past, claiming Abrego Garcia was validated as a member of the MS-13 gang. Additional court records from 2021 show Abrego Garcias wife filed a protective order, accusing him of physical attacks. Several other Democrats have pressed for official CODELs to visit the prison, but top Republican leaders have said they would deny those requests. There is no excuse for Democrats to waste taxpayer dollars visiting and defending a transnational gang member and reported domestic abuser, Rep. Mark Green, Republican chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said in a statement last week. If Democrats care so much about defending this individual, they can use their own personal credit cards not taxpayers money to virtue-signal to their radical base. Two protesters demanding Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez's release from Leon County jail hugged him and his mother in the parking lot of the jail on April 17, 2025. (Photo by Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix) House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said Monday the DeSantis administration needs to answer for the arrest last week of Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S. citizen, under a suspended immigration law. During a press conference Monday, Driskell highlighted Florida Highway Patrols arrest of Lopez-Gomez on Wednesday, when he was a passenger in a car during a traffic stop on his way to work from Cairo, Georgia, to Tallahassee. The 20-year-old, born in Georgia, was charged under a temporarily suspended law making it a first-degree misdemeanor to illegally enter the state as an unauthorized alien. House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (via Florida House of Representatives) The case garnered national attention following Florida Phoenixs reporting on Thursday. Lopez-Gomez was released from jail Thursday evening, but U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is in custody of the driver of the car, who doesnt enjoy legal permanent status, in a Broward County transitional center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are a nation of laws, and no one not Ron DeSantis, not Donald Trump no one gets to decide to imprison people without cause, Driskell said. We need better answers about this. Ron DeSantis and his administration need to answer for this unlawful arrest, and for the pain and suffering they caused, and the fear that they continue to stoke throughout our communities. Attorney general tells law enforcement to stand down Although Attorney General James Uthmeier argues that the federal prohibition on enforcement of the law, SB 4C, doesnt apply to law enforcement, he sent a memo Friday to FHP, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, police chiefs, and sheriffs stating that they shouldnt arrest or detain anyone under the suspended law. I should also note that while my office represents the current defendants named in this case, it does not represent nonparties like your law enforcement agencies, Uthmeier wrote in the memo. The new attorney general, who used to be Gov. DeSantis chief of staff, said the state would continue this argument in the federal court for the Southern District of Florida or an appellate court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His memo came at the direction of U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams on Friday, when she extended the bar on enforcement until the next hearing on April 29. The judge had barred enforcement of the law on April 4, a little over a month after DeSantis signed it, and she expressed frustration during the Friday hearing in Miami about Lopez-Gomezs arrest. Immigrant advocacy groups, Florida Immigrant Coalition and Farmworker Association of Florida Inc., and two women without permanent legal status are suing Uthmeier, the statewide prosecutor, and state attorneys over the constitutionality of the law. 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 Friday. 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Justice Department said Monday that it wants a federal judge to break up Google (GOOGL) to address a ruling that found that the Silicon Valley giant has an illegal monopoly in online search in part by paying web browsers and smartphone manufacturers to feature its search engine. The government asked Judge Amit P. Mehta to force Google to sell its popular Chrome web browser as part of the Justice Departments opening statement in a three-week hearing that started Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. This move could drastically alter the future of the $1.9 trillion search engine giant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department has asked for other heavy penalties, such as making the company provide rivals with some of its data about what terms people search for and what websites they click on. The government also asked that Mehta preserves the ability to force Google to sell its smartphone operating system, Android, if the proposed remedies dont restore search competition. Your honor, we are not here for a Pyrrhic victory, Justice Department lawyer David Dahlquist said in court Monday. This is the time for the court to tell Google and all other monopolists who are out there listening and they are listening that there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws. That echoes sentiments from the governments filing on Friday. Googles illegal conduct has created an economic goliath, one that wreaks havoc over the marketplace to ensure that no matter what occurs Google always wins, lawyers wrote. The American people thus are forced to accept the unbridled demands and shifting, ideological preferences of an economic leviathan in return for a search engine the public may enjoy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google has said it will ultimately appeal Mehtas ruling in this case, U.S. v Google. The companys lawyers said Monday that Mehta should focus more narrowly in his ruling on the type of deals Google has made with companies such as Apple (AAPL), Mozilla, and Samsung that make its search engine the default. Lead trial lawyer John Schmidtlein said the companys proposal directly responds to the this courts legal determinations, but it also does much more. In a blog post last week, Google vice president of regulatory affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland asked the government to allow the company to continue to pay other companies for prime placement, although the company conceded that those agreements would be less restrictive than those in the past. Cellphone makers using Googles Android operating system could also install other search engines, and users would be able to install Google apps without installing its search tool or its Gemini AI assistant. We dont propose these changes lightly, Mulholland said. But we believe that they fully address the courts findings, and do so without putting Americans privacy and security at risk or harming Americas global technology leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mehta is expected to order the remedies in the case by the end of the summer. Google faces other mounting issues, putting the company in an especially vulnerable position. In a separate antitrust case Thursday, a federal judge ruled that the company had illegally maintained a monopoly in some of its online advertising technology. As a result, the company might have to break up its ad operations. And the FTC in Japan recently sent the company a cease-and-desist order after it said Googles search practices were monopolistic. Damian Rollison, director of market insights of AI-powered SOCi, told Quartz last week that Google is on the verge of major changes. This year will be one where Googles fate hangs in the balance, he said. The company stands to lose a lot more in material terms if its ad business, long its main source of revenue, is broken up, whereas divisions like Chrome are more strategically important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any significant restrictions on Google could limit its ability to compete in the AI realm with companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META). In a separate blog post, Googles Mulholland called this lawsuit a backwards-looking case at a time of intense competition and unprecedented innovations. She added that with new services like ChatGPT (and foreign competitors like DeepSeek) thriving, DOJs sweeping remedy proposals are both unnecessary and harmful. Googles parent company, Alphabet, will report earnings Thursday amid its legal setbacks. While investors are hoping to see continued AI progress and cost control, shares remain down about 20% this year. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia has become about more than one undocumented migrants plight in a Salvadoran jail and is now one of those rare cases that resonate in history and dictate the character of America itself. The deported Maryland residents fate is turning into a defining test of Donald Trumps mass expulsion program and of Democrats ability to frame an opposing argument on the politically tricky issue of immigration, which normally favors the president and his party. The Abrego Garcia case and related matters could be the catalyst of a constitutional collision between an administration that brooks no restraints on its power and the authority of the judiciary to check an unfettered president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ultimate outcome of this critical legal battle could hinge on whether the conservative Supreme Court majority is willing to risk a showdown with the president, which it has seemed keen to avoid. The administration admitted in court that Abrego Garcia was deported because of an administrative error, ignoring a judges ruling that he couldnt be sent back to his native El Salvador, where his life could be in danger. But officials are refusing to return Abrego Garcia to the US, arguing they lack power to force El Salvador to do so. Officials are also choosing to interpret the Supreme Courts ruling that the Trump administration must facilitate his return as a unanimous endorsement of the administrations position. They argue that because Abrego Garcia is in the custody of a foreign government, they have no power to return him. The White House insists Abrego Garcia is a terrorist; a member of the notorious MS-13 gang, who will never be brought back to the US. But it has failed to produce definitive evidence to prove these claims. It has instead been maligning Abrego Garcias character by highlighting a domestic dispute with his US-born wife and a claim he was involved in human trafficking. But Abrego Garcia was not prosecuted in either case, and his wife has dismissed the allegations against him. Sen. Chris Van Hollen is seen meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in an image that Van Hollen shared via social media. - Sen Chris Van Hollen/Facebook A lawless president Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen visited El Salvador last week. Abrego Garcia was brought out of custody to meet him, wearing civilian clothes, in a photo op apparently staged by the Trump-allied government to embarrass the visiting Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The subject at hand is that he and his administration are defying a court order to give Abrego Garcia his due process rights, Van Hollen told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union on Sunday. They need to put up or shut up in the courts. The senator argued the case proved America has a lawless president who is ignoring the order of the Supreme Court of the United States to facilitate his return. Democrats, hurt by former President Joe Bidens long refusal to admit a crisis at the southern border, have recently struggled to handle immigration politics. And the Trump administration has sought to exploit the Abrego Garcia matter to force his defenders to line up against its hardline stance, which it believes is politically beneficial. But Van Hollen said the issues go far beyond one individuals plight and get to the fundamental question of presidential power, where Trump is pushing and potentially exceeding the legal limits on issues beyond immigration. Van Hollen argued the president is using the scourge of gang violence to justify bypassing legal safeguards. Asked by Bash whether he would be OK if Abrego Garcia was eventually deported, given his undocumented status, Van Hollen replied: Im OK with whatever the law dictates. Van Hollen has been heatedly attacked by Trump and the White House over his visit. The president called him a fool, and the case has prompted some Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, to suggest the party would be better off hammering Trump on the economy, an issue that may matter more to voters. But Van Hollen defended his stance. He told CNNs Bash, I dont think its ever wrong to fight for the constitutional rights of one person, because if we give up on one persons rights, we threaten everybodys rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations border czar, Tom Homan, however, refused to give any ground on the case which has become an acid test of the administrations broader immigration approach. After all, if Abrego Garcia is returned, questions will be raised about the status of hundreds of other undocumented migrants the administration claims are terrorists and gang members who were shipped to a notorious prison in El Salvador. And the Trump administration would be tacitly admitting the courts had jurisdiction over its conduct. We removed a public safety threat, a national security threat, a violent gang member from the United States, Homan said Sunday on ABC News This Week. ICE intelligence says hes an MS-13 gang member. Confidential information says hes an MS-13 gang member. The country of El Salvador says hes an MS-13 gang member. I think hes exactly where he should be. The US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 17, 2025. - Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images A constitutional clash is brewing that the Supreme Court may want to avoid The Trump administrations mass deportation program a centerpiece of the presidents 2024 election campaign is now embroiled in multiple legal challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems inevitable that the policies, which have already landed before the Supreme Court, will return there for final adjudication in a moment of historic importance. In the early hours of Saturday, for instance, a majority on the high court temporarily blocked the administration from deporting a group of immigrants in Texas under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Justice Samuel Alito, who dissented along with his fellow conservative Clarence Thomas, slammed the decision as unprecedented and legally questionable. The court is expected to issue a more formal ruling on whether the White House can go ahead in the coming days. The use of the Alien Enemies Act is controversial for several reasons. First, its one of the most notorious laws in US history and was the basis for the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II, which is now regarded as a dark chapter in US history. Second, the act is designed to be used in time of war to detain and deport civilians. Despite Trumps claim that the US is subject to a migrant invasion, the US is not in a state of war. In another case related to the act, US District Judge James Boasberg ruled Wednesday that the administration showed willful disregard for his mid-March order halting deportation flights amid a dispute over the legality of the removals. He was the first judge to find probable cause exists to hold administration officials in criminal contempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The key concerns about the use of the Alien Enemies Act come down to the lack of opportunities for detainees to challenge the action against them in court. This impression that basic constitutional rights and legal procedures that underpin the republic are being infringed is crystalized by the Abrego Garcia case and is why Trump opponents like Van Hollen regard it as so critical. In a key twist in the drama last week, a federal appeals court knocked back the administrations request to overrule a Maryland federal judge, Paula Xinis, in the Abrego Garcia case. Xinis is growing increasingly frustrated with the administrations delaying tactics and defiance after she ordered it to follow the instructions of the Supreme Court and facilitate his return. In a ruling Thursday, the US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit denied the governments emergency motion to stay Xinis order pending appeal. Writing for the appeals court, Judge Harvie Wilkinson said the administrations assertion of a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear. Wilkinson, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, warned of a situation in which two branches of government were grinding irrevocably against one another in a conflict that promises to diminish both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 asked. And what assurance shall there be that the Executive will not train its broad discretionary powers upon its political enemies? The ruling encapsulated this perilous moment in American history, and the question of whether the judiciary one of the last effective checks on Trumps power will constrain or enable a president who sees few limits on his authority. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A 19-year-old man is facing a murder charge in connection with a deadly shooting at a Tampa apartment complex early on Easter Sunday. The shooting was reported about 3:45 a.m. at 12401 Orange Grove Drive, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. When deputies arrived, they found a man on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to AdventHealth Carrollwood Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Detectives identified Jesiah DeAngelo-Cruz as the suspect. On Sunday, they obtained an arrest warrant on charges of armed kidnapping, aggravated assault with a firearm and battery in connection with a domestic violence incident. He was arrested in Pasco County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the investigation continued, detectives obtained another arrest warrant for DeAngelo-Cruz on a charge of premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm. He is awaiting extradition to Hillsborough County, the sheriffs office said. This suspect made a devastating and violent choice that took an innocent life. Thanks to the determined efforts of our detectives, he is now charged and will face the full consequences of his actions, Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the news release. We hope this brings comfort to the victims loved ones, and we will continue working closely with our partners to ensure the suspect is held fully accountable. The sheriffs office did not identify the man who was killed, nor did they say what led them to identify DeAngelo-Cruz as the suspect. An arrest affidavit was not immediately available Monday. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A 14-year-old Kentwood student was taken into custody Monday after an investigation regarding a threatening post online, deputies say. The Kent County Sheriffs Office says it got a tip Sunday through Michigans school safety tip line, OK2SAY, about a threat made on Snapchat. Authorities say the post contained a specific threat to Pinewood Middle School. Deputies launched an investigation, which led them to the 14-year-old. They searched the teens home and said no guns were found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OK2SAY saw 31% increase in reporting in 2023 The teen was taken to the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center. The sheriffs office says the teen could face a felony. The sheriffs office said online threats are often due to dares, get out of school, or as a joke. This one was no different. Deputies urged parents to talk with their kids about the consequences of online threats and about reporting such threats. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Reps of Ukraine, USA, UK and France will hold talks in London on Wed Zelenskyy On Wednesday, representatives of Ukraine, the United States, Great Britain and France will hold talks in London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Already this Wednesday, our representatives will be working in London. Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States we are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace, Zelenskyy said on X Monday. The President thanked all partners who are helping and also stressed that unconditional ceasefire must be the first step toward peace, and this Easter made it clear that it is Russias actions that are prolonging the war. In addition, the leaders of Ukraine and Great Britain discussed joint work in European security formats. Renter advocates gather in Annapolis to call on lawmakers to pass Good Cause Eviction legislation in February, but the bill never got out of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. (File photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters). In what many are calling an astonishing dereliction of duty, the Maryland Senates Judicial Proceedings Committee (JPR) failed to move Good-Cause eviction legislation forward. Despite unprecedented statewide support, including a 96-37 vote in the House last year, JPR allowed amendments pushed by the landlord/developer (LL/D) industry tying the legislation to rent stabilization laws, and weakening good-cause standards, letting landlords arbitrarily and unjustly evict renters from their homes. The committees first amendment would have required rent stabilization programs across Maryland to drop vacancy control from apartment homes. Vacancy control maintains rent levels for apartments when a tenant moves out. Vacancy decontrol lets rent float up to market rates, often to levels new tenants cannot afford. Affordable housing advocates adamantly oppose decontrol, pointing to the further loss of reasonably priced housing stocks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second series of amendments would have knocked the teeth out of the good causes that would be required to justify nonrenewal of leases and the eventual eviction of a tenant who stays longer than the lease term, known as Tenant Holding Over (THO). Including minor violations of a lease or community rules, for example, as a justification to evict turns on its head the very principle of establishing a stated, substantial violation to justify forcing someone from their home. Your opinion matters Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Views of writers are their own. Consensus has been building for decades that stable, quality homes are central determinants of community health, welfare and prosperity. The idea that a rental apartment is a mere unit no different than any commodity, like craft beer or concert tickets, has faded as the relationship of stable, quality housing to social welfare and prosperity has changed. Nearly 40% of Maryland residents now live in rental housing not as a station on the way to owning, but as permanent housing. It is no longer acceptable to destabilize whole communities with unpredictable and excessive rent increases that rely entirely on market potential, or to evict without good reason, without considering the social and economic costs to tenants and our communities. At least thats what we thought Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But alongside modern thinking on housing policy that promotes affordability, and legislation to ensure stability, a counter narrative promoted by the rental housing industry and its well-financed network of lobbyists and bloggers has spawned, citing cherry-picked and distorted data. The narrative goes like this: Things like good-cause protections, rent stabilization or stronger code and rights enforcement might sound nice to uneducated renters and their advocates, but they dont really need them. What they really need is investment in building more housing so that market competition will eliminate the lack of affordability and disincentivize bad landlord behavior. They define the housing crisis solely as a shortage, citing market demand for housing while ignoring the instability of existing residents housing, and conveniently omitting discussion around when or how that demand might be met in specific markets. They say all we need to do is build our way out of the crisis. Industry-friendly bloggers cite the building boom of the Sun Belt and how housing prices there have come down, not mentioning high vacancy rates and low demand in some of those cities. They cite the St. Paul, Minnesota, sample where new multifamily building slowed after rent stabilization passed but fail to mention how, when the city went back and exempted new development long enough for investors to recoup their investment and make a profit, investment in multifamily housing continued at its hurried pace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Closer to home, the LL/D bloggers cite the lack of building in Takoma Park, citing rent stabilization as the cause. They dont mention the lack of land availability in Takoma Park, now understood to be a built-out community. Housing codes and renter protections were introduced decades ago to put an end to the squalor, instability and abuse past generations of tenants endured. Teachers, police, nurses, retail workers, immigrants, young families and now, an increasing number of senior citizens are no longer able to purchase a home in a housing market that places home ownership well out of their reach. Marylanders must ask why Senate Judicial Proceedings Chair Will Smith (D-Montgomery) and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) would give deference to these fallacious industry narratives that set up a false choice between renter protections and building more housing, rather than using every tool at their disposal to get this done for constituents demanding action and facts. More than 5,000 Marylanders were evicted last year for THO, likely a tip-of-the-iceberg figure as it does not count those who move before going to court. Until our elected officials press them on just what that means, we will continue to see whole renter communities destabilized, while anger grows at those elected to represent them who failed to act. Above: Nexstar Media Wire video on how states know if youre eligible to vote. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Supervisor Jim Desmond is set to ask the county of San Diego to back efforts looking to require voters show some form of identification in order to participate in elections. The supervisor on Tuesday will present a board letter proposing the county support legislation to overturn a California law that standardized signature verification to confirm a voters citizenship and bars local governments from compelling production of ID at the ballot box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is already required to present some form of ID, such as a drivers license, when registering to vote in the state of California. More than two-thirds of states have laws going beyond that requirement, mandating a form of ID to be produced when casting a ballot. How the Houses requirement to prove US citizenship could affect the ability to register to vote The proposal comes as a growing segment of Republican lawmakers have turned to ID laws as a means of combatting what they have described as widespread fraud in elections something experts say is exceedingly rare and restoring confidence in their operations. While an ID is needed to register to vote, you do not need an ID to cast a ballot. This is a vulnerability in our election system, Desmond said in his board letter. Ensuring elections are safe and secure, and free from fraud of any kind, help protect our democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should the proposal pass, the action would simply be a symbolic statement of the countys position on the topic of voter ID laws at large, not about a specific proposal currently making its way through the state legislature. During the current legislative session, at least two bills were introduced on the topic, including one by San Diego Asm. Carl DeMaio, but all have been hung up in committee. McCann, Aguirre locked in for Board of Supervisors District 1 runoff With the boards even partisan split, it is likely Desmonds proposal will befall a similar fate, as it will need to get at least one vote from the boards Democratic bloc in order to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics of voter ID laws, many of whom lean Democratic, argue the measures are needless and overly burdensome, effectively disenfranchising certain voters who are less likely to carry voter identification such as older people, students and those from low-income communities. Those opposed to voter ID laws further contend that they could make the process of remedying ballots election officials are unable to certify without additional steps more difficult, opening up the possibility for legitimate votes to be thrown out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan speaks during a roundtable discussion with law enforcement officials from around the state in Detroit on April 7, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols In a state where political control of statewide offices can flip every two or four years, elected leaders in Michigan need to get over the wants of their respective parties in favor of the needs of the people, Detroit mayor and independent candidate for governor Mike Duggan told reporters in Lansing Monday. Speaking after several meetings in the state Capitol and on his way to talk with students at Michigan State University, Duggan took a moment to share with media some of his thoughts on his separation from the Democratic Party and his outlook of a state government that can cross the heightening political divide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer incurred the wrath of many within the Democratic Party for meeting with Republican President Donald Trump earlier this month, where Trump publicly offered her praise, Duggan said the situation is a prime example of how toxic and ineffective politics has become. My intention running independent is Im going to work with everybody, and Im going to work with people of good will on all sides, so the governors at a disadvantage because she ran as a Democrat, and Republicans had to line up against her and criticize her. Its in a strange situation now that you got Democrats criticizing her too, Duggan said. Whitmer as a leader went to Washington D.C. to advocate for Michigan, Duggan said, to push for a fighter aircraft mission that would help keep Macomb Countys Selfridge Air National Guard Base in operation and advocate to bring more manufacturing jobs to Flint. Democrats are tearing her down for trying to help Michigan, Duggan said. We need more people to push back on that and its one of the things Im going to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duggan was expected to run for governor, but it came as a surprise in December when the three-term official broke from the Democratic Party to campaign as an independent candidate for the 2026 race. A disgust with toxic politics was one of the driving forces behind his decision to run for the governors seat, Duggan has said since announcing his campaign to replace Whitmer, who will reach her term limit in 2026. The gubernatorial race is becoming crowded early on across the ballot with Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township), U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, Genesee County truck driver Anthony Hudson and Traverse City native Evan Space putting their hats in the ring for the Republican bid and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in the running for the Democratic side. Duggan, who has long been affiliated with the Democratic Party, joining former Vice President Kamala Harris on several of her presidential campaign visits to Michigan, is raising concerns within the Democratic party that hell be a spoiler candidate, leeching votes away from the eventual Democratic nominee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats say that Im splitting the party, but the Democrats are doing just fine at attacking each other, Duggan said. What I hear up here and Ive talked to a number of associations dealing with the Legislature, every one of them said theyve never seen the partisan hostility as bad as it is today. You cant get simple bills done because the Republicans and Democrats are constantly fighting and I think theres a lot of enthusiasm for my candidacy. For everybody who deals with the legislature. At the end of the two-year legislative session where Democrats held a first in decades bicameral majority in the Legislature, lawmakers reached a stalemate where House Republicans boycotted session over tipped wage and sick time leave bills not being put up for a vote, only for those policies to be addressed at the start of this year during a new session. In the meantime, many legislative efforts died in the crossfire and chaos of the lame duck session, including bills that would have made a Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund to finance community law enforcement efforts statewide, a reality. Detroit and other cities in Michigan, including Lansing saw spikes in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic that law enforcement and community violence intervention programs are still working to combat. Duggan has been a vocal supporter of the fund, which he believes will see movement in the state House this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Values like public safety and improving Michigans childhood literacy rates should be bipartisan efforts, with everyone in Lansing eager to lend a hand, Duggan said. And should he be elected, Duggan said that on his first say hes sitting leaders down from around the state to address school funding and attracting tech companies and other economic partners to grow Michigan into a place where young people want to stay, noting Michigans stagnant population growth. Im going to every corner of the state and talking to people who feel like theyve been left behind and whether its rural areas up north or areas in southeastern Michigan that arent doing as well and Im doing as much listening as talking right now, Duggan said. Ultimately, Duggan said Michigan needs to focus on the future and what could be rather than stay stuck in what has been under the ever-changing partisan control of swing-state Michigan. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LANSING, MICH. (WLNS) Today, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will be at Michigan State University, where he is campaigning as an Independent for governor at 3 p.m. Major Duggan will meet with business leaders, city officials, and students to discuss issues and concerns in the City of Lansing and around the state. This week, Mayor Duggan plans to promote a $75 million public safety and violence prevention fund in a bipartisan partnership with Democratic representative Alabas Farhat and Republican representative Matt Hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdul El-Sayed enters race for U.S. Senate Other candidates who have entered the November 3 election for governor include: Democrats Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Republican candidates include: Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, Republican Congressman John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, and truck driver Anthony Hudson from Genesee County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Sen. Bill Ramos, D-Issaquah, speaking on the floor on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard) Washington state Sen. Bill Ramos died suddenly Saturday while on a trail run near his home in Issaquah. He was 69. Colleagues remembered Ramos, a Democrat representing Washingtons 5th Legislative District, as a kind and dedicated public servant. He never let even the most serious matters get too serious, said Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle. He made you like him the moment you met him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bills passing is a devastating loss for our caucus and for our state, Pedersen added. Ramos, a member of the Latino Democratic Caucus, served in the U.S. Forest Service, Federal Transit Administration and on the Issaquah City Council before joining the Legislature. He was also the longtime leader of Dance All Night in the Cascade foothills, where he taught ballroom, salsa and swing dancing. His wife, Sarah Perry, is a King County Council member. She called Ramos her dance partner in life. Bill was a mentor and friend to all who asked, quick with a smile and reassuring word, and always willing to drop whatever he was doing to be of service, Perry said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said he often would run through Issaquahs many trails to relieve stress during a busy legislative session and reconnect to the forests and hills he loved that shaped his career. Elected to the state House in 2018, he quickly became one of the Legislatures leading voices on transportation issues. In the House, he helped author a nearly $17 billion transportation funding package. And in the Senate, to which he was elected in November, he was one of the lead negotiators over the states next two-year transportation budget. Ramos grew up in East Oakland, California. He received his degree in forest sciences from Humboldt State University in California. With the Forest Service, he worked in Washington state, in North Bend and Enumclaw, serving in leadership roles focused on timber and ecosystem management as well as recreation, according to a biography on his legislative website. From 2005 to 2013, Ramos worked in the Federal Transit Administration as a community planner focused on the Tribal Transit Program. He was also the tribal liaison to the Pacific Northwests Indigenous communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And directly before joining the Legislature, he was an Issaquah City Council member from 2016 to 2019. In the House, Ramos served as the chair of the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee. House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said Ramos worked on legislation to ensure more effective, accountable, and equitable government for all people in Washington. He was also a tireless champion for improving our transportation system, making our communities safer, and protecting Washingtons natural resources and outdoor spaces, Jinkins continued. Tributes poured in for Ramos over the weekend, including from members of Congress and Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson remembered last seeing Ramos and Perry a week ago at an event. It was a typical conversation with them big hugs, wide smiles, and lots of laughter, the governor said. I will so miss him. The Senate began its floor action Monday morning with a moment of silence in honor of Ramos. His desk was covered with flowers. He is survived by Perry and two adult children, Max and Maya, among others. His wife said she will share more details on services later. The King County Council has 30 days to appoint Ramos replacement from a list of candidates from the local Democratic Party. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered flags across the state to be lowered. According to DeWine, flags are required to fly at half-staff at public buildings and grounds until sunset on Pope Franciss internment. Early Monday morning, The Vatican announced Pope Francis had died. Monday afternoon, The Vatican released details saying the Pope died from a stroke, which caused a coma and heart failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read the Governors order below: Photo/Office of the Ohio Governor Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Apr. 21The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has passed a new rule that clarifies how it will reimburse communities that run emergency shelters a change that will cut the rate paid to Portland nearly in half. The city, which houses more people each night in emergency shelters than any other municipality in Maine, is expected to bear the brunt of that change. Rule 26 went into effect on April 1 and now officially ties the state's payments to the rate the agency has set for a studio or efficiency apartment, a standard known as the "zero-bedroom rate." That number is adjusted annually and is based on location-specific fair market rents as established by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portland leaders have said the change will place an undue burden on the city. However, the department argues that this has always been the rule; Portland was just getting reimbursed too generously. In an emailed statement on Friday afternoon, Lindsay Hammes, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health and Human Services, wrote that the rule simply "reasserts" the state's longstanding policy. "As of October 1, 2024, the applicable rate for a single individual in Portland was $48 per night. As of April 1, 2025, the rate remains unchanged by the recently adopted rules and is still $48 per night," wrote Hammes. In a notice of violation the state filed against the city last fall, it said Portland had been requesting $84 per night, which city officials said at the time was determined by shelter operating expenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an op-ed published in the Press Herald last fall, shortly after the rule change was proposed, Portland Mayor Mark Dion wrote that equating shelter operating expenses per bed to the expense of operating an efficiency apartment is deeply flawed. "An emergency shelter costs far more to run (than apartments), due to the lease of a facility, all-inclusive utilities, contractual services, facility maintenance, janitorial supplies and laundry services for bedding. These costs are in addition to the salaries for professional staff who help people in shelters achieve stability and move forward in their lives," he wrote. The city has said that, prior to September, when the state issued the notice of violation, there had been no indication of a problem. In fact, a city spokesperson said, the state had been reimbursing Portland at the $84 rate since July 2023. The reimbursement rate had been lower before then, but the city also changed the services it provided around that time with the Homeless Services Center opening in March 2023 and the shelter's subsequent expansion in the fall of 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dion said he has asked the City Council to meet with its attorneys in executive session Wednesday to learn more about possible legal options. "I will have no further comment until we have conferred with our lawyer," Dion wrote in an email. BUDGET IMPLICATIONS The city had been expecting this change, so when City Manager Danielle West presented a proposed budget for the next fiscal year, it accounted for these cuts to shelter funding, said spokesperson Jessica Grondin. Rule 26 will cost the city about $4.4 million, Grondin said. Paired with a pending proposal by Gov. Janet Mills that would limit those who receive emergency housing assistance through General Assistance to three months within a one-year period, the city could be out about $5.9 million, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement General Assistance is distributed at the local level to residents who can't afford to pay rent or other basic necessities. Under state law, municipalities can receive 70% reimbursement from the state for eligible General Assistance expenses, which include thing like shelter operating costs and food subsidies. The proposed municipal budget was written as if both cuts were final. Should Mills' proposal to cap rental assistance not go through, that may free up the city to use less of its rainy day fund to close the budget gap. West proposed pulling nearly $9 million from the fund. But no matter what, Portland is counting on substantially less help from the state in the coming year, something that has frustrated Dion. In public comment submitted to the state ahead of the new rule's adoption, Dion wrote that the rule change would "undermine the City of Portland's recent efforts to increase shelter capacity so that beds could be made available to people sleeping in large encampments, which posed serious health and safety risks." Copy the Story Link Apr. 21Albuquerque Public Schools board members might want to hide their latest report card from district parents. During its final April meeting last week, the board performed a quarterly self-evaluation. The evaluation is done using a rubric mandated as part of its framework to improve student outcomes set by the Council of the Great City Schools, a nonprofit organization with which the district has a contract that costs around $60,000 annually. So how did the board score? By the standards of the district it governs, if the board were a high school student, it would have gotten an F. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board is tasked with turning around student outcomes for the largest district in a state that in many metrics has consistently ranked last in the nation for education. APS itself has struggled with absenteeism and student academic performance, lagging behind the state in those metrics, according to the latest statewide monitoring report: the New Mexico Vistas report card. On a scale of 100 possible points among six categories, the board gave itself a 58 for its work from January through March. That marks the lowest score on the evaluation since receiving a 53 for its work from April to June 2024. APS considers grades of 60 or higher for its students to be passing. By that metric, since it began doing quarterly self-evaluations in 2022, the board has only given itself a passing grade twice. To open, board President Danielle Gonzales recommended that the board award itself all 35 possible points in the values and guardrails category. That was met with pushback from District 6 representative Josefina Dominguez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've lost the community sense of ownership of the goals, feedback from parents, for example," Dominguez said. "That feedback tells me that they don't fully understand our process." Still, a majority of the members agreed on the 35 score and gave themselves the perfect score in the category. On the next category of monitoring and accountability, Dominguez also objected and said the rubric itself was flawed. The board ultimately gave itself 10 of 15 points in the category. So what did the board members agree on the most? Their inability to work together. "For communication and collaboration, perhaps, there was the most consensus here with the score of a one," Gonzales said. The single point the board gave itself in the communication and collaboration category was out of 10 possible points. The board also gave itself scores of a single point out of five on both the categories of unity and trust and continuous improvement. Trump: We had very good meetings on Ukraine and Iran US President Donald Trump has said the latest meetings between US delegations on Ukraine and Iran were very good. Trump said in response to a reporter's question during the White House Easter egg roll that he will give all the details over the next three days. But he said they had very good meetings on Ukraine and Russia. Pope Francis, the former Argentinian cardinal who often bucked age-old Vatican traditions in favor of more modern yet humble approaches, died after an extended respiratory illness on April 21, the Vatican confirmed. He was 88 years old. Here's what we know. Who is Pope Francis? Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents, was the 266th pope and the first from the Americas as well as the first born outside of Europe in over a millennium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he was elected in 2013, Pope Francis said he chose his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century Italian friar who renounced his wealth to become "a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation, according to the National Catholic Reporter. How I would love a church that is poor and for the poor," Francis, a Jesuit priest by order, told reporters at the time. In his papacy, he tried to commit to those ideals. Instead of taking residence in the Apostolic Palace, he stayed in a Vatican guesthouse. Rather than limousines, he rode in Fiats and Jeeps. His leadership of over some 1.4 billion Catholics globally will be remembered for outreach to women, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQ people, and people from other faiths. He sometimes took progressive or controversial stances on pressing issues, such as same-sex couples and climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For some, he was considered too radical in trying to enact change in the 2,000-year-old church. Others thought he was a fresh start to make faith again relevant in secular societies, with many adherents driven from Catholicism after decades of scandal, including corruption and child sex abuse. Still, critics, including the U.S.-based advocacy group New Ways Ministry, thought some of his views, such as the role of women in the church, were outdated, but they thought the Vatican laid the groundwork for future change on some positions. WATCH LIVE: Scenes from the Vatican after Pope Francis' death What happens when a pope dies? The election of a new pope is a highly mystified and sacred process, dating back centuries and enshrined in last year's award-winning thriller "Conclave." The last time the College of Cardinals gathered to vote and select the next representative of God on Earth was more than a dozen years ago, when Pope Francis was selected. His predecessor, Pope Benedict, stepped down from the papacy in 2013, a decision that had not been made by someone of his station in almost 600 years. Benedict, then 85, cited his age and declining health. He died in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the pope's death, a formal set of practices codified by the 1996 document "Universi Dominici Gregis" Of the Lord's Whole Flock prompts formal notifications, the sealing of the pontiff's rooms and papers, and the destruction of the papal signet ring. Barring extenuating circumstances, popes are to be buried four to six days after their deaths. Papal funerals by the Roman Catholic Church typically draw millions of mourners to Rome, including some world leaders. The College of Cardinals, or the church's most senior officials residing either at the Vatican or spread across the world, gather in Rome to choose the next pope. The college is also acting head of the church in the interim. Not all cardinals get to vote, though. Since 1975, only those younger than 80 can participate in the papal conclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Jan. 22, there were 252 cardinals, of whom 138 are electors, according to the Vatican. Usually, within 15 to 20 days after the papacy is vacated, cardinal electors meet in the Sistine Chapel and begin the strictly secretive voting process. Throughout the conclave, cardinals are under an oath of silence and forbidden contact with the outside world. Although any baptized man may become the next pope, since the 14th century, all those selected have held the rank of cardinal. Who will be the next pope? Here are five leading candidates for the papacy, according to Newsweek: Angelo Scola, 82, Italy Peter Erdo, 72, Hungary Peter Turkson, 76, Ghana Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, Philippines Who was the first pope? The Roman Catholic Church considers Saint Peter as the first pope. One of Jesus Christ's 12 apostles, Peter, is thought to have been the first bishop of Rome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there is some debate about recognizing Saint Peter as the first pope, with some pointing out that the idea of the papacy didn't emerge until the early sixth century, according to Modern Reformation. Where does the pope live? For the past several centuries, popes have traditionally lived in the Papal Apartments of the Apostolic Palace, located on over 100 acres of land called the Vatican within the city of Rome, Italy. Popes general live in the apartments for ten months of the year and spends July and August in the Castel Gandolfo residence outside of Rome, according to Vatican Tips. Pope Francis was the first pope since Pope Pius X in 1903 to choose not to live in the Papal Apartments. Instead, he resided in a Vatican guesthouse called the Domus Sanctae Marthae. USA TODAY reporters Phaedra Trethan, Jeanine Santucci, Eduardo Cuevas and Savannah Kuchar contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Did Pope Francis die on Easter? Who will be the next pope? Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on Monday, April 21, the Vatican announced, after battling illness for the last several weeks. Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church," he announced, per the BBC. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God. Was Pope Francis sick? The Vatican first announced the pope's hospitalization on Feb. 14 after he fell ill with bronchitis earlier in the month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Feb. 23, the Holy See Press Office provided an update on his condition, writing in a statement, "The Holy Father's clinical condition, despite its severity, has shown a slight improvement. No episodes of asthma-like respiratory distress occurred today, and some laboratory tests have shown improvement. The monitoring of his mild kidney insufficiency has not raised any concerns. Oxygen therapy continues, although with slightly reduced flow and oxygen levels." The statement concluded: "Given the complexity of the clinical picture, the doctors are prudently maintaining their cautious prognosis." Had Pope Francis been hospitalized before? Pope Francis' hospitalization was his fourth, as he underwent abdominal surgery in 2023 and received treatment for pneumonia earlier that year. In July 2021, he was hospitalized following intestinal surgery for a bowel narrowing. As a young man in his home country Argentina, the pope had part of one lung removed following a pulmonary infection and has been vulnerable to respiratory illnesses since. How did Pope Francis die? Pope Francis was last seen hours prior to his death during an appearance at the Vatican's St Peter's Square for Easter Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Vatican News, Pope Francis' cause of death has been identified as a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. The Holy See Press Office released the report on April 21, 2025. According to the medical report, Pope Francis also "had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes." Donald Trump and JD Vance both issued separate, praising statements following the death of Pope Francis, despite previous clashes of opinion with the Holy Father. Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! wrote the president, while his deputy who had visited the pontiff on Sunday recalled the beautiful homily that Francis had given to mark Easter. The pope has no great love for neither Vance nor Trump, a source close to the pope said, ahead of the meeting with Vance, per Politico. He has positions which are against the social doctrine of the Church, for migration, and human rights, and so on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis made welcoming migrants a key theme of his nearly 12-year papacy, and he previously criticized Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric, plans to cut foreign aid and domestic welfare programs. JD Vance met Pope Francis the day before his death (Vatican Media/AFP via Getty) During the 2016 election, when asked about Trumps plans to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, he said Trump was not Christian in his opinion. A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian, Francis said in answer to a specific question about Trump's views. This is not in the gospel. Shortly before Trumps second inauguration in January, Francis issued a statement condemning proposed immigration raids, describing the concept as a disgrace a departure from his usual publicly apolitical stance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the pope wrote an open letter to the bishops of the U.S. in which he reiterated his views, calling Trump's plans a major crisis for the United States. During the 2016 election, when asked about Trumps plans to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, Pope Francis said Trump was not Christian in his opinion (Reuters) The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality, he wrote. The letter also seemed to rebut a theological concept used by Vance to defend immigration crackdowns using the Christian concept of ordo amoris. The concept (order amores translates as order of love) was defined by Vance as a hierarchy of duties that prioritizes immediate obligations to ones family or community over more distant needs. The true ordo amoris that must be promoted [is] love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception, Francis wrote in his open letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope reiterated his condemnation of anti-immigrant positions even in his final message before his death, which was read out by an aide following his meeting with Vance. How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants, he wrote. Francis also condemned the deplorable humanitarian situation caused by Israels 18-month war in Gaza. I express my closeness to the sufferings of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, the message read. KAIMANA BEACH, Hawaii (KHON2) If you thought you stumbled across a crime scene at Kaimana Beach on Friday, April 20, dont worry it was not real. Forensic science students at Chaminade University put their skills to the test by collecting evidence, analyzing and documenting a crime scene. Hawaiian Humane Society cares for dog seen in social media abuse video The mock crime scene was posed as an exam for students, where they had to determine whether the scene was a homicide or a suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students used yellow caution tape, investigative tools and official CSI gear to complete the task. I bring this exam outside the campus so they can feel a real-life experience, even if its a mock crime scene, said Carlos Gutierrez, Assistant Professor of Forensic Science. They can interact with the public, people can ask questions, so they can feel the reality to be in a real crime scene. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Gutierrez said 12 students take the class every semester to prepare for a mandatory 135-hour internship. Following the course and the completion of their undergraduate years, Chaminade University said about 86 percent of students land science-related positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They can work in any forensic lab, they can join the police, they can join an affiliate agency as well, Gutierrez added. Chaminade officials said students have landed jobs with the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, police departments in Hawaii and Guam and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Commands Central Identification Laboratory. Check out more news from around Hawaii For more information on Chaminades Forensic Sciences program, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) The Diocese of Charleston released a statement Monday from Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune on the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at age 88. It came just hours after he made a public appearance for the Easter holiday, which included a ride in his popemobile, a surprise to the many who gathered in St. Peters Square for celebrations related to the religious holiday. Photos: Pope Francis through the years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is with deep sorrow that I join the Universal Church in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. His leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment to peace and justice have inspired millions worldwide, and in a special way the young, said Bishop Faber-Jeune. He continued, Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis called the world to recognize the dignity of our fellow brothers and sisters, especially those who are suffering, the impoverished, those struggling with addiction and illness. He constantly reminded us of the importance of mercy, forgiveness and love in our everyday lives as well as focusing on the role of grandparents in the transmission of the faith. As we mourn his passing and grieve, we also rejoice in the hope of the Resurrection. Let us turn to prayer, asking for his intercession and entrusting his soul to Gods mercy as we carry his legacy of love, humility and service to others. May God receive him into the joy of heaven. Pope Francis had long suffered from chronic lung disease. He was admitted to a Rome hospital in mid-February for what was deemed a nearly fatal respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VP Vance meets Pope Francis on Easter Sunday After spending nearly 40 days in the hospital, Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on March 23, where his recovery efforts continued until his 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 WCBD News 2. CLEVELAND (WJW) One day after feeling the joy brought by Easter Sunday, Catholics across the world are mourning the death of Pope Francis, who died after suffering a stroke Monday morning at 7:35 a.m. In Cleveland, mass was dedicated to the first Latin American pontiff, a time for leaders to honor his legacy and unite. Pope Francis cause of death, burial plan released We as a community of faith gather together in both sorrow and in joy, Bishop Michael Woost told parishioners on Monday. In sorrow, for our heavenly father Pope Francis, for whom this mass is being offered today, as we join together in prayer. But also in joy, for the gift that God gave us in our Holy Father, and for the gift our Holy Father has received in this Easter season, being embraced into the fullness of Christs resurrection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Reverend Edward C. Malesic issued a statement on the passing of Pope Francis remembering when the two met earlier this year. I was blessed to see Pope Francis in January in Rome and passed along the best wishes and prayers of the faithful from the diocese of Cleveland, Malesic said. This was a highlight of a pilgrimage I led to Italy, during which our group was among those who enjoyed an audience with the pope. He responded, Ah, Cleveland, so you can be sure he knew about our exceptional diocese. Father Damian Ference said he will always remember how Pope Francis was a servant leader, keeping the poor at the front of mind amid his 12-year papacy. He was from a very poor area of the world, Ference said. And so that was constantly his mindset. He had the poor on his mind and those on the peripheries and those on the margins of society. And he wanted to make sure that they were never forgotten. So that was a very important part of his mission and his ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ference said this is a difficult time, but also is a great chance for the church to unite. Im certainly grieving and sad that he has passed, but I also have great hope in the power of the resurrection, he said. So, death is not the final end. Obama: Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people Parishioners like Mike Shaughnessy say they knew Pope Francis didnt have long, due to recent health issues. Shaughnessy is part of the Papal Foundation, a group that travels to Rome each year to meet with the Pope and ask for prayers and blessings for those struggling in Northeast Ohio. His next trip was planned this week, departing on Friday, providing a chance to witness history and say goodbye to the peoples Pope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its inevitable, Shaughnessy said. Its going to happen to all of us. I think he led a wonderful life and I think he was a good example for all of us. And Im hopeful the next Pope will be as charming and as gifted as this Pope. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Easter Sunday, we heard of the apostle Peter running to the tomb of Jesus only to find it empty. Today, the chair of Peters successor stands empty in the wake of the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Our hearts are heavy but also grateful for the nearly twelve years of his ministry as the Roman pontiffa bridge builder who as a son of South America and a member of the Company of Jesus reached out to many peoples both within and beyond the institutional Church. He opened many hearts to the joy-filled and consoling message of the Gospel by his unflagging commitment to the poor, to those considered to be on the peripheries of various societies. He called us to be conscious of the human impact and responsibility to be good stewards of the global environment and to keep a compact with future generations in our care for the earth, our common home. In his prophetic and sometimes unsettling manner, he jostled us beyond complacency or inward-looking tendencies as a People of God, and called us to be on mission to foster unity and friendship among all human persons as brothers and sisters, so that ultimately we can joyfully abide in the communion of Gods love. I was blessed to encounter Pope Francis first as a newly ordained bishop and on other subsequent occasions, especially in the company of other U.S. Midwestern bishops. I recall his warm welcome, his unpretentious and lively style of engagement where field questions and respond as a brother in Christ. His regard for the Church in the United States was based in part on his experience at the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, and his canonization of St. Junipero Serra, patron of the California missions. He inaugurated the present Jubilee Year by encouraging us to accompany one another, including the migrant and outcast, as Pilgrims of Hope. And now he has gone before us, we pray, to the heavenly company of saints to which he pointed us by his preaching and example. May God bestow upon him the same mercy for his personal sins and failings that he exemplified as disciple and shepherd. The Church now begins the traditional nine days of mourning for our Holy Father. In addition, I encourage the faithful to pray the following during this period. O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, Look favorably on your servant Francis, Whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd. Grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides So that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. We lift up Holy Father Francis in our prayers at Holy Mass, and by invoking the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God and health and intercessor for the Roman and all peoples, to whom he was particularly devoted. +Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. We are saddened by the death of our Holy Father, yet it is fitting that his passing from this life occurred in the Jubilee Year of Hope, which he inaugurated. For our hope in eternal life springs from our faith in the risen Lord. Pope Francis sought to break down barriers and draw people into an encounter with Christ in the Catholic Church. Like Jesus, he served those whom the world often considered outcasts. He challenged priests to be shepherds with the smell of the sheep, and constantly reminded us of the dignity of the unborn, migrants and refugees, and prisoners. He was a man of action, ministering to the homeless in Rome, visiting refugee camps, and washing the feet of prisoners. His pastoral heart, use of relatable language, and witness to serving people on the margins stand as an example for all people. It is a privilege to be among the first bishops appointed by Pope Francis during his pontificate. His leadership and witness have shaped my episcopal priorities and ministry over these past 11 years. May Pope Francis now rest in eternal peace. Please join me in praying for the repose of his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) The Diocese of Knoxville released a statement after Pope Francis died Monday morning. Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church and 266th Bishop of Rome, died at age 88. Mark Beckman, Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville gave a message discussing how he had once met Francis, thanking him for all that he had done for the church. Knoxville man charged with attempted murder taken into custody As we join with Catholics around the world in mourning, we remember his humbleness and his legacy of care for creation, mercy for our poor and marginalized brothers and sisters, and a profound joy in the lives of each of us in living and sharing the Gospel as followers of Jesus. Bishop Mark Beckman Beckman invited people to pray for Franciss eternal rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How is the next pope selected? Francis was the first Latin American pope, the first pope from the Americas and the first from the Southern Hemisphere. He was elected in 2013. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik invited the community to join a Mass for Pope Francis Monday evening. Related coverage: Pittsburgh-area religious leaders react to death of Pope Francis We are experiencing this loss as a family, Zubik said. And as a family would, we need to come together, to be together, and to pray together. Those who gathered at St. Paul Cathedral on North Dithridge Street in Oakland used words like dignity, leadership and mercy to describe Pope Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that his legacy clearly is focused on one word: mercy, Bishop David Zubik said. The pope suffered a stroke and passed hours after he had celebrated Easter. Zubick says while Pope Franciss passing was anticipated, following serious health complications, the announcement of his passing still came as a shock. As many mourned the loss, the bishop called on faith leaders across the region to gather and to reflect during the evning mass. In attendance was Hindy Finman, a Jewish Rabbi and Senior Director of Jewish Life for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. When there is a loss in leadership its not just an isolated incident it really does impact us worldwide, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finman told Channel 11 its important for the Jewish community to stand with their brothers and sisters. Zubick, who knew the pope personally, explained that Pope Francis had that effect on people from all walks of life. He had that very special gift to make sure that everybody you felt like you were the most important person in the world, he said. Zubick tasked everyone in attendance at the mass to do as the pope would do and to live out his legacy by showing mercy to all. Everything that the Pope did in his personal relationships, his outreach to world leaders was all focused on mercy, Zubick said. Not only did he preach it, he lived it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the Mass, Zubik has encouraged all pastors across the Diocese to celebrate masses for the repose of the soul of Francis and to include special intentions in the Prayer of the Faithful throughout the coming days. Additional memorial opportunities will be shared on the Diocese website in the coming days. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW US meeting with Ukraine and European allies in London to be continuation of meeting in Paris media The United States will hold talks in London on Wednesday with Ukrainian and European officials as US President Donald Trump presses for a deal to stop a full-scale Russian invasion, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, are expected to meet with the foreign ministers and national security advisers of France, Germany, the UK and Ukraine ... plans for the talks are being finalized and could still change, the message says, citing anonymous sources. According to the agency, the meeting is expected to be a follow-up to the April 17 meetings in Paris, where the United States shared proposals for a ceasefire and peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The United States is willing to ease sanctions against Moscow and recognize Russia's control over Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as part of the deal, Bloomberg earlier reported. According to Ukrainian media, in particular Suspilne, the Ukrainian delegation at the talks in London will include Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak and his deputy Pavlo Palisa. However, there is no official confirmation of this information. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The Diocese of Buffalo and Bishop Michael Fisher said that they will be constantly inspired by [Pope Francis] pursuit of holiness, his warmth, humor [and] keen insights into the mysteries and traditions of our faith, following the Popes death. Pope Francis, who had served as the Pope of the Catholic Church since 2013, died early Monday at 88 following a lengthy illness. Pope Francis dies at 88 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis example of humility and simplicity, his constant call to seek peace, and his openness to all will forever remind us of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Fisher said in a statement Monday morning, whom he mirrored in spirit and throughout his long and devoted life as a faithful layman, priest, bishop and pontiff. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. He was introduced to the world as Pope on March 13, 2013. He became noted for his acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, adding women to important decision-making roles and his support for migrants and accepting the poor into the church. May we be constantly inspired by his pursuit of holiness, his warmth, humor, keen insights into the mysteries and traditions of our faith, and most especially, by his love for all without scorn and judgment, Fisher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are the rites and rituals after a pope dies? A new pope will be elected by the cardinals sometime in the next two to three weeks. It allows for a nine-day mourning period and time for cardinals from around the world to make their way to the Vatican. We also humbly appeal to the Holy Spirit to now guide the cardinals of our church as they prepare to select the successor to Pope Francis, Fisher said. May their only motive be to choose one among them who is possessed with great holiness, compassion, wisdom and courage, and best suited to now lead our Church forward in this complex and difficult age. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Diocese of Rochester is mourning the loss of Pope Francis, who passed away Monday. Pope Francis passed away after a battle with chronic lung disease and respiratory issues, most recently double pneumonia. His last public appearance involved blessing thousands of people on Easter Sunday. Photos: Pope Francis through the years Bishop Salvatore Matano of the Diocese of Rochester released a statement Monday morning, asking for prayers for Pope Francis and the College of Cardinals to seek a new successor. In part, he said: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Jesus, he reached out to the poor, the forgotten, the estranged, the foreigner, those on the fringes of society. Motivated by the love of Christ Jesus, he reminded us recently that Dilexit nos, He loved us, [] and Pope Francis wanted this love to extend to all Gods People. Many remember Pope Francis for his outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, asking the world to use the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to rethink economic and political ideologies, and adding women to decision-making roles. Pope Francis last week: How the Catholic leader spent his final days Many have offered tributes to Pope Francis passing, including President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Vance met with him on Easter Sunday for a few minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read the full statement from Bishop Matano below: The-Statement-of-The-Most-Reverend-Salvatore-R.-Matano-Bishop-of-Rochester-upon-the-Death-of-Pope-Francis-April-21-2025Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The Diocese of San Angelo is administering to its congregation and calling for prayer after Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Michael Sis, the sixth bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo, issued a statement asking for prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, who died at 7:35 a.m. Rome time on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. RELATED: Pope Francis dies at 88 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement O God, who in your wondrous providence chose your servant Pope Francis to preside over your Church, grant, we pray, that, having served as the Vicar of your Son on earth, he may be welcomed by him into eternal glory, Sis said. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. In a separate statement, the diocese announced that Sis will celebrate a Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis at the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart, located at 20 E. Beauregard Ave., on Wednesday, April 23, at 12:10 p.m. This is a developing story. For updates as information becomes available, visit conchovalleyhomepage.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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. A summer-like weather pattern returns to Central Alabama this week. Disruptive weather is expected across Central Alabama with daily rain and thunderstorms. Some could be strong with gusty winds, hail, and heavy rain. There is a Level 1/5 Marginal Risk for a low chance of severe storms today south and west of Tuscaloosa. Today: The stalled front will remain across Central Alabama on Tuesday. Multiple waves of heavy rain and storms will occur. One or two storms could produce gusty winds and small hail. It will be mild and humid with highs in the upper 70s. Wednesday: The cold front will lift north and dissipate on Wednesday, and we will have an upper-level wave move across the state. This will bring us another round of showers and storms. It will be warmer with highs in the lower 80s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday & Friday: Look for multiple upper-level waves to move across the state on Thursday and Friday. Each one will set off more showers and storms. It will be warm and humid with highs in the lower to middle 80s. Talladega Weekend Outlook: another cold front will move into Alabama on Saturday setting off scattered showers and storms. This could have some impacts on the 2 races on Saturday at Talladega. It will stay warm and humid with highs in the lower to middle 80s. Some additional hit or miss showers and storms possible on Sunday for the big race. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 80s at the start of the race. Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Pete Hegseth wanted to make waves at the Pentagon. But less than 90 days since being sworn in as U.S. defense secretary, he appears put off balance by the very turbulence he himself created. An ex-Fox News host, Hegseth on Monday accused his former trusted advisers of turning against him following revelations that he texted sensitive U.S. military strike plans from his personal phone to his wife, brother, attorney and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and a bunch of hit pieces come out," Hegseth said on the White House lawn, his children standing behind him, for an Easter celebration. The White House saw a conspiracy against Hegseth stretching far beyond the small cadre of his once loyal aides, who were fired after accusations they leaked sensitive information, to include the Department of Defense itself. Hegseth has moved with stunning speed to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement President Donald Trump's national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he says are discriminatory. "This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change that you are trying to implement," said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, Trump himself is standing firmly by Hegseth, saying he was "doing a great job." "He was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people. And that is what he is doing," Trump told reporters on Monday. The latest controversy comes after the dismissal of aides brought to the Pentagon by the Trump administration, firings triggered by a leak investigation ordered by Hegseth's chief of staff on March 21. The dismissed aides include Dan Caldwell, a longtime colleague of Hegseth's who became one of his most trusted advisors. He was escorted out of the Pentagon last week over leaks for which he denies responsibility. Also dismissed was Hegseth's deputy chief of staff, Darin Selnick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "TOTAL CHAOS" John Ullyot, who was ousted from his job as a Pentagon spokesperson after two months, said Hegseth's Defense Department was in "total chaos." "Hegseth is now presiding over a strange and baffling purge that will leave him without his two closest advisers of over a decade Caldwell and Selnick and without chiefs of staff for him and his deputy," Ullyot wrote in a blistering opinion piece published on Sunday in Politico. Ullyot concluded that Trump should fire Hegseth, saying: "The dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's eldest son, Donald Jr., slammed Ullyot for the remarks, saying on X that "he's officially exiled from our movement." The latest upheaval at the Pentagon comes amid a widening purge of national security officials by the Trump administration that has reached every level of U.S. military leadership, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top Navy admiral and the military's top lawyers. It has also included lower-ranking officials, like Colonel Susan Myers, the commander of a U.S. Space Force base in Greenland, who was fired earlier this month. An email she wrote appeared to question Vice President JD Vance's assertions during a March visit to Greenland, where he accused Denmark of failing to protect the island from "very aggressive incursions from Russia, and from China and other nations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A U.S. defense official said the Pentagon, because of the presence of uniformed military officials, was an institution that under normal circumstances could run itself with basic policy guidance from elected officials. But the confusion surrounding the building's leadership was starting to erode that ability, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Another official said the firings of military officials by Hegseth and those removed as a part of the leak investigation had created a climate of uncertainty within the Pentagon. The official added that it appeared that at times Hegseth was more focused on minor issues that gain traction on social media among his conservative base rather than clearly communicating national security policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth only narrowly won Senate confirmation. Many lawmakers expressed concern about his temperament and lack of experience, with three Republican senators voting against him. Senator Roger Wicker, a Hegseth supporter and the Republican who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee, has requested an investigation by the Pentagon's independent inspector into Hegseth's use of Signal. That request followed revelations last month that Hegseth had shared in a Signal chat group that accidentally included a journalist plans to kill a Houthi militant leader in Yemen two hours before the start of U.S. air strikes. Wicker has yet to react to the latest news about a second Signal chat. A White House official said that abandoning Hegseth would play into the hands of Democrats in Congress. They are increasingly calling for Hegseth to step down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hegseth has turned the Pentagon into a place of chaos," said Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin. "If he cared about the institution he's leading, he should man up, acknowledge he's a distraction to the military's mission, and resign." (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee, Alistair Bell and Jamie Freed) DENVER (KDVR) Boulder officials are hoping to reopen conversations with Jefferson County officials after a Boulder County District Court judge dismissed a lawsuit that sought to abate noise created by the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. The judge found that Jefferson County could impose noise restrictions on the airport, but determined the court could not order Jefferson County to take the steps, as any such order would constitute local regulation of an area preempted by the federal government. Bentley Denver sued after fake transport company allegedly stole $218K Ferrari Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This court decision is unfortunate, but it is not going to stop the Town and Boulder County from taking all legal steps available to them to protect their residents, the municipalities said in a joint release on Friday. According to the airport, it was the third busiest in Colorado as of 2022, and is owned and operated by Jefferson County. The airport first opened for general aviation and flight schools in 1960, and according to Federal Aviation Administration data, there were about 147,408 flights recorded in 2024. The numerous flights have been a headache for nearby residents who have complained about the noise, the leaded fuels used by some pilots and potential devaluation of their properties. Superior, Boulder County sue over noise issues in 2024 It came to a head in March 2024, with the town of Superior and Boulder County filing a lawsuit against the airport and Jefferson County. The suit alleged that residents couldnt sleep, work or keep their windows open because of the constant disturbance created by the airports operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jefferson County responded to the lawsuit at the time by noting the airport is subject to federal laws that require the airport to be available for aircraft operations, including those using leaded fuel, those that make noise, and those engaged in touch-and-go and similar operations. It is not a legal option for the airport to mandate a reduction in those operations, the county continued. The County believes that the Community Noise Roundtable is a valuable venue for these discussions and will continue to work with community members to address their concerns where viable and legal options exist. ICE says driver sentenced in deadly 2024 US 285 crash has been deported Touch-and-go operations refer to a drill done by pilots in training, where they land the plane and take off again without coming to a complete stop. The mayor of Superior told FOX31 in 2024 that the maneuver is loud and leads to lead-particulate exposure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Jefferson County, when the airport was built, the area was mostly farmland, but over time, Broomfield, Louisville, Superior, Westminster and other municipalities have seen population growth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Broomfield County has experienced a 5.7% population increase as of July 1, 2024, compared to April 1, 2020. The bureaus data shows that Jefferson County has shrunk by about 0.8% in the same time. The Town and Boulder County are disappointed with the courts ruling and are considering all options available to them, including appeal, to protect their residents. In addition, the Town and Boulder County are, again, asking Jefferson County to sit down and discuss a collaborative approach to assisting all communities negatively affected by the Airport, Superior and Boulder County said in their joint release. The FAA and the court have made it clear that Jefferson County has the tools necessary to address this important issue and thus it is imperative that Jefferson County begin actively taking steps to protect the communities suffering from the negative impacts of touch-and-go operations. FOX31 reached out to Jefferson County for its response on the matter, but has not yet received a reply. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Internal disagreements in the Democratic Party played out on the public stage last week, with newly appointed Democratic National Committee vice chair, 25-year-old David Hogg, announcing plans to spend $20 million in a bid to replace older incumbents with younger candidates in Democratic primaries. Hogg has already begun raising the funds through his political organization, Leaders We Deserve. Todays party politics has an unwritten rule, Hoggs site says. If you win a seat, its yours for life. No one serious in your party will challenge you. That is a culture that we have to break. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hogg was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when Nikolas Cruz, a former student, opened fire, killing 17 people. Since then, he has become a gun control activist and founded several non-profits, which aim to give more political power to young people. Former RNC chairman says hed have Hogg removed from the party if he were his vice chairman On Sundays episode of ABCs This Week roundtable, host Jon Karl asked Reince Priebus, who served as Republican National Committee chairman from 2011 to 2017, how he would handle a vice chair who was going to primary incumbent candidates. Hogg was also on the ABC panel. Unfortunately, David, Id have you removed from the party, Priebus said. Priebus explained Hoggs position. He said theyve (Democrats) got no message. Theyve got no movement. Theyve got no leader. I mean, it doesnt get any worse than that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre defending Harvard. Youre traveling to El Salvador for MS-13 gang members. But heres the point: youre taking $20 million, if Im looking at someone, my vice chair, the RNC taking $20 million for another effort, its $20 million out of the DNCs pocket. You cant be on the board of the fishing and forest company and on Greenpeace at the same time, Priebus said. Veteran Democratic strategist takes issue with Hoggs plan, and Hogg responds James Carville, who led Bill Clintons 1992 presidential campaign, appeared on CNN on Wednesday, criticizing Hoggs plan. The most insane thing I ever heard is the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee spending $20 million running against other Democrats, Carville said. Carville questioned whether the problem that were facing in the United States today is because weve got 65-year-old Democrats in office. He then asked, Why dont you take on a Republican? Thats your job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to Carville several days later, Hogg said to an interviewer in an X post, I would also say James Carville has not won an election since before I was born. He continued, I think its time to have new leaders in our party to meet this moment, because a lot of the people who are the most critical of this plan are the same ones who had $2 billion to win an election and still lost. So I say the experts can save it, because its time for some new ideas. In her 15-week campaign, Kamala Harris spent $1.5 billion, according to The New York Times. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., has also been critical of Hoggs party shakeup plan. She told Axios, I can think of a million better things to do with twenty million dollars right now. Hogg calls for meritocracy while discussing seniority politics? On Thursday, Hogg appeared on CBS, saying seniority politics is killing the future of our party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The litmus test of whether or not you remain in a position is no longer are you the best person to be in that position. The litmus test is, Well, how long have you ben there? That is not acceptable. It needs to be, are you the best person to meet this moment? Hogg said. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the DNC asked party leaders to sign a neutrality agreement, saying they would not favor certain Democratic candidates over others. All party leaders signed the agreement, except Hogg. I think its going to be a ... lot harder for us to beat Republicans with a 27 percent approval rating, Hogg said, justifying his move to primary older incumbents. We cannot simply go out there and say, look, guys, were not Donald Trump. Vote for us. We need to show people the way that Democrats fight for democracy is by using democracy to revive the American dream, he said, per Real Clear Politics. Following the funeral of Pope Francis over the weekend, the Vatican confirmed on Monday that the conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7. Following the death of Pope Francis at age 88, who will become the next pope? A papal conclave will be held in Rome in the coming weeks; it will begin on May 7. At the conclave, cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, and a two-thirds majority is needed to win. The secretive events of the conclave were dramatized in the Oscar-nominated Conclave, which was released last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The longest papal conclave lasted three yearsit took place following the death of Pope Clement VI, and went from November 1268 to September 1271 (33 months), until Pope Gregory X was finally elected. The shortest conclaves all took place before 1274, when sometimes, a new pope was elected the same day the previous pope died. But in 1274, the Church decreed that they had to wait at least ten days before the first vote (in 2025, its now 16 days). Post-1274, the shortest conclave is the 1503 election of Pope Julius II, elected in under ten hours. In modern days, conclaves typically last under a few days; Pope Francis was elected after just five rounds in under two days. If no one is elected after three days, voting pauses for up to one day. After seven more rounds, theres another pause, before voting resumes. Per CBC, If no one is selected after 33 rounds, the cardinals go to a runoff of the top two contenders, under a relatively new rule introduced by Pope Benedict XVI. Unlike in previous rounds, those two candidates cannot cast ballots. You Might Also Like In late March, Isael Hermosillo received an ominous message from his supervisor around 7 a.m. ordering him to cancel all his meetings scheduled that day. Hermosillo rushed to notify several locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers union as well as attorneys for Albertsons and Kroger that he would not be able to attend a session in Buena Park later that morning the third consecutive meeting set to be held that week for labor talks between major Southern California grocery chains and unions representing their workers. Two hours later, Hermosillo found himself on a video conference call where he was informed by his supervisor that he would be put on a monthlong paid administrative leave, and that his job would be terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hermosillo is among 130 federal mediators who were fired on March 26 after the Trump administration's cost-cutting team, called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), effectively shuttered a 79-year-old federal agency that mediates labor disputes. The terminations at the agency, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, have fueled concern among unions and employers alike about who will step in to help ease labor conflicts in Southern California and beyond. Though relatively small and obscure, the agency plays a vital role in helping to settle disputes so as to avoid labor unrest that can disrupt the free flow of commerce, according to former federal mediators and experts. Besides brokering negotiations for private employers, the mediators handle worker grievances; train joint labor-management committees; appoint arbitrators if a dispute cannot be resolved; and assist with negotiation impasses in the federal sector. These services are offered at little to no cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are the ones that come in quietly when people are having issues or contract negotiations aren't working and are falling apart," Hermosillo said. "We go in and assist, and then move on to the next group that may need our assistance. I think that's a lot of why the American people don't know who we are and what we do." Hermosillo works out of the agency's Los Angeles office in Glendale, staffed by five mediators and a supervisor. His termination caught employers and unions off guard coming weeks after the labor contracts covering some 55,000 unionized grocery workers in California had expired and threw a wrench in negotiations, said Kathy Finn, president of UFCW Local 770. Finn said that because Hermosillo has worked on negotiations for many years, on multiple cycles since around 2017, both sides trust him and they engage him very early on in the process which has helped to avert strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We always have difficult negotiations with these companies. ... Weve gotten very close to going on strike many times, ending or reaching a deal minutes or hours before a deadline or after," Finn said. "The help Isael has provided has been very valuable." UFCW Local 770 is among seven locals representing workers from San Diego to Santa Barbara in labor talks with Albertsons, parent owner of the Vons and Pavilions chains, and Kroger, which owns Ralphs. Read more: 'We're prepared to strike': Southern California grocery workers authorize walkouts Finn said mediators like Hermosillo are highly effective. Without them, negotiations can break down into finger-pointing rather than become productive sessions focused on the substance of a contract, Finn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither Kroger nor Albertsons returned requests for comment. DOGE and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget also did not respond to requests for comment. Last week, UFCW joined a dozen major unions in bringing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to reverse the closure of the federal agency. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, argues that the Trump administration's dismantling of the mediation service is in "clear defiance" of Congress constitutional powers to create and dissolve such agencies. In fiscal 2024, the agency, which has a budget of $54 million, employed about 143 full-time mediators who conducted more than 5,400 mediated negotiations and provided some 10,000 arbitration panels. And recent estimates show that the mediators' services save the economy more than $500 million annually, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit cites data from the agency's website that have been scrubbed in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just five mediators and a few support staff workers remain at the agency after the cuts, according to the lawsuit. Some major employers and trade associations have been petitioning the Trump administration to reverse the decision, said Martin H. Malin, a professor emeritus at the Chicago-Kent College of Law and a mediator who served on the Federal Service Impasses Panel during the Obama and Biden administrations. "No one will talk about this publicly," Malin said. "They can see this hair trigger mentality in the White House. Everybody is afraid." DOGE has said the agency will limit its services to labor disputes that involve more than 1,000 employees. But Malin said even with those restrictions, the workload will be too much for the remaining mediators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's impossible for four mediators to cover the entire country," Malin said. "The situation, it's pretty dire." Tina Littleton, another federal mediator in the Glendale office who had worked at the agency for 15 years, was stunned by the decision. Read more: These departments investigating Elon Musk have been cut by DOGE and the Trump administration Do I feel this was done correctly or appropriately?" Littleton asked. "My answer is no." Littleton recently facilitated negotiations between some 200 workers and their employer, which manufactures plastic pouches used to dispense IV infusions in medical facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It doesn't matter to us whether big or small, they still have some part that they play in making sure interstate commerce continues," Littleton said. Martha Figueroa, a field representative who helps the California Federation of Teachers negotiate contracts, said she has frequently relied on a federal mediator in discussions with Head Start, the child development nonprofit targeted by the Trump administration for funding cuts. She worries about potentially having to turn to private mediators, who are "really, really expensive." "When you have a private mediator, it's very stressful to both parties," Figueroa said. "The more you're at the table, the more they get paid. And that's not the case when you have a public mediator." Read more: 'I don't trust America.' Trump's tariffs, detentions take a toll on local tourism Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than saving money, dismantling the agency will create more inefficiencies, said William Resh, associate professor of public policy and management with USCs Sol Price School of Public Policy. "What you have without mediation are disputes that are going to be more prolonged, more contentious," Resh said. "These are highly professionalized individuals with a lot of experience in bargaining and conflict negotiation." California and several other states are exploring how they might fill the gap. California's Public Employment Relations Board, which oversees disputes between state workers and their employers, also has the authority to offer mediation services to private employers, but it doesn't have the budget to do so, said Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Labor Federation. Labor groups have been pushing state lawmakers in budget talks to augment the board's budget by several million dollars, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the long run the state does benefit. We don't want people to go on strike. Sometimes, it's needed, but for the most part, if mediation is able to help get a good resolution, we prefer that," Gonzalez said. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CCTV: This morning China announced that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will pay a state visit to China. Can you share the background, arrangement and Chinas expectation for the visit? Guo Jiakun: China and Azerbaijan are strategic partners. Over recent years, under the personal care and effort of the two presidents, China-Azerbaijan relations have maintained a sound growth momentum, with deepening political mutual trust, fruitful Belt and Road cooperation, and effective international coordination. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Ilham Aliyev to draw a new blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji will meet with him respectively to have in-depth exchanges of views on cooperation in various areas. We believe that this visit will further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries and bring more benefit to the two peoples. RIA Novosti: Russian President Putin said on April 19 that Russian military forces would stop all military activity from April 19 to 21 with the arrival of Easter. What is Chinas comment on this? Guo Jiakun: We noted relevant reports. China is happy to see any effort for a ceasefire, which is necessary for realizing peace. We hope relevant parties will continue to resolve the crisis through dialogue and negotiation. China Daily: The U.S. announced sanctions on several officials of the Chinese central governments agency in the Hong Kong SAR and the government of the Hong Kong SAR. Will China take countermeasures? Guo Jiakun: The U.S.s illegal unilateral sanctions on six officials of the Chinese central governments agency in the Hong Kong SAR and the government of the Hong Kong SAR are a severe interference in Chinas domestic affairs, including Hong Kong affairs, and a violation of principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations. China strongly condemns this despicable move. In accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the Peoples Republic of China, China decided to sanction the U.S. congressional members, officials and heads of NGO who have acted egregiously on the Hong Kong-related issues. Our message to the U.S.: Hong Kong is Chinas Hong Kong and Hong Kong affairs brook no U.S. interference. The U.S.s erroneous practice on the Hong Kong-related issues will for sure meet Chinas resolute response and reciprocal countermeasures. AFP: Gunman in Chile on Sunday attacked a Chinese-owned hydroelectric plant under construction, setting fire to dozens of trucks and heavy equipment. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? Guo Jiakun: China strongly condemns the attack. We have asked relevant authorities of Chile to take effective measures to protect the security and safety of projects and personnel of Chinese companies. We stand ready to work closely with Chile in the investigation of the case and handling of related work. Xinhua News Agency: Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Gabons interim president, won the first presidential election with 94.85 percent of the vote, according to the provisional results recently announced by Gabons National Election and Referendum Organization and Coordination Committee. Whats Chinas comment and expectation of its relations with Gabon? Guo Jiakun: China congratulates Gabon on its smooth presidential election. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Mr. Nguema. China and Gabon are traditional friends and comprehensive strategic cooperative partners. China attaches great importance to its relations with Gabon. We stand ready to work with Gabon to carry forward our traditional friendship, deliver the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and add new substances to the China-Gabon comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership so as to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples. News 1 Korea: Latest satellite photos show that China installed a large steel platform, which features a helipad, in the provisional measures zone between China and the ROK in the Yellow Sea. In the past, China also installed deep-sea aquaculture facilities. This has caused concern from the ROK government. What is Chinas comment? Guo Jiakun: My colleague has made clear Chinas position. Let me reiterate that China and the ROK have overlapping claims on maritime rights and interests. The two sides are advancing negotiations on maritime delimitation and in the meanwhile, actively carrying out cooperation in the provisional measures zone (PMZ) in accordance with the China-ROK Fishery Agreement. The aquaculture facilities set up by Chinese company in the PMZ do not contravene the agreement between China and the ROK. China has shared relevant information and maintained communication with the ROK through channels such as the dialogue and cooperation mechanism of maritime affairs. We hope the ROK will view this in an objective and reasonable manner. Bloomberg: The U.S. and the Philippines will start their flagship annual military drills today. The exercise has come as Beijing and Manila are obviously in a dispute over the South China Sea. A Philippine general who directed drills said Manila is treating them as an exercise for our defense. Would the Ministry like to respond on that? Guo Jiakun: With the world being hit by unilateralism, protectionism and bullying, countries in this region have been calling for greater solidarity, coordination, and joint efforts to keep the region stable and respond to challenges. Against this backdrop, the Philippines chose to conduct the large-scale military drills with this country outside the region and brought in strategic and tactical weapons to the detriment of regional strategic stability and regional economic prospects, which puts them on the opposite side of regional countries. This act has been detested and opposed by regional countries. The Taiwan question is purely Chinas internal affair and is at the core of Chinas core interest. China firmly opposes any country using the Taiwan question as an excuse to strengthen military deployment in the region, heighten tensions and confrontation, and disturb regional peace and stability. We urge relevant sides not to make provocation on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it. AFP: We are seeing reports that the Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi will visit China. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm this? Guo Jiakun: China and Iran maintain exchanges and interactions at various levels and in multiple fields. On the specific visit that you mentioned, I have no information to share at the moment. AFP: Protesters in the West African country of Guinea-Bissau on Sunday attacked a Chinese-run mining site in the northwest of the country and set fire to equipment. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? Guo Jiakun: Im not aware of the specifics that you mentioned. Let me reaffirm that the Chinese government keeps asking Chinese companies to abide by local laws and policies and lawfully do their business overseas. AFP: I have a question about Myanmar. We are seeing reports that this week, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance army will hand control of the strategic town of Lashio back to the Myanmar junta forces. The consensus is that the deal has been brokered under pressure from China. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? Guo Jiakun: China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors. Chinas position on the Myanmar issue is very clear. We follow the principle of non-interference in other countries internal affairs, support Myanmar in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity, support various parties in Myanmar in carrying out friendly consultation toward political reconciliation, and support Myanmar in resuming the political transition process. *************************** The following question was raised after the press conference: In the turbulent global security situation, the world is at risk of reverting to the law of the jungle. On April 21, 2022, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative, offering a Chinese proposal for addressing security challenges and safeguarding and promoting world peace. Today marks the third anniversary of the initiative. Could you share with us the positive role of this initiative in safeguarding and promoting world peace and security? Guo Jiakun: Three years ago today, President Xi Jinping, for the future and welfare of humanity, put forward the Global Security Initiative (GSI). Over the past three years, with his personal guidance, China, in line with the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, has been working with the rest of the world to fully advance the GSI, and made important progress. The GSI has gained the support of over 120 countries and regional and international organizations. It has been written into over 120 bilateral and multilateral documents between China and other countries or international organizations. Cooperation in various fields under the GSI framework has made steady progress and produced initial results. Under the GSI, China firmly supports developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other regions in safeguarding their own sovereignty, security, and development interests. China has signed MOUs on GSI cooperation with some Asian and African countries and trained various talents of security governance for developing countries to help grow the strength of the Global South in safeguarding peace and security. China makes full use of its role as the permanent member of the UN Security Council. China issued position papers on the Ukraine crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Afghanistan issue, among others, launched the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis together with Brazil and other Global South countries, facilitated the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, promoted the internal reconciliation within Palestine, and provided viable solutions to solving disputes and differences, and managing risks and crisis. China actively addresses non-traditional security risks. China has fully implemented the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, improved rules of governance on new frontiers such as the deep sea, polar regions, outer space, artificial intelligence, data and the Internet, and conducted international cooperation in such fields as climate change, energy security, food security, and combating cross-border crimes, online gambling and scam. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and of the founding of the UN. The history of humanity is arriving at yet another crucial juncture. China stands ready to work with other parties to steer the trend of history, uphold the right path of common security, continue to advance the GSI, and strive for a world that enjoys lasting peace and universal security. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. The direct economic impact of US tariffs on countries in the Central Asia and South Caucasus region will be limited, Trend reports, via the report of the Moody's rating agency. "On 9 April, the US (Aaa negative) postponed imposing higher additional tariffs on imports from several countries, including (Baa1 stable). Initially, Kazakhstan faced a 27 percent tariff on its exports to the US, well above the baseline 10 percent tariff effective 5 April for Central Asia and the Caucasus region, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The tariffs' direct economic impact on countries in the region will be limited. Along with the tariffs being moderate, the US accounts for only a small fraction of the country's total exports, most of which will avoid the new tariffs. For instance, according to Kazakhstans Trade Ministry, more than 90 percent of the countrys exports to the US comprise crude oil, uranium, silver, and other raw materials, which are exempt from tariffs," the agency said. Meanwhile, according to Moody's, economies and certain sectors in Central Asia and the Caucasus would be indirectly affected by the US tariff policy if it leads to slower economic growth globally, especially for the region's key trade partners, such as Russia, China, and the EU. "Lower commodity prices would affect the main exports of many Central Asia and Caucasus countries, while an overall decline in economic and investment activity would lead to reduced demand for their exports. Conversely, the shift in global trade flows could create regional opportunities, such as more favourable pricing on local markets for some goods, such as various equipment, metals, and building materials, that may be redirected from the US market. A global trade war ignited by the sweeping US import tariffs could also push affected countries to seek new trading partners, potentially increasing interest in the resource-rich Central Asia and Caucasus region. The region also has significant transport and logistics potential, as a link between north and south, and east and west. In particular, the cargo rail sectors in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan could get a boost from rail transit operations between Asia and Europe. The boost could drive up investment and the need for new bank lending in attractive and rapidly growing sectors. However, risks remain high amid the heightened economic uncertainty and volatility," said the report. Moody's analysts emphasized that in recent years, the largest regional economies Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan have made major strides in diversifying their economies and enhancing their economic resilience. "Most regional banking systems have also built substantial buffers to help them withstand moderate shocks, while a tightening of regulations following the pandemic and 2014-15 currency crisis in many developing countries has resulted in declines in dollarization at banks, making them less vulnerable to external shocks," the report added. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Department of Justice accused Google of using the same playbook to push its AI assistant, Gemini, that it once used to dominate search. In the ongoing antitrust trial about Googles dominance in search, DOJ attorney David Dahlquist told the court on April 21 that Google is paying Samsung an enormous sum in fixed monthly payments to make Gemini the default assistant on its devices, mirroring the exclusionary methods at the heart of Google's $20 billion deal with Apple. "Google has agreed with its partner, Samsung, to pay an enormous sum of money in a fixed monthly payment, as well as additional payments, activation bonuses, and ad-revenue payments," Dahlquist argued during his opening statement. "This is the monopolist playbook at work." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the commercial agreements for Gemini are "remarkably similar to the exclusionary contracts the court previously ruled illegal." The precise payment figures were redacted from public view. Googles dominance in AI is questioned In January, Google's Gemini became the default assistant on Samsung's newest smartphones. Last year, in response to antitrust scrutiny, Google proposed new rules designed to prevent it from forcing Gemini onto devices through exclusive deals. While the company can still strike promotional deals-such as paying Samsung to feature Gemini-it cannot require Samsung or other manufacturers to promote the assistant in exchange for access to Google Search, Chrome, or the Play Store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These proposals were in response to the DOJ's claims that Google's reported dominance in search was built on exclusivity agreements with manufacturers, which the court has already ruled to be monopolistic. As AI products like ChatGPT and Perplexity gain traction as alternative search tools, the DOJ is focused on ensuring Google doesn't extend its search dominance into the growing AI market, a key point in the ongoing trial. "Google wants to expressly carve out their GenAI products so that they can repeat the monopoly playbook on those products going forward," Dahlquist said. "The risk of excluding GenAI, as well as Gemini [from remedies], is too great." To that, the DOJ has urged the court to address Google's search monopoly by requiring the company to sell off Chrome as part of its remedy. Separately, a federal court ruled on April 17 that the publisher side of Googles adtech violates antitrust law. ADWEEK has reached out to Google for comment. Sen =Don Gaetz (left) says the Senate won't be confirming AHCA Secretary Shevaun Harris (center) or DCF Secretary Taylor Hatch (right) during the 2025 Session. (Photos via the Florida Senate and Gov. Ron DeSantis' office) Two recent top agency appointments by Gov. Ron DeSantis, both of whom have been grilled by legislators over a charity linked to First Lady Casey DeSantis Hope Florida initiative, appear unlikely to win confirmation this session from the Florida Senate. Sen. Don Gaetz, chair of the committee responsible for screening appointees, told the Florida Phoenix in a phone interview Monday that of the more than 200 gubernatorial appointees for the Senate to consider this session, roughly 150 are still awaiting action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the committee lacks time to consider the appointment of Shevaun Harris as head of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) or Taylor Hatch as secretary of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Under Florida law, if the full Senate fails to take action on a confirmation the governor must reappoint them to that post within 30 days. The Senate would then consider the appointment during its next session. Appointees who fail to win confirmation a second time must leave their positions. I know this: That because we wont be able to get to her, her term of office will end and hell [DeSantis] have to reappoint her, Gaetz said of Harris future as AHCA secretary. When asked whether he would vote to confirm Harris at AHCA, the largest of the states health care agencies, Gaetz said: Id have a hard time voting for Secretary Harris unless she came clean and had a very different story than what shes telling the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz also told the Florida Phoenix that he has serious questions for both of them. They both know it. The process Gaetz, himself a former Senate president, and committee vice chair Mack Bernard, a Democrat from West Palm Beach, issued a memo outlining how the Senate confirmation process would proceed under Senate President Ben Albritton for the next two years. The memo explains that every gubernatorial appointee will be considered by their substantive committee as well as the Ethics and Elections Committee. A favorable vote of the Ethics and Elections Committee will be required in order for a nominee to be recommended for confirmation by the full Senate, the memo says. However, the President always has the prerogative to move any nomination to the full Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee didnt begin considering gubernatorial appointments until its March 31 meeting, having spent its previously scheduled hearings discussing substantive legislation instead. Tuesday comes before Wednesday. Nominees come to us as they come to us, Gaetz said, noting that he doesnt get to pick and choose the names on the agenda. Sen. Ben Albritton via Florida Senate Katherine Betta, a spokesperson for the Senate President Ben Albritton, said the governors office is aware of the situation. The Presidents goal is to have a more thorough process for confirmations by broadening the opportunities for Senators to engage in the confirmation process. There is insufficient time remaining this session to move forward with confirmation proceedings for Secretary Harris and Secretary Hatch. The President has great respect for their dedicated and longstanding service to the state, specifically to the vulnerable populations they have both served and continue to serve over their respective careers in state government. The confirmation process provides the opportunity for reappoint and certainly if that occurs, there would be time more time this fall during interim committee weeks and next session for consideration. Backstory DeSantis put Harris in charge of AHCA in February after he tapped Jason Weida, who had been secretary of that agency, as his chief of staff. Before that, Harris had run DCF, the agency that created the nonprofit Hope Florida Foundation to help Ms. DeSantis Hope Florida. DeSantis then appointed Hatch, who had been director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) to serve as head of DCF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hope Florida Foundation, a direct support organization, has been at the center of a growing controversy surrounding a $10 million one time donation health care giant Centene made to it. The money was part of a $67 million settlement the managed care plan signed with the state over Medicaid overpayments. The foundation than 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, which opposed last years marijuana-legalization initiative. James Uthmeier, the governors former chief of staff, now Florida attorney general, controlled Keep Florida Clean. House Health Care Budget Subcommittee chair Alex Andrade told members of the Hope Florida Foundation during their board meeting last week that the contributions could jeopardize the foundations 501(c)(3) status and that the foundation should try to recoup the funds. The Senate Committee on Children and Families voted up on Hatch on March 25, but she still needs the ethics committees nod. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate Health Policy Committee approved Harris nomination as AHCA Secretary in April 1. At that same meeting, the committee approved DeSantiss choices as heads of the boards of Chiropractic Medicine, Medicine, Optometry, and Physical Therapy Practice. Likewise, the ethics committee will consider a spate of higher education appointees (some of whom are controversial) Tuesday that were considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education on April 15 and April 10, well after Harris and Hatch were initially considered by their substantive Senate committees. Phoenix reporter Jay Waagmeester contributed to this story. This story has been updated with comments from the Senate Presidents office. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE MANLIUS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) As students head back to the classroom today from spring break, a Fayetteville-Manlius father hopes a dangerous encounter his son experienced gets brought back into the spotlight and back in front of school leaders. Jason Held said his 15-year-old son was threatened with a knife ten days ago inside a bathroom at Fayetteville-Manlius High School. While the other student now faces three misdemeanor charges, the father worries the district and the police department are downplaying the situation. A message sent to F-M families on Friday, April 11, reads in part, This afternoon, apparently after a verbal altercation was diffused, an FM student was found to be in possession of a knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A news release from the Town of Manlius Police used similar language the same day, adding, A 15-year-old FM student was found in possession of a knife. No one was injured in the incident. Held said his 15-year-old son, a ninth grader, is the one who was threatened. He said the phrase possession of a knife doesnt capture the seriousness of what happened. According to my son, he had it held with the blade face toward him, and they were about an arms length away, and reared and jabbed it directly toward his chest, Held said. The knife never made contact, and no one was hurt. But Held said his son feared for his life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats my baby boy. I dont want anything to happen to him, Held continued. The Town of Manlius Police Department said it worked with the district and consulted with the district attorneys office regarding the incident. The other student, who is also 15, is now facing three misdemeanors, including menacing in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was also issued a family court appearance ticket. Held doesnt think misdemeanor charges go far enough. Im angry, Im scared. I dont want this to go away cleanly; I dont want it swept under the rug, Held added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lieutenant with the town of Manlius Police Department tells us the fathers concerns, along with the totality of the complete investigation was forwarded to Family Court for their action. He went on to say, The charges were based upon the facts and circumstances of the investigation. In response to Helds concerns, Fayetteville-Manlius Superintendent Dr. Craig Tice tells NewsChannel 9: The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority. The district is committed to providing a secure learning environment and ensuring that individuals adhere to the Code of Conduct designed to protect the school community. While we cannot discuss student disciplinary actions, the incident is being handled according to the Code of Conduct and state law. As always, families are encouraged to discuss personal safety with their children and remind them to report any concerns to a trusted adult. Over the weekend, Held said he got confirmation that hed be meeting with the principal Monday morning. Hes also planning on attending Monday nights school board meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. Donald Trump honors the late Pope Francis with a touching tribute at the White House Easter Egg Roll event. The POTUS expressed his love and respect for the deceased head of the Catholic Church on Monday, April 21. His sweet words come hours after the pontiff's death was announced. Donald Trump isn't the only leader who honored Pope Francis as other renowned politicians penned their grief and prayers to the sovereign of the Vatican City State. Donald Trump Orders Flags To Be Lowered In Pope Francis' Honor Samuel Corum - Pool via CNP / MEGA At the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, Trump addressed the nation while honoring Pope Francis' memory with some kind words. He described the late head of the Catholic Church as a loving and caring person, calling him: "A very good man who loved, loved the world, and he especially loved people that were having a hard time, and that's good with me." Trump's honor didn't end there as he revealed Francis' passing would be a national event. He noted he signed an executive order that proclaimed all federal and state flags across the U.S. to be flown at half-mast in the Pope's memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The POTUS similarly addressed Francis' death on his Truth Social platform with kind words, writing, "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" TMZ noted Trump last met the Pope in person in 2017, while his vice president, JD Vance, saw Francis on Easter Sunday, hours before his death. The Vatican Announced The Late Pope's Death Stefano Costantino / MEGA News of Pope Francis' death came via a statement from the Vatican. The Blast covered the story, reporting the heartbreaking message delivered by His Eminence Cardinal Farrell began: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis." "At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church," Cardinal Farrell continued, adding: "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized." The death announcement concluded with praise for Pope Francis, who was hailed as an example of "a true disciple of the Lord Jesus." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The head of the Catholic Church died a day after he was last seen publicly on Easter Sunday. He was photographed greeting a crowd from the gallery of St. Peter's Basilica after celebrating Mass. Pope Francis' Last Message Was A Plea For Peace MEGA During his final public appearance, Pope Francis issued an important message to the world. An aide read his Easter Sunday note to the crowd, capturing the late sovereign of the Vatican City State's plea for peace and understanding between people regardless of their differences. "There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression," the Pope stressed. His words of wisdom extended to the ongoing violence in Gaza, which he described as a "deplorable humanitarian situation." Francis implored the Israel-Palestine forces to end their conflict and allow healing to begin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I express my closeness to the sufferings... for all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. Call a ceasefire, release the hostages, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace," the late Pope pleaded. World Leaders Honor The Late Head Of The Catholic Church Jack Hill / MEGA Trump wasn't the only one to honor Pope Francis' memory as other world leaders paid tribute to the late head of the Catholic Church. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his grief on X, writing: "Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis." "His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church," Sir Starmer added. The official British Royal Family account on X shared King Charles' reaction to the Pope's passing. The King's lengthy message in part read: "My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry." Other leaders who honored Pope Francis' death include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and more. Donald Trump Slammed Joe Biden For An Awkward Encounter With Pope Francis ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Last June, The Blast covered Trump's heated reaction to former president Joe Biden's meet-and-greet with Pope Francis. The video of the duo's encounter made waves on social media, capturing Biden bumping foreheads with the late sovereign of the Vatican City State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear if they accidentally touched foreheads, but the moment was brief. However, it had Trump slamming Biden for putting the Pope in an awkward position. He addressed the incident on his Truth Social platform, writing: "Look at the PopeHe's freaking out! This can't be normal, can it?" Trump's criticism followed scathing remarks about Biden, including statements about a possible mental decline. The POTUS urged his former competitor to take a cognitive test to detect early signs of memory loss and other cognitive impairments. Rest in peace, Pope Francis! The messaging emblazoned across the University of Texas campus embraces a global outlook: What starts here changes the world. Yet the federal governments sweeping efforts to rescind international students visas so far ensnaring at least 176 students across the entire UT system, a sizable chunk of the more than 1,000 students impacted across all American universities sends a much different, ominous message. Speak out here and its time to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said his office is working every day to deport the lunatics who engaged last year in pro-Palestinian protests a plainly unconstitutional use of government power to suppress political speech. Equally alarming, court records suggest some international students at other universities had their visas revoked over infractions as minor as traffic citations, or for no discernible reason at all. This is a moment for the University of Texas to stand firm in defense of free speech, and for alumni and the community at large to stand firm with UT. The Trump administrations targeting of international students is an attack on U.S. values a chilling of protected speech, a stifling of the diverse viewpoints central to learning and innovation, an erosion of the American experiment. The stakes affect us all. To be clear, it is not protected speech to threaten or harass someone. Anyone whose conduct endangered others has forfeited their right to remain on campus. The uptick in antisemitism in America, and specifically on college campuses, is deeply troubling and demands effective response from campus leaders. But just as UT and state troopers overreacted with force against pro-Palestinian protesters a year ago, the Trump administration is overreaching now in deporting foreign students based on their political activity. State troopers line up in April 2024 to break up a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas. Hundreds of international students who participated in such protests around the country or publicly shared their political views are having their student visas revoked by the Trump administration. A coalition of Jewish organizations led by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs this week rejected the false choice between confronting antisemitism and upholding democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our safety as Jews has always been tied to the rule of law, to the safety of others, to the strength of civil society, and to the protection of rights and liberties for all, the coalition wrote. All includes foreign students learning at American institutions. In protecting the rights to free speech and assembly, the First Amendment does not distinguish between citizens and noncitizens. Rather, it bars the government from interfering with those fundamental acts of self-expression. Perhaps the Trump administration hopes that most Americans will be indifferent to the fate of a relatively small group of foreign students. Those whose visas were rescinded account for just a fraction of the 1,900 international undergrads and 4,600 international graduate students at UT Austin. But moments like these are a test and a sign of things to come. The Trump administration is unleashing a barrage of strategies to silence dissent and sideline institutions that stand for the pursuit of truth from strong-arming law firms that crossed President Trump, to gutting research funding at universities (including more than $6 million at UT), to attempting to dictate hiring and student discipline policies at Harvard University, to planning to eliminate the federal dollars supporting public media such as NPR, PBS and their Austin affiliates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having sent hundreds of undocumented immigrants to a prison in El Salvador, Trump now muses about sending homegrown American offenders to that brutal lockup. It is equally likely that Trumps efforts to silence foreign students through intimidation is a warm-up act for cracking down on the free speech of U.S. citizens. That makes it essential for UT and all Texans who value free speech to stand in defense of it. Last year, in a lengthy statement affirming their commitment to free speech, the UT Board of Regents concluded: The UT System and the UT institutions have a solemn responsibility not only to promote a lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation, but also to protect that freedom when others attempt to restrict it. That moment is here. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Opinion: UT must defend free speech, protect student visas Lori Daybell, the mother convicted of murdering two of her children in a so-called doomsday plot, delivered her closing argument Monday during her latest trial in Arizona, where she is charged with conspiring with her brother to kill her fourth husband. Dubbed the "doomsday mom," Daybell has maintained that her brother shot her then-husband of 13 years, Charles Vallow, in self-defense in her home in Chandler, Arizona, in July 2019. Her brother, Alex Cox, died from natural causes months after the shooting. Prosecutors, meanwhile, said the shooting was a ploy for Daybell to get rid of her estranged husband so that she could get his $1 million life insurance policy and be with her current husband, Chad Daybell, whom she married four months after the shooting. Prosecutors further said she invoked their religious beliefs as justification for the murder and gave her brother "religious authority" to kill Vallow because they believed he was possessed by an evil spirit they referred to as "Ned." PHOTO: Lori Daybell delivers her closing argument during her murder conspiracy trial in Phoenix, April 21, 2025. (Pool via ABC News) Lori Daybell, 51, represented herself in the Phoenix trial. She has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her nearly 20-minute closing argument, she told jurors the shooting was not a premeditated murder but a "tragic family event." "This event was not planned or expected. It was shocking," she said. She argued that officers neglected to conduct a thorough investigation, though she also said the Chandler Police Department "did treat this event just like it was: self-defense." "This is an attempt by the state to try to retrofit a crime that doesn't exist," she said. Daybell also urged the jurors to watch her entire police interview conducted after the shooting, part of which was shown during the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge sustained several objections during her closing argument after she referred to testimony that had not been entered into evidence during the trial. MORE: Brother of 'doomsday mom' Lori Daybell testifies against her in latest murder trial During her nearly two-hour closing argument on Monday, Maricopa County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Treena Kay said the evidence at the scene shows that Vallow was not shot in self-defense, but was "executed" and the scene "staged." She began by recounting text messages sent from Lori Daybell to her husband, Chad, seven days after Vallow was killed, discussing her now-deceased husband's life insurance policy. Kay said that, upon learning she was no longer the beneficiary of the plan, the defendant messaged Chad that "Ned" probably changed it "before we got rid of him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Her words tell us that she was involved in this killing, her actions and her words of texting Chad Daybell tell us the motives behind this murder -- Chad and money," Kay told jurors. The prosecutor also revisited witness testimony that she said spoke to what she called Lori Daybell and Alex Cox's "twisted religious beliefs" and a text message the defendant sent her brother days before the deadly shooting that mentioned Nephi, a prophet in the Book of Mormon who God commanded to kill Laban. "Lori Vallow wanted the million dollars, and she wanted Chad Daybell, and she and Alex used that twisted religious beliefs they had so that they could kill the evil, possessed Charles and 'be like Nephi,'" Kay said. PHOTO: Maricopa County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Treena Kay delivers her closing argument in Phoenix, April 21, 2025. (Pool via ABC News) Kay said Alex Cox showed up at his sister's home with a loaded gun, "ready for his mission," and shot Vallow twice. She argued that the evidence shows the second shot was fired while Vallow was lying on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That is premeditated first-degree murder, no matter what you believe before that," Kay said. Daybell countered in her closing that Nephi "signifies strong faith, perseverance and courage." "The state's attempt to misconstrue the positive text message about a wonderful religious figure, Nephi, and try to turn it into an order to kill someone is absurd," she said. Kay advised jurors that even if you don't hear someone explicitly talk about conspiring, "a conspiracy may be inferred from circumstances showing a common criminal objective." In this case, the conduct inferred a "conspiracy of Alex coming over with his gun to shoot and kill Charles," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury is now deliberating the verdict. MORE: 'Doomsday mom' Lori Daybell delivers opening statement in her latest murder trial Over two weeks, the state called more than a dozen witnesses, including Daybell's other brother, Adam Cox, who testified that he had "no doubt" his two siblings conspired to kill Vallow upon learning that his brother had fatally shot him. Daybell did not call any witnesses in the trial and did not take the stand in her own defense. In her cross-examination, Daybell tried to question the thoroughness of the police investigation into the shooting. She asked several witnesses, including her brother Adam Cox, if they personally saw her conspire with her brother Alex Cox to murder her husband, to which they responded no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the trial, the judge often sustained frequent objections from the prosecution over Daybell's questions for testifying, hearsay, relevance and speculation. After the state rested its case on April 16, Daybell presented a motion for acquittal due to insufficient evidence. The judge denied it, saying the court finds there is sufficient evidence that a reasonable juror could find her guilty. PHOTO: Lori Vallow Daybell sits during her sentencing hearing at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, July 31, 2023. (Tony Blakeslee EastIdahoNews.com/Pool via AP) Both Lori and Chad Daybell were found guilty of first-degree murder for the deaths of her children, Joshua "J.J." Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, who went missing months after Vallow was killed. In two separate trials in 2023 and 2024, prosecutors argued that the couple thought the children were possessed zombies and murdered them so that they could be together. The children's remains were found on an Idaho property belonging to Daybell in June 2020 following a monthslong search. Lori Daybell is currently serving life in prison without parole for the murders of her two children. She has denied killing them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chad Daybell was sentenced to death after being convicted of murdering the two children, as well as his first wife, Tamara Daybell, and now awaits execution on Idaho's death row. 'Doomsday mom' Lori Daybell delivers closing argument in murder conspiracy trial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Service dogs can be four-legged lifesavers, alerting to dangerous allergens, assisting with travel and making people with a wide range of disabilities safer. But fake service dogs, advocates say, are taking a bite out of real service dogs credibility, exacerbating the challenges that people with disabilities who rely on service animals already face. Fake service dogs are poorly trained or untrained animals falsely passed off by individuals trying to access restrictedplaces or benefits. Thousands of grocers and shop owners now prohibit any animals, including legitimate service dogs, from entering their stores. That's because of incidents where fraudulent service animals have "urinated on expensive furnishings, contaminated food, bitten staff, and driven away paying customers," according to Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit service dog organization headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About two-thirds of service dog users say the poorly trained or untrained dogs have negatively impacted their independence and quality of life, according to a 2022 survey conducted by Canine Companions. "Service dog fraud and poorly trained service dogs pose a widespread and serious problem regardless of location and have a powerful negative impact on legitimate service dog teams," the group said in a report. Businesses are required to allow service animals onto their premises under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but it's not always obvious whether a service dog is legitimate. "It's all about a dog's behavior in public," said John Bentzinger of Canine Companions. Business owners, he said, are also within their rights to ask dogs acting aggressively or inappropriately to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, service dogs aren't required to complete a specific, national certification, according to the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. People with disabilities have the right under federal law to train service dogs themselves to help with their unique needs, and some state and local laws do recognize "animals that are still in training," according to the DOJ. "There are individuals and organizations that sell service animal certification or registration documents online," federal officials warn. "These documents do not convey any rights under the (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal." According to the DOJ, when it's not obvious that the dog is a service animal, business owners can ask two questions, including whether the service animal is required because of a disability and what task or work the dog has been trained to perform. They cannot, however, demand documentation or ask that the dog demonstrate the task for which it has been trained. Paul Mollica, a senior attorney with Equip for Equality, a Chicago-based protection and advocacy system for the state of Illinois, said that in many cases, the task is self-evident for instance, a guide dog for the visually impaired. Other dogs may be trained to detect whether someone has low blood sugar or is about to experience a seizure, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are dogs trained for when someone has PTSD to detect when a person is experiencing severe anxiety," said Mollica, part of Equip for Equality's anti-discrimination team. "That might sound like an emotional support animal, but its not they actually put physical pressure on the person with their head or their paws, and it helps relieve the anxiety." The ADA Act National Network defines service dogs as those specially trained to perform tasks for people with physical, intellectual or mental disabilities. Such dogs are "more than just a vest," according to Assistance Dogs International, explaining on its website that such dogs offer "expert training, crucial socialization and years of task-based independence to people with disabilities." Mollica advises individuals with service dogs who encounter skeptical business owners to take "a nonaggressive, non-defensive stance" and let them know the animal is legitimately needed. "Be prepared to articulate what the dog is trained to do," he said. "If it's delivered in a way that's understandable and sincere, that's going to get you past a lot of problems." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Service animals, Mollica said, perform needed functions just as white canes or oxygen tanks do. "Service animals are on the same level," he said. "They're providing a vital service for people with disabilities, so excluding them is tantamount to telling a person with a white cane, 'You can't come in here.'" However, people may struggle to acquire service animals: They can come at significant expense and aren't necessarily covered by insurance. For example, psychiatric service dog training can cost anywhere between $20,000 to $30,000 on average. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover service dogs, and most private insurances dont either. Fake service dogs undermine freedom and safety, advocates say Nearly 93% of respondents to the Canine Companions survey said they had encountered fake, questionable or uncontrolled service dogs, while 79% reported uncontrolled dogs snapping at, biting, or interfering with their service dogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey was distributed to 60 organizations accredited by Assistance Dogs International throughout North America, Europe and Oceania. More than 1,500 service dog users responded, making the study of assistance-dog fraud the organizations largest to date. Even if a person with a disability hasn't encountered one of the untrained or poorly trained animals in day-to-day life, it can still have a ripple effect. Skepticism about service dogs among business owners and others makes legitimate users less inclined to take service dogsout in public, the group said in its report. "If a service dog user feels they will be denied access or that there are more poorly trained service dogs in public, they may opt to avoid public places with their service dog," the organization said. "This ostensibly has an impact on the service dog users independence and quality of life if doors are being shut, figuratively, before service dog teams even leave their homes." According to NEADS World Class Service Dogs, based in Princeton, Massachusetts, properly trained service dogs can offer clients "life-changing emotional support and enable them to navigate the world more safely and confidently." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEADS, formerly known as National Education for Assistance Dog Services, agrees thatfraudulent service dogs are a growing problem in the United States. The Canine Companions survey, the group said in a 2023 statement, shows not only the frequency of fake service dog encounters but also demonstrates "how significantly they are undermining feelings of independence, quality of life and potentially even the safety of clients with legitimate service dogs." According to Canine Companions, loopholes in the ADA have enabled scammers to exploit the system. In 2024, the group said it hopes to persuade lawmakers to add definitive language to the act that addresses service dog representation, making it "crystal-clear that misrepresentation of a disability for personal gain including the use of a service dog is against the law." The group sought to gather 2,500 public signatures on an online petition calling for an end to service dog scams. As of April 13, a little more than 2,600 people had signed the document. Not just service dog advocates One of the latest local efforts on legitimate service dogs comes from Massachusetts state Rep. Kimberly Ferguson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She proposed legislation on April 1that would create a 17-member commission to explore tougher regulation of service animals in the state. If created, the commission would have until April 2026 to file a report assessing the prevalence of fraudulent service dogs statewide and whether prohibition or penalization of such fraud is necessary. It would also examine the feasibility of requiring service animals to be certified, registered, or licensed. Massachusetts is one of 16 states without a "true ban" on fraudulent representation of pets as service animals, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University in East Lansing. A handful of those states still specifically prohibit misrepresentation of service animals in housing situations. Contributing: Phaedra Trethan, Katie Camero(This story was updated with additional information.) This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Fake service dogs in Florida hurt real canine companions credibility Apr. 21April 18, 1925 Coughing of babe awakens parents in burning home The coughing of their one-year-old child as smoke lodged in its throat probably saved Mr. and Mrs. John Honsey, 170 Main street from death by fire or suffocation at their home early this morning. The babe was sleeping near the couple when the fire, of unknown origin, broke out. Coughing and crying as the acrid smoke found its way to the sensitive tissues of the child's throat, the baby wailed aloud for its mother. Mrs. Honsey was the first to awake. She perceived the danger immediately, awakened her husband and seized the crying child from its crib. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple first tried to leave the burning building by the rear door, but a wall of fire prevented them. Mr. Honsey suffered slight burns about the face when he tried to penetrate the fire. His eyebrows and hair were singed. The escape was effected by the front entrance. Meanwhile neighbors had notified firemen. April 19, 1965 Superior man is victim of mishap A Superior man, the father of seven children, died Sunday of injuries received when the auto on which he was working Saturday afternoon slipped from a jack and pinned him beneath the vehicle. The victim, Joseph Stelmaszewski, 45, 1637 Cumming Ave., died at a local hospital where he was taken following the accident which occurred about 3:45 p.m. Saturday. Ambulance attendants reported that they were notified of the mishap by Mr. Stelmaszewski's wife and that he was removed from beneath the vehicle by neighbors. Death was due to internal injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 20, 1925 Find body of man under car The body of Coleman C. Kain, age about 50, residing at 56 East Second street, was found at 8 o'clock this morning a half mile west of the Eighteenth street crossing under a car in the Great Northern ore yards, Allouez. Kain, who was employed as a section worker on the Great Northern died, apparently from exposure, a few minutes after being found by Bert Lindgren, section foreman. The body bears no marks of any kind. Kain was seen Sunday afternoon wandering in the vicinity of the Great Northern roundhouse at Allouez. He appeared to be in a dazed condition and it is believed he spent the night in the yards at Allouez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were notified and went to the scene in the police emergency ambulance. Kain was alive when railway employees had lifted him from under the car but he died a few minutes later. He was dressed in a heavy mackinaw and heavy working trousers. A post mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death, according to Coad LeSage, deputy coroner, who has charge of the body. April 20, 1965 1-act plays scheduled by Solon class SOLON SPRINGS (Special) The sophomore class of St. Croix High School will present three one-act plays at the gymnasium on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The plays, directed by Ernest Korpela, are: "Beware the Bear," "Old Skinflint," and "If Boys Wore Skirts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casts are: "Beware the Bear," has Stephanie Klinzing as Mank; Patti Chelik as Spooch; Vivian Lawler, Little Alergy; Micki Little as Kim McDonald; Marlis Jellich, Flip; Karea Michal, Mrs. Tuttle; Dorreen Alger, Elaine; Dennis Smith, the intruder; Steve Stegman, radio announcer. "If Boys Wore Skirts" has Linda LeJeune as Connie; Joni Cariolano, Arlene; Tom Burfield, Matt; Janet Olby, Mrs. Crawford; Marvin Olby, Barney; Karen Michal, Margie; John Kidd, Chuck; Mike Tuttle, Phil; Jeanne Schacht, Elsa; Marlis Jelich, Muriel; Howard Wheeler, Dick; Dale Henry, Herbie; the announcer is Diane Smith; Bob Little, Oscar; Steve Stegman, Elroy. Student director is Diane Smith. "Old Skinflint" casts Chris Dahlberg as Miss Florabelle Dodd; Bob Little, old Archie Crothers; Mike Tuttle, Eddie Lambert; George Harbough, Tobias Flint; Jeanne Schacht, Miss Alice. Student director is Chris Dahlberg. April 21, 1925 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superior man still missing Mounting fears that Einar Simstad, age 54, Superior man who vanished from his home here April 11 has been the victim of foul play, were expressed by members of the family today. A week ago Saturday, Simstad, a carpenter, after finishing a job, disappeared and has not been seen since that day. He was hatless and coatless and wore a carpenter's apron when last seen on the corner of Baxter avenue and North Third street. He was under the influence of liquor at the time according to Carl Hagen. All efforts of Mrs. Simstad and members of the family residing at 705 Baxter avenue to find any trace of the missing husband and father have failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police investigation revealed that acquaintances of Simstad in the North End of the city believe he has gone to Escanaba, Mich. to work. His family reply to this solution with the query "Why doesn't father write to us then?" The foul play theory is discounted by police, who say Simstad had no money or valuables on his person when he disappeared. Police will communicate with Escanaba authorities this afternoon in an effort to locate the missing man. Girl weds sweetheart under prison sentence Ernest Van Horn, who will shortly commence serving a two-year sentence in Green Bay reformatory, was married at 2 o'clock this afternoon to pretty Gladys Boulier, his sweetheart. Van Horn was one of the five West Duluth youths implicated in the Palace theater robbery. Gladys lives in West Duluth too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wedding of the youthful burglar to the Boulier girl was solemnized in the county jail. Members of both families were present and Rev. William J. Barr, Methodist pastor from Duluth performed the ceremony. Following the brief nuptial ceremony Van Horn tenderly kissed his bride farewell with a promise to return to her immediately after his release. On good behavior, Van Horn can obtain his release in about 14 months from the Green Bay institution. Police warn merchants against check artist Local police have issued a warning to Superior merchants and individuals to beware of honoring checks for a "tall man" who has successfully cashed several small checks ranging from $3 to $6 in the last week. Included among his victims are the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal bakery, Hotel Superior, Belknap hotel, Grant bakery and individuals. The bogus check artist is described as being of light complexion, has a long, prominent nose and has been identified as wearing a brown hat and gray coat. Superior news in brief Enter hen coop A hen house owned by Frank Richter, 715 Broadway street, was entered last night and five hens stolen The heads of three of them were cut off and left at the Richter back door, police were informed. April 21, 1965 Evening Telegram is 75 years old Today, April 21, 1965, marks the 75th anniversary of The Evening Telegram and approximately the 23,475th publication of the newspaper. The old flat bed press of the Telegram made its first run on this date at 1805 Winter Street. Publication was continued without interruption over the past 75 years. Articles and pictures courtesy of retired librarian Judy Aunet with Superior Public Library. Downtown Las Vegas church closes doors after 70 years LAS VEGAS (KLAS) After more than 70 years of worship, fellowship, and community, one of the last remaining churches in Downtown Las Vegas is closing its doors. Congregants at Grace Presbyterian Church celebrated their last Easter Mass at their church campus near the I-15 and Charleston on Sunday. The church was forced to relocate due to rising rents, safety concerns in the area, and the expansion of the freeway, which made it challenging for members to get to and from the churchs campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just gonna be a lot of change, and change, even when its positive, is hard for people, Associate Pastor Craig Sanders said. This is the place weve done ministry for 70 years, and now were going to be going to a new home, and were excited about that, but its hard. Its hard for these people to leave. They mourn it all the time. The churchs new location near Rhodes Ranch will be smaller than its current campus due to the increased cost of building. But Sanders says the downsizing will allow the church to host more services, allowing more people to join. The people are the church, not the building, Sanders said. The building is a tool that we use, but were taking all those people with us, and so we as the church are going there this is just a new generation for ministry for us. Grace Presbyterian Church will host its final service at its current church campus on May 4. They will have services at Mountain View Presbyterian Church until they move into their new location in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Volunteers will work this weekend to spruce up downtown Wichita. The downtown cleanup event will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers, clubs, organizations, and area businesses will work on tasks including litter pickup, graffiti removal, underpass painting and street painting. How much rain Kansas got over Easter weekend A clean, safe and inviting downtown is essential to attracting businesses, visitors and residents, Heather Schroeder, Downtown Wichita executive director, said in a statement. This event is an incredible opportunity for the community to come together and make a visible impact on our city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone is encouraged to register by clicking here. Evergy and the Wichita Wagonmasters will provide a complimentary lunch at Naftzger Park at noon following the event. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the resumption of direct flights between Lahore and Baku, Trend reports. "I warmly welcome the resumption of PIAs direct flights between Lahore and Baku after a hiatus of two years - a significant milestone for tourism and regional connectivity between our brotherly countries. We remain committed to achieving greater milestones in the fraternal ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan as we deepen our cooperation across sectors," the PM said in a statement. Pakistans national airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), resumed direct flights from Lahore to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Sunday. PIA will operate the route twice a week, with flights departing Lahore (LHE) for Baku (GYD) every Sunday and Wednesday. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) also offers flights to Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. Dozens of trees in downtown Los Angeles were hacked down over the weekend, according to multiple media reports and posts to social media. Its unclear exactly what time the destruction occurred, with officials at the Los Angeles Police Department telling KTLA that, at least for now, they had no information about the incident and calls made to the citys Urban Forestry Division by the Los Angeles Times went unanswered over the Easter Holiday weekend. In a post to Reddit, one user noted that several trees between 1st Street and Wilshire Boulevard had been cut down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Instagram, another user posted video that captured felled trees at Olympic Boulevard and Hope Street, Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street, Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue, Grand Avenue in front of the Wells Fargo Center and Grand Avenue and 5th Street. Vandals cut down dozens of trees in downtown L.A. over the Easter Holiday weekend. (Media Moussavy) Vandals cut down dozens of trees in downtown L.A. over the Easter Holiday weekend. (Media Moussavy) Vandals cut down dozens of trees in downtown L.A. over the Easter Holiday weekend. (Media Moussavy) Vandals cut down dozens of trees in downtown L.A. over the Easter Holiday weekend. (Media Moussavy) Vandals cut down dozens of trees in downtown L.A. over the Easter Holiday weekend. (Media Moussavy) Vandals cut down dozens of trees in downtown L.A. over the Easter Holiday weekend. (Media Moussavy) It appears from photographs and video that the trees were cut using a chainsaw, with some of them cut at the bottom and others taken down several feet above the ground. In other instances, a clean cut wasnt made, leaving some of the trees connected by threads of bark. Motorcyclist shot dead by police in Orange County identified At least some of the trees were of a drought resistant variety known as Indian laurel fig, The Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why a vandal or several vandals would want to deface and damage city property in this particular manner is unknown and so far, no surveillance footage has emerged of the perpetrators or perpetrator. In a statement to KTLA, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Office said: That someone would do this is truly beyond comprehension. City public works crews are assessing the damage and we will be making plans to quickly replace these damaged trees. LAPD has opened an investigation into what happened and those responsible must be held accountable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Archewell Foundation has pulled funding from the Milwaukee Muslim Womens Coalition (MMWC), citing their policy on hate speech. The decision came following an OpEd that Janan Najeeb, the coalitions founder and executive director, authored last February, featured the phrase from the river to the sea extensively and after Najeeb spoke at an event this past fall at which a mural featured the Star of David combined with a swastika. Our funding and grant support extends to individuals and organizations of all walks of life with varying political views, cultural beliefs, ideologies, and identifications. We do not discriminate. We believe change comes from building bridges. We welcome all, Executive Directors James Holt and Shauna Nep wrote in a statement shared on Archewells website. They added, We do not, however, tolerate any form of hate speech, including hate-fueled symbols, language, or imageryno matter the community it targets. For us, association with the blending of the Star of David with a swastika, is impossible to accept. Additionally, language that calls for the destruction of others, whether explicitly or implicitly, crosses a line. It is not aligned with our values: we are pro-humanity, pro-love, pro-peace, pro-equality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Archewell Foundation had awarded the group a grant as part of its Welcome Project, supporting women resettled from Afghanistan. The MMWC had hosted an Afghan Womens Sewing Circle and Support Group with the funding. In response to the decision (the coalition shared the letter that Archewell sent them as part of an online fundraiser), MMWCs Najeeb wrote that she was deeply disappointed. To suggest the piece constitutes hate speech or propaganda is, at best, a profound misinterpretation, she wrote of her OpEd. Later in her statement, she writes, There is painful irony in your decision to withdraw support from Afghan women, many of them war survivors, because the leader of a womens organization dared to speak out against the creation of more war survivors. The people enduring the crisis in Gaza are exactly those your mission claims to support. How can it be against your mission and values to advocate for their safety and dignity? She added, Silencing women of color who speak out against injustice perpetuates the very harm your foundation purports to address, and asks them to retract their defamatory statements and issue a public apology. Harry and Meghan have yet to personally comment on the controversy. You Might Also Like MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) A person was hospitalized after a car crashed into a utility pole in Meriden on Sunday, according to police. The crash happened some time before 4:40 p.m. on Wilson Avenue. The driver was taken to the hospital, but no serious injuries were apparent. Four people, including three relatives dead after crash in Newington The cause of crash is unknown 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 WTNH.com. DENVER (KDVR) The Colorado State Patrol is investigating a road rage incident that resulted in shots being fired Monday morning. According to CSP, troopers were called to northbound Interstate 25 near milepost 250 in Berthoud for a road rage incident at 1:13 a.m. Following a preliminary investigation, CSP said a maroon Kia Sorento, with the Colorado temporary tag 7282363, was driving northbound on I-25 and reportedly straddling the center of both lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A driver in a Subaru Legacy approached the Sorento from behind and honked, CSP said. The Sorento then moved into the left lane as the Subaru passed in the right. However, CSP said the driver of the Sorento followed the Subaru closely before backing off and shining a laser light at the driver of the Subaru. 16-year-old suspect in shooting outside Fort Collins mall to be charged as adult: police The driver of the Subaru got off I-25 at Exit 250, and the driver of the Sorento followed. At that point, CSP said the driver of the Sorento fired multiple rounds from a firearm at the Subaru. One round reportedly went through the back window glass and into the passenger compartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CSP said the driver of the Subaru was not injured, and the driver of the Sorento fled the scene. The Kia Sorento is listed as stolen out of Denver. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who may recognize the Sorento is asked to call 911 or Colorado State Patrol dispatch at 303-239-4501. If you do see the suspected vehicle, CSP said to not engage as they are considered armed and dangerous. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot and combat veteran, said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths singular stupidity is putting troops in harms way and demanded his resignation after a new report alleges the secretary shared detailed military plans in a group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer. How many times does Pete Hegseth need to leak classified intelligence before Donald Trump and Republicans understand that he isnt only a fing liar, he is a threat to our national security? Duckworth, who sits on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, said Sunday on the social platform X. Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops lives are endangered by his singular stupidity, she continued. He must resign in disgrace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duckworths statement came after The New York Times reported on a previously undisclosed Signal group chat, in which Hegseth allegedly shared detailed information about forthcoming military strikes in Yemen on March 15. The group chat reportedly included his wife, Jennifer, who is a former Fox News producer and does not work at the Pentagon. It also included Hegseths brother and personal lawyer, both of whom work at the Pentagon but, the Times reported, it is not clear why either would need to know about upcoming military strikes aimed at the Houthis in Yemen. According to the Times, which cited four people with knowledge of the chat, the group chat included his wife and about a dozen other people from his personal and professional inner circle in January, before his confirmation as defense secretary. Hegseth has previously come under intense scrutiny for sharing similar details with top national security officials in a Signal chat that inadvertently included the top editor of The Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagons chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, responded to the Times reporting in a post on social media, saying, Another day, another old story back from the dead. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story, he added. The White House on Monday said President Trump strongly supports Hegseth. Duckworth was fiercely critical of Hegseth before he was confirmed and similarly called out Hegseth and demanded his resignation following the initial bombshell reporting in The Atlantic about the Signal group chat with top national security officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pete Hegseth is a fing liar. This is so clearly classified info he recklessly leaked that couldve gotten our pilots killed. He needs to resign in disgrace immediately, Duckworth said in a statement last month, responding to The Atlantic reporting. Hegseth and every other official who was included in this group chat must be subject to an independent investigation. If Republicans wont join us in holding the Trump Administration accountable, then they are complicit in this dangerous and likely criminal breach of our national security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is threatening to cut off approval and funding for construction projects in New York City if the states congestion pricing program continues after the Trump administrations deadline for it to end passed Sunday. Duffy sent a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Monday warning of serious consequences if the program continues despite the Trump administration having revoked the federal governments approval for it in February. He directed the New York State Department of Transportation to explain by May 21 why the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shouldnt take action to force compliance. President Trump and I will not sit back while Governor Hochul engages in class warfare and prices working-class Americans out of accessing New York City, Duffy said in a statement. The federal government sends billions to New Yorkbut we wont foot the bill if Governor Hochul continues to implement an illegal toll to backfill the budget of New Yorks failing transit system. We are giving New York one last chance to turn back or prove their actions are not illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program, which the Biden administration initially granted approval for in November, implemented a $9 toll on cars entering Manhattan to reduce congestion on highways and air pollution. Hochul originally planned a $15 toll before lowering it. Hochul and other New York officials have argued that the plan has worked, reducing crowding on highways, speeding up travel times and leading to more people choosing alternative ways to get around. But the Trump administration has slammed the program as raising costs for working-class Americans and small-business owners. Trump declared that New York was saved after announcing his decision to end the program. Duffy noted in his letter Monday that all roads constructed using federal aid highway funds must be toll-free unless an exception is granted. Duffy said the FHWA will start taking measures against the state and city on May 28 if it determines the state to still be out of compliance. The measures would last until New York agrees to end congestion pricing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The possible measures include not allowing any further advance construction authorization or environmental approvals for projects within Manhattan except for those deemed essential for public safety. If the noncompliance continues, those measures could be expanded to all FHWA funds for projects in the city. The measures could also be expanded to other parts of New York state if noncompliance continues, the letter says. New York officials dont appear to be showing signs of backing down, as the citys Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has filed a lawsuit to keep the program in place. A proposed briefing schedule for the case could have the program continuing through the summer. In case there were any doubts, MTA, State and City reaffirmed in a court filing that congestion pricing is here to stay and that the arguments Secretary Duffy made trying to stop it have zero merit, John J. McCarthy, the chief of the MTAs policy and external relations, told The Hill in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the governor told The Hill that they believe the program is working. Traffic is down, business is up, and the cameras are staying on, they said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Multiple people, including a Dunwoody ringleader, have been sentenced for distributing drugs within and outside of metro Atlanta. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Homeland Security Investigations began investigating a drug trafficking operation led by Karla Lopez-Delgado in 2022. Officials said Lopez-Delgado ran the organization with the help of Jonathon Torres-Aguirre, who, at the time, was incarcerated at Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Ga. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agents conducted a search warrant at Lopez-Delgados Dunwoody apartmenta two-bedroom apartment she shared with her four-year-old daughter. Authorities said they found 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl, more than 80 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 20 kilograms of cocaine, and a handgun. Agents also found several cell phones with hundreds of conversations with Torres-Aguirre about their drug trafficking activities across the state of Georgia and into Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, a judge sentenced each individual after they pleaded guilty to their charges: Karla Lopez-Delgado pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 19 years, eight months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Jonathon Torres-Aguirre was sentenced to 12 years, seven months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Marco Camacho-Escobar was sentenced to 10 years, one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Issac Duran-Gomez was sentenced to three years, seven months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Carlos Santiago was sentenced to five years, three months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Bennie Shelton was sentenced to three years, ten months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Kiara Jones was sentenced to one year of home detention, followed by three years of supervised release. Drug dealers who poison our communities will be held accountable. These sentences serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can profit off addiction we will find you, and you will be prosecuted, said Steven N. Schrank, HSI Special Agent in Charge. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] EAGLE GROVE, Iowa Its a story heard across the state: pharmacies are struggling to keep their doors open, and communities are losing access to healthcare. The latest community thats fearful for their local pharmacys future is Eagle Grove, a town in Wright County about an hour and a half north of Des Moines with a population of around 3,500 people. Residents say the Eagle Grove Pharmacy is more than just a pharmacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pharmacist Mickey Coopers husband, Tom, originally owned a carpet store in the towns downtown square. In 1984, they converted the store into a pharmacy so Mickey could work for herself. At the time, it allowed her to care for her children and work at the same time. We started with a typewriter, no computers, and just us, she said. Now, over 40 years later, the pharmacy has grown to be a community staple, and Mickey Cooper is a well-known figure within a 30-40 mile radius. Her impact goes beyond the four walls of the pharmacy. Diocese of Des Moines Bishop Joensen releases statement on death of Pope Francis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mickey probably saved my husbands life not too many years ago, said Colleen Bartlett, a lifetime Eagle Grove resident. It was a graduation weekend. We were getting ready to go to some graduations. Bob didnt feel well, and I didnt know what to do so I called Mickey. Mickey advised Colleen and Bob Bartlett to stop what they were doing and go to the hospital. When they arrived, they found out Bob was having a heart attack. Im really blessed, truly blessed that we had Mickey. Otherwise, I wouldnt have known. I probably wouldve been home and I wouldnt be here today, said Bob. But, if you ask Mickey, shes not a heroine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think about it much because to me its my job. Its just what you do, she said, holding back tears. According to Mickey, anyone in the same position would do the same, but small-town pharmacies have more of these kinds of stories. Its not that other people dont get those things, but I dont think theyre as available as we are, she said. Were very available. You can stop us anytime. I get stopped at the grocery store a lot. Four years ago, Mickey sold the pharmacy to Andrew and Rachel Wagner. The couple got married on December 31, 2020, and purchased the pharmacy the next day. But, Andrew wasnt a new face for patients. He grew up in Eagle Grove and started working at the pharmacy in middle school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He helped me count my first perpetual inventory, said Mickey. Creme celebrates Earth Day, promotes local businesses Andrew studied pharmacy at Drake University and later returned to town. Now, he and his wife are raising their two sons, 3-year-old Archie and 1-year-old Wyatt, in the pharmacy. Residents frequently see the boys playing in the pharmacy and even helping out. Archie does deliveries sometimes. He loves it, knocking on doors and giving people medicine, said Rachel. Eagle Grove Pharmacy is also heavily rooted in the community. Theres a board inside with different community events posted, and they help the local schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are so many things that I rely on them for, said Beth Wilson, the elementary school nurse. According to Wilson, in the last three years, the elementary school saw high numbers of students with strep throat, Influenza, and COVID. However, she said there is inadequate access to healthcare providers in the community. So, the Eagle Grove Pharmacy started to do testing for all three. And not only that, but Andrew was able to, if you had a positive strep test, he was able to fill a prescription for that as well. And I think that eased the burden, she said. Wilson also said that the Eagle Grove Pharmacy provided emergency medications to students, even if parents had to wait until pay day to pay for the medication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are an invaluable resource to us as school nurses, said Wilson. The pharmacy has also helped physicians, like Tiffini Toliver. She is a lifetime resident of Eagle Grove and a family practice provider in Clarion, a town northeast of Eagle Grove. Toliver said shes made calls to the pharmacy countless times on weekend evenings for last-minute medication for hospice patients. Its never a concern. It doesnt matter what theyre doing, what the weathers like. They make it happen, she said. Saydel School District earns heart safe distinction Despite strong community support, the future doesnt look certain for the Eagle Grove Pharmacy. Andrew recently posted on Facebook expressing his worries for the future of the pharmacy if state lawmakers dont pass reform legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the post, he said that in the last year, over one-third of the prescriptions the pharmacy filled were at a loss. This is a direct result of the corrupt practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who are the middlemen between insurance companies and pharmacies. PBMs determine the total drug costs for insurers, shape patients access to medications, and determine how much pharmacies are paid. Last year, 31 pharmacies closed in Iowa as a result of PBMs. Several Iowa pharmacy owners have voiced concerns over the last year against PBMs because pharmacies are not being reimbursed at fair rates. PBMs often pay pharmacies less money than it costs for the pharmacy to purchase drugs and distribute prescriptions. This was the case for an Oskaloosa pharmacy that foresaw its closure and a Minden pharmacy that closed its doors in 2024, and a Colfax pharmacy that projects it will close its doors this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew said he hopes to grow the practice, but he may have to come up with an exit strategy in the next five years. However, he and his family dont want to leave Eagle Grove. We just want to stay in Eagle Grove and raise our family here, and be able to send them to college one day. Thats the most important thing for us. And then our staff, that they can keep their job, have good-paying jobs they can afford to live, he said. If Eagle Grove Pharmacy closes, the nearest pharmacy for residents will be roughly 15 miles away, and the distance will be devastating for some residents. We also live in a poverty, a high poverty area. Some people dont have a car to drive 30 miles. Some of them dont have the gas money to drive that far. That means some of our families wouldnt go get the medication, said Wilson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew and other pharmacy owners are advocating for PBM reform. There is a bill in session that would require PBMs to reimburse pharmacies for their cost and enable patients to choose the pharmacy they want to receive care from. Last year, similar reform legislation didnt pass because it wasnt brought to a vote. Many pharmacists are worried this bill will meet the same fate this year. Critics of the bill say it will cause premiums to increase. However, similar legislation has been passed in several other states across the country, and data collected in these states does not suggest an increase in the cost of premiums. The Iowa Senate filed a fiscal note and an amendment to the bill last week, but has yet to vote on the bill. 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 21. Azerbaijans Deputy Foreign Minister, Yalchin Rafiyev, visited the Republic of Iraq on April 20, 2025, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. The visit included the second round of political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, held in Baghdad. The consultations were led by Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev on behalf of Azerbaijan, and Hussein Muhammad Bahr Al-Ulum, Iraqs Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Relations. During the talks, both sides engaged in extensive discussions on the current state and future prospects of bilateral political, economic, trade, energy, humanitarian, and interparliamentary relations. The possibility of expanding mutual cooperation within multilateral frameworks, particularly through international organizations such as the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement, was also addressed. The discussions touched on potential collaboration under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP). Rafiyev delivered a comprehensive briefing to the Iraqi contingent regarding the current post-conflict landscape, the intricacies of the peace process, ongoing reconstruction initiatives in the liberated zones, the systematic landmine clearance operations, and the repatriation of displaced citizens to their native regions. Both entities engaged in a discourse regarding geopolitical and transnational matters of reciprocal significance. During his visit, Deputy Foreign Minister Rafiyev also met with the Minister of Communications of Iraq and Chairwoman of the Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation between the two governments, Hayam Al-Yasiri. They emphasized the commissions significant contribution to the development of economic, trade, and humanitarian cooperation and expressed confidence that the upcoming session of the commission, scheduled to take place in Baku, will further strengthen bilateral relations. In a meeting with Iraqs Deputy Minister of Environment, Jasim Abdulazeez Humadi, Rafiyev discussed Azerbaijans successful presidency of COP29 and areas of cooperation on climate change. Rafiyev also visited the "Rewaq Baghdad Center for Public Policy," where he met with the centers director, Abbas Al-Anbouri, and participated in a roundtable discussion. The roundtable focused on Azerbaijans foreign policy, COP29 presidency, the countrys stance on regional and international issues, and future developments in Azerbaijan-Iraq relations. Rafiyev also addressed numerous questions from participants regarding the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as ongoing reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Emergency crews battled a fire early Monday morning and are looking more into its cause. It happened at a residence in the 1000 block of Norwood Avenue on Youngstowns North Side around 5:30 a.m. The home sustained significant burn and smoke damage on the first and second levels. The fires cause is under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. By Alasdair Pal SYDNEY (Reuters) - Early voting in the Australian election began on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor party holding a slim lead over the conservative opposition coalition. A steady increase in early and postal voting means as many as half of eligible Australians will cast their ballots before the May 3 election date, according to data from the country's election commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The beginning of voting coincides with a slump in popularity of the opposition Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton, who has struggled to shake off perceived ideological closeness to U.S. President Donald Trump. Dutton was forced to abandon a policy that would have required federal government workers to return to the office full time while cutting tens of thousands of public sector jobs, seen as taking inspiration from Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), set up by Elon Musk. Albanese has surged in the polls from a deficit of six points against Dutton's conservative coalition as recently as January to a lead of as much as nine points earlier this month. Polling from Newspoll released on Sunday showed Labor held a four-point lead over the opposition when votes from smaller parties are redistributed as part of the country's preferential voting system where voters rank their choices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's no complacency from my camp, I assure you of that," Albanese told a press conference on Monday. "This election is certainly up for grabs." He pointed to the 2019 federal election, when some betting firms paid out early on a Labor victory, in an election that was ultimately won by Liberal leader Scott Morrison. Campaigning in the election, where voting is compulsory for Australians over 18, is expected to be subdued on Tuesday following the death of Pope Francis. Dutton and Albanese are due to meet in a third and final televised election debate on Tuesday evening. (Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Jamie Freed) ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Early voting in Taylor County for the May 3, 2025, City and School General Elections began on Tuesday, April 22. Heres a guide to when and where you can vote, along with whats on the ballot. Early Voting Locations & Times Taylor County Plaza 400 Oak Street April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mall of Abilene 4310 Buffalo Gap Rd April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Abilene City Hall 555 Walnut Street April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. United Supermarkets N. 10th & Willis April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Merkel ISD Admin 314 Manchester St April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Merkel City Hall 100 Kent Street April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Buffalo Gap Town Hall 709 Litel Street April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tye City Hall 649 Scott Street April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Lawn City Hall 150 Main Street April 22-25 Tuesday through Friday April 28 & 29 Monday & Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Abilene Regional Airport pushes for $20M bond to support $70M upgrade Whats on the ballot? Abilene City Council Place 5: Three candidates are competing for Place 5: incumbent Kyle McAlister and challengers Miguel Espinoza and Cynthia Alvidrez. Abilene City Council Place 6: Two candidates are competing for Place 6: incumbent Travis Craver faces challenger Tammy Fogle. City of Abilene Proposition A: The issuance of bonds in the amount of $20,000,000 for airport improvements and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds. How many people have voted? On the first day of early voting, 412 residents of Taylor County went to the polls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Earth Day is an annual celebration to promote environmental protection and awareness. This year's Earth Day theme, "Our Power, Our Planet," calls for people worldwide to unite behind renewable energy and promote clean electricity by 2030. The celebration is recognized worldwide, including in the United States, the European Union, Australia, India, Mexico and dozens of other countries. Here is when Earth Day takes place and how it started. When is Earth Day 2025? Every year, Earth Day takes place on April 22, which is a Tuesday in 2025. It is not a federally recognized holiday. What is Earth Day? Earth Day is an annual celebration that brings people together with the common goal of protecting the planet from environmental threats. Millions of people join during the celebrations to raise awareness for the Earth's depreciating health. When did Earth Day first begin? The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, making this year's festivities the 55th annual festival. For the first Earth Day, 20 million people went to inaugural events at schools, universities and other public areas around the country to protest for cleaner water, air and land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1969, Democratic U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin proposed a series of "teach-ins" at university campuses to raise awareness of environmental issues. He was joined by Congressman Pete McCloskey (R-CA) and activist Denis Hayes, as reported by the World Economic Forum. Their objective was to establish a national movement beyond the confines of student participation and academic forums. Congressman McCloskey, a California Republican known for his pro-environment and anti-war stance, co-authored the Endangered Species Act and played a pivotal role in establishing Earth Day. He was also instrumental in the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. Additionally, the same year saw the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, a response to public demands for cleaner water, air, and land, heightened by increasing climate-related disasters and pollution across the nation. Cuts against the EPA In February, the Trump Administration announced it would begin cutting jobs at the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Department of Government Efficiency's project to remove excess spending. A month later, the EPA announced it would roll back several regulations put in place by Joe Biden during his presidency. The 31 Biden-era regulations will be undone to boost industries ranging from agriculture to electric utilities, oil and petrochemicals and automobiles to align with Trumps vows to slash red tape. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: When did Earth Day start? Who founded it and why we celebrate JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) East Tennessee State University (ETSU) launched Forever ETSU, a week-long donation initiative, on Monday. Throughout the week, donors are invited to support ETSU and help ensure that the university continues its mission of education, innovation and outreach. Forever is honoring the past, honoring everyone before us, ETSU Annual Giving Executive Director Desmond Pierce said. Youll see some of those vintage logos that are coming out, and we really just want to say thank you to everyone who has gotten us to this point, and we want to honor that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, ETSU has passed 50% of its 1,100-donor goal during its new Forever ETSU program. Stewardship is so huge, Pierce said. We truly believe that we cant say thank you enough. So to shower donors in love, to shower our alums in love and just get those personal touch points to get that video, to get that postcard, is so important to what we do here at ETSU. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. (Reuters) - East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said on Monday the death of Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, was a tremendous loss for the world, not just Christians. The 88-year-old pontiff, who died on Monday, was the first pope to visit East Timor in over 30 years, following John Paul II, whose appearance gave the country's movement for independence from occupying Indonesia from 1975-1999 a historic boost. The president of Asia's youngest, predominantly-Catholic nation told Reuters flags in East Timor would be flown at half-mast for one week to honour the late pontiff's life and a mass would also be held in his honour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He leaves behind a profound legacy of humanity, of justice, of human fraternity, a tremendous loss for the world, not only for Christians," he said in a phone interview. Ramos-Horta praised Francis' courage to speak out "for the poor, for the weak...against arrogance, against abuse, against wars." Former Portuguese colony East Timor is a half-island nation of 1.3 million people north of Australia and one of only two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia. Over 600,000 people turned out to see Francis in East Timor's capital of Dili last year, during an international visit which included stops in neighbouring Indonesia and Singapore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Look after these wonderful people," Ramos-Horta cited Francis' last words to him last year. (Reporting by Ananda Teresia in Jakarta; Writing by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Sharon Singleton) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Easter is a holiday celebrated by billions all over the world, including staff and guests at the St. Francis House in Sioux Falls. Sunday, they gave the neighborhood a nice Easter surprise. Volunteers get Camp Leif Ericson ready for summer Thanks to a partnership with CitiBank, the St. Francis House gives out Easter baskets to their own guests as well as people at Bishop Dudley, Union Gospel Mission and The Banquet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We line up the rest of the remaining baskets out front of the St. Francis house, and all of the neighborhood kids and the children who go to Our Lady of Guadalupe come over and experience the opportunity to pick out an Easter basket, St. Francis House CEO Julie Becker said. Its great that theyre doing things like this for our congregation since were so close to each other, Our Lady of Guadalupe congregation member Evelyn Duarte said. In total, the St. Francis House gave out almost 300 baskets this year. They were filled with sweet treats, stuffed animals and some toys. It helped make Easter a little brighter. I like to see how big of a difference it makes in the community, Duarte said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It gives them hope. This gives them faith, St. Francis House guest Arturo Celada said. Its good to bring the kids and see the kids come in and get the baskets from their loved ones. It is a true Easter blessing because we want the St. Francis House to be seen as a safe home, not only for our guests to be able to live and rebuild their lives, but also for the neighborhood that they know that this is a place that people are welcome, Becker said. Community-led movement aims to strengthen Sioux Falls The baskets help spread a message of what Easter is all about. Easter is not only about our religious beliefs, but its also about being kind, helping others and bringing joy to others, Becker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The St. Francis House says there were somewhere between 40 and 60 baskets lined up outside Sunday. All of them were gone by about 10:30 Sunday 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 KELOLAND.com. A bill that would send immigrants without permanent legal status to jail for being in Tennessee was pushed to 2026. (Photo: John Partipilo) When examining the state of national politics and the federal government, theres much to be concerned about, including President Donald Trumps enthusiasm for deporting people legally in the country and possibly, in the near future, U.S. citizens. Concerned about freedom of the press? You might find it hard not to be if you note the Trump administration tried to ban the Associated Press the gold standard for professional and fair journalism from press conferences and has inserted right- wing bloggers in order to get favorable coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its easy to get caught up in the doom spiral of national news, but Tennesseans would be better served, if no less sane, by turning from the scary and shiny objects in Washington, D.C., and back towards home, where members of the Tennessee General Assembly eagerly pursue a similarly anti-democratic agenda. Monitoring the actions of state lawmakers wont make you feel less frustrated, but you have greater access to state representatives and senators near you to voice your concerns. Anti-immigration measures take priority Gov. Bill Lee called a special legislative session in January presumably to push his universal school voucher program, but many political observers were surprised when Lee also added to his agenda three other items in itself unusual, as special sessions are customarily devoted to one topic. While vouchers remained a priority, almost as much attention was given to what Lee termed his illegal immigration agenda. Tennessee lawmakers are taking on a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that children who are in the country without permanent legal status have the right to a public education. (Photo: John Partipilo) The legislature created a state immigration agency that would be exempt from public records law, a measure allowing public officials to be prosecuted if they vote for sanctuary city policies which is unconstitutional, to say nothing of fact sanctuary cities have been illegal in Tennessee since 2018 and requires immigrants in the state without permanent legal status to have drivers licenses that mark them as such. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nazi Germans did this to the Jews, said Democratic Sen. Charlane Oliver of Nashville, referring to the Star of David sewn into clothing. Did Republican lawmakers go far enough to make immigrants feel harassed and unwelcome? Apparently not. As soon as the special session ended and the regular one got into full swing, Republican lawmakers began filing anti-immigrant bills right and left, including: Senate Bill 227/House Bill 11: Sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor of Memphis and Rep. Rusty Grills of Newbern, the bill would hold churches and charitable organizations liable for providing housing aid to immigrants without legal status who then go on to commit a crime. It has passed both chambers and is set to become law. Senate bill 836/House Bill 793 : Sen. Bo Watson, a Chattanooga Republican, is carrying a piece of legislation that would require public schools to verify the immigration status of Tennessees nearly 1 million students and would give schools the option of charging students without permanent legal status tuition or denying them an education. The House version, sponsored by Majority Leader William Lamberth of Portland, hit snags and may not pass. Senate Bill 1087 /House Bill 0177: A bill making it a crime for immigrants without legal status to remain in the state for more than 72 hours stalled out in the Senate and was deferred until 2026. Senate sponsor Jack Johnson of Franklin acknowledged the measure is unconstitutional although that has rarely stopped lawmakers with a bee in their collective bonnet. Media matters The year has been marked by fewer large-scale protests in the Capitol than the two years prior, but plenty of small protests there have been more disruptions in committee meetings than Comcast has during spring storms and on several occasions, women protesting against anti-immigration measures have been carried out by Tennessee state troopers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But sometimes, even members of the media are challenged trying to cover proceedings. For some years, reporters have been able to freely enter the House of Representatives, as long as they stationed themselves behind a dingy plexiglass barrier near the dais, separating them from the power brokers. Sergeant-At-Arms Bruce Jackson and a pair of Tennessee Highway Patrol officers blocks the doors to the Tennessee Senate after gallery spectators were ejected during a 2024 debate over bill to arm school teachers. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) No more. Now, reporters must be on a list guarded by House sergeants-at-arms, and even reporters who are members of the Capitol Hill Press Corps cant count on being listed. At times in the last two years, Lookout reporters have been turned away despite being recognized by officials working the door, requiring a direct call from the chair of the Capitol Hill Press Corps to gain entry. And earlier this month, members of the media were denied access to the Senate gallery. A spokesman for Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said troopers who provide security and sergeants-at-arms were concerned about exceptional interest in the days proceedings and turned media away as gallery capacity was reached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that instance, McNallys staff did, within minutes, take steps to allow reporters and photographers into the gallery. But it shouldnt be that difficult for reporters to be able to enter public chambers to do their jobs. Is this a chicken or egg issue? Are Tennessees Republican lawmakers emboldened by Trumps example or would they have arrived at these steps on their own? Thats hard to say, since Trumps influence has permeated Republican-led legislators for nine years only six years after Republicans became the Tennessee Legislatures supermajority. And Im not sure the genesis matters, because here we are. But for Tennesseans who are weary of the flood of national bad news and a feeling of helplessness, theres a cure of sorts. Turn your TV off, look away from Washington, D.C., and turn your sights to home where your vote has a more direct impact on those same Trump-like policies and those perpetrating them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Should a restaurant owner be barred from running for city council if they serve beer with burgers? Thats the question confronting west suburban Geneva and potentially other Illinois towns as local leaders revisit rules meant to prevent conflicts of interest in government. Ald. Mike Bruno says hes uneasy about allowing liquor license holders to run for Genevas City Council, a job that includes deciding the fates of other applicants seeking liquor licenses. When I ran for my seat eight years ago, a political bloc then on the council changed the ordinance to allow liquor license holders to hold office, he told us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brunos proposal would reverse that move and bar liquor license holders from serving on the council. The council could act on a measure to do that within weeks. In Illinois, local elected officials such as mayors, trustees and county board members generally cannot hold a liquor license or have a direct interest in the alcohol business. In Chicago, some will remember that now-retired 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney, who owns Ann Sather restaurants in the city, relinquished his liquor licenses upon joining the City Council. But exceptions exist. In 2001, Illinois law was amended to allow elected and law enforcement officials in municipalities with populations less than 50,000 to hold liquor licenses. That threshold was raised to 55,000 residents in 2013. The law also requires any liquor establishment owned by such officials to serve food. Geneva, with a population of about 21,000, qualifies for the states exception. Its not the only town mulling the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Jeff Hoobler, a Highland Park councilman and co-owner of Ravinia Brewing Co. (now rebranded to Steep Ravine Brewing Co.), resigned his council seat after learning he was in violation of city rules preventing liquor license holders from serving on the council. In a nonbinding November 2024 referendum, an overwhelming 82% of Highland Park voters backed changing that rule. In February, the council voted to change the rules, allowing liquor license holders to hold public office. Vigilance against conflicts of interest is always a good idea, particularly in a corruption-prone state. Consider our property taxes, which most elected officials agree are too high but are unwilling to tackle for fear of angering unions and others who benefit from those levies. In the worst cases such as convicted power brokers like former House Speaker Michael Madigan and Chicago Ald. Ed Burke politicians profited directly from the system through their law firms, which handled property tax appeals brought by businesses that sought also to curry favor from those pols. Even so, banning liquor license holders from serving in public office is an outdated policy and is doing little but keeping some of our most civically engaged people on the sidelines. Local restaurateurs frequently know more about a municipalitys doings, and are more plugged in to its needs, than many other residents. Why should they have to handicap their businesses in order to serve the public? Our establishments are places where people add their voices to the fabric of Highland Park. We uniquely represent the people of Highland Park precisely because we instantly have our fingers on the pulse of so many things that matter in our town, restaurant and business owners wrote last year in an open letter to Highland Park officials. They added that the liquor license law is inconsistent and inequitable because it doesnt give liquor license holders the same electoral representation rights as other business owners, such as dispensaries or real estate developers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are fair points, particularly regarding cannabis dispensaries. Surely, theyre no different from alcohol purveyors in terms of the corruption concerns the liquor license bans are meant to address. Thats not to say there shouldnt be continued vigilance surrounding conflicts of interest. But strong disclosure and recusal rules holders of liquor licenses, for example, shouldnt vote on petitions from would-be competitors for such licenses are sufficient. So, in the name of common sense and opening the door wider to those interested in public service, lets stop shutting out one class of business owner from holding public office. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, held numerous meetings as part of her visit to Vietnam. At the Ha Noi College of Commerce and Tourism, she met with representatives of the creative industry, leaders of educational institutions, and Vietnamese alumni who studied in Azerbaijan during the Soviet era. The meeting offered insights into the Ha Noi College of Trade and Tourism, which has been operating since 1965 and is recognized as one of the leading and most prestigious educational institutions in Vietnam in this field. The college has around 3,000 students and offers over 50 training programs across various academic and professional levels. Discussions focused on the close relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam across different areas, highlighting the strong friendship between the two peoples and the exceptional role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in establishing these ties. The meeting also emphasized that the 2014 state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Vietnam marked a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral relations. Projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation under the leadership of First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva have further contributed to expanding these ties. The Foundations educational and social projects in Vietnam were also mentioned, including the construction of a primary school in Ha Giang Province with the Foundations support. The meeting also discussed the bilateral relations, the contributions of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to the friendship of the two countries and peoples, and the current high-level relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam. Further expansion of existing ties, and projects to be implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the educational and social spheres were also in focus of the meeting. Leyla Aliyeva also met with Vietnamese alumni who studied in Azerbaijan between 1968 and 1990. It was noted that these graduates played a key role in fostering friendly relations between the two nations. Following Heydar Aliyevs visit to Vietnam in 1983, the number of Vietnamese students in Azerbaijan increased significantly during the Soviet period, up to 5,000 Vietnamese citizens studied in Azerbaijan. A financial support certificate from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was presented to the Ha Noi College of Commerce and Tourism. The meeting then was followed by a presentation of Azerbaijani cuisine by famous international chef David Israfilov, Vice President of the World Barbecue Association. Donald Trump is abusing the levers of government to launch an attack against New York Attorney General Tish James on what seem to be pretty flimsy claims of fraud. In a referral letter from the Trump-appointed Federal Housing Finance Agency director, Bill Pulte, to Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche, former Trump private lawyers now serving as the U.S. attorney general and deputy AG, Pulte claims that James has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loans terms. Pulte points to two instances, one in Virginia, and one in Brooklyn, concerning paperwork discrepancies, both which were corrected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Virginia home, which James helped her niece buy in 2023, there is a standard purchase agreement where James attests that she would make the home her principal residence. The home was for the niece and James was not to live there and on the much more important mortgage application for the property, James said correctly that it would not be her primary residence. No mortgage fraud there. Regarding a house that James owns in Brooklyn, an incorrect certificate of occupancy held by the city Department of Buildings says it is a five-family structure, but that was an error filed by a previous owner. There are only four units and the James mortgage reflects that. No mortgage fraud there. These patently phony charges, echoed by Trump using a presidential megaphone, are petty payback for James bringing legitimate civil charges against Trump for him actually faking the value of his New York properties to deceive lenders and insurers, real fraud that was proved in a court of law and for which he has been fined hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties. We thought there was sufficient evidence for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to seek a criminal indictment against Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case civil brought by James, Trump and his lawyers got to argue their case before the court at trial, challenging the witnesses and evidence offered by James and presenting their own witnesses and evidence. But the trial judge ruled against Trump. Trump had the right to appeal and he dutifully filed and argued an appeal last fall, which James opposed. The mid-level Manhattan appellate bench will render their decision and then each side can take the matter to the states highest court for final resolution. That is all different than how James proceeded in her probe of then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo on sexual harassment complaints. Four years ago she issued a report, which helped push him to resign, but her findings were never tested in court and Cuomo never had a chance to challenge them. Also, which troubled us from the week the report was issued, was that the report contained clearly trivial allegations, such as a harmless mild joke that Cuomo made on national TV about a female doctor wearing a full surgical gown. The report contained other, more serious allegations like those of accuser Charlotte Bennett. But there is no proof of Bennetts claims and there now never will be as Bennett has just ended her civil suit against New York State. Her federal suit against Cuomo she withdrew before she was deposed. In one of the civil cases that does continue, of an unnamed female state trooper, a federal magistrate judge in Brooklyn called the James report hearsay, as it was never tested in an adversarial setting like a lawsuit. All of which is why we have called on James to release all the records from her probe, including the secret 156 interview memos. One interview memo that did surface shows that one of the other complainants likely committed perjury. Cuomo is now a leading candidate for mayor; the public has a right to see everything. ___ HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Negotiations over Pennsylvanias state budget are ongoing. Governor Josh Shapiro wants marijuana legalization to be a part of it and so do some lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle. Everybody is recognizing that that legalizing cannabis is not an ask question anymore, said Democratic State Rep. Emily Kinkead of Allegheny County. Its a when and how. Get the latest Pennsylvania politics and election news with abc27 newsletters! Kinkead alongside Republican State Rep. Abby major proposed legislation that would legalize adult use cannabis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its largely similar to the bill that I introduced last session with Representative Kaufer, but it includes some updates from stakeholders, Kinkead added. This new legislation aims to establish a regulated cannabis market in Pa while prioritizing public safety and public health. We are seeing more and more drugs on the illicit market, not just cannabis and not just opioids that are laced with fentanyl and other drugs that are not what people think that they are buying, she explained. So, legalizing cannabis allows us the ability to tell people what it is that they are buying and that they can rely on it. This legislation could potentially boost the economy too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need more revenue streams, Kinkead said. You know, this legalization, you know, could create upwards of 30,000 jobs and good like family sustaining jobs. Easter services celebrated across Midstate While some like Dale Mohan of Dauphin County support this legislation. I dont see a problem with it, he said. I think people are doing it anyway. And hell, its already legal to a certain extent. If you have a marijuana card or things like that. So, I mean, I think just make it legal way around. Others are not in favor of marijuana becoming legalized in the Commonwealth. Im definitely on the fence, said Tamara Ehler of Cumberland County. I think my views over the past year changed about substance use. All substances, legal or illegal. Can be abused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith Coyne of Dauphin County added, I absolutely believe marijuana is a gateway drug. Again, I think for certain people it may not be, but how do you take a chance with that. Rep. Kinkead told abc27 News several similar laws have been proposed. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices This legislation with Representative Major is really just trying to make sure that we have all of the pieces of the of the narrative available when were really seriously talking about how do we legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania, she said. This bipartisan bill has not yet been submitted for introduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Few landmarks are as iconic as the Eiffel Tower, whose nightly light show in Paris draws crowds from around the world. But on solemn occasions, the lights are turned off, transforming the French capitals famous monument into a symbol of collective mourning or tribute. Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, shared condolences to her Instagram page for Pope Francis in the wake of his death on Monday. It is with deep sadness and deep emotion that I have just learned of the passing of Pope Francis, Hidalgo wrote. In these hours of mourning, I extend my sincere condolences to the Catholics of Paris, France, and around the world who mourn him today. May his universal message continue to inspire generations to come. (See the original version in French here.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hidalgo also noted at the end, To honor his memory, the Eiffel Tower will be turned off this evening, and I will propose that a site in Paris bear his name. No further details have been shared publicly about where or what kind of site that will be. Vatican Pool - Getty Images The Eiffel Towers lights have been turned off on several occasions, usually as a gesture of mourning after major tragedies or the deaths of prominent figures. Notable examples include in the wake of the November 13, 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, the 2017 attack near Britains Parliament, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. In October 2017, the monument went dark to honor the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, seen as a symbolic act of solidarity, echoing when the Eiffel Tower replica at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino dimmed its lights in tribute to the Paris attacks two years earlier. At times, the Eiffel Tower has been illuminated in tribute rather than dimmed, such as in 2020, when it lit up to honor healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently in February, when it was lit in blue and yellow in a show of support for Ukraine. In 2022, officials for the metropolis known as the City of Light announced that the Eiffel Towers lights would be switched off earlier each nightat 11:45 p.m. instead of 1 a.m.as part of a broader effort to reduce energy consumption and control rising costs. You Might Also Like Patrick Crusius in 2019. - Credit: Briana Sanchez/El Paso Times/AP Photo Patrick Crusius, the white supremacist who killed 23 people at an El Paso Walmart in 2019, pleaded guilty to capital murder charges in a Texas state district court on Monday, April 21, The Associated Press reports. Along with the plea, Crusius was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He agreed to change his plea from not guilty to guilty after prosecutors said they would no longer seek the death penalty. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Crusius pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the same case, also after prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty. He pleaded guilty to 90 charges, including 45 hate crimes, and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences in prison. Crusius was 21 years old when he left his home near Dallas and drove nearly 700 miles to El Paso on Aug. 3, 2019. Shortly before he opened fire at the Walmart, Crusius posted a racist screed online, in which he said the shooting was in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. In a statement issued last month, El Paso District Attorney James Montoya said the decision to drop the death penalty was part of an effort to finally bring Crusius drawn-out case to a close. Montoya is the fourth El Paso DA to oversee the case, which has been delayed by everything from the Covid-19 pandemic to forced resignations and allegations of misconduct. This is about allowing the families of the 23 victims who lost their lives on that horrific day and the 22 wounded to finally have resolution in our court system, Montoya said at the time. Continual delays due to the handling of this case before I arrived in office have left them in limbo. Now, no one in this community will ever have to hear the perpetrators name ever again. No more hearings. No more appeals. He will die in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Spencer, a defense attorney for Crusius in both his state and federal cases, said the deal brought judicial finality to the case. He brought violence and terror to a place of peace, Spencer continued. He shattered lives and forever changed the landscape of El Paso. We offer our deepest condolences. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has demanded El Salvador release hundreds of Venezuelans who were deported from the United States, who he described as being kidnapped, after his Salvadoran counterpart earlier proposed a prisoner swap. Speaking on a television broadcast on Monday, Maduro demanded that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele provide proof of life for all the kidnapped young people, allow their families and lawyers to visit the mega-prison where theyre being kept, and to release them unconditionally. He also urged Bukele to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia the Maryland man who was mistakenly deported from the US and remains in El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments come after Bukele proposed a prisoner exchange. In a post on X, the Salvadoran president offered to repatriate the 252 Venezuelans currently detained in El Salvador in exchange for an identical number (252) of the thousands of political prisoners he says Venezuela holds, including family members of opposition leaders. Unlike our detainees, many of whom have committed murder, others have committed rape, and some have even been arrested multiple times before being deported, your political prisoners have committed no crime, Bukele said in the post, directed at Maduro. The only reason they are imprisoned is because they opposed you and your electoral fraud. Among those political prisoners are Rafael Tudares, the son-in-law of an exiled opposition presidential candidate; Corina Parisca de Machado, the mother of a Venezuelan opposition leader; a host of journalists, lawyers, and activists; and nearly 50 detained citizens from other countries, including the US. Bukele also proposed swapping four political leaders seeking asylum in the Argentine Embassy in Venezuela. The group has been sheltering at the facility for more than a year, accused of terrorist activities and treason for working with Machado, who says they did nothing wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US and El Salvador say most of the deportees locked up in El Salvadors Cecot prison are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and some are members of the MS-13 Salvadoran gang. But officials have provided scant evidence to show the inmates have ties to those criminal groups, and some of their relatives told CNN that the deportees were not involved in any criminal activity. Similarly, the saga of Abrego Garcia has become a critical legal battle in the US. Though the Trump administration admitted he was erroneously deported, it also insists he is a terrorist and member of MS-13 without offering definitive evidence to prove these claims. Abrego Garcia was able to meet with Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen last week during the senators visit to El Salvador, after he was initially denied access to Cecot. Maduro, too, denies that the Venezuelan migrants are criminals and has previously described their incarceration in El Salvador as a kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their detention in El Salvador has caused growing outrage in Venezuela. Earlier Monday, Venezuelas General Attorney Tarek William Saab also responded to Bukeles offer by asking for the names and medical status of all of the Venezuelans in Cecot, and accused El Salvadors government of breaching the human rights of its nationals held in the maximum security facility. In this handout photo obtained March 16 from El Salvadors Presidency Press Office, Salvadoran police officers escort Venezuelans recently deported by the US government in the Terrorism Confinement Center prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador. - El Salvadors Presidency Press Office/Handout/Reuters Bukeles proposal comes amid heightened scrutiny about the Salvadorans willingness to accept hundreds of migrants who the Trump administration claims are gang members or violent criminals. One of the regions most popular leaders, Bukele has called himself the worlds coolest dictator and the philosopher king as he suspends certain civil liberties to go after his countrys gangs. That has earned him the ire of international human rights organizations, which allege large-scale abuses in his crackdown on crime. But it has also earned him popularity inside El Salvador; Bukele, 43, won reelection last year by a landslide. This article has been updated. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com April 21 (UPI) -- President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has proposed a prisoner swap with Venezuela involving 250 Venezuelan deportees from the United States who are being held in his infamous Terrorism Confinement Center -- an offer that was swiftly rebuked by Caracas as cynical and admission that the imprisoned Venezuelans were illegally deported and arbitrarily detained. Bukele made the offer to Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro on Sunday in a statement on X, offering to send Caracas the 252 deportees he is holding at the Terrorism Confinement Center in exchange for an equal number of jailed opponents of the authoritarian president. The Salvadoran president listed some of the prisoners they would accept, including the son-in-law of Edmundo Gonzalez and nearly 50 detainees of other nationalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our foreign ministry will send the formal correspondence," Bukele said. "God bless the people of Venezuela." Attorney General Tarek William Saab of Venezuela issued a statement Sunday night rejecting the proposal while demanding a full list identifying the 252 alleged gang members being held, their legal status, proof of life and a medical report for each of them. In the statement, he called Bukele a "neofascist" and said the offer demonstrates "that these citizens are being held hostage at the unilateral discretion of an individual acting outside the law, who publicly and through the media tells the world that he tyrannically decides who can enjoy life and freedom in El Salvador." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saab added that he has asked El Salvador's attorney general and its Supreme Court to formally inform him of what crimes the Venezuelan prisoners have committed, when they were presented before a judge, whether they have had access to a lawyer and whether they have been allowed to communicate with anyone during their detention. "The entire world should be repulsed by the fact that CECOT (the Terrorism Confinement Center) is no longer just a torture center created by Bukele's twisted mind to punish criminals in his country, but has become a site of enforced disappearance for innocent Venezuelans (as arranged with his imperial partners), whom he, as an expert in human trafficking, uses in exchange for millions of dollars," he said. The prisoner exchange proposal comes as Bukele has attracted staunched international criticism over jailing some 250 Venezuelans whom the Trump administration deported to El Salvador last month on accusations of being members of the Venezuelan gangs. The deportations were carried out under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which President Donald Trump has tried to use but has been at least momentarily stopped from sending more detainees -- seemingly to El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, the U.S. Supreme Court paused further deportations of migrant detainees until further notice. This also comes as Democrats fight to return Salvadoran Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration has admitted was wrongly deported among the hundreds of deportees but has said they will not return him, while continuing to portray him to the public as a criminal, accusing him of being a gang member and involved in human trafficking. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., visited with Abrego Garcia last week. On Sunday's airing of ABC New's This Week, he explained that he is fighting not just for Abrego Garcia but for the Constitution and the man's right to due process. "My mission and my purpose is to make sure that we uphold the rule of law, because if we take it away from him, we do jeopardize it for everybody else," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a press conference following his return to the United States from El Salvador, he said the Trump administration has promised to pay El Salvador $15 million to detain the hundreds of prisoners whom he described as having been "illegally abducted." Bukele was in Washington, D.C., last week for meetings with Trump. During a press conference on April 14, they both stated that Abrego Garcia would not be returned to the United states. The controversy surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to intensify. Over the weekend, The New York Times reported that Hegseth shared sensitive details about a U.S. military strike in Yemen via a second unclassified Signal chat this time including his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. Despite increasing bipartisan concern over the breach (not just this latest incident, but also the first leak, which was made public in March), President Trump is standing firmly behind his defense chief, calling the criticism a waste of time. On Monday, he dismissed an NPR report suggesting the White House was considering a replacement. Now, some lawmakers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren say its time for some accountability and are demanding Hegseth be fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is it going to take for Donald Trump to fire this guy? It is so clear that he is not ready for prime time, Warren said Monday in an exclusive interview with Katie Couric. Look, we all knew this when he was originally nominated that he was chosen principally because he was very, very, very, very loyal to Donald Trump. He looked good on television and gave a kind of rah-rah talk around defense. But the truth was, he didnt have the experience, he didnt have the background. He made it clear that he didnt think many of those serving in the military, particularly women, belonged there or had a contribution to make. So it was never a good idea to put this guy in. Warren sees the Trump administrations response to the security breach as part of a broader and more troubling pattern. Lets face it, the Trump administration is not big on accountability, Warren told Katie. And I think thats no surprise we have a convicted felon sitting in the White House, and someone whose first act, once sworn in, was to issue pardons to 1,500 people who took part in an insurrection. The third-term Massachusetts senator has long voiced concerns about Hegseths appointment, citing his lack of executive experience and past statements questioning the role of women in the military. Notably, even Republicans like Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell voted against his appointment in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Warren believes support for Hegseth within the GOP may be starting to shift. And on Monday, Rep. Don Bacon became the first Republican member of Congress to publicly suggest Hegseth should step down. Republicans in the House and Senate have bowed down to Donald Trump since the day he was elected, Warren told Katie. And now, with Hegseth, youre starting to see the cracks appear. For more from Warren on Trumps tariffs, insider trading allegations, and what shes expecting lies ahead for the rest of 2025, watch Katies full interview above. The post Elizabeth Warren Demands Pete Hegseths Firing: Time For Some Accountability appeared first on Katie Couric Media. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) An Ellicottville man was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution for stealing a vehicle and fleeing from Pennsylvania to New York, the McKean County District Attorneys Office announced Monday. Officials said Patrick Fuhr, 65, stole a vehicle from a Buffalo car dealership on Aug. 30, 2023, and was charged. He then made bail a couple of months after the arrest. On Jan. 2, 2024, state police attempted to pull Fuhr over, which is when he tried to flee them. He then hit the police vehicle and fled across the state border into Cattaraugus County, where he wrecked the vehicle in a chase that involved police from multiple jurisdictions, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the chase, police said spike strips were used on the vehicle. Fuhr was sentenced for the following: receiving stolen property fleeing police resisting arrest with use of a deadly weapon six counts of recklessly endangering another person with a deadly weapon numerous traffic citations He is not eligible for early parole programs. Latest Local News Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Catholics across California mourned the death of Pope Francis on Monday, paying tribute to his modernization of the Roman Catholic Church and steadfast commitment to the poor and marginalized. Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, never visited California. But he forged a close bond with the more than 5 million Catholics who live in Los Angeles, largely because he nudged the church to a more tolerant position on social issues by urging compassion for immigrants, arguing for tolerance of gay people and advocating for action on climate change. I have to say what I'm feeling today is very personal," the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose H. Gomez, told a crowd of nearly 2,000 mourners and tourists who poured into a noon Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. "I'm going to miss him big time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis, the Catholic Churchs 266th leader, made history when he became the first Latin American pontiff in 2013. Born in 1936 in Argentina to Italian immigrants, he was also the first Pope to take his papal name from St. Francis of Assisi, a saint who dedicated his life to serving the poor. Gomez said Francis was like a wise father, a big brother. The fact that he was from a Latin American country and the first pope to speak Spanish meant a lot to people in that part of the world, including immigrants in L.A. "It was very special to us," Gomez, who was born in Monterrey, Mexico, said after the afternoon Mass. "For us, it was a clear manifestation of the presence of the church in our countries and sense of joy knowing that we are an important part of the life of the church." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside the cathedral, which serves the largest population of Catholics in the United States, mourners lay bouquets of red and white roses, white lilies and pink carnations Monday morning at the feet of a mosaic of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Inside, Cynthia Cook and her mother, Julieta Camacha, offered their silent prayers as cathedral bells rang overhead. "I was just in shock, because I thought he was recovering," Cook said of Francis. The day before, she had watched news reports of Francis giving the traditional Easter blessing Sunday from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cook said Francis embodied a love for everyone. "As the head of the Catholic Church, he put it out that immigrants are God's children," she said. A tear wells up in the eye of a parishioner Maria Rodriguez at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles during a noon Mass on April 21, 2025. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) In Riverside, Isabel Torres prayed to God and asked for his guidance after the end of a packed morning Mass at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Torres, who works at the church as a cleaner, said she was very sad when she found out about Francis death. But at the same time, she said in Spanish, I thanked God for the time he gave us with him. A Mexican immigrant, Torres saw Francis as a reflection of God and an example for the way the Catholic community should live, primarily through humility. She particularly appreciated how Francis urged compassion for migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the help of God almighty, I hope the death of the Pope touches the hearts of these presidents, Torres said. And that they see us all the same and that they understand we have the right to this world, no matter the race or color. Read more: Pope Francis, beloved for his compassion and willingness to shake up scandal-ridden church, dies at 88 Immigrants across southern California valued Francis constant emphasis on the right to migrate, said the Rev. Thomas P. Rausch, emeritus professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Its a fundamental human right, but its not one always appreciated by government, Rausch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After holding Mass at Queen of Angels chapel, the Rev. Benediktus Obon said he hoped the new pontiff would continue the legacy left behind by Francis. He was a man of peace, Obon said. He loved humanity. He embraced all people, and didn't care who you were. We are all creatures of God. Obon acknowledged the role Francis played in changing the negative narrative surrounding the Catholic Church before he took over as pope. His presence in the church brought lots of good things, Obon said. He also brought lots of people back to church. For the community, this is a big loss. For Obon, it was important that the next pope carries out the criticism of the current U.S. administration's treatment of immigrants that Francis carried out until the last day of his life when he met with Vice President J.D. Vance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See them as human beings first, see them as part of yourself in other people, he said. A parishioner at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles kneels before a portrait of Pope Francis during a noon Mass. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Just months after assuming the papacy in 2013, Francis took his first official trip outside Rome to visit the Italian island of Lampedusa to focus on the plight of migrants and asylum seekers. We have this enormous number of people on the move today, fleeing poverty, injustice, war, violence, and he's shown a real concern for that, Rausch said. Francis also used his platform to urge tolerance for gay Catholics. If a person is gay, and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge? he told a reporter in 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, Francis met with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , and she received Communion during a papal Mass in St. Peters Basilica, after San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone barred her from receiving the sacrament in his archdiocese because of her stance on abortion rights. "I join the family of God here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Catholics all over the world, in grieving the loss of our Holy Father,'' Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, above, said in a statement. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Read more: Pope Francis begins new decade as a bit of a Californian. That means lots of love and hate Pelosi was one of many political figures across California who paid tribute to Francis. In a statement Monday, she descirbed him as a beacon of charity, hope and love for all people of faith, He saw God in all His creatures, said Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Catholic who met Francis last year when he attended a climate summit at the Vatican. At the time, Newsom was struck by Francis praise of Californias position on the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis led with his love of peace and creation and sought to protect and lift up the vulnerable, Newsom said in a statement . His papacy was defined by moral courage, a deep respect for all creation, and a profound belief in the power of love to heal and unite. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who is not Catholic, celebrated Francis as a spiritual leader who forged connections with Angelenos of all denominations. He reached millions of hearts far beyond the Catholic Church, she said in a statement, with his words on the greatest challenges facing our world, from war to poverty to climate change to the marginalization of LGBTQ+ people. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, visited Nguyen Dinh Chieu Secondary School in Hanoi as part of her visit to Vietnam. Leyla Aliyeva inspected the educational conditions created at the school. The meeting offered insights into the Foundation's projects contributing to the inclusion of visually impaired people in society and the development of inclusive education in Azerbaijan. Highlighting a cooperation agreement signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme on providing people with vision loss and impairment access to information and communication technologies, it was noted that the project is aimed at integrating visually impaired individuals into society and enhancing their opportunities to obtain knowledge and information through digital tools. The establishment of a printing houseat the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundationat a special boarding school for visually impaired children, where textbooks and Braille teaching aids are produced, was also mentioned. As part of its support for inclusive education, Leyla Aliyeva presented a certificate of financial support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to a secondary school for the visually impaired in Vietnam. It was also noted that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation will donate various equipment to the school to support the education of visually impaired children. The Nguyen Dinh Chieu Secondary School was founded in 1982 with the mission of providing education for blind children in Hanoi. Since 1988, the school has been allowed to enroll students without disabilities, thereby implementing an integrated education model for children with disabilities. The school currently has nearly 1,800 students, including 145 visually impaired students. The teaching staff, in addition to delivering academic subjects, is also engaged in developing an inclusive education model. A comprehensive system for inclusive education has been established here. The school's mission is to provide equal access to quality education, promote independence, and foster integration into society. 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? The Army announced two major changes to its fitness standards Monday: soldiers in 21 combat jobs will have to pass a gender-neutral test, while the standing power throw occasionally called the yeet event will be thrown out for all soldiers. The move rebrands the Army Combat Fitness Test as the Army Fitness Test and will become the services test of record starting June 1. The test, which is semi-annual for active duty and annual for National Guard and Reserve soldiers, will carry over five events: the three-repetition maximum deadlift, hand-release push-ups, the sprint-drag-carry, plank, and a two-mile run. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, men and women will have to meet the same requirements if they are assigned to any of 21 combat-focused military occupational specialties, though the final required scores were not released Monday. The new sex neutral fitness requirements will apply to soldiers and officers in the infantry, special forces, artillery, armor, cavalry, mortarmen, and combat engineers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those 21 MOSes, they will all be graded on the male scale, so it will be sex neutral, Command Sgt. Maj. JoAnn Naumann told Task & Purpose. The passing score for most people will be a 300 with a minimum of 60 in every event. For those in those 21 specialties, the passing score will be 350 with a minimum of 60 in every event. For soldiers in non-combat MOSes, there will continue to be separate minimum scores for men and women. Really no significant change for that population right now, until we see what that new scorecard looks like, Command Sgt. Maj. Stephanie Carl said. Even that, were still not expecting drastic changes to it. Army officials are still working through changes to the test scores that evaluators use to grade soldiers during each of the events. The Army expects to release scorecard changes in the coming weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Naumann said soldiers in the 21 combat-focused MOSes can reference the current scorecard to get a basic idea of what the requirements will look like and if they have to start training a little harder at something, then theyd at least know approximately where it will be. Using the current score card, changes are not as dramatically different, depending on the event. For example, soldiers across all age groups have to get a minimum of 10 push-ups to pass that event. For the plank, each age group has the same time requirement for both men and women. To pass the deadlift event with 60 points, women 17 to 21 years old previously had to deadlift 120 pounds, but under the new standard, they would have to lift 140 pounds. For the sprint-drag-carry event, women in that age group would have to complete the event in under two minutes, 28 seconds instead of three minutes, 15 seconds. Those minimum and maximum passing scores may change with the new scorecards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one thing thats definite is no standard will be lowered, Naumann said. The minimum passing standard for any age group, sex, anything like that, will not go down. On Jan. 1, 2026, the combat standard for the 21 MOSes on active duty will go into effect. But until then, all soldiers will still be considered passing with the 60-point minimum in every event and a total score of 300. For combat soldiers in the National Guard and Army Reserve, the new standards go into effect June 1, 2026. I think that it will give every soldier, particularly in those 21 MOSes where everyone is going to have the same standard, it will give them the confidence in themselves and in each other that theyre meeting the requirements that they have the fitness necessary to be in those physically demanding fields, Naumann said. If combat soldiers dont get a score of 350 after their second test attempt, they would be forced to reclassify into a new job based on the needs of the Army at that time, Carl said. Directed by Congress The changes come after the test became a political battleground centered around the question of whether the militarys fitness requirements are or should be different for men and women. The topic was reignited by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who vowed during his confirmation hearing to review standards in a gender-neutral way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, changes to the Armys fitness test have been underway for the last year and a half because of directives mandated by Congress. The fiscal year 2024 national defense bill required the Army to implement increased minimum fitness standards to its fitness test and specified the 20 combat MOSes it applied to. The Army added the Special Forces warrant officer to make it 21. Just like I wouldnt put someone with a low test score on their ASVAB into a cyber job because theres a certain level of intelligence that we assume is necessary to do that job, theres a certain level of fitness thats necessary to do certain jobs, Naumann said. Its about being a fit force thats ready to fight. In 2022, the Army Combat Fitness Test replaced the decades-old Army Physical Fitness Test with a six-event test designed to be closer to the physical fitness needs of combat and to decrease the rate of musculoskeletal injuries. Authors from a March 2022 RAND Corporation assessment said that more data was needed to provide that ACFT events could predict both combat task performance and injury rates. Soldiers will no longer have to complete the standing power throw event in which they had two chances to throw a 10-pound medicine ball backwards over their head for the greatest distance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carl said it was taken out of the test because studies showed that the throw had the greatest risk of injury. Carl also said that the service couldnt scientifically validate the event as a measure of power because a soldiers height and technique could influence the strength of your power. Women in combat Political arguments centered around women and the Armys fitness test go back to the birth of the ACFT. It became the Armys test of record in 2022, two years later than the service originally expected. Implementation plans for the ACFT plan prompted lawmaker fights in 2020 about the now-defunct leg tuck event and by 2023 senators even proposed that the service throw out the test entirely and revert back to the APFT. An early version of the ACFT held male and female soldiers to the same physical fitness standards, regardless of age. In 2019, initial testing showed that 84% of women who took the test had failed while men across 11 of 63 battalions had a 70% pass rate. The test trials prompted criticism from the Service Womens Action Network, which called the Armys implementation rash because too many otherwise qualified soldiers are failing elements of the test. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The March 2022 RAND assessment of ACFT data found that even among the best-performing MOSes, nearly one-third of women did not pass. RAND authors said that the pass/fail policies would heavily fall on women in the Army and require the service to decide whether it is willing to accept the impacts that current pass rates will have on the force. Naumann said she doesnt think the test changes will have a major impact on retention. I dont think were going to suddenly see drastic changes in failure rates. Theres always been some people who fail whether through personal choice or just in ability to get there. I dont think that were going to suddenly see mass amounts of retention problems, she said. I would argue people want to be in organizations that have high standards. The political debate over fitness standards for women have continued under Hegseth, who has come under fire for his comments about women in combat that he made before taking the role of defense secretary. In his book, Hegseth wrote that women cannot physically meet the same standards as men and on the Shawn Ryan podcast he said, Im straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasnt made us more effective. Hegseth has since attributed previous remarks as part of his concerns over different standards for men and women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a March memo, Hegseth called for a review of physical fitness, body composition, and grooming standards across the military branches. Later that month, he directed the military services to develop sex-neutral physical standards for service members in combat arms jobs. As part of the order, the branches were directed to develop comprehensive plans to distinguish combat arms occupations from non-combat arms occupations, which could vary for each service but in the Army generally pertains to infantry, artillery, armor, cavalry, and special operations forces. Naumann said the fitness test changes fall in line with those directives but its not a result of that. The latest on Task & Purpose UPDATE: The boy has been located safe, according to officials. ST. LOUIS An Endangered Person Advisory has been issued Monday morning for a 3-year-old boy in north St. Louis County after an assault on his father in March. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), the 3-year-old went missing after his father was assaulted. During the assault, the child was taken from his fathers arms, officials 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 FOX 2. An elusive creature with a saw-like snout and teeth where they seemingly shouldnt be, thrashed in the shallows of the Intracoastal Waterway recently, its vulnerable white underside belly up, its slash of a mouth opening and closing as if gulping for air. The federally endangered smalltooth sawfish, which was approximately 14-feet long, had the tip of its long flat snout tangled in a fishing net next to a dock in Lantana. Its unusual teeth, which line the outside edge of its rostrum like a hedge trimmer, only deepened the trap as they tangled in the net. When Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers arrived on Feb. 27, they were able to free the tropical fish that looks like a shark but is really a ray, within minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it was a critical rescue as sawfish populations struggle with habitat loss and, more recently, a mysterious spinning disorder that has resulted in more than 200 reports to FWC since December 2023. Every specimen of this endangered species is vital to its genetic diversity, said FWC Major Mike Davis, in a statement. I am grateful our officers were able to return this one to its habitat safely. More: Fisherman hooks 11-foot sawfish off Juno Beach Pier The freed sawfish, which is believed to have been rescued from a residential dock in Lantanas Hypoluxo Island west of Manalapan, did not exhibit spinning behavior, according to FWC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But FWC fish biologist Gregg Poulakis said it's unusual for smalltooth sawfish to be found in Palm Beach County waters. Most reports of sawfish come from areas around Charlotte Harbor on the west coast of the state through the Keys. "Historically they were found along the east coast of Florida, the Indian River Lagoon used to have a healthy population maybe 100 years ago, but they were unintentionally overfished," Poulakis said. "The last thing a gill net fisherman wanted back in the day was a sawtooth in the net, and they get tangled really easily." An update on the sawfish spinning behavior was issued Wednesday, March 5 by the FWC. After a lull in reports, 22 have been made since December as researchers struggle to discover the cause. FWC has recorded 62 sawfish deaths since December 2023. In the March 5 update, FWC said water tests havent identified a cause of the spinning with no harmful levels of chemicals or heavy metals in sediment. There have also been no signs of parasites, bacteria, or viruses that could explain the behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Algal toxins are a possibility, but more testing must be done, FWC said in the update. Poulakis said the uptick in reports coincided with colder temperatures, which was similar to what happened last year. He said the algae that may be causing the behavior does better in cooler water. "Last year as the weather warmed and the water warmed, the reports dwindled and then we didn't get any until late December," Poulakis said. Florida lawmakers budgeted $2 million to support the investigation, with $1.75 million earmarked for research by the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust for work in Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and the Keys. FWC wants to know about every sawfish sighting, regardless of whether they are exhibiting strange behaviors. People who see a sawfish should call the sawfish hotline at 1-844-472-9347, or 1-844-4SAWFISH. You can also email reports to Sawfish@myfwc.com. Sawfish facts Their "teeth" line the outside edge of their snout and they swing it from side to side to impale and stun its prey. But they aren't actually teeth, they are denticles, which are very specialized scales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They may look like sharks, but they are rays. They live in coastal tropical and subtropical waters, including estuaries and river systems. There are five species of sawfish worldwide. They once lived from the Carolinas to Texas, but the smalltooth sawfish is now largely limited to the waters off the Florida coasts. They are protected by the Endangered Species Act in the U.S.. It is illegal to catch, harass, collect, buy or sell any part of any species of sawfish. SOURCE: Florida Museum of Natural History Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Endangered sawfish saved in fishing net in Palm Beach County, Florida SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin will be visiting San Diego on Earth Day for a firsthand look at the impacts from the Tijuana sewage crisis. Zeldin plans to visit the countrys second-most endangered river following years of cross-border pollution in the Tijuana River Valley from the Tijuana River that flows across the border through San Diegos South Bay and into the Pacific Ocean, affecting the air and water quality in the area, leading to health impacts for residents that live and work there. Tijuana River the second most endangered river in US in 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not to mention San Diegos southernmost beach Imperial Beach has been closed to beachgoers for over 3 years in a row because of the raw sewage. And the main Navy SEAL training grounds are located in Coronado, to the north, and has also been adversely affected by the sewage issue. The Navy SEALs have been reporting spikes in pollution-related illnesses in recent years. The CDC conducted a federal public health survey in San Diegos South Bay neighborhoods in October 2024, which corroborated what southern San Diego residents have been saying for years a majority of those asked said they have health concerns, symptoms and quality-of-life issues. EPA Chief Lee Zeldin to visit US-Mexico border, examine Tijuana sewage crisis During his visit on Tuesday, Zeldin will be meeting with San Diego leaders and Navy SEALs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zeldin will be visiting the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant to directly see the ongoing environmental and public health issues the cross-border sewage has caused for San Diego neighborhoods. Video: Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre on EPA Chief planned visit to San Diego to address Tijuana sewage crisis South Bay residents urged to take precautions as sewage odors increase He will also be taking a helicopter tour of the U.S.-Mexico border and will be speaking with San Diego leaders about the sewage issue. Zeldin first posted on social media on March 8 his intent to visit after he was briefed on the issue. I was just briefed that Mexico is dumping large amounts of raw sewage into the Tijuana River, and its now seeping into the U.S. This is unacceptable. Mexico MUST honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Free air purifiers available for South Bay residents: Heres how to apply On Wednesday, Zeldin posted on social media that he will be in San Diego on Earth Day to ramp up efforts to permanently end DECADES of raw sewage entering the U.S. from Mexico. A comprehensive plan must IMMEDIATELY and URGENTLY be deployed to stop this contamination coming from across the border. United States Senator from Montana, Tim Sheehy, posted on social media a letter he sent to President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on Thursday, demanding Mexico take immediate action to stop dumping toxic sewage into waters where our most elite service members train. Imperial Beach leaders call for action on Tijuana River sewage crisis Video: Coronado Mayor John Duncan on EPA Chief planned visit to San Diego to address Tijuana sewage crisis The San Diego Congressional Delegation U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Scott Peters (CA-50), and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) have requested a meeting with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin during his visit to San Diego on Earth Day, issuing the following statement on Wednesday: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We appreciate your attention to the cross-border sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. This pollution has had a devastating impact on our public health, our local businesses, and our environment. Together, our Congressional delegation has fought to raise awareness, secured over half a billion dollars to upgrade the South Bay treatment plant, and continued to work with Mexico to ensure they do their part. All these efforts require strong collaboration with the administration. This is not a partisan issue, and we need all-hands-on-deck. Our focus has always been on getting results and relief for everyone impacted by this terrible pollution. Therefore, were requesting a meeting with you to make sure the voices of our communities are heard and to discuss your agencys role in combating cross-border pollution. The EPA has been an important advocate, and we hope this continues. CDC health survey shows impacts of Tijuana sewage crisis on South Bay residents Previously, in 2021, former EPA Administrator Michael Regan toured the Tijuana River Valley at the request of Representatives Vargas and Peters. Then, in August 2024, the San Diego delegation hosted State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Verma, EPA Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman, and other officials at the South Bay treatment plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dan Plante 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The Illinois Department of Transportation is honoring National Work Zone Awareness Week to promote safe driving in work zones. The theme for this year is Respect the Zone So We All Get Home. State data shows that 13 people died in crashes in Illinois work zones in 2024 most of which were drivers or passengers. Springfield Avenue closure in Urbana to begin this week Every cone, every sign, every worker counts, IDOT officials wrote on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On average, Illinois faces almost 6,300 work zone crashes that lead to around 1,600 injuries yearly. The full proclamation can be found below: National Work Zone Awareness Week is a national campaign organized by the American Traffic Safety Services Association. This is its 26th year. More information can be found on the weeks official 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 WCIA.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. During a hearing at the Baku Military Court on Monday, the accused Arkadi Ghukasyan responded to questions from state prosecutors regarding the Khojaly genocide, which was committed on the night of February 25 to February 26, 1992, and the systematic execution of the innocent people, because of their Azerbaijani origin, during the massacre, Trend reports. Ghukasyan admitted that he first learned about the Khojaly events from the official news in February 1992: We had no idea about the scale of the tragedy at the time. We knew that there were hundreds of Azerbaijanis which have been brought from Khojaly. They were later handed over to the opposite side. Condemning the killings of innocent civilians, Arkadi Ghukasyan added: This is unacceptable and one of the bloodiest war pages. Court proceedings continue against Armenian citizens accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including preparing and conducting a war of aggression, acts of genocide, violations of the laws and customs of warfare, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, and other offenses committed during Armenias military aggression. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A former Providence firefighter accused of assaulting two police officers at a Johnston bar earlier this year pleaded no contest Friday. Patrick M. Brearley, 43, was arrested after he allegedly punched two officers at The Ave Bar and Grille on Jan. 4. Body-worn camera footage obtained by 12 News showed Brearley resisting officers commands to leave the bar or sit against the wall. As police tried to escort him outside, he pulled back, clenched his fist, and punched an officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police: Bodycam video shows Providence firefighter punch officers at Johnston bar Brearley was charged with simple assault, obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct. A city spokesperson confirmed a little over a week later that Brearley was no longer with the Providence Fire Department. On Friday, he pleaded no contest to the simple assault and obstruction charges. The disorderly conduct charge was dismissed. Brearley was given a one-year filing and ordered to undergo substance abuse counseling. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Nadine Menendez on Monday was convicted of joining forces with her husband, former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), to accept lavish bribes in exchange for his political clout. A jury found the disgraced former senators wife guilty of all 15 counts she faced, including bribery, obstruction of justice and conspiring to turn her husband into an agent of Egypt. Bob Menendez faced many of the same charges. He was convicted last year the first public official ever convicted of acting as a foreign agent while in office and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He resigned from the Senate soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal prosecutors accused Nadine and Bob Menendez of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars and lavish gifts from three New Jersey businessmen who sought help with legal troubles and business affairs. At trial, they described her as critical to the scheme, acting as a go-between the senator, the businessmen and Egyptian government officials. Two of the businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were convicted at trial alongside Bob Menendez, and the third businessman pleaded guilty before the trial began. Bob Menendez protected Hanas halal meat certification monopoly and intervened in separate criminal cases involving the other two men. As the powerful chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he also signed off on several multimillion-dollar weapons sales to Egypt, which he repeatedly asked his wife to relay to the businessmen, who then passed on the intel to Egyptian officials, between 2018 and 2022. He stepped away from that post after being indicted, in line with Senate Democratic Conference rules. Nadine Menendez was initially set to stand trial alongside her husband and the three men but her case was severed from the others after she informed the court about her breast cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Bob Menendezs trial, his attorneys at times sought to pin the blame on the senators wife, contending she hid her dealings with the businessmen from him. Nadine Menendezs attorneys argued during her trial that the senators dealings with the businessmen were nothing more than a politicians work for his constituents. Both she and her husband maintain they did not accept bribes. These things were talking about here are unproven, said Barry Coburn, Nadine Menendezs lawyer, according to the Associated Press. Her sentencing is set for June 12, six days after her husband is scheduled to report to prison. The Associated Press contributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WIVT/WBGH) Several non-profit health plans across Upstate New York are calling on Congress to protect older adults. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, CDPHP, and MVP Health Care have partnered together to urge elected officials to pass bipartisan legislation that will protect Medicare Advantage benefits and access to care for hundreds of thousands of members. According to Excellus, nearly 450,000 Medicare Advantage members in Upstate New York may face increased premiums, higher out-of-pocket costs, and fewer choices due to the financial effects of unprecedented changes to the Medicare wage index. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We remain grateful for the support and leadership of those in Congress who continue to fight for older adults in our communities, said Jim Reed, President and CEO of Excellus BCBS. We have faith that New Yorks congressional delegation will find a solution to avoid catastrophic consequences for nearly 450,000 Medicare Advantage members with not-for-profit health plans in upstate New York. In 2023, a change in how the federal government sets hospital reimbursement rates for Medicare resulted in financial losses for non-profit health plans upstate. Excellus says non-profit plans absorbed hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. The plans cannot sustain these growing losses along with the escalating costs of health care. Our local, not-for-profit plans will continue to battle the effects of the wage index, which has left the future of our great health plan and the 75,000 older adults who entrust us with their care in jeopardy, said Brian OGrady, President and CEO of CDPHP. In May 2024, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen Medicare Advantage plans in Upstate New York. However, Congress did not act on this legislation before the end of the previous Congress term in December 2024. Tenney, along with other members of Congress, have since reintroduced the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation would adjust the amounts reimbursed to health plans to ensure regional, non-profit Medicare Advantage plans remain viable and members maintain access to benefits and access to care. We thank Congresswoman Tenney and our bipartisan Congressional delegation for supporting this imperative legislation, said Chris Del Vecchio, CEO of MVP Health Care. This bill will authorize CMS to make a region-specific Medicare adjustment to level the playing field for local, not-for-profit, community-based plans. It will ensure that MVP can continue to innovate with our community provider partners and provide critical benefits to our Medicare members. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Winter precipitation has boosted water storage and snowpack levels, setting up a more favorable start to the growing season than in recent years, reported Nation. This welcome development offers hope for agricultural production in one of America's key farming regions. Eastern Idaho now stands with its Upper Snake River reservoir system at 82% capacity, including the American Falls Reservoir at an impressive 93% full. The snowpack of the Snake Basin above Palisades measures 114% of the median snow water equivalent, with promising runoff forecasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Water District 1 water master Craig Chandler explained, per Nation, "Now, that's probably still a good number. It may have kicked up a little bit from there with the snows that we got over the last couple weeks, but we're probably sitting somewhere in that 95% to 100% of average range for the forecasted runoff." These numbers represent a marked improvement from early winter conditions. This water boost means more stable agricultural production, which means steadier food prices for consumers and better financial security for farming families. Water security lets farmers make better planting decisions, reducing the need for costly irrigation alternatives. For local communities, adequate water levels support recreational activities on reservoirs and rivers while maintaining wildlife habitats. However, the outlook includes some caution. The National Weather Service predicts temperatures from April through June could rise about 35% above normal, while precipitation might drop 40-50% below normal. Later summer months could see even more dramatic shifts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we have a dry, hot summer, then irrigation needs are going to increase, and then that puts more demand on the reservoirs, but if we have good precipitation this year, and not a really hot summer, then that's not going to put a lot of stress on them," said Sherrie Hebert, observation program lead of the NWS Pocatello office. Water master Craig Chandler noted the challenge ahead, per Nation: "If we have higher temperatures, that's going to lead to an increase in irrigation demand. Farmers are going to need to put more water on their crops to help them grow." Last year's agreement, the 2024 Stipulated Mitigation Plan, protects groundwater users with junior water rights as long as they follow mitigation requirements. How would you describe the quality of your tap water? Great Just OK Not great I won't drink it Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -With the death of Pope Francis, announced by the Vatican on Monday, the Roman Catholic Church will begin elaborate rituals steeped in tradition that mark the end of one papacy and lead to the start of the next. Most are governed by a constitution known as Universi Dominici Gregis (Of the Lord's Whole Flock) approved by Pope John Paul II in 1996 and revised by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A cardinal known as the camerlengo (chamberlain), currently Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will run the ordinary affairs of the nearly 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church during the period known as the "sede vacante" (empty chair). He officially confirms the pope's death, a simple matter these days involving a doctor and a death certificate. Until sometime in the 20th century, this was ritually done by tapping a silver hammer on the pope's forehead three times. The camerlengo and three assistants chosen from among cardinals under 80 years of age, known as cardinal electors, decide when the pope's body is to be taken into St. Peter's Basilica for the public to pay their respects. They also make sure the pope's "Fisherman's Ring" and his lead seal are broken so they cannot be used by anyone else. No autopsy is performed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The camerlengo locks and seals the pope's personal residence. In the past, this was in apartments in the Apostolic Palace but Francis lived in a small suite in the Vatican guesthouse known as Santa Marta. The camerlengo and the other cardinals cannot make major decisions affecting the Church or change its teachings. The heads of most Vatican departments resign until the new pope confirms or replaces them. Mourning rites last nine days, with the date of the funeral and burial to be decided by the cardinals. Universi Dominici Gregis says they should start between the fourth and sixth day after his death. PAPAL FUNERAL Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis, who shunned much of the pomp and privilege of leading the global Catholic Church, modified and simplified the papal funeral rites in 2024. The funeral Mass is still expected to be held in St. Peter's Square, but unlike many predecessors, Francis asked to be buried in Rome's St. Mary Major Basilica to be near his favourite icon of the Madonna. Francis also asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket, unlike predecessors who were buried in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak. He asked that his body not be put on display atop a raised platform, or catafalque, in St. Peter's Basilica for visitors in Rome to view, as was the case with previous popes. HOW THE PAPAL CONCLAVE ELECTS A NEW POPE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cardinals from around the world descend on Rome following the death of a pontiff. They hold daily meetings known as general congregations to discuss Church matters, and lay out the characteristics each believes the new pope should have. Cardinals aged 80 or over can attend the general congregations but are not allowed to enter the conclave to choose the next pope, which is a gathering of cardinals under the age of 80. Much of the discussion takes place in personal interactions between the cardinals. Traditionally, a mourning period of 15 days is observed before a conclave can begin. Before he resigned in 2013, Pope Benedict modified the constitution to allow it to begin sooner if the cardinals chose to, or a maximum of 20 days after the death if some cardinals have difficulty getting to Rome. The conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel. Until the two conclaves in 1978 that elected John Paul I and John Paul II, the cardinals stayed in makeshift rooms around the Sistine Chapel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict, they have voted in the Sistine Chapel but stayed in the Santa Marta guest house, with about 130 rooms. Santa Marta is sealed off and they are taken by bus to the Sistine Chapel. The word conclave comes from the Latin for "with a key". It stems from a tradition that started in the 13th century where cardinals were locked up to force them to decide as quickly as possible and limit outside interference. These days the participants are prohibited from any communication with the outside world. Phones, internet, and newspapers are not allowed and Vatican police use electronic security apparatus to enforce the rules. Except for the first day of the conclave, when there is one vote, the cardinals vote twice a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A majority of two-thirds plus one is needed for election. If no one is elected after 13 days, a run-off is held between the two leading candidates but a two-thirds plus one majority is still needed. This is to promote unity and discourage seeking compromise candidates. HOW IS A NEW POPE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED? When the conclave has elected a pope, he is asked if he accepts and which name he wishes to take. If he declines, the procedure starts again. The new pope dons white vestments that have been prepared in three sizes and sits on a throne in the Sistine Chapel to receive the other cardinals, who pay homage and pledge obedience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The world will know that a pope has been elected when an official burns the paper ballots with special chemicals to make white smoke pour out of the chapel's chimney. Black smoke indicates an inconclusive vote. The senior elector amongst the cardinal deacons, currently French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, steps on to the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to announce to the crowds in the square "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope). The new pope then appears and gives the crowd his first blessing as pontiff. (Reporting by Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer and Joshua McElwee; Editing by Frances Kerry) LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) Popular eyecare brand Warby Parker opened its 16th Massachusetts location on Saturday, offering a range of products at their new store in the Longmeadow Shops. Music school in Pittsfield to hold grand opening of new location Warby Parker opened its doors to the new space during the weekend, located between Fleet Feet and Batch Ice Cream. The new store comes just as Athleta recently closed at the plaza at the end of January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers who purchased an item on opening day Saturday received a complimentary Warby Parker tote bag. The store offers its full range of optical and sun products, which includes the Summer 2025 collection and Scout by Warby Parker, the brands daily contact lenses. Courtesy of Warby Parker. Courtesy of Warby Parker. Courtesy of Warby Parker. Warby Parker said that in-store eye exams will also be available at the Longmeadow location in the future. The Longmeadow Shops are located at 682 Bliss Road. For more information, visit warbyparker.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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Claim: Pope Francis skipped a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance during Easter weekend 2025. Rating: Rating: False As news of the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, spread around the world, claims (archived) also circulated that shortly before the pontiff's passing he skipped a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. (X user @MeidasTouch) The claim circulated on social media platforms including X (archived), Facebook (archived), Threads (archived), Bluesky (archived) and Reddit (archived). One X post (archived) about the rumor included a quote from a report by the news website The Daily Beast, reading, "Pope Francis skipped the Vatican's official meeting with Vice President JD Vance Saturday, instead having his No. 2 give the vice president a lecture on compassion, according to a Vatican statement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there was no proof that Francis "skipped" a meeting with Vance over Easter weekend 2025, a claim that appeared to originate from a since-updated report on The Daily Beast. Rather, Vance and the pope met briefly on Easter Sunday, April 20, in a meeting both parties (archived) documented. Travel plans published before Easter showed that, as part of a trip to Italy and India, Vance was due to meet with (archived) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state and the "No. 2" mentioned in the X post above. This meeting occurred on April 19, according to Vatican News, a news service provided by the Holy See's Dicastery for Communication, and it took place in addition to not instead of the April 20 meeting with Pope Francis. Therefore, we rate the claim that the pope "skipped" meeting with Vance false. According to an X post from Vance, it was the pope who extended the invitation for the two to meet. It was unclear exactly when plans for the meeting between Vance and the pope materialized. We reached out to the vice president's office and the Holy See to ask how and when the April 20 meeting between Francis and Vance came about, including whether Vance's office attempted to plan a meeting between the two before the vice president's trip began, and await a reply. Origin of the claim The claim originated from an April 19, 2025, article on The Daily Beast, an American news, politics and pop culture website. The first paragraph of the article on its day of publication, according to an archived version from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, read (emphasis ours), "Pope Francis skipped the Vatican's official meeting with Vice President JD Vance, instead having his No. 2 give the vice president a lecture on compassion, according to a Vatican statement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wayback Machine saves snapshots of websites at different points in time. These snapshots can be used to track changes to pages. The Daily Beast's article went on to report on Vance's April 19 meeting with Parolin. Internet users who used the word "skipped" in popular claims on this topic may have lifted the term from that article. However, a separate archived version of the article from the following day, April 20, had a revised first paragraph that read (emphasis ours), "Pope Francis did not attend the Vatican's official meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Saturday, instead having his No. 2 deliver a lecture on compassion, according to a Vatican statement." Daily Beast editors also added a statement to the end of that version of the article. It read: "Editor's note: This story has been updated to make clear that the Pope did not snub J.D. Vance." What we know about the meeting According to Vatican News, Francis and Vance had a "brief" meeting on April 20 that lasted "a few minutes." In it, the pair reportedly exchanged Easter greetings and renewed a "common commitment to protect the right to religious freedom and freedom of conscience." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis and Vance additionally exchanged views on "the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention focused on migrants, refugees and those in prison," also according to Vatican News. Vance posted pictures from his meeting with the pope on X on April 20, writing, "Today I met with the Holy Father Pope Francis. I am grateful for his invitation to meet, and I pray for his good health." Snopes reported on numerous rumors about Pope Francis during his lifetime, including death hoaxes, disappearances and quotes attributed to him both correctly and incorrectly. Sources: Archacki, Liam. "Pope Sends Deputy to Lecture Vance on Compassion at Vatican." The Daily Beast, 19 Apr. 2025, https://archive.ph/U6Fam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ---. "Pope Sends Deputy to Lecture Vance on Compassion at Vatican." The Daily Beast, 19 Apr. 2025, https://web.archive.org/web/20250419165055/https://www.thedailybeast.com/pope-snubs-vance-and-gets-deputy-to-lecture-vp-on-compassion/. Pope Francis Meets with US Vice President JD Vance at Santa Marta - Vatican News. 20 Apr. 2025, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-meets-us-vice-president-jd-vance-at-santa-marta.html. US Vice President JD Vance Visits Cardinal Parolin in the Vatican - Vatican News. 19 Apr. 2025, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/us-vice-president-jd-vance-visits-cardinal-parolin.html. VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Predict who the next pope will be at your peril. An old Italian saying warns against putting faith, or money, in any presumed front-runner ahead of the conclave, the closed-door gathering of cardinals that picks the pontiff. It cautions: "He who enters a conclave as a pope, leaves it as a cardinal". But here are some cardinals who are being talked about as "papabili" to succeed Pope Francis, whose death at the age of 88 was announced by the Vatican on Monday. They are listed in alphabetical order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille, French, aged 66. According to the French press, he is known in some domestic Catholic circles as John XXIV, in a nod to his resemblance to Pope John XXIII, the round-faced reforming pope of the early 1960s. Pope Francis once quipped that his successor might take the name of John XXIV. Aveline is known for his folksy, easy-going nature, his readiness to crack jokes, and his ideological proximity to Francis, especially on immigration and relations with the Muslim world. He is also a serious intellectual, with a doctorate in theology and a degree in philosophy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was born in Algeria to a family of Spanish immigrants who moved to France after Algerian independence, and has lived most of his life in Marseille, a port that has been a crossroads of cultures and religions for centuries. Under Francis, Aveline has made great career strides, becoming bishop in 2013, archbishop in 2019 and a cardinal three years later. His standing was boosted in September 2023 when he organised an international Church conference on Mediterranean issues at which Pope Francis was the star guest. If he got the top job, Aveline would become the first French pope since the 14th century, a turbulent period in which the papacy moved to Avignon. He would also be the youngest pope since John Paul II. He understands but does not speak Italian - potentially a major drawback for a job that also carries the title Bishop of Rome and requires a lot of familiarity with Roman power games and intrigues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ----- Cardinal Peter Erdo, Hungarian, aged 72 If Erdo is elected, he would inevitably be seen as a compromise candidate -- someone from the conservative camp who has nonetheless built bridges with Francis' progressive world. Erdo was already considered a papal contender in the last conclave in 2013 thanks to his extensive Church contacts in Europe and Africa as well as the fact that he was seen as a pioneer of the New Evangelisation drive to rekindle the Catholic faith in secularized advanced nations -- a top priority for many cardinals. He ranks as a conservative in theology and in speeches throughout Europe he stresses the Christian roots of the continent. However, he is also seen to be pragmatic and never clashed openly with Francis, unlike other tradition-minded clerics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, he raised eyebrows in the Vatican during the 2015 migrant crisis when he went against Pope Francis' call for churches to take in refugees, saying this would amount to human trafficking -- seemingly aligning himself with Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. An expert in Church law, Erdo has been on a fast track his entire career, becoming a bishop in his 40s and a cardinal in 2003 when he was just 51, making him the youngest member of the College of Cardinals until 2010. He has excellent Italian, and also speaks German, French, Spanish and Russian -- which could help him thaw relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches after the deep chill of the war in Ukraine. Erdo is not a charismatic speaker, but while this was once undoubtedly viewed as a serious drawback, it could potentially be seen as an advantage this time around if cardinals want a calm papacy following the fireworks of Francis' rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ----- Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, Maltese, aged 68. Grech comes from Gozo, a tiny island that is part of Malta, the smallest country in the European Union. But from small beginnings he has gone on to big things, appointed by Pope Francis to be secretary general of the Synod of Bishops -- a heavyweight position within the Vatican. Initially viewed as a conservative, Grech has become a torchbearer of Francis' reforms within the Church for years, moving sharply with the times. In 2008, several gay Maltese citizens declared they were leaving the Church in protest at what they saw as the anti-LGBT stance of the then pontiff -- Pope Benedict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grech offered them little sympathy at the time, but speaking in the Vatican in 2014, he called for the Church to be more accepting of its LGBT members and creative in finding new ways to address contemporary family situations. The following day, Pope Francis tapped him on the shoulder at breakfast and complimented him for the speech, marking him out for future promotion. In 2018, Grech spoke about how he relished the challenges faced by the Church. "We are going through a period of change. And to me, this is a very positive thing," he told the Malta Today newspaper. He warned that it would not remain relevant to modern society if it did not move beyond nostalgia for the past. His views have won him some high-profile enemies, and conservative Cardinal Gerhard Muller memorably turned on him in 2022, belittling his academic profile and accusing him of going against Catholic doctrine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grech's allies insist he has friends in both the conservative and moderate camps and that, because of his high-profile role, he is known by many cardinals, a clear advantage in a conclave where so many cardinals are relative unknowns to each other. Coming from a tiny country, his election as pope wouldn't create any diplomatic or geopolitical headaches. He has stressed that he always seeks consensus over confrontation. But he has sometimes courted controversy. In 2016 he led a pilgrimage to pray for rain after meeting farmers worried about drought. A local newspaper said it was "a throwback to prehistoric attempts at inducing rain" but a few days after the event, it did indeed start to rain. ----- Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cardinal Juan Jose Omella, archbishop of Barcelona, Spanish, aged 79. Omella is a man after Pope Francis' own heart. Unassuming and good-natured, he lives a humble life despite his lofty title, dedicating his Church career to pastoral care, promoting social justice and embodying a compassionate and inclusive vision of Catholicism. "We must not see reality only through the eyes of those who have the most, but also through the eyes of the poor," he told the Crux news site in April 2022, in words reflecting Francis' world vision. He was born in 1946 in the village of Cretas in northeastern Spain. After being ordained in 1970 he served as a priest in a number of Spanish parishes and also spent a year as a missionary in Zaire, now called Democratic Republic of Congo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Underscoring his dedication to social causes, from 1999 to 2015 he worked closely with Spain's Manos Unidas charity, which tackles famine, disease and poverty in the developing world. He became a bishop in 1996 and was promoted to archbishop of Barcelona in 2015. Just one year later, Francis gave him a red cardinal's hat -- a move seen as a clear endorsement of Omella's progressive tendencies, which stand in contrast to more conservative elements that once dominated the Spanish Church. Omella is a former president of Spain's bishops' conference. He had to deal with the fallout from an independent commission that estimated in 2023 that more than 200,000 minors may have been sexually abused by Spanish clergy over a period of decades. Omella has repeatedly asked for forgiveness for the mismanagement of sexual abuse, but has denied that so many children were abused, with an internal Church investigation identifying just 927 victims since the 1940s. "At the end of the day, numbers do not get us anywhere. The important thing is the people and to make amends as far as possible," he said. "Blaming is not the way. The problem does not belong to the Church, it belongs to society as a whole." In 2023, Francis invited Omella to join his nine-member kitchen cabinet of cardinals to advise him on questions of governance. If the conclave decides the Church needs a new approach, then this proximity will count against Omella. ----- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Italian, Vatican diplomat, aged 70. Parolin is seen as a compromise candidate between progressives and conservatives. He has been a Church diplomat for most of his life and served as Pope Francis' secretary of state since 2013, the year Francis was elected. The position is similar to that of a prime minister and secretaries of state are often called the "deputy pope" because they rank second to the pontiff in the Vatican hierarchy. Parolin previously served as deputy foreign minister under Pope Benedict, who in 2009 appointed him the Vatican's ambassador in Venezuela, where he defended the Church against moves to weaken it by then-President Hugo Chavez. He was also the main architect of the Vatican's rapprochement with China and Vietnam. Conservatives have attacked him for an agreement on the appointment of bishops in communist China. He has defended the agreement saying that while it was not perfect, it avoided a schism and provided some form of communication with the Beijing government. Parolin was never a front-line or noisy activist in the Church's so-called Culture Wars, which centred on issues such as abortion and gay rights, although he did once condemn the legalisation of same-sex marriage in many countries as "a defeat for humanity". He has defended the Vatican's power over local Church leaders, criticising attempts in Germany to allow priests to symbolically bless same-sex couples. He said local Churches cannot make decisions that would end up affecting all Catholics. A softly spoken and genteel person, Parolin would return the papacy to the Italians after three successive non-Italian popes - John Paul II of Poland, Benedict of Germany and Francis of Argentina. He entered the Vatican's diplomatic service just three years after his priestly ordination in 1980 so his pastoral experience is limited. But a factor in his favour is that he speaks a number of languages. ----- Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Filipino, aged 67. Tagle is often called the "Asian Francis" because of his similar commitment to social justice and if elected he would be the first pontiff from Asia. On paper, Tagle, who generally prefers to be called by his nickname "Chito", seems to have all the boxes ticked to qualify him to be a pope. He has had decades of pastoral experience since his ordination to the priesthood in 1982. He then gained administrative experience, first as bishop of Imus and then as archbishop of Manila. Pope Benedict made him a cardinal in 2012. In a move seen by some as a strategy by Francis to give Tagle some Vatican experience, the pope in 2019 transferred him from Manila and appointed him head of the Church's missionary arm, formally known as the Dicastery for Evangelisation. He comes from what some called "Asia's Catholic lung," because the Philippines has the region's largest Catholic population. His mother was an ethnic Chinese Filipino. He speaks fluent Italian and English. Between 2015 and 2022, he was the top leader of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of more than 160 Catholic relief, social service, and development organisations around the world. In 2022, Pope Francis fired its entire leadership following accusations of bullying and humiliation of employees, and appointed a commissioner to run it. Tagle, who was also removed from his role, had been nominally president but was not involved in the day-to-day operations, which were overseen by a lay director-general. Announcing the pope's dramatic decision, Tagle told a meeting of the confederation that the changes were a moment for "facing our failures". It remains to be seen how the saga will impact Tagle's chances at the papacy. ----- Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, N.J., American, aged 72. It's unlikely the world's cardinals would pick the first ever U.S. pope, but if they were up for that, Tobin would seem the likeliest possibility. A former global leader of a major Catholic religious order known as the Redemptorists, the Detroit native has spent time in countries around the world and speaks Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese fluently. He also has experience in Vatican service and in top positions across the U.S. church. Tobin served a stint as second-in-command of a Vatican office from 2009-12, and was then named by Pope Benedict as archbishop of Indianapolis, Indiana. Francis promoted him to a cardinal in 2016, and later made him the archbishop of Newark. In this latest role, Tobin, a big man known for his weight-lifting workout regime, has dealt with one of the highest-profile Catholic scandals in recent years. In 2018, then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, one of Tobin's predecessors in Newark, was removed from ministry over accusations of sexual misconduct with seminarians. McCarrick denied any wrongdoing, resigned as a cardinal and was later found guilty by a Vatican tribunal and removed from the priesthood. He died earlier this month. Tobin won praise for his handling of the scandal, including a decision to make public previously confidential settlements made between the archdiocese and McCarrick's alleged victims. Tobin is the oldest of 13 children and has said he is a recovering alcoholic. He is known for an attitude of openness toward LGBT people, writing in 2017 that "in too many parts of our church LGBT people have been made to feel unwelcome, excluded, and even shamed". ----- Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Ghanaian, Vatican official, aged 76. From humble beginnings in a small African town, Cardinal Peter Turkson has gone on to great things in the Church, making him a contender to become the first pope from sub-Saharan Africa. He combines a long pastoral background of tending to congregations in Ghana with hands-on experience of leading several Vatican offices, as well as strong communication skills. The fact he comes from one of the most dynamic regions for the Church, which is struggling against the forces of secularism in its European heartlands, should also bolster his standing. The fourth son in a family of 10 children, Turkson was born in Wassaw Nsuta, in what was then called the Gold Coast in the British Empire. His father worked in a nearby mine and doubled as a carpenter while his mother sold vegetables in the market. He studied at seminaries in Ghana and New York, was ordained in 1975, and then taught in his former Ghanaian seminary and did advanced Biblical studies in Rome. Pope John Paul II appointed him archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 and 11 years later made him the first cardinal in the history of the West African state. Promotions continued under John Paul's successor, Benedict, who brought him to the Vatican in 2009 and made him the head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace -- the body that promotes social justice, human rights and world peace. In that role, he was one of the pope's closest advisors on issues such as climate change and drew much attention by attending conferences such as the Davos economic forum. Francis merged Turkson's department in 2016 with three other offices, leading to what some saw as a power struggle between him and another cardinal. Turkson resigned from that role in 2021 and was appointed to head two pontifical academies on sciences and social sciences. In 2023 he told the BBC he prayed "against" the possibility that he would be elected pope but some of his detractors said that given his media appearances it appeared he was campaigning for the job. ----- Matteo Maria Zuppi, Italian, archbishop of Bologna, aged 69. When Zuppi got a promotion in 2015 and became archbishop of Bologna, national media referred to him as the "Italian Bergoglio", due to his affinity with Francis, the Argentine pope who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Zuppi would be the first Italian pope since 1978. Much like Pope Francis when he lived in Buenos Aires, Zuppi is known as a "street priest" who focuses on migrants and the poor, and cares little about pomp and protocol. He goes by the name of "Father Matteo", and in Bologna he sometimes uses a bicycle rather than an official car. In a city that loves its meat products, he once made waves when pork-free tortellini were served, as an option, for the feast day of Bologna's patron saint. Zuppi called the Muslim-friendly move a normal gesture of respect and courtesy. If he were made pope, conservatives would likely view him with suspicion. Victims of Church sex abuse might also object to him, since the Italian Catholic Church, which he has led since 2022, has been slow to investigate and confront the issue. The Italian cardinal is closely associated with the Community of Sant'Egidio, a global peace and justice Catholic group based in the historic Rome district of Trastevere, where he spent most of his life as a priest. Sant'Egidio, sometimes called "the United Nations of Trastevere," brokered a 1992 peace agreement that ended a 17-year-old civil war in Mozambique, with the help of Zuppi as one of the mediators. He has engaged in more diplomacy recently as papal envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, concentrating on efforts to repatriate children who Ukraine says have been deported to Russia or Russian-held territories. Zuppi is a born-and-bred Roman with a fairly thick regional accent, and solid Catholic family roots. His father Enrico was the editor of the Sunday supplement of the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, while his mother's uncle, Carlo Confalonieri, was also a cardinal. (Reporting and writing by Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer, Alvise Armellini, Joshua McElwee in Rome and Chris Scicluna in MaltaEditing by Frances Kerry) CARACAS (Reuters) - El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed a deal on Sunday to send 252 Venezuelans deported by the United States and imprisoned in his country back to Venezuela in exchange for the release of detainees in the South American nation, a suggestion roundly rejected by the Venezuelan government. Many lawyers and relatives of the Venezuelans detained in El Salvador claim they were not gang members and were denied due process. The U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday temporarily barred the Trump administration from deporting a similar group. Although Bukele in his post on X called the people detained in Venezuela political prisoners, the Venezuelan government has consistently denied that it detains people for political reasons and argues, usually without providing evidence, that activists and opposition members are planning attacks against the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human rights groups and lawyers have denied the charges against those mentioned by Bukele and reported that they lack private defense and are experiencing delays in their court hearings. Among those mentioned by Bukele were: Rafael Tudares Tudares, 45, is the son-in-law of Edmundo Gonzalez, the former opposition presidential candidate who is considered the winner of Venezuela's 2024 election by the United States and others. Tudares, an attorney who was not involved in politics, was detained on January 7 in Caracas by masked men while driving his two young children to school.Roland Carreno Carreno is a journalist and member of opposition party Voluntad Popular. He was arrested in August 2024 in Caracas by intelligence agents, according to the party. Carreno, 59, had previously been detained for three years on charges of financing terrorism. He was released in October 2023 amid negotiations between Caracas and Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rocio San Miguel A 58-year-old lawyer and activist and an expert on security and human rights, San Miguel is president of the non-governmental organization Citizen Control. She was detained at the international airport near Caracas in February 2024 while traveling with her daughter. The attorney general's office accuses her of espionage, among other crimes. Magalli Meda, Pedro Urruchurtu, Claudia Macero, Humberto Villalobos and Omar Gonzalez The five, members of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's campaign team for the 2024 presidential elections, are not detained, but have been living in Argentina's diplomatic residence in Caracas for more than a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group entered the residence as guests after the attorney general's office announced warrants against them for alleged acts of conspiracy against the government, which all deny. Despite an offer from Argentina to grant them asylum, the Venezuelan government has refused to provide them with safe passage to leave the country. Following the departure of Argentina's diplomatic team after the elections, the residence has been placed under Brazilian custody. (Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Editing by Leslie Adler) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a condolence letter to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, regarding the death of Pope Francis, Trend reports. "Your Eminence, We were deeply saddened to hear the news of passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Holy See and a renowned religious figure of our time. In the person of Pope Francis, the international community and the world's Catholics have lost a brilliant religious figure, a great personality with high moral qualities, whose life's mission was to selflessly serve the peace of humanity. Pope Francis dedicated his entire life and activity to the preservation of universal values, the promotion of interreligious and intercultural understanding, and the ideals of humanism, and worked tirelessly to establish relations of mutual understanding, unity, and solidarity among people. Pope Francis, who exemplified a profound and glorious life path, gained great sympathy, deep respect, and reverence throughout the world with his noble deeds above universal values, his calls for mercy, compassion, and spiritual greatness to people, his kindness, and his self-sacrifice. His Holiness Francis has made invaluable contributions to the development and strengthening of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Holy See. I will always remember my meetings with him and our sincere communication with the fondest impressions. The dear memory and rich spiritual heritage of Pope Francis will live forever in hearts and memories," the letter reads. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) Police said a drivers blood alcohol content (BAC) was nearly twice the legal limit to more than double the legal limit when he hit a 19-year-old man, killing him. The Alexandria Police Department (APD) said Monday that Jilmar Doria-Medina, 42, of Fairfax was charged with aggravated manslaughter and DWI Elevated BAC .15-.20. The legal BAC in Virginia is .08. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man hit by car dies one day later; driver charged with DWI, hit and run Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APD said Doria-Medina was driving in the 4700 block of King St. around 8:40 p.m. on April 16 when he struck Abdullahi Mumin, 19. Mumin died at the hospital. As of Monday, Doria-Medina was at the Fairfax Adult Detention Center without bond. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact APD Crash Team Investigator Whitney Watts-Cerrato at (703) 746-1812 or whitney.wattscerrato@alexandriava.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Several families of victims and survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing are feeling frustrated after they weren't able to attend the 30th Remembrance Ceremony when First Church reached capacity on Saturday. Executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Kari Watkins said the sanctuary sat 1,200 people, which was roughly the average the group sees each year. After the ceremony, the national memorial shared a statement of apology on Facebook to those who may have been unable to attend due to the sanctuary's 1,200-person capacity or in the overflow areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are deeply sorry and would never knowingly cause pain to those who have already suffered so much," the post reads. More: Woman removed from OKC bombing ceremony after walking onto stage, talking at officials While the group promised to learn what had happened to prevent individuals from attending, families expressed their situation and grievances in the comment section. One commenter stated that as a family of one of the victims, they traveled from Florida to attend and RSVP'd ahead of the ceremony, yet they, along with other families, "had to stand/sit outside in the cold rain and wait." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another commenter stated that in 2000, at the fifth anniversary, the national memorial delivered tickets to families of victims, survivors and rescue workers. That was something they wished could continue for the future. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC bombing victims turned away from ceremony after site hit capacity MEMPHIS, Tenn. A family has identified the 15-year-old who was killed in a shooting near a Berclair neighborhood on Sunday. The victim was identified by his family as Michael Aguilar. Police responded to the shooting just before 6 p.m. in the 3900 block of Macon, police said. Aguilar was taken to Regional One in critical condition, where he died from his injuries. 15-year-old dies after shooting near Berclair neighborhood Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was later confirmed that the shooting took place in the 3900 block of Grahamdale. The victims family told WREG his brother drove him to a nearby fire station for help. Police later said the victim was 15 years old, and the incident may have been an attempted robbery. Michael Aguilar (Photo courtesy of the victims family) WREG was told by Aguilars family that he rarely left the house, but on Sunday, he went to a store nearby. His family says he was a shy kid and was at the wrong place at the wrong time. If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. More than two years have passed since the untimely death of Jaylen Lewis-Drake. Now, his family is finally getting the justice he deserves after two Capitol police officers in Mississippi have been charged in his murder. Despite the high-profile nature of the case, details surrounding what led to officers shooting and killing Drake remain scarce. I just want to know what happened, Drakes mother, Arkela Lewis, told WAPT in 2022. I want to know were the [police vehicle] lights pulled on when they pulled my baby over. Drake was one of multiple shooting victims during Miss. Capitol polices anti-crime effort, according to NBC News. On the night of Sept. 25, 2022, officers Michael Rhinewalt and Stephen Frederick pulled the father of two over for a routine traffic stop. However, things turned south when police began shooting into Drakes vehicle, allegedly striking him in the head. He was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Directly following Drakes death Sept. 25, 2022, Commissioner Sean Tindell said in a statement, Such incidents require a thorough investigation, scrutiny and transparency. Therefore, any releasable information regarding this incident will be made public by the Department of Public Safety at the appropriate time. It took two years for officers Rhinewalt and Frederick to be formally indicted by a grand jury on manslaughter charges, according to NBC News. Rhinewalt is on unpaid administrative leave but was arrested last week for the killing. He was released from jail on a $100,000 bond, according to jail records. Officer Frederick resigned from the Capitol Police in 2023 following a drunk driving incident, according to WLBT. He has not been arrested yet, according to police. Despite both officers being indicted, Drakes father, William, says their charges should be more severe. I think the indictment needs to be amended to second-degree murder, he said according to WJTV. You know manslaughter in the state of Mississippi law, that guy can do three or four years, and hell be out. William also noted this isnt the first time officer Rhinewalt had a criminal case brought against him. He was charged with aggravated assault following the 2022 shooting of Sherita Harris in the head according to WAPT. Harris was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop, which happened just a month before Drakes killing. Rhinewalt and another officer are expected to go to trial in June. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio (WCMH) A national fast food chain known for its burgers and custard is planning to build a new central Ohio location. Culvers has proposed a new restaurant at 6450 Gender Road in Canal Winchester. At a city Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on April 14, commissioners detailed a franchisees plan to construct a 4,386-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru on a 3.11-acre lot. York Steak House in Columbus hailed as having the nations best steaks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission recommended the plan to city council, which will have the final say. Franchisee Jake Haman said at the meeting he owns a Culvers in Wisconsin and was looking for expansion opportunities. (Photo courtesy/Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission) (Photo courtesy/Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission) Culvers is known for its ButterBurgers, which feature fresh beef and buns brushed with butter. The fast food joints menu also features frozen custard, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, seafood, salad and soups, as well as sides such as French fries, onion rings and cheese curds. Culvers was founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1984. The chain has about 1,000 eateries across 26 states, a majority of which are franchises. Culvers has 27 locations in Ohio, including three local eateries in Reynoldsburg, Powell and Hilliard Green. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Culvers is quickly expanding, with the restaurant chain planning to open 55 locations in the country this year, according to its annual franchise disclosure agreement. The chain opened 53 locations last year. A spokesperson with Culvers told NBC4 they could not share any further details regarding the potential Canal Winchester restaurant. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tim Macdonald, legal director of the ACLU of Colorado, speaks to reporters outside the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse in Denver on Monday. Macdonald represents plaintiffs who are suing the Trump administration over their potential deportation under the Alien Enemies Act. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) A federal judge in Denver will soon decide whether to issue a temporary restraining order that would bar the Trump administration from removing from Colorado people who could be deported under the Alien Enemies Act. At least 11 people have already been deported from Colorado to a brutal prison in El Salvador, a lawyer for the plaintiffs in the case said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was brought as a habeas corpus petition by two Venezuelan nationals held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Aurora. They sued President Donald Trump and other federal officials earlier this month, challenging the governments authority to remove them from Colorado. Represented by lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union, the plaintiffs also ask U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney to declare Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act unlawful, and they ask the court to certify the lawsuit as a class action, so that it would cover many other immigrants who are in custody in Colorado and could be removed from the country to the CECOT prison in El Salvador, where the Trump administration has already sent scores of detainees. Sweeney heard arguments in the case Monday morning and said she would issue a ruling within 24 hours. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim Macdonald, legal director of the ACLU of Colorado, represented the plaintiffs during the hearing. He pointed to recent government behavior in Texas and elsewhere, as well as an emergency ruling early Saturday by the U.S. Supreme Court, as indications that swift protections against removal for his clients were necessary. He said that despite a Supreme Court ruling earlier this month that immigrants subject to Alien Enemies Act removal must be given reasonable notice to challenge their deportation in court, the Trump administration has engaged in a game of whack-a-mole by moving immigrants out of districts where deportations were temporarily barred to a facility in north Texas, where deportations were not barred. Macdonald said the Trump administration has interpreted reasonable notice in a way that gives no realistic opportunity for detainees to challenge their removal. The Supreme Court in a rare early morning ruling Saturday halted deportations in the north Texas district, after it appeared authorities at the detention facility there were preparing detainees for removal. Detainees in Colorado face a similar risk without the protection of a temporary restraining order, Macdonald argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has life or death consequences, he said. Lawyers for the Trump administration argued that Sweeney lacks jurisdiction to hear the case, because federal authorities have determined so far that the plaintiffs are not subject to deportation under the Aliens Enemies Act. The plaintiffs argue, however, that their status could change, and federal authorities in other cases have acted within hours to deport immigrants under the act and have failed to provide detainees due process. Macdonald told reporters after the hearing that at least 11 people who were detained in Aurora have already been removed to the prison in El Salvador. The prison, which is alleged to keep detainees in inhumane conditions, is where U.S. authorities mistakenly sent Maryland resident Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. Macdonald estimates that more than 100 people detained in Aurora would qualify as members of the class thats proposed in the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump proclaimed on March 15 that all Venezuelans who are not permanent U.S. residents, are 14 years or older, and are members of the gang Tren de Aragua, or TdA, can be removed from the U.S. under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law that has been invoked on only three previous occasions and only during war. The Trump administration says 137 people have been deported under the Alien Enemies Act. Plaintiffs in the Colorado case are identified by their initials, D.B.U. and R.M.M. They both deny being members of TdA. D.B.U. is a 32-year-old asylum seeker who has lived in Colorado with his wife and two children. R.M.M. is also a Colorado resident who is seeking asylum. He says that he fled Venezuela to escape TdA, which killed his wifes father and uncle and which he fears will kill him and his wife and children. Last week, Sweeney issued an initial order that halted Alien Enemies Act deportations in Colorado. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- Homeowners and renters in Kentucky who have suffered uninsured or underinsured damage from Februarys severe storms now have a few weeks left to apply for federal disaster assistance. More than 100 gather in Madisonville to protest Trump administration, Garcia deportation FEMA has extended the application deadline to Monday, May 25. Assistance for individuals affected be the severe weather can cover rental assistance, temporary housing, home repairs, personal property loss, as well as other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To apply for assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA app or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). The percentage of Americans who think the government should "take steps to restrict false information online" is shrinking. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, Americans are losing patience for the idea that the government should censor in the name of stopping misinformation. Pew also found decreasing support for the idea that tech companies should make such efforts on their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, 55 percent of people surveyed agreed with the idea that the U.S. government "should take steps to restrict false information online, even if it limits freedom of info." And 65 percent of those surveyed thought that tech companies should do this. Support for both statements has decreased. In Pew's 2025 survey, just 51 percent agreed with the statement about the U.S. government, and 60 percent agreed with the statement about tech companies. The Good News The good news here is we may be seeing an uptick in people who view free speech as a more important value than some utopian ideal of online safety. Perhaps people have started to realize that systems tasked with stopping false information online will inevitably make mistakes and exhibit biases. Speech that is categorically not misinformation will sometimes get swept up, especially when companies are relying on algorithms as a first line of misinformation defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, what qualifies as misinformation is not always so simple to determine. Things deemed misinformation at one point (like the lab leak hypothesis of COVID-19 origins, or the Hunter Biden laptop story) may later turn out to be true or at least possible. Things called misinformation by one group of people may be seen differently by people with different political, religious, or moral views. In many situations, saying who is right and who isn't requires prioritizing one set of values over another, or making judgement calls on complicated scientific matters that may not be settled yet. And even when some story or piece of information is clearly false, suppressing it can cause more damage than good. At the very least, there's no evidence that stopping the spread of misinformation in certain online venues will actually stop people from believing that information, especially when politicians and offline pundits still spread it. For those inclined to believe the false story, its suppression could end up strengthening their resolve that it is correct. Suppressing talk of the false story can even deprive people of opportunities to counter it, with people directly challenging the falsehoods often getting got up by the same suppression rules as those spreading the falsehoods. We've seen so many examples of all of these scenarios in recent years that it would be depressing if the message wasn't getting across somehow. So it's nice to see a survey suggesting that, at least to some small degree, it is. The Bad News The Pew survey still shows a lot of people who want the government to stop misinformation online, and who are willing to sacrifice freedom of information for this goal. For both the government and the tech question, a majority are in support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while these percentages may have decreased since 2023, they're still higher than they were not very long ago. In 2021, just 48 percent of people surveyed agreed with the idea that the U.S. government should take step to restrict false information online even when it required limiting freedom of in formations, and in 2018 just 39 percent of people agreed with this statement. On the question of tech companies suppressing false information, 59 percent agreed with that goal in 2021 and 56 percent agreed in 2018. And while Republican respondents answers on the government question haven't varied too widely since 2018, Democratic responses seem to vary wildly based on who is in power. In 2018, during Donald Trump's first term, just 40 percent wanted the government to try to restrict false information; in 2025, 58 percent wanted this. During Joe Biden's presidency, some 65 percent (in 2021) and 70 percent (in 2023) thought it was a good idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's unsurprising that people will view their side as more capable of good judgment on such matters. But the policies and precedents set when their side is in power will survive far afterward, making such lopsided judgments shortsighted. As long as Dems believe censorship is OK when their people are in office, we'll continue to see not only dangerous censorship under Democratic administrations but no matter who is in power. Suppressing Violent Content Pew also asked about support for government or tech companies suppressing "violent content." Far fewer people in 2025 support either entity doing so. In 2023, 60 percent of those surveyed said the U.S. government "should take steps to restrict extremely violent content online, even if it limits freedom of info." In 2025, this was down to 52 percent. As for tech companies suppressing violent content, support dropped from 71 percent in 2023 to 58 percent in 2025. Subverting Democracy and Free Speech, for the Children Who needs to go through the whole messy democratic process of passing laws when you can just declare major policy changes? That seems to be the thought process of Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. His office announced this month that he has ordered adult websites "to verify the age of users not just on the website but also on the device levelcreating the most robust age-verification standard in the country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While other states have debated such policies in their legislatures, Bailey is trying to unilaterally impose this new policy under the auspice of his consumer protection authority. Bailey's new rule claims that failing to check IDs or use some other form of "commercially reasonable age verification technology" constitutes an "unfair practice" under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA). Bailey also claims that this is not a new policy at all, but merely a mechanism for enforcing the state's existing prohibitions on distributing pornography to people under age 18. Even age verification rules adopted by state legislatures keep getting blocked by courts, on the grounds that they violate First Amendment rights. So it's possible that Bailey's mandate here will suffer a similar fate. Regardless of what ultimately happens, this attempt is notable because it represents an escalation of attempts to age-gate the internet. More Sex & Tech News Is the Department of Justice (DOJ) going to break up Google? Reason Foundation policy analyst Max Gulker breaks down last week's verdict against the company in a case concerning online advertising and antitrust law. Google "now must battle authorities eager to force Google to sell off major business units in two major cases," writes Gulker: Next week, the DOJ will argue in a different court that Google should be forced to divest major business units, potentially including its Chrome internet browser and Android operating system, in the wake of an August 2024 guilty verdict for antitrust violations related to online search. Google has already announced it will appeal Thursday's ad tech verdict. Pending appeals, the case will proceed to a similar remedies phase, where the DOJ is expected to seek the divestiture of a part of the ad tech business, which generated 12% of parent company Alphabet Inc.'s revenue last year, approximately $42 billion. The ad tech case has been overshadowed in the public debate by the search case and antitrust suits against Amazon, Facebook, and Apple. The Trump Administration, usually eager to reverse course on many of former President Joe Biden's policies, has instead opted to continue all five major antitrust cases. A blow for Trump's executive order on gender identity: "A federal judge in Boston on Friday ordered the Trump administration to issue passports that reflect the self-identified gender of six transgender people rather than requiring that the passports display the sex on the applicants' original birth certificates," The New York Times reports. "The order from Judge Julia E. Kobick was a victory, at least temporarily, for the six plaintiffs, who she said were likely to prevail on their claim that a new policy by the Trump administration amounts to a form of unconstitutional sex discrimination under the Fifth Amendment, as well as the Administrative Procedures Act." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ChatGPT developer OpenAI is considering launching its own social media platform. The Atlantic explains the logic: "People create data every time they post online, and generative-AI companies need a lot of data to train their products. Social networks are also sticky: If you got hooked on an OpenAI feed, you'd be less likely to use competing generative-AI products from Anthropic or Google." Today in signs of backsliding: Some states are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its 2015 decision legalizing same sex marriage. "No one is suggesting that reconsideration of the decision in Obergefell is imminent," writes Amy Harmon in The New York Times. "Still, the number of state measures proposed signals an effort to shift the perception of same-sex marriage as an established civil right, leaders on both sides of the issue say." "After a federal court struck down their first attempt to limit teen social media use, Ohio lawmakers have a new approach: go through the app stores," reports Cleveland.com. "Under House Bill 226, app stores would ask users how old they are. Users would verify their age and those younger than 16 would need parental permission to download apps on their phones." You can find the full bill here. Customer service chatbots might "hallucinate" answers to support questions, as AI company Anysphere learned this week. Today's Image Reason's DC office, 2014 (ENB/Reason) The post Fewer People Support Censoring False Information Online appeared first on Reason.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has received a delegation from Vietnam headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Hang, a source in the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend. In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed current bilateral and multilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam, as well as regional and international developments. The importance of mutual visits and contacts, including the mechanism of political consultations, was highlighted in maintaining and developing the existing political dialogue between the two countries. In addition, it was emphasized that there are broad prospects for developing cooperation in such areas as the economy, trade, energy security, agriculture, humanitarian affairs, tourism, education, and others. The significance of utilizing the available opportunities and the role of the AzerbaijanVietnam Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation in this regard was noted. Moreover, issues of cooperation within regional and international organizations, including the UN, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and ASEAN, were also discussed. The importance of historic decisions adopted during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) was emphasized. Bayramov also provided detailed information on the current situation and realities in the post-conflict period in the region, the large-scale reconstruction and development works underway in the territories liberated from occupation, efforts to combat the landmine threat, as well as the progress in the AzerbaijanArmenia normalization process. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. On the same day, political consultations were held between the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan and Vietnam. The Azerbaijani side was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, and the Vietnamese side - by Hang. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel SADSBURY TOWNSHIP A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal is being called in to help find the cause of a Sunday morning farmhouse fire near the borough of Conneaut Lake. No one was injured when fire swept through the second floor of the Leslie Allen residence shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, according to Chief John Treacy of Conneaut Lake Volunteer Fire Department. The home, at 11561 State Highway 285, is located in Sadsbury Township, about 1.5 miles south of the borough. There were four people in the home and they all got out safely, the chief said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allen was in a downstairs office on the first floor and his son, who had just arrived home from work, discovered the fire when he went upstairs and saw flames in a second-floor bedroom, Treacy said. The pair awoke two other family members and all were able to get out of the house uninjured. Conneaut Lake Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding departments near Conneaut Lake were dispatched to the scene at 1:09 a.m. Smoke and flames were coming out of the second-floor windows and through the roof when we rolled up, Treacy said. We put in a call for a second alarm for additional assistance. While there were no problems fighting the fire and no firefighters were injured, having an adequate water supply was needed to battle the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no water supply out there, so we needed a tanker task force, Treacy said. Thats why we put in a second alarm. We didnt run out of water. Everything worked well and the mutual aid helped a lot. Damage to the farmhouse was extensive with its second floor lost and water and smoke damage to the first floor, he said. An attached first-floor addition to the home wasnt damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation but isnt considered suspicious, Treacy said. The fire marshal has been contacted to assist with finding the cause, he said. Conneaut Lake was assisted at the scene by Summit Township, Vernon Central, Greenwood Township, Linesville, North Shenango Township and Fallowfield volunteer fire departments plus fire truck tankers from Cochranton, Hayfield Central, Jamestown, Sheakleyville, West Mead 1 and Andover, Ohio, volunteer fire departments. Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department, Fallowfield Township Emergency Medical Services and Meadville Area Ambulance Service also assisted. The last emergency units returned to service at 5:11 a.m. Sunday, However, Conneaut Lake was sent back to the scene around 7:30 a.m. for about 45 minutes and again about 9:30 a.m. for about 90 minutes to extinguish hot spots at the fire scene. Three top aides were purged from the Pentagon last week, and even they dont know why. Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick joined forces on Saturday to blast their unconscionable suspensions from the Pentagon and cast doubt on the investigation into internal leaks that reportedly led to their ouster. We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended, they wrote in a statement on X. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. Joint statement from Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick: We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. All Dan Caldwell (@dandcaldwell) April 19, 2025 The three staffers were booted in a stunning shakeup that rocked the Pentagon last week after the agency launched a probe into recent leaks, including details of military plans for the Panama Canal, the movement of a U.S. carrier in the Red Sea, the decision to pause intelligence gathering related to Ukraine, and Elon Musks visit to discuss China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with, the former aides said. One of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths right-hand men, Dan Caldwell, was escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday after being accused of leaking. / Getty Caldwell, a former Marine who served in Iraq, was one of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths top advisers and supported scaling back American involvement in Ukraine and the Middle East. Selnick, now a former Pentagon deputy chief of staff, also served in the first Trump administration under the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He was formerly a senior adviser to Concerned Veterans for America. Carroll, former chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, is a Marine Corps Reserve officer and most recently worked at defense contractor Anduril. Politico previously reported that Carroll was kicked out by the Biden administration from the Pentagons former Joint Artificial Intelligence Center for allegedly creating a hostile work environment. Colin Carroll was kicked out by the Biden administration from the Pentagons former Joint Artificial Intelligence Center for allegedly creating a hostile work environment. / U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Moses S. Lopez Franco All three men were placed on administrative leave and escorted out of the Pentagon building last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseths own chief of staff, Joe Kasper, also reportedly left his role for a new position, albeit still within the Pentagon. Insiders told Politico that a rivalry was brewing between Kasper and the three fired advisers. Darin Selnick, who served as Pete Hegseths deputy chief of staff, also served in the first Trump administration. / Mr. Leroy Council / Department of Defense Joe didnt like those guys, a defense official reportedly said. They all have different styles. They just didnt get along. It was a personality clash. The major staff changes have intensified scrutiny of Hegseths leadership, which came under fire last month when The Atlantic revealed that its editor-in-chief was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat of high-ranking national security officials discussing a military strike in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Meagher, a former Assistant Defense Secretary for Public Affairs under the Biden administration, told Politico that the controversies surrounding Hegseth have only confirmed he doesnt have what it takes to lead. Everyone knew that Pete Hegseth did not possess the leadership qualities, background, or experience to be Secretary of Defense, he said. CLEVELAND (WJW) Cleveland firefighters were forced to pull out from a house fire in Cleveland when flames started shooting from the attic. The call to Greenwich Avenue came in at about 1 a.m. on Monday. Motorcyclist seriously hurt in Easter night crash The home was occupied, however, officials said everyone got out okay by the time firefighters arrived on the scene. V.P. Vance met with Pope one day before his death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took fire crews more than 30 minutes to get the fire under control. No injuries were reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years and was praised for his humility and unorthodox approach, died on Monday aged 88, the Vatican announced. "At 7:35 this morning [0535 GMT], the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a senior Vatican official, announced. As spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit, and the first to be named after St Francis of Assisi, a medieval monk who lived in poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Argentinian was elected pope, on March 13, 2013, he quipped that he came "almost from the end of the world." Three days later, he said he wanted to lead "a poor church, for the poor." "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized," Farrell said. Francis had recently suffered from pneumonia in both lungs and spent more than a month in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome before being discharged on March 23. It was his fourth longer stay in the hospital in the past four years. He was initially there in 2021 for intestinal surgery, in 2023 for severe pneumonia and later that year for another open abdominal procedure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis had been participating in public events from a wheelchair due to a severe knee condition and had to cancel many regular prayers, audiences and services in recent months. In what turned out to be his last public appearance, Francis emerged briefly on the balcony in front of thousands gathered in St Peter's Square on Sunday to deliver an Easter blessing. He also met US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday, apparently the last major political figure to see Francis in person. Francis 'inspired millions' Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz was among the first political leaders to react on the platform X to Francis' death, saying he would be remembered for his "tireless commitment to the weakest in society." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The death of Pope Francis fills me with great sadness," Merz wrote. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate." Despite his ill health, the pope completed a 12-day trip to Asia and the Pacific in the first half of September and a visit to Luxembourg and Belgium later the same month. Papal funerals have traditionally followed unique and intricate rituals, but Francis initiated new rules for a more modest ceremony before his death. These imply less pomp and simpler rites, and he has opted for burial outside the Vatican's walls. His funeral will nevertheless be a global event. Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years and was praised for his humility and unorthodox approach, died on Easter Monday aged 88, the Vatican announced. "At 7:35 this morning [0535 GMT], the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a senior Vatican official, announced. As spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit, and the first to be named after St Francis of Assisi, a medieval monk who lived in poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Argentinian was elected pope - on March 13, 2013 - he quipped that he came "almost from the end of the world." Three days later, he said he wanted to lead "a poor church, for the poor." "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized," Farrell said. Faithful bid goodbye Crowds of people were flowing into St Peter's Square in the Vatican during Monday to pay tribute to Francis. Streets leading up to the central square in front of St Peter's Basilica were packed as security forces directed the multitudes who sought to pay their respects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The basilica's bells tolled to inform Catholics of the pontiff's death, a tradition in place for centuries and a symbolic act to express grief and call the faithful to prayer. Many more people are likely to flock to Rome during the coming days and weeks for the funeral service for Francis and the conclave to elect a new pope. Francis had recently suffered from pneumonia in both lungs and spent more than a month in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome before being discharged on March 23. It was his fourth longer stay in the hospital in the past four years. He was initially there in 2021 for intestinal surgery, in 2023 for severe pneumonia and later that year for another open abdominal procedure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis had been participating in public events from a wheelchair due to a severe knee condition and had to cancel many regular prayers, audiences and services in recent months. In what turned out to be his last public appearance, Francis emerged briefly on the balcony in front of thousands gathered in St Peter's Square on Sunday to deliver an Easter blessing. He also met US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday, apparently the last major political figure to see Francis in person. Body likely to be transferred on Wednesday Despite his ill health, the pope completed a 12-day trip to Asia and the Pacific in the first half of September and a visit to Luxembourg and Belgium later the same month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Papal funerals have traditionally followed unique and intricate rituals, but Francis initiated new rules for a more modest ceremony before his death. These imply less pomp and simpler rites, and he has opted for burial outside the Vatican's walls, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. His funeral will nevertheless be a global event. First, the pope's body will lie in an open coffin on Monday night in the chapel of the Santa Marta guesthouse, his residence in the Vatican. Cardinal Farrell will officially confirm the death in a ceremony at 8 pm (1800 GMT) attended by numerous church dignitaries, according to the Vatican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The body is then likely to be transferred to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday where the faithful will have the opportunity to pay their last respects, according to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. However, the date will only be officially confirmed when the cardinals meet on Tuesday morning for the first time since Francis' death, the spokesman said. At this meeting, the first decisions on the plans for the funeral and other important matters will be made. On Monday evening, a recitation of the Rosary is due be led by Italian Cardinal Mauro Gambetti in St Peter's Square at 7:30 pm. World leaders react Leaders from around the world expressing their sorrow on Monday ranged from French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Donald Trump to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan's King Abdullah II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon, which is home to a large Christian population, and Argentina, the pope's birthplace, announced official mourning periods lasting several days. "It is with deep sadness that I learned this morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace," Argentinian President Javier Milei said in a post on X. "Despite the differences that seem minor today, it was a great honour for me to know him in his goodness and wisdom." Ultra-liberal Milei long had a strained relationship with the pope. Before he took office, Milei had called Francis a "fool" and a "son of a bitch" and claimed he was promoting communism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis received Milei at the Vatican in February last year and after their meeting, reference was made to "cordial talks." Milei also invited the pope to visit Argentina but Francis, formerly archbishop of Buenos Aires, did not return to Argentina after becoming pontiff. The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released the following statement following the death of Pope Francis who died Monday, one day after taking part in Easter festivities on Sunday. Pope Francis, 88, had returned to work after a long hospitalization, but was still dealing with lingering issues related to pneumonia. We join the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, wrote President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring. His courageous and compassionate leadership has blessed countless lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who looked to him for inspiration and counsel. As the world pauses to remember his example of forgiveness and service, we feel deep gratitude for the goodness of a life well lived and rejoice in the hope of a glorious resurrection made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 20190309 President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, March 9, 2019. | Vatican In 2019, President Russell M. Nelson met with Pope Francis inside the Vatican marking the first-ever face-to-face discussion between the heads of the two global churches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had a most cordial, unforgettable experience with His Holiness, President Nelson said afterward as he stood just outside St. Peters Square. He was most gracious and warm and welcoming. What a sweet, wonderful man he is, and how fortunate the Catholic people are to have such a gracious, concerned, loving, and capable leader. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and President M. Russell Ballard, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, March 9, 2019. | The Vatican President M. Russell Ballard, the late president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, joined President Nelson in the 2019 meeting, along with Elder Massimo De Feo, a General Authority Seventy, and Elder Alessandro Dini Ciacci, an Area Seventy. After the meeting, President Nelson said that the two faiths have much in common our concern for human suffering, the importance of religious liberty for all of society, and the importance of building bridges of friendship instead of building walls of segregation. The pope and President Nelson embraced at the end of their time together. They gave each other a hug as we left that said everything, President Ballard said. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and President M. Russell Ballard, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome, Italy on Saturday, March 9, 2019. | The Vatican A ship carrying 6,600 tons of wheat arrived at the Syrian port of Latakia, marking the first such shipment since dictator Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in December 2024, the Syrian government announced on April 20. While officials did not disclose the wheat's origin, a source confirmed to Reuters that the cargo came from Russia. The Syrian border authority described the delivery as "a clear indication of the start of a new phase of economic recovery," suggesting that more vital goods could soon follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow and Tehran were previously Assad's key suppliers of wheat and fuel, but deliveries halted following his ouster. Since then, Russia has gradually reengaged with Syria's new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Putin pledged support for the new leadership following a Feb. 12 call with al-Sharaa, and a Russian delegation later traveled to Damascus. Bloomberg reported that Moscow is nearing an agreement with the country to maintain a limited military presence in exchange for counterterrorism assistance against Islamic State militants. Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria since 2015, primarily to support the now-overthrown regime of Assad during the country's civil war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has also opened dialogue with the new Syrian government. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus on Dec. 30, saying afterward that Kyiv and Damascus share similar views on the issue of Russia's continued military presence. The development comes as the United States draws down its presence in northeastern Syria, closing three of its eight bases and reducing troop levels from 2,000 to 1,400, the New York Times reported on April 17. Read also: Putin signs law ratifying strategic partnership treaty with Iran Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A fisherman had a surprise catch Monday on McKelvey Lake. Read next: 100+ mph police chase started as suspected street race: Report John White was fishing with a magnet that he said can lift up to 2,000 pounds, a hobby he developed a few years ago. He said it takes patience. Monday morning, he picked McKelvey Lake for his hunt because he says it is notorious for people throwing items off the bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We started at the one side of the bridge. We made two passes on the bridge, dragging a magnet. On the third pass, we werent here but maybe five minutes, and we felt something tug on the rope on the magnet and pulled it up, and it was a .357, White said. White called police and gave them the weapon. He said he has also found a few safes in the past, but the gun was the most interesting thing he has ever found. Gun found in McKelvey Lake in Youngstown Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in 2023 touted the $16 million Geist Waterfront Park as the citys last opportunity to create public access to Geist Reservoir, the man-made lake best known for luxury waterfront homes. In an odd way to promote public access, the city charged non-Fishers residents $50 to park their car there. Fadness claimed the parking fee was necessary to limit summer crowds, ensure safety and prioritize the limited parking for Fishers taxpayers. But this was not the truth. Attendance at the new park was a fraction of what the city estimated that first summer season. There was never a capacity issue in the parking lot. Clearly, the real purpose of the inflated parking fee was to discourage the people who cant afford it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Fishers is trying to discourage the people who cant afford it from living in Fishers. Fadness is proposing a rental cap that would limit the number of rental properties in Fishers. This policy would be the first of its kind in the country. By limiting rental supply, this policy could inflate the cost of tenants rent. Why would a growing Indiana suburb with a high demand for housing want to restrict rental supply? In an odd way to address a housing shortage, the rental restriction would apply to townhome and condo neighborhoods in addition to single-family homes. Why would a community lock a highly desired type of housing out of the most conducive neighborhoods? Fadness rental cap proposal has been quietly presented to citizens as a benign rental registration program his solution to encourage homeownership, protect the character of residential neighborhoods, eliminate blight and address institutional investors who purchase single-family homes. But this is not the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Briggs: Fishers' attack on investor-owned homes will lock out families The last time a Fishers single-family home was purchased by an out-of-state institutional investor was over two years ago. Home ownership in Fishers is already exceptionally high and exceeds national and state averages, according to the citys own housing study. Of course, exterior maintenance issues are not exclusive to rental homes. There are city code enforcement procedures and a fine system in place to ensure that all Fishers homes are maintained, owner-occupied and rentals alike. Fishers is branded as a smart, vibrant and entrepreneurial community and is a desirable place to live. When I was a Fishers City Council member in 2023, I stated my opposition to the $50 parking fee. I said, "My strong concern is that it sends a message to people outside of Fishers that they are unwelcome here. Today, I state the same opposition to a new proposed Fishers rental cap policy, which would have a much greater negative impact if approved. Fishers residents can choose to oppose this rental cap or not. They can attend the Monday council meeting and let the decision-makers hear their opinions. But they deserve to know the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fishers is trying to discourage the people who cant afford it from living in Fishers. Jocelyn Vare is a renter and a Fishers resident for over 25 years. She is a former at-large member of the Fishers City Council and former member of the City of Fishers Housing Task Force. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fadness' rental cap idea follows Geist Waterfront Park fees | Opinion BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. I do believe that our meeting in Astana (with President Xi Jinping - ed.) and the joint declaration adopted as a result are a historic event that ushers a new page in Azerbaijani-Chinese relations, said President Ilham Aliyev in an exclusive interview with China's Xinhua, Trend reports. "The Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China was adopted within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Astana on July 3, 2024. The Declaration emphasizes that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations on April 2, 1992, our bilateral cooperation has brought about many fruitful results. At the same time, we agreed to further expand this cooperation, strengthen our interaction in international affairs, jointly safeguard the common interests of the two countries, and jointly advance the cause of regional and global peace, stability and development. We jointly declared that our strategic partnership would rest on such fundamental principles of bilateral relations as mutual respect, equality, trust, mutual support, mutual benefit and cooperation. In the Declaration, we also reaffirmed that we are priority and reliable partners who treat each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity with due respect, pursuing an independent foreign policy based on the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful coexistence. I do believe that our meeting in Astana and the joint declaration adopted as a result are a historic event that ushers a new page in Azerbaijani-Chinese relations. Speaking at the bilateral meeting with President of China Xi Jinping, I noted that the adopted Declaration officially turns China and Azerbaijan into strategic partners, which is a great achievement and also a great responsibility. During our meeting in Astana, I was invited to pay a state visit to China, and I was pleased to accept the invitation. I also invited the President of China to visit our country at a convenient time. I am convinced that such an exchange of high-level visits will give additional impetus to the process of deepening our interstate relations," said President Ilham Aliyev. Los Angeles is experiencing a full-blown budget crisis. A month ago, the financial gap was estimated at just shy of $1 billion, delivering another headache for Mayor Karen Bass as well as the public, which relies on city government to repave streets, fix sidewalks, maintain parks, collect trash and pay police officers and firefighters, among many services. On Monday, Bass will release her proposed spending plan for 2025-26, spelling out her strategy for erasing the budget shortfall one that will require her to cut the size of the workforce and carve into city services. With that in mind, here are some things to watch out for: How many city workers will be targeted for layoffs? City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo, the top municipal budget analyst, warned a few weeks ago that layoffs would be "nearly inevitable." But how many will actually show up in the mayor's proposed budget? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks ago, Szabo's office sent city departments a list of positions being considered for layoffs. Altogether, those positions exceeded 3,500. On Saturday, Bass told The Times that her budget team had shaved the number to fewer than 2,000. Bass wouldn't get more precise, other than to say it had been hovering above 1,500 a few days earlier. On multiple occasions, Bass has said she's searching for alternatives to layoffs most significantly, state financial relief. "I'm going to have to propose layoffs," Bass said Friday at an event hosted by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles. "But I don't think it's going to happen, OK? I don't. I don't. But I have to propose that, because by law the budget has to come out on Monday, by April 21, under the City Charter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe there are some solutions, like from the state, that will help us so that we don't have to do layoffs ultimately," she added. The City Council has until the end of May to make changes to mayor's budget and then approve it. By then, city officials should have a clearer idea of whether Gov. Gavin Newsom will come to the rescue. Where will Bass make her cuts? One thing we know for sure: Bass will not be seeking reductions to the Fire Department. She said so last week while visiting Pacific Palisades, which was ravaged by fire at the start of the year. The city's firefighter union has long argued that the department is woefully underfunded. That message grew louder after the January disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So where else could Bass make cuts? The Police Department is one likely target, due to its enormous size when compared with most other city agencies. The mayor's budget team could slow the hiring of new police officers, allowing sworn staffing to fall below the 8,733 budgeted for the current fiscal year, down from about 10,000 five years ago. Such a move might be politically easier right now, since homicides and shootings are both down by double digits. Bass also could reduce the number of non-sworn employees at the LAPD, such as clerical staff. Meanwhile, some at City Hall have heard rumblings about major cuts to the planning department, which processes development applications and updates zoning plans, as well as the troubled Animal Services Department. Many other agencies could also face deep cuts. What will happen to Inside Safe? The moment she took office, Bass made the fight against homelessness a top priority. A huge part of that effort is Inside Safe, which moves people off the streets and into interim and permanent housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program has been expensive, requiring leases with dozens of hotels and motels. Two years in, some city councilmembers have voiced concerns about its cost. "We cannot afford to do everything via hotels and motels. We have to have other options," said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who serves on the council's budget committee. Bass told The Times last week that she has no intention of scaling back her signature initiative. She is looking to tap new funding sources, such as Measure A, the half-cent sales tax approved by voters last year to fund homeless services. "I'm going to keep housing people. I don't care what it takes," Bass said at Friday's Black Lives Matter event. "I'm going to keep doing that because I know that four people tomorrow morning are not going to wake up. They're going to die on the street, and more than likely they look like you." What about Kenneth Mejia? Since taking office in 2022, City Controller Kenneth Mejia has been among the most outspoken critics of spending decisions at City Hall. Last year, he repeatedly voiced alarm over Bass' decision to eliminate more than 1,700 vacant positions, saying it would hurt city services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will Mejia's megaphone grow even louder now that actual layoffs are on the table? And will his office be targeted with a new round of cuts? Bass pushed last year for the elimination of 27 vacant positions in Mejia's office. Ultimately, nine of those posts were kept on the books but with no money to pay for them, according to Mejia spokesperson Diana Chang. "Without funding for them, we can't hire or fill them," Chang said in an email. "It's unlikely that these positions will get filled this fiscal year." Some Mejia supporters have talked him up as a potential challenger to Bass in June 2026. Mejia said he's not interested right now and is raising money instead for his own reelection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing is for sure: If the mayor proposes new reductions to the controller's office, Mejia will make sure the public knows about it. Will the mayor shut down departments? Every time the city faces budget troubles, smaller departments are placed on the chopping block, with the mayor or council members looking to merge them with bigger agencies. This time around, agencies that oversee youth development programs, job training and services for senior citizens among the most vulnerable. The mayor could seek to combine any one of them with a larger department. Bass could also take a page from her predecessors and seek to consolidate some larger agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2013, his final year in office, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pushed for a merger of the Department of Building and Safety and the Department of City Planning, which he saw as a way of cutting red tape for real estate developers. That effort was opposed by Eric Garcetti, who replaced Villaraigosa a few months later. The merger also became a major plot point in the federal racketeering and bribery prosecution of Raymond Chan, the onetime head of the Department of Building and Safety. Chan, whose job was put in jeopardy by the merger, was accused of arranging a $600,000 bribe to then-Councilmember Jose Huizar in exchange for Huizar's work opposing the merger. In October, Chan was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Chan, 68, is an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution on Terminal Island, according to the Board of Prisons, with his release scheduled for 2035. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See? Budgets can be interesting! 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. Flags are set to be flown at half-mast at federal ministries and the Chancellery in Berlin on Tuesday to mark the death of Pope Francis, a spokeswoman for Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Monday. On the day of the official funeral service for the pope, who died Monday aged 88, flags are to fly at half-mast nationwide, according to the minister. A date for Francis' funeral service is yet to be set by Vatican leadership. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has ordered all flags on city buildings to be lowered to half-staff following Pope Francis death on Monday. The pope was 88 years old. He had been hospitalized earlier this year for a respiratory crisis, but was released and made several public appearances before his death. More Local News It is with great sadness that I mourn with billions around the world after learning of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Adams said in a statement. Pope Francis led with kindness, grace, and faith as he helped build a better world and unite all people, regardless of their background. His decades of spreading peace and love will forever be remembered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams visited the pope at the Vatican last May during a trip for the World Meeting on Human Fraternity. The order for flags to be lowered begins immediately, according to the mayors office. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Previous video above: Arson not suspected in Enterprise veterans home fire ENTERPRISE, Ala (WDHN) A seemingly never-ending fight against flames at an Enterprise veterans home is finally over. According to the Alabama State Fire Marshals Office, the fire at Command Sgt. Maj Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home was started accidentally while two contractors were working on the roof vents over the kitchen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation into the fire was completed on Monday. An update from the ADVA revealed that the flames at the facility were extinguished over the weekend. Again, I want to wholeheartedly thank the first responders who worked diligently last Wednesday night to contain the fire and the many men and women whose continued effort spanned countless hours during the days following to lead to the fire being put out, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) Commissioner Jeff Newton wrote on Monday. The City of Enterprise revealed that one firefighter was injured during the fight against the flames. The firefighter was treated for minor injuries at a hospital and released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Thursday morning, the fire has been contained to the shingles, plywood, and styrofoam insulation on the roofs steel base. While the flames did not spread through the building, several facility areas sustained smoke and water damage. Residential areas were minimally impacted. While firefighters were battling flames Wednesday night, crews worked to evacuate the 91 residents in the home. They were transported to a rehab center in Enterprise. I still cannot say enough about the Veterans Home staff and their execution of the homes evacuation plan. Though the fire did not directly impact any of the residential wings, the staffs ability to have all 90 veterans out of the home within 25 minutes of the evacuation order being issued was critical in the incident remaining injury-free. Finding the appropriate words to show gratitude is difficult, but please know your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, said Newton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Miller, the ADVA works with groups and organizations to establish long-term care for veterans until they can be moved back into the facility. A plan is expected to be finalized this week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. A recent flight to Italy was disrupted by a passenger who was upset about getting the wrong onboard meal. Before the plane turned back to the U.S., the man tried to charge into the cockpit. Passengers were stranded at their original airport for eight hours until their flight could take off again the next morning. Passengers on board a transatlantic American Airlines flight from New York City to Milan earlier this month were nearly at the the halfway mark of their eight-hour journey when they learned their plane was making a U-turn back to the U.S. The reason: one disruptive passenger, whose tantrum was reportedly sparked over an in-flight meal order gone wrong, according to a CBS News report. The flight departed on April 7 from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 7:07 p.m. local time, landing back at the same airport at 3:02 a.m., FlightAware data showed. Eventually the same flight number took off again on April 8 at 11:22 a.m., with the passengers arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) at 12:12 a.m. local time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related | This Passenger Was Escorted Off the Plane By Cops Over In-flight Snacks | Learn More A passenger told the network the debacle started because the unruly passenger didn't get their meal of choice, explaining that they requested the meal before the flight. But that wasnt the only issue. They also wanted to sit in an exit row, they added. They had a baby with them, so they told them they couldn't and apparently those two things are what pushed the person over the edge." For those on board, the entire journey was filled with anxiety. They were telling everyone that there were technical issues on the plane, which is even scarier," another passenger told the network. The real reason became clear when the man charged past all of our seats and tried to barge into the pilot's cabin, they said. A passenger said the guy remained at the back of the plane, unrestrained. The guy was still in the back of the plane unprotected, unrestrained, which was a little bit scary considering we had a plane full of 300 people and there was no air marshal on board, and we've got this crazy man in the back," a they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dallas-based airline told People, The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority and we expect our customers to comply with federal regulations to follow crew member instructions. The company also added that their intention wasnt to disrupt anyones travel plans and thanked those on board for their understanding. (At the time of publishing, American Airlines did not respond to Travel + Leisure for a comment.) Read the original article on Travel & Leisure ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) A Delta flight had to be evacuated at a Florida Airport Monday morning after a fire, officials said. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Delta Air Lines Flight 1213 was exiting a gate at Orlando International Airport to fly to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at about 11:15 a.m. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News While getting ready for departure, the planes engine caught on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA said the passengers evacuated the plane quickly with slides. No injuries were reported. Cell phone video posted by a witness showed the burning engine before the passengers slid off. Holy s, get out! someone is heard saying in the video. Gun case, empty magazines found on USF campus The incident is under FAA investigation. This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. LAKE CITY, Fla. (WFLA) A police officer in Florida was shot during an Easter celebration on Sunday. Officers from multiple agencies, including the Lake City Police Department, were providing crowd control services at the Annie Mattox Recreation Center, where the annual Easter event was expected to be attended by thousands of people. Tampa Bay grocery prices see highest spike in continental U.S.: study Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fight broke out among several people just after 8 p.m., according to NBC affiliate WTLV. A Lake City police officer was shot while authorities attempted to control the chaos. Police identified the injured officer as Marcus Hardison. He was described as awake and communicative with paramedics while on the way to a Gainesville hospital with a gunshot wound to his right arm. LCPD squashed rumors that Hardison was shot by a fellow officer. Three people were taken into custody in connection to the shooting, but no charges have been announced as of 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 WFLA. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Azerbaijan is the second country after China to have invested the most in the Belt and Road project both on its own territory and abroad, said President Ilham Aliyev in an exclusive interview with China's Xinhua, Trend reports. "As you may know, Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to support the Belt and Road initiative put forward by the President of the Peoples Republic of China. We are implementing serious projects in this direction. It is safe to say that Azerbaijan is the second country after China to have invested the most in this project both on its own territory and abroad. Speaking at the second Belt and Road Forum held in China in April 2019, I noted that this project not only provides transport links, but also strengthens the relations between different countries, serves to bolster dialogue and cooperation, and creates new opportunities for international trade. We are expanding our cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative. Significant progress has already been made in this direction. Leveraging its advantageous geographical location, Azerbaijan continues to extensively develop international transport corridors, create modern infrastructure and invest additional funds in increasing their capacity in response to the sharp increase in cargo traffic through our territory. Over the past 20 years, 21,000 kilometers of highways have been built and renovated, 335 bridges and overpasses, 45 tunnels, 163 overland and underground crossings have been built in Azerbaijan. Considerable progress has also been made in improving railway infrastructure including the construction of over 1,500 kilometers of new railways and the renovation of 1,800 kilometers of existing tracks. Such important transport projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), as well as the Baku International Trade Seaport, one of the major ports on the Caspian Sea, are opening up new horizons for the implementation of economic and transport opportunities within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative," said President Ilham Aliyev. Related video: Sen. Van Hollen returns to the U.S. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Florida Democrat Rep. Maxwell Frost and other lawmakers have arrived in El Salvador. The trip follows a promise Frost made last week to go to the country if a mistakenly deported man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wasnt returned to the U.S. FL representative says hell go to El Salvador if wrongly deported man isnt returned this week Frost is joined by Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Colo.) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their visit to El Salvador comes after another Democratic lawmaker, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, went to the country and met with Abrego Garcia last week. Sen. Van Hollen returns to the U.S. Frost and Garcia sent a letter last week to the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, formally requesting a Congressional Member Delegation to visit the maximum security prison where Abrego Garcia was sent in March. Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) denied the request, Frost said in a post on X Sunday evening. The House Oversight Committee also posted about the denial on X. Your request to visit a foreign MS-13 gang member in El Salvador on taxpayer dollars (and possibly drink margaritas) has been denied, the post read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has yet to produce evidence confirming Abrego Garcia is a member of the gang, and he was protected from deportation to El Salvador in 2019 by a judge who believed he could face persecution from the local gangs if he returned. Abrego Garcia initially came to the U.S. fleeing gang violence, the Associated Press reported. It remains to be seen how, or if the visits to the country by Democratic lawmakers will affect Abrego Garcias case. Despite an order from the Supreme Court to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, the Trump administration says they do not have the power to do so now that he is in the custody of El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frost confirmed on X Monday morning that the unofficial delegation had arrived. Trump is illegally arresting, jailing, & deporting people with no due process, he wrote. We must hold the Administration accountable for these illegal acts and demand Kilmars release. Today its him, tomorrow it could be anyone else. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 20 (UPI) -- Florida State University has changed course on a return to class for students following a shooting on campus that left two people dead and six injured, the school announced. The administration originally said that, despite the shooting Thurday that classes would resume Monday. "Our hearts are heavy after that tragedy that took place April 17. We are grieving with the families and friends who lost someone they love, a Saturday statement from university president Richard McCullough said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This has shaken all of us and I want you to know: We are here for you. Classes and business operations will resume Monday, April 21." But the school has changed course following pushback by students, some of whom have said they don't feel comfortable returning to campus so soon after the shooting, and that their minds would not be on their studies. "I have classes that are right by where the shooting occurred and I doubt I will be able to focus, " Madelynn Duggar, a junior, took shelter for three hours in her classroom on Thursday in a building close to where the shooting took place, told NBC News. "It is very difficult to focus where days before you were barricading the door and making your peace with God," she continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students organized to create an online petition calling on FSU to grant excused absences for students and staff who did not want to return to the campus so soon after the shooting. The school acquiesced and said it would make accommodations for students and staff who did not feel safe returning to campus on Monday, including online options. Saturday evening students received an email telling them that the university would "resume classes on Monday, April 21," but that students and staff would have other options. FSU said in the email that absences would be excused and that in addition to the online options, students would also have other choices to complete normally on-campus activities, such as lab classes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school then released a video statement later Saturday explaining the options for people to attend remotely, but that video was removed as of Sunday. The gunman opened fire on students and staff near the Oglesby union. A former adviser to David Cameron has entered the race to become the next governor of California. Steve Hilton, who served as director of strategy for the former prime minister, is the second prominent Republican to announce their candidacy for the 2026 contest to replace Gavin Newsom. California means to America what America means to the world. Lets make California the land of opportunity again great jobs, great homes, great kids. Lets make California an inspiration again, the very best of America, he said in a video announcing his bid on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres only one way to do that. Weve got to end the one-party rule that got us into this mess. Its time to end the years of Democrat failure. Its time for a new future. Thats why Im running for governor, to make this beautiful state that we love so much truly golden again. Mr Hilton, who plans an official campaign announcement event in Huntington Beach on Tuesday, would be the states first Republican leader since Arnold Schwarzenegger, should he be elected. David Cameron (left) with Steve Hilton in Norway in 2006 - Andrew Parsons/PA Archive/PA Images A close confidant of Lord Cameron during his time in No 10, the Silicon Valley entrepreneur made headlines for the 276,000 salary the Tories paid him as he sought to modernise government. He was seen as the brains behind the Tories drive to detoxify their party after three general election defeats but made enemies in government with plans to radically reduce the size of the Civil Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Fox News contributor would walk the corridors of power in shorts and a T-shirt and was satirised by BBC comedy The Thick of It as the herbal tea sipping publicist Stewart Pearson. He resigned from his post in 2012 and moved to California, settling in the affluent Silicon Valley community of Atherton with his wife Rachel Whetstone and their two children. He became a US citizen in May 2021. He backed Brexit in 2016 in a further break with his former boss, who headed up the remain campaign. Mr Hilton with Boris Johnson during the Brexit Leave campaign in 2016 - Andrew Parsons / i-Images Writing for Fox News in 2016, Mr Hilton announced his support for Donald Trump. The following year he went on to become a regular presenter on the Right-wing channel, hosting The Next Revolution. A staunch supporter of Mr Trump, Mr Hilton used his platform to demand an investigation into false claims the 2020 election was rigged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clips of Mr Hilton making the demands on Fox News were tweeted by Mr Trump. It is not clear who from the Democratic party will throw their hat into the ring to replace Mr Newsom as California governor, although Kamala Harris is said to be weighing her options following her defeat in the 2024 presidential race. As the wounded Democratic Party struggles to regroup, Mr Newsom, who is rumoured to be mulling a 2028 presidential campaign, has interviewed prominent conservatives on his new podcast, This is Gavin Newsom. In doing so, he has stunned members of his own party, by agreeing with his guests on issues such as restricting transgender athletes participation in womens in sports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Newsom also called dismantling police departments lunacy and remained silent when Steve Bannon, an architect of Donald Trumps 2016 campaign, said Mr Trump won the 2020 presidential election. 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. CONTENT WARNING: This article contains information about alleged child sexual abuse material. Report child pornography to law enforcement by contacting the ICAC Tip Line at (801) 281-1211 or your local law enforcement agency. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A former Boy Scout leader from Kearns, Utah, was arrested on more than 40 felony counts related to alleged sexual abuse that took place over more than a decade, according to Unified Police. Charles Sheldon Bates, 61, was arrested late Thursday night on 42 charges, including 20 counts of sodomy on a child, all first-degree felonies; 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, all first-degree felonies; and seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies; among other charges. The full list of charges is at the bottom of this article. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Substitute teacher, 81, arrested after being caught pleasuring himself during school hours According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Salt Lake County, seven CDs identified as Bates were provided to law enforcement officials. On those CDs, officials identified 134 photos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), also known as child pornography. Arrest documents included reports of alleged abuse from four male victims, who told officials they were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of the abuse. Two victims reported that Bates was their Boy Scout leader at the time of their abuse. One of the victims was identified as being in photos on one of Bates CDs, and told officials that he was 11 years old when the alleged abuse occurred in 2006. Another victim told police he was abused from 2007 until 2013, from the ages of 11 to 17. This victim identified himself in photos on Bates CDs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third victim was about 13 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, between 2007 and 2008, and reported that he would be at Bates house under the guise of working on and earning merit badges for the Boy Scouts, according to arrest documents. The fourth victim reported abuse between 2019 and 2020, when he was about 13 to 14 years old. All the victims reported that the incidents happened in several different places, including Bates prior home, his vehicle, or the family bathroom at a community pool. Bates was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on the following charges: Twenty counts of sodomy on a child, all first-degree felonies; Ten counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, all first-degree felonies; Seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies Four counts of sodomy/forcible sodomy, all first-degree felonies; One count of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Citronelle, Ala. (WKRG) We first met First Sergeant Steven Middleton three years ago as we presented a Golden Apple Award while he led his Citronelle High School JROTC students in training on the rappelling wall at Fort Whiting in Mobile. Mobile County crash victims families speak out on motorcycle safety Fast forward to April 3, as Middleton was being honored by his students and school, he was clearly a different man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Actually, it wasnt slow. I started noticing symptoms in July. In November I was diagnosed with ALS. I lost my ability to walk in December, said Middleton. Middleton said it was described as a particularly aggressive form of ALS- also known as Lou Gehrigs disease- a nervous system disorder that causes muscle weakness and paralysis. We took the opportunity to catch up with Middleton about his years of service, including more than two decades in the Army National Guard and then as a JROTC instructor. He told us, I had a good time. I enjoyed serving my country, I enjoyed serving the people of Alabama. But I think JROTC was better- I enjoyed that more because I got to influence young people. Not to join the military, but just to be better citizens. The disease took Middletons life just a few days after our interview. The timely ceremony where he was honored was bittersweet for those he worked with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lt. Col. Chevelle Thomas said, First Sergeant Middleton served Mobile County Public Schools JROTC program for 13 years. Thats over a decade, and thats a lot of time to make an impact on a lot of childrens lives. Citronelle High Principal Robert Bruister said, What an emotional day here on campus. We wanted to bring him back to show him we love him, we support him, and were going to fight with him. Middleton said if the disease hadnt caused his untimely retirement, he would have remained with the JROTC program. The kids have taught me stuff- probably just as much as I have taught them. Being around them kept you young, and I just enjoyed coming to work every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant live here anymore: Orange Beach property owner in four-year battle with rising water Our condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of First Sergeant Steven Middleton. Were proud to recognize him for Serving Those Who Serve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nearly 2 million California rooftop solar owners could lose the energy credits that help them cover what they spent to install the expensive climate-friendly systems under a proposed state bill. The bills author, Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), is a former executive at Southern California Edison and its parent company, Edison International. She says the credits that rooftop solar owners receive when they send unused electricity to the grid is raising the bills of customers who dont own the panels. Assembly Bill 942 would limit the current programs benefits to 10 years half the 20-year period the state had told the rooftop owners they would receive. The bill would also cancel the solar contracts if the home was sold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southern California Edison and the states two other big for-profit utilities have long tried to reduce the energy credits that incentivized Californians to invest in the solar panels. The rooftop solar systems have cut into the utilities' sales of electricity. The legislation, which applies to people who bought the systems before April 15, 2023, has outraged some Californians who invested tens of thousands to install the solar panels. Were just trying to reduce our carbon footprint and youre penalizing me for that? said David Rynerson, a Huntington Beach resident who spent $20,000 to install the panels. Thats just absurd. Until she was elected in 2020, Calderon spent 25 years at Southern California Edison and Edison International. Her last position was as a government affairs executive at Edison International, where she managed the utilitys political action committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: California officials push to cut energy credits to households with rooftop solar panels Calderon declined to be interviewed. In a statement, she said that she wasn't acting on behalf of the utility companies. I introduced this bill with one goal in mind: to help lower the cost of energy for Californians, she said. Calderon said if her bill was enacted it would reduce electric costs for customers who do not own the panels beginning in 2026. According to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks political spending, Southern California Edison and the other two big investor-owned utilities are among Calderons most generous corporate donors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the the company gave Calderon's campaign $11,000. Sempra, the parent company of San Diego Gas & Electric, also contributed $11,000, while Pacific Gas & Electric provided $8,000. Southern California Edison spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy said that the company supports rooftop solar but it also supports efforts to reduce the costs that have been shifted to customers who dont own the panels. She said the companys political contributions to elected officials are based on their shared interest in how best to safely serve SCE customers reliable and affordable energy. In her statement to The Times, Calderon said that political contributions have no bearing on any policy decisions I make. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Solar power glut boosts California electric bills. Other states reap the benefits Calderon is a member of a political dynasty that has held power in the blue-collar neighborhoods east of Los Angeles for four decades. She is married to Charles Calderon, a former state Assembly speaker and former state Senate majority leader. She was elected to the Assembly seat that had been held by her stepson Ian Calderon. Under Californias rooftop solar program, owners get a credit on their electric bills for the solar energy they produce but dont use. The credit is based on the current retail electric rates. The value of the credits has increased rapidly as the states Public Utilities Commission approved rate increases requested by the companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2022, the big utility companies successfully pressed the commission to slash financial incentives that rooftop solar owners could receive by about 75%, starting with those people purchasing the systems on April 15, 2023 or later. The commission left in place the program for owners who purchased the panels by that date. The agency says the value of the credits given to those owners is now a leading cause of the states rising electric bills a claim that has been disputed by the rooftop solar industry and dozens of environmental groups. In a February report to Gov. Gavin Newsom, the commission suggested reducing the number of years that rooftop solar owners can receive credits at the retail electric rate similar to what Calderons bill would do as a remedy for escalating power costs. California now has the countrys second-highest electric rates. The commission says the rooftop customers are not contributing their fair share of the costs to maintain the electrical grid, so the expense is shifted to those who dont own the panels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of environmental groups sent a letter this month to the chair of the Assembly Utilities & Energy Committee opposing Calderons bill and pointing out that the state has long said the solar contracts would last for 20 years, which is the expected useful life of the panels. The CPUCs new proposal, to break energy contracts mid-stream, would be patently unfair, the groups wrote. It would punish the very people who California encouraged to invest in solar energy. And it would gut consumer confidence and trust in government. The groups pointed out that when Californians bought the systems, they signed a state-mandated legal agreement with their utility that details in the terms that the customer is eligible to receive the credits for 20 years. Read more: Edison customers are paying more for fire prevention. So why are there more fires? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In California, under a policy known as decoupling, utilities dont make more money as customers use more energy. Instead they make most of their profit by building infrastructure, including poles, wires and the rest of the grid. In their letter, the environmental groups pointed to an analysis that economist Richard McCann performed for the rooftop solar industry that found that electric rates had risen as the utilities spent more on infrastructure. Even though homeowners solar panels helped keep demand for electricity flat for 20 years, the three utilities spending on transmission and distribution infrastructure had risen by 300%, McCann found. To address rising rates, California must focus on whats really wrong with our energy system: uncontrolled utility spending and record utility profits, the environmental groups wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A hearing on the bill is scheduled in the Assembly Utilities & Energy committee on April 30. Cherene Birkholz of Long Beach said that she and her husband spent $22,000 on panels for their home. The couple saw the solar panels, she said, as a way to control costs so they could stay in California after they retired. Birkholz said she believed the credits would continue for 20 years. The proposed legislation, she said, came as a shock. If I had known, I may not have made these decisions, she said. Dwight James of Simi Valley said that he spent $35,000 on solar panels in 2018 and another $40,000 on batteries to store the power in 2021. He said he financed the purchase with a 20-year loan and that he found it disturbing that the state would now back out of what it had promised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you follow the money, it gives you all the answers, James said. My thought is that this bill is a way for the utility companies to try to hold on a little bit longer and slow the adoption of solar. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SACRAMENTO, California Former Fox News host Steve Hilton announced on Monday he will run for California governor, seeking to become the states first Republican chief executive since Arnold Schwarzenegger, his campaign confirmed to POLITICO on Monday. Hilton, who also served as an adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, had long been considering a run and recently released a book criticizing what he sees as the failings of Californias Democratic leadership and offering policy prescriptions. He is the second major GOP candidate to enter the 2026 field, following Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. The Republican invoked former Vice President Kamala Harris who is considering a run for governor in his launch video. Its time to end the years of Democrat failure, Hilton says over an image of Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets make California an inspiration, again, the very best of America, Hilton said. Theres only one way to do that. Weve got to end the one-party rule that got us into this mess. Republicans have largely consolidated behind one of their partys candidates in Californias recent statewide elections, ensuring that one of their candidates emerges from the states jungle primary, in which the top two contenders, regardless of party, continue on to a run-off general election. Hiltons entry places him on a collision course with Bianco to win their partys favor by June of next year. Hiltons performance in the next few months will not only be a test of his support relative to Biancos but of the conservative movements momentum in California where Republicans have long been sidelined but enjoyed some electoral wins down the ballot in November. After growing up in Britain and working for the Conservative Party, Hilton moved to California in 2012. He has taught at Stanford University and founded the tech startup Crowdpac since moving to the states, and until 2023 hosted The Next Revolution on Fox News where has remained a contributor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hilton has also been a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and expressed deep admiration for former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in his campaign video. He has already filed paperwork to run for the office and has a public event in Huntington Beach a conservative Orange County city planned Tuesday. WASHINGTON An aide to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth published an op-ed Sunday in which he was highly critical of his former boss and suggested that President Donald Trump might soon remove him after weeks of turmoil, including leaked texts about airstrikes in Yemen and the abrupt firings of top officials. Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon, John Ullyot, who had been a top spokesman at the Defense Department before he left his job there last week, wrote on Politico. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership. President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his officials to account. Given that, its hard to see Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth remaining in his position for much longer. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks on before a luncheon with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Cabinet Room of the White House, in Washington, D.C., on April 17, 2025. The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ullyot, who worked in the first Trump administration, as well, also noted the firings of several top Pentagon officials in the last several days. On Friday, according to Ullyot, Hegseths chief of staff, Joe Kasper, was removed from his position following the firings of several other senior aides to Hegseth, including deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick and senior adviser Dan Caldwell, as well as the chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense, Colin Carroll. (Selnick, Caldwell and Carroll said in a statement Saturday: We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door.) In the aftermath [of the firings], Defense Department officials working for Hegseth tried to smear the aides anonymously to reporters, claiming they were fired for leaking sensitive information as part of an investigation ordered earlier this month, Ullyot wrote. Yet none of this is true. Ullyot said that he was not part of the purge and that he opted to leave the Pentagon when he turned down a position Hegseth had offered him. He described himself in the piece as loyal to Hegseth, but he also noted a series of unforced errors by his former boss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [E]ven strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: the last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon and its becoming a real problem for the administration, he wrote. The op-ed was published within hours of The New York Times reporting that Hegseth used his personal phone to send information about military operations in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife, his brother and his personal lawyer. Two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed the reporting to NBC News. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Larry LaRocco (left) represented Idaho's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995. Richard Stallings (right) represented Idaho's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House from 1984 to 1992. Former U.S. Reps. Richard Stallings and Larry LaRocco, both D-Idaho, will hold a bipartisan event titled Boise Town Hall on Accountability, the Economy, and the Future of American Democracy on Saturday. The event, which will be held from 2-4:30 p.m. in Downtown Boise at the Egyptian Theatre (700 W. Main St.), is the latest in a series of public forums held by the former Idaho congressmen. They have previously visited Nampa, McCall, Lewiston, Moscow, Post Falls and Idaho Falls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, along with Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, have refused to hold public town halls or explain their votes, a press release announcing the town hall said. In response, Stallings and LaRocco are doing the job Idahos current members of Congress wont: showing up, listening, and standing up for the people. Boise marks the next stop in this statewide effort to give Idahoans the voice their current leaders deny them. Stallings and LaRocco will be joined by former Republican Idaho Attorney General Jim Jones and former Republican Montana Gov. Marc Racicot. Together, these bipartisan voices will lead a discussion on the growing threats facing Idaho families, the economy, and American democracy and offer the public a chance to ask real questions and get real answers, the press release said. The town hall is sponsored by the Idaho Democratic Party, Idaho Women Forward and the Idaho Young Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event is free and open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to reserve tickets online. LaRocco represented Idahos 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995. Stallings represented Idahos 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House from 1984 to 1992. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A comprehensive analysis published in the Israeli daily Maariv underscores Azerbaijans growing strategic influence in the South Caucasus and beyond, highlighting its dynamic multi-vector foreign policy and deepening partnerships with both Israel and Turkiye. The articleauthored by political analyst Dr. Anat Hochberg-Maromemphasizes that Azerbaijan is emerging not only as an energy power, but also as a diplomatic, military, and geopolitical player in the region. Azerbaijan as a regional mediator One of the key takeaways of the analysis is Azerbaijans role as a bridge between Israel and Turkiye, two regional allies with a history of fluctuating relations. Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions with Iran, Azerbaijans mediation efforts are seen as both timely and beneficialstrengthening Bakus diplomatic profile while contributing to broader regional stability. President Ilham Aliyevs recent remarks on the need for de-escalation between Ankara and Tel Aviv, particularly in light of their diverging positions on Syria, reaffirm Bakus commitment to acting as a stabilizing force. The article notes that Azerbaijan played a similar role during the 2022 normalization phase between the two countries and stands ready to support a renewed reconciliation process. With Turkiye boosting its military presence in Syria and Israel viewing this as a growing concern, Bakus diplomatic mediation is considered crucial in preventing further escalation. Backing from Washington and international partners The Maariv article further notes that the United States, under President Donald Trump, has welcomed efforts to establish dialogue channels between Israel and Turkiye, viewing Azerbaijan as a credible and neutral facilitator. If successful, such initiatives could lay the foundation for a new axis of stability between Baku, Ankara, and Jerusalem, solidifying Azerbaijans strategic footprint in both the South Caucasus and the broader Eurasian landscape. Realpolitik and strategic balance Dr. Hochberg-Marom also draws attention to Azerbaijans carefully calibrated foreign policymarked by its historic and economic closeness to Turkiye and simultaneously strategic loyalty to Israel. In 2024, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkiye reached $6.13 billion, while Azerbaijans exports to Israel stood at $898 millionoutpacing total exports to all Arab states combined. Azerbaijans influence in Israels energy sector is also expanding: state oil company SOCAR holds a 10% stake in the Tamar gas field, further tying Baku into the Eastern Mediterranean energy network. On the defense front, Israel remains a key partner, supplying UAVs, radar systems, and advanced military technology to Azerbaijan. Between 2018 and 2022, 9% of Israels total defense exports were directed to Baku. Iran: a relationship marked by tension and pragmatism While the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran reached $580 million in 2024, the relationship remains fraught. The article points to Irans open support for Armenia and its antagonistic stance towards Israel as major friction points. Tensions were further aggravated by the recent foiling of an Iranian plot to assassinate the leader of Azerbaijans Jewish community. Strategic outlook: beyond energy Ultimately, Maariv concludes that Azerbaijan is no longer merely an energy supplierit is transforming into a regional power with diplomatic agility, economic strength, and geopolitical ambition. While it may not be able to resolve entrenched conflicts such as the Israeli-Palestinian issue or the deep divide between Turkiye and Israel, Baku is positioned to leverage these dynamics to its advantage. By deepening energy ties with Turkiye, enhancing technological and defense cooperation with Israel, and seeking closer strategic alignment with Washington, including interest in joining the Abraham Accords, Azerbaijan is steadily reinforcing its regional influence. As the article puts it: "Baku is no longer just the oil-rich capital of the Caucasusit is emerging as a key player shaping the future of Eurasia and the Middle East." Note: This article is a translated and adapted version of Dr. Anat Hochberg-Maroms original analysis published in Israels "Maariv" newspaper. Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. We are expanding our cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative. Significant progress has already been made in this direction, President Ilham Aliyev said in an exclusive interview with China's Xinhua news agency, Trend reports. ''Leveraging its advantageous geographical location, Azerbaijan continues to extensively develop international transport corridors, create modern infrastructure, and invest additional funds in increasing their capacity in response to the sharp increase in cargo traffic through our territory, '' the head of state noted. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A man who has worked as a Jehovahs Witnesses (JW) administrator for years, preaching door-to-door and on the streets in Charlotte, has been accused of sexually abusing a then-11-year-old boy in the 1990s, a lawsuit says. The alleged victim, Barry Davis, alleges that Joseph Fitzgerald Hall used his position as a JW leader to groom and sexually abuse Davis, beginning around 1990, when Davis was 11 and Hall was 25. The lawsuit, which was filed in New Orleans, Louisiana, claims Davis reported Halls abuse to JW church elders in 1998, which led to a judicial committee that led to Hall being disfellowshipped for 11 months before he was reinstated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit claims that Davis was also punished and alleges that the church told Davis to stay silent about the abuse to protect the churchs reputation. Davis, now 46, remained silent until he published a book detailing Halls abuse in 2019. By going public with his story, Davis says he hopes to prevent future abuse and raise awareness within the JW community. Its unfortunate that The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society doesnt care about the decades of trauma that Ive had to live with that was caused by one of their elders. Instead of attempting to right a wrong that happened, they would rather defend an admitted pedophile and blame this abuse on my deceased mother by implying that its her fault for allowing him to study the Bible with me. I would say shame on them, but clearly they have no shame! Davis said. Photo: Barry Davis, age 12/23 (Lamothe Law Firm, LLC) Recent photo of Barry Davis In a shocking video-recorded deposition from Hall, now 60, admits Daviss book speaks truthfully to a large degree. Hall testified under oath, saying hes guilty of having an inappropriate relationship with Davis when he was a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hall testified hes been involved in multiple JW congregations since 1998, primarily in Charlotte and New Orleans. As to whether he told those congregations hed been disfellowshipped previously for molesting a child, Hall pleaded the Fifth. When asked if his current congregation knew of the allegations, Hall again pleaded the Fifth. Hall is currently a member of a JW congregation in Charlotte and does about 10 hours of field service per week, going door-to-door or on street corners. When asked if his congregation explicitly bars him from doing field service with children, Hall said hes not aware of any such rule. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. As world leaders pay tribute to the late Pope Francis, former president Joe Biden adds his name to the growing list of those remembering the late pope. It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Biden wrote this morning. He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. Biden continued, For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased. As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the People's Pope - a light of faith, hope, and love. Vatican Pool - Getty Images That last line echoes what Biden has previously said; shortly before he left office in January, Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a young man, Jorge Bergoglio sought a career in science before faith led him to a life with the Jesuits. For decades, he served the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina. As Pope Francis, his mission of serving the poor has never ceased, the White House said in a statement at the time. A loving pastor, he joyfully answers childrens questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths. The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis is unlike any who came before. Above all, he is the Peoples Pope a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world. Biden last met with Pope Francis during the G7 Leaders Summit in Apulia, Italy in June 2024. During their meeting, according to the U.S. Embassy in Italy, Biden reaffirmed his deep appreciation for the Popes tireless advocacy for the poor and those suffering from persecution, the effects of climate change, and conflict around the world. You Might Also Like A Tesla engineer has accused Tesla of threatening her team with deportation after bringing up a brake safety issue with CEO Elon Musk in 2014. Balan was fired after informing Musk that she was worried floor carpets could curl up underneath the pedals in Model S vehicles, she says, in a major braking safety hazard. According to Balan, she was simply following Musk's orders to "talk to me" if staffers thought it was the "fastest way to solve a problem for the benefit of the whole company," according to an email he sent to all employees in 2013, as quoted by Electrek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of listening to her concerns, Balan says that a team of Tesla lawyers threatened to deport members of her team who were waiting on green card applications, if she didn't resign on the spot which she did, in protest. The members had stood behind her decision to raise flags over the floor carpet issue. The former engineer, who has been in remission for stage 3 breast cancer, called Musk a "monster" and "pure evil" in an interview with The Times of London, revealing that she's extending her already years-long legal battle against the mercurial CEO and his carmaker. It's yet another instance of Tesla employees becoming victims of Musk's infamously vindictive and unpredictable management style. Workers have had to deal with unsafe working conditions, long hours, rampant racism, mass layoffs, and retaliation from the upper ranks. Musk has garnered a reputation for firing employees who speak up. Case in point, last year, Musk sacked the company's 500-worker-strong Supercharger team, dumbfounding investors. According to staffers, the company's former head of EV charging, Rebecca Tinucci, had angered him during a one-on-one meeting shortly before the team was fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Balan has been caught up in the messy legal battle for over a decade now. After being fired, Tesla publicly accused her of embezzling company funds for a so-called "secret project," accusations she has repeatedly denied. The incident motivated her to sue Tesla for defamation in 2019. However, an arbitrator ruled in favor of the carmaker due to California's statute of limitations. Tesla then tried to confirm the arbitration ruling by bringing the case back to a district court in California. But Balan won an appeal against the decision last week, opening up new legal possibilities for her case. "We are hoping we will start a new lawsuit and we will have the chance to take on Elon Musk in front of a jury and judge," she told the BBC. It remains to be seen where the legal spat will land, and experts agree it will likely take time for the battle to reach its conclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To many of them, Tesla's vindictive behavior isn't anything new. "Tesla is among the many corporations that force employees and customers into opaque arbitration processes and deploy aggressive strategies to retaliate against employees who voice criticism of corporate practices," Stanford professor Anat Admati told the BBC. Balan's attorney, Bill Moran, has vowed to "revive" the case, saying in a statement that "we are confident we can secure her either a new arbitration or alternatively a trial in court so that her case can be heard on the merits after so many years." More on Tesla: Elon Musk Is in Huge Trouble Over Donald Trump's Tariffs By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Nadine Menendez, the wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted on Monday of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of bribes in exchange for her husband doing favors for Egypt and New Jersey businessmen. Nadine Menendez, 58, was found guilty on all 15 counts she faced, including bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent. She had pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendez will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan on June 12. Bob Menendez, a Democrat who represented New Jersey for 18-1/2 years, was sentenced in January to 11 years in prison. "Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez were partners in crime," acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said in a statement after the verdict. "Together, Nadine Menendez and the Senator placed their own interests and greed ahead of the interests of the citizens the Senator was elected to serve." The once powerful chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations had been convicted at trial last July for shepherding military aid to Egypt, providing assistance to Qatar and interfering in local prosecutions of businessmen in exchange for bribes including gold, cash and a Mercedes-Benz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendez resigned from the Senate the next month. Nadine Menendez was to be tried with her husband for her alleged role in his scheme, but her trial was postponed after her lawyers said she needed treatment for breast cancer. Prosecutors said New Jersey businessman Wael Hana arranged meetings between the senator and Egyptian officials, who pressed him to sign off on military aid. In return, the businessman put Nadine Menendez on the payroll of a company he controlled, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said Hana and Nadine Menendez communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to the senator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hana was convicted alongside Menendez and sentenced to just over eight years in prison. Another defendant, businessman Fred Daibes, was also convicted and received a seven-year prison sentence. Menendez was the first U.S. senator found guilty of acting as a foreign agent. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Dorothy Dot Wood attended college at a time in American society when many women sought higher education with aspirations to find a husband and get their MRS degree. While Wood did marry the love of her life, Jim, in 1959, she went on to break the glass ceiling and blazed a trail for women throughout Hampton Roads. A pioneering businesswoman and devoted community leader, Wood died on April 13 at the age of 87. The past First Citizen of Virginia Beach was integral to the establishment of the citys Meals on Wheels program and the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lisa Baehre, executive director of Sandler Center Foundation, described Wood as one of those people who would move metaphorical mountains to make sure things happened within the city. Wood had helped to raise the funds to build the Sandler Center. When she set her sights on something, she went after it, Baehre said. Her son Chris, who remembers accompanying his mother on some meal deliveries, said she was an absolute champion of the underdog. In 1974, she had co-founded Virginia Beach Meals on Wheels with Owen Pickett, the late former congressman. No one was beneath her. No one was above her, Chris Wood said. She just looked at everybody the same and cared so much about helping and connecting people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wood and her husband established their family home in Virginia Beach in 1965, and she remained fervently in love with her adopted city. A native of Alexandria, Dot Wood had attended Madison College, now known as James Madison University, to study home economics. While family was tightly woven into the fabric of everything she did she was a room mother, involved in PTA, a Cub Scout leader and later a doting great-grandmother Wood went on to weave so much more into her life. In 1978, she founded JD&W, a Virginia Beach-based commercial construction company, back when it was uncommon for women to lead companies, let alone in the predominantly male-run industry. Woods firstborn son, Jim, a former Virginia Beach City Council member and vice mayor, recalled his grandfather telling his mother to be careful about starting a company because she would take a job away from a man who needed it to support his family. When my mom first started in business, she went to the bank for loans and the banker would call my dad to make sure it was OK, Jim Wood said. It gives you an idea of how different things were back then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing deterred Dot Wood. Ever. She was always a very strong-willed, stubborn person, Jim Wood said, stressing it was in a good way. She was one of the first female members of the Virginia Beach Rotary Club and served as the service organizations first female president. More than 25 years ago, Wood helped start the Virginia chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women, and she continued to support, advocate for and act as a mentor for women in the industry. Lisa Murphy, a commercial real estate attorney with Willcox & Savage, spoke fondly of the mentor-turned-friend she spoke with every day. The two met through CREW more than 20 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it would be hard to find a woman in commercial real estate in Hampton Roads that didnt know Dot Wood and been helped by her in some way, Murphy said. She took everybody under her wing. Real estate developer Helen Dragas, president and CEO of the Dragas Cos., met Wood in the late 1990s when she was chair of the Virginia Beach Planning Commission. Dot played fairy godmother to us all, embodying guidance, hope and an abundant spirit, Dragas said. She rejoiced in any opportunity to help other women traverse the oft-lonely path she had single-handedly carved in a mans industry. Throughout the years, Wood garnered award after award, including First Citizen of Virginia Beach in 1999 by the Jaycees. She nominated Dragas for the same award 10 years later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her nomination was so humbling because she was such an inspirational civic servant-leader, Dragas said. She delighted in elevating other women. Dory Wilgus, president and CEO of US Flag and Signal Co., is thankful Wood helped her navigate her way through the construction of her manufacturing facility in Portsmouth years ago. Wood also helped her navigate city life, and Wilgus described Wood as her best friend of more than 40 years. If you ever had a problem, you always knew she had your back, Wilgus said. Virginia Beach Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson called Wood a pioneer: When women back then only had the opportunities to become a teacher, nurse or secretary, she carved her own career path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a lot of acquaintances, but she was my true friend, Wilson said. A mother to two sons, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Wood was predeceased by her husband of 63 years. A celebration of life will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St., Virginia Beach. Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com Col. Sheyla Baez Ramirez was suspended as garrison commander of Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, on April 18, according to a statement from the U.S. Army Reserve. This suspension is not related to any misconduct, Mondays statement reads. The Army Reserve has no further details to provide. Fort McCoy has an identical statement posted on its website. Baez Ramirez was suspended less than a week after the Defense Department said it would investigate photographs shared on social media that purportedly showed a leadership board at Fort McCoy that conspicuously did not have pictures of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. A chorus of unsourced social media accounts claimed the boards missing photos were intentional under Baez Ramirez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Army officials did not connect the missing photos to Baez Ramirezs removal, and such boards are ubiquitous on all military installations. They present a visual key to a units or ships chain of command, from the presidents role as commander-in-chief down to the ranking officials in the building or unit where the board is hung. A large base might have dozens or more similar displays throughout its buildings. However, in an earlier statement, Army Reserve officials appeared to confirm that Baez Ramirez had no role in the missing pictures and had taken steps to restore them. The Fort McCoy leadership team and the Army Reserve were unaware of the vandalism of the leadership board at a building at Fort McCoy, WI, the Army Reserve posted in an April 14 X post. Once it was brought to their attention, the leadership at Fort McCoy took immediate action to correct it. The Army Reserve also confirmed in an X post that an investigation had been launched to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Army Col. Sheyla Baez Ramirez was suspended as garrison commander of Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, on April 18, 2025. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol. When asked to clarify what it meant by the word vandalism, and if the public statement implied that Baez Ramirez ordered the pictures taken down from the leadership board or was aware they had been removed, an Army Reserve spokesperson reiterated that no further information is available at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Task & Purpose was unable to reach Baez Ramirez on Monday. News of her suspension was first reported by WKBT News 8 in Wisconsin. An official account run by the Secretary of Defenses office addressed the missing photos but offered no details on the incident. Regarding the Ft. McCoy Chain of Command wall controversy. WE FIXED IT! Also, an investigation has begun to figure out exactly what happened, wrote the Defense Departments Rapid Response X account on April 14 with a photo of the leadership board with missing pictures visible. Baez Ramirezs suspension from command is the second time this month that a senior commanders removal has allegedly been connected to an incomplete command board, only for officials to later downplay such speculation. Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in early April as U.S. representative to the NATO Military Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rumors and unconfirmed photographs of incomplete command boards under her purview almost immediately circulated on social media, but a U.S. official told Task & Purpose that Chatfields relief was not related to the photographs. The photo rumor is not true, the official said. The presidents photo is hanging as it is supposed to at NATO headquarters. Vice Adm. Shoshanna Chatfield was fired as the U.S. military representative to a NATO planning committee. Navy photo. Fort McCoy, located in Monroe County, Wisconsin, serves as a home for thousands of active-duty, reserve and Army National Guard soldiers. Units regularly go to the fort for large-scale exercises and for cold weather training. Baez Ramirez became Fort McCoys garrison commander on July 19, according to her official Army biography. She was commissioned as a military intelligence officer in 1999 through a Reserve Officers Training Corps program, and she went on to deploy to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Forge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She holds a bachelors degree in psychology/mental health from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey along with a masters degree in strategic studies from the Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Prior to arriving at Fort McCoy, Baez Ramirez served as chief, reserve program, United States Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Her other previous assignments include serving as chief of operations for U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; strategic planner for the chief of the Army Reserve/U.S. Army Reserve Command commanding general at Fort Bragg; and deputy commander of the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater) and the deputy chief of the Special United States Liaison Advisor Korea at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. The latest on Task & Purpose A group of House Democrats were denied a visit Monday with Kilmar Abrego Garcia during their trip to El Salvador to advocate for his release. The wrongfully deported Maryland father and Salvadoran immigrant remains imprisoned in his home country after he was moved out of the brutal Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, earlier this month. The trip to El Salvador by four House Democrats including Yassamin Ansari, Maxine Dexter, Maxwell Frost and Robert Garcia follows Senator Chris Van Hollens trip last week, when he met with Abrego Garcia for roughly one hour at a hotel before returning to the United States. Democratic Representatives Maxine Dexter and Robert Garcia speak at a press conference about their attempts to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Monday (REUTERS) Van Hollens brief meeting followed several unsuccessful attempts to speak with Abrego Garcia last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frost told reporters Monday that the group of Democrats Monday were denied a similar meeting, and have absolutely zero indication that Donald Trumps administration is going to facilitate or wants to facilitate Abrego Garcias release, despite orders from the Supreme Court and federal appellate and district judges to do just that. This isnt just about him, Frost said. The Constitution applies to all people in our country. Due process applies to all people in our country. Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador as a teenager in 2011 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. Images and descriptions of Van Hollens meeting with Abrego Garcia were the first accounts of his wellbeing since he was removed from the United States on March 15. He has spent more than a month inside El Salvador jails despite a court order from an immigration judge in 2019 that prevents his removal from the country for humanitarian reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administration officials have sought to justify his detention following his removal they admitted was due to an administrative error by publicly raising allegations of criminality, including membership in MS-13 and involvement in human trafficking. Critics have argued that the administration should return him to the United States and raise those claims in court to support his removal rather than deny him due process by summarily deporting him. Frost said Democrats who traveled to El Salvador are receiving hundreds and hundreds of calls from their constituents, which include large immigrant communities, to do something. After Van Hollen learned during his visit that Abrego Garcia was moved out of CECOT, the Trump administration wrote in court filings that he is now jailed in Centro Industrial in Santa Ana, where he has a room of his own with a bed and furniture and is not in a cell. We want to know where is he at now, what is his condition now, his family wants to know, the people want to know, Frost said. People should know were not the first here and were not the last members of Congress to be here in El Salvador Were going to fight like hell. Senator Chris Van Hollen briefly met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia during a trip to El Salvador last week after Salvadoran officials repeatedly denied a chance to speak with him (Senator Chris Van Hollen) Republican-led House committee chairs denied requests from Democrats to use official committee funds to send a congressional delegation to El Salvador. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer called the request absurd, and Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green said it would waste taxpayer dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money. But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested, Comer wrote. Democrats on the trip subsequently paid for travel using their own funds, they said. Several House Republicans, however, have recently visited El Salvador, including inside CECOT, condemned by human rights groups as a tropical gulag and concentration camp. A statement from Abrego Garcias family on Monday said they remain particularly concerned about Kilmar's health and hope to receive news about that from the visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their presence sends a powerful message: the fight to bring Kilmar home isnt over, they wrote. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court unanimously ordered the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador, noting that officials agreed sending him there was illegal. Last week, a three-judge federal appeals court panel in Washington, D.C., 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. Facilitate is an active verb, Ronald Reagan-appointed appellate judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote. It requires that steps be taken as the Supreme Court has made perfectly clear. Fox News host Will Cain inexplicably claimed Monday that he had never heard Donald Trump say he wanted to deport U.S. citizenseven though the president has now floated the idea several times. During an interview, Florida Representative Maxwell Frost spoke about the stakes of the Trump administrations removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man with no criminal record who was deported to El Salvador due to an administrative error, on thin allegations of gang membership. Its not just about him, its about the fact that in the Oval Office, Donald Trump brought up that he wants to do the same thing to homegrowns, homegrowns being U.S. citizens, Frost said. The Florida Democrat was referring to a disturbing remark Trump made last week during a press conference with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Cain said he couldnt remember, insisting he had never heard Trump say any such thing. Donald Trumps made a statement about wanting to deport American citizens? Do you have that in front of you? Ive not seen that statement, Cain said. Can you please quote where that comes from, that hed like to deport American citizens? He said it in the Oval Office; he said he wants to go for homegrowns next, people born and raised in the United States Frost said, before Cain interrupted him. Do you have anything? Do you have anything beside your word on that? Cain said. Ive not seen, Ive not seen that, so. Beyond your word, do you have a source of that? I would love to see that clip or that transcript of him saying he wants to deport American citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a clip online; I encourage people to just google Donald Trump homegrown, Frost said. Crucially, the instance Frost cited wasnt the first time Trump made a remark about deporting U.S. citizens to foreign prisons: The president had said in March that he loved the idea, and in February, he said hed deport U.S. citizens to El Salvador in a heartbeat. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the president was enthusiastic about the idea and was looking into legal pathways. Spoiler alert: There are none. During his meeting with Bukele, Trump had flat-out said that hed asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into the legality. So its a little less than plausible that Cain, who hosts his own show on Fox News every weekday, hasnt heard about the presidents pitch to deport U.S. citizens. Online, some theorized that Cain was simply attempting to demonstrate his aptitude for Defense, as the Pentagon may be preparing to undergo some reshuffling Screenshot of a tweet while others pointed out how ridiculous it was to pretend not to know about a story his own news agency covered. A Texas man was busted for trafficking vulnerable Mexican baby spider monkeys, who were too young to be separated from their mothers, into San Diego and selling them on Facebook. Sarmad Ghaled Dafar, 33, was recently sentenced to four months in custody and 180 days of home confinement for trafficking six of the young primates, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents uncovered his crimes in 2023 when they intercepted three baby Mexican spider monkeys that had been smuggled across the border in Calexico by someone working for him, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only is it illegal to own primates as pets in California, but its also especially frowned upon to possess baby spider monkeys. The species is endangered, and infants require constant, skilled care to survive. This crime ripped weeks-old baby monkeys from their mothers, disrupted fragile ecosystems, endangered a vulnerable species, and posed significant public health risks, said U.S. Atty. Adam Gordon in a statement Friday. Read more: A Rolls-Royce Ghost, a spider monkey in a onesie and weed: CHP makes an unusual stop After officials seized the three monkeys in August 2023, they searched the smuggler's phone and found messages indicating that he was bringing the animals across the border for Dafar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his plea agreement, Dafar admitted to coordinating the trafficking of baby spider monkeys, receiving them in the U.S. and arranging their sale. The three confiscated monkeys named Chrissy, Jack and Janet were temporarily quarantined at the San Diego Zoo. As part of his sentence, Dafar was ordered to pay more than $23,500 in restitution for the cost of their quarantine. The monkeys have since been permanently housed at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, alongside two other baby spider monkeys, named Frankee and Bucees, who were seized in a separate Southwest border smuggling case, prosecutors said. During the investigation, officials discovered Dafar previously smuggled and sold at least three other baby Mexican spider monkeys, in June 2022 and July 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their whereabouts are unknown. These three additional monkeys were not quarantined, which is required by law to prevent the spread of deadly diseases such as Ebola, Marburg and mpox from primates to humans, prosecutors said. This is not merely an economic crime; it is a severe and lasting injury to both wildlife and public safety," said Gordon. "Border security is not just about interdicting drugs and preventing illegal entries. It also involves protecting the public from dangerous diseases." The investigation indicated that Dafar intentionally trafficked baby spider monkeys, despite the risk of separating them from their mothers, because he believed they were easier to hide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a Facebook user sent Dafar a news article about spider monkeys seized by U.S. Border Patrol agents, he responded, "He stupid brin[g] to[o] many of them and all adults they make a lot noise and they active. Babys most be sleeping and small to hide," according to court documents. Read more: OnlyFans, trafficking and drug dealers: How a jaguar cub wound up in a California suburb Dafar messaged potential customers on Facebook and sent photos of baby spider monkeys in diapers and under a heat lamp, both signs indicating that the primates are too young to survive on their own, prosecutors said. Spider monkeys typically nurse for their first two years of life, and most will stay close to their mothers until they are 4 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their mothers are protective, and the entire troop will work together to defend the baby in the face of a threat, according to testimony from U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents. As a result, poachers will often kill the mother and troop when trying to capture babies. Genetic testing of Chrissy, Jack and Janet indicated that they all had separate mothers, meaning it is possible that poachers killed many monkeys to capture them. Dafar has been ordered to surrender on or before May 29, prosecutors said. 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. Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. I am glad that Azerbaijani-Chinese relations, based on ancient history and good traditions, are developing in an upward direction and our strategic partnership is enriched with new positive content, said President Ilham Aliyev in an exclusive interview with China's Xinhua, Trend reports. The head of state noted that, '' our active dialogue, mutual respect and trust, developed on the basis of personal meetings, telephone conversations and exchanges of letters, are playing a valuable role in deepening bilateral relations.'' VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church's teaching in areas such as the death penalty and nuclear weapons, upheld it in others such as abortion, and made inroads with Muslims and believers who long felt marginalized. Where Francis, who died on Monday, stood on key issues: Abortion Francis upheld church teaching opposing abortion and echoed his predecessors in saying that human life is sacred and must be defended. He described abortion, as well as euthanasia, as evidence of todays throwaway culture and likened abortion to hiring a hit man to resolve a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he didnt emphasize the churchs position to the extent his predecessors did, and said women who had abortions must be accompanied spiritually by the church. Francis also allowed ordinary priests not just bishops to absolve Catholic women who had intentionally terminated a pregnancy. He didnt approve of attempts by U.S. bishops to deny Holy Communion to President Joe Biden because of his abortion-rights stance, saying bishops should be pastors, not politicians. Abuse Francis' greatest scandal of his papacy was when he discredited Chilean sexual abuse victims by siding with a bishop whom they accused of complicity in the abuse. After realizing his error, he invited the victims to the Vatican and apologized in person. He then brought the entire Chilean bishops conference to Rome where he pressed them to resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his most significant move, Francis defrocked former U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick after a Vatican investigation determined he abused minors as well as adults. Francis later passed church laws abolishing the use of pontifical secrecy and establishing procedures to investigate bishops who abuse or cover up for predator priests. But he was dogged by some high-profile cases where he seemed to side with accused priests. Benedict In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI resigned in the first such papal retirement in 600 years, and Francis was elected to replace him. With Benedict living on the Vatican grounds until his 2022 death, Francis said it was like having a wise grandfather at home, part of his belief the elderly have a wealth of experience to offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was friction at times, however, including when Benedict co-authored a book strongly backing priestly celibacy at the precise moment Francis was considering an exception to resolve a clergy shortage in the Amazon. He praised Benedict for humility and courage by setting a precedent for retired popes, although after the German-born pontiff died, Francis said the papacy should be a job for life. Capitalism Some conservative U.S. commentators accused Francis of having Marxist sympathies, given his frequent denunciations of economic systems that idolize money over people and clear distaste for U.S.-style capitalism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He called for a universal basic income, dignified wages and working conditions, and said that while globalization had saved many from poverty, it has condemned many others to die of hunger because its a selective economic system. This economy kills, he said of globalization, defending his positions as those of the Gospel, not communism. Celibacy Francis upheld celibacy for Latin Rite priests even after bishops from the Amazon asked him to make an exception to allow married priests to address a shortage of clerics. Francis had long said the celibacy requirement could change, since it was not a matter of doctrine. But he said the debate was too politicized and that he didnt want to be the pope to take the step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China In 2018, Francis authorized a deal over bishop nominations in China to end a decades-long dispute and regularized the status of a half-dozen Chinese bishops who had been consecrated without papal consent. Details of the accord were never released, but his conservative critics bashed it as a sellout to communist China, while the Vatican defended it as the best deal it could get before Beijing closed the door entirely. Contraception Francis defended the churchs opposition to artificial contraception, but he also said Catholics need not breed like rabbits and should instead practice responsible parenthood through approved methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The church endorsed the Natural Family Planning method, which involves monitoring a womans cycle to avoid intercourse when she is ovulating. At the same time, Francis suggested in 2016 that women threatened with the Zika virus which was causing malformations in thousands of children at the time could use artificial contraception because avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil in light of epidemics. COVID-19 Like the rest of humanity, Francis was grounded during COVID-19, prevented from traveling, celebrating Mass in public or presiding over audiences. He repeatedly urged the world to use the pandemic as a wake-up call showing the need to reset priorities and policies in favor of the most vulnerable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis strongly supported vaccination campaigns and demanded the poor have priority. The Vaticans doctrine office said it was morally acceptable to be vaccinated, even with shots that used cell lines from aborted fetuses in research and production processes, putting Francis at odds with conservatives who refused the shots on moral grounds. Death penalty Francis went beyond his predecessors and changed Catholic teaching to state that the death penalty is inadmissible in all cases, regardless of the severity of the crime. Francis also called life in prison without parole a hidden death penalty and solitary confinement a form of torture, saying both should be abolished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Divorce Francis divided the church by issuing an opening to divorced and civilly married Catholics to receive Communion. Church teaching holds that, without a church-issued annulment declaring the initial marriage invalid, these Catholics are committing adultery and thus cannot receive the sacrament. Francis first made it easier to get an annulment. Then, he didnt create a blanket admission to the sacraments to these Catholics without one, but in a footnote to his 2016 encyclical The Joy of Love, he suggested bishops and priests could accompany such couples on a case-by-case basis. Environment Francis became the first pope to use scientific data in a major teaching document by calling global warming a largely human-caused problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his 2015 encyclical Praised Be, Francis denounced a structurally perverse world economic system that exploits the poor and risks turning the Earth into an immense pile of filth. A 2023 update singled out the U.S. for its emissions and warned the world was nearing a breaking point. He pressed the issue at a 2019 meeting of bishops from the Amazon and in his preaching on the coronavirus pandemic. While Francis pressed the ecological issue harder than his predecessors, many popes before him called for better care for Gods creation. Indigenous peoples Francis made sweeping apologies for the crimes against Indigenous peoples during the colonial and post-colonial conquest of the Americas. He apologized in Bolivia in 2015 and again during a penitential pilgrimage to Canada in 2022 for the churchs role in the forced assimilation of Indigenous children in church-run residential schools. The Vatican also formally repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery, theories backed by 15th century papal bulls, or charters, that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of lands and form the basis of some property laws today, even though it didnt rescind the bulls themselves. Francis also held up as a model economic system the Jesuit-run missions in Paraguay that brought Christianity and European-style education and economic organization to the natives in the 17th and 18th centuries. He canonized the 18th century missionary Junipero Serra during his 2015 trip to the U.S. over objections from some Native American groups who accused Serra of forced conversions, enslaving converts and helping wipe out Indigenous populations through disease. Islam Francis made significant progress in the Vaticans troubled relations with Islam by forging ties with Sunni and Shiite religious leaders and emphasizing a shared commitment to peace, solidarity and dialogue He signed a landmark document on the need for greater human fraternity with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the seat of Sunni learning in Cairo. He was the first pope to visit both the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, the birthplace of Abraham, a prophet important to Christians, Muslims and Jews. While in Iraq, he met with the countrys top Shiite cleric and a revered figure in the Shiite world, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Latin Mass In one of his most controversial moves, Francis reversed Benedict and reimposed restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass. Francis said he had to act because the spread of the so-called Tridentine Rite after Benedict relaxed restrictions in 2007 was becoming a source of division in the church. This outraged his traditionalist and conservative critics, who called the move an attack on them and the ancient rite. It fueled right-wing opposition to Francis that already was angered at his outreach to gays and divorced Catholics. LGBTQ+ Francis famously said, Who am I to judge? when asked in 2013 about a Vatican monsignor who was purportedly gay. Francis followed up by assuring gay people that God loves them as they are, that being homosexual is not a crime, and that everyone, everyone, everyone is welcome in the church. During his pontificate, the Vatican reversed itself and said transgender people could be baptized, serve as godparents and witnesses at weddings; and approved same-sex blessings. But while he met several times with members of the LGBTQ+ community, Francis didnt change church teaching stating that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he opposed efforts to legalize same-sex marriage and proposed, unsuccessfully, that the country approve civil unions instead. He articulated support for those Argentine civil union protections in a 2019 interview with Mexican broadcaster Televisa, making him the first pope to come out in favor of them. Migration Francis denounced the globalization of indifference shown to migrants and urged Europe and other countries to open their doors to those seeking better lives. His first trip outside Rome as pontiff in July 2013 was to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a key site in Europes migration crisis. In 2016, he brought a dozen Syrian refugees to Rome with him from a camp in Greece and repeated the gesture in 2021 while visiting Cyprus and Greece. We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery! he told European lawmakers. He also decried inhuman conditions facing migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2016, Francis said of then-candidate Donald Trump that anyone building a wall to keep migrants out is not a Christian. Nuclear weapons Francis went further than his predecessors -- and church teaching -- by saying that not only the use, but the mere possession of nuclear weapons was immoral." The church previously held that nuclear deterrence could be morally acceptable in the interim as long as it went toward mutual, verifiable disarmament. Vatican reform Francis was elected on a mandate for bureaucratic reform after centuries of waste, mismanagement and market crises put the Vaticans financial health at risk. He imposed regulations to bring order, transparency and modern accounting to the books, requiring competitive bidding procedures, caps on gifts, salary cuts for cardinals and the centralization of assets and investments in one office with a unified, ethical and green investment policy. He created a Secretariat for the Economy to supervise the Holy Sees finances, staffed mostly with lay experts, and he authorized a sweeping criminal trial into the Vaticans botched investment in a London real estate deal that resulted in losses of tens of millions of euros. Women Francis consistently called for a greater role for women in governing the church and made significant appointments and changes to church law to prove his point. He named an Italian nun as prefect of the Vatican office for religious orders and another Italian nun as head of the Vatican City State administration, two jobs previously held only by cardinals. He also named a French nun as an undersecretary in the Vatican Synod of Bishops office, giving her a vote in the previously all-male process and opened up the synod itself to voting women members. He named three women to the Vatican office that vets bishop appointments, a first. He appointed women to half the seats on the Vaticans economic council, appointed two study commissions into whether women could be ordained deacons, put Mary Magdalene on par with the male apostles by declaring a feast day for her, and formally allowed women to serve as lectors and acolytes, services previously open to them on an ad hoc basis. But he reaffirmed the all-male priesthood and ruled out, for now, ordaining women as deacons. Pope Francis, the Catholic Churchs first Latin American pontiff, has died, the Vatican announced on April 21, 2025. He was 88. Francis had served as pope for 12 eventful years, after being elected on March 13, 2013 after the surprise resignation of Benedict XVI. Prior to becoming pope, he was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, and was the first person from the Americas to be elected to the papacy. He was also the first pope to choose Francis as his name, thus honoring St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th-century mystic whose love for nature and the poor have inspired Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Pope Francis chose not to wear the elaborate clothing, like red shoes or silk vestments, associated with other popes. As a scholar of global Catholicism, however, I would argue that the changes Francis brought to the papacy were more than skin deep. He opened the church to the outside world in ways none of his predecessors had done before. Care for the marginalized Pope Francis reached out personally to the poor. For example, he turned a Vatican plaza into a refuge for the homeless, whom he called nobles of the street. The Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio, ordained for the Jesuits in 1969 at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel. Jesuit General Curia via Getty Images He washed the feet of migrants and prisoners during the traditional foot-washing ceremony on the Thursday before Easter. In an unprecedented act for a pope, he also washed the feet of non-Christians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He encouraged a more welcoming attitude toward gay and lesbian Catholics and invited transgender people to meet with him at the Vatican. On other contentious issues, Francis reaffirmed official Catholic positions. He labeled homosexual behavior a sin, although he also stated that it should not be considered a crime. Francis criticized gender theory for blurring differences between men and women. While he maintained the churchs position that all priests should be male, he made far-reaching changes that opened various leadership roles to women. Francis was the first pope to appoint a woman to head an administrative office at the Vatican. Also for the first time, women were included in the 70-member body that selects bishops and the 15-member council that oversees Vatican finances. He appointed an Italian nun, Sister Raffaella Petrini, as President of the Vatican City. Not shy of controversy Some of Francis positions led to opposition in some Catholic circles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One such issue was related to Francis embrace of religious diversity. Delivering an address at the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan in 2022, he said that members of the worlds different religions were children of the same heaven. While in Morocco, he spoke out against conversion as a mission, saying to the Catholic community that they should live in brotherhood with other faiths. To some of his critics, however, such statements undermined the unique truth of Christianity. During his tenure, the pope called for synodality, a more democratic approach to decision making. For example, synod meetings in November 2023 included laypeople and women as voting members. But the synod was resisted by some bishops who feared it would lessen the importance of priests as teachers and leaders. In a significant move that will influence the choosing of his successor, Pope Francis appointed more cardinals from the Global South. But not all Catholic leaders in the Global South followed his lead on doctrine. For example, African bishops publicly criticized Pope Francis December 2023 ruling that allowed blessings of individuals in same sex couples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His most controversial move was limiting the celebration of the Mass in the older form that uses Latin. This reversed a decision made by Benedict XVI that allowed the Latin Mass to be more widely practiced. Traditionalists argued that the Latin Mass was an important and beautiful part of the Catholic tradition. But Francis believed that it had divided Catholics into separate groups who worshiped differently. This concern for Catholic unity also led him to discipline two American critics of his reforms, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, and Cardinal Raymond Burke. Most significantly, Carlo Maria Vigano, the former Vatican ambassador, or nuncio, to the United States was excommunicated during Francis tenure for promoting schism. Recently, Pope Francis also criticized the Trump administrations efforts to deport migrants. In a letter to US Bishops, he recalled that Jesus, Mary and Joseph had been emigrants and refugees in Egypt. Pope Francis also argued that migrants who enter a country illegally should not be treated as criminals because they are in need and have dignity as human beings. Writings on the common good In his official papal letters, called encyclicals, Francis echoed his public actions by emphasizing the common good, or the rights and responsibilities necessary for human flourishing. Pope Francis washes the foot of a man during the foot-washing ritual at a refugee center outside of Rome on March 24, 2016. L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP His first encyclical in 2013, Lumen Fidei, or The Light of Faith, sets out to show how faith can unite people everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his next encyclical, Laudato Si, or Praise Be to You, Francis addressed the environmental crisis, including pollution and climate change. He also called attention to unequal distribution of wealth and called for an integral ecology that respects both human beings and the environment. His third encyclical in 2020, Fratelli Tutti, or Brothers All, criticized a throwaway culture that discards human beings, especially the poor, the unborn and the elderly. In a significant act for the head of the Catholic Church, Francis concluded by speaking of non-Catholics who have inspired him: Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu and Mahatma Gandhi. In his last encyclical, Dilexit Nos, or He Loved Us, he reflected on Gods Love through meditating on the symbol of the Sacred Heart that depicts flames of love coming from Jesus wounded heart that was pierced during the crucifixion. Francis also proclaimed a special year of mercy in 2015-16. The pope consistently argued for a culture of mercy that reflects the love of Jesus Christ, calling him the face of Gods mercy. A historic papacy Francis papacy has been historic. He embraced the marginalized in ways that no pope had done before. He not only deepened the Catholic Churchs commitment to the poor in its religious life but also expanded who is included in its decision making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope did have his critics who thought he went too far, too fast. And whether his reforms take root depends on his successor. Among many things, Francis will be remembered for how his pontificate represented a shift in power in the Catholic Church away from Western Europe to the Global South, where the majority of Catholics now live. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross Read more: Mathew Schmalz is Roman Catholic and a political independent. Pope Francis, the Catholic Church's first Latin American pontiff, has died, the Vatican announced Monday. He was 88. Francis had served as pope for 12 eventful years, after being elected on March 13, 2013, after the surprise resignation of Benedict XVI. Before becoming pope, he was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, and was the first person from the Americas to be elected to the papacy. He was also the first pope to choose Francis as his name, thus honoring St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th-century mystic whose love for nature and the poor have inspired Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Pope Francis chose not to wear the elaborate clothing, like red shoes or silk vestments, associated with other popes. As a scholar of global Catholicism, however, I would argue that the changes Francis brought to the papacy were more than skin deep. He opened the church to the outside world in ways none of his predecessors had done before. Care for the marginalized Pope Francis reached out personally to the poor. For example, he turned a Vatican plaza into a refuge for the homeless, whom he called "nobles of the street." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He washed the feet of migrants and prisoners during the traditional foot-washing ceremony on the Thursday before Easter. In an unprecedented act for a pope, he also washed the feet of non-Christians. He encouraged a more welcoming attitude toward gay and lesbian Catholics and invited transgender people to meet with him at the Vatican. Reaffirms Catholic positions On other contentious issues, Francis reaffirmed official Catholic positions. He labeled homosexual behavior a "sin," although he also stated that it should not be considered a crime. Francis criticized gender theory for "blurring" differences between men and women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he maintained the church's position that all priests should be male, he made far-reaching changes that opened various leadership roles to women. Francis was the first pope to appoint a woman to head an administrative office at the Vatican. Also for the first time, women were included in the 70-member body that selects bishops and the 15-member council that oversees Vatican finances. He appointed an Italian nun, Sister Raffaella Petrini, as president of the Vatican City. Not shy of controversy Some of Francis' positions led to opposition in some Catholic circles. One such issue was related to Francis' embrace of religious diversity. Delivering an address at the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan in 2022, he said that members of the world's different religions were "children of the same heaven." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in Morocco, he spoke out against conversion as a mission, saying to the Catholic community that they should live "in brotherhood with other faiths." To some of his critics, however, such statements undermined the unique truth of Christianity. During his tenure, the pope called for "synodality," a more democratic approach to decision making. For example, synod meetings in November 2023 included laypeople and women as voting members. But the synod was resisted by some bishops who feared it would lessen the importance of priests as teachers and leaders. In a significant move that will influence the choosing of his successor, Pope Francis appointed more cardinals from the Global South. But not all Catholic leaders in the Global South followed his lead on doctrine. For example, African bishops publicly criticized Pope Francis' December 2023 ruling that allowed blessings of individuals in same sex couples. His most controversial move was limiting the celebration of the mass in the older form that uses Latin. This reversed a decision by Benedict XVI that allowed the Latin Mass to be more widely practiced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traditionalists argued that the Latin Mass was an important -- and beautiful -- part of the Catholic tradition. But Francis believed that it had divided Catholics into separate groups who worshiped differently. This concern for Catholic unity also led him to discipline two American critics of his reforms, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, and Cardinal Raymond Burke. Most significantly, Carlo Maria Vigano, the former Vatican ambassador, or nuncio, to the United States was excommunicated during Francis' tenure for promoting "schism." Recently, Pope Francis also criticized the Trump administration's efforts to deport migrants. In a letter to US Bishops, he recalled that Jesus, Mary and Joseph had been emigrants and refugees in Egypt. Pope Francis also argued that migrants who enter a country illegally should not be treated as criminals because they are in need and have dignity as human beings. Writings on 'the common good' In his official papal letters, called encyclicals, Francis echoed his public actions by emphasizing the "common good," or the rights and responsibilities necessary for human flourishing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His first encyclical in 2013, Lumen Fidei, or The Light of Faith, sets out to show how faith can unite people everywhere. In his next encyclical, Laudato Si', or Praise Be to You, Francis addressed the environmental crisis, including pollution and climate change. He also called attention to unequal distribution of wealth and called for an "integral ecology" that respects both human beings and the environment. His third encyclical in 2020, Fratelli Tutti, or Brothers All, criticized a "throwaway culture" that discards human beings, especially the poor, the unborn and the elderly. In a significant act for the head of the Catholic Church, Francis concluded by speaking of non-Catholics who have inspired him: Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu and Mahatma Gandhi. In his last encyclical, Dilexit Nos, or He Loved Us, he reflected on God's Love through meditating on the symbol of the Sacred Heart that depicts flames of love coming from Jesus' wounded heart that was pierced during the crucifixion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis also proclaimed a special "year of mercy" in 2015-16. The pope consistently argued for a culture of mercy that reflects the love of Jesus Christ, calling him "the face of God's mercy." A historic papacy Francis' papacy has been historic. He embraced the marginalized in ways that no pope had done before. He not only deepened the Catholic Church's commitment to the poor in its religious life, but also expanded who is included in its decision making. The pope did have his critics who thought he went too far, too fast. And whether his reforms take root depends on his successor. Among many things, Francis will be remembered for how his pontificate represented a shift in power in the Catholic Church away from Western Europe to the Global South, where the majority of Catholics now live. Mathew Schmalz is a professor of religious studies at the , College of the Holy Cross. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who died on Monday aged 88, established many firsts during his 12-year leadership of the Catholic Church under the name of Pope Francis. He was the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit, and the first to be named after St Francis of Assisi, a medieval monk who lived in poverty and sought to rid the Catholic Church of corruption. He was also the first pontiff - at least in modern times - to face open calls for his resignation and accusations of heresy from disgruntled traditionalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis has faced multiple health challenges in recent years. At a young age, he had his right lung partially removed, making him particularly vulnerable to respiratory illnesses. He has been hospitalized several times for mainly lung-related conditions. His most recent hospital stay began on February 14 and lasted more than a month, when he was first diagnosed with bronchitis, then with a complicated respiratory ailment and finally with double pneumonia. When he was elected, on March 13, 2013, Francis quipped that he came "almost from the end of the world." Three days later, he said he wanted to lead "a poor church, for the poor." He took command at a time of deep crisis: his predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first pope to resign in almost 600 years, in the wake of the global clergy sex abuse scandal and the VatiLeaks affair which exposed alleged cronyism and infighting within the Vatican's walls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early in his papacy, Francis' unusually free remarks and unorthodox displays of humility made him immensely popular, particularly among those who were not usually close to the Catholic Church. The Argentine-born pope took up residence in a Vatican guest house rather than in a palatial apartment, shunned some of the most ornate papal garments, and picked an ordinary hatchback, rather than a limousine, as his official car. In July 2013, he famously said of homosexuals: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?" Months later, he made the front cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as his papacy progressed, Francis' popularity waned, as he proved to be less radical than some progressives had imagined him to be. At the same time, the pontiff faced a furious conservative backlash. Francis made "mercy" a key tenet of his papacy. He saw this as meaning that the Catholic Church had to focus less on the strict enforcement of its doctrine and more on reaching out to those who stray from it. This informed the 2016 papal document known as Amoris Laetitia, which eased a long-standing ban on Communion for remarried divorcees, much to the chagrin of traditionalists who felt it undermined Catholic dogma on the indissolubility of marriage. In their outraged response to Amoris Laetitia, arch-conservatives went so far as to accuse the pope of heresy. Opposition to Francis' relatively flexible pastoral approach was so strong that it fuelled talk of a schism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traditionalists often looked to the late Benedict XVI as an alternative source of papal authority. But apart from the occasional incident in which the retired German pontiff's remarks were seen as critical of his successor, the previous pope remained loyal. Francis said he had had a good relationship with Benedict, following the retired pope's death, which contradicted claims that there had been tension between the two in the nearly 10 years following Benedict's resignation. He lamented the idea that observers were attempting to drive a wedge between the two shortly after the pope emeritus' death at the end of 2022. "I believe that the death of Benedict has been instrumentalized," Francis said. Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936 to Italian immigrant parents, held strong views on social and environmental justice, earning him the "Marxist" sobriquet in US right-wing circles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He cried out against Mediterranean migrant deaths, called climate change deniers "stupid," and denounced US President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall along the Mexico border to stop migrants coming in as "not Christian." In terms of concrete reforms, however, Francis' legacy is mixed. Pope Francis was the first pope to appoint women to senior roles in the Vatican. In June 2022, he introduced reforms to allow lay people, and thus also women, to head dicasteries, which are like ministries in the Vatican. On the issue of whether women should be allowed to serve as deacons however, Francis did not budge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with Argentinian news website Infobae in March 2023, Francis declared his openness to revising the celibacy rule for priests, yet no concrete measures were pushed through during his tenure. Francis ignored demands for a rule change on both divisive issues coming from a 2019 summit of bishops from the Amazon region. Under his watch, limited progress was made in addressing the decades-old scandal of paedophile priests. New papal laws made it compulsory for clergy and leaders of international associations to report cases of abuse and cover-up to their church superior - although not to the police. Francis also struggled in his attempts to reorganize the Vatican's central bureaucracy, the Roman Curia, with delays in the drafting of a new Vatican constitution. As for the Vatican's finances, he only partially succeeded in making them more transparent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One notable misstep was his appointment of controversial Australian Cardinal George Pell as the Vatican's de-facto finance minister. Pell was forced to resign over allegations of child abuse that eventually earned him a conviction and a six-year jail sentence. That verdict was later overturned after he spent 400 days behind bars and Francis spoke out against the "injustice" the former cardinal had faced. The late pope led the Catholic Church through turbulent times, most notably during the coronavirus pandemic. Francis, who was known for going deep into crowds to be close to the people, was forced to keep his distance from his supporters for almost two years. He presented his usual public masses to a lonely St Peter's Square. The coronavirus pandemic also plunged the Vatican into financial troubles, leading Francis to cut the salaries of senior clergy and scrap rules that granted Vatican members free accommodation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On foreign policy, one of Francis' achievements was a landmark 2018 deal which ended decades of hostility between China and the Vatican. Some, however, criticized this as a sell-out to Beijing's communist regime. In 2016, in a wide-ranging interview with Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, Francis was asked how he would have liked to go down in history. He responded, "I have not thought about it, but I like it when someone remembers someone and says: 'He was a good guy, he did what he could, he was not so bad.' I would be happy with that." Pope Francis arrives to attending the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Danny Lawson/PA Wire/dpa Pope Francis, whose papacy blended tradition with pushes for inclusion and reform, died on April, 21, 2025 Easter Monday at the age of 88. Here we spotlight five stories from The Conversations archive about his roots, faith, leadership and legacy. 1. A Jesuit pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio became a pope of many firsts: the first modern pope from outside Europe, the first whose papal name honors St. Francis of Assisi, and the first Jesuit a Catholic religious order founded in the 16th century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those Jesuit roots shed light on Pope Francis approach to some of the worlds most pressing problems, argues Timothy Gabrielli, a theologian at the University of Dayton. Gabrielli highlights the Jesuits Spiritual Exercises, which prompt Catholics to deepen their relationship with God and carefully discern how to respond to problems. He argues that this spiritual pattern of looking beyond presenting problems to the deeper roots comes through in Francis writings, shaping the popes response to everything from climate change and inequality to clerical sex abuse. Read more: Francis is the first Jesuit pope here's how that has shaped his 10-year papacy 2. LGBTQ+ issues Early on in his papacy, Francis famously told an interviewer, If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge? Over the years, he has repeatedly called on Catholics to love LGBTQ+ people and spoken against laws that target them. An LGBTQ couple embrace after a pastoral worker blesses them at a Catholic church in Germany, in defiance of practices approved by Rome. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images But Francis inclusiveness is not actually radical, explains Steven Millies, a scholar at the Catholic Theological Union. His remarks generally correspond to what the church teaches and calls on Catholics to do, without changing doctrine such as that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather, Francis comments express what the Catholic Church says about human dignity, Millies writes. Francis is calling on Catholics to take note that they should be concerned about justice for all people. Read more: It shouldn't seem so surprising when the pope says being gay 'isn't a crime' a Catholic theologian explains 3. Asking forgiveness At times, Francis did something that was once unthinkable for a pope: He apologized. He was not the first pontiff to do so, however. Pope John Paul II declared a sweeping Day of Pardon in 2000, asking forgiveness for the churchs sins, and Pope Benedict XVI apologized to victims of sexual abuse. During Francis papacy, he acknowledged the churchs historic role in Canadas residential school system for Indigenous children and apologized for abuses in the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what does it mean for a pope to say, Im sorry? Members of the Assembly of First Nations perform in St. Peters Square at the Vatican on March 31, 2022, ahead of an Indigenous delegations meeting with Pope Francis. AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino Annie Selak, a theologian at Georgetown University, unpacks the history and significance of papal apologies, which can speak for the entire church, past and present. Often, she notes, statements skirt an actual admission of wrongdoing. Still, apologies do say something important, Selak writes. A pope apologizes both to the church and on behalf of the church to the world. These apologies are necessary starting points on the path to forgiveness and healing. Read more: Pope Francis apologized for the harm done to First Nations peoples, but what does a popes apology mean? 4. A church that listens Many popes convene meetings of the Synod of Bishops to advise the Vatican on church governance. But under Francis, these gatherings took on special meaning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Synod on Synodality was a multiyear, worldwide conversation where Catholics could share concerns and challenges with local church leaders, informing the topics synod participants would eventually discuss in Rome. Whats more, the synods voting members included not only bishops but lay Catholics a first for the church. Participants arrive for a vigil prayer led by Pope Francis and other religious leaders before the 2023 Synod of Bishops assembly. Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The process pictures the Catholic Church not as a top-down hierarchy but rather as an open conversation, writes University of Dayton religious studies scholar Daniel Speed Thompson one in which everyone in the church has a voice and listens to others voices. Read more: The worldwide consultations for the global synod reflect Pope Francis' efforts toward building a more inclusive Catholic Church 5. Global dance In 2024, University of Notre Dame professor David Lantigua had a cup of mate tea with some portenos, as people from Buenos Aires are known. They shared a surprising take on the Argentine pope: a theologian of the tango. Pope Francis drinks mate, the national beverage of Argentina, in St. Peters Square on his birthday on Dec. 17, 2014. Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images Francis does love the dance in 2014, thousands of Catholics tangoed in St. Peters Square to honor his birthday. But theres more to it, Lantigua explains. Francis vision for the church was based on relationships of trust and solidarity, like a pair of dance partners. And part of his task as pope was to tango with all the worlds Catholics, carefully navigating culture wars and an increasingly diverse church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis was less interested in ivory tower theology than the faith of people on the streets, where Argentinas beloved dance was born. Read more: At 88, Pope Francis dances the tango with the global Catholic Church amid its culture wars This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversations archives. Pope Francis The Pope knew how to die, trying right to the end to give as much of himself as he could. He was, quite literally, dying in public. Yesterday, he was driving around St Peters Square in his popemobile, blessing babies. He saw JD Vance to wish him a happy Easter. He visited a Roman prison on Maundy Thursday, apologising to prisoners that he couldnt wash their feet as he normally would, but explaining he wanted to be with them. In his Urbi et Orbi address on Easter Sunday read by a Cardinal he was on typical form, calling on Christians to use Easter to revive our trust in others, including those who are different from ourselves, who come from distant landsfor all of us are children of God. He called on political leaders not to yield to the logic of fear. If he has been anything, he has been a pope of peace who loathed war. And when he left the Gemelli hospital, where he almost died, he issued a reflection on hospitals, which was characteristically down to earth: A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are... This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people... You are waiting too much: Christmas, Friday, next year... when everything is perfect... Listen, perfection does not exist. A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here... Love more, forgive more..and leave the rest in the hands of the creator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That sounds, I suppose, like the secular reflection, that this life is not a dress rehearsal, except it goes back to an older tradition, of the vanity of passing things in the light of eternity. And he was very traditional in his fundamental theology, no matter how disruptive he was in respect of his style and the non-essentials. All of that was done by a dying man. He was visibly frail as he met JD Vance, and as he went round St Peters Square blessing the crowds. He brought dying literally into the public square, in all his weakness in voice and body. And that in itself was a message, that its not just in our health and strength and physical loveliness that we are valuable: we mean something even when were at the end of life. He hated assisted suicide; he did his best at the last to convey the sense that we matter even when we are losing our dignity. He was, of course, a controversial pope. But he really did get to parts of the Church and the culture where others didnt reach. He was less brilliant intellectually than his predecessor, Pope Benedict, but he had a humanising aspect which meant that he could convey the central message of Christianity by what he did as much as what he said. And in dying in public, while still trying to bless prisoners and babies, he showed, as did Christ, whom he loved, that its in weakness, not strength, that you conquer. Requiescat in pace, Francis. 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. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) On Easter Sunday in Frankfort, instead of the usual sounds of clinking of silverware coming from The Evergreen, the sound of classic hymns, like Christ the Lord Is Risen Today and He Lives, came spilling out of its doors. The cacophony of voices and instruments came from the congregation of First Baptist Church on St. Clair. First Baptist was one of many buildings in Frankfort damaged by the recent floods, so members turned to one of their own for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henry Clay High School student is selling golf balls for his prom date Were very much community-based. Its part of our fabric. So, when First Baptistour churchgot flooded, we really thought this would be perfect, said Amy Smith, owner of The Evergreen. This isnt the first time The Evergreen has helped out a church in need, though. Smith said the building provided a place to worship for Bridgeport Christian Church for eight months when it caught fire two years ago. Besides delicious southern food, The Evergreen is also a gathering place for things like bible studies and craft classes. It is also the site where many donations were collected for those impacted by the recent floods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First Baptists Easter Sunday Service marked the second week in a row the congregation held a service there, and they will be there for the foreseeable future. After the service, many people in attendance worked to clear out the church set-up to put tables and chairs back out, making it look like a restaurant again. A real labor of love for each other and their faith. Were called to love God and love our neighbors. And that is the fabric of our family. Thats the fabric of our business. And so, we love people. We just love people, Smith told FOX 56. And sometimes its hard as a small business owner to make that financially work, but as long as we can give, or a discount and still stay alive, were going to do it. For the congregation, though, it is not so much about where they worship so much as it is how they carry their faith with them wherever they go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Co-Pastor of First Baptist, Rev. Amanda Smith, said Thats our facility, our church is wherever our church comes together. And so thats been our benediction for years. First Baptist Church, go be the church, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God. So, we can do that anywhere. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: She said as the religious community celebrates Easter, it is easy to see the parallels between the message of the holiday and what the church is experiencing right now. Easter is the story of a death and resurrection. And I think this has been a story of, I dont know if I would say renewal, but its a story of overcoming a challenge for our church and finding a way to still be the church in this moment. And so, I definitely see the echoes of Easter in this work, said Rev. Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First Baptist does not yet have a firm date for when its doors will reopen for service, so for now, theyll call The Evergreen home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Several universities have agreed to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on undocumented immigrants, sparking fear among students who rely on visas. Under the agreement, local law enforcement, including campus officers, can interrogate students about their immigration status, arrest or detain them and share immigration status information with ICE. At least a dozen Florida colleges and universities alone have signed agreements with ICE under the 287(g) program, which allows local and state law enforcement agencies to enforce some aspects of federal immigration law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its scary and nerve-racking, an undergraduate student at Florida International University in Miami told NBC News. Several universities have agreed to corporate with ICE to quiz students about their immigration status. (REUTERS) Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida are just some of the schools that have signed 287(g) agreements with the administration That comes after Governor Ron DeSantis issued an additional memorandum directing Florida law enforcement agencies to enter into the agreement with ICE. Other schools could enter into the 287(g) agreements with ICE, especially under threats of having federal funding revoked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new partnerships arrive as immigration law enforcement officers have targeted students with temporary visas who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests or have minor infractions on their records. I could be next, a Georgetown University student with a visa, who has written articles about Israel and Gaza, told the BBC. The strict and quick implementation of the policy has rattled students who rely on their visa to stay in the U.S. for school. At least 600 students have had their visas revoked thus far, the Associated Press estimates. One University of Alabama doctoral student, who is also an Iranian citizen, was detained by ICE in March. When questioned about the reason for it, the Department of Homeland Security said he posed significant national security concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A graduate student at the University of Michigan had his visa revoked in March because he had a 2023 drunk driving infraction on his record. One student in Texas told the BBC he was afraid to leave his apartment, even to buy law groceries. Reid Seybolds voice shook as he recalled the texts he sent loved ones from the classroom where he barricaded himself, as a barrage of gunshots, screams and sirens turned his university from a picturesque Florida campus into a crime scene. I love you, he wrote to his boyfriend and family. I may never see you again. Evidence markers have since been cleared from the lawns and walkways of Florida State University, where shell casings were scattered when the son of a local sheriffs deputy allegedly gunned down victims, killing two people and injuring six others on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as students get ready to return to campus, where the echoes of the tragedy still linger, many fear its too soon. Classes resumed Monday, and the university is offering remote options and waiving mandatory attendance to allow students more time to process the tragedy, FSU President Richard McCullough announced Saturday night. Hours earlier, McCullough had initially said classes were to resume Monday, with students having the option to reach out to staff members if they didnt feel ready to do so. The announcement was met with outrage. More than 1,300 people signed a Change.org petition demanding the university allow students to attend classes remotely. A video from the president posted on Facebook was immediately flooded with comments from students, staff and parents slamming the decision to resume classes just days after the mass shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We as students feel that this is completely inappropriate and insensitive, Celina Westerberg, who organized the petition, wrote. Three days is not nearly enough time for anyone to process through what took place. This will cause extreme distress and likely panic attacks for manyWe were given a week off school for snow; we can accommodate to students who just nearly lost their lives, Westerberg wrote. Seybold said he shares the anger that followed the universitys announcement. As the days go by, he said its becoming harder to recount the details of the shooting. The three sleepless nights since the tragedy have haunted him, and he said he cant even begin to imagine returning to campus, let alone to the same building where he hid during the chaos. Seybold said he wasnt ready to go to class on Monday, and hes waiting to hear from his professor about what will happen with their classes for the rest of the week. Im afraid of a copycat, the possibility that somebody else comes on campus and does the same thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The senior political science major wonders how he will be able to focus in the classrooms where he hid from the gunman, without being overwhelmed by a flood of traumatic memories. The details are burned into my brain, and I dont even have to be in the room, he said. The night after, I slept for 30 minutes because it kept playing over and over in my head. Thousands of Florida State University students, staff, elected officials and others gathered on Langford Green for a vigil Friday. - Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat/USA Today Network/Imagn Images Extra security and support on campus Melina Myers, a computer science senior lecturer at FSU, said she appreciated the additional security seen across campus Monday. Police on every corner of campus it seems. Hard to look around and not see police presence. Thank you FSUPD, Myers posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legacy walk in front of the HCB building is normally bustling, Myers wrote Monday. But today, theres probably about 20% of the normal amount of students are walking to their next classes. All very quiet, and a very somber attitude. Everyone seems a little somber, but back to business, Myers told CNN. There are multiple pop ups of things like animal therapy which is nice for the students. FSUs president said the university understands students will cope in different ways. We want everyone to receive the support and help they need, McCullough said in the updated announcement. For some students that may mean not going back into the classroom. For others, the idea of community and gathering, as well as the opportunity to focus on academics, may be beneficial. There is no single right answer for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remote option is probable for many courses except for certain classes, like labs, in which case the instructors will coordinate additional options with students by Monday night, he said. Students: If you decide not to attend classes this week, we understand. The university has waived all mandatory attendance policies that affect your grade, McCulloughs statement read. Absences will be excused by the university. If you decide not to attend classes, please contact your instructor about how to complete any required coursework. Students who feel they cannot complete a course at this time will have the option to request an incomplete grade. The university president also instructed faculty members to update their gradebooks as soon as possible to provide students with the current grade they have in the course. And the student union, near where the shooting unfolded, is closed until further notice, according to a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to affect us for the rest of our life, Seybold said. We wont let this affect us to the point where we will be taken down, we are stronger than this, but its going to change us. Student describes how she played dead after being shot on campus For some students, the shooting left more than just emotional scars. Madison Askins, who spoke to CNN from her hospital bed on Monday, said she was walking to the student union with a friend when the gunshots rang out. I saw him with a gun, we both took off running and unfortunately I fell, Askins said. Thats when the alleged shooter, identified by authorities as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old student at the university, shot Askins in the buttock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 23-year-old graduate student said she heard the shooter reload his gun and say, Yeah, keep running. All I could think of in that moment was I just need to play dead, so I released all the muscles in my body, she recalled. I closed my eyes. I held my breath, and I took short breaths in between when I needed to. Askins says her parents, retired Marines, taught her how to handle crisis situations, which helped her stay calm throughout the incident. At one point, she wanted to call her dad to give her last I love yous, but resisted the urge and continued to play dead until police arrived. She heard the gunshots move farther and farther away and police officers eventually came to her aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Askins, who had been in the hospital since Thursday afternoon, was released on Monday. The bullet is still lodged in her vertebrae and surgery to remove it will likely take place in December as doctors wait for the surrounding area to heal. Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare received six patients following the shooting. Five have now been discharged, according to a Tuesday morning statement from the hospital. The remaining patient is in good condition, the hospital said in the statement. The alleged shooter was shot by university police and is also being treated at a hospital, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said Friday. Police said Monday that they had extended a 24-hour watch on the suspect through May, as he will need additional time in the hospital to recover. A search warrant was executed at the suspects residence on the day of the shooting. Askins, meanwhile, is slowly regaining the strength to walk again. She still plans on graduating next spring and said shes focused on moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not changing any plans for this mess, she said. He doesnt win, he doesnt get that. Many of her friends and peers chose not to return to classes this week as the community reels from the trauma of the shooting. Our campus is taking time to heal, but we are unconquered, Askins said. Mass shootings can have long-term impacts on mental health Several memorials of balloons, flower bouquets, candles and stuffed animals could be seen all around the universitys student union over the weekend, along with messages of support such as stay strong, and pleas for gun and mental health reform. Two white crosses with blue hearts were erected amid the memorial, carrying the victims names Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba and messages of love for them. This is Floridas sixth mass shooting this year and the 81st across the country, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It comes seven years after a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left 17 dead. This is a normal thing for us, but it shouldnt be, Seybold said. Two of his friends who survived the FSU shooting had survived school shootings before. This was already something that I thought of. Am I safe where I am at? But now Im doing it everywhere, Im looking over my shoulder at every point, everywhere Im at is a threat assessment now. The FSU presidents message also included resources for students and staff to access counseling and psychological services if they choose to. An urgent response to mental health issues arising in children and teens who survive a school shooting, or gun violence in general, is critical to preserving their future, according to mental health experts. Immediately following a school shooting, survivors who were in the direct vicinity of the attack such as in the classroom where it happened as well as students who were in the building at all may begin to exhibit signs of distress, experts say. Some experts have reported observing lasting impacts on students educational paths, from chronic absences to being more likely to repeat a grade. Along with early detection of the warning signs and appropriately responding to them by seeking professional help, mental health professionals say long-term support from family, schools and communities will play important roles in helping survivors and victims recover and manage their trauma. CNNs Holly Yan, Zoe Sottile, Ryan Young, and Devon Sayers contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Court hearings on the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Lyova Mnatsakanyan and others, who are accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of a war of aggression, acts of genocide, violation of the laws and customs of warfare, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, forcible retention of power and numerous other crimes as a result of Armenia's military aggression, continued on April 21, Trend reports. The hearings held at the Baku Military Court were presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and a panel consisting of Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). Each of the accused was provided with an interpreter into the language of their choice, as well as defense attorneys. Present at the hearings were the accused and their defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal successors and representatives, as well as prosecutors in charge of public prosecution. Judge Zeynal Aghayev explained the rights and obligations stipulated by the legislation to those of the victims who were participating in the hearings for the first time. During the hearings, the accused answered questions from prosecutors in charge of public prosecution in relation to the Khojaly genocide committed in the early hours of February 26, 1992 and deliberate extermination of innocent people for the sole reason that they were Azerbaijanis. In response to questions from Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, Vusal Aliyev, the accused Arkady Ghukasyan said that he had first learned about the events in Khojaly through official reports in February 1992. He said, We did not know the scale of the tragedy at that time. We knew that hundreds of Azerbaijanis had come to Khankendi from Khojaly. And they were later handed over to the other side. He emphasized that he condemned the killing of civilians and noted: This is unacceptable, one of the bloodiest pages of the war. Arkady Ghukasyan said that during the Khojaly genocide, the self-styled republic was led by Artur Mkrtchyan, while the military was led by Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan. He was nicknamed Commando and held various leadership positions in the Armenian armed forces. He added that the head of the newly formed self-defense forces was Serzh Sargsyan at the time. He further said, I am against all wars. But if this happens, the laws of war must be observed. While answering the questions of Head of the Department of Public Prosecution of the Prosecutor General's Office Nasir Bayramov, the accused Bako Sahakyan claimed that he did not have detailed information about the Khojaly events. Referring to the video materials and documents shown in court, he said, I did not know all these details. But this does not change my position. I condemn such events both then and now. The accused said that he had heard about the participation of the 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the former Soviet Army in the Khojaly genocide and that Seyran Ohanyan, who later became the Armenian minister of defense, served in that regiment. In response to questions from public prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, the accused David Ishkhaynan said that the images of the Khojaly genocide were evidence of barbarism. He said that he was a member of parliament of the so-called republic at the time of the events. In response to questions from public prosecutor Fuad Musayev, the accused David Babayan said that he was not involved in the Khojaly genocide and the occupation of Khojaly. He said that during the Khojaly events, those who wanted to resolve the issue by force achieved their goals. Various groups participated in this operation, he said. David Babayan also said that there was even a medal For the Liberation of Khojaly established in the so-called republic. He could not answer the question from a representative of the victims, If, as Armenia claims, there was a corridor for civilians to leave during the Khojaly genocide, why were they not allowed to leave, and as Arkady Guksayan said in court, hundreds of Azerbaijanis were taken to Khankendi? In response, he said, How can one justify what was done to children and civilians? This is barbarism. In response to questions from public prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, the accused Arayik Harutyunyan said that he considered the Khojaly events the greatest tragedy of the First Karabakh War. He claimed that there were no discussions about the Khojaly operation in the so-called republic. He said, For example, several books have been written about the Shusha operation. Therefore, we know who participated in it and how it happened. There were no discussions about the Khojaly operation. The key military leader at the time was Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan. The military operations in Khojaly were probably conducted on his instructions and consent. Arayik Harutyunyan said that in any case, it was an unforgivable tragedy. Then the court examined a report of the Memorial Human Rights Center on the mass violations of human rights committed during the occupation of the Khojaly settlement on February 25-26, 1992. The organization's report states that during the operation that resulted in the occupation of Khojaly by Armenian troops, mass killings of the population and violations of human rights on ethnic grounds were widespread. After the occupation of Khojaly by Armenian troops, the civilian population remaining there was deported. These actions were carried out in an organized manner, the document states. According to the document, the majority of the deported population was kept in Khankendi, which is a clear indication that the so-called republics authorities had an order to this effect. The mass killing of civilians cannot be justified under any circumstances. The Memorial Human Rights Center confirms that Armenia's actions against the civilian population in Karabakh during the attack on Khojaly represent a flagrant violation of Geneva Conventions, as well as relevant articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The next hearing is scheduled for April 24. We recall that a total of 15 Armenian nationals are being charged with numerous crimes involving direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, its state bodies, military forces and illegal armed formations, verbal and written instructions, orders and assignments, provision of material and technical support, central governance, as well as the exercise of rigorous control, with the aim of committing military aggression and acts of terror against the Republic of Azerbaijan in the territory of Azerbaijan in violation of domestic and international law, and involving Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Mushegi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan and others, including criminal acts committed during the course of the war of aggression waged by the aforementioned criminal group. The said persons, i.e. Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan, are being charged under Articles 100 (planning, preparing, initiating and waging a war of aggression), 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection), 103 (genocide), 105 (extermination of the population), 106 (enslaving), 107 (deportation or forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (enforced disappearance of people), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114 (mercenary service), 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict), 118 (military robbery), 120 (intentional murder), 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing terrorism), 218 (creation of a criminal association (organization)), 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation and possession of weapons, their components, ammunition, explosives and devices), 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security), 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure), 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279 (creation of armed formations and groups not provided for by law) and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) A senior at Florida State University left Tallahassee police a heartfelt note over the weekend, thanking them for risking their lives after a gunman opened fire on campus. The Tallahassee Police Department shared the note with the public Monday in a social media post that highlighted the impact of the students kind words. Gun case, empty magazines found on USF campus It reminded us why we do what we do, the police department wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers rushed to FSU on the morning of Thursday, April 17, after 911 calls started flooding in reporting an active shooter on campus. It took less than five minutes before police found the suspect and shot him after he refused their commands. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell called the response an extraordinary example of teamwork and professionalism is the face of a horrific event. Two food service workers, Tiru Chabba and Robert Morales, were killed, and six others were injured in the shooting. Many students described their immense grief and trauma in the aftermath. But amid the tragedy, one student wrote that the actions of law enforcement that day did not go unnoticed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you for risking your life on Thursday, April 17. As students at Florida State, we are so thankful for your bravery and courage. Your actions did not go unnoticed, the note provided to Tallahassee police read. We hope you enjoy these cookies as a small token for our eternal gratitude. It was signed Senior at FSU and left with a box of cookies. Police replied with their own message to the FSU community on Facebook. Its unimaginable what students, faculty, and staff experienced that day, the police department wrote. To the FSU community: Our hearts and prayers remain with you. Were HERE for you. We stand with you. 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 WFLA. April 21 (UPI) -- The Federal Trade Commission on Monday sued Uber, the largest ride-hailing service in the world, for "deceptive" billing and cancellation practices with its Uber One subscription service. The independent agency's lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging Uber Technologies violated the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act. The FTC Commission voted 2-0 to proceed with the lawsuit with Commissioner Mark R. Meador recusing, according to an FTC news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit does not involve the public company's regular per-trip service. Uber One customers receive no fee and discounts on service, including food delivery, for $9.99 month and "wrong promised savings of $25 a month," the FTC said in a news release. There is also a yearly fee of $96 a year and the service began in November 2021. "Americans are tired of getting signed up for unwanted subscriptions that seem impossible to cancel," FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a news release. "The Trump-Vance FTC is fighting back on behalf of the American people. Today, we're alleging that Uber not only deceived consumers about their subscriptions, but also made it unreasonably difficult for customers to cancel." The company, based in San Francisco, has "cancel anytime" marketing, the FTC said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 44-page complaint, the FTC said the company obscures material information about the subscription, including using small, grayed-out text. Also, customers say they were enrolled without their consent and charged before the free trial even ended. And to cancel they had to click through up to 23 screens and take 32 actions to cancel, the FTC alleges. "If a customer tries to proceed with cancellation, Uber can require them to say why they want to cancel, urge them to pause their membership or, if that failed, present them with offers to stay," the press release said. "Some users are told they have to contact customer support to cancel but are given no way to contact them; others claim that Uber charged them for another billing cycle after they requested cancellation and were waiting to hear back from customer support." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uber spokesperson Noah Edwardsen told CNBC that his company is confident they will prevail in courts. "Uber One's sign-up and cancellation processes are clear, simple, and follow the letter and spirit of the law," he said. "Uber does not sign up or charge consumers without their consent, and cancellations can now be done anytime in-app and take most people 20 seconds or less," the company said in a statement." Uber was founded in 2009, and contracts for services with an app. Also, there is an Uber Eats app for food deliveries. It operates in 70 countries and 70,000 cities, and has more than 150 million monthly active users, and 6 million active drivers and couriers. A convicted murderer who escaped custody in Southern California late last year and who is now accused of killing a Mexican police officer in an elite unit known as the Gringo Hunters was arrested last week in Tijuana, according to media reports. Cesar Hernandez, 35, a United States citizen, was convicted in June 2019 of killing a man outside of a Southeast Los Angeles bar and sentenced to 80 years to life with the possibility of parole. On Dec. 2, 2024, he escaped custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shortly before arriving at the Kern County Superior Courthouse in Delano where he was expected to enter a no-contest plea for manufacturing a weapon in his cell, a third strike that couldve resulted in him losing any chance of parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While CDCR officials would neither confirm nor deny it, there were some reports suggesting Hernandez used a makeshift key to shed his handcuffs and shackles during the drive to the courthouse. Cesar Hernandez seen in the custody of Mexican police after his arrest on April 17, 2025. (Fiscalia General Del Estado De Baja California) Video obtained by KGET shows a prison guard chasing after escaped murderer Cesar Hernandez on Dec. 2, 2024 in Delano. Hernandezs mug shot from the California Department of Corrections is included. Video obtained by KGET shows a prison guard chasing after escaped murderer Cesar Hernandez on Dec. 2, 2024 in Delano. Video obtained by KGET shows a prison guard chasing after escaped murderer Cesar Hernandez on Dec. 2, 2024 in Delano. Video obtained by KGET shows a prison guard chasing after escaped murderer Cesar Hernandez on Dec. 2, 2024 in Delano. If accurate, the claim answers a question posed by many after exclusive video obtained by KTLA sister station KGET showed the unshackled inmate easily outrunning a guard. Despite a significant manhunt, the 35-year-old made it all the way to Mexico. Dozens of trees hacked down by vandals in downtown Los Angeles On April 9, the Gringo Hunters, a Mexican police unit formed to cooperate with U.S. authorities in the apprehension of fugitives who cross the border, conducted an operation to capture Hernandez in the border town of Tijuana, Reuters reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allegedly dressed as a cleaner, the 35-year-old opened fire on the Mexican police unit, striking and killing 33-year-old Abigail Esparza Reyes, the commander of the unit, and was able to escape. A little more than a week later, on April 17, the 35-year-old fugitive killer was located and successfully arrested by Mexican authorities in Tijuana, the Los Angeles Times reported. Its unclear if Hernandez will face prosecution in Mexico, California or both. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Originally appeared on E! Online The Catholic Church has begun its first Conclave in over 10 years. Following the death of Pope Francis April 21, a papal election kicked off May 7. As detailed in the Academy Award-winning film Conclave, the College of Cardinalsor the highest rank of Catholic bishops from around the worldhave gathered at the Vatican to discuss the future needs of the Catholic Church and elect a new pope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to his passing at age 88, Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) had been battling respiratory problems and was initially admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome Feb. 14 to treat bronchitis, but was later diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. He was released from the hospital in late March after a five-week stay and made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday. The former pontiff had been elected in 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, who became the first pope in 600 years to willingly step down. Pope Francis tenure signified a new leaf for the Catholic church, embracing digital communicationhe was the first pope to write an op-ed for the New York Timesand expressing unprecedentedly open-minded views, even granting an approval for Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples in a 2023 document. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Francis views were considered revolutionary in the Catholic faith, he otherwise upheld its tradition. The late pope affirmed in an interview with the Associated Press in 2023 that while homosexuality is not a crime, in the Catholic church any sexual act outside of marriage is considered a sin. He added, Its also a sin to lack charity with one another. Francisborn in Argentina and made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001also took over the papacy just two years after the retranslation of the Roman Missal took effect, which signified minor changes to the Mass following the translation of ceremony from Latin to English in the 1960s. With Francis tragic death, comes a time for a new chapter in the Catholic Church. Keep reading for how the election of a new pope works Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images When does the election for the pope begin? In prior years, cardinals have begun to gather and vote for the new pope within 20 days of the formers death or resignation. Leading up to the actual election, a number of pre-Conclave meetings are held to organize and orchestrate the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Pope Francis' passing, it was announced that Cardinal Kevin Farrellthe Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Churchwould preside over a ceremony for the certification of his death and the placement of his body in his coffin. During this period, Farrell temporarily takes over church duties. Who chooses the new pope? The new pope is elected by a pool of cardinals, who are the highest chief officials in the Catholic Church after the pope himself. Cardinals are hand-selected by a pope and are typically already bishopswhich is the next highest rank above a priest and a deacon in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. (All bishops elected must have been a priest for at least five years, and all priests must be men above the age of 25 who have taken a vow of celibacy.) Only 120 cardinalsthere are currently about 200 worldwidewho are under the age of 80 are allowed to vote in a conclave, and the pool is known as the cardinal electors, who must take an oath of secrecy before participating in a pope election. Is Conclave an accurate depiction of how a pope is chosen? Conclavethe 2024 film starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgowis mostly accurate to how an election process for a new pope works, save for the dramatic aspects of the film. The process of the cardinals sequestering themselves in the Sistine Chapel and voting by a secret ballot does, indeed, take place during an actual conclave. Antonio Masiello/Getty Images What is the role of the black and white smoke in choosing a new pope? The fumata bianca, or white smoke signifies the successful election of a new pope. Each time a vote is taken, smoke rises from the Sistine Chapels chimney. If the vote is inconclusive and the verdict on a new pope has not been reached, the smoke is black. If a pope has been chosen, it is whiteand signifies that the new pope will soon present themselves to Vatican City. How long does the election of a pope take? A conclave will last until a singular candidate receives at least two-thirds of the vote from the pool of eligible cardinals, with a typical four ballots being cast each day. Pope Francis election lasted about 28 hours, or two days, before he was announced as Benedict XVIs successor. The longest conclave ever was held in 1268, which lasted 34 months. When was the last time a new pope was elected? The election of a new pope typically only occurs after the death of a previous pope. However, Pope Francis had been elected in extraordinary circumstances. In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI had resigned from the positionthe first to step down from the papacy since Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to do so voluntarily since Celestine V in 1294. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Benedictwho died in 2022 at the age of 95said in a statement regarding his resignation issued by the Vatican, Both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. Keep reading to see Pope Francis' final appearances. February 2025 In February, Pope Francis attended his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican. February 2025 Later that month, the Pope delivered his homily during a Mass on the Jubilee of The Armed Forces, Police and Security Personnel at St. Peter's Square. March 2025 After he was hospitalized for more than five weeks, the Pope gave a greeting from the balcony of the Gemelli hospital before being discharged. April 2025 Pope Francis greeted Cardinals at St. Peter's Square in a wheelchair at the end of Palm Sunday Mass on April 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 2025 Just hours before his passing, Pope Francis met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and delegation at Casa Santa Marta on Easter Sunday in Vatican City, Vatican. (Originally published April 21, 2025, at 3:47 a.m. PT) For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App The Trump administration is reportedly planning to revoke an additional $1 billion in federal funding from Harvard University, putting more pressure on the school to comply with the White Houses demands. Officials, including President Donald Trump, have grown frustrated with the Ivy League school for publicly pushing back on the administrations requests, already freezing $2 billion in federal funding and threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status. But they could further escalate tensions by freezing or revoking an additional $1 billion that the government provides through health research contracts, the Wall Street Journal reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a response from officials who have become furious with the school for publishing the letter of demands, which they believed were a confidential starting point for negotiations, according to the report. In the latest battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration, White House officials are reportedly planning to claw back another $1 billion in federal funding (Getty Images) Although Harvard has the largest endowment of any U.S. college, it receives most of its research funding from the government. The Independent has asked the White House for comment. The battle between the administration and the school is the latest in Trumps efforts to force higher education institutions to align with his policies, which include combating antisemitism on campuses and cooperating with federal immigration law enforcement officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter that administration officials sent to the university, the White House requested the school claw back the authority of students and faculty, cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security, get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion policies and more. It was a dramatic escalation after the administration simply said it was reviewing the approximately $9 billion in funding the government provides. Protesters have pushed back against the administrations attempts to exert more control over some of the top universities in the United States (EPA) Harvard responded by publishing the letter and said the Trump teams demands went beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration. It further ignited a heated public debate in which the Trump administration received blowback for trying to exert control over the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it also ended what were thought to be the beginning stages of talks between the school and the government. Some administration officials told the New York Times that the letter was sent without authorization. Now, its unclear if Harvard and the government can return back to talks and reach a an agreement to secure crucial federal funding while adopting some of the Trump administrations policies. Gale warnings are in effect for the Great Lakes for Monday, April 21, the National Weather Service said, as strong winds could create hazardous waves up to 10 feet. "Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions," the weather service said of Lake Michigan conditions. Gale warnings apply to most of Lake Michigan, the northern portion of Lake Huron and all of Saginaw Bay from Monday, April 21, into the morning of Tuesday, April 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Small craft advisories are in effect as well for those operating small boats, as strong winds will cause hazardous waves threatening damage. Lake Superior also has posted small craft advisories. All of Michigan is under a hazardous weather outlook. On lakes Michigan and Huron, winds are forecast to be 15 to 25 knots, with gusts stronger than 30 knots. The winds are predicted to create dangerous waves from 2-9 feet on Lake Michigan, and 4-10 feet in Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay. Here's more on the gale warnings and small craft advisories on Michigan's Great Lakes: How strong are predicted winds on Michigan's Great Lakes? Here's a look at the National Weather Service forecast: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lake Michigan : from St. Joseph up to Manistee, there is a small craft advisory with winds 15 to 25 knots, gusting to 30 knots, and waves 2 to 3 feet. The gale warning says to expect southwest winds 15 to 25 knots, with gusts up to 35 knots, and waves 5 to 8 feet. Southern Lake Michigan : including waters near Two Rivers and Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Manistee and Pentwater, there are gale warnings for 15- to 25-knot winds, with gusts up to 35 knots, and waves 6 to 9 feet. Northern third of Lake Michigan : from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, to Charlevoix, there is a gale warning for winds from 15 to 25 knots, with gusts up to 35 knots, and waves 5 to 8 feet. Lake Huron: from Alabaster to Bay Port, there are small craft advisories and gale warnings. For small boats, expect winds up to 17-22 knots, with gusts up to 30-32 knots, and 3- to 5-foot waves. The gale warning says to expect sustained winds up to 23 knots, with gusts up to 36 knots, and 4- to 5-foot waves. From the Mackinac Bridge to Presque Isle, there is a gale warning for winds up to 23 knots, with gusts up to 37 knots. The largest waves could reach 10 feet. What does a gale warning mean? The warning forecasts sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, in the range of 34 knots (39 mph) to 47 knots (54 mph), either predicted or occurring, and not directly associated with a tropical cyclone, the NWS glossary explains. A gale is an extratropical low or an area of sustained surface winds of 34 (39 mph) to 47 knots (54 mph), the glossary says. A gale watch calls for an increased risk of a gale force wind event for sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 34 knots (39 mph) to 47 knots (54 mph), but its occurrence, location and/or timing is uncertain. What is a knot in wind speed? Knots, typically used by aircraft and boats or ships, is a measure of speed. One knot is equal to about 1.15 mph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The term knot dates from the 17th century, when sailors measured the speed of their ship using a device called a common log. The common log was a rope with knots at regular intervals, attached to a piece of wood shaped like a slice of pie, according to NOAA. Mariners would lower the wood piece into the water and allow it to float freely behind the ship for a specific amount of time (often measured with an hourglass). When the time was up, they would count the knots between the ship and the piece of wood, and that number estimated their speed. What does a small craft advisory mean? According to the NWS, a small craft advisory is issued when there are expected sustained winds of 22 knots or frequent gusts of 25 knots or greater, or combined seas of 10 feet or more. Small crafts include owners of small to medium sized motor and sail boats, affecting fisherman, para-sailors, windsurfers and canoe paddlers. Is the Mackinac Bridge open? Yes, the Mackinac Bridge is open as of April 21, though a high wind warning has been issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mackinac Authority will update residents as wind speeds are monitored along the bridge. "Currently we are experiencing winds of sufficient force in the Straits area (20-34 mph) to issue a warning to all motorists preparing to cross the Mackinac Bridge," officials said. Pickup trucks with campers, motor homes, vehicles pulling trailers and enclosed semi-truck trailers and motorists are especially vulnerable to high winds. They are encouraged to reduce their speed to at most 20 mph, turn on their four way flashers and utilize the outside lane. What wind conditions result in warnings, escorts, partial closures and full closures? Here are the speeds that trigger different wind warnings and closures on the Mackinac Bridge: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 0-20 mph: No restrictions. Bridge speed limit is 45 mph. 20-35 mph: High wind advisory. High-profile vehicles (RVs, trailers, etc.) should travel no faster than 20 mph across the bridge. 35-50 mph: Escorts required. Any high-profile vehicles must wait to be escorted across the bridge. Escorts ensure that high-profile vehicles travel at speeds of less than 20 mph, depending on conditions. 50-65 mph: Partial closure. The bridge is closed to high-profile vehicles. Passenger vehicles that are not towing anything may cross but at no more than 20 mph. 65 mph and above: The bridge is closed to all traffic. Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Gale warnings for the Great Lakes. The weather forecast for Michigan By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ryan Cohen, the billionaire chief executive of GameStop, must face a lawsuit by the company once known as Bed Bath & Beyond to recoup $47.2 million of profit from trading its stock before the home goods retailer went bankrupt. U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan on Friday said Cohen and his RC Ventures must defend against a claim they bought and sold a more than 10% Bed Bath stake within six months, making them liable as insiders to repay "short-swing" profits. Cohen claimed he did not know his stake topped 10% when he invested in March 2022, because the retailer was quietly repurchasing its own stock. But the judge said Bed Bath had disclosed its buyback program, and it "strains credulity" that Cohen would invest so heavily without reviewing its disclosures to investors. Cohen abruptly sold his Bed Bath stake in August 2022, for an estimated $60 million profit. Lawyers for Cohen did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. The plaintiff's lawyer and GameStop did not immediately respond to similar requests. GameStop, the video game retailer, is not a defendant. Buchwald also dismissed a claim that the defendants were liable as "directors by deputization" because they had won three Bed Bath board seats in exchange for avoiding a proxy fight. Cohen became known as "meme king" to ordinary investors who drove the early 2021 meme stock craze, typically in online forums. He is worth $4.3 billion, according to Forbes magazine, and also founded online pet supplies retailer Chewy. Bed Bath filed for bankruptcy in April 2023. The online retailer Overstock.com later acquired its name and trademarks, and is known as Beyond. Last June, another judge dismissed a lawsuit by former Bed Bath shareholders over Cohen's profits, because the bankruptcy mooted their claims. The case is 20230930-DK-Butterfly-1 Inc v Cohen et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 24-05874. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Franklin Paul) United States District Judge Margaret Strickland swore in Ryan Ellison as United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico on April 18, 2025 (Courtesy U.S. Attorney's Office) The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico announced Friday U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondis appointment of Alamogordo native Ryan Ellison as the U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico. According to a news release, Ellison has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico in the Las Cruces Branch Office, most recently as supervisory assistant U.S. attorney of the Violent and General Crimes Section. In that capacity, a news release notes, Ellison prosecuted members of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang, with more than 175 SNM gang members and associates thus far charged with serious federal crimes, making the ongoing SNM prosecution the largest criminal case ever brought in the District of New Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of New Mexico in this role, Ellison said in a statement. For however long I serve as United States Attorney, my primary objective will be to keep New Mexicans safe through the vigorous enforcement of Federal law. Under my leadership, the United States Attorneys Office will do its part to stem the unlawful flow of people and drugs into our country. We will also not lose sight of our responsibility to combat violent crime, gang activity, child predators, and to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States civil interests. Together with our federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the United States Attorneys Office will work tirelessly to make New Mexico a safer place to live, work, raise a family, and run a business. And we will make New Mexico a far less attractive place to commit a crime. Ellison replaces Alexander M.M. Uballez, who stepped down in February, and said he did so at the request of President Donald Trump. The Yakima County Sheriffs Office says an 18-year-old died Sunday after someone shot him at a party. A post by the Garfield High School Parent Teacher Student Association on Facebook identified him as Salvador Junior Granillo, a senior at the school. According to the sheriffs office, the teen showed up at MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital around 2 a.m. with a gunshot wound. Deputies learned that someone shot him during a fight on South Keys Road. The teen died at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another loss of another precious person in our school community is devastating. Holding his family, friends and everyone who knew and loved Salvador in our hearts. Holding all GHS students, teachers, staff and families in our hearts too, the Garfield High School PTSA wrote on Facebook. A candlelight vigil for Granillo at was held on Monday afternoon outside of the high school. Just a few hours earlier, 21-year-old Israel Barriga Vargas from Yakima was arrested in connection with the shooting. On the request of Ms. Perez, GHS Spanish teacher and Granillo family friend: sharing heartbreaking news that Salvador... Posted by Garfield HS PTSA on Monday, April 21, 2025 Granillos girlfriend spoke with KIRO 7 and shared a few photos of him, and of them together: Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of his family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of family and friends Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of family and friends Photos of Salvador Junior Granillo, courtesy of family and friends There was no reason for him to do what he did. He was just trying to get to me. All he was trying to do was find me," she said. We had so many plans together, she continued. There was no favorite memory-- every memory with him was just the best. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. The next groups of former internally displaced persons are returning to the villages of Sarijaly in the Aghdam district and Ballija in the Khojaly district, Trend reports. The families, previously temporarily settled in hostels, sanatoriums, children's camps, unfinished and administrative buildings in various regions of the republic, left for their native lands from the Garadagh district of Baku on April 21. At this stage, 34 families (141 people) are returning to Sarijaly, and 21 families (83 people) to Ballija. The former IDPs returning to the native village thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation, and wished repose of the martyrs' souls. Currently, about 40,000 people live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Among them are former internally displaced persons who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, and specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions that have resumed their activities. GATES MILLS, Ohio (WJW) Gates Mills police arrested a man Sunday who was wanted on a homicide warrant out of Caguas, Puerto Rico. According to police, Jose A. Lock Rivera of Puerto Rico, was stopped on Sunday afternoon for a traffic violation. Shortly after the stop, police found he had an outstanding warrant. Escaped prisoner from Puerto Rico caught after 40 years in Florida Rivera was arrested without incident and transported to the CCSO, awaiting extradition., said Gates Mills Police Chief Gregg Minichello. Photo courtesy Gates Mills police A passenger in the vehicle, lived in Cleveland and took possession of the car, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. CAIRO (AP) The main Palestinian rescue service in Gaza on Monday condemned Israel's probe into the killings of 15 medical workers last month, calling it a fabricated investigation. The army announced the results of its investigation on Sunday, saying it had found professional failures and dismissing a deputy commander in what it described as an accident. A total of 15 people were killed in the March 23 incident including eight medics with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, six members of the Hamas government's Civil Defense unit and a United Nations staffer. Troops bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. U.N. and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the investigation underscores the occupation's persistence in shielding the truth from the world. It accused Israel of making fallacious allegations that medical rescue teams are part of Hamas and asked why Israel continues to detain a paramedic who survived the attack. We call on the international community to abstain from validating the results of the occupation's fabricated investigation, it said. Israel at first claimed the medics vehicles were acting suspiciously and did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire. But the army later backtracked after cellphone video recovered from one medic showed the ambulances had lights flashing and logos visible as they pulled up to help another ambulance that earlier came under fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military said six of those killed were Hamas militants, but has given little evidenced to support the claim. The shootings outraged many in the international community, with some calling the killings a war crime. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maya Gebeily CAIRO/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Members of Gaza's tiny Christian community said they were "heartbroken" on Monday at the death of Pope Francis, who campaigned for peace for the devastated enclave and spoke to them on the phone every evening throughout the war. Across the wider Middle East, Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian Christians, both Catholic and Orthodox, praised Francis' constant engagement with them as a source of solace at a time when their communities faced wars, disasters, hardship and persecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We lost a saint who taught us every day how to be brave, how to keep patient and stay strong. We lost a man who fought every day in every direction to protect this small herd of his," George Antone, 44, head of the emergency committee at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, told Reuters. Francis called the church hours after the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Antone said, the start of what the Vatican News Service would describe as a nightly routine throughout the war. He would make sure to speak not only to the priest but to everyone else in the room, Antone said. "We are heartbroken because of the death of Pope Francis, but we know that he is leaving behind a church that cares for us and that knows us by name - every single one of us," Antone said, referring to the Christians of Gaza who number in the hundreds. "He used to tell each one: I am with you, don't be afraid." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis phoned a final time on Saturday night, the pastor of the Holy Family parish, Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, told the Vatican News Service. "He said he was praying for us, he blessed us, and he thanked us for our prayers," Romanelli said. The next day, in his last public statement on Easter, Francis appealed for peace in Gaza, telling the warring parties to "call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace". 'PEACE IN THIS LAND' At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected, the superior of the Latin community, Father Stephane Milovitch, said Francis had stood for peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We wish that peace will finally come very soon in this land and we wish the next pope will be able to help to have peace in Jerusalem and in all the world," he said. In Lebanon, where a war between Israel and Hezbollah caused widespread casualties and extensive damage last year, sending millions from their homes, members of the Catholic Maronite community spoke of Francis' frequent mentions of their plight. "He's a saint for us because he carried Lebanon and the Middle East in his heart, especially in the last period of war," said a priest in the southern Lebanese town of Rmeish, which was badly damaged during Israel's military campaign last year. "We always felt he was very involved and he mobilised all the Catholic institutions and funds to help Lebanon throughout the crises that we went through," said Marie-Jo Dib, who works at a social foundation in Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was a rebel and I really pray that the next pope will be like him," she added. Francis made repeated trips to the Middle East, including to Iraq in 2021 where he learned that two suicide bombers had attempted to assassinate him in Mosul, a once cosmopolitan city where the Islamic State militant group proclaimed a caliphate from 2014-17. He visited the ruins of four destroyed churches there and launched an appeal for peace. In Syria, Archbishop Antiba Nicolas said he was holding mass at the historic Damascus Zaitoun church when he was handed a slip of paper with the news. "He used to say 'dearest Syria' every time he spoke of Syria. He called on all international organisations to support Syria, the Christian presence and the church in Syria during the crisis in the past years," Nicolas said. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Maya Gebeily in Beirut and Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Peter Graff) One of Germany's most senior Catholic figures, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, paid tribute to the deceased pope as a "tireless advocate for the weak and marginalized." "We will miss his constant reminder of social justice and the preservation of creation as our common home, as well as his impetus for synodal cooperation in the Church and for proclaiming the Gospel to all people," Woelki said on Monday after Pope Francis died at the age of 88. Shortly after his death was announced, St Peter's bell, the largest bell in Cologne Cathedral, rang out as a sign of mourning and sympathy. Pope Francis delivering a speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Yui Mok/PA Wire/dpa Pope Francis speaks during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo to view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Niall Carson/PA Wire/dpa One of Germanys top canon lawyers, Thomas Schuller, says he expects a "difficult" conclave following the death of Pope Francis. The meeting to elect a new pope will probably be a lengthy one, the expert from the University of Munster told dpa. "I believe it will be a longer, more complex conclave, because the group of electors is heterogeneous," he said. Many of the cardinals appointed by Francis in recent years, who come from all parts of the world, cannot be classified as belonging to particular factions or tendencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It will be exciting to see whether the reform-oriented group will prevail and agree on a candidate," Schuller said. "And, how should we view the free agents? Those from Mongolia, Timor or wherever the pope has appointed cardinals who are not at all familiar with Roman customs, but hopefully have the inner freedom to choose the one they consider best?" Schuller said the main achievement of the late pope was to break down the Catholic Churchs fixation on Europe and to lead the Church to the margins. "This can also be seen in the fact that all peoples and nations are now represented in the College of Cardinals." The extent to which Francis's focus on reform will endure beyond his death depends on who is elected as his successor, he said. "But let's put it this way: as we saw in 1989, once this spirit of freedom has been awakened, it cannot be pushed back into the tube. And Francis has empowered the faithful." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schuller noted that the first pope from South America was a pope who was critical of the most powerful. "He never liked the economic and theological elites. That was due to his conscious desire to follow Jesus: pastoral care belongs to the poorest and most disenfranchised." His successors will be judged by this standard, Schuller added. Catholic reformers in Germany are calling for the Church opening-up processes, initiated by Pope Francis, to continue after his death. "Over the past 12 years, Pope Francis has, against all opposition, especially within the Vatican, changed the Roman Catholic Church more fundamentally than many expected," the We Are The Church group announced in Munich on Monday. With the worldwide participation of the church grass-roots in synods and voting rights broadened to include not only bishops, Francis had initiated a "turning point in church history" that would hopefully prove irreversible, they said hours after the pontiff's death. "His reform course must be continued even more intensively by his successor and by all of us," the group said in its statement. Francis died on Easter Monday morning at the age of 88. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honoured the late Pope Francis as a "man of peace" in a letter of condolence issued shortly after the death of the pontiff. "In Francis, the world has lost a shining beacon of hope, an authentic advocate of humanity and a persuasive Christian," Steinmeier said in the letter published on Monday. "His modesty, his spontaneity and his humour, but above all his tangibly deep faith touched people all over the world - and gave them support, strength and orientation," Steinmeier said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He emphasized Francis' particular concern and love for the poor and marginalized, the displaced and refugees. "Many who felt forgotten felt heard, seen and understood by him." Catholics in Germany are mourning his death, as are many Protestant Christians in ecumenical solidarity, said Steinmeier. Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on College Green, as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Joe Giddens/PA Wire/dpa Pope Francis waves to the faithful in St Peter's Square in Rome after the historic canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Niall Carson/PA Wire/dpa BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. A proposal has been made to establish a Scientific Center for the Turkic World at Azerbaijan's Garabagh University as part of the Heydar Aliyev Scholarship Program, Trend reports. Zahid Oruj, Chairman of the Social Research Center and a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament, introduced the idea during an event highlighting the findings of the "Turkic Barometer 2024: Current Approaches to Education and Scientific Cooperation in Turkic States" sociological research project. Oruj outlined several ambitious plans for the region, including the creation of a Higher Music School dedicated to the Turkic World in the area known as the "Conservatory of the Caucasus." "On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the liberation of Karabakh, a project for the best library of the Turkic world could be realized, and flags of ancient and modern Turkic states could be raised in Khankendi," he added. Oruj stressed that coordinated scientific efforts and joint research initiatives between think tanks of Turkic nations could play a pivotal role in addressing global challenges and enhancing the influence of the Turkic world in shaping the new global order. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel German Chancellor Olaf Scholz honoured the pope on Monday shortly after his death. "With Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world have lost an advocate for the weak, a reconciler and a warm-hearted person," Scholz said in a post on X. "I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face. My sympathies go out to the faithful worldwide," the outgoing chancellor said. The pope died in the Vatican at the age of 88 soon after a long spell in hospital fighting a respiratory illness. A 25-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of multiple crimes, including DUI, Friday night after she drove away from a crime scene and crashed into a power pole. Thats according to Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, who posted about the arrest on social media. The woman was booked into jail about 10:20 p.m. Friday. Deputies had been dispatched to Old Highway 9 and James Road Southwest in the Rochester area after a report about a hit-and-run collision, Sanders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies learned that a group of gang members were out tagging a fence in the area; however, their getaway driver was intoxicated, Sanders said in his post. Their getaway driver crashed through said fence, ended up in someones front yard, then crashed through a second portion of the same fence to get back to the roadway. The taggers then got into the truck the woman was driving and tried to leave the area, but crashed into a power pole about 500 feet away, he said. The passengers then jumped out and ran off, leaving the driver behind, Sanders said. A preliminary breath test showed the woman had a blood alcohol level of .186, which is more than twice the states legal limit of .08. In addition to DUI, the woman was booked on suspicion of hit and run, felony malicious mischief and reckless driving. Oklahoma Catholic leaders shared statements about Pope Francis, who died on Monday. He was 88. The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City "We are saddened this Easter Monday to learn of the passing of Pope Francis, who has been called home to the Father's house. This ecclesial moment offers us the opportunity to consider the work of God in and through those He has called to serve Him and His people. Over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting upon the life and ministry of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul S. Coakley shares a laugh talks with Pope Francis in this undated photo. "From the first moments of his papacy, he sought to utilize prophetic gestures as a principal means of his universal pastoral ministry. Pope Francis was a shepherd for whom the Churchs witness to the world was at the forefront of his mind. His special pastoral concern for the marginalized, the disenfranchised and the excluded in society was always first and foremost when proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He charted the course of his papacy with the publication of his 2013 post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation called the 'Joy of the Gospel' (Evangelii Gaudium). He wrote about the need for a renewed proclamation of the Good News of Jesus incarnation, passion, death and resurrection. He called for this Kerygma to be at the center of the life and the witness of the Church. More: Pope Francis, 266th occupant of the throne of St. Peter, has died "There is a certain fittingness and poetic beauty that the Lord called his servant home during the Easter octave and Jubilee of hope. In a certain sense, Pope Francis began and ended his service of the Petrine Ministry with the theme of hope. We give thanks to almighty God for the gift of Pope Francis. We pray for the repose of his soul, and we pray for the universal Church in this time of transition. "With gratitude for his ministry, we bid our prayerful farewell to Pope Francis and commend him to the Lord. We now turn with great confidence to the Father and pray for the one whom He will choose to shepherd the Church as our next pope, the Vicar of Christ and Bishop of Rome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us." The Most Rev. David Konderla, bishop of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma "The light of faith: this is how the Churchs tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. These are the first words of 'Lumen Fidei,' the first Encyclical of Pope Francis at the beginning of his pontificate. "As a Jesuit priest, then bishop, then cardinal, and finally as our Holy Father these past 12 years, Pope Francis dedicated his life to inviting all to see and know Jesus Christ, the light of the world, the light of faith and the loving Savior. "His heroic service, well past the age most people retire and begin to rest, is a testament to his burning desire to make Jesus known, especially to those on the margins. Now, as we commend him to God, let us take up and continue the ministry of the Church: Spreading the good news that Jesus is Lord and loves and saves all who put their faith in him." U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City "Today, Oklahoma joins over a billion Catholics mourning the loss of Pope Francis. For twelve years, he led the Catholic Church, embodying Jesus' call to Matthew 'Follow me' a command he often reflected on throughout his pontificate. Sen. James Lankford speaks during an inauguration ceremony for Todd Lamb as the University of Central Oklahoma's president in Edmond, Okla., Friday, April 26, 2024. "I remember when he addressed Congress in 2015 and spoke about the need for empathy and the importance of working in the best interests of all people. May he rest in peace with the Lord." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Pope Francis dies at 88: Oklahoma leaders remember his message of hope House Ways and Means Education Committee Chair Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, asks a question as Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Chair Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, listens during a budget presentation to lawmakers on Feb. 5, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Garrett sponsored last year's CHOOSE Act, which gives families tax credits of $7,000 for each eligible child to be spent on nonpublic education. Orr recently increased funding for the program in the 2026 budget. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Our leaders call Alabamas effective voucher program the CHOOSE Act. Theres some grim irony in that. Of course, you can choose to pay for private school tuition, whatever your reasons may be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its not my choice. Or what the families of 730,000 Alabama students want. We pay taxes to support the teachers educating our children in public schools. And we want teachers and staff to have the resources they need to help students thrive. Yet our leaders plan to divert that money from classrooms into the pockets of wealthy families, in the form of $7,000 tax breaks. More if they have more than one kid enrolled in a private school. Yes, yes. Under this law, the credit could cover something besides a non-public academy. But considering that two-thirds of the initial applicants to the program are already in private school or homeschooled, its not hard to predict how the program will operate. You might also note current eligibility is limited to those making 300% of the poverty level. That sounds a lot more restrictive than it is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cap is almost $80,000 a year for a family of three and around $96,000 for a family of four. Alabamas median household income is $62,212 a year. So were already letting those making more than half the households in the state into the program. That mild regulation goes away in 2027. Which means the 1% will get in. And that you will be paying private school tuition for people who dont need the help. Thats not how one sells a voucher program. Instead, you preach choice to families and educators locked in a public education system built on discrimination. The CHOOSE Act will provide an opportunity for students to learn and thrive in an environment that best meets their needs, which could be a public school, said Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, the sponsor of the law, during House debate last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even U.S. Sen. Katie Britt gets into it, claiming that her own federal version of this is OK because your zip code shouldnt determine your opportunities. Nor should dead racists, the main reason why some zip codes have a lot more opportunity than others. But even if we accept Garrett and Britts premises, the CHOOSE Act isnt going to help poor kids. Seven thousand dollars wont get a student struggling with poverty to a private school. Not when the average private school tuition in Alabama is $8,298 a year. One gets an image of a person in an Armani suit walking into a cell block and proclaiming freedom to the inmates while holding a $7,000 check in one hand and a $8,298 key in the other. Freeing our schools from the prison of Jim Crow means trusting local communities with school funding; ending tax breaks to elite Alabamians that drain public services and spending money on students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CHOOSE Act sort of acknowledges that. Implicit in the law is the premise that any private school in Alabama is superior to any public school. Why? Because many private schools invest far more money in their students than the $13,461 per pupil our state does, a number that would be even lower without the 18% the federal government kicks in. Altamont in Birmingham charges over $30,000 a year for high school. Montgomery Academy asks for $19,000 for students in grades 10-12. Just think what we could achieve if Alabama spent $30,000 a year on a public school student. Or $24,000, which gets Massachusetts nation-leading results on standardized tests. Or $17,277, the average per-pupil spending in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CHOOSE Act has to nod at the fact that school spending works. But it also operates within the worldview of a state government that promotes private privilege over public welfare. Money can only go to people who already have it. Not the undeserving poor. And a lot of that money is about to head out the door. The 2026 education budget originally included $100 million to fund the CHOOSE Act. Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, the chair of the Senates education budget committee, increased that to $135 million due to overwhelming, large applicant numbers for the program. Expect that number to grow even more as the caps come off the program. Public school funding will suffer. Arizona in 2022 expanded an existing voucher program along the lines of what Alabama has just implemented. It proved far more expensive than they anticipated, and its contributed to budget problems in the state. That could happen here, and public school students will pay the price. The key to public school improvement is obvious: collecting more taxes from the wealthy who pay less to the state government in percentage terms than the poorest 20% and investing them in public education. Making the system better for everyone. But Alabama legislators have signaled theyd much rather assist children who dont need the help. The rest of us have no choice in that. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Church bells tolled across Rome, and tributes have been pouring in from around the world after the Vatican on Monday announced the death at age 88 of Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church since 2013. Francis made his last public appearance at St. Peters Square on Easter Sunday, after a prolonged hospitalization due to a respiratory issue that had developed into double pneumonia. Read More: How a New Pope Is Chosenand Who It Could Be Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before his death, Francis on Sunday also met briefly with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who is Catholic, at the Vatican. (Francis had previously criticized the Trump Administrations immigration policies.) Vance posted on X early Monday that he had just learned of the Popes passing, and he shared a link to a March 2020 homily that he said he would remember him by. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill, Vance noted. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. Buy a copy of the Pope Francis cover here A number of other global leaders also mourned Francis and honored his legacy in statements. Donald Trump The White House posted Rest in Peace, Pope Francis on X, alongside images of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump meeting with Francis in 2017 and Vances recent meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump later said he and the First Lady will attend Francis funeral, posting on his social media platform Truth Social: We look forward to being there! Read More: Biden Shared Grief With Pope Francis. Trump Harbored Grievances Toward Him Javier Milei President Javier Milei of Argentina, where Francis was originally from, posted on X, It is with profound sorrow that I learned this sad morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace. Born in Buenos Aires in 1936, Francis became the first Argentinian pope. But he never visited his homeland during his papacy, in part out of concern that he would face political pressures, although he raised the possibility of returning last year. I am worried because the people are suffering a lot. It is a difficult moment for the country, he said in an interview on an Italian program on Jan. 14, 2024. He met with Milei at the Vatican in February last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honor for me, Milei added in his tribute. Micheal Martin Micheal Martin, Irelands taoiseach, also issued a statement on social media to extend his condolences. Martin celebrated Francis long and distinguished papacy and unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace, and human dignity. He spoke out for the poor, the marginalised, and the oppressed. His solidarity with refugees, his calls for climate action, and his insistence on global peace and equality set him apart as a champion of justice in the modern world. Martin added that the late Pope holds a special place in the hearts of the Irish people, citing a visit to Ireland in August 2018, where Francis expressed pain and shame about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church. I had the honour of meeting Pope Francis in Dublin Castle during that visit and was impressed by his vision of a Catholic Church that is open, compassionate, and focused on the needs of the most vulnerable, Martin added. He shared with us his deep concern with the issues of social justice and human rights, and his profound commitment to alleviating suffering. Pope Francis's legacy is his message of peace, reconciliation, and solidarity that lives in the hearts of those he inspired. May he rest in peace, and may his memory continue to guide us as we strive to build a world that reflects his vision of love and compassion for all. Keir Starmer British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement, Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost the faith-fuelled hope of a better world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With his death, we are reminded once more of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs, Starmer added. King Charles King Charles also shared a message on X: His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. Emmanuel Macron From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite Humans with each other and with nature. May this hope perpetually rise beyond him, French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X. Roberta Metsola Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, posted on X: Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His contagious smile captured millions of peoples hearts across the globe. The Peoples Pope will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. Ursula von der Leyen Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, posted on X. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world. Friedrich Merz Francis will be remembered for his tireless commitment to the weakest in society, to justice and reconciliation. Humility and faith in Gods mercy guided him in this, Friedrich Merz, Germanys chancellor-in-waiting, posted on X in German. In doing so, the first Latin American to sit on the Holy See touched people worldwide, across denominational boundaries. My thoughts at this time are with the faithful around the world who have lost their Holy Father. Narendra Modi Narendra Modi, Indias Prime Minister, also posted a message on X, which included a photo of him and Francis together: Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Modi said, adding: I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in Gods embrace. Filippo Grandi Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, posted on X: You stood up and spoke outrelentlesslyfor the poor, the persecuted, the victims of war, the refugees, the migrants. May you continue to give us faith and courage in this brutal world. Volodymyr Zelensky Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X: Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Franciss passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church. He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis was outspoken in his stance against war and appeals for peace, including calling for ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza. In Ukraine, rivers of blood and tears are flowing. This is not just a military operation but a war which sows death, destruction and misery, he said on March 6, 2022 about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences on the Popes death on Monday, according to Reuters. Throughout the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See, Putin said. William Samoei Ruto Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto posted on X, This is a big loss to the Catholic faithful and the Christian world. Pope Francis will be remembered for a life dedicated to serving the Lord, the Church, and humanity. His strong ethical and moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. of the Philippines, a Catholic-majority country in Southeast Asia, told local reporters that Francis was one of a kind, adding: I love this Pope. The best Pope in my lifetime as far as Im concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an official statement posted on social media, Marcos said: A man of profound faith and humility, Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten. It is a profoundly sad day. James Marape Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea, where almost a third of the population is Catholic, extended his condolences. Pope Francis led with grace and courage, and his voice for the voiceless resonated around the world. His legacy will endure in the hearts of millions, including the people of Papua New Guinea, Marape said in a statement. Joseph Aoun President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon mourned Francis passing, calling the late pontiff a dear friend and staunch supporter of the crisis-hit country and his death a loss for all of humanity, in a post on X in Arabic. The late Pope always held Lebanon in his heart and prayers, and he repeatedly called on the world to support Lebanon in its ordeal, Aoun added. We will never forget his repeated calls to protect Lebanon and preserve its identity and diversity. Flags were flown at half-mast at Baabda Palace, the official presidential residence in honor of the Pope. Abiy Ahmed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia said in a statement on social media: I extend my deepest condolences on the passing of Pope Francis. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy of compassion, humility, and service to humanity continue to inspire generations to come. Fattah al-Sisi In a statement, Egypt President Fattah al-Sisi mourned Francis death and mentioned his support for Palestinians, saying: His departure leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of compassion and humanity that will forever remain etched in the conscience of mankind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: The Enduring Connection Between Pope Francis and a Parish in Gaza Giorgia Meloni Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her grief over the Popes passing in a post on X in Italian. I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering, Meloni said. In the meditations of the Via Crucis, he reminded us of the power of the gift, which makes everything flourish again and is capable of reconciling what in the eyes of man is irreconcilable. And he asked the world, once again, for the courage to change direction, to follow a path that does not destroy, but cultivates, repairs, protects. We will walk in this direction, to seek the path of peace, pursue the common good and build a more just and equitable society. His teaching and his legacy will not be lost. We greet the Holy Father with hearts full of sadness, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord. William Lai Ching-te My sincerest condolences on behalf of the people of Taiwan to the Catholic community and everyone mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, its President William Lai Ching-te posted on X. We will continue to draw inspiration from his lifelong commitment to peace, global solidarity, and caring for those in need. The Vatican is one of a few states to have full diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva posted on X in Portuguese after the Pope passed: humanity loses a voice of respect and acceptance of others. Pope Francis lived and propagated in his daily life the love, tolerance and solidarity that are the basis of Christian teachings. Anthony Albanese Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a statement shortly after the Francis death, saying: The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere was close to the people of Australia. For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and loving father. Jose Ramos-Horta Jose Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste, which is mostly made up of Catholics, told Reuters that Francis leaves behind a profound legacy of humanity, of justice, of human fraternity, a tremendous loss for the world, not only for Christians. Ramos-Horta added that national flags would be flown at half-mast for one week in honor of the late pontiff. Muhammad Yunus Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who is the interim leader of Bangladesh, said in a post on X that the people of Bangladesh, who were deeply honoured by His Holiness historic visit to our country in 2017, join the global community in mourning this great loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have been honoured to meet many times with Pope Francis and to work closely with him to foster peace, human dignity and environmental stewardship, Yunus added. With his passing away, we have seen the end of an epoch of dignified papacy, honed by suave leadership qualities, carried out for uplifting human dignity, interfaith harmony, and justice for the marginalized. Dalai Lama According to a post on Instagram, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, wrote to Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, to express his sadness over Francis death. His Holiness Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others, the Dalai Lama said, consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life. The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can. Claudia Sheinbaum Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the late pontiff in a post on X in Spanish, calling Francis a humanist who stood for the poor, peace, and equality. She added: He left behind a great legacy of true love for one's neighbor. For Catholics and non-Catholics alike, this is a great loss. Knowing him was a great honor and privilege. May he rest in peace. Viktor Orban Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted on X: We mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis @Pontifex - a shepherd who led with courage & unwavering faith. Twice, we had the honour of welcoming him to Hungary. His prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Hungary, still resonates: Instil into the hearts of people and the leaders of nations the desire to build peace. We will honour his legacy. May he rest in eternal peace. Isaac Herzog Israels President Isaac Herzog posted on X in Arabic: The late Pope Francis was a man of great faith and compassion, who dedicated his life to serving the poor around the world and advocating for peace in a complex and turbulent time. His Holiness understood the importance of deepening relations with the Jewish world and sought to promote interfaith dialogue as a means of achieving mutual understanding and respect. Gustavo Petro Colombia President Gustavo Petro posted on X that a great friend had passed away and that as a result he felt a little alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of Francis, Petro added: He fully understood his role as a spiritual leader in the great struggle for life, in the greedy causes of extinction. His encyclicals will go down in history if we are able to build a humanity that defends its greatest good: Life. Contact us at letters@time.com. LYON, France (AP) Church bells tolled in mourning. Well-wishers flocked into pews. Tributes to Pope Francis poured in from around the world on Monday after the Vatican announced the pontiff's death at age 88. The 266th pope was praised for his groundbreaking steps to honor the poor and the vulnerable; seek to end conflicts like those in the Middle East, Ukraine and Africa; protect the environment; and guide the Catholic Church toward greater tolerance of gays and lesbians, among other things. Some critics say he didn't always go far enough. Others said he went too far. Many recalled his legacy as the first pope from Latin America, and the first Jesuit to reach the pinnacle of church hierarchy, one who stressed humility over hubris for a Church beset with scandal and indifference and even as a soccer fan from futbol-crazed Argentina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's a look at some of the global reactions a day after his last public appearance on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St. Peters Square. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who met with the pope on Easter Sunday before traveling to India, wrote on social media that his heart goes out to the millions of Christians who loved him, and said: I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! King Charles III praised the pope for his work on safeguarding the planet, and alluded to their multiple personal meetings including a private visit on April 10 at the Vatican. We were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month, the King wrote in a statement signed Charles R. It was the popes first known meeting with a foreign dignitary after he was hospitalized for five weeks with double pneumonia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Church bells tolled in honor of Francis, from the recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to a lone bell at the St. Bartholomew Parish in Bulacan, in the Philippines, that was rung 88 times to signify the 88 fruitful years of our dear Pope Francis, the parish wrote on social media. The church was one of many in the Philippines, the largest Roman Catholic nation in Asia, to ring its bells to mourn the death of the pontiff, who in 2015 consoled survivors of Typhoon Haiyan and celebrated Mass before millions in Manila. Pope Francis showed us what it means to suffer with others and find hope in the midst of pain, said Manila Archbishop Jose Advincula, alluding to the devastation wreaked by Haiyan in 2013 that left more than 7,300 people dead or missing, flattened entire villages and displaced more than 5 million. Martin Pendergast, secretary of the LGBT Catholics Westminster in London, recalled how Francis looked past sexual orientation and said he wouldn't judge people who tried to carry out the will of God. "He was the first pope to actually use the word gay, so even the way he speaks has been a radical transformation and some would say a bit of a revolution as well -- compared with some of his predecessors, Pendergast said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Womens Ordination Conference lamented Francis unwillingness to push for the ordination of women. His repeated closed door policy on womens ordination was painfully incongruous with his otherwise pastoral nature, and for many, a betrayal of the synodal, listening church he championed, the conference said. This made him a complicated, frustrating and sometimes heart-breaking figure for many women. Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of U.S.-based group BishopAccountability, called Francis a beacon of hope to many desperate and marginalized people worldwide. But what we most needed from this pope was justice for the Churchs own wounded, the children and adults sexually abused by Catholic clergy. In this realm, where Francis had supreme power, he refused to make the necessary changes. This choice is having devastating consequences for the Churchs most powerless members. It will forever tarnish the legacy of this remarkable man. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, noted a recent letter from the pope to bishops in the United States alluding to our attempts to respond to the face of Christ in the migrant, poor, and unborn. In fact, he has always used the strongest and clearest expressions in the defense of the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death. Francis upheld church teaching opposing abortion and echoed his predecessors in saying that human life is sacred and must be defended. But he didnt emphasize the churchs position as much as they did, and said women who had abortions must be accompanied spiritually by the church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in the cyclone-battered Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, Frances poorest territory, said Pope Francis was at the sides of the most vulnerable, the most fragile, with a lot of humility, and in these times of war and instability, with a particular sense of the other, of the most fragile. Throughout his whole life he fought for more justice, throughout his whole life he fought for a certain idea of humanity, an idea of fraternal humanity. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, one of the few official visitors to see Francis during his recent hospitalization, alluded to the popes personal comfort and advice, saying it "never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering. She added: "We are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd. Flags were flown at half-staff on Monday across Italy and some top-level soccer matches were postponed. Argentine President Javier Milei, who had chilly relations with the pope, expressed sorrow. Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honor for me, the far-right president wrote on X. As a TV pundit and libertarian economist before assuming office in 2023, Milei had publicly insulted Pope Francis as representative of the evil one on Earth for his perceived sympathy toward left-wing leaders and causes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope's beloved soccer team Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo, whose nickname is The Saints wrote Goodbye, Holy Father and Our soul hurts on its website. The team won the national championship in 2013, the year he was elected pope. During a global conference on faith and sport in 2016, Francis implored leaders to do a better job of keeping corruption off the playing field and said sports must be protected from manipulations and commercial abuse. Taiwans President Lai Ching-te expressed condolences on social media and said people there would "continue to draw inspiration from his lifelong commitment to peace, global solidarity, and caring for those in need. The Holy See is among Taiwans only 12 remaining diplomatic allies while China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, has been poaching others. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa noted the pope's extraordinary life story and said Pope Francis advanced a world view of inclusion, equality and care for marginalized individuals and groups, as well as responsible and sustainable custody of the natural environment. Africa has seen some of the Catholic Church's biggest growth in recent years. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recalled the pontiff as an inspiration for the entire world, not just Christians. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate, she said on social media. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli President Issac Herzog, whose role is mostly ceremonial, called Francis a man of deep faith and boundless compassion. Francis repeatedly criticized Israels wartime conduct in Gaza and said allegations of genocide, which Israel has adamantly denied, should be investigated. I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered, Herzog said on social media. The Palestine Red Crescent offered condolences to Christians, calling the pope one of the most prominent supporters of justice and human dignity, including his noble stances regarding the suffering of the Palestinian people and their right to freedom and justice." In Gaza, Suheil Abu Dawoud, a 19-year-old Christian, recalled how Francis opposed the war in Gaza, called for peace between Palestinians and Israelis and had asked us to be strong. The pope used his final Easter Sunday message to lament growing antisemitism, call for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, appeal to the fighting sides to reach a ceasefire, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace! President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria recalled how the pope traveled to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a key landing point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, to meet with refugees and commemorate those who died while trying to cross the Mediterranean. The Austrian leader said on social media that the pope's impact resonated in ways large and small: He ensured that homeless people near St. Peters Square could shower. He criticized dehumanizing words and gestures. That was Pope Francis." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Vladimir Putin of Russia hailed the pope as a consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice. Last year, Francis suggested Ukraine should try to negotiate an end to the war with Russia. Critics said those comments suggested the pope was siding with Russia. Francis tried to maintain the Vaticans traditional diplomatic neutrality, but that was often accompanied by apparent sympathy with Russia's rationale for invading Ukraine as when he said NATO was barking at Russias door with its eastward expansion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X that his war-torn country grieved together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support: He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. Eternal memory! Dutch King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima, who like the pope was born in Argentina, recalled their personal audience with the pope at the Holy See in 2017 and how Pope Francis radiated mercy in everything he did. With his deep-rooted faith in Gods love, he was the embodiment of benevolence and humanity. They called him a committed guardian of the listening and loving Church, and as a result he succeeded in winning the hearts of many, both within the Roman Catholic Church and outside it. The Dalai Lama honored the pope in a letter to the Most Rev. Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, saying Francis dedicated himself to the service of others, consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life." "The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can, the Tibetan spiritual leader wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former U.S. President Joe Biden, who regularly attends Mass, on X called Francis the People's Pope and wrote: I am better for having known him." ___ AP journalists from around the world contributed to this report. (KRON) Multiple GoFundMe pages are accepting donations to help the families affected by the Marin County crash, which tragically killed four Archie Williams High School students and left two others seriously injured on April 18. KRON has verified accounts set up for five of the victims, though more legitimate GoFundMe pages may exist. Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims involved in Fridays crash. Community members at Saturdays vigil told KRON4 that five of the crash victims were sophomores at the San Anselmo school. One was a freshman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GoFundMe pages provide more information on the lives lost in the crash. Olive was only 14 years old, one of the GoFundMe pages reads. Her life was tragically taken along with the others in a horrific car accident in West Marin. Olive was a bright light in everyones life. She always had a smile. She had a wonderful appetite for food and for life. She was kind, she was beautiful, she was smart and sassy, and a faithful friend. She loved her family, friends, and pets. She was also loved by so many around her. Her time was way too short here. The pages have collectively raised more than $150,000 as of Sunday night. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and support youve shown already, one page reads. Many have left flowers, food and treasured words of kindness. All forms of support are welcome and mean the world to the entire family. Our love goes out to all involved and we are grateful to be a part of this incredible community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Catholics throughout Ohio and the world are mourning the death of Pope Francis, historys first Latin Pontiff. The Vatican announced his passing early Monday morning at 88 years old. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We will have the latest developments out of Vatican City today on News Center 7 at Noon and 5:00. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, state and national leaders released statements following the news that Pope Francis had died. Vice President J.D. Vance met with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. He said on social media that his heart goes out to Christians all over the world. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Vice President met with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday in Vatican City. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025 The Archdiocese of Cincinnati released a statement early Monday. They said they are praying for the soul of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Today, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati join Catholics and all people of faith around the world in praying for the soul of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati mourns his recent death. Archbishop of Cincinnati Robert G. Casey called Pope Francis a good and faithful servant to God. As we commend a good and faithful servant to God, let us remember that Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope awakening us to Christ, who is alive and present in our midst. In the words of the Psalmist: Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart, and hope in the Lord! (Psalm 27:14). May we, then, be filled with hope hope that Pope Francis will receive the reward of a life poured out in selfless service and love for Gods people and all creation; hope that Christ, who comforts us in our mourning, will send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper; and hope that this same Spirit will inspire and unite us as the Church to stand firm in faith, proclaiming the power of the Resurrection and the joy of the Gospel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archbishop Emeritus of Cincinnati Dennis M. Schnurr said Pope Francis will be remembered for his compassion. Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of our beloved Pope Francis, who was Vicar of Christ, the successor of St. Peter, and a faithful shepherd of Christs Church. The Holy Father will long be remembered for his great compassion for the elderly, the sick, the unborn, the persecuted, and all those on the margins of society. He continuously reminded us that we are the stewards of Gods creation and not its master. And he was an unwavering champion of world peace. After a life dedicated to proclaiming the Good News of our Lords saving love for us, may Pope Francis now inherit the reward of eternal rest with God. Congressman Mike Turner shared the following statement on the passing of Pope Francis: I am saddened by the passing of Pope Francis, a spiritual leader whose unwavering compassion, humility, and dedication to service touched the lives of millions around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis championed the cause of the poor, called for peace in times of conflict, and reminded us all of the power of faith and forgiveness. His legacy of kindness and moral leadership will endure for generations to come. As we mourn his passing, my thoughts and prayers are with the Catholic community and all those who found hope and inspiration in his words and deeds. May he rest in eternal peace. Photo contributed by Archdiocese of Cincinnati [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A trial of internet giant Google opened in Washington on Monday with the Justice Department asking for the company to be forced to sell its Chrome browser to break up Google's monopoly on online searches. During its opening statement, the government called on Judge Amit Mehta to set an example for companies violating antitrust laws, the New York Times reported from the courtroom. It comes after Mehta ruled in August that Google holds a monopoly on online searches and violated antitrust laws to maintain it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the new trial, the judge is to hear arguments by both sides regarding "remedies" on how to best fix the monopoly. Google has already said it plans to appeal, while the government is also calling for the company to be forced to provide some data from its search engine to competitors. The Justice Department has demanded that Google end deals with other web browsers which have seen the company pay "billions" to competitors including Firefox and Apple to make Google their default search engine. The US government also wants the judge to allow for the possibility to force Google to sell its mobile operating system Android in case competition is not restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Google can appeal in the previous case, finding it guilty of violating antitrust laws, the company has to wait for the conclusion of the remedies trial. Google has argued that the government's demands will harm innovation and consumers by forcing them to use less-efficient search engines. Forcing the company to divest Chrome would "carry devastating consequences," according to Google, arguing that such a step is not justified by the alleged violations of antitrust laws. A trial of internet giant Google opened in Washington on Monday with the Justice Department asking for the company to be forced to sell its Chrome browser to break up Google's monopoly on online searches. During its opening statement, the government called on Judge Amit Mehta to set an example for companies violating antitrust laws, the New York Times reported from the courtroom. It comes after Mehta ruled in August that Google holds a monopoly on online searches and violated antitrust laws to maintain it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the new trial, the judge is to hear arguments by both sides regarding "remedies" on how to best fix the monopoly. Google has already said it plans to appeal, while the government is also calling for the company to be forced to provide some data from its search engine to competitors. The Justice Department has demanded that Google end deals with other web browsers which have seen the company pay "billions" to competitors including Firefox and Apple to make Google their default search engine. The US government also wants the judge to allow for the possibility to force Google to sell its mobile operating system Android in case competition is not restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Google can appeal in the previous case, finding it guilty of violating antitrust laws, the company has to wait for the conclusion of the remedies trial. Google has argued that the government's demands will harm innovation and consumers by forcing them to use less-efficient search engines. Forcing the company to divest Chrome would "carry devastating consequences," according to Google, arguing that such a step is not justified by the alleged violations of antitrust laws. The company has noted that the court found that "a monopoly was unlawfully maintained instead of unlawfully acquired," meaning forcing it to sell Chorme, launched "many years before the alleged monopoly-maintenance period even began" would not be justified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following last year's ruling, Google has offered to grant other browser providers more flexibility regarding its search engine deals. On Thursday, a second judge in the US ruled that Google holds an illegal monopoly. Judge Leonie Brinkema in the state of Virginia concluded that the company had gained a monopoly position in online advertising on some platforms through unfair competition. Remedies are to be determined in a second trial at a later date. Meanwhile, Facebook company Meta is facing a trial at the same Washington court with the US government looking to force the divestiture of Instagram and WhatsApp. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. The Turkic Academy is currently carrying out nearly 40 large and medium-sized international projects that span the shared history, culture, and languages of Turkic peoples, said the president of the Turkic Academy, academician Shahin Mustafayev, Trend reports. In his address at an event summarizing the sociological research project titled "Turkic Barometer 2024: Current Approaches to Education and Scientific Cooperation in Turkic States," Mustafayev made remarks on the academy's functions. "Along with these projects, the Turkic Academy also places significant emphasis on studying the practical issues raised by the heads of Turkic states during high-level meetings, which are critical for the Turkic world. For example, key topics highlighted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev include water issues in Azerbaijan and other Turkic countries, food security, and similar pressing matters. The Academy prepares annual regional reports on these topics, presenting them to the heads of states and relevant governmental bodies," he noted. One of the academy's major initiatives is the "Turkic Barometer"a sociological study similar to the European Unions "Eurobarometer" and the "Balkanbarometer." The project's aim is to gauge public opinion within the Turkic world on issues such as integration, national identity, social solidarity, environmental awareness, and trust. The study conducted by the Turkic Academy last year, "Turkic Barometer 2023," focused on understanding how the Turkic world views the process of closer collaboration and cooperation among various Turkic societies. The research for "Turkic Barometer 2024" involved Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey, with participation from leading scientific institutions, including the Social Research Center in Azerbaijan. A total of 4,131 educators and 156 university rectors and experts participated in the survey. "The data gathered has allowed us to formulate proposals to strengthen educational and scientific cooperation between Turkic countries. Key findings from the research highlight the need to develop joint educational programs, expand faculty and student exchanges, and implement collaborative scientific projects. The research's results provide a comprehensive overview of the educational and scientific cooperation between Turkic states over the years," he added. The academician also mentioned that the findings of the study, both overall and by country, will be presented by members of the international research group during their speeches. "I would like to highlight several key points emphasized in the study. The main findings stress the need for a unified educational and scientific policy among the Turkic states to strengthen their position both regionally and globally. In this context, one of the most significant conclusions is the respondents' opinion on the urgency of accelerating specific forms of cooperation, such as developing joint educational programs across Turkic universities, establishing exchange programs for faculty and students, and launching collaborative scientific research projects. The study also reveals varying priorities among the Turkic states in potential areas for educational and scientific collaboration. For instance, a substantial portion of respondents from Azerbaijan emphasized the importance of cooperation not only in pedagogy and medical sciences but also in areas such as the Turkic language and culture, shared history, and literature. Meanwhile, participants from Kazakhstan suggested focusing on greater cooperation in tourism education. Respondents from Kyrgyzstan highlighted the significance of joint research on history and culture in education, expressing their belief that such collaboration would foster stronger cultural unity. Additionally, to further accelerate cooperation in education and science, respondents recommended improving the procedures for mutual recognition and equivalence of higher education diplomas and academic titles. This, they argue, could be a crucial step in advancing cooperation," Mustafayev said. Mustafayev also pointed to the "Orkhun Exchange Program," noting that despite its potential, the level of awareness about the program remains alarmingly low. He revealed that 44.69 percent of respondents were unaware of its existence, with only 9.49 percent in Azerbaijan and 1.87 percent in Turkey reporting participation. This indicates the need for intensified informational and awareness efforts in this regard. He concluded that the results of the "Turkic Barometer 2024" study provide an objective picture of the current state of scientific and educational cooperation between Turkic states and can serve as a solid foundation for further integration. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel WASHINGTON (AP) Google is confronting an existential threat as the U.S. government tries to break up the company as punishment for turning its revolutionary search engine into an illegal monopoly. The drama began to unfold Monday in a Washington courtroom as three weeks of hearings kicked off to determine how the company should be penalized for operating a monopoly in search. In its opening arguments, federal antitrust enforcers also urged the court to impose forward-looking remedies to prevent Google from using artificial intelligence to further its dominance. This is a moment in time, were at an inflection point, will we abandon the search market and surrender them to control of the monopolists or will we let competition prevail and give choice to future generations, said Justice Department attorney David Dahlquist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proceedings, known in legal parlance as a remedy hearing, are set to feature a parade of witnesses that includes Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The U.S. Department of Justice is asking a federal judge to order a radical shake-up that would ban Google from striking the multibillion dollar deals with Apple and other tech companies that shield its search engine from competition, share its repository of valuable user data with rivals and force a sale of its popular Chrome browser. Googles attorney, John Schmidtlein, said in his opening statement that the court should take a much lighter touch. He said the governments heavy-handed proposed remedies wouldnt boost competition but instead unfairly reward lesser rivals with inferior technology. Google won its place in the market fair and square, Schmidtlein said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moment of reckoning comes four-and-a-half-years after the Justice Department filed a landmark lawsuit alleging Googles search engine had been abusing its power as the internet's main gateway to stifle competition and innovation for more than a decade. After the case finally went to trial in 2023, a federal judge last year ruled Google had been making anti-competitive deals to lock in its search engine as the go-to place for digital information on the iPhone, personal computers and other widely used devices, including those running on its own Android software. That landmark ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sets up a high-stakes drama that will determine the penalties for Googles misconduct in a search market that it has defined since Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded the company in a Silicon Valley garage in 1998. Since that austere start, Google has expanded far beyond search to become a powerhouse in email, digital mapping, online video, web browsing, smartphone software and data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seizing upon its victory in the search case, the Justice Department is now setting out to prove that radical steps must be taken to rein in Google and its corporate parent, Alphabet Inc. Googles illegal conduct has created an economic goliath, one that wreaks havoc over the marketplace to ensure that no matter what occurs Google always wins, the Justice Department argued in documents outlining its proposed penalties. The American people thus are forced to accept the unbridled demands and shifting, ideological preferences of an economic leviathan in return for a search engine the public may enjoy. Although the proposed penalties were originally made under President Joe Biden's term, they are still being embraced by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump, whose first administration filed the case against Google. Since the change in administrations, the Justice Department has also attempted to cast Google's immense power as a threat to freedom, too. In his opening statement, Dahlquist noted that top officials from the Justice Department were in the room to watch proceedings. He said their presence indicated that the case had the full support of federal antitrust regulators, both past and present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that this case was filed in 2020, tried in 2023, under two different administrations, and joined by 49 states demonstrates the non-partisan nature of this case and our proposed remedies, Dahlquist said. Dahlquist also said that Mehta would be hearing a lot about artificial intelligence and said top executives from AI companies, like ChatGPT maker's OpenAI, would be called to testify. He said the court's remedies should include provisions to make sure that Google's Gemini, a technology build on generative AI, isn't used to strengthen its existing search monopoly. We believe that Google can and will attempt to circumvent the court's remedies if it is not included, Dahlquist said. Gen AI is Google's next evolution to keep their vicious cycle spinning. The focus on AI during the hearings reflects the potential for the technology to revolutionize the way people plumb the internet for information, just as Google's search engine did more than 20 years ago Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government's first witness was Greg Durrett, an AI expert and computer science professor from the University of Texas, who said the Google's dominate position in search has been integral in helping the company build high-quality AI products. Schmidtlein, Google's attorney, said in his opening remarks that rival AI companies had seen enormous growth in recent years and were doing just fine." But in a Monday blog post about the remedy hearings, AI search engine Perplexity backed the government's push to forbid the multibillion dollar deals that give Google a favored position on smartphones and PCs. The future of search is clear, and it isnt links for Google to sell traffic. Its AI that answers questions, completes tasks, and interacts with applications, Perplexity said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Google is also sounding alarms about the proposed requirements to share online search data with rivals and the proposed sale of Chrome posing privacy and security risks. The breadth and depth of the proposed remedies risks doing significant damage to a complex ecosystem. Some of the proposed remedies would imperil browser developers and jeopardize the digital security of millions of consumers," Google lawyers said in a filing leading up to hearings. The showdown over Google's fate marks the climax of the biggest antitrust case in the U.S. since the Justice Department sued Microsoft in the late 1990s for leveraging its Windows software for personal computers to crush potential rivals. The Microsoft battle culminated in a federal judge declaring the company an illegal monopoly and ordering a partial breakup a remedy that was eventually overturned by an appeals court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google intends to file an appeal of Mehta's ruling from last year that branded its search engine as an illegal monopoly but can't do so until the remedy hearings are completed. After closing arguments are presented in late May, Mehta intends to make his decision on the remedies before Labor Day. The Justice Department also targeted Google's digital advertising network in a separate antitrust case that resulted last week in another federal judge's decision that found the company was abusing its power in that market, too. That ruling means Google will be heading into another remedy hearing that could once again raise the specter of a breakup later this year or early next year. The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement that allows OpenAI access to part of APs text archives. ___ Liedtke reported from San Francisco. Last summer, a federal judge ruled that Google (GOOGL) has an illegal monopoly in online search in part by paying web browsers and smartphone manufacturers such as Apple (AAPL) and Samsung to feature its search engine. Now, Google is headed to court to figure out exactly what that ruling means for the company. In a three-week hearing that starts Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge Amit P. Mehta will hear testimony including expected testimony from CEO Sundar Pichai and from company partners such as Apple and Mozilla to determine what the future will look like for the $1.9 trillion Silicon Valley giant. The Justice Department has asked for heavy penalties for Google, including forcing the company to sell its Chrome browser and making the company give rivals some of its data about what terms people search for and what websites they click on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Googles illegal conduct has created an economic goliath, one that wreaks havoc over the marketplace to ensure that no matter what occurs Google always wins, the government said in a Friday filing. The American people thus are forced to accept the unbridled demands and shifting, ideological preferences of an economic leviathan in return for a search engine the public may enjoy. The government has also asked the judge to give the companys competitors a boost allowing them to take Googles search results and ads and display them for their users. And the DOJ said that if the courts actions failed to improve search-engine competition, it might want to force Google to spin off its smartphone iOS, Android. Google, meanwhile, has said it will ultimately appeal Mehtas ruling in this case. The company has offered its own proposal to address the judges concerns: changing almost nothing. The search giant asked Mehta to allow it to continue to pay other companies for prime placement, although the company conceded that those agreements would be less restrictive than those in the past. Cellphone makers using Googles Android operating system could also install other search engines, and users would be able to install Google apps without installing its search tool or its Gemini AI assistant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont propose these changes lightly, Google vice president of regulatory affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland said in a blog post. But we believe that they fully address the courts findings, and do so without putting Americans privacy and security at risk or harming Americas global technology leadership. Mehta is expected to order the remedies in the case by the end of the summer. Google faces other mounting issues, putting the company in an especially vulnerable position. In a separate antitrust Thursday, a federal judge ruled that it had illegally maintained a monopoly in some of its online advertising technology. As a result, the company might have to break up its ad operations. And the FTC in Japan recently sent the company a cease-and-desist order after it said Googles search practices were monopolistic. Damian Rollison, director of market insights of AI-powered SOCi, told Quartz last week that Google is on the verge of major changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year will be one where Googles fate hangs in the balance, he said. The company stands to lose a lot more in material terms if its ad business, long its main source of revenue, is broken up, whereas divisions like Chrome are more strategically important. Any significant restrictions on Google could limit its ability to compete in the AI realm with companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META). In a separate blog post, Googles Mulholland called this lawsuit a backwards-looking case at a time of intense competition and unprecedented innovations. She added that with new services like ChatGPT (and foreign competitors like DeepSeek) thriving, DOJs sweeping remedy proposals are both unnecessary and harmful. Googles parent company, Alphabet, will report earnings Thursday amid its legal setbacks. While investors are hoping to see continued AI progress and cost control, shares remain down about 20% this year. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A Republican senator says the deportation of a Maryland father to a megaprison in El Savador was the result of a screwup by the Trump administration. But Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said Kilmar Abrego Garcia was never going to be returned to the United States because the White House did not want to admit its mistake. This was a screwup, in my opinion, Kennedy told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday. The administration wont admit it, but this was a screwup. Mr. Garcia was not supposed to be sent to El Salvador. He was sent to El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went on: And I understand why the administration bowed up and said, We wont admit its a mistake. Because if they do, theyll have their throats torn out. But it was a screwup. Apart from pointing out the administrations screwup in deporting Garcia, wrongly accused of being a member of the international criminal gang MS-13, the senator also broke ranks with President Donald Trump over his proposal to expand the El Salvador deportations to include American citizens as well. The idea was floated by Trump during an Oval Office meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in which Trump was heard telling his guest that homegrowns are next. We have our own laws, we have the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, Kennedy told Meet the Press. We shouldnt send prisoners to foreign countries in my judgment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked by host Kristen Welker whether he believes it is moral for the president to send U.S. citizens to foreign prisons, the Louisiana senator responded: No, maam. Nor does itnor should it be considered appropriate or moral. The Supreme Court recently ordered the White House to facilitate Garcias return to the U.S. in a rare 9-0 ruling, but their demands have so far been ignored by both the Trump administration and the El Salvador government. Last week, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, travelled to El Salvador to meet with Garcia, and later told Welker that his imprisonment was due to an administrative error by the White House. But when asked to comment on his claims, Kennedy said Van Hollen was being next-level obtuse if he thought Garcia might be returned to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, Chris is my friend. And I respect him. And hes certainly entitled to his opinion, said Kennedy. But in my judgment, he is utterly and gloriously wrong. Unless youre next-level obtuse, you know that Mr. Garcia is never coming back to the United States, ever, he added. Kennedy stopped short of blaming Trump directly for Garcias predicament, and instead claimed Bukele was responsible for the Maryland mans continued imprisonment. The senator said Bukele said up front in the Oval Office that he was not going to return Mr. Garcia. No federal judge, even J. Wilkinson, has authority over a sovereign country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: Besides that, it should not go unnoticed that Mr. Bukele is much closer to President Xi in China than he is to President Trump. Xi is spending billions of dollars to build infrastructure in El Salvador. And I wouldnt be surprised if theyve discussed this case. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador. / Abrego Garcia Family/via REUTERS The senator said Bukele said up front in the Oval Office that he was not going to return Mr. Garcia. No federal judge, even J. Wilkinson, has authority over a sovereign country. He added: Besides that, it should not go unnoticed that Mr. Bukele is much closer to President Xi in China than he is to President Trump. Xi is spending billions of dollars to build infrastructure in El Salvador. And I wouldnt be surprised if theyve discussed this case. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is directing flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of Pope Francis in accordance with a proclamation from the White House. Flags will be lowered to half-staff until sunset on the day of the popes interment, the date of which has not yet been determined. The governor is also encouraging individuals, businesses and organizations throughout the commonwealth to join in the tribute. Pope Francis earned the title The Peoples Pope by showing kindness and mercy, standing for love above hate and extending a hand to help all people, said Governor Beshear. He led by example, and his humility and dedication to God brought people together. His loss is great, but his impact is greater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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). Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro told Channel 11 he plans to be back sleeping in the governors residence as early as this week, just days after a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the home while he and his family slept. The incident occurred last week. Authorities said Cody Balmer is accused of throwing the device into the residence and breaking in with a hammer. He has been charged with arson and attempted homicide. His preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for this week, has been continued to next month. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Man admitted to harboring hatred toward Gov. Shapiro before setting fire to residence, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My family and I experienced what its like to be rushed away from a fire, while you see heroes rushing in, Shapiro said. The governor said he feels confident returning to the residence thanks to the work of Pennsylvania State Police and an independent review of current security protocols. I feel safe there, Shapiro said. I know state police are going to learn from this experience. Theyve brought in a third party to analyze our infrastructure and system. Im confident any steps that need to be taken will be taken. Despite significant damage to parts of the residence, including the state dining room, Shapiro said he plans to continue using the home as intended, including hosting the annual Easter egg hunt for children in Harrisburg on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, a good bit of the house is destroyed, and they wont be going in there, he said. But I plan to sleep there this week and be back in the residence, using it as it was intended to be the peoples house. Shapiro also shared that he received a phone call of support over the weekend from former President Donald Trump. He called to share his warm regards for me, Lori and our family. I appreciated his call very much, and we agreed to stay in touch, he said. A full investigation into the attack is ongoing, and officials said additional security measures are being evaluated. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Governor Kathy Hochul visited Foodlink in Rochester Monday morning to discuss her Affordability Agenda in her 2025 State of the State. Governor Hochul held her press conference as people held up signs reading Lets Get It Done. Hochul applauded Foodlink for providing essential resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hochul said the state is working toward ensuring the budget delivers real relief for New York residents. She wants the budget to cover affordability, public safety issues, and helping people who suffer from mental illnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She acknowledges that they are late, but she believes waiting a little bit and providing more for what she wants to deliver is better than being on time and not having everything. On the topic of national politics, Hochul says these are frightening times in Washington, D.C., singling out the tariffs. Hochul says this is happening as Rochester is hitting its stride. Rochester knows what its like to be in a fight, Hochul said. Youve been down and knocked around a little bit, but you know how to stand together through adversity or challenges, whether its public safety issues or jobs that are sometimes leaving, but many more are coming. Hochul says these fights are more important than before, highlighting local families who are struggling financially over food prices and need Foodlink more than ever. She says she is working to ensure that 542,000 households in the Finger Lakes region get hundreds of dollars back in their pockets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Evans discussed her state budget Monday before the press conference, saying she is putting residents facing financial challenges first in her budget. It recognizes their hopes and dreams to rise above their challenges and make their lives better for themselves and their children, Evans said. Lawmakers issued approval for a fifth short-term extension for the NYS budget on April 15. The deadline for the state budget historically is April 1. However, it has been pushed further as the state works to reach an agreement. In a recent interview with Syracuse station News Channel 9, the governor said negotiations to finalize the budget were close to the end, however, the work to do so may take an additional week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers cite proposed policy changes with the states discovery laws as one of the reasons for the 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 RochesterFirst. Apr. 21Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday ordered flags to be flown at half-staff across New Mexico, as she and others in a heavily populated Catholic state mourn the death of Pope Francis. The pope, elected in 2013 to the papacy, died at 88 on Monday. In her statement, the governor said Francis "embodied values that resonate deeply with New Mexicans compassion for the marginalized, dignity for the forgotten, and grace extended to all." About 63% of New Mexican adults identify as Christian, according to the Pew Research Center. Of those, 27% are Catholic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Pope Francis called for 'a humble, more merciful and inclusive church' that would reach out to the peripheries of society," Lujan Grisham said. "His ministry touched countless lives, including many in New Mexico, where his message of inclusion resonated across our diverse communities." President Donald Trump also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Monday. A group of pensioners nicknamed the grandpa robbers will go on trial in Paris next week, charged with stealing jewellery worth millions of euros from the US TV reality star Kim Kardashian when she attended Paris fashion week in 2016. In what was considered the biggest robbery of an individual in France in 20 years, Kardashian was tied up and held hostage at gunpoint in her bedroom in central Paris by armed thieves dressed as police officers in the early hours of 3 October 2016. The thieves escaped with up to an estimated 10m in jewellery. At the time of the robbery, Kardashian was without security protection and sitting alone in her bedroom at an exclusive apartment building in central Paris, known as a no address site, where celebrities visiting Paris often rent sumptuous suites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her bodyguard had instead accompanied her sister, the fellow reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian, to a Paris nightclub after the sisters had spent the day at major Paris fashion shows being photographed. Kardashian, 44, a billionaire celebrity influencer and business owner, later told the TV interviewer David Letterman she had feared she would be raped and murdered during the heist. She said of one of the burglars: I saw him have a gun out for me, and I was like, OK, this is it. I kept on thinking about Kourtney, I kept on thinking shes going to come home and Im going to be dead in the room and shes going to be traumatised for the rest of her life if she sees me I thought that was my fate. At that time, Kardashian routinely posted most of her daily movements and whereabouts on social media, where she also displayed her jewellery, including a large 18.88-carat diamond engagement ring given to her by her then husband, the rapper Kanye West, which was estimated to be worth $4m. Those details on social media may have facilitated the thieves targeting of her. Kardashian later told a Forbes Power Womens Summit the thieves had followed her movements on social media. They knew my every move and what I had. She said it had changed her approach to what she posted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kardashian, who is now a criminal justice advocate in the US, will travel to give evidence at the Paris trial, which runs from 28 April to 23 May. A group of five armed men, all aged over 60, are alleged to have arrived by bicycle or on foot and impersonated police officers to enter the building just after 2am. After allegedly holding the concierge at gunpoint, they went to Kardashians apartment, where one man pulled a gun on her. Kardashian told police that the man spoke in a very strong French accent in English, telling her to hand over her diamond engagement ring. She was held at gunpoint, her arms and feet were tied and her mouth was taped. The men then fled the room in less than 10 minutes taking the ring and other jewels. Ten people will go on trial in Paris in connection with the heist, on charges including armed robbery, membership of a criminal gang, and kidnapping which refers to Kardashian being held hostage at gunpoint. Eight deny any involvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the accused, Yunice Abbas, now 71, has admitted his part in the heist saying he was part of the group who entered the building and he stood guard downstairs. He told TF1 TV in France on Sunday: We were all grandads. He said he had previously served 20 years in prison for robbery, had been out of prison for 10 years and was struggling to make ends meet. I had a proposal for a big job, which would be my last They told me there was a 20-carat diamond that wasnt protected That was tempting. He said that, at the time, he had not known who they were robbing. I was told it was the wife of a rapper. I didnt ask questions. He said: I see her as a victim; we had nothing against her personally. Aomar Ait Khedache, known as Old Omar, 68, has also admitted participating in the heist but denies the prosecutions accusation that he was the ringleader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 12 people originally charged over the robbery, only 10 will be present at the trial after one suspect died and another Pierre Bouianere, 80 was declared unable to participate in proceedings for health reasons. He will be tried separately. Most of the jewels were never recovered. At least one item was dropped by the thieves while escaping a diamond-encrusted cross worth 30,000, which was found by a passerby as she went to work the next morning and handed to police. AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, April 21. Another group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has returned to their native lands, with families arriving in the village of Sarijali in Azerbaijans Aghdam district on April 21, Trend reports. Keys to newly built private homes were handed over to 34 families comprising 141 individuals during a formal ceremony. The event was attended by representatives of the Special Representative Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, as well as the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Currently, about 40,000 people live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Along with former internally displaced persons, they include people working on the implementation of projects in the region, as well as those performing official duties in local subdivisions of certain state structures, employed in the resumed work of health care, education, culture, tourism, industry and energy institutions. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Greater Dayton RTA announced that it is extending its weekend hours for the Flyer during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Flyer will run from 8 a.m. to midnight on May 24 to May 25, according to a Greater Dayton RTA spokesperson. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This extension will help increase access to local businesses and restaurants in the downtown Dayton area. >>RELATED: NATO team visits Dayton in preparation for summit in May The Flyer will be rerouted starting May 20 through May 26 due to the NATO security perimeter, according to the spokesperson. It will travel through Wright Stop Plaza from Jefferson Street to Main Street, instead of turning left down Third Street. All passengers who normally get off at the bus stop outside of The Arcade should utilize the stop at the hub, the spokesperson said. >>RELATED: Parts of downtown Dayton becoming NATO Village; businesses worry it will have negative impact Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RTAs downtown hub will remain open, and services will continue to run with minor re-routes around the security perimeter during the NATO conference. Additional details on the re-routes will be announced closer to the event. The Dayton NATO Parliamentary Assembly shared parking information on Monday. Click here for more details. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Hunt County will pay tribute to one of its most celebrated sons on May 17 during the annual Audie Murphy Day. The event honors the legacy of Audie Leon Murphy the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II and recognizes the contributions of all military veterans and those currently serving. The daylong celebration is hosted by the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville and features a full slate of activities, speakers and special presentations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A native of Hunt County, Murphy was not only a war hero but also found success in Hollywood and as a songwriter. His remarkable life will be the focus of events held at two key locations in Greenville: Fletcher Warren Civic Center and the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. The mornings activities will take place at the civic center, located at 5501 Business Hwy 69 South. Highlights will include guest speaker Seth Paridon, host of The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War podcast, who will present The Drive to Victory: Admiral Nimitzs Island-Hopping Campaign & the Defeat of Japan. Also speaking is author Terrance Furgerson, who will discuss wartime industry in his talk on The Dallas Story: The North American Aviation Plant and the Industrial Mobilization during WWII. Adding a Hollywood connection, actor Kent McCord best known for his role in the TV series Adam-12 and a personal acquaintance of Murphy will join a live Q&A via Zoom. The celebration kicks off early, but the festivities begin the night before, on May 16. The classic Audie Murphy film Ride Clear of Diablo will be screened at the Texan Theater at 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afternoon and evening events on Saturday will move to the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum at 600 Interstate 30. While events at the civic center are free, regular museum admission rates will apply: $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and veterans and $3 for students. The event is supported in part by the City of Greenvilles hotel/motel occupancy tax revenues and the WWII History Roundtable Audie Murphy Chapter. For a complete schedule or more details, visit www.amacmuseum.com or call the museum at (903) 450-4502. The passing of Pope Francis on Monday, a day after Easter Sunday, prompted an outpouring of emotions across the globe and an immediate reaction from the Archdiocese of Boston. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo. In a statement, Boston Archbishop Richard Henning said he was deeply saddened to learn that historys first Latin American pontiff had passed away at age 88, remembering him as a guiding light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Pope Francis. His legacy as Holy Father is broad and deep. In his ministry and across his writings, he has continuously called us to deeper faith and to a more generous participation in the boundless compassion of God, Henning said. He has challenged us to turn away from selfish impulses and towards communion with others and respect for Gods creation. I am personally grateful that he called me to the Episcopacy and entrusted me with the pastoral care of the Church of Boston. His example remains a guiding light to the Universal Church. Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, may he rest in peace. Archbishop Richard Henning this morning released the following statement on the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis, https://t.co/QvmN3Mitnw pic.twitter.com/0aWPPPAJnv Archdio. of Boston (@bostoncatholic) April 21, 2025 Theologian Ernest Collamati, a professor at Regis College in Weston, joined Boston 25 News to weigh in on Pope Francis legacy. He lived out a model for so many Christians, as well as non-Christians, Collamati said. The Church was in need of reform, and here was a man who lived it, who challenged us to go back to the heart of the gospel. Collamati added, Francis restored and renewed it, and if you noticed, there wasnt much public silencing of individuals. Except those that were in the most extreme margins that needed to be pulled in, but restored a healthiness and spirit of engagement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement College of the Holy Cross Professor Matthew Schmalz said Pope Francis will be remembered for opening up the Church to groups that have been on the margins of Catholic life. Hes opened the church to lay people, in governance, to women, and reached out to the LGBTQA+ community, Schmalz told Boston 25 News. "So, I think in many ways he will be remembered as a pope who really opened up the catholic church in a spirit of mercy and non-exclusion. Read more about the passing of Pope Francis, his legacy, and what comes next. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) A man accused of killing a man at a Loves Park bar in 2022 has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. Charles Jackson, 26, pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year. In September 2022, Jackson, 26, and Deontez Williams, 34, were announced as suspects in the May murder of Detrayvian Jones at Neighbors Bar and Grill, at 7745 Forest Hills Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones was found shot in the parking lot of the bar shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14th. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Jackson was in possession of a modified handgun when he ran from police. As a previously convicted felon, Jackson was prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. He was sentenced in the Northern District of Illinois before Judge Iain Johnson on Friday. The murder case against him is still ongoing. He is due back in Winnebago County Court on May 9th, 2025. Williams is due back in court on May 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. GUTHRIE COUNTY, Iowa Emotions are running high in one Central Iowa county over the recent presence of carbon pipeline land surveyors. Members of the Guthrie County community are banding together and said they will do all they can to prevent the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project from passing through their properties. We go all the way to where you can see there would be a fence line down there, said Angie Crowder, pointing out her property line near Guthrie Center. Its been in the family forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crowders front porch looks out over their generational property. She and her husband, Ken, have become increasingly unsettled over seeing land surveyors wearing orange vests walking across their field in recent days. The route for the proposed pipeline project would cut right through their property. Something they said has them worried about the projects construction, its impact on property values, and safety risks. This is supposed to be our forever home, and I dont know that I can say that, that this is going to be our forever home, she told WHO-13. Summit Carbon Solutions states on its website that it has reached agreements with more than 2,700 landowners encompassing nearly 4,500 parcels of land. However, the Crowders are not alone in Guthrie County in their concerns. The recent presence of pipeline land surveyors has put numerous landowners there on edge. When a WHO-13 crew showed up to interview Crowder at her home on Tuesday afternoon, they were surprised to find more than two dozen locals had turned out wearing anti-pipeline garb to support her. There is no amount of money that is ever going to make me sign anything that they put in front of me unless its by force, said Darlene Partlow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Partlow lives in nearby Adair County, but said her land crosses into Guthrie. She and her son, as well as a collective of other neighbors, said they have been helping to keep tabs on the surveyors and their locations from day to day. They seem to think that because they sent them, they have permission, and they do not, she said. Partlow said the surveyors accessed her property after being asked not to. However, pipeline land surveyors are within their rights to access private property while conducting their surveys under Iowa Code 354.4A. The code states, in part, that a land surveyor may enter private land to locate boundaries, rights-of-way, and easements, to determine geodetic positions, and to make surveys and maps. Surveyors are not allowed to enter buildings or other structures located on the land. They must be licensed under chapter 542B, or working under the direct supervision of a licensed land surveyor. The code states that their vehicles must be marked on the exterior by a legible sign listing the name, address, and telephone number of the land surveyor or the firm that employed the land surveyor. Surveyors should announce and identify themselves and their intentions before accessing private property and provide written notice to the landowner or tenant at least seven days before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Guthrie County residents alleged that some of these stipulations were not followed. WHO-13 emailed a list of follow-up questions to Summit Carbon Solutions early Friday morning, but has not yet heard back. 354.4aDownload An Iowa Supreme Court ruling over a Hardin County case in late 2024 also helped to pave the way for pipeline survey crews. Earlier in the week, a spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions confirmed that they have numerous surveyors working in the field and that the crews are in the process of conducting multiple types of surveys. A spokesperson provided the following statement on Tuesday: Our contracted surveyors are expected to remain respectful and professional at all times. For boundary surveys, our teams operate within the public road right-of-way. For civil surveys, they follow the proposed pipeline route. These surveys are essential to responsibly design and engineer a pipelineensuring accuracy, safety, and minimal impact. We follow the same legal framework that applies to all utilities in Iowa, as outlined in Iowa Code 354.4A, and have gone above the regulatory requirement by notifying landowners via certified mail. Sabrina Ahmed Zenor, Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Corporate Communications for Summit Carbon Solutions However, Guthrie County residents are not letting go of their land without a fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were exhausting every effort that we can, said Candice Salvin. WHO-13 cameras were rolling on Wednesday morning as a small group of Guthrie County residents joined landowners from several other impacted counties at the state Capitol to take their concerns to Governor Kim Reynolds. Governor Reynolds was not available, and the group provided their contact information and was told a meeting would be set up. On Thursday, a new Guthrie County ordinance went into effect. Survey Permit Ordinance 25-38 established permit requirements for surveying certain parcels of land in the county. Signed_Survey-Permit-Ordinance-25-38_Approved-4.8.25Download Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHO-13 also reached out to the Governors office to see if a meeting between the Governor and Guthrie County landowners had been scheduled, but did not hear back. The landowners said they had not heard from the Governors Office after their visit. On its website, Summit Carbon Solutions states it is committed to driving job growth across the Midwest, decarbonizing industrial processes and providing a substantial boost to the ethanol and agricultural industries, which are critical to the U.S. economy. It includes a Get the Facts page and Landowner FAQs section, as well as other information regarding the proposed pipeline plan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. A Gwinnett County man said he has a new lease on life after being involved in a critical motorcycle accident. Ron McClenny was riding in the North Carolina mountains, not far from the Georgia border when it happened. Its a ride hes done several times before from his home in Lawrenceville to his familys cabin in Andrews, North Carolina. I was actually going up to our cottage up there, and thats the last thing I really remember, McClenny said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report from the North Carolina Highway Patrol said a man driving a car made a left-hand turn into McClennys lane of traffic. He didnt take time to look to see if I was there, McClenny said. He just pulled out, and I had no time to react. The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program State Coordinator said left-hand turns by cars are one of the main causes of motorcycle crashes. Approximately 70% of motorcycle accidents are not the fault of the motorcyclist, but a violation of the right of way of the rider, said State Coordinator Holly Hegyesi. McClenny said it happened so fast. I hit him, and I was told I flew through the air 20 or 30 feet, and I hit a parked car, thats what stopped me, McClenny said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His wife, Dee McClenny, was at work back in Gwinnett County when she saw he stopped moving on her Life360 app. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It was almost unheard of, he was going almost 200 mph, and I was like wow, what is going on, Dee McClenny said. She didnt know at the time it was her husband being life-flighted to the University of Tennessee hospital in Knoxville. Honestly, I thought he was gone because not many people survive motorcycle accidents, Dee McClenny said. It was probably the worst day of my life. McClenny spent nearly two weeks in a coma. He suffered brain bleeds, a fractured spine, broken ribs, several other broken bones, and a punctured lung. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the family has had challenges with their insurance denying his claims and physical therapy coverage because of his limited mobility. Overwhelmed, very overwhelmed, Dee McClenny said. I feel disappointed because hes had health insurance for over four years, and they take the money out of his check every week. Currently, McClenny is paying out of pocket for her husbands physical therapy at home. They even filed a claim with The Georgia Department of Insurance, which helps people when insurance companies deny claims. However, they told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers that because the McClennys have private insurance, it falls out of their jurisdiction. While pins may be pricking his feet as he navigates his new normal, he says hes still filled with gratitude but wants his accident to be a lesson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gods got better plans for me because its up to Him anyways, McClenny said. Im thankful Im alive, but I wish people would look and really pay attention out there. Hegyesi said her advice to drivers is to look twice, and for riders, she said, dress for the slide, not the ride. She also encouraged riders to wear brightly colored gear. As for McClenny he said its determination driving the will to walk again. Before the years over, Im going to be back in good health, McClenny said. McClenny also hasnt been able to work because his job required physical labor and for him to be on his feet all day. If you would like to help the family with his physical therapy, you can donate here. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] UNITED NATIONS (AP) The top U.N. official in Haiti sounded an alarm to the U.N. Security Council on Monday that escalating gang violence is liable to lead the Caribbean nation to a point of no return. Maria Isabel Salvador warned that Haiti could face total chaos without increased funding and support for the operation of the Kenya-led multinational force helping Haitis police to tackle the gangs expanding violence into areas beyond the capital, Port-Au-Prince. Most recently, she said, gangs seized the city of Mirebalais in central Haiti and during the attack over 500 prisoners were freed. It was the fifth prison break in under a year, part of a deliberate effort to entrench dominance, dismantle institutions and instill fear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haitis police, supported by the armed forces and the Kenya-led force, were overwhelmed by the scale and duration of the violence, the U.N. special representative said.. The gangs have grown in power since the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Moise and are now estimated to control 85% of the capital and are moving into surrounding areas. Haiti has not had a president since then. The U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police arrived in Haiti last year to help local authorities quell gang violence, but the mission remains understaffed and underfunded, with only about 40% of the 2,500 personnel originally envisioned. Salvador said that in February and March alone, 1,086 people were killed and 383 injured. In addition, according to the U.N. migration office, over 60,000 Haitians were displaced in the past two months, adding to 1 million already displaced by December. These figures are expected to rise, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, the leader of Haitis transitional presidential council, Fritz Alphonse Jean, tried to allay surging alarm among Haitians over the rampant gang violence by acknowledging that the country has become hell for everyone. He promised new measures to stop the bloodshed. But Salvador, who heads the U.N. political mission in the country, said the Haitian governments efforts alone will be insufficient to significantly reduce the intensity of the violence perpetrated by criminal groups. In February, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he would ask the Security Council to authorize funding for the structural and logistical expenses of the Kenya-led mission from the U.N. budget. But there are no signs that the 15-member council plans to address this request any time soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without timely, decisive and concrete international assistance, the security situation in Haiti may not change, Salvador warned. Haiti could face total chaos." Kenyas national security adviser, Monica Juma, told the council in a video briefing from Nairobi that the force has entered a decisive phase of its operation where gangs are coordinating operations and attacking people and strategic installations, and targeting the political establishment. While the Haitian police and the multinational force have launched intensive anti-gang operations and achieved some notable progress, especially in securing critical infrastructure, she said a significant gap exists. Juma said 261 Kenyan police officers are trained and ready to deploy to Haiti, but they cant get there because of a lack of equipment and logistical support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She urged the council to take a more assertive and proactive role in helping to stabilize Haiti, saying time is of the essence. Juma said critical to stabilizing the country is stopping the flow of guns and ammunition to the gangs and implementing sanctions against gang leaders. U.N. experts say most arms come from the United States, specifically the Miami area. Apr. 21An 18-year-old charged with allegedly trying to hire an inmate to kill someone has requested the court to allow him to hire a private investigator. Butler County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer McElfresh said she couldn't rule on Dominick Grubb's motion because his attorney needs to make the request. On April 3, Grubb, who's charged with first-degree felonies in separate cases aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit murder told the judge his mom was going to hire an attorney and wanted to drop defense attorney Arica Underwood. That hasn't happened, and on Wednesday, one of the four motions Grubb filed on his own behalf was to have McElfresh appoint an attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also wanted the court to allocate money so he could hire a private investigator "for the collection of additional evidence, verification of witness statements, and identification of potential discrepancies in the prosecution's case." "In the state of Ohio, we don't have hybrid representation status, in other words, you can't represent yourself the same time as your attorney," said the judge. Grubb faces two first-degree felony charges. The first is an aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon that was allegedly committed on Nov. 9, 2024, and arrested in mid-December, according to court and jail records. The second is conspiracy to commit murder sometime between Christmas Eve and Jan. 3, allegedly contacting someone who was a confidential informant to kill a witness in the aggravated burglary charge. In exchange, the CI would receive $100 upfront in his jail commissary account which prosecutors said had occurred and the weapon to use when he got out and $2,500 when the job was done, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grubb said earlier this month that defense attorney Arica Underwood told the McElfresh that he doesn't feel she has "the best interest in my case." He requested to represent himself until an attorney can be retained by his mother, but the judge denied that at the April 3 hearing telling Grubb the process to represent oneself is lengthy. Until a new attorney is in place, Grubb's attorney of record will continue to be Underwood. Among the motions filed by Grubb, whose combined bond is $5.1 million, wanted another court-appointed attorney, though he said on April 3 and restated on Thursday, his mom still plans to hire an attorney. In his pro se motion, he said he didn't believe she had "the best interest in my case." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My current counsel never answers mine or my family's calls and I rarely hear from her," he said in his motion. "I am often left in the dark about my cases." Grubb has doubts about the confidential informant who told authorities of the alleged plan to kill a witness in the aggravated burglary case. This is part of the basis for his motion challenging the validity of evidence to support the conspiracy to commit murder charge. He said the evidence in the conspiracy charge "relies heavily" on statements of one person and "there appears to be no independent corroboration" of the informant's statements. Additionally, Grubb objects to the joining of the two cases, calling it "improper" as joining puts him "in a position where defending against one charge makes him look guilty of the other." McElfresh continued the case, and Grubb will be back in court at 1 p.m. May 1. KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, April 21. Families arriving today in the village of Ballija, located in Azerbaijans Khojaly district, have been officially handed keys to their new apartments, Trend reports. According to the Public Relations Department of the Rehabilitation, Construction, and Management Service in Khankendi city, Khojaly and Aghdara districts, a total of 21 families comprising 83 individuals have returned to their homeland as part of the ongoing resettlement program. Speaking at the key handover ceremony, Telman Karimli, executive director of the service, noted that all necessary conditions have been established in Ballija to support the phased return of former internally displaced persons (IDPs). He added that employment opportunities for the resettled families remain a priority. Residents expressed gratitude for the states comprehensive care and support. After receiving their keys, the families moved into their new homes. Another piece of good news is that the village of Ballija is fully equipped with electricity, natural gas, drinking water, and high-speed internet. To date, including the newly arrived families, a total of 157 families or 742 individuals now reside in the village. To recall, from 1992 to 2020, the village of Ballija was under the occupation of the Armenian Armed Forces and was under the control of the separatist regime calling itself the "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic". During this period, an Armenian army weapons depot was established in this village. It was liberated as a result of local anti-terrorist measures on September 1920, 2023. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 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 earlier this month, 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 this 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 this 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, 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 last week, 165 New Hampshire school districts have signed on, according to the Department of Educations website. Maines Department of Education has asked districts to refrain from signing on to the guidance while the state issues a response, according to Education Week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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 A war is raging between the most powerful men in Britains energy industry, one which could result in a total upending of what households pay for their power use. Ed Miliband is currently mulling over plans for a radical overhaul of Britains energy market that would see the country split into zones each operating as its own energy market. The issue has put the bosses of Britains biggest energy firms at loggerheads. Octopus Energys Greg Jackson argues zonal pricing will push down bills, but Chris OShea, of British Gas, alleges the complete opposite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under so-called zonal pricing, households and businesses would pay different rates depending on which zone they are in. Bills would be determined by how close they are to generators, such as wind farms and the quality of local grid infrastructure. But in Italy, where ministers are in the early stages of a similar regional overhaul to the energy market, there are already warnings that it could backfire. Italys wholesale energy market has used zonal prices since 2004, however, households pay a single national price regardless of where they live, known as the Prezzo Unico Nazionale (PUN). In recent years, Italian households have enjoyed comparatively low electricity bills. As the energy crisis caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine has abated, electricity rates paid by Italian households have dropped to around 0.22 per kilowatt hour, equivalent to around 19p, and around 5p less than what Britons pay per unit under the current energy price cap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this year, to better align with the rest of the EU, the Italian government is phasing out the PUN, meaning household bills will vary based on how cheaply power can be bought and sold where they live. So far, a compensation mechanism introduced to protect households for two years means bills have remained stable. But when it is removed, those in southern Italy, where there are more solar and wind farms, are expected to see bills fall, while those in the north will see a rise. Or at least in theory. In practice, renewables are a volatile source of energy, and prices can fluctuate day by day, hour by hour. The charts below shows how drastically wholesale prices can shift over time in the different zones of Italys market. This volatility most obviously manifests itself first in the island zones of Sardinia and Sicily, with their limited connection capacity to the mainland, but is also increasingly seen in the mainland zones as well, according to analysis by SEC Newgate, an advisory firm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means that wind-dominated regions like Calabria have seen prices dip well below the PUN in winter months, but soar well above it in summer. In Sicily, for example, energy prices have fluctuated between 87 and 151 per megawatt hour over the last two years a difference of 73pc. As for how this translates to households, a spokesman for SSE, a British energy firm, said: Countries where zonal pricing exists, customers can find themselves paying 200-300 more than an equivalent household for energy based solely on where they live. Buyers and sellers on the wholesale energy market may be used to reacting to such massive changes in price, but for zonal pricing to work, households will have to adjust their own energy use to secure cheaper power. This means using electricity at times of low demand, by charging an electric car overnight, for instance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Households who mistime their energy use could well be stung by extortionate prices. In Sicily, the zonal price for electricity plunged to 5 per megawatt hour on April 18, but rose to 137 just seven hours later under PUN. Indeed, a research paper authored by the University of Pavias Department of Economics and Management warned that households may not be ready for such a shift. The efficiency of zonal pricing [in Italy] is challenged by the fact that it does not take into consideration the behavioural perspective of the public good in network management, because of the indivisibility of network security, the paper said. In addition, [zonal pricing] does not accommodate consumer behaviour in terms of price differentials, which impact on overall social welfare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greta Maria Campisi, of Italian energy law specialists Sani Zangrando, said: The general concern both from a political point of view and specifically with regard to domestic customers bills is that an increase in the price of energy in some geographical areas is foreseen, particularly in areas where there arent many renewable energy plants at the moment. However, Ms Campisi said the shift away from the PUN was not intended to penalise those living in the north. Instead, one of the benefits to the Italian government of offering lower bills to households living closer to renewable energy sources, Ms Campisi adds, is that locals in Italys northern regions will be less likely to push back against future renewable energy projects. Whether this will achieve lower bills, however, is unclear. A 2023 report by analysts Pexapark found that renewable energy producers were facing financial challenges due to unpredictable energy prices, which in turn hurt revenues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The phasing out of the PUN does not appear to have evened out the distribution of wind farms either. We have not seen a substantial relocation of generation assets closer to demand in northern Italy, SEC Newgate observed. Rather, there continues to be strong build where renewable resources are highest in the south and the islands. The decision to move away from the PUN was made for technical reasons, rather than a push to lower bills, said Moller Simon Steen, of ERG, a wind power operator in Italy. Doing so would instead bring Italy more in line with the EUs market principles. A divided Britain In Britain, a shift to zonal pricing is being explicitly touted as the only way to drive down energy bills in the long term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As it stands, there is one price for electricity across the UK. However, Ed Miliband is considering plans to overhaul this system in favour of zonal pricing. As with Italy, this would involve dividing the country into zones, each with its own separate power prices. Supporters of zonal pricing, among them Mr Jackson, argue that overhauling the system would be fairer to those living in Scotland, where there is already an abundance of wind farms. Under a zonal model, Scots would benefit from the cheapest bills in Europe, Octopus has said. Mr Jackson frequently argues in favour of zonal pricing on X, claiming that the many billions of savings come from system costs, which are enough to cut bills everywhere, and that companies opposed to overhauling Britains energy prices are protecting vested interests. He faces opposition from Chris OShea, chief executive of British Gass parent company Centrica, who has said zonal pricing risks deep inequalities and higher prices for consumers in regions with fewer renewables, adding that a new price model was only superficially attractive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alistair Phillips-Davies, of SSE, another energy firm, has similarly argued that a shift to zonal pricing would be a political and economic nightmare that would jeopardise the net zero transition and create a postcode lottery for bill payers. He said: In countries where zonal pricing exists, some customers find themselves paying 200-300 more than an equivalent household for energy based solely on where they live. Indeed, a report commissioned by SSE and produced by consultancy firm LCP found that while wholesale prices in 2035 would be significantly lower in northern Scotland, costs in the rest of the country would be higher under zonal pricing compared to national pricing. The higher price areas account for 97pc of the demand across the country, meaning that nearly all consumers will be paying increased wholesale prices for their energy, the report found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even Octopus has acknowledged that zonal pricing could mean households in the South East could face higher bills under a zonal model. Speaking at a panel event organised by trade publication Utility Week, Rachel Fletcher, director for Regulation and Economics at Octopus, said: The focus should be on location pricing that matters and drives the majority of benefits of zonal pricing and not the fact that customers in the South East, on average across a year, might pay a bit more. Another draw of zonal pricing is that it would encourage investors to build renewable energy sources in areas that arent already overcrowded by wind and solar farms. As with Italy, it is hoped that the lure of lower household bills will make locals more agreeable to future projects. But critics argue that the uncertainty over zonal pricing will complicate investments and ultimately cost consumers more. Jane Cooper, deputy chief executive of RenewableUK, said: The reality is that introducing regional or zonal electricity pricing is likely to lead to higher energy bills for households and businesses in parts of England and Wales especially in the south of England as well as disrupting new investment in clean energy. Research by the UK Energy Research Centre found that a shift to zonal pricing would drive up strike prices, the agreed-upon price for energy auctions, by as much as 20 per MWh, as investors factor in the additional risk. These elevated strike prices could end up costing bill payers 3bn annually, the think tank said, offsetting any financial benefits from zonal pricing. Professor Rob Gross, the think tanks director, said: Our analysis focuses on the risks for market participants if the Government tries to bring in zonal pricing at the same time [as the 2030 clean power mission]. These are substantial, and there is no straightforward plan B. The key question is not whether zonal pricing has benefits, but whether the time to introduce it is now. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect consumers from future energy price shocks is by moving towards homegrown power. We are considering reforms to Britains electricity market arrangements, ensuring that these focus on protecting bill payers and encouraging investment. We will provide an update in due course. 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. Some titles banned from the St. Francis High School library by the St. Francis school board's right-wing scoring system. Photo courtesy of Ryan Fiereck. If youre a reader, a student of history, or a writer, its been appalling to watch book bans proliferate across the nation. As The Reformer reported last month, St. Francis High School and Independent School District 15 recently adopted a policy that defers to Booklooks, a website linked to the far-right group Moms for Liberty when evaluating which books to purchase or pull from shelves. The result: Hundreds of books are now either banned outright or will likely be pulled from shelves in the near future; this includes classics like The Handmaids Tale, The Bluest Eye, and soon, perhaps the likes of Night by Elie Wiesel and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut and hundreds of others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I graduated from St. Francis High School in 2001. I owe much of my career as a writer Ive written ten books and edited many more to one of the soon-to-banned books. It was Slaughterhouse Five. It was the year 2000. Frosted tips and Billabong shirts were everywhere. I picked up the book from a spinner in my journalism class. (That teacher was the best teacher I ever had.) I absorbed it, and I proceeded to read every other book by Vonnegut on the spinner, and then Ray Bradbury; soon I was reading Sylvia Plath and Richard Wright. A good book is a springboard to others; the best books lead to a lifetime of a reading. Rather than trot out generic arguments about why book bans are ill-advised, I want to talk about Slaughterhouse Five. Its a fictionalized story, that like all truly great fiction, is, at its heart, true. Vonnegut was a G.I. in World War II. He was in the 106th Infantry Division and was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. To put that another way: The St. Francis school board wants to ban a novel written by an American serviceman and a member of the Greatest Generation. Published by Penguin Random House. Vonnegut was forced to do manual labor in Dresden, and he survived the firebombing of the city in February 1945 by the Royal Air Force and the U.S. 8th Air Force. The resulting firestorm killed perhaps 35,000 people. Slaughterhouse Five is superficially science fiction, but its really about the insanity of war, the absurdity of surviving one, and more than anything, PTSD. Vonneguts writing will last forever because hes irreverent, funny, and accessible, but hes also honest and fundamentally decent. Thats why Vonnegut appeals to younger readers; kids arent just picky eaters; they are picky readers. You have to meet them where they are in terms of attitude, interest, and style. By removing some of the most popular books among young people classics and newer books alike the district is depriving students of great books but also the love of reading and learning itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And as a rule, if youre banning books, youre afraid of ideas: The Soviets were afraid of capitalism, religion, and freedom of speech. The Nazis loathed the Jews, inferior races, modernism in all its forms, and were racist to their core. The Inquisition banned or targeted works by Copernicus and Galileo and Giordano Bruno because they feared their monopoly on cosmology was at an end. The ideas that Booklooks, and by extension, The St. Francis School Board, fear are plain. Even the most cursory look at its anonymous ratings (available on Internet Archive) shows that the books it targets are by or about women, LGBTQ folks, Black and brown folks, or people who have a different point of view. Like any attempt at censorship, its an exercise in erasure. But I can promise you this: It wont work. As the packed school board meetings, recent student protests, and a pair of newly filed lawsuits against the district make clear, people care about the freedom to read, the First Amendment, and the books and characters they love. This misguided policy has already been an expensive debacle, and the district has made statewide news in the most embarrassing way. If the policy remains in force, it will continue to hurt the districts own students by depriving them of great works of art, and worse, giving them an incomplete, myopic view of the world. Pope Francis died Monday, April 21, after 12 years as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, triggering an outpouring of mourning across the globe. The pope's death initiates a centuries-old process of rituals and traditions that culminates with a conclave, a gathering of the Church's current 135 cardinal electors who are sealed inside the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pontiff. Here's what's to come in the days following the pope's death. Day One Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope was formally pronounced dead by the cardinal camerlengo currently Irish-born American Kevin Farrell who is one of the most important Vatican officials during the interregnum period. Traditionally, the camerlengo (chamberlain) would tap a silver hammer on the pope's head while calling out his baptismal name three times. The hammer is no longer used. Far more conventionally, an electrocardiogram was used to confirm John Paul II's death in 2005. Farrell then made a statement announcing the news: "At 7:35 this morning, The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father's house. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church." Once the camerlengo pronounces the pope dead, and before sealing the papal apartment, he breaks the pope's Fisherman's ring and destroys the dies used to make the papal seal for apostolic letters, to symbolize the end of the pontificate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These items will be buried with the pope. But first, the pontiff is transported to lie in state in St. Peter's Basilica. Hundreds of thousands of mourners descended on Vatican City after the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2022 to pay their respects. Novemdiales Pope Francis's death will be followed by a nine-day mourning period called Novemdiales, a tradition that dates back to Roman times. Vatican flags will fly at half-staff, and the bronze doors of St Peter's Basilica are closed. The funeral must take place four to six days after the pope's death. For Pope Francis, it took place Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter's Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recent popes have asked to be buried beneath the Basilica there, but Francis said he would be laid to rest in Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore). He also asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket. The papal funeral is broken down into three separate phases, or "stations." They are the preparation of the body, the viewing of the body, and then the burial. At the funeral, attended by kings, queens, heads of state and religious leaders, the coffin is carried through the so-called "door of death" to the left of the main altar, as a single bell tolls. Pope Francis was then taken in procession from St. Peter's to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome for entombment. During the nine-day mourning period, cardinals from around the world gather in Rome and begin meeting in "General Congregations," a sort of campaigning period where various papal candidates give speeches about their visions for the church, mapping out the direction they think it should take. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conclave The Vatican says the conclave to choose Pope Francis' successor will begin May 7. Rules say it must begin 15 to 20 days after the pope's death. This is when the cardinal electors cardinals under the age of 80, currently a group of about 135 isolate themselves from the world and begin the centuries-old process of choosing the next leader of the Catholic Church. Behind closed doors in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, the cardinals will cast ballots for their choice, repeating the process until a candidate emerges with a two-thirds-plus-one majority. The paper ballots are burned after each round of voting, sending up black smoke to signal no choice has been reached yet, and finally white smoke to reveal that a new pope has been selected. The life of teen idol Bobby Darin Bill Belichick on a life in football Pope Francis laid to rest "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Pope Francis passed away at age 88, the Vatican announced today. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement. The popes death begins the official nine days of mourning, called the Novendiale, a tradition dating back to Ancient Rome. (Italy will also likely declare a period of national mourning.) In addition, Pope Franciss death begins a period of sede vacante (literally the seat is vacant) in the College of Cardinals, during which, the responsibility of the rule of church resides with the College. The day of Franciss death is counted as the first day of the vacancy, and a conclave must begin no earlier than day 16, and no later than day 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres an overview what happens next: Apartments sealed Upon Franciss passing, his death will be confirmed by two people: the head of the Vaticans health department and the camerlengo, cardinal chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church. That position is held by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, 77. After a ceremony in the popes private chapel, the camerlengo drafts a document authenticating the popes death, affixing the doctors report, per the New York Times. He secures the pontiffs private papers and seals his apartments, which in the case of Francis are a large section of the second floor at the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican City guesthouse used by visiting cardinals, where Francis has lived throughout his papacy. He also arranges for the destruction of the so-called fishermans ring, used by the pope to seal documents, with a ceremonial hammer, to prevent forgeries. Lying in state Pope Francis, dressed in papal vestments, will lie in state in St. Peters Basilica, where thousands will pay their respectsincluding world leaders and royalty. (When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, he first lay in state in Clementine Hall for Vatican staff before he was moved to St. Peters for public viewing. Francis has reportedly done away with this tradition.) According to Politico, In the past, the popes corpse was displayed on a raised platform called a catafalque, but Francis simplified funeral rites will see him lying in an open coffin without so much pomp and pageantry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he lies in state, Politico adds, daily prayer services and Requiem Masses will be held at St. Peters Basilica and throughout the Catholic world. The funeral Pope Franciss funeral will be held four to six days following his death, and will take place in St. Peters Square, led by the dean of the College of Cardinals. That position is currently held by 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re of Italy. The burial After, Pope Francis will be laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) basilica in Rome. (More on his decision to be buried at St. Mary Major, here.) He will be buried with a rogito, a document detailing his life and reign. The conclave Two weeks after Pope Franciss funeral, the College of Cardinals will convene a conclave at the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote for the next vote, and candidates need to win a two-thirds majority. Conclaves can last multiple rounds and multiple days. You Might Also Like It is reasonable for people with trips booked to Rome to have questions about what, exactly, happens in the city after the death of the Pope. There may also be Catholics who wish to travel to Rome and the Vatican at short notice. What happens in Rome when the Pope dies? The death of a Pope is a solemn period for the Catholic Church. It is marked by nine days of mourning (called the Novendiale) and a carefully choreographed ceremonial process in the Vatican City that lasts weeks. In the coming days there will be a period where people can pay their respects at St Peters Basilica, where the Pope will lie in wait. The funeral must take place between four and six days after the Popes death followed by the conclave (around 15 to 20 days after the Popes death). After a new Pope is elected, he will make a public appearance in St Peters Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Telegraph Travel destination expert Rebecca Winke, who has lived in Rome since 1993, reflects on the general feeling in Rome after the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005: The area around Vatican City was crowded with mourners, and the curious, from around the globe who waited in line for hours to pay their respects, but just blocks away the city buzzed on as normal. Rome and Romans have lived cheek-to-jowl with the Pope for centuries so their relationship to Vatican affairs is at once symbiotic and pragmatic. Can you visit the Vatican and will basilica and the Sistine Chapel be closed? Following the death of Pope Francis, St Peters Basilica will be closed during some religious services, and the Vatican Museums (and Sistine Chapel) will likely close on the day of the funeral and may close a day or two before, too, depending on the service schedule. The Sistine Chapel will then close during the conclave for the selection of the new Pope, which occurs after the Popes funeral. Typically the conclave is called between 15 and 20 days after the death of the Pope, to allow for cardinals to gather. But things could move quicker, given that it is the Jubilee Year in Rome. In 2013, the conclave that elected Pope Francis lasted around 24 hours. Sometimes it can last much longer in the 13th century, the College of Cardinals took three years to elect Pope Gregory X. Will St Peters Square remain open? St Peters Square will remain open during the period of mourning, to allow members of the public to pay their respects. The funeral mass is usually open to the public, but reservations may be required (for free). Will shops and restaurants in Rome close? Businesses in Rome do not typically close during the period of mourning that follows the death of the Pope. However, some business in and around the Vatican City may be disrupted. Will hotels remain open? Yes, hotels will be open and, in all probability, busier than usual as pilgrims travel from around the world to pay their respects. Will museums and churches in Rome remain open? Museums and churches in Rome (outside of The Vatican) will remain open, although some churches particularly papal basilicas may be closed to tourists for special services and ceremonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis has expressed his desire to be interred inside Santa Maria Maggiore, so if he is indeed entombed there, special masses and services can be expected. Will guided tours still take place? Most guided tours will likely still take place as usual, although itineraries will be altered on the day of the funeral and access to sights in the Vatican restricted. If you have a tour booked in the Vatican City that is cancelled, you would likely be offered a refund or a rebooking option check the terms and conditions or contact the company. Will it be busier than usual in Rome? This year is already a significant year for Rome. The city is celebrating a Jubilee Year (also known as a Holy Year), an event which occurs every 25 years. This is a special year in which Catholic pilgrims from around the world travel to Rome to worship, receive communion, pray and pass through the Holy Door (doors at a selection of basilicas, opened during the Jubilee Year). In addition to the pilgrims who have already booked to visit Rome in 2025, there will now likely be a significant further influx of people travelling to the city. In 2005, reports suggested that as many as four million people travelled from outside of Rome to witness the funeral of John Paul II. Will there be a heightened security presence? Visitors should expect crowds and heightened security in and around St Peters Square, but the rest of the city will function more or less as normal. Public transport to and from the Vatican will likely be particularly busy. Where will I find the latest information? If you have booked an entry ticket or a tour of a museum or church in Rome or the Vatican, it would be wise to check their official website ahead of travelling to check if there are any schedule changes. Vatican News (vaticannews.va) is a good source of information including schedules and timings. You should also check the Jubilee website (iubilaeum2025.va), where updates will likely be posted. 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. Harvard University filed suit Monday against the Trump administration, challenging its decision to cut more than $2 billion in grants in a high-profile showdown between the government and the prestigious private institution. Harvard President Alan Garber said in a statement announcing the suit that the university chose to challenge what it considered unreasonable demands from an administration antisemitism task force to to control whom we hire and what we teach." The administration's demands, he said, "would impose unprecedented and improper control over the university" and came without any real effort to engage on the issue of antisemitism. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families is coming to an end," said Harrison Fields, a White House spokesperson, in response to the lawsuit. "Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege. The Trump administration has launched a review of roughly $9 billion in grants and contracts with the university over the treatment of Jewish students that it says violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, including during protests of the Israel-Hamas war that roiled campuses across the country last year. Already, the administration has pulled more than $2 billion in federal funding from the school and is considering pulling $1 billion more in grants. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service is scrutinizing the universitys tax-exempt status, and the Department of Homeland Security has threatened to revoke Harvards ability to enroll international students, who make up about 27 percent of its total enrollment. The Education Department is also probing the universitys federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These actions have stark real-life consequences for patients, students, faculty, staff, researchers, and the standing of American higher education in the world, Garber said. The lawsuit said the federal government launched a broad attack on billions in research funding at Harvard and half a dozen institutions with little warning and even less explanation. Lawyers on behalf of the institution said the federal government is withholding of federal funding as leverage to gain control of academic decisionmaking at Harvard. To avoid losing funds, the administration earlier this month demanded the institution reform its governance, change its hiring and admissions policies, report foreign students and students with green cards for conduct violations, audit academic programs or departments for antisemitism using an external party, end diversity programs and reform student discipline procedure, among other requirements. All told, the tradeoff put to Harvard and other universities is clear: Allow the Government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardize the institutions ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions, the lawsuit said, adding that the sweeping research funding freezes have nothing at all to do with antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers representing Harvard include some with GOP and Trump administration ties. They include Robert Hur, William Burck, Steven Lehotsky, who was a law clerk for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and Scott Keller, who was formerly the Texas solicitor general. They argue that the administrations actions flout the First Amendment and Title VI compliance procedures that must occur before revoking federal funding. The university argued that the government has made no effort to follow those procedures before freezing or terminating its funding, which include attempting to secure voluntary compliance, holding a hearing and unveiling a report of findings. Lawyers also said the funding freezes will force the school to reduce or halt ongoing research projects, terminate employment contracts and make cuts to departments and programs. If Harvard continues to use its own resources in place of the funding, the school will then have to reduce the number of graduate students it admits and the number of faculty and research staff. They also argued it could economically hurt the Boston area, since the university is one of Massachusetts largest employers. Defendants actions threaten Harvards academic independence and place at risk critical lifesaving and pathbreaking research that occurs on its campus, the lawsuit said, adding that the freeze is part of a broader effort by the Government to punish Harvard for protecting its constitutional rights. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. As global geopolitics continues to shift, the need for secure and reliable trade routes between Europe and Asia has never been greater. Ongoing conflicts, especially in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, have disrupted traditional transport corridors and forced countries to rethink their logistics strategies. In this changing landscape, Azerbaijan has emerged as a vital hub along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - also known as the Middle Corridor - offering Germany and the wider European Union a stable and strategic connection to Central Asia, the Far East, and China. During his recent visit to Baku, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier underscored the growing importance of this route. "I am very glad that Azerbaijan has developed into an important place," he said. "Very important trade routes pass through your country, which, in turn, can serve as a basis for the unification of the world. We have talked about our economic and trade relations. Your country plays a role in Germany's trade relations not only with Central Asia, but also with the Far East, including Southwest Asia and China. We know that the possibilities of the existing roads are limited. The roads passing through your country, as well as the role of the Middle Corridor, are important for the German economy and represent a good prospect. This will be even more interesting". President Steinmeiers remarks reflect a broader shift in thinking. For years, trade between Europe and Asia flowed through established routes - either overland through Russia or by sea through the Suez Canal. But the war in Ukraine has effectively cut off the Northern Corridor, and the Southern route via Iran remains unreliable due to Tehrans strained relationship with the West. Meanwhile, attacks by the Houthi movement on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait have made maritime trade riskier and more costly. In this context, the Middle Corridor has become the most promising alternative. Running from China through Central Asia and the Caspian Sea, then across Azerbaijan and Georgia to Europe, it bypasses high-risk areas while offering shorter transit times and greater stability. Azerbaijan, located at the heart of this route, is playing a key role in making it work. The country has spent the last 30 years investing heavily in its transport infrastructure. It has modernized railways, upgraded ports, and built logistics hubs. Today, Azerbaijan operates the largest commercial fleet on the Caspian Sea, with more than 50 vessels. Its shipyards are being expanded and will soon be able to produce 1015 tankers and cargo ships annually - double the current output. These efforts are already showing results. In 2024, transit cargo through Azerbaijan totaled 14.5 million tons - 2.5 times more than in 2019. Of that, 4.5 million tons moved along the Middle Corridor, up 7% from the previous year. These numbers highlight both the growing demand for the route and Azerbaijans expanding capacity to handle it. Moreover, the proposed Zangezur Corridor, which would connect Azerbaijans mainland with its Nakhchivan exclave via southern Armenia, is also closely tied to the broader vision of East-West connectivity. First outlined in the aftermath of the 2020 Karabakh war and referenced in the trilateral agreement signed by Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia, the corridor is planned to include both rail and road links. If implemented, the Zangezur Corridor could significantly enhance the Middle Corridor by creating a more direct land route from Azerbaijan to Turkiye. This would help reduce transit times for cargo moving from Central Asia and China to European markets, while also decreasing reliance on northern routes that pass through Russia. In addition to strengthening Azerbaijan-Turkiye transport links and fostering greater economic integration within the Turkic world, the corridor would provide Central Asian countries with another viable gateway to Europe. It also aligns with broader EU and regional efforts to diversify supply chains and transit options across Eurasia. In January 2024, the European Union announced a 10 billion euro investment to enhance the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This initiative, unveiled at the Global Gateway Investors Forum in Brussels, aims to transform the corridor into a modern, multimodal, and efficient route connecting Europe and Central Asia within 15 days. The investment encompasses both ongoing and planned projects, including 1.47 billion euros in loans from the European Investment Bank and 1.5 billion euros in investments from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, particularly focusing on infrastructure developments in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. This strategic move underscores the EU's commitment to diversifying trade routes and reducing reliance on traditional corridors through Russia. For Germany, Europes largest economy and one of the worlds top exporters, maintaining access to Asian markets is critical. As traditional routes become less viable, the Middle Corridor is fast becoming a strategic necessity. It offers German companies a safe and efficient pathway to Central Asia, China, and other key markets in the East. Azerbaijan is eager to deepen its transport and logistics ties with Germany. As a stable and reliable partner in a volatile region, Baku sees great potential in closer cooperation - not just in transit, but also in broader economic and trade engagement. In short, Azerbaijan is more than just a stop along the way. It is a key player in the future of Europe-Asia connectivity. With its modern infrastructure, strategic location, and growing role in regional logistics, it stands out as the most advanced transport hub in the South Caucasus. In a time of uncertainty, the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan offers a secure, stable, and forward-looking route to the East. The Trump administration announced that it would block Harvard University from receiving $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts after the school refused demands to adopt new policies. Sophie Park via Getty Images Harvard University filed a lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trumps administration after the government froze billions of dollars in federal grants over what it had claimed was antisemitism at the university. The university alleges in its lawsuit that the slashing of federal funding is to gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard. Alan M. Garber, the universitys president, said in a statement that the governments overreach will have severe and long-lasting consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research that the government has put in jeopardy includes efforts to improve the prospects of children who survive cancer, to understand at the molecular level how cancer spreads throughout the body, to predict the spread of infectious disease outbreaks, and to ease the pain of soldiers wounded on the battlefield, Garber said. As opportunities to reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimers disease, and Parkinsons disease are on the horizon, the government is slamming on the brakes. The victims will be future patients and their loved ones who will suffer the heartbreak of illnesses that might have been prevented or treated more effectively. Indiscriminately slashing medical, scientific, and technological research undermines the nations ability to save American lives, foster American success, and maintain Americas position as a global leader in innovation. In a statement, White House spokesman Harrison Fields described the funding as a privilege. The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families is coming to an end, he said. Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege. On April 11, the Trump administration wrote Harvard a letter threatening to withhold federal grants if the university did not comply to 10 demands, which included ending all DEI programs, closing down departments that are critical of Israel, limiting the admissions of foreign students, banning certain student groups and more. Harvard said in a letter that it would not make a deal with the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights, lawyers Robert Hur and William Burck wrote in the letter to the administration. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the governments terms as an agreement in principle. Garber said in a statement at the time that the governments conditions went beyond the power of the federal government. The administration then froze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts. All told, the tradeoff put to Harvard and other universities is clear: Allow the Government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardize the institutions ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions, the lawsuit reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has targeted Harvard and other universities over supposed antisemitism after pro-Palestine protests broke out at campuses across the country. Student activists have said they are being falsely accused of antisemitism and believe the administration is trying to silence students speaking up for Palestinians human rights. Harvard said in the lawsuit that it is working on combating antisemitism, but just like any other university, it cannot allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. The university added that there is no rational connection between antisemitism concerns and withholding research funding that will benefit Americans and maintain Americas position as a global leader in innovation. Last month, Columbia University agreed to the administrations demands after its funds were stripped. Harvard sued the Trump administration in federal court on Monday, saying that the White House is trying to punish Harvard for protecting its constitutional rights. Read the full complaint here. Trump has already cut $2.2 billion in federal grants to the Ivy League schools research funds after it refused to eliminate its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies. Several other companies, including Amazon, Google, Meta and Walmart complied with Trumps orders, but Harvard was one of the few organizations to defy the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for the university argue that Trumps cuts to Harvards funding is unconstitutional and will jeopardize the institutions medical research. The tradeoff put to Harvard and other universities is clear: Allow the Government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardize the institutions ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions, Harvards lawyers wrote in the filing. Harvard is asking for the court to halt and declare the $2.2 billion freeze unlawful. University President Alan M. Garber sent a memo on Monday that universities and colleges must be allowed to fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard will be represented by attorneys Robert K. Hur and William A. Burck: Hur was appointed to the Department of Justice by Trump in his first term, and Burck previously served as counsel for the Trump Organization, The Crimson reports. Lawyers at law firms Ropes & Gray and Lehotsky Keller Cohn, both of which have offices in Washington DC., will also represent Harvard, according to the lawsuit. In a statement posted sometime after the lawsuit was filed, Harvard President Alan Garber said in part that the funding freeze is unlawful and beyond the governments authority. The post Harvard Sues Trump Administration, Says $2.2 Billion Freeze Is Punishment for Protecting Its Constitutional Rights appeared first on TheWrap. BOSTON (AP) Harvard University announced Monday that it has filed suit to halt a federal freeze on more than $2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administrations demands to limit activism on campus. In an April 11 letter to Harvard, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university and changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus and stop recognizing some student clubs. The administration has argued universities allowed antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests last year against Israels war in Gaza. Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government has not and cannot identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain Americas position as a global leader in innovation, said the lawsuit, filed in Boston federal court. Nor has the Government acknowledged the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvards research programs, the beneficiaries of that research, and the national interest in furthering American innovation and progress, it added. Harvard's suit called the funding freeze arbitrary and capricious, saying it violated its First Amendment rights and the statutory provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Within hours, the White House lashed back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families is coming to an end," White House spokesman Harrison Fields said in an email Monday. "Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege. For the Trump administration, Harvard presents the first major hurdle in its attempt to force change at universities that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. A part of that is targeting research funding which has fueled scientific breakthroughs but has become an easy source of leverage for the Trump administration. In its letter earlier this month, the administration told Harvard to impose tougher discipline on protesters and to screen international students for those who are hostile to the American values. It also called for broad leadership reforms at the university, admissions policy changes and the end of college recognition for some student clubs. The government also demanded Harvard audit its faculty and student body to ensure wide viewpoints in every department and, if necessary, diversify by admitting additional students and hiring new faculty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last Monday, Harvard said it would not comply, citing the First Amendment. The following day, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, questioning whether the university should lose its tax-exempt status if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness? The lawsuit follows one filed earlier this month by the American Association of University Professors demanding a federal judge declare unlawful and put aside a pending review and investigation of Harvards funding. The university frames the governments demands as a threat not only to the Ivy League school but to the autonomy the Supreme Court has long granted American universities. Today, we stand for the values that have made American higher education a beacon for the world, Garber wrote Monday to the Harvard community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honor their legal obligations and best fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion," he added. Anurima Bhargava, one of the alumni who has encouraged Harvard to take a tougher stand against the administration, praised the filing of the lawsuit. The Trump administration continues its reckless and unlawful attack for power and control over Harvard, slashing billions in funding for scientific research and innovation that improves and saves lives, she said. Today, Harvard once again refused to accede to the administrations dangerous and escalating demands. The American Council on Education, a nonprofit with more than 1,600 member colleges and universities, applauded Harvard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been clear for weeks that the administrations actions violated due process and the rule of law. We applaud Harvard for taking this step and look forward to a clear and unambiguous statement by the court rebuking efforts to undermine scholarship and science, said Ted Mitchell, the council's president. ___ Gecker reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed. Harvard University is suing President Trumps administration in order to prevent the federal government from freezing more than $2 billion in grants. The Trump administration had said it was going to freeze around $2.2 billion in grants in order to limit activism on campus. In a letter to Harvard earlier this month, Trumps administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university, as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognizing some student clubs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard is the fifth Ivy League school targeted in a pressure campaign by the administration, which also has paused federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton to force compliance with its agenda. A letter to the universitys president earlier this month described Harvards federal money as a taxpayer investment thats based on performance. Harvard has fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment and must take immediate action to keep its funding, the letter said. Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the governments demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding. Last week, Harvard became the first university to openly defy the Trump administration as it demands sweeping changes to limit activism on campus. The university frames the governments demands as a threat not only to the Ivy League school but to the autonomy that the Supreme Court has long granted American universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard is uniquely equipped to push back against the federal government because its $53 billion endowment is the largest in the nation. But like other major universities, Harvard also depends on the federal funding that fuels its scientific and medical research. 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 Harvard University announced Monday that it was suing the Trump administration to halt a freeze on more than $2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administrations demands to limit activism on campus. In a letter to Harvard earlier this month, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded that the university audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognizing some student clubs. Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the governments demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government has not and cannot identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain Americas position as a global leader in innovation, the university wrote in its lawsuit. Nor has the Government acknowledged the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvards research programs, the beneficiaries of that research, and the national interest in furthering American innovation and progress, it added. The Trump administration, in the April 11 letter, told Harvard to impose tougher discipline on protesters and to screen international students for those who are hostile to the American values. It also called for broad leadership reforms at the university, changes to admissions policies and the removal of college recognition for some student clubs. The government also demanded Harvard audit its faculty and student body to ensure wide viewpoints in every department and, if necessary, diversify by admitting additional students and hiring new faculty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last Monday, Harvard said it would not comply, citing the First Amendment. The following day, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, questioning whether the university should lose its tax-exempt status if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness? The Trump administration also threatened to block the university from enrolling international students. The university frames the governments demands as a threat not only to the Ivy League school but to the autonomy that the Supreme Court has long granted American universities. For the Trump administration, Harvard presents the first major hurdle in its attempt to force change at universities that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conflict is straining the longstanding relationship between the federal government and universities that use federal money to fuel scientific breakthroughs. Long seen as a benefit to the greater good, that money has become an easy source of leverage for the Trump administration. Today, we stand for the values that have made American higher education a beacon for the world, Garber wrote Monday to the Harvard community. We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honor their legal obligations and best fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion, he wrote. That is how we achieve academic excellence, safeguard open inquiry and freedom of speech, and conduct pioneering researchand how we advance the boundless exploration that propels our nation and its people into a better future. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW April 21 (UPI) -- Disgraced former Hollywood legend Harvey Weinstein will remain in Bellevue Hospital this week as his retrial gets underway and jury selection continued. Last week, jury selection started for Weinstein's retrial over years-long sex crime allegations. Weinstein, 73, was found guilty five years ago of third-degree rape that triggered the #MeToo movement and he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Weinstein's conviction was overturned last year by a New York appeals court, which paved the way for a new trial. On Wednesday, the disgraced ex-Hollywood film producer had filed an emergency request to be transferred to Bellevue Hospital from Rikers Island due to a "tongue infection." Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein appears in a Manhattan court Monday as jury selection continued. Weinstein, 73, was found guilty five years ago of third-degree rape which triggered the #MeToo movement and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, his conviction was overturned last year by a New York appeals court which paved the way for a new trial. Pool Photo by Curtis Means/UPI The former Miramax chief was among one of the most influential movie moguls. His career ended when several women accused him of using is status in Hollywood to coerce them into sexual encounters. He was in Bellevue for a period in November and last spring during which it was later reported he received VIP treatment. Harvey Weinstein (seen Monday) was previously in Bellevue Hospital where it was later reported he received VIP treatment. His transfer request from Rikers Island to Bellevue was granted this week where Weinstein will stay until Thursday when a hearing will determine if he will remain in Bellevue for the trial's duration. Pool Photo by Curtis Means/UPI His request was granted this week where Weinstein will stay until Thursday when a hearing will determine if he will remain in Bellevue for the trial's duration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weinstein, who turned 73 on March 19, has argued that he may see "possibly death" if not permitted to leave Rikers, known for it's notorious and inefficient reputation with a proposed framework in place for Rikers to be placed in the hands of a receivership outside the control of Mayor Eric Adams' administration. "He needs to do what he needs to do for himself," Elizabeth Glazer, founder of Vital City and ex-criminal justice adviser to former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, told The New York Times. "(Weinstein) may be calling for the reform of the entire system, but his immediate purpose is relief for himself," added Glazer. HONOLULU (KHON2) Hawaii has long been celebrated for its entrepreneurial spirit, with small businesses playing a vital role in the states economy. However, recent data indicated that starting a business in the Aloha State comes with significant challenges. According to a 2025 LendingTree analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, Hawaii has one of the highest first-year business failure rate in the nation, with 25.4% of new businesses closing within their first year. Heres what the study reported. Top 10 insights into small business failures in Hawaii 1. Fourth highest first-year failure rate in the U.S.: With a failure rate of 25.4%, Hawaii faces notable challenges for small businesses with a one-year failure rate thats above the national average of 21.5%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. Economic factors contributing to failures: High operational costs, including expenses for shipping, real estate, and utilities, significantly impact business sustainability in Hawaii. 3. Limited market size: The states geographic isolation and smaller population can limit customer bases, and that affects revenue potential for new businesses. 4. Tourism-dependent economy: Businesses heavily reliant on tourism are vulnerable to fluctuations in visitor numbers. These fluctuations, such as travel advisories, can be influenced by global events and economic conditions. 5. Access to capital: Securing funding can be more challenging in Hawaii due to fewer local financial institutions and venture capital opportunities. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You 6. Industry-specific challenges: Certain industries, such as retail and hospitality, face higher failure rates due to intense competition and changing consumer behaviors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 7. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: While the pandemic posed challenges, businesses that adapted to online models or essential services demonstrated greater resilience. 8. Regulatory environment: Navigating state and local regulations can be complex and can potentially delay business operations and increasing costs. 9. Workforce availability: Attracting and retaining skilled employees can be difficult due to the high cost of living and limited labor pool. 10. Importance of business planning: Comprehensive business plans that account for Hawaiis unique market conditions are crucial for long-term success. Understanding the challenges 11. Financial constraints: Many businesses in Hawaii struggle with cash flow issues. This is often due to high startup costs and ongoing operational expenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12. Market research: A lack of thorough market analysis can lead to misaligned products or services that dont meet local demand. 13. Adaptability: Businesses that fail to adapt to changing market conditions or consumer preferences are more likely to close. Strategies for Success Conduct in-depth market research: Understanding the local market dynamics is essential for identifying viable business opportunities. Develop a robust business plan: A detailed plan can help anticipate challenges and outline strategies for growth and sustainability. Seek local support: Engaging with local business organizations and mentorship programs can provide valuable guidance and resources. Focus on financial management: Maintaining a strong handle on finances, including budgeting and securing adequate funding, is critical. Embrace flexibility: Being prepared to pivot and adapt to new circumstances can enhance a businesss resilience. While Hawaii presents unique challenges for new businesses, understanding the factors contributing to high failure rates can inform better preparation and strategic planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can click here to read the full report. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 By leveraging local resources, conducting thorough market research and maintaining financial discipline, entrepreneurs can increase their chances of success in the states dynamic economic landscape. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) Gov. Josh Green announced that both the United States and Hawaii state flags at state offices and agencies will be lowered to half-staff to honor the legacy of Pope Francis. The order came from President Donald Trump after the Vatican announced the death of the pope, who was 88. How is a new pope selected? Pope Francis was a beacon of compassion, humility and service, said Gov. Green in a statement. His unwavering commitment to the marginalized and his call for global solidarity have left an indelible mark on the world. Hawaii joins the global community in mourning his passing and honoring his profound legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis worked up until the very end, appearing at St. Peters Square on Easter Sunday to deliver his annual message just one day before he died on Monday morning. After many prayers for his recovery, Pope Francis has passed to his eternal rest. How blessed is Pope Francis to have died on this Easter week, after dedicating his life and his papacy to proclaiming the Lord Jesus as alive and active in our world! Bishop Larry Silva of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu said in a statement. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The Vatican announced that Pope Francis death was caused by a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaii is home to an estimated 300,000 Catholics and the loss of Pope Francis is being felt deeply. In the stillness of downtown Honolulus Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, the Catholic faithful had come to pray with heavy hearts. When I heard it on the radio driving to work this morning, I started to cry. I had always hoped to meet the man, actually, and so now Im going to meet him in heaven, said Anne Chipchase, who serves as the church sacristan. The passing of Pope Francis marks the end of a papacy that many here say changed the very tone of the church. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He really tried, I think, to push the church into the next century. Theres a lot of institutional inertia, right? When you have an organization thats 2,000 years old, it takes a lot to move. But I think he sincerely tried everything he could to move the church in that direction and I think for the most part, members really appreciated that inclusive approach to the Catholic faith, said David Pendleton, who had come to the cathedral to pray. Monsignor Gary Secor, Vicar General of the Diocese of Honolulu, had the chance to meet the Pope during an official visit to the Vatican in 2020. Before we went in to see the Pope, the person who was organizing us said, quite interestingly, Do not kiss his ring. Do not curtsy. Do not bow. Do not genuflect. The Pope doesnt like that. Just shake his hand,' Monsignor Secor said. So that kind of set the tone for the fact that he welcomed us with great warmth and humility, and it was wonderful to be able to meet him. Once-extinct bird species lays first wild eggs in 40 years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaii holds a special place in the Catholic story. Hawaii gifted two saints to the world: Saint Damien of Molokai and Saint Marianne Cope. Under Pope Francis, a third name began rising to that sacred levelJoseph Dutton. As the world now waits to see who will step in to lead the Catholic church, Monsignor Secor says the faithful in Hawaii remain hopeful. I think that its very important that the Holy Father be a source of unity in the church, and that he be concerned with everyone in the church, and even with those who might be in some ways dissenting. Not that it means we have to alter or radically change things that should not be changed, but its all in the presentation of how we share our values and the principles of the gospel and I hope that the new Holy Father will keep that in mind, Monsignor Secor said. A special memorial mass for Pope Francis is planned for Monday, April 28th at 6 p.m. at the Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa in Honolulu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 21. At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on April 2627, Trend reports. "During high-level talks, the parties plan to discuss prospects for the development of the Kazakh-Italian strategic partnership," the press service of the President of Kazakhstan stated. On April 27, the first Central Asia Italy summit will be held in Kazakhstans Astana. Regarding Italy's relations with Central Asian nations, the Italian government has had diplomatic and political relations with post-Soviet states since 1991. Italy, like many EU members, has strengthened ties with Central Asian republics and Afghanistan since 9/11. Italy sponsored EU 2007 Strategy for Central Asia projects. It has encouraged bilateral and multilateral collaboration through international organization programs in trade, culture, society, and the rule of law. Italy's regional strategic aims include energy and security. Italian involvement in the region is mostly limited to attaining these strategic goals, limiting its geopolitical position as a lone player or within the EU policy. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel AUSTIN (KXAN) Paul Yura, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office, has announced he has taken the early retirement offer as part of NOAAs recent cuts to personnel and budget. Yura has over 32 years experience, spending more than half of his career at the NWS Austin/San Antonio office. In the process, he gained tremendous experience understanding local weather patterns while ensuring timely warnings get disseminated to the public in a multitude of ways. The warning coordination meteorologist (WCM) is a senior role at a local NWS office. According to NOAA, The WCM coordinates the warning function of the office with the outside world. This would include heading the Skywarn Program, conducting spotter training and being a voice to the local media for the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only the meteorologist in charge (MIC) has a higher position within a local office. Yuras retirement is part of an early retirement package offered to National Weather Service employees as the Trump Administration works to slash the budget at NWS and the larger NOAA organization. In an e-mailed message to media partners, Yura said, I cannot have asked for a more rewarding career that has spanned over 32 years, with over half of that career right here in South Central Texas as the WCM for the NWS Austin-San Antonio office. And while I am sad that it is ending a few years earlier than I had planned, the friendships and relationships that I have made while being your WCM cannot be replaced. As for a replacement to the WCM, the current hiring freeze, as mentioned by Yura in his message, may make filling that role more challenging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes less than a week after several Regional Climate Centers across the county had their funding lapse even though they were restarted again on Monday. Climate center for Texas is back online after funding lapse The importance of experience in the WCM role cannot be understated. Ensuring ample and timely warning to the Central Texas counties covered by NWS Austin/San Antonio is among the chief responsibilities. Yuras final date of employment, April 30, comes just before severe weather season in Central Texas typically peaks in the month of May. Staffing at NWS Austin/San Antonio According to the NWS Austin/San Antonio website, the office is already short two meteorologist positions currently listed as vacant. The positions of lead meteorologist and meteorologist remain open. Separately, NWS Austin/San Antonio have a vacant electronics technician position. Science Operations Officer also retiring In addition to Yura, Science Operations Officer Jon Zeitler is also retiring on April 30, but it is not an early retirement as part of NOAA personnel cuts. Zeitler has worked at NWS Austin/San Antonio for the past two decades and across all types of impactful severe weather and winter weather events in this area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Advocates worry that some nursing homes have not been inspected in years, leaving seniors potentially exposed to unsafe living conditions. Stock.adobe.com Health officials say the state is making progress on reducing a significant backlog of nursing home inspections, with more than half of facilities having received an inspection within the last 16 months. But with some facilities being more than four years behind schedule for an inspection, advocates and lawmakers fear that some of Marylands seniors may be languishing in unsafe living conditions while the state works through its backlog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do we hold owners of nursing homes accountable for the care in the places where these folks are staying? asked Bruce Hartung, president of the Maryland Continuing Care Residents Association. Without inspections, we simply have no idea how these folks are living and in what conditions they are living. At issue is a years-old backlog of state inspections of the states 220 nursing homes as required by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The backlog has spanned administrations and was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Maryland ranks second to last in the nation when it comes to timely inspections of nursing homes, with average inspection lag of 2.44 years compared to the national average of 0.97 years, according to StarPro, which tracks data on nursing homes across the United States. Maryland falls behind only Alabama, which has an average lag of 3 years. The state Department of Health has been struggling to catch up on those inspections since, with some facilities not receiving an annual inspection for four years or more, according to CMS data, though state officials note that the federal data may lag by a couple months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, lawmakers and senior advocates worry that seniors could be facing unsafe living conditions without oversight or knowledge of state officials, and they passed legislation this session in hopes of keeping better tabs on the issue. These are the most vulnerable people in our population, said Sen. Benjamin Kramer (D-Montgomery). And nobody is putting eyes on the nursing home to ensure that these seniors are being properly cared for. Sen. Benjamin F. Kramer (D-Montgomery). Photo by Bryan P. Sears. Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 376, sponsored by Kramer, to boost the reporting requirements on the health department, so it will provide more frequent updates as it works through the inspection backlog. Under SB376, which is currently on the governors desk, the department will need to start providing quarterly reports updating lawmakers on the progress of nursing home inspections throughout the state. The bill also prompts the Office of Health Care Quality to report to local jurisdictions every six months on the progress of inspections in their individual counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nursing home inspection backlog was a hot topic throughout session. Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, deputy secretary for the health department on public health, told lawmakers that the agency is making progress on the backlog, though he admitted there is still work to be done. He said during a January briefing on the issue for the Senate Finance Committee that the estimated time to catch up on inspections will take about two more years, as the department has needed to train staff to conduct the inspections. Each inspection can take about a week to conduct. In written testimony on SB376, the health department reported that as of March 31, there were 130 nursing homes out of a total 220, or 59%, that had an annual inspection conducted in the previous 16 months, the maximum time allowed by federal guidelines. Thats an improvement from June, when the rate of annual inspections conducted within 16 months was just 21.2%, according to the departments testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hank Greenberg, AARP Maryland state director, said that uninspected nursing homes can result in lower quality of care for seniors, who may not have a strong support system to help advocate for themselves against mistreatment or even abuse. This can result in preventable injuries, a decline in overall resident well-being, and really contributes to the fact that their could be abuse and neglect that dont rise as quickly as they should, he said. And keeps people from being able to know that things will be addressed. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A group of nursing home residents are already suing the Department of Health for neglect they allegedly experienced in living facilities, citing the backlog of nursing home inspections as a contributing factor to their experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs have mobility-related disabilities and rely on nursing staff for moving around the facility, eating, and personal hygiene. The lawsuit alleges that residents were often left unattended for extended periods, leaving them isolated from community events or sometimes left in soiled clothing for hours, among other concerns outlined in the lawsuit. The nursing homes cited in the lawsuit had not had an inspection in years, some as far back as 2020, according to the suit filed last year. SB376 was amended throughout session, and Greenberg and Hartung would have preferred the original version of the bill, which would have allowed counties to sign a memorandum of understanding with the health department to take over on inspections for nursing homes, freeing up state resources to work on the remaining backlog. The initial version of the bill was based on a previous agreement between Montgomery County and the state that expired in 2021, which allowed the county to keep up with timely inspections. The original language in SB376 would have allowed other counties to request the chance to do the same. The department opposed that version of the bill, saying it would actually cost the state more money to let counties conduct inspections and would create other complications. Supporters of the legislation disagreed, but the bill went through a series of amendments before it was struck out during conference committee and rewritten to the new reporting requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you cant get the inspections done, what are your alternatives? Hartung said. It [reporting requirements] is a step forward But we know that theyre not getting done, so the question is what kind of teeth will there be in that reporting? But both Hartung and Greenberg still believe that the new reporting requirements will help keep tabs on the department as it works through the backlog of nursing home inspections. We obviously need that reporting, Greenberg said. Im sure that some of those reports will be responses to complaints that have been alleged Theres a lack of accountability without these reports that could lead to increased risks of neglect and abuse and most importantly, substandard care. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at the media and disgruntled former employees Monday as he finds himself embroiled in fresh controversy over his sharing of sensitive information and his management of the Pentagon. Hegseth was defiant in remarks to reporters at the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll, dismissing new reporting about a second Signal app chat in which he shared information about strikes in Yemen and telling reporters he and President Trump are on the same page all the way. What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax, Hegseth said, responding to new reporting from The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations, Hegseth continued. Not going to work with me, because were changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war-fighters. And anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesnt matter. So Im happy to be here at the Easter Egg Roll with my dad and my kids. Asked if he had spoken to the president, Hegseth said he had. And we are going to continue fighting. On the same page all the way, Hegseth said. The New York Times reported late Sunday that Hegseth shared sensitive information about planned strikes in Yemen in a private chat on the Signal app that included his wife, his brother and his personal lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News of the second chat came roughly a month after the editor in chief of The Atlantic detailed how he was mistakenly added to a group chat of administration officials to discuss plans for military strikes on the Houthis. While national security adviser Mike Waltz took responsibility for that chat, Hegseth shared details about planned strikes in the discussion. Administration officials have insisted there was no classified information shared in either chat. Also Sunday, Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who recently left the department, penned an opinion piece for Politico in which he wrote, the building is in disarray under Hegseths leadership. There has been a wave of departures of top officials in recent days amid a probe for leaks. Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in January. Vice President Vance had to break a tie to solidify his confirmation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier Monday that the president absolutely has confidence in Hegseth. I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands strongly behind him, Leavitt said. Updated at 10:17 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Another day, another old story, said Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell in a statement. But while the news he was responding to on Sunday may have sounded familiar, it was in fact new. After Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Cabinet officials were revealed last month to have discussed U.S. military strikes on Yemen in a Signal chat group that mistakenly included the Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, new reports suggest Hegseth may have shared similar attack details in another chat on the same commercial messaging platformthis time, with a group that reportedly included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. The New York Times first reported on Hegseths second sensitive Signal chat, citing four unnamed sources with knowledge of the chat. CNN also reported on it, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the chat, while the Associated Press confirmed the Times reporting, citing an anonymous source familiar with the chats contents and participants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth and the Trump Administration faced heavy criticism about the implications for national security after the initial leak report last month, with some Congress members even calling on the Defense Secretary to step down. The Administration and GOP allies, however, downplayed the controversy, with President Trump himself accusing critics of making a big deal out of his Administrations only glitch in two months. The details keep coming out, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X after the latest reports. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired. Parnell, the Pentagon spokesperson who was also reportedly a member of the second chat group, insisted there was no classified information in any Signal chat and that the reports are evidence that the Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trumps agenda. Heres what to know. What information was in the second Signal chat? The Times reported that some of the information in the newly revealed Signal chat group, which was named Defense | Team Huddle, included flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornet combat aircraft targeting the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The report described it as essentially the same attack plans that Hegseth had shared in the Signal group chat called Houthi PC small group that included top national security officials as well as the Atlantics Goldberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth reportedly accessed the chat on a private phone distinct from his government-issued device. He created it to discuss routine administrative or scheduling information, according to two of the Times sources, who noted that the Defense Secretary did not typically use the chat to discuss sensitive military operations. Who was in the second Signal chat? Besides Hegseth and Parnell, the Defense | Team Huddle chat also reportedly included Hegseths younger brother Phil, who works in the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security senior adviser and liaison. It also reportedly included Tim Parlatore, Hegseths personal lawyer, whom Hegseth commissioned last month as a Navy commander in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps. Its unclear what level of security clearance Phil Hegseth or Parlatore may have, given their government roles, but Hegseths wife Jennifer, a former Fox News producer who was also reportedly a member of the chat, does not have an official government role. The Defense Secretary has been previously scrutinized for including his wife in sensitive meetings with foreign officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chat also reportedly included two former senior advisers to Hegseth: Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick. Caldwell and Selnick, along with former deputy defense secretary chief of staff Colin Carroll, were fired days earlier, ostensibly after an investigation into leaks. The three issued a statement asserting their innocence and claiming theyve been slandered while maintaining that they remain supportive of the Trump-Vance Administrations mission to make the Pentagon great again. The Defense | Team Huddle chat also reportedly included Joe Kasper, the Defense Secretarys chief of staff who reportedly requested the leak investigation and is set to leave his post for a new role at the Pentagon amid the turmoil. Why is the Trump Administration blaming disgruntled ex-employees? Parnell, in his statement, criticized the Times and all other Fake News that repeat their garbage for enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. The Times as well as CNN and the AP did not name their sources. They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the Presidents agenda, Parnell claimed. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly similarly dismissed the reports, saying in a statement to the AP: No matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same non-story, they cant change the fact that no classified information was shared. Kelly also blamed disgruntled ex-employees, adding: Recently-fired leakers are continuing to misrepresent the truth to soothe their shattered egos and undermine the Presidents agenda, but the administration will continue to hold them accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours after the Times reported on the existence of the second sensitive Signal group chat, John Ullyot, who resigned as acting Defense Department press secretary last week, published a tell-all op-ed for Politico in which he painted a portrait of total chaos and disarray at the Pentagon under Hegseth. Ullyot described Hegseths recent firing of Caldwell, Selnick, and Carrollthree of his most loyal senior staffersas strange and baffling and potentially just the beginning of a broader purge. He also suggested that the leak allegations against the three officials were unfounded. Unfortunately, Hegseths team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door, Ullyot wrote. The dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president, Ullyot asserted, warning that there may yet be more shoes to drop in short order and even bigger bombshell stories coming this week. Given Trumps strong record of holding his top officials to account, he added, its hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer. What are the reactions so far? The fresh news of Hegseth potentially disclosing sensitive information in another Signal chat has already prompted sharp rebuke from some Democratic lawmakers. Sen. Jack Reed (D, R.I.), the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that Hegseth must immediately explain and urged the Defense Departments Inspector General Office to include the latest allegations in its ongoing investigation of Hegseths mishandling of classified information. If true, this incident is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseths reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military servicemember is required to follow, Reed said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Andy Kim. (D., N.J.) posted on X: Ill say it againHegseth needs to resign. There was more than enough from the last Signal leak to show he is not fit to lead our military. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D, N.Y.) posted on X that Hegseth recklessly used an unsecured app to discuss war plans with senior officials. Now we know he also shared those sensitive details with his family over Signal, even after being explicitly warned not to. Republicans must join me in calling on him to resign immediately. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D, Ill.) also called on Hegseth to resign, posting on X: How many times does Pete Hegseth need to leak classified intelligence before Donald Trump and Republicans understand that he isnt only a f*cking liar, he is a threat to our national security? Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops lives are endangered by his singular stupidity. Contact us at letters@time.com. The News Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks safe in his job for now. A flurry of firings at the Pentagon attributed to leak allegations, followed by a New York Times report that Hegseth shared information about US strikes on Yemen in a second Signal chat, are prompting fresh handwringing over Hegseths future. That speculation kicked into high gear on Sunday after a former top Pentagon official warned that the defense secretary was presiding over a department in disarray. The president and his top aides promptly rallied to Hegseths side on Monday in a replay of the internal circling of the wagons that took place last month, after a reporter was added to a Signal chat where more sensitive Yemen details were shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump told reporters that he remains confident in Hegseth, who is doing a great job. The president placed the blame on disgruntled employees and criticized the fake news media for reporting on the defense secretarys actions, maintaining that Hegseth was elevated to his position to get rid of a lot of bad people. Those involved have denied the leaking charges and say they remain unaware what exactly they were investigated for. Despite Trumps public support, some people close to the administration see Hegseth as imperiled and compare the current siege to his difficult confirmation fight, which was marked by allegations of excessive drinking and mistreatment of his ex-wife. And this time around, theres a little less confidence that Hegseth can survive the hits. One of those people told Semafor that after some of Hegseths closest allies were fired for reasons that arent yet clear, hes on an island at the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not to mention that, while Trump remains behind Hegseth, the president also can tire of defending his advisers. The defense secretary himself angrily dismissed the new reports as hit pieces on Monday. Not going to work with me, because were changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters and anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news, doesnt matter, Hegseth said. Know More As both Hegseth and Trump dug in and showed no signs that their partnership is fraying, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump stands strongly by the Pentagon chief and former Fox News host. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet political fallout keeps accumulating for the Trump administration over what are now two documented instances of Hegseth sharing attack plans over Signal. Democrats renewed their calls for his dismissal, and many Senate Republicans including some who voted to confirm him were quiet on Monday in the wake of the new reports when Semafor contacted their offices about Hegseth. Meanwhile, White House allies have quietly groused to Semafor in recent weeks that Hegseth may not have been the best pick for the job. Three Senate Republicans opposed his confirmation. Two others wavered on Hegseth in public: Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said there were aspects about his past that gave him pause, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., wrestled with the nomination, though both ultimately supported Hegseth. Previously, Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker and the committees top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed, last month made a bipartisan request for an inspector general investigation into the first Signal incident. Wicker did not have an immediate comment on Monday; Reed said Sunday the second Signal incident should be included in the IG probe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said on Monday that the details surrounding of a second sensitive Signal chat are troubling on their own, but are particularly disturbing given the abrupt exodus of senior officials at the Pentagon and the new public warnings about Secretary Hegseths poor leadership by one of his own former top aides. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Hegseth to be fired; John Ullyot, a former Pentagon spokesman, said in a Politico op-ed that the president deserves better than the current at the Pentagon. Given his record of holding prior Cabinet leaders accountable, many in the secretarys own inner circle will applaud quietly if Trump chooses to do the same in short order at the top of the Defense Department. Shelby and Burgess View Trump wielded his bully pulpit freely during his first term, firing aides quickly and often. During his second term, hes been much more resistant to canning top officials. Thats mostly because, as those close to him put it, the president feels it would give his opponents a win. Trump also doesnt care that much about drama over things like the sharing of classified information after Signalgate initially broke, he was more perturbed over the fact that The Atlantic, a magazine he hates, was added into the chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So dont be surprised if he continues letting this play out without firing Hegseth, much like he handled last months Signal debacle starring National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Room for Disagreement Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., took a harsher view of Hegseths behavior in an interview with Politico on Monday, suggesting that the White House come down harder even as he stopped short of calling for the defense secretarys resignation or firing. I like him on Fox. But does he have the experience to lead one of the largest organizations in the world? Thats a concern, Bacon, a relatively establishment-minded national security hawk in a battleground seat, told Politico. Notable (NewsNation) Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he and President Donald Trump are on the same page all the way after reports Hegseth shared classified information over an unsecured Signal chat for a second time. At Mondays White House Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth referred to the media as hoaxters for reports about the chat and called the allegations anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees. Hegseth previously divulged details of an imminent U.S. attack on Yemen on a Signal chat that included a journalist. He shared similar information in a second chat on the messaging app with his wife, brother and personal lawyer on the same day, according to a report published Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement International leaders pay tribute to Pope Francis While Signal is a popular encrypted app used by government officials for organizational communications, it is not considered a secure means for sharing classified information. The use of the app, which can be set to delete messages after a period of time, may also be in violation of laws regarding the preservation of government records. The New York Times report citing four people with knowledge of the exchange comes after Hegseth and other members of Trumps inner circle faced criticisms and calls to resign after a journalist was mistakenly invited into a Signal group chat March 15 as the U.S. readied strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police investigate shooting on subway platform that led to Harvard students sheltering in place The newly disclosed Hegseth group chat included his spouse, a former Fox News producer who is not a Defense Department employee, and shared the flight schedules of jet fighters, the New York Times said. Hegseths brother Phil and Hegseths attorney Tim Parlatore were also reportedly in the chat. Although both have positions in the Pentagon, its not clear why they were looped in on the U.S. strike on Houthi targets. NewsNations Michael Ramsey contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday reacted to the revelation he discussed details about an imminent attack on Houthis in Yemen in March in a second Signal group chat -- one that included his wife and brother. Speaking to reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll, which he attended with his family, Hegseth attacked those he said were "disgruntled" former employees and the media for what he said was "anonymous smears." "I have spoken with the president and we are going to continue fighting. On the same page all the way," Hegseth said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 2nd Signal chat reveals Hegseth messaging about Yemen strikes with family members: Sources President Donald Trump defended Hegseth and said he still has "great confidence" in him as he took reporter questions at the White House celebration. "Here we go again. Just a waste of time. He is doing a great job," Trump said of Hegseth. "Ask the Houthis how he's doing," the president added. PHOTO: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth looks on, during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll event, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., April 21, 2025. (Leah Millis/Reuters) Sources told ABC News that Hegseth shared information about a forthcoming attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen in a Signal message chat that included his wife Jennifer, who does not work for the Defense Department, as well as his brother and his personal lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth did not explicitly deny the report as he was asked to respond to the reports on Monday. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me, because we're changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters and anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn't matter, he said. The second Signal chat reportedly occurred around the same time that top Trump officials, including Hegseth, discussed a strike on Houthis over the commercially available app. That text chain came to light because inadvertently added to the chat was The Atlantic's Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. The Pentagon's independent inspector general is currently reviewing Hegseth's use of Signal to discuss military actions. PHOTO: An Easter bunny stands behind President Donald Trump as Trump salutes on the Blue Room Balcony during the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) More than three dozen Democrats have publicly called on Hegseth to resign or to be fired, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. And Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff asked that the National Archives and Records Administration open an investigation into the Trump administration's use of Signal and other non-governmental messaging applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABC News contributing political correspondent Rachael Bade of Politico reported that Republican Rep. Don Bacon suggested in an interview that Trump should fire Hegseth -- making him the first congressional Republican to do so. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, pressed on the latest revelation on "Fox & Friends" on Monday, said "the president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth" and said Hegseth "is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon." PHOTO: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to the media, during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll event, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, April 21, 2025. (Leah Millis/Reuters) The use of Signal to discuss sensitive military operations may complicate ongoing investigations into potential leaks involving the first known group chat, which included top aides and other members of Hegseth's team -- at least three of whom have been since fired in relation to the inquiry. Those officials -- Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick -- have since spoken out against what they say are baseless accusations against them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of 'leaks' to begin with," they said in a joint statement on X on April 19. Leavitt, when responding to the Hegseth news on Monday, also sought to blame former employees as she defended the defense secretary. The administration and the president have taken a very strong stance against anyone who leaks, especially sensitive and classified information that can put our troops and our war fighters at risk," Leavitt said on Fox. "And you've seen the secretary has taken very strong action to rein in the leakers at the Pentagon and he will continue to do so I'm sure." Meanwhile, a watchdog group is renewing its lawsuit against the Trump administration over the widespread use of Signal, arguing that Cabinet-level officials have failed to preserve government records as required by law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group asked a federal judge to declare the use of Signal unlawful and direct the matter to the attorney general to attempt to recover the unlawfully destroyed records. American Oversight originally filed its lawsuit over the use of Signal last month and secured an order requiring the Trump administration to preserve the messages; however, in the weeks since Judge James Boasberg issued his order, multiple Cabinet-levels have been unable to fully save the messages. Some officials have been able to preserve portions of the chat, and a CIA representative told Boasberg that no substantive messages could be recovered from CIA Director John Ratcliffes phone. Citing public reporting -- including that about Hegseths chat with his wife and brother as well as additional reporting regarding the existence of 20 or more foreign policy-related Signal chats -- American Oversight argued that the unlawful use of the commercially available application is common across the Trump administration. It is now clear that the use of Signal to conduct official government business by administration officials is widespread, it argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABC News' Luis Martinez, Kelsey Walsh and Peter Charalambous contributed to this report. Hegseth blames 'anonymous smears,' Trump defends him after 2nd Signal chat revealed originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly shared attack plans in a Signal chat including his wife, brother and personal lawyer, The New York Times reported Sunday, citing four people familiar with the conversation. In mid-March, the Pentagon leader disclosed information in the chat about upcoming strikes in Yemen, including the flight schedules of military aircraft targeting Houthis, sources told the Times. Last month, it was revealed that top Trump administration officials had shared similar sensitive military information via a separate Signal chat that included The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. In a report that rocked Washington, Goldberg detailed how top members of the Trump administration debated and detailed planned attacks on Houthis in Yemen in the chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration has acknowledged the chat including Goldberg was legitimate but has pushed back on assertions that any information shared in it was classified. The Defense | Team Huddle chat that included Hegseths wife, brother and personal lawyer also included others involved with the Defense secretarys life in professional and personal ways prior to his confirmation, sources told the Times. It did not include other Cabinet-level officials, people familiar with the matter told the outlet. Two advisers to Hegseth who were placed on administrative leave and later fired last week amid an ongoing probe into leaks of information at the Pentagon, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, were also included in the chat, according to the Times. Caldwell and Selnick, as well as a third fired official, Colin Carroll, asserted in a joint statement Saturday that they all understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it and that unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. Hegseths brother and his personal attorney, Timothy Parlatore, both have jobs at the Defense Department, the Times noted. His wife is not a Pentagon employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outlet also reported that Hegseth accessed the chat, which he created, via his private phone rather than his government phone. The Times reported sources aware of the chat said, at about the same time the Defense secretary was divulging information in the chat with Goldberg about strikes in Yemen, the Defense | Team Huddle received the same information from Hegseth. Sources also told the Times that Hegseth first created the Defense | Team Huddle chat to talk about administrative or scheduling information and that the chat was not usually used by the Defense secretary to talk about sensitive military operations. The truth is that there is an informal group chat that started before confirmation of his closest advisers, a U.S. official told the Times. Nothing classified was ever discussed on that chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official declined to comment about whether Hegseth shared detailed targeting information in the group chat, according to the outlet. In response to a request for comment by The Hill, the Pentagon sent a statement from Sean Parnell, the departments chief spokesperson. Another day, another old storyback from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trumps agenda. This time, the New York Times and all other Fake News that repeat their garbage are enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the Presidents agenda, Parnell said in the statement. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trumps agenda, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of previous controversy surrounding Hegseths use of Signal, the Department of Defenses (DOD) internal watchdog launched a probe into whether the Defense secretary complied with DOD policies when he used the chat that included Goldberg to talk about the March attack on Houthis in Yemen. Updated at 11:10 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Laman Ismayilova The program for the Second Fidan Hajiyeva's International Opera Festival, set to take place in Baku on April 23-29, has been officially announced. Over the course of seven days, a series of concerts will feature renowned artists alongside promising young talents aged 6-16, many of whom will be performing on a grand stage for the first time. People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Fidan Hajiyeva, will grace all the festival events. The festival will kick off on April 23 at 19:00 with a performance of the operetta "Arshin Mal Alan" (The Cloth Peddler) composed by Uzeyir Hajibayli, at the Opera Studio of the Baku Music Academy. This new production will showcase young talents from the Fidan Hajiyeva Music School of Vocal, who will portray the lead roles. Notable participants include Vugar Hajiyev (Asgar), Aysu Aliyeva (Gulchohra), Rauf Mammadzade (Suleiman), Shakhira Rzayeva (Asya), and Roya Aliyeva (Telli). Fidan Hajiyeva will take on the role of Jahan Khal, with Honored Artist Tural Aghasiyev portraying Veli and Honored Artist Farid Aliyev directing the performance. The conductor will be People's Artist Javanshir Jafarov. On April 24 at 19:00, the Central School of Arts named after Gara Garayev will host the concert "Q?lbimizd? ya?ayanlar" (Living in our Souls), featuring students from the school alongside the "Academy of Arts of Children of Martyrs," directed by Konul Huseynova, a professor at the Baku Music Academy and the widow of martyr Lieutenant Colonel Rashad Atakishiyev. On April 25 at 19:00, the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theater will present "G?nc opera ulduzlar?" (Young Opera Stars), featuring the womens chamber orchestra MEZZO and emerging talents. To purchase tickets, visit, please visit iTicket.Az April 26 at 14:00 will see the "Opera tarixi" (History of Opera) concert at the Belcanto Concert Hall of the Fidan Hajiyeva Music School of Vocal, showcasing the institution's students. Tickets can be purchased here. On April 27 at 18:00, the "Belcanto" concert hall will feature a performance titled "Irs" led by People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Professor Gulnaz Ismayilova, alongside her students. April 28 at 15:00 will resonate with Fidan Hajiyeva's solo concert "Desire," followed by the evening performance at 19:00, "Operan?n g?l?c?k n?sli, yeni n?f?si" (The Future of Opera Art - New Breath), at the Fikrat Amirov Conference and Concert Center, featuring the Khazar University Chamber Orchestra. The festival will culminate on April 29 at 19:00 with the closing ceremony "Viva Opera," held at the Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic. This gala concert will feature both young and established artists, accompanied by a symphony orchestra under the baton of renowned conductor Boian Videnoff. To purchase tickets, please click on the following link. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az,Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 21. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, has arrived in Kazakhstan, Trend reports, citing the press office of the president of Kazakhstan. Berdimuhamedov was warmly greeted at Turkestan Airport by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During his visit, informal discussions are scheduled, along with tours of several prominent landmarks in the city. To note, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan share a common approach to the promotion of regional development and the integration processes in Central Asia in the regional context. Kazakhstan's multifaceted foreign policy and Turkmenistan's neutral posture act as a stabilizing force and protective shield for the other countries in the region, thereby promoting a politically stable external environment. They have been consistently enhancing their economic and trade partnerships. The bilateral commerce volume has increased by fourfold in a mere five years. In 2023, it achieved a new peak of $563 million, which is a 28 percent increase from the previous year. The commercial turnover for the first half of 2024 was $237.2 million. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed plans about a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen on a second Signal group chat, this one on his personal phone and including his wife, lawyer and brother, three people familiar with the chat told CNN. The chat was set up during Hegseths tumultuous confirmation hearing process as a way for his closest allies to strategize, two of the people familiar with the matter said. But Hegseth continued using the chat, which had more than a dozen people in it, to communicate after he was confirmed, the people said. The revelation comes as some of Hegseths closest advisers have begun sounding the alarm about the secretarys judgment, including his former press secretary, John Ullyot, and three former senior officials Hegseth fired last week his top adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership, Ullyot said in a statement obtained by CNN. Ullyot also wrote a scathing op-ed about Hegseth for Politico on Sunday. The second Signal chat is in addition to the one Hegseth used to communicate with Cabinet officials last month about military plans. That chat is under investigation by the Defense Departments acting inspector general. Similar to the first Signal chat, which was revealed publicly by The Atlantic after its editor was mistakenly included by national security adviser Mike Waltz, the military plans Hegseth shared in the second chat were about strikes against the Houthis, the people said. Hegseths brother Phil, as well as his lawyer Tim Parlatore, both have jobs at the Department of Defense. But his wife, Jennifer, does not, despite Hegseth regularly including her during the beginning of his tenure in meetings with foreign leaders. It is not clear whether everyone in the second Signal chat has a security clearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Pentagon, Sean Parnell, said in a tweet Sunday night that there was no classified information in any Signal chat. Following the release of the report, the Pentagons top official took to X on Sunday evening to rail against Democrats, replying to a tweet from the Democratic National Committee calling for Hegseths ousting. In the first public response since the news broke, Hegseth replied via his personal X account: Your agenda is illegals, trans & DEI all of which are no longer allowed at the Defense Department. On Monday morning, Hegseth attacked leakers and slammed the media. Time and time again, as they pedal those lies no one ever calls them on it. This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources, disgruntled former employees and they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations, Hegseth said at the White House Easter Egg Roll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same event, President Donald Trump denied that the Pentagon has become dysfunctional with Hegseth at the helm. Theres no dysfunction at all. Ask the Houthis how much dysfunction they have, Trump said in response to a question from CNN. Petes doing a great job. Everybodys happy with him, Trump continued. Its just fake news. They just make up stories. I guess its sounds like disgruntled employees. He was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and thats what hes doing. You dont always have friends when you do that. The New York Times was first to report on the second Signal chat. Sustained turmoil at the Pentagon News of the second chat follows days of turmoil at the Defense Department, after Hegseth fired Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll and reassigned his chief of staff, Joe Kasper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Pentagon spokespeople said the chaos had resulted from a leak investigation. But sources told CNN the firings are just one symptom of the dysfunction that has enveloped Hegseths office over the last five weeks, which included sustained infighting between Kasper, Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll. Kasper resigned from his role last week, though he may still be reassigned elsewhere in the Pentagon. He did not respond to requests for comment. A series of leaks about military planning for the Panama Canal and the Middle East, about a possible consolidation of the combatant commands, and about a classified China briefing for Elon Musk at the Pentagon had deeply rattled Hegseth by mid-March, sources told CNN. So he and Kasper launched a leak probe, complete with polygraph tests. Following the press reports including one in The New York Times about the questionable success of a massive military campaign against the Houthis Hegseth began to lash out and grew suspicious that senior military officials, as well as some of his closest advisers, were leaking to undermine him, the sources added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point, Hegseth even demanded an FBI probe into the leaks which some of his aides advised against, sources said. There was already an active inspector general investigation focusing on Hegseth, and bringing in the FBI might only invite more scrutiny, those aides advised. Hegseth has also grown increasingly concerned about the inspector general investigation, the sources said. Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll expect to be interviewed as part of that probe, the sources added. Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll wrote Saturday in a joint statement that they are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended and denied leaking information. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. All three of us served our country honorably in uniform for two of us, this included deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, based on our collective service, we understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it, they wrote. At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ullyot, who served as Hegseths press secretary until earlier this month and resigned from the Defense Department entirely last week, also said Sunday it is not true that Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll were fired for leaking sensitive information. While the Department said that it would conduct polygraph tests as part of the probe, not one of three has been given a lie detector test, Ullyot said. In fact, at least one of the three has told former colleagues straight out that investigators advised him he was about to be cleared officially of any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, Hegseths team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door. The turmoil has raised more concerns about Hegseths judgment and priorities among current and former officials, and comes as the Pentagon is executing a major military operation in the Middle East against the Houthis, moving assets to the region in the event of a wider war between Israel and Iran, and surging troops and equipment to the southern border. Unfortunately, after a terrible month, the Pentagon focus is no longer on warfighting, but on endless drama, Ullyot said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon and its becoming a real problem for the administration, he said. Hegseth, for his part, has still not weighed in on the firings or turmoil inside his office and has avoided situations over the last week in which he may have encountered the press. Reporters were invited to cover the defense secretary welcoming his French counterpart to the Pentagon on Thursday, but Hegseth failed to show up, sending an aide instead. CNNs Kit Maher and Betsy Klein contributed reporting. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed military plans about strikes in Yemen with a second Signal group chat this time including his wife, lawyer and brother, according to multiple reports. Hegseth shares Houthi attack plans again Per the New York Times, Hegseth shared essentially the same attack plans that he did in another Signal chat which accidentally included the editor of The Atlantic. That chat is being investigated by the Defense Departments acting inspector general. This second chat, which reportedly took place on his personal phone, occurred in a group that Hegseth created before he was confirmed as Defense Secretary, according to the NYT. Apparently, he named it Defense | Team Huddle. This second blunder has amplified existing fears over Hegseths judgment. In a statement seen by CNN, his former press secretary John Ullyot said: Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseths brother and lawyer both have jobs at the Pentagon, but his wife, a former Fox News producer, does not work for the Defense Department and has previously drawn criticism for accompanying Hegseth on sensitive visits to foreign leaders. Its unclear why any of them should know about planned strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. Hegseths blunder adds to internal chaos at the Pentagon This latest blunder follows a tumultuous few days at the Pentagon. Hegseth fired his top adviser, Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense, and deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick last week. They had been placed on leave as part of an internal investigation into unauthorized disclosures of national security information at the Defense Department. Hegseths chief of staff, Joe Kasper, resigned from his role though he may yet be reassigned. Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll released a joint statement on Saturday saying that theyre incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended. They denied leaking information. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. All three of us served our country honorably in uniform for two of us, this included deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, based on our collective service, we understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it, they wrote. At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of leaks to begin with. The post Hegseth Shared Secret Military Plans With a Second Signal Chat appeared first on Katie Couric Media. (NewsNation) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who previously came under fire for a Signal group chat that divulged details of an imminent U.S. attack on Yemen, shared similar information in a second chat on the messaging app with his wife, brother and personal lawyer on the same day, according to a report published Sunday. The New York Times report citing four people with knowledge of the exchange comes after Hegseth and other members of President Donald Trumps inner circle faced criticism and calls to resign after a journalist was mistakenly invited into a Signal group chat on March 15 as the U.S. readied strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Pete Hegseths wife, brother included in Signal chats: Reports The newly disclosed Hegseth group chat allegedly included his spouse, a former Fox News producer who is not a Defense Department employee. The messages allegedly contained information on the flight schedules of jet fighters, the New York Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other individuals in the exchange reportedly included Hegseths brother Phil and Hegseths attorney Tim Parlatore. Although both have positions in the Pentagon, its not clear why they were looped in on the U.S. strike on Houthi targets. Senate GOP braces for primary headaches after 2024 break The Associated Press later confirmed the second Signal chat on the Houthi strikes, citing a source familiar with the contents. While Hegseth did not create the group chat that mistakenly included an editor from the Atlantic, he reportedly initiated the newly disclosed chat on his personal phone, according to the New York Times and its sources. Signal group chats not considered secure Signal group chats, though encrypted, are not considered secure for classified government information. The Trump administration has stuck by Hegseth and Waltz, questioning whether the information in the previously disclosed Signal chat was significant enough to constitute a security breach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House pushed back Sunday, blaming recently fired leakers for trying to undermine the presidents agenda. Schools, parents fear Trump trade war crossfire No matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same nonstory, they cant change the fact that no classified information was shared, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said. News about the second incident drew condemnations in Washington, however, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats calling for Trump to get rid of Hegseth. The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired, Schumer said on social media. Atlantic journalist added to Signal chat In March, the Trump administration faced controversy after it was revealed that a journalist from the Atlantic was added to a different Signal chat with government officials. Chat participants spoke about the Yemen strike before and as it was happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ACLU sues Trump administration for targeting international students National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard acknowledged that journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the chat by mistake at a House committee hearing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the contents of the Signal chat were not intended to be divulged. Obviously, that was a mistake, and that shouldnt have happened, he said. A poll by YouGov showed a large majority of Americans 74% thought the administrations group chat on Signal is a very serious (53% of respondents) or somewhat serious (21% of respondents) problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supreme Court blocks, for now, new deportations under 18th-century wartime law The poll also showed 60% of Republicans who responded defined the chat as at least somewhat serious. The survey, taken on March 25, had nearly 6,000 respondents, all of whom were U.S. adults. Respondents opinions were shared before the Atlantic released screenshots from the Signal chat. White House officials claimed classified information was not included in the message thread, though some national security experts were not convinced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pete Hegseth used a sensitive Signal chat to discuss upcoming strikes on Houthi militants in Yementhis one including his wife, brother, and even his personal lawyer. The stunning revelation was published Sunday in The New York Times, the newspaper reporting that he had shared detailed information on the March 15 airstrikes before they happened. This is the second Signal-related scandal involving Hegseth in recent weeks. Last month, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg claimed that he had been mistakenly added to another Signal group chat with top Trump administration national security officials, in which they discussed sensitive planning details for the military operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the Times sources claimed that Hegseth shared flight schedules for the planes involvedF/A-18 Hornetsin both group chats. The Atlantics editor Jeffrey Goldberg revealed in March that he was added to a Signal group chat by Mike Waltz (C) which included Hegseth (R). / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Hegseths wife, Jennifer, is a former Fox News producer. Despite not being a Defense Department employee, she has reportedly been attending sensitive diplomatic meetings alongside her husband. Meanwhile, Hegseths brother Phil joined the Department of Homeland Security as a senior adviser and liaison to the Defense Department, the Pentagon confirmed in late March. Timothy Parlatore, Hegseths personal lawyer for the past eight years, was also assigned a job at the Pentagon in March as a Navy commander in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps, as a reservist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Signal chat, reportedly named Defense| Team Huddle, included around a dozen of Hegseths other personal and professional aides, among them his chief of staff Joe Kasper, who signed a memo in March authorizing a probe into recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications. Hegseths wife, Jennifer Rauchet (L), has reportedly been accompanying her husband on professional engagements including sensitive meetings. / Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Times added that two of Hegseths senior advisers, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnickwho have since been fired as part of the investigation into leaks at the Pentagonwere also members of the chat. Caldwell and Selnick, along with a third colleague named Colin Carroll, who was also fired as a part of the leak investigation, railed against the Pentagons baseless attacks in a statement Saturday. We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended, they wrote in a statement on X over the weekend. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a bombshell piece for Politico Sunday, Hegseths former press secretary John Ullyot also described the past month at the Pentagon as one of total chaos that has shed a glaring light on the defense secretarys judgement. Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon, Hegseths former press secretary John Ullyot wrote Sunday. / Alex Wong/Getty Images Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the presidentwho deserves better from his senior leadership, Ullyot, who resigned from his role this month, wrote. Even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagonand its becoming a real problem for the administration. Adding to the narrative is the fact that Hegseth used his private phone number to make and access the Signal chat with his wife and brother, the Times reported. Several of the Gray Ladys sources said he had initially created the group to discuss routine administrative information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They noted that he did not typically use Defense| Team Huddle to discuss sensitive military operations, but that he had shared information on the Yemen strikes in the group around the same time he had sent out similar details to Goldberg via the other Signal group chat. He had previously been warned by Defense Department data security experts against using his personal phone number and Signal. Hegseth reportedly used his private phone number to create and access the Signal group chat. / Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The truth is that there is an informal group chat that started before confirmation of his closest advisers, a U.S. official told The Times. Nothing classified was ever discussed on that chat. In a statement to the Daily Beast, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said: Another day, another old storyback from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trumps agenda. This time, the New York Timesand all other Fake News that repeat their garbageare enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the secretary and the presidents agenda, Parnell continued. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trumps agenda. In a March 24 essay, The Atlantics editor revealed that he was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat with high-level Trump administration officials by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. The Pentagons acting inspector general announced an investigation into Hegseths use of Signal. / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images In the chat, several top government officials, including Hegseth, discussed sensitive military operations in Yemen while Goldberg sat idly by. Although Hegseth insisted that no war plans were discussed on the Signal group chat that featured Goldberg, the Pentagons acting inspector general announced early April that he would review Hegseths use of the commercial messaging app. The objective of this evaluation is to determine the extent to which the secretary of defense and other DoD personnel complied with DoD policies and procedures for the use of a commercial messaging application for official business, the acting inspector general, Steven Stebbins, said in an April 3 letter to Hegseth. Farms in western North Carolina have been scraping by with help from nonprofit groups more than six months after Hurricane Helenes floodwaters receded. Much of the regions agriculture is nestled in valleys where streams and rivers run between mountain peaks. That proximity to water proved devastating for local farmers who produce everything from fruits and vegetables to pasture-raised beef and even Christmas trees when the powerful storm swept through in late September. Many still havent fully restored operations, said state Rep. Eric Ager, a Democrat who represents a district that includes parts of Buncombe County south of Asheville, including hard-hit Swannanoa. I think were going to see a real economic downturn from this, which is inevitable, and we need more support, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State lawmakers passed a $500 aid package last month that includes about $200 million for agricultural crop losses and repairs. The U.S. Agriculture Department told NBC News in March that it had dispersed nearly $30 million for certain needs like debris removal, fence repair and specialty crops. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has pushed for more. He sent a letter in February asking the Trump administration and Congress for $19 billion in additional federal aid, estimating that the state suffered nearly $60 billion in damages, including $4.9 billion in its agriculture sector. Stein said in his letter that existing insurance programs covered only 5% to 10% of crop losses, with private insurers covering about $121 million in agricultural damage as of February and the state chipping in another $27 million. Bounty & Soul has relied on donations to expand its food relief efforts, but it has had to buy from wholesalers to scale up while the local farmers it normally relies on get back on their feet. The White House didnt comment on Steins request but said the administration would continue to support farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump cares deeply about our farmers and all Americans impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene, which is why he personally evaluated the damage and led a historic recovery effort, spokesperson Anna Kelly said. He will continue to ensure our farmers have the policies and resources they need to feed the world. Local aid organizations say theyre still responding to elevated food insecurity throughout the region. The flow of aid from the government both state and federal government has not yet scaled to the situation at hand, said Paula Sellars, deputy director of the local nonprofit group Bounty & Soul. The organization partners with over 70 regional farms to provide free food to communities around Black Mountain and Swannanoa, but Sellars said it has been a heavy lift to expand operations while local growers that supply the group are still getting back on their feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortunately, Bounty & Soul has seen an outpouring of generosity from people looking to help, and the scale of what were doing has increased tremendously, she said. Sellars estimated the groups food purchasing budget has swelled by 340% since Helene. Before the hurricane, Bounty & Soul would typically organize six food markets a week for those in need; now it runs 10, serving over 25,000 people every month. While the organization still buys produce from local farmers, it has had to supplement that with purchases from wholesalers to handle higher demand. And Sellars said she knows Bounty & Soul cant meet the needs of western North Carolinians solely through private donations, which are liable to wane as time goes on. The nonprofit sector is very much shouldering the burden of recovery in many of this regions smaller communities, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disasters tend to push out farmers who were already struggling financially, said Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist at the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, an industry news service. Somebody usually takes up the acreage and does the crops, but theres a shifting around between the people that were doing better and just want to keep on trying it and those that say, I was thinking about getting out anyway, Swanson said. Bounty & Soul said its responding to food insecurity in western North Carolina that remains far above typical levels. Ager said he has been pushing fellow lawmakers to expedite more funding but warned that the state aid package is probably getting here a little bit too late to get some fields back up and running in time for spring planting. State-level relief can be quicker to arrive than federal funding, which is usually administered through the Agriculture Department through local farm service agencies, he said. Were already slow in reality and should have done more sooner, said Ager, also a fourth-generation farmer who raises beef and pork with his brother at Hickory Nut Gap Farms in Fairview. Helene knocked out power for a month at the property, downed trees and washed out roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was plenty of cleanup to do, Ager said, but he added that he felt pretty fortunate relative to what other growers endured. WNC Communities, a local agriculture nonprofit group, has been providing emergency disaster funding for farmers in recent months. We filled a gap where we knew that there wasnt going to be any other funding, said Executive Director Jennifer Ferre, who estimated having doled out $2.1 million to 385 farmers so far. Like other local nonprofit groups, WNC Communities received an influx of private donations that it distributed quickly to help farmers restart operations as best they could. But there were limits to the organizations support it could often help buy gravel to repair a road between pastures but not rebuild a collapsed barn, Ferre said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The need was so overwhelming, she said. We had to look and try to prioritize what we thought was going to be able to help folks ... get back into business the quickest. Ferre said shes also trying to be a resource for the farmers her group has assisted as new funding turns up. Applying for grants can be complicated, and it requires documentation of losses at a time when many farmers are simply trying to pay their bills. What farmers need is quick money, said Laura Lauffer, director of the EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems program at North Carolina State University. By the time Helene hit, her initiative had already set up a program offering $3,000 business grants for regional farmers. Afterward, it streamlined the application process to get money out faster. We want to be really strategic, Lauffer said, adding that the group is focused now on figuring out how we can have the most impact with this little bit of money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The start of this year has brought substantial cuts at the Agriculture Department, including $1 billion in food bank and school lunch programs, as part of a sweeping Trump administration push to downsize government that has frequently generated chaos, confusion and policy reversals. The Agriculture Department is working diligently to roll out our portion of the disaster assistance across the U.S. over the coming months, a White House spokesperson said in a statement. A spokesperson for the agency said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is focused on addressing the needs of impacted farmers and will ensure that those areas have the resources and personnel they need to continue serving the American people. For now, the need gap remains. To legislators and those who are in positions of decision-making around disaster relief funding, I would just say: Please pick up the pace, Sellars said. Were seven months out, and the large dollars have not yet trickled down to the local person. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com For many, Easter is that once-a-year moment when far-flung family members reunite at Grandma and Grandpas for food, church and a lot of catching up. And traditionally, thats not too different from how the royal family marks the holiday. But this year, the Prince and Princess of Wales decided to do things a little differently. Kate Middleton, Prince William and their three kidsPrince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6opted for a quieter celebration in Norfolk, where the family owns a country home. According to Hello! Magazine, they attended the 11 a.m. Easter Sunday service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in the village of Sandringham. Kates parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, reportedly joined them, making it a more intimate family affair. While skipping the more formal Windsor Castle and St George's Chapel service might seem like a break from royal tradition, its not exactly new. This is actually the second year the Wales family has chosen to celebrate away from Windsor. Last years Easter came just weeks after Kate publicly shared her cancer diagnosisunderstandably prompting a more low-key observance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, other senior royals, including King Charles, were seen attending the service at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor. Ahead of the weekend, the King shared an emotional Easter message with the public. The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death, he wrote. He closed the note with a wish for a blessed and peaceful Easter and signed it personally. Many praised the message as beautiful, hopeful and exactly what the world needs right now. Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here. Kate Middleton Just Proved These Two Trends Are Officially Back (and One of Them Is Controversial) Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday in at 88 years old. The first Latin American pontiff was last seen in public on Easter Sunday as he blessed throngs of people in St. Peter's Square. Pope Francis death follows his lengthy hospital stay in February after being diagnosed with double pneumonia. He was also known to have suffered from chronic lung disease. The popes passing occurred during the early morning hours on April 21, prompting the various news outlets to go into breaking news and special report mode. (All times Eastern) ABC News The network broke the news at 4:00 a.m. at the start of its early morning news program America This Morning, anchored by Andrew Dymburt and Alison Kosik. ABC News launched special report coverage at 4:40 a.m., which continued until the start of Good Morning America at 7 a.m. CBS News The network announced the Pope's death at 4:04 a.m. during CBS News Mornings, anchored by Jessi Mitchell. At 4:17 a.m. CBS News switched to Special Report coverage, breaking the news to its nationwide audience. Tony Dokoupil anchored another special report at 6 a.m. and was joined by Norah O'Donnell in Washington, D.C., and Chris Livesay in Rome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gayle King and Nate Burleson joined Dokoupil at 7 a.m. with another special report. O'Donnell was part of the coverage as she discussed her historic interview with Pope Francis, with Livesay continuing to report from Rome. The network resumed its CBS Mornings broadcast at 7:19 a.m. CNN CNN interrupted taped programming on the network's domestic feed and CNN International at 4:02 a.m. Kristie Lou Stout anchored the breaking news coverage for the network. She was joined by CNN Vatican correspondent Chris Lamb reporting from St. Peter's Square, senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman, contributor Barbie Nadeau, and international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson. Lamb broke the news of the Pope's passing on CNN Digital at 3:58 a.m. " " .. #_ 88 https://t.co/QRUNtS9hiG pic.twitter.com/zgoDv24n9H CNN (@cnnarabic) April 21, 2025 Fox News The network broke into a replay of One Nation with Brian Kilmeade at 4:04 a.m. with news of Francis' passing. Ashley Strohmier anchored Fox News coverage during the early morning hours. NBC Universal News Group On NBC News, Early Today anchor Frances Rivera anchored a special report about the popes passing at 4:15 a.m. She was joined from Rome by Claudio Lavanga. At 6 a.m. Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin anchored another special report for the network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MSNBC aired NBC News' special report coverage at 4:15 a.m. The network switched to a Sky News coverage simulcast at 4:45 a.m. MSNBC utilized its own resources at 4:58 a.m. with Ali Vitali anchoring breaking news coverage. Newsmax Charlotte McBride broke the news of the pope's passing at 5:35 a.m. on Wake Up America. NewsNation The network announced Francis' death at the top of its 6 a.m. broadcast of Morning in America with Markie Martin. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. During the China-Azerbaijan Industrial and Investment Cooperation Promotion Conference, Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO), met with Wu Hongliang, Deputy Director General of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), AZPROMO told Trend. The two sides discussed the organization of joint business events and the development of investment partnerships based on mutual interests. They emphasized the conference's importance as a platform for promoting and advancing Azerbaijan-China investment partnerships, highlighting the need to continue implementing the discussed mechanisms in the future. The meeting noted that the participation of nearly 200 companies from both sides at the conference visibly demonstrated the active and ready collaboration of the business communities in China and Azerbaijan for the realization of joint projects and the development of mutually beneficial partnerships. During the meeting, it was highlighted that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between AZPROMO and NDRC during the conference would facilitate the process of attracting Chinese companies to invest in Azerbaijan, thus positively impacting the influx of Chinese capital into the country. The China-Azerbaijan Industrial and Investment Cooperation Promotion Conference was held on April 17 with the joint organization of AZPROMO, Azerbaijans Trade Representative Office in China, and the NDRC, with support from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform. During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the AZPROMO and the NDRC's International Cooperation Center. AZPROMO was founded in 2003 by the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan to facilitate foreign investment in the non-oil industry and promote exports of non-oil products. The agency's primary objective is to enhance the nation's economy by soliciting international investment and fostering exports in the non-oil sector. To date, the agency has conducted 33 export trips to international destinations under the "Made in Azerbaijan" initiative. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Getty Images As Michigan moves toward redesigning its Medicaid-funded behavioral health system, state leaders face a rare opportunity to correct longstanding structural imbalances that have complicated access to care and strained nonprofit providers across the state. More than 1.7 million Michiganders live with a mental illness, yet fewer than two-thirds are getting treatment. The result is felt across emergency rooms, homeless shelters, courtrooms, and schoolsplaces never designed to provide long-term care but now functioning as last resort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Behind this growing crisis is a system struggling to meet the demand. Providers are overwhelmed. Psychologists, social workers, case managers, and peer specialists are stretched thin and forced to focus on administrative paperwork rather than patient care. Michiganders in all 83 counties are trying to get the care they need in their communities. Michigans behavioral health system is built on a structure it can no longer support. It is fragmented, hard to navigate, and often unfair to the organizations trying to keep it together. As the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) considers rebidding its behavioral health contracts, the state has a rare opportunity to rebuild a system that is more responsive, accountable, and equitable for everyone. When people get into the community mental health system, they succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigans community-based behavioral health system was created to keep people out of institutions and help them thrive in their communities. And when it works, it works well. But getting into the systemand staying connected to careisnt easy. One of the biggest hurdles is how services are managed and paid for. Michigans system is built around 10 regional Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs), which manage Medicaid behavioral health funding. In some regions, those PIHPs are also Community Mental Health Service Programs (CMHSPs), the entities that provide or contract services in the community. Services they cant offer are given to community-based service providers. The result is a model in which a single organization often acts as both the funder and the provider of care. This creates deep conflicts of interest, with serious consequences. When your funder is your competitor, the playing field isnt level. Many safety net providers across the state, including those providing mental health services and substance use disorder (SUD) services, are nonprofits and are disadvantaged by the current system of care when their funder is also their competitor. There needs to be a way to create fair competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the current system, these safety net providers face lower reimbursement rates, lose staff to higher-paying public entities, and often compete for funding from the agencies delivering services themselves. Theres also the issue of fairness. When the same entity sets the rules, delivers care, and controls the money, theres little incentive for transparencyor accountability. Rate structures may favor internal programs. Disputes can go unresolved. And smaller, independent providers often operate without the same access to data or decision-making power. This imbalance doesnt just hurt organizationsit directly affects access to care. Gaps in funding and staffing mean more waitlists, fewer options, and higher barriers for people trying to get help. In a crisis, those delays can mean the difference between recovery and relapse, between housing and homelessness, or between safety and incarceration. Administrative barriers drain time and resources. Despite shared goals to improve outcomes and ensure transparency, the current model often leads to fragmentation and inefficiencies. Each PIHP can impose its compliance systems, audits, and data reporting protocols. For organizations working across regions, this leads to duplication of effort and a mounting administrative load that does little to improve care quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even within the same state contract framework, the interpretation and application of rules vary widely. Providers suggest aligning administrative requirements with the states master contract and streamlining oversight functions could significantly reduce the burden and help stabilize an already stretched workforce. There is a path forward. Michigans 2026 budget includes funding to expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), higher Medicaid reimbursement rates, and workforce development. But without structural reform, those investments will fall short. CCBHCs offer a promising modelcomprehensive, no-wrong-door care that meets people where they are. However, to fulfill their promise, Michigan must ensure these clinics are accessible to experienced nonprofit providers and protected from the same funding conflicts already plaguing the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats needed now is clarity and separation of roles. Funders should not be service providers. Oversight should be independent. Every providerregardless of affiliationshould have a fair shot at delivering care and competing for talent and services. Why it matters. Behavioral health reform isnt just about systemsits about outcomes. When people dont get the care they need, communities absorb the cost. Hospitals fill up. Jails become de facto treatment centers. Families lose hope. And too many Michiganders end up unhoused, unemployed, or worse. But when the system workswhen its fair, transparent, and community-basedit saves lives, keeps people out of crisis, and supports recovery, stability, and dignity. The opportunity before Michigan is not just about fixing whats broken. Its about building a system that works for the futureone where every person, regardless of diagnosis or zip code, can access the behavioral health care they need to live a full life. A 32-year-old man who made up to $8,000 a month booking trafficked women for nearly 10,000 dates in a high-end brothel ring operating out of Cambridge and other East Coast cities was sentenced to a year in prison. Junmyung Lee, a Korean national living in Dedham, was sentenced on Friday to one year in prison followed by one year of supervised release, by U.S. District Court Judge Julia Kobick. Lee is subject to deportation after his sentence is completed, according to U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. Lee was also ordered to pay $200,000 in forfeiture, the amount of money he made while he worked in the brothel ring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. He was arrested and charged in the fall of 2023 alongside his accomplices ring-leader Han Lee, 42, of Cambridge, and James Lee, 69, of Torrance, Calif. Han Lee was ordered to pay $5.4 million in forfeiture and sentenced to four years in prison in March. James Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28. Han Lee recruited Junmyung Lee as the brothel network booker in late 2021, where he was responsible for vetting and communicating with sex buyers on two cellphones, which each held over 2,800 contacts. He also brought women to and from the airport as they were trafficked across states. With the network itself generating over $5.6 million in revenue, Lee was paid between $6,000 and $8,000 a month to schedule around 9,450 dates, and made abut $200,000 in total, Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee would also collect and hide the cash proceeds with structured deposits in personal bank accounts and peer-to-peer payments, then use the money to pay for brothel location rent and utilities. In a series of three public hearings last month, the names of 34 men who had been excessive of 400 text messages with the brothel were revealed. Most prominently, this included Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner and Boston oncologist Dr. James Cusack Jr. Toner released a statement that said he would be forever sorry for causing pain for the people I care about most, and did not appear for his court hearing. Appointments out of apartments in Cambridge, Watertown and eastern Virginia were set up by the accused sex buyers through text messages to a number on a website called bostontopten10.com, Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral said during the hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The men used code words in their texts with the brothel owners, including GFE for girlfriend experience and BB for bareback, a slang term for sexual intercourse without protection, Cabral said. The buyers often requested women by name, and their payments which ranged from $250 for 30 minutes, to $350 for one hour and up to $840 for three hours were called donations, a usual term in the sex trade, Cabral said. All of the men who were issued criminal complaints will be sent a summons to appear for arraignments at Cambridge District Court at a later date, according to Cambridge District Court Clerk Sharon Casey. more about the case NOVI - A Highland Township man who prosecutors said fatally shot his fiancee and claimed it was an accident has been charged with first-degree murder. Michael Devon Webb, 21, was arraigned April 18 on the first-degree murder charge, as well as a charge of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, in front of 52-1 District Court Magistrate Andra Richardson. Police say Webb killed Rachel Renee Wooten, 23, by shooting her in the neck at close range on April 15, at the home the two shared with their 6-month-old child in the 200 block of Maple. The baby was physically unharmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oakland County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the home shortly after 4 p.m. April 15, after Webb called 911 and said he had shot his fiancee and himself. Deputies found Wooten dead from a single gunshot wound to the neck. Webb had a non-fatal gunshot wound "apparently from the same bullet" that killed Wooten, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said. Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the evidence did not support Webb's claim that it was an accident. I am proud of our investigators and team that responded to a tragic death and unraveled a false offered narrative to hold an individual accountable, Bouchard said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A representative for the Indigent Defense Services said an attorney had not yet been assigned to Webb, wthe ho remains in Oakland County Jail and has a probable cause conference scheduled for 9 a.m., April 30 in front of 52-1 District Court Judge Travis Reeds. Rachel Wooten was just 23 and a mother of an infant, McDonald said. Her entire life was ahead of her, until it was ended in what appears to be a domestic violence tragedy. She wont be there for her child or other loved ones in her life. Im committed to bringing her killer to justice. First degree murder is punishable by a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Richardson declined to grant Webb bond. Domestic violence is the leading cause of serious injury or death for women aged 18-24 in the United States according to the American College of Surgeons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day to provide tools and support for domestic violence survivors. If you, or someone you know, are experiencing abuse call at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for help. More: Westland couple dies in apparent murder-suicide Contact Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com. This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Highland Township man charged with first degree murder of fiancee PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) Sports director Kurt Pegler has returned from hosting a ten-day trip to England and France with a Holiday Vacations group that included WMBD viewers. The trip started in England and included stops at the Tower of London, Big Ben, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. The 39-person tour group also enjoyed afternoon tea in London. Then the group took a ferry across the English Channel to France. The first couple of days were spent in Normandy, visiting WWII sights at Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trip wrapped up in Paris where the group saw the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and Musee dOrsay. An evening cruise on the Seine River was a highlight. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PrEP is a daily HIV prevention pill. Getty Images. A recent report from an Ohio-based health institute emphasizes the importance of prevention and testing after decades of study and treatment on HIV, calling it a pressing public health concern in the United States as the Trump administration proposes eliminating research and programs on the disease. According to the Equitas Health Institutes study on HIV research, the pressing public health concern is being faced by young adults the most, with the age group ranging from the early teens to early 30s accounting for 58% of the estimated 32,100 new HIV diagnoses in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The importance of sex education and awareness of HIV status is always important, researchers said, but in the current political climate, HIV is often caught in the crossfire of health care debates and shifting policies. Access to funding resources, education and prevention programs is inconsistent and, in many areas, highly inadequate, the study found. Navigating sexual health is about building resilience and showing young adults that they are not defined by a diagnosis, the politics surrounding sexual health, or the uncertainty of living with HIV. The study comes as the Trump Administration sets its sights on HIV research as part of vast funding cuts within the federal government. Funding is already gone for HIV-related research grants within the National Institutes of Health, including research at U.S. universities and international efforts. Of the terminated grants, two went to the Ohio State University for studies on the influence of developmental assets on intersectional stigma and HIV prevention in Black (men who have sex with men) and a study on client and clinician priorities regarding two HIV prevention medications. Cuts to research and funding But more chops may be coming as the Trump administration plans to restructure the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services could include elimination of federal HIV prevention and research programs. Those cuts could include the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative, a government move that aimed to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initiative was started under the previous Trump administration, but the CDC web page on the initiative now mentions a court order requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to restore the website as of Feb. 14. Text at the top of the page then claims any information on the page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from the immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female. The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology and condemns the harms it causes to children, the page now states, adding that it does not reflect biological reality and therefore the Administration and this department rejects it. HIV is a disease that attacks the immune system by going after white blood cells, which can develop into the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Symptoms dont always present with HIV, so testing is necessary to identify it, according to Equitas Health. AIDS wasnt formally identified in the U.S. until the 1980s, and even then, researchers said governmental response was minimal, and then-President Ronald Reagan wouldnt use the term until 1985. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community response came in the form of a grassroots effort called ACT UP in 1987, and in 1990, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program was established for low-income individuals living with HIV, an organization that exists to this day, currently housed under the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration. The Ohio Department of Health still houses a Ryan White Part B Program for HIV-related services, funded through federal grants, according to the state. The first treatment method for AIDS was approved in 1996, and cases of the disease began decreasing after the first antiretroviral therapy was released, addressing a disease that was then the leading cause of death for all American adults ages 25-44. Though the HIV/AIDS epidemic was connected to gay men from the moment it was officially identified, data from the early 1990s showed the disease was present in other groups, including members of various genders, sexualities, races, socio-economic levels and health statuses, according to Equitas Health. Prevention efforts were started at the local and state public health level, as well as in partnerships between the CDC and national minority organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Testing is an essential component of HIV prevention, treatment and care, according to the report, and a lack of awareness about the illness contributes to the spread of HIV, as individuals who are unaware of their infection statues are more likely to engage in behaviors that can transmit the virus to others. Barriers to testing include stigma, lack of awareness and limited access to testing services, the report stated. Stigma may occur within the patient, their community or health care providers. Ohio law effective since 2012 requires the Ohio Department of Health to develop and administer AIDS and HIV-related programs, including a system to determine the number of cases, development of counseling and testing programs, risk reduction/education programs to at-risk groups and pilot programs for long-term care. A treatment now exists to prevent HIV transmission, and the FDA approved the first HIV home-testing kit in 2012, with the CDC funding nearly 2 million tests per year, according to 2021 data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite medications improving lives and reducing transmission, there is still no cure for the disease, researchers at Equitas Health stated. There are two objectives in HIV research: sustained viral suppression without medication and total eradication of the virus. Even with improved treatment and testing, HIV rates began to increase during the 2010s, researchers stated, pointing to young adults as a disproportionately affected group. Sex education A lack of required sex education also has impacts, according to the report. Sex education in Ohio has been seen as lacking in many ways, with advocates for sex education increasing the push for requirements after Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the 1970s was overturned, and the discussion of reproductive rights and sexual health was put to individual states. Ohio law regarding education curricula including sex education has been changed numerous times over the years, with the most recent change enacted in October 2024. That change came via the Republican-led Senate Bill 168, which, among other education-related changes, amended references in Ohio law from venereal disease education to sexually transmitted infection education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill passed last year was harshly criticized for forcing school districts to notify parents if a child identifies as LGBTQ+ and allowing parents to opt out of sexuality content. During the committee process in the Senate, however, an amendment was added to the bill to specify that content the bill deemed objectionable was not targeting STI education. While STI education is in Ohio law, advocates for more sexual education say abstinence-focused instruction and the other provisions currently in law arent enough. The non-profit Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States said Ohios sex education curriculumis not required to be comprehensive, medically accurate or include instruction on topics such as consent, sexual orientation or gender identity, or contraceptive options. This leaves local school districts to decide what sex education curriculum they provide, the group stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The research from Equitas Health recognized the resilience of young adults, despite being a population that is understudied among HIV study. Young adults with marginalized identities require diverse and targeted approaches within HIV care, the report concluded. However, adults within sexual, gender and racial minority groups are often excluded from HIV discourse. The unique needs of young adults must be considered. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Hollywood is paying tribute to the life and legacy of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday morning at 88 years old. He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christs love enveloped believer and non-believer, wrote actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg in a post on Instagram. He felt more like Pope John the 23rd, who made belief real. Sail on Pope Francis, with your love of humanity and laughter. The View host had met Pope Francis twice, once in 2023 and again in 2024, as part of a group of 100 comedians who attended a special event at the Vatican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Antonio Banderas also posted a message on Instagram honoring Latin Americas first pontiff. Pope Francisco has died a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people, the Oscar-nominated actor wrote. A beautiful day in Rome, but a sad day for the faithful. RIP Francis, wrote actor Russell Crowe on X. Actress Eva Longoria shared a photo of her meeting the Pope on social media along with the message: Rest in Peace, Your Holiness Pope Francis. Thank you for being an ally to many of us and speaking up for the marginalized. Your compassion, kindness and humility will always be remembered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fashion designer Donatella Versace posted a photo of the Pope on her Instagram Stories with the message, Rest in Peace His Holiness Pope Francis alongside a dove and white heart emoji. A wonderful, wonderful man! Rest in peace, holy father! wrote Sylvester Stallone on Instagram. The world was alerted of Pope Francis passing on Monday morning via an announcement from Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, said Farrell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His death comes on Easter Monday, a day after he blessed a crowd of Catholics who gathered at St. Peters Square for the holy holiday and met with Vice President JD Vance. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill, Vance wrote on X. A papal conclave will convene in the next 15 to 20 days to decide on the next Pope. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. April 21 (UPI) -- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's handbag, including $3,000 in cash and her agency access badge, was stolen from a restaurant in the District of Columbia, officials confirmed to media outlets Monday. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told NewsNation that she was eating dinner Sunday when a thief stole the purse, which also contained her driver's license, blank checks and her keys. McLaughlin said Noem was celebrating Easter with her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She had the case because her whole family was in town and was treating them to activities, dinner and Easter gifts," McLaughlin said. Her children and grandchildren were in the party. CNN reported the thief also stole Noem's medication and makeup bag. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem receives a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26. Photo by Tia Dufour/U.S. Department of Homeland Security/UPI Noem and her family dined at Capital Burger near downtown D.C., two sources told CBS News. Her purse was placed against her foot underneath her seat, the sources said. Noem's cellphone was not in the purse, CBS reported. Noem receives around-the-clock Secret Service protection. Members of her detail were stationed at the restaurant at the time of the incident, multiple law enforcement officials told CBS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secret Service reviewed security footage from the restaurant and saw "an unknown white male wearing a medical mask steal her bag and leave the restaurant," CNN reported. Noem, appearing at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, told NBC News that she hadn't spoken to agency personnel yet about what happened. She didn't offer any details of the incident. "I don't think I can comment on it yet. It's not resolved yet." Noem was the governor of South Dakota and previously was a member of the House. President Donald Trump has pressured Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to increase law enforcement presence and get rid of homeless encampments in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 28, the president created a task force to make the city "the pride of every American to whom it belongs." "Washington, D.C., must become CLEAN and SAFE again! We need our Great Police back on the street, with no excuses from the Mayor, or anyone else. The House should take up the D.C. funding 'fix' that the Senate has passed, and get it done IMMEDIATELY," Trump posted on Truth Social on the same day. The District of Columbia, with a population of 679,000, has no U.S. senators and only a non-voting House delegate. The Home Rule Act gives certain powers of the United States Congress to the local government, which consists of a mayor and a 13-member council. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 21. Vice Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Talgat Lastaev, kicked off his working trip to the North Kazakhstan Region with a stop at the Petropavlovsk airport, where he took stock of its current condition and laid the groundwork for future development, Trend reports. The airport management briefed the vice minister on plans for further development and outlined a number of issues requiring support from the relevant ministry. In particular, the airport authorities raised the issue of extending subsidies for the 'Petropavlovsk-Almaty' route, as well as initiating subsidies for the 'Petropavlovsk-Aktau' route starting in 2026. This matter will be addressed jointly with the Ministry of Finance," the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan stated. Moreover, the vice minister expressed gratitude to the management of the operating company for its contribution to the development of the airports infrastructure and emphasized the strategic importance of the region given its geographic location. The topic of flight schedules was also brought up during the visit. In the past, locals had asked for departure time adjustments to increase passenger comfort. The Ministry of Transport held negotiations with the airline Qazaq Air. As a result, starting from May 11, 2025, the schedule for flights on the "Astana-Petropavlovsk" route will be changed: on Fridays and Sundays, departures from Astana will be at 15:30, with return flights from Petropavlovsk at 17:00. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A major insurance company has canceled coverage for hundreds of homeowners in Oregon, leaving residents scrambling to protect their properties and paying significantly more. What's happening? As the Central Oregon Daily News reported, Farmers Insurance scrapped coverage for about 200 homes in the Camp Polk area, several miles north of Sisters. Karen Whisler, who depended on Farmers for coverage for 15 years, was among the policyholders who received a cancellation notice and feared she would lose her house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's terrifying if you can't find insurance or you can't afford your insurance," she told the publication. "You know your mortgage company requires you to have insurance." Ultimately, she found coverage with Allstate; however, she now pays $5,000 more per year for a policy with a deductible over $9,000 higher than that of her previous coverage. Why is this important? Farmers Insurance didn't reply to the Daily News' request for a statement, but according to Country Financial Services agent Linda Alldredge, the residents' homes likely didn't meet requirements because they are in areas with a high wildfire risk. As the Oregon Department of Transportation explains, wildfires are a "chronic" issue in the Beaver State. The problem is expected to worsen. Temperatures are rising at an accelerated rate because of human activities, particularly the burning of dirty fuels, and supercharging extreme weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A volatile insurance market is also impacting residents outside of Oregon, from California to Florida to traditionally low-risk areas in the Midwest such as Iowa, threatening housing security and lengthening disaster recovery times as even those with policies struggle to retrieve their claims. What's being done about this? Alldredge told Central Oregon Daily that her business educates homeowners on how to reduce their fire risk which could prevent a huge headache down the road. "I want a policy that's approved. Also one that's well written, because you don't want to go through a claim and then not have the value be the proper value on your house," she said. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Alldredge added that Country Financial doesn't have plans to cancel existing policies but acknowledged that its premiums are increasing, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire-risk reduction actions include fire-resistant building materials, which have helped protect homes elsewhere. Some jurisdictions in California have introduced legislation that would require the clearing of combustible materials within a certain distance of structures. These techniques can help manage the situation and provide relief in the short term. In the long term, cooling down the planet's temperatures could help stabilize an insurance industry in turmoil because of extreme weather. You can contribute to these efforts by upgrading to energy-efficient, money-saving appliances, depending less on dirty fuel-derived plastics, and supporting companies that value sustainability. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa On this weeks episode of Homewi$e, Amanda Krenz and mortgage expert Tyler Osby discuss what a mortgage lender does and doesnt see, and how it affects you. Past Episodes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. This story has been updated with information from Kentucky State Police. WISE COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) Authorities are investigating a homicide that took place in the Town of Appalachia early Sunday morning. According to a news release from the Wise County Sheriffs Office, deputies and investigators responded to the Town of Appalachia regarding a violent incident that resulted in the death of Sandra Lee Moore, 44, of Appalachia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation and interview with the suspect, David Wayne Stoneburner, 29, confirmed the incident to be a homicide, the sheriffs office stated. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Crime Watch Stoneburner reportedly gave authorities a statement that outlined events that led to Moores death and actions taken afterwards. Following the initial incident, the suspect [Stoneburner] transported the victims body across state lines into Harlan County, Kentucky, where he attempted to conceal and destroy evidence, the sheriffs office said in the release. Harlan County officials, including the Medical Examiner and Coroners Office, confirmed the victims identity and pronounced her [Moore] deceased at 3:05 PM on April 20, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky State Police (KSP) reported that troopers responded to a vehicle fully engulfed in flames on KY 160 in Harlan County. A person was found in the vehicle and identified as Moore. KSP also identified Stoneburner as Moores nephew and stated that he is accused of transporting his aunts body across state lines, placing her in the drivers seat, setting the vehicle on fire and then causing the vehicle to go over an embankment. Stoneburner is considered the primary suspect, and a murder warrant has been issued out of Wise County, according to the sheriffs office. According to KSP, Stoneburner has been charged with abuse of a corpse and arson in Kentucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Monday, he is incarcerated in Harlan County Detention Center. The sheriffs office stated the investigation remains ongoing and additional warrants will be pursued. Anyone with information is asked to call the Wise County Sheriffs Office at 276-328-3566. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) A Honduran national has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States after he was found working in Mobile, according to the Department of Justice. Alabama Bar and Lounge owner receives eviction notice The DOJ release said Tomas Rivera-Melgar, 39, has been removed from the country twice in 2011 and 2016. The release said U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security agents found Rivera-Melgar while he was working at a construction site and determined that he had previously been removed from the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rivera-Melgar has prior convictions for illegal entry, driving while intoxicated and assault causing bodily injury, the release said. He was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release. Rivera-Melgar had been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 26, 2025. According to the release, Rivera-Melgar will be referred to immigration officials to begin deportation proceedings. He was also ordered to pay $100 in special assessments. The Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OCSO cites teens for excessive amount of alcohol in truck The case was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that utilizes the full resources of the Department of Justice to quell the influx of illegal immigrants, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect the countrys communities from violent crime offenders, the release 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 WKRG News 5. TALLAHASSEE Hope Florida Foundation attorney Jeff Aaron said he cant make a legislative committee hearing this week to testify about the charity affiliated with First Lady Casey DeSantis and the focus of a $10 million Medicaid donation probe. He informed me today that he has a conflict on Thursday, Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, told the Orlando Sentinel by email. Ive asked him to clear the conflict and attend voluntarily. Aaron told the Sentinel that he had informed Andrade via email Monday that he was only available Wednesday and Friday of this week due to prior commitments he couldnt change. He also said his mother had been hospitalized and was likely to have surgery scheduled soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, rest assured that I am willing to testify, Aaron told Andrade via email. Andrade said on Tuesday that he had been given permission to hold an extra hearing on Friday morning to accommodate Aarons schedule. I asked him to hold it on his calendar. Andrade has been leading the investigation into how the donation to Hope Florida Foundation part of a $67 million settlement settlement between the state and its largest Medicaid managed care company wound up with two other nonprofits. Those nonprofits in turn gave $8.5 million to a political committee set up for Gov. Ron DeSantis to help defeat last years failed marijuana legalization ballot initiative. Andrade has said he believes those transactions amounted to an illegal use of federal tax dollars that should have helped sick Floridians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aaron, a politically connected lawyer who has done extensive work for Gov. Ron DeSantis, has called the effort by Andrade and other GOP members of the House to look into the $10 million donation a politically motivated witch hunt. Thursdays meeting is potentially an explosive one. Andrade has invited Aaron, Attorney General James Uthmeier, and the heads of the two nonprofits that received the Medicaid money to Thursdays committee hearing to explain what those nonprofits did with the $5 million they each received. The money came from a $67 million settlement agreement with Centene, the a Medicaid managed care provider. Andrade has said that Uthmeier orchestrated the donations so that money ended up in the fund that DeSantis was using to fight the marijuana amendment. Uthmeier has denied any wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aaron told the Sentinel Friday that he had no prior conversations with Uthmeier about the donation or the grants, had nothing to hide and would produce any public records that are requested of him. Days before the Oct.14 Hope Florida board meeting, Aaron said he was given the application written by Florida Chamber of Commerce President Mark Wilson for Secure Floridas Futures request for $5 million from the Hope Florida Foundation. But he said he did not look at the documents until the meeting began. I looked at it and said it was fine, he said. Several days after the meeting, another grant request came in and Aaron spoke with Amy Ronshausen, CEO of the Drug Free America Foundation and its political committee, Save Our Society From Drugs. He said he sent her a copy of Wilsons letter to use as a template for her application for $5 million after she asked for a sample application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aaron said he was not part of the legal group that negotiated the settlement with Centene. I had nothing to do with that Centene money getting over to Hope Florida, Aaron said. Where that money came from has nothing to do with these grant applications. Andrade said he sent the foundation a letter last week asking for records. He also sent Aaron a separate email personally inviting him to produce any records he had. In response, Aaron sent Andrade an email with a zip file containing 11 files, including copies of the grant applications from Secure Floridas Future and Save Our Society From Drugs along with instructions on how to have the funds wired to them and text messages with Ronshausen making sure the money was deposited into her organizations bank account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aaron was asked to be the foundations attorney two days before that Oct. 14 board meeting, Aaron told the Sentinel. The board approved the contract unanimously, along with a motion to give Chair Joshua Hay the authority to approve grants on his own without the board needing to meet. Aaron is on a $5,000 a month flat retainer to provide general legal advice on an as-needed basis. David Dewhirst, a senior advisor to the governor, recommended Hay, who is also CEO of Indelible, a major state contractor, that the Hope Florida board hire Aaron as its attorney. Hay told Andrades committee last week that he ran into Dewhirst at the Emergency Operations Center last fall and mentioned the foundation needed outside counsel. Dewhirst recommended Aaron, a longtime friend whose children played together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dewhirst had seen my legal work, Aaron said. I represented lots of high profile cases for the governor. He was an attorney at legal powerhouse GrayRobinson from 2016 until last September when he and longtime City of Orlando attorney Mayanne Downs started their own firm. Aaron is also general counsel for the agency that runs Orlando International Airport. The first case Aaron ever got from the Governors office was the case of Andrew Warren, the Hillsborough County State Attorney who was fired by DeSantis. Aaron was expected to lose the case because it was before U.S. Judge Robert Hinkle, who had a reputation for ruling against DeSantis in previous cases, but he won. That case put me on the map, Aaron said. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Authorities on Monday implemented a ban on outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of Horry County because of low humidity and dry, windy conditions on the Grand Strand. The ban will remain in place until further notice, county officials said in a news release. NEWS13 FORECAST: Humid week ahead The ban, which comes on Day 52 of the Covington Drive wildfire in the Carolina Forest area, means all outdoor burning, including permitted burns, is prohibited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those involved in any open burning would be in violation of the law, the county stressed in the news release. The 2,059-acre Covington Drive fire has continued to smolder and produce smoke in the area. It remains 90% contained, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. For more information on the status of the burn ban, go to this link on the Horry County government website. Information about burning can be found here. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A quartet of House Democrats arrived in El Salvador on Monday morning to push for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to the Central American country. Democratic Reps. Robert Garcia (Calif.), Maxwell Frost (Fla.), Yassamin Ansari (Ariz.) and Maxine Dexter (Ore.) said they were in El Salvador to advocate for Abrego Garcias release and put a spotlight on what they say is President Trumps noncompliance with a Supreme Court order directing his administration to facilitate the Maryland mans return. They also said they would urge the release of other detainees. While Donald Trump continues to defy the Supreme Court, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being held illegally in El Salvador after being wrongfully deported, Garcia said in a statement. That is why were here to remind the American people that kidnapping immigrants and deporting them without due process is not how we do things in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are demanding the Trump Administration abide by the Supreme Court decision and give Kilmar and the other migrants mistakenly sent to El Salvador due process in the United States, he added. The group noted that their visit was not being paid for with taxpayer dollars, after House Oversight and Government Reform Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) denied a request from Garcia and Frost for the trip to be an official congressional delegation. The House is on recess this week and returns to Washington next Monday. The Department of Homeland Security bashed the trip as an opportunity to meet and shake hands with a terrorist a comment that comes after Trump designated MS-13 a foreign terrorist organization. The claim that Abrego Garcia is a member of the gang, however, is largely based on a tip from one informant . Abrego Garcia was protected from removal to El Salvador by an immigration judge in 2019, and the Justice Department has said in court his removal was due to an administrative error. The administration has since, however, doubled down on its argument that Abrego Garcia deserved to be deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While numerous Democrats have said they plan to keep pressuring Salvadoran officials for Abrego Garcias release, its a high-stakes visit as Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has said he will not return Abrego Garcia, echoing the Trump administration in calling him a terrorist. The trip is the second to El Salvador by U.S. Democratic lawmakers after Sen. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) last week secured a meeting with Abgreo Garcia. Abrego Garcias family thanked the lawmakers for making the journey. Were deeply grateful to the members of Congress and advocates for justice now on the ground in El Salvador, building on the leadership of Senator Van Hollen. We are particularly concerned about Kilmars health and hope to receive news about that from the visit. Their presence sends a powerful message: the fight to bring Kilmar home isnt over, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Abrego Garcias wife, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salvadoran officials initially told Van Hollen that they would be unable to arrange a meeting with the mistakenly deported man, saying they would need more time to organize a visit to the prison he was being held in. They also rebuffed a phone call, saying the request would need to come from the U.S. Embassy. The senator the next day then proceeded to drive to CECOT, only to be stopped by Salvadoran military members who said they had been ordered to stop him from reaching the prison. Bukele later reversed course, having Abrego Garcia transported to Van Hollens hotel for a meeting. Abrego Garcia arrived with a hat covering his shaved head, and Van Hollen said Salvadoran officials tried to have the two meet poolside at the hotel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the meeting, Van Hollen said he learned several key details on his trip. He said the Salvadoran government said Abrego Garcia has no criminal record in the country, while Salvadoran Vice President Felix Ulloa cited U.S. funding as the rationale for keeping him. His answer was that the Trump administration is paying the government of El Salvador to keep him at CECOT, Van Hollen said after their Wednesday meeting. Van Hollen also said embassy staff on the ground had received no directive to take any action to facilitate Abrego Garcias return something he said was a violation of the Supreme Court order directing the Trump administration to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van Hollen said he also told Salvadoran officials that Abrego Garcias case was of great interest to lawmakers. I may be the first United States senator to visit El Salvador on this issue, but there will be more, and there will be more members of Congress coming, he said last week. Updated: 12:04 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Four Democratic members of Congress who traveled to El Salvador to advocate for Kilmar Abrego Garcia said Monday that they were denied a request to meet with the man who was wrongly deported by the U.S. government and sent to a Salvadoran prison. "We're here in El Salvador demanding the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia," Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) said at a news conference. "He needs to come home. This is about due process." The lawmakers had traveled to El Salvador at their own expense after being denied an official trip sanctioned by congressional leadership. They met with officials at the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We formally requested to see [Abrego Garcia] today and we were told at our meeting that the government here has denied our request to see him because this is not an official trip," said Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.). Frost said the legislators left a meeting at the embassy "with absolutely zero indication that this administration is going to facilitate or wants to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia." Garcia and Frost led the effort. They are joined by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) and Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.). President Trump has refused to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. despite a Supreme Court order to "facilitate" his return arguing he has no authority to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Abrego Garcia case has become a focal point in the debate over immigration and limits to executive authority. Trump has framed the Abrego Garcia case as an immigration issue, while critics say the real issue is upholding the Constitution and the right to due process. "Trump is defying a Supreme Court order to bring Kilmar home," Garcia said Sunday just before departing Washington for El Salvador. "We're there to obviously demand his release and to continue the pressure on the administration." Read more: Supreme Court temporarily halts more Venezuelan detainee removals under Alien Enemies Act The lawmakers said they want to ensure that Abrego Garcia is safe and that his story does not fade away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're also worried about our own constituents," Frost said. "We represent people across the entire nation. I'm from Orlando, Florida, a community filled with immigrants." Asked by The Times about the conversation they'd had with the Salvadoran government, Garcia declined to comment. After meeting with the the legislators Monday, the U.S. Embassy requested that the Salvadoran government provide information on the welfare and whereabouts of Abrego Garcia, Andry Hernandez Romero a gay Venezuelan makeup artist who was applying for asylum and whether the group of congressional members could visit the maximum security prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT. In a statement released Monday, Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said the family is grateful for the efforts by the members of Congress. She said she is particularly concerned about her husband's health and hopes the legislators can find out more about his condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Their presence sends a powerful message: the fight to bring Kilmar home isnt over," Vasquez Sura wrote. "Im fighting for Kilmar and for all the other Kilmars who have been unjustly deported without due process. We need Congress to keep showing up, both here and abroad, until justice is served." Ansari said the group sent a letter Monday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding daily proof of life of Abrego Garcia and that he receives access to counsel until he is returned home. The legislators were joined during the news conference by Chris Newman, legal director for the Los Angeles-based National Day Laborer Organizing Network, who is representing Abrego Garcia's family. "Unfortunately, we are no longer able to trust the representations about this case made either by the United States government or by the Salvadoran government," Newman said. "And indeed, this case is about many things, but above all, it is about truth versus lies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats had hoped to organize a congressional delegation to visit Abrego Garcia. Trips that are organized in an official capacity grant legislators more security and resources. On Tuesday, Garcia and Frost sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) requesting authorization to fund an official visit to CECOT, a mega-prison that can hold 40,000 people. "A Congressional delegation would allow Committee Members to conduct a welfare check on Mr. Abrego Garcia, as well as others held at CECOT, such as Andry Jose Hernandez a 30-year-old LGBTQ makeup artist who passed a credible fear interview during his legal asylum process before being deported, the lawmakers wrote. "In addition, congressional oversight is warranted following President Trumps recent remarks in which he expressed a desire to send 'homegrown criminals' including U.S. citizens to this facility." Comer denied the request Friday, stating in a letter that he would not "approve a single dime of taxpayer funds" for such a trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is absurd that you both displayed active hostility for over two years toward the Committees oversight of the Biden Border Crisis and the consequences of millions of illegal aliens entering the country," Comer wrote, "yet now, you are seeking travel at Committee expense to meet with foreign gang members." House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) denied a similar request from Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.). But House Republicans were granted official travel to El Salvador last week. Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) shared photos on X of themselves at the prison. Garcia called Comer's denial "shameful" given the approvals for Republican members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Better to leave with something: More immigrants opt to self-deport rather than face arrest Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was the first U.S. legislator to meet with Abrego Garcia. Van Hollen returned Friday from a three-day trip to El Salvador to push for his release, saying the case is about far more than one man. "Its about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States," Van Hollen said. Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia told him he had been moved from CECOT to a detention center with better conditions. Newman confirmed he has had no access to his client. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We know nothing of Mr. Abrego Garcia's whereabouts since the staged photo op on Thursday with Sen. Van Hollen," he said. Garcia said his trip continues the groundwork that Van Hollen laid. Abrego Garcia, who is from El Salvador, lived legally in Maryland. A 2019 immigration judge's order prohibited his removal to El Salvador. But he was removed March 15 in what Immigration and Customs Enforcement acknowledged was an "administrative error." White House officials allege that he is a member of MS-13, though he has not been charged with gang-related crimes. Castillo reported from Washington and Rauda Zablah from San Salvador. 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. Four more Democratic lawmakers have landed in El Salvador as the party ramps up its efforts to secure the release of a Maryland man the Trump administration now admits it erred in deporting. Democratic Reps. Robert Garcia of California, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Yassamin Ansari of Arizona and Maxine Dexter of Oregon are demanding the White House abide by a court order to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. Theyre planning to meet with officials at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador to advocate for Abrego Garcias release and to get information on other detainees transferred to El Salvador from the U.S. Frost, in a statement, accused the Trump administration of running a government-funded kidnapping program illegally arresting, jailing, and deporting innocent people with zero due process, of which Abrego Garcia is the latest victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What happened to Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not just one familys nightmare it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us, Dexter said in a separate statement. We will not rest while due process is discarded, and our constitutional rights are ignored. Their trip follows the high-profile visit from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who traveled to El Salvador last week to meet with Abrego Garcia, and more Democratic lawmakers could follow. Democrats say the Trump administration is denying Abrego Garcia his right of due process and plunging the country into a constitutional crisis by ignoring the Supreme Court order to bring him back. President Donald Trump and his allies are continuing to link Abrego Garcia to the MS-13 gang, even as a federal judge said the Justice Department has offered no evidence to that effect. House Republicans last week denied Democrats requests to send an official delegation to the country, arguing it would waste taxpayer dollars. The Democratic lawmakers said they are not using taxpayer dollars to fund their trip. April 21 (UPI) -- A group of House Democrats arrived in El Salvador Monday to advocate for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador and incarcerated. Reps. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., Robert Garcia, D-Calif., Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., and Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., made the trip in an attempt to put pressure on the Trump Administration to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia. Garcia said in a press release Monday that the four have also made the journey to "remind the American people that kidnapping immigrants and deporting them without due process is not how we do things in America." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are in a constitutional crisis," Ansari posted to X Monday. "I'm in El Salvador to shine a light on Kilmar's story and keep the pressure on Donald Trump to secure his safe return home." Despite the Supreme Court order that the United States "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return, the White House has continued to claim that he is a gang member. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin purported in a press release Friday that Abrego Garcia is an "MS-13 gang member, illegal alien from El Salvador, and suspected human trafficker," though he was never charged or jailed over these allegations. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, put out a statement Friday that he "will not approve a single dime" of "taxpayer funds for use on the excursion Democrats have requested." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia confirmed the trip to El Salvador was not approved nor paid for by Congress or taxpayer dollars. Abrego Garcia was deported in March to El Salvador, where he was first placed into CECOT, a maximum-security prison, before being moved to a different facility last week at some point. He was visited by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Thursday. Abrego Garcia, a married father of three was in the U.S. legally with a green card, wasn't charged with a crime and did not appear before a judge. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said last week during a visit to the White House he would not facilitate Abrego Garcia's return. Photo: Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov has met with President of the PowerChina Group Wang Bin, Trend reports via the Ministry of Economy. Meanwhile, it was noted at the meeting that attracting investors to the energy sector of Azerbaijan, increasing the efficiency of renewable energy, and the share of alternative energy sources in the energy sector are important issues in the country's economic development strategy. The parties exchanged views on cooperation with the PowerChina Group, attracting investments to the energy sector, and implementing joint projects in the field of renewable energy. House Oversight Chair James Comer is asking the Department of Justice to prosecute former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for lying to Congress as part of its investigation into New York States handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Comer, a Kentucky Republican, accused Cuomo, a Democrat now running for New York City mayor, of making making criminally false statements around the states management of the pandemic in nursing homes. Former Rep. Brad Wenstrup, the chair of the now-disbanded House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, had previously referred Cuomo to former Attorney General Merrick Garland for prosecution a request that the Biden administration appeared to ignore. But Comers decision to return to the referral suggests the Trump administration may now be willing to engage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Comer demanded Cuomo be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Andrew Cuomo is a man with a history of corruption and deceit, now caught red-handed lying to Congress during the Select Subcommittees investigation into the COVID-19 nursing home tragedy in New York, he said. This wasnt a slip-upit was a calculated cover-up by a man seeking to shield himself from responsibility for the devastating loss of life in New Yorks nursing homes. The Justice Department did not immediately return a request for comment. This is nothing more than a meritless press release that was nonsense last year and is even more so now, Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi responded Monday in a statement. As the DOJ constantly reminds people, this kind of transparent attempt at election interference and law-fare violates their own policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo, who built a national profile with his daily briefings to reassure the public during the early days of the Covid pandemic, is now the frontrunner in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor. But the scandal around nursing home deaths throughout 2020 paired with sexual harassment allegations that forced him to resign as governor in 2021 are haunting his comeback attempt. Cuomo has sought to direct blame elsewhere for his March 25, 2020 nursing home directive, which required elder care facilities to accept Covid-positive patients. Yet his rivals in the mayoral primary to challenge sitting Mayor Eric Adams have banded together to highlight Cuomos decision to expose a vulnerable population to the deadly virus, and accuse him of undercounting the deaths in elder care facilities that occurred as a result. Cuomo defended himself at a congressional hearing last year, telling lawmakers that all credible studies now say that COVID came into nursing homes through community spread and infected staff, not hospital admissions or readmission. But now Cuomo will find himself having to relitigate the allegations waged by House Republicans during that time. The original prosecutorial referral sent by Wenstrup, who is now serving on President Donald Trumps Intelligence Advisory Board, alleged that Cuomo lied to Congress during a transcribed interview with the select panel. Cuomo claimed he was not involved in a New York State Department of Health report on the nursing home crisis, but later said he did not recall reviewing or revising the report. But the Republican-led panel concluded Cuomo did, in fact, seek to alter the report as part of an effort to cover up the fallout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has also struck an unlikely alliance with Adams, who is now running as an independent. Administration officials earlier this year moved to drop federal corruption charges against Adams, who was accused of accepting bribes from Turkish officials, after the mayor said he would allow Immigrations and Customs Enforcement back onto the citys Rikers Island jail complex. Adams also appeared before Comers committee at a March hearing on so-called sanctuary cities with three other Democratic mayors and received a noticeably warmer reception from House Republicans compared to the mayors of Denver, Boston and Chicago. I must comment that you have publicly stated that you were willing to work with ICE on detaining the most criminal illegals, Comer said to Adams. And I want to publicly thank you for that. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The Cathedral of Saint Andrew was filled with joy and tradition Sunday morning. Hundreds of families from across West Michigan came together to celebrate the most significant day on the Christian calendar, Easter Sunday. For the Fricke family, the day held extra meaning as Paul and Kathy Fricke celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Its wonderful celebrating our 40th anniversary today in this beautiful church and community, Paul Fricke said. Cathedral of Saint Andrew on Easter Sunday. (April 20, 2025) Why is Easter hardly on the same Sunday? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their children and grandchildren joined them for Mass. This is the church my husband and I got married in, so its nice to bring our kids back to our roots, said Michelle Fricke. Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is considered the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Bishop David Walkowiak, who oversees the Diocese of Grand Rapids, led the service, joined by Father Mike Cruikshank. Easter really requires us to have faith and hope, I think thats what Jesus resurrection means, Cruikshank said. Easter Sunday, of course a popular one that people like to come to, and we are very happy to welcome them today and every day that they want to come. Cathedral of Saint Andrew on Easter Sunday. (April 20, 2025) West Side Grand Rapids bar hands out 200 Easter meals to those in need Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the Stout family, the Cathedral has long been a special place. My husband and I were married here 18 years ago, so this is just home for us, said Naomi Stout. Her son, Rayner, called Easter a time to celebrate Jesus resurrection and also celebrate with your family and have a nice blessed day. The celebration included Easter egg hunts, family meals and quiet moments of reflection. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. New patients have recently begun streaming into Del-Kar Pharmacy an independent, 65-year-old drugstore in North Lawndale after nearby Walgreens stores closed. The new customers would be a blessing for many businesses, but for Del-Kar it means losing money on many prescriptions. The reimbursements the drugstore receives for filling orders are often less than the cost of filling them, said second-generation owner and pharmacist Edwin Muldrow. He traces the trend to the rise of pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs companies that act as intermediaries among drugmakers, insurance corporations and pharmacies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Independent pharmacy owners have long complained that PBMs are part of massive conglomerates that have led to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients. They say PBMs steer patients to pharmacies in which they have a financial interest, dont reimburse pharmacies enough for medications and dont adequately pass along rebates they get from drugmakers. What the PBMs have done to our profession, its wrong, its criminal, its unfair, and I just dont understand why they have to take such extreme measures to compete with us little men and women, Muldrow said. After years of outcry, Gov. JB Pritzker has thrown his support behind efforts to require PBMs to change how they do business in Illinois. Pritzker has called for legislation that would prevent PBMs from directing patients to pharmacies where they have a financial interest, bar them from pocketing certain savings on medications and require them to open their books to state regulators, among other changes. Pritzker said in his State of the State address in February that PBMs extract extra profit from patients through opaque and often predatory tactics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are not doctors, but they work with insurance companies to deny people the drugs and treatments doctors prescribe, Pritzker said. Not only are they driving up health care costs for Illinois families by hundreds of millions of dollars per year, but they are also putting small, local, independent pharmacies out of business. PBM backers, however, say the governors plans are flawed and argue that they arent to blame for high drug prices. Rather, PBM supporters say, they save patients and employers money partly by negotiating with drugmakers and then passing on those savings. PBMs are the only check against drug companies unlimited pricing power, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents PBMs, said in a statement. Health plans rely on PBMs to administer pharmacy benefits that are affordable and meet the health needs of patients. Undermining and weakening our ability to lower drug costs will lead to higher drug costs in Illinois. Nevertheless, the industry is drawing the ire of leaders across the political spectrum a rare issue on which there appears to be at least some agreement between Illinois Democratic governor and his favorite political target, Republican President Donald Trump. The White House last week issued an executive order that aims to lower drug prices through steps that would include increasing transparency into the direct and indirect compensation received by pharmacy benefit managers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Pritzker making the issue a top priority for the spring legislative session, his allies in Springfield have yet to introduce a formal proposal. Closed-door negotiations are ongoing, but key Democratic lawmakers said the involvement of the governors office should make the difference in getting a measure passed before the General Assemblys scheduled May 31 adjournment. I expect we will pass the bill, I just dont know exactly when, Pritzker told the Tribune in a brief interview last week. Lawmakers and the governor remained tight-lipped, however, about whether whatever legislation emerges from those discussions would achieve all the goals Pritzker outlined earlier this year. Working behind the scenes PBMs began providing services in the 1960s, but it wasnt until recently that their power really grew, according to a Federal Trade Commission staff report. Though many would be hard-pressed to explain what PBMs actually do, the companies have come to play an increasingly large role in how people receive and pay for their medications. The three largest PBMs processed nearly 80% of prescriptions dispensed by U.S. pharmacies in 2023, according to the FTC report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a nutshell, PBMs work behind the scenes, administering prescription drug benefits for health insurers, employers, labor unions and state and federal government health programs. The crux of the debate over PBMs is whether they are saving consumers money or contributing to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients and the demise of some pharmacies. PBMs have taken on a number of jobs. For one, they work with insurers and employers to help them decide medication coverage by devising formularies, which are lists specifying the prescription medications health plans cover and how the costs will be divided between the plans and patients. Employers and health insurers can choose which formulary options to use. PBMs also negotiate with drugmakers to get rebates on medications in exchange for those drugs getting good formulary placement. In 2016 PBMs passed along 91% of drug manufacturers rebates to their customers namely employers and health plans according to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And PBMs contract with pharmacies to create networks in which insured patients can fill their prescriptions. As part of these arrangements, pharmacies may accept lower reimbursement rates in exchange for being part of a PBMs preferred network, according to the FTC report. The three largest PBMs are part of much bigger companies that are all listed among the largest 40 companies in the world, according to Fortune. CVS Health, for instance, owns PBM CVS Caremark, while Cigna owns the PBM Express Scripts and PBM Optum Rx is part of UnitedHealth Group. Its a structure many have criticized. The way the system works now is not a very well-functioning system, said state Sen. Dave Koehler, a Peoria Democrat who has been pushing legislation for several years to bring more regulation to the industry. Theres just too many places to extract money out of the system. It really ought to be between a doctor writing a script and a patient standing in front of the pharmacy counter, in my estimation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the drugmaker industry group better known as PhRMA, says health insurers and PBMs get billions of dollars in rebates and discounts that can bring down the cost of certain medications by 50% or more but that they often make patients pay based on the full price. States can pass legislation that would require PBMs to share the rebates and discounts they get from drugmakers with patients, Stami Turk, a PhRMA spokesperson, said in a statement. Fixing this part of the system and sharing the savings with patients would provide immediate relief and help Illinois patients better afford the medicines they need, Turk said in the statement. We bring options Critics also say PBMs engage in spread pricing, which is when they charge a health insurer or employer more for a medication than they pay a pharmacy for it keeping the difference. And they say PBMs steer patients to pharmacies in which they have a financial interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PBMs, however, say spread pricing can help save money for health plans and employers. With spread pricing, the employer or health plan pays a set price for a drug and if the pharmacys reimbursement rate for that drug is higher than that amount, the PBM absorbs that cost, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association said in its statement. Ed DeVaney, president of PBM CVS Caremark, also said that using networks with fewer pharmacies is a option PBMs offer as a way that employers, unions and others who pay for health insurance can keep costs down. We bring options, and the employers and unions are the ultimate parties that choose how they want to do it, DeVaney said. An unintended consequence of proposals like the ones being considered in Illinois is that they can mean fewer options for employers looking to hold down costs, he said. We want to work with (the governor) to ensure any proposal that advances that truly lowers cost for consumers does not burden public purchasers and private employers with higher costs, DeVaney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many are agitating for reforms at the state and federal levels. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul recently joined 38 other attorneys general in sending a letter to congressional leaders asking them to pass a law prohibiting PBMs from owning or operating pharmacies. Last week, in another sign of how the PBM issue has riled up both Democrats and Republicans, Arkansas became the first state to bar PBMs from owning pharmacies through a measure signed into law by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trumps former press secretary and close political ally. Also, the FTC filed an administrative complaint against the three biggest PBMs in September, alleging they engaged in anticompetitive and unfair practices that artificially inflated the list price of insulin drugs. The FTC alleged that even when cheaper insulin products became available, the PBMs favored coverage for higher-priced insulin made by drugmakers that gave high rebates to the PBMs. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association said at the time that the average out-of-pocket cost for insulin has actually declined in recent years and, The FTCs action ignores significant progress PBMs have made lowering costs in the insulin market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That legal action was paused following upheaval among the FTC commissioners after Trump took office. Trumps recent executive order may raise hope for action at the federal level to bring down drug prices, but critics remain skeptical. Among other issues, Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough pointed to the Trump administrations reported steps toward imposing cost-raising tariffs on drug imports, while a memo prepared by top state health officials notes that the president backed off of tougher regulations on PBMs during his first presidency under pressure from industry lobbyists. We will not believe their false promises and instead stay focused doing everything we can at the state level to help families afford health care and prescriptions, Gough said in a statement. State Rep. Natalie Manley, a Joliet Democrat who is expected to sponsor Pritzkers proposal in the Illinois House, said shes hopeful the federal government will take action but wont hold my breath. I think we need to be out in front of it and do the work thats involved in getting this done, Manley said. Protecting the people here in Illinois, thats our job. Independent pharmacies feel squeezed Many Illinois pharmacists say the practices of PBMs have made it difficult to stay in business. Theyre just middlemen. They dont care for any patients. They dont dispense prescriptions except at pharmacies they own, said Michelle Dyer, who owned three pharmacies in central Illinois. All they do is take money out. Dyer bought the three pharmacies in rural Carlinville, Gillespie and Bunker Hill in 2008, 2009 and 2016, respectively. For a time, business went well. But then certain PBM fees began to soar and reimbursements for medications dropped, she said. She said it costs pharmacies $12, on average, to fill a prescription, including the costs of paying employees, rent and utilities. For some medications, shed get reimbursed only 50 cents, she said, which doesnt even cover the cost of my vial. In 2022 Dyer closed two of her pharmacies. She closed the remaining one earlier this year. You try to tighten your belt, you try to see what you can do to streamline your services, but it was just a losing battle, Dyer said. As an independent pharmacy, as a small-business owner, you just dont have the power to deal with any of it. But DeVaney, with CVS Caremark, said independent pharmacies are often reimbursed more for medications than chain pharmacies because of Medicare and Medicaid rules that require PBMs to have a sufficient number of independent pharmacies in their networks. CVS Caremark said it reimburses Illinois independent pharmacies, on average, 42% more than it reimburses CVS pharmacies. Still, pharmacies continue to close. Nationally, more than 29% of retail pharmacies that were operating from 2010 to 2020 had closed by 2021, according to a study published in the journal Health Affairs last year. Many other pharmacies opened to replace them during that time, though not necessarily in the same neighborhoods, according to the study. That study found that independent pharmacies were at greater risk for closure than chain pharmacies during that time, though the number of independent pharmacies grew slightly from 2018 to 2021 while the number of chain pharmacies declined 5%. Such closures can make life more difficult for patients, especially those living in areas with few pharmacies. After Dyers pharmacies closed, she said, one of her former customers told her it took him two days to get an important medication filled at a chain pharmacy. She heard that another customer simply stopped taking his medications for a time after one of her pharmacies closed. Its not just small, independent pharmacies that are closing. Walgreens has been struggling for years, for a number of reasons including challenges related to reimbursements for medications. The retail pharmacy giant announced last year that it planned to close 1,200 of its stores across the country over three years, including in Illinois. We dont want that to happen, said Koehler, the Peoria Democrat. So were trying to find out a way that we can help some of the distressed communities maintain adequate coverage in terms of their pharmacy needs. Amid its troubles, Walgreens recently announced it was being sold to private equity. Walgreens does not have its own PBM. Keeping costs down for patients Advocates hope the legislation in the works in Springfield would not only help pharmacies stay in business but also keep medication costs under control for patients. Across the country, 14 states already limit the practice of spread pricing in the commercial insurance market, and 17 states limit the ability of PBMs to steer patients to certain pharmacies, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association. This legislation is important because patients and plan sponsors deserve to no longer be fooled and scammed by pharmacy benefit managers, said Garth Reynolds, executive director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association. They need to be able to have those maximum savings brought back to them at point of sale. Advocates say legislation coming out of Springfield could help patients like Lequita Michelle Mayhew, 60, of Bronzeville. Mayhew has multiple sclerosis and used to receive a monthly infusion of a pricey medication that her insurance covered, she said. But a little more than a year ago, her doctor said she needed to switch medications for medical reasons. The new drug was still expensive, with a list price of nearly $78,000 a year, but it cost less than the first medication on an annual basis, Mayhew said. Mayhews insurance would not cover the new drug, she said. I did research to find out, why would they cover a higher-price drug and not the lower-price drug? And that was due to the pharmacy benefit manager policies that they had in place, Mayhew said. Luckily, Mayhew said, she was able to ultimately get the cost covered, not by her insurer but by a patient assistance program offered by the drugmaker. She said she doesnt even want to think about what would have happened if she hadnt found a way to cover the cost of the medication. If people are not getting the drugs they need, they get sick, or, they have to rob Peter to pay Paul to pay for their prescriptions and they cant afford to eat and cant afford to pay for their housing and their lifestyle, Mayhew said. If we cannot afford the medication we need were not going to have a good quality of life. _____ ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) School libraries in Rockford, Belvidere, Freeport, Byron, Machesney Park, and others, will benefit from more than $1.3 million in grants awarded by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias. Giannoulias announced the annual grants to school libraries on Monday. Illinois students deserve to have access to quality library resources, including learning materials, books and online services at our public schools, Giannoulias said. Libraries serve as places of knowledge, learning and discovery and this funding will help equip them to educate and inspire our future generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each school receives 88 cents per student for their enrollment, with funding originating from the General Revenue Fund. The following local schools will receive funding: Belvidere $6,302 Byron $1,223 Dakota $850 DeKalb $5,485 Freeport $2,734 Galena $850 Geneseo $2,078 Machesney Park (Harlem) $4,935 Oregon $1,139 Pecatonica $850 Polo $850 Poplar Grove (North Boone) $1,256 Rochelle Township $850 Rochelle $1,235 Rockford $21,904 Roscoe (Kinnikinnick) $1,444 Stillman Valley $1,242 Winnebago $1,054 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. A groundbreaking microscope at Harvard Medical School could lead to breakthroughs in cancer detection and research into longevity. But the scientist who developed computer scripts to read its images and unlock its full potential has been in an immigration detention center for two months putting crucial scientific advancements at risk. The scientist, the 30-year-old Russian-born Kseniia Petrova, worked at Harvards renowned Kirschner Lab until her arrest at a Boston airport in mid-February. She is now being held at ICEs Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, and fighting possible deportation to Russia, where she said she fears persecution and jail time over her protests against the war in Ukraine. I would call it a grinding machine, Petrova, who spoke with NBC News from the Louisiana facility, said about being detained. We are in this machine, and it doesnt care if you have a visa, a green card, or any particular story. ... It just keeps going. Kseniia Petrova. Petrovas case and the detention of academics across the country has damaged the ability of universities in the United States to recruit and retain leading talent, experts and Petrovas colleagues said. In fields where expertise is often highly specialized, the loss of talent could have dire consequences globally for the future of medicine and scientific discovery. Scientists and faculty members are planning to leave institutions across the country, legal experts said, because theyre worried that their visas could be revoked or that they could be swept up in immigration actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Petrovas first immigration court hearing in Louisiana is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Her lawyer, Gregory Romanovsky, said that they expect to have more information on her asylum case after the hearing. Dr. Leon Peshkin, a principal research scientist at Harvards Department of Systems Biology and Petrovas manager and mentor, received a call from Customs and Border Protection on Feb. 16 after agents detained Petrova at Logan International Airport in Boston for failing to declare samples of frog embryos to be used in scientific research. We just got a call saying, Shes denied entry. Thats all we can tell you to protect her privacy, he said. Peshkin added that the caller didnt disclose Petrovas whereabouts, leaving him scrambling to track her down. Romanovsky said that CBP typically imposes two penalties for such customs violations: the forfeiture of the items and a fine, usually around $500, and that for a first-time violation, the fine is typically reduced to $50. Instead, officials canceled Petrovas J-1 scholar visa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It appears to be part of a broader effort to create an unwelcoming and hostile environment for noncitizens, Romanovsky said. A DHS spokesperson told NBC News on Monday that Petrova had been lawfully detained after lying to federal officers about carrying substances into the country. They asked if I have any biological samples in my luggage. I said yes, Petrova said before describing her confusion over procedures and an interrogation by Customs and Border Patrol officers. Nobody knew what was happening to me. I didnt have any contact, not to my lawyer, not to Leon, not to anybody. And the next day, they didnt say what would happen. I was waiting in a cell, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peshkin said international researchers have become increasingly worried in response to the Trump administrations aggressive approach to illegal immigration. When asked whether hes concerned that these policies might discourage other international scientists from coming to Harvard, he said: Im not concerned that it may. I am horrified that it does. Its already having an effect. I hear from many colleagues that people who were planning to stay have changed their minds because they need to travel, Peshkin said, adding that scientists often attend conferences around the world to present their research and share knowledge. A recent survey by the scientific journal Nature revealed that 75% of the 1,600 scientists surveyed were considering relocating to Europe or Canada, citing actions taken by President Donald Trump. Separately, a tracking database from Inside Higher Ed shows that, as of April 18, more than 240 colleges and universities have reported that over 1,550 international students and recent graduates have had their legal status changed by the U.S. State Department. About 180 international students have filed 28 federal lawsuits seeking to regain their Student and Exchange Visitor Program status or U.S. visas, Inside Higher Ed reports. A lawsuit filed by international students, among them Ph.D. candidates in STEM fields, on April 15 argues that recent visa terminations are arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to constitutional right, power, privilege, or immunity. The plaintiffs argue that the sudden policy changes threaten their academic and professional futures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard recruited Petrova about two years ago. She graduated from the prestigious Russian Physics and Technology Institute and came highly recommended, Peshkin said. She also attended the same high school in Moscow that he did, a place he describes as being for people who are usually selfless, devoted, fanatic scientists, ascetics. These are people who arent in science to make money. Theyre in science because they feel its their mission to understand how nature works and find cures, Peshkin said. Peshkin immediately saw this quality in Petrovas devotion to her work and her willingness to go beyond computational science, which was what she was recruited to do. He explained that their labs research requires a unique set of skills because you have to both be able to work as an embryologist and do applied math, modeling, data analysis and bioinformatics all in one package. When asked how many people in his lab could do all of that, he said simply: That was only her. It was only her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others echoed that sentiment. Dr. William Trim, a postdoctoral fellow who is a co-worker and housemate of Petrova, underscored her irreplaceable role in their research project using the one-of-a-kind microscope. Petrova developed the computer scripts to analyze the 100,000 images contained in the microscope. Im very confident she is the only way we can achieve the true potential of this microscope and the insights we could make, Trim said. Without her, I fully believe that all the insights into cures or fundamental biology that we could make will not be made. Trim visited her at the correctional center in Louisiana. He recently sent her biology books upon request, so she can study while in detention. He, like others, described her as uniquely dedicated to her work. Petrova doesnt see herself that way shes just passionate about the work and her team, and told NBC News in interviews over video link that she thinks the job at the Kirschner lab was a miracle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, after earning her masters, Petrova was recruited by Dr. Konstantin Severinov, a prominent Rutgers molecular biologist, for a genome-sequencing project in Moscow. Shes a very talented scientist with huge potential the capacity to be the best of the best, he said. When asked about her political activism, Petrova said that she believes there should be democracy in science, and that America was a beautiful place where people can express themselves freely. I dont want to hide my political opinion, she said. If you want to say something against Putin, there is no way you wont be in prison. There is no way you wont be arrested. Trim and a growing number of international scientists are increasingly worried by how immigration policies are being enforced in the United States. Meanwhile, he and his colleagues anxiously await Petrovas fate. We really dont know if were ever going to see her again, he said, because if they deport her to Russia, we may never see her again. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 21. A significant meeting was held at the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan with representatives from ALKOR BIO, a leading Russian biotechnology company, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan. The meeting focused on the potential implementation of joint investment projects aimed at localizing the production of diagnostic reagents within Uzbekistan. This initiative aligns with Uzbekistan's broader strategic objective to strengthen its pharmaceutical sector and reduce reliance on imported medical products, particularly diagnostic reagents. ALKOR BIO Group is a well-established manufacturer of reagent kits and laboratory diagnostic equipment, specializing in advanced technologies such as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Consequent to the negotiations, both sides have concurred to persist in their collaboration. They intend to exchange comprehensive technical and economic data to assess the viability of the proposed projects and develop the requisite documentation for execution. This partnership is expected to significantly contribute to the development of Uzbekistans pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, advancing local production capabilities and further reducing reliance on imported diagnostic solutions. Notably, trade between Uzbekistan and Russia has experienced a remarkable 20 percent increase, reaching $9.7 billion in the first ten months of 2024. Moreover, the variety of products exported by Uzbek manufacturers has significantly expanded, with 68 new product categories added to the export portfolio. This growth highlights the strengthening economic ties between the two nations and underscores Uzbekistans growing role in international trade. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The News As the Gulf deepens ties with the West, its still looking to strengthen relations with its trading partners in the East. On Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Saudi Arabia his third visit since 2016 to the kingdom, a major supplier of energy, buyer of goods, and source of remittances from Indian workers. Modi will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to discuss energy and food security, as well as further talks on a trade connectivity plan originally backed by the Biden administration known as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. Saudi Arabia pledged in 2023 to invest $100 billion in India, and the kingdom was Indias second-largest trading partner last year, with $43 billion in total trade, more than half of it in oil and gas. Separately, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. opened a sales and marketing office in Beijing and signed a liquefied natural gas supply deal with China, part of its effort to strengthen its position in the worlds second-largest economy. Two Indiana officials sued the federal government Friday for not complying with a citizen verification request from October. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Two Indiana statewide elected officials filed a lawsuit Friday against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, months after they first urged the federal agency to verify the citizenship of more than 585,000 registered Hoosier voters. In October, Secretary of State Diego Morales and Attorney General Todd Rokita petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which is housed within the homeland security agency to review lists of voters who registered without providing a state-issued form of identification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal officials have failed to provide information that would enable Indiana to verify that only eligible voters participated in elections, Morales and Rokitas offices alleged in news releases Monday. Story continues below. 2025.4.16 Complaint There is no evidence of widespread noncitizen voter fraud. It is illegal under both state and federal law to cast a ballot as a noncitizen. Following the Biden administrations obstruction here, I expect that President (Donald) Trumps team will resolve this matter, Rokita said in the release. This lawsuit is another important step in ensuring the integrity of our elections. Hoosiers have a right to know that legitimate ballots are not being diluted by noncitizens. I promised that I would get citizenship information from USCIS, and that is exactly what I am doing by filing this suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Trump took office in January, his administration has also declined to respond to Indianas request. Over a dozen other states have filed similar missives. The 585,774 Hoosiers from the Oct. 11 letter include those who registered without an Indiana drivers license number or a social security number or who live overseas. Some of those could include Hoosiers who registered before those numbers were required. It represents roughly 12% of the registered voters for the November election. But critics pushed back, saying that the USCIS Person Centric Query Service wasnt designed to process large numbers of voters and could be prone to error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Common Cause Indiana Executive Director Julia Vaughn said Hoosiers deserve better. It is shameful that the Attorney General and Secretary of State continue to put partisan games at the forefront of their job responsibilities. Indiana elections are, and always have been, safe and secure. This is just another attempt to spread misinformation about voting and at the same time, intimidate naturalized citizens from exercising their rights. Hoosiers deserve better than this waste of taxpayer dollars wrapped up in an unnecessary lawsuit, Vaughn said. The Department of Homeland Security does offer access to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, which requires an identifier such as a registration number, which makes it not suited for verification, according to the lawsuit. In October, Morales told the Capital Chronicle that the verification push stemmed from county-level officials concerned about an uptick in absentee ballot requests for overseas voters Hoosiers living abroad, including those in the military, vote using absentee ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Indianas Chief Election Officer, ensuring the integrity of our elections is non-negotiable, Morales said in the Monday release. This legal action is a continuation of our efforts for Indiana to lead the way in election integrity. Since we never received a response from the Biden administration, we know that under President Trumps leadership and based on his recent Executive Order, theres a stronger commitment to the election process. Hoosiers deserve nothing less than full confidence in the security of their vote. Its unclear what executive order Morales referenced, though a breakdown of election-oriented proclamations by the Brennan Center for Justice includes an overhaul that the left-leaning group said was illegal. In particular, Trumps actions align with the Congressional SAVE Act, which some have worried would disenfranchise married women who changed their last names but might not have matching documentation. Under SAVE, individuals must present a passport, birth certificate or other citizenship documentation when registering. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (This article will update) Pope Francis, 88, a pontiff who sought to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, died Easter Monday and Hoosiers quickly took to social media and other outlets to share their feelings. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the Pope's death in a statement he read from the Casa Santa Marta where Francis lived at the Vatican. "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," Ferrell read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church," the announcement went. "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of God, One and Triune. Easter Sunday: Pope Francis gives Easter blessing to crowd in St. Peter's Square - see photos The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis Today we remember Pope Francis, who touched many with his life and ministry. Here is a look back at some of his... Posted by Archives of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Monday, April 21, 2025 Archbishop Charles C. Thompson released a message on the Archdiocese of Indianapolis website Monday morning regarding the pope's death. "Pope Francis was, in his own words, 'A man of the Church.' In his many years as a Jesuit priest, a bishop in his native Argentina, and as the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, he was filled with holiness, missionary zeal, and confidence in the presence of the Holy Spirit. As a pastor, Pope Francis was committed to leading our Church in a synodal way, urging all pastors to accompany their flocks especially the poor and marginalized as we minister to a world in desperate need of Christs peace and love." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thompson said Pope Francis had an unwavering passion and devotion to the faith, to the Church, and to the people of God everywhere, calling him a good and faithful servant, and a loyal son of the Church. "May he rest in eternal peace, gazing on the face of God." University of Notre Dame president Pope Francis shakes hands with University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. in 2024. University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd said when Pope Francis last met with the University's Board of Trustees in February of 2024, the pope asked Notre Dame to continue educating students though "Three languages: The head, the heart and the hands," because together they provide a horizon within which Catholic academic communities can strive to form strong and well-integrated leaders. The Notre Dame community joins with the Church and the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, Father Dowd said in his statement. Through his heroic and prophetic ministry, he has inspired and challenged us to respect the God-given dignity of all people and the integrity of creation. The Holy Fathers life and witness call us to awaken from indifference to the suffering of others, to embrace our responsibilities to one another and to be agents of faith, hope and love for a world in need. As Pope Francis often reminded us, no one is far from Gods merciful love, and the Church must be a field hospital to warm hearts, heal wounds and open doors." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Father Dowd said they pray in thanksgiving for the Pope's extraordinary leadership and ministry, "As we seek to follow his example, we hope Pope Francis will pray for us from Heaven. Annie Sullivan, co-author of Catholicism All-In-One for Dummies Annie Sullivan, a native Hoosier and coauthor of Catholicism All-In-One for Dummies 2nd Edition, said she's devastated by the loss. "Meeting Pope Francis was the highlight of my life," Sullivan said. "He was a humble man who exuded the light of Christ. You could sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in him, and he will be greatly missed. But his legacy will live on in all those who were touched by his kindness, his humility, and his enduring message to never give up hope. So while a light has gone out in this world with his absence, heaven will soon be rejoicing at welcoming one of Gods greatest servants home." BOOK DEAL NEWS!!! Shark Week just got better because I can finally reveal some new book news!!! Now, this isnt the book news you were probably expecting, but Im thrilled to be the newest author of Catholicism All-In-One For Dummies!!! The book should release early 2023. Posted by Annie Sullivan on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 Mike Pence, former vice president Mike Pence said he and his wife Karen were saddened to learn of the passing of Pope Francis. They're sending their "deepest sympathies to Catholics around the world and all who cherished this good and Godly man." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The time we spent with His Holiness at the Vatican in 2020 was one of our greatest honors of my life. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. May the soul of Pope Francis Rest in Peace." Karen and I were saddened to learn of the passing of the Pope Francis and send our deepest sympathies to Catholics around the world and all who cherished this good and godly man. The time we spent with His Holiness at the Vatican in 2020 was one of our greatest honors of my life. pic.twitter.com/Mn8YHJWwhe Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) April 21, 2025 Pete Buttigieg In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pete Buttigieg said Pope Francis "lifted the world as he led the church with his profound moral voice. As he returns to God, may his call to humility and concern for the least among us continue to resound." Pope Francis lifted the world as he led the Church with his profound moral voice. As he returns to God, may his call to humility and concern for the least among us continue to resound. Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) April 21, 2025 Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith said Hoosier Catholics are united in grief over the passing of Pope Francis. "His humble leadership and unwavering commitment to serving the poor and the marginalized resonated with so many of us," the social media post read. "From the busy streets of Indianapolis to our quiet, close-knit small towns. Today, we remember a pontiff who lived the Gospel with sincerity and love, inspiring us to pursue lives of compassion and service just as he did. Let us join together in prayer, cherishing his legacy and asking for Gods comfort during this poignant time." Here in Indiana, Hoosier Catholics are united in grief over the passing of Pope Francis. His humble leadership and unwavering commitment to serving the poor and the marginalized resonated deeply with so many of usfrom the busy streets of Indianapolis to our quiet, close-knit pic.twitter.com/H5CI5acUYc Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith (@LGMicahBeckwith) April 21, 2025 Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey In a simple acknowledgement of the loss, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey posted a traditional prayer often used within Catholic and other Christian traditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Eternal rest grant upon him, Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen." Eternal rest grant upon him, Oh Lord, and let purpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. pic.twitter.com/TrKF75GgBu Chief Chris Bailey (@IMPD_Chief) April 21, 2025 Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales posted that he and his wife Sidonia "join Christians around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace." We pray for his eternal rest in the arms of our Heavenly Father. https://t.co/lA2NuzJNgR Diego Morales (@cdiegomorales) April 21, 2025 Indiana U.S. Senator Jim Banks Indiana U.S. Senator Jim Banks posted his thoughts and prayers for "Catholics who are mourning the passing of their spiritual leader." Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. My thoughts and prayers go out to Catholics who are mourning the passing of their spiritual leader. Senator Jim Banks (@SenatorBanks) April 21, 2025 Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana reacts to the death of Pope Francis at age 88 By YP Rajesh, Tanvi Mehta and Shivam Patel NEW DELHI (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi touted progress in talks for a trade deal between the two countries, their offices said on Monday, as New Delhi rushes to avoid U.S. tariffs and court Trump's administration. Vance arrived in India earlier on Monday for a largely personal four-day visit to the country with his family, which includes visiting the Taj Mahal and making a speech in the city of Jaipur, U.S. officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two leaders also noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence and strategic technologies, among others, a statement from Modi's office said after talks between them. They discussed regional and global issues and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward, it said, reiterating a standard Indian line about global conflicts without naming any. New Delhi has in the past used this formulation for the war in Ukraine. "(The) prime minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year," it added. Statements from the Trump administration said the two countries agreed on a roadmap for further discussions on trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance's office said talks present "an opportunity to negotiate a new and modern trade agreement focused on promoting job creation and citizen well-being in both countries." In a statement on Monday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer pointed to an "serious lack of reciprocity in the trade relationship with India" that needed to be resolved. Vance landed in New Delhi following a visit to Rome, where he held a private meeting with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. Vance's wife, Usha, is the daughter of Indian immigrants. Modi and Vance reviewed progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation outlined in February when the Indian leader met President Donald Trump in Washington, their offices said. It includes "fairness" in their two-way trade and growing their defence partnership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'NEED PACT WITH LARGEST TRADE PARTNER' The Indian prime minister was one of the first world leaders to meet Trump after he took office, and Reuters has reported that his government is open to cutting tariffs on more than half of its imports from the U.S., which were worth a total $41.8 billion in 2024, as part of a trade deal. However, the U.S. president has continued to call India a "tariff abuser" and "tariff king". The U.S. is India's largest trading partner and their bilateral trade reached $129 billion in 2024, with a $45.7 billion surplus in favour of India, U.S. government trade data show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials in New Delhi are expecting to clinch a trade deal with the U.S. within the 90-day pause on tariff hikes announced by Trump on April 9 for major trading partners. A wide swathe of Delhi's goods exports face a levy of over a quarter of their value under the new measures. A 10% blanket duty on many U.S. imports remains in effect. India hopes to "positively conclude" the first part of the trade pact by this autumn, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in San Francisco on Monday as she started on a trip packed with engagements between the two nations. "The long and short of engaging with the U.S. is not just for this reciprocal tariff-related matter, but in the interest of ... our largest trading partner with whom we need to have an agreement," Sitharaman said in an address to the Indian diaspora. Vance's tour in India is also seen as laying the ground for Trump's visit to the country later in the year for the summit of leaders of the Quad grouping that includes India, Australia, Japan and the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harsh Pant, foreign policy head at the Observer Research Foundation think tank in Delhi, said the timing of Vance's visit was critical against the backdrop of trade talks. "The fact that the U.S.-China tensions are ramping up, and Vance in particular seems to have taken a very high-profile role in American diplomacy, also means that the visit assumes an added layer of significance," he said. (Reporting by YP Rajesh, Tanvi Mehta and Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, David Brunnstrom, and Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Himani Sarkar) Jakarta (dpa) A senior leader in Indonesias top Muslim clerical body expressed deep sorrow on Monday over the death of Pope Francis, describing him as a global religious leader who tirelessly championed peace across nations and faiths. "The world mourns the passing of Pope Francis," said Anwar Abbas, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council. "He was widely known as a man of peace." Francis and the grand imam of Indonesia's Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, exchanged gestures of deep mutual respect during the pontiffs September visit to Jakarta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the pope prepared to leave the mosque in his wheelchair, Umar leaned forward and gently kissed him on the forehead. In return, Francis took the imams hand, kissed it, and pressed it to his cheek. Abbas pointed to Francis close relationship with Grand Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb of Egypts al-Azhar, one of Sunni Islams highest authorities, as a model of interfaith diplomacy. "Among Muslims, his relationship with the sheikh of al-Azhar was especially notable in their shared mission for world peace," he said. "The world has lost a true advocate of peace. Jamal remembers the day like it was yesterday. Four years ago, while fishing off the coast of Palu in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province, his routine trip turned into a life-or-death battle. It all happened so fast, he said. Out on his boat alone in the early evening, Jamal was ambushed by a saltwater crocodile that climbed aboard and dragged him into the water. "There were 10 bite marks on my body," he recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I wrestled with the crocodile." Acting on instinct, he grabbed a knife from his boat. "Within five minutes, I stabbed its eye, and it let go. If we panic, were done for." Jamal survived. He swam back to his boat, steered it to shore, and ran to the nearest clinic. A week later, he was back at sea. "I'm not afraid because the ocean is our livelihood," he said. World's highest number of fatal attacks Jamal is one of the lucky ones. Many are less fortunate. In January 2024, Arjo, a fisherman from Bangka Island off Sumatras eastern coast, was setting his nets in the shallow waters of the Nyire River when a crocodile struck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It grabbed me from behind and pulled me under," Arjo, 34, said. "I had no time to think - only to fight." With his left hand, he clung desperately to a wooden pole while the crocodile's jaws crushed his right. In a desperate act of survival, he bit the reptile's face, hoping to startle it. After a gruelling 10 minutes, the predator finally released him. Bleeding heavily, Arjo swam to shore and walked nearly three kilometres before receiving help. He lost his hand but survived - an increasingly rare outcome in Indonesia's growing tally of crocodile attacks. Others weren't as lucky Recently, a 51-year-old man was pulled underwater by a crocodile while swimming off Palu on Sulawesi - an island between Borneo and New Guinea known for its coral reefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescue workers who rushed to the scene found him caught in the large crocodile's jaw. The animal was shot dead - but it was too late for its victim. According to statistics from the independent CrocAttack database, there were 179 crocodile attacks on humans in Indonesia last year alone - far more than in any other country. For 92 victims, the encounter ended fatally. Often the bodies are never found. By comparison: in Australia, whose tropical regions are often portrayed as extremely dangerous, only seven attacks with three fatalities were recorded. Humans and wildlife fight for resources Local fishermen say crocodile sightings have become increasingly common in many Indonesian regions where they were once rare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amir Hamidy, a reptile expert at Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), says habitat loss and a growing human population on the world's largest island state are primarily responsible for the dangerous trend. "As the crocodile population and the human population increase and compete for the same resources, interactions become inevitable," says Hamidy. Saltwater crocodile: Largest and most aggressive species Indonesia is home to several crocodile species, but most conflicts arise with the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). It is the largest and most aggressive crocodile species and is found throughout South-East Asia and Australia. These animals can exceed six metres in length and are extremely territorial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are also extremely adaptable and thrive in a variety of habitats, from rivers and mangrove forests to coastal waters. "This adaptability, combined with their wide range, increases their chances of encountering humans," Hamidy emphasizes. Crocodiles thriving in man-made waters Attacks are more frequent than average in the regions of East Kalimantan on Borneo and Bangka-Belitung off Sumatra. This is due not only to the increase in agriculture but also to mining activities. The often illegal tin mining in Bangka-Belitung has created many artificial bodies of water which are an ideal habitat for crocodiles in search of new hunting grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 90% of the tin exported by Indonesia comes from this province. Numerous prehistoric reptiles have now taken up residence in abandoned pits, says animal rights activist Endy Yusuf. The construction of canals for palm oil plantations and other changes to waterways have also created new habitats. As a result, the presence of crocodiles in populated areas has increased dramatically. Often with fatal consequences. In Bangka alone, two people were killed and four others injured by crocodiles earlier this year. Yusuf believes the real numbers are likely much higher due to underreporting. One local fisherman, Arjo, narrowly escaped death after an attack in the Nyire River because, according to his own account, he managed to bite the crocodile in the face with his last ounce of strength. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a desperate 10-minute fight, the animal finally let go of him, he says. But Arjo lost his right hand in the fight with the croc. Hunting ban fuels population spike Once heavily hunted for their meat and leather, crocodiles in Indonesia were pushed to the brink of extinction. Crocodile meat is considered a delicacy, and crocodile leather is used to make luxury handbags, belts and boots. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), numerous crocodile species were hunted so heavily in the past that they almost became extinct. Since banning large-scale crocodile hunting in the late 1990s, Indonesia has seen a rebound in populations across much of the country but some regions remain exceptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the densely populated main island of Java, saltwater crocodiles are practically extinct due to the extensive destruction of their habitat and years of hunting. Lack of warning systems On many other islands, however, the armoured animals remain a huge problem. In contrast to other countries - such as Australia, where exclusion zones and warning systems help to minimize conflicts between crocodiles and humans - there are no such protective measures in Indonesia. At the same time, rivers and the sea are the livelihood of many Indonesians and an integral part of everyday life. Crocodile expert Hamidy says: "We have to find ways to coexist while minimizing the risks for humans and crocodiles." Yet how to accomplish this, remains unclear. Jamal, 50, poses on Talise Beach near where he survived a crocodile attack in Palu Bay. He is one of a dozen fisherman who survived an attack from a 2.5-metre crocodile. Muhammad Taufan/dpa The Snohomish County Volunteer Search & Rescue team rescued an injured hiker on Saturday night, the team posted on Facebook. Along with the Sky Valley Fire Department, crews located the hiker about 2.5 miles up the Woody Trail and worked into the night to carry them out. "Were grateful for the strong coordination between agencies and the dedication of our volunteers who responded quickly and worked hard," the team posted. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Motorists were backed up for miles Sunday afternoon due to a multi-vehicle crash that shut down a section of Interstate 24 West in East Nashville. Officials said the three-vehicle crash was reported at approximately 4:38 p.m. on Sunday, April 20 at mile marker 47.6 of I-24, between Spring Street and the Interstate 65 split. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts As a result, all westbound lanes, both shoulders, and the entry ramp were blocked on I-24 until shortly before 5:15 p.m., at which point the Tennessee Department of Transportation said one westbound lane and the left shoulder had reopened. However, by 6:20 p.m., that whole portion of the interstate was back open. Traffic status as of 5:01 p.m. on April 20, 2025. (Courtesy: TDOT) Traffic status as of 5:15 p.m. on April 20, 2025. (Courtesy: TDOT) Traffic status as of 5:33 p.m. on April 20, 2025. (Courtesy: TDOT) Based on TDOT cameras, traffic along I-24 West was delayed past mile marker 49.5 for a while, but it was flowing pretty smoothly by 5:35 p.m. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Metro Nashville dispatch told News 2 there were confirmed injuries from the crash, but there is no word on the number of people hurt or the nature of their injuries at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details have been released about this crash. 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. (INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) This week on Inside California Politics, Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson joined FOX40 to discuss Califronias chances of success in its lawsuit against the federal government over the way the tariffs were imposed. Political reporter Eytan Wallace explains why Newsom is taking a more public role in this lawsuit compared to others filed by the state against the Trump administration. Democratic analyst Andrew Acosta and Republican strategist Rob Stutzman talk about a new poll suggests former Vice President Kamala Harris would have a sizable lead in the California governors race, if she were to join. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Kulevi oil terminal of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR transshipped a total of 2.5 million tons of cargo in 2024, the company told Trend. "Of the total cargo handled, 0.95 million tons were of Azerbaijani origin, while the remaining 1.55 million tons consisted of transit shipments. In comparison, during the same period in 2023, the terminal processed 2.16 million tons of cargo, marking an increase of 349,000 tons year-on-year," said the company. The Kulevi Terminal and Sea Port, which has been operated by the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) 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 (NewsNation) Leaders around the globe paid tribute to Pope Francis after the Vatican confirmed his death Monday. Despite a bout of double pneumonia, 88-year-old Francis emerged from his doctor-ordered convalescence to make several public appearances during Holy Week. He spent his final day celebrating Easter with believers outside St. Peters Basilica. Francis was known for his decision to lead a simple life and his progressive viewpoints, which challenged the churchs long-held beliefs on abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and environmental issues, among other topics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How is a conclave conducted after a pope dies? US leaders react to Pope Francis death President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to fly all flags in the United States at half-staff in honor of Pope Francis. Trump announced the order at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll hours after Francis death Monday. He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world, and its an honor to do that, Trump told a crowd of participating children and families. Trump also shared a brief message on his social media platform, Truth Social, earlier that morning: Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! Former President Joe Biden, the second Catholic commander in chief in U.S. history, honored Francis with a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased, Biden wrote. Pope Francis last week: How the Catholic leader spent his final days As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths, the post continued. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the Peoples Pope a light of faith, hope, and love. U.S. President Joe Biden, right, greets Pope Francis ahead of a working session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy, Africa-Mediterranean, on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia, southern Italy, on Friday, June 14, 2024. (Christopher Furlong/Pool Photo via AP) Pope Francis meets with Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20 in Vatican City, Vatican. Christian rosaries and light candles are placed at the statue of Pope John Paul II, outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, where Pope Francis is being treated for pneumonia in Rome on March 10. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Vice President JD Vance met with Francis on Easter Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance wrote on X on Monday. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. Former President Barack Obama also shared a statement. Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world Catholic and non-Catholic alike who drew strength and inspiration from the Popes example, Obama wrote on X. May we continue to heed his call to never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope.' JD Vance, White House share condolences after Pope Francis death Pope Francis death: World leaders pay tribute Argentinian President Javier Milei shared profound sorrow at the news of Francis passing. Francis, the first Latin American pope, was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As President, as an Argentine, and, fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news, Milei said on X, originally in Spanish. What happens after the pope dies? The United Kingdoms King Charles shared condolences in a statement posted to X that said he and his wife will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others, the statement reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Francis and said his legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Russian President Vladimir Putin also paid their respects. Throughout the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See, Putin said in a statement reported by Reuters. Herzog on X called Francis a man of deep faith and boundless compassion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State of Palestine mourned the loss of a loyal friend in Francis, writing in a statement posted to X that the pope was a strong defender of the values of peace, love, and faith in the entire world, and a true friend of peace and justice. In his final hours, Francis called for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, among other war-torn places. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his nation is grieving together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory! Other leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Irish President Michael Higgins and Jordans Queen Rania Al Abdullah, also shared condolences after the pontiffs death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. A man records the trickle of water against his feet as the bed of the Rio Grande begins to fill during the annual release of irrigation water from Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs. (Photo by Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM) Drought, lawsuits and federal funding for New Mexicos largest river will be some of the topics discussed at the Rio Grande Compact Commissions annual governance meeting this week. A three-member governing board representing New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, the Commission convenes in Alamosa, Colorado on Friday for an annual meeting that will include: an annual report of how water flowed between the states; the budget for the upcoming year; reports from federal agencies on issues including endangered species and dam repairs; and an update in the case before the U.S. Supreme Court over Rio Grande water. How to watch The meeting will be livestreamed starting at 9 a.m. at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89726541298 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting agenda can be found online here. New Mexico is facing a future with 25% less water due to climate change and continuing drought, Chris Shaw, a legal advisor to the commission and deputy general counsel at the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, told Source. The whole basin will feel the impacts of smaller snowpacks, he noted, and efforts to cut water use in agriculture and in cities may still not make up the difference. This year is going to be particularly difficult, Shaw said. Not everybody is going to get all of the water that they need or want, and that puts strains on the social, hydrologic and political fabric here. As for the pending Rio Grande legal case, Bobby Skov, the commissioner appointed to represent Texas, told Source he expects a limited update, as a judge recently scheduled a June court date for the case, while parties continue settlement talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parties are in mediation, so theres probably not going to be any in-detail type updates, just a quick overview of the case, he said. In addition to water concerns and presentations from federal officials, the commission also has some necessary housekeeping to replace a for a replacement of a non-voting member. of the commission. Fridays meeting will be the last for long-time chair Hal Simpson, a former Colorado state engineer, appointed by the Obama administration. Shaw said the commission will discuss the recommendation for former New Mexico State Engineer Scott Verhines to take the spot, but that the position is ultimately a presidential appointment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday will also be New Mexico State Engineer Elizabeth Andersons first meeting as a commissioner representing the state, following Mike Hammans retirement last year. Anderson was unavailable for comment Monday. Skov encouraged the public to watch the meeting. The Rio Grande is vitally important to all three states, he told Source NM in a call. Having the public involved, educated in whats going on, is better for everyone. Pueblos seek direct representation A six-pueblo coalition Cochiti, Santo Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia and Isleta is again requesting to address Rio Grande Compact commissioners directly, rather than through the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. The coalition first made the request in 2022, and last year, the commission ordered the legal advisors to examine the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josh Mann, a Pueblo water rights attorney, said coalition members are still seeking a change to the rules of the commission. Theyre really just asking for a process to communicate, Mann said. The Rio Grande Compact has a big impact on the Pueblos water use, and as sovereign nations, theyre looking for that communication and to be recognized. Juan Rey Abeita, the 2nd lieutenant governor for the Pueblo of Isleta, and a member of the coalition, will likely make a statement on Friday, Mann said. The Pueblos have unique water rights. In 1928, the U.S. recognized the Pueblos prior and paramount rights to water through a total 20,000 acres of Pueblo land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres still been no formal determination of water rights in the Middle Rio Grande, although the Pueblos and federal government took initial steps in 2022. Shaw, the commissions legal advisor, said the commissions official position remains unchanged at this time. The position the compact commission takes is that the Pueblos [do] have representation through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and thats the proper process for them to provide their input, Shaw said. However, Shaw said legal advisors are still developing a more expansive protocol for additional tribal input during the Rio Grande Compact Commission meetings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theres a protocol, it needs to include all the pueblos, tribes and nations, not just the six Middle Rio Grande Shaw said. Weve discussed that with them, so were working on a process for this summer to convene that larger group. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Dried magic mushrooms with spore prints on tin foil. (Photo by Akchamczuk/Getty Images) The Iowa House passed legislation Monday to legalize the use of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, for psychiatric treatment through a state program. House File 978, passed 84-6, would establish a Psilocybin Production Establishment Licensing Board within the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, operating in a similar fashion to the existing Medical Cannabidiol Advisory Board that oversees Iowas medical cannabis program. The board would grant licenses for the production and administration of products with psilocybin to people with certain mental health needs in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also sets new requirements for who can access the substance, including an age 21 restriction and limit of 5,000 patients who can be recommended psilocybin treatment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Rep. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake, the floor manager for the bill, said he would not have guessed that he would be involved in a bill on psilocybin before this year because its just not something that Im into. But he said after learning more about the effectiveness of psilocybin treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, he believed the program will help people suffering in Iowa, like military veterans, law enforcement officers and other groups that face high rates of PTSD. He said the bill requires people to receive psilocybin in a clinical environment with psychiatric support. In this environment, he said, the drug has been shown to allow people to relive their trauma in a controlled, safe space, and be able to resolve or lessen the impacts of PTSD. Wills said he believes this method could help address the high suicide rates of veterans and others suffering from the disorder, and offers a better alternative to other forms of PTSD treatment currently available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will tell you, right now the only option these veterans have, the only option these people with PTSD have, is to be on mind-altering, life-altering drugs for the rest of their life, Wills said. While several states have decriminalized the use of psilocybin, Oregon and Colorado are currently the only states with medical psilocybin programs. Rep. Larry McBurney, D-Urbandale, said he supported the bill as a way to help veterans access needed mental health support after returning from their service. McBurney said he was diagnosed with PTSD after serving as an Iowa Air National Guard veteran, having been deployed three times. Like many other veterans across the state and across the nation, I didnt know where to turn, McBurney said. I didnt know what options were available to me, and it took me long enough to find what those options were for myself and what worked for me. I want to ensure that other veterans across the state have this option available to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original bill specifically called for psilocybin to be used to treat PTSD, but an amendment approved by the House Monday expands the ability of the board to approve other illnesses that could be treated with psilocybin, and would allow for more psilocybin compounds to be added as legally available. Wills said the amendment was added as a way to ensure the board can make this psychiatric treatment available for other mental illnesses or disorders when research can prove if it is effective. Wills said there have been promising early studies showing psilocybin may be an effective treatment for people recovering from substance use disorders related to alcohol and opiates. By taking PTSD out of the equation, what were doing is were allowing that board, that medical board, to be able to make decisions, Wills said. So initially, of course, PTSD is the treatment that we know works, because theres peer-reviewed studies or peer-reviewed data. But as these other ailments, these other things (are studied) and have proof, then the board can add them. Rep. Jeff Shipley, R-Birmingham, has advocated for similar measures related to the legal use of psilocybin in previous sessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (It) looks like mushroom season has officially arrived in Iowa, he joked as the bill passed the House. Our love and prayers are with everyone pursuing the elusive morel mushrooms, but perhaps more urgently, our love and prayers are with those suffering from intractable psychiatric conditions. He praised the measure as opening up a new method for mental health care in Iowa that has shown tremendous promise in the management of psychiatric conditions like PTSD. The state of Iowa has a lot of responsibility in ensuring Iowans not only have access to mental health treatments, but they have access to treatments that are actually effective treatments that will actually alleviate the symptoms that patients are suffering from, Shipley said. And so again, House File 978, will go a long way in ensuring that the state of Iowa is fully fulfilling their obligation. The measure moves to the Iowa Senate for further consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and the Iroquois County Sheriffs Department is among those hosting a drug takeback event. The Sheriffs Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Take Back Day has been an annual event for over a decade and since its inception, law enforcement has removed almost 9,300 tons of old, unwanted or expired medication from circulation and from being a gateway to addiction. ALSO SATURDAY: Champaign Co. Crime Stoppers document, drug disposal event Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iroquois County Sheriffs Department will host its event at the west door of the Iroquois County Jail on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Sheriffs Department and other agencies at collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps and illicit drugs. Liquid products, like cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container with the cap tightly sealed. There will be almost 5,000 collection sites nationwide, officials said. For more information, visit www.DEATakeBack.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 WCIA.com. As Indiana State Police continue their investigation into the 41-mile police chase that ended with one man dead, investigators say the agency that started the pursuit abandoned it, but "happened to drive up on the aftermath." The multi-county pursuit started in New Castle before ending in a three-vehicle crash on the east side of Indianapolis. Dewuan L. Hampton, 33, was identified by the Marion County Coroner's Office as the deceased, with his cause and manner of death being "motor vehicle accident/police pursuit." He was a passenger in the fleeing Dodge Durango. The pursuit ended at the intersection of Washington Street and Miffhoefer Road when the driver crashed the Durango crashed into a Ford Mustang and a Mercedes. Hampton was ejected from the Dodge and died at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subsequent investigation showed the Durango was stolen, police said. Its driver was later arrested on charges including resisting law enforcement, causing death and auto theft. Map of deadly police pursuit between Henry County and Indianapolis Previous coverage: Coroner identifies man killed on East Washington in deadly police pursuit that went 41 miles Henry County Sheriff John Sproles abandoned pursuit The pursuit was initiated by Henry County Sheriff John Sproles after he saw the Durango's operater driving recklessly and erratically. He pursued the vehicle onto I-70 westbound toward Indianapolis. State troopers attempted to deploy stop sticks on I-70 west of Greenfield, but were unsuccessful. At that point, Sproles called for his deputies to abandon the pursuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Indiana State trooper, who had joined the pursuit on I-70, continued chasing the vehicle as it exited onto Post Road. As the Durango went south on Mitthoefer from 16th Street the trooper abandoned the chase, police said. The trooper turned off his lights and did a U-turn going the opposite direction of the Durango. A Henry County deputy, at the direction of Sproles, had stayed in the area to offer support to troopers. State police said the deputy was not in sight of the trooper or the suspect vehicle and was merely in the area. After the trooper terminated the pursuit, the Henry County deputy drove up on the crash and called for Indianapolis Fire and EMS. No officers witnessed the crash, according to investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was determined that the speed of the Durango when it struck the Ford Mustang in the intersection of Washington and Mitthoefer was 89 mph. There was no indication of brakes being applied by the driver of the Durango. After the first impact, the Durango began rolling several times, striking the front of a white Mercedes and continuing to roll and slide more than 100 yards before stopping. Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ISP: Agency dropped out of 41-mile chase but was at scene where man died The News The Israeli military said failures led to the killing of 15 health workers in Gaza last month. The Israel Defense Forces had originally claimed that the vehicle convoy approached troops suspiciously but officials said a commander would be dismissed in response to new findings. The announcement came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country had no choice but to continue fighting in Gaza until the remaining Israeli hostages held in the enclave were released. Despite coming under domestic pressure, Netanyahu emboldened by US President Donald Trumps return to power has recently gone on the offensive at home and abroad, a shift analysts say will have profound consequences for Israel and the Middle East. April 21 (UPI) -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Monday presented credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, while the new U.S. ambassador to Israel also warned of Iran's desire to destroy both countries. "I was moved to hear the national anthem of the United States played at his residence. Hearing that song in this land is a powerful reminder of the incredible bonds that exist between the United States and Israel," Huckabee said on X, alongside pictures of the meeting. Huckabee was named last November by President Donald Trump as the U.S. ambassador to Israel and became the first non-Jewish person since 2011 to hold the role when he was confirmed. Presenting my credentials to Israeli President @Isaac_Herzog, I was moved to hear the national anthem of the United States played at his residence. Hearing that song in this land is a powerful reminder of the incredible bonds that exist between the United States and Israel. pic.twitter.com/h9iasBRx5L Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@USAmbIsrael) April 21, 2025 The new U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Monday warned of Irans desire to destroy both countries, as he officially took office in Jerusalem. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI The Baptist minister has long echoed the Trump administration's stance on Israel, seeking to put more pressure on Hamas militants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also called Israel's support from the United States a "divine position" on Monday. Israeli President Isaac Herzog accepts U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee credentials in his residence in Jerusalem on Monday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI The 69-year-old took aim at Iran during the public portion of Monday's meeting with Herzog. "It has always been their (Iran) desire that Israel would be the opening act and then it would be America's turn to face destruction. Or to put in another simple way, Israel is the appetizer and the United States is the entree," Huckabee told reporters. Israeli President Isaac Herzog (L) and new U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee both reiterated their desire to free all remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI Herzog applauded the message. "[Iran] continues to pursue its radical vision of regional dominance and destabilization -- on its own and via its proxies -- whilst pursuing nuclear arms and openly calling for the destruction of Israel," the president told reporters. Mike Huckabee was named last November by President Donald Trump as the U.S. ambassador to Israel, and became the first non-Jewish person since 2011 to hold the role when he was confirmed earlier this year. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI A U.S. delegation met in Rome over the weekend with their Iranian counterparts as the two sides look to negotiate a new nuclear deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran and the United States held previous talks on the issue in Oman, with that country continuing to serve as a mediator. Huckabee has also previously pledged his support for bringing home the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. "I know you, Mike, share both our heartbreak and our absolute resolve to see every last hostage freed from the Hamas dungeons and returned to their loved ones. Immediately. Every last one," Herzog told reporters during the meeting Monday. Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised the "boundless compassion" of Pope Francis and offered his condolences to Christians the world over on the pontiff's death at the age of 88. "I send my deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel - the Holy Land - on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis," Herzog wrote on X. "A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world. He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect. "I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered." Pope Francis raises his pileolus during the general audience in St. Peter's Square. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Evandro Inetti/ZUMA Wire/dpa Pope Francis gives his blessing to the faithful during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The head of the Catholic Church, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. The Argentinian-born pontiff was the first from Latin America. Vatican Media/IPA via ZUMA Press/dpa BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Azerbaijan's Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field has produced more than 4.5 billion barrels of oil since the start of production in 1997, Vice President for the Caspian region, Communications and External Affairs Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli said in social media, Trend reports. "bp and its co-venturers spent about $45 billion in capital expenditure on ACG activities to date. Moreover, ACG delivered around 56 billion cubic meters of associated gas to the state of Azerbaijan. In addition, the State Oil Fund has earned more than $178 billion in revenue from the ACG project by the end of 2024," he added. The ACG PSA (Production Sharing Agreement) was initially signed on September 20, 1994. On September 14, 2017, an amended and restated ACG PSA was signed, which extended the term of the PSA until 2049. First oil was produced from the Chirag field on November 7, 1997. ACG currently has nine offshore platforms seven production platforms and two process, gas compression, water injection and utilities platforms. The platforms export oil and associated gas to the Sangachal onshore terminal near Baku, which is one of the worlds largest oil and gas terminals. bp first came to Azerbaijan and opened its first office in Baku in June 1992. Over the years, bp has partnered with the government of Azerbaijan and implemented world-class projects - Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG), Shah Deniz and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) - that have contributed to the development of the Caspian Sea as a modern hydrocarbon province. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Russian authorities are militarising Russian society to justify the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and possibly preparing it for a possible future protracted conflict with NATO. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Quote: "The Kremlin continues to repurpose narratives that Russian officials have repeatedly used to justify Russia's invasions of Ukraine in an effort to further militarise Russian society in the long term, likely in preparation for a potential future protracted conflict with NATO." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: On 20 April, pro-Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the EU's recommendation to European leaders to refrain from participating in the 9 May Russian parade in Moscow. Lavrov accused the EU of fomenting so-called neo-Nazi ideology in Europe and said that Russia "will make every effort to ensure that this ideology does not raise its head" and destroy Nazism "once and for all". Analysts note that Lavrov's statements are part of the Kremlin's long-standing attempts to invoke the former Soviet Union's contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany and broader myths about the so-called Great Patriotic War [as Russia calls the phase of World War II when the Soviet Union was at war with Nazi Germany, from 1941 to 1945 ed.] and to vilify Europe and NATO. ISW analysts believe that these efforts are aimed at exacerbating negative sentiments among the Russian population and attracting support for the militarisation of Russian society in the long term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assessment adds that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and other senior Kremlin officials regularly use the vague term "denazification" to call for regime change in Ukraine and the establishment of a pro-Russian puppet government. And Putin used the claim that "Nazis" were supposedly controlling the Ukrainian government to justify a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Quote: "The Kremlin is increasingly employing the same playbook that it used against Ukraine towards Finland and former Soviet states, including Estonia and Moldova, to justify its attempts to control independent countries and set informational conditions for possible future Russian aggression." To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 20 April: The snap Russian-proposed Easter truce underscores the necessity that the text of any ceasefire or peace agreement be publicly available, formally agreed to in advance by all parties, and include robust monitoring mechanisms. Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces did not conduct long-range strikes against Ukraine on the night of 19-20 April and during the day on 20 April and proposed a temporary moratorium on long-range strikes against civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian officials continue to highlight Russia's systematic persecution of religious communities throughout occupied Ukraine, including against Christians. The Kremlin continues to repurpose narratives that Russian officials have repeatedly used to justify Russia's invasion of Ukraine in an effort to further militarise Russian society in the long term, likely in preparation for a potential future protracted conflict with NATO. Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk before the start of the Easter truce. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Isaac Anyaogu LAGOS (Reuters) - The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks targeting Nigerian security forces as well as Christian civilians in Nigerias northeastern regions earlier this month. Through seven messages posted on its news agency "Amaq," ISWAP claimed it conducted these operations, backing up the statements with a video depicting one of the assaults and two photo albums documenting two other operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacks in Borno state targeted a Nigerian army barracks in Yamtage town where it claimed it killed three soldiers and set the barracks ablaze. ISWAP also claimed that its fighters captured and subsequently killed four members of pro-government militias loyal to the Nigerian army in the same state. In Adamawa state, the group claimed responsibility for two attacks on Banga village, a Christian community. The first, on April 15, allegedly resulted in the deaths of two Christians and the torching of over 30 houses and a church, with "Amaq" publishing photographs of the assault. The second attack on Banga, on April 16, targeted a Nigerian police patrol in the village, damaging a vehicle and wounding several officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also released a photo album depicting an assault on Lareh village in Adamawa, showing houses belonging to Christians and a church being set on fire but it was not accompanied with a claim. Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters have mainly operated in northeastern Nigeria and targeted security forces and civilians, killing or displacing tens of thousands of people. The Nigerian government has said it will "crush" the groups, increasing this year's defence budget by over 40%. (This story has been corrected to say 'northeastern regions,' not 'northwestern regions,' in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Menna AlaaElDin; Writing and additional reporting by Isaac Anyaogu; Editing by Mark Porter) In the wake of Pope Franciss death, tributes have poured in from around the worldincluding from Vice President JD Vance, who met with the poniff yesterday, on Easter Sunday. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance posted on X. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. Due to the recency of Vances meeting with the Pope, many online joked that their interaction was the last straw for the 88-year-old. I dont think JD Vance killed the Pope, I think meeting JD Vance probably drained the Popes will to live. Its subtly different, one user wrote on X. Another posted, Pope Francis survived a double pneumonia but not a five minutes meeting with JD Vance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amplifying these jokes was none other than Jack Schlossberg, the only grandson of president John F. Kennedy. Okay JD killed the pope, he wrote on X, and in an image posted to his Instagram. WHAT DID JD DO? VP OF LITTLE FAITH meets with Pope YESTERDAY, today Pope dies, Schlossberg wrote in the caption to his post. He also shared a more moving tribute to the late leader of the Catholic church. Of course, President Kennedy was the first Catholic president of the United States. Pope Francis is an incredible, towering figure who transformed the Catholic Church to be more DIVERSE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE, he wrote. His parting gift to us was the fact that he did not like JD VANCE, VP of little Faith, at all. Schlossbergs erratic social media presence has made headlines in recent months, but he explained to Jen Psaki on her podcast The Blueprint with Jen Psaki that he has a strategy. The internet is a place where its difficult to break through, and its difficult to break through especially if youre not saying something thats controversial, or at least, somehow unexpected, Schlossberg told her. He added, The internet is a place to be weirdI use my judgment to make posts that I think are funny or silly but have a purpose. This isnt Schlossbergs first time commenting on Vance or his family. In fact, he has had something of an uncomfortable fixation on Second Lady Usha Vance, posting in January True or false: Usha Vance is way hotter than Jackie O, and joking earlier this month hes having a baby with her. You Might Also Like Tributes are pouring in for Pope Francis, who died this morning at the age of 88. Vice President J.D. Vance, who met Francis at the Vatican just yesterday on Easter Sunday, said his heart goes out to all who loved him. The White House posted on X, Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. LISTEN: First Alert Meteorologist Corey Simma is tracking a warm, dry week. Three Big Things to Know: Hours after the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died at 88, the Diocese of St. Augustine released the following statement from Bishop Erik Pohlmeier. With sorrow and gratitude, I join the faithful of the Church and the world in mourning the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis. His life was a gift to the Church and a reflection of Christs love lived with humility and devotion. The city of Jacksonville Beach is set to discuss parking time limits, and smoking on the beach. Jacksonville Beach City Council meets tonight at 6:00 pm. The parents of a 2-year-old westside boy are being interviewed by Jacksonville police after he was shot and killed. The people's Pope has passed at 88. Tributes are pouring in for Pope Francis. Posted by Rich Jones on Monday, April 21, 2025 LISTEN: Father Tom Willis, Director of Liturgy with the Diocese of St. Augustine reflects on the legacy of Pope Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LISTEN: Fox News Radio Reporter Jonathan Savage on the legacy of Pope Francis, world reaction. WOKV INVESTIGATES: The still-unexplained death of 31-year-old Charles Faggart at the Duval County jail was a searing reminder of the perils that lurk within the decades-old building: Jacksonvilles jail is a dangerous place, and often not because of its inmates. Thats how the Jacksonville Tributary, a nonprofit newsroom, described the investigation last week. We spoke live with reporter Nichole Manna about the perils that lurk in the decades-old building. Faced with surging crowds, Japan is set to impose new tourist taxes, joining countries like the United States, Mexico and Spain in a global trend. In recent years, Japan has become a hugely popular travel destination, welcoming 36.8 million tourists in 2024, according to Travel and Tour World. But this influx has strained sites like Mount Fuji, Nara and Kyoto. Im happy there are so many visitors to Japan, but Im agonizing every day, Yoshiki Kojima, who owns an IT company, told the Japan Times in January, adding that he struggles to find affordable hotel rooms for his employees when they travel to Tokyo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial step in this process is a fee increase for hikers on Mount Fuji, beginning in May 2025. The new fee for international travelers will be 4,000 yen (approximately $27), which is double the previous amount. Japanese residents are exempt from this fee, Travel and Tour World wrote. Japan isnt alone in implementing tourist taxes. The United States, Mexico, Canada, Iceland, France, Spain and Thailand also have similar policies. While the United States does not have a federal tourist tax, many states and cities levy extensive hotel and lodging taxes, according to Travel and Tour World. The cost for tourists varies by location. For instance, hotel rooms in New York City were subject to a 14.75% occupancy tax plus a nightly fee of $3.50 in 2024, according to Equity. In Los Angeles, visitors faced charges of roughly 15.5% to cover occupancy and tourism taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourist taxes can play a significant role in how destinations manage tourism flows, UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona told The Mirror. But the implementation of these fees is also designed to deliver more of the economic benefits that tourism offers back to the host communities. More News Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) called out Republican lawmakers for talking tough on law and order but refusing to hold President Donald Trump to that same standard. Crockett pointed to the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. A court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his release and return to the United States, but Trump has refused. Trump and his supporters have instead attacked Abrego Garcia and accused him of being an MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcias wife and attorney has denied that, and he hasnt been convicted of any crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Crockett noted, thats in sharp contrast to the president. As far as Im concerned, hes a lot less criminal than the person thats sitting in the White House cause last time I checked, he doesnt have any criminal convictions, she said on MSNBC on Sunday. I dont even think he has any outstanding cases, versus the guy that still had cases pending when he was sworn in on January 20th and also has 34 felony convictions. Trump was convicted last year on all 34 charges in the case related to hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels. He also had several federal cases pending that were dropped after he won last years election. So listen, I dont want to hear anything from the Republican Party about how they trying to keep us safe when their fearless leader is actually the biggest criminal thus far that we have seen because I havent seen anybody with a rap sheet that looks like the presidents, Crockett said. See more of her conversation with MSNBCs Katie Phang below: JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) The Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) is hosting a Drug Take Back event on Saturday. Expired, unwanted and uneeded tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription drugs can be dropped off at Kroger (1805 W. State of Franklin Road) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event provides a simple way to dispose of prescription drugs, ensuring they do not fall into the wrong hands or contaminate local water systems, JCPD Chief Billy Church said in a news release. Prescription drug misuse often starts at home, and by properly discarding old medications, we can help prevent addiction, accidental poisoning, and overdose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syringes, needles and illegal drugs will not be accepted at the event. We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of prescription drugs responsibly, Church said. Together we can make a difference in reducing the risk of misuse and keeping Johnson City safe. The Washington County, Tennessee Sheriffs Office and the Bristol, Tennessee Police Department will also host Drug Take Back events on April 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW DELHI (AP) U.S. Vice President JD Vance held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as New Delhi looks to avoid American tariffs, negotiate a bilateral trade deal with Washington and strengthen ties with the Trump administration. Vance, who is on a largely personal four-day visit to India, met with Modi at his residence in New Delhi and the two leaders reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation," Modis office said in a statement. They also welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations of an expected trade deal between the two countries, the statement said. The White House in a statement said that Vance and Modi set the terms for ongoing talks, laying down a roadmap for further discussions." It's a sign that talks are moving forward but remain far from finalized, though Trump administration officials also spoke with their counterparts from India in a sign of the high level of engagement. The Trump administration has portrayed its strategy of tariffs as forcing negotiations that could limit the reach and influence of China, the world's dominant manufacturer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. is Indias largest trading partner and the two countries are now holding negotiations aiming to seal a bilateral trade agreement this year. They have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. If achieved, the trade deal could significantly enhance economic ties between the two countries and potentially strengthen diplomatic ties as well. Vances first visit to New Delhi came amid the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump's partially-paused tariff program against most countries, including India. Earlier in April, Trump announced a 90-day pause in which imports from most countries would face a baseline 10% tax so that there was time to hold talks and possible structure broader deals. Trump has been personally involved in talks with Japan, but India's size and potential enable it to possible be a counterbalance to China, which is New Delhis main rival in the region. Vance is set to deliver a speech on Tuesday from Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur, India, where he may provide more details on the trade talks. Modi's office said that the two leaders noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defense, strategic technologies and other areas" and exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Monday that Vances visit will further deepen the IndiaU.S. comprehensive global strategic partnership. Vance combines business with pleasure Vance was greeted with an Indian classical dance performance after he arrived at New Delhis Palam airport on Monday, following his visit to Rome, where he met with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, a day before the pontiff's death. Vance was accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, a practicing Hindu whose parents are from India, along with their three children and officials from the U.S. administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family visited the Akshardham Hindu temple in New Delhi after their arrival and are expected to tour the iconic Taj Mahal monument and the 12th-century Amer Fort a UNESCO world heritage site during their trip. India's importance in counterbalancing China's influence India is a close partner of the U.S. and an important strategic ally in combating the rising influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region. It was also part of the Quad, which is made up of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia and is seen as a counterbalance to Chinas expansion in the region. Trump is expected to attend a summit of Quad leaders in India later this year. Washington has long sought to develop a deeper partnership with New Delhi, which is seen as a bulwark against China. Modi particularly established a good working relationship with Trump during his first term in office, and the two leaders are likely to further boost cooperation between their countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Modi was among the first leaders to visit the U.S. and hold talks with Trump after he returned to the White House. During his visit, he hailed a mega partnership with the U.S., and kickstarted a negotiation process to minimize the possible fallout of Trumps tariffs. The two leaders also said they planned to grow their defense partnership, with India signaling compliance with the Trump administrations demands, saying it will purchase more oil, energy and defense equipment from the U.S. Modi also has cooperated with Trump's moves to deport migrants as India has accepted many of its citizens from the U.S. in the past few months. Regardless, Trump targeted India with a 26% levy, part of which has since been paused. However, he has continued to call India a tariff abuser and tariff king. Trade talks are pressing for India Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trade negotiations are especially urgent for India, which could be hit hard by Trumps tariffs, particularly in the agriculture, processed food, auto components, high-end machinery, medical equipment and jewelry sectors. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Indias former foreign secretary and ambassador to the U.S., said that Vances visit comes at a time of global upheaval in world trade. He said ties between New Delhi and Washington could see an upsurge under Trumps presidency, mainly in technology-sharing and defense. U.S. trade policy under Trump offers an opportunity for India to embed itself in a bigger way in the U.S. markets and global supply chains, Shringla said. Modi's government is also hoping to attract investment from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Musks Starlink entered into agreements with two of Indias top telecom operators to provide satellite-based internet services. Musk also indicated that he would visit India later this year after speaking last week with Modi, signaling that there could be progress in the electric carmakers push to enter the Indian market. India is also a major defense partner of the U.S. It has in recent years embedded advanced American jets, helicopters, missiles and military gear into its armed forces. The two countries have announced plans to sign a 10-year framework later this year for strengthening their defense partnership. ___ Associated Press writers Rajesh Roy and Josh Boak contributed reporting. JD Vance paid tribute to Pope Francis on Monday, hours after news broke that the pope had died at 88. The vice president of the United States was one of the last people to meet with Francis before his death, and said that he was obviously very ill during their encounter. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis, Vance said in a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill, the 40-year-old politician added. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. He shared a link to the homily as well. Pope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20 in Vatican City, Vatican. Vatican Pool via Getty Images Vance briefly met with Francis on Easter Sunday. The pope, who has openly disagreed with President Donald Trumps policies on immigration, gifted Vance three chocolate Easter eggs for his three children during the brief sit-down. I know you have not been feeling great but its good to see you in better health, Vance said to the pope on Sunday. Thank you for seeing me. Before leaving, Vance told the pope, I pray for you every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis died on Monday after a five-week hospitalization in February and March, where he was treated for bronchitis, which eventually progressed to pneumonia in both lungs. He was discharged from the hospital on March 23. Related... April 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in India Monday, where he is expected to talk trade with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the two later meet. Vance landed in Delhi with his family, and is also expected to spend time touring the country, including popular tourist destinations Agra and Jaipur. Modi will host Vance for dinner Monday night. "The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest," India's foreign ministry told BBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vice president spent the weekend in Rome, where he and his family attended Catholic church services at the Vatican over Easter, prior to the death of Pope Francis. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host U.S. Vice President JD Vance for dinner Monday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Vance's wife Usha Vance is the first Hindu-American second lady. Her parents came to the United States from India in the 1970s. Modi and Vance are expected to discuss President Donald Trump's recent announcement of reciprocal tariffs, which apply to dozens of countries including India. Trump's temporary 90-day pause means the tariffs are set to go into effect on July 9. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and JD Vance are expected to discuss President Donald Trumps recent announcement of reciprocal tariffs, which apply to dozens of countries including a 26% levy on India. File Photo by Will Oliver/UPI The United States remains India's biggest trading partner. The two countries' combined bilateral trade is valued at $190 billion, although a $46 billion trade deficit favors India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has enacted a 26% tariff on India, while countering that American products face an average duty of 52% in India. Modi last Friday said he spoke with Elon Musk to discuss technology and innovation. Trump and Modi have previously pledged to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, following a meeting at the White House. The president has also urged India to spend more of its defense purchasing dollars in the United States, while also pushing American oil and gas. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the allocation of funds for the Azerbaijan Railway Company Decarbonization Project, Trend reports via the ADB. As such, the project will get $250 000 as part of the Technical Assistance Special Fund and $1 million through the Smart Energy Innovation Fund. Azerbaijan aims to establish itself as an international logistics hub by 2025, enhancing connectivity via the East-West and North-West Corridors and diversifying trade routes through the Middle Corridor to boost economic resilience and regional integration. With the growing volume of freight transport, the state-owned Azerbaijan Railway Company (ADY) is aligning with international best practices, focusing on decarbonization to support the country's climate targets. ADY is advancing its decarbonization agenda by shifting from diesel to electric traction and increasing the use of renewable electricity, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs. This transition will also generate co-benefits like improved air quality, reduced public health costs, and job creation in clean energy. VATICAN CITY (AP/WJW) U.S. Vice President JD Vance is among millions paying homage to the life of Pope Francis following news of the Popes death early Monday morning. Just one day before, on Easter Sunday, Vance met briefly with Pope Francis to exchange Easter greetings. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN APRIL 20: (EDITOR NOTE: STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY NO MERCHANDISING). Pope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images) VATICAN CITY, VATICAN APRIL 20: (EDITOR NOTE: STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY NO MERCHANDISING). Pope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images) VATICAN CITY, VATICAN APRIL 20: (EDITOR NOTE: STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY NO MERCHANDISING). Pope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images) VATICAN CITY, VATICAN APRIL 20: (EDITOR NOTE: STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY NO MERCHANDISING). Pope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images) I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, wrote Vance on X early Monday. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHOTOS: Pope Francis through the years Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease, recently spent nearly 40 days in the hospital for double pneumonia. He made his most recent and final public appearance on Easter Sunday just one day before his death to bless thousands of people in St. Peters Square. SPAIN APRIL 21: Pope Francis during the impartation of the Urbi et Orbi blessing and wishes good Easter from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica, April 20, 2024, in Rome (Italy). (Photo By Stefano Spaziani/Europa Press via Getty Images) Beforehand, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The Associated Press reports Vance and the pope have tangled sharply over migration. Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administrations deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Vance has acknowledged Francis criticism but has said he will continue to defend his views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, President Trump also shared his condolences. The President wrote on Truth Social, Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Vice President JD Vance Monday led an American chorus of tributes to the late Pope Francis after being one of the last people to meet with the ailing pontiff before his death. Vance, an adult convert to Roman Catholicism, said he was gratified to have the chance to become the last world leader to meet with Francis in his final hours. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance tweeted. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May God rest his soul, Vance added. Vance, who joined the Catholic church in 2019, met with a wheelchair-bound Francis for a few minutes on Easter Sunday, his last day alive. Francis had previously sparred with the conservative Republican over his harsh anti-immigrant stances. President Trump and former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama also mourned the loss of the spiritual leader of the worlds more than 1 billion Catholics. May God Bless him and all who loved him, Trump wrote in a 14-word post on his social media site. Trump ordered flags flown at half mast at all federal buildings to honor Francis and vowed to attend the late pontiffs funeral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a good man, Trump said at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. He worked hard. He loved the world. Biden, the second Catholic president after former President John F. Kennedy, paid a heartfelt tribute to Francis. He praised the late pontiff as a groundbreaking peacemaker who tirelessly fought poverty and preached against the impact of climate change. Above all, he was a Pope for everyone, Biden tweeted with a photo of his meeting with Francis. He was the Peoples Pope a light of faith, hope, and love. Obama focused on Francis humility and his trademark desire to avoid unnecessary trappings of wealth and to serve the poor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another, Obama tweeted. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York)described Francis as a beacon of light and hope against the darkness. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries noted that Francis was the first member of the Jesuit order and the first Latino to serve as pope after centuries of European church leaders. His moral, visionary and groundbreaking legacy will live on, Jeffries (D-New York) said in a statement. On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis met briefly with Vice President JD Vance. The engagement was one of the popes last before he passed away. I know you have not been feeling great but its good to see you in better health, Vance told the pope during their meeting. Thank you for seeing me. This morning, shortly after the Vatican announced the Pope had died, Vance shared a tribute on social media. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance posted on X. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance linked to a homily that Pope Francis delivered in March 2020, where the pope spoke of uncertainty the changing world. Vatican Pool - Getty Images The Vatican said Vance and the pope met to exchange Easter greetings, and Vances office said the vice president expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for inviting him to meet on Easter Sunday and for the hospitality the Vatican has extended to his family. Their meeting lasted around 15 minutes. According to reports, Francis gifted Vance rosary beads and a tie bearing the Vaticans crest, as well as three Kinder chocolate eggs, one for each of Vances children. The moment, warm and deeply personal, would become the last gift ever given by Francis, one paper noted. The day before, the Pope had declined to meet with Vance, instead sending the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, for a meeting with the vice president in the Apostolic Palace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners, the Vatican said of that meeting. Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged. You Might Also Like JD Vance issued a touching tribute following Pope Francis death, a day after they met to exchange Easter greetings as part of the vice presidents international diplomatic mission on behalf of the Trump administration. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance wrote in a statement on X early Monday. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May God rest his soul, he concluded. Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the popes death on Monday at the age of 88. JD Vance has spoken out just hours after reports emerged of Pope Francis' death (VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Imag) Francis had been hospitalized for weeks battling a complex lung infection, which led to early stages of kidney insufficiency. He spent 38 days at Gemelli hospital for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Farrell said. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. Pope Francis meeting with US Vice President JD Vance in the Vatican on Easter Sunday (VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Imag) Vance, a Catholic who has clashed with the pontiff over the Trump administration's immigration policies, met with Francis at the Domus Santa Marta for a few minutes to exchange Easter greetings on Sunday, the Vatican said. The pope offered the vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. I know you have not been feeling great but its good to see you in better health, Vance said to the pontiff in his wheelchair. Thank you for seeing me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grasping the popes right hand, Vance said: Pray for you every day. God bless you. After the encounter, Francis was wheeled out to the Loggia of Blessings overlooking St. Peters Square to bless thousands of people and treat them to a surprise Popemobile tour of the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause. Pope Francis (left) and Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli photographed in St. Peter's Basilica in December (AP) Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of apostolic ceremonies, read aloud Francis Easter Speech, in stark contrast with the Trump administrations worldview. How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants, Ravelli said without explicitly mentioning a country or person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He urged political leaders to not to yield to the logic of fear but to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development. The White House also shared its condolences, posting a photograph of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump beside Francis in 2017 and a photograph of Vance and the pontiff shaking hands at their meeting Sunday. Rest in Peace, Pope Francis, it wrote on X Monday. Rest in Peace Pope Francis!, Trump reiterated on his Truth Social platform. May God Bless him and all who loved him! Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his condolences on X, writing: We unite in prayer with Catholics worldwide for the repose of the pontiff's soul and for this period of transition for the Catholic Church. May He rest in peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi shared her deepest condolences and prayers to Catholics around the world. Former President Joe Biden tweeted that Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. (NewsNation) Vice President JD Vance and the White House shared condolences Monday following the death of Pope Francis, 88. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, Vance wrote on X on Monday. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. Francis, the 266th head of the Catholic Church, was hospitalized in February, staying five weeks with double pneumonia that required high flows of oxygen and blood transfusions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How is a conclave conducted after a pope dies? Vance, a Catholic convert, met with Francis briefly on Easter Sunday, a day before his passing. The Vatican said the encounter lasted just a few minutes and was designed to allow for an exchange of Easter greetings. The White House also posted an undated photo to X of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump with Francis and a recent photo of Vance and Francis shaking hands. The photos were captioned, Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. President Donald Trump shared another message on his own social media platform, Truth Social: Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A Jefferson County man remains jailed for attacking two people with a sword at two University City multi-family homes on Friday morning. According to the University City Police Departments probable cause statement, the attack happened on April 18 in the 600 block of Geoffrey Lane. Police said Rodney D. Cox kicked in the door of a womans apartment and went to strike the woman with a full-length sword while she sat on her couch in the living room. The womans dog barked and scared Cox away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Cox allegedly went across the street to another multi-family dwelling, kicked in another apartment door, and stabbed a man in the chest, police said. The victim was taken to the hospital. The extent of the mans injuries was not disclosed. Cox was arrested a short time later and identified thanks to witnesses. Police did not mention a possible motive for the attack, but said Cox did not know either victim. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Cox with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and two counts of first-degree burglary. Cox is in custody with a $250,000 cash-only bond. Online records did not say when hell appear in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Posey County Chief Deputy Jeremy Fortune announced he will be running for Sheriff in the Republican Primary in May of 2026. Fortune is a graduate of North Posey High School and an alumnus of Vincennes University, where he received an associates degree in law enforcement in 1996. In 2019, he was appointed chief deputy sheriff by Sheriff Tom Latham. He graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Class 99-137. I very much look forward to continuing my career by serving Posey County as its next sheriff, Fortune wrote in his announcement. I also look to build from what I have learned from serving under five sheriffs and using that knowledge to continue to provide quality leadership and professional services to Posey County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a release, Fortune highlighted his career serving the citizens of Posey County for 29 years as a jail officer, reserve deputy, road patrol deputy, criminal detective, narcotics detective and as chief deputy sheriff. He said he believes his experience learning operating procedures and budgeting for the Posey County Jail and law enforcement entities makes him the best choice to be the next sheriff of Posey County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) National Small Business Week kicks off on May 4 and will run until May 10. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is partnering with Skills for Rhode Islands Future (SkillsRI) to host various events in honor of Small Business Week. The lineup of events includes a summit and pitch event among other networking opportunities. For more than 60 years, the SBA has celebrated National Small Business Week to acknowledge the critical contributions of American entrepreneurs and small business owners, SBA District Director Robert Piechota told 12 News. Its an opportunity for all Americans to pause and celebrate the impacts small businesses have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More On the Job stories All the events for small businesses will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. SkillsRI Executive Director Nina Pande noted that the upcoming events are free and will include professional development opportunities too. Were really excited to see so much of that innovation that we know is Rhode Islands small business economy as we celebrate National Small Business Week, Pande said. Anyone who would like to participate must register in advance. You can learn more and register by clicking here. In the above video, SBA District Director Robert Piechota and SkillsRI Executive Director Nina Pande joined 12 News This Morning to chat about National Small Business Week. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. 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. Joe Biden has been accused of editing himself into a family portrait on Easter Sunday. The former president shared the image of himself surrounded by his wife, Jill and their family, wishing his 38 million followers a happy Easter. Social media users said Mr Biden looked out of place wearing a full suit, complete with an American flag pin, while his family were dressed in casual clothing. The details led users to speculate that the image may have been manipulated, amid concerns over Mr Bidens declining health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This looks photoshopped Brigitte Gabriel, a New York Times best-selling author, said on X. Others pointed out that the former presidents hand appeared to be floating behind one of his grandchildren. Another user added: Its totally photoshopped. Look at his hand, its in a low wave position, the hand is not resting on the shoulder of the grandchild, nor are the fingers resting on it. This is fake! The family photo in full Some users pointed out the placement of Mr Bidens hand Other users pointed out other apparent flaws in the picture, focusing in on Mr Bidens position on the step. Fake much like most of his administration. The woman in the yellow shirt you can see her knees, one user wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is sitting on the top step. Same with the guy on the left in the grey sweater with his elbow on his knee. Also top step. No way Joe was in this photo sitting or standing. It comes as Democrats brace for a new book set to detail the cover-up of Mr Bidens health decline before the 2024 election. The book, titled Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, will shine a spotlight on his decision to run for re-election and subsequent drop out. 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 Dearborn County Veterans Court celebrates success in the program. (Courtesy photo) We often mark lifes joyful milestones birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries with celebrations because they signal new beginnings. But beyond the cake and presents, what truly makes these moments special is sharing them with others. The same is true in communities with problem-solving courts where each graduation is more than an individual achievement; it is a victory for the entire community. Indiana has 140 certified problem-solving courts across 61 counties, operated by 94 judges working alongside prosecutors, attorneys, case managers, and service providers. These courts tackle the underlying causes of criminal behavior including substance abuse, mental health struggles, and family instability through a rigorous, evidence-based approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants commit to intensive services, frequent court appearances, weekly meetings, and drug screenings. Our problem-solving courts are not a shortcut to leniency; they demand accountability and sustained effort. Indeed, success is neither easy nor guaranteed, and graduation can take years. But when participants reach that milestone, the sense of accomplishment and hope is profound. Having attended many problem-solving court graduations myself, I assure you that the overwhelming joy and aspiration is indescribable. And the effectiveness of these courts is well documented. A 2023 independent study by Temple University found that 93% of our problem-solving court graduates were not rearrested. With more than 250,000 new criminal cases filed in Indiana each year, we count on our judges to make firm, fair sentencing decisions to protect public safety while honoring the constitutional mandate of reform. In 1816, our founders made it clear through the Indiana Constitution now embedded in Article 1, Section 18 that our states criminal justice system promises reformation, not vindictive justice. Problem-solving courts embody this principle, offering a structured path to lasting change. Nationally, the criminal justice system has become a primary source of referrals to treatment. Our problem-solving courts offer a proven path to rehabilitation. The Indiana Supreme Courts Office of Court Services certifies these courts to ensure that they comply with all applicable court, state, and federal regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are designed to help veterans get stable housing, a person in recovery to get job training, and parents to catch up on child support. And success for problem-court participants includes life-changing accomplishments, such as marking sobriety, reconnecting with family, earning a diploma, getting a drivers license, depositing a hard-earned paycheck, or moving into a new home. These are the types of triumphs that can cause a ripple effect for an entire community. The state has limited resources, so it is unquestionably wise to use them in areas that have demonstrated long-term value to our communities. Investing in problem-solving courts is about allocating resources efficiently and effectively. And the results speak for themselves. Our problem-solving court data shows thousands of graduates and hundreds of thousands of negative drug screens. But the real return on investment is not a number, and it is not quantifiable with a metricit is the countless lives reclaimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indianas problem-solving courts exemplify all that is good in our judicial system; justice tempered with mercy and based on principles of reformation required by the Indiana Constitution. They improve individual outcomes, provide a pathway for children to be safely reunited with their parents, and contribute to safer communities. So, as you celebrate events this spring, consider attending a problem-solving court graduation in your community. Witness firsthand the transformation, the perseverance, and the second chances these courts provide. If your community doesnt have a problem-solving court now, they hopefully will soon, as nearly 20 are in the planning stages. And as we continue to expand these courts, more Hoosiers will have the opportunity to turn their lives around one joyful milestone at a time. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The criminal contempt case against Michelle Troconis tied to the trial in Jennifer Farber Dulos death has been continued without a ruling on her attorneys motion to dismiss the matter. Troconis, 50, appeared Monday in Stamford Superior Court where her matter was continued to June 18, according to the clerks office. The continuance came without a ruling on a motion filed by Troconis attorney, Stamford-based lawyer Darnell D. Crosland. Troconis was charged with contempt of court after authorities said she showed a sealed custody report on a computer screen while she stood trial on charges related to the death of Farber Dulos, who disappeared in May 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sealed custody report viewed on Michelle Troconis laptop during trial, contempt warrant alleges Crosland, who did not represent Troconis in the criminal trial, argued in his motion that the display of the report was not deliberate and was inadvertent at best. He also argued that media members who photographed the trial and took video were warned not to capture certain things and that a cameraman zoomed in closely on the defense table at one point, which showed the report on Troconis screen. During the trial, Carrie Luft, a friend of Farber Dulos and spokesperson for the Farber family, allegedly saw the sealed report and notified prosecutors. A jury found Troconis guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, second-degree hindering prosecution and two counts of tampering with evidence. She was sentenced in May 2024 to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michelle Troconis sentenced to 14 1/2 years in prison in disappearance, death of Jennifer Farber Dulos In his motion to dismiss, Crosland argued that prosecutors are trying to tack on six more months of prison time and are unfairly punishing Troconis based on the high-profile nature of the case. Prosecutors are expected to issue a response to the motion to dismiss and multiple other motions filed by Crosland. Authorities believe Fotis Dulos killed Farber Dulos, a mother of five, after lying in wait for her at her New Canaan home. At the time, the two were involved in contentious divorce proceedings and a custody battle. Dulos was dating Troconis at the time and the two were living in his Farmington mansion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the trial, prosecutors showed videos of the multiple interviews Troconis had with law enforcement and accused her of being untruthful about Farber Dulos disappearance. Dulos died in January 2020 after attempting suicide in his Farmington home. He had been charged with murder at the time of his death. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) A judge temporarily barred Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials from authorizing federal law enforcement to open an office on Rikers Island, court records show. First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro on April 8 issued an executive order to allow federal immigration authorities to maintain office space and coordinate enforcement at Rikers Island. More Local News A week later, the New York City Council filed a lawsuit requesting a judge block the executive order, citing an alleged quid pro quo between the mayor and the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams has denied that he traded cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in exchange for his bribery case being dropped. A judge on Monday issued a temporary order to block the cooperation with federal law enforcement until the conclusion of a hearing on April 25. City Hall and all other New York City government officials, officers, personnel and agencies are prohibited from taking any steps towards negotiating, signing, or implementing any Memoranda of Understanding with the federal government regarding federal law enforcement presence on Department of Correction property, Judge Mary Rosado wrote in her decision. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, on April 25, the City Council and Adams administration will make their arguments for a final decision in the case. A spokesperson for the mayors office said the mayor will not move forward until the hearing. We are grateful that the court agreed with us to delay the hearing until April 25. As we committed to the court last week, we are not executing [a Memorandum of Understanding] prior to the hearing, the spokesperson said. In the executive order, the mayors office identified transnational gangs and criminal enterprises as their target. Mastro noted federal law enforcement agencies have had offices at Rikers Island as recently as a decade ago. Then-Mayor Bill de Blasio removed ICE from Rikers Island and all city facilities in 2014. In an interview with PIX11 News, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry noted its not just ICE that would be allowed onto Rikers Island, but multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daughtry said there will be rules and limitations on what ICE can do at Rikers Island. At the time, Daughtry said the city would move full steam ahead until the courts ruled otherwise. Critics, such as the New York Civil Liberties Union, contend ICE could serve no legitimate purpose on Rikers, but opens the door for unlawful cooperation between city and federal law enforcement. In fact, crime in New York City is down and there was never any evidence that a surge in crime was caused by immigrants, said NYCLU Senior Policy Counsel Zach Ahmad. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (AP) A New York judge has ordered city officials to temporarily halt a plan allowing federal immigration agents to operate within the Rikers Island jail complex ahead of a hearing later this week. In a written order Monday, Judge Mary Rosado barred the city from taking any steps toward negotiating, signing, or implementing any Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government before an April 25 hearing in a suit challenging the plan. That hearing will focus on a lawsuit brought last week by the New York City Council against Mayor Eric Adams that seeks to block his recent executive order permitting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies to maintain office space at the jail complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit accuses Adams, a Democrat, of entering into a corrupt quid pro quo bargain with the Trump administration in exchange for the Justice Department dropping criminal charges against him. Adams has repeatedly denied making any deal with the administration over the criminal case. He has said the presence of ICE and other federal agencies within the jail complex will allow them to assist in gang and drug-related investigations but that they would have no role in civil immigration enforcement. A spokesperson for Adams said the city would not execute any agreement with the Trump administration ahead of the hearing. Adams previously announced he would deputize his first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro, to handle all decision-making on the return of ICE to Rikers Island in order to ensure there was never even the appearance of any conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mastro said last week that discussions with the federal government over the plan were ongoing. ICE agents previously had a presence at the Rikers Island facility, which is on a hard-to-reach island in the East River. But they were effectively banned from operating there in 2014 under New York Citys sanctuary laws limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement. The Council stands firm in our efforts to protect the rights and safety of all New Yorkers against attacks by the Trump administration and its agents, said Julia Agos, a spokesperson for City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is running for mayor. We appreciate Judge Rosados decision to prevent any negotiation or execution on an agreement between the administration and federal agencies until this Fridays hearing to ensure communities are protected. Five months after Blake Lively filed her sexual harassment and retaliation complaint with Californias Civil Rights Department against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, his Wayfarer Studios and inner circle, a previously unrevealed subpoena-seeking lawsuit from Lively peels back some of the questions about when she knew about an alleged online smear campaign against her, and how did she know it? In partial response, we now know that Lively gained the info in the late summer and early fall of last year in a targeted shadow suit of sorts, and the information came from Jonesworks boss Stephanie Jones. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually revealing a treasure trove of what looks on the surface like incriminating and unpalatable texts and other correspondence from Baldonis Melissa Nathan- and Jennifer Abel-led PR team, the September 27 filing has been kept under the radar until this past week. Livelys name (or the name of her spouse Ryan Reynolds) doesnt appear anywhere on the New York state court suit against 10 unnamed Does. Instead, the plaintiff is Vanzan, a company we now know was formed in Delaware in 2010 with Lively as CEO and every other officer. The DOE Defendants have undertaken direct efforts to contravene these agreements and instead have participated, and may continue to participate, in efforts to harm Plaintiff, including by: failing to act in Plaintiffs best interests, taking actions to their personal benefit at Plaintiffs expense, failing to freely communicate with Plaintiff regarding matters that impact Plaintiffs business and reputation, and disclosing to third parties and failing to keep strictly confidential Plaintiffs confidential and/or private information, reads the complaint from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, who are one of the firms representing Lively, Reynolds and their PR chief Leslie Sloane in the open suits against Baldoni and his inner circle. Its long since been insisted by Jones and Team Blake that Jones handed over Abels cell and other devices to Livelys attorneys. While Jones gave Livelys lawyers that device and the material on it upon receiving a subpoena request from Livelys lawyers, the origin of that subpoena has never been known. In fact, Baldoni lead attorney Bryan Freedman has in the past openly doubted the existence of such a subpoena as the legal conflict between the It Ends With Us stars grew. With a clear tone of more to come, Freedmans not doubting that subpoena anymore. Nor what it all means. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms. Livelys and Mr. Reynolds company Vanzan had nothing to do with this case and they knew it, Freedman told Deadline on Monday. This sham lawsuit was designed to obtain subpoena power without oversight or scrutiny, and in doing so denied my clients the ability to contest the propriety, nature, and scope of the subpoena. Having filed more than his fair share of Doe suits over the years and taken slings and arrows for his tactics, Freedman added: There is nothing normal about this. Officers of the court have a duty of candor to the court and an obligation not to file fictitious lawsuits that have no basis in fact or law. A party with no connection to these proceedings asserting a breach of contract against another party they claim not to be able to identify does not qualify. This was done in bad faith and constitutes a flagrant abuse of process. On the other side, Livelys primary lawyers Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb not only acknowledge the Doe lawsuit but assert it is above board and the best way to get to the heart of the online attacks on their client that marred the summer 2024 premiere of the domestic violence-themed It Ends With Us. There is nothing untoward here just conscientious and thorough investigation, the duo tells Deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lively parties acted upon reliable information, and employed common tools such as Doe lawsuits and civil subpoenas that are entirely lawful and appropriate for pursuing claims and uncovering the identity of unknown perpetrators of unlawful activities, Hudson and Gottlieb go on to say, pointing out what the result was. This lawsuit unearthed the Wayfarer Parties documented plan in their own words, in their own text messagesto destroy Blake Lively, a plan which they executed without transparency, disclosure, or notice to Ms. Lively or the public, instead acting in a way they thought would be untraceable. We have absolutely nothing to hide Ms. Lively voluntarily disclosed the subpoena in her first filing knowing that it would ultimately be produced to the Wayfarer Parties in discovery, and that is precisely what will happen as Ms. Livelys claims move forward in the proper litigation process. In a now-deleted Facebook post not long after Lively took the sexual harassment and smear campaign allegations public, Abel admitted she and Nathan were prepared for it, as its our job to be ready for any scenario, but we didnt have to implement anything, because the internet was doing the work for us attacking the Gossip Girl alum. Still, the attacks on Lively last year were reminiscent of the successful online vilification of Amber Heard during Johnny Depps 2022 Nathan-assisted $50 million defamation case against the Aquaman star. In the immediate fallout in this case, as well as public staining, Lively also saw a launch of her hair and liquor products timed to the IEWU release damaged by the online attacks, a first for the lucrative A Simple Favor star. Blake Lively at an It Ends With Us event on August 8, 2024 in London With the multimillion-dollar case set for a March 9, 2026 trial start, Lively, Deadpools Reynolds, Sloane and the New York Times (who published its expose We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine, heavy with Nathan and Abel texts, one day after Livelys December 20 CRD filing) are all trying to get themselves dismissed from Baldonis $400 million defamation and extortion suit. Wrapped in the First Amendment, it looks pretty certain the NYT will soon be allowed out of the case thats in Judge Lewis J. Limans courtroom. To Jones, who has her own suit with Abel, we dont know yet how Livelys team learned about the material that she had in her possession, though it seems there was some knowledge gleaned in late August. What we do know is that how that knowledge was gleaned will come out in declarations and testimony by Jones in the court case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also know that Jones received that Doe subpoena October 1. Naming Lively, Reynolds and the couples various companies and entities, the subpoena concerns, refers, relates and applies to any and all electronic records, data, documents, and communications in Your possession, custody or control collected from a cellular telephone containing the requested information from December 1, 2022 onward. That material was handed over not long afterwards, and the Vanzan suit was withdrawn December 19, one day before Livelys Civil Rights Department filing. There is no doubt that the subpoena to Jones, who was losing one of her key employees and more than a few clients as Abel opened her own PR shop, saw a plethora of communications that certainly indicated a coordinated attack on Lively to preempt any revelations about alleged misconduct by Baldoni. Mindful of this latest twist, perhaps it is would not be a bad idea to remember the words of Liman back in March when he cautioned lawyers on all side to put this feud between PR firms in context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Daily Mail was first to report the Vanzan lawsuit filing. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A juvenile was injured in what police call a weapons violation Monday morning near the intersection of 14th Street and Spring Avenue. Woman shares blood clot diagnosis, recovery journey A heavy police presence was seen in the area around 5:30 Monday morning. Photo courtesy of Brina Sturm Police spokesman Sam Clemens said there were multiple juveniles involved and that he cannot share much information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Kansas Supreme Court Justice Caleb Stegall, center, authors an opinion reversing a Johnson County District Court judge's decision and affirming a Kansas Court of Appeals opinion that all property of married persons becomes marital property in a divorce proceeding in which a court enters a final divorce decree. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA The Kansas Supreme Court reversed a district court by declaring separate husband-and-wife annuities created to settle legal claims after a man was catastrophically injured in an explosion must be considered marital property in a divorce proceeding. Justices of the Supreme Court, echoing a three-judge panel of the Kansas Court of Appeals, said a Johnson County District Court judge erred by concluding annuities held by accident victim Aaron Meek and his spouse at time of the accident, Nancy Karanja-Meek, werent marital property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both appellate courts said all property, including confidential cash awards and deferred payments, had to be treated as marital property when a marriage ended. We affirm the Court of Appeals and remand to the district court for it to conduct equitable division of the marital estate with both annuities considered marital property, Justice Caleb Stegall said in the opinion published Friday. Meek was compensated due to a traumatic brain injury he suffered Feb. 19, 2013, when a Time Warner Cable contractor installing underground fiber optic cable in Kansas City, Missouri, struck a high-pressure natural gas line with a boring drill. Escaping gas migrated to JJs Restaurant, which exploded and leveled the building. One person was killed and 15 injured. Karanja-Meek had brought a claim for loss of companionship after her husbands accident because I lost Aaron, the Aaron that was there before he got injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both resolved their personal-injury claims in 2015 and received lump-sum payments as well as separate annuities with payments until 2045. In 2017, Karanja-Meek filed for divorce. A question that wasnt settled through negotiation was division of the annuities. Karanja-Meek said the annuities were awarded individually and shouldnt be divided by the court, but Meek contended the court should award him all or the vast majority of his wifes annuity because she was supposed to be my caretaker. District Court Judge Christopher Jayaram entered a divorce decree in 2022 and ruled the annuities were separate property. In response, Meek turned to the Court of Appeals because he wanted Karanja-Meeks annuity not his own declared marital property. The Court of Appeals concluded both annuities were marital property subject to division. Meek appealed to the Supreme Court and claimed the Court of Appeals relied on flawed legal analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Stegall said Karanja-Meek, who had clearly lost before the Court of Appeals, in a rarely seen turn suddenly realized the Court of Appeals was correct to view all property as marital. Stegall, an appointee of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, said the lower courts consideration of mechanical and analytical approaches to property division in divorce cases was disapproved. We find it simpler to follow the plain text of the statutory scheme without the need for labels, he said. If a label is required, one might term it the statutory approach which has the added benefit of preserving the courts role in Kansas to interpret the law, not write it. It is with profound sorrow and deep faith in the Resurrection that I share the news of the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Catholic Diocese of Wichita joins the universal Church in mourning the loss of a shepherd whose humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel have touched countless lives across the world. Pope Francis was a man of great faith, a servant of God who walked closely with the poor, the marginalized, and those in need of mercy. His pontificate was marked by a profound emphasis on love, mercy, and justicereminding us all of our Christian duty to care for one another, especially the least among us. His words and actions challenged us to live authentically as disciples of Jesus Christ, fostering a Church that is open, inclusive, and welcoming. From his first moments on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica, when he humbly asked the people to pray for him before giving his blessing, Pope Francis demonstrated his pastoral heart. He emphasized the beauty of simplicity, the importance of mercy, and the call to encounter Christ in every person, regardless of their background or status. His leadership was not merely about governing but about guiding us to a deeper understanding of Gods infinite love and compassion. I feel a particular bond with the Holy Father, who called me to be a bishop, the Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita. Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis tirelessly advocated for peace, justice, and the care of our common home. His encyclical Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel, inspired the Church to embrace a renewed spirit of evangelization, calling us to live and share the Good News with enthusiasm and authenticity. This has inspired me, as your bishop, to strive to lead us to be missionary disciples living in a new apostolic age. His witness to the Gospel was not confined to words but was powerfully displayed through his actionsembracing the sick, comforting the sorrowful, and journeying to the peripheries of society. As we grieve his passing, let us also celebrate his remarkable legacy of faith and service. Pope Francis taught us to encounter others with love and mercy, to seek reconciliation and peace, and to live out the Gospel with joy. His vision for the Church as a field hospital, tending to the wounds of humanity, will continue to inspire us as we carry forward his mission. I ask the faithful of the Diocese of Wichita to join me in praying for the repose of Pope Francis soul. May our loving Father welcome him into the eternal joy of heaven, where he will behold the face of God whom he served so faithfully. In these days of mourning, let us also pray for the College of Cardinals as they gather to elect a new successor to St. Peter. May the Holy Spirit guide them in choosing a shepherd who will continue to lead the Church with wisdom, courage, and love. To honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis, I invite all parishes in our diocese to celebrate Masses for the repose of his soul. Let us gather as a community of faith, united in prayer and gratitude for the gift of his pontificate. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A 55-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man is facing multiple felony charges in connection to a deadly hit-and-run crash last week. Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced on Monday that Anthony Milligan is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Teens killed in Saturday crash were students leaving Shawnee Mission South prom According to court records, Kansas City police responded to the crash around 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, on East 51st Street near Swope Parkway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was found in the street and taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The victim was identified by police as 50-year-old Terry Lindsey. Court records say Milligan called police a short time after the incident and said he ran over the victim with his car. He said Lindsey robbed him the previous day and he believed the victim was trying to rob him again. He also said Lindsey was pulling on his vehicles door handles, so he tried to reverse the vehicle and accidentally ran over the victim. Surveillance video showed the victim walking into a parking lot toward Milligan who was in his vehicle. As soon as the victim walked to the front of the vehicle, Milligan drove forward at the victim, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim backed away onto a median on the street, and the vehicle drove onto the median at him. Surveillance video shows Milligan repeatedly driving at the victim as he tried to escape. Fortune 500 tech company bringing 2,000 jobs to former Sprint campus When the victim attempted to take shelter in the grass, court documents say Milligan ran over the curb onto the grass and accelerated, striking the victim with the front of his vehicle. The footage shows the victim going under the vehicle and being dragged. Milligan is being held 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education, speaks on the Kansas Reflector podcast about vouchers, curriculum, compensation, school meals and the legacy of No Child Left Behind. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Kansas State Department of Education commissioner Randy Watson has an unobstructed view of financial, political and social battles about how best to educate nearly 500,000 school children in Kansas. In addition to regular collaboration with members of the Kansas State Board of Education, he routinely visits classrooms to absorb perspectives on everything from the basics of reading and math to human sexuality, special education, summer school and the training of current and future teachers. He wades into issues of access to computer technology and cellphones in schools. Hes there for debates on appropriation of state and federal tax dollars to public education, as well as how that funding was deployed in more than 280 local school districts across Kansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What makes me want to get up in the morning is trying to help young people and the people that serve those young people do their job well. Theres rarely a week that Im not in schools, Watson said on the Kansas Reflector podcast. I not a politician, but I deal in a political environment all the time. At the end of the day, again, what gets me up is: How can we help people that educate kids have a great environment to do so? The state Board of Education has a constitutional responsibility for public education in Kansas and the duty to hire a state education commissioner to assist with crafting policy, rules and regulations aimed at fulfilling the promise of education in preschool to high school classrooms. Watson, a former teacher and superintendent, recently recommended the state Board of Education and local school boards consider working together on a special summer school program to help the students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 gain some academic ground in the subjects of reading and math. The COVID-19 pandemic set children back at all levels, he said, but recovery has been influenced by separate decisions to reduce the number of school days while maintaining the required total of annual hours of instruction. A lot of research says if youre not at that grade level by the time you hit third grade, its really hard to catch up, and most do not, he said. In fact, more fall further behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said a summer program would be voluntary for students and could involve 90 minutes of instruction daily. Students could come together for four-day weeks and gain about 50 hours of instruction time, he said. If that was with one of our many great teachers in Kansas, what could we do? We could stop the summer slide for sure, he said. Public and private Of course, the Kansas Legislature and the states governor have large roles in terms of funding and policy of public education. That involves politics and, at times, controversy. Members of the 2025 Legislature attempted, but failed, to gain traction with a bill providing as much as $125 million in annual state funding in the form of state income tax breaks to families of students in private schools. Similar proposals to ease the financial burden of enrolling 26,000 students to accredited and unaccredited private schools have surfaced in Kansas, but those also met the fate of Senate Bill 75. The bill introduced by Republican Sen. Renee Erickson, a former middle school principal in Wichita, didnt advance in the House or Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some states have gone full force into that, Watson said. Other states have pulled back. Some states have put that up to a vote. I can tell you currently where the state board is on that. They believe that public funds should go to public education. Watson, too, observed as the Legislature placed in state law, despite Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto, contents of a bill that dealt on two objectives. Part of the bill granted the state Board of Education authority to set compensation of elected board members, while the balance mandated public schools that teach anything about human development to also present students with a computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound video of fetal development. The law says the presentation must last at least 3 minutes. A battle between Kansans for Life and Planned Parenthood illustrated the core of the bill was about influencing opinions of school children on abortion rights, which were affirmed by the Kansas Supreme Court and by Kansas voters. Statehouse debate on the fetal development curriculum bill touched on the state Board of Educations constitutional role in establishing educational standards and the responsibility of local school boards to determine precise curriculum. The state board was opposed to that bill. It had nothing to do with the content, Watson said. What is shown in a video is a local board decision, and the state board said, while we may or may not like the contents, that is a local decision, and we dont think the Kansas Legislature should weigh in on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In terms of compensation, the Legislature maneuvered to nearly double their own salaries on Jan. 1. The decision was made to decouple the state Board of Education from the Legislature in terms of daily compensation for travel costs and expenses tied to work for the state. Toward the end of the 2025 session, a bill surfaced with the human development curriculum mandate and a provision directing the state Board of Education to set its own compensation rate. It didnt include funding to the state Board of Education to address any costs. The state Board of Education plans to take up the issue during a meeting in May. Theyll certainly have to do something with it, because the new law says you shall set your rate. So even if they set it where it is now, theyre going to have to take some action to do that, Watson said. Governor, president In January, the governor proposed the Legislature pay the cost of meals for children enrolled in the states reduced-price school meal program. She suggested lawmakers allocate $5.5 million to provide free rather than subsidized meals to about 36,000 students statewide. With federal assistance, Kansas currently provides free meals to about 40% of students in public schools or approximately 200,000 youths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellys idea was for the state to cover the reduced-meal cost for each child at 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. We can reduce childhood hunger, we can reduce the stigma our low-income students face in our school cafeterias, and we can increase academic success, Kelly said. Watson said the Republican-led Legislature didnt buy into the governors idea for supplementing the cost of school meals for children in lower-income families. What Governor Kelly was proposing is putting some state money into that, but that was not adopted in this legislative session, he said. Watson also reflected on lessons learned through former President George W. Bushs ambitious No Child Left Behind program from 2002 to 2015. It was designed to hold schools accountable for learning among all students, including subgroups of low-income students, students with disabilities and students of color. The objective was to have every student reach proficient levels in math and reading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NCLB became controversial because it penalized schools that didnt show annual improvement on standardized student tests. State assessments should be viewed as a measure of how students were doing academically instead of the lone metric of success or failure, Watson said. President Bush was thinking, we want kids to learn how to read and do math. Its a great goal. Its a noble goal. And I would applaud that, Watson said. When we put that into law, I dont think he could have foreseen what the consequences were going to be if you were going to require that. What happened is that, at least in Kansas, I wont speak to other states, but I think its pretty typical teachers said, Well, then we wont teach science. We wont teach social studies. Oh, well cut recess out. We teach to that test because it became so high stakes. He said NCLB affirmed chasing student test scores just to obtain a mark acceptable to politicians shouldnt be the primary focus of a classroom teacher, school principal, district superintendent or school board member. A 52-year-old Kansas man died Sunday in a rollover crash that threw him out of his truck, which landed on top of him. Kansas Highway Patrol crash logs identified the victim as Sean Brookstore of Elkhart, Kansas. The crash was reported at 7:53 a.m. in rural Morton County. Brookstore was eastbound on Morton County Road F in a 2001 Dodge Ram, the KHP said. For unknown reasons, the Ram drove partially into a ditch, causing Brookstore to over-correct, enter a side skid and roll over an unknown amount of times. Brookstore was thrown out and the truck crashed on top of him, according to the report. Brookstore died at the scene of the crash. TOPEKA (KSNT) A planet 8.6 times heavier than Earth has recently sparked debate after molecules known to come exclusively from life were discovered in its atmosphere. 27 News spoke to Brenda Culbertson, Solar System Ambassador for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory based in Kansas, about the discovery. She said it seems highly plausible that there may be some basic life form, such as phytoplankton, living on the exoplanet K2-18 b. Im not saying that evidence of intelligent life is there, just the basic form of the phytoplankton, Culbertson said. This artists concept shows what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on science data. K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone and lies 120 light-years from Earth. A new investigation with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. The abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, and shortage of ammonia, support the hypothesis that there may be a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere in K2-18 b. Illustration: NASA, CSA, ESA, J. Olmsted (STScI), Science: N. Madhusudhan (Cambridge University) K2-18 b is more than twice the size of Earth and eight times as heavy, putting it in the Super Earth classification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is in what we call the Goldilocks Zone (Habitable Zone) where temps are not too hot and not too cold for life as we know it, Culbertson said. The star it orbits is an M type, which is not as hot as our star, but still warm enough to support that life. What causes the different colors of an aurora borealis? While the planet is now known for carbon-bearing molecules, it doesnt necessarily mean it can support life, according to nasa.gov. NASA reports its possible the planet could have an ocean surface but also says the ocean may be too hot to be habitable or liquid. I have no doubts that NASA has discovered hydrogen and carbon in the atmosphere of K2-18 b, and through the James Webb Telescope and others, they will continue to find out more, Culbertson said. 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. Opening statements in Karen Reads second murder trial over the death of her police officer boyfriend are slated to take place Tuesday in Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court. Get caught up with the latest in the Karen Read case After nine men and nine women were seated for the jury, Read told reporters that she is anxious but ready for opening statements. Ive been ready. I have no choice but to be ready, she said. I feel strong, Ive got an amazing team, and Im anxious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reads attorneys had filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court for a delay in the trial, contending that trying her again on second-degree murder and leaving the scene would be double jeopardy. The high court denied the delay and is expected to consider her appeal on April 25. Read, who lives in Mansfield, Massachusetts, is accused of striking her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm in 2022 outside a house party in nearby Canton. Her attorneys have said OKeefe was actually killed by someone else, possibly another law enforcement agent who was at the party, and that she was framed. Last year, the judge declared a mistrial after jurors said they were at an impasse and deliberating further would be futile. After the trial, several jurors came forward to say the group was unanimous in finding Read not guilty of the most serious charge, second-degree murder, and a lesser charge. Despite attempts by Reads lawyers to get those charges dismissed, she will face the same counts as she did at her first trial. They also failed to have the entire case tossed, arguing governmental misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an exclusive interview with Boston 25s Ted Daniel in February, Read proclaimed that she has nothing to hide and that shes been framed. A rocky relationship turns deadly Read, who worked as a financial analyst and as a Bentley College adjunct professor before she was charged, faces second-degree murder and other charges in the death of John OKeefe, who was 46 when he died. The 16-year police veteran was found unresponsive outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer. After a night out drinking, prosecutors say Read, who is 45, dropped off OKeefe at the house party just after midnight. As she made a three-point turn, prosecutors say, she struck OKeefe before driving away. She returned hours later to find him in a snowbank. As they did at the first trial, prosecutors will try to convince jurors that Reads actions were intentional. They are expected to call witnesses who will describe how the couples relationship had begun to sour before OKeefes death. Among them will be his brother, who testified during the first trial that the couple regularly argued over such matters as what Read fed OKeefes children, and that he witnessed a 2021 fight the couple had in Cape Cod over how his brother treated her. The brothers wife testified that Read told her the couple had argued in Aruba after she caught OKeefe kissing another woman. The defense blames a third party for OKeefes death The defense is expected to portray the investigation into OKeefes death as shoddy and undermined by the close relationship investigators had with the police officers and other law enforcement agents who were at the house party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the key witnesses they will call is former State Trooper Michael Proctor, who led the investigation but has since been fired after a disciplinary board found he sent sexist and crude texts about Read to his family and colleagues. He is also on the prosecutions witness list. A key moment in the first trial was Proctors testimony, in which the defense suggested his texts about Read and the case showed he was biased, and had singled her out early in the investigation and ignored other potential suspects. They also are expected to suggest Read was framed, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside the home during a fight with another partygoer and then dragged outside. In the first trial, defense attorneys suggested investigators focused on Read because she was a convenient outsider who saved them from having to consider law enforcement officers as suspects. Karen Read with her attorneys David Yannetti, left, and Alan Jackson during jury selection in the murder trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. Read is accused of striking her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm in 2022. (Nancy Lane/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool) Ahead of the second trial, the two sides sparred over whether Reads lawyers will be allowed to argue that someone else killed OKeefe. Judge Beverly Cannone ruled Monday that attorneys cant mention potential third-party culprits in their opening statements but will be allowed to develop evidence against Brian Albert, a retired police officer who owned the Canton home, and his friend Brian Higgins. Lawyers cannot implicate Alberts nephew, Colin Albert, the judge said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A town-commissioned Canton Police Department audit following OKeefes death was released March 30. While not reinvestigating any cases, its top suggestions regarding Reads were that first responders should have photographed OKeefe where he was found before he was moved; that all interviews of critical witnesses should have been done at the department after OKeefe was taken to a hospital; and that agreed-to recordings of witness interviews be conducted. The defenses double jeopardy argument fails Soon after the mistrial, Reads lawyers set out to get the main charges dropped. They argued Judge Cannone declared a mistrial without polling the jurors to confirm their conclusions. Defense attorney Martin Weinberg said five jurors indicated after the trial that they were only deadlocked on the manslaughter count and had unanimously agreed that she wasnt guilty of second-degree murder and leaving the scene, but that they hadnt told the judge. The defense said that because jurors had agreed Read wasnt guilty of murder and leaving the scene, retrying her on those counts would amount to double jeopardy. But Cannone rejected that argument, as did the states highest court, a federal court judge, and an appeals court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors had urged Cannone to dismiss the double jeopardy claim, saying it amounted to hearsay, conjecture and legally inappropriate reliance as to the substance of jury deliberations. Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally argued that the jurors never indicated they had reached a verdict on any of the charges, were given clear instructions on how to reach a verdict, and that the defense had ample opportunity to object to the mistrial declaration. A new prosecutor The second trial will likely look similar to the first. It will be held in the same courthouse before the same judge, and dozens of Reads passionate supporters are again expected to rally outside. The charges, primary defense lawyers and many of the nearly 200 witnesses will also be the same. Special Assistant District Attorney Hank Brennan introduces himself during jury selection in the murder trial of Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Nancy Lane/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool) The biggest difference will be the lead prosecutor, Hank Brennan. A former prosecutor and defense attorney who was brought in as a special prosecutor after the mistrial, Brennan has represented several prominent clients, including notorious Boston gangster James Whitey Bulger, and experts think he might be more forceful than Lally was in arguing the case. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted during a Fox News appearance Monday morning that the Trump administration didnt make a mistake when they deported Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Both the Department of Justice and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador due to an administrative error. However, Leavitt pushed back on that notion on Monday, saying, We did not make a mistake. We have always maintained this was an individual who needed to be deported from our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president swore to the American public he was going to deport illegal criminals, and especially those who have been involved in violent gangs like MS-13 that have terrorized American communities, she added. Abrego Garcia, who was born in El Salvador, was deported and imprisoned at a megaprison last month. Administration officials said in a court filing that the deportation was due to an administrative error. Abrego Garcia had been granted protected status in the U.S. This meant that a judge could order that he be deported, but the U.S. could not send him to El Salvador because of safety concerns. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the White House did not make a mistake in deporting a man living in Maryland (EPA) The attorney at the Department of Justice who acknowledged the error was subsequently let go. Last week, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller said, The only mistake that was made is a lawyer put an incorrect line in a legal filing that since has been relieved of duty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, ICE has also stated that the deportation was an error. The case gained new attention following the visit to El Salvador by Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who met with Abrego Garcia, who said he had been moved out of the megaprison to a different facility. Leavitt has said on numerous occasions that Abrego Garcia will not be coming back to the U.S., even as Democratic lawmakers have called for his return and court orders have stated that he must be brought back, including by the Supreme Court which orderd the White House to facilitate his return. Leavitt has claimed that Abrego Garcia was part of MS-13 despite little evidence to back it up. To the Democrat Party who thinks they are going to bring this foreign terrorist back to the United States of America to live a peaceful and happy life, that is never going to happen, she told Fox News. Sen. Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. Leavitt has said on multiple occasions that the Maryland resident wont be coming back to the U.S. (Chris Van Hollen) Leavitt called Abrego Garcia an illegal alien and a foreign terrorist, adding that hes a criminal MS-13 gang member who violated our countrys laws by coming here in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also called out Van Hollen and entire Democrat party who wasted Easter Sunday going on every television show in the country to advocate for the return of an illegal criminal gang member. There is a litany of evidence proving this individuals ties to MS-13, that has been confirmed in two different courts, she claimed. There have been multiple law enforcement officers who have affirmed his MS-13 affiliation and that is who the Democratic Party is advocating for. It is ridiculous. Four House Democrats, Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida, and Robert Garcia of California traveled to El Salvador on Sunday to advocate for Abrego Garcia. To see the Trump administration so blatantly and egregiously defy the Supreme Court and have no regard for due process is extremely alarming to me, Ansari told the Associated Press. Even with all of the illegal actions weve seen over the last couple of months, I think this is the one that terrifies me the most when it comes to the future of our democracy. By Laman Ismayilova Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva has visited Nguyen Dinh Chieu secondary school in Hanoi as part of her visit to Vietnam. Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva got acquainted with the educational conditions created at the school. During the meeting held here, information was provided on the Foundation's projects in the field of integration of visually impaired people into society and inclusive education in our country. It was noted that a cooperation agreement was signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the UNDP on ensuring access to information and communication technologies for people with visual impairments and people with low vision, and that this project is aimed at integrating visually impaired people into society and expanding their opportunities to obtain knowledge and information through information and communication tools. It was reported that, on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, a printing house was established under a special boarding school for visually impaired children, where textbooks and teaching aids in Braille are printed. As part of support for inclusive education, Leyla Aliyeva presented a certificate of financial support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to a secondary school for visually impaired people in Vietnam. At the same time, it was brought to the attention that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation will donate a number of equipment to the school to support the education of visually impaired children. It should be noted that the school, which has been operating since 1982, is intended for visually impaired children. Since 1988, sighted people have also been able to receive education at the school in question. Currently, 1,800 students, including 145 visually impaired people, are studying at the school. In addition to teaching academic subjects, the teaching staff is also engaged in the development of an inclusive education model. An extensive system for inclusive education has been established here. The school's mission is to provide equal quality educational opportunities, promote independence and integration into society. Gov. Brian Kemp signed two tort reform bills into law Monday afternoon. The governor made the legislation a priority and believes it will lower insurance premiums and frivolous lawsuits. Today is a culmination of the process that began nearly two years ago, Kemp said. The calls for change came from every sector of Georgias economy. The status quo was simply unacceptable. Insurance rates have increased rapidly in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main bill would limit when property and business owners can be held accountable for injuries and crimes committed by third parties on their property. Channel 2s Michael Doudna spoke with Fire and Insurance Commissioner John King, who said he expects the legislation to lead to lower premiums. I expect this office to get requests to get decreases of 3% to 5%, because now we have made it more predictable for insurance companies to see what their losses are going to be, King said. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, victims worry about what it could mean for them. If it wasnt already difficult before, it certainly is now, Christopher Murad said. Murad was a swimmer and member of ROTC at Georgia Tech when he was shot during a robbery. The injuries left him paralyzed from the waist down, but he said the results of a three-year lawsuit made living possible. Companies that have awareness of crimes going on their property but do nothing about it need to be held liable, Murad said. However, personal injury attorneys like Alex Weatherby worry that the new law will hurt the ability of people like Murad to hold companies accountable in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest issue is it has completely eliminated negligence security cases, Weatherby said. The governor maintained victims will be able to sue, but Weatherby says under the law, the cases put a nearly impossibly high bar to clear legally. Let me be clear, if you are wrong in this state, you deserve to be made whole, and you still can be by bringing your claim before a jury. This legislation protects that very right, Kemp said. Its like hes put it so high, its like putting the high jump at 30 feet and saying you theoretically could do it, Weatherby said. Now, lawmakers did make a carve-out for victims of sex trafficking, but Weatherby said that shows some of the problems with the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For you have to make a carve-out for sex trafficking victims-- that shows how poor the law is. What about a murder victim? What about a rape victim? Those people dont have any recourse at all, Weatherby said. However, for the governor and supporters, this legislation is needed to control the cost of insurance premiums and lower frivolous lawsuits. Simply bring transparency and fairness to a process that has been abused for too long and has driven up costs for businesses and consumers alike, Kemp said. MONTICELLO, Ky. (FOX 56) A Wayne County man is facing several charges after an alleged shoplifting incident Saturday afternoon. The Monticello Police Department announced that around 2:30 p.m., Jonathan Carlton, 32, was arrested at the Walmart in the Cumberland Crossing Center. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police said that Carlton told his son to push a cart filled with unpaid merchandise out of Walmart. He was said to have left the store without his son before he later tried to leave with the cart. MPD confirmed he was charged with: Abandonment of a minor Third-degree unlawful transactions with a minor Endangering the welfare of a minor He was booked into the Wayne County Detention Center and is being held on a $2,500 cash 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 FOX 56 News. COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A Kentucky man accused of raping a teen in 2024 has pleaded not guilty and a jury trial for the case has been set for June. On March 19, court documents show that Justin Stephens, charged with rape, filed a plea of not guilty and a waiver of arraignment. The document says he is pleading not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. News 19 has been following all the developments in the case of the kidnapping of Huntsville realtor Ronald Dumas Jr. You can find all of our coverage HERE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephens was originally charged with second-degree rape, traveling to meet a child for sex and enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house after he pretended to be a girls father to check her out from school in Sept. 2024. He wasnt arrested for this until October. Court records show he checked out the girl from Central High School, saying she needed to be checked out. Lauderdale County Sheriffs Office Sergeant Casson said Stephens had been messaging with the girl for a while. The schools security cameras showed the girl leaving school around 9 a.m. and getting into a black Dodge truck, according to court records. The documents also show that he took her to an abandoned house in Florence, and school security footage showed her returning to the school around 2 p.m. the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLICK HERE for News 19s Interactive Radar Records show he was indicted on January 17 for rape, and on March 7, a Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge granted that Stephens be transferred from the Lauderdale County Detention Center to the custody of the Colbert County Sheriffs Office. Once in the Colbert County Jail, Stephens was given additional charges. According to jail records, Stephens is now charged with: First-degree rape Second-degree rape Two counts of electronic solicitation of a child Second-degree sodomy Interference with custody Two counts of travelling to meet a child for unlawful sex act Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 31, the teens mother filed a lawsuit against Stephens as well as the high schools administrators, claiming they are guilty of negligence because they failed to follow the written rules provided by the school regarding the check-in and check-out policies, as well as failing to verify the identity of Stephens before releasing the teen into his custody. The lawsuit mentions the following people: Central High School Principal Duana Keener Central High School Assistant Principal Greta Erwin Central High School Secretary Elizabeth Shelton Six unnamed parties involved in receiving, processing/facilitating the check-out of the teenager into the custody of Justin Stephens. In the lawsuit, the victims mother states that written rules of CHS require all check-ins and check-outs to be processed in person through the main office, and the person checking the student out must present in person to the main office and provide photo identification. Latest Headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also says that check-ins and check-outs are not allowed until the check-out has been verified by the parent/guardian of the student, and that the person checking the student out must present a note with the parent/guardians signature and phone number. The lawsuit states that these rules are in place to limit and prevent harm to students, which can happen when school officials act beyond their authority and/or fail to follow the written protocols of the school. You can read more details from the lawsuit filed by the teens mother here. According to court documents, Stephens is set to appear in court for a jury trial on June 9. He is also set for a pretrial docket hearing on May 20 in Colbert County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. A key aviation safety system that failed twice in the last three years and caused the only US airspace shutdown since 9/11 will be replaced years ahead of schedule, the Trump administration says. The Federal Aviation Administrations Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM system, was slated to be replaced in 2030. Now, the FAA says a new, modernized system will be online by September. The FAA used a streamlined, innovative vendor challenge to cut through red tape to get this critical work done as fast as possible, the agency said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NOTAMs are bulletins that all pilots are required to read before taking off. They include critical safety information such as runway and taxiway closures. The system failed in January 2023, triggering the FAA to institute a nationwide ground stop the following morning, which led to thousands of flight delays. An outage on February 1 of this year led the FAA to use a backup system, but officials said there was minimal disruption to flights. Over the last few years, weve seen multiple system outages ground regional air travel, create extensive delays, and otherwise ruin the flying experience for the American people, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. NOTAM modernization is the first step as we work to deliver an all-new air traffic control system that makes air travel safer and more efficient. The FAA said it awarded the contract to CGI Federal, Inc., a subsidiary of the Canadian IT firm CGI. This is not the first time the Trump administration has focused on changing the NOTAM system. In February, an FAA order revised the Biden-era name change to Notice to Air Missions, which was created in 2021, on the grounds that it was inclusive of all aviators and missions. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In the battered southern city of Kherson, where Russian drone strikes and artillery target civilians daily, residents cling to traditions for both a semblance of normality and as an act of defiance. This year, just like every year before the start of the full-scale war, Kherson locals baked Easter bread, gathered with loved ones, and found ways to celebrate life amid the destruction caused by war. The wounds of Russian occupation still run deep, and so Easter offers a rare moment of solace amid lingering questions like who resisted the Russian occupation and who may have collaborated with the occupiers. Ukrainian photographer Stanislav Ostrous traveled to Kherson for this year's Easter celebrations a rare occasion when both Orthodox and Catholic Easter fell on the same day and spoke with locals about living through the Russian occupation, how the war has shaped their lives, and what it means to celebrate Easter in a city still under constant threat. Pavlo Khomych (L), a Kherson entrepreneur, smiles while speaking with a customer. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) Pavlo Khomych, a 54-year-old entrepreneur, does his best to smile and stay positive even after a Russian strike nearly killed him and his wife in their own home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The main thing is we survived," he told the Kyiv Independent. During the occupation, the couple had packed their bags, ready to flee. But the moment they heard Kherson had been liberated, their decision was made: They would stay. Pavlo Khomych uses his mobile phone to display a picture of his home after it was damaged by a Russian strike. The front-line city of Kherson is a near-daily target of Russian aerial attacks. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) Khomych refused to accept Russian rubles, saying he "only accepted hryvnias" on the rare occasions he sold items during the occupation. He didn't return to selling items until the family savings ran out and when they could, he and his wife brought food to neighborhoods in need. Asked what he thought about the possibility of Russian forces returning to the city, he didnt hesitate: "Kherson was never conquered! No, no way! That's not even up for discussion!" Yuliia Korniienko, Kherson volunteer and cafe owner, stands with her handmade Easter cakes, which she sends to soldiers serving on the front lines. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) Yuliia Korniienko, a 40-year-old cafe owner and dedicated volunteer in Kherson, has weathered the horrors of occupation with resilience and determination. Despite the ongoing dangers including the ever-present threat of drone attacks Korniienko remains focused on helping others, especially the military and civilians in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Easter, her cafe sent 90 handmade Easter cakes to soldiers on the front lines. "We received feedback and a photo report from the chaplain it makes us happy," she shared, describing the process of decorating each cake herself. It's a small act of kindness in a city that's seen far too much violence. A decorated handmade Easter cake is packaged for delivery to soldiers at the front. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) Korniienko's motivation to stay in Kherson is clear: her husband serves in the military, and helping those around her is what keeps her going. Though drones have targeted her city and even come close to her own life, she continues to support her community, delivering aid to children, mothers, and those bedridden due to injuries. And while she finds purpose in helping others, the danger never feels far. The worst, she said, are the drones. "With a glide bomb, you get a warning. You can hide. But drones you only notice them when they're already there, when you hear them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Easter celebrations this year were a stark contrast to those during the occupation. Now, Kherson residents are able to attend church services and bless their Easter breads. "The chaplain came, quickly read a prayer, blessed our cakes," Korniienko explained, "and told us that if we can't go to church, we should just say a prayer at home and bless the cakes ourselves." Kherson photographer Mykola Koshelyuk. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photographer Mykola Koshelyuk, 64, recounted how an innocent photo almost got him sent to a Russian torture chamber during the occupation. An FSB author approached him after he photographed some grapevines he noticed wrapped around wires, not knowing that the nearby building was being used by Russian occupation forces to torture civilians. For Koshelyuk, the day Kherson was finally liberated felt like something out of a dream. Locals were gathered near a local spot where there was a generator, when suddenly Ukrainian soldiers appeared, a Ukrainian flag adorned on their car. Locals held their breaths, afraid it might be some provocation. "Then it started: cars honking non-stop! Girls on Freedom Square were shouting, 'Ours!' It was incredible!" he recalled. Still, he couldnt help but feel a flicker of disbelief when, in a city plunged into total blackout, the first equipment brought in was for putting up a flagpole. Locals ride bikes in the city square under the flag of Ukraine in the liberated city of Kherson, April 2025. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) Viktor Fedyk, a sailor and Kherson resident. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) Viktor Fedyk, 62, wasnt home when the Russians seized Kherson he was at sea, on a voyage near Rostov. On November 11 of fall 2022, while riding a bus together with his wife, a message came through: Kherson is liberated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The whole bus erupted," he recalled. "Everyone was shouting." But joy turned quickly to horror. Back in Kherson, their home in Kindiyka a district along the Dnipro River now considered one of the citys most dangerous came under attack. A drone dropped a grenade right outside their window. "I opened the window, and it exploded," he said. He was concussed. And that was just the beginning. Sandbags are piled up outside a building in central Kherson. The city is frequently targeted by Russian attacks. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) One night, an explosion rocked the neighborhood. A neighbor ran to their door, shouting for help. While they treated one wounded man inside, another lay outside in the freezing cold. The drone returned, buzzing overhead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I couldn't get to him," he said. "It hovered over him the whole time." When the drone finally flew off, he rushed out and applied a tourniquet but the man bled out in the car before reaching safety. "That was the moment I told my wife: 'Thats it, Sveta. We're done.'" They moved to the Tavriyskyi district, a little farther from the front lines. Now, like so many others in Kherson, he keeps close watch on drone activity online, knowing how quickly the threat can return. Still, he refuses to accept the idea that Russia might reclaim the city. "God forbid our government ever agrees to that. It would be a betrayal of the entire Ukrainian people," he said. "So many lives have been lost. Kherson is my favorite city. I've traveled a lot but there's no place more dear to me." Kherson, April 2025. (Stanislav Ostrous / The Kyiv Independent) Read also: There was no ceasefire U.S.-brokered energy truce fails to secure lasting results in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Moscow and Kiev traded allegations of Easter ceasefire breaches on Sunday with both sides reporting mass drone and artillery attacks. In his evening update, as the temporary ceasefire ended, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian shelling and the use of kamikaze drones had been observed throughout the truce. "The total number of violations by the Russian army of Russias own ceasefire promise throughout the day reached 2,935," he said in a report shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This day was not enough for Moscow to respond either to the proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire after Easter, or to the proposal to at least extend the ceasefire in the sky, refraining from missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure." Ukraine was taking a "symmetrical" approach to Russian actions, Syrskyi said. "The nature of Ukraines actions will remain symmetrical: ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defence. Actions always speak louder than words." Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said the ceasefire would cover 30 hours over Easter Sunday, lasting until midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT Sunday). Zelensky suggests 30-day cessation of fire on civilian targets Zelensky reiterated his proposal to extend the ceasefire for 30 days to "give peace a chance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He proposed suspending drone, cruise missile and rocket attacks on civilian targets for at least 30 days. "If Russia does not agree to such a step, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things which destroy human lives and prolong the war," Zelensky said of the truce proposal. While he lamented numerous violations of the 30-hour suspension of hostilities ordered by Putin, he made it clear that there were opportunities for a limited ceasefire. But he noted that "there were no air raid alerts today." He concluded: "Hence, this is a format of ceasefire that has been achieved and that is the easiest to extend." Moscow says Ukraine forces continued attacks Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Sunday evening that Putin had not given any order for an extension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For its part, Moscow charged Ukrainian forces with continuing their attacks. These attacks, in the Donetsk region among other areas, had been warded off, the Defence Ministry said. The ministry said there had been dozens of drone attacks and that hundreds of artillery shells had been fired overnight by the Ukrainian side. The attacks had targeted the border regions of Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod, among others, it said. "There are deaths and injuries among the peaceful population and damage to civilian buildings," the ministry statement said. Details of casualties were not given. Trump hopes for deal this week Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump sounded an optimistic note in the Ukraine conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week," he wrote in all capital letters on the social network Truth Social. "Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune," he added. Trump has called on Ukraine and Russia to show willingness to compromise in the war that Russia started when it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago. The US government made it clear that it could otherwise halt efforts to end the war. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) The Bishop of Lafayette, the Rev. Douglas Deshotel, was taken by surprise by the death of Pope Francis. Deshotel said despite his recent health issues, he had resumed some of the normal daily tasks of being Pope. He met with Vice President Vance yesterday, I think, and then also gave a blessing from the balcony of St. Peters, Deshotel said. The usual one they give every Easter. So it was it was kind of a shock, you know, at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deshotel said the Pope spent almost 90 days in the hospital with double pneumonia, which he said gave us a lesson of dealing with sickness. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest One of his great messages was for us to live with the the hope of and the message of these as Christ that our end does not start with our physical death, but that were called to live forever, he said. Deshotel noted the importance of Francis having been the first Pope from the Americas. Francis was a native of Argentina. Its significant, in my view, Deshotel said. It shows the universal city of the church, you know, that the church doesnt belong to a country or to one continent or to one population or race, but is truly universal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is eligible to be the next pope? Deshotel said the Holy Spirit guides the College of Cardinals in the selection process of the new Pope. Theyre going to make predictions, of course, all over the place about who the next pope should be, he said. But theres an Italian saying: The cardinal who goes in as pope comes out as the cardinal. So you never know who its going to be. The bishop said Pope Francis ultimate message and legacy are simple. Gods mercy is welcome and extends to every human person. 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. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 21. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa discussed the development of cooperation in political, economic, and cultural spheres, Trend reports via the President's administration. In the course of the meeting, the parties emphasized the importance of increasing contacts at all levels and implementation of joint projects that will lay the foundation for the progressive development of relations between Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain. The sides expressed interest in the implementation of joint projects and strengthening contacts at all levels. Sadyr Zhaparov noted that this visit is the first in the history of relations between the two countries at the level of the head of state, and expressed confidence in its significance for the further development of partnership. In conclusion of the meeting, S.Zhaparov invited the King of Bahrain to pay a visit to Kyrgyzstan. King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan each shared messages honoring Pope Francis in the wake of the news of his death on Monday. In a post on X, King Abdullah wrote, My deepest condolences to our Christian brothers and sisters around the world on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a man of peace who was beloved by the people for his kindness, humility, and tireless efforts to bring everyone together. His memory will live on in the hearts of millions. Vatican Pool - Getty Images Queen Rania, who most recently met with Pope Francis at the World Summit on Children's Rights at Vatican City in February, wrote, In a world that can often feel heartless, Pope Francis always had love to spare for the less fortunate, refugee families, and children in war zones, in Gaza and around the world. Humanity has lost an invaluable champion for peace and compassion today. May he rest in peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jordanian king and queen met with Pope Francis many times over the course of his reign as head of the Catholic Church, both at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City and Raghadan Palace, the royal seat in Amman, Jordan. Pope Francis often met with the Jordanian royals to discuss work together on a number of social issues, including Jordans sheltering of Syrian refugees and children in global conflicts. At the World Summit on Childrens Rights, Pope Francis said in a speech, Nothing is worth the life of a child. What we have tragically seen almost every day in recent times, namely children dying beneath bombs...is unacceptable. To kill children is to deny the future. See moments from Pope Franciss visits with the Jordanian royals over the years below. Vatican Pool - Getty Images Vatican Pool - Getty Images Jordan Pix - Getty Images Vatican Pool - Corbis - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franco Origlia - Getty Images Vatican Pool - Getty Images You Might Also Like King Charleswho just met privately with Pope Francis less than two weeks ago alongside wife Queen Camillahas paid tribute to the late pontiff, who died on April 21 at 88 years old. My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis, Charles wrote. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. He added, His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church, and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a public meeting with the Pope was postponed due to the Popes ill health as of late, Charles and Camilla met privately with him at the Popes residence, Casa Santa Marta, in the Vatican on April 9, which happened to also be their 20th wedding anniversary. Getty King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Pope Francis on April 9, 2025 King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Pope Francis on April 9, 2025 The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years, and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month, the King continued in his lengthy tribute. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Prior to their meeting just 12 days ago, the King had previously met with Pope Francis in 2019 and, prior to that, met him with Camilla in 2017, when Charles and Camilla visited the Vatican. During that visit, Charles presented him with gifts from his country home, Highgrove, according to Town & Country. Getty Pope Francis, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on April 4, 2017 Pope Francis, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on April 4, 2017 Getty Prince Charles, Pope Francis, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on April 4, 2017 Prince Charles, Pope Francis, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on April 4, 2017 The Pope said to the future kingwho was then the Prince of Walesduring that meeting, Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace, to which Charles replied, poignantly, Ill do my best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles and Camillas visit with the Pope earlier this month lasted about 20 minutes, during which time he exchanged wedding anniversary presents with the King and Queen. Afterward, the couple paid tribute to him on their social media accounts, writing that the visit was a special moment and that they were deeply touched by the Popes kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honored to be able to share their best wishes to him in person. Getty Prince Charles, Pope Francis, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on April 4, 2017 Prince Charles, Pope Francis, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on April 4, 2017 A senior palace official said of the King and Queens four-day state visit to Italy, per Hello!, I think outside of the official program, the most significant and indeed moving thing was that visit to the Pope. We didnt know until the last minute that it would be possible. But when the Pope asked if he could see the King and Queen, Their Majesties were clearly very pleased. After all, they have known him over many years and, with the rest of the world, have been praying for his recovery. The Pope wanted personally to wish them a happy anniversary, not least because it hadnt been possible to do the state visit on this occasion, the official continued. Their Majesties both came away feeling that it had been a very significant and special moment. Read the original article on InStyle King Charles is honoring the life and legacy of Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88 on April 21 after a long battle with pneumonia. In a message released by Buckingham Palace on behalf of both himself and Queen Camilla, the King reflected on the Popes compassion, faith and global impact. My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis, the statement began. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. The King went on to praise the Popes lifelong commitment to unity, faith and environmental stewardship. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world, he wrote. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. Charles also recalled their most recent meeting during his and Camillas four-day tour of Italy earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years, the message continued. We were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve, and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ. The statement was signed simply, Charles R. Earlier in the month, the Palace shared a photo from the couples recent visit with Pope Francis, showing Queen Camilla in classic all-black attire as she greeted Pope Francis, with King Charles standing beside her in a sharp black suit. Che occasione speciale, read the caption on InstagramItalian for What a special occasion. The post continued, The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Popes kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their best wishes to him in person. Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here. King Charles Reveals Surprising New Talent at Recent Outing King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have paid tribute to the late Pope Francis. Upon receiving, with profound sadness, the news of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, I wish to convey to you, on my behalf, on behalf of the Government, and on behalf of the Spanish people, our deepest condolences, King Felipe wrote in a telegram to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. (Read it in full, here, in Spanish.) Throughout his pontificate, His Holiness Pope Francis has borne witness to the importance that love of neighbor, fraternity, and social friendship have for the world of our century, the Spanish king continued. We will always continue to be inspired by his conviction in the need to bring encouragement and comfort to the poorest and most needy, and by the importance he attached to dialogue and consensus in order to achieve a more just and united world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King Felipe and Queen Letizia, then Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, were among the royals who attended Pope Franciss inaugural mass in 2013. Europa Press Entertainment - Getty Images In 2014, the Spanish royals visited Pope Francis, their first time since becoming King and Queen. As a Catholic queen, Queen Letizia is one of just seven women in the world who have le privilege du blanc (the privilege of the white) while meeting the Pope. Vatican Pool - Getty Images In light of the sorrow caused by his loss, the Queen and the entire Royal Family join me in conveying to the entire Catholic Church our condolences and affection, as well as our prayers for his eternal rest, King Felipe concluded. You Might Also Like Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the senior Vatican official who announced Pope Francis' death on Monday morning, will serve as the interim manager of the Vatican until a new pope is elected, according to Church officials. Born in Ireland, the 77-year-old Farrell has long ties in the United States, having served as the bishop of the Diocese of Dallas and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., according to the Vatican. Pope Francis nominated Farrell in 2019 to be the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church with the responsibility of administering the property and revenues of the Holy See. In 2020, Francis also appointed Farrell as president of the Church's Commission on Confidential Matters and in 2023, the late pontiff elevated Farrell to president of the Vatican City State Supreme Court, according to the Vatican. PHOTO: Pope Francis greets Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell during the 37th World Youth Day at Parque Tejo, Aug. 6, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal. (Vatican Pool/Getty Images) On Monday morning, Farrell broke the news to the world of Pope Francis' death, reading a statement at the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta at the Vatican, the pope's residence and where he died. In the announcement, Farrell said, "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Farrell said. Standing next to Farrell for the somber announcement were Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, substitute chief of staff, and Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical ceremonies. "His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and his Church," Farrell said of Francis. "He taught us to live the values of the gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example of a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the triune God." PHOTO: Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell announces the death of Pope Francis at the Vatican, April 21, 2025. (Vatican Media via Reuters) The Holy See Press Office said Farrell will preside over the rite of ascertainment of death, or the certification of death, and placement of the late Pope Francis body in the coffin, which is scheduled to occur Monday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farrell will be joined at the ritual by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, relatives of the pope and other church officials, according to the Vatican press office. MORE: Pope Francis, everyman leader of the Roman Catholic Church, dies at 88 Farrell is now in charge of the Holy See's day-to-day operations during what is known as the "Apostolica Sede Vacans," the period between the pope's death and the election of the next pontiff during a secret gathering of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. Farrell is also expected to lead a procession transporting the pope's body from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica. PHOTO: Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell announces the death of Pope Francis at the Vatican, April 21, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP) Born in 1947 in Dublin, Ireland, Farrell attended the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, according to his biography on the Vatican's website. He holds degrees in philosophy and theology from the University of St. Thomas in Rome. Farrell began studying for the priesthood in 1966 and was ordained a priest on Dec. 24, 1978, according to his biography. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Pope Francis has pneumonia but remains in 'good spirits,' Vatican says After his ordination, he served as chaplain of the Regnum Christi Movement at the University of Monterrey in Mexico. In 1984, Farrell was incardinated in the archdiocese of Washington, D.C., where he served as assistant pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Church for a year before becoming the director of the Spanish Catholic Center in 1986, according to his biography. He also served as the executive director of the Catholic Charitable Organizations from 1987 to 1988. He was appointed pastor of the Annunciation parish in Washington, D.C., in 2000 and served until 2002. In 2002, Farrell was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and served in that role until 2007, when he became bishop of the Diocese of Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2016, Pope Francis called Farrell to the Vatican to serve as the vicar general of administration and moderator of the Roman Curia, the administrative arm of the Holy See and the central governing body of the Catholic Church, according to his biography. Editors note: An earlier version of this report referred to Kevin Farrell as the leader of the Catholic Church after Pope Francis death. It has been updated to describe him as the "Vatican's interim manager. What we know about Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican's interim manager until a new pope is elected originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Catholics in Wisconsin and across the world are mourning the death of Pope Francis, remembering his humility and service to the poor and marginalized. Francis died Monday of a stroke and irreversible heart failure at the Vatican, a day after he appeared at St. Peter's Square to bless Easter worshippers. He was 88. Pope Francis led an estimated 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, including more than 1 million in Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 20% of adults in Wisconsin identify as Catholic, according to the Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Survey in 2023-24, making them the largest single religious group in the state. More: Six Milwaukee Catholics share the impact Francis and his teachings had on their lives Just how large is Wisconsin's Catholic population? Here's a look at the data. How many Catholics live in Wisconsin? There are about 1.24 million Catholics in Wisconsin, according to 2020 data from the Association of Religion Data Archives. That represents about 21% of Wisconsin's total population of 5.9 million in 2020. Who leads the Catholic dioceses in Wisconsin? The Catholic Church is organized into five dioceses in Wisconsin the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and the Dioceses of Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and Superior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is led by Archbishop Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob, who is assisted by Auxiliary Bishops James T. Schuerman and Jeffrey R. Haines. The other dioceses are led by: Bishop Donald J. Hying in Madison; David L. Ricken in Green Bay; Gerard W. Battersby in La Crosse; and James P. Powers in Superior. Was Archbishop Grob's move to Milwaukee the pope's last U.S. appointment? No. Archbishop Grob was appointed on Nov. 4, 2024, and installed Jan. 14, 2025, so he was one of the last appointments by Pope Francis. But Francis made several other significant U.S. appointments in his final months, naming Archbiship Shawn McKnight in Kansas City; Bishop Gregory Kelly in Tyler, Texas; and Archbishop Robert G. Casey in Cincinnati. Where do Catholics live in Wisconsin? Catholics live throughout the state, but have a particularly strong presence in the Milwaukee and Green Bay dioceses along eastern Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Milwaukee, the early church was home to German and Irish immigrants, and later to Polish, Italian and other immigrant communities, according to the archdiocesan website. The archdiocese supported these immigrants by providing Mass in their native language a practice that continues today in some parishes with Mexican and Asian immigrants. Green Bay's early history involved missionaries working with Indigenous tribes, followed by French, Irish and Belgian ethnic churches. How many Catholic churches are in the Milwaukee area? A recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis found about 184 Catholic parishes in the 10-county Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Some are the result of mergers between two or more parishes. That compares to 261 parishes in the Archdiocese 60 years ago. In 1964, Catholics affiliated with a parish made up about 38% of the population in the archdiocese. Now, that number is 22%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, there were around 752 total Catholic congregations in Wisconsin, according to the Association of Religion Data Archives. Among the challenges facing the Catholic Church in Wisconsin include a decline in infant baptisms, marriages and active diocesan priests. Parishioners are aging at the same time fewer young people attend Mass. And because of the declining number of worshipers, many churches have unused or underused buildings to maintain. More: Milwaukee Catholic parishes are at a reckoning point. Here are several ways to understand the decline. More: This map shows the Wisconsin Catholic parishes that have closed or merged over time Snow covers the Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill in Hubertus on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. What are notable Catholic locations in Wisconsin? Wisconsin is home to several sites important to Catholics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States, is in New Franken. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is believed to have appeared to a young woman in the woods there in 1859. The Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill is located on one of the highest elevations in southeastern Wisconsin, making it among the most photographed locations in the state. It is considered a sacred place of prayer and contemplation. Milwaukee has many historic churches popular with tourists, including the Basilica of St. Josaphat. The dome was modeled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and was only second in size to the U.S. Capitol when it was built. More: These Wisconsin sites offer spiritual destinations during Lent Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Sophie Carson contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Catholicism by the numbers in Wisconsin: population, dioceses, parishes VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after a papacy of 12 years. Here are the key things to know about the death of the Argentine pontiff, the first from Latin America. The timing and cause of Pope Francis death Francis died Monday morning at the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived at the Vatican. His death came almost a month after he returned there following his treatment in hospital for double pneumonia. The Vatican said Francis died after having a stroke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mourning the pontiff St. Francis has been lying in state in a simple wooden coffin inside St. Peters Basilica. He is dressed in red liturgical vestments and his hands are folded, holding a rosary. Interest in paying respects to him is high. The Vatican kept the doors open all night due to higher-than-expected turnout from mourners across the globe, closing the basilica for just an hour and a half Thursday morning for cleaning. The basilica was to be kept open until midnight Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn. The public mourning period was scheduled to end on Friday at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT) and the funeral was set for Saturday at 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) in St. Peter's Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heads of state, including U.S. President Donald Trump, are expected for the funeral. Francis will then be buried, according to his will, in a simple underground tomb at St. Mary Major Basilica, home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, to whom he was particularly devoted. The pope's recent illness Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on Feb. 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his papacy. Those weeks had raised fears that he might soon die or resign as Pope Benedict XVI did in a surprise move that led to the election of Francis in March 2013. But Francis insisted he would stay on in the role, and returned to the Vatican on March 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do they choose a new pope? After a period of mourning, cardinals will gather to elect the next pope. The cardinals will vote in secret sessions, and the ballots will be burned in a special stove after each session. Black smoke indicates no pope has been elected, while white smoke says the cardinals have chosen the next head of the Catholic Church. Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate. Francis appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it's impossible to predict who the next pope will be, some cardinals are considered to have better chances than others. The legacy of Francis Francis was known for his personal simplicity, from the choice of his name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who renounced wealth to help the poor, to the outward symbols and priorities of his papacy. He chose to live in the Vatican hotel instead of the Apostolic Palace and wore his old orthotic shoes and not the red loafers of the papacy. In his teachings he focused on concern for refugees and other marginalized people. His first trip outside Rome as pope in 2013 was to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa to meet with newly arrived migrants. His plea for welcome put him at odds with U.S. and European policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also also signaled a more welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ people, while also making the fight against climate change a priority. Francis became the first pope to use scientific data in a major teaching document and made care for Gods creation a hallmark of his papacy. He eschewed the grandiose even in his departure, lying in state in a simple coffin made of wood. His record on Ukraine Francis tried to maintain the Vaticans traditional diplomatic neutrality when it came to Ukraine, and that led to criticism for what some called an unclear position on Russias invasion of its neighbor. He at times expressed apparent sympathy with Russias rationale for invading Ukraine like when he said NATO was barking at Russias door with its eastward enlargement. And last year he called on Ukraine to show the courage to negotiate peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legacy on clergy sex abuse Francis' critics also argued that he failed to bring justice to victims of clergy sex abuse or to bring the needed reforms to the church. The Womens Ordination Conference also lamented Francis unwillingness to push for the ordination of women. This made him a complicated, frustrating and sometimes heartbreaking figure for many women," it said. VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Here are the key things to know about the death of the Argentine pontiff, historys first from Latin America, who presided over the Catholic Church for more than 12 years. The announcement of Pope Francis death The death of Francis was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born Vatican camerlengo, a position that will be important in the coming weeks as he takes charge of the administration of the Holy See until a new pope is elected. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father, Farrell said. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pontiff died in the Vaticans Domus Santa Marta, where he returned less than a month ago after being hospitalized for double pneumonia. A final farewell on Easter Sunday Francis made his final public appearance a day earlier on Easter Sunday, though he had delegated the celebration of the Easter Mass to another cardinal. He blessed a crowd of faithful from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica. Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter, he said from the same loggia where Jorge Mario Bergoglio was introduced to the world on March 13, 2013 as the 266th pope. Francis also made a surprise ride in the square in his popemobile, drawing wild cheers and applause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beforehand, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill, Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, said on Monday during a visit to India. Reactions and global mourning Even before the great bells of St. Peters Basilica began tolling to mark Francis death, messages of tribute began pouring in from across the world. Catholic and non-Catholic leaders alike honored a spiritual leader who was a voice for the marginalized and the weak, for migrants and LGBTQ+ people, and who showed concern for nature. He cared about the great global challenges of our time migration, climate change, inequalities, peace as well as the everyday struggles of the one and all, European Council President Antonio Costa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outgoing German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said that the world had lost an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person. Other religious leaders also praised him for seeking dialogue. The head of the Church of England remembered him for his commitment to improving relations among the worlds religions, while Romes chief rabbi described Francis pontificate as an important new chapter in relations between Judaism and Catholicism. The popes last months, and final day Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his papacy. For the faithful, those were weeks of fear that his illness could be fatal or lead to another papal resignation after that of Pope Benedict XVI, a surprise move that led to the election of Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pontiffs return to the Vatican on March 23 brought relief to many at the time. What happens next Francis death now sets off a weekslong process of allowing the faithful to pay their final respects, first for Vatican officials in the Santa Marta chapel and then in St. Peters for the general public. That will be followed by a funeral to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and a conclave to elect a new pope. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 21. Tajikistans Minister of Transport, Azim Ibrohim, met with a World Bank mission led by Winnie Wang, Lead Infrastructure Specialist and Program Lead for the Central Asia region at the World Bank Group, to discuss ongoing and future cooperation in the transport sector, Trend reports via the Tajik Ministry of Transport. The meeting focused on joint efforts to enhance infrastructure resilience and regional connectivity. The World Bank delegation visited Tajikistan as part of the Strengthening Disaster Resilience project, which includes the planned construction of four bridges in the Rudaki and Vose districts. Technical support for this component is being provided by South Koreas ISAN Corporation under a consulting agreement signed in January 2024. The sides also reviewed progress under the Central Asia Regional Links Program, which aims to improve regional road networks. In this context, UK-based consultancy EASST Expertise LTD was contracted last year to support road safety initiatives, including the promotion of seatbelt use. Minister Ibrohim highlighted the successful completion of several infrastructure projects, such as the rehabilitation of the KhujandIsfara road and the construction of bridges in Gorno-Badakhshan. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing collaborative projects in transport infrastructure, sustainable mobility, and technological innovation. Tajikistan aims to strengthen its role as a key transit hub in the region, the minister said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has commented on the possibility of US President Donald Trump attending the Victory Day parade on 9 May in Moscow. Source: Peskov, cited by Kremlin-aligned media outlet TASS, as reported by European Pravda Details: In response to a question from TASS, Peskov said that "Trumps attendance at the Victory Day parade on 9 May is not under discussion". Background: The European Union has instructed its candidate countries not to attend the parade in Moscow on 9 May and not to visit Russia. On 14 April, Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on European leaders not to take part in the military celebrations in Moscow on 9 May, instead urging them to show solidarity with Ukraine. However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said he will be travelling to Moscow together with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! U.S. statements ruling out Ukraine's membership in NATO align with Russia's views and "satisfy" Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 21, Interfax news agency reported. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that a ban on Kyiv joining the alliance was part of a ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. officials to Ukraine during Paris talks last week. The news underscored the Trump administration's already voiced opposition to Ukraine's membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine's membership in NATO is out of the question," Peskov said. "Of course, this is something that satisfies us and aligns with our position that Ukraine should not be a NATO member," the spokesperson added. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly echoed Moscow's narrative that Ukraine's efforts to join the alliance have been one of the root causes of the full-scale invasion. Russian aggression against Ukraine began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas, a time when Kyiv had little prospects of joining the alliance in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022, months after the outbreak of the full-scale war. The country has yet to receive a formal invitation, as the 32 members have struggled to reach a consensus. "NATO isnt on the table," said U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg in an interview with Fox News on April 20. Ukraine has previously rejected restrictions on joining international alliances and organizationsnamely, NATO and the EUas part of a potential peace deal. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte recently said that Kyiv's path toward membership remains "irreversible" as agreed during a NATO summit in 2024 but added that the matter would not be part of an eventual peace settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wall Street Journal also reported that the U.S. recognizing the Russian annexation of Crimea could potentially be part of a peace deal. Asked about the topic, Peskov said that the path toward a "peaceful resolution cannot and should not take place in the public arena." Kyiv has repeatedly rejected recognizing Russian occupation in any peace deal. Read also: Nearly 100 days of Trump, and Putin is still calling the shots Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The US is likely to hold talks with Ukrainian and European officials in London this week on ending the war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports. As the US president pressures Russia and Ukraine to end their conflict, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, and Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, the special envoys of Donald Trump, are expected to meet on Wednesday with the foreign ministers and national security advisers from France, Germany, the UK and Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter. It comes as the Kremlin said that it was satisfied with the US negotiating stance on ending the war in Ukraine after news emerged that Washington had agreed to ban Ukraine from joining Nato. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraines membership in Nato is excluded, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told reporters on Monday. Of course, this is something that causes our satisfaction and coincides with our position, he said. The Kremlin statement comes after fighting restarted after a 30-hour ceasefire which saw a significant reduction in contact on the front lines. Unconfirmed news reports suggest that the US is prepared to recognise Russian control of Crimea and rule out Nato membership for Ukraine, as Washington pushes for a quick peace deal. Mr Trump said on social media that he expected a deal by the end of the week, saying that both Russia and Ukraine would then enjoy access to US markets. 04:20 PM BST Were closing the blog for today Thanks for reading along. 04:08 PM BST Picture: Children in Lviv enjoy Easter sun Children splash water in the city fountain on the square in front of the Opera House on Wet Monday in Lviv in western Ukraine on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the second day after Easter, many Christians celebrate Wet Monday. Children in Lviv. - Michael Sorrow/Anadolu via Getty Images 04:00 PM BST Putin positive about further truce Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Moscow was open to any peace initiatives and expected a similar attitude from Kyiv. We always have a positive attitude towards a truce, which is why we came up with such an initiative, especially since we are talking about the bright Easter days, Putin told state TV, referring to the brief Easter ceasefire that he declared over the weekend. We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way, he added. Russias President Vladimir Putin speaks with journalists during a meeting in Moscow on Monday. - Vyacheslav Prokofyev 03:06 PM BST Putin signs strategic partnership with Iran into law Vladimir Putin has signed a law ratifying a strategic partnership treaty with Iran, Russian state news agency RIA reported on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin inked the 20-year strategic partnership pact with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, in January. 02:48 PM BST Picture: Kharkiv children go to class underground Pupils attend a first day in a newly opened underground school that allows children to safely return to in-person studies, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in a remote part of the Osnovyansky district in Kharkiv. Children in the classroom. - REUTERS/Marko Djurica 02:29 PM BST Russian drone launch site destroyed Ukraines General Staff reported on Monday that it had hit a Russian drone launch site in the Kursk region, killing up to 20 drone operators. The strike was carried out on Saturday and hit a facility that was used by the enemy to launch reconnaissance, strike, and FPV drones, the statement read. 01:15 PM BST Pro-Stalin activist pleads not guilty to terror charges in Moscow trial Russian far-left activist Sergei Udaltsov went on trial on Monday on a charge of justifying terrorism online for which he risks up to seven years in prison, amid Moscows widening crackdown on dissent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial has begun. The indictment has been announced. Sergei pleaded not guilty, RIA Novosti state-run news agency cited Udaltsovs lawyer Dmitry Agranovsky as saying. Moscow has hugely stepped up a crackdown on opposition and free speech since launching its offensive in Ukraine and regularly accuses anyone deemed not to toe the official line of justifying terrorism. The exact accusations in Udaltsovs case are classified, but he said at an earlier court hearing that he is accused of voicing support online for Marxist activists charged with organising a terrorist group in the central Russian city of Ufa. 12:55 PM BST Trump hopeful deal will be reached this week Donald Trump said he hopes Russia and Ukraine will sign a peace deal this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the end of Vladimir Putins Easter truce drew near the US President took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday night. HOPEFULLY RUSSIA AND UKRAINE WILL MAKE A DEAL THIS WEEK, he posted. BOTH WILL THEN START TO DO BIG BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS THRIVING, AND MAKE A FORTUNE! It was the first time he had commented since Putin announced the truce on Saturday. Just a day earlier, Mr Trump had threatened to walk away from peace talks very shortly unless a ceasefire was brokered. 11:29 AM BST Zelensky: Pope knew how to give hope Volodymyr Zelensky has published a tribute to Pope Francis on social media. The Ukrainian president wrote: Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Franciss passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Pope Francis meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Vatican City in 2023. - Vatican Pool 11:17 AM BST US negotiating stance satisfies Russia The Kremlin said on Monday that the Trumps administration position on Nato membership for Ukraine gave Moscow satisfaction. However, it declined to comment on Donald Trumps hopes for a deal this week. We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraines membership in NATO is excluded, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Of course, this is something that causes our satisfaction and coincides with our position. President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results, Peskov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He refused to comment directly on a Bloomberg report that the United States is prepared to recognise Russian control of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement. 10:42 AM BST Ukraine captures nine soldiers in Kursk Ukrainian paratroopers have captured nine Russian soldiers in Kursk, where Ukrainian forces still maintain a foothold after their surprise invasion last August. The Ukrainian forces said: Nine servicemen of the Russian army were captured by paratroopers and their allies in the Kursk area. The prisoners were provided with timely medical and psychological assistance. Russias army has steadily advanced in the Kursk Oblast in recent months, leaving Ukraine holding just a strip of land adjacent to the border. 10:00 AM BST Pope Francis controversial interventions on Ukraine Pope Francis, who died this morning at the age of 88, made appeals for peace in Ukraine at nearly every public appearance, at least twice a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He sparked outrage from Kyiv after praising those in Ukraine who had the courage to raise the white flag and negotiate. He repeatedly denounced arms manufacturers and argued that in the myriad of conflicts seen around the globe, a Third World War was underway. The conflict also brought relations between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church to a new low in 2022 when Francis said its Patriarch Kirill, who supported the conflict, should not act like Putins Altar Boy. 09:33 AM BST US prepared to recognise Crimea as Russian The peace plan put forward by Trump administration would see the US recognising Crimea as Russian territory, according to a report in the WSJ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal would also end Ukraines ambitions of becoming a Nato member. US negotiators told a Ukrainian delegation about the plans at a meeting in Paris on April 17, the report states. Washington wants agreement on a deal this week and has said it is prepared to walk away if no progress is made. 09:17 AM BST Pictured: Ukrainian soldier on the front line A Ukrainian soldier enters a shelter 08:52 AM BST Russian defence ministry confirms resumption of hostilities Russia said on Monday it had resumed strikes on Ukraine after a 30-hour surprise Easter truce, as Ukraine said drones and missiles pounded the Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions. With the end of the ceasefire, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued to conduct the special military operation, the Russian military said in a statement, using its term for the military offensive. 08:40 AM BST Recap: Trumps elusive peace pledge Donald Trump promised to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours of returning to the White House. Three months in and despite a brief Easter truce announced by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, the war is still raging, with the prospect of a ceasefire more uncertain than ever. Tymofiy Mylovanov, the head of the Kyiv School of Economics, told AFP: Nothing is happening. In real terms, people hear sirens every day, see bombs, and people get killed. Putin is basically taking everyone for a ride. The Russian president rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional and full ceasefire put to him in March. Both sides agreed to halt strikes on energy targets, though no formal agreement was ever put in place. However, both accused the other of violating the agreement and Russia said on Friday that the order had expired. Moscows army has continued its grinding advance across the battlefield in eastern Ukraine, albeit at a slower pace than at the end of last year. The Kremlin said in March that Trumps dramatic shift in foreign policy largely aligned with its vision, after Washington sided with Moscow twice at the United Nations. 08:36 AM BST Google guilty of disclosing Russian war casualties A Moscow court has found Alphabets Google guilty of disclosing personal data of Russian servicemen who died in Ukraine, Russias Tass news agency reported on Monday, citing court documents. The courts documents said that in a video published on YouTube, information on the losses in Ukraine of Russian servicemen, as well as their personal data, were disclosed, Tass reported. Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology platforms to remove content that it deems illegal, such as what it calls fakes about the war in Ukraine, issuing small but persistent fines when it sees failures to comply. Google did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment outside business hours. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, accused Google in December of being a tool used by the US government, which was then headed by Joe Biden, the former US president, to score political points. 08:34 AM BST Russia begins fighting again Russian forces on Monday resumed fighting in Ukraine after the Easter ceasefire declared by Vladimir Putin, Russian news agencies reported, citing the defence ministry. The defence ministry said Russia forces strictly observed the ceasefire and remained in their positions. The ministry accused Ukraine of violating the truce. Ukrainian regional officials on Monday reported Russia has resumed air attacks. Sergiy Lysak, the governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said Russia launched drones at the eastern region. One home was damaged and a fire broke out at a food establishment, but no injuries have been reported, he said on Telegram. In the southern Mykolaiv region, the governor reported the enemy attacked the city with missiles in a pre-dawn raid. There were no casualties or damage, Vitaliy Kim said in a Telegram post. China on Monday said it welcomed all efforts towards achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine. China is pleased to see all efforts that lead to a ceasefire, which is a necessary step towards peace. We hope that all parties concerned will continue to resolve the crisis through dialogue and negotiations, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference. 08:08 AM BST End of truce marked with fresh strikes Air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv this morning as Vladimir Putins uneasy Easter truce expired. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, claimed that Russia had breached the 30-hour agreement nearly 3,000 times. Moscow said Ukraine had violated the agreement 1,000 times. The agreement came to an end at 9pm BST on Sunday night and on Monday morning the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia had launched 96 drones and three missiles, hitting Kharkiv, Dnipro and Cherkasy. It said 42 of the drones had been shot down and 47 had been electronically redirected, but gave no further information about the missiles. 07:56 AM BST Welcome to our live blog Good morning and welcome to our live blog. We will be bringing you updates on the Russia-Ukraine conflict throughout the day. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Kremlin expressed its satisfaction on Monday with a US proposal to ban Ukraine from joining Nato. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told reporters on Monday: We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraines membership in Nato is excluded. Of course, this is something that causes our satisfaction and coincides with our position. Donald Trump, the US president, has said in the past that US support for Ukrainian accession to Nato was a cause of the war. On Sunday, Gen Keith Kellogg, the US envoy, said Nato membership was off the table for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as the White House ups the ante to bring about peace, amid frustration among Mr Trumps team that efforts to end the war in Ukraine are not progressing as swiftly as hoped. Mr Trump had said he could end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office, but three months of attacks from both sides have continued. Russia and Ukraine accused each other of thousands of attacks that violated a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. Washington said it would welcome an extension of the truce, and Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Ukraines willingness to pause strikes for 30 days in the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin said on Sunday there was no order to extend the pause in frontline fighting. On Monday, Ukraine accused Russia of carrying out airstrikes on several Ukrainian settlements. Russian forces fired three missiles at Ukraines southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv overnight, as well as 96 Shahed drones targeting other parts of the country, Ukraines air force reported. Mr Zelensky said Russian forces carried out 96 assault operations along the front line, shelled Ukrainian positions more than 1,800 times and used hundreds of drones during the course of the ceasefire. The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirror-like we will respond to silence with silence, and our blows will be a defence against Russian blows. Actions always speak louder than words, he said. Ukrainian troops firing a howitzer on the front line in the Donetsk region on Friday - Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters Putin has dismissed the accusation he is to blame for the ensuing violence, saying on Monday: We always have a positive attitude towards a truce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But US media reports have suggested that the Trump administration is preparing to offer two big incentives to Moscow to agree to peace as quickly as possible. In addition to offering to ban Ukraine from entering Nato, Mr Trump and his team are reportedly also prepared to recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014. Mr Peskov declined to respond to a question on the US position on Crimea, according to Reuters. Work on finding a peaceful settlement cannot take place, and should not take place, in public, he said. It should take place in an absolutely discreet mode. Late on Sunday, Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social website that he hoped for a deal by the end of the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the first time Mr Trum had commented since Putin announced the truce on Saturday. Just a day earlier, the US president had had threatened to walk away from peace talks very shortly unless a ceasefire was brokered. Meanwhile, Putin signed a law ratifying a strategic partnership treaty with Iran, RIA, Moscows state news agency, reported on Monday. He had signed the 20-year strategic partnership pact with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, in January. 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. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that reports from Washington suggesting that Ukraine will not join NATO are in line with Russias stance and that the Kremlin is pleased about this. Source: Russian news agency Interfax Quote from Peskov: "We have heard from Washington at various levels that NATO membership for Ukraine has been ruled out. And of course this is something that brings us satisfaction and coincides with our position that Ukraine should not be a member of NATO and should not have prospects of integration with the North Atlantic Alliance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Peskov reiterated the Russian narrative that Ukraines accession to NATO would supposedly pose a threat "to Russias national interests". He added that Ukraines NATO aspirations were supposedly one of the root causes of the war. However, Peskov declined to comment on media reports that the United States is apparently prepared to recognise Russian control over Crimea as part of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Quote from Peskov: "There are currently many such reports and many discussions. Clearly, the work of finding ways to reach a peaceful settlement cannot and should not take place in the public domain. It must be conducted in an absolutely discreet manner, and therefore one should be very, very cautious about such anonymous information leaks." Background: US President Donald Trump has said that he sees no possibility of Ukraine joining NATO given Russia's position. Trump considers Ukraine's non-membership of NATO to be part of any diplomatic settlement of the war. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russia on Monday said US statements suggesting that Ukraine will not be allowed to join the Western defence alliance NATO align with the Russian position. "We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine's membership of NATO is out of the question," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. "And this is certainly something that gives us satisfaction and is in line with our position." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told broadcaster Fox News on Sunday that NATO membership for Ukraine "is off the table," after US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out such a step in February. Kremlin spokesman Peskov argued that Ukraine could not become a member of the military alliance "because that would threaten the national interests of the Russian Federation." Peskov also said Russia continued to look to the leadership of the US when it comes to negotiating a peace deal in the Ukraine war, started by Moscow more than three years ago. "Of course we hope that this work will yield results," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin spokesman stressed that the negotiations were being held behind closed doors in an "absolutely discreet" manner and not the subject of public debate. He said media reports supposedly leaking results should be taken with a pinch of salt, following reports suggesting that the Trump administration is prepared to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, after Moscow illegally annexed the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Peskov reiterated that keeping Ukraine from joining NATO remains one of Russia's main war aims, which also include retaining control over five illegally annexed territories in eastern Ukraine. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law ratifying the treaty on strategic partnership between Russia and Iran, formally establishing a comprehensive legal framework for long-term cooperation between the two countries, Trend reports. The agreement, which was signed during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkians visit to Moscow in January this year, designates Russia and Iran as strategic partners. According to the treaty, Moscow and Tehran aim to deepen bilateral relations across all key sectors and reinforce collaboration on shared geopolitical interests. It covers a broad range of areas including defense, counterterrorism, energy, finance, transport, industry, agriculture, culture, science, and technology. Austin, Tx (FOX 44) The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has finalized the purchase of 1,100 acres in Lampasas and Burnet Counties, completing the second phase of an acquisition to create a new state park. The property is located across the river from Colorado Bend State Park and includes 1.5 miles of Yancey Creek, limestone bluffs and several natural springs. Combined with the recent acquisition of 2,020 acres in Burnet County, the new state park will comprise more than 3,000 acres. TPWD purchased the 1,100-acre property using a combination of a one-time funding appropriation and funds from sporting goods sales taxes. The new state park will be developed through the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, a $1 billion fund overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2023 to create a dedicated funding stream for acquiring and developing state parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its great to see phase two of the acquisition process come to fruition with the purchase of this 1,100-acre property, said Jeff Hildebrand, Chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. This property, combined with the previously purchased 2,020-acre tract near the current Colorado Bend State Park, will offer an exciting new state park experience for Texans. New Land Purchase property across the river from Colorado Bend Statet Park. These two latest acquisitions, along with others made by TPWD in recent months, further the goal of expanding public access to Texas natural spaces in more corners of the state. The completion of this two-phase purchase joined other notable purchases adding 3,703 acres at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area along with the purchase of the 500-acre Lake Colorado City State Park, among others. Id like to thank our incredible team for their hard work in not only acquiring these properties, but also the recent additions at Enchanted Rock and the purchase of Lake Colorado City State Park, TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz said. The voters of Texas also deserve a huge thank you for saying yes to the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which will make the development of this park possible. When notified of available properties, TPWD conducts a due diligence review to determine the propertys feasibility as a state park. In this case, TPWD determined the propertys outstanding natural and recreational features made this property an excellent candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im excited for the addition of the second piece of this property in what will become a new 3,000-plus acre Texas State Park, said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks. This acquisition will give visitors access to the Colorado River, a beautiful creek and the diverse landscapes that are featured across the property. We look forward to generations of Texans enjoying the scenic views of the unique post oak woodland and outdoor adventures awaiting on this property. The new property is approximately ten miles upstream from Lake Buchanan and its acquisition will create additional recreational opportunities, habitat protection and the conservation of natural springs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. BLACK RIVER FALLS Wisconsin residents lost one successful specimen of wild animal conservation efforts in central and northern Wisconsin as a bull elk was found shot dead in Jackson County. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for the publics help in identifying the person responsible for the illegal killing of the elk, known to department staff as #244, found the morning of March 18 on private property north of Black River Falls. The illegal shooting of bull 244 is a tremendous loss for the central elk herd and citizens of Wisconsin, Christina Kizewski, central elk herd biologist, said Monday in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elk was found by DNR staff conducting a relocation effort for a small group of elk tracked by radio-collars, according to the release. A necropsy determined the elk died due to injuries sustained from a gunshot wound. The illegal harvest of a bull of this magnitude reduces opportunity to the hunting community and to recreationalists attempting to photograph or see elk within Jackson County, Kizewski said. "Bull 244 was one of the largest and most photographed bulls in the state and has contributed to the successful growth of the newly established herd through his breeding efforts." Bull #244 was one of the last elk remaining from a herd brought from Kentucky in 2016 to help reintroduce the species to the area, which had its elk population depleted in the 1880s due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss, according to the DNR. Reintroduction efforts began in 1995 when 25 elk were brought to a part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Clam Lake in Ashland County. By 1999, their number had increased to 40 and the program was considered a success, according to the DNR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another agreement with Kentucky brought 73 more elk to Jackson County in 2015-16 and 91 more elk to Sawyer County between 2017-19. The Clam Lake herd has grown to about 355 and the Jackson County herd has grown to about 160, according to DNR estimates in July 2023. Six elk hunts have been held in the larger elk herd between 2018 and 2023 and 47 elk have been harvested by both state licensed hunters and tribal members, according to the DNR's current Elk Management Plan. In 2023, over 21,000 hunters applied for four state licenses to harvest the animals that year. Over 500 elk have died in the state between 1995 and 2023 with the majority of deaths in the northern herd attributed to wolf predation while the majority in the southern herd were killed by vehicle collisions. Between the two herds, 17 elk deaths were attributed to illegal harvest between the same time period, according to the DNR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penalties for hunting elk without a license in Wisconsin could include a fine between $1,000 and $15,000 and imprisonment for up to six months for the first offense. Subsequent offenses could result in fines up to $20,000 and up to a year in prison. Convicted individuals will also have their current hunting licenses revoked and will be prohibited from obtaining any new hunting or trapping licenses for five years, according to state statutes. The DNR is asking for any tips from the public regarding the killing of the animal. Tips may be submitted through a confidential Violation Hotline on the DNR website or by calling 800-847-9367. Be Wisconsin: Keep ticks and mosquitos, and their diseases, away with these 5 simple strategies More local news: How Q and Google Forms helped save Stevens Point Trivia contest after tech snafu Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Bull elk illegally shot dead in Jackson County Wisconsin LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Arizona police arrested a Las Vegas father two years after officers arrested his son for allegedly stabbing and killing a man during a fight that court documents show the father started. Police in Holbrook, Arizona, took Samuel Conway, 39, into custody on April 18, nearly two years after his son, Wyatt Conway, 20, was charged with open murder with the use of a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder, according to a release. Samuel was awaiting extradition to Las Vegas as of Monday, April 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release did not say what charges Samuel faces in the case, but court records show a warrant in his name for the same charges his son is facing. On June 30, 2023, at around 10 p.m., officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to the intersection of Churchill Avenue and South Decatur Boulevard after reports of a stabbing. Responding medical personnel found a man, identified as 35-year-old Joshua Brooke, who had been stabbed. They took him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to an arrest report, a witness told police that while she was sitting with Brooke and an unnamed friend on a wall near the intersection, a man was staring at her as he walked by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witness told police that she was uncomfortable with his staring and told him to take a picture, it will last longer. According to the report, that made the man angry and he told her, Youre not even good looking, before leaving. The report stated that the witness said ten to fifteen minutes passed before a white Ford Explorer pulled up to the intersection. Another witness, the unnamed friend, told police that she noticed that Brooke was bleeding and one of the men was holding a knife, which he had folded up. The witness was later shown a picture of the suspect, identified as Wyatt, who was 18 at the time, and told police that he was the man with the knife. The report stated that three people had been taken into custody because they matched the description of the men in the Ford Explorer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of them told police that Wyatts father, Samuel, had come home screaming at everyone. He said that Samuel told them to get into the car because someone had just threatened him. Another suspect told police that the group of them got into the Ford Explorer and drove to the intersection to confront the people that Samuel just had words with. He told police that Brooke pulled out a pen-style knife after the fight started and attempted to stab him, the report stated. The suspect told police that Conway pushed Brooke off of him and was stabbed in the back and shoulder area. The report stated that the suspect said Conway then pulled out a knife and stabbed Brooke four times. He told police they all got back in the car and drove home, the report stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, Wyatt told police that his dad came home upset and told them to get into the car, that something bad is about to happen. He later admitted to detectives that he did stab Brooke because he was scared, and he had just been stabbed. According to the report, he picked up a knife on the ground and used it to stab Brooke three times, before throwing the knife out of the vehicle window as they drove away. Samuel originally faced charges for breaking the window of a police car. Court records show Wyatts jury trial was scheduled to begin on Aug. 25. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The doctors had implored him to ease his schedule and avoid the crowds to stave off infection. Pope Francis agreed, up to a point but it was simply not in his nature to comply fully. After all, there were benedictions to bestow, babies to bless, prisoners to comfort. As far as the pontiff was concerned, Gods work never stopped not even if you were 88 and recovering from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so, towards the end of Holy Week, the Pope was more visible than at any time since his discharge from Romes Agostino Gemelli Hospital on March 23. He had undergone five weeks of intensive treatment, his life on the line for much of that time, but had allowed himself a convalescence of less than a month. Doctors had recommended two. They had seen how close he had come to death in those weeks in hospital. In fact, he had been so ill, battling pneumonia in both lungs, that they had considered letting him die, according to Dr Sergio Alfieri, the head of his medical team. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official who was close to the Pope, said: Absolute rest isnt healing. He balanced convalescence with his being the Bishop of Rome. Although the Pope remained conscious throughout his time in hospital, there were moments he struggled to breathe, particularly after he suffered a bronchospasm crisis in late February. It was so bad that the doctors worried he would not survive the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The odds were against him, and not just because of his age. His lungs had been in bad shape for decades; the upper part of the right one had been removed after he suffered a respiratory infection when he was 21. Yet somehow he pulled through. As Lent drew to a close it seemed that, remarkably perhaps even miraculously this famously doughty Pope might yet regain his full health. Of course, he was not the man he once was. However, several appearances on Easter Sunday in the hours before he died had raised hopes among the Catholic faithful that he was truly on the mend. Credit: Vatican Media Looking frail, but better than he had on previous appearances since leaving hospital, Pope Francis was wheeled out onto the central loggia of St Peters Basilica at the end of the Urbi et Orbi, the traditional blessing recited at Easter and Christmas before the crowds in the famous piazza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter, he said into the microphone held before him, drawing a roar from the crowds below. His voice, though still reedy, was stronger than before. The nasal tubes carrying supplemental oxygen that he had been wearing on Palm Sunday the previous week were gone. Given its length, the Pope was not well enough to deliver the Easter Day sermon himself, so it was read on his behalf by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the master of liturgical ceremonies. But he remained on the balcony for 20 minutes and imparted the Apostolic blessing in Latin. The Vatican also made it clear that these were very much the Popes words, crafted and written by the pontiff, even if they were read in the voice of another. It was, it turned out, his last message to the world. Pope Francis sips water with a straw during his appearance on the balcony of St Peters basilica for the Urbi et Orbi message - Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty The sentiments contained in his final Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) were those he had expressed throughout not just his pontificate but also his entire ecclesiastical life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were prayers and appeals for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, but also in more neglected conflict zones, from Congo and Myanmar to Yemen, the South Caucasus and the countries of the African Sahel. There was also, rather pointedly, a special appeal for the treatment of migrants. How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalised, and migrants, the Pope wrote. On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different from ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas for all of us are children of God. There can be little doubt that the Popes comments were at least in part directed at the man with whom he had just concluded a brief but visibly awkward meeting JD Vance, the US vice-president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pope had made his feelings on the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants abundantly clear, calling them a disgrace in an interview in January. Credit: Vatican TV Whatever their differences, the Popes final official meeting with a secular politician was a cordial one. Mr Vance, who converted to Roman Catholicism in 2019, was solicitous and deferential. I know you have not been feeling great, but its good to see you in better health, he said, adding that he prayed for the Pope every day. The Pope reciprocated by presenting the vice-president with three large chocolate Easter eggs for his younger children, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. There was no mention of migration, or even of politics at least not in the footage released by the Vatican and the meeting lasted minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later in the day, after his appearance on the loggia, the Pope was driven around St Peters Square in his famous open-topped popemobile. This was, as ever, Pope Francis in his element. Passing through the crowds, he frequently stopped to bless babies passed to him, even if he visibly struggled to raise his arm more than a few inches. Everywhere he went, the crowds cheered wildly, calling out Viva il Papa, or Long live the Pope. For just under an hour, the Pope remained in the piazza, which was festooned with daffodils and tulips for Eastertide. It was the last time the public would see him alive. The Pope greets a child during the Easter Mass in St Peters Square on Sunday - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty It was not just on Easter Sunday that the Pope was active. Although much less visible than would normally have been the case during Holy Week, he refused entirely to abandon his schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Holy Saturday as the Catholics call Easter Eve he delegated the duties for the traditional vigil to his cardinal, but appeared at St Peters Basilica to pray and give sweets to children. He marked Good Friday in private but insisted on maintaining his tradition of visiting prisoners on Maundy Thursday, travelling to Romes Regina Coeli prison in the capitals Trastevere district. He could not, as he had in previous years, replicate Christs actions by washing their feet, he told them, but he insisted he would not have missed the occasion for the world. I cant do it this year, but I want to be close to you, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Italys national news agency said on Monday afternoon that the Pope may have died from a cerebral haemorrhage rather than respiratory issues linked to his illness earlier this year. 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. HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Pope Francis was the first Latino pontiff, and on Monday, Latinos all over the world and in northeastern Pennsylvania are reacting to his life and impact on the catholic church. The Hazleton area has one of the largest Latino communities in the region. Hearts are heavy in Hazleton. 28/22 News was at the Annunciation Parish of the church of Saint Gabriel on the citys southside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is one of three churches in Hazleton that have Spanish-language masses. For many of the folks there, Pope Francis is their hero. Parishioners came to Annunciation Parish at the church of Saint Gabriel in Hazleton for Easter Monday Mass at 12:00 p.m. on Monday to pray and remember Pope Francis. They say they are thankful that they had him as their Pope. Pothole repairs on I-81 might delay morning commuters this week He was really the best Pope. We have really because he show us how we practice our religion. How we can be a friend, a brother, a sister working in union? Hazleton resident Martha Rojas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just mainly pray for him, you know. Thank God for his life and dedication to the church and for teaching so many of us in the world about Christ, said Nicole Tranguch from Hazleton. The Latino faithful turned out in mass for the Good Friday procession, The Living Stations of the Cross. The crowd was estimated to be around 1,000 people. Father Kevin Miller is the Pastor of Annunciation Parish at the Church of Saint Gabriel. Pope Francis was definitely a great Pastor. He was a Shepherd, Father Miller stated. Amilcar Arroyo is the editor of the Spanish-language El Mensajero magazine in Hazleton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again, the Latinos identified with Pope Francis. I think its very sad moment for Latino population in Hazleton, in Hazleton who follow the rules of the Catholic or Christianity, of course, Arroyo explained. Many folks say they lost a family member. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. The Trump administration has revoked the visas of more than 1,000 foreign university students since January 2025. Many of the individual cases that have made headlines center on foreign-born university students who participated in Palestinian rights protests. In early March, the federal government arrested, detained and began deportation proceedings against Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident born in Syria to Palestinian parents. Khalil participated in Palestinian rights protests at Columbia University in 2024. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in an April 9 memo that allowing Khalil to stay in the country would create a hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Khalil is not the only noncitizen university student with legal permission to be in the U.S. who has been arrested and faces deportation after being involved in the Palestinian rights movement. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish-born student at Tufts University, was detained by immigration authorities on March 25 near her Massachusetts home and is currently being held in Louisiana. She co-authored a 2024 op-ed in the campus newspaper calling for Tufts to recognize a genocide in the Gaza Strip. And Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man who is a lawful permanent resident and a Columbia University student active in the Palestinian rights protests, was detained and arrested on April 25. This happened when Mahdawi showed up at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office for a citizenship interview in Vermont. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you apply for a student visa to come to the United States and you say youre coming not just to study, but to participate in movements that vandalize universities, harass students, take over buildings, and cause chaos, were not giving you that visa, Rubio said on March 23, when asked by a journalist about revoking student visas and arresting Ozturk. These cases raise important questions: Do lawful permanent residents have the right to protected free speech? Or are there limitations among them, a determination by the U.S. government that permanent residents speech or political activity makes them a threat to national security? Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil speaks to reporters at Columbia University on June 1, 2024, during a media briefing organized by protesters who were objecting to Israels military operations in Gaza. Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images Noncitizens First Amendment rights Arresting and detaining nonviolent, foreign protesters and the authors of opinion pieces is usually not legally permissible. Thats because these actions are protected by the Constitutions First Amendment, which guarantees everyone the right to freedom of expression. The Supreme Court has found that there are some limits to free speech. The government may restrict speech, for example, when someone yells Fire! in a crowded theater when there is no actual danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the right to freedom of speech applies to everyone in the U.S., including noncitizens. Still, the First Amendment does not apply to noncitizens physically outside the U.S. The Supreme Court, for example, ruled in 1972 that the government may deny visas and bar entry to noncitizens who were seeking admission to the U.S. to engage in constitutionally protected speech. When noncitizens are living in the U.S., they have the same First Amendment protections as U.S. citizens, the Supreme Court ruled in 1945. As a scholar of U.S immigration and administrative law, I know that these protections enter a murkier territory when U.S. immigration law collides with the Constitution. A conflict with immigration law The Trump administration rests its argument that it can legally detain and deport noncitizens who have participated in Palestinian rights protests but have not been charged with any crimes on broad language in the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This law articulates important immigration rules, like who can enter the country and how someone can become a citizen. It also includes vague language that gives the secretary of state power to deport noncitizens in certain cases. An alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable, the law reads. As foreign-born students Mahdawi, Ozturk and Khalil fight in court for their right to legally stay in the U.S., Rubio and other Trump administration leaders claim that this law gives them the power to determine whether Khalil and other noncitizens are creating serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security also wrote on the social platform X on March 9 that Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Trump administration has not provided any further specific details about how the views and actions of Khalil and other detained foreign students create serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the U.S. Nor has the government alleged that Khalil and other noncitizen students committed crimes or broke the law. Khalils attorneys have challenged the governments use of the Immigration and Nationality Act as a basis to deport him in federal court. The lawyers assert that the U.S. government is attempting to deport Khalil for protected speech. Legal precedent and steps forward The Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment does not protect lawful permanent residents from being deported if their political affiliation violates the laws. But the court has not yet decided if lawful permanent residents participating in protests or expressing political views are protected against deportation, when the only evident ground for their deportation is political speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge in New Jersey, where Khalil was first briefly detained, has ordered the government not to deport him until all his different court cases are resolved. On April 11, a different immigration judge in Louisiana where Khalil is currently detained ruled that he could be deported for being a national security risk. Khalils attorneys are appealing this decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which is part of the Department of Justice. Regardless of the outcome at the district court level, Khalils case will be appealed and most likely end up before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will then have to determine the appropriate balance between the executive branchs authority to deport noncitizens it classifies as posing a threat to the country, and the right to freedom of expression that all people residing in the U.S. have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Supreme Court holds that the federal government can say that someones political speech can be a threat to U.S. national security interests, I believe the core of the First Amendment is at risk, for citizens as well as noncitizens. 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: Erin Corcoran, University of Notre Dame Read more: Erin Corcoran does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) A state Senate hearing was held on Monday to see if the South Carolina Treasurer should be removed from office. The Senate voted 33-8 to remove Treasurer Curtis Loftis from his office as State Treasurer. The hearing stemmed from the $1.8 billion state accounting mistake. Loftis spent around eight hours pleading his case to state Senators maintaining that the accounting error was not his mistake. As the night went on the discussions got more intense. Senators started off swinging in the opening arguments with over fifteen exhibits. Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R Georgetown) said these exhibits are evidence that the states accounts are not safe under Loftis leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our treasurer, that man sitting right there is a liar, he pointed to Loftis, hes a liar that was so concerned with his public appearance that he would do and say anything to cover up this mistake. Lawyers on Loftis team said Senators are taking the state down a slippery slope, Democratic nations criticize these decisions for having lack of transparency and fairness being an abuse of power. Being politically motivated. Being devoid of basic legal protections. Loftis said a vote to remove him is going against the people who voted him into office, This accounting issue is the issue is being used by some as a lever against me and the voters I represent. Following the vote Loftis and his team moved swiftly out of the Senate Chamber, but his office wrote: I am not surprised by todays outcome. We knew this process would be more political in nature than the serious legal hearing one would expect to overturn a statewide election. But today is just one step in this process, and we will now weigh our options on next steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loftis added he wants to end the political gamesmanship and work together to reassure every one of the strength of our financial system moving forward. Loftis, who is serving his fourth term as state treasurer since being elected in 2010, has been under consideration for removal due to a nearly two billion dollar accounting error. Since the study was made public, Loftis has given many under-oath testimonies, stressing that he did not make the mistake. 7NEWS spoke with Loftis two weeks ago about the removal hearing and re-election campaign, although the treasurer has previously expressed plans to retire and not run again. On April 10, Loftis filed an injunction with the state Supreme Court, challenging whether lawmakers can remove a duly elected official from office. The SC Supreme Court denied Loftis request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House will also need to decide if it will host a hearing of its own. It would take a two-thirds vote of the House to remove the treasurer. Curtis Loftis shared a statement after the hearing on Monday night; it can be read below: I am not surprised by todays outcome. We knew this process would be more political in nature than the serious legal hearing one would expect to overturn a statewide election. But today is just one step in this process, and we will now weigh our options on next steps. I want to reaffirm to the citizens of South Carolina that I as your State Treasurer and the members of my Office have faithfully fulfilled our statutory duties to provide core financial management services to state government. To be clear, there was no mysterious bank account, no missing or stolen money, and all funds managed by my office are accounted for and reconciled to the bank. South Carolinians can rest assured that their money is safe and secure. We had not one, but two outside audit firms who confirmed that this was an accounting entry that impacted the Comptroller Generals annual financial reports, not the actual bank balances of the state. My staff and I have spent countless hours working on this matter because we all have a passion and commitment to the taxpayers of this state. I want to thank them and my legal team for their efforts in preparation for today. I believe its time to put this political gamesmanship behind us and work together to reassure everyone of the strength of our financial system moving forward. If Loftis is removed, he is still eligible to run for re-election in 2026. Loftis, who is serving his fourth term as state treasurer since being elected in 2010, announced his re-election campaign on April 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) State lawmakers are poised to hear proposals this week that are key to Mayor Brett Smileys priorities for the upcoming fiscal year that begins on July 1. The mayor unveiled his $624 million budget proposal to city councilors last Wednesday. Smiley proposed increasing property tax bills, making $9 million in cuts, and boosting fines and fees as a way to deal with the financial blow from last years $15 million settlement with the R.I. Department of Education. The state agency has had control of the citys schools since 2019 and demanded more K-12 funding from the city, resulting in a messy legal battle that the state won. Exceeding the levy cap The bill that is arguably most pivotal to Smileys budget proposal is one that, if passed, would give Providence permission to exceed the state-mandated tax levy cap of 4% for one year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The citys tax levy is inclusive of commercial, tangible, owner-occupied residential, non-owner-occupied residential, and natural growth. If state lawmakers dont move the bill forward, it would mean the Providence City Council would have to do a major overhaul of the budget plan. The mayor said in his address last week that the budget does assume that the levy, or the total amount of collected tax revenue, increases by 7.5% nearly double the usual 4% cap mandated by the state. Smiley said that legislative leaders asked him to show that the proposal had support from the Providence City Council before they held a hearing at the State House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, the Providence Finance Committee unanimously approved an amended resolution that said the city could raise its total levy by a maximum of 8%. The full City Council then passed the resolution in a 14-0 vote. Smiley said on Wednesday that he was hopeful and optimistic that the bill would pass the General Assembly. Especially now that the actual tax rates are out and instead of talking in the abstract, were talking about specifics, and that they see that for owner-occupant single-family homeowners here in the city, their taxes are only going up 4%, Smiley said. The House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing is set to learn more about the bill in a hearing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Smiley is expected to testify on the bill. Ending the state takeover of Providence Public Schools Smiley is still adamant that the city should regain control of the state-run Providence Public School District on July 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the House Committee on Education is set to hear a bill that would effectively end the state takeover, putting the city back in control of the schools for the first time since 2019. Last year, the R.I. Council on Elementary and Secondary Education voted to extend the takeover for up to three additional years, through October 2027. If passed, the bill would rescind the recommendation as of July 1. Earlier this month, the Smiley administration released a report showing how the city plans to transition the state-run district back to local control. However, some state and local leaders expressed that this summer is too soon for the transition. R.I. Department of Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green called the report a good first step, but told Target 12 she wasnt ready to hand the keys back to the school district just yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a report, its not a plan, Infante-Green said on April 10. It would be irresponsible on our part to move forward on something that is incomplete. On Monday, the Providence Teachers Union said while it welcomed the return to local control, they felt the citys plan falls short in several key areas, including providing specific strategies for implementation and showing a clear commitment to securing adequate funding for schools. Educators were not meaningfully included in developing this plan, and it shows, PTU President Cynthia Robles said in a statement on Monday. Its vague where it needs to be specific and silent where it needs to speak boldly, especially when it comes to how we`ll fund the schools our students deserve. Increasing the tax exemption for veterans, 8-Law reform and burying powerlines According to estimates provided by the mayor, owner-occupied single-family homeowners on average should expect to pay extra $13 per month or $156 per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Providence proposed tax rates To help ease the burden, the mayor proposed doubling the tax exemption for veterans and separately increasing the elderly exemption from $600 to $750. The proposed bill would allow the City Council to set the veterans tax exemption limit by an ordinance or resolution. Several other bills were scheduled to be heard this week, including one bill that would make reforms to the so-called 8-Law, and another bill that would allow Providence and East Providence to bury the powerlines at India Point Park. All three bills were scheduled to be heard before the Senate Committee on Municipal Government and Housing on Thursday. On Monday, however, Senate sessions and committee hearings were suspended until further notice after the death of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Iran is ready to reach an agreement with the United States on its nuclear program, provided that its national interests are taken into account, Iranian President Mahmoud Pezeshkian said at a meeting with the governors of the country's regions, Trend reports. "As for negotiations with the United States, we are ready for an agreement within a certain framework and subject to compliance with national interests," Pezeshkian said. The Iranian president added that if Washington refuses to negotiate on equal terms, Tehran will go its own way. LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. The Lawrence County Sheriffs Office says a recent seatbelt enforcement mobilization in Lawrence County resulted in multiple arrests, violations, and warnings being issued. The mobilization, which officials say ran from April 1 to April 15, resulted in deputies issuing 22 warnings, as twelve traffic tickets, including: 3 traffic tickets issued for seat belt violations 4 speeding tickets 3 tickets for hazardous moving violations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lawrence County Sheriffs Office confirms its deputies also made two DUI arrests connected to drug use as a result of the crackdown, as well as apprehending a wanted fugitive. Officials with the Sheriffs Office say the best way safe drivers can protect themselves from DUI related incidents is to remember the importance of the safety belt. Seat belts are your single best defense in a crash, stated Sheriff Brad A. DeLay. Law enforcement will continue to encourage drivers to make a simple, smart choice to buckle up and Arrive Alive. The Sheriffs Office also says despite evidence proving the efficacy of wearing a seat belt, over 25 percent of todays teens do not buckle up, even as statistics show 7 out 10 Missouri teens who die in crashes are not wearing their seatbelt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For information on Missouri seat belt usage, visit www.saveMOlives.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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Scores of foreign students across the country are included in a pair of sweeping lawsuits that allege the Trump administration unlawfully stripped them of their legal status amid a broader crackdown on immigration. By CNNs tally, more than 1,000 students and graduates have had their visas or statuses revoked, undermining their ability to remain in the US and continue their studies. Cases have ranged from high-profile instances involving alleged support of terror organizations to relatively minor offenses, like years-old misdemeanors. While some affected students have brought individual cases, at least two federal lawsuits filed in courts in Georgia and New Hampshire aim to represent large swaths of students at once more than a hundred in each. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can file 133 lawsuits, but I think the court wouldnt be happy about that, so were filing one, Charles Kuck, the attorney for one of the cases and former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told CNN Sunday. Lawyers are expensive; grouping the cases together, Kuck said, made it possible for the plaintiffs to afford representation while ensuring his firm, Kuck Baxter, could litigate the case. The state affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union have also championed the cases. Both cases are focused on the plaintiffs lawful status as foreign students, which the lawsuits argue is distinct from the visa allowing them entry into the United States: The complaints allege the government unlawfully stripped the students of their status, leaving them vulnerable to detention or deportation. Kuck told CNN he was aware of at least 10 other lawsuits filed on behalf of international students that made similar arguments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked for comment about the lawsuits, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the ACLU should consider changing their name. The American Civil Liberties Union appears far more interested in protecting foreign students than then (sic) civil liberties and safety of Americans, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CNN. It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America, McLaughlin said. When you break our laws and advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country. Heres what we know. A students legal status vs. their visa At the heart of both lawsuits is the difference between a foreign students visa and their legal status as a student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are several types of visas for international students studying in the United States. Both lawsuits deal with F-1 visas, among the most common type of student visa. The visa, however, is distinct from a students status, these lawsuits argue: The visa allows foreign students to enter the United States. Once admitted, they must maintain their status by pursuing their course of study, avoiding unauthorized employment and adhering to other rules. Students walk on the first day of fall classes at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on August 18, 2021. - Joshua L. Jones/Online Athens/Imagn Images/File While a persons legal status their ability to remain in the United States is determined by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Department of Homeland Security, visas are issued by the State Department. DHS may initiate the termination of status for several reasons, one of the lawsuits notes, including by revoking a special waiver issued on the individuals behalf, the introduction of a private bill to make them a permanent resident, or following a notification to the federal register citing national security, diplomatic or public safety reasons. The expiration of an exchange visitor visa does not typically mean that person is immediately considered to be in the US illegally: ICEs website notes someone can stay in the US even if their F-1 visa is expired so long as they maintain their status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither lawsuit challenges the students visa revocations rather, they allege the Trump administration unlawfully terminated the plaintiffs legal status, kneecapping the students ability to continue working and studying in the United States and jeopardizing their plans for completing their programs. Judge instructs government to restore students status in one case The first lawsuit initially filed in the Northern District of Georgia on April 11 originally included 17 foreign students attending colleges and universities in Georgia, Louisiana, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois and New York. Nine of those students were from India; five were from China and one each were from Colombia, Mexico and Japan. The case has since ballooned, with 133 foreign students included among the plaintiffs all of whom are identified using pseudonyms due to fear of retaliation by Defendants. US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons are all named as defendants. CNN has reached out to the White House, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Justice Department office for comment. From left: US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and acting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons. - Getty Images/Reuters On Friday, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order directing the government to reinstate the plaintiffs student status by Tuesday while the case proceeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint argues the Trump administration terminated their statuses by removing the students from the Student and Exchange Visitor System, or SEVIS an online database schools use to provide the government legally required information about international students. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs SEVIS records were marked as OTHER - Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. SEVIS record has been terminated, or Otherwise Failing to Maintain Status. The lawsuit acknowledges some of the plaintiffs have faced criminal allegations or charges, but none have a criminal conviction. None have violated the restriction that requires them not to be convicted of a violent crime carrying a sentence longer than one year, the lawsuit says. For example, Jane Doe 1, a college student in Georgia, believes she is being targeted for a domestic violence case dismissed in February because there was no underlying proof of any crime, the complaint says. John Doe 2, also a Georgia student, believes hes being targeted for traffic citations, including driving with an expired license plate while his drivers license was withdrawn; his case was ultimately closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless, the revocation of a visa is not grounds for the termination of student status, the lawsuit argues: A nonimmigrant visa controls a noncitizens admission into the United States, not their continued stay. Rather, the lawsuit says, DHSs act of unlawfully terminating SEVIS records appears to be designed to coerce students, including each Plaintiff, into abandoning their studies and self-deporting despite not violating their status. Attorneys for the plaintiffs celebrated the Friday ruling. Another hearing is set for Thursday. We believe this ruling shows the students are likely to prevail on their claims and we are pleased the court ordered the government to halt its unlawful actions while the lawsuit continues, Akiva Freidlin, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia said in a statement Saturday. while the other is just getting started The second lawsuit contains similar arguments. Filed Friday in the District of New Hampshire, it so far represents five international students: Three, all from India, attend Rivier University in New Hampshire, while two others are from China and attend the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the suit proposes to represent far more: The plaintiffs attorneys have asked the court to certify the case as a class action, which means it could include many other students in similar situations. The lawsuit notes at least 112 students have had their F-1 status terminated in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico. Sec. Noem, acting ICE Director Lyons, DHS and ICE are all named among the defendants. Again, the plaintiffs allege they were stripped of their student status unlawfully. Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Washburn Shops building is seen May 23, 2015, in Worcester, Massachusetts. - DenisTangneyJr/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images/File One of the plaintiffs, a 23-year-old, claims to have received an email this month from his school notifying him his SEVIS record indicated he had failed to maintain status. Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked, it read, according to the lawsuit. SEVIS record has been terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The language closely echoes that cited in the Georgia case. The New Hampshire lawsuit also acknowledges the students had faced run-ins with police, mostly for traffic-related offenses. The only criminal matters the individual Plaintiffs have encountered are either dismissed non-violent misdemeanor charges or driving without a valid US drivers license (but using an international or foreign drivers license), the lawsuit says. While Defendants reasons for these mass terminations of student status are unclear, what is clear is that these terminations across the board flout the applicable regulations governing student status termination and the regulations governing failure to maintain student status. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A group of parents and activist groups want the state's appellate division to hear a case alleging segregation in the New Jersey public school system. (Courtesy of the New Jersey Governors Office) Attorneys representing a group of New Jersey parents and activist groups are asking a state appellate court to weigh in on a case that could reshape the states public education system. At the center of the fight is whether New Jersey schools are unconstitutionally segregated by race and socioeconomic status. A lower court judge in October 2023 acknowledged the states public schools are segregated by race and that the state must act, but also found that the plaintiffs had failed to prove the entire system is segregated across all its districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parents attorneys filed a motion last week with the states appellate division asking it to hear the case. It is imperative that no more students be deprived of these rights by the trial courts avoidance of the straightforward conclusion compelled by the facts and the law in this case that the state defendants, who are legally obligated to take action to desegregate public schools regardless of the reasons for that segregation, have acted unconstitutionally by failing to do so, the attorneys wrote in the filing. Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Department of Education have until April 28 to respond to the plaintiffs new filing. A spokesman for the Murphy administration declined to comment. News of the new filing was first reported by Chalkbeat Newark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case dates to 2018, when the Latino Action Network, the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, and several other families and groups sued the state alleging New Jersey failed to address de facto segregation in public schools. The plaintiffs cited data showing that nearly half of all Black and Latino students in New Jersey attend schools that are more than 90% non-white, in districts that are often just blocks from predominantly white districts. In New Jersey, students typically attend schools in the municipality where they live. Plaintiffs argued that long-standing housing policies that led to segregated residential neighborhoods led to segregated schools also. New Jersey is the seventh-most segregated state for Black and Latino students, the plaintiffs say. In October 2023, after Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy issued his ruling that acknowledged racial segregation in New Jersey schools but said it was not widespread, both sides entered mediation talks in hopes it would resolve more quickly than continued litigation. Attorneys for the parties said in February that its unlikely continuing the talks would be constructive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs attorneys say the lower courts October ruling should be reversed. They want a judge to review what they say are six errors in the 2023 order, like the fact that Lougy did not identify a disputed fact. 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 filing reads. If the appellate court denies the motion, the case would return to the trial court, or could be appealed to the state Supreme Court. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE President Donald Trump stands strongly behind Pete Hegseth, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday morning, defending the scandal-plagued Defense secretary against escalating criticism from Democrats and former senior officials. Hegseth is doing phenomenal leading the Pentagon, Leavitt said in a Fox & Friends appearance. This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change you are trying to implement. Her comments came a day after The New York Times reported that Hegseth shared sensitive information about military operations in Yemen in a private chat on the Signal app that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer the second reported instance of the secretary sharing operational plans in an unclassified chat. The revelations have reignited the so-called Signalgate scandal and deepened scrutiny over Hegseths judgment and leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former top Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who stepped down last week, also bashed the Pentagon leader for allegedly plunging the department into dysfunction in a POLITICO Magazine opinion piece published Sunday night. Ullyot once a vocal supporter of the Defense secretary accused Hegseths team of spreading unverified claims about three top officials who were fired last week, falsely accusing them of leaking sensitive information to media outlets. President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account, Ullyot wrote. Given that, its hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer. Hegseth brushed off the allegations Monday and blamed it on backlash for his efforts to reshape the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big surprise that a few leakers get fired, and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax, Hegseth said at the White House Easter Egg Roll. Were changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of warfighters. Slash and burn doesnt work with me. Democrats already made Hegseth a foil in the Trump administration, but new revelations about the Pentagons disarray have sent them into overdrive. The new report has unleashed a blue wave of calls for the Pentagon chief to resign or be fired. The scandal offers the party a timely focal point as it searches for ways to rally its base, counter Trump and sharpen its critique of his administration. In the wake of internal divisions and an identity crisis within their own party, Democrats are eager to reinvigorate their message and stoke anti-Trump sentiment. The Secretary of Defense clearly doesnt understand the concept of operational security or he doesnt care, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former Navy pilot, said in a post on social media. Carelessness puts our service members at risk. If this is true, he has again proven himself unqualified for this job and should resign or be fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a combat veteran and member of the Armed Services Committee, was even more direct, saying Hegseths tenure is endangering American troops. How many times does Pete Hegseth need to leak classified intelligence before Donald Trump and Republicans understand that he isnt only a f*cking liar, he is a threat to our national security? she said in a statement. Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops lives are endangered by his singular stupidity. The cascading criticism from congressional Democrats for Hegseth to go compounds a week of turmoil at the Pentagon. A wave of firings of senior staff amid a leak investigation and open infighting among some of those aides has further undercut Hegseth just three months into the job. That call was echoed across the Democratic spectrum from centrist voices such as Senate Intelligence ranking member Mark Warner (D-Va.) to left-leaning lawmakers such as former Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and her allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. But Trump is still too weak to fire him." The new criticism follows Times reporting that Hegseth disclosed the flight schedules of fighter jets preparing to strike Houthi targets in Yemen to a Signal chat group composed of his personal allies. Unlike the Signal chat that accidentally included the editor of The Atlantic, this channel was reportedly of Hegseths creation. You cant turn chicken shit into chicken salad, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a former Pentagon official, said in a social media post echoing Ullyots warnings. As Hegseths staffer is now telling the world, Hegseth has turned the Pentagon into a place of chaos. Voters cast their ballot in a polling place just blocks from the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. | Photo by Henry Redman The Wisconsin Legislatures Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) heard testimony Monday on a proposed set of rules to guide the conduct of election observers. Over the last few elections, the observation process of elections has become more popular and more polarizing as Republicans have grown increasingly skeptical of the election process since President Donald Trumps baseless allegations of fraud in the 2020 presidential contest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rule, proposed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC), provides more detail for what observers are allowed to do and where they are allowed to position themselves at polling places, and lays out the process for how an unruly observer can be removed. The rules final text was created with input from an advisory committee consisting of representatives of major and minor political parties, election clerks, disability rights groups and right-wing election conspiracy groups. The two most recent WEC chairs, Ann Jacobs, a Democrat, and Don Millis, a Republican, opened the testimony with each saying they have individual quibbles about the rule but the final text is the result of two years of consensus building and that legislators shouldnt reject the rule because it isnt perfect. Millis said that the current statute guiding election observers is vague and this rule is the best chance of clarifying regulations to protect the rights of voters and observers because passing new legislation into law is challenging under the states divided government, with Republicans in control of the Legislature and a Democratic governor. In the end, we can debate about whether the rule provides enough latitude or protection for observers, I agree, Millis said. I dont agree with everything in the rule, but I dont want the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Without this rule, municipal clerks have wide ranging authorities to manage polling places as they see fit. Theres no reasonable argument that observers are better off without this rule. Now certainly the Legislature could come up with an improved observer statute through legislation, but of course, that has to be signed into law. And theres the rub. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Republicans in the Assembly voted against an emergency rule that was broadly identical to the permanent rule being considered on Monday. In the hearing, Rep. Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) complained that legislators were not involved earlier in the rulemaking process. I feel a little bit like you didnt even try here, Neylon said. You didnt even try to do legislation. Youre choosing a rule and then telling us, We cant even work with you guys. This is what we got to do. And I find that a little bit insulting. Despite the inclusion of election skeptics on the advisory committee process, much of the testimony in the more than three-hour hearing came from election conspiracy theorists who oppose the rules adoption. One opponent of the bill said there needed to be observers at Wisconsins central count location for tabulating election results because the internet routers that transmit the results are manufactured by the Chinese Communist party. Wisconsins election results are tabulated at the local and county levels, not by the state, and while unofficial results get sent over the internet, official results are determined using the physical tapes obtained from the voting machines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former state Rep. Janel Brandtjen, who was one of the Legislatures most prominent election deniers, complained that when she has tried to observe voting in the past, shes been denied access because limited seats are taken up by people playing Candy Crush all day. Brandtjen also talked about Janet Angus, a Green Bay woman who was charged with disorderly conduct after berating a woman who was attempting to return her husbands absentee ballot during the April 2022 election. Angus, the Wisconsin Examiner reported, was involved in a Republican effort to influence the Green Bay mayoral election through a lawsuit against the citys use of audio recording equipment in its security system. Brandtjen also objected to the rules provisions that treat members of the news media differently than observers mostly by allowing them to take videos and photos inside polling places. Brandtjen said she found that distasteful. Jacobs explained that allowing the public to learn about the voting process through the media is important and allowing reporters to do their jobs is necessary. We balanced the First Amendment right of the press with the limitations were putting on observers, and we felt that was a reasonable accommodation, Jacobs said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elections commissioner Robert Spindell, a Republican, voted against the rules passage when the commission considered it and testified against its passage on Monday. Spindell said he was against the rule because it doesnt allow observers to record video or audio at polling places, which he said would allow clerks to remove observers from polling sites without the observers being able to protect themselves. Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton) said that as members of the committee were talking about large portions of the public being skeptical of election results, it was beyond the pale that Spindell would be testifying to the committee because of his involvement in the fake electors scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Honestly, when members of this committee are talking about people still being concerned about election integrity, and we have somebody testifying who was a part of trying to overturn the 2020, election, I mean, if ever there was an unreliable witness on anything, I feel that that person is sitting in front of us today in this committee, Snodgrass said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA) Two law enforcement officers shot in Polk County during a gunfight with a suspect have been released from the hospital. Related video: Man shot two LEOs in shootout On Friday morning, 34-year-old Wayne Volz got into an argument with his parents, pistol-whipped his mother and claimed to be Jesus and God, according to authorities. In a post on X, the Polk County Sheriffs Office said Deputy Sheriff Ed Alexander and Bartow police officer Mark Sills were both released Friday evening and are expected to make a full recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When the cause of liberty seemed most fragile, and its defenders most alone, a man named Thomas Paine picked up his pen and wrote: These are the times that try mens souls. It was December 1776, one of the bleakest moments in the American War of Independence. Washingtons army was in retreat. Winter was biting. Desertions soared. Hope was fading. Many believed the cause of American independence was already lost. But Paines pamphlet, The Crisis, helped turn the tide. Gen. Washington ordered it read aloud to his soldiers before a desperate assault across the ice-choked Delaware River. The attack succeeded. The war did not end that night. But something far more enduring was rekindled: morale. Resolve. A sense that liberty, even on the brink, was still winnable and still worth everything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paines words still ring true because truth endures. Words do matter. As an American, I believe deeply in the cause of liberty and in the price it exacts. Not in slogans. Not in partisan posturing. In principle. In practice. In cost. I have wrestled with what liberty truly demands. And I can tell you with certainty: Millions of Americans recognize your struggle not as foreign, but as familiar. Liberty is not a matter of geography. It is a matter of choice and will. Ukraine is not a proxy. Ukraine is not a chess piece. Ukraine is a sovereign nation defending itself against naked aggression. That matters not just for Europes stability, but for the global conscience. It matters to all of us who believe that freedom is not a gift granted by empires, but a right inherent to all people. Yes, some in my country have grown weary. Others have been misled or distracted. But fatigue is not the same as apathy, and distraction is not the same as abandonment. Many of us are still watching. Still listening. Still believing. Still acting. We understand that Ukraine stands at the front line of a larger, global struggle: not East versus West, but tyranny versus liberty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Paine warned in The Crisis, The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. "Dear Ukrainian friends and patriots, you are not just defending your land. You are reminding us, the world, what choosing freedom looks like when the choice comes with consequences, not comfort." Because here is the hard truth: Freedom is not self-sustaining. It erodes when ignored. It vanishes when taken for granted. It must be renewed by each generation through vigilance, sacrifice, and the courage to confront evil when it appears. Combat medic Natalia, 51, trains with the 24th Brigade in eastern Ukraine on March 18, 2025. (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images) Paine offered a generational challenge when he wrote: If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. That is why Ukraines resistance matters. The test of freedom is not whether it survives prosperity, but whether it survives persecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Ukrainian friends and patriots, you are not just defending your land. You are reminding us, the world, what choosing freedom looks like when the choice comes with consequences, not comfort. This is not just Ukraines test alone. It is ours everyone, everywhere now. The world is not merely witnessing a war. It is deciding, in real time, what it will tolerate and what it will become. Silence is no longer neutral. Indifference is no longer safe. And delay is no longer benign. Paine did not offer comfort to his readers. He offered conviction. He didnt promise ease; he insisted on endurance: Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered, he declared. Yet we have this consolation: that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I do not know how or when this war will end. But I do know this: History will remember the moral courage the Ukrainian people have shown not just the courage to fight, but the courage to keep fighting when the worlds attention drifts. As Paine wrote, I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You are not only resisting oppression. You are bearing witness, for all who choose to see, to what true liberty demands: sacrifice, unity, grit, and an unbreakable will. And for those of us in America who still believe liberty is not a posture but a duty: we see you. We admire you. We stand beside you. Though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, Paine reminded us, the coal can never expire. And we will not forget you not in word, not in deed, not ever. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Submit an Opinion Read also: Kyivs fate is shaping how Tehran plays the nuclear game Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LOWVILLE, N.Y. (WWTI) The Downtown Lyons Falls Small Project Fund, a $125,000 grant financing program made available by the New York Forward (NYF) initiative, has been launched by Lewis County Planning and Community Development (LCPCD). Within the NYF target area, the Fund offers matching grant awards to promote transformative building improvements in Downtown Lyons Falls. Lyons Falls Mayor Donna Dolhof shared her enthusiasm, saying, Were overjoyed to unveil this incredible opportunity for Lyons Falls! The possibilities for transformation are limitless, and were excited to witness the remarkable positive effects these projects will bring to our village and the entire community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commercial property owners, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, and business owners who own properties in the downtown area are also eligible applicants. The programs goals are to provide long-term sustainability to the Village of Lyons Falls historic productive core, boost the downtown economy, and spark noticeable improvements. Types of Eligible Projects Include: Building Renovations: Facade improvements, new storefronts, interior commercial space upgrades, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, accessibility upgrades, and more; Upper-Floor Residential Renovations: Creating or improving apartments in commercial buildings; Business Equipment: Purchase of permanent machinery and equipment essential for business operations; and Minor Exterior Enhancements: Signage, awnings, and painting projects to improve visual appeal. A Public Informational Session, with Drop-In Q & A, will take place at the Lyons Falls Library on Wednesday, April 30, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One-on-one application guidance appointments can be reserved with Megan Krokowski at megankrokowski@lewiscounty.ny.gov or 315-376-5423. Applicants must bring a draft application for review and discussion. Program Timeline: Program Opens: April 17, 2025 Public Info Session: April 30, 2025 Application Deadline: May 31, 2025 Review with HCR: June 13, 2025 Awards Announced: August 18, 2025 Lewis County Planning and Community Development aims to spur growth, strengthen resilience and clear the path for the community to have a thriving and wealthy future with this project. To learn more about the Downtown Lyons Falls Small Project Fund, required forms, or to submit an online application, visit the Lewis County Planning & Communitys 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com. VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Following are some of the major events of the life and ministry of Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88. 1936 December 17 - Jorge Mario Bergoglio is born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the son of Italian immigrants. 1969 December 13 - Ordained a priest. 1973 July 31 - Becomes head of the Jesuits in Argentina. 1992 May 20 - Appointed Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1998 February 28 - Appointed Archbishop, Primate of Argentina. He becomes famous for commuting to work on public transport, not living in the archbishop's palace and cooking his own meals. 2001 February 21 - Appointed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II. 2005 April 19 - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger elected pope after four ballots, takes the name Benedict. Subsequent leaks show that Bergoglio came second in all the secret ballots. 2013 March 13 - Bergoglio is elected pope after the shock resignation of Pope Benedict. He takes the name Francesco (Francis) and is the first non-European pope in 1,300 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 8 - Makes first pastoral trip outside Rome, visiting the Italian island of Lampedusa and condemns the "globalisation of indifference" to the plight of migrants. July 29 - During his first news conference onboard the papal plane, Francis says: "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" - seen as the most conciliatory attitude to LGBT people by a pontiff. November 26 - Calls for a deep renewal of the Church in a major document (apostolic exhortation) setting out his papacy. 2014 February 24 - Creates a new body within the Vatican to coordinate economic and administrative affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 24-26 - Visits the Holy Land. He becomes the first pontiff to lay a wreath at the tomb of the founder of modern Zionism. He also prays in front of the Israeli security wall that is despised by Palestinians. 2015 June 18 - Releases first papal document dedicated to the environment, the encyclical "Laudato Si", urging world leaders to hear "the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor". 2016 April 8 - In a document on family life, Francis urges priests to be more accepting of divorced or remarried Catholics and to welcome single parents and LGBT people. But he rejects the notion of same-sex marriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement June 26 - Says Christians owe apologies to LGBT community and others who have been offended or exploited by the church. November 2 - Tells reporters the Catholic ban on female priests is forever. 2017 January 2 - Pope Francis says in a letter bishops must show zero tolerance to clergy who sexually abuse children. He begs forgiveness for "a sin that shames us". June 28 - Cardinal George Pell, appointed Vatican economy minister by Francis, is charged with multiple historical sex crimes in his native Australia. He is initially convicted in December 2018, but then found not guilty in April 2020 on appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 1 - In a major shake-up, Francis replaces Catholicism's top theologian, a conservative German cardinal who has been at odds with the pontiff's vision of a more inclusive Church. 2018 January 30 - Just days after defending a Chilean bishop accused of sex crimes against minors, the pope sends top sexual abuse expert to Chile to investigate. In April, Francis says he made "grave mistakes" in handling the Chile crisis, asks for forgiveness. May 18 - In an unprecedented move, all Chile's bishops offer to resign after attending a crisis meeting with Pope Francis. In the subsequent months he accepts many of the resignations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 28 - Accepts resignation of U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. In February 2019, Francis expels him from the priesthood after the Church finds him guilty of sexually abusing minors - the first time a cardinal has been defrocked for sexual abuse. August 25-26 - Visits Ireland, says Church failure to adequately address "repugnant" clerical child abuse crimes in Ireland is a source of shame for Catholics. He begs forgiveness. August 26 - A former top Vatican official, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, accuses the pope of knowing for years of sex abuse allegations against Cardinal McCarrick; says Francis should resign. Months later, the Vatican accuses Vigano of calumny. September 22 - The Vatican signs a landmark agreement giving it a long-desired say in the appointment of bishops in China. Critics label the deal a sellout to the Communist government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2019 February 21 - Pope opens an unprecedented four-day meeting with Catholic leaders from around the world on child sex abuse. Calls for "concrete and efficient measures" to tackle the abuse. April 19 - Meets South Sudan's previously warring leaders and kisses their feet. Urges them not to return to a civil war. May 24 - Appoints women to a key Vatican department for the first time. In January 2020, he appoints the first woman to hold a high-ranking post in the Secretariat of State. In August 2020 he appoints six women to Vatican finance council. In November 2021 he names a woman to the number 2 position in the governorship of the Vatican City. In March 2022, he introduces a reform saying Catholic women could in future take charge of most departments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement June 2 - During a visit to Romania, the pope asks forgiveness in the name of the Catholic Church for the mistreatment of the Roma people. 2020 February 12 - In an apparent victory for conservative clergy, the pope dismisses a proposal to allow some married men to be ordained in remote areas of the Amazon. March 7 - The pope cancels all regular public appearances because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Planned trips are also cancelled. On March 27, he holds a solitary prayer service in the vast, empty St. Peter's Square. September 24 - The pope fires Italian Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu from powerful Vatican post after accusing him of embezzlement and nepotism. Becciu denies wrongdoing. He is indicted for alleged financial crimes in July 2021 and is convicted in December 2023 of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. He remains free pending appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement November 5 - Shakes up running of Vatican funds after London property scandal. December 31 - The pope, suffering a flare-up of a sciatica condition that causes pain in his right leg, misses New Year's Eve and New Year's Day services - the first time health problems caused him to skip major religious events. 2021 January 11 - Francis, in another step towards greater equality for women in the Roman Catholic Church, changes Church law, saying they can serve as readers at liturgies, altar servers and distributors of communion. January 21 - A Vatican court convicts Angelo Caloia, a former head of the Vatican bank, on charges of embezzlement and money laundering, making him the highest-ranking Vatican official to be convicted of a financial crime. March 5 - Resuming trips after the COVID crisis, Francis makes the first visit by a pontiff to Iraq. July 4 - Has surgery to remove part of his colon, spends 11 days in hospital to recuperate. July 16 - In blow to conservatives, Francis overturns the decisions of his two predecessors and re-imposes restrictions on the old-style Latin Mass preferred by traditionalist Catholics. October 29 - U.S. President Joe Biden says after meeting the pope that the pontiff had told him he was a "good Catholic" who can receive communion, widening gulf with conservative prelates. 2022 February 25 - Departing from protocol, the pope visits the Russian embassy to the Vatican to relay personally his concern over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In the following weeks and months he repeatedly calls for an end to the war and grows increasingly critical of Moscow for launching the invasion. July 24 - Starts a six-day visit to Canada where he repeatedly asks forgiveness for sexual abuse at schools for indigenous children run by Catholic orders. December 31 - Pope Benedict dies in the Vatican monastery where he had lived since his resignation in 2013. 2023 January 11 - The conservative Cardinal Pell dies in Rome. It is later revealed that he had penned an anonymous 2021 memo condemning Francis's papacy as a "catastrophe". March 29 - Francis is admitted to the Gemelli hospital in Rome with a respiratory infection. June 7 - Francis is admitted to Gemelli hospital for an operation on his abdomen. October 4 - The pope starts a month-long summit of bishops to discuss potentially momentous issues for the Church. However, the meeting ends without taking clear stands on issues such as women deacons and welcoming the LGBT community. November 11 - In a very rare move, Francis dismisses Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of his fiercest critics among U.S. Catholic conservatives. November 28 - In a further move targeting a conservative critic, Francis punishes U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke by evicting him from a large Vatican apartment and revoking his salary. November 28 - The pope cancels a planned trip to the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai after suffering a lung inflammation. December 18 - The Vatican says in a landmark ruling approved by Francis that Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies. 2024 June 14 - Pope Francis becomes the first pontiff to address a Group of Seven summit, telling leaders about the potential risks and benefits of artificial intelligence. September 2 - Starts a 12-day visit to four island nations across Southeast Asia and Oceania, travelling nearly 33,000 km (20,500 miles) in the longest trip of his papacy. September 26 - Francis undertakes a four-day visit to Belgium and Luxembourg, where he is sharply criticised over the Church's mishandling of clergy sexual abuse cases and its treatment of women. October 2 - The pope starts a month-long summit of Catholic bishops at the Vatican, the second in two years. It discusses contentious issues such as women's leadership, but the gathering ends without enacting any major reforms. October 22 - The Vatican extends its agreement with China over the appointment of Catholic bishops for a further four years. Conservative critics continue to label the deal a sellout to Beijing. December 7 - The pope appears at a ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica with a large bruise on his chin, which the Vatican says is the result of a minor fall in his residence. December 24 - Francis opens the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, a special time of peace, forgiveness and pardon for Catholics that runs through early 2026. 2025 January 6 - Pope Francis names Cardinal Robert McElroy, seen as a key progressive ally in the U.S., as the new Archbishop of Washington, D.C. The appointment comes days before President Donald Trump, whose immigration crackdown Francis criticised, retakes office. February 6 - The Vatican says the pope is suffering from bronchitis but will keep his scheduled appointments. The pope had said the day before that he had a "strong cold". February 14 - The Vatican announces that the pope has been admitted to hospital for treatment of bronchitis. In later days, doctors announce he is battling double pneumonia. March 23- The pope is discharged after a 38-day hospital stay. April 20 - On Easter Sunday, the pope enters St. Peter's Square in an open-air popemobile for the first time since his serious illness, greeting tens of thousands of Catholics after the Vatican's celebration of Easter Mass. He also has a brief private meeting at the Vatican with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Joshua McElwee; Editing by Frances Kerry) SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) LifeServe Blood Center is hosting multiple mobile blood donation drives in Sioux City this week. It comes as the regional blood bank reports critically-low levels of O- and A- blood types. The center provides blood to quite a few hospitals in the Siouxland area, including locations in all three of the Siouxland states. There will be four mobile drives the week of April 21 at three different locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first is Tuesday, April 22 at Western Iowa Tech at the WITCC-Rocklin Conference Center (4647 Stone Avenue) from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. What you need to know before you go: April 21, 2025 The next is Wednesday, April 23 at the River Valley High School Gym (916 Hackberry Street) from 11:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. The third and fourth will be Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25, both at Bishop Heelan High School in the Bloodmobile at 1021 Douglas Street. The Thursday hours will be 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and the Friday hours will be 9:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. To schedule a time to give blood, you can visit LifeServe online here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. ST. LOUIS Pope Francis passed away early Monday morning at the age of 88, leaving the world in mourning. Vatican officials confirmed that Pope Francis died just after 12:30 a.m. central time on Monday. Despite his recent health struggles, including a hospital stay for double pneumonia, his death came as a shock to many, as he had appeared for the traditional Easter blessing at the Vatican on Sunday and held a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, was known for his advocacy for the poor, migrants, and the environment. His papacy, which began in March 2013, was marked by a focus on humility and outreach to marginalized communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Community leaders across the St. Louis region are mourning the loss of Pope Francis and have released the following statements: His election as our Holy Father has been marked by great humility, said Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of St. Louis. His unceasing concern for the poor demonstrated to us how we may live out of the Gospel in our world. Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski is expected to celebrate a Mass at noon Monday at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, where he will be available for comments afterward. Bishop Thomas Paprocki from the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, stated, Today, our church mourns and prays. Pope Francis showed what it means to be a witness of love. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cardinal Timothy Dolan, originally from St. Louis and now the Archbishop of New York, also spoke about Pope Francis, highlighting his contributions to the Church and his advocacy for peace. Leaders around the world are also sharing their tributes to Pope Francis following his passing. St. Louis rapper pleads guilty to fentanyl, gun charges Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people in his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound, former President Barack Obama shared in a post with a picture of himself with the pope in the oval office. Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the worldCatholic and non-Catholic alikewho drew strength and inspiration from the Popes example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the aftermath of Pope Francis death, there will be a period of mourning, and then all of the Cardinals under the age of 80 will convene in the conclave to pick a new pope. Cardinal Dolan will be among those eligible to vote in the conclave for the next pontiff. All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Channel District CRA in Tampa (photo from City of Tampa) Local government officials who believe in the power of Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) to revitalize blighted areas will be able to continue to create those special districts under an amended bill that passed in the Senate Rules Committee on Monday. The measure (SB 1242) sponsored by North Central Florida Republican Stan McClain, originally would have prohibited creation of any new CRAs, but he said that after receiving input from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers he would agree to allow them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRAs may continue to operate under their redevelopment plan but must sunset on the termination date outlined in those plans, McClain said Monday in introducing the change. No extensions will be permitted. The original intent was for CRAs to have lifespans of approximately 40 years, and this amendment aims to re-align with that original vision. Since 1969, Florida cities and countries have been empowered by state law to create CRAs in districts designated as blighted areas. They are funded by tax revenues collected in those specific districts through what is known as tax increment financing (TIF). TIF funds collected from a specific CRA are then invested back into that specific area. There are more than 200 such CRAs in the state at the moment (Tampa has eight). There has been a push by some lawmakers to kill CRAs because of reports that they have misappropriated funds. To answer those concerns, the bill prohibits CRAs from extending their boundaries or spending on events such as concerts, festivals, holiday events, parades, focusing CRAs on tangible brick and mortar redevelopment efforts, McClain said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That language is important, said North Florida Republican Corey Simon. I think the warning should be for our CRAs to operate and do what theyre supposed to be doing, he said. Those dollars were for blighted areas, not to put on concerts and not to put on things that are not targeting those blighted areas. And so I think the warning shot needs to be that our CRAs need to be operating to improve these communities that have been set aside. The amended bill requires that either city council members or county commissioners must be the same representatives legislating over the CRA. It also says that all CRAs in existence as of Oct. 1, 2019, will end at the termination date already listed in the respective CRAs charter. Speaking on behalf of keeping CRAs was Panama City Beach Mayor Stuart Tettemer, who noted that his city is one of the few in the state that doesnt collect ad valorem taxes. Our CRA keeps taxes local and efficient, he said. Keep our town affordable for visitors and our residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McClains bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote. A companion bill (HB 991) in the House sponsored by Cape Coral Republican Mike Giallombardo still has a committee stop before reaching the floor of that chamber. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Iran's primary demand remains the lifting of sanctions in the ongoing indirect nuclear talks with the US, said Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, Trend reports. Speaking today at a press conference in Tehran, Baghaei stated that Iran considers the sanctions imposed on the country to be unjust and illegal. "Iran is in favor of the substantial and effective removal of sanctions, enabling the country to carry out its economic, trade, and banking activities normally," he added. "Furthermore, trust must be established to prevent the repetition of past negative experiences. This is the essence of providing guarantees in the negotiations. Iran wants to ensure that negotiations continue only if we reach a meaningful outcome and that both parties fulfill their obligations seriously," Baghaei stated. The ministry official also addressed certain media reports about uranium enrichment during the negotiations, clarifying that such claims are not accurate. The details of the ongoing talks between Iran and the US have been kept confidential, with both sides agreeing not to disclose specifics to the media. The second round of negotiations between Iran and the US was held on April 19 under the chairmanship of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The second round of talks between Iran and the US was conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi. The third round of these indirect talks is scheduled for April 26. On April 12, the first indirect talks between Iran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program took place in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The discussions were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Steve Whitkoff. Sources indicate that the talks were conducted in a constructive and respectful atmosphere. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel MIAMISBURG, Ohio (WDTN) The Miamisburg Historical Society will hold their first annual resource fair for veterans this weekend. The Miamisburg Historical Society will host its first Veterans Services Fair on Saturday, April 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free open to the public, with an emphasis on connecting those whove served with local resources and support. WPAFB event looks to hire our heroes with workshops, job fair Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the event, attendees can meet with representatives of local, state and national veteran service organizations and explore programs that can help with health, education and career assistance. The Miamisburg Historical Society planned the event to honor those who have served by supporting them and connecting members of the community together. We are honored to host this important event as a way to support our local veterans and give back to those who have given so much, said Ken Ballinger, Miamisburg Historical Society president. Our goal is to ensure that no veteran feels forgotten and that they know where to turn for help and opportunities. Attendees can also learn about historical military displays and the legacy of local service members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fair will be held at Miamisburg History Center in Veterans Park, located at 35 S. Fifth Street. Click here to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. DENVER (KDVR) Easter symbolizes the renewal of life, and Monday morning, the Catholic Church is mourning the loss of its leader. Its a new chapter for the Catholic Church, as Pope Francis passed away overnight. He suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man. His cause of death will be determined by a report expected later, but he spent significant time in the hospital recently. He was admitted to a hospital in Italy back on Feb. 14, where he stayed for 38 days, originally for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis was the pope for 12 years. Father Sam Morehead at the Cathedral Basilica watched as the Denver Fire Department helped drape the black bunting over the front of the church along Colfax. It signifies a period of mourning for the church. We were prepared, because when the Holy Father was so sick and in the hospital for the extended period of time, we were getting word that it was a very serious illness. We all know now that his doctors didnt think he would pull through it. So just to be prudent, we started putting together the supplies between the cloth and the things that well find in the Cathedral Basilica itself to prepare for this. All of it was in a back closet in my room. And then when I got the news this morning, I said, well, the time is common. We have to start mourning the Pope. And Ive already been hugging crying parishioners whove been down here already this morning to pray for the Pope, said Morehead. Pope Francis dies at 88 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several local leaders released statements on Francis death, which you can read in their entirety below. The Archdiocese of Denver sent a statement to FOX31 on Francis passing, saying: Today, Easter Monday, as the Church continues to rejoice in Christs resurrection, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, was called to the house of the Father. Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, Archbishop of Denver, reflects on the Holy Fathers life, saying, Bishop Jorge Rodriguez and I are grateful to God for Pope Francis powerful example of humility, prayer and service to the Church for the past 12 years. From the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015, to his prayer in St. Peters Square during COVID, to this ordinary Jubilee of Hope this year, from his weekly Angelus messages to his encyclicals and writings, he continually called us to encounter Jesus Christ, to accompany others as Christ did, with mercy and tenderness, and to draw near to the Fathers heart in this apostolic age. His special emphasis on seeking out the lost and marginalized has encouraged many to encounter Jesus, who is our Savior, the Way, the Truth and the Life. As we mourn his passing, may we remember his call to preach the Gospel courageously, joyfully and full of hope. Yesterday as we celebrated Easter, Pope Francis reminded us, All those who put their hope in God place their feeble hands in his strong and mighty hand; they let themselves be raised up and set out on a journey. Together with the risen Jesus, they become pilgrims of hope, witnesses of the victory of love and of the disarmed power of Life. Let us be those who set out on mission to proclaim Jesus Christ Risen to our world! Please join Bishop Rodriguez and me in praying for Pope Francis peaceful repose in the hands of the Father. May he and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Archdiocese of Denver Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also released a statement on X: Today we mourn the passing of @Pontifex Pope Francis. A force for healing and love, Pope Francis, formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first new world pope and was known for his pastoral kindness and compassion. Colorado Governor Jared Polis What events are planned in Denver to honor Francis There will be a special Mass intention at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver at 1530 Logan St. on Monday at 12:10 p.m. Before that, the funeral bells will toll for one hour starting at 11 a.m. Inside at 11:30 a.m. parishioners can pray the rosary for Francis. What are the rites and rituals after a pope dies? Then, there will be a special Mass on the day of Francis funeral at the cathedral. The time and day of that are yet to be determined. So, whats next? According to the Associated Press, those at the Vatican will pay their final respects, and the cause of Francis death will be determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, the body rests in the popes personal chapel for the ritual pronouncement of death. Then, the governing authority of the Catholic Church, called the Holy See, will work to elect another leader. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WKBN) Pope Francis, historys first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in an announcement. Local leaders are offering their condolences and remembering the legacy he leaves behind. Those attending the regular noontime mass at Saint Columba Cathedral this Easter Monday saw a black curtain over the front entrance of the church. Up front, near the altar, was a portrait of Pope Francis draped in black as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar led Monday afternoons Mass, inviting the community to a special service Thursday to remember the Holy Father. This affords us an opportunity as a local church to give thanks for the vision and the voice of Pope Francis, Bishop Bonnar said. Bonnar was named the sixth bishop of the Diocese in 2020, in the middle of the COVID lockdowns. Two years later, he met the pontiff during a gathering of newer bishops in Rome. It was beyond words. Its something that I will never ever forget, he said. But after seeing the images of the pope waving to the Easter Sunday crowd at Saint Peters and then riding in the popemobile, Bishop Bonnar learned of the Holy Fathers passing as so many others did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I awakened, and I looked at my phone, and I had a flood of texts and emails. I couldnt believe my eyes, he said. In the wake of his passing, Bishop Bonnar says Catholics and others should help spread the popes vision. Its important for us to step back and look at each other in that lens of compassion and accompaniment and dignity and respect, Bishop Bonnar said. A formal response to Pope Francis death was issued earlier Monday from the local Diocese of Youngstown: The news of Pope Francis death today is a cause of great sadness for the whole Church and certainly for me personally as a bishop chosen by him nearly five years ago. The Holy Father in word and deed brought a pastoral vision to the Church centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He reintroduced to us the vocabulary of Jesus that includes such realities as joy, love, hope, mercy, encounter, accompaniment, listening, and compassion. In this Easter Octave we behold the great mystery of our faith that climaxes in the resurrection. May Pope Francis see the face of God today. David J. Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown A group of four adults and eight teens from the Diocese of Youngstown are flying to the Vatican Monday night. They were originally going to see the canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint. However, plans changed with the passing of Pope Francis. Now, theyll be there for the mourning of his death leaving a bitter taste in their mouths. They realized they would still get to witness an important part of their Catholic faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, right now, Im going to see him different in different ways, but one of the things that I said to the teens is, We are blessed, too, because we are going to set goodbye to him. This week is going to be different, said Christina Hernandez, one of the group members. The group will come back to the United States on April 28. Hernandez is from Mexico and said Pope Francis held a special place in her heart as the first Latin American Pope. However, its what he did and who he was that stuck out to her, as he took care of the earth and those in need. He was everything that Jesus taught us when he came as a human, and I think hes a good servant, and he was a good shepherd for us, Hernandez said. The Diocese will hold a special Mass on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Saint Columba Cathedral to remember Pope Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Diocese of Erie also provided this statement: Pope Francis was a beacon of hope in troubled times, a voice for the voiceless and a tireless advocate for the dignity of every human person. Most Reverand Lawrence T. Persico, Bishop of the Diocese of Erie Persicos full statement can be read here. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine shared a similar sentiment, citing the Popes devotion to all people. Fran and I are saddened by the death of Pope Francis. He was an inspiration to us and to millions around the world. His genuine love of and devotion to all people the poor, the unborn, those without a home, those emigrating to build a better life for themselves and their families, those of all faiths, and those with no faith was evidenced to the world from the day he was selected to serve as Pope until his last public appearance on Easter Sunday. His work directly with the poor was a testament to his life of great humility. And, meeting with children clearly brought him great joy! It gave us the same joy watching him interact with them. He spread the Gospel up until the very end of his life on this Earth, making a special effort to do so on Easter. Pope Francis brought hope to the world through his compassion for all. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered all flags in the commonwealth to be lowered to half-staff until further notice to honor the Pope. Lori and I join the Catholic community in Pennsylvania and around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. I was honored to meet the Pope during his 2015 visit to Pennsylvania. A few years later when he powerfully spoke out in the wake of the Grand Jury report on child abuse in our Commonwealth, he was the first of his position to finally acknowledge the suffering of survivors who have too long been ignored. He leaves a legacy of being a fighter for the defenseless a teaching we should all learn from. May his memory be a blessing. Governor Josn Shapiro via Facebook Ohio Congressman Michael Rulli (R), who is Catholic, extended his prayers to the Cardinals in his statement. As a Catholic, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis early this morning. He was a man who gave his entire life to Christ and His Church, embodying the values taught in the Gospels. The Holy Father practiced what he preached, living a life of simplicity and deep compassion. I will be praying for the Cardinals as they undertake the important task of electing the next Pope. Ohio Congressman Michael Rulli (R) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fellow Catholic and Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Kelly (R) expressed similar feelings. Today, I join my fellow Catholics in mourning the loss of Pope Francis. Throughout his papacy, he symbolized and championed peace and a better world for all. May we continue the Popes mission in our daily live. Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Kelly Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Local officials have been releasing statements on the passing of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88. How is the next pope selected? Pope Francis has led the Catholic Church for over 10 years. He was historys first Latin American pontiff and charmed the world with his concern for the poor, but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope just addressed a crowd for Easter Sunday. He did not lead the Easter Mass and he had stepped back appearances since his long stay in the hospital treating pneumonia. His stay lasted five weeks and was released from the hospital a month ago. He had been recovering and resting since. On Sunday for the Easter holiday, he addressed a crowd at the Vatican, making a strong appeal for peace, and offering prayers to Christian communities around the world. His body will be put on display in an open coffin in St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican. In accordance with Francis wishes, he is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of Saint Mary Major, which lies outside the Vatican walls. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno issued the following statement in his passing: I am very sorry to hear about the holy father, Pope Francis passing. Simply put, he was a man of the people, with a common touch to relate and reach out to any and all with his spiritual wisdom and leadership. God rest his soul. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno Governor Maura Healey issued the following statement: I join with my fellow Catholics and people around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. His essence of compassion, humility and unbounded hope gave us joy, peace, direction and resolve. I am forever grateful for the honor to have met Pope Francis and been touched by his warmth, kindness and humor. His life was a commitment to our sacred responsibility to care for others, especially the most vulnerable among us. In no other realm was that more evident than his dedication to climate, human rights, immigrant communities and the working poor. He strove to make the Church more inclusive and welcoming, and he led by reminding us of the dignity and worth of every person. His being will endure in the hearts of those he inspired. May he rest in eternal peace. Governor Maura Healey Congressman Jim McGovern released the following statement: I am deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. His Holiness led with courage and compassionand he understood that faith is about more than words, its about action. He didnt just talk about feeding the hungryhe fed the hungry. He didnt just denounce oppressionhe fought for justice. He defended the dignity of immigrants and worked to end war and bring about peace. And in doing so, he taught people of all faiths how to live with integrity and purpose. For me, Pope Francis has been a source of hope and inspiration in difficult times. I hope his successor carries forward his vision of a Church that puts faith into action and leads with humility and service by caring for the most vulnerable among us. Congressman Jim McGovern Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer sent 22News the following statement: I join the world in mourning the sad news of Pope Francis passing. Pope Francis message of hope inspired people around the world people of all faiths. His compassion and love for the less fortunate was felt in every corner. His papacy will be remembered as a beacon of light and hope against the darkness. My prayers are with the billions of people today who are mourning his loss. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren also released the following statement on the death of Pope Francis: Pope Francis was a force for good. He will be remembered for his empathy for the most vulnerable among us, his advocacy for action on climate change, and his leadership to make the Church a welcoming place for all which made so many people feel seen. My heart is with people across the world today mourning his loss. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) U.S. Senator Edward Markey released the following statement on the death of Pope Francis: I join the world in mourning the loss of the Peoples Pope, His Holiness Pope Francis, who reminded us that no matter our faith, we are all caretakers of creation. It should be no surprise that a Jesuit trained in chemistry who was devoted to the poor and ensuring a just and better future for all mankind was the only pope to devote an entire encyclical to humanitys relationship with the environment. Pope Francis delivered a powerful message in his encyclical Laudato Si, or Praise Be: Mankind created this problem of climate change, and now mankind must fix it. With the worlds poorest and most vulnerable suffering the worst consequences of climate change extreme poverty, famine, disease, displacement Pope Francis challenged us in our actions to embody the moral obligation to act. He led with a vision of inclusion, compassion, and humility, calling on us to act boldly on the worlds most pressing issues and take up a mission centered around justice for the most vulnerable. He embraced the worlds sick, poor, and hungry with open arms. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis wrote: Today, in the view of the common good, there is an urgent need for politics and economics to enter into a frank dialogue in the service of life, especially human life. In his passing and every day forward, Pope Francis would want us to be in service of life and to embrace the moments and opportunities to be part of a global movement that protects our people and our planet. US Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) Bishop Byrne released a statement on the passing of Pope Francis: I was saddened to learn of the Holy Fathers passing this morning in Rome. Pope Francis was clarion voice for the poor of the world, and all those on the periphery of society, challenging us all to see in them the face of God. I will be forever blessed by the memory of my meeting with the Holy Father two years ago. At that meeting, responding to a question I asked, he reminded those present that everyone, everyone, everyone, everyone should be welcomed. We are all brothers and sisters seeking the Lord. As the Universal Church marks our Jubilee Year of Hope and as pilgrims on this journey of hope, may the humble manner in which Pope Francis conducted his papacy serve as a model for us all. I ask that the Catholic Community of western Massachusetts pray through the intersession of our Blessed Mother, who was so dear to our Holy Father, for the repose of the soul of this holy and humble servant of God. Bishop Byrne Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressman Richard Neal issued the following statement on the passing of Pope Francis: I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Over the last twelve years, he has become one of the most consequential leaders of our time, serving as a Pope for all people. His humanitarian work was awe-inspiring, dating back many decades when he served the most vulnerable across Argentina, never faltering in his mission of serving the poor. Pope Francis strove to make the Church a beacon of mercy, unity, and service, reminding us that earth and all of its people are made in Gods image. I join millions of people around the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis, a leader and teacher whose moral clarity and boundless compassion will live on in the hearts and actions of those he touched. Congressman Richard Neal 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. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) The death of Pope Francis will, of course, affect life in Vatican City, but it also has an impact on some lives in the Wabash Valley. Passing away just hours after his public appearance on Easter Sunday in St. Peters Square, Pope Franciss death came as a shock. However, retired Priest of the Archdiocese, Todd Riebe, said the pope lived his final days doing what he loved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The beautiful thing is, up to the very last minute, he was doing what he did as pope and that was caring for his people, Riebe said. He came out yesterday for the Easter mass, to give the blessing after the mass, and then rode around in the popemobile for that visit for the last time then died peacefully. I think he gives us a great example of living life until the very end. Riebe said members of the church feel like they have lost a family member, but all feel that they have lost a friend. We lost a father, its like we lost a father, Riebe said. I think for the world, especially with this pope, they feel like they lost a friend. I think he has reached out to so many people in so many directions and been so concerned about so many people that, even if you dont see him as a spiritual leader, they see him as a friend. The Popes death will trigger a nine-day mourning period, before work begins on electing a new one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riebe said Pope Francis will be remembered as a simple man. The first word that comes to mind when I think about Pope Francis is mercy because his first letter to the church was a letter on the importance of mercy, Riebe said. We see, all through his papacy how he, himself, acted on that. Doing things like bringing homeless in for dinner with him. The other word that would come to mind would be humility. As soon as he began his papacy, the first thing he did was to go back to the hotel where he had stayed as a cardinal and pay his bill. When they offered him the new shoes, which traditionally the pope wears red shoes, he looked at his shoes and said these are good. He lived his life with great simplicity and great humility. Sisters of Providence of Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods released a statement acknowledging Pope Franciss passing Monday. The full statement is below: With heavy hearts, the Sisters of Providence acknowledge Pope Franciss passing today. We join people everywhere in mourning for him, who became a symbol of hope, both in his person and in his ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the moment he was introduced as pope and greeted the crowd gathered in St. Peters Square, people knew he would be different. Almost immediately, he asked those present to pray for him, and he knelt in humility to receive those prayers. Certainly, his deep humility lent credibility to the challenges he made to us during his pontificate to go to the margins, to reach out to those most in need of Gods mercy and hope. For the Sisters of Providence, Pope Francis recognition of our common home, Earth, as one of the places most in need found resonance in our ministry of eco-spirituality and justice. His encyclical Letter, Laudato Si, began a truly universal movement to change our very relationship with each other and with Earth. In 2020, we and our wider Providence Community publicly committed to joining the worldwide Catholic community in responding to Pope Francis appeal to participate in a seven-year journey toward sustainability and integral ecology by developing a Laudato Si Action Platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps just as remarkable has been Pope Franciss insistence that we become a synodal church. From the beginning, Pope Francis has seen the Synod on Synodality, first convened in October 2021, as what the Lord is asking of us, a call from God to walk together with the whole human family. Radical inclusion, shared belonging and deep hospitality are recognized as the result of the listening that is at the heart of the synodal process. Pope Francis said, Instead of behaving like gatekeepers trying to exclude others from the table, we need to do more to make sure that people know that everyone can find a place and a home here. Just yesterday, in what was to be his final Easter Blessing, Pope Francis again implored us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God! I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible! May Pope Franciss death renew that hope in us, and may his memory stir us into continued action on behalf of the lost and the least. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this time of mourning, we will join the global Catholic community in prayer and reflection. For the next nine days, Pope Francis will be included in the prayers and in the necrology read daily during liturgy at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) There has been an outpouring of love for Pope Francis following his death on Monday. Father Christopher Mahar is the Pastor of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Providence. During a 7 a.m. Mass, he spoke to parishioners about the Popes passing. Were deeply saddened, but were also in these days of hope, the days of Easter. Mahar told 12 News. Were very hopeful about what the Lord is doing for Pope Francis and eternal life and for the Church as we continue to go forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Pope Francis dies at 88 after a stroke Gregg Vallee is a parishioner of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in North Providence, but attended the morning Mass at St. Augustine. I had tears in my eyes. I was very sad to realize that Pope Francis has passed, Vallee said. He did a lot of good for people on this Earth especially for the LGBT community, he did a lot for our community. Mahar offered advice to those who are grieving. Be consoled in that the Holy Spirit is with us, guiding the Church, guiding us always, he said. Be at peace. WATCH: Reaction to Popes visit to Philadelphia in 2015 (Story continues below.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boston Archbishop and former Providence Bishop Richard Henning said he was saddened to hear of the Popes death. His legacy as Holy Father is broad and deep, Henning said in a press release. He has challenged us to turn away from selfish impulses and towards communion with others and respect for Gods creation. Henning also expressed his gratitude toward Pope Francis for naming him as the head of the Archdiocese of Boston. I am personally grateful that he called me to the Episcopacy and entrusted me with the pastoral care of the Church of Boston, Henning said. His example remains a guiding light to the Universal Church. Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, may he rest in peace. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Local leaders are reacting to the death of Pope Francis earlier today. St. Anthony Catholic Church, 417 N. Main Street has a display outside the church with three crosses covered in photos of Pope Francis. The public is welcome to leave flowers at the bases of the crosses. Bob Ritz, president and CEO of MercyOne Hospitals, released a statement after the Popes death. Today, we mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Pope Francis was symbolic of change. Over his years serving as our Holy Father and the Peoples Pope, he had a curiosity for change while maintaining his fidelity to the Catholic Church. At MercyOne, we admire his immense global influence, all while remaining rooted in humility. His focus on the less fortunate and caring for the marginalized exemplifies our Mission. As we reflect on his remarkable legacy, let us remind ourselves of our Mission and Values and live them out as Pope Francis did. We extend our prayers to all those giving thanks for his service to God and humanity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bishop Dennis Walsh, leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport, was appointed by Pope Francis in June 2024. In his statement, he says, It is with great sadness that we have received the news of the death of Pope Francis. His life and ministry was an inspiration to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He was a true witness to a life of humility and service. As the first pope from the Americas, he brought with him the experience of being first and foremost a Pastor who cares deeply for his flock. Throughout his ministry he emphasized the importance of compassion, environmental stewardship and social justice. His time as superior for the Jesuits was a tumultuous time during a military dictatorship in Argentina. In that time, he worked tirelessly to protect human rights and support for the marginalized. As pope, he continued to be a vocal advocate for the poor. He has called all of us to stewardship for the environment. His encyclical, Laudato Si, addressed an urgent need for a collective response as a world community to respond to the climate crisis. Bishop Dennis Walsh Photography By: Scott W. Grau Throughout his ministry, he has been a great champion for the rights of migrants and refugees. I have been inspired by his courageous and prophetic voice, speaking truth to a world not always prepared to listen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will always be grateful to the Holy Father for the confidence he has placed in me in calling me to this episcopal ministry as Bishop of Davenport. He will always be an inspiration for me personally and I mourn his passing. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. The Jewish Federation also released a statement after Pope Francis death. (jfqc.org) Jewish Federations extend our condolences to the Catholic Community over the death of Pope Francis, who was a friend to the Jewish community and across religious traditions. He repeatedly condemned antisemitism as a sin and worked to build upon Nostra Aetate, the landmark document that transformed Catholic-Jewish relations 60 years ago. Our thoughts are with our Catholic brothers and sisters at this time. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is Catholic and attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through law school. He said in a statement, We have lost the messenger, but we must hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to love and respect one another. In a world of hate and fear, Pope Francis message of peace and understanding is needed now more than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should honor the Pope with a Francis Day of world peace: stop the bombing in Ukraine and Gaza; feed the dying in Sudan and around the globe; and show kindness to one another. Sen. Tammy Duckworth Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) also released a statement. Pope Francis was a pillar of the Catholic Church, a beacon of hope, compassion and light in times of fear, hatred and darkness. Throughout his life, he taught us that in order to be great, we have to be good. He urged each of us to care for the poor, feed the hungry, be humble stewards of the Earth and treat others how we would want to be treated ourselveseven if they pray or live differently than us. His teachings remain as important as ever. May he rest in peace and may his spirit continue to uplift and guide all those who followed his sacred word. Governor of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds gives her Condition of the State address on January 14th, 2025. On Monday, Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff immediately until sunset on the day of interment for His Holiness Pope Francis who died on April 21 at Vatican City. He was 88-years-old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reynolds order is issued in conjunction with President Trumps proclamation to lower the United States flag for the same amount of time. Pope Francis devoted his life to serving Christ, leading the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion members. As it is written in Matthew, he was a good and faithful servant and has entered into the joy of the Lord, Reynolds said. Kevin and I offer our condolences to Catholics in Iowa and worldwide. Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) One local school is stepping up its security, all in an effort to keep students and staff safe. Miami Valley Academies says this comes after a series of concerning incidents over the last two weeks. 2 NEWS spoke with officials from the school to learn more about what prompted these security measures and how parents are reacting. Community calls for change after Dunbar student killed by gun violence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, parents at Miami Valley Academies received a letter explaining that some small paring knives were recently found on campus, prompting school administration to implement what they call significant additional security measures. One parent who wishes to remain anonymous has a 6-year-old son enrolled at the school, and told 2 NEWS that upon reading the letter, they were very worried. My first initial reaction was completely mind boggling because this is the first time weve ever had to deal with anything like this, said the parent. I immediately got a hold of the school to try to reach out to get answers. The principal of MVA, Marvis Meeks, says when the knives were discovered, they were quickly secured by staff. No one was hurt, but the school has launched a full investigation into the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the school immediately implemented mandatory backpack checks for all individuals entering the building. Theyve also invested in a metal detector set to be installed in the next two weeks and say they will be wanding students before entering the school. The parent said MVAs quick response made them feel a lot better. If they didnt implement some kind of measures as fast as they did, I wouldnt feel comfortable with my son being there, said the parent. I would almost want to be there every day with my son, sitting at his desk with him. MVA is also considering wearable alert devices for staff, and a central system that would instantly notify local law enforcement in emergency situations. Staff will also begin monthly safety training, with the Moraine Police Department planning a safety presentation for next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parent told 2 NEWS that many parents have been commending the school for their proactiveness, especially at a time where school violence is on the rise. It can happen to anybody at any time, and thats really the scary thing about it, said the parent. In the measures that they are taking, I am 100 percent satisfied and comfortable with still taking my son there. The principal told 2 NEWS they will are planning additional safety measures before the 2025-2026 school year begins. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. The 3rd round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US will take place in Muscat, the capital of Oman, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a statement, Trend reports. Speaking at a press conference today in Tehran, Baghaei explained that the decision to hold the talks in Muscat came following a proposal from Oman and an agreement between Iran and the US. He added that, based on this agreement, an expert-level meeting on technical issues will be held on April 23, followed by high-level negotiations on April 26 in Oman's Muscat. In the expert-level meeting, the parties will delve into the details of the proposed frameworks on a smaller scale, Baghaei noted. The second round of negotiations between Iran and the US was held on April 19 under the chairmanship of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The second round of talks between Iran and the US was conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi. The third round of these indirect talks is scheduled for April 26. On April 12, the first indirect talks between Iran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program took place in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The discussions were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs Steve Whitkoff. Sources indicate that the talks were conducted in a constructive and respectful atmosphere. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Gov. Laura Kelly, pictured here with Lt. Gov. David Toland behind her in July 2022 after announcing the $4 billion Panasonic factory in De Soto, announced Monday the arrival of another major company in Kansas Fiserv, which is expected to usher in 2,000 jobs in the next five years. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA A Kansas City suburb rose to the top in a major e-commerce companys nationwide search for a new hub through hefty incentives. Fortune 500 company Fiserv plans to open a new location in Overland Park, the Kansas governors office announced Monday, touting the addition of 2,000 jobs and a 10-year, $6.5 billion economic impact. The state is offering millions in incentives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Laura Kellys office called the deal the largest office recruitment in the states history. Frank Bisignano, chairman and CEO of Fiserv, said the planned Overland Park hub is an opportunity to expand the companys footprint in the United States and foster innovation in the financial services field on behalf of its clients. The greater Kansas City metro area offers a dynamic environment with a growing population of tech talent, making it the ideal location for Fiservs next strategic fintech hub, he said. State incentives totaling nearly $155 million over 10 years reward Fiserv with tax credits for above-average wages, a payroll tax withholding refund for creating jobs, relocation funds for out-of-state employees, a job creation award, personal property tax and sales tax abatements, and workforce recruitment assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For every one-dollar investment in state incentives, $21.22 will be added to Kansas gross domestic product, said Patrick Lowry, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce. These are high-value jobs to help keep more graduates of Kansas colleges and universities remain in Kansas, he said. Fiserv has committed $175 million for the project, according to Lowry. The companys announcement came less than a week after Overland Parks Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee unanimously gave preliminary approval to a property tax rebate program for Project Turtle, which has been connected to Fiserv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Overland Park City Council is set to take up the issue Monday, but the project has already earned Mayor Curt Skoogs unofficial approval. This is the biggest job-creating project that weve worked on in my time, he said at the economic development committees Wednesday meeting. In Skoogs 20 years of involvement with the city, he said, he has witnessed significant growth successes and attractive additions to the community But this one is a really, really amazing win for us, he said. If approved, Project Turtle would receive a rebate on city, county and Blue Valley Recreation Commission property taxes. The company would pay full property taxes to the Blue Valley School District and Johnson County Community College levies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the rebate agreement, taxes will be paid, and then the company would submit an application to the city to be reimbursed for about 40% of those taxes, or an estimated $1.3 million over 10 years of the companys 15-year lease. But the rebate is contingent on meeting certain conditions. Those conditions include a $125 million investment in renovations and improvements and maintaining 2,000 full-time employees by 2030. The governors office said those employees will earn an average salary of $102,000 annually. The state anticipates Fiserv will contribute up to $4 billion in payroll investment over the next decade. The company also would be required to participate in community engagement, invest in memberships with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and the Overland Park Economic Development Council, and commit to using Overland Park hotels and facilities for conventions and meetings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The economic development committee liked the idea of reusing existing space and increasing the long-term property value at the 200-acre Aspiria campus, which was considered at one point as a new location for the Kansas City Royals. After Sprint sold the campus in 2019, it was envisioned as a live-work-play environment tailored to businesses and entrepreneurs. Its one of the largest corporate campuses in the U.S., second only to Microsofts campus in Washington state. Fiserv is expected to lease two buildings on the campus, totaling 427,000 square feet. The tax incentives are an important component of the deal, said Alex Leath, an Alabama attorney with the international law firm Bradley Arant who helped bring Panasonic to De Soto. The Kansas City area wasnt initially a contender for Fiserv, Leath said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I saw first and foremost what I do see is the quality of the people, the work ethic of the people, Leath told the economic development committee. This is a company that expects people to be in the office five days a week, and Kansans struck me as people who would enjoy that, or embrace that. Overland Park beat out Nashville, Phoenix, Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta and the South Florida area in the companys search. Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids lauded the deal. Kansas continues to attract top-tier businesses, and I look forward to welcoming Fiserv to Overland Park, Moran said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor said the new hub is making good on her administrations promise to modernize and diversify the states economy. Fiservs new strategic hub in Overland Park is a significant step forward as we continue to elevate Kansas to new heights, Kelly said. Fiserv will create high-value career options, including opportunities for military personnel transitioning to civilian life and graduates of our higher education system. Fiserv chose Overland Park, the announcement said, because of its central location in the United States, proximity to clients in the Midwest, affordable cost of living and the opportunity to recruit talent in the tech field. Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council, called the investment monumental. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: And so is the Kansas City regions ability to deliver. The Kansas City area has the capacity and competitiveness to rise to the occasion, he said, which he attributed to a fast-growing tech sector, a cache of talent and a prosperous, collaborative business community. BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) Not all heroes wear capes, as shown by three employees of the Bloomington-Normal YMCA who earned national recognition Monday for saving a persons life last year. During a ceremony Monday morning, Lena Flitz, Tim Ready and Jordan Mueller were each awarded the National Lifesaving Award by the American Red Cross for their actions on Dec. 26, 2024. They also received a Bloomington Fire Department Letter of Recognition. That day, a patron was on a rowing machine when he passed out and had no pulse. In describing what the three did, the YMCA minced no words and made it clear their actions were nothing short of heroic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A member of the Bloomington-Normal YMCA was using a rowing machine when an employee noticed him fall over and immediately called for assistance, the organization said. Lena Flitz arrived and checked the victim for a pulse. After noticing the victim had no pulse and wasnt breathing, Lena began one round of CPR. Tim Ready then took over chest compressions and directed Jordan Mueller to remove the victims clothing and placing AED pads onto his chest, the YMCA said. After the AED was analyzed, it administered one shock before CPR was resumed. After 7 rounds of CPR and the use of the AED, Tim noticed spontaneous breathing and a pulse. By this time, paramedics from the fire department arrived and determined the man had suffered a heart attack. The award is the highest award given by the Red Cross to individuals or group of individuals who save or sustain a life using skills learned in a Red Cross Training Services course. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got incredible staff, said the Bloomington-Normal YMCAs CEO B.J. Wilken. For them to give themselves up to be able to save somebody is just a proud moment for us here at the Y. Three to be recognized for life-saving efforts in Bloomington Bad things happen and we see the best of people during some of the most challenging times, said Lynda Hruska, executive director of the American Red Cross serving central Illinois. Its because of their quick actions and their braveness and their abilities. Mark is here with us today celebrating alongside them. To learn more about the award, or to nominate someone, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) How old were you when you completed your first community service project? Chances are, it was older than age eight. The City of London wrote on Facebook on Saturday that Sean Carpenter was just two when he told his family he was concerned about the amount of litter he saw on his way to school at Campground Elementary. Mt. Sterling arts center has funding pulled by DOGE Hes brought it up off and on since hes been about two years old, Seans mother, Cassandra, said. Hes always wanted to do something on KY-229, but we knew it was too dangerous. He brought it up again a couple of months ago, so I started searching for when they do the spring cleanup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seans mom said she contacted London Tourism and Parks, who planned the community cleanup event and signed up. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: The young, thoughtful volunteer was happy with the amount of trash that was removed from busy streets Saturday, London officials wrote. He said he plans to help again during the next cleanup. London officials said we should all make the world a cleaner place, like Sean. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GAFFNEY, S.C. (WSPA) Students and staff at Limestone University in South Carolina were devastated this week to learn their school was in danger of permanently closing due to financial issues. But some arent giving up hope, and a few have taken to social media in hopes noted Gen Z philanthropist Mr. Beast can help save their school. On Wednesday, the university announced unless the university can secure a $6 million emergency fund, the college will need to to either move fully online or close entirely, ending a nearly two-century legacy in higher education. Previous story: Limestone University faces possible closure Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of the announcement, Limestone University students took to TikTok and other social media platforms to vent their frustrations, ask followers for school recommendations or solicit donations to help keep the school open. More than a few of the latter group include tags for Jimmy Donaldson, better known online as Mr. Beast. Donaldson is known for his YouTube channels, where he regularly engages in stunt philanthropy, giving large sums of money to individuals or causes, then reinvesting the money made by those videos into other philanthropic causes. He also owns his own candy company and hosts a television show on Amazon Prime. According to Forbes, Donaldson has an estimated net worth of $85 million, and Yahoo Finance has estimated his net worth to be $1 billion. Some students are hoping if they nab his attention, he might be willing to turn his philanthropic spirit towards saving the school. This is 100% a long shot. We know that it is a long shot, but we have to try, said Natalie Ruth, who earned her undergraduate degree at Limestone and is now enrolled in an accelerated masters degree program at the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A native of Waxaw, N.C., Natalie Ruth came to Limestone to play softball. She finished her undergraduate and is now only a handful of classes away from finishing her masters degree in business administration. I was looking for a place I could play softball in college. Limestone was the only school I was like I could go here. It offered what I wanted; I love the small school, I like the area, I like the opportunities it gave me, she said. As of Saturday, Ruth has posted multiple videos to her TikTok feed with captions asking for Mr. Beast to step in and save Limestone. Her videos have generated tens of thousands of views, likes, shares and comments. Ruth said the idea to try to get Mr. Beasts attention wasnt hers, but shed noticed a trend of people doing it online and decided to try. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You see whats going on around you and you see trends and hop on the trends, said Ruth. And we are not doing this like Mr. Beast you are our one and only hope. Its getting other peoples attention and people have tagged many other popular creators as well, said Ruth. Saving Limestone, Ruth said is less about preserving the school for herself, but rather preserving an institution for those who are still enrolled. We have a lot of first-generation students here, she said. A lot of those kids arent going to be able to transfer, they just dont have the funds or they dont have the support which can make it very difficult to find another place to go. Its also about preserving the local economy. Limestone University estimates it has a roughly $150 million impact on the local economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have tons of mom and pop businesses, coffee shops, restaurants, said Ruth. All of those businesses that rely on that constant businesses are going to have a very hard time staying open. The Limestone University Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday to discuss the next steps for the university. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. GREGG COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A man was arrested in Gregg County on Friday evening after allegedly shooting and killing his neighbors dog on its owners property. According to the Gregg County Sheriffs Office, around 7:49 p.m. deputies responded to a report of a dog being shot by a neighbor in the northern area of Gregg County. Man in custody after shots fired at Super Gallo in Jacksonville Officials said following the investigation the deputy arrested Toby Odell Bennett, 63 of Longview, after he shot and killed his neighbors dog while the animal was on its owners property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bennett was booked into the Gregg County Jail for third-degree felony cruelty to a non-livestock animal on Friday and was released the following day after posting his $10,000 bond. Mugshot of Toby Odell Bennett, courtesy of Gregg County Sheriffs Office The Gregg County Sheriffs Office takes all allegations of animal cruelty seriously and remains committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety and welfare of both people and animals in our community, Gregg County Sheriffs Office said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. Apr. 20Sometime in the spring of 1941, Michael Piga placed 15 sticks of dynamite inside an outhouse turned shanty behind a home at 300 Market St., in the Cork Lane section of Pittston Township. Piga, 54, who was a boarder at the home, was a miner at the No. 9 Coal Company in Hughestown and naturally forgot about the dynamite. A year later, on Aril 24, 1942, a chicken coop next to the shanty caught fire as 12 volunteer firemen responded to extinguish the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Dynamite stored by a Pittston Township miner in a shanty more than a year ago exploded yesterday afternoon, injuring 12 volunteer firemen as they were laying a line of hose to put a blaze in the outbuilding at the rear of 300 Market St., Cork Lane," the Wilkes-Barre Record reported April 25, 1942. Joseph Walsh, 17, of Poole Street, and Robert Redington, 17, of Market Street, died from injuries sustained in the explosion as 10 other firemen suffered severe burns. Both young men were students at Pittston Township High School when they were killed. "State police identified Michael Piga, a boarder, as the owner of the dynamite and was being held for questioning and possible prosecution for violation of laws covering use and possession of dynamite," the Record reported. When the explosion happened, more than 50 FBI agents from Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Philadelphia were involved in searching homes in the area where "enemy aliens" were residing. At the time, World War II was underway and the Alien Enemies Act was being enforced, permitting federal agents to search homes occupied by Germans, Italians and Japanese. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside the home where Piga lived as a boarder, federal agents confiscated two shotguns, four rifles, ammunition, a detonator and a short wave radio equipped with short wave reception bands. The items seized were found in Piga's bedroom, the Record reported. Piga, on April 26, 1942, was charged by state police Corporal Edwin S. Dixon with involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of Walsh and Redington and was arraigned by Justice of the Peace W. Howell Evans in Wyoming Borough. Piga was held at the Luzerne County Prison without bail. "Dixon explained Piga was held without bail because only a court judge is permitted to take bail in such cases. Dixon told a Wilkes-Barre Record reporter Piga admitted he placed 15 sticks of dynamite in the shanty about a year ago and forgot about the explosives," the Record reported April 27, 1942. Piga's time in prison was short lived as District Attorney Leon Schwartz dropped the manslaughter charge due to insufficient evidence. Pope Franciss only visit to the United States started in the nations capital in 2015. Then Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto was among the 11,000 invited guests who greeted the Holy Father as he arrived at the White House. I was in an area to the left of the color honor guard for the Air Force and the Coast Guard, and there was parting of the sea. So, I could look right through the podium and get really nice pictures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope later greeted crowds in the streets of Washington, including some from the Pittsburgh area. [I was] hoping to catch a glimpse -- once in a lifetime opportunity, Anne Kristobak said. Always good to be here with believers who believe in god, believe in love and believe in prayer, Pittsburgh native Rawad Obeid said. While in Washington, the pope held a canonization ceremony and praised President Obamas push to stop global warming. From there, his visit to Philadelphia also had ties to Pittsburgh. Former Gov. Tom Corbett helped bring Pope Francis to Pennsylvania, and was chosen to greet the pontiff when he arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traveling with the archbishop and mayor in 2014 and officially asking him in front of 100,000 people in St Peters square - then to meet him again today and greet him again at the door and welcome him to Pennsylvania," Corbett said. We met with then Greensburg Bishop Donald Malesic, who the pope ordained just a few months earlier. He knew he had to lead a pilgrimage to see the pope, navigating through some 2 million people who converged on Philadelphia. These are people who we look up to, who we admire, who are there in their position for a reason, Malesic said. We believe God has placed them there and when we meet these special people, there is no doubt we come into the presence of something tremendous. Students from Oakland Catholic made that trip to Philadelphia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we found out [about] a trip to see the pope, this is a chance to really touch base with god, sophomore Siena DeAngelo said. Channel 11 tagged along with students fom St. Vincent College on their journey just to lay eyes on Pope Francis. Ah, its just amazing, this many people are this excited to see the pope, Jenna Gosich said. Not only the faithful, but EMTs from Elizabeth Township, Fayette County, Mon Valley and Monessen were among local emergency crews helping keep the masses safe in Philadelphia. The popes messages in Philadelphia had a lasting impact. He met privately with victims of sexual abuse and gave a statement that proved to be a foreshadowing of things to come. He said God weeps "for the sexual abuse of children- these cannot be maintained in secret." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, the Pennsylvania grand jury report rocked the catholic church, with cases of sex abuse of children, many of which were covered up. Not long after that report, the pope issued a public letter, saying: We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them, and promising change. One big change Cardinal Donald Wuerl, named in the grand jury report many times for his time as bishop of Pittsburgh, would resign. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Rome He was a populist leader, often referred to as the "People's Pope." As pontiff, Francis, who died Monday at age 88, sought to bring the Church closer to the people, stating early in his papacy that he wanted to have a poorer Church "for the poor." He was known for being driven around in unflashy cars and for making folksy gestures, like taking trips into Rome to buy an item at the store. He was brilliant at playing to the press, creating the sorts of photo-ops that would draw attention to his areas of interest. He'd often speak extemporaneously while on papal voyages, particularly toward the beginning of his papacy, fielding questions on the flight. That made his papal trips a must-attend event for the press covering him. For those of us who got to travel with Pope Francis, we could see how he'd interact over the course of days with various dignitaries and his wider flock of the faithful. He'd appear particularly energized and engaged, lighting up when with children or in an audience with those who were cast aside, living on the margins of society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He died just a day after surprising many with a brief appearance in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, blessing thousands of people and sounding stronger as he did so than he had since his release from a Rome hospital at the end of March. Pope Francis offers a blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2024 / Credit: Stefano Spaziani/Europa Press via Getty Images We wanted to look back on his papacy, his legacy, and also look forward to the next pope, so we asked veteran Vatican correspondent Francis X. Rocca to meet recently on the terrace of a convent in Rome, with a spectacular view out over St. Peter's Basilica, for a chat about Pope Francis. We look back, and ahead. Below is a partial transcript from our conversation, which has been edited for clarity. SETH DOANE: What is Pope Francis' legacy? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Well, I suppose it depends on whom you ask. I mean, for women, for example, he certainly was someone who brought women in the Vatican, and gave them higher positions than had ever been the case. It's still a relatively small number, but that was certainly a very dramatic change. For conservatives, he started by giving them heartburn and ended up by giving practically a heart attack. It was quite a dramatic confrontation. In some ways was a polarizing pope. At the same time that he really pushed the envelope and allowed things to be spoken about that had been considered closed, whether on sexual ethics, on medical ethics. In a way, because of his very informal style of discourse, talking to journalists, giving interviews, press conferences, he seemed to give permission to people to criticize him, too, even if that wasn't his intention. So the debate became much more heated during his pontificate. SETH DOANE: Why was Pope Francis seen as such a divisive figure? Why did conservatives dislike him? FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Well, I think there were a number of reasons. One is that he had a very loose attitude toward tradition, let's put it that way. From the very beginning, when he stepped out on the loggia in the front of St. Peter's Basilica, and he didn't wear the red cape that was customary on that occasion before he even said a word, already people started to get nervous, conservatives started to get nervous that he was just not going to respect tradition. Pope Francis delivers his first And he broke it in small ways like that, but he also tested it in bigger ways. And, for example, relatively late in his pontificate, gave permission for the blessings of same-sex couples. They tried to present that as something that was consistent with tradition, but it certainly wasn't seen that way by conservatives. And especially in Africa, where basically all the bishops of sub-Saharan Africa protested and wanted a kind of exemption from this new permission, which is extraordinary. And that's just a very clear illustration how divisive things became, when you have an entire continent a continent where the Church is growing very quickly taking a completely different stand from other parts of the Church. That happened under Pope Francis, and it happened because he made a bold move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SETH DOANE: Conservative Catholics in America were some of his loudest critics. FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Yes, that's right. He had a the majority of the U.S. bishops were not on board with his priorities, I think that's pretty clear. The pope and his allies among the U.S. bishops, who are a minority, wanted to play down abortion. The pope hated abortion, but he wanted to play [it] down, with respect to social and environmental and economic issues, or at least put them on an equal plane. That's maybe the better way to put it. The U.S. bishops have for years said that opposition to abortion is their "preeminent priority." And the pope and his allies didn't want that, and they weren't able to persuade the majority of U.S. bishops about that, and that became a very, very big point of tension. SETH DOANE: We traveled with the pope together. One of the things that struck me was how he was with kids he would kind of come alive in a way. FRANCIS X. ROCCA: He was very approachable. He was very informal. That was the one of the beguiling, charming things, charismatic things about him. His predecessors are John Paul was a very charismatic figure, very telegenic, but he was not so relaxed. And Pope Francis had an ordinary style that appealed to people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SETH DOANE: Pope Francis was known as the "People's Pope." He was known to reach out to try to pull in the masses. FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Yeah. He was also a populist pope, with a kind of political resonance. His style was very much to try to have a bond with the people, with implicitly or sometimes not so implicitly, against the elites, in this case, the hierarchy: the bishops and the cardinals. He kind of played off of them. And he was always sort of suggesting that the elites, even the Diocesan clergy priests and parish priests, could be aloof from their people, could be too rigid, could be too attached to luxury or to privilege. And so he was always beating that drum and saying, "No. I'm with the people." SETH DOANE: This pope tried to tackle sexual abuse issues within the clergy, within the Church. He tried to tackle the vast bureaucracy and economic issues in the Church. How did he do? FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Well, I his record on sex abuse was mixed. And I think actually not up to the level that people had expected of him. He had a kind of a distaste for disciplining the priests and bishops compared with his predecessor, Pope Benedict. Pope Benedict the high water mark in terms of discipline of abusive clergy. Pope Francis stepped back a bit from that. He got in trouble for that in Chile, when he was very stubbornly supportive of a bishop who'd been accused of covering up sex abuse. He finally backed down, but it was an embarrassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SETH DOANE: What were some of the big issues under Pope Francis' papacy? FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Well, certainly a big issue was his relative leniency on questions of marriage, the family, and sexuality. The single most famous statement from his pontificate was the one he made at his very first press conference in 2013, which was, "Who am I to judge?" He was talking, in that case, about gay priests. But he could have been talking about divorced Catholics, whom he allowed to take communion, in many cases, which had not been the practice before. He could have been talking about Catholics who use contraception. Pope Francis didn't change teaching formally on any of these issues. But what he did was signal that it was OK to have different points of view about them, that it was not a priority that he was not censuring anyone. And, in fact, some of his advisors here explored, for example, the possibility of relaxing the ban on contraception that had been so controversial since Pope Paul VI had reaffirmed it in 1968. So those are some issues. Another issue: He had a rapprochement with China, which was controversial, even among Chinese Catholics, where he agreed to share responsibility for choosing Catholic bishops in China with the Communist government there. And that was controversial. He felt that it was important to have dialogue and to keep the Church unified at some level, but a lot of the Catholics who resisted government control in China resented that and felt that he was selling them out. SETH DOANE: One of the regular criticisms of this pope was that he sowed confusion. Why was that heard so often? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Well, he played with ambiguity. A lot of his statement were made in an informal manner at press conferences and in interviews, not in doctrinal documents that came out from the Vatican. And so therefore he, you know, when he says, "Who am I to judge?" well, what does that mean? Conservatives tried very hard to read that in a way very consistent with strict tradition. And you could if you wished. But the pope was very media savvy. He knew how his comments would play. He knew how his soundbites and headlines would play, and so when he made a statement like that, he knew that most people would read that as meaning that sexual morality, or at least in that case, was a matter of conscience, that people could follow their own conscience. That's not explicitly what he said, but when he said, "Who am I to judge?" he seemed to be saying, "This is a private affair, this is someone with his own conscience." And that's how many people read it, even if he didn't explicitly say that. SETH DOANE: During his papacy, Pope Francis changed the feeling of the Church. You saw him driving around in simple cars, sometimes going out into Rome to buy something at a store. The feeling of who a pope is changed even in where he decided to live, at the Santa Marta Hotel, and not in the Apostolic Palace. FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Yeah, that's right, even wearing, you know, ordinary black shoes, or having his Argentinian passport renewed, wearing the white skull cap in the photo. That's true: He was definitely very deliberate. He wanted to make the pope seem more with the people, and to pull down some of the barriers. And that's why he had a very tactile, approachable style. It will be interesting to see if his successor feels the need to maintain that, or will go back to something more traditional and more formal. SETH DOANE: In the long arc of the Church's history, how much will Francis' papacy really have changed? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Well, the long march of papal history is very long indeed. One thing is he was the first pope from the Americas, and the first pope from the Global South. So he'll always have a place in the history books for that reason. Beyond that, it depends on what happens next. I mean, if the next pope is going to carry forward his progressive approach, and if that's going to continue and change the Church, and Church teaching is going to change on things like women's ordination, you know, or homosexuality, if it's actually going to change, then he will be a historic figure in that respect. If we go back to something more traditional, then that will be a kind of an anomaly. But he will remain in the history books because of where he's from. SETH DOANE: Looking ahead to the next pope, did Pope Francis, if you will, "stack the decks" enough that the College of Cardinals is likely to go with a more progressive, more liberal pope? Or does the pendulum swing the other way? FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Well, that's always the big question. Certainly Pope Francis was notable, and even some of his supporters acknowledge this, in not choosing people who didn't agree with him as cardinals. He tended to choose people like that. On the other hand, he chose a lot of people from far-flung regions, from places that had never had a cardinal before, about whom we know very little, and probably Pope Francis didn't know very much either. So that's a bit of a wild card. There's also the issue that cardinals tend to be pretty conservative people "conservative" with a small "c." They tend to want not to rock the boat too much, and Pope Francis rocked the boat continually. SETH DOANE: We could see a more conservative pope next? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FRANCIS X. ROCCA: Certainly it's very possible that we'll see a pope with a more conservative temperament, a more conservative governing style, a more conservative communicative style. Maybe not a hard-right conservative, in terms of doctrine, we might not get that. But we might get someone who's going to the College of Cardinals wants to calm the waters. It's been a very turbulent period under Pope Francis, and so they might want someone who will just not speak quite so often to the press, not stir things up, not shake things up for a while. We could be looking at that. Inside the monarch butterfly migration mystery: flying to Mexico from Canada, the U.S. Scientists warn what future bird flu mutations could mean for people | 60 Minutes What's next for AI at DeepMind, Google's artificial intelligence lab | 60 Minutes The jarring news of Pope Francis death on Monday morning, just hours after addressing Catholics and blessing thousands of people in Vatican Citys St. Peters Square on Easter Sunday, has local parishioners and the Archbishop of Los Angeles grieving. I join the family of God here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Catholics all over the world, in grieving the loss of our Holy Father, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said in a statement on lacatholics.org. There will be more to say in the days ahead, but in this moment I find myself reflecting with gratitude on the Holy Fathers many kindnesses and expressions of pastoral care for us here in Los Angeles. Gomez pointed out that Pope Francis was often mindful of the faithful in Los Angeles, home to the largest population of Catholics in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis dies at 88 He noted that the pontiff appointed seven auxiliary bishops to assist him with the massive diocese and often went out of his way to address developments in Los Angeles. People attend a memorial service outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in Los Angeles Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) It was just in January that he offered prayers and words of consolation as we faced the destruction caused by the wildfires in the Palisades and Altadena, Gomez said, adding that I will never forget his fraternal comfort as we mourned the sudden taking of our beloved Bishop David OConnell in 2023. Local Catholics gathered at churches across the world Monday to mourn the popes passing, including Masses held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos: Pope Francis through the years I feel very sad, one parishioner said as he headed to Mass. He acted as a Pope. He acted as Jesus Christ All the time, he met with poor people blessing, talking to people. That is his legacy. The Cathedrals first Mass was held at 7 a.m., with another scheduled for noon, at which the archbishop was expected to attend. In this beautiful Easter season, when we celebrate our hope in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we pray that the angels may lead Pope Francis into paradise, that the saints and martyrs welcome him, and that God in his mercy will make his face shine upon his faithful servant and grant him eternal rest in the love that never ends, Gomez said in his statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The archbishop also urged Catholics to honor Pope Francis legacy by serving the poor, caring for the earth and spreading the joy of the Gospel through evangelization. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Iran remains in ongoing contact with three European countriesthe UK, France, and Germanyunder the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), said Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmail Baghaei, Trend reports. Speaking at a press conference today in Tehran, Baghaei noted that these communications are part of consultations related to the ongoing negotiations in Muscat. He emphasized that discussions will continue with these countries as long as the United Nations Security Council's Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA remain in effect. Baghaei also addressed concerns raised by European countries regarding the expedited organization of discussions between Iran and the United States, as well as threats related to the activation of the "snapback" mechanism. He stated that Iran is making full use of every day to expedite the removal of unlawful sanctions against the country. However, he highlighted that for Iran, the speed of negotiations is crucial and dependent on the commitment of the other party. Statements from European countries about activating the snapback mechanism are not constructive. European countries need to make decisions on how they can play a constructive role in the Muscat negotiations and demonstrate their positions. Europe played a critical role in the formation of the JCPOA and has positive experience in assisting this process, he added. The second round of negotiations between Iran and the US was held on April 19 under the chairmanship of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The second round of talks between Iran and the US was conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi. The third round of these indirect talks is scheduled for April 26. On April 12, the first indirect talks between Iran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program took place in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The discussions were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs Steve Whitkoff. Sources indicate that the talks were conducted in a constructive and respectful atmosphere. On January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018. By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement. Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The life cycle of the muscular little plane they called the L1 Cicada was tragically short. Nearly a century later, hope lingers that another of these flying marvels could hatch. If luck breaks their way. The original Cicada lived and died in 1932. Frank Lynch, a World War I flight instructor and stunt pilot, had commissioned it to be built for $10,000 by Springfield aviation engineer Robert L. Hall so Lynch and his wife, Josephine, could fly it around the globe, just five years after Charles Lindberghs pioneering trans-Atlantic solo flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That journey was postponed after Josephine got pregnant. But Lynch was in Agawam on Dec. 4, 1932, for further test flights. After two successful takeoffs and landings that day, Lynch lost control of the plane when lifting off the grass field at the Bowles-Agawam Airport and crashed into a hangar. Dozens at the airfield witnessed the awful scene. When it hit the brick hangar, the Cicada was going nearly 100 mph. The impact ripped the nine-cylinder, 400-horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine from its mounts. The propeller snapped. A shredded electrical line ignited the planes fuel. The resulting explosion sent bricks flying 150 feet, according to news accounts in The Republican. Lynch, who could not be rescued due to the flames, was buried with military honors in his home town of Waterbury, Connecticut. The crash was attributed to pilot error, not mechanical defect. Today, designer Robert Halls son, Eric, is part of an effort to create a faithful replica of the Cicada, complete with its striking paint treatment conveying the look of the Mexican insect. They want to celebrate a golden age of civil aviation in the Springfield area, when people like Hall created flying racers that pushed the envelope on aeronautical design and competed in races around the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It kind of got forgotten, Matt Lawlor, an aviation historian who is one of the people working on the replica project, said of the L1 Cicada and planes like it. Perhaps too much so. Lawlor says that while he and others have amassed lots of information on the Cicada, after looking in every conceivable place, the team needs more specifics on the planes design before it can commission a new builder, Jim Jenkins of Washington State, to get to work. Lawlor is appealing to families in Western Massachusetts and beyond to share information they might have about the unique aircraft. We need more details on the plane. Every little piece of information helps along the way, Lawlor said. I believe the answers we are seeking are out there in someones attic or closet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding a working example of the Pratt & Whitney engine in the Cicada, the Wasp Junior, isnt a problem; the engines can be bought for around $50,000 today, according to Lawlor. The cost overall of the replica project is likely to be several hundred thousand dollars. The discovery of technical drawings or blueprints for the full plane would ensure success. That would be the pinnacle of what were looking for, Lawlor said. Even something as small as a 3-by-5-inch photo can tell us something, though that doesnt give you the inner workings of how the plane functioned. Anyone with information is invited to contact Lawlor by email at SpringfieldAircraftCo@gmail.com. Racing world Eric Hall, the designers son, says people often brought up this and other planes in conversations with his father. The elder Hall had studied mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, graduating in 1927, the year of Lindberghs solo flight. Aviation beckoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was hooked, Eric Hall said of his father. He wasted no time after graduating taking a job at the then-new aircraft company Fairchild. He was also attracted by the speed of aircraft and the changes it would bring to the world. Hall went to work in 1929 with the Granville Brothers Aircraft Co. in Springfield and was lead designer for the companys Gee Bee Z, nicknamed City of Springfield. The plane won the 1931 National Air Races held in Cleveland. The Great Depression was about to deflate interest in luxury products like airplanes. Hall broke away from Granville Brothers in 1931 and joined a flying school based at Springfields airport, before shifting to the Agawam airport (now the site of an industrial park) and founding the Springfield Aircraft Co. Hall was commissioned by Lynch to build the two-seated Cicada in March 1932 and the craft was ready just three months later, with its maiden flight on June 25, 1932, complete with a green, brown and ivory paint design, including large eyes on both sides of the engine, by George Agnoli of Springfield. Hall and Lynch flew it to Niagara, New York, on June 26. The plane placed fourth in an air race. The Cicada had also been flown in 1932 to Michigan, Ohio and Washington, D.C., before the December crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although there were a lot of planes of his design he could be proud of, the only pictures of planes in his den were of the Gee Bee Z, The Bulldog and the Cicada (other planes he designed). He was asked all his life about these planes. I am sure he was proud to be asked, Hall said in an email interview. Hall says he and his dad never spoke in depth about the Cicada, except about the fatal crash. The plane had been flown twice before that December day. When Lynch maneuvered it back to the grass field at around 2 p.m., pointing into the wind for takeoff, he appears to have pulled up the controls before reaching the proper speed, according to research by Lawlor. With the plane only a few feet off the ground, it suddenly shifted direction toward the hangar. Lynch didnt react in time and when he attempted to pull up to avoid the collision, it was too late. Robert Hall was at the Agawam airport that day and ran with others to the hangar, grabbed fire extinguishers and climbed to the roof. No one could get within 10 or 15 feet of the wreckage, the newspaper reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A state and federal investigation of the crash found that the plane had been mechanically sound. Lynch, 43, had failed a flight surgeons physical that summer due to high blood pressure and had gone to a friend to be cleared for a license, Lawlor said. While Lynch was adept at World War I planes, and had been a stunt pilot for Hollywood movies, he had been away from aviation as he built a successful business. In the meantime, planes had changed dramatically particularly in engine power, Lawlor notes. There was a big jump in technology there and he was trying to catch up, he said of Lynch. Lawlor has been in touch with Lynch family members, including a stepson of Franks who is now 100 years old. None of those family members have been able to come up with records or designs of the Cicadas short life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The little plane lived on in Robert Halls memory, his son says, even after he closed the Springfield Aircraft Co. in 1933 and moved on, in 1936, to a long career with Grumman, a major aircraft manufacturer. At Grumman, he helped to design and test aircraft used in World War II, among them the Grumman Wildcat, Hellcat, Avenger, Goose, Bearcat and Tigercat. Halls time with Grumman included a shift to the age of jet aircraft. He retired as a vice president in 1970; Hall died in 1991 at age 85. I am convinced he liked the plane a lot. It must have been a beautifully flying airplane, Eric Hall said of the Cicada. To Halls knowledge, there is no current replica. He is designing a remote-control flying model of the Cicada, aided by drawings by Lawlor. As I do, I am designing it with as much exact detail structure in it as the real plane had, he said. This will include modeling internal steel tubular structure and wing rib details, for instance. It could be the basis of a full-scale replica. For Hall, having a true working replica Cicada would build public understanding of a time when small firms, like the Springfield Aircraft Co. started by his dad, chased dreams of racing glory with what he terms a very high standard of aeronautical design and aircraft workmanship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the people of Springfield would be proud that the Cicada was designed and built there, another example of the time that Springfield was the center of the air racing world, Hall said. Jenkins, the likely builder of the replica, is from Connecticut and constructed a version of another plane designed by Hall, the Gee Bee. He could not be reached for comment. A personal journey Lawlor, who is 40 and grew up in Agawam, is the sparkplug of the venture. He says he fell in love with airplanes as a child and recalls that damage from the 1932 crash could still be seen at the airport hangar until the structure was demolished in the early 1980s. He thinks of the racers from Halls era as muscle cars of the sky a lot of horsepower in small packages. Hes been studying the history of Springfield-area plane manufacturers for two decades. It started this personal journey for myself, said Lawlor, who now lives in North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Eric Hall is his co-pilot of sorts. Hes been a huge help in this whole process, Lawlor said of Hall. He wants to see this built as much as we do. Under Federal Aviation Administration rules, the replica would be categorized as an experimental aircraft. Lawlor is confident the team could build a plane that is safe and reliable just as the original Cicada was for half a year, until Lynchs mistakes on takeoff that December day. The goal is to get it to Massachusetts, so it can be seen and appreciated, Lawlor said of the replica. After that? Retire it to a museum where it can live on forever, he said. Its such a forgotten piece of aviation history. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Louisiana lawmaker wants to crack down on companies that book and resell restaurant reservations without the restaurants permission. House Bill 90, sponsored by Rep. Troy Hebert (R-Lafayette), would prohibit third-party platforms from listing or selling restaurant reservations unless they have a written agreement with the food service establishment. The bill was approved unanimously by the House Commerce Committee and now heads to the full House for consideration. The legislation was prompted by complaints from Louisiana restaurants about AI-powered bots and booking services that snap up high-demand reservations and resell them for hundreds or even thousands of dollars online. Hebert pointed to one instance during Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans when a four-top table at a fine dining restaurant was resold for more than $2,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not trying to prevent anyone from operating this kind of business, Hebert said during the April 15 committee meeting. All were saying is, if youre going to do it, you need to have the written authorization of the restaurant owner. Michelin Guide expands to Southern US, includes Louisiana The Louisiana Restaurant Association supports the bill, citing confusion and frustration from diners who unwittingly purchased reservations through unauthorized resellers. LRA President Stan Harris said complaints first surfaced at Commanders Palace when guests began asking about fees they had paid to third-party sites. Under the bill, the Louisiana Attorney General would have the authority to fine violators up to $1,000 per violation, per day. All fines collected would go into the states consumer protection fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A third-party restaurant reservation platform is defined in the bill as any website, app, or online service that facilitates reservations at restaurants but is not operated by the restaurant itself. Exceptions are made for platforms that have a contractual relationship with the restaurant. If passed, the law would add a new section titled the Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy provision to the states consumer protection statutes. Trump targets ticket scalpers and high live event fees: Price-gouging Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Sen. John Kennedy on Sunday gave an on-brand, quirky response to concerns that President Donald Trump is defying court orders. Do you believe that President Trump is following the orders of the courts right now? NBC News Kristen Welker asked the Republican from Louisiana on Meet the Press. Yes, and I dont believe that President Trump will defy a federal judges order. If he does, Ill call him out on it, he said. I love the rule of law. I love it like the devil loves sin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several times in recent months, the Trump administration has appeared to defy court orders, such as chartering deportation flights despite a judge telling them not to; refusing to give the Associated Press access to cover events despite a judge ruling against the White House; and not bringing Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who has legal protection from deportation to El Salvador, back to the U.S. after it deported him there. The Trump administration has defended its actions, in some cases arguing a court issuing an order lacked jurisdiction. In the Abrego Garcia case, however, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in, unanimously affirming a lower court ruling that ordered the administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. But the administration is still claiming its hands are tied and is now arguing the courts have no power over the case because it involves the presidential power of conducting foreign affairs. These clashes are testing the entire constitutional order, with some judges weighing holding the administration in criminal contempt for defying their directives. That option is complicated because the federal courts rely on the Department of Justice to enforce criminal contempts, and the attorney general, Pam Bondi, has made it clear that she does not think the DOJ has independence from the White House. For his part, Kennedy, a consistent Trump ally, argued that the courts must be obeyed, but he didnt think the president was rejecting their orders: If we start not following federal judicial orders, we undermine the system entirely. Now, that doesnt mean you cant criticize them. You can criticize them. You can appeal them. But you cant choose to not follow them, Kennedy said. And I havent seen President Trump do that. If he does, Ill say very loudly and clearly that I think hes wrong. These days, success in todays job market doesnt necessarily mean going to college. With the nations second largest school district now offering nearly 450 Career and Technical Education programs across 160 schools, Los Angeles Unified students are embracing CTE. More than 47,000 students have access to programs that range from internships and dual enrollment courses to clubs, electives and required classes aligned with core academic subjects. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Earlier this month, hundreds of high schoolers demonstrated new skills at the California Endowment Center, from horticulture to computer programming, while middle school students toured booths and explored the programs they could soon join. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to go into landscaping, designing peoples yards, said senior Serenity Flores, who takes a horticulture class at Sylmar Charter High School. And this class kind of brought me around to that. District data shows these offerings are growing fast. The number of paid student interns more than doubled, rising from just over 700 in 202324 to more than 1,600 this school year. Industry certifications have also grown in popularity. Students earned more than 6,000 credentials in 2023-24, a 60% increase from the previous year, in areas like Microsoft Office, food handling and CPR. One reason for the increase is the rise of Linked Learning, a California-based program that blends academics with career exploration and college credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Linked Learning initiative began in 2009 as a pilot in nine school districts. Today, its grown to more than 50 districts. In LAUSD, over 21,000 students participated during the 202324 school year. Romeros school, Hilda Solis High School in Boyle Heights, is one of many that offers a Linked Learning pathway. I really enjoy it because it shows that Im capable of doing things like this, said Ivan Romero, who is enrolled in the schools engineering design class. To meet rising demand, the district announced a two-year pilot program in 2024 to trai new CTE teachers. LAUSD officials said the move was to address the growing need for skilled educators in CTE programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pilot will support 25 new CTE teachers per year and pair each with a mentor. According to a U.S. Department of Education study, students who took two or more CTE courses had a 94% graduation rate, compared to 86% for those who didnt. Employers are also on board, with 96% viewing CTE applicants favorably. Many of these students are graduating high school with certifications or finished college courses. Basically, when they graduate, they can start working, said an LAUSD spokesman. The emphasis on it is, when they get out of college, theyre ready to go to work. Although most students said the courses help build on their college plans or inform them of higher education choices, some have chosen blue-collar and trade programs as an alternative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sergio Garcia, a senior at Banning High School, gets to learn how to put out fires and do CPR from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Other students said they had never thought of becoming a firefighter before being introduced to the course. Now they can expect to have certifications and be working for fire departments straight out of high school. Some educators say all students, not just the ones in blue-collar programs, should have that opportunity. Darryl Sher, who teaches the robotics club at LACES Magnet School, said students are often told college is the only route. CTE programs show otherwise. Related How Rhode Island Is Tapping Career & Technical Ed to Help Every Student Succeed Most of them are going to college, but they could get jobs in tech right out of high school, Sher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if the majority of students plan to go to college, or need a degree to pursue their ultimate career goals, there are plenty of programs to help students earn money right out of high school. Some have automotive programs, some have food safety courses, Frank said, highlighting auto repair and customer service jobs as starting industries for many students. They can get a job and do something that can support their college education. This article was published with the support of XQ Institute and is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Jonah Bevin, adoptive son of former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and Glenna Bevin, speaks to attorney Dawn Post, left, in court in Louisville, March 21, 2025. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool) LOUISVILLE At a hearing Monday over Jonah Bevins effort to intervene in the divorce case of his adoptive parents, former Gov. Matt Bevin and his ex-wife Glenna, lawyers debated a flurry of motions that offer sharply different claims about Jonahs care. The recent filings even raise questions about Jonahs age whether he is 18, as he had believed, or just 17 because of a conflict in records that recently came to light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Bevin, in a filing Friday, said Jonahs claims of neglect, abandonment and abuse are not grounded in fact or law and are, instead, intended to garner media attention and outrage. The truth is entirely different and it is heartbreaking to Matt to see his son caught up in this web, it said, adding that Jonah is deeply loved by his entire family and cites Matt Bevins unshakable love and commitment for his son. Glenna Bevin, in a separate filing, said she is very sad about the contentious legal proceedings, adding she loves her son Jonah and wants only the best for him. Matt Bevin listens during a court hearing in Louisville on March 21. His adoptive son, Jonah Bevin, was granted a protective order against the former Kentucky governor. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool) Both Matt and Glenna Bevin are subject to protective orders barring them from contact with Jonah, who sought the orders last month in Jefferson Family Court, alleging they attempted to send him on a hastily arranged trip to Ethiopia, supposedly to meet his birth mother, whom he believed was deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dawn J. Post, a child advocate and lawyer representing Jonah, said she has not been able to find any evidence Jonahs birth mother is alive. Jonah, in a filing Monday, restated his allegations he was abandoned by the Bevins in Jamaica after child welfare authorities closed the Atlantis Youth Academy for abuse and neglect, removing residents and leaving him for a time in the custody of the Jamaican child welfare system. Where is the love my parents said they had for me because they didnt show it when they left and ignored me. Other parents came to get their kids, he said in an affidavit. My parents either lied or left out the truth over and over. Because of that Ive been on my own. Ive been trying to speak up because nobody else has done it for me. Jefferson Family Court Judge Angela Johnson Monday heard arguments over whether to permit Jonah to intervene in the Bevins divorce case in order to prevent them from reaching a confidential settlement. The Courier Journal also is objecting to keeping such a settlement private, saying court records generally are open to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonah has asked to intervene in the case to protect his interests including any potential child support or educational benefits. But Mark Dobbins, a lawyer for Glenna Bevin, argued Monday Kentucky law does not permit a child to intervene in a parents divorce case to seek support. He acknowledged the case involves a super sad situation, but said what Jonah is seeking is not allowed under the law. Jesse Mudd, a lawyer for Matt Bevin, agreed, saying there is no legal basis for that claim. However, John Helmers, a lawyer for Jonah, said the teen should be allowed to have a voice in the case. We ask that the court permit him to have that voice and the simple reason is that no one else is acting to his interests, Helmers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for keeping the Bevins proposed divorce settlement confidential, their lawyers argued that while the law requires the judge to review it, it does not require it be made public. Helmers called that a trust us argument with no guarantee Jonah would be able to view it in time to protect his interests. Michael Abate, a lawyer for the Courier Journal, said court records are presumed to be public in Kentucky absent a compelling reason. The fact that Matt Bevin, as governor, and Glenna Bevin, as first lady, made improving foster care and adoption a primary goal, heightens public interest in the outcome of the divorce case, he said. Now weve seen very serious allegations they failed to provide for one of their minor adopted children, Abate said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mudd argued that Matt Bevin is no longer governor and the Bevins should be allowed to keep their divorce settlement, including financial information, private. Abate replied that doesnt apply in the case of Bevin, elected in 2015 as a one-term Republican governor. Hes a public figure for life, Abate said. The lawyers also debated over whether records about Jonahs age are accurate. Jonah has reported to the court his exact age is in dispute; recently obtained records show he may be only 17 instead of 18, as he previously believed. I feel that I am not real, Jonah said in his affidavit. No one knows my real age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A motion filed Friday by his lawyers says Jonah, who was one of four children adopted by the Bevins in 2012 from Ethiopia, said records the Bevins recently provided show conflicting birth dates. One of the records the Bevins provided shows Jonahs birth date as November 2006, which Jonah had thought was his true birth date, and the other, November 2007, the motion said. Dobbins said only one of the multiple records provided to Jonah showed the birth date as 2007 and that appears to be in error. But if Jonah is just 17, and still a minor, that could affect his pending case, Helmers said. Prior to the recent filings, court records have said the Bevins five biological children are adults and that only one of the four adopted children is a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It makes Jonahs case for intervening in the Bevins divorce stronger since the court has a greater responsibility toward minor children, Helmers said. Matt Bevins motion objecting to Jonah intervening in the divorce case dismissed the issue, saying that it was undisputed the teen turned 18 in November 2024 and therefore is emancipated. He and Glenna Bevin both ask, in separate motions, that Jonahs request to intervene as a party in their divorce case be denied. Jonah, in his affidavit, disagrees, saying his alleged abuse, neglect and abandonment deserve consideration. The court cant just let this go on like it didnt happen, it said. Im not just a name on paper. Im a real person. What happened to me was real. Leaving me out of this case says it didnt happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson, the judge, said she will try to rule as soon as possible, telling the lawyers: Youve given me a lot to think about. This story has been updated with reporting from the hearing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On Thursday, a student at Florida State University shot and killed two people, while injuring six others, according to police. Soon after, a reporter asked Donald Trump for his reaction to the latest deadly school shooting, specifically inquiring as to whether the president would consider new legislation to prevent gun violence. The Republican characterized the developments at FSU as a shame, but added, These things are terrible, but the gun doesnt do the shooting the people do. I suppose theres a degree of truth to that guns dont pull their own triggers but its also true that killers dont throw their bullets at their victims. Rather, they use weapons, and those weapons can be regulated by the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president, however, apparently doesnt want to take any such steps. On the contrary, as The New York Times reported, he and his administration seem eager to move in the opposite direction, with plans to roll back an array of gun control measures. The Justice Department also plans to create a path for people with criminal convictions to own guns again, and has threatened investigations of states it perceives to be violating Second Amendment rights. Since Mr. Trump took office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is tasked with stemming the spread of illegal guns, has been weakened by staff departures and by the diversion of agents from core duties to immigration enforcement. When thinking about the differences between the presidents first term and his second, this issue is high on the list. As I noted in my first book (see chapter 8), it was in February 2018, in the wake of a mass school shooting, when Trump held a televised, hourlong discussion with a group of lawmakers from both parties about gun violence. As part of the conversation, then-Vice President Mike Pence raised the prospect of empowering law enforcement to take weapons away from those whove been reported to be potentially dangerous, though he added that he expected to see due process so no ones rights are trampled. Take the firearms first and then go to court, Trump interjected. At the same event, the then-president endorsed a law enforcement model in which police officers confiscated some Americans guns whether they had the right or not. When Republicans derailed those negotiations and nothing passed, there was another mass shooting a year later, at which point Trump again wanted a gun bill, including restrictions on assault rifles which, according to multiple accounts, was one of his long-sought goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, as recently as his first term, the president sought ambitious gun reforms up to and including extrajudicial gun confiscations. Last week, after the FSU murders, the Republican added, I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. But in the recent past, Trump had those same responsibilities, and it didnt stop him from endorsing measures that mightve saved lives. Now, evidently, he no longer wants to bother with the effort. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com As last week got underway, one of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths top advisers, Dan Caldwell, was escorted from the Pentagon. Soon after, Darin Selnick, another top member of Hegseths team was out, too. The same day, nearly every member of the Pentagons Defense Digital Service described as the departments fast-track tech development arm announced that theyre resigning. Soon after, Colin Carroll, the chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was also removed from the Pentagon. As the week progressed, so too did the turmoil. Joe Kasper, Hegseths chief of staff, wasnt fired, but he was reassigned to a different role in the department. Around the same time, John Ullyot, the Pentagons former top spokesperson, was also asked to resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the week came to an end, three of those who were ousted Caldwell, Carroll and Selnick issued a joint statement explaining that they were incredibly disappointed by how their service at the Pentagon ended, adding that unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks. And just when it seemed things couldnt get much worse, they got worse. NBC News reported: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used his personal phone to send information about U.S. military operations in Yemen to a 13-person Signal group chat, including his wife and his brother, two sources with knowledge of the matter confirmed to NBC News. He did so after an aide had warned him to be careful not to share sensitive information on an unsecure communications system before the Yemen operation, the sources said. These allegations, of course, come on the heels of Hegseths prominent role in last months Signal chat scandal the controversy some have labeled Signalgate thats currently under investigation by the Department of Defenses inspector generals office. (Hegseth continues to deny allegations that he shared classified information through unsecured channels. The White House echoed the denial.) You know, what a big surprise that a bunch of leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that pedaled the Russia hoax, Hegseth told reporters at the White House on Monday when asked about the latest revelations. (The Russia scandal was quite real, no matter how many times Trump's allies pretend otherwise.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me. The New York Times was first to report on the existence of the second Signal chat, and it relied on four Pentagon sources reinforcing the point that there are some key figures in the Pentagon who arent just aware of Hegseths failures and abuses, but who are also letting journalists know about his failures and abuses. But wait, theres more. As the public learned of these new allegations, Ullyot, who had been a top spokesman at the Defense Department before he left his job there last week, wrote a devastating piece for Politico describing the total chaos and full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon. The building is in disarray under Hegseths leadership, Ullyot wrote. The dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ullyot, who worked on Donald Trumps campaign and held prominent posts in the presidents first term, added, President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, its hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer. Hegseths tenure as the secretary of defense was already a disaster before the Signal chat scandal broke last month, but conditions are spectacularly worse now. In a normal and healthy political environment, Hegseth would have no choice at this point but to start writing his resignation letter and putting his belongings in a cardboard box. Then again, in a normal and healthy political environment, a president wouldnt have nominated a manifestly unqualified, scandal-plagued television personality to lead the Defense Department, and in a normal and healthy political environment, his nomination wouldve received zero confirmation votes in the Senate. Indeed, as the chaos intensifies at the Pentagon, I find myself looking anew at the roll call on Hegseths confirmation, when 50 Republican senators put aside everything they knew about the nominee and put him in an incredibly important and challenging position. As the scandal mounts, they bear as much responsibility as anyone. This story has been updated with additional information. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues to monitor Iran's nuclear program, said the spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghaei, Trend reports. Speaking at a press conference held today in Tehran, Baghaei emphasized that one of the main functions of the IAEA is to monitor nuclear programs in member countries. In the case of Iran, the IAEA is acting within the framework of the established commitments between Iran and the agency. The spokesperson also clarified that IAEA inspections and oversight will be conducted following predetermined schedules and protocols, ensuring continued compliance with international norms. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, visited Iran on April 16 and held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and with Iranian Vice President and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami. In March 2023, an agreement was reached between Iran and the IAEA, and a statement was issued. Under the agreement, Iran's cooperation with the IAEA is aligned with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and safeguards, and both sides are expected to collaborate on the claims regarding the existence of enriched uranium in Iran's nuclear program. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Shortly after Donald Trump grudgingly left the White House following his 2020 defeat, he was effectively banned from most major social media platforms and made few television appearances. With this in mind, The New York Times described Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson as Trump's successor as the Republican Partys foremost amplifier of conspiracy theories and disinformation. The senator has seemed a little too eager to prove his critics right, peddling bizarre and easily discredited nonsense about Covid-19. And the Jan. 6 attack. And vaccines. And climate change. And the 2020 presidential election. And the 2024 presidential election. Its apparently time to add the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to the list. Mediaite noted: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) suggested Monday that the US government may have played a role in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks during an interview with MAGA influencer Benny Johnson on The Benny Show. Though it seemed difficult to believe, after the far-right host asked the Wisconsin Republican what he wants to know about 9/11, Johnson said, "Well, start with Building 7, adding that he believes there was a controlled demolition at the World Trade Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went on to say, Who ordered the removal and the destruction of all that evidence, totally contrary to any other firefighting investigation procedures? I mean, who ordered that? Who was in charge? I think theres some basic information. Wheres all the documentation from this investigation? There are a host of questions that I want and I will be asking, quite honestly, now that my eyes have been opened up. He did not appear to be kidding. Johnson claimed hes been in touch with former Rep. Curt Weldon about this (the Pennsylvania Republican talked to Tucker Carlson last week about his theories), and when the host asked whether the public might see hearings on the subject, Johnson replied, I think so, adding, Hopefully, now with this administration, we can find out what is being covered up. At this point, its probably worth reminding readers that, in the recent past, Senate Republicans thought itd be a good idea to put Johnson in charge of the Senate Homeland Security Committee for six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Larry Glickman, a historian at Cornell University, noted that it's "incredible" that a sitting senator "can say something like this with every expectation that such comments will not be grounds for bipartisan calls for his immediate resignation or removal from office." Ahead of his 2022 re-election campaign, the editorial board of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Johnson was unfit for office and called him the most irresponsible representative of Wisconsin citizens since the infamous Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy in the 1950s. Four years later, hes vastly worse. There was a time in the recent past when being a 9/11 truther would've been seen as disqualifying for a U.S. senator. Johnson appears to know that this time is apparently over. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. * Oaklands mayoral race was a competitive contest, but over the weekend, former Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee prevailed, and her principal rival, Loren Taylor, conceded. * In the first quarter of the year, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee narrowly outraised its Republican counterpart, $36.9 million to $36.7 million. The gap had been larger, but the National Republican Congressional Committee had an especially strong March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * In New Hampshires 2026 U.S. Senate race, Democrats are quickly coalescing around Rep. Chris Pappas: Rep. Maggie Goodlander decided not to take Pappas on in a primary, and Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan endorsed the congressman on Friday. * Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official, launched a Democratic U.S. Senate campaign in Michigan last week, and soon after, he was endorsed by independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. * In Illinois, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin hasnt officially announced his electoral plans for next year, but his lackluster fundraising has reinforced speculation that the longtime incumbent will retire ahead of the 2026 election cycle. * Democratic Rep. David Scott of Georgia has faced scrutiny of late about his health, and it was against this backdrop that former Gwinnett County Board of Education chair Everton Blair launched a primary campaign against the incumbent congressman last week. Democratic state Sen. Emanuel Jones is also running in the same race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * And in Nevada, then-Gov. Steve Sisolak was the only Democratic governor to lose in the 2022 election cycle, coming up short against Republican Joe Lombardo. As the 2026 cycle approaches, Sisolak is reportedly eyeing a possible rematch. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com In recent weeks, theres been an air of mystery surrounding Donald Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause to much of his agenda on trade tariffs. Literally one day earlier, the White House insisted that the president wasnt even considering such a move, and that declaration followed Trump himself declaring that his tariffs were here to stay and would never change. It was against this backdrop that The Wall Street Journal reported on some striking behind-the-scenes details on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick circumventing Peter Navarro when he briefly stopped hovering around the Oval Office and went to a meeting elsewhere in the White House. It was at that point, the Journal reported, based on multiple sources, that the Cabinet secretaries made their move. They rushed to the Oval Office to see Trump and propose a pause on some of the tariffswithout Navarro there to argue or push back. They knew they had a tight window. The meeting with Bessent and Lutnick wasnt on Trumps schedule. The two men convinced Trump of the strategy to pause some of the tariffs and to announce it immediately to calm the markets. They stayed until Trump tapped out a Truth Social post, which surprised Navarro, according to one of the people familiar with the episode. The reporting hasnt been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, and the article is filled with a variety of quotes from spokespersons representing Bessent, Lutnick, Navarro and the White House, who downplayed allegations of internal divisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, if the Journal's account is accurate, it tells us quite a bit about conditions inside the Trump administration. For one thing, functional White Houses are not supposed to work this way, with Cabinet secretaries quietly scheming to work around a misguided anti-trade trade adviser. For another, if the Journals report is correct, it reflects an implicit acknowledgement that Trump has no real understanding of his own policy agenda, which in turn creates an environment in which Cabinet secretaries, confident in the knowledge that the president will agree with the last person he spoke to, have to engage in skullduggery to prevent global economic ruin. But just as important, if not more so, is the emerging and deepening fissures within Trumps team. It would appear, for example, that Bessent and Lutnick have linked arms, and they see Navarro as an internal rival. But this is hardly the only relevant crack. Elon Musk has also clashed with Navarro, with the former calling the latter a moron and dumber than a sack of bricks. Meanwhile, Bessent and Musk are also apparently on opposing sides. So are Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Rubio and the West Wing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout American history, there have been administrations with rival factions, but those divisions usually take time. On Team Trump, the cracks are bursting into view just three months after Inauguration Day. In theory, a strong president could intervene, resolve differences, unite his or her own team and establish a clear vision for his or administration to follow. In practice, however, Trump appears content to play the role of President Bystander, watching these divisions get even worse. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com UPDATE (April 21, 2025, 6:15 p.m. ET): On Monday, Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, with the schools president warning that the consequences of the governments overreach will be severe and long-lasting. It started with a weird letter. On April 11, Harvard University officials received a series of outlandish written demands from the Trump administration, including a request to install outside auditors who would monitor the schools academic departments. The university realized that failure to comply with the ridiculous demands would result in governmental punishment. But left with little choice, Harvard balked anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The retaliation was swift: Immediately after Harvard said it would not comply with the apparent extortion attempt, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in multiyear grants to Harvard. (There are federal requirements in place when imposing financial penalties like these, and the Republican White House appears to have ignored those requirements.) The Department of Homeland Security secretary also canceled nearly $3 million in agency grants to Harvard, and at Trumps behest the IRS reportedly began scrutinizing the universitys tax-exempt status. But what if the match that lit this fuse was dropped in error? The New York Times, citing multiple sources, reported that the original letter to Harvard should not have been sent and was unauthorized. Its content was authentic, the three people said, but there were differing accounts inside the administration of how it had been mishandled. Some people at the White House believed it had been sent prematurely, according to the three people, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about internal discussions. Others in the administration thought it had been meant to be circulated among the task force members rather than sent to Harvard. If the administrations letter should not have been sent, was the White House prepared to retract it? Actually, no: Not only did a senior White House official tell the Times that the administration was standing by the letter, the same official went on the record to say it was malpractice for Harvards lawyers not to call administration officials about the contents of the ridiculous letter. Or put another way, the White House effectively argued, This mess is Harvards fault for not realizing that we shouldnt have sent our absurd correspondence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard representatives issued an official response of their own, noting that the original letter was signed by three federal officials, placed on official letterhead, was sent from the email inbox of a senior federal official and was sent on April 11 as promised. The university added, Recipients of such correspondence from the U.S. government even when it contains sweeping demands that are astonishing in their overreach do not question its authenticity or seriousness. Whats more, even if the April 11 letter was sent in error, that hasnt stopped the Trump administration from scrapping grants to Harvard in legally dubious ways amid reports that the White House might yet pull additional federal funds from the school. I wont pretend to know what might happen next in this multifaceted fiasco, but the apparent fact that the Trump administration accidentally sent its threatening demands to Harvard a point the White House is not contesting is emblematic of Team Trumps broader incompetence crisis. Indeed, its hard to even know where to start compiling a list. The Signal chat scandal was obvious evidence of the administrations incompetence, but so was Team Trumps decision to fire important government employees it scrambled to try to rehire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alas, we can keep going. When Donald Trump and his team disclosed Social Security numbers while releasing documents related to the John F. Kennedy assassination, it was a reminder that this White House has a competence problem. When the president and his team sent non-criminals to a prison in El Salvador while falsely claiming that they were gang members, it was a reminder that this White House has a competence problem. When Team Trumps DOGE operation repeatedly stepped on its own tail, including an instance in which it confused $8 billion and $8 million, it was a reminder that this administration has a competence problem. When the White House royally screwed up its Office of Management and Budget spending freeze memo, it was a reminder that it has a competence problem. The common thread tying together too many of the developments surrounding Trumps White House: These guys just dont seem to have any idea what theyre doing. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com MADISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) A Madison man pled guilty to two counts of possession of child exploitation material. Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.) said the case against Britton Butler was initiated from several Cybertips and was investigated and prosecuted by her office. Driver dies in Rankin County crash, vehicle submerged in pond My office will continue to hold those who exploit and prey on Mississippis children accountable, said Fitch. Together, we can make Mississippi a safer place for everyone. But we need your help. If you suspect a child is being exploited or abused, please report it to my office. Your tip could save a life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 16, Madison County Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Butler to 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) with eight years to serve day for day without the possibility of parole and five years of supervised probation. Britton Butler (Courtesy: Mississippi Attorney Generals Office) Butler was also ordered to pay $1,000 assessment to the Mississippi Childrens Trust Fund, a $1,000 assessment to the Mississippi Crime Victim Compensation Fund, $1000 to the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund. Butler will also have to register as a sex offender upon release. If you have information about a child being sexually exploited online, you can report it to 1-800-843-5678. You can also make a report online at www.cybertipline.org. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Mahomet teen battling cancer after knee pain led to diagnosis MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) The Robbins households usual discussions of Fortnite and Battlefield have been overshadowed by something else in the last month: cancer. 13-year-old Devin got the news while on spring break from school. Minor knee pain landed him at urgent care where doctors said he needed an MRI. Friend of Champaign stabbing victim looking to honor him through skating I initially was like, you slept on it wrong, Devins dad, Ryan Robbins, said. Maybe you twisted it going up the stairs at school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From there, Devin and Ryan traveled to Chicago for a biopsy where Devin was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. Its been rough, Ryan said. The news came on March 19. Now, a little over a month later, their lives have been forever changed. I mostly put it out of my mind, Devin said. [I] try not to think about it because I am most likely going to beat it. Budzinski, medical providers talk potential cuts to Urbanas Carle Hospital The seventh grader is recovering from his second round of chemo. Doctors say he has 27 more weeks to go. In just a few weeks, Devin and Ryan have driven hundreds of miles to and from appointments in Chicago. Both of them have shaved their heads in the short period of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We normally dont have any medical issues in the family, so this coming out of left field was pretty shocking, Ryan said. In the midst of physical pain and exhaustion, Devin said the support of family and friends is keeping him going. He said, along with his dad, one of his friends has shaved his head as well. Cards from teachers and countless classmates line the familys coffee table. You can fight this its hard but you got this, one of the notes reads. Champaign bakery, deli helping farmers amid federal cuts Devins positivity is also helping the rest of his family as they navigate this new chapter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes definitely taking it well for his age, Ryan said. Devin said hes feeling pretty good all things considered. He said overall pain has gone down ever since his first round of chemo, and is hopeful that continues. You can support Devins journey 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 WCIA.com. Supporters of paid family and medical leave policy rallied on the steps of the Maine State House in June 2023. One month later the policy became law. (Courtesy of Maine Women's Lobby) The states paid family and medical leave program will be center stage later this week as both Republicans and Democrats look to modify the new employee benefit. The Legislatures Labor Committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday afternoon for 13 bills to change the program that has yet to take effect for workers but has prompted some pushback among the business community, which has started making payments into the benefit system. The majority of the proposals seek to repeal or scale back the program, but others are looking to clarify the existing law or make it more accessible for employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill from Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick) is the only one with bipartisan support. LD 1712 hopes to strike a better balance between employee and employer interests by modifying how much an employer is required to contribute, when an employee needs to apply for the benefit and how much is paid out. Though it isnt expected to be available until May 2026, the paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child. Proponents have described it as a panacea and a way to make certain jobs more accessible, while opponents argued that certain requirements are too burdensome on employers. The Maine Department of Labor finalized the programs rules in December after an outpouring of input from employees and the business community. At the start of the year, Maine employers began withholding a portion of wages to pay into the new paid family and medical leave fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston), co-sponsors of the original legislation establishing the program, are introducing LD 894 on behalf of the department that would make a series of amendments to the current law to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. Daughtry said she plans to testify in strong and unequivocal opposition to the bills that want to delay, weaken, exempt or dismantle the program. Rather than waiting to see how Maines paid family and medical leave system operates and then making adjustments based on experience, Daughtry said the bills represent a reversal of course before the program has had a chance to begin. Maine workers deserve a strong benefits program and Ill be fighting to protect it, she said. There are two nearly identical proposals to repeal the program entirely. In addition, House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) has two bills to make the benefit voluntary for employers and employees (LD 1273) and delay its start until 2027 (LD 1249). All four pieces of legislation have emergency preambles, which means they would take effect immediately if passed by two-thirds of the Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another emergency proposal from Sen. Russell Black (R-Franklin)would exempt agricultural workers (LD 952). And though not an emergency measure, LD 1400 seeks to exempt certain public school districts and their employees from the benefit program. Rep. Mike Soboleski (R-Philips) has a bill (LD 1169) that would allow employers to get a refund for any premiums paid into the states plan if they are approved to use a private substitute plan. Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) is similarly looking to better accommodate employers wishing to use a substitute private plan with LD 1307. Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford) is proposing an amendment to the state constitution with LD 1221 to prohibit the Legislature from using paid family and medical leave program funds for any other purpose. Labor Committee co-chairs Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) and Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) are introducing LD 575 to remove a provision in the current law that requires leave to be scheduled. While that is meant to prevent undue hardship on an employer, the bill title says its removal would create more equitable access to the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan) is proposing a series of changes with LD 1333 that would seek to clarify the definition of self-employed individual and prevent employers from having to bargain with unions over the employees share of the program, among other tweaks. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Voces de la Frontera gather alongside allies in Milwaukee for a protest on May Day, 2021. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Maine voters send our elected officials to Washington to solve problems not make them worse. But Congress is moving forward with budget plans that would harm the health, stability, and well-being of Maines families, aging residents, and immigrant communities. Fortunately, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and our representatives have the opportunity to reject these dangerous proposals and fund real solutions. The proposals being advanced by Congress would slash funding for healthcare and food assistance that Mainers rely on and funnel billions into expanding the Trump administrations capacity to separate families and put immigrants in detention severely compromising our communities health, safety, and stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the oldest state in the country, Maine communities rely on Medicaid and a strong healthcare system to stay healthy. More than 350,700 Mainers rely on Medicaid, which faces billions in budget cuts under these proposals. These cuts could cause devastating damage to our healthcare economy. Community health centers serving 204,000 patients at 174 clinics across the state would likely have to close their doors, costing over 2,200 jobs. Our families also depend on food assistance, but the current budget proposals threaten to take it away. On top of the USDA cuts that pull food from the shelves of distributors like Good Shepherd Food Bank, Congresss proposals would sharply cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding, which feeds over 172,200 or one in eight Maine residents. While these budget plans make devastating cuts to programs that Maines young and old depend on, they authorize Congress to allocate billions to separate families and uproot workers who call Maine home. Immigrants are integral members of our states communities, but Congresss budget proposals include up to $350 billion potentially up to a half-trillion to drastically expand the Trump administrations ability to detain and deport our immigrant neighbors. The administrations Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency recently put out a request for proposal for new detention centers potential contracts totaling up to $45 billion. The funding to pay for them would come directly from taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The devastation from this inhumane investment would be felt most acutely by our families and economy. Over 20,500 children in Maine have at least one immigrant parent. As of 2023, nearly 53,450 immigrants live in Maine and though they make up only 3.8% of the states population, immigrant workers account for nearly 5% of the states labor force, filling critical gaps as older generations retire. In 2023 alone, Maines immigrant residents paid $625.8 million in taxes, contributing to the Medicare, Social Security, and other programs that Mainers depend on. Instead of taking taxpayers dollars away from healthcare and nutrition to fund family separation and tax breaks for the wealthy, Congress must invest in solutions that enhance the health, stability, and family unity of all Mainers. They should invest in less costly, more supportive services like legal representation that uphold the right to due process and help people navigate the immigration system without taking them away from their families, communities, and jobs. And they should maintain and support our nations longstanding investment in healthcare and food assistance. The stakes for our communities couldnt be higher, and the budget decisions made by Congress this spring will have long-lasting consequences. As Maines members of Congress move forward with their debates on budget reconciliation, we urge them to remember this: the health and stability of our communities is in your hands; we send you to Washington to solve problems and deliver solutions that give every Mainer a fair shot at building a safe, healthy, and meaningful life. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Major bridge projects and closures that are shaping Pierce County Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization This list of stories illustrates major bridge projects that are shaping Pierce County. Replacement efforts include the Spiketon Ditch Bridge on the Foothills Trail and the aging Fox Island Bridge. Funding is a challenge for large-scale projects like the Fox Island Bridge replacement, which could cost $250 million. The lahar evacuation bridge being built in Orting is meant to help residents evacuate the city following the eruption of Mount Rainier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Crews pave the approaches to the eastbound state Route 16 bridge in Purdy. Theyve since finished the work, and the bridge opened May 11, 2024 NO. 1: NEW STATE ROUTE 16 BRIDGE OPENS NEAR GIG HARBOR. THE SPEED LIMIT HAS BEEN UPDATED A path for bikers and pedestrians in the area will be next to open. | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Alexis Krell The Washington State Department of Transportation said in an updated press release that crews finished emergency repairs on the westbound Tacoma Narrows Bridge and poured concrete May 14, 2024. NO. 2: WHY DOESNT WSDOT SHIFT TRAFFIC TO THE OTHER NARROWS BRIDGE DURING EMERGENCY REPAIRS? If youre going to take two lanes, you need to give us options as motorists, one commuter said. | Published May 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Alexis Krell The Interlaaken Bridge over Steilacoom Lake in Lakewood is closed and will remain closed for repairs, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Lakewood, Wash. By Brian Hayes NO. 3: PIERCE COUNTY BRIDGE CLOSED FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. ITLL REOPEN AFTER $829K IN REPAIRS A city capital projects manager said parts of the bridge have rotted from the inside out. | Published June 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Becca Most The newly opened Foothills Trail bridge connects King and Pierce County over the White River, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Buckley, Wash. By Brian Hayes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NO. 4: NEW $16 MILLION BRIDGE EXTENDS POPULAR PIERCE COUNTY TRAIL TO 22 MILES, INTO KING COUNTY The span is also an emergency route. Vehicles and pedestrians can use it if a disaster damages the state Route 410 bridge, a news release said. | Published October 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Alexis Krell NO. 5: PROBLEMATIC TACOMA BRIDGE CLOSED TO CARS ONCE AGAIN. CITY WORKING TO REMEDY THE ISSUE Its the second time in as many months the span has closed due to a malfunction. | Published November 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Craig Sailor The Murray Morgan Bridge carries East 11th Street over the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, Washington. Photographed Jan. 1, 2025. By Adam Lynn NO. 6: TACOMA BRIDGE CLOSED TO VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS FOLLOWING MALFUNCTION, CITY SAYS The City of Tacoma says it would provide updates once they become available. | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Puneet Bsanti This is a possible style for the new pedestrian bridge proposed at Swan Creek Park. By Courtesy NO. 7: WHAT SHOULD TACOMAS NEWEST BRIDGE LOOK LIKE? AND WHERE SHOULD IT BE BUILT? Parks Tacoma wants to know if you think the bridge should join the citys icons. | Published February 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Craig Sailor A cyclist rides by along the Foothills Trail as construction continues on an emergency foot bridge in Orting, Wash., on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. The bridge is the first of two planned projects allowing residents to find higher ground in case of a flood or lahar. By Pete Caster Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NO. 8: THIS $9 MILLION FOOT BRIDGE WILL HELP RESIDENTS EVACUATE IF MOUNT RAINIER ERUPTS I think this is a real boon for the kids that live on the other side of the highway. This has been a wonderful step forward. | Published February 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund Spiketon Ditch Bridge is unsafe for public access, and it will be closed for a minimum of one to two years. The bridge is on the Foothills Trail between South Prairie and Buckley. By Alexis Krell NO. 9: ALL 24 MILES OF THIS POPULAR PIERCE COUNTY TRAIL WILL SOON BE OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME A new $1.4 million bridge means bikers and pedestrians will be able to use the full trail this summer. The bridge has been out since 2023. | Published April 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Constanza Montemayor Cars drive along the bridge connecting Gig Harbor and Fox Island. The bridge is the only way to and from the island. By Joshua Bessex NO. 10: REPLACING THIS MAJOR PIERCE COUNTY BRIDGE COULD COST MORE THAN $250 MILLION Like all County road projects, our goal is to utilize state and federal grant sources as much as possible, a Pierce County spokesperson said. | Published April 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julia Park The Carbon River Bridge is 103 years old and 494 feet long. By Washington State Department of Transportation NO. 11: PIERCE COUNTY BRIDGE TO MOUNT RAINIER CLOSED INDEFINITELY AFTER DEEMED UNSAFE 103-year-old bridge will be closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic as a safety precaution. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division. President Donald Trumps inaugural committee raised $239 million, a new fundraising report shows, buoyed by million-dollar contributions from major companies and business executives. The massive haul is more than double the $109 million raised for his first inauguration in 2017 (the record until now). Among those who wrote major checks were people tapped by Trump to become government officials, as well as prominent corporations (and their leaders) with business in front of the administration, particularly those in the oil, financial, technology and transportation sectors. Pilgrims Pride Corp., a major poultry producer, donated more than any other individual or company, sending $5 million to Trump's inaugural committee. Just behind was Ripple Labs, the cryptocurrency and blockchain company, which gave almost $4.9 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A handful of energy companies gave at least $500,000 each including Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Shell and Occidental Petroleum Corp., as well as the political arm of the American Petroleum Institute. Artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency companies ponied up too with similar donations, including Solana Labs, Open AI CEO Sam Altman, Ripple, C3.ai, Coinbase, Galaxy Digital Services, Perplexity AI. Amazon and Meta each donated $1 million. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended Trumps inauguration and received prominent seats in the Capitol Rotunda, where Trump was sworn in after bad weather scuttled the traditionally outdoor event. Apple CEO Tim Cook gave $1 million, as well. Computing companies Micron, Nvidia, Qualcomm and Microsoft also made six-figure donations, as did health care companies such as Hims, Johnson and Johnson, Merck, Pfizer and Amgen. Live Nation donated $500,000, and two online gambling companies DraftKings and FanDuel each gave just under that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other major donors include those with ties to the Trump administration, including some who eventually were tapped by the president for major administration roles. GOP megadonor Warren Stephens, whom Trump tapped as his ambassador to the United Kingdom, gave $4 million. Jared Issacman, Trumps nominee to lead NASA, gave $2 million, as did Trumps pick to be ambassador to Latvia, Melissa Argyros. Tilman Fertitta, nominated to be ambassador to Italy, gave $1 million; Education Secretary Linda McMahon gave $1 million; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks former employer, Cantor Fitzgerald, gave $1,047,000; New York Stock Exchange Chairman Jeffrey Sprecher, the husband of Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, gave $1 million; and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave $250,000. And prominent Republican political donors opened their pocketbooks too: Miriam Adelson and Ken Griffin each gave $1 million, and members of the Ricketts, Schwab and DeVos families all gave six-figure checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inaugural committees arent subject to any contribution limits, although foreign nationals or companies cannot donate (but their American subsidiaries can). Within 90 days of every inauguration, each committee must report its aggregate donations of $200 or more. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Laman Ismayilova The full-length feature film "Do?ma torpaq", produced with financial support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Cinema Agency and Narimanfilm studio, had its premiere at the Nizami Cinema Center. The gala event was attended by Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Azerbaijan Republic Sabina Aliyeva, Chairperson of the Azerbaijan's State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Bahar Muradova, Deputy Chairperson of the Azerbaijani Parliament and Academician Rafael Huseynov, First Secretary of the Azerbaijan Film-Makers Union, People's Artist Shafiga Mammadova, along with prominent figures from the realms of science, culture, and cinema lovers. Before the screening, it was emphasized that "Do?ma torpaq" is distinguished as the first artistic work created in the territories liberated after the 44-day Patriotic War, particularly in the city of Shusha. The film delves into three pivotal events in Azerbaijan's contemporary history: the forced displacement of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral landsnow part of Armenia, the first Garabagh war, including the Khojaly genocide, and the resounding victory of Azerbaijan in the recent conflict. Set against the backdrop of 1992, at a time when the independent Azerbaijan Republic was embroiled in a struggle against Armenian separatists in Garabagh, the story follows Miranda, a journalist from London, who travels to Azerbaijan to create a documentary about the Caucasian leopard. Her journey intertwines with that of Emil, an intelligence officer, as they navigate numerous challenges together. Audience reception of "Do?ma torpaq" was overwhelmingly positive, with viewers expressing profound interest and emotion, culminating in a standing ovation at the end of the premiere. Following the screening, the creative team took to the stage to discuss their five-year journey in bringing the project to life. Filming locations included not just Shusha but also Baku, Gobustan, Guba, Barda, Zagatala, and Gakh. The film was scripted and directed by Ilgar Safat, produced by Nariman Mammadov, with line production overseen by Leyla Dostalizade. The cinematography was handled by Konstantin Esadze, while Araz Gumbetli composed the score, with sound engineering by Ivan Gusakov and Mehman Nadirov. The main roles in the film were played by Rustam Jabrayilov and Russian actress Alina Vorontsova, supported by a cast that included People's Artists Haji Ismailov and Mabud Maharramov, along with actors such as Azer Aydamir, Gorgud Jafarli, Rashad Safarov, and many more. Plans are underway for the film to be screened in several foreign nations and to participate in international film festivals. "Do?ma torpaq" is set to be released in theaters across the country starting April 24. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Iran and Uzbekistan are well-positioned to enhance their cooperation in the mining sector, said Mohammad Aghajanloo, the head of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), Trend reports. Speaking during a meeting in Tehran with Shokhrukh Gulamov, Uzbekistans Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Aghajanloo highlighted that the two countries could increase collaboration in the extraction and processing of various minerals, including steel, copper, and gold. He further noted that Iran utilizes the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) method in sponge iron production and is open to applying this technology in other countries. "Iran has developed significant potential in steel, copper, aluminum, gold, and other production sectors in recent years, and we could expand economic and trade cooperation with Uzbekistan," Aghajanloo remarked. "Iranian companies could sign contracts in Uzbekistan to engage in mining projects and related activities," the Iranian official added. Gulamov also emphasized Uzbekistans intention to strengthen cooperation with Iran across all aspects of the mining sector, from exploration to mineral extraction and final product production. He articulated that the formation of synergistic partnerships would be a pivotal element of the collaborative initiatives within the mining domain, aligning with strategic endeavors to fortify bilateral relations between the two nations. Mining and related industries are not the only areas of interest. Uzbekistan is also keen on collaborating with Iran in sectors like oil, gas, petrochemicals, and power plants, Gulamov concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel CHICAGO A 19-year-old man is facing multiple charges after allegedly attacking a woman and kidnapping a 1-month-old girl on the citys North Side. Nickolas Watts, of Chicago, was arrested Friday in the 1000 block of West Glenlake Avenue after being identified as the offender who, approximately 20 minutes earlier, battered an 18-year-old woman, then kidnapped and battered a 1-month-old girl in the 1900 block of West Granville Avenue, police said. Nickolas Watts, 19 (Chicago Police Department) Watts has been charged with: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One (1) felony count Aggravated Kidnapping/<13 Intel Disabl One (1) felony count Aggravated Kidnapping Inflict Harm One (1) felony count Aggravated Battery/Child<13/Great Bodily Harm One (1) felony count Domestic Battery Aggravated One (1) felony count Child Abduction/Father Conceals One (1) misdemeanor count Domestic Battery/Bodily Harm One (1) misdemeanor count Violate Order of Protection Suspect arrested after allegedly kidnapping baby on North Side He is due in court on Monday. No further details have been provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Editors note: The above video aired on March 1, 2025. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) A Bronx man is accused of shooting and killing a bouncer at a Manhattan bar last month, police said Monday. Anton Albert, 39, was shot in the stomach and twice in the chest near Tom and Jerrys bar at 288 Elizabeth St. in NoHo at around 3:20 a.m. on March 1, according to the NYPD. More Local News The Staten Island man was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved. Albert worked part-time at the bar to provide for his family but was not working when he was killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources said the gunman was asked to leave the bar but came back with a vengeance, shooting bullets inside through a window. Police arrested Jason Mirabal, of the Bronx, on Thursday and charged him with murder in the second-degree, according to court records. The defendant pled not guilty and is being held without bail. 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. LYNCH, Ky. (FOX 56) A suspicious vehicle fully engulfed in flames was found over a Kentucky mountainside, ending with Kentucky State Police charging a Virginia man. On Sunday, April 20, KSP was called to KY Highway 160 in Harlan County, where a Toyota was found off the roadway and down the mountain with someone still trapped inside. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman inside, later identified as Sandra Moore, 44, of Virginia, was declared dead at the scene by the Harlan County Coroner. After further investigation, KSP said earlier that morning she was involved in a fight with her nephew, David Stoneburner, 29, at their home in Virginia. Troopers didnt specify how Moore died but did confirm the fight ultimately led to her death. Read more of the latest Kentucky news KSP said that after the dispute, the evidence suggested that Stoneburner placed Moores body in her vehicle and drove to Kentucky, where he allegedly set the vehicle on fire and sent it crashing over the mountain embankment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers said Stoneburner was arrested and taken to the Harlan County Detention Center. He was charged with: Abuse of a corpse FIrst-degree arson KSP said that additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. HEMPFIELD TWP., Pa. (WKBN) A man is in the Mercer County Jail after allegedly trying to burn his fathers vehicle last week. Read next: Hermitage football field vandalized, police investigating According to a criminal complaint, officers were dispatched around 10 a.m. Saturday to the 100 block of Lyons School Road in Adamsville, which is part of Mercer County. Police spoke with homeowners who said they had left the residence earlier and that when they returned, they found the glass on their door between the garage and house smashed, as well as the garage door open, reports said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When inspecting the garage, police found two five-gallon gas cans lying near the entrance way of the garage door and gasoline poured on the floor and underneath the homeowners vehicle, according to reports. Police said a sock was found on the hood of the car was burnt and caused damage to the hood and paint. Jason Christy, 49, was taken into custody on felony charges of arson, reckless burning, criminal mischief, burglary and trespassing. He remains in the Mercer County Jail after failing to post a $100,000 bond. He is due back in court on April 29. In an interview with police, Christy admitted to breaking into his parents garage, lighting the sock on fire, and throwing it onto his fathers vehicle, according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Authorities fatally shot a man in Reseda on Sunday evening after he allegedly fired a gun at a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter. The deadly shooting began with a call to police around 6:25 p.m. about an assault with a deadly weapon in the 6400 block of Reseda Boulevard, according to the LAPD. Upon arriving, officers said they saw a man run into an apartment complex near the intersection of Reseda and Victory boulevards. An LAPD helicopter also responded to the scene and reported that the suspect appeared to fire his handgun at the chopper. Initial reports indicated the helicopter was not struck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police then pursued the suspect into the rear alley of the apartment complex, where a police shooting took place. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the incident and pronounced the man dead at the scene. Read more: LAPD tactics faulted in shooting of mentally ill K-town man but killing ruled justified The Police Department's Force Investigation Division is investigating the shooting. The suspect's handgun was recovered and will be examined alongside video and physical evidence, authorities said. No officers or civilians were injured during the incident, and there are no other suspects, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the 11th person that has been struck by LAPD gunfire in 2025, according to police records. 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. WYOMING COUNTY, WV (WVNS) A man in Wyoming County was arrested for sex crimes against a minor. According to a criminal complaint, Raymond Mitchell Fairley was arrested for Sexual Assault of a Minor and the Use of Minors in Filming Sexually Explicit Conduct. Fentanyl, guns seized after search warrant in Raleigh County The criminal complaint stated that a member of the West Virginia State Police received a call at around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025 from Wyoming County 911 about a reported sexual assault case that involved a minor younger than 12 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The member of the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office met with the caller, who told them that Fairley reportedly performed sexual acts with a minor and that there was video. According to the criminal complaint, Fairley was seen watching the video by the caller around April 3, 2025 and that the caller recorded Fairley watching the video on his phone. Former War police chief and son die in car accident in McDowell County, arrest warrant issued The criminal complaint stated that information from the minor involved confirmed the allegations of sexual assault, a phone was taken to preserve evidence, and that the minor was advised to ask for a Domestic Violence Protection Order from the Wyoming County Magistrate. Fairley was arrested and taken to the Jesse Detachment of the West Virginia State Police for processing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. Iran's Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, is set to travel to China on April 22 to hold discussions concerning Iran's nuclear program as part of ongoing indirect negotiations between Iran and the US, said the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmail Baghaei, Trend reports. Speaking at a press conference held in Tehran on April 21, Baghaei noted that the visit is part of Iran's continuous consultations with its strategic partners. These talks aim to address key aspects of the nuclear program in the context of broader diplomatic efforts. Last week, Araghchi traveled to Russia for similar discussions. Baghaei also noted that during the second round of talks between Iran and the US in Rome, Araghchi engaged in conversations with his Italian counterpart on related issues. The second round of negotiations between Iran and the US was held on April 19 under the chairmanship of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The second round of talks between Iran and the US was conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi. The third round of these indirect talks is scheduled for April 26. On April 12, first indirect talks between Iran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program took place in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The discussions were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Steve Whitkoff. Sources indicate that the talks were conducted in a constructive and respectful atmosphere. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A 22-year-old man was sentenced to 16 months in custody after pleading no contest to driving drunk in a rollover crash that injured his passenger, according to court records. Julio Vega-Moreno was sentenced Friday. He pleaded no contest last month to a charge of DUI causing injury. On June 29, police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the 12300 block of Panama Lane. Both Vega-Moreno and his passenger who suffered serious injuries were taken to a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murder trial of 76-year-old Bakersfield man begins A preliminary alcohol screening performed about three-and-a-half hours after the crash showed Vega-Morenos blood-alcohol content at 0.11%, above the legal limit of 0.08%, according to police reports. He also did not have a drivers license, police said. Vega-Moreno told police he and the passenger had started drinking that afternoon. He said they finished two 24-packs of Modelo beer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man has been charged after threatening a person and headbutting two officers, the Shelby County District Attorneys Office said. Michael Mitchell, 33, is charged with Aggravated Burglary, two counts of Assault on a First Responder, Domestic Assault, and Resisting Official Detention. Michael Mitchell_Mugshot (Shelby County District Attorneys Office) According to the Shelby County District Attorneys Office, Mitchells bond has been raised from $20,000 to $50,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 15-year-old dies after shooting near Berclair neighborhood According to the district attorneys office, Mitchell vandalized the victims vehicle, and he chased and threatened the victim. He then forced entry into the victims home and assaulted two officers by pushing, kicking, and head-butting them. The district attorneys office says he also kicked out the window of a police car following his arrest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A man accused of killing his girlfriend will undergo at least one year of treatment before possibly facing trial for the killing. A court has ruled that Tyler Stiers, 23, was found incompetent to stand trial in the death of Kylene A. Young, 39, according to court documents. Youngs body was found in a home on the 2000 block of Harrisburg Pike on Dec. 16, 2024, when officials conducted a well-being check. One day later, Stiers was arrested in Athens County and charged with murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a ruling issued earlier this month, a Franklin County Common Pleas judge ordered Stiers to undergo one year of psychological treatment, at which time, he could be cleared to face the charges in Youngs death. Depending on how Stiers responds to treatment, the court may also extend Stiers time in treatment until he can understand the nature and the objective of the proceedings against the defendant and of assisting in the defendants defense. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CLEVELAND (WJW) A 43-year-old man was transported to the hospital after being shot in downtown Cleveland early Monday morning, according to EMS. The shooting happened just after 2 a.m. near Superior Avenue and E. 13th Street. Motorcyclist seriously hurt in Easter night crash Officials said Cleveland police officers on patrol at a nearby bar heard the shots. V.P. Vance met with Pope one day before his death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX 8 photos show shell casings marked in the street as police investigated. WJW photo WJW photo WJW photo Theres been no word on a suspect or if any arrests were made. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SURFSIDE, Fla. (WFLA) A man has died after his near-drowning experience landed him in the hospital, fighting for his life amid the rough currents in South Florida over the weekend. NBC affiliate WTVJ said the man, only identified as appearing to be young, was pulled from the waters in Surfside on Sunday evening after lifeguards responded to a missing swimmer near the intersection of 90th Street and Collins Avenue. Body of missing teen swimmer found in water at Florida beach Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Monday afternoon update, authorities said the man has died. A video captured by a beachgoer showed first responders on a personal jet ski rushing inshore, with the unconscious man lying on a rescue sled on the back. Once they reached the shoreline, medics immediately administered CPR. He was not responding, a witness told WTVJ. At this point, it was very sad, because he was with some friends and they were witnessing what was happening and the whole thing was very heartbreaking. The National Weather Service of Miami shared a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, urging swimmers to take extra precautions in the ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man living aboard beached boat for 4 months after trip out to sea takes a turn There has been several rescues at our east coast area beaches over the last several days as a high risk of rip currents has continued due to strong onshore winds. That high risk of rip currents remains with us today, NWS Miami wrote Sunday. According to WTVJ, Miami Beach Ocean Rescue also responded to two near-drownings Sunday near 16th Street and Ocean Drive. On Friday, a teens body was found at Fort Lauderdale Beach after he went missing while taking a swim. Divers determined his death as an accidental drowning. If swimmers are caught in a rip current, Florida Fish & Wildlife says to remain calm, swim parallel to get out of the current and then to shore, float or tread water if youre unable to escape, and wave or yell for assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 man was injured in a shooting in Pittsburghs Bloomfield neighborhood late Sunday night. Police were called to the 5100 block of Cypress Street around 11:30 p.m. Patty Caldwell lives on the street with her husband, and heard the gunfire. When the first one went off, I stopped dead. I was playing games on my computer, and I was like what the heck was that and then a few minutes later I kept hearing it again and it got really loud and Im like this is gunshots, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a half hour later, Caldwell said she and her husband heard knocking at their back door and called 911. They came through the house and the policeman said can we go out your back door? Caldwell recalled. I had it all closed up with the blinds and everything and I opened the blinds and there he was, lying on the deck. Pittsburgh police say the man was found shot in the head. Police said he was alert and talking with medics. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Caldwell told Channel 11 the alleged victim came through the neighbors window, climbed over her fence, and went underneath their porch. A gun was later found stashed under the porch. She said the victim then crawled onto her porch, where she later heard the knocking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police report finding multiple shell casings on the ground as well as a gun. Im telling you I could not stop shaking, Caldwell said. Police actually asked do you need EMS? and I said no, Ill be ok. Hazel Gregg lives in the neighborhood and said the gun violence concerns her. Im pretty uncomfortable and concerned about gun violence in general, of course across the country and in the city too, but yeah, its really unfortunate, she said. This isnt the first time theres been incidents over there, Caldwell said. I mean, there was another night. We had police out here at 3 oclock in the morning because there was arguing going on and its been for this type of neighborhood. Its not where it should be at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 11 was able to confirm that the address where the shooting took place is available on Airbnb. No one has been arrested at this time, and police are now looking for a suspect. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 12. Negotiations to resolve the conflict will begin in London on April 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his X page after a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trend reports. "Already this Wednesday, our representatives will be working in London. Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States - we are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace," the publication says. Ukrainian President added that he also discussed with Keir Starmer their joint work within European security formats. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Jaremy Smith was sentenced Monday in federal court for his crimes in New Mexico after taking a plea deal earlier this year. Smith was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. He had pleaded guilty to federal charges including kidnapping resulting in death and carjacking for killing New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare in March 2024. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith shot Officer Hare on the side of Interstate 40 west of Tucumcari. The officer was dispatched to help a motorist with a flat tire. When he pulled on the side of the interstate and parked behind the car, Smith went up to the officers passenger side window and had a brief conversation about the flat tire before he shot the officer, according to court documents and NMSP. Police said Smith walked over to the drivers side and shot Hare again before he got into the officers vehicle. Smith then pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in the officers patrol car. State police officers and the family of officer Justin hare packed the courtroom here watching Jaremy Smith get sentenced to prison more than a year after he murdered officer hare near Tucumcari. Every time we come to court, and we have to replay some of the evidence and everything its a roller coaster ride, its affected family, life, job, its affected everything, said Terry and James Hare, the parents of Officer Hare. Federal prosecutors described the crime as atrocious and the epitome of disrespect towards law enforcement. Officer Hares family members confronted Smith today about the life he took before the sentence. Smith was a fugitive from South Carolina, wanted for the kidnapping and murder of 52-year-old paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore. He was in her car when he got the flat tire in New Mexico. Smith is still facing charges for Machado-Fores death in South Carolina. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A motorcyclist caught recklessly racing on I-264 was sentenced to six days in jail. According to the Norfolk Commonwealths Attorneys Office, on July 5 last year, 21-year-old Nasier Rodriguez and another motorcyclist were racing on I-264 near Military Highway when they were clocked at 132 mph while weaving in and out of traffic. The speed limit in this stretch is 55 mph. Nasier Rodriguez. Photo provided by the Norfolk Sheriffs Office A Virginia State Police trooper pulled over Rodriguez and issued him a summons for reckless driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez pleaded guilty in Norfolk General District Court with no prosecutor present and was sentenced to six months in jail, with all but eight days suspended, but he decided to appeal his conviction. While awaiting sentencing in Norfolk Circuit Court, he completed 90 hours of community service, completed a drivers improvement course, and sold the motorcycle. On Wednesday, April 16, Rodriguez pleaded guilty again to reckless driving and was sentenced to six months in jail, with all but six days suspended on the condition that he remain on good behavior for a year. At 132 miles per hour, a motorcycle is not a vehicle. It is a missile, said Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. One false move by the rider or one unexpected move by another driver, and that kind of speed can kill. Here is yet another case in which prosecutors offices all over Hampton Roads do not receive funding to be involved with these cases in district court. We accepted this case on appeal and fashioned a sentence that recognized Mr. Rodriguezs efforts to rehabilitate himself, but serious matters like this deserve to have funding so that a prosecutor can be there from the beginning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WAVY reached out to the Commonwealths Attorneys Office to ask if any other motorcyclists were charged in connection to the July 5 incident. The office responded that while there were several motorcyclists racing, only Rodriguez stopped. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. New Castle police are asking for help finding a shooting suspect who they said is considered armed and dangerous. Alexander Lee Minnich, 29, is facing several charges, including attempted homicide. On Sunday around 7:02 p.m., officers were called to 1014 Butler Avenue and found a man who had been shot in the front yard. The victim told officers he was shot by a man with a rifle from inside the home. He was taken to a Youngstown hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, police said they believed Minnich was still inside the home. Officers tried to get him to come out, but there was no response. The Lawrence County Critical Incident Response Team was called because they believed Minnich could have been barricaded inside the house with a gun. The team eventually entered the home, and he was not inside. New Castle police are asking for anyone who has information on Minnichs whereabouts to call their dispatch center at 724-656-9300 to report it. Police said to use caution and call 911 immediately if you see Minnich. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Pope Francis had so much empathy for the downtrodden that even his chosen name was a promise of change that helped the late pontiff reenergize the church both globally and in New Hampshire during polarizing times, Manchesters bishop said. By honoring Saint Francis of Assisi, the peacemaker or Il Poverello (the little poor one), Pope Francis set a humble tone right from the start, Bishop Peter A. Libasci of the Diocese of Manchester said Monday. Pope Francis gave his final blessing on Easter Sunday and died the next morning in Vatican City at the age of 88. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No pope in history had ever taken that name. That will be remembered, Libasci said. Coming from Argentina, Pope Francis lived that culture, that life, the upheavals, the poverty, the struggles. The kind of street life that was real, and the poverty and all, he was surrounded by that. So culturally, he comes as a man of the poor, a man of the struggles of the poor. Libasci met Pope Francis several times in Rome and had a once-in-a-lifetime moment with him. One time while meeting with 20 bishops from around the world, Pope Francis asked them what they were thinking, and most of the group brought up different difficulties they wanted him to address. But Libasci had a different objective for the meeting. I said, Holy Father, and everybody looked at me. I want to thank you for the Year of Mercy and the confession of what you said about the confessional should not be a penitentiary, or a prison, but it should be a moment. And he spoke on that. And when we left, he grabbed my hand and he said, Keep going. Keep going, Libasci said. The Year of Mercy was a philosophy change for confession that, along with Pope Franciss approach to outreach, created ripples that reached Manchester, Libasci said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if there was a Pope Francis bump, the bishop said without a doubt there was, even if at first much of it came from non-Catholics. In the very beginning there was a great bump of excitement and enthusiasm, and from non-Catholics more than Catholics, and from the disenfranchised and people who felt that the church was somehow authoritarian in ways they found uncomfortable, Libasci said. They were hearing in Pope Francis and even his approach from the loggia when he said, Please pray for me. That captivated many hearts and souls that this was a pope of humility, which actually all of them were. But this was perceivable in a different way, right? The bishop said whether there was a Pope Francis bump or not, the pews have many more parishioners in them than they did even before the COVID-19 pandemic sapped turnout. Bishops from many, many dioceses are saying, We are now with more people than we had before COVID, more support, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis saw the divisiveness in the world, especially about migrants and the marginalized, and he wasnt shy about saying something about it, Libasci said. For the shirtless ones to be able to have a voice and be the voice for them. This was very much, I think, the man who was installed as the father of the church, he said. The Diocese of Manchester will hold a Mass for the Dead for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis at St. Joseph Cathedral at noon on Tuesday. dpierce@unionleader.com U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (left) speaks with substance use disorder treatment specialists at Elliot Health System during an event in Manchester on April 14 about how Medicaid cuts would affect their work. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin) Abby LHeureux, a physician and addiction specialist at the Center for Recovery Management in Manchester, is already worried about some of her patients who have lost Medicaid coverage. Now, as Republicans in Washington, D.C., make massive cuts to the federal budget which experts say will most likely impact Medicaid she and her colleagues could see even more of their patients lose coverage for the care they need. At an event organized by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan and Elliot Health System in Manchester earlier this month, LHeureux told the story of a 30-year-old man who started using cocaine, alcohol, and opioids as a teenager and was incarcerated for the first time at 13. She said he has an extensive family history of substance use disorder as his mother died during an overdose and all his parents and grandparents have been incarcerated. On top of that, he has a seizure disorder and was homeless when he first began treatment with the center. While he hasnt yet achieved stable long term sobriety, she said they were beginning to see success when they got him on a medication regime that includes an injectable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes just been doing so well and we continue to have little slips here and there, and were working on things, but he keeps coming, she said. And thats a win for us, that he keeps showing up, and he keeps trying. And we always have hope that its just one step closer to his goal. His goal is abstinence and so, and were just gonna keep walking with him, one step closer, one step closer, and were gonna have setbacks, and thats just a part of the process. But, hes been doing so well, so much better, now that weve got him on a medication that works for him. LHeureux said hes feeling so well that hes begun working full time again because he just functions much better when hes working full time, and really has things to do during the day. However, this came with a drawback. He just lost the Medicaid coverage he uses to pay for the treatment because hes now making too much money. She said his injectable alone costs $2,000 monthly without insurance and he has 10 different medications. She said they worry about how the Medicaid change will impact his progress, though hes worked with a peer support coordinator to find marketplace insurance. Thats one of the things that we have to continue to focus on, Hassan added. Somebody is getting well enough to work, which is the goal one of the goals and then, but we dont want them to lose insurance in the process. We want them to be able to keep coming here. Conversely, LHeureux spoke of a 37-year-old man who started using cocaine at age 13, opioids at 15, and crystal meth at 22. He began working with her at the Center for Recovery Management and is taking 16 milligrams of a combination product of multiple opioid use medications. Now, hes been sober since August 2023 and has become an advocate for his peers who speaks at commitment meetings and runs his own sober living facility. She said he even saved somebody from an overdose recently using the emergency medication Narcan. He is still able to use Medicaid for his treatments, which she said has been huge in his recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The April 14 meeting came amid growing fears that Medicaid, the countrys public health care program for those with low income or high needs, could be heavily scaled down in the federal budgeting process. On April 10, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve legislation outlining the federal budget. That outline, which was passed 216-214 entirely through Republican support, calls for $1.5 trillion in spending cuts to clear the way for President Donald Trumps 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which has long been lambasted by the left and economists as disproportionately benefitting the wealthy to be renewed. The outline instructs several committees to make varying levels of cuts to different areas of the budget. That includes the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has been tasked with cutting its portion of the budget by $880 billion over 10 years. It doesnt explicitly specify that these cuts must come from Medicaid, but because the program comprises about $8.2 trillion of the $8.6 trillion the committee can cut from, it would be impossible to do so without reducing Medicaid or Medicare. Some Republican lawmakers have floated the idea of cutting Medicaid by about a third over 10 years. Meanwhile, Democrats on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, including Hassan, estimate that roughly 24 million people would lose their health care coverage if this one-third cut went into effect, 10 million of whom would be children. In New Hampshire, thats 60,000 people and 30,000 children. Almost 1 million people receive medication treatment for opioid use disorder through Medicaid, according to committee Democrats. Nearly 10,000 of them live in New Hampshire. Of those 10,000, an estimated 70% or more are able to do so only through the Medicaid expansion, which New Hampshire enacted in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That expansion program is at perhaps the greatest risk in potential Medicaid cuts. This is because in 2018, New Hampshire state legislators (Medicaid is operated and funded jointly by the federal government and states) passed a trigger law which would eliminate that expansion should federal funding for the program fall below 90% of the cost of the program. This would mean an estimated 7,000 New Hampshire residents receiving opioid treatment medication through Medicaid would lose access to it. At this months event, health care providers emphasized that funding substance use disorder treatment doesnt just help people deal with their drug issues, it also prevents those issues from turning into more costly issues later on. People who are not in treatment end up in medical care, Greg Baxter, president and CEO of Elliot Health System, said. Meanwhile, fentanyl, a dangerous type of opioid drug, is ravaging communities across the U.S., including New Hampshire. Additionally, New Hampshire was among the hardest hit states in the opioid epidemic that began in the 2010s. From August 2022 to August 2023, over 110,000 Americans died from drug overdoses or poisonings, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. In New Hampshire alone, there were 483 drug overdose deaths in 2022, the most recent data available, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Thats 36 per 100,000 Granite Staters. (NEXSTAR) A total of 800 measles cases across two dozen states have been confirmed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. As new cases pop up every week, at least 10 official outbreaks have occurred, according to the CDC. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases of measles that are related. More Local News The largest known outbreak is in West Texas, where the case count nears 600, according to local health officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CDC said its still investigating other probable measles cases that have been reported but not yet confirmed. Montana, for example, announced Friday the state has seen measles crop up for the first time since 1990. The map below shows which states have measles cases confirmed by the CDC. States shown in red have a confirmed measles outbreak of three or more cases. Another outbreak not shown in the map above is being investigated, a CDC spokesperson told Nexstar. The agency isnt yet releasing the location of the outbreak to protect patient privacy as officials investigate. If the spread of measles continues as it has been, the U.S. risks losing its measles elimination status, a designation the country has had for 25 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State The highly contagious virus is spreading quickest through communities with large numbers of unvaccinated or undervaccinated people. Dr. William Moss, an epidemiology professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the schools International Vaccine Access Center, likened recent measles activity to a forest fire. I like to think of this like a forest fire with sparks spreading out. If those sparks land in a community with low vaccine coverage, were going to see a larger measles outbreak. If it lands in a community with high vaccine coverage, we may only see one or a few cases, he said. The CDC reports 96% of cases so far have been in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. The majority of those sickened have also been children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Marcela Guerrero (San Juan, 1980) has made history twice: in 2022, by becoming the first Latina principal curator of the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, and by being the first Latina to co-direct along with Drew Sawyer the museums contemporary art biennial, after being entrusted with the 2026 edition. The Whitney Art Biennial is the oldest and most prestigious in the United States it began in 1932 and has catapulted to fame now-essential artists such as Jackson Pollock and Jeff Koons. It is also one of the leading fairs for taking the pulse of contemporary art. Guerreros leadership is a milestone considering that Latinos represent only 3% of museum leaders, curators, and educators, according to a study by the Mellon Foundation that, although conducted in 2015, remains the most specific. From her office at the Whitney, Guerrero discusses current Latinx art and shares her journey to success from how she felt at 18 that the art world could be the path she needed to follow, to the various jobs she took without skipping a beat, to becoming one of the countrys leading Latina curators. Question. How did your interest in art arise? Answer. Many curators come from parents who are artists or collectors, but that wasnt my case. I didnt grow up going to museums. I became interested in art after reading a book, Happy Days, Uncle Sergio, by Magali Garcia Ramis. The protagonist, Uncle Sergio, was a Matisse fanatic, and thats how I became curious about who that artist was. Later, when I was 18 and went to visit my sister who was studying in Washington, D.C., I visited many museums because the Smithsonians were free. There I could think and reflect, and being a single woman, I felt free from harassment, safe. Thats when I began to see art as a possible career for me. Q. You received your PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Did you intend to pursue an academic career? A. My parents were professors, so I originally thought about pursuing a PhD and becoming a professor of art history. But I decided to experience working in a museum while writing my thesis on Caribbean art. I got my first job at 29 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. I was a research coordinator under Mari Carmen Ramirez, director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA). It was the perfect time and the perfect job to dip my toe in the water. An installation by Ilana Savdie at the Whitney Museum. Ron Amstutz Q. Was it difficult to rise to the position of senior curator at the Whitney Museum? A. Its difficult to advance in curatorship at the same museum. Moving up the ranks often requires changing institutions, which often involves changing cities and states. I moved from Wisconsin to Houston, then to Los Angeles, and finally to New York. After three years working with Mari Carmen Ramirez, I landed a curatorial assistant position at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. It was a temporary position to organize the exhibition Radical Women: Latin American Art, 19601985, and I spent another three years there learning the entire curatorial process, from the research phase, which I had already mastered, to the implementation phase, which was very rewarding. I never skipped a step. Only after that experience did I feel capable of applying for the curatorial assistant position that the Whitney Museum had advertised on their website. They hired me, and everything changed from then on. Q. In what sense? A. While at the Whitney, Ive been promoted twice, to associate curator and then to full curator. Its not often that you get opportunities to advance within a single institution. Thats why I want to do my best to make it easier for younger people, to be a kind of mentor to the Latinx people who work with me, and to ensure that after working with me here, they can move on to another museum as curatorial assistants. So far, Ive supervised three fellows: Alana Hernandez, who now works at the ASU Art Museum in Tempe, Arizona; Angelica Arbelaez, who is at the High Museum of Art; and Sofia Silva, who is pursuing her PhD at Stanford University. Q. How will the 2026 Whitney Biennial differ from previous editions? A. The last biennial was quieter, more somber. It was before the elections, and I think you could feel that pressure coming, but not directly, just latently. The tone of this biennial is much higher, full of sharper nuances. The installation 'Cihuateotl with Hand Mirror from Venus Envy Chapter III: Cihuatlampa, the Place of the Giant Women,' by Amalia Mesa-Bains. Ron Amstutz Q. What has it been like working with Drew Sawyer? A. Weve decided to approach this biennial with an open mind. Since we began the research process in August, visiting artists studios, weve been traveling twice a month outside of New York. Weve been to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Hawaii, New Orleans, Toronto... And when were in New York, we do four to eight visits a week, in addition to the virtual ones. Were still absorbing, so we havent decided what the guiding thread will be. Our strategy is not to go in with a well-defined thesis, but to focus on the present with a granular view and understand what artists are thinking at this moment. Whether or not theyre responding to whats happening politically, and if so, how. But in general, the artists have already been working for a long time on ideas that have to do with climate change, the community especially among trans artists and how the government extends its tentacles in different ways. There are Latinx artists who, decades ago, had already felt the presence of the United States as a giant neoliberal political entity with many consequences. Q. Is the inclusion of Latinx artists in major cultural institutions real or still symbolic? A. We'll have to wait and see if the museums have a real commitment or if it was just a symbolic representation. I'm very interested to see how they react. I don't want to see cowardice on the part of either the museums or the patrons. Q. How do you think current U.S. politics might impact Latin art? A. At the end of February, two exhibitions of Caribbean and queer art were canceled at the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C., but I havent noticed any changes toward Latinx art at the museum where I work. I think theres more sensitivity to the Gaza war. What I fear is that collectors and donors will start taking measures that no one asked them to and that an unnecessary conservative shift will occur. Q. How can we reframe American art history to better reflect the diversity of voices? A. By making exhibitions more plural. For example, from November 2024 to February 2026 we have an exhibition called Shifting Landscapes, where the vast majority of the works on display are acquisitions the museum has made in the last five years, and 40% of the 80 artists on display are Latinx. Detail of the exhibition 'no existe un mundo poshuracan: Puerto Rican Art in the Wake of Hurricane Maria,' at the Whitney Museum. Ron Amstutz Q. What do you think about the recent rejection of the Spanish language by government agencies? A. Im concerned because at the Whitney, weve invested in a very strong bilingual program, developed by the Education Department headed by Cris Scorza. Starting this summer, well have all the exhibits translated for the first time the explanations, the fact sheets, the labels, all the exhibits in the gallery. Q. What is your biggest challenge right now? A. Not to get lost, overwhelmed, or intimidated by everything thats happening in the sociopolitical context. Curators are at the service of art and artists, and that will always be the main goal. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A recreational marijuana user smokes cannabis in the Bushwick section of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. This year, marijuana advocates are playing defense in multiple state legislatures. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) As every state surrounding Idaho legalized marijuana, state Rep. Bruce Skaug started to view it as inevitable that the Gem State would follow suit. Not anymore. Skaug, a Nampa Republican, supported two bills this legislative session taking aim at marijuana use: one to impose a mandatory minimum $300 fine for possession and another that would take away the right of voters to legalize pot at the ballot box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He believes other states are starting to regret liberalizing marijuana use, because of potential health concerns and lackluster revenues from marijuana sales. Looking around at other states that have legalized marijuana, its not improved their states as a place to raise a family, to do business, he said. It just hasnt come through with the promises that we heard years ago for those states. Idahos not alone. After years of expanding legal access, lawmakers in several states this year have targeted marijuana in various ways. To help close budget gaps, officials in Maryland, Michigan and New Jersey have proposed raising marijuana taxes. Health concerns have pushed lawmakers in states including Colorado and Montana to attempt to cap the level of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the primary psychoactive component in cannabis, in marijuana products sold at dispensaries. And some lawmakers have even tried to roll back voter-approved medical marijuana programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking around at other states that have legalized marijuana, it's not improved their states. Idaho Republican state Rep. Bruce Skaug This year in particular, were playing defense a lot more than we have in the past, said Morgan Fox, political director at the advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML. To some extent, he said, the pendulum on marijuana liberalization is swinging back. But Fox said recent legislative efforts are not indicative of waning public support for legalization. He said prohibitionist politicians have been emboldened to act against the will of voters. Polling shows most adults say cannabis should be legal for medical, recreational use Polling from the Pew Research Center has found little change in support for legalization in recent years: 57% of U.S. adults say that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado and Washington state began allowing recreational marijuana sales in 2014. Today, 24 states and the District of Columbia allow recreational sales, and 39 states and the district have sanctioned medical marijuana. Theres been this air of inevitability for a while, said Daniel Mallinson, an associate professor of public policy at Penn State Harrisburg who researches marijuana legalization. With medical marijuana programs operational in most states, Mallinson said there is pressure to expand recreational marijuana, especially given uncertainty over whether the federal government will act on the issue. Recreational is still in its takeoff period, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he acknowledged that new medical research has raised concerns among some lawmakers. One study published in January found a link between heavy marijuana use and memory function. Other studies have found a higher risk of heart attacks among people who use cannabis. Mallinson said the research on marijuana is very young, as many institutions are wary of conducting clinical trials because of federal drug laws. The federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug the same classification as drugs such as heroin and ecstasy. Theres a mixture of science and politics in this area, he said. I could imagine seeing in these really conservative states like Idaho, you know, this kind of a backlash, like, we dont want this here at all, so were going to try to put up barriers to even considering it. A debate headed for the ballot In Idaho, Skaug said he pursued the states new mandatory $300 fine for marijuana possession to bring more consistency to how the state handles marijuana cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Idaho law previously allowed fines of up to $1,000, he said judges had issued fines as low as $2.50. Rep. Bruce D. Skaug, R- Nampa, listens to proceedings on the House floor at the State Capitol building in Boise on Jan. 23, 2024. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun) So that wasnt the right message. Thats not even worth the time to write the ticket, he said. So its not that were going to arrest more people for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, but there will be more citations in the amount of $300. Skaug also backed a proposed constitutional amendment that would give only the Legislature the power to legalize marijuana and other drugs. That question will go to voters next year. Skaug said hes worried outside groups would influence a public vote to legalize marijuana by pouring millions into a ballot initiative campaign. If the amendment he supports passes, it wouldnt ban pot it would leave legalization up to lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the evidence comes back that says marijuana or some other drug is positive in the medical community and a good thing, then the Legislature can legalize that, he said. But were going to leave it with the Legislature. Advocates have been trying without success to get enough signatures to put a medical marijuana question on the ballot for more than a decade in Idaho, said Democratic state Rep. Ilana Rubel. The House minority leader, Rubel said she hit a firm brick wall in pitching medical marijuana legislation in Boise, where GOP lawmakers privately tell her they dont want to look soft on crime. Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, takes questions during an Idaho Democratic Caucus press conference on Jan. 6, 2025, at the Statehouse in Boise. Also pictured is Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise. (Pat Sutphin from the Idaho Capital Sun) She views the proposed amendment as another example of the GOP super majority-controlled Statehouse being out of touch with regular Idahoans. She said the states closed Republican primaries have led to more conservative stances from lawmakers. This is one of those issues where there is just a huge, huge gap between what the people of Idaho want and what theyre going to get from their Legislature, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2022 poll commissioned by the Idaho Statesman found that nearly 70% of Idahoans supported legalizing medical marijuana. But even discussions about medical marijuana are shut down in Idaho because of concerns about problems with drugs in liberal cities such as Portland and Seattle, Rubel said. A very large number of red states have legalized medical marijuana, and they havent seen any of the parade of horribles that has been presented whenever we introduce this idea, she said. Theres just a lot of hysteria and paranoia about where this is going to lead that is really not tied to reality. Targeting marijuana potency, revenues In several states, lawmakers have aimed to restrict the potency of marijuana products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montana state Sen. Greg Hertz, a Republican, said he doesnt want to end recreational marijuana sales, which voters approved in 2020. But he said todays products are much stronger than people may realize. People were voting for Woodstock weed, not this new high-THC marijuana, he said. A bill he sponsored this year would have banned sales of recreational marijuana products, including flower and edibles, exceeding THC levels of 15%. Montana currently allows up to 35% THC in flower, with no limit on other products. That legislation stalled, but Hertz said he plans to pitch a similar measure during Montanas next legislative session in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate bill reducing the states dosage of THC for edibles recently passed the Legislature. The measure, which now heads to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, would change the individual dosage limit on edibles such as gummies from 10 milligrams to 5 milligrams. Hertz said the state rushed into its liberalization of marijuana without fully understanding the consequences. He pointed to state health department data showing rising emergency room visits related to marijuana and dozens of cannabis poisoning cases in recent years including 36 involving children 10 years or younger. We probably opened up the barn door too wide, he said. Im just trying to slow this down a little bit. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With many states facing gaping budget holes this year, marijuana has proven a popular target from Democrats and Republicans looking to raise revenues without across-the-board tax increases. Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in January proposed hiking the cannabis tax from 9% to 15% to help close the states $3 billion budget hole. In March, lawmakers agreed to a budget framework that would raise the state marijuana tax to 12%. Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine proposed doubling marijuana taxes from 10% to 20% a notion that has so far faced opposition in the Legislature. In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed a new 32% wholesale tax on marijuana growers to help fund road improvements. That tax would be on top of the 10% excise tax on recreational marijuana and the states 6% sales tax. Whitmer said it would close a loophole that has exempted the marijuana industry from wholesale tax, which is applied to cigarettes and other tobacco products. Michigan lawmakers, split sharply along partisan lines, have until Sept. 30 to approve a state budget. Lawmakers in some states have even taken aim at voter-approved medical marijuana programs this year. In South Dakota, a bill that failed in committee would have gutted the medical marijuana program overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2020. In November, Nebraska voters widely supported ballot measures to roll out a medical marijuana program winning majority support in each of the states 49 legislative districts. But setting up the regulatory scheme has proven controversial, the Nebraska Examiner reported. Lawmakers are pursuing legislation that would define which medical conditions and forms of cannabis would qualify. Medical marijuana advocates say overly strict rules would hamper the program and undermine the will of voters. But some legislators insist on limitations to prevent widespread access to marijuana. We make it legal for anything and everything, its essentially recreational marijuana at that point, state Sen. Rick Holdcroft, a Republican, told the Nebraska Examiner this month. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@stateline.org. Stateline, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (WBTW) A Marion man who in March 2024 shot and killed a New Mexico State Police officer will spend the rest of his life behind bars with no chance of parole. Jaremy Smith on Monday was sentenced for the murder of Justin Hare months after pleading guilty to five charges including carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death. Smith killed Hare on March 15 during a roadside ambush on Interstate 40 in New Mexico. That same day, authorities found the body of paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore outside of Lake View in Dillon County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Timeline: Whats happened so far in the case of Jaremy Smith, the man accused of killing Pee Dee paramedic, New Mexico officer Officials said Smith was driving a white BMW that belonged to Machado-Fore when Hare stopped to help him along the interstate. Smith also faces 17 separate state charges in Marion County related to Machado-Fores killing. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) In western Maryland, Washington County has chosen Marjorie Chapman as its 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. Washington County Public Schools superintendent, Dr. David Sovine, complimented Chapman for helping her students focus on career readiness and pathways to success. As for Chapman, she said not every high school student is cut out for college. And career-readiness skills in high school, she said, can be a ticket for rewarding work experiences and happiness, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Book brigade helps Michigan shop move 9,100 books one by one A four-year college path is a great path, added Chapman, but its not the path for every student. So the more we can celebrate student success in other pathways, the more they will feel that success themselves. Chapman teaches at the Boyd J. Michael, III Technical High School in Hagerstown. As the winner, Chapman received $6,000 from the school district for her classroom. Shes just amazing in terms of her business sense and her teaching abilities, said Sovine. And she brings out the best in our students. The Washington County Chamber of Commerce hosted the awards ceremony at Fountain Head Country Club. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pope Francis death on Easter Monday inspired tributes from the likes of Barack Obama,Joe Biden and JD Vance and an apparent insult from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. On Monday, the controversial congresswoman posted about the defeat of evil on her personal account on X, formerly Twitter: Today there were major shifts in global leaderships. Evil is being defeated by the hand of God. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) April 21, 2025 Since Greene didnt directly mention the pope, HuffPost reached out to Greenes office for clarity on her statement. No one immediately responded to the request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, no one can deny that Pope Francis was a global leader and his death does mark a major shift in the Catholic Church and the world at large. Also, there havent been any other major coups or regime changes in the past 48 hours. Greene, who identifies as a Christian Nationalist and has compared President Donald Trump to Jesus, has attacked the Catholic Church in the past. In April 2022, she told a far-right Catholic media organization that providing aid to undocumented immigrants is proof that Satans controlling the church. She has justified the attacks against the church by claiming to be a cradle Catholic, who left after becoming a mother because she could not trust the church leadership to protect my children from pedophiles, and that they harbored monsters even in their own ranks, according to the Independent. Related... MAGA Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared to mock Pope Franciss death on Monday, calling him evil. Today there were major shifts in global leaderships, Taylor Greene wrote on X, alluding to the death of one of the worlds most influential religious leaders without naming him directly. Evil is being defeated by the hand of God. She did not issue any clarification after coming under fire for the post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is par for the course for a far-right congresswoman who has expressed that she thinks Catholic bishops are destroying the country and that the Catholic Church as a whole is controlled by Satan. American conservatives have maintained a fraught relationship with Pope Francis, as the first Latin American pope was often critical of the Trump administration and its policies. DES MOINES, Iowa A Marshalltown High School teacher is on administrative leave after being charged with first-degree theft for allegedly embezzling money from the teachers union. Rachel Nelson-Loupee A release from the Marshalltown Police Department said Rachel Nelson-Loupee, 48, turned herself in to police Monday. Lt. Anthony Accola confirmed Nelson-Loupee is accused of embezzling more than $10,000 from the Marshalltown Education Association, the bargaining entity for the districts teachers. Police said the investigation began on December 3rd, 2024, after the union reported the theft of funds. A criminal complaint filed in the case claimed Nelson-Loupee admitted to taking the funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What to know about I-35/80 ramp closures that start Monday She was supposed to turn herself in on April 17th, but failed to do so, court records reveal. The Marshalltown School District issued a statement following the announcement of Nelson-Loupees arrest. Marshalltown Community School District is aware of allegations which have resulted in charges involving a high school teacher who also serves in a leadership role within the Marshalltown Education Association. While the matter is related to union activities and falls outside the scope of the districts operational authority, we remain committed to maintaining a professional and ethical environment for all staff and students. Upon learning of the allegations, the district placed the employee on administrative leave pending further review. We will continue to cooperate fully with any ongoing investigations. We appreciate the publics patience as the process moves forward and direct any further inquiries relative to the investigation to the Marshalltown Police Department. Marshalltown Community School District A preliminary hearing for Nelson-Loupee is scheduled for May 9th. Iowa news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. When Archbishop William E. Lori got a text around 4 a.m. Monday informing him of the death of Pope Francis, he said he felt as though he had just lost a second father. That wake-up call meant an extraordinarily busy day for Lori, the spiritual head of approximately 486,000 Catholics in Baltimore City and nine counties. Among other things, he had to plan a Mass of remembrance for 5:30 p.m. that day in the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. But alongside the bustle of making the necessary arrangements, Lori and his parishioners found themselves waylaid by grief. The prelate found himself recalling the way the pope had of arching one eyebrow just before making a wry, funny comment, and his heartfelt concern for immigrants and migrant workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis had a great influence on me, Lori said. I met him so many times, I personally felt that I had a connection with him. I felt supported by him in my own ministry. Loris voice dropped before saying, finally: I will miss him. The pope died at age 88 after he seemingly rallied following a five-week hospital stay as he battled a bout with bronchitis that turned into double pneumonia. He died one day after greeting thousands of parishioners who gathered Sunday in St. Peters Square in Rome hoping to receive his blessing on Easter, the holiest day of the year for Roman Catholics. President Donald Trump ordered that the American flag be lowered to half-staff in honor of the popes passing until sunset on the day in which he is interred as a mark of respect for the pontiffs memory, while Gov. Wes Moore made a similar directive for the Maryland flag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peoples Pope led with humility, compassion, and love for all people, Moore posted on the social media platform X. I will be forever grateful for his spiritual leadership and the legacy he leaves behind, Moore said. By Monday afternoon, workers were draping the Baltimore Basilica in black bunting. A Mass at noon was attended by more than 40 people. We have been very blessed to have Pope Francis with us for the past 12 years, said Father Gregory Rapisarda, who presided over the Mass at the Basilica. He showed his tenaciousness to the end, when he met with the congregation at Easter mass and continued to minister to people until his passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marylanders react to the passing of Pope Francis | PHOTOS Former Gov. Larry Hogan posted on Facebook that he personally benefited from the popes gentle spirit and unwavering compassion after the Republican politician was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 during his first term in office. I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis and asking him to pray not just for me, but for all those fighting this same battle, Hogan wrote. He responded with such kindness and sincerity taking a moment to pray with me personally. It was an encounter filled with comfort, strength, and grace, and it is something I will never forget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was among the popes greatest strengths, Lori thinks his seemingly limitless supply of sympathy and concern for people who were hurting. He said its not surprising that Marylanders are responding to Francis death with what appears to be more than the somber respect typically paid to the passing of a global spiritual leader. Although Pope Francis bypassed Baltimore during his one visit to the United States in 2015, Lori said there is nonetheless great affection for Pope Francis throughout the whole archdiocese. During a morning meeting with parishioners, Lori was struck by how close his congregants seemed to feel to the Holy Father. Their response was not, Oh my goodness, now we dont have a pope, Lori said. It was a sense of personal loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sorrow at the popes passing appears to have transcended the anger that some former Catholics have felt about an institution that has weathered its share of scandals. Im here to remember someone who was a remarkable man, said Phillip Clark, a gay Baltimorean who attended mass at the Basilica. Im actually not a practicing Catholic anymore. I left the church a few years ago because of its stances on gay people and women and how they mishandled the [sexual] abuse crisis. But Clark said that Pope Francis stood for humanity and really living the teachings of Christ and added, He didnt emphasize words or doctrines that got in the way of living the Gospel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For younger Americans such as Manuel Alcantor, Pope Francis was effectively the only pontiff they knew. I grew up with Pope Francis in my adult life, he said. Its pretty sad to see a great leader like this pass away. But not all the tributes to the popes life were purely laudatory. The Washington-based progressive group, Catholics for Choice, issued a statement describing the popes legacy as complicated and said that they empathize with people who feel conflicted about his leadership. Pope Francis was not a perfect pope, and he would be the first to admit that, read the statement signed by 15 staff members. On issues of gender and sexuality, Pope Francis still fell short, failing to engage the various nuances and complexities of both in the way that a 21st-century pope must. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others seemed to find comfort in the timing of the popes death the day after Easter, which for Catholics celebrates the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and was resurrected. Theres a balanced sense of sorrow and joy, said Alex Choi after attending Mass at the Basilica. I honestly cant think of a better time for passing to the next life. Lori noted that theres anecdotal evidence that some people play a role in determining the timing of their own deaths. He cant help wondering if Pope Francis wasnt among that select group. You have a sense that some people know that their moment has come, he said, and they decide when and how they want to say goodbye before they go home to the Lord. I think thats what happened yesterday. Sun reporter Jonathan Pitts contributed to this story. Have a news tip? Contact Mary Carole McCauley at mmccauley@baltsun.com and 410-332-6704. Flags across Massachusetts will be lowered to half-staff beginning Monday following the death of Pope Francis, Gov. Maura Healeys office said. Flags at all state buildings will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of interment, Healeys office said in a statement. "I join with my fellow Catholics and people around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis," Healey said in a post on X. ...His life was a commitment to our sacred responsibility to care for others, especially the most vulnerable among us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healeys order is in accordance with a presidential proclamation issued from the White House that also directed flags at "all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories," according to a statement. Francis died Monday, April 21, after Easter. The Vatican stated that he died from a stroke that put him into a coma, which resulted in heart failure. The funeral is set to be different from prior papal funerals, with renewed rites, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, told Vatican News. While most of Francis predecessors are buried beneath the Vatican, Francis is expected to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, outside the Vatican, NBC News reported. The popes funeral Mass is required to be held four to six days after his death. In the following weeks, the council of cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel in a gathering known as conclave, where a new pope will be elected. More News Monday morning was quiet inside Detroit's Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the mother church for the Archdiocese of Detroit. As light from the stained-glass windows streamed in, a single candle burned at the altar, further illuminating a framed photo of Pope Francis. The doors to the massive cathedral on Woodward Avenue were open to the Catholic faithful on April 21, as they mourned the pope, who was 88 when he died earlier that day at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. A single, lit candle burns beside a framed photograph of Pope Francis on the altar at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit on the morning of Monday, April 21, 2025. Hours earlier, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had died. "His health has been declining over the course of the past few months and so while it was surprising, I guess it was not shocking," that the pope died on Easter Monday, said the Rev. Mario Amore, director of evangelization and missionary discipleship for the Archdiocese of Detroit. "I think more of the shock came in the fact that we saw him yesterday. He gave that blessing to the people of God." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being hospitalized for weeks earlier in the year with double pneumonia, Pope Francis appeared to have rallied. He spent Easter Sunday at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, and met with Vice President JD Vance. "As I've been reflecting upon it, it is a reminder to us of what we hear in the scriptures: We don't know the day nor the hour when the Lord will call us home," Amore said. "So it's just an opportunity for us to reflect upon that state of readiness that all of us need to be in. The Rev. Mario Amore, speaks during an Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Aloysius Church in Detroit on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. "There is always a sense of sadness at this moment. I saw people coming into the cathedral this morning with tears in their eyes. Just like when anyone who dies that we love, because we're human, those emotions of sadness are always a part of it. But as people of faith, our hope is in the Lord. There is no better time to die than on this Easter Monday, when we're reminded that the Lord conquers sin and death." Amore, who also serves as a priest for St. Aloysius, Old St. Marys, and the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, said Pope Francis had a unique way of communicating with the faithful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As people are speaking of Pope Francis, they compare him, especially, to Pope John Paul II or Pope Benedict XVI, his immediate predecessors. There's a tendency to put them in camps and suggest that they taught different things. That's not the case. Pope Francis would be the first to say that he had a special way of communicating the teachings of the church, a special way of being and showing the heart and the mercy of Christ. "He highlighted that in his own way not to be any different from his predecessors but just as all of us have a certain way that we're called to live out our life of discipleship and our own witness to Jesus." A Mass was set for 7 p.m. April 21 at the cathedral, 9844 Woodward Ave., which will be led by Archbishop Edward Weisenburger. Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia in 2015. More: What did Pope Francis mean to you? Send a letter to the editor | Letters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Michigan Catholics mourn death of Pope Francis, recall his 'kindness' Over the next few weeks, Catholic cardinals from around the world will be called to the Vatican in Rome to participate in the conclave to choose a new pope. In 2005, following the death of Pope John Paul II, Detroit's retired Cardinal Adam Maida took part in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. Later the same year, Maida submitted his request to resign. However, Vatican officials asked Maida to remain in Detroit and didn't accept his resignation from active ministry until January 2009. Amore said Maida recently celebrated his 95th birthday and will not be part of the conclave. Only cardinals who are 80 or younger are eligible to vote in the election of a new pope. Cardinal Adam Maida photographed April 3, 2005 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. Pope John Paul II died the day before. Once details from the Vatican are released about its official plans for a period of mourning for Pope Francis, Amore said it's likely that the cathedral will begin a nine-day period of prayer, called a novena. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We should be praying for him during this time, for the Lord's mercy upon him just like all of us need at the hour and the time of our death," Amore said. "I'd like to encourage people to be praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis." The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Woodward Avenue in Detroit is open April 21, 2025 for metro Detroit Catholics to mourn Pope Francis, who died the same day at his residence in Rome. Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament plans Mass for Pope Francis The death of a pope and the election of his successor entail a series of rigorously established times and rituals. Following Francis death, there are three major changes: the funeral protocol has been simplified; he will not be buried in the Vatican but in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome; and the conclave to choose his successor may begin earlier than usual, eliminating the need to wait 15 days. A new rule by Benedict XVI in 2013 introduced the possibility of beginning the gathering when all the cardinals are in Rome, without further delay. This point will be decided in the coming days. Naturally, the most important change will be the name of the new pontiff, to be elected among the 137 cardinals who will participate in the most international conclave in history. Wake and funeral Francis had already announced that Benedict XVIs funeral, with the Popes body exposed in the coffin, on a catafalque would be the last to be held in this way, with the coffin placed on an elaborate platform. He didnt like it very much. In 2024, he modified the funeral protocol so that popes are laid out and buried like any son or daughter of the Church. With dignity, but not on cushions. In my opinion, the ritual was too ornate, he explained in an interview. As the Office for Liturgical Celebrations later explained, he wanted the funeral of a pastor and a disciple of Christ, and not of someone powerful in this world. The April 2024 renewal of the ritual, regulated by the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, introduced several changes to streamline the process. The confirmation of death is no longer done in the deceaseds room, but in the chapel. The body is immediately placed in the wooden coffin, with a zinc inner cover, and taken directly to the basilica (previously it made a stop at the Apostolic Palace). There, it will be exposed to the faithful with the coffin open for three days. The funeral will then be held. The main change will be the burial site. Francis has chosen the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, near Termini Station, not the Vatican Grottoes where 23 popes are buried. It is a place dear to him, due to his devotion to the Madonna of the Romans, the Virgin Salus Populi Romani, where he went to pray after his election and before each trip. The burial site will no longer include the three traditional coffins of cypress, lead, and oak that were used until now. Before Francis, several other modern popes chose to be buried outside the Vatican. For example, Pius IX, in San Lorenzo Fuori Le Mura, or Leo XIII, in San Giovanni in Laterano. Vacant seat and nine days of mourning Following the death of the pontiff, nine days of mourning follow, known as the Novendiali. Until a new pope is elected, the authority for administrative and management decisions in the Vatican rests with the camerlengo, who since 2019 has been the American Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell. He certifies the death of the pontiff, annuls the papal ring and closes the papal apartments. He then notifies the cardinal vicar of Rome, who announces the death. The camerlengo governs with the help of three cardinals, chosen by lot and renewed every three days. The other relevant figure at this time is the dean of the College of Cardinals, who summons the other cardinals to the conclave and then presides over it. Since 2020, the dean has been the Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Before concluding the conclave, the cardinals gather in assembly to pray and exchange views in what are known as general congregations. This is a decisive moment for forging the first candidates and gathering votes. Conclave The conclave to elect the new pope is held between 15 and 20 days after the pontiffs death. This long period was previously intended to give cardinals time to arrive in Rome from all over the world (currently 138 cardinals from 71 countries on five continents). However, this time, a provision added by Benedict XVI shortly before his resignation in 2013 will come into effect for the first time. It stipulates that the start of the conclave can be brought forward if all participants have already arrived in Rome. The cardinals stay in the Santa Marta residence within the Vatican, which John Paul II built for this purpose after the hardships and logistical difficulties of the 1978 conclave that saw him elected. From there, they travel daily to the Sistine Chapel, where the voting takes place. On the first day, there is a single preliminary vote. Then, there are always two in the morning and two in the afternoon. At the end of both the morning and afternoon ballots, the famous fumata (smoke) is released to announce the result, unless the first or third ballot already yields a positive result. The smoke is black if there is no pope, and white if there is a new pontiff. The person in charge of announcing the new pope to the world from the balcony of the Basilica of Saint Peter is the so-called Protodeacon, or senior Cardinal Deacon, in this case the French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti. The quorum required to elect the new pope is two-thirds, in order to achieve the greatest consensus. That is, 92 votes, if all the cardinals eligible to participate in the conclave are present, as sometimes some do not show up due to illness or if they have been involved in a scandal. John Paul II introduced a controversial rule that allowed for an absolute majority after the 34th vote, something that led to the belief that a group with that number of votes could simply hold out until that point. But Benedict XVI repealed it in 2007, and from that point on, it went back to a choice between the two candidates with the most support. College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals is divided into two categories: electors (who participate in the conclave) and non-electors, who are those over 80 years of age. Currently, it comprises 252 cardinals, of whom 138 are entitled to vote in the conclave. Paul VI established a limit of 120 participants, but this is a guideline, as there is no way to establish an exact number. Cardinals are periodically appointed every few years, as some pass the age of 80 or pass away. Geographic origin of the cardinals The geographic composition of this conclave is the most varied in history, a trend that has accelerated in the last 50 years. Of the 138 cardinals, Europeans remain the most numerous at 54, but they do not constitute a majority. Asia follows with 24; Africa with 18; and the same number from South America. North America has 16, and Central America, 4. Oceania, another 4. The countries with the most cardinals are Italy (17), the United States (10), Brazil (7), India (5), Spain (5), and France (5). Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Early voting is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, April 22, allowing citizens to cast their ballots ahead of the May 3 general election. Here is where and when you can vote early in San Angelo. According to information available on the Tom Green County websites elections webpage, early voting will take place during the following dates and times: Tuesday, April 22 Friday, April 25 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 26 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 27 Noon to 6 p.m. Monday, April 28 Tuesday, April 29 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polling during early voting will occur in the Election Office of the Edd B. and Frances Frink Keyes Building, located at 113 W. Beauregard Ave. Citizens will be able to vote on several races and bond elections during the May 3 election and its early voting period. Among these are City of San Angelo councilmember seat races, the mayoral election, San Angelo ISD School Board seat races, a $397 million bond election for a variety of renovation and new construction projects at San Angelo ISD and a $41.6 million bond election for renovations to the CRC Roofers Coliseum. For more information about the May 3 election, including interviews with candidates and overviews of bond elections, visit Concho Valley Homepages Your Local Election HQ webpage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. A day after meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, Vice President JD Vance reacted on social media to the 88-year-old pontiff's death early Monday. "I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," Vance said in a statement on X. "I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill." Vance also said he would long remember the pope's homily during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, "It was really quite beautiful." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "May God rest his soul," Vance said. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025 When did JD Vance meet the pope? The vice president met with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday during his family's weekend visit to Vatican City. Vance, who has a home in East Walnut Hills, converted to Catholicism six years ago at a church in Greater Cincinnati. The visit came amid disagreements between the pope and U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. According to USA TODAY, the pontiff had been critical of the administration's mass deportation of migrants and even disputed Vances interpretation of theology. The frail but determined Francis greeted thousands in St. Peter's Square after Easter Mass in his open-air popemobile, just five weeks after a hospital stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 21, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced. The Vatican is on Central European Summer Time, which is six hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time. 'Make a mess' A Cincinnati priest reflects on his time in Rome with Pope Francis Vice President JD Vance meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Easter Sunday. JD Vance converted to Catholicism at Madeira church Vance's faith is strongly tied to Cincinnati. The Middletown native was raised nominally evangelical and explored atheism before converting to Catholicism in 2019 at St. Gertrude Priory, which is attached to a Dominican parish in Madeira, about 12 miles northeast of Cincinnati. Vance told The American Conservative that as he became more interested in faith, Catholicism was the practice that appealed most to him "intellectually." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Cincinnati Catholic leaders remember Pope Francis as defender of 'those on the margins' This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When did JD Vance meet the pope? VP reacts to death day after meeting HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry returns from a trip to the nations capital. She was there for three days to take part in the African American Mayors Association Conference. The organization says its the only one exclusively representing African American mayors in the United States. Evansville man shot on Cross Street In a Facebook post, Mayor Terry said the conference featured talks on everything from public safety to economic growth, and how now is the time to take bold steps for cities. Mayor Terry said keynote speaker and Good Morning America host Michael Strahan left a mark on her when he said, We need everyone to win, because if the team wins, theres enough to go around for everybody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the notable U.S. mayors attending the conference included mayors Eric Adams of New York, Andre Dickens of Atlanta and Brandon Johnson of Chicago. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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). Gov. Dan McKee has ordered flags at all state buildings and facilities to fly at half-staff until Senate President Dominick Ruggerio internment. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current) Gov. Dan McKee has ordered flags at all state buildings and facilities to fly at half-staff and is asking Rhode Islanders to do the same in honor of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. The governors directive comes as tributes pour in from political figures across the spectrum following Ruggerios death early Monday following a battle with cancer. The self-described moderate North Providence Democrat served more than four decades at the State House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKee called Ruggerio a great friend and true public servant who dedicated his life to lifting up the state he loved. His service and thoughtful leadership have made Rhode Island a better place, and his legacy will leave a lasting impact on our state for generations to come, the governor said in a statement. It was my honor to work alongside him. Flags are ordered to remain at half staff until Ruggerios internment. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos praised Ruggerios leadership on workforce training, lead pipe replacement, and climate resiliency, saying his impact and legacy will be felt for generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhode Island will miss him dearly, she said. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said Ruggerio displayed true leadership in addressing the states most pressing issues, from the opioid crisis to climate change and everything in between. Mr. Ruggerio led until the very end, demonstrating the same courage and tenacity in illness as he did his entire life, because of his steadfast commitment to the health and well-being of Rhode Islanders, Neronha said in a statement. Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore said Ruggerio exemplified the qualities of an effective public servant, demonstrating unwavering dedication to his work and a clear set of values that shaped his decisions throughout his career. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate President Ruggerio took on those requirements for more than four decades, serving his constituents and the Senate as a whole with dedication and steadfast leadership, Amore said. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed remembered Ruggerio as a distinguished public servant, a champion for working people and our state, and a dear friend. I will miss Donnys friendship and his unwavering advocacy for our state and the people who make it a special place, Reed said in a statement. Rhode Island is better today because of Senate President Ruggerios leadership and dedication. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said Ruggerios legacy at the State House will be defined by his decades of forceful advocacy for working people and his practical, highly effective style of legislating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beloved by his North Providence community, Donny was always a pleasure to work with, Whitehouse said. I send my deepest condolences to the entire Ruggerio family. U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner called Ruggerio a champion for working people, a skilled legislator, and a true gentleman. Magaziner, a former state treasurer, said it was an honor to work with Ruggerio on the school construction initiative launched in 2018. He understood the importance of investing in the next generation, and the Senate delivered under his leadership, Magaziner said in a statement. U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo called Ruggerios passing a significant loss for Rhode Island and echoed Magaziner, saying the late senate president championed the states working class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From infrastructure to labor protections, he believed that our states progress is ultimately a result of the hard work of our people, Amo said. Ruggerios passing has garnered sympathies from across the aisle as well. Rhode Island GOP chairman Joe Powers issued an online statement saying his absence will be felt throughout the State House and across our state. Though we stood on opposite sides of the aisle, I recognize Senate President Ruggerios institutional knowledge and leadership during his decades of service in public office and the lasting impact he made on Rhode Island politics, Powers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Paul Suttell, a former Republican state legislator who served in the State House with Ruggerio, said the Senate president made a lasting impact on state government over the past four decades and will be sorely missed. Ruggerios pro-labor stance was not lost on local unions. Mary Barden, executive director for the National Education Association Rhode Island, called Ruggerio a steadfast advocate for public education who was committed to advocating fair wages and strong benefits. His leadership left an enduring mark on our state, and he served the Senate with great pride and integrity, Barden said. Democratic National Committeeman Joe Paolino Jr., a former mayor of Providence, remembered Ruggerio as a man of reason who could find common ground when others saw only differences. Committeewoman Nicole Verdi, who once worked under Ruggerio, thanked her former boss for his mentorship and his leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I saw firsthand how many people he helped and how deeply he cared about public service, the institution of the Senate, and the state he loved, she said. His legacy will live on in the institutions he strengthened and in the lives of so many he worked tirelessly to support and uplift. State Party Chair Liz Beretta-Perik thanked Ruggeiro for bringing civility and respect to Rhode Island politics and called him a good friend. Anytime I was with him, I felt the kindness and warmth that were his trademarks, she said. His Italian heritage reminded me of my grandparents and the values of family and community that I grew up with and cherish. Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Networks have also lent their condolences to the man they said championed efforts to improve public health and increase access to cancer screenings tests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ruggerio was a resounding voice on so many issues critical to Rhode Islanders and will be sorely missed, said Ryan Strik, government relations director for the societys Rhode Island chapter. Meanwhile, leaders of the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) issued a joint statement Monday regarding the news of their union brother. Ruggerio worked as an administrator for a LIUNA affiliate, the New England Laborers Labor Management Cooperation Trust, until 2017. A tireless advocate for the working families of Rhode Island, our brother never forgot where he came from and about the men and women who build and service our great state, as evidenced by how proud he was of the LIUNA Local Union 271 union card he carried in his pocket, the statement said. The strong, proud and united membership of LIUNA, especially the over 10,000 laborers of the Rhode Island Laborers District Council, are forever grateful for his dedicated service to uplifting the lives of all working families. This story was updated to include a statement from Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Suttell and the Laborers International Union of North America. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This article was featured in the One Story to Read Today newsletter. Sign up for it here. Elizabeth Hays, a white woman from central North Carolina, had never been to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. But earlier this month, after she read about Donald Trumps executive order targeting the museum and others throughout the Smithsonian system, she made the nearly five-hour drive up to Washington, D.C., to visit. She was worried that if she waited any longer, she might encounter a sanitized version of the museum, or no museum at all. She told me this in front of a display focused on contemporary manifestations of Black protest. Elisa Hill, a Black woman from Maryland, was visiting that day too. Im very worried about whats going to happen here, Hill told me, shaking her head. Because it represents the history that we all need to know and understand. Im just afraid that its going to be censored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I, too, had carried this concern since hearing about the executive order. I tried to contact museum officialsincluding Lonnie Bunch, the head of the Smithsonian and the founding director of NMAAHCbut each person I reached out to was unavailable. I was not surprised by this response. Smithsonian officials no doubt fear that if they speak publicly about the executive order, then they, and the institution, might be further targeted. So instead, I made a trip to NMAAHC, hoping to talk directly with people there and take stock of what might be lost. [Lonnie G. Bunch III: Why is America afraid of Black history?] Every time I visit NMAAHC, the first person I think of is Ruth Odom Bonner. On September 24, 2016, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama stood alongside the 99-year-old Bonnerand three other generations of her familyto ring the bell signaling the opening of the museum to the public. Bonners presence that day was significant because she was the daughter of a man who was born into slavery. Not the granddaughter. Not the great-granddaughter. The woman who opened NMAAHC was the child of a man born in bondage. His name was Elijah Odom. As a young boy, Odom and his brothers had escaped to freedom. He became a farmer, lived through Reconstruction and Jim Crow, and ultimately attended and graduated from medical school, becoming the only practicing Black physician in his community of Bisco, Arkansas. Elijah Odoms life represented the possibility that existed on the other side of slavery. In 2016, his daughter Ruth was a reminder that the history presented in the museum she helped inaugurate did not happen all that long ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The history inside the museum still reverberates through our country. It is impossible to understand the contemporary landscape of social, political, and economic inequality without understanding the forces and events that served as its catalysts. This is why so many have worked so hard to silence this history. Upon my arrival at NMAAHC, I stumbled onto a tour of a new exhibit, In Slaverys Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World, a project that places the experiences of slavery, colonialism, and freedom-making across the world in conversation with one another. The docent leading the tour, Edward Flanagan, was a Black man who looked to be in his 80s. He wore a black long-sleeve shirt with the face of James Baldwin alongside his words: Ignorance allied with power is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. The only way that slavery works is the continued public application of violence and terror, Flanagan told the group. He laced his hands together in front of his body. Also, race does not exist. It is a social construct made necessary by unrestrained capitalism, colonialism, and the slave trade. Those three items are going to come up again and again and again. Those are the things that have formed your world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This idea, that capitalism, slavery, and colonialism are the forces that have shaped our contemporary world, is central to the exhibit. And it occurred to me, listening to Flanagan, that this was the exact sort of story that Trump and many of his allies would like to excise from museums, classrooms, and every other realm of American life. What would it mean if every American understood, as Flanagan said, that a large portion of the countrys millionaires in the mid-19th century lived along the Mississippi? Or, as he later shared, that many of our most prestigious universities established before 1865 were built using the profits of chattel slavery? These are empirical facts, not ideological ones. And as more Americans have come to understand this history, they have, appropriately, begun to question much of what they have been taught about America. Many universities, for instance, have begun in recent years to acknowledge the ways slavery provided the capital for their infrastructure, and the fact that such infrastructure was often literally constructed by enslaved laborers. Commissions have been formed. Memorials have been erected. New courses have been offered. It is perhaps not a coincidence, then, that these are some of the same institutions that have been most directly targeted by Trump, who has threatened to pull federal funding from universities that engage in anything that falls under his nebulous definition of DEI. Many colleges and universities are capitulating. Some are fighting back. [Phillip Atiba Solomon: Am I still allowed to tell the truth in my class?] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the most striking part of the exhibit was the section on rebellions. Flanagan came to a map of the world with clusters of dots, most of them between the Americas and the West African coast, crossing the Atlantic like a bridge connecting the two continents. Contrary to what many believe, he explained, rebellions were a relatively common occurrence on slave ships; the dots represented those uprisings. The caption beneath the map stated that captured Africans revolted during one in 10 slave-trade voyages. Notice the concentration along the coast of Africa, Flanagan said. Many of these revolts, he told us, took place when the vessels were docked offshore and land was still in sight. The captives would think, I can still see home. Its right over there. Flanagan told the group the story of the Amistad, a slave ship traveling from Cuba to Long Island that became the site of an 1839 slave revolt. The captured Africans were arrested by American officials. But in 1841, the case made it to the Supreme Court, where the captives were defended by former President John Quincy Adams, and where the justices ruled in their favor, granting them their freedom and allowing them to sail back to their homeland of Sierra Leone. Flanagan pointed to three framed images behind himcourt sketches. Between the sketches was a quote from one of the rebels, a man named Sengbe, who said, I am resolved that it is better to die than be a white mans slave. A group of teenagers who had been eavesdropping on Flanagans presentation eventually dropped all pretense and joined the group. One young womanwith brown skin, hoop earrings, and long braidswalked up to the sketches of the kidnapped Africans, pulled out her phone, and took a picture of the sketches and the quote between them. I remembered my time as a high-school teacher and how, during discussions on slavery, so many of my Black students would ask why more enslaved people hadnt fought back. Resistance to enslavement came in many forms, of course, oftentimes more subtle than outright rebellion. But knowing that a rebellion occurred during one-tenth of slave-trade voyages helps disabuse people, especially students, of the idea that the enslaved simply accepted the conditions that had been forced upon themand shows that, in many cases, captured Africans resisted long before they reached the shores of the Americas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black resistance, Flanagan told the group, has always existed. This exhibit, and this museum more broadly, allows us to see it. It also reminds us that resistance is possible in our own timewhich is exactly the sort of thing thats led authoritarian regimes around the world to scrub examples of political resistance from classrooms, books, and the internet. As the tour came to an end, Flanagan asked if anyone in the group had questions. A clean-shaven white man raised his hand and asked, Sir, were you a Freedom Rider? Flanagan smiled and nodded. I was a Freedom Rider, yes. The group began to murmur with surprise and admiration. I came here all the way from Alaska, the man said. May I take a picture with you? Flanagan nodded and waved for the man to come up next to him; the mans wife took their photograph. After the group had dispersed, I went up to Flanagan and introduced myself. He told me that he has been volunteering as a docent at NMAAHC for the past three years but has been a fan of the museum since it opened and was a supporter even before that. Theyve been taking my money since 2003, he said, laughing, referencing the year George W. Bush signed legislation authorizing the creation of the museum. The process of becoming a docent, he said, was more difficult than getting either of his masters degrees. I had to be able to do the whole museum, he said. The museum is also, for Flanagan, a family affair. His daughter is part of the museums team that coordinates educational programming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 1960s, as a college student at Howard University, Flanagan traveled from Washington, D.C., to Rockville, South Carolina, challenging the enforcement of laws that prohibited integration in public transportation and facilities. He decided to become a Freedom Rider during the civil-rights movement for the same reason he decided to become a docent at NMAAHC during the Black Lives Matter movement. He put his hands in his pockets, shrugged, and said, You gotta do something. I asked Flanagan what he thought about the recent executive order. He smiled. I am told not to talk about that while Im wearing my badge and my lanyard, he said. Then his face became more sober. What I will say is that as a docent, I would like to tell, as John Hope Franklin says, the unvarnished truth. And one of the things we strive to do is tell the real story. What Flanagan understands is that the real story of America includes the story of slavery. He looked around at all the people walking through the exhibit. The elders. The students. The families. I love this museum, he said. Theyll have to beat me away with a stick. Chris Carmichael / The New York Times / Redux In his March 27 executive order, President Trump directed Vice President J. D. Vance to remove improper ideology from NMAAHC and other Smithsonian museums. As I walked around the museum, I wondered which of these exhibits would fall under that rubric. What does it mean for something to be improper if the administrations understanding of what is acceptable excludes anything that might make white Americans feel bad? Is the statue of Thomas Jefferson surrounded by bricks inscribed with the names of people he enslaved improper? Is a slave cabin that once sat on the grounds of a plantation in South Carolina improper? Are the shackles that were once locked around the feet of enslaved children improper? Is Harriet Tubmans silk shawl improper? Is Nat Turners Bible improper? Is Emmett Tills casket improper? Are the photographs of men and women who were lynched as white audiences looked on improper? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Museum of African American History and Culture is not a place that traffics in improper ideology. It is a museum that recognizes that America has been suffused with improper ideologies for most of its history: ideologies that ignore the centrality of slavery to the nations founding. Ideologies that tell us the Civil War was simply about states rights. Ideologies that call Reconstruction a failure rather than a campaign that was actively destroyed. Ideologies that excise the important role of queer and female activists during the civil-rights movement. Ideologies that ignore the connections between racism and incarceration. Ideologies that tell Americans that the contemporary landscape of inequality in this country has nothing to do with history, and is simply a result of who has worked hard and who has not. [Read: Why is Trump mad at the zoo?] Several years ago, I visited the museum with my grandparentsmy grandfather, who was born in 1930 Jim Crow Mississippi, and my grandmother, who was born in 1939 Jim Crow Florida. Inside, I pushed my grandfather in his wheelchair, his cane laid across his lap, a map of the museum in his hands. My grandmother walked behind us and moved ahead of us with an effortless independence, her gait steady and unhurried. I remember watching them take in the exhibits and remark upon how proximate they felt to what was on display. When I asked my grandmother about it later, she kept repeating the words I lived it. I lived it. I lived it. My grandmothers history exists inside this museum. Ruth Odom Bonners history exists inside this museum. This nations history exists inside this museum. Attempting to strip the institution of the stories that tell the truth about who we have been is an attempt to perpetuate a lie about who we are. Article originally published at The Atlantic AMHERST COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Polices Med Flight-1 responded to rescue and injured hiker along the Cashaw Creek Trail System in Amherst County on Sunday, April 20. Virginia State Police Senior Trooper Pilot Andy Wood, Chesterfield Firefighter Chris Orr, and Chesterfield Lieutenant Mike Abbott then flew the 87 nautical miles to the site. (Photo Credit: Virginia State Police) When crews arrived on scene, surrounded by trees, firefighter Orr was on the ground to assist the juvenile patient into the Baumin Bag to hoist the patient into the helicopter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The patient was flown to UVA Medical Center. Med-Flight is currently in its 41st year and is a publicly funded operation therefore does not charge for its services. It is also in partnership with Virginia State Police and Chesterfield County Fire and EMS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. French settlers called it Bad River; to the Native Americans who lived there first, it was always Mashkiiziibii: Medicine River. According to Mary Annette Pember in her powerful new book of that name, the Ojibwe (sometimes Anglicized as Chippewa) believed that everything needed for a good life could be found in its coffee-colored waters and along its banks. It was there, in an Ojibwe community in northern Wisconsin, that Pembers mother, Bernice Rabideaux, was born a century ago. The prosperous timber industry, having stripped the region of its eastern white pine, was in retreat, leaving poverty in its wake. In 1930, as the Depression raged, Bernice and her siblings were sent to St. Marys Catholic Indian Boarding School in Odanah. She was 5. Medicine River: A Story of Survival and the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools is an important work in the growing literature about the trauma those boarding schools inflicted on generations of Native peoples. Unlike other notable entries, including David Wallace Adams Education for Extinction and Bill Vaughns The Plot Against Native America , Pembers book blends her research and reportage with memoir. It is, above all, a quest. To understand myself, our family's collective disease, Indian people's unparalleled ability to survive, and the history of Indian boarding schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From their inception in the 19th century, these schools explicitly sought to eradicate Indigenous culture and instill in Native peoples the language and mores of white settlers. Pembers description of school life is correspondingly harrowing. Methods of discipline included whipping, beating, incarceration, and the withholding of food. Children as young as 4 slept in crowded dormitories. Disease was rampant. Students were forbidden to speak their traditional languages at the schools and forced to learn English. Sometimes teachers would wash students' mouths out with lye soap. For some, school was effectively a death sentence. As Pember reports in the book, 74 burial sites, accounting for nearly 1,000 students, were identified by the Department of the Interior under Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo). The governments investigations only began in 2021 , though, and its 2022 report was deemed far from complete . Indeed, since her book was edited, Pember has herself written about a revised estimate of more than 3,000 student deaths . Meanwhile, just over the border from Medicine River, Canada has found more than 2,000 unmarked graves at residential schools. And as the story continues to break open, devastating revelations keep coming. The Oscar-nominated documentary Sugarcane, co-directed by Julian Brave NoiseCat (Canim Lake Band Tsq'escen), included witness reports of newborns immolated in a school incinerator. Read more: Patt Morrison: Why the U.S. needed to apologize for its 'Indian school' policy The Interior Departments report only covered government-run schools. In practice, many of the schools, including St. Marys, were operated by the Catholic Church or other religious organizations. Their archives, as Pember reports, are often inaccessible; a bureaucratic fog obscures much of the record. But bit by bit thats changing. A 2024 Washington Post investigation that drew in part on Pembers work provided horrendous new information describing what it calls the pervasive sexual abuse endured by Native American children at Catholic-run schools in remote regions of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most U.S. citizens have dodged this history by default; it has never been presented to them, Pember writes. (This is no exaggeration: 27 states make no mention of a single Native American in their K12 curriculum, as the National Congress of American Indians reported in 2019 .) But Indians don't have the luxury of ignorance. History flows through us; it is embedded in us. Pember bore witness to this. My mothers migraines hold me prisoner for much of my childhood, she writes. I recall the sharp corners of my mothers arms during her infrequent hugs. Bernice suffered greatly at St. Marys. She was called a dirty Indian by the Mother Superior. Corporal punishment was common. When her own mother visited two years after she and her siblings arrived at the school, it was to inform them that shed remarried and had no room for them. Its easy to understand how, as a mother herself, Bernice might have struggled to provide adequate affection. Pember inherited her mothers scars and acquired some of her own. At a Wisconsin elementary school in the 1960s, she faced racism and presumptions of idiocy. She spent time in a juvenile detention center. I was an Indian, inferior and broken. Though she later became the first college graduate in her family, she continued to face entrenched sexism and racism at work and drank to cope. (She has been sober since 2000.) In one chapter, Pember explores epigenetic research into trauma, the hypothesis that trauma responses might be inherited even without changes in the DNA sequence. She cites research suggesting that high rates of addiction, suicide, mental illness, sexual violence, and other ills among Indian peoples might be, at least in part, influenced by historical trauma. Even when authorities have tried to help, she notes, their assistance has often been ill-directed: The American Psychological Assn. has conceded that so-called western psychological methods have proved inadequate in treating Native peoples mental health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: A book that revealed the 'entire story' of Indian boarding schools would be important. This isn't it. Redress is urgent. As Ned Blackhawk wrote in The Rediscovery of America, his National Book Awardwinning history, The exclusion of Native Americans was codified in the Constitution, maintained throughout the antebellum era, and legislated into the twentieth century: far from being incidental, it enabled the development of the United States. U.S. history as we currently know it does not account for the centrality of Native Americans. Pembers journalism and advocacy, along with that of a growing number of writers and activists, both Native and not, are making clear the scope and impact of one major pillar of this epochal injustice. The scale of the boarding school system, Pember observes, means almost no Native family is untouched by its dreadful legacy. In Medicine River, as she comes to understand and forgive her mother for her negligence and cruelty, the reader is shown the devastating effects of trauma and the possibility of hope. But at a time when the government is expressing open hostility toward Native peoples through disdain for DEI initiatives and disregard for tribal sovereignty , its essential that stories like Pember's stories are amplified and the momentum toward justice is sustained until such a time as it can be delivered. Arrowsmith is based in New York and writes about books, films and music. Get the latest book news, events and more in your inbox every Saturday. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, an Argentine outsider among the leading papal candidates, appeared on the balcony of the Vaticans Apostolic Palace on March 13, 2013. Speaking in Italian with a strong Buenos Aires accent and exhibiting typical sacristy sarcasm, he presented his credentials to a packed St. Peters Square. You know that it was the duty of the Conclave to give Rome a Bishop. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone to the ends of the earth to get one, but here we are. The ends of the earth was not just a distant place, but also a metaphor for how far his vision of the universal Church diverged from the doctrines of his predecessors. He was announcing revolution, passion, and sweeping changes. Twelve years after his arrival, Bergoglio has died in Rome from a lung infection. Today, one might say the Holy Spirit has deemed his reforms complete. It is now up to history and his successors to determine the extent and permanence of the transformation led by the 266th pope of the Catholic Church. God is not afraid of change, Jorge Mario Bergoglio always replied to his critics. He was an influential cardinal who knew how to deftly move between the hallways of power in the palace and the smell of sheep in Argentinas slums. If its difficult to imagine how any of us will age, it must have been impossible for Bergoglio, then a graduate in chemistry who began working in a food analysis laboratory in the 1950s, to even remotely imagine that one day he would become the Pope in Rome. Yet in March 1958, at the age of 21, Bergoglio opted for religious studies, entering the metropolitan seminary of Buenos Aires and beginning his novitiate with the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. When he became Pope Francis, he explained that he had joined the Jesuits because he was attracted by their status as a forward-thinking force in the Church, speaking in a military language, based on obedience and discipline, and oriented toward missionary work. An undated childhood image of Francis. Franco Origlia (Getty Images) On December 13, 1969, he was ordained a priest and began climbing through the ranks of the Church, a quest that would eventually lead him to the Chair of Peter. In 1971 he completed his spiritual exercises and the studies of his third probation (the final stage of Jesuit formation) in Alcala de Henares, Spain. In April 1973, he took his perpetual vows in the Society of Jesus, and in July of that year, Pedro Arrupe, the Jesuits Superior General, appointed him Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina, a position he held until 1979. From that post, he lived through the years of Argentinas military dictatorship following the 1976 coup, and his conduct during that time was later criticized in several reports published in the press in his home country. These reports accused him of collaboration, arguing that he failed to protect two priests from his order who were held in captivity and tortured for five months at the Navy Mechanics School (ESMA) in Buenos Aires. Bergoglio refuted these accusations in 2010, stating that he had sheltered several people fleeing military repression. In an autobiographical book of conversations titled The Jesuit, Francis said he did what he could, given my age and the few connections I had. But that shadow would always haunt him likely hanging over him when he made the decision never to return to his country. His pastoral and intellectual career caught the attention of Cardinal Quarracino, and thanks to his influence, Pope John Paul II elevated Bergoglio to an episcopal position in the see of Auca, and he became auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992. From that moment on, Bergoglios rise in the ecclesiastical hierarchy was unstoppable. In 1998, he succeeded Quarracino as head of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentine. John Paul II conferred the cardinals hat on him in February 2001, in a ceremony attended by 43 other new cardinals. In 2005, he was appointed president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, a position from which he maintained a tense relationship with the political leadership of Presidents Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. In this 2008 file photo, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, second from left, rides the subway in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pablo Leguizamon (AP/LaPresse) Bergoglio, who always knew how to read the moment, was already among the list of papal contenders after the death of John Paul II. There was speculation at the time of the conclave that elected Joseph Ratzinger suggesting the Argentine cardinal had come in second in the final vote count. Eight years later, after a turbulent pontificate marked by scandals, the College of Cardinals decided it was time for a change of course and that no one was better suited to lead it than the Argentine. Pope Franciss main legacy, beyond the structural reforms he undertook within the Curia, will undoubtedly be his vision of a Church focused on the underprivileged. He dispensed with luxury from day one: simple clothing, a silver ring, modest shoes, and a residence outside the opulence of the Apostolic Palace, choosing instead to live among the nuns of Santa Marta. Poverty, the marginalized, and the worlds dispossessed were to become the gravitational center of his pontificate. And Francis understood that nothing embodied that reality more powerfully than the growing and harrowing phenomenon of migration something he witnessed firsthand as bishop of Rome, the capital of a country through which the greatest influxes of migrants passed in the last decade. Newly named Pope Jose Mario Bergoglio appears, on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, on March 13, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Osservatore Romano/Vatican Media/Pool/Getty In July 2013, anticipating all that would later unfold there, the Pope arrived on the island of Lampedusa to mourn the victims of the shipwrecks and celebrate a solemn Mass at an altar built from the wreckage of a boat on which dozens of migrants had died. It was an extraordinary gesture one he would repeat many times with unforgettable moments, like his visit in April 2016 to a refugee camp in Lesbos, from which he returned aboard the papal plane with 12 migrants. His revolutionary commitment will undoubtedly remain as a true transformation of the Church. But it also opened several fault lines with the ultraconservative world, which criticized him for focusing more on members of other religions and secular society than on the problems of Catholics. That, in essence, was the great battle he fought throughout his papacy. His dedication to those on the margins was also reflected in the 47 apostolic journeys to 66 countries, which always sought to plant the Vatican flag in corners of the world where Catholic minorities were either under threat or rapidly growing: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Congo, South Sudan, Japan, Mozambique, Madagascar, the Philippines His aversion to entrenched power and the Western capitalist model led him to decline countless invitations for state visits to major powers like France, the United Kingdom, Spain, and even his native Argentina a country he avoided returning to in order not to stir up old issues and disputes from the past. Yet that vision of building the Church on the margins of the world was also indelibly stamped into the makeup of the College of Cardinals, the Churchs most powerful body and the one now tasked with electing the next Pope. In this April 6, 2016 file photo, Pope Francis drinks from a mate gourd at the end of his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday, March 13, 2018. Andrew Medichini (AP/LaPresse) Conclaves, including the one in which Bergoglio was elected in just two days and five ballots, used to be marked by the influence of Italians and the wealthiest churches: the German and the American ones. During his papacy, Francis sought to change that dynamic by appointing cardinals from remote places with no apparent connections to Romes power circles. The total number of cardinals has reached 252, and there are 138 electors. Of this select group, 110 79% are creatures of Francis; 23 were appointed by Benedict XVI, and five by John Paul II. The rest are non-electors: cardinals over 80 years old. In 2013, when he became pope, Asia and Oceania had 11 cardinal electors. After the last consistory, this number grew to 28, with some hailing from regions that had never had cardinals before, and where the percentage of Catholics is minimal, such as East Timor, Singapore, and Mongolia. A significant shift that will undoubtedly create a completely different geopolitical dynamic in the election of his successor. The change in the Churchs power structure, Franciss great obsession, was the main cause of his rupture with a significant portion of the hierarchy, particularly in countries like the United States. Bergoglio, known as a progressive though, in reality, his views on major issues like abortion and homosexuality were not very different from those of his opponents had to coexist from day one with a pope emeritus, whom the conservative sector turned into a standard-bearer of theological correctness and purity. But also of what a good pope should be, even though many of those same cardinals and bishops were responsible for his resignation in 2013. Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb.9, 2025. Alessandra Tarantino (AP/LaPresse) Francis was accused of heresy, and a group of cardinals presented him with a Dubia requests for clarification on Amoris Laetitia, the apostolic exhortation in which he opened the door to allowing communion for divorced men and women. But the conflict grew more intense, and a former archbishop and former nuncio in Washington, Carlo Maria Vigano, publicly called for his resignation in a campaign orchestrated and funded from the United States, accusing him of covering up the abuses of Cardinal Theodor McCarrick. The Pope would later strip the prelate of his rights as both a cardinal and a priest, returning him to a lay life with a violence that was hitherto unheard of. Beyond the attempted overthrow of the Pope for power reasons, Francis had until then maintained a somewhat sporadic relationship with the fight against child abuse. Although he had implemented a series of new measures upon his arrival, such as the creation of a Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, it did not seem that his papacy took the issue very seriously. That changed when he traveled to Chile in January 2018 and had a confrontation with a journalist who reminded him of the case of Father Fernando Karadima, a serial abuser. Francis, with his spontaneous and somewhat authoritarian nature, made a grave mistake: The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, Ill speak, Francis said. There is not one shred of proof against him. Its all slander. Is that clear? The scandal was enormous, but as often happened with Bergoglio, it became the catalyst he needed to initiate a process of reform in the system of prevention, oversight, and punishment for this issue. Bergoglios 12 years as Pope were fast-paced, transformative, and, to a certain extent, revolutionary. But the unit of measure for the Church an institution that has survived and governed the Catholic world for 2000 years is the century. And all things considered, it was a good idea for someone from the ends of the earth to come and change as much as possible in the shortest time possible. Even if it was just so everything could remain the same. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Apr. 21New Mexico leaders mourned the death of Pope Francis Monday and reflected on his life. Here's what they said. Archbishop John Wester Pope Francis was a shepherd to us all, guiding the Church with a gentle spirit and a fierce commitment to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being. His emphasis on mercy and inclusivity transformed countless lives and inspired a renewed sense of hope within the global community. Through his actions and words, he reminded us of the importance of caring for the marginalized and standing up for the voiceless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Pope Francis embodied values that resonate deeply with New Mexicans compassion for the marginalized, dignity for the forgotten, and grace extended to all. Lt. Gov. Howie Morales New Mexico feels a special bond to this first Latin American pontiff, and our thoughts and prayers are with mourners across the globe. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan Pope Francis was a beacon of hope who reminded us all to love and help each other regardless of our differences. His Holiness led the church with compassion, kindness, and was an inspiration around the world. U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis taught us to lead with love and compassion, to care for the immigrant and the hungry, to care for the planet and our faith. U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez Pope Francis challenged the world to lead with compassion, protect the most vulnerable, and care for creation. His passing is a deep loss but his message lives on in all of us who believe in justice, dignity, and love for our neighbors. U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury Pope Francis led with a humility that transcended boundaries advocating for the poor, LGBTQ+ rights, climate action, and human rights. A generational leader in a troubled time Pope Francis's compassion and leadership will be missed across the planet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller Albuquerque joins people around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a leader who spent his life standing with those too often left out, welcoming immigrants, sharing meals with the homeless, and lifting up the poor and the forgotten. He showed us that real leadership is about compassion and treating every person with dignity. As New Mexicans, his example calls us to keep building communities where everyone is valued and cared for. This story will be updated. A view of the Organ Mountains and surrounding desert in Dona Ana County on Sunday, April 7, 2024. (Photo by Leah Romero for Source NM) New Mexicos highest court on Monday clarified a question posed by a federal court about which law to consider when weighing an emergency dispatchers legal immunity from allegations of a mishandled 911 call. The ruling stems from the death of a 16-year-old boy who was hiking with his family in July 2020 in the Organ Mountains in Dona Ana County when he started suffering from heat stroke. His mother called 911, which a Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority 911 dispatcher answered and then routed to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a wrongful death lawsuit, the childs estate and family alleged that the Mesilla Valley dispatcher made a series of missteps that delayed the emergency medical response, and that DPS dispatch center incorrectly noted their location that day. The Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority and DPS each asked the judge to dismiss the case, pointing to a New Mexico law called the Enhanced 911 Act that provides legal immunity to local governments and their contractors who run 911 dispatch systems except for intentional acts. The federal court delayed a decision to dismiss the case and asked the New Mexico Supreme Court to weigh in. In a unanimous decision published on Monday, the New Mexico Supreme Court found that the Enhanced 911 Act, has no bearing on the 911 dispatchers immunity from liability for the allegedly mishandled 911 emergency medical calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the justices wrote, immunity for dispatchers is governed by a law the Legislature passed six years prior to the Enhanced 911 Act: the Enhanced Medical Services Act, which provides immunity for dispatchers except for damages caused by negligence. Succinctly stated, important changes in statutory law are not generally made through inconspicuous means, the justices wrote. Applying that principle here, we cannot conclude that the Legislature would announce a new rule more broadly immunizing 911 dispatchers from liability except for intentional acts in the space of one phrase in a statute primarily addressing enhanced 911 infrastructure and funding that makes only isolated and generalized references to 911 dispatchers or their equivalents. The justices wrote that their ruling is only meant to clarify for the federal court which law to apply; they made no findings as to how it should apply the law to the boys death. Under a new statewide emergency dispatch system expected to launch in August, dispatchers wont have to rely on callers to determine their location and instead will be able to track the cell phones location data. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) The New Mexico Supreme Court reinstated the conviction of a religious sect leaders role in a childs death. Deborah Green, the self-proclaimed general of the Aggressive Christian Missionary Training Corps, pled no contest to child abuse in 2018, four years after a boy at the groups compound died from an untreated illness. Repeat International District murder suspect facing new charges She later challenged her 18-year sentence, claiming her innocence. In 2022, a district court judge sided with Green, saying while she failed to get medical care for the boy, the evidence did not support the first-degree felony charge. The state Supreme Court disagreed, saying Green did not provide any new evidence that she was innocent. At the same time, the justices ruled that people who take plea deals can challenge their imprisonment, not just those convicted by a jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KRQE News 13 reached out to the 13th Judicial District Attorney for their next steps in the case, but did not hear back. Green had also received a 72-year sentence for kidnapping, sexual abuse, and other crimes at the compound. Her conviction was vacated, and a new trial was ordered after prosecutors failed to disclose evidence to the defense. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) More than 1,500 miles of road have been cleared in Northern Michigan after a major ice storm, the Michigan National Guard said in a recent social media post. More than 870 soldiers and airman were deployed as part of recovery operations and worked alongside first responders and agencies. A National Guardsman who deployed for hurricane cleanup in North Carolina was mobilized again to communities up north. First Lt. Brock Crystal is part of a team working with the Department of Natural Resources to clear routes for emergency vehicles and crews working on radio and communication towners left damaged by the ice storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told News 8 the storm damage is widespread, with the response crews spread out across 12 counties. W MI crews help with indescribable destruction up north after ice storm A number of folks that we talked to were just glad to see help, he said. Some had the ability to self-extricate to cut a path, to clear a way, a lot of neighbor helping neighbor but seeing a large deliberate effort to clear those roads was a positive experience for a lot of the people we ran into. Last week, the Ottawa County Road Commission said another crew was sent to help the Michigan Department of Transportation clear roads in Cheboygan County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Catholic community worldwide and many in the Miami Valley are in mourning following the death of Pope Francis. The 88-year-old died earlier this morning, after attending Easter service yesterday. Catholics in the Miami Valley are saddened by the loss, with many community members holding special gatherings to honor the late pope. Pope Francis dies at 88 Local Catholic leaders say Pope Francis was a pontiff who inspired modern Catholicism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He really was the one who took the depth of the gospel and moved it into our times, said Father Satish A. Joseph, pastor of NE7 Family of parishes. The Catholic community in the Miami Valley is remembering Pope Francis as a leader and inspiration like none before him. I have always tried to build a parish where everybody is welcome, where there is a place for everybody at the table, said Father Joseph. The loss of Pope Francis is being felt in the Miami Valley and statewide, with Gov. Mike DeWine sharing a statement: Fran and I are saddened by the death of Pope Francis. He was an inspiration to us and to millions around the world. His genuine love of and devotion to all people the poor, the unborn, those without a home, those emigrating to build a better life for themselves and their families, those of all faiths, and those with no faith was evidenced to the world from the day he was selected to serve as Pope until his last public appearance on Easter Sunday. Gov. Mike DeWine Photos: Pope Francis through the years And Father Joseph says people have even been reaching out on social media for support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moment I put on my Facebook page that we are having a mass, people already want to come and say, how can they help and participate in this mass? said Father Joseph. Pope Francis was the first ever Latin American Pontiff, serving for 12 years. He took his name from notable reformer, Saint Francis of Assisi. Some of Pope Francis highlights to Father Joseph were the Popes drive for the environment, his controversial closeness and informal blessings to the LGBTQ community and his focus on the refugee movements in the west. Father Joseph says as they await a new pope, they are honoring Pope Francis stance as a beacon of hope for the Dayton Catholic community, and for people around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stood as a beacon of hope for taking care of the poorest of the poor. He was a pope of those on the periphery, said Father Joseph. The demise of Pope Francis is another chapter in history, but if you look at it from the perspective of the kingdom of God, God will give us another pope. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Catholics and others in Michigan mourned the death of Pope Francis, saying his legacy of compassion and kindness will be remembered by many. In a statement issued April 21, Archbishop of Detroit Edward Weisenburger said: "My heart is heavy as our world has lost a powerful, prophetic, and loving voice. However, I also rejoice in what I pray will be a blessed reward of joy beyond all understanding for a truly great and loving Universal Shepherd." Pope Francis "was a man of peace" who gave a "constant call for the end of all violence and war," said Weisenburger, who was named by Pope Francis to lead the archdiocese in February. A photo of the late Pope Francis rests on an altar during an afternoon mass at St. Aloysius Church in downtown Detroit on Monday, April 21, 2025. The late pontiff was also praised Monday by leaders of other denominations and faiths in metro Detroit, including in Muslim, Hindu and Jewish communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prayers for the Pope are being held today at Catholic centers across metro Detroit, including at the seat of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese said. A news conference in Detroit by the archdiocese at 5:30 p.m. and a special Mass at 7 p.m. are planned for later Monday at the cathedral. There are about 900,000 Catholics in southeastern Michigan, the largest religious group in the region. As the global leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis is seen as the representative of Christ on earth, but while he was praised by many, some conservatives took issue with him for views they said clashed with tradition. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer posted a thread on X praising the late pontiff, writing: "Pope Francis was an inspiration to countless Michiganders and people around the world. He led with grace, compassion, and humility. He fought against poverty and called for action on climate change, economic injustice, and peace." "Traditionally, when a Holy Father dies, you pray a Mass for the dead each day for him" until his funeral, explained Br. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap, the executive director of the Capuchins Soup Kitchen in Detroit, which feeds about 1,000 people every day. The type of work that happens at the soup kitchen is what Wegner said Pope Francis was about, looking out for marginalized people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In terms of the Holy Father's legacy, I think kindness and mercy are two of the words" that come to mind, Wegner told the Free Press on Monday. "He trusted in the mercy of God. And that's what he tried to preach and witness to the rest of us. There was one of his quotes that I particularly loved that he gave once in a talk: 'a little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.'" More: What did Pope Francis mean to you? Send a letter to the editor | Letters Pope Francis' impact was felt in metro Detroit in several ways. In 2017, he declared "blessed" Solanus Casey, as a Capuchin friar in Detroit, making him one step away from becoming a saint. The papal leader also named in February the new Archbishop of Detroit, Weisenburger, who has been outspoken in support of immigrants. Catholics who are progressive especially liked Pope Francis, saying he was more open towards groups such as LGBTQ+ people, migrants and the poor. Some conservative Catholics were upset with his views, saying he was too liberal in his positions, such as putting restrictions on traditional Latin Masses. In metro Detroit, the now-defunct rightwing media site, Church Militant, often railed against Pope Francis. This year, Pope Francis clashed at times with the administration of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to carry out a record number of deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'A symbol of faith and social change': Leaders in Michigan reflect on Pope Francis' death At a meeting last month at the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit of Catholics who support immigrants, the Free Press asked attendees their views of Pope Francis. All praised him, saying he was carrying out the true mission of the Catholic Church. Nick Chuey, of Trenton, called him a "faithful servant to Jesus Christ." Judy Brooks, a local Catholic in the archdiocese, said Pope Francis "always supported immigrants," LGBTQ+ people and women, supporting efforts to increase the numbers of women in leadership roles. Aretha Franklin performs at the Festival of Families as Pope Francis looks on September 26, 2015 in Philadelphia, PA. "In terms of social teaching, I think he has supported and ignited ... flames of service, giving people courage to serve that might otherwise have been working in the shadows," Brooks said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weisenburger said his death brings "immense sadness." "Our Holy Father once said, 'Some people want to know why I wished to be called Francis. For me, Francis of Assisi is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.' While it is impossible to measure Pope Francis impact on our Church and world, I believe the three aspects he referenced will be a lasting influence." The Detroit archbishop added: "As an icon of Christ Himself, the Holy Fathers deepest wounds were revealed in the worlds violence, death, and destruction, all of which he cried out against. His clarion call for peace was truly an echo of Christs own. ... His leadership and witness have shaped my episcopal priorities and ministry over these past 11 years." More: Mass for Pope Francis planned at Detroit's Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leader of the Diocese of Grand Rapids in west Michigan, Bishop David Walkowiak, echoed Weisenburger's views, saying that Pope Francis "served those whom the world often considered outcasts." "Pope Francis sought to break down barriers and draw people into an encounter with Christ in the Catholic Church," the Grand Rapids bishop said. "He challenged priests to be shepherds with the smell of the sheep, and constantly reminded us of the dignity of the unborn, migrants and refugees, and prisoners. He was a man of action, ministering to the homeless in Rome, visiting refugee camps, and washing the feet of prisoners. His pastoral heart, use of relatable language, and witness to serving people on the margins stand as an example for all people." Steve Spreitzer, a longtime interfaith activist in Michigan who left the Catholic Church decades ago because he felt it had become too conservative, praised Pope Francis: "The past 12 years have been a blessing as Pope Francis, whose grandparents fled the fascism of Italy leaving him with a familial connection to the plight of migrants and refugees and a window into the struggles of the poor, called upon the psychospiritual strength of the faithful to consider the totality of the message of Jesus and to engage in social justice." Leaders of other faiths also praised Pope Francis, saying he promoted understanding and cooperation with diverse groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini, a prominent Muslim leader in Michigan who leads the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn Heights, met Pope Francis in January 2020 at the Vatican as part of an interfaith delegation. Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini met with Pope Francis in January 2020 at the Vatican as part of an interfaith group. Al-Qazwini praised him as "a man of peace and wisdom and through his efforts the Muslim - Catholic relations reached an unprecedented level of cooperation and mutual understanding." "The passing of Pope Francis is not only a loss for Catholics but for Muslims as well," Al-Qazwini said. "He is a man of peace and wisdom and through his efforts, Muslim-Catholic relations reached an unprecedented level of cooperation and mutual understanding." Pope Francis visited Iraq in 2021, a visit that was praised by Michigan's large Iraqi American population, both Christian and Muslim. "His historic visit to Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf Iraq in 2021 was remarkable in the sense that it was the first between the heads of two religions in two millenniums," Al-Qazwini said, referring to a Shia cleric in Iraq widely followed in Michigan and around the world. "I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican. I was moved by his humility and kindness. I would like to offer my condolences to Catholics in Michigan and around the world on his passing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Narayanaswamy Sankagiri, president of the Hindu Community Relations Council, also praised the late pontiff. "Pope Francis brought the highest seat of Catholic Church closer to the global poor and championed reform and accountability in this great institution," Sankagiri said. "As a young student, I attended Jesuit college in my native India, and as a Hindu community leader now here in metro Detroit area, I humbly salute this former Jesuit priest who left us today." Rabbi Asher Lopatin, director of community relations at the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, said "the Jewish community mourns the loss of a dedicated and sincere religious leader who inspired not only Catholics, but people of good faith and goodwill all over the world, including the Jews in Argentina who had a special relationship with Francis even before he became Pope." Lopatin said the pontiff and the Jewish community shared a common vision on respecting immigrants, the environment and families "with love and understanding." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past couple of years, Pope Francis has expressed sympathy on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Lopatin said: "I hope as the church understands more about the struggles of the Jewish state against those who want to destroy her, the legacy of Pope Franciss care for the weak and the embattled will evolve into stronger support for the Jewish state and her own battles against terrorism." Imad Hamad, a Palestinian immigrant who leads the American Human Rights Council in Dearborn, praised the Pope for calling for an end to the violence in Gaza. Pope Francis often phoned a church in Gaza to check on their welfare. "His words were a plea for humanity to rise above division and embrace compassion," Hamad said. "He was a humanitarian whose actions spoke louder than words." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jesuit community in Michigan praised their fellow Jesuit. Pope Francis was the first papal leader who was part of the religious order. "Pope Francis has been a blessing to the Church and the world primarily in calling us to our pastoral roots," Jim Boynton, president of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in Detroit, said in email to staff and others. "He has focused on refugees, the marginalized, and named cardinals from every corner of the world. He has been a consistent voice for peace, prioritized listening to the faithful, and calls us to care for the environment." Reporters Kristen Shamus and Nushrat Rahman contributed to this report. Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Catholics in metro Detroit mourn death of Pope Francis, offer prayers Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church, died on Monday at age 88, the Vatican has announced. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Vaticans Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, made the following statement: Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God. In Rome, mourning bells were ringing in all the churches. Francis, the first Latin American pope, was elected in March 2013 at a historic moment for the Church, following the resignation of Benedict XVI. Joseph Ratzinger stepped down exhausted and defeated by the palace intrigues and corruption in the Curia, and for finding himself powerless to undertake the internal reforms required by the Vatican, from the Holy Sees financial institutions to the sexual abuse scandal. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, an Argentine Jesuit, was chosen to undertake a renewal of the Catholic Church, to modernize it and push through pending reforms. With a sometimes impulsive and energetic character, he certainly stirred up a gale in social matters, with his unprecedented criticism of the current capitalist system, and in internal reforms, albeit with mixed results, causing deep divisions along the way. For the most conservative sector of the Church, he even went too far. A genuine front opened against him, among those who viewed him practically as a dangerous left-wing populist. But the enormous expectations he aroused also disappointed the most progressive sectors, who expected more profound changes in the reform of the Curia, the ordination of women, and sexual doctrine, as well as greater collegiality in decision-making. In one of the Churchs key issues, the fight against pedophilia, he was deeply involved with drastic regulations and decisions he forced the entire Chilean bishops conference to resign but the rest of the hierarchy, the bishops and the Vatican bureaucracy, did not always follow his lead and put up resistance. Pope Francis 12 years at the head of the Catholic Church witnessed a revolution in many areas, starting with the fact that for nine years, two pontiffs cohabited together, until Ratzingers death on December 31, 2022. This situation generated plenty of debate at the time, but the passing of the years showed that it led to hardly any issues. And it set a precedent. What is certain is that, in his election alone, Francis was a pioneer in many aspects: the first Latin American pope, the first non-European pontiff since the 5th century, the first Jesuit pope, and the first one to be called Francis, a choice of name that said it all. No pontiff before had dared to name himself after a radical saint who stood up to Vatican pomp and dedicated his life to the needy. He chose the name because of the words the Brazilian cardinal, Claudio Hummes, said to him as he embraced him after his election: Dont forget the poor. Francis did not do so, and he also set himself aside from the traditional uses and customs of the office, seeking simplicity and directness. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a descendant of Piedmontese Italian immigrants, was born in Buenos Aires in 1936 to a humble family in the Flores neighborhood. He graduated in chemistry, then studied philosophy and joined the Jesuits in 1958. He was named provincial superior of the order in Argentina between 1973 and 1979, during the military dictatorship, and from his position he helped several politically persecuted people to flee. This experience marked his political vision, as did the fact that he was the son of immigrants, and his youthful enthusiasm for Peronism. However, he was then relegated for a few years within the society, a period he himself defined as dark, until 1992 when he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires by John Paul II. From then on, his stature grew he became a cardinal in 2001 to the point that, in 2005, after the death of Karol Jozef Wojtyla, he was a clear papal candidate and one of the most-voted in the conclave. However, Benedict XVI was elected, a recourse to continuity after the long pontificate of John Paul II, at a time when the course the Church should follow was uncertain. Ratzingers resignation placed the Vatican back in the same position, and on that occasion, Bergoglio was quickly elected. He was 76 years old and it was already intuited that his pontificate would be brief, but a period of reforming impetus was sought. Francis revolution was mainly in the social sphere and in his open criticism of the excesses of the current economic system, the most direct of any pontiff to date. He harbored a special concern for ecology and climate change, an issue to which he dedicated no less than his first encyclical, Laudato si (Praise Be to You), in 2015 (the previous one, Lumen fidei (The Light of Faith), from 2013, was actually one that Benedict XVI had left half-finished and he completed). He further incised his critique in the next, Fratelli Tutti (All Brothers, 2020), which lambasted neoliberalism and populism. The fourth and last, Dilexit nos (He loved us, 2024), was the most theological and spiritual, a call to act with the heart, beyond the logic of money and the cold calculation of algorithms. Francis navigated the Church into the 21st century, facing its current dilemmas (and, as of 2016, with an Instagram account). He forged still uncertain paths that it will be up to his successor to decide how best to travel: the fraternal acceptance of homosexuals and transsexuals, allowing the blessing of couples, and allowing them to be godparents; the entry of women into high positions in the Curia and a call to de-masculinize the Church although he froze the most controversial issue, that of female ordination and the outreach to divorcees who have remarried. If there is one word that sums up the priority of his mandate, it is periphery, those who are on the margins of society, of the cities, of the frontiers, those who are far from power. It can be seen in his travels 47 visits to 66 countries in which he almost always avoided the great powers or countries with a strong Catholic tradition, such as Spain, where he never set foot. He only considered going to the Canary Islands because of the crisis of migrant arrivals from Africa. His first trip, in fact, defined his line from the outset: it was to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a point of arrival for migrants. To them and to all people, believers and non-believers, he wanted to leave a message in his autobiography, published in January 2025, reduced to a single word, the title of the book: hope. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition State Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) answers questions during a March 12, 2025 meeting of the House Education and Workforce Committee after testifying on his proposal to allow the governor to appoint the state superintendent. | Kyle Davidson This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Sign up for Chalkbeat Detroits free newsletter to keep up with the citys public school system and Michigan education policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republicans want to change who has the power to appoint the states superintendent of public instruction potentially stripping the State Board of Education of one of its key functions because they say Michigans education system is failing. A House joint resolution seeks to alter the states constitution to give the governor control over the appointment, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The proposal comes as the states current superintendent is set to retire in the fall and, if it passed, would go into effect after Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers term ends. The State Board of Education currently has the sole hiring and firing power for the position. The elected body has held that authority since 1963. The resolution is tied to a bill that would require state board seats to be elected from geographic districts. Board seats are currently at-large, meaning whichever candidate wins the most votes wins the election, no matter where they live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats have controlled the board for much of the last two decades. The Republican members of the House education committee voted to move the proposals forward to a vote in the full legislative body. In order to become law, the resolution would have to be approved by two-thirds of the Republican-controlled House and the Democratically controlled Senate. It would then go before voters in the November 2026 election. If passed into law by a majority of voters, the new regulations would go into effect after Jan. 1, 2027. Under the proposal, the state superintendent would serve a term of up to four years, as determined by the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current law allows state superintendents to remain in their positions either until they resign or are removed by the state board. Current State Superintendent Michael Rice has been criticized by Republicans and some Democrats including Whitmer for the lagging academic performance of schools in the state. He will leave his position Oct. 3, and the state board has already begun its search for his successor. Clearly, what we are doing is not working, said state Rep. Bill Schuette, a Republican from Gladwin County, citing the states results on recent state and national assessments during a recent House Education and Workforce Committee hearing. You look across the country, we are one of the only states that has a so-called independent head of its education department, and I believe that this, in practice, has removed an important element of accountability from our states public education system, Schuette added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Regina Weiss, a Democrat from Oak Park, said during the hearing there are concerns the position could become more partisan if the change is made because the State Board of Educations staggered eight-year terms offer more consistency. Schuette argued that because governors are elected every four years, there would be more accountability to constituents. If you have a governor who wants to implement reforms or changes, and that person has a mandate directly from the people and the governor, I think that it is a better way to execute that accountability, he said. Schutte said he is also in favor of eliminating the state board entirely, though there are no formal proposals to do so yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state boards power has been reduced significantly over the years, particularly under the initiatives of former Gov. John Engler, a Republican who transferred a number of the boards responsibilities to the state superintendent. Currently, the boards role is to establish academic standards, as well as make policy recommendations to local districts and lawmakers. It does not have the power to pass laws or to control school funding. This month, the state board unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the proposal to strip it of its power to appoint the state superintendent. The members agreed the potential for state education policy to change frequently due to short-term, flashy initiatives of new governors would cause confusion and frustration among school leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom McMillin, a Republican member of the state board, said during the meeting that hes long opposed previous efforts to shift the power of appointing the state superintendent to the governor. The architects of Michigans 1963 constitution were wise to recognize that giving too much power to the governor would be harmful and that providing authority and oversight of education to a separately elected board would be beneficial to Michigans children, McMillin said in a statement. This separation of power should remain. Hannah Dellinger covers K-12 education and state education policy for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at hdellinger@chalkbeat.org. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at April 20, 2025, results for each game: Winning Daily 3 numbers from April 20 drawing Midday: 8-0-2 Evening: 0-4-4 Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily 4 numbers from April 20 drawing Midday: 9-9-4-1 Evening: 7-4-8-3 Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from April 20 drawing 03-06-17-30-42, Lucky Ball: 15 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Poker Lotto numbers from April 20 drawing 4D-5D-6D-3H-5S Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from April 20 drawing 07-09-10-25-38 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 03-11-14-22-29 Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily Keno numbers from April 20 drawing 04-05-10-12-18-20-22-32-33-37-39-41-48-49-50-54-57-59-63-68-71-79 Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Are you a winner? Heres how to claim your lottery prize All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lotterys Regional Offices. To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan Lottery Attn: Claim Center 101 E. Hillsdale P.O. Box 30023 Lansing, MI 48909 For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a drivers license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2. If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325 Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325 Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325 Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325 Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325 Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325 For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery's prize claim page. When are Michigan Lottery drawings held? Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m. Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for April 20, 2025 In recent years, Michigan voters have approved measures to expand access to the ballot box. But at the next election, voters could have the chance to adopt a proposal voting rights advocates fear would erect a barrier for legally eligible voters to cast a ballot by requiring proof of citizenship to participate in elections. Only U.S. citizens can legally vote in Michigan. Currently, those registering to vote do not need to prove their citizenship status. A constitutional amendment supported by GOP state lawmakers would change that by requiring those registering to vote to present documents to demonstrate their citizenship such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate. The state's elections panel recently cleared the way for organizers behind the effort to begin collecting voter signatures to land a spot on the 2026 ballot. Proponents argue a proof of citizenship requirement to vote would ensure any votes cast by noncitizens do not dilute the votes of U.S. citizens in Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Michigan Department of State review found 15 people who don't appear to be U.S. citizens voted in the 2024 election along with a previously identified case of a a Chinese national who allegedly registered to vote and cast a ballot in Ann Arbor in the last election. There are more than 8.1 million registered voters in Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of State. Opponents of the proposed constitutional amendment argue it could disenfranchise tens of thousands or even millions of voters who would pay a high price for stopping a rare occurrence in Michigan elections. The proposed constitutional amendment would also change Michigan's voter ID requirement, barring the small group of voters without an ID from confirming their identities to vote by signing an affidavit. It would create a new ID requirement for absentee voters. In order to appear on the ballot, proponents of the proof of citizenship amendment to the Michigan Constitution must collect at least 446,198 voter signatures. To take effect, the proposal must receive a majority vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campaign comes amid a national push with the U.S. House of Representatives' recent vote on a bill to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a similar March executive order from President Donald Trump. A new proof of citizenship for Michigan voters Those registering to vote in Michigan must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, five years' imprisonment or both. If someone who is not qualified to vote casts a ballot or attempts to do so, that person is guilty of a felony under Michigan election law punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, four years' imprisonment, or both. State Rep. Bryan Posthumus, R-Rockford, introduced the constitutional amendment in the Michigan Legislature before the campaign launched to collect voter signatures to land a spot on the ballot. "This is a no-brainer. Only U.S. citizens should vote in our elections," he said in a Jan. 29 statement, the same day he proposed the amendment. "And people should have to show ID when voting to prove that they are who they say they are. That's just common sense." Opponents have pushed back by pointing out that voter fraud is a rare phenomenon. "So this is a solution in search of a problem especially because of the incredibly low numbers of noncitizens who we know from research and audits in other states are able to successfully register and cast ballots," said American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan Political Director Merissa Kovach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting in late 2026, the proposal would require those registering to vote in Michigan to verify their citizenship by providing documentary proof or having the Secretary of State verify that the person registering is a U.S. citizen. Posthumus told lawmakers during a hearing on the amendment that he hopes a nationwide database to verify citizenship will be available before the implementation of a proof of citizenship requirement. The proposal leaves future state lawmakers to decide the mechanics of the new proof of citizenship requirement, but documentary proof of citizenship might include a U.S. passport or a birth certificate. Married women who have changed their last name might need to present a marriage license along with a birth certificate. The proposed constitutional amendment would also require the Secretary of State to carry out an ongoing review of the state's file of registered voters to verify citizenship. If the Secretary of State receives information that someone registered to vote is not a U.S. citizen, they must send the individual a written notice giving them 60 days to verify their citizenship before canceling their voter registration. Proposal would make Michigan voter ID requirement a strict one Currently, Michigan voters without a photo ID have have the option to sign an affidavit to verify their identity to cast a ballot. State lawmakers passed Michigan's voter ID law in 1996. Most Democratic lawmakers at the time opposed the voter ID legislation, characterizing it as an attempt to suppress the vote. Legal challenges put its implementation on hold until the Michigan Supreme Court upheld the ID requirement in 2007. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a decade later, voting rights advocates asked Michigan voters in 2022 to enshrine the affidavit option for voters without a photo ID in the state's constitution, a measure that passed with 60% support. The vote followed an attempt by Republican state lawmakers to pass legislation proposing stricter voter ID rules, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed. States have a patchwork of voter ID laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Most states have some kind of voter ID system in place. Michigan is among the group of states that allow voters who don't present an ID at their polling location to cast a ballot without requiring any additional action from the voter to ensure their ballot counts, such as returning to an election office after voting to present an ID. The proposed constitutional amendment would require voters who sign an affidavit because they don't have a photo ID to cast a provisional ballot that would only count if the voter presents a photo ID on or before the sixth day after the election. A new verification requirement for absentee voters Right now, election officials compare the signature on a voter's application for an absentee ballot and their absentee ballot with the signature on file to verify the absentee voter's identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the proposed constitutional amendment would add a new verification step. It would require Michigan voters requesting or returning an absentee ballot other than in person to provide an original copy of a photo ID, driver's license or state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Whitmer vetoed GOP legislation in 2021 that would have made a similar change to Michigan election law. Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan proof of citizenship campaign to vote advances LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Officials identified a body found in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area over the weekend as Dr. Shawn Frehner, a high-profile veterinarian who has been missing since April 6. The National Park Service began a search at Lake Mead after Frehners keys, wallet, and cellphone were found in his truck parked at Hemmenway Harbor on April 7. According to NPS, his body was found near the Boulder Islands within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area on April 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 19, the Clark County coroners office confirmed his identity through dental records. The National Park Service did not give any additional details at the time of publication. His cause and manner of death were not yet released. A video 8 News Now obtained showed Frehner jabbing a horse in the face before he went missing. The video also showed Frehner flushing a horses nose with a syringe a normal practice. Shortly after, he is seen jabbing the horse in the face. Frehner issued an apology after another video showing him kicking a horses head went viral. I did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video. That was not my intention at all, Frehner wrote. It was done simply to get the horse in a better position so that he could breathe and get up and move so I could again try to anesthetize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But yes I did kick him right in the chin and I very much do apologize and wish this never happened, he wrote. In his apology, Frehner said he was attempting to reposition the horse to help it breathe, but recognized he did kick the horse. He said he wished the situation had never happened. He was the subject of an investigation by Nye County deputies for animal cruelty following a complaint from the horses owner. According to a missing person report filed the day after he disappeared, Frehners father, Rex, told police the last time he spoke with Shawn was on Sunday, April 6, at around 9 a.m., and his son told him he was having a hard time with one of the horses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Records 8 News Now obtained showed the Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners placed Frehners license on probation in 2016. He agreed to a year-long license suspension. The reasons for discipline included hand-writing his medical records onto the back of invoices or call logs. He also gave prescription medicine to clients in plastic baggies, without verifying how much medicine was handed out. A woman named Mary, who spoke with 8 News Now, said shes had negative experiences with Frehner and witnessed his actions first-hand. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty to state charges in the Aug. 3, 2019 massacre on Monday, April 21, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The hearing began at 10 a.m. Monday morning at the El Paso County Courthouse. A clown in handcuffs: Victim impact statements continue after Walmart shooter receives sentence Previously, the shooter pleaded guilty in 2023 to federal charges and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms without possibility of parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooter killed 23 people on Aug. 3, 2019 and injured more than 20 others in a racially motivated attack at the Cielo Vista Walmart. On Monday, the shooter was seen walking into the courtroom wearing a white-and-orange jumpsuit and a protective vest and was accompanied by his attorneys, Mark Stevens, Felix Valenzuela, and Joe Spencer. Mass shooter Patrick Crusius enters the Commisioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue for his sentencing in El Paso, Texas, on April 21, 2025. Crusius is convicted of massacring 23 people in a racially motivated mass shooting nearly six years ago at a Walmart in the Cielo Vista area of East El Paso. El Paso Sheriff Oscar Ugarte, walks behind the defendant. Mass shooter Patrick Crusius stands up to listen to the charges from Judge Sam Medrano in the 409th district Commisioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue for his sentencing in El Paso, Texas, on April 21, 2025. Crusius is convicted of massacring 23 people in a racially motivated mass shooting nearly six years ago at a Walmart in the Cielo Vista area of East El Paso. Judge Sam Medrano addressed the courtroom, and the shooter was asked to stand and take an oath regarding the testimony he was going to present to the courtroom. Medrano said the shooter has been charged with capital murder, with the punishment being life in prison without the possibility of parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooter was also charged with 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which are second-degree felonies. For this cause, the shooter faces two to 20 years in confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice with a fine not to exceed $10,000. Medrano asked the shooter if he understood that by entering his plea, he would be waiving his rights, including the right to have a jury trial, to which he agreed. Medrano asked the shooters attorneys if they explained to the shooter about the pleas he would be submitting and if he was legally competent to submit the pleas, to which they said yes. Medrano asked the shooter where he was born, to which the shooter replied that he was born in Allen, Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooter was asked regarding the capital murder charge and the 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon if he wished to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, to which the shooter replied, Guilty. El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya then read out the plea agreements regarding the charges, and stated that in exchange for the shooters plea of guilt, the state of Texas will withdraw its intent to seek the death penalty and will seek a sentence of life with no parole. Montoya also said that the 22 counts of aggravated assault are enhanced with a bias and prejudice findings, which bumps the offenses up from second-degree felonies to first-degree felonies, seeking 22 counts of life. Medrano explained to the shooter that the two to 20 years in confinement has been enhanced up to a term of life. The shooter was asked if he understood what this meant, to which he replied, Yes, your honor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montoya then proceeded to summarize the evidence in the case and named the victims who were killed and injured in the massacre that took place nearly six years ago. Medrano found the shooter guilty on all counts and was sentenced on each count to life without the possibility of parole. The shooter did not show any sort of emotion during the sentencing. The shooter was asked if he understood the sentencing, to which he said yes. Montoya then thanked the El Paso Police Department, among other agencies, and apologized to the victims, including Alexander Hoffmans family, regarding how the case was handled in the previous years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spencer then gave a statement that included how the shooter suffers from a severe debilitating mental disease, schizoaffective disorder and how it made the shooter exceptionally vulnerable to delusions based on racial misinformation. He also explicitly stated that the attack was a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas, echoing the language that was used by political figures, Spencer said. With no expression on his face, Crusius looked over to Spencer as he was reading the statement at one point. Medrano then addressed the shooter and started his statement with On Aug. 3, 2019, you traveled nine hours to a city that wouldve welcomed you with open arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medrano continued his statement, which touched on how the shooters actions impacted the city and the community. Now, as you begin the rest of your life locked away, remember this: Your mission failed. You did not divide this city. You strengthened it. You did not silence its voice. You made it louder. You did not instill fear. You inspired unity, Medrano stated as he faced the shooter. The court was then dismissed and was back in session at 1 p.m., where victim impact statements began. Those who were affected by the massacre spoke about how it has impacted them and their families. I have not regained my sensibility, and Im unable to move my toes on my left foot. I was a very happy person who would dance, but now, as Im unable to move my foot, it makes dancing difficult, Liliana Munoz Puente, one of the surviving victims, said in Spanish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I experienced this very near to me. Where I was, I saw a lot of people who were dead around me. I still have these images in my mind, Maria Magdalena Gonzalez, one of the surviving victims, said in Spanish. Some of the victims expressed that they forgive the shooter for what hes done. To Patrick, I forgive him, Dafne Jazmin Marquez, granddaughter of Gloria Irma Marquez, said in Spanish. Its been almost six years since my sister Paty is dead while still alive. Were still working in trying to make her happy and trying to give her life. My sister Paty sends her forgiveness. She says, God bless you, and that she still prays for you, Maria Luisa Pizana, sister-in-law of victim Arturo Benavides, said in Spanish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I, Mario Perez, forgive Mr. Patrick and I leave it all in the hands of God and I hope that one day he feels sorry about what he did and he asks God for forgiveness, Mario Perez Briones, one of the surviving victims, said in Spanish. Others expressed that they do not forgive the shooter. I dont want compassion for the killer, because he did not have it for all of the innocent people, Mariscal Oliva Rodriguez, surviving victim, said in Spanish. Here on earth, Patrick, I dont know if you deserve to be forgiven, Monica Arciniega, one of the surviving victims, said in Spanish. Statements are expected to last until Wednesday, April 23, as more than 40 people have signed up to talk about the crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Officials with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) announced the return of Bear Week. Taking place April 27, 2025 until May 3, 2025, Bear Week aims to educate the public on facts, research, and science related to black bear management in Mississippi. Vicksburg police warn of wildlife as Mississippi River rises As Mississippis black bear population continues to grow, officials said understanding bear behavior and adopting BearWise habits is essential. Through a week of engaging content, interactive activities, and educational resources, MDWFP will provide Mississippians with the tools they need to better understand the dynamics of the Mississippi black bear population and how to live responsibly alongside them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mississippis black bear population is growing, and it is more important than ever for the public to understand how to safely coexist with these animals, said Anthony Ballard, MDWFP Black Bear Program Coordinator. Bear Week provides an opportunity to learn about these fascinating creatures while taking proactive steps to ensure a future where both bears and people can thrive. Throughout the week, MDWFP will share educational videos, social media challenges, expert interviews, and fun, interactive content designed to make learning about black bears accessible and engaging for all ages. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. FLOWOOD, Miss. (WJTV) Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) is calling on all Mississippi residents to make a life-saving donation and take part in their Egg-cellent Visa Giveaway. From April 20-30, every blood donation made at an MBS blood collection center or on a mobile blood drive automatically enters participants into a weekly drawing for a chance to win a $1,000 Visa gift card. Two lucky donors will be selected with one winner being announced each week. MAP: Where are the biggest measles outbreaks in the US right now? Donation Centers: Flowood Center: 115 Tree Street, Flowood, MS 39232 Cleveland Center: 609 North Davis, Suite 101B, Cleveland, MS 38732 Oxford Center: 2627 West Oxford Loop #C, Oxford, MS 38655 Important Donation Tips: Donors are encouraged to eat within four hours before donating and drink plenty of liquids before and after making a donation. Please bring a valid ID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on how and where to donate, or to schedule your donation, visit msblood.com or call 601-368-2673. 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 13-year-old Missouri middle school student was suspended for sharing a photo of his weekend art project on his private Snapchat account. The student, W.G., and his mother Riley Grunden are now suing the school district, principal, and superintendent for violating W.G.'s constitutionally protected First Amendment right to creative expression and for labeling him a "cyberbully" on his permanent record. While at home after school on September 14, 2024, W.G. took a photo on his personal electronic device of Dr. Pepper cans assembled into the shape of a rifle to mimic a social media trend of "can art," according to the lawsuit filed by Goldwater Institute's American Freedom Network. He then posted the photo on his personal Snapchat story to share with his friends. The post was accompanied by a trending audio file, titled "Ak47," which includes a voiceover saying, "This is the famous AK47, with over 50 million manufactured in ten countries, the AK47 is the most popular assault rifle in the world." The following day, W.G.'s mother received a phone call from W.G.'s school principal, who informed her that another parent had reported the Snapchat post and that W.G. would be subject to a search before entering the school premises the next day. The day after the search, Grunden met with the principal, superintendent, and school resource officer, where she and W.G. were told that, even though the superintendent had found "no credible evidence of any danger," the Snapchat post had "brought fear to other students" and could be interpreted as a "terrorist threat." As a result, W.G. would receive three days of out-of-school suspension for cyberbullying. Before this incident, W.G. had no history of bullying or cyberbullying. Now, Grunden is suing on behalf of her son's free expression rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although adolescent social media and internet use is one of today's hot topics, the Supreme Court has made it clear that schools do not have the right to punish students for constitutionally protected speech that has no connection to school safety. The Court's 2021 Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. opinion reiterated schools' limited ability to regulate off-campus speech only when speech materially disrupts the educational environment, and hedged against the temptation to censor all off-campus speech. Rather, the Court warned that "courts must be more skeptical of a school's efforts to regulate off-campus speech, for doing so may mean the student cannot engage in that kind of speech at all." Additionally, in the 2023 Counterman v. Colorado opinion, the Court established that speech could only be punished as a "true threat" if the speaker anticipated that the expression would be perceived as threatening. W.G. created and posted his Dr. Pepper can rifle off-campus, after school hours, and through his personal device and internet connection. There was no mention or connection to his school, and there was no intention or anticipation that the Snapchat post would be perceived as threatening. Since his post, W.G. has become the focal point of rumors alleging that he threatened violence against the school, and the incident has been documented in his permanent record as cyberbullying. In their attempt to protect the "safety and well-being" of the students, school officials may have increased the students' perception of threatened school violence. School violence does exist, and credible threats should be taken seriously. Spending time and resources to punish a 13-year-old's home art project does not make schools safer. Instead, it distracts parents and school officials from identifying and acting accordingly to threats that actually exist. The post Missouri 13-Year-Old Suspended for Making a Rifle Out of Dr. Pepper Cans appeared first on Reason.com. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill that looks to provide efficient care for inmates, improving the quality of life for those incarcerated in the state. Sponsored by State Senator Angela Mosley, SB 378 was passed earlier this month by the Missouri Senate Judiciary Committee. According to the bills language, it will establish the Office of State Ombudsman for Inmates in the Custody of the Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SB 378 says that the Office will have the rights to monitor all decisions of the parole board, provide information to inmates, their families and representatives regarding their rights and establish a statewide reporting system that collects complaints received by the Department. Annual inspections of each Department facilities would be conducted by the Office, monitoring the security and safety of inmates. Upon completion of the inspection, the Office shall produce a public report, with information as provided in the act, on its website, and deliver the report to the Governor, Attorney General, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Director of the Department of Corrections, the bill reads. The Department shall then submit a report to the Office within 30 days of the Offices inspection report, which shall include a corrective action plan for each recommendation of the Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill, which was written in 2019, also seeks to be named after Larry Miller, a man who officials say was stabbed to death by two inmates while he was in custody at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri, on June 9, 2014. Police respond to South County Mall after man displays gun Officials also said that there were no correctional officers around at the time of Millers death. An Ombudsmanwho will be appointed by the Governorwould oversee the Office of State Ombudsman for Inmates in the Custody of the Department of Corrections if SB 378 is passed. The position will serve a six-year term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appointed Ombudsman cannot be a current or former employee of the Department. They also cannot have a spouse, child or parent who is affiliated with the Department, according to the bill. If passed, SB 378s effective date looks to begin on Aug. 28, 2025. More information about the bill can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. It was a simple and ridiculous fall while he was sleeping, according to the initial report. A police document from last Sunday reported the demise of Miguel Cortes, the alleged serial killer of Iztacalco, who died without any sentencing and before the start of the first of the many trials that awaited him. In the early hours of that day, he was taken to the hospital. Doctors ruled his death was caused by an intoxication that led to cardiac arrest. They did not specify what the substance was, how it got to his isolation cell, or whether the fall had anything to do with it. Cortes had been in prison for barely a year after being arrested on April 16 of last year, when the mother of his latest victim, a girl who lived in his building, found him abusing her. The girl died of asphyxiation, her mother was stabbed several times, but he was unable to escape. Officers found womens bones in his apartment, identification cards of people who had been missing for years, diaries detailing the crimes and the blood. The evidence pointed to a lifetime of murder with impunity. Cortes led a low-profile life in the blue-tiled building on 16 de Septiembre Street in Iztacalco. He went to work in a laboratory, didnt speak to the neighbors, and wasnt often seen with people. Born on October 5, 1984 in Mexico City, he was a tall, powerful man. On social media he championed a vegan lifestyle, opposed bullfighting, and advocated for animal rights. He attended animal rights protests and posted photographs of himself in his white lab coat. Occasionally, he wrote dark poems on his profile, alluding to cold bodies and anonymous women. Theres a photo of him with his arm around a young woman who stares seriously into the camera lens. Frida Sofia Lima Rivera made some comments on some of those photographs. That year, the 22-year-old student disappeared. Residents in the neighborhood remember seeing her. She was talkative and told them about her life in a rural town in Morelos, where she was from. When she disappeared, everyone thought she had simply returned to live with her parents. When Miguel Cortes was arrested, Fridas mother spoke on television and said that her daughter had a relationship with the suspect, that she referred to him as father, and that he had given her the book Perfume, a famous novel about a serial killer of women. The investigation into Fridas whereabouts stalled after years of lack of evidence and errors in her file, such as her age. DNA tests were supposed to confirm whether some of the bones in Cortes apartment belonged to her. Cecilia Gonzalez, the mother of Amairany, who disappeared 12 years ago when she was 18 and had gone out to collect some photos for her graduation document, had the same hope. Cortes was listed in her investigation file as the last witness to see her that day. Mario Roblero and Cecilia Gonzalez, parents of Amairany Roblero Gonzalez, in Mexico City, April 2024. Nayeli Cruz The day that Cortes prison warden asked the medical services to transfer him to the hospital due to the fall, the detainee was scheduled to attend a hearing to link him to two other cases involving potential victims. The families were notified at 12:00 noon on April 13 that the appointment was canceled due to Cortess medical emergency. At 6:00 p.m., the Mexico City Attorney Generals Office informed them of the death of the sole suspect in the killings of so many women, including Viviana Elizabeth Garrido Ibarra. The 32-year-old disappeared on November 30, 2018, and was a chemical engineer, just like Karen Ornellas Baltazar, who disappeared the day after her 21st birthday. A friend of Baltazar told the media that the young womans birthday party took place at Cortes apartment, and that he walked her to the subway afterward. Her body was eventually found with signs of asphyxiation. The unsolved cases of both women had the chemist as the prime suspect, but no action had been taken. Erendali Trujillo, the lawyer for his last victims, Maria Jose and her mother Cassandra, was one of the only visitors that Cortes received in prison. She arrived with a team of experts to prepare a psychological profile of the alleged murderer. She sought to document his dangerousness in order to request the maximum sentence, 116 years, and to have him transferred to a maximum-security prison where he would be more closely monitored. From the interviews with Cortes, Trujillo recalls his calm, respectful tone, and his formal use of the Spanish usted (the polite form of you). You could tell he had a career, she notes. He admired famous serial killers who had made it onto television, such as Dahmer and Bundy. In fact, the lawyer points out that his apartment was decorated in the style of The Milwaukee Butcher, the nickname of the young man who killed 17 children in crimes involving sex and cannibalism in the United States. The psychological profile determined that Cortes was a dangerous and narcissistic person, and that he was a risk around other inmates. Because of this, he lived in a restricted area of the Eastern Prison, with just a few inmates who considered him arrogant. The police indicated in the report that Cortes was taking medication, and the lawyer adds that his physical appearance had deteriorated. He smelled unpleasant, with a very peculiar pH. He wore plastic sandals. He entered the prison weighing 90 kilos (198 lb) and was thin in interviews, down to about 70 kilos (154 lb), she recalls. No one had visited him during that entire year in prison, neither his sister nor his mother. In fact, he had asked them to stop spending money on lawyers because he knew he was going to stay in there. The only thing he asked the lawyer for in exchange for talking was a book, Manual del asesino en serie: Aspectos criminologicos (The Serial Killers Handbook: Criminological Aspects), by Juan Francisco Alcaraz Albertos. In return, he confessed off camera that he had murdered more than 30 women, some in Mexico and others in other countries. You have to believe only half of what he says because these guys tend to brag a lot. He wanted to be famous and wondered why he wasnt being sent letters to prison like the murderers he admired, Trujillo explains. Miguel Cortes in images share on his Facebook account. Now that Cortes is dead, Maria Joses case will be dismissed, Trujillo notes. Cassandra took advantage of the mass marking the first anniversary of her daughters death to insist that she doesnt consider that justice has been done now that the suspect is dead. Her neck covered in scars from the one-on-one confrontation with him when she saw him over the teenagers half-naked body, she recalled the mocking call her family received from Cortes in prison. Fernanda, Maria Joses sister, wonders how the detainee accessed her private number and called her three days before he died. He told her he was sad about what he had done, that he couldnt believe a year had already passed. She yelled at him on the phone that he was a murderer, and he responded with a laugh. He told me yes, he might be a murderer, but that he didnt regret anything he had done to my sister and the other women, she recalls. Cortes died without a trial or sentence, leaving the families of his victims without a sense of justice. Now, Trujillos legal team seeks to certify the veracity of the chemists death, uncover the circumstances that led to his death in solitary confinement and under watch, and to sue the Prosecutors Office for failing to act. No investigation ever cross-referenced the information in the three files in which Miguel Cortes name was mentioned as a suspect or witness in the disappearance of women since 2012. At least if Miguel Cortes had died with a sentence, so that the real victims attributable to him had been identified... Now we will never know. If he murdered more women, he took his secret to the grave, Trujillo concludes. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition KANSAS CITY, Mo. Leaders in Missouri, Kansas and across the nation are reacting to Pope Francis death on Easter Monday at the age of 88. The Vatican said the cause of death was a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. Tributes have also been pouring in from around the world in wake of the world leaders death. The death of Pope Francis was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born Vatican camerlengo a position that will be important in the coming weeks as he takes charge of the administration of the Holy See until a new pope is elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis dies at 88 Farrell made the announcement about two hours after Francis had died. He spoke from Domus Santa Marta, the apartment on Vatican grounds where Francis lived and where he had returned to recover less than a month after being hospitalized for double pneumonia. Archbishop Joseph Naumann is in the process of retiring from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. He understands that Pope Francis empathy and humility were unconventional and didnt meet everyones views but this church leader was special. He had tremendous compassion for the poor, for the migrant, for the refugee and for the unborn child and the pregnant mother, Naumann said. He just had a great compassion for anybody who was suffering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis is also being remembered for his deemphasizing the churchs focus on official stances on divorce and conservative sexual morality, choosing instead to address the needs of those whod been previously overlooked. Father Stephen Hess is a vice president of mission and ministry at Rockhurst University, a Jesuit school that shares Pope Francis viewpoints. I, personally wouldnt say thats the mark of a progressive person, Hess said. Its just the mark of a good human. His message wasnt so much about following doctrine or rules, while he would respect that. I think, but it was more about how we live together as humans in the world. Missouri, Kansas leaders share condolences on social media Pope Francis, rest in peace, U.S. Sen. Josh Halwey (R-Mo.) posted on X on Monday morning. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas released a statement on X early Monday morning. Pope Francis reaffirmed the faith of many far beyond the Catholic Church as he dedicated his life and papacy to speaking to and for the poor and marginalized all over the world, the mayor said on X. In a young century still in search of great men, his loss is a staggering one. Vatican releases cause of death for Pope Francis U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released a statement, saying: I am saddened to learn of the passing of Pope Francis. During his time leading the worlds Catholics, he emphasized the needs of the poor & the forgotten to people of all faiths. I attended his address to Congress in 2015 where he reminded all listening of the virtues & blessings of our great nation. May the late Pope rest in peace with the Lord for whom he served his life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laina and I are saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis this morning, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) posted on X. We pray for our Catholic brothers and sisters across Kansas and the world as we mourn this loss. May God rest his soul. Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be the next pope? Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.) posted on X Monday, saying: Pope Francis was a force for good, who led with grace, humility, and love for all of Gods children. May his memory be a blessing to all, and may his legacy inspire us to continue the work to build a more just and righteous world for the generations to come. Catholics in Kansas and around the world are remembering the life and legacy of Pope Francis following his passing just hours after Easter Sunday, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) said on X. He dedicated his life to the Catholic Church and to serving others, and we pray for those mourning his loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) posted on X, saying: Today, we give thanks to God for Pope Francis and his many years of service to our Church. His Jesuit heart reminded us always of our obligation to the impoverished and poor in spirit. I was blessed to meet and speak with him personally last year and I grieve for his passing. We commend his soul to the Lord and pray for Catholics around the world. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri The Missouri Secretary of States Office also released a statement. We join millions around the world in honoring the life and legacy of Pope Francis, a global figure who championed peace, compassion, and service to others, the office said. His leadership inspired dialogue across faiths and nations. Our thoughts are with all who mourn his passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May his soul rest in peace, former Kansas Attorney General and current Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.) posted on X. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Apr. 21MOSES LAKE The Moses Lake School District School Board did first reads on three proposed policies at the April 18 board meeting. No decisions were made on any policy updates. Policy 3141: Out-of-district students Policy 3141 of the Moses Lake School District governs the admission of nonresident students in accordance with Washington State law, Chapter 28A.225 RCW. These are students who live in homes outside the district's boundaries. Nonresident students may apply for enrollment between June 1 and Aug. 15 annually, with provisions for home-based instruction also included. Applications are evaluated based on established criteria, including the district's financial capacity, available educational programs, and the student's disciplinary history. The district does not impose transfer fees or tuition for eligible nonresidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, children of full-time employees are granted enrollment rights, with specific guidelines clarifying potential rejection based on behavioral history or compliance issues. If an application is denied, the superintendent provides written notification, including grounds for denial and the right to appeal the decision to the school board and subsequently to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, as specified in RCW 28A.225.230. Policy 4218: Language access The Board of Directors said they are committed to enhancing meaningful communication and access for students and families, particularly for those with limited English proficiency. Recognizing the linguistic diversity within the community, the Board aims to eliminate language barriers through a legally compliant, free-of-charge Language Access Program. This program will promote accessibility and equity, ensuring two-way communication is integral to all services and activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Key components of the program include systematic identification of families needing language support, provision of competent oral interpretation and translation of vital documents for LEP families, where applicable. The District will designate a Language Access Liaison to oversee compliance with language access laws and facilitate staff training on effective communication with LEP families. Policy 6220: Procurements This policy delineates the requirements and procedures for procuring goods and services, emphasizing the importance of maximizing district resources, adhering to sound business practices and complying with state and federal regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The procurement of furniture, supplies, and equipment varies based on estimated costs: purchases below $40,000 require no competitive bidding, while those between $40,000 and $75,000 follow an informal competitive process, and amounts exceeding $75,000 necessitate a formal bidding process. For improvements or repairs under $75,000, the district may proceed without bidding; for projects over $100,000, formal bidding is required. Additionally, the policy encourages participation from minority and women-owned businesses in the bidding process and provides exemptions in cases of emergencies or single-source supplies. Finally, the district may engage in cooperative purchasing agreements and must maintain thorough documentation to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, which will be reviewed by applicable authorities. Comprehensive procedures will be instituted by the superintendent or designee to support these policies. As usual, local governments, state agencies and public universities are pushing for the Minnesota Legislature to pass a big borrowing bill to fund infrastructure and maintenance projects this year. Will they get their wish? If recent history is any indication, they shouldnt expect an all-encompassing bill. Bonding has been a key part of partisan negotiations in the last few years at the Minnesota Capitol, where minority Republicans used the 60% threshold for borrowing bills to push for concessions from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor majorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When lawmakers passed the last $2.6 billion capital investment package in 2023, it was possible because DFLers agreed to give Republicans $300 million for struggling nursing homes. The next year, a nearly $1 billion proposal failed. Republicans refused to approve a bonding proposal when DFLers tried to advance a bill that would create a path for abortion rights in the state Constitution. The session ended in chaos. This year This year could be different. Republicans now have a 67-67 tie with the DFL in the House, giving them a little more bargaining power. There was optimism about a bonding deal after a meeting between Gov. Tim Walz and key leaders of both parties in the House and Senate on April 10. What I heard from everybody in that room is a desire to proceed and hopefully that wont get wound up in the politics of this place and that we keep our eyes and our focus on what the people of Minnesota need, said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul. When we tie other politics to a bonding bill that is the way you see it end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Complete bonding bills arent likely to emerge until the Legislature resumes business after Easter, but the governor and legislative leaders already have targets. Theyll be smaller than past years as the state has a significantly smaller budget surplus for the next two years and a $6 billion deficit projected for the 2028-29 biennium. Walz has proposed a plan to borrow $700 million what budget officials expect the state can take on in the next year plus spending $10 million from the general fund and $97 million from the Trunk Highway Fund. All the highway funds in his pitch will cover a new $97 million Minnesota State Patrol Headquarters building. Another $69 million will go to the construction of a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Office and Laboratory in Mankato. Other projects Other major projects include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $85 million for asset preservation at the University of Minnesota systems campuses. $99 million for water treatment. $50 million for Department of Natural Resources repairs and maintenance. $80 million for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Senate and House leaders have an idea of how much they want to borrow, but havent released anything as specific as the governor has. DFL and Republican House leaders have not formally released targets but have signaled their bonding bill will adhere to the $700 million one-year borrowing limit set by state forecasters at the Department of Management and Budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate DFLers say they want to pass a bonding bill of $1.35 billion this year but havent released specifics yet, either. Project requests Either way, there will be a narrow group of projects approved this year. There are billions of dollars in requests in any year, and only some are granted. From St. Paul, there are bills with requests from the Como Zoo, Jimmy Lee Recreation Center, CHS Field and the Ordway Center, just to name a few. The city of Hastings is seeking state money to help address contamination of its city water supply with so-called forever chemicals. Another request for state funds to cover half of the $769 million renovation of downtown St. Pauls Xcel Energy Center likely wont be included in the bonding bill. If the state approved such a large project, it likely will be in a separate specific appropriation bond, bonding committee leaders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Sandy Pappas, a St. Paul DFLer who chairs the Senate Capital Investment Committee, told Minnesota Public Radio that general obligation bonds wouldnt be what cover a project like that, and that it was too soon to renovate the arena, which opened nearly 25 years ago. However, despite debt constraints and what appears for now to be a big gap between the House and Senate positions on bonding, the Xcel request may not be dead yet. Nothings actually ruled out at this point, said House Majority Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, when asked about the project at an April 10 negotiation meeting. Related Articles *Editors note: News 5 has corrected this article to identify the type of gun that was converted. We regret the error. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) A Mobile man has been sentenced for having a pistol that was illegally converted to a machine gun, News 5 has learned. Local fishermen reel in a 700 pound bluefin tuna off Gulf Coast Ryan Christopher Triplett, 21, of Mobile, was arrested by Mobile police in December 2022 following a traffic stop, according to the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Alabama. Ryan Christopher Triplett (Photo courtesy of the Mobile County Sheriffs Office) During that stop, police found a Glock .40-caliber pistol that was fully loaded and equipped with an illegal machinegun-conversion device, also known as a Glock switch, a USAO news release said. The Glock switch turned the pistol into a fully automatic weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an interview with police, Triplett admitted that the pistol was his and that he knew it was illegally modified, the release said. United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Triplett to 13 months in prison and three years of supervision upon his release, according to the USAO. Triplett was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeit his pistol and ammunition to the United States, according to the release. UPDATE: ALEA identifies man killed in I-65 Creola crash The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. A 25-year-old Moline man faces charges after Bettendorf Police say he drove about 100 mph with an infant in the back seat, according to Scott County Court arrest affidavits and Scott County Jail records. David Torres III faces a Class D felony charge of eluding speed over 25 mph over the limit and an aggravated misdemeanor charge of child endangerment, Scott County Court records show. David Torres III (Scott County Jail) Shortly after 5:45 p.m. Dec. 23, 2024, a Bettendorf Police officer saw a Pontiac G6 run a stop sign, according to affidavits. The officer activated the squad cars emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop in the area of Spruce Hills Drive and Utica Ridge Road, and the car pulled over and stopped on the shoulder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer made contact with Torres, who provided his Illinois state-issued identification card. The officer told Torres why he had been stopped and Torres stated he passed through the stop sign because his child in the back seat was crying. A baby was sitting in a car seat behind the drivers seat, affidavits say. When a Bettendorf Police K9 tried to perform an open-air sniff around the car, Torres drove away from the stop at a high rate of speed, according to affidavits. The Pontiac passed a line of uninvolved vehicles on the right side through the intersection of the interstate westbound on-ramp and Spruce Hills Drive. Police relocated the car traveling about 100 mph in a 55 mph zone on I-74 eastbound in heavy rush-hour traffic heading into Illinois, affidavits show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Torres, who was arrested Saturday on a warrant, was released on his own recognizance, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing May 9 in Scott County 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) Four House Democrats have traveled to El Salvador to call attention to the plight of a man the Trump administration deported to a Salvadoran prison and has refused to help return even after the Supreme Court ruled that it was the government's duty to do so. Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California arrived Sunday in the Central American nation to investigate the condition of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had lived in the United States for more than a decade. The Trump administration deported him, a move that administration officials have said in court filings was done in error. But despite a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the Trump administration to help facilitate Abrego Garcia's return, the administration has said it has no power to bring him back, a position being scrutinized by federal courts as potentially in violation of judicial rulings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news conference Monday in El Salvador's capital, the Democratic representatives and Abrego Garcia's lawyer said they were in El Salvador demanding his safe return home." The group said they hoped to continue to pressure authorities for his release, and that their petition to meet with Abrego Garcia was denied. "Part of what the Trump administration does is they do so much that they try to make sure people forget forget about them breaking the law, forget about them completely ignoring the Supreme Court," Frost said. Were not going to be the last members of Congress and senators that are here to make sure that hes released and that our country is following our laws. The trip comes after one last week The quartets trip comes after Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland traveled to El Salvador last week and met with Abrego Garcia and Salvadoran officials. Abrego Garcia lived in Maryland with his wife and three children, who are American citizens, before he was deported on March 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego Garcia's protected legal status prohibited him from being deported to El Salvador. He was deported on one of three planes filled with migrants accused of being gang members. Frost said the four representatives were in El Salvador to build off the work of Van Hollen and that they were inquiring about where Abrego Garcia was being held and under what conditions. Chris Newman, a lawyer representing the deportee, added that his primary concerns was Abrego Garcia's access to counsel. We know nothing of Mr. Abrego Garcias whereabouts since the staged photo op on Thursday with Senator Van Hollen, Newman said. "We demand to immediately know where he is and to have access to him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House press office issued a statement Monday that said the past week has shown Americans everything they need to know about Democrats priorities. The White House accused the representatives of "picking up their partys mantle of prioritizing a deported illegal immigrant MS-13 gang member over the Americans they represent. Rep. Garcia said he and Frost sent a letter last week to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., requesting that an official delegation go to El Salvador to investigate Abrego Garcia's condition and push for his return, but received no response. Ansari said more Democrats would be traveling to El Salvador in the coming days and weeks. Justice Department lawyers said in court last week that they have no power to advance Abrego Garcias return because he is in a foreign countrys custody. Administration officials also claimed in public comments that Abrego Garcia was engaged in human trafficking and terrorism and therefore correctly deported. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that if Abrego Garcia were to return to the U.S., he would immediately be deported again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van Hollen unsuccessfully lobbied the Salvadoran government for Abrego Garcia's return. He told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that the United States is facing a constitutional crisis if the Trump administration does not follow the Supreme Court's order to push to bring Abrego Garcia back. It's a warning Democrats are increasingly amplifying. Rather than debate President Donald Trump's hard-line immigration policy or the merits of the administration's invocation of national security to carry out deportations, Democratic lawmakers are zeroing in on the issue of due process, with some noting that the Supreme Court and lower court federal judges found Abrego Garcia was deported without a proper hearing. Ansari said she finds it extremely alarming that Trump officials seem to have no regard for due process. Even with all of the illegal actions weve seen over the last couple of months, I think this is the one that terrifies me the most when it comes to the future of our democracy," she said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar concerns were echoed by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote in the courts ruling in Abrego Garcias case: The governments argument, moreover, implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U. S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene." Republicans have been going, too for a different reason Several House Republicans have visited El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center, the prison where Abergo Garcia is being held, and lauded the facility for what they view as El Salvador's tough-on-crime policies. Republican senators and governors have defended Abrego Garcia's detention as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration. But at least one Republican senator called his deportation a mistake. The administration wont admit it. But this was a screw-up, said Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, on NBC's Meet the Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office, Trump remarked that homegrown lawbreakers should be deported to prisons in the Central American country and urged Bukele to build about five more places like the notorious penitentiary where Abrego Garcia is being held. Congressional Republicans have so far shown little interest in negotiating the dispute between the president and the judiciary. Democrats, who are in the minority in both chambers of Congress, have little leverage to pressure the White House. But Abrego Garcia's case has become both an alarming and galvanizing case inside the party. Democrats "have the power to draw attention to this issue, to keep the pressure up," Ansari said. "Thats why you know some of us are going, and so many members will be going. Because this is about the future of our democracy and the future of due process as American citizens. ___ Brown reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City. Last weekend, immigration attorney Liudmila Armas Marcelo spent her time not just listening to but above all, calming many of her desperate clients who had received orders to leave the United States within seven days. Her phone rang nonstop. On the other end were people on the brink of a breakdown. One clients blood pressure skyrocketed. Anothers son, who suffers from health issues, was severely affected. People panicked, Marcelo recalls. What she never expected was that she, a U.S. citizen, would also be notified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to leave the country immediately. On April 11, she received the same email that had been landing in the inboxes of over 936,500 people who entered the U.S. since January 2023 via the CBP One appointment system a tool introduced by the Biden administration to help manage the migration crisis at the southern border. Its a message that could rattle anyone citizen or not with a tone Marcelo describes as very aggressive and very frightening. The DHS email ordering recipients to leave the country, which was sent to permanent residents. Cortesia The DHS email, obtained by EL PAIS, begins with a blunt message: It is time for you to leave the United States. It goes on to say that the department is exercising its discretion to terminate the parole previously granted along with any associated government benefits, such as a work permit. The letter warns that failing to comply could lead to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal. In another line, the threat is even more explicit: Do not attempt to remain in the United States the federal government will find you. The email began arriving in inboxes in early April often in the middle of the night, at 2 a.m., 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Some recipients saw it immediately; others found it when they woke up. Marcelo says she wasnt alarmed when she received the email because she is a naturalized Cuban, and immediately thought it could be a mistake. She later learned that the message had reached not only other citizens like her, it had also been sent to permanent residents, individuals in the process of regularizing their immigration status, and even to people who had never entered the U.S. through the CBP One system individuals who remained in Mexico after the Trump administration disabled the app on its very first day in office. Liudmila Armas Marcelo, immigration lawyer. Cortesia Adriana and Luis, two 29-year-old Cuban residents of Odessa, Texas, arrived in the United States through CBP One in November 2023. Like many others, they received the same message that landed in attorney Marcelos inbox. Adriana saw it in the early hours of April 11; Luis, the night before. Both were frightened, but something about it felt off. Adriana is currently awaiting her green card after applying under the Cuban Adjustment Act, which grants legal status to Cubans living in the U.S., while Luis has been a permanent resident for several months. I was worried that it could have been a system error, says Luis. Amid the uncertainty, they immediately contacted their lawyer. I emailed her, and she cleared up my doubts, adds Adriana. Seeing that it has reached people who are even citizens has put my mind at ease. But Marcelo believes that arbitrarily sending the email to so many people has already caused serious harm and is unforgivable. They didnt bother to determine who the person was, whether they actually entered the United States, whether they are in the country illegally or are already residents, she says. Im waiting for an explanation from the [government], but so far nothing has come. I dont know if theyre waiting for some people to panic and leave. The mistakes that the Trump administration wont fix The Donald Trump administration is making alleged mistakes that are already taking their toll on the countrys migrant community. Throughout his campaign, Trump promised to purge the country of criminals, yet many of those detained or deported under his policies had no criminal records. Perhaps the most well-known case is that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran deported to El Salvadors notorious Cecot mega-prison. He was deported with more than 230 other men allegedly tied to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran group MS-13 but his family say he has no connection to the gangs. Now, the email instructing thousands of migrants who entered the U.S. via the CBP One app to leave the country represents yet another failure of the system another action by the administration that violates due process. Attorney Marcelo is certain that, as the months go by, well begin to see more and more cases where due process may have been violated. Thats what happens when theres this lack of responsibility and negligence, she says. The lawyer argues that its clear the government is operating in a highly disorganized manner in its push to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Or worse, that it hopes migrants will take the initiative to self-deport using CBP Ones counterpart, the CBP Home app, which allows individuals to voluntarily report their departure from the country though the supposed benefits of using it remain unclear to both migrants and their attorneys. A demonstration against anti-immigration policies in New York, on February 9, 2025. Andres Kudacki (AP) Other lawyers like Marcelo received notices to leave the United States simply because they had registered accounts with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to monitor their clients cases. They didnt even bother to check who had actually entered through CBP One or which emails were professional, belonging to a lawyer. Thats why I see a lack of seriousness in how this was handled, she says. As if that werent enough, Marcelo insists the government also failed to properly identify the recipients in the messages. How can anyone be sure the email was really meant for them and not just a system error? she asks. Theyre not concerned about peoples peace of mind; on the contrary, theyre contributing to a level of fear and panic that many have no reason to feel. Self-deport or stay? A week after the DHS emails were sent, the government began revoking I-94 entry permits for those who arrived through CBP One, stripping them of their legal status in the U.S. and invalidating the work permits they had been granted. The fear has left many wondering what to do next: self-deport, as the email urges, or stay put and wait. Marcelo strongly advises against leaving the country, especially for those with pending immigration court cases. If people start leaving, that doesnt count as voluntary departure, and when the court arrives and the judge asks for the person, he or she will immediately issue a deportation order in absentia, she explains. The attorney believes that whats happening with CBP One beneficiaries could foreshadow similar outcomes for other programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or humanitarian parole, which the government attempted to suspend, a move that was blocked by the courts. The same thing is going to happen, because these are programs that, in their context, were created to regulate entry into the country. You cant say now that the program is illegal and all the existing ones are illegal, because youre retroactively punishing the person, says Marcelo. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Congressional leaders are following in the footsteps of Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), traveling to El Salvador to shed further light on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was mistakenly deported more than a month ago. The Associated Press reported that Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif) all arrived in El Salvador on Sunday. This comes less than a week after Hollen visited El Salvador and, after a few days of being denied visitation, was finally able to meet with Abrego Garciathe first conversation the Maryland father and husband has had with anyone outside of prison since being deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maryland Senator recounts meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador I may be the first United States Senator to visit El Salvador on this issue, but there will be more and there will be more members of Congress coming, he said during a press conference on his first day in the country. Giving truth to that sentiment, the four lawmakers traveled to El Salvador to keep the pressure up. Ansari told the Associated Press that they were there for the future of democracy and due processAmerican ideals that have been at the center of the legal battle surrounding Abrego Garcias case. To see the Trump administration so blatantly and egregiously defy the Supreme Court and have no regard for due process is extremely alarming to me, Ansari said in an interview with the AP. Even with all of the illegal actions weve seen over the last couple of months, I think this is the one that terrifies me the most when it comes to the future of our democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement INITIAL COVERAGE: Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador due to administrative error Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer, expressed her gratitude for the Congressional visit. Were deeply grateful to the members of Congress and advocates for justice now on the ground in El Salvador, building on the leadership of Senator Van Hollen. We are particularly concerned about Kilmars health and hope to receive news about that from the visit. Their presence sends a powerful message: the fight to bring Kilmar home isnt over. Im fighting for Kilmar and for all the other Kilmars who have been unjustly deported without due process. We need Congress to keep showing up, both here and abroad, until justice is served and the rights of everyone are protected. Jennifer Vasquez Sura, wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia To learn more about the administrative error in deporting Garcia, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. DENVER (KDVR) It has felt like summer in Denver, but the late April snowstorm reminded Coloradans that snow wasnt over yet. Its been a mild winter in Colorado, with even March, the snowiest month, recording only 2 inches of snow, marking one of Denvers least snowy Marchs in history. April brought more warm weather, with temperatures hitting a record 85 degrees and many days in the high 70s. New beer garden opens in historic former elementary school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there was also snow with those warm temperatures. The recent snowstorm on Friday served as a reminder of winter, leaving over a foot of snow, delaying over a thousand flights and shutting down high country roads. While this snowstorm left as much as over 5 inches in Denver, Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Greg Perez said it could be the last. When will it stop snowing in Colorado? A Colorado meteorologists rule of thumb is that the snow is usually over after Mothers Day, which lands on May 11, but looking at the upcoming forecast with temperatures staying in the 60s and 70s with a few spring showers, Perez said the late April snowstorm was likely the last for Denver. Perez said Denver is getting warmer and closer to the severe weather season starting in May. This means storms, hail and strong winds, but no snow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar While the latest Denver snowstorm could likely be the last in the Mile High City this season, it wouldnt be out of the question to see another storm heading into May. According to the National Weather Service, Denver has seen snow as late as the end of May and even into June. As for the rest of Colorado, Perez said theres still more snow on the way. Colorado has seen mountain snow through the middle of summer, but it usually slows down by mid to late May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked for more time from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to submit the states request for a major disaster declaration following a severe ice storm that struck last month. The ice storm knocked out power and communications across Michigans upper and lower peninsulas. The storm also left hundreds of miles of roads blocked by fallen trees and debris throughout the region. Michigan State Police cruiser after severe ice storm (Michigan State Police) The Office of the Governor says Gov. Whitmer requested this extension to ensure local jurisdictions and municipalities are given enough time to complete response activities and assess the impacts and damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out-of-state support mobilized to help northern Michigan ice storm recovery With recovery efforts still ongoing, I am asking FEMA for an extension to submit a major disaster declaration request, so we can get a complete picture of what resources and support these local communities need as they recover from this devastating storm. Well continue coordinating closely with first responders, local communities, our federal partners, and Michiganders on the ground. Michiganders are strong, and well get through this together, said Gov. Whitmer in a news release sent to 6 News. The Office of the Governor says that due to the severity of the ice storm, local organizations continue to be involved in prolonged response and recovery operations. This additional time will ensure our communities can fully assess the damage caused by the ice storm and submit a request that accurately reflects the needs of our District. This is a critical step toward securing the federal resources necessary for recovery and rebuilding, said Jack Bergman, U.S. Representative for Michigans First District, in a news release sent to 6 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State of Michigan will conduct Preliminary Damage Assessments with assistance from FEMA to evaluate eligibility for that broader assistance. These assessments will determine whether the extent of damage meets federal thresholds for a Major Disaster Declaration. Based on the results, the state may request: Individual Assistance (IA) direct help for homeowners and renters Public Assistance (PA) reimbursement for local governments, certain non-profit entities, and tribal agencies for response costs, debris removal, and repair of damaged infrastructure Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Reuters) -A Moscow court has found Alphabet's Google guilty of disclosing personal data of Russian servicemen who died in Ukraine, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Monday, citing court documents. The court's documents say that in a video published on YouTube, information on the losses in Ukraine of Russian servicemen, as well as their personal data, were disclosed, TASS reported. Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology platforms to remove content it deems illegal, such as what it calls "fakes" about the war in Ukraine, issuing small but persistent fines when it sees failures to comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment outside business hours. Russia's President Vladimir Putin accused Google in December of being a tool used by the U.S. government headed then by former President Joe Biden, to score political points. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) A Moscow court has found Google, owned by U.S. tech giant Alphabet, guilty of disclosing personal data of Russian servicemen killed in Ukraine, Russias state-run TASS news agency reported on April 21. The ruling reportedly stems from a YouTube video that allegedly revealed both casualty figures and personal details of Russian soldiers killed during the full-scale invasion. The court found Google guilty under Article 13.41(2) of Russias administrative code, which covers the "violation of procedures for restricting access to information that must be limited under Russian law." The company was fined 3.8 million rubles (approximately $45,000), according to the court ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has long pressured foreign tech platforms to remove content it considers illegal, including what it describes as "fakes" about the war in Ukraine. Authorities have routinely issued finesoften relatively small but persistentagainst companies they accuse of non-compliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously accused Google of acting as a political instrument of the United States. In December, he claimed the platform was used by then-President Joe Bidens administration to "score political points." In April, a Russian independent media outlet, Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, confirmed the identities of 101,833 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine. Mediazona's latest report covers the period from February 24, 2022, to April 7, 2025. Since it was last updated at the end of March, 1,882 additional Russian military personnel have been killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trump hopes Russia, Ukraine make a deal this week, promises big business with US Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) The Lafayette community came together Saturday to commemorate Nick Day, a heartfelt event honoring the life and legacy of Nicholas Alfred, who life was tragically lost to gun violence three years ago. According to Nicks mother, Jessica Duger, he sacrificed his own safety to protect others. Duger describes her son as a sweet soul who was musically inclined and loved God. The event is designed to educate the youth about gun violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the suspects that murdered my son were juveniles, and so we missed them along the way. So, what we do is we target juveniles, we talk to them, and we give them something else to look forward to so that they know dont pick up a gun, Duger said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest The event has grown into a significant day of remembrance and unity. This year there was a free Easter egg hunt, complimentary food, access to counselors, and a special Home Run for your Loved One ceremony, allowing participants to honor their lost loved ones. Dugar plans to host the event next year in Houston, where Nicholas Alfred was shot and killed, and hopefully rename the street in his honor. 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. There is a debate over police pursuits in Georgia. One mom wants to see them stopped after her daughter was an innocent bystander killed by a man fleeing law enforcement. But one district attorney says pursuits are necessary. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Our circuit has seen an increase since 2022 of 200% of felony fleeing cases, said Newton and Walton County District Attorney Randy McGinley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You are facing a minimum of one year in prison that cannot be probated, deferred or anything by the judge, so youre going to prison, and I dont think people realize that. Some of that is public education, pulling them over and getting a citation, it may affect your insurance, but youre not going to go to prison, said McGinley about one way to stop the pursuits. But McGinley said, its too much focus on ending police pursuits, which he believes should be out of the question. If you let people know that if they just flee with impunity, they can get away and that no one will chase them, what are people going to do? Theyre going to just keep fleeing, said McGinley. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Katrina Harris doesnt agree with the police pursuits. It is not keeping people safe, said Harris. She is pleading for someone to consider the innocent bystanders. Her daughter Katie, a Georgia Tech graduate, was killed when a driver being pursued by the Georgia State Patrol hit her in 2023. She holds the man who hit her daughter accountable. But she also thinks the law enforcement behind the pursuits plays a role. Would he have been going that fast? Would he have run a red light? Would he have been going to wrong way down Memorial Drive? I dont think the answer to any of those questions is yes, said Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Katies case, the suspect hasnt gone to trial. Her family has been feeling the pain on multiple fronts. [The suspect] had no insurance, so we had no monetary recompense, but also we are being punished in the sense that our insurance has almost doubled with one less person on our policy, said Harris. When it comes to suing, she said she was told by attorneys, its not an option in the state of Georgia. They have full immunity no matter what they do. They can always say at any point in time we thought it was in the interest to do and there is no recourse at that point. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A 22-year-old Jacksonville man is dead after a motorcycle crash Sunday. The accident occurred at about 8 p.m. on Interstate 295 near mile marker 43, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The man was riding a black Kawasaki ZX-6R motorcycle southbound on I-295 and struck the rear of a Toyota Corolla that was also traveling southbound, the news release states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motorcycle rider, who was wearing his helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota Corolla, a 26-year-old Jacksonville woman, was taken to the hospital where she was treated for minor injuries, the news release states. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88 Read: Two-year-old boy dies after accidentally shooting himself in Jacksonville Read: Surveillance video released: FBI, St. Johns County Sheriffs Office search for bank robber Read: Man hospitalized after being shot by Jacksonville police in East Arlington [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A motorcyclist was killed when he struck the rear of a vehicle on Route 72 in Harwinton over the weekend, state police said. The crash occurred Saturday around 2:07 p.m. as a 23-year-old Burlington woman, driving a 2025 Mazda CX-30, was headed south and slowed down to make a left onto East Church Road, according to Connecticut State Police. Jhonatan Jiron, 40, of Bristol was riding a 2016 Harley-Davidson behind the Mazda when he struck the rear of the vehicle, state police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Mazda reported minor injuries and declined medical attention, according to state police. The motorcycle and the Mazda had to be towed away, state police said. The crash remains under investigation. Any witnesses or drivers who were in the area with dashboard camera footage have been asked to contact Trooper Trainee Nicholas Daponte at Nicholas.Daponte@ct.gov or 860-626-7900, ext. 5059. The State Attorney General on Friday announced an investigation into the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist by officers with the Newport Beach Police Department late last week. The April 17th incident with the 45-year-old rider, now identified as Laguna Niguel resident Geoffrey Stirling, unfolded at around 9:15 p.m. Stirling was reportedly stopped by Newport police in the area of Pacific Coast Highway, west of Superior Avenue, though officials did not provide a reason for the traffic stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the stop, the male adult rider, who was the sole occupant of the motorcycle, became uncooperative, officials said in a news release. An officer-involved shooting occurred, resulting in the male sustaining injuries. Newport Beach officers on the scene of a fatal police shooting on April 17, 2025. (KTLA) Newport Beach officers on the scene of a fatal police shooting on April 17, 2025. (KTLA) Newport Beach officers on the scene of a fatal police shooting on April 17, 2025. (KTLA) The 45-year-old was rushed to Hoag Hospital where he was later declared deceased. Dozens of trees hacked down by vandals in downtown Los Angeles According to the Los Angeles Times, Stirling was scheduled to appear at an arraignment hearing Monday for a felony arson charge in connection with a March 21st fire. It is unclear if that matter had anything to do with the traffic stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day after the fatal police shooting, California State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in a press release that the California Department of Justice would be conducting an independent investigation into the Newport Beach shooting. The Newport Beach Police Department is also conducting its own investigation into the shooting and, per state law, has 45 days from the date of the incident to release officer-worn body camera footage of the incident. Officials with the California Department of Justice encouraged anyone with information about the shooting to call 916-210-2871. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. As a good businessman rather than a politician, Donald Trump has managed to put a price on an intangible asset: academic freedom. So far, it has cost Harvard more than $2.2 billion to oppose the Republican administrations attempt to discipline it by silencing uncomfortable opinions, such as criticism of Israel or diversity policies that support minority groups. Of the $9 billion in federal funding the university receives, the withdrawn portion is critical covering scholarships, medical research programs, and even hospitals staffed by professionals trained within its walls. Harvard, many argue, is the only university in the White Houses crosshairs that can afford to push back because it is the wealthiest (with an endowment exceeding $50 billion) and the oldest (338 years) in the country: it is the alma mater of eight U.S. presidents. But what is at stake in Washingtons extortion is not only the future of one of the most prestigious universities in the world and by extension, that of the others being threatened but of freedom itself: the kind that, sometimes precariously, as now, is shaped by ideas. Whats happening at Harvard, Columbia, and other universities is unprecedented in U.S. history. What the government is seeking is subordination, subjugation, and thats terrible and must be resisted, says Kendall Kennedy, a law professor and co-director of Harvards Academic Freedom Council, a kind of inner sanctum within the university, which on Wednesday saw subdued activity, partly due to the Easter holidays, but more so due to a marked reluctance toward media exposure. Im very pleased that Harvard University and Princeton University, and others [like Stanford and Yale, which supported the protest on Tuesday], are doing so. Im very pleased that those responsible for higher education seem to be uniting more strongly in defense of educational autonomy and academic freedom, adds Kennedy. The letter with which President Alan Garber responded on Monday to the governments demands marked a milestone in the relationship between the two parties perhaps a turning point, or perhaps an academic swan song. After Harvard rejected the administrations demands, Washington announced the aforementioned funding cuts and the end of the universitys tax exemption, as well as its intention to prohibit foreign students from attending if the university does not provide their data. It is a privilege to have foreign students attend Harvard University, not a guarantee, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote Wednesday, accusing the institution of creating a hostile learning environment for Jewish students. The escalation makes it difficult to imagine how the standoff will end. Well see; its still very early, and were at a very dangerous point, Kennedy insists. This administration is obviously going to continue its attacks. Im pleased with what President Garber has done, but its very early stages, and we dont know whats going to happen. The forces arrayed against the universities are very powerful, and were still at a very dangerous point, which will, in fact, continue for some considerable time This isnt going to end tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or even next year. This fight will last quite a while. The Harvard episode is, for now, the climax of the Republicans scorched-earth campaign against elite universities a campaign that surged after campus protests erupted in October 2023 over the war in Gaza. But the roots go much deeper, part of a long-simmering culture war that has now reached a boiling point. David Pozen, a law professor at Columbia, takes the long view to explain the conflict. In retrospect, this escalation was predictable. Vice President [J. D.] Vance gave a speech in 2021 titled The Universities Are the Enemy. The Heritage Foundations Project Esther [the blueprint of Trumpism] advocates the use of counterterrorism tactics to disrupt and degrade student activism in the name of combating antisemitism. Still, the speed and scale of President Trumps efforts to tear down higher education have surprised many, says the constitutional scholar. Students and other members of Harvard University during a rally for academic freedom on campus, April 17. AP After Harvard stood up to the government, Columbia University seemed to find new energy to also oppose Washingtons demands demands it had conceded to at the end of March, although negotiations are still ongoing. Less than 12 hours after Garbers letter, Columbias interim president the campus crisis has swept away her two predecessors promised to reject any agreement that would erode the institutions independence. The government had previously threatened to place the university under judicial oversight if it did not comply with its demands, including tougher rules governing protests, allowing private campus security guards to arrest disruptive students, and conducting an external audit of ideologically sensitive departments such as Middle Eastern Studies. For most universities, the question isnt whether to oppose Washingtons demands which boil down to two main points: the all-out fight against alleged antisemitism and the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which the White House contrasts with merit-based admissions. The real question is what will come next, or more precisely, who will have the final say. Beth, a resident of Cambridge the town of 120,000 people thats home to the campuses of Harvard and MIT is a professor at Boston University, also a private institution. She usually starts her day with a pleasant walk through Harvards charming campus. Last Wednesday, on a sunny but chilly morning as cold as the mood among students and faculty with the campus swarming with visiting families in an atmosphere somewhere between festive and tense, she applauded Garbers decision. Garber replaced former Harvard president Claudine Gay, who resigned in January 2024 under pressure from Jewish donors and students. Its finally reacted. This university remained silent for too long and even allowed the sacrifice of President [Claudine] Gay, which emboldened critics, says Beth. Theyve all conceded too much. Garber took his time, but he had to [stand up], because its impossible to put up with any more. I was surprised, to be honest, I thought he was going to remain on the sidelines. Columbia, where I graduated, has put on a pitiful show by accepting the administrations demands. But Harvard is putting its reputation as an academic beacon on the line, so the president had no choice but to stand his ground. As for the mood at Columbia University, Beth says the situation is tense. Not even a fly is moving, out of fear, she says, shrugging. Revoking the tax-exempt status of rebellious universities which Trump says are pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness, a disease that encompasses alleged antisemitism and woke ideology is a tough goal to realize. Under the law, most universities are exempt from federal income tax because they are considered to operate exclusively for public educational purposes (even if they are private institutions). In Professor Pozens view, Trump has no authority to revoke Harvards tax exemption. The Internal Revenue Code has long exempted educational institutions like this from paying federal income taxes, and only Congress can change that. Washingtons plan, he emphasizes, is just the umpteenth anarchic threat from an anarchic administration. Harvard professor Steven Levitsky agrees. This is part of an authoritarian assault against our countrys institutions. In democracies, universities are not attacked by the government, he told CNN last week. Levitsky, an expert on dictatorships and co-author of the book How Democracies Die, spearheaded a letter signed by 800 faculty members urging Harvard to defend itself and academic freedom through a coordinated opposition to these antidemocratic attacks. After Levitskys letter circulated he is Jewish and believes the alleged antisemitism on campuses is just a pretext to silence them Garber stood up to the administration. In its punishment of Harvard currently adorned this spring with scrawny cherry trees and massive magnolias bowed under the weight of their blossoms the Republican administration bypassed procedural requirements, such as holding a hearing to determine whether, as it claims, the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination. The administration got away with freezing the $2 billion in federal funds without providing any evidence of wrongdoing. In its crusade against what it calls antisemitism on campus often simply slogans supporting a ceasefire in Gaza or Palestinian rights the same lack of evidence prevails: students arrested for protesting last year were accused, without proof, of aligning with Hamas or Hezbollah terrorists. The Department of Education has launched investigations on this pretext into more than 60 colleges and universities, while the government scrutinizes the digital footprint of suspicious students and has started a crackdown and deportation of activists. Since the end of March, at least 1,024 students from 160 institutions have had their visas revoked or terminated. Hann, an information technology student, sums up the atmosphere somewhere between fear and euphoria that Garbers stance has cast over the campus: a sense of relief, though the governments breath is still felt on their necks. She is one of the few students or professors willing to speak most of those approached (a polite chemistry professor, another prickly one parking her bike near the Science Center, a dozen fleeting students) declined to comment, as did another dozen faculty members contacted by phone or email. I understand that individually many dont want to talk, because there is fear and anxiety, especially among international students, who depend on a visa. But collectively, as a community, Garbers letter has made us stronger, empowered us, and most of us feel proud of this university, now unequivocally. We feel supported. Harvard is stronger now, united, the young woman says. Beside her, a student with Asian features shakes his head and objects that at some point both sides will have to start talking, because neither the governments demands are clear, nor is what Harvard has done to correct what it is accused of that is, tolerating alleged antisemitism on campus. Professor Kennedy echoes Hanns sense of pride. Not surprisingly, Harvard is the first major institution in the country to openly stand up to the Republican administration, despite the fact that major law firms, media outlets, and even federal judges have also been in the firing line of the White House, subjected to coercion and threats. I was in my office on Monday when I received the email [from Garber]. I knew it was going to be about the universitys response, and I started reading it with tremendous anxiety because I didnt know what it was going to say. But when I saw that sentence: Basically, we are not going to give in to the governments demands, I cried out in relief. The morale of this university soared. I think there are a lot of people here who feel tremendous solidarity with Garber and who will do everything they can to protect academic freedom, Kennedy says, but I insist that it will be a tremendous battle. A student with the Palestinian flag on his academic cap during a ceremony at Harvard University, May 23, 2024. Associated Press/LaPresse (APN) With swords raised, it is difficult to imagine what the next move will be an armistice or the guillotine because, in addition, the very speed of events adds dimension to the conflict. Journalist and writer Peter Beinart, a Jewish critic of the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, recounted on Wednesday in a Zoom call that he was recently invited to present his latest book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza, at Harvard Divinity School, as part of a program called the Religion, Conflict and Peace Initiative. Something strange happened: between the time I was invited and the time I gave the talk, the program was canceled, and the fantastic professor who invited me will no longer be in his position. It was the result of pressure from the Trump administration and from donors and elements of the American Jewish community who claim that this program is biased and one-sided, that it focuses too much on Israel and Palestine. For Beinart, its the vicious argument that will be used to destroy academic programs or to seize control of universities by the administration, by other forces that want to push them to the right. The big contradiction: censoring opinions in order for universities to have, as the administration demands, more diversity of viewpoints. Beth recalls how, in the recent protest in support of Harvard by the residents of Cambridge, next to Boston, many faculty members participated personally and discreetly. The mayor joined the protest, as did several Harvard colleagues, obviously outside the campus; such a gathering on campus would be ammunition for the government. Separately, in a bookstore in the city, one of those colleagues, who remains anonymous refusing to provide his name or the subject he teaches doesnt hold back on his criticism of the Republican offensive. Its pure fascism; its incredible that we havent learned from history. Or even from the present, from whats happening in Hungary, Italy, or India: dictatorial tendencies that wipe out all dissent in their path. Thats what awaits us if we dont stand up to the threats, to the most vile blackmail imaginable, because it jeopardizes the future of our students and, therefore, the future of the country itself. After almost a year and a half of complete silence, the academic opposition to the White House is gaining strength. Harvard has taken the first step, but presidents of other universities are also speaking out against the relentless pressure from Trump. Princeton has made it clear that the university is willing to stand up to the administration. The president of Wesleyan has been very outspoken in his defense of academic autonomy and in his criticism of the administration. Harvard is not alone. But it is different. It is the best-known university, the richest, and if it tries to prevail alone, it will fail. We cant do it alone; were going to need allies, Kennedy concludes. The anonymous professor points out an unforeseen factor that the administration doesnt seem to have considered when canceling research programs. They, the Republicans, also suffer from cancer and Alzheimers, and naturally they want the best medical care and attention. They dont realize that cutting [funding] jeopardizes their own health and that of their loved ones. Freezing grants and aids will have an extraordinary impact on the School of Public Health. This fiscal year, approximately 46% of its budget came from federal research funds. The day after the Harvard president took a stand, a prominent researcher received an email from the government urging her to abandon her work on tuberculosis, as the $60 million contract involving more than a dozen labs from other faculties was canceled. Our partnership with the federal government has powered discoveries and solutions that have saved tens of millions of lives around the world, Dean Andrea Baccarelli said in a statement. A medical professor specializing in ALS, who was researching early diagnosis of the disease, has also lost his annual grant. This cancellation will cost lives, he told CNN. Its a chilling moment when the pillars of knowledge, culture, and science are being undermined in the increasingly disturbed United States of Donald Trump. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition After multiple reports of dead deer along a suburban trail in Central Texas, a mountain lion was spotted climbing down a tree before quickly fleeing the area. According to a release from the City of San Marcos, a city worker from the trail crew saw the big cat near Dante Trail in the Purgatory Creek Natural Area, specifically in a section known as Middle Purgatory. This marks the first reported sighting of a cougar in Hays County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As always, please use caution when exploring our natural areas. These green spaces are home to many types of wildlife, San Marcos officials said on Facebook. If you encounter a mountain lion: do not approach it. Give it space and a way to escape most will avoid confrontation. Are mountain lion sightings more frequent in spring? Mountain lion sightings often see a seasonal uptick, but the timing can depend on both environmental conditions and regional behavior patterns. In many areas, spring brings an increase in sightings not necessarily because the lions are more active, but because warmer temperatures draw more people outdoors, leading to a spike in reported encounters. However, wildlife experts do note that late winter through early spring is a period of increased movement, as young lions begin to leave their mothers and establish new territories. This dispersal, paired with a rise in prey activity such as deer, tends to draw mountain lions closer to areas where people might spot them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In colder regions, winter may actually be the prime season for observing these elusive predators. According to the website LiveOutdoors.com, mountain lions rely on their keen tracking skills, particularly in snowy environments where they can follow fresh tracks left by prey like deer and small mammals. With a relatively weak sense of smell, mountain lions depend heavily on visual cues, and snow-covered landscapes offer clear advantages when stalking food. In places like Texas, where snow is rare and the climate is more humid and subtropical, mountain lions adapt by using other environmental signs such as disturbed leaves, broken twigs and faint trails through vegetation to track their prey. See map for mountain lions in Texas Are mountain lions native to Texas? Mountain lions are native to Texas, but they are not commonly seen in most areas. They are primarily found in the Trans-Pecos region, the brushlands of South Texas and the western Hill Country. Sightings in public neighborhoods are rare. North Texas is generally not considered part of their native range. While an exact estimate of the mountain lion population in Texas is unavailable, it is believed to range from a few hundred to as many as 7,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to get a better understanding of the population, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recently updated hunting and trapping regulations for mountain lions for the first time in 50 years, a step toward more modern wildlife management practices. In a May 23 meeting, the commission unanimously voted to ban canned hunting of mountain lions and introduced new rules for trapping the large wild cat species. The decision followed a period of public comment, with more than 91% of the 7,531 comments supporting the ban on canned hunting and the implementation of a 36-hour trap or snare check. The next step involves mandatory lion harvest reporting. This standard will provide valuable data on the species' abundance, causes of mortality and population trends, helping wildlife officials better understand the state's mountain lion population. Has anyone been attacked or killed by a mountain lion in Texas? According to the Parks and Wildlife Department, there has never been a recorded death caused by a mountain lion in the state. However, an archived New York Times article reports that in 1911, before the wildlife department began tracking the species, a 3-year-old boy was mauled by a mountain lion inside his home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mountain lions are described by the parks department as "relatively uncommon, secretive animals." Over the past 70 years, only eight mountain lion attacks have been documented in Big Bend National Park. Six occurred on hiking trails, one at a visitor campsite and one near the Chisos Mountains Lodge. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Mountain lion spotted on San Marcos trail. See map of Texas sightings MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland man is behind bars after police say he dropped his wife and child off on the side of a highway after he threatened to kill them and swerved into oncoming traffic while intoxicated. Credit: MCSO Records According to the Midland Police Department, officers were dispatched around 3:08 p.m. on Sunday, April 20, to reports of a rolling disturbance involving a man driving erratically with his family inside the vehicle. Dispatchers relayed that the caller, the drivers wife, was afraid for her and her childs life. When officers arrived at the 8400 block of State Highway 158, they found the woman and her one-year-old daughter on the side of the road. She told officers her husband, 35-year-old Josiel Gil Sanchez, had been drinking all day and became increasingly aggressive during a drive from Big Spring to Midland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said Sanchez repeatedly told her, I dont want to do this; you are forcing me to do this. Im going to kill all of us. According to the affidavit, at one point Sanchez veered into oncoming traffic near SH 158 and SH 191. Fearing for her life and her childs, the woman said she unbuckled her seatbelt and shielded the baby, who was strapped into a car seat, with her own body. She recalled hearing other vehicles honking and flashing their headlights before Sanchez returned to the proper lane. Shortly afterward, he pulled over and let her and the child out. She told police she and Sanchez had lived together for several years and were raising their daughter together. She also revealed she is currently pregnant with his second child. The woman said she wished to press charges and requested an emergency protective order. Officers located the white Ford F-150 shortly after and confirmed Sanchez as the driver. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Midland County Detention Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanchez is charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Family Violence, a first-degree felony, along with Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Under 15, and Evading Arrest or Detention with a Vehicle. He is also being held on a federal immigration detainer. His bond for the assault charge was set at $75,000. No bond amounts had been listed for the other charges at the time of booking. The case remains under investigation. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), Text BEGIN to 88788, or visit thehotline.org for confidential resources and support. You can also visit this website for more information on local programs that provide shelters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) Pitt County health officials are urging awareness and caution after Mpox virus was detected in wastewater samples. The samples were collected Mar. 25, Mar. 28 and Apr. 8 through routine testing. The virus found in wastewater is no longer infectious, but it shows that people in the area may be carrying the virus, even if they dont have symptoms. At this time, the risk to the public remains low and no cases have been reported in North Carolina. However, the detection suggests there may have been at least one person with an undiagnosed or unreported infection in the area at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding the virus in wastewater doesnt mean there is a community outbreak, but it does mean we need to stay alert, Pitt County Health Director Wes Gray said. We encourage residents to learn the symptoms, take precautions, and get vaccinated if they are eligible. Vaccines are available to protect against mpox infection from both types and can reduce the severity of illness if an infection does occur. Information about vaccine recommendations and where to find vaccine is available on the NCDHHS mpox page at www.ncdhhs.gov/mpox. Mpox symptoms include: A rash on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or genital area Rash that resembles pimples or blisters, eventually scabbing and healing Fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This story was updated to add new information. A new leader will be selected to help run an organization with a $1.5 billion budget that draws the largest share of your local property taxes in Milwaukee all with little to no input from taxpayers or public knowledge about the process or even who is in the running. I learned a few things writing this column, mostly by asking questions: Who is in the running to be this new leader? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We don't know. There is no requirement the candidates publicly file for the positions or announce their intentions. I learned at least two candidates are in the running because the incumbent is not seeking the post again. Can the public question the candidates about their qualifications and plans for the job? No. The nine-member board of directors alone makes this decision. And, under state law, it can be done by secret ballot if the board wants. (Though the Milwaukee School Board does have a policy against secret ballots.) Wait, is this a public position? Yes. Normally school board reorganization meetings are low stakes affairs, but there is nothing normal in the Milwaukee Public Schools system and the stakes couldn't be higher. In all of the messes surrounding MPS, the complete lack of transparency has been repeatedly identified as a major contributor in the financial mishaps, resignations, lead poisoning outbreaks, hundreds of unfilled positions and numerous underutilized school buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet the school board will select a new board president and other officers under a process that lacks, you guessed it, transparency. One of the best ways the public can stay engaged with MPS through board meetings, which are often poorly attended unless significant events are anticipated. One of those meetings where something important is happening lies ahead. Here's why. School board reorganizations required by law after spring elections Even without a new school board president, the board was poised to see changes after three incumbents did not seek reelection April 1. New board members will be sworn in and new officers elected April 22. Current board president Marva Herndon said she's stepping down from her leadership role to devote more time to District 1, which includes 19 schools, two of which are large high schools: Vincent and Madison. "I'm not going away because there is still a lot of work to do in the district," Herndon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She acknowledged that while the information is available on the MPS website, the board should consider alternative methods to engage the public, such as radio spots and community events. Herndon said any board member can run for president, vice president, or choose to lead a board committee, however, she emphasized that board members are often surprised by the amount of work involved. Two members interested in board president position Two members, James Ferguson, who first joined the board in a special election in November, and Missy Zombor, who was first elected in April 2023, are openly in the running for board president. There might be others who haven't publicly stated their interest. Zombor, 37, said it would be an honor to serve as president. If selected by the board, she plans to focus on empowering members to effectively fulfill their oversight responsibilities and emphasized the importance of being intentional and ensuring that the strengths of board members are aligned with the various committees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zombor, who is an at-large member of the board elected citywide, mentioned that she would schedule additional meetings when necessary to ensure everyone is on the same page. She highlighted that the president does not change policy alone; collaboration is essential for success. She also stressed that transparency must go beyond mere words. Additionally, she encouraged the public to reach out to board members for updates and to meet with them if they do not receive satisfactory explanations. Ferguson, 37, was the only incumbent to seek reelection this spring after first being elected in a November 2024 special election to complete the remaining term of Aisha Carr, who resigned from the board last year. In June, prosecutors filed felony charges of fraud and misconduct in office against Carr, accusing her of lying about living in the district she was elected to represent, which would be a violation of state law. Ferguson said he ran to save the district, which holds a special place in his heart. As an alumnus of Milwaukee High School of the Arts, he believes the board should take a more proactive approach to communicating its decisions and actions to the public to help rebuild lost trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as a board member, he's had trouble tracking down information on the process of selecting officers and finds it troubling the public doesn't have a voice on selecting the board's leadership. He emphasized that the board must initiate changes from the top down to embrace and implement the reforms sought by the community genuinely and argues that board members seeking leadership positions who were present during the district's financial troubles might face resistance from the community, as their presence could be seen as a continuation of the existing culture and administration rather than a fresh start. "I believe any old board member might encounter skepticism from the community, as they may be perceived as part of the current culture and administration instead of representing a new beginning," he said. When the board meets April 22 at 5:30 p.m., the rules governing the selection of officers resemble a good old boy mentality. Candidates are not required to explain their motivations for running or outline their positions. Furthermore, they do not need to convince the public of their qualifications since there is no opportunity for public questioning of the candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most troubling aspect is that its been this way for years without any pushback. Look at what it got us: An academically struggling district on the brink. This process must change to allow the public to convey their expectations for the school board president and vice president. MPS summer turmoil included an unsuccessful board recall drive The public is rightfully frustrated and has pushed for change. Last summer, a coalition of community members in Milwaukee tried to recall four members of the school board. Although they gathered thousands of signatures supporting their mission, it ultimately failed. Nevertheless, their message was clear: they were dissatisfied with how MPS was managed. This came on the heels of the resignation of Superintendent Keith Posley, who stepped down following the public outcry after news broke MPS failed to complete its required state financial audit by the end of 2023, which resulted in the Department of Public Instruction withholding a payment of $16.6 million. Additionally, due to errors in the district's reports, MPS lost millions in state aid for the following school year, and this reduction in funding cannot be recovered. Letters: Wisconsin Republicans keep trotting out Milwaukee vote trope as built-in excuse Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many criticized Posley, while others felt the school board was also at fault. After all, word of the financial crisis didn't come until after voters narrowly approved a massive $252 million referendum for MPS. A blistering audit report, ordered by Gov. Tony Evers after the financial fiasco, outlined an absence of clear vision and leadership routinely disempowered to lead in the report released in February. Relationship between board president and superintendent critical In truth, most of us dont fully understand the relationship between the board and the superintendent. I didnt fully grasp this dynamic until I spoke with former superintendents and board members, who explained it to me as follows: The school board establishes a budget target. The superintendent prepares the budget and presents it to the board, which then approves or modifies it. The board oversees the district by establishing policies. The superintendent manages those policies and oversees the school district's day-to-day operations. The board requires five votes to override the superintendents actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board president oversees its operations to ensure effective collaboration and coordination. The relationship between the board president and superintendent is especially critical with Superintendent Brenda Cassellius coming on board March 15 after a long than expected search to replace Posley. Opinion: Changes to Social Security would cost average Wisconsin resident $7,000 a year The president and the superintendent must maintain strong communication and mutual respect. They should focus on promoting learning, supporting students' well-being, and ensuring the smooth operation of the districts daily activities. Conflicts between the board president and the superintendent can impede progress within the district and may lead to the superintendent's departure. Critics of school boards argue that they limit the superintendent's authority. But wherever you come down on that, too many things happening in the dark create the culture that is crippling MPS. Being transparent isn't tricky. It's about basic honesty. Ferguson said serving on various nonprofit and community boards has shown him that transparency is not tricky. It begins with being honest about a situation and ensuring that the public knows what you are doing, particularly a financially vested public that invested significantly through $252 million referendum last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the board is not transparent, it will struggle to build trust with parents, taxpayers, local officials and the 60,000 students who attend MPS. When the board chooses a new president and vice president, it will not hear from the public, elected officials, or its most prized consumers its students on what it wants. For a board that promised the public transparency, this seems like business as usual. That has got to change. Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X @jecausey. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee school board needs transparency to restore trust | Opinion LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) As the Trump administration continues federal funding cuts, the effects are trickling down to mid-Michigan. Jamie Bernard, Associate Professor at Michigan State University, says not only has breast cancer research funding been cut, but grants have been frozen as well. Jamie Bernard, Associate Professor at Michigan State University (WLNS) Bernard works in drug discovery research to find new medicines to treat breast cancer. She also studies how environmental factors and lifestyle choices impact diseases. Research lab at Michigan State University (WLNS) Research lab at Michigan State University (WLNS) She says these potential cuts are personal because her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 40% of American individuals will get a cancer sometime in their lifetime. For breast cancer, its one in eight women. So, we stand to lose more lives if we dont continue the work, said Bernard. Bernard says breast cancer used to be a deadly diagnosis, but now, with earlier detection and better treatment strategies, professionals can save a lot of lives. However, she says these cuts could halt research at MSU. Our grants are frozen. So, Ive had a research program that was funded by the federal government to study breast cancer, and I have that grant ready to be renewed, but its not getting reviewed. So, theres no way that can be funded, said Bernard. Michigan State University is not the only institution facing cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NIH research cuts threaten the search for life-saving cures and jobs in every state A portion of our federal grants go to support pieces of the university that are critical for our work, like core facilities. So, every researcher doesnt have to buy every single piece of equipment that we need to do our studies. We can share it with other people, said Bernard. She says her students will also feel the impact. Normally, I would be taking in new students into the laboratory in the fall, and with the frozen funds, Im not sure that Im going to have the resources available to train additional students in the laboratory. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Far-right Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene declared that "evil is being defeated" in the wake of Pope Francis' death. "Today there were major shifts in global leaderships," said the self-identified "Christian nationalist" in a post on X Monday morning, roughly nine hours after the pontiff's passing. "Evil is being defeated by the hand of God." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She did not clarify what she meant, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. But her post sparked anger from other X users who interpreted it as a celebration of the death of the 88-year-old Pope, who passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time on Easter Monday from a cerebral stroke, according to the Vatican. This is the message Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X in the wake of the death of Pope Francis (Marjorie Taylor Greene via X) "Shame on you, lady. This is disgusting," said one user. "You're a disgrace to America and the world," said another. "I thought you liked Pete Hegseth!" joked South Carolina journalist Meghan McCarthy, referring to the embattled Defense Secretary whose job is rumored to be in danger after a second group chat scandal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis' death begins a nine-day mourning period and a complex process to choose the new head of the Catholic Church. Taylor Greene, 50, was baptized Catholic and married in a Catholic ceremony, but was rebaptized into an evangelical Protestant denomination in 2011. In a statement in 2022, she said she had quit the Catholic Church because she believed she could not trust its leaders to "protect [her] children from pedophiles" following repeated sexual abuse scandals. She said that many ordinary Catholics were "pious" and that many priests are "kind [and] brilliant, but accused the Church's leadership of being "controlled by Satan" and riddled with "criminals and abusers." Azerbaijan has almost completed its section of the future Zangezur corridor. There is just a little bit left to put an end to the construction work, and the Goradiz-Jabrayil-Zangilan-Agbend road (the border with Armenia) will be fully operational. The foundation was laid in October 2021 with the participation of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkiye. In less than four years, a 124-kilometer highway was built, which is the automobile segment of the Zangezur corridor. And 43 kilometers of the route, which fall on the territory of Armenia, did not even begin to be built. The other day, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tried once again to blurt out Yerevan's commitment to open the Zangezur corridor with a proposal to open a railway connection along the Goradiz-Yeraskh line, which both sides will use on an equal basis. "Armenia is ready now," Pashinyan said, continuing to pretend that he does not understand why there can be no question of any equality in the positions of the parties. It is commendable that Yerevan has started talking about a road through Zangezur, but Armenia cannot and will not use Azerbaijani roads under the same conditions as the Zangezur Corridor will operate. She owes Azerbaijan too much to entertain the idea of a balanced partnership. Azerbaijan has balanced partnerships on transport corridors with Russia, Iran, and Georgia, but relations with Armenia are in a completely different category. For Azerbaijan, Armenia is not a regional partner for mutually beneficial cooperation, but an occupier who committed ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Azerbaijani people, carried out total destruction and caused damage to our country worth tens of billions of dollars. And let's not forget that Yerevan's peacefulness today is not the result of goodwill and coming to the truth, but of military defeat. Many in the world now want this past to be archived and Baku and Yerevan to start building relations from scratch. It won't work from scratch. At least because the neighbor has not yet even offered a basic apology for what he did and has not repented of his bloody deeds against the Azerbaijani people. On the contrary, the image of Armenia is being hastily rebranded from "winner" to "victim". Probably, Pashinyan still sincerely wants both the opening of communications and cooperation. But it's not enough to want. In addition, he arranges every step in such a way that everything looks like a big favor to Azerbaijan, although everyone around understands what's what. Let him have fun, but all these reprises take up time. And while Pashinyan is hesitating, a front is forming in his country against the corridor through Zangezur. Three years ago, it was easier for him to implement the project than it is today. But this, of course, is not our problem. "Armenia should announce that it is withdrawing from negotiations on connecting the main territory of Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan through Meghri (Western Zangezur), which threatens it with a dead end," former Prime Minister Khosrov Harutyunyan, who headed the Armenian government during the occupation of the First Karabakh War, told reporters. The revanchist convinces that the road will not give anything to the Armenians, but it will connect Azerbaijan with Turkiye. "It turns out that we need to invest 150 million dollars from our funds to build a railway so that Azerbaijan can connect to Turkiye by a convenient road?", - Harutyunyan is indignant, who, when he was prime minister, personally proposed blowing up the railway through Zangezur, arguing that "if there is no railway, there is no problem." There are enough reasons why there will be no reciprocity between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as Pashinyan says. Surely, Yerevan understands that stubbornness in this matter is inappropriate. And that makes them even more stubborn. Armenia is getting closer and closer to the line beyond which it will remain without unblocked communications at all, despite all the efforts of the patrons to change the situation. It is enough to recall the recent statements by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand. The European official described the special importance and indispensability of Armenian transit after the opening of borders with Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey. It was said as if there were no existing corridors and well-established logistics in the region, but Armenia is fully ready to provide international transit of hundreds of millions of tons, and it remains only to raise the barrier. As President Ilham Aliyev said on this occasion, "we can understand the feelings of European bureaucrats towards Armenia, but you cannot ignore the map." It turns out that the EU, represented by the President of the European Commission, ignores everything that Azerbaijan and Georgia have done so that Ms. von der Leyen can discuss the partnership on rare earth materials with the Central Asian countries today. If it were not for the corridors built by Azerbaijan and running through Georgia, it would not have such an opportunity. It is noteworthy that before Armenia came under Macron's tutelage, the neighbors understood the benefits of the Zangezur corridor. This is indicated by publications in the Armenian media. You can learn a lot of interesting things from the publications of that period. At that time, Armenian railway workers were not afraid to express their opinions and welcomed the prospect of launching a railway. The railway through Nakhchivan was the main freight highway of the Armenian SSR. There were other railway lines from Armenia: the first one went through Ayrum to Tbilisi and then through Sukhumi, the second one went from Ijevan to Gazakh and further to the Caspian coast. But both routes could carry trains with a maximum of 1,900 tons, while through Nakhchivan - up to 4,500 tons, the Armenian media wrote in 2021. Levon Hakobyan, Chairman of the Council of Veterans of the Southern Railway, told reporters that the road ran over flat terrain, and heavier trains could be launched along it. In addition, they could go faster, which meant that the traffic capacity was higher. Therefore, in Soviet times, all major cargoes to Armenia - grain, metals, oil products - were transported along this route. "If the railway is launched, we will have to think about the interests of our country, that is, about convenient and cheap delivery of our goods to Russia and Iran," said the veterans of the Armenian railway enthusiastically. At that time, the first calculations were already being made. It was argued that for the economic development and the entire national economy of Armenia, it is necessary to increase the freight turnover by rail to 5 million tons in the first three years. Because the growth of the republic's economy is possible only under the operating conditions of the Yerevan-Tbilisi-Baku-Moscow railway section, and already today, and not in two years. In the same year, 2021, on the eve, as everyone thought, of the imminent unblocking of communications, the public organization Union of Informed Citizens decided to study the condition of the Armenian railways. It would be very useful for Mrs. von der Leyen to get acquainted with the results of that study, who believes that the opening of Armenia's borders will solve everything, and the "golden age" of trade between Asia and Europe will begin. According to the organization's research, over the course of three decades, most of the railways in Armenia have been abandoned, and in some cases dismantled. The roads to the state borders with Turkiye and Azerbaijan are overgrown with grass. The Armenian side dismantled the railway section from Yeraskh to Sadarak. About a kilometer of tracks to the border with Turkiye have been dismantled. The road from Ijevan to the state border of Azerbaijan is completely abandoned. Once upon a time, Yerevan-Ijevan-Agstafa-Ganja-Yevlakh-Baku trains ran along this road, built in the early 80s. The last train ran on this route in 1992. Experts admit that the road has been looted or destroyed in places. Moreover, the thieves took away not only the railway electrical lines, but also the poles of the power line, looted the buildings of stations and substations. The theft continues even now. So, in 2020, the police reported that someone dismantled and stole 18 wooden railway sleepers. About 40 km of the Armenian section of the Yerevan-Baku railway passing through Meghri has been completely dismantled. Journalist Tatul Hakobyan, who visited Meghri in 2016, wrote: "There is nothing left of the 40-kilometer railway. The iron rails and the entire engineering system simply do not exist." Another journalist, Robert Ananyan, confirmed that the rails of the Meghri railway have been dismantled, and the buildings and tunnels are dilapidated. According to David Matevosyan, a former MP from Meghri, the local railway began to be dismantled during Robert Kocharian's presidency in 2003. In October 2018, the Investigative Committee issued a report stating that, according to a preliminary investigation, the Gafan-Meghri section, transferred to South Caucasus Railway CJSC in 2008 under a concession agreement, was "completely dismantled and plundered" in 2010-2011. Instead of the former railway (in place of the removed rails and supports), there is now a dirt road leading from Megri to the village of Nrnadzor. According to the Armenian media, the rest of the Armenian railway network is also virtually idle. According to an investigation published by the Armenian Public Television News Service, the railway section was dismantled by order of the Ministry of Defense in 2003, when Serzh Sargsyan was minister, and was sold to the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine. The investigation revealed that Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Khachaturov had signed an agreement with a company that would receive an appropriate amount for dismantling every 15 meters of the road. The agreement referred to a 30-kilometer section from Meghri to Gafan. A total of 2,000 tons of removed rails were sold. Similarly, the 132-kilometer road from Goradiz to Agbend was dismantled and sold off during the Armenian occupation. The one that Azerbaijan has restored today. Summing up, the Union of Informed Citizens states that a significant part of the Armenian railway network is in an abandoned state, and the section of the Yerevan-Baku railway passing through Meghri has been completely dismantled. In the current situation, the only transport for the transit of goods through the territory of Armenia will be horse-drawn vehicles. A country with a difficult terrain, where the construction of highways (let alone railways) requires billions of dollars in investments, cannot ensure the transit of such volumes of goods as will follow after the launch of the agreements reached in Samarkand. Well, if Mrs. von der Leyen is ready to wait... Here's the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University: As Middle Tennessee State University Army ROTC cadets observe in Cantrell Hall on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn., program alumnus Charlie Pigg, left, of Murfreesboro, joins cadet battalion commander George Jouny in cutting a celebration cake with a saber Thursday, April 10, as the university observed the 75th anniversary of the award-winning program. University Army ROTC marks 75 years At 92, retired U.S. Army Col. Charles Loyd Charlie Pigg of Murfreesboro was the oldest living Middle Tennessee State University Army ROTC alumnus attending the recent 75th anniversary celebration of the storied program. Pigg joined about 150 people at the Veterans Memorial site outside the Tom H. Jackson Building on the west side of campus to mark the historic occasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 1950, MTSU has provided over 1,600 officers, including 17 current or retired general officers, to serve the nation. Many alumni have served in the three components Army, National Guard and Army Reserve with duty assignments around the globe. Part of its rich history is three times 1978 (among 283 colleges and universities), 2001 and 2006 (best medium-sized cadet battalion) being named the No. 1 program in the nation, and second in 1979. ROTC is an acronym for Reserve Officers Training Corps. It was new and something different, another avenue of learning, said Pigg, who later returned to MTSU to work, spending 28 years as a Campus Planning engineer until retiring in 1992. I liked the regimentation and discipline. In Cantrell Hall inside the Tom H. Jackson Building on the Middle Tennessee State University campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Wednesday, April 9, a group of alumni, Military Science staff and supporters, check out the items placed in a time capsule by members of the Class of 2005. The 75th anniversary of the MTSU Army ROTC program took place Thursday, April 10, at the Veterans Memorial site outside the Tom H. Jackson Building. Provost Mark Byrnes acknowledged MTSUs support of those who serve our nation also extends to the great work of the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, the largest and most comprehensive veterans center on any higher education campus, which provided support to todays anniversary event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alumnus and retired Maj. Gen. Max Haston gave the history of the ROTC program, which began in 1950, and added the past 75 years are a preview of coming attractions. Cadet Battalion Commander George Jouny read a state proclamation. Eight ROTC alumni killed in action were recognized; another six pre-ROTC era students from what was then Middle Tennessee State College also died while serving their country and are listed on the Veterans Memorial wall. MTSU general officers, all retired, who attended included Brig. Gens. Les Fuller, Pat ONeal and David Ogg, and Maj. Gen. James Jim Myles, who was announced as MTSUs nominee for the National Army ROTC Hall of Fame. Inside Cantrell Hall, where a special cake ceremony took place, two tables featured time capsule items, one from 2005 dug up this week and the other to be placed in the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leading the current ROTC program is U.S. Army Lt. Col. Arlin Wilsher, professor of military science, which is one of 11 College of Basic and Applied Sciences departments. Retired U.S. Army Col. Rickey Smith, the last former cadet to be inducted into the MTSU ROTC Hall of Fame, led the hall inductions for Meg Kelm of Oakton, Virginia, and retired Col. Joseph M. Jay Harmon III of Mooresburg, Tennessee. Campus to host prescription drug, vape take-back day April 23 MTSUs Campus Pharmacy and University Police will hold their biannual Drug Take-Back Event from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in the Health, Wellness and Recreation Center parking lot, 1848 Blue Raider Drive. This years event will be held outside the campus pharmacy, where students, faculty and staff will be able to drive-up or walk-up to dispose of their substances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Expired, unused and unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines will be accepted. Other items eligible for disposal include supplements, vet medications, and empty vaping devices. Event organizers ask that medications are bagged and in original containers if possible. For prescription medications, remove or conceal any personal information on the labels before turning them in. Sharps (needles) and EpiPens will not be accepted. This event is hosted as part of the Drug Enforcement Agencys national initiative aimed at providing a safe, convenient and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unneeded medications while also educating about the abuse of prescription drugs. First, by disposing of unused medication, we lower the risk of substance misuse among friends and family members who we share a living space with, said Chipper Smith, campus Health Promotion coordinator. Second, by properly disposing of medication through incineration, we ensure that the chemicals in the medication do not pollute our waterways across the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith added that MTSU is one of the only college campuses in Tennessee that promotes a proper disposal pathway for vaping devices, as throwing them away risks nicotine seeping into the environment. Last spring, the campus take-back event collected 60 vaping devices from the local community. For more information, call 615-494-8704 or email chipper.smith@mtsu.edu. MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU Mondays: Campus ROTC celebrates 75 years Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7: 1-800-897-LINK (5465). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, please call 911 immediately. WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) A Murray man is being charged with rape, kidnapping, and aggravated assault, among other felony charges, after his ex-girlfriend was found with several injuries, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office. Ryan Wayne Murray, 53, of Murray, is charged in Salt Lake County with rape (first-degree felony), aggravated kidnapping (first-degree felony), four counts of object rape (first-degree felony), forcible sodomy (first-degree felony), two counts of aggravated assault resulting in loss of consciousness (second-degree felony), and aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury (second-degree felony). All charges are considered domestic violence charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 11, West Jordan police received an accidental hang-up 911 call, according to a press release from the DAs Office. The officer called back and Murray answered, stating that everything was okay. However, in the background, the officer could hear a female voice saying that things were not okay. Police arrived on scene and found a woman lying on a bed with several injuries, including to her face, mouth, lips, and head, and covered in blood. The woman reportedly told the responding officer that Murray, her ex-boyfriend, had called her in severe distress. She then went to a hotel room where he was staying. The woman stated that when she tried to leave, Murray blocked the door and proceeded to physically and sexually assault her. According to the affidavit of probable cause, Murray allegedly repeatedly punched the victim in the face, causing her to have several broken orbital bones that require surgery, as well as strangled her to unconsciousness at least two times. The affidavit also details multiple incidents of sexual assault against the victim. Murray has several prior arrests for domestic violence against the same victim, according to the DAs Office. Three prior incidents of assault occurred while Murray had an active domestic violence case before Sandy City Justice Court. Additionally, the victim reportedly sought a protective order against Murray on March 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 9, two days before the sexual assault alleged in this case, Commissioner Michelle Blomquist recommended extending the Temporary Protective Order and set the matter for further review on April 30. The diligence of this police officer checking back on this apparent 911 hang-up helped save this victim-survivor from a very dangerous situation. She has a long road to recovery after having to undergo surgery for some of her injuries, said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. For the safety of the victim, the State has requested that Murray be held without bail. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Elon Musk is reportedly set to leave his government role because hes tired of the what he sees as a litany of vicious and unethical attacks from the left, according to a report from The Washington Post. It remains unclear when Musk will depart as head of the Department of Government Efficiency; his special government employee status will expire at the end of next month. A person familiar with his thinking told The Post that Musk thinks that his work at DOGE wont be diminished because of his departure, noting that staffers have already established themselves across a slew of federal agencies. But speculation of Musks possible departure comes as his influence in the administration appears to wane. The New York Times reported last week that the acting commissioner of the IRS was being replaced after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained that Musk had his preferred candidate installed without Bessents support. Musk has also annoyed other cabinet members by failing to coordinate with them in cost-cutting moves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives has said that Musk should leave his government role and once again focus his efforts on Tesla, arguing that the company is facing a code red moment. Elon Musk looks on during a Cabinet Meeting. A new report details how he could soon leave his government role due to the constant criticism (AFP via Getty Images) Musk needs to leave the government, take a major step back on DOGE, and get back to being CEO of Tesla full-time, Ives wrote to clients on Sunday, according to Bloomberg. Tesla is Musk and Musk is Tesla....and anyone that thinks the brand damage Musk has inflicted is not a real thing, spend some time speaking to car buyers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. You will think differently after those discussions. Tesla has unfortunately become a political symbol globally of the Trump Administration/DOGE, Ives added, going on to argue that the company faces potentially 15 percent20 percent permanent demand destruction for future Tesla buyers due to the brand damage Musk has created with DOGE. The Post also revealed that some officials refused to comply with Musks requirement that federal employees send weekly emails listing five things they did the previous week. He warned that not sending the email would count as a resignation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, just two days after Musks order was issued on February 22, the Office of Personnel Management stated in a briefing for human resources officers that participation was voluntary and not doing so would not be considered a resignation, as an email obtained by The Post shows. The email also said that the office didnt intend to do anything with the messages that were submitted. Agencies are now employing different policies, with some agencies having stopped requiring the emails. A smaller number of departments still follow the mandate, while others require emails but dont follow up to check for compliance, or track responses in a way that employees have noticed. Many of those who are still sending the emails are sending similar messages each week or are viewing them as a joke. A Patterson, New Jersey, woman faces identity theft and forgery charges after police said she tried to open a fraudulent account at a Dickson City bank. Officers responded to First National Bank on Main Street in the borough Friday around 3:57 p.m. for the report of a woman who attempted to open a new checking account with a fake internet bill, police said. She left the building before her information was verified, leaving the fraudulent bill behind, according to a criminal complaint. After officers started to canvass the area, they located the suspect later identified as Leslie Wilson in the parking lot of a nearby gas station, police said. She told authorities she was trying to open an account at the bank but needed more information, officers said. She denied doing anything wrong when officers stated they were investigating an incident at the bank, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked for ID, Wilson provided a Maryland drivers license, which an officer determined to be fraudulent, police said. She also gave police a fake name and date of birth Wyanie Bright (10/6/74), which also appeared on the license. Upon being detained, the woman told officers her real name is Leslie Wilson, according to the criminal complaint. The banks branch manager told officers the woman had a Spectrum bill containing a Carbondale address which appeared to be misspelled the Maryland drivers license and a Wells Fargo card, police said. When the branch manager called Spectrum to confirm the account, the woman took the Wells Fargo card and the license and left the bank, officers said. A Spectrum official confirmed the account number was valid, but the customers name and address were completely different, police said. Officers found the Wells Fargo card also in the name of Wyanie Bright in Wilsons purse along with a glass pipe, according to the criminal complaint. A paper with Brights personal information was also in the purse, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When contacted by Dickson City police, Bright told officers she didnt give Wilson her personal information and wanted to file charges, officers said. Police charged Wilson, 43, with forgery, identity theft, false identification to law enforcement and related counts. As of Monday, Wilson remained in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 29 at 11 a.m. The wife of former Sen. Bob Menendez, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, has been convicted of helping her husband collect bribes. Arslanian Menendez was charged in a sprawling indictment brought by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York on 15 counts including bribery, extortion and obstruction of justice in a multi-level scheme that traded in envelopes of cash, gold bars and a new Mercedes for official acts that benefited Qatar and Egypt. She was found guilty on all 15 counts on Monday afternoon in federal court in lower Manhattan. U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein set sentencing for June 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal indictment against Arslanian Menendez and her husband was first unsealed in September 2023 and was updated with superseding indictments three times in October of that year and in January and March 2024. It alleged that Menendez, his wife and three New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe, were part of a bribery scheme. Menendez and his wife allegedly received, among other things, cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for the use of his political influence. After a nine-week trial last summer, Bob Menendez, Daibes and Hana were found guilty on a combination of 18 counts, including bribery. After the verdict, Arslanian Menendezs attorney Barry Coburn addressed the media outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Court House. She stood next to him, wearing dark sunglasses and a pink mask. We respect the judge and we respect the jury for its hard work, Coburn said. None the less this is a very rough day for us. You know, [there is] no doubt in my mind that the jury thinks what they found was right. Theres no point in me standing and debating that. But, this is not over. There will be other days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that Arslanian Menendez would not be addressing the press directly when she was asked about her health. He also had no comment on where the former senator was. Coburn said they were devastated by verdict and that they fought hard and it hurts. He also said it is quite possible that Arslanian Menendez would seek a delay in sentencing. Manhattan, NY October 18, 2023 Nadine Menendez, involved in the bribery case involving Sen. Robert Menendez, exits the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan. During the senator's trial, his attorney put the blame on his wife, calling her "dazzling," and said they had separate lives even while living together. Arslanian hid financial challenges from her husband before they met and during their time together, Menendez's lawyer, Avi Weitzman, said in his opening remarks. Weitzman also pointed out that the now-infamous gold bars were found in Arslanians locked closet, not Menendez's. The jury in Arslanian Menendez's trial deliberated for several hours Friday afternoon and again on Monday before reaching a verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison, Hana more than eight years and Daibes seven years. Daibes was fined $1.75 million; Hana was fined $1.3 million. All three are appealing their cases. Arslanian's trial lasted about four weeks, with frequent adjournments for motions and possibly for medical reasons. A different prosecutorial approach Mitchell Epner, an attorney with Kudman Trachten Aloe Posner who has 30 years of experience with government enforcement, compliance and white-collar litigation, said the senator's trial had different issues that needed to be handled delicately with the speech and debate clause. It slowed things down, and there were very specific things that had to be proven on multiple schemes, Epner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Arslanian Menendez's trial, the issues were broader. The government needed to prove that she was part of funneling bribes to her husband and if she knew what she was doing, Epner said. The granular details were not as important in the way they were with him. Menendez, Daibes and Hana have all filed motions for new trials and are seeking bail as their appeals play out. After making his initial motion, Daibes was assigned to the prison camp at FCI Fairton, in South Jersey. Hana was assigned to FCI Schuylkill in Minersville, Pennsylvania. Daibes and Hana will report to federal prison on May 19, after Stein granted each a 45-day extension to allow them to prepare and then testify at the Arslanian Menendez trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daibes and Hana never testified. Having Daibes and Hana on a witness list was clearly a strategy Epner said. Putting them on a witness list gave lawyers the option to call them. At the end of the day, the downside of calling them was not worth whatever they were going to get with any positive testimony, he said. The cross-examination of Hana and Daibes would have had them say they were convicted of bribery and note that they are appealing the verdicts. So they would have every reason in the world to say nothing bad happened here. 'Trump is right': Menendez decries 'corrupted' justice system after 11-year sentence How did prosecutors frame their arguments? During closing statements, the prosecution rehashed the hundreds of thousands of dollars stuffed in jackets and shoes and gold bars found in Nadine and Bob Menendez's Englewood Cliffs home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this trial you learned where all these valuables came from. You learned that they were bribes that the defendant demanded and collected from Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes in exchange for promises that the senator, her partner in crime, would take official action," United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Paul Monteleoni said. Monteleoni referred to Nadine and Bob as "partners in crime" who put his "power up for sale" while Nadine demanded and collected payments. "They promised he would take action in exchange for those bribes," Monteleoni said. Those promises included approval of military aid to Egypt, providing Egypt with sensitive information about Americans stationed abroad, and helping Egypt in other ways. They also included a promise of Menendez putting pressure on a U.S. Department of Agriculture official to stop opposing a monopoly that Egypt was giving to Hanas halal certification company. The senator promised he would pressure the New Jersey attorney general to disrupt a criminal investigation and prosecution of associates of Hana and Uribe, and to try to interfere with Daibes federal criminal prosecution, Monteleoni outlined in his closing remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendez wasn't in court with his wife on Friday when the jury began deliberating. During this trial, the level of grandeur was much lower. With the prosecution of a senator, there was serious constitutional issues at play, Epner said. I think everything they were doing was extraordinarily high-pitch. While they were clearly taking this case seriously, its just a more typical criminal case when dealing with a civilian than an elected official. What were the charges? The four were charged with 18 counts in the original indictment. Menendez faced the most, with 16, followed by his wife, with a total of 15 counts. Count One: Conspiracy to commit bribery. Count Two: Conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. Count Three: Conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. Count Four: Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice. Count Five: Bribery: Actions to benefit Hana and Egypt. Count Seven: Honest services wire fraud: Actions to benefit Hana and Egypt. Count Eight: Extortion under color of official right: Actions to benefit Hana and Egypt. Count Nine: Honest services wire fraud: Actions to benefit Uribe and Uribes associates. Count 10: Extortion under color of official right: Actions to benefit Uribe and Uribes associates. Count 11: Bribery: Actions to benefit Daibes and Qatar. Count 13: Honest services wire fraud: Actions to benefit Daibes and Qatar. Count 14: Extortion under color of official right: Actions to benefit Daibes and Qatar. Count 15: Conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent. Count 17: Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice. Count 18: Obstruction of justice. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Nadine Arslanian Menendez convicted in bribery scheme A jury has found Nadine Menendez guilty in her federal bribery trial, following the conviction of her husband, former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, on similar crimes. Prosecutors argued the two were "partners in crime" while accusing them of accepting cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for political favors. The defense argued there was no proof Nadine Menendez was involved in the scheme her husband was found guilty of perpetrating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jurors began deliberating Friday afternoon before reaching their verdict Monday afternoon. She will be sentenced in June, the same month her husband is due to report to prison to begin serving an 11-year sentence. PHOTO: Nadine Menendez, wife of former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez arrives at Federal Court, for her bribery trial in New York, March 20, 2025. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) She pleaded not guilty to 15 charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. Several of the charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison in January after being convicted on all 16 counts last year in his federal corruption trial, becoming the first sitting member of Congress to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury found him guilty of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes -- including gold, cash, a luxury convertible, payments toward Nadine Menendez's home mortgage and compensation for her no-show job -- from three New Jersey businessmen, who have also been convicted. MORE: Federal bribery trial of Bob Menendez's wife set to start on Tuesday "Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez were partners in crime," acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said in a statement following the verdict in the corruption and foreign influence scheme. "Over the span of five years, Nadine Menendez agreed to accept and accepted all sorts of bribes -- including gold bars, cash, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, and a no-show job -- all in exchange for the Senator's corrupt official acts. Together, Nadine Menendez and the Senator placed their own interests and greed ahead of the interests of the citizens the Senator was elected to serve." "Today's verdict sends the clear message that the power of government officials may not be put up for sale, and that all those who facilitate corruption will be held accountable for their actions," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI said it found $70,000 in cash in Nadine Menendez's safe deposit box and the rest inside congressional jackets bearing Bob Menendez's name. Shortly after the two began dating in 2018, Nadine Menendez introduced Egyptian intelligence and military officials to then-Sen. Bob Menendez, according to federal prosecutors, who alleged those introductions helped establish a corrupt agreement in which they accepted bribes in exchange for her husband's actions to benefit Egypt. PHOTO: Senator Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and his wife Nadine Arslanian, arrive at the US District Court, Southern District of New York, in New York City on September 27, 2023. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) Witnesses in the trial included Jose Uribe, a New Jersey businessman who pleaded guilty last year and testified for the government. Prosecutors said Uribe paid for Menendez's $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for helping disrupt a criminal investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office related to Uribe. Nadine Menendez was supposed to stand trial alongside her husband, but the judge allowed her to stand trial separately to accommodate her breast cancer diagnosis. Her trial was postponed several times while she underwent treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial itself was also suspended for several days because she was ill. MORE: Bob Menendez reveals wife Nadine is battling breast cancer, will undergo mastectomy On March 17, on the eve of jury selection in Nadine Menendez's trial, the former senator posted on X that his wife was being "forced by the government to go to trial" despite having recent reconstructive surgery for breast cancer. "Only the arrogance of the SDNY can be so cruel and inhumane," Bob Menendez said in the post, which tagged President Donald Trump. "They should let her fully recover." Following his sentencing, Bob Menendez called the prosecution a "political witch hunt" and that he hopes Trump "cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In issuing Bob Menendez's sentence, Judge Sidney Stein said the former senator would not have to report to prison until June 6 so that he could be available during his wife's trial. Nadine Menendez, wife of former Sen. Bob Menendez, found guilty in federal bribery trial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Ukrgazvydobuvannya, the largest Ukrainian gas producer, lost 50% of its gas production as a result of Russian attacks in February, but has already restored more than half of the lost volumes. [Ukrgazvydobuvannya is a subsidiary of Naftogaz Group, Ukraine's largest national oil and gas company ed.] Source: Naftogaz Group Details: In order to maintain uninterrupted supply of gas amid the heating season and compensate for the losses, Naftogaz urgently imported 800 million cubic metres of gas, stabilised the system and began restoring the damaged infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The team of Ukrgasvydobuvannya restored facilities, mobilised additional equipment, and by March recovered more than half of the gas production lost during a wave of attacks earlier this year," the statement by Naftogas reads. Background: As of early April, Naftogaz Group had restored half of the production volumes lost due to the Russian attacks in February. Naftogaz has begun preparations for the next winter season with a 140 million grant from Norway and a 270 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) shared footage of an expletive-laden confrontation between her and an unhinged lunatic voter over the weekend. Some unhinged lunatic, wearing daisy dukes, at a makeup store, got in my face today. Dems are nuts. So I went off and I wont be backing down, Mace wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday alongside a clip of the incident. She added in her caption: I hold the line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Try me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the clip, things spiral out of control after the man questions if she would be holding more town hall meetings this year while she was out shopping over the weekend. I do them every year. Do you want to keep going? Do you want to keep going, keep harassing me? the conservative lawmaker said, telling the unidentified man in the video that he could have gone to a dozen town halls last year. The man responded, I asked if you were doing any more this year. It was one simple question, prompting Mace to then imply that he was gay despite him never mentioning his sexuality during their heated exchange. And by the way, I voted for gay marriage twice, she said, to which he replied, What does that have to do with me? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maces derogatory words came after she previously claimed to be pro-LGBTQ, telling the Washington Examiner in March 2021 that she strongly supports LGBTQ rights and equality. The dispute between Mace and the man further ignited after the politician accused him of being absolutely fucking crazy. You people on the left are crazy, youre absolutely fucking crazy. You are, and get out of my face, goodbye. Fuck you, she fired back after he began to walk away. Her biting words drew him right back into the clash, with him swiveling back to tell Mace shes a disgrace to this state, a nasty bitch and is going to be voted out so fast this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clip of them going at each others throats ended with Mace replying, Get the fuck out of my face now. Fuck you. You couldnt take me on, baby. In a separate video shared on Bluesky by a social media user, the man seemingly kicked off the conversation by asking Mace if she is going to host a a real town hall for the people this year. Did you miss the 15 I had last year? she asked as he shot back: The town hall you hosted this year was not a town hall, lets be real. In a follow-up post, Mace poked fun at the spicy war of words, writing, I just wanted some face wash on my afternoon off lol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives for Mace didnt immediately respond to HuffPost for comment. Last month, Mace was criticized for not attending a town hall organized by the Lowcountry Accountability Alliance, alleging that it was being driven by left-wing extremists and paid agitators with a clear agenda and wasnt safe. Were staying away because its not safe, and we refuse to be bullied by individuals who are threatening me, my employees, and my family, she wrote on X. Related... GUANGZHOU, China - A Chinese man convicted of fatally stabbing a 10-year-old Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen, southern China, in September has been executed, a diplomatic source said Monday. Zhong Changchun was sentenced to death in January for killing the boy -- the son of a Japanese father and a Chinese mother -- near a Japanese school in the southern city. He did not appeal the sentence. The Chinese Foreign Ministry informed the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Monday that the man had been executed, according to the source. The man from Jiangxi Province told a Jan. 24 court hearing that he hoped to speak with the victim's family, as well as the Japanese Embassy in China, but he did not say he had specifically targeted Japanese nationals, said Kenji Kanasugi, ambassador to China. Zhong attacked the boy after buying a knife to "draw online attention" through the assault, the envoy quoted the court ruling as saying. The boy died the following day after being stabbed on his way to the Japanese school in Shenzhen. The stabbing occurred on the 93rd anniversary of the Japanese bombing of a railroad track near Shenyang, which marked the beginning of the Manchurian Incident that led to Japan's invasion of northeastern China. Last week, Japanese government officials said a Chinese man convicted of killing a Chinese woman and injuring two Japanese nationals in a knife attack last June at a Japanese school bus stop in Suzhou near Shanghai had been executed. The two deadly knife attacks sent shockwaves through Japanese communities in China. Tokyo has repeatedly asked Beijing to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals living in the country. Related coverage: China school bus stop murderer executed: Japanese gov't Chinese court sentences man to death for killing Japanese boy: Japan Catholic Church leadership for Middle Tennessee remembers the late Pope Francis for his social advocacy, compassion for Nashville after a school shooting, and his request to pray for him. So, in this moment, we continue to honor Pope Francis request. In the light of our hope in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us offer up a prayer, the Rev. J. Mark Spalding, bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Nashville, said in a statement April 21. The Nashville bishop was referring to his meetings with Francis, born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio and who died April 21 at age 88, when the pontiff appointed Spalding in 2017. In those meetings, he (Francis) asked of me and the faithful of Middle Tennessee was that we pray for him, Spalding said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spalding and other diocesan priests are leading area parishioners in mourning Francis in the days ahead, also a time of ongoing celebration of the Easter holiday. Local Catholics attended Mass at the Cathedral of the Incarnation midday April 21 that Rev. John Hammond presided over, and Spalding will be the celebrant at an official diocesan Mass. That latter service has not yet been scheduled. The pope's death comes one day after a frail but determined Francis greeted thousands in St. Peter's Square after Easter Mass in his open-air popemobile and just weeks after an extended hospital stay in which he battled bilateral pneumonia and other health issues. He was elected pope in March 2013 after serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires, where he was born. He became the first pope from Latin America, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European since Syrian-born Gregory III, who served in the eighth century. Francis set out to reshape how the church operates, but not what it teaches. He leaves a legacy in which an institution that operates under a strict hierarchy made room for women and laity to voice concerns and for bishops to rigorously debate how to best implement church teaching. But those adjustments provoked traditionalists to mount a resistance that rallied supporters using ideological grievances, not ecclesiological ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spalding highlighted some of these changes. Hallmarks of his papacy included advocating for the poor, environmentalism, interfaith dialogue, support for immigrants, and Catholic Church reform, the Nashville bishop said in his April 21 statement. More pointedly, Spalding remembered how the late pope sought to comfort Nashville in the wake of a mass shooting at The Covenant School in March 2023 that killed six people. Deeply saddened to learn of the recent shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, his Holiness Pope Francis asks you to convey his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his prayers to all affected by this senseless act of violence, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in a statement on behalf of Francis at the time. He joins the entire community in mourning the children and adults who died and commends them to the loving embrace of the Lord Jesus. More: World mourns Pope Francis, a humble reformer who favored 'the poorest': Live updates Season of hope in a distressing moment Hammond likewise recognized Francis outreach following the Covenant shooting, the Cathedrals pastor said at the midday Mass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He (Francis) was so close to us in that moment, I believe he is close to us again today," Hammond said during a brief homily that celebrated Francis legacy. Parishioners pray during a special Mass for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of Incarnation Monday, April 21, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pope, who died at 88 after an illness, emphasized inclusion and care for the impoverished. Specifically for Nashville area Catholics, Hammond said the other major action by Francis to be grateful for is his decision to appoint Spalding. Hammonds message extended beyond the boundaries of Middle Tennessee, and he offered words of optimism for the Catholic Church overall. This is the season of hope, Easter is the feast of hope. We are people who are bathed in the light of that hope, always, Hammond said. So, while we have a moment of sorrow and sadness and uncertainty, even fear we live in the hope of the resurrection. Hammonds broader encouragement applied to a varied audience of hundreds at the Cathedral on Monday. There were men and women in suits and scrubs, a sign they dashed over in the middle of the workday. Some women donned a mantilla, a veil that typically signifies more traditionalist Catholic belief and practice. There were nuns from a nearby order, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. Father John Hammond gives Communion to parishioners during a special Mass for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of Incarnation Monday, April 21, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pope, who died at 88 after an illness, emphasized inclusion and care for the impoverished. As this diverse audience prayed in unison, a portrait of Francis overlooked the pews. A black ribbon hung across the top left corner of the portrait and a lone candle sat next to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacqueline Umanzor and several of her friends traveled all the way down from Murray, Kentucky for Easter Monday Mass. Umanzor and two other friends are missionaries at Murray State University. The Murray State missionaries attend Mass daily, and Monday was no different. But the news of Francis death earlier in the day encourages us to remain faithful to receive the sacraments daily as much as we can, which is why we try to be faithful even in times of great distress like losing a pope, Umanzor said. It wasnt just area residents who marked Francis death but so did elected officials. Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, the only Democrat in the state legislature whos Catholic, said in a statement Monday Pope Francis stood for love, compassion and inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dixie is a parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Nashvilles only majority Black Catholic parish and historically known as a leader among local Catholics in community outreach and advocating for social justice. He (Francis) challenged world leaders to do better for humankind, Dixie added in his statement Monday. His death reminds me that Gods will be done and not mans will. USA TODAY contributed to this report. Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on social media @liamsadams. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville bishop, area Catholics pray following Pope Francis' death ROME - Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church known for his efforts to promote peace, help for refugees and action on climate change, died Monday morning at his residence, the Vatican said. He was 88. Francis, who in 2013 became head of the more than 1.3 billion Catholics around the world, was the first pontiff from Latin America and the first Jesuit pope. He was only the second pontiff to travel to Japan, visiting in 2019, 38 years after Pope John Paul II. During his trip, Francis visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both devastated by U.S. atomic bombs in the final days of World War II. He called for the elimination of nuclear weapons in addresses in the two Japanese cities. In Tokyo, he also met with victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan. As of 2022, there were around 422,000 Catholics in the Asian country, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in an announcement, "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church." The pope died after having a stroke and heart failure, his press office said. Only a day before his death, Francis made an appearance during an Easter event and briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Vatican City. Following the death of Francis, the Vatican is set to begin preparations for the funeral and for the conclave to elect a new pope. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio to an Italian immigrant family in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the spiritual leader was beloved by Catholics as a simple, humble and down-to-earth man. After studying philosophy in Buenos Aires, Francis became a literature teacher at an Argentine university. In 1969, he was ordained as a priest and went on to serve as the archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998. In 2001, he was appointed as a cardinal. He was elected as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, days after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, shocked the world by becoming the first pontiff in about 600 years to voluntarily step down, citing health reasons. Pontiffs are normally expected to serve until death. While Francis did not change Catholic teachings on opposing same-sex marriage and abortion, he adopted a softer tone on LGBT issues. He urged Catholics not to be judgmental but to welcome LGBT members to the Church. Known for advocating inter-religious tolerance and humanitarianism, the pontiff actively supported refugees, spoke out on environmental issues and promoted peace. In 2016, he met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The meeting was seen as a symbolic moment in relations between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, which split in 1054. He also mediated in the reopening of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba in 2015, ending a 54-year freeze. When Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he called for a cease-fire and later sent an envoy to Kyiv and Moscow. NEW CASTLE, Pa. (WKBN) New Castle Police are searching for the suspect of a shooting that happened Sunday night. Read next: Youngstown police say charges are pending in case where 3-year-old was shot and killed Police are currently looking for 29-year-old Alexander Minnich. The shooting happened on Butler Avenue just after 7 p.m. on the 1000 block of Butler Avenue. According to the departments Facebook page, one person was shot by a man who was at the residence. Officers believed Minnich was inside at the time and potentially armed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lawrence County Critical Response Team surrounded the house in an attempt to hail him out, but he was not found. New Castle Police said Minnich is considered armed and dangerous. Only one person was hurt in the shooting and taken to a Youngstown hospital, but their condition is currently unknown. Anyone with information is urged to call the New Castle dispatch center at 724-656-9300. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. California residents are now eligible to buy naloxone a drug commonly sold under the brand name Narcan and used to treat opioid overdoses for $24 through the state's prescription website CalRx, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said in a news release Monday. Life-saving medications shouldnt come with a life-altering price tag. CalRx is about making essential drugs like naloxone affordable and accessible for all not the privileged few," Newsom said. Naloxone is an easy-to-use nasal spray that reverses drug overdoses. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that anyone who is at risk of overdose, or knows someone who may be at risk, should carry naloxone in case of an emergency. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that twin-packs of CalRx-branded over-the-counter naloxone HCL 4 milligram nasal spray are now available to all Californians for $24 per carton, almost half the standard market price. (Governor's press office) The move expands a program launched last year that made naloxone available for eligible organizations such as nonprofits, universities and first responders in large quantities for free. The state pays $24 per two-dose unit, down from $41 charged by previous suppliers, and has saved $17 million since May 2024 according to its savings tracker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Newsom budget includes naloxone for middle and high schools while largely avoiding cuts Preliminary data through June 2024 showed a decrease in synthetic opioid overdose deaths in California for the first time since 2018, Newsom's office said. Although the decrease could not be contributed to one factor, it said, a comprehensive effort to tackle the crisis involving fentanyl and other opioids seems to be making a difference. Read more: Deadly overdoses stopped surging among L.A. County homeless people. Narcan could be why The statewide decrease mirrors a plateau in overdose deaths among unhoused people in Los Angeles County as public health officials ramped up the distribution of naloxone last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of Newsom's plan to address the opioid crisis included putting naloxone in middle and high schools across the state, along with making it widely accessible for a low price through CalRx. A bill Newsom signed last year may require workplaces to stock naloxone in first aid kits by 2028. Read more: Healthcare is Newsoms biggest unfinished project. Trump complicates the task Newsom hopes to use CalRx to produce generic versions of insulin, naloxone and other drugs for an at-cost price, he announced in 2023 alongside a $50-million contract with a nonprofit manufacturer. Despite years-long setbacks on multiple healthcare initiatives and expected Medicaid cuts from the Trump administration, the governor still promises to make generic insulin available for $30. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Gov. Gavin Newsom has put up a $50,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the 2021 murder of a U.S. Navy sailor in La Mesa that has remained unsolved. The reward for information on the death of 22-year-old Corneilius Brown was one of four the governor announced on Friday, totaling $200,000. It joins $15,000 already being offered by Browns family, Crime Stoppers and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). The reward was requested by the La Mesa Police Department, which Newsoms office said had exhausted all investigative leads in the case and sought the funds to encourage anyone who may know Browns killers to step forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 56 drivers cited in Escondido during traffic enforcement operation Brown, a South Carolina native who had been stationed at Naval Base Coronado, was gunned down in the doorway of his apartment in La Mesa on April 24, 2021. Police were called to the residence, located at 4306 Echo Court, shortly after midnight. According to police, witnesses inside the apartment said Brown was shot after he answered an unexpected knock on the door. Two suspects wearing ski masks and black-hooded sweatshirts were on the other side, one of whom fired multiple rounds at the 22-year-old. Brown was rushed to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego after authorities arrived on scene, where he later died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both suspects fled southbound on Echo Court, per La Mesa police. No further details have been uncovered about their identities or possible location. Anyone who may have information on the case is encouraged by authorities to contact La Mesa police Detective Royce Culp at 619-667-7533, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers using their online form or by calling 888-580-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) A Newtown man pleaded guilty Friday to stealing nearly $3 million to fund his day trading activity, according to Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Marc H. Silverman and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Timothy Mingione, 33, waived his right to be indicted and in front of a judge in Hartford, pleaded guilty to interstate transmission of stolen money. 3 facing drug charges after Bridgeport traffic stop Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charge carries up to 10 years imprisonment. According to documents and statements made in court, Mingoine had access to bank accounts needed for property management as someone who worked to help investors purchase real estate and then became the designated asset manager for the properties. Beginning in April 2023, Mingione reportedly stole from the various businesses accounts by writing checks or wiring monies into his personal trading account with TD Ameritrade. He tracked the money he stole and at times returned the funds to the accounts he had stolen from. By late spring the next year, he had collected more than $1 million in trading losses and by September, had stolen nearly $3 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office of the United States Attorney District of Connecticut said Mingione agreed to pay restitution of $2,958,203. He was released on a $40,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Pope Franciss successor will be decided by the College of Cardinals, who will meet within 15 to 20 days in the Sistine Chapel to choose the next Pope by secret ballot. The arcane and secretive process is known as a conclave and involves cardinals from around the world gathering beneath the frescoed ceilings of the Sistine Chapel in the heart of the Vatican. The Vatican announced in a video message that the Pope died at 7.35am on Easter Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funeral of Pope Francis will take place at 10am local time on Saturday in the square in front of St Peters Basilica. There is an official nine-day period of mourning from the day of his death. When is the conclave? The conclave must be held between 15 and 20 days after the Popes death. It is a centuries-old tradition that mixes theatre, theology and the utmost secrecy. For a few days it will restore Romes ancient title caput mundi or capital of the world as 1.2 billion Catholics await the result of the election. All cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave, a word that derives from the Latin cum clave (with a key), because cardinals used to be shut behind locked doors until they came to a decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the cardinals arrive in Rome from around the world, they hold a special mass in St Peters Basilica called Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice (For the Election of the Roman Pontiff). Dressed in red robes over white lace tunics, they walk or in the case of the more elderly and infirm, take a mini-bus to the Apostolic Palace. From there, they will process to the Sistine Chapel, led by a choir singing the Litany of Saints, a Gregorian chant imploring the intercession of the Holy Spirit to help guide voting. The chapel, which is decorated with frescoes by Michelangelo and other Renaissance artists, takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1477 and 1480. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One by one, they will approach the altar beneath Michelangelos The Last Judgment, place their hands on a Bible and take an oath of secrecy in Latin by which they promise and swear to observe with the greatest fidelity and with all persons, secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff. The Last Judgment portrays tortured souls being consigned to eternal damnation by wild-eyed demons. Oath of secrecy The chapel will have been swept for bugs and other recording devices and cardinals will be banned from using laptops or mobile phones. For the last conclave in 2013, which followed the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, an oath of secrecy was taken by members of the Swiss Guard and Vatican gendarmerie, the city states police force, as well as the doctors and nurses who assisted elderly or infirm cardinals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Vatican master of ceremonies will pronounce the words Extra omnes (Everyone out), ordering staff and aides to leave the chapel so that only the cardinal electors remain. The late Cormac Murphy-OConnor, a British cardinal and the then archbishop emeritus of Westminster, gave an insight into what it was like to take part in a conclave. Its an extraordinary moment. You all process in. Then one of the cardinals says omnes extra, he told the BBC. The preacher and others all went out and I heard the thud of the door of the Sistine Chapel. I remember looking around at all of the other 114 cardinals and thinking: One of us will be going out with a white cassock on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cardinals, known as princes of the Church, will be seated on chairs made of cherry wood behind 12 wooden tables covered in satin and cloth. There will be a 13th table positioned in front of the altar, on which will be placed a silver urn into which the cardinals will cast their secret ballot papers. How will the Pope be chosen? Each cardinal writes his choice on a ballot paper inscribed with the words Eligo in summum pontificem I elect as Supreme Pontiff. One ballot is held on the first day of the papal conclave. For the rest of the conclave they will vote four times a day twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon burning their ballot papers after every second vote, until they reach a two-thirds majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two metal stoves are installed inside the 15th-century chapel, connected by a long metal pipe to the chimney on the roof. One stove will be used for the burning of ballot papers after cardinals cast their votes, while the other will be used to emit coloured smoke black to signify that the cardinals have yet to reach agreement, white to announce habemus papam we have a Pope. Chemicals are used to create the different coloured smoke, although to avoid ambiguity, the white smoke that signifies a Pope has been elected will be accompanied by the ringing of St Peters bells. Once the two-thirds majority has been achieved, the most senior cardinal will ask the chosen cardinal if he is prepared to become Pope. White smoke coming from the chimney on the roof of the Vaticans Sistine Chapel signifies that a new Pope has been elected - Gregorio Borgia/AP Deciding the name If the answer in Latin is Accepto (I Accept), he is taken into a side room known as the Stanza delle Lacrime, or Room of Tears, so named because many have wept at the enormity of the task they face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There, he is given help to take off his scarlet cassock and change into the white vestments of the papacy. He also has to decide by what name he wishes to be called the name-changing tradition dates back to the sixth century when a priest named Mercury who was elected Pope felt his name was too pagan and changed it to John II. The senior cardinal will then step out onto the balcony of St Peters Basilica and declare in Latin: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus papam! (I announce to you a great joy. We have a Pope!). He will announce the name of the elected cardinal and the papal title he has chosen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Pope then gives his first blessing, watched by huge crowds in St Peters Square and on television by millions around the world. The ceremony to install the Pope takes place a few days later. 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. Dust off the history books and there are papal conclaves with international intrigue, royal rigging and even riots, a checkered past that belies the air of sanctity and solemnity surrounding modern papal elections. The word conclave comes from the Latin for with key. It is a church tradition that began in 1268 with a papal election that lasted almost three years, ending only when the townspeople of Viterbo locked up the cardinals, tore the roof off their palace, fed them nothing but bread and water and threatened them until a new pope was chosen. While it is very unlikely the decision on Pope Francis successor will take quite as long or be quite as contentious, Vatican watchers agree that the winner is not a foregone conclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The great joy of the conclave is that nobody really knows and its such a unique electorate, James Somerville-Meikle, the former deputy director of the Catholic Union of Great Britain, told NBC News before Francis death. So many conclaves in the past have thrown up surprises. The College of Cardinals, he said, has always been faced with two questions: Do we try something new? Do we go for continuity? NBC News takes a look at the figures believed to be the top contenders. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Cardinal Matteo Zuppi talks to reporters at the Vatican. The fifth of six siblings, the Rome-born Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, 69, has built a reputation as a peacemaker and has worked with the Community of Sant'Egidio, a Catholic lay association devoted to ecumenism and conflict resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That community had a very active role in peace-building activities and finding agreements in Africa, where they have been involved in South Sudan, said NBC Vatican analyst Deborah Lubov. The east African nation has been ravaged by civil war, violence and famine since it gained independence from neighboring Sudan in March 2011. Lubov added that Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna, was one of four mediators who helped bring an end to the civil war in the east African country of Mozambique in 1982 and more recently had been Francis envoy for peace in Ukraine and Russia. Hes a very smart man, left of center, although ideologically speaking he is very close to the center of the church, said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University. He would be a mix between John Paul II and Pope Francis on social issues and moral issues. Tim Gabrielli, the Gudorf chair in Catholic intellectual traditions at the University of Dayton in Ohio, agreed that Zuppi was very close to Francis, and that he is very much a pastor figure, close to the people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Gabrielli said Zuppi was relative newcomer when it comes to Italian episcopal politics and didnt necessarily have the breadth of Vatican experience that is often looked at. Cardinal Pietro Parolin The Vaticans secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The second Italian on the list, Parolin, 70, has been Francis' secretary of state since the pope chose him in 2013. Hes a diplomat, and this is something that the cardinals might like, said Faggioli, although he added that as secretary of state you have to make many decisions on behalf of the pope, and you have to make a number of enemies among other cardinals. Parolin, Faggioli said, is a centrist, and hes a man of the institution, a stabilizer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Faggioli and other Vatican insiders agreed that Parolins chances could take a hit because he was the chief architect of an agreement with China on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in the communist country that gave the pope the final say. Critics complained that it betrayed Catholics who remained loyal to the pope despite persecution, and some have said it prevented the Vatican from denouncing rights abuses in China. They also point to increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minorities. Parolin would have a lot of explaining to do about China to remedy his reputation as a credible candidate when it comes to the future of the Catholic Church, some Vatican obeservers said. Cardinal Peter Erdo Cardinal Peter Erdo in 2023. The first of six children, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo circulates regularly in conservative blogs as one who would shift away from Francis, according to Monsignor Kevin Irwin, a research professor at the Catholic University of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A decided player for the conservative cardinals, Irwin said via email, adding that Erdo, 72, now the archbishop of Budapest, is a highly trained canon lawyer who has written several erudite articles and books on the sources of canon law. Faggioli at Villanova agreed Erdo was a strong candidate, one who was much more conservative and a traditional Catholic when it comes to family, marriage, gay rights. Faggioli added that Erdo differed with Francis on the way the church should address immigration. While Francis often called for compassion toward migrants, he said Erdo was more Eastern European and questions the ability to assimilate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabrielli said Erdo reminds some of us of John Paul II ... [which] comes from the fact that they were both raised under communist rule. He is also similar to Francis predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who thought of Europe as key and the idea that Christianity of Europe was very important. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle. Tagle, who has been dubbed the Asian Pope Francis by some, would be presenting himself as a close follower of the recently deceased pontiff, according to Somerville-Meikle of the Catholic Union of Great Britain. Tagle, 67, a Filipino national who features his nickname, Chito, on his X profile, is known as a champion of the poor in the Philippines and has campaigned on many social issues in his homeland, Somerville-Meikle said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes incredibly articulate and would be very able to extend Pope Francis reflections theologically, said Gabrielli, adding that Tagle has been adept at taking Francis ideas and running with them. However, Gabrielli said that Tagles reputation took a bit of a hit when Francis ousted the management of the Vaticans international charitable organization, Caritas Internationalis, after an external review found management and morale problems at its head office. Tagle, who had served as the organizations president since May 2015, was among those relieved of their duties, despite having called for the review in the first place, Gabrielli said. There might be questions resulting from that about his ability to manage, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, since June, Tagle has been in charge of the Dicastery for Evangelization, one of the church's most important departments, and Gabrielli said he seemed to be doing a good job there. Other contenders Among the other candidates who might come up for consideration are the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, 77, the archbishop of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, the Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech, and Cardinal Charles Muang Bo of Burma, the archbishop of Yangon, may also be considered. Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, the archbishop of Vienna, is also a well respected figure who understands the importance of governing an international archdiocese while maintaining a moderate line between being open-minded to dialogue about the future of the church but also keeping close to the tradition of the Catholic faith, NBC News Lubov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at 80, his days as a candidate are probably behind him, Gabrielli said, although he added that Schonborn befuddles people who try and label him as either conservative or liberal, which might lead some to see him as a compromise candidate. Age and experience may rule out Canadian Cardinal Gerald Lacroix, the archbishop of Quebec, because at 67, some may consider him too young, Faggioli said. I expect they will look for a candidate in their 70s, he added. Gabrielli added that Lacroix was a real pastor, people person. Hes not a corporate in-his-office type, which I think reminds people of Francis. He really prioritizes evangelization, but I wonder if he has the global scope that some cardinals will look for. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com This article originally appeared in The Conversation. With the death of Pope Francis, attention now turns to the selection of his successor. The next pope will be chosen in what is called a conclave, a Latin word meaning a room that can be locked up, or, more simply, a closed room. Members of the College of Cardinals will cast their votes behind the closed and locked doors of the Vaticans Sistine Chapel, famous for its ceiling frescoes painted by Michelangelo. Distinguished by their scarlet robes, cardinals are chosen by each pope to elect future popes. A cardinal must be under the age of 80 to be eligible to vote in the conclave. Of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, 138 are currently eligible to elect the new pope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a scholar of global Catholicism, I am especially interested in how this will be the most diverse conclave in the history of the Catholic Church. For many centuries, the College of Cardinals was dominated by Europeans Italians, in particular. In fact, the first time a non-European cardinal actually cast a ballot in a conclave was only in the 20th century, when Baltimores archbishop, James Gibbons, voted in the 1903 papal election. Now, the College of Cardinals has members from over 90 countries, with Francis having appointed nearly 80% of them. Holding a conclave to elect a pope is a tradition that goes back centuries. The practice was established in 1274 under Pope Gregory X in reaction to the chaos surrounding his own election, which lasted nearly three years. The tradition is old, but the results can be surprising, as when Francis himself was elected in 2013 as the first non-European pope in almost 1,300 years and the first Jesuit pope ever. The conclave begins Before the conclave, the College of Cardinals will meet in what are called general congregations to discuss issues facing the church. These general congregations will also be an opportunity for new cardinals and those from distant geographical locations to get to know their fellow cardinals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This can be a time for politicking. In times past, the politicking was rumored to include bribes for votes, as was alleged in the election of Alexander VI, a Borgia pope, in 1492. Nowadays, it is considered to be bad form and bad luck for a cardinal to lobby for himself as a candidate. Buying votes by giving money or favors to cardinals is called simony and is against church law. Two to three weeks after the papal funeral, the conclave will begin. The cardinals will first make a procession to the Sistine Chapel, where electronic jamming devices will have been set up to prevent eavesdropping and Wi-Fi and cellphone use. As they file into the chapel, the cardinals will sing, in Latin, the hymn Come Holy Spirit. They will then vow on a book of the Gospels to keep the conclave proceedings secret. After these rituals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations will say out loud, in Latin, Extra Omnes, which means Everyone Out. The doors of the Sistine Chapter will then be locked, and the conclave will begin. The voting process The cardinals electing the pope will be seated in order of rank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Usually, the dean of the College of Cardinals is seated in the first position. But the current dean Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re is over the eligible voting age and will not participate in the conclave. Instead, this papal election will be led by the Vaticans secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. When the cardinals have assembled, nine will be chosen at random to run the election, with three of them being scrutinizers who will examine the ballots and read them aloud. After writing down the name of their chosen candidate, the cardinals will bring their ballots to the front of the chapel and place them on a plate that is set on top of an urn in front of the scrutinizers. Using the plate to drop their ballot into the urn, they will say, I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected. Getty Images A new pope is elected by a two-thirds majority. If this majority is not reached during the first ballot, the ballots will be burned in a stove. Black smoke rising through the Sistine Chapels chimney will signal to the outside world that the election is still ongoing, a tradition that began with the election of Benedict XV in 1914. Chemical additives are used to make sure the smoke is black because during the election of John Paul II, there was confusion over the smokes color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the first day and on the days thereafter there will be up to four ballots a day if a two-thirds majority is not reached. Both Benedict XVI and Francis were elected after relatively few ballots: four in the case of Benedict; five with Francis. According to rules set by Benedict, if a new pope is not chosen after 13 days, there will be a day of prayer and reflection. Then the election will be between the top two candidates, one of whom must receive a two-thirds majority. This new rule, some commentators have suggested, could lead to a longer, or even deadlocked, conclave because a compromise candidate is less likely to emerge. The Room of Tears Conclaves are usually short, such as the three-ballot election that chose Pope Pius XII in 1939. On a few occasions, deliberations have been quite long the longest being the 1740 papal conclave, which elected Benedict XIV and lasted 181 days. But regardless of the time frame, a new pope will be chosen. Once a candidate receives enough votes, he is asked, Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff? By saying Accepto, or I accept, he becomes the new leader of the Catholic Church. This time, the ballots will be burned to create white smoke that will tell the world that the conclave has ended and that a new pope has been chosen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immediately after being elected, the new pope decides on his name, as Jorge Maria Bergoglio did when he was the first pope to choose the name Francis. The choice of a name especially one of an immediate predecessor often indicates the direction of the new popes pontificate. In Francis case, his name honored St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th century mystic known for his simplicity and love for nature. The new pope is then led to the Room of Tears. In this chamber, off the Sistine Chapel, he will have moments to reflect on the burdens of his position, which have often brought new popes to tears. He will put on a white cassock and other signs of his office. His election will be announced from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica. From the balcony, the new pope will greet the crowd below and deliver his first blessing to the world. A new pontificate will have begun. Matthew Schmaltz is a professor of religious studies at College of the Holy Cross. The post How the Next Pope Will Be Elected: What Goes on at the Conclave appeared first on Katie Couric Media. Who will be the next Pope? That's the obvious question in the wake of the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. One cardinal, Luis Tagle, was leading the betting markets on the morning of April 21. The Pope's death was confirmed by the Vatican. "Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta," the Vatican wrote on X. According to the Associated Press, there is a well-known saying that if you enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal. It means that no one should have the arrogance to presume they have the election sewn up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That being said, some names are emerging as likely contenders to replace Francis, who appointed many of the cardinals. According to AP, "Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate." The process, the conclave, is shared in detail by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the choice will ultimately be announced through the release of white smoke. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Evangelization Section of the Dicastery for Evangelization, at the altar during the Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica. Vatican City (Vatican), January 6th, 2025. Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images That all being said, here are some of the top names being mentioned: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle The betting markets are favoring Tagle. According to Newsweek, it's believed that Tagle would follow Francis's "progressive agenda." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Luis Antonio Tagle, born on June 21, 1957, in Manila, Philippines, has long been recognized for his deep theological insight, pastoral care, and commitment to the Churchs social mission," The Asian Journal reported. According to a bio of Tagle by the College of Cardinals Report, Luis Antonio Gokim Tagles "paternal grandfather was from an upperclass Filipino family, and his maternal grandmother was from a well-off Chinese family that immigrated to the Philippines. One of two children, he often goes by his nickname, 'Chito.'" Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle attends a Mass with newly appointed cardinals presided by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica on December 08, 2024 in Vatican City, Vatican. Franco Origlia/Getty Images He was somewhat "tricked" into going into the priesthood, the site reported, "which later led him to laugh about how the 'jokes' of God and others can influence one's life." "Jesuits have played an important role in his formation, having taught him in the San Jose Seminary and then at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he earned a bachelors degree in 1977 and then a master of arts. Leaving the Jesuits, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Manila in 1982. Immediately, he became the spiritual director and professor at the local seminary, and then its rector from 1983 to 1985," that site noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He would be the first Asian Pope if selected. Cardinal Mark Ouellet Ouellet's age could be an issue as he turns 80 in June. However, he is also faring well in betting markets. Canadian cardinal Marc Ouellet attends the Mass on the Sunday of the Word of God presided by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica on January 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Franco Origlia/Getty Images Ouellet, "who was archbishop of Quebec from 2003-2010 and then prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops until his retirement in 2023 at age 78, has been a pivotal player under three papacies," according to The National Catholic Reporter. Cardinal Francis Arinze Arinze "is a retired senior Vatican official with fervent orthodox views who has had a long and distinguished career in the Church spanning several decades," according to The College of Cardinals Report. He was born in Nigeria. Cardinal Peter Turkson From Ghana, Turkson "is a well-known figure in the Church's social justice circles," according to Newsweek. Cardinal Timothy Dolan Dolan, the archbishop of New York, lands on some lists for a possible American Pope. Cardinal Reinhard Marx Marx, 71, "the archbishop of Munich and Freising, was chosen by Francis as a key adviser in 2013," reported the Associated Press. Cardinal Angelo Scolo Cardinal Angelo Scola, 82, "is a long-standing papal contender. He was among the favorites in the 2013 conclave that ultimately elected Pope Francis," Newsweek reported. Cardinal Peter Erdo "Erdo, 72, the archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary, was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011," the AP wrote. Cardinal Pietro Parolin The Vaticans Secretary of State Parolin, "who is Italian, has some conservative positions, but also backed collaboration between the church and Communist China," the New York Post reported, giving him a "high chance" to be Pope "because of his global diplomatic experience." Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline Aveline, 66, from France, was the cardinal Francis favored as his successor, according to the New York Post, which described him as "scholarly and affable." Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu The Archbishop of Kinshasa is a leading candidate, according to Fox News, which reported that some experts think the next Pope could be from Africa. Related: How Is a New Pope Chosen? Explaining the Conclave Negotiators from the US, Ukraine, Britain and France are due to meet in London on Wednesday for another round of talks on ending the Russian war on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday. "We are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace," Zelensky wrote on social media platform X. Zelensky also said he had spoken to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes after a round of talks in Paris last week, which saw US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff meet European politicians, including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The Trump administration has been pressing for a ceasefire in the three-year-old conflict and has resumed bilateral talks with Russia amid European fears that Ukraine could be forced to make significant concessions to stop the fighting. France and Britain, meanwhile, have been leading a so-called Coalition of the Willing aimed at securing a potential ceasefire and strengthening Ukraine. TOKYO - The leaders of Japan and the Netherlands agreed Monday that the two nations will further security and economic cooperation based on a new action plan, underscoring the importance of longstanding bilateral ties amid unprecedented global challenges. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force should never be allowed "anywhere in the world," stressing that the security of the Indo-Pacific region and that of Europe are inseparable. The summit in Tokyo came during Schoof's trip to Japan to visit the World Exposition in the western part of the country. This year marks the 425th anniversary of bilateral exchanges. "Japan and the Netherlands are strategic partners that share values and principles," Ishiba told Schoof during their meeting at the prime minister's office, expressing hope to deepen cooperation in security, trade, economic security and culture. During the meeting, Ishiba was quoted by the Japanese government as saying he "highly values" the Netherlands' engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, citing the deployment of its navy frigate HNLMS Tromp to Japan last June. The two leaders also agreed to work toward a just and lasting peace in war-torn Ukraine. They also expressed their "serious concern" over deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, given that North Korean troops have joined the war. The Netherlands is part of NATO, a military alliance that has been seeking to strengthen ties with Japan and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region, where China's growing assertiveness has raised concerns. "As trading nations, free passage (at sea) is crucial for both our countries. In this case, security and protecting economic interest go hand in hand," Schoof said during a joint press appearance with Ishiba as he underscored the robustness of the longstanding bilateral relationship. Related coverage: Japan, Brazil leaders to boost strategic ties under new 5-year plan Japan, China agree to push mutually beneficial, practical cooperation Japan, China, South Korea agree to promote "future-oriented" cooperation Ahead of his formal announcement for Senate, former Rep. Wiley Nickel spoke at a packed empty chair town hall for Sen. Thom Tillis in March. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline) Democratic former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel has raised about $20,000 this year in his quest to oust Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis in the 2026 election. Last week marked the Federal Election Commissions most recent quarterly filing deadline for the period between Jan. 1 and March 31 the first complete period following the 2024 election in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nickels haul was a notable increase over last quarter, when he raised less than $3,000. After spending about $180,000 this year, he has about $520,000 left on hand. Nickel, who declined to run for a second U.S. House term due to gerrymandering heavily favoring a GOP victory in his district, formally launched his campaign against Tillis earlier this month, about a week after the first fundraising quarter ended. Hes the first Democrat to officially declare his candidacy for the seat. The numbers are still dwarfed by Tillis, who has the incumbents advantage a year and a half out from the election. He reported raising about $2.2 million during the filing period and spending about $460,000, leaving him with just over $4 million in the bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Carolinas 2026 Senate race is anticipated to be one of the nations most competitive and expensive. As he seeks his third term, Tillis is the only Republican senator up for reelection in a 2024 swing state. Its a must-win for Democrats, who would need to retain all of their incumbents and win four additional seats to become the majority party. As a more moderate member of his party, Tillis has come under fire for breaking from MAGA guidelines. As such, he risks a primary challenger from a Trump-endorsed candidate. Hes possibly found one in Don Brown, a lawyer from Charlotte who has provided aid to clients participating in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and who embraces an aggressively pro-MAGA agenda, according to his campaign website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown raised $21,600 in the first quarter. Thats not an insignificant amount for a largely unknown first-time candidate whose team filed paperwork to enter the race in February halfway through the filing period. These contributions came from 18 individuals who donated between $250 and $3,500 each. Having spent just under $2,000 during the period, Brown has about $20,500 remaining on hand. Andy Nilsson, a retired businessman and former candidate for lieutenant governor, declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination at the start of the year. Nilsson did not file a campaign finance report for the quarter. On the Democratic side, the party is eyeing former Gov. Roy Cooper for a run. Cooper, who left the executive mansion in January, has yet to announce his intentions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from North Carolina, it looks like Democrats most viable pick-up opportunities in 2026 could be Maine, where GOP Sen. Susan Collins is running for her sixth term, and a special election in Ohio to replace Vice President JD Vance. In addition to already holding the majority in the chamber, the map is more favorable for Republicans. The party could seize seats in the battleground states of Georgia and Michigan, where Sen. Gary Peters retirement leads to an open seat. Democratic Sens. Tina Smith of Minnesota and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire have also announced their retirements. This means the party will need to recruit candidates to hold on to those seats. Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado could also depart the Senate next year if he is successful in his run for governor. His seat isnt up until 2028, though, and he does not need to resign to run. If he wins, Bennet will likely be able to appoint his successor to the Senate seat for Colorado. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The New Mexico Supreme Court clarified the legal protections that state law provides to 911 dispatchers and the government agencies that employ them from being sued for damages for personal injuries or deaths allegedly caused by their response to a call for help. The state Supreme Court issued the ruling on Monday, April 21, in a case involving a 16-year-old who suffered heatstroke while hiking in the Organ Mountains and died in 2020. The court unanimously concluded that the state Enhanced Medical Services Act (EMSA) governed the liability issue and that 911 dispatchers were immune from civil liability except for damages caused by negligence, according to a news release sent out by the Office of the state Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family sued the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority, several of its dispatchers, the Dona Ana County Board of County Commissioners, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety and the city of Las Cruces. The lawsuit alleged that the teenagers death was caused by unreasonable delays and missteps in the emergency response, including an initial referral of the incident to a fire prevention specialist, a mischaracterization of it as a search-and-rescue situation and minor medical event, and two ambulances being dispatched and then cancelled. Another state law the Enhanced 911 Act has no relevance in determining the liability of dispatchers for allegedly mishandling emergency medical calls, the court wrote in an opinion by Justice Michael E. Vigil. The court issued its opinion in response to a federal courts request about the liability of 911 dispatchers under state law. The federal court posed the question in helping it resolve the familys lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Mexico Supreme Court analyzed two state laws to determine the scope of immunity provided to 911 dispatchers. It is the federal courts responsibility to apply the law to the facts of the familys wrongful death claims, the state Supreme Court said in its news release. The governmental defendants in the case argued that the Enhanced 911 Act applied to dispatchers and provided immunity for dispatchers and their employers from damage claims other than those based on intentional acts. They pointed to a section of the law that granted such immunity to governmental agencies, employees, equipment suppliers and certain others for damages from installing, maintaining or providing enhanced 911 systems or transmitting 911 calls, according to the news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendants contended that the section included emergency 911 medical dispatchers. The court rejected the defendants arguments that the statutory reference to transmitting 911 calls made dispatchers subject to the immunity under the Enhanced 911 Act, which was enacted six years after the EMSA became law. Succinctly stated, important changes in statutory law are not generally made through inconspicuous means. Applying that principle here, we cannot conclude that the Legislature would announce a new rule more broadly immunizing 911 dispatchers from liability except for intentional acts in the space of one phrase in a statute primarily addressing enhanced 911 infrastructure and funding that makes only isolated and generalized references to 911 dispatchers or their equivalents, the court wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. A partial ceasefire on energy strikes, brokered separately by the U.S. with Moscow and Kyiv last month, failed to deliver on its promise, diminishing hopes for a swift end to the war in Ukraine. Ukraines government says it has recorded over thirty Russian attacks on energy infrastructure since March 25. Another eight attacks were recorded over the week of March 18-25, which is still partially within the timeframe of the truce agreed to by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. While no damage to key energy infrastructure in Ukraine was recorded, the strikes mostly affected facilities that Russia agreed to stop attacking, including local power generating facilities, electricity substations and transformers, and gas distribution networks, according to a list of violations recorded by Ukraines Foreign Ministry seen by the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no ceasefire at all, Oleksandr Kharchenko, managing director of the Kyiv-based Energy Industry Research Center, told the Kyiv Independent, adding that electricity substations and gas infrastructure have been attacked constantly. Moscow is convinced that the Western world is unable to effectively counter them, he said. Among the reasons why the energy ceasefire failed was the lack of proper monitoring by an intermediary, such as satellite monitoring the U.S. could have employed, and clearly written terms, experts said. Disorganized negotiations with U.S. representatives and the lack of a single written agreement meant that even the dates of the energy truce differed in Russia and Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine counts the beginning of the energy ceasefire as March 25, when it reached an agreement following talks in Saudi Arabia with a U.S. delegation. Russia announced the start of the truce on March 18, following a 1.5-hour phone call between Trump and Putin that day. Russian authorities said that the partial ceasefire had expired on April 18. (The U.S. team) had to formulate the proposals in a single document agreed upon by the parties and signed there was nothing like that, said Mykhailo Honchar, energy expert and president of the Center for Global Studies Strategy XXI, a Kyiv-based research organization. The American mediator (Special Envoy Steve Witkoff) did not fulfill his mission, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv has said that it continues to inform the U.S. and other foreign partners about Russias violations. We need monitoring mechanisms, because of course, there will be constant violations, said Ukraines Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi in a briefing on April 16. Tykhyi added that there will be more clarity closer to April 25 on whether Ukraine will continue abiding by the ceasefire terms after it ends this week. Rescuers work at the site of a Russian ballistic strike in Sumy, Ukraine on April 13, 2025. As a result the attack, 35 people were killed. (Eugene Abrasimov/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) What attacks stopped and which continued under the ceasefire? Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, and other energy facilities were halted, although Ukraine may have continued hitting other targets deep within Russia that were not on the energy truce list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin accused Ukraine of viciously breaching the deal with daily attacks on Russian energy facilities, without much evidence. There were no massive combined missile and drone strikes on large energy infrastructure facilities (by Russia). But they did strike at regional distribution network facilities, Honchar told the Kyiv Independent. Its not a ceasefire, its a change of Russian tactics, he said. According to Honchar, most of the targets hit during the ceasefire period belong to DTEK, Ukraines largest private energy company. DTEK lost 90% of its generation capacity by mid-2024 due to Russias attacks, although it has managed to restore some of it since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DTEK owns most of Ukraines coal-fired power plants, which Russia has consistently targeted as they provide crucial peaking power the extra electricity needed to stabilize Ukraines grid during strike-induced power outages, Honchar said. A Ukrainian energy provider DTEK employee walks past scorched equipment in turbine hall at a DTEK plant after a Russian attack in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on April 19, 2024. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images) Why did the energy ceasefire fail? The energy truce failed to pave the way for further truces, experts said, in a sign that U.S. efforts to end Russias war in Ukraine wont be easy. The truce also hasnt been properly monitored, Honchar said. The U.S. has the necessary satellite monitoring capabilities to quickly confirm the coordinates of damaged energy infrastructure, all of which are in well-known locations, according to Honchar. If an energy facility is damaged, an infrared signature appears accordingly. It is clearly visible from space if a substation or a transformer is on fire, or a fuel or oil tank has been hit somewhere, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S., as an intermediary monitoring the attacks, could then verify what was really hit versus what each side claims has been targeted a crucial part in monitoring evaluations. The Americans thought for some reason that it would be enough to just assemble those two parallel negotiation tracks (with Ukraine and Russia), Honchar said. But it doesnt work this way. The energy truce as well as a Black Sea ceasefire negotiated around the same time that was never implemented were lobbied by Russia through Witkoff, who has visited Russia several times this year and serves as Trump's top negotiator, as these issues are the most problematic for the Kremlin, Honchar said. If Russia was really serious about a wider ceasefire, the discussion would have included stopping the hits on civilian infrastructure and exchanging captured soldiers in an all-for-all prisoner exchange, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with no hits on major power plants, Russia has instead tried to destroy Ukrainians morale by escalating deadly attacks on civilians. In April, a Russian strike on a playground in Kryvyi Rih killed 20 people, including nine children, and a double-tap attack on Sumy downtown killed 35 people on Palm Sunday. Meanwhile, Moscow claimed on March 24 to have intercepted a Ukrainian drone attacking the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which lists U.S. oil majors Chevron and Exxon among its largest shareholders. There was no public evidence of the attack. (The energy ceasefire) served perfectly for Russian propaganda that made an effort to claim that Russia was abiding by the agreement, and Ukraine ignored it, Honchar said. A day after the Kremlin confirmed the end of the energy ceasefire, Putin announced an Easter truce that was designed to halt all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it somewhat reduced the fighting in some parts of the front on Sunday and brought the number of Ukraine-reported Russian casualties to less then a thousand per day for the first time in months over the weekend, Ukrainian soldiers said they saw no signs of truce. Russia killed at least three civilians in attacks and violated the Easter truce nearly 3,000 times, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky called to extend the Easter ceasefire for 30 days on long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure on April 19 after Russia initiated the failed Easter truce a step the U.S. also wants to see taken. Thirty hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures. Thirty days can give peace a chance," Zelensky said. Note from the author: Hello, this is Natalia Yermak, I wrote this story for you. Growing up in central Ukraine, I am familiar with Russia's multiple ceasefire violations since 2014. There's no one who wants peace more than Ukrainians, which makes it important for us to report what, and who, stands in the way of lasting peace. If you wish to help us, please consider supporting the Kyiv Independent by becoming a member. Thank you! Read also: Critical week for Ukraine begins as Trump hopes to end war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Forbes Contributor Henna Hundal and founder of the "Black Girl Environmentalist," Wawa Gatheru joins MSNBC's Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss Earth Day for this month and the environmental issues under the current Trump Administration. Ukraine is under pressure to respond this week to a U.S. proposal on concluding the war with Russia, which includes the possibility of Washington recognizing Moscows 2014 annexation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from NATO, the Wall Street Journal reported on April 20, citing an obtained document. The proposals, outlined by senior Trump administration officials in a confidential meeting with Ukrainian and European counterparts in Paris on April 17, were confirmed by Western officials to the WSJ. The news comes as Washington signaled readiness to drop ceasefire efforts within the coming days unless progress is achieved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's feedback is expected at a follow-up meeting in London later this week. If there is alignment between Kyiv, Washington, and European allies, the proposals could be formally introduced to Moscow. Among the most controversial elements is the suggestion that the U.S. could formally recognize Russias illegal annexation of Crimea. Additionally, Ukrainian accession to NATO would be ruled out under the current proposal. "NATO isnt on the table," said U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg in an interview with Fox News on April 20. Ukraine has previously said it would not recognize occupied territories as Russian as part of any peace deal. The move to recognize Crimea under Russian rule also contradicts a decade-long bipartisan consensus in Washington and international law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaffirmed U.S. opposition to the annexation, calling it a threat to "a bedrock international principle shared by democratic states: that no country can change the borders of another by force." The U.S. Congress has also passed legislation opposing any recognition of Russias claim over Crimea. Ukraine has also previously rejected restrictions on joining international alliances and organizationsnamely, NATO and the EUas part of a potential peace deal. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte recently said that Kyiv's path toward membership remains "irreversible" but added that the matter would not be part of an eventual peace settlement. The Ukrainian delegation in Paris included Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. According to the WSJ, the Trump team, including Kellogg and special envoy Steve Witkoff, should be present at the London meeting as well. Witkoff is then expected to travel to Moscow, the WSJ reported. Officially the special envoy for the Middle East, Witkoff has led Trump's diplomatic outreach to Russia, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin three times, most recently on April 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a comment to the WSJ, a senior State Department official emphasized that the ideas were presented as "potential options" rather than ultimatums, though Kyiv is expected to offer a firm stance quickly. Another proposal would involve establishing a neutral zone around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power station in Europe, potentially leaving it under American control. In an earlier call with Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly suggested the idea of the U.S. acquiring Ukrainian energy assets, which he said could be the "best protection for that infrastructure." While the U.S. proposals stop short of granting Russia formal legal recognition of its claimed annexation of four partially occupied eastern Ukrainian regions, they also do not call for the withdrawal of Russian troops from those areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2022, Moscow has illegally declared Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts as part of the Russian Federation, incorporating them into its Constitution and demanding the complete retreat of Ukrainian forces from their administrative borders. The Trump administration has not ruled out bilateral military assistance to Ukraine or support for European nations contributing forces to a "reassurance force," a potential buffer against future aggression. However, no specific security guarantees have yet been offered as part of the proposed deal. This goes in contrast with Russian demands for a full halt of military support to Ukraine, which the Kremlin voiced as a precondition to a 30-day ceasefire suggested by the Trump administration over a month ago. While Ukraine has accepted the offer if Russia reciprocates, Moscow has not yet supported the idea. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified attacks on civilians in Ukrainian cities. During talks with the U.S. representatives in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin officials were reportedly seeking relief from U.S. sanctions and the restoration of trade ties, efforts being led by Putins envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskys office has not publicly commented on the details of the U.S. proposal. On April 19, Ukrainian officials reaffirmed openness to a mutual 30-day ceasefire, though they accused Moscow of violating a temporary truce over the Easter holiday on April 20. Read also: What to know about the 5 key territories at the heart of Ukraine peace talks Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A World War II aircraft carrier sunk by Japanese forces contains an unexpected piece of cargo at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean: a mystery car. Now, NOAA researchers want the publics help to identify the vehicle inside the remains of the USS Yorktown. The discovery was made on April 19 during a remotely operated deep water survey at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument encompasses 582,578 square miles. The Yorktowns remains are located northeast of Midway Island. Credit: NOAA / Popular Science Papahanaumokuakea is the United States largest fully protected contiguous conservation area, and encompasses 582,578 square miles of Pacific Ocean. The area is also home to a number of significant historic shipwrecks, including the USS Yorktown. Instrumental in the Pacific Front during WWII at the battles of Coral Sea and Midway, the 809-foot-long Yorktown was capable of handling 90 planes and staffing around 2,200 personnel. After sustaining damage during Midway, the aircraft carrier was fatally damaged by Japanese submarine torpedoes while en route to Pearl Harbor for repairs on June 7, 1942. First rediscovered in 1998, the Yorktown now rests about three miles below the Pacific Oceans surface in Papahanaumokuakea, approximately 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu. Yorktowns history is well-documented, but it apparently still held at least one more surprise. During the NOAA Ocean Explorations remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dive on April 19, operators were shocked to come across what at first glance appears to be a military jeep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a car. Thats a car, one researcher said during the livestream. That is a full car. Why is there a car on this boat? asked another team member. There is no immediate explanation for the cars inclusion aboard the aircraft carrier. Credit: NOAA The vehicle is resting upright close to Yorktowns elevator 3, according to The Miami Herald. Upon guiding the ROV nearer, researchers noted its flared fenders, chrome trim, rag top, and a spare tire still situated on the back door. Yorktowns salvage crew worked tirelessly to jettison anti-aircraft guns and aircraft to reduce its list (after the torpedo strike), but did they leave the car, something they could roll off the side? NOAA Ocean Exploration marine archeologist Phil Hartmeyer said on Monday. There are at least two theories that could explain why a full car was stashed aboard Yorktown during its final days at sea. The first is that the vehicle was Rear Admiral Frank Fletchers flag car, given that Yorktown served as his flagship during World War II. The second hypothesis is that naval officers brought the vehicle aboard for quick repairs after the car sustained damage at the Battle of Coral Sea. Either way, a Reddit thread notes that none of the [existing] literature mentioned a car being on board for the battle. The Yorktown sits nearly upright at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, approximately three miles underwater. Credit: NOAA Wonder if the car was intended to be offloaded on Midway following the anticipated engagement with the Japanese (if the US was victorious), one commenter added. Hangar space on carriers was (and still is) extremely valuable. Having a car occupying space would be remarkable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, the vehicle remains a curious and surprising find for researchers. But you dont need to be an ROV pilot or WWII historian to help solve the mystery. Heres an open request to all your automobile vehicle folks out there, one NOAA expedition operator researcher said during Saturdays livefeed. Im sure you are being attentive to this and you understand what you are looking at. Please post on this. It really helps. TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on Monday, as the shrine, seen by Japan's neighbors as a symbol of its past militarism, began a three-day spring festival. Ishiba, however, is not expected to visit the shrine during the festival, according to sources familiar with the matter, apparently because of diplomatic considerations at a time when Japan's ties with China and South Korea have been improving. Yasukuni honors Japan's wartime leaders, convicted as war criminals by a post-World War II international tribunal, along with millions of war dead. Ishiba and his Cabinet ministers did not visit the Shinto shrine during its autumn festival last year, soon after he became prime minister in October. The prime minister also sent a "masakaki" tree offering at that time. "The prime minster made the masakaki offering in a private capacity and therefore it is not something that the government should comment on," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference. "It is up to the prime minister to decide whether to visit the shrine or not," the government spokesman added. Among Cabinet ministers, health minister Takamaro Fukuoka and economic security minister Minoru Kiuchi sent offerings on Monday. Past visits to the shrine by Japanese leaders, Cabinet ministers and lawmakers drew sharp rebukes from China and South Korea. Japan invaded a vast swath of China before World War II and colonized the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Ishiba has expressed his readiness to take a fresh look at why Japan went to war and draw lessons from it. But he is not expected to issue a statement, unlike his predecessors who released Cabinet-approved documents on the 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries, other sources said. Yasukuni added wartime leaders including Prime Minister Gen. Hideki Tojo to the enshrined deities in 1978, stirring controversy at home and abroad. Tojo was executed by hanging for crimes against peace. Related coverage: Japan PM to forgo visit to war-linked Yasukuni shrine for spring rite Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on April 24, the prime minister's office announced on April 21. The leaders will discuss the security situation, NATO, the Russia-Ukraine war, and trade, the statement read. Norway's officials will meet the U.S. president after the Trump administration imposed a 15% tariff on goods imported into the U.S. from Norway at the beginning of April. Later, the tariff was lowered to 10% for a 90-day period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The U.S. is our most important ally, and in a troubled and demanding time for security policy, the close contact between our two countries is very important," Stoere said. "Norway and the U.S. cooperate in a number of areas, and the U.S. is an important trading partner for Norway. I look forward to discussing areas where we can cooperate even more closely in the future," he added. Norway has been one of Ukraine's most committed European backers, providing military aid, humanitarian assistance, and financial support. The country has also played a key role in stabilizing Ukraine's energy sector and hosting Ukrainian refugees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik announced on April 11 that Norway will allocate 10 billion Norwegian kroner (approximately $937 million) in 2025 to help equip and train a Ukrainian military brigade. Read also: Nearly 100 days of Trump, and Putin is still calling the shots Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. OSLO (Reuters) -Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and finance minister Jens Stoltenberg will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, the prime minister's office said. The meeting at the White House will, among other things, cover the security policy situation, NATO and the war in Ukraine as well as trade and business topics, the statement on Monday said. "Norway and the US cooperate in a number of areas, and the US is an important trading partner for Norway. I look forward to talking about areas where we can cooperate even more closely in the future," Stoere said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration announced a 15% tariff on goods imported into the United States from Norway as part of a wider, global effort with trading partners around the world. In line with many other countries, the tariff has been lowered to 10% for a 90-day period. (Reporting by Nora Buli in Oslo; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, spoke during a forum at the City Club of Cleveland. (Screenshot). A Republican Ohio Senator wants higher education appropriations to be tied to compliance to Senate Bill 1, the new higher education law banning diversity efforts and regulating classroom discussion that will take effect this summer. Were not kidding around, State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, said Thursday during a City Club of Cleveland forum. This law will not be ignored. It will be welcomed. Were going to make sure that all the work weve done doesnt go to waste because its being ignored. Were going to make sure it happens and nothing speaks like money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The new law will ban diversity efforts, prohibit faculty strikes, regulate classroom discussion of controversial topics, create post-tenure reviews, put diversity scholarships at risk, create a retrenchment provision that block unions from negotiating on tenure, shorten university board of trustees terms from nine years down to six years, and require students take an American history course, among other things. Cirino introduced S.B. 1 earlier this year which quickly passed the Ohio Senate and House. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed S.B. 1 into law at the end of March and it will take effect on June 27. Members of the Youngstown State Universitys chapter of the Ohio Education Association are collecting signatures in the hopes of trying to get a referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. Opponents of Senate Bill 1 have said it will destroy higher education in Ohio, Cirino said. Well, the governor signed the bill a couple of weeks ago, and to my knowledge, higher education is still pretty well intact in the state of Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 1,500 people testified against S.B. 1 including many college students, faculty and staff who said they would leave Ohio if this bill became law. Certainly for some of them that would be OK, Cirino said. Some of the ones who came to testify, I will help them pack. The Ohio Capital Journal recently talked to a Cleveland State University student who is transferring to a New York university after spring semester because of the new law. Cirino talked about the need for a higher education law like this given the predominance of left-leaning faculty, which has skewed things on our campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the very best educational system, we will not have a properly trained workforce, and without a trained workforce, we will not have a robust economy here in Ohio, Cirino said. If our universities and community colleges are fixated on DEI, separating students by race and hiring professors who follow a monolithic liberal agenda, we are not preparing our students to learn how to analyze research and come to their own conclusions. Cirino said the new law creates more opportunities for speech, reiterated that its not anti-union and makes education available to everyone. Some of our universities have been spending tens of millions of dollars on infrastructure for DEI which has become institutional discrimination, he said. You cant solve discrimination by having other discrimination. The best way to eliminate discrimination is to eliminate discrimination. The new law also bans faculty strikes, something Cirino said is a student rights issue, not a labor issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a student signs up for a semester and pays for it, thats a contract between them and the university, he said. Nothing should interrupt that. Nothing at all. Even though the law only applies to Ohios public universities and community colleges, private colleges would be required to comply with parts of S.B.1 if they want to continue to participate in the Governors Merit Scholarship, according to language from the Houses version of the budget. The budget is now in the hands of the Senate where Cirino is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Novo Nordisk asked the Food and Drug Administration to approve a pill version of its popular weight loss drug in obesity earlier this year, a spokesperson confirmed to BioPharma Dive. Novo first reported in 2023 that the drug, an oral form of semaglutide, succeeded in a Phase 3 trial, helping people on the highest dose lose about 15% of their body weight after 64 weeks. However, the Danish drugmaker didnt seek approval immediately afterwards, instead focusing attention on other medicines that might improve upon the injectable drug it sells as Wegovy for obesity and Ozempic for diabetes. The approval filing comes as a race with rival Eli Lilly to develop a weight loss pill has intensified. Lilly last week said its oral GLP-1 pill succeeded in a large trial in diabetes. That drug, orforglipron, could be submitted to regulators if an ongoing study in obesity also meets its objectives. Dive Insight: Drugmakers are scrambling to grab a share of a market that could top $100 billion annually next decade, and pills that can spur meaningful weight loss are a big part of those plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Novo has long appeared to be well ahead of others in that race. It had already developed Rybelsus, an oral formulation of semaglutide, for diabetes, and began testing a higher-dose version of it in obesity. And in May 2023, it reported success in a study that tested as high as a 50 milligram oral dose of semaglutide. In a statement at the time, the company said it intended to seek approval in the U.S. and Europe in 2023. Yet in an earnings report shortly afterwards, Novo conceded that a launch was contingent on portfolio prioritizations and manufacturing capacity. The company has several would-be obesity drugs in clinical development, including a closely watched combination therapy called CagriSema. And unlike Lillys orforglipron, oral semaglutide is a peptide drug, making its production more complicated than a traditional small molecule. However, CagriSemas progress has been slowed by disappointing study results that have forced Novo to redraw its development plan. Another oral prospect has also underwhelmed. Through a series of investments, Novo has finally begun to make enough of Wegovy to meet demand, easing a supply shortage thats lasted for years. Yet the 25 milligram daily dose involved in the oral version around 70 times the top dose of Wegovy could once again test its production capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Novos executive team will provide more details about the approval application alongside the companys first quarter earnings report on May 7, the spokesperson said. Recommended Reading (Reuters) -The White House on Monday denied a report that it has begun searching for a new defense secretary after Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth reportedly shared details of a U.S. attack on Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on a commercial messaging app. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the National Public Radio story on the search was not true. "As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef," she wrote on X. (Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Rami Ayyub and Doina Chiacu) MOSCOW, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday that it repelled Ukrainian attacks overnight amid a unilateral Easter truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Ukraine accused Russia of violating the ceasefire. The ministry said Russian troops "remained at previously occupied lines and positions" while Ukrainian troops "attempted to attack the positions of Russian troops" in the Donetsk region overnight. It added that Ukrainian forces had fired at Russian positions 444 times and counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 26 Russian assault actions have taken place from 00:00 (2100 GMT on Saturday) to noon (0900 GMT), accusing Russia of violating its self-declared ceasefire. Putin said the truce starts from 6 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Saturday and lasts until midnight on Sunday into Monday (2100 GMT on Sunday). Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine will respond in kind to the ceasefire. SPRING VALLEY State legislators and leaders of local immigration groups on Friday, April 18, demanded the Trump administration respect federal court decisions and stop threatening immigrants with letters telling them to "self deport." Advocates reported that dozens of East Ramapo students, here via various immigration programs, were among those targeted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "You should depart the United States now," the notice on Homeland Security letterhead states. "As of the termination of your parole, you may be subject to expedited removal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The due process violations are abysmal," said state Assemblymember Pat Carroll, whose 96th District covers Clarkstown, including a section of Spring Valley, and parts of Haverstraw and Orangetown in Rockland. He spoke at an April 18 press conference called by local Democratic members of the New York Assembly, Konbit Neg Lakay and Proyecto Faro, organizations that support newcomers in Rockland. Everyone should demand action, Carroll said, adding: "If it's them now, who will it be next?" Proyecto Faro Assistant Director of Legal Services, Karissma Fernandez, calling on the federal government stop unlawful deportation orders issued to Rockland CHNV parole recipients, talks about high school students receiving letters to self deport during a press conference at Konbit Neg Lakay in Spring Valley on Friday, April 18, 2025. Lawler 'should have been inviting us' Several speakers at the event outside Konbit Neg Lakay said federal leaders, including seven GOP U.S. House members from New York, need to demand Trump respect immigrants' rights and the rule of law. "Even if just some of them stand up to Trump," Assemblymember Chris Eachus said, "it would be done." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deportation politics: How Trump embraces the drama around Abrego Garcia and a Salvadoran prison Eachus pointed to Rep. Mike Lawler. The Pearl River Republican's 17th District includes Rockland, Putnam and parts of Westchester and Dutchess counties. He said because immigration is a national issue, members of Congress should be taking the lead on pushing the Trump administration. "We did not invite Mike," Eachus said. "He should have been inviting us." Lawler's office did not immediately return a request for comment. New York Assemblyman Patrick Carroll calls on the federal government stop unlawful deportation orders issued to Rockland CHNV parole recipients during a press conference at Konbit Neg Lakay in Spring Valley on Friday, April 18, 2025 Trump's latest target: CHNV humanitarian parole Several of the local people targeted for the Homeland Security letters came to the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program called CHNV, for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, the countries represented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program was activated under the Biden administration as a way to ease the number of asylum seekers at the Southern border. CHNV parole recipients have sponsors, and can work as they pursue their asylum cases. More on CHNV program: Trump yanks Biden-era CHNV humanitarian parole program. How did Rockland Haitians react? Trump yanked CHNV and reversed other immigration programs this spring; his administration has aggressively pursued deportation. A recent federal court order in Massachusetts on April 14 temporarily blocked the Trump administrations efforts to terminate the CHNV program. But the letters from Homeland Security, the state lawmakers and activist said, keep on coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allowing the president to ignore court orders, Carroll said, is "dangerous anti-American and unconstitutional." Lauture Jean, a police officer in Haiti, is currently here under the Biden Administrations program, seeking work legally is worried about being deported under the Trump Administration. Jean was photographed at Konbit Neg Lakay in Spring Valley on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Immigration: Trump's approach condemned Trump, whose first administration targeted immigrants from the Mideast and Latin America, debased immigrants from Haiti and other countries during his 2024 campaign. He began taking action to curb what he said was mainly illegal immigration on Day 1 of his administration, with the White House noting the aim was to "enforce our nation's immigration laws." About 3,000 Haitians came to Rockland through CHNV, and others are here from Venezuela and Nicaragua, immigrant groups have said. People in Rockland targeted for deportation also included those here under Temporary Protected Status and young people protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, activists said. New York Assemblyman Christopher Eachus calls on the federal government stop unlawful deportation orders issued to Rockland CHNV parole recipients during a press conference at Konbit Neg Lakay in Spring Valley on Friday, April 18, 2025. People have come to the U.S. to escape danger and to contribute to the U.S., said Eachus, a Democrat who represents Stony Point and parts of Orange County in his 99th District. His office was recently contacted by the family of a woman who had fled Haiti's violence, including the destruction of her home. She was distraught over receiving the letter from Homeland Security. "The United States would send her straight back into that danger," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Konbit Neg Lakay Executive Director Renold Julien noted that the focus of Trump's actions were immigrants of color; meanwhile, the president was inviting white South Africans to come to the U.S. "It is not immigration," Julien said. "It is racism." This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: East Ramapo NY students told to self deport or face expedited removal NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) New York City is joining the world in mourning Pope Francis, who died Monday at the age of 88. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the popes death Monday. Pope Francis recently battled severe illness. Flags have been lowered at half-staff at New York City buildings after the popes death. More Local News Speaking to reporters Monday morning, Cardinal Timothy Dolan expressed sadness, but gratitude for cherished memories of the pope. Dolan will soon participate in a conclave to elect the new pope, as he did in 2013 to elect Pope Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have vivid, grateful memories of him, Dolan said. The way he lived and the way he died, he was a great teacher. Standing among gifts and other memorabilia from the popes last visit to New York City, Dolan remembered the pope as a humble and accessible leader. There was a humility and a sense of humor there from the beginning, Dolan said. Hed be the first to admit that perhaps the abundant gifts that God had given him were evident In his simplicity, in his humility, in his easy goingness. These were gifts that he stewarded so well.c More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State In a statement, Mayor Eric Adams remembered his trip to meet the pope in May, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As someone deeply connected to my faith and who represents a city of millions of Catholics, my visit to the Vatican to meet with and hear directly from Pope Francis last year was one of the most sacred and special moments of my life, Mayor Eric Adams said. Adams honored the pope as a strong leader who led with kindness. Pope Francis led with kindness, grace, and faith as he helped build a better world and unite all people, regardless of their background, Adams said. This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Mayor Adams and city Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos announced Monday the expansion of their signature literacy initiative to middle schools for the first time. By next school year, 102 middle schools in eight school districts will be part of NYC Reads, a curriculum requirement focused on getting back to the basics of reading and phonics. The mandate is already in place at nearly all public elementary schools and preschools. During a news conference at Dock Street School for STEAM Studies in DUMBO, Brooklyn, Adams raised the alarm that students are reading at an inexcusable level. Fewer than half of the citys public school students demonstrated proficiency on reading exams last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something goes wrong [from] the time they leave their mothers womb, and by the time they graduate from high school, Adams said. We miss something in between, and we have to address that. And our administration sees this crisis with urgency and focus. All but one of the districts overhauling its middle school reading curriculum Manhattans Districts 1 and 3; the Bronxs Districts 7, 9, 11 and 12, and Brooklyns District 13 are using a program called EL Education. District 19 in Brooklyn will use the curriculum Wit & Wisdom. (There are 32 geographic school districts across New York City.) NYC Solves, the math curriculum requirement, will also be expanded as planned to 84 more middle schools in six additional districts: Districts 5 and 6 in Manhattan; 8 in the Bronx; 17 in Brooklyn; 25 in Queens, and 31 on Staten Island. It is currently in 101 middle schools across eight districts and all public high schools. Schools have a choice between three options: Illustrative Mathematics, Amplify Desmos and i-Ready mathematics. The UFT panned the move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOE rollout of the new math curriculum in the high schools was dreadful. It makes no sense for the DOE to expand the math curriculum to middle schools when its work in high schools is unfinished, said Alison Gendar, a spokeswoman for the teachers union. Former Schools Chancellor David Banks had been publicly teasing an expansion of curriculum mandates since at least last school year. Both the reading and math initiatives are expected to be fully implemented in middle schools citywide by fall 2027. At the news conference, the Adams administration touted some early signs of literacy progress since the transition, including a 1.8-point boost on quick screener assessments in kindergarten through second grade. But the major overhaul in reading instruction a shift away from a popular but flawed approach that encouraged kids to lean on context clues continues to face headwinds. Last year, schools in pockets of the city that began implementing the reforms fared worse on state exams than districts that were slower to make the change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After teacher and principal unions pushed back on some of the stricter components of the mandates, the school system started to loosen some requirements. Still, the slip in test score data is not deterring decision-makers. Other districts across the country have embarked on this type of ambitious curriculum initiative, Aviles-Ramos said. And they also experienced some drops. So, that is something that we expected. Because an implementation of this size, in a city this size, it takes a lot, the chancellor continued. Im superconfident as we embark on state exam season that we are going to see improvements. A Brooklyn Assembly member is allegedly blocking locals from making posts she doesnt like on her social media pages and she even dared one critic to take her to court. Greenpoints Emily Gallagher, a Democratic socialist, has been stealthily deleting critical or uncomplimentary comments or has altogether restricted certain users from interacting with her political media pages for as long as shes been in office, The Post has learned. That could be a First Amendment violation as a public official, according to experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parallels between the way that she operates and the way theocracy operates or how fascism starts, its right on the money, Shannon Phipps, the founder of the Berry Street Alliance, told The Post. Greenpoint Assemblymember Emily Gallagher allegedly restricts who can interact with her politically affiliated social media pages. Stephen Yang Phipps said she has been blocked from Gallaghers Instagram account since June 2024 after years of publicly blasting the citys Open Streets program, which the Assembly member supports. Phipps said she had noticed that her replies in response to Gallaghers tweets seemingly disappeared shortly after she posted them possibly as part of an X feature that allows users to hide unwelcome interactions. Other neighbors have lodged similar allegations in recent months with claims they are being punished for criticizing Gallaghers policies or simply for asking her to take action on neighborhood issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallaghers public Instagram page on Thursday showed minimal negative comments. Various posts indicated that there were numerous comments that were not populating under pictures an indication that she might have hidden them from the public. Williamsburg resident Denise Meyerson said she is restricted from commenting below Gallaghers posts. Denise Meyerson The Post also viewed various screenshots showing that Gallagher restricted several users from directly interacting with her on social media. People are being blocked for having a political critique of her, or if youre posting something about a political issue that you want her to pay attention to. Its that stuff. Its not, Emily, youre fat and ugly. Its the real stuff, Phipps said. Denise Meyerson, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than two decades, first noticed she was restricted from commenting on Gallaghers Instagram posts back in 2021 the same year the politician took office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meyerson had been critical of Gallaghers support for the McGuiness bike lane and demanded that the politician step in on a plan to turn 300 free parking spots on Meeker Avenue into metered spots. Gallagher challenged Meyerson to take her complaints to court, a screenshot of the conversation shows. Denise Meyerson I would comment on her posts and then my comments would disappear. It was related directly to neighborhood things, but she always erased comments, Meyerson said. The Brooklynite even called out Gallagher for censoring her posts, leaving up only those that were complimentary, but the politician pleaded innocent, screenshots shared with The Post show. Even more brazenly, the Rochester transplant dared Meyerson to take her complaints to court, saying: Feel free to take it to court, but it wasnt intentional. But this tactic of repeatedly commenting on every post with totally inaccurate statements is pretty frustrating! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meyerson countered thats her attitude. She doesnt handle being a local politician very well, Meyerson said. Shes not really mature enough for the position of being like a diplomat in the neighborhood. Gallagher emphasized that she takes accessibility and availability extremely seriously. J.C. Rice Its very frustrating and its not democratic, which they claim to be. Its absolutely not. It gives me no faith in the local government. The censorship is even more egregious because Gallagher does not respond to constituent emails and her office runs limited hours, both Phipps and Meyerson alleged, adding that only those with mirroring viewpoints get a callback. When reached for comment, Gallagher did not acknowledge allegations around censorship, but said she offers plenty of real-life opportunities for her constituents to connect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our office takes accessibility and availability extremely seriously, she said in a statement. We host regular, in-person events and have a public office, open phone lines, and email access. We engage in conversations all day long with constituents those who agree with us and those who dont. Should Gallagher be found to be deleting or restricting comments, there is no question that she would be acting in clear violation of the First Amendment because her accounts under the username emilyassembly are clearly marked for office, according to Diane Peress, who teaches constitutional law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. A social media page is created so that there can be communication exchanges with your constituents. You cant block people because you dont like the message, Peress said. Peress pointed to a similar case lodged against President Trump in 2018, which resulted in a federal judge ruling the president could not block critics from his social media pages. A second lawsuit was filed in 2020, but because the case dragged on until Trump was voted out of office, the Supreme Court ultimately dropped it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also been hit with several civil suits by people shes allegedly blocked a move she admitted to making back in 2019 because they were allegedly harassing her. But even cyberbullying doesnt excuse stifling free speech, said Peress. If you were doing this as part of your job as a public servant, I cannot think of a case where you can allow some people to post and go back and forth, and you cant allow other people. Youre basically discriminating because of the message. You cant do that, Peress said. Phipps is considering taking legal action against Gallagher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The censorship hits especially hard for the civic leader, whose father immigrated to the US from Iran in the late 70s in search of the very freedoms she accused Gallagher of suppressing. He left a very violent situation where half of our family was being killed. People were protesting for freedom. They were losing their lives. They were disappearing and being oppressed Ive never even been able to go back to the country because its been so much turmoil since I was born, Phipps explained. Theres no freedom of speech, theres no freedom of press. Theres no freedom to engage in politics. Its a theocracy. Its all through the eyes of God. So I really have no tolerance for this in Williamsburg in 2025. Former President Obama on Monday praised the late Pope Francis for inspiring Catholics and non-Catholics alike to want to be better people. Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people, Obama wrote in a post on the social platform X after Franciss death. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world Catholic and non-Catholic alike who drew strength and inspiration from the Popes example, Obama added. May we continue to heed his call to never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope. Francis was elected pope in 2013, during Obamas second term in office. Obama met with the pope at the Vatican in March 2014. The following year, the pope visited the U.S., was welcomed in a formal ceremony at the White House and met privately with Obama. Francis died Monday at 88 at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta after battling a long series of health complications stemming from a chronic lung disease, the Vatican announced. The pontiff had been hospitalized on Feb. 14 with bronchitis, contracted pneumonia four days later and was listed in critical condition by the Vatican on Feb. 22. He never fully recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936, broke barriers in the Catholic Church when he became the first leader of the Vatican City State to hail from the Americas, and the first to represent the Jesuit order, known for its commitment to social justice. He was known for his human rights advocacy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday on Obamacares mandate that insurance companies cover everything from depression screenings to HIV-prevention drugs. The lawsuit, brought by conservative employers in Texas, targets the expert panel that advises HHS on which preventive care services insurers must cover without cost-sharing. The employers argue the task forces are unconstitutional because their members are not confirmed by the Senate nor chosen by a Senate-confirmed agency head. President Donald Trump, a longtime critic of the Affordable Care Act who tried to repeal it during his first term, surprised many in February when his administration adopted the Biden administrations defense of the law. But Bidens justice department focused largely on the health impacts of dropping the coverage requirements. The brief Trumps DOJ filed earlier this spring, on the other hand, stressed that the mandate is constitutional because Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can order HHSs preventive care task force to study a particular service or medication, remove any of its volunteer members who dont comply, ignore or delay review of their recommendations, or make sure they never see the light of day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This argument has progressive health advocates who filed amicus briefs in the case on edge particularly given Kennedys views about vaccines and other preventive health care that contradict the medical communitys consensus, and his reported desire to overhaul other HHS advisory committees. It's important that they're looking to protect this authority, but we're hoping that they're not just doing it because they want the ability to ruin our health care, said Leslie Dach, a former senior counselor at HHS who now leads the group Protect Our Care. We are very, very nervous that they will take a sledgehammer to vaccines, take a sledgehammer to contraception and a number of other preventative services that the American people benefit from and need. Vaccines and contraception would not be immediately implicated by a ruling in this case because their insurance coverage is determined by other HHS advisory panels, not the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. But lower federal courts are considering challenges to those other panels, and the Supreme Courts decision could set a precedent that preserves or restricts access. Lower federal courts also agreed with the Texas employers' separate argument that some of the Affordable Care Act's requirements, including insurance coverage of the HIV-prevention drug PrEP, violated their religious rights. In their challenge to PrEP, the Texas employers argued they shouldnt have to cover the drug because it facilitate[s] and encourage[s] homosexual behavior, prostitution, sexual promiscuity, and intravenous drug use in conflict with their Christian beliefs. But the lower court rulings only allowed the plaintiffs in the case to opt out of covering PrEP for their employees while the case proceeds, and the Biden administration did not appeal that part of the ruling to the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While a religious carveout for PrEP is not part of Monday's arguments, some public health experts fear other employers could cite the lower court's rulings in lawsuits aimed at obtaining their own exemptions. HIV/AIDS advocates are also concerned that PrEP would almost certainly be on the chopping block if the Supreme Court rules that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is unconstitutional. Such a ruling would give "insurers the ability to cherry-pick which preventive services they're going to cover free of cost," said Anu Dairkee, a fellow with Harvard University's Health Law and Policy Clinic. "Given the cost of PrEP and the associated services around it, it could be one of the most vulnerable on the list." More than a dozen groups that work on HIV and AIDS wrote an amicus brief urging the court to maintain coverage, arguing that the drug has helped make a major dent in transmission of HIV since it was approved in 2012, moving the country toward the goal Trump set in his first administration of ending the epidemic by 2030. But federal data shows use of the PrEP lagging in low-income communities of color at highest risk for infection a trend HIV experts fear will worsen if the Supreme Court rules that insurance companies dont have to cover the drug. Without insurance coverage, the medication can cost up to $30,000 per year. PrEP is expensive, and it requires follow up labs, so insurance coverage has been transformative for its uptake, said Carl Baloney, the CEO-elect of AIDS Watch. Its one of the greatest innovations in fighting against HIV since the advent of antiretroviral treatment. So ensuring that folks have the self determination to go on PrEP if their doctor deems it's needed that needs to be maintained as a biomedical intervention. ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) For 50 years Odessa College has hosted live performances at the Globe Theatre. This year an energetic group of performers came together to perform Cymbeline, created by William Shakespeare, and locally directed by Aaron Ganz, Odessa Colleges theatre director. KMIDs very own Madeline Dunn played the main role in the performance, alongside several other local actors and theatre lovers. Dunn encourages anyone to tryout for future plays and pursue their passions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre thinking about auditioning just try it, Dunn said. I mean even if you get a small role its still like your playing a huge part in this you know, and youre bringing a story to life. Aiden Crow has acted for several years, and also played part in the Cymbeline performance. He gives credit to his colleagues for the heartfelt acts they put on this year. I have such a wonderful amazing group, all of these actors are so talented in all if their different ways that Ive gotten close in and have made life-long friendships with with these people in this company, Crow 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 Yourbasin. Buffeted by lockdowns, labor shortages, supply chain problems and escalating costs, the past five years have not been particularly kind to major fast-food brands. Many of the quick-service restaurant giants such as McDonalds, Starbucks and KFC have experienced declines in customer traffic and, especially over the last six months, have watched their profit margins be impacted as a result. Consumers, especially those from lower-income demographics, seem to have lost the sense that fast food represented good value. Apart from cost pressures and value perceptions, the quick service segment of the restaurant industry is also having to cope with quiet competition from another type of business - the convenience store Of course, convenience stores have long sold ready-to-eat foods in the form of packaged sandwiches, soft drinks and roller-grilled hot dogs. But since the pandemic that industry has gotten serious about food service, with modern C-store layouts devoting space to a veritable food court of tasty options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The convenience store industry, faced with declining gasoline sales thanks to the growing popularity of electric vehicles, has latched onto ready-to-eat food as the growth opportunity to pursue. Food service sales convenience stores currently represents about 30% of total stores sales and contribute generously to the bottom line. In contrast, just two decades ago food service sales were only about 12% of the industrys total take at the cash register. Unlike the quick service restaurant sector, convenience stores have continued to rack up year-over-year sales and customer count increases, most recently reporting a 2.4% growth in sales for 2024. Thats a result any fast-food eatery would be glad to report. ********** Side Dishes In celebration of National Burger Month, on April 28 Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews will be introducing several items to its menu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new Backyard BBQ Pork Burger will get its flavor profile from a topping of hickory-smoked pulled pork, barbecue sauce and hardwood-smoked bacon. Garnishes for the new burger include cheddar cheese, onion straws and more; a bottomless side will also be included. Backyard BBQ Pork Nachos will feature Red Robins signature Yukon Chips topped with hickory-smoked pulled pork, a drizzle of beer cheese-bacon fondue, Whiskey River BBQ sauce and ranch dressing. Sliced jalapenos will serve as garnish. Three special beverages - a Peach-Berry Freckled Lemonade in both nonalcoholic and vodka-spiked versions and a Peaches & Cream Milkshake - are also making a month-long appearance. There are Red Robin locations at Holyoke Crossing in Holyoke, on Hazard Avenue in Enfield, and in Manchester, Conn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ********** Massachusetts State Sen. Julian Cyr, a Democrat whose district includes part of Cape Cod and the Islands, has renewed his quest to end the Massachusetts ban on restaurant happy hours. As he did during the last Legislative session, Cyr is linking the existing happy hour ban to what he refers to as the Commonwealths fun problem. Cyr believes that lifting the ban on discount drinks would not only be good for the restaurant business but would also remedy what he sees as a socializing shortfall in the Bay State. He contends that bringing back happy hours would make life more enjoyable for younger people and could even help keep them from moving out of state. The current ban on happy hours dates back to 1984. Cyrs assertion is that things have changed since then, thanks to the deterrent effect of tougher drunk driving laws and the widespread availability of ride-for-hire services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Cyrs proposal was last before the Legislature, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, which lobbies on behalf of the industry, actively opposed an end to the happy hour ban. ********** All this week (until Sunday, April 27), the Friendlys Restaurant at 54-56 Main Street in Florence is holding a grand reopening celebration. Newly redecorated and under new ownership, the Florence location is marking the change with a full week of special deals. A weekday dine-in special is being offered from Monday, April 21 until Friday, April 25. Diners under the age of 12 can eat free from the kids menu with a qualifying purchase of an adult meal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the weekend of April 26 and 27, theres a carry-out treat being planned. Buy a single scoop cone or dish for carryout and get a second one free. The above promotional deals are available at the Main Street, Florence location only. Contact the restaurant at 413-584-1772 for more details. ********** Eat, Drink & Be Holyoke is being celebrated on May 1 at the Holyoke Senior Center on Pine Street. Sponsored by the Holyoke Rotary Club, the event, which will run from 5:30-8:30 p.m., will feature food tastings from a number of Holyoke restaurants. Beverage samples will be provided by Quality Beverage of Chicopee; Wine Haus and Vineyard of Granby will conduct tastings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live music and a silent auction will also contribute to the evenings fun. Tickets for Eat, Drink & Be Holyoke are available at Eventbrite.com. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting Rotary projects in Holyoke, South Hadley and Granby ********** Abandoned Building Brewery of Easthampton is hosting a Makers Market on Sunday, April 27, from noon-5 p.m. The Market will be bringing together more than 25 local craft vendors while Vegan Pizza and a Provisions pop-up will be offering good things to eat. Abandoned Buildings brewing efforts, which include IPAs, barrel-aged dark beers, and ales made in the Belgian style, will also be available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more about the Makers Market, contact Abandoned Building Brewery at 413-203-2537. ********** Tutti Quanti, a Sturbridge-based market specializing in Italian food imports, is hosting a tasting on Tuesday, April 29, from 6:30-8 p.m. Three new Italian wine varieties will be poured, and samples of cheese, pasta, and charcuterie also will be available. Tickets for the tasing, which can be ordered at Eventbrite.com, are $15 plus a convenience fee. Tutti Quanti answers at 774-241-0476. ********** 99 Restaurant & Pub locations across Western Massachusetts have introduced a spring season selection of menu add-ons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These include Meatball & Moons, a small plate that incorporates two marinara-sauced meatballs garnished with mozzarella balls and a dollop of ricotta. Three entree selections - a Balsamic Bleu Cheese Ribeye Steak, pan-roasted Swordfish Steak and a Grilled Chicken Capri Salad - are also available. 99 is also bringing back its Colossal Lobster Roll in either a Connecticut-style format (hot and buttery) or filled with a mayonnaise-and-celery lobster salad. Either style of Lobster Roll comes with fries and coleslaw. These limited-time items, along with several specialty cocktails, will be available through June 15. ********** Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of CEO Brian Niccols program of returning Starbucks to its warm and comfortable roots, the coffee chain is updating its employee dress code in a manner thats designed to emphasize the iconic green Starbucks apron. Starting May 12, Starbucks baristas and counter people will have to adhere to a defined color palette that will incorporate black, company-logo tee shirts; black, long-sleeved shirts; and pants in black, denim blue or khaki. The stated objective of the new dress code is to create a sense of familiarity across all of Starbuckss North America locations. Starbucks has also been re-engineering its operating procedures, recently announcing that it was working to shorten wait times. The new goal, according to company officials, is to fulfill drink orders, both in-store and drive-thru, in four minutes or less. To help meet this target the chain has been working to reduce the operational complexity in its stores by streamlining the drink menu and bringing in outside consultants to suggest fixes that will expedite the flow of orders. Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community Colleges hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com. ORANGE, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Officers are searching for a dog that was reportedly stolen over the weekend. Troopers were dispatched to E. Orange Road Sunday morning. On-scene the dogs owner, a 34-year-old Vermont native, told authorities that he saw his dog Saturday afternoon. He noted that the dog was gone by Sunday morning. (Courtesy: VSP) (Courtesy: VSP) This dog is a beagle with an orange and silver reflective collar. Anyone with information about the incident, which is under investigation, should reach out to Trooper Flores at the VSP Berlin Barracks by calling 802-229-9191. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Local officials have identified the individual who died in an east Topeka house fire last Friday. The Topeka Fire Department (TFD) identified the fire victim as Michael J. Ullman, 65 in a press release issued on April 21. He was the only resident of the home. Working smoke detectors were not found inside the home. Topeka firefighters were called just after 5:50 a.m. on April 18 to reports of a house fire in the 400 block of Southeast Rodgers Street. Fire crews arriving at the scene found smoke coming from a house and worked to put out the flames. Firefighters searched the home and found one person inside dead. The fire remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topeka police lieutenant dies after medical emergency For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Farmers harvest wheat at a field in Multan, Pakistan on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Mansoor Abbas/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's food exports increased by 1.62 percent in the first nine months of the fiscal year 2024-25 (July 2024 to June 2025), according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Food exports during the July-March period were recorded at 5.75 billion dollars, up from 5.66 billion dollars in the same period a year ago, according to data on the PBS website on Sunday. Basmati rice exports grew by 8.78 percent in value, reaching 676.96 million dollars, supported by a 21.78 percent rise in volume to 663,980 tons. In contrast, non-basmati rice exports declined by 9.87 percent in value to 2.08 billion dollars, despite a marginal 0.14 percent increase in quantity to 4.02 million tons. Overall rice exports fell by 5.91 percent in value, totaling 2.76 billion dollars. The report also showed that fish and fish product exports rose by 8.15 percent during the July-March period, while meat exports posted a marginal growth of 0.99 percent. Meanwhile, vegetable exports, including onions, potatoes, and tomatoes, dropped by 17.09 percent, and fruit exports declined by 5.04 percent, according to the PBS. A farmer harvests wheat at a field in Multan, Pakistan on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Mansoor Abbas/Xinhua) WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Attorney General David Yost will visit the Trumbull County Jail after awarding the county $250,000 to help inmates overcome drug addiction. Trumbull County Sheriff Michael Wilson will give Yost a tour of the facility on Tuesday afternoon. Trumbull County is sharing in a $1.2 million statewide grant, which will funnel about $250,000 to the Trumbull County Sheriffs Office to hire a full-time addiction services coordinator or a contractor providing similar services to treat opioid and other addictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal is to help inmates through detox and recovery after Yost says that county jails have been burdened by the opioid crisis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KABUL, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin arrived in Kabul on Monday to hold talks on bilateral relations, state-run Bakhtar news agency reported. Welcomed by the Afghan interim government's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund at the Prime Minister's Office, both sides would discuss matters pertaining to mutual interests, including trade and economic relations, the state-owned news agency said. This is the second foreign dignitary to visit Afghanistan's capital Kabul since the weekend. Earlier, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar paid a one-day visit to Kabul on Saturday and held meetings with Afghan interim government officials. We are now five years past the start of the global pandemic that led to an incredible swell of people getting outside and enjoying our public lands. Trail traffic increased 79% year-over-year in the summer of 2020. And in many parts of Utah, trails have continued to see double-digit increases in use over the past three years. Many have adapted to meet this new reality. Utah businesses and local economies have evolved to serve all these new adventurers: individuals, families and friends who are spending time in the outdoors together. People have moved their homes and lives to have better access to trails, mountains, lakes and rivers. But one sector arguably the most important one has fallen behind and lacks the supply needed to meet outdoor demand. Most public land agencies are underfunded and have large backlogs of deferred maintenance. Agencies are losing the staff and funding necessary to carry out the critical work of protecting and managing the places that many of us love. Nonprofit organizations are unable to keep up with the rapidly changing reduction of resources needed to support and protect our public lands from those that dont understand their true value to our quality of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The saying goes, it takes a village Supporting each other is key to quality of life, and everyone can play a role in making our communities better. But our communities dont end at the boundaries of our schoolyards or church grounds. We need to be willing to pitch in to protect our trails and public lands. Working as a community has never been more important to the future of outdoor recreation. It will take all of us citizens, businesses, lawmakers, non-profits and government to ensure three critical actions are addressed in the management of our public lands: Protect the resources and the environment. Support a healthy and sustainable economy for the communities surrounding public lands. Provide access and pursuit of happiness for all to enjoy our favorite outdoor places with those we care about. One successful example of this community mentality is the Utah Trails Forum, a coalition that successfully brings together the trails community to protect the one thing Utahns value the most: time on the trail. From the heavily used foothill trails of the Wasatch Front and our national parks to the remote trails of Boulder Mountain and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, government employees, non-profit staffers, volunteers and local concerned citizens come together to find solutions and resources in the pursuit of protecting our trails on public lands. It is not an easy task. There are powerful forces and individuals pushing to use our public lands for things that threaten the environment and our access to it. As with most issues, not everyone sees eye to eye; not everyone treasures our treasured places. But I take solace in knowing that many people are engaged in the cause of ensuring the trails where I learned to mountain bike, or where I take my kids when we need to connect with nature, will be protected and accessible for generations to come. To learn more about the Utah Trails Forum, consider joining me at the Utah Trails Conference on April 23-24 in Kanab, Utah. Pray as though everything depended on God, Saint Augustine wrote. Work as though everything depended on you. Easter Monday is a celebration of Jesus resurrection, and a call to action. Let me say that in the language of todays social media clickbait: Americas Christians have to Practice what we preach. This is a fearful time for our nation. Last week, Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist, wrote that he has never feared for his nation as much as he fears for it today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in a time of fear, faith demands more than prayers. It demands action and strength. People of faith are called to do what the late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights icon famously urged, guided by his Christian beliefs: We need to get into good trouble. Lewis, a graduate of American Baptist College in Tennessee, told PBS in 2004. In my estimation, the civil rights movement was a religious phenomenon. When wed go out to sit in or go out to march, I felt and I really believe there was a force in front of us and a force behind us, cause sometimes you didnt know what to do But somehow and some way, you believed you had faith that it all was going to be all right. As an Episcopalian who regularly attends church, I have learned from the Old and New Testament that Jesus commanded love and care for the poor, the sick, the downtrodden, and the refugee. So how can any Christian, especially Evangelicals, a key base for Trump, defend this president? The old phrase WWJD What Would Jesus Do? applies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Would Jesus snatch people off the street and throw them into distant prisons? Would Jesus separate families without due process, with no evidence? Would Jesus smile as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, flashing an expensive Rolex watch, poses gleefully in front of cages jammed with desperate prisoners? Would Jesus applaud as she bragged about their inhumane conditions? How is that crass act acceptable to those who worship Jesus? I have been taught that Jesus would protest Trump budget proposals that take a sledgehammer to financial lifelines for seniors, widows, the disabled, and the poor, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while promising tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans. In the 1970s and 1980s, the late televangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson fueled the political rise of the Moral Majority, as a dominant force in Republican politics. They transformed abortion into a wedge issue, stirring churchgoers to vote for the Republican Party as an act of faith in Jesus to defend human life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To this day, Christian conservatives continue to invoke scripture to defend unborn life and oppose homosexual marriage. But they somehow ignore that same scriptures calls to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and uplift the downtrodden. Call me astounded by such hypocrisy. Lets not forget: Jesus brought a whip into the temple to drive out the money-changers. The Bible warns heavily against the rich exploiting the poor. Yet Trump accepts big campaign contributions from the richest and allows these unelected oligarchs to set policies that benefit the rich and harm the poor. Theres a link between that hypocrisy and the spectacle of Pastor Paula White-Cain, Trumps senior White House faith adviser and a government employee, asking Christians to send her $1,000 because ministry costs money. In return, sounding like a grifter in the temple, she promises seven supernatural blessings: angelic protection, prosperity, healing, long life plus a free crystal cross, if you act now. This unseemly behavior is a minor news item, overshadowed by Trump Administration lawyers failure to explain to judges their defiance of court orders and indifference to Americas promise of justice for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump similarly failed to find an answer when Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, speaking at an inaugural prayer service, asked him to have mercy, on people who are scared now specifically people who are immigrants and people who are transgender. His only response was to attack the bishop as a radical left hard line Trump-hater, and call her nasty. Now, in this time of fear, it is up to true Christians to act. Former Congressman Lewis drew inspiration from a faith-driven leader: the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King was not concerned about the streets of heaven and the pearly gates and the streets paved with milk and honey, Lewis said in the 1987 PBS documentary Eyes on the Prize (for which I wrote the companion book). He was more concerned about the streets of Montgomery and the way that Black people and poor people were being treated in Montgomery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On this Easter Monday, the question is how will Trumps Christian supporters answer when confronted with Jesus concern for others to the point of giving his life to save sinners? How will they answer for these actions when theyre one day called to account? Something tells me God will not be impressed with claims that hatred of Democrats or liberals was greater than concern over Trumps wrongdoing. Christianity and most other religions teach that there will be a reckoning for political harm being done in todays Washington. So I pray for hearts to change, but also for true Christians to act urgently and get in good trouble. Juan Williams is senior political analyst for Fox News Channel and a prize-winning civil rights historian. He is the author of the new book New Prize for these Eyes: the Rise of Americas Second Civil Rights Movement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Every day the Trump regime tramples the rule of law makes Americans less free and less safe. Every day the president defies the Constitution and courts makes America less America. President Trump is increasingly acting like a king or dictator who rules by decree, and whose decree is all it takes to make someone disappear. Thats now happening here, and with the full support of people like House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has long portrayed himself and the Republican Party as advocates for the rule of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ours is a government of laws and not of men, and the rule of law is our foundation, says Johnsons website. Thats fine to say, but where is Johnson when Trump sends hundreds of people, mostly without criminal records, to a foreign concentration camp, with no trial and no opportunity to prove their innocence? Where is Johnsons professed reverence for the rule of law when Trump and other MAGA-supporting officials mockingly defy the courts and evade a unanimous Supreme Court ruling that the administration must facilitate the return of a man the courts have ruled, and Trumps team admitted, was wrongly included in one of the trafficking flights to a brutal gulag in El Salvador? For someone who says God raised him into leadership to be a Moses for America, Johnson does not show any inclination to challenge our own heart-hardened pharaoh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, Johnson isnt the only one who talks about freedom and the rule of law while undermining both. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has a long record of denouncing dictatorial behavior by the late Fidel Castro, but Rubio is now helping lead a brutally anti-freedom campaign in the U.S. With a stroke of Rubios pen, foreign students legally studying in the U.S. have been declared unwelcome, abducted from the streets, thrown into detention and threatened with deportation all for having expressed opinions Rubio disagrees with. Thats not freedom, its fascism. Meanwhile, constitutional lawyer and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who denounced the 2023 indictment of Trump as a sign of dictatorship, tweeted in March, Alien gang members arent entitled to due process the Trump administration rightly deported them. In fact, Cruz declared flat-out on national television that due process does not protect foreign nationals. Years of Supreme Court rulings, including a 9-0 ruling this month, say that Cruz is wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump regime didnt give any of the people it hustled onto planes a chance to challenge the regimes claims or prove their innocence. Thats what due process is all about. Due process is not just some abstract legal principle. It is at the heart of individual freedom and the rule of law. As journalist Garrett Graff recently wrote, due process is civilization. In fact, Trump and his allies loudly advocated for due process in his criminal cases, and he used every bit of it to delay being held accountable for breaking the law. As Graff noted, the same Trump is now the one seeking to rob the rest of us of that tradition and protection. We should all be alarmed at Trumps expressed desire to send Americans into the concentration camps run by El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele, Trumps buddy and self-proclaimed worlds coolest dictator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should all be alarmed that Vice President JD Vance puts scare quotes around the phrase due process, as if due process were a legal fiction and not a foundation of our constitutional rights. And we should all be alarmed that Trumps counterterrorism chief Sebastian Gorka is warning that people defending due process rights of people sent to nightmarish imprisonment in El Salvador should be prosecuted for aiding and abetting criminals and terrorists. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently criticized the Trump regime for 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. Trumps claim, in defiance of a unanimous Supreme Court, that he cant do anything to return a man he admits was wrongly shipped off to a gulag in El Salvador should be shocking to Americans intuitive sense of liberty, the judges wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yes, it should be shocking to every Republican elected official who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and who declares their support for the rule of law. Sadly, what is no longer shocking is to see Trump-fearing Republicans rally around even his most unconstitutional and undemocratic actions. It is what we have come to expect from them. It is why we must resist them with our voices and replace them with our votes. Svante Myrick is president of People For the American Way. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president who deserves better from his senior leadership. President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, its hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer. The latest flashpoint is a near collapse inside the Pentagons top ranks. On Friday, Hegseth fired three of his most loyal senior staffers senior adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the deputy secretary of Defense. In the aftermath, Defense Department officials working for Hegseth tried to smear the aides anonymously to reporters, claiming they were fired for leaking sensitive information as part of an investigation ordered earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet none of this is true. While the department said that it would conduct polygraph tests as part of the probe, not one of the three has been given a lie detector test. In fact, at least one of them has told former colleagues that investigators advised him he was about to be cleared officially of any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, Hegseths team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door. On Friday, POLITICO reported that Hegseths chief of staff, Joe Kasper, was leaving his role. Kasper had requested the investigation into the Pentagon leaks, which reportedly included military operational plans for the Panama Canal and a pause in the collection of intelligence for Ukraine. Hegseth is now presiding over a strange and baffling purge that will leave him without his two closest advisers of over a decade Caldwell and Selnick and without chiefs of staff for him and his deputy. More firings may be coming, according to rumors in the building. In short, the building is in disarray under Hegseths leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortunately, I was not a victim of this purge of his senior leadership. Like Caldwell and Selnick, I am a longtime backer of the secretary. In December, when his Senate confirmation was in jeopardy, I wrote an opinion piece arguing strongly that he was the best man to shake things up at a Pentagon in need of serious reform. A month later, Hegseth invited me to stand up and lead the Pentagon public affairs operation for his initial time in the building, and then possibly take on another position in the department after that. We accomplished a lot together, including bringing new, largely more conservative, media outlets into the Pentagon press space, and ensuring the public understands Trumps commitment to rebuilding our military after four years of drift under President Joe Biden and his Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, including their injecting divisive identity politics and lowering high standards on body composition and physical fitness in the uniformed services. Last week, a month after leaving my public affairs role, I respectfully declined the secretarys generous offer for a new position and informed him of my decision to leave the department, wishing him all the best. I value his friendship and am grateful for his giving me the opportunity to serve. I salute his leadership in helping the president make America strong again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon and its becoming a real problem for the administration. First there was Signalgate, where the secretary shared detailed operational plans, including timelines and specifics, about an impending military strike on the Houthis in Yemen over an unclassified Signal chat group that happened to include a member of the news media. Once the Signalgate story broke, Hegseth followed horrible crisis-communications advice from his new public affairs team, who somehow convinced him to try to debunk the reporting through a vague, Clinton-esque non-denial denial that nobody was texting war plans. This was a violation of PR rule number one get the bad news out right away. His nebulous disavowal prompted the reporter, Jeffrey Goldberg, to release Hegseths full chat string with the detailed operational plans two days later, turning an already-big story into a multi-week embarrassment for the presidents national security team. Hegseth now faces an inspector general investigation into a possible leak of classified information and violation of records retention protocols. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was just the beginning of the Month from Hell. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported that Hegseth brought his wife, a former Fox News producer, to two meetings with foreign military counterparts where sensitive information was discussed. Next, the Pentagon set up a top-secret briefing by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on China for Elon Musk, who still has extensive business interests in China. After learning about it, the White House canceled that meeting. Then came the purges. And the news keeps coming. On Sunday night, The New York Times reported that Hegseth shared details about the Yemen strike in another Signal chat that included his wife and brother. There are very likely more shoes to drop in short order, with even bigger bombshell stories coming this week, key Pentagon reporters have been telling sources privately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One reason the American people gave Trump a conclusive victory last November is that hes not a go-along, get-along creature of the Beltway like many of his recent predecessors, but rather a shrewd businessman who expects results and holds his team accountable for serious mistakes that occur on their watch. Just ask Cabinet Secretaries Jim Mattis, Mark Esper, Rex Tillerson, David Shulkin, Tom Price and Ryan Zinke. They, like Hegseth, are all good men and patriots whom Trump dismissed in his first term when he found their performance wanting. Biden did the opposite. From his Defense secretarys botched withdrawal from Afghanistan and disappearing for six days telling neither his staff nor the White House, to his Transportation secretarys weeks-long refusal to visit the site of a major railroad derailment and catastrophic chemical spill, to his secretary of States allowing Chinese officials to lecture him about race relations, Biden held not a single one on his team accountable and just let them skate. In Trumps first term, he produced more national-security wins than any president in a generation or more. Trump countered Communist Chinas aggression, strengthened our Indo-Pacific partnerships, began Americas long-awaited departure from Afghanistan, eliminated the ISIS caliphate, and killed its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, among other big wins. In the first three months of his second term, Trump has continued that great record on national security, in particular refocusing the Defense Department on its core mission of preparing to fight and win wars. Unfortunately, after a terrible month, the Pentagon focus is no longer on warfighting, but on endless drama. The president deserves better than the current mishegoss at the Pentagon. Given his record of holding prior Cabinet leaders accountable, many in the secretarys own inner circle will applaud quietly if Trump chooses to do the same in short order at the top of the Defense Department. People around the world will celebrate Earth Day in many different ways tomorrow. This years theme is Our Power, Our Planet, a push to triple the worlds use of clean energy by 2030. Organizers have created an interactive map with the details of hundreds of celebrations across the planet. President Trump, always the contrarian, is celebrating in his own way. He began in January, as soon as he reassumed the presidency. He has been busy, too, implementing comprehensive policies to make the planet warmer, its weather more violent, its biodiversity less robust, and its human population much less safe. Some Americans, especially the captains of the fossil fuel industry, are delighted. Everyone else should be concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we know, Trump and his team are committed to improving government efficiency. During his first term, the Trump administration rescinded more than 125 federal environmental rules and programs. It was very inefficient; they did it one rule at a time. This time, Trump is doing it all at once. Hes putting a five-year sunset date on many regulations related to energy production. They all would disappear at once unless some are extended. Trump and his wingman Elon Musk have inserted a new verb in the government lexicon. Their Department of Government Efficiency is DOGE-ing thousands of federal employees, programs and departments. Unfortunately, many DOGE cuts allow the government to dodge its responsibility for environmental stewardship on behalf of current and future Americans. The president is celebrating Earth Day in several other ways, too. In an impressive example of multi-tasking, he is curtailing federal climate science, defunding programs to help America track its weather, rescinding federal clean energy grants, and banning over 250 unacceptable words from federal literature and websites. They include clean energy, climate crisis, climate science, pollution, science-based, social justice and vulnerable populations. Earlier this month, Trump issued an order to reinvigorate Americas beautiful clean coal industry, which simultaneously recognizes Easter and Earth Day with Trump trying to resurrect the worlds most carbon-intensive fuel from the dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump pulled America out of the Paris climate agreement during his first term. Former President Biden put us back in. In one of the first acts of his new term, Trump announced he is pulling us out again. The first time, many states filled the gap with their own emission-reduction plans. At least 23 states and the District of Columbia now have economywide targets to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. So, in a case of geographic and political overreach, Trump issued an order on April 9 to block states from enforcing their laws to combat global warming. He also directed his attorney general to block state environmental justice and environmental, social, and governance policies. Yet state policies like these are none of a presidents business. As I wrote last week, Trump is acquiring extraordinary presidential powers by declaring national emergencies where there are none. His energy emergency declaration is one. However, he still flatly denies Americas most serious genuine emergency: climate change. Worse, he is actively exacerbating it with his promotion of fossil fuels. When nearly 200 nations, including the U.S., signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, the preferred goal was to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures. Scientists now predict that the Earths average surface temperature may climb 3 degrees Celsius in the lifetimes of children born today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The World Resources Institute calculates that 3 degrees would expose nearly 600 million people to floods from rising sea levels, cut global food production in half, cause disastrous losses of wildlife habitat, create month-long heat waves in cities, lead to skyrocketing demand for air conditioning, result in more insect-borne diseases, and cause the greatest hardships for those with the fewest resources to cope. Kevin Trenberth, a leading climate scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, moved to New Zealand rather than work under Trump. He expects a significant number of other American researchers are likely to leave, and says Trumps latest decision to exit the Paris Agreement is a serious setback. The U.S. cannot opt out without major consequences, he warns. If the U.S. does not lead by example, and there is a moral and ethical responsibility to do so as the largest accumulated emitter, then why should anyone else go along? The agreement survived last time. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes it will again, but not without loss. People sometimes can lose important organs or the legs and survive, he said. But we dont want a crippled Paris Agreement. We want a real Paris Agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a poll last month, EcoAmerica found that more than half of Americans oppose Trumps reversal of Americas climate leadership. The majority are concerned about climate change, with younger Republicans breaking ranks with their partys older generation on climate concern, the poll found. The survey also reveals that Americansincluding Republicans under 45see the new administrations rollbacks as threats to jobs, public health, the environment, and U.S. leadership in clean energy. But Trump and other Republican leaders will not deal with climate change unless voters force them to. If that were to happen, the world would really have reason to celebrate. William S. Becker is a former U.S. Department of Energy central regional director and special assistant to the departments assistant secretary of energy efficiency and renewable energy. He is executive director of the Presidential Climate Action Project. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. I am not supposed to be here. Born a 6-pound, 7-ounce Black girl in 1967 at Crosby Memorial Hospital in Picayune, Mississippi, the odds were stacked against me from the beginning. Mississippi had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation at 35.3 deaths per 1,000 live births that year. And the rate that year for nonwhite infants like me was 47.4 per 1,000 live births. A small fraction of Black people born a generation or so ahead of me made it to the end of high school. Based on when and where I was born, my current success is something of a miracle. What made the difference in my life? Early Head Start, which President Lyndon B. Johnson launched in 1965 as part of his War on Poverty. In my case, Head Start wasnt just an educational program, but a lifeline. It operated out of the church annex of the Pilgrim Bound Baptist Church in Picayune, where three generations of my family had been active members. At that Head Start, my great aunts and my grandmother helped create a haven where genuine learning flourished and where we received hot meals each day. Thats why its so distressing to hear news of the current administrations plan to eliminate funding for Head Start, yet another goal of Project 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I still vividly remember the arts and crafts projects we created at Head Start, the plays we performed and, most importantly, how learning was made fun and engaging. Head Start was one of the biggest influences on my growth and development. It was indeed one of the few times in my early life where I felt truly loved, seen and supported in a place of learning. Most significantly, this nurturing environment became the pathway for my development as an artist and creator. In that church annex, creativity had no boundaries we were encouraged to express ourselves through art, storytelling and performance. The teachers never limited our imagination but instead fostered it, showing us that possibilities were limitless. They seamlessly wove together community, learning and creativity in ways that showed me from the earliest age that these elements werent separate but deeply interconnected. Six-year-old Stephanie McKee at New Orleans International Airport. My subsequent educational journey unfolded quite differently. The public schools for Black students in the late 1960s and early '70s remained deeply underfunded and segregated despite supposed progress. Academic research shows the magnitude of these educational disparities in Mississippi: Of the 1,286,272 Black students who began first grade from 1941 to 1958, only 10.4% persisted to 12th grade, and more than 730,000 left school after just the first grade. I was fortunate; Head Start was the reason I could read and write at an early age. According to my mother, I had a solid command of the English language," probably because I was around a bunch of old women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of my peers werent as fortunate. They hadnt been given the same solid foundation that Head Start gave me, and the difference was apparent. Many people fail to understand that Head Start isnt just an educational program; its a comprehensive approach to child development that addresses emotional, social, health and nutritional needs alongside academic preparation. For a Black girl in Mississippi in the late 1960s, these supports werent just helpful they were essential. And they remain so. Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association, told USA Today that eliminating Head Starts budget would end meals, health care and developmental screenings for 800,000 children and leave their parents unable to work. Head Start shaped my understanding of what education should be. I learned that the acquisition of knowledge wasnt separate from emotional well-being or physical nourishment. I learned that community involvement in education strengthens both the community and the educational outcomes. Most importantly, I learned that I belonged in educational spaces that I had a right to be there and that I could thrive there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, as the executive artistic director of a nonprofit organization still working in the South, I continue to apply these lessons. My artistic vision and leadership approach are directly rooted in those early Head Start experiences. I understand the power of community, the importance of recognizing the conditions that children face, and whats truly at stake in their development. The creative freedom I experienced then continues to inform how I approach artistic work now always seeing the possibilities rather than the limitations, always trusting in the transformative power of creative expression. The research consistently confirms what my life demonstrates: Quality early learning experiences create ripple effects that extend throughout a persons lifetime. Children who participate in programs like Head Start are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, maintain better health and achieve economic stability. As our nation grapples with educational inequities and opportunity gaps, I often think about that church annex in Picayune. I think about how a federally funded program, implemented by local community members who understood the children they served, created conditions where even the most vulnerable could thrive. I think about how that model federal resources meeting local wisdom and care remains our best hope for addressing the persistent challenges facing our educational system. Head Start gave me more than just an academic advantage; it gave me a vision of what was possible for my life and for my community. This is the true legacy of Head Start not merely improved test scores or school readiness, but transformed lives and communities. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal (C), co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," is seen at his house in the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on March 26, 2025. Palestinians' bond with their land runs deep and they will never leave home even at a time of hardship and increasing Israeli settler violence, said Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." "No Other Land" chronicles the violence facing Palestinian villagers and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the area of Masafer Yatta, southern West Bank. It has notched up festival awards and the Oscar for best documentary feature this year. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians' bond with their land runs deep and they will never leave home even at a time of hardship and increasing Israeli settler violence, said Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." "Many many generations of us have lived here. I have memories here. Without past, you can't live the future. So when you ask what 'land' means to us, that means a lot and that means a life. When fish go outside the water, they die. This is the relationship between the land and Palestinians," Ballal told Xinhua during an interview on Saturday. "No Other Land" chronicles the violence facing Palestinian villagers and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the area of Masafer Yatta, southern West Bank. It has notched up festival awards and the Oscar for best documentary feature this year. Sitting inside his house in the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, Ballal recalled to Xinhua some early memories of the Israeli violence. It was a Friday, about two decades ago, when his family was gathered around a traditional meal in a tent. Suddenly, a loud explosion shattered the moment, and soon they realized that Israeli soldiers had thrown an explosive device into the center of their dishes. "Nobody got hurt, but we lost the food. I was so sad," he remembered. At the time, as a child, he couldn't understand why this happened, but "we understand now that they make it some big pressure on you, to make you leave your home. That's the reason." Over the past years, the Israeli violence has only increased. A UN report in April showed that since early 2023, Masafer Yatta "has seen a sharp and sustained escalation in settler violence, resulting in both casualties and widespread property damage." The frequency of such incidents has risen dramatically -- from an average of 1.5 incidents per month in 2021 and 2022 to nearly five incidents per month over the past two years, and this upward trend has continued into 2025, the UN report said. "They worked against Palestinians from two lines, the demolition (of Palestinian houses), and also the settler violence," Ballal said that just two days before, settlers attacked a Palestinian man in Masafer Yatta, resulting in him losing his leg. "This is what's happening here. Palestinians are facing this every day." The violence also takes an economic toll. Ballal told Xinhua that he used to keep more than 70 sheep but because of frequent settlers' attacks, he cannot reach most of his land and graze sheep there. Now he only kept about 25 sheep, a blow to his family income. "If you go to plough your land, they come to kick you outside the land. This is so hard for farmers," Ballal said. During the interview, Ballal also blamed the United States for the increasing settler violence as Washington rescinded sanctions on some far-right Israeli settler groups and individuals earlier this year. "The settlers have the big power behind them. Now they feel they have the permit to do what they want because no one can stop them," Ballal said. When asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks suggesting the relocation of Gaza Strip residents to neighboring countries, Ballal said Palestinians choose to stay. "I know Palestinians: they will die, but they will never leave their land and houses. Maybe they will come back to the rubbles of the houses now and live there, but they will never leave, because this is our land," he said. "About myself and about my village, I will never never never leave because this is our life and this is our homes and we have the right to be safe in our house. This is what the international law says. And a lot of human rights organizations speak about this: you have the right to feel safe in your house," he added. After winning the Oscar award, Ballal said he got mixed feelings. "We go to the Oscars because we make a movie about our life, the stories and everything we're facing. You come from the village, but you are proud of yourself. You're happy because you did something powerful for your community and for your people," he said. However, after returning from Hollywood, he was struck by how differently people are living in various parts of the same world. "You are so sad because you see other people, the houses they live in, and when back to the village's houses, (you see) how they live and what they are facing every time. They lose their homes," he said. As the documentary gains international viewership, it has brought much attention to Masafer Yatta. Many people even came to visit the area, according to Ballal. "We can't change everything at the same time. That needs time, but we've succeeded because a lot of people understand now what's happening here. And that's the goal of the movie," the director said. "After we got to the Oscar, we're still facing attacks, so I don't know if that will change something. We will see." Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," holds his Oscar statuette at his house in the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on March 26, 2025. Palestinians' bond with their land runs deep and they will never leave home even at a time of hardship and increasing Israeli settler violence, said Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." "No Other Land" chronicles the violence facing Palestinian villagers and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the area of Masafer Yatta, southern West Bank. It has notched up festival awards and the Oscar for best documentary feature this year. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal (C), co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," is seen at his house in the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on March 26, 2025. Palestinians' bond with their land runs deep and they will never leave home even at a time of hardship and increasing Israeli settler violence, said Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." "No Other Land" chronicles the violence facing Palestinian villagers and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the area of Masafer Yatta, southern West Bank. It has notched up festival awards and the Oscar for best documentary feature this year. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," speaks during an interview at his house in the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on April 19, 2025. Palestinians' bond with their land runs deep and they will never leave home even at a time of hardship and increasing Israeli settler violence, said Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." "No Other Land" chronicles the violence facing Palestinian villagers and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the area of Masafer Yatta, southern West Bank. It has notched up festival awards and the Oscar for best documentary feature this year. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," speaks during an interview at his house in the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on April 19, 2025. Palestinians' bond with their land runs deep and they will never leave home even at a time of hardship and increasing Israeli settler violence, said Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." "No Other Land" chronicles the violence facing Palestinian villagers and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the area of Masafer Yatta, southern West Bank. It has notched up festival awards and the Oscar for best documentary feature this year. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," speaks during an interview at his house in the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on April 19, 2025. Palestinians' bond with their land runs deep and they will never leave home even at a time of hardship and increasing Israeli settler violence, said Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." "No Other Land" chronicles the violence facing Palestinian villagers and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the area of Masafer Yatta, southern West Bank. It has notched up festival awards and the Oscar for best documentary feature this year. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," speaks during an interview at his house in the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on April 19, 2025. Palestinians' bond with their land runs deep and they will never leave home even at a time of hardship and increasing Israeli settler violence, said Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." "No Other Land" chronicles the violence facing Palestinian villagers and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the area of Masafer Yatta, southern West Bank. It has notched up festival awards and the Oscar for best documentary feature this year. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) Parents across America are done with the politicization of education at the expense of student achievement, but activists still dont get it. Consider Montgomery County, Md., where a diverse group of religious parents objections to their school boards authoritarian decrees will be heard this week by the Supreme Court. The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, exposes the deep corruption infecting schools across America and provides the court with an opportunity to reaffirm parental rights in education for the first time in decades. In 2021, I created an organization to address the increasing politicization of K-12 education. I recognized that American education wasnt in great shape, but the extent of the abuses that we have uncovered over the last four years has been truly shocking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider, for example, the $1 billion in grants provided by the Biden administration to promote a DEI ideology that says all children are either victims or oppressors and that many of them are responsible for other peoples past actions because of their skin color. Or consider the more than 1,200 districts around the country that require teachers hide students gender identity from their families, the racially-exclusionary school programming and speech-silencing policies, among other things. It is truly astonishing to see an education system that won back-to-back world wars and put men on the moon degraded to the point of spending its finite resources on yoga and knitting circles. As bureaucrats hyper-focused schools on identity politics and equity, student achievement suffered. Look no further than the Nations Report Card, which revealed that 72 percent of eighth graders taking the National Assessment of Educational Progress math exam couldnt even score at the proficient level, despite the billions spent annually on the system. And this was no anomaly fourth and eighth grade reading scores are at their lowest in 30 years. Amid this undeclared education emergency, the Montgomery County School Board decided that, rather than simply teach students reading, writing, and arithmetic the very reason families enroll their children in public schools to introduce inclusive storybooks on sexual themes into the districts pre K-12th grade curriculum. To the deep dismay of hundreds of parents from various faith backgrounds, these books celebrated transgender activism, gay pride parades and same-sex marriage. They introduced age-inappropriate buzz words and topics for 3-and-4-year-olds such as leather belt, drag queen, and the names of trans activists and sex workers. Books targeting 10-and-11-year-olds discussed what it means to be non-binary. Adding insult to injury, shortly after introducing these books, the school board announced that it planned to end its own long-standing policy that had previously provided parents with the right to be notified of and opt their children out of course materials on human sexuality and family life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unsurprisingly, families rebelled against this on First Amendment and parental rights grounds, requesting the right to opt their children out of classes. And rather than listening and responding to constituents concerns, the school board mocked them. Parents were told their religious beliefs were tantamount to hate and that their concerns were overblown. In the face of this bureaucratic intransigence, some families pulled their children out of the district, paying out of pocket for schools that better fit their needs while their tax dollars continue to be used to prop up a district that flagrantly disrespected them. The Montgomery County School Boards rigid refusal to back down is perplexing, given how deeply unpopular its position is: 77 percent of Americans support parental opt-outs for such themes. A 2024 Defending Education poll found that 74 percent of parents oppose teachers providing instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary school. Even the Countys own principals expressed concerns about the appropriateness of the controversial books, which they said were dismissive of religion. Mahmoud v. Taylor presents the Court with a unique opportunity to clarify that parents know best when it comes to the education of their own children, and that schools have no business politicizing education at students expense. For the sake of families around the country with school-aged children, lets hope the justices seize the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicole Neily is the founder of Defending Education (formerly Parents Defending Education). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In his latest salvo against Harvard University, President Donald Trump has threatened to block international students from enrolling in the university. If such a threat were fulfilled, it would transform the institution about a quarter of the universitys student body is foreign. And if Trump tries to replicate this tactic with other schools across the country, he will likely rob American universities of their status as global beacons of intellectual production and incubators of the worlds premier talent. Trumps threat escalates a showdown that began when the White House sent Harvard a letter with a list of extraordinary demands that would have, among other things, transformed the universitys hiring and admissions policies, disbanded pro-Palestinian student organizations on campus, and instituted sweeping audits of the ideological viewpoints of the student body and faculty. Fortunately Harvard said no. The universitys president, Alan Garber, called the demands an attempt to control the Harvard community and vowed that the university would not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. The Trump administration responded by immediately freezing over $2 billion in grants and contracts. But that hasnt been enough. Now the administration is trying to find new avenues through which to squeeze Harvard and make an example of it. Trump has threatened to hit the school financially again by revoking its tax-exempt status. Such a move would inevitably face legal challenges, since, as The New York Times reports, Federal law bars the president from either directly or indirectly requesting the I.R.S. to investigate or audit specific targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, the administration is saying it wont let the school enroll foreign students unless it hands over detailed records on foreign student visa holders illegal and violent activities by April 30. Once again, the White House alleges the university failed to crack down on antisemitism, despite its extensive and censorship-inducing efforts to do so. The financial impact for Harvard, should the White House follow through, is uncertain but likely significant. International students are often an important source of tuition dollars for universities, since they arent eligible for federal or state financial aid. Though Harvard offers some international students unusually generous aid packages out of its own wallet and it generally has a vast pot of resources, international students make up a quarter of the student body. Its hard to imagine losing the revenue would be a welcome development especially when the university is already losing funds from Trumps previous penalty. More fundamentally, losing the ability to enroll international students would certainly fundamentally alter Harvards status as a home for global talent. Losing access to foreign students would reshape the student body. It would deprive the university of many of its most valuable students and researchers who might become potential employees and influential alumni and donors. And it would be a loss for the schools American students, whose education, social experience and professional networks are enhanced by students from around the world. Worse still, if Trump attempts to replicate this strategy at other universities and they lose the ability to enroll international students, it could be a wrecking ball in academia, both at the financial and academic level. Last year, more than 1.1 million foreign students enrolled in American higher education institutions, a record high. Thats a lot of money for schools on the line. Its a boon to American student life to have such vast multicultural offerings. It's an extraordinarily lucrative export for the U.S. economy. And its a huge asset to the U.S. economy to have a lot of those students seek out jobs in, and develop ties to, the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, Trumps latest demands could damage the United States appeal to students abroad regardless of how Harvard or any other similarly targeted schools respond. The Trump administration is making it clear that it views international students not as assets to the nation, but as political bargaining chips who lack constitutionally protected rights. It has already revoked many student visas on political grounds and placed students in dehumanizing deportation facilities. Just as Trumps aggressive treatment of travelers and migrants at the border appears to be driving down tourism to the U.S., it seems likely that with the constant stream of controversy, some foreign students might hesitate to pursue higher education in the U.S. compared to other Western countries with high-quality higher education institutions. Stephen Yale-Loehr, a retired Cornell University immigration law professor, told CNN that already it seems like a lot of students are more skittish about coming to the United States. This possibility seems only likely to grow as Trump takes extraordinary measures to target China with aggressive tariffs and intensifying rhetoric accusing the country of manufacturing the Covid-19 virus in a lab. Chinese students make up 25% of international students in the U.S., but the Chinese government has already warned students about studying in the country. Trumps war on academia and attempt to create a docile higher education system is authoritarianism 101. In the process, he seems willing to torch a key source of what makes American academia great. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Most people turn off when they hear terms like national security strategy. In some ways, this rather esoteric use of language is purposely made obscure so that only so-called experts can debate and talk or write about it. But national security affects all of us and thus must be of great concern. Since the end of World War II and the start of the Cold War, national security strategy rested on three simple principles. The first was a strong economy; the second was a system of alliances and allies determined to defend themselves against a common enemy in the first instance, the Soviet Union. Third, and especially in a thermonuclear age when war could be existential to society, the capability to deter conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Left unsaid was what would be needed to fight and win a world war, assuming winning were possible. These basic principles made great sense. And while many lesser wars and conflicts were fought and not deterred around the world, world war between the West and the Soviet Union was prevented. Some believe that it was the military might of the U.S. and its allies that was responsible when, in fact, the irrational nature of the Soviet system could not be sustained. When Mikhail Gorbachev took the reins of power in 1986, he attempted to reform and modernize his country through perestroika(restructuring) and glasnost (openness). Instead, the brittle system could not withstand any external pressure for change, and imploded in 1989. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collapse raised a profound challenge for the U.S. and the West. Would the new Russia be capable of becoming a Western democracy and ally? And if yes, what were the policies to accomplish that aim? Nearly 40 years since the USSR was dissolved, the answer was clear: Nyet! In U.S. strategy, Russia has become the acute threat and China the pacing threat. The problem is that neither word fits. Acute can mean dire, dreadful or terrible. It also means sharp, shrewd or astute. Pacing means doing everything in moderation. Hence, it is not surprising that, from ill-defined danger, the subsequent strategy is flawed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current National Defense Strategy, relatively unchanged from the original Obama administrations 2014 version, is meant to compete, deter and, if war comes, prevail against a range of potential adversaries topped by China and Russia. That, in turn, raises a series of crucial questions. In terms of competition, how is that measured and on what basis? None have been defined. If it is economic, Russia simply cannot compete. China can, but which factors make up the pacing threat? Regarding deterrence, what is actually being deterred? China has not been swayed from expanding its influence, threatening Taiwan and building an impressive navy, at least on paper. Russia was not deterred from seizing Crimea in 2014 or invading Ukraine three years ago, as well as threatening the use of nuclear weapons. Should war come, it could involve using thermonuclear and nuclear weapons. A thermonuclear weapon, by definition, is 1,000 times greater than a nuclear one. Who would win a thermonuclear or nuclear war? The likely answer is no one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An intelligent person would ask, Can we do better than this? That means identifying exactly what the threats are and deriving a strategy far better defined than the ambiguous terms compete, deter and defeat. That means starting from first principles and understanding exactly what threat China or Russia poses before moving to the strategy for countering it. I have long argued that the major danger facing us comes from Massive Attacks of Disruption and Destruction, whether wrought by man or nature. In both cases, prevention rather than deterrence is necessary. Its unlikely to stave off an attack that an enemy regards as inevitable, and nearly impossible to deter a pandemic, catastrophic storm or earthquake. Whether Massive Attacks of Disruption and Destruction fits or not, a construct like it is needed now. Regarding the three bases for strategy, the Trump administrations tariff and tax policies are imposing great damage on the economy. Alliances are being eroded by America First policies. And were not deterring anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This calls for a fundamental review of national security and strategy. Yet, the likelihood of a truly first principles approach in the current exceedingly toxic political environment is nil. The crucial question is whether this nation is capable of such an effort. And on that, our collective future may rest. Harlan Ullman, Ph.D., is UPIs Arnaud deBorchgrave Distinguished Columnist, a senior advisor at Washington, D.C.s Atlantic Council, the chairman of two private companies and the principal author of the doctrine of shock and awe. He and David Richards are authors of the forthcoming book, The Arc of Failure: Can Decisive Strategic Thinking Transform a Dangerous World. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Apr. 20The emails, text messages and phone calls started almost immediately after it was announced. The Spokesman-Review was on the path to being owned and operated by a local 501(c)(3), and it was using some sort of new "hybrid" funding strategy that was different than what most other news nonprofits use. The notes came from all over: local readers and subscribers, editors across the state and nation, publishers from seemingly everywhere, even politicians from both sides of the aisle. So many people reached out to congratulate our community on working to find new ways to keep local journalism alive. To that end, there were even calls from other communities' leaders asking if we might be able to help their local newspapers do something similar. There also were lots of questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because this plan has been in development for years, most are fairly easy to explain. Many were answered in the initial story that was published Wednesday in The Spokesman-Review. Others were questions we knew the answers to, but that involved fairly complicated answers. And others were flat-out head-scratchers ... as in, none of us is still quite sure what was being asked. So let's try to answer some of the questions that were not answered in last week's news story about The Spokesman-Review transitioning to nonprofit ownership. Why is this happening? The economic headwinds hitting local newspapers is bad enough that at least two papers close every week across the nation. Local news organizations especially newspapers are struggling, mostly tied to changes in advertising strategies and a local retail apocalypse tied to online shopping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the economics are much more complicated than what can be answered in a few sentences, which is why we asked Charles Apple to build a Further Review full-page infographic to help explain. Along with notable cost savings associated with being a 501(3), the transition to nonprofit also allows the newspaper to have access to other funding options simply not available to for-profit entities, including philanthropy from foundations, businesses and individuals, tax-deductible membership programs and other community contributions. This structure allows us to more easily work with other nonprofit news organizations, including sharing resources, content and even expenses, as well as being able to partner much more closely with academic institutions to help discuss the value of media literacy and explain the essential role of local journalism within a community. And, of course, it allows us to work with student journalists at all levels. When will this happen? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cowles family is donating the newspaper and a $2 million matching grant to the Comma community journalism lab, which would become the owners of The Spokesman-Review, contingent upon the community matching the $2 million financial gift within the next 12 months. Though much more fundraising needs to happen, let's pretend Comma already had the matching funds which it doesn't. But if it did, the transition would still take months to complete. New back-end office systems need to be implemented, and key hires related to being a nonprofit need to be made. None of these things happens quickly. If everything goes right, and relatively quickly, the best guess might be as early as October, but likely later. Until that time, The Spokesman-Review will continue to be owned and published by Cowles Publishing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are you changing the name? This was essentially answered in the Wednesday news story. The name will stay the same, and it will continue to publish as it does : six days a week in print and always online, with some stories continuing to be behind a paywall, while stories reported and written by reporters whose positions are funded at least partially by outside grants will remain free to all online readers. We looked at using the name "New Coke," but it's pretty hard to compete with a name that's been in continual operation in Spokane for well over a century. This newspaper's name will forever be The Spokesman-Review, with the opening capital T and the fancy hyphen. No comma. What will happen to The Spokesman-Review building? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will remain under the ownership of the Cowles family, and The S-R newsroom will continue to be located there for the foreseeable future. What will happen to the current reporters and editors for The Spokesman-Review? All members of the current newsroom will be asked to be a part of the "new" newsroom, which is really just going to be the same Spokesman-Review newsroom that we have. Well, kind of. The First Amendment Club, a membership program of the new nonprofit, has already raised considerable money, but is aiming to raise even more to create $1 million worth of new journalist positions in Spokane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then add in even more student journalist positions, and you get a newsroom that's not only the biggest Spokane has seen in decades but also one of the biggest in the nation for a regional newspaper. How is this different than other recent news nonprofits that are struggling financially or already have failed? Most local news nonprofits, and even national news nonprofits, rely mostly on philanthropic dollars to survive. The "hybrid" funding model is the single-biggest difference point between how most news nonprofits operate and how the future Spokesman-Review will operate as a nonprofit. A significant portion of The Spokesman-Review's current annual revenues (nearly 70%) is tied directly to subscriptions. Ad dollars are down, as they are in every newspaper across the nation, but advertising in this newspaper still generates serious amounts of revenue ... significantly more than most local news nonprofits raise annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way that Comma has been structured allows for both of those things to continue, along with being able to add nonprofit fundraising to the mix. Annual subscription dollars and millions in advertising are the exact things that most news nonprofits don't have. Because of this, the philanthropic dollars we bring in are augmentative but not central to our existence. Having multiple legs that support this and help fund local journalism is the key to this hybrid model. How will The Spokesman-Review remain impartial if there is funding by certain businesses or organizations, and will we continue to hold our funders accountable if they do something wrong? The best way to answer this is to explain a little bit from the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Spokesman-Review's first grant-funded position came in 2019, when our newspaper received a Report for America grant that would pay for half of that reporter's position salary in the first year, 40% in the second year and 20% in the third year. The rest of the funding each year had to be covered by local philanthropic dollars. That health reporter position is now 100% covered by local philanthropic dollars. We have since had a total of four Report for America reporter positions, and all of those are still a part of our newsroom and 100% paid for through local philanthropic dollars. In total, our newsroom has six grant-funded reporter positions. That history helps set up the story behind a meeting that was held last fall to update our newsroom on the current status of our newspaper working toward becoming a nonprofit-owned news organization. This exact question came up from one of our reporters, as it should. At that point, one of our grant-funded reporters was asked if he knew who funded his position, and he said he did not. Then the next reporter was asked, and she said she did not. None of them knew. And none of them will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a hard firewall between funders and our journalism. The reporters typically don't know who has funded their position, and the organizations or individuals who help fund positions sign an agreement outlining that they can not reach out to our newsroom in anyway. The "typically" in that last sentence refers to things like Bank of America funding our high school interns, or multiple foundations coming together to fund our racial and social equity reporter position. In those circumstances, stories by those reporters include a sentence at the end that outlines how their position was funded. A funder can suggest a new topic be funded which is exactly how both our rural counties reporter position and our D.C. reporter position began but cannot suggest story ideas or have contact with our reporters or editors. And all of these things have been the been the case since Day One. If you've made it this deep into this column, you likely have seen all of the things mentioned above numerous times over the last six years in numerous stories by grant-funded reporters in our newsroom. When we first began working toward this strategy almost seven years ago, we looked at how other nonprofit news organizations handled this, and what their policies, and even their paperwork, were like. We immediately began to appreciate just how well CalMatters in California handled these important issues, and we emulated nearly everything they did. CalMatters is a highly respected nonprofit news organization founded in 2015 that covers state politics and issues, with a focus on state government. Following CalMatters' example on how to create a hard firewall between funders and the journalism has worked for us. But it's hard to hold others accountable if we aren't willing to hold ourselves accountable, especially in a nonprofit era. One of the first hires that will be made in the nonprofit version of our newsroom is an ombudsperson, or the "People's Editor." This editor will not report to the editor of The Spokesman-Review. When there are questions about the accuracy of a story or even the appearance of something that feels off, this editor will begin the process of making sure our newsroom not only followed standard journalism ethics, but exceeded them. When the investigation is over, the People's Editor will publish a piece in The Spokesman-Review detailing what they have found. The People's Editor also will monitor all of the stories written by our newsroom that involve any of Comma's partners. Just as important, this editor will often write about how journalism works and answer questions from readers. Looking ahead Now that some of your questions have been answered, we hope that it is becoming clear as to just how much work and thought has gone into making all of this happen. On so many levels. There is so much work still to be done, which will likely lead to even more questions. And we will continue to answer those questions over the next several months in our newspaper, during public events to discuss this transition and through a new podcast that is being produced in partnership with a newspaper trade publication, Editor & Publisher magazine. The headline in Wednesday's newspaper proclaimed this as "The People's Paper." That is absolutely the goal. It's how you evolve from being a "community newspaper" to being the "community's newspaper." That's exactly what The Spokesman-Review will become. Who knew that Justice Samuel Alito was such a trusting person? The ordinarily hard-edged jurist strained to take the Trump administration at its word in his dissent from the Supreme Courts emergency order at 1 a.m. Saturday morning prohibiting the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act. Joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, Alito called the seven-justice majoritys order hastily and prematurely granted. The court, he wrote, had no good reason to think that, under the circumstances, issuing an order at midnight was necessary or appropriate. The Supreme Court had already declared in an earlier decision that Trump could not deport migrants without giving them an opportunity to contest their deportation in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alito evidently thought it unimaginable that the earlier decision would not be obeyed, despite multiple declarations by the administration that it would do whatever it liked. Both the Executive and the Judiciary have an obligation to follow the law, he wrote. The Executive must proceed under the terms of our order and this Court should follow established procedures. The American Civil Liberties Union had argued in its application that numerous Venezuelan nationals currently in the governments custody in the Northern District of Texas have received notices that they are subject to removal under the [Alien Enemies Act], and further were informed by government officials that they may be removed from the United States as soon as this afternoon or tomorrow. DHS has now publicly announced that AEA removals are imminent. Alito claimed that there was little concrete support for the allegation of imminent danger of removal. He emphasized that an attorney representing the Government in a different matter informed the District Court that no such deportations were then planned to occur either yesterday, April 18, or today, April 19. But here is what the attorney actually said on April 18: Ive spoken with DHS, they are not aware of any current plans for flights tomorrow, but I have also been told to say that they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow. That reservation, which Alito omits, changes the meaning dramatically. If I told you that I have no plans to set your house on fire but I reserve the right to do so, would that constitute concrete support for your feeling of imminent danger? (It has since been reported that buses carrying Venezuelans were headed to the airport on April 18 before they abruptly turned around.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also pertinent that the entire mass deportation effort rests on a factually ridiculous premise. The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 states that in case of any invasion by any foreign nation or government, the president can deport citizens of that government. Trump declared that a Venezuelan drug cartel had invaded the U.S. with the collusion of its government. But the governments own intelligence concluded that theres no evidence of such collusion, and therefore of any invasion. Trump might as well have claimed an invasion from Mars. This should not elicit confidence in the administrations claims. The administration has also boldly misconstrued the high courts earlier order to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom it illegally deported. It read that order in a preposterously grudging way that essentially nullified it. (The White House later posted a declaration on social media that Abrego Garcia is never coming back.) The courts latest decision seems carefully crafted to resist this kind of misreading: The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court. Alito is right that theres a strong presumption against doing what the Supreme Court did. The court, he writes, issues injunctions pending appeal only when the legal rights at issue are indisputably clear and, even then, sparingly and only in the most critical and exigent circumstances. But these are critical circumstances, when the administration has already indicated its intention to defy the court. And Alito has in the past been remarkably willing to support such injunctions when they were deployed against Democratic administrations. (The passage just quoted was from an opinion refusing to block a states Covid restrictions a refusal from which Alito dissented.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also notable that the order merely forbade what Alito was sure that Trump would not do. Alito has sometimes been mighty suspicious of government actions that allegedly harmed conservative Christians like himself. He sometimes succumbs to pure tribalism. That is perhaps the best explanation for his uncharacteristically trusting approach to what may be the most lawless administration in American history. Andrew Koppelman, the John Paul Stevens Professor of Law at Northwestern University, is the author of Burning Down the House: How Libertarian Philosophy Was Corrupted by Delusion and Greed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. There was a time, not long ago, when freedom of speech was the hill the American right said it would die on. President Trump ran for office painting himself as the antidote to censorship, the man who would rescue the country from the claws of political correctness, and restore open debate in a climate where saying the wrong thing could cost you everything. To millions of Americans, especially those exhausted by speech codes, campus dogma and corporate HR tyranny, he seemed like a necessary correction. Fast forward to today, and that very administration is now actively attempting to deport international students for protesting against Israels war in Gaza. Hundreds of millions in federal funding are being threatened and withheld from Ivy League universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why? Because young people, many of them Jewish themselves, dared to oppose a war Trump supports. The justification for this is wrapped in the language of fighting antisemitism a noble-sounding cause, if you dont look too closely. But once you do, the contradictions are impossible to ignore. Even mainstream Jewish organizations have expressed alarm at the sweeping, punitive measures being used to silence students. Groups that have spent years fighting real antisemitism are now warning that what Trump is calling antisemitism is, in many cases, just protest. Dissent. The very thing he once claimed to defend. Theres a kind of grotesque poetry in that. The same rhetorical contortions once used by the woke left semantic shape-shifting, moral panic, accusations that shut down argument rather than invite it are now being used wholesale by Trumps own administration. The champion of free speech has become a champion of selective speech, the kind that flatters the regime and shames the rest into silence. I ask readers to imagine if Joe Biden had attempted any of this if his administration had moved to deport pro-Israel student activists, threatened Harvard over demonstrations, or equated protest signs with hate speech. Right-wing media would have had a collective stroke. Theyd be setting up tripods outside every courthouse, shrieking about Marxism, totalitarianism and the end of the First Amendment. But because its Trump, and because the narrative suits the agenda, the outrage evaporates. What wouldve been tyranny last year is now framed as decisive leadership. The hypocrisy is blinding. And yet much of the right, especially its media class, continues to cheer it on, not in spite of the absurdity, but because of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not about being pro-Israel or anti-Israel. Reasonable people can and do disagree about the war in Gaza. What matters is that the debate be allowed to happen at all. That students, academics, and yes, even foreign nationals, retain the right to challenge the decisions of powerful governments without being branded as threats and hunted down by immigration agents. But thats not the climate were in. In place of debate, we now have decrees. In place of arguments, we have accusations. Dissent isnt answered; its punished. And the people who once made their name defending free thought are, at best, silent. At worst, complicit. It didnt have to be this way. There was a moment, a brief one, when the intellectual right seemed genuinely interested in rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of Western liberalism truth-seeking, open debate, the courage to question. But those instincts have been swallowed by tribalism. By the belief that anything goes, as long as its your side doing the silencing. The irony is that some of the very same voices who decried cancel culture are now doing the cancelling. Some of the same pundits who once warned about snowflakes are now melting down over protest chants. Some of the same outlets that claimed universities were too fragile for dissent now support stripping those universities of their funding for tolerating the wrong kind of speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freedom of speech was never supposed to be a partisan value. And the method for defeating bad ideas was never intimidation. It was argument. Better speech and better ideas. Sharper reasoning. Public accountability. Thats how people once confronted actual ideological threats communism, fascism, theocracy. We didnt gag people. We out-argued them. And when we failed to do that, history was not kind. Trumps administration doesnt appear to grasp this. Or worse, it does and simply doesnt care. What matters now is control. The narrative must be pure, the critics purged, and the lines of debate drawn so tightly that the only permitted voices are those who praise the master. John Mac Ghlionn is a writer and researcher who explores culture, society and the impact of technology on daily 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 The Hill. KAMPALA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Monday announced a measles outbreak in three settlements receiving refugees fleeing fighting in neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Ministry of Health, in a situation update, said nine cases of the viral disease have been confirmed in the previous week -- five at Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee settlements, in Isingiro district, and four at Matanda transit center, in Kanungu district. All three settlements are located in western Uganda. "Active case searches are ongoing at the community and facility level. VHTs [village health teams] are continuing with door-to-door sensitizations and active case searches," the ministry said, noting "ongoing screening at the points of entry at the facilities by the triage teams for fever, rashes, dry cough and runny nose." Health authorities have launched a measles and rubella vaccination campaign targeting newly arrived refugee children aged 6 months to 15 years, the update said. At least 105 children were vaccinated against measles and rubella at the Matanda transit center on Sunday, it said. In March, at least two children died from measles and 68 others were diagnosed with the viral disease in a refugee settlement hosting South Sudanese refugees in Uganda's mid-western district of Kiryandongo. Measles is a highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing and can lead to severe complications. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. According to the World Health Organization, the symptoms of measles appear about seven to 14 days after a person is infected. Sen. Aaron Woods, D-Wilsonville, talks with then-Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and Hansell's wife, Margaret, on the first day of the legislative session in 2024. (Photo by Jordan Gale) Oregon state Sen. Aaron Woods, D-Wilsonville, died on Saturday at age 75, Senate Democrats said Monday morning. Woods had been undergoing medical treatment for cancer that caused Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, to remove him from committees earlier in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woods was elected in 2022. He grew up on the south side of Chicago and served six years in the U.S. Armys strategic communications before an honorable discharge at the rank of specialist, according to his legislative and campaign biographies. He went on to work in the tech industry, retiring as a senior executive at Xerox. That tech background contributed to his legislative priorities, including a 2023 law he sponsored requiring political campaigns to disclose when they use artificial intelligence in an attempt to influence voters. Rep. Daniel Nguyen, a Lake Oswego Democrat who worked with Woods on tech legislation, said his heart was heavy. We were just talking about how excited we were to see the bills we were working on together move forward, Nguyen said. His loss leaves a void in the Legislatures work and in the fabric of our state. He served with great passion and perseverance, and we will miss him very much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woods kept a rather low profile at the Capitol but was praised in his Wilsonville-based district for his commitment to local issues. A series of letters from voters showcased on his campaign website discussed his commitment to making the city a welcoming community and advocating for its needs. Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville, recalled meeting Woods through his work promoting inclusive community values in their city. Aarons positivity, confidence, and character served our communities well, Neron said. I will remember him as a dignified and compassionate statesman. I will miss his warm smile and handshake. Our communities were fortunate to have his leadership and we mourn the loss of a true public servant. Senators stood in solemn silence Monday morning as Senate staff called Woods name a final time for the roll call that begins each floor session. Senators shaken from the news cut short their planned floor session, passing two resolutions to declare May as a month of awareness for hypermobility disorders and honor Oregonians who fought to defend Wake Island as civilians a few days after the Pearl Harbor attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic leaders praised Woods in statements on Monday. Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-Portland, called him a respected colleague and dedicated public servant in a statement. In the Senate we relied on his decades of private sector experience to inform our economic development policymaking, and we appreciated his thoughtful approach to complex issues, Jama said. He was a trailblazer in everything he did, always looking to the future and investing in opportunity for others. He was a cherished mentor to his staff, believing in personal growth for his team. My thoughts are with Senator Woodss family and loved ones in this time of loss. Wagner added that Woods brought a unique perspective to the Legislature. Aaron had a deep heart for public service, Wagner said. He loved being in the Senate and loved working on behalf of the people in his community. He brought a unique and important perspective to our work, and he was a kind and trusted friend. We are grieving his loss, and our thoughts are with his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other senators paid their respects to Woods on the Senate floor. Republican Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, said Woods expressed absolute optimism that he would beat cancer, and that Bonham believed him. I have nothing but bad words for cancer, Bonham said. Just a wonderful man thats gone far too soon. He will be missed in committees. He will be missed on the floor. Hell be missed in his office. Hell be missed in the community. Members of the Legislatures Black, Indigenous, People of Color Caucus remembered Wood as a champion for justice for the most marginalized Oregonians. It was an honor to serve alongside someone who was such a kind and lovely soul, caucus co-chair Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, said in a statement. Senator Woods led with quiet, strong thoughtfulnessa presence you felt even when he didnt speak. He was a steadfast advocate, bringing compassion and integrity to every issue he touched. He will be so very missed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Tina Kotek recalled in a statement that Woods said he never expected to be an elected official but that she considered him an exact fit for the role. His life was defined by care and service to his country, his community, and family, Kotek said. As a state senator, Aaron was thoughtful and principled. He fought for every veteran to have the dignity they deserve. He fought for every Oregonian to have the education or training they needed to shape the life they wanted, no matter their background. He fought for the futures of kids just like the kid he was, who havent yet imagined the kinds of things they could achieve. Woods was surrounded by family when he died. He is survived by five adult children who live in Denver area, while his wife, Shirley, predeceased him. Local Democratic party officials will select between three and five candidates to finish Woods term. County commissioners from Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill counties will pick from that list. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) Oregon state Sen. Aaron Woods, D-Wilsonville, died Saturday, April 19, after being removed from Senate committees due to health treatment earlier this month. Woods, a U.S. Army veteran and retired tech executive, died while surrounded by family, according to a press release. He is survived by five adult children and was predeceased by his wife, Shirley. Woods was 75 years old, as reported by Oregon Capital Chronicle. Woods was a longtime resident of Wilsonville and represented the city as well as King City, Sherwood, Tigard, southeast Beaverton and Yamhill County after joining the Oregon Senate in January 2023. He served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Information Management and Technology and co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, Woods grew up on the south side of Chicago, and came to Oregon in 1996 after being recruited by Tektronix. In his career he also worked as a senior executive at Xerox. In the release, Gov. Tina Kotek recalled past conversations with Woods, and said that he was an exact fit for the role as elected official despite never expecting to be one. She added that his life was marked by care and public service to his country, his community and family. Read more here. The Portland Tribune and its parent company Carpenter Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nearly 70 parishioners, some wiping away tears, filed into St. James Cathedral in downtown Orlando on Monday morning to mourn the death of Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church who died about an hour after midnight. A steady stream of funeral bells echoed in the church as parishioners knelt in the pews ahead of the 9 a.m. Mass led by Bishop John Noonan, of the Diocese of Orlando. Francis was 88 and had just made his first prolonged appearance on Easter Sunday, waving to cheering crowds and even meeting with Vice President JD Vance, since his more than month-long hospital stay for pneumonia. We come this morning celebrating the resurrection but theres sadness in our heart too for Pope Francis, Noonan said to parishioners. But yet we know in his heart he would want us to share the joy of the resurrection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debbie Leonardo wore a short black lace veil over her face as she sat in the front pew of St. James Cathedral. The 44-year-old was enjoying her morning coffee on her day off from work as an interior designer when she heard of the Popes passing and quickly looked for a time to attend Mass. I rushed down here because its kind of a once in a lifetime thing to be a part of, Leonardo said. The Mass was really beautiful, and Im just glad I was able to come today. Leonardo typically attends Mass at All Souls Catholic Church in Sanford but drove to Orlando for Mondays service. She converted to Catholicism one year ago, she said, and Pope Francis was a large part of what drew her into the religion. He cared for the poor, the marginalized, immigrants and other people that a lot of people seem to discard, Leonardo said. I think his focus on that was really special. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Father Miguel Gonzalez, who is from Puerto Rico, is the rector at St. James. At a press conference after the mass, Gonzalez said the Hispanic community shared a sense of joy that Francis served as the first Latin American Pope. Part of his beautiful life was taking the train or just walking together with the people. You see a man that was really connected to the people, Gonzalez said. To me as a Hispanic, Puerto Rican, thats part of the heart of a Hispanic individual thats always opening doors to welcome people, to serve people, to meet people where theyre at. Paul Blem, 56, has been attending Mass at St. James for more than 20 years. He was on his way to his office where he works as a manufacturing representative when he heard of the Popes death and decided to stop by the church for Mass. Its a blessing to be able to pray for the Pope and the new Pope that is coming in, Blem said. Easter was yesterday, so what a better way to, unfortunately, pass on, the day after the biggest Christian day of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mothers with small children and elderly adults filled the pews along with adults who looked for dressed for work. The church was adorned with a photo of Pope Francis and flowers from Easter Sunday service. During the nearly hourlong Mass, Noonan called for unity but not sadness. Noonan said the Pope cared deeply for all his people and highlighted a moment of his last meeting with Pope Francis in Rome. We went to his apartment and he welcomed us and he talked about all the attractions and so forth but then he said to me but when the people come to Orlando do you take care of them, Noonan said. I said I do my best. The Catholic church will enter a period of mourning over the next six days as Cardinals travel to Rome for funeral services and then to begin the decision process to elect the next Pope, Gonzalez said. Hes not dead, but hes in heaven, Noonan said. So let us on this day, to all our members of our family, remember we celebrate life, lets not forget that its not about death. Its about resurrection. Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians, has expressed sorrow over the death of Pope Francis, describing him as a "faithful friend" and "sincere friend of Orthodoxy." In a statement published by Greek media on Monday, Bartholomew I stated that Pope Francis has left an example of true humility and brotherly love. He recalled a meeting in 2014 when they exchanged views in Jerusalem over the Easter festival discussing the possibility of a common Easter celebration and united brotherly churches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis had hoped they would be healthy enough to undertake a pilgrimage to Nicaea, now Iznik in Turkey, where the first council of all Christian churches took place 1,700 years ago. According to Bartholomew, the pope said, "And if the Lord does not allow it, then perhaps our successors." The Orthodox churches have been independent for almost 1,000 years since the leaders of the Eastern Church in Byzantium and the Western Church in Rome excommunicated each other in 1054. SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A man is facing charges after police say he attempted to flee an undercover sting where hundreds of grams of marijuana seized. On April 17, the Scranton Police Department began investigating the advertising of drug sales by 20-year-old Ezequiel Soto on social media, according to court records. Undercover investigators stated they contacted Soto to meet up for a sale of marijuana worth $70.00. Police said Soto met with the undercover detectives at the location, and they pulled up behind and to the side of his vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theft reported at Walmart leads to high-speed chase As stated in the affidavit, Soto attempted to flee the area by reversing, but when he accelerated forward, he hit a detectives patrol vehicle, allowing officers to remove him from his car. A search warrant was issued for Sotos vehicle and home, and police say they seized the following; 148 grams of marijuana in his bedroom 42 grams of marijuana in his dresser 14 grams of marijuana in his vehicle Narcotic packaging Digital scale Soto has been charged with aggravated assault to police, drug possession, and other related offenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Test strips like these are used to detect the powerful opioid fentanyl in cocaine samples. (Lynn Arditi | The Publics Radio) Overdoses in Montana are seeing another spike, and most appear to involve fentanyl, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. Health officials are reminding Montanans that help is available for recovery and treatment. In March, Montana saw 95 reports of suspected opioid overdoses, compared to an average of 69 a month in 2024, according to the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time the state saw that number of overdoses in a single month was August 2023, DPHHS said in the news release last week. This current overdose spike serves as a startling reminder of the deadly consequences that fentanyl and opioid overdoses have for our communities, DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said in a statement. The agency said data from March 1 to April 15 this year include seven fatal and 132 nonfatal overdoses, and April is on track to have higher-than-average suspected opioid overdoses. Reviews of case reports indicate most overdoses involved fentanyl, but confirmation through laboratory testing is not always available, DPHHS said. However, it said reviews also show other drug use, including methamphetamine and cocaine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health department has focused on increasing access to recovery and treatment programs, it said in the news release. The help includes $400,000 for Wellness Kiosks to be installed throughout the state and dispense fentanyl testing strips and naloxone. Health Department spokesperson Jon Ebelt did not respond to questions about which communities would receive the kiosks or the timeline for implementation. An earlier news release from the Governors Office in August 2024 said Montana would install 24 kiosks strategically placed at community-based programs such as drop-in centers. The Governors Office said the initiative aims to combat an alarming rise in fentanyl and opioid overdoses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said prior to 2020, the state averaged about eight overdose deaths per year, but in 2023, it saw 123 fatal opioid overdoses in Montana, the highest since DPHHS started tracking in 2009. A recommendation from the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission said pilot programs showed promising results in other states including Nevada and Ohio. A research study published in the Annals of Medicine in 2022 said the Covid-19 pandemic worsened the overdose crisis but naloxone dispensers in Clark County, Nevada, helped. It said forecasts projected 270 opioid-involved overdose fatalities in the 12 months right after dispensers were made available. But it said just 229 occurred, suggesting an aversion of 41 deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Communities should consider implementing public health vending machines in efforts to prevent opioid-involved overdose fatalities, said part of the study. In Montana, money for the kiosks is part of the $300 million the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission is directing to improve behavioral health and developmental disabilities services in the state. The Health Department said cases in the most recent spike do not appear to be concentrated in any particular county or region, but most are occurring on major transportation routes. The counties with 10 or more suspected overdoses include Cascade, Flathead, Missoula, Silver Bow and Yellowstone, the news release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DPHHS wants to remind the public that when someone is experiencing an overdose, the timely administration of the emergency medication naloxone may successfully reverse their symptoms and save their life, said Dr. Maggie Cook-Shimanek of the agency in a statement. Suspected overdose Naloxone reversal may only be temporary, so emergency response should always be activated in instances of suspected opioid overdose, DPHHS said. It directed people here for more information. Signs of an overdose include: Loss of consciousness or falling asleep Small, constricted pinpoint pupils Slow, shallow breathing Choking or gurgling sounds Limp body Pale, blue, or cold skin Slow to no heartbeat Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you suspect someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately and administer naloxone if it is available, Dr. Cook-Shimanek said. DPHHS officials advise that, if you use opioids, make sure a trusted friend or family member is aware, ensure they know how to administer naloxone, and that you have naloxone on hand in the event there is an overdose. Source: DPHHS The long-eared owl, Asio otus, is a majestic raptor known for its perky horn-like ear tufts, and cryptic herringbone markings that help it meld into its arboreal habitat. But in certain light, scientists discovered, its dappled forest camouflage is betrayed by fluorescent, day-glo pink wing feathers. Ornithologist Emily Griffith and her colleagues, from Northern Michigan University and the state's Whitefish Bird Point Observatory, examined feathers collected from the inner wings of 99 long-eared owls as the birds migrated through Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the Spring of 2020. They wanted to catalog the various rosy shades of fluorescent pigments this population sported, to see if they could decode what it might mean to those who can see it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Owl eyes can detect this magenta fluorescence emitted by photosensitive pigments called porphyrins, from the Greek word for purple even without the aid of a UV light, as can other birds with the ability to see in the ultraviolet spectrum. The fact that it's not in the spectrum visible to our own mammal eyes suggests it may be a perfect way of signaling to its peers without being detected by its main prey rodents and other small mammals. A long-eared owl wing under a blacklight. (Griffith et al., The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 2025) The photosensitivity of porphyrins not only causes them to glow in the first place, it also makes them degrade with continual exposure to sunlight, which often means that avian fluorescence fades with feather age between molts. We know that other kinds of pigments in bird feathers play a role in signaling age, sex, size, and overall health to potential competitors and mates. For instance, even without a blacklight the researchers could guess the sex of long-eared owls by their dark (female) or light (male) plumage, although even this system is not foolproof, with roughly one third of the owls left without an assigned sex due to their intermediate coloring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it's yet unknown if similar messages are written in these owls' ultraviolet undergarments. Griffith and team found feathers from older birds had much higher concentrations of the fluorescent pigments than younger birds, and were stronger in the darker-plumed females than in the light-colored males. Younger birds, and those with paler plumage overall, had stronger pigments if they were heavier. This, the authors note, suggests the pigments could function as an 'honest signal' of an owl's health. "It is possible that fluorescent pigments exhibited in long-eared owls are used in sexual selection," the authors write. "The only time in which these pigments may be directly on display (besides during flight) would be during courtship behavior, during which the male performs a courtship flight to attract females." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even if the owls were keenly attuned to the subtle differences in wing glow flaunted during male flight, it doesn't explain why females' wings should be so much brighter. "Moreover, this trait doesn't follow a strict binary the amount of fluorescent pigments in these owls exists on a spectrum where the amount of pigment is related to size, age, and sex all together," Griffith says. The team suspects something else might be driving the major pigment differences: heat regulation. Fluorescent pigments in eggshells are known to help regulate heat by reflecting infrared wavelengths, and they could serve a similar function in the females' inner wing feathers, limiting heat loss while nesting. "This alternate hypothesis would explain why females have significantly more fluorescent pigments, as males do not incubate and are more physically active as they hunt for prey items while females take the primary role in incubation," the authors write. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This research is published in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. Related News By Akbar Novruz A court hearing is currently underway in Baku on the criminal case of several individuals of Armenian origin accused of committing war crimes during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories. The trial is taking place at the Baku Court Complex under the chairmanship of Zeynal Agayev, judge of the Baku Military Court. In previous sessions, victims of the alleged crimes had testified. The accused face charges of serious violations of international law, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, genocide, forced displacement, persecution, and torture, committed by Armenian armed forces and the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories. The list of 15 defendants includes prominent former figures such as Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and others. They are charged under numerous articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including: Article 100 Waging a war of aggression Article 103 Genocide Article 107 Forced deportation Article 113 Torture Article 214 Terrorism Article 277 Assassination of a public figure Article 279 Creation of illegal armed groups and multiple other provisions covering war crimes, illegal arms trafficking, and crimes against international humanitarian law. This high-profile case is being closely watched as part of Azerbaijan's broader efforts to ensure accountability for war crimes committed during the decades-long conflict over Garabagh. SANAA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said on Monday that it had launched fresh attacks at two Israeli targets and two U.S. aircraft carriers, using drones and cruise missiles. "We launched a drone attack at a vital target in the city of Ashkelon and another drone attack at a military target in the city of Eilat," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in the statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. He didn't identify the names of the targets in both cities in southern Israel. "As part of confronting the American aggression ... we targeted the aircraft carrier Truman and its escorting warships in the northern Red Sea, using two cruise missiles and two drones," Sarea said, referring to the USS S. Harry Truman. "We also targeted the aircraft carrier Vinson (the USS Carl Vinson) and its escorting warships in the Arabian Sea, using three cruise missiles and four drones," he said. Sarea reaffirmed that the group's attacks "will continue" against Israel and the U.S. naval forces in the region. According to the Houthi television, the attacks against Israel and the U.S. warships were carried out in the past 24 hours. The Israeli defense forces have yet to comment on the Houthi claim, nor the U.S. military. Meanwhile, the U.S. airstrikes in Yemen have been continuing. Early in the day, the Houthi television said the death toll from U.S. airstrikes on Sunday night against a popular market in the Shu'ub neighborhood in central Yemen's capital Sanaa rose to 12, with 30 other "civilians" wounded. Also on Sunday night, the Houthi television reported other U.S. airstrikes on several Houthi locations in the northern provinces of Al-Mahwit, Saada, and Marib. Tensions between the Houthi group and the U.S. military have escalated since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15 to deter the group from targeting Israel and U.S. warships. Apr. 21Portland schools leaders are taking up new cellphone policies this spring that would prohibit all students from having a phone on campus, from the first bell to the last. Current district policies say high schoolers can use electronic devices between class periods and during lunch. But a vocal group of parents and teachers wants to keep phones out of students hands through the entire school day, falling in line with a national trend toward limited phone use in the classroom. Portland teachers have told the school board that combatting cellphone use in their classes is a stressful and common part of their job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As somebody who, every single day, has to take away phones in my classroom ... and lose so much time every day haggling with kids, I don't think it's even a developmentally appropriate task to ask, 'Hey, can you put the world's most addictive machine that has ever been created in your pocket while I'm trying to teach you?' They can't. They just can't," Mallory Haar, a Casco Bay ESOL teacher, told a school board committee last week. "I really feel excited that this can move out of the purview of individual teachers and admins into something more unified," she said. If the policy does pass as proposed, it will still be up to the central office to develop rules and schools to create plans for implementation. Portland's Curriculum and Policy Committee unanimously voted last Tuesday to advance the policy to the full school board, where it will need a first reading followed by a formal vote. Board Chair Sarah Lentz said she is planning to schedule a first reading for the board's next business meeting on May 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CELLPHONE-FREE PORTLAND David Burke is the parent of Portland schools alumni and a former Casco Bay High School teacher who still works in the district as a substitute. He believes cellphones are the greatest, current threat to education. "This is the most significant health crisis that schools have ever faced," Burke said. "When we were dealing with smoking back in the '80s and '90s, not everybody was smoking. But 96% of the students nationwide across every socioeconomic group have these phones." Burke is a member of the group Phone-Free Portland Schools, which was inspired by a similar organization in Falmouth. Members have been circulating a petition in support of a phone-free policy, which has more than 150 signatures after a few weeks of circulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portland would be far from the first school district to enact a cellphone ban. Other districts like Bath and Gorham, have already passed similar rules. Eight states, including California and Florida, have passed bans or restrictions in the past two years, and several others are actively taking up the issue. The idea is also being discussed at the Maine State House. The Legislature's Education Committee heard testimony last week on a bill, sponsored by Rep. Richard H. Campbell R-Orrington, that would ban cellphone use in all public school classrooms. The committee also considered two separate proposals to establish a pilot program to reduce phone use in schools and to study their effects (along with AI and social media) on public education. Lawmakers will still need to discuss the bills again during a work session, which has not yet been scheduled. GATHERING FEEDBACK Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groups of parents, students, teachers and administrators have been meeting since as early as summer of 2024 to discuss possible changes to Portland's phone policy. A first policy revision, presented to the board's Curriculum and Policy Committee in March, would have only taken students' phones at elementary and middle schools, but still would have allowed high schoolers to carry their phone throughout the day. Burke and other advocates urged the committee not to adopt the policy and advocated instead for a stronger plan that would ban cellphones at all levels, all day, and the committee postponed the matter. It convened again last Tuesday with a stronger draft in hand, one that says students may not have phones or other personal electronic devices on their person at any time during school hours. "To assist with this, the Superintendent or their designee will develop a process of collecting cellphones and other communications devices for safe storage at the beginning of the school day and redistributing devices after classes," the new proposal reads. "Administrators may take away and place into storage any electronic device seen in a student's possession during the school day in violation of this policy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement View this document on Scribd The policy encourages students to leave their phones at home whenever possible and creates a process for them to seek limited exceptions. Director of Strategy Sarah Warren said there are still outstanding questions, like the exception policy, the way phones would actually be collected and how schools would handle students who travel to different campuses throughout the day. Burke and other phone-free advocated supported the newest draft in public comment. But some school administrators said they're worried about how this will impact their work. Portland High School Principal Sheila Jepson said she wasn't sure where she stood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I worry what this will take away from my day, my assistant principals' day, my teachers' day," Jepson said, adding that she's also worried students haven't had enough of a voice in the revision. Mina Fitzgerald, the student representative for Portland High School, said she felt the process had been rushed and argued that enforcement will be difficult. "I have a lot of concern about the longevity of this policy, as well as who it truly benefits," she said. Lentz said these conversations began almost a year ago, and that the district heard input from parents, families and schools throughout the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That doesn't mean that we don't continue to get input. In fact, that is what I would recommend, that we continue to get more voices as the table to really build out our policy," she said. "But I also just want to reiterate ... there are multiple districts in Maine that have already made this switch. It can be done and the benefits they're seeing are really incredibly positive." Copy the Story Link The parents of a 2-year-old boy who spent a night alone in the Arizona wilderness and was led to safety by a local ranchers dog are calling the ordeal "a miracle." Bowden Allen disappeared from his home in Seligman at around 5 p.m. Monday. His father, Cory Allen, was working on the home's roof, while his mother, Sarah Allen, was caring for their 1-year-old, NBC affiliate KPNX reported. Sarah said that she heard her older child walk out of the home but that when she called for him, he didn't answer, triggering a panicked search. 2-year-old Bowden Allen with his parents, Cory and Sarah Allen. "It started getting more intense every minute," Cory said about the search for his son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple called in family members for help and eventually contacted the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office, kicking off a search effort comprising more than 40 rescuers and a Department of Public Safety helicopter that spotted two mountain lions in the area. But as the sun set, there was still no sign of Bowden. "I didn't even know how to process," Sarah said. "I looked at his empty bed in the middle of the night, and Im like this isnt real, he's not how is he not here? How is he out by himself somewhere in the dark?" 2-year-old Bowden Allen spent a night alone in the Arizona wilderness. Rancher Scotty Dunton said that around 16 hours later, he found Bowden on his land after his dog, Buford, led him there. Dunton's property is 7 miles away from the toddler's home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dunton said Buford, an Anatolian Pyrenees, found Bowden sleeping under a tree, KPNX reported. He was found with a few scratches on his arm. "I feel like God sent that dog to rescue my son," Cory told the outlet about Buford. Buford, an Anatolian Pyrenees, normally patrols his land and wards off coyotes. Sarah called the ordeal "a miracle." "It's unreal and it's unbelievable," she said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com HOUSTON, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed as heavy storms hit the central U.S. state of Oklahoma over the weekend, authorities said on Sunday. A 12-year-old boy and his mother died in Moore, about 10 miles (about 16 km) south of Oklahoma City, on Sunday after floodwaters washed away their vehicle, said local police. "This was a historical weather event that impacted roads and resulted in dozens of high-water incidents across the city," Moore police said in a statement. Another person was killed on Saturday night after a tornado hit Spaulding, a town in Hughes County, the county wrote on Facebook. Several homes and structures were destroyed, and there were "numerous washouts" of county roads, it said. Before the College of Cardinals elected Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio pope during the most recent papal conclave in 2013, the overwhelming consensus was that there would never be a Jesuit pope. His election was doubly surprising, both because he was a Jesuit Jesuits take a special vow not to seek out higher offices in the church and none had ever been elected pope before and because many thought his time had passed, said papal expert Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., vice president for mission and ministry at the University of Scranton, a Jesuit institution. Cosacchi, a scholar and author known for his work on Pope Francis, the papal name Bergoglio took in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, explained as much while reflecting on the life and legacy of the first Jesuit and first Latin American pontiff, who died Monday at the age of 88. Jesuits, Cosacchi said, hold as among the most important parts of their ministry the person of Jesus Christ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so Pope Francis pontificate really had a tremendous focus on the person of Jesus Christ, and that comes out in a lot of the things that he wrote and that he said and that he did, Cosacchi said. He was a constant proponent of the needs of the poor and the marginalized. He was always going to the margins. He was always talking about the needs of the immigrant and the refugee. The Jesuits talk about a faith that does justice the service or faith and the promotion of justice and so Pope Francis obviously believing in Jesus, believing in God, is of utmost importance, he continued. But at the same time, what does that belief call you to do? How does it call you to act? And Pope Francis was always saying that that means you need to do certain things: You need to act with justice. Having a Jesuit pope lead the church meant a great deal to Jesuit institutions, Cosacchi said, noting the sometimes tense relationship between the Jesuit Order, or the Society of Jesus, and the papacy at points throughout history. Jesuit schools, including the University of Scranton and Scranton Preparatory School locally, regard Francis 12-year pontificate as a badge of honor, he said. Because what the Jesuits have always wanted to do is be in union with the pope, Cosacchi said. Its always been the mission of the Society of Jesus to serve the pope, to be loyal to the pope, and so now to have a Jesuit pope is to say, OK, this is as close as we can get and to say that we are of course loyal to the pope. But also, too, to say that this is one of our own. Hes not from Scranton, but theres a sense in which hes one of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To say that Pope Francis was one of our own is something that we share with Jesuit institutions not only in the United States, but throughout the world, he said. Teddy Michel, regional director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps of Northeastern Pennsylvania, agreed. The nonprofit organization is grounded in the Catholic Ignatian tradition developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuit Order in the 16th century. The mission of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps is more of an invitation to individuals age 50 and above to engage in the active Catholic social teaching of service and reflection, Michel said, adding of Pope Francis: Weve lost a wonderful example of a servant of Christ who served with all his heart his whole life. In the Ignatian Volunteer Corps what matters most is that we allow God to love us, and then be authentically us in receiving and sharing Gods love in the world, in the community, he said. And thats just a fancy way of saying were all given that special mission, that special purpose on our heart. When we can tap into that and then engage in the service and reflection we can be the eyes, ears, hands, feet of God and you just never know when you might be the answer to someone elses prayer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 135 cardinal electors set to meet in the next conclave to elect Pope Francis successor, five are Jesuits, Cosacchi said. And while that number may seem small, its five times the number of Jesuits who served as cardinal electors in the 2013 conclave. That lone Jesuit, Bergoglio, became pope. I dont necessarily see any of those (five) Jesuits as front-runners, but if you asked me at this point before the 2013 conclave if Francis was a front-runner I would have also said no, Cosacchi said. I truly believe that this next conclave is going to be one of surprises. Reflecting again on Pope Francis legacy and works, Cosacchi said the only thing that concerned the pontiff was faithfully following the Gospel. Among myriad examples, that was clear Thursday, Holy Thursday, when Francis met with some 70 inmates at the Regina Caeli prison in Rome despite his health challenges, Cosacchi said. It was also clear on Easter Sunday, the eve of his death, when he blessed thousands of the faithful gathered in St. Peters Square. Literally to his dying breath he was proclaiming the Gospel to anyone who would listen, Cosacchi said. And that Gospel was a message of love and faith and hope. Patience is running thin in the intensifying battle between the Supreme Court and President Trump, with the presidents allies heightening their criticisms as the justices burn midnight oil. Just before 1 a.m. Saturday, the high court temporarily blocked the administration from deporting a group of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act. Trumps supporters responded to the ruling with fury, with some calling for the administration to ignore the emergency decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Ingrassia, the White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, wrote on the social platform X that generations of judges have been infected with parasitical ideology. The judges in law courts today, including the majority in the nations Highest Court, telegraph with these decisions that they have no understanding of law and its proper function and role, wrote Ingrassia. Within the court, the order reflected a remarkable intervention. The court handed down its decision at a later hour than any other emergency application this term. It came during a holiday weekend, less than eight hours after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed its request and without waiting for the government to respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, the ruling broke with normal practice as the court did not wait for conservative Justice Samuel Alito to finish drafting his written explanation of his dissent. Court watchers view the lightning speed as an implicit rebuke of the Trump administration that suggested the justices did not think the administration would hold off on deportations. At a lower court hearing nearly two hours after the ACLU filed its request at the Supreme Court, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign said the Department of Homeland Security was not aware of plans for any deportation flights Friday or Saturday. But Ensign also added a caveat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have also been told to say that they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow, Ensign said. At 12:56 a.m. in Washington, D.C., four minutes before the clock struck midnight in Texas, where the migrants are detained, the Supreme Court stopped the administration in its tracks. The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court, the court wrote in its one-page order. Ed Whelan, a conservative legal scholar at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, wrote on X that the only explanation he could see was that the high court does not trust the Trump administration to abide by its promise to the district court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And given how unworthy of trust the Trump administration has proven to be, thats an ample explanation, Whelan continued. Two justices publicly dissented: Justices Clarence Thomas and Alito, two of the courts leading conservatives. Stunningly, the court refused to wait for Alito to finish his written statement, only briefly noting, Statement from Justice Alito to follow. Any written dissents are typically published alongside the majoritys order, but Alitos did not come until nearly 24 hours later. I refused to join the Courts order because we had no good reason to think that, under the circumstances, issuing an order at midnight was necessary or appropriate, Alito wrote, calling it unprecedented and legally questionable relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU had acknowledged the court may need more time, so it called for an administrative stay, which briefly preserves the status quo until the justices can decide what to do. Typically, such a request is handled by the Supreme Court justice who is assigned by default to handle emergency matters from that lower court, known as the circuit justice. The case arose from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning Alito received the request. But as the hours ticked by later into the night, he did not issue an administrative stay. Instead, it came from the full court, a highly unusual move. A justice doesnt have to publicly disclose if they dissented from an emergency order, meaning it is technically possible that up to two additional justices dissented in stealth. But the apparent 7-2 split, with the three Trump appointees all in the majority against the administration, has led the online right to step up their attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ignore the Supreme Court. Arrest anyone who tries to enforce this. Dissolve the Supreme Court entirely if they push. You can deport foreigners or you dont have a country anymore. There are no good choices now, conservative talk radio show host Jesse Kelly wrote on X. Mike Davis, a fire-brand conservative lawyer and Trump ally, wrote that he hoped the justices get their heads out of their asses. This is shameful lawlessness and cowardice from the conservative justices, wrote Davis, a former law clerk to Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trumps first appointee. Trump himself has declined so far to lash out at the Supreme Court in the way he has done so for federal district judges who rule against him, which have included impeachment calls and accusations they are a Democrat activist. When asked about the high court, however, Trump has been more muted, repeatedly saying he holds great respect for the justices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the battle isnt over yet, as the Supreme Court still weighs how to move forward in the deportation flights dispute. And beyond the current case, there is no end in sight to the clash between the justices and Trumps agenda. Since taking office, the Trump administration has already filed 10 emergency applications. John Roberts is ill equipped to keep the Court away from an actual constitutional crisis, Josh Blackman, a conservative legal scholar and constitutional law professor at the South Texas College of Law Houston, wrote in a blog post for The Volokh Conspiracy. At this point, he is squirming in a pit of quick sand, Blackman continued. The more he flails his arms, the quicker he will sink. Anyone who reaches out to the Chief will descend just the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) A patient at the Pavilion at Williamsburg Place psychiatric facility left on foot Sunday night, the police department confirmed to WAVY. Staff at the facility contacted police around 7 p.m. to report that a patient had gained access to the outside. James City County Police began a search with assistance from the York-Poquoson Sheriffs Office (YPSO) and issued a BOLO (Be on the Lookout) to surrounding agencies and Virginia State Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A K-9 with the YPSO picked up a track around 7:40 p.m. and the patient was located about 15 minutes later, police said. The patient was returned to the Pavilion. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pope Francis in 2022 - Credit: Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images Martin Scorsese, Patti Smith, King Charles, and J.D. Vance are among those reacting to the death of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at age 88. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced his death in a statement noting that the pope taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. There is so much that can be said about the significance of Pope Francis and everything he meant to the world, to the church, to the papacy. I will leave that to others, Scorsese shared in a statement. He was, in every way, a remarkable human being. He acknowledged his own failings. He radiated wisdom. He radiated goodness. He had an ironclad commitment to the good. He knew in his soul that ignorance was a terrible plague on humanity. So he never stopped learning. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: And he never stopped enlightening. And, he embraced, preached and practiced forgiveness. Universal and constant forgiveness. The loss for me runs deepI was lucky enough to know him, and I will miss his presence and his warmth. The loss for the world is immense. But he left a light behind, and it can never be extinguished. Patti Smith, who performed O Holy Night at the Vaticans Christmas concert in 2014, shared a poem on Instagram comparing Pope Francis to a flower. British monarch King Charles said in a statement that he was most deeply saddened to learn of Francis death. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry, King Charles said. The king and his wife Queen Camilla visited the Vatican two weeks ago. His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others, King Charles continued. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. The Kings message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025 British prime minister Kier Starmer added, Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church. Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church. pic.twitter.com/rrmadD29Dr Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 21, 2025 U.S. vice president J.D. Vance, who briefly met with Francis on Easter Sunday, wrote on X, My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of Covid. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. The White House added on X, Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. On Truth Social, Donald Trump shared, Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement shared to X, Joe Biden praised the singularity of Francis, who he says was unlike any who came before him. He continued, Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased. As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the Peoples Pope a light of faith, hope, and love. Whoopi Goldberg wrote on Instagram, He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christs love enveloped believer and none believer. He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity & Laughter. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote, From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni noted that this news saddens us deeply. I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering, she wrote on X. His teaching and his legacy will not be lost. We greet the Holy Father with hearts full of sadness, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Argentinian president Javier Milei remembered Francis, who was from Argentina, on X, saying that having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honor for me. He added, As President, as an Argentine, and, fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Francis for a life devoted to God, to people, and to the Church. He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity, Zelenskyy said in a statement. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Franciss passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church. He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We pic.twitter.com/Ww6NtsbWWS Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) April 21, 2025 Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. After the Trump administration cut a nearly billion-dollar program benefiting food banks last month, a local organization helping to fight food insecurity is feeling the effects. The CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, Greg Hall, said the funding issues have been challenging and have caused a few programs to be canceled. Political organization holds Erie Strong rally in Perry Square One of those programs allowed them to purchase fresh and nutritious goods directly from Pennsylvania farmers and get them to people in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes at a time when the need is dramatically increasing. Gannon students file lawsuit over revoked visas, terminated records Theres more than a 40% increase in households reaching out for help putting food on the table. Were still hopeful that some of these programs can be codified in the farm bill. We have a strong state right now and our state legislators are looking at these challenges and seeing if there are ways that Pennsylvania can kind of step in to both support our neighbors in need and farmers in Pennsylvania, said Hall. Hall said hes still optimistic thanks to their support from community leaders, volunteers and donors who they can lean on in uncertain times, which theyre always looking for more of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. by Xinhua writer Peng Songhan HANGZHOU, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Growing up in China as part of Gen-Z, we are no strangers to stories of Americans and Chinese fighting side-by-side during World War II. They were etched into our textbooks, echoed through museum exhibitions, and, for me, brought vividly to life through my grandpa's bedtime stories. Last week, also 83 years on from one daring mission that brought the peoples of America and China together, I was in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, east China. I stood there in the spring rain with friends from across the Pacific to commemorate the Chinese people's heroic rescue of Americans after the 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan. We mourned in silence and laid flowers on the gravestone of Leland Faktor, a U.S. engineer and gunner who participated in the raid and evacuated from the Japanese coast, but died when his aircraft crashed in China. In that critical moment, the airman -- who was just 21 -- could never have imagined that his sacrifice would be memorialized over eight decades later. His tombstone, inscribed in both Chinese and English, honors him as an "anti-Fascist hero," and his death, along with the daring rescue that followed the raid, has become a lasting symbol of friendship between the two countries. Faktor was on a mission on April 18, 1942, when 16 U.S. bombers, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, took off from the USS Hornet and air-raided Japan in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the raid, 15 planes heading for an airport in Quzhou ran out of fuel and crashed in various localities in east China. Among the 75 airmen aboard the planes, 64 were rescued by Chinese villagers, who courageously risked their lives evading searches and reprisal bombings by the Japanese. Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, said the event is a story of both love and fidelity, which is a remarkable touchstone that unites Americans and Chinese. Greene, in a faded olive flight jacket, and I, joined a group of Chinese high school students in planting trees not far away from the gravestone. We picked up shovels and planted American red maples and ginkgo trees native to China side by side. I felt a sense of solemnity as I helped put up trees to salute the heroic deeds of the two nations fighting shoulder to shoulder during World War II and an evergreen bond between their people. During the tree-planting activities, several students were eager to learn more details about the event from their American friends, including people from organizations such as the Children of the Doolittle Raiders and the USS Hornet Museum. The students approached George Retelas, a representative of the museum. Under their gaze, he began to recount a personal story. When Retelas' grandfather, a veteran of World War II, and his fellows were stationed in Alameda, California, they had loaded bombs onto the aircraft carrier USS Hornet ahead of the Doolittle Raid. Today, that very carrier is turned into the USS Hornet Museum, and becomes a place for Retelas to honor his grandpa and the history. He said he hoped these Chinese students could also visit the museum, watch the torn metal pieces of aircraft, learn about the friendship between China and the United States as well as their people's sacrifice during World War II, and pass down the friendship and story to future generations. "We come together in shared respect to honor the enduring bonds of humanity forged during one of the most difficult times in our world's history," he said. One elderly man caught my eye during the homage, and I made sure to speak to him afterward. Just shy of 90 years old, Wang Wenyang was one of the few villagers alive today who had buried Faktor. "I was a child at that time and quite scared. Many people participated in his funeral and adults told me he was a hero," he added. I was touched by words from both Retelas and Wang. They evoked a feeling that genuine courage and friendship are long-lasting and transcend borders. These airmen displayed remarkable courage, willingly placing themselves in harm's way. Knowing that they were Americans fighting the Japanese after they drew the flag of the United States, Chinese villagers sheltered these pilots. Despite language barriers, the villagers showed extraordinary kindness by caring for these "strange-looking foreigners," and helping them to leave. After the raid, the airport in Quzhou was subjected to intense bombing by Japanese forces. Japan also waged biological warfare in Zhejiang, resulting in massive civilian deaths. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Commemorating a historical event is not only for remembrance, but also about tapping into its strength. Beneath the sky once pierced by "fearless wings," I see the vitality of people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, which injects stability into a world of uncertainties. The Pentagon denied on April 20 that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information about strikes on Yemen in a private Signal chat that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. The Pentagon's statement came after the New York Times (NYT) reported, citing its sources, that Hegseth shared details of the attacks on Yemen on March 15 in the Signal chat. Hegseth reportedly mentioned the schedule of F/A-18 Hornets flights against the Houthis in Yemen. It was "essentially" the same information that Hegseth shared in another Signal chat, which was accidentally joined by Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, according to the NYT. Goldberg was reportedly invited to the chat by U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on March 11 four days before the U.S. military strike on Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, denied that Hegseth would disseminate sensitive information in the chat, accusing the media of "enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their stories." "They (the media) relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the President's (Donald Trump) agenda," Parnell said. "There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story." The news highlights the increasing scrutiny surrounding information security among senior officials in the Trump administration. Apart from the attack on Yemen, U.S. officials have also discussed other sensitive topics on Signal, such as peace between Russia and Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported in March. John Ullyot, the former top Defense Department spokesperson, wrote in an op-ed for Politico that the Pentagon has been in "total chaos" under Hegseth's leadership, even suggesting that the official may not last "much longer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The story about Hegseth also coincides with the Washington Post (WP) reporting an improper transfer of confidential documents to thousands of federal employees, including potentially classified White House floor plans. The WP's investigation revealed that employees had accidentally shared a Google Drive folder containing confidential documents with the entire General Services Administration (GSA) staff, which totals over 11,200 people. The GSA provides administrative and technological support to most federal bureaucracies and manages the state real estate portfolio. The file sharing started at least in early 2021, the beginning of the Biden presidency, and continued into the Trump administration, including one exchange as recently as last week, according to the WP. Read also: Nearly 100 days of Trump, and Putin is still calling the shots Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Pentagon's former top spokesperson says Pete Hegseth likely won't last long in his role. John Ullyot wrote that the Pentagon has been distracted by a month of "endless drama" after Signalgate. Ullyot said he supports Hegseth, but that Trump "deserves better" from his Cabinet. John Ullyot, who until recently was a top Pentagon spokesperson, says Pete Hegseth's time as defense secretary is likely running out. In a scathing opinion piece published by Politico on Sunday evening, Ullyot suggested that President Donald Trump may consider dismissing Hegseth as the Pentagon grapples with a string of public affairs crises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, it's hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer," Ullyot wrote. Ullyot has vocally backed Hegseth, writing in another piece in December that the veteran and former Fox News host was "well qualified for the job" of leading the Defense Department. Even when he stepped down from the Pentagon earlier this week, Ullyot said he supported his old boss. He continued to praise Hegseth in his op-ed. "I value his friendship and am grateful for his giving me the opportunity to serve," Ullyot wrote. "Yet even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon and it's becoming a real problem for the administration," he added. A 'Month From Hell' Ullyot's criticism comes after his tenure leading Defense Department public affairs at the start of the Trump administration. He oversaw the Pentagon's mandate to remove DEI images and its reassignment of its media office spaces, booting outlets such as The New York Times and NBC in favor of right-leaning outlets like Breitbart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in February, Ullyot's role as chief spokesperson was taken over by Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's current press secretary. Ullyot eventually resigned on Wednesday, saying he told Hegseth when he was hired that he "was not interested in being number two to anyone in public affairs." In his op-ed days later, he described the Pentagon's recent struggles as a "Month from Hell" that began with Signalgate The Atlantic's bombshell report in March that its chief editor was mistakenly added to a Signal group discussing US strikes. Ullyot wrote that Hegseth's initial response was a disaster. "Nobody was texting war plans, and that's all I have to say about that," Hegseth had told reporters. The Atlantic followed up by publishing details of F/A-18 strikes Hegseth sent to the chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This was a violation of PR rule number one get the bad news out right away," Ullyot wrote of Hegseth's comment to the press. Other, separate reports soon piled on top of Signalgate, and Ullyot wrote that it's likely more will continue to emerge. "Unfortunately, after a terrible month, the Pentagon focus is no longer on warfighting, but on endless drama," Ullyot wrote. These included reports that Hegseth had brought his wife to sensitive meetings with foreign counterparts and that the Pentagon was set to give Elon Musk a top-secret briefing. Three of Hegseth's top aides were also reportedly fired this week amid an investigation into leaks, while the secretary's chief of staff has resigned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, The New York Times reported that Hegseth had also put sensitive information about US strikes in a second Signal chat that included his wife and brother. The Times' report was based on four anonymous sources. The Times reported that Jennifer Rauchet, Pete Hegseth's wife, was among the people in a Signal chat that contained details of F/A-18 strikes. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images In a statement to Business Insider, Parnell, the Pentagon's current spokesperson, called the report "garbage" and praised Hegseth's office as becoming more efficient. "There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story," he said. Still, Ullyot wrote that all of these crises combined mean Hegseth would likely lose his job. "In short, the building is in disarray under Hegseth's leadership," Ullyot wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wrote that Trump had previously dismissed other Cabinet members whom Ullyot respected, including Jim Mattis, Rex Tillerson, and Mark Esper. The former Pentagon spokesperson ended his opinion piece by suggesting that a similar firing of Hegseth would benefit Trump. "The president deserves better than the current mishegoss at the Pentagon," he wrote. "Given his record of holding prior Cabinet leaders accountable, many in the secretary's own inner circle will applaud quietly if Trump chooses to do the same in short order at the top of the Defense Department." Ullyot and the White House did not respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by BI. The Pentagon similarly did not respond to questions about Ullyot's op-ed as of press time. Read the original article on Business Insider ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A team of local businesses and organizations came together to organize the 4th Annual Easter Bike Giveaway, hosted by Peoples Choice Kitchen! The participating businesses and organizations made monetary or physical contributions to the event, which aimed to gift bicycles and helmets to kids across Rochester who may not have them. President of Serve the Community, Ronald Hoff, explained why he feels this tradition is important for the folks of Rochester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its about more than just about the bikes, Hoff said. Its about all of us coming together. You see the police department, fire department, and all the various businesses coming together to make this event something for the children. The events primary organizer, Evangela Van Stanley, who owns Peoples Choice Kitchen, shared why these community leaders chose to aid in this effort. Most of these small business owners grew up poor, and they know the feeling of growing up without bikes or getting Christmas gifts. So, everyone here donated tremendously, Stanley said. There were dozens of kids, ages ranging from as young as three or four, to early teens, in line to receive a free bike. It proved to be a memorable experience for each of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think kindness is the best way to get blessed by God, Rochester teen Legend Rogers said. Its good to know that a lot of these people are kind and care. Those who put on the event shared that it was all worth it just to see the kids excitement. Sometimes, growing up in the areas that we grew up in, we get a bike and its gone. But being able to do this, give back and to bring joy, seeing the joy in the children, it almost brings it brings me back to being a child again, Hoff said. Peoples Choice Kitchen is planning more community outreach events for the near future, including a potential gathering for Mothers Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Catholics across Central Florida are remembering the life and legacy of Pope Francis, affectionately known as the Peoples Pope. Several Catholic churches held moments of prayer for Pope Francis during their daily mass on Monday. The Vatican said Pope Francis death was caused by a stroke that led to a coma and heart failure. He was 88-years-old. For more than 12 years, Francis served as Pontiff, where he earned a reputation as a reformer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a legacy will come out that hes done a great deal of reforming, from finance to abuse, all of that was really streamlined, said John Noonan, Bishop of Orlando. Noonan recalled the last time he met Pope Francis and the personal interest he had in Central Florida. He didnt make it business. He made it personal for you. He would ask questions. Whats happening in Orlando? What are the people thinking?, recalled Noonan. Pope Francis legacy includes easing the previously hard stance the church held on the LGBTQ community and declaring zero tolerance for child sex abuse. He was the first Jesuit Pope, the first Latin American Pope and the first Pope to take the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a Catholic Saint who devoted his life to the poor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Central Floridian Bela Schmitt had the chance to briefly meet the pope at the Vatican in 2016 and then again in 2019. She said the experience was formative and helped further develop her faith. It was something super incredible and just to be able to like witness the presence of the Pope, said Schmitt. She remembers the pope for his kindness and humility. Its a sentiment echoed by fellow Cathedral of St. James parishioner Eric Pena. The virtue of humility. You could see that in him. The way he treated others, said Pena, I think humility is going to be his legacy. Mayor Jerry Demings was among several leaders in Central Florida who offered condolences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, a courageous and compassionate leader whose unwavering voice for the poor and vision for more inclusivity touched hearts around the world. His life and legacy will continue to inspire many of us to lead with kindness, humility, and courage, said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Within days of being elected Pope and taking the name Francis - a nod to the Italian Saint who loved animals and embraced poverty - Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, showed the world he would live like his namesake. He picked up his own luggage and paid his hotel bill on the first day he was elected before being fitted for his white papal gowns. He eschewed the grandiose Apostolic Palace for a small guesthouse in Vatican City. He even traded in his predecessor's Mercedes-Benz for a zippy little Fiat. He was soon known by Catholics around the world as "the People's Pope Francis." On Monday the Vatican announced that one of the most beloved papal leaders in history died on Easter Sunday hours after he blessed the faithful from his wheelchair on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and then toured the square in his Popemobile. He had been admitted to the hospital on February 14 where he remained for 38 days before returning to his home at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City where he took his last breaths. "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church announced from Casa Santa Marta. "His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized," Cardinal Farrell said. The Pope's body is expected to arrive at St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning, "so that the faithful may pray before his mortal remains," the Vatican's spokesperson Matteo Bruni said. His death prompted the White House to lower flags to half-stafff in his honor and led to messages of grief from leaders around the world. Among those who posted in honor of Pope Francis was California Governor Gavin Newsom. Jennifer and I join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis saw God in all His creatures, reminding us of humanitys obligations towards each other and the world we live in, asking us to care for one another and let us be loving custodians of creation. pic.twitter.com/6xeFeKu4T7 Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) April 21, 2025 The Pope's death initiates an ancient process of secretive rituals and sacred traditions that culminates with a Conclave, involving 135 Cardinal Electors from the Catholic Church who will be locked inside the Sistine Chapel until they elect a successor. During that clandestine assembly, the Church will remain in a mourning period called Novemdiales, the Latin term for nine days, which dates back to Roman times, during which Vatican flags will fly at half-staff, and the bronze doors of St Peter's Basilica are closed. The dramatic process was captured in the Oscar-nominated film Conclave. Pope Francis tried to bring younger people into the fold of the Church by being active on social media. On his Instagram page he wrote: "I want to walk with you along the way of God's mercy and tenderness." Which is a message he consistently carried far beyond the walls of Vatican City by recognizing with love divorced Catholics and supporting same-sex civil unions as legal protections for the LGBTQ community, famously saying within months of his election: "Who am I to judge." "If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?" the pope told an Italian journalist in 2013. "I was paraphrasing by heart the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized." It was that humility and acceptance that made him beloved by the flock in Los Angeles. On Monday, Cardinal Roger Mahony, the first native Angeleno to lead Los Angeles as Archbishop, said in a statement he was heartbroken by the Pope's death. Following the abrupt resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, Cardinal Mahony was among the Church leaders who traveled to Rome to participate in the Papal Conclave that elected Pope Francis. "It was an enormous privilege and grace to have participated in the Conclave which elected him back in 2013," Mahony's statement said. "He was a good and gracious friend, and we exchanged letters often during this pontificate. Although he was in the hospital on February 17, he signed a letter of congratulations as I celebrated my Golden Jubilee as a Bishop." Mayor Karen Bass, who was a member of Congress, was present when Pope Francis addressed a joint meeting of Congress in 2015. She released a message for Easter on Sunday, she did not speak about the Pope's passing. Leaders in the L.A. Archdiocese, who put a photo of the pope on the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in DTLA, said the Pope's fight for immigrants made an impact on Southern California, even if he never visited the Golden State. Archbishop Jose Gomez released a statement that acknowledged his "gratitude on the Holy Father's many kindnesses and expressions of pastoral care for us here in Los Angeles." Gomez said Angelenos can carry on the unfettered love Pope Francis had for the poor and the environment in his honor. "In this time of mourning, my prayer is that all of us in the Church will honor Pope Francis' legacy by remembering that he has called us to urgent tasks that are still not finished: We must continue our work of serving the poor, the migrant, and all who are forgotten on society's peripheries." Former President Joe Biden said Pope Francis was unlike any who came before him as he paid tribute to the Peoples Pope on Monday. Biden, the second Roman Catholic U.S. president, described the late pontiff as one of the most consequential leaders of our time as world leaders reacted to the news of the 88-year-olds death. Francis, who hailed from Argentina and was the Catholic Churchs first Latin leader, took the world by storm by pushing the church to become less obsessed with culture war issues such as gay marriage and abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He encouraged the church to pay more attention to the refugee crisis, climate change, human trafficking and the global arms trade. In a social media post on Monday, Biden hailed Francis progressive approach to his role. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him, Biden wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The former president, who previously acknowledged the pontiff had brought him great solace following the death of his son Beau, said Francis commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the Peoples Pope a light of faith, hope, and love, Biden concluded. It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. For decades, he served pic.twitter.com/GsE03QNoHj Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 21, 2025 Francis died Monday as he was recovering from a bout of pneumonia. Another former president, Barack Obama, mourned the loss of a rare leader in his statement shared hours after the pontiffs death was announced. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! Related... BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China has launched a pilot program allowing the use of imported calculus bovis in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) production under specified conditions, in an effort to ease the supply shortage of the material, which is used widely in TCM. Calculus bovis sourced from countries or regions not subject to mad cow disease import bans and compliant with China's customs quarantine and pharmaceutical quality inspection requirements will be permitted for trial use in TCM manufacturing, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said in a joint statement released on Monday. The pilot program will cover 12 provincial-level regions, including Beijing and Tianjin, and will remain in effect for two years. Upon evaluation of the outcomes of this pilot program, authorities will progressively expand the use of imported calculus bovis nationwide, the statement said. The program has detailed requirements for the application of imported calculus bovis and relevant processing, storage and production procedures. Calculus bovis -- cattle gallstones -- has historically been a critical source for TCM ingredients to treat high fever, convulsion, stroke, among others. Following the global outbreak of mad cow disease around 2000, China banned the use of imported bovine-derived materials, including natural calculus bovis, in TCM to mitigate public health risks. Over the past five years, the spread of mad cow disease has been brought under control globally, with sporadic reports of atypical cases posing minimal health threats. To address the surging demand for calculus bovis, the NMPA and GAC conducted thorough evaluations and stakeholder consultations, culminating in this pilot program to alleviate raw material shortages, stabilize TCM production and ensure market supply, according to the statement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ranted against the media Monday, calling them hoaxsters amid a another Signal chat leak report, as his young kids uncomfortably stood behind him at the White House Easter Egg Roll. "This is what the media does," Hegseth began. "They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations." Hegseth railed over news reports that he shared Yemen attack plans in another Signal group chat that included his wife and brother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His children awkwardly stood behind the defense secretary at times grimacing, wincing, and even laughing appearing to react to their father as he addressed reporters. "These kids right here," Hegseth said as one his sons started to laugh. "These kids right here. This is why we're fighting the fake news media." "This group right here," the defense secretary said, addressing the reporters, "full of hoaxsters that peddle anonymous sources from leakers with axes to grind. And then you put it all together as if it's some news story." President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll that he maintains full confidence in Hegseth as defense secretary, and deemed any concerns about his actions as a "waste of time." The entire Pentagon is in total chaos after Signalgate part two. The New York Times reported Sunday that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared sensitive details of a U.S. military attack on the Houthis in Yemen in yet another Signal group chat that included his wife, brother, and others in his inner circle. Its the second time hes done so in less than a month, after he and other members of Trumps Cabinet discussed similar classified information in a Signal group chat that happened to include The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. The news comes amid a wealth of other chaos at the DOD. Just hours after the Times report, Politico published an opinion essay by former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot detailing the buildings full-blown meltdown spurred by Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the presidentwho deserves better from his senior leadership, Ullyot wrote. First there was Signalgate, a scandal that Hegseth tried to lie his way through, instead of owning up to. Then came reports that the defense secretary brought his wife to classified meetings, and news that the Pentagon arranged a top-secret briefing for Elon Musk on China, behind Donald Trumps back. To top it off, last week, a number of top DOD senior staffers were fired or left their posts amid rumors that they were leaking sensitive information, sending the building into disarray under Hegseths leadership Ullyot revealed. There are very likely more shoes to drop in short order, with even bigger bombshell stories coming this week, he wrote. Its hard to imagine whats bigger than news that the man in charge of U.S. defense has shared sensitive military information over text, not once but twice. But, as Ullyot pointed out, The Pentagon focus is no longer on warfighting, but on endless drama. As it did with the first Signal scandal, the Department of Defense denied that Hegseth shared any classified information, and framed the whole thing as a smear campaign from the media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another day, another old storyback from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trumps agenda, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote, in a statement on X. This time, the New York Timesand all other Fake News that repeat their garbageare enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the Presidents agenda. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story, he continued. The White House too stood behind Hegseth, despite an outpouring of cries from Democrats demanding he be fired to protect the safety of U.S. military personnel. The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Monday. And this is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change that you are trying to implement, she added, offering a glimpse into the shaky disarray going on behind the scenes. It seems the White House is doing everything it can to avoid admitting that choosing a 44-year-old TV presenter with allegations of alcohol abuse to lead the U.S. military may have been a bad idea after all. The Pentagon is facing chaos under Pete Hegseth's leadership, says former press secretary John Ullyot. Ullyot criticized Hegseth's handling of Signalgate and internal Pentagon issues. Hegseth and his supporters denied claims of sharing sensitive info, blaming disgruntled ex-employees. Pentagon communications have been in meltdown mode, according to ex-spokesperson John Ullyot, who called the Signalgate response "horrible." Ullyot, who resigned from his post last week in part to avoid working under chief press secretary Sean Parnell, described in an op-ed for Politico on Sunday a chaotic month full of fumbles, infighting, and a reluctance to handle bad news by owning up to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The building is in disarray under Hegseth's leadership," the former communications official said, calling the Pentagon's Signalgate debacle the start of the "Month from Hell." He wrote that when that story broke, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth "followed horrible crisis-communications advice from his new public affairs team, who somehow convinced him to try to debunk the reporting through a vague, Clinton-esque non-denial denial that 'nobody was texting war plans.'" Ullyot called this "a violation of PR rule number one get the bad news out right away." Hegseth's "nebulous disavowal" that the Signal chat contained sensitive information spurred the reporter inadvertently added to the chat, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, to release the full chat thread, Ullyot said, "turning an already-big story into a multi-week embarrassment for the president's national security team." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth's line about the chat being "clean on OPSEC," or operational security, drew a lot of attention, especially given the significant OPSEC training that troops go through to avoid just this kind of outcome. Pentagon comms rushed to Hegseth's defense, including the new DoD Rapid Response account, trying to shield him from criticism. The story hasn't gone away, though, and has only gotten worse. The trouble has snowballed as the Pentagon placed three top officials on leave and saw two other officials, including Ullyot, depart the Office of the Secretary of Defense. And now the department is grappling with Signalgate 2.0, new allegations that the defense secretary shared details of combat plans in another Signal chat with people without "a need to know." The Times reported that Jennifer Rauchet, Pete Hegseth's wife, was among the people in a Signal chat that contained details of F/A-18 strikes. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images Ullyot challenged the Pentagon's official claims that the three officials on leave senior adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense were put on leave because of investigations into alleged leaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ullyot wrote that "Defense Department officials working for Hegseth tried to smear the aides anonymously to reporters, claiming they were fired for leaking sensitive information as part of an investigation ordered earlier this month." "Yet none of this is true," he continued. "While the department said that it would conduct polygraph tests as part of the probe, not one of the three has been given a lie detector test. In fact, at least one of them has told former colleagues that investigators advised him he was about to be cleared officially of any wrongdoing," he said. Trump officials were quick to attack Ullyot's claims on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This guy is not America First," wrote Donald Trump Jr. in a social media post on X Sunday. "I've been hearing for years that he works his ass off to subvert my father's agenda. That ends today. He's officially exiled from our movement." This guy is not America First. Ive been hearing for years that he works his ass off to subvert my fathers agenda. That ends today. Hes officially exiled from our movement. https://t.co/C2JnnIPt0y Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 21, 2025 In his op-ed, Ullyot also called attention to Sunday's revelation by the New York Times that on March 15, Hegseth also shared sensitive military information related to the pending attacks by US aircraft on Houthi targets in Yemen in a separate Signal chat with his wife, brother, and personal attorney. Hegseth denied such claims, saying that The Times' reporting was part of a "slash and burn" strategy used by disgruntled former employees. "What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax, won't give back their Pulitzers, they got Pulitzers for a bunch of lies." .@SecDef Hegseth on "Signal chat controversy": "What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax, won't give back their Pulitzers, they got Pulitzers for a bunch of lies ... This is what pic.twitter.com/qYH8O98EtX CSPAN (@cspan) April 21, 2025 Ullyot highlighted this trend in his commentary criticizing the situation at the Pentagon, saying that "unfortunately, Hegseth's team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of Ullyot's departure and the three officials placed on leave, a fourth official, Joe Kasper, Hegseth's chief of staff, is departing his role. Kasper is said to have initiated the investigation into recent leaks from the Defense Department, including information related to US military operations centered on the Panama Canal and intelligence-sharing efforts with Ukraine. Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell said the Times' reporting and the "grievances of disgruntled former employees" is "another old storyback from the dead," from "the Trump-hating media," which "continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump's agenda." "We've already achieved so much for the American warfighter, and will never back down," he said. Pentagon leadership has repeatedly said that lethality and the individual warfighter are top priorities, but Ullyot argued that with Signalgate and other comms disasters over a "terrible month," the "Pentagon focus is no longer on warfighting, but on endless drama." Read the original article on Business Insider A photographer used her craft to document how fast fashion is rapidly becoming a danger to the environment. Mandy Barker has spent the last decade and a half using her art as a way to increase awareness about plastic pollution on the coast of the United Kingdom. The effects of fast fashion waste are explored in her latest book, "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Imperfections." What's happening? Barker started the project after mistaking a piece of cloth for seaweed. She eventually recovered 200 seaweed-like fabric samples of waste clothing from 121 beaches along the coast. The photographer said the damaged textile samples are the type of synthetic clothing that often contributes to plastic pollution in the sea. Advertisement Advertisement "I didn't only find socks or items that could have been left by someone visiting the beach," Barker said. "I recovered clothing identified from different eras like the 1970s." The fashion industry is a major contributor to environmental harm. According to Business Insider, the fashion industry produces 10% of all carbon pollution. It's also the second-largest consumer of the world's water supply. Why is the impact of fast fashion important? Fast fashion refers to trendy, low-quality clothing that is quickly produced and sold to consumers at affordable prices. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 35% of microplastics found in the ocean come from synthetic fabrics that are often used for fast fashion. The rapid production of fast fashion is responsible for massive amounts of waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the main source of textiles in municipal solid waste is discarded clothing. Around 92 million tons of clothes-related waste are discarded every year, per Earth.org. What's being done about fast fashion? In an effort to curb the effects of fast fashion, the United Nations launched an initiative called the Alliance for Sustainable Fashion. The U.N. said the alliance is committed to reducing the negative environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry. Advertisement Advertisement There's also the slow fashion movement. Slow fashion is dedicated to reducing overproduction and overconsumption and urges consumers to shift from quantity to quality. Consumers can save hundreds of dollars by breaking up with fast fashion. Consider shopping at thrift stores or browsing resale platforms such as ThredUp to find more durable secondhand clothing. 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. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN) Another pickleball business is planning to move into southern Montgomery County. Photo/PickleRage PickleRage has selected 359 Miamisburg Centerville Road in Washington Townships Normandy Square Shopping Center for Ohios first location. Upon opening, the facility will offer nine indoor and two outdoor pickleball courts. Clinics, leagues, lessons and social events are also anticipated to be created. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building formerly housed Big Lots, which operated for decades until the company filed for bankruptcy and shut the location down for good. Kari and TJ Pantano, franchisees of the location, said they are excited to plant the business at Normandy Square Shopping Center. We couldnt be more excited to introduce PickleRage to the community, said the Pantanos. With the sport booming across the countryand especially here in Ohiowe knew this was the perfect time and place to create a welcoming space for people to play, connect, and have fun. Chris Daiss, vice president of real estate and construction at PickleRage, described the upcoming location as a strong strategic fit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the prime location of the site to the buzz around pickleball in the area, Centerville checked all the boxes, said Daiss. This location is a strong strategic fit, and the combination of indoor and outdoor courts makes it truly stand out. WDTN.com previously reported Pickleball Kingdom will be opening at 985 S. Main St. in Centerville, roughly 2 miles south. The Normandy Square location is projected to open in mid to late 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 WDTN.com. Since 2006, the non-profit organization Pin-Ups for Vets has been visiting veterans at their bedsides in military and VA hospitals. This month, they went to their 50th state! But the journey doesnt end here. How it all began When Gina Elise saw injured vets coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006, she decided to take action to help. She decided to create a fundraising calendar with images inspired by the pin-up nose art on World War II aircraft and donate the proceeds to a local VA hospital. She would also don the bright and iconic 1940s attire complete with a red lip and hair flowers and deliver the calendars to patients in hospitals herself. Gina Elise shares a laugh with a veteran during a 2024 visit. Photo courtesy Pin Ups for Vets. I saw the impact it had, being right there, for our veterans, in person and delivering a gift of appreciation. Small gestures can make a big impact. Many veterans would start to cry in their hospital beds when thanked for their service by a surprise visitor bearing gifts, Elise told We Are The Mighty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She thought it was just going to be a one-time thing, but she was moved by the impact it had on the hospitalized veterans. Being in a hospital with an injury or illness can be incredibly isolating. Some patients are there for weeks or months on end. To have someone remember you and spend time with you during a challenging time can give someone a sense of hope, she reflected. It took patients minds off their troubles to see Gina coming in to see them with her warm smile, bright colors a contrast to clinical hospital settings and her 1940s liberty rolls and hair flower, an homage to her own Grandfathers WWII Army service. She realized quickly that she wanted to visit veterans nationwide and boost morale across America. Pin-Ups for Vets Ambassadors with a hospitalized veteran at Pioneer Veterans Home in Alaska, April 2025: Jennifer Marshall (Navy), Jennifer Bennie (Navy), Jennifer Brofer (USMC), LeahAnn (USMC), Melanie (Army), Dianna (Army), Jessi (USAF). Photo courtesy Pin Ups for Vets. Twenty years later, she has reached her goal. In April 2025, Pin-Ups for Vets brought gifts to hospitalized veterans in Alaska, the 50th state on their national tour. It isnt always easy Coordinating visits over the past 20 years to all 50 states has turned Elise into a master of logistics. Sometimes I feel like I am conducting a pin-up orchestra! There are a million details that need to come together to make just one visit happen, she laughed. Visits can include flights and travel itineraries for her Veteran Ambassadors, connecting multiple people from multiple locations around the country, securing their lodging and transportation, and arranging all the details with the facility they are visiting, including gifting calendars and medical equipment. Jessi Norris, USAF, visits with a hospitalized veteran in Alaska. Photo courtesy Pin Ups for Vets. They often visit multiple veteran facilities on one trip, as well. On their recent Alaska trip, they visited the State Veterans Home, the Anchorage VA Hospital, the Military hospital at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the BX and USO at Elmendorf-Richardson, the Chris Kyle Patriots Hospital, and the American Legion Anchorage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having watched Elise in action myself, I can attest that she makes for an incredible command center coordinator. She is detail-oriented and a quick-thinking problem solver. She says its servicemembers themselves who inspire her: I try to adopt the Marine Corps motto Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome! Notable Memories Ask any of the Pin-Ups for Vets Ambassadors veteran and civilian volunteers alike and they will tell you the same thing: there is something grave and special about connecting with our nations heroes at their bedside where they need us the most. Elise is a natural, cheerful and uplifting or gentle and soothing as needed. She intuitively senses what each patient needs and offers it with charm and grace. Over the past two decades, she has built up many touching memories of her own. Gina Elise on the cover of the 2025 Pin-Ups for Vets fundraising calendar. Photographed by Shane Karns Photography. Photo courtesy Pin Ups for Vets. One time I was visiting a patient who was answering my questions very slowly and quietly, she recalled. We had a light-hearted and brief conversation, and I delivered the calendar gift to him. When I left the room, the nurses rushed up to me to tell me that this veteran had suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury) and that was the first time he had spoken in a month! I like to attribute that to the Power of the Pin-up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other veterans, once learning that they are speaking with fellow vets, share stories and memories from service, sometimes for the first time ever. Volunteers and patients have cried together, laughed together, shared stories of service, danced together, and just held space for one another. Being there for someone going through such a difficult time can mean so much, observed Elise. Impact You can never really know what kind of impact you have on another person. Elise has received letters from veterans she visited long after meeting them. One Marine wrote to her after coming across the Pin-Ups for Vets Facebook page years after she visited him. Here is a short excerpt from the letter he sent her: I was a patient in the psychiatry ward suffering from severe PTSD and depression after my tour in Fallujah, Iraq, with the Marines. I had very little hope and felt a tremendous amount of guilt and loneliness, it was definitely one of the hardest times in my life. I cannot possibly express in words how grateful I am that you visited our unit in the hospital. Your kindness, generosity, and smile made a horrible experience for me a little more tolerable. Since that time, because of you and many other people who reached out to me when I was suffering, my life has improved a lot. Over the last twenty years, Pin-Ups for Vets has individually visited over 20,000 veterans at 119 different VA hospitals, military hospitals, and state veterans homes in all fifty states (and Germany!) to deliver gifts of appreciation and express their gratitude. The organization has also donated $130,000 in rehabilitation equipment to VA hospitals in 25 states to help expand physical healthcare programs for recovering veterans. Pin-Ups for Vets has also purchased much-needed household items for homeless veteran programs across the U.S. for the veterans who are transitioning into housing, as well as delivered food, clothing, and gift cards for unsheltered veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pin-Ups for Vets has provided days of pampering with morale-boosting make-overs, meals, fashions, and photo shoots, for female veterans, military spouse caregivers, and Gold Star wives all of whom have sacrificed so much in support of defending our nation. Pin-Ups for Vets at the Chris Kyle Patriots Hall in Alaska. April 2025. Photo courtesy Pin Ups for Vets. Whats Next? Elise is currently in production for the 20th annual Pin-Ups for Vets fundraising calendar, which will feature more incredible female veterans as models. Though the organization has reached all fifty states, they will continue to conduct return visits and find new facilities to support. We would also love to visit some more international bases, shared Elise. We have done morale-boosting visits to 25 different military bases and would also love to visit more domestically, too! Our troops deserve to know how much we value and appreciate their services and sacrifices. To support the Pin-Ups for Vets initiatives, be sure to check out their website and online fundraising store. MOSCOW, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued no orders to extend the Easter truce which has expired on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told TASS news agency. The truce, which lasted for 30 hours from 18:00 Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday to 00:00 on Monday (2100 GMT on Sunday), was announced by Putin during a meeting with Russian Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that during this period, all units involved in the special military operation strictly adhered to the ceasefire and maintained their previously held positions. Multiple attacks by Ukrainian forces during Monday night near Sukha Balka and Bohatyr in Donetsk region were repelled by Russian troops, it added. These attacks resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 26 Russian assault actions had taken place from 00:00 (2100 GMT on Saturday) to noon (0900 GMT), accusing Russia of violating its self-declared ceasefire. The UK is supposed to be the home of free speech and a country where the police chase criminals, not law abiding members of the public. So I was horrified, last November, when police officers called on Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson. It was initially believed that they were investigating a so-called non-crime hate incident (or NCHI), based on a comment shed posted on social media. In my view the police should have only one overriding priority: catching criminals and protecting the public from crime. This emphatically does not extend to acting as the thought police or intervening when someone makes an off colour remark online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are perfectly entitled to say whatever they like, including things that are offensive, provided that they are not illegal. These boundaries are set out by Parliament in law. Its illegal to incite racial or religious hatred, express support for a proscribed terrorist organisation such as Hamas or to use threats or intimidation to harass someone. But saying that women dont have penises, criticising a religion or simply saying something offensive are not illegal. It follows that people should not be harassed or investigated by the police for any of these things. And yet they are. Police investigated and recorded personal data on around 13,000 NCHIs last year taking up around 30,000 hours of police time. This personal data where no crime has been committed is then potentially disclosable by the police as part of an enhanced criminal record check for years to come. NCHIs were never legislated for by Parliament. They were created through police guidance in the early 2000s in response to the murder of Stephen Lawrence and further entrenched in 2014. The inquiry into Stephen Lawrences murder found that the previous extreme racism exhibited by his killers should have been identified and his death thereby prevented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where hatred is such that it is a likely to lead to an actual crime, then there is a good case for police taking an interest as they would in relation to any intelligence that might be a precursor to criminal activity. But over the years, NCHIs have expanded beyond all recognition and have strayed far from this original intention. Reporting in the Telegraph only yesterday showed that the police now dont even bother to analyse NCHIs for patterns of possible criminality. NCHIs have been investigated and personal details recorded over the most absurdly trivial things. This has included singing a song with the word Africa in the lyrics; commenting on EU citizens working here; a mobility scooter being ridden on a pavement; commenting on the trans debate; an intemperate email sent between family members and even playground arguments between children. It is clear the police are now wasting colossal amounts of their time on NCHIs and infringing our ancient rights to free speech while they do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023 while in government, Conservatives introduced tighter rules on NCHIs to try to stop this abuse. But a report by HM Inspector of Constabulary in September 2024 found that the new rules were being ignored: the Police had simply carried on as before. I have raised this in Parliament over recent months and its clear that the Labour government has no real intention of fixing this problem. This is why the Conservatives are now announcing a new policy: NCHIs as a category of incident should be scrapped in their entirety. Police should only investigate or record something where it is likely to be genuinely necessary to prevent or investigate crime. This will free up tens of thousands of hours of police time to catch real criminals and help restore free speech. Instead of policing Twitter, police should spend more time catching burglars and mobile phone thieves. The Conservatives will table this as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill currently going through Parliament and will force a vote. Then it will be clear which MPs are willing to stand up for common sense, getting police priorities straight and for free speech and which MPs are not. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) One person has died after a car crashed into the Long Pond Outlet on Sunday. News 8 crews spotted New York State Police and Greece Police Department vehicles at a taped-off scene on Sunday. According to New York State Police, they were involved in a welfare check after receiving threats of self-harm and mention of a weapon over the phone. Troopers said they found a vehicle associated with the individual on Long Pond Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators revealed the vehicle accelerated, left the roadway, struck a wall and a structure, and then came to a rest in the outlet. Officers removed the person from the vehicle and tried to perform life-saving measures. The individual died from their injury. The Monroe County Medical Examiner and New York State Police are continuing to investigate this incident. 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 RochesterFirst. Correction appended Santa Fe police on Saturday arrested a man accused of domestic violence after a pursuit by vehicle and foot. Frank Gilbert Mares II, 41, of Santa Fe, who was on probation at the time of his arrest, is charged with kidnapping and battery of a household member, among other counts related to allegations he fled from police and resisted arrest, Deputy Chief Ben Valdez said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a possible incident of domestic violence near the intersection of Rodeo Road and Richards Avenue after a woman ran from Mares sedan and got inside another couples car, the news release alleges. A couple driving in the area stopped to assist a female victim who exited and ran from a BMW sedan near the intersection, the release states. They reported that the victim appeared to be frightened as she ran towards their vehicle. They believed the victim had attempted to escape the male driver. When an officer arrived, the release states, Mares had pulled up next to the couples vehicle on Rodeo Road, and the woman was outside the vehicle, speaking with Mares. She then got into backseat of his sedan, and Mares fled, driving at high speeds, swerving in traffic and disregarding the officers lights and siren, the release alleges. Mares was able to evade the police officers sight momentarily near Camino Carlos Rey and Governor Miles Road, the release states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police then located his car after it struck another vehicle near Governor Miles Road and Richards Avenue; Mares ran from the scene, the release alleges, but an officer pursued and ultimately arrested him in the yard of a home, where he was suspected of trying to get into a shed. Along with kidnapping and battery on a household member, he faces the following counts: * Aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer. * Resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. * Leaving the scene of an accident. * Failure to five information and render aid. * Driving with a suspended license. * Criminal trespass. This story has been amended to reflect the following correction. A previous version of this story incorrectly indicated Mares was on parole at the time of his arrest for kidnapping and other charges. He was on probation. French President Emmanuel Macron joined many European leaders on Monday in honouring Pope Francis, who died aged 88 at his residence in the Vatican. "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite people with one another and with nature. May this hope be reborn endlessly beyond him," Macron wrote in English on X. "To all Catholics, to a grieving world, my wife and I send our thoughts," he wrote. Francis led the Catholic Church for 12 years and was the first Latin American pontiff. His passing led to an outpouring of tributes from leaders in Europe and beyond. Black smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, meaning Catholic Church cardinals remained deadlocked on a choice of successor to Pope John Paul II after two rounds of voting at the Vatican, on April 19, 2005. Credit - Mario Laporta/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis passed away at age 88 on April 21, just a day after an Easter Sunday appearance at St. Peters Square, where he gave well-wishes to thousands of Catholic supporters. The Vatican said Monday that Francis died after a stroke. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis was elected Pope in 2013 after his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI became the first Pope to resign in about 600 years. Francis, chosen as TIMEs 2013 Person of the Year, became the first Latin American pontiff when he took the reins of the religious institution. Over his term, Francis became known for his humility and calls for peace during major global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Gaza humanitarian crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: Pope Francis, the Worlds Parish Priest Who Led in an Era of Crisis, Dies at 88 As the world mourns Francis and commemorates his lifes legacy, his death also kickstarts a leadership transition period at the Vatican known as the interregnum, during which there is no Pope in power (referred to as sede vacante, or the vacant seat). Heres what to know about how the next Pope will be selectedand who some of the frontrunners are. What happens when a Pope dies? After the Pope dies, the Vaticans traditional nine days of mourning called the novendiales begin. The election of a new Pope begins between 15 to 20 days after the death. The camerlengo, a cardinal in the Catholic Church, is in charge of organizing the election in a process known as the conclave, which was recently dramatized in the award-winning 2024 film Conclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: In the Vatican Movie Conclave, Big Secrets Are Revealed. Here Are Three Real Life Papal Conclaves Marked by Controversy The actual election, however, is preceded by general congregations that are called both to discuss the growing challenges facing the Catholic Church. The general congregations must be attended by all cardinals who are not legitimately impeded, according to the Apostolic Constitution. Cardinals are special bishops and other Vatican officials who serve as the Popes counselors and visually distinguish themselves with a red cloak. There are more than 250 total cardinals, all of whom are men and most of whom come from Europe, according to the Vatican. While all cardinals can participate in the daily meetings that occur prior to the election, only 120 cardinalsall of whom have to be under the age of 80can actually vote in the conclave. It is not clear how the 120 voters are selected. In December, Francis appointed 21 new Cardinals, hailing from six different continents and many of whom reflect more modern and progressive ideals, such as support for inclusivity of LGBTQ+ Catholics, according to NPR. Overall, it is believed that Francis will have personally selected about 80% of those who will choose his successor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buy a copy of the Pope Francis cover here Typically, the electorate holds a mass to ask for spiritual guidance before the papal election takes place, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). How does the voting process work? At the Vatican, the electors stay in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. Its where Francis chose to live, in a two-room suite, rather than the posh papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace. Typically, the electorate begins its work with a mass to ask for spiritual guidance, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The conclave is an act of supreme secrecy. Vatican City becomes extremely regulated, as cardinals are not permitted to communicate with anyone outside the area where the election is taking place, except in cases of proven and urgent necessity, per the Apostolic Constitution. Following the funeral rites and mass for a deceased Pope, the electors then process to the Sistine Chapel, where they take an oath of discretion, and close the doors to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electors all vote secretly via ballots that read in summum pontificem, or I elect as supreme pontiff. The twice-folded ballots are placed in urns and counted by three cardinals chosen by a random draw from the electors to be scrutineers. Votes are then recorded and read aloud to all cardinals present. The process continues until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote, per USCCB. The process is governed by the Vatican constitution known in Latin as Universi Dominici Gregis, or the Lords whole flock. First issued by St. John Paul II in 1996, it used to allow for a new pope to be elected by a simple majorityrather than two-thirdsafter 33 rounds of ballots starting on the second day of the conclave. But it was amended by Benedict XVI to remove the provision in 2007. Instead, a long-drawn conclave would be decided by a runoff between the top two candidates (that excludes the two candidates from voting) until one receives a two-thirds majority. The public is kept abreast of the voting process through smoke signals created by the burning of ballots. White smoke means that cardinals have selected a new Pope, while black smoke means another round of voting has to take place. Once the conclave elects a Pope, the dean of the College of Cardinalscurrently, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Reasks him if he accepts the title, and the candidate is dressed and picks his papal name before he walks out to the balcony of St. Peters Basilica. There, the senior cardinal deaconwho at the time of Francis death was French Cardinal Dominique Mambertitells the crowd assembled below, Habemus Papam, (Latin for we have a Pope) and introduces the Churchs new leader by the name he has chosen. TIME graphic Who is eligible to become the next Pope? The College of Cardinals Report, a website aimed at providing more information on potential successors, has identified 22 cardinals who it believes are papabili, or most likely to be elected Pope. Some of the qualities a cardinal considered papabili should possess include humility, zeal for the Catholic faith, and the promotion of goodness, according to the report. But predicting the next Pope is notoriously precarious and he may be none of those we propose, it caveats. Pope Francis, for example, was not on many papabili lists in 2013, because many considered him to be too old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite calls for greater leadership opportunities for women within the Catholic Church during last years synod, a summit among Catholic leaders, women are still ineligible to be ordained as priests and therefore are also ineligible for the papacy. While not explicitly outlined in any specific Church regulations, every Pope has had the status of a cardinal before they took their role as pontiff. Here are some of the most discussed candidates who may be considered to be the next Pope: Jean-Marc Aveline Jean-Marc Aveline, 66, is well-known for his support for migrants. That stance is personal, as the cardinal himself fled his home due to war when he was just four years old. His family eventually settled in Marseille, France, a city with a substantial Muslim population, making him keen to interfaith dialogues. Aveline has a doctorate in theology. He is reportedly Pope Francis favorite possible successor, according to the College of Cardinals Report, though he differs from Francis in that he expressed caution at blessings for same-sex couples, as opposed to individuals. Joseph Tobin Joseph Tobin, 72, is a highly progressive candidate for the Church and has amassed substantial influence in the U.S. Tobin has voiced avid support for LGBTQ+ Catholics, women in the Church, and migrants, even going against then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence over the politicians efforts to stop the resettlement of Syrian refugees. He previously worked in the role of a second-in-command of the Vatican office before his current role as the Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey. In that position, hes dealt with the high-profile Theodore McCarrick sexual assault scandal. Juan Jose Omella Juan Jose Omella, 79, worked as an advisor to Pope Francis prior to his passing. The Spanish cardinal earned his red cloak just one year after he was given the title of archbishop. He has spoken strongly against abortion, but has made controversial comments regarding reports of sexual abuse within the Catholic Chruch in Spain, calling the estimated figures that fell in the hundreds of thousands lies. He followed that by saying that We will not tire of asking for forgiveness from the victims and working for their healing. Omella studied theology and philosophy at the Seminary of Zaragoza. Pietro Parolin Italian Pietro Parolin, 70, has been serving as the Vaticans Secretary of State since 2013 and is the highest-ranking cardinal in the electing conclave. He is considered an expert on a number of geo-political issues. From 2002 to 2009, he was undersecretary of state for Relations with States and directed relations with Vietnam, North Korea, Israel, and China. Peter Erdo Peter Erdo, 72, would be a more conservative pick for the top post. In 2003, at 51, the Hungarian national was made one of the Churchs youngest cardinals after being appointed by John Paul II. He has opposed divorced and remarried individuals taking communion, believing that marriage is indissoluble, and is against same-sex marriage. His stance on immigration, a key issue in Hungary, has also come under fire in the past: he once compared taking in refugees to human smuggling, but is said to have changed his stance after a meeting with Pope Francis, who was much more liberal on issues of immigration and refugees. Peter Turkson Peter Turkson, 76, would be a progressive pick for the Church. Turkson, an archbishop from Ghana, was first named cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003. Turkson was selected by Pope Francis to help lead special assemblies advocating for development in the pan-Amazon region, and a council for justice and peace. In March, the University of Dayton announced that Turkson would be receiving an honorary doctorate this year, calling him a tireless advocate for the poor and marginalized, championing the cause of human dignity. At least six other colleges have also recognized him with an honorary doctorate. Luis Antonio Tagle If elected, Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, would be the first modern-day Asian Pope. Currently serving as pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Tagle is more left-leaning, having spoken out against the isolating impact of the Churchs harsh language against same-sex marriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, I think even the language has changed already, the harsh words that were used in the past to refer to gays and divorced and separated people, the unwed mothers etc, in the past they were quite severe, he said in 2015. Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society. Mario Grech Mario Grech, 68, is the secretary general of the Synod. The Malta-born cardinal has expressed his disapproval of divorce and in vitro fertilization, but in the same breath called on the Catholic church to accept divorced and gay couples. The Church should be an experience of God instead of a moral agency he told the Sunday Times of Malta in a 2015 interview. Under his current role in the church, Grech was in charge of overseeing the Synod of Synodalitywhen religious leaders gather to consult on the future direction of the Churchmaking him well-connected among bishops and cardinals. He has been outspoken in his support of migrants, calling on Europe to better address the humanitarian issue at-hand. He added: It is also important in such a delicate sector not to allow institutional discrimination between the well-off foreigners and the poor, those coming from the East and those coming from Africa. Matteo Maria Zuppi Italian Matteo Maria Zuppi, 69, has taken the lead from Francis in his attempts to foster a more inclusive environment within the church. He served as special envoy to Russia and Ukraine, and has engaged in dialogue with leaders in Kyiv, Moscow, Washington D.C., the West Bank, and Beijing. He has been open about his acceptance of homosexuality and is also supportive of prisoners rights and the abolition of the death penalty, and in June 2023 he called for a legal system that guarantees protection and welcome for all. Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com. NEW DELHI, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Six people died and two were injured when the car they were traveling in rammed into a tree at a very high speed in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, local police confirmed on Monday. According to the police, the accident occurred on Padrauna-Naurangia road in Kushinagar district when the victims were traveling towards a village to attend a wedding late on Sunday night. All eight people were rushed to a local hospital, where six were declared dead and the rest two were admitted for medical treatment. The car was badly damaged, said the police. How is a new Pope chosen? That process will soon be front and center in the wake of the death of Pope Francis. It's called a conclave, and it involves a secret election and, eventually, the release of white smoke. Francis died on April 21, 2025 at his residence, the Vatican announced on its official X page. "When a pope dies or resigns, the governance of the Catholic Church passes to the College of Cardinals. Cardinals are bishops and Vatican officials from all over the world, personally chosen by the pope, recognizable by their distinctive red vestments," the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Conference's website outlines the process for choosing a new Pope. "Following a vacancy in the papacy, the cardinals hold a series of meetings at the Vatican called general congregations. They discuss the needs and the challenges facing the Catholic Church globally," the Conference explains. "They will also prepare for the upcoming papal election, called a conclave. Decisions that only the pope can make, such as appointing a bishop or convening the Synod of Bishops, must wait till after the election. In the past, they made arrangements for the funeral and burial of the deceased pope." How does the conclave work? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the past, 15 to 20 days after a papal vacancy, the cardinals gathered in St. Peter's Basilica for a Mass invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in electing a new pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave. They are known as the cardinal electors," the Conference wrote. "For the conclave itself, the cardinal electors process to the Sistine Chapel and take an oath of absolute secrecy before sealing the doors," it adds. There is a secret ballot. Pope Francis during the impartation of the 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing and wishes "good Easter" from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, April 20, 2024, in Rome (Italy). Europa Press News/Getty Images "The cardinals vote by secret ballot, processing one by one up to Michelangelo's fresco of the Last Judgment, saying a prayer and dropping the twice-folded ballot in a large chalice," according to the Conference. "Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote. The result of each ballot are counted aloud and recorded by three cardinals designated as recorders. If no one receives the necessary two-thirds of the vote, the ballots are burned in a stove near the chapel with a mixture of chemicals to produce black smoke." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a candidate gets enough votes, the famous white smoke is released, and the decision is announced. "When a cardinal receives the necessary two-thirds vote, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he accepts his election," the Conference wrote. "If he accepts, he chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments before processing out to the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The ballots of the final round are burned with chemicals producing white smoke to signal to the world the election of a new pope." "Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of the ascertainment of death of Pope Francis and placement of his body in the coffin on Monday evening. The rite will take place in the Chapel of the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta at 8:00 PM (GMT +2)," the Vatican announced. "The Holy See Press Office indicated that those present will include the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and family members of the late Pope Francis, along with Dr. Andrea Arcangeli and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Director and Deputy Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene, respectively." Related: Pope Francis Death: Last Photos With JD Vance, on Balcony Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church who ushered in a progressive era for the Vatican, died Monday.He was 88. Francis death follows a five-week hospitalization in February and March, initially for bronchitis and then also for pneumonia in both of his lungs. He was released March 23 and had just celebrated Easter Mass on Sunday. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, made the announcement at the Casa Santa Marta, where Francis had lived since becoming pope in 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis, he said. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He added: He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God. The pope, who had part of one lung removed when he was younger following an infection, was hospitalized twice in 2023, first for bronchitis and later to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall. That surgery followed doctors removing 13 inches of his large intestine in 2021 due to bulges that had formed in his colons intestinal wall. That procedure is believed to have resulted in the problematic scarring. In 2023, Francis was forced to cancel an appearance at the COP28 climate conference due to the flu and lung inflammation. In 2022, the pope also needed to delay a trip to Congo and South Sudan because of knee inflammation. The injury resulted in Francis needing to use a wheelchair and a walker for over a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People around the world mourned the death of the first pontiff from the Americas, whotook the world by storm after a conclave of cardinals elected him to be pope in 2013. The Argentine succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, who, in a nearly unprecedented move, resigned in February of that same year. Now, the conclave will gather again to deliberate over who will succeed Francis. ALBERTO PIZZOLI via Getty Images Under Francis' watch, the Vatican opened a homeless shelter , and provided showers and haircuts for people living on the streets around Vatican City. Francis led the church through a period of significant demographic change, as Catholic populations declined in Europe and the United States, expanded in Africa, and faced competition from Pentecostal Protestantism in Latin America. One of Francis most enduring legacies will be his reshaping of the churchs hierarchy to reflect these shifts. Francis has packed the College of Cardinals, which elects popes, with bishops from Africa, Asia and South America. Throughout his papacy, Francis pushed the church to become less obsessed with culture war issues such as gay marriage and abortion, encouraging clergy and lay Catholics to pay more attention to the refugee crisis, climate change, human trafficking and the global arms trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also shepherded the church through the COVID-19 pandemic, canceling large public gatherings and Masses at St. Peters Basilica in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The cancellations led to extraordinary and historic scenes at the Vatican a near-empty St. Peters Square on Good Friday, followed months later by a socially distanced Christmas Day address at the Apostolic Palace, the popes official residence. Francis urged government leaders and businesses to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine reached the most vulnerable and needy of all regions of the planet. But Francis legacy will inevitably be challenged by his early missteps in handling the Catholic Churchs clerical sexual abuse crisis. During his papacy, the church faced a renewed reckoning over abuse, with high-profile scandals in the U.S., Poland, France and Chile toppling prominent figures. In 2011, Francis then known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio holds a jersey from the San Lorenzo soccer club, of which he was known to be a fan. REUTERS/San Lorenzo Athletic Club/Handout Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the pope accomplished many firsts before even beginning his official papal duties. He was the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit to be named pope and the first to take the name of Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi protector of the environment and of the poor. But Francis first and foremost described himself as a sinner, saying in an interview shortly after his election: This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born on Dec. 17, 1936, Francis was the eldest of five children. His father was an Italian immigrant and his mother was an Argentine of Italian descent. As a young adult, Francis had an affinity for tango dancing, worked as a bouncer at a nightclub and trained in chemistry before entering seminary. After being ordained in 1969, he went on to serve as the head of Argentinas chapter of the Society of Jesus, the Catholic Churchs Jesuit order. At the age of 36, Francis found himself leading the countrys Jesuit order just as Argentina was entering its so-called dirty war, a period of violence and unrest in which thousands of people were kidnapped, tortured and killed. Some would later question his silence amid the violent tactics of the military regime; many religious leaders did the same to protect themselves at the time. The pontiffs critics, including journalist Horacio Verbitsky, accused him of withdrawing protection orders from two Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Francisco Jalics, during a time when Argentinas military dictatorship was persecuting priests for their humanitarian work in the slums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yorio and Jalics were kidnapped by officers in May 1976 and held and tortured for five months. I had to deal with difficult situations, and I made my decisions abruptly and by myself, Francis said in a 2014 interview. He also acknowledged that the experience led him to adopt an authoritarian and quick manner of making decisions, which later challenged his popularity in the Jesuit community. A member of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo looks at pictures of people who disappeared during Argentina's 1976-83 military dictatorship during the inauguration of Buenos Aires' Memorial Park on Nov. 7, 2007. Enrique Marcarian / Reuters By the late 1980s, the new Jesuit leaders grappled with what to do with Bergoglio. He had alienated many Jesuits both for his refusal to criticize the military dictatorship and for discouraging the study of liberation theology, a political and socially progressive philosophy that spread through Latin America in the 20th century. Always socially minded, Bergoglio favored sending young Jesuits to work in the fields rather than studying from books as a way of helping poor farmers in the surrounding areas. In 1990, Jesuit leaders sent him to Cordoba, a city some 400 miles west of Buenos Aires, where he entered a period of prayer and reflection. For two years, Bergoglio spent his days praying, doing chores and seeing the occasional visitor who came inquiring after his health. He didnt drink, rarely watched TV and only occasionally socialized, Ricardo Spinassi, who worked as the housekeeper at Bergoglios residence at the time, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rev. Juan Carlos Scannone, a fellow Jesuit who had known Bergoglio since the 1950s, called the time in Cordoba a spiritual purification, a dark night. In a paradoxical turn of events, wrote religion reporter David Gibson, Bergoglios virtual estrangement from the Jesuits may have influenced Buenos Aires Cardinal Antonio Quarracinos decision to appoint him an assistant bishop in 1992. Six years later, Bergoglio succeeded Quarracino as archbishop, and in 2001, Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal. In 2005, he was the runner-up in the conclave that elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, leading some to speculate in 2013 that he would be the pick for pope despite his advanced age. Francis appears at St. Peter's Basilica after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. AFP via Getty Images After his election in 2013, Francis quickly drew the medias and the worlds fascination. He opted for simple clothing for everyday occasions, passed up on a palace for more humble accommodations and chose a Ford Focus over a Mercedes for the papal car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humility is above all Gods way: God humbles himself to walk with his people, Francis said during a Palm Sunday homily in 2015. His personal style was humble, but none could deny his celebrity-like aura. Within the first year of his papacy, Francis graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Time, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and other popular magazines. Time magazine named him person of the year in 2013, and a superhero character was even made in his image (though Francis wasnt too happy about it). Street art of a "superhero" version of Francis appeared in the streets of Rome in 2014. Franco Origlia via Getty Images Within weeks of being declared pope, the pontiff set the stage for what would be a papacy full of surprises by including women for the first time in the Maundy Thursday foot washing ceremony. Four months later, Francis uttered the five words that would go down in history when he said Who am I to judge? in response to a question about gay priests. He went on to emphasize compassion toward the LGBTQ+ community throughout his papacy, later stating that the Catholic Church owed gay people an apology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Church must ask forgiveness for not behaving many times when I say the Church, I mean Christians! The Church is holy, we are sinners! he said during a June 2016 press conference. In teaching, though, Francis did not diverge from conservative Catholic doctrine on topics like womens roles and sexual orientation, maintaining that priesthood was reserved only for men, that marriage was intended to be between a man and a woman and that gender transitions were against the order of creation. In 2023, however, Francis suggested that there could be ways to bless same-sex unions, so long as such blessings arent confused with sacramental marriage. He has also voiced support for civil laws that extend legal benefits to same-sex spouses, and spoke out against efforts to criminalize homosexuality. In June 2015, he invoked his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, by releasing an extensive encyclical, or papal letter, on the environment. Titled Laudato Si, the encyclical acknowledged human beings role in the degradation of the planet and affirmed the moral imperative of caring for the Earth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the day of the letters release, the pontiff tweeted, The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. These problems are closely linked to a throwaway culture. The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015 Francis was no stranger to politics. In 2014, he helped broker a deal between the U.S. and Cuba that not only brought about the release of U.S. subcontractor Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned in the country for five years, but also ushered in a new era of U.S.-Cuba relations. I pray for an end to wars, conflicts and the great suffering caused by human agency, by epidemics past and present, and by the devastation wrought by natural disasters, Francis said in December of that year. The pope repeatedly spoke out against the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the violence in Gaza. In 2023, Francis begged for an end to what he called the passions that are killing everyone. Here weve gone beyond war. This isnt war anymore, this is terrorism, Francis said after meeting with relatives of both Palestinians in Gaza and of hostages being held by Hamas. Please, let us go ahead with peace. Pray for peace, pray a lot for peace. Francis worked to create a culture of openness in the church where others had built walls as in the case of ministering to divorced Catholics. A pastor cannot feel that it is enough to simply apply moral laws to those living in irregular situations, as if they were stones to throw at peoples lives, he wrote in an April 2016 document titled Amoris Laetitia, Latin for The Joy of Love. TIZIANA FABI via Getty Images The pope's tireless work to promote peace and equality around the globe seemed to defy his early predictions that his papacy would be short. Time and again, Francis demonstrated his commitment to the poor, homeless and disenfranchised. Under his watch, the Vatican opened a homeless shelter and provided showers and haircuts for people living on the streets around Vatican City. Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor, he told reporters soon after his election as pope. He visited islands off Italy and Greece where refugees were making the perilous journey from Libya, Syria and surrounding countries. He helped resettle several refugee families in Italy and encouraged other Catholics to stand up for migrants. As people of faith, we wish to join our voices to speak out on your behalf, Francis said, addressing migrants. We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity. He also spoke out against the Donald Trump administrations mass deportation efforts in the U.S. In a letter sent to U.S. bishops in early 2025, he asked not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters while likening todays migrants to Jesus, Mary and Joseph fleeing violence to Egypt. As he worked to encourage Catholics outreach to the world, the pope also faced criticism within his own flock. In the U.S., a small wing of doctrine-minded conservatives pushed back against Francis welcoming brand of Catholicism, insisting that the popes approach to some issues such as distributing the Eucharist to divorced, remarried couples could have the effect of muddying long-standing church teachings. Francis acknowledged his conservative opponents in 2019, saying, For me, its an honor if the Americans attack me. He lamented that people promoting schisms have allowed ideology to become detached from Catholic doctrine. Doing this, you lose the true tradition and you turn to ideologies to have support. In other words, ideologies replace faith, Francis told Portuguese Jesuits of the U.S. Catholic Church in a private meetingin August 2023. The vision of the doctrine of the church as a monolith is wrong. When you go backward, you make something closed off, disconnected from the roots of the church, he continued. I want to remind these people that backwardness is useless, and they must understand that theres a correct evolution in the understanding of questions of faith and morals that allows for doctrine to progress over time. Francis handling of the churchs sex abuse crisis also attracted criticism. In January 2018, Francis shocked survivors by accusing victims of Chiles most notorious pedophile of calumny or slander. Months later, a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation revealed that six Roman Catholic dioceses in the state had covered up sexual abuse by 301 predator priests over the course of 70 years. The 884-page report proved to be one of the largest, most comprehensive investigations on the churchs sex abuse scandal and identified over 1,000 known victims. In a statement following the reports release, Francis condemned a culture in the church that led some religious leaders to be more concerned about their reputation than the safety of children. With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives, he wrote. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them. In February 2019, Francis defrocked former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick after finding the cleric guilty of sexually abusing minors and adult seminarians over decades. It was the first time a former Catholic cardinal was expelled from the priesthood for sexual abuse. A Vatican report later found that several different bishops, cardinals and popes dismissed evidence of McCarricks misconduct and allowed him to rise through the ranks of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. The report, which Francis commissioned and ordered published, avoided pinning blame on Francis for the scandal. Francis abolished pontifical secrecy for sex abuse cases, which allowed civil authorities to access reports, testimonies and documents. He also issued a law requiring all Catholic priests and nuns to report clergy sex abuse and cover-ups to church authorities. Still, some survivors groups think he didnt do enough to sanction bishops who covered up for sexually abusive priests, to hold bishops accountable in the future, or to ensure the release of church documentation on abuse cases. In this 2015 file photo, Francis reaches out to hug then-Cardinal Archbishop emeritus Theodore McCarrick at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP Francis made early predictions that his papacy would be short based, perhaps, on his advanced age and persistent sciatica. In 2022, Francis told reporters he would need to slow down and possibly retire in the future, given his age and strained knee ligaments that affected his mobility. Speaking with Mexican broadcaster Televisa in 2015, Francis said: I feel that the Lord has placed me here for a short time. Short as it was compared to Pope John Paul IIs 27-year tenure, Francis papacy was one that many believe changed the direction of the Catholic Church. Sanjana Karanth contributed to this report. Related... Then-President Joe Biden greets Pope Francis at the G7 summit in Italy on June 14, 2024. Credit - Christopher FurlongGetty Images This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. Aboard Air Force One back in January, Joe Biden must have wondered if the cosmos was conspiring against him. With just a few days left in office, Biden had hoped to fulfill a personal wish: one last presidential meeting with Pope Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But factors beyond his control were making one final pilgrimage to the Vatican look increasingly unlikely. Biden, who considered the priesthood as a younger man and prides himself on his Catholicism, met three Popes during his half-century in politics, starting with Pope John Paul II in 1980. But it was Pope Francis with whom he has likely forged the deepest connection. After Beau Biden died in 2015, Pope Francis counseled the Biden clan working through their very public grief about the golden child of the family. Over six days that summer during the Popes tour of the United States, Biden was often just an arms length away. A year later, Biden was again with the Pope, speaking at a cancer conference at the Vatican. In the Oval Office, a photo of Francis was mixed in with those of family members on Bidens desk. They spoke by phone from time to time, just to check in with a friendly voice. Buy a copy of the Pope Francis cover here As Biden flew back from a California besieged by a fast-growing series of wildfires, he dialed into a meeting underway with aides huddled around a conference table back in the West Wing. The trip out West went about as off-schedule as any presidential trip could, with detours and delays plaguing their plans. Now, they were discussing his upcoming three-day trip to Europe, which was set to include time for Biden to surprise Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor. But the crisis situation on the West Coast had now made the notion of Biden leaving the country politically untenable. When he returned to the White House that evening, he told aides to scrap the planned trip, which was due to start the next day. Biden personally called Pope Francis to explain the situation and inform him that he would be receiving an unexpected honor by way of the Vaticans diplomatic reps in Washington. It was that last conversation, on Jan. 11, that stung the President particularly hard, according to two people who were involved in that decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pope is now back on Bidens agenda, but in a very different way. The leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics died Monday, less than a month after a lengthy hospital stay for pneumonia. Bidenonly the second Catholic to serve as President and one who still celebrates Mass most weekendswill likely want to attend Francis funeral, according to those in his inner circle. The politics of that might get tricky, as its not at all clear whether the current President has any interest in paying respects to a spiritual leader with whom he repeatedly clashed. The funeral of a Popeespecially the first from the Americas, not to mention the first Jesuittends to be one of those events that dominates the diplomatic calendar. Its significance is up there with the deaths of icons like Nelson Mandela or a British monarch. Its a moment that demands delicacy, and that is not exactly a skillset radiating from those in power in Official Washington. In the early days of Donald Trumps first presidential campaign, Trump seemed to relish picking a fight with Franciswho was on his way to visit the United States with Biden as his de facto chaperonesuggesting the pontiff was weak and was offering an opening for ISIS to take over the Vatican. During the 2016 South Carolina primary, Trump and the Pope got into a full-blown skirmish from afar, with Francis questioning if Trump was even Christian and the real estate tycoon suggesting the pontiff was a tool of the Mexican government. (Trumps aides eventually convinced him the fight was not a net gain as he tried to convince voters of faith to take a chance on the thrice-married billionaire.) The rift continued through Trumps first term, although the pairs meeting during Trumps first foreign trip in office went pleasantly enough. Pope Francis, born in Buenos Aires to an Italian family fleeing fascism in Mussolinis era, had little regard to Trumps hard-line immigration views and never shied from criticizing his plans for a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border. Builders of walls sow fear, Pope Francis said during a visit to Panama. On a flight back from another trip, he told reporters that border walls were not the answer: Those who build walls will become prisoners of the walls they put up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The enmity did not fade. Earlier this year, Trumps top enforcer on border issues, Tom Homan, suggested the Pope was a hypocrite. "They have a wall around the Vatican. If you illegally enter the Vatican, the crime is serious. You'll be charged with a serious crime and jailed," Homan said. Trumps nominee to be his Ambassador to the Vatican, Brian Burch, has been a partisan operative and vocal papal critic, making it an awkward fit if he is confirmed as expected. On another timeline, the White House might have made better use of Vice President J.D. Vance, who was baptized as a Catholic in 2019, to smooth things over with one of the worlds top religious leaders. But Vances aggressive cheerleading of Trumps policies complicated that approach, so much so that Pope Francis dressed-down U.S. Bishops in a letter in February for not doing more to object to Vances defense of the deportation program on theological grounds. The skirmish continued, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan denouncing Vances suggestions that financial incentives were behind Catholic bishops defense of migrants as nasty. On Sunday, the day before Francis passing, Vance exchanged Easter greetings with an ailing Pope. Vances motorcade, according to the Associated Press, was on Vatican territory for just 17 minutes. Contrast all that to Biden, who met three times with Francis while Biden spent eight years as Vice President and twice when he became President. During a 2021 visit, the pair spent an astonishing 90 minutes together as aides from both delegations kept looking at each other, as if to ask which side wanted to interrupt the bosses. Those close to Biden say his humility toward Francis is genuine, with Biden often reminding his priest pals here in the United States that the Pope himself referred to him as a good Catholic. The last trip to the Vatican was meant as a reward for both men, who recognize they are often out-of-step with those around them and too often counted out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden advisers say the boss and the Pope would occasionally trade phone calls, often with informal gut-checks and spiritual check-ins. In a December call, the Pope lobbied Biden to soften death-row sentences for convicts. Biden ultimately commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, tampering Trumps plans to resume executions once back in office. There were no immediate details about Trumps plans around the funeral. (Francis revised his funeral plans last year to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, not in the grottoes beneath St. Peters Basilica where most Popes find their final resting place.) State affairs like a papal funeral typically bring even warring political rivals together. When Mandela passed away in 2013, then-President Barack Obama invited former President George W. Bush to join him on a whirlwind trip to South Africa where they were on the ground for just 13 hours. Even though Obama spent much of his 2008 presidential campaign eviscerating Bush, the two men were professional enough to bury the hatchet; Bush even showed off some of his post-White House paintings from his iPad, and Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton all made pleasant conversations in the Air Force One conference room. Trump is no Obama, to put it mildly. Trumps capacity for grievance knows no limit, throwing uncertainty over whether he is willing to travel to attend Francis funeral. The prospect of him viewing Bidens possible effort to attend in a positive light seems improbable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, in an unexpected way, Pope Francis one last time is holding a mirror up to this world and forcing us to take a look at two very different Presidents who represent vastly different approaches to the job. In the incumbent, there is a figure who has little regard for anyone who dares question his infallibility. In the former, there lies a sorrowed soul who thought of the Pope as the ultimate counselor to a President who wanted advice on what doing the right thing looked like in practice. In those two pews, Americas civic religion shows itself, with Biden and Trump clearly sitting on different sides of the chapel. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com. Pope Francis passed away earlier this week at age 88, the Vatican announced. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said. After his funeral, which is being held toda, Pope Francis will be laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major), a church to which he had a very strong connection. Notably, while it is an unconventional choice, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four major papal basilicas, and is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franciss choice reflects his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus populi Romani (Salvation of the people of Rome), the Associated Press noted. Gregorio Borgia - Getty Images According to tradition, the Salus Populi Romani was painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist. Before each of his international trips, Pope Francis visited the icon, and Catholic News Agency estimated in 2023 he made over 100 visits to the basilica throughout his reign as pope. Franco Origlia - Getty Images Pope Franciss burial breaks with recent papal tradition; most popes are laid to rest in St. Peters Basilica. He will be the first pope not buried in there in over a centurythe last pope not buried at St. Peters was Pope Leo XIII, whose grave is located at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. According to the National Cathedral Register, likely more than 140 of the 265 deceased popes in history are buried in the crypts beneath St. Peters. Meanwhile, just six other pontiffs are buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore, the last being Pope Clement IX, who died 1669. You Might Also Like The News Pope Francis, who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a decade, died on Monday at the age of 88. Defined by his humble approach to leadership and his openness to reform, Francis courted controversy among more conservative strains of the Church. Meanwhile, some critics derided him for not going far enough to reshape an institution that had been rocked by scandals shortly before he took up his papacy. Now will begin the highly secretive ritual of choosing a new pope to lead the 1.37 billion global Catholics: With dwindling congregants in Europe, and growing numbers in Africa, as well as increased conservatism amongst wealthy US believers, the Church may be on the brink of a significant pivot from the liberal changes pushed by Francis. SIGNALS A reformer who sought to take worship to the streets Sources: The New York Times, The Tablet, The Guardian Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis tenure was defined by a desire to reform the Church, which had been left in disarray by 2013: The stunning resignation of his conservative predecessor, Benedict XVI, and a major child sex abuse scandal that came to define the Church in the 2000s, meant that Pope Francis sought to become a change agent, The New York Times wrote. The first Jesuit and South American to take up the role, he believed that the Church had become navel-gazing, opulent, and Eurocentric, and sought to create a poor church and a church for the poor. However, Francis avuncular charm and easy smile belied a formidable leader, whose purposefully unpredictable governing style frustrated the Italian old guard in the Vatican, The Times wrote. Critics thought Francis didnt go far enough Sources: Catholic News Agency, The National Catholic Reporter, The Economist While Pope Francis was known as a progressive leader with a distinctly youthful following he had been about to canonize the first millennial saint critics believed he didnt go far enough in his reforms: His attempt to address the child abuse scandal was often clumsy, The Economist wrote, and his apologies failed to impress the press or victims. A disappointment for many Catholics, the progressive National Catholic Reporter argued, was that despite later attempts at change, Pope Francis left the Vatican a thoroughly clerical, and male, environment. Still, largely unlike his predecessors, Francis not only allowed a discussion, but actually promoted a discussion, one historian told the outlet. Future could look increasingly conservative for Catholic Church Sources: Newsweek, Politico, The Independent, National Catholic Register The question of Francis successor will likely be a challenge in an increasingly polarized Church: Notable frontrunners hail from the Global South a reflection of Francis desire to move away from Rome, and the growing numbers of clergy members in Africa. However, a non-Western pope would likely upset increasingly conservative and financially powerful American Church leaders, one high-level cleric told Politico, which could be crucial at a time when the Vatican is suffering from a significant financial crisis. A pull in either direction will likely move away from Francis vision. He criticized the US Church as having a very strong reactionary attitude, while some African bishops have blocked inclusion efforts for LGBTQ Catholics. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Pope Francis, a leader known for steering the Catholic Church toward mercy and care for the marginalized, often to the point of controversy, has died at the age of 88. The church that he leaves behind is remarkably different from the one he was first elected to lead. In his nearly 12 years as the highest spiritual authority to more than a billion people, Francis loosened official attitudes around divorce, de-emphasized conservative sexual morality in favor of preaching the moral urgency of caring for migrants and the Earth, instituted broad reforms to the church government, and made overtures to LGBTQ Catholics, approving blessings for same-sex couples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many observers believe that Francis will not necessarily be remembered primarily for his progressive actions. He was, after all, not a consistent champion for change: Many critics on the left have charged him with dragging his feet on womens rights in the church, for example, by appointing token women to high-profile roles rather than opening the institution to more seismic changes. He also moved haltingly when dealing with sexual abuse, spoke harshly at times of gender ideology, and was prevented, either by personal belief or by church doctrine, from more fully accepting gay Catholics. He could be considered the most progressive pope in history, but he was still, ultimately, a popea man bound by the traditions of an ancient institution. Instead, experts said, his legacy may be related to something even more unprecedented: his identity as the first Latin American pope. It may sound like a minor bit of triviathe first non-European pope since the 8th century, and the first pope from outside of Europe or the Mediterraneanbut Francis outsider identity shifted, in a way, how the entire Catholic Church came to see itself. Looking back, its doubtful that the conclave that elected the Argentinian cardinal formerly known as Jorge Bergoglio knew what they were ushering in. In 2013, Bergoglio was not considered a radical. Argentine Jesuitsthe more activism-friendly order that he led as a young man, notably during Argentinas Dirty War of the 1970sdistrusted him. He was not a champion of the more leftist liberation theology percolating in South America. His contrast to the others in the region was actually reassuring to the more old-fashioned European cardinals who voted for him. What they saw in Bergoglio was a tough old Jesuit who would come in and reform the curia, said David Gibson, the director of Fordham Universitys Center on Religion and Culture, referring to the Vatican bureaucracy. He had a reputation as an authoritarian-type figure in Argentina. But the cardinals who hoped for law and order in the Vatican had miscalculated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pope they got wanted more fundamental philosophical changes. His formative years were spent in a city far from Rome, where poverty and war, not the theological correctness of the faithful, were his most pressing concerns as a community leader. He wanted the peripheries, as he called the more far-flung and forgotten members of the global church, to feel more present in the halls of power. He viewed the church and its role in the world from that experience, said Tim Byrnes, a political scientist who has studied the churchs international politics. So everything was different. His emphasis on the poor. How the church should be a field hospital for the broken. Thats rhetoric someone might hear from a priest in a barrio in Buenos Aires, rather than an archbishop in Milan. In detaching the churchs identity from Europe, Francis made enemies. He tried to decentralize some of the operations of the Vatican, butting heads with bureaucrats in the process. He brought in the public for large-scale dialogue and advisory sessions with bishops and cardinals, affronting traditionalist clerics nostalgic for the positions more princely past. He recognized the supernatural practices common in Latin America and the native iconography of the Amazon, shocking Europeans who accused him of promoting paganism. He tried to welcome disenchanted young people by signaling tolerance for the LGBTQ community, infuriating a huge portion of the churchs leadership. And most importantly for the medium-term future of the church, he appointed bishops and promoted cardinals who hailed from Asia, Africa, and other regions typically underrepresented in the hierarchyregions he saw as the churchs demographic future. His biggest opposition came from the United States. Francis two predecessors, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, were natural allies to American foreign-policy leadership in terms of societal values and political aimsbattling communism and secularism. Not so Francis, who harshly rebuked unconstrained capitalism. He found significant conflict with American conservatives by speaking out, pointedly, about the death penalty, immigration, and corporate greed. Conservative Catholicsboth laypeople and clergyprotested what they saw as an assault on traditional forms of worship; some bishops spoke openly against him. (Francis had, in an effort to tamp down the dissent movement largely based in the U.S., restricted a particular Latin-language liturgy. Some experts said he potentially misjudged the political cost of these changes.) Francis showed significant restraint when it came to most diplomatic affairs. Because of complex relations with the Orthodox church in Russia, for example, he resisted criticizing Vladimir Putin by name over the Ukraine invasion. And because of Chinas vast population, he struck a controversial deal with the communist government that ceded some control of the church there in an effort to bring the faithful out of hiding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he could be unsparing with the American right. In 2016, Francis called then-candidate Donald Trump not Christian because of his desire to build a border wall; nine years later, he called Trumps second administrations deportation policy a disgrace. More recently, Francis took the unprecedented step of writing a public letter condemning Vice President J.D. Vance, a Catholic, for stirring narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters. That was a document that you have once in a century, said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University. Even as secular world leaders seemed to abandon the lofty promises of a shared humanitarian project made in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust, Francis was uncompromising about mercy for the dispossessed. He castigated rich countries for fueling climate change, which ravages poorer ones. He warned that it was a grave sin to turn away migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea and gave a dozen Muslim refugees refuge in the Vatican. He risked political backlash by calling Israels bombing campaign in Gaza a barbarity and accusing the country of committing terrorism and acting with cruelty in attacking civilians and killing children. The conclave always responds to its times in interesting ways, Faggioli said. Francis time was the age of Trump, Brexit, and the mass migration crisis. Despite being an outsider, Francis became a shrewd Vatican politician, laying a deep groundwork so that his priorities would survive into the next papacy. He moved aggressively to appoint more cardinalsa full 110 of the 138 voting members of the coming conclave. And he appointed them from areas around the world, cementing a legacy of bringing more outsiders into the inner sanctum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, theres no guarantee that this conclave of cardinals will select a pope who shares Francis more progressive ideals. The geographically and linguistically diverse cardinals of Francis ilk barely know each other and will likely have a harder time hashing out priorities and creating alliances than the more cohesive European contingent. And non-European doesnt necessarily mean progressive. The African and Asian churches often clash with Western cardinals on economic and political matters but hold harshly conservative views of social issues, including sex- and gender-related issues, as well as the churchs relationship with Islam. And theres always the question of whether the cardinals, exhausted by Francis aggressive reforms, will flinch. The College of Cardinals will have to make some choices on whether they want a pope who brings back the papacy to a more stable, predictable profile of a European pope, Faggioli said. Pope Francis has really shaken up the whole picture. The question is will this picture go back to the previous stability, which was hiding all kinds of tensions. Vatican observers believe that regardless of what happens next, it will be hard for any future pope to walk back the de-Westernization of the church. Francis approach wasnt just about his own personal beliefs; it was a strategy for the churchs survival. Europes religious population stagnated long ago, and the only real hope Catholicism has for growth is in Asia and Africa. The two previous popes had hoped to convince the non-European world to see the appeal of the existing European church; Francis believed that the church had to reform itself to fit the shifting base of its membershipa complete inversion of how the church normally conceives itself, as Gibson said. This is the legacy experts think is sure to outlast Francis personal priorities. What is impossible to undo is the pivot that Francis embodied of Catholicism toward the global south, Faggioli said. He was the first pope who saw that and did something about thatabout building a global Catholic culture. We cant yet know if the next pope will have the courage to embrace the chaos in the same wayon the world stage or within the Vatican. But Francis challenged the churchs identity in a way that chewed away core assumptions of what the ancient institution could be in the modern world. That, Faggioli said, cannot be put back. The funeral of Pope Francis will be different from those of his predecessors. The pope changed the funeral rites last year, emphasizing humility and removing some of the pomp and circumstance. Pope Francis, who headed the Catholic church since 2013, has died at the age of 88. The 266th pope was hospitalized earlier this year for a complex lung infection that led to kidney problems. His passing will begin an orchestrated process that will look far different from those of his predecessors. Francis, last year, instituted several changes to papal funeral rites, effectively writing a new script for his own funeral and those of popes to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis was elected to the papacy at the age of 76, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His public life was one that emphasized humility and empathy for the poorand he chose a less formal approach to his office with an emphasis on reform. Franciss time as pope was a groundbreaking one. Women were given voting rights at a key meeting, the Synod of Bishops; he cracked open the door of the Catholic church to blessing same-sex unions (though it cautioned those blessings would be kept separate from marriage). We cannot be judges who only deny, push back, and exclude, Francis wrote in 2023. As such, pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of blessing, requested by one or several people, that do not convey a wrong idea of a matrimony. Because when one seeks a blessing, one is requesting help from God. Pope Francis will not be buried at the Vatican Even before changing the funeral rites, he signaled a different approach to how he wanted his death to be treated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whereas most pontiffs have been buried in the grottoes under St. Peters Basilica, Francis announced in 2023 that he would be buried in Romes Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica instead. That, he said, would let him be near his favorite icon of the Madonna. Pope Franciss funeral will eschew much of the pomp and circumstance Then, last year, Francis changed the funeral rites that were to be used when he died. Those were the first changes in 24 years. The changes were deemed necessary after the death of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI in 2022, when the Vatican had to arrange a funeral for a retired pope for the first time in 600 years. And it presented Francis with the opportunity to simplify things. Francis avoided much of the grandeur and pageantry of the papacy, opting, for instance, to live at the Vatican hotel rather than in the Apostolic Palace, where previous popes have lived. He also preferred to travel in smaller cars rather than SUVs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the changes he made to papal funeral plans was doing away with the requirement that the pope be placed on an elevated platform in St. Peters Basilica during the public viewing. Instead, his body and those of future popes will lie in state in a simple coffin. Also, the burial tradition requiring three interlocking coffins made of oak, cypress, and lead was done away with. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, told Vatican News the changes highlight even more that the Roman Pontiffs funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world. Scripture changes at papal funerals While the rites still call for memorial masses at the Vatican for nine days, the revisions also updated language in the prayers and Scripture readings to match revised translations. More saints will also be included in the Litany of the Saints, which is chanted as the body of the pope is carried into St. Peters Basilica. When will the conclave take place? The changes Pope Francis made to papal funeral plans did not touch on the conclave, the process where the Vatican convenes to elect a new leader of the church. Theres no set amount of time between the death of a pope and the start of the conclave, but its generally 15 to 20 days. The cardinals decide the exact time and date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the conclave, cardinals under the age of 80 will select the next pope. As of Jan. 22, there were 252 cardinals worldwide138 of which fit the age requirement. A two-thirds majority of voters is needed to win. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com GAZA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- On a rusty stretcher inside a makeshift tent at Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital, 38-year-old Khader Abu Ajwa has been lying in agony for days, awaiting surgery that may never come. Abu Ajwa, a father of four, was severely wounded when an Israeli shell struck his home in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood east of Gaza City. His right leg was wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage, and he was given only basic painkillers as overworked medics had to attend to dozens of other injured patients. "They told me I need urgent surgery, but there is no room in the operating theater, and the hospital does not have enough doctors," Abu Ajwa told Xinhua, clenching his jaw in pain. "I feel like my body is rotting. I am afraid the wound will become infected or that worms will come out, like what happened to others around me." His 13-year-old son, Mohammed, sat quietly beside him, holding his hand. "We see death every moment," Abu Ajwa said. "A young man next to me was bleeding from the head. He waited for a doctor, but no one came. He died right there, in front of us." Around Abu Ajwa, a number of women and children lay on the ground or on stretchers. Among them was 11-year-old Ahmed al-Kilani, whose left leg was severely injured and amputated after an Israeli shelling in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City three weeks earlier. His mother, Om Ahmed, sat beside him, gently cradling his head. "We have not seen a doctor in days... the wound is open and smelly," she lamented. Ahmed had first taken her son to the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital after he was injured, but soon, the hospital itself became a target of Israeli bombardment. An Israeli airstrike hit the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City last Sunday, damaging key medical equipment and forcing the facility to shut down. The Israeli military said the strike targeted "a Hamas command and control center" located within the hospital compound. In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency stated that Hamas operatives had been using the facility to coordinate attacks. The hospital went out of service following the attack. The emergency room, laboratory, X-ray machines, and pharmacy were destroyed. Fifty patients were transferred, with 40 others in critical condition remaining there, according to the World Health Organization. "Following the destruction of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, we were forced to expand our operations into tents," Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, told Xinhua. "The pressure is immense." Wounded patients now crowd into Al-Shifa's courtyard. Flies swarm over open wounds under poor sanitary conditions, while the air reeks of blood and antiseptic smell. "The influx of wounded patients has overwhelmed Gaza's already collapsing healthcare system," Abu Salmiya said. "Doctors are working around the clock, but the situation is catastrophic... We are running out of everything: anesthetics, sterilizers, basic medicines." According to Marwan al-Hams, head of Gaza's field hospitals, Israeli strikes have devastated Gaza's health sector. "We have lost 83 percent of orthopedic procedures and 73 percent of general surgeries," he told Xinhua. "More than 80 percent of our hospitals are now either partially or completely out of service." "The health sector in Gaza has collapsed," he said, adding that "we urgently need international intervention to supply fuel and medical equipment. We are working in inhumane conditions. Without help, the wounded will die." Pope Francis unexpected death has sent shockwaves through the world, and now questions are surfacing about the timeline of his final moments. Ahead of his death, Francis had been dealing with multiple health problems in recent months, including a February hospitalization for double pneumonia and bronchitis. Now, new documents have confirmed his cause of death. Pope Francis Was In A Coma Before His Death ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA TMZ has learned the 87-year-old pontiff died early Monday morning from a stroke and irreversible heart failure, according to his official death certificate released by the Vatican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even more eyebrow-raising? The same certificate confirms Francis had been in a coma before his death. That detail is raising some confusion, considering he was just seen the day before greeting U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the Vatican on Easter Sunday. The Vatican hasnt addressed the timeline discrepancy. Pope Francis Final Message Before Death Stefano Costantino / TTL / MEGA As The Blast reported, Pope Francis stepped out onto the gallery of St. Peters Basilica to greet the crowd after Easter Mass. During the appearance, the Pope delivered a powerful message focused on unity, freedom, and peace. While an aide read most of his Easter remarks, the message was clear. There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pontiff used his final blessing to address global unrest, highlighting the devastating violence in Gaza, which he described as a deplorable humanitarian situation. Reflecting on several ongoing world conflicts, he shared a somber thought, What a great thirst for death, for killing we see in many conflicts raging in different parts of the world. He also expressed solidarity with both Israelis and Palestinians, urging leaders to Call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace. Pope Francis Dies After Easter Appearance Stefano Costantino / TTL / MEGA On Monday morning, a statement confirmed his death. "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," the statement began. "At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for his final wishes, the Pope apparently planned for a modest burial. The Vatican says Francis requested to be laid to rest at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, one of the citys most iconic and historic churches. His tomb, per his request, will be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus. The statement continued, "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized." The death was confirmed by Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli, who cited a stroke and heart complications as the cause. But the close timing between his Easter appearance and his sudden passing is leaving many wondering if were getting the full story. World Leaders React To Pope Francis Death With Heartfelt Tributes ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA The world is mourning the loss of Pope Francis, and the tributes from global powerhouses are pouring in fast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the Vatican confirmed the Popes death, political leaders and public figures across the globe took to social media and press platforms to honor the late pontiffs legacy, compassion, and tireless efforts for peace. The White House shared a solemn post on X (formerly Twitter), writing simply: "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis." The message was paired with two poignant photos, one of President Donald Trump and Melania Trump meeting the Pope during a previous visit, and another showing the Pope with Vice President J.D. Vance taken just this past Easter Sunday, just hours before the pontiffs sudden passing. Across the pond, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shared his condolences with a touching message: Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church. Starmer also included a lengthier statement reflecting on the Popes moral leadership and influence around the world. King Charles Shares Heartfelt Tribute To Pope Francis ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA King Charles III also issued a heartfelt statement, expressing sadness over the Popes passing and fondly recalling past meetings between the monarch and Pope Francis. The King emphasized how deeply moved both he and Queen Camilla were during their time with the Holy Father. The wave of tributes didnt stop there. Leaders from around the world chimed in, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, each sharing condolences and reflecting on the Popes global impact. Pope Francis died at age 88 on Easter Monday, following a five-week hospitalization for pneumonia in both lungs and kidney failure, the Vatican announced. Phoenix Bishop John Dolan issued a statement mourning the popes death and praising his leadership. With deep sorrow, yet with enduring hope in the Resurrection, we mourn the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Dolan said. He was a man who listened truly listened not only to the faithful within the Church, but to people of all faiths and goodwill. Dolan highlighted Pope Francis repeated calls to aid migrants, refugees and the poor, issues particularly resonant in Arizona. He said he was moved by the popes commitment to the oppressed, particularly those struggling with mental health, and his calls for reform within the Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis led the Catholic Church for more than a decade. His death came just one day after his final public appearance on Easter Sunday in St. Peters Square. He was the first Jesuit and first Latin American pontiff, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He challenged world leaders, the wealthy and the middle class never to lose sight of the Gospels moral imperative: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, Dolan said. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pope Francis' death mourned by Phoenix Bishop John Dolan BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China's wholesale and retail sectors have logged strong momentum in the first three months of 2025, providing solid support for expanding domestic demand in the country, the commerce ministry said on Monday. From January to March, the added value of China's wholesale and retail trade grew by 5.8 percent from a year earlier to reach 3.3 trillion yuan (about 457.98 billion U.S. dollars), or 10.4 percent of the country's gross domestic product, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. During the period, the transaction volume of key commodity markets in the wholesale industry reached 1.3 trillion yuan, while the transaction volume of industrial consumer goods markets increased by 0.8 percent year on year, the ministry said. For the retail industry, the retail sales of goods reached 11 trillion yuan in the first three months, increasing by 4.6 percent year on year. China has seen about 100.35 million new home appliances sold under its consumer goods trade-in program, with over 40 million appliances sold in 2025, according to the ministry. (NewsNation) People around the world are gathering at local cathedrals as they mourn the death of Pope Francis. The pope passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, nearly a month after being released from the hospital. Francis was hospitalized in February and spent five weeks there due to a respiratory illness. Many in New York City and Chicago flocked to their local cathedrals to pay their respects after hearing of Francis death. The New York Stock Exchange held a moment of silence early Monday morning because of his passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be the next pope? Some parishioners who went to pay their respects say they felt that they knew the pope as the peoples pope. Human life is Gods life, it doesnt stop at a border and it doesnt start at a border, one parishioner said. Gods child is in Mexico, in Texas, New York and in Toronto, and its a universal thing. That message was also echoed in the pontiffs final Easter message, where he advocated for mercy on marginalized communities. Francis is being remembered as a humble man and embracing a simple life, breaking tradition by living in a two-bedroom apartment outside of the Vatican. Cardinal Timothy Dolan recalled the popes visit to New York when he said he was overwhelmed by the warm welcome he received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will be remembered for serving the people, and hes a good shepherd to all the Catholics, Nieva Mehta, a parishioner, said as she reflected on the pope. International leaders pay tribute to Pope Francis Francis was also known as a progressive pope, believing the Big Bang Theory and evolution did not contradict Gods creation story and declaring that priests were allowed to grant forgiveness to those who received an abortion if they asked. He also allowed for the blessing of same sex marriages in 2023 and spoke out against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, apologizing to victims and holding abusers accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The popes passing will now set off the process to choose his successor, known as a conclave. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - With the death of Pope Francis, announced by the Vatican on Monday, Roman Catholics around the globe will start speculating on who among the red-robed cardinals will succeed him. Given the nature of cardinal appointments Francis made during his papacy, there will inevitably be some expectation that the Argentine pontiff's successor will be another non-European, and that like Francis he could be another progressive, opposed to the Church's conservative wing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the election process that will take place once Francis is buried is highly secretive and nothing will be certain until white smoke pouring from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel tells the world that a new pope has been picked. Cardinals are a pontiff's closest collaborators, running key departments at the Vatican and dioceses around the world. When a pope dies or resigns, those cardinals aged under 80 are eligible to enter a secret conclave to choose the new head of the nearly 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church from among themselves. The complex vote will reveal if the current cardinals, most of them put there by Francis, believe his embrace of liberal social values and his progressive reform agenda have gone too far and whether a period of retrenchment is needed. The cardinals will set the date for the start of the conclave after they start arriving in Rome in the coming days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only a pope can appoint cardinals and the type of men he chooses can leave his stamp on the Church long after his reign - because of their status as senior clerics and because one of them may end up as pontiff. As of April 21 there were a total of 252 cardinals, 135 of them cardinal electors under 80, according to data published by the Vatican. 108 of the electors were appointed by Francis, 22 by his predecessor Benedict and five by John Paul II. Cardinals are "created" at ceremonies called consistories, where they are given their ring, a red biretta - a square cap - and pledge loyalty to the pope, even if it means shedding blood or sacrificing their lives, as signified by the colour red. Pope Francis held 10 consistories and with each of them, he increased the chances that his successor will be another non-European, having beefed up the Church in places where it is either a tiny minority or where it is growing faster than in the mostly stagnant West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many centuries, most cardinals were Italian, except for a period when the papacy was based in Avignon between 1309-1377, when many were French. The internationalisation of the College of Cardinals began in earnest under Paul VI (1963-1978). It was greatly accelerated by John Paul II (1978-2005), a Pole who was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. While Europe still has the largest share of cardinal electors, with about 39%, it is down from 52% in 2013 when Francis became the first Latin American pope. The second largest group of electors is from Asia and Oceania, with about 20%. A LESS EURO-CENTRIC GROUP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis appointed more than 20 cardinals from countries that had never previously had a cardinal, nearly all of them from developing countries such as Rwanda, Cape Verde, Tonga, Myanmar, Mongolia and South Sudan, or countries with very few Catholics such as Sweden. In some cases he repeatedly overlooked vacancies in big European cities that traditionally had cardinals, to stress that the Church could not be so Euro-centric. In other places, such as the United States, he bypassed dioceses such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, apparently because they had conservative archbishops. Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington since March, is seen as a progressive and outspoken ally of Francis' pastoral approach to social issues, such as protection of the environment and a more welcoming approach to LGBTQ Catholics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A POPE'S LEGACY The more cardinals that a pope names during his reign also increases the possibility that his successor will be someone who holds similar views on Church and social issues. However, this is not always the case, as the cardinals may choose a person theologically dissimilar to his predecessor but considered the best candidate for internal Church reasons or for the historical times in which the election takes place. Pope Benedict was chosen to succeed Pope John Paul II in part because Benedict had worked with John Paul for two decades and the cardinals wanted continuity. But many of the same cardinals felt an "outsider" was needed to succeed Benedict, who resigned in 2013, after the "Vatileaks" scandal exposed a dysfunctional central administration, much of it overseen by Italian prelates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, many cardinals clearly felt the future of Catholicism lay beyond ageing Europe, so they chose Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio as their pontiff - the first non-European pope in nearly 13 centuries. Although cardinals who have turned 80 cannot enter the conclave, they still can affect its outcome. They are allowed to attend meetings known as General Congregations that take place in the days before a conclave starts and where a profile of the qualities needed for the next pope take shape. (This story has been corrected to say that cardinal electors appointed by Pope Francis are 108, not 109, in addition to providing source reference in paragraph 8) (Reporting by Philip Pullella and Joshua McElwee; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Frances Kerry) Pope Francis, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on April 21, 2025. He was 88 years old. Since the Vatican has announced his death, tributes have been pouring in from all over the world, including from the U.S. Vice President JD Vance and King Charles III of the United Kingdom. King Charles, JD Vance and more pay tribute to Pope Francis Pope Francis died at his residence, Domus Sanctae Marthae, a day after celebrating Easter and making an appearance at the Vaticans St. Peters Square. The Vatican camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, announced the news in a statement. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God, part of the statement says. (via NBC New York) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the ensuing hours, tributes have been pouring in from various parts of the world. JD Vance, who is a Catholic and met the Pope over the Easter weekend, mentioned their interaction in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him, he shared, adding, I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025 Meanwhile, King Charles III and Queen Camilla met the late Pope Francis about a couple of weeks ago. A statement released by Buckingham Palace mentioned that the royal couple was deeply saddened by the Popes death. (via BBC) The White House, actress Whoopi Goldberg, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other world leaders have also put out tributary statements. The post Pope Francis Death: King Charles, JD Vance & More Pay Tribute appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Rome Pope Francis, who challenged deeply rooted norms and made it his mission to change the perception of the Catholic Church around the world, has died at the age of 88. The Vatican said Pope Francis died just after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, a day after he surprised many by appearing at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Easter Sunday to greet well-wishers. The Vatican said in a statement later Monday that Francis died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, formally announced the pope's death with a statement saying: "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tributes praising his leadership and devotion quickly began to pour in from around the world. Pope Francis had experienced a number of health issues in recent years, including two abdominal surgeries and several serious respiratory infections. He spent five weeks in the hospital in February and March 2025 with bronchitis that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. He marked the 12th anniversary of his papacy from his hospital room. The pontiff was pushed in a wheelchair into the room for an interview at his Vatican residence with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell in April 2024. But while he was having difficulty walking, he spoke clearly during the hourlong conversation about his prayers for an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. In more recent appearances, however, the pontiff clearly struggled for breath as he delivered planned remarks. After being elected by his fellow Catholic cardinals in 2013, he set the tone with his first official act as pope, reversing a centuries-old tradition by simply asking for help. Pope Francis waves to thousands of followers as he arrives at the Manila Cathedral on Jan. 16, 2015, in Manila, Philippines. / Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images Normally after a new pope is elected, they come out and bless the masses gathered at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. But when Francis was elected, he came out and first asked the faithful to bless and pray for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want to ask you a favor," he said. "Before the bishop blesses the people, I ask that you would pray to the lord to bless me." It may seem a subtle change, but along with his familiar greeting and farewell to the crowd in Italian that day, it set the tone for his entire papacy. Pope Francis made it clear that he identified himself as a brother pilgrim, not as an imperial pope. He didn't want to keep leading a one-way monologue from the highest post in the Catholic Church, but a dialogue. As pope, the man previously known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose to name himself after Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy, known for his simplicity and humanity. The first pope from the New World, born and raised in Argentina, he said he wanted "a poorer Church" and one that would "include the excluded." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He set an example by choosing to live in Room 201 at the Santa Marta a small Vatican hotel usually used for visiting priests rather than in the lavish papal apartments used by his predecessors. Pope Francis carried his own bag, and walked across Rome to buy his own pair of glasses. His desire to reach out to ordinary people sent the bulletproof "popemobiles" into storage. "I cannot greet people from inside a sardine can," he famously explained, "even if it is made of glass." He became one of the most popular public figures in the world, regularly speaking up for the voiceless and leading by example whether that was by dining with the homeless, washing inmates' feet, or providing a home in Italy for migrants and refugees fleeing war or economic instability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis railed against consumerism and individualism, and he insisted that "unfair economic structures" were a violation of human rights. He also pushed for progress in combating climate change, even publishing an encyclical a formal letter from himself to Catholic leaders around the world on the topic. And he reformed the Curia the central administration of the church allowing lay men and women to run Vatican offices, positions historically reserved for cardinals and bishops. He continued to give his public prayers during the coronavirus lockdowns, but with crowds banned, "the People's Pope" was left to deliver his messages in an empty St. Peter's Square. Wasting no time after getting his COVID vaccine, Pope Francis made a daring, first-ever papal visit to Iraq, despite immense security risks. In Mosul, where ISIS militants once ransacked churches, Pope Francis prayed in them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few months later, his health finally caught up with him. He spent 10 days in a Rome hospital in July 2021 recovering from a scheduled surgery to remove part of his colon. It was the first time he was hospitalized after being named pope. In 2022, a torn knee ligament forced him to finally slow down. He was using a wheelchair and canceling both Vatican celebrations and overseas trips, generating persistent rumors that Francis, like Pope Benedict XVI, would resign. When Benedict died, Francis presided over his funeral, the first time in modern history a pope has laid his predecessor to rest. Over time, Francis' papacy began to be defined by a topic he did not choose: the wave of clerical sex abuse scandals that stretched to the very highest levels of the Catholic Church. He was accused, at first, of being insensitive in his slow response to the crisis. Then he tried to take control of the narrative, notably summoning senior clerics from around the world to the Vatican in early 2019. From that meeting came new Vatican laws about sex abuse, and a mandate that every diocese set up a clear reporting process. He also abolished the top-level confidentiality of the "pontifical secret," which had shrouded the sex abuse crisis in yet another layer of systemic secrecy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His diplomatic skill was on display when he played a key role in restoring relations between the United States and its decades-old enemy, Cuba. His' simple style was a product of his humble beginnings. He was born on Dec. 17, 1936, to an immigrant Italian railway worker and a housewife in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a young man, he lost part of a lung to an infection. He worked at various menial jobs and studied chemistry. After being ordained as a priest at the late age of 32, he made visiting the slums of Buenos Aires and caring for the city's poor a feature of his ministry. During a press conference aboard one papal flight years later, he appeared to crack open a space for homosexuals in the church, with a single, highly symbolic phrase: "Who am I to judge?" he asked when a reporter fired him a question about LGBTQ rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while he may have received widespread credit for changing the tone of the church when it comes to acceptance, the church's teachings and policy did not change. Despite drawing fire from Catholic conservatives for being too liberal, Pope Francis reaffirmed long-standing church doctrines opposing same-sex marriage, and on pretty much everything else from birth control to ordaining women. He claimed that he only brought a small bag to the papal conclave in 2013 that saw him elected, because he expected to be going back home to Argentina. Instead, neither his life, nor the papacy, were ever the same again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside the monarch butterfly migration mystery: flying to Mexico from Canada, the U.S. Scientists warn what future bird flu mutations could mean for people | 60 Minutes What's next for AI at DeepMind, Google's artificial intelligence lab | 60 Minutes Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church who ushered in a progressive era for the Vatican, died Monday. He was 88. TIZIANA FABI via Getty Images Francis death follows a five-week hospitalization in February and March, initially for bronchitis and then also for pneumonia in both of his lungs. He was released March 23 and had just celebrated Easter Mass on Sunday. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, made the announcement at the Casa Santa Marta, where Francis had lived since becoming pope in 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis, he said. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. Franco Origlia / Getty Images He added: He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God. The pope, who had part of one lung removed when he was younger following an infection, was hospitalized twice in 2023, first for bronchitis and later to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall. That surgery followed doctors removing 13 inches of his large intestine in 2021 due to bulges that had formed in his colons intestinal wall. That procedure is believed to have resulted in the problematic scarring. In 2023, Francis was forced to cancel an appearance at the COP28 climate conference due to the flu and lung inflammation. In 2022, the pope also needed to delay a trip to Congo and South Sudan because of knee inflammation. The injury resulted in Francis needing to use a wheelchair and a walker for over a year. Advertisement Advertisement People around the world mourned the death of the first pontiff from the Americas, who took the world by storm after a conclave of cardinals elected him to be pope in 2013. The Argentine succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, who, in a nearly unprecedented move, resigned in February of that same year. Now, the conclave will gather again to deliberate over who will succeed Francis. Francis led the church through a period of significant demographic change, as Catholic populations declined in Europe and the United States, expanded in Africa, and faced competition from Pentecostal Protestantism in Latin America. One of Francis most enduring legacies will be his reshaping of the churchs hierarchy to reflect these shifts. Francis has packed the College of Cardinals, which elects popes, with bishops from Africa, Asia and South America. ALBERTO PIZZOLI via Getty Images Throughout his papacy, Francis pushed the church to become less obsessed with culture war issues such as gay marriage and abortion, encouraging clergy and lay Catholics to pay more attention to the refugee crisis, climate change, human trafficking and the global arms trade. Advertisement Advertisement He also shepherded the church through the COVID-19 pandemic, canceling large public gatherings and Masses at St. Peters Basilica in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The cancellations led to extraordinary and historic scenes at the Vatican a near-empty St. Peters Square on Good Friday, followed months later by a socially distanced Christmas Day address at the Apostolic Palace, the popes official residence. Francis urged government leaders and businesses to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine reached the most vulnerable and needy of all regions of the planet. But Francis legacy will inevitably be challenged by his early missteps in handling the Catholic Churchs clerical sexual abuse crisis. During his papacy, the church faced a renewed reckoning over abuse, with high-profile scandals in the U.S., Poland, France and Chile toppling prominent figures. REUTERS/San Lorenzo Athletic Club/Handout Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the pope accomplished many firsts before even beginning his official papal duties. He was the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit to be named pope and the first to take the name of Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi protector of the environment and of the poor. But Francis first and foremost described himself as a sinner, saying in an interview shortly after his election: This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner. Advertisement Advertisement Born on Dec. 17, 1936, Francis was the eldest of five children. His father was an Italian immigrant and his mother was an Argentine of Italian descent. As a young adult, Francis had an affinity for tango dancing, worked as a bouncer at a nightclub and trained in chemistry before entering seminary. After being ordained in 1969, he went on to serve as the head of Argentinas chapter of the Society of Jesus, the Catholic Churchs Jesuit order. At the age of 36, Francis found himself leading the countrys Jesuit order just as Argentina was entering its so-called dirty war, a period of violence and unrest in which thousands of people were kidnapped, tortured and killed. Some would later question his silence amid the violent tactics of the military regime; many religious leaders did the same to protect themselves at the time. The pontiffs critics, including journalist Horacio Verbitsky, accused him of withdrawing protection orders from two Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Francisco Jalics, during a time when Argentinas military dictatorship was persecuting priests for their humanitarian work in the slums. Advertisement Advertisement Yorio and Jalics were kidnapped by officers in May 1976 and held and tortured for five months. I had to deal with difficult situations, and I made my decisions abruptly and by myself, Francis said in a 2014 interview. He also acknowledged that the experience led him to adopt an authoritarian and quick manner of making decisions, which later challenged his popularity in the Jesuit community. Enrique Marcarian / Reuters By the late 1980s, the new Jesuit leaders grappled with what to do with Bergoglio. He had alienated many Jesuits both for his refusal to criticize the military dictatorship and for discouraging the study of liberation theology, a political and socially progressive philosophy that spread through Latin America in the 20th century. Always socially minded, Bergoglio favored sending young Jesuits to work in the fields rather than studying from books as a way of helping poor farmers in the surrounding areas. In 1990, Jesuit leaders sent him to Cordoba, a city some 400 miles west of Buenos Aires, where he entered a period of prayer and reflection. For two years, Bergoglio spent his days praying, doing chores and seeing the occasional visitor who came inquiring after his health. He didnt drink, rarely watched TV and only occasionally socialized, Ricardo Spinassi, who worked as the housekeeper at Bergoglios residence at the time, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement The Rev. Juan Carlos Scannone, a fellow Jesuit who had known Bergoglio since the 1950s, called the time in Cordoba a spiritual purification, a dark night. In a paradoxical turn of events, wrote religion reporter David Gibson, Bergoglios virtual estrangement from the Jesuits may have influenced Buenos Aires Cardinal Antonio Quarracinos decision to appoint him an assistant bishop in 1992. Six years later, Bergoglio succeeded Quarracino as archbishop, and in 2001, Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal. In 2005, he was the runner-up in the conclave that elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, leading some to speculate in 2013 that he would be the pick for pope despite his advanced age. After his election in 2013, Francis quickly drew the medias and the worlds fascination. He opted for simple clothing for everyday occasions, passed up on a palace for more humble accommodations and chose a Ford Focus over a Mercedes for the papal car. AFP via Getty Images Humility is above all Gods way: God humbles himself to walk with his people, Francis said during a Palm Sunday homily in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement His personal style was humble, but none could deny his celebrity-like aura. Within the first year of his papacy, Francis graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Time, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and other popular magazines. Time magazine named him person of the year in 2013, and a superhero character was even made in his image (though Francis wasnt too happy about it). Within weeks of being declared pope, the pontiff set the stage for what would be a papacy full of surprises by including women for the first time in the Maundy Thursday foot washing ceremony. Franco Origlia via Getty Images Four months later, Francis uttered the five words that would go down in history when he said Who am I to judge? in response to a question about gay priests. He went on to emphasize compassion toward the LGBTQ+ community throughout his papacy, later stating that the Catholic Church owed gay people an apology. The Church must ask forgiveness for not behaving many times when I say the Church, I mean Christians! The Church is holy, we are sinners! he said during a June 2016 press conference. Advertisement Advertisement In teaching, though, Francis did not diverge from conservative Catholic doctrine on topics like womens roles and sexual orientation, maintaining that priesthood was reserved only for men, that marriage was intended to be between a man and a woman and that gender transitions were against the order of creation. In 2023, however, Francis suggested that there could be ways to bless same-sex unions, so long as such blessings arent confused with sacramental marriage. He has also voiced support for civil laws that extend legal benefits to same-sex spouses, and spoke out against efforts to criminalize homosexuality. In June 2015, he invoked his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, by releasing an extensive encyclical, or papal letter, on the environment. Titled Laudato Si, the encyclical acknowledged human beings role in the degradation of the planet and affirmed the moral imperative of caring for the Earth. On the day of the letters release, the pontiff tweeted, The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. These problems are closely linked to a throwaway culture. Advertisement Advertisement Francis was no stranger to politics. In 2014, he helped broker a deal between the U.S. and Cuba that not only brought about the release of U.S. subcontractor Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned in the country for five years, but also ushered in a new era of U.S.-Cuba relations. I pray for an end to wars, conflicts and the great suffering caused by human agency, by epidemics past and present, and by the devastation wrought by natural disasters, Francis said in December of that year. The pope repeatedly spoke out against the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the violence in Gaza. In 2023, Francis begged for an end to what he called the passions that are killing everyone. Here weve gone beyond war. This isnt war anymore, this is terrorism, Francis said after meeting with relatives of both Palestinians in Gaza and of hostages being held by Hamas. Please, let us go ahead with peace. Pray for peace, pray a lot for peace. Francis worked to create a culture of openness in the church where others had built walls as in the case of ministering to divorced Catholics. A pastor cannot feel that it is enough to simply apply moral laws to those living in irregular situations, as if they were stones to throw at peoples lives, he wrote in an April 2016 document titled Amoris Laetitia, Latin for The Joy of Love. Time and again, Francis demonstrated his commitment to the poor, homeless and disenfranchised. Under his watch, the Vatican opened a homeless shelter and provided showers and haircuts for people living on the streets around Vatican City. TIZIANA FABI via Getty Images Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor, he told reporters soon after his election as pope. He visited islands off Italy and Greece where refugees were making the perilous journey from Libya, Syria and surrounding countries. He helped resettle several refugee families in Italy and encouraged other Catholics to stand up for migrants. As people of faith, we wish to join our voices to speak out on your behalf, Francis said, addressing migrants. We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity. He also spoke out against the Donald Trump administrations mass deportation efforts in the U.S. In a letter sent to U.S. bishops in early 2025, he asked not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters while likening todays migrants to Jesus, Mary and Joseph fleeing violence to Egypt. As he worked to encourage Catholics outreach to the world, the pope also faced criticism within his own flock. In the U.S., a small wing of doctrine-minded conservatives pushed back against Francis welcoming brand of Catholicism, insisting that the popes approach to some issues such as distributing the Eucharist to divorced, remarried couples could have the effect of muddying long-standing church teachings. Francis acknowledged his conservative opponents in 2019, saying, For me, its an honor if the Americans attack me. He lamented that people promoting schisms have allowed ideology to become detached from Catholic doctrine. Doing this, you lose the true tradition and you turn to ideologies to have support. In other words, ideologies replace faith, Francis told Portuguese Jesuits of the U.S. Catholic Church in a private meeting in August 2023. The vision of the doctrine of the church as a monolith is wrong. When you go backward, you make something closed off, disconnected from the roots of the church, he continued. I want to remind these people that backwardness is useless, and they must understand that theres a correct evolution in the understanding of questions of faith and morals that allows for doctrine to progress over time. TIZIANA FABI / AFP via Getty Images Francis handling of the churchs sex abuse crisis also attracted criticism. In January 2018, Francis shocked survivors by accusing victims of Chiles most notorious pedophile of calumny or slander. Months later, a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation revealed that six Roman Catholic dioceses in the state had covered up sexual abuse by 301 predator priests over the course of 70 years. The 884-page report proved to be one of the largest, most comprehensive investigations on the churchs sex abuse scandal and identified over 1,000 known victims. In a statement following the reports release, Francis condemned a culture in the church that led some religious leaders to be more concerned about their reputation than the safety of children. With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives, he wrote. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them. In February 2019, Francis defrocked former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick after finding the cleric guilty of sexually abusing minors and adult seminarians over decades. It was the first time a former Catholic cardinal was expelled from the priesthood for sexual abuse. A Vatican report later found that several different bishops, cardinals and popes dismissed evidence of McCarricks misconduct and allowed him to rise through the ranks of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. The report, which Francis commissioned and ordered published, avoided pinning blame on Francis for the scandal. Francis abolished pontifical secrecy for sex abuse cases, which allowed civil authorities to access reports, testimonies and documents. He also issued a law requiring all Catholic priests and nuns to report clergy sex abuse and cover-ups to church authorities. Still, some survivors groups think he didnt do enough to sanction bishops who covered up for sexually abusive priests, to hold bishops accountable in the future, or to ensure the release of church documentation on abuse cases. Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP Francis made early predictions that his papacy would be short based, perhaps, on his advanced age and persistent sciatica. In 2022, Francis told reporters he would need to slow down and possibly retire in the future, given his age and strained knee ligaments that affected his mobility. Speaking with Mexican broadcaster Televisa in 2015, Francis said: I feel that the Lord has placed me here for a short time. Short as it was compared to Pope John Paul IIs 27-year tenure, Francis papacy was one that many believe changed the direction of the Catholic Church. Sanjana Karanth contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on HuffPost. The News Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church for more than a decade, died on Monday at the age of 88. The Vatican released a video statement on Monday announcing the death. He had been in hospital for an extended period in early February, battling a case of bronchitis and a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection. Since then, he had briefly returned to his duties, wishing thousands of worshippers Happy Easter in the Vaticans St Peters Square on Sunday. The View From Europe French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Pope Francis sense for the other, for the most fragile, and said great pain would be felt both in France and internationally at the news, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Francis inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, adding that his legacy would continue to guide us toward a more just, peaceful, and compassionate world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten, and Germanys incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would be remembered for his tireless commitment to the weakest in society. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez similarly praised Francis commitment to peace, social justice, and the most vulnerable, and his country declared three days of mourning. The View From North America US Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, said he was happy to have met Francis at the Vatican on Sunday despite his illness, and offered condolences to the millions of Christians around the world who loved him. The View From Middle East Many Palestinians saw Francis as a champion of human rights, and say theyve lost another leader that was defending them, Al Jazeera reported: The pontiff used his Easter address to call for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, and had reportedly been calling a church in Gaza every day, including during his hospitalization this year. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Francis rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world, and said he hoped the pontiffs prayers for peace in the region would soon be answered. The View From South America Argentinas President Javier Milei said that despite differences between the two compatriots, it was a true honor to know Pope Francis. The pair had not seen eye to eye, with Milei previously accusing the leader of the Catholic Church of being a communist, while Pope Francis had sharply criticized a violent crackdown by the Milei government on protestors last year. The View From Africa Africa Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf commended Francis courageous engagement with the African continent home to the worlds fastest-growing Catholic population and his unwavering commitment to the promotion of peaceful co-existence. In his Easter message Sunday, the Pope had called for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan. The View From Asia Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was deeply pained by the death of Pope Francis, adding that he was a beacon of compassion for millions across the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President of predominantly-Catholic East Timor, whom Pope Francis met in the first papal visit in over 30 years in his historic 2024 Asia tour, described his death as a tremendous loss for the world. Know More Born Jorge Bergoglio, Francis was often dubbed the pontiff of firsts. Aside from being the first Latin American pope, Francis was also the first non-European pope since the eighth century, as well as the first to adopt the name of Francis, a nod to the humanitarian Saint Francis of Assisi, and the first Jesuit. Franciss time as pope was not without controversy: He took several divisive stances as head of the church, from criticizing capitalism to adopting somewhat progressive, and often conflicting, views of LGBTQ and divorced Catholics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis ascension in 2013 ushered in an era of diplomatic boldness for the Vatican, The New York Times wrote in 2014, with a willingness to take risks and insert the Vatican into diplomatic disputes, especially where it can act as an independent broker. While Francis was generally careful not to take sides in world conflicts, he recently criticized Israels military campaign in Gaza; it later emerged that he made daily calls to the sole parish in the enclave, which he continued even in hospital. In what was one of the longest papal foreign visits in history, Francis visited Southeast Asia and Oceania in Sep. 2024 during a 12-day tour intended to highlight climate change threats in the region, and to emphasize that the Church is no longer a Eurocentric or Western institution, CNNs Vatican correspondent wrote. His visit also reflected the institutions major tilt to Asia during his pontificate. Franciss rise to the papacy was met with some backlash, in part due to his alleged role in Argentinas so-called Dirty War of the 1970s. It is widely believed that the Catholic Church was complicit in military abuses during that period, and Francis later expressed remorse for not doing more for victims of the conflict. Notable This story has been updated with new information. Pope Francis, 88, a Jesuit who sought to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, has died, the Vatican said Easter Monday. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the pope's death from the Casa Santa Marta with these words, according to Vatican News: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know about Pope Francis and how he will be replaced. What happens when a pope dies? The camerlengo, a high-ranking Vatican official, seals the papal apartments and other offices, a tradition that originated to prevent looting and now serves as a symbolic end to the popes rule. The Vatican enters into a nine-day mourning period. According to the Universi Dominici Gregis constitution, which governs papal transitions, the Pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after death. Traditionally, popes have been buried in three nested coffins one of cypress, one of zinc, and one of elm. However, Francis has opted for a simpler wooden and zinc coffin. Like his predecessors, he will likely be buried with a rogito, a document summarizing his life and papacy, according to The Catholic Company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a new formal rite published in 2024, the Vatican said Francis will forego a centuries-old practice of burying the late pope in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak. Instead, Francis will be buried in a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin. The late pope will also not be put on display atop a raised platform, or catafalque, in St. Peter's Basilica for visitors in Rome to view, as was the case with previous popes. Visitors will still be welcome to pay their respects, but Francis' body will be left inside the casket, with the lid off. How is a new pope chosen? Once a pope dies, or retires as Benedict XVI did, a new pope must be selected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To fill a vacancy, the College of Cardinals meets at the Vatican for what is known as a conclave. The conclave, the process of electing a new pope, begins 15-20 days after the Popes passing. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, which typically includes around 120 cardinals. Before voting, they take an oath of secrecy and are secluded in the Sistine Chapel, cut off from outside influences. A candidate must received two-thirds of all votes to become pope. Who was Pope Francis? Pope Francis was 88 when he died; he was elected by the College of Cardinals to be pope on March 13, 2013. He was the first Jesuit chosen pope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents, Francis rose through the ranks as a Jesuit priest in his home country of Argentina. Francis was the 266th pope, the first pope from the Americas and the first born outside of Europe in over a millennia. During his papacy, he was praised and criticized for commenting on political issues, from immigration to LGBTQ issues. Francis chose priesthood in his 20s and, in 1963, graduated with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San Jose in San Miguel, The Holy See said. In 1969, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Ramon Jose Castellano. At the Consistory of Feb. 21, 2001, John Paul II named him a cardinal. What was wrong with Pope Francis? Pope Francis was first admitted to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital Feb. 14 after battling bronchitis. He had been struggling to speak and even breathe during public appearances before that. His hospitalization included multiple attacks of "acute respiratory insufficiency," according to daily updates issued by the Vatican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While hospitalized, the pope was also diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection and then mild renal insufficiency. The pope was released from the hospital March 23 and had been back to work, albeit on a shortened schedule. Where does the pope live? Photo capturing the large size of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, from PopeHistory.com. The pope lives in Vatican City, an independent state surrounded by Rome, Italy. He stays in the Apostolic Palace, referred to as the papal palace or Vatican palace, a massive complex within the city, PopeHistory.com said. Francis lived in the Vatican guesthouse called Domus Sanctae Marthae (Saint Marthas House), rather than the Papal Apartments. What does a pope do? The Pope is the head of state and Roman Catholic Church and is considered a unifying political and religious correspondent to Catholics all around the world. He is often traveling and holding masses, Sight Seeing Tours Italy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to churchauthority.org, the Pope is considered the "Supreme Pastor," following the efforts of St. Peter the first pope of the Catholic Church. Who was pope before Francis? Francis' predecessor, Pope Benedict, stepped down from the papacy in 2013, a decision that had not been made by someone of his station in almost 600 years. Benedict, then 85, cited his age and declining health. He died in 2022. Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Pope Francis dies in Rome. What to know about the Catholic leader 83 years ago, a young girl witnessed a "life-and-death rescue" of the Doolittle Raiders. Now in her 90s, she reflects on a story of bravery, friendship, and the deep bond between the Chinese and American people in WWII. Watch her powerful journey back in time. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Pope Francis in Lisbon in 2023. - Credit: Vatican Media/Getty Images Pope Francis died of a cerebral stroke and heart failure, the head of the Vaticans health department, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, confirmed Monday, April 21. Francis, who was 88, suffered a stroke and slipped into a coma before suffering an irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. Arcangeli also noted some of the popes longstanding health issues, including high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, and a history of acute respiratory failure. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis had struggled with respiratory issues throughout his life. As a young man, a life-threatening battle with pneumonia led to the partial removal of one of his lungs, which left him particularly susceptible to flu and bronchitis. Back in February, Francis spent five weeks in the hospital after being diagnosed with double pneumonia. His condition quickly worsened after an asthmatic respiratory crisis, and it wasnt until late March that his condition was stable enough for him to leave the hospital. Pope Francis made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death. He appeared in St. Peters Square to bless thousands of onlookers, and also met briefly with Vice President J.D. Vance. In some of his final addresses, Francis called for mercy for migrants, as well as peace, advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and a solution to the conflict in Yemen. On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas, Francis said in his Easter blessing. For all of us are children of God! Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta, the office of the Holy See has said. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said: At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. The Pope had been unwell for a number of months and was recovering from a near-fatal bout of pneumonia. His passing came less than 24 hours after he met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance to exchange Easter greetings. The Pope and the U.S. administration had clashed over the Trump administrations migrant deportation plans. According to the AP, Pope Francis received Vance in one of the reception rooms of the Vatican hotel where he lives. The Pope offered the Catholic VP three chocolate Easter eggs for Vances children as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sundays Easter Mass was celebrated in Romes St. Peters Square but it was delegated to another cardinal by the Pope. DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO: Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from severe illness. He was ordained in 1969 and became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and a cardinal in 2001. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. During his papal tenure, Pope Francis became known for his less formal approach to the position, often showing inclusion for the LGBTQ community, in addition to denouncing capitalism, climate change and the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He met with a number of film and TV luminaries in recent years including Martin Scorsese, Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert. He was the subject of multiple documentaries and the Vatican screened notable film and TV works, including 2023 immigration drama Io Capitano. More generally, the papacy remains a rich source of inspiration for filmmakers, with Oscar winner Conclave the most recent example. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes any deal between the United States and its trading partners at the expense of Chinese interests, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday. If such a situation arises, China will not accept it and will resolutely take corresponding countermeasures, said the spokesperson in a statement, adding that the country has both the resolve and the capability to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. The spokesperson made the remarks when responding to reports that the United States is preparing to pressure other countries to restrict trade ties with China in exchange for tariff exemptions. Under the guise of so-called "reciprocity," the United States has been recently arbitrarily imposing tariffs on all its trading partners while pressuring them to engage in so-called "reciprocal tariff" negotiations, said the spokesperson. "This is essentially using the banner of 'reciprocity' as a pretext to pursue hegemonic politics and unilateral bullying in the field of international economy and trade," the spokesperson said. President Donald Trump on Monday offered brief condolences over the passing of Pope Francis, but the two men clashed repeatedly, including as far back as Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, over how to treat migrants. "He was a good man, worked hard and loved the world," Trump said as he made remarks at the White House Easter Egg Roll, where he announced he had ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-staff in his honor. Trump's first response to the pope's death came in a short post on his conservative social media site earlier Monday: "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Pope Francis, everyman leader of the Roman Catholic Church, dies at 88 Tributes were paid from leaders across the world, including Trump's predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Biden called Pope Francis "one of the most consequential leaders of our time" and Obama complimented him as a "rare leader who made us want to be better people." As he'd done often over the years, on the day before he died, Pope Francis advocated for migrants in his Easter Sunday address. "How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!" he said. "On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2016, Pope Francis criticized Trump over his pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," Pope Francis said while on a trip to Mexico. "This is not in the gospel." Trump responded at the time that he was "proud to be a Christian" and that "no leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man's religion or faith." He also suggested the Mexican government had used him as a "pawn" and convinced him to make the remarks. "If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS's ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been President because this would not have happened," Trump said then. PHOTO: Ivanka Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and President Donald Trump stand with Pope Francis during a meeting, May 24, 2017, at the Vatican. (Evan Vucci/AP) This year, one day before Trump was inaugurated for his second term, Pope Francis commented on his plan to carry out mass deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the imbalance. It won't do. This is not the way to solve things," he said. Then, in February, the Vatican released the text of a letter Pope Francis to U.S. bishops, mostly concerning their work helping migrants. "I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations," the pope wrote. "The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality. At the same time, one must recognize the right of a nation to defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Analysis: Pope Francis' legacy marked by reform efforts and outreach to 'marginalized' people "That said, the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness," he told U.S. bishops. PHOTO: Pope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday at the Vatican, April 20, 2025. ( Vatican Media via Reuters) Vice President JD Vance met Pope Francis on Sunday before the pontiff made what would be his final public appearance. "I just leaned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill, " Vance wrote on X. The vice president also shared a homily from the pope during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic he said he found "quite beautiful." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day prior, Vance met with the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. The Vatican press office described the discussion as "cordial" though said there "was an exchange of opinions" on international politics "with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners." MORE: Trump admin live updates: Lawmakers to travel to El Salvador amid deportation fight Trump visited the Vatican in 2017 with first lady Melania Trump, and at the time called it an "honor of a lifetime to meet" with Pope Francis. Trump announced on his social media platform on Monday afternoon that he and first lady Melania will be going to Pope Francis' funeral in Rome: "We look forward to being there!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by a reporter earlier what he thought would be Pope Francis' legacy, Trump responded: "He's a very good man who loved -- loved the world, and he especially loved people who were having a hard time. And that's good with me." Pope Francis and Donald Trump clashed for years over treatment of migrants originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Pope Francis during his weekly audience on March 27, 2024 - Credit: Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images Pope Francis, who made history as the first Latin American papal leader and was considered to have a more progressive approach than his conservative predecessors, died Monday, the Vatican confirmed. He was 88. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced in a statement. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis had struggled with respiratory issues through his adult years, stemming from a life-threatening battle with pneumonia hed faced as a young man, which led to the partial removal of one of his lungs. In February, he was hospitalized due to bronchitis, which became more complicated because of an infection in his respiratory tract. Later that month, the Vatican shared that he was in critical condition after experiencing an asthmatic respiratory crisis that required oxygen and a blood transfusion. He had developed pneumonia earlier in the month and was in the early stages of mild kidney failure the Vatican said. Pope Francis spent 38 days in the hospital before being released on March 23. The pope made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death. He appeared in St. Peters Square to bless thousands of onlookers. Pope Francis also met briefly with Vice President J.D. Vance. In his final message, Francis shared, There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression. He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged for a solution to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, noting that the light of Easter impels us to break down the barriers that divide us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I express my closeness to the sufferings for all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, he said in the message. Call a ceasefire, release the hostages, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace. During his papal tenure, Francis drew both support and criticism from opposing sides of the ideological divide. He embraced some views that were considered to be liberal breaks from the historically conservative Catholic Church, especially pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community, climate change, capitalism, and divorce. However, many felt his efforts to reform the church and the Vatican didnt go far enough, and he sparked controversy for comments on the role of women in society and for using a homophobic slur in 2024. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Francis was one of five children in a family of Italian origins. He studied as a chemical technician and held jobs working as a bar bouncer, sweeping floors as a janitor, and teaching at a high school. Eventually, he entered the priesthood, and in 1958 he joined the Society of Jesuits. When he was elected pope in 2013, he became the first Jesuit and the first Argentine to ascend to the head of the papacy. He was also the first non-European pope in more than a millennium. Dubbed the peoples pope, Francis was vocal about climate change and anti-capitalist beliefs. In May 2024, during a Vatican summit on the climate crisis, he said, The wealthier nations, around 1 billion people, produce more than half the heat-trapping pollutants. On the contrary, the 3 billion poorer people contribute less than 10 percent, yet they suffer 75 percent of the resulting damage. Progress, he added, is being held back by the greedy pursuit of short-term gains by polluting industries and by the spread of disinformation, which generates confusion and obstructs collective efforts for a change in course. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2013, Francis garnered headlines for his open-minded stance on homosexuality, a notably compassionate approach compared with the Catholic Churchs historic position on the issue. He told reporters of his stance on his priests, If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge? At the time, his words stood in stark contrast to those of Pope Benedict XVI, who wrote in 2005 that homosexuality was a strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil. Francis also pushed the church to move away from the pomp and grandeur of traditional Catholic rituals. He embraced modest clothing and living accommodations, passing up a traditional papal apartment in the Vatican for a two-bedroom residence. At other points, he urged the Catholic religion to be more open, calling for more sympathy toward divorced couples and saying divorce could be morally necessary. pope francis But while his more progressive declarations caused friction in conservative echelons of the Vatican, he left behind a mixed legacy. In 2018, after receiving criticism for defending Chilean bishop Juan Barros, who was accused of covering up abuse committed by a priest, Francis apologized for his grave mistake. In recent years, he addressed clerical sexual abuse, meeting with survivors and making it compulsory for members to report suspected abuse. He instituted rules where abusers could be defrocked, yet as critics have pointed out, some influential clergy continued to go unpunished even after admitting to misconduct. Though he denounced laws criminalizing homosexuality and declared that individuals in same-sex couples could receive blessings from priests, he stopped short of allowing same-sex marriage and made headlines for using a homophobic slur at a meeting in 2024. An address he gave to a university that same year ignited criticism after he emphasized motherhood and described women as a fertile welcome, care, vital devotion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite any controversy, Francis was greeted with enthusiasm around the world, often attracting hundreds of thousands of people hoping to see him in his popemobile. He appealed to young people and acquired more than 18 million followers on his English Twitter account, although he underscored the idea that technology should be treated with skepticism. Your happiness has no price, Francis said in 2016, speaking to a crowd of Catholic youth. It cannot be bought. It is not an app that you can download on your phones, nor will the latest update bring you freedom and grandeur in love. Dont believe those who would distract you from the real treasure, which you are, by telling you that life is beautiful only if you have many possessions. Be skeptical about people who want to make you believe that you are only important if you act tough, like the heroes in films, or when you wear the latest fashions. In keeping with his philosophy of life, in 2024, Francis simplified his own funeral rites, paring down the elaborate rituals of a traditional papal funeral and opting for a burial outside of the Vatican that emphasized his role as a bishop. Funeral details have yet to be announced. The College of Cardinals is expected to convene for the conclave to select the next pope within 15 to 20 days of Francis death. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. By Qabil Ashirov The second edition of the Turkic Trade Fair Turkic States Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum and Exhibition will take place at the Baku Expo Center from June 10 to 12, 2025, Azernews reports, citing the Trade Exhibition under the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The event aims to enhance cooperation in industry, investment, technology, and services among member statesincluding Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprusand to support the global expansion of these services beyond the Turkic world. Described as the largest business gathering and trade forum in the Turkic world, the exhibition will feature product groups and new technologies across more than 20 sectors. Alongside the exhibition, conferences involving leading experts will be broadcast, focusing on investment opportunities in member states, key sectors, business challenges, and practical proposals for solving them. The first edition of the event was held in November last year at the Istanbul Expo Center, aligned with the strategic goals outlined in "Vision of the Turkic World 2040," the 20222026 Turkiye Officials Strategy, and the OTS Chamber of Commerce and Industrys 20232024 Action Plan on economic transparency and cooperation. Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun chair the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue, together with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China and Indonesia held the First Ministerial Meeting of Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Beijing on Monday. Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun chaired the meeting, together with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. Wang said the two heads of state have met twice in the past year, and jointly outlined a blueprint for the development of China-Indonesia relations in the new era. Under the personal attention of the two heads of state, China and Indonesia have established and launched the Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue, he added. Noting that this is the first Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue between China and a foreign country, Wang said it reflects the high level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries, and also further enriches the connotation of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global impact. Wang called on the two sides to push bilateral relations to higher level, under the strategic guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. Dong said China is willing to work with Indonesia to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries and build a new pattern of defense and security cooperation characterized by deeper strategic mutual trust, better institutional frameworks, more robust coordination, and stronger foundation in addressing challenges. Sugiono noted that Indonesia is willing to work with China to further strengthen political mutual trust, enhance exchanges at all levels, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication and collaboration within multilateral frameworks. Sjafrie expressed Indonesia's willingness to enhance cooperation with China in fields including defense and maritime security to maintain regional peace and stability. The two sides engaged in in-depth communication on international and regional issues of mutual concern. After the meeting, Wang and Sugiono signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing a comprehensive strategic dialogue mechanism between the Chinese and Indonesian governments. During the meeting, the two sides signed documents on cooperation in maritime security and other areas. Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at a press conference, jointly attended by Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, after the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2025. They chaired the meeting together in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono sign a memorandum of understanding on establishing a comprehensive strategic dialogue mechanism between the Chinese and Indonesian governments after the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2025. Wang and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun chaired the meeting with Sugiono and Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun chair the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue, together with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Pope Francis used his last will and testament to detail his wishes for where he would like to be interred following his death. Those wishes were carried out in the plans for his funeral Saturday morning. The leader of the Catholic Church died Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, just a day after celebrating Easter with a surprise appearance at St. Peter's Square. The Vatican said he died from a stroke that caused a coma and led to irreversible heart failure. In the will, dated June 29, 2022, Francis wrote that with the "feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching," he wished to express his preferences only with regard to plans for his burial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy," he wrote in the document, released by the Vatican. "Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest awaiting the day of resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore." The fifth-century church is one of the four Papal Basilicas in Rome and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. He noted that is also where he visited to pray after each of his more than 100 trips abroad. "I ask that my tomb be prepared in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica," Francis said in his will. "The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike other popes, he did not request any mention of his papacy in the inscription only his name. Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass privately on the altar of St. Ignatius of Loyola in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Dec. 8, 2020. / Credit: Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images He ended his will with: "May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that has become present in the last part of my life I have offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples." Full text of Pope Francis' last will and testament Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my burial. I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest awaiting the day of resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. I wish that my last earthly journey conclude precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic Journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for her docile and maternal care. I ask that my tomb be prepared in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as indicated in the enclosed attachment. The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus. The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered by the sum of the benefactor that I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Chapter. May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that has become present in the last part of my life I have offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples. Russian foreign minister on latest Kyiv strikes: "We only target military goals" Who will be the next pope? Some of the top possible candidates Saturday Sessions: Goose performs "Thatch" (NewsNation) As the Vatican prepares for the burial of Pope Francis and the election of a new pope, others are discussing the legacy that he leaves behind. Pope Francis views diverged from those of his more conservative predecessors, and he became the first pope to address a joint session of the United States Congress. Joe Donnelly is the former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican and saw the popes influence on American politics firsthand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JD Vance, White House share condolences after Pope Francis death The Holy Father was focused on taking care of the poorest of the poor, the marginalized, he said. We worked together on those kinds of things, on programs to help those in need. Donnelly said the popes work was an example to those around him of the love of Jesus Christ. He was focused on the poor and the marginalized and tried to reach out to those who were struggling, Donnelly said. I think thats how he served in his papacy. What happens after the pope dies? He noted that after speaking to Congress, he immediately headed to a food pantry to help distribute food to those in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His view was always how does this make life better for every one of us? Donnelly said, Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Pope Francis, whose time as head of the Catholic Church was noted for humility and outreach efforts to people of disparate backgrounds and faiths, has died at 88, the Vatican said. The pontiff's funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, according to the Vatican. Francis' death on Monday came after a series of worsening health problems, including a diagnosis of double pneumonia that put him in the hospital for more than a month earlier this year. PHOTOS: Pope Francis through the years Latest Developments Apr 22, 10:05 AM Zelenskyy will attend Pope Francis funeral Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel with the Ukrainian first lady to attend Pope Francis funeral in Rome on Saturday, Zelenskyys communications adviser said Tuesday. PHOTO: Pope Francis meets with president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, June 14, 2024 in Fasano, Italy. (Vatican Media/Getty Images) Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to attend Pope Francis funeral, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday. Peskov said it has not been decided who will represent Russia at the funeral right now. When it is made, we will inform you, Peksov added. -ABC News Fidel Pavlenko and Nataliia Popova Apr 22, 10:42 AM Francis' body to be moved to St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday The body of Pope Francis is scheduled to be moved on Wednesday morning from the Chapel of Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican said in a notification published in Italian on Tuesday. The pope's coffin will be transported at 9 a.m., after a moment of prayer led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, carmerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, according to the Holy See, the Vatican's press office. PHOTO: Visitors walk on Via della Conciliazione street near St Peter's Square with St Peter's basilica in the background at the Vatican, April 22, 2025. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images) Francis' body will travel in a procession through Piazza Santa Marta, within Vatican City, and Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The procession will then exit into St. Peter's Square through the Arch of the Bells, before going up to and entering St. Peters Basilica through the central door.. PHOTO: Members of the media prepare as a police vehicle stands near St. Peter's Square, following the death of Pope Francis, in Rome, Italy April 22, 2025. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) "At the Altar of the Confession, the Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, at the end of which the visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff will begin," the Vatican said. Apr 22, 4:26 AM Popes funeral to be held Saturday The funeral for Pope Francis will be held on Saturday, the Vatican said on Tuesday. Apr 21, 7:58 PM Argentinians mourn death of Pope Francis Argentinian President Javier Milei declared seven days of national mourning in Argentina and announced he will be traveling to Rome for Pope Francis' funeral. "We send our condolences to the Bergoglio family," the press release from Milei stated. "The President stands with all those who profess the Catholic faith and recognize the Supreme Pontiff as a spiritual leader during this sad time." PHOTO: Pope Francis holds an Argentina flag outside the Metropolitan cathedral in Rio de Janeiro, July 25, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Milei posted on his personal X account, as well: "With deep sorrow, I learned this sad morning that Pope Francis has passed away. Despite differences that seem minor now, it was a true honor to have known him in his kindness and wisdom. As President, as an Argentine, and fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father." Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Garcia Cuerva also paid tribute, saying Francis was the pope of the poor and the marginalized. Francis' football Club San Lorenzo bid farewell to their special fan with a video of the pontiff at the stadium. San Lorenzo Stadium is located in Flores, the neighborhood where Francis was born. He wasnt just any fan, he was always one of us. A crow when he was a kid and when he was a man a crow as a priest and as a cardinal And a crow as the Pope, the football team posted on X. Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi also bid farewell to Pope Francis on Instagram. Messi posted a picture of him and the pope, calling him "a different kind of Pope, one that felt closer to us, an Argentine one." RIP Pope Francis. Thanks for making the world a better place. We will miss you," Messi added. The Argentinian Football Association called off all games on Monday to mourn the pope's passing. -ABC News' Ellie Kaufman and Aicha Elhammar Apr 21, 7:03 PM Argentina church where Pope Francis received his calling holds mass A mass is being held at St. Joseph of Flores Church in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The church is where Pope Francis said that he discovered his vocation at age 17. -ABC News' Ellie Kaufman Apr 21, 7:03 PM General congregation of cardinals to begin Tuesday The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, sent a letter to all cardinals electors and non on Monday, summoning them to the general congregation, which will begin on Tuesday at 9 a.m. local time. The general congregation will take place in the Synod Hall inside Vatican City. The cardinals at this congregation should take decisions on things like dates for Pope Francis' funeral and the start of the conclave. -ABC News' Ellie Kaufman Apr 21, 7:03 PM Countries declare periods of mourning for Pope Francis' death After the passing of Pope Francis, governments and leaders across the globe joined Catholics and non-Catholics alike in mourning. Periods of mourning range from three days (Chile, Dominican Republic, Lebanon and Spain) up to nine days, which is the traditional period of mourning at the Vatican, known as Novemdiales, during which daily masses and ceremonies are being held in memory of the pope. Other countries that have announced periods of mourning include Argentina, Brazil and East Timor, all of which extend to one week. Some governments, including those of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, have ordered flags to be flown at half-mast. -ABC News' Ellie Kaufman and Dada Jovanovic Apr 21, 4:19 PM Empire State Building to honor Pope Francis The Empire State Building in New York City will light up in gold and white on Monday night in honor of Pope Francis. PHOTO: A faithful Catholic holds a portrait of Pope Francis as she attends Mass at the Basilica San Jose de Flores in Buenos Aires, Apr. 21, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican. (Luis Robayo/AFP via Getty Images) Apr 21, 4:08 PM Pope Francis' personal residence sealed shut Photos captured the moment the door to Pope Francis' personal residence was closed and sealed shut on Monday. PHOTO: Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell seals the door to the papal bedroom and studio at the Vatican after the announcement of the death of Pope Francis, April 21, 2025. (Vatican Media/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHOTO: Seals are placed on the Apostolic Palace, after the death of Pope Francis, at the Vatican, April 21, 2025. (Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media via Reuters) Apr 21, 4:04 PM Trump going to Pope Francis' funeral President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend Pope Francis' funeral, the president announced in a post on Truth Social. "We look forward to being there!" Trump wrote. -ABC News Michelle Stoddart Click here to read the rest of the blog. Pope Francis died early Monday morning at age 88; following the death of a pope, there are a series of rites and rituals that are performed leading up to the funeral services and interment. In a statement on Monday, the Vatican listed Pope Francis cause of death as stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse, per The New York Times. On Tuesday the Vatican announced that Pope Francis funeral will take place on Saturday in front of St. Peters Basilica in Rome. The funeral will feature simpler rituals in keeping with the more down-to-earth, informal style that became a trademark of Francis papacy, per The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovani Battista Re, will preside over the ceremony. On Monday, hundreds of people gathered for a rosary in St. Peters Square to pray for Pope Francis. The rites and rituals following the popes death will take place over several days, but will look different than they have in the past, since Pope Francis revised some of the rites last year. He simplified the funeral rites and allowed for some more flexibility. Here is a look at why Pope Francis changed some of the rites, as well as what the next few days will look like leading up to his funeral and burial. Why were changes made? Pope Francis had the Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs revised and simplified, approving the changes in 2024, per Axios. The changes were made after Pope Francis expressed his wishes for his funeral following the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The Associated Press, it is common for popes to alter the rules dictating the conclave that will elect their successor, but the papal funeral rites had not been revised since 2000. Pope Francis had worked with Archbishop Diego Ravelli to make changes to the rites. Archbishop Ravelli said, The renewed rite seeks to emphasize even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world, per Axios. The certification of death The first step in the rites and rituals following a papal death is the certification of death. On Monday evening, the director of the Vaticans health department will be summoned to certify Pope Francis death. Due to the changes made, this formal confirmation will take place in Pope Francis personal chapel instead of in his bedroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the cause of death is determined and the report is written, Pope Franciss papal ring will be removed from his finger by the camerlengo, who runs the Vatican after the popes death until a successor is elected, according to The New York Times. The ring is known as the fishermans ring; it depicts St. Peter fishing from a boat, and is traditionally used to seal Vatican documents. It has the popes name on it and is destroyed after his death. A new one will be forged for the next pope. In the past, the body would be placed in three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. But with the new revisions the popes body is placed in a wooden coffin lined with zinc. The pope is dressed in red liturgical vestments, the traditional headdress of bishops and the pallium woolen stole. The public viewing and sealing of the coffin On Wednesday, Pope Francis body will be taken to St. Peters Basilica to lie in state for three days, per The New York Times. The public is allowed to visit and pay tribute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Litany of Saints chant is sung when the body is brought into the basilica, with the camerlengo leading the procession. Due to another change the popes body will no longer be placed on an elevated platform; instead, the wooden coffin will be placed facing the pews. The large, decorated Pasqual candle, which is used at Easter, will be placed nearby. The camerlengo will preside over the closing and sealing of the coffin on the night before the funeral, and other senior cardinals will be present. A white cloth will be placed over the popes face, per the AP. A one-page written account of Pope Franciss papacy will be placed in the coffin, known as a rogito in Italian, along with a bag of coins minted during his papacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rogito will be read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies, and will then be rolled up and put inside a cylindrical tube that is placed inside the coffin. A second copy will be kept in the Vatican archives. The cover of the coffin bears a cross and the papal coat of arms, per the AP. The funeral and burial The funeral and interment have to take place four to six days after the popes death, per Axios. The service traditionally happens in St. Peters Square, weather permitting. The dean of the College of Cardinals traditionally presides over the funeral, but if that is not possible, it is done by the vice dean or another senior cardinal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis revisions also allow the pope to be buried outside the Vatican, with the camerlengo presiding. For the burial, various seals will be impressed on the coffin before it is place inside the tomb, per the AP. The late popes wishes were to be buried in the St. Mary Major Basilica, not in St. Peters Basilica or its grottoes, where most popes are buried. The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus, he wrote in his will, per The New York Times. A nine-day period of official mourning will begin with the burial. The conclave will also start after Pope Francis burial, per ABC. Originally appeared on E! Online Pope Francis was a man of the people. The 266th pope (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) made one final appearance April 20 to commemorate Easter Sunday at the Vatican, hours before he died on the morning of April 21 at the age of 88. Francis blessed an estimated crowd of over 35,000 people at St. Peter's Square, reciting the customary Urbi et Orbi blessing (Latin for "to the city and the world") after skipping Easter mass, which was delegated to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Buenos Aires-born leader greeted the crowd by saying, "Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter," appearing on the balcony at St. Peter's Basilica for around 20 minutes before surprising those who had gathered for his planned appearance with a ride around the square in the popemobile. The ride served as his first in the open-topped popemobile since his 38-day hospitalization for double pneumonia, and he made sure to occasionally stop to bless babies, according to the AP. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his final public appearance, per CNN reports, Francis had difficulty speaking for long periods and appeared not to be able to lift his arms. The microphone he spoke into and papers he read from during his Easter blessing were held by those around him. The crowd's chants of "viva il papa!" (long live the pope) came hours after he'd briefly met with United States Vice President JD Vance, who was visiting Rome with his family. ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images "I know you have not been feeling great but its good to see you in better health, Vance told the pope, per AP. Thank you for seeing me." The following morning, Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced to the world that His Holy Father had died in the wake of his health struggles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," he said in a statement obtained by NBC News. "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized." Following the news of his passing, leaders from around the world expressed their condolences, including King Charles III. Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images "My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis," Charles said on behalf of himself and Queen Camilla. "Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry." "His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion," the king continued, "his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The monarch finished by reflecting on his final meeting with Francis, which was less than two weeks prior on April 9. "The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month," Charles shared. "We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ." Keep reading for a look at Pope Francis' final public appearances... (E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.) February 2025 In February, Pope Francis attended his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican. February 2025 Later that month, the Pope delivered his homily during a Mass on the Jubilee of The Armed Forces, Police and Security Personnel at St. Peter's Square. March 2025 After he was hospitalized for more than five weeks, the Pope gave a greeting from the balcony of the Gemelli hospital before being discharged. April 2025 Pope Francis greeted Cardinals at St. Peter's Square in a wheelchair at the end of Palm Sunday Mass on April 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 2025 Just hours before his passing, Pope Francis met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and delegation at Casa Santa Marta on Easter Sunday in Vatican City, Vatican. KAMPALA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The cumulative number of confirmed mpox cases in Uganda has hit 5,431, with 40 deaths reported since the outbreak was declared in the East African country nine months ago, the Ministry of Health said Monday. A total of 44 new infections were recorded in the previous 24 hours, the ministry said in a situation report, noting an increased severity among patients admitted to hospital with mpox. "The cities and fishing communities exhibit the highest attack rates especially," it said, citing Mbarara City and Kampala, and fishing districts in Buvuma, Kalangala and Nakasongola. The report said individuals aged 25-29 are the most affected demographic group in the country. Last month, the World Health Organization warned that Uganda has the highest number of community-transmitted mpox cases globally. Uganda has intensified surveillance, case management, and public awareness efforts to contain the virus. According to the health ministry, Uganda last month received an additional consignment of 100,000 doses of mpox vaccines from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with adults aged 25-35 being prioritized in the ongoing second phase of mpox vaccination campaign, which started on April 2. Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It spreads through close contact and presents symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rash, and back pain. Although Ive spent most of my life as a lapsed Catholic, and have generally regarded the mother Church as a corrupt institution, the selection of Pope Francis was, to me, a bit of a miracle. Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, seemed to embody not the church that existed, but the church that wayward Catholics like me could admire. And that was no small feat. Big institutions tend to be calcified and moribund frozen against course corrections and impervious to self-reflection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet, in March of 2013, after five rounds of voting over the course of two days, a papal conclave bestowed its blessings upon a radical Jesuit cardinal from Buenos Aires, a humble man named Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Cardinal Bergoglio took the papal name Francis after the 13th Century nobleman, St. Francis of Assissi, who shunned the material wealth of his family to live in a hovel among the lepers and the poor. Pope Francis practiced humility throughout his leadership The newly elected Pope Francis wasted no time in living up to his name. He turned down the opulent lodging reserved for him in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican to live instead at a guest house there. Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia in 2015. And when he first appeared on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica, he wore a simple white cassock rather than the jewel-encrusted bright colored vestments worn by previous popes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meeting with church leaders, he symbolically stood in front of them rather than perching himself above them on his ornate throne. In the following 12 years, Pope Francis continued to embody that simple humility right down to one of his final requests, to be buried in a simple wooden coffin beyond the walls of the Vatican. Preaching tolerance and progressive views Along the way, he preached tolerance for others, sometimes to the point of breaking with church orthodoxy and surprising his own followers. When asked by reporters about the churchs position on homosexuality as a sin, he said: If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge? We shouldn't marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Letter: Bishop Buddes remarks to Trump remind me why I left Episcopal church He broke tradition in the church by going outside the Vatican to wash the feet of prisoners, women and the disabled as an Easter ritual. Although he failed to admit women into the priesthood, he spoke about expanding the roles of women in the church. A society that is not capable of (allowing women to have greater roles) does not move forward," he told reporters three years ago. "I have noticed that every time a woman is given a position (of responsibility) in the Vatican, things improve." Letter: Bishop Buddes remarks to Trump remind me why I left Episcopal church Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was an environmentalist who warned about the dangers posed by climate change in a 192-page encyclical he authored. His advice on the waves of immigrants showing up at the U.S. Southern border was to welcome them. For an immigration policy to be good, it must have four things: for the migrant to be received, assisted, promoted, and integrated. This is what is most important, to integrate them into the new life. He was an unapologetic socialist who opined in a magazine article that Jesus was closer to a communist than a capitalist. If I see the Gospel in a sociological way only, yes, I am a communist, and so too is Jesus. Behind these Beatitudes and Matthew 25 there is a message that is Jesus own. And that is to be Christian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The communists stole some of our Christian values. I suspect that in the coming days, the secretive conclave of cardinals at the Vatican will pick a new pope that will serve as a kind course correction from Pope Francis. The Church, I'm guessing, will swing back into its pre-Francis state. And that will be too bad. Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post local news columnist Frank Cerabino is a news columnist with The Palm Beach Post, which is part of the USA Today Florida Network. He can be reached at FCerabino@pbpost.com. 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: Pope Francis death ends the reign of progress, tolerance | Opinion Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Francis the day before he died. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, took to social media to honor the late pope, who died at age 88 on April 21. "I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful," Vance posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's everything we know about that Easter meeting between Vice President JD Vance and Pope Francis. When did JD Vance meet Pope Francis? Vance visited the Vatican over the weekend and met with the Pope on Easter Sunday before he and his family departed for India. Vance also held talks in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the start of his three-day visit. The vice president had a formal meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on April 19, and returned on April 20 for a brief interaction with the Pope. Photos taken by the Vatican and shared by the White House showed a smiling Vance seated across from Francis, who was in a wheelchair. What happens when the pope dies? How a new pope will be chosen and when it could happen What did pope say to JD Vance? Vance did not reveal what he and the pope discussed during the April 20 meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a social media post after the greeting, Vance said it was an "honor" to meet Francis. Vance said in another post that the unannounced sit-down, which was not on the vice president's public schedule, came at Francis' invitation. What religion is JD Vance? Vance was baptized into the Catholic Church in 2019. His journey to Catholicism is a complicated one, as he describes in a 2020 blog post titled How I Joined the Resistance. His grandmother, he says, was a woman of deep, but completely de-institutionalized, faith who rarely attended church. Though his father was part of a large Pentecostal congregation, he turned to atheism by the time he left the Marines in 2007, saying there was a lack of church or anything to anchor me to the faith of my youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The writings of French philosopher Rene Girard, along with his personal reflections, are what led him to Catholicism in more recent years, he wrote. Remembering Francis: Pope Francis touched the lives of these 3 Arizonans. What they remember This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What did Pope Francis say to JD Vance? Here's what we know of meeting VATICAN CITY(Reuters) -Below are some memorable quotes from Pope Francis, whose death at the age of 88 was announced by the Vatican on Monday. The quotes are arranged according to subjects that cropped up during his papacy, in chronological order within each theme. ENVIRONMENT "The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth ... The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet's capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes." From a major papal encyclical, a letter to the Church, which was dedicated to the environment and published on June 18, 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged," he said in comments to the United Nations in September 2015. "The world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point," he said in a document released on October 4, 2023. "Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativise the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident." WAR "Hostility, extremism and violence are not born of a religious heart: they are betrayals of religion," he said during a visit to Ur, Iraq in March 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In Ukraine, rivers of blood and tears are flowing. This is not just a military operation but a war which sows death, destruction and misery," he said on March 6, 2022, referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022. "Let the attacks and weapons cease, please, because it must be understood that terrorism and war bring no solutions, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent lives. War is a defeat, every war is a defeat," he said on October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel. On November 22 that year Francis said he felt the pain of both Israelis and Palestinians as Israel continued its retaliatory strikes on Gaza. "This is not war. This is terrorism," he said. IMMIGRATION Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories," he told the U.S. Congress in September 2015. "It is violence to build walls and barriers to stop those who look for a place of peace," he said in a letter to a Church association in Albania in September 2015. "It's hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help," he told a meeting of German faithful at the Vatican in October 2016. ECONOMY AND CAPITALISM Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The grave financial and economic crises of the present time ... have pushed man to seek satisfaction, happiness and security in consumption and earnings out of all proportion to the principles of a sound economy." December 12, 2013, in a message for World Peace Day. "Unrestrained (economic) liberalism only makes the strong stronger and the weak weaker and excludes the most excluded," he told La Repubblica newspaper in October 2013. "It is increasingly intolerable that financial markets are shaping the destiny of people rather than serving their needs, or that the few derive immense wealth from financial speculation while the many are deeply burdened by the consequences," he told a seminar on ethical investing in the Vatican in June 2014. LGBTQ RIGHTS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?" - July 29, 2013, speaking to journalists on plane returning from Brazil. "Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it," he said in a documentary released in October 2020, calling for same-sex couples to be protected by civil union laws. Asked what he considered the most important thing for LGBT people to know about God, the pope replied in a letter dated May 2022: "God is Father and he does not disown any of his children. And 'the style' of God is 'closeness, mercy, and tenderness'". In a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops in May 2024, Pope Francis caused a stir by saying priesthood colleges were too full of "frociaggine", a vulgar Italian term roughly translating as "faggotness". He later apologised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WOMEN "I believe that it would be ... (less conflictual) in the Curia if there were more women. Some people have said it would lead to more gossiping but I don't think so," he told Reuters in June 2018, referring to the central administration of the Roman Catholic Church. However, he ruled out women becoming priests. "Pope John Paul II was clear and closed the door and I'm not going to go back on that," he said. "The struggle for women's rights is a continuing struggle. We have to continue struggling for this because women are a gift. God did not create man and then give him a lapdog to play with. He created both equal, man and woman. .. A society that is not capable of (allowing women to have greater roles) does not move forward," he told reporters in November 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have noticed that every time a woman is given a position (of responsibility) in the Vatican, things improve," he added. ABORTION, CONTRACEPTION "Is it legitimate, is it right, to eliminate a human life to resolve a problem? It's a human life that's science. The moral question is whether it is right to take a human life to solve a problem. Indeed, is it right to hire a hit man to solve a problem?" he told Reuters in July 2022. "Some think, excuse me if I use the word, that in order to be good Catholics, we have to be like rabbits, but no," he said during a flight home from the Philippines on January 19, 2015, adding the Church promoted "responsible parenthood". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLERGY SEX ABUSE "I feel compelled to personally take on all the evil that some priests - quite a few in number, (although) obviously not compared to the number of all priests - to personally ask for forgiveness for the damage they have done for having sexually abused children," he said in unscripted comments to the International Catholic Child Bureau on April 11, 2014. "Sexual abuse is such an ugly crime ... because a priest who does this betrays the body of the Lord. It is like a satanic Mass," Francis said on May 27, 2014. "Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness," he said in a July 7, 2014 homily at the Vatican, addressing six victims of abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have to fight against every single case ... As a priest, I have to help people grow and save them. If I abuse, I kill them. This is terrible. Zero tolerance," he told Reuters in July 2022. ON CLERICS AND THE CHURCH "Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor," he said in March 2013. "I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security," he said in a November 2013 document, setting out his papacy. "The hypocrisy of those consecrated men and women who profess vows of poverty, yet live like the rich, wounds the souls of the faithful and harms the church," he said in South Korea on August 16, 2014. "Reforming Rome is like cleaning the Sphinx of Egypt with a toothbrush," he said in December 2017. MAFIA Francis branded Italy's largest organised crime group, the "Ndrangheta", "the adoration of evil and the contempt of the common good" in impromptu comments at a Mass in Sibari, southern Italy on June 21, 2014. "Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as Mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated," he said on the same occasion. CHINA "... the Chinese deserve the Nobel Prize for patience, because they are good people, they know how to wait, time is theirs and they have centuries of culture. They are a wise people, very wise. I respect China very much," he told Reuters in an interview in June 2018. "Diplomacy is the art of the possible and of doing things to make the possible become a reality," he told Reuters in July 2022, discussing the Vatican's secret and contested 2018 agreement with China. "I am always ready to go to China," he said in Kazakhstan, September 2022. DRUGS "Drug addiction is an evil, and with evil there can be no yielding or compromise," he told a drug enforcement conference in Rome on June 20, 2014. CELEBRITY On a plane returning from South Korea on Aug. 18, 2014, Francis said he learned how to handle his global fame by thinking of his "sins and mistakes" and mortality. "To depict the pope as a sort of superman, a sort of star, seems offensive to me. The pope is a man who laughs, cries, sleeps tranquilly and has friends like everyone else, a normal person," he said in a March 5, 2014 interview with an Italian newspaper. SCIENCE "The 'Big Bang' that today is considered to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the creative intervention of God, on the contrary it requires it. Evolution in nature is not in contrast with the notion of (divine) creation because evolution requires the creation of the beings that evolve," he told the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in October 2014. "When we read in Genesis the account of creation (we are) in danger of imagining that God was a magician, complete with a magic wand that can do all things. But he is not." (Reporting by Crispian BalmerEditing by Frances Kerry) RAMALLAH, April 20 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian prisoner from the West Bank died in an Israeli hospital on Sunday, according to a joint statement issued by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees' Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club. Nasser Radaideh, 49, from the town of Al-Ubeidiya in Bethlehem, southern West Bank, died in Hadassah Hospital in Israel after being transferred Saturday from Ofer Prison, central West Bank, the statement said. Radaideh had been detained since September 2023 after being shot by Israeli soldiers, according to the statement. The Israel Prison Service confirmed Radaideh's death in a press statement, saying a prisoner from the West Bank died after he was transferred to the hospital from Ofer Prison, without providing further details. Hamas condemned the incident in a statement, describing the detainee's death as "a violation of all international and humanitarian conventions and a war crime." With Radaideh's death, the number of prisoners who have died since the start of the Israeli war against Palestinians on Oct. 7, 2023, has risen to 65, including at least 40 from the Gaza Strip. According to official Palestinian figures, Israel holds more than 9,900 Palestinian prisoners in its jails. Pope Francis shared his thoughts on the meaning of life in the final post on his social media account before his death. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church died Monday at age 88 as he was recovering from a bout of pneumonia. Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life, reads a post Sunday from his official account on X, formerly Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The words in the post were taken from his Easter Sunday message, which was delivered earlier Sunday during a brief public appearance. In the address, the pope also reiterated his plea for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible, he said in the message that was read aloud by an aide on the main balcony of St. Peters Basilica as the pontiff looked on. The hope for peace was also posted on X. In the message, the pontiff said the situation in Gaza is dramatic and deplorable. I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace, he said. Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. #Easterhttps://t.co/s8D2o4WCfV Apostolica Sedes Vacans (@Pontifex) April 20, 2025 The popes death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born Vatican camerlengo, a position that will now be pivotal as he effectively takes charge of the administration until a new pope is chosen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father, Farrell said. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his church. During his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, Francis blessed a crowd of faithful from the loggia or gallery of St. Peters Basilica. Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter, he said from the same spot where he was introduced to the world on March 13, 2013, as the 266th pope. Francis also made a surprise ride in his popemobile, drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance amid his publicly expressed concerns over the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill, Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, said on Monday during a visit to India. Related... Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the Holy Mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin on August 26, 2018, during his visit to Ireland to attend the 2018 World Meeting of Families. (Ben Stansall/Getty Images) Pope Francis, who died on Monday at 88 years old, was often referred to as the Peoples Pope for his leadership and advocacy for underrepresented groups. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time, former President Joe Biden wrote on X. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. Francis was known for focusing on global issues like the refugee crisis, climate change and human trafficking. His passion for more inclusivity within the church was even made evident by the name he chose when becoming pope he became the first pope to take the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, known for his commitment to the poor and the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, as the eldest of five children of immigrant parents who fled Italy in the late 1920s. Throughout his youth, he worked a series of jobs including as a nightclub bouncer before he joined the seminary in his early 20s. Francis joined the Jesuit community in 1958 and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969. He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was made a cardinal in 2001 under Pope John Paul II. After Pope Benedict XVI resigned in February 2013, Francis was elected as his successor, making him the first pope from the Jesuit Order and the first pope from the Americas. After accepting his appointment, Francis stood while cardinals congratulated him, rather than sitting in the papal throne, which was the tradition, proving he was ready to change a lot of rules and standards in the Vatican. While Francis was generally viewed as a more progressive figure, he was a traditionalist when it came to many of the Churchs teachings, including topics like abortion, reproductive issues and the LGBTQ community. (However, while Francis opposed same-sex marriage, he did sign a Vatican policy change in December 2023 that allowed priests to bless same-sex couples.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franciss last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, where he waved to followers from the balcony of St. Peters Square weeks after dealing with double pneumonia. Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day, Francis said in his Easter speech. "There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others. A young Jorge Mario Bergoglio the future Pope Francis. (Jesuit General Curia via Getty Images) In this undated photo, Jorge with his family. From left to right, standing: brother Alberto Horacio, Jorge, brother Oscar Adrian and sister Marta Regina. Sitting: sister Maria Elena, mother Regina and father Mario Jose Francisco. (API/Getty Images) Bergoglio circa 1976. (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) An undated photo of Bergoglio when he was the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina. (STR/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope John Paul II names Bergoglio as a cardinal during a consistory in St. Peter's Square on February 21, 2001, in Vatican City. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images) Bergoglio officiates a holy Mass for Pope John Paul II on April 4, 2005, at Buenos Aires's cathedral. (Ali Buraf/Getty Images) Pope Benedict XVI (left) greets the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio, at the Vatican on Jan. 13, 2007. (Osservatore Romano/Reuters) Bergoglio is elected Pope Francis I and waves from the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. (Vincenzo Pinto/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis speaks to migrants during his visit to the island of Lampedusa in southern Italy on July 8, 2013. The visit was to show solidarity with migrants. In 2023, Francis would join Catholic bishops from around the Mediterranean to make the call for migrant safety more united, right as European leaders are working to figure out the tide of would-be refugees coming in from Africa. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) Francis is surrounded by children as he strolls around during his visit to the Varginha in Rio de Janeiro, on July 25, 2013. The Varginha favela a term for a marginalized, informal settlement or neighborhood in Brazil is a community of 1,000 people that, for decades, was under the sway of narco-traffickers until it came under police control. Francis, who is the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, arrived in Brazil mainly for the huge five-day Catholic gathering, World Youth Day. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Getty Images) Hundreds of thousands of people crowd Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on July 28, 2013, as Francis celebrates the final mass of his visit to Brazil. Groups of pilgrims attending World Youth Day spent the night sleeping on the beach before Sunday's final mass, while the city's mayor said he expected up to three million people to pack the beach for the occasion. (Christophe Simon/Getty Images) Francis gestures as he answers reporters' questions during a news conference aboard the papal flight on the journey back from Brazil, on July 29, 2013. Francis says, "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" (Luca Zennaro/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in front of a private audience at the Vatican on November 25, 2013. (Claudio Peri/Getty Images) Francis addresses the 114th U.S. Congress for the first time in history on September 24, 2015. (Christy Bowe/Getty Images) Francis waves to the crowd from the Speakers Balcony at the U.S. Capitol with members of Congress on Sept. 24, 2015. (Doug Mills/Getty Images) Francis is welcomed by Iraqi President Barham Salih at the presidential palace in Baghdad on March 5, 2021 on the first papal visit to Iraq. Francis's trip to Iraq was historic because he defied security and coronavirus pandemic concerns to try to comfort one of the world's oldest and most persecuted Christian communities. (Sabah Aarar/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis blesses people as he arrives in the popemobile at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Arbil, on March 7, 2021, in the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. Francis's Iraq tour was intended to visit Christian communities that endured brutality from the Islamic State "caliphate," or the previous Islamic government where political and religious leadership was united, which ended in 2018. (Vincinzo Pinto/ Getty Images) Francis speaks to youth after a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians at the Cathedral of Saint Therese in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 4, 2023. (Simon Maina/Getty Images) Francis meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican on May 13, 2023. (Vatican Media via Reuters) Francis meets a delegation of families of Palestinians who are suffering in Gaza at the studio of Paul VI Hall on Nov. 22, 2023, in Vatican City. (Vatican Media/Vatican Pool via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis poses with world leaders at the Borgo Egnazia resort during the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in June 2024. Francis appears at a window of the Gemelli hospital in Rome before being discharged following a five-week hospitalization for pneumonia on March 23, 2025. (Filippo Monteforte/Getty Images) Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for "to the city and to the world") blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 20, 2025. (Gregorio Borgia/AP) Francis tours St. Peter's Square in his popemobile after blessing the crowd during Easter mass in St. Peter's Square on April 20, 2025. (Gregorio Borgia/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A sculpture made by Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik depicting Francis as a mark of tribute following the news of his death, in Puri, India, on Monday. (AFP via Getty Images) See more of our photo features on Yahoo News. The Vatican has announced that the body of Pope Francis is likely to be transferred to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday. After the transfer from the chapel in Francis' last residence in the Vatican to the large basilica, the faithful should have the opportunity to pay their last respects to the deceased pope, the Vatican said on Monday. However, the date will only be officially confirmed when the cardinals meet on Tuesday morning for the first time since Francis' death, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this meeting, the first decisions on the plans for the funeral and other important matters will be made. Following the adoption by Francis of new, streamlined funeral rites for popes, the pope's body will not be laid out on a catafalque as was the case with previous deceased popes. Instead, a comparatively simple coffin will be placed where the faithful can pay their last respects. Pope Francis' Italian cousin is mourning the death of her relative. "I am very sorry. I am very sad," Carla Rabezzana from Portocomaro near the city of Asti in Piedmont told Italian media on Monday. "This is terrible news. I just feel so much pain," said the 93-year-old. She said she had "so many good memories" of her cousin. Rabezzana said she had spoken to him on the phone just last week. "I told him I had broken my foot. And he said to me, 'Thank God you didn't break your head!'" Francis was born in Argentina. However, his father was from Piedmont in north-western Italy and emigrated to the South American country with his parents. People pray during a service for Pope Francis in Buenos Aires Cathedral following the death of the head of the Catholic Church. The Argentine pontiff, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, dies on Monday, leaving a profound impact on millions around the world. Cristina Sille/dpa An Afghan child is seen at a refugee camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, April 22, 2025. A total of 874 Afghan families with 4,082 people returned to their homeland from neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Sunday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees' Problems said in a statement Monday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A total of 874 Afghan families with 4,082 people returned to their homeland from neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Sunday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees' Problems said in a statement Monday. According to the statement, the refugees have repatriated home via the Torkham border crossing in eastern Nangarhar province, the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province, and the Islam Qala border point in western Herat province. About 7 million Afghan refugees, most of whom are undocumented migrants, are currently living abroad, with most living in Afghanistan's neighboring Pakistan and Iran. The Afghan interim government has been urging Afghan migrants living abroad to return home and contribute to rebuilding their war-ravaged country. Afghan children are seen at a refugee camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, April 22, 2025. A total of 874 Afghan families with 4,082 people returned to their homeland from neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Sunday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees' Problems said in a statement Monday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Afghan children are seen at a refugee camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, April 22, 2025. A total of 874 Afghan families with 4,082 people returned to their homeland from neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Sunday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees' Problems said in a statement Monday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Afghan refugees are seen at a refugee camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, April 22, 2025. A total of 874 Afghan families with 4,082 people returned to their homeland from neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Sunday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees' Problems said in a statement Monday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco are among the Catholic royals around the world paying tribute to Pope Francis. It is with infinite sadness and deep sorrow that we learned of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis on this Easter Monday, Prince Albert wrote in a statement shared to social media. Particularly moved, my family, myself and the Principality would like to express our deepest condolences to the Catholic Church and all the faithful with whom we share a great sorrow.In this time of pain and mourning, we keep in mind and in our hearts the apostolic blessings which the Holy Father lavishly bestowed upon us during his Pontificate and fervently pray for the repose of his soul. Albert continued, May his unrelenting message of love, brotherhood, peace, faith, justice, mercy, compassion, and respect for our nature continue to nourish our thoughts and commitments to the service of the common good and radiate upon a world he will leave his mark on. With profound gratitude, we pay tribute to the very great servant of mankind who has just left us. We ask Your Eminence Reverendissime to want to believe well in the part that we take, along with all the inhabitants of the Principality, in the mourning of the Church and the Vatican City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Monegasque royals regularly visited Vatican City during Pope Franciss reign, meeting with him in 2013, 2016, and 2022. They also attended his inaugural mass in 2013. Mondadori Portfolio - Getty Images Prince Alberts first trip as sovereign outside Monaco was to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Charlene converted to Catholicism before marrying Albert. Catholicism is the state religion [in Monaco]. But for me, it represents much more. The values of this religion profoundly touch me and correspond perfectly to my spirit, she said before her 2011 wedding. In January 2013, Prince Albert took me to the Vatican to present me to Pope Benedict XVI, just as Prince Rainier did with Grace Kelly and Pius XII that experience was extremely intense and moving for me. Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis - Getty Images Its expected that the Monegasque royals will attend Pope Franciss funeral, which will be held in the coming days. You Might Also Like BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent on Saturday a congratulatory message to Daniel Noboa on his re-election as president of Ecuador. Xi said China and Ecuador are comprehensive strategic partners, and the development of bilateral relations has maintained a sound momentum in recent years. He also said the two countries have witnessed deepening political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields, adding that the friendship of the two peoples has won greater popular support. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Ecuador, Xi said he is ready to work with Noboa to take the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, so as to better benefit the two peoples. On the same day, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng sent a congratulatory message to Ecuadorian Vice President-elect Maria Jose Pinto. DENVER (KDVR) Last Sunday, rangers and several other agencies recovered human remains in a wilderness area at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park near the town of Montrose. FOX31 is hearing from the private investigation company that was involved in helping to identify a Denver mans body a week after he was found dead in western Colorado. Previous: 2 months after Denver man was reported missing, his remains have been recovered Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials confirmed the body was that of Jordan Marsters, a 31-year-old who was first reported missing on Feb. 15. Marsters moved from Maine to Denver last October and kept in contact with his tight-knit family. After his mother didnt receive calls from him like she normally would, she knew something wasnt right. Jordan was a smart, smart man. He was loving, he came from this amazing, close, tight-knit family, said Alexandra Slavin. Slavin is a Denver-based private investigator with Slavin Private Investigations LLC. She was retained by the family and shared some memories of Jordan after the National Park Service announced recovery efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought it was going to be like my typical missing person case and that was not what it ended up being, said Slavin. It was crazy and a learning experience and it was a lot of steps, a lot of jurisdictions to be involved with and inevitably it led our investigation to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Montrose. That kind of led us to the whole world into investigations we didnt think we were going to have to do. Park rangers and a member of the Black Canyon Search and Rescue Team help locate the remains in a remote location in the canyon. The park ranchers were absolutely phenomenal, they worked on their days off, they ice climbed, they roped, said Slavin. They had to work with other national parks to get a helicopter to safely rescue Jordans body. Thats why it took so long, it was so many logistics that went into it. There was also dangerous terrain. Skeletal remains found under Aurora overpass, police search for ID Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From her investigations, she says it looked like Marsters took a bus from Denver to Grand Junction and ended up in Montrose. Were thinking he wanted to explore. Hes lived in Colorado since October of last year. Hes an adventurous guy who loves the outdoors, she said. Slavin sent some of her investigations to the same area to find out where he could be. The last places that Jordan was, and we put together an hour-by-hour timeline of Jordans whereabouts for his previous 48 hours before going missing, Slavin said. The news of his remains being found was devastating for the family. Slavin said Marsters mom was not going to give up until she found her son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it gives her answers. She finally gets to bring her son home, and give him that celebration of life and funeral that he deserves, so its finally giving her a little peace in such a confusing, long, drawn-out couple of months, said Slavin. She didnt care if it took 20 years; she was never going to give up on finding her son. Police investigating body found in park near downtown Englewood While police do all they can in missing persons cases, Slavin says private investigators roles are important in situations like these. We have the time, resources and the capabilities to make these phone calls, track down surveillance videos, track down witnesses that may or may not have been in contact with, said Slavin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A cause of death has not yet been released. Slavin says the area where Jordan was found was so remote that shes not sure if they would have been found without the familys persistence and all the work from park rangers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 school library at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School on the East Side of Providence. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) The plot is thickening in the Rhode Island Department of Educations (RIDE) takeover of Providence public schools. Its been five years. Providence wants them back ASAP. But neither side has offered ways to rebuild the foundations that cement the dysfunction. Until now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Useful ideas are emerging at the State House, with increasingly specific proposals that have actual meat on nice-sounding principles. In a true act of forward movement, Sen. Sam Zurier, a Providence Democrat, introduced three bills on March 7 that could really improve how Providence schools govern themselves, deploy their own resources, and maintain high quality staff. Zuriers bills were introduced a month after Gov. Dan McKee and RIDE outlined nine conditions the city must meet to regain local control by June 2026. Basically, the city must provide more money, fiscal transparency, a trained and well-informed board, and improved facilities. No argument there, but where are changes to education policy per se? One condition told the city to establish performance-based outcomes for contracts at the Providence Public School Department, such as custodial services. Wait. Custodial contracts?! The nine conditions seemed tone deaf to report after report. Like the Providence Blueprint for Education, which called the school district confused about priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy 2019 review that precipitated the takeover by documenting a laundry list of problems, from the majority of students performing below grade level to demoralized teachers and unsafe school buildings. Like last years Senate Education Commissions report, identifying the Providence teachers contract as a huge obstacle to student success. Sen. Sam Zurier, a Providence Democrat, introduced three bills on March 7 that could really improve how Providence schools govern themselves, deploy their own resources, and maintain high quality staff. RIDE Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green soon followed up with a substantial, detailed letter to the city clarifying and reducing nine conditions to five overarching concerns: Governance, Finances, Facilities, Legislation and a Transition Plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four of the concerns have numbered and bulleted details with educational asks, like requiring the school board to shift its focus from adult inputs to student outcomes the very heart of the matter. But Legislation has only a vague sentence requesting an intergovernmental team to work on state laws to remove legislative barriers to improving outcomes and opportunities for Providences children. While clearly anti-kid and anti-education, legislative barriers seem immutable because no one wants conflicts with our powerful teachers unions. Remember this: A public-sector teachers union is a private-sector business whose mission is to benefit and protect teachers. The laws serve adults. Thankfully, the trio of bills from Zurier offer a better way. Heres how: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill No. 745 Expedited grievance process State law imposes a grievance procedure so onerous, administrators rarely try to discipline or fire a non-performing teacher. Unions argue they counsel out poor teachers with a stern conversation, and sometimes that does work. But teachers union dues entitle members to full-throated legal protection if they want it. Abundant stories, now too old to threaten confidentiality, include the 80-year-old who slept through classes, but whom the union protected on the grounds that the district had not supplied adequate professional development. The commission offers an example of the onerous process with the story of a 2014 grievance that originated with an evidence-filled termination letter to a certain teacher. After several district hearings, the grievance went to RIDE for an appeal to a hearing officer, a review by the commissioner, a second review by the commissioner, an appeal to the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and an appeal to the Superior Court which upheld the termination. The Supreme Court is still an option. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solution: End blanket protection of all teachers no matter their performance by shortening the wealth of opportunities to appeal administrative decisions. At the same time, this bill would create guardrails to protect teachers who serve students well. The guardrails legislate against arbitrary or vengeful terminations by including a list of specific grounds for reprimand or dismissal. If the shorter appeals process doesnt work, the matter goes to binding arbitration by specified outside parties whose decision is final. These revisions are fair to teachers and create flexibility for administration. Senate Bill No. 746. Mandatory annual salary step increases By law, districts and their municipalities must stick to a a salary schedule recognizing years of service with up to 12 annual pay increase steps. This lock-step pay system is a throwback to the 1960s automotive factory workers contracts on which our teachers contracts were modeled. Districts can not negotiate innovative pay systems that incentivize our best teachers to stay in the profession by, for example, advancing up the salary scale more quickly by taking on leadership roles. Conversely, teachers who need to improve get the same salary bump as everyone else. Solution: Eliminate the lock-step mandate so schools have the freedom to deploy their resources where theyre needed. The adjusted bill allows Providence to negotiate alternative salary schedules outside of the rigid factory-model uniformity, which may include other bases for increased compensation including paying teachers willing to take on greater responsibilities. Senate Bill No. 747. Laying off teachers by seniority State law mandates hiring, laying off and re-hiring teachers by seniority, which is to say, who has the oldest date of original hire. If student enrollment declines, unionized teachers must be retained or re-hired by seniority. Administrators dont get to decide to keep the most effective educators on staff. Its LIFO, or Last In, First Out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another old story: Years ago, the district dismissed a famously popular Teacher of the Year because his three-year probation wasnt up yet. Senior teachers who had not been rehired by a failing school that was being rebooted (reconstituted) had legal rights to his job. The public hew and cry made no difference. Seniority is the law. Even if contract negotiators agree to suspend strict seniority, they invite lawsuits. Solution: Limit LIFO, with caveats. The new bill is longer than the original 1960s-era legislation because it details what teachers might be retained regardless of seniority. They include bilingual teachers, teachers with excellent evaluations or needed skills, teachers of the year and others. For the record, teachers of color are more likely to be new, so LIFO upsets efforts to diversify the workforce. Its worth noting that these bills were assigned to the Senate Labor Committee instead of the Education Committee, again prioritizing adult concerns over kids. Theres still time, though. The legislature can still make the needed changes. If not, the dysfunctional Providence district will be a hot potato passed back and forth between the state and the city, neither of which really has the tools to succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that happens, the Providence students will be right back where they were in 1993 when these problems were first reported. Remember the local cliche: As goes Providence, so goes the state. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MAHONING TOWNSHIP, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is investigating a Carbon County incident where a man is dead and another was hospitalized after they were found by their coworkers to have overdosed in a pizzeria. Troopers say on Saturday, April 19, at about 6:15 p.m., the PSP Lehighton barracks got a request from the Carbon County District Attorneys Office to assume the lead in an investigation. State Police say the investigation was into an overdose incident where two male employees overdosed while working at Pizza Como USA on Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Mahoning Township. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say Mahoning Township Police Officers initially responded to the business shortly after 5:00 p.m., where they learned the two victims were found unresponsive by their fellow co-workers. Both men were rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospitals Carbon Campus, where one of the men was pronounced dead. Firefighters battling 260-acre forest fire PSP Lehighton Criminal Investigation Unit Troopers Daniel K. Magarelli and Ryan D. English arrived on the scene and met with Mahoning Township Officers, County Detectives, and District Attorney Michael Greek. State police then processed the scene and carried out interviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation into this incident is ongoing in conjunction with the Carbon County District Attorneys Office. This is a developing story, and 28/22 News will provide updates as new information is made available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent on Saturday a congratulatory message to Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema on his election as president of the Gabonese Republic. In his message, Xi noted that China and Gabon enjoy a traditional friendship, saying that in recent years, political mutual trust between the two countries has continued to deepen, and cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results. The two countries have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, he added. Xi also said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Gabon relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Nguema to take implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as an opportunity to promote a steady and sustained growth of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, so as to better benefit their people. KATHMANDU, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Four people were electrocuted and two others injured on Monday morning after a sport utility vehicle (SUV) hit a power line in Taplejung district in northeastern Nepal, local police said. The vehicle carrying six people including the driver was en route to a local temple when it hit an electric wire and caught fire at 05:00 local time. "The injured are receiving treatment at a local hospital," Bibek Basnet, spokesman for the district police, told Xinhua. He noted that police had launched an investigation into the accident. Royal families worldwide have been publishing tributes mourning the death of Pope Francis, with many reflecting on his spiritual leadership and global influence. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis maintained close ties with royal families through frequent meetings and official state visits. Just weeks before his death, he met with King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Vaticanone of many such audiences that underscored his diplomatic role and longstanding relationships with monarchs across around the world. Here, see how royal families across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia are responding to the death of Pope Francis: United Kingdom Photo credit: Getty Images - Getty Images King Charles penned a letter honoring Pope Francis, writing, His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. King Charles and Queen Camilla had a private meeting with Pope Francis earlier this month at the Popes residence Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month, Charles wrote in his tribute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more here Monaco Photo credit: Vatican Pool - Getty Images Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco are among the Catholic royals around the world paying tribute to Pope Francis. May his unrelenting message of love, brotherhood, peace, faith, justice, mercy, compassion, and respect for our nature continue to nourish our thoughts and commitments to the service of the common good and radiate upon a world he will leave his mark on, Prince Albert wrote in a statement shared to social media. With profound gratitude, we pay tribute to the very great servant of mankind who has just left us. We ask Your Eminence Reverendissime to want to believe well in the part that we take, along with all the inhabitants of the Principality, in the mourning of the Church and the Vatican City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more here Jordan Photo credit: Vatican Pool - Getty Images King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan each shared messages honoring Pope Francis in the wake of the news of his death on Monday. In a post on X, King Abdullah wrote, My deepest condolences to our Christian brothers and sisters around the world on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a man of peace who was beloved by the people for his kindness, humility, and tireless efforts to bring everyone together. His memory will live on in the hearts of millions. Queen Rania, who most recently met with Pope Francis at the World Summit on Children's Rights at Vatican City in February, wrote on X, In a world that can often feel heartless, Pope Francis always had love to sparefor the less fortunate, refugee families, and children in war zones, in Gaza and around the world. Humanity has lost an invaluable champion for peace and compassion today. May he rest in peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more here Spain Photo credit: Vatican Pool - Getty Images King Felipe, a Catholic monarch, remembered the late Pope Francis in a moving letter. Throughout his pontificate, His Holiness Pope Francis has borne witness to the importance that love of neighbor, fraternity, and social friendship have for the world of our century, King Felipe wrote in a telegram to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. We will always continue to be inspired by his conviction in the need to bring encouragement and comfort to the poorest and most needy, and by the importance he attached to dialogue and consensus in order to achieve a more just and united world. (Read it in full, here, in Spanish.) King Felipe and Queen Letizia, then Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, were among the royals who attended Pope Franciss inaugural mass in 2013. Read more here Belgium Photo credit: Vatican Pool - Getty Images King Philippe and Queen Mathilde published a tribute to Pope Francis on the palace's social media accounts: It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Pope Francis. He was a great man, close to the most humble and concerned about the world's problems, the Belgian king and queen wrote. We share the grief of all Catholics around the world and all those who loved and appreciated him. We also express our gratitude for the honor he bestowed upon us by visiting our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Belgian royal family is among the few remaining Catholic monarchies in Europe. Pope Francis last met with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde last September at Laeken Castlethe official residence of the Belgian royal familyamid a tour of Belgium and Luxembourg. Read more here Luxembourg Photo credit: Vatican Pool - Getty Images Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg expressed his condolences, writing on social media, The Grand Duchess and I are deeply saddened by the news of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. This sadness is all the greater given that we had the honor and immense joy of welcoming him on an official visit to Luxembourg last September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis was a man of great compassion, sharing the pain and suffering of others. Constantly concerned with the problems of the most disadvantaged and refugees, he was devoted to the most vulnerable, while remaining attentive to the hopes of young people. He was a spiritual guide for us and for the world beyond the Church. We offer our most sincere condolences to you and, through you, to the entire Catholic community. The Luxembourg royal family is Roman Catholic. Pope Francis most recently met with Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City last September amid a papal tour of Luxembourg and Belgium. The Netherlands Photo credit: Patrick van Katwijk - Getty Images King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima expressed their admiration of the late pontiff in a letter shared to the Royal House of the Netherlandss website: We are deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. We have warm memories of our personal audience with him, during our state visit to the Holy See in 2017. Pope Francis radiated mercy in everything he did. With his deep-rooted faith in Gods love, he was the embodiment of benevolence and humanity. Choosing a simple, ascetic way of life, he consistently chose the side of the vulnerable and needy. He was deeply convinced that God works through humility and compassion, and in that spirit he actively sought to build bridges with other religious communities all over the world. He was a committed guardian of the listening and loving Church, and as a result he succeeded in winning the hearts of many, both within the Roman Catholic Church and outside it. We will cherish his memory in gratitude. The Dutch royal family is traditionally Protestant. Queen Maxima, born in Argentina like Pope Francis, is a Roman Catholic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will continue to update this post as more royal statements and tributes are released. You Might Also Like BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will pay a state visit to China from April 22 to 24, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Monday. Noting that China and Azerbaijan are strategic partners, spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press briefing that in recent years, under the personal attention and promotion of the two heads of state, China-Azerbaijan relations have maintained a good momentum of development. The political mutual trust between the two countries has been continuously consolidated, Belt and Road cooperation has achieved fruitful results, and international collaboration has been effective, Guo said. During Aliyev's visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with him to draw up a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations, Guo said. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji will meet with Aliyev, respectively, to have in-depth exchanges of views on cooperation in various fields. "It is believed that this visit will further deepen the China-Azerbaijan strategic partnership and bring more benefits to the two peoples," Guo said. (NewsNation) News that scientists have found potential evidence of life on a faraway planet is exciting but shouldnt be taken as a certainty that life exists there, says investigative journalist and podcaster Ross Coulthart, who studies UFOs and claims of alien visitations. Scientists at the University of Cambridge say they have detected what could be chemical signs of life on a planet known as K2-18b, which is 124 light-years away from Earth. They say they came to their conclusion by analyzing data from the James Webb Space Telescope. Boots on Mars by 2029? Futurist says Musk plan is doable Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, the researchers say dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide appear to be present in the atmosphere of K2-18b, which orbits a star. The compounds are produced primarily by microbial life, such as marine phytoplankton, on Earth. But Coulthart said, One of the reasons some scientists are urging caution is because there may be a non-organic reason for why this stuff is there. Coulthart is among the observers who find the information encouraging but well short of a firm conclusion. Ross Coulthart: We are on the cusp of finding planets that are habitable Its a big deal, but its still very, very tentative, Coulthart told NewsNation Prime on Sunday. There are doubters and debunkers. Still, he said, its notable that scientists can interpret data generated by the Webb Telescope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really do think we are on the cusp of finding planets that are habitable for life, Coulthart said. Colorado company to become first to refuel Space Force asset As for getting closer to confirm whether K2-18b has life, thats not realistic, he said. Theres no way we can send a robotic drone there because it would take billions of lifetimes to get there, Coulthart said. Theres no really solid way of proving it beyond doing more accurate measurements of the wavelengths of light. What is K2-18b? K2-18b is an exoplanet that is nearly nine times the size of Earth, according to NASA. K2-18b is a Hycean exoplanet since it has the potential of possessing a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and an ocean-covered surface. It was found in 2015, according to USA TODAY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, NASAs Hubble Space Telescope found water vapor on K2-18b for the first time. The potentially habitable planet orbits a cool dwarf star named K2-18 in what NASA calls the habitable zone. Since these planets are over 120 light-years away from Earth and in the Leo constellation, it is hard for scientists to study them. This illustration shows what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on science data. K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone and lies 120 light years from Earth. [NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)] In 2023, scientists found the presence of carbon-bearing molecules, including methane and carbon dioxide, on the planet. As for the recent discovery, Coulthart said the James Webb Space Telescope will be doing some follow-up research. Scientists have been able to confirm more than 5,500 planets that orbit other stars. The James Webb Space Telescope is the biggest and most powerful observatory that we have ever sent into space. 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 NewsNation. Massive staffing cuts at the United States Department of Agriculture have left key food safety and invasive species prevention programs severely understaffed, creating potential risks for both consumers' wallets and the environment. What's happening? As Wired reported, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk has laid off approximately 6,000 USDA employees, including highly specialized staff like plant inspectors and disease-sniffing dog trainers. Major ports have lost significant portions of their inspection workforce the Port of Los Angeles lost an estimated 35% of its Plant Protection and Quarantine staff and 60% of its "smuggling and interdiction" employees who search for illegally smuggled goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These ports were already strained in how they process cargo, and now some of them have been completely decimated," said Armando Rosario-Lebron from the National Association of Agriculture Employees. Two federal judges have ordered employees to be reinstated, but the Trump administration continues to fight these rulings. Why are USDA cuts concerning? These staff reductions directly threaten American families through potential food price increases and reduced safety. Supply chain experts have warned that uninspected food shipments will rot in ports as containers sit idle. Smaller grocery stores and rural communities will likely face greater challenges securing food supplies than larger chains and urban areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the reduced inspection capability creates serious environmental vulnerability. Without enough specialized staff, invasive species like the Giant African land snail could enter the U.S. and devastate agricultural production. Kit Johnson, customs broker at John S. James, told Wired that missing a threatening pest could result in "wiping out an entire agricultural commodity." What's being done about food security? Despite these federal rollbacks, several states have established their own agricultural inspection programs to maintain safety standards. The bipartisan farm bill proposed last year would have included measures for strengthening local food systems that reduce dependency on long supply chains vulnerable to inspection delays. In December, Congress passed a one-year extension of the farm bill that originated in 2018 after failing to agree to updated provisions, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition put out a call earlier this month for new comprehensive legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consumer advocacy groups are also working to establish community-based monitoring systems for the early detection of invasive species. The USDA staff reduction pause offers a 45-day window for affected departments to develop return-to-duty plans, leaving the door potentially open for program restoration. For households concerned about food costs, supporting local farmers' markets provides both fresher food options and reduced vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct that the farm bill proposed in 2024 did not pass and was replaced with a one-year extension of the bill that originated in 2018. 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. A high-level delegation of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) recently visited China's Chongqing. They said China's pursuit of modernization has contributed to world development and prosperity. #GLOBALink In 1942, many of the crew in the Doolittle Raid, a daring U.S. air mission against Japan, were rescued by Chinese civilians after bailing out over China. Today in Quzhou, Chinese & American youth honor this legacy with a "Tree of Friendship" Produced by Xinhua Global Service (WHTM) Five Democrats are running in the May 20 primary to serve as Harrisburgs Mayor. The slate of candidates includes three current city officials and two community activists. There is no candidate running in the Republican primary, meaning the winner of this race will likely be sworn in as Harrisburgs Mayor in January 2026. Heres a look at the candidates running in the May primary. Dan Miller Dan Miller currently serves as Harrisburgs City Treasurer and was previously both a member of Harrisburg City Council and the citys Controller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before entering public office, Miller was the founder of a public accounting firm and a financial analyst. A Central Dauphin High School graduate, Miller earned degrees from Harrisburg Area Community College, Elizabethtown College, and Penn State University. Miller has also served as a board member of the WITF Community Advisory Board, the founder of the Central PA Pride Festival, and is currently Treasurer for the Community Check-Up Center. Miller has said hell work to restore the Broad Street Markets brick building, fight for civil rights, address the citys homelessness issue, and improve safety in the city. Wanda Williams Wanda Williams is running for re-election as Harrisburgs Mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams, a lifelong Harrisburg resident, worked for the Commonwealth before being elected to the Harrisburg School Board and Harrisburg City Council. Williams served as City Council President for 12 years and won the 2021 Democratic mayoral primary by 46 votes. As the 39th Mayor of Harrisburg, Williams has overseen a city impacted by gun violence, chaos at city events, and the 2023 fire that destroyed the Broad Street Markets brick building. In 2023, Williams declared that the city was debt-free and, in her October 2024 State of the City, announced she planned to remove Harrisburg from Act 47, a designation for cities under financial distress. Williams has also promoted new, affordable housing and ongoing development in Allison Hill and Hall Manor. Lamont Jones Lamont Jones is a Harrisburg City Councilman and entrepreneur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones founded Jones Resources, LLC, a consulting firm that provides job readiness training and promotes entrepreneurship. Jones was elected to the Harrisburg City Council in 2023 despite a legal effort to remove him from the ballot for previous drug convictions. Jones has since been pardoned and was sworn in last year. Jones has also served on the Dauphin County Prison Community Advisory Committee. If elected Mayor, Jones says he will bring proven experience with the goal of creating a safe city, pushing for economic development, and providing a voice for everyone. Tone Cook Tone Cook is a community activist who announced his candidacy for mayor in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooks is a gun violence prevention advocate and lifelong Harrisburg resident. He founded Michaels Memory/PUSH Harrisburg, a nonprofit in honor of his brother, who died from gun violence. Cook has also shared his story of serving time in juvenile detention, county prisons, and federal penitentiaries before he turned his life around. If elected, Cook says he will focus on enhancing public safety, economic revitalization, youth empowerment, and transparent government. Tone is dedicated to leading with hope and courage, believing that Harrisburg, like him, can overcome its challenges and build a vibrant, just future for all, says his campaign website. Lewis Butts Lewis Butts is a lifelong Harrisburg resident, former state employee, and community activist who is running for Harrisburg Mayor for the fourth time. Butts dropped out of the 2021 primary and received 125 votes in the 2017 campaign. In 2013 Butts received 64 votes in the primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On PCNTV Butts said the city needs a balance, a plan, and a theme that people can synchronize to, as well as consistent revenue. He says his plan focuses on infrastructure and finding revenue thats not focused on taxing residents. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania The deadline for Pennsylvania residents to register to vote is May 5, and the deadline to request a mail ballot is May 13. All mail ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day when the polls close. Pennsylvanias primary is a closed primary, meaning only Democrats can vote in this race. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. April 21 (UPI) -- Numerous celebrities -- including Russell Crowe, Whoopi Goldberg, Antonio Banderas and Robin Roberts -- took to social media Monday to mourn the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. The 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and first Latin American pontiff died hours after greeting U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the Vatican and cruising through St. Peter's Square in his popemobile to bless thousands of people on Easter Sunday. He had been gravely ill, battling respiratory issues for weeks, but had vowed not to retire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A beautiful day in Rome, but, a sad day for the faithful. RIP Francis," Crowe wrote on X, alongside a photo of the Italian city. "He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ's love enveloped believer and none believer," Goldberg said on Instagram. Russell Crowe attends the photocall for "Poker Face" during the 17th Rome Film Festival in 2022. File Photo by Rocco Spaziani/UPI "He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity & Laughter." "Pope Francisco has died -- a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people," Antonio Banderas wrote on Instagram. Whoopi Goldberg attends the Academy Awards in March. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Eva Longoria said: "Rest in Peace, Your Holiness Pope Francis. Thank you for being an ally to many of us and speaking up for the marginalized. Your compassion, kindness and humility will always be remembered." Good Morning America host Robin Roberts said on X: "Very sad to wake up to the news of the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88." "It was an honor to be in his presence for the second time in 2016 when I visited the Vatican for a conference discussing healing options involving forms of stem cell therapy...a cause very close to my heart. He was truly the people's Pope and we will have extensive coverage on his life and legacy all morning on GMA," Roberts said. By Qabil Ashirov Today, during a continuing session at the Baku Military Court, defendant Arkadi Ghukasyan responded to questions regarding the Khojaly massacreone of the darkest chapters of the First Garabagh Warwhere hundreds of innocent Azerbaijani civilians were systematically killed on the night of February 2526, 1992, solely on the grounds of their ethnicity. Ghukasyan claimed he first received information about the events in Khojaly in February 1992 through what he referred to as "official sources." "At the time, we didnt fully grasp the scale of the tragedy. We knew that hundreds of Azerbaijanis had been brought to Khankendi from Khojaly. Later, they were handed over to the other side," he stated. Ghukasyan also expressed condemnation of the killing of civilians, calling it "unacceptable" and describing the incident as "one of the bloody pages of war." The trial, which is still ongoing, involves Armenian citizens accused of a wide array of grave crimes, including war crimes, crimes against peace and humanity, the planning and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and numerous other serious offenses, all committed in the context of Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in Beijing on Monday. Han said that last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reached an important consensus on building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future that has regional and global influence, pointing out the direction for the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Indonesia to adhere to the guidance of the two heads of state, strengthen strategic alignment, enhance multilateral collaboration, promote the China-Indonesia community with a shared future to reach new heights continuously, and make greater contributions to the modernization processes of both countries as well as the prosperity and development of the region and the world, Han said. Sugiono said Indonesia is willing to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, firmly defend multilateralism, jointly address risks and challenges, and promote the greater development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) The Russians attacked the city of Mykolaiv with missiles and shelled Kherson on the morning of 21 April. A person has been injured. Source: Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration; Kherson Oblast Military Administration Quote from Kim: "The enemy attacked the city with missiles at around 04:57; the type is being determined. No casualties or damage have been recorded." Details: Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that the Russians had shelled the city of Kherson in the morning, injuring a person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Russians attacked the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson with artillery at around 07:20. A man, 72, came under attack. He suffered a blast injury and shrapnel wounds to his arm," Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported. The man was taken to hospital. Background: On Saturday 19 April, Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced an Easter truce, which supposedly meant a halt to all hostilities in Ukraine from the evening of 19 April until midnight on 20 April. Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defence stated that Russian forces would uphold the truce only if Ukraine did the same. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! TAIPEI, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported significant losses at its plant in Arizona, the United States, and robust profits on the Chinese mainland. According to its latest annual shareholder report, the Arizona plant suffered a loss of 14.3 billion New Taiwan dollars (about 440 million U.S. dollars) last year, marking the highest annual loss since TSMC began investing in U.S. manufacturing. The company has accumulated over 39.4 billion New Taiwan dollars in losses at the site over the past four years. TSMC's other overseas investments also faced challenges. Its advanced chip facility in Japan recorded a loss of 4.38 billion New Taiwan dollars in 2024, while the company's joint venture in Germany reported a loss of 556 million New Taiwan dollars. In contrast, TSMC's operations on the Chinese mainland continued to deliver robust performance. The Nanjing plant alone generated a profit of 25.95 billion New Taiwan dollars in 2024, with a total profit of more than 80 billion over the past four years. TSMC, the world's leading contract chipmaker, has been under pressure to increase its investments in the United States over the past few years. With its first wafer fab in Arizona already in operation, the company in early March announced plans to expand its investment in advanced semiconductor manufacturing in the United States by an additional 100 billion U.S. dollars, to build three new wafer fabs, two packaging facilities and an R&D center. This move is set to position the United States as TSMC's second-largest production base after Taiwan in the near future, triggering concerns about industrial hollowing-out of the island. An editorial published by Taiwan's Economic Daily argued that for TSMC itself, increased investment in the United States will lead to higher costs and lower efficiency and increase the risk of technology leakage. For Taiwan, the move can push equipment and material suppliers of TSMC to shift from Taiwan to the United States and may turn cooperation with the United States into a reliance on it, the article wrote. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan virtually co-chair the first meeting of a high-level committee for China-UAE investment cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan virtually co-chaired the first meeting of a high-level committee for China-UAE investment cooperation on Monday. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, praised the role of the committee in helping yield more results in bilateral cooperation. He said China will work with the UAE to deliver on the common understandings between the two heads of state, and boost the efficiency and scale of investment cooperation to advance the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership. Ding proposed that the two sides should give full play to the steering role of the committee, plan major projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, and encourage enterprises to expand the fields of cooperation between the two countries and innovate their methods of cooperation. Sheikh Mansour said that the UAE commends the bilateral relations and is confident of China's economy. He said the UAE will enhance its investment cooperation with China in order to leverage their complementary advantages and promote shared prosperity. A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. Wow, What A Weekend Events have moved so quickly since the last Morning Memo on Friday that I am going to keep todays installment at a pretty high level of summary, especially since it was a holiday weekend and many of you may only have a vague notion of what transpired. For those of you like me who kept close tabs despite your other obligations, Im including links out to deeper analysis and rundowns so that you dont feel abandoned here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets get into it. SCOTUS Blocks Alien Enemies Act Deportations In an extraordinary order issued in the wee hours of Saturday morning, the Supreme Court intervened to block imminent deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. The order was limited to those detained in the Northern District of Texas, but it was a shot across the bow of the Trump administration about conducting more AEA deportations that dont give sufficient notice to detainees and attempt to rush them out of the country to a prison in El Salvador. The order was issued by a 7-2 court majority, with Justice Samuel Alito penning a dissent that was joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. The Supreme Courts order came after an increasingly frenetic effort by the ACLU to block the AEA deportations Friday. Ultimately a federal judge in Texas and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to grant relief in the case. In a final act of desperation, the ACLU tried to revive the original AEA case it had filed in DC, but U.S. District Judge James Boasberg demurred, saying that the Supreme Court had already tied his hands in its earlier ruling in that case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Boasbergs Friday evening hearing by telephone proved important. It put the Justice Department on record that while no flights were expected Friday evening it was reserving the right to resume flights as soon as Saturday. That admission which Alito in his dissent mischaracterized at best and ignored at worst confirmed the urgency of the matter and while we cant know that it drove the Supreme Court to issue such a rare middle of the night order its hard to imagine it didnt play a role. After the Supreme Courts late-night intervention, NBC News reported that video showed buses had already been loaded with Venezuelan detainees on Friday and were en route to the airport in Abilene when they were turned around. Its not clear whether Boasbergs pointed questioning (even though he declined to rule against the Trump administration) or the pending appeal to the Supreme Court or some other reason is what diverted the buses. The Supreme Court had largely itself to blame for the flurry of activity and the need to step in after midnight on a holiday weekend. Its earlier decision in the Alien Enemies Act case that Boasberg was presiding over was vague about both the form and timing of the notice to detainees that it required before they could be legally removed. Fair-minded observers expected the Trump administration to seize on those ambiguities and it did. The Trump administration gave notices in English only that did not explicitly tell detainees how to contest their removals or how much time they had to do so. The administration also seemed to be maneuvering around a district court order blocking AEA deportations in the Southern District of Texas by moving detainees to the Northern District of Texas, a move Boasberg derided as a sign of bad faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Expect further guidance from the Supreme Court this week. Intel Community Undermines Trumps AEA Premise WaPo: The National Intelligence Council, drawing on the acumen of the United States 18 intelligence agencies, determined in a secret assessment early this month that the Venezuelan government is not directing an invasion of the United States by the prison gang Tren de Aragua, a judgment that contradicts President Donald Trumps public statements, according to people familiar with the matter. Appeals Court Pauses Boasbergs Contempt Inquiry A three-judge panel of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals that happens to be stacked with two Trump appointees issued an administrative stay of U.S. District Judge James Boasbergs inquiry into whether the Trump administration was in criminal contempt of court for defying his order blocking Alien Enemies Act deportations on March 15. The appeals court gave the parties deadlines this week to file briefs in the case. Pure Defiance While discovery is scheduled to take place this week in the case of mistakenly deported and wrongfully imprisoned Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the White House tweeted its utter defiance of the courts: 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 No Insurrection Act Yet? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will not recommend that President Trump invoke the Insurrection Act to control the southern border, CNN reports. Hegseth Shared Yemen Info In Another Signal Group Chat Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared details of the planned attack in Yemen including the flight schedules of the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in a Signal group chat that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney, the NYT first reported and that other outlets have since also confirmed. Skeptical Judge Blocks CFPB Layoffs In a bristling order, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson halted mass layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau while she ascertains whether they violate her restraining order that blocked the dismantling of the agency. Trump II Clown Show IRS : The IRS has its third acting commissioner in a week after the Gary Shapley who made his bones in MAGA world as a whistleblower about the Hunter Biden tax investigation - was canned in a dustup between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The new acting commissioner is Michael Faulkender, who is the Senate-confirmed deputy Treasury secretary. State Department : New reporting on Secretary of State Marco Rubios firing of Peter Marocco, the guy who dismantled USAID, reveals Marocco learned of his termination when he returned to Foggy Bottom from a meeting at the White House and was refused entry to the building because he was no longer an employee there. FBI: The NYT takes a look at FBI Director Kash Patels jet-setting embrace of the limelight that his recent predecessors have mostly shunned. DOGE Watch Wired: DOGE Is Building a Master Database to Surveil and Track Immigrants WaPo: DOGE begins to freeze health-care payments for extra review Bloomberg: DOGE eyes D.C.s National Gallery of Art Pope Francis Dead At 88 VATICAN CITY, VATICAN MARCH 29: Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he leaves St. Peters Square at the the end of Palm Sunday Mass on March 29, 2015 in Vatican City, Vatican. On Palm Sunday Christians celebrate Jesus arrival into Jerusalem, where he was put to death. It marks the official beginning of Holy Week during which Christians observe the death of Christ before celebrations begin on Easter. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images) Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, who served as Pope Francis from 2013-2025 and was the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, has died at 88, the day after celebrating Easter with the faithful in St. Peters Square. Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know! BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China has released a guideline for improving the country's pilot free trade zones (FTZs) to further promote high-standard opening up and high-quality development. The guideline, issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, called for promoting the optimization and upgrading of trade of goods, invigorating the development of services trade, and supporting innovative development in digital trade. White list systems are planned to be established for imported medical research and development items as well as imported food with medicinal values, the guideline said, while also calling for the application of digital bills and signatures. Investment liberalization and facilitation should be advanced, and the level of opening up should be enhanced to attract and utilize foreign capital with greater efforts. The guideline urged promoting the integration of innovation chains and industrial chains, and expanding international sci-tech exchanges and cooperation. Work should be done in building a modern industrial system, enhancing the modernization level of industrial chains, promoting the establishment of advanced industrial clusters, and facilitating the coordinated development of industries in the pilot FTZs, it said. The guideline also pledged to facilitate cross-border data flow and financial opening up. NEW YORK, April 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed information about forthcoming strikes in Yemen on March 15 in a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, The New York Times reported on Sunday. Hegseth shared the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen, said the report, citing four anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter. On the same day, Hegseth also sent a message in another Signal chat -- one that included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg -- sharing operational details about impending strikes on Yemen, scheduled to occur within two hours, Goldberg revealed in an article on March 24. Hegseth's wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, is not a Defense Department employee, while Hegseth's brother Phil and his personal lawyer, Tim Parlatore, both have jobs in the Pentagon, according to the report. Unlike the chat in which Goldberg was mistakenly included, the newly revealed one was created by Hegseth, said the report. Hegseth's use of the Signal messaging app to discuss military operations drew criticism and prompted a probe by the Defense Department's acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins. Shannon Sharpe speaks onstage during the 2024 RenderATL Tech Conference at AmericasMart Atlanta on June 14, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. - Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images Former athlete and current host of the Club Shay Shay podcast, Shannon Sharpe, has been sued for alleged sexual assault and sexual battery in a new lawsuit filed in Nevada. The civil complaint filed by Jane Doe alleges that Sharpe, 56, assaulted a woman with whom he allegedly had a rocky consensual relationship that lasted nearly two years and began in 2023 when she was 19 years old. The lawsuit claims that Sharpe violently sexually assaulted and anally raped Plaintiff two different times in Las Vegas, Nev., blatantly ignoring her requests for him to stop in October 2024, per Variety. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint also alleges that Sharpe would record and share videos of his sexual encounters with Doe without her consent or knowledge. A September 2024 incident in which Sharpe launched an Instagram Live broadcast while engaging in sexual activity with an unknown person is also mentioned in the suit, though it is clarified that the woman heard on the broadcast is not the woman behind this particular case, per NBC. In January 2025, the lawsuit details that Sharpe allegedly dismissed requests from Doe to wear a condom or stop having sex with her entirely. After many months of manipulating and controlling Plaintiff a woman more than thirty years younger than he and repeatedly threatening to brutally choke and violently slap her, Sharpe refused to accept the answer no and raped Plaintiff, despite her sobbing and repeated screams of no, the complaint states. In a statement, Sharpes legal representative Lanny J. Davis wrote: This lawsuit, filed by [Jane Doe] and orchestrated by her attorney Tony Buzbee, is a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars. It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations and it will not succeed. Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct especially the gross lie of rape and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail. He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court. He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on the facts and the law. Doe is being represented by Micah Nash and Tony Buzbee, the prominent Houston attorney who is currently representing more than two dozen accusers in lawsuits filed against Sean Diddy Combs. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in the amount of $50 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article was updated on April 21 at 3:30 p.m. to include a statement from Sharpes legal representative. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A firefighter puts out a fire after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. The military said the strikes targeted militant infrastructure, militant cells, rocket launch and sniper positions, weapons depots and command centers. It identified the killed fighter as Ahmad Mansour, who it said participated in the Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and later directed rocket fire during the ongoing war. In Rafah's Shabura and Tel al-Sultan neighborhoods, Israeli troops dismantled "terrorist infrastructure" and uncovered a cache of grenades, ammunition and other military gear. Along the recently constructed Morag Corridor, which bisects Rafah from Khan Younis and the rest of Gaza, troops located weapons, destroyed Hamas infrastructure and killed several militants, the military said. In northern Gaza, soldiers launched an airstrike on a building containing what was described as underground infrastructure and detected multiple militants. The army also reported dismantling Hamas sniper posts that had threatened its ground forces. At least eight people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday and dozens wounded, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. A firefighter puts out a fire after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A man is comforted by others at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Firefighters put out a fire after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A firefighter puts out a fire after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A firefighter puts out a fire after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A firefighter puts out a fire after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Firefighters put out a fire after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 21, 2025. Israel's military said on Monday that it carried out more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past three days, killing a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes any deal between the United States and its trading partners at the expense of Chinese interests, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday. If such a situation arises, China will not accept it and will resolutely take corresponding countermeasures, said the spokesperson in a statement, adding that the country has both the resolve and the capability to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. The spokesperson made the remarks when responding to reports that the United States is preparing to pressure other countries to restrict trade ties with China in exchange for tariff exemptions. Under the guise of so-called "reciprocity," the United States has been recently arbitrarily imposing tariffs on all its trading partners while pressuring them to engage in so-called "reciprocal tariff" negotiations, said the spokesperson. "This is essentially using the banner of 'reciprocity' as a pretext to pursue hegemonic politics and unilateral bullying in the field of international economy and trade," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson emphasized that appeasement does not bring peace, compromise does not lead to respect, and attempts to trade the interests of others for tariff exemptions are doomed to fail and will ultimately harm all parties involved. China respects all parties that seek to resolve their trade disputes with the United States through equal consultation, the spokesperson said, calling on all parties to stand on the side of fairness and justice, align with the right side of history, and uphold international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system. In the face of unilateralism and protectionism, no country can remain unaffected, the spokesperson said. "Once international trade reverts to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, all countries will suffer," the spokesperson added. China is ready to work with all parties to strengthen solidarity and coordination, jointly oppose unilateral bullying, safeguard respective legitimate rights and interests, and uphold international fairness and justice, the spokesperson said. by Xiong Maoling, Hu Yousong WASHINGTON, April 20 (Xinhua) -- "Stop illegal deportations!" "Due process now!" "Workers should have power, not billionaires!" "The constitutional crisis is here!" ... A recent protest in front of the White House featured a variety of eye-catching handmade signs. On Saturday, a wave of protests swept once again across the United States. In cities including Washington D.C., New York, San Francisco and Boston, people took to the streets to condemn policies of the administration of Donald Trump, such as deporting immigrants, government layoffs and imposing tariffs, which they believe infringed on citizens' rights and violated the Constitution. Frank, who works for a nonprofit organization, told Xinhua that he came to protest in front of the White House against Trump and his administration, "who are working against the Constitution and working against the people." "I think Donald Trump is criminalizing people for using free speech, especially students and immigrants, and deporting people without due process," said Frank. "In the United States, everyone is assumed innocent until proven guilty, but Donald Trump is getting rid of people's visas and kicking them out of the country without any trial." Three months into Trump's presidency, his administration is only making the rich richer, Frank said. "All their policies are to make sure that the rich people who donated to his campaign get even richer. So ending taxes for the rich, ensuring that companies are stronger and more powerful, it's a billionaires' agenda, not the people's agenda," he said. Seated by the railing on the north side of the White House, the Wood couple held a sign reading "Congress = Cowards." They had driven over three hours from Bradford County, Pennsylvania, to join the protest. Mrs. Wood told Xinhua that Trump's deportation of illegal immigrants lacked due process, and everyone should have the opportunity to defend themselves in court. The Trump administration claims that those being deported are criminals, yet some were arrested simply for having tattoos. "They're picking on people of color. It is totally racist ... It's white supremacy all the way," she said. An elderly protester holding a sign that reads "Grannies Against Trump," who chose not to reveal her name, told Xinhua that her granddaughter had worked for a contractor partnering with the U.S. Agency for International Development but was laid off after just six weeks in the position. She had to take a part-time job as a barista. "There may be things like making the government smaller, saving dollars, that I agree with, but it's how you do it. How do you execute? Who do you hurt along the way, and what are your intentions and morality?" she said. For Sophie, who works with AmeriCorps, an agency for national service and volunteerism, the Trump administration's federal funding cuts are of great concern. She told Xinhua that the federal agency engages in community service across the nation, including environmental restoration, disaster relief, food assistance and early education programs. "AmeriCorps is basically just doing different service projects across the United States, and that was sadly defunded, illegally raided," Sophie said. "It's just upsetting." "People in office right now care more about the 1 percent, just extremely rich people and not really the rest of this country," she said. Joining Sophie in the protest was Mackrie, a small business owner who runs a construction company in Virginia. She told Xinhua that President Trump promised to lower prices during his campaign, but is doing the exact opposite. The tariff policies currently implemented and under consideration are expected to raise her company's operating costs, including the prices of Canadian-imported lumber and office supplies, both of which are likely to increase. "Prices are going to go up. Some people can't afford to live, and it's really sad," said Mackrie. While expressing dissatisfaction with specific policies, protesters were deeply concerned about the weakening of the democratic system and the constitutional crisis. Many signs featured keywords like "due process," "constitutional crisis," and "restore democracy," reflecting a profound sense of concern among Americans about the state of democracy and the rule of law. As for the "Congress = Cowards" sign, the Wood couple explained that they were deeply disappointed with the Republican-controlled Congress for remaining silent on policies like immigrant deportations, tariff hikes and government layoffs, all of which have faced widespread public opposition. "They're not doing their job. They're not standing up to be a balance against the other two branches of government, to give voice to our wishes, and they're doing the opposite," Mr Wood said. Mrs. Wood also said that the Supreme Court ruling of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has enabled billionaires to "buy their way into politics and Congress." She called for the repeal of the ruling, which allowed wealthy individuals, corporations and organizations to have a disproportionate influence on politics through massive spending on campaigns. "There's too much money in politics," she said. Since Trump took office three months ago, protests against the policies of his administration have erupted frequently across the United States. Just on April 5, over 1,000 protests were held nationwide, covering all 50 states. In the capital of Washington D.C., protests have become a regular occurrence, driven by policies such as large-scale federal layoffs. Vivian, a 17-year-old high school student from northern Virginia, told Xinhua that her father had recently started bringing her to demonstrations in downtown Washington, D.C. "While I'm only 17, and I can't yet get into the government, I'm tired of waiting and asking and begging adults to do their job. I want to see something happen now," said Vivian. TEHRAN, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will travel to China on Tuesday, during which he will discuss Iran's ongoing indirect negotiations with Washington, as well as Iran-China ties, with Chinese officials, Iran's Foreign Ministry announced Monday. "During the trip, which was planned in advance, we will hold consultations with Chinese officials on the process of our indirect talks with the United States and will inform them of the latest developments in this regard," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters at a weekly press conference in Tehran. He noted that the two sides would also discuss Iran's nuclear program, the removal of the U.S. sanctions, as well as bilateral ties. Baghaei said China can play "a constructive and influential role" as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), describing China as Iran's "important friend and partner." Iran and the United States held the second round of their indirect talks on Tehran's nuclear program and removal of Washington's sanctions in the Italian capital Rome on Saturday with Oman's mediation. The first round took place in Muscat, Oman on April 12, and a third round is scheduled for the Omani capital again this coming Saturday. The discussions, described as "constructive" by both sides, came in the wake of a letter sent by U.S. President Donald Trump to Iran's leadership in early March, proposing talks on Tehran's nuclear program. Trump later warned of military action should Iran reject his offer for talks. Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States -- in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. However, the United States 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. BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will pay a state visit to China on April 22-24 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Aliyev was born in Baku on Dec. 24, 1961. He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1985 with a PhD degree in history and later lectured at the institute till 1990. From 1991 to 1994, he worked in the private sector. From 1994 to August 2003, Aliyev successively served as vice president and first vice president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan. In August 2003, he was appointed prime minister. Two months later, Aliyev was elected president. He was re-elected in 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2024. Since 2005, Aliyev has served as chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. Thousands of protesters rally against Trump administration's policies across U.S. Xinhua) 08:09, April 21, 2025 Demonstrators participate in a rally and march in protest of the Donald Trump administration's policies in New York City, the United States, on April 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan) Saturday's protests marked the second major mobilization against the Trump administration in April, following an earlier wave on April 5, and reflected deepening grassroots frustration with what participants view as an erosion of checks and balances. WASHINGTON, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of protesters on Saturday took to the streets in various cities across the United States in what demonstrators described as part of a "National Day of Action" against President Donald Trump's policies and perceived threats to democracy. Organized on the 250th anniversary of the start of the U.S. Revolutionary War, the demonstrations ranged from marches through midtown Manhattan to rallies outside the White House in Washington, D.C., drawing parallels between historical calls for liberty and today's demands for executive accountability. In New York, people rallied outside the city's main library carrying signs targeting the U.S. president with slogans like "No Kings in America" and "Resist Tyranny;" in Chicago, demonstrators chanting "Protect our democracy" marched past City Hall; in San Francisco, participants formed a human banner reading "Impeach &Remove" on Ocean Beach. Protesters carried signs denouncing rapid deportations of immigrants, mass firings within federal departments, and cuts to Social Security offices, while many also voiced support for transgender rights and stronger climate policies. "We are in an unprecedented, dangerous situation in the United States," said Raymond Lotta, a political economist and writer. The Trump administration "is moving quickly to consolidate power, to carry out its horrible agenda, rounding up immigrants, waging a war on the universities, a war on science. They are shredding the rule of law," he said. "Trump is doing illegal things, and he should stop," said another demonstrator identifying himself only as George. He held a sign reading "Deport Trump" to express his anger. Protesters gather during a rally outside the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Calling the current trade war "unnecessary," Chris, another demonstrator who only gave his first name, said, "Using tariffs is hurting our economy. Especially, it is hurting the world economy. It is causing a lot of disruption across the globe." "We're already seeing the first signs of a recession," said Chris, who held a sign reading "tariffs equal recession." Meanwhile, some groups focused on community services, organizing food drives, teach-ins and volunteer work at local shelters. Political analysts note that Saturday's protests marked the second major mobilization against the Trump administration in April, following an earlier wave on April 5, and reflected deepening grassroots frustration with what participants view as an erosion of checks and balances. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia has proven more effective than talks conducted through intermediaries, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, as he said in an interview with TRT World. Bayramov stated that today, everyone, including Armenia, openly acknowledges that Garabagh is both de jure and de facto part of Azerbaijan. This means that there is no longer an unresolved Garabagh issue. Given that, a question naturally arises: why does Armenia continue to insist on preserving the OSCE Minsk Group? I dont knowperhaps it relates to some future-oriented plan? Otherwise, we see no rational or logical explanation for it. The foreign ministers remarks underscore Bakus stance that any remaining diplomatic frameworks linked to the Karabakh issue are now obsolete, and that bilateral discussions without outside interference are the most productive path forward. NAIROBI, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Policymakers, migration experts and regional stakeholders at a forum held on Sunday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, called for long-term, sustainable solutions to address the drivers of displacement and migration in the Horn of Africa. Held under the theme "Securing Sustainable Solutions for Migration in Somalia," the Annual Migration Conference brought together representatives from governments, regional bodies, the United Nations, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to address the multiple drivers of migration in Somalia, including conflict, poverty, climate change, and weak governance structures. Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, Somalia's ambassador to Kenya, underscored the need for lasting peace, socio-economic development and cross-border cooperation to stem irregular migration and internal displacement in Somalia. "Sustainable solutions must extend beyond emergency responses and must be Somali-led and regionally supported," Abdulle said. Mohamed Omar, an expert on disaster displacement at the Climate Prediction and Applications Center of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a regional bloc, decried the rise in climate-induced displacement in Somalia, particularly due to recurrent floods, droughts and desertification. Omar added that planning based on early warning systems can help communities reduce the drivers of irregular migration. Bisharo Ali Hussein, migration governance and policy development officer at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations migration agency, noted that legal migrants are beneficial because of their remittances and technology transfer to home countries. Hussein stressed that the IOM is committed to supporting Somalia in implementing inclusive and evidence-based migration policies. NIAMEY, April 20 (Xinhua) -- One soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device and 13 terrorists arrested during military operations carried out between Thursday and Saturday within the national territory, the Nigerien army confirmed on Saturday. A notorious gang leader known for his atrocities against civilians, dangerous armed bandits, and individuals formally identified as members of criminal groups are among the terrorists arrested, the army specified in its information bulletin. Niger continues to face attacks at the border areas by armed groups controlling southern Libya, including terror groups linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and the Boko Haram militant group. Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe's minister of women affairs, community, small and medium enterprises development, speaks with Xinhua in Harare, Zimbabwe, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara) HARARE, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Ties between Zimbabwe and China continue to deepen 45 years after diplomatic relations were established, said Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe's minister of women affairs, community, small and medium enterprises development. Speaking to Xinhua during a recent interview in Harare, the country's capital, Mutsvangwa said the enduring friendship between the two sides has yielded positive results in Zimbabwe's social and economic development. "China's relationship (with Zimbabwe) didn't start at independence, it started well before then," she said. "So, the relationship is deep. At independence, China was one of the first countries where Zimbabwe established the embassy." Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1980, Mutsvangwa said, the relationship between the two countries has grown from strength to strength. "What we are actually promoting now is to make sure that we grow it to another level economically. There are a lot of minerals that we do have which China may not have. We have got some of the best soils for growing tobacco," she noted, adding that the cooperation in various sectors continues to flourish. Mutsvangwa, who recently led a delegation of 15 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Zimbabwe on a tour in China, said the visit provided a valuable platform for local SMEs to gain insights into China's best practices in women's empowerment, trade, investment, and entrepreneurship development. She said the hospitality of the Chinese people made her feel at home, bringing back memories of the early 2000s, when her husband, Chris Mutsvangwa, was serving as Zimbabwe's ambassador to China. During this year's trip, the delegation held fruitful discussions with Chinese entrepreneurs in cities, including Yiwu and Huzhou in Zhejiang Province, and gained insights on development models of SMEs in China, Mutsvangwa told Xinhua. Besides, she said, China's achievements in rural revitalization and green development have deeply impressed her. "When we went to this village, which has been revitalized, it was amazing to see that the standards of living of all the people in that area in Zhejiang Province have been lifted. They have got good facilities and services. That is a village which is so proud of their past, and they are so proud of where they are today," said Mutsvangwa. On drawing valuable lessons from China in industrializing Zimbabwe's economy, Mutsvangwa said China provides a source of inspiration in growing the domestic industry, particularly transitioning from primary industries to adding value to local resources. "China is the workshop of all products in the world. That's the truth. And so, if we are producing, we really need to learn more from them, like how we can add value to our minerals, and how we can beneficiate our minerals," she said. As ties grow, Mutsvangwa said, there is a need to further increase the connectivity between China and Zimbabwe. "We want to go further and make sure that there's access between the two countries in terms of air flights. We want our people to know each other. We want our people to work with each other." Mutsvangwa added that investments by Chinese companies in critical sectors such as power generation, mining, and the iron and steel industry have benefited Zimbabwe's SMEs through the creation of downstream industries. "We have seen a lot of private companies from China investing in Zimbabwe, and that is actually benefiting our SMEs. There are downstream benefits," she said. Acknowledging the vital role that China has played in Zimbabwe's infrastructural development, Mutsvangwa said the development of critical infrastructure has advanced the well-being of Zimbabweans. To mitigate the effects of climate change, she said, Chinese companies have been working with Zimbabwe to build irrigation facilities. "The government of Zimbabwe has been really building infrastructure in dams, and we have seen a lot of Chinese companies coming on board in terms of the irrigation technology to make sure that if we build the dams, there is need to make sure that there is conveyance of water to the fields," Mutsvangwa said. "This country is a very fertile land but we are not receiving enough rains, or sometimes the rains come late, so these are issues which we are working together with a lot of Chinese companies and the Chinese government." The Zimbabwean government also encourages Chinese companies to invest in renewable energy, given the abundance of sunshine in the country, she said. Mutsvangwa called on Chinese companies to continue to invest in Zimbabwe, saying that the country's central location within the southern African region provides Chinese investors with easy access to the huge regional market. "This is a good relationship. Let's deepen it, and let's continue it for the good of our two peoples," she added. YAOUNDE/BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced sweeping tariffs on numerous countries, including many in Africa, disrupting the international trade order. While Washington has since granted a 90-day reprieve for most of the affected countries, analysts believe the pause is likely temporary rather than a full reversal. In this context, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) -- a trade pact launched in 2000 and set to expire in September -- faces a bleak renewal outlook. Economists and policy experts argue that Global South countries must bolster self-reliance and enhance South-South cooperation to counter rising U.S. protectionism and unilateralism. ECONOMIC FALLOUT FOR AFRICA In early April, the U.S. government announced a new wave of tariffs targeting a wide array of countries, with several African economies among the hardest hit. The measures include duties of up to 50 percent on goods from Lesotho, 47 percent from Madagascar, 40 percent from Mauritius, and 37 percent from Botswana. Robert Kahn, managing director for global macro at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, acknowledged that the policy has led to "a large number of absurd figures that are meaningless." Lesotho, a small mountainous country of about two million people, has reportedly imposed reciprocal tariffs of 99 percent on U.S. products, according to the Trump administration. Consultancy Oxford Economics noted that Lesotho's textile sector, which employs approximately 40,000 people, is especially vulnerable. "The 50 percent reciprocal tariff introduced by the U.S. government is going to kill the textile and apparel sector in Lesotho," said Thabo Qhesi, an independent analyst based in Maseru, Lesotho's capital. "Then you are having retailers who are selling food. And then you have residential property owners who are renting houses for the workers. So this means if the closure of factories were to happen, the industry is going to die and there will be multiplier effects." In the long run, the indirect effects of trade disruptions, global trade wars, and the closure of Western markets could pose significant challenges for African economies, which depend heavily on exports as a primary source of income and foreign exchange, said Celestin Monga, a Cameroonian economist and former vice president of the African Development Bank. "A global economic slowdown means reduced demand for oil and other raw materials, which in turn causes a drop in the prices of crude oil and other unprocessed African products," Monga emphasized. AGOA AT CROSSROADS AGOA, which provides preferential duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 30 African countries, has played a key role in supporting export-led growth across the continent. However, with the imposition of high U.S. tariffs, analysts warn that the renewal of AGOA appears increasingly uncertain, and it may not survive to its 25th anniversary. Cameroonian economist Michelle Josee Ekila noted that uncertainty surrounding AGOA's future could significantly constrain trade and drive up costs for African exporters. While African countries are pushing for a 10-year extension, many economists doubt whether the current U.S. administration is committed to continued cooperation. "The U.S. tariffs effectively nullify AGOA," said Daniel Silke, director of South Africa's Political Futures Consultancy. The director even warned that the program could be terminated before its scheduled expiry unless African countries demonstrate strong strategic value to justify its continuation. SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION In response to these mounting challenges, African leaders and economists are calling for a shift in strategy. Monga suggested that African countries establish national development banks and mobilize both public, private and institutional financing to develop industrial parks centered on local production and processing. These would serve emerging markets eager for "Made in Africa" goods that meet international standards. Ekila emphasized the need to diversify export markets. "Exploring trade agreements with other regions, such as the European Union or Asia, could offset losses from the new tariffs." Nkolo Foe, a former professor at the University of Yaounde I, echoed the urgency for South-South cooperation. "The measures taken by Donald Trump directly impact the Global South and are destabilizing the international order and peaceful coexistence. The countries of the Global South, and particularly Africa, are waking up." Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, called for a proactive and strategic approach to the evolving global situation. He said rather than trying to catch up, countries should invest in resilience, regional integration, and smart partnerships. "The United States may try to create disruptions, but it is cooperation -- not confrontation -- that supports development," he noted. "For the Global South, especially Africa, this is an opportunity to rethink partnerships, strengthen regional ties, and engage on equal footing with emerging powers such as China." ADDIS ABABA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Experts and policymakers on Monday emphasized the urgent need to tap into the economic and industrialization potential of special economic zones (SEZs) to spur Africa's continental integration and holistic development. They made the call during a high-level regional conference on SEZs, organized by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Djibouti City, the capital of Djibouti. African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf underscored the role of SEZs as a vital imperative to build continental resilience in a shifting global landscape. The AUC chairperson highlighted the critical importance of SEZs, free ports, and digital platforms as essential tools to realize the major aspirations of the 55-member pan-African organization's 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063. Djibouti's Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed called for African countries to intensify their collective efforts in promoting SEZs as well as other economic and industrial infrastructures as essential catalysts for fostering a broader regional and continental economic interconnection and development. Mohamed also reaffirmed his country's keen resolve to Africa's integration agenda. Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said that SEZs are "not just spaces," as he stressed their vital role in augmenting continental industrialization and trade. He highlighted that, bolstered by the continental free trade agreement, SEZs can serve as critical enablers for the realization of Africa's industrialization goals, while also driving the continent's current and future comprehensive development. JAKARTA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- PT Bukit Asam (PTBA), one of Indonesia's largest state-owned coal producers, and PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PT PGN), a government-controlled gas firm, will jointly establish a coal gasification project to produce clean energy, an official announced on Monday. The project will convert coal into synthetic natural gas to reduce carbon emissions. Rosa Permata Sari, director of strategy and business development at PT PGN, said that the project will utilize PTBA's low-rank coal reserves in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra, which have not been fully monetized. "The reserves are located near PT PGN's pipeline network, making infrastructure development more efficient," she said in a press release, adding that the initiative aligns with the government's priority to strengthen downstream industries. Regarding product distribution, Rosa noted that the synthetic natural gas is expected to be supplied to industries in western Java, where there are supply shortages. This year, the two companies will focus on feasibility studies to assess the potential for constructing synthetic natural gas production facilities, pipelines, and viable business models. HANOI, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded state visit to Vietnam has achieved fruitful outcomes, with a series of agreements poised to inject strong impetus into practical cooperation between the two countries, a Vietnamese economist said Sunday. The outcomes of last week's visit will elevate Vietnam-China relations to a new level in political mutual trust, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, said Vo Dai Luoc, former head of the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. During the visit of Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the two sides issued a joint statement and signed 45 cooperation documents, covering connectivity, artificial intelligence, customs inspection and quarantine, agricultural trade, culture and sports, people's well-being, human resources development and media, and more. The signing of these documents will bolster strategic trust and expand practical cooperation, Luoc told Xinhua in an interview. In their joint statement, the two sides agreed to implement in earnest the cooperation plan on synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy. Luoc said the high-level consensus opens up vast potential for future strategic cooperation between the two countries. As bilateral cooperation documents are gradually implemented, Vietnam-China relations will enter a more mature and stable stage of development, the economist said, adding this will not only be reflected in policy coordination and high-level exchanges, but also be increasingly felt in the daily lives of the two peoples. During the visit, the two countries launched the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism, which is expected to assist Vietnam in aligning its railway gauge with China's standardized gauge, thereby boosting economic connectivity and development. Emphasizing the importance of railway cooperation with China in Vietnam's future development, Luoc said the mechanism will not only improve transportation infrastructure in northern Vietnam and enhance logistics efficiency, but also strengthen economic linkages between Vietnam and Southwest China. This will play a vital role in promoting bilateral trade and regional connectivity, the expert added. In recent years, frequent high-level exchanges have enhanced political mutual trust between Vietnam and China, with economic cooperation deepening and people-to-people ties growing stronger, the economist noted. In the context of a complex and ever-changing international situation, boosting cooperation across multiple fields not only serves the common interests of the two peoples, but also demonstrates the shared responsibility of the two countries in addressing global challenges and promoting regional peace and development, Luoc said. Looking to the future, the expert expressed the hope that Vietnam and China will strive for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, ensure the effective implementation of joint projects and bring concrete benefits to the two peoples. SYDNEY, April 21 (Xinhua) -- When the U.S. trade war weighs on the global economy, China's efforts to ramp up domestic consumption will relieve the world from a dim economic outlook, said a leading Australian entrepreneur. Mike Henry, CEO of Australia's mining giant BHP, predicted that the U.S.-staged trade war will harm the global economy, but China will be the key to avoiding a global economic downturn. Despite the limited direct impact of U.S. tariffs on the BHP, the implication of slower economic growth and a fragmented trading environment could be more significant, Henry said in the company's operational review for the nine months ended March 31, 2025, which was published on April 17. "China's ability to shift toward a consumption-led economy and for trade flows to adapt to the new environment will be key to sustaining the global outlook," he said. The BHP remains confident that the growing Chinese manufacturing sector, particularly for electric vehicles and machinery, will replace any lost demand from any other sector, said the chief executive officer. North American customers provided barely 3 percent of the BHP's total revenues last year, meaning the direct impact of U.S. tariffs will not be significant for the company, according to a latest report by the Australian Financial Review. However, the U.S. tariff policy may slow down the demand for mineral resources in other economies, the report said. China is the BHP's biggest source of revenues, providing 34.7 billion of the 55.6 billion U.S. dollars of revenues generated in the year to June 2024, it added. MOSCOW, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia remains open to finding a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. Peskov confirmed that Moscow is open to pursuing a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but refrained from giving a particular timeframe. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that Russia and Ukraine would make a deal this week. Peskov stressed that efforts and ongoing work aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict must be conducted privately, cautioning against information leaks. "President Putin and the Russian side remain open to finding a peaceful solution, and are continuing to work with the American side," he said, adding that Moscow hopes the ongoing efforts will bring results. Photo taken on April 17, 2025 shows extracted silk at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) BURSA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- In a silk production facility in Turkiye's northwestern Bursa province, Remzi Guler, a local master artisan of silk weaving, observes attentively as silkworm cocoons are carefully boiled in low-pH spring water sourced from the slopes of Uludag Mountain. To preserve the silk, the cocoon is boiled before the silkworm emerges from its gossamer home, Guler explained to Xinhua. "This step in the boiling process is crucial because the heat and water softens the cocoon, loosening the silk fibers inside so they can be carefully unwound," he added. With practiced hands, the artisan catches the delicate ends of the silk threads and guides them onto a reeling wheel. From a single cocoon, up to 1,000 meters of continuous, shimmering silk thread can be spun -- strong, smooth, and impossibly fine. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. To cultivate more professionals in the silk industry, the local government has been providing vocational training, specialized courses, and educational presentations across the province. "Our goal is to raise awareness through education," said Ayca Tayar, head of the Lifelong Learning Department at Bursa Municipality. "We aim to tell the story of silk and welcome schools, NGOs, and groups to visit our centers and attend the courses. Our doors are always open to share Bursa's silk story." According to Tayar, women and younger generations are particularly motivated to learn the craft of silk weaving, and many go on to establish their businesses. In the mountain villages, efforts to revive silk cocoon production are also gaining momentum. Targeted incentives and expert guidance are helping to restore this traditional craft at its very roots among villagers. "These efforts not only preserve cultural heritage but also contribute to local tourism and provide sustainable income for artisans," she noted. Remzi Guler, a local master artisan of silk weaving, demonstrates how to extract silk from silkworm cocoons at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye, on April 17, 2025. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Remzi Guler, a local master artisan of silk weaving, demonstrates how to extract silk from silkworm cocoons at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye, on April 17, 2025. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Remzi Guler, a local master artisan of silk weaving, demonstrates how to boil silkworm cocoons at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye, on April 17, 2025. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) A textile worker demonstrates the weaving process at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye, on April 17, 2025. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Photo taken on April 17, 2025 shows silk products at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Remzi Guler, a local master artisan of silk weaving, demonstrates how to boil silkworm cocoons at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye, on April 17, 2025. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Photo taken on April 17, 2025 shows a textile machine at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) A textile worker demonstrates the weaving process at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye, on April 17, 2025. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) A young woman studies textile technology at a vocational training center in Bursa, Turkiye, on April 17, 2025. Silk weaving in Bursa thrived from the late 14th century and reached its zenith during the Ottoman period between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its luxurious silk fabrics were highly sought after by European aristocracy. However, the industry declined in the 1860s due to pebrine, a silkworm disease caused by parasites, and subsequent wars. Today, Bursa, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, is revitalizing its centuries-old silk industry through widespread efforts and community-driven initiatives. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) The Ukrainian delegation will take part in upcoming talks in London next week, where representatives from the United States and European countries are expected to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine, Azernews reports citing UNIAN. The information was confirmed by Sergey Leshchenko, an adviser to the head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Our group will participate. I will not disclose the composition. If necessary, adjustments will be made to the composition, but Ukraine will definitely participate in these talks, Leshchenko stated. He also recalled that Ukraine was represented at the Paris meeting on April 17 by the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. WASHINGTON, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The Donald Trump administration drafted an executive order calling for "a drastic restructuring" of the State Department, including plans to eliminate most of its operations in Africa, The New York Times reported Sunday, citing anonymous officials and a copy of the draft. The report said the executive order aims to impose "a disciplined reorganization" of the State Department, shutting down embassies and consulates across Africa, as well as offices at its headquarters that address climate change, democracy, human rights, and refugee issues. The department would begin putting large numbers of employees on paid leave and sending out termination notices, it added, citing current and former U.S. officials familiar with the plans. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the report "fake news" a few hours after it was published. The New York Times "falls victim to another hoax," he wrote on the social media platform X. The well-known media outlet said neither the State Department nor the White House National Security Council responded to its requests for comment before publication, including an inquiry regarding whether President Trump would sign it, noting that elements of the draft could change beforehand. Description Many years ago, while heading home to Soho walking past the ever present weekend vendors lined up on Houston St. an antique box caught Dino's eye. He asked, "How much for that box?" The vendor replied, $20. "And that one", pointing to the box next to it. "Also $20." Ten seconds later the eager seller offered, "Two for twenty or one for ten." After paying ten dollars for the first box, he gave the seller some advice. "I was ready to pay you twenty for the first box" adding, "You never want to drop your price until you see the buyer moving away from you." Then, happily walking away with his new box, he said, "I am going to take this ten dollar box, use it for still life paintings, and turn that $10 into $10K." The amused vendor chuckled, replying, "Okay my friend." Dino's first painting, his house keys, sold for $600. Since then he has sold close to a hundred thousand dollars in box paintings using his ten dollar purchase. Born in Port Jefferson on Long Island, Dino was always encouraged by his parents to create art. After studying art at the University of South Florida he found his way into the world of advertising in New York City but as a sales agent for editors, directors and special effects artists, not as an artist. Soon he discovered the Art Students League of New York and spent the next twenty years studying and growing as an artist under such luminaries as Nelson Shanks, Costa Vavagiakis and Efraim Rubenstein. Several years ago he made the shift from advertising to "almost" full time artist, recently completing the metamorphosis. Dino balances his art between creating commissioned work for clients, portraits of people and pets, landscape paintings of their houses, businesses and local spots, as well as portraits of actors and musicians and has recently begun recreations of famous paintings. His work can be found in collections around the world adorning walls, restaurants and various businesses. He has even painted a Grateful Dead themed school bus and has just been commissioned for a second one. He produces his art freehand using his twenty years of figure and portraiture from the Art Students League to create unique art that he muses, "Is slightly flawed like me".He has also used his art to help chariies whenever possible by donating his animal portraits and drawings to horse and other animal rescues. He works in oil paint and pencils. The Atelier is honored to present this solo show which opens Thursday, April 10th, with a reception at 5:30PM, and runs through May 22nd. For more information or any questions, please call 631-250-9009 or go to https://theatelieratflowerfield.org/past-and-future-exhibits. Depending on whom you ask or what financial institution you listen to, the current odds of a U.S. recession in the near term fall roughly between 45% to 60%. The probability has been on the rise of late thanks largely to increased trade policy uncertainty and a potential slowdown in global growth due to U.S. tariffs. That said, here are two recession-resilient stocks to keep on your radar and found in the unlikeliest of places: the auto industry. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue Racing ahead Ferrari (NYSE: RACE) is well-known for its racing heritage as well as its ultra-luxury vehicles, but it's not as well-known for its high-flying stock gains -- and that's a shame. RACE data by YCharts As you can see in the graphic above, Ferrari has not only trounced industry peers with its gains, it's also lapped the S&P 500. The great news for investors is that the company is darn near recession-proof as well. One reason is because the automaker's consumers simply aren't your average earners, and their wealth enables them to continue buying Ferraris even amid economic uncertainty or downturns. These are committed consumers, too. There are long waiting lists, a mandatory holding policy for vehicle reselling, and a pretty strict approval policy -- and many consumers don't buy just one Ferrari. Another reason Ferrari is near recession proof is because it purposely keeps the sales volume of its vehicles in check, always ensuring there's more demand than supply. This helps support pricing power and also provides a little wiggle room for demand in the event of a significant economic downturn. But don't let its limited sales fool you, Ferrari is a cash printing machine with margins that more closely resemble ultra-luxury companies rather than mainstream automakers. Further, if you're craving growth, take the company's new F80, which was unveiled in October, and its hefty $3.9 million starting price tag to the bank. Ferrari instantly sold out of the limited models and Anthony Dick, who covers the auto sector for the Paris-based private bank ODDO BHF, told Barron's that it might only generate 2% of units sold but up to 20% of Ferrari's profit. In other words, investors can come for the pricing power, lucrative margins, or stock price gains, but you might find yourself staying for its recession resiliency. Do it yourself If you thought Ferrari was a nice find, AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) takes it a step further. In fact, AutoZone operates in what's called a countercyclical industry; meaning demand for auto parts increases when demand for new vehicles falls. That's why AutoZone has performed so well during recessions as consumers hold onto their cars longer and opt to repair rather than replace. Charlie Javice was the young, charismatic founder behind Frank, a fintech startup that promised to revolutionize the then-daunting student financial aid process. Javices bold vision to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gained recognition, landing her on Forbes' prestigious "30 Under 30" list. More media attention and investor interest werent far behind. Don't miss Enter banking giant JPMorgan Chase, which hoped to leverage Franks alleged massive user base of more than 4 million students to gain a stronger foothold in the lucrative student finance market. The banks decision to pay $175 million appeared justified given the growth and scale touted by Javice. But beneath Javices business model, prosecutors alleged, were fake user accounts and falsified data. Undetected during JPMorgans due diligence process, the strategy eventually unraveled into one of Wall Streets most dramatic fraud scandals, drawing parallels to the fraud case of disgraced Theranos leader Elizabeth Holmes. In late March federal jurors convicted Javice of fraud and conspiracy, setting the stage for possible decades-long prison sentences for Javice and her co-defendant, Olivier Amar. At a recent bail hearing, Javices lawyer attempted to argue that wearing an ankle monitor would prevent Javice from doing her current job: teaching Pilates in South Florida. How exactly did Javice manage to deceive a financial powerhouse like JPMorgan? And what crucial lessons can investors take from the companys mistakes? Who Is Charlie Javice and what did she promise? Charlie Javice founded Frank in 2016, promoting it as a cutting-edge platform that would simplify the process of applying for federal student aid. By digitizing and streamlining FAFSA, Frank promised students easier access to financial support, dramatically reducing paperwork and bureaucratic hurdles. Javice projected confidence, ambition, and youthful innovation, quickly positioning Frank as an indispensable tool for college-bound students nationwide. By 2019, Javice had been widely celebrated for her entrepreneurship and ability to attract venture capital. Her portrayal of Frank as a major success story, boasting millions of active users, secured her credibility in financial circles. 1Fort, an AI platform targeting the business insurance sector, has secured $7.5m in a latest funding round, bringing its total funding to $10m. The new round, led by Bonfire Ventures, was oversubscribed and included contributions from Draper Associates, Ramp founder Karim Atiyeh, and all existing venture capital firms. The investment will be used to enhance the AI capabilities of 1Fort's platform, which automates insurance brokerage workflows. This includes auto filling applications, retrieving and comparing quotes from carriers, and integrating payment solutions. The company claims that brokers using 1Fort have reported efficiency improvements, with time savings of up to two hours per submission and a bind rate increase of up to 20%. The platform also offers risk management software to help businesses manage policies and mitigate potential claims or losses. Licenced in 50 US states, 1Fort's revenue grew by nearly 200% month-over-month in 2024, the company release said. The company has formed partnerships with more than a dozen brokerages and carriers, including Arch, Tokio Marine HCC, and Markel. 1Fort co-founder and CEO Anthony Marshi said: "Our mission is to help every business obtain the financial protection they need to keep up with today's fast-moving risks, and empowering insurance brokers with AI to automate their antiquated workflows is the way to achieving it. This investment will allow us to grow even faster by doubling down on our AI features and strengthening our broker and carrier partnerships. We're grateful for our investors who share our vision in transforming business insurance." In 2023, the company raised $2m in a pre-seed financing round. "AI insurtech firm 1Fort raises $7.5m in oversubscribed funding round " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. When the Biden administration last fall proposed tighter rules for a subset of Chinese goods to qualify for de minimis, a program that allows the duty and tax-free entry of shipments with an aggregate value of $800 or less per person, per day, Cirrus Global Advisors estimated the impact to global air cargo revenue at $3 billion over three years. The estimate for revenue loss has steadily increased with Trumps aggressive posturing against China before and after his inauguration, culminating with a complete ban of all Chinese goods from duty-free treatment, effective May 2. Starting next Friday, retailers will need to file formal customs entries, which require much more information and time than the fast-track de minimis process, to clear individual shipments Total air cargo revenue on the China-U.S. trade lane will decrease more than 30% because of the lower volumes caused by the new U.S. trade policies and the lower yields that will follow, Lossing, a former Amazon logistics executive, predicted. E-commerce shipments account for an estimated 50% to 60% of China-U.S. air volumes and an estimated 20% of global air cargo volumes, according to logistics providers and the International Air Transport Association. Experts agree that dozens of widebody freighters are dedicated to hauling e-commerce shipments across the Pacific each day from China, but Lossing said he believes an estimate of 100 such aircraft by Netherlands-based consultant Rotate is high. The estimate was made before the U.S. clarified that China tariff rate was actually 145%, to include a previous tariff, but its unclear if the higher rate would further drag down industry revenue. The Cirrus Global Advisors model shows the airfreight industry revenue could contract $22 billion if the White House maintains tariffs at 125% for a substantial period of time, based on assumptions about lower consumer demand, excess airline capacity and downward pressure on yields. Large cargo airlines and freighter forwarders, like Atlas Air and Kuehne+Nagel subsidiary Apex Logistics, with heavy exposure to large Chinese marketplaces, as well as Amazon and smaller online brands, are expected to experience downward pressure on revenues, Losing said in a phone interview. Derek Lossing, the founder of Cirrus Global Advisors, has previously said the Trump administrations recent trade actions against China would decimate air cargo out of China because demand for products on the Temu and Shein platforms would plummet. His Seattle-based consultancy has now quantified the downstream effects of the changes on the air cargo sector. U.S. plans next month to cancel tariff-free access for low-value parcel shipments from China and Hong Kong, coupled with a new 145% tariff rate on Chinese imports, could bleed more than $22 billion in revenue from the air cargo sector over three years and put thousands of online sellers with direct-to-consumer fulfillment models out of business, according to an e-commerce and logistics consulting firm. Story Continues U.S. Customs and Border Protection says lax data requirements for de minimis shipments makes it difficult to screen for entry of illicit and unsafe goods. Trump canceled de minimis on the grounds that it enables smuggling of the opioid fentanyl and cheap imports that undercut U.S. retailers and manufacturers. Limiting de minimis when tariffs were relatively low was mostly considered an inconvenience for large Chinese marketplaces like Temu, Shein and Alibaba because their prices are so low consumers likely wouldnt change their shopping habits if a piece of clothing increased in price by $2 or $3. But the imposition of 145% tariffs has blown up the model of fulfilling orders in China and shipping them by air directly to the customers residence, which was cheaper and faster than shipping in bulk by ocean to a U.S. warehouse for pick, pack and delivery. Temu, a hugely popular market for cheap goods, and fast-fashion brand Shein last week notified customers on their websites that they will raise prices starting April 25 in response to new trade rules and rising tariffs. The South China Morning Post reported that Temu has already sharply reduced online advertising in the U.S. Despite this, both sites have seen a spike in orders recently as shoppers try to get goods before the tariffs kick in. In addition to higher prices from tariffs, digital markets could lose sales as new customs clearance requirements create friction for customers during checkout, Lossing predicted Friday on LinkedIn. How comfortable will U.S. online consumers be to provide more, personal sensitive information to shop on a Chinese website, to facilitate a customs declaration for a B2C shipment, he wrote. If e-commerce hassles and privacy concerns deter consumers from completing purchases the decline in cross-border parcel volumes and air cargo revenues could be even greater than currently forecast. The Cirrus model, like others, assumes that the steep drop in China e-commerce shipments to the U.S. will significantly reduce demand for freighter aircraft. Airlines will respond by accelerating the retirement of older aircraft and relocating assets to other markets, resulting in excess capacity there and lower average freight rates. The degree to which express carriers and freighter operators reduce flight schedules or remove aircraft from China service will depend on how much consumers pullback from shopping. And If the European Commission follows through on intentions to remove the de minimis exemption for goods valued below $170 and impose a customs handling fee on individual B2C packages the harm to cross-border e-commerce players, including all-cargo airlines, could be severe, Losing told FreightWaves. Thats kind of the one-two punch that actually would potentially push the revenue loss for air cargo over our current estimate, he said. And the potential damage to the industry could spread if the Trump administration, as threatened, eliminates de minimis benefits across all nations once systems are in place to collect tariffs from millions of extra shipments per day. But the harm could also be less severe if the President follows a pattern of quickly undoing policy pronouncements and relaxes the tariffs or de minimis rules. Small online sellers at high risk The crackdown on Chinese e-commerce shipments poses an existential threat for many small-and-medium e-tailers with storefronts selling goods directly from China, as well as logistics providers that handle customs clearance and last-mile delivery for B2C shippers, said Lossing. Large Chinese marketplaces were already preparing for more restrictive de minimis rules by building millions of square feet of U.S. warehouses the past couple of years to support a more traditional B2B2C fulfillment model, logistics executives said. Temu, for example, will consign goods to its U.S. entity, clear them via a formal customs entry, pay duty and truck them to a fulfillment center, where they will be stored, picked, packed and delivered. Another reason for consolidating air or ocean shipments on one customs entry is to reduce the cost for customs brokerage and merchandise processing fees paid to the government per shipment. The cost for customs brokers to file entries will shoot up from 10 cents to $3 per package once the special de minimis pathway is eliminated. The National Foreign Trade Council calculates that without de minimis the average $50 package would require about $31 in paperwork, a brokerage fee of $20, plus tariffs and taxes, which would more than double the delivery cost. In addition to significantly higher import costs, air shipments are expected to take longer for CBP to process under the standard entry process. Lossing said there are tens of thousands of small companies in China that sell on Amazon and other platforms that wont be able to pay the 145% tariff and dont have the resources to use a traditional containerized export model. And many customers will switch to countries like Vietnam, where tariffs are lower, for their online orders. He shot down arguments that the direct-to-consumer model for e-commerce from China is still viable because it allows merchants to defer tariffs until the actual time of sale versus paying them at a U.S. port of entry and it avoids the risk of having cash tied up in unsold inventory while paying for warehousing. On LinkedIn he challenged the assertion on Bloomberg Television by Izzy Rosenzweig, CEO of e-commerce logistics provider Portless, that the benefits of fulfilling individual orders from China to U.S. residents still made economic sense. Rosenzweig said Shein has plenty of margin to absorb higher import costs, while Temus goal is to fulfill 80% of its orders in the domestic U.S. There are some pretty significant data points that show that the China D2C model will not survive at these tariff rates and de minimis closure. I guess only time will tell what happens.The only upside we see for the China-US e-commerce model is air freight rates are set to drop 30%-40% on the trade lane, bringing the cost per parcel down over $1 per unit, Lossing posted. Aaron Rubin, founder and CEO of ShipHero, a warehouse management software provider for e-commerce brands, said on LinkedIn that FedEx is charging an additional 45 cents per pound on airfreight from China because so many companies are running sales to liquidate their Chinese products for de minimis expires on May 2. New tariffs, higher shipping rates and customer friction together will force all companies to create and implement B2B2C clearance models because asking for sensitive customer information at checkout is a nail in the coffin for direct-to-consumer fulfillment, Lossing said on LinkedIn. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. RELATED READING: Trump revokes duty-free access for Chinese e-commerce shipments Has the e-commerce bubble burst for air cargo? Trump policies make airfreight shippers jittery about downturn The post Air cargo faces $22B revenue hit when China tariff exemption ends appeared first on FreightWaves. Geopolitically driven market uncertainty has changed the way in which investors should view Altria (NYSE: MO) and its huge 7.2% dividend yield. A great many investors will likely find they still don't want to buy this cigarette maker. But there are a few that might alter their opinion in 2025, at least for a little while. Here's what you need to know to decide if Altria is a buy, sell, or hold today. Why you might want to buy Altria in 2025 Altria's most important tobacco product is cigarettes. The nicotine in cigarettes is addictive in nature, so once a consumer starts smoking, they tend to keep smoking. This is why tobacco stocks fall into the consumer staples sector, which is generally filled with necessity items like soap and food that are bought regularly. Although tobacco is in no way a life necessity, it is bought regularly regardless of what is happening on Wall Street or in the economy. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue Image source: Getty Images. In fact, during difficult times, people often smoke more cigarettes. So, in times of stress, such as the one that's happening now, thanks to geopolitical issues, Altria's business can actually be fairly resilient. Now add the stock's huge 7.2% dividend yield, and you can see why an income-focused investor might want to buy Altria in 2025. That yield is also backed by the company's very strong pricing power. For years, it has been increasing the prices of its products to support the growth of the dividend, which has been increased annually since 2009. It's a good story, but there's a wrinkle when you dig into the price increases. Hold Altria in 2025 The reason to hold Altria in 2025 is basically the same as the reason to buy it. It has a lofty yield that doesn't look like it is at risk in the near term. Notably, the dividend payout ratio was around 60% in 2024. That's a bit high but hardly outlandish for a consumer staples stock. And, given the nature of tobacco products, it suggests that there is no near-term reason to worry about dividend safety. That said, if you have owned Altria for a number of years, you know that there's a long-term problem. Cigarette smoking is out of favor in North America, and thus, the company's volumes have been in a steady state of decline for years. In 2024, the company's cigarette volumes dropped a huge 10.2%. That's a terrible number, even if the company's price hikes have been able to offset the hit from dropping volumes. We recently published a list of the 10 Safe Dividend Stocks with Yields Above 5%. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) stands against other safe dividend stocks. Dividend-paying stocks have long held a special place among investors, often delivering stronger returns than the broader market over time. Within this strategy, theres an ongoing debate between those prioritizing high yields and others who focus on companies with a steady track record of dividend growth. While analysts tend to favor firms that consistently boost shareholder payouts, the allure of high yields remains strong. Experts caution, however, that investors should avoid yield traps and instead target companies that combine attractive yields with reliable dividend increases. A study by Newton Investment Management lends weight to the case for high-yield stocks. It found that during inflationary periods from 1940 to 2021, high-yield dividend stocks outpaced the broader market. The report also showed that portfolios with high-dividend-yielding stocks performed better than those with little or no dividend exposure. Specifically, high-yield portfolios outperformed low-yield portfolios by 199 basis points and zero-yield portfolios by 330 basis points in terms of value-weighted returns. However, the study didnt explore the specific market conditions behind these results, offering more of a general overview. Further backing the benefits of high-yield stocks, Hartford Funds conducted research looking at risk and return over the long haul. From December 1969 to March 2024, high-yield portfolios returned an average of 12.3% annually, compared to 10.5% for mid-yield and 9.7% for low-yield portfolios. When measured by annualized standard deviationa common gauge of volatilityhigh-yield portfolios also showed lower risk (14.1%) than their mid-yield (16%) and low-yield (20.8%) counterparts. Analysts note that dividend stocks can offer a layer of stability during market turbulence, especially when investors prioritize income. Still, they advise sticking to high-yield stocks only if they come with a proven record of dividend growth. That said, this isnt a hard rule. Many companies manage to offer both solid yields and consistent dividend increases. High yields, in themselves, arent a red flagin fact, dividend yield plays a vital role in income-focused investing by showing the income potential relative to a stocks price. Amid the growing excitement around AI and tech stocks, dividend-paying companies have somewhat fallen off investors radar. However, the recent market downturn has brought them back into focus. Since the beginning of 2025, the Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks the performance of companies with 25 consecutive years of dividend growth, has fallen by over 2% while the broader market has slipped by nearly 10%. Ameresco SUNEL Energy, a joint venture between Ameresco and SUNEL Group, has secured engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts worth 303.4m ($345.7m) for three solar parks in southwestern Romania. These 466MWp solar projects, named Rovinari, Tismana 1, and Tismana 2, are being developed by a 50:50 partnership of OMV Petrom and CE Oltenia. They are part of Romania's efforts to enhance energy security and meet climate commitments by transitioning from coal-fired power generation. The country plans to phase out coal by 2032. OMV Petrom executive board member for gas and power Frank Neel said: "The signing of these contracts is a firm step in strengthening our position in the renewable power sector. We have been active in power generation since 2012, from the Brazi gas-fired power plant, which can cover around 10% of Romania's electricity production. Through our Strategy 2030, we aim to be a key player in Romanias energy transition, with the ambitious target of developing 2.5GW of capacity, including partnerships, from renewable sources wind and solar. We have secured a solid project portfolio, currently in various stages of execution, which will contribute to building the energy system of the future. Ameresco SUNEL will handle the design, procurement, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the solar projects. The projects will be developed on CE Oltenia-owned land in the Gorj and Dolj counties. Construction is expected to be completed within 18 months. The solar parks will feature more than 757,000 fixed-tilt solar modules, optimised for energy capture and efficiency. Once operational, they are expected to offset approximately 734,789 tonnes of CO emissions annually, supporting the net-zero goals of Romania and Europe. Ameresco SUNEL Energy vice president Konstantinos Zygouras said: Romanias vast solar potential, combined with strategic investments in renewable energy, will position the country as a leader in Europes clean energy transition. We are proud to partner with OMV Petrom CEO to drive this ambitious project forward, fostering economic growth while contributing to a more sustainable future. A fourth project with a capacity of 90MW is also being developed by OMV Petrom and CE Oltenia. The EPC contract for the project was awarded to the Turkish company Girisim Elektrik. OMV Petrom and CE Oltenia are investing 400m in the four projects, of which 70% is financed through the European Unions Modernisation Fund. Ameresco SUNEL Energy is also involved in Lightsource bp's 560MWp ENIPEAS solar project in Greece, backed by the EUs NextGenerationEU fund. A highly volatile month for Tesla (TSLA) stock may be about to get even worse. The electric vehicle (EV) producer has struggled for weeks, failing to garner any serious momentum. Its problems can be attributed to both company-specific factors and broader macroeconomic trends that are pushing down many high-growth tech stocks. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter While Tesla is by no means the only tech sector leader who has struggled lately, the company's performance has been particularly concerning for many experts. Some Wall Street analysts have reduced their price targets lately, often citing concerns about the trade war, specifically U.S. relations with China that may be impacted by the tariffs. However, one expert just issued a much more damning take on Tesla stock, urging investors to take action immediately. As he sees it, simply avoiding the troubled stock is not the best course of action right now. Wall Street sentiment toward Elon Musk is trending downward as critiques become more aggressive. Image source: Apu Gomes/Getty Images An analyst has some blunt advice for Tesla stock investors Over the past few months, many people have criticized Musk, expressing concern that his lack of focus on Tesla has compromised share prices. This list includes Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, a longtime TSLA stock bull who recently reduced his TSLA price target, shocking many. Tesla investor Ross Gerber has called for Musk to step down as Tesla's CEO, arguing that it is in the companys best interests. But one analyst thinks that market conditions are ideal for something that would have seemed absurd a few months ago: shorting Tesla stock. Related: Prominent Tesla shareholder has harsh words for Elon Musk In a report published April 17, Gordon Johnson, founder and CEO of GLJ Research, issued a scathing take, stating that it is time to aggressively short TSLAs stock through 2Q25E. In his firms view, concerns regarding Teslas Q2 deliveries and the impact of the trade war justify betting against the company, as shares continue to trend downward. The guy Wall Street uses for its auto delivery forecasts, TroyTeslike, is Projecting QoQ growth in 2Q25E of +27%, +25%, +15%, and +41% in Europe, China, the U.S., and RoW (rest of world), respectively, despite a raging global trade war, where reciprocal tariffs have been levied, states the report. It also highlights factors such as negative sentiment toward Musk in Europe, noting that data shows his favor among nations such as the United Kingdom and Germany has declined steadily since the year began. GLJ also compared the current trade war to that of 2018, noting that with the U.S. upping its tariffs on Chinese imports to 145% for most goods, with some imports now facing rates as high as 245%, and China responding (last week) with a reciprocal tariff of 125% on most U.S. imports, the current U.S.-China trade war is far more severe than that seen in 2018. By Alimat Aliyeva In 2024, 15.3 million foreign citizens visited Kazakhstan for tourism purposes, excluding those who came to the country for work or permanent residence, Azernews reports. Of these, 10.4 million stayed for more than one day, qualifying them as foreign tourists. The average length of stay was 4 days. The largest number of tourists came from China, with 655,000 Chinese visitors. This surge was made possible by Kazakhstans visa-free regime and expanded air transport connections between the two countries. Following China, the top countries of origin were India (146,000), Turkiye (130,000), Germany (92,000), and South Korea (40,000). Several factors have contributed to the rise in tourist numbers, including the availability of direct flights, a simplified visa regime, and growing interest in Kazakhstans nature, national cuisine, and cultural heritage. These elements, combined with the countrys rich history and diverse landscapes, are attracting increasing numbers of international travelers. As Kazakhstan continues to develop its tourism infrastructure, the country is positioning itself as an emerging destination for global tourists seeking both adventure and cultural experiences. Kazakhstan's untouched landscapes, such as the Altai Mountains, Charyn Canyon, and the vast steppe, are drawing nature lovers and adventure seekers from around the world. In an environment where recession warnings are growing louder, even Microsoft isnt untouchable. Since late 2022, Microsoft has led the charge in AI infrastructure, thanks to its multibillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI. The race to dominate generative AI sparked a frenzy in data center development, GPU acquisition, and global capacity expansion. But in recent weeks, that expansion has shown signs of slowing. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter We may strategically pace our plans, Microsofts Head of Cloud Operations Noelle Walsh wrote in a LinkedIn post earlier this month. She said Microsoft had undertaken the largest and most ambitious infrastructure scaling project in its history but would now be slowing or pausing some early-stage projects. In the past six months, Microsoft has pulled back from more than two gigawatts of AI cloud capacity across the U.S. and Europe, analysts at TD Cowen noted. In Ohio, a $1 billion data center was recently shelved. Still, analysts say this is less about abandoning AI and more about shifting from the costly infrastructure buildup toward more selective investments. Over the past few quarters, Microsoft has overspent on land and buildings but is now going back to a more normal cadence, Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow wrote, according to Business Insider. Microsoft is less exposed to tariff impact compared to Nvidia, Apple and Tesla.Image source: Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images Microsoft's AI growth under pressure Microsoft's (MSFT) stock is down 11.8% year-to-date as of April 17, yet this is the smallest drop among the Magnificent 7 tech giants. By comparison, Nvidia (NVDA) , and Tesla (TSLA) have shed 22% and 40%, respectively. Compared to Nvidia, Apple (AAPL) , and Tesla, Microsoft is less exposed to tariff impact as it doesnt deal much in physical or consumer products. Related: Veteran fund manager resets Nvidia stock price target after shocking export news In Microsoft's fiscal year 2024, its cloud segment, which includes Azure, was the company's largest revenue contributor, generating about 43% of the companys total revenue. What's more, Microsoft's focus on enterprise customers means that a big portion of its revenue streams is tied to long-term contracts, giving Microsoft extra stability. Still, Microsoft isnt entirely immune to the pressures. In its latest-reported quarter ended December 2024, Microsoft posted earnings per share of $3.23 on revenue of $69.6 billion, both topping consensus estimates. But growth in Azure, Microsofts AI-focused cloud platform, came in softer than expected, and the companys revenue outlook for the current quarter fell short of forecasts. Revenue from Azure and related cloud services rose 31% year over year, slightly below the 33% growth reported in the previous quarter. Barclays has forged a long-term alliance with Brookfield Asset Management, aiming to transform its payment acceptance business as a standalone entity. This business will continue to use the Barclaycard Payments brand, serving as the exclusive payment acceptance service provider for Barclays' clients for at least ten years. The bank intends to invest nearly 400m($531.8m) into the new venture, focusing most of this capital injection within the first three years. Under the agreed terms, after the initial three-year period of the tie-up an up to the seventh year, Brookfield may acquire an estimated 70% ownership stake in the business. This acquisition is subject to certain conditions being met, including Barclays' full recovery of its investment. Following the potential sale, Brookfield's initial financial incentive is expected to be converted into an additional 10% shareholding. This could increase Brookfield's total ownership to around 80%. Barclays plans to maintain a 20% stake in the business post-sale. The payment acceptance business processes annual payments for a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to large domestic and international corporations. This collaboration marks the inaugural transaction for Brookfield Financial Infrastructure Partners ("BFIP"), a division of Brookfield's private equity business that invests in digital assets. Barclays UK Corporate Bank CEO Matt Hammerstein said: Finding a partner to support us in transforming our payment acceptance business, in a way that will enable us both to serve our clients interests better and pursue a path to releasing value from the business, demonstrates clear execution of our three-year plan to become a simpler, better and more balanced bank. We have a leading position in the UK, but we know that our payments clients are increasingly looking for integrated connectivity, an end-to-end service and tailored technological solutions from their payments providers. Our partnership with Brookfield recognises the opportunity within our business to go beyond the foundations we have built to date. Brookfield vice chair and head of financial infrastructure Ron Kalifa stated:Were excited to draw on our deep global payments expertise to partner with Barclays and together deliver the operational transformation required to create the market leader, well-positioned to drive the growth of the UKs digital economy with innovative and integrated payment solutions. In February this year, Barclays' completed the sale of its German consumer finance operations to BAWAG PSK, a subsidiary of BAWAG Group. Chevron, alongside other multinational oil and gas companies, has exited its Red Sea oil and gas concession blocks in Egypt after failing to make any discoveries. The Egyptian petroleum ministry confirmed that these companies are now redirecting their resources to other regions within the country, particularly the Mediterranean, reported Reuters. Egypt awarded its first oil and gas exploration concessions in the Red Sea to Chevron, Shell, and Mubadala Investment Company in 2019. Moataz Atef, spokesperson for the ministry said: "Companies have spent millions on their concessions within the agreed time frames. He noted that one unnamed company invested $34m, exceeding its initial commitment of $10m, but did not achieve the desired results. Chevron has confirmed relinquishing its 45% stake in Red Sea Block 1 in the northern part of the Red Sea. The company operates the block with partners including Woodside Energy, while Shell operates Block 3 with Woodside Energy and QatarEnergy. Chevron spokesperson Sally Jones said: "Chevron remains committed to working with the government of Egypt and our partners to support the growth of Egypt's energy sector through our exploration programmes in the Mediterranean. The ministry did not disclose the names of other companies that have exited the Red Sea blocks. Shell declined to comment, and Mubadala, Woodside Energy, and QatarEnergy were not immediately available for comment, the report said. Despite these exits, the ministry remains optimistic about the potential of the concession areas. Both Shell and Chevron have applied for new concessions in the Mediterranean Sea, reaffirming their commitment to Egypts oil and gas sector. Chevron has expressed interest in three other exploration blocks in Egypt, including two as an operator in the Mediterranean. Egypt's gas production was 4.6 billion cubic metres (bcm) in January 2024 but declined to 3.6bcm by January 2025, according to data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative. Atef assured that Egypt would meet rising electricity demand this summer, with plans for three to four floating storage and regasification units to stabilise natural gas supply. He added that LNG shipments were secured, and an emergency plan was developed to tackle unexpected demand increases. Last summer, Egypt faced power shortages due to high cooling demand, leading to load-shedding and imports costing around $1.18bn. The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) intends to execute seven gas development initiatives and introduce 24 new wells into the production landscape in the fiscal year 2025/26. (Reuters) -China's state-backed funds are pulling back from investing in the funds of U.S.-headquartered private capital firms amid an escalating trade war between the world's two biggest economies, the Financial Times reported on Monday. Some of the Chinese funds are also seeking to be excluded from investments in U.S. companies made by private equity firms based elsewhere, the report, which cited seven private equity executives with knowledge of the matter, said. Multiple buyout executives will not be making new fund commitments to U.S firms, while some are backing out of planned allocations, in cases where they had not yet made a final commitment, the report added. Their stance comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has singled out China in his trade war by imposing 145% tariffs on Chinese goods, with Beijing retaliating with 125% levies on American products. Three of FT's unnamed sources confirmed the move comes as response to the pressure of the Chinese government. China Investment Corporation (CIC), which set up a private equity "partnership fund" with Goldman Sachs in Trump's first term, is among the several Chinese funds that has stepped back, the report added. Global Infrastructure Partners, which was bought by BlackRock last year, Thoma Bravo, Vista Equity Partners, Carlyle and Blackstone were among the U.S firms that have received backing from Chinese state-backed investors, the report said. (Reporting by Sherin Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo) Alternative asset management platform Constellation Wealth Capital (CWC) has purchased a minority stake in Connecticut-based RIA Procyon Partners. This investment is expected to facilitate growth and operational scaling for Procyon Partners, allowing the firm to recruit professionals and extend its reach into new markets. Procyon Partners currently manages over $8bn in client assets and has offices in Connecticut, New York City, Long Island, Tennessee, and Maryland. The firm focuses on institutional retirement consulting and private wealth management, assisting clients in the design, management, and optimisation of their financial strategies. Procyon Partners CEO and co-founder Phil Fiore said: CWC shares our commitment to client-first values, innovation, and long-term partnership. With their support, were positioned to accelerate our growth while continuing to deliver the exceptional, independent advice our clients have come to trust. The resources and capital from CWC will enable Procyon Partners to widen its capabilities, improve advisor support, and establish new offices across major US markets. Procyon Partners will continue to operate independently, maintaining its focus on fiduciary responsibilities and client relationships. The firm is supported by its back-office partner, Dynasty Financial Partners. Constellation Wealth Capital president and managing partner Karl Heckenberg said: heir team has built a compelling, advisor-driven business with a clear growth trajectory. We look forward to partnering with them as they continue to redefine excellence in independent wealth management. Houlihan Lokey was the investment banking advisor for Procyon Partners during this transaction, while Dynasty Investment Bank provided support to the management team throughout the process. In January this year, Virginia-based RIA Bogart Wealth received a minority investment from Constellation to enhance client services, technology, hiring, and marketing efforts while maintaining its independence. "Constellation invests in Connecticut RIA Procyon Partners" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. We recently compiled a list of the 12 AI Stocks on Wall Street's Radar. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW) stands against the other AI stocks on Wall Street's radar. Almost 50 House Democrats have signed a message to stop the unauthorized use of AI tools in the government. Members of Congress have asked to cease applying any unauthorized artificial intelligence system that will aid in curbing government spending. President Donald Trump has set up DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk has been assigned the responsibility to cut what DOGE will say is waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal bureaucracy. READ NOW: 10 AI Stocks You Shouldnt Overlook Right Now and 10 AI Stocks to Watch Amid Market Volatility. The Democrats have acknowledged that artificial intelligence holds the potential to modernize the US government. However, it also highlighted the potential concerns related to employee monitoring and access to sensitive data by DOGE and its AI tools. "These present serious security risks, self-dealing, and potential criminal liability if not handled correctly, and have the potential to undermine successful and appropriate AI adoption," The Democrats have further demanded that the administration terminate the use of any AI systems that havent been formally approved through processes such as FedRAMP or that have been unable to meet existing legal requirements. The letter, addressed to the White House Office of Management and Budget, was also questioned on whether any of the technology used by the administration was powered by Musks company, xAI. This question, in particular, has been asked to clarify any potential conflicts of interest. According to the Democrats, these would be "exponentially worse if Musk pursues further contracts to become a major provider of government AI services." The White House has recently introduced new policies on federal agency AI use and the federal government. Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) stock hit an all-time high of $148.15 in June 2024, marking a remarkable fivefold surge since 2019. Yet the stock has since plummeted 61% from its peak value. Despite strong growth and earnings momentum, the Danish biotech giant faces scrutiny over its positioning in the rapidly changing market for GLP-1 receptor agonists, as competition intensifies. Still, the company's fundamental strengths, including a solid financial outlook for the year ahead, make it worth a closer look. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue Is it time to buy the dip in Novo Nordisk stock? Here's what you need to know. The global market leader in GLP-1 drugs With a history dating back more than 100 years, Novo Nordisk has long been a leader in diabetes care. Its breakthrough came with the development of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. That's part of the class of medications that mimic a hormone responsible for regulating blood-sugar levels and stimulating insulin production, and it proved highly effective for managing type 2 diabetes. Following the initial Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Ozempic in 2017, Novo Nordisk found success in expanding the semaglutide platform. This included the 2021 approval of Wegovy as a treatment for obesity, recognized for its transformative and clinically proven weight loss benefits. Image source: Getty Images. Novo Nordisk has seen explosive growth, commanding a 63% share (by volume) of the global GLP-1 market, and nearly tripling its patient base to over 12 million in the past three years. The worldwide demand has also translated into impressive financial trends. In 2024, net revenue reached $42 billion, up 25% year over year and more than double the figure from 2021. Profitability has also been strong, with 2024 earnings per share (EPS) increasing by 22% from the prior year. An intense competitive landscape Novo Nordisk now faces the challenge of navigating an increasingly competitive landscape, with emerging alternatives threatening its GLP-1 dominance. Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) is posting faster growth with its GLP-1 platform, including Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss. These products have shown superior efficacy based on some benchmarks, outperforming Novo Nordisk's semaglutide. Additionally, Eli Lilly recently reported very encouraging phase 3 results for its experimental GLP-1 agonist, orforglipron, a more convenient oral formulation for weight loss. By Fanny Potkin and Che Pan SINGAPORE/BEIJING (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies plans to begin mass shipments of its advanced 910C artificial intelligence chip to Chinese customers as early as next month, two people familiar with the matter said. Some shipments have already been made, they added. The timing is fortuitous for Chinese AI companies which have been left scrambling for domestic alternatives to the H20, the primary AI chip that Nvidia (NVDA) had until recently been allowed to sell freely in the Chinese market. This month, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration told Nvidia that sales of the H20 would require an export licence. Huawei's 910C, a graphics processing unit (GPU), represents an architectural evolution rather than a technological breakthrough, according to one of the two people and a third source familiar with its design. It achieves performance comparable to Nvidia's H100 chip by combining two 910B processors into a single package through advanced integration techniques, they said. That means it has double the computing power and memory capacity of the 910B and it also has incremental improvements, including enhanced support for diverse AI workload data, they added. All sources were not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified. Huawei declined to comment on what it called speculation about shipment plans for the 910C and its capabilities. Seeking to limit China's technological development, particularly advances for its military, Washington has cut China off from Nvidia's most advanced AI products including its flagship B200 chip. The H100 chip, for example, was banned from sale in China in 2022 by U.S. authorities before it was even launched. This has allowed Huawei and Chinese GPU startups such as Moore Threads and Iluvatar CoreX to go after what has primarily been a market dominated by Nvidia. The U.S. Commerce Department's latest export curbs on Nvidia's H20 "will mean that Huawei's Ascend 910C GPU will now become the hardware of choice for (Chinese) AI model developers and for deploying inference capacity," said Paul Triolo, a partner at consulting firm Albright Stonebridge Group. Late last year, Huawei distributed samples of the 910C to several technology firms and started accepting orders, sources have said. Reuters was not able to ascertain which companies would be primarily producing the 910C. China's SMIC is manufacturing some main components of the GPUs using its N+2 7nm process technology although its chip yield rates are low, a source has previously said. Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack are among the US central bank officials scheduled to speak. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has drawn criticism from President Trump in recent ays. Consumer sentiment is in focus as economists monitor reactions to President Donald Trumps tariff announcements . Durable goods orders and manufacturing and services industry surveys are also on this weeks schedule. Scheduled quarterly financial updates from Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet (GOOG) will command the spotlight this week amid ongoing uncertainty regarding U.S. tariff policy . Boeing (BA), Intel (INTC), and GE Aerospace (GE) are also on tap to report as earnings season rolls on. Earnings and Fed speakers are some of this week's big attractions, with some Magnificent Seven companies set to report results after a holiday-shortened week that saw the major US indexes finish in the red . Consumer sentiment, new home sales data, and durable goods orders will be eyed as economists look for reactions to President Donald Trumps trade policy. Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, and Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker are among the Fed officials scheduled to speak. Tesla is set to report earnings amid stock declines Tuesday. Google, Boeing, and Intel are also expected to be in the spotlight with their reports this week. Story Continues Friday, April 25 Consumer sentiment - final (April) AbbVie (ABBV), HCA Healthcare (HCA), Aon (AON), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), and Charter Communications (CHTR) are scheduled to report earnings Spotlight on Tesla, Alphabet, Boeing Earnings Amid Tariff Uncertainties Magnificent Seven stalwarts Tesla and Alphabet are set to report this week as investors look for indications on how tariffs and economic uncertainty could affect these companies and clues as to the health of the AI trade. Teslas scheduled earnings on Tuesday come as the electric vehicle makers stock has lost more than a third of its value so far this year amid wild volatility related to tariffs and the political activity of CEO Elon Musk. The company reported weaker-than-expected first-quarter deliveries earlier this month. Google parent Alphabet is on Thursdays reporting calendar as the Big Tech firm continues to announce spending to build out artificial intelligence (infrastructure, including a $75 billion announcement earlier this year. Its cloud revenue disappointed analysts when the company reported prior-quarter results. Intels scheduled report for Thursday puts focus on the U.S. chipmaking industry and its role in tariff policy. The struggling tech company is now working under a new CEO, who has made moves to tighten the companys focus amid reports that it is in partnership talks with industry peers. IBM and ServiceNow are other tech firms expected to report this week. Boeings report is scheduled on Wednesday. The aircraft maker's stock has tumbled on reports that Chinese air carriers will stop taking deliveries amid trade tensions. GE Aerospaces report is scheduled for Tuesday. Several telecommunications companies are scheduled to deliver their quarterly financial updates, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Comcast, and Charter Communications. Investors will look at Thursdays reports from Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo for indications on consumer spending, while Merck and HCA Healthcare are among health industry firms scheduled to report. Investors Watching Consumer Sentiment, Housing Market, Fed Officials' Remarks Consumer sentiment will be a theme this week as economists have closely watched a decline in soft data amid increasing worries over U.S. tariff policy and how it could influence inflation. Fridays scheduled release of the final Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for April is part of four consecutive months of declines for the closely watched consumer survey. Scheduled for release Wednesday, new home sales data comes as affordability issues have hamstrung the housing market, with builders often relying on incentives to drive sales. Durable goods order data is expected as the factory sector is also watching the impact of tariffs. The Wednesday scheduled release of flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) information for the U.S. in April will provide a look at how the import taxes are hitting the manufacturing and services sectors. Investors will be following comments from Federal Reserve officials after Fed Chair Jerome Powell roiled markets last week with his assessment that tariffs would likely have an inflationary impact. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee, Cleveland Fed President Hammack, and Philadelphia Fed President Harker are scheduled to speak this week. In addition, the Federal Beige Book release scheduled for Wednesday will offer an overview of the economy ahead of the central banks next meeting on May 6 and 7. Read the original article on Investopedia Support Local News Reporting Journalists at the Yakima Herald-Republic bring you timely, in-depth and credible local news. Your generous donation supports their work. Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. The UKs Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is investigating accounting firm EY for its auditing of the Post Office during the Horizon software scandal. In a statement, the FRC said its investigation will be focused specifically on the role of statutory auditors in meeting the auditing standards that pertained at the time, and not the broader issues related to the Horizon IT system itself. The Horizon software, developed by Fujitsu, was at the core of the Post Office scandal, reported The Guardian. This scandal has been under inquiry, with public hearings concluding in December. The FRC stated that the investigation into EY follows the public hearings, so as not to interfere with the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. The FRC noted that the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales usually oversees accounting at the Post Office. However, the FRC has reclaimed this matter given the heightened public interest considerations. The investigation will cover four financial years up to 25 March 2018. Post Office executives allegedly used over 130m of taxpayers' funds to defend the company in the inquiry into the wrongful prosecution of over 900 workers. These prosecutions were based on incorrect data from the Horizon system, leading to severe consequences for branch operators between 1999 and 2015, reported the media outlet. The FRC's investigation into EY is part of broader regulatory scrutiny of major accountancy firms. Recently, the FRC sanctioned EY and audit partner Christopher Voogd for breaches in statutory audit of Stirling Water Seafield Finance for the year ending 31 December 2019. EY exceeded the ten-year audit limit for a Public Interest Entity without a public tender, violating company law and the FRCs Mandatory Firm Rotation requirements. Both EY and Voogd failed to adhere to proper procedures for audit engagement, contravening International Standards for Auditing, according to the FRC. "EY under investigation for Post Office auditing amid Horizon scandal " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. New Delhi: As Goa continues to build a vibrant identity around its local produce and rural heritage, the Goa Cashew Fest has emerged as a one-of-a-kind celebration of the states agrarian roots, cultural legacy, and community entrepreneurship. At the helm of this initiative is Dr. Deviya Rane, Chairperson of the Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC), whose vision has been instrumental in spotlighting the cashew as both an economic driver and cultural icon. With the upcoming edition scheduled to be held from April 2527, 2025, at DB Grounds, Campal, Panaji, Goa Dr. Deviya Rane shares insights into how the festival began, the growing response from farming communities, and the ambitious plans to position the Goa Cashew Fest on the national stage. 1. What is your long-term vision for Goa's cashew sector, especially in terms of innovation and sustainability? The long-term vision is to create a cashew ecosystem that is both economically vibrant and ecologically responsible. That means investing in sustainable cultivation methods, promoting agroforestry, and supporting research into new value-added products from cashew apple to zero-waste shell applications. We want Goa to be seen not just as a producer, but as a leader in cashew innovation globally. The goal is to ensure that growth doesnt come at the cost of the environment or smallholder livelihoods. 2. How does Goa Cashew Fest help the cashew industry in Goa and its stakeholders? The festival serves as a bridge connecting farmers to buyers, distillers to new markets, chefs to local producers, and artists to inspiration. It also brings visibility to the entire value chain, which is crucial for attracting investment and policy support. For many stakeholders, especially smaller players, this is the one big platform where they can showcase their work, build networks, and access new opportunities they might not otherwise have. 3. What can one look forward to at Goa Cashew Fest 2025? How is this festival different from other cultural festivals in Goa? Cashew Fest 2025 is shaping up to be even more immersivewith hands-on experience, a feni trail across traditional distilleries, and live food labs exploring cashew-based innovations. What sets it apart is its depthits not just a cultural showcase, its an agricultural celebration rooted in heritage and sustainability. While many festivals in Goa focus on music or nightlife, this one brings together soil, science, and spiritliterally! 4. Some women are already involved in shelling and processinghow can we help them move up the value chain into leadership and ownership roles? Thats an incredibly important question. Women have long been the backbone of the cashew industryespecially in shelling and processing, but their contributions are often undervalued. The first step is to acknowledge them as skilled professionals, not just informal workers. From there, we must invest in capacity building through targeted training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and value-added product development. Supporting women-led cooperatives, improving access to credit, and providing platforms like the Cashew Fest to spotlight their brands can help transition them from laborers to leaders. With the right support system, women can truly drive transformation in the cashew sector and beyond. Disclaimer: (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts consumer connect initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.) Each year on April 22, individuals all over the world unite to observe Earth Day, a movement that focuses on environmental conservation and sustainability awareness. As the climate crisis intensifies, Earth Day 2025 becomes even more critical with a strong and collective call to action. Earth Day 2025 Date Earth Day is observed annually today, i.e. April 22. In 2025, it falls on a Tuesday. Earth Day 2025 Theme The official theme for Earth Day 2025 is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET. This year's message focuses on the need to shift rapidly to renewable energy, urging individuals, businesses, and governments to triple clean energy production by 2030. The campaign highlights the imperative to address climate change by cutting dependence on fossil fuels and investing in a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive energy future. History of Earth Day 2025 The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, initiated by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as a national teach-in on environmental issues. The event witnessed more than 20 million Americans10% of the U.S. populationtaking to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demand a healthy, sustainable environment. Earth Day went global in 1990, mobilizing over 200 million people across 141 countries. Since then, it has become one of the largest civic observances in the world, promoting climate action and eco-conscious living. Significance of Earth Day 2025 Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the environment. It sparks conversations, inspires local cleanups, drives policy change, and promotes individual actions such as: 1. Reducing plastic usage 2. Conserving water and energy 3. Supporting eco-friendly businesses 4. Planting trees and protecting biodiversity In 2025, the focus on clean energy renewable resources like solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power at the forefront of the fight against climate change. How You Can Make a Difference You dont need to be an environmental expert to participate in Earth Day. Here are a few simple yet impactful steps: 1. Switch to energy-efficient appliances 2. Support local clean energy initiatives 3. Educate others about climate issues 4. Volunteer for tree plantation drives 5. Reduce, reuse, and recycle mindfully Mr Bishwadeep Ghose, Country Director, India, Water for People India says, "Protecting our natural resources is a shared responsibility that directly impacts the future of every community and responsible management of our planets vital resources is essential for ensuring long-term sustainability. From water to land and energy, the choices we make today shape the future of our ecosystems and the well-being of generations to come." One of the many critical resources is groundwater which plays a pivotal role in supporting livelihoods, agriculture, and industries. Yet, despite its critical importance, it remains underappreciated. Over-extraction, pollution, and the impacts of climate change are depleting our aquifers, threatening the very foundation of our water security. It is imperative that we take proactive stepsprotecting recharge zones, promoting water efficiency, and adopting sustainable farming practicesto safeguard this resource for the future, says Mr Bishwadeep. On this Earth Day, let us recognize that the responsibility to protect our planet, including its water resources, lies with us all. The actions we take now, collectively, and individually, will determine the resilience and prosperity of our communities tomorrow. Only through a united commitment can we ensure a water-secure future for all. Earth Day 2025 is not just a date on the calendar its a movement. With the powerful theme "OUR POWER, OUR PLANET", the message is clear: the time to act is now. From policymakers to individuals, everyone has a role in shaping a cleaner, greener planet. Lets rise together, take responsibility, and power the change we wish to see. (This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.) AP SSC Result 2025: The Andhra Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (BSEAP) is likely to announce the AP SSC Results 2025 soon on its official website. Based on previous years, the Class 10 results are expected to be released by the end of April or in early May. In 2024, the AP 10th results were declared on April 22, while in 2023, they came out on May 6. Following this pattern, students can expect the 2025 AP SSC results to be announced between the last week of April and the first week of May. The AP SSC Exam 2025 was held from March 17 to March 31 across the state. This year, over 6.5 lakh students appeared for the Class 10 board exams. To pass the exam, students need to score at least 35 percent in each subject. The grading system is simple: students who score 75 percent or more will get a Distinction, those with 60 percent to 74 percent will be placed in the First Division, and marks between 45 percent to 59 percent fall under the Second Division. Students who do not pass one or more subjects have two choices. They can either register for the supplementary exams through their school or apply for re-verification or recounting if they think there may be a mistake in their marks. AP SSC Result 2025: Official websites to check result results.bse.ap.gov.in results.bie.ap.gov.in results.apcfss.in bie.ap.gov.in AP SSC Result 2025: Steps to download here Step 1: Go to the official BSEAP website at bse.ap.gov.in. Step 2: On the homepage, click the link for AP 10th Results 2025. Step 3: Enter your roll number and other required details. Step 4: Click submit, and your AP SSC Result 2025 will be displayed on the screen. Step 5: Download your AP SSC Marks Memo and print it for future reference. In 2024, around 6,16,615 students appeared for the AP SSC exams held from March 18 to 31. The overall pass percentage was 86.69 percent, with 5,34,574 students clearing the exam. As in previous years, girls performed better than boys. In comparison, the 2023 exams had 6,64,152 students, and the pass percentage was 72.26 percent. Alphabet's Google is planning to appeal against part of a recent US court ruling in an antitrust case brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ), reported Reuters. The decision, issued on 17 April 2025 by US District Judge Leonie Brinkema, found that the company had willfully acquired and maintained monopoly power. Brinkema concluded that Google illegally dominated two sectors within the online advertising technology market Brinkema said: The possession of monopoly power in the relevant market and the willful acquisition or maintenance of that power as distinguished from growth or development as a consequence of a superior product, business acumen, or historic accident. This exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Googles publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web. The court's decision paves the way for a subsequent hearing to determine remedial actions Google must take, potentially including divesting parts of its advertising business. In response, Google said that the judge had issued a mixed ruling. While the DOJ failed to demonstrate that Google's advertiser tools or acquisitions of DoubleClick and AdMeld were anticompetitive, the court found Google's publisher tools to be in violation of antitrust laws by excluding competition. The DOJ had suggested that Google should be required to divest its Google Ad Manager, including the company's publisher ad server and ad exchange. Google is also facing a class action lawsuit in the UK, with potential damages over 5bn ($6.62bn), for allegedly using its dominant market position to inflate prices. The lawsuit was filed last week at the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal by competition law expert Dr. Or Brook. "Google to appeal part of US Courts ruling in monopoly case report" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. HPBOSE Class 10th Result 2025: The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) is expected to release the Class 10th Board Examination results soon. Once released, all the students who appeared for the class 10th exams will be able to download their results from the official HPBOSE website, i.e. hpbose.org by entering their required login details. The HPBOSE Class 10th Examination took place from 4th March, 2025 to 22nd March, 2025. The Practical examination for class 10 took place from 20th February, 2025 to 28th February, 2025. All the students are required to achieve at least 33 percent in all the subjects individually and overall to pass the examination. Himachal Pradesh Board Class 10 Result 2025: How to Check the Result? Step 1- Go to the official HPBOSE website- hpbose.org. Step 2- You will see the link of Himachal Pradesh Board Class 10 Result 2025 on the homepage, click on it. Step 3- A new page will be opened to login Step 4- Enter the required credentials like your roll number or anything that is mentioned and submit it. Step 5- After submission, your Himachal Pradesh Class 10 Result 2025 will be displayed on the screen. Step 6- Check your scores and download the page. Step 7- Print out your scorecard for future reference. Himachal Pradesh Board Class 10 Result 2025: Last Year Result Date And Pass Percentage In 2024, the Himachal Pradesh Class 10th Result was declared on 7th May. The overall pass percentage of 2024 was 74.61 percent. A total 91,422 students have appeared for the examination out of which 67,988 students were able to pass the exam and 12,613 students failed the class 10th HPBOSE 2024 examination. All the students are advised to keep checking the official website for all the important updates. UPSC CSE Result 2024-25: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to release the UPSC Civil Services Final Result 2024 soon on its official website upsc.gov.in. Candidates who appeared for the Personality Test (Interview) are eagerly awaiting the final merit list, which will decide selection for prestigious posts such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other central services. The final result will feature a merit list of recommended candidates, based on their performance in both the Mains examination and the Interview. It will also include the roll numbers and names of those who have been selected. Although the Commission hasnt officially announced the date and time, the UPSC Civil Services Final Result 2024 is expected to be declared sometime in April 2025, as the Personality Test concluded in March. Going by previous trends, the final results are typically released a few weeks after the interview process ends. UPSC CSE Result 2024-25: Steps to check here Visit the official website: upsc.gov.in Go to the Whats New section on the homepage Click on the link title UPSC Civil Services Final Result 2024 Download the result PDF and look for your roll number or name in the list UPSC CSE Result 2024-25: What after results? After the final merit list is published, candidates will be assigned services and cadres based on their rank, category, preferences, and the availability of posts. To maintain transparency, the mark sheets of both selected and non-selected candidates will be released soon after the final result. In the 2023 UPSC results, the trend changed. Aditya Srivastava secured AIR 1, followed by Animesh Pradhan at AIR 2, and Donuru Ananya Reddy at AIR 3. Interestingly, more than one-third of the selected candidates were women 352 out of 1,016 recommended. Six of the top ten rank holders were also women. Delhi Mayor Polls 2025: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, thus handing the BJP a walkover, days ahead of the polls. The polls are scheduled to be held on April 25. The elections for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the MCD are held every year. AAP Alleges, Sabotage, Horse Trading Addressing a press conference, former Delhi chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, said, "The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will play the role of a strong opposition in the MCD as well. BJP did a lot of rigging during the MCD elections but still it lost badly. Even after this, it did not stop and all the councillors were poached." She said her party does not believe in the 'politics of sabotage and horse-trading' and has, therefore, decided not to participate in the mayoral contest. "Now the BJP should form its triple engine government and fulfil its promises made to the people of Delhi without any excuses," Atishi said. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Hits Back Reacting to the AAP's withdrawal and allegations against the BJP, Delhi Chief Minister and BJP leader Rekha Gupta claimed that AAP's political base has been eroded in the national capital as people have lost faith in the party. Gupta claimed that the AAP MLAs and councillors are unhappy with their party leadership for adopting "anti-people" policies while being in power. BJP Mayor, Deputy Mayor Candidate The BJP has declared its senior councillors Raja Iqbal Singh and Jai Bhagwan Yadav as candidates for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, and is poised to win the elections. Where Do The Numbers Stand? The MCD has a total strength of 250 councillors. Besides the councillors, 7 Members of Parliament from the National Capital and 14 nominated MLAs as per the strength of the political parties in the Delhi assembly, are eligible to vote in the mayor and deputy mayor polls. The remaining eight councillors belong to the Congress. Of the 14 nominated MLAs, 11 belong to the BJP and 3 to the AAP. In the 2022 MCD polls, the AAP bagged 134 of the 250 wards, while the BJP won 104. The BJP's current strength in the MCD has increased to 117 following multiple defections from the AAP over the past few months. With the help of 7MPs and 11 nominated MLAs, the BJP's final tally reaches 135, which is enough to help the BJP secure a victory. The AAP's final tally along with the MLAs would be around 116. The BJP on Monday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about the Election Commission during a meeting in Boston. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Rahul Gandhi has made it his identity to demean Indian institutions while speaking abroad. While criticising Rahul Gandhi's speech, Poonawalla said that he also started speaking against the nation while speaking against the PM. "Rahul Gandhi's identity is to humiliate Indian organisations and institutions on foreign soil. He goes abroad and makes comments on India's Constitution, judiciary, and questions the Election Commission of India (ECI). This shows how people, while going against PM Modi, have started going against the country," Shehzad Poonawalla said. Earlier, the Leader of the opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi addressed the diaspora in Boston and alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised," stating that there was something fundamentally wrong with the system. "It's very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, and there is something very wrong with the system. I have said this multiple times," he said. Citing the example of the Maharashtra polls, the Senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible..." he said, addressing the meeting. (With ANI inputs) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed his condolences following the demise of Pope Francis, calling him a symbol of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage. In a heartfelt message posted on X, PM Modi extended his condolences to the global Catholic community and paid tribute to the Popes enduring legacy. "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world," he wrote. Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the pic.twitter.com/QKod5yTXrB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2025 Reflecting on the Popes life and service, PM Modi said, "From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope." While recalling his meetings with Pope Francis, PM Modi added that Francis's affection for the people of India will always be cherished. "I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in Gods embrace." Pm modi said on twitter after the death of Pope Francis," he added. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at the age of 88 on Monday at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican said. The Indian Air Force's (IAF) MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft will take to skies in the United Arab Emirates for combat exercise 'Desert Flag-10', a multinational event beginning on Monday, an official said. A contingent of the IAF has reached Al Dhafra Air Base for the exercise to be held from April 21 to May 8, the official added. Exercise Desert Flag, hosted by the UAE Air Force, has participating contingents from the Air Forces of Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US. The aim of the exercise is to undertake complex and diverse fighter engagements, with exchange of operational knowledge and best practices with some of the most capable Air Forces in the world. Participation in such exercises enhances mutual understanding interoperability, and strengthens military cooperation among the participating nations, the official said. The IAF's participation underscores India's commitment to strengthening defence ties and interoperability with friendly nations in the region and beyond. Earlier, in another joint military exercise, the sixth edition of India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI commenced on April 16 at Foreign Training Node, Aundh (Pune). The exercise is scheduled to continue till April 28. Indian contingent comprising of 60 personnel is being represented by a Battalion of JAT Regiment and the IAF. The Uzbekistan contingent is being represented by personnel from the Uzbekistan Army. Joint exercise DUSTLIK-VI is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Uzbekistan. The last edition was conducted in Termez district, Uzbekistan, in April 2024. The theme of the exercise is Joint Multi Domain Sub Conventional operations in semi-urban scenario. It is focusing on responding to a terrorist action involving the capture of a defined territory. It also includes the establishment of a Joint Operations Centre at the battalion level for continuous joint operations, the execution of counterterrorism missions such as population control measures, raids, search-and-destroy operations, and the employment of firepower, including air assets, to neutralise terrorists. Special forces from the Army and Air Force, during the exercise, will secure a helipad for use as a mounting base for further operations. The exercise will also cover the deployment of drones, counter-unmanned aerial system measures, and logistics support by the Air Force to sustain forces in hostile areas. Additionally, helicopters will be utilised for reconnaissance and observation, special heliborne operations, small team insertion and extraction, and other associated missions. Joint Exercise DUSTLIK-VI will enable both sides to share best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures of conducting Joint Sub Conventional operations. It will facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies. The joint exercise will also enhance defence cooperation, further augmenting bilateral relations between the two friendly nations. By Prashobh Devanahalli Indian Air Force Officer Bengaluru Attack Case: An Indian Air Force officer has alleged that he was assaulted and verbally abused by Kannada-speaking individuals who chased him on a bike in Bengaluru early Monday morning, while he was on his way to the airport with his wife, who is also an IAF officer. A case has now been registered by the Bengaluru Police against unknown individuals in connection with the incident. A disturbing video of him explaining the incident has been shared on his Instagram, showing the officer with his face and neck covered in blood. In the video, he identifies himself as Wing Commander Adityus Bozon and narrates the sequence of events, claiming he was attacked following a road rage incident. My name is Wing Commander Adityus Bozon, this is my wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita. We stay in DRDO, CV Raman Nagar Phase 1. This morning, my wife was driving me to the airport, and suddenly a bike came from behind and stopped our vehicle. I will show you my dashcam video also. He came out and started abusing me in Kannada. Then seeing that my car has a DRDO sticker, he says, you DRDO people and many things in Kannada. Then he abused my wife. I couldnt bear it. When I was coming outside, immediately he took his keys and hit me on my head (forehead) taking my blood out. I stood there shouting, that this is how you people treat a person from army, from navy, from the defence forces? More people came, and surprisingly all started abusing us that we were doing wrong things. That person, he took a stone out, and started to hit my car. I tried to stop and he hit me on the head. See the blood and this is my condition. My wife was there thankfully to take me out. We went to the police station, presently, no response. We are going to the hospital as asked by them," said the IAF officer. He further said, "But this is what Karnataka has become. I believed in Karnataka, but seeing this truth, reality I couldnt believe it.. god help us. God gave me the power not to retaliate. Tomorrow, if Law and order doent help me, I will retaliate and these people will have it. Please help me. While the exact location of the incident is yet to be officially confirmed, the officer said it occurred while they were on their way from CV Raman Nagar to the airport. In a second video posted after the incident, Wing Commander Bozon explained that he had a flight to Kolkata today morning to visit his ailing father. He described the assault as a shocking episode that deeply affected him and his family. Modi-Vance Meet: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Vice President of the United States of America, JD Vance today, accompanied by the Second Lady Usha Vance, their children, and senior members of the US Administration, where the two sides discussed bilateral ties. According to officials, PM Modi and US Vice President Vance welcomed progress in the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, while exchanging views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest. In their talks, the two leaders noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, and strategic technologies. "Prime Minister and Vice President Vance reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation. They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas," said the PMO in a statement. The PMO also added that Prime Minister Modi fondly recalled his visit to Washington D.C. in January and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the U.S., leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047. "Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Vice President, Second Lady and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India. Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year," said the statement. The prime minister is hosting a dinner for Vance, his Indian-origin wife Usha Chilukuri and the delegation of senior US government officials accompanying the vice president. Vance and his family landed in Delhi this morning on a four-day India visit after their trip to Italy over the weekend. He is the first US vice president to visit India in 12 years after Joe Biden visited New Delhi in 2013. Vance and his family will also be visiting Jaipur and Agra. The US was the largest trading partner of India with overall bilateral trade in goods and services amounting to USD 190 billion for the calendar year 2023. In the financial year 2023-24, the US was the third largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India with inflows of USD 4.99 billion. New Delhi: US Vice President JD Vance arrived in India today with his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children, kicking off a high-level diplomatic visit marked by tradition and warmth. The Vance family was received at Delhis Palam Technical Airport by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and greeted with a ceremonial tri-services guard of honour. In a notable gesture of cultural respect, Mr Vances children arrived wearing traditional Indian attire. The couples eldest son, Ewan, stepped off the aircraft in a blue kurta and embraced his father upon arrival. He was followed by his younger brother, Vivek, dressed in a yellow kurta. Their three-year-old daughter, Mirabel, wore a salwar suit and was assisted by staff as she descended the aircraft steps, after which JD Vance carried her to the welcome area. The visit will include key diplomatic and cultural engagements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host a private dinner for the Vance family following bilateral talks with the US Vice President. Mr Vance is accompanied by a five-member delegation that includes representatives from the Pentagon and the State Department. During the visit, the Vance family will also explore Indian heritage and culture with planned trips to Jaipur and Agra. On Tuesday, they will tour the historic Amer Palace in Jaipur before JD Vance delivers a keynote address at the US-India Business Summit at the Rajasthan International Centre. The summit will focus on enhancing bilateral trade and investment between the two nations. #WATCH | Delhi: Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, along with their children, at Palam airport. Vice President JD Vance is on his first official visit to India and will meet PM Modi later today. pic.twitter.com/LBDQES2mz1 ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025 On Wednesday, the US Vice President will visit the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, spending several hours at the monument before returning to Jaipur to explore the City Palace. The Vance family is scheduled to depart for Washington on Thursday. This visit underscores the growing diplomatic and cultural ties between India and the United States, with JD Vance's family adding a personal touch to the official agenda. (Photo Credit: PTI) A Lebanese army officer and two soldiers were killed in an ammunition explosion in southern Lebanon, according to a statement issued by the army's Directorate of Guidance. According to the statement, several civilians were also injured in the explosion that took place on Sunday "when the ammunition was being transported by a military vehicle in the Braiqaa area, Nabatieh Governorate." "Specialized army units are conducting the necessary investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement added. A Lebanese security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that since the start of the cross-border conflict between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel on October 8, 2023, the number of Lebanese army personnel killed has reached 49. Meanwhile, two Hezbollah operatives were killed earlier on Sunday in two separate Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to the same security source. Israel's military, for its part, announced that it launched new airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday night, targeting Hezbollah military sites in Nabatieh, Xinhua news agency reported. "A short while ago, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) struck several launchers and a military infrastructure site from which Hezbollah operated," the military said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the military struck the area of Houla in southern Lebanon and killed a militant who, according to the statement, served as Hezbollah's head of engineering in the Odaisseh area. Despite a ceasefire agreement that went into effect in November 2024, Israeli forces have continued to carry out occasional strikes inside Lebanon, claiming they target Hezbollah "threats." JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) recently reported impressive financial results for the three-month period that ended March 31, corresponding to first-quarter 2025. The massive banking institution exceeded Wall Street expectations, posting revenue growth of 8% and diluted earnings-per-share growth of 14%. Shares were up slightly following the upbeat announcement. This top bank stock has been a wonderful investment in the past 10 years. Including dividends, it has produced a total return of 378%. That outperformed the broader S&P 500 Index. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue But shares are facing some pressure recently, thanks to concerns about the state of the economy. They're down 18% in the past couple of months (as of April 16). Is now a good time to invest $10,000 in JPMorgan Chase stock and hold for 10 years? What's not to like? JPMorgan continues to demonstrate that it's a dominant force in the financial services industry. It generated revenue of $45.3 billion in Q1. While net interest income was up just 1%, non-interest income soared 17%. That latter figure was boosted by a significant jump in equity markets revenue. The business added 500,000 new checking accounts during the quarter, showcasing the ability to bring on new customers in droves. The asset and wealth management division now has $4.1 trillion in total assets under management, rising 15% year over year. By having such a notable presence in all areas of the industry, JPMorgan benefits from a diversified business model where strength in one segment can more than offset weakness in another. That minimizes risk in the eyes of investors. What's more, this company has some core competitive advantages that support its long-term durability. The brand is incredibly powerful and well-known as a trusted financial partner for clients. These customers have switching costs due to their deep relationships with JPMorgan. And because of its tremendous scale, the business certainly possesses some cost advantages, being able to leverage huge expenses for things like marketing and technology. These factors make up the company's economic moat. This allows JPMorgan to outcompete rivals. Dealing with the unknown "The economy is facing considerable turbulence (including geopolitics)," CEO Jamie Dimon commented in the press release. If you look at the company's latest financial figures, it's hard to be pessimistic. However, the CEO's words should force investors to at least acknowledge that we might be in for a more challenging economic environment in the near term. Parliament vs Supreme Court: Its trueno one is above the law. Everyone must abide by it, whether a common citizen or public official, whether a leader or a judge. Recently, several BJP leaders have openly criticized the Supreme Court. Although the BJP officially distances itself from these remarks, the debate across the country has reignited: who holds more powerthe Supreme Court or the Parliament? In today's DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor, Zee New, tried to explore an answer to this question: Watch Full DNA Episode Here: This discussion began due to a hearing in the Supreme Court regarding the Waqf Act. The central question being raised is whether the court should even entertain a hearing on this law. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey questioned the Supreme Courts authority over the Waqf Act case. He stated, The laws of this country are made by the Indian Parliament... how can you dictate to that Parliament? Only and only the Supreme Court is responsible for inciting religious conflict in this country... the Supreme Court is overstepping its limits. Prior to the commencement of this hearing, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju had also said, I trust the Supreme Court will not interfere in legislative matters. The separation of powers is clearly defined in the Constitution. We must respect each others roles. Earlier, on April 17, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had said that judges are acting like a super Parliament and even likened Article 142 of the Constitution to a nuclear missile. This naturally raises the question in peoples mindswho is greater, the court or the Parliament? According to the Indian Constitution, the system of governance is divided among three branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. The Executive includes the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet, Governors, Chief Ministers, local heads like village leaders and mayors. The Legislature includes the Parliament, state assemblies, legislative councils, and panchayats. The Judiciary includes the Supreme Court, High Courts, and lower civil courts. The Constitution clearly states that the Constitution itself stands above all three branches. While the power to make laws lies with the Parliament, the judiciary has the authority to review whether a law is constitutional or not. The administration is responsible for enforcing those laws. The Constitution expects these three branches to work collaboratively, with balancenot conflictbetween them. Article 142 grants the Supreme Court the authority to issue any order or directive to ensure complete justice in any matter. When the Constitution was being drafted, it was understood that not all future challenges could be predicted. Hence, Article 142 was added to empower the Court to handle unforeseen issues. Using this authority, the Court has delivered landmark verdicts in cases like: The Ayodhya Ram Mandir case Sahara-SEBI dispute Shiv SenaMaharashtra government conflict Delhi vs Lieutenant Governor dispute Ban on liquor sales near highways Various divorce-related cases Every time there has been friction between the judiciary and the legislature, it has impacted the process of law-making. This debate is similar to the age-old question: which came first, the chicken or the egg? While Parliament can change court decisions through new legislation, the judiciary can also review and strike down laws made by Parliament. Therefore, it is not possible to say definitively who is supreme. The Constitution draws a fine line between the twoand that very line is what maintains balance. United States Vice President JD Vance arrived in New Delhi's Palam airport on Monday along with Second Lady Usha Vance as their first official visit which is scheduled from April 21 to April 24. #WATCH | Delhi: Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, along with Second Lady Usha Vance arrive at Palam airport. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw received the Vice President. pic.twitter.com/pN4NZlYfNn April 21, 2025 As per the ANI reports, during his 4-days visit to India, a formal meeting between Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for 6.30 pm on Monday at the Prime Minister's official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, while, Vance is also set to travel to Jaipur on Tuesday and on Wednesday he is planned to visit Agra. His visit to India will conclude on Thursday, April 24, with his departure from the country at 6.40 AM. In a heartwarming moment before boarding AF2, Vice President JD Vance was seen gently carrying his sleeping daughter, Mirabel, from their car, while his sons, Ewan and Vivek, cheerfully waved toy swords as they boarded alongside Second Lady Usha Vance. Ahead of his arrival in India, welcome hoardings for JD Vance have been put up near Palam Airport and across the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal said that India has a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership with the US, and when such a high-level visit takes place, all issues of importance are discussed. "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," Jaiswal said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for multiple states on Monday, April 21, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds. The affected areas include Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Jammu & Kashmir. In addition, the weather department has also issued a heatwave warning for isolated regions of Vidarbha, along with a yellow alert for the area. The weather forecaster further cautioned that hot and humid conditions are likely to prevail over parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Delhi Weather Update The IMD has predicted no heatwave-like conditions for the national capital on Monday, April 21, 2025. The weather is expected to remain partly cloudy specially evening. Occasional sustained surface winds with speeds ranging from 10 to 20 kmph are likely throughout the day. Temperatures are expected to range between a maximum of 3941 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 2426 degrees Celsius. Himachal Pradesh Weather Update The Regional Meteorological Centre of Himachal Pradesh has predicted light to moderate rainfall across Kullu, Mandi, Kangra districts in the early hours of Monday, with certain areas likely to witness intense weather conditions, including thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and gusty winds. As per the IMD's bulletin, light to moderate rain accompanied by isolated spells of intense rainfall is likely over Kullu, Mandi, and Kangra districts. These spells may be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph, and occasional hail. Earlier on Sunday, Heavy rain triggered flash floods in various areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district, resulting in the deaths of three people and the rescue of more than 100 individuals. New Delhi: Chaos has been witnessed at the Delhi airport as dozens of flights were delayed on Sunday night. Many flights scheduled to take off from and land at the airport faced delays, causing inconvenience to passengers. Among those affected was Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He expressed his frustration through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). In response to his post, Delhi Airport said that airlines did not heed warnings about disruptions, which were issued four months prior, and neglected to modify their flight schedules. CM Omar Abdullah wrote, "Delhi airport is a bloody shit show (excuse my French but Im in no mood to be polite). 3 hours in the air after we left Jammu we get diverted to Jaipur & so here I am at 1 in the morning on the steps of the plane getting some fresh air. Ive no idea what time we will leave from here." In response, Delhi Airport said, "It is incorrect to blame Delhi for the current delays/diversions." It further said, "The closure of Runway 10/28 since 8th April for essential Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgradation, was planned well in advance in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and based on historical wind patterns over 4 months ago." Dear Mr. Abdullah, Further to our exchange of morning, would highlight that it is incorrect to blame Delhi airport for the current delays/ diversions. The fact is- The closure of Runway 10/28 since 8th April for essential Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgradation, was (1/5) Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) April 20, 2025 "Keeping in mind the historical wind patterns, it was agreed amongst all stakeholders, including Airlines and ATC that whenever the shift happens to easterly winds and the limitation of the operational use of converging runways, there will be temporary capacity constraints for arrivals," it added. "During such moments, the Airlines are to reschedule or cancel flights at short notice in the interest of passenger safety and convenience. When these easterly wind situations have been arising in the past few days Airlines were advised, in accordance with pre-agreed plans, to adjust flight schedules. However, there was minimal to no changes made," Delhi Airport said. "Unfortunately, this limited action/non-action has led to significant operational challenges for all the stakeholders, including Delhi Airport and ATC, and in the end, impacted the passengers significantly, it said. New Delhi: Actress Jacqueline Fernandez spent her Easter in a deeply reflective way, visiting Mumbai's iconic Siddhivinayak Temple alongside Maye Musk, the mother of tech mogul Elon Musk, as she deals with the recent loss of her own mother. Typically, Jacqueline spends Easter at church with her family, but this year, she chose to honor the occasion at the revered temple. Joining her was Maye Musk, a supermodel, nutritionist, and author, who is currently in India for the launch of her book A Woman Makes a Plan. Photos from their visit show the duo seeking blessings, radiating a sense of peace and connection. Jacqueline, reflecting on the experience, shared, "It was such a beautiful experience to seek blessings at the temple with my dear friend Maye, who's in India for her book launch. Mayes book is a symbol of the resilience of a woman. It has taught me so much, especially that age is just a number, and it shouldnt define your dreams or goals." Maye, who celebrated her 77th birthday on April 19th in Mumbai, looked stunning in a Sabyasachi lehenga-gown. She shared a photo of the birthday bouquet from her son Elon Musk, expressing her gratitude in an X post. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda, accompanied by his mother and sister, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The meeting served as a heartfelt exchange on the evolution of Indian cinema and the power of storytelling to shape cultural and national identity. Speaking on the occasion, Randeep Hooda shared on his social media It was a great honour and a privilege to meet the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri @narendramodi ji. His insight, wisdom, and thoughts on the future of our great country are always so inspiring. His pat on the back is a great encouragement to keep doing good work in our respective fields and contributing to the growth of our nation. He further wrote, "We spoke about the global rise of Indian cinema, the power of authentic storytelling, and the governments visionary new OTT platformWAVESset to amplify Indian voices on the world stage. It was also a proud family moment to be joined by my mother, Asha Hooda and sister, Dr. Anjali Hooda, who also exchanged thoughts with the PM on his initiatives of anti obesity drive and holistic wellness." Randeep was joined by his mother Asha Hooda and sister Anjali Hooda, who expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to connect with the nations leader. The family was deeply moved by the Prime Ministers receptiveness and encouragement for the arts and regional welfare. Mumbai: Pan-India star Yash, who is known for blockbuster K.G.F., is set to join the shoot of Ramayana Part 1 in the coming week in Mumbai. To signify an auspicious commencement to his journey with this mythological epic, Yash will first visit the revered Shree Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain to seek the divine blessings. The film also stars Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor, and actress Sai Pallavi. Yash commences every new film project with a temple visit. This time, his visit to the temple marks a symbolic moment as Raavan, the character played by the actor in Ramayana Part 1, was a devotee of Mahadev. In addition to playing a pivotal role, Yash is co-producing the film under his banner, Monster Mind Creations along with Malhotas Prime Focus Studios. As a hands-on co-producer, he has been working closely with the team on all aspects of the ambitious project and is slated to kickstart shooting his scenes from the end of April. Producer Namit Malhotra is backing the cinematic epic, which is touted to be Indian cinemas most ambitious mythological epic to date. The film is helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, and boasts rich storytelling, cutting-edge technology, and a cinematic vision set to redefine the mythological genre for a global audience. Ramayana Part 1 is all set to release on Diwali 2026, followed by Ramayana Part 2 on Diwali 2027. Meanwhile, Yash also has Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups in the pipeline. The makers of the film recently shared the film will arrive in cinemas on March 19, 2026. As the first large-scale Indian project conceptualized, written, and shot in both Kannada and English, Toxic blends cultures and continents. The film will be dubbed in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and several other languages. The film is helmed by Geetu Mohandas, who is known for her emotionally resonant, award-winning cinema. New Delhi: The Kerala High Court's recent judgement on depravation of pension grant for EPFO Pensioner entitled to higher pension due to technical or procedural error will come as a huge relief. In a landmark judgement, the Kerala HC had said that the retirement fund body can't deny higher pension to EPF pensioner solely on the ground that the contributions were made in bulk and not on a monthly basis. The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) was introduced in the year 1995 under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 with the objective of providing retirement savings and social security for employees in India. "In light of the Supreme Courts landmark judgment in EPFO v. Sunil Kumar (Supra), the Honble Kerala High Court has reaffirmed the principle of natural justicethat procedural irregularities should not defeat the ends of justice. The Court held that when the EPFO has accepted contributions from both the employee and the employer in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 26(6) of the EPF Scheme, 1952, employees are entitled to a higher pension. Substantial benefits cannot be denied on the grounds of procedural errors," Sunil Tyagi, Maging Partner, Zeus Laws told Zee News. Tyagi said that this recent judgement by Honble Kerala High Court's deals with a frequently faced issue, and its decision is a positive step towards the protection of employee pension rights. Four retired employees of co-operative society named Thiruvananthapuram Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union had filed writ petitions before the Kerala High Court. The ruling, favoured the petitioner, saying EPFO must pay higher pension to people who contributed on their full salary during service, irrespective of the fact whether payments were made in bulk or delayed. "This ruling reaffirms the need for fair pension rule interpretation, guaranteeing employees the benefits they've earned through their contributions. It's a major victory for workers and promotes a fairer pension system," he added. Tyagi said that the ruling shall have widespread ramifications and has a potential to bring far reaching benefits for thousands of pensioners since it prioritizes the substance of the contributions over procedural technicalities. "This landmark ruling offers much needed relief for those have been denied higher pension claims or experienced delays or lump-sum contributions due to EPFO procedural shortcomings despite having contributed to the pension scheme beyond the minimum requirements. This decision would also encourage other High Courts to focus on employee interests while interpreting such cases," he added. Google Gmail Scam: Beware Gmail Users! Tech giant Google has issued an important warning to all Gmail users. This warning has come following the discovery of a highly sophisticated phishing campaign that exploits Googles own security checks to trick users into handing over their account credentials. This phishing attack is dangerous because it appears to come from Google itself and even shows up in the same email thread as real and genuine alerts from Google. However, Google has acknowledged the phishing campaign and confirmed that it exploited OAuth and DKIM mechanisms in a novel way. Recently I was targeted by an extremely sophisticated phishing attack, and I want to highlight it here. It exploits a vulnerability in Google's infrastructure, and given their refusal to fix it, we're likely to see it a lot more. Here's the email I got: pic.twitter.com/tScmxj3um6 nick.eth (@nicksdjohnson) April 16, 2025 Google Email Look Real? The scam was initially discovered by software developer Nick Johnson, who detailed his experience on X (formerly Twitter). He received an email from no-reply@google.com, stating that a subpoena had been issued for his account data. The email appeared legitimate and contained a link resembling a genuine Google support page. However, the link redirected to a fake Google sign-in page hosted on sites.google.comGoogles own platform. The aim was to deceive users into entering their login credentials, allowing hackers to steal their Gmail account information. It is important to note that the phishing email uses the companys branding, has the correct logo, and includes language that sounds official. How Google Email Scam Works? Step 1: You get an official-looking email from no-reply@google.com, claiming a subpoena has been issued against your account. Step 2: The email includes a link that appears to lead to a legitimate Google support page, urging you to log in to respond. Step 3: The link takes you to a cloned Google login page, hosted on a Google subdomain (like sites.google.com), making it look authentic. Step 4: Once you enter your login details, theyre captured by hackersgiving them full access to your Gmail and all connected Google services. How Can Gmail Users Stay Safe From Scam? Step 1: Dont trust unexpected emails asking you to take urgent action, even if they appear to come from Google or other trusted sources. Step 2: Avoid clicking on links within such emails. These links may lead to fake login pages designed to steal your credentials. Step 3: Always visit your Gmail or any other service by typing the official URL (like www.google.com) directly into your browser. Step 4: Add an extra layer of security to your account by enabling 2FA, which requires a second verification step beyond just your password. Step 5: Activate passkeys wherever supported to further protect your account from phishing and credential theft. US President Donald Trump expressed hope for a potential resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating that both nations could reach a deal as early as this week. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social on Sunday (local time), Trump suggested that once both countries reach a peace agreement then they can start business with the United States. "HOPEFULLY RUSSIA AMD UKRAINE WILL MAKE A DEAL THIS WEEK. BOTH WILL THEN START TO DO BIG BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS THRIVING, AND MAKE A FORTUNE," Trump wrote. Meanwhile, CNN on Friday reported, citing an official familiar with the proposed framework, that the US is ready to recognise Russian control over Crimea as part of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The peace proposal includes an immediate ceasefire between the two countries. The framework was shared with the Ukrainian and European officials in Paris on Thursday. However, there are some pieces that still need to be filled out, and the US plans to work with Europe and Ukraine on this next week in London, the source said. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a military invasion -- a move widely condemned as illegal by the international community. (With ANI inputs) Time has run out for some US trade partners looking to make deals ahead of President Trump's July 9 deadline for tariffs to snap back to higher levels. Letters will start going out to countries on Friday to notify them of the tariff rates they will face on exports to the US, Trump told reporters, to go into effect on Aug. 1. The first 10 or 12 letters sent out will be followed by similar batches. By the ninth theyll be fully covered, Trump said in reference to the deadline, per Bloomberg. Theyll range in value from maybe 60% or 70% tariffs to 10% and 20% tariffs. The Trump team has so far been focused on hammering out trade deals, though it has succeeded in nailing only three pacts so far. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said around 100 partners would likely see a minimum "reciprocal" rate of 10% come next week, adding that he expects a "flurry" of deals to materialize before the deadline. Here is where things stand with various partners: China : The US has eased export restrictions on China for chip design software and ethane, a sign that trade tensions are calming between the two countries after they agreed in May to a framework to move toward a larger trade deal. Software firms like Synopsys (SNPS) and Cadence (CDNS) said they will now sell their chip design tools to Chinese customers again. The US also removed limits on ethane exports to China that it had set just weeks ago. Vietnam: Trump on Wednesday said he had reached a trade deal with Vietnam, one that will see the country's imports face a 20% tariff lower than the 46% he had threatened in April. He also said Vietnamese goods would face a higher 40% tariff "on any transshipping" when goods shipped from Vietnam originate from another country, like China. Many US goods will see no duty upon import to Vietnam. Japan: Trump earlier this week said negotiations with Japan had soured, saying he would force Japan to accept higher tariffs of "30%, 35%, or whatever the number is that we determine." Notably, that proposal is higher than the 24% "Liberation Day" level. "Theyre very tough. You have to understand, theyre very spoiled," he said. DHAKA: The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has "locked" the National Identity Cards (NID) of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her nine family members. The National Identity Registration Wing under the EC took action against the 10 individuals following an internal directive, local media reported on Monday. The relevant officials of the EC said generally, NIDs are "locked" if any person registers as a voter with false information or due to any investigation against the NID holder. The decision to lock the NID cards of 10 members was taken based on a verbal instruction from ASM Humayn Kabir, Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing, reported Bangladeshi media outlet UNB quoting Election Commission sources. Reports suggest that it is still not clear whether there was a direct order from the Election Commission Secretariat. "If the NID is locked, the card can no longer be used. In addition, if a voter provides false information or an investigation is underway regarding the NID, it is locked until it is completed. Most of the time, the NID is locked at the request of VVIPs, so that no one can misuse it. It is unlocked again at their request," BDnews 24 quoted NID Wing's System Manager Mohammad Ashraf Hossain as saying. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has requested Interpol to issue a 'Red Notice' against former PM Hasina and 11 others in connection with a case alleging conspiracy to overthrow the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. "These applications are filed in connection with allegations that emerge during investigations or through ongoing case proceedings," Assistant Inspector General (Media) Enamul Haque Sagor told leading Bangladeshi daily, The Dhaka Tribune. The 'Red Notice', once issued, would enable law enforcement agencies globally to locate and provisionally detain the accused individuals pending extradition or other legal actions. Daughter of Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year following a massive student-led movement that resulted in the collapse of her 16-year rule under the Awami League. While addressing the Awami League supporters virtually in February, the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh accused the Yunus-led interim government of turning the nation into an alleged hub of "terrorism" and "lawlessness". MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said that the unilateral 30-hour Easter truce has ended and the Special Military Operations in Ukraine have resumed with full force. The Easter truce ended after midnight on Sunday local time, during which both sides accused each other of its violation. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Putin noted that overall, during the 30-hour Easter truce, there was a drop in military activities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. "Combat operations have restarted," Putin was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency. Putin said that, despite Kyiv committing 4,900 violations of the Easter truce, there has been a noticeable decrease in Ukrainian combat activity. "Kyiv is now trying to seize the initiative on a ceasefire to talk about expanding the time frame and targets," Putin said. Initially, Ukraine was hesitant to join the unilateral ceasefire. Putin did not rule out the possibility that the Western curators of the Ukrainian regime advised them against rejecting the Easter ceasefire proposed by Russia. Nevertheless, Russia welcomes any ceasefire and is ready to look to the future, he said. "We will learn lessons from the results of the Easter truce." Putin said he was studying Ukraine's offer of a moratorium on strikes at civilian targets, but they were being used by Kyiv for military purposes. He recalled that Sumy Congress Hall struck by Russian missiles was being used to award servicemen who had committed war crimes against civilians in Russia's Kursk region, while in the port city, a missile test was being carried out in a civilian area. The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared critical information through a messaging app with his wife and brother, including details about a US military airstrike in March targeting Yemen's Houthi militants, The New York Times reported. The second chat took place on Signal, a commercially available app that is not authorized for sharing sensitive or classified national defence information, and included 13 participants. A person familiar with the messages and their recipients confirmed the existence of the chat to The Associated Press. They further confirmed that the chat was titled Defense Team Huddle. As per The New York Times reports, the group included Defense Secretary Hegseth's wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, and his brother, Phil Hegseth, who serves as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser at the Pentagon. The revelation of the additional chat group has sparked renewed criticism of Defense Secretary Hegseth and former President Donald Trumps broader administration, particularly over their inaction against top national security officials who discussed military strike plans via Signal. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized President Trump, saying that even after learning Pete Hegseth put lives at risk, Trump remains too weak to remove him from his position. The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him, Pete Hegseth must be fired. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a post on X. Meanwhile, The first chat was created by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and included several Cabinet members. It came to light after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group. The contents of that chat, which The Atlantic published, shows that Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen last month. The White House, the National Security Council and a Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment about the additional chat group. Hegseth has previously contended that no classified information or war plans were shared in the chat with the journalist. (With PTI - AP inputs) Nearly two in three Americans say they worry more about running out of money than death, according to a 2024 Allianz survey, and the top way they say they can address this concern is increasing retirement savings. Don't miss Hidden wealth could be sitting right under your nose. From unused items in your garage to forgotten investments and valuable heirlooms, there are plenty of ways to turn overlooked assets into retirement savings. The best part? You could unlock tens of thousands to your retirement fund. Lets take a look at the three valuable items you may consider selling to fund your retirement. That second (or third) vehicle you rarely drive If youre no longer commuting or your children have moved out, you likely have an unused car. You may also have an RV, boat, or motorcycle you splurged on and dont use much. These are some of the dream purchases retirees may regret buying. . You can sell any unused vehicle to reduce insurance, maintenance, and storage costs. The average used car was listed for $25,180 at the start of April, according to Kelley Blue Book. The good news is it says there is a low supply of used cars and nationwide used car supply will likely remain thin for years. Your life insurance policy Many people are unaware that life insurance can be sold through a transaction known as life settlement. In a life settlement, you sell your policy to a third-party investor for more than its cash surrender value but less than the death benefit. The payout varies based on your age, health, type of policy, the amount of the death benefit and premiums necessary. The Life Insurance Settlement Association (LISA) estimates that the average settlement nets seniors about 20% of the policys face value. Their research says that Americans who are aged 65 or older leave approximately $112 billion in benefits on the table each year by lapsing or surrendering their life insurance policies. If your survivors are grown and no longer rely on you financially, you can consider letting that policy go. 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 Akiba Leisman, Chief Executive Officer of Mako states that "Production in Q1 2025 was strong, with gold sales of 10,817 ounces (similar to Q4 2024), generating a record of US$31.5 million in revenue due to higher realized gold prices. The acquisition of the Moss Mine was completed at the very end of the quarter, with 936 gold ounces sold from the residual leach operations in the few days that Mako owned the mine during Q1 2025. Record high gold prices are having a significantly positive effect on the Company, which allowed Mako to reinvest in exploration in Nicaragua, rapidly advance the Eagle Mountain project in Guyana and acquire the Moss Mine in Arizona, all while increasing cash on the balance sheet to be used for the eventual construction of the Eagle Mountain project next year." Cash Balance of approximately $14.2 million as of April 14 th , 2025, after $6.5 million payment made for the acquisition of the Moss Mine (See press release dated March 27 th , 2025) Tax payment of $4.0 million in cash which was already accrued in Q4 2024 Delivered 40,500 oz of silver as part of Sailfish Silver loan for a total of $1.3 million in Q1 2025 Moss Mine sales of 936 oz Au from residual leaching activities at $2,997 per ounce (this doesn't include 605 oz Au sold in 2025 prior to the acquisition of Moss Mine) At quarter end, the stockpile was estimated at 126,248 tonnes at an average grade of 2.61 g/t Au for contained Au of 10,587 oz 52% and 48% from diluted vein and historical dump and other, respectively 19,650 tonnes mined from historical dump and other mineralized material above cutoff grade (" historical dump + other ") containing 1,875 oz Au at 2.97 g/t Au and 2,259 oz Ag at 3.58 g/t Ag 48,813 tonnes mined, containing 11,495 ounces ("oz") of gold ("Au") at an average grade of 7.32 grams per tonne ("g/t") Au and 12,036 oz of silver ("Ag") at 7.67 g/t Ag VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Mako Mining Corp. (TSX-V:MKO)(OTCQX:MAKOF) (" Mako " or the " Company ") is pleased to provide first quarter 2025 (" Q1 2025 ") production results for the Company's San Albino gold mine (" San Albino ") in northern Nicaragua and an update on the Eagle Mountain gold project in Guyana. Certain amounts shown in this news release may not total to exact amounts due to rounding differences. All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. Story Continues Table 1 - Operating Results for San Albino * Includes historical dump, hanging wall, footwall, historical muck and all other non-vein mineralized material above cutoff grade. **For the purpose of calculating revenue, payments to Sailfish are deducted from the Average Realized Price Gold. (1) Strip Ratio calculation does not include waste material that is capitalized (2) Equivalent Gold ounces are calculated by: Silver recovered. or Silver sold (oz) / Avg. Realized Price Gold ($/oz) / Avg. Realized Price Silver ($/oz) Table 2 - Quarter-End Stockpile Statistics ** Includes historical dump, hanging wall, footwall, historical muck and all other non-vein mineralized material above cutoff grade. Mining at San Albino The mine produced an average of 542 tonnes per day of diluted vein and historical dump + other material in Q1 2025. The strip ratio averaged 46.6:1, which included accelerated waste development of the Bayacun and Limon-Mango Pit with the goal of improving the mining sequence and increasing access to higher gold grades in the second and third quarter of 2025. In Q1 2025, diluted vein material was sourced from three different veins: Las Conchitas South (El Limon-Mango 20%, Las Dolores 24%) and Las Conchitas Central (Cruz Grande 56%). In Q2 2025, production is also expected from the high-grade Bayacun and Intermediate veins located in Las Conchitas South and Las Conchitas Central, respectively. Milling at San Albino During Q1 2025, the plant throughput rate averaged 608 tpd, 22% above nameplate capacity. Mill availability remained high at 98% which compares favorably with industry averages. The mill head grade averaged 7.10 g/t Au, comprised of 52% diluted vein material and 48% historical dump + other material. A total of 10,436 ounces of gold were recovered during the quarter at a mill recovery of 85.3%. Eagle Mountain Gold Project Consistent with the 2024 work program at the Eagle Mountain Project, the Q1 2025 work program included engineering and environmental activities to confirm mine design parameters and to generate the data and studies required to complete an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") for submission to the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). The Company is targeting H2 2025 for the submission of the EIS. Phase 2 activities, which commenced in January 2025, comprised geotechnical drilling and testing of the saprolite and underlying fresh rock to facilitate infrastructure siting studies and site hydrogeological drilling to generate data for both pit optimization and water resource management studies. Q1 2025 activities also included environmental geochemical testing of water, soils, and rock for which analyses are ongoing. In March 2025, the Company officially initiated the regulatory permitting process in Guyana through the submission of Environmental Application and Project Summary documents to the Guyana EPA. On behalf of the Board, Akiba Leisman Chief Executive Officer Qualified Person John Rust, a metallurgical engineer and qualified person (as defined under NI 43-101) has read and approved the technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Rust is a senior metallurgist and a consultant to the Company. About Mako Mako Mining Corp. is a publicly listed gold mining, development and exploration company. The Company operates the high-grade San Albino gold mine in Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua, which ranks as one of the highest-grade open pit gold mines globally and offers district-scale exploration potential. Mako also owns the Moss Mine in Arizona, an open pit gold mine in northwestern Arizona. Mako also holds a 100% interest in the PEA-stage Eagle Mountain Project in Guyana, South America. Eagle Mountain is the subject of engineering, environmental and mine permitting activity. For further information: Mako Mining Corp., Akiba Leisman, Chief Executive Officer, Telephone: 917-558-5289, E-mail: aleisman@makominingcorp.com or visit our website at www.makominingcorp.com and SEDAR www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-Looking Information: Statements contained herein, other than historical fact, may be considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained herein is based on the Company's plans and expectations and assumptions as of the date such statements forward looking statements include that: all associated capital expenditures required to restart mining operations at Moss mine will be funded out of a small fraction of the Company's cash generation from Q1 2025; expectations stated regarding Q2 and Q3 2025 production at San Albino, expected timing for the submission of the EIS to the Guyana EPA. Such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation; that production results in Q2 and Q3 2025 will not meet expectations; that the EIS will not be submitted on the timeline expected; uncertainty related to mining exploration properties; political risks and uncertainties involving the Company's mineral properties; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expense; commodity price fluctuations and other risks and uncertainties as disclosed in the Company's public disclosure filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof, based on information currently available and is included for the purposes of providing investors with the Company's expectations regarding the Company's Q1 2025 production and operating results at San Albino gold project, financial highlights for Q1 2025 and current corporate updates, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Mako does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Mako Mining Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Dividend growth typically is strongest in Q1, as most companies finish their fiscal year and prepare for their shareholder meeting. For Q1 2025, growth, while noticeably slower, did continue and was in line with expectations given the current economic uncertainties. This uncertainty however did not appear to stop increases, though it did limit them, as forward commitment levels appeared shy. Howard Silverblatt, a Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices, expressed continued optimism about the overall outlook for dividends. However, he also acknowledged some uncertainty ahead, given the current market conditions. He made the following comment about the situation. Additional data from S&P Dow Jones Indices showed that 758 companies raised or initiated dividend payments in Q1 2025, which is a slight decline from 796 in the same period last year, reflecting a 4.8% year-over-year drop. Despite this, the total value of these increases amounted to $19.5 billion for the quarter. Over the 12-month period ending in March 2025, a total of 2,412 companies raised their dividend payments, marking a slight uptick from the 2,411 companies that did so in the same period the previous year. The total value of these dividend increases reached $68.2 billion, just edging past the $68.1 billion recorded during the prior 12-month stretch. The same report noted that overall dividend payments climbed by roughly 6% to 7%, though this was slightly below the pre-2025 expectation of 8%. In comparison, dividend payouts rose by 6.4% in 2024 and 5.1% in 2023. According to data from S&P Dow Jones Indices, US domestic common stocks saw a net dividend increase of $15.3 billion in the first quarter of 2025, which is an improvement over the $11.7 billion increase seen in the previous quarter. Over the 12 months ending in March 2025, dividend hikes amounted to $68.2 billion, just above the $68.1 billion reported the year before. Meanwhile, dividend cuts dropped significantly, totaling $15.6 billion, compared to $25.2 billion in the prior 12-month period. Dividend-paying stocks have remained popular among investors due to their strong historical performance. This sustained interest has led many companies to maintain their dividend payouts, raise them, or introduce new dividend policies altogether. We recently published a list of the 10 Dividend Stocks with Sustainable Payout Ratios . In this article, we are going to take a look at where McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) stands against other best dividend stocks with sustainable payout ratios. Story Continues Despite some caution, analysts remain positive on dividend stocks, pointing out that US companies are well-positioned to sustain their payouts thanks to strong cash reserves. Nuveen, a financial planning firm based in Illinois, noted that an increasing number of companies are likely to roll out dividend policies, supported by the current cash-rich environment, which could drive stronger-than-expected dividend growth in 2025. The report mentioned that as of September 30, 2024, corporate cash holdings stood at $1.8 trillion, which was close to their highest levels in the past 20 years. With equity valuations running above historical norms, Nuveen believes that companies may lean more toward boosting dividend payments as a way to return value to shareholders, rather than relying on stock buybacks, which may be less attractive in a higher-valuation landscape. Analysts generally consider a payout ratio in the range of 30% to 50% to be optimal because it indicates that a company is returning a healthy portion of its earnings to shareholders while still retaining enough profits to reinvest in its business and support future growth. McKesson Corporation (MCK): One of the Dividend Stocks with Sustainable Payout Ratios A successful pharmacist in front of shelves of drugs in a community-based oncology pharmacy. Our Methodology For this article, we screened for companies that consistently distribute dividends to their shareholders. From this initial selection, we narrowed down the list to include only those companies with a 5-year average payout ratio below 50%, indicating a robust cash position. Subsequently, we identified the top 10 companies meeting these criteria and arranged them in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that held stakes in each of them, as per Insider Monkeys database of Q4 2024. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) 5-Year Average Payout Ratio: 15.34% McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) is a Texas-based healthcare company that focuses on pharmaceutical distribution, medical supplies, health information technology, and healthcare management solutions. In recent years, the company has sharpened its focus on the U.S. and Canadian markets, scaling back its presence in parts of Europe to better concentrate its resources. Its operational strength is underpinned by an expansive distribution network and solid ties with suppliers and customers, enabling efficient service delivery across its core business areas. During fiscal Q3 2025, McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) reported revenue of $95.3 billionan 18% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Adjusted operating profit also climbed 16% to $1.5 billion. However, revenue fell slightly short of analyst projections of $96.08 billion, partly due to weaker performance in the U.S. pharmaceutical segment. With a forward P/E ratio of 18.80, the company is considered one of the more attractive value plays in the market. Following its strong quarterly performance, McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $32.55 to $32.95, reflecting a projected annual growth of 19% to 20%. The company also reaffirmed its focus on rewarding shareholders, distributing $3.1 billion in the first nine months of 2024, including $254 million in dividend payments. Its quarterly dividend comes in at $0.71 per share for a dividend yield of 0.41%, as of April 17. It is one of the best dividend stocks on our list as the company has been rewarding shareholders with growing dividends for the past eight years. Overall, MCK ranks 1st on our list of the best dividend stocks with sustainable payout ratios. While we acknowledge the potential of MCK as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than MCK but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. These are trying times for student loan borrowers. President Donald Trump aims to shut down the U.S. Department of Education and have the Small Business Administration take over federal student loan payments, Forbes reported. His administration could also end loan forgiveness programs for certain types of borrowers. Read More: If Trump Eliminates the Department of Education, Do You Still Have To Pay Your Student Loans? Find Out: These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle Meanwhile, student loan debt in the U.S. grew to $1.78 trillion in 2024 after declining the previous year, according to the Education Data Initiative. The average federal student loan debt balance is $38,375, while the total average balance (including private loan debt) could reach as high as $41,618. Another troubling trend is this: Nearly one-third (29%) of student loan debt holders say their debt has kept them from homeownership, according to separate research from the Education Data Initiative. Almost three-quarters (72%) of student debt holders who dont own homes say they believe student loan debt will delay homeownership. Discover Next: Do Your Student Loans Affect Your Credit? Here are some other highlights from the study: 37% of first-time homebuyers have student loan debt. First-time homebuyers with student loan debt spend an average of 39% less on their homes than buyers without student debt. 39% of Generation Z said their student loan debt is delaying them from owning a home. 60% of millennials said student loan debt postponed them from buying a home. 53% of Generation X said student loan debt is delaying them from owning a home. 37% of baby boomers said student debt postponed them from buying a home. Student loan borrowers face two main barriers to homeownership. One is that they cant afford to save for a down payment while paying off student loans. The other is that they cant qualify for a mortgage loan with student debt weighing on their credit scores. But there are some steps they can take to overcome these hurdles. A couple involves life events such as getting married and having children, both of which improve your chances of homeownership, the Education Data Initiative found. Holding a steady job also makes it easier to qualify for homeownership. Here are some other ways to improve your chances of owning a home: One Stop Business Finance (OSBF) has expanded its team with the appointment of three new business development managers. The new hires Kyle Tillyer, Robert Burke, and Alexander Hone each bring experience in the financial sector, enhancing the companys coverage across England and Wales. Tillyer brings experience from both the brokerage and banking sectors, where he has supported small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with their commercial finance requirements throughout the UK. He will be responsible for Leicester, Northampton and Milton Keynes. Burke, who will cover London, Surrey, and Sussex, has experience in traditional banking, having worked with Lloyds and Metro Bank. Hone will cover Norwich, Ipswich, and Cambridge. His career began in financial advisories, leading him to work in London, Geneva, and Dubai, where he managed a lead-generating business for financial institutions. OSBF founder and managing director Andrew Mackenzie said: We are delighted to welcome three high-calibre BDMs to join our expanding team. Working together, we are looking to achieve some challenging and exciting targets, and I am confident that Kyle, Robert and Alex will contribute to these aims, including reaching our own strategic objective of a 100m loan book by the end of 2027. In January, OSBF secured a 10m ($12.5m) facility from Hampshire Trust Bank, a UK-based institution, to support its growth. This funding aims to expand OSBFs loan book, enabling the company to offer its "friendly flexible funding solutions" to more SMEs across the UK. OSBF specialises in custom-made funding options, providing services such as working capital solutions, revolving credit facilities, bridging, and development loans. This partnership with Hampshire Trust Bank marks the third institutional funding partner for OSBF, alongside Shawbrook and Renaissance. Meanwhile, in October, OSBF expanded its financial facility with Shawbrook Bank to 20m. "OSBF expands UK team with three hires " was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. We recently published a list of the 13 Best American Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) stands against other best American dividend stocks. Dividend-paying stocks have long benefited investors by delivering consistent and solid returns. During periods of economic uncertainty, theyve generally performed more reliably than many other types of investments. Because of these qualities, more investors are turning to dividend stocks to take advantage of their compounding potential. This growing optimism has also encouraged several companies to join the dividend club, which was evident in the way tech firms eagerly began issuing dividends in 2024. According to a report by S&P Dow Jones Indices, dividends paid by the S&P companies reached a new high of $167.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 6.7% increase from the previous quarters $157.0 billionwhich itself had set a record. This also represented an 8.7% rise compared to the $154.1 billion paid out in Q4 2023. For the full year, total dividend payments hit an all-time high of $629.6 billion in 2024, up 7.0% from the $588.2 billion distributed in 2023. The report further mentioned that the indicated dividends for the top 20 companies in the S&P index amounted to over $141 billion. Howard Silverblatt, Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices, made the following comment about dividends: Under an increased tax, some of the expenditures may shift from buybacks to dividends. However, any shift was not seen as being on a dollar-for-dollar basis as dividends remain a long-term pure cash-flow item which must be incorporated into corporate budgets. Dividends have played a key role in driving overall returns from equity investments over the long haul. This was emphasized in a study by London-based Guinness Global Investors, which examined the broader markets performance dating back to 1940. According to their analysis, dividends and reinvested payouts made up about 94% of the indexs total return during that time. To put it in perspective, a $100 investment made at the end of 1940 would have grown to roughly $525,000 by the end of 2019 if dividends were reinvested, compared to just $30,000 if the dividends had simply been taken as cash. The report also pointed out that dividends become a more significant part of total returns the longer an investment is held. Since 1940, for the broader market, dividends have made up about 27% of total returns over a typical one-year holding period. Stretching that to three years, their contribution rises to 36%. Over five years, it climbs to 40%, and over ten years, it reaches 47%. For investors who hold their positions for twenty years, dividends end up accounting for around 57% of the total returns. Due to this performance, analysts also recommend investing in dividend stocks. Peter Schiff isn't shy when it comes to challenging conventional wisdom about taxesor anything else, really. On Tuesday, the prominent economist posted on X, quoting his late father Irwin Schiff: My father Irwin Schiff always called April 15th the real April Fools Day, as that was the day the IRS fooled millions of Americans into voluntarily filing income tax returns (what he called confessions) even though no law required anyone to file those returns or pay the tax. Don't Miss: Irwin Schiff's Radical Stance on Taxes Irwin Schiff, who died in 2015 at age 87 while serving a 14-year prison sentence for tax evasion, was one of the most vocal critics of the federal income tax in modern American history. He claimed the tax was unconstitutional and built a national following by teaching others how to avoid it. His books, including How Anyone Can Stop Paying Income Taxes and The Federal Mafia, sold more than 250,000 copies, according to The New York Times, which wrote a sprawling obituary for him. His argument rested on two key points: First, that the Constitution limited Congress from imposing direct taxes without apportionment, and that the 16th Amendment did not change that. Second, he argued that filling out a tax return violated the Fifth Amendment because any information provided could be used against the filer. Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates. Despite decades of court rulings dismissing these claims, Schiff stuck to his views. He told a federal judge in 1980, You, sir, would be the lawbreaker, not I, after being sentenced to six months in prison for failing to file returns in 1974 and 1975. He later served additional sentences for promoting tax evasion schemes that the federal government said resulted in $56 million in lost revenue. Peter Schiff Distances Himself While Peter Schiff has praised his fathers intellectual case against the income tax, he's being transparent in that he doesn't follow his father's example. When asked if he files his taxes, Peter responded under his X post: Yes, I dont want to go to jail for not filing like my father did, so I volunteer.' ReconAfrica has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), Angolas national concessionaire and regulator, to explore the Etosha-Okavango basin onshore Angola. This move expands ReconAfrica's asset portfolio, offering access to onshore Angola's oil and gas sector at a low cost and with minimal work commitments. The collaboration aims to leverage the potential of the Damara Fold Belt and Rift Basin, adding 5.2 million acres in Angola to ReconAfrica's existing 6.3 million acres in Namibia. ReconAfrica will hold 80% working interest in the MoU area, and the remaining 20% interest will be held by Sonangol, with exclusive rights for ReconAfrica during the MoU term. Under the MoU, ReconAfrica will oversee geological studies, a regional oil and gas seep study, and plan a 2D seismic programme. The company will also conduct detailed geochemical analysis and sampling over a two-year period. ReconAfrica president and CEO Brian Reinsborough stated: The encouraging technical results from our recent Naingopo exploration well on PEL 73 onshore Namibia have strengthened our belief in the significant hydrocarbon potential of the Damara Fold Belt play. Our regional geological models indicate that the promising Fold Belt play, known for hosting some of the worlds largest fields and covering extensive areas, likely extends into Angola. As a result, we are excited to be entering into a strategic MOU with ANPG. Recent regulatory reforms make Angola an attractive jurisdiction for new oil and gas exploration, and we look forward to working with ANPG and Sonangol as we progress our exploration initiatives. ReconAfrica has also announced plans to start drilling at Prospect I situated 47km from its Angolan MoU area onshore Namibia. The company is targeting 365 million barrels of light/medium oil and 1.9 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas on an unrisked basis, with risked resources estimated at 32 million barrels of oil (mbbl) and 140 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas, all on a 100% interest basis. "ReconAfrica partners with ANPG for joint exploration project in Angola" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Slovenias finance ministry has proposed a 25% tax on capital gains from cryptocurrency starting in 2026, under a draft law aimed at closing a gap in the countrys tax system. The tax will apply to profit made when individuals sell crypto for fiat currency or spend it on goods and services. However, swapping one cryptocurrency for another will remain tax-free, and any gains made before January 1, 2026, will not be taxed, according to the finance ministrys proposal. The measure is meant to treat crypto gains more like other capital investments, such as stocks or bonds, which are already taxed. Under the law, individuals would calculate their profit as the difference between the value at acquisition and at sale, adjusted for transaction fees. Losses can be carried forward to offset future gains. Taxpayers would need to file an annual return by March 31 and make payment within 15 days. The tax could generate between 2.5 million and 25 million annually, according to preliminary government estimates. The countrys Ministry of Finance is soliciting public feedback on the proposal, which would come into effect next year. The proposal comes as data from the European Central Banks Survey on Consumer Payment Attitudes in the Euro Area shows Slovenia has the highest share of cryptocurrency owners in the euro area, with 15% of adults holding digital currencies last year, up from 8% in 2022. Disclaimer: Information collected for this article was translated with the use of artificial intelligence. South Mill Champs (SMC), a mushroom grower and supplier in North America, has collaborated with Sprouts Farmers Market in Denver, Colorado, US, to launch flow-wrapped bamboo tills for its mushroom products. This partnership marks the first instance of Sprouts stocking SMC's mushrooms in this new eco-friendly packaging format. The new 8oz flow-wrapped bamboo tills are set to be available in Sprouts stores starting this month. The packaging employs flow wrap made from biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, combined with bamboo tills, which present multiple benefits compared to conventional plastic mushroom packaging. The BOPP film features perforations that facilitate natural evaporation, which helps to maintain product quality, extend shelf life, and prevent discoloration caused by condensation, thereby reducing spoilage risks associated with excess moisture. Furthermore, the flow wrap technology is designed to minimise material waste by ensuring the film is accurately cut to fit each product. In contrast to traditional plastic packaging, the bamboo tills are both recyclable and biodegradable, according to the company. South Mill Champs fresh sales vice president Sandy Malouff-Quintana said: We are dedicated to continuous improvements in our sustainable growing practices. Our responsible production methods allow us to grow and produce wholesome mushroom products for consumers, foodservice, and retail. Bamboo is a sustainable resource that requires less water than trees and can be harvested sustainably. The bamboo tills are naturally heat resistant, have low moisture absorption, and are produced without chemical coatings or fossil fuels. This initiative aligns with South Mill Champs' commitment to responsible nourishment by seeking packaging alternatives that reduce reliance on heavy plastics. "South Mill Champs, Sprouts collaborate on eco-friendly mushroom packaging" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. TenneT has announced a significant restructuring of its funding to facilitate the separation of its Dutch and German operations into two independently operating and financed entities. This move is aimed at addressing the equity needs of its German operations and ensuring a robust financial foundation for both companies. The proposed new funding structure will involve transferring TenneT's existing senior debt from the holding level to TenneT Netherlands. This strategic shift is designed to safeguard the interests of senior debt holders and prevent structural subordination due to anticipated new debt at the operational levels of TenneT Netherlands and TenneT Germany. TenneT CFO Arina Freitag said: "Today is an important step towards the formation of two separately financed national TSOs under the umbrella of TenneT Holding, in line with TenneT's strategic objectives. With this new financing structure, we can continue to ensure a safe and reliable electricity supply in the Netherlands and Germany." To support this transition, TenneT Netherlands is poised to receive a state guarantee from the Netherlands, covering its payment obligations under both current and future debt financing. This includes debt involved in the planned transfer, with certain exceptions. The guarantee is also expected to include a keep-well obligation, although it is still pending approval from the Dutch parliament. Once approved, the state guarantee is anticipated to bring TenneT Netherlands' senior debt credit risk in line with that of the Dutch state itself. Dutch Minister of Finance Eelco Heinen said: "We are confident that the new funding structure, supported by the state guarantee, will provide TenneT Netherlands with a strong financial basis to continue to invest in the Dutch electricity grid, and at the same time enable separate funding of TenneT Germany. In a separate development, TenneT has also launched an initiative to offer over 9GW of capacity on its high-voltage grid to high-energy users during off-peak hours. "TenneT announces new funding structure for Dutch and German operations" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Artur Widak / NurPhoto via Getty Images Key Takeaways Tesla is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings after markets close on Tuesday, with options pricing suggesting that traders expect the results to move its shares dramatically. Tesla shares have registered an average post-earnings move of 12.3% over the past four quarters. Slowing EV sales and CEO Elon Musk's controversial work with President Trump have weighed on shares, which have lost about half their value since hitting an all-time high in December. Tesla is scheduled to report first-quarter results after the closing bell Tuesday. Investors are strapping in for another big post-earnings stock move in the EV maker's shares. Options pricing suggests traders expect Tesla (TSLA) stock to move approximately 9.3% in either direction in the days after its report. A move of that magnitude would put Tesla stock in a range of $263.82 to $218.92; it closed Thursday around $241. Tesla has historically been among the most volatile stocks in the S&P 500 around earnings releases. Over the past four quarters, its stock has averaged a 12.3% move the day after reporting earnings. The range of post-earnings moves is wideshares jumped nearly 22% after reporting last October and slumped more than 12% in the prior quarter. Investors are heading into this earnings season mired in uncertainty. President Trump has paused most of the tariffs he announced earlier this month, but has left in place massive duties on Chinese goods and made conflicting statements about being open to exemptions. Economic data has remained strong, but some economists warn that damage from tariffs is bound to show up eventually. According to JPMorgan analysts, the options market is pricing in some of the largest average implied moves around earnings since the first quarter of 2020. For Tesla, sales have fallen across the globe, weighed down by a consumer backlash to CEO Elon Musks verbal and financial support of international far-right movements. Analysts and investors, meanwhile, have voiced concerns that Musks work with the White House is distracting him from leading his companies. Teslas access to foreign markets, meanwhile, is at risk of becoming a bargaining chip for other countries negotiating trade deals with Trump. Tesla's shares nearly doubled in the month and a half after Trump won re-election with Musks backing. They have since tumbled about 50%, putting them back where they were before Election Day. With Teslas EV sales under pressure, investors will be looking for encouraging updates on artificial intelligence, seen as its next growth driver. Musk may confirm this week that Tesla is on track to launch its first commercial robotaxi network in Austin, Texas, this June. He may also elaborate on the companys plans to develop Optimus, Teslas humanoid robot, on a commercial scale. Read the original article on Investopedia We recently published a list of the 11 Most Promising Penny Stocks According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) stands against other promising penny stocks. Solus Dan Greenhaus, and Invescos Brian Levitt together appeared on CNBCs Closing Bell on April 15 to talk about tariffs, market uncertainty, and risk concerns. The discussion started with Dan Greenhaus expressing his belief that many worst-case scenarios are already priced into the market. He acknowledged that hes cautious but not overly worried. He pointed out recent events, like the exemptions on auto part imports and the 90-day delay on tariff implementation, as evidence that President Trump is listening to advisors and avoiding pushing toward extreme outcomes. Greenhaus attributed these actions to the rebound seen in the stock market. At the same time, he agreed that the administration has been rather inconsistent, in the context of Morgan Stanleys comment that investors should prepare for more inconsistencies. But he argued that many investors are assuming scenarios closer to the worst rather than the best. He emphasized that while frightening predictions about skyrocketing prices are taking over media right now, these scenarios are unlikely to materialize. Brian Levitt built on Greenhaus optimism while acknowledging the ongoing uncertainty as well. He attributed this uncertainty to the reliance on decisions from the White House rather than traditional policy mechanisms. He compared the current situation to 2018 when markets fell 20% in a quarter before rebounding due to trade pauses and Fed intervention. He cautioned that the current S&P 500 multiples are not at recession levels so there are potential downside risks if uncertainty remains. While Levitt thinks that business investment and consumer confidence metrics show signs of prolonged volatility, Greenhaus further emphasizes that periods of heightened uncertainty often end up presenting long-term investment opportunities. He acknowledged risks such as sudden tariff increases but also encouraged investors to take advantage of these moments when risk premiums rise. Our Methodology We sifted through the Finviz stock screener to compile a list of the top penny stocks that were trading below $5 and had the highest analysts upside potential (at least 40%). The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their upside potential. We have also added the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, as of Q4 2024, which was sourced from Insider Monkeys database. Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has created a "code red situation" for the automaker through his work in the Trump administration, warned British bank Barclays. The bank slashed its price target on TSLA to $275 from $325. It kept an Equal Weight rating on the name. Jim Cramer Urges Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) to Bring on the Humanoids Meanwhile, well-known analyst Dan Ives, who works for investment bank Wedbush, wrote what he believes the tech giant must accomplish going forward. Barclays' Take on TSLA In addition to Musk's participation in DOGE, Tesla is being undermined by its deteriorating fundamentals, according to the British bank. Consequently, TSLA will have a tough time selling more automobiles in 2025 than it did in 2024, Barclays believes. On the other hand, according to the British bank, Musk can right the ship by talking about the launch of Tesla's robotaxis on its upcoming earnings call, which is slated to occur tomorrow. Ives' Advice to Musk Tesla's CEO needs to resign from the Trump administration and provide "the timeline (and) hard facts" regarding the robotaxi launch and the company's robotics initiatives, Ives wrote. Even if Musk steps down from the government now, "there will be permanent brand damage," according to Ives. But "the (company's) long-term story will not be altered," he believes. By remaining with DOGE, Musk would "change the future of Tesla (and its) brand damage will grow," Ives stated. While we acknowledge the potential of TSLA, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TSLA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Although fewer activist campaigns were submitted by sustainability-minded shareholder activists to business annual meetings this year, conflicts on issues like corporate diversity initiatives still exist. As of February 21, investors pressuring corporations on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues submitted 355 shareholder proposals, compared to 536 at the same time in 2024 and 542 at the same time in 2023. Demands for merger & acquisition actions, such as selling a firm or selling business units, are still largely ignored, appearing in only around 25% of campaigns. Since the worldwide deal volume reached a record high in 2021, M&A requests have decreased by around half. Secondly, activist investors are also agitating for strategic and operational changes, believing they could help unlock hidden value. Finally, 26% of the campaigns pushed for merger and acquisition activity, a significant drop from the historical average of 45%. According to a Barclays report, many activist investors remain focused on pushing for board changes. It also emerged that activists increasingly have their way as part of the campaigns, having won 51 board seats, up 34% from the same quarter a year ago. The US remains the epicenter of shareholder activism, accounting for over half of the first quarters campaigns. Japan comes second with 16 campaigns, accounting for a 45% increase compared to the same period last year. The fresh efforts this year follow a record number of activist shareholders targeting businesses around the world in 2024. Additionally, the campaigns are on the rise owing to the market instability caused by President Donald Trumps tariffs, widespread layoffs at U.S. government agencies, and recessionary fears. We are in a phase where activists continue to take advantage of all the uncertainties, said Jim Rossman, global head of shareholder advisory at Barclays. In early 2025 we have seen more fights, more settlements and more board seats won by the activists than we did this time a year ago. Economic uncertainty and market volatility are some of the factors fueling activist investor campaigns in 2025. In the first quarter alone, there was a 17% jump in activist campaigns, affirming how high-profile activist investors are becoming agitated and increasingly pushing for strategic changes aimed at unlocking shareholder value. We recently published a list of 15 Recent Activist Investor Campaigns . In this article, we are going to take a look at where United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) stands against other recent activist investor campaigns. Story Continues The decline came amid growing concerns that big investors will not support the measures. Additionally, ESG-focused activist investors also remained wary that Republican regulators would not approve their resolutions to go to a vote. Additionally, the decline came as companies became wary of unnecessary public battles, opting to make changes to avoid unwanted proxy fights. Activism is also becoming a popular strategy for newcomers, including freshly founded hedge funds that have never launched a campaign before. These funds are anxious to make a return in difficult times and are emboldened by the success of others. According to the data, eleven so-called first-timers ran campaigns during the quarter. Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, Barclays bankers anticipate that the majority of activity will continue to be concentrated on U.S. corporations and that more companies will have to respond to shareholder demands. Our Methodology We sifted through financial media reports and news articles to identify 15 recent activist investor campaigns. We then examined some of the strategic changes that the activist investors are agitating and the impact they are likely to have in the long run. Finally, we ranked the activist campaigns in ascending order based on when they occurred. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). United States Steel Corporation (X): Among Recent Activist Investor Campaigns An overhead view of a factory floor, teeming with robotic arms assembling cars. United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) Value of Stake: $1 Billion Ancora Holdings Activist Campaign Initiated: January 2025 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63 United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) is a basic materials company that manufactures a wide range of steel products. It also invests in technology to support the growing demand for electric vehicles and other green energy production. Activist hedge fund Ancora Holdings has been adding stakes in the steel company while pushing for management changes as part of its activist campaign. With stakes worth $100 million, Ancora Holdings wants to replace the board and install a new chief executive officer. The push for management changes is part of the activist hedge fund bid to steer the American steelmakers turnaround. The hedge fund insists its turnaround plan has the potential to deliver more than $75 per share if a proposed takeover by Nippon Steel Corp falls through. In addition to pushing for management changes, Ancora Holdings wants United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) to use part of its existing cash and liquidity to invest in revitalizing plants in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois. The activist hedge fund also wants the steel producer to use proceeds from potential asset sales to fund a new $3.2 billion blast furnace facility in Indiana. Ancora wants US Steel to divest its non-union Big River assets valued at between $8 billion and $9 billion. Overall, X ranks 9th on our list of recent activist investor campaigns. While we acknowledge the potential of X as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than X but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. We recently published a list of Billionaire Rob Citrones Top 10 Stock Picks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Vista Energy S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VIST) stands against other billionaire Rob Citrones top stock picks. Robert K. Citrone is a well-known figure in the financial world. Rob, as many call him, is the co-founder of Discovery Capital Management, a hedge fund that has put the investor on the billionaires list. Others may remember him as one of the famous Tiger Cubsformer members of Julian Robertsons Tiger Management who went on to establish their own successful hedge funds. Citrone also previously worked with George Soros, Fidelity Investments, and First Boston, where he focused on emerging markets. That focus hasnt wavered since then. Citrones voice matters a lot in the investment world. This has a lot to do with this hedge funds performance since its inception. In the last four quarters alone (up to Q4, 2024), for instance, the hedge fund has returned 48.03%. Citrones fund also managed to almost double its assets under management (AUM) in just one quarter; AUM grew from $0.8 billion in Q3 2024 to $1.5 billion in Q4 2024. The jump reflects a good year in the market, but that is just one way of looking at it. It is also evidence of renewed investor confidence in Citrones fund after a couple of ups and downs. For instance, the fund experienced negative returns in 2014 and 2015 and managed to reverse the trend in 2016. READ ALSO: Jeff Smiths Top 10 Activist Targets and Their Returns Compared to the S&P 500 and 10 Value Stocks in Ken Fishers Portfolio. No wonder when Rob speaks, investors listen. And many have been following his comments on the prevailing market conditions, especially after Trump threw global trade in a spin with a salvo of tariffs. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, Citrone regretted not selling more stocks before Trump took on the globe in a trade war. I should have sold more, he said. This comment is rich coming from an investor who has been bearish most of this year. The Tiger Cub trimmed by half his net equity exposure to the United States at the end of January this year. His goal then was to get flat to short in the coming weeks primarily in developed markets. The main reason for the bearish stance was an anticipation of volatility once Trump took office. And it now looks like the billionaire is looking South. Recent reports indicate that Citrone is betting on Argentina. While on a trip to the country, Citrone said that the next ten years will be the decade of Latin America and Argentina will lead that process. Milei is a very important example for Latin America, but more than that, he is important for the world and for the United States. Thats why we must do everything possible to help Argentina. But that doesnt mean he has given up on US equities. Citrone expects a shallower recession than previously thought and he believes that there will be strong growth in the second half of the year. There's never been much certainty in the market, but the recent turmoil from President Donald Trump's tariff announcements has significantly raised the short-term uncertainty level. Market fluctuations are not unusual, but a trade war with China and elevated tariffs with other countries have many investors worried about the state of the U.S. economy. Where does this leave Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) as the company works to launch its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) business? Here's where the company might end up one year from now. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue Image source: Getty Images. Archer has enough funds to keep the lights on Archer Aviation has consistently raised funding to get the company up and running, build its Midnight aircraft, and launch its air taxi service. At the beginning of this year, Archer had about $1 billion in liquidity after a $302 million investment. CEO Adam Goldstein said this money gives the company "our strongest liquidity position to date." That's good news because Archer had a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net loss of nearly $537 million in 2024 and has no sales yet. Over the next year, Archer may be able to generate some sales, with management saying in February, "We are on track to deliver our first revenue-generating Midnight aircraft later this year." So, over the next year, investors should expect some sales, but it's still uncertain how much. Some analysts estimate that Archer will earn about $37 million in revenue, but even with modest sales, it won't be even remotely close to profitable. Big unknowns remain over the next year Archer said it could produce as many as two aircraft per month at its Covington, Georgia, manufacturing facility by the end of this year and reach 650 by 2030. But it's worth mentioning that there are some significant uncertainties in manufacturing, parts sourcing, and the economy right now. For example, Archer sources the batteries for its Midnight aircraft from a company called Molicel, which is based in Taiwan. Currently, there's a 10% tariff on imports from Taiwan, and it could go up to 32% if the country doesn't come to a trade agreement with the Trump administration. It's still too early to tell how this might impact Archer, but it would be premature to assume the cost of parts from Taiwan, or from other countries, will not increase over the next year. What's more, Stellantis is Archer's main manufacturing partner and has contributed a considerable sum in investments. But Stellantis is facing its own difficulties with tariffs, and has already temporarily paused vehicle production in Mexico and Canada. If Stellantis faces higher costs, slower production, or a very uncertain economic environment, it may not have the same capacity to work with Archer. Reversing course after a terrific week preholiday, shares of rare-earth minerals miner MP Materials (NYSE: MP) gave back most of last week's gains on Monday, sinking 12.2% through 11:40 a.m. ET and returning its share price to where it sat roughly 10 days ago. The reason probably has a lot to do with President Donald Trump's tariff battle with China. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue MP Materials and the tariffs President Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to about 145% over the last few weeks. China has retaliated with 125% tariffs on imports from the U.S. In light of this retaliation, MP Materials announced Thursday that it is halting shipments of rare-earth concentrates to China for processing, noting that "selling our valuable critical materials under 125% tariffs is neither commercially rational nor aligned with America's national interest." That makes sense, but it does come with a downside. According to the company's most recent annual report, one single customer in China, rare earths refiner Shenghe Resources Holding, accounted for about 80% of consolidated revenue for the year ended Dec. 31. Translation: 80% of MP Materials' export business just got vaporized by Trump's tariffs policy. Is MP Materials stock a sell? Not all the news is bad. MP says that it has been preparing for this moment since the start by building factories capable of refining its own concentrate and manufacturing its own rare-earth batteries. The plan will therefore be to produce and stockpile concentrate while accelerating downstream operations. In the near term, however, it's likely MP will suffer a steep drop in revenue and perhaps even larger losses than were previously expected. Long term, Wall Street still expects to see MP Materials turn profitable, but no sooner than 2026. It's going to be a long 12 months for investors as we wait to see how that works out. Should you invest $1,000 in MP Materials right now? Before you buy stock in MP Materials, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and MP Materials wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $524,747!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $622,041!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 792% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 153% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks Abacus Worldwide, an international association of independent accounting, consulting, and legal firms, has expanded its network with the addition of New York-based JTS Associates CPAs. JTS Associates CPAs has been catering to small and midsize businesses for over 30 years, specialising in audit, accounting, tax, and small business guidance. The firm, ranked among the top CPA firms on Long Island, serves global clients from its two offices there. Abacus Worldwide president and CEO Julio Gabay said: New York plays a strategic role for many companies looking to do business in the United States. The addition of JTS ensures our global membership has access to expertise there for their clients looking at US expansion and growth. The association aims to be a cost effective and accessible resource for expanding businesses, facilitating connections among members to address client requirements on both a local and global scale. Its latest expansion follows the addition of Brazilian accounting firm Vision Auditoria in February. Founded in 1995, Vision Auditoria is based in Santa Maria, Rio Grande Do Sul, and offers a range of services across Brazil. The firm works with clients from various industries, offering audit services for companies of all sizes. Besides, Abacus Worldwide appointed Ana Carolina Born from the Brazilian member firm Born Auditores Associados as the new co-chair of its Audit Special Interest Group (ASIG) in January 2025. Born will work alongside Yeong Seng Lim from Singaporean member firm KLP Chartered Accountants in this role. "New Yorks JTS Associates CPAs joins Abacus Worldwide " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday vetoed a bill that would increase costs for open records requests for anyone other than members of the media and give agencies more time to respond to those queries. Youth in Government member and this years Governor Qynton Sayles testifies before the House Education Committee during the 2024 legislative session. For decades, the Colorado Supreme Court has recognized that some civil liability claims like negligence are meant to protect all citizens from harm without the need for an agreement or contract. On the other hand, parties can enter into contracts and litigate breach of contract lawsuits when someone fails to respect the bargain. A federal judge on Monday clarified that she is temporarily halting the government from removing all Venezuelan nationals from Colorado pursuant to a presidential proclamation invoking an 18th Century law against "alien enemies." VATICAN CITY President Donald Trump and Pope Francis, two leaders with contrasting styles and differing worldviews, met at the Vatican on Wednesday, setting aside their previous clashes to broadcast a tone of peace for an audience around the globe. Trump, midway through a grueling nine-day, maiden international journey, called upon the pontiff in a private, 30-minute meeting laden with religious symbolism and ancient protocol. The president, accompanied by his wife and several aides, arrived at the Vatican just after 8 a.m. local time. The president greeted Francis in Sala del Tronetto, the room of the little throne, on the second floor of Apostolic Palace. The Denver-based federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that a trial judge incorrectly interpreted the meaning of "sudden" when he concluded an insurance company need not pay for damage to a home allegedly caused by prolonged construction work nearby. An area man was arrested April 13 for allegedly having sexually exploitative photos and video of underage girls linked to his IP address, according to El Paso County court records. According to the arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette, Matthew Germann, 33, is facing felony distribution and possession charges for sexual exploitation of a child. Detectives with the Colorado Springs Police Department received more than 50 tips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children listing Germann as a suspect through his cell phone number and email address. In February and March 2024, police found more than 500 photos and videos on his phone of prepubescent girls and female toddlers being sexually assaulted by men. The tips were from material ranging from April 2022 through December 2023. Detectives also learned through the tips that Germann was sending the material to other accounts on social media platforms. Featured Local Savings Through investigation, police learned Germann is under investigation in a sexual exploitation of a child case in Sublette County, Wyoming. Public records indicate Germann previously lived in that county, along with former addresses in Woodland Park and Colorado Springs. Police were contacted by Germann's girlfriend March 3, who told them she was concerned about communication she found on Germann's tablet regarding sexual encounters with infants. Officers found material linking Germann to the sexually abusive material and arrested him. Germann was booked into the El Paso County jail and is being held on a $150,000 bond. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., May 13. Dick Wadhams is a former Colorado Republican state chairman who managed campaigns for U.S. Sens. Hank Brown and Wayne Allard, and Gov. Bill Owens. He was campaign manager for U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota when Thune unseated Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in 2004. The Republican members of Colorado's congressional delegation on Wednesday called on Gov. Jared Polis to veto legislation that would require purchasers of certain firearms to undergo gun safety training. Westbound U.S. 24 is closed Monday at Woodmen Road after a crash, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Aoife O'Donovan knows she met Sara Watkins at a MerleFest many years ago, but she can't pinpoint the date. So while some of the memories are a bit hazy, one thing is clear. "I'm sure I was having a great time," O'Donovan said recently in a phone interview from her home in central Florida. The two master musicians hit it off, and at festivals through the years, they spent a good amount of time hanging out and playing music. Separately, they also became pals with another rising folk music sensation, Sarah Jarosz. Each of the three women was rolling with her own successful project O'Donovan with Crooked Still, Watkins with Nickel Creek and Jarosz as a solo artist when they decided to combine their talents and form the folk super group I'm With Her in 2014. "Our chemistry started as friends," O'Donovan said. "And our friendship has only deepened." The band's 2018 debut album "See You Around" was hailed by critics, winding up on several end-of-year best album lists. Their 2020 standalone single, "Call My Name," won a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song. After a seven-year break, made longer by the pandemic, I'm With Her returns with a new album, "Wild and Clear and Blue," that will be released on May 9. On Friday, I'm With Her will play at MerleFest, sandwiched between The War and Treaty and Bonnie Raitt, on the festival's main stage, the Watson Stage. O'Donovan is a MerleFest veteran, having performed there previously with her bands The Wayfaring Strangers and Crooked Still. A native of Newton, Mass., O'Donovan enjoys returning to the Southern Appalachians, home to much of the music that she loves. Doc Watson, the legendary flat-picker who started the festival in honor of his late son, Merle, grew up in Deep Gap, about 20 miles from the stage that I'm With Her will perform on Friday. "MerleFest was one of the first festivals I heard of when I got into this kind of music," O'Donovan said. "One of my first bluegrass albums was 'The Doc Watson Family.' I remember listening to it and falling in love with it and wanting someday to play at MerleFest. It's very special." O'Donovan laughed when she was asked whether she plans to stick around after the I'm With Her set to hear Raitt. "Of course," she said. "She's one of my all-time heroes. 'Streetlights' is one of my desert island albums. I'm in my 40s now and have been doing this a long time, and I'm still inspired by these women who are still very much visible. Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris are super-relevant and inspiring." Some people new to the all-female band might surmise that I'm With Her is tied to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign slogan. The name predates the Clinton campaign. Garrison Keillor, the longtime host of "A Prairie Home Companion" on National Public Radio, coined the name, O'Donovan said. The three women were performing on a cruise ship with Keillor when he suggested the name. In airport lines, the women would often say the refrain to inform people they were traveling as a group. "It really spoke of our friendship, that we're all with each other. Yes, it became a political slogan, but we never changed the name," O'Donovan said. "Of course, Hillary Clinton is deeply inspiring on many levels, so I'm not mad about the association." Each of the women in I'm With Her have deep roots in folk music and are known for their tasteful, virtuosic musicianship and beautiful vocals that weave in and around melodies. That musical melding extends to the way they approach life, making for a joyful collaboration. "There's something about our friendship and camaraderie and what Sara Watkins calls this 'open-hearted collaboration' that really continues to grow within us, and our new record takes that to the next level," O'Donovan said. The women started writing "Wild and Clear and Blue" in 2021, taking long breaks between. They finished writing the album during a retreat in Brevard in 2023, a setting that inspired the last song on the album, "Rhododendron." The album stays true to the folk and bluegrass sound of the first I'm With Her album, she said. "But if you take time to listen from start to finish, weirdly, it's a spiritual record. We're communing with our past and future selves," O'Donovan said. "There are some familial themes, moments when we're wandering in the wilderness and following the sound of spirit voices." When Carrie Conley learned that her vote in the 2024 election was at risk of being thrown out, the news did not come to her through the mail or from any official source. She was scrolling through social media when she came upon a post from the progressive advocacy group Carolina Forward. The post referred to challenges of overseas and military votes brought by Jefferson Griffin, an N.C. Court of Appeals judge and Republican candidate for N.C. Supreme Court. As the spouse of a U.S. Army soldier living in Italy, that caught Conleys attention. She later confirmed that her vote was in fact being challenged. Conley said she was perplexed, surprised, frustrated to find out her vote might not count. For more than two decades, Conley has voted in Guilford County, according to online voting records. In the past, she has taken advantage of absentee voting while attending college at Appalachian State University and during her time moving with her husband for his military service obligations. Her vote is being challenged because she did not include a copy of a photo ID when she submitted her ballot. While photo ID is required for both in-person and absentee voters, a rule adopted by the N.C. State of Board of Elections states this does not apply to military or overseas voters. However, the N.C. Supreme Court decided earlier this month that those casting absentee ballots abroad must comply with photo ID laws and would be given 30 days to do so following mailing of formal notification. Conley is part of a class action lawsuit filed April 14 to block the state elections board from carrying out the courts order. She and the other plaintiffs, which include other North Carolina voters as well as the N.C. League of Women Voters, argue that requiring them to provide the additional verification violates their rights because such a requirement was not in place when they voted. In an interview on Wednesday, Conley herself also spoke of the unfairness of the process. She pointed out that while her vote was challenged, the ballots of other military spouses she knew were not. Griffin only filed protests of overseas and military votes in a few of the states more populous, Democratic-leaning counties. The state elections board has said that the only protests filed by the statutory deadline were those in Guilford County, which voted for Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs over Griffin by a margin of 62%-38%. Conley said she decided to fight because she wanted to stand up for herself and others. I just wanted to help. I wanted to do what I could, Conley said. Its not just me. Its a whole group of voters who are being targeted. Like Conley, most members of the remaining group of challenged voters are from Guilford County. The state elections board has found that there are 1,409 military and overseas voters who need to be notified. All of them are in Guilford County. A second, smaller group consists of nonresident voters. The board estimates that category includes 266 people in 53 counties across the state, with 15 apiece in Guilford and Forsyth counties. While the Supreme Court holding requires dismissal of those nonresident votes, the state elections board has proposed a review of documents and a sending of notices to verify the residency status of those voters. At the mercy of the courts The N.C. Supreme Court race between Riggs and Griffin has spawned a months-long legal battle in both state and federal courts. When all the votes were tallied in November, Riggs defeated Griffin by a margin of a little more than 700 votes out of 5.5 million cast. Griffin requested two recounts, which both affirmed Riggs victory. At the same time, Griffin filed election protests throughout the state calling into question the validity of tens of thousands of ballots for various reasons. Some of these focused on alleged votes illegally cast by felons, dead people and people who were not registered. Those protests were handled mostly by county elections board, with some making their way to the state. In December, the Guilford County Board of Elections voted unanimously to reject the protests related to deceased, felon and unregistered voters after holding a hearing. In the months since, the legal fight has centered on three categories of ballots: those cast by people whose registration did not include a drivers license number or Social Security number; the military and overseas absentee voters; and the nonresident voters. Nonresident in this case refers to voters who attested in their ballot applications that they were U.S. citizens who had never lived in the United States. The state board of elections, citing state law, provides guidance that children of North Carolina residents living abroad may use their parents state address for voting, provided the prospective voter has not registered in another state. On April 11, the N.C. Supreme Court threw out Griffins challenge against the voters with the missing registration information, which covered roughly 60,000 voters and was the largest category of votes challenged. The court faulted election officials for the missing information on the registrations and ruled that mistakes of the board would not be held against voters. However, the court allowed the other two challenges to proceed by requiring those voters to take corrective action and giving them 30 days from the time they receive written notice. For the nonresident voters, the Supreme Court deferred to the ruling of the N.C. Court of Appeals, finding that allowing individuals to vote in our state-federal elections who have never been domiciled or resided in North Carolina or expressed an intent to live in North Carolina violated the plain language of (the North Carolina Constitution). On Tuesday, the state board of elections outlined its plan for implementing the courts directives in a legal filing. The board is directing the Guilford County elections board to review documents from the military and overseas voters and to then mail notices to those individuals who would need to meet photo ID requirements within 30 days. For the nonresident voters, the local election boards will review the documentation related to those voters in order to confirm the residency status of the apparent nonresidents. The board pointed to media reports of voters who had wrongly been included in the group of nonresidents. After removing confirmed residents from the count, the elections boards would then send notifications to remaining challenged voters and allowing them 30 days to file affidavits confirming residence in state. Guilford County Elections Director Charlie Collicutt said in an email Thursday that the local board is proceeding with the state boards instructions on overseas and military voters. As for the nonresidents, Collicutt said there may still be some ongoing issues in the courts as to the scope and possible research and notification. Collicutt described the board as being in a holding pattern while it waits for new information, including the potential creation of a portal that will allow voters to submit photo IDs. He also noted that the decisions by the courts could also change their course. We are always at the mercy of a future court order to stop, alter or continue, he said. Questions about how exactly the process will be resolved still remain. While the state board has said the only overseas and military voters who need to be notified are the 1,409 in Guilford County, Griffin is seeking to expand that pool to include voters in Forsyth, Durham, Buncombe, New Hanover and Cumberland counties. Griffin is also calling for the courts to halt the corrective process for the nonresident voters. Anne Tindall, an attorney for Conley and the other class action plaintiffs, said they will oppose any effort to require the challenged voters to take additional actions to have their votes validated. Our position is that it remains fundamentally unfair to retroactively apply a complete reversal of state voting rules to any voters who followed the rules in place when they cast their ballots, Tindall said in an email. For her part, Conley said she is optimistic about her chances of succeeding in her case. I am feeling hopeful because I feel like the law will eventually be on my side, Conley said. I followed the rule so to me it seems like a cut and dry case. Aspen DeMotts, right, greets Hino Hashimoto ahead of their entrance ceremony at Fussa City Number 4 Elementary School near Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 7, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) FUSSA, Japan The arrival of spring and the blooming of cherry blossoms marked a milestone for Japanese students this month, as families across the country participated in nyugakushiki, or school entrance ceremonies, to celebrate the beginning of the school year. The start of the Japanese school year each April is a deeply rooted cultural moment, especially for first-graders transitioning from yochien, or kindergarten, to shougakkou, or elementary school. For American families stationed in Japan who enroll their children in local schools, it offers a firsthand experience of a uniquely Japanese rite of passage. At Fussa City Number 4 Elementary School, near Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, American and Japanese families alike took part in the annual tradition. Aspen DeMotts walks with her mother, Maricel, to attend the entrance ceremony at Fussa City Number 4 Elementary School near Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 7, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Aspen DeMotts and her mother, Maricel, arrive at Fussa City Number 4 Elementary School near Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 7, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Aspen DeMotts, left, holds hands with Hino Hashimoto ahead of their entrance ceremony at Fussa City Number 4 Elementary School near Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 7, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Aspen DeMotts, center, attends the entrance ceremony at at Fussa City Number 4 Elementary School near Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 7, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) A teacher leads students during the entrance ceremony at Fussa City Number 4 Elementary School near Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 7, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) New elementary school students stop by their old kindergarten to thank their former teacher and show off their backpacks in Fussa, Japan, April 7, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Randoseru are the traditional rounded leather backpacks used throughout elementary school in Japan. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) My wife, Maricel, and I walked with our 6-year-old daughter, Aspen, as she joined classmates on the short route to school, a journey she soon expects to make on her own a common practice for young students in Japan. Carrying randoseru, the traditional rounded leather backpacks used throughout elementary school, the children marked the beginning of their educational journey. The iconic backpack can cost between 30,000 and 100,000 yen, averaging 60,000 yen, or roughly $420. Hino-chan asked to look in my randoseru, so I showed her, Aspen said, recalling her first interactions with classmates. And then she showed me the inside of her randoseru, too! The randoseru, with origins tracing back to the Edo period and Dutch-influenced military design, is a staple of Japanese school culture. Students typically use the same backpack for all six years of elementary school. Following the ceremony and introductions to her new teacher, Aspen and some of her classmates returned to their former kindergarten to thank their teachers and proudly show off their new school gear. I felt very nostalgic after visiting Aspens yochien for the last time, said Maricel. But Im excited for the new beginning. Political leaders across Illinois reacted to the death of Pope Francis with reflections on the values he espoused, with many stressing empathy and aid for the less fortunate. We have lost the messenger," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, "but we must hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to love and respect one another." Durbin also called for a "Francis Day" of world peace, including in war-torn Gaza and Ukraine. Throughout his time in ministry and his historic tenure as Pope, he was committed to living a life of faith, compassion, and service to others," said U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, in a statement. LaHood is among those with personal memories of the 88-year-old pontiff's visit to the U.S. Capitol in 2015, when he became the first pope to address Congress. On that occasion, he called on bitterly divided lawmakers to create a culture of care in welcoming immigrants, protecting the environment and sharing the nations wealth with those less fortunate. Below are more reactions from Illinois political leaders, in their own words. This is a developing story that will be updated. Gov. JB Pritzker Pope Francis showed the world how to lead with empathy and humility. Extending a hand to help anyone in need, the People's Pope inspired millions who drew strength and compassion from him to embrace peace. May his memory be a blessing. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. Pope Francis was a pillar of the Catholic Church, a beacon of hope, compassion and light in times of fear, hatred and darkness. Throughout his life, he taught us that in order to be great, we have to be good. "He urged each of us to care for the poor, feed the hungry, be humble stewards of the Earth and treat others how we would want to be treated ourselves even if they pray or live differently than us. His teachings remain as important as ever. May he rest in peace and may his spirit continue to uplift and guide all those who followed his sacred word. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. We have lost the messenger, but we must hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to love and respect one another. In a world of hate and fear, Pope Francis message of peace and understanding is needed now more than ever. We should honor the Pope with a Francis Day of world peace: stop the bombing in Ukraine and Gaza; feed the dying in Sudan and around the globe; and show kindness to one another. U.S. Rep. Darin Lahood, R-Peoria I am saddened to learn about the passing of Pope Francis. Throughout his time in ministry and his historic tenure as Pope, he was committed to living a life of faith, compassion, and service to others. It was an honor to attend his joint address before Congress in 2015, the first Pope to do so. I join the world in honoring his legacy, and ensuring that his memory lives on with Christians all over the world. U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline Pope Francis was a kind and compassionate leader for millions of his supporters around the world and he will be deeply missed. May his lifelong legacy of helping those in need serve as an example to many others. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Pope Francis, the peoples pope, will be remembered as a faith leader who gave voice to the voiceless. He fought for the rights and the dignity of the poor, prisoners, migrants, and outcasts as part of his vision for peace and social justice. Guided by his deep faith in God and humanity, Pope Francis advocated for a world without war. His legacy will live on in the hearts of the millions of people throughout the world who took comfort in his message. May he rest in peace. We will continue to learn from Pope Francis and take inspiration from the power of his moral clarity. We have to state, without mincing words, that there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. May we never abandon them. Anti-Trump protests, led by local Indivisible groups in Winston-Salem and Greensboro, dont appear to be dying down any time soon. Both held massive rallies in each city Saturday afternoon just as other opponents of the Trump administration marched in New York City, demonstrated in Massachusetts and organized in front of the White House in Washington D.C. Hundreds assembled around the L. Richardson Preyer Federal Building in downtown Greensboro at midday to chant, wave signs and march for a few blocks through the streets. For most people, the day was their best chance to fight against President Donald Trump, the man they see as a fascist leader threatening democracy. How would they do it? By expressing dissent and resisting, they said. Fundamentally what were here to do is to stand up for America, for the principles of this country that we believe in, said Jan Fisher, an Asheboro resident who marched with an American flag. The crowds hoisted all kinds of signs throughout the day: cardboard posters with the phrase Defend the constitution, painted images of the statue of liberty and even a mock flier of Uncle Sam urging readers to stop fascism. Some lifted up cartoonish pictures of billionaire Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, whom Trump has employed as a special adviser with power to deconstruct much of the federal government. When a Tesla cybertruck appeared down West Market Street past the group toward the end of the rally, protesters booed and chased the vehicle as it sped away through the city. I think what were doing is making a difference, said Claudia Lange, an organizer with Indivisible Guilford County. Despite recent threats from the Trump administration to target progressive Democrat groups such as Indivisible, Triad organizers say they arent bothered. Guilfords Indivisible group is planning to have more events, including town halls and protests at congressional representatives offices. Lange said Saturday she thinks the local action is getting noticed by North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and U.S. House Rep. Addison McDowell. Though Lange said concerned residents are receiving replies from McDowell, Lange added she doesnt feel like they address her concerns. I have a parent in a nursing home, Lange said. I think people arent connecting the dots. If we lose Medicaid from the proposed (budget) cuts, people are going to die. Though Lange said McDowell had "finally" responded to comments from residents, a representative from Rep. McDowell's office said the congressman's office has consistently responded to concerned constituents, including Lange. The office said it has answered more than 22,000 messages and typically responds within 10 days, according to McDowell's communications director Charles Russell. Protesters had a variety of reasons they said made them oppose and sometimes hate Trump and his administration. For Fisher, who said he voted for Trump in 2020 but has since totally changed his mind, its all about how one perceives the world. Its tough because the core values that my friend whos a Trump supporter has are things that I agree with a lot of the time, Fisher said. Fisher said he agrees on sayings like that the United States needs to be protected, but disagrees with who the country should be protected from. He called Trump a narcissist who cant make sense of the world. The real world for Trump is so dangerous and so incongruent with his delusional world that has protected him for his entire life, Fisher said. But of course hes not going to come back to the real world. Hes staying in delusion land. For others at the rally, it was something that Trump said. I didnt like him to begin with, but it enraged me when he said veterans are losers and suckers, said Terry Cooke, who said he was an Army veteran who served for more than 20 years. I know the ones that made it home, they knew exactly what they got out of it, Cooke said. Winston-Salem Not only did folks in Winston-Salem protest, but they also held a food drive for Crisis Control Ministry during their event on Chestnut Street. Im overwhelmed with the amount of support, said Lisa Voigt, who has been volunteering with Crisis Control for more than a year now. At Voigts table, positioned between the Forsyth County Courthouse and the countys government center, protesters and community members piled up bags of food donations. This is all going to stay in the community, Voigt said. Every little bit helps. For Rudy Click, one of the leaders of Indivisible in Winston-Salem, adding the food drive was just another reason why he believes community members should come out to the groups events. We want folks to come out because these events are focused on our neighbors, Click said. We have to understand that the federal government and the state government arent going to save us. We have to save ourselves, Click said. Hundreds of people assembled in between the courthouse and the government center, waving dozens of signs and spontaneously marching down Fourth Street later during the afternoon. Somewhere in the midst of the crowd, a large paper-mache Statue of Liberty stood gazing out over the protesters. Marie Jackson, a Winston-Salem resident who made the figure, said the project symbolized the countrys origin as a nation of immigrants. Jackson, who is half-Mexican and descended from immigrants, said the Trump administrations illegal deportation of Abrego Garcia hit her hard. A lot of my family looked just like him, Jackson said. Jackson said that everyone should deserve due process and that the United States was built on immigration. Federal government officials need to protect immigrants, Jackson said. They are a part of us, whether we like it or not, Jackson said. Trump can do what hes doing, but were going to fight back. Correction: The Journal did not attribute the response from Claudia Lange that said Rep. McDowell "finally" responded to comments from constituents. An updated version of the story includes corrected information from McDowell's office and correct attribution of the quote to Lange. Neil deGrasse Tyson went full Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone," slapping his hands against his face in shock and delight when he learned that his Tuesday lecture will be the most attended single event of the Lied Center for Performing Arts' 2024-25 season. The fact that the Lied Center sold every one of its 2,200 tickets weeks before Tysons lecture is evidence of the popularity drawn from hundreds of television appearances, both as the host of science-based series and on late-night shows that has made the astrophysicist todays most famous scientist. It's a weird fact that I'm in a theater with thousands of people, a theater normally allocated to artists of all kinds, musicians and performers and actors, Tyson said. I don't take it lightly that there are people who will take time out of their day, out of their evening, to come listen to an astrophysicist talk for two hours. So what will Tyson be talking about in the Earth Day lecture titled A Cosmic Perspective"? I plan to show imagery, some videos, offer perspectives, commentary on the relationship between being human and nature, Earth, the solar system, our galaxy and the universe itself, he said. "... When you go into deep space, then Earth is visible, adrift alone, you in the darkness of the void, and you see Earth as nature intended you to notice it, not with color-coded countries, but with oceans and land and clouds. It can change you." With that, the loquacious Tyson answered a handful of questions from Lincoln media on a Monday video conference. The Journal Stars question was about assessing todays level of global warming and climate change and the future of the planet if the rise in global temperature isnt stemmed. The impact of the 1.5-degree global temperature increase above pre-industrial levels can be seen by plotting weather around the world, Tyson said. As an example, Tyson provided a case study of the impact of the shifting of weather extremes, using Hurricane Sandy, which hit New York City as a tropical storm in 2012. The storm brought a tidal surge far higher than New York had experienced in 400 years of relatively stable climate. That surge overtopped the citys levees by just an inch. But that was enough to flood the subway system and power stations, knocking out power for days, interrupting communication. The flooding and $19 billion in damage from Sandy will be seen as minor if the global temperature increases from 2 degrees to 3 degrees. "If you melt Greenland and Antarctica, because that's the land ice that's there that used to be in the ocean before the previous Ice Age, the ocean levels rise to the point of the Statue of Liberty's left elbow, flooding every major city in the world, Tyson said. The only safe place going forward is going to be like Denver or someplace in the Rockies or deep inland. Nebraska is deep inland, all right. You're not going to see those effects, but you might see other effects, for example, where you normally had rains, then it might be a little drought-y. It was a little drought-y and you're not accustomed to that. You can have a wildfire that you're unaccustomed to, you've never seen before. In responding to a question about the need for science education, Tyson wandered off into my little conspiracy theory about why statistics and probability isnt taught in elementary and high schools. Do you know where revenue goes from state lotteries? he asked. It generally goes to education. That's how people can feel better about allowing gambling in their state, if they know revenue goes to education. Theyre clever. How do they do that? Well, if there's no probability and statistics in kindergarten through (12th grade), then, of course, as an adult, you're going to gamble because you think you have a chance of winning. I dont know, but if they put probability statistics in the classroom, fewer people would play the lottery, and that would reduce the revenue streams to the state. Regardless of whether his conspiracy theory holds the slightest amount of water, Tyson said, its an example of the need for scientific literacy, which is what he intends to convey in his lectures, television shows and books. You can quote this: Even though it's mildly vulgar, science literacy empowers you to know when other people are full of s***, period, Tyson said. When people start spewing out comments and thoughts and unsubstantiated statistical referencing, you'll know that they don't know what they're talking about. If you're an educator, you'll try to educate them. If you don't have the patience of an educator, you'll just walk away. And then you try to vote accordingly, so that they don't outvote you by putting scientifically ignorant people in charge. When Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln woke up to the news of Pope Francis' death on Monday morning, he felt an array of emotions. First, he felt confusion, having just seen Francis, who was recovering from an extended hospital stay, out in public on Easter Sunday, greeting the faithful and blessing babies. Pope Francis even took a ride around St. Peter's Square in what is known as the "popemobile." Then, Conley felt great sadness for the loss of a leader who showed humility and kindness to all people, especially the poor. "It was a shock, but at the same time, it's not a surprise," he told the Journal Star. "I'm just so happy that he had that last day of his life with the people. He always wanted to be with the people." Francis will leave behind a legacy as a "pope of the people," said Conley, who joined other Catholic leaders and Nebraska officials in paying tribute to the late pontiff after his death was announced Monday morning. He will also be known as a pope of mercy, compassion and forgiveness and an advocate for the environment, he added. "He really left us a strong legacy of being sensitive to those who we oftentimes forget. And that was one of the principal hallmarks of his papacy," he said. The Diocese of Lincoln will celebrate a memorial Mass for Francis on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, 3500 Sheridan Blvd. Gov. Jim Pillen, following a directive from President Donald Trump, ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day Francis is buried, which typically comes four to six days after a pope dies. Pope Francis devoted his life to being a servant of Christ. First Lady Suzanne and I are saddened by his passing, said Pillen, who is Catholic. Throughout Francis' 12-year papacy, Conley attended a number of Masses celebrated by the pope and personally met him twice once in Rome and another time in Pennsylvania. In 2013, shortly after Francis was elected to the papacy, Conley was at a Mass at the Vatican when Francis invited all of the bishops in attendance to come greet him. Two years later, in 2015, Conley met Francis again during the pope's one and only trip to the United States at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. "He was always very jovial and gentle and humorous," he said. "He had a big smile on his face and a firm handshake. He was very welcoming and very easy to talk to." Conley said he hopes the next pope is from Africa, where the Catholic Church is rapidly growing. "I think it's going to be an interesting time," he said. Rep. Mike Flood said he joined others in mourning Francis. "The Holy Father was a joyful man who loved people and worked to help them encounter the love of Christ no matter who they were and where they were from," Flood, who is Catholic, said in a statement. "As his time on earth drew to a close, he demonstrated great courage as he endured illness, showing the world how to persevere and suffer well." Sen. Pete Ricketts, another Catholic, said Francis will be remembered for his service to the church. "His life of humility and devotion to mercy will continue to inspire Catholics worldwide," he said. Archbishop George Lucas of the Omaha Archdiocese said he was grateful for Francis' "extraordinary life and ministry." "Just yesterday, Pope Francis welcomed the crowds who celebrated Easter at St. Peters in Rome," Lucas said. "We pray that he will now be welcomed by the saints of heaven and by the Lord Jesus, who is gloriously risen from the dead." Bishop John Folda, a former Diocese of Lincoln priest whom Francis appointed to lead the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, in 2013, said his advocacy for immigrants and the poor will be part of his legacy, the radio station KFGO reported. "I think really hes drawn the attention of the world to people in need, especially migrants who are fleeing persecution and poverty and sometimes its a matter just of survival, Folda said. "He really has focused on that issue. Its one of many, but thats really been kind of a hallmark of his pontificate. China boosts public health with vaccine and immunization progress Xinhua) 08:22, April 21, 2025 This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a volunteer (R) helping Yemeni businessman Sufyan Marwan Sufyan Mohanmmed take vaccine reservation receipt for his daughter from a machine by scanning a QR code at a community health service center in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Xiao) WUHAN, April 20 (Xinhua) -- China has made significant progress in vaccine development and immunization, marked by a growing portfolio of domestically produced vaccines and remarkable public health results. These achievements were highlighted at the 2025 National Vaccines and Health Conference, held over the weekend in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province in central China, and attended by nearly 3,000 public health officials and medical professionals. Over the past years, China has achieved notable breakthroughs in vaccine technology. Milestones include the successful development of homegrown HPV and Ebola vaccines, as well as advances in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines against 13 types of bacteria and shingles vaccines. Several Chinese vaccines have received prequalification from the World Health Organization, enabling their distribution in partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative. These advancements underscore a broader shift in China's vaccine industry -- from focusing primarily on domestic needs to increasingly contributing to the global vaccine supply chain, according to Wang Yunfu, head of the Health Commission of Hubei Province. The global biotechnology landscape has also helped accelerate this transformation, as the participants pointed out. In recent years, breakthroughs in technologies such as mRNA platforms, viral vectors, and nanoparticle delivery systems have opened up unprecedented opportunities for vaccine research and development, significantly improving both efficiency and immune response. Alongside scientific innovation, China has placed strong emphasis on safety and regulatory oversight. In 2019, it became the first country to implement a comprehensive vaccine administration law, followed by updated immunization standards introduced in 2023. A nationwide traceability system has been set up, ensuring that every dose can be tracked from production to administration, enhancing transparency and public trust. China's national immunization programs have yielded strong public health results. The country achieved polio-free status in 2000, eliminated neonatal tetanus by 2012, and has reported no locally transmitted diphtheria cases since 2007. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among children under five declined from nearly 10 percent in 1992 to just 0.3 percent in 2020. Routine vaccination coverage has remained above 90 percent nationwide, supported by an extensive healthcare infrastructure that ensures every township has at least one vaccination unit. Efforts to expand access and improve service delivery remain a central priority. "Public health should be protected through more accessible and higher-quality vaccine services," said Li Bin, president of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, adding that this goal was reflected in the conference's theme. For example, in Hubei, girls aged 14 are now eligible for free HPV vaccination, and immunization for newborns is being integrated into the birth registration process to ensure early and timely coverage. Looking ahead, China is preparing to refine its immunization strategy and services further. Health authorities are considering dynamic adjustments to the national immunization program to prioritize vaccines with high cost-effectiveness or those associated with costly diseases. In some regions, pilots may allow the use of personal health insurance accounts to cover non-mandatory vaccines, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for the public. Digital tools will also play an increasing role in modernizing immunization services. Electronic vaccination records are being shared across provinces, while artificial intelligence (AI) is assisting with appointment scheduling. Big data platforms are improving vaccine inventory management and logistics. Yin Zundong, head of the Immunization Program Center at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the role of advanced data technologies. "With the help of big data and AI, disease surveillance and early warning systems can become more accurate and efficient," Yin said. "In the future, data-driven tools will enable precise assessments of vaccine protection efficacy." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Pope Francis passed away this morning at the age of 88. Just weeks ago, he had spent 38 days hospitalized at Romes Gemelli Hospital for what was described as double pneumonia, before returning to his Vatican apartment to recover. Had he been an American hospitalized in the U.S., he might not have made it even that far. As both a geriatric doctor and a patient, I have seen firsthand how the U.S. health care system increasingly pushes hospitalized patients toward hospicenot for medical benefit, but to protect profits. After decades of increase, life expectancy in the U.S. is now on the decline. Harvard and Johns Hopkins researchers point to the pandemic and fentanyl overdoses as causes. I would argue theres another overlooked factor: premature hospice referrals. If youre hospitalizedespecially under Medicareand debilitated by illness, youll likely be asked about hospice care by day five. This push is often framed as a discussion about palliative care, softening the real financial motivations behind it. Why day five? Medicare reimburses hospitals with a lump sum for each diagnosis, known as a DRG (Diagnosis-Related Group). For a diagnosis like bilateral pneumonia (the medical term for what the Pope had), the fixed payment is about $5,000regardless of whether your stay is two days or 38. If youre discharged early, the hospital makes money. If you stay too long, they lose money. And if they discharge you too early and you return, they face penalties. So, the solution? Move you to hospice. That way, the hospital is off the hook financially, and your care costs shift elsewhere. This system invites disturbing comparisons. Imagine a plumber being offered a flat $5,000 to fix unknown leaks and clogs without knowing what the job involves. Few would take that deal. Yet hospitals are doing this dailywith human lives on the line. Patients with serious illnesses often have hidden complications. A diagnosis of pneumonia may mask aspiration due to swallowing issues, lung cancer, or toxic exposure. Discharging these patients early without a full workup almost guarantees a return visitor worse. Years ago, hospitals were paid by the day, which led to unnecessary long stays. The DRG system was introduced to curb that abusebut it overcorrected, replacing one flaw with another. Todays system incentivizes early discharge and hospice enrollment, not full recovery. Hospice should be a choice, not a business strategy. I have seen providers appeal to families by emphasizing suffering. But all patients suffer. That does not mean they cannot recoverespecially with proper care. Pope Franciss 38-day hospitalization proves that survivable outcomes are possible, even for the very ill and very old. How many older Americans were transferred to nursing homes on hospice and died, not from their initial condition, but from the lack of continued care? How many families were pressured into choosing hospice against their better judgment? Hospice care plays an essential role when used appropriately. But when a hospital uses it to protect their bottom line or help administrators earn bonuses, it becomes a betrayal of medical ethics. ADVERTISEMENT If you or a loved one is hospitalized, be vigilant. Expect the hospice conversation by day five. Ask questions. Seek second opinions. Write down names. Report aggressive behavior. If pressured, remind them: You have the right to full medical care. Sadly, most Americans wont receive the kind of sustained hospital care Pope Francis did. And without major reform, our life expectancyand dignity in agingwill continue to suffer. Unless, of course, youre the Pope. Gene Uzawa Dorio is an internal medicine physician who blogs at SCV Physician Report. A few months ago, the longshoremens union shut down 14 ports along the East and Gulf Coasts. This strike of dockworkers was costing the American economy up to $5 billion per day. The strike lasted 3 days, and there was an agreement to suspend the strike and continue negotiations in early 2025. One of the issues pertained to restricting the use of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to load and unload freight. The longshoremens contract included a provision prohibiting the use of AI to load and unload cargo. Can you imagine if doctors had to sign a contract that prohibited the use of AI to diagnose, treat, and manage common medical conditions? That was a revelatory eye-opener. Clearly, the longshoremen do not want AI to replace their jobs or the jobs of their personal health care providers. In the case of the dock strikes, the panic stemmed from the possible economic tsunami that might occur. But in health care, the calculus is slightly different. Can you imagine if doctors were to go on strike for 3 days? The impact on patient safety could be catastrophic, even lethal in some cases. A labor strike is the nuclear weapon of unions, the best tool against egregious workplace abuses. Without that tool, doctors would have far less negotiating muscle. At the same time, the reluctance of doctors to gravely imperil patients by striking is perfectly justifiable. Fortunately, there may be an attractive third alternative to the polarized choice of either unionized physicians striking or declining to unionize at all. I call this alternative compassionate strikes. First, we should acknowledge that it may be easier to herd cats than independent-minded physicians! But times are changing fast, with burnout among health care workers reaching epidemic levels. A main concern is the long work hours that begin in medical school and training and continue in practice. The average workload for a medical or surgical resident exceeds 80 hours a week, and a practicing doctor often works 10 hours per week more than the average American worker. In addition to this traditional stress, doctors are unhappy due to a growing lack of purpose and meaning in their work and personal lives. Physicians say they are burned out mainly because of too many bureaucratic tasks. Physicians today spend 2 hours daily entering data into the computer to meet hospital and insurance company requirements. This is uncompensated time, and physicians are resisting being data entry technicians and prefer to focus on the patient and not the computer. All this can cause even the most resilient physicians to lose sight of why they became doctorsand to consider joining a union. Moreover, independent doctors have limited clout to negotiate with hospitals and insurance companies. Unless doctors are in a unique geographic area or have skills in high demand, they are likely to hear take or leave it in contracting and negotiating. In contrast, doctors who have joined unions have a unified voice to advocate for improved working conditions, which includes limiting working hours. Union membership can also provide access to legal counsel and current information on regulatory issues. This helps protect physicians from lawsuits. We have known for a long time that overworked physicians make more errors, thus impacting patient outcomes and increasing the risk of litigation. Union representation not only benefits the physicians well-being but also enhances patient care, which is every doctors priority. Now, lets look at the flip side of the union coin. Union membership usually results in a loss of physician autonomy. Unions function as a democracy, and they typically make decisions based on the majority vote. Physicians who disagree with the majority may end up feeling underrepresented or neglected. Union membership also requires membership fees, which can be significant for certain physicians already burdened with student loans and other financial obligations. ADVERTISEMENT Going back to the longshoremen strike, if it had lasted longer, massive goods shortages might have crippled the national economy or even sparked a recession; however, the longshoremens strike did not endanger the lives of others. Enter the compassionate strike. First, to head off a public relations crisis for the healing profession, unionized doctors should set ethical ground rules for strikes to ensure patient safety. The National Labor Relations Act stipulates that physician unions must give employers a 10-day notice of a refusal to work. Second, compassionately striking physicians must ensure that emergency care is available and that hospitalized patients continue to receive care. Third, in prolonged strikes, they must regularly evaluate the collective effect of their behavior on patient care. Every effort must ensure no gaps in patient care during a strike. Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, doctors have considerable power of the purse. Their employers revenues are nearly totally dependent on data the providers enter into electronic medical records. Without convenient and efficient access to that data, billing and revenues would slow to a crawl. Therefore, compassionately striking physicians could continue caring for patients as they normally would but simply revert to paper charts, just like the days before the electronic medical record. Imagine the billing departments time and expense of deriving data from paper. Id believe any strike would be over in days. In addition, a physicians union could thwart employers demands that employees use electronic health records exclusively. Thats one example of the power of collective bargaining. Bottom line: Health care providers must carefully weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether unionization is the best choice for their professional careers. However, unionization can be achieved ethically if the focus is on improving patient care, not physicians self-interests. Neil Baum is a urologist. Pope Francis, historys first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, has died today (Monday). He was 88. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in an announcement. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. From his first greeting as pope a remarkably normal Buonasera (Good evening) to his embrace of refugees and the downtrodden, Francis signaled a very different tone for the papacy, stressing humility over hubris for a Catholic Church beset by scandal and accusations of indifference. After that rainy night on March 13, 2013, the Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio brought a breath of fresh air into a 2,000-year-old institution that had seen its influence wane during the troubled tenure of Pope Benedict XVI, whose surprise resignation led to Francis election. MDT/AP Over the weekend, the Labour government passed emergency legislation to take control of steel in particular Scunthorpes steelworks. While the union leaders breathe a sigh of relief, we say: No trust in Starmer! Expropriate all the parasites! [Originally published at communist.red] On Saturday 12 April, Keir Starmer recalled Parliament to pass emergency legislation aimed at keeping Scunthorpes steelworks from closing their gates and preventing an immediate jobs massacre. This came following the collapse of talks between the Labour government and British Steels owners, Jingye. On the day this legislation passed, angry steelworkers even prevented employees of the Chinese investment firm from entering the premises. British Steel is not yet nationalised, though this eventuality seems likely. Instead, the new legislation grants government ministers special powers to direct private steel companies in England, where necessary. No amount of tinkering will suffice, however. Now is time for bold measures. The disaster looming over workers in Scunthorpe is a warning of the catastrophe coming for the whole of British capitalism. The crisis in the steel industry is the canary in the coalmine. To defend our communities and livelihoods against this devastation, we need socialist planning and workers control. Bosses pull the plug Last week, Jingye bosses began to stamp their feet, refusing to purchase enough raw materials to keep the blast furnaces running, while cancelling and refusing to pay for existing orders. British Steel is losing 700,000 a day. By the end of 2023, it had accumulated debts of 736 million / Image: The Communist The steelworks are now in a race against time to get those materials before the blast furnaces begin to go through uncontrolled cooling. This would make it prohibitively expensive to restart production. Under pressure from below, Labour has stepped in to thwart this corporate vandalism. However, talk about government control over steel companies and possible nationalisation has fallen far short of what is needed: the expropriation of parasites like Jingye Group. On the contrary, Labours bill aims to compensate steel companies for any costs of continuing production at a loss. In other words, at the very moment when these profiteering vultures have revealed their incompetence, rather than making the capitalists pay, the government will push any losses onto the shoulders of ordinary taxpayers. British Steel is losing 700,000 a day. By the end of 2023, it had accumulated debts of 736 million. According to Jingye, meanwhile, the move to electric arc furnaces could cost up to 2 billion. This puts Starmer in a bind. On the one hand, he has suddenly declared that British Steel must be saved, with the money coming from the public purse. On the other, he has insisted since coming to power that there is a black hole in the budget that has to be balanced. This dilemma comes on top of the billions being slashed from the welfare budget to make room for British imperialisms rearmament drive. The labour movement must fight for the nationalisation of British Steel, alongside any factory, plant, or workplace threatened with closure. But this must not be a case of simply nationalising the losses, in the wake of the capitalists asset-stripping. Instead, workers must mobilise to demand nationalisation without compensation, under workers control as part of a bold socialist programme to expropriate all the billionaires, bosses, and bankers. Reform leading Labour Above all, workers must have no trust in Starmers Labour when it comes to protecting jobs and working-class communities. Any supposed concern for workers from these big business politicians is a case of crocodile tears. After all, what did the Labour leader do to prevent Port Talbot from being turned into a ghost town? Nothing. Starmer and co. are not motivated by any genuine concern about steelworkers and their livelihoods. Rather, Labour are clearly aware of the danger that this steel crisis poses to them politically. In the case of Port Talbot, Starmer came to power when the decision to close the blast furnaces in South Wales was largely a fait accompli that could be blamed on the Tories. Now in Scunthorpe, by contrast, Reform UK are breathing down Labours necks. In regards to British Steel, Nigel Farage and his gang have been publicly calling for nationalisation. In fact, Reforms deputy leader, Richard Tice, was opportunistically calling for public ownership of the Scuthorpe steelworks before any other Westminster party. Farage has also popped up at the steelworks for photo opportunities even cynically holding a union placard with the demand to save our steel. Reform UK will nationalise British Steel and protect British workers. #SaveOurSteel pic.twitter.com/fAbmCmdwIv Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) April 8, 2025 Andrea Jenkyns, notorious Tory defector to the party, was part of this stunt. She is being wheeled out for the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral elections happening in May, and has a real chance of winning precisely because Labour is so hated. Places like Scunthorpe deindustrialised, left to rot, and hit hard by austerity are a hotbed for demagogues like Farage and their right-wing populism. And Labour MPs are no doubt aware of this, worried about losing seats in many such areas to Reform, starting with the upcoming Runcorn by-election. Right-wing magazine The Spectator therefore has a point with claims that Farage is driving Labours policy. Starmers sudden sense of urgency, in large part, has clearly been provoked by the need for him and Labour to save their political skins. Neglect and decline Labour ministers, backed by the trade union leaders, have also cited concerns about Britain losing its steel industry as a factor in their decision to rescue the Scunthorpe steelworks. [Britains steel industry] is part of the pride and heritage of this nation, asserted Starmer in one recent statement, for example. It is essential for our future. Due to decades of neglect and decline, British industry and infrastructure is in a parlous state / Image: The Communist It is true that steel is essential to any developed capitalist economy. And no doubt prestige is an element in Starmers thinking, as a reliable servant of British capitalism. But in truth, British industry, including steel, has been reduced to a rump due to years of underinvestment and offshoring. The UK produced only 0.2 percent of the worlds crude steel in 2024. China produced 53 percent. Observing this, one industry expert commented in the Observer that while politically expedient, [the governments measures are] not a long-term solution. Fundamentally, within the confines of capitalism, Labour are not in a position to resuscitate British industry and restore its competitive edge in the world market Due to decades of neglect and decline, British industry and infrastructure is in a parlous state. It requires billions upon billions in investment to modernise, reequip, and compete. Yet the capitalists are chronically incapable of providing this. For the last 30 years, when it comes to investment, British capitalism has lagged behind the rest of the OECD by an average of 35 billion per year. The British state, with Starmer at its helm, is equally impotent. This weakness was graphically demonstrated last year, when the Labour leaders abandoned their 28 billion green investment fund, deeming such spending economically irresponsible. The problem is, for little old Britain, 28 billion is too small a sum to compete with the colossal investments that US and Chinese capitalism can gather together, yet too large for the battered British state to comfortably afford. Now we see the same logic with steel. China is able to produce far more steel at a far lower cost than the UK, thanks to the size and efficiency of its facilities. In fact, China produces so much cheap steel that there is now a serious glut in the world market a classic symptom of capitalisms crisis of overproduction. British industry therefore finds itself crushed between the two capitalist giants, China and the USA, which can easily outcompete it. To modernise steel production or indeed any of Britains industries would require such an enormous outlay as to preclude any profit-making in the short run. And it would require levels of investment that British capitalism can never hope to raise. As has been the tradition since the days of Thatchers privatisations, the Labour government would like to attract foreign capital to invest in British industry. Rachel Reeves has desperately tried to entice investors. Yet the money has not been forthcoming. At the end of the day, investing in the dilapidated UK economy is not an attractive prospect for the capitalists of any origin. They only care about turning a profit. And the threat of increased taxes and regulations on employers has only made investors even more wary. Squeezed on all sides Neither free trade nor protectionism offers any hope for British capitalism and its representatives. Instead, Starmers government will increasingly be squeezed on all sides. Rising protectionist tendencies in the world economy are only compounding Starmer and Reeves nightmares. British capitalism relies on foreign money coming in; on maintaining the flow of trade with the USA, Europe, and China. Rising protectionist tendencies in the world economy are only compounding Starmer and Reeves nightmares / Image: The Communist But this whole model becomes a major problem when the world market is splintering into rival blocs, leaving the Labour leaders to perform a difficult and uncomfortable balancing act. Just three months ago, Reeves was in Beijing trying to attract Chinese finance towards Britain. And just days ago, she added her name to a long list of liberals shouting for a global free trade fightback against US tariffs. The Chancellor should be careful what she wishes for, however. Barred from the US market, China will look for new markets such as Britains to flood with its exports. And this will mean further crises for British industries and manufacturers. A UK-US trade deal, meanwhile, if it ever materialises, will only be a return to the precarious situation that existed before Trumps tariffs, only with Britain now potentially cut off from trade and investment with China. Whilst semi-courting China, the British ruling class cannot fathom breaking the special relationship with US imperialism. And Washington has made clear that it is not all too happy with Britains attempts to woo its main rival. In a somersault worthy of a professional acrobat, therefore, Reeves has now declared a China audit of Britains strategic sectors and supply chains. This could affect Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland, where workers have also been fighting the looming threat of mass layoffs. Of course, the British establishment and its representatives are happy to partake in a bit of chauvinistic China-bashing, with warnings about Chinese involvement in areas of national security. But the truth is that British Steel has failed not because its owners are foreign. UK industry is failing because its owners are capitalists. At the same time, as already highlighted, British capitalism is too weak and puny on the world stage to seriously pursue the path of economic nationalism and state intervention. Within the confines of capitalism and its deepening crisis, no UK government will be able to find the money to invest in Britains industries. And so the agonising decline of British Steel, Grangemouth, and the rest of UK industry will continue. Need for planning Whichever way Labour turns, sooner or later they will run into the same problem: British capitalism is a minnow in a sea of sharks. On the basis of economic nationalism and state-led protectionism, Starmers efforts will quickly hit a dead end. Yet globalisation and privatisation has also been a disaster for the working class, in Britain and internationally. In short, British capitalism is too weak to prop up its industries, yet also too weak to survive in the arena of free trade. The only road out of this impasse is a socialist one. What is required is not a purely defensive battle to save failing industries, but a fighting struggle to bring the commanding heights of the economy from Britains heavy industry to its finance houses under common ownership and workers control. Instead of constant rearguard battles, or running around to put out fires, the labour movement needs to go on the offensive. Why wait for industries to collapse before we demand their nationalisation? Why give the capitalist robber-barons the chance to steal more public money? The unions must demand that all key industries profitable and unprofitable be placed under workers control. The entire capitalist class should be expropriated, without so much as a penny in compensation. Above all, what is needed is a rational, democratic plan of production, so as to direct investment without care for profits, but in the interests of society. This must not stop at Britains borders, but be spread internationally through appeals to our class brothers and sisters across the world. Until capitalism, our livelihoods and communities will never be more than small change in the balance-sheets of the bosses. Workers in Scunthorpe, across Britain, and everywhere deserve a better fate than that. The Polisario Front is a catalyst of regional disorder, and therefore constitutes a legitimate target for terrorist Designation, the US Hudson Institute argued in a recent analysis. The analysis, authored by Zineb Riboua, senior analyst at the American think tank, made the case for such a designation citing the Polisarios targeting of civilians, its repeated violations of the 1991 UN ceasefire agreement, its ties to Iran and proxies like Hezbollah, its cooperation with other armed groups with a cold-war era mindset like the PKK, and its destabilizing acts against Morocco, a US ally, recalling that both Hezbollah and the Kurdish PKK are designated as terrorist organizations by the United States. She also mentioned the Polisarios siphoning of humanitarian aid to support a secretive military infrastructure. The senior analyst calls on U.S. authorities to classify the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization. According to her, this movement can no longer be viewed as a mere actor of identity claims, but rather as an armed instrument of Sahelo-Maghreb destabilization, used by Iran, Algeria, and other regional allies. The Polisario Front presents itself as a self-determination movement. But in reality, it functions as a destabilizing militiaengaged in arms smuggling, the indoctrination of young Sahrawis and Moroccans, and aligned with the geostrategic agendas of Iran, the author writes in her report, which aims to completely reevaluate the North African security architecture. The analyst who described Morocco as the last bastion of stability in the Maghreb and as the last reliable barrier against Sahelian chaos, portrays the Kingdom, a major non-NATO ally, as a strategic partner whose role goes far beyond bilateral cooperation with the USA, wherefrom, she argues, the need for an urgent diplomatic and legal awakening. She pointed out that Algeria, the Polisarios unwavering backer, providing it with military assistance, diplomatic cover, and operational grounds, is accused of using the conflict to slow Moroccos regional ascent, through its pawn in a proxy war against regional order. After highlighting the strategic shift in 2020, when the Trump Administration recognized Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, Riboua urged a clear cut-US engagement in favor of Morocco, a major non-NATO ally, by designating the Polisario as a terror group. Riboua also noted how the population held against their will in the Tindouf camps have become pawns used by Algeria to serve its separatist chimera in the region, noting that the Sahrawis in the camps are denied the right to citizenship and free movement. The camps are militarized enclaves and not refugee heavens, she noted, recalling a Human Rights Watch report that detailed abhorrent rights violations including slavery. The perpetuation of the conflict by Algeria, which prevents progress towards the autonomy plan, has made the camps a tinder box waiting to explode and a magnet for terrorist groups in the Sahel. A former Polisario member Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi became the emir of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. Under his orders the group carried out numerous attacks across the Sahel, including a 2017 ambush in Niger that killed four US soldiers, she recalled. His case shows the dangers that emanate from the status quo that Algeria is so attached to. Riboua argued that from a US legal point of view, the Polisario engages in terrorist activity as defined under US Law. This includes attacks in violation of ceasefire agreements, violence against civilians, and logistical and operational coordination with FTOs like Hezbollah, all legal criteria for designating the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). She called for the US to use its influence to pressure Algeria to disarm the Polisario or else risk classifying the separatist group as terrorist. Polisario-linked militant networks fuel instability across the Sahel, threatening US personnel, undermining regional governments, and disrupting access to uranium, gold, and rare earths deposits that are vital to global supply chains. Amid this turbulence, Morocco remains a steadfast US partnerneutralizing terror cells, training regional forces, and serving as a gateway for constructive Western engagement, she said. Western Sahara is no longer a marginal issue. It has become a geostrategic crossroads at the heart of global competition, she warns, insisting that designating the Polisario as a terrorist organization would be a doctrinally consistent act and a clear message to powers betting on chaos. The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended former President Joseph Kabilas political party and ordered his assets seized, accusing him of supporting Rwandan-backed rebels in the countrys eastern region, the government announced late Saturday. Kabila, 53, who ruled the vast Central African nation from 2001 to 2019, has recently expressed his desire to return to Congo to help seek a solution to the ongoing conflict. However, both the interior and justice ministries issued statements indicating that prosecutors have been instructed to initiate proceedings against him for alleged acts amounting to high treason. The government claims Kabilas Party for Reconstruction and Democracy has aided the M23 rebel group, which has captured two major cities in the mineral-rich eastern provinces since the beginning of the year. No specific details of the accusations were provided in the ministerial statements. Ferdinand Kambere, secretary of Kabilas party, rejected the suspension, telling Reuters it represents a flagrant violation of Congos constitution and laws. The crackdown comes amid escalating violence in eastern DRC, a region that has suffered decades of conflict rooted in the spillover from Rwandas 1994 genocide and ongoing struggles for control of valuable mineral resources. Kabila came to power following his father Laurent-Desire Kabilas assassination in 2001. His refusal to step down when his final constitutional term expired in 2016 triggered deadly protests across the country. He eventually relinquished power in 2019 in Congos first peaceful transfer of authority since independence, and has since lived in various African nations. The suspension of Kabilas party marks a significant escalation in political tensions as current President Felix Tshisekedis government grapples with the worsening security situation in the east, where the M23 rebels continue to gain territory despite government efforts and international diplomatic pressure to end the conflict. Widespread condemnation has followed the recent visit of Floyd Shivambu, secretary-general of South Africas uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, to the church of Shepherd Bushiri, a self-declared prophet currently facing extradition from Malawi on serious charges. The incident gained attention after footage of the Easter 2025 service was shared and later reposted by Shivambu on social media. Bushiri, once one of the regions most high-profile religious figures, has been accused of fraud, sexual assault, and exploiting vulnerable followers through the sale of so-called miracle products. Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary fled South Africa in 2020 while out on bail, prompting an ongoing extradition battle. A recent Malawian court ruling supported the request for their return, though an appeal has since been launched by the couple. Despite the unresolved legal proceedings, Shivambu publicly praised Bushiris social and spiritual initiatives, describing them as unparalleled. The post, which was widely circulated online, sparked criticism from political and judicial figures in South Africa, who viewed the visit as a challenge to the credibility of the countrys legal institutions. Official censure was issued not only by government representatives but also by Shivambus own party. The MK party released a statement disavowing the visit, asserting that it had been undertaken in a personal capacity without official endorsement. The party further reiterated its opposition to gender-based violence and the manipulation of faith for personal gain. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi criticised the act as a blatant act of disrespect to South Africas legal system and warned that such actions risked encouraging impunity. The controversy comes at a sensitive time for the MK party, which emerged as a major political force in the last election, contributing to the ruling ANCs historic loss of parliamentary majority. In Burkina Faso, a series of arrests involving military officers has been reported, with two of them being dismissed from their positions as battalion commanders. The details surrounding these arrests have yet to be officially communicated, though various supporters of the ruling junta have suggested the possibility of a coup attempt, allegedly involving exiled military personnel. These events have raised suspicions, with some analysts pointing to tensions within the ranks of the armed forces. Among those detained was Commander Frederic Ouedraogo, a former head of the Military Justice Battalion, who was reportedly investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Commander Ismael Touhogobou in October 2023. Touhogobou had been suspected of involvement in an alleged coup attempt, and the military prosecutor had previously claimed that the arrest had gone awry. Additionally, Captain Elysee Tassembedo, known as the liberator of Sebba and commander of the northern security forces in Ouahigouya, was apprehended while attending a meeting at the Army headquarters in Ouagadougou, though the details of the discussions remain unclear. Several senior military officials have already been replaced by Captain Ibrahim Traore, the interim president, though the exact number of those arrested remains uncertain. Supporters of the current military government have speculated that the unrest could be linked to yet another coup attempt. Attention has been drawn to former officers, who were previously dismissed from the military, and sources within the security services have indicated that the atmosphere within the Burkinabe armed forces is currently tense. The number of fatalities resulting from recent attacks in Nigerias Benue State has been significantly revised, with at least 56 people now confirmed dead. The new figure was provided by Governor Hyacinth Alia during a visit to the affected villages in the Ukum and Logo local government areas. The initial toll of 17, previously announced by police, was updated as recovery efforts continued and additional victims were discovered. Officials warned that the number could rise further, with several individuals still unaccounted for. The attacks, believed to have been carried out by armed herders, form part of an ongoing wave of violence in Nigerias Middle Belt, a region long afflicted by disputes between nomadic cattle herders and settled farming communities. Insecurity has been exacerbated by climate-related pressures such as desertification and drought, which have forced herders southward in search of fertile grazing land. These clashes, frequently marked by religious and ethnic tensions, have become increasingly deadly, with local law enforcement reportedly struggling to contain the violence. Benue is not the only state affected by recent unrest. In Plateau State, more than 100 people were killed in two separate incidents within a fortnight, with entire communities left displaced and homes destroyed. Amnesty International has accused the federal government of President Bola Tinubu of failing to protect rural populations, stating that civilians are being abandoned to rampaging gunmen. The attacks in Benue are now among the deadliest to hit the region this year, further highlighting the urgent need for robust security and land-use reforms to curb the escalating crisis. Calls for durable and inclusive responses to the root causes of migration in the Horn of Africa were issued on Sunday April 20 during a high-level Forum convened in Nairobi. The Annual Migration Conference, focused on Somalia, brought together policymakers, regional institutions, UN agencies, civil society groups, and academic representatives under the theme Securing Sustainable Solutions for Migration in Somalia. At the event, it was acknowledged that conflict, poverty, climate shocks, and fragile governance structures have continued to drive large-scale displacement and irregular migration from the country. Emphasis was placed on the need for Somalia to lead its migration response strategies, with support from neighbouring states and international partners. Sustainable peace and development were identified by Somalias ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, as prerequisites for reversing the trend of displacement. It was stated that short-term humanitarian interventions alone would be insufficient unless supported by broader socio-economic reforms and regional collaboration. Abdulle further highlighted that migration management must be locally owned to be truly effective and resilient. Increased displacement linked to climate-related disasters, including floods and droughts, was cited by regional climate experts as a growing concern. Early warning systems and preventative planning were recommended by Mohamed Omar of IGADs Climate Prediction and Applications Center to mitigate future risks. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration reiterated its commitment to assisting Somalia in adopting evidence-based and inclusive migration policies. According to the IOMs Bisharo Ali Hussein, legal migration has been shown to support development through remittances and knowledge exchange, underscoring the importance of establishing governance frameworks that enable safe and regulated movement. King Mohammed VI of Morocco expressed his condolences and sorrow following the passing away of Pope Francis. In a condolences message to His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the King expressed his sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to Christians around the world and the esteemed Catholic Church. He world has lost an eminent religious figure, who dedicated his life to serving lofty human ideals and common values rooted in faith, freedom, peace, love and solidarity among different peoples, he said in the message. The late Pope also consistently called for protecting and preserving the environment, which is the home of all mankind, he said. The King lauded the generosity and sacrifice of the late pontiff who dedicated himself to combatting marginalization and poverty and defending human dignity. The monarch also highlighted the late Popes attachment to the ideals of peace, dialogue, tolerance and religious coexistence. The King recalled the Popes visit to Morocco in March 2019 which strengthened the foundations of the close and special relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See. It was a significant milestone in our common desire to continue enhancing dialogue, understanding and mutual respect between Christians and Muslims, the King said. That auspicious visit culminated in the signing by His Holiness Pope Francis and myself of the Jerusalem Declaration, which calls for guaranteeing the right of the followers of the three monotheistic religions to freely enter the Holy City and perform their religious rituals therein, he recalled. Here follows the full text: Your Eminence, It was with great sorrow that I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis may Almighty God accept him in His vast Paradise. On this sad occasion, I send you, Christians around the world, and especially the esteemed Roman Catholic Church, my sincere condolences and deepest sympathy. The world has lost an eminent religious figure, who dedicated his life to serving lofty human ideals and common values rooted in faith, freedom, peace, love and solidarity among different peoples. The late Pope also consistently called for protecting and preserving the environment, which is the home of all mankind. As we ponder on the life of the deceased, we see that it was full of generosity and sacrifice. The late pontiff dedicated himself to combatting marginalization and poverty and defending human dignity. He condemned, in particular, the circumstances relating to the scourge of illegal migration and called untiringly for the ideals of peace, dialogue, tolerance and coexistence among the revealed religions to be consolidated. I recall, with great reverence, the historic visit His Holiness the late Pope Francis paid to Morocco in March 2019. That visit strengthened the foundations of the close and special relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See. It was a significant milestone in our common desire to continue enhancing dialogue, understanding and mutual respect between Christians and Muslims. That auspicious visit culminated in the signing by His Holiness Pope Francis and myself of the Jerusalem Declaration, which calls for guaranteeing the right of the followers of the three monotheistic religions to freely enter the Holy City and perform their religious rituals therein. I share your grief and pray that Almighty God comfort you, grant you solace and bless the soul of the deceased. To God we belong and to Him shall be our return. Yours sincerely. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan chaired, on Monday at Mechouar StiniaSahrij Souani in Meknes, the opening ceremony of the 17th edition of the Moroccan International Agricultural Show (SIAM), held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, from April 21 to 27, under the theme Agriculture and the Rural World: Water at the Heart of Sustainable Development. The opening of this event by His Royal Highness reflects the great attention and benevolence with which His Majesty the King continues to surround the agricultural sector. It also illustrates the Kingdoms unwavering commitment, under the Sovereigns leadership, to major global challenges such as food security, sustainable development, and the fight against climate change. Upon his arrival, HRH the Crown Prince reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard paying the honors, before being greeted by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests; the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region; the President of the Fez-Meknes regional council; the Governor of the Meknes prefecture; the President of the Meknes prefectural council; the President of the Meknes municipal council; and the President of the Mechouar Stinia municipality. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan was also greeted by the President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Chamber of Agriculture; the Pacha of Mechouar Stinia; the President and members of the Board of Directors and sponsors of SIAM; the President of the Federation of Chambers of Agriculture; the President of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER); and the Acting Commissioner General of the Show. At the entrance to SIAM, His Royal Highness was greeted by Benjamin Haddad, French Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for EuropeFrance being the guest of honor of this 17th editionas well as by dignitaries representing invited foreign countries (Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Cote dIvoire, Eswatini, Iraq, Liberia, Malawi, Uganda, Palestine, Sao Tome and Principe, and South Sudan), and by development partners (the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), and the World Water Council). HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan then visited the Regions hub, posed for a commemorative photo with the presidents of the regional councils, and toured the Water and Irrigation and Research and Innovation areas within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests pavilion and the OCP Group pavilion. His Royal Highness also visited the Sponsors, Institutionals, Agri-Food, International, Agri-Digital, Agri-Supplies, Nature and Environment, Machinism, Local Products, Livestock Inputs, and Livestock hubs. Held at the Sahrij Souani square over an area of 12.4 hectares, SIAM 2025 is hosting delegations from 70 countries, with France as guest of honora choice that reflects the strength of Moroccan-French relations and the vitality of bilateral cooperation. This 17th edition welcomes more than 1,500 exhibitors and features a series of scientific conferences and roundtables aimed at sharing expertise and identifying tangible solutions and alternatives for more resilient agriculturecapable of withstanding climate challenges and preserving the balance of the agricultural ecosystem to ensure long-term food sovereignty. The 2025 edition of the International Agricultural Show offers visitors a wide array of products and cutting-edge agricultural equipment, with the goal of promoting farming and livestock production, and showcasing strategic sectors of the regional economy, including agri-food and its associated industries. Over the years, SIAM has become one of Africas leading agricultural events and a premier platform for exchanges and partnerships between various stakeholders and operators in the agricultural ecosystem. Control of the strategic town of Nasir has been reasserted by South Sudanese Government forces, it was confirmed by military officials on Sunday April 20. The town, located in the conflict-prone Upper Nile State, had been seized in early March by a militia force aligned with Vice-President Riek Machar. Since then, a sustained offensivereportedly supported by Ugandan troopshas been carried out by government troops to restore authority in the area. Nasirs retaking is being presented as a symbolic victory in a region where the balance of power has increasingly shifted in favour of President Salva Kiirs administration. Destabilisation of the already fragile power-sharing agreement between Kiir and Machar has been exacerbated by recent clashes, including in Nasir and neighbouring towns such as Ulang, which was also reportedly seized by government forces earlier in the week. The accord signed in 2018, which ended a devastating civil war, has been under growing strain, with trust between the former foes having significantly deteriorated. Arrests of senior figures associated with Machar and his subsequent house arrest in late March have intensified fears that the political framework intended to maintain peace is now unravelling. Heavy civilian casualties and mass displacement have been reported in the wake of ongoing fighting. Nearly 200 deaths and the displacement of over 125,000 individuals have been documented by the United Nations since March. Accusations of serious human rights violations have also emerged, with Human Rights Watch stating that improvised incendiary devices were used by government forces in Upper Nile State, resulting in the deaths of nearly 60 people. The actions taken by both sides have raised alarms within the international community, with concerns mounting that the country may be heading towards a renewed state of full-scale civil war. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has canceled its plans to help Texas schools stop the rapid spread of measles. The decision came after some CDC staff involved in this year's outbreak response were told they might lose their jobs, according to an agency employee. CDC staff had planned to expand their work in Texas by offering on-site ventilation checks at schools, just like they had done in hospitals. These visits help spot issues that could make it easier for viruses like measles to spread. As of April 18, the Texas department of health services has confirmed 597 cases of measles in 10 counties, and two children have died. "Being on the ground allows us to actually look at the filters that are in place, look at the HVAC systems, how they're set up, how they're being used, how they're being monitored. And after seeing what we did, I'm glad we did," Dylan Neu, a biomedical engineer at the CDC's National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), told CBS News. Neu was sent to Texas in March to help hospitals treating measles patients. In one case, his team found that air was flowing out of room where a measles patient was in isolationspreading the virus instead of containing it. In another hospital, a HEPA filter was installed in its plastic wrapping, making it pretty much useless. "They might say in an interview, "Yeah, we purchased HEPA filters. They've been running in the waiting room." But if they're not actually out of the plastic bag, they're not doing what they think they're doing," Neu said to CBS News. NIOSH, the CDC team that Neu works for, was largely dismantled earlier this month after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched a massive round of layoffs. Neu was notified on April 1 that he would likely be laid off by the end of June. "This action is necessary to align our workforce with the agency's current and future needs and to ensure the efficient and effective operation of our programs," Neu's notice said. "My current understanding is that I'll be working in the office until the end of this month, and then I'll be on 60 days administrative leave until June 30th, and then we'll be separated at that point," he said. Because Neu could lose access to CDC systems while in the field, the agency decided not to send him to assess schools in Texas. The layoffs are affecting more than just the measles response. Neu says NIOSH has also had to stop doing health hazard evaluationswhere experts help workplaces investigate cancer clusters or other types of outbreaks, according to CBS News. "We're involved in pretty much every response the CDC is involved in. Especially if there's some sort of engineering or ventilation component, NIOSH gets called in as that scientific expertise," Neu said. More information: Learn more about the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Key labs at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have shut down amid recent layoffs, raising concerns about tracking and controlling serious infections like viral hepatitis and antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. Among those let go were all 27 scientists in the nation's only lab that performs advanced genetic testing needed for hepatitis outbreaks. That lab had been investigating an outbreak affecting multiple states when the layoffs hit. "In essence, we're flying blind," Scott Becker, head of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, told The Washington Post. The association wrote a letter to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asking for the laid off employees to be reinstated. "Their loss eliminated critical national testing services that do not exist anywhere else within the [Health and Human Services] agencies," the letter stated. The same round of layoffs also shut down a CDC lab that tracked antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea, often called "super gonorrhea." In all, 2,400 CDC employees were let go, The Post reported. CDC labs have played a key role in tracking outbreaks of hepatitis C, a viral disease that can cause serious liver damage. Outbreaks in recent years have been tied to dialysis facilities, outpatient surgery clinics and prisons. The CDC had recently identified nine infected patients in Florida tied to one outbreak. The lab was using advanced technology to see if others carried the same virus straina process that helps experts understand how diseases are spreading. The increase in hepatitis C infections has been "stupendous in the past 20 to 25 years," Dr. Judith Feinberg, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at West Virginia University, told The Post. "The CDC lab was capable of showing the genetic linkage between isolates of virus and that helps you control it from public health policy. It helps you understand how and where disease is spreading, how the virus is evolving," Feinberg added. In the U.S., tens of thousands of people get viral hepatitis each year. It can spread through contaminated food, shared needles or close contact with blood that's been infected. According to the CDC, hepatitis is a leading cause of liver cancer and kills thousands of Americans annually. The CDC also fired all 28 scientists in its Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) lab, which tracked infections like chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea. That lab was the only one in the U.S. that tested how well antibiotics were working against drug-resistant gonorrhea strains. "They are one of three laboratories in the world and the only in the U.S. that performs extensive antimicrobial susceptibility testing for gonorrhea," said Kelly Wroblewski, director of infectious-disease programs at the Association of Public Health Laboratories. More than 2 million STIs were diagnosed in 2023, including more than 600,000 cases of gonorrhea. Infection rates for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis have jumped 90% in the past 20 years, data shows. Without the lab, Colleen Kelley, a professor of medicine at Emory University who treats patients with HIV and sexually transmitted infections, said, "no one will tell us if we are seeing more cases of this, and no one will be there to sound the alarm bells." More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on viral hepatitis among sexually active adults. 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Colorado has long been known as a haven for gender-affirming care, which the state considers legally protected and an essential health insurance benefit. Medical exiles have moved to Colorado for such treatment in the past few years. As early as the 1970s, the town of Trinidad became known as "the sex-change capital of the world" when a cowboy-hat-wearing former Army surgeon, Stanley Biber, made his mark performing gender-affirming surgeries for adults. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order refuting the existence of transgender people by saying it is a "false claim that males can identify as and thus become women and vice versa." The following week, he issued another order calling puberty blockers and hormones for anyone under age 19 a form of chemical "mutilation" and "a stain on our nation's history." It directed agencies to take steps to ensure that recipients of federal research or education grants stop providing it. Subsequently, health care organizations in Colorado; California; Washington, D.C.; and elsewhere announced they would preemptively comply. In Colorado, that included three major health care organizations: Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health, and UCHealth. At the end of January and in early February, the three systems announced changes to the gender-affirming care they provide to patients under 19, effective immediately: no new hormone or puberty blocker prescriptions for patients who hadn't had them before, limited or no prescription renewals for those who had, and no surgeries, though Children's Hospital had never offered it, and such surgery is rare among teens: For every 100,000 trans minors, fewer than three undergo surgery. Children's Hospital and Denver Health resumed offering puberty blockers and hormones on Feb. 24 and Feb. 19, respectively, after Colorado joined a U.S. District Court lawsuit in Washington state. The court concluded that Trump's orders relating to gender "discriminate on the basis of transgender status and sex." It granted a preliminary injunction blocking them from taking effect in the four states involved in the lawsuit. Surgeries, however, have not resumed. Denver Health said it will "continue its pause on gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 due to patient safety and given the uncertainty of the legal and regulatory landscape." UCHealth has resumed neither medication nor surgery for those under 19. "Our providers are awaiting a more permanent decision from federal courts that may resolve the uncertainty around providing this care," spokesperson Kelli Christensen wrote. Trans youth and their families said the court ruling and the two Colorado health systems' decisions to resume treatments haven't resolved matters. It has bought them time to stockpile prescriptions, to try to find private practice physicians with the right training to monitor blood work and adjust prescriptions accordingly, and, for some, to work out the logistics of moving to another state or country. The Trump administration has continued to press health providers beyond the initial executive orders by threatening to withhold or cancel federal money awarded to them. In early March, the Health Resources and Services Administration said it would review funding for graduate medical education at children's hospitals. KFF Health News requested comment from White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai but did not receive a response. HHS deputy press secretary Emily Hilliard responded with links to two prior press releases. Medical interventions are just one type of gender-affirming care, and the process to get treatment is long and thorough. Researchers have found that, even among those with private insurance, transgender youth aren't likely to receive puberty blockers and hormones. 2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain You're having chest pain, or you fear that your spouse is having a strokeand you're thinking of just driving to a hospital instead of calling 911. What do emergency department doctors think of that plan? "I think it would be an extraordinarily rare situation where that's a good idea," said Dr. Eric Isaacs, director of the age-friendly emergency department at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Here's why: He's often seen people show up at the hospital, pounding on the door, with somebody in their front seat, not breathing and with no pulse, because they mistakenly thought it would be better to drive them, said Isaacs, who also is a clinical professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Ameera Haamid, the associate emergency medical services medical director of the Chicago South EMS System, agreed that people should always call 911 when they're having heart attack or stroke symptoms. For a heart attack, those symptoms include shortness of breath; pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the chest; pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach; and other signs such as nausea, a cold sweat or a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Stroke warning signs include face drooping, arm weakness, difficulty speaking or walking, confusion and severe headache. The American Heart Association recommends calling 911 if any of these symptoms develop, or if a person experiences a sudden loss of responsiveness or can't breathe normally, which are signs of cardiac arrest. Haamid, who is also an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine, said she has also seen families arrive at the hospital with someone whose heart stopped beating on the drive there. "And now we're doing CPR because they're in cardiac arrest." So, the emergency specialists' advice is clear: Call 911. But for those who still might hesitate, here are some of the reasons why doctors think that way. Connect with care more quickly It might seem faster to get somebody with relatively mild symptoms to the hospital yourself, Isaacs said. But that doesn't account for the things that can go wrong on the way there. Mild symptoms can quickly worsen. A heart can start beating irregularly or stop; people can lose consciousness and loved ones may not even notice because of agonal breathing, which are reflex breaths that occur when a person is in cardiac arrest. If you put someone in a car yourself, thinking the hospital is only 15 minutes away, that's 15 minutes without breathing, or 15 minutes without a pulse, Isaacs said. "That means that they're going to be dead when you arrive." An ambulance crew is trained to handle such problems and recognize when a person's condition suddenly changes. They can administer medications, perform CPR or shock a heart back into a correct rhythm if necessary. Powell said the ambulance, in some ways, brings the hospital to your home, and a well-trained paramedic can do nearly all the things a hospital will do for you in cardiac arrest. It puts you at the front of the line When you call 911, the hospital can be ready to evaluate you immediately on arrival, Powell said. Calling 911 speeds things in other ways, too. "Even if you live a block away from the hospital, you still need to find a place to park," Isaacs said. "You then have to walk from the parking area to the hospital for the emergency department." There might be a line to check in, and you might have to wait before a nurse can evaluate you. "Time is ticking," Isaacs said. Haamid spelled out why that matters. "Both a heart attack and a stroke are time-sensitive diagnoses," she said. During a heart attack, blood flow is blocked to the heart muscle. In the most common type of stroke, blood flow is blocked to part of the brain. The longer there is little or no blood flow to the tissue, the greater the likelihood of irreversible damage to the heart or the brain. "That can result in permanent deficits like paralysis, not being able to speak again, or symptoms that are so severe that they can be fatal," she said. It gets you to the best care Emergency medical responders are experts in knowing where the best care happens, Haamid said, and this can be a matter of life or death. Understanding their role in selecting a hospital is especially important in rural areas, said Dr. Stephen Powell, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Someone who lives far from a large city might be tempted to deliver themselves to the nearest clinic, he said. But that is not always the best choice. "You might think, 'Oh, I live five minutes from this hospital. That's where I need to go if I'm having a stroke,'" said Powell, who also serves as medical director for a rural North Carolina county. But your local hospital might not be able to provide the advanced treatments you need, depending on your type of stroke. Powell said an EMS team can assess you and say, "'Whoa! Your symptoms are the symptoms of a large brain vessel that's occluded! You actually need to bypass the hospital that's in town and go 30 miles to the right hospital.' And then, boom, you get the intervention you need as quickly as possible, as opposed to a delay." Local hospitals and larger, tertiary referral hospitals often have agreements in place to make sure "the community gets the right care at the right place," he said. People in extremely remote areas, Powell said, should be aware of what resources are available ahead of time. "I do think common sense plays a role" in any emergency, he said, referring to making the decision of when and when not to call an ambulance. EMS is facing a nationwide crisis in staffing, and this can affect response times. "If you feel that, based on where you live and how remote this is, that it's better to drive to the hospital, then that might be the right call for the minority of people in those situations." But even as a physician, Powell said he'd call 911 to help a loved one he suspected was having a heart attack. "I would much rather my wife be transported by a fully stocked ambulance with a trained EMS team than transported with just me, who is simultaneously driving and emotionally compromised." Faster diagnosis and treatment Calling 911 doesn't just summon an ambulance, Haamid said. It sets hospital staff in motion, so the right specialists are standing by when you arrive. "If you arrived with a heart attack in the middle of the night, we would actually call people at home to quickly drive into the hospital to treat you," she said. In the ambulance, emergency specialists can begin to evaluate you and even transmit electrocardiogram readings for a doctor to analyze. If you are indeed having a heart attack, the catheterization lab can be on standby, ready to perform procedures that restore blood flow to your heart. If they suspect a stroke, you can be taken straight for a scan to determine what kind and whether clot-busting medication can be given. Nobody will judge you if you're wrong "If you're worried," Powell said, "that's what the hospital is forto make sure that you're OK." Haamid agreed. "There's no such thing as being embarrassed about any symptom you present with in the emergency department," she said. And yet, people often ignore symptoms. Haamid said she sees it every day. People say, "I think I had a stroke, maybe two or three days ago," but they sat at home with the symptoms, she said. At that point, they've missed out on time-sensitive treatments that could have helped them. Powell said he has seen the same with people who had a transient ischemic attack, commonly referred to as a "mini-stroke," but dismissed it as a fluke, when it was a harbinger of a full-blown stroke yet to come. "It's better to be cautious, and it's better to be evaluated," he said. Isaacs said he understands the pressures people face when making the decision to call 911. Some of them may be practical, such as concerns about the cost. "But of course, I would err on the side of caution, because that's what I do." Emergency department staff, he said, go into work each day knowing that many of the patients with chest pain aren't having a heart attack and will be sent home. "And not to be dramatic, but I will be dramatic: I would rather send you home reassured that it's not something serious than having you be dead or disabled." Instead, Isaacs said, "I would rather educate you and reassure you in that situation. And that's what we do for most people." 2025 American Heart Association, Inc., distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A new Australian-first study from the Burnet Institute has found that every dollar invested in Australian prison needle and syringe programs could save more than two dollars in treatment costs for hepatitis C and injection-related infections. Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver and is primarily spread through blood-to-blood contact. Due to the high number of people with a history of injecting drug use in prisons, these settings are crucial for hepatitis C testing and treatment. The paper, titled "Return on investment for a prison-based needle and syringe program in Australia," was published in the Medical Journal of Australia today. The study estimates that scaling up prison needle and syringe programs to reach 50% of people who inject drugs across all Australian prisons would cost approximately $12.2 million. This investment could prevent 894 hepatitis infections and 522 injection-related infections between 2025 and 2030. Needle and syringe programs are internationally endorsed, evidence-based public health interventions that minimize the spread of blood-borne viruses and reduce injection-related infections. Australia is one of only 10 countries worldwide with high coverage of needle and syringe programs outside of prisons. Australia distributes more needles and syringes per person who injects drugs than any other country. But Australia does not have a prison needle and syringe program, despite evidence showing their effectiveness. Author of the paper, Burnet senior research officer Dr. Farah Houdroge said their modeling showed that a prison needle and syringe program could avert 30% of the hepatitis C infections and 17% of the injection-related infections likely to occur in prisons in the next five years. "Our study shows that introducing a prison needle and syringe program, on top of existing treatments, could significantly reduce costly repeated treatments for people who are reinfected while in custody," Dr. Houdroge said. "This isn't just a public health intervention, it's a smart investment that could also improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in our health system." An important step forward in eliminating hepatitis C in Australia was the introduction of subsidized direct-acting antivirals in March 2016, which significantly reduced the number of people with chronic hepatitis, including among people who inject drugs. However, an increasing proportion of infections and reinfections occurring in prisons are making it harder to reach Australia's goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. "An estimated 42% of hepatitis C treatment in Australia happens in prisons," Dr. Houdroge said. "If we don't address both prevention and treatment simultaneously, we risk undermining the progress we've made towards hepatitis C elimination. "Our findings show that a prison needle and syringe program in Australia can be an effective and cost-saving strategy to reduce the health and economic cost of hepatitis C." More information: Farah Houdroge et al, The costs and benefits of a prison needle and syringe program in Australia, 202530: a modelling study, Medical Journal of Australia (2025). DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52640 Journal information: Medical Journal of Australia This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Scientists from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV) have uncovered a genetic link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a rare genetic condition called myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggests that while ASD has previously been characterized by a loss of gene function, another mechanism may be leading to the social behaviors often observed in individuals with ASD. DM1 is an inherited condition which causes progressive muscle loss and weakness. While ASD is present in around 1% of the general population, it is 14 times more likely to develop in people with DM1. The study revealed that the genetic variation that causes DM1tandem repeat expansions (TREs) in the DMPK genealso impacts brain development. The research team found that the effects of TREs interfere with a critical process called gene splicing, which is essential for gene function. The disruption causes a protein imbalance that can result in mis-splicing of multiple genes involved in brain function, and may explain why some of the social and behavioral outcomes of ASD develop in people with DM1. "Our findings represent a new way to characterize the genetic development of autism," explains Dr. Ryan Yuen, Senior Scientist in the Genetics & Genome Biology program at SickKids. "By identifying the molecular pathway behind this connection, we can begin to investigate new approaches to ASD diagnosis and the development of precision therapies that release these proteins back into the genome." What are TREs? TREs occur when sections of a DNA strand are repeated two or more times, and the likelihood of those repeats causing errors in gene function increases each time. In 2020, Yuen discovered that TREs are genetic contributors to autism, identifying more than 2,588 different places in the genome where TREs were much more prevalent in people with ASD. Similarly, people with DM1 have a TRE in the DMPK gene. "A variation really stood out to me that we see in rare neuromuscular diseases," says Dr. ukasz Sznajder, a research lead and Assistant Professor at UNLV. "This is how we started connecting the dots. We found a molecular link, or overlap, which we believe is the core of causing autistic symptoms in children with myotonic dystrophy." Gene splicing a key contributor to the development of ASD As the tandem repeat expands in the DMPK gene, the research team, including collaborators at the University of Florida and Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland), found its altered RNA binds to a protein that is involved in gene splicing regulation during brain development. This so-called "toxic RNA" depletes the protein and prevents it from binding to other RNA molecules in important areas of the genome, causing a protein imbalance which results in mis-splicing other genes. "TREs are like a sponge that absorbs all these important proteins from the genome. Without this protein, other areas of the genome don't function properly," explains Yuen. The Yuen Lab and Sznajder Lab are already exploring whether this mis-splicing is happening in other genes associated with ASD, as well as how their findings could inform precision therapies that release these proteins back into the genome. Some of this work is already underway. In 2020, Dr. Christopher Pearson, Senior Scientist in the Genetics & Genome Biology program at SickKids, identified a molecule that can contract TREs in Huntington's disease. While more research is needed to identify how this could be applied to other conditions, the team remains optimistic their findings could inform future research and care for DM1, ASD and other conditions. More information: ukasz J. Sznajder et al, Autism-related traits in myotonic dystrophy type 1 model mice are due to MBNL sequestration and RNA mis-splicing of autism-risk genes, Nature Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-01943-0 Journal information: Nature Neuroscience 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: Virginia Tech researchers John Janiga, Dzenis Mahmutovic (seated), Katherine Brown, and lead investigator Carla Finkielstein work together in the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC to develop a test that could help doctors identify cancer patients at risk for severe chemotherapy side effects. Credit: Clayton Metz/Virginia Tech Early results from a new study suggest that a simple saliva test and powerful artificial intelligence algorithms could help doctors identify cancer patients at high risk for severe side effects from a widely used chemotherapy drug. The drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), has been in use since the 1950smaking it one of the oldest chemotherapy agents still used today. It remains a cornerstone of cancer treatment, used in nearly a third of chemotherapy treatments for colorectal, breast, head and neck, pancreatic, and stomach cancers. 5-FU disrupts how cells make and use DNA. Cancer cells divide rapidly and need to copy their DNA continuously. The drug mimics DNA building blocks and jams the process, halting cancer cell growth. But some patients carry genetic differences that prevent their bodies from breaking down the drug properly. In those cases, 5-FU can build up to toxic levels, causing serious and sometimes life-threatening complications. About one in three people has a reduced ability to process 5-FU. Although the federal Food and Drug Administration recommends screening, it is not widely implemented. "This isn't just about improving outcomes, it's about saving lives," said Carla Finkielstein, a professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and senior author of the study. "For decades, 5-FU has been used with the assumption that it works the same for everyone. But we know it is not the case. Some individuals have a genetic susceptibility to this drug. Our approach adds a layer of precision to a treatment that's been around for decades but still carries serious risks for certain patients." The research underscores the critical role of collaboration with oncologists and pathologists, whose clinical insights contributed to the research direction, Finkielstein said. The preliminary findings were presented by the leading researchers of the project, John Janiga and Dzenis Mahmutovic, at the 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. They were also published as an abstract in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, signaling early interest in the study's clinical potential. Scientists focused on mutations in a gene called DPYD, which produces the enzyme responsible for breaking down 5-FU. They initially analyzed DNA from healthy volunteers and cancer patients to determine whether saliva samples could reliably detect known DPYD mutations. To expand beyond known variants, the team later employed advanced artificial intelligence tools alongside 3D protein modeling to evaluate thousands of samples. "The AI-driven approach helped the team assess the structural and functional impact of previously unrecognized mutations in DPYD, uncovering potentially harmful variants that conventional methods might have missed," said Katherine Brown, the team's lead bioinformatician. Several newly identified DPYD mutations in colon cancer patients were predicted to impair 5-FU metabolism. Two were labeled "pathogenic" by multiple predictive tools and confirmed by a clinical genetics database. Some high-risk mutations were also found in healthy individuals, highlighting the need and feasibility of implementing saliva-based genetic screening for broader population-level risk assessment, according to Finkielstein, who leads the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. "If we can flag high-risk patients early, we can tailor their treatment plans, reduce hospitalizations, and potentially avoid fatal complications," said Finkielstein, who is also a professor of biological sciences in the College of Science. "This is a real step forward in making cancer care safer, smarter, and more personalized." The early findings could expand current genetic testing and guide safer, more personalized chemotherapy. The study was led by Finkielstein, a professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Co-authors Janiga, Mahmutovic, Brown, Dulguun Myagmarsuren, and Clinton Roby are affiliated with the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory. Douglas Grider is with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Mark Kochenderfer is a medical oncologist with Blue Ridge Cancer Care. More information: John M Janiga et al, Enhancing a low-cost, minimally invasive screening test for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mutations linked to 5-fluorouracil sensitivity by integrating computational mutation predictions, Journal of Clinical Oncology (2025). DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2025.43.4_suppl.226 Journal information: Journal of Clinical Oncology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: The Mount Sinai Hospital In a study published in NEJM Catalyst, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai describe how measures to curb opioid overdoses in the general population have compromised a critical cornerstone of palliative care. Opioids are medically necessary analgesics for the relief of moderate to severe pain in patients with cancer and other serious illnesses, such as acute sickle cell crises, and for patients following surgery. "The opioid crisis of overdose deaths remains omnipresent; however, a new threat has emerged among vulnerable populations who need these medicines as first-line treatment for their pain, which can be severe," says lead author Rebecca Rodin, MD, Assistant Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn Mount School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who specializes in palliative medicine. "We hope our findings will lay the foundation for deeper dialog to restore balance between opioid excess and access." In their paper, the authors share several important findings gleaned from a 2023 needs assessment survey of clinicians within Mount Sinai's Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. While the survey was limited to 52 clinicians, it unearthed significant hurdles in three domains: pharmacy-related issues, such as low medication supplies; insurance-related obstacles to prescribing, including preauthorization requirements and pill limits; and communication issues, such as long hold times when physicians attempted to call pharmacists: 88% reported opioid access issues occurring often. 80% said they changed their opioid prescribing up to 50% of the time due to limited availability of the needed medications. 31% said access issues often led to suboptimal pain control. Clinical teams said they spent more than one hour every day on the phone with insurance companies and pharmacies. Of critical concern, say the authors, is scattered and uneven availability among pharmacies. "Our clinicians told us that in New York City's outer boroughs, such as the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, they encountered much greater difficulty obtaining opioids where we treat higher concentrations of underrepresented patients who are socioeconomically vulnerable," says Dr. Rodin. To improve access issues, Dr. Rodin and colleagues developed a series of targeted quality improvement initiatives at two inpatient hospitals and three outpatient clinics across the Mount Sinai Health System. These initiatives are: Collaboration and mutual learning with pharmacy leaders:This initiative leveraged engagement with Mount Sinai pharmacy leaders to optimize supply quotas and ensure that frequently prescribed opioids were in stock. This effort aimed to educate pharmacies about the underlying rationale and necessity for these analgesics. The team also learned from the pharmacies about impediments, including concerns in neighborhoods with high crime, robbery, and theft; fears about Drug Enforcement Administration crackdowns and potential liability; and concerns about reimbursement for costly medicines not fully reimbursed by insurance. Continuing education series: The researchers developed tailored education series and distributed guides to providers in internal medicine and oncology who most often admit and discharge seriously ill patients, in addition to palliative care providers who commonly prescribe opioids for their patients. Key topics included reviews of common formulations and doses for pain; guidance on writing prescriptions; anticipating and handling prior authorizations; processes for communicating between clinicians and pharmacies prior to discharge; and ways to improve communication around discharge orders for opioids. "Our study underlines critical access challenges that impact our palliative care patients in the community, but also the need to address the very important requirement for opioids at the point of hospital discharge to ensure continued symptom management. "Improving clinician knowledge and empowering discharging teams to effectively navigate outpatient opioid prescribing is imperative to ensure smooth care transitions," says senior author Joanna Chen, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who specializes in palliative care. Dissemination of guide identifying preferred pharmacies: Knowing which pharmacies will have medicines in stock presents a critical time-saver for doctors, says Dr. Rodin. Her team developed a guide to preferred pharmacies, updated in real time through collaboration, with practical suggestions on how to complete prior authorizations. "Our strategies have been effective within the Mount Sinai ecosystem, but they do not address root causes of barriers which can include a number of factors, such as much broader supply chain shortages at the regional and national level, public and private coverage policies, and pharmacy stocking and dispensing practices. "We need to do more to address these barriers," said Dr. Rodin. She and her co-authors recommend refinements in medical education, research into barriers and clinical guidelines, and policy. More information: Rebecca Rodin et al, The Silent Opioid Crisis: Finding a Balance Between Combating Abuse and Increasing Access for Seriously Ill Patients, NEJM Catalyst (2025). DOI: 10.1056/CAT.24.0380 Journal information: NEJM Catalyst This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In 2023, Bret Hulick was in his second year of medical school at LECOM in Erie, analyzing the case of a 24-year-old colon cancer patient. The patient had to choose between an established therapy with a high likelihood of unwanted side effects or a newer experimental treatment. For Hulick, though, it wasn't an academic exercise. He was the patientpart of a dramatic rise in young people diagnosed with colon cancerand his treatment decision was a difficult one. "It's very challenging when you have a 24-year-old patient, a medical school student, right in the middle of school," said Ibrahim Sahin, a medical oncologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, who treated Hulick. "You need to continue school, you have dreams to be a doctor, and there's a lot of emotions, stress and anxiety." Hulick began experiencing symptoms in the summer of 2023, eventually visiting the emergency room for what he thought might be a stomach bug. He got a basic CT scan, a diagnosis of unspecified Crohn's disease or colitis, and a recommendation to see a specialist. When he saw the specialist about three months later, they agreed with that diagnosis but recommended a colonoscopy. That colonoscopy showed a tumor, and Hulick was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes. He decided to proceed quickly with surgery performed by Jennifer Holder-Murray, a colorectal surgeon at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, squeezing the procedure in during the two weeks that he got off from medical school around Christmas. On Dec. 8, he went into surgery, which became more involved than expected when Holder-Murray discovered that the tumor had started to invade his stomach. As Hulick recovered from surgery, he began discussing next steps with Sahin. The standard treatment was chemotherapy, which he needed even after surgery because the cancer had spread beyond the colon. But the recommended type of chemotherapy has a common side effect of peripheral neuropathyweakness, numbness and pain in his hands and feet. For Hulick, who hopes to work with his hands as an emergency room physician, that side effect could be life-changing. Sahin thought there might be another option. Hulick's tumor markers indicated the presence of mismatch repair deficiency (MMR), a genetic abnormality which makes it more difficult for cells to repair damage to DNA. In 2022, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City published the results of a small study that achieved a 100% cure rate in 12 patients using the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab to treat rectal cancer that also had MMR status. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, immediately changed the practice of treatment for rectal cancer. Hulick didn't have rectal cancer, though, and there wasn't an equivalent study for colon cancer. But Sahin thought that the study was dramatic enoughand Hulick's cancer was similar enoughto try immunotherapy instead of chemotherapy, thus avoiding the risk of damage to his hands. A doctor in Erie also consulting with Hulick disagreed, urging him to stick with the proven treatment of chemotherapy. "I was really kind of up in the air," said Hulick. "I knew what the potential downsides of the chemotherapy were, but there was a lot more chance to take with the immunotherapy." In the end, Hulick, an adventure junkie who snowboards and rides motorcycles and dirt bikes, decided to go with the less proven, higher potential immunotherapy option. "If there's a chance of something that's a little risky but with a better outcome, I'm likely to do it," he said. "It was worth taking the shot." Thus far, his treatment has gone as well as possible. He was able to do about six months of immunotherapy with no interruption to medical school. And his scans are now completely clear, with no evidence of cancer. "Luckily, it played out the way we were hoping," said Sahin, on the decision to use immunotherapy. "It wasn't the standard of care, it wasn't tested, but sometimes science proceeds itselfthe studies were not perfect so we had to make the decision, what is more in the interest of the patient." Just as Hulick was completing his treatment in the summer of 2024, Memorial Sloan Kettering released more data, with 42 patients now treated with immunotherapy for rectal cancer and every one of them cured. The first 24 patients all showed no evidence of cancer two years after their initial treatment. In December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted dostarlimab "breakthrough therapy designation" to treat mismatch repair-deficient rectal cancer. Studies are now recruiting people to test the immunotherapy treatment for colon cancer similar to Hulick's. While Sahin and Hulick didn't have the luxury of waiting for official studies, they are grateful the science that did exist came along just in time, along with other advances in cancer treatment. "What was available to him now wouldn't have been even five years back," said Sahin. Hulick also received genetic testing and counseling that resulted in a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome, common among those with MMR tumors. Lynch syndrome, which was previously called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, is a condition passed from parents to children associated with a higher risk of colon cancers and other cancers, especially at a young age. Once Hulick received the diagnosis, his younger brother, younger sister and father were screened for cancer as well. And while his siblings were clear, his father found out in May 2024 that he had an active tumor that was thus far asymptomatic. The tumor was removed surgically, which was considered curative because it was caught so early. "That was the best thing to come of it was finding all this out and getting my siblings ahead of the ball," said Hulick. "We were able to figure that out for my dad before it became a much bigger problem." Hulick's doctors are also hoping that his story can raise awareness of the rise in colon cancer in younger patients. The percentage of colorectal cancer cases in adults younger than 55 increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019, according to the American Cancer Society. Symptoms of colon cancer are easy to dismiss as being from other causes, such as hemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome, said Holder-Murray, so getting them checked out is essential. And while Hulick did have a hereditary component to his colon cancer, the vast majority of cases are sporadic, without a known history. "We're seeing it happen for younger and younger patients," said Holder-Murray. "It's one of the most heart-wrenching conversations you can have when you are talking to someone so young, with their whole future ahead of them." 2025 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Changes to the federal government are creating real impacts to the Missoula area, but local city, county and university leaders said on Monday they are doubling down on a commitment to diversity and improving cost of living. Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis, County Commissioner Juanita Vero and University of Montana President Seth Bodnar spoke on Missoula affairs during the annual "State of the Community" sponsored by Missoula City Club. While the effects from the federal government have included job losses and uncertainty toward federal research, leaders said they are steadfast on continuing their local efforts to address infrastructure and social safety. "The city values diversity, full stop," Davis told the audience at the Missoula Public Library. "When making decisions, we will continue to evaluate who benefits and who bears the burden of our policy decisions." Davis, Vero and Bodnar all touted positive changes in Missoula in 2025, like increased enrollment at the University of Montana, new public private infrastructure and development opportunity on vacant land in the city. Missoula continues to fill potholes, repair bridges and fund elections, Vero said, and efforts to shrink the federal government will not stop essential county functions, although a third of its budget comes from grants. Bodnar said there is no doubt that changes to the federal government will physically impact Missoula, and he worries for the next generation of Americans who are expected to be less educated than previous decades. "As a former business executive, I'm deeply concerned about the consequences of these falling rates of educational attainment and federal investment in research," Bodnar said. "As a former special forces officer in the Army, I am also concerned for our national security. As you think about our competitors on the global stage, whether that be China or India, these countries are all working feverishly to build the system of higher education that we were blessed to inherit in this country, while we are falling behind and attacking that same system." Davis's city priorities Davis laid out three main goals for the city in 2025: creating a more trustworthy government, address cost of living increases and to expand housing choice options. She cited a recent citywide study that reported a large swath of city residents do not trust the local, state and federal governments, have concerns about the local economy and say more affordable housing is needed. Davis said a new city customer service system, a revamped city land use plan and private public partnerships like the Ravarra Scott Street Development are huge tools to accomplish a majority of residents' desires. "Some say that Missoula shouldn't grow or change, but the reality is that change is here," Davis said. "So we have the opportunity to shape that change, and we have the opportunity to make sure that Missoula is an incredible place to live, to work, to retire and to learn in." Davis said at the talk that she has formed a city land redevelopment task force to find housing and commercial uses on more than 45 acres of city property. She also stressed that long-term tax relief might not arrive from the state legislature this year, and said the city will attempt to ease cost of living burdens by limiting some elective projects like some sidewalk construction. She said the city has yet to be impacted by the loss of a federal grant and noted that executive orders from the Trump Administration do not affect the city, but said plans are in place in case certain grants are terminated. "We will continue to pivot on how we do things economically," Davis said. Vero calls for climate action Vero, the chair of the three-member Board of County Commissioners, said both the city and county are containing their goals of limiting the area's carbon footprint. She also stressed the importance of federal grants and cited five government employees who have been laid off amid the reduction of already-approved federal grants. Vero said the city and county are still working on a large scale green power program with Northwestern Energy that one day could provide electricity to 10,000 homes. "Climate change is a threat to our health, our life and our economy," Vero said. And Missoula County is taking action." She said the county is also looking to address clean air through increased opportunities to get air purifiers and more energy efficiency buildings while looking to better manage nearby forests for wildfires. Some of those efforts were cut short after the federal government canceled a $1 million grant for the county's developing home improvement center. The cut eliminated two jobs and closed a sample test of energy efficiency in several Missoula homes, Vero said. Another grant through Partnership Health Center that was cut eliminated funding for half a dozen community health workers, although the Missoulian previously reported some jobs will remain after Partnership shifted its budget. "At a very basic level, the grueling work that community healthcare workers do saves this community significant money by keeping people out of the justice system," Vero said. Another grant in jeopardy is the $30 million East Missoula connector project, Vero said, which would add sidewalks and bike lanes along Broadway Avenue through East Missoula. Vero said the government is needed to address things like needed infrastructure in growing communities. She cited the new public-private water system at Wye that is set to expand over the next few decades. Bodnar touts 'inclusive prosperity' Bodnar, UM's 19th president, said the university continues to experience a cycle of growth, despite changes to the federal government and an uncertain next generation of college-aged students. Bodnar said UM is the fastest growing university in Montana, with its largest freshman class since 2009 and increases to both Montana resident, veteran and Native American enrollment. Bodnar credited UM's high acceptance rate and priority to give any student a quality education as reasons for why the university continues to thrive. "Regardless of where you come from, who your parents work for, what political party you are a part of, who you love, what you look like, how much money you have, everyone ought to have the opportunity to reach their full potential," Bodnar said. Bodnar said UM will not shed the "inclusive prosperity" slogan and said inclusivity is important to getting all students a proper education. He noted UM never used affirmative action or legacy statuses when considering new students. While the university remains a large-scale research school, Bodnar acknowledged that federal cuts have made impacts. He cited the $6 million Mansfield Center grant that was meant for rural youth democracy education. "Make no mistake, cuts to federal funding for Montana's universities are going to have an outsize impact on Montanans," Bodnar said. Other impacts Bondar mentioned include public health initiatives, fire management, drought prediction and youth education, like the UM Spectrum Center within the Missoula library, which experienced some cuts. Bodnar also said a higher number of students nationwide are not considering any post-high school education a mistake, Bodnar said, because of the need to have skills for multiple careers as the federal government creates an uncertain job market. All three leaders said they will continue work with Montana's congressional representatives to keep local federal funding, and stressed that government is not always the bad person. "Government isn't the answer to everything, but goddamn it, it is part of the solutions," Vero said. Missoula City Club meets monthly in the Missoula Public Library. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has recalled two dozen generic medicines sold to American patients because the Indian factory that made them failed to comply with U.S. manufacturing standards and the Food and Drug Administration determined that the faulty drugs could harm people, federal records show. In February, the FDA found problems with cleaning and testing at the plant in Madhya Pradesh, India, which was the subject of a ProPublica investigation last year . The current recalls, listed in an FDA enforcement report last week, cover a wide range of commonly prescribed medicines, including ones that treat epilepsy, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and high blood pressure, among other ailments. A full list of the recalled medications is available here The agency determined that the drugs could cause temporary or reversible harm and that the chance of more serious problems was remote. However, the FDA didnt say what symptoms the flawed drugs could cause. ProPublica asked the FDA and Glenmark for more specifics, but neither responded. Records show that Glenmark first alerted wholesalers about the recalls in a March 13 letter. That letter suggests that Glenmark pulled the drugs because of potential cross-contamination. Thomas Callaghan, Glenmarks executive director of regulatory affairs for North America, wrote that 148 batches of the recalled medicines were made in a shared facility with two cholesterol-lowering drugs, ezetimibe and a combination of that drug and simvastatin. Thats a concern because the chemical structure of ezetimibe contains whats known as a beta-lactam ring. FDA safety experts pay attention to this because many beta-lactam drugs, particularly penicillin, can cause life-threatening allergies and hypersensitivity reactions. Its the most commonly reported drug allergy in the U.S. Because of that danger, the FDA requires manufacturers to follow special precautions to prevent cross-contamination with drugs that contain a beta-lactam ring, even if they arent antibiotics. The chemical structure of ezetimibe, Callaghan wrote to Glenmarks wholesalers, shows it is unlikely to cause such hypersensitivity reactions. Nevertheless, Glenmark was recalling the drugs based on risk assessment and out of an abundance of caution, Callaghan wrote. He added, This recall is being made with knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration. According to Callaghans letter, the potential problem dates back years. The executive wrote that Glenmark began shipping the drugs on Oct. 4, 2022. In December, ProPublica revealed that the Glenmark factory was responsible for an outsized share of U.S. recalls for pills that didnt dissolve properly and could harm people. At the time, the FDA hadnt inspected the plant since before the COVID-19 pandemic, even though one of those recalls had been linked to deaths of American patients. About two months after that investigation was published, FDA officials returned to the factory the agencys first inspection in five years. Inspectors discovered that Glenmark hadnt properly cleaned equipment to prevent contamination of medicines with residues from other drugs. The federal investigators also noted that Glenmark routinely released some drugs to the U.S. market using test methods that hadnt been adequately validated, according to the inspection report. Whats more, when some Glenmark tests found problems with a drug, the company at times declared those results invalid and retested with new samples to obtain passing results, the inspection report said. The batches were ultimately released to the US market. In their detailed report , the inspectors listed drugs shipped to U.S. customers who had been affected by the potential contamination and testing problems, but FDA censors redacted page after page, making it impossible to know which medicines may not be safe. An FDA attorney said the information was being withheld because it contained trade secrets or commercial information that was considered privileged or confidential. ProPublica first asked Glenmark about that inspection on March 7 after obtaining the FDA report through the Freedom of Information Act. Glenmark alerted wholesalers about the recalls less than a week later, but the company and the FDA didnt tell ProPublica. Instead, a Glenmark spokesperson sent a statement saying the company was committed to working diligently with the FDA to ensure compliance with manufacturing operations and quality systems. And the FDA said it could discuss potential compliance matters only with the company involved. The FDA first mentioned the recalls publicly in its April 8 enforcement report , which is like an electronic filing cabinet for recalls. The recalls do not appear on the FDAs recalls website , which compiles press releases written by pharmaceutical companies. ProPublica asked the FDA and Glenmark why they didnt alert the public last month that these medicines had been recalled, but neither responded. Glenmark is embroiled in a federal lawsuit that alleges recalled potassium chloride capsules made at its Madhya Pradesh factory caused the death of a 91-year-old Maine woman in June. The FDA had determined last year that more than 50 million of those recalled Glenmark extended-release capsules had the potential to kill U.S. patients because they didnt dissolve correctly and could lead to a perilous spike in potassium. In court filings, Glenmark has denied responsibility for the womans death. Since that potassium chloride recall, Glenmark has told federal regulators it has received reports of eight deaths in the U.S. of people who took the recalled capsules, FDA records show. Companies are required to file such reports so the agency can monitor drug safety. The FDA shares few details, though, so ProPublica was unable to independently verify what happened in each case. In general, the FDA says these adverse event reports reflect the opinions of the people who reported the harm and dont prove that the drug caused it. On Monday, 2920 stocks advanced, 1168 declined and 159 remained unchanged on Bombay Stock Exchange with advance decline ratio of 2.5 indicating a positive closing in the broader market. However, the small and midcap indices went up loess. The trend of the major indices on Mondays trading is given in the table below. On NSE, 93 securities advanced and closed at a new 52-week high whereas 16 securities sank to close at their new 52-week lows. In sectoral indices, Nifty Energy, Nifty PSU Bank, and Nifty IT were among the biggest gainers. Nifty FMCG was the only the loser. According to a news report Tesla was reportedly in discussions with the Murugappa Group, along with US memory chip maker Micron and Tata Electronics, to explore procurement options for semiconductor components. This move aligns with Tesla's strategic goal to diversify its global supply chain and reduce reliance on China and Taiwan. Murugappa Group stocks went up following this speculative news: Shanthi Gears (+9.54%), Wendt (India) (+3.50%), Tube Investments of India (+3.91%), Carborundum Universal (+2.32%), CG Power & Industrial Solutions (+4.96%), Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company(+4.57%) and Coromandel International (+3.76%). India's drug regulator (DGCI) halted the production, sale, and distribution of several fixed-dose combination (FDC) cough syrups for children under four. The DGCI's action, prompted by safety concerns regarding the use of chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride in young children, has led to confusion within the distribution channel. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) launched a Common Hospital Empanelment Drive, spearheaded by the General Insurance Council, aiming to onboard 4,000-5,000 general hospitals into cashless treatment networks in the coming months. This initiative seeks to streamline the process for hospitals to join insurer networks. Simultaneously, insurers are engaging separately with eye hospitals due to the standardized nature of their procedures. While some hospitals view the move towards standardized pricing favorably, larger hospitals have voiced concerns regarding the proposed reimbursement rates. The pricing framework is expected to align with the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) to ensure cost-effectiveness, with the overall goal of enhancing accessibility while balancing negotiations between insurers and hospitals. Interarch Building Products (+4.00%) secured orders exceeding Rs300 crore from a prominent tyre manufacturing company based in Gujarat. Sandhar Technologies Limited (+1.11%) entered into an agreement to sell a non-core immovable property in Bengaluru. It has received an earnest deposit of Rs15 crore for a total consideration of Rs61.5 crore. This sale is in line with Sandhar Technologies' strategic objective to consolidate and monetize its non-essential assets, ensuring that its focus remains on its core business operations. Intellect Design Arena (+2.94%) announced a significant multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement with a leading UK-based global bank. It will deploy its eMACH.ai wholesale banking platform to accelerate its international wholesale banking expansion and create a seamless, future-ready corporate banking experience for its clients Shree Cement (+0.52%) announced the commissioning of a new clinker grinding unit with a capacity of 3.40 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) at Baloda Bazar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This expansion is a brownfield project, indicating it's an addition to an existing facility. In Q4FY24-25, Shilchar Technologies (+5.00%)sales shot up by 120% y-o-y to reach Rs232 crore, while operating profit jumped 126.75% y-o-y to reach Rs71.2 crore and Net profit increased 121.60% y-o-y to reach Rs55.4 crore. In Q4FY24-25, HDFC AMC's (+5.73%) revenues increased by 30.07% y-o-y to reach Rs901 crore, while operating profit increased by 35.62% y-o-y to reach Rs731 crore and Net profit increased by 18.11% y-o-y to reach Rs639 crore. The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below: The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs1.29 crore on Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, IDFC First Bank Ltd and Punjab National Bank (PNB) for non-compliance with the directions issued by the banking regulator. The highest penalty of Rs61.40 lakh has been imposed on Kotak Mahindra Bank. IDFC First Bank and PNB has been fined Rs38.60 lakh and Rs29.60 lakh, respectively. Kotak Mahindra Bank has been penalised for non-compliance with directions issued by RBI on guidelines on the loan system for the delivery of bank credit and loans and advances, statutory and other restrictions. After conducting the statutory inspection for supervisory evaluation (ISE 2023), RBI found that Kotak Mahindra Bank failed to ensure that the outstanding loan amount met the required percentage of the sanctioned working capital limit for certain borrowers. Additionally, the lender did not comply with the margin requirements for intra-day limits provided to certain stockbrokers. IDFC First Bank was fined for non-compliance with directions issued by RBI on know-your-customer (KYC). The lender had failed to undertake the requisite customer due diligence process for opening current accounts of some sole proprietary firms. RBI's statutory inspection of PNB found that the lender had levied penal charges for non-maintenance of minimum balance in inoperative accounts. As a result, RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs29.60 lakh on PNB. After considering the reply and oral submissions of Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and PNB during the personal hearing, RBI concluded that "the charges of non-compliance with directions were substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty," RBI says. In all three cases, RBI says the penalties are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and are not intended to be pronounced on the validity of any transaction or agreement they entered into with their customer. A local restaurant destroyed by Hurricane Helene will reopen soon, but a business in the same shopping center wont be back there. L.H. Kirksey, who owns River Village with his brothers Carl and Lee Kirksey, said about 50% of the businesses that were in the shopping/office complex will be coming back to it. The shopping center was flooded as water from Hurricane Helene caused the nearby Catawba River to rise in late September. It was the second time the shopping/office complex has been flooded by hurricanes. Hurricane Frances caused the Catawba River to flood the complex in September 2004. Town Tavern reopening Hurricane Helene destroyed Town Tavern and the Kirksey brothers have been working to get it ready to open once again. L.H. Kirksey said the inside of the building was torn down to the block walls and studs and rebuilt from there. The bathrooms were redone and plumbing is being installed, he said. Kirksey said new kitchen flooring is done, and crews are working on the floor for the upper dining room, where a new bar has been built. He said the flooring in the lower dining areas is done, and new kitchen equipment is expected soon. Justin Davis, one owner of Town Tavern, said they are aiming to open in late April or early May. The restaurant will need workers, he said. Starting April 21, people interested in working at Town Tavern can stop in and apply between noon and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Davis said. He said there will be people on-site to conduct interviews and take applications. Davis said the restaurant needs cooks, dish washers, servers, bussers and hosts. Were looking super forward to getting back in there, and we hope to see all familiar faces real soon, Davis said. The Morganton location is one of three Town Taverns, with the other two in Blowing Rock and Banner Elk. In addition to the restaurant building, the Kirksey brothers also have been working to get the other businesses renovated and back open. Kirksey said Salon 337 and the Edward Jones Financial office are up and running in the complex. Kirksey said there are at least three more spaces in the building closest to North Green Street that are being fixed for the previous tenants. In the complexs middle building space, most tenants that were there plan to return, he said. Kirksey said once those tenants are back, the focus will turn to the building closest to the restaurant, where tenants are not expected to return to the four office spaces. Queen City Audio Video & Appliances Queen City Audio Video & Appliances, once located in River Village, is among the businesses that wont return to the complex. Queen City President Roddey Player said the company plans to stay in the Morganton market. Queen City Audio Video & Appliances was located at 307 Sanford Drive, Morganton, but its showroom was flooded during Hurricane Helene. Queen City announced in late 2024 that it was buying multiple locations of Badcock Home Furnishing & More stores in North and South Carolina and starting an initiative to introduce its new Queen City Homestore concept in January 2025, according to a release from the company. In addition to appliances, mattresses and electronics, it will offer outdoor products and furniture, the release said. Its because of the rebranding that Queen City Homestore is looking for a different location in Morganton. We need a bigger space than whats there (in River Village), Player said. Weve got several people trying to help us, you know, in the real estate business up there trying to help us find a better space for our clients and for our customers and for us to work out of up there, but just havent put our hands on it. Player said because of the company adding furniture to its inventory of goods, it will need a location that is about 20,000 square feet, which will double the space in River Village. Player said Queen City bought out Macs TV after the 2004 flood from Hurricane Frances, he said. He said they are trying to find a space that is less vulnerable to that kind of weather. Were still serving up there (in Morganton). We have lots of clients up there and up in the mountains, too, that are served out of that store, Player said. So its not about us trying to leave the market or not go back in the market. We just havent found the right place for us to do it. His Morganton employees have continued to work for the company at its Charlotte location, working the phones and the e-commerce business for the Morganton market, Player said. Hes been paying employees to drive to Charlotte to work. And so the quicker I get a store open up there, theyre ready to go back to work and work hard in that market up there, Player said. So we held on to the employees, and were anxious to get open ourselves if we find the right property. The property where Queen City was located in River Village is listed as available for rent. Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang has jumped to the defence of Siaya governor James Orengo and Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, insisting that dissent is healthy in a democracy. Speaking on NTV, Kajwang reminded Kenyans that theres nothing wrong with different and divergent voices as long as they are expressed with respect. He argued that ODMs culture is built on loyalty to nationnot blind allegiance. We cannot be a praiseandworship choir. Those are not the values that ODM stands for, he said. Orengo and Sifuna have recently criticised fellow ODM figures who, in their view, have grown tonedeaf to public concerns after the party entered a powersharing pact with President William Rutos Kenya Kwanza camp. The duos frank remarks angered some party loyalists, but Kajwang believes such pushback is essential. He noted that, even within the newly formed broadbased government, ODM legislators will still call out wrongdoing, whether its police abductions or a faltering health system. If things arent working, well speak out, but well do it in a way that doesnt tear the country apart, he said. Kajwang also dismissed fears that ODM might disappear inside the coalition. The party, he insisted, remains distinct and will field its own presidential candidate in 2027. Building a movement of ODMs stature isnt easy, and it will be on the ballot, he said. According to the senator, Raila Odingas decision to work with Ruto was driven by a need to steady an economy shaken by last years protests. But collaboration, he stressed, should not silence honest critique. With elections only two years away, Kajwang urged colleagues to focus on solving Kenyas immediate challenges while keeping democratic debate alive. Let us allow divergent voices; theyre part of a healthy political culture, he said. Kenyas political class closed ranks on Easter Monday after news broke that Pope Francis had died earlier in the morning, ending a transformative 12year papacy. President William Ruto set the tone with a message that blended national grief and personal admiration. We join the Catholic Church and the global Christian community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, he wrote, hailing the late pontiff as a beacon of servant leadership whose humility crossed every cultural and religious line. Ruto praised the Popes relentless defence of societys most vulnerable, saying the Argentineborn cleric exemplified inclusivity and justice in both word and deed. He concluded by noting that the Popes moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindikihimself a lifelong Catholiccalled the death a monumental loss and urged the faithful to let the Popes simple life of grace guide future generations. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula echoed that sentiment, describing Francis as a spiritual beacon of humility, love and justice. Reflecting on the Popes outreach to the poor and marginalised, Wetangula added: As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his extraordinary life and the legacy of faith, love and humility that he leaves behind. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi struck a similarly sombre note. A light to the world has dimmed, he said, assuring Catholics that Franciss legacy of compassion and unity will endure across generations. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta drew on personal memories of the Popes 2015 visit to Nairobi, when hundreds of thousands packed the University of Nairobi grounds for Mass in a torrential downpour. I recall the visit of Pope Francis to our great nation in November 2015, where Kenyans renewed their faith and trust in God, Kenyatta said. He praised the pontiff for knitting strong bonds of friendship among different faiths and prayed for comfort for Catholics worldwide. According to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, Pope Francis was admitted to Romes Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic on 14 February 2025 with bronchitis that later developed into bilateral pneumonia. After thirtyeight days in hospital, doctors discharged him to his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta, where his condition deteriorated over the weekend. He passed away in the early hours of Easter Monday, aged 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 266th Pope steered the Catholic Church toward outspoken advocacy on climate change, economic inequality and migrant rights. His easy manner and willingness to wade into difficult social debates resonated with Kenyas nearly ten million Catholics, many of whom still recall his Kiswahili greetingBwana Asifiweduring the 2015 Mass. Funeral preparations will be announced by the Vatican in the coming days. For now, Kenyan leaders from across the political spectrum are united in paying tribute to a man they say personified mercy, justice and hope. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba is taking a stand following a troubling incident where a female passenger was allegedly assaulted and robbed on a Mash Poa bus. This event reportedly took place last week during a trip to Mombasa. In a letter dated April 21, Senator Orwoba reached out to the Mash Poa management, demanding a detailed report on the incident. She urged the company to shed light on the measures taken by their staff and management, emphasizing the need for this report by the end of April 22. Given the gravity of the situation, I urge you to prioritize this matter and provide a full incident report detailing the events as they transpired, including any actions taken by your staff and management in response to the incident, Orwoba stated. The incident has understandably raised significant safety concerns among passengers who rely on this bus service. Senator Orwoba reiterated the importance of justice for the victim, Ms. Omondi, who bravely shared her experience on social media. Ms. Omondi recounted a harrowing experience where she was dragged and assaulted by a fellow passenger during her journey from Nairobi on April 14. She lost consciousness after being handed two cups of tea by a middle-aged man and later found herself in Coast General Hospital. She was reportedly brought there by a bus conductor and a boda boda rider. Adding to her ordeal, Ms. Omondi expressed frustration over the companys refusal to provide information about the perpetrator. She also reported missing personal belongings, including clothes, cash, and her phone. As a frequent traveler to Diani, Ms. Omondi is understandably dismayed by the lack of answers and accountability from Mash Poa. She voiced her distress, saying, I need an explanation of how I woke up in the hospital without some clothes, yet I had them when I boarded the bus. I am losing it because I dont have answers, and all Im getting from Mash is We dont know. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) recently released a list detailing the promotion of 25,252 teachers, stirring up a lively debate about the fairness of these promotions across Kenyas counties. Machakos County led the way with 690 promotions, while Garissa lagged behind with just 303. The distribution of promotions varied greatly among counties and job grades, raising questions about potential bias. Lawmakers have voiced concerns about the fairness of these selections to the national assembly. However, TSC maintains that the promotions were fairly distributed, irrespective of the number of applicants from each county. In the 2024/2025 financial year, TSC reported that 5,291 teachers benefited from common cadre promotions and affirmative action across all 47 counties. Notably, Isiolo, Lamu, and Mandera saw significant numbers of promotions, with 282, 280, and 270 teachers promoted, respectively. On the other hand, counties like Kiambu, Nairobi, Muranga, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Laikipia experienced fewer promotions. Promotions ranged from grade C2 to D5, with a significant number at grade C4, where 8,508 teachers were promoted. Other notable promotions included 5,425 to C5 and 4,971 to C3, with fewer promotions at higher executive levels. TSC CEO Nancy Macharia defended the promotion process, emphasizing adherence to the commissions regulations, including Regulation 72 and career progression guidelines. However, MP Julius Melly, chair of the national assembly committee on education, pointed out discrepancies, noting instances where some teachers received multiple promotions while others remained in the same job group for years. The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has also raised concerns. Acting Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima criticized the criteria, claiming it disadvantaged many educators, particularly in densely populated areas. He highlighted cases where teachers were promoted after just six months, contrary to the three-year requirement. The TSC has been asked to provide a detailed list by Thursday, explaining the criteria used for the promotions. Meanwhile, the union continues to call for more transparency and consultation in the promotion process. Jaime Clark, director of Student Health Services, and Ben Newman, director of public safety and chief of police, are helping lead the new CAPS Plus program. (Photo provided) SIU pioneers mental health response program for emergency calls by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. Thanks to a new grant-funded program, responders with specialized skills in mental health are available to assist when needed in emergency calls at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, de-escalating situations, improving outcomes and helping students stay in school, officials said. SIUs Department of Public Safety, Counseling and Psychological Services and others have developed a collaborative response team, funded by an Illinois Board of Higher Education Mental Health Early Action on Campus Competitive Grant of $290,000. SIU is leading the way in establishing this comprehensive, groundbreaking program one of the first of its kind in the nation, said Jaime Clark, director of Student Health Services, which oversees CAPS. It will have a huge impact providing students, faculty and staff who are in crisis with timely mental health support, interventions and resources. With mental health providers on the frontline, we hope to increase access to quality care, decrease hospitalizations by providing in-the-moment interventions, and destigmatize help-seeking behaviors. Benjamin Newman, SIUs director of public safety and chief of police, said crisis counselors will provide an alternative to traditional policing tactics because successful, compassionate resolution is the ultimate goal. We recognize that those in crisis may benefit from intervention services not specifically provided by a law enforcement agency, said Newman. If an officer encounters a student, faculty or staff member having what may be a mental health issue or crisis, a trained mental health professional will be contacted to assist when the situation is safe. How it came about Last year, SIUs DPS responded to 49 mental health related incidents, and campus health and public safety officials have been studying how to best respond to these calls. Participants in a campus student mental health focus group discussed tragic events that had occurred in the national news, and they expressed concerns about armed police officers responding to students in crisis, according to Shelly Ridgeway, assistant director of Student Health Services and director of Wellness and Health Promotion Services. She said current research indicates that vulnerable populations mental health may become exacerbated when officers respond and that some students from marginalized communities distrust the police. In response, Student Health Services used the grant to develop a response model based on current best practices to ensure students and others, especially vulnerable populations, receive immediate support and be directly linked to appropriate treatment and follow-up care. How it works The collaborative mental health response teams started forming in February and comprise DPS, CAPS, clinicians, campus administrators, academic faculty and community stakeholders such as staff from emergency rooms and local counseling or rehabilitation centers. Team members soon afterward began critical incident response and crisis intervention training. They are undergoing enhanced training on symptoms of mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, trauma, dementia and delirium, along with de-escalation techniques, intervention skills, and coordination of assessment and smooth transitions to treatment services. DPS dispatchers are also receiving training to screen and de-escalate calls that may involve mental health issues. When such an incident is identified, the dispatcher notifies the team. This approach not only increases access to mental health support services for students, especially those reluctant to employ available treatments, but also ensures that students experiencing mental health crises dont suffer consequences of their behavior. Officials say this will significantly reduce institutional barriers for students with undiagnosed mental health conditions and improve retention and completion rates for those historically left behind. The hope is that students, faculty or staff with mental health needs will be identified and linked to appropriate treatment, Ridgeway said. They will be supported during crises and critical incidents and provided with follow-up care information and referrals to campus and community resources. Students who require hospitalization will receive assistance through the process and support in follow-up treatment and academic accommodations. They will be able to address individual barriers to recommended treatment in order to be healthy and stable. In addition, because the team members are involved with the situation, they can provide administrative support to ease the burden if students pursue mental health leaves or advocate for retention instead of suspension in disciplinary hearings. Clark said that in the vast majority of cases due to the timely involvement of mental health support services on site, people are able to receive the assistance and care they need quickly and get plans established to ensure their safety and well-being so they can avoid expensive hospital examinations. She said the program is already accomplishing its goals and drawing interest from numerous other universities across the country. Comprehensive care for students Clark and Ridgeway said the new initiative is another effective element of SIUs large storehouse of student health services. Comprehensive services include medical care, counseling, and wellness and health promotion services. Check out all of the numerous services and programs SIUs Student Health Services offers at shc.siu.edu or learn more on the Facebook page or Instagram. Honored for their service: Three SIU Carbondale students received SIU System Distinguished Student Service Awards at the SIU Board of Trustees meeting on April 17. From left are Sheraya Bernard, Caden Cockburn and Penny Bordewick. (Photo by Russell Bailey) Three SIU Carbondale students receive 2025 SIU System Distinguished Student Service Awards CARBONDALE, Ill. Three students from Southern Illinois University Carbondale received 2025 SIU System Distinguished Student Service Awards at the SIU Board of Trustees meeting on April 17. The SIU Board of Trustees and the Student Advisory Council for the SIU System (SACSS) are honoring outstanding students in the SIU System whose acts of service are demonstrative of excellence and exemplary commitment to the support, advancement and achievement of fellow students, their campus, and their community. The SACSS received applications from across the system and selected one undergraduate student and one graduate student from both the SIU Carbondale and SIU Edwardsville campuses and one student each from the SIU Simmons Law School, SIU School of Medicine, SIU School of Dental Medicine and the SIU School of Pharmacy. Each student receives a plaque and $100. The 2025 SIU System Distinguished Service Award recipients from SIU Carbondale are: Undergraduate winner Penny Bordewick, of Bloomington, a junior majoring in political science with a double minor in history and preprofessional writing, is SIU Carbondales undergraduate student recipient. Bordewick, who is attending SIU on the Chancellors Scholarship, has been actively involved in servant leadership since her arrival. Bordewicks projects across campus and the Carbondale community have included Saluki Scholars in Action, where University Honors Program students work with after-school care programs, Admissions Open House Days, the nonprofit student organization Students for Kids Sake International and SIU Model United Nations. Bordewick has been a writing consultant in the Writing Center, a student orientation leader, student worker with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and a tutor for student-athletes. An Undergraduate Student Government (USG) member since the spring 2023 semester, Bordewick in spring 2024 became the first woman to be elected USG president in 12 years in April 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Bordewick recently represented SIU to the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee, where she served as vice chair. Bordewick said she fully intends to continue seeking ways to give back to the university that has given so much to me over the last three years, and I hope to leave a legacy of gratitude, kindness, and leading by example when I graduate in May of 2026. Graduate winner Caden Cockburn, of Johnston City, who will earn a masters degree in business analytics in August 2025, is the SIU Carbondales graduate student recipient. A Chancellors Scholar recipient, Cockburn earned his bachelors degree in agricultural systems and education, and agribusiness economics in May 2024. Over the last several years, Cockburn has totaled more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service to various initiatives and individuals. He has served in roles to help recruit future Salukis through the Saluki Ambassador program, the Student Alumni Council and as an Agbassador in the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences. He is a graduate assistant with Undergraduate Admissions and worked as a campus visit representative and a student employee with the SIU Alumni Association. The CEO and owner of Cades Lil Farm, where he manages a dairy goat breeding operation, Cockburn is a licensed American Dairy Goat Association judge, and he chairs the organizations publicity, promotional and education committee. He also volunteers as an announcer at key community events and mentors Johnston City High School students in their college search. He notes that his efforts supporting SIU Carbondale remain among my greatest passions. Cockburn added he strives to embody, dedication, compassion and perseverance to enrich lives and strengthen community bonds. Law school winner Sheraya Bernard, of St. Martinville, Louisiana, a second-year law student, is the SIU Simmons Law School recipient. Prior to coming to SIU, she earned a bachelors degree in sociology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and was in the North Carolina Central University School of Law juris doctor pre-law summer pipeline program. Bernard is president of the SIU Black Law Students Association and the National Black Law Students Association Midwest Region vice chair, and she volunteers with The Immigration Project by conducting interviews with asylum seekers and compiling detailed client histories. Other volunteer efforts have included the Public Interest Law Initiatives First Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, Keep Carbondale Beautiful, the SIU Center for Archaeological Investigations NAGPRA program and the SIU Sustainability Office for the 2024 National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this academic year, Bernard was a member of the law schools selection committee for faculty and a new dean. She has interned with the Federal Public Defenders Office for the Southern District of Illinois and Land of Lincoln Legal Aid. Bernard notes that she measures success not just by personal achievements but by how many seats I can help create at the table for others. Through structured mentorship, cross-organizational partnerships and community-based initiatives, I work to ensure that the promise of justice becomes a reality for all communities I serve. BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], April 21:Hirohama India successfully hosted the prestigious Miss Sake India 2025 contest at The Japan Foundation, crowning Aakansha Srivastava from Lucknow as the new cultural ambassador for Japanese Sake in India. The elegant ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including H.E. Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India; Koji Sato, Director of Japan Foundation, New Delhi; Kotoko Yamada, Miss Sake Japan 2023; Mika Onishii, Chairman of the Miss Sake Association, Japan; Menakaa Rai, Miss Sake India 2024; and Mika Eoka, renowned Sake sommelier also known as "Sake Mom India." The event commenced with an insightful introduction by host Kojiro Honda, Co-owner and founder of Hirohama India Pvt. Ltd. and Kuuraku India Pvt. Ltd. who emphasized Sake's growing potential in the Indian market. This was followed by an introduction of the five exceptional finalists competing for the coveted title. Kotoko Yamada and Menakaa Rai delivered a comprehensive presentation about Sake and the Miss Sake initiative, highlighting its cultural significance and global presence. In his address, Ambassador Ono Keiichi highlighted the versatility of Sake, noting how it can be successfully paired with traditional Indian curries, showcasing its untapped potential in the Indian market. He referred to the Sake reception held recently at the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, where such pairings were well received. The reception was also graced by Miss Sake India 2024, Menakaa Rai, and Miss Sake Japan 2023, Kotoko Yamada. Ambassador Ono also encouraged the five finalists to do their best and take pride in becoming cultural bridges between India and Japan. During the event, attendees were introduced to an impressive lineup of Sake labels poised to make their mark in the Indian market. These included Miyazaki Sake Brewery, which has been crafting premium Sake since 1866 using carefully polished rice and pristine water from the Boso area; Hakutsuru Sake, founded in 1743 in the famous Sake region of Nada and now available in over 55 countries; and Matsukuraya Co. Ltd.'s Kumanbachi Liqueur, a craft liqueur containing over 40% real fruit that offers a unique, fruit-forward experience. After a competitive selection process evaluated by a distinguished jury comprising Koji Sato, Mika Eoka, Menakaa Rai, and Kotoko Yamada, Aakansha Srivastava, a marketing professional with five years of brand-building experience, was crowned Miss Sake India 2025 by her predecessor, Menakaa Rai. Sonu Rani, a content writer and finance professional based in Japan, and Yengkhom Nganthoi Devi (Thoi), a certified Sake sommelier, were named as the runners-up. In her acceptance speech, Aakansha expressed her commitment to promoting Sake culture across India and encouraging more people to explore this refined beverage. "Sake has tremendous potential in the Indian market, and I'm excited to use my marketing background to help it gain greater appreciation across the country," she stated. The other finalists who participated in the competition included Sakshi Sudhir Deshmukh, an IT professional from Mumbai, and Navneet Kaur, who works in the administrative department of a Japanese company and also teaches Japanese. As Miss Sake India 2025, Aakansha will engage in promotional activities throughout the year and represent India at the prestigious Miss Sake Japan Final contest to be held on 13th June 2025 in Kyoto. For updates on Miss Sake India's journey and upcoming events promoting Japanese Sake culture in India, follow @miss_sake_india on Instagram and join the movement to discover the versatility and elegance of Japanese Sake. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN Surat (Gujarat) [India], April 21: In a world that celebrates trends, Sriya Jewels stands apart by celebrating timelessness. A premium Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brand, Sriya has just launched its latest collection of handcrafted silver jewelry, designed exclusively for the modern woman who embraces her imperfections and wears her story with pride. Rooted in the spirit of Goddess Lakshmi, Sriya takes inspiration from the lotus--a symbol of beauty rising from adversity. Each piece from the collection is thoughtfully handcrafted, embracing the uniqueness in design and honoring the journey of womanhood. "At Sriya, we don't just make jewelry--we create wearable reflections of resilience, grace, and growth," said the brand's spokesperson. What makes Sriya truly special is its philosophy of celebrating imperfection. In a fast-paced world of mass-produced accessories, Sriya stands as a symbol of authentic craftsmanship and personal expression. Each piece of silver is imperfectly perfect, echoing the individuality of the women who wear it. From everyday minimalistic elegance to subtle festive sparkle, the new collection promises versatility without compromise. With a strong online presence through its website, sriya.co, Sriya brings the artistry of local craftsmanship directly to your doorstep. The brand ensures a seamless shopping experience, empowering women across India to choose jewelry that feels intimate, intentional, and inspiring. "Our mission is simple yet powerful--to help every woman bloom in her own time and in her own way," the spokesperson added. "Every Sriya piece is more than just an ornament; it's a story of hope, strength, and self-love." As the festive season approaches, there's no better time to celebrate your story with Sriya's silver treasures. Whether you're looking to gift yourself or a loved one, discover a collection that is elegant, ethical, and emotionally resonant. Follow the bloom. Wear the journey. Shop now at sriya.co Follow us on Instagram: @sriyajewels (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], April 21: In an age where challenges rarely fit into just one discipline, the idea of a single-domain education is rapidly losing relevance. Today's graduates need more than depth--they need breadth, context, and the ability to apply knowledge across domains. Additionally, they also need soft skills to take their solutions to the world and constructively contribute to the betterment of society. Across the world, universities are rethinking how students engage with knowledge--not just by adding electives or creating cross-listed courses, but by redesigning the very structure of learning. The shift is clear: education is moving away from isolated silos and toward integrated, problem-based learning. Employers increasingly value adaptability, systems thinking, and the ability to collaborate across functions. Interdisciplinary education trains students to approach challenges from multiple vantage points, helping them build solutions that are not only innovative but sustainable. Whether it's a climate solution shaped by science and policy, or a healthcare innovation driven by technology and psychology, the most meaningful solutions arise at the intersection of domains. At Vidyashilp University, interdisciplinary learning isn't positioned as an elective--it's central to how students are taught to think, collaborate, and create. The core curriculum, which is common across programs, contributes to this end by fostering self-understanding, social awareness and by sharpening critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Inside classrooms, students work on challenges that cut across technology, law, psychology, economics, design and management. The result is a growing body of student-led projects that apply academic learning to real-world use cases, many of which address complex, systemic problems. Applied Robotics for Business Insight VURA, an interactive robot built by undergraduate students, uses natural language processing and machine learning to engage in conversations and support business decision-making. It's capable of simplifying data analysis and evolving with user interaction--showcasing how management education is blending with technical prototyping. Forensic AI Tools Built with Legal Precision One student team developed a handheld UV device for scanning crime scenes, designed to capture tamper-proof evidence that stands up in court. Paired with an AI-based sketching tool that translates verbal descriptions into facial renderings using speech-to-text and detection algorithms, these projects apply legal procedure, forensic science, and machine learning to solve crimes. Assistive Systems for Patient Care One of the projects, MEERA, is an emotion-sensing robot designed to support patients in clinical settings. Built with embedded sensors and AI, MEERA detects behavioural and emotional cues in real time and responds with context-aware, emotionally intelligent interactions. It's an attempt to bring psychological insight into assistive technology--enhancing patient comfort and care through responsive design. Fair Pricing through Practical Economics A group of students created LACTO, a milk-quality analyser built with IoT sensors and AI-driven pricing logic. Designed for India's dairy ecosystem, the system evaluates fat content in real-time and calculates payments accordingly--aiming to reduce ambiguity and middlemen dependency. These are not peripheral projects--they are embedded into coursework, often emerging from assignments or collaborative modules that bring together students from various programs. In many ways, they reflect the University's larger academic vision: that learning must mirror the interconnectedness of the real world. On 26th April, Vidyashilp University will host The Future of Higher Education 2025--a showcase of how undergrad students are turning interdisciplinary learning into real-world solutions. The event is open to parents and students to explore how interdisciplinary learning is shaping both the careers and classrooms of tomorrow. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 21: Life is full of dreams--purchasing a home, funding your child''s education, planning for unforgettable vacations, or enjoying a worry-free retirement. Achieving these goals requires not only financial protection but also a plan that adapts as your needs evolve. Tata AIA Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (Tata AIA), one of India''s leading life insurers, has introduced the Tata AIA Shubh Flexi Income Plan, an innovative life insurance savings solution offering a flexible approach to financial security and wealth creation. Designed to Evolve with You - Flexibility at the Core The Shubh Flexi Income Plan is a non-linked, participating life insurance savings plan that empowers you to customize your financial planning based on your unique aspirations. Offering flexibility from the very beginning, this plan provides three tailored options, each designed to meet specific financial goals: * Endowment Option - Ideal for building long-term savings, this option gives you a lump sum payout at the end of the plan. It''s great for big life goals like buying a home, your child''s education, or ensuring financial security for the future. * Early Income Option--For those who seek a regular cash flow, this option provides yearly cash bonuses from the first year of the plan. * Deferred Income Option - Designed for individuals focused on long-term wealth accumulation or planning for early retirement, this option allows cash bonuses after the premium payment term with the flexibility to defer payouts for enhanced growth. The core benefit of this plan lies in its flexibility--allowing consumers to adjust their financial approach as their circumstances evolve. More Than Just Savings - Built-In Protection for Peace of Mind The Shubh Flexi Income Plan not only offers a pathway to wealth creation but also incorporates essential protective features to ensure financial security: * Waiver of Premium Option - In the event of the policyholder''s unfortunate demise, all future premiums are waived, ensuring that loved ones continue to receive the planned benefits. * Cover Continuance Benefit - This feature ensures that your policy continues even if the policyholder passes away. Future premiums are waived, but your loved ones still get the death benefit, along with all future bonuses and benefits. * ''Sub Wallet'' Feature - This unique feature allows policyholders to accumulate bonuses in a wallet, which earns interest and can be utilised to make future premium payments. * Smart Lady Benefit - The plan offers a special discount for female policyholders, ensuring more affordable coverage and benefits. * Family Discount: There is also an additional discount which is available to the family members and nominees of the existing policyholders. Rewarding Policyholders with Higher Bonuses Tata AIA is known for delivering impressive bonus payouts to its participating (PAR) policyholders. For the financial year 2024, the company declared INR 1,465 crore bonus, 24% higher than the previous year''s INR 1,183 crore. This consistent performance ensures that policyholders benefit from enhanced wealth growth over time. Commenting on the launch, Sujeet Kothare, Executive Vice President, Head - Products, Business Mid Office and Digital Marketing, Tata AIA Life says, "At Tata AIA Life, we believe that financial security should not come at the cost of flexibility. Consumers today are looking for solutions that grow with them, providing both peace of mind and opportunities for wealth creation. The Shubh Flexi Income Plan is designed to empower individuals to take control of their financial future, offering guaranteed benefits along with the agility to adapt to life''s changing needs. Our vision is to ensure that every policyholder feels confident in their journey towards financial independence, knowing they have a partner who understands their aspirations and supports them at every stage." Empowering Your Financial Journey - Tailored for Every Stage of Life Whether you''re just starting your career, raising a family, or planning for retirement, the Shubh Flexi Income Plan adapts to your needs, empowering you at every stage: * Young Professionals - Start early to build wealth and secure your long-term financial goals. * Parents & Families - Confidently plan for major life milestones like your child''s education and marriage. * Retirement Planners - Ensure a reliable income stream for a comfortable post-retirement life. A Commitment to Financial Preparedness With the launch of the Shubh Flexi Income Plan, Tata AIA continues to uphold its mission of making consumers ''Har Waqt Ke Liye Taiyaar''--always prepared for every phase of life with confidence and financial security. Join the Journey Towards a Stress-Free Financial Future! With guaranteed savings, flexible income options, and wealth-building potential, the Tata AIA Shubh Flexi Income Plan ensures you enjoy financial freedom on your terms. Take the first step towards a brighter, more secure future today! About Tata AIA Life Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (Tata AIA) is a joint venture Company formed by Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. and AIA Group Ltd. (AIA). Tata AIA Life combines Tata''s pre-eminent leadership position in India and AIA''s presence as the largest, independent listed pan-Asian life insurance group in the world, spanning 18 markets in the Asia Pacific region. Tata AIA reported a total Premium Income of INR 25,692 crore for FY24, up 25% from FY23. The Company continues to rank among the Top 3 Private Insurers in Individual Weighted New Business Premium (IWNBP) with an IWNBP income of INR 7,413 crore. The Company also achieved industry-leading Persistency performance (based on premiums), ranking #1 in four out of five cohorts. https://www.tataaia.com/ About the Tata Group Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 30 companies across ten verticals. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission ''To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust''. Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture. In 2023-24, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was more than $165 billion. These companies collectively employ over 1 million people. Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors. There are 26 publicly listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of more than $365 billion as on March 31, 2024. About AIA AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively "AIA" or the "Group") comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets - wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49% joint venture in India. In addition, AIA has a 24.99% shareholding in China Post Life Insurance Co., Ltd. The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$286 billion as of 31 December 2023. AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 42 million individual policies and over 18 million participating members of group insurance schemes. AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock codes "1299" for HKD counter and "81299" for RMB counter with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol "AAGIY". For more information, please contact: Niladri Bhattacharya 98302 30283 Niladri.Bhattacharya@tataaia.com Sailee Nayak +91 993 016 7115 sailee.nayak@adfactorspr.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], April 21: The world of children's fashion just got a whole lot cuter and more conscious with the launch of Cookie Pookie, a vibrant new kidswear brand designed exclusively for children aged 0 to 8 years. With a strong focus on sustainable practices, kid-friendly designs, and ultra-soft fabrics, Cookie Pookie is set to become every parent's go-to choice for dressing their little ones. Created with the idea of blending style, practicality, and eco-consciousness, Cookie Pookie enters the market as a breath of fresh air in the kidswear segment. The brand is on a mission to provide children with clothing that not only looks adorable but feels great on the skin -- all while being gentle on the planet. What Makes Cookie Pookie Unique? At the heart of Cookie Pookie is a thoughtful philosophy -- "Fashion that Cares." The brand believes that children deserve the best in every way -- be it the fabric that touches their skin or the colors that brighten their wardrobes. Each product in the Cookie Pookie line is carefully crafted using sustainable materials such as bio washed cotton in knits and woven patterns with minimalistic styles and an international appeal. All the fabrics used are compact by compact and made in Reach compliant factories keeping in mind the durability and premium quality of the clothes. At Cookie Pookie the clothing is designed to make a parent's life easier and a child's day comfier suitable for all baby and toddler skin. With a keen understanding of both fashion trends and functional wear for children, Cookie Pookie merges playful aesthetics with parent-approved practicality. Their first collection features a wide range of essentials -- from onesies (bodysuits), rompers, and tees to coordinated sets -- all designed with cheerful prints, soft textures, and easy-to-wear silhouettes. Designed for the Planet, Made for Kids What truly sets Cookie Pookie apart is its commitment to sustainability. Every step of the production process, from sourcing to packaging, follows environmentally responsible practices. The brand uses recyclable, biodegradable packaging and works with ethical manufacturing units that prioritize fair wages and safe working conditions. "Cookie Pookie was born out of a personal need -- as a parent, I struggled to find kidswear that was both cute and conscious," says Dr Vandana Jaglan, Founder & CEO. "We wanted to create a label that speaks to modern parents who value quality, sustainability, and comfort. Each piece is made with love and the intention to last -- because we believe in quality fashion even for our little ones." A Brand That Grows with Your Child Whether you're shopping for a newborn, an active toddler, or a curious 7-year-old, Cookie Pookie's sizing and designs cater to every stage of early childhood. The brand's fit-friendly silhouettes allow for ease of movement, making playtime fuss-free and photo moments even more memorable. All the garment measurements have been graded keeping in mind the Indian babies. A thorough research has been done through research papers and reliable sources for framing the right size guide. With a strong emphasis on inclusive sizing, playful gender-neutral options, and durable stitching, Cookie Pookie aims to become a long-term favorite in every kid's wardrobe -- and every parent's heart. Website Link: http://www.cookiepookie.com/ Instagram Handle: https://www.instagram.com/cookie_pookie.2025?igsh=czVrZDExc2xpZzl6 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], April 21: Indian startup Visament has reached a major milestone. Started in 2022 in Jaipur, the company has grown from helping NRIs with documents to offering visa assistance for Indian travelers going to over 30 countries. Founders Vipul Jain and Shubham Jain launched Visament to support Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) with services like OCI cards, passport renewals, and Indian e-visas. But as more Indians began traveling abroad, the demand for reliable visa services grew. "In the beginning, we worked only with NRIs," said co-founder Shubham Jain. "Soon, we saw that many Indian travelers were confused by visa rules and documents. That's when we expanded our services." Today, Visament helps with tourist visas, student visas, and business visas. The platform checks documents, prepares embassy checklists, assists with form filling, and provides updates in real time. It also offers multilingual customer support. Many users say Visament made their visa process easier. Ritika Sinha, a student from Delhi, shared: "My visa to Germany was rejected because of a small mistake. Visament fixed it and I got my visa in two weeks." To improve its success rate, Visament has partnered with authorized visa centers and verified travel advisors. These links help the company stay updated with embassy rules and reduce errors in applications. "Visas often get rejected due to simple mistakes," said co-founder Vipul Jain. "We use both technology and expert reviews to avoid that." Although Visament is a digital-first company, it also has local advisors to help travelers in smaller cities. This mix of tech and personal help makes the service both fast and reliable. With more Indians traveling abroad for work, studies, and holidays, Visament plans to add new countries, speed up processing, and include biometric appointment booking in the future. From a small Jaipur startup to a leading visa partner, Visament is helping Indian travelers go global--one approved visa at a time. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Seoul [South Korea] / Yakushima [Japan], April 21: Hyundai Motor Company today held a handover ceremony to deliver Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN electric buses to Tanegashima Yakushima Kotsu, a regional transportation and tourism service provider operated by the Iwasaki Group in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The initiative marks a significant step in transitioning to zero-emission public transport on Yakushima Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. * Hyundai Motor holds handover ceremony with Iwasaki Group on Yakushima Island, Japan, for Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN electric buses * Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN buses are optimized for Yakushima's environment, with Vehicle Dynamics Control and advanced battery management and cooling systems * The initiative demonstrates Hyundai Motor's strong commitment to its vision of 'Progress for Humanity' and to building a more sustainable future worldwide The event was attended by Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group; Toshiyuki Shimegi, CEO of Hyundai Mobility Japan; Yoshitaro Iwasaki, CEO of Iwasaki Group; and Koji Araki, Mayor of Yakushima. The handover follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2024 between the two parties for the purchase of Hyundai ELEC City TOWN buses. "I am delighted to see Hyundai's ELEC City electric buses running here on Yakushima, contributing towards a cleaner island environment," said Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Jaehoon Chang. "Being part of Yakushima's zero-emission island initiative is a significant step towards achieving carbon neutrality on the island by 2050." Starting from June 2025, five Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN buses will operate on Yakushima. These medium-sized, low-floor electric buses will be tailored to local conditions. They are equipped with a 145 kWh battery and a high-efficiency motor delivering a power output of up to 160 kW/217 PS. The buses are equipped with Vehicle Dynamics Control to ensure safe and stable driving on the island's mountainous roads, characterized by steep slopes and sharp curves. The buses also feature advanced battery management and cooling systems, optimized for Yakushima's hot and humid climate, enhancing charging performance, efficiency and driving range. On Sunday, April 20th, ahead of the handover ceremony, Hyundai Motor signed a partnership agreement for the use of electric vehicles on Yakushima. The agreement includes utilizing the ELEC CITY TOWN's Vehicle-to-Home capabilities to supply power to evacuation shelters and medical facilities during natural disasters such as typhoons or periods of heavy rainfall. Yakushima is located at the southwestern end of the Japanese archipelago and is known for its stunning natural scenery, often referred to as the 'Alps of the Ocean'. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island is recognized as a leading eco-tourism destination, making emissions control essential for environmental preservation. Kagoshima Prefecture has designated Yakushima as a key area in its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Yakushima aims to transition its vehicle fleet to primarily EVs as part of its aim to become a zero-emission island. Hyundai Motor anticipates that the ELEC CITY TOWN buses will contribute to Yakushima's carbon neutrality goals by providing a mobility solution that supports local sustainability efforts and reflects the needs of the community. This initiative aligns with Hyundai Motor's global vision of 'Progress for Humanity' and its ongoing commitment to building a more sustainable future. About Hyundai Motor Company More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at: https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/ or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668814/250421__PR_Newswire__Hyundai_Motor_Deploys_Zero_emission_ELEC_CITY_Town_Bus_on_Japan_s_Yakushima_Isl.pdf?p=original (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SMPL New Delhi [India], April 21: Despite the rapid global adoption of online education, skepticism around its effectiveness lingers. Can digital classrooms truly replicate the engagement and depth of traditional learning? The Symbiosis School for Online and Digital Learning (SSODL), a constituent of the esteemed Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU), is responding to this shift through a harmonious blend of experiential learning, faculty-led engagement, and a robust Learning Management System (LMS) powered by Infosys. Inside SSODL's Evolving Model One of the primary concerns associated with online education is whether it can uphold the academic rigor of traditional, in-person programmes. SSODL addresses this directly by maintaining stringent academic benchmarks that mirror those of conventional programmes. Courses are taught by the same distinguished faculty from SIU's premier institutions, ensuring that students receive the same depth of insight, mentorship, and academic quality as their on-campus counterparts. The curriculum at SSODL goes beyond knowledge transmission to nurture critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Each programme is structured to reflect current industry demands and is grounded in contemporary research. The academic structure is rigorous and challenging yet flexible enough to accommodate the varied needs of online learners and enabling them to engage deeply, think independently, and apply their learning in practical contexts. Curriculum with Integrated Research and Practical Exposure SSODL's curriculum is built on the philosophy that effective learning transcends traditional lecture-based formats. Each programme integrates research, internships, and service learning to create an immersive, hands-on academic experience. By engaging in research projects, students are encouraged to explore real challenges and contribute novel solutions. Internships and service learning experiences that translate classroom concepts into practical application, equipping learners with the hands-on skills necessary for their professional development. This fusion of academic and experiential learning prepares students to meet the evolving needs of modern industries, making them highly competitive in the job market. Fostering a Sense of Community through Student Clubs One challenge often cited in the realm of online education is the potential for students to feel isolated. Recognising this concern, SSODL places a strong emphasis on building a vibrant and inclusive community among its learners. "At SSODL, the high-calibre learning community helps each one of us navigate academic depths while staying rooted in relevance", commented Economics Student, Abdulrahman Ahmad. Through various student club activities, the institution ensures that students remain engaged and connected, regardless of their geographical location. These clubs serve as virtual meeting places where students can collaborate on projects, organise webinars, interactive workshops, peer-to-peer mentoring sessions, share insights, and develop a sense of camaraderie. By creating an environment that mirrors the social aspects of traditional campus life, SSODL mitigates feelings of remoteness and ensures that learners remain motivated and supported throughout their academic journey. Tech-Forward Teaching: Infosys-Powered Learning Management System At the heart of SSODL's online education delivery is its Infosys-powered LMS - an intuitive, learner-centric platform designed for both structure and spontaneity in learning with an outcome-based approach. It provides a seamless integration of live lectures, interactive sessions, and comprehensive course materials that together create a holistic educational ecosystem. A student logging into the SSODL LMS can access live discussions, real-time feedback, multimedia-rich lessons, and AI-supported assessments. The LMS is designed with an intuitive interface that delivers a consistent, high-quality educational experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, the traditional classroom environment. Strategic Partnership with LinkedIn Learning Under the leadership of Dr. Parimala Veluvali, SSODL's vision has stayed focused on balancing academic depth with learner flexibility which reflects both academic rigor and an intuitive grasp of the learner's digital experience. One such forward-looking initiative that further enhances its educational offerings is its strategic partnership with LinkedIn Learning - an alliance that extends beyond the traditional curriculum. SSODL's LinkedIn Learning tie-up offers free access to a plethora of LinkedIn Learning courses--enabling them to upskill in emerging technologies, leadership, and modern business strategy, augmenting the existing curriculum while also empowering students to acquire in-demand skills and competencies in an ever-evolving professional landscape. SSODL ensures that its students are not just passive recipients of information but active knowledge creators ready to make their mark in the world. Shailendra Kumar, an MBA student said, "The flexibility, exposure and case-based learning at SSODL have significantly changed the way I approach problem-solving professionally". Embracing the Future of Education In a world where the boundaries between physical and digital education continue to blur, SSODL demonstrates that innovation and academic integrity can and should exist. By integrating experiential learning modules, forging robust partnerships with industry leaders like Infosys and LinkedIn Learning, and continuously evolving its curriculum to include real-world applications, SSODL not only meets the high standards set by traditional educational paradigms but often surpasses them, creating a rich, engaging, and supportive learning environment. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) HT Syndication Chandigarh [India], April 21: MB Chicken, Canada's premium fried chicken brand, has officially landed in India with the successful opening of its flagship store in Sector 35C, Chandigarh followed by Doraha (Drive-through), Gurugram and Jalandhar. The launch marks a significant milestone for food lovers in the city, who can now enjoy premium fried chicken infused with international flavours and a regional twist. Founded in Newfoundland, Canada, MB Chicken has built a reputation for exceptional quality and taste. Known for its premium hand-breaded fried chicken, and iconic Taters, the brand has won hearts across Canada, the UK, and Mexico. Now, it sets its sights on India--one of the most exciting and diverse food markets in the world. With India's booming QSR sector and a passion for bold, flavourful food, MB Chicken identified Chandigarh as the perfect launchpad. The city's youthful vibe, cosmopolitan culture, and food-forward audience make it an ideal location for the brand's Indian debut. Gregory F. Roberts, CEO of MBI Brands, personally inaugurated the store during the grand opening celebration. "We wanted our entry into India to be thoughtful, culturally aware, and rooted in genuine connection. Chandigarh's energy and food culture align perfectly with our brand values--it's a natural fit," he shared during the launch. The launch was a collaborative effort between the MBI Brands' international leadership and the MB Chicken India operations team. Representing MBI Brands were Gregory F. Roberts (CEO), Nash Moledina (Director of Operations - Int.), and Dylan Powell (VP - Int. Development)--all of whom played key roles in the brand's global growth and strategic entry into India. Leading the charge from MB Chicken India were Cameron Thomson (President), Sanjeeb Ghatak (COO), Gautam Kamra (VP - Operations), and Ankita Mane (GM - Marketing), who together orchestrated a robust GTM strategy, local adaptations, and the grand launch experience. The celebration included an exclusive chef tasting event, where renowned chefs including Chef Manjit Gill, Chef Vivek Saggar, Chef Vijaya Baskaran, Dr. Chef Saurabh Sharma, and Mr. Sanjay Anand (Publisher, Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd.) sampled the menu and approved the brand's innovative culinary fusion. MB Chicken India now serves its signature Big Mary sandwich and hand-breaded fried chicken, marinated to perfection using clean ingredients, along with a specially crafted vegetarian menu tailored to suit Indian taste buds. These offerings reflect the brand's commitment to respecting local preferences without compromising on flavour or quality. The new Chandigarh store promises a welcoming dine-in experience, contemporary interiors, and the highest standards of hygiene and service--redefining expectations within the Indian QSR space. MB Chicken India is now open to the public, and invites everyone in and around Chandigarh to experience this exciting new culinary destination. Visit today at Sector 35C, Chandigarh and be a part of the flavourful journey. https://www.mbchicken.in/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by HT Syndication. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Chandigarh [India], April 21: Dolphin PG College, Chandigarh, reverberated with enthusiasm and cultural vibrance as it celebrated its much-anticipated Annual Function, 'Symphony 2025'. The event showcased an impressive display of talent and creativity by the students and faculty, encapsulating the spirit of celebration, unity, and achievement. The college had the distinct honour of welcoming Dr. D.P. Lochan, Retired Director General of Health Services, Haryana, as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, Dr. Lochan lauded the institution's dedication to promoting both academic and co-curricular excellence. He emphasized the value of holistic education in today's evolving world and urged students to steer clear of harmful influences such as drug abuse. He also encouraged students to invest in their health and education within India, contributing to the nation's development and helping prevent brain drain. A major highlight of the evening was the Prize Distribution Ceremony, where Dr. Lochan, joined by Er. Vibhav Mittal, Vice Chairman; Dr. Malkit Singh, Dean Academics; Dr. Manu, Principal; and Mrs. Chetna Mittal, Pro-Vice Chancellor, felicitated outstanding students from the academic years 2023 and 2024. Achievements across academics, sports, and extracurricular domains were recognized and celebrated. In a gesture of gratitude and recognition, Er. Vibhav Mittal, on behalf of Chairman Dr. Vinod Mittal and the college management, presented Certificates of Appreciation to teaching, non-teaching, and administrative staff for their dedicated service and invaluable contributions to the institution's ongoing growth and success. The event concluded with an uplifting message that echoed the core values of the college: unity, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The management extended heartfelt congratulations to all award recipients and expressed appreciation for the collective efforts of students and staff in making 'Symphony 2025' a resounding success. Dolphin PG College, is located near Mohali at Chunni Kalan. Dolphin PG College is a premier institution committed to providing high-quality education in the fields of science, agriculture, and life sciences. Affiliated to Punjabi University, Patiala / MRS-PTU Bathinda, the college is duly recognized by University Grant Commission (UGC) & is also NAAC accredited. The college emphasizes a balanced approach to learning--fostering intellectual growth alongside personal and professional development. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, a dynamic learning environment, and a dedicated faculty, Dolphin PG College prepares students to become responsible global citizens and leaders of tomorrow. For more information, pls visit: dolphinlifesciences.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 21: The Yashraj Bharati Samman 2025 pays tribute to extraordinary individuals who have devoted themselves to the service of others, working tirelessly at the grassroots level. The laureates were selected through a rigorous process involving both quantitative and qualitative assessments, culminating in the final recommendations of an esteemed Grand Jury. The Yashraj Bharati Samman 2025 Gratitude Ceremony, held on the evening of 20th April, 2025, at the esteemed Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, concluded on a note of heartfelt appreciation and inspiration. The event was graced by C.P. Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra, as Chief Guest. He was joined by Dilip Walse Patil, Former Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, and Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India, as Guests of Honour. Together, they felicitated individuals and institutions whose impactful contributions continue to inspire meaningful change across the country. The ceremony commenced with a soulful Ganesh Vandana performed by renowned Kathak artist Sharvari Jamenis and her dance troupe, whose devotional rendition created a serene and reverent atmosphere. The event was eloquently anchored by Ms. Shweta Shelgaonkar, who seamlessly guided the audience through the evening. The cultural segment continued with a mesmerizing Kathak performance titled Taal Chautaal by Sharvari Jamenis and her troupe--a powerful homage to Indian classical rhythm and artistry. The evening came together in a moment of profound significance with the announcement of the Yashraj Bharati Samman 2025 laureates--remarkable individuals celebrated for their unwavering dedication to the greater good. The following were the laureates of this distinguished honor: * Innovation in Healthcare: Jan Swasthya Sahyog was honoured for its extraordinary contribution to healthcare innovation in underserved communities. Founded in 2001 by a group of young doctors from AIIMS Delhi, JSS began its journey in the forest-fringed villages of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh--where modern healthcare was once a distant dream. What started humbly in an abandoned irrigation colony has evolved into a model of community-driven, equitable healthcare. From empowering village women as frontline health workers to pioneering locally suited technologies like solar-powered infant warmers and sickle cell diagnostic kits, JSS has redefined what accessible healthcare can look like. Through relentless commitment, innovation, and empathy, the organisation has halved infant mortality, transformed public health practices, and uplifted countless lives--proving that true healing begins not only with medicine but with justice, dignity, and trust. * Transforming People's Lives: Pratham was honoured for its pioneering contributions to improving foundational learning outcomes in disadvantaged communities across India. Founded in 1995 amidst the vibrant yet educationally excluded neighborhoods of Mumbai, Pratham has since sparked an education revolution that reaches millions of children. Through its innovative "Teaching at the Right Level" approach and community-driven programs like Hamara Gaon, Pratham has redefined what inclusive, joyful, and effective education can look like--placing children, parents, and local changemakers at the heart of learning. * Ethical Governance: ServicePlus--developed by the National Informatics Centre--was honoured for its groundbreaking role in advancing ethical, citizen-centric governance across India. Conceived in 2012, the platform emerged as a quiet yet powerful response to the frustrations of millions navigating public systems. What began as a visionary idea within the e-Panchayat mission soon grew into a national backbone for digital service delivery. From urban metros to rural regions, ServicePlus has redefined how citizens engage with government--making access not just efficient, but dignified. With over 3,600 services enabled by 2025, and stories of transformation echoing from Odisha's village kiosks to Haryana's digital portals, ServicePlus stands as a model of how inclusive technology, guided by ethical intent, can profoundly humanize governance. The Yashraj Bharati Samman 2025 Gratitude Ceremony concluded with renewed energy and inspiration, reaffirming a collective commitment to compassion, community, and meaningful progress. To Watch the Video, Click on the Link Below: Moments from Yashraj Bharati Samman 2025 Gratitude Ceremony (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) As United States Vice President JD Vance began his first official visit to India on Monday morning, accompanied by his India-origin wife Usha Vance, the couple''s three children charmed onlookers with their choice of clothing. Ewan, Vivek, and little Mirabel were all dressed in traditional Indian outfits, with the boys wearing kurta pyjamas while the toddler sported what looked like a mini version of an Anarkali style suit teamed with an embroidered jacket. Vance arrived at Palam Airport in the national capital on his first official visit to India accompanied by the Second Lady Usha, their three children, and key members of the US Administration. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was at the airport to receive them. Visuals from the airport showed the minister, who was dressed in a white kurta pyjama, himself engaging in some conversation with Vance''s eldest son. The high-level diplomatic trip, scheduled from April 21 to 24, is expected to focus on enhancing strategic, economic, and defence ties between the two nations. After their arrival, a ceremonial guard of honour was given to the visiting dignitaries marking the formal commencement of the visit. While the Vice President sported a classic navy blue suit paired with a red tie, Usha Vance looked elegant in a red bodycon dress with a white overcoat. The real showstoppers, however the children! Embracing Indian tradition, Ewan and Vivek wore a kurta-pyjama sets in blue and bright yellow, matched with sporty footwear, while young Mirabel turned heads in a blue embroidered anarkali jacket suit, also paired with sneakers. As they descended the aircraft stairs, JD Vance was seen affectionately lifting his daughter. Hoardings welcoming Vice President Vance had been set up around Palam Airport in anticipation of his arrival. The visit includes key diplomatic engagements, including a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Prime Minister''s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Both leaders are expected to delve into matters related to trade, economic collaboration, and defence partnerships. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal commented on the visit''s significance last week, and said, "We have a comprehensive strategic global partnership... all relevant issues will be discussed. We are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties." Jaiswal also acknowledged ongoing dialogues around a potential trade agreement with the US. Following official meetings in New Delhi, the Vance family will travel to Jaipur on April 22 and Agra on April 23. Preparations are underway at the Taj Mahal, where the Vice President and Second Lady are expected to admire the iconic monument''s timeless beauty. Their visit follows the footsteps of previous US dignitaries, including former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who visited the Taj in 2020. Adding a personal dimension to the trip, excitement has also spread in the village of Vadluru in Andhra Pradesh, Usha Vance''s ancestral home. Locals in the West Godavari district are hopeful the couple might make a surprise visit to the village, expressing deep pride in Usha Vance''s achievements. This visit comes shortly after the Vance family concluded a three-day trip to Italy, where the Vice President met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and religious leaders, including Pope Francis. Vice President JD Vance''s visit to India concludes on April 24, with a scheduled departure at 6:40 am. (ANI) Actor Walton Goggins, who played a key role in the third season of 'The White Lotus', shared that he cried when he first learned about his involvement in the series, reported Deadline. Goggins played broken Rick Hatchett in the show that saw him on a mission to avenge his father's death, accompanied by his much younger partner, Chelsea, played by the actress Aimee Lou Wood. According to Deadline, Goggins told the Daily Mail newspaper that he cried heavily when he came to know that he'd been cast by 'The White Lotus' creator Mark White. The actor explained the significance of his emotional outburst. "It's a golden ticket, but more than that, it was just the opportunity to go on a journey that comes from that man's [White's] imagination. Things that are interesting to him are interesting to me," said Goggins as quoted by Deadline. The actor, with the rest of the cast, spent months holed up in The Four Seasons resort in Ko Samui, Thailand, while filming the dark satire. "I'm so relieved it's out in the world,' he says of that final episode. 'It's been uplifting getting to finally talk to people about it. For the first time in a long time, I can exhale. A big exhale. Rick Hatchett was a lot to carry," as quoted by Deadline. Twice Emmy-nominated, Goggins was previously best known for his role in US crime drama Justified and Amazon Prime's post-apocalyptic sci-fi Fallout. But his success in The White Lotus has garnered fame for the actor. According to Deadline, his other HBO series, 'The Righteous Gemstones' benefited from his rising star by airing immediately afterwards, with a reported one million viewers every episode. (ANI) Actor and filmmaker Randeep Hooda recently met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, accompanied by his mother, Asha Hooda, and sister, Dr Anjali Hooda. The meeting was a significant occasion, marked by a thoughtful discussion on the evolution of Indian cinema and the power of storytelling in shaping cultural and national identity. Randeep Hooda shared his experience on social media, expressing his gratitude for the meeting. "It was a great honour and a privilege to meet the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri @narendramodi ji," he wrote. https://www.instagram.com/p/DIs4invohfY/?img_index=1 "His insight, wisdom, and thoughts on the future of our great country are always so inspiring. His pat on the back is a great encouragement to keep doing good work in our respective fields and contributing to the growth of our nation," he wrote in the caption. Hooda appreciated the Prime Minister's insight, wisdom, and thoughts on the future of India, which he found inspiring. During the meeting, Hooda and Prime Minister Modi discussed the global rise of Indian cinema and the power of authentic storytelling. "We spoke about the global rise of Indian cinema, the power of authentic storytelling, and the government's visionary new OTT platform--WAVES--set to amplify Indian voices on the world stage. It was also a proud family moment to be joined by my mother, Asha Hooda and sister, Dr Anjali Hooda, who also exchanged thoughts with the PM on his initiatives of anti obesity drive and holistic wellness," the caption read. They also touched upon the government's visionary new OTT platform, WAVES, aimed at amplifying Indian voices on the world stage. Hooda highlighted the significance of this initiative, which aligns with his passion for promoting Indian cinema and culture. Randeep Hooda mentioned that the Prime Minister's pat on the back was a great encouragement to continue doing good work in their respective fields and contributing to the nation's growth. Randeep Hooda's mother and sister also participated in the meeting, exchanging thoughts with the Prime Minister on his initiatives, including anti-obesity drives and holistic wellness programs. Dr Anjali Hooda, Randeep's sister, also appreciated the opportunity to connect with the nation's leader and discuss issues close to their hearts. On the work front, Randeep Hooda was last seen in movie 'Jaat' that starred him alongside Sunny Deol. (ANI) Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko has been under scrutiny ever since his name surfaced in an alleged drug case. Tom Chacko, who fled from a hotel in Kochi during a narcotics raid last week, was arrested by Kochi police on April 19 after about a four-hour-long interrogation. However, a few hours later, he managed to secure bail. Speaking to ANI, Commissioner of Police Putta Vimaladitya informed that an investigation is underway. "Investigation with regard to a case registered against actor Shine Tom Chacko is going on. We have taken some samples to be forwarded to the FSL and based on the results, we will conduct further investigation. There are certain other circumstances which we are investigating as well... He is cooperating with the investigation and as of now, we will not be able to actually take it further or make any conclusive remarks unless we have some more information... He has given an explanation and we are verifying if it is true," the police official said. Earlier, the actor appeared at the Ernakulam North Police Station with his lawyers. Shine appeared in response to a notice issued by the police, which asked him to explain the reason behind his attempt to flee from the hotel room. This follows Malayalam actress Vincy Aloshious filing a complaint against Shine Tom Chacko, accusing him of inappropriate behaviour and substance abuse on set. In an Instagram video, Vincy shared her experience and said that she would no longer work with individuals who misuse substances such as alcohol or drugs. (ANI) Research from NASA's Curiosity rover has found evidence of a carbon cycle on ancient Mars, bringing scientists closer to an answer on whether the Red Planet was ever capable of supporting life. Lead author Dr. Ben Tutolo, PhD, an associate professor with the Department of Earth, Energy and Environment in the Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary, is a participating scientist on the NASA Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover team. The team is working to understand climate transitions and habitability on ancient Mars as Curiosity explores Gale Crater. The paper, published this week in the journal Science, reveals that data from three of Curiosity's drill sites had siderite, an iron carbonate material, within sulfate-rich layers of Mount Sharp in Gale Crater. "The discovery of large carbon deposits in Gale Crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of Mars," says Tutolo. Reaching the strata, he says, was a long-term goal of the Mars Science Laboratory mission. "The abundance of highly soluble salts in these rocks and similar deposits mapped over much of Mars has been used as evidence of the 'great drying" of Mars during its dramatic shift from a warm and wet early Mars to its current, cold and dry state," says Tutolo. Sedimentary carbonate has long been predicted to have formed under the CO2-rich ancient Martian atmosphere, but Tutolo says identifications had previously been sparse. NASA's Curiosity rover landed on Mars on August 5, 2012, and has travelled more than 34 kilometres on the Martian surface. The discovery of carbonate suggests that the atmosphere contained enough carbon dioxide to support liquid water existing on the planet's surface. As the atmosphere thinned, the carbon dioxide transformed into rock form. NASA says future missions and analysis of other sulfate-rich areas on Mars could confirm the findings and help to better understand the planet's early history and how it transformed as its atmosphere was lost. Tutolo says scientists are ultimately trying to determine whether Mars was ever capable of supporting life -- and the latest paper brings them closer to an answer. "It tells us that the planet was habitable and that the models for habitability are correct," he says. "The broader implications are the planet was habitable up until this time, but then, as the CO2 that had been warming the planet started to precipitate as siderite, it likely impacted Mars' ability to stay warm. The question looking forward is how much of this CO2 from the atmosphere was actually sequestered? Was that potentially a reason we began to lose habitability?" added Tutolo. Tutolo says it's clear that small changes in atmospheric CO2 can lead to huge changes in the ability of the planet to harbour life. (ANI) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha has questioned the silence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) chargesheet in the National Herald case involving senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Kavitha accused CM Reddy of maintaining silence despite widespread protests by Congress workers across the country. Referring to Reddy as an "RSS Chief Minister," she expressed surprise at his lack of response even while on an international visit. "...Surprisingly, the Telangana CM has been very silent on this. Although he is on an international trip, I believe the internet will definitely work in Japan...We were expecting that there would be a statement from the CM, but it is very interesting politics happening in Telangana... Everybody across the country in Congress has been protesting against their top leadership being named in the ED chargesheet, but our Chief Minister is silent, that's why I have always been calling him an 'RSS CM'", Kavitha told ANI on Sunday. The BRS leader also launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led Telangana government, accusing Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of 'administrative failure and negligence.' Speaking at the housewarming ceremony of BRS leader Devulapally Pattabhi Ram in Khammam district, she alleged that, despite the presence of ministers in the region, no review had been conducted on the massive crop damage caused by recent hailstorms. She said, "While the Congress party at the national level called for widespread protests, Revanth Reddy maintained complete silence and offered no reaction whatsoever." She further said that the action exposed his double standards and lack of commitment to his party's leadership. MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha pointed out that despite the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister and two state ministers in Khammam, no review was conducted on the massive crop losses caused by recent hailstorms. The BRS leader said that in Telangana, paddy fields were flooded, mango blossoms were lost, and yet, there has been no serious response or assessment from the government. She emphasised that Revanth Reddy, who is currently on a foreign tour in Japan, hasn't even spoken to revenue officials about the rains and the resulting damage. Kavitha demanded compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for damaged farmland, calling it a bare minimum step to support affected farmers. She also criticised the government for failing to deliver on its key promises. "More than half of the intended beneficiaries have not received the Rythu Bharosa financial assistance. The government is lying about having completed the farm loan waivers, as 60 per cent of eligible farmers are still waiting," she said. She also noted that the promised funds for farm labourers under the Aathmiya Bharosa scheme haven't been disbursed. Kavitha stated that ministers are too preoccupied with power struggles to focus on public welfare. She also raised alarms about the condition of government hospitals, saying people are afraid to even enter them due to their miserable condition. She further criticised the Congress for running a government of mere words, not action, and claimed that the people of Telangana are rapidly losing faith in its leadership. In contrast, she recalled the quick and effective governance under BRS, especially the construction of the Bhakta Ramadasu Project by KCR immediately after the formation of Telangana, which brought water to 60,000 acres. She claimed that in the last 15 months, the Congress government has not even initiated a single new irrigation project. Calling for mass public participation in the upcoming BRS Rajatotsavam Sabha, MLC Kavitha said it is time to show the Congress that people demand governance that delivers, not just empty slogans. (ANI) The Congress party will hold a series of press conferences across 547 cities from April 21 to 27 in protest against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chargesheet against top party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. Titled "Congress Truths, BJP Lies", the campaign is aimed at countering what the party alleges is a politically motivated move by the BJP government. Pawan Khera, Chairman, Media & Publicity Department, AICC, called the ED's chargesheet "an anti-national effort" by the BJP to erase the legacy of The National Herald, which he described as a living monument of India's freedom struggle. Taking to social media platform X, Khera wrote, "From Vijayawada to Varanasi, from Kashmir to Thiruvananthapuram -- Congress leaders are fanning out across India to expose BJP's lies and anti national efforts to kill the living monument of the freedom struggle - The National Herald. Here is the list of 57 of our leaders holding press conferences in 57 cities from April 21-24." https://x.com/Pawankhera/status/1913988307517579518 The list of 57 leaders includes prominent names such as Manickram Tagore, Gaurav Gogoi, P Chidambaram, Supriya Shrinate, Syed Naseer Hussain, Ashok Gehlot, Shashi Tharoor, Pawan Khera, Bhupesh Baghel, Manish Tewari, Kanhaiya Kumar, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Rajeev Shukla, Alka Lamba, etc. According to the schedule shared by Khera, Manickram Tagore will hold press conference in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Gogoi in Jorhat, Assam, Chidambaram in Delhi, Gehlot in Shimla, Tharoor in Lakshadweep, Shrinate in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Khera in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Tewari in Chandigarh, Surjewala in Hyderabad, and Alka Lamba in Varanasi. Earlier on Saturday, the Congress party announced the launch of a nationwide 'Save Constitution' campaign across the country from April 25, which will continue till May 30. The party will also counter the BJP's disinformation campaign about the National Herald issue, with senior leaders holding press conferences in different cities across the country. This decision was made at a meeting of the Congress general secretaries, state in-charges, and heads of various frontal organisations, presided over by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in the national capital. Briefing reporters after the meeting, party general secretary-communications, Jairam Ramesh, disclosed that in follow-up to the resolution passed at the Ahmedabad AICC session, the 'Samvidhan Bachao' rallies will be organised at the PCC level from April 25 to April 30. This will be followed by similar rallies at the district level from May 3 to May 10. From May 11 to May 17, the Samvidhan Bachao rallies will be held across 4,500 assembly segments nationwide. From May 20 to May 30, a door-to-door campaign will be held to save the constitution. Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP government of misusing the Enforcement Directorate against the Congress leaders. Referring to the National Herald issue, he said, there was no legal issue involved, as it was just a case of political vendetta orchestrated by two individuals with a criminal mentality. He announced that to counter the BJP's disinformation about National Herald, Congress leaders will hold press conferences in different cities across the country from April 21 to April 24. "This is not a legal issue, but a political issue smacking of political vendetta, politics of persecution, intimidation and fear mongering", he observed. On April 15, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against top Congress members Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the money laundering case involving the National Herald. The chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002. The complaint was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Sunday that the present government is sincere in preserving the culture, tradition, and heritage of people from all sections and along with this, the government is committed to promoting traditional culture that is gradually being lost. The Chief Minister made these remarks while inaugurating the Nobo Borsho Utsab of Sanskriti Haat of Bangla Sanskriti Boloy at Sanskriti Haat, Paschim Noabadi, Old Agartala. At the event, the Chief Minister said that the Jhumur dance performance held was very charming. "I came to the inauguration of this haat on December 10, 2023. Seventy-two Sundays have passed in the blink of an eye. It is not easy to carry out such non-stop activities. For this, I thank the organisers. We want to build a better Tripura. Unity in diversity has been proven here," he said. CM Saha said that the Tripura government has taken various efforts to preserve culture and tradition. "One can find oneself in culture. This government is sincere in preserving the culture, tradition, and heritage of people from all sections -- be it the nation, tribe, or community. We have to survive through creation. We are forgetting many things due to the influence of TV and mobile phones. We are all one and united. This program has been organised here on the first Sunday after Poila Boishakh. Earlier, I heard that artists from Bangladesh and West Bengal also participated here. Now, culture-loving people gather here every Sunday. So, we will try to promote this program at the national level," he said. The Chief Minister added, "I will send video footage of this program. Maybe the Prime Minister, who is famous for the Mann Ki Baat program, can also talk about this." In the discussion, CM Saha also said that such programs are exemplary and worth replicating across the country. "The organizers mentioned that they are trying to start such programs in different parts of the state. I asked the entrepreneurs to focus on rural sports. And they have kept that promise. The 19 tribal groups of our state have their own cultures and traditions. We want fair competition among all kinds of cultural practices. The Information and Cultural Affairs Department is working toward this. Our state government is putting emphasis on further expanding the disappearing cultural forms like Jatrapala, puppet dance, drama, kirtan, etc. The state has now established a Film and Television Institute, where children from tribal sections are getting opportunities," he added. The event was attended by the acting Sabhadhipati of Paschim Tripura Zilla Parishad, Bishwajit Shil, president of Agartala Bangla Sanskriti Boloy Nirmal Kumar Deb, editor of Ajker Fariyad Patrika, Shanit Debray, president of Bangla Sanskriti Boloy, Sebak Bhattacharya, secretary of Agartala Press Club, Ramakanta Dey, and other prominent intellectuals and cultural personalities. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday said that frequent elections throughout the year hinder development work, waste financial resources, and disrupt normal life. He emphasised that if 'One Nation, One Election' is implemented, then voters can exercise their democratic rights properly. "To make the democratic process more citizen-friendly and development-oriented, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced the One Nation, One Election bill in Parliament," said CM Saha. The Chief Minister said this while addressing a discussion on One Nation, One Election organised by the BJP Tripura Pradesh Legal Cell at Sukanta Academy in Agartala. "PM Modi is taking one decision after another, and he fulfils it. In the case of Triple Talaq, we saw many crocodile tears criticising it, but PM Modi scrapped it. Many said it would create riots, but nothing happened. We have only one himmatwala and a true leader -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since independence, we have had two true leaders: Atal Bihari Vajpayee and now PM Modi," he said. Speaking on the issue of the Waqf Amendment Act, CM Saha said, "Many have spoken about Waqf, but what have they done? They can occupy any land whenever they want illegally. They occupy government lands too, claiming it as Waqf land, which we were not aware of. PM Modi said this needs amendment, and now it has become the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. Some people are trying to create issues, but these are the needs of the hour. PM Modi has been working for the welfare of the people." "Three criminal laws were also developed and changed, and now anyone can go to any police station and file an FIR. One Nation, One Election is implemented in many countries, so why not in our country? In 2047, Vikshit Bharat means presenting the country free from bad traditions and corruption, and creating a comfortable zone. Whatever the Opposition is claiming has no basis. They are doing politics just for their survival," the Chief Minister added. Tripura Chief Minister further said that a huge amount of money and time is spent during elections. "If One Nation, One Election starts, then voters can implement their rights properly. Even during normal elections, development work is hampered, along with education, as maximum manpower is taken from the education department. We must support it," he added. BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharya, Chief Whip Kalyani Roy, BJP Vice President Subal Bhowmik, and social worker Dr Ashok Sinha were present in the event. (ANI) In a major crackdown on cybercrime, the Gujarat Cyber Crime Cell in Surat has dismantled an inter-state network of cyber criminals and arrested 12 individuals allegedly involved in multiple cases of digital fraud, police said on Sunday. Speaking to ANI, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Cyber Crime, Surat, Shweta Daniel said that a coordinated operation led by the Cyber Cell resulted in the arrests of suspects from three different locations across the country -- Jamnagar, Banaskantha, and Delhi. "Cyber Cell Surat city, through an extensive search operation, has arrested 12 accused in connection with three different cases of cybercrime and digital arrests, from Jamnagar, Banaskantha and Delhi. The accused have been arrested in various cases. We have taken them on remand...interrogation is underway...we are also probing if they are involved in any other crime as well..." said ACP Daniel. Further investigation into the case is underway, he added. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Cyber Crime Cell of South West Delhi Police busted a high-tech scam involving a chilling new form of cybercrime, Digital Arrest, where criminals impersonated government agencies, held a retired officer under virtual custody for three days, and defrauded him of Rs 48.5 lakh. Three accused have been arrested, and multiple shell companies with links to Chinese operators have been exposed. The accused had been using WhatsApp video calls to impersonate officials from the TRAI, CBI, Mumbai Police, and even those of Supreme Court judges in a scam that involved simulated virtual court proceedings, according to the Delhi police. On March 2, 2025, the victim, Baliram, a retired government official, received a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be "Deepak Sharma" from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller informed him of a money laundering case registered in Mumbai using his Aadhaar. Within minutes, the victim was connected to a supposed Mumbai Police Sub-Inspector and later to a fake CBI Chief and a forged Supreme Court judge -- all through continuous WhatsApp video calls. For over 72 hours, the victim was kept under psychological surveillance, not allowed to contact anyone, and manipulated into liquidating his Fixed Deposits, PPF, and other savings. The money was transferred to accounts falsely claimed to be under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Both were found to be shell companies, created using forged documents solely for the purpose of receiving and laundering cybercrime proceeds. These entities held multiple current accounts across several banks. According to the Delhi Police, technical tracking and money trail analysis revealed connections to 28 complaints across various states, logged on the NCRP portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Three smartphones and several incriminating documents were recovered during the operation. (ANI) According to officials, a call was received from the hospital about a 52-year-old woman with a gunshot wound. Upon reaching the medical facility, police found that both the woman and her husband claimed she had been shot by an unidentified person. However, inconsistencies in their statements raised suspicions, leading to further questioning of family members. The case took a dramatic turn when the woman's 25-year-old son, Abhishek, confessed to shooting his mother after initially attempting to mislead investigators. During interrogation, Abhishek broke down and admitted to the crime. Police said the accused has a criminal history, with six previous cases registered against him, including charges of culpable homicide and outraging the modesty of women. Further investigation into the matter is underway, they added. (ANI) Amid a row over BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's remarks on the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sought to discuss the mutliple occasions, where Congress has criticised members of the judiciary, accusing the opposition party of challenging judiciary's credibility when decisions are unfavourable. "It's imperative for all political entities to approach judicial pronouncements with consistency and integrity. Respecting the judiciary shouldn't be contingent upon the favourability of its decisions. Selective approbation erodes public trust and the foundational principles of our democracy," Sarma posted on X. He cited the impeachment motion against Justice Dipak Misra, which, the Assam CM said, was initiated by Congress and other opposition parties while alleging "misconduct without substantial evidence." "Justice Ranjan Gogoi: Subjected to severe criticism following landmark judgments, including the Ayodhya verdict," Sarma posted on X, adding that Justice Arun Mishra was allegedly "targeted" for his decisions and alleged proximity to the executive. Sarma said Justice Chandrachud, stating that he faced "undue scrutiny over his interpretations in significant cases, reflecting a pattern of disapproval when verdicts didn't align with certain political expectations." Intensifying his attack against Congress for criticising Justice S Abdul Nazeer as he was appointed Andhra Pradesh Governor shortly after his retirement, Sarma pointed out that such appointments have been made in the past. "Criticised by the Congress for his appointment as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh shortly after retirement, alleging it threatened judicial independence, despite similar appointments in the past," he added. Meanwhile, Sarma defended the BJP, stating that the ruling party honours the judiciary's role "impartially" and distances itself from Nishikant Dubey's remarks. "Adarniya Nadda Ji emphasised that these were personal opinions and not reflective of the party's stance, reiterating the BJP's deep respect for judicial institutions," he added. This came as Congress raised the issue of remarks made by Dubey, the MP from Godda in Jharkhand at the Supreme Court, which has created huge controversy. He alleged that the apex court was "inciting religious wars" and questioned its authority, suggesting that the Parliament building should be closed if the judicial institution was to make laws. "Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, is responsible for all the civil wars happening in this country," Nishikant Dubey told ANI. Referring to past court decisions, Dubey further criticised the judiciary for its handling of issues like the decriminalisation of homosexuality and religious disputes. (ANI) Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda shared insights of his meeting with Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in the United States and said that discussions were made regarding evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, technology, inclusivity and the need for ethical leadership. Taking to social media X, Pitroda in a post wrote "Spent a productive morning with @RahulGandhi engaging with some of India's sharpest business minds. We discussed the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, technology, inclusivity, and the need for ethical leadership. It's clear that the private sector has a major role to play in building a just, innovative, and inclusive India. Grateful for the insights and the spirit of collaboration in the room." Pitroda welcomed Rahul Gandhi in the United States on April 20 and described him as a "voice for the youth, for democracy and for a better future." In a post on X, Pitroda wrote, "Welcome to the USA, Rahul Gandhi! A voice for the youth, for democracy, and for a better future. Let's listen, learn, and build together." Gandhi arrived at Boston Logan International Airport in the United States on Saturday (local time). During his visit, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Brown University in Rhode Island, where he will interact with faculty members and students. He is also expected to interact with members of the NRI community, office bearers, and members of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC). Congress leader Pawan Khera had informed about Rahul Gandhi's visit to the US in a post on X, stating, "Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Brown University in Rhode Island, United States, on the 21st and 22nd of April. He will give a talk and interact with faculty members and students." This marks Rahul Gandhi's second visit to the US in recent months. In September 2024, Rahul Gandhi was on a three-day visit to the US. (ANI) Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, in a meeting in Boston addressing the Indian Diaspora, alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised", further stating that there was something very wrong with the system. Citing the example of the Maharashtra elections, the Senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible..." he claimed, addressing the meeting. "It's very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, there is something very wrong with the system..." he further said. Earlier, sources in the Election Commission stated that allegations made by Political parties about manipulated electoral rolls were unfounded. According to the sources, hardly any first or second appeals were made under Section 24 of the Representation of People act, or correction of any entries in Electoral Rolls (Section 22) or Inclusion (Section 23) during the recent Special Summary Revision published on January 6-7 2025. The Special Summary Revision (SSR) involves reviewing the voter list and unveiling a draft electoral roll. It is often held prior to elections and aims to uphold a just and transparent voting process by adding newly eligible voters, including those who have reached the age of 18 or have changed their constituency. It also involves the elimination of duplicate and deceased voters According to sources, just 89 appeals were recorded in Maharashtra. While there were 13,857,359 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) in the country only 89 appeals for changes in the electoral rolls were made. Therefore, the sources said, there was no option but to accept the Electoral Rolls published after the completion of SSR in January 2025 as undisputed by all. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi also spoke about India's relations with the United States in his address to the diaspora in Boston, hoping that the two countries would continue to work together. "We have a partnership with the US, and hopefully we will continue to work together," Rahul Gandhi said. Expressing his gratitude, he thanked the people for carrying the ideologies and the flag of Congress to the United States. "You believe, you listen to other people, and you respect them. This is what runs in the Congress party and in our family.... Thank you for carrying the flag here, it's a very powerful thing to do..." he said. The LoP in the Lok Sabha is also to address the Brown University on Monday as part of his tour to the United States. (ANI) Fireworks adorned the sky around the Golden Temple in Amritsar, marking the birth anniversary of Sikhism's fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev. Visuals from Amritsar showed the area's skyline adorned with bright lights, with the Golden Temple glowing and fireworks surrounding it on Sunday night. On April 20, devotees flocked to the Golden Temple for the Sikh guru's Gurupurab celebrations. During the Shobha yatra of Sachkhand Shri Darbar Sahib, the deepmala decoration was done by the sangat. Devotees from far and wide reached the temple since the morning on Sunday to pay obeisance to Darbar Sahib, take a holy bath in the lakh and listen to Gurbani Kirtan. One of the devotees, Sukhmandeep Singh, told ANI about the beautiful fireworks and how he got a peace of mind after prayer. "Today they have come to pay obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Darbar Sahib, and today is also Guruparv of Sri Guru Arjun Dev. We also saw a beautiful fireworks display at the Golden Temple. My mind has got a lot of peace after paying obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Darbar Sahib. We should follow the path shown by Guru Sahib," the devotee said after the prayers. Guru Arjan Dev is one of the ten Sikh Gurus in the religion. Other nine are Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Har Gobind, Guru Har Rai, Guru Har Krishan, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Guru Gobind Singh. The foundation stone for Sikhism, based upon equality and "seva" was laid down by Guru Nanak but later solidified by his three successors. To put it on a firm foundation, Guru Arjan set out to build Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple) in the exact location where his father had built the clay tank of "Amrit" and also established the town Amritsar around it, according to Khalsa vox. The temple was built at the lowest level feasible in remembrance of Guru Arjan's advice to his disciples that humility was the highest virtue. The Harminder Sahib has entrances on all four corners of the temple. The Golden Temple's completion and the creation of the "Adi Granth" are two of Guru Arjan's most significant contributions to the spiritual and material components of Sikhism, according to Khalsa Vox. (ANI) "Fire broke out in a factory near HDFC Bank, Lawrence Road, in the Keshav Puram area. 14 fire tenders rushed to the spot," the Delhi Fire Service department said. Upon receiving the information, 14 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. So far, no casualties or injuries have been reported, and the reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. Further details on the matter are awaited On Sunday evening, a fire broke out at a dumping yard near Mandi village in Delhi and was brought under control by fire officials. Upon receiving the information, the fire department officials rushed to the scene with fire tenders and initiated firefighting operations. Earlier, a truck caught fire on the Patna-Delhi National Highway near Naya Bhojpur village in Bihar's Buxar district, police said. According to officials, the locals contacted the Patna control room and provided information about the fire. Fire brigade teams arrived at the scene and successfully controlled the flames. No deaths were reported in the incident, they said. (ANI) Union Minister Jitendra Singh hailed Indian Army for their timely assistance by setting up medical camps and distributing essential medicines after three people died following flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. https://x.com/DrJitendraSingh/status/1913993916539339197 "In the aftermath of the torrential hailstorm yesterday, while the district administration team led by energetic DC Mr Baseer Haq has been commendably on the job since last night, it is time also to acknowledge and thank the Indian Army for their timely assistance, which played a crucial role in providing relief to the local population," Jitendra Singh said in a post on social media platform X on Sunday evening. "I feel gratified to inform that the Army has set up medical aid camps, distributed essential medicines and ensured access to food and clean drinking water," the MoS said. They have also made special arrangements for tea and basic meals for the affected population, he said. "Needless to say, Indian Army at the service of the nation , not only during the war-time but equally as much during peace-time crisis," Singh added in his post. In Ramban, flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the early hours of Sunday have caused widespread devastation. At least three people, including two children, lost their lives in Bagahana village after two houses collapsed due to a landslide. Meanwhile, in view of continuing severe weather conditions and forecasts, classwork in all schools across Kashmir valley will remain suspended on Monday, April 21, said Jammu and Kashmir's (J-K) Education Minister Sakina Itoo. This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of all students across the Valley. Taking to social media platform X, Itoo wrote, "In light of the continuing severe weather conditions and forecasts, it has been decided that classwork in all schools of the valley shall remain suspended for one day tomorrow (21st April). This decision has been taken as a precautionary step to ensure the safety and well-being of all students" The decision comes as parts of Jammu and Kashmir continue to witness intense rainfall, cloudbursts, and landslides, especially in the hilly regions. The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has issued a yellow alert or 'watch' for most districts, excluding Jammu, Poonch, Kathua, Muzzafarabad and Mirpur. In Ramban district, flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the early hours of Sunday have caused widespread devastation. At least three people, including two children, lost their lives in Bagahana village after two houses collapsed due to a landslide. According to Deputy Commissioner Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, approximately 200-250 houses have been damaged, with Ramban being the most severely affected. "Due to incessant rainfall and cloudburst, the National Highway was closed at several places. In Ramban, houses and hotels have been damaged," Chaudhary told ANI, adding that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local teams are on-site for rescue operations. The Indian Army and local administration have launched massive relief efforts, including setting up medical aid camps, distributing essential medicines, and ensuring access to food and drinking water. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary visited Ramban to take stock of the ground situation, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of lives and assured all support from the government. "Extremely anguished by the tragic landslide and flash flood in Ramban, which has caused considerable damage to life and property. My thoughts are with the affected families in this difficult hour. We are in touch with the local administration to ensure immediate rescue efforts wherever needed," said Abdullah in a statement shared by the Chief Minister's Office. Meanwhile, authorities have urged residents to stay indoors, avoid travelling along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, and follow official advisories until the weather improves and clearing operations are completed. (ANI) According to the Central Reserve Police Force, the troops recovered one SLR, two INSAS rifles, and one pistol. "The Central Reserve Police Force, in a joint operation with state police, neutralised six Maoists in an exchange of fire this morning in Lugu hills under Lalpania area of Jharkhand's Bokaro district. No injury to troops reported as yet," the CRPF stated. Further details are awaited. On April 12, a jawan of Jharkhand Jaguar was killed, and a CRPF personnel was injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Jharkhand's Chaibasa. "One jawan of Jharkhand Jaguar lost his life in an IED blast, while a CRPF jawan is undergoing treatment," Ranchi DIG-cum-Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chandan Kumar Sinha said in a statement. Earlier, two CRPF jawans were injured during anti-naxal operations in an IED blast in Jharkhand's Jaraikela. The incident took place under the Jaraikela police station, wherein both the jawans were airlifted and evacuated to Ranchi for better treatment, police officials said. As they were evacuated and transferred to Ranchi, the condition of both the Jawans was learnt to be stable. (ANI) As many as 14 people, including 13 children, were admitted to a hospital after being bitten by stray dogs in separate incidents in Madhya Pradesh''s Khandwa on Sunday, a health official said on Monday. Speaking to ANI, Dr Yogesh Sharma, an epidemiologist at Khandwa District Hospital, said that all 14 were brought to the hospital from the Khan Wali Shah area in Khandwa District. "A total of 14 cases have been reported after the stray attacked them in the Khan Wali Shah area in Khandwa. There are 13 children and a 60-year-old woman who were attacked by the dog. All of them were brought to the hospital for treatment," the doctor said. He further said that 13 children and one elderly woman were admitted to the surgical ward and are undergoing treatment for the injuries caused by the dog bites. "Nine had category three bites, and the remaining five kids were in the two-bite category. All of them are out of danger. Five children were below 5 years, and other childrens were also under 10 years. As told by the local, all 14 have been bitten by the same dog in the area," he added. Earlier in January, taking serious note of the rising incidents of stray dog attacks on children, the Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the Local Government and Rural Development Departments to conduct a census of stray dogs in all cities. "The reports of stray dog attacks on children have been brought to the commission''s attention through media sources," Kanwardeep Singh, the Chairman of the child protection body said in a press release. The Chairman further informed that he has written to the Administrative Secretaries of the Punjab Local Government Department and the Rural Development & Panchayat Department, urging them to implement the provisions of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, as notified by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, on March 10, 2023. (ANI) AI-powered healthcare takes spotlight at China's medical conference Xinhua) 08:25, April 21, 2025 BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Experts gathered in Beijing over the weekend for the 2025 China Medical Development Conference, where the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare has become the center of attention. The two-day event, held annually since 2021, brought together leading voices in mathematics, AI, medicine, public health and pharmacy to discuss innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy directions to drive the medicine sector forward in the AI age. Attendees emphasized AI's transformative potential in reshaping medical research and the broader healthcare ecosystem. Wang Chen, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), proposed a phased roadmap for integrating AI into medicine. According to Wang, in the short term, scenario-based pilot programs will take the lead. The medium term will focus on deeper applications and international collaboration, while the long term aims to establish an AI-driven ecosystem encompassing scientific research, clinical care, and healthcare management. Zheng Hairong, vice president of Nanjing University, stressed that breakthroughs in biomedical AI must be underpinned by standardized data and ethical governance. He pointed to fields such as medical imaging and brain-computer interfaces as areas where cross-disciplinary collaboration will be crucial in overcoming technological hurdles. In recent years, China has ramped up its "AI Plus" initiative in healthcare, promoting standardized infrastructure, cross-institutional data sharing, and the development of industry-specific AI models to improve the precision and efficiency of diagnostics and treatment. Ensuring the safe and responsible deployment of AI technologies in healthcare was a recurring theme throughout the conference. Participants underscored the importance of building a secure, well-regulated environment to maintain public trust. Shen Jianfeng, an official with the National Health Commission, called for the creation of high-quality medical datasets and AI language corpora. He also urged stronger policy coordination across disciplines and investment in talent development, with a focus on medical ethics. A highlight of the conference was the release of the "Top Medical Advances in China 2024" by the CAMS, a list of 13 breakthroughs selected from over 310,000 research projects -- all seen as major steps forward in China's disease prevention and treatment capabilities. Among the standout achievements were a method to diagnose Alzheimer's disease up to 18 years before symptoms appear, and a gene therapy breakthrough for hereditary deafness. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) STATEMENT OF SENATE PRESIDENT FRANCIS 'CHIZ' G. ESCUDERO ON THE PASSING OF POPE FRANCIS I join the Catholic Church and the global community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a true shepherd of Christ's flock. His tireless efforts to foster peace and inclusion reshaped the Church's role in promoting unity across religious and cultural divides. As the first Latin American pontiff, Pope Francis championed the marginalized, bringing their voices to the forefront of his papacy and inspiring the world with his message of love and acceptance. Pope Francis' 2015 visit to the Philippines remains etched in our hearts. During his time here, he consoled those affected by Typhoon Yolanda and called for solidarity and care for the most vulnerable among us. His words of "mercy and compassion" continue to guide the Filipino people in building a society rooted in empathy and understanding. As we honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis, let us carry forward his vision of a world united in peace and kindness. May his dedication to inclusion and harmony inspire us to nurture our shared humanity. We pray for the eternal repose of his soul. From a grateful nation, paalam at maraming salamat, Pope Francis! Rest in eternal peace. The family of a 17-year-old youth, Kunal, who was killed in Delhi's Seelampur area on April 17, demanded justice, a day after Delhi police arrested nine people in connection with the murder. Mother of the deceased Kunal told ANI that his child was "innocent" and expressed hope to get justice "I want the accused to be hanged till death...If they get life imprisonment, they will come out on bail...I know the accused, Shoaib, who lives near my house. Shoaib is the maternal uncle of Zikra...Their entire family is involved in wrong practice... I am hopeful that we will get justice...My child was not involved in any wrongdoing...My child was innocent, he did nothing...He was working in Gandhinagar and was innocent..." Meanwhile, on Sunday, nine people, including women and minors, were held by the Delhi Police in connection with the murder. According to Delhi Police, the main accused, 'Lady Don' Zikra, along with Sahil (18), Zahida (42), Nafish (32), Sohaib (35), Aneesh (19), Vikas (29)and two minors aged about 17 and 15 years, have been taken into custody. Police teams from the North-East District carried out raids across Delhi-NCR, including Ghaziabad, Meerut, Moradabad, and Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. Based on technical surveillance, clues, and local inputs, the suspects were arrested on April 20. During the investigation, evidence was collected against Zikra, Sahil, and two minors referred to as "Children in Conflict with Law" (CCLs). Police allege that these individuals planned the attack on the victim, Kunal. The police said, "Relevant evidence was collected, which confirmed the involvement of the accused in this heinous crime during the probe." It was revealed that Sahil had an old rivalry with Kunal. On April 17, the group allegedly caught Kunal and stabbed him multiple times. Giving more details, police said, "On April 17, at about 7:38 PM, information regarding the stabbing of a person in J-Block, Jhuggi Seelampur, was received at the Seelampur Police Station." When the police team reached the location, they found the victim had already been taken to JPC Hospital by his family, where doctors declared him dead. The victim was identified as Kunal, a 17-year-old boy from the New Seelampur area in Delhi. A case was registered at Seelampur Police Station under Sections 103(1)/3(5), and an investigation began. Given the seriousness of the case, the Operations Wing of North-East Delhi joined the Seelampur Police team. Multiple teams were formed to trace and arrest those involved. Based on the evidence collected from different sources, the suspects were identified. Zikra, one of the key accused, was arrested on the evening of April 18. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reacted to the incident and said, "I have spoken to the Police commissioner about the murder of a 17-year-old boy, Kunal. He was attacked with knives and was rushed to the Jai Prakash hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival." Following the murder, Kunal's relatives and residents in Seelampur held protests demanding justice. (ANI) The Rouse Avenue court on Monday granted respondents time to file a reply on the revisions filed by Delhi Police and Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra. The court is dealing with two revisions challenging the order for further investigation on the role of Kapil Mishra in the North East Delhi riots of 2020. Special judge Kaveri Baweja granted time to respondents Mohd Iliyas, Kapil Mishra, and others to file a reply on the petitions. The court has also directed Delhi police to supply a copy of the charge sheet filed in the Delhi Riots larger conspiracy to the respondents. The court has listed the matter on May 7 for arguments, and the interim stay is to continue till the next date. On April 9, the court issued notice on the revision petitions moved by Kapil Mishra. He has challenged the order passed by the magistrate court directing further investigation into the North Delhi riots of 2020. The court had stayed the operation of the order passed by the trial court till the next date of hearing. The court had also called the trial court records. Meanwhile, the sessions court has stayed the observation made by the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) in relation to the investigation of the Delhi police in the larger Conspiracy case. During the hearing, Advocate Amit Prasad appeared for the Delhi police, Senior advocate Pavan Narang, along with Advocates Neeraj and Himanshu Sethi, appeared for MLA Mohan Singh Bisht, and Advocate Manya Hashija appeared for Kapil Mishra. The magistrate court had passed an order for further investigation on the basis of material placed by the Delhi police and the application of one Mohd. Illiyas. Applicant Mohd Illiyas had sought a direction for registration of an FIR against Kapil Mishra and others. Senior advocate Pramod Dubey appeared for Kapil Mishra. He argued, "Can a further investigation without having an FIR? Where is the FIR? And there is no identification of the area of the police station." "In the absence of a FIR direction, an FIR can not be given," Senior advocate Dubey argued. Dubey also submitted that further investigation can be ordered during the pendency of the Final Report. "There was no Charge sheet before the MP MLA Court. There should be pendency of charge sheet. For registration of an FIR, a complaint has to be filed before the police first, only after that, an application for registration of an FIR can be filed in the court. One ATR was filed when the matter was pending in the KKD court. Three ATRs were filed by the police. My client was interrogated by Delhi Police," it stated. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad appeared for the Delhi police and raised the question of jurisdiction of the magistrate court, which passed the order under challenge. He submitted that even this court could not pass this court as it does not have the jurisdiction to deal with an FIR which is already under consideration of a special court, and a charge sheet has been filed. This application for registration of FIR was filed through Advocate Mehmood Pracha, who was part of the propaganda building team in 2020, and the SPP submitted it before the court. This complaint was given to all officers and even the prime minister. Emails were sent to the prime minister, the home minister, the DCP, and the Commissioner of police. It was not emailed to SHO. This email cannot be treated as the compliance with necessary requirements for registration of FIR, Prasad added. "A Status report narrating the five incidents was filed by the police," the SPP for Delhi police said. It was also argued that there was improvisation of the statement of the complainant. First, he said that the vehicles of Muslims and Dalits were stopped, and later on were allowed to go. Later, the statement was changed to reflect that there was a Road block, damage to the cart of Muslims and Dalits at Kardam Puri road, SPP added. There was no allegation of violation; the court below embellished the Complaint, the SPP submitted. He further submitted that we informed the court that we have investigated the role of Kapil Mishra. Advocate Pracha was asked to argue, but he didn't; meanwhile, the roster was changed. We were again summoned and asked to place on record the material. "We were directed to further investigate on the basis of material we provided in a matter which is before the special court," SPP submitted. The court asked, "Had you ever investigated the allegations in the complaint before filing the charge sheet in the larger Conspiracy. "Are there any other complaints alleging the road block by Kapil Mishra?" the judge questioned. SPP submitted that there are multiple such complaints, but nothing incriminating was found. He was asked during the recording of that statement whether he had ever visited the place of the incident. He replied that he lives in Yamuna Vihar, and a petrol pump was burnt near his colony, SPP said. There are 751 FIRs, no FIR talks about damage of vehicles on the same date and time between 3 pm to 6 pm, it added. It was further submitted by the SPP that he was called to assist the court in the matter of application under section 156(3) and was given direction under section 173( 8) for further investigation, it was not expected. "I am going to face music every day due to this order," SPP added. All these cases are tried in KKD, you do not get the power to give observation on the police investigation in a case that is before the special court, he added. He prayed that the observation of the trial court should be stayed. (ANI) Two armed men robbed a man at gunpoint in North East Delhi's Yamuna Vihar area on Sunday. The incident took place in the area under the jurisdiction of Bhajanpura police station. According to the victim, he was standing near a shop when two men on a bike suddenly arrived. Both robbers were carrying guns and threatened him before taking away his belongings. The entire incident was caught on a CCTV camera installed nearby. The footage shows victim standing near the shop, while the robbers approach him, threaten him with firearms, and then flee after committing robbery. Police have registered a case and are investigating the matter. However, no arrest has been made so far. Similar incidents were recorded in Delhi's Pitampura area, and Adarsh Nagar. Earlier this month, a man, along with two associates, attempted to rob a senior citizen at gunpoint in Pitamitampura with the intention of arranging money to pay alimony to his wife following their divorce. All three accused have been arrested, and weapons and items used in the crime have been recovered, Delhi Police said on Monday. According to the police, on March 31, a PCR call was received at Police Station Maurya Enclave regarding a firearm being brandished at a senior citizen. Acting promptly, police staff reached the scene where the complainant, Kamlesh Arora, wife of Hemant Kumar and a resident of Pitampura, aged 72 years, narrated the incident. Whereas in a different incident occurring on March 27, Delhi Police arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and robbery of a cab driver. According to DCP North West Bhisham Singh, when the complainant, Satender Pal, a cab driver, was replacing a flat tyre on his vehicle near Shani Mandi, Road No. 51, Adarsh Nagar, two unidentified men approached him, forcefully pushed him inside his car, assaulted him, and demanded money for his release. "A case of kidnapping-cum-robbery was registered, and a police team was formed to investigate the matter," the DCP said, adding that the team examined multiple CCTV footages, deployed informers, and conducted several raids to track down the suspects. Officials said that the accused, Vishnu Jha and Deepak, were apprehended near Jheel at Mukundpur, where the stolen car was also recovered. Both individuals have been identified as habitual offenders with prior involvement in seven criminal cases, including theft, snatching, and violations under the Gambling Act. (ANI) BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill on Monday mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on EC in Boston and said that he suffered from the "Entitled Child Syndrome" (ECS), further stating that he insulted the nation and blamed the Indian democracy for the sake of covering his failures which was also his addcition. Speaking to ANI, Shergill said, "Rahul Gandhi suffers from ECS --Entitled Child Syndrome. Insulting the nation and blaming the Indian democracy for the sake of covering his failures is his addiction...He vents his political frustration on foreign soil. In India, he barely raises questions, is busy in jungle safaris..." Shergill also questioned why the Congress leader did not speak on the role of the EC in the states where Congress won. "Why didn't he speak about the role of EC in states where Congress won? Why is he polluting the heads of people with distorted facts... He should disclose which anti-India forces are running him... It is high time he should realise that it is his ability to win the hearts of the people that is compromised," Shergill further stated. Meanwhile, BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Monday mocked Congress party over their leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks on EC in Boston and said that it was an alliance which did not have good intentions. Speaking to the media, Thakur said "This is that alliance which has a different ideology. Neither their policy is the same, nor do they have good intentions..." The remarks of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were made while he addressed the Indian diaspora in Boston. Gandhi had alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised", further stating that there was something very wrong with the system. Citing the example of the Maharashtra elections, the Senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible..." he claimed, addressing the meeting. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party leader CR Kesavan on Monday attacked Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Election Commission in Boston and said that the latter is embarking on another "Bharat Badnaam Yatra-India abuse Yatra." "Rahul Gandhi, along with Sam Pitroda, were out on bail in the National Herald case, and both of them, who have been charge sheeted, are now embarking on another Bharat Badnaam Yatra- India abuse Yatra, this time on foreign soil. Rahul Gandhi has once again deplorably attacked India's constitutional institutions, and he has unsuccessfully again tried to undermine India's democracy. Rahul Gandhi has made these statements about the Election Commission in America," Kesavan said. BJP leader Sambit Patra also attacked Rahul Gandhi, saying that the Congress party is creating an atmosphere of unrest throughout the country. "This is Rahul Gandhi's old habit of insulting the country on foreign soil... He has been doing this for a long time... ED has mentioned the names of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in its chargesheet, and they could even go to jail for looting the country... Meanwhile, the Congress party is creating an atmosphere of unrest in the entire country... Those who are out on bail of Rs 50,000, if they feel they can destroy the image of this great democracy by going abroad and speaking their then they are totally on the wrong side of the line," Patra said. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill mocked Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the EC in Boston and said that he suffered from the "Entitled Child Syndrome" (ECS), further stating that he insulted the nation and blamed the Indian democracy for the sake of covering his failures, which was also his addiction. Speaking to ANI, Shergill said, "Rahul Gandhi suffers from ECS -Entitled Child Syndrome. Insulting the nation and blaming the Indian democracy for the sake of covering his failures is his addiction...He vents his political frustration on foreign soil. In India, he barely raises questions, is busy in jungle safaris..." Shergill also questioned why the Congress leader did not speak on the role of the EC in the states where Congress won. The remarks by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were made during his address to the Indian diaspora in Boston. Gandhi had alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised," further stating that there was something fundamentally wrong with the system. Citing the example of the Maharashtra elections, the Senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible..." he claimed, addressing the meeting. (ANI) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday successfully completed the second docking of satellites under its SPADEX mission. Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the development and extended his congratulations to the ISRO team. In a post on X, he said, "Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully." This event marked yet another significant milestone in India's space research program. The PSLV-C60/SPADEX mission was launched on December 30, 2024. Following the launch, the first successful docking occurred on January 16, 2025, at 6:20 a.m. The satellites were later undocked on March 13 at 9:20 a.m.. ISRO has also announced that further experimental procedures are scheduled to take place over the next two weeks. He further wrote," As informed earlier, the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission was successfully launched on 30 December 2024. Thereafter, the satellites were successfully docked for the first time on 16 January 2025 at 06:20 AM and successfully undocked on 13 March 2025 at 09:20 AM. Further experiments are planned in the next two weeks." On March 13, ISRO announced the successful completion of its SpaDeX mission's space de-docking. The undocking process involved a precise sequence of events, culminating in the separation of the SDX-01 (Chaser) and SDX-02 (Target) satellites, which were launched on December 30, 2024, using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C60 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It included the successful extension of SDX-2, the planned release of Capture Lever 3, and the disengagement of the Capture Lever in SDX-2. After these manoeuvres, the decapture command was issued in both SDX-1 and SDX-2, leading to the successful separation of the satellites. ISRO successfully completed the docking of the two SPADEX satellites (SDX-01 and SDX-02) in the early hours of January 16 this year, marking India's entry towards becoming the fourth country, alongside China, Russia, and the United States, in the world to have space docking technology. According to the space organisation, the groundbreaking mission aims to showcase India's technological prowess in spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking--a critical capability for future advancements, such as satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary exploration. It is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission designed to demonstrate in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by the PSLV. This technology is essential for India's space ambitions, including sending an Indian to the Moon, returning samples from the Moon, and building and operating the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. The SpaDeX spacecraft was designed and realised by the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) with the support of other ISRO centres (VSSC, LPSC, SAC, IISU, and LEOS). (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sambit Patra slammed Rahul Gandhi on Monday for claiming that the Election Commission has been 'compromised.' Patra said this is an "old habit" of the Congress leader to insult the country on foreign soil. "I have been seeing the media since the morning, there are two important news items, one is Rahul Gandhi's old habit of insulting the country on foreign soil. He has insulted India in the US. This is not a new thing. He has been doing this for a long time," Patra said in Delhi. Patra said that if the Gandhi family thinks they are on the right side of history by insulting the country abroad, then they are "on the wrong side of the line." "The person, and his mother, who are out on bail of Rs 50,000, if they feel they can destroy the image of this great democracy by going abroad and speaking their then they are totally on the wrong side of the line" Criticising the Congress party's call for holding a press conference to counter the Central government, he likened it to a thief making a lot of noise. "Another big news is that from today, the big leaders of Congress, like Chor machaye shor (thief making a lot of noise), will go to various places and hold a press conference to save the son and mother. ED has mentioned the names of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in its chargesheet, and they could even go to jail for looting the country, and they should go," he said. Accusing the Congress of "creating an atmosphere of unrest" by protesting against the chargesheet, he added, "Meanwhile, the Congress party is creating an atmosphere of unrest in the entire country." Earlier, while addressing the Indian Diaspora in Boston, United States, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised," stating that there was something fundamentally wrong with the system. Citing the example of the Maharashtra elections, the Senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. He claimed, "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible. However, sources in the Election Commission have previously stated that allegations made by Political parties about manipulated electoral rolls were unfounded. According to the sources, hardly any first or second appeals were made under Section 24 of the Representation of People act, or correction of any entries in Electoral Rolls (Section 22) or Inclusion (Section 23) during the recent Special Summary Revision published on January 6-7 2025. (ANI) Gujarat Cabinet Minister Rushikesh Patel on Monday confirmed that all 50 Gujarati tourists stranded in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district due to a recent landslide are safe. He stated that the state government has made arrangements to ensure their well-being and is working to bring them back home as soon as possible. Cabinet Minister Patel said that the Gujarat government is in constant contact with the tourists and the local administration in Jammu and Kashmir, and active efforts are underway to bring the stranded individuals back home safely. "50 Gujaratis trapped in a landslide in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarati tourists were returning from Srinagar. All the tourists are safe and the state government is making active efforts to bring them back," he said. "No one was injured. The state government is in constant touch and making efforts to bring them back home," Patel said in a statement. Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitendra Singh hailed the Indian Army for their timely assistance by setting up medical camps and distributing essential medicines after three people died following flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. "In the aftermath of the torrential hailstorm yesterday, while the district administration team led by energetic DC Mr Baseer Haq has been commendably on the job since last night, it is time also to acknowledge and thank the Indian Army for their timely assistance, which played a crucial role in providing relief to the local population," Jitendra Singh said in a post on social media platform X. In the Ramban region, flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the early hours of Sunday have caused widespread devastation. At least three people, including two children, lost their lives in Bagahana village after two houses collapsed due to a landslide. Meanwhile, in view of the continuing severe weather conditions and forecasts, classwork in all schools across the Kashmir Valley remains suspended on Monday, April 21, said Jammu and Kashmir's (J-K) Education Minister Sakina Itoo. This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of all students across the Valley.(ANI) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and Nizamabad MLC, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, visited the historic Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam, Telangana, where she was welcomed with a traditional Purnakumbham ceremony by temple priests and officials. During her visit, Kavitha was accompanied by MLC Vaddiraju Ravichandra, MLC Thata Madhu, and former MLAs Rega Kantha Rao, Haripriya, and Chandravathi. After her visit, the MLC wrote in an X post, "Jai Sita Ram! Blessed to have visited the divine Sri Sitarama Chandra Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam today. Offered heartfelt prayers for peace, prosperity, and well-being of all." Earlier, on Sunday, MLC Kavitha launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led Telangana government and accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of "administrative failure and negligence". The BRS leader made the allegations on Sunday, during her presence at the housewarming ceremony of BRS leader Devulapally Pattabhi Ram in Khammam district. Addressing the media on the occasion, K Kavitha slammed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for his silence on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases filed against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. "While the Congress party at the national level called for widespread protests, Revanth Reddy maintained complete silence and offered no reaction whatsoever," she said, stating that the action exposed his double standards and lack of commitment to his party's leadership. MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha pointed out that despite the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister and two state ministers in Khammam, no review was conducted on the massive crop losses caused by recent hailstorms. The BRS leader stated that in Telangana, paddy fields were flooded and mango blossoms were lost, yet there has been no serious response or assessment from the government. She emphasised that Revanth Reddy, who is currently on a foreign tour in Japan, hasn't even spoken to revenue officials about the rains and the resulting damage. Meanwhile, on March 31, the Election Commission announced the biennial elections for the one seat of the Telangana Legislative Council, stating that the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the Hyderabad Local Authorities constituency. The polling was necessitated as the term of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC, MS Prabhakar, will expire on May 1. According to the ECI, the last date for filing nominations was April 4, with scrutiny of nominations scheduled for April 7. Votes will be counted on April 25. (ANI) Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday inaugurated the Sankalp Girls Hostel at Sankalp Bhawan in n Dhirpur, Adarsh Nagar Assembly constituency. At the inauguration, the CM said that education was an important most ladder for progress in the country, further stating that the hostel would allow daughters from all over the county stay and prepare for civil services. Speaking to the media, the CM said "Education is the most important ladder for the progress of the country... The way this hostel has been inaugurated today, through Sankalp for civil services, daughters from all over the country can come and stay here and prepare for civil services. This is a very big facility..." Earlier on April 20, the CM flagged off 1,111 water tanks for the Jal Board and said that people would be able to monitor the location of the GPS-enabled tankers with the help of the tanker application. Hitting out at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, Gupta said there was a "leakage" in the entire system in the name of the tanker mafia. She stated that the whereabouts of the water tanks were unknown earlier. However, she added that the routes undertaken by the tankers could be monitored since they have GPS installed. "In the previous government, there was a leakage in the entire system in the name of tanker mafias. There was corruption. Water was sent to the common people, but no one knew where it went. The new government of Delhi is dedicated to providing clean water. Today, 1,111 tankers are being sent, they are GPS-enabled so that they can be tracked. The routes of every tanker can be recorded. People will be able to monitor the location with the help of the tanker app," Gupta told reporters here. (ANI) STATEMENT SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA ON THE PASSING OF POPE FRANCIS It is with profound sorrow that we learn of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. As a devout Catholic, I find it difficult to express the depth of my feelings in losing such a spiritual and compassionate leader. He brought hope and healing to over a billion Catholics, including countless Filipinos, especially the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. The Filipino Catholic community affectionately referred to him as Lolo Kiko because of his compassion during times of despair. His historic visit in 2015 left a lasting impact on Filipinos as he reminded us of the power of faith and kindness when facing life's challenges. We have lost not only a pontiff but also a loving Holy Father whose papacy was characterized by teachings of humility, compassion for the poor, equality, Church reform, mercy, and many other virtues. I am one with Filipino people in extending heartfelt condolences to the Vatican and to Catholics around the world. Rest in peace, Holy Father. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday lauded security forces for neutralising eight Naxals in Jharkhand's Bokaro and said that the march to eliminate Naxalism continues unabated. "Our march to eliminate Naxalism continues unabated. Today, security forces achieved another significant success in the ongoing operation to uproot Naxalism. In an encounter at Lugu Hills in Bokaro, Jharkhand, 8 Maoists were neutralised, including a top-level naxal leader, Vivek, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and two other notorious Naxalites. The operation is being continued. Applaud our security forces," the Home Minister's Office posted on X. Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta said that in a joint operation by Jharkhand Jaguar, police and CRPF, eight Naxals were killed "Today, our security forces have neutralised 8 Maoists. We have recovered arms, including four INSAS and one SLR. Three top Naxalites, Vivek alias Prayag Majhi, Arvind Yadav and Sahebram Majhi have been killed. The operation was carried out by the JJ (Jharkhand Jaguar), police and CRPF. The first exchange of fire took place at 5.30 am. The encounter went on for 1.5-2 hours," the Jharkhand DGP said. He further said that those who are active Naxalites should surrender and come to the mainstream as soon as possible. "Today, we have every detail and location of every Naxalite in our state. This is a warning to those who are still roaming around with weapons. They must surrender because we are aware of each and every detail and their whereabouts. They should surrender if they want peace and have the benefits of Jharkhand's surrender policy," he added. Earlier today, the security forces neutralised eight Naxals in a joint operation conducted early morning in Jharkhand's Bokaro district. The bodies of the naxals were recovered following an exchange of fire between the rebel group as well as the 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit of the Central Reserve Police Force and the state police force. The exchange of fire began around 5.30 am in the Lugu hills under the Lalpania area of Bokaro. "Among the eight Naxals neutralised in the operation were three high-profile individuals with bounties of Rs 1 crore, Rs 25 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh, respectively. Prayag Manjhi had a bounty of Rs 1 crore, Arvind Yadav carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh, and Sahebram Manjhi, also known as Rahul Manjhi, had a bounty of Rs 10 lakh. The remaining naxals have been identified as Mahesh Manjhi alias Mota, Talu, Raju Manjhi, Gangaram, and Mahesh," the CRPF stated. As per the CRPF, the troops recovered a cache of arms from the site, including one AK-series rifle, one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), three INSAS rifles, one pistol, and eight country-made Bharmar rifles. Officials said that the operation is part of an intensified campaign by security forces to dismantle Naxalism activities in the region. (ANI) With Maharashtra abuzz with the possibility of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena joining hands with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader Sanjay Nirupam took a sarcastic jibe at the former, calling UBT "so weak" that they have to join hands with either MNS or "compromise with Muslim votes." "If both the brothers (Uddhav and Raj Thackeray) and their parties want to unite, we do not have anything to do. Today, the condition of Uddhav Thackeray and his party is that sometimes they have to join hands with Congress to win elections and sometimes compromise with Muslim votes. Today, they have become so weak that they have to give a proposal to join hands with MNS," Nirupam told ANI in Mumbai. Alleging that Uddhav Thackeray has made his faction of the party as the 'Muslim league,' Nirupam posed the question whether MNS would like to ally with a party which openly opposed the Waqf Act. "Now, MNS and Raj Thackeray have to decide whether they are going with Uddhav Thackeray or not. Thackeray has made his party as a muslim league, do they (MNS) want to go with that? We have that question to MNS," he told ANI. "Now the situation is such that Uddhav Thackeray calls his MPs atleast five times, telling them to speak against the Waqf Act in Parliament and outside it. Just like how he organises protests against the Waqf Act, does Raj Thackeray want to go with such people?" he added. Saying that there has been no objection from their side regarding the alliance, they are simply questioning the motive of joining hands in the interest of Maharashtra. "We have no such problem with them joining hands, but yes, we are questioning them on how they bent the knee in front of Muslims. How they are saying that they will join hands for the good of Maharashtra, so what did they do in the last 2 years?" Nirupam said. On April 19, Uddhav Thackeray, while addressing a party's trade union wing's function, said that ready to get back together with Raj Thackeray by keeping all the issues aside for the sake of the Marathi language and culture. Uddhav's response came during a podcast with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief stated that he can set aside minor differences with Uddhav and work in the interest of Maharashtra. On April 20, UBT leader Sanjay Raut said that no alliance has been finalised, with "only emotional talks going on." (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Kumar Nishad on Monday attacked Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Election Commission in Boston. Speaking to ANI, Nishad said, "...There is a saying in Ramayan, one sees what he thinks...All these parties have been in politics for the past 70 years, misusing their powers...and at that time, they received protection from these agencies. Today they are getting punished in our regime..." Defending the independence of the Election Commission, he stated, "EC is an independent body, and raising fingers at it is not right..." Earlier, BJP leader CR Kesavan also attacked Rahul Gandhi, saying he has embarked on yet another "Bharat Badnaam Yatra". Furthermore, BJP leader Sambit Patra also attacked Rahul Gandhi, saying that the Congress party is creating an atmosphere of unrest throughout the country. "This is Rahul Gandhi's old habit of insulting the country on foreign soil... He has been doing this for a long time... ED has mentioned the names of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in its chargesheet, and they could even go to jail for looting the country... Meanwhile, the Congress party is creating an atmosphere of unrest in the entire country... Those who are out on bail of Rs 50,000, if they feel they can destroy the image of this great democracy by going abroad and speaking their then they are totally on the wrong side of the line," Patra said. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill mocked Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the EC in Boston and said that he suffered from the "Entitled Child Syndrome" (ECS), further stating that he insulted the nation and blamed the Indian democracy for the sake of covering his failures, which was also his addiction. Shergill also questioned why the Congress leader did not speak on the role of the EC in the states where Congress won. The remarks by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were made during his address to the Indian diaspora in Boston. Gandhi had alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised," further stating that there was something fundamentally wrong with the system. Citing the example of the Maharashtra elections, the Senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible..." he claimed, addressing the meeting. (ANI) Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika on Monday expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party winning the upcoming Panchayat polls, pointing out that there is "no strong opposition" in the state, with Congress being "decimated." "I think the BJP will win more and more seats. People will vote for Narendra Modi, Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP. I am very confident that we will come back with an absolute majority," Pijush Hazarika told ANI. The state minister's comments come a few days after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa shared that the BJP has already secured 37 Zila Parishad (35 BJP and 2 AGP) and 288 Anchalik Panchayat (259 BJP and 29 AGP) seats unopposed. Minister Hazarika attacked Congress, saying that the party has been "decimated," with it being strong only in certain areas. "There is no strong opposition in Assam. Congress has been decimated; they are strong in some pockets only, so I don't think Assam's people will vote for Congress," he said. When asked why people would vote for the BJP instead, he said that the party has undertaken significant development in the state. "The BJP has done a lot of things for the country and in the state. Roads are a lot better, 1.5 lakh jobs were distributed, not a single allegation of corruption can be put," he said. On April 18, CM Sarma highlighted in a post on X, "The NDA has already secured 37 Zila Parishad (35 BJP and 2 AGP) and 288 Anchalik Panchayat (259 BJP and 29 AGP) seats unopposed. This is a massive and unprecedented mandate in Assam's political history." "We are confident that when the final election results are declared, this tally will grow even more impressive. The NDA is all set to sweep the Panchayat elections in Assam," he added. Congress has also released its manifesto for the upcoming elections, unveiled by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah and senior party leader and former MP Ripun Bora during a programme held at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati. The State Election Commission said that there are 21920 Gaon Panchayat members, 2192 Gram Panchayat Presidents, 2192 Gram Panchayat Vice Presidents, 2192 Anchalik Panchayat members, 181 Anchalik Panchayat Presidents, 181 Anchalik Panchayat Vice Presidents and 397 Zilla Parishad members. The panchayat polls in Assam will be held in two phases on May 2 and May 7. The counting of votes will be held on May 11. More than 1.80 crore voters, including 90.71 lakh male voters, 89.65 lakh female voters and 408 other voters, will exercise their franchise in 25007 polling stations. (ANI) In a significant blow to Naxalism, three high-profile wanted leaders of the banned outfit, including one carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, among eight members were neutralized on Monday in a joint operation in Jharkhand''s Bokaro district. Among the eight naxals neutralized in the operation were three high-profile individuals with bounties of Rs 1 crore, Rs 25 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh, respectively. Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek had a bounty of Rs 1 crore, Arvind Yadav carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh, and Sahebram Manjhi, also known as Rahul Manjhi had a bounty of Rs 10 lakh. The remaining naxals have been identified as Mahesh Manjhi alias Mota, Talu, Raju Manjhi, Gangaram, and Mahesh. Prayag Manjhi (60), was the Central Committee Member (CCM) of Eastern Regional Bureau of Naxals. The bodies of the Naxals were recovered following an exchange of fire between the rebel group as well as the 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit of Central Reserve Police Force and state police force. The exchange of fire began around 5.30 am in Lugu hills under Lalpania area of Bokaro. As per the CRPF, the troops recovered a cache of arms from the site, including one AK-series rifle, one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), three INSAS rifles, one pistol, and eight country-made Bharmar rifles. "No injuries or casualties have been reported among the security personnel involved in the operation," the CRPF said in a statement. "The gunfire has ceased, and a thorough search operation is currently underway in the area to ensure complete sanitization and to trace any remaining insurgents or hidden weaponry," added the CRPF, India''s largest Central Armed Police Forces under Ministry of Home Affairs mandated to ensure internal security in its area of jurisdiction. Officials said that the search was going on and the operation was part of an intensified campaign by security forces to dismantle Naxalism activities in the region. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the security forces for the operation through a post on ''X'' handle. "Our march to eliminate Naxalism continues unabated. Today security forces achieved another significant success in the ongoing operation to uproot Naxalism. In an encounter at Lugu Hills in Bokaro, Jharkhand, 8 Maoists were neutralised, including a top-level naxal leader, Vivek, who carried a reward of Rs1 crore, and two other notorious Naxalites. The operation is being continued. Applaud our security forces." the Home Minister posted on ''X''. The fresh operation resulted the killing of a total of 93 Naxals neutralized this year so far in a joint operation involving CRPF. In the last five years from 2020 to 2024, a total of 178 Naxals have been neutralized in such joint operation in which CRPF was involved. Of them, maximum of 104 Naxals were neutralized in 2024, 15 in 2023, 12 in 2022, 15 in 2021, and 32 in 2020. Majority of the Naxals were neutralized in Chhattisgarh. (ANI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday lashed out at Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in Boston, accusing him of tarnishing India's democratic image on international platforms. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said it was "very sad" that Gandhi spreads "lies" about India's constitutional institutions while overseas, claiming his actions reflect the frustration of repeated electoral defeats. "It is very sad that Rahul Gandhi goes abroad and spreads lies about the institutions created by the constitution of this country and tries to defame it. He tries to raise questions about democracy. I feel that he is doing such acts because of the consequences that have happened to him after losing elections repeatedly. The way Rahul Gandhi is behaving has raised a question mark on his character. Instead of doing such things, if he goes among the people and gets the trust of the people back, then he will be able to win the elections. He cannot win elections by defaming anyone," CM Fadnavis said. While addressing the Indian diaspora in Boston, United States, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised," stating that there was something fundamentally wrong with the system. Citing the example of the Maharashtra elections, the Senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible..." he claimed, addressing the meeting. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also slammed the Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Election Commission in Boston, and said that it has become a habit of the Congress to make "absurd statements" and an attempt to spoil the atmosphere of the country. "It means that when Congress wins, the Election Commission is right and if Congress loses, the Election Commission is wrong. So, it has become a habit of Congress to make absurd statements and to spoil the atmosphere of the country by making absurd statements against the important constitutional institutions of the country, but the public mandate is with the BJP and we have won," Maurya told ANI. (ANI) Gujarat Commissioner of Relief, Alok Kumar Pandey, has confirmed that all 50 pilgrims from Gujarat who were affected by the landslide incident in Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir, are safe and unharmed. Upon receiving information regarding the pilgrims from Gujarat who were stranded as a result of the landslide incident, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel promptly directed the Relief Commissioner and relevant authorities to collaborate with the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected pilgrims, as stated by the official. Following the Chief Minister's instructions and guidance, the Gujarat State Emergency Operation Centre swiftly contacted the relevant authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure the safety and security of the Gujarat pilgrims, as stated in the release. Providing further details, Relief Commissioner Pandey stated that the travel bus carrying tourists from Gujarat is in a safe zone, away from the landslide, and all the travellers are safe. The army personnel have provided food, water, and other essentials to the Gujarat travellers. Moreover, accommodation and meal arrangements have also been made for all the pilgrims at the Army camp. Relief Commissioner added that the Gujarat travellers currently do not have any medical emergencies, and the Jammu & Kashmir administration is actively working to safely remove the travel bus trapped in the landslide. The Relief Commissioner further stated that for additional information regarding this matter, the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, can be contacted at 079 232 51900, if needed. (ANI) The Haryana Government have announced that farmers who have suffered loss of life or property related to crops or animals due to incidents of arson will get compensation from the state government, an official statement said. Chief Minister Saini held a meeting regarding the issue and instructed the officials to take necessary steps on the matter. The farmers affected by the loss of crops will be helped with seeds and fertilisers for sowing the upcoming crops, as per a statement issued by Haryana's Directorate of Public Relations. Earlier, Chief Minister Saini inaugurated a newly constructed bridge over the Ghaggar River in Panchkula district and said that the development works were being carried out speedily in the state. He added that the government has written a new definition of development in the past decade. While addressing the gathering at the inauguration event, CM Saini said that "direction and condition" of Haryana have changed ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's double-engine government came to power, with development works happening rapidly. "By laying the foundation stones of small projects, development becomes fast-paced. Ever since PM Modi's double-engine government came to power in Haryana, along with Panchkula, Haryana's direction and condition have changed. Works are happening at a fast pace. In the past 10 years, we have written a new definition of development. The conditions of roads are such that it takes only about three to four hours to reach the other end of the state," Saini said. On Friday, Saini criticised the previous Congress-led UPA government for introducing the original Waqf bill in haste for 'vote bank politics' during 2013-2014 and claimed that it lacked provisions that truly served the interests of Muslims. Saini alleged that the Congress brought the bill for vote bank politics, accused the party of engaging in "shoddy politics" and did not acknowledge the improvements in the amended legislation. Reacting to the Supreme Court's recent observations on the Waqf Amendment Act, Haryana Chief Minister Saini defended the legislation, stating that the amended Act is designed to benefit the entire Muslim community. (ANI) Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Cardinal Baselois Cleemis Thottunkal, on Monday, condoled the demise of Pope Francis, whom he recalled often expressed his affection for India. The Cardinal, who is also President of the Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church, told ANI, "Let me express our heartfelt condolences and prayer for solidarity as Pope Francis has passed away." "As the leader of the Church and entire humanity, especially a champion of the people who are at the periphery, he stood firm in re-reading the gospel, trying to find our Jesus and his approaches towards human beings, focusing on those marginalised...I personally recall with gratitude that after his meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Pope Francis told me that your country is a great country. Such an affection he had in his mind for India..." Cardinal Cleemis said. "Pope Francis became a leader for those outside the mainstream -- an embodiment of exemplary dedication. I have had the opportunity to know him personally since 2013. He held deep respect for Indian culture and led with a unique and inspiring approach. He worked as a symbol of unity in society," Cardinal Clemis added. "Conversations with him were always heartfelt. His spirituality cannot be measured by any ordinary standard. He was a spiritual soul of differences--someone who embraced diversity with compassion and wisdom," the Cardinal said. "He is a man who is with the people. The last ceremony he participated in was a celebration of faith with the people on Easter," he said. Cardinal Cleemis recounted his meetings with Pope Francis and recalled that the pontiff eschewed official protocols in his dealings with people. "Recently he had started using a wheelchair but before that he always insisted on of personally seeing people out after they finished their meetings with him" Archbishop Cleemis said. The Archbishop pointed out that Pope Francis had authored several important works, including 'Laudato si,' a treatise that laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action." Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, the Vatican announced. He had a day ago celebrated Easter and given his customary Easter address in the Vatican square. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained a priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he was elected as the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013. He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. After a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale, the process of choosing the next pope begins. The next pope will be chosen by a College of Cardinals, the Catholic church's most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, in Rome in the next few days for the conclave. As of April 19, there are 252 cardinals, from over 70 countries, out of whom 135 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Among the 135 cardinals currently eligible to vote in the Papal conclave, four are from India and among them is Cardinal Cleemis. The three others include Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Cardinal Anthony Poola, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad. Cardinals above 80 do not vote. Votes are taken each day, morning and afternoon, until a candidate wins a two-thirds majority. If there is no conclusive result after 30 ballots, a candidate will be elected on a simple majority. The longest papal conclave in recent history was 1922, when the cardinals took five days to choose their new leader. After each round of voting, the ballot cards are burned. Chemicals are added to make the smoke black or white. Black smoke emerging from the chimney indicates an inconclusive ballot, while white smoke announces to the world that a new pope has been elected. (ANI) Criticising BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his remarks against the Supreme Court and former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Brinda Karat on Monday called him a "communal serial offender" and urged the BJP to take action beyond merely distancing itself from his statements. "This man is a communal serial offender. First, he attacked the Supreme Court with an extremely communal slander charge against the CJI, and now he is attacking the former Chief Election Commissioner in communal terms...BJP separating his remarks from the party is not enough; they should take action against him," Karat told ANI. Earlier, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that the Supreme Court was "inciting religious wars" and questioned its authority, suggesting that the Parliament building should be closed if the apex court was to make laws. "The top court has only one aim--' Show me the face, and I will show you the law'. The Supreme Court is going beyond its limits. If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut," Dubey told ANI. Referring to past decisions of the court, Dubey criticised the judiciary for its handling of issues like the decriminalisation of homosexuality and religious disputes. "There was an Article 377 in which homosexuality was a big crime. The Trump administration has said that there are only two sexes in this world, either male or female...Whether it is Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh, all believe that homosexuality is a crime. One fine morning, the Supreme Court said that we should abolish this case...Article 141 says that the laws we make, the judgments we give, are applicable from the lower court to the Supreme Court. Article 368 states that Parliament has the authority to enact all laws, and the Supreme Court has the power to interpret the law. The top court is asking the President and Governor to tell them what they have to do regarding the Bills. When the Ram Mandir, Krishna Janmabhoomi, or Gyanvapi issue arises, you (SC) say, 'Show us the paper'. Mughals ke aane ke baad jo Masjid banne hai unke liye keh raho ho paper kaha se dikhao," he added. Dubey further alleged that the Supreme Court wants to take this country towards "anarchy". "How can you give direction to the appointing authority? The President appoints the Chief Justice of India. The Parliament makes the law of this country. You will dictate that Parliament?... How did you make a new law? In which law is it written that the President has to decide within three months? This means that you want to take this country towards anarchy. When the Parliament sits, there will be a detailed discussion on this," he said. BJP has "completely rejected" and distanced itself from the controversial remarks made by Nishikant Dubey on the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of India. Following the controversial remarks, Dubey in a post on X called former CEC SY Quraishi "Not an election commissioner, but a Muslim commissioner" while reacting to the latter's views on the Waqf Amendment Act. (ANI) Press Release April 21, 2025 PIMENTEL MOURNS POPE FRANCIS Koko honors pontiff's legacy of humility, justice, and compassion Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis, who died today at the age of 88 in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. In a statement, Pimentel paid tribute to the late pontiff's legacy, saying: "Pope Francis reminded the world that true leadership is service--one that listens, uplifts, and stands with the least among us. He did not preach from a pedestal, he bowed down to understand our suffering. A man of faith, action, and courage--he will be missed by the entire world. The Argentinian-born pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church since 2013 and was known for his progressive yet deeply spiritual leadership style. Throughout his papacy, he consistently championed the causes of the poor, the environment, and interfaith unity--values which Pimentel himself has highlighted in his previous statements. In 2013, following Pope Francis' installation, Pimentel urged leaders to heed the pontiff's call to "consecrate our public office towards the defense of those who have been cheated out of their rights and future" . He emphasized that the humility shown by Pope Francis serves as a message to all public servants, reminding them that they are elected to serve the people, not to gain power. In 2015, during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines, Pimentel appealed for public discipline and vigilance, noting that "faith with discipline and vigilance is the key to success" of the Pope's visit . He also highlighted the Pope's call for political leaders to live simply and to preserve the country's rich human and natural resources . "The death of Pope Francis is a great loss not just to Catholics, but to all people who believe in justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being," Pimentel added. "Maraming salamat, Santo Papa, sa iyong liwanag. Your voice echoed beyond Vatican walls--into the hearts of the forgotten. Your memory will guide us in service, always," Pimentel said. Multiple political leaders across the spectrum, condoled the demise of Pope Francis, who died on Monday, and remembered him as a person embodying compassion, humility and spiritual courage who united people across the world. Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and multiple others also condoled the demise of the Pope. "The entire world is saddened by the passing away of Pope Francis, who will be seen by posterity as being hugely consequential. He was a consistent champion of inter-religious understanding and engagement. He was also a greatly influential force for global peace and harmony who actively supported causes like the ending of discrimination of all forms, the mitigation of economic inequalities and of collaborative endeavours to deal with the impacts of climate change," Kharge's post read. https://x.com/kharge/status/1914238663069929694 Kharge's post added, "He was truly an iconic personality, a humanitarian par excellence, who has left behind a very valuable legacy. On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I extend our sincere condolences to our Christian brethren, especially in different parts of our country and the world." Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, noting the "profound sense of loss," also remembered how the actions of Pope Francis healed hearts and united humanity "A profound sense of loss today. The world bids farewell to His Holiness Pope Francis, a guiding light of compassion, humility & unwavering faith. His words healed hearts, his actions united humanity. Deeply saddened by his passing, may his legacy of love live on," Rijiju wrote in a post on X. https://x.com/KirenRijiju/status/1914233924240265233 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma wrote on X, "I am deeply saddened by the demise of His Holiness Pope Francis. As the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope led by example. He was truly a People's Pope, and his life embodied humility, love, and compassion, which has inspired countless souls. His Papacy will be remembered and cherished as he advocated for peace across the world." https://x.com/SangmaConrad/status/1914234516891382171 Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, according to a statement from the Vatican. Earlier on Sunday. The Pope delivered his Easter message from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to thousands of people gathered in Vatican Square. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church was recently discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he spent five weeks receiving treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia. On Easter Sunday, he was able to offer the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to the city of Rome and to the world. Only the pope can offer this blessing, which includes the offer of an indulgence, a remission for the effects of sins. He dedicated the Easter Urbi et Orbi message to calling for peace worldwide, global disarmament, and the release of prisoners. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition (LoP) and AIADMK General Secretary, Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in the state of "betraying the people", holding it responsible for introducing National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) since the ruling party was part of the United Democratic Alliance (UPA) government in the centre. He said that NEET was implemented when the DMK government was in power in Tamil Nadu. "Who brought NEET in the first place?" Palaniswami, General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), said that it was the UPA government, of which the DMK was a part, that introduced the NEET examination. It was implemented while the DMK government was there in Tamil Nadu. He added that the DMK made a "fake promise" in the 2021 assembly polls that they would abolish NEET in Tamil Nadu, and that's how they formed the government. His remarks came during a debate between the ruling DMK and AIADMK on the issue of grants for the Health Department. As this happened, Chief Minister MK Stalin responded to the claims made by LoP Palaniswami and suggested that AIADMK must impose the condition of abolishing NEET since they have formed an alliance with the BJP. Stalin said the DMK government didn't betray anyone to form the government, but questioned the opposition party for allying with the BJP. "Now you (AIADMK) have formed an alliance, right? Why can't you put this condition out there and form an alliance? We have not betrayed anyone to form the government. Two months ago, you said you wouldn't get back in alliance with the BJP. Not just for 2026, but even in 2031, you said you won't ally with them. But now you have run to them. Which one of these is a drama to betray the people?" Stalin said. Responding to this, the LoP said that if DMK could form an alliance with the BJP in 1999, "why can't we do it now?" (ANI) Leaders across the political spectrum have expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences over the passing of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta after prolonged illness. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on X, expressed grief over the death of Pope Francis. "Deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a global voice of compassion, justice, and peace. He stood by the downtrodden and the marginalised, spoke fearlessly against inequality, and inspired millions across faiths with his message of love and humanity. My thoughts are with the Catholic community in India and around the world," Rahul Gandhi said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed the passing of the Pope as "loss to the entire world". "The passing away of His Holiness Pope Francis is a loss to the entire world. He was truly an embodiment of love and compassion. He stood for the truth, he spoke out fearlessly against injustice and cared for the poor and marginalised in true faith. He was an inspiration to millions across the world who hope and strive for a more peaceful and kinder world. May his soul rest in eternal peace," she said. Chief ministers across the country also expressed sorrow over Pope Francis' death. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a spiritual leader who inspired millions through his humility, compassion, and message of peace. A beacon of hope, he guided humanity with love and kindness. On behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community and all those touched by his profound legacy." Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. He was a beacon of compassion who stood with the poor and marginalised, took a critical stance against global capitalism, and championed interfaith dialogue. His legacy will inspire generations striving for justice and equality." Karnataka CM Siddaramaih said that Pope Francis was a symbol of peace and compassion. "Deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis -- a symbol of peace and compassion. His life was a message of love for the poor and hope for the world. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Christian community across Karnataka and the globe," he said. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, "Saddened by the demise of His Holiness Pope Francis. My sincere condolences to the global Catholic community. His legacy of love and humility will endure for generations. May his soul rest in eternal peace in the presence of the Divine." Earlier on Sunday, the Pope delivered his Easter message from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to thousands of people gathered in Vatican Square. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church was recently discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he spent five weeks receiving treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia. On Easter Sunday, he was able to offer the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to the city of Rome and to the world. Only the pope can offer this blessing, which includes the offer of an indulgence, a remission for the effects of sins. He dedicated the Easter Urbi et Orbi message to calling for peace worldwide, global disarmament, and the release of prisoners. (ANI) A large group of lawyers from the Himachal Pradesh High Court staged a protest on Monday outside the Chhota Shimla (PS East), demanding immediate action against a police constable accused of assaulting a local lawyer. The protesting lawyers accused the police of shielding their own by filing serious counter-allegations against the lawyer instead of taking impartial action. "We don't come out on the streets unless the issue is grave; this is about police insensitivity and misuse of power," said Senior Advocate Sanjeev Bhushan of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. The incident in question reportedly occurred about a week ago, when a local advocate tried to contact the police during a dispute. According to the lawyers, not only did the police refuse to respond appropriately, but the constable also physically assaulted the advocate. Shockingly, instead of registering a case against the constable, the police filed a First Information Report (FIR) with serious charges against the lawyer himself. The protestors gathered outside Chhota Shimla(PS East) near the HP secretariat, where senior advocates addressed fellow lawyers and spoke to the media. Among them was Senior Advocate Sanjeev Bhushan, who voiced strong concerns over what he described as a blatant misuse of authority by the police. "The advocate community doesn't step out of their work unless the issue is extremely serious. Protesting on the streets is even more uncommon. But this is one such issue where the police have shown complete insensitivity," Bhushan said while speaking to ANI. "The police constable took the law into his own hands and assaulted a lawyer. Even if this had happened to a common man, it would still be unacceptable. After the assault, when the lawyer tried to file a complaint, the police instead registered a counter-FIR with harsh charges, without even conducting a proper investigation." He added further. Bhushan also referred to video evidence allegedly recorded by bystanders, which shows the constable beating the advocate. These videos have since circulated on social media. He alleged that instead of acting on the evidence, the police have attempted to downplay the incident by encouraging derogatory comments against the lawyer online, raising suspicions that they are trying to protect their colleague. "It is evident from these actions that the police are not investigating this incident fairly," Bhushan said. "We are demanding that the counter-FIR against the lawyer be cancelled and an impartial inquiry be initiated against the constable involved." He said. The lawyers also criticised the role of the Chhota Shimla(PS East), calling their conduct "irresponsible" and "biased." "If such incidents continue unchecked, the public's trust in the police will erode completely. This protest is symbolic -- we are here to send a message that the police must act justly. They should not try to protect their own when they are in the wrong," said Bhushan. He emphasised that the issue should not be seen as a clash between lawyers and police, but as a matter of accountability and justice. "We're not here with any ego. We're here to demand that facts be examined and decisions made based on evidence. If an officer is at fault, they should be held accountable. We hope that today's dialogue will lead to a fair resolution," he concluded. While no formal negotiations had taken place by the time of the protest, senior police officials had arrived at the scene, indicating a possible willingness to engage in dialogue. The lawyers said they were open to talks and hoped the matter would be resolved constructively. (ANI) Claiming that there is a growing discontent within the Aam Aadmi Party ranks, Union Minister Harsh Malhotra on Monday said that "internal rifts" and "misgovernance" led to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party's failure to field a candidate for the upcoming Delhi mayoral elections. Speaking to ANI, Malhotra asserted that several AAP councillors have switched allegiance to the BJP and that the party leadership's failures have left its representatives disillusioned. "AAP's own public representatives, more than a dozen of its councillors, joined the BJP during the Delhi Assembly elections. There is a lot of tension within their party, and their councillors are feeling suffocated because of the misgovernance of their leadership, and that is why they did not field a mayoral candidate because even their own councillors will not vote for them," the Union Minister said. BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party, claiming that the numbers to win the Mayoral elections are in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "This statement of Saurabh Bharadwaj is worth laughing at. He should try fielding a candidate when the numbers are in favour of the BJP; 10 MLAs have joined the BJP, and the number required for the mayor is clearly in favour of the BJP. So even if he had fielded a candidate, the victory of the BJP candidate is certain. The Kejriwal government could not fulfil any of the promises it made. When the BJP government is formed, I assure the public that the Corporation, Delhi government and BJP MPs will together solve their problems," Sehrawat said. Earlier today, Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi convenor, Saurabh Bharadwaj, stated that his party will not field a candidate in the Mayor's elections this time. The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to abstain from the mayoral polls, saying that the BJP should "rule Delhi without any excuses." The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced that Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh will be the party's mayoral candidate for the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi's annual election. The elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are scheduled for April 25, with nominations for candidates open now. Currently, AAP controls the mayoral post, as Mayor Mahesh Kumar Khinchi won the election in November 2024 by just three votes. The three civic bodies, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), were re-unified into a single entity on May 22, 2022, as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday to discuss various matters concerning the development of the state. "Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the Prime Minister's Office posted on X. CM Patel stated that he and the Prime Minister discussed a range of issues related to Gujarat's overall development. "Today, I met with the esteemed Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi Ji, in New Delhi. We discussed various issues related to the overall development of Gujarat with him and received valuable guidance from him on how to more effectively deliver the benefits of the government's welfare schemes to each beneficiary," CM Patel wrote on X. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Saudi Arabia from April 22 to 23, 2025, at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. This will mark PM Modi's third visit to the country, following earlier visits in 2016 and 2019. As part of the visit, PM Modi is expected to visit a factory where Indian workers are employed. He will interact with them during his time there. During a special press briefing on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the visit will provide an important opportunity to discuss key regional and global issues. These include the situation in West Asia, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and threats to maritime security due to Houthi attacks. Misri also said that India and Saudi Arabia are likely to deepen their defence cooperation and expand their economic ties. Currently, bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at around USD 43 billion. PM Modi's visit is being seen as a significant step in strengthening India's ties not just with Saudi Arabia, but with the entire Gulf and Islamic world. Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla noted that under PM Modi's leadership, the India-Saudi relationship has seen a major transformation, helped by the Prime Minister's strong personal bond with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit comes after the Crown Prince visited New Delhi in September 2023. He was in India for the G20 Summit and also co-chaired the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. (ANI) Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati announced the launch of its new four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) Program in Biomedical Science and Engineering. The program will be offered by the Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology (JBMSHST) at IIT Guwahati. A key highlight of the program will include the collaborative learning experience with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Guwahati and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati. The launch event was attended by distinguished guests, including Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati; Prof. Ashok Puranik, Director, AIIMS Guwahati; and Prof. U.S.N. Murty, Director, NIPER Guwahati. Prof. Sukumar, Nandi, Dean of Administration, Prof. K.V. Krishna, Dean of Academic Courses, Prof. S. Kanagaraj, Head, JBMSHST, and Dr. Subrata Pramanik, SUPC Secretary, JBMSHST, Dr. Rajiv Kumar Kar, SPPC Secretary, JBMSHST, Dr. Erwin Fuhrer, Prof. Shankar Prasad Kanaujia, Chairman JEE (Adv), Prof. Harshall B. Nemade, Head, EEE and Dr. Debabrata Sikdar, among others, were also present. Rahul Mehta, Founder, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), USA, and Naveen Jha, Global Director, Mehta Family Foundation, virtually attended the event. Sharing his thoughts on the program, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, "This interdisciplinary program brings together engineering, medical sciences, and pharmacology on a single platform, addressing the need for professionals who can work across disciplines to tackle future challenges. As the problems of tomorrow will not fit into traditional silos, this program is designed to bridge those gaps. Supported by the Mehta Family Foundation and reviewed by leading experts from IIT Guwahati, AIIMS Guwahati and NIPER Guwahati, it is set to be a pioneering initiative. We are confident that this program will foster the next generation of biomedical engineers, preparing them to innovate and lead in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries." The application process for the program will begin on 25th April 2025 and will remain open until 25th May 2025. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the official website at https://iitg.ac.in/acad/ or https://iitg.ac.in/iitg_academic?aca=school-of-health-science-and-technology for detailed information and to submit their applications. For any queries, applicants may write to shst_off@iitg.ac.in. Speaking during the launch event, Prof. Ashok Puranik, Director, AIIMS Guwahati, said, "This multi-institutional collaboration is a landmark initiative that will shape the future of healthcare and education in India. With this initiative, we aim to bridge the gap between engineering, biotechnology, and medicine. With advancements in genomics, Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, and nanotechnology, it empowers the next generation of biomedical innovators. By combining the strengths of AIIMS Guwahati, IIT Guwahati, and NIPER Guwahati, we are creating an ecosystem that will drive the future of healthcare and medical technology in India." During his address, Prof. U.S.N. Murty, Director, NIPER Guwahati, said, "I am delighted to be part of this exceptional interdisciplinary program. It offers students a unique opportunity to specialise in advanced fields such as neuroscience, personalised medicine, and pharma-engineering after three years. This collaboration between IIT Guwahati, AIIMS Guwahati, and NIPER Guwahati is a pioneering effort that will set new standards in healthcare education and research in India, with the potential to evolve into a joint degree program in the future." The program will offer a strong academic foundation with comprehensive coursework spanning pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical domains. Students will gain hands-on skill development through specialised engineering modules designed to bridge the gap between technology and healthcare. A key feature of the program is the clinical immersion experience, where students will have the opportunity to interact with leading surgeons and medical practitioners. Additionally, the curriculum boasts a cross-institutional learning framework in collaboration with AIIMS Guwahati and NIPER Guwahati to ensure exposure to diverse perspectives in biomedical science and engineering. Emphasising the significance of the program and its unique interdisciplinary approach, Rahul Mehta, CEO, the Mehta Family Foundation, said, "This program represents a thoughtful step forward at the intersection of healthcare and engineering, two domains that will shape the future of India. What makes it truly special is the collaboration between IIT Guwahati, AIIMS Guwahati, and NIPER Guwahati, bringing together doctors, scientists, and engineers under one academic vision. For students passionate about both mathematics and biology, this program will enable them to innovate in areas such as medical devices, drug discovery, and more." The program curriculum is designed to be multidisciplinary and future-focused, encompassing a wide range of subjects including Mechanics, Electrical and Electronic Systems, Mathematical modelling, Design and Prototyping, and Bioinformatics. In addition to this, students will also engage with advanced topics such as: Biomedical devices, Pharmacology, Informatics and AI in medicine, Bioinstrumentation, Sensors and wearable devices This diverse program curriculum will equip students with the knowledge and skills required to innovate at the intersection of engineering and healthcare. From a career perspective, graduates of the program will find opportunities across a wide range of domains, including bioinstrumentation, biomedical devices, pharmacology and therapeutics, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence, as well as research and development in health technology. (ANI) In an industry fueled by foreign Venture Capital money and aggressive ad spending, EaseMyTrip's journey reads differently. It never chased vanity metrics. It never raised external funds. And it never lost touch with the Indian consumer. It began with no fancy office, no celebrity campaigns, and no foreign capital. Just three brothers from Delhi, a handful of loyal users, and a belief that travel should not be complicated, expensive, or impersonal. And from that small beginning, something extraordinary took flight. Founded in 2008 by Nishant, Rikant and Prashant Pitti, EaseMyTrip started with a singular goal -- to make booking travel easier for everyday Indians. What began as a B2B business for travel agents evolved into a full-fledged B2C travel platform. The brothers coded it themselves. They answered customer queries themselves. They did not raise external funding. There was no burn, no buzzwords. Just good business. Years passed. So did fads. But EaseMyTrip remained focused. It cut through the noise by simply doing what others would not -- like removing convenience fees on flight bookings. While competitors built margins on hidden charges, EaseMyTrip built loyalty. Today, the company serves millions across india and abroad. It is India's second-largest online travel portal. And yet, it remains entirely bootstrapped. That alone makes it a rarity in India's startup ecosystem. When the average Indian plans a holiday, they do not think of algorithms or digital dashboards. They think of that one portal that has never let them down. There is one brand that shows up not just in search engines, but in conversations between friends, families and travellers across India, and it is EaseMyTrip. Even during the pandemic, when travel came to a halt, EaseMyTrip stood by its users with prompt refunds, fair policies and open communication. Trust was not something the brand asked for -- it earned it, weaving the fabric of accountability customer by customer. And the results speak for themselves. In FY24, EaseMyTrip posted a record EBITDA of INR 2,282 million, reflecting a 19% YoY growth, with a 32% rise in Revenue from Operations. The company also recorded a Gross Booking Revenue of Rs 85,126 million and continued to expand with strategic investments and a global presence. And all of this, while staying proudly bootstrapped. In January 2024, a diplomatic storm stirred up between India and the Maldives. It began with the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Lakshadweep and some disparaging comments from a few Maldivian ministers. Many brands watched silently. EaseMyTrip did not. The company voluntarily suspended all flight bookings to the Maldives, one of their most popular destinations. Over 240,000 bookings annually -- gone overnight. It was not a PR move. There was no press release, no spotlight-seeking. It was a quiet decision rooted in respect for national sentiment. Months later, when a few listings reappeared on the platform due to a technical issue, some chose to amplify that moment, conveniently ignoring the company's immediate correction. But for those who know EaseMyTrip, this incident was not a lapse. It was a reminder -- that in an era of flip-flops and half-truths, here was a company still acting on principle. As chairman, Nishant Pitti said, "Money will come and go. But our nationalistic approach will never change." What began as a humble, bootstrapped venture by three brothers - Nishant, Rikant and Prashant Pitti has today transformed into one of India's most trusted and fastest-growing travel platforms. In an industry often defined by aggressive funding, discount wars, and high customer acquisition costs, EaseMyTrip carved its own path--quietly, steadily, and with unwavering integrity. Founded with a simple vision to make travel easy and transparent, EaseMyTrip disrupted the conventional playbook. Instead of relying on external capital, the company was built profitably from day one. With sharp business acumen, a deep understanding of customer needs, and a commitment to building long-term trust, the founders created a model that not only sustained itself but thrived--even through turbulent times like the pandemic. At the heart of EaseMyTrip's success is a loyal customer base of about 26 millions of travellers who repeatedly choose the platform for its no-convenience-fee policy, seamless user experience, reliable customer support, and transparent pricing. This trust hasn't been earned overnight. It's the outcome of a consistent and conscious choice to put the customer first. Today, EaseMyTrip is no longer just a booking platform. It is a symbol of what Indian entrepreneurship can look like when it is driven not by valuation, but by values. It is expanding across new verticals -- from hotels to holidays to international markets -- but its focus remains the same - make travel accessible, affordable and authentic. In a world of noise and narratives, EaseMyTrip's story is refreshingly simple. It is the story of brothers who started with nothing but belief. Of a company that chose integrity over influence. Of a brand that never forgot who it was building for. So the next time you plan a trip -- whether to Lakshadweep, Ladakh or London -- remember this. Behind the booking, there is a story. Behind the platform, there is a promise. And behind that promise, there is EaseMyTrip. EaseMyTrip is a robust ecosystem that spans flights, hotels, holidays, buses, rail, charters, and even newer frontiers like spiritual tourism, battlefield tourism, and electric mobility. With continued focus on innovation, strategic expansion, and sustainable practices, the company is well-positioned for its next phase of growth--both in India and globally. Yet, amid all this progress, one thing remains unchanged: the company's core values. Integrity, customer-centricity, and a deep sense of purpose continue to guide every decision. As EaseMyTrip moves forward, it does so with the same passion and authenticity that defined its early days. Because while the scale may have changed, the soul of the company remains rooted in something timeless--doing good business, the right way. (ANI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday laid the foundation stone for a 1600 MW coal-based thermal power plant at Salboni in the Paschim Medinipur district. The project will be developed by JSW Energy, a part of the Jindal Group. The power plant will comprise two units of 800 MW each and is expected to supply electricity to 23 districts across the state. Speaking at the foundation ceremony, Chief Minister Banerjee described the project as a landmark initiative that will supply power to 23 districts. "The JSWS 1600 MW unit, a critical coal-based thermal power plant foundation, was laid today, a landmark project in West Bengal. Here, 2 mega units of 800 each will be set up, and once it's done, 23 districts will be covered by this power plant. This type of project has never happened before in eastern India. It's a special type of eco-friendly project, Jindal ji said that there will be no pollution," CM Banerjee said. Chief Minister Banerjee said that the environment-friendly project will employ 15,000 people. "It's environment-friendly. In this project, around 15,000 people will get work, including construction and other jobs. They (JSW) got the opportunity through competitive bidding, and we have given them a letter of intent," she said. She pointed out that her government has spent Rs 76,000 crore to provide 24x7 electricity. "Earlier, out of 24 hours, 12 hours there was a power shortage, but now, 24x7 we supply the power. We have spent Rs 76,000 crore to provide 24x7 electricity. Around 3.5 lakh km of new electric lines have been laid, and more than 750 substations have been built. In the past 14 years, we have invested Rs 3700 crore in Paschim Medinipur alone. Because we want our new generation doesnot face any crisis or problem, for them we have to develop so that they get hope and scope for the future," CM Banerjee said. CM Banerjee said, "Jhargram is also a very beautiful district. Earlier, people used to go there for the recovery of their health. A few days ago, we inaugurated a skywalk there. We have also developed a Kali temple there. In Digha, we will inaugurate a temple similar to the Puri temple on 30th April." (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that efforts are being made to examine the possibilities and bring the Rohith Vemula Act. In a post on X, CM Siddaramaiah emphasized that the legal advisors have been instructed to prepare a draft of the Rohith Vemula Act. "I have also written a letter to the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, regarding this. Efforts are being made to examine the possibilities and bring the Act," he said. "The action taken by the students writing the CET exam on January 1 is illegal. Action should be taken only after considering the possibility of irregularities in the exam, and not unnecessarily imposing rules that go against the religious beliefs of others. We will not tolerate such things. Disciplinary action will be taken against the guilty officials," CM Siddaramaiah said. Earlier, on the request of Rahul Gandhi, it was proposed that the Rohith Vemula Act would be enacted in Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the state government remains resolute in its commitment to enacting the Act in the state and will introduce the legislation at the earliest opportunity. "I thank Rahul Gandhi for his heartfelt letter and unwavering commitment to social justice. Our Government stands firm in its resolve to enact the Rohith Vemula Act in Karnataka, ensuring that 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," the Karnataka CM posted on X. "This will be a step towards realising Dr BR Ambedkar's vision of an equal, compassionate India," he added. Rohith Vemula died by suicide in January 2016, allegedly upset over disciplinary actions taken against him by Hyderabad Central University, where he was pursuing a PhD. Vemula, a PhD scholar at the Hyderabad Central University, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a hostel room on January 17, 2016. He was allegedly upset over disciplinary actions taken against him by the university. (ANI) Press Release April 21, 2025 Republic of the Philippine SENATE Pasay City Public Relations and Information Bureau (PRIB) STATEMENT Ambassador Markus V. Lacanilao, Special Envoy on Transnational Crime, is now in the custody of the Senate of the Philippines, pursuant to an Order issued by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero today, April 21, 2025. A copy of the Order was sent to the Office of the Special Envoy for Transnational Crime at 3 o'clock in the afternoon today, after which, his legal counsel immediately proceeded to the Office of the Senate Secretary to confirm the said Order. Ambassador Lacanilao voluntarily presented himself before the Senate to personally receive and comply with the Order. Ambassador Lacanilao went through standard procedure and was checked by the Medical and Dental Bureau. He shall remain in the custody of the Senate for a period not exceeding two (2) days. On April 10, 2025, Ambassador Lacanilao was cited in contempt by the Committee on Foreign Relations on the ground that he testified falsely or evasively. Pursuant to the requirements of due process, the Senate President issued a Show Cause Order directing Ambassador Lacanilao to explain why he should not be ordered arrested and detained. Ambassador Lacanilao submitted a Reply to the Show Cause Order on April 15, 2025. After careful evaluation, the Senate President ordered Ambassador Lacanilao placed under Senate custody, after having failed to satisfactorily explain, through a clear statement of facts, why his answers during the hearing were not evasive. Ambassador Lacanilao was likewise admonished to appear in future hearings and to provide truthful answers to all questions posed during such proceedings. Attached is a copy of the Order. Atty. Arnel Jose S. Banas Senate Spokesperson 21 April 2025 ****** Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday launched the "Mukhya Sevak Samvad" scheme, aimed at communicating with the beneficiaries of government schemes to assess the status of their ground implementation. The objective of this initiative is to directly engage with the beneficiaries of government schemes to understand their experiences and assess the actual status of the ground-level implementation of these schemes. The 'Gaon Se Global Tak: Home Stay Samvad' program was also organized on Monday, with home stay operators from remote villages of the state participating. They shared their experiences, challenges, and suggestions directly with the Chief Minister. Chief Minister Dhami engaged in discussions with the home stay operators and assured them that their suggestions would form the foundation of future policy development. The home stay operators present at the event praised this visionary scheme of the government. They mentioned that the home stay scheme has not only created employment opportunities, especially in mountainous and border areas, but has also shown local communities the way to lead a dignified life. This scheme has now become a cornerstone of social and economic change in rural areas of Uttarakhand. The operators attributed this change to the Chief Minister's strong policies, activism, and dedication toward rural development. Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended warm wishes to civil service officers discharging their duties in the state and providing public services, on the occasion of Civil Services Day. The Chief Minister stated that the dream of a 'developed' India and a 'developed' Uttarakhand is becoming a reality with the active participation and committed efforts of the civil service officers. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Animal Husbandry Department has entered into a direct contract with local livestock farmers through the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). In the first five months, 253 farmers from four border districts have generated business worth Rs 2.6 crore with the ITBP. (ANI) Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Monday expressed condolences on the demise of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88, calling him a deep believer and a traditionalist with a difference. In a post on X, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar paid tribute to Pope Francis, describing him as a pro-reform spiritual leader and a passionate advocate of interfaith dialogue. He also highlighted Pope's social and environmental concerns. "Pope Francis was a deep believer and a traditionalist with a difference! He was pro-reform and a passionate advocate of interfaith dialogue. His concern for the environment and efforts against human trafficking are noteworthy. His call for greater understanding will continue to inspire his followers," he wrote. Ravishankar recounted Pope Francis' message to the Art of Living at the World Culture Festival held in Delhi and Washington, D.C. "He had also sent his emissary with a warm message for the Art of Living at the World Culture Festival held in Delhi and Washington, D.C." Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, the Vatican announced. He had a day ago celebrated Easter and given his customary Easter address in the Vatican square. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained a priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he was elected as the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013. He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. After a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale, the process of choosing the next pope begins. The next pope will be chosen by a College of Cardinals, the Catholic church's most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, in Rome in the next few days for the conclave. As of April 19, there are 252 cardinals from over 70 countries, of whom 135 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Pope Francis, stating that the Pontiff's "affection for the people of India will always be cherished." "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi said on X. "I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace," the Prime Minister said. (ANI) The passing of Pope Francis, a beloved and inspiring spiritual leader, not only of the Catholic Church, but for all Christians, is indeed a sorrowful event Metropolitan Baselios Marthoma Mathews III who is the head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church or the Indian Orthodox Church said on Monday. "We share in the grief of the Catholic Church, which has lost a great shepherd," he said. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III shared memories of his meeting with the Pope in 2023. "The first thing I remember in this context is my meeting with the Pope in 2023. He called me 'beloved, long-awaited brother.' It was a warm experience of love and affection, like being at home. On that day, the Pope, while speaking of the unity of the Church that began with the Second Vatican Council, mentioned the meeting between Baselios Augen I and Saint Paul VI, and the meeting between Marthoma Mathews I and Saint John Paul II. The words of the Pope on that occasion still resonate in my mind: 'The faith of Saint Thomas was inseparable from the experience of the wounds of the body of Christ. The divisions that have occurred among us Christians throughout history are painful wounds inflicted on the body of Christ, which is the Church.'" The head of the Indian Orthodox Church further said that among the many things that have made the venerable Pope immortal in his memory are the many missions he carried out for Christian unity. "The Pope was always a messenger of such unity. He always spoke in praise of the unity of Christian brothers and sisters," the prelate said in his message that was posted on his Facebook page. The Metropolitan in his statement said he recalled the Fifth Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Churches Meeting held in February this year where in his welcome address, the Pope spoke mainly about the importance of unity. Along with those from Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, and Eritrean churches, young priests and monks from the Malankara Church participated in the meeting. "The Malankara Orthodox Church remembers the Pope's address with pride. He specifically mentioned similar study visits held in the Armenian Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church. He also expressed gratitude for such various meetings of an exchange nature. The Pope's words were in homage to the unity that brings together the dialogues of mercy and the dialogues of truth," he said. "The Pope's journey as the head of the Catholic Church was to create springs of humanity that Christ taught through his life. Therefore, the Pope, a philanthropist, has no death in his mind. His stance on the modern slave of human trafficking is just one example of his thoughts for others. The Pope did not see human trafficking as a sign of mere profiteering. He sought a way out by evaluating it as a consequence of global phenomena ranging from war and famine to climate change. The Pope's call was for worldwide preventive actions and responses against human trafficking," he added. The Catholicos pointed out that even the letter signed by Pope Francis just before his hospitalisation bore the same signature of compassion. In that message, the Pope extended his support to the American Catholic Church's efforts to defend the rights of refugees and migrants. "At a time when Church leaders in the United States were standing up against deportation efforts targeting asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants, Pope Francis, through his words and witness, stood beside them, emerging as a prophet of universal human dignity." "One of the glorious leaders in the ranks of the Christian churches has faded with the Pope's departure. But the light of his visions will remain throughout the world." the head of the Indian Orthodox Church said. Mar Demetrios, President, Department of Ecumenical Relations, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church said, "The Church sincerely expresses its profound grief at the passing away of His Holiness." "Pope Francis' life was characterised by humility and a dedication for pastoral care that was the hallmark of His Holiness' ministry. His embracing of all Christians was a tribute to His ecumenism, opening doors for dialogue and engagement with all Churches and denominations." "The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church will deeply experience a void for Pope Francis was a specially close friend and a person who was close to His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III," Mar Demetrios said. Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta after a prolonged illness. Earlier on Sunday, the Pope delivered his Easter message from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to thousands of people gathered in Vatican Square. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church was recently discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he spent five weeks receiving treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia. On Easter Sunday, he was able to offer the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to the city of Rome and to the world. Only the pope can offer this blessing, which includes the offer of an indulgence, a remission for the effects of sins. He dedicated the Easter Urbi et Orbi message to calling for peace worldwide, global disarmament, and the release of prisoners. (ANI) Speaking during the event, Chief Minister Yogi said that his government has always thought about the development of the 54 villages of the Vantangiya community since it came to power in 2017. "In 2017, after our government was formed, we thought about the 54 villages of the Vantangiya community, recognised them and also provided all facilities to them, including voting rights. Earlier, they were exploited by police", CM Yogi said. Earlier on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspected the venue of a public meeting ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kanpur. He also held a meeting with public representatives and officials at Chandrashekhar Agriculture University ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister took a metro ride from Nayaganj metro station to Rawatpur metro station in Kanpur. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also visited Gorakhpur to inspect the Herbert Bandha four-lane Road project. He emphasised that the new road will ease transportation and reduce traffic congestion. Additionally, CM Adityanath approved development projects worth over Rs 700 crores to further improve the district's infrastructure.CM Adityanath also highlighted the importance of widening and strengthening roads in Gorakhpur district, along with the construction of new four-lane roads and an overbridge. In a post on X, CM Adityanath wrote, "Today I participated in the programme organised for the on-site inspection of the widening and strengthening of roads in Gorakhpur district, new construction of a 4-lane road, and construction of an overbridge." "Giving further impetus to the prosperity journey of Gorakhpur, development works worth more than Rs 700 crores have been approved for the public. Hearty congratulations to the people of the district," the post added on X. (ANI) The Karkardooma Court on Monday remanded the accused, Sahil, to two days of police custody, whereas another accused, Zikra Khan, has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody following police interrogation. They have been arrested in a case linked to the murder of Kunal in the Seelampur area. Delhi police sought a five-day custody of Sahil, who was produced before the court after arrest. The investigation officer submitted that a five-day custody is required to know the person who harboured him. He is the person who was seen in the CCTV footage stabbing the deceased Kunal. The weapon used in the crime has to be recovered, police officials said. The counsel for the accused submitted that he had been in police custody for the last two days since his arrest and has also been interrogated for two days. During the hearing, advocate Abdul Gaffar, alongwith Danish Khan, appeared for Zikra. He prayed the court to issue a direction to the police to preserve the CCTV footage from the camera installed at Zikra's landlord's House. Secondly, a direction to preserve the footage of an interview of the Joint Commissioner of police taken by a news channel in which he said that no role of Zikra has been found in the crime, Advocate Abdul Gaffar submitted. The court allowed the application and directed police to preserve the CCTV footage. The court has also directed the preservation of an interview with a senior police officer in this case. Karkardooma Court on April 19 remanded Zikra in two-day police custody. She was produced before the court after expiry of her police remand. Police had told the court that she is a conspirator in the offence. Police have recorded statements from some of the witnesses to this effect. (ANI) The Delhi Patiala House Court has issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in response to an application filed by Tahawwur Rana, seeking permission to communicate with his family. The court will hear arguments on the matter on April 23. Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian accused of terrorism, is a former military doctor with a history of alleged involvement in terror-related activities. He was recently extradited from the United States to India. Recently, while granting Rana's remand to the NIA, the court acknowledged evidence suggesting a wide-ranging terror conspiracy spanning multiple cities, with potential targets extending beyond India's borders. Emphasising the gravity of the allegations, the court underscored their direct implications for national security and stressed the necessity of confronting the accused with witnesses, forensic evidence, and seized documents, particularly those tied to reconnaissance operations. Recognising the seriousness of the matter, the court authorised an 18-day police custody remand, mandating strict adherence to legal protocols, including medical evaluations every 48 hours. Given Rana's reported health concerns and the sovereign assurances provided during extradition proceedings, the court directed that he receive appropriate medical care in line with established guidelines. Rana faces multiple charges under the IPC and UAPA, including conspiracy, terrorism, forgery, and waging war. The court noted that under extradition laws, he can only be prosecuted for offences sanctioned in the extradition agreement. Furthermore, as Sections 16 and 18 of the UAPA apply, extended police custody beyond standard CrPC limitations may be permitted due to the terrorism-related nature of the charges. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday said that it is being accused of "interfering with executive and legislative functions" while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the Centre to take appropriate steps to prohibit the streaming of obscene content on Over The Top (OTT) platforms. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih said that the issue raised in the petition is a policy matter, and it is in the policy domain of the Central government. It's for the Union of India to frame regulations in this regard, said the bench to the counsel appearing for the petitioner who filed the plea. "... We are accused that we are interfering with the executive and legislative functions," said Justice Gavai, while referring that the issue is in the domain of the government. The remarks of bench came in wake of recent comments made by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey who accused the court of judicial overreach. As advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for petitioner Uday Mahurkar and others, urged the apex court to hear the matter, the bench asked him to serve a copy of the petition on the counsel of the Central government. The bench then posted the matter for hearing next week. The PIL filed against Netflix, Amazon, Alt Balaji and others assailing the distribution of obscene material through the OTT streaming platforms. It sought direction of constitution of an authority/committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge and consisting of eminent experts in the field to oversee and certify for the publishing, streaming of movies/shows/web series on OTT Platforms and social media's on the lines of the CBFC until the appropriate legislature enacts a law for regulating such streaming. The petition sought direction to the Centre "to take appropriate steps to prohibit the streaming of sexually explicit, pornographic, paedophilic, incestuous and other content of similar nature including nudity, X-rated scenes, etc. on OTT Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Ullu, ALTT, etc. and social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Meta (formerly Facebook), Instagram, YouTube, etc." If left unchecked, this unregulated spread of obscene material could have severe consequences on societal values, mental health and public safety, said the PIL. The petitioners said they are compelled to raise this matter due to the rampant availability of pornographic, obscene, and sexually deviant content across digital platforms. "The unchecked circulation of such material, including child pornography and softcore adult content, has contributed to a rising trend of crimes against women and children while negatively shaping the psychological development of young minds," it said. OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Ullu, ALTT (formerly, ALT Balaji), etc. continue to stream highly explicit content, some of which violates child rights and safety due to such sexually deviant material, the petition stated. The petition further sought direction to the Centre to stop access to the social media- X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc., as well as OTT platforms until they formulate a mechanism to ensure that all pornographic content is made inaccessible, especially to children and minors in India. Lay down guidelines by constituting a National Content Control Authority to prohibit sexually perverted content on OTT Platforms and various social media platforms, it also asked. (ANI) Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Monday hit out at Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the US, accusing him of undermining democratic institutions and misleading the public. Speaking to ANI, Athawale alleged that Rahul Gandhi raises doubts about the electoral process only when his party performs poorly at the polls. "Here elections are conducted through EVM machines, people have the right to bring to power whoever they want. EVM machines were introduced during the tenure of the Congress Party. When they (Congress) got good seats in the Lok Sabha elections, we did not raise questions on EVM, but when we get more seats, then they (Congress) do politics by bringing EVM to the fore and blaming the Election Commission. Rahul Gandhi is working to create a threat to democracy, and whenever he goes abroad, he makes statements against India, which is not right," the Union Minister said. Rahul Gandhi had addressed the Indian diaspora in Boston, United States, where he alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised", stating that there was something fundamentally wrong with the system. Citing the example of the Maharashtra elections, the senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible..." he claimed, addressing the meeting. "It's very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, there is something very wrong with the system," he added. The remarks of the Lok Sabha LoP ignited criticism from the BJP, which alleged that Rahul Gandhi is insulting the institutions of the country. (ANI) Union Minister George Kurian on Monday expressed his heartfelt condolences on the demise of Pope Francis, describing him as a "holy person." Speaking to ANI, Kurian said that Pope Francis stood for peace and justice, and gave a message of peace to all human beings. "Pope Francis was a holy person. He stood for peace and justice. He wanted justice for refugees all over the world and peace in war-ridden countries. He gave a message of peace to all human beings," the Union Minister said. Expressing grief over the passing of Pope Francis, Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, "Today is a very sad day. I offer my heartfelt condolences. He was unwell. We were hoping he would come to India this year. This is a sad moment for all Indians." Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, the Vatican announced. He had celebrated Easter and delivered his customary Easter address in St. Peter's Square just a day earlier. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained a priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he was elected as the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013. He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. After a nine-day mourning period known as the Novemdiales, the process of choosing the next pope will begin. The next pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Catholic Church's most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, in Rome in the next few days during a conclave. As of April 19, there are 252 cardinals from over 70 countries, of whom 135 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Pope Francis, stating that the Pontiff's "affection for the people of India will always be cherished." "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself to realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi said on X. "I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace," the Prime Minister said. (ANI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday visited Governor CV Ananda Bose at the Command Hospital in Kolkata, where he is currently under observation after experiencing shoulder pain. Speaking to the media following her visit, the Chief Minister Banerjee said, "I went to meet the Governor. He is not well and has been hospitalised." Governor CV Ananda Bose was admitted to the Command Hospital in Kolkata after experiencing shoulder pain. Following a check-up, he was advised to rest and kept under observation for a day. According to a statement from Raj Bhavan Kolkata on X, the Governor experienced mild shoulder pain after a series of intensive field visits. He underwent a routine check-up and was advised rest and a day of observation by doctors. "After his hectic field visits, His Grace had mild shoulder pain. He visited the Command Hospital for a routine check-up. The pain has subsided, but the doctors have advised him to rest and want to keep him under routine observation for a day," the post read. Governor Bose has been actively engaged in field visits in recent days, particularly in Murshidabad, where he met with victims of recent violence. On April 11, violence erupted in the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district during a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The protest escalated, leading to the deaths of two people, injuries to several others, and significant property damage, forcing thousands to leave their homes in search of safety. The protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act also spread to other districts, including Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly, resulting in incidents of arson, stone-pelting, and road blockades. Following the violence, many families fled their homes, with some migrating to the Pakur district in Jharkhand, while others sought refuge in relief camps set up in Malda. In response to the violence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a public appeal on Saturday, urging citizens to maintain peace and unity. She accused the BJP and its affiliates, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of exploiting the incident to incite unrest for political gain. In an open letter, Chief Minister Banerjee claimed that certain groups were using the backdrop of this unfortunate incident to promote a divisive agenda. (ANI) Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88. In a post on X, Patnaik said that the Pope's Papacy was exemplified by compassion, humility and promotion of interfaith dialogue. "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Holiness #PopeFrancis. His Papacy was exemplified by compassion, humility and promotion of interfaith dialogue. May his soul rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with his millions of fans and followers," the leader of the opposition in the Odisha assembly said. https://x.com/Naveen_Odisha/status/1914276374896103870 Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also paid tribute to Pope Francis with a sand sculpture at Puri beach. The sculpture, created using 8 tonnes of sand and standing 8 feet tall, served as a tribute to what the artist called a "huge loss for the world." "Today was a huge loss for the world. Everyone is paying tribute to Pope Francis. As an artist, I have created this sculpture as an artist that has been created using 8 tonnes of sand and is 8 feet high," he said. Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, the Vatican announced. He had a day ago celebrated Easter and given his customary Easter address in the Vatican square. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained a priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he was elected as the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013. He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. After a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale, the process of choosing the next pope begins. The next pope will be chosen by a College of Cardinals, the Catholic church's most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, in Rome in the next few days for the conclave. As of April 19, there are 252 cardinals from over 70 countries, of whom 135 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Pope Francis, stating that the Pontiff's "affection for the people of India will always be cherished." "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi said on X. "I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-around development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace," the Prime Minister said. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday expressed serious concern over the issue of child trafficking in the country and said the situation is getting worse. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadeva, while hearing a case, directed the Delhi police to take all necessary steps to find out the kidnapped newborn babies. It said, "The situation seems to have gone from bad to worse." The bench asked the inspector, who was entrusted with the probe in a case over trafficking of several newborns in the Dwarka area and was present in the courtroom, about what steps had been taken to investigate the issue of gangs involved in abducting and selling newborns within and outside Delhi. The apex court gave four weeks to the police and asked it to find out the gang leader involved in child trafficking and the infants who were kidnapped and inform the court about the progress. "They (child trafficking gangs) are a big threat to society. Sale purchase (of kids) is absolutely no. You don't know where they end up. If it's a girl child, you know where she will end up. It's a very serious situation," said Justice Pardiwala. The apex court earlier took the issue of child trafficking suo motu following a news report pointing to the sale of newborn babies for lakhs. During the hearing, the bench asked the inspector what steps the police had taken so far to arrest the gang leader and to find the three missing kids. The inspector said all steps are being taken to apprehend the gang leader and find the missing infants. He said seven persons have been arrested and informed that parents are also in the trafficking of infants. "Unfortunately, the parents of the infants seem to have sold off their own children," the apex court said. "Teen bacche ko kanhi se bhi dhundh ke le aaiye (find the three missing kids). We are giving you some time. Within that time, you find the kids," Justice Pardiwala told the inspector. Asking police to catch the kingpin of the child trafficking racket operating in the national capital, the bench said, "If he is the gang leader. His interrogation will give you more information about his networks. You need to find out the newborns. Persons who sold kids and who purchased them all are accused." The bench told the inspector that it's a huge challenge to him and his team to find the infants and the gang leader but asked him to do it at any cost. While referring to Delhi gangs buying and selling newborns, the bench said, "Most dangerous, this is most dangerous." While granting four weeks to the inspector and asking him to apprise the steps taken in the meantime, the bench said, "We will keep monitoring (the issue). We will take it the last." The apex court took cognisance of the media report that where police had busted a gang involved in abducting and selling newborn babies in Delhi. The news report stated that the gang operated across state borders, mainly targeting remote villages and hospitals in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The newborns, some barely a few days old, were taken and kept in slum areas around Delhi before being sold to childless couples for anything between Rs 5 and Rs 10 lakh, it had said. On April 15, the apex court delivered a judgement and said that if any newborn infant is trafficked from any hospital, the immediate action against the hospital should be suspension of the license to run the hospital. It had also issued a set of guidelines for all the states to prevent child trafficking and offences arising out of it. With an aim to curb the trafficking of newborns, it had issued a slew of guidelines saying that any laxity in implementing the directions would be taken seriously and be treated as contempt of court. It had expressed serious concern over the bail granted to a group of accused in child trafficking cases by the Allahabad High Court and cancelled their bail. (ANI) Six people, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with a cyber fraud case involving Rs 2.5 crore, targeting the secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district, a police official said on Monday. According to the police, Ashram secretary Swami Supradiptanand received the first call from the cybercriminals on WhatsApp on March 17. The conversations continued for around 20 days, during which the accused made multiple transactions to different accounts. Based on the victim's complaint, the police registered a case, formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and began an investigation. "A cyber fraud was held with the secretary of the Ramakrishna Ashram in March and April by constantly intimidating him about enforcement agencies. An FIR was registered at the Crime Branch in connection with the same and an SIT was formed to probe the matter. After the preliminary probe, the SIT arrested six people, which include an assistant bank manager and a woman, who works as cashier in the same bank. These bank employees helped in opening fake accounts as well as received illegal benefits from all the transactions that took place. So far in the primary investigation, it has come to light that about 50 to 60 accounts have been opened in which money has been transferred through cheques in a fraudulent manner. They have been arrested in connection with one account related to our case," said Dharmvir Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP), Gwalior. The officer further added that the fraud appears to be part of a larger nexus, and a detailed investigation is underway. A substantial amount of money was reportedly transferred to around ten accounts spread across eight different states. Police have obtained the details of those accounts, and investigation teams will be sent to those states for further inquiry. "The accused were arrested from Nagda near Ujjain and they were being interrogated. The arrest is made in connection with a transaction of Rs 10 lakh in an account. But during the interrogation, the accused told the police about 50 such accounts which were opened for cyber fraud," he said. Further investigation is ongoing, and relevant enforcement agencies will be informed based on the evidence that emerges during the probe, the officer added. (ANI) Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday reserved its order after hearing arguments on a revision petition seeking an FIR against an Art Gallery for displaying alleged objectionable paintings made by M F Hussain. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sumit Dass reserved order after hearing the arguments for revisionist and respondent. The court has reserved order for judgement on May 5. This revision has been filed against a magistrate court order wherein the direction for registration of FIR was denied. Advocate Amita Sachdeva is the complainant in this matter. During earlier arguments, advocate Makarand D Adkar, counsel for the Complainant, argued that in the objectionable paintings, our god has been shown holding a nude woman. Our god has been insulted. He further argued that Husain had painted Bharat Mata in an objectionable manner. I want to say that our gods have been insulted. Please spare them. On the other hand, it was argued by the counsel for Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) that the exhibition was there for 30 days, and nobody objected to the complaint. Her concern can't be treated as a concern of society. The complainant Amita Sachdeva had moved the Sessions court against the order of the Magistrate court refusing registration of an FIR. On January 23, the Patiala House Court had declined to order the registration of an FIR in response to a petition claiming that two paintings by the late artist and Padma awardee M.F. Husain offended religious sentiments. The Magistrate court had stated that no further investigation was necessary in the matter. The Magistrate court, in its ruling, had noted that the complainant was already aware of all the facts and circumstances surrounding the case. Additionally, the CCTV footage from the Delhi Art Gallery and the disputed paintings had already been seized. It had further stated that, in its considered view, no additional investigation or evidence gathering was needed at this stage, as all pertinent evidence was already in the complainant's possession and on record. The court had further added that in the present case, all the facts and circumstances of the case are within the knowledge of the complainant. CCTV footage of Delhi Art Gallery, NVR and the paintings in question have already been seized. In the considered opinion of this court, no further investigation and collection of evidences is required on the part of investigating agency at this stage, as all the evidences are in the possession of complainant as well as on record, and if the same is required at later stage, then Section 225 BNSS can be resorted to. In the present facts and circumstances, the application u/s 175(3) of the Crpc. Stands dismissed, the court had ordered on January 23. Earlier, the Court had reserved its decision on whether an FIR should be registered against the Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) and its Owner and director over the display of controversial paintings by renowned artist M F Husain. The complaint stated that artwork, which depicted Hindu deities Hanuman and Ganesha holding nude female figures, sparked outrage after a formal complaint was filed by advocate Amita Sachdeva, who deemed the paintings "offensive." The controversy began when Complainant Amita Sachdeva, practising Advocate, visited the DAG in Connaught Place on December 4, 2024, and took photographs of the disputed pieces. Following this, she filed a complaint with the Parliament Street Police Station on December 9, 2024, after researching past FIRS lodged against Husain for similar works. However, during a subsequent visit on December 10, 2024, with the investigating officer, the paintings were mysteriously removed, and gallery officials claimed that they had never been on display. In response to Sachdeva's petition, Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Sahil Monga reviewed the Action Taken Report (ATR) from the police, which included CCTV footage and a list of artworks provided by the gallery. The court noted that the report confirmed that the disputed paintings were listed under Serial Nos. 6 and 10 in the gallery's inventory. Judge Monga then issued an order for the paintings to be seized, directing the investigating officer to file a report on the seizure by January 22, 2025. (ANI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah today and discussed the eradication of Naxalism, the overall development of the Bastar region, and measures to further strengthen the security and justice systems in the state. Many senior officials of the Union Home Ministry and the state government including Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma were present in the meeting. The Indian Judicial Code, Indian Civil Defence Code, and Indian Evidence Act were discussed during the meeting, along with a review of the implementation and current status of various new provisions related to the police, prisons, judiciary, prosecution, and forensic systems. Providing an update during the meeting, the Chief Minister said that both administrative and technical preparations have been completed for the effective implementation of the new criminal laws in Chhattisgarh. A total of 27 types of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines have been formulated and put into practice across the state. Additionally, around 37,385 police personnel have been trained under the new framework. Infrastructure across courts, police stations, and jails has been upgraded with e-evidence handling capabilities and video conferencing systems. So far, 53,981 FIRs have been registered under the new laws, with charge sheets (challans) filed in approximately 50% of the cases. In the meeting, special strategies were also discussed for a permanent solution to the Naxal problem. The Chief Minister informed that in the operations conducted in the state in recent months, many wanted Naxalites have been killed, arrested or surrendered. Efforts like Niyad Nelanar Yojana, Bastar Olympics, Women Security Centre, and the development of homestay and tourism infrastructure in tribal areas have had a significant impact in connecting the youth to the mainstream. The Chief Minister also informed that the state government is committed to making Chhattisgarh Naxal-free by the year 2026, and work is being done rapidly towards developing Bastar as a major tourist centre of India. The Chief Minister reaffirmed Chhattisgarh's commitment to fully adhering to the Central Government's guidelines, assuring that the state would take a leading role in the effective implementation of this nationwide legal reform initiative. Commending the efforts made by the Chhattisgarh Government so far, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the need for 100 percent implementation of the new criminal laws in the state at the earliest. He further highlighted the importance of coordination and efficiency in this process, stating that the objective of the new legal framework is to make the judicial system simpler, faster, and more people-oriented. Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh Amitabh Jain, Director General of Police Arun Dev Gautam, Additional Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Pingua, Inspector General of Police Sushil Dwivedi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary Rahul Bhagat, Principal Secretary Law Rajneesh Shrivastava, Secretary Home Neha Champawat and other officers also attended the meeting. (ANI) Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday reserved order on the bail plea of Dr Ishtiyaq of Ranchi in AQIS Jharkhand Training module case. He is currently in judicial custody following his arrest in September of last year. He is alleged to be the leader of the module. He has sought bail on the grounds that the charge sheet has been filed without the mandatory sanction for Prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Dr. Hardeep Kaur reserved order after hearing arguements by the counsel for the accused and the Delhi Police. The order is to be pronounced on April 24 by the court. On February 17, 2025, Delhi police filed a charge sheet against 8 accused persons, including Dr. Ishtiyaq. The same is pending for Cognisance as the Prosecution sanction under UAPA is awaited. The Delhi police filed this charge sheet under sections of the anti-terror law, the UAPA, without obtaining prior sanction. Advocates Abu Bakr Sabbaq and Faiz Ahmed Ansari argued for the accused. Delhi police opposed the bail plea. It was stated by the counsel for accused that Investigating Agency failed to get Sanction for prosecution under section 45 of UAPA, while it is mandatory under section 45(2) of UAPA for the Sanction for prosecution under UAPA that it "shall be given within such time as may be prescribed. It was also submitted that the Court cannot take cognisance of the offence in this case under section 45 of UAPA as it is mentioned that "No court shall take cognisance of any offence without the previous sanction of the Central/State Government. The plea has stated that a total period of 14 days is prescribed in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (Recommendation and Sanction of Prosecution) Rules, 2008. It is contended that the investigation is completed and a chargesheet has been filed before this Hon'ble Court, and further judicial custody is not needed in this case. Thus, the applicant is entitled for Regular bail. Dr. Ishtiyaq and the other accused persons were arrested on August 22, 2024. In this case, the accused includes Dr. Ishtiyaq of Ranchi. Delhi Police have charge sheeted Anamul Ansari, Shabaz Ansari, Altaf Ansari, Mohd. Rizwan, Motiur Rehaman, Mufti Rehmatullah, Faizan Ahmed, Dr Ishtiyaq Ahmed, Rizwan. Three accused, namely Arshad, Umar Farooq, and Hasan Ansari, have not been chargesheeted by Delhi Police. One accused, Shahbaz Ansari, was arrested subsequently, and an investigation related to him is going on, police said. On December 12, 2024, the Delhi High court had granted Delhi police 90 days' extension to complete the investigation in AQIS Jharkhand Training Module case. Earlier, the trial court had refused to extend the period of investigation. Delhi police had challenged the order before the high court. The module allegedly was being led by one Dr. Ishtiyaq of Ranchi and was aspiring to declare Khilafat and execute serious terrorist activities within the country, the police said. It is alleged that members of the module have received indoctrination and weapons training at various locations. Police had recovered arms, ammunition, literature, etc., from several locations. Police recovered one AK-47 rifle, one .38 bore revolver, 6 live cartridges of .38 bore, 30 live cartridges of .32 bore, 30 live cartridges of AK-47, One Dummy Insas, One Air rifle, One Iron Elbow pipe, One hand Grenade, One Key remote control mechanism, Some wires, One AA size 1.5-volt battery, One table watch, Four ground sheets, One target, One camping Tent, Some biscuits, one chips packet and one water bottle. (ANI) Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff in history, who won hearts worldwide with his humility, deep compassion for the poor, and strong advocacy for climate action, passed away on Monday at the age of 88. His death, at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, has sparked an outpouring of condolences from political leaders, Church authorities, and prominent figures across the globe. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church was recently discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he spent five weeks receiving treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. There will now be a nine-day period of official mourning, after which the Cardinals will go into conclave to elect the new Vicar of Christ. After the mourning period, the Cardinals will be called into Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ. Earlier on Sunday, the Pope delivered his Easter message from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to thousands of people gathered in Vatican Square. Pope Francis dedicated his Easter Urbi et Orbi message to calling for peace worldwide, global disarmament, and the release of prisoners. Pope Francis was the first Pontiff from the Jesuit Order and the first from outside Europe since the 8th century. Among the 135 cardinals currently eligible to vote in the Papal conclave, four are from India. These include Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Cardinal Anthony Poola, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad. US President Donald Trump offered condolences on the passing away of Pope Francis. In a post on Truth Social, the US President said, "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" French President Emmanuel Macron mourned the death of Pope Francis. In a post on X, he wrote, "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. May it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him. My wife and I send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving world." Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Pope Francis, stating that the Pontiff's "affection for the people of India will always be cherished." "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi said on X. "I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace," the Prime Minister added. US Vice President JD Vance, who was the last foreign leader to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on Sunday, expressed his condolences on the Pope's passing, saying, "my heart goes out..." In a post on X, Vance wrote, "I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. During their meeting on Sunday, Vance and Pope Francis exchanged Easter greetings, although they reportedly had a dispute over the Trump administration's migrant deportation plans. The White House also condoled Pope's demise and shared a post on X, "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis." (ANI) After Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Election Commission in Boston, US, sparked controversy, Congress defended the Rae Bareli MP's remarks while the BJP said that that he is targeting the institutions estabilished under the Constitution. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stated that Rahul Gandhi concerns over the inclusion of "fake voters" in voter list are genuine. "Rahul Gandhi has alleged that many fake voters were made to participate in Maharashtra elections by the ruling party. Rahul Gandhi clearly stated the figures, but his complaints have not been taken into consideration by the Election Commission. His complaints are valid and the ruling party should answer," Chowdhury said. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, "In Haryana, many votes increased between the Assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections. There is only one way- to hold elections by ballot." Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray also came out in support of the Congress MP, terming his statement as "100 per cent correct." "His statement is 100% correct because the whole world knows that the Election Commission is administered from the BJP office," Thackeray claimed. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also supported the remarks made by the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi during his address to the Indian diaspora in Boston and stated that he has "given facts in his speech." The Congress leader also raised questions over the functioning of the Election Commission. Tiwari told ANI, "Why does the BJP not improve itself or the Election Commission? ... Rahul Gandhi has given facts in what he said during his study speech, but are these facts not known in America? ... How will democracy survive until the Election Commission of this country is impartial, independent or free from any pressure? ..." Congress MP Imran Masood said, "How does national or international soil matter when what he says anywhere is heard in the world? Talk about the question he is raising." On the other side, BJP launched scathing attacks on Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in US. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused him of tarnishing India's democratic image on international platforms. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said it was "very sad" that Gandhi spreads "lies" about India's constitutional institutions while overseas, claiming his actions reflect the frustration of repeated electoral defeats. "It is very sad that Rahul Gandhi goes abroad and spreads lies about the institutions created by the constitution of this country and tries to defame it. He tries to raise questions about democracy. I feel that he is doing such acts because of the consequences that have happened to him after losing elections repeatedly. The way Rahul Gandhi is behaving has raised a question mark on his character. Instead of doing such things, if he goes among the people and gets the trust of the people back, then he will be able to win the elections. He cannot win elections by defaming anyone," CM Fadnavis said. BJP National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Monday took a dig at Rahul Gandhi and said that his aim was to humiliate Indian organisations and institutions on foreign soil. "Rahul Gandhi's identity is to humiliate Indian organisations and institutions on foreign soil. He goes abroad and makes comments on India's Constitution, judiciary, and questions the Election Commission of India (ECI). This shows how people, while going against PM Modi, have started going against the country," Shehzad Poonawalla said. Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that it is a habit of Rahul Gandhi to defame India abroad and speak against the judiciary, constitution, parliament. "This shows their love for the nation. They don't have trust in the judiciary, the Election Commission of India," Harichandan said. Calling the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Election Commission in US as "unfortunate", Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the frustration of continuous defeat is clearly visible on the latter's face. In a post on X, Pradhan said, "Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has once again questioned the credibility of the Election Commission from a foreign land. It is very unfortunate that whenever Rahul Gandhi is abroad, he does not miss sharing his hateful thoughts towards India and India's democratic systems." "In fact, the 'crown prince' of the 'royal' family, who has been in power for decades, is irritated by the recognition India's glorious democratic traditions are getting at the global level. This is the reason why he does not miss any opportunity to insult the country and its citizens," Pradhan said. He requested the Congress MP to not "hurt" India's democratic dignity. "Not only the country but the world also believes in our great democratic values and its credibility. But, the frustration of continuous defeats is clearly visible on Rahul Gandhi's face. I request Rahul Gandhi not to hurt India's democratic dignity on the basis of electoral victory or defeat," Dharmendra Pradhan said. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said that Rahul Gandhi is not worth to be the Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha. "Rahul Gandhi repeatedly insults the country, he will do a drama by holding the Constitution book in his hand, but by questioning the constitutional institution, he will tear it to pieces. Shame on such a double-faced leader of the opposition. Those who insult their country, question the constitutional institution, who do not believe in the Constitution, are not worthy of that post (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha)," Sinha said. Haryana Minister Anil Vij claimed that the Congress MP is running a campaign to "malign" the image of India abroad. "Does he even consider Hindustan as Bharat Mata or not?" Vij said. While addressing the Indian diaspora in Boston, United States, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission (EC) in India was "compromised," stating that there was something fundamentally wrong with the system. Citing the example of the Maharashtra elections, the Senior Congress leader stated that there was an addition of 65 lakh voters to the voter list in two hours, which was impossible. "More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact... the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and in two hours around 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible..." he claimed, addressing the meeting. (ANI) According to the Delhi Police, the initial probe suggests that the victim and the accused are known to each other. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team reached the spot and is investigating the matter. "A boy, namely Krishna, aged about 18 years, was stabbed in Delhi's Yamuna Vihar area under PS Bhajanpura limits. critically injured and admitted to the Hospital. The initial probe reveals that the accused are known to each other. A team of FSL reached the spot and is investigating the matter", Delhi Police said in their statement. This incident comes on the heels of another stabbing case in Seelampur, where a 17-year-old boy was killed on April 17. The Delhi Police have made significant progress in the case, arresting nine individuals, including women and minors. According to Delhi Police, the main accused, 'Lady Don' Zikra, along with Sahil (18), Zahida (42), Nafish (32), Sohaib (35), Aneesh (19), Vikas (29)and two minors aged about 17 and 15 years, have been taken into custody. (ANI) Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Chowna Mein at the international conclave on Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of North- East India on Monday said that rooted in centuries old Buddhist culture and traditions, Namsai, a district in the extreme end of Arunachal Pradesh is a unique example of how an ancient way of life is still being practised here. Making a strong case for initiating a Buddhist tourism circuit in the state, he said "our culture is deeply rooted in socio-religious festivals, we recently concluded the Songpa Water Festival, a Buddhist festival celebrated by the Khamti community in Arunachal Pradesh, specifically in Namsai and other areas like Changlang and Itanagar, where visitors from overseas were invited to participate. It was a grand success." He added that there were several important ancient pilgrimage sites associated with Buddhism in the state too. In fact, his tribe, the Tai Khamtis were the first, according to him, to wage the first war of independence against the British in 1839. He mentioned that "We defeated the British in the Anglo-Khamti war, and as a result of this subsequently, the British burnt down our villages and scattered our tribe in several areas of North East." According to Mein, they have preserved the Pali language through their Khamti script. In fact, there are just two ancient scripts in the State: theirs (the Lic Tai) and the Bhoti. Even the Ramayan and Mahabharat are written in the Khamti script (Lic Tai). The Deputy Chief Minister also explained the enormous "good work" the Mahabodhi Society was undertaking in the region and he was hoping the region would get a skill development centre for empowerment of the youth of the region. He was speaking at the 2-day International Conclave organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and supported by the government of Arunachal Pradesh and the Mahabodhi Society of Namsai. There were over 300 participants including heads of Sanghas, Bhikkus and Bhikkhunis, eminent members of the society, political representatives, professors, academicians from the Northeast and other regions attending the event . Representatives from Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia participated in the seminar sessions, while the Consul General of Bhutan in Guwahati Mr Jigme Thinly Namgyal, addressed the congregation in the inaugural session. Emphasizing the "our dharma is our culture; which is our way of life," Mr Zingnu Namchoom, MLA Namsai explained that even in our weddings the Buddha's teachings are given on how to lead our married life in society. Buddhism is in our blood stream, he noted. The dhamma address was presented by Most Ven Aggadhamma Bhaddanta, Chief Abbot of the Pariyatti Sasana Buddha Vihara, Namsai. The Secretary General of IBC Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche welcomed the guest and the Director General of IBC Mr Abhijit Halder, explained the details of the event and presented the concluding remarks. The sessions will include discussions on the following topics: Historical relevance of Buddha Dhamma in the North-East of India, Art, Culture & Heritage of Buddhist Communities and a special Session on the Cultural Impact on Buddhists in the region. Special prayers and chanting will be held tomorrow at the Golden Pagoda for the victims of the recent earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. This will be followed by a session on Vipassana. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday claimed that the BJP government in the state has put an end to a massive corruption network related to recruitment in government jobs. Taking to social media post on X, the Chief Minister wrote, "Rs 15,000 crore brokerage shop closed. Yes, by bringing transparency to 1.5 lakh government jobs, the money that used to go into the pockets of bribe-takers and corrupt politicians was stopped." Claiming that people can 'pay' Rs 1 lakh for a government job, but his government in Assam works for the welfare of the people. The Chief Minister further emphasised the state government's commitment to good governance, stating that 1.5 lakh youths have got government jobs, without any bribes. In an accompanying video, CM Sarma addressed the issue, stating, "If I had taken Rs 1 lakh from each candidate, I could have earned Rs 15000 crores. Just imagine, will anyone not pay Rs 1 lakh to get a government job? Will people give Rs 1 lakh if I say I will give government jobs? They would have given it to me, but we work for the poor people of Assam. We don't need any money, and we will punish those who take money. Our youth should get a job without any bribes. 1.5 lakh youths have got government jobs in the last 4 years at absolutely zero cost." Earlier on April 18, Assam Chief Minister Sarma dedicated development projects worth more than Rs 100 crore at a function held near Rengbonghom H S School in Diphu in Karbi Anglong district. The development works, which encompass laying, widening, improving, and upgrading roads, bridges, and other projects, are expected to revolutionise connectivity in Karbi Anglong. Speaking at a programme organised to provide pre-school kits among the Anganwadi Centres at Diphu, Chief Minister Sarma said, "Today is an important day for Karbi Anglong. Along with other important projects, connectivity projects worth over Rs 100 crore have been dedicated to the people. All these projects will bring about unprecedented development in Karbi Anglong." He stated that the pre-school kit materials at Anganwadi Centres, as a whole, aim to create a joyful and enriching learning environment for young children, fostering their holistic development through play-based activities and diverse learning materials. (ANI) For the first time in Tripura's history, the Baba Garia Festival is being observed at the state level. The two-day event, organised through a collaboration between the state government, the Information & Cultural Affairs (ICA) Department, and the Travel Welfare Department, began in Agartala. This grand two-day celebration has commenced in the capital city, Agartala, with a vibrant inauguration led by Chief Minister Manik Saha. Though the festival was observed last year, this year's celebration marks a significant upgrade in scale, participation, and cultural prominence. Rooted deeply in tradition, the Baba Garia Festival has been observed for generations, dating back to the times of the kings. It holds immense cultural and spiritual importance, especially for the Kokborok-speaking tribal communities of the state. As per tradition, Baba Garia's idol is taken from house to house and village to village for seven days before the main rituals. On the seventh day, the main puja ceremonies take place, including the sacrifice of goats and chickens as part of customary offerings. The event is also a platform for showcasing Tripura's rich cultural heritage through traditional dances, music, and displays of indigenous crafts. Notably, this festival transcends religious and ethnic boundaries, with people from all communities, including Muslims, actively participating. Interestingly, the majority of attendees at today's event were Bengali-speaking individuals, further symbolizing Baba Garia's status as a unifying spiritual figure. On Monday, an unexpected downpour in the morning left the event grounds waterlogged, casting doubt on the feasibility of the celebrations. But, as many believe, Baba Garia's blessings cleared the skies, and the event proceeded smoothly, drawing large crowds and widespread appreciation. The festival's history is believed to span over 5,000 years, long before Tripura merged with India in 1949. Now, with official state recognition and expanded support, the celebration aims to preserve and promote the region's unique cultural legacy. Speaking at the event, organizers highlighted the deep historical ties between Rabindranath Tagore and the royal family of Tripura, underlining the state's long-standing commitment to art and tradition. This year's festival stands as a testament to unity in diversity and a renewed effort to showcase Tripura's rich tribal culture to the wider world. As the celebrations continue, the spirit of Baba Garia is believed to bless not only the state but the entire world with peace, prosperity, and good harvest. Speaking to ANI, Tripura Minister Shukla Charan Noatia said, "Today, the Baba Garia festival is being celebrated, and for the first time, it is being organised at the state level through a collaboration between the Government of Tripura, the ICA (Information & Cultural Affairs) Department, and the Travel Welfare Department. Although we celebrated it last year as well, it was not on the same scale as this year's event. This two-day celebration has commenced in the capital city of Tripura, Agartala, with an inauguration led by our Chief Minister." He further said, "The Baba Garia festival has been observed for many years, dating back to the time of the kings. It is celebrated primarily by those of us who speak the Kokborok language. Traditionally, seven days before the main event, Baba Garia is taken from house to house and village to village. On the seventh day--which is today--the main rituals are performed. As part of the puja, goats and chickens are sacrificed. The festival also showcases our traditional items and cultural expressions." "This is the most significant festival for the Kokborok-speaking community. After the new government came into power, the holiday was extended from one day to two. This initiative to promote the festival at the state level has been made possible through coordination with the ICA Department," he added. Manoj Debbarma, Joint Director of ICA, stated, "All of you may have heard or known that the history of Garia Puja dates back 5,000 years. Tripura was once a princely state, and it merged with India in 1949. Even before that, Garia Puja used to be celebrated, but now it is officially recognized and celebrated by the government." Highlighting the ways of celebrating this festival, he stated, "People from all communities, including Muslims, take part in this festival. The puja starts in the morning and continues throughout the day. As you've seen, no matter how many visitors come to witness the celebration, the majority are Bengalis, with fewer people from tribal communities. This clearly shows that Garia Baba is the father of all." "Today, our program includes various cultural performances like dance, music, and more. There was a 40-year-long relationship between Rabindranath Tagore and the kings of Tripura, which shows how rich the culture and tradition of this state are. That's why Garia Puja is celebrated in such a special way. When you see this festival, it might seem like a Bengali celebration--and that is our speciality. We must tell everyone that festivals in Tripura are meant for all people. It is our responsibility to preserve these beautiful traditions," he added. Explaining how this year's celebration took place, Debbarma stated, "This morning, due to rain, the field was waterlogged. No one expected that today's program could actually happen. But by the blessings of Baba Garia, the event turned out to be a complete success. Till now, there's been no sign of rain. Baba Garia doesn't come just like that. He brings rain from the heavens, purifies the soil with it, and then arrives. May Baba Garia bring welfare not just to us, but to the entire world." (ANI) United States Vice President JD Vance and his family concluded their three-day visit to Italy, where he held bilateral meetings and attended religious services during the Easter weekend. Vance arrived in Italy on Friday and held expanded bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. On Saturday, he met with Church officials, including Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The Vice President concluded his visit on Easter Sunday after a meeting with Pope Francis. Accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and their children, Vance attended a Good Friday service at St. Peter's Basilica, and celebrated Easter Sunday with a private mass at The Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside The Walls. US VP Vance has now departed from Rome Ciampino Airport for his first official visit to India, scheduled from April 21 to April 24. According to the White House Press Pool, Vance, who was visiting Italy with his family, boarded Air Force Two (AF2) on Sunday evening. The aircraft is expected to land at Air Force Station, Palam in New Delhi at approximately 9.30 am IST on Monday. He will be formally received at 10.00 am. A formal meeting between Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for 6.30 pm on Monday at the Prime Minister's official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. In a brief yet endearing moment before boarding AF2, Vance was seen gently lifting his sleeping daughter, Mirabel, from their car, while his sons, Ewan and Vivek, waved toy swords as they boarded with Second Lady Usha Vance. Following his meeting with PM Modi in Delhi, Vice President Vance will travel to Jaipur on Tuesday. On April 23, he is scheduled to visit Agra. His visit to India will conclude on Thursday, April 24, with his departure from the country at 6.40 a.m. Ahead of his arrival in India, hoardings welcoming JD Vance have been put up near Palam Airport and in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, had stated that India has a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership with the US, and when such a high-level visit takes place, all issues of importance are discussed. "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," Jaiswal said during a media briefing last Thursday. He added that India was confident that the visit would provide a further boost to India-US bilateral ties. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel] April 21 (ANI/TPS): The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reported that Israel Air Force (IAF) aircraft attacked earlier today in the Houla area in southern Lebanon and eliminated the terrorist who served as the head of engineering for the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the al-Adisa compound. In addition, IAF fighter jets recently attacked in the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon several launchers and military infrastructure where Hezbollah terrorists were operating. "These actions by the terrorist organization Hezbollah constitute a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens," said the IDF. (ANI/TPS) Sharjah [UAE], April 21 (ANI/WAM): As part of its strategic efforts to strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem in the emirate of Sharjah, Sharjah Cyber Security Centre, operating under Sharjah Digital Department (SDD), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Fortinet Inc., a US-based global leader in cybersecurity solutions and services. The agreement aims to reinforce cooperation in ICT security and enhance national capabilities in addressing cyber threats. The MoU seeks to foster cooperation between both parties across various ICT and cybersecurity domains, with a particular focus on strengthening national collaboration, advancing legislative and regulatory frameworks, and supporting judicial and law enforcement efforts in cyber deterrence, prevention, and response. It also encompasses the development of awareness and educational programmes, joint scientific and technological research, and business and economic exchange related to cybersecurity. Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will collaborate across a wide range of cybersecurity domains, including exchanging insights on advanced security solutions, joint organisation of technical workshops, training sessions, and cyber drills, and mutual participation in technical forums and educational initiatives. The partnership also includes access to Fortinet Inc.'s NSE training materials, advisory support for incident response, and joint efforts in gap assessments, enterprise networking, cloud security, and digital forensics. Both parties aim to enhance institutional capabilities and advance national digital resilience through skill-building, shared expertise, and strategic collaboration. Commenting on the signing of the MoU, Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director-General of SDD, affirmed that the partnership aligns with the department's strategic objectives and reflects its commitment to strengthening the emirate's digital readiness. He noted that building a comprehensive cybersecurity framework is essential to safeguarding the progress of digital transformation and supporting long-term, sustainable development. He stated, "Establishing a secure and resilient digital environment is one of the core objectives for which Sharjah Digital Department was founded; it is integral to our mission to lead and empower digital transformation across the emirate. Cybersecurity and digital trust are key pillars of this journey; we are committed to protecting Sharjah's critical digital assets and ensuring their integrity amid evolving global threats. Partnerships with leading international organisations like Fortinet Inc. are vital to enhancing cybersecurity resilience, fostering inclusive innovation, and advancing sustainable digital solutions that transform government services into seamless, efficient, and people-first experiences that improve quality of life." For his part, Abdelnasir Obaid BuKhatir, Director of the Sharjah Cyber Security Center, stated, "This partnership with Fortinet Inc. marks a strategic milestone in our ongoing efforts to build a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem in the Emirate of Sharjah and strengthen national digital capabilities capable of keeping pace with rapid technological advancements. Collaborating with leading global experts enables us to elevate performance, enhance preparedness, and ensure our government services' secure and forward-looking digital transformation." A spokesperson from Fortinet Inc. expressed their pride in formalising the agreement, noting the broad scope of collaboration it enables with Sharjah Cyber Security Center. They highlighted Fortinet Inc's global expertise in information security, affirming that this partnership is a key step toward developing a robust, sustainable cybersecurity ecosystem aligned with Sharjah's vision for digital transformation. They added that partnering with pioneering national entities such as Sharjah Cyber Security Center underscores Fortinet Inc.'s commitment to supporting a secure digital environment that fosters innovation and sustainable economic growth across the region. The MoU also reinforces key principles, including sovereign equality, mutual respect, and reciprocal cooperation, which contribute to advancing cybersecurity and promoting digital resilience across Sharjah and the wider United Arab Emirates. (ANI/WAM) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday (local time) proposed a 30-day pause on long-range drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, noting that no air strikes were conducted by the Russian military during the Easter ceasefire despite committing over 2,000 other violations. Accusing Russia of continuing its ground offensive despite declaring a ceasefire on Easter, Zelenskyy expressed optimism on a pause in air strikes and said that this format is "easiest to extend." "Since the beginning of the day, the Russian army has violated Putin's ceasefire more than two thousand times," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "However, there were no air raid alerts today. Hence, this is a format of ceasefire that has been achieved and that is the easiest to extend. Ukraine proposes to cease any strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a period of at least 30 days, with the possibility of extension," he added. Zelanskyy said that if Russia rejects this step, then its only intentions are to "destroy human lives and prolong the war." "If Russia does not agree to such a step, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things which destroy human lives and prolong the war," he said. Additionally, Zelenskyy listed out the alleged 2,000 instances of violence, noting that 1,355 cases of Russian shelling, 67 cases of assault and use of FPVs (first-person view). "There have already been 67 Russian assaults against our positions across various directions, with the highest number in the Pokrovsk direction. There were a total of 1,355 cases of Russian shelling, 713 of which involved heavy weaponry. The Russians also used FPVs 673 times," Zelenskyy said. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1914022645160399147 Earlier, both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) accused Ukrainian troops of hitting Russian positions with guns and mortars 444 times. The MFA wrote on X, "Russia's MoD: During the night of the #EasterCeasefire, the kiev regime launched 48 fixed-wing UAVs, including one over Crimea. Ukrainian troops hit Russian positions with guns and mortars 444 times, carried out 900 quadcopter-type drone strikes," the Russian MFA said in a post on X. Zelenskyy reiterated that Russian forces had in fact intensified their attacks on Easter Day, despite President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a 30-hour ceasefire in observance of Easter. This was the second ceasefire to be announced since the conflict began in 2022. The previous attempt, during Orthodox Christmas in January 2023, also failed after both sides were unable to agree on a proposal. (ANI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, with his delegation, visited the Gava Museum of Mines in Barcelona on Sunday, where he learned about ancient mining techniques and viewed relics from the Neolithic era. In a post on X, India in Barcelona wrote, "Delegation led by Hon'ble CM of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, visited Gava Museum of Mines, Barcelona--run by the Dept. of Culture, Catalonia." https://x.com/CGIBarcelona/status/1913986521025175800 "The team explored ancient mining techniques & relics of the Neolithic age. Visit offered insights into repurposing old mines for education and science," it added. Earlier, the Chief Minister and his delegation visited the iconic Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, where they were introduced to Antoni Gaudi's architectural vision and the cultural significance of the landmark. https://x.com/CGIBarcelona/status/1913932632540295197 In a post on X, India in Barcelona wrote, "Hon'ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, along with the delegation, visited the iconic Sagrada Familia in Barcelona today. The delegation also learned about Antoni Gaudi's visionary architecture and its deep cultural significance." Soren was welcomed upon his arrival by Acting Consul General in Barcelona, Aarsha NS. Earlier in the day, the delegation led by the CM had engagements with Indian diaspora entrepreneurs and Spanish dignitaries. https://x.com/CGIBarcelona/status/1913582590688215185 "Acting CG @Aarsha_NS welcomed Hon'ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Hemant Soren, to Barcelona. The delegation led by CM has engagements with Indian diaspora entrepreneurs, Spanish dignitaries, and key meetings with @firabarcelona & @FCBarcelona for future collaborations," India in Barcelona said on X. The Sagrada Familia is a one-of-a-kind temple, for its origins, foundation and purpose. Fruit of the work of genius architect Antoni Gaudi, the project was promoted by the people for the people. Five generations have now watched the Temple progress in Barcelona. Today, more than 140 years after the laying of the cornerstone, construction continues on the Basilica, according to the official site of the Sagrada Familia. Meanwhile, Soren's foreign visit has sparked criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Jharkhand BJP President and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi questioned the timing and objective of the overseas trip. He alleged that while the state struggles with rising incidents of daylight murders and a worsening electricity situation, the Chief Minister is embarking on an overseas visit with a large government delegation, accompanied by his wife, JMM MLA Kalpana Soren. (ANI) Thousands of Christians gathered at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for the centuries-old Holy Fire ceremony, as reported by Al Jazeera. According to tradition, worshippers held unlit candles as they packed into the 12th-century basilica, built on the site where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried. The ceremony began in near-total darkness, with the Greek patriarch entering the Holy Edicule and emerging with two lit candles. The flame was then passed from one candle to the next, filling the rotunda with a warm glow of light, Al Jazeera reported. The flame was later transferred to Orthodox communities in other countries on special flights. The ceremony, which dates back over 1,200 years, is believed by Eastern Orthodox Christians to be a miraculous event. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe the light miraculously appears inside the Holy Edicule, built on the traditional site of Jesus's tomb, while sceptics going back to the Middle Ages have dismissed it as a carnival trick for the masses. Either way, the ceremony, which goes back at least 1,200 years, is a sight to behold. It has also ignited safety concerns. According to Al Jazeera, a tragic incident occurred in 1834 during the Holy Fire ceremony, when a stampede in the crowded church resulted in the deaths of around 400 pilgrims, mostly due to suffocation or trampling. The ruler at the time narrowly escaped with his life. In recent years, Israeli authorities have limited the number of participants in the ceremony, citing safety concerns. However, church leaders have protested this move, accusing the authorities of disrupting the long-standing arrangements governing Jerusalem's holy sites, known as the status quo. On Saturday, there was a heavy military presence as thousands of worshippers passed through Israeli checkpoints to enter. Some worshippers lamented that the turnout lacked numbers this year because of Israel's 18-month war on Gaza. "The number of police is higher than the number of pilgrims," said Adeeb Joude, key holder for the Holy Sepulchre. Israel captured East Jerusalem, including the Old City with major sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, in the 1967 Middle East War, and annexed it in a move not recognised internationally. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. (ANI) United States President Donald Trump has expressed optimism that Russia and Ukraine could strike a peace agreement this week to end the ongoing war. Taking to his media platform Truth Social on Sunday (local time), Trump said that once the two nations reach an agreement, both would be able to "make a fortune" by doing business with the US. "HOPEFULLY RUSSIA AMD UKRAINE WILL MAKE A DEAL THIS WEEK. BOTH WILL THEN START TO DO BIG BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS THRIVING, AND MAKE A FORTUNE," Trump wrote. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114372126396548824 Meanwhile, CNN on Friday reported, citing an official familiar with the proposed framework, that the US is ready to recognise Russian control over Crimea as part of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The peace proposal includes an immediate ceasefire between the two countries. The framework was shared with the Ukrainian and European officials in Paris on Thursday. However, there are some pieces that still need to be filled out, and the US plans to work with Europe and Ukraine on this next week in London, the source said. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a military invasion -- a move widely condemned as illegal by the international community. Earlier, Donald Trump also signalled the US may "take a pass" on its efforts to broker a peace deal if either side makes negotiations too difficult, CNN reported. "If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, 'You're foolish, you're foolish. You're horrible people,' and we're just going to take a pass," Trump said. Despite the warning, Trump expressed cautious optimism about securing a deal, CNN reported. "I think we have a really good chance of getting it done. It's coming to a head right now," he added. (ANI) Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman has alleged that the Lakshmi Narayan temple in Surrey, British Columbia, was vandalised for the third time on Sunday night, with walls of the building defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti and reports of security equipment stolen from the site. Bordman, who visited the site, described what he saw and voiced concern over how the situation was handled. "I saw when I got there that the vandalism had already been covered up, there were still some broken glasses... there were videos taken in the morning saying Khalistan was behind it. You saw a lot of Khalistan graffiti... I spoke with some of the devotees and management. I don't quite understand why they decided to just remove graffiti before the Police came... they did claim that vandals also stole the security camera... several devotees were quite upset... That wasn't the only temple that was vandalised last night, there was also a Gurdwara in Vancouver which was vandalised by Khalistanis," Bordman said in a video posted on X. In a follow-up post, Bordman said, "I went to the Lakshmi Mandir in Surrey that was vandalised last night by Khalistanis. This is the third time it has been vandalised. I spoke to management and the devotees and they do not feel like the police or the political establishment cares at all." He claimed that two individuals posted graffiti on the temple walls and stole a security camera around 3 am. The temple management reportedly removed the graffiti before police could assess the scene, prompting concerns from locals about whether proper procedures were followed. The incident also drew a strong reaction from Canadian MP Chandra Arya, who urged Hindu and Sikh communities to take urgent action against what he described as rising Khalistani extremism. "The attacks on Hindu temples that began several years ago continue unabated today -- this latest graffiti on the Hindu temple is yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism," Arya wrote on X. Arya also referenced vandalism at the Sikh Gurudwara in Vancouver writing, "This Khalistani extremists have targeted Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street Gurdwara) in Vancouver with pro-Khalistan graffiti and intimidation tactics." "It is time for the Hindu-Canadians jointly with the vast majority of our Sikh-Canadian brothers and sisters to rise with urgency and demand immediate, decisive action from authorities at all levels of government. Silence is no longer an option," he added. Meanwhile, according to Canadian media reports, the Vancouver Police Department is currently investigating the vandalism of the Khalsa Diwan Society (KDS) gurdwara, commonly known as the Ross Street gurdwara. In a press release released by the Khalsa Diwan Society has condemned the act that took place on April 19 and described it as a deliberate attempt to spread fear and division within the community. It said that a few extremists are undermining the dreams and sacrifices of our elders, who worked tirelessly to build a thriving community in a country that celebrates diversity and freedom. (ANI) A Chinese cruise ship sailed within just two nautical miles (3.7km) of Taiwan's Hengchun Peninsula this week, prompting concern from observers and authorities about a possible "gray zone" tactic by Beijing, Taipei Times reported. The incident was reported by Taiwan ADIZ, a civilian Facebook group that monitors Chinese military activity near Taiwan, which posted footage showing the vessel clearly visible from the shoreline in Pingtung County. The ship was identified as the Gulangyu, a Bermuda-registered cruise vessel with a capacity of up to 1,800 passengers. Taiwan ADIZ noted that if fully occupied, the number of people on board would be roughly equivalent to a battalion-sized military unit. "If such events become routine, they could pose a serious threat to Taiwan's security," the group wrote, pointing to the potential for such vessels to be repurposed in conflict scenarios. Footage allegedly filmed by a passenger on board was later posted to Chinese social media, showing views of the Hengchun Peninsula overlaid with the message in simplified Chinese: "Taiwan is China," reported Taipei Times. Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling responded to the incident on Friday, saying the public should stay alert, calling it part of China's broader "gray zone" strategy--coercive actions that stop short of armed conflict. She added that the government has launched a cross-agency mechanism to monitor maritime activity and would enhance coordination with the Maritime and Port Bureau and national security agencies. Kuan said that after entering Taiwan's territorial waters around 2pm on Wednesday, the Gulangyu was tracked by the Coast Guard Administration and later exited toward the northeast without altering its speed or course. The incident was believed to be a "united front" effort by Beijing, she added. The government is developing a dedicated intelligence and tracking database for vessels operating in sensitive areas, including undersea cable zones, particularly those with Chinese capital or operating under flags of convenience, Taipei Times reported. The coast guard is charged with monitoring such ships, while the Maritime and Port Bureau enforces the Regulations on the Administration of Innocent Passage of Foreign Vessels. (ANI) One of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the island's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In a post on X, MND wrote, "7 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 7 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1914121916480410012 Taiwan on Sunday detected six Chinese naval vessels and four official ships operating around its territory up until 6 am (local time). Earlier on Saturday, the MND detected 14 Chinese aircraft, five Chinese naval vessels, and four official ships operating around its territory up until 6 am. On April 17, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted sharply to a joint statement released by China and Vietnam, which mentioned Taiwan as part of China and described it as "a serious distortion of the facts," Taiwan News reported. During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit on Tuesday, Vietnam backed China's claim that "Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory" and opposed "any separatist activity" seeking Taiwan Independence, Taiwan News reported, citing Viet Nam News. In response to the joint statement issued by China and Vietnam, the ministry said it "strongly condemns and firmly refutes the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian regime for continuing to spread rhetoric that internationally undermines Taiwan's sovereignty." It said that Taiwan's stance on defending national sovereignty remains firm and unchanged. Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its position that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent nation and is not subordinate to China. The ministry further said that the CCP has never ruled Taiwan. (ANI) Amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, US Representative Seth Moulton has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to bolstering Taiwan's defence capabilities against potential aggression from China, Taiwan News reported. In comments made during an interview with Taiwan News, Moulton stressed that the US is determined to help Taiwan deter a Chinese invasion and preserve peace in the region. "Neither Taiwanese nor Americans want to have a war with China," Moulton said. "Therefore, the US is going to do whatever we can to deter that and prevent it from happening, and where that means tighter security cooperation in the name of deterrence, in the name of peace, we're happy to do that." Moulton emphasised that Washington's support is rooted in the goal of ensuring stability and preventing conflict through increased defence collaboration. While making clear that he did not want to see conflict arise, Moulton praised Taiwan for "thinking much more creatively" about how to strengthen its defensive posture. Based on his visits to Taiwan in recent years, he said there had been a "dramatic improvement" in how the country has adopted an asymmetric defence strategy to resist China, as per reports by Taiwan News. He noted that the United States has been actively encouraging partners to prioritise asymmetric approaches, and that "Taiwan is fully embracing it now." Beyond defence, Moulton said that the US Congress is also aiming to deepen economic ties with Taiwan. "There's a lot of push behind the scenes for a free trade deal," he said, signalling bipartisan support for strengthening bilateral economic engagement. Addressing broader concerns, Moulton warned about the rise of isolationist tendencies in US foreign policy, calling it "not a good historical trend for the United States." He added that adversaries have exploited such isolation in the past. However, he remained optimistic, saying that "Democrats and Republicans are much more united behind the scenes," and even within the Trump administration, many senior officials oppose isolationism, Taiwan News reported. Moulton serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. He last visited Taiwan in February as part of a US congressional delegation. (ANI) Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng has announced that a new "long-term residency" category for applicants from Hong Kong and Macau would require an extended national security observation period, Taipei Times reported. The move, aimed at tightening oversight, reflects growing concerns over China's political influence and population manipulation in the region. Speaking on Sunday at the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association, Chiu explained that Taiwan is revising its policies for Hong Kong and Macau residents seeking to reside or settle in Taiwan. Under the updated system, those from the two regions will have the option to apply for long-term residency, a track modelled on the permanent residency system available to other foreign nationals. However, applications will now face stricter national security evaluations. Chiu emphasised that the revised policy stems from the changing political situation in Hong Kong. "China has deliberately manipulated the population structure in Hong Kong," he said, pointing to what he described as a campaign of "cleansing the population." As such, he said, Taiwan must raise the security threshold to ensure national stability. He added that the new long-term residency option is intended to provide "more choices" for Hongkongers, while giving Taiwanese "one more security guarantee." The policy announcement follows Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's 17-point national security strategy introduced on March 13, which included measures to counter Chinese influence and infiltration operations. One of those strategies was the creation of a long-term residency pathway specifically for Hong Kong and Macau residents, alongside efforts to better monitor cross-border movements, reported Taipei Times. Chiu stated that 'Hongkongers' coming to Taiwan for work could opt for a personal work visa and seek long-term residency without applying for full settlement. He clarified that the extended observation period is designed to ensure proper vetting and ongoing assessment of applicants in light of evolving threats. Highlighting the broader context of China's influence efforts, Chiu said the Chinese Communist Party's attempts to infiltrate and divide Taiwan are "omnipresent and pervasive." He said the MAC is actively enhancing legal safeguards and tightening security inspections to build a stronger democratic defence mechanism, Taipei Times reported. Chiu also warned about the safety risks of traveling to China, Hong Kong, and Macau. He cited over 80 cases of Taiwanese citizens being detained or restricted in their movements and urged travellers to register with the MAC before departure. (ANI) Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has strongly condemned Israel for its ongoing military campaign in Gaza and announced a nationwide protest strike across Pakistan on April 26, Dawn reported. Speaking at the party's Palestine Solidarity March held on the Islamabad Expressway on Sunday, Rehman called for a boycott of products that support Israel financially and urged supporters to prepare for a full shutdown from "Chitral to Karachi." "From Chitral to Karachi ... we will hold a full strike," Rehman said. "We will go from shop to shop and tell them to keep business activities suspended on April 26. We will wage a jihad (holy war) through boycotts, strikes, and social media [campaigns]." Addressing a large gathering, Rehman accused Israel of carrying out atrocities in Gaza and called for decisive action. He urged the Pakistani people to stand up for the Palestinian cause. "Regardless of whether you have a gun or political power, if you face Israel, you will be destroyed," he said. "Stand up and fight for the Palestinian cause. Stand up and condemn Israel. Stand up to America." He also criticised the United States, saying, "We are not your slaves, as the Prophet's [PBUH] servants do not recognise the US or Israel's slavery." Rehman demanded that the Government of Pakistan formally recognise Hamas and open an official office for the group. "We demand that a Hamas office be opened in Pakistan and that they be formally recognised," he said. "They are a legitimate power and registered movement, and an army according to the UN Charter. They are also a democratic force; they won elections in 2006. America did not accept the results ... they are an enemy of democracy, and now a genocide is taking place in Gaza before their eyes." According to the JI chief, the Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 51,000 Palestinians, with thousands more feared buried under rubble. He accused both the government and the opposition in Pakistan of failing to take a strong stand on the issue. "The opposition does nothing unless it furthers their own aims," he said. "They do not raise their voices for Palestine and do not condemn America. Whether it is the government or the opposition, they will continue to bow to America. Whatever they have will be erased." Rehman framed the issue as not only one of human rights but also of faith. "People tell us to speak about humanity, but our humanity is grounded in our religion," he said. "Gaza is a pile of rubble, children are being targeted, but the [Israeli] hostages are being protected by Hamas." He drew a contrast between the treatment of prisoners by Israel and Hamas. "Children have been imprisoned for 20 years, that is Israel," he said, while claiming that Hamas was "showing true humanity" and "acting following Islam." The JI initially announced a plan to march towards the US Embassy located within Islamabad's high-security Red Zone, but later reached an agreement with the Islamabad administration to shift the protest to the Expressway. JI Islamabad Information Secretary Amir Baloch said, "The JI has decided not to march towards the Red Zone and will march for Gaza on the Islamabad Expressway. We'll march near Zero Point and a stage will be set up on H8 Overhead Bridge, while our central leaders, including Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, will address the rally." According to a Dawn.com correspondent, protesters were allowed entry to the Expressway via Double Road and IJP Road. Containers placed for security were temporarily removed but remained on standby to be redeployed in case of any escalation. Islamabad Police had also issued an alert, noting enhanced security arrangements across the city due to the arrival of a foreign dignitary. "Due to the arrival of a foreign guest in Islamabad on 20 April 2025, from 7pm to 9pm, extraordinary security arrangements have been made at various times at Karal Chowk, Express Highway, Khanna Pul, Faizabad, Club Road, and Radio Pakistan Chowk," police wrote on X. The advisory warned of slow traffic and advised citizens to use alternate service roads along the Expressway and to depart early for destinations. Police urged travelers to avoid Zero Point, where the JI protest was taking place. Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the arrival of UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Islamabad for talks with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Discussions were expected to focus on trade, investment, energy cooperation, regional security, and people-to-people ties. The JI protest follows earlier demonstrations in Karachi, where thousands gathered last week in solidarity with Gaza. According to a JI press release, the Islamabad demonstration was attended by people from various professions, including lawyers, traders, teachers, doctors, and civil society representatives, Dawn reported. In light of the protest, the Islamabad Police issued detailed traffic diversion plans. Entry and exit points into the Red Zone were closed, affecting areas near Serena Hotel, Nadra, Marriott Hotel, and Express Chowk. Citizens heading to the Secretariat or Red Zone were advised to use Margalla Road, while those commuting between Rawalpindi and Islamabad were directed to alternate routes, including Srinagar Highway, Rawal Dam Chowk, 9th Avenue, and Double Road. Authorities urged citizens to monitor updates and follow advisories to avoid congestion. Protesters continued to arrive at Zero Point late into the evening, chanting slogans against Israel and the United States while awaiting central leadership addresses. (ANI) Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Ajay Bisaria, highlighted the influence of Khalistani elements within Canadian politics, calling it a "disproportionate capture" by a vocal and strategically active anti-India group. Speaking ahead of Canada's April 28 elections, Bisaria said that although these groups have been around for over 40 years, they are unlikely to play a significant role in determining the election's outcome. In an interview with ANI, Bisaria said, "There is a certain capture, a disproportionate capture by a very smart and active anti-India Khalistani group. But this is a structural reality in Canadian politics for four decades. We have seen this in operation for a while, and these folks have a certain capture, but this election is not about them. I mean, they will not be a major determinant of the fate of the April 28 elections because I would argue that this election is about Trump..." Bisaria further expressed hope for improved India-Canada relations, including the exchange of high commissioners and progress on a trade agreement, calling this a time to "stabilise and normalise" ties. "The broader point I am making is that we are at an inflection point and if Canada is talking in its national interest and not in the interest of a small vocal minority, which is smart at capturing parts of the polity, I would say that after the election, we still have good prospects to build this relationship, exchanging high commissioners possibly, even signing a trade agreement. I would argue that this is a time to stabilise the relationship and normalise it, not withstanding this 40-year problem of vocal Khalistanis trying queer the pitch." Meanwhile, Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman has raised concerns over targeted vandalism in British Columbia, alleging that the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Surrey was defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti for the third time on Sunday night. Bordman, who visited the site, described what he saw and voiced concern over how the situation was handled. "I saw when I got there that the vandalism had already been covered up, there were still some broken glasses... There were videos taken in the morning saying Khalistan was behind it. You saw a lot of Khalistan graffiti... I spoke with some of the devotees and management. I don't quite understand why they decided to just remove graffiti before the Police came... they did claim that vandals also stole the security camera... several devotees were quite upset... That wasn't the only temple that was vandalised last night, there was also a Gurdwara in Vancouver which was vandalised by Khalistanis," Bordman said in a video posted on X. (ANI) US Vice President JD Vance accompanied by the Second Lady Usha Vance and their three children, received a warm welcome as they arrived in India for their first official visit The Vance family who is on a visit to the country from April 21 to 24 was accompanied by an American delegation. Union Minister of Railways and Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, received the delegation at Palam airport. The visit, which includes stops in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, is expected to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Sharing a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote, "A very warm welcome to @VP JD Vance, @SLOTUS Mrs. Usha Vance, & the US delegation to India! Received by Minister of Railways and I&B @AshwiniVaishnaw at the airport." "The Official Visit (21-24 Apr) spanning Delhi, Jaipur & Agra is expected to further deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," the post added. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1914186252162584969 Vance, Usha Vance and their children are scheduled to visit the iconic Akshardham Temple in Delhi as part of his first official visit to the country. JD Vance received a ceremonial Guard of Honour as he arrived at Palam airport for his first official visit to India. Hoardings of Vice President Vance were also put up near Palam airport, ahead of his arrival today. Vice President Vance is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today. A formal meeting between Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Modi is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Prime Minister''s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Their discussions can be focused on strengthening economic, trade, and defence cooperation between the two nations. Following official meetings, the Vance family is set to visit Jaipur and Agra. Vice President Vance will travel to Jaipur on Tuesday. On April 23, he is scheduled to visit Agra. Vance''s visit to India will conclude on Thursday, April 24, with his departure from the country at 6:40 am. The visit is also crucial as all relevant issues between India and the United States will be discussed during the upcoming visit of US Vice President JD Vance from April 21 to 24, which is expected to strengthen bilateral ties further, said Randhir Jaiswal. During the weekly media briefing last Thursday, when asked about the possibility of tariff discussions, Jaiswal said, "We have a comprehensive strategic global partnership, when you have that level of partnership with any country... obviously you will discuss all relevant issues..." He added, "Of course our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of our human endeavour from part of our bilateral engagement ... so all these bilateral issue will be discussed and we are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties."Jaiswal also highlighted the ongoing discussions between India and the US regarding a potential trade agreement. "We are talking to the US side so that a bilateral trade agreement can be done," he said. Vance and his family concluded their three-day visit to Italy, where he held bilateral meetings and attended religious services during the Easter weekend. The Us Vice President arrived in Italy on Friday and held expanded bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. On Saturday, he met with Church officials, including Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The Vice President concluded his visit on Easter Sunday after a meeting with Pope Francis. (ANI) Earlier today, United States Vice President JD Vance arrived at Palam Airport in New Delhi for his first official visit to India. Accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and their children, the Vice President received a ceremonial Guard of Honour. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed the family at the airport, where hoardings bearing the Vice President''s image had been put up in anticipation of the visit. Vice President Vance''s four-day trip will run from April 21 to 24. Shortly after their arrival, the Vance family is scheduled to visit the Akshardham Temple. Temple spokesperson Radhika Shukla said, "The Vice President and the Second Lady are coming for the Darshan at Akshardham Temple. She has Indian roots... They are coming here directly from the airport... They will first have the darshan of the replica of Lord Swaminarayan and then they will see the architecture of the temple, " she said. Later today, Vice President Vance is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6:30 pm at the Prime Minister''s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. The meeting is expected to cover a range of issues, including economic cooperation, defence collaboration, and advancing bilateral trade ties. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at a media briefing last week, said, "We have a comprehensive strategic global partnership; when you have that level of partnership with any country, obviously, you will discuss all relevant issues." He added, "Of course, our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of our human endeavour from part of our bilateral engagement ... so all these bilateral issues will be discussed and we are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties." Following engagements in New Delhi, the Vance family will travel to Jaipur on April 22 and Agra on April 23. The Vice President is scheduled to depart India on the early morning of April 24. (ANI) A group of Nepal's Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leaders, including party chair Rajendra Lingden, were briefly detained by police on Sunday after attempting to protest within a restricted area in Kathmandu, as the party demanded the reinstatement of the monarchy and declaration of Nepal as a Hindu state, the Kathmandu Post reported. The demonstration took place in New Baneshwar but drew a much lower turnout than expected by organisers. The protest came at a time of growing disagreement within the RPP over whether to hold demonstrations in restricted zones. The event was marked by disorganisation from the beginning. Several senior party leaders--including chair Lingden, vice-chair Buddhiman Tamang, and chief whip Gyan Bahadur Shahi--were detained before even reaching the designated protest site. Police said the leaders were taken into custody for chanting slogans and distributing flyers within Singha Durbar, the central government secretariat. They were released after a few hours. RPP, currently the fifth-largest party in the House of Representatives, had called the demonstration to push for the release of its senior vice-chairman Rabindra Mishra and General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana, both of whom were arrested following a violent protest at Tinkune on March 28. The party's protest on Sunday also called for a judicial investigation into the March unrest. According to Kathmandu Police Range Spokesperson Superintendent Apil Raj Bohara, the leaders were detained after they began distributing flyers and chanting slogans inside the restricted area. Police had already issued a warning through the Ministry of Home Affairs a day earlier, cautioning the party against carrying out protests in restricted zones of the Capital and threatening legal action against anyone violating the law or inciting disorder. On Sunday morning, RPP lawmakers had gathered at Singha Durbar under the pretext of holding a parliamentary party meeting. After the meeting concluded, Lingden and his team began demonstrating inside the premises by holding pamphlets and calling for a probe into the March 28 incident. Police then intervened and detained the group before they could proceed to New Baneshwar. The detained leaders were taken to the Kathmandu Police Range office in Bhadrakali. Speaking to reporters after his release, Lingden said he was not surprised by the arrest, describing the government's actions as authoritarian. "We are not shocked by this; we are all prepared to be arrested," Lingden said. The protest appeared to suffer from internal rifts within the RPP, with several leaders reportedly divided over the strategy. Some questioned the decision to protest in Kathmandu's restricted zones while other leaders had planned demonstrations in their own districts scheduled for Tuesday. "In such a way, how can our movement be effective? It seems some leaders are intent on weakening the movement rather than strengthening it," said a party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity. The arrest of General Secretary Rana, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, has raised further concerns among party members. RPP leaders have reportedly appealed to the government through Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba to consider Rana's medical condition and release him on humanitarian grounds. Despite such efforts, Rana has not yet been freed. Party Vice-president Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan stated that attempts were underway to secure the release of both Mishra and Rana, not just through Deuba but also by reaching out to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The RPP has continued its agitation, citing unresolved questions around the March 28 protest at Tinkune. That protest, organised by a different pro-monarchy group led by Panchayat-era politician Nabaraj Subedi, turned violent, resulting in two deaths and over 120 injuries. The RPP had lent its support to the Subedi-led protest, aligning on the common goal of restoring the monarchy. Following the unrest, Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana were taken into custody, along with Durga Prasai, who was described as the "field commander" of the demonstration. Subedi has since been placed under house arrest by the government. Amid ongoing tensions, a delegation of senior RPP leaders met former king Gyanendra Shah at his residence, Nirmal Niwas, on Friday. Party insiders said the meeting lasted nearly two hours but declined to disclose specific details. Those present included leaders such as Pashupati Shamsher Rana, Prakash Chandra Lohani, Buddhiman Tamang, Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, Bikram Pandey, and party spokesperson Gyan Bahadur Shahi. "We are pro-monarch people and we meet the former king on a regular basis," said Shahi. Tamang added, "There was nothing specific to share about our meeting with him on Friday." However, one party member said the discussion covered issues including the March 28 violence and allegations that businessman Durga Prasai had been appointed as the commander of the protest. According to a person familiar with the meeting, the former king expressed deep concern over the casualties and damage caused by the unrest. He reiterated his stance that protests should remain peaceful, saying, "The police are our brothers; stones should not be thrown at them." The former monarch denied appointing Prasai as the commander of the demonstration, claiming he had not even met Prasai since an event held at Mechi Bridge in Jhapa several years ago. On March 27, a day before the protest, Prasai's vehicle was reportedly seen leaving Nirmal Niwas. However, RPP leaders said that Prasai had only met an aide to the king, not Gyanendra Shah himself, the Kathmandu Post reported. Furthermore, the former king reportedly denied designating Nabaraj Subedi as the coordinator of the so-called Joint People's Movement. Subedi, who remains under house arrest, also denied having any recent contact with the former monarch. "It has been more than six months since I met the former king," Subedi told the Post, clarifying that he was approached by other royalist leaders to lead the protest in the absence of a consensus candidate. "The former king has no role in it," he added. Despite the lack of consensus within the party and the complications surrounding its detained leaders, the RPP continues to press forward with its demand to reinstate Nepal's monarchy and establish a Hindu state, maintaining that the events of March 28 deserve thorough investigation and accountability. (ANI) China is now stepping up its game in the Yellow Sea by constructing a massive steel rig, following similar aggressive posturing in the South China Sea. This development has become a fresh source of conflict between China and South Korea. The Eurasian Times reported that Korean ships attempted to examine the steel structure, leading to a recent standoff between the coast guards of the two nations. According to diplomatic sources cited by South Korean news agency Yonhap, the two coast guards were at odds for two hours. The Eurasian Times reported that the altercation occurred on the afternoon of February 26 in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ), close to Socotra Rock, southwest of Jeju Island in South Korea. The PMZ is a jointly administered area in the Yellow Sea--referred to as the West Sea in Korea--where South Korea's and China's exclusive economic zones (EEZs) overlap. The South Korean research ship Onnuri was sent by the government to inspect the structure, but it was blocked by Chinese coast guard vessels and civilian boats, mirroring tactics reportedly used against the Philippine Coast Guard. A two-hour standoff followed after Seoul dispatched a coast guard ship to the location. South Korea asserted that its inspection was legitimate, but China countered by claiming the structure was an aquafarm and requested the Korean ship to leave. South Korea responded to the incident by summoning a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul to lodge a formal protest. According to recent satellite imagery, China has constructed several large steel platforms within the PMZ. The Eurasian Times noted that the PMZ was established under a 2000 agreement that permits fishing and transit until a final maritime boundary is agreed upon. One of the installations is a 71.5-metre-tall underwater marine cage named Shen Lan 2 Hao (also known as Deep Blue 2), intended for salmon farming. The massive cage and its jack-up support equipment have sparked concern in South Korea. The Eurasian Times reported that the Korean government maintains the right to inspect the structure under the 2001 Korea-China Fisheries Agreement. The Eurasian Times further stated that South Korea claims the structure was installed without permission or prior notification. China had previously set up similar platforms in the area, but they were dismantled after protests from Seoul. The latest installation, featuring three long legs that anchor to the sea floor, signals growing Chinese involvement in the disputed region. (ANI) A team of senior irrigation experts sent by the Sindh chief minister has confirmed that construction activity on a section of the controversial Cholistan Flood Feeder canal was initiated but later halted, likely due to growing political debate surrounding the project, Dawn reported. According to sources and team members, the group - comprising retired and serving officers from Sindh's irrigation department - recently submitted its report to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah following a field visit to the area. The visit took place from April 13 to 14 and covered key points along the canal's alignment. Although not officially notified as a government team, one member said, "We were required to give our assessment on the ground," referring to the informal nature of the inquiry. The team, led by former irrigation secretary and ex-adviser to the CM on irrigation Babar Effendi, included several former senior officials such as Kotri Barrage chief engineer Haji Khan Jamali, former irrigation department additional secretary (development) Aslam Ansari, ex-Sukkur Barrage chief engineer Irshad Memon, and others. Their visit included stops in Bahawalpur and the Sulemanki headworks on the Sutlej river near Bahawalnagar. The experts observed that excavation had been carried out on a four- to five-kilometre section of the canal embankment, identified as part of the Marot branch - an extension linked to the broader Cholistan Flood Feeder plan. However, no ongoing construction was found at the site, with machinery observed to be "lying idle." A team member confirmed, "Construction on the narrow stretch of land was stopped ever since the matter generated heated debate." Earlier in March, Sindh United Party leader Syed Zain Shah had visited the area and shared a video on social media claiming that active construction was taking place on the canal. His video, which went viral, showed construction equipment at the site and sparked renewed public scrutiny, reported Dawn. However, a member of the inspection team said no such activity was visible during their visit. "We didn't find any construction activity at the Sulemanki headworks," the member stated. The team questioned staff at the Sulemanki site about the canal project but reported receiving no clear responses. Based on information from the project's PC-1 and satellite images, one expert noted that the Cholistan Flood Feeder would run parallel to the existing Eastern Sadqia canal emerging from Sulemanki. According to the team's assessment, the short stretch of canal near Marot village was likely developed in preparation for an inauguration ceremony of the Green Pakistan Initiative held in February. That event was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Dawn reported. Another expert on the team said a temporary camp had been set up at the excavation site, staffed by a sub-engineer. "This sub-engineer told us that they have been asked to stop work. His statement showed work at the site is stopped for the time being," the expert said. The findings come amid heightened tensions between Sindh and Punjab over the canal project, which has raised concerns over water distribution and transparency in planning. (ANI) JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan on Thursday received a letter from John Moolenaar, chairman of the United States House Select Committee on Chinese Communist Party (SCCCP), requesting that the banks drop their participation in Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited's (CATL) impending Hong Kong IPO. The Department of Defense has classified CATL as a "Chinese military company" in accordance with Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorisation Act, according to a report by SCCCP. According to the letters, there is rising concern that JPMorgan and Bank of America's participation in the CATL IPO directly supports the Chinese Communist Party's continued violations of human rights and military buildup. SCCCP said that the Committee specifically points to CATL's involvement in the modernisation of China's submarine fleet with cutting-edge lithium-ion batteries and its connections to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a sanctioned paramilitary group implicated in the extermination of Uyghur Muslims. "If JPMorgan and Bank of America proceed with this IPO, they risk complicity in underwriting genocide, undermining American industry, and endangering US service members," said Chairman Moolenaar. "The letters outline serious national security threats and due diligence failures. The company's reported aggressive pursuit of the CATL deal, despite its low fee structure and their defence ties, adds to concerns over risk and regulatory oversight. As Chairman, I am closely monitoring how major financial institutions engage with companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party. The House Select Committee on China is actively examining these relationships, and we urge JPMorgan and Bank of America to prioritise national security and human rights in their decision-making," the letter stated, as quoted by SCCCP in a report. The CCP's recent military actions close to Taiwan have previously drawn criticism from the US House Select Committee on Chinese Communist Party (SCCCP), which described them as "intimidation aimed at subjugating a free and democratic society." An SCCCP post on X said the escalation was another example of the CCP's growing hostility and underscored the urgent need for "our democratic ally" to have the capacity and support to defend itself. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia has been described as a vital step in strengthening ties between the two nations. Former Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mahesh Sachdev, called the visit "extremely significant," pointing to Saudi Arabia's key role in the Gulf and wider West Asia, whereas former diplomat KP Fabian also underscored the "multifaceted" nature of Indo-Saudi relations. While speaking with ANI, Sachdev said, "This visit is extremely significant. Saudi Arabia is a major player in the Gulf region as well as in the wider West Asia. It has been a strategic ally of India for some time, and the Strategic Partnership Council has been formed. The first session was held when Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman visited India in 2019, and the second session is to be held in Jeddah during PM Modi's visit tomorrow. This would allow the two sides at a supreme level to interact, exchange views and chalk out possibilities of bilateral cooperation. Saudi Arabia is important for India, and india is also gaining importance for Saudi Arabia." He added, "In terms of Saudi Arabia's importance to India, there is also a very robust trade relationship, but the investment ties between India and Saudi Arabia are below their potential. So on the economic side, the two sides should chalk out strategies to boost their bilateral trade and prepare the ground for greater Saudi investments in India in projects." Sachdev further emphasised that Saudi Arabia is actively seeking reliable partners to strengthen its defence capabilities, and India has emerged as a trusted partner in this regard. He told ANI, "On the security and defence side, Saudi Arabia is located in a very unstable neighbourhood. Yemen, Gaza, Iran, etc are on fire... Saudis are looking for friends who can bolster their defence capacity, and India is such a friend. The bilateral cooperation in security and defence has been growing. I believe that PM's visit would help boost it further." Meanwhile, former diplomat KP Fabian described PM Modi's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia as highly important, particularly for India and noted that both countries share strong ties across energy, strategy, diplomacy, trade, and investment. "This is an important visit, especially for India. Saudi Arabia is a very significant partner in our neighbourhood. Indo-Saudi relations are multifaceted, there's a relationship of energy, strategy, diplomacy, trade and investment. On all these fronts, both countries matter to each other. Under the young Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a key global player. With many Indians living there, their safety and prosperity should always be a priority, as a constant concern. Saudi is also a major energy provider to India," Fabian told ANI. Prime Minister Modi will embark on a visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the upcoming visit from April 22 to 23 will be the first visit of the Prime Minister to the country in his third term. Previously, he had travelled to the Saudi Kingdom twice, in 2016 and 2019. (ANI) Former Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev has described US Vice President JD Vance's ongoing visit to India as a "significant" development, marking the first high-level political outreach from the new US administration since President Donald Trump's return to office in January. "The visit is significant because it's the first major political head in the United States' new government that took over under President Trump on January 20. Nearly three months down the line, the Vice President of the United States, the number 2 person in the hierarchy, is visiting India," said Sachdev. He added, "It's certainly an important symbolic, as well as substantive gesture, which India and the US are likely to use to coordinate their relations better and build upon the Prime Minister's (PM Modi's) own visit in February to the US, where they agreed on many things that were jointly announced by the Prime Minister and the President (Trump)." According to Sachdev, the Vice President's visit comprises two distinct segments--one formal and one personal. "The visit has two distinct components - the first is bilateral; a formal visit wherein the visiting dignitary would be received by the PM, and would have discussions on the issues that would include tariff issues, as well as deportation related issues," he noted. He further explained, "At the same time, there is an informal component of the visit, wherein the Vice President, who has a wife of Indian origin, Mrs Usha Vance, would visit Jaipur and Agra, and I understand there would be some familial gatherings from the wife's side - so that would also add to the overall girth of the visit. I think the visit would highlight growing and frequent Indo-US ties at the highest level." Vice President Vance, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6:30 pm today at the PM's official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Their meeting is expected to address key bilateral concerns, including trade, economic cooperation, and defence ties. After the formal leg of the visit, the Vance family will travel to Jaipur on Tuesday and visit Agra on April 23. The visit concludes with their departure from India on April 24 at 6:40 am. (ANI) Pope Francis has died, the Vatican said on Monday. The Pope passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican''s Casa Santa Marta, according to a statement from the Vatican. At 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Earlier on Sunday. The Pope delivered his Easter message from the balcony of St Peter''s Basilica to thousands of people gathered in Vatican Square. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church was recently discharged from Rome''s Gemelli Hospital, where he spent five weeks receiving treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia. On Easter Sunday, he was able to offer the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to the city of Rome and to the world. Only the pope can offer this blessing, which includes the offer of an indulgence, a remission for the effects of sins. "Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life," the official X handle of the Pope said on Sunday. Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Archpriest emeritus of Saint Peter''s Basilica and Vicar General emeritus of Vatican City, led the liturgy in the Square and delivered the homily of Pope Francis, prepared for the occasion, as reported by Vatican News. Pope Francis dedicated his Easter Urbi et Orbi message to calling for peace worldwide, global disarmament, and the release of prisoners. Pope Francis was the first Pontiff from the Jesuit Order and the first from outside Europe since the 8th century, Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. There will now be a fourteen-day period of official mourning after which the Cardinals will go into conclave to elect the new Vicar of Christ. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the death of Pope Francis stating that the Pontiff''s "affection for the people of India will always be cherished." "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi said on X. "I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God''s embrace," the Prime Minister said. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1914239482129453417 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met with Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy. Pictures from the meeting showed PM Modi and the Pope sharing a warm embrace. "Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit . I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India," he had said on his X platform. PM Modi had previously met Pope Francis in 2021 at the Vatican, where they discussed a wide range of issues, including the Covid-19 outbreak. Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian on Monday expressed his deep sadness at the demise of Pope Francis who according to news from the Vatican passed away early this morning. "Deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. A profound loss for the global community. His life of service, compassion, and faith touched millions. Heartfelt condolences to all grieving this immense loss," Kurian said. The 266th Catholic Church leader died this morning at his residence and the announcement was made by Cardinal Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Kurien had last year in December told reporters that head of the Catholic Church is likely to visit India after 2025 in the backdrop of the Church''s celebration of its Jubilee Year The minister had traveled to the Vatican for the ordination of Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad, a native of Kerala, who was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Francis. Meanwhile, the Vatican said that the ascertainment of death of the Pope takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified. The "Papal Interregnum" -- the period between the death of one pope and the election of another -- began when Francis passed away. Cardinals must now decide exactly when the funeral can take place, and after that, when conclave can begin. But much of the timeline is predetermined; the pope''s death triggered the start of nine days of mourning known as the Novendiales, and the pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after death. The body of the pope will be displayed at St. Peter''s Basilica in Vatican for mourning, and a mass will take place on each day. Mourners lined up for miles to see the body of Pope John Paul II, the last serving pope to die, in 2005 as per a report in the CNN. Following a period of mourning, all cardinals under the age of 80 will convene to pick the next leader of the Catholic Church. The process for a new pope to be chosen can take between two and three weeks. Pope Francis on Sunday delivered his Easter message from the balcony of St Peter''s Basilica to thousands of people gathered in Vatican Square. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church was recently discharged from Rome''s Gemelli Hospital, where he spent five weeks receiving treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia. (ANI) Protests against the arrest of Mahrang Baloch and members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) continued throughout Balochistan on Sunday as political parties and civil society organisations voiced their opposition, according to a report by The Balochistan Post (TBP). The Balochistan National Party (BNP) held a demonstration in Kalat that subsequently evolved into a protest. According to TBP, BNP leaders vehemently denounced the detention of Mahrang Baloch and other BYC leaders and activists. In Balochistan, enforced disappearances used to target men, but the state has started arresting women under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) legislation, according to protest speakers. According to the TBP, they asserted that security agencies had begun detaining Baloch women to silence their powerful voice against state abuse. The BNP leaders called for Mahrang Baloch and other BYC members who were detained to be released immediately. The TBP report noted that the BNP had previously held a 20-day sit-in demonstration at Lakpass in Mastung district, calling for the release of BYC's female activists and leaders. According to The Balochistan Post, families of Baloch political prisoners had set up a protest camp outside the Quetta Press Club, calling on authorities to free their loved ones and put an end to what they say are illegal detentions. The BYC organised the demonstration to highlight the alleged unconstitutional detention of a number of Baloch activists. Mahrang Baloch, Sibghatullah Shahji, Beebarg Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, and Beebow Baloch are among those who are allegedly in custody. According to The Balochistan Post, the BYC says that these people have been detained using extra-constitutional means, which is a serious breach of their human rights. Basic rights such as freedom of speech, political expression, and access to education are frequently suppressed. Military operations in Balochistan have led to widespread displacement and fear. Despite repeated calls from human rights organisations, the plight of the Baloch remains largely ignored, fueling frustration, resentment, and a growing demand for justice and autonomy. (ANI) The President of the Tibetan Government in exile, Sikyong Penpa Tsering began his visit to the Kham Kathok Tibetan Settlement in Sataun on April 19, 2025, following his official engagements in Shimla, according to a report by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). A public meeting was held after a tour of the Kathok Monastery, where Tibetan Settlement Officer (TSO) Ugyen Choedon presented a detailed report outlining the history and current initiatives of the Sataun settlement, as stated in the CTA report. While acknowledging the very small size of the Kham Kathok settlement, Sikyong Penpa Tsering emphasised the importance of unity and mutual support within the community. He was quoted in the CTA report as saying, "Our generation exists because the older generation worked hard and contributed immensely," adding, "The younger generation now will determine whether the future exists or not." Sikyong also highlighted the need to understand global political trends, particularly those that impact the future of Tibet. He reiterated the urgency of preserving Tibet's unique religious traditions, cultural identity, and linguistic heritage - all of which remain under existential threat from the People's Republic of China. According to the CTA report, he said it is necessary to "step up efforts to teach Tibetan language to Tibetan children living in exile." Additionally, Sikyong provided updates on a major initiative from the Department of Religion and Culture: the development of a digital library dedicated to preserving and providing access to sacred monastic manuscripts. The CTA report noted that the project reflects the Central Tibetan Administration's continued commitment to ensuring Tibet's spiritual and cultural legacy is protected for future generations. The Tibet-China conflict stems from the political status of Tibet and China's rule over the region. Tibet, once an independent entity, was incorporated into China in 1951 following military occupation. Since then, Tibetans - led by the Dalai Lama - have campaigned for greater autonomy and protection of their religious, cultural, and political rights. China, however, considers Tibet an inseparable part of its territory, resulting in continued tensions and widespread concerns about cultural suppression. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia is being viewed as a major milestone in strengthening India's engagement with not only the Kingdom, but the entire Gulf and Islamic world. Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the relationship has undergone a transformation under PM Modi's leadership, particularly through his close rapport with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. "PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia is very important. Prime Minister Modi has worked on a relationship which has undergone transformation with the entire Gulf region, starting from the UAE and Saudi Arabia," said Shringla. He added, "His personal connection with Mohammed bin Salman... has guided and steered the relationship forward," he said. Shringla pointed out the energy aspect as a key driver in India-Saudi relations. "I think Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that has a huge amount of fossil fuel reserves, which is important for us as a major importer of fossil fuel. Saudi Arabia sees India as a partner," he noted. Calling it a milestone visit, he said, "This visit is the third visit of PM Modi to Saudi Arabia, which will pave the way for a significant enhancement of India-Saudi and India's ties with the entire Arab and Islamic world." Former Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev described the visit as "extremely significant," given Saudi Arabia's prominent role in West Asia and its strategic importance to India. He highlighted the formation of the Strategic Partnership Council between the two nations, with the second session to be held in Jeddah during the PM's visit. "This would allow the two sides at a supreme level to interact, exchange views and chalk out possibilities of bilateral cooperation," Sachdev said. Sachdev also stressed the need to elevate trade and investment relations. "There is also a very robust trade relationship, but the investment ties between India and Saudi Arabia are below their potential," he stated, urging both sides to strategise on boosting trade and paving the way for stronger Saudi investment in India. On defence cooperation, Sachdev added, "Saudis are looking for friends who can bolster their defence capacity, and India is such a friend. The bilateral cooperation in security and defence has been growing. I believe that PM's visit would help boost it further." (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Saudi Arabia from April 22 to 23, 2025, at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. This will be PM Modi's third visit to the country, following earlier visits in 2016 and 2019. As part of the visit, PM Modi is expected to visit a factory where Indian workers are employed. He will interact with them during his time there. During a special press briefing on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the visit will provide an important opportunity to discuss key regional and global issues. These include the situation in West Asia, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and threats to maritime security due to Houthi attacks. Misri also said that India and Saudi Arabia are likely to deepen their defence cooperation and expand their economic ties. Currently, bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at around USD 43 billion. PM Modi's visit is being seen as a significant step in strengthening India's ties not just with Saudi Arabia, but with the entire Gulf and Islamic world. Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla noted that under PM Modi's leadership, the India-Saudi relationship has seen a major transformation, helped by the Prime Minister's strong personal bond with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit comes after the Crown Prince visited New Delhi in September 2023. He was in India for the G20 Summit and also co-chaired the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. (ANI) World leaders have expressed deep sorrow and paid heartfelt tributes following the passing of Pope Francis, remembering him as a compassionate spiritual leader. From Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, they mourned the death of Pope Francis. Meloni expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis, calling him a "great man and a great pastor." Italian PM Giorgia Meloni wrote, "Pope Francis has returned to the house of the Father. This news saddens us deeply, because a great man and a great pastor has left us. I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering. In the meditations of the Via Crucis, he reminded us of the power of the gift, which makes everything flourish again and is capable of reconciling what in the eyes of man is irreconcilable. And he asked the world, once again, for the courage to change direction, to follow a path that "does not destroy, but cultivates, repairs, protects. We will walk in this direction, to seek the path of peace, pursue the common good and build a more just and equitable society. His teaching and his legacy will not be lost. We greet the Holy Father with hearts full of sadness, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord." https://x.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1914239044885569647 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to Pope Francis, remembering him as a figure of humility. She highlighted his love for the less fortunate and expressed hope that his legacy would continue to inspire a more just and compassionate world. "Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis'' legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world," von der Leyen wrote on X. https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1914232707351007542 Vice President of the EU Commission Kaja Kallas wrote, "It is with great sadness that I learned that His Holiness Pope Francis passed away. When we met recently in Rome, I thanked Pope Francis for his strong leadership in protecting the most vulnerable & defending human dignity. I extend my condolences to all Catholics in the world." https://x.com/kajakallas/status/1914231665032839292 French President Emmanuel Macron said, "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. May it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him. My wife and I send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving world." https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1914234073406488855 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, "With Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world have lost an advocate for the weak, a reconciler, and a warm-hearted person. I greatly appreciated his clear vision of the challenges that concern us. My condolences go out to the faithful worldwide." https://x.com/Bundeskanzler/status/1914243187058634944 Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, also shared a post on X and wrote, "Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His contagious smile captured millions of people''s hearts across the globe. ''The People''s Pope'' will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace." https://x.com/EP_President/status/1914227819179033024 Poland PM Donald Tusk on X wrote, "Pope Francis is dead. A good, warm and sensitive man. May he rest in peace." https://x.com/donaldtusk/status/1914233251893256596 The Pope passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican''s Casa Santa Marta, according to a statement from the Vatican. At 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta. "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. (ANI) A Philippines naval official on Monday refuted claims that the Chinese military had driven away a Philippine naval vessel, which, according to Beijing, had illegally intruded into the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that China's claim is just part of Beijing's "malign information or shaping operations more likely intended for their internal audience." He added that only the Philippine Navy and the country's maritime law enforcement vessels have the authority to challenge foreign ships intruding into the country's maritine zones, the news outlet said. A spokesperson for the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command on Sunday had said that it had organized navy vessels to track, monitor, issue warnings, and drive away the Philippine vessel, which it identifid as the Apolinario Mabini corvette, that had "entered the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao without authorization from the Chinese government." Chinese military spokesperson Senior Captain Zhao Zhiwei said in a statement that the actions by the Philippine side "severely violated China's sovereignty and contravened both Chinese law and relevant provisions of international law," Xinhua reported. The Scarborough Shoal is an atoll located some 125 nautical miles (about 230 kilometers) west of the Philippine island of Luzon and has been disputed by the two countries for decades. Although Manila claims it as part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the uninhabited feature is effectively controlled by Beijing, which has maintained a constant coast guard presence there since 2012. Under the "nine-dash line," Beijing maintains a claim to some 90 per cent of the resource-rich South China Sea, overlapping with the claims of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. Chinese and Philippine vessels have engaged in multiple collisions and face-offs over the past year as tensions elevated around hotspot areas of contention, CNN reported. In March, China conducted a patrol in the South China Sea, deploying two long-range H-6 bombers around the shoal ahead of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's visit to the Philippines. Also coiniciding with the US Defence Secretary's visit the United States, Japan and the Philippines held naval drills in the South China Sea. The Scarborough Shoal is known as the Panatag Shoal in the Philippines and is known as the and Huangyan Dao in Chinese) . (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed US Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha Vance and their three children at his official residence in the national capital. The Vance family arrived at the PM's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in the national capital and the US President is set to begin bilateral talks with PM Modi. Earlier in the day, the Vance family visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, with the couple's three children who were dressed in traditional Indian clothing. The boys -Ewan and Vivek- wore kurta-pyjamas, while the girl Mirabel wore an Anarkali-style outfit paired with an embroidered jacket. Following the temple visit, he shared a post on X, appreciating the warm hospitality. "Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," Vance wrote. Vance and his family also visited Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath. Upon his arrival this morning at Delhi's Palam Air Force Station, Vance was welcomed by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and received a ceremonial reception. During his four-day visit to the country, Vance is scheduled to travel to Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. He will visit Jaipur on Tuesday and Agra on Wednesday. The visit is seen as an important step in boosting the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit will cover all key areas of cooperation between the two nations. He added that it is expected to strengthen bilateral ties further. During the weekly media briefing last Thursday, when asked about the possibility of tariff discussions, Jaiswal said, "We have a comprehensive strategic global partnership, when you have that level of partnership with any country... obviously you will discuss all relevant issues..." He added, "Of course our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of our human endeavour from part of our bilateral engagement ... so all these bilateral issue will be discussed and we are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties." Jaiswal also highlighted the ongoing discussions between India and the US regarding a potential trade agreement. "We are talking to the US side so that a bilateral trade agreement can be done," he said. Vance and his family arrived in India after concluded their three-day visit to Italy, where he held bilateral meetings and attended religious services during the Easter weekend. The US Vice President arrived in Italy on Friday and held expanded bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. On Saturday, he met with Church officials, including Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The Vice President concluded his visit on Easter Sunday after a meeting with Pope Francis. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar mourned the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, remembering him as a compassionate leader committed to building a better world. "Saddened at the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis," the EAM wrote on X. https://x.com/drsjaishankar/status/1914272184727749015?s=46 He also shared a group photo with the Pope and wrote, "His compassion and commitment to building a better world defined his papacy. May his soul rest in peace." Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He died at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, according to an official statement from the Vatican. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Pope Francis stating that the Pontiff's "affection for the people of India will always be cherished." "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi said on X. "I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-around development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace," the Prime Minister said. Notably, PM Modi had met with Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy. Pictures from the meeting showed PM Modi and the Pope sharing a warm embrace. The Vatican has announced a nine-day mourning period, known as the Novendiale, an ancient Roman tradition that continues to this day. During this time, preparations will begin for the election of the next Pontiff. After the mourning period, the Cardinals will be called into Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ. Following the death of the Pope, at 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta. "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Vice JD Vance on Monday and welcomed the "significant progress" in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. They also noted continued efforts to enhance cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies, and other areas. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. Vice President Vance was accompanied by the Second Lady Usha Vance, their children, and senior members of the US Administration. "Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Washington DC in January and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047," the release said. Prime Minister and Vice President Vance reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation. "They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward," the release said. The Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Vice President, the Second Lady, and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India. He also conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year. The US Vice President, who is on a four-day official visit to India, arrived in the national capital on Monday. This is Vice President Vance's first visit to India. He will also visit Jaipur and Agra before departing for Washington DC. The high-level visit comes amid trade negotiations between the two countries following the US decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including India. The US has reduced new tariff rates on most of its trade partners to 10 per cent for 90 days to allow trade negotiations. (ANI) United States Vice President JD Vance, currently on a four-day visit to India, visited the Central Cottage Industries Emporium in New Delhi on Monday along with his family. While at the Emporium, Showroom GM Meera Somani told ANI that the family "Really enjoyed and they appreciated our showroom. They purchased pottery and papier-mache items, and teas..." Store Manager Vinay Agrawal told ANI, "We are very thrilled and happy that, along with the family, they visited here. They bought some papier-mache items, small gift items for the kids and some brass items...They visited all the counters in the showroom. Central Cotton Industry is one of the temples of art and craft. It is not an ordinary shop. The Central Cotton Industry is a very big organisation in Asia. She (Usha Vance) really liked the art and craft..." Showroom Manager Meetu Wazirani, while speaking to ANI, noted, "This is a handloom handicraft emporium. They liked everything... they spent almost 40-45 minutes. They bought tea, honey, papier-mache items, wooden items and pottery. And they really appreciated the goods. They were very humble and soft-spoken... She (Usha Vance) bought whatever the kids said..." As per their website, the Central Cottage Industries Emporium is the India's window to the world for nearly over 60 years for authentic handloom and handicraft products. The Emporium stands tall helping India and the world, access to the finest crafts with an assurance of authencity, beauty and value, setting standards in aesthetics and design. It showcases the finest crafts from all over India under one roof ranging from exquisite sculptures, paintings, artifacts, metal ware, woodcraft, pottery, stoneware & marble craft, branded Bankura silver, carpets, furniture, furnishings, home linen, sarees, ready to wear, accessories, jewellery, craft items, herbal products and much more. The website further noted that the emporium has promoted Handicrafts and Handlooms on multiple fronts. Envisaged as a showcase of the creations of Indian craftsmen, weavers, and folk artists, the Central Cottage Industries Emporium has been a favourite with customers in India and the World over. During his four-day visit to the country, Vance is scheduled to travel to Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. He will visit Jaipur on Tuesday and Agra on Wednesday. The visit is seen as an important step in boosting the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. (ANI) Nepal's Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Bidhya Bhattarai, has resigned from her post on the 20th day of ongoing protests by teachers from community and government schools across the country. Bhattarai submitted her resignation letter to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday afternoon, according to sources from the Prime Minister's Office. "In the resignation letter, the minister has primarily stated health to be the reason behind this step. It is well known that she had been facing pressure after continued protests by the teachers in Kathmandu," a senior official from the Prime Minister's Office told ANI. Bhattarai's resignation comes at a time when community and government school teachers from across the country have been protesting in Kathmandu for the past 20 days. The protest is centred around demands related to the School Education Act and other concerns. Minister Bhattarai's resignation follows growing dissatisfaction among teachers and the government's perceived unwillingness to address their demands. Earlier, on 15th April, Bhattarai had held discussions with Speaker Devraj Ghimire and Chhabilal Bishwakarma, the coordinator of the parliamentary subcommittee on school education. Bhattarai had also discussed the issue with Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, as many of the teachers' demands are linked to financial matters. Along with, she also had raised the issue with the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to address the issue of teachers as it has been hampering new academic session which should have been started as of now. But Oli in the meeting showed little flexibility despite multiple meetings with the teachers over the week. "The Minister had requested the government to create an environment to move forward with the education bill during the first week of the upcoming parliamentary session. But there was a cold response from all possible fronts," a senior official from the Education Ministry confirmed to ANI. House Speaker Ghimire, in the recent week, publicly stated that the education bill cannot be endorsed within the upcoming house session, which has further increased pressure on the education minister. On 18 April, a delegation of teachers held a meeting with Prime Minister Oli, where he insisted that teachers return to schools instead of addressing their demands. The National Teachers Federation (NTF), an elected body of the country's school teachers, has been demanding the enactment of the School Education Bill, which is now being held up in the parliamentary committee for deliberation. The discussion which has been held in the subpanel has received mutually conflicting suggestions on several issues, including teacher management. As the Constitution of Nepal 2072 lists school education as the absolute authority of the local government, local units want school teachers to fall under their jurisdiction. However, teachers don't want to stay under local authorities, claiming there are high chances that the local governments will treat them based on the political leanings of the local governments. On different occasions, the federal government has reached an agreement with the teachers to keep them under the federal government. Enactment of the Act is a must to implement the Constitution of Nepal, which can delegate most of the authority to manage the education sector at the local and provincial levels. However, almost a decade after the constitution came into force, the country is yet to get the Act. Right after the government introduced the bill in the federal parliament in September 2023, the federation staged a Kathmandu-centric agitation objecting to different provisions in the bill. Thousands of teachers staged protests in Kathmandu, disrupting life in the capital city and forcing the government into a dialogue. They withdrew the protest after sealing a six-point deal with the government, which promised to address their demands by revising the bill. Before descending to Kathmandu for agitation about one and a half years since the agreement, the teachers had held staged protests at local and provincial levels while also continuing to lobby at the political and bureaucratic levels. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], April 21 (ANI/TPS): Mike Huckabee, the former governor of the State of Arkansas and an ordained Southern Baptist pastor, presented his diplomatic credentials to the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, on Monday, as he assumed the role of new US Ambassador to Israel. "We share our heartbreak and our absolute resolve to see every last hostage freed from the Hamas dungeons and returned to their loved ones. Immediately," President Herzog told Huckabee. "Every last one. I thank you for this allegiance of heart, and, no less, for your commitment to action. Nothing is more urgent." "We care deeply, President, about the threats that face Israel, because those are also the threats that face our country," said Ambassador Huckabee. "I never want Americans to think that we Americans are not greatly benefited by our partnership with our ally Israel. We benefit dramatically in the sharing of intelligence, the sharing of technology, and the sharing of agricultural innovation, in which Israel has led the world." New US Ambassador Huckabee concluded a full program of diplomatic meetings at the President's Residence, during which the new ambassadors of India, Canada, Belarus, the Dominican Republic, and Angola also submitted their diplomatic credentials. (ANI/TPS) The Secretary of Defence of the United States, Pete Hegseth, in a post on social media, criticised the media's handling of the Signal chat controversy. Hegseth expressed scepticism about the media's sudden interest in the story after a few individuals were fired for leaking information. Hegseth accused the media of publishing "hit pieces" based on anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, drawing parallels with the Russia hoax controversy. Hegseth also criticised the media for receiving Pulitzer Prizes for what he described as "a bunch of lies," implying that the awards were undeserved. In a video shared by CSPAN on X, when asked about the Signal chat controversy, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said, "You know, what a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax. won't give back their Pulitzers, they got Pulitzers for a bunch of lies ..." He questioned the media's integrity, suggesting that they are more interested in damaging reputations than in objective reporting. Attacking the media, he further said, "As they peddle those lies, no one ever calls them on it. See, this is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me because we're changing the Defence Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters" He further added that "anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn't matter." Referring to the Easter egg roll celebrations, Hegseth told the media that he would participate with his family and kids. Attacking the democrats, Hegseth in his fiery speech further said, "This is why we're fighting the fake news media. This is why we're fighting slash-and-burn Democrats. This is why we're fighting Hoax-sters... that peddle anonymous sources from leakers with axes to grind and then you put it all together as if it's some news story". In concluding his remarks, Hegseth said that he had spoken to the President about it, "and we are going to continue fighting on the same page all the way." Earlier, the New York Times reported on Sunday that Hegseth shared sensitive information about the planned strike in Yemen on March 15 in a private group chat that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. Hegseth shared sensitive details about a planned military operation targeting the Houthis in Yemen through a private Signal group chat on his personal phone, CNN reported, citing three sources. Two sources said the chat was initially created during Hegseth's confirmation hearings to coordinate with his closest allies and strategise. However, he continued to use it post-confirmation, maintaining communication with over a dozen people. The revelation comes as some of Hegseth's closest advisers have begun sounding the alarm about the secretary's judgment, including his former press secretary, John Ullyot, and three former senior officials Hegseth fired last week -- his top adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defence, CNN reported. "It's been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president -- who deserves better from his senior leadership," Ullyot said in a statement obtained by CNN. The second Signal chat is in addition to the one Hegseth used to communicate with Cabinet officials last month about military plans. The Defence Department's acting inspector general is investigating that chat. Earlier this month, in a letter to Hegseth, Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins notified him of an upcoming evaluation following a request from the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. A leaked Signal chat had revealed that senior Trump administration officials, including Hegseth, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe, shared details about an upcoming military strike on Yemen, The Atlantic reported. The messages, inadvertently sent to The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, had raised serious concerns about operational security. (ANI) US President Donald Trump announced in a post on Monday that the American flag would be flown at half-staff across public buildings, grounds, military posts, and naval stations, amongst other locations, as a mark of respect in the memory of Pope Francis. He made the announcement in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump said, "As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment." He further noted, "I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations." Earlier, US President Donald Trump offered condolences on the passing of Pope Francis. In a post on Truth Social, the US President said, "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio also grieved on the demise of Pope Francis. US Vice President JD Vance, who was the last foreign leader to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on Sunday, expressed his condolences on the Pope's passing. The White House also condoled Pope's demise and shared a post on X, "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis." According to a Vatican statement, the Pope passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican has announced a nine-day mourning period, known as the Novendiale, an ancient Roman tradition that continues to this day. During this time, preparations will begin for the election of the next Pontiff. After the mourning period, the Cardinals will be called into Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ. Following the death of the Pope, at 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta." Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his pleasure in welcoming US Vice President JD Vance and his family to New Delhi, reviewing the progress made in India-US relations. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1914357175998448113 The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st century, PM Modi wrote on X, after his meeting with Vance. "Pleased to welcome US @VP@JDVance and his family to New Delhi. We reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump. We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges," Modi wrote on X. "India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st Century for a better future of our people and the world," he added. Earlier in the day, PM Modi welcomed Vance, his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children at his official residence in the national capital. The two leaders noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies, and other areas. Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Washington DC in January and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047. PM Modi also conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year. India is slated to host the Quad Summit later this year. PM Modi and Vice President Vance welcomed the "significant progress" in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. "Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Washington DC in January and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047," a PMO release said. Prime Minister and Vice President Vance reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation. "They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas," the release said. Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Vice President, Second Lady and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India. The Vance family visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, with the couple's three children, who were dressed in traditional Indian clothing. The boys -Ewan and Vivek- wore kurta-pyjamas, while the girl Mirabel wore an Anarkali-style outfit paired with an embroidered jacket. Following the temple visit, he shared a post on X, appreciating the warm hospitality. "Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," Vance wrote. Vance and his family also visited Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath. Upon his arrival this morning at Delhi's Palam Air Force Station, Vance was welcomed by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and received a ceremonial reception. (ANI) Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Ajaz Khan on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, will chair the meeting of Strategic Partnership Council during his visit to Jeddah. Speaking with ANI, the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia informed that a "large" number of MoUs will be signed, and the economic, defence partnership, and political relations between both countries will also be discussed during the PM's "hugely significant" visit from April 22 to April 23. "There is a strategic partnership council between India and Saudi Arabia. So, both the leaders, the Honourable Prime Minister and His Royal Highness Crown Prince, are going to chair the Strategic Partnership Council meeting. A large number of MoUs are being finalised and will be signed in exchange during the visit, and a host of other issues on economic partnership, defence partnership on our way, all these things will be discussed. It's a hugely significant visit," Khan told ANI. Speaking about India's defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan noted that the partnership between both countries is "very strong" while mentioning various naval and land exercises and assured that the partnership will get "impetus" Our defence and security partnership is very strong, and we have a bilateral defence cooperation MoU of 2014, and under this various activities are taking place and as you know, in the last few years we all organised the naval exercises, we organised the land forces exercises, and we are looking at another edition of the naval exercises shortly. Definitely, the defence cooperation will be a part of the agenda, and I expect that our defence partnership will certainly get impetus during this visit." Khan told ANI. The Indian Ambassador further highlighted the significance of the PM's visit to Jeddah, noting that this will be the first time the PM Modi will be visiting the city. "His previous two visits have been to Riyadh, so it would be his first visit to Jeddah, and Jeddah is a very special place," Khan said. "The significance of the connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia because for centuries, Jeddah has been the port for our pilgrims who come for Umra and Hajj to come to Saudi Arabia," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Saudi Arabia from April 22 to 23 at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This will be PM Modi's third visit to the country, following earlier visits to Riyadh in 2016 and 2019. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a special press briefing on Saturday that the visit will provide an important opportunity to discuss key regional and global issues. These include the situation in West Asia, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and threats to maritime security due to Houthi attacks. Misri also said that India and Saudi Arabia are likely to deepen their defence cooperation and expand their economic ties. Currently, bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at around USD 43 billion. PM Modi's visit is being seen as a significant step in strengthening India's ties not just with Saudi Arabia, but with the entire Gulf and Islamic world. Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla noted that under PM Modi's leadership, the India-Saudi relationship has seen a major transformation, helped by the Prime Minister's strong personal bond with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit comes after the Crown Prince visited New Delhi in September 2023. He was in India for the G20 Summit and also co-chaired the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. (ANI) United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88. "Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!" Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114377719179993844 The pope died of a stroke followed by heart failure on Monday at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. His death was also affected by other ailments, including a "previous episode of acute respiratory failure," arterial hypertension and type II diabetes, Vatican's press office said in a statement. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. There will now be a nine-day period of official mourning, after which the Cardinals will go into conclave to elect the new Vicar of Christ. After the mourning period, the Cardinals will be called into Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ. Earlier, Trump offered condolences on Pope Francis's passing. In a post on Truth Social, the US President said, "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the death of Pope Francis, stating that the Pontiff's "affection for the people of India will always be cherished." "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi said on X. A three-day State Mourning as a mark of respect following the passing of Pope Francis has been declared in India, according to an official notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The mourning will be observed across the country on April 22 and 23, and again on the day of the Pope's funeral. (ANI) India-Saudi Arabia High Level Task Force on Investments held its meeting in Riyadh on Monday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jeddah from April 22 to April 23. According to the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, the meeting was co-chaired by PK Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the PM, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy. "India-Saudi High Level Task Force on Investments held its meeting in Riyadh on April 21. The meeting co-chaired by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Hon'ble PM & HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy, discussed wide-ranging issues of mutual importance," the Indian Embassy wrote on X. https://x.com/indianembriyadh/status/1914347502809031107?s=46 Noting the meeting, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Ajaz Khan said that economic partnership is one of the "fulcrums" of the relationship between the two countries, and a lot of emphasis has been given to it. "There was a high-level task force meeting on investment, which met in Riyadh, and this is a task force that was formed after the 2023 visit of the Crown Prince to India. It is chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, on the Indian side, and His Royal Highness Minister of Energy on the southeast side. They met in Riyadh today, and they went over a lot of issues of mutual interest in terms of facilitating the investment. So definitely, economic partnership is one of the fulcrums of our relationship, and a lot of emphasis has been given to it," Suhel Ajaz Khan told ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Saudi Arabia from April 22 to 23 at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This will be PM Modi's third visit to the country, following earlier visits to Riyadh in 2016 and 2019. (ANI) Harvard University sued the President Donald Trump administration on Monday (local time) over constant threats of freezing funding of more than USD 2.2 billion, The New York Times reported. University President Alan M Garber accused Trump's administration of trying to wield "unprecedented and improper control," adding that the government's action would have "severe and long-lasting" consequences. This development comes after the Trump administration demanded access to all university reports on antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias on campus generated since October 2023, claiming the university has allowed antisemitic language to remain unchecked on their campuses. As reported by the New York Times, Garber, in his statement, said that "as a Jew and as an American, I know very well that there are valid concerns about rising antisemitism." He added that the government need to legally engage with the university instead of seeking to control "whom we hire and what we teach." The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, accuses the government of unleashing a broad attack as "leverage to gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard." It also references other major universities that have faced abrupt funding cuts, the New York Times reported. The Trump administration has threatened to freeze more than $2.2 billion in grants and contracts if the university refused to submit to demands, including it eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, ban masks at campus protests, enact merit-based hiring and admissions reforms, and reduce the power of faculty and administrators the White House has said are "more committed to activism than scholarship." Another $1 billion in federal health research contracts to Harvard could also be withheld, The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend Earlier, Donald Trump criticised Harvard University, denouncing its hiring practices as "woke" and "Radical Left." He went on to call the institution a "joke" and added that the university should not be considered on any list of the "World's Great Universities or Colleges." (ANI) The world of motorcycle maintenance has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. What was once the exclusive domain of professional mechanics is now increasingly accessible to everyday riders. At the heart of this revolution is the democratization of diagnostic technology, which allows anyone with the right tools and knowledge to understand whats happening inside their machine. This guide aims to introduce beginners to the empowering world of DIY motorcycle diagnostics, providing a foundation for greater independence and confidence in maintaining your two-wheeled companion. Why Every Rider Should Understand Basic Diagnostics Modern motorcycles are marvels of engineering, combining mechanical precision with sophisticated electronic systems. While this complexity delivers exceptional performance and reliability, it also creates challenges when things go wrong. Understanding basic diagnostic principles gives you several significant advantages as a rider. First, it provides early warning of potential problems. Many issues begin as minor anomalies that diagnostic tools can detect before they develop into major failures. A simple scan might reveal that your Hondas fuel injection system is running slightly lean, allowing you to address the issue before it damages expensive components. Second, diagnostic knowledge saves money. Professional service for your Harley or Kawasaki can be expensive, with shops charging substantial fees just to connect a scanner and read error codes. With your own diagnostic tool, you can perform this basic task yourself and make informed decisions about when professional intervention is truly necessary. Third, it empowers you with knowledge about your specific machine. Every motorcycle, whether its a Yamaha, BMW, or Ducati, has its own personality and quirks. Regular diagnostic checks help you establish a baseline for normal operation and recognize when something changes. Finally, diagnostic skills enhance safety. Understanding how systems like ABS function and being able to verify their proper operation can literally be a lifesaver. For any rider serious about safety, basic diagnostic capability should be considered essential equipment. Essential Tools for Home Motorcycle Maintenance Building your DIY diagnostic capability begins with assembling the right toolkit. While professional mechanics might have equipment worth thousands of dollars, beginners can start with a more modest investment and still gain valuable insights into their motorcycles health. The cornerstone of modern motorcycle diagnostics is an electronic scanner. These devices connect to your bikes onboard computer systems and retrieve information about operating parameters and error codes. For beginners, an entry-level scan tool compatible with your specific motorcycle brand is an excellent starting point. Many affordable options are available on Amazon and other retailers, with prices starting around $50-100 for basic models. When selecting your first diagnostic scanner, consider compatibility carefully. Some tools work specifically with Japanese brands like Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki, while others are designed for American motorcycles like Harley or European makes such as BMW and Ducati. Universal scanners exist but may offer limited functionality compared to brand-specific options. Beyond electronic tools, several traditional items complement your diagnostic capabilities. A quality multimeter is essential for electrical troubleshooting, allowing you to verify proper voltage, resistance, and continuity throughout your motorcycles electrical systems. A compression tester helps assess engine mechanical health, while a vacuum gauge can provide insights into intake system performance. Dont overlook the importance of good documentation. Factory service manuals for your specific motorcycle model contain valuable information about normal operating parameters, troubleshooting procedures, and maintenance specifications. These resources help you interpret the data from your diagnostic tools and apply it effectively. Understanding Error Codes and What They Mean One of the most immediate benefits of using a motorcycle diagnostic tool is the ability to read and interpret error codes. Also known as Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), these alphanumeric codes are your motorcycles way of communicating specific problems or abnormal conditions. Modern motorcycles with electronic engine management store these codes when sensors detect values outside normal parameters. Your scanner retrieves these codes and displays them in a format like P0171 or C1056. The format typically follows patterns where the first character indicates the system involved (P for powertrain, C for chassis, etc.), and subsequent digits provide more specific information about the fault. Interpreting these codes requires some knowledge, but most diagnostic tools provide at least basic descriptions. For example, on a Honda or Yamaha, a P0131 code might indicate an oxygen sensor circuit low voltage condition. More advanced scanners offer detailed explanations and even potential troubleshooting steps. Its important to understand that error codes are starting points, not definitive diagnoses. A code pointing to an oxygen sensor issue on your Kawasaki might actually be caused by a wiring problem, not a faulty sensor itself. This is where your growing knowledge and additional testing become valuable. Different motorcycle brands implement error codes in various ways. Harley-Davidson uses a system somewhat different from Japanese manufacturers like Suzuki, while European brands like BMW and Ducati have their own approaches. Your diagnostic tool should be able to interpret the specific codes for your motorcycle make and model. Step-by-Step Guide to Performing a Basic Scan Conducting your first diagnostic scan might seem intimidating, but the process is straightforward with modern tools. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the basics, though specific details may vary depending on your motorcycle and scanner model. Preparation: Ensure your motorcycles battery is fully charged, as diagnostic procedures can drain power. Position your bike on a stable stand in a well-lit area where you can comfortably work. Locate the diagnostic port: On most modern motorcycles, youll find an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) connector somewhere accessible. On Honda and other Japanese bikes, its often under the seat or behind a side panel. Harley models typically place it near the battery or under a side cover. Consult your owners manual if you have trouble locating it. Connect your scanner: With your motorcycles ignition turned off, connect your diagnostic tool to the port. If youre using a Bluetooth device, youll need to pair it with your smartphone or tablet and launch the appropriate app. Initiate communication: Turn your motorcycles ignition to the on position without starting the engine. This powers up the electronic systems without running the motor. On your scanner or app, select your specific motorcycle make (Yamaha, BMW, Ducati, etc.) and model if required. Retrieve stored codes: Navigate to the Read Codes or similarly named function on your diagnostic tool. The scanner will communicate with your motorcycles computer and display any stored error codes. If no codes are present, youll typically see a No Codes Found message. Record the results: Even if you plan to clear the codes, always document what you find. This creates a history that can help identify patterns over time. Note both the code numbers and their descriptions. View live data (if available): More advanced scanners allow you to view real-time data from various sensors. This live data function can be invaluable for diagnosing intermittent issues or verifying proper system operation on your Kawasaki, Suzuki, or other motorcycle. Clear codes (optional): After addressing any issues, you can use your scan tool to clear the stored codes. This turns off warning lights and gives you a clean slate to monitor for recurring problems. Remember that this basic procedure is just the beginning. As you become more comfortable with your diagnostic tool, youll discover additional functions and capabilities that provide deeper insights into your motorcycles operation. Common Issues You Can Diagnose Yourself With basic diagnostic equipment and knowledge, many common motorcycle problems become manageable for home mechanics. Here are several issues you can likely tackle yourself, regardless of whether you ride a Honda, Harley, Kawasaki, or other brand. Fuel system problems are among the most common and often manifest as poor running conditions or starting difficulties. Your scanner can reveal issues like incorrect fuel mixture, injector problems, or fuel pressure irregularities. On fuel-injected motorcycles from manufacturers like Yamaha and BMW, these parameters are constantly monitored and can be accessed through your diagnostic tool. Ignition system faults frequently trigger check engine lights and store error codes. Problems with ignition coils, spark plug wires, or timing can be identified through specific codes and confirmed with targeted testing. Even on sophisticated motorcycles like modern Ducati models, these issues often follow predictable patterns that your diagnostic scanner can help identify. Sensor failures represent another category of problems well-suited to DIY diagnosis. Modern motorcycles rely on numerous sensors to monitor everything from engine temperature to throttle position. When these sensors fail or provide erratic readings, your diagnostic tool can pinpoint which specific sensor is causing trouble on your Suzuki or other motorcycle. Electrical system issues, while sometimes complex, often begin with simple problems like loose connections or depleted batteries. Basic diagnostic equipment can help you trace electrical faults methodically, saving considerable time and frustration. This is particularly valuable on feature-rich motorcycles with extensive electronic accessories. Emission control problems frequently trigger warning lights on newer motorcycles. Your scanner can identify specific components in the emission system that are operating outside normal parameters, allowing you to address environmental compliance issues before they affect performance or lead to failed inspections. When to Seek Professional Help While DIY diagnostics empowers you to handle many issues, recognizing the limitations of your tools and expertise is equally important. Certain situations warrant professional intervention, even for enthusiastic home mechanics. Complex electronic systems like advanced ABS modules often require specialized equipment beyond consumer-grade scanners. If your BMW or Honda has sophisticated braking systems with integrated stability control, problems in these areas might be better addressed by professionals with manufacturer-specific tools. Engine internal issues, while sometimes indicated by diagnostic codes, typically require specialized equipment and expertise to resolve properly. If your scanner points to problems like low compression or internal mechanical damage on your Harley or Kawasaki, consulting a professional mechanic is usually the wisest course. Transmission or final drive problems, particularly on shaft-drive motorcycles like many BMW models, often require specialized knowledge and tools. While your diagnostic tool might identify symptoms, addressing the root cause typically requires professional expertise. Warranty considerations are also important. If your Yamaha, Ducati, or other motorcycle is under warranty, attempting certain repairs yourself might void coverage. When diagnostic codes indicate warranty-covered issues, documenting the problem and consulting an authorized dealer is often the most economical approach long-term. Safety-critical systems deserve special consideration. If your diagnostic scanner identifies problems with brakes, steering components, or other systems directly affecting safety, professional verification is strongly recommended, even if you plan to make repairs yourself. Building Your Diagnostic Skills Over Time Becoming proficient in motorcycle diagnostics is a journey rather than a destination. As with any valuable skill, your abilities will develop gradually through practice, study, and experience. Start with the basics and focus initially on maintenance-related diagnostics rather than complex troubleshooting. Use your scan tool to verify successful maintenance procedures on your Honda or Harley, confirming that systems are operating within specifications after routine service. Expand your knowledge through online resources and communities specific to your motorcycle brand. Owners of Kawasaki, Yamaha, BMW, and other makes often form vibrant online communities where diagnostic information and experiences are shared freely. These resources can provide model-specific insights that generic information cannot. Consider taking a motorcycle maintenance course that includes electronic diagnostics. Many technical schools and community colleges offer courses that cover modern motorcycle systems, including hands-on experience with diagnostic tools. These structured learning environments can accelerate your progress significantly. Invest in your tools progressively as your skills develop. While you might start with a basic Bluetooth scanner purchased from Amazon, you may eventually benefit from more sophisticated equipment. Upgrade your diagnostic capabilities in line with your growing expertise and the specific needs of your Suzuki, Ducati, or other motorcycle. Document everything you learn in a personal reference guide. Each motorcycle has unique characteristics, and the diagnostic insights you gain about your specific bike are invaluable. Recording normal operating parameters, typical code patterns, and successful troubleshooting approaches creates a personalized resource that grows more valuable over time. Conclusion: Empowerment Through Knowledge DIY motorcycle diagnostics tool represents more than just a way to save money on maintenanceits about developing a deeper relationship with your machine. Understanding how your motorcycle communicates its needs and conditions transforms you from a passive owner into an active participant in its care and performance. Whether you ride a classic Harley, a high-tech BMW, a reliable Honda, or any other brand, the principles of diagnostics remain similar even as the specific implementations vary. The investment in basic diagnostic tools and knowledge pays dividends in confidence, convenience, and connection to your motorcycle. As electronic systems continue to evolve on modern motorcycles, diagnostic capabilities will become increasingly central to the ownership experience. Embracing these technologies now positions you to grow alongside these developments, maintaining your independence and enjoyment as a rider. Vancouver, BC In an era of unprecedented surveillance, digital exposure, and identity-based threats, the need for personal reinvention and protection has never been greater. Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in legal identity transformation and second passport solutions, has released a new comprehensive guide titled Quick Guide to Reinvent Yourself with A New Identity. This latest educational resource empowers individuals to navigate the legal, ethical, and practical avenues available to those seeking a fresh start. The guide addresses the rising global demand for second identities, driven by personal security concerns, identity theft, unjust legal complications, and increasing international travel restrictions. Backed by Amicus Internationals extensive experience and legal expertise, the document offers a step-by-step roadmap for individuals who seek to lawfully change their identities while remaining compliant with international legal frameworks. Rising Demand for New Identities: A Symptom of Modern-Day Pressures According to Amicus International, identity reinvention is not just for individuals embroiled in legal trouble or financial turmoil. Increasingly, professionals, whistleblowers, victims of domestic abuse, political refugees, and people recovering from identity theft are exploring legal identity changes as a pathway to security, autonomy, and peace of mind. Modern life has created conditions where maintaining a single, lifelong identity can become a liability, said a spokesperson for Amicus International. Whether its due to a data breach, harassment, or the need to relocate discreetly, people are realizing that privacy is not guaranteedand sometimes, reinvention is the only safe path forward. Why Reinventing Your Identity Might Be Necessary The new guide highlights several compelling reasons individuals may seek a second identity: Identity Theft : A compromised identity can lead to catastrophic financial and legal consequences. Victims often face years of effort to undo the damage. Personal Safety : Victims of stalking, harassment, or domestic abuse may require anonymity to protect their lives. Legal Implications : False accusations or association with criminal activity can stain ones record indefinitelyeven if proven innocent. Travel Limitations : Certain nationalities face stringent visa restrictions or politically motivated entry bans. A new legal identity and passport can resolve these limitations, enhancing mobility and access. In each of these scenarios, a carefully constructed, legally obtained new identity can make the difference between freedom and fear, opportunity and restriction. The Amicus International Process: Secure, Legal, and Confidential Amicus Internationals methodology adheres strictly to international law, working only through legal channels to provide their clients with second passports, legal name changes, and supporting identification such as drivers licenses or tax identification numbers. Their services begin with a confidential consultation to assess the clients goals, followed by: Name Change Services : Initiating a legal name change through appropriate court systems. Identity Documentation : Securing birth certificates, national IDs, passports, and drivers licenses from participating jurisdictions. Digital Identity Management : Assisting in cleaning or recreating a digital footprint, including social media identities and communication protocols. Ongoing Support : Monitoring, document updates, and legal support to ensure continuity and credibility of the new identity. Each client receives a tailored plan based on their background, desired country of residence, and security needs. The firm handles each case with discretion and care, ensuring legal compliance at every stage. Legal Lifelines for Identity Theft Victims Amicus International places significant emphasis on the legal remedies available to victims of identity theft. Their guide outlines a streamlined response plan that includes: Filing a Police Report : The foundational step for reclaiming control over your identity. A detailed and accurate police report serves as the first line of defense. Alerting Government Agencies and Financial Institutions : Informing entities such as the Social Security Administration, banks, and credit bureaus to block fraudulent activity and issue new credentials. Leveraging Identity Theft Protection Services : These services, often supported by Amicus, monitor credit activity, track digital threats, and offer assistance in identity restoration. Seeking a New Social Security Number : In extreme cases, victims may be eligible to receive a new Social Security number. This process is legally complex and requires documentation, but it can offer a full reset of ones financial profile. Second Passports: A Legal Gateway to Global Mobility and Security For clients looking to extend their identity transformation internationally, a second passport is one of the most potent legal tools available. Amicus International partners with jurisdictions offering Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and other special legal programs that provide second citizenship in exchange for economic contributions or professional credentials. Benefits of a second passport include: Enhanced Global Access : Visa-free travel to over 120 countries, depending on the passport. Asset Diversification : Ability to open offshore bank accounts and invest globally under an alternate nationality. Political and Legal Safety : Protection from geopolitical instability or persecution in ones home country. Tax Efficiency : Access to jurisdictions with favorable tax policies. Amicus assists clients throughout the application process, including vetting suitable jurisdictions, preparing investment documentation, and ensuring the legitimacy of all supporting documents. Case Studies: From Crisis to Reinvention Amicus International has helped clients from diverse backgrounds transform their lives. A few notable case studies include: Eastern European Whistleblower : After revealing government corruption, he faced severe harassment. Amicus provided a second citizenship and legal identity in the Caribbean. He now lives safely and operates a consulting firm. Domestic Abuse Survivor : A woman from the U.S. escaped an abusive marriage with Amicuss help. The team facilitated her name change, new ID, and relocation to Europe. Today, she has rebuilt her life, career, and identity. Tech Entrepreneur Victim of Cybercrime : Following a massive data breach, his financial records and credit score were compromised. Amicus helped secure a new Social Security number and legal documents, restoring his ability to conduct business and protect his digital life. These stories reflect not only the power of legal identity transformation but also the compassion and professionalism with which Amicus International operates. Avoiding Illegal Methods: The Dangers of Black-Market Solutions Amicus International strongly cautions against using illegal vendors or online schemes that promise new identities with counterfeit documents. Not only are these methods ineffective, but they also carry severe legal consequences including imprisonment, deportation, and permanent bans from future legitimate immigration applications. Everything we do is 100% legal, documented, and customized to the jurisdiction of the client, stated an Amicus representative. There are no shortcuts to a new lifeonly the right way and the wrong way. Clients are encouraged to work exclusively with vetted professionals and conduct due diligence before initiating any identity change project. How to Begin: A Clear Roadmap to a Legal New Identity To begin the process, Amicus International recommends taking the following steps: Conduct Preliminary Research : Study local and international laws surrounding name changes, second citizenships, and identification documentation. Consult Legal Experts : Book a consultation with a licensed attorney or firm like Amicus with experience in identity law. Organize Documentation : Collect current legal records, including birth certificates, identification cards, and financial statements. Initiate Legal Applications : Begin the formal process for name changes, passport acquisition, and digital identity updates. Secure Your Future Identity : Regularly monitor accounts, use encrypted storage for identity documents, and implement two-factor authentication for all digital platforms. About Amicus International Consulting Based in Vancouver, Canada, Amicus International Consulting is recognized worldwide for its expertise in legal identity transformation, second passports, and secure personal reinvention. The firm offers personalized services to individuals seeking safety, mobility, and privacy through fully legal means. Their offerings include: Second passport acquisition Legal name change facilitation Offshore banking solutions Digital identity privacy enhancements Identity theft recovery support Amicus Internationals operations are governed by a strict code of ethics prioritizing legality, discretion, and the well-being of its clients. Amicus International Consulting Vancouver, BC AMICUS www.amicusint.ca info@amicusint.ca For those ready to reclaim their future or break free from a past that no longer serves them, Amicus International Consulting stands as the premier authority for safe, legal, and life-changing identity reinvention. Doolittle Raid commemoration held in east China to honor peace, friendship Xinhua) 08:49, April 21, 2025 Guests visit the site where the U.S. airmen of the Doolittle Raid were rescued by locals in Quzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) HANGZHOU, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A China-U.S. people-to-people exchange activity was held Thursday and Friday in Quzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. Some 20 international guests, including representatives of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, the USS Hornet Museum and the Children of the Doolittle Raiders, and over 30 Chinese experts participated in the event honoring peace and friendship, held by the Quzhou Museum and the Quzhou Society for the History of the Doolittle Raid. The USS Hornet Museum, a retired U.S. aircraft carrier-turned-museum in California, gifted an original film reel of a 1942 Doolittle Raiders training exercise to the Quzhou Society for the History of the Doolittle Raid. The society donated the wreckage of a B-25 bomber from the raid to the museum. On April 18, 1942, a group of 16 U.S. bombers, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, took off from the USS Hornet and raided Japan during World War II as retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor. On their way back, the planes ran out of fuel over various localities in the Chinese provinces of Jiangxi and Zhejiang, and airmen had to parachute to safety, and were later rescued by locals. After the Doolittle Raid, the airport in Quzhou was subjected to intense bombing by Japanese forces. Japan also waged biological warfare in Zhejiang, resulting in massive civilian deaths. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. During the two-day event, the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation also established a partnership with Zhejiang Quzhou High School. The school becomes a participant of the program of the Flying Tigers Friendship School, which aims to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between young people in the two countries. The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, was formed in 1941 by U.S. General Claire Lee Chennault. They came to China to help the Chinese people fight the invading Japanese forces. Guests and students pose for a group photo after planting trees in Quzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation Jeffrey Ballard (L) and a representative of Zhejiang Quzhou High School shake hands during a ceremony of establishing a partnership with the school in Quzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines GTFSolutions, a trusted global authority in financial instruments and credit enhancement strategies, has released a comprehensive industry bulletin detailing the legal, structural, and regulatory importance of Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCS). The firm aims to assist brokers, lenders, developers, and institutional clients effectively deploying SBLCS in trade finance, infrastructure development, and private lending frameworks. The publication, based on years of field application and legal review, demystifies the differences between SBLCs and demand guarantees, addressing widespread industry confusion and providing guidance aligned with Basel III, ICC Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees (URDG 758), and UCP 600. Understanding SBLCs: Contingent Liability, Not a Loan Substitute A Standby Letter of Credit is a financial instrument issued by a bank or financial institution guaranteeing payment to a beneficiary in case the applicant (often a buyer or contractor) fails to fulfill contractual obligations. Unlike traditional guarantees, which are often conditional and allow the issuer to raise defences, an SBLC functions as a documentary, unconditional guaranteebut only once default is proven and documented according to the agreed-upon terms. SBLCS are not designed to be activated, explained Sophia Brar, Chief Financial Officer of GTFSolutions. They provide confidence to all parties involved. The financial institution essentially says: If our client fails to perform, we will step inbut only if it is demonstrably so. In other words, SBLCS are stand-by instrumentsmeant to serve as a safety net rather than a primary form of payment. This distinction is crucial in regulatory compliance and risk underwriting. Real-World Case Study: Mining Infrastructure in West Africa In 2023, GTFSolutions was approached by a German engineering consortium bidding on a $10 million excavation contract with a mining firm in Ghana. The Ghanaian firm required financial assurance that the German party would fulfill its obligations. GTFSolutions issued an SBLC backed by a reputable international bank. The presence of the SBLC gave the Ghanaian company confidence to proceed, while the German consortium avoided locking up liquid capital or posting cash collateral. The SBLC was never triggered, and the project was completed. This is the ideal use of an SBLC, said Head of Sales and Marketing Robert Wilson. It enabled commerce and trust between two unfamiliar parties without straining working capital or requiring sovereign guarantees. SBLCS vs. Demand Guarantees: Key Differences GTFSolutions emphasized that demand guarantees and SBLCS may appear similar, but they serve distinct legal and financial functions: Feature SBLC Demand Guarantee Legal Nature Contingent and secondary Maybe primary Trigger Proof of default/documentary claim First demand, no proof required Defenses Limited or none The issuer can raise contractual defences Use Case Risk mitigation Immediate payment guarantee Regulatory Scrutiny Lower under Basel III Higher due to risk exposure Misclassifying these instruments can lead to compliance breaches or unintended financial exposure, said Emily Johnson, Senior Credit Analyst at GTFSolutions. A lender should not view an SBLC as a substitute for collateral or creditworthiness. Regulatory Insight: Basel III Implications Financial regulators, particularly under Basel III, require institutions to report and manage contingent liabilities such as SBLCS with scrutiny. GTFSolutions advises brokers and borrowers to ensure that the use of SBLCS aligns with their regulatory frameworks and jurisdictional laws, especially when issued or monetized internationally. About GTFSolutions GTFSolutions is a globally trusted issuer and advisor on financial instruments such as Standby Letters of Credit, Certificates of Deposit (CDS), and Proof of Funds. Headquartered in St. Vincent and with operational hubs in London and North America, GTFSolutions supports structured finance, real estate development, international trade, and capital fundraising. Halifax Street, Kingstown, St. Vincent +1 888 305 9992 admin@gtfsolutions.com www.gtfsolutions.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia In a new comprehensive analysis, Amicus International Consulting reveals how extradition treaties and Interpol Red Noticestools originally designed to foster international cooperation in law enforcementare increasingly misused by powerful governments to suppress political dissent, target journalists, and manipulate foreign policy. Titled How Governments Exploit Extradition Treaties, the report highlights high-profile case studies and critically examines how international law can be distorted under the guise of justice. Extradition should serve as a tool to ensure justice, not to settle political scores, said a senior consultant at Amicus International. But when treaties are weaponized, and Red Notices are issued for political dissenters, the line between rule of law and repression becomes dangerously blurred. The Julian Assange Case: Political Offence or Criminal Espionage? No case better exemplifies the political manipulation of extradition than that of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. After publishing classified information revealing U.S. military misconduct, Assange became the target of an aggressive extradition effort by the United States. Though initially arrested in the UK over a European warrant unrelated to the leaks, Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he remained for seven years. In 2019, he was forcibly removed and arrested. The ongoing U.S. extradition request, built on Espionage Act charges, has been widely criticized by journalists, human rights groups, and legal scholars as politically motivated. The Assange case illustrates how extradition treaties, under the veneer of national security, can be deployed to silence voices that expose uncomfortable truths, the Amicus report states. Extradition Treaties: Foundations and Failures Extradition treaties are formal agreements intended to facilitate the surrender of individuals charged with serious crimes. Yet, many of these treaties lack protections against politically motivated prosecutions. According to the 2004 United Nations Model Law on Extradition, extradition should not apply to political offences. Section 4(1) and Article 3 caution against surrendering individuals sought for political beliefs or activities. However, these safeguards are often ignored or interpreted narrowly by countries seeking to advance geo political agendas. Hong Kong and the 2019 Crisis: A Case of Overreach The 2019 Hong Kong Extradition Bill was a turning point. Though framed as a response to a murder case, the bills real implications would have allowed extradition to mainland China, sparking massive public protests. Activists feared that Beijing could use the new legislation to target political dissidents under the guise of criminal prosecution. This incident exposed how even proposed changes to extradition agreements could provoke international condemnation, undermine democratic governance, and erode civil liberties. Interpol Red Notices: The Politicization of Global Policing Interpols Red Notices are non-binding requests for cooperation to locate and provisionally arrest suspects pending extradition. While not international arrest warrants, many countries treat them as such. Unfortunately, the system is vulnerable to abuse by authoritarian regimes seeking to silence critics abroad. Case Studies: Alexander Barankov : A Belarusian military officer who exposed corruption, fled to Ecuador, and received asylum. Despite this, Belarus issued a Red Notice leading to his arrest. Only international pressure secured his release. Dolkun Isa : A Uyghur human rights activist who China repeatedly targeted through Red Notices despite receiving international recognition for his advocacy. Rafaa Toufik Yazid : An Algerian blogger critical of his government, Yazid was targeted with a Red Notice that drew condemnation from press freedom organizations. When you weaponize Red Notices against activists, you dismantle the credibility of Interpol as a neutral agency, said an Amicus spokesperson. The Case of Meng Wanzhou: Economic Warfare through Legal Channels In 2018, Canadian authorities arrested Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Chinese tech giant Huawei, at the request of the United States. She faced charges of violating U.S. sanctions on Iranallegations with profound geopolitical implications. Mengs detention sparked diplomatic crises between Canada, the U.S., and China. Critics argue that Mengs arrest had less to do with legal justice and more with U.S.-China tech rivalry. This wasnt an extraditionit was economic statecraft disguised as a court proceeding, stated the report. Double Standards Among Western Powers While the United States and its Western allies regularly criticize countries like China for misusing legal instruments, they have often exploited these tools for strategic advantage. Despite China having extradition treaties with nearly 50 countries , many Western nations, including the U.S., the UK, and Australia , refuse to reciprocate or have suspended agreements with Hong Kong . At the same time, these nations pursue extraditions under broad definitions of espionage, cybercrime, and financial misconduct often entangled with political interests. This double standard undermines the integrity of international legal systems and erodes the rule of law as a shared global principle. The Broader Implications The misuse of extradition treaties and Red Notices has ripple effects beyond the individual cases: Human Rights Erosion : Dissidents, whistleblowers, and journalists are increasingly vulnerable to arrest, even in so-called safe countries. Legal Precedent : Politically motivated cases set dangerous precedents, potentially chilling free speech and dissent globally. Diplomatic Fallout : Misused extradition attempts sour diplomatic relations, leading to retaliation and treaty suspensions . Undermining International Institutions : Repeated abuses cause countries to question the legitimacy of Interpol and other multinational enforcement agencies. A Call for Reform and Caution Amicus International Consulting recommends: Stronger Safeguards : Reform extradition treaties to prohibit politically motivated prosecutions. Interpol Oversight : Implement third-party audits of Red Notices to detect abuse. Legal Transparency : Public hearings and documentation are required in all extradition proceedings. Asylum Protections : Increase protections for individuals targeted due to political beliefs or activism. We must reaffirm that the pursuit of justice cannot be twisted into a tool for persecution, Amicus emphasized. About Amicus International Consulting Amicus International Consulting is a leading provider of legal identity change services, second passport solutions, and privacy consulting for individuals seeking safe, lawful alternatives in oppressive political environments. With a focus on human rights, international law, and ethical identity transformation, Amicus serves clients globally with discretion, professionalism, and legal expertise. For individuals facing political persecution or threats of unjust extradition, Amicus offers consultation on identity change services, privacy defence, and second citizenship acquisition through legal frameworks. Media Contact Amicus International Consulting Vancouver, BC www.amicusint.ca info@amicusint.ca AMICUS Amicus International Consulting Unveils A Guide to Disappear, Start Over, and Reclaim Freedom Vancouver, BC In an era where digital footprints are nearly impossible to erase, Amicus International Consulting has released a comprehensive guide on how individuals can legally and safely disappear from the United States in 2025. With a focus on privacy, safety, and legal considerations, the guide outlines eight essential steps for those seeking a new beginning outside of the U.S. This release, which includes verified case studies and detailed planning insights, is part of Amicus Internationals ongoing mission to offer individuals an escape from surveillance, injustice, and threats to their personal freedom. Step 1: Obtain a Passport with a New Legal Identity The first and most critical step in disappearing is securing a passport under a new legal identity before making any moves. Once flagged in a national or international database, obtaining legal travel documents becomes a monumental challenge. Case Study: The Exonerated Whistleblower In 2022, a corporate whistleblower accused of cybercrimes found himself under investigation after exposing unethical government contracts. Working with Amicus International, he legally changed his name through a Caribbean jurisdiction and secured a new passport. This identity shift allowed him to relocate to Panama, where he now works as a data consultant under full legal protection. Step 2: Choose a Discreet Exit Strategy Whether you travel by land, air, or sea, selecting your departure method can mean the difference between freedom and detention. Private charter boats or crossing land borders at less-trafficked points offer lower risks than major international airports with facial recognition systems. Case Study: Exit via Belize A California entrepreneur falsely accused of tax evasion left the U.S. through Mexico and traveled by boat to Belize. He entered the country using a new identity and was granted temporary residency. This method helped him avoid TSA watchlists and border alerts while maintaining complete anonymity. Step 3: Pick a Country Without Extradition Treaties Individuals fleeing unjust persecution must consider their destination carefully. Countries without extradition treatiessuch as Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Montenegromay offer greater legal safety from international arrest warrants. Case Study: A Fathers Flight for Custody In 2019, a man who lost custody of his children under questionable circumstances relocated to Morocco, a non-extradition country for many Western jurisdictions. Through Amicus, he secured new identification and later opened a business, all without fear of forced repatriation. Step 4: Prepare Financially and Go Underground Before leaving, sever digital ties and cease electronic payments. Going underground includes minimizing contact, deleting social media, and transitioning to a cash-only lifestyle. Case Study: Survivor of Domestic Abuse A domestic violence survivor used Amicus Internationals services to eliminate all online identifiers. She traveled with prepaid debit cards and no mobile phone. Today, she lives peacefully in Thailand, working as a yoga instructor, having erased all digital links to her former life. Step 5: Secure Legitimate Identification Documents Low-quality or fake documents can lead to arrest and deportation. High-quality, government-issued documents legally obtained under a new name are essential to cross borders safely. Case Study: The Stolen Identity Victim A woman whose identity was stolen and used in financial fraud faced constant police scrutiny. Amicus helped her secure a new legal identity through an Eastern European citizenship-by-investment program. She now lives and works freely in Hungary, immune from the chaos caused by the original crime. Step 6: Open International Bank Accounts and Manage Assets Strategically Offshore banking is essential for asset protection. Avoiding banks tied to the U.S. and using legitimate non-U.S. identities helps preserve financial independence. How to Prepare Financially: Liquidate U.S.-based assets or transfer them offshore Use multi-currency accounts in jurisdictions like Liechtenstein or the Cayman Islands Secure cryptocurrency wallets and offshore gold storage Case Study: Retired Investor Facing IRS Audit After an unexpected IRS audit targeting his family trust, a retired Florida investor diversified his assets internationally. Using an Amicus-facilitated identity change, he opened bank accounts in Singapore and Switzerland. Today, his wealth remains intact and shielded. Step 7: Adopt Anonymous Travel Techniques Avoiding surveillance means using burner phones, prepaid credit cards, VPNs, and encrypted messaging. Learning alternate travel routesvia secondary airports or border crossingsis equally vital. Case Study: Engineer Targeted by a Lawsuit In 2020, a software engineer facing a malicious lawsuit used anonymized cryptocurrency to fund a trip to Eastern Europe. He avoided hotel registrations by staying in private accommodations arranged through encrypted platforms. After six months of careful movement, he resettled under a new legal identity and launched a successful online consultancy. Step 8: Assimilate and Start Anew Successfully disappearing requires more than evasion; it involves rebuilding. From learning local customs and language to adopting new behaviors and appearance, integration is key. Case Study: Former Political Activist in Exile An environmental activist targeted for political dissent found refuge in Uruguay through Amicus legal identity program. She mastered Spanish, adapted to regional dress, and integrated into her community as a school teacher. Her new life remains stable, anonymous, and entirely legal. Final Considerations: Understanding the Risks Choosing to disappear is not a decision to take lightly. It may entail severing ties with friends and family, adapting to a completely foreign culture, and constantly practicing vigilance. Amicus International emphasizes that all services provided are legal and designed for people in legitimate danger or facing wrongful prosecution. We dont help criminals escape justice. We provide lawful solutions to those whose freedom is compromised by unjust systems or flawed legal processes, said an Amicus spokesperson. Every case is reviewed thoroughly to ensure compliance with international law. About Amicus International Consulting Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Amicus International Consulting has over 20 years of experience helping individuals achieve financial privacy, second citizenships, and new legal identities. Their expertise in high-stakes identity solutions, offshore structuring, and legal migration strategies makes them a trusted partner for clients worldwide. Amicus Internationals services include: Second passport programs Legal name changes through international jurisdictions Offshore asset protection Private legal advisory for those facing international legal risks Biometric identity countermeasures The firms success stories have been cited across reputable outlets including: CKNW1980 : Amicus International Consulting is the expert you need if you wish to live a life of anonymity. KXAN News : The Alarming Rise of Synthetic Identity Theft. South China Morning Post : A Vancouver firm offers clients new identities For More Information: To learn more about legally disappearing or beginning a new chapter with a second identity, visit www.amicusint.ca or contact Amicus International Consulting at: AMICUS Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada info@amicusint.ca Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. Amicus International Consulting does not encourage illegal activities or provide services to fugitives fleeing justice. All services are provided in accordance with international legal frameworks. A bill requiring Iowa students to pass the same test given to those who apply for U.S. citizenship in order to graduate from high school is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds desk to be signed into law. House lawmakers passed Senate File 369, 60-33, with five Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition. The bill would require high schoolers to take and pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test. Students in ninth through 12th grade would need to answer at least 60 questions correctly on the most recent version of the 100-question, multiple choice exam to graduate from high school or receive a high school equivalency diploma. Students who fail would be able to retake the exam as many times as they need. Reynolds proposed the requirement in January during her Condition of the State address to state lawmakers. Supporters of the legislation argue it would help increase public understanding of civics and how the U.S. government works. Senate File 369 is a bill that should be thought of as a bill to be an encouragement to knowledge, not as a barrier to graduation, said Rep. Robert Henderson, a Republican from Sioux City and the bills floor manager. Critics say a required standardized test is not an effective way to ensure students have a good understanding of U.S. civics. I am fully supportive of idea that we need to increase the understanding of government and the role of citizens in government. I do not believe that requiring a test for graduation provides the outcomes that we are looking for, said Rep. Chad Ingels, a Republican from Randalia. Students will prepare for the test, memorize the questions, answer the questions, get 60% and move on. Republicans rejected amendments offered by House Democrats that would create guidelines for a civics service project in lieu of having a student take the test and that would require state lawmakers to take the test and have their scores published. I do not believe that our students future should rest upon a single test. We know from No Child Left Behind that when you teach a standardized test, time and resources energy get taken away from other subjects, said Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, a Democrat from Hiawatha. Sixteen states, including Wisconsin and Missouri, have the exam as a requirement to graduate from high school. House amends prenatal education requirement House Republican lawmakers amended a bill that would require Iowa schools to include specific instruction and visual materials on pregnancy and fetal development, including a video, along with health curriculum for students in grades five through 12. Senate File 175, as amended, would require schools to show: A high-definition ultrasound video showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs and other vital organs in early fetal development; A high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation that depicts the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development, beginning at fertilization, highlighting key markers in cell and organ growth throughout every stage of pregnancy. Republicans amended the bill to prohibit schools from using any book, article, outline, handout, video or other educational material produced or provided by an entity that does any of the following: Performs abortions Promotes abortions Contracts or subcontracts with an entity that performs or promotes abortions Becomes or continues to be an affiliate of any entity that performs or promotes abortions Regularly makes referrals to an entity that provides or promotes abortions Rep. Austin Baeth, a Democrat from Des Moines, said that would prohibit schools from using information from research institutions like the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and the University of Iowa that have some sort of association with abortions that are at least performed to protect the life of the mother. So what is left to teach our children if we are not going to be relying on information that comes from research institutions? Baeth asked. Rep. Helena Hayes, the bills floor manager and a Republican from New Sharon, said the bill is careful to define research-based material as complete and unbiased, supported by valid scientific research recognized as medically accurate and objective by leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field, also when appropriate, published in peer reviewed journals. Previous, similar versions of the bill would have required schools use a specific video, titled Baby Olivia and produced by an anti-abortion right organization, in schools human growth and development instruction. Medical and reproductive rights groups say the video provides scientifically inaccurate information. While the amended bill does not require a specific video, Democrats said no other known video encompasses all the descriptions laid out in the bill. Republicans rejected amendment from Democrats that would allow a parent or guardian who currently can opt a child out of human growth and development classes the ability to specifically opt out a child from seeing the video, and require video and animation be scientifically accurate. Democrats said Republicans were putting politics over science. Our kids deserve facts, not propaganda, said Rep. Heather Matson, an Ankeny Democrat. Hayes said the bill brings humanity into the classroom. It gives face and form to the unseen, allowing young minds to understand that the womb is not a void, but a vibrant space where life unfolds with astonishing complexity, she said. The bill now heads back to the Senate for final approval. Proposed constitutional amendment advances A proposal to amend Iowas Constitution by clarifying that children can testify in court remotely, rather than being made to face their alleged abuser, moved a key step closer to Iowa voters with approval from state lawmakers. For years in Iowa, children in certain court cases were allowed to testify from a remote location, in front of a judge. But the Iowa Supreme Court last year ruled that the constitutional right for an individual to face his or her accuser in court is violated when a child gives witness testimony from outside the courtroom. As a result, Iowa is now the only state in the country that does not permit any form of remote testimony from children. While all parties agree on the need to address the issue, lawmakers and advocates have disagreed over how. Some believe it can be addressed by amending state law. Others, including Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, believe because of the Iowa Supreme Courts ruling, only an amendment to the Iowa Constitution will suffice. Bird proposed the constitutional amendment, which was approved Thursday by the Iowa House with a bipartisan, 87-6 vote. The proposal previously passed the Senate by a unanimous, 47-0 vote. The proposal, Senate Joint Resolution 9, will return to state lawmakers no earlier than the 2027 session. To amend the Iowa Constitution, a proposal must be approved by two consecutive meetings of the Iowa General Assembly the two-year, two-session meetings of the Iowa Legislature then be approved by voters in a general election. Birds proposed constitutional amendment must be approved by lawmakers again in either 2027 or 2028 and then could be put to Iowa voters in the 2028 election. The proposal would amend the Iowa Constitution to say that state law can provide exceptions to a witnesss right to confront an accuser in order to protect children under the age of 18 or individuals with a mental illness or intellectual or developmental disability. In a detailed analysis, the Hudson Institute urged the US administration to designate the Polisario as a terrorist group, citing the militias involvement in destabilizing acts in the region, in connivance with its main sponsor Algeria, as well as Iran, which has been using the separatist group to gain a foothold in North Africa. The Polisario has been described as a primary source of regional instability, in the analysis by North Africa specialist, Zineb Riboua, who said time was up for the US administration to act against the armed militia. After highlighting the strategic shift in 2020, when the Trump Administration recognized Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, Riboua urged a clear cut US engagement in favor of Morocco, a major non-NNTO ally, by designating the Polisario as a terror group. She made the case for such a designation citing the Polisarios targeting of civilians, its violations of the 1991 UN ceasefire agreement, its ties to Iran and proxies like Hezbollah, its cooperation with other armed groups with a cold-war era mindset like the PKK, and its destabilizing acts against Morocco, a US ally. Riboua also noted how the population held against their will in the Tindouf camps have become pawns used by Algeria to serve its separatist chimera in the region, noting that the Sahrawis in the camps are denied the right to citizenship and free movement. The camps are militarized enclaves and not refugee heavens, she noted, recalling a Human Rights Watch report that detailed abhorrent rights violations including slavery. The perpetuation of the conflict by Algeria, which prevents progress towards the autonomy plan, has made the camps a tinder box waiting to explode and a magnet for terrorist groups in the Sahel. A former Polisario member Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi became the emir of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. Under his orders the group carried out numerous attacks across the Sahel, including a 2017 ambush in Niger that killed four US soldiers. His case shows the dangers that emanate from the status quo that Algeria is so attached to. Riboua argued that from a US legal point of view, the Polisario engages in terrorist activity as defined under 8 U.S.C. 1182. This includes attacks in violation of ceasefire agreements, violence against civilians, and logistical and operational coordination with FTOs like Hezbollah. She called for the US to use its influence to pressure Algeria to disarm the Polisario or else risk classifying the separatist group as terrorist. Polisario-linked militant networks fuel instability across the Sahel, threatening US personnel, undermining regional governments, and disrupting access to uranium, gold, and rare earths deposits that are vital to global supply chains. Amid this turbulence, Morocco remains a steadfast US partnerneutralizing terror cells, training regional forces, and serving as a gateway for constructive Western engagement, she said. Finland Daily, a digital Finnish paper, warned of the connivance between the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists and Iran as a major security threat to Europe. North Africa, especially Algeria and Libya, has become a hotspot for illicit trade in arms, drugs, and human trafficking, activities that are commonly linked to Iranian proxies and now increasingly to the Polisario as well, Dr. Ari Petajavaara wrote on Finland Daily. Petajavaara echoed calls for designating the Polisario as a terrorist group, after the Washington Post confirmed the separatist group had sent its members to be trained by Iran in Syria. He alerted Iran was trying to export proxy warfare to North Africa by relying on the Polisario. Irans relationship with the Polisario Front reflects a familiar pattern: exploiting marginalized, ideologically compatible, and militarized non-state actors to project influence far from its borders, much like it has done in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, the columnist said. In 2022, a Polisario Front representative claimed that Iran would supply the group with kamikaze drones, he recalled. Meanwhile, Europe should act or else risk the fallout of Polisarios destabilizing acts. The case of Omar Ould Hamma, involved in the 2009 abduction of three Spanish humanitarian workers in Mauritania, is one example of the Fronts ties with terrorist networks such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), he said. Iran has found in Algeria and in the Polisario an ally after the setbacks it suffered in the Middle East. The Polisario is adopting terrorist tactics targeting civilians, firing projectiles onto residential areas in Smara, killing one and injuring three in 2023. The Polisario is no longer a mere separatist movement. It increasingly mirrors the profile of Iranian proxies: ideologically radicalized, regionally embedded, transnationally connected, and strategically useful to Tehran, he said. In a rare convergence of calendars, Christians across Africa from Orthodox to Western denominations celebrated Easter on the same day this year, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ with deep spiritual reflection and cultural vibrancy. In Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), celebrations unfolded under the shadow of ongoing conflict, as residents gathered for Easter services despite rebel occupation by the M23 group. Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele used the occasion to appeal for unity and an end to violence, urging worshippers to become men and women of peace. Ethiopian Christians of all denominations marked Fasika, as Easter is known, with solemn ceremonies, amid the lingering effects of conflict in the Amhara and Tigray regions. At Bole Medhanialem Church in Addis Ababa, worshippers emphasized sacrifice and love, while many vulnerable citizens relied on communal generosity to partake in traditional feasts amid economic hardship. In Eritrea, Easter was celebrated Jesus death and resurrection nationwide with colorful services. President Isaias Afwerki joined worshippers at Saint Mary Church in Asmara, where patriarch Abune Basilios encouraged support for the disadvantaged and national unity. South Africa offered a unique twist: mass weddings for 3,000 people, with many of them entering into polygamous marriages, were held at the International Pentecost Holiness Church, reflecting a blend of African traditions and Christian faith. Across the continent, this Easter was not only a spiritual milestone but also a moment to seek peace, healing, and collective hope. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has suspended the political party of former president Joseph Kabila, accusing him of high treason over alleged links to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. The Interior Ministry announced the suspension of Kabilas Peoples Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and ordered the seizure of assets belonging to him and senior party officials. Authorities claim the PPRD demonstrated an ambiguous attitude toward the M23, whose renewed offensive in eastern DRC has led to major humanitarian crises and the capture of key cities, including Goma and Bukavu. Kabila, who ruled the central African nation from 2001 to 2019 before seeking self-imposed exile in South Africa, returned to the DRC on 19 April amid surging conflict. President Felix Tshisekedi has accused him of conspiring with M23 to fuel unrest. Legal proceedings have been initiated, though no formal charges have yet been filed. But critics, including Rwandan-based analyst Jean-Baptiste Gasominari, called the move politically motivated and legally dubious in light of the absence of conclusive evidence linking Kabila to rebel activities in the countrys east. This is a ridiculous decision, he said, adding you cant suspend a political party or seize assets based purely on allegations. Kabila has denied any wrongdoing and stated he returned to help resolve the crisis. His spokesperson promised a public address soon. The suspension comes just as peace talks with M23 were postponed, raising fears that the countrys fragile stability could further deteriorate under deepening political divisions. The official opening of the African Space Agency (AfSA) headquarters was held in Cairo on Sunday, April 20, where the facility was unveiled within Egypts national Space City. The agency, which is intended to serve as a central hub for Africas space ambitions, had been established following Egypts selection as host by the African Union in 2019. The selection was based on the countrys fulfilment of the requisite political and technical standards. The inauguration was marked as a landmark development in Africas pursuit of technological and scientific advancement in space-related fields. The creation of the agency has been hailed as a reflection of the African Unions Agenda 2063, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stating that the initiative symbolised the aspirations of The Africa We Want. It was emphasised that the agency would facilitate peaceful cooperation in space exploration, capacity-building among member states, and unified African representation in global forums such as the United Nations. Strong emphasis was placed on AfSAs expected collaboration with universities, research centres, and international partners in a bid to consolidate Africas presence in the global space science and technology domain. The African Space Agency is now expected to act as the principal body coordinating space initiatives across the continent and liaising with foreign entities, particularly from Europe and Asia. Its mandate includes promoting joint missions, expanding access to satellite data, and enabling the development of space-derived applications to address continental challenges. According to Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, AfSA is envisioned as a beacon of innovation for African nations. International interest has already been expressed, with Chinese firm MinoSpace indicating plans to explore potential cooperation in small satellite development and related technologies. Talks over the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) are set to begin by July, but African nations face growing uncertainty as U.S. tariffs threaten to undermine the landmark trade pact. AGOA, which since 2000 has granted duty-free access to the United States for eligible sub-Saharan African exports, is scheduled to expire in September. During president Joe Bidens term, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators proposed extending AGOA through 2041. But Trumps administration announced sweeping tariffs on 2 April, including a baseline 10% duty on imports from 51 African countries. While a temporary 90-day pause was issued, the 10% minimum remains, putting AGOAs core benefits in jeopardy. South Africas trade minister Parks Tau warned that the new duties, which currently support key sectors like textiles and auto manufacturing across the continent, have effectively nullified AGOA benefits in particular categories. Kenyas Export Processing Zones (EPZs), employing over 75,000 workers, and Ghanas garment exporters, such as DTRT Apparel that churns out 50,000 garments daily with nearly half destined for the U.S., are bracing for severe disruption. In Lesotho, whose modest $2 billion economy banks on exports particularly of textiles to countries including the U.S. and now faces a 50% tariff, officials have requested urgent talks with Washington. Zimbabwe has responded by suspending duties on U.S. imports, hoping to preserve economic ties. South Africa, hit with a 30% levy on exports, is calling for a new agreement with the U.S., while analysts urge African states to diversify through regional trade blocs like AfCFTA. As protectionism rises globally, AGOAs uncertain future could reshape Africas industrial landscape and geopolitical alliances. King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, has joined the world leaders in paying tribute to the life and legacy of Pope Francis who died at age 88 on the morning of Easter Monday. In a message sent to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Monarch offered his sincere condolences to the Christians around the world, and especially the Roman Catholic Church. The world has lost an eminent religious figure, who dedicated his life to serving lofty human ideals and common values rooted in faith, freedom, peace, love and solidarity among different peoples, said the King . The late Pope called consistently for protecting and preserving the environment, the home of all mankind. As we look back into the life of the deceased, we see that it was full of generosity and sacrifice. He dedicated himself to combating marginalization and poverty and defending human dignity, said the royal message. The late Pope condemned the circumstances relating to the scourge of illegal migration and called tirelessly for the consolidation of peace, dialogue, tolerance and coexistence among the revealed religions, said the Commander of the Faithful. He recalled the historic visit paid by the late Pope to Morocco in March 2019, a visit which strengthened relations between Morocco and the Holy See. The visit was crowned with the signing by the late Pope and Moroccan King, Commander of the Faithful, of the Jerusalem Declaration, which calls for guaranteeing the right of the followers of the three monotheistic religions to freely enter the Holy City and perform their religious rituals. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan chaired, on Monday at Mechouar StiniaSahrij Souani in Meknes, the opening ceremony of the 17th edition of the Moroccan International Agricultural Show (SIAM), held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, from April 21 to 27, under the theme Agriculture and the Rural World: Water at the Heart of Sustainable Development. The opening of this event by His Royal Highness reflects the great attention and benevolence with which His Majesty the King continues to surround the agricultural sector. It also illustrates the Kingdoms unwavering commitment, under the Sovereigns leadership, to major global challenges such as food security, sustainable development, and the fight against climate change. Upon his arrival, the Crown Prince reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard paying the honors, before being greeted by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests; the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region; the President of the Fez-Meknes regional council; the Governor of the Meknes prefecture; the President of the Meknes prefectural council; the President of the Meknes municipal council; and the President of the Mechouar Stinia municipality. Moulay El Hassan was also greeted by the President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Chamber of Agriculture; the Pacha of Mechouar Stinia; the President and members of the Board of Directors and sponsors of SIAM; the President of the Federation of Chambers of Agriculture; the President of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER); and the Acting Commissioner General of the Show. At the entrance to SIAM, the Crown Prince was greeted by Benjamin Haddad, French Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for EuropeFrance being the guest of honor of this 17th editionas well as by dignitaries representing invited foreign countries (Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Cote dIvoire, Eswatini, Iraq, Liberia, Malawi, Uganda, Palestine, Sao Tome and Principe, and South Sudan), and by development partners (the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), and the World Water Council). Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan then visited the Regions hub, posed for a commemorative photo with the presidents of the regional councils, and toured the Water and Irrigation and Research and Innovation areas within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests pavilion and the OCP Group pavilion. The Crown Prince also visited the Sponsors, Institutionals, Agri-Food, International, Agri-Digital, Agri-Supplies, Nature and Environment, Machinism, Local Products, Livestock Inputs, and Livestock hubs. Held at the Sahrij Souani square over an area of 12.4 hectares, SIAM 2025 is hosting delegations from 70 countries, with France as guest of honora choice that reflects the strength of Moroccan-French relations and the vitality of bilateral cooperation. This 17th edition welcomes more than 1,500 exhibitors and features a series of scientific conferences and roundtables aimed at sharing expertise and identifying tangible solutions and alternatives for more resilient agriculturecapable of withstanding climate challenges and preserving the balance of the agricultural ecosystem to ensure long-term food sovereignty. The 2025 edition of the International Agricultural Show offers visitors a wide array of products and cutting-edge agricultural equipment, with the goal of promoting farming and livestock production, and showcasing strategic sectors of the regional economy, including agri-food and its associated industries. Over the years, SIAM has become one of Africas leading agricultural events and a premier platform for exchanges and partnerships between various stakeholders and operators in the agricultural ecosystem. Fatalities among civilians were reported on Sunday April 20 in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, where at least seven people lost their lives due to artillery shelling allegedly carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A statement issued by the armys 6th Infantry Division confirmed that a 120mm mortar had been used, resulting in multiple injuries alongside the confirmed deaths. Shells were said to have struck residential areas including Al-Radif, Al-Ziyadiyah, and Al-Daraja Al-Oula, while strategic locations such as the army command headquarters and the former UN peacekeeping base were also impacted, according to eyewitness accounts. The humanitarian situation in El Fasher has continued to deteriorate as a result of the RSFs encirclement of the city and unrelenting bombardment. Hundreds of deaths have reportedly occurred in recent weeks, with shelling directed at civilian infrastructure contributing to widespread destruction. The targeting of populated areas has raised international concern, as the citys population faces mounting insecurity, displacement, and shortages of essential supplies. The situation has been described by residents and observers as increasingly dire, with medical and relief operations severely hindered. Elsewhere, intense combat unfolded in west Omdurman, where a significant RSF assault was reportedly repelled by Sudanese army units. Supported by the General Intelligence Service and Central Reserve Police, government forces engaged the RSF around the Fittasha and Naivasha areas, with the headquarters of the 125th Brigade and a major police combat camp among the targets. According to military sources, substantial losses were inflicted on the RSF, forcing its withdrawal toward Muwailih and the Omdurman-Bara export route. Recent gains by the army in West Omdurman have been followed by plans to sever the RSFs supply lines and confine remaining paramilitary elements to isolated pockets within Dar es Salaam and Salha. China slashed its imports of many U.S. energy and agricultural commodities in March amid intensifying trade and tariff tensions with the United States, which are set to further reduce Chinese purchases of American goods this month and in the coming months. Chinas LNG imports from the United States crashed to zero in March as China slapped tariffs on American LNG and other energy products, making these uneconomical for Chinese buyers. Last year, U.S. LNG represented about 5% of Chinas imports of the super-chilled fuel. Similarly to non-existent LNG, China did not import any wheat from the U.S. in March, per Chinese customs data cited by Bloomberg on Monday. Chinese cotton imports from the United States plummeted by 90% in March from a year earlier, which purchases of U.S. corn slumped to a five-year low, according to the data. Among agricultural products, soybean imports into China from the U.S. rose to buck the general trend, as Chinese buyers typically import soybeans from the United States early in the year until the South American harvest becomes available in the autumn, or in the springtime in the northern hemisphere. Among energy products, imports of U.S. liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) declined by 36%, and purchases of metallurgical coal used in steelmaking plunged by 62% in March from a year earlier, per the Chinese customs data cited by Bloomberg. Chinese crude oil purchases, on the other hand, rose by 25%, amid higher overall crude imports into China. Many U.S. cargoes may have also been contracted before the tariff war erupted and right after the uncertainties about Russian supply in January, following the U.S. sanctions on Russian trade. These sanctions, one of the Biden Administrations last sanctions moves, roiled the oil market flows for several weeks until the supply chain of non-sanctioned tankers reshuffled to service mostly China. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The U.S. move to penalize China-built and China-owned vessels calling at U.S. ports could lead to an oil supertanker made in China and operated by a Chinese company facing a fee of up to $5.2 million per call at a U.S. port, shipbrokers have estimated. The U.S. last week announced fees on vessel owners and operators of China based on net tonnage per U.S. voyage. The previous proposal was a per-port-entry fee of up to $1.5 million on Chinese-built vessels, and up to a $1 million per-port-entry fee on any vessel (Chinese-built or non-Chinese-built) for operators that have any Chinese-built vessels in their fleet or orderbook. Now, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) plans to impose fees on operators of Chinese-built ships based on net tonnage or containers, increasing incrementally over the following years. Commenting on the new USTR move, U.S. 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 U.S. supply chain, and send a demand signal for U.S.-built ships, Greer added. Under the new plan, the fee on a China-made China-operated supertanker could reach up to $5.2 million per call because of the large tonnage of the supertankers compared to smaller oil tankers, according to the research arm of Arrow Shipbroking Group cited by Bloomberg. The previous per-call only fee would have charged up to $3.5 million for a tanker to call at a U.S. port. Oil traders have already started to avoid hiring tankers built in China amid concerns that port fees could be coming for Chinese vessels at U.S. ports as part of a plan by President Donald Trump to revitalize the American shipbuilding industry. Oil traders and charterers that are booking vessels to call, load, or discharge cargoes at U.S. ports are seeking vessels not built in China, market sources told Bloomberg earlier this month. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Just one day after U.S. negotiators met their Iranian counterparts in Oman to discuss drawing up a new nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), Energy Secretary Chris Wright flew into Saudi Arabia to talk about a nuclear deal with the Kingdom as well. Such a deal with Riyadh would place enormous pressure on its historical religious, political and military enemy Tehran to reach an agreement on its own nuclear energy programme with the U.S. sooner rather than later. It would also be pivotal in reversing the decade-long drift of Saudi Arabia away from the U.S. sphere of influence and into that of China. Moreover, if both sides of this diplomatic play successfully bring both Tehran and Riyadh under Washingtons influence, the Middle East could be lost to China for decades to come and effectively end its multi-generational global power-grab project the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The scale and scope of last weeks discussions between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are similar to those that have been seen for years between the Kingdom and China and, as such, can be regarded as a straight replacement option of Washington for Beijing for Saudi Arabia. The Department of Energy discussed working toward a U.S.-Saudi nuclear power agreement as part of a multi-layered memorandum of understanding across multiple energy fields that the two countries are now negotiating. These include deep and broad co-operation on oil and gas, petrochemicals, carbon management, hydrogen technologies, electricity, renewables, and nuclear energy. They also incorporate new deals on infrastructure supporting these developments and on financing to support their swift rollout. Although [Energy Secretary] Wright stressed that safeguards will be in place to ensure that Saudis nuclear programme wont lead to the development of nuclear weapons, its clear to Iranians that such safeguards can just as easily be loosened and that the threat of nuclear-armed Saudi Arabia has suddenly become very real, which is exactly what Washington intended, a senior energy industry source who has worked closely with Irans Petroleum Ministry exclusively told OilPrice.com last week. The mood has shifted in Tehran following this [U.S.-Saudi Arabia announcement] and theyre [Irans leadership] very focused now on getting something done here [on a new nuclear deal], he added. Related: Aramco to Develop New Energy Vehicle Technologies With Chinas BYD Providing Saudi Arabia with a nuclear energy programme was also included in the raft of agreements signed between Riyadh and Beijing since the end of the 2014-2016 Oil Price War that was started by the Kingdom but which ended in economic and political disaster for it, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. It was at that point that then-Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) pushed the idea of an initial public offering of Saudi Aramco, which could raise a lot of money and boost Saudi Arabias reputation in the global financial markets, which would help with further offerings. However, his assurances to senior Saudis that the IPO would raise at least UD$100 billion for a 5% stake fell flat as the offering was seen as toxic by many big investors in the West. It was then that China made the face-saving offer to MbS that it buy the entire 5% stake in a private placement. Although the deal was ultimately refused by the senior Saudis, MbS has reportedly never forgotten Beijings offer of assistance. For China the offer made perfect sense, as a deeper relationship with Saudi Arabia would give it preferential access to its big oil reserves and production. It would also give Beijing indirect influence over oil prices, as the Kingdom was still the de facto head of global oil cartel OPEC. Later, with the addition of major oil producer Russia to an expanded OPEC+ group, Beijing believed Riyadh could exert a moderating influence over any moves by Moscow to move oil prices in a sustained direction that China did not want. An additional benefit to Beijing was Saudi Arabias position as a leader in the Islamic world, which could be used by China to extend its influence further across the Middle East and beyond, including through the BRI. As the worlds oil supply is a zero-sum game, a further benefit for China was that its gain in any of these respects would be the loss of the U.S., its key superpower rival. By 2022, the China-Saudi Arabia relationship had developed to such an extraordinary degree that Saudi Aramcos chief executive officer, Amin Nasser said that: Ensuring the continuing security of Chinas energy needs remains our highest priority - not just for the next five years but for the next 50 and beyond. In Decembers first China-Arab States Summit and the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, plus tangential meetings with other Arab states around the same time, 34 agreements were signed between Chinese and Saudi companies covering a huge array of sectors, including, energy, technology, security, science and technology, aerospace, banking, and infrastructure, among many others. But it was President Xi Jinping himself who identified two priority areas for the new relationship between China and the Arab states, including Saudi Arabia. These were the transition to using Chinas renminbi (RMB) currency in oil and gas deals done between the and bringing Chinese nuclear technology to them, as also detailed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. This was all to be done within the context of forging a deeper strategic cooperation in a region where U.S. dominance is showing signs of retreat, according to Chinas state media. Implicit in Chinas proposals was also the potential for Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons, which Beijing believed would when added to the same threat from Iran necessitate heavy military involvement of the U.S. on the ground in the Middle East, a senior source in the European Unions energy security complex exclusively told OilPrice.com at the time. Beijing was certain that such involvement would last years, bogging down U.S. forces in unwinnable wars which would allow China to consolidate its own military, economic, and political primacy in the Asia Pacific region. Indeed, just before Christmas 2021, news emerged that U.S. intelligence agencies had found that Saudi Arabia was manufacturing its own ballistic missiles with the help of China, while also continuing to provide extensive assistance to Irans own nuclear weapons ambitions. Little if any influence could consistently be brought on Saudi Arabia by the government of former U.S. President Joe Biden, given the personal animosity between him and many of the senior Saudis. Bidens starting point was made clear in broad terms on 2 October 2020 when he said that any presidency of his would seek to: Reassess our relationship with the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia], end U.S. support for Saudi Arabias war in Yemen, and make sure America does not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil. Specifically regarding MbS during the same speech which marked the second anniversary of the murder of expatriate Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi that according even to the CIA was carried out on the personal orders of the Crown Prince Biden appeared to endorse the CIAs findings. He said: Two years ago, Saudi operatives, reportedly acting at the direction of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, murdered and dismembered Saudi dissident, journalist, and US resident Jamal KhashoggiHis offense for which he paid with his life was criticising the policies of his government. On the other hand, President Donald Trumps ability to influence the Saudis appears to be much greater, based on three key reasons. First, he has flattered MbS, saying I have so much respect [for him]. Second, he wields the most power of any person on the planet, and the Saudis respect power. And third, he is unpredictable. As it now stands, U.S. Energy Secretary Wright stated last week that he is optimistic about seeing a wide-ranging co-operation agreement including nuclear energy secured with Saudi Arabia in a matter of months. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com That energy commodities will be the first to suffer from the trade spat between the United States and China was only to be expected. As tensionand tariff ratesrise, energy commodity trade has plummeted. And it has spread to one major U.S. export segment: petrochemical feedstock. Last year, propane exports from the United States hit a record high since records began back in 1973. These exports had been rising for 17 years straight, the Energy Information Administration reported last month, as natural gas production boomedand as demand for petrochemicals from Asia increased, especially from China. Indeed, per the EIA, U.S. propane exports last year rose 13% on the previous year thanks to higher demand in Asia. More specifically, however, Chinese consumption accounts for most of the growth in U.S. exports to Asia; U.S. propane exports to China grew by 40% in 2024. Now, the tariff war has reached propane trade, with China including the propylene feedstock in its list of goods subject to retaliatory tariffs, alongside liquefied natural gas and crude oil. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that propane prices in the United States had shed 15% since the tariff tit-for-tat began, and that prices for the tankers that carry the commodity to export markets had taken a dive as well. As already noted, it is not the only commodity that has been affected by the tariffs. Indeed, China has stopped buying U.S. liquefied natural gaswhich has proven a boon for Europeand it was also set to stop buying U.S. crude oil. Yet, when it comes to propane, there is a twist. Related: EU Giving Up Putins Pipelines for Trumps Tankers Full of LNG China cannot replace U.S. propane and the U.S. cannot replace the Chinese propane demand, Julian Renton, an analyst with energy research company East Daley Analytics, told the WSJ. These two markets are linked and they wont be able to unlink. The twist is that since the last time the United States and China got into a tariff war, China had a lot less petrochemical capacity and, consequently, demand for propane. That was in 2018, during Trumps first term. Now, this capacity has grown considerably as demand for petrochemicals increases. Many analysts, in fact, predict that the petrochemicals sector will replace transport as the biggest driver of crude oil demand in an electrified future. China is at the forefront of this change. A top petrochemical producer, its energy majors are preparing for an environment where petrol and diesel will not be the main products that the market needs. Indeed, last month, the National Development and Reform Commission, the countrys central planner, advised refiners to boost petrochemical production at the expense of fuels. We will advance petrochemical industries toward fine chemical industries by cutting the output of refined petroleum products, increasing the output of chemical products, and enhancing quality, the NDRC said in its annual report. Chinas demand for fuels has been undermined by the surge in EV sales in recent years and the introduction of LNG-powered trucks, which may have led to a peak in diesel demand, according to Sinopec. The state energy major said that diesel demand may have peaked back in 2019, and gasoline demand could have reached its highest ever in 2023. Yet Chinas demand for petrochemical feedstock is risingand this is not only a problem for China. China is the second-largest importer of U.S. propaneand it is the largest importer of U.S. ethane, another petrochemical commodity. Per data from the EIA cited by Fortune, China takes in almost half of U.S. global ethane exports. In propane, it accounts for about 360,000 bpd in imports, while the rest of the world takes in 1.5 million bpd. The two industries need each other, Kristen Holmquist, RBN Energy managing director for analytics, told Fortune. The U.S. needs to be able to send its propane to China. For a large portion of it, the propane has nowhere else to go except China. China, meanwhile, may have an alternative supplier just north of the United States. The Energy Information Administration reported earlier this month that Canadas propane exports, just like the United States, have been on a steady rise over the past few yearsespecially to Asia. In fact, the EIA said, last year, Canadian exports of propane to Asia made up over 40% of total global exports of the commodity. These exports mostly go to Japan and South Korea, but with the tariff war still raging on, this may change. Meanwhile, Americans heating their homes with propane are in for some good news. There are not enough alternative export markets for all the propane that the U.S. used to sell to China. This means that the supply situation at home is about to swing into a surplusif it hasnt alreadyand that surplus will drive prices further down. Theres always a silver lining, after all. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Saudi Aramco and the top Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, BYD, will explore closer collaboration in the development of new energy vehicle technologies, Saudi Arabias state oil giant said on Monday. Aramcos wholly-owned subsidiary, Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC), and BYD have signed a joint development agreement to explore innovative EV technologies that boost efficiency and the environmental profile of new energy vehicles. Aramco is exploring a number of ways to potentially optimize transport efficiency, from innovative lower-carbon fuels to advanced powertrain concepts, said Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight & Coordination. BYDs Senior Vice President Luo Hongbin commented on the deal, We expect that SATC and our cutting-edge R&D capabilities in new energy vehicles will break the boundaries of geography and mindset to incubate solutions that combine highly-efficient performance with a lower carbon footprint. The collaboration deal with Chinas top EV maker is Aramcos latest agreement with a Chinese company. In recent years, the Saudi state oil giant has signed a series of deals with Chinese refiners and petrochemicals producers to supply crude oil to their refineries or take minority stakes in refining and petrochemicals complexes. Earlier this month, Aramco and Chinas top refiner, Sinopec, agreed to expand a joint venture petrochemicals complex in Saudi Arabia. The companies have signed a so-called Venture Framework Agreement (VFA), which will to pave the way for a major petrochemical expansion at Yasref. In recent years, the Saudi oil giant has been pursuing deals to expand its international downstream presence, especially in demand centers such as Asia. Aramco has signed agreements with Chinas Rongsheng Petrochemical and Hengli Group to advance talks on cooperation in the refining and petrochemical sectors in China and Saudi Arabia. Now, Aramco is expanding the energy cooperation with China with a collaboration agreement to develop new energy vehicle technologies. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chinese privately held firm ENN Natural Gas has signed a 15-year deal to source LNG from ADNOCs new liquefied natural gas export project, in the biggest agreement between China and the United Arab Emirates on LNG supply so far. ENN LNG (Singapore), a wholly owned subsidiary of ENN Natural Gas, has signed the long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement the national oil and gas firm of the UAE, under which ADNOC will supply approximately one million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG to ENN NG for a period of 15 years, the Chinese firm said on Monday. The LNG will primarily be sourced from ADNOCs Ruwais LNG project. The agreement marks the largest LNG deal by volume ever signed between the UAE and a Chinese partner, ENN said. The deal comes amid escalating trade tensions and tariffs between the United States and China. Chinese LNG buyers have already stopped purchases of U.S. LNG and are reselling already bought or contracted cargoes as the Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods make imports of Americas LNG uneconomical. Following the tariffs, Chinese LNG buyers with long-term supply contracts with U.S. producers have started reselling the cargoes to Europe, Bloomberg reported, citing trading sources. Whats more, Chinese traders have grown cold towards new long-term commitments for future supply from the United States, instead seeking long-term deals with gas producers in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific. ENNs press release from Monday also hinted at the global trade shifts. Against the backdrop of deep shifts in global gas supply dynamics and heightened price volatility, the SPA represents a major step forward in ENN NGs strategy to enhance the resilience of its energy supply chain and diversify its global portfolio, the Chinese company said. In a separate but similar move, Chinese state trader Zhenhua Oil has agreed a 5-year deal with ADNOC starting in 2026 for up to 12 cargoes per year, a Chinese industry source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters. ADNOC also opened its Beijing office last week to boost business relationships with Chinese customers and partners. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who is ADNOCs CEO and UAE minister of industry and advanced technology attended the office inauguration on April 18. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The European Union is considering what Reuters called tweaks to its methane emissions regulation in order to stimulate higher LNG imports from the United States, the publication has reported, citing unnamed sources in the know. The goal, per these sources, was to allow for equivalent methane standards to be applicable to U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to the European Union without weakening the overall regulation, Reuters noted in its report. The Biden administration pressured the energy industry in the U.S. to invest in methane emission tracking and control, which puts producers in a relatively favorable position. The Commission has an ongoing dialogue with industry on all relevant matters related to our legislation, a spokesperson for the EUs executive organ told Reuters. The EUs so-called methane regulation was approved by the European parliament last year and essentially requires all suppliers of liquefied natural gas to the bloc to accompany their cargos with documentation certifying that the methane emissions related to the production of the LNG were tracked, monitored, and, most importantly, minimized. Qatar did not take kindly to that regulation, stating it would simply stop selling LNG to European buyers, leaving said European buyers with a more limited pool of sellers. Now, it seems LNG supply security has trumped emission fears in Brussels, and not a moment too soonmethane emission reporting by LNG suppliers to the European Union was set to enter into effect from next month. LNG suppliers, by the way, were not overnight fans of the regulation. The methane regulation in general is a good thing, Ralf Dickgreber, chief of global LNG and biomass at Frances Engie, told an industry event recently. However, we dont know exactly how to interpret the rules out there . . . How to comply with it is very difficult at this stage, the executive said, as quoted by the Financial Times. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com When the going gets tough, the EU buys American gas. Or at least thats the emerging strategy as Brussels preps a shiny new road map to wean itself off Russian fossil fuelswhile simultaneously dangling a $350 billion olive branch in front of President Trump in hopes hell holster the tariff threats. European Council President Antonio Costa has told Bloomberg this week that the May 6 planto be imminently releasedwill send a clear political signal to energy companies: start sourcing more LNG from the good ol US of A. Translation? Europe wants to swap Putins pipelines for Trumps tankersbut only if the price is right. This whole dance is happening as the EU tries to fix two problems at once. First, it still needs to unwind long-term gas contracts with Russiaawkward since some countries (Hungary) wont sign off on outright sanctions. Second, Trump is demanding that Europe close the trade gap by purchasing U.S. energynow. His solution? Fork over $350 billion for LNG and well call it even. Thats no small ask. For context, the EU imported about 75 million tons of LNG last year. Trump wants them to add another 40 million tons on top of that. To make this work, the EU is floating the idea of pooling member demand into a big, bulk-buy basket to score a better price. Whether U.S. producers canor willsell that much gas at European-friendly prices remains to be seen. Especially when some of them are already grumbling that the notion of energy dominance hasnt exactly paid off lately. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Libya's dinar has plunged to record lows, driven by a sharp decline in oil revenues and escalating political unrest. The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) devalued the currency by 13.3% on April 6, setting the official rate at 5.5677 dinars per U.S. dollarthe first such move since 2020. However, the black-market rate has soared to over 7.20 dinars per dollar, reflecting deepening economic instability.? In a modest sign of recovery, Harouge Oil resumed production at its Amal Fields B-102 well, pumping 1,500 barrels per day. While this development offers a glimmer of hope, analysts caution that isolated production gains cannot offset broader declines in national oil revenues driven by political strife and operational disruptions.? The devaluation has sparked criticism from key governmental bodies. The Presidential Council and the High Council of State argue that the move exacerbates Libyas fiscal woes and erodes citizens purchasing power. They cite an absence of a unified national budget and the proliferation of parallel spending entities as core drivers of the crisis.? This criticism could spark further unrest as the two rival clans that control Libyas, east and west, continue to jockey for leverage over institutions. Meanwhile, political factions in eastern Libya have shut down major oil fields in protest over disputes at the central bank, further curtailing oil exportsLibyas primary source of foreign currency. The Central Bank reports that public debt now stands at 270 billion dinars, with forecasts indicating it could exceed 330 billion dinars by years end without urgent fiscal reforms.? As international observers call for political reconciliation and robust economic reform, Libyan officials face mounting pressure to restore market confidence and stabilize an economy teetering on the brink of deeper crisis.? Complicating matters, Russia has been increasing its influence in Libya, aligning with eastern factions and deploying military assets to strategic locations. This growing presence has raised concerns among Western nations, who fear that Libya could become a new front in broader geopolitical tensions in addition to the specter of another civil war. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Animal images play significant roles in every civilization. In Cambodia, the Naga, a snake deity shared by Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, is seen as the guardian of national prosperity, and symbolizes auspiciousness and peace. In Yunnan province just across the border, cattle enjoyed similar cultural connotations of prosperity and wealth during the Dian kingdom, which existed from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). An ongoing exhibition by the Yunnan International Communication Center for South and Southeast Asia and the Yunnan Provincial Museum in Cambodia's Siem Reap Angkor International Airport's China-Cambodia cultural corridor shines a light on the two symbolic animals through 70 photos and 55 items of handicrafts, highlighting a link between Yunnan and Cambodia. The photos are of artifacts and folk customs, and the handicrafts include replicas of artifacts and the cultural and creative products derived from them. According to Zhang Ruogu, deputy director of the Yunnan International Communication Center for South and Southeast Asia, the display not only highlights the beauty of Dian bronze culture in Yunnan, but also the beauty of ancient Cambodian civilization. "Through the two elements of the auspicious cattle and the spirit snake, the exhibition explores the spiritual beliefs associated with them and illustrates the rich history and culture of Yunnan and Cambodia to passengers using the airport," says Zhang. He adds that the cultures of parts of Southeast Asia and Yunnan are closely connected, laying a foundation for dialogue and understanding. "China and Cambodia share close geographical proximity and cultural affinity. From the Maritime Silk Road facilitating trade exchange, to Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Admiral Zheng He's seven voyages (during which he landed in present-day Cambodia), the two countries have a deep friendship cultivated over millennia that exemplifies cultural exchange," he says. Guo Jia, director of the research and exchange department at the Yunnan Provincial Museum, says one of the highlights of the exhibition is a replica bronze animal ritual vessel, one of the museum's most famous exhibits, which is believed to have been used for sacrifices. The vessel is in the form of a large cow, its tail in the grip of a tiger, with a baby cow beneath its belly. It appears to depict a mother cow protecting its calf from attack. "The shape illuminates the ancient Dian people's concepts of life and death and their mastery of advanced bronze casting techniques," says Guo. She adds that as important source of labor in farming, the Dian viewed cattle as symbols of family wealth. Appearing often on Dian bronzes, they are viewed as symbols of Yunnan's Bronze Age civilization and this artifact is an outstanding example. Likewise in Cambodia, a nation rooted in agriculture, cattle enjoy prominence. They play essential roles in Buddhist culture, and prominently feature on artifacts and in everyday life. Snake patterns can be seen at most temples in Cambodia, while the Dian also used snake depiction on their artifacts. Siem Reap is famous for the Angkor Wat temple complex, and the Cambodian artifacts on display, including wooden carvings, Buddhist statues and lacquerware, are mostly related to the site. "Through the exhibition we are showing the connections and comparisons between the culture around snakes and cattle in Yunnan and Cambodia," says Zhang. The China-Cambodia cultural corridor is located in the international arrival and departure areas of the airport, which was put into use in August last year. From Aug 1 to Jan 31, the corridor received more than 780,000 visits, according to Yang Shaokai, general manager of Yunnan Airinvestment (Cambodia) Airport Management, which runs the airport. Neth Pheaktra, Cambodia's Minister of Information, says the airport "is the first gate through which international passengers enter Siem Reap". He believes the exhibition will surprise and inform tourists from around the world. Crude oil prices began trade this week with a decline amid diminished hopes for a quick end to the war in the Ukraine and the prospect of lower demand amid the tariff turmoil. News of nuclear deal negotiations between the United States and Iran contributed to the trend. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $66.83 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate was changing hands for $63.58 per barrel. The broader trend remains tilted to the downside, as investors may struggle to find conviction in an improving supply-demand outlook, especially amid the drag from tariffs on global growth and rising supplies from OPEC+, IG analyst Yeap Jun Rong told Reuters. The majority of international market observers believe the tariff-driven rearrangement of global trade flows will affect demand for crude oil negatively, even as a number of Asian energy importers seek to buy more U.S. oil as part of efforts to reduce their trade surpluses with the United States to avoid punishing tariffs. Meanwhile, a second round of U.S.-Iran talks concluded this weekend with the two sides indicating progress had been made. Today, in Rome, over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions, one senior Trump administration official said, as quoted by CNN. I can say that there is movement forward. Weve reached better understanding and agreement on some principles and goals in these Rome negotiations, Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi said. OPEC+s decision to add 411,000 bpd in daily supply from May continued to weigh on prices despite suggestions it may be later reconsidered and despite an intention on the part of the groups leadership to get production control laggards in line by enforcing compensation output cuts. The top overproducers, Iraq and Kazakhstan, earlier this month submitted updated plans for compensatory cuts to their oil production after failing to keep their quotas for months. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. refiner Phillips 66 told shareholders on Monday that they should keep in mind that activist investor Elliott, which wants to break up one of the biggest U.S. refiners, may not necessarily act in Phillips 66 shareholders interests as it is pursuing an acquisition of Citgo, a direct competitor of Phillips 66. Activist hedge fund Elliott Investment Management has called on Phillips 66 to spin off its midstream business and tighten up operations. However, Elliott is also pursuing an acquisition of Citgo, the U.S.-based refiner of Venezuelas PDV Holding, in a court-ordered and supervised auction of assets of the Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA. Earlier this month, Phillips 66 told shareholders that Elliotts demands for breaking up the company are misguided, based on inflated and unrealistic assumptions, and would destroy shareholder value. Elliott, which has an investment worth more than $2.5 billion in Phillips 66, has made the case to the refiners shareholders that Phillips investors' patience has been punished, and a new lineup on the Board is necessary to reverse the Company's long-term underperformance and improve its poor corporate governance practices. Amid the ongoing board fight, Phillips 66 issued on Monday a new letter to shareholders, in which it reminded them that It is also critical to remember that Elliotts interests likely differ from other Phillips 66 shareholders, given Elliott is pursuing an acquisition of a direct competitor CITGO. For more than a year, Amber Energy, a company wholly owned by Elliott, has been bidding for CITGO and the process remains ongoing. Their bids for CITGO have been meaningfully above the value of Elliotts investment in Phillips 66. This conflict is concerning because Amber Energys executives are actively helping support Elliotts case to undermine Phillips 66s strategy, the U.S. refiner said. Phillips told shareholders in the letter, Do not let Elliott, the parent company of Amber Energy, undermine Phillips 66s Board and strategy. Protect the long-term value of your investment. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Turkey is boosting domestic natural gas production in its Black Sea waters and is looking to expand its international partnerships in oil and gas exploration in Bulgarias Black Sea, in the Caspian Sea region, and in Iraq, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, said on Monday. Turkish state energy firm TPAO and an international oil firm are negotiating a deal for oil and gas exploration in the Black Sea block off the coast of Bulgaria, Turkeys neighbor to the northwest. Most likely next month, TPAO and a foreign company will sign a deal for a block in Bulgarian waters, Reuters quoted Minister Bayraktar as saying. Turkey also explores opportunities for international cooperation in oil and gas exploration in Azerbaijan and other Caspian Sea areas, and potential new field exploration in northern and southern Iraq, according to the Turkish energy minister. Earlier this month, Turkey signed an agreement with Pakistan to jointly explore and potentially develop oil and gas resources offshore Pakistan. TPAO and Pakistans three national oil companies will make joint bids for some blocks in this years tender for 40 offshore blocks in Pakistan, Turkeys Energy Ministry said. While Turkey looks to boost its international presence in oil and gas exploration, the country has just completed phase one development at the Sakarya Gas Field in its Black Sea waters. Turkey has been boosting natural gas production from its Black Sea operations, where massive gas reserves have been found in recent years. At Sakarya, daily gas production is now around 9.5 million cubic meters, which provides gas and energy to about 4 million Turkish households. A floating production platform at Sakarya is expected to double gas production in 2026, the energy ministry said on Monday. In 2028, daily production is expected to increase to 40 million cubic meters and the natural gas needs of all households will be met from the Sakarya Gas Field, the ministry noted. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The United States has expressed interest in Kazakhstan's rare earth mineral reserves, and the article also discusses the impact of sanctions on Russia and its trade relations with Kazakhstan. Despite US tariffs, Kazakhstan is adopting a non-confrontational approach, choosing engagement over retaliation and considering its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. Kazakhstan plans to send a delegation to Washington for trade discussions with the United States, focusing on tariffs and other trade-related matters. Kazakhstan is adopting a non-confrontational stance as it finesses trade relations with the United States, seeking engagement rather than retaliation over the imposition of US tariffs. Deputy Trade Minister Zhanel Kushukova told journalists on April 17 that the government intended to send a delegation to Washington to hold talks on a variety of trade issues, including tariffs. The Trump administration initially hit Kazakh goods with a 27-percent tariff rate, but subsequently scaled the rate back provisionally to 10 percent. In addition, the Trump administration has placed a 90-day pause on the imposition of tariffs. All countries are now interested in holding consultations with the USA about duties, and we are no exception, the InBusiness.kz news agency quoted Kushkova as saying. We are currently working on this issue within the government and are preparing for consultations. She provided no timeframe for when the Kazakh delegation would depart for the United States. As the tariff and other trade issues play out, Kazakh officials are embracing a do-no-harm approach in response to the constant zigs and zags of US policymaking. Kushkova emphasized that Kazakhstan had no intention of imposing reciprocal tariffs on US goods, citing the countrys membership in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) trade bloc as a factor in Astanas policy of restraint. A single customs tariff applies to five [EAEU member] states. That is, if any duties are to be changed on imported goods, then it can only be by a decision of the five, Kushkova said. But today, such an issue is not even considered. Russia, the EAEUs dominant member, has so far been exempted from US tariffs, even though it is subjected to extensive sanctions imposed by the US and European Union. Kazakhstan in 2024 had the highest overall trade turnover with the United States of all Central Asian states, totaling $3.4 billion, of which more than two-thirds comprised US-bound Kazakh exports, mainly carbon resources and other commodities. Kazakh officials have noted that energy and other raw-material exports would be exempt from tariffs under the present US framework. The planned Kazakh delegation would have plenty to discuss with US officials in Washington beyond tariffs. Since taking power, the Trump administration has repeatedly expressed interest to striking trade deals concerning Kazakhstans abundant reserves of rare earths. US interest in securing an increase in Kazakh mineral supplies is only intensifying in the wake of a Chinese ban on rare earth exports. The top US diplomat in Kazakhstan, Deborah Robinson, earlier in April reaffirmed US support for private and public sector cooperation in the critical minerals sector. Meanwhile, data published by Kazakhstans State Statistics Agency provides fresh evidence that Russia is having an increasingly difficult time using the Central Asian nation as a back door for sanctions-busting trade. Kazakh authorities insist that they are enforcing US and EU sanctions. Nevertheless, the country has long been suspected as an enabler of illicit transit in dual-use technology and goods that can help maintain Russias war effort in Ukraine. A variety of Kazakh-based entities have been added to the US sanctions list since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Of late, however, Russian business representatives in Kazakhstan have complained about tightening financial regulations that hinder their ability to operate, according to reports distributed by state-controlled Russian media. The data published by QazStat supports the notion that Kazakhstans is becoming a less hospitable environment for sanctions-busting activity. The number of Russian companies operating in Kazakhstan has been gradually declining for a year now, following a long period of explosive growth, the official statistics show. In January 2022, the month before the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, roughly 7,900 Russian entities operated in Kazakhstan. By the end of that year, the number nearly doubled to 15,700. The number of actively operating Russian entities in Kazakhstan peaked during the first quarter of 2024, totaling 19,735. Since then, the numbers have declined by a few hundred each quarter, and stood at 18,366 as of April 1 of this year, a 7 percent drop over the four-quarter period. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com By the time Millard South senior Ben Dickson walks across the stage at graduation in May, hell already have an associates degree. Dickson is one of about 140 students who will graduate this spring with both a high school diploma and associates degree through Millard Souths early college program in partnership with Metropolitan Community College. Dual-enrollment programs, including the one at Millard South, have seen an increase in enrollment across the Omaha metro area and Nebraska as a whole over the last decade. A recent report from the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System found that 33% of Nebraska public high school students expected to graduate in 2022 participated in at least one dual-enrollment course, up from 26% of students expected to graduate in 2016. Omahas Metro Community College serves the largest number of students through dual enrollment, according to the NSWERS report. Jordan Pirtle, MCCs dean of secondary partnerships, said the college had nearly 9,000 high school students take at least one dual-enrollment class during the 2023-24 school year, a 78% increase from the 2021-22 school year. Its nothing but growth year after year, she said. Tuition for dual-enrollment classes taken through MCC is currently waived, thanks to federal funding. Other colleges offer dual-enrollment courses to high school students at a reduced rate. Most dual-enrollment courses through the University of Nebraska Omaha cost a flat fee of $250. Millard program started decade ago In a classroom at Millard South High School this month, students cut out photos of candy as they assembled a cladogram in a freshman biology course. Down the hall, students in an AP Statistics class were working to solve confidence intervals for slope. In both classes, each student is earning college credit for the course. Millard launched its early college program at Millard South in 2015. The first class of students to graduate with a diploma and associates degree in 2019 included about 90 students. This year, the program is expected to graduate around 140 students, and next year, 150 students are expected to graduate through the program, said the programs coordinator, Amy Sweets. Sweets said the number of teachers with the necessary credentials to teach dual enrollment at Millard South also has grown, from around 29 when the program started to now around 47. We have a disproportionately high number compared to a lot of schools, she said. Dickson said it feels almost surreal to be earning an associates degree as he graduates high school. I already have so much knocked off my plate, he said. Im not as stressed about college as I feel like some of my friends are. Amy Millerbernd, a freshman at Millard South, is finishing up her first year in the early college program, which requires students to enroll as freshmen. Millerbernd said she has found her courses through the program challenging but manageable with support from her teachers, which makes her feel more prepared for a college environment. She said she figured it would be a lot easier, and a lot cheaper to get as much college credit as she can while still in high school. Especially because I was thinking about doing med school, she said. Thats going to get expensive really fast. Andrew Pinkall, an assistant principal at Millard South, said he thinks its sometimes hard for students to realize the benefits of the program when theyre still in high school, but previous graduates of the program understand the importance of it later on. They come back, and theyre just doing incredible, he said. The praise that they bring back to the program is really gratifying, because its set them up for financial success. Dual enrollment growing across metro area MCC works with 26 districts and 41 individual high schools, and its dual-enrollment courses are currently free, Pirtle said. Pirtle said general elective courses are the most popular for dual enrollment at MCC, as students and their families see it as an opportunity to get many classes out of the way and reduce the overall expense of a college degree. Students are eager and smart and forward-thinking, and theyre wanting to get a jump start on college credit courses while they can, she said. The most common dual-enrollment courses for Nebraska students are English and math, the report said. Pirtle said the partnership with Millard through the early college program is an example of the most common form of dual enrollment concurrent enrollment. With concurrent enrollment, students take classes as usual at their high school, but their instructor holds the credentials necessary to qualify as an adjunct college professor. Other dual-enrollment options include classes taught in person or online with college faculty and career academies focused in specific career fields. The Omaha and Millard districts are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the state for the number of students enrolled in dual enrollment as of 2022 data, according to the NSWERS report. The number of OPS students in dual-enrollment courses in 2014 was about 1,215 students, while in 2022 that number was 1,610. Millard had around 615 students enrolled in dual-enrollment courses in 2014 and 1,398 in 2022. Increased achievement for dual-enrollment students In addition to showcasing the increase in dual-enrollment participation, the recent study also provided the first look at education outcomes of students who participated in dual enrollment compared with those who did not, said David Nguyen, a data scientist for NSWERS. While dual enrollment has long been thought to increase students likelihood of attending college, there was no data proving so before the report. NSWERS found that dual-enrollment participants were 4% more likely to graduate high school on time, 10% more likely to enroll in college within 16 months of high school graduation and 13% more likely to obtain a degree or certificate within six years of high school graduation compared to students who did not participate in dual enrollment. These are fairly big effects in the education world, Nguyen said. Nguyen did note the caveat that students participating in dual enrollment tend to be higher-achieving students, meaning they are already more likely to graduate and go on to college than the average student. Yemen held its first celebration of UN Chinese Language Day in the southern port city of Aden on Sunday, an event organizers said marked a significant step in cultural exchanges with China amid Yemen's long-running conflict. The event, organized under the auspices of the Chinese Embassy and held at Aden University's Faculty of Languages and Translation, gathered Yemeni officials, academics, and students, including the first cohort studying Chinese in the city. Shao Zheng, the Chinese Embassy's charge d'affaires, addressed the attendees via video link. "Under the theme 'Chinese: A Gift Across Time and Space,' we gather today to experience the unique charm of the Chinese language and witness the depth of cultural exchanges between China and Yemen," Shao said. He noted that Chinese is one of the world's oldest languages, carrying "the story of Chinese civilization spanning 5,000 years." Mohamed Aqeel Attas, Aden University's vice-rector, highlighted the launch of Chinese language instruction alongside the celebration. "This represents a remarkable achievement, especially considering Yemen's current challenging circumstances," Attas stated, adding the university's commitment to building partnerships with Chinese institutions. Chinese language classes began at the faculty in the second half of 2024, according to Dean Jamal Al-Jaadani. He cited China's status as the world's second-largest economy, its role as a permanent UN Security Council member, and student enthusiasm as drivers for introducing the language. The celebration featured calligraphy demonstrations and cultural performances. It was followed by Yemen's first "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for college students, an international contest assessing language skills and cultural knowledge. Academics and students emphasised the growing importance of Sino-Arab ties. "The flourishing economic and political ties between China and Arab nations ... underscore the importance of deeper engagement with Chinese language and culture," said Abdulnasser Mohammed Al Naqeeb, a translation professor at the university. Zaid Awad, a student, noted the practical benefits: "The expanding diplomatic relations ... have created significant demand for qualified translators ... This skill opens new professional opportunities for Yemeni youth." UN Chinese Language Day has been observed annually on April 20 since 2010, coinciding with "Guyu" (Grain Rain) in the traditional Chinese calendar to honour Cangjie, credited legendarily with inventing Chinese characters. Yemen has been devastated by conflict since late 2014, leading to what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. For many young Yemenis in the impoverished nation, learning foreign languages represents a pathway to improved employment prospects. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com For over 30 years it was illegal for Oregon bars to advertise happy hour for fear that a child might see the sign while walking down the street and suddenly become drawn to become alcoholic. Lawmakers didnt pass this stupid rule the unelected Oregon Liquor Control Commission did. They only dropped the rule, because the rise of the internet made it impossible to enforce. Today (4/21) is a hearing on Senate Bill 1198 which would allow another state agency (Oregon Health Authority) open-ended power to ban products related to nicotine if the agency feels the product is too directed or too appealing to minors. Gov. Kotek and lawmakers want other people to make their decisions for them. This is a terrible trend. Please take a moment to stop the bill that would empower un-elected agency bureaucrats with the power to ban legal adult products related to vaping and tobacco. You can submit a simple online statement directly on the State Capitol website. Once we go down this road of letting agencies ban products based on ill-defined appeal to minors, we open the floodgates to ban all sorts of products. This is why we fear that if this bill passes, the next bill to target alcohol. Remember, the same agency, the Oregon Health Authority, that SB 1198 would let ban products without a vote, is the same agency that was involved in a scandal, just last year, over hiding information from lawmakers and the public on their failed beer-tax study. This is the same Oregon Health Authority that made national news for dressing up in a clown outfit on Halloween as they reported Covid deaths. If a legal product has broken the law it should be decided by a judge not an unelected bureaucrat. Please submit a simple online statement directly on the State Capitol website the testimony website will close 24 hours after the hearing. If you appreciate this alert then support our efforts: Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com The Oregon Capitol Insider is reporting on Governor Koteks office removing the names of her staff and keeping the information hidden. Here is a sample, Why did Gov. Tina Koteks office hide the names of her staff and their contact information from the public? Was it because of security threats? Because of curious changes in the staff makeup? Or ? Kotek refuses to say. the Governors Office Staff page was changed to Under Construction. Its been in that status for weeks. Ruark said he subsequently was told the website posting of the list will not be reinstated and there will be no publicly disclosed reason for why it was taken down in the first place. This fits a pattern of secrecy: Governor Kotek hid details of the creation of the First Spouse Office. Governor Kotek kept mostly hidden the details of her 36-county listening tour of Oregon, so there was no-one to listen to. Governor Kotek hid the Portland Central City Task Force discussions from the media. Governor Tina Kotek released her budget but refused to explain on which taxes she would raise to fund the 20% increase. If you appreciate this alert then support our efforts: Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). BLOOMINGTON Mourners in Central Illinois joined those around the world Monday in expressing sadness after the death of Pope Francis at age 88. "The world has lost a tremendous leader in Pope Francis," said Bishop Louis Tylka of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. "... His voice was just a tremendous strong voice of leadership. ... The world is mourning the loss of that voice, as well as looking to carry on that voice." Pope Francis served as the head of the Catholic church for 12 years, following his election on March 13, 2013 as the 266th pope and church's first Latin American pope. The Argentinian pope had been struggling with on-and-off illness. Most recently, he spent five weeks in the hospital receiving treatment for double pneumonia, and he made only a few appearances since he returned to Vatican City on March 23. Pope Francis made his final public appearance during the Vatican's Easter celebrations on Sunday in St. Peter's Square and on the balcony over the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica. On Easter Monday, Catholic leaders in Central Illinois reflected on the loss of the papal leader and reflecting on his legacy. Tylka recalled meeting Pope Francis in September 2022 when the pope was in Rome for a post-baptismal formation program for newly-ordained bishops. Tylka said he attended several talks during the weeklong trip, and his last experience was the opportunity to meet the pope. Tylka described their meeting as "quite overwhelming" and "humbling." Tylka and other newly-ordained bishops were given two hours to ask questions and talk with the Pope, and each person was able to individually greet him and shake his hand after the session. "It was just a great encounter to feel the warmth of who he was as the Holy Father," he said. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield also reflected on his opportunity to meet with the pope. I had the honor of meeting Pope Francis during my ad limina visit in Vatican City in 2019," he said. "I was struck by his joy. He spoke to me and my brother bishops not as a boss, but as a fellow apostle, tasked with the same mission all priests have to passionately advance our faith." In a prepared statement, Paprocki said Pope Francis "showed what it means to be a witness of love. ... Pope Francis challenged the world daily through his words and actions that we are all called to something greater, not of this world, but the next. His life was a testament that if we are to go to heaven, we must embrace our crosses and sacrifices, and we must live an authentic Catholic life. That means we must show empathy, compassion, and love to our neighbors. We must live humbly and selflessly. We are called to care for the poor, the afflicted, the sick, and the marginalized. Finally, we must pray, hold true to the Gospels, and participate in the greatest treasure Jesus gave to us: His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity present in the Holy Eucharist at Mass." Tylka also issued a statement Monday morning on behalf of the Peoria diocese: "The Catholic Church and the Diocese of Peoria, along with many people of good faith, mourn the loss of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who has gone home to the Lord. We commend his soul to God. "... The Holy Father has shown us, in word and deed, that the encounter with Jesus brings God's overwhelming love into our lives and it is for each and every person. He has encouraged us to be a Church that is on a mission, that is a Church that listens to our brothers and sisters, especially those who are on the margins. He has called us to be a people of peace. He has called us to be a people who care for the environment, and that we walk in solidarity with one another as we move and journey toward God's eternal kingdom. OSF HealthCare, a Catholic-affiliated health care system founded by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, also provided a statement Monday: "With deep sorrow, we join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. A humble servant of God, he inspired us all with his compassion, courage and unwavering commitment to the dignity of every human life. A servant leader, his call to draw near to and care for the poor, the sick, and the marginalized echoes deeply with our Mission at OSF HealthCare. May we honor his legacy by continuing to bring hope, love and healing to those we serve." Paprocki said one of the most powerful scenes he has witnessed came in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. "In Vatican City, against a backdrop of St. Peters Basilica, heavy rain, darkening skies, and not a soul around, Pope Francis prayed for the world, holding up the Blessed Sacrament during his Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World) blessing. Pope Francis taught us in that powerful moment that amongst all the trials, fear, uncertainty, stresses, violence, and hatred in this world, we must always turn to God, praying with a heart of full of love and hope, saying, Jesus, I trust in You. In a statement Monday, Gov. JB Pritzker said, "Pope Francis showed the world how to lead with empathy and humility. Extending a hand to help anyone in need, the People's Pope inspired millions who drew strength and compassion from him to embrace peace, he said. May his memory be a blessing. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth also released statements, calling the pope a pillar, messenger and beacon of hope. "We must hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to love and respect one another. In a world of hate and fear, Pope Francis message of peace and understanding is needed now more than ever," Durbin said. "Throughout his life, he taught us that in order to be great, we have to be good. He urged each of us to care for the poor, feed the hungry, be humble stewards of the Earth and treat others how we would want to be treated ourselves even if they pray or live differently than us. His teachings remain as important as ever," Duckworth said. May he rest in peace and may his spirit continue to uplift and guide all those who followed his sacred word. U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood and Eric Sorensen gave similar comments memorializing the pope, with LaHood noting the honor it was to attend Pope Francis' joint address before Congress in 2015. I join the world in honoring his legacy, and ensuring that his memory lives on with Christians all over the world, LaHood said. Sorensen called the pope a kind and compassionate leader who will be deeply missed. May his lifelong legacy of helping those in need serve as an example to many others. In an interview Monday, Tylka said he owes a great debt of gratitude to Pope Francis because the pope is the reason he is able to serve as a bishop. He previously served as coadjutor bishop for the Diocese of Peoria and was unable to get to Rome to meet the Pope sooner because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tylka said Pope Francis' legacy and leadership has extended beyond the church, calling him "a great moral voice in the world. "Regardless of their faith, tradition, national origins to view people who respected the value of human dignity, life, who care for God's creations, ways of peace," the bishop said. Pope Francis showed people how to live in their faith in church and in the world, to preach the joy of the gospel and God's mercy and to show mercy to others, Tylka said. "As we pray for his soul, we pray for the gratitude of who he was in the Church. I think Pope Francis embodied the gospel and the joy of the gospel, the ladder of the church to be a coalition and extend that love and mercy to everything we say and everything we do," he said, noting he is personally very sad about Pope Francis' passing and shares in the mourning along with others in the diocese. "I think we all feel personally connected to him because he was so accessible, (there was) such warmth about him. (I'm) confident, especially the passing on Easter Monday, you know, just celebrated a great faith in the resurrection that Christ has been raised from the dead, in God's everlasting Glory. ... Grief is real and we have to grieve our losses, but hope is also real. He was a great champion of our hope." 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: Developing and agreeing on a system of units is the mandate of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures. Credit: (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures), CC BY-ND On May 20, 1875, delegates from a group of 17 countries gathered in Paris to sign what may be the most overlooked yet globally influential treaty in history: the Metre Convention. At a time when different countries (and even different cities defined weights and lengths based on local artifacts, royal body parts or grains of wheat, this rare agreement among nations offered something simple yet undeniably impactful: consistency. A radical initiative for its time, the Metre Convention ultimately birthed a system of measurement that would transcend language, politics and tradition, and lay the foundation for a new global era of scientific and technological advancement. A world divided by measurement By the mid-19th century, the push for standardization had become increasingly urgent. Scientific discovery was accelerating, global trade was booming and industrial projects were growing in scale and complexity. But the world's measurements were, frankly, a mess. France had introduced the metric system during its revolutionary years, but other nations were slowor outright unwillingto adopt it. Rivalries simmered not just among empires, but within the scientific community itself. Astronomers couldn't compare celestial observations across borders because their units didn't match. Engineers designing railway systems across Europe had to navigate conflicting standards for track gauges, load weights and even timekeeping. This wasn't just inefficient. It was a barrier to progress, a strain on economies and a growing source of frustration or a scientific world that aimed to speak in universal truths. Faced with growing societal demands, the industrial world agreed it was time to act. The Metre Convention was the result. Scientists and diplomats representing the 17 participating countries collectively established the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), headquartered just outside Paris, as the official keeper of measurement standards. Today, the BIPM is backed by 64 member states and governs the Systeme International d'Unites (SI), the measurement framework that underpins everything from bridges to smartphones. When standards fail And while by today's standards, the SI may seem like a relic of old-school science bureaucracy, it's anything but. Standardized measurement is the invisible infrastructure of the modern world. And when it fails, or more specifically when we ignore it, the consequences can be severe. Take the Gimli Glider incident. In 1983, an Air Canada flight from Montreal to Edmonton ran out of fuel midway through its journey. The cause was a miscalculation caused by confusion between metric and imperial units: the ground crew had used pounds instead of kilograms to measure fuel, and the pilots didn't catch the error. The plane lost power at 41,000 feet (around 12,500 meters for those who prefer their near-death experiences in metric), and glided safely to an abandoned airstrip in Gimli, Man., and to the annals of history as a symbol of what happens when we take standards for granted. Or consider the Mars Climate Orbiter, a US$327 million NASA spacecraft that disintegrated upon entering Mars' atmosphere in 1999. Engineers at Lockheed Martin had used imperial units, while NASA had assumed metric. The mismatch led to a critical navigation error and the failure of the mission, highlighting the importance of consistency in measurement, even far beyond the confines of Earth's atmosphere. The Gimli Glider and Mars Orbiter failures show what happens when consistency breaks down, but they're more than just cautionary tales. They reveal how much of modern life depends on the shared language of measurement, and how easily that foundation can be cracked. And therein lies the genius of the Metre Convention. It created a system that allows the world to communicate in the same terms. When someone says "kilogram," "second" or "volt," there is no ambiguity. That shared understanding is what makes global collaboration possible. The Mars Climate Orbiter at the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility in the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA/KSC Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. From man-made objects to universal constants But as scientists are wont to do, good ideas are refined, and standards evolve. For much of its post-Metre Convention history, the kilogram was defined by a physical artifacta hunk of platinum-iridium alloy stored in a vault in France. But in 2019, that changed. Now, the kilogram is defined by Planck's constant, a fundamental feature of the universe. The shift marked the final step in a long journey: every base unit in the SI is now rooted in nature rather than arbitrary human artifacts. That change wasn't just symbolic, it was necessary. Our ability to measure time, mass and distance with extreme precision affects nearly every aspect of modern life. GPS signals rely on time measurements accurate to the billionth of a second. Quantum computers and particle accelerators require calibration on mind-bendingly small scales. Even weather forecasting depends on standardized measurements of pressure, temperature and humidity. Shared standards in a divided world But perhaps the most underrated legacy of the Metre Convention is its role in building trust across borders. At a time when misinformation spreads quickly and even basic facts are contested, international standards offer a shared foundation that scientists, governments and industries can rely on. It's a form of global cooperation that has quietly endured for 150 years. That cooperation becomes particularly apparent in moments of political strain. Although the United States appears uncompromising in its commitment to feet and inches, American scientists, engineers and manufacturers rely heavily on the metric system, especially when collaborating across borders. As tensions rise between close allies like the U.S. and Canada, metric standards remain a consistent point of harmony. The two countries may spar diplomatically, but when it comes to assembling a car in Windsor with parts made in Detroit, the bolts still fit. Looking ahead Still, like all institutions, BIPM and the SI reflect the times in which they were created. The original signatories were almost exclusively colonial powers. It took almost a century for other nations to gain an equal seat at the table, and even now, access to the tools and infrastructure that facilitate precision metrologythe act of taking extremely accurate measurementsremains unequal. If the next 150 years of the Metre Convention are to be as successful as the first, greater inclusivity and accessibility will need to be central to its mission. We live in a world held together by decimals, tolerances and agreed-upon constants that keep planes in the air, bridges from collapsing and scientific progress on track. The Metre Convention reminds us that science isn't only about big breakthroughs and bold ideas. Sometimes it's about consensus and agreeing, together, on what a meter actually is. And even after 150 years, the simple idea of agreeing how to measure the world remains one of humanity's greatest achievements. So, what should we do with this anniversary? Maybe throw a party with metric-themed cocktails (may I suggest a 100mL Old Fashioned?). At the very least, we should take a moment to reflect on just how essential, and how easy to overlook, measurement really is. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Raised beach with exotic clasts at Breiavik, northwest Iceland. (A) Satellite image of Iceland with insets of Breiavik region. Dashed line corresponds to location of lower terrace where samples were collected (65.547945N, 24.381130W). (B) Drone oblique view looking south across beach terraces. Footprints, tire tracks, and person can be seen for scale in foreground, center, and background, respectively. (C) Example of exotic clast found within lower terrace. Credit: Geology (2025). DOI: 10.1130/G53168.1 A trio of researchers has found evidence of the impact of the Late Antique Little Ice Age on Iceland almost 1,500 years ago. In their paper published in the journal Geology, Christopher Spencer, Thomas Gernon and Ross Mitchell describe their analysis of out-of-place rocks they found embedded in cliffs on Iceland's west coast and what they learned. Prior research has shown that the Earth's northern hemisphere underwent a chilly spell starting around 540 AD due to the eruption of several huge volcanoes, which spewed so much debris into the atmosphere that the skies darkened. That cold spell was the start of what has now been called the Late Antique Little Ice Agea cold period that lasted for approximately 200 to 300 years. Some historians have speculated that the sudden chill led the Goths to attack the Romans in Europe, as they sought to move south into warmer regions, leading to the final collapse of the Roman Empire. In this new effort, the research trio were in Iceland studying some cliffs on the western shoreline when they noticed what they described as rocks that looked out of place. Curious about their nature, they collected several to study at the lab. In their lab, the team crushed the rocks and looked at their remnants under a microscope, allowing them to pull out zircon crystals from their centers. Such crystals, the researchers note, can be used as a time capsule. By studying their age and chemistry, they were able to trace their place of origin to rock fields across Greenland. This meant that they had been moved to the shore by someone or something more than 1,500 years ago. The researchers noted that the age of the rocks put them at the onset of the Late Antique Little Ice Age, which suggested that the rocks had been moved when ice broke free from Greenland's larger glaciers that formed as conditions had grown colder during that period. More information: Christopher J. Spencer et al, Greenlandic debris in Iceland likely tied to Bond event 1 ice rafting in the Dark Ages, Geology (2025). DOI: 10.1130/G53168.1 Journal information: Geology 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Artist's depiction of water rushing into Mars' Jezero Crater, which billions of years ago was the site of a delta. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Visit ancient Marsa surprisingly temperate planet where snow or rain falls from the sky, and rivers rush down valleys to feed hundreds of lakes. A new study from geologists at the University of Colorado Boulder paints this picture of a red planet that was relatively warm and wet, much different than the frigid wasteland we know today. The team's findings suggest that heavy precipitation likely fed many networks of valleys and channels that shaped the Martian surface billions of years agoadding new evidence to a long-running debate in planetary science. The researchers, led by Amanda Steckel, who earned her doctorate in geological sciences at CU Boulder in 2024, published their findings April 21 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. "You could pull up Google Earth images of places like Utah, zoom out, and you'd see the similarities to Mars," said Steckel, now at the California Institute of Technology. Most scientists today agree that at least some water existed on the surface of Mars during the Noachian epoch, roughly 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago. But where that water came from has long been a mystery. Some researchers say that ancient Mars wasn't ever warm and wet, but always cold and dry. At the time, the solar system's young sun was only about 75% as bright as it is today. Sprawling ice caps may have covered the highlands around the Martian equator, occasionally melting for short periods of time. In the new research, Steckel and her colleagues set out to investigate the warm-and-wet versus cold-and-dry theories of Mars' past climate. The team drew on computer simulations to explore how water may have shaped the surface of Mars billions of years ago. They found that precipitation from snow or rain likely formed the patterns of valleys and headwaters that still exist on Mars today. "It's very hard to make any kind of conclusive statement," Steckel said. "But we see these valleys beginning at a large range of elevations. It's hard to explain that with just ice." A detailed map of the topography of Mars at one region near its equator taken by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) instrument on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. Credit: NASA A tale of two red planets Satellite images of Mars today still reveal the fingerprints of water on the planet. Around the equator, for example, vast networks of channels spread from Martian highlands, branching like trees and emptying into lakes and even, possibly, an ocean. NASA's Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in 2021, is currently exploring Jezero Crater, the site of one such ancient lake. During the Noachian, a powerful river emptied into this region, depositing a delta on top of the crater floor. "You'd need meters deep of flowing water to deposit those kinds of boulders," said Brian Hynek, senior author of the study and a scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder. To study that ancient past, he and Steckel, who now serves on the Perseverance science team, created, essentially, a digital version of a portion of Mars. The team drew on a computer simulation, or model, originally developed for Earth studies by study co-author Gregory Tucker, a professor at the Department of Geological Sciences at CU Boulder. Matthew Rossi, a research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at CU Boulder, also served as a co-author. The researchers used the software to model the evolution of the landscape on synthetic terrain that resembles Mars close to its equator. In some cases, the group added water to that terrain from falling precipitation. In other cases, the researchers included melting ice caps. Then, in the simulation, they let the water flow for tens to hundreds of thousands of years. This image from NASA's Perseverance Rover reveals sandstone at the base of Jezero Crater. Scientists believe this feature was created by water carrying fine grains of rock into the crater. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The researchers examined the patterns that formed as a result and, specifically, where the headwaters feeding Mars' branching valleys emerged. The scenarios produced very different planets: In the case of melting ice caps, those valley heads formed largely at high elevations, roughly around the edge of where the ancient ice sat. In the precipitation examples, Martian headwaters were much more widespread, forming at elevations ranging from below the planet's average surface to more than 11,000 feet high. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "Water from these ice caps starts to form valleys only around a narrow band of elevations," Steckel said. "Whereas if you have distributed precipitation, you can have valley heads forming everywhere." The team then compared those predictions to actual data from Mars taken by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey spacecrafts. The simulations that included precipitation lined up more closely with the real red planet. The researchers are quick to point out that the results aren't the final word on Mars' ancient climatein particular, how the planet managed to stay warm enough to support snow or rain still isn't clear. But Hynek said the study provides scientists with new insights into the history of another planet: our own. "Once the erosion from flowing water stopped, Mars almost got frozen in time and probably still looks a lot like Earth did 3.5 billion years ago," he said. More information: Amanda V. Steckel et al, Landscape Evolution Models of Incision on Mars: Implications for the Ancient Climate, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024JE008637 Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels 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 country's largest faith group and benefit from associated privileges. Consider how Christmas is recognized as a federal holiday, whereas other faiths' major holidays are not. As social psychologists, we were curious who claims of anti-Christian bias appeal to, and how those claims are perceived. Our 2024 research, as well as other scholars' work, suggests that people's 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 Christiansit 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 Sikhsgroups that make up just 3% of the population. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The 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 Americansmeaning race and religion are tightly connected in U.S. culture. Sixty-two percent of white American adults identify as Christian, and 61% of American Christians identify as white. 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 group's 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. 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 politician's interview offensive. Both Black and white Christians viewed the message about anti-Christian bias as less offensive than the message about anti-white bias. 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 peoplewithout 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 America's racial makeup, as well. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Black bears are expanding their territory in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and as they roam about, state officials say the best way for residents and bears to both stay safe is to ensure they can't find a reliable snack in their human neighbor's backyard. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said while bears have long been a fact of life in the state's Upper Peninsula, they've been venturing farther south and west over the past two decades, including into the Traverse City, Grand Rapids and Midland areas. The state estimates 2,000 bears now call Lower Michigan home. The DNR has received about 285 bear complaints per year over the past two decades, including 303 in 2024. Counties with the most such complaints were Marquette (41), Houghton (29), Otsego (26), Chippewa (25), Delta (24), Charlevoix (19), Leelanau (16) and Grand Traverse (13). About half of those calls came from residents who saw a bear in their yard and wanted the DNR to remove it. However, state officials say a bear simply passing through one's property doesn't necessarily warrant action from state officials. Black bears are an important part of the state's ecosystem, said Jared Duquette, a DNR wildlife biologist who specializes in human-wildlife interactions. "Bears eat a variety of fruits, berries and nuts, making them terrific seed dispersers," Duquette said. "Their droppings help spread seeds across large areas, promoting plant growth and forest regeneration. As opportunistic omnivores, bears help control populations of small mammals and insects. They also scavenge on carrion, which helps recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem." Please don't feed the bears As long as they can't find a meal, bears are not likely to hang around in someone's yard for an extended period of time. To keep the hungry mammals moving along, DNR has two main recommendations: Limit or eliminate access to bird feed, including suet, which "is like fast food to a bear." The animals can smell the feed from up to a mile away and remember where it is year after year, DNR said. Keep other possible food sources secure. A bear will likely keep moving if there's nothing tasty around, including unsecured garbage or a food-splattered grill. If a bear has already helped itself to a tasty birdseed or trash dinner, the DNR will typically recommend the resident remove the food source and give the bear at least two weeks to stop visiting the premises. Other options include replacing bird feeders with bird baths, securing household trash in a garage or shed, using bear-resistant trash cans (and bear-resistant dumpsters for businesses) and protecting beehives with an electric fence. "We had a homeowner who wanted us to trap a bear because it was coming by their home every day," said Stephen Griffith, a DNR biologist for the Traverse City area. "But if a bear is coming by every day, there's a problem. You need to fix the problem. Bears have a very, very good memory." Griffith said two other residents in the Traverse City area decided to leave food out for the bears every day and even named them. This might seem kind, he said, but it's actually dangerous to the bears, which risk getting shot by other residents or euthanized by animal control officers if they continue to frequent areas populated by humans. "As the saying goes," Griffith said, "a fed bear is a dead bear." The DNR can help remove a bear from a property by scaring it off with rubber buckshot or pyrotechnics. The state can also trap and relocate the animal if it becomes problematic or potentially threatens public safety. A captured bear can be relocated to a more suitable habitat in the woods of northern Michigan but that habitat is becoming scarcer as more land is developed, state officials said. "You can take a problem bear somewhere else, but then you run the risk of it becoming someone else's problem," said Kowalski, whose office relocates about six bears a year. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Don't play dead, don't run away The black bear is the only species of bear found in the Michigan wild. Despite its name, it can come in three different colors: black, brown and cinnamon. They can weigh anywhere between 100 and 500 pounds. They generally prefer to avoid people, state officials said, but may defend themselves if they're surprised or feel threatened. Deaths caused by black bears are very rare, with only 61 such deaths across North America since 1900, according to the nonprofit North American Bear Center. If someone does encounter a black bear, the DNR said, they should not play dead (that will only work on a grizzly) and they should not run away (that can trigger the animal's chase response). Instead, stand your ground, back away only when the bear stops its approach and make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump, state officials suggested. One can also yell at the bear loudly and always provide a clear, unobstructed escape route for the bear. If the bear makes contact with you, fight back, the DNR advises, by hitting, kicking and using anything available, like a knife, sticks, rocks, binoculars or a backpack. 2025 The Detroit News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Transport and physicochemical properties of WFPM. Credit: Communications Earth & Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02214-3 When smoke from Canadian wildfires turned New York City skies apocalyptically orange in June 2023, it delivered catastrophic air quality and an unexpected side effect: cooling the New York City region by about 3 degrees Celsius. This temperature drop, called "global dimming," which is the opposite of "global warming," trapped dangerous pollutants near the ground, according to Rutgers Health researchers who published their findings in Communications Earth & Environment. "With all you hear about the negative consequences of global warming, you might think the cooling would be good," said Philip Demokritou, senior study author and Henry Rutgers chair and professor of nanoscience and environmental bioengineering at the Rutgers School of Public Health and the School of Engineering. "But cooler temperatures are equally bad as global warming. This effect on microclimate can disrupt the hydrological cycle, trap other toxic air compounds and increase human exposure levels." The researchers studied the physicochemical characteristics of particulate matter during the peak of the Canadian wildfire event, analyzing their light-absorbing and light-scattering properties. They found that the smoke particles, which traveled nearly 1,000 kilometers from Canadian wildfires, produced an unprecedented direct radiative forcing of352.4 watts per square meter at ground level. "The wildfire particulate matter that arrived in the New Jersey and New York City area on June 7 contained mostly brown carbon particles that had not been photobleached completely despite covering a distance of about 800 kilometers," said Georgios Kelesidis, an assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and lead author of the study. Scientists determined that the cooling occurred because wildfire smoke contains primarily organic carbon particles that scatter sunlight away from the Earth's surface. Like a smoky umbrella, these particles blocked incoming solar radiation, cooling the areas below. However, this cooling came with dangerous consequences. By reducing temperature, the smoke layer above the cities limited natural air circulation, preventing pollution dilution and vertical mixing. This mechanism trapped wildfire particles and other urban pollutants near ground level, potentially increasing human exposure to harmful airborne contaminants. Abstract. Credit: Environmental Science & Technology (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c10304 "This study documents for the first time the effect of wildfire nanoparticles on the microclimate of megacities," Demokritou said. "Such ambient air temperature reductions may exacerbate the urban heat island effect and limit the natural ventilation of megacities, exacerbating the exposure to air pollution." During the event, New York City recorded an unprecedented daily average of particles less than 2.5 micrometers. The totals were more than three times higher than Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and eight times higher than World Health Organization recommendations. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The trapped pollutants likely contributed to health impacts throughout the region, Demokritou said, citing recent epidemiological studies in NYC that confirm increased emergency hospital visits and exacerbation of asthma and other respiratory health effects. The radiative cooling study is part of a larger research effort examining the impacts of the 2023 Canadian wildfires on human health. A companion paper from the same Rutgers team, published in Environmental Science & Technology, revealed another concerning effect: A stunning 9.2 mg of smoke particles were deposited in the lungs of people in the area during the Canadian event and such particles significantly impaired human lung immune defenses. That study found exposure to wildfire particulate matter reduced the viability of lung macrophagesimmune cells that defend against inhaled pathogensby about 20%. The particles also impaired these cells' ability to engulf foreign invaders by about 50%, potentially increasing vulnerability to respiratory infections. Three separate epidemiological studies in New York City confirmed real-world health impacts during the event, with asthma-related emergency department visits increasing by 44% to 82% at the wildfire smoke's peak. As climate change drives more frequent and intense wildfires, these findings highlight complex interactions between wildfire emissions, urban microclimates, and public health. The research demonstrates that beyond the immediate impacts of decreased visibility and breathing difficulties, wildfire smoke creates secondary effects that can amplify and prolong exposure to harmful pollutants. "Wildfire events have increased in frequency and intensity dramatically due to extreme drought and heat and now affect even the Northeast U.S.," Demokritou said. "This was the first event of this scale in the region, but it probably won't be the last." The UN Chinese Language Day, established in 2010 and observed annually on April 20, has been celebrated in Turkiye's Istanbul with an event highlighting the beauty and global significance of Chinese culture. Under the theme "A Timeless Chinese Gift," this year's event was held on Friday by the Confucius Institute at Bogazici University. In his opening speech, Gurkan Kumbaroglu, vice president of Bogazici University, noted that the event would deepen Turkish students' understanding of Chinese culture and enhance educational and cultural cooperation between China and Turkiye. During the event, Xu Xufeng, an academic at the Shanghai Calligraphy and Painting Academy, delivered a speech titled "Ode to the Peony," in which Xu traced the cultural journey of the peony motif from ancient China along the Maritime Silk Road to Persia and Turkiye, illustrating its role in Ottoman and intercultural art. The event also featured cultural seminars, performances, and art exhibitions. Among them, the most eye-catching one was a performance by three master puppeteers from Quanzhou, eastern China's Fujian Province, who showcased the beauty of traditional Chinese string puppetry. Meanwhile, an art exhibition was held to display contemporary works by Shanghai-based artists, with styles ranging from ink wash drawing and fine brushwork to vivid color painting, offering visitors a window into modern Chinese artistic expression. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Following George Floyd's 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. Blaming crime on Democratic city leaders was a centerpiece of Donald Trump's 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 mayorsBrandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver, Michelle Wu of Boston, and Eric Adams of New Yorkhave "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. It's 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. As researchers of politics and public policy, we wanted to figure out if that was true. Neither party does a better job As any student of introductory statistics learns, correlation doesn't 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. In Dallas, Mayor Eric Johnson has claimed that Democratic leaders aren't 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 Johnson's and others' claims about Democratic cities becoming more dangerous just aren't true: Mayors from the Democratic Party aren't making cities any moreor lessdangerous 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 roleand enormous budgetsof 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. In other words, Democrats aren't 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. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. 'Crime is nonpartisan' It turns out that campaign promises from both sides of the partisan aisle about crime and policing have little bearing on what's 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. 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 crimesuch as youth jobs programs in Chicago and Boston. Other policies reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice systemsuch 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. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Lake Lednica with the island contaning the remains of a residence of the first Polish dynasty. Credit: Mariusz Lamentowicz Understanding the acceleration of human impacts on the environment is key to addressing the complex planetary and social challenges of the Anthropocene. But even as the inter-relatedness of environmental, political, and social processes becomes clearer, the conditions that produce sustainable outcomes remain little understood. Now, a new study examines the acceleration of social-ecological changes in the first kingdom in Poland, the Piast dynasty, identifying the factors that contributed to its failure. The study has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Using new high-resolution pollen records, as well as historical and archaeological data, the study shows a period of rapid ecological change and wealth concentration, followed by a period of rewilding and the collapse of political structures. Using perspectives from complex systems theory, the authors argue that sustainable political systems require a balance between capital accumulation and social connectivity, and that a lack of social cohesion tipped the Piast state toward collapse. The Piast dynasty was founded in the 900s CE, enabled by an influx of silver likely gained from the Eurasian slave trade. Pollen records cored from four locations in the Piast polity reveal that its foundation involved a rapid intensification of land use, marked by deforestation, increases in agricultural and fire activities, and the development of pastureland. The territory expanded and the population near the core grew rapidly, suggesting that communities from conquered areas were forcibly resettled. Less than a century after its foundation, however, pollen records show that agricultural activity in the kingdom was decreasing and wild ecosystems were taking back over some areas. Hoards of silver shifted with the centers of power, but remained highly concentrated. Finally, in the 1030s, internal conflicts within the dynasty and foreign invasion by the Czech ruler Bretislav I marked the collapse of the Piast state and temporary disappearance of any major political structures in Poland. A dirham of Isma'il ibn Ahmad, ruler of Central Asia from the Samanid dynasty, struck in Samarqand in 898/9 AD. It is these coins, produced in large quantities, that triggered processes that led to the formation of the Piast state in Greater Poland. Credit: Dorota Malarczyk To explain the rapid rise and fall of the first Polish state, the authors turn to insights from the study of complex systems. The creation of the Piast dynasty, they argue, was based on a cycle of violence, expansion, and extraction. This cycle was fed by positive feedbacks, further fueling the state's expansion. But for a complex system such as a state to reach stability, there must also be a cycle of negative feedbacks that hold the system together, slowing growth and providing balance. "Despite its efforts to quickly create a Christian religious hierarchy, the Piast polity was not able to successfully exploit the cohesive power of religion," says Adam Izdebski, lead author of the study, "nor did it develop a good mechanism of co-opting conquered populations and their elites." Ultimately, the Piast elites had no pre-existing cultural, religious or political networks on which to base their emerging political system. Constrained by under-connectedness, technology, and demography, they couldn't maintain the ecological intensification they initiated. This lack of reliable prior networks proved a fatal liability that revealed itself in the rapid collapse of the first Polish state. As societies navigate the challenges of the Anthropocene, or grapple with the impacts of state expansionism, the resilience of political systems will be of increasing importance. The current study shows that sustainable states are those that balance their exploitation of ecological resources with internal societal connections. More information: Unbalanced social-ecological acceleration led to state formation failure in early medieval Poland, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2409056122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain 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." There's 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? As scholars who study the arts, activism and policy, we're watching the latest developments with apprehension. But we think it's 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 country's 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 government's responsibility to build arts spaces accessible to all Americans. 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. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. 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. 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. With direct funding to artists largely eliminated, today's 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. Activist theater continued into the antebellum period for the purposes of promoting the abolitionist cause. These dramas, often organized by women, would take place in living rooms, outside of public view. The clandestine staged readingsthe most famous of which was written by one of the earliest Black American playwrights, William Wells Brownseeded 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 agesbut specifically young adultsthey 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. 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. The future is now Whether or not they realize it, many artists and arts organizations today are integrating lessons from the past. In recent years, they've 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. They're building networks of financial support to share space and money with other artists and arts organizations. And they're forming cultural land trusts, which create land cooperatives where artists can work and live with one another. What's 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 unprecedentedand funding threats will likely reshape arts organizations and further limit direct support for artistswe're confident that the arts will persist with or without government support. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Ticks are more likely to carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease in areas where pheasants are released, new research shows. The paper, published in the journal Ecology Letters, is titled "The release of non-native gamebirds is associated with amplified zoonotic disease risk." Pheasants are not native to the UK, but about 47 million are released here each year for recreational shooting. Researchers studied ticks in 25 woodland areas in South West England where pheasants are releasedand 25 nearby control sites where no pheasants are released. They found that Borrelia spp.the bacteria that can cause Lyme diseasewas almost 2.5 times more common in ticks in the pheasant-release areas. The research was carried out by the University of Exeter and the UK Health Security Agency. "Borrelia bacteria can live in a wide range of hosts, including pheasants, wild birds and mammalsand humans," said Emile Michels, from the Center for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall. "Pheasants are known to be 'competent' hosts of Borreliameaning they have a relatively high likelihood of contracting and retransmitting the bacteria. "More research is needed, but our findings suggest there may be an increased risk of potential exposure to Borrelia-infected ticks for peoplesuch as gamekeeperswho work in woodlands where pheasants are released in numbers." Researchers tested ticks at different life stages (nymphs and adults) and found that, overall, the proportion containing Borrelia was 7.8% in pheasant-release woodlands, and 3.2% where pheasants were not released. Dr. Barbara Tschirren, also from the University of Exeter, said, "Our findings are evidence of 'spillback'where non-native species increase the prevalence of native pathogens. "This can be an important route for the emergence of zoonoses (diseases that animals can give to humans)." Dr. Jolyon Medlock, head of the Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology team at UKHSA, said, "While we have observed an increase in the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease in ticks, we do not have data on the resulting impact on human health, including evidence of Lyme infection. "Following these findings, we continue to work with academic partners to better understand what drives Borrelia transmission, including the roles of climate and environmental change." The control sites in the study were one to two kilometers from the pheasant-release sites, so more research would be required to see if Borrelia in ticks declines further at greater distances. More information: The release of non-native gamebirds is associated with amplified zoonotic disease risk, Ecology Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1111/ele.70115 Journal information: Ecology Letters 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: Group of university students from Quito visiting the twin waterfalls in the middle of the Llurimagua mining concession. Credit: Carlos Zorrilla Scientists at the Institute for Agroecology at the University of Vermont, along with international co-authors, have published a paper outlining Ecuador's successes in legally championing the Rights of Nature. The paper, titled "Frogs, Coalitions, and Mining: Transformative Insights for Planetary Health and Earth System Law from Ecuador's Struggle to Enforce Nature's Rights," appears in Earth System Governance's special issue on "Locating the 'Global South' in Earth System Governance." Ecuadorian frogs might seem unlikely superheroes, yet these small spotted amphibians emerged victorious against a Goliath of mining concessions in Ecuador. Like most superheroes, the frogs had help from a team of strong allies. In this case, members of the Junin community, along biologists, lawyers, and other allies, successfully sued on nature's behalf to halt mining activities. The Resistance Rocket FrogRana Cohete Resistenciawas named by the people of Intag, to symbolize their collective struggle to defend their territory. Conventional environmental laws often focus on regulating human impacts through permits, limits, and, in the best-case scenarios, restoration. In contrast, Rights of Nature laws aim to preserve entire ecosystems holisticallyfor this reason, endemic endangered frog species and a human community can act as co-equal plaintiffs. Ecuador's enshrinement of the Rights of Nature within its Constitution in 2008 represents a monumental shift in rights and jurisprudence. Ecuador's constitution establishes nature as a subject with inherent rights. It embeds humans within ecological processes and emphasizes care, stewardship, and the equitable coexistence of all lifeforms These efforts have also generated a robust new legal strategy that has inspired similar cases globally, as outlined in the paper. July 2016, Quito Amazonas Avenue, Protest against Ascendant Copper with residents of the Intag area, later the company changed its name to Copper Mesa. Credit: Carlos Zorrilla To date, sustained legal and community efforts have successfully blocked three large mining projects in Intag, while the Rights of Nature have prevailed in half a dozen landmark court cases across Ecuador. Resistance to mining in Intag Valley, a biodiversity hotspot, exemplifies the power of community action and international solidarity in pursuing planetary health equity and justice, and a just transition for all. Ecuador ranks ninth among the world's megadiverse countries, hosting significant species diversity, including approximately 16,50020,000 vascular plant species, 465 mammal species, and 690 amphibian species. Amphibians are crucial ecological indicators due to their heightened sensitivity to environmental pollutants and toxins. Both their abundance and diversity are vital indicators of ecological health, and so frogs have become a powerful, tiny avatar of Earth's health. Andrea Teran, an Ecuadorian biologist providing data and research to support the case and a co-author of the paper, believes the Rights of Nature approach is what led to this environmental success, "Translating the Constitutional Rights of Nature into concrete conservation measures is a powerful tool to prevent species extinction in areas threatened by mining. Large-scale mining concessions are concentrated in the Andes and their foothills, overlapping with regions of high amphibian endemism and richness. "Therefore, having a mechanism to halt this extractive economic model opens the door to exploring alternative relationships with nature and sustainable economic models that support life in the long term." Dr. Mario Moncayo, part of the team of sponsoring attorneys in the Llurimagua mining case, described their legal victory this way: "In the case of Llurimagua, as explained in the article, the practical applicability of the rights of Nature is demonstrated, showing that these are not merely symbolic declarations but rights with real-world legal effects. The recognition of the rights of nature has allowed individuals and communities to exercise them directly, establishing relevant precedents in the protection of nature." Activists and Police Outside the Court of Cotacach at the delivery of the A.P. Credit: Carlos Zorrilla Carlos Varela Arias, a constitutional law professor, member of the legal team that defended nature in the Llurimagua case, and co-author, adds, "This framework will enable the design of new strategies and global governance mechanisms to adapt human systems to those of nature, allowing for our survival and peaceful coexistence with the natural environment." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The paper outlines three critical dimensions of successful Rights of Nature laws: Grants nature intrinsic worth beyond its utility to humans. Acts as a guiding principle to ensure laws, policies, and rulings respect nature. Makes the protection of nature enforceable, obligating both the state and citizens. The paper proposes next steps to scale the Rights of Nature framework and offers specific recommendations for policy reforms and governance models. Rights of Nature victories have inspired legal innovations globally. For example, Bolivia's Mother Earth Law acknowledges the Rights of Nature within its legal framework. Similarly, New Zealand has granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River and Te Urewera. In Canada, legal recognition of the Rights of Nature has been granted in specific cases such as the Grassy Narrows First Nation's land rights, and there are numerous similar cases in Mexico, India, the U.S., Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Delivery of the AP in Cotacachi. Credit: Carlos Zorrilla The Resistance Rocket Frog Rana Cohete Resistencia was named by the people of Intag, to symbolize their collective struggle to defend their territory. Credit: Ren Dillon Signed by Ecuador and 22 other Latin American countries, the Escazu Agreement (2020) stands out as a critical governance tool for advancing environmental and ecological justice. This binding regional treaty emphasizes safeguarding biodiversity and ensuring accountability for violence against defenders. However, despite its entry into force in April 2021, violence persists; 2,100 nature defenders were killed globally, and 70% of these murders occurred in four Latin American countries in 2023 (Global Witness, 2024). Lead author and UVM Research Assistant Professor Dr. Carlos Andres Gallegos-Riofrio discusses the governance implications, saying, "A key lessonespecially the coalition that advanced the Llurimagua caseis that there are real alternatives for governing the Earth system. These alternatives, to become truly transformative, need society must active engagement. Only then can they serve as critical tools to help local communities stop activities that harm both people and nature, globally prevent us from continuing to cross the planet's safe operating boundaries." Dr. Amaya Carrasco Torrontegui, senior author and the other UVM affiliate, describes the policy impact this way: "The Rights of Nature is a strong and inspiring idea that started in Ecuador. This approach encourages us to see nature not just as a resource, but as something alive and deserving of caredrawing on Indigenous wisdom and the idea of Pachamama, or Mother Earth." More information: Carlos Andres Gallegos-Riofrio et al, Frogs, coalitions, and mining: Transformative insights for planetary health and earth system law from Ecuador's struggle to enforce Nature's rights, Earth System Governance (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.esg.2025.100253 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: Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) is among the most invasive plant species in North America. Credit: Florida Museum of Natural History In the largest study of its kind, researchers at the Florida Museum of Natural History have used data from a 120-year-old program managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quantify the effects of introduced species. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers included more than 5 million measurements from individual trees across much of eastern North America and showed the rate at which introduced species are spreading has increased over the last two decades. Additionally, native tree diversity is on the decline in areas where exotic species originally introduced by humans have encroached. This might seem like a no-brainer. If you increase the number of non-native species, it makes sense that the number of natives would go down. But no one's actually demonstrated that this happens on a large scale before. "There's this assumption that introduced species are not a good thing, but we don't always know what that means," said study co-author Doug Soltis, a distinguished professor at the Florida Museum. "People have tried to get at their impact using fine-scale studies. What this paper does is take a more macro-level approach." There are numerous studies that catalog the negative effects plants can have when they're introduced to a novel ecosystem. Without the pressures of pathogens and herbivores in the region where they evolved, they can quickly outcompete native species, change the pH of the soil, alter the growth and behavior of animals, disrupt the flow of nutrients from tree to tree through underground fungal networks, and make it easier for some species to move into an area while pushing others out by altering the environment. What we don't know is how all of these changes affect native plant diversity as a whole. To find out, the study authors left no stone unturned. Like a physician subjecting a patient to a barrage of clinical tests, they looked at changes in biological diversity over time in response to the arrival and establishment of non-native species. Using data collected as far back as 1995, the authors found two conspicuous patterns. First, introduced species are picking up speed rather than losing steam. Second, in areas with introduced species, the number of native species is decreasing over time. The diversity of introduced species in many areas is also increasing. This could be because certain areas are more amenable to the growth of non-natives; they could be close to metropolitan or suburban areas, for example, where exotic trees are grown as ornamentals. Or it could mean the arrival of one introduced species somehow makes way for others. "We don't actually know the mechanism behind the increase," said lead author Yunpeng Liu, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Florida's Invasion Science Institute. The answer to that riddle will have to await further research. Despite a solid understanding of how introduced trees affect natives, the authors say they aren't any closer to finding a solution to the problem. The study of introduced species is primarily focused on mitigation and prevention rather than the full-scale restoration of ecosystems. Once Pandora's box has been opened, it's practically impossible to corral the furies. "We can't eradicate species once they've become widespread," Liu said. But studies like these are valuable nonetheless for the simple reason that a problem can't be solved unless it's first identified. Large-scale and long-term datasets like the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program of the USDA provide directions for the unknown road ahead. People doing the hard work of removing introduced species and planting nativesas co-authors Pam and Doug Soltis are doing with a tract of forest at the University of Florida that has been granted a temporary stay from developmentneed to know where to look and focus their efforts. "What we can offer is a risk map," Yunpeng said. "We can tell people which region or ecosystem they should pay more attention to in the future." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Case study: Tallow tree, 'a most useful plant' Tallow trees (Triadica sebifera) have spade-shaped leaves with much of the same visual appeal as a gaudy flower. In spring, the new leaves grow out crimson and give way to kelly green as they mature. Near the end of the growing season, the leaves are flushed with anthocyanins that turn them ruby red with bronze veins and a halo of dappled sunset yellows. They have actual flowers, too, which hang down in long racemes that look like elephant trunks attached to the tip of each branch. When the fruit is ready for dispersal, an outer woody layer splits and falls away, revealing three seeds coated in a thick, waxy layer of tallow that can be harvested to make candles and soap. The seeds also contain a type of oil that hardens when exposed to air. Unlike water, oils don't evaporate but instead go through a process called polymerization, a chemical transformation that results in a solid. Tallow tree oils polymerize quickly, making them useful for oil-based paints and varnishes. The tree, which can grow up to 50 feet tall, also has an elegant profile, with a wide, flowing canopy that looks like it was draped in a sheet of leaves rather than growing them itself. Tallow trees are native to Asia, where they've been cultivated for hundreds of years. With all of its pleasing and useful attributes, it's little wonder the species was imported to North America. In fact, the first tallow tree seeds were shipped over by none other than Benjamin Franklin. In a letter dated 1772, he wrote, "I send also a few seeds of the Chinese tallow tree, which will I believe grow and thrive with you. 'Tis a most useful plant." Franklin shipped the seeds to a man in Georgia. By 1784, they were spotted growing near Charleston, South Carolina. Young tallow trees can grow as much as 13 feet a year, allowing them to outcompete slower-growing native flora for light and space. They can also grow in a variety of environments, including flood plains and dry uplands, deep shade and full sun, giving them the potential to spread widely. Tallow trees are now considered one of the most invasive plant species in the United States, with a primarily coastal distribution from North Carolina through Texas, as well as naturalized populations in California. But their current pervasiveness isn't all Franklin's fault. In the early 1900s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture incentivized growing tallow trees in the Southeast with the goal of creating a soap industry in the region. Even when the incentive was gone, local nurseries continued to grow and sell tallow trees as ornamentals. As many as 300,000 were grown in Houston during the 1980s. The species was also introduced to California as a shade tree. Many birds eat tallow tree fruit and disperse the seeds, making it easy for the plant to escape cultivation and infiltrate natural areas, where it can radically and rapidly alter ecosystems. A stark example of this comes from Southeast Texas, to which tallow trees were first introduced in the early 19th century. Initially, they spread primarily through riparian landscapes, following the course of rivers and streams. Then, beginning in the 1970s, they moved onto higher ground. Before Houston, Galveston and the surrounding areas were developed or converted to farmland, they were covered with vast prairies. The area received sufficient rainfall to support forests, but the soil is composed primarily of thick, cloying clay that makes it difficult for plants to absorb water and nutrients. Grasses like little bluestem were among the only plants that grew there, and wildfires were common. Thus, any trees that could withstand the infertile soil were periodically cleared away by conflagrations. But this didn't stop tallow trees. After building up a robust seed bank in the nearby riparian zones, they quickly and efficiently went about converting prairies into woodlands made primarily of tallow trees. They're also good at taking over dormant pastures, and their spread was likely facilitated by abandoned farm and ranch lands, which lay fallow as agriculture declined in the region and properties were earmarked for development. Once invasive species become established, they also make subtle changes to the environment that scientists are only now beginning to understand. Tallow leaves are relatively thin compared with some native trees in temperate North American forests. If they happen to fall in a body of water, such as a pond or a lake, bacteria rapidly begin breaking down the leaves, digesting their sugars and tannins, and using up dissolved oxygen in the water during the process. This has been shown to reduce the hatching success and tadpole survival of southern leopard frogs in laboratory settings. Gray tree frogs also seem to avoid making mating calls in tallow trees, preferring the natives instead, which would become problematic in places where tallows are the main type of woody vegetation. Replacing an entire ecosystem, whether through development or the introduction of non-native species, also displaces organisms that cannot withstand the transition. This is the case for Attwater's prairie-chicken, which is listed as federally endangered and lives exclusively in the disappearing coastal plains of Texas. 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: County-level presence of a monitoring site. Counties with an active monitoring site in 2024 are presented in green and those classified as monitoring deserts are presented in white. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2425310122 In 2024, more than 50 million people in the United States lived in counties with no air-quality monitoring, according to a new study from researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development. Rural countiesespecially counties in the Midwest and Southwere less likely to have an air-quality monitoring site. Air quality measures are used to estimate people's exposure to air pollution, which makes monitoring a critical public health tool, according to Nelson Roque, assistant professor of human development and family studies and lead author of the study. In an article published today (April 21) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers examined where air quality is not monitored and which demographic and social factors were more common in unmonitored counties. "Exposure to air pollution has been directly and indirectly to cancers, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, immune disorders and more," said Alexis Santos, associate professor of human development and family studies and of demography at Penn State and co-author of this study. "If we are not measuring air quality in large regions of the country, then we do not know how significant air pollution problems are. For example, if there is wildfire in a county with no air quality monitoring site, how will people know whether it is safe to sleep in their homes or work at their places of business?" The research team analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) AirData active sites directory. They found that 1,848 counties in the U.S.58% of all countieshave no active air-quality monitoring sites. Per-state monitoring varies greatly across the nation. Pennsylvania, for example, ranks in the top 15 states with 67% of the counties having at least one air-quality monitoring site. By matching their data with information from the American Community Survey produced by the U.S. Census Bureau, the researchers were able to use logistic regressiona statistical model that uses available data to predict outcomes with two optionsto identify which demographic and socioeconomic characteristics are more common in counties without air-quality monitoring. The analysis revealed that rural counties were the most likely to lack monitoring sites. Additionally, when taking population size into account, the researchers found that counties without air-quality monitoring had higher levels of poverty, lower levels of high school completion, higher proportions of Hispanic residents and higher proportions of Black residents. "Air pollution affects everyone's health, so it is important for everyone in the nation to have access to accurate information about the quality of the air they breathe," said Roque. "Where we don't collect data, the threat and impact of pollution are invisible." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The nation had 4,821 active air-quality monitoring stations when the analysis was conducted, but the researchers said that the number of sites is always changing. Some monitoring sites are several decades old and frequently go offline. Between 1957when national air-quality monitoring beganand September 2024when this study was conducted20,815 air quality sites had been active at one point. "We ran this same analysis just a couple months apart, and we found that the number of air-quality monitoring sites had changed over that short period of time," Roque said. "These stations are in flux all the time, and data-reporting intervals also vary, which points to the need for investment in and modernization of this infrastructure." Air quality data is primarily gathered by the EPA or by localities in conjunction with the EPA, the researchers said. "Generally speaking, infrastructure for health care, transportation, education and other areas are underdeveloped in rural counties," said Santos. "This study demonstrated the pattern holds true for air-quality monitoring, as well. This leaves people in rural areas vulnerable to increased exposure to air pollution from wildfires, agriculture, industrial activities and other sources. As a society, we need to invest in air-quality monitoring if we want to keep people safe and save on the long-term costs of pollution exposure." Hailey Andrews, human research technologist in the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging, also contributed to this research. More information: Nelson A. Roque et al, Identifying air quality monitoring deserts in the United States, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2425310122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An illustration of the exoplanet K2-18b, which some research suggests may be covered by deep oceans. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI) A team of astronomers announced on April 16, 2025, that in the process of studying a planet around another star, they had found evidence for an unexpected atmospheric gas. On Earth, that gascalled dimethyl sulfideis mostly produced by living organisms. In April 2024, the James Webb Space Telescope stared at the host star of the planet K2-18b for nearly six hours. During that time, the orbiting planet passed in front of the star. Starlight filtered through its atmosphere, carrying the fingerprints of atmospheric molecules to the telescope. By comparing those fingerprints to 20 different molecules that they would potentially expect to observe in the atmosphere, the astronomers concluded that the most probable match was a gas that, on Earth, is a good indicator of life. I am an astronomer and astrobiologist who studies planets around other stars and their atmospheres. In my work, I try to understand which nearby planets may be suitable for life. K2-18b, a mysterious world To understand what this discovery means, let's start with the bizarre world it was found in. The planet's name is K2-18b, meaning it is the first planet in the 18th planetary system found by the extended NASA Kepler mission, K2. Astronomers assign the "b" label to the first planet in the system, not "a," to avoid possible confusion with the star. K2-18b is a little over 120 light-years from Earthon a galactic scale, this world is practically in our backyard. Although astronomers know very little about K2-18b, we do know that it is very unlike Earth. To start, it is about eight times more massive than Earth, and it has a volume that's about 18 times larger. This means that it's only about half as dense as Earth. In other words, it must have a lot of water, which isn't very dense, or a very big atmosphere, which is even less dense. Astronomers think that this world could either be a smaller version of our solar system's ice giant Neptune, called a mini-Neptune, or perhaps a rocky planet with no water but a massive hydrogen atmosphere, called a gas dwarf. Another option, as University of Cambridge astronomer Nikku Madhusudhan recently proposed, is that the planet is a "hycean world." That term means hydrogen-over-ocean, since astronomers predict that hycean worlds are planets with global oceans many times deeper than Earth's oceans, and without any continents. These oceans are covered by massive hydrogen atmospheres that are thousands of miles high. An illustration of the exoplanet K2-18b, which some research suggests may be covered by deep oceans. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI) Astronomers do not know yet for certain that hycean worlds exist, but models for what those would look like match the limited data JWST and other telescopes have collected on K2-18b. This is where the story becomes exciting. Mini-Neptunes and gas dwarfs are unlikely to be hospitable for life, because they probably don't have liquid water, and their interior surfaces have enormous pressures. But a hycean planet would have a large and likely temperate ocean. So could the oceans of hycean worlds be habitableor even inhabited? Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Detecting DMS In 2023, Madhusudhan and his colleagues used the James Webb Space Telescope's short-wavelength infrared camera to inspect starlight that filtered through K2-18b's atmosphere for the first time. They found evidence for the presence of two simple carbon-bearing moleculescarbon monoxide and methaneand showed that the planet's upper atmosphere lacked water vapor. This atmospheric composition supported, but did not prove, the idea that K2-18b could be a hycean world. In a hycean world, water would be trapped in the deeper and warmer atmosphere, closer to the oceans than the upper atmosphere probed by JWST observations. Intriguingly, the data also showed an additional, very weak signal. The team found that this weak signal matched a gas called dimethyl sulfide, or DMS. On Earth, DMS is produced in large quantities by marine algae. It has very few, if any, nonbiological sources. This signal made the initial detection exciting: on a planet that may have a massive ocean, there is likely a gas that is, on Earth, emitted by biological organisms. Scientists had a mixed response to this initial announcement. While the findings were exciting, some astronomers pointed out that the DMS signal seen was weak and that the hycean nature of K2-18b is very uncertain. To address these concerns, Mashusudhan's team turned JWST back to K2-18b a year later. This time, they used another camera on JWST that looks for another range of wavelengths of light. The new resultsannounced on April 16, 2025supported their initial findings. These new data show a strongerbut still relatively weaksignal that the team attributes to DMS or a very similar molecule. The fact that the DMS signal showed up on another camera during another set of observations made the interpretation of DMS in the atmosphere stronger. Madhusudhan's team also presented a very detailed analysis of the uncertainties in the data and interpretation. In real-life measurements, there are always some uncertainties. They found that these uncertainties are unlikely to account for the signal in the data, further supporting the DMS interpretation. As an astronomer, I find that analysis exciting. Is life out there? Does this mean that scientists have found life on another world? Perhapsbut we still cannot be sure. First, does K2-18b really have an ocean deep beneath its thick atmosphere? Astronomers should test this. Second, is the signal seen in two cameras two years apart really from dimethyl sulfide? Scientists will need more sensitive measurements and more observations of the planet's atmosphere to be sure. Third, if it is indeed DMS, does this mean that there is life? This may be the most difficult question to answer. Life itself is not detectable with existing technology. Astronomers will need to evaluate and exclude all other potential options to build their confidence in this possibility. The new measurements may lead researchers toward a historic discovery. However, important uncertainties remain. Astrobiologists will need a much deeper understanding of K2-18b and similar worlds before they can be confident in the presence of DMS and its interpretation as a signature of life. Scientists around the world are already scrutinizing the published study and will work on new tests of the findings, since independent verification is at the heart of science. Moving forward, K2-18b is going to be an important target for JWST, the world's most sensitive telescope. JWST may soon observe other potential hycean worlds to see if the signal appears in the atmospheres of those planets, too. With more data, these tentative conclusions may not stand the test of time. But for now, just the prospect that astronomers may have detected gases emitted by an alien ecosystem that bubbled up in a dark, blue-hued alien ocean is an incredibly fascinating possibility. Regardless of the true nature of K2-18b, the new results show how using the JWST to survey other worlds for clues of alien life will guarantee that the next years will be thrilling for astrobiologists. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Henry Louis Gates Jr. (left) talks with David Eltis. Credit: Veasey Conway/Harvard Staff Photographer SlaveVoyages, a tool for data on history's largest slave trades, is getting a new home. Word of the project's upcoming move was shared recently by Henry Louis Gates Jr., the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research. "I'm pleased to tell you today that the SlaveVoyages site, with all of its databases, will live in perpetuity here at Harvard University," Gates announced at a conference dedicated to celebrating the open-access resource. SlaveVoyages was the result of nearly four decades of scholarly contributions, with researchers from multiple institutions working painstakingly to digitize handwritten records from archives worldwide. Today, its multisource dataset, currently housed at Rice University, features information on more than 30,000 slaving vessels that traversed the Atlantic between the 16th and 19th centuries. Also documented are details on nearly 221,000 individuals involved with the trans-Atlantic slave trade, including ship captains and the humans they trafficked. The project's website, launched in 2008 at Emory University, brings data to life with rich visualizations. A time-lapse animation tracks each of the individual voyages on a map of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. A pair of 18th-century French slaving ships, both bound for present-day Haiti, have been recreated in 3D video based on surviving drawings. As SlaveVoyages expanded, the Hutchins Center provided key funding along with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Emory University. Stepping up to help support the project in its new home is the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative (H&LS). "Education is central to the mission of the initiative," said Sara Bleich, vice provost for special projects and the leader of H&LS. "SlaveVoyages' databases build on the curiosity of Harvard students who catalyzed the University's ongoing reckoning with its ties to slavery. By cofunding the project with the Hutchins Center, the initiative can help amplify knowledge-sharing and visibility, empower scholars and students worldwide, while also reaffirming our commitment to truth." The April 35 conference, hosted by the Hutchins Center, attracted researchers associated with the project as well as those it has inspired. "This conference brings together generations of scholars who dedicated their lives to unearthing centuries of data to help us understand in detail and with nuance the contours of the slave tradea quantifiably brutal trade in human beings that spanned oceans and continents while devastating millions of lives," said Gates, who is also a member of the initiative's advisory council. Over three days, sessions covered a wide range of topics suggesting the global scope of the slave trade. The conference kicked off with a panel on the genetic impacts of the slave trade featuring David Reich of Harvard Medical School, Kasia Bryc of the Broad Institute, as well as scholars from Johns Hopkins University and the National Center of Medical Genetics of Cuba. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Rice University associate professor of history Daniel B. Domingues da Silva, who currently serves as host of the SlaveVoyages project, unpacked his findings on Brazil's 19th-century slave trade. Jorge Felipe-Gonzalez, an assistant professor of history at University of Texas at San Antonio, discussed the potential integration of AI into the database. Jane Hooper, a professor of history at George Mason University, explored shipboard uprisings on Indian Ocean voyages. A final panel addressed the South West Pacific trade, with Francis Bobongie-Harris, Queensland University of Technology educator and researcher emphasizing the human cost. Gates opened one of the afternoon sessions with a surprise for SlaveVoyages originator David Eltis, an emeritus professor of history at Emory University and the University of British Columbia, bestowing on him the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal "in recognition of his unyielding vision that brought to life a resource that has transformed our understanding of one of the most cataclysmic and consequential economic, social, and cultural forces unleashed in the history of humanity." The medal is "especially fitting" for Eltis, Gates added, given the fact that Du Bois, the first Black American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University, wrote his 1895 dissertation on efforts to suppress the trade of enslaved Africans in the U.S. Provided by Harvard Gazette This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. 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: Cross-validation of annual river flow reconstruction and climate model simulations compared to observed river flows for the Po River at Pontelagoscuro from 1920 to 2012. Credit: AGU Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024AV001393 As the climate warms, drought conditions are intensifying in many parts of the world. The effects of hydrological drought on water levels in rivers and other waterways are especially crucial to monitor because they can affect regional agriculture, energy production, economic stability, and public health. Historical rainfall and river flow data exist from only as far back as a few decades to 200 years, depending on the locationtime spans too short to assess long-term hydrological behavior accurately. Climate change adds more uncertainty, as historical data are less likely to correlate with potential future conditions. Tree ring widths, which reflect the dry or wet conditions affecting tree growth annually, provide valuable proxy climate data from before historical recordkeeping began. Rui Guo and colleagues combined limited historical river flow observations, climate model simulations, and paleohydrologic reconstructions from tree ring proxy data to examine how hydrological drought has evolved since 1100 CEand how it may continue changing until 2100 CEin northern Italy's Po River basin. This basin supports about 40% of the country's gross domestic product and 45% of its hydropower, and it has a known history of worsening drought conditions since 2000. The work, published in AGU Advances, revealed agreement between paleohydrologic reconstructions and climate model simulations of past droughts, including some during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (9001300 CE) and the Little Ice Age (13501600 CE). Those droughts lasted nearly 40 years and appeared to be much more extreme than modern droughts. The agreement between the reconstructions and modeling of past conditions provided support for the team's projections of future drought, according to the authors. These projections indicated alarming trends, such as river flow possibly dropping below levels seen during those historically dry periods: The team's models suggested a 10% drop in annual average flow of the Po in the 21st century compared to the average levels recorded between 1100 and 2014. Also, though the models suggested fewer droughts will occur in the 21st century, those that do occur will be 11% longer and 12% more severe as climate change reduces water availability and human activities demand more water. The researchers note that their findings may help this Alpine region and others like it to adapt to the drier conditions to come. More information: Rui Guo et al, Bridging Information From PaleoHydrological and Climate Model Ensembles to Assess Long Term Hydrological Drought Hazard, AGU Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024AV001393 Journal information: AGU Advances Provided by Eos This story is republished courtesy of Eos, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original story here. A foreign tourist poses for photos with flowers at a venue of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show in Huangpu District of east China's Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] At a bustling department store in Guangzhou, south China, a Singaporean surnamed Lee picked up more than just premium Chinese tea for friends and family -- he also walked away with a tax refund, pocketed instantly at the point of purchase. "Super convenient," said the tech entrepreneur, who was in town for a tech fair, applauding China's new refund policy that spares international travelers the long queues at airports and puts money back in their accounts then and there. China is expanding the coverage of instant tax refunds to improve the experience for international travelers. In Shanghai, the service has been available in about half of the city's tax refund partner stores. The policy, extended nationwide on April 8, builds on a slew of recent efforts by China to boost global exchanges and mobility, such as easing its visa policies, enhancing payment accessibility, and streamlining customs clearance. These shifts have made exploring the country easier than ever, fueling a surge in "China Travel" content on social media platforms. For example, U.S. content creator IShowSpeed documented his kung fu journey at the famous Shaolin Temple in central China, captivating global audiences. In 2024, China recorded 64.88 million border crossings by foreign nationals, an 82.9 percent increase year on year. In the first quarter of 2025, this number stood at 17.44 million, up 33.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024. During Lee's ten-day stay in China, he zipped through industrial parks, financial centers, and high-tech hubs across the industrial powerhouse, bringing home not just souvenirs but also promising partnerships. Analysts believe that the recent expansion of the tax refund policy will increase spending by inbound travelers, spur growth in China's tourism sector, and draw more visitors eager to explore the country. On the ground, the effects are already visible. At the Grand Pacific, a shopping mall in downtown Beijing, staff reported long queues at tax refund counters. "It's now routine to see waves of foreign tourists lining up. Some leave with a few items, others with entire hauls," one employee said. Qin Yi, manager of a porcelain shop in Shanghai, noted that foreign tourists who receive instant tax refunds in cash often make additional purchases on the spot -- a trend that has helped drive up the store's overall sales. Inbound consumption in China is expected to exceed 1.5 trillion yuan (around 205 billion U.S. dollars) over the next five years, said economist Hong Tao at Beijing Technology and Business University. In 2024, inbound travelers spent over 94.2 billion dollars in China, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. As U.S. tariffs inflate the cost of Chinese imports, traveling to China makes more economic sense for savvy American shoppers. Thanks to the new transit policy for citizens from 54 countries, including the United States, Americans can now stay in the country for up to 240 hours without a visa. Pair that with the freshly expanded refund-upon-purchase policy, and travelers would get a compelling formula: travel, shop, save -- and repeat. "There's no middleman taking a cut," as many put it. And the math checks out: with an 11 percent refund rate, spending 10,000 yuan gets people 1,100 yuan back. Though a service fee is charged, luxury goods, electronics, and other high-value items still look a lot more attractive. Far from dimming their allure, U.S. tariffs have thrown a new spotlight on Chinese products, long prized for both quality and affordability. "If the high U.S. tariffs persist, we may see the rise of a 'daigou' trade," said Wang Huayu, an associate professor of fiscal and tax law at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, referring to a practice that Americans pay intermediaries to shop in China on their behalf. However, delivering a premium shopping experience to attract inbound travelers requires more than policy changes, said experts. It is important to bring more shops and a wider range of goods into the refund-upon-purchase program, said Hong. Wang Peng, a researcher at Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, pointed to the power of digital contracts to slash the tax refund process down to mere seconds. He also highlighted how artificial intelligence could step in to ease peak-hour pressure, standardize shopping services, and close infrastructure gaps across regions. In Guangzhou, where Singaporean visitor Lee explored, a commentary carried by a local newspaper on April 10 has called for more efforts to identify choke points to make shopping in China more enjoyable. "I'll visit China again -- and next time, I'm bringing my family and friends along," said Lee. Much of the world was in mourning Monday after Pope Francis died at the age of 88. Tributes to the pontiff poured in from around the globe. Quad-Cities area organizations and leaders were among those who issued statements following Francis' death. Diocese of Davenport "It is with great sadness that we have received the news of the death of Pope Francis. His life and ministry was an inspiration to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He was a true witness to a life of humility and service. "As the first pope from the Americas, he brought with him the experience of being first and foremost a Pastor who cares deeply for his flock. Throughout his ministry he emphasized the importance of compassion, environmental stewardship and social justice. His time as superior for the Jesuits was a tumultuous time during a military dictatorship in Argentina. "In that time, he worked tirelessly to protect human rights and support for the marginalized. As pope, he continued to be a vocal advocate for the poor. "He has called all of us to stewardship for the environment. His encyclical, 'Laudato Si,' addressed an urgent need for a collective response as a world community to respond to the climate crisis. "Throughout his ministry he has been a great champion for the rights of migrants and refugees. I have been inspired by his courageous and prophetic voice, speaking truth to a world not always prepared to listen. "I will always be grateful to the Holy Father, for the confidence he has placed in me in calling me to this episcopal ministry as Bishop of Davenport. He will always be an inspiration for me personally and I mourn his passing. "May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace." Bishop Dennis Walsh, Diocese of Davenport Diocese of Peoria "We are grateful for the witness of faith with which he shepherded the Church through his entire life but in particular during his Pontificate over the last 12 years. The Holy Father has shown us, in word and deed, that the encounter with Jesus brings Gods overwhelming love into our lives and it is for each and every person. He has encouraged us to be a Church that is on mission, that is a Church that listens to our brothers and sisters, especially those who are on the margins. He has called us to be a people of peace. He has called us to be a people who care for the environment, and that we walk in solidarity with one another as we move and journey toward Gods eternal kingdom. "We trust that he now enjoys the fullness of life with the risen Lord. In spite of our sadness with his passing, we are a people of hope because we believe in Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and we believe in the Resurrection. We long for the day and look forward to the day when we will once again join with the Holy Father in the great banquet of eternal life that Christ has prepared for us all." Bishop Louis Tylka MercyOne "Today, we mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Pope Francis was symbolic of change. Over his years serving as our Holy Father and the 'People's Pope,' he had a curiosity for change while maintaining his fidelity to the Catholic Church. "At MercyOne, we admire his immense global influence, all while remaining rooted in humility. His focus on the less fortunate and caring for the marginalized exemplifies our Mission. "As we reflect on his remarkable legacy, let us remind ourselves of our Mission and Values and live them out as Pope Francis did. We extend our prayers to all those giving thanks for his service to God and humanity." Bob Ritz, MercyOne President and CEO Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities "The Jewish Federations extend our condolences to the Catholic community over the death of Pope Francis, who was a friend to the Jewish community and across religious traditions. "He repeatedly condemned antisemitism as a 'sin,' and worked to build upon 'Nostra Aetate,' the landmark document which transformed Catholic-Jewish relations 60 years ago. "Our thoughts are with our Catholic brothers and sisters at this time." St. Ambrose University "With deep sorrow, we join the global Church in mourning the loss of Pope Francis, a shepherd whose life and ministry touched millions across the world with humility, courage, and mercy. "Pope Francis reminded us through word and witness that faith is not abstract, but incarnational. It is found in the margins, in the call to justice, in the cry of the poor and the earth, and in the quiet dignity of each human soul. He asked us to be a field hospital for the wounded, to embrace dialogue over division and to encounter one another with tenderness and truth. "Though we grieve, we also hold firmly to the vision he championed: a Church and world marked by integral human development, care for creation, inclusion, mercy, and hope. These are not simply Catholic ideals; they are the very heart of our mission at St. Ambrose University. In our classrooms, our service, and our community life, we will continue to reflect his example and carry forward the light of his leadership. "As we pray for the eternal rest of Pope Francis, we also pray for renewed courage to live out his callto be people of encounter, agents of peace, and educators who see Christ in every person. "May his memory be a blessing, and may we honor it by embodying the Gospel he so deeply lived." Amy Novak, President of St. Ambrose University Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on the day of interment for Francis. Reynolds order was issued in conjunction with President Donald Trumps proclamation to lower the United States flag for the same amount of time. Pope Francis devoted his life to serving Christ, leading the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion members. As it is written in Matthew, he was a good and faithful servant and has entered into the joy of the Lord, Reynolds said. Kevin and I offer our condolences to Catholics in Iowa and worldwide. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Pope Francis showed the world how to lead with empathy and humility. Extending a hand to help anyone in need, the People's Pope inspired millions who drew strength and compassion from him to embrace peace. May his memory be a blessing. Pope Francis spent Easter Sunday the final day of his life giving the traditional Easter blessing in Rome, and he waved to crowds as he rode in the popemobile. He also met with Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican. The 88-year-old pontiff died early on Easter Monday after a long bout with double pneumonia. In Rapid City, the Catholic community is mourning his loss and remembering Pope Francis legacy of caring for people in need and for the world. With deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. He was a shepherd after Christs own heart humble, compassionate, and deeply committed to walking with the people of God, especially those on the margins, those without privilege and favor in this world, Most Rev. Scott E. Bullock, Bishop of Rapid City, said in a statement. Bullocks statement was posted Monday morning on the Diocese of Rapid Citys website. Pope Francis reminded us constantly of Gods mercy, calling the Church to be a field hospital for the wounded and a home for all. His pastoral heart, gentle leadership, and unwavering call to serve the poor and to care for Gods gift of creation will be remembered with deep gratitude," Bullocks statement continued. We entrust his soul to the loving mercy of the God he served so faithfully, and we pray for the Church for which, we trust, he continues to intercede, now from a higher vantage point." Rev. Ed Witt, the pastor at St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Rapid City, gave a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis on Monday morning. Witt is a Jesuit priest, as was Pope Francis. Witt has served St. Isaac Jogues Parish for 11 years and before that, served the Rosebud Indian Reservation for 13 years. Witt praised Pope Francis concern for the poor and migrants, among many issues for which the pope advocated. Days before his death, during Holy Week, Pope Francis didnt get a selfie taken with prisoners but he went to bless prisoners (at Regina Coeli jail in Rome). Thats so typical of him to bless them rather than consider them beyond the pale or use them, Witt said. I think the pope challenged people to move beyond certain issues in the church, Witt said. He was very strong certainly on abortion and the issues surrounding marriage and sexuality, but he wanted the church to have a broader vision of life, Witt said. He had great devotion and support for migrants and refugees. Pope Francis was the son of Italian immigrant parents. He rose through the ranks as a Jesuit priest in his home country of Argentina and was elected pope in March 2013. He was the spiritual leader to nearly 1.4 billion baptized Catholics worldwide. According to the Pew Research Center, 16% of South Dakota's Christian population is Catholic. Witt said the news that the pope had died, just hours after making Easter appearances, was surprising. Thats Easter, Witt said. The Lord has His own timing. I think its striking for me Pope Francis died the day between Easter and Earth Day (April 22), he said. We call him Pontiff. The word pontiff means bridge. He was a bridge and the church is a bridge between Easter, which is the resurrected life, and Earth Day. All of creation is redeemed, we believe. It wasnt just something that happened to Jesus, but happened to all people. Pope Francis took his name from St. Francis of Assisi, Witt said, and shared St. Francis views about caring for the world and those in it. He wanted to really make it very clear the church should be poor, the church should have a strong concern for all of creation. He was very strong on protecting the environment, Witt said. Its not a political thing but a religious, theological view of creation, where creation comes from and how we should relate to it. He drew that from St. Francis of Assisi." Witt said the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius, wanted Jesuit priests to be highly educated, to have academic credentials and to be open to God and His presence in all things. Witt said Pope Francis had a perspective that likely reflected his Jesuit background. Theres an openness to the world, Witt said. I think God is present in everything thats going on. Pope Frances wanted a view of the church that just simply isnt listening from the top down but is listening to the Holy Spirit, listening to one another in the church, as well as the teaching authority of the church. Witt said he is personally inspired by Pope Francis example. Earlier in his ministry career, before becoming pope, he rode the bus. Witt, who has neuropathy that prevents him from driving, said he too uses public transportation. Witt said he often encounters and encourages people who are disabled the types of people for whom Pope Francis often advocated. Riding the bus always reminds me of Pope Francis, because when he was Bishop of Buenos Aires he rode the bus with people, Witt said, noting that Pope Francis viewed being pope as being a servant. Maureen Wilson, director of Terra Sancta Retreat Center, also spoke briefly on Monday about Pope Francis legacy. Terra Sancta Retreat Center is a former Catholic monastery in Rapid City. Its sad, but ... we believe in heaven and that he will rest in peace with the Lord. He was definitely a wonderful human being. I feel he did a lot for the church and for the world, for bringing attention to things that truly matter (including) the refugees around the world needing to be taken care of, the poor, and the climate, Wilson said. Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City posted on Facebook on Monday, encouraging people to pray for Pope Francis, for all who are mourning his loss, and for the Church worldwide. China's wholesale and retail sectors have logged strong momentum in the first three months of 2025, providing solid support for expanding domestic demand in the country, the commerce ministry said on Monday. From January to March, the added value of China's wholesale and retail trade grew by 5.8 percent from a year earlier to reach 3.3 trillion yuan (about 457.98 billion U.S. dollars), or 10.4 percent of the country's gross domestic product, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. During the period, the transaction volume of key commodity markets in the wholesale industry reached 1.3 trillion yuan, while the transaction volume of industrial consumer goods markets increased by 0.8 percent year on year, the ministry said. For the retail industry, the retail sales of goods reached 11 trillion yuan in the first three months, increasing by 4.6 percent year on year. China has seen about 100.35 million new home appliances sold under its consumer goods trade-in program, with over 40 million appliances sold in 2025, according to the ministry. Virginians from high-ranking clergy to parishioners and politicians fondly remembered Pope Francis, who died on Monday at 88, as an emblem of humility and compassion who welcomed the poor and the poor in spirit. On Monday, parishioners from around the Richmond area gathered at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart for a noon service to celebrate the life and leadership of the first Latin American pope, who led the church for a dozen years. Bishop Barry C. Knestout described Francis as a person who had a simple conversational style, a casual style like what you might find in a pastor from a local parish. He was very practical in his approach to the expression of life, recognizing the messiness of life around us and being compassionate, sensitive and caring, Knestout said. Knestout said that the death of a Pope during the Easter holiday is as fitting as possible, given that the Catholic community is in the midst of change. Whatever we carry with us that causes us stress, distress and anxiety, the Lord does accompany us in the midst of that to show us a way through, a path towards light, life and joy, Knestout said. I think we can always experience that somehow or another, even in the midst of these other things. The bishop said Francis taught us that by listening attentively to one another, we can love as Christ in a fractured and polarized world. The Diocese of Richmond covers about 33,000 square miles of southern Virginia, and includes 134 parishes and a total Catholic population of more than 246,000 according to the diocese. Kaine, Warner respond to Pope Francis death U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, a Catholic, posted on X about meeting the pope once in Rome and speaking with him in Spanish about the need for all to provide hospitality to refugees. Thank god for his life and service, Kaine wrote. Knestout noted that he met the pope three times, most recently in Rome last October during a pilgrimage made by the parishioners of the Basilica of St. Andrew, Roanoke, where he thanked Francis for elevating a Virginia church to the status of Basilica. Those occasions were more formal, exchanging pleasantries, but Knestout described Pope Francis as a person who engaged attentively in those moments, who made you feel as if you were the only person in the room, and always had a kind word. He was someone who brought joy to your heart as you encountered him, Knestout said. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a statement: I join Catholics across the globe in mourning the death of Pope Francis, a tirelessly humble and visionary leader for the Church. Regardless of your faith, his legacy of endless compassion, his dedication to peace across the globe, and his tireless championing of the dignity of the poor forged a brighter future and illuminated a more hopeful world. Richmonders mourn Pope Francis Suzanne Silitch, 51, of Powhatan made the trek to Richmond to attend the Mass for the late pope. Hes the head of the church, and as a Catholic, he sets the tone for how Catholics behave, and I found him to be an exemplar of caring for the poor and embodying St. Augustines idea that the church was supposed to be a field hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints, Silitch said. I love Pope Francis message of reconciliation and mercy and to give people grace. I think its worth coming here to honor a man who tried to live that way and to encourage other people to live that way, and that our world would be a much better place if we gave people a bit of grace, she added. - "I love Pope Francis' message of reconciliation and mercy and to give people grace. I think it's worth coming here to honor a man who tried to live that way and to encourage other people to live that way, and that our world would be a much better place if we gave people a bit of grace." Suzanne Silitch, 51, of Powhatan Pope Francis papacy steered the church in a new direction that stressed more inclusion. He emphasized a Catholic church that took an approach that stressed a more worldwide adoption of the church, rather than one centralized in Rome. Notably, he also allowed for priests to bless same-sex couples. Knestout said that Francis legacy will include many of those facets a desire to reach out to those who might feel distant or alienated from the church, a love for charity and forgiveness. Matthew Nelson, 33, of Richmond, said, Im a new Catholic actually. I came into the church last Easter. Pope Francis was very important to my wife. She and I both loved his heart for the poor and how he genuinely loved everybody who was persecuted and on the margins of society. Hes been a great example of Christian charity and were very blessed to have him as the Holy Father of the Roman Catholic Church. Influence of the pontiff on American politics However moving Pope Francis words and deeds were, the influence of the pontiff on American politics has waned significantly in recent years, according to the University of Virginia Center for Politics. The share of American Catholics who say that under certain conditions the pope is infallible when he speaks on matters of faith and morals has declined to its lowest point, according to a recent survey by the nonpartisan National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Just 40% said that statement is probably or certainly true in 2022, compared to 56% as recently as 2016. Kyle Kondik, an editor at the Center for Politics at UVa, attributed the shift to conservative Catholics growing discontent specifically with Francis governing style. One possible explanation here is that conservative Catholics reacted to Pope Francis progressivism on certain matters and thus were less likely to agree with the statement on papal infallibility on issues of morals and faith, Kondik said. Francis, however, continued to closely follow American politics. I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations, Francis wrote in a letter dated Feb. 10. The act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness. Kondik said that a religious divide among American Christians, especially Catholics and Protestants, was once one of the defining features of American politics. But that is no longer the case, he said. The Catholic faith of John F. Kennedy was hotly debated during his successful 1960 presidential campaign, but Joe Bidens Catholicism was not a major talking pointing during his 2020 bid. This also probably means that however important the identity and beliefs of the pope were in American politics many decades ago, they are almost assuredly less important now, he said. Pregnant woman with Roanoke ties received papal blessing during visit Marian Pope grew up going to St. Andrews in Roanoke but moved to Idaho with her husband last summer. When she went on the pilgrimage with her parents in October, she was 20 weeks pregnant. As everyone from the group gathered for a photo with Francis, he pointed at her stomach, smiling and saying bambino, bambino, Pope said. He waved her over to him. He put his hand on my stomach and prayed for a minute, like, prayed over my baby, and gave me his classic thumbs up, she said. Pope remembers crying and wanting to call her husband to share the moment with him. They captured a photo of the encounter, which she has since printed off and framed. It was incredible, she said. Just beautiful. That encounter every moment of it surprised me. Anytime she got anxious during pregnancy or immediately postpartum, she remembered Francis blessing and it brought her comfort, she said. Her son is now 7 weeks old. I would just be like, The pope blessed him, you know, prayed for him. Hes going to be OK no matter what happens, Pope said. Loss of a father figure Regardless, Richmonders who attended the Mass for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond on Monday expressed sadness, anxiety and gratitude. Molly Bergen, 22, of Richmond, said, I was baptized just last year, and it was such a shock to hear that he had died. But Im so blessed that I was able to be baptized and confirmed and just come into the church during his pontificate. Tracking the news What happened: Pope Francis died Monday at age 88. The Vatican said the cause of death was a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. The background: Francis recently returned to the Vatican after 38 days in a hospital for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. He last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St. Peters Square. What comes next: Francis' death now sets off the process of allowing the faithful to pay their final respects. The dates haven't been announced yet, but the burial must take place between the fourth and sixth day after his death. After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, known as the novendiali. During this period, cardinals arrive in Rome to participate in a conclave to elect the next pope. The loss of a pope to the church is like a family losing a father, Bishop Knestout said. That means the upcoming period of transition shows uncertainty about the future direction of the Catholic Church. In the 1990s, Marshall Hays tried convincing people the internet would change the world. But often times they didnt listen they preferred sending messages via fax machine, not email. Years later, when the Henrico County entrepreneur first learned about cryptocurrency, he was skeptical of the newfangled technology. Then he realized he was behaving the same way detractors of the internet did 30 years ago. Im on the wrong side of this equation, said Hays, 50. I see it now. So in February, in an effort to stay ahead of the times, Hays vacation home company, Highlight Homes, began accepting Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency. Two months later, he is still waiting for his first crypto payment. Few business owners in Greater Richmond accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. But the ones that do think the digital currency could be the future of commerce, given that crypto is cheaper and faster than a credit card, more secure than a check and doesnt require a third party, like a banker or government. Just 7% of U.S. adults used or held a cryptocurrency in 2023, according to the Federal Reserve, and just 1% of adults in this country used it to buy something. Still, supporters of crypto say the technology has plenty of upside, including its ease of use. Most digital wallets, such as PayPal or Coinbase, allow customers to convert their cash into Bitcoin or other digital currencies and transfer them to other wallets. A few major American retailers started accepting crypto, including The Home Depot, AT&T and Whole Foods. Processing a transaction through blockchain, cryptos underlying technology, is cheaper than a credit card, which typically charges a seller 3%. The transactions usually process in an hour less, while a credit card can take days. Countries with weak financial systems have benefited from Bitcoin, as anyone with a cellphone can make investments and transactions. To me, thats the future, said Pawan Jain, an associate professor of finance at Virginia Commonwealth University. But crypto faces headwinds, too. Bitcoin, which was worth about $85,000 last week, is volatile, causing people to lose trust in it, Jain said. If you use Bitcoin to buy a cup of coffee, the price can fluctuate from the morning to the afternoon. Other coins, known as stable coins, are less volatile. Plus, the technology around it keeps evolving, and some state governments have made laws limiting its use. Theres so much uncertainty around it, Jain said. A risk worth taking In 1996, Hays lived in Texas, building websites for clients. Sometimes, he had to convince them that a website was more than a brochure for their company. On one of his sites, VirtualKiss.com, visitors could send free e-kisses to friends and family. Hays was about to sell the concept to Match.com when the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, and the deal fell through. He moved to Virginia in 2017, bought four vacation homes in Massanutten near a ski resort in Rockingham County and one on the Chesapeake Bay, and started renting them out. In February, in an effort to stay on the cutting edge, he started accepting payment in Bitcoin, a blockchain called Ethereum and U.S.D. Coin, whose value moves up and down with the U.S. dollar. Customers can pay in crypto through his website or Vrbo but not Airbnb. A customer who books a house then clicks on the preferred crypto method and receives an address to Hays wallet. Then the buyer copies and pastes the link to his or her own digital wallet and hits send. The price is equivalent to the U.S. dollar on that day. Hays asks the customer to email him and confirm the payment, because blockchains typically do not reveal the payers name. This is where Hays website lists a disclaimer on his site: We are not responsible for misdirected cryptocurrency transactions. Send the payment to the wrong address, and its likely gone forever. While some platforms allow a business owner to automatically convert crypto payments to cash, Hays plans to keep his earnings in crypto. He understands the risk involved Bitcoins value has climbed 33% in the past year, but Ethereums has plummeted 50%. It seems like a risk worth taking, Hays said. A members-only social club in downtown Richmond has become cryptos new home for central Virginia. In January, a limited liability company tied to Greg Leffel bought the Black Iris Social Club, which serves as a coworking space in the day and club at night. Leffel, executive director of the Virginia Blockchain Council, a nonprofit that advocates for crypto, has a vision for the council and the club to join forces. Prospective members can buy a $150-a-month membership using Bitcoin, which one person has done so far. Each month, the club hosts a gallery from a different artist, and members can buy artwork with digital currency, too. If some old farmer can do it One of the first Richmond-area businesses to accept crypto was the Next Level Ranch, which started taking it in 2016. Each week, John Montgomery drives from his farm in Highland County to the RVA Big Market in Bryan Park, where he sells brisket, tomahawk steaks and hot Italian sausage. The farm prides itself on never caging animals and never feeding the cows grain, which leads to a leaner, healthier meat. Montgomery and his son, John Montgomery Jr., who both own the business, liked the novelty of accepting crypto. They started hanging a pig-shaped sign on their tent telling customers they could pay with Bitcoin. People started walking up and asking questions. Its a conversation generator, Montgomery Sr. said. After almost a decade, its still rare for the Montgomerys to receive payments in crypto. They get one about once a month, maybe less. Sometimes, a person who just got their first digital wallet will make a purchase just to try it out. When a crypto payment arrives, Montgomery cashes it out instead of holding it. People are just not there yet, Montgomery Sr. said. And they may never get there. Most crypto payments to the farm have come in Bitcoin. Others arrived via Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and Ethereum. If theres another vendor at the market who takes crypto, Montgomery hasnt heard of it. Its still super, super, super small, said Montgomery Sr., who is 75. If some old farmer can do it, anybody can do it. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) inaugurated its Beijing office on April 18, aiming to strengthen business relationships with Chinese customers and partners. ADNOC also announced three liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreements at the ceremony, including the largest LNG deal ever between China and the United Arab Emirates. Executives and officials from the UAE and China attend the inauguration ceremony for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's new China office in Beijing, April 18, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] Senior officials and business leaders attended the ceremony, including representatives from ADNOC partners China National Petroleum Corporation, Zhenhua Oil and Wanhua Chemical Group. The new office will focus on sales and marketing activities in China, according to ADNOC. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE minister of industry and advanced technology and ADNOC CEO, addresses attendees at the inauguration of ADNOC's new China office in Beijing, April 18, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE minister of industry and advanced technology and ADNOC CEO, said the Beijing office marks a new chapter in the company's long-term energy cooperation with Chinese partners and customers. Al Jaber said ADNOC would use the new office and LNG agreements to "join hands with Chinese partners to further explore the potential of all aspects of the energy industry chain" and contribute to China's energy security. The LNG agreements include a 15-year sales and purchase deal with ENN Natural Gas subsidiary ENN LNG (Singapore), which will supply up to 1 million metric tons of LNG annually from the low-carbon Ruwais project. This represents the largest LNG agreement ever between China and the UAE. In addition, ADNOC Trading, a wholly owned subsidiary of ADNOC, signed the other two LNG agreements with CNOOC Gas & Power Group and Zhenhua Oil. After years of close cooperation and strategic coordination, China has become an important importer of ADNOC's products. ADNOC said it will continue to be a long-term, reliable energy partner for China, deepening business ties and promoting sustainable economic growth. FGE increases award for Italian considered fugitive from Cancun justice Cancun, Q.R. The Attorney Generals Office of the State of Quintana Roo is offering a 750,000 peso reward for information leading to the arrest of Maurizio Spinosi Hellies. Maurizio Spinosi, who lived in Cancun, is an Italian citizen accused of sexually abusing his five-year-old daughter. He has been a fugitive since May 10, 2023 when an arrest warrant was issued. In June, police were offereing a reward of 300,000 pesos, a reward that has since been increased to 750,000. The amount was increased in April after the case was reclassified after it initially lacked foresnic evidence. The young girl, his daughter, currently lives with her mother Melissa N in Cancun. The FGE of Quintana Roo updates the reward of 750,000 pesos to anyone who provides effective and reliable information that contributes to the location and arrest of the person identified as Maurizio Spinosi. If you have information on his whereabouts, please call 998 221 7474, they reported in a statement. Judge hands down 3 year prison sentence for non-payment Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R. Marco Adriano Vazquez Calderon has been sentenced to three years in prison for failing to pay child support. He was sentenced over the weekend after failing to make any payments since 2021. According to police, Marco Adriano Vazquez Calderon is the parent of two young children. Police say he was found guilty after it was proven that he failed to pay child support for the minors from the first half of January 2021 until the present date. The State won a three-year prison sentence against Marco Adriano Vazquez Calderon. He is also ordered to pay 261,235 pesos in material damages and 10,000 pesos in moral damages. Overturned driver freed with jaws of life by Cancun firemen Cancun, Q.R. The driver of an overturned vehicle was rushed to Cancun hospital after being freed by firemen. The Cancun fire department reported on the long weekend rollover that sent at least one person to hospital. The driver of the vehicle was traveling at excessive speed on the Chac Mool Avenue Extension when, taking the corner, he rolled. The vehicle was found laying on its roof on the sidewalk, trapping the driver inside. Cancun firemen were called to the scene by police and paramedics after learning the driver was stuck inside his crushed vehicle. Using the jaws of life, he was freed from behind the wheel and transferred to hospital. Cancun Firefighters inform! Personnel from the Cancun Fire Department responded to an emergency call about a car accident on the Chac Mool Avenue Extension. Rescue operations were carried out to successfully free a man trapped inside the vehicle. Situations like these remind us of the importance of responsible driving. Speeding, using a cell phone while driving, or failing to obey traffic signs can have serious consequences. Drive carefully. Your life and the lives of others are in your hands. Always ready, always at your service! Bomberos Cancun reported. On behalf of our colleagues, families, and friends at the Acton Institute in the United States and Rome, we express our heartfelt sorrow and the pledge of our prayers for the eternal repose of the soul of Pope Francis, the 266th Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, who passed away today at the age of 88 during the 13th year of his papacy, which began March 13, 2013. We also pray now for the cardinal electors that they may discern wisely with the Holy Spirit when choosing a wise and holy successor of Peter during the ensuing conclave. In February 2013, Benedict XVI stunned the world by announcing he would soon retire. This act had few precedents in the history of the Church. The last papal resignation occurred in 1415, not as a singular act of humility but as the solution to the Great Western Schism, during which three men claimed the Chair of Peter. The 2013 conclave also had a surprise, reaching beyond Europe for the first time in many centuries, and, for the first time ever, to the Americas. The choice was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who was unknown to most Catholics, despite having been a front-runner during the 2005 conclave that elected Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. In another first, Cardinal Bergoglio was a member of the Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits. It is, of course, too early to measure the legacy of Pope Francis. But we can identify three key areas of emphasis, each of which touches on the freedom and dignity of the human person: the special attention he paid to poverty, his critique of ideological colonialism, and his continuity with Benedict XVI in connecting the dignity of the human person to his natural environment. Care for the Widow and the Orphan One of the key contributions of Pope Francis pontificate was to rekindle among Catholics an awareness for the poor, the excluded, and the downtrodden. St. James writes in his epistle that pure religion is to care for the widow and the orphan in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. St. John Paul II challenged communist ideology and the sexual revolution, and called the Church to be not afraid and to be not conformed to the world. Benedict XVI in his defense of reason and human freedom and his critique of scientism and technocracy called us to renew our minds. Pope Francis stressed that pure religion must include care for the excluded and the downtrodden. He wanted to include the marginalized in the economy so they might flourish spiritually and materially. In 2009, as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis said we cannot truly respond to the challenge of eradicating exclusion and poverty if the poor continue to be objects, targets of action by the state and other organizations in a paternalistic and aid-based sense, instead of subjects. Inclusion would mean that the state and society create social conditions that promote and safeguard their rights and allow them to build their own destiny as free persons created in the image and likeness of God. As pontiff, Francis continued to speak clearly about the need for justicegiving people what is their due. He worried about the negative impacts of capitalism, going so far as to call it the dung of the devil. We at the Acton Institute have a much more positive view of market economies than did Pope Francis, but as our colleague Alejandro Chafuen, an Argentine and staunch supporter of free markets, has explained, Francis critiques of capitalism had some merit. His experience of capitalism was that seen in his native Argentina, where large international corporations received special privileges and favors from the government. He had seen the economic stagnation and poverty caused by this state-corporate alliance that excluded the poor, crowded out civil society, and led to an unequal distribution of wealth and economic freedom. Here Pope Francis echoed Pope St. John Paul II in Centesimus Annus, who wrote If by capitalism is meant a system in which freedom in the economic sector is not circumscribed within a strong juridical framework which places it at the service of human freedom in its totality, and which sees it as a particular aspect of that freedom, the core of which is ethical and religious, then the reply is certainly negative. This capitalism dismisses private property rights, ignores the rule of law, commodifies everything, even the human person, and excludes people to keep them poor. No doubt Francis was less enthusiastic about the potential of free, competitive markets than was St. John Paul II. This is unfortunate, because free, competitive market economies that are grounded in the rule of law, respect for private property, human creativity, and individual initiative create the conditions for inclusion that Francis desired. Nevertheless, Francis warnings about consumerism, economic injustice, and a technocratic paradigm that prioritizes material acquisition over other goods were necessary. As St. John Paul II said, the main failure of socialism was not economic or political but anthropological in nature. Its flawed understanding of the human person saw individuals as atoms in a collective: manipulatable, discardable, and unfree. These are the same challengesthe loss of what it means to be a human personthat threaten capitalism today. We may have some frank critiques of how Pope Francis understood market economies, but those are in the area of prudence. Good Christians can disagree about the best way to organize an economy or alleviate material poverty. The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church are clear on this point. We can debate ways to accomplish our shared goal. But what Christians cannot debate is whether we are to care for the poor, because doing so is part of the evangelical mission of the Church. Ideological Colonization Pope Francis also spoke eloquently about the dangers of ideological colonization. In an address in the Philippines in January 2015, he said: There are forms of ideological colonization which are out to destroy the family. While all too many people live in dire poverty, others are caught up in materialism and lifestyles which are destructive of family life and the most basic demands of Christian morality. These are forms of ideological colonization. The family is also threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage, by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, by a lack of openness to life. Every threat to the family is a threat to society itself. The future of humanity, as Saint John Paul II often said, passes through the family (cf. Familiaris Consortio, 85). The future passes through the family. So protect your families! And at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, Francis warned of ideological colonization by the imposition of anomalous models and lifestyles which are alien to peoples identity and, in the end, irresponsible. The human person needs freedom to exercise his initiative and creative capacities; freedom to worship God in spirit and in truth; freedom to care for his own family and to educate his own children. In other words, as Lord Acton famously said and as St. John Paul II was fond of repeating, freedom to do what one ought. Care for Our Common Home Even more famously perhaps, Pope Francis urged us to care for our common home, as he called the earth in Laudato Si. The green movements want to make this Francis one of their own. Their chief mistake, however, is in thinking about the pope in political categories. Unlike the secular, often zero-growth green parties, but like his predecessors in the Chair of Peter (remember that Benedict XVI was also called the Green Pope), Pope Francis never treated human persons as scourges upon the earth. He called abortion homicidal and compared having an abortion to hiring a hitman. As he wrote in Laudato Si: It is troubling that, when some ecological movements defend the integrity of the environment, rightly demanding that certain limits be imposed on scientific research, they sometimes fail to apply those same principles to human life. There is a tendency to justify transgressing all boundaries when experimentation is carried out on living human embryos. This integrated human and environmental ecology continued the work of Benedict XVI, who linked concern about the environment to the dignity of the human person. In Caritas in Veritate, Benedict XVI wrote: If there is a lack of respect for the right to life and to a natural death, if human conception, gestation and birth are made artificial, if human embryos are sacrificed to research, the conscience of society ends up losing the concept of human ecology and, along with it, that of environmental ecology. Francis argued in Laudato Si that we need an integrated approach to combatting poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature. The acceptance of our bodies as Gods gift is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home, whereas in thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation. Man is neither scourge nor savior nor demon. He is a sinner who can do great harm or great good. Most important, he is created to be a blessing who completes creation and adds value through intellect and labor. In the words of Pope St. Paul VI, in Populorum Progressio, the creation story in Genesis teaches us that the whole of creation is for man, that he has been charged to give it meaning by his intelligent activity, to complete and perfect it by his own efforts and to his own advantage. Pope Francis condemned what he called the technocratic paradigm in part because its vision of the human person leaves no room for the co-creator and intelligent actor described by St. Paul VI. This paradigm ignores human dignity as well as the reality of sin by treating all challenges as immanent, technical problems to be solved and persons as objects to be engineered and manipulated. This same dominant technocratic paradigm insists we can transcend nature and even our own bodies. That is why Pope Francis singled out gender ideology as one of the most dangerous ideological colonizations because it blurs differences and the value of men and women. Pope Francis could no doubt create confusion and make a mess, as he called it, but he spoke with the best of intentions if not necessarily with the mind of a systematic theologian or a philosopher. But he was a pastor who exhorted us as individuals and communities to integrate the gospel into how we treat the poor, each other, and our natural environment. Eternal memory! May he rest in peace. An elderly woman (L) tries an AI health detecting device with the assistance of a staff member at a nursing home in Binghu district of Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu province, April 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Experts gathered in Beijing over the weekend for the 2025 China Medical Development Conference, where the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare has become the center of attention. The two-day event, held annually since 2021, brought together leading voices in mathematics, AI, medicine, public health and pharmacy to discuss innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy directions to drive the medicine sector forward in the AI age. Attendees emphasized AI's transformative potential in reshaping medical research and the broader healthcare ecosystem. Wang Chen, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), proposed a phased roadmap for integrating AI into medicine. According to Wang, in the short term, scenario-based pilot programs will take the lead. The medium term will focus on deeper applications and international collaboration, while the long term aims to establish an AI-driven ecosystem encompassing scientific research, clinical care, and healthcare management. Zheng Hairong, vice president of Nanjing University, stressed that breakthroughs in biomedical AI must be underpinned by standardized data and ethical governance. He pointed to fields such as medical imaging and brain-computer interfaces as areas where cross-disciplinary collaboration will be crucial in overcoming technological hurdles. In recent years, China has ramped up its "AI Plus" initiative in healthcare, promoting standardized infrastructure, cross-institutional data sharing, and the development of industry-specific AI models to improve the precision and efficiency of diagnostics and treatment. Ensuring the safe and responsible deployment of AI technologies in healthcare was a recurring theme throughout the conference. Participants underscored the importance of building a secure, well-regulated environment to maintain public trust. Shen Jianfeng, an official with the National Health Commission, called for the creation of high-quality medical datasets and AI language corpora. He also urged stronger policy coordination across disciplines and investment in talent development, with a focus on medical ethics. A highlight of the conference was the release of the "Top Medical Advances in China 2024" by the CAMS, a list of 13 breakthroughs selected from over 310,000 research projects -- all seen as major steps forward in China's disease prevention and treatment capabilities. Among the standout achievements were a method to diagnose Alzheimer's disease up to 18 years before symptoms appear, and a gene therapy breakthrough for hereditary deafness. A worse-than-current-policy world? Posted on 21 April 2025 by Zeke Hausfather This is a re-post from The Climate Brink The world has made real progress toward tacking climate change in recent years, with spending on clean energy technologies skyrocketing from hundreds of billions to trillions of dollars globally over the past decade, and global CO2 emissions plateauing. This has contributed to a reassessment of likely climate outcomes this century, with the world now likely heading toward less than 3C warming by 2100 under current policies compared to the 4C warming that seemed more plausible 15 years ago. However, it is important to emphasize that current policies are neither a ceiling nor a floor on future emissions. While I hope that recent trends in declining clean energy cost, rapid deployment, and stronger climate policy trends accelerate in the coming decades, it is by no means assured. Below the surface of cautious optimism lurks a much darker potential future, one where clean energy is curtailed not by a lack of human ingenuity but by misguided policy that priorities and subsidizes domestic fossil energy resources while closing us off from the rest of the world. Enter SSP3 Back in 2016, the global energy modeling community set out to explore a set of socioeconomic futures that could shape the 21st century, impacting both our emissions and our ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change. They produced five different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, or SSPs, that involved different underlying narratives of the future, levels of economic and population growth, and barriers to international cooperation and technological development. These SSPs included a equitable, sustainability-focused world of SSP1, a current-trends-continue SSP2 world, a world of high inequality (SSP4), and a world of rapid growth drawing heavily on fossil fuels (SSP5). But the world with the worst damages from climate change combined high inequality, high emissions, and low economic growth. It was called SSP3, and in many ways it reflects a current strain of populist isolationist politics that is ascendent today: SSP3 - Regional Rivalry A Rocky Road (High challenges to mitigation and adaptation) A resurgent nationalism, concerns about competitiveness and security, and regional conflicts push countries to increasingly focus on domestic or, at most, regional issues. Policies shift over time to become increasingly oriented toward national and regional security issues. Countries focus on achieving energy and food security goals within their own regions at the expense of broader-based development. Investments in education and technological development decline. Economic development is slow, consumption is material-intensive, and inequalities persist or worsen over time. Population growth is low in industrialized and high in developing countries. A low international priority for addressing environmental concerns leads to strong environmental degradation in some regions. I even got in a bit of trouble back in 2021 by calling this Trump World, though the actions in his second term around energy and trade seem to be playing out much more closely to SSP3 than other pathways. Despite having about 1C less overall warming than the (rather internally inconsistent and implausible) SSP5 pathway, SSP3 actually results in larger damages from climate change to society. Thats because in SSP3 the world is relatively poor and unequal; large parts of the planet still live in relative poverty without access to technologies that allow them to at least partially adapt to climate changes. The SSPs provide a useful tool to separate challenges to mitigation and adaption and more carefully explore the interplay of the two on future impacts. That being said, the 21st century is much longer than a four year term, and the world is much larger than the United States. While a world like this is worth considering (and trying to avoid!), its far from a foregone conclusion that we are headed there now. And some changes over the past decade make the SSP3 baseline scenario less likely than when it was originally published. Still an unlikely scenario There are a few parts of SSP3 that seem pretty unlikely even if Trumpian politics become the driving force of the next 75 years. For one thing, global population growth as high as SSP3 is increasingly unlikely; even the decade since the SSPs were published has seen a notable downturn in future population projections. Similarly, SSP3s dramatic expansion of coal use seems pretty unlikely today. Since the publication of SSP3 the worlds energy landscape has dramatically changed, both due to the plummeting costs of renewables and storage and from the expansion of natural gas systems (particularly LNG infrastructure). While clean energy is ideologically polarized in the US, it is less likely to be in China, India, and the developing world who will in large part determine the worlds emissions trajectory this century. There the focus is on building out the lowest cost energy system which today is increasingly clean. But the consistent move toward lower emissions futures over the past decade should not make us overconfident that this trend will necessarily continue. It is only through hard work innovation, policy, deployment that emissions will come down, and it is certainly possible to imagine a world worse than current policies would imply, even if it is not clear that we are headed toward that world quite yet. And, of course, current policies themselves lead to a world a bit below 3C warming, which is woefully insufficient to avoid potentially catastrophic impacts from climate change. In the critical time that we need to ramp up mitigation, we are starting to move in the wrong direction. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Donald Trump has survived two assassination attempts. Paul Pelosi was beaten in his own home with a hammer. Someone just tried to burn down Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros house while he and his family slept inside. And all of that happened in just the past year and a half alone. But according to Kieran Doyle, the data tells a different story. Doyle is the North America research manager at ACLED, an organization dedicated to mapping and analyzing instability across the globe. Doyle tracks incidents of political violence across the U.S. and Canada. And right now, he says that despite what youre seeing in the news, political violence is actually declining here. I asked him to explain how thats possible, and whether this downward trend is likely to last with Trump in the White House. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Aymann Ismail: Lets start with your finding that support for extremist partisan violence has declined. Can you walk me through how you measured that? Kieran Doyle: We collect data about incidents of political violence and protests in the United States. We gather that data weekly from thousands of local news publications across the country, as well as from experts and the online presence of extremist groups. One of our key findings was that despite the prevailing sense that 2024 had a high potential for violence and hyperpolarization, activity from organized extremist groups was significantly lower in 2024 than in 2020 or 2021, and weve seen a steady year-over-year decline in their activity since then. Advertisement Were you surprised by that result? Do you look at violence at protests? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt think our findings were surprising because wed been seeing this trend for a whileespecially in terms of extremist group activity. Just to clarify, extremist partisan violence isnt a specific category we use. We track organized groups like the Proud Boys, white nationalist groups, or militia-style groups, and political violence more broadly. Street fighting during demonstrations is definitely something we track. Its their primary form of violence. Per the number of events they attend, the Proud Boys have one of the highest rates of violence of any group. When they show up at a demonstration, theyre more likely than almost any other group to be involved in violence. That was especially true in 2020, during the Black Lives Matter protests and their counterorganizing. Advertisement There are a number of explanations for the decline, but the biggest is the law enforcement crackdown after Jan. 6 and the dismantling of many key groups. Because of that, we may be in a new political paradigm. Many leaders and participants have been prosecuted, and were still seeing how the landscape around extremism is shifting under the new Trump administration. When I came to your report, I was already thinking about recent high-profile acts of political violencelike the two Trump assassination attempts and, more recently, the arson attack on Gov. Shapiros home while he was inside. How do you reconcile your data with what feels like a rise in particularly consequential political violence? Advertisement The assassination attempts on Trump were hugely significant politically, but they didnt clearly map onto the current climate of hyperpolarization I mentioned earlier. After the news broke, politicians quickly assumed the shooter was some kind of activist leftist acting against Trump. But the most obvious explanation didnt match the attackers actual motivesand to this day, its still unclear what drove him. That reflects a broader trend weve seen in the last few years: Many high-profile acts of political violence are carried out by individuals whose ideologies dont align neatly with the broader political environment. Advertisement Advertisement In the case of the individual who targeted Gov. Shapiro, its unclear whether the attack was motivated by Shapiros support for Israel, antisemitism, or a mix of factors. Theres political murkiness in that case too. Its similar to how we talk about mass shootings in the U.S.sometimes theyre carried out by people with defined political beliefs, but often the story is more complicated. I think its useful to think of these acts similarly: violence carried out by individuals with complex motivations. We also have a global tracking project focused on violence targeting local officials. In places like Germany and France, there were multiple attacks on politicians ahead of the European Parliament elections. The opposition leader in South Korea was stabbed at the start of the year. Thankfully, these kinds of political attacks remain quite rare in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, the Trump administration has taken the extraordinary step of declaring vandalism of Teslas as domestic terrorism. How would you categorize those kinds of attacks compared to, say, the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi? Weve recorded dozens of Tesla vandalism incidentswhether on private cars, in lots, or at showroomsas well as the assault on Paul Pelosi. But we analyze them differently. In the Pelosi attack, there was a clear political motive, though it was carried out by an individual, so the murkiness I mentioned earlier applieshis mental health history and belief in conspiracy theories are part of the picture. Tesla vandalism, on the other hand, connects to a broader political movement. There are mass protests against Elon Musk and DOGE happening nationwide, and this wave of property destruction is happening alongside that. Theres also a copycat effectlike what weve seen with mass shootings. The man who set fire to Gov. Shapiros home referenced the Pelosi attack and said he wouldve assaulted Shapiro with a hammer. Thats a deeply concerning connection, especially considering how hard mass shooting violence has been to curb. Theres a lot of overlap with the political violence were seeing from individuals now. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate In a Courtroom Friday, I Saw Firsthand Just How Abnormal This Moment Has Become Read More Given that Trump has floated sending American-born citizens to Salvadoran prisons and frequently undermines the courts, do you think violence could trend back up? Thats a question Id never confidently say no to. Even in the most stable moments, its important to remain vigilant. As I mentioned, the biggest factor in the decline was the postJan. 6 crackdown and the dismantling of groups most active in 2020like the Proud Boys. That enforcement is a major reason weve seen less extremist violence lately. Another factor is demonstration trends. Extremist groups tend to be opportunistic and often organize in response to larger movements. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, for example, many showed up at pro-abortion protests. The same happened during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, which saw high levels of countermobilized violence. Advertisement But for more than a yearuntil the Trump administration came inthe main protest movement in the U.S. was around Palestine and Gaza. Thats a harder space for these groups to engage with. Many are seen as anti-Muslim, antisemitic, anti-Israel, or anti-Palestineso there may not have been an ideologically comfortable way in. Advertisement Advertisement Thats one concern now with protests against Elon Musk and Tesla. Weve seen some low-level countermobilizing alreadylike after the pro-Palestine protest at the Cybertruck event. The same could happen with demonstrations around Trumps immigration policies, which are spaces where many of these groups would feel more ideologically aligned. Those are flashpoints were watching closely. Right now, were in a moment of high political and economic volatility. That doesnt necessarily mean more political violencebut it certainly doesnt create a stable environment. And it makes things harder to predict, especially with lone actors. So yes, I do think were in a more volatile moment than weve seen in the past few years. Advertisement Advertisement Do you hope this research shapes public discourse? Are there particular misconceptions youre hoping to correct? The goal of our research is to make the data available and as accurate as possible so we can better understand patterns of protest and violence. My focus is on the U.S. and Canada, but ACLED is a global project. Were not collecting data to push a narrativemany people, like journalists and academics, use it to ask questions were not even thinking about. What our data showsmaybe contrary to public perceptionis that extremist group activity has declined, and that trend hasnt reversed in 2025. Compared to 2020 and 2021, mobilization and political violence are down by nearly any metric. Whether that continues is impossible to say, but it might surprise some people to learn. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Late on Saturday night, Justice Samuel Alito released his dissent from the Supreme Courts orderissued nearly 24 hours earlierblocking the allegedly impending deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. It is highly unusual for the court to rush out an order before a dissenting justice has the chance to complete their opinion, reflecting the urgency of its intervention. That delay between the majoritys order and the publication of the dissent gave Alito plenty of time to raise persuasive objections to the courts ruling. He failed on every level, misstating key points of law in a bid to bail out the president (which was joined only by Justice Clarence Thomas). Perhaps Alitos most egregious misrepresentation, however, was not legal, but factual: The justice wrote that Trump administration lawyers informed a federal judge that no deportations were planned to occur on Friday or Saturday, so there was no need for emergency action. That is false. And what the Justice Department actually said in court reinforces the wisdom and necessity of the Supreme Courts dramatic move. Alitos claim that there were no planned deportations originates from a hearing that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg held in Washington, D.C., on Friday evening. By that point, the American Civil Liberties Union had credible information from multiple sources that the government was loading Venezuelan migrants on buses heading to the Abilene, Texas, airport for rendition flights to El Salvador. These sources confirmed that federal officials had failed to provide these migrants with the due process rights recently afforded to them by the Supreme Court, including a meaningful opportunity to contest their removal. Instead, the government allegedly intended to deport them just 24 hours after coercing them into signing a notice in English that failed to inform them of their rights. Despite ample evidence of imminent, unlawful rendition flights, the conservative federal courts in Texas refused to act. The ACLU thus asked Boasberg for an emergency hearing on Friday night, and the judge summoned Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign to explain the administrations plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ensigns representations to the court that evening were, as the transcript demonstrates, a master class in hedging and obfuscation. The judge asked Ensign directly and repeatedly whether the administration planned to fly any migrants to El Salvador on Friday or Saturday. Ensign would not give a direct answer. His first response reflected careful ambiguity: I have also been told that there are no flights tonight and that the people I spoke to were not aware of any plans for flights tomorrow, he said. Later, he added: The information that was relayed to me was a definitive There are no flights tonight, and the people I spoke to were not aware of any plans for flights tomorrow. Related From Slate The Supreme Courts Late-Night Rebuke to Trump Is Extraordinary in More Ways Than One Read More Note the qualifiers and calculated uncertainty. Ensign wasnt sure, but he had been told. The people he spoke to were not aware of any plans. He was only conveying the information that was relayed to him. Sensing this deliberate vagueness, Boasberg adjourned the hearing for 30 minutes so Ensign could gather more information. When it resumed, Ensign told the court: I have spoken with DHS. They are not aware of any current plans for flights tomorrow, but I have also been told to say that they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow, that that would be consistent with the Supreme Courts earlier decision. Advertisement Advertisement Lee Gelernt, the ACLU attorney representing the plaintiffs, was not satisfied with this response. I think our position would be clear on that, he told Boasberg. That doesnt give us much confidence that there wont be planes. Gelernt was right to be skepticaland to feel, perhaps, that history was repeating itself. On March 15, as the government was preparing its first round of deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, Boasberg held a similar hearing with Gelernt and Ensign. Then, as now, Ensign averred that he had incomplete information, and could only convey what he had been told. Then, as now, Boasberg adjourned to let Ensign gather more details. Then, as now, Ensign came back largely empty-handed, without more substantive information to share. Advertisement We now know, though, that the government exploited that adjournment of the March 15 hearing to rush out two flights heading for El Salvadorbefore Boasberg had a chance to rule. Ensign, who faces criminal contempt for his role in this debacle, insists that he was not aware of the rushed departures. If thats true, then the Trump administration has already obscured one round of deportation flights from him in the midst of a court proceeding. Why should anyone think it wouldnt pull the same trick on Friday? Ensigns representations no longer carry any weight if the government will conceal pertinent information from him that a court wishes to learn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Layered into this equivocation was an even deeper distortion. Ensign told Boasberg that the government has no plans to remove anyone thats filed a habeas petitionthat is, a challenge to their expulsion to El Salvador. But Ensign then admitted that the government is still preventing migrants from filing habeas petitions in the first place. The attorney insisted that despite the Supreme Courts call for due process, federal officials did not have to inform migrants of their rights, or give them more than 24 hours notice before loading them on a flight to El Salvador. This threadbare process, Ensign told Boasberg, satisfied the governments constitutional obligations. His assurance that the government has no plans to remove anyone thats filed a habeas petition was therefore nearly meaningless given that the government claimed the authority to thwart those petitions from being filed in the first place. Advertisement In light of the full context and Ensigns specific choice of words, Alito was simply wrong to claim that the Justice Department denied plans to fly out migrants on Friday or Saturday. Set aside the fact that DHS reserve[d] the right to remove people on Saturday. Set aside the bad-faith scheme hatched by administration officials to sabotage habeas petitions by denying migrants real due process. The truth is that Ensign himself refused to say with certainty that migrants were safe from imminent removal. And just last month, the government allegedly deprived him of real-time information about rendition flightsfor the express purpose of hiding those flights from the court. Alitos confidence that no migrants would be illegally renditioned was not just misplaced, but actively misleading. Advertisement Boasberg ultimately declined to issue a restraining order on Friday, finding that the Supreme Court already tied his hands in this case. When judges in Texas would not act, SCOTUS finally stepped in around 1 a.m. on Saturday morning, halting the flights; a video obtained by NBC News shows buses full of migrants driving to the airport, then turning around shortly before the Supreme Courts order was released to the public. Guards at the detention facility reportedly told the individuals that they were heading to El Salvador. All available evidence indicates that Ensigns words were crafted to let the government fly these men to a Salvadoran prison early Saturday morning, then maintain that the flights did not technically conflict with the Justice Departments claims in court. Advertisement More than anything, the Supreme Courts order reveals that a majority of justices are losing faith in the Trump administration, and not a moment too soon. Theres only one plausible reason why the court would intervene at 1 a.m. on Saturday, before Alito finished his dissent and before the Justice Department even responded to the ACLUs pleas: It didnt trust the government to tell the truth or follow the law, including its own directives. It is heartening that a majority has, at long last, evidently recognized that this administration does not deserve the deference that courts usually afford to the executive branch. And its damning that Alito and Thomas remain in willful denial about this new reality. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a major First Amendment case that could give religious parents a right to censor LGBTQ+ materials in public schools. Just eight days later, the court will hear Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, another massive religious freedom case that asks whether Oklahoma is constitutionally required to approve and fund a Catholic academy run by the church itself. Together, these two cases could give religious groups and individuals immense new powers of control over public education in America, bulldozing what remains of the separation of church and state in the process. Mark Joseph Stern spoke with Leah Litman about this coming showdown on this weeks Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus. Litman is a professor at University of Michigan and author of the forthcoming book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. Their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mark Joseph Stern: Mahmoud is one of several major religious freedom cases that the court will decide this term, all of which have gotten buried in the avalanche of Trump news we all face every single day. But to me, these cases are a good reminder that the Supreme Court actually has its own agenda apart from Donald Trump, one that its pursuing just as rapidly as we are all distracted by the chaos coming out of the White House. Can you tell us what Mahmoud is about? Leah Litman: This is an early challenge to a supposed policy of the Montgomery County School Board, which announced that it was going to adopt a policy of inclusive reading lists in collaboration with parents and experts. They adopted a list that included people of many different identities and backgrounds. After receiving a fair number of requests for parents to have their children opt out of certain reading materials, they announced that the opt-out policy had become unworkable, so they were going to use these approved reading lists without an opt-out policy. A group of conservative Muslim and Christian parents then challenged that move as an affront to their religious rights as parents to control what is taught in public schoolsor, to put it more charitably, to control what their children are exposed to in public school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You called this an early challenge to a supposed policy. Can you expand on that? Well, the complaint that the plaintiffs filed doesnt actually provide information about how these instructional materials are used in education. We dont know, for instance, if these books are just appearing on shelves, or if the teacher picks up a book and reads it. Usually that would be the end of the case. The plaintiffs did not develop any allegations to substantiate the idea that these instructional materials are being used in a way that substantially burdens their religion or instructs their children in violation of their religious beliefs. Yet the Supreme Court was like: You know what? Lets take this bad boy and see what we can do with it. Its reminiscent of 303 Creative in that way, right? Its a lot like these past cases that rested on a questionable and wildly underdeveloped factual record, which gives the conservative justices a chance to make stuff up. Advertisement I think thats totally right, because there isnt a record in the complaint about how this policy works. Sam Alito is going to speculate: Well, what if a teacher grabbed Pride Puppy and told the kids that their religion was bad because its in violation of Pride Puppy? What about that, counsel? I can already envision that playing out. Related From Slate The Supreme Courts Late-Night Rebuke to Trump Is Extraordinary in More Ways Than One Read More Can you also maybe envision what it would look like if the Supreme Court sides with the plaintiffs and issues a broader ruling in this case? What would that mean not just for this school board, but for public schools around the country? Ian Millhiser had a wonderful piece in Vox that tried to unpack this. Some of the questions he raised included: What if a student asked a question about whether any individual in Donald Trumps administration was gay? At that moment would the teacher have to excuse some number of children whose parents do not believe in the existence of gay people? What if an item on a reading list is written by a transgender person? Would that reading material have to be thrown out in the event that there is a child of a parent who does not believe that trans people should be allowed to exist? You can imagine a challenge to any of the instructional material in school; is there going to be a challenge to teaching evolution? Sex education? Algebra or geometry? Who knows? It becomes utterly un-administrable because then public schools cant actually develop curricula. Advertisement Advertisement And schools wouldnt be able to develop curricula that reflect the diversity of their student body and teachers too, right? Its essentially giving the most bigoted parents a floating veto to censor what a teacher says. Millhiser makes the point, too, that this essentially smuggles a Florida-style dont say gay rule into the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Theres a passage in your new book that invoked this case for me, in which you wrote about the idea that LGBTQ+ equality horribly victimizes religious and social conservatives. You call this a key element of the courts jurisprudence of conservative grievance, adding: The law now reflects a persecution complex that imagines religious and social conservatives are the victims of a society that no longer shares their views. Can you explain how this persecution complex comes out not only in the bones of the case, but in some of the briefing thats emerged? Advertisement Heres one example: An amicus brief filed by several law professors argue that this policy of including LGBTQ+-inclusive reading materials is driven by animus toward certain religions or religious beliefs. Boiled down to its core, this seems to amount to the idea that acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ+ persons victimizes religious and social conservatives. That is antithetical to a pluralistic society, and it amounts to a constitutional rule that LGBTQ+ individuals cannot participate in civil society. I want to fold this into another religion case that the Supreme Court is about to hear, Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, in whichwell, tell me if I have this right: The court will decide whether the First Amendment requires Oklahoma to fund a religious charter school run by the Catholic Church? Advertisement To state the question should be to answer it. Yes, thats the question the court will answer. Of course, there was never any circuit split on this; there should be no difficulty answering this question whatsoever. The fact that the justices took it up anywayeven when Justice Barrett is recusedshould terrify everybody about where this is headed, because the combination of these two cases is going to be a real one-two punch for public education. The rules may soon be that a state has to provide, fund, and support religious education. Meanwhile, it cannot provide public education in secular schools that religious parents object to. That would require a dual system of religious education or religiously approved education. And that is just not how public education can operate. Advertisement Advertisement It sounds to me like the weaponization of the First Amendment to commandeer public education as an arm of religious education, and to transform both regular public schools and charter schools into organs of organized religion. Here, Oklahoma would have a state-funded Catholic school that indoctrinates students in faithmeaning actual indoctrination, not just having a book on the shelf a student can read, but forcing students to participate in religious rituals. Oklahoma taxpayers would be subsidizing the proselytization of students into Catholic beliefs. It does seem like the court is deeply concerned about the so-called indoctrination of LGBTQ+ views into students, and not remotely concerned about the much more literal and direct indoctrination of overtly religious beliefswhich, in any sane world, would violate the establishment clause. I agree. But lest you forget, Sam Alito and Clarence Thomas told us that you cannot say marriage is between a man and a woman in certain circles, Mark, and therefore they are justified in dragooning the entire state apparatus to engage in religious indoctrination. Its only fair. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/4900-violations-of-easter-truce-by-ukraine-recorded---russias-defense-ministry-1121901876.html 4,900 Violations of Easter Truce by Ukraine Recorded - Russia's Defense Ministry 4,900 Violations of Easter Truce by Ukraine Recorded - Russia's Defense Ministry Sputnik International Ukrainian forces continued to strike Russian positions and civilian infrastructure despite the declaration of an Easter ceasefire, the ministry informed. 2025-04-21T07:32+0000 2025-04-21T07:32+0000 2025-04-21T07:42+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis russian armed forces ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/1c/1121036292_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_fdfedbbdd6f0cc082ea3cbdbcbeba0d6.jpg During this period, the Ukrainian military used 90 drones, eight of which were outside the special military operation zone and destroyed.More statements by Russia's MoD on the Easter ceasefire: All Russian military groups in the special military operation zone strictly adhered to the ceasefire regime from 18:00 on April 19 to 00:00 on April 21. The Ukrainian forces made 6 attempts to attack in the Donetsk People's Republic and the Kursk region, all of which were repelled. A total of 1,404 shellings were carried out using artillery, multiple rocket launchers, and mortars, along with 3,316 strikes using quadcopters on Russian military positions. 19 shellings, 49 FPV drone strikes, and 16 ammunition drops from UAVs were carried out on border areas of the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions. Overall, the intensity of enemy fire and combat operations along the entire front line was significantly reduced. With the end of the ceasefire, the Russian Armed Forces resumed their special military operation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250420/how-ukraine-tramples-on-easter-truce-1121899621.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250420/easter-truce-message-ukraine-conflict-will-end-on-russias-terms--ex-cia-analyst-1121898225.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 russia's special military operation, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict, ukraine hostilities, eastern ceasefire https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/china-warns-of-retaliation-over-deals-that-harm-its-interests-amid-us-economic-isolation-plans-1121902519.html China Warns of Retaliation Over Deals That Harm Its Interests Amid US Economic Isolation Plans China Warns of Retaliation Over Deals That Harm Its Interests Amid US Economic Isolation Plans Sputnik International China does not accept any deals of other countries that are concluded at the expense of its interests; if this happens, Beijing will take equivalent countermeasures, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said, commenting on reports of US plans to achieve economic isolation of China. 2025-04-21T10:09+0000 2025-04-21T10:09+0000 2025-04-21T10:09+0000 world china us-china trade war us-china relations us donald trump chinese ministry of commerce https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/02/0b/1121555783_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_eb418a21755ec3d71ec3452f154e4c19.jpg Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the US authorities planned to obtain commitments from trading partners to economically isolate China in exchange for lower tariffs during negotiations with other countries. It noted that, in China's opinion, in the issue of "reciprocal tariffs" all parties should stand on the side of justice, on the right side of history and protect international trade and economic rules and the multilateral trading system. On April 2, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing "reciprocal" tariffs on imports from other countries. Their basic rate is 10%, and for 57 countries, increased rates have been in effect since April 9, which were calculated based on the US trade deficit with a specific country: so that there would be a balance instead of a deficit. However, on April 9, the US leader announced that more than 75 countries had not taken retaliatory measures and requested negotiations, so for 90 days, basic import duties of 10% would apply to everyone except China. After a series of steps in the trade war, the additional "reciprocal" US tariff on Chinese goods reached 125%, and China's retaliatory tariff on American goods is also 125%. In addition, the United States has another 20% tariff on China, introduced in connection with accusations of insufficient combat against synthetic drugs. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250416/us-to-offer-lower-tariffs-in-exchange-for-chinas-trade-isolation--reports-1121878374.html china 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 us-china row, us-china relations, us-china trade war, us-china economic clashes https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/moldovan-opposition-calls-russia-turkiye-reliable-partners-in-protecting-gagauzia-autonomy-1121907270.html Moldovan Opposition Calls Russia, Turkiye Reliable Partners in Protecting Gagauzia Autonomy Moldovan Opposition Calls Russia, Turkiye Reliable Partners in Protecting Gagauzia Autonomy Sputnik International Russia and Turkiye are reliable partners in protecting the rights of Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia, a member of the Moldovan parliament from the opposition Pobeda (Victory) bloc, Alexander Sukhodolsky, said on Monday. 2025-04-21T16:04+0000 2025-04-21T16:04+0000 2025-04-21T16:04+0000 world moldova gagauzia chisinau european union (eu) russia turkiye https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/04/1113111917_0:0:3158:1776_1920x0_80_0_0_e52024c15f7faa5b7d8a58eb44cbc81e.jpg Gagauzia head Yevgenia Gutsul was detained at the Chisinau 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. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's sharp critique of the European Union for its lack of response to Gutsul's unfounded criminal prosecution and arrest, as well as his pointing out the obvious selectivity and double standards of European structures, are a clear signal from Ankara, the lawmaker added. Fidan said on Sunday that a number of European countries had double standards in criticizing Ankara over the arrest of opposition Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, while at the same time ignoring Gutsul's persecution by Chisinau. Moscow has also condemned the persecution of Gutsul, calling on international organizations to take note of the situation in Moldova and defend the rights of the national minorities there. Gagauzia, where most people speak Russian as well as Gagauz, a Turkic language, declared independence from Soviet Moldova in 1990 but was integrated into the newly-established Republic of Moldova in 1994. The Gagauz people are Orthodox Christians of Turkic origin. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250417/moldovas-political-witch-hunt-persecution-of-gagauzias-gutsul-1121883670.html moldova gagauzia russia turkiye 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 gauagazia russia, moldova political turmoil, conflict gaugazia Policy focus on consumption to drive growth 08:49, April 21, 2025 By Fan Feifei and Ouyang Shijia ( China Daily China's pro-consumption initiatives a top priority of the country's policy agenda for this year are expected to shore up consumer confidence and unleash the potential of domestic demand to stimulate economic growth, while hedging the impact of the United States' tariff hikes, said officials, economists and executives. They noted that China has demonstrated firm determination to further vitalize the consumer market and address prominent constraints on consumption by bolstering people's well-being amid rising trade protectionism and external uncertainties, with a particular focus on stabilizing jobs, increasing household income and alleviating financial burdens. A comprehensive policy package to boost consumption will accelerate the country's shift toward a consumption-driven growth model from an export- and investment-led growth model, they said. The economists and executives also projected a robust recovery for China's consumer market this year, with concrete measures aimed at strengthening consumers' ability and willingness to spend gradually taking effect. President Xi Jinping has emphasized efforts to expand domestic demand, as well as establish and improve a long-term mechanism for expanding residents' consumption, so that residents can consume with the help of stable income, dare to consume without worries, and are willing to consume due to the excellent consumption environment and strong sense of gain. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when attending the second group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee in January 2023. According to the Central Economic Work Conference held in December last year, the foremost priority for policymakers in 2025 is to vigorously boost consumption, improve investment efficiency and expand domestic demand on all fronts. This year's Government Work Report also listed boosting consumption as a top priority among major tasks for 2025. China will make expanding domestic demand a long-term strategy, while solid measures should be taken to stabilize employment, boost incomes and create demand with high-quality supply, Premier Li Qiang said earlier this month when chairing a symposium on the economic situation. The fifth China International Consumer Products Expo, which was held last week in Haikou, Hainan province, is a strong testimony to the vitality and resilience of the nation's consumer market. The event attracted more than 60,000 professional purchasers, a 10 percent increase from last year, with the value of intended deals reaching around 92 billion yuan ($12.6 billion). To stimulate domestic demand and solve key challenges weighing on consumer sentiment, the general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a special action plan for boosting consumption. Li Chunlin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that unlike past policies that primarily targeted the supply side, the new plan places great emphasis on stepping up policy support on the demand side by raising people's income and reducing financial burdens. The plan calls for promoting wage growth by strengthening employment support and raising minimum wage standards in a scientific and reasonable manner, and it includes stabilizing the stock market to expand property income channels, he said, adding that these measures will give consumers more stable expectations and greater confidence in their spending power. He said that dedicated efforts have been outlined in the plan to integrate consumption growth with improving people's livelihoods, such as easing household burdens in areas like child care, education, healthcare and old-age insurance. The country is drafting a child care subsidy plan and will expand financial assistance for basic medical insurance. "China's efforts to boost domestic demand can offset the impact of US tariff hikes," said Sun Xuegong, director of the department of policy study and consultation at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, an NDRC think tank, while emphasizing that the nation's economic fundamentals are sound, with a strong manufacturing sector and great market potential. Sun highlighted the need for a comprehensive policy mix to spur consumption, including short-term moves such as issuing consumption coupons, as well as long-term spending on strengthening the social security network. Pan Helin, a member of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy, said that expanding domestic demand by boosting consumption could effectively help buffer external headwinds and prop up economic vibrancy. The consumer-centered stimulus measures will reduce China's reliance on exports and investment for growth and facilitate its transition to a more consumption-led economy in the face of an increasingly complicated international situation and sluggish global recovery, Pan said. Driving force Consumption has become the main driving force behind China's economic growth. Last year, the final consumption expenditure contributed 44.5 percent to the nation's GDP growth, surpassing investment and exports, and drove a 2.2 percentage point increase in GDP, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, said it would be "a brilliant idea" for China to take bigger reform steps to transfer more State-owned capital to the social security system, in order to enhance migrant workers' benefits as a key means to driving consumption growth. "China is trying something new a more proactive fiscal policy with a greater focus on consumption," he said, adding that about one-fourth of this year's increment in augmented fiscal deficit, worth around 2 trillion yuan, will be spent on consumption-related areas such as subsidizing an expanded consumer goods trade-in program and boosting social welfare. Xing said that apart from short-term consumption subsidies, the more fundamental solution lies in social security reforms, such as offering easier access to public housing and healthcare for migrant workers, which will reduce their precautionary saving habits and unleash huge consumption potential. According to the 2025 Government Work Report, China will double its ultra-long-term special treasury bonds earmarked for expansion of the consumer goods trade-in program to 300 billion yuan this year, amid a broader drive to boost domestic demand and spur economic growth. Data from the NDRC shows that under the trade-in program, retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles nationwide reached around 1.34 million units in the first two months, up 26 percent year-on-year, while sales of home appliances featuring the highest level of energy efficiency surged 36 percent year-on-year to 24.1 billion yuan during the same period. Jia Shaoqian, chairman of Chinese home appliance manufacturer Hisense Group, said the country's trade-in program has not only stimulated the consumer market and bolstered consumption upgrades, but has also significantly promoted the green transformation of the home appliance industry, while improving people's quality of life. Purchasing appetite In order to further stimulate the purchasing appetite of consumers, Li Gang, director of the department of market operation and consumption promotion at the Ministry of Commerce, underscored that more efforts will be made to accelerate the development of service-based consumption. Efforts will also be made to nurture diversified purchasing scenarios and new types of consumption in the digital, green and intelligent fields, Li added. Zou Yunhan, deputy director of the Macroeconomic Research Office at the State Information Center's Department of Economic Forecasting, said that China's consumption market is poised for steady growth this year fueled by a series of supportive measures. Zou highlighted that new business forms and new models related to consumption can better meet people's demand for consumption, upgrading and motivating their purchasing enthusiasm, which in turn will provide fresh momentum and robust support for the sustained growth of the consumer market. Hideki Ozawa, executive vice-president of Japanese tech company Canon, said, "We are confident that with the support of national consumption promotion policies, we can return to the golden era of the camera market." China's focus on consumption-led growth serves as a powerful driver of economic stability and will contribute to the country's overall economic recovery, Ozawa added. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) People taste grapes at a grape fair in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Aug. 17, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] China's human rights approach emphasizes pragmatism, diversity, and mutual respect, as demonstrated by its poverty eradication efforts and global cooperation initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative. This was highlighted at the 2025 Asian Forum on Human Rights, held in Chongqing on April 19. Under the theme "Science & Technology and Human Rights," the forum brought together regional scholars to discuss technology's impact on human rights. Chen Youwu, executive director of the Human Rights and Rule of Law Research Center at Guangdong University of Technology, said China's human rights philosophy centers on serving people and prioritizing their well-being. He noted that this principle that people's happiness is the greatest human right grants human rights a powerful guiding role in the development of science and technology, promoting technology that benefits society. Kanatbek Aziz, director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kyrgyzstan, examined the connection between digital governance and human rights. He identified three prevailing models: the European approach, which emphasizes personal data protection; the American system, driven by corporate interests where users are often treated as products; and the Chinese framework, which focuses on digital sovereignty, strategic planning and national security. Aziz praised China's Global AI Governance Initiative as a necessary contribution to international discussions on technology regulation. "The initiative emphasizes the need for safe, orderly and reliable development of artificial intelligence," he said. "This reflects China's commitment to establishing international frameworks where AI is guided by justice, inclusiveness and technological ethics." Liu Hongzhen, deputy director of the Human Rights Center at Jilin University, warned that some Western powers misuse both human rights and technology to maintain dominance and escalate geopolitical tensions, citing U.S. attempts to limit China's technological progress. "The diversity of human rights must be respected, and both hegemonism and the instrumentalization of rights must be resisted," Liu said. "We should approach technological competition through the lens of human rights, thereby promoting reform in global technology governance systems." Beyond technology, China's commitment to human rights is also demonstrated in its domestic development efforts. Li Zhongxia, deputy director of the Human Rights Research Center at Renmin University of China, highlighted China's poverty alleviation campaign, which lifted 832 impoverished counties and nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty. The achievement secured basic survival and development rights, which Li described as a major step forward for global human rights. "If basic needs are not met, discussing political rights becomes detached from reality," Li said. "Human rights development must respond to the people's most urgent needs." China's commitment to human rights also extends beyond its borders. Through multilateral platforms such as China-ASEAN cooperation, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Belt and Road Initiative, China continues to promote peace, security and sustainable development throughout Asia and beyond. Recent joint statements with Vietnam and Cambodia emphasized that human rights should be pursued according to national conditions, while opposing the politicization of human rights and the application of double standards. The statements also rejected using such issues to interfere in sovereign nations' internal affairs. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/pentagon-chief-shares-data-on-yemen-strikes-in-yet-another-chat---reports-1121901499.html Pentagon Chief Shares Data on Yemen Strikes in Yet Another Chat - Reports Pentagon Chief Shares Data on Yemen Strikes in Yet Another Chat - Reports Sputnik International In March, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent data on upcoming strikes on Yemen in a closed group chat on the Signal messenger, the participants were not only people from his professional circle, but also his wife, as well as his brother and lawyer, the New York Times reported, citing sources. 2025-04-21T04:47+0000 2025-04-21T04:47+0000 2025-04-21T09:44+0000 americas peter hegseth pentagon houthis us department of defense (dod) yemen us hegemony air strikes leak signal https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/04/15/1121901607_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_82abe79f45fcff4de533852800c582a7.jpg According to the publication, the Pentagon chief sent the flight schedule of the F/A-18 Hornets that attacked Shia military-political movement Ansar Allah (Houthis) in Yemen from his personal phone to a chat called "Defense | Team Huddle" he published the same information in another chat with officials of the US administration. The publication notes that Hegseth's wife Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, is not an employee of the US Department of Defense. However, she was previously criticized for accompanying her husband to secret meetings with foreign leaders. At the same time, Hegseth's brother and lawyer work at the Pentagon, but, as the newspaper said, it is unclear why they needed information about the upcoming strikes on Yemen. The newspaper notes that Hegseth was the group chat's creator. In addition to his wife, it included about a dozen people from his personal and professional circle. Earlier, the Office of the Inspector General of the US Department of Defense launched an investigation into the use of the Signal messenger by the US Secretary of Defense after the scandal surrounding the leak of discussions between officials of the US administration about strikes in Yemen. The Pentagon on Monday denied media reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had shared classified information in another Signal group chat involving his wife and brother.The only source of the New York Times was the words of former Pentagon employees, who "appear to have a motive to sabotage" Hegseth and US President Donald Trump's agenda, the statement added.In early April, acting Inspector General at the Pentagon Steven Stebbins notified Hegseth about a probe initiation into the circumstances of another Signal app leak that took place last month.On March 24, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, revealed in an article that he was accidentally added by US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz to a private chat on the Signal app regarding impending strikes on the Houthis in Yemen that took place on March 15. According to Goldberg, the chat included senior officials such as Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Goldberg presented screenshots of the correspondence, in which the Pentagon chief, several hours before the start of the operation, reports on the types of aircraft and targets, which, according to the journalist, could threaten servicemen if leaked. Goldberg accused officials of serious violations of security rules. The chat was reportedly set to automatically delete messages, which violated the requirements for storing official information. americas yemen 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 hegseth, pentagon, houthis, us strikes, us-yemen war, strikes against houthis, us, us strikes on yemen, us strikes on houthis, red sea, red sea crisis, air strikes, us dominance, us arrogance, hegseth signal, signal app, signal chat, chat leak, us hegemony https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/pepe-escobar-the-shanghai-spirit-china-will-take-no-bullying--1121902677.html Pepe Escobar: The Shanghai Spirit - China Will Take No Bullying Pepe Escobar: The Shanghai Spirit - China Will Take No Bullying Sputnik International There could not be a more strategic place to spend these past Trump Tariff Tizzy (TTT) heady days than in Shanghai Chinas trade, commercial and cultural capital. 2025-04-21T11:38+0000 2025-04-21T11:38+0000 2025-04-21T12:07+0000 analysis china us us-china trade war donald trump brics asean nvidia foreign direct investment (fdi) pepe escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/04/15/1121903303_0:120:1280:840_1920x0_80_0_0_218bf54c299fa21da111f830433751c7.jpg From the top of the Jin Mao tower in the world class Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, an elegantly discreet art deco companion to the World Financial Center super-skyscraper the trademark symbol of Chinas economic power its as if the spokes of a wheel radiated to the Bund and beyond tracking a ceaseless drive to counteract the absurd idiocy of the Emperor of Tariffs, relentless mocked across myriad Chinese social media platforms.I have had the privilege to transit from the Bund Financial Center, which hosts among others the Fosun Foundation a bamboo-inspired architectural masterpiece to the China Academy at the immaculate campus of Fudan University, where I shared a seminar with star professor Zhang Weiwei and a round table with top PhD students from several disciplines. Professor Zhang Weiwei is the foremost conceptualizer of China as a civilization-state.The key theme of our seminar was the Russia-China strategic partnership, but inevitably the focus switched back and forth to the rationale behind the Emperor of Tariffs. The questions from the students were as sharp as they come. That was compounded with an in-depth interview for China Academy hosted by their CEO, the formidable Pan Xiaoli.A visit to the HQ of Guancha the top independent new/analysis site in China, whose several channels in several different platforms reach an astonishing 200 million people - could not have been more timely. Guo Jiezhen, a research fellow from the China Institute, who was part of our round table at Fudan University, came up with one of the more astute analyses of what he describes as Trumps "deranged money-making technique".While meeting with Guanchas new editor-in-chief He Shenquan and discussing with hyper-competent international relations specialist Kelly Liu and Yang Hanyi the China Institutes communication officer - we watched together an exceptional podcast featuring PLA Colonel Wang Lihua, Gao Zhikai - Deputy Director of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) - and the always essential Li Bo, President of the Shanghai Chunqiu Development Strategy Institute.Wang Lihua picked up on what President Xi had told Putin at their landmark meeting at the Kremlin two years ago: we are right in the middle of changes not seen in 100 years.Wang: This change cannot be changed all at once, and the trade war between China and the United States will not be resolved once and for all. This kind of friction and struggle, in the words of Chairman Mao, is making trouble, failing, making trouble again, failing again, until destruction."China not afraid of war, however it may manifest itself, from hybrid to hot, is the consensus feeling in Shanghai, borrowing from the Maoist concept of united front, and espoused from academics and business leaders to residents of model quarters of the Maoist era still impeccably preserved and with an eye for innovation (example: row after row of a.c. outlets to feed the array of electric bikes parked in the internal patios).The Paper Tiger Lashes OutIt was immensely enlightening to share business dinners with executives and sales people coming from several Chinese provinces - from the stunning Pei Mansion, one of the most beautiful early 20th century buildings in Shanghai, where star architect I.M. Pei lived for one year, to the best Xinjiang restaurant in town, Ali Yang, at the World Financial Center, complete with the full Uighur lamb experience.In all conversations and debates, a constant: no illusions about Trump 2.0s shifting strategy, and how it should be turned against him, Sun Tzu-style; how China must amass a solid set of bargaining chips; and most of all how, from the beginning, this was always a war of an elite section of the American ruling classes on China. The rest of the world is a sideshow.So its no wonder that in every business dinner, after a matchless gastronomic feast, the conversation soon veered on how Chinas strategy will not be about immediate damage control; and how China is already eyeing new links and nodes to deepen its long-term global competitiveness.Its an open question whether Trump 2.0 and his team of Sinophobes will manage to prevent the emergence of a Global Majority strategic alliance against the Empire of Chaos.In Shanghai, and across China, submission is simply not an option. In cultural terms, Trump has managed to antagonize 1.4 billion Chinese, simultaneously, by treating the civilization-state without respect. The one thing that irks Chinese the most is mistreatment (see, for instance, the century of humiliation).A full-blown trade war? Deep decoupling? Bring it on.The Emperor of Tariffs particularly hit Southeast Asias supply chains Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar. For all ASEAN 10, their major trade partner is China. Chinese FDI is quite important in Cambodia and troubled, post-earthquake Myanmar. Theres no question ASEAN will have to act in a strategically multilateral manner.President Xis timely tour of Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia is already setting the tone corroborated by Foreign Minister Wang Yi: "South East Asia achieved a consensus: we will stand united and say no to these backward, regressive actions."At the BRICS preparatory sherpa meetings ahead of the summit in early July in Rio, theres already serious movement to counteract the unprecedented protectionism of the Trump trade war, as formulated by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. Trump has already issued a trademark threat: a 150% tariff on BRICS members. Top BRICS member China is not intimidated.Busy Building a Global Consensus Against BullyingMeanwhile in Beijing, in tandem with all the intellectual frenzy in Shanghai, Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, wearing a business suit (he prefers leather jackets) as a sign of respect and speaking in English (even though he was born in Taiwan) had a mega-significant meeting with Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).So here we have the multi-billionaire CEO of an American chip behemoth telling the Chinese government, in person, that his company remains totally committed to the Chinese market, despite Trump 2.0s stiff export restrictions on AI chips.A new book, The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the Worlds Most Coveted Microchip, is essential reading to understand how Huang thinks. Hes an Asian immigrant who came from poverty; personifies the old-school American dream; does not take any nonsense from anyone; and is hyper-competitive. Huang is fully aware that Nvidia simply cannot lose the Chinese market; moreover he knows that before 2030 Chinese engineers will release their own GPU and may put Nvidia out of business.Back to Shanghai, flying out of Pudong Airport it was easy to see why Chinas air passenger traffic hit arecord high in the first quarter of 2025 even in a climate of crisis and fierce competition, including high-speed rail. Compound it with the human tsunami taking over Nanjing Road on a Friday night; that necessitates rows and rows of military police to discipline the human flow on both sides of the pedestrian mall.Consumer crisis? What crisis? In parallel, across the Pacific, Taobao is now number 2 and counting on Apples App store in the US; everyone is eager not only for viral TikTok videos, but to go on an unlimited shopping spree of affordable made in China products.On the military front, China has just come up with a non-nuclear hydrogen bomb. No uranium, No plutonium. Just a matchless chemical/engineering compound solution. Declining Empires waging proxy wars are so last century. The new Chinese bomb weighs just 2 kg; lasts fifteen times longer than TNT; and its fireball exceeds 1000 degrees Celsius.The key lesson of these past heady days in Shanghai may be that China is now firmly, strategically focused all across the planet to occupy the moral high ground.Moreover, Chinas absolute priority goes way beyond global trade: everyone familiar with Xi Jinping Thought knows its all about achieving national modernization, unification and weaving, with partners in all continents, a community of shared future.So geopolitically and geoeconomically, this is the road map ahead: Shanghai is showing that China is relishing its new role as a Resistance beacon, bent on defying bullying, busy building a Global Majority consensus. Its all about strategic patience which a chaotic Empire out of control simply does not have. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/china-warns-of-retaliation-over-deals-that-harm-its-interests-amid-us-economic-isolation-plans-1121902519.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240909/pepe-escobar-russia-china-asean-weave-their-eastern-magic-1120084476.html china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg us-china row, us china trade war, us china clash, us china hostilities . 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You can participate in the discussion within 24 hours after the publication of the article. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/ukraine-did-not-observe-easter-ceasefire---russian-foreign-ministry-1121901197.html Ukraine Did Not Observe Easter Ceasefire - Russian Foreign Ministry Ukraine Did Not Observe Easter Ceasefire - Russian Foreign Ministry Sputnik International The Kiev regime did not observe the ceasefire on Easter, while using US-made HIMARS missiles for strikes, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday, commenting on US hopes for an extension of the ceasefire. 2025-04-21T02:02+0000 2025-04-21T02:02+0000 2025-04-21T02:02+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia high mobility artillery rocket system (himars) ukraine maria zakharova volodymyr zelensky proxy war ukraine crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/10/1121186680_0:99:3290:1950_1920x0_80_0_0_445fc69bd432efac9c80a136c1092dd9.jpg "The Kiev regime did not observe it during Easter either. Moreover, Ukraine used American HIMRS weapons to violate the ceasefire. And this is not an accident, but a pattern, because during the moratorium on attacks on the fuel and energy infrastructure, Zelensky, who agreed to it, targeted civilian energy infrastructure," Zakharova said on Telegram. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an Easter truce that came into effect at 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (15:00 GMT) on Saturday and lasted until midnight from Sunday to Monday (21:00 GMT on Sunday). Despite the Easter truce, the Ukrainian armed forces conducted five attacks on the city of Gorlovka (also known as Horlivka) in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) on Sunday, according to the DPR representative office in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) on Ukraine's war crimes. Meanwhile, Reuters reported, citing the US State Department, that the US would like a long-term settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and an extension of the ceasefire after Sunday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250420/russias-easter-truce-proposal-puts-ukraine-to-the-gut-test-1121895864.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International easter ceasefire, easter truce, russia-ukraine war, russia-ukraine truce, russia-ukraine ceasefire, russia-ukraine conflict, ukraine conflict, peace talks, ukraine crisis, nato proxy war, proxy war https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/why-is-zaporozhye-nuclear-power-plants-neutrality-a-no-go-1121906598.html Why is Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant's Neutrality a No-Go? Why is Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant's Neutrality a No-Go? Sputnik International The Trump administration reportedly mulls 'neutral status' for the Zaporozhye nuclear facility. Experts argue it's "entirely unrealistic." Here is why. 2025-04-21T15:55+0000 2025-04-21T15:55+0000 2025-04-21T15:55+0000 analysis donald trump americans russia zaporozhye european union (eu) ukraine stevan gajic us nuclear power plant https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/08/1099391475_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_1f104c0668c2ea57b07b159d5230304f.jpg Security VulnerabilityPotential US-Ukraine FootholdApparently, the US could turn the nuclear plant into a "foothold that can later be used not only for the power station to generate electricity, but also as a place for troop accumulation."It Belongs to Russia. Period The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Zaporozhye region, which joined Russia in 2022 after a referendum. From a legal standpoint and Russia's interests, the neutrality of the facility is "unacceptable," Anpilogov stresses.Not Up For Discussion In talks with the US, it was repeatedly emphasized by Russia that the nuclear plant's territorial status or transfer to Ukraine is not up for discussion, the expert says.Trump's Maneuvers? Will the US Leave Ukraine and EU in the Lurch? The US wants out, while the Kiev regime, backed by the EU, pushes for NATO membership despite the US urging it to drop the bid and prolongs the conflict. In the end, the EU and Ukraine are bound for defeat, the academic says. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250328/why-does-putin-have-every-reason-to-believe-russia-holds-upper-hand-in-ukraine-conflict-1121704923.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250421/us-peace-plan-on-ukraine-way-of-grabbing-more-resources--1121902211.html russia zaporozhye ukraine zaporozhye region Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova zaporozhye nuclear power plant, neutral status for zaporozhye nuclear power plant, trump's conditions for ukraine, ukraine's nato membership, rosatom, vladimir putin, us-russian talks, us-russia negotiations on ukraine The Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund has announced that the 2025 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. As the premier event of the NYSS season, the Night of Champions showcases the top New York-sired two- and three-year-olds with more than $2.4 million USD in purse money awarded across the evening. We are excited to bring the Night of Champions back to Batavia Downs, where the event was last hosted in 2019, said Ralph Scunziano, Executive Director of the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund. Batavia Downs has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to hosting world-class racing, and their upgraded clubhouse and facilities are sure to create another memorable experience for our horsemen, owners and fans. Located between Buffalo and Rochester, Batavia Downs is centrally situated in Western New Yorks agricultural hub, offering a unique opportunity to highlight both the sport of harness racing and the economic impact of equine breeding and training in the region. The half-mile track is well known for its quality surface and competitive racing. The races will be streamed live on Batavia Downs YouTube page, and a live post position draw will take place on Facebook ahead of the event. Pre-race commentary and on-site interviews with winning connections will also enhance the live broadcast experience. We are honoured to have been selected to host this prestigious event here at Batavia Downs," said Byron Brown, President and CEO of Western Regional Off Track Betting Corporation. "I appreciate the confidence that the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund has in our team here and we will not let them down. Our track and facility will be ready to go, and we are prepared to celebrate the Night of Champions with all of people that attend. The 2025 Night of Champions will be the culmination of a 56-day NYSS season, beginning May 18 at Saratoga Raceway. Full schedules for the Sire Stakes, Excelsior Series and County Fair Series are available at nysirestakes.com. (With files from Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund) Catholic leaders from Nebraska and Iowa reacted to the death of Pope Francis on Monday with sorrow but also a reverence for the Holy Fathers strong exhortations to spread the word of God. Archbishop George Lucas of the Omaha Archdiocese on Monday celebrated the 11:15 a.m. Mass at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha to pray for the repose of the soul of Francis. In a statement beforehand, Lucas pointed to the missionary engagement Francis liked to encourage. I have received the news of the death of Pope Francis this morning with sadness. At the same time, I give thanks to God for his extraordinary life and ministry, Lucas said in a statement. His encouragement that we become missionary disciples, sharing the light of the gospel of Jesus especially with those at the peripheries, has shaped our pastoral vision in the Archdiocese of Omaha. Just yesterday, Pope Francis welcomed the crowds who celebrated Easter at St. Peters in Rome. We pray that he will now be welcomed by the saints of heaven and by the Lord Jesus, who is gloriously risen from the dead. In a podcast, recorded as Francis was recovering from pneumonia, Lucas reflected on the strong encouragement of Francis to spread, The Joy of the Gospel, a 2013 apostolic exhortation that urged the entire Church to embark on a new chapter of evangelism. Lucas said he met twice with Francis, once in 2015 when the pope visiting the eastern U.S. Lucas also traveled with a group of bishops from Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri to see the pope in Rome in an ad limina visit. These visits, scheduled at five-year intervals, allow bishops to report on the state of their dioceses. The tone of that 2-hour visit was informal and free wheeling, Lucas said. He came away impressed with the energy of Francis. One of my lasting impressions of the Holy Father was the amount of energy he had during that whole meeting, Lucas said. So after 2 hours, I was ready to go out and get some fresh air, but he was still ... full of energy and took time both at the beginning and the end of the visit to greet us personally. Just very generous with himself. Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago and an Omaha native, said in a statement released by his office that the death of Pope Francis filled him with a deep sense of loss. Cupich was appointed as Archbishop of Chicago by Pope Francis in 2014 and then in 2016, the pope elevated Cupich to Cardinal. In this moment of profound loss for me personally and for the Church, I take this moment to express our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for the gift of his papacy and to pray for the repose of his soul, Cupich said. The finest memorial we can offer is to re-form our hearts as Pope Francis asked to see our brothers and sisters, to listen to them and to offer our prayers and actions that all may experience the fullness of Gods promise. As we mourn his passing, I ask that God comfort us, but also strengthen us to remain steadfast in carrying on the work of restoring our Churchs place in the world as a source of hope and an advocate for those in need. Bishop Walker Nickless of the Dicocese of Sioux City also met Pope Francis in 2020 during a visit to the Vatican along with Lucas and other bishops. Upon the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, I am saddened by our loss of such a kind and holy man while at the same time grateful for his leadership to the church in his 12-plus years as pope. I was honored to meet Pope Francis in January 2020 for my second ad limina visit to the Vatican. My brother bishops and I found him to be very warm and welcoming and an attentive listener. He was very encouraging to us in our shared challenges as bishops. I ask the faithful to join me in offering our prayers to God the Father for the repose of the soul of his servant, Francis. We trust in the Lord who promises the resurrection of the body for his faithful. In Lincoln, Bishop James Conley said Francis constantly urged Church leaders to defend human dignity. The Diocese of Lincoln will have a memorial Mass for Francis on Wednesday in Lincoln. I am saddened by the news of the death of Pope Francis. The impact of his work for the Catholic Church will be felt for many years to come. His humility and kindness made him a pope of the people. He was constantly encouraging us to reach out to those on the peripheries of our society who may be ignored, forgotten and disregarded. He wanted those people to know they are the Church, too, and will always be welcome. Pope Francis also defended the dignity of human life at every stage from conception to natural death. His compassion for all life was unwavering. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has ordered that all U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Francis until sunset on the day of his interment. Pope Francis devoted his life to being a servant of Christ, Pillen said in a statement. First Lady Suzanne and I are saddened by his passing. Li Jiping, a former vice president of China Development Bank, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes by a court in central China's Henan Province on Monday. Li was also fined 4 million yuan (about $555,000), and his illegal gains from bribery will be turned over to the state treasury, according to a verdict issued by the court. The court found that between 2001 and 2021, Li used his various positions with China Development Bank to assist others in matters such as loan approval and project contracting, and accepted money and valuables worth over 57.3 million yuan in return. Li was granted a lenient sentence considering that he was cooperative during the investigation and had shown remorse, according to the court. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: cottonbro studio from Pexels Of course, Google has an unlawful monopoly on online ads, as a federal judge found Thursday, just like a different federal judge found last year that Google has an unlawful monopoly on online searching; everyone knows that "googling" means online search. A market economy only works if there is competition and choice and Google's monopolist practices prevent them. And that's illegal. Google's control of the ads has turned the former garage start-up into a colossal worth close to $2 trillion. But that came at the expense of blocking out would-be competitors. Advertising is the backbone of internet commerce and a lifeline for publishers of all types. Advertising is what has enabled the massive revenues of all social media giants, and it is what essentially every non-e-commerce business trying to make a living on the internet depends on. The decision comes as the Federal Trade Commission seeks to have Meta, owner of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, spin off the latter two years after the company bought the competing products and, prosecutors argue, made them worse. These are all good signs for a healthy tech sector and online community. There's partly a problem of mismatched perceptions when it comes to the internet giants. Despite their meteoric rise to global power and prominence, companies like Alphabet (Google's parent) and Meta have still seen themselves as fast-acting innovators that had to act aggressively to corner markets, not stopping to consider (or not bothering to contend with the implications of the fact) that they became at some point the dominant market players by far, not scrappy start-ups. The moniker of moving fast and growing no matter the cost has proven good for the bottom line but decidedly mixed for the public. It's only been through concerted public and political pressure that they've moved towards, for example, more moderation. That companies like Meta have now suddenly moved away from moderation shows how fickle they can be. These companies will trot out some dire warnings if they are forced to relinquish aspects of their monopolistic control: consumers will be left adrift and paying for worse products; moderation will tank as smaller companies fight for the scraps; users will get more siloed into their own corners of the internet to the detriment of free and open communication. These are simply modern reformulations of the same arguments that monopolistic business interests have always used to try to dodge scrutiny and regulation. It's never been true before that the breaking up of a trust or a business cartel has cratered an industry or stifled innovation. Quite the opposite, actually. There's some irony here in the fact that these tech companies were only made possible by the aggressive antitrust actions of the past, as it's likely that, in the absence of the breakup of AT&T and the Bell System in the 1980s, the whole Silicon Valley sector that sprung up not long after would have faced a much more uphill battle in trying to establish itself. We hope that even as Big Tech cozies up to the Trump administration, the president will remember his promises to take on the entrenched power of the tech giants, which has been quite a rare point of bipartisan consensus for years. These actions will leave everyone better off. 2025 New York Daily News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. HMH Launches Personalized Path Solution Adaptive learning company HMH has introduced HMH Personalized Path, a K-8 ELA and math product that combines intervention curriculum, adaptive practice, and assessment for students of all achievement levels. Personalized Path integrates NWEA's MAP Growth assessment with HMH's Read 180 Flex, Math 180 Flex, and Waggle intervention programs. Using MAP Growth data, the solution "places students into tailored learning paths, offering individualized practice and intensive intervention based on their specific skill levels," the company explained in a news announcement. "These paths can be used alongside core instruction, enabling students to receive targeted support." The solution is accessible through HMH's Ed platform. "MAP Growth is the most trusted and innovative interim assessment and is used by millions of students to measure academic achievement and growth," said Chris Minnich, president of NWEA, a division of HMH, in a statement. "Rich MAP Growth data provides educators with decision-making clarity the next step is to offer actionable instructional strategies. Personalized Path does that. It's exciting to see HMH and NWEA's solutions coming together to provide adaptive instruction that supports positive outcomes for all kids." HMH Personalized Path will be available for back-to-school 2025. For more information, visit the HMH site. Flash Demonstrators participate in a rally and march in protest of the Donald Trump administration's policies in New York City, the United States, on April 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Thousands of protesters on Saturday took to the streets in various cities across the United States in what demonstrators described as part of a "National Day of Action" against President Donald Trump's policies and perceived threats to democracy. Organized on the 250th anniversary of the start of the U.S. Revolutionary War, the demonstrations ranged from marches through midtown Manhattan to rallies outside the White House in Washington, D.C., drawing parallels between historical calls for liberty and today's demands for executive accountability. In New York, people rallied outside the city's main library carrying signs targeting the U.S. president with slogans like "No Kings in America" and "Resist Tyranny;" in Chicago, demonstrators chanting "Protect our democracy" marched past City Hall; in San Francisco, participants formed a human banner reading "Impeach & Remove" on Ocean Beach. Protesters carried signs denouncing rapid deportations of immigrants, mass firings within federal departments, and cuts to Social Security offices, while many also voiced support for transgender rights and stronger climate policies. "We are in an unprecedented, dangerous situation in the United States," said Raymond Lotta, a political economist and writer. The Trump administration "is moving quickly to consolidate power, to carry out its horrible agenda, rounding up immigrants, waging a war on the universities, a war on science. They are shredding the rule of law," he said. "Trump is doing illegal things, and he should stop," said another demonstrator identifying himself only as George. He held a sign reading "Deport Trump" to express his anger. Protesters gather during a rally outside the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Calling the current trade war "unnecessary," Chris, another demonstrator who only gave his first name, said, "Using tariffs is hurting our economy. Especially, it is hurting the world economy. It is causing a lot of disruption across the globe." "We're already seeing the first signs of a recession," said Chris, who held a sign reading "tariffs equal recession." Meanwhile, some groups focused on community services, organizing food drives, teach-ins and volunteer work at local shelters. Political analysts note that Saturday's protests marked the second major mobilization against the Trump administration in April, following an earlier wave on April 5, and reflected deepening grassroots frustration with what participants view as an erosion of checks and balances. Russell Laffitte, once a respected, well-to-do Lowcountry banker, pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to six counts of bank-related thefts involving more than $3.5 million he stole with the notorious swindler and convicted killer Alex Murdaugh. Laffittes plea before U.S. Judge Richard Gergel was the capstone of a three-year saga in which Laffitte was fired from his family-owned Palmetto State Bank, indicted by a federal grand jury for victimizing bank customers, asserted his innocence, stood trial and was found guilty, spent 14 months of a seven-year sentence in prison and won a new trial on appeal. The new trial was set to begin May 5. Until this week, Laffitte, 54, had continued to cast himself as a gullible but innocent victim who allowed himself to be manipulated by the smooth-talking Murdaugh, a lawyer and major customer of the bank and lawyer. Murdaugh has already pleaded guilty in state and federal court to $10 million in financial frauds including those at Laffittes bank and elsewhere. Murdaugh was disbarred in 2022. With Laffittes admission at the Charleston federal courthouse that he used his bank to help Murdaugh launder stolen money, his retrial will now not take place. He will be sentenced at a later date. Prosecutors and defense lawyers have already agreed on a five-year prison sentence for Laffitte. Judge Gergel said Friday he will accept that sentence. Laffitte, who left the courthouse yard by a remote exit to dodge reporters and photographers, will also have to pay $3.55 million in restitution and a $85,854 money judgment. During the 45-minute hearing, Laffitte had stood beside his attorney, Mark Moore of Columbia, answering numerous questions from Judge Gergel about the rights to a public trial and presumption of innocence that Laffitte was giving up with short, I do, your honor and Yes, your honor responses. More than a dozen friends and Laffitte family members were in the courtroom to support the former banker, whose family has run the Palmetto State Bank in Hampton County for more than 100 years. Wrapping up the hearing, Judge Gergel said, the plea therefore is accepted and the defendant is now adjudged guilty of the offenses. Gergels statement followed his lengthy reading of the charges against Laffitte and a detailed summary of the plea agreement, followed by a recitation of the evidence by lead federal prosecutor Emily Limehouse. She named Laffittes victims and described how Laffitte had cheated them. Following the hearing, speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Limehouse said she did not know why Laffitte had changed his mind and agreed to plead guilty after insisting for years he was innocent. But if Laffitte had chosen to have a retrial, Limehouse said, We did expect to have some additional evidence that was not presented at the prior trial, but I cant say whether that made a difference. Laffitte, who knew how to use his bank to launder money, was crucial to Murdaughs swindling schemes, Limehouse said in a news conference after the hearing. 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 Limehouse, who stood with Katie Stoughton, a prosecutor, and Josh Loomis, an FBI agent on the case. Meanwhile, in the parallel universe of state criminal court, negotiations are underway between Laffitte and his lawyers and prosecutors from the State Attorney Generals office to resolve numerous fraud charges against Laffitte brought by a state grand jury. An announcement on those charges could come as early as next week. In the wide-ranging scheme to which Laffitte pled guilty on Friday, Murdaugh an unindicted co-conspirator in his case would funnel to Laffittes bank large amounts of money won in settlements for Murdaughs clients in car crash cases. Once in the bank, Laffitte would send the money to accounts controlled by himself or Murdaugh. Then they would either steal the money or use it to give themselves loans. In some cases, Laffitte also managed money for Murdaughs clients, paying himself about $450,000 in fees over a 10-year span. He did not pay taxes on those fees, prosecutors said. Laffitte, who could have stopped Murdaughs stealing spree, instead allowed him to bankroll them both with money stolen from Murdaughs clients, prosecutors have said. All of the victims who were Murdaughs former clients were vulnerable in some way minor children, elderly or destitute. But Laffitte also stole from his bank and helped Murdaugh steal from Murdaughs law firm. Those whose money was stolen or misused included: Arthur Badger, whom Laffitte and Murdaugh stole $1.3 million from. Murdaugh had gotten the money for Badger from a settlement in a car crash case in which his wife had died, leaving six children. Alania Plyler Spohn and Hannah Plyler were 12 and 8 years old when their mother and older brother died when a faulty tire caused the car they were riding in to crash into a thicket of trees. Murdaugh arranged a settlement worth millions for the sisters, including annuities and nearly $1 million in Palmetto State Bank accounts for the girls. Murdaugh and Laffitte then proceeded to plunder the bank accounts for loans, paying back the original sums from other settlements Murdaugh secured. Natarsha Thomas, who Murdaugh won a $408,000 settlement for after a car crash. Murdaugh gave her $83,000 but didnt tell her she had another $325,000 coming to her. Murdaugh and Laffitte used the $325,000 to replenish accounts from which they had taken money out of. Hakeem Pinckney, a quadriplegic injured in a car crash. Laffitte and Murdaugh stole $309,000 from his settlement proceeds and Laffitte paid himself $60,000 in conservatorship fees. Laffitte, a fourth-generation banker, had started at his family-owned bank in 1997 as a bank teller and worked his way up to CEO. In 2019, Laffitte was named Banker of the Year by the Independent Banks of South Carolina association. According to court records, Laffitte in 2023 had more than $10 million in assets, including $6 million in Palmetto State Bank stock, another $100,000 in stock at Bank of America, and $1 million in his 401K, according to court records. He also had about $5 million in liabilities. Laffitte and Murdaugh were childhood friends, and Laffittes father was Murdaughs godfather, and Murdaughs father was Laffittes godfather. Murdaugh was a fourth-generation member of his law firm. For generations, Laffittes bank and Murdaughs law firm were the twin financial pillars of Hampton County. The law firm and its lawyers did their banking at the Laffitte bank. Laffitte has been represented by a legal team that included two lawyers regarded as among the states top criminal defense lawyers, Mark Moore and Shaun Kent. Both have managed the rare feat of winning jury trials in federal court. Federal prosecutors have immense resources, pick their cases carefully, and most people charged with federal crimes plead guilty rather than risk a trial. In 2018, Moore, a former federal prosecutor, was co-counsel on a federal criminal case where a federal jury acquitted two Conway chiropractors of conspiring to cheat BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. In 2014, Kent won a major acquittal for his client, Eric Robinson, in a high-profile federal corruption trial in Columbia involving high officials at S.C. State University. Robinson was the only one of more than half a dozen defendants not to plead guilty or be found guilty. The charges to which Laffitte pled guilty Friday are: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Laffitte knowingly joined with Murdaugh from 2011 to 2021 to execute an illegal scheme to steal money held by Palmetto State Bank. Bank fraud. In 2013, Laffitte and Murdaugh unlawfully manipulated money within the bank. Wire fraud. In 2013, Laffitte and Murdaugh unlawfully took money from one account in the bank and distributed it to Murdaughs personal account. Misapplication of bank funds. In October 2021, Laffitte unlawfully took $680,000 of Palmetto State Bank money and gave it to Murdaughs law firm, then known as Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick. It is now the Parker Law Group. Misapplication of bank funds. In July and August 2021, Laffitte gave a $750,000 commercial loan to Murdaugh supposedly for beach house renovations, knowing that the loan was unsecured and would be used to pay a debt to a lawyer friend of Murdaugh and to cover overdrafts at Murdaughs Palmetto State Bank account. Misapplication of bank funds. In February 2015, Laffitte extended a $500,000 line of credit to Murdaugh, supposedly for farming. Laffitte then issued a $284,787 check on the line of credit, knowing the money would be used to pay off loans. Jan Malinowski, executive vice president of Palmetto State Bank, was at the hearing with the banks attorney, Greg Harris. Both declined comment on leaving the courthouse. Besides Limehouse and Stoughton, the other federal prosecutor on the case is Winston Holiday. Besides Moore and Kent, Laffittes lawyers include Micheal Parente and Cheryl Shoun. The FBI, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the state Attorney Generals office also investigated Laffitte. You are here: World Flash The Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday that it repelled Ukrainian attacks overnight amid a unilateral Easter truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Ukraine accused Russia of violating the ceasefire. The ministry said Russian troops "remained at previously occupied lines and positions" while Ukrainian troops "attempted to attack the positions of Russian troops" in the Donetsk region overnight. It added that Ukrainian forces had fired at Russian positions 444 times and counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 26 Russian assault actions have taken place from 00:00 (2100 GMT on Saturday) to noon (0900 GMT), accusing Russia of violating its self-declared ceasefire. Putin said the truce starts from 6 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Saturday and lasts until midnight on Sunday into Monday (2100 GMT on Sunday). Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine will respond in kind to the ceasefire. 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. A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of first degree murder in a shooting late last week on Tucson's south side, Tucson police say. On Thursday a wounded Antonio I. Rivera, 19, was found in a parking lot near South 12th Avenue and West Drexel Road after a shooting that occurred nearby in the 300 block of West Holladay Drive, police said in a new release. The shooting occurred during "a meeting between two groups," the release said. The next day, a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery, the release said. The criminal charges were elevated to murder Saturday after Rivera died at the hospital, the release said. The unidentified boy is being held at the Pima County Juvenile Court Detention Center. Anyone with information is asked to call 88-CRIME, the anonymous tip line. Netflix Director of Content Que Minh Luu has stepped down as Director of Content after 5 years in the role, to continue as a creative consultant for an unspecified period. She departs after 5 years in the role with commission successes including Boy Swallows Universe, Heartbreak High, Apple Cider Vinegar and Territory -but disappointingly the latter was not renewed for a second season despite being touted a success, causing some industry consternation. She told C21, Im incredibly proud of the past five years, setting up the team and slate and commissioning award-winning and loved shows. Its been a privilege to help shape what Australian stories on Netflix could be. Ive loved my time at the company, and while stepping aside from this role, Im happy to continue working on local content as a creative consultant exclusively for Netflix. Other commissions included The Survivors, Wellmania, Irreverent, Surviving Summer, Byron Baes, True Spirit, Love is in the Air. Singapore-based Netflix VP content for APAC, Minyoung Kim said, Que is hugely talented creative, and we are enormously grateful for the work she has done in first launching our ANZ content team, and then building an impressive slate of loved titles like Heartbreak High, Boy Swallows Universe and Apple Cider Vinegar. We wish Que every success for the future and are pleased well be able to continue working with her on our ANZ slate as a creative consultant as we continue with an exciting local storytelling journey. Flash The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said Sunday that 69 percent of the Gaza Strip is under active Israeli displacement orders. The Israeli army issued at least 20 displacement orders between March 18 and April 14, UNRWA said in a press statement, adding that the agency "currently operates 115 shelters across Gaza, housing more than 90,000 displaced people." Some 420,000 people have been displaced again since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18, it said, warning that the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening due to Israeli shelling and the seven-week-long aid blockade. UNRWA stressed the need for an early ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies into Gaza. Israel has blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza since March 2. It then ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas on March 18 and resumed deadly air and ground assaults on the enclave. The renewed Israeli attacks have so far killed 1,827 Palestinians and injured 4,828 others, Gaza health authorities said Sunday, adding the death toll in the enclave since the war began in October 2023 has risen to 51,201, with 116,869 injured. When youve stood at Hellfire Pass, located in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, its impossible not to be moved by the excavation through the largest rock cutting on the Thai-Burma railway -also known as the Death Railway. Today there are sleepers, poppies, memorial plaques, Australian flags and a nearby memorial centre built and maintained by the Australian Government. More than 200,000 Southeast Asian civilians and 60,000 Allied soldiers as prisoners of the Japanese army built the railway. Sadly 90,000 civilians and 12,000 soldiers died in the process. Prime Videos new 5 part drama The Narrow Road Road to the Deep North, is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Flanagan. Adapted by Shaun Grant and directed by Justin Kurzel, it tells the story of Dorrigo Evans, a prisoner of war whose memory of his one true love helps him to survive the darkest of times. Set in both Australia and Thailand, it spans several time periods, including with Jacob Elordi as the young Dorrigo before heading to war, as a surgeon aiding troops at POW camps in Thailand 1943, and Ciaran Hinds as an elder Dorrigo in the 1989, reflecting on back on his life. Although betrothed to Ella (Olivia DeJonge), Dorrigo falls hard for Amy (Odessa Young), wife of his uncle and local publican Keith (Simon Baker). Swinging between these time periods, the narrative is given a slow-burn treatment, and veers between a forbidden romance, the horrors of war, and a man remembering his one true love. In 1989 Dorrigo is still married to older Ella (Heather Mitchell) and runs a clinic with partner Rick (Dan Wyllie), but is having an affair with Ricks wife Lynette (Essie Davis). It points to a flawed life but one which encountered incredible duress. In 1989 hes also expected to help launch a new history book, which is stirring conflicting emotions and whethe he has reconciled with failures in his life. The most confronting, and significant, arc of the series is the torture and suffering in building the railway. Dorrigo may liaise with Japanese officers on behalf of his men, but he is also a prisoner, far from home and forced to survive in punishing, diseased conditions. The recreation of war scenes, shot in New South Wales, is excellent if deeply confronting. Full points to the casting department for finding actors who have undergone weight loss, including Thomas Weatherall as Frank Gardiner, in order to depict realistic scenes of starvation and emaciation. That said, it was hard to discern between Jacob Elordis physique in Australia to those as a iPOW in Thailand. But he plays the role of the young Dorrigo to great effect, with a presence befitting the lyrical direction by Justin Kerzel. There are scenes of stolen moments, with hand-held cameras and possibly improvisation, evoking a tone and connection with Odessa Young that must serve generations of the story. At its most brutal -one particular scene in episode two- this is violent and distressing stuff. I would have liked the storyline to drive the plot more but theres no mistaking this is a compelling work set against an equally important chapter of history. Its also worth noting Edward Weary Dunlop was a commanding surgeon on the Thai-Burma Railway, with parts of his ashes now buried at Hellfire Pass. Although these characters may be fictional, the dramas launch before Anzac Day is but a stark reminder of sacrifice. The Narrow Road to the Deep North is now screening on Prime Video. NITV screens the first of two The Point Election specials hosted by John Paul Janke. Eighteen months on from the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum, Australians are heading back to the polls for the Federal Election and this time, First Nations issues are out of the spotlight. In the first of two election specials, NITVs flagship current affairs program The Point looks at the state of Indigenous Affairs in 2025 and asks an expert panel how we cut through debates about flags and Welcome to Country to achieve real outcomes. Join host, proud Wuthathi and Meriam man, John Paul Janke and special guests; former Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt, Young Australian of the Year Dr Katrina Wruck, GWS Giants Head of Community Ali Faraj, Aboriginal business leader Sean Gordon, researcher Dr Hannnah McGlade and former Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda for a hard look at Indigenous issues in the political landscape. 7:30pm Tuesday April 22 on NITV Win, lose, or draw, youve got to hand it to any filmmaker who just goes for it their way, reception be damned. John Badham is one of those directors who seemed to pick jobs and projects at random, if for no other reason that it looked like a fun thing to work on. There's a difference from a "John Badham Film" and a "John Badham Movie." That tracks from Saturday Night Fever and Dracula to War Games and Blue Thunder to Short Circuit and Stakeout. Comedy, drama, action films, family flicks - its difficult to pin Badhams career down to one type of feature. If theres one true thing, Badham could shoot an action film. Now 1994s Drop Zone wont be taking flight as one of the greatest genre films of the decade, but the high-flying stunt work, zanny plot, and wild performances from the likes of Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey and Michael Jeter keep the flick moving at a breezy clip. Our movie opens with U.S. Marshal brothers Terry (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) and Pete Nessip (Blade) on assignment to transport brilliant super hacker Leedy (Jeter) to trial. During the flight to D.C. hijackers lead by former corrupt DEA agent Ty Moncrief (Gary Busey) kill some passengers and Terry, grab Leedy, blow the door and parachute outta there at 30,000 feet. When no one believes Pete that the hijackers are alive, hes suspended. But suspension doesnt keep him from investigating. Teaming with upstart jumper Jessie Crossman (Yancy Butler), Pete imbeds himself in the skydiving counter culture to find Leedy, catch the bad guys, and clear his name. So yeah, theres a lot going on in this film and considering all of the beats that need to happen in a specific order for this flick to fly. It requires a lot of plot armor. Drop Zone isnt the type of 90s action film to earn points for originality or high concept. If anything this film is equal parts Point Break and run-of-the-mill tech thriller stuffed into a high-speed blender. We get Snipes as fish-out-of-water cop character inserted into another fringe extreme sport sub-culture tracking down what is essentially another high-stakes heist. Trading banks for computers, surfboards for air planes and parachutes, and swapping Patrick Swayze for Gary Busey, you have the typical 90s action movie formula with fresh wrapping paper. But that doesnt keep this flick from being fun. At its core, Drop Zone is a stunt show. The skydiving is the driving force of the film and to Badhams credit, these sequences are captured with some intense camerawork. Unfortunately due to insurance bonding the principal cast couldnt do their own diving stunts and had to be faked against projection or on wires with a blue sky background. Some of the quick cuts of any given actor in front of a screen doesnt quite gel with the true stunt footage, but the sequences still hold tight. Apparently the second unit didn't care about insurance boding so Michael Jeter got to do his tandem jump for real. But this wasnt the only parachuting film of 1994. As Hollywood loves to milk a concept to death, Charlie Sheen got to pretend to jump out of an airplane whilst driving a convertible with the woefully terrible Terminal Velocity. Now Im not saying Drop Zone is some kind of misunderstood classic, but Terminal Velocity movie is a dog. The combination of Snipes pre-Blade leading man swagger, Yancy Butlers sassy performance, another insane turn from Gary Busey, and some incredible aerial stunts keeps Drop Zone aloft to be entertaining. And sometimes thats all you need to pass the time. Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Drop Zone makes the format jump to 2160p with a two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray release from Vinegar Syndromes Cinematographe imprint label. The 4K version is pressed on a BD66 disc with a Region A BD50 supporting the 1080p version and the bulk of the bonus features. True to the Cinematographe label, we have another sharp-looking piece of deluxe packaging. The two discs are held in the very comfortable mediabook without being stacked alongside the 40 pages of photos and essays. The hardcover slipcase featuring new artwork from Tony Stella. The discs load to static-image main menus with basic navigation options. HCM CITY Saigon Co.op and FPT Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on digital transformation and green transition in the retail sector. The deal aims to leverage advanced technology to elevate customer experience and drive sustainable development. The partnership will focus on four main aspects. Developing smart IT infrastructure using cloud computing, implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and improving internal IT training quality, applying technologies such as AI, Big Data, IoT, and automation to analyse customer data and optimise payment platforms across retail chains, and researching and developing new business models aligned with modern consumption trends. Saigon Co.op expects the partnership to position it as a pioneering technology-driven retailer in Viet Nam, enhancing its competitiveness to better meet evolving market needs. Citing a report by the International Data Corporation, the two partners noted that Viet Nams retail market is projected to reach US$200 billion by 2025. Spending on digital transformation in the sector is forecast to grow by an average of 30 per cent annually from now until 2027. They also pointed out that the Politburos Resolution 57-NQ/TW underscores the importance of technology in enhancing productivity, connecting supply chains and improving service quality. Saigon Co.ops permanent deputy general director, Le Truong Son said: The strategic partnership with FPT, Viet Nams leading technology corporation, serves as a stepping stone to enhance Saigon Co.ops digital capabilities, while also expanding its scale and developing new business models in the future. The collaboration with FPT goes beyond digital transformation, it represents a dual journey of digital and green transformation. The CEO of FPT Corporation, Nguyen Van Khoa, affirmed the companys commitment to supporting Saigon Co.op on its journey of digital transformation and technological innovation. We believe that with strategic technologies such as AI, Big Data, IoT, and Cloud, Saigon Co.op will not only elevate the customer experience and optimise operations but also solidify its position as a leader in the retail sector, he said. VNS HA NOI The real estate market has shown strong signs of recovery following the Tet holiday, with significant increases in both search activity and land prices nationwide in the first quarter of 2025. The most notable momentum, however, came from the northern provinces, according to data released by Batdongsan.com.vn, at its Q1 2025 Real Estate Market Overview event. In March alone, the number of searches for land increased sharply across major markets - by 52 per cent in Ha Noi, 31 per cent in HCM City, and 54 per cent in other provinces - compared to February. Among all property types, land plots in the North gained considerably, with interest rising by 50 per cent month-on-month. New listings for land also grew by 34 per cent, second only to private houses with a growth rate of 37 per cent. Other property segments saw more modest increases in interest levels, including street-front houses (up 32 per cent), private houses (26 per cent), and apartments (15 per cent). According to a survey for real estate brokers conducted by Batdongsan.com.vn, land plots were overwhelmingly seen as the top-performing segment in the first quarter of 2025. About 44 per cent of brokers reported stable transaction volumes year-on-year, while 24 per cent observed a rise in activity compared to Q1 2024. Price trends mirrored this demand. In March, land prices jumped by 42 per cent in Ha Noi, 7 per cent in HCM City, and an astonishing 67 per cent in other localities, compared to January 2023. In Hanoi, buyers showed greater interest in suburban areas, while in HCM City, demand concentrated around more central districts. The northern region dominated price growth, with Hung Yen recording a 55 per cent increase in land prices over the past two years. Bac Ninh followed with a 46 per cent rise, Ha Noi with 42 per cent and Hai Phong with 21 per cent. Meanwhile, southern provinces such as ong Nai and Binh Duong saw more moderate gains of 30 per cent and 25 per cent respectively, while HCM City prices edged up just 5 per cent. "Different performance in land prices between the North and the South remains pronounced," said inh Minh Tuan, who is the southern regional director of the real estate trading platform. "Land prices in the North show greater variability and higher growth than in the South." Only districts neighbouring HCM City saw noticeable increases in land interest, but prices remained relatively stable. In contrast, the North experienced strong demand and significant price hikes. Hai Duong topped the list with a staggering 100 per cent increase in land prices since January 2023, followed by Bac Giang, 80 per cent, and Hung Yen at 75 per cent. In the central provinces, land along the coastal areas of Quang Nam, particularly areas near a Nang, saw heightened interest. a Nang itself recorded robust price growth, with Cam Le district up 80 per cent, Lien Chieu by 75 per cent, and Hoa Vang by 50 per cent. The announcement of potential provincial mergers sparked further interest, especially in northern provinces like Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh and Bac Ninh. Other areas that drew attention include a Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The deputy general director of batdongsan.com.vn, Nguyen Quoc Anh, advised investors to remain cautious amid the surge. When evaluating investment opportunities linked to potential provincial mergers, one must consider broader factors - economic growth, infrastructure development, governance and cultural compatibility, he said. He warned against speculative behaviour based solely on short-term price spikes. Real estate value only appreciates sustainably when backed by genuine improvements in local economies and investment environments. Strategic, data-driven decisions aligned with regional development will help investors minimise risks. As Viet Nams real estate market continues to heat up, particularly in the North, all eyes will be on whether this trend can maintain its momentum into the rest of 2025. VNS HA NOI Viet Nams stock market is forecast to consolidate within the 1,2001,250-point range in the coming weeks, as investor focus shifts to the first-quarter earnings season. Amid an increasingly attractive valuation base and stabilising investor sentiment, analysts believe banking, retail, aquaculture, livestock and power sectors could lead any rebound, provided that reported profits surpass expectations. The Head of Macroeconomics and Market Strategy at VNDIRECT Securities, inh Quang Hinh, described the recent pullback from the 1,240-point resistance level as a healthy correction that helped absorb supply from short-term 'bottom-fishing' investors. According to Hinh, the VN-Index is approaching a balanced supply-demand zone and Q1 earnings could offer a catalyst for recovery if results beat forecasts. As the market has returned to a more attractive valuation zone, positive earnings surprises could help lift investor confidence and raise the overall valuation baseline. Companies with expected strong earnings will likely attract increased capital inflows, Hinh noted. In terms of trading strategy, Hinh recommended that investors take advantage of any dips near the 1,200-point level to rebalance portfolios and increase exposure to fundamentally sound stocks in sectors with strong earnings outlooks. However, he cautioned against the use of leverage at this stage, given lingering risks related to trade and tariff policies and the absence of a clear upward trend. Echoing similar sentiments, the Head of Research at Saigon Hanoi Securities (SHS), Phan Tan Nhat, said the market is attempting to establish a short-term equilibrium around 1,200 points a technically significant support level that aligns with the five-year average and marks both the 2018 peak and the November 2024 low. The market has been gradually stabilising after a period of sharp selling pressure. Earnings results for the first quarter, which are being released, are starting to improve investor sentiment. Additionally, optimism around potential progress in USChina trade talks is also offering support, Nhat said. Nonetheless, he advised investors to be selective, focusing on fundamentally strong, leading companies with long-term growth potential, rather than chasing short-lived rallies lacking solid fundamentals. In a market without a clear trend, maintaining a balanced allocation and flexible portfolio structure remains essential for managing risks effectively. During the past trading week, the VN-Index showed mixed movements. It surged early in the week, briefly surpassing 1,240 points, before retreating due to renewed selling pressure, at one point nearing the psychological support level of 1,200 points. A modest rebound in the final two sessions helped the index close the week at 1,219 points, down just over three points from the previous week. Market liquidity weakened, reflecting investor caution. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), trading value slightly declined, while foreign investors continued net selling to the tune of over VN4.8 trillion (US$185.1 million). Several export-related and FDI-oriented sectors such as industrial zones, aquaculture, textiles and agriculture posted decent gains at the end of the week. However, select stocks within the technology, textiles and industrial real estate segments continued to face downward pressure. Despite the lack of a clear recovery trend, analysts believe that upcoming Q1 earnings and improving market stability could support sentiment in the near term. Investors are advised to remain patient, monitor capital flows closely, and stay updated on macroeconomic developments to make informed investment decisions. VNS Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping sent on Saturday a congratulatory message to Daniel Noboa on his re-election as president of Ecuador. Xi said China and Ecuador are comprehensive strategic partners, and the development of bilateral relations has maintained a sound momentum in recent years. He also said the two countries have witnessed deepening political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields, adding that the friendship of the two peoples has won greater popular support. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Ecuador, Xi said he is ready to work with Noboa to take the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, so as to better benefit the two peoples. On the same day, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng sent a congratulatory message to Ecuadorian Vice President-elect Maria Jose Pinto. HA NOI In the face of escalating trade tensions and rising protectionism, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment have identified the diversification of export markets for Viet Nams agro-forestry-aquatic products as a strategic priority. The long-term objective is to enhance product quality to unlock access to new and promising markets. Diversification and reorientation According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Viet Nams agricultural product exports are inevitably affected by disruptions in global supply chains and the imposition of unilateral, stringent tariff policies by major economies. Nonetheless, these challenges also present an opportunity for Viet Nam to adjust its export strategy and focus more intently on emerging and high-potential markets. Southeast Asia remains a key export destination for Vietnamese agricultural products. In 2024, the Philippines was Viet Nams largest rice importer, purchasing approximately 3.6 million tonnes, equivalent to 40 per cent of the country's total rice exports. Meanwhile, the EU has emerged as Viet Nams third-largest export market since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into effect in August 2020. Vietnamese products such as rice, coffee, and seafood have benefitted from preferential tariffs under the agreement, paving the way for stronger market penetration. In 2024, Viet Nams total export turnover to the EU was estimated at US$51.7 billion, an increase of 18.5 per cent compared to 2023. Japan and the Republic of Korea also continue to favour Vietnamese agricultural products, including rice, coffee, tropical fruits and pepper, thanks to their high quality and alignment with consumer preferences in these countries. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung uc Tien said the ministry has been actively guiding businesses on the importance of expanding into the Middle East and Islamic markets. These regions represent strategic growth areas amid increasing demand for agricultural products, particularly for processed foods, fruits, and seafood. Tien further highlighted the growing demand for Halal-certified products, which presents a significant opportunity for Viet Nam to boost exports, especially in seafood, rice, and processed foods. Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), added that Vietnamese tuna and pangasius currently account for a substantial share of the seafood imports into the Middle East. According to representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in addition to the Middle East and Islamic nations, Vietnamese agricultural products also have considerable potential in emerging markets such as Africa, India,and Latin America. These regions are characterised by large populations and growing demand for food, particularly in segments such as processed food, rice, seafood, and tropical fruits. For instance, with a population nearing 1.4 billion, India is a promising market with a high demand for Vietnamese dragon fruit, as noted by Viet Nams Trade Counsellor in India Bui Trung Thuong. However, Vietnamese businesses have yet to fully tap into this market. Understanding markets and following regulations Given the intensifying trade conflicts and the growing trend of protectionism, the Ministry of Industry and Trade stressed that expanding into emerging markets will help reduce Viet Nams reliance on traditional markets such as China and the US, both of which are currently subject to geopolitical and trade-related uncertainties. While these new markets offer fresh opportunities, they also come with their own sets of challenges. Ngo Xuan Nam, deputy director of the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS Vietnam), said that countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea and EU member states demand high quality standards and stringent production protocols. This compels domestic agricultural exporters to invest in quality improvement and modernise production processes to meet these requirements. Each emerging market has its own specific characteristics. While acknowledging the rising demand for seafood in the Middle East, particularly in countries like Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the official cautioned that to effectively enter these markets, Vietnamese businesses must prioritise compliance with Halal standards, as the majority of consumers in the region are Muslims. VNS HCM CITY The Business Study and Assistance Centre (BSA Centre) in collaboration with the Southern Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre will host a series of special events in HCM City on April 1920 and April 2627 to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the Green Kind Market. They include a culinary programme on April 19 featuring chef Tran Ngoc Nghia, runner-up in the 2013 Golden Spoon contest, who will demonstrate dishes such as Nha Trang jellyfish noodle soup and green bean sticky rice, a hands-on workshop on making herbal oil on April 20, a Trash for Green Gifts campaign in which participants can exchange cleaned and pre-sorted waste such as used batteries, plastic bottles, glass jars, and old electronic items for eco-friendly gifts from the Fuwa3e brand. All shoppers who make purchases, check in and register via the markets website or Zalo channel will receive safe agricultural products, high-quality Vietnamese goods and other gifts, more than 1,000 of which will be given out. The organising committee will also recognise and honour 16 enterprises that have consistently supported and participated in the Green Kind Market over the last nine years. Nearly 90 businesses from 50 provinces and cities will participate in the programme held to mark the markets ninth anniversary at 135A Pasteur in District 3, according to the BSA Centre. The 50th anniversary of the liberation of the south and national reunification this year adds extra significance to the event. Vu Kim Anh, deputy director of the BSA Centre and head of the organising committee, said: Over the last nine years of continuous operation the Green Kind Market has become a sustainable bridge between urban consumers and ethical, clean agricultural producers across Viet Nam. It is also one of the standout models in the ecosystem supporting agricultural startups, developing local specialty products and promoting sustainable consumption. She said it connected producers of regional specialities made with ethical and environment-friendly practices to the broader consumer market. It also provided essential knowledge and market access to farming households, cooperatives, craft villages, and youth-led startups producing certified safe and clean products, including those meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, she said. Importantly, it had become a trusted destination for consumers seeking organic, clean and safe agricultural and food products, she said. It regularly hosted seminars and networking events to connect businesses with buyers, government agencies and NGOs supporting local communities, helping participants meet potential buyers, understand market demands in HCM City and discuss emerging trends and strategies in production and marketing, she added. Since its launch in April 2016, the Green Kind Market, held every weekend by the BSA Center, has helped thousands of agricultural products from across the country consistently find market access, while offering HCM City residents a reliable place to shop weekly for high-quality local goods. VNS HA NOI The National Innovation Center (NIC), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan, hosted a seminar aimed at connecting start-ups with investors on Monday. The seminar, titled Supporting Innovative Start-ups: Ready for New Challenges and Opportunities, is part of The Project for Vitalising the Vietnam National Innovation Center. Funded by the Government of Japan through UNDP, the project seeks to link stakeholders in Vietnams start-up ecosystem and establish a start-up incubation complex at the NIC. Key highlights of the seminar included a panel discussion on Fostering the Innovative Startup Ecosystem Opportunities and Challenges; networking sessions with startups, research institutes, investment funds, and tech corporations; and a co-design session for rapid prototyping models. In his welcoming remarks, Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Ito Naoki said: Successful innovation requires active participation from all key stakeholders, including universities, research institutes, innovators, startups, corporations, investors, government agencies, and support organisations. "This project will promote social impact investment to address various societal challenges and drive sustainable development in Viet Nam, with the involvement of all stakeholders. NIC director Vu Quoc Huy said: As a bridge connecting stakeholders in the start-up ecosystem, NIC is committed to continuing its support and creating the best conditions for the innovative startup community in Viet Nam. "In the future, NIC will become a central platform where policymakers, businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs join forces to build a comprehensive, competitive innovation ecosystem at both regional and global levels. After the seminar, startups and investors continued their networking and investment sessions in the evening. The seminar is part of the Vietnam Innovation and Investment Forum 2025, which is taking place on Tuesday, also at the NIC. The forum will serve as a hub connecting the investor community, tech enterprises, and start-up support organisations both domestically and internationally. It will also provide a platform for discussions on tech investment trends and an analysis of the opportunities and challenges of Viet Nam's private capital market. BIZHUB/VNS Dr Mattias Larsson* Huong is a devoted mother to her bright and active 11-month-old daughter, Ngoc. She has diligently followed the recommended vaccination schedule and ensured proper nutrition for her baby, continuing to breastfeed as advised by the paediatrician at Family Medical Practice (FMP). Breastfeeding not only supports Ngocs immune system, but also adapts to her growing needs. Ngoc has thrived, her growth following the middle of standard pediatric growth curves. Shes now a curious explorer pulling herself up, taking her first wobbly steps and eagerly investigating everything around her. Shes even started saying mama and papa and seems to understand much of whats said to her. One day, Ngoc developed a high fever (39C), with a cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Concerned, Huong took her to a local doctor, who diagnosed a lung infection and prescribed antibiotics. The next day, Huong herself fell ill with fever and coughing. Two days later, Ngoc broke out in a blotchy red rash that spread from her face down her body. Soon after, Huong developed a similar rash, while Ngocs cough worsened, and she began struggling to breathe. Alarmed, Huong rushed her back to FMP to see the paediatrician. During the examination, the doctor noticed tiny white spots with bluish-white centres inside Ngocs mouth Kopliks spots, a classic sign of measles. The paediatrician asked Huong if she had ever been vaccinated against measles or had the disease herself. Unsure, Huong called her parents, but they couldnt recall her ever receiving the vaccine or having measles as a child. Tests confirmed that both had measles, while Ngoc's X-ray and blood test showed that she also had a secondary bacterial pneumonia. The doctor explained that measles is highly contagious one infected person can spread the virus to up to 15 others if they are unvaccinated. Beyond the rash and fever, measles weakens the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to severe secondary infections like pneumonia or encephalitis (brain infection), and can even cause death. Normally, the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine is given at 12 months, as maternal antibodies, passed on during pregnancy and breastfeeding, provide some early protection. However, since Huong had no prior immunity, either from vaccination or past infection, she couldnt pass on protective antibodies to Ngoc, leaving them both susceptible. In outbreak settings, the measles vaccine can be given as early as nine months, followed by the standard second dose at four to six years of age. Unvaccinated adults are also encouraged to get immunised. The doctor stressed that herd immunity achieved when over 95 per cent of a population is vaccinated is crucial to preventing outbreaks. Huong asked where they might have been exposed. The doctor explained that Viet Nam is currently facing a measles outbreak. Since early 2025, there have been over 68,000 suspected cases, with 7,000 laboratory confirmed infections (testing isnt universally available) and eight reported deaths. Unvaccinated infants under one year old are at highest risk, along with older children and adults who missed their shots. Because Ngoc developed secondary pneumonia, she was hospitalised and given IV antibiotics. Both mother and daughter were advised to rest and stay hydrated, use a humidifier or saline spray for respiratory relief and isolate at home for at least four days after the rash appeared to avoid spreading the virus. As Huong comforted Ngoc, she couldnt help but wonder: if I had known about my own vaccination status, could this have been avoided? The doctor reassured her that measles is preventable and urged all families to check their vaccine records and protect their children with timely MMR vaccination. Family Medical Practice *Dr Mattias Larsson is a paediatric doctor at Family Medical Practice and associate professor at Karolinska Institutet and has a long experience in research on infectious diseases. He has worked with the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit and the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam. He is fluent in English, Swedish, Vietnamese, German and some Spanish. Visit Family Medical Practice Hanoi 24/7 at 298I P. Kim Ma, Kim Ma Ward, Ba inh Dist. To book an appointment, please call us at (024).3843.0784 or via Whatsapp, Viber or Zalo on +84.944.43.1919 or email hanoi@vietnammedicalpractice.com. FMPs downtown location in Ho Chi Minh City is in Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan St, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, and 95 Thao ien St, District 2. Tel. (028) 3822 7848 or email hcmc@vietnammedicalpractice.com. HA NOI The Vietnamese Embassys booth was a standout attraction at the traditional Hari Raya Festival hosted by the Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week, captivating guests with the enticing aroma of pho (noodle soup) and nem ran (fried spring rolls) crafted by famous Vietnamese restaurant Yis Nation. Originally a Western-style eatery, Yis Nation has undergone a transformation, blending traditional Vietnamese dishes like pho, banh mi, fresh and fried spring rolls, and signature Vietnamese salads into its menu. Each dish tells a story of culture, family memories, and homeland pride, as showcased at the festival. The festival brought together nearly 20 overseas representative agencies, each showcasing uniquely themed booths highlighting their national identities, contributing to an atmosphere of unity, friendship, and rich cultural identity. Hari Raya Aidilfitri, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is the most important festival for Muslims. It is a time of reunion, with families and friends gathering to enjoy traditional dishes, share joyful moments, and celebrate with music and festivities. With Islam as the official religion and Muslims comprising around 80% of Bruneis 500,000 residents, the festival holds deep cultural significance in this sparsely populated Southeast Asian nation, where 76 per cent live in urban areas. VNA/VNS BEIJING The Vietnamese community in China has hosted a fashion show of Viet Nam's traditional dress ao dai in Beijing as one of the activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Viet Nam Humanistic Exchange 2025. Set against the backdrop of a vibrant Beijing spring in full bloom, the event was held for the first time at the foot of the Great Wall of China last weekend. The fusion of Viet Nams traditional attire with iconic Chinese landscapes created not only a visual spectacle, but also conveyed a powerful message: Cultural exchange has no borders. According to Pham Thi Thanh Loan, a representative of the Vietnamese community in China, the event featured traditional Vietnamese musical and dance performances alongside the ao dai show. It also included cultural tours and exchange activities at the Great Wall. They reflected the Vietnamese expat communitys contributions to strengthening the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two nations, she said. Loan stressed that the programme demonstrated the unity among Vietnamese enterprises, students, and expatriates in China, and their bonds with their compatriots at home. oan Thi Quynh, a Vietnamese expatriate living in Beijing, shared her joy and pride to see 'ao dai' being introduced around the world, especially here in China. She expressed her hope that there will be more events like this with even larger scale and reach not only in Beijing but across other regions of China, so that more international friends can appreciate this cultural aspect of Viet Nam. VNA/VNS HA NOI Party General Secretary To Lam has launched a national campaign known as 'Binh dan hoc vu so', or 'Digital Literacy for All', framing digital literacy as a requirement for modern citizenship, much like reading and writing were in the 20th century. Inspired by the legendary 1945 literacy movement 'Binh dan hoc vu' that taught millions of Vietnamese to read and write after independence, this modern version aims to teach digital skills to everyone, from rural farmers to urban pensioners, ensuring no one is left behind in the country's rapid digital transformation. What does the campaign involve? The campaign is built around three major pillars: - A national platform: A Government-run e-learning portal (binhdanhocvuso.gov.vn) developed by the Ministry of Public Security and Hanoi University of Science and Technology providing over 3,000 free courses on digital skills from using smartphones and online public services to online safety and e-commerce. It can host 400,000 users simultaneously and includes AI-powered assessments. - Community-based training teams: local 'Digital Literacy Brigades' of tech-savvy youth, volunteers and civil servants have been deployed across the country. They offer hands-on guidance to help people obtain basic digital literacy, navigate Government e-services and engage in the digital economy, such as opening an online shop for local produce. - Integration with the national digitalisation strategy: the campaign forms part of Viet Nams 20212030 national digital transformation and lifelong learning strategies. It complements the 'Digital Community Technology Teams' initiative launched in 2022, which aims to enhance community digital skills and eliminate digital illiteracy. More than 93,000 such teams are operating nationwide, with over 450,000 members. Why now? The campaign is deeply intertwined with Viet Nam's broader national goals specified in high-level directives, including the Communist Party's Resolution 57, which prioritises advancements in science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation. The underlying drivers are clear: bridging the digital gap between urban and rural areas, boosting the digital economy (targeting one-fifth of GDP by the end of the year), improving national competitiveness and building the foundations for a comprehensive digital government, society and citizenship. The emphasis is on inclusivity, preventing citizens, particularly vulnerable groups, from being marginalised by technology. "Just as we once eradicated illiteracy with nationwide efforts, we now need a mass movement to ensure every citizen understands and benefits from digital technology," said Prime Minister Chinh at the platforms launch in March. Citing the emergence of new technologies like China's Deepseek, Chairman of Vietnamese tech giant FPT Truong Gia Binh said: "Now the opportunity has come. DeepSeek enables us to popularise AI; even small and medium-sized companies can adopt it." What has it achieved so far? The campaign has trained over 200,000 people in a pilot rollout. The platform went live in March and saw rapid uptake, particularly in provinces with active youth volunteer networks. For example, reports in Thai Binh Province show progress in getting citizens to use online services and digital payments. In Quynh Hong Commune, about one third of residents were reported as proficient in using online public services, whereas in Vu ong Commune, the number reached 50 per cent. What are the hurdles? Some challenges stand in the way: - Infrastructure gaps: uneven internet connectivity, lack of affordable devices and coverage dead zones persist, especially in rural and mountainous regions. Some areas lack basic facilities for in-person training. According to a UNDP report, Viet Nam has one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing internet user bases, but rural penetration still lagged behind urban centres by 9 per cent in 2023. - User barriers: many potential learners, particularly older individuals, face psychological barriers, finding technology intimidating or irrelevant. Acquiring and retaining new digital skills can be difficult. Maintaining participation is also a struggle. - Resources: sustaining the initiative requires significant and ongoing funding for infrastructure, platform maintenance and training resources. Viet Nams 'Digital Literacy for All' campaign is not just a tech initiative; it is a political statement, declaring that digital skills are the new literacy, essential for social inclusion, national competitiveness and individual empowerment. Whether this State-led, mass-mobilised push for digital equity can foster genuine, widespread digital empowerment across Viet Nam's diverse society remains a critical question for the years to come. VNS MOSCOW During its fight for independence and freedom, Viet Nam brought together all the strengths essential for the victory 50 years ago, said a member of the board of trustees of the Soviet Peace Fund. Talking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Russia, Viktor Petrov, who was also a member of the Soviet Unions committee for supporting Viet Nam, elaborated that those factors included the clear-sighted leadership of the Party, the genius of the country's leaders, a wise diplomatic strategy, skilled negotiators, the national unity, a capable army, and strong support from the international community. He stressed that Viet Nams unrecognisable achievements and changes today are entirely justified when the Vietnamese people managed to secure those strengths. He shared that what struck him most was the strength of Viet Nam during the struggle and the way every Vietnamese came together and drew upon their collective power to reach the final goal the reunification of the country, the reunion of families, and peace for their homeland. With a background in international relations and strong proficiency in French, Petrov was assigned to handle Viet Nam-related matters at the Soviet Unions committee for supporting Viet Nam during 19721973, when the peace negotiations entered the challenging final stage. The committee was responsible for assisting delegations from South Viet Nam. Working directly with Vietnamese delegations, Petrov witnessed the final phase of the negotiations, when the two sides engaged in moment-by-moment battles of wits to defend and push their agendas toward a final outcome. The US and Western powers did not want to be in failure in South Viet Nam, and sought to prevent the reunification of the countrys two regions following the 1973 Paris Peace Accords. He noted that negotiating with an opponent gripped by fear and fully aware of its impending defeat created an extremely challenging context for Viet Nam. He said that he could not remember how many times he had welcomed and seen off renowned diplomat Nguyen Thi Binh, head of the delegation of the National Front for the Liberation of South Viet Nam and then the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet Nam, during her negotiation and advocacy visits to Moscow. She was also one of the persons signing the 1973 Paris Agreement and the only woman among them. Petrov was impressed by her fluency in French, busy schedules, and tireless efforts. The Soviet Unions committee for supporting Viet Nam brought together representatives from various professions, including many famous persons and those with financial resources and wide relationships, who effectively leveraged their influence and capacity to support Viet Nam, Petrov noted. The committee's task was not to call for support for Viet Nam in the Soviet Union because supporting Viet Nam was already a widespread movement in the Soviet Union at that time, but it is responsible for advocating support from other countries such as Sweden and France. Facing hardships of the war, activities of Viet Nams peace negotiation delegations abroad would have been much harder without the strong support from the Soviet Union, as well as political friends in France, Sweden, and other countries, according to him. Petrov emotionally recalled the moment when he delivered the news of victory on April 30, 1975 to the delegation of South Viet Nam at the Ukraine (now Radisson) Hotel in Moscow. He stressed that he is proud to have played a part in the reunification of Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI The official visit to Viet Nam by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his wife, is expected to create fresh impetus to develop the Viet NamEthiopia relationship more intensively, extensively and practically, said a diplomat. At the invitation of PM Pham Minh Chinh, the Ethiopian Prime Minister will be on an official visit to Viet Nam until April 17, during which he will also attend the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit. Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondent in Africa, Ambassador of Viet Nam to Tanzania Vu Thanh Huyen, who is concurrently in charge of Ethiopia, said the visit was expected to accelerate negotiations on key agreements in such areas as trade, investment, aviation, science and technology, agriculture and cybersecurity. It also aimed to enhance Viet Nam's presence and image across Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. She noted that the visit would come as the two countries were preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026 (December 23, 19762026). This would mark a significant milestone, demonstrating mutual respect for the traditional friendship and cooperation cultivated over nearly five decades. It also reflected both countries strategic vision and aspirations to advance the bilateral ties in a new stage of development. Notably, the combination of the bilateral visit with the participation in the P4G Summit underscored Ethiopias recognition of Viet Nam's growing role in multilateral frameworks, and its desire to cooperate with Viet Nam on global initiatives addressing climate change, green growth, innovation and sustainable development. This also vividly illustrated the two countries proactive, responsible and cooperative spirit in advancing common international interests. During the visit, PM Abiy Ahmed will meet with Viet Nam's senior leaders to discuss the bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. He is also expected to participate in the P4G Summit and engage with the Vietnamese business community to promote economic and trade cooperation. Commenting on nearly half a century of Viet NamEthiopia relations, Huyen noted that political ties between the two countries had always remained positive, with mutual support in regional and global forums. Regarding economic and trade cooperation, in the past three years, bilateral trade had averaged around US$1015 million annually. Last year, two-way trade turnover reached $13.1 million, with Viet Nam's exports accounting for $7.11 million and imports $6.06 million. Although the trade volume remained modest, the potential for economic collaboration was substantial. Viet Nam exported agricultural products, consumer goods, and industrial items such as machinery, equipment, fibres and chemicals to Ethiopia. In return, Ethiopia exported coffee, spices and minerals to Viet Nam, including textile materials and leather products. According to the ambassador, Viet Nam and Ethiopia are both rapidly developing nations with a shared commitment to innovation, green transition, and digital transformation as key drivers of sustainable economic growth. To support each other in achieving these objectives, the two countries can implement a range of concrete measures. Viet Nam, with its accumulated experience in green transition and digital transformation as well as innovation, particularly in the fields of agriculture and information technology, can share its knowledge and best practices for Ethiopia to adapt to its local conditions. Strengthening collaboration in research and development, especially in green industries, renewable energy and digital technology, will not only contribute to sustainable solutions but also generate employment opportunities in both countries. In addition, Viet Nam can support Ethiopia in developing a skilled workforce by offering training programmes and scholarships, particularly in high potential sectors such as information technology, modern agriculture and environmentally-friendly industries. Investment opportunities in renewable energy, high-tech agriculture and green industries can also be further explored, establishing a solid foundation for long-term cooperation between the two nations. VNS HA NOI With the number of cities and provinces across Viet Nam planned to be reduced by half within the year, experts believe that the impacts of this rearrangement will present opportunities to create new marine-centred development spaces. This topic was a main focus at recent talks on the matter in Ha Noi that brought together officials and various stakeholders to discuss how these administrative unit changes can create a new momentum for national growth. According to Phan Trung Tuan, head of the Department of Local Government under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly and the Government had considered carefully before determining that this is the right time to rearrange the countrys administrative units. The research did not start only a few months ago, it has been in discussion since the 13th National Party Congress. We have made thorough preparations over an extended period, said Tuan. We also prepared the proposal with urgency and thoughtful deliberation. All the factors to ensure the feasibility of the mergers have been considered to ensure the strategy can proceed for the next hundred or even several hundred years, he stressed. Expanding development space is one of the major goals, Tuan explained, but many other issues must be considered, such as geography, culture and regional and inter-regional planning. Another objective is to build a streamlined apparatus that operates efficiently and effectively, as Party chief To Lam has pointed out. As for the sea-oriented development strategy, Tuan believes that merging inland regions with coastal areas is consistent with the countrys national development policies, as Viet Nam has an extensive coastline and vast waters. The countrys recent socio-economic development has also aligned with this strategy, as reflected in the planning of major transport and railway routes that are linked to coastal zones. The sea-oriented factor is extremely important. In this proposal submitted to the central authorities, we have suggested a merger plan that connects cities and provinces without a coastline with seaside areas to create development space for the localities, Tuan explained. Development space is not only about scale and size but also includes other factors that ensure long-term development goals related to the sea, he added. He said: For example, the Central Highlands currently has no coastline. In this merger plan, we aim to connect the region with coastal areas to take full advantage of its land resource potential, and develop these famous agricultural areas of the country. With its current 63 cities and provinces, Viet Nam has 28 localities with coastlines, all of which have seaports, except for Ninh Binh and Bac Lieu. The country also has eight non-coastal cities and provinces with inland ports. According to Resolution 60 of the 11th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, Viet Nam will merge its administrative units to reduce the number of localities from 63 to 34, including 28 provinces and six centrally governed cities. This means Viet Nam will have only 21 coastal provinces compared to the current 28. However, the proportion of cities and provinces with coastlines after the mergers will increase from 44 per cent (28 out of 63 localities) to 62 per cent (21 out of 34 localities). Among these, 21 coastal cities and provinces have seaports, while two provinces without a coastline (new ong Nai and Tay Ninh) will have inland ports. From a planning perspective, Tran Ngoc Chinh, chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association (VUPDA) and former Deputy Minister of Construction, said that the directive to connect inland provinces -- especially highland areas like the Central Highlands -- with coastal localities is a strategic planning mindset that fits the current context of integrated development. The Central Highlands currently consists of five provinces covering a total area of over 50,000 square kilometres that is home to a population of about six million people. However, what is considered more important than the regions population or land area is its strategic value, which lies in its unique cultural identities, distinct climate, and abundant natural resources. This region is the starting point for many large rivers, such as the Se San and the ong Nai rivers, that are crucial for the socio-economic development of the central coastal and southeastern regions. They not only have value in terms of irrigation and energy but also contribute to the natural and economic connectivity between regions. Most people often think of the Central Highlands as a land of majestic forests, the home of vast plateaus such as Kon Tum, Di Linh and Buon Ma Thuot. However, although these plateaus are geographically adjacent, the area is fragmented by rugged terrain. Chinh said that during the research and development of Viet Nams socio-economic strategies, there were times when experts and policymakers proposed dividing the Central Highlands into two separate regions. A notable example was an idea to reassign Lam ong Province to the southeastern region, as the locality has many trade, economic, cultural and tourism ties with others in that area. Meanwhile, the northern provinces of the Central Highlands could have been merged with the south-central coastal area, due to the key strategic transportation routes they share with the region. The idea of dividing the Central Highlands in the past partly reflected a desire to better utilise the regions rich natural resources and to promote regional integration based on distinct growth characteristics, said Chinh. However, with the mindset of integrated spatial development today, the more important approach is to connect regions harmoniously and effectively, rather than merely separating them administratively, the former deputy minister added. Chinh underscored that it is necessary to strengthen the connection between the Central Highlands and the south-central coast to form an eastwest corridor, linking the coast to the mountainous regions and the lowlands to the highlands. This connection is about not onlytransportation and logistics but also the flow of economic, cultural and historical development, which helps expand development space in a sustainable and effective manner. This is a strategically significant factor in regional planning that requires much attention and systematic implementation. VNS Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping sent on Saturday a congratulatory message to Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema on his election as president of the Gabonese Republic. In his message, Xi noted that China and Gabon enjoy a traditional friendship, saying that in recent years, political mutual trust between the two countries has continued to deepen, and cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results. The two countries have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, he added. Xi also said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Gabon relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Nguema to take implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as an opportunity to promote a steady and sustained growth of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, so as to better benefit their people. HA NOI President Luong Cuong will pay a state visit to Laos during April 24-25, according to an announcement of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit will be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. Viet Nam and Laos are close neighbours, with the two cultures sharing many similarities, and have enjoyed a longstanding, friendly relationship throughout their shared history of nation-building and defence. Since the leadership of the Indochinese Communist Partylater the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Partytheir bond has grown stronger and reached new heights, becoming a critically important factor in ensuring the success of each countrys revolution. Viet Nam and Laos officially established diplomatic relations on September 5, 1962. This was a landmark event that opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. On July 18, 1977, the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. Despite many changes in the regional and global landscape, and the intertwined opportunities and challenges, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Lao people have consistently prioritised strengthening cooperation across all fields. This cooperation has deepened in substance, become increasingly flexible in mechanism and method, and yielded more effective local-level partnershipsbringing practical benefits to the peoples of both nations VNS BINH DUONG Officers and soldiers from the Lao People's Army and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces arrived in Binh Duong Province on Monday to begin training for the major military parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 April 30, 2025). Their participation comes at the invitation of the Ministry of National Defence, underscoring the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity among the three nations. The event also provides an opportunity for the Lao and Cambodian people to join in commemorating Viet Nams historic struggle for independence. This years parade will feature not only Vietnamese armed forces, but also military delegations from China, Laos and Cambodia, marking the first time that foreign military units have participated in a national military parade in Viet Nam. The inclusion of international forces enhances the parades diplomatic significance and highlights the growing strength of regional defence cooperation. At a welcome ceremony for the visiting delegations, Colonel Nguyen inh Chuan, Political Commissar of the Binh Duong Provincial Military Command, emphasised the importance of the upcoming commemoration. The 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification is a national event of profound political and historical significance. It affirms the greatness of the 1975 victory. Hosting and supporting our international partners is both a responsibility and a great honour for Binh Duong, he said. The head of the Lao military delegation, Colonel Sompheng Keosira, expressed his pride in being part of the parade. We are honoured to take part in this meaningful celebration. I promise to give my best efforts to contribute to its success, he said. The Commander of the Intervention Unit under the Gendarmerie Command of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Bin Phoos, said that his 119-member team had already completed five days of training in Viet Nam, following more than ten days of preparation in Cambodia. We are proud to represent Cambodia in this historic parade, he said. Authorised by the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee, the Binh Duong Provincial Military Command, along with other departments, organised a visit to encourage and support the foreign troops currently stationed and training in the area. The 50th anniversary celebration, set for April 30 in HCM City, will be a large-scale event with significant historical resonance. The military parade will serve as a major highlight, reinforcing the spirit of international solidarity and the enduring friendship between the armed forces and peoples of Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia and other participating countries. VNS HCM CITY - Party General Secretary To Lam has paid tribute to the immense sacrifices made by revolutionary veterans and former soldiers, those who, through courage and patriotism, endured hardship and danger to write the 'golden pages' of Viet Nams prolonged resistance struggle. The country's top leader acknowledged that the revolutionary army's journey formed an epic chapter in Viet Nams history of national liberation and defence. While giving praise to the achievements of the past, the Party chief also used the opportunity to discuss what the future holds for Viet Nam, 50 years after reunification. He said that an expanded HCM City was expected to become a powerful driving force for growth across the southeastern, southwestern, Central Highlands and south central coastal regions after the administrative unit merger. The vision for the city is to evolve into an international mega-urban hub, one that not only leads but also forges a comprehensive development alliance with neighbouring provinces, according to the Party leader. In the new dynamic, southern provinces will not merely accompany HCM Citys growth but act as strategic partners, co-creating a shared economic, cultural and social space. Party General Secretary To Lam made the statement during a meeting on Monday in HCM City with veteran revolutionaries, people who contributed to the revolutions and exemplary policy beneficiary families from the southern region. The gathering marked the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 April 30, 2025). Lam said the expansion of HCM City would allow it to serve as a nucleus and catalyst for the comprehensive development of the broader southeastern and southwestern regions, with ripple effects extending to the Central Highlands and south central coast. The citys development would be inextricably linked with and mutually reinforced by the growth of surrounding provinces. HCM City would build strong regional linkages, maximising complementary advantages and constructing a cohesive inter-regional socio-economic and cultural space. It aims to create a new growth centre of regional and international significance. To make HCM City truly worthy of its golden name, its Party organisation, administration and people must work harder, faster and more decisively, Lam said. He stressed the need for greater unity and resolve within the citys leadership and community, along with heightened political will and creativity. The city must be proactive in seizing opportunities, overcoming challenges and maintaining political and social stability. High-quality, sustainable development that outpaces national averages is the goal. Additionally, he called for the building of a healthy cultural environment and continuous improvements in citizens material and spiritual well-being, alongside solid national defence and security capabilities. HCM City would be transformed into a modern and civilised metropolis, one with special administrative status, leading the countrys industrialisation and modernisation efforts, and increasingly contributing to national and regional advancement, he said. Under the new development landscape, localities would supplement and support one another, advancing in unison. The expanded HCM City would not only encompass its current boundaries, along with Binh Duong and Ba Ria Vung Tau, but also strengthen ties with a wider set of provinces, including ong Nai, Tay Ninh, ong Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho and An Giang. This integration aimed to redesign the regional development strategy, unlocking the unique advantages of each locality to form a cohesive whole greater than the sum of its parts. A revitalised HCM City could only succeed if the surrounding region develops in tandem and that region, in turn, would flourish with the city at the helm, fostering collaboration and shared advancement. Lam added that following the administrative restructuring, the number of provinces and municipalities in southern Viet Nam would be reduced from 22 to just 9. The consolidation was intended to create diverse development spaces geographically, economically and culturally while fully harnessing Viet Nams maritime landscape to interlink highlands, lowlands and coastal areas. The goal was to stimulate mutual growth while preserving regional and local cultural identities. Honouring a legacy of sacrifice Also at the meeting, Lam paid tribute to the individuals, he said, who gave rise to the proud 'Vietnamese image' on the world stage. In the face of adversity during wartime, they overcame loss and suffering to contribute to Viet Nams revolutionary victory. Many laid down their lives across the countrys battlefields, from the northern mountains to the southern plains, from high mountains to vast seas, and from the Central Highlands to coastal plains. Some returned with physical and emotional scars, while others continued to serve quietly during peacetime in roles spanning social work, rural development, economic advancement and the education of future generations. To honour their legacy, the Party and State built the Viet Nam Military History Museum, which houses hundreds of thousands of artefacts chronicling the formation, struggles and victories of the Viet Nam Peoples Army. Additionally, the Politburo has approved the construction of a Museum of the History of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, which is set to be inaugurated in 2030 to mark the Partys 100th founding anniversary. In a spirit of national pride and unity, and as the country prepares to mark the golden jubilee of reunification and other major events in 2025, the meeting offered a space for veteran cadres and contributors to share heartfelt insights to further the revolutionary cause of the Party and people and to help shape the future of the communities in which they reside. VNS BAC NINH The spouse of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Le Thi Bich Tran, on Monday held a meeting with the ASEAN Community Women's Circle of Ha Noi (AWCH) at the o Temple historical relic site in the northern province of Bac Ninh. The event was attended by Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, spouse of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, honorary chairwoman of the AWCH, along with female ambassadors, spouses of ambassadors, and representatives from ASEAN embassies in Ha Noi. Tran and delegates offered incense at the main altar and learned about the history of the temple and the altars dedicated to the eight kings of the Ly Dynasty. After the incense offering ceremony, within the cultural and historical space of the temple, Tran and the participants engaged in unique experiential activities such as making ong Ho folk paintings, preparing betel leaves, creating "phu the" cakes, and enjoying UNESCO-recognised Quan ho (love duet) folk songs. Vuong Quoc Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, expressed his honour to welcome the delegation on the occasion of the festival commemorating the 1,015th anniversary of Emperor Ly Thai Tos coronation. He said in its development, Bac Ninh aims to closely link socio-economic goals with preserving and promoting traditional cultural identities. This activity contributes to bringing the province closer to regional and international friends. Sharing about the AWCHs, Ngoc highlighted that the groups overarching goal is to create a bridge connecting women from ASEAN countries and their partner nations. She said that the group has made significant contributions to promoting the cultural beauty of member countries, showcasing local potential, and organising various charitable activities to support disadvantaged people in Viet Nam. Akiko Morioka, spouse of the Malaysian ambassador, said that this is her first visit to Bac Ninh and she appreciates the beauty of this land and its people. These will always be memorable moments, bringing the group members closer together. Tran praised the activities of the AWCH, especially in 2025, which marks many important celebrations of both ASEAN and Viet Nam. She emphasised the indispensable contributions of women to the development journey of ASEAN and Viet Nam. In the future, she said she hopes to continue working with the group to further promote the uniqueness and diversity of ASEAN cultures. On this occasion, the lady presented gifts bearing the cultural features of traditional craft villages and the identities of the 54 ethnic groups in Viet Nam to the AWCH members. VNS HA NOI Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Monday for Vice President of the Lao NA Suvon Luongbunmi, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam. Welcoming the Lao official, Man emphasised the significance of this visit in deepening the great friendship and special solidarity between the two countries. He spoke highly of the outcomes of the talks between the two vice chairpersons of the Vietnamese and Lao parliaments, along with the Lao NA delegation's supervision of the construction of community clusters in Son La and ien Bien provinces of Viet Nam. The top legislator of Viet Nam praised Laos for reorganising its administrative apparatus at the central level and establishing communal-level administrations to streamline the administrative management apparatus and meet the country's development demand. He expressed his belief that that under the wise and timely leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the effective supervision by the NA, and the decisive direction of the Government, Laos will overcome all difficulties, reap successes in implementing the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress, and successfully organise Party congresses at all levels in the run up to the 12th National Party Congress in 2026. He expressed his delight at the flourishing special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos, including the close and effective collaboration between the two NAs. He asked both the NAs to continue close coordination to effectively monitor the implementation of high-level agreements, increase delegation exchanges, share information and experiences in streamlining the parliamentary apparatus and legislative activities, organise joint supervision and survey delegations, and urge the two countries' Governments, ministries, localities, and enterprises to fruitfully carry out the Viet Nam Laos joint statement. The Chairman suggested strengthening cooperation between the two NAs' committees in exchanging information, experiences, and expertise in legislation, supervision, and making of decisions about major national issues. He also emphasised boosting cooperation between localities, especially those sharing the borderline. For his part, Vice President of the Lao NA Suvon Luongbunmi congratulated Viet Nam on its significant achievements, saying he believes that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the Vietnamese people will achieve new and greater successes in the oi moi (renewal) process and successfully fulfil the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress. Voicing his delight at the development of the special Laos Viet Nam relationship, he expressed gratitude for the substantial and effective support that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam have provided for Laos throughout history. He highlighted the positive results of the cooperation between the two NAs and appreciated Man's opinions about promoting closer and more effective cooperation between the two legislative bodies. The visiting official pledged to work closely with the Vietnamese NA in monitoring the realisation of the signed agreements, especially Viet Nam's investment projects in Laos. On the same day, NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong held a discussion with his Lao counterpart Suvon Luongbunmi. The two sides exchanged information about their respective countries' situations and activities of the NAs, applauding the recent progress of parliamentary ties, both within bilateral cooperation mechanisms and at regional and international parliamentary forums. They vowed to increase consultation and coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). They also shared experiences in parliamentary activities, particularly in overseeing the implementation of high-level agreements, including socio-economic and infrastructure development projects, thereby helping maintain security and stability in border areas and promote locality-to-locality cooperation between the two countries. The Lao delegation also had meetings with Secretary General of the NA and Chairman of the NA Office Le Quang Tung, and some leaders of Vietnamese NA agencies to discuss the re-arrangement and streamlining of NA agencies' apparatus to enhance the capacity and efficiency of their operations. From April 22 to 25, the Lao delegation will visit Son La and ien Bien provinces. VNS HCM CITY Party General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, held a meeting in HCM City in Monday with a delegation of heroes and veterans from various forces directly taking part in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975, which led to the liberation of the south and national reunification, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of this historic victory (April 30, 1975-2025). The delegation included generals, heroes of the Peoples Armed forces, intelligence officers, Sai Gon special forces, guerrillas, former youth volunteers, and wartime logistics personnel. Extending his regards and best wishes to all the delegates present, the Party chief emphasised that the April 30, 1975 victory was not only a triumph of unwavering determination and the great solidarity of the Vietnamese people under the Partys leadership, but also a symbol of aspiration for national independence, freedom, and peace. This success was built on the immense sacrifice of millions of soldiers and civilians across the nation, he said, stressing that today and future generations must always treasure and honour the contributions of those who fought and fell for the countrys reunification. Reflecting on the past five decades, General Secretary Lam highlighted the nations growing pride in its hard-earned peace and prosperity. The historic victory laid the foundation for Viet Nams steady advance towards socialism and reaffirmed the people's trust in the Party's leadership and the nation's historical mission, he stated. He outlined key strategic directions for national defence and the People's Army, underlining that amidst rapid and unpredictable global and regional changes, it is crucial to maintain vigilance, decisiveness and calm in addressing geopolitical and geo-economic challenges. He also stressed the mission of the People's Army and Peoples Public Security in improving their capacity, while acting as a fighting force, a working force, and a production force contributing to economic development, and ensuring the protection of the Fatherland early and from afar. The Party chief briefed participants on the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of National Defence in streamlining local military organisations, ensuring they are lean yet powerful, meeting demands in the new situation. He underscored the Partys absolute leadership over the military and the importance of involving the entire political system in restructuring efforts. Building a compact, efficient and powerful military is essential for dealing with future challenges, including winning wars in all forms and protecting national interests. Lam said the Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defence have been proactive in implementing the resolution of the 13th Party Central Committee's 8th plenum on the national defence strategy. The military continues to play a key role in national defence, disaster response, rescue operations, and development of strategic regions, particularly remote, border and island areas. It is also actively contributing to new-style rural development and sustainable poverty reduction, he noted. He pointed to the need for innovation in building a politically strong army and expanding effective international integration and defence diplomacy, including the continued active engagement in UN peacekeeping operations and other international missions to enhance its global standing. He reminded the Central Military Commission to pay special attention to leading the building of a clean, strong and exemplary military Party Organisation, and preparing for the Party congresses at all levels and the 12th Congress of the Military Party Organisation. For the People's Public Security force, he noted that since its restructuring in 2018, it has become more streamlined and efficient. The Ministry of Public Security has eliminated the district-level forces, taken on new responsibilities, and deployed officers to communes - a policy widely supported by the public. In addition to ensuring political security and public order, the public security force has made strategic contributions to national development and safeguarding the daily lives of all citizens. VNS HCM CITY The economy has been recovering and shifting towards eco-friendly policies and digitalisation, with labour supply in the key southern economic region early this year continuing to see remarkable fluctuations, both in quantity and structure. A rapid increase in the number of job seekers, along with changes in career trends, has raised new issues in connecting supply and demand as well as orienting local workforce development. Improved labour market Since the beginning of this year, the labour market in the key southern economic zone has recovered as domestic and foreign economies have gradually adapted to fluctuations in the global supply chain, raw material prices and operating costs. The sharp increase in the number of job seekers is a signal that the labour situation has improved after the Lunar New Year holiday, reflecting increased demand for freelancers and short-term positions. According to the Binh Duong Employment Service Centre, the market has 24,146 job seekers, while businesses recruitment demand is 20,312 workers. In the first quarter this year, the centre organised 10 job fairs with more than 95 businesses, providing about 5,400 recruitment targets. Recruitment trends focused mainly on workers serving the garment, electronics, logistics and food processing industries. Deputy Director of the Binh Duong Department of Home Affairs Pham Van Tuyen said that, compared to the same period last year, the number of job seekers in the province in the first quarter this year increased sharply, reaching 46.46 per cent. The Binh Duong Federation of Labour reported that local enterprises recruitment demand in the first quarter was more than 20,000 workers. This number is expected to remain the same during the second quarter this year. Since the start of the year, businesses in ong Nai Province have been operating stably and recruiting production workers. According to the ong Nai Employment Service Centre, the province's labour demand this year is forecast to be about 75,000 people. In the first three months this year, hundreds of enterprises in ong Nai recruited nearly 30,000 workers, mainly in electricity, electronics, sewing and embroidery, leather shoes, textile dyeing, fashion design, architectural construction, and interior wood decoration. Director of the centre Tran Thi Bich Tram said that, in addition to supporting job referrals through various channels, the centre also connects businesses to participate in online job fairs in the Mekong Delta, the southeast region, and neighbouring provinces and cities. The centre links businesses with online employment service centres in neighbouring provinces to provide information about the job market and search for workers to meet enterprises' production needs. The key labour market in the south has therefore shown positive signs of improvement. However, according to a survey by the Binh Duong Employment Service Centre, businesses lack workers who meet the right requirements in terms of skills and experience, leading to a situation where a plethora of workers are lacking suitable job opportunities. Solutions Data from the Binh Duong Employment Service Centre shows that the total number of job seekers in the first three months this year was 24,146. The most sought-after industry group was the garment sector (5,915 people), followed by office workers (2,865), construction (2,128), woodworking (1,737), and information technology (1,157). Notably, technical workers, welders, mechanics and assemblers have a relatively low number of job seekers compared to high actual demand from businesses. The surplus of labour in accounting, office and driving-related fields shows that the market is entering strong structural adjustment. On the one hand, many businesses are switching to integrated accounting and human resources software. Meanwhile, digitisation trends in commerce, administration and transportation services are causing repetitive jobs to be rapidly replaced with new technology. This imbalance is partly due to the preference for administrative office, engineering and technology positions, while in reality the market is seriously lacking skilled technical workers, especially as many foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises have expanded production after COVID-19. In addition, digital transformation and automation have also caused demand for office work, accounting and general workers to gradually narrow, while labourers have not yet adjusted their career expectations accordingly. This reflects growing unemployment due to a mismatch in industry, wherein workers need to find a job, but their chosen industry does not match recruitment needs. According to experts, the issue is mainly due to a lack of market information, unrealistic career orientations and an inadequate education and training mechanism. To solve the problem, it is necessary to strengthen the role of the employment service centres in career counselling, market analysis and training linkages according to business orders, Tuyen said. He added that in the era of digital transformation, upskilling is extremely important, going on to stress the urgency of retraining and improving skills to adapt to new market requirements, a particularly urgent need for industrial-service localities like Binh Duong. The Binh Duong Employment Service Centre continues to play a key role in maintaining the stability of the labour market through consulting activities, job introductions and organising regular transaction sessions. Recent results show remarkable efforts in regulating labour supply and demand in the province. Commenting on the employment situation, Chairman of the Binh Duong Labour Federation Pham Trong Nhan said: "Enterprises are facing an imbalance in labour supply and demand. Many enterprises prioritise recruiting workers under 35 years old, requiring technical skills, professional skills and soft skills, but many workers do not meet this requirement. Workers tend to look for jobs close to home, making it difficult for businesses to retain workers. Some businesses still apply traditional recruitment methods and different salaries and benefits between businesses, making the number of workers unstable," he said. To address these shortcomings, Nhan believes that businesses need to communicate about recruitment needs through multiple channels and forms, such as online platforms or company websites, and trade unions to expand their reach. They should enhance their corporate image through community activities, offer attractive benefits for potential employees and regularly participate in job fairs organised by local departments of home affairs. Enterprises should also create policies on salary and bonuses as well as create conditions for workers to improve skills and support workers with housing, kindergarten or travel expenses, he said. In addition to creating a positive working environment, firms should take care of workers spiritual lives, encourage creativity, and appreciate the contributions of each individual. Companies should also create policies on career development to build motivation, invest in self-training or coordinate training according to actual needs. VNS HA NOI The country has supported the elimination of 201,651 makeshift and dilapidated houses, according to the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. Of these, 105,968 have been newly built, while 95,683 are currently under construction. In detail, 24,151 of the newly built homes were directly provided for people in need. Meanwhile, 58,356 houses were constructed under two national target programs, and an additional 119,144 were built as part of a broader initiative to eradicate makeshift and dilapidated housing. Despite these efforts, approximately 34,700 makeshift and dilapidated homes owned by poor and near-poor households still require support under the ongoing campaign. The Joint Effort to Eliminate Makeshift and Dilapidated Houses Nationwide by 2025 campaign, launched by the Prime Minister, is being carried out with strong determination and significant effort by provinces and cities across the country, aiming to fully eradicate such housing by 2025. In HCM City, the State Bank of Vietnam and local banks, in collaboration with the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committees HCM City branch and other partners, have funded repairs for 323 houses belonging to poor, near-poor, and disadvantaged households. The total cost of these repairs amounts to over VN25.3 billion (US$1.02 million). Additionally, nearly 900 houses have been built and repaired with funding of VN44.8 billion ($1.8 million) sourced from the For the Poor Fund and financial contributions mobilized by city and local organisations. In ak Nong Province, nearly 1,400 new houses have been constructed, while 400 others have been repaired, with a total investment of VN120 billion ($4.84 million). So far, hundreds of poor households in ak Nong have received support to build or renovate solid, comfortable homes, enabling them to stabilise their lives and focus on economic development. VNS HA NOI Former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong was in court in Ha Noi yesterday for the start of his trial, accused of abusing his position and power while performing official duties. Vuong, who previously served as Chairman of the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, allegedly caused financial damages exceeding VN1 trillion ($40.1 million) for the group. Former Director General of the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy Phuong Hoang Kim, along with ten other defendants, are also on trial. They are accused on charges of either abuse of position and power while performing official duties or lack of responsibility causing serious consequences. The trial is expected to run for nine days and is presided over by Judge Nguyen Xuan Van, Chief Justice of the Criminal Court of the Ha Noi Peoples Court. According to the indictment, during his tenure as Deputy Minister, Vuong was assigned responsibility for the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy. From 31 August 2018 to 6 April 2020, he directly oversaw the drafting of Decision No. 13/2020/Q-TTg on the mechanism to encourage solar power development in Viet Nam. Allegedly driven by personal gain, authorities say Vuong received VN1.5 billion ($57,900) from the Trung Nam Thuan Nam Solar Power Company board chairman Nguyen Tam Thinh. Afterwards, Vuong allegedly instructed the department to draft Decision 13 in a manner that expanded eligibility for preferential electricity pricing. He also allegedly agreed to approve a proposal for additional planning for the Trung Nam Thuan Nam Solar Power Plant project, requesting a price mechanism of 9.35 US cents/kWh for the project. In the performance of his duties, Vuong fully understood the Government's policies and the Prime Minister's instructions on mechanisms and policies to support Ninh Thuan Province with solar power projects. Vuong is thus accused of deliberately exploiting his official position. Investigators concluded that between 2020 and 2024, EVN purchased electricity from two solar power plants at the preferential rate, paying over VN4 trillion ($154 million). This led to financial losses to the group of more than VN1 trillion ($40.1 million) due to the pricing mechanism being applied unlawfully. VNS HA NOI A number of businesses at the Shark Jaw building have shut down operations, in preparation for the demolition of the famous landmark in the heart of Ha Noi. From Monday afternoon, restaurants and cafe shops on the upper floors of the commercial centre building at No.7 inh Tien Hoang began dismantling interior fixtures, including air conditioning units and furniture along with other properties, to hand over the floors for the building's owner. At night, a notice has been posted at the entrance saying that the entire building will no longer receive customers from today. As part of the renovation of the ong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square, the commercial centre is reportedly set to be torn down after the National Reunification Day (April 30) - International Workers' Day (May 1) holiday, although Ha Noi leadership last month has urged for the demolition to be completed before that date. The plan will involve clearing the building to expand the current square, while three underground floors will be built underneath the newly widened space, including one floor commercial services, and two for parking. The Ho Guom Commercial, Service and Dining Centre, the official name of the building before it was known by the more colloquial 'Shark Jaw', is managed by the Ha Noi Transport Corporation (Transerco). It was built between 1991 and 1993 and is located on the northern side of Hoan Kiem Lake. The building is six storeys tall with a floor area of approximately 390sqm. The ground floor is leased out for the sale of shoes and handbags, while the upper floors (from the second floor upwards) are used for food and beverage services. The exterior walls of the building are adorned with advertisements for major brands. VNS Flash Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in Beijing on Monday. Han said that last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reached an important consensus on building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future that has regional and global influence, pointing out the direction for the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Indonesia to adhere to the guidance of the two heads of state, strengthen strategic alignment, enhance multilateral collaboration, promote the China-Indonesia community with a shared future to reach new heights continuously, and make greater contributions to the modernization processes of both countries as well as the prosperity and development of the region and the world, Han said. Sugiono said Indonesia is willing to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, firmly defend multilateralism, jointly address risks and challenges, and promote the greater development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. BEIJING Viet Nams grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification helps the nation usher in a new era ahead of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), said former chief representative of Chinas Xinhua News Agency in Ha Noi Ling Dequan. The event also reinforces solidarity and motivation in achieving its goals set for the centenaries of the Party's and nations founding, Ling told a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Beijing. Ling, who witnessed and reported on Viet Nams resistance war against the US as a Xinhua reporter, recalled that 50 years ago, under the CPV leadership, the Vietnamese people and army launched the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, culminating in the landmark victory of April 30, 1975. This event was a monumental victory, a historical landmark for the Vietnamese people, and became breaking news across global media at the time, he said. The past five decades have seen Viet Nam undergoing a fundamental transformation, Ling said. A pivotal turning point came in 1986, when the 6th National Party Congress launched the country on a path of economic reform and development. Viet Nam gradually shifted from a centrally planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy, with reforms extending beyond the economic sphere. Now a middle-income country, Viet Nam has set ambitious growth targets, aiming for 8% GDP growth this year and double-digit annual growth over the following five years. The 13th National Party Congress set a bold objective for the nation to become a high-income developed one by 2045. Under the current leadership of Party General Secretary To Lam, the country is preparing for the 14th National Party Congress, Ling said, suggesting that drawing lessons from the past and charting a clear path forward will be essential in opening Viet Nams new era of national rise. The key to the countrys historic victory, Ling stressed, lay in the wise leadership of the CPV, the unity of the Vietnamese people, and a strategic blend of political, military, and diplomatic efforts. Over nearly four decades of oi moi (renewal), Viet Nams foreign policy has also undergone remarkable evolution, he said. Its guiding principle in the new era is to maintain a peaceful and stable international environment, with a focus on economic development. The country pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralism and diversification of international relations, with the aim of becoming a friend and a reliable partner of the international community. Viet Nam considers the will for self-reliance and resilience to be the fundamental and long-term determining factor, while external support, assistance, and resources are of vital importance, Ling noted. He further assessed that despite global instability and internal challenges, Vietnam is seen as a country full of aspiration and confidence in its development vision. Ling cited the World Bank forecasts that Viet Nam's GDP will surpass US$1 trillion by 2030, solidifying its status as an economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia. Ling concluded by noting that Viet Nams friends and partners across the globe share high hopes for the countrys new era and look forward to expanded opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. VNA/VNS SEOUL On his first-ever trip to South Korea this week, American tourist Jonathan Ko made a beeline for the countrys health and beauty retail giant Olive Youngs flagship store in Myeongdong, Seouls trendy shopping street. There, he swept up 500,000 Korean won (S$463) worth of sunscreen, face masks and creams for personal use and to give away to friends back in the United States. The 34-year-old, who lives in Los Angeles, California, usually orders Korean skincare products online. But with the tariffs driving up prices for everything, Mr Ko thought it was a good time to stock up since he was in Seoul for a one-week holiday, he told The Straits Times outside the Olive Young outlet on April 17. According to American media, consumers in the US are panic buying K-beauty products before higher prices hit after US President Donald Trump announced on April 2 a tariff blitz on the countrys trading partners. A Washington Post report on April 10 included South Korean-made sunscreen on a list of items that it said American consumers are frantically adding to their online shopping carts, citing data from social media and online message boards. The Atlantic magazine carried a report on April 5 titled My Snail Mucin is Caught in a Trade War, in reference to the slime that snails produce, an ingredient popularised by K-beauty products. Meanwhile, fashion titles Allure and Vogue wrote about How Much More Expensive Will Beauty Products Get As Tariffs Take Effect? and How US Tariffs Would Hit Beauty respectively. On social media platform Reddit, South Korean-made sunscreen ranked high among netizens in a thread dedicated to the beauty products worth buying now, with some saying that they have stocked up on their beloved products just in case. Among K-beauty products sold in the US, sunscreens are reportedly the most popular, prized for their lightweight formulas and efficacy that users believe US-made sunscreens cannot match up to. The panic buying comes as South Korea was slapped with a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff rate among the worst-hit of countries with existing free trade agreements with the US. The US has since paused all reciprocal tariff hikes, except for those on China, for 90 days until July 8. Seoul is dispatching both its Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok and Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun to Washington next week to kick-start tariff talks. Based on data from South Koreas Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, K-beauty cosmetics exports reached a record-breaking US$10.2 billion (S$13.4 billion) in 2024, passing the US$10 billion mark for the first time, with a year-on-year export growth of more than 20 per cent since 2020. The US is the second-largest destination for South Korean beauty products after China. A report released by Samsung Securities in January projected a 43 per cent growth in e-commerce sales on South Korean-made sunscreen products alone. Given the strong demand for K-beauty products, South Koreas two major original design manufacturers (ODM), Kolmar Korea and Cosmax, are ramping up production at their US factories by at least two times, reported the Korea Herald on April 17. Products made in the US would not be subject to tariff measures. Back in Seoul, the two largest domestic cosmetics manufacturers, LG Household and Health Care and Amorepacific, which do not have production plants in the US, have said that they are still monitoring the situation before deciding whether to raise prices for their US-bound products. An official from LG, which is behind brands such as The Face Shop and The Whoo, said that the tariffs would inevitably have an impact on sales, adding that they will calibrate responses based on tariff negotiation outcomes. For Amorepacific, which is behind brands like Sulwhasoo, Laneige and Innisfree, the US became its largest overseas market in 2024, surpassing China. In response to STs queries, an Amorepacific spokesperson said that the companys strategy will have to reflect the overall context and variables across the industry. The cosmetics giant, which has plans to establish production facilities in the US in the next five to 10 years, might expedite them. Chief executive Kim Seung-hwan told Bloomberg TV on April 14 that the plans might need to be accelerated, considering recent changes and trends. While bigger players are adopting a wait-and-see approach, smaller players like skincare brand KraveBeauty appear more anxious about the impact. KraveBeautys founder Liah Yoo, whose products retail online in the US and are also available in beauty chain Sephoras stores, in a TikTok video uploaded on April 3, warned that the tariffs would cause a historic shift that will impact nearly every brand exporting from South Korea. She added that K-beauty products will no longer be as affordable as they used to be. In a second video uploaded on April 11, Ms Yoo said that the high tariffs the US has slapped on China may just bankrupt some beauty brands, saying that the packaging for her products are sourced from China. She said at the end of the video that no one knows what will happen yet. The US and China are locked in an escalating tariff fight, which saw Washington warning on April 16 that tariffs on Chinese products may rise to 245 per cent from the current 145 per cent because of Chinas retaliatory levy of 125 per cent. In reference to the issue highlighted by Ms Yoo, University of California San Diego assistant professor of economics Lee Mun-seob told ST that the tariffs on Chinese goods will create ripple effects across a wide range of industries, regardless of where the final product originates. However, he does not expect it to disproportionately hurt South Korean producers. Prof Lee added that he expects the financial burden of tariffs to be distributed among Korean manufacturers, US distributors and the US consumers. American consumers will likely end up absorbing much of the cost, given that K-beauty products offer distinctive features that are not easily substituted in the market, he said. Mr Ko, the American tourist, says that having to deal with higher prices is an inevitable outcome of the tariff wars. He said: It is an unfortunate reality that we will have little choice but to pay more for clothes, shoes everything! Everyone will be suffering. THE STRAITS TIMES/ANN Haiphong, one of Vietnams most rapidly growing cities, is placing the private sector at the heart of its development strategy. With impressive contributions to the citys regional GDP over the past decade, the private economy is fast becoming a critical pillar of growth and innovation. Sustained high growth with private sector at the core Nam Dinh Vu Port, part of Nam Dinh Vu IP, developed by Sao Do Group. Photo: Sao Do Group Between 2019 and 2023, Haiphong maintained an average regional GDP growth rate of 12.6 per cent - 2.44 times the national average - marking a decade of uninterrupted double-digit expansion. Per capita GDP rose by an annual average of 11.64 per cent, nearly three times the national average. Total factor productivity contributed over 43 per cent to the city's GDP, underscoring an increasingly efficient and competitive economy. These achievements reflect the citys implementation of Resolution No.45/NQ-TW by the Politburo and, crucially, the rising influence of the private sector. Private enterprises are not only making financial contributions but are also reshaping Haiphongs industrial and investment landscape with a series of major projects. Flagship developments like the VinFast manufacturing facility, the Vu Yen Island residential and ecological park, and various commercial housing and industrial park projects demonstrate the sectors reach. These initiatives have helped draw in high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI), aligned with Haiphongs sustainable and tech-oriented growth model. Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park (IP), developed by Sao Do Group - a major developer in the northern region - stands as a prime example. As Haiphongs only IP with its own international seaport, it hosts specialised terminals and a synchronised logistics ecosystem. Its four functional subdivisions are designed to support a diverse range of industries, creating a continuous value chain for infrastructure services, workforce training, and manufacturing. This is creating a strong pull for logistics services and high-tech manufacturing, both domestically and internationally, said Le Tien Chau, Secretary of Haiphong Party Committee. The private sectors rise clearly shows the effectiveness of our development policies. Currently, Haiphong is home to nearly 40,000 private enterprises, with about 90 per cent categorised as small and medium-sized enterprises active in logistics, mechanics, electronics, seaports, and services. Over the last five years, the private sector has contributed 40-48 per cent to the citys economic output. Sao Do Group signs an MoU on investment cooperation with JBS Brazil at the Vietnam-Brazil Economic Forum on March 29 in Hanoi. Photo: Sao Do Group Looking ahead, Haiphong aims for an ambitious 12.5 per cent regional GDP growth target in 2025, identifying the private economy as a primary engine to achieve this. Key to this strategy is an ongoing effort to refine the investment climate and boost institutional support. Alongside national policies, Haiphong is pushing digital transformation, simplifying administrative procedures, and encouraging private enterprise-led innovation. These reforms are designed to help businesses upgrade technology, raise productivity, and meet rising standards for quality and sustainability. Nguyen Thanh Phuong, general director of Sao Do Group, emphasised the need for better access to resources. Many private enterprises have strong ideas and sound plans, but lack capital, land, and skilled labour, he said. Without support, theyre often forced to sell to bigger or foreign firms, losing their growth potential. Despite policy reforms, private businesses continue to face significant obstacles. While they make up over 97 per cent of Vietnams total enterprises, private firms often encounter more hurdles in accessing land, credit, and state support than state-owned or foreign-invested entities. Preferential policies are still geared towards state or large-scale projects, Phuong added. Meanwhile, SMEs struggle with limited support, complex procedures, overlapping inspections, and unofficial costs. Many private businesses are also excluded from public procurement opportunities and major supply chains. Experts argue that reducing these disparities is essential for unlocking the sectors full potential. Political support for stronger private economy The importance of empowering the private sector is receiving high-level political backing. In a recent article titled Developing the Private Economy - A Lever for a Prosperous Vietnam, Party General Secretary To Lam declared the private sector the most important driving force for national economic growth and innovation. He called for the creation of large-scale private economic conglomerates capable of leading Vietnams development at a global and regional level. With strong institutions and favourable policies, private enterprises will have the leverage they need to thrive, he said. Echoing this, Phuong from Sao Do Group stressed that supportive frameworks - such as easier access to loans, tax incentives, and reduced administrative burdens - would be crucial in helping enterprises grow and contribute more meaningfully to the national and local economy. The launching of Haiphong Business Association's Executive Committee on April 13. Photo: Thanh Son To help realise this vision, the recently-established Haiphong Business Association will serve as a bridge between the business community and the government. Its role includes advocating for policies, addressing regulatory bottlenecks, and facilitating communication between businesses and city authorities. The association also aims to support SMEs in building competitiveness and integrating into global supply chains. Through consultation, networking, and resource-sharing, it hopes to position Haiphongs private sector as a key player in the citys sustainable development. Key driver gains a must for growth Only slight order number improvements and enterprise confidence sentiment mean it may be difficult for the country to hit its desired growth goals this year. Private sector encouraged to join major national programmes, projects It must fully unleash the productive capacity and resources of the country through the private sector; mobilise all private resources for national development. Each of these developments represents more than just architectural landmarksthey are milestones in the citys journey towards urbanisation, regional integration, and global aspiration. Landmark 81: A symbol of modernity and ambition Standing at 461m, Landmark 81 is currently Vietnams tallest building and ranks among the tallest in the world. The skyscraper is a proud symbol of a modern, dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, featuring a luxury shopping centre, a 5-star hotel, and the SkyView observation deck offering panoramic views of the entire city. Terminal T3 A new milestone in aviation infrastructure The newly built Terminal T3 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport is a strategic infrastructure project that enhances Vietnams aviation capacity. Designed to serve up to 20 million passengers annually, T3 relieves congestion at the existing terminals and promises a more convenient, modern travel experience for both locals and international visitors. Metro Line 1: A breath of fresh air for urban transport Metro Line 1 is more than a transportation projectit represents a shift towards green, sustainable mobility. Connecting Ben Thanh market in the city centre with Suoi Tien in the northeast, the metro line brings hopes of a cleaner, less congested Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to a better quality of urban life. Thu Thiem Tunnel: A gateway to urban expansion Completed in 2011, the Saigon River Tunnel was Vietnams first underwater traffic project, connecting District 1 to the Thu Thiem area. It plays a crucial role in reducing travel time and opening up new opportunities for urban development on the east side of the river. Thu Thiem: Vietnams future financial centre Spanning more than 650 hectares along the Saigon River, the Thu Thiem New Urban Area is being developed as a world-class financial and commercial hub. With modern infrastructure and master-planned zoning, Thu Thiem is poised to become a regional economic powerhouse. From aerial views, Ho Chi Minh City appears as a vibrant, ever-evolving metropolis. Beyond being an economic engine, the city is now a magnet for global tech giants, especially in the semiconductor and electronics sectors. Its strategic location, skilled labour force, and open investment climate are positioning the city as a rising destination for high-tech industries in the region. The Saigon Bridge is a vital transportation link connecting the city centre with the rapidly growing Thu Duc city in the east Phu My Bridge, completed in 2009, links District 2 and District 7, helping ease traffic congestion and enhancing connectivity in southern Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard: The citys southern expressway Opened in 2007, Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard stretches nearly 18km featuring 10 major bridges, including Ong Lon, Xom Cui, and Can Giuoc. It serves as a critical transport artery in the southern part of the city. Mai Chi Tho Boulevard: A strategic connection between Ho Chi Minh City's heart and Thu Duc city Connecting the central districts with Thu Duc city, Mai Chi Tho Boulevard links directly to Ho Chi Minh City Long ThanhDau Giay Expressway, strengthening Ho Chi Minh Citys regional connectivity and further integrating it with the southeast economic corridor. Together, these projects illustrate Ho Chi Minh Citys transformation into a modern, forward-looking urban centre, poised to become a leader not only in Vietnam but across Southeast Asia. Ho Chi Minh City International Financial Centre to be built in Thu Thiem New Urban Area Thu Thiem New Urban Area on the Saigon River has been allocated as the site for Vietnam's first International Financial Centre. Ho Chi Minh City lights up for 50th anniversary of reunification As April arrives, Ho Chi Minh City comes alive in a jubilant atmosphere, glowing brightly under a dazzling cloak of lights that illuminate the night in celebration of the 50th anniversary of national reunification, a proud milestone in Vietnams storied history. Kyoto City sacked the man, who was not named, after he was filmed by the security camera of his bus pilfering 1,000 yen ($7) in 2022. After he was denied his retirement money of more than 12 million yen ($84,000), the driver sued the city but lost the case. The verdict was overturned in his favour, with a court ruling that the punishment was excessive. But on Thursday the Supreme Court delivered a final ruling in the city's favour, reinstating the original penalty. It ruled that the man's conduct could undermine public trust in the system and the sound operation of the bus service. In the original incident a group of five passengers entered the bus and paid him 1,150 yen, according to the ruling. The driver instructed the group to drop 150 yen worth of coins into a fare collection box, and accepted a 1,000-yen bill by hand and didn't report it properly. Despite being caught on camera, he tried to deny it during a meeting with his superior. The driver had been reprimanded several times during his career over various incidents, according to the ruling. This included repeatedly smoking an electronic cigarette while on duty, albeit when there were no passengers on board. Kyoto City hailed the decision. "Each one of the bus drivers works alone and handles public money. We took it very seriously that embezzlement related to this area of our work took place," Shinichi Hirai, an official at Kyoto's public transport bureau, told AFP. "If our strict measures were not accepted, then our organisation could become careless and it could result in eroding the public's trust," he said. Vietnam's power source structure by 2050 The revised plan underscores Vietnam's commitment to advancing renewable energy and modernising its power infrastructure to ensure energy security and support sustainable economic growth. PDP8 outlines an ambitious capacity expansion, aiming for between 155.6 and 165.6GW of total installed power generation by the end of this decade. Renewables are expected to contribute significantly, with wind powerboth onshore and offshoreaccounting for as much as 55GW, solar up to 32GW, and over 3GW from biomass and waste-to-energy sources. The push for clean energy is repositioning regions like Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and key Mekong Delta provinces as emerging energy hubs. Their natural resource advantages, coupled with improved local investment conditions, are drawing increased interest from both domestic and international stakeholders. Grid infrastructure development also forms a critical component of the plan. More than $18 billion is being allocated for upgrading and expanding Vietnams transmission network through 2030. Over 33,500km of high-voltage transmission lines and more than 260 substations are set to be constructed or upgraded, creating broad opportunities for engineering, grid technology, and high-voltage equipment providers. To enhance system resilience and support high renewable integration, PDP8 also targets major investments in energy storage. Between 10 and 16GW of battery storage is planned by 2030, alongside 2.4GW of pumped-storage hydropower. Looking ahead to 2050, total energy storage capacity could reach nearly 96GW, underscoring long-term potential for investors in this space. Vietnam is also looking beyond domestic demand, aiming to become a regional energy exporter. PDP8 sets an export target of 5,000 to 10,000MW by 2035 through enhanced power grid interconnectivity with Cambodia, Laos, China, Malaysia, and Singapore. To facilitate capital mobilisation, the government is refining its investment policies, including competitive auctions, updated power purchase agreements, and tailored incentives for key sectors such as offshore wind, hydrogen, and large-scale storage. These reforms are expected to boost investor confidence and encourage project implementation. By 2030, the energy mix is projected to comprise around 31 per cent renewables, 20 per cent hydropower, and 48 per cent from thermal sources, with minor contributions from other sources. By 2050, renewables could account for 71.5 per cent of total installed capacity, followed by thermal and hydropower at 19 and 9 per cent, respectively. Through the revised PDP8, Vietnam is offering a transparent and strategic roadmap for an energy transition that is grounded in clear policy commitments. Its successful execution will depend on timely regulatory reform, inter-agency coordination, and active engagement from private investors. Kienlong Bank is expected to present a plan to list its shares during its upcoming AGM on April 25. According to the banks Board of Directors, listing KLB shares is a necessary move that reflects improved transparency in operations and enhances competitiveness. Similarly, Viet A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VietABank) will propose a plan at its AGM on April 26 to list all outstanding VAB shares when market conditions are favourable. Photo: baodautu.vn The bank will authorise its board to decide on the listing venue, either the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HSX) or Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), along with the timing, share price, and listing procedures. Ban Viet Bank (BVBank) has also submitted a proposal for shareholder approval to list BVB shares on HSX within this year. Saigon Bank for Industry and Trade (Saigonbank) is making similar moves, with chairman Vu Quang Lam confirming that the bank has met the financial requirements to list on HSX and has already signed a consulting agreement for the transfer. These bank tickers are currently on the Unlisted Public Company Market, or UPCoM. In addition to improving profit margins via exchange transfer, banks are also pushing to increase charter capital through share issuances plans. Accordingly, BVBank aims to raise its charter capital from approximately $256 million to $307 million in 2025 through two methods. The bank plans to issue over 106.8 million shares to existing shareholders at a 6:1 ratio. These shares will be non-restricted in terms of transfer. The proceeds, worth more than $40 million, will be used to expand lending operations. Additionally, BVBank plans to issue up to 20 million shares to its staff at a price of 44 US cents ($0.44) per share under its employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). VietBank is also targeting a capital raise of approximately $151 million in 2025 through two phases. In the first phase, the bank will issue over 107 million shares, equal to 15 per cent of current capital, to existing shareholders at a par value of $0.40 per share, expected in the second or the third quarters of this year. After this phase, VietBank's charter capital will reach approximately $328 million. In the second phase, the bank plans to issue nearly 271 million shares, equivalent to 33 per cent of post-phase 1 capital, to shareholders, also at a par value of $0.40 per share. This would raise more than $108 million, with implementation scheduled for the second half of 2025. Upon completion of both phases, VietBank's capital will grow from $285 million to nearly $437 million. Meanwhile, VietABank will also propose an ambitious capital increase of 114.5 per cent at its AGM, raising its charter capital from $216 million to $463 million, through a three-part issuance plan. Over 285 million shares will be issued to existing shareholders, equivalent to $114 million, bringing its total charter capital to $330 million. About 20 million shares valued at $8 million will be distributed under its ESOP scheme. This issuance will be implemented within 12 months of regulatory approval. Finally, the bank will offer over 313 million shares to the public, raising an estimated $125 million. Upon completion, VietABanks charter capital will reach $463 million. Nguyen Huu Huan, senior lecturer at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, commented that raising charter capital is a necessary condition for banks to improve their capital adequacy ratio and meet regulatory requirements, as well as strengthen competitiveness. "At the same time, listing shares on major exchanges like the HSX and HNX will improve liquidity and help banks raise capital effectively through the market," said Huan. Facilitating FDI companies for listing: SSC This move is expected to inject new dynamism into the market, fostering a more robust investment environment and potentially attracting more foreign capital inflows. Lenders make radical shifts in workforce structures Banks have adopted significant shifts in their workforce structures to optimise expenses and enhance profits. Sol by Melia Phu Quoc partners with Cocoon Vietnam for Endless Summer campaign From April 28 to May 1, every room with at least one guest who is a MeliaRewards member will receive a complimentary Cocoon vegan skincare gift set along with a special spa voucher-a warm welcome to elevate their tropical getaway. The campaign celebrates the fusion of relaxation and beauty care, while encouraging sustainability and natural living values shared by both Sol by Melia Phu Quoc and Cocoon Vietnam. All products from Cocoon are 100 per cent vegan, cruelty-free, and made with natural ingredients, offering a safe and gentle skincare experience for guests of all ages. At Sol by Melia Phu Quoc, we want every holiday to be a moment of recharge and self-care. Cocoon is a perfect partner to bring that feeling of wellbeing and nature-driven beauty to each stay at the resort, said the representative of Sol by Melia Phu Quoc. Located just 10 minutes from Phu Quoc International Airport with a private sunset beach, Sol by Melia continues to be a favourite destination for travellers seeking comfort, connection with nature, and tropical island relaxation. Lonely Planet gives tips to fully explore Phu Quoc Going on an island-hopping snorkelling tour, taking the cable car to an amusement park on Hon Thom (Pineapple Island) and visiting Sunset Town are among top activities while travelling Phu Quoc island in Vietnams Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, recommended Lonely Planet, the travel information website dubbed the backpacker's blue bible. Phu Quoc expects to welcome 1 million foreign travellers in 2025 Phu Quoc island city in the southern province of Kien Giang has set a target of serving 7 million tourists in 2025, including 1 million foreigners, according to Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Tran Minh Khoa. Tourists flood in as Phu Quoc booms The end of the year is the prime time to witness the stunning beauty of Phu Quocs natural landscape. However, the final months of 2024 have also marked historic milestones for the island citys tourism industry. The WFIS is a premier annual event for the financial services industry, held across various regions worldwide. It brings together the full spectrum of the financial ecosystemuniting influential leaders, domain specialists, tech pioneers, and regulatory authorities under one platform. The series showcases forward-thinking strategies, transformative technologies, and next-gen solutions, while creating exceptional opportunities for collaboration and meaningful connections. Launched in 2023, WFIS made a powerful entrance into Vietnam, bolstered by the invaluable backing and leadership of the Vietnam Banks Association (VNBA). With participation spanning across various segments of the financial services industry, the event quickly earned a solid reputation as a trusted and influential platform. In 2025, WFIS was held in Vietnam with renewed momentum under the banner Smarter Simpler Faster: Transformation Vietnams Financial Revolution, with the aim to redefine the future of financial services. The conference in Hanoi welcomed delegates from the State Bank of Vietnam, VNBA leaders, and over 500 senior technology and business executives representing more than 100 banks, insurers, and financial institutions across the country. The event also featured more than 40 distinguished speakers and 25 solution providers from the forefront of the industry. This summit spotlighted some of the most influential voices in finance and technology, sharing in-depth insights and tackling the most relevant challenges of today. Designed to spark innovation and foster collaboration, WFIS Vietnam 2025 served as a vibrant stage for visionaries, setting the tone for whats next in financial services. The WFIS 2025 Vietnam Awards marked a fitting conclusion to two impactful days of strategic discussions and dynamic networking, honouring visionary individuals driving the transformation of Vietnams banking sector. Spotlighting the industrys most significant talent and forward-thinkers, the awards ceremony celebrated leadership thats redefining the financial landscape across nine pivotal categories. The IT Maestro(s) of the Year : Tran Cong Quynh Lan, deputy general director and chief information officer, Vietnam Joint Commercial Bank for Industry & Trade (VietinBank), and Nguyen Anh Tuan, chief information officer, Techcombank, jointly won the award for leading the way in IT innovation, improving efficiency, resolving critical challenges within their organisations, and setting the tone for future advancements in the category. : Tran Cong Quynh Lan, deputy general director and chief information officer, Vietnam Joint Commercial Bank for Industry & Trade (VietinBank), and Nguyen Anh Tuan, chief information officer, Techcombank, jointly won the award for leading the way in IT innovation, improving efficiency, resolving critical challenges within their organisations, and setting the tone for future advancements in the category. GRC Advocate of the Year: Le Tien Dung data governance director, Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank received the award for his exemplary leadership in governance, risk, and compliance, ensuring organisational security while steering it toward growth and scalability. Le Tien Dung data governance director, Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank received the award for his exemplary leadership in governance, risk, and compliance, ensuring organisational security while steering it toward growth and scalability. CX Innovator of the Year: Hoang Anh Duc, XMP, CCXP, CCX, head of Experience Management & Process Optimisation, Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB), was honoured for transforming the customer experience and exemplifying a truly game-changing, seamless client journey. Hoang Anh Duc, XMP, CCXP, CCX, head of Experience Management & Process Optimisation, Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB), was honoured for transforming the customer experience and exemplifying a truly game-changing, seamless client journey. Data & Analytics Leader of the Year: The award was presented to Pham Thi Nguyet Nga, chief data officer, Orient Commercial Bank, for her instrumental work in data management and strategies. The award was presented to Pham Thi Nguyet Nga, chief data officer, Orient Commercial Bank, for her instrumental work in data management and strategies. Retail Banker of the Year: Do Tuyet Trinh, deputy head of Retail Banking, HDBank, was recognised for driving force behind growth and the implementation of effective development strategies in the retail banking segment. Do Tuyet Trinh, deputy head of Retail Banking, HDBank, was recognised for driving force behind growth and the implementation of effective development strategies in the retail banking segment. Marketing Leader of the Year: Nguyen Minh Ha, head of Marketing Communications, ACB Securities Company was awarded for her impactful leadership, innovative ideas and determined, go-getter mindset in the marketing domain. Nguyen Minh Ha, head of Marketing Communications, ACB Securities Company was awarded for her impactful leadership, innovative ideas and determined, go-getter mindset in the marketing domain. Cyber Practitioner of the Year: This award went Van Anh Tuan - CISSP #91519, chief information security officer, Techcombank, for playing a pivotal role in establishing a robust cyber framework for his organisation. This award went Van Anh Tuan - CISSP #91519, chief information security officer, Techcombank, for playing a pivotal role in establishing a robust cyber framework for his organisation. Woman Influencer in Financial Services Industry: This special award highlights the most inspiring female leader who has made exceptional contributions to the financial services industry, while also championing diversity and taking bold initiatives to break down gender stereotypes within the sector. Nguyen Ngoc Lan Anh, chief technology and operations officer, Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam, was honoured as a leading woman shaping the future of the financial services industry. The WFIS Vietnam 2025 demonstrated that innovation thrives at the intersection of collaboration, technology, and regulation. As banks continue to navigate the complexities of digital transformation, the insights shared and alliances forged at WFIS will help reshape Vietnams financial revolution. World Bank to help SBV build shared database for banking industry The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has initiated a project to build a shared database for the banking industry, which will be supported by the World Bank and implemented by KPMG Vietnam. More bank support to come in form of credit packages Banks will place a strong focus on small traders and consumer lending this year, especially for social housing, to drive economic growth while supporting key sectors. New platform teaching Welsh reading skills to children worldwide This article is old - Published: Monday, Apr 21st, 2025 A new platform is helping children read Welsh, even if their parents cant, by teaching them how to pronounce words. Already helping over 52,000 users in Wales and across the world learn to read in Welsh, Darllen Co, has been backed by a Welsh Government fund for new Welsh-language technology. The paid for digital reading platform has been designed by Welsh teachers for schools and families. It features over 180 books and magazines from more than 20 Welsh authors, as well as integrated audiobooks and quizzes. The platform also includes an assessment and tracking system which lets teachers monitor learners progress. Over 300 Welsh medium schools are already subscribed to the platform to develop learners Welsh reading skills. Learners can access the platform at school or home, on any digital device. The platforms audiobooks and reading resources make it easier for children to learn Welsh at home, even if their parents dont use Welsh, by teaching them the pronunciation of words. Darllen Co is the only platform of its kind in Welsh and people around the world are benefiting from it, with users in Italy, Texas, Dubai, Slovakia, England and Patagonia. The platform hopes to expand into English medium primary schools, to help even more learners with their Welsh language skills. Mr Scozzi from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontybrenin said: Since the evolution of the platform, we are now enjoying more literature, new features and more detailed data for us teachers to interpret. In addition to developing reading skills, we are also using the platform to test understanding with opportunities for children to develop various reading and comprehension skills. Darllen Co received 30,000 from the Welsh Government to set up the original platform in 2022, as part of its aim to develop Welsh language technology. The platform secured this investment following an excellent pitch from its founder, Alex Knott, at Hac y Gymraeg a Welsh language hackathon challenge which aimed to inspire new Welsh technology ideas. Darllen Co is also working with Adnodd on a digital reading assessment which will be free for schools in the next term. Welsh language Secretary Mark Drakeford said: Its fantastic to see most of our Welsh medium schools making use of the service Darllen Co has to offer. Supported by Welsh Government funding, the service is changing how people digitally interact with Welsh, from school children in Cardiff to Welsh speakers in Patagonia. Education Secretary Lynne Neagle said: Reading is vital to education. Darllen Cos innovative platform supports children to develop their Welsh reading skills and build their confidence, at home and at school. Restoration of rare wildflower meadows completed at Llangollen This article is old - Published: Monday, Apr 21st, 2025 Work to restore valuable wildflower meadows at Caeau Pen y Coed, near Llangollen, has been completed. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has funded scrub management at the site, which is owned by the Woodland Trust. The aim is to help restore and protect species-rich neutral grassland, a rare and declining habitat found only at a few Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in North East Wales. Yearly scrub management at Caeau Pen y Coed involves cutting back and removing encroaching scrub to allow the grassland to re-establish. NRW say that this is a standard conservation approach used to protect lowland meadows, which support a wide variety of flowering species crucial to biodiversity. Works took place between January and February and will continue over the next five years, subject to funding. Further plans include expanding the work area, cutting back further scrub, and maintaining the areas already restored. Since the Second World War, 97% of wildflower meadows in the UK have been lost due to changing land use and intensification. With so few examples of this rare habitat remaining, efforts to restore and maintain sites like Caeau Pen y Coed are vital. Rhys Ellis, Denbighshire Environment Team Leader at NRW, said: Lowland meadows are one of the UKs most threatened habitats, and we must do everything we can to protect and restore them. Scrub management at Caeau Pen y Coed is a key step in bringing this important site back to good condition, helping a diverse range of flowering species to thrive. Working with the Woodland Trust, we are committed to continuing this effort and expanding the restoration work over the coming years. Rebecca Good, Site Manager (North East & Mid Wales) for Woodland Trust, added: Coed Cadw manages a variety of important habitats across its estate. The grassland at Pen Y Coed is now seeing an increase in many species such as meadow buttercup, red clover and ox-eye daisy. We hope that working through this partnership we will continue to see these grassland species expand across the site. Wrexham University celebrates graduation with over 1,900 students This article is old - Published: Monday, Apr 21st, 2025 Over 1,900 students donned their caps and gowns to celebrate their academic achievements during last weeks graduation ceremonies, held at Wrexham University. Graduates crossed the stage of the William Aston Hall to receive their awards, after years of hard work and commitment to their studies. Following the formal ceremonies, graduates toasted their successes alongside their family, friends and lecturers, enjoying a festival-style celebration with live music, food stalls and outdoor games. The spring graduation ceremonies were also a particularly special occasion for the Universitys Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joe Yates as they are his first since joining the institution last August. Professor Yates said: Graduation is an immensely special time for all at the University its a time when we celebrate with our graduates and their families and friends, and an opportunity to recognise the hard work and academic achievements of our students. I look forward to hearing from our graduates in the coming months and years ahead, as they take their next steps and go onto accomplish outstanding things. We wish them every success for their futures. For me personally, these have been my first set of graduation ceremonies as Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, so its been particularly memorable for me. Its been a real privilege to congratulate and celebrate our students and Honorary Fellows this week. Moments like these truly reflect the heart of the Universitys vision empowering our students to thrive, make an impact and contribute meaningfully to their communities and industries, both locally and globally. Throughout the course of the week, graduates shared their personal triumphs and biggest achievements, while studying at Wrexham. Among the graduate success stories were that of Occupational Therapy graduate, Marianne Rolland, who works as an Occupational Therapist (OT) for Powys County Councils Social Care team. She said: I feel absolutely amazing today its been quite the journey to get to this point, so Im not afraid to say I feel proud of what Ive achieved. I was fortunate enough to have been supported by my employers to do my degree, so it was definitely a juggle combining work, study and home life and there were so many times, when I questioned whether I could do it all, so I feel delighted to be standing here now as a qualified OT. I must say the support I received from my tutors was fantastic, they were incredibly supportive throughout. As someone who went to university for the first time 25 years ago, compared to now my experience as a mature learner was much better. Studying at Wrexham has been brilliant. Counselling graduate, Simon Shorrock hailed his time at university as life-changing. Its been a great experience, I feel delighted to have completed the course and Im now excited for whats to come. Im wanting to utilise what Ive learnt to hopefully go onto support children and also young people in Further Education, he said. University has been truly life-changing for me personally, and going onto study counselling actually came about through life-changing events in my own life, that put things into perspective. Since that point, Im wanting to make a difference in helping others, who need it. Damini Damini, who achieved her Masters in International Marketing Management, said: Ive loved every minute of my time here at Wrexham and Im so happy to be graduating today. Ive learnt so much during my Masters, its also instilled so much confidence in me. I now have big ambitions for the future in five years time, I hope to be a CEO, Im aiming high and Im excited. Computer Science graduate, Tommy Griffiths said he is looking forward to his next steps in embarking on a career in the field of Information Technology (IT). University has been fantastic my lecturers have been great and Ive learnt a huge deal about my subject. Its definitely put me in good stead for a career in IT. Im in the process of applying for jobs at the moment, so today is a nice break from that and Im pleased to be graduating with a 2.1, he said. Olivia Ashcroft, who graduated after studying Animation, said: I feel so happy to be here today after a brilliant three years studying at Wrexham. Ive loved my course, its been incredibly fun and has equipped me with a fantastic grounding for my future career. My dream is to get into the film industry or cartoons. Amaka Uzoka, who graduated with a Masters in Public Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, added: Im very excited to be celebrating having successfully gained my Masters, its been a lot of hard work to get to this point. My lecturers have been wonderful throughout my studies, they said its my resilience thats pushed me through. Im pleased to now be working supporting people with mental health needs. I feel that I have gained a great deal from my studies and its informed how I approach my role. This weekend, the Eureka County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) announced the seizure of around 4,500 pounds of marijuana. Marijuana is legal in Nevada, but not in the massive amount that was seized in the county. On April 10, ECSO deputies in Crescent Valley were alerted to a "large amount of marijuana" that was in town. The ECSO called in the Eastern Nevada Narcotics Task Force for assistance, and together the team found approximately 4,500 pounds of processed cannabis. The investigation is still ongoing. On Saturday, April 26, United Federal Credit Union will host a Community Shred Event in Carson City. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at their Carson City North Branch located at 1350 E. William Street. This free event invites residents to safely dispose of personal documents on-site, helping to prevent identity theft through secure shredding by a licensed company. The event also supports Austins House, a local nonprofit that provides emergency shelter and care for children in Northern Nevada who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Serving boys and girls from birth to age 18, Austins House offers compassionate support until children can be safely reunited with family or placed in long-term care. United Federal Credit Unions initiative combines financial wellness with community outreach, showing their dedication to keeping neighborhoods safe while helping vulnerable children in crisis. Religious leaders belonging to multiple different faiths will be holding a multi-faith prayer service for the late Pope Francis. The service will be held tomorrow, April 22, at the Unity Center of Reno at 2207 Kings Row in Reno, starting at 4:30 p.m. The event is open to all. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed organized the event, and it will be hosted by Unity Minister Toni King. They say the event plans to include prayers from various denominations of Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha'i, Native American and Pagan faiths, in various languages. An atheist speaker has also been invited to share his thoughts, and musician Oscar Dallas Smith will be performing ragas on the bansuri. Mark your calendars! The Sparks Police Department is partnering with Join Together Northern Nevada (JTNN) and other local agencies for the Northern Nevada Rx Drug Take Back. According to an online Facebook post, The Sparks Police Department says this important event offers residents a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications, over-the-counter pills, pet medications, and prescription liquids, helping to prevent misuse, accidental poisoning, and environmental harm. No questions asked. No paperwork. Just drive up and drop off. The event will take place at various locations around the Northern Nevada, on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Drop-Off Locations Across Northern Nevada: Sparks Locations Baldinis Casino 865 S Rock Blvd Smiths 1255 Baring Blvd Reno Locations Smiths 175 Lemmon Drive Smiths 750 S. Meadows Parkway Raleys 1630 Robb Drive Raleys 18144 Wedge Parkway Elks Lodge 597 Kumle Lane Spanish Springs Location RSIC Smoke Shop 7655 Pyramid Highway Cold Springs Location Cold Springs Community Center 3355 White Lake Parkway Proper disposal of medications protects teens, children, pets, and the environment. Whether youre in Sparks, Reno, Spanish Springs, or Cold Springs, theres a drop-off spot near you. For More Information you can visit JTNN's website. (The Sparks Police Department contributed to this story.) Update (4/21/2025, 2:45 p.m.): The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office has provided an update in the stabbing that happened on Saturday in Reno. The identity of the woman who was found and declared dead in her home is 52-year old Carla Gonzales of Reno. According to the release, Ms. Gonzales was a high school teacher with the Washoe County School District. The Reno Police Department told us that Ms. Gonzales was the mother of the suspect in the stabbing, Carson Gonzales. The Washoe County School District has alerted Sparks High School students of families of the death of Ms. Gonzales via a Connect Ed call. They say that Sparks High counselors, their mental health professional, and their school psychologist are available to provide support for staff and students as needed. Original Story (4/21/2025, 9:24 a.m.): On the evening of April 19, around 6:30 p.m, officers from the Reno Police Department responded to an emergency call reporting a stabbing on Powder Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 46-year-old woman suffering from multiple stab wounds and quickly administered first aid. Witnesses on scene identified the suspect and indicated the residence where the attack had occurred. Before the victim was transported by REMSA to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition, she informed officers that another victim was inside the home. Acting on this information, law enforcement officers entered the residence and found a second victima 52-year-old womanwho was pronounced dead at the scene. Reno Police were able to locate and detain the alleged suspect, identified as 20-year-old Carson Gonzales. Following the arrest, detectives from the Reno Police Departments Robbery Homicide Unit took over the investigation. Gonzales was arrested and faces multiple charges, including Open Murder with a Deadly Weapon, Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Obstructing and Resisting an Officer. He has since been booked into the Washoe County Jail. The identity of the deceased woman is being withheld pending family notification by the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiners Office. Reno Police Detectives believe this was an isolated incident and have stated there is no ongoing threat to the public. The case remains under active investigation, and anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Reno Police Departments non-emergency line at 775-334-2677 or submit anonymous tips via Secret Witness at 775-322-4900 or online at secretwitness.com. Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church, died early Monday in Vatican City, just hours after blessing thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday and holding a brief meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. He was 88. Francis' death comes 12 years after he was chosen in 2013 as leader of worldwide Catholics, becoming the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope and the first to pick Francis as his papal name. His passing also came a little over two months after a hospitalization in Rome on Feb. 14 for a complex respiratory infection, pneumonia in both lungs and mild kidney failure. He ended up staying in the hospital for 38 days. Members only Before falling ill, Francis had been keeping a rigorous schedule since New Years Eve, overseeing the opening of the Catholic Churchs 2025 Jubileea once-every-25-year event during which the faithful make pilgrimages to Rome. The Vatican says Pope Francis died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. The death was confirmed Monday by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the head of the Vaticans health department. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in the official papal announcement. World leaders issued statements following Francis' death. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the ... homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful, Vance wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. May God rest his soul. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social early Monday: Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him! "His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and for those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others," King Charles III of England posted on X. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, shared his condolences in a post on X. From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.